Hellfire Warlock

[Master_Sarevok]

So how is this usually rped? A pact with Mephisto? I was looking around and other ways to get access to hellfire is to well torture and interrogate a devil who can use it to figure out how to tap it.

Whats the proper lore for BGTSCC about this?

[NegInfinity]

So how is this usually rped? A pact with Mephisto? I was looking around and other ways to get access to hellfire is to well torture and interrogate a devil who can use it to figure out how to tap it.

Whats the proper lore for BGTSCC about this?

As a mortal you have almost zero chance of making any pact with any devil and remaining alive (for long). Making pact with a devil (pact insiidious and pact certain) results in rather mediocre rewards, and the process is described in fiendish codex II on pages 23..24. Pact Certain (selling your soul) instantly switches your alignment to lawful evil.

Hellfire warlocks usually do not tell everybody on the server how they obtain hellfire, and rarely wield hellfire openly. Because while you can claim that your warlock power are not evil, it is not going to work if you wield hellfire.

Hellfire warlocks are described in Fiendish Codec II, page 89..91.

The class does not explain HOW hellfire warlocks obtain the power, but there's this:

Hellfire warlocks enter this class after being exposed to some infernal agency. Witnessing the power inherent in hellfire creates a strong attraction many find too strong to resist. It’s possible you were one of these types, or maybe you stumbled across hellfire while experimenting with
eldritch blast.

Hellfi re warlocks lack any formal community, since they are often loners by nature, sequestering themselves away to further study and refine their techniques. Baatezu
target you and your colleaques with promises of assistance, magic, and even combat support. Their motives are clear, but they offer great power and often compelling reasons
to join them.

Since hellfire warlocks are nearly universally reviled, these characters keep to themselves. Their isolation pushes them to test the limits of their morality, and in time, most succumb to the darkness blooming within them. Hellfire warlocks are jealous and petty. They see others who practice their dark art as threats to their prominence and power, so these characters are swift to destroy their rivals. Some hellfire warlocks attach themselves to infernal cults, believing that through service to an archfiend, they can increase their knowledge and skill.
Hellfi re warlocks act as guardians and enforcers in such organizations, valued for their combat capabilities.

Even those hellfi re warlocks who shy away from evil in the face of such wickedness meet
scorn and derision in the world. Warlocks are generally not trusted, and those who willingly use the tools of evil for any reason are tantamount to the fiends themselves in the minds of most folk.

[Rhifox]

Hellfire can be learned by those not aligned with Mephistopholes, Hellfire Warlock actually doesn't require the warlock to serve Mephistopholes even in pnp. It does require knowing specific people to teach you it. In most cases that is going to be cults devoted to Mephistopholes, but it is possible to learn it from elsewhere. It's implied that by using it at all, you are taking a first step towards signing your soul to Mephistopholes, so even if you're not aligned with him, simply using hellfire is giving him some manner of veneration (and thus power).

Hellfire Warlock (Chapter 3: Game Rules)

"It is not the weapon that is evil, but the wielder."
-- Galena Todrick, hellfire warlock

The hellfire warlocks are a secretive group of specialist warlocks who have mastered hellfire, a dangerous energy found only in the Nine Hells. By tapping into this infernal power, these characters learn to infuse their eldritch blasts and magic items that they wield with the dark power of hellfire.

Becoming a Hellfire Warlock

Prospective hellfire warlocks must fulfill strict requirements to gain entry to the class, making this prestige class exclusive to warlocks. While most characters who pursue the hellfire warlock class are otherwise single-class warlocks, multiclass warlocks with wizard levels are also common. Multiclass warlock/rogues, warlock/clerics, or even warlock/fighters are also possible, but entry into the prestige class is restricted until higher levels.

Entry Requirements

Skills: Intimidate 6 ranks, Knowledge (the planes) 12 ranks, Spellcraft 6 ranks.

Language: Infernal.

Warlock Invocation: Must know brimstone blast or hellrime blast.

. . .

Playing a Hellfire Warlock

You walk a dangerous path. Each use of hellfire brings you ever closer to death. You must be vigilant in your resolve and resist using this terrible magic recklessly. Since you wield the power of Hell itself, others are suspicious at best and downright hostile at worst. They fail to understand why you would use such power willingly and how you can resist its allure.

