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As your character interacts more with the Hells and voluntarily takes on more and more demonic influence, they themselves become more demonic. These are the different tiers of that influence, and what Pactbound are able to do at each rank.
Bear this in mind! These abilities are what characters get by default. When they make a Pact with a demon, they get more abilities from the demonic court they are bound to.
Though Former Pactbound have broken ranks with the fiendish host, their devil still has a faint influence over them. No matter the years or distance, the devil themselves or their servants can always find a former Pactbound to try to tempt them back into renewing their contract.
- Former Pactbound cannot do anything, except powers which were granted through the completion of their Pact.
- Former Pactbound may or may not be able to resume their rank in the demonic hierarchy where they left it.
- Former Pactbound keep the aesthetic and physical changes to their body that they had when they were Pactbound, but these could be removed in other ways.
Lesser Fiends are demonic losers in the most literal sense. They are fiends who have become so weakened, usually as a result of other fiends preying on them, that they are no longer capable of manifesting a corporeal form in most cases. Lesser Fiends are able to possess mortals and be shaped by more powerful fiends in useful ways.
- Lesser Fiends may only possess others, generally speaking.
A Servant is only ranked higher than the lowest of lowly fiends, some infernalkind who are by any definition a slave enjoy more authority and influence than a mortal Servant.
- Char. Servants are able to quell doubts and negative emotions (such as those instilled through demonic possession) by finding bones, and burning them. To do so they must hold the bones in their hands, and will their negativity into them.
Knights vary wildly in standing. From experienced battle captains who are vital to the court, to disposable swords.
- Sword of the Abyss. A weapon will either be gifted to the knight, or an existing weapon of theirs will be enhanced. This weapon is stored in their devil’s armory, and as long as it isn’t stolen from there, they may conjure it from the armory and return it at will. The weapon needn’t be a sword: it could be any handheld weapon, including magical implements or a ranged weapon with ammunition. It cannot be a siege weapon like a ballista, but it could be ammunition for one like a ballista bolt or a cannonball. A Knight’s weapon may be used by others, but any special effects will require a source of demonic energy to function.
- Monstrous Aspect. Knights may take on a more demonic form at will. Larger horns, bigger body, more frightening build, redder eyes, and so on. When in this form, they are obviously inhuman. At the prerogative of the player, and the temperament of the knight, they may appear like this anywhere from only in times of great duress to looking like this more often than their base form.
To the court, Courtiers are a special thing. Often the pet projects of their lords, if any mortals are ever treated kindly by fiends, courtiers are. What their actual duties are can vary wildly, from administration, to sorcery, to war, to even nothing at all.
- Summon Fiend. The Courtier may summon a Fodder demon loyal to the court. If they have no court and no demonic allies, this doesn’t work. The Fodder demon will fight alongside them or perform work it is directed to do, but is its own person with their own agency and may very well turn on the Courtier or leave altogether if they feel the need.
A Courtier who signs Pacts on their own merit can be considered a hair higher than other Courtiers on the demonic hierarchy. They become a true demon the moment their first Pact is signed, a change they can never come back from.
- Write something that is now unique to them, based on their first area of demonic interest like how Rierie is foremost the Queen of Snakes.
- Write a minor ability for their prospective Servants, those who are now Pactbound to them.
Most demons of the next rank are Fodder, the rank and file of demonic service. Individually stronger than any mortal, a player character who has become a Fodder demon no doubt also has advanced arcane power, or something else making them exceptional.
- Mimics, Draupax, Ginur, Inuimez, Yiozora, Lamentors, Kiekerlin, and Viands are all examples of Fodder demons. Take inspiration from their character designs, and come up with an ability based on one of them for your character.
Generals are few and far between. A devil usually only has two or three at their disposal, and they are of great power, able to stand up to constant challenges from Fodder demons.
- Like with the rank of Courtier, reach out to a DM to come up with something unique and special.
Devils, Demon Lords, Archfiends, et al. The strongest beings that the Hells have to offer, excepting perhaps the rare and unique ancient evil to be found there to spite demonic civilization.
- You can have your character become one of these, but you can’t play them as one. Demon lords don’t go to the tavern and hang out, they have responsibilities in hell.