Demon Summoning
The art of summoning demons is performed through rituals. In theory, a character need not be the worshiper of a chaos-god to summon a demon, as even a good wizard may attempt to bind a demon to their will in order to oblige it to serve a good purpose. In fact, one does not need to be a wizard to attempt it, only to have the correct tools and have studied the ritual for summoning.
There is always an element of risk involved with demon-summoning. The practice of Summoning does not automatically condemn the user in the eyes of the law, but it is undoubtedly something that will increase suspicion on the part of any authorities. Even the most respectable of Magic-Users will generate distrust if they are known to meddle with demons; even if not suspected of blasphemy against Unconquered Sol, or disloyalty to the crown, they will still be seen as engaging in a highly dangerous and reckless activity.
Principles of Demonology
Summoning magic requires the use of secret ritual formulae that involve a complex practice (requiring a certain amount of space, as well as certain tools for summoning, and the drawing of a magical circle and triangle), plus the acquisition of the correct magical names, magical seals or sigils, and “call” of barbarous words of evocation to succeed in summoning a demon. Each demon will have its own name, sigil, and “call”. To perform a summoning, the summoner must construct a magic circle (to protect the summoner) and a magical triangle (to contain the demon). This can be done as simply as with a stick on the dirt or chalk on a floor; or they can be accomplished using elaborate specially-crafted inks on the stone floor of a permanent ritual room. These more elaborate techniques will require an investment of no less than 600gp, but can be reused indefinitely; the cost does not include the price of real estate. The use of a proper and permanent Magic-User's Tower will grant a +4 bonus to any summoning attempts. Regardless of how they construct the circle and triangle, they will also need a set of tools (an incense burner, a dagger used only in the summoning, a cup, a special wax tablet, a wand of almond-wood, paper with which to draw the sigils – though these may also be carved on wood instead - a necklace with a protective hexagram to be worn while performing the summoning, etc.). These tools, for the most part re-usable, will have a total cost of about 60gp (though fancier versions of the same can cost much more). The tools are not absolutely vital to the process, but attempting to perform a summoning without all of the appropriate tools will result in a -2 penalty to any summoning attempt. Note that without the correct sigil for a demon, any attempt at summoning will automatically fail. Actual scrolls, grimoires or diaries that contain accurate sigils for demons are difficult to obtain. Some higher-class scholars have several such documents, but usually only permit access to these libraries to those who are in the highest and most trusted positions within the upper councils, and would be quite vigilant and inquisitive as to the motives of any magic-user who wished to study them (they would need to have a very good reason). A significant selection of such documents are at The Citadel of Sol in Markia as well, but the Clerical order would not permit anyone to use these except in the greatest of world-threatening circumstances. Private individuals, be they powerful Magisters or chaos cults, will sometimes have a limited selection of sigils, and of course at times these can also be found in ancient tombs and ruins. Highly unsavory criminal elements who obtain such knowledge might sell it for a very high price, the cost reflecting the near-certainty of facing a Clerical inquisition should they be caught engaging in such trade. While there is in truth but one God of Law, the demons of Chaos are Legion. Some are famous and mighty, but many are hardly known at all (these usually being considerably less mighty). While obtaining the Sigil, Name, and Call of a demon is sufficient to summon them, any wise magic-user will want to know something about what they are trying to bring into the world. Without knowing any details about the demon’s lore, a magic-user will not only be utterly uncertain as to what abilities a demon may have, but will also be unsure as to the demon’s level of power, and thus the risk involved in summoning it forth. Fully-detailed grimoires will usually elaborate on both those issues (whereas hastily scrawled scrolls or notes may not), and books of demonology (lore on the subject of the underworld) will often serve as encyclopedias with information on dozens of different kinds of demons (usually associated to each other through allegiance of some sort, as demons tend to organize into “kingdoms” in the infernal plane). A Magister or Cleric will have received some education on this subject, and may make an appropriate INT-based Demonology or Occultism skill check in order to see if they recognize any given demon by name or sigil (it usually being more difficult to identify a demon by sigil alone, and with lower difficulty levels to identify well-known Demon Kings, Princes, or Dukes, while lesser demons will be considerably more difficult to recognize). Hiring a sage (usually a Magister who specializes on the subject), or researching in a well-stocked library, should give a substantial bonus to determining the identity of a demon. Once all the materials are obtained, the ritual to summon forth the demon requires the better part of a day. The actual summoning itself takes approximately one hour, but prior to this, it is highly recommended that the summoner engage in fasting the whole day, a ritual bath and several hours of prayer (be it either to the powers of Chaos or Unconquered Sol) and contemplation, as well as the preparation of the ritual space. Should the ritual be performed slapdash, the setting up and summoning attempt without any of the proper preparations could be done in about 40 minutes, but will result in a -2 penalty to any summoning attempt.
