Descent into Avernus

2r2

APPENDIX A: DIABOLICAL DEALS

A hallmark of devils is their delight in striking deals

with mortals. These deals are more than mere agree-

ments; they are cosmically binding exchanges in which

a devil grants a mortal character some measure of

power for a price. Once an agreement is reached, the

deal is sealed with a binding contract, which both par-

ties must sign.

A devil's u ltimate goal is to claim mortal souls. If it

can't get a mortal's soul in one fell swoop, the devil tries

to take it one little piece at a time by encouraging the

mortal to commit evil acts and thereby condemning the

mortal's soul to the Nine Hells.

Infernal deals are enforced by the weight of the multi-

verse itself, by the very essence of the forces of Law and

Evil. Devils channel this essence through the infernal

hierarchy that governs their existence. Devils higher up

in the hierarchy can leverage more potent deals and of-

fer more enticing gifts.

Least devils can't enter into deals. Lesser and greater

devils can enter into deals either for themselves or as an

intermediary for their infernal superiors. Archdevils are

the only devils able to freely deal with creatures outside

the Nine Hells, usually when mortals invoke them to beg

their favor.

ENTERING INTO A DEAL

Despite their thirst for trapping mortal souls in binding

contracts, devils can enter into deals only in specific

circumstances. The easiest way for a devil to forge a

deal is to do so within the Nine Hells, where it's closer

to the infernal hierarchy and can more easily channel its

power. Elsewhere in the multiverse, most devils are too

removed from their power structure to enter into bind-

ing deals without some extraordinary circumstances.

A deal consists of a proposal that covers the terms

each party expects, and a contract that seals the deal

and makes it binding.

Lesser and greater devils can't freely make deals out-

side of their home plane, but there are ways it can be

done. If a summoner on another plane knows a devil's

true name or has its talisman (as described in "Devil

True Names and Talismans" in the Monster Manual),

instead of binding the devil into service, the summoner

can create a ritual circle that allows the devil to forge a

deal. Once the deal is sealed with a contract, the devil

returns to the Nine Hells.

An archdevil who wishes to make a deal with a char-

acter can do so in person or send a minion to propose

the deal and negotiate on its behalf. A character can also

contact an archdevil by kilting a chaotic-or good-aligned

humanoid and praying to the archdevil over the course

of 1 hour. The archdevil hears the character's prayer

and can choose to respond in dreams or visions, or it

can send a minion with the authority to make a deal on

its behalf.

APPENDIX A I DTABOLTOAL DEALS

INFERN A L HIERARC H Y

Least Devils

l. Lemure

2. Nupperibo

Lesser Devils

3. Imp


4. Spined devil


5. Bearded devil


6. Merregon


7. Barbed devil


8. Chain devil


9. Bone devil

PROPOSAL

Greater D evils

10. Orthon


11. Horned devil


12. Erinyes


13. Narzugon


14. Ice devil


15. Amnizu


16. Pit fiend

Archdevils

17. Duke or duchess


18. Archduke or archduchess

Diabolical deals start with either the devil or the char-

acter broaching the subject and offering something.

The terms of the deal require, at a minimum, the devil

to offer a gift and the character to agree to a price. If

the terms aren't acceptable to either party, they can

negotiate and try to sweeten the deal by offering more

valuable terms, or simply walk away. Not every deal is

meant to be.

If the price is anything less than the character's soul,

a devil often stipulates a penalty in the event the charac-

ter fails to meet the deal's price.

Once both parties agree to the terms, they seal the

deal with a physical contract, which can take one of

many forms (see "Infernal Contracts," page 214).

ABILITY CHECKS AND DEAL-MAKING

Most deals with devils can be resolved without rolling

dice to determine the outcome. A Charisma check can't

deceive or persuade most devils into a bad deal because

the fiends are too clever and experienced in deal-making

to be fooled. If devils do get involved in a deal that

sounds too good to be true or is confusing, they're likely

to pause negotiations while they ask smarter devils for

their opinions on the deal.

The following ability checks can be made during

deal-making:

If a devil attempts to deceive a character at the

deal-making stage, the devil can make a Charisma

(Deception) check opposed by the character's Wis-

dom (Insight) check. If the character's check result is

higher than the devil's, the character sees through the

devil's deception.

• Devils like to slip extra clauses into the fine print of
  a contract. When this happens, a character who can

read Infernal can make an Intelligence (Investigation)

check opposed by the devil's Charisma (Deception)

check. If the character's check result is higher than

the devil's, the character detects the extra clauses in

the fine print and can have them removed before the

contract is signed.