Soulsbane

Poisons take all manner of forms: some induce hallucinations, lethargy, or death. Some wrack the body with pain, pleasure, or nothing at all. Some must be ingested, whilst others need only be touched. Regardless of their effects, they all carry pernicious effects, though none is more contemptible or horrific than Soulsbane. Brewed in the dismal depths of Sarundel, this poison is not famed for its potency or the agony it inflicts, but instead for the result it produces. Anyone unfortunate enough to consume this despicable tincture will feel a strange sinking feeling and a looming dread. Within minutes, the Soulsbane will take effect. The victim's soul will be dragged from their body and condemned to an eternity of torment in Sarundel. Nothing short of immediate divine intervention can prevent this fate.

The realm that the victim is damned to depends on where the elixir was created. It is for this reason that the Devils constantly strive to concoct this foul remedy, for they are always yearning for more souls to torture. Thankfully, Soulsbane is not easily produced. Legions of fiendish alchemists toil in secluded grottos, tirelessly striving to create a new batch and appease their malevolent masters. They can never complete their task quick enough. The greatest minds amongst them struggle to brew even one dose a century, and the slightest mistake can ruin the potion entirely. Furthermore, many of the ingredients are exceptionally rare. Bands of fiends constantly trawl across Baelonmor in an endless quest to secure suitable reagents, and they will go to any length to achieve their goals.

To poison somebody with Soulsbane is amongst the worst sins a mortal can commit. Murderers, tyrants, and heretics can all achieve absolution through dutiful sacrifice and fervent piety, but the act of using Soulsbane is unforgivable. Not only does it condemn a person to unjust perdition, it undermines the Pantheon's status as sole adjudicators of a soul's worth. In their eyes, an individual who utilises Soulsbane is masquerading as a God, and eroding their reputation as undisputed overlords. The divine play a significant role in obstructing the creation of Soulsbane. Whilst they cannot directly intervene in Sarundel (without a mortal proxy's presence), they can ensure the components of the poison are difficult to find. However, the Invasion of the Enmanari has drawn their attention to more pressing matters, and so Soulsbane has become more prolific today than it ever was before.

For the Devils of Sarundel, Soulsbane is not exclusively an instrument of abduction, but a delectable beverage. Since they have no soul, the poison cannot excise anything from their being. Instead, they savour the taste. To a mortal palate, the poison is deeply sour and seems to sap the moisture from one's throat but, to a fiend, the flavour of liquid despair is delightful. It cleanses their minds and offers a renewed sense of calm focus, providing nourishment for their essence in the same way that Darycian Water does for a mortal. Amongst the upper echelons of Sarundel, drinking Soulsbane is a symbol of great status. For every other Devil, it is a distant dream to taste just a single drop.