Summoning Procedure
In order to successfully summon a demon, the caster must make a check of 1d20 + INT modifier + Magic-User level if the summoner belongs to one of these classes. This can be modified by the aforementioned conditions described above:
If a character fails in their summoning attempt, they may attempt to do so again no less than 24 hours later, at a –4 penalty to the attempt. If they fail the second time, they cannot attempt to summon that particular demon again until the PC gains a level (at which time they can attempt it again without penalty).
If the summoning is successful, the summoner must then engage in a battle of wills with the demon. Through ritualized commands they must seek to obtain dominion over the demon and oblige it to swear agreement to perform a service for the summoner.
To do this, they must succeed in a saving throw versus magic. There is a penalty to the saving throw based on the rank of the Demon in question (see table above).
In either case, if the summoner used blood sacrifice for the summoning, there is a penalty incurred to the saving throw for control; the penalty is –2 in the case of an animal sacrifice, –4 in the case of having sacrificed intelligent creatures.
On the other hand, a summoner who has been assiduously devout to Unconquered Sol (or any manifestation of the One God of Law) and is engaging in the summoning in order to serve the cause of Law (as determined by the GM’s judgement) gets a +2 bonus to this saving throw to dominate. He gets a further +2 if, in addition to his devotion, he has in pursuit of his faith slain chaos cultists or the undead, and a further additional +2 if he has ever slain a demon of any kind. Thus, the total bonus for piety can be as high as a +6.
Finally, if the summoner is performing the ritual inside a Magister’s Tower or a holy site of Unconquered Sol, he receives a +4 bonus to the saving throw.
If the initial saving throw fails, the summoner then faces a decision: he can attempt to banish the demon, or make another attempt to dominate the demon. Banishing the demon requires the same type of check as the initial summoning with the same difficulty and bonuses. Attempting to dominate the demon a second time involves the same saving throw as before, but with a –1 penalty.
Assuming unsuccessful attempts, the summoner may continue to attempt either choice; but every time a subsequent effort at domination is attempted, the saving throw incurs a further (cumulative) –1 penalty (so if it is the 4th time the summoner is trying to dominate the demon, they have a –4 penalty to their saving throw).
If at any time in either a banishing or a domination attempt the summoner rolls a natural 1, they end up being possessed by the demon, who will then have control over the PC and use the PC to do its bidding. This may involve freeing the demon into the world, or the demon may voluntarily withdraw back to the infernal realms while retaining control over the mind of the summoner. The PC will not appear to be controlled and will for the most part act normally (they may even believe that they had successfully overcome the demon), only changing in personality when the demon obliges him to perform services. A banishing or clerical exorcism can free the character from possession; however, it may be difficult to distinguish between someone who has been involuntarily possessed and someone who has voluntarily entered into a pact or become a worshiper of Chaos.
