Warlock pacts

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Zanniej
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Warlock pacts

Unread post by Zanniej »

Below are some of the more common warlock pacts that the DM Team supports. Other pacts are allowed, but should be regarded as being less common in our timeline and may warrant a PM to the DM Team to check on their viability for this server. This guide is a supplement to the lore from this topic.

The Origins of the Warlock
Though the warlock is described as an arcane character, his powers function very differently from those of the various arcane spellcasters. Although the end result of a breath of the night invocation might be largely indistinguishable from a fog cloud spell, a warlock channels his magic in a way that the average wizard or sorcerer can only dream of accomplishing.

Warlocks typically claim that this proficiency with magic comes from their bloodline—or, in some cases, from a pact made with powerful entities that permanently changes the individual's interactions with the supernatural. The common stereotype associated with warlocks is that they all derive their powers from a fiendish heritage. In truth, while they might be the most visible and well-known examples, fiendish warlocks make up only a thin majority of all those who use invocations. Some theorists even hold that the category of arcanists known as “warlocks” actually encompasses a wider range of power sources and mindsets than commonly believed, and that further study will reveal the multitude of archetypes hiding behind the label of warlock.

Whatever the source of the power however, no power ever comes for free, and all warlock pacts expect compensation, be it in the form of servitude, or the payment of your soul when your time is up.

Devils
The infernal denizens of the Nine Hells of Baator are the undisputed masters of crafting power-driven bargains with mortals, so it should come as no surprise that the iconic warlock is a result of such a deal. No other creatures take as much pleasure from corrupting mortals with dark powers, and the sheer number of devils who traffic in such pacts would send a chill down the spine of the staunchest paladin. From ambitious horned devils and pit fiends to the greatest archdevils themselves, these masters of artifice and duplicity take pride in sowing evil throughout the land, and endowing warlocks with their power provides ample opportunity.

Among the various lords of the Nine Hells, Dispater, Mammon, Belial, Mephistopheles, and the mighty Asmodeus most actively broker such accords. (for more information on these devils, click here). It is unlikely however, that you will deal directly with these archdevils. You mostly broker with a lesser ranked devil (typically an imp or harvester), who serve a higher ranked devil (usually pit fiends) who are powerful enough to be pact holders, who in turn serve their respective archdevil. )

Warlocks whose power comes from devils are most commonly lawful evil tyrants, though rebellious chaotic exceptions exist.

Demons
Perhaps surprisingly, few demonic powers are responsible for the pacts that create warlocks. As any planar scholar would tell you, demons fixate on rampant destruction over planned corruption, which means that most don't have the interest (or talent) required to broker such deals. The mightiest of the common demons, such as the mariliths and balors, only rarely take the time to instill such power, and a bare few of the so-called demon princes are so inclined.

The best known of these is Graz'zt the Dark Prince (whom most agree resembles an archdevil in his cunning and guile). Mighty demons prefer to bestow their favor upon bloody cults of mad followers rather than reward a single individual with great power—after all, such an individual might easily
become a threat to the demon prince's own rulership of his realm. (The various demon princes are updated for the v.3.5 revision in Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss.)
Just as magic can strike, so can it shield.

Warlocks whose power derives from demonkind are most commonly chaotic evil and tend toward savage brutality.

Fey
A growing number of warlocks draw their power from the mystical realm of faerie. Fey have always enjoyed a special link to the wild magical energy that suffuses the natural world, and most sages agree that mortals—even the long-lived elves—can't begin to comprehend the sheer untapped potential that rests within faeriekind. The rare fey that interact with human folk represent only the tip of the iceberg. True fey are more terrible and beautiful than mortal eyes can bear to perceive.

Legends of rival courts of fey—one light and one dark—have persisted for ages, though the fey themselves don't share details. The increase in mortals who wield fey-given power, however, suggests that the realm of faerie might be awakening from a long slumber. Woe to those who underestimate the effect of this development on the mortal realm.

It is important to recognise that the Fey, be it unseelie or seelie, have an alien way of thinking, which mortals can hardly comprehend. They expect servitude from those they grant power to, and their minds work quite different. Sometimes patrons may ask strange things from their subjects.

A warlock whose powers are from fey origins are not considered any better then others, by most people. They can be just as dangerous to society, even if good willed due to their Fey master.

A feyblooded warlock is equally likely to be a well-meaning chaotic good, an unpredictable chaotic neutral, or a coldly malevolent neutral evil individual. Few have the discipline for a lawful evil bent, and most don't share the savage outlook common to chaotic evil.

