Pacts

Pacts are an exchange between a Mortal and a Patron that could be a Spirit, Saint, or even a God. They empower the Mortal in exchange for behavior on the Mortal's part. It could be devotion to the Patron, it could be proselytizing, it could be killing certain people, it could be sacrificing specific offerings, or in the most extreme cases, the Mortal's soul. The nature of the Pact depends on the being that is making the Pact with the Mortal. As the Mortal develops their ability to safely channel a Patrons power increases. If a Mortal or Patron breaks a Pact there may be consequences beyond the loss of their connection. And Mortals experienced in channeling a Pact will retain that capacity if they enter into a Pact with another Patron.

Pactmages

Pactmages are those who make pacts with a Patron in exchange for power. Each Pactmage's behavior is shaped by their relationship to their Patron. Often coming to a Mortal in a time of great need, the Patrons offer power in exchange for acting on the Patron's behalf in the Mortal Realm. Depending on the Mortal and the Patron this can become a symbiotic or antagonistic relationship. However the promise of power and the risk of losing it often ties a Pactmage to their Patron even when they chafe at the Pact. While Pactmages generally do not understand how they are casting the spells their Patron offers them, careful study will give them access to Arcane secrets.

Invocations

The nature of the Pact and Patron can change the spells a Pactmage casts. Either granting them unique powers or reshaping the effects of their spells.

Patrons

A wide range of beings can act as Patrons. These tend to be Spirits, though Saints and even Gods have been known to offer Pacts. Latter typically offers Pacts through an intermediary Celestial or Infernal Outsider as they generally channel their power through Adherents.

Beyonder

Pacts offered by beings of the Far Realm, they care little for the power the give beyond that it is used destructively and that the Pactmage is a vehicle for their aberration to enter the Mortal Realm.

Celestial

The rarest of the Pacts, Celestial Outsiders will make such pacts on behalf of a God or Saint. Or the Patron may be a God or Saint. Either way there granted powers are similar to those granted to Adherents and Paladins. Such Pacts require codes of behavior and specific works on behalf of the Pactmage.

Elemental

Typically requiring an Elemental Ousider of significant strength to offer the Pact, such pacts are to increase the Elemental Outsider's influence on the Mortal Realm in an attempt to become a God.

Fae

The motives of the Fae Lords are as mercurial and mysterious as they are. Power is always a motivator of the Fae Lords, and devotion and acts in the Mortal Realm can feed that power. But more often Fae Lords are looking for novel entertainment, unique distractions, and subjects tempted into the The Undying Lands.

Infernal

Willing to make the most powerful deals for seemingly the smallest of prices, Infernal Outsiders deal in souls. Both the souls of those who make Pacts and their victims. Most infernal deals start with small requirements in desperate situations. But they have a tendency of ballooning as the Patron dangles more an more power in front of the Pactmage paired with threatening to withdraw said power.

Primal

Genus Loci and other Spirits of creation are some of the rarer Patrons, as they require finding the Spirit first. Pacts with Primal Patrons tend to focus on temporal matters, the defense and cultivation of a specific place is common. As with Primalshaping, such Pacts lead the Pactmage to become wilder and more animalistic over time.