Note that the demon can under no circumstances escape the magical triangle unless the triangle is in some way broken (the markings of its border erased). If this should happen then the demon is free to move in the world, or to return to their infernal realm at will. A summoner may wish, rather than engaging in an effort at banishing or domination, to simply try to wait the demon out, and hope that the demon will choose to return to the infernal realms of its own accord. Demons, being immortal, will rarely do so, particularly if they realize that the summoner is pressed for time or could not reveal the demon’s presence to others without serious consequences. A Clerical divine intervention could have effect on a demon within the triangle, potentially banishing it back to the infernal realms; this may be another option for a summoner, assuming that involving a Cleric will not lead to the summoner being burnt at the stake.
Finally, rather than engaging in a domination attempt, the summoner may wish to enter into a Pact with the demon. This is where the summoner will perform some service for the demon in exchange for some service in kind from the demon. Contrary to common folklore, the demon will almost never request the caster’s soul as an exchange, since by entering into a pact in the first place the caster’s soul’s place with Unconquered Sol is already essentially forfeit. More often, the demon’s condition (which could be almost anything) involves the summoner engaging in activity that will aid the cause of Chaos in the world: murdering some holy person, obtaining some powerful artifact for the demon, assisting the demon’s chaos cult in some dark activity, etc.
Dominion
If a summoner succeeds at the dominion saving throw (see above), he will then be able to oblige the demon to an act of service. However, the obligation to serve must be put in terms of a particular task, not the use of a particular power. At that point, the demon is bound by their service and the Magister could, if need be, release them into the world to perform their task without risk of being harmed. A demon will attempt to perform the task, to the best of its ability. A common demon, thus, might not actually have the strength to accomplish what the task demands; demons can fail in their task just as any servant might. Demons might use their own brute power, their magical abilities, or their cults. Demons of the rank of Lord or higher may send out servants of their own, lesser demons under their command; in fact, demons of the rank of Count or higher will almost never chose to personally manifest in the world, as they have too many responsibilities in the infernal realms to waste their time personally performing tasks. If the task does not require the maximum number a demon will usually prefer to avoid using any more than the minimum necessary. Note that these numbers are not the same as what a demon can summon in an instant when on the material world; sending forth these demons (which will be under the same obligation to obey the conditions of the domination as their vassal lord) will take approximately 12 hours, and will always depend on the caster’s consent, and his allowing them to come through to this world via a talisman. As part of the conditions of service they will have to return to the infernal realms immediately when they have completed their task or when otherwise bidden by the caster (who cannot then call them back again without doing another summoning). Instead of using their own brute force or that of their vassals, a demon may choose to resolve the task by use his knowledge; being ageless, demons will have knowledge regarding the location of long-lost objects, or places, or beings that the caster might seek. Many of them also have knowledge of human spellcraft, and if it would fulfill the task demanded of them, the demon could teach a Magic-User a magical technique. The demon may also make use of his special magical powers, either doing so themselves, or temporarily conferring that power onto the magic-user (for a single use, at a time to be determined by the magic user) through a talisman with the demon’s sigil on it (such a talisman will need to be made and charged by a ritual the demon will show the magician, the talisman will likely be made of a precious metal, with a cost of 30gp per rank of the demon; so a common demon’s talisman would be 30gp, a knight’s 60gp, a Lord’s 90gp, etc). A demon of the rank of Count or higher may permanently imbue the talisman with the power, usable once per day, but this would have ten times the normal cost of materials. Finally, a demon with the rank of Duke, Prince or King can permanently confer the power on the caster themselves. The caster must be voluntarily willing to receive this gift; doing so marks the caster as a Chaos mutant, and may lead to a change in physical features to match the nature of the power, if appropriate.
Special Magical Powers
In addition to the abilities already mentioned, all demons have one or more special power, which they can use, or confer on a magic-user through a talisman (or in the case of high-ranking demons, directly on a magic-user or a cultist). There are huge varieties of powers available to demons; and lore-books as well as grimoires will often detail the powers that demons can grant as part of their description. There is an enormous variation of powers, and the GM can feel free to make up any kind of power he feels appropriate.