Slaadi

As beings of pure chaos unconcerned with matters of morality, few slaadi care enough to make pacts with mortals. Some of the most potent of them, however, such as the mightiest of the death slaadi, occasionally empower warlocks for their own unfathomable reasons. Warlocks whose powers derive from the slaadi can be of any alignment, but most are chaotic.

Celestials
The mere suggestion that the paragons of virtue would grant such dark powers to mortals seems at first to be unworthy of discussion. However, some particularly wild or chaotic celestials, such as the eladrins, share more in common with the fey than with the archons or angels. Is it so inconceivable that the mighty denizens of the Court of Stars might see fit to share some fragment of their power with charismatic mortals? (The creatures listed would be unlikely to broker warlock pacts. Their servitors would be a lot more likely however.)

A warlock who has celestial power to thank for his invocations is most likely to be chaotic good, though such power has also been known to corrupt even the most well-meaning soul.

Regardless of the source of his talent, the warlock might represent a heretofore “missing link” between arcane magic and innate magic—a link in the great chain that spans the distance between the racial abilities of the dragon, archon, fey, or devil and the learned abilities of the wizard. Only time will tell if these strange individuals are destined to remain exceptions to the general rules of magic, or if they presage a growing tide of characters who wield power through their bloodline
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Re: Warlock pacts

Unread post by Rhifox »

On demon pacts, succubi (or lilitus), glabrezus, dybbuks, guecubus, or nabasus are all good options for demonlocks, as these types like to tempt and make use of mortals, favoring manipulation, subterfuge, or possession. While all demons prefer sewing chaos and destruction, demons can still be fiercely intelligent and be able to plan or make use of pawns to fulfill that aim. The warlock's job security just won't be very high if they aren't pleasing their master.

In addition, there really are plenty of demon lords who would be willing to support warlock pacts. Most demon princes are able to grant cleric powers to mortal followers, so it stands to reason they'd also grant warlock pacts. Aside from Graz'zt, the following especially are good options:
  • Dagon, who is essentially a classic eldritch horror of the deeps that grants arcane secrets to those mad spellcasters that manage to find the means to contact him (he's a great option for people wanting to RP a star/great-old-one pact without actually using a Far Realm entity).
  • Fraz-Urb'luu, a demon of deception who enjoys tricking people into his worship and service. Perhaps the demon lord most likely to operate on a style akin to devil pacts, offering them easily but arranging death soon after.
  • Malcanthet, the queen of the succubi and someone that favors servants using magical charms to pursue debauched hedonism.
  • Obox-ob, whose weakness in the Abyss leads him to developing powerful cults on the Material Plane. Probably a patron more likely to cultivate longterm minions as he is trying to build a powerbase (he'd also likely use his minions to search for and gather powerful magic relics and other things that could help him return to his former power).
  • Orcus, whose Material cults are his strongest asset, and who is inclined to use dark pacts to bring useful beings into his service.
  • Pale Night, a Lilith-figure who is rarely followed but enjoys imbuing mortal cultists with fiendish energy and using them to create or birth new monsters on the Material Plane.
  • Pazuzu, whose game is entirely the granting of aid and support to mortals in the interests of tempting them towards evil. Pazuzu is great for Chaotic Good and Chaotic Neutral demonlocks, because these kinds of people are his favorite targets (while he'd abandon/destroy any that actually fall to Chaotic Evil. He's in it for the journey, not the destination).
  • Other demon lords like Abraxas (a demon lord of incantations, magic secrets, and talismans) or Lolth (of course)

Further information on the demon lords is here.
Tarina — Witch, Apothecary, Dealer in Spirits and Black Magic
yyj

Re: Warlock pacts

Unread post by yyj »

Great info! So if I understand correctly, something like a Noviere, would be able to provide a pact to a warlock?
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Re: Warlock pacts

Unread post by Cinnamon »

Zanniej wrote: Mon Feb 05, 2018 5:01 am]Slaadi

As beings of pure chaos unconcerned with matters of morality, few slaadi care enough to make pacts with mortals. Some of the most potent of them, however, such as the mightiest of the death slaadi, occasionally empower warlocks for their own unfathomable reasons. Warlocks whose powers derive from the slaadi can be of any alignment, but most are chaotic.


Oh, cool. No need to wait for filler content, then.

Guess I'm getting a pact with Wartle, the Slaadi Overlord.
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