Combat

Using the abilities granted by this prestige class carries dangerous consequences. The Consitution damage that results from the use of your powers can be healed, and many hellfire warlocks carry wands of lesser restoration to compensate for the draining nature of their power. However, the hit point loss that results from Constitution damage can be the difference between living and dying in a close-fought combat, so restrict use of these abilities to when you are confident doing so will have a meaningful effect on a battle's outcome.

Advancement

Hellfire warlocks enter this class after being exposed to some infernal agency. Witnessing the power inherent in hellfire creates a strong attraction many find too strong to resist. It's possible you were one of these types, or maybe you stumbled across hellfire while experimenting with eldritch blast.

Once you take your first level in this class, it's best to invest in the Use Magic Device skill so you can easily use items that heal the Constitution damage that you take.

Resources

Hellfire warlocks lack any formal community, since they are often loners by nature, sequestering themselves away to further study and refine their techniques. Baatezu target you and your colleaques with promises of assistance, magic, and even combat support. Their motives are clear, but they offer great power and often compelling reasons to join them.

Hellfire Warlocks in the World

"The offering of hellfire is yet one more way the fiends have worked their claws into our world. Each mortal who thinks to master this fell power is yet one more fool offering his soul to the Lord of the Eighth."
-- Alód the Traveler, planeshifter

Most hellfire warlocks whom the PCs encounter have likely already succumbed to the temptations of evil. Usually minions in the service of an infernal cult, they lead groups of thugs or devils against good organizations or to hunt down and destroy adventurers. Only in the rarest circumstances does a hellfire warlock resist these temptations and use her power to advance the cause of good.

Organization

Since hellfire warlocks are nearly universally reviled, these characters keep to themselves. Their isolation pushes them to test the limits of their morality, and in time, most succumb to the darkness blooming within them. Hellfire warlocks are jealous and petty. They see others who practice their dark art as threats to their prominence and power, so these characters are swift to destroy their rivals.

Some hellfire warlocks attach themselves to infernal cults, believing that through service to an archfiend, they can increase their knowledge and skill. Hellfire warlocks act as guardians and enforcers in such organizations, valued for their combat capabilities.

NPC Reactions

Even those hellfire warlocks who shy away from evil in the face of such wickedness meet scorn and derision in the world. Warlocks are generally not trusted, and those who willingly use the tools of evil for any reason are tantamount to the fiends themselves in the minds of most folk. Hence, most hellfire warlocks conceal their natures, using their infernal powers only when forced.

So long as a hellfire warlock maintains her anonymity, she finds others are indifferent. Those who become aware of her capabilities immediately become unfriendly, seeing her as a menace. This animosity extends even to evil creatures, which are often unsure what to make of such a curious character -- or see her as a rival to be destroyed.

Hellfire Warlock Lore

Characters with ranks in Knowledge (the planes) can research hellfire warlocks to learn more about them. When a character succeeds on a skill check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DCs.

DC 10: Hellfire warlocks use the flames of Hell to power their abilities.

DC 15: Hellfire is a cruel mistress, weakening those who court her.

DC 20: Though hellfire itself is anathema to good, not all who wield it are evil. Some manage to temper the corrupting effects with a strong will and steadfast resolve. The mightiest among them even bend hellfire to serve the forces of good.

Hellfire warlocks are reclusive. They refrain from revealing themselves to the public, lurking at the fringes of society and only emerging when circumstances demand it. Player characters trying to locate a hellfire warlock need to succeed on a DC 25 Gather Information check. If a PC looks for a hellfire warlock in a community whose alignment is predominantly evil, he gains a +2 circumstance bonus on the check.

[Rhifox]

On Hellfire itself:

It only comes from the eighth layer of Hell, Cania. Any use of it draws from Mephistopholes's realm.

Other archdevils and their servants do use it. This indicates that it is possible to learn it without being loyal to Mephistopholes, as the archdevils are not known for serving each other (excepting their combined "loyalty" to Asmodeus).

Of late, Mephistar has become a place of scorching flame at the heart of the icy plain, however, and the gelugons have slowly relocated elsewhere, replaced by pit fiends, cornugons, and barbazu. Mephistopheles has developed an extremely hot, corrupt type of energy known as hellfire, tapped from the substance of the plane itself. Its use has spread through many of the archdevils and their servants. None are as adept with hellfire as Mephistopheles, however.