Principles of Demonology
Summoning magic requires the use of secret ritual formulae that involve a complex practice (requiring a certain amount of space, as well as certain tools for summoning, and the drawing of a magical circle and triangle), plus the acquisition of the correct magical names, magical seals or sigils, and “call” of barbarous words of evocation to succeed in summoning a demon. Each demon will have its own name, sigil, and “call”. To perform a summoning, the summoner must construct a magic circle (to protect the summoner) and a magical triangle (to contain the demon). This can be done as simply as with a stick on the dirt or chalk on a floor; or they can be accomplished using elaborate specially-crafted inks on the stone floor of a permanent ritual room. These more elaborate techniques will require an investment of no less than 600gp, but can be reused indefinitely; the cost does not include the price of real estate. The use of a proper and permanent Magic-User's Tower will grant a +4 bonus to any summoning attempts. Regardless of how they construct the circle and triangle, they will also need a set of tools (an incense burner, a dagger used only in the summoning, a cup, a special wax tablet, a wand of almond-wood, paper with which to draw the sigils – though these may also be carved on wood instead - a necklace with a protective hexagram to be worn while performing the summoning, etc.). These tools, for the most part re-usable, will have a total cost of about 60gp (though fancier versions of the same can cost much more). The tools are not absolutely vital to the process, but attempting to perform a summoning without all of the appropriate tools will result in a -2 penalty to any summoning attempt. Note that without the correct sigil for a demon, any attempt at summoning will automatically fail. Actual scrolls, grimoires or diaries that contain accurate sigils for demons are difficult to obtain. Some higher-class scholars have several such documents, but usually only permit access to these libraries to those who are in the highest and most trusted positions within the upper councils, and would be quite vigilant and inquisitive as to the motives of any magic-user who wished to study them (they would need to have a very good reason). A significant selection of such documents are at The Citadel of Sol in Markia as well, but the Clerical order would not permit anyone to use these except in the greatest of world-threatening circumstances. Private individuals, be they powerful Magisters or chaos cults, will sometimes have a limited selection of sigils, and of course at times these can also be found in ancient tombs and ruins. Highly unsavory criminal elements who obtain such knowledge might sell it for a very high price, the cost reflecting the near-certainty of facing a Clerical inquisition should they be caught engaging in such trade. While there is in truth but one God of Law, the demons of Chaos are Legion. Some are famous and mighty, but many are hardly known at all (these usually being considerably less mighty). While obtaining the Sigil, Name, and Call of a demon is sufficient to summon them, any wise magic-user will want to know something about what they are trying to bring into the world. Without knowing any details about the demon’s lore, a magic-user will not only be utterly uncertain as to what abilities a demon may have, but will also be unsure as to the demon’s level of power, and thus the risk involved in summoning it forth. Fully-detailed grimoires will usually elaborate on both those issues (whereas hastily scrawled scrolls or notes may not), and books of demonology (lore on the subject of the underworld) will often serve as encyclopedias with information on dozens of different kinds of demons (usually associated to each other through allegiance of some sort, as demons tend to organize into “kingdoms” in the infernal plane). A Magister or Cleric will have received some education on this subject, and may make an appropriate INT-based Demonology or Occultism skill check in order to see if they recognize any given demon by name or sigil (it usually being more difficult to identify a demon by sigil alone, and with lower difficulty levels to identify well-known Demon Kings, Princes, or Dukes, while lesser demons will be considerably more difficult to recognize). Hiring a sage (usually a Magister who specializes on the subject), or researching in a well-stocked library, should give a substantial bonus to determining the identity of a demon. Once all the materials are obtained, the ritual to summon forth the demon requires the better part of a day. The actual summoning itself takes approximately one hour, but prior to this, it is highly recommended that the summoner engage in fasting the whole day, a ritual bath and several hours of prayer (be it either to the powers of Chaos or Unconquered Sol) and contemplation, as well as the preparation of the ritual space. Should the ritual be performed slapdash, the setting up and summoning attempt without any of the proper preparations could be done in about 40 minutes, but will result in a -2 penalty to any summoning attempt.
