Some mortals carried with them constant reminders of the infernal contracts they entered into.
An infernal contract was a binding agreement between one individual and a devil of the Nine Hells. It typically involved the devil granting a significant boon or gift to an individual, and the contractee owing a specific debt to the fiend.[1]
Description[]
Contracts varied in form and appearance, but were often presented with grand theatricality, such as appearing within a cloud of smoke or delivered by an imp. Some of the more common forms contracts could take included: written in blood on a scroll of vellum, inscribed upon stone formed by rapidly cooling lava,[1] or etched into the flesh of the person in contract with the devil.[2]
While infernal contracts were always written in the Infernal script, they could be endorsed by several means. A devil might only require the bound party to sign upon a parchment while others might dictate an act of depravity be performed.[1] In some instances, contractors required witness by designated infernal contract notaries.[3]
Specifications[]
Once the devil and the agreeing party each entered into the contract willfully, the devil's boon was bestowed and its beneficiary was indebted to pay a pre-specified price.[1]
If the contractee was unwilling or became otherwise unable to fulfill their end of the bargain, they suffered one or more penalties as outlined by the contract. Customary penalties included the forfeiture of all owned material wealth, the unwilling adoption of one or more fiendish physical characteristics, or transference of one's mortal soul to the offended party.[1]
Ending Contracts[]
Infernal contracts could be voided so long as both parties agreed. Under these circumstances, the devil and the contractee each continued on with their existences as if the contract never existed to begin with. Devils often requested significant compensation before agreeing to nullify an infernal contract. Compensation for nullification often included endowment of great personal wealth, one or more soul coins, or extremely powerful artifacts.[1]
Contracts that were not fully ratified could be broken by other supernatural means, though the exact specifications of this were unclear. A devil talisman crafted from the blood of an empyrean and powered by the soul of a mortal was one known method.[4]
Notable Infernal Contracts[]
- The agreement made by the arcanaloth Fetchtatter to the archdevil Bel.[5]
- The contract formed between High Overseer Thavius Kreeg and Archduke Zariel to save Elturel from destruction in 1442 DR.[note 1][6]
- The debt accrued by Fai Chen to the rakshasa Mahadi of the Wandering Emporium.[7]
- The agreement made between Krydle of Baldur's Gate and the erinyes Oreasha to save Shandie Freefoot.[8]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus is set in 1492 DR per the "Baldur's Gate Gazetteer" section (p. 159) and a clarification from the adventure's lead writer. Baldur's Gate III, which is a direct sequel to Descent into Avernus set immediately after its events, is also set in 1492 DR. In an apparent error, pages 7 and 47 of Descent into Avernus describes certain events as occurring "fifty years" after 1444 DR (1494 DR).
Appearances[]
- Adventures
- Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
- Comics
- Infernal Tides 4 • Infernal Tides 5
- Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
- Avernus Rising (Tipping the Scales • The Breath of Life)
- Referenced only Faces of Fortune • Infernal Insurgency • Losing Fai • The Vast Emptiness of Grace • Consequences of Choice • The Harrowing of Hell
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Adam Lee, et al. (September 2019). Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus. Edited by Michele Carter, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 214–215. ISBN 978-0-7869-6687-5.
- ↑ Jim Zub (March 2020). “Infernal Tides 5”. Infernal Tides #5 (IDW Publishing) (5)., p. 19.
- ↑ Ted Atkinson (2019). Faces of Fortune: The Story of Fai Chen (DDAL09-05) (PDF). D&D Adventurers League: Avernus Rising (Wizards of the Coast), p. 8.
- ↑ Jim Zub (February 2020). “Infernal Tides 4”. Infernal Tides #4 (IDW Publishing) (4)., p. 14.
- ↑ Adam Lee, et al. (September 2019). Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus. Edited by Michele Carter, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 117. ISBN 978-0-7869-6687-5.
- ↑ Adam Lee, et al. (September 2019). Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus. Edited by Michele Carter, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 7. ISBN 978-0-7869-6687-5.
- ↑ Ted Atkinson (2019). Faces of Fortune: The Story of Fai Chen (DDAL09-05) (PDF). D&D Adventurers League: Avernus Rising (Wizards of the Coast), p. 7.
- ↑ Jim Zub (February 2020). “Infernal Tides 4”. Infernal Tides #4 (IDW Publishing) (4)., pp. 1–4.