[TheLier]

On Hellfire itself:

It only comes from the eighth layer of Hell, Cania. Any use of it draws from Mephistopholes's realm.

Other archdevils and their servants do use it. This indicates that it is possible to learn it without being loyal to Mephistopholes, as the archdevils are not known for serving each other (excepting their combined "loyalty" to Asmodeus).

Of late, Mephistar has become a place of scorching flame at the heart of the icy plain, however, and the gelugons have slowly relocated elsewhere, replaced by pit fiends, cornugons, and barbazu. Mephistopheles has developed an extremely hot, corrupt type of energy known as hellfire, tapped from the substance of the plane itself. Its use has spread through many of the archdevils and their servants. None are as adept with hellfire as Mephistopheles, however.

Yep, so only a warlock with a connections to Baator would be able to use it on the long run. So Fey pacts and such are out of the picture.

[Rhifox]

Yeah. Among the classes that do get access to hellfire, all are pacted with Baator in some way, even if not directly to Mephistopholes. There are for example arcane hellfire spells (Hellfire and Hellfire Storm), but the only way to meet the requirements for those on a wiz/sorc is to take levels in Diabolist (a class that, like warlock, requires a pact with devils).

[NegInfinity]

Yep, so only a warlock with a connections to Baator would be able to use it on the long run. So Fey pacts and such are out of the picture.

//opinion
As far as I can tell based on short pieces of lore, hellfire warlock can be fey pacted too (because pnp manual mentions experiments with eldritch blast as a way to obtain it), BUT to get hellfire you will almost certainly have to interact with fiends, and it is impossible for your warlock to not to understand where the fire is coming from. Hellfire warlock in pnp require language: infernal and planar lore points. So, it is impossible to handwave the hellfire away and claim "oh, my chaotic good pact holder taught me how to do that trick *wink*". If you have hellfire, you know what that is, also you pay the price every time you use it.

Fiendish Codex II also has several hellfir-related spells, and they all have [evil] descriptor on them.

Based on what I remember from Fiendish Codex II, it does not seem to be something like divine power granted by metphistopheles - because there are hellfire engines, which are mindless constructs, hellfire crossbows and the like.

Either way, fey or not fey, I think it is impossible for a squeaky-clean goody-two-shoes to get access to this kind of substance without a blemish on alignment.

[TheLier]

Yep, so only a warlock with a connections to Baator would be able to use it on the long run. So Fey pacts and such are out of the picture.

//opinion
As far as I can tell based on short pieces of lore, hellfire warlock can be fey pacted too (because pnp manual mentions experiments with eldritch blast as a way to obtain it), BUT to get hellfire you will almost certainly have to interact with fiends, and it is impossible for your warlock to not to understand where the fire is coming from. Hellfire warlock in pnp require language: infernal and planar lore points. So, it is impossible to handwave the hellfire away and claim "oh, my chaotic good pact holder taught me how to do that trick *wink*". If you have hellfire, you know what that is, also you pay the price every time you use it.

Fiendish Codex II also has several hellfir-related spells, and they all have [evil] descriptor on them.

Based on what I remember from Fiendish Codex II, it does not seem to be something like divine power granted by metphistopheles - because there are hellfire engines, which are mindless constructs, hellfire crossbows and the like.

Either way, fey or not fey, I think it is impossible for a squeaky-clean goody-two-shoes to get access to this kind of substance without a blemish on alignment.

Well, then let me correct myself. They are not out of the picture, but must know what they are doing, and the fact it is evil. So, yes my point was that goodie warlock can't do it or they do break character.

Maybe just, maybe, this will make people play "evil" warlocks more?

[NegInfinity]

Well, then let me correct myself. They are not out of the picture, but must know what they are doing, and the fact it is evil. So, yes my point was that goodie warlock can't do it or they do break character.

Maybe just, maybe, this will make people play "evil" warlocks more?

What I meant is that you can't be a saint or a Mary Sue with this kind of tool at your disposal.

DC 20: Though hellfire itself is anathema to good, not all who wield it are evil.

It is akin to pnp blood magic (not bgtscc version of it, which shifts you to CE for no reason whatsoever), pretty much. Character hurts himself/herself to use the power, and will die if uses too much of it.

That's my opinion, anyway.