Summoning Procedure
In order to successfully summon a demon, the caster must make a check of 1d20 + INT modifier + Magic-User level if the summoner belongs to one of these classes. This can be modified by the aforementioned conditions described above:
- Performed inside a Magister’s Tower: +4 bonus
- Failing to use the proper tools: –2 penalty
- Performing the Summoning without proper preparation: –2 penalty
- If the summoner creates a special version of the demon’s sigil made out of precious metals: +1 / gp of cost invested (to a maximum of +5).
- If the summoner conducts a blood sacrifice of an animal: +1 per total HD of animals slain, to a maximum of +4.
- If the summoner conducts a blood sacrifice of intelligent creatures: +1 per total HD of creatures slain, no limit.
Dominion
If a summoner succeeds at the dominion saving throw (see above), he will then be able to oblige the demon to an act of service. However, the obligation to serve must be put in terms of a particular task, not the use of a particular power. At that point, the demon is bound by their service and the Magister could, if need be, release them into the world to perform their task without risk of being harmed. A demon will attempt to perform the task, to the best of its ability. A common demon, thus, might not actually have the strength to accomplish what the task demands; demons can fail in their task just as any servant might. Demons might use their own brute power, their magical abilities, or their cults. Demons of the rank of Lord or higher may send out servants of their own, lesser demons under their command; in fact, demons of the rank of Count or higher will almost never chose to personally manifest in the world, as they have too many responsibilities in the infernal realms to waste their time personally performing tasks. If the task does not require the maximum number a demon will usually prefer to avoid using any more than the minimum necessary. Note that these numbers are not the same as what a demon can summon in an instant when on the material world; sending forth these demons (which will be under the same obligation to obey the conditions of the domination as their vassal lord) will take approximately 12 hours, and will always depend on the caster’s consent, and his allowing them to come through to this world via a talisman. As part of the conditions of service they will have to return to the infernal realms immediately when they have completed their task or when otherwise bidden by the caster (who cannot then call them back again without doing another summoning). Instead of using their own brute force or that of their vassals, a demon may choose to resolve the task by use his knowledge; being ageless, demons will have knowledge regarding the location of long-lost objects, or places, or beings that the caster might seek. Many of them also have knowledge of human spellcraft, and if it would fulfill the task demanded of them, the demon could teach a Magic-User a magical technique. The demon may also make use of his special magical powers, either doing so themselves, or temporarily conferring that power onto the magic-user (for a single use, at a time to be determined by the magic user) through a talisman with the demon’s sigil on it (such a talisman will need to be made and charged by a ritual the demon will show the magician, the talisman will likely be made of a precious metal, with a cost of 30gp per rank of the demon; so a common demon’s talisman would be 30gp, a knight’s 60gp, a Lord’s 90gp, etc). A demon of the rank of Count or higher may permanently imbue the talisman with the power, usable once per day, but this would have ten times the normal cost of materials. Finally, a demon with the rank of Duke, Prince or King can permanently confer the power on the caster themselves. The caster must be voluntarily willing to receive this gift; doing so marks the caster as a Chaos mutant, and may lead to a change in physical features to match the nature of the power, if appropriate.
Special Magical Powers
In addition to the abilities already mentioned, all demons have one or more special power, which they can use, or confer on a magic-user through a talisman (or in the case of high-ranking demons, directly on a magic-user or a cultist). There are huge varieties of powers available to demons; and lore-books as well as grimoires will often detail the powers that demons can grant as part of their description. There is an enormous variation of powers, and the GM can feel free to make up any kind of power he feels appropriate.
“Last night I had the dream again. Except it's not a dream I know because when it comes for me, I'm still awake. There's my desk. The map on the wall. The wooden animals I don't play with anymore but don't want to hurt Dad's feelings by sticking in the closet I might be in bed. I might be just standing there, looking for a missing sock. Then I'm gone. It doesn't just show me somthing this time, it takes me from here to there, standing on the bank of a river of fire. A thousand wasps in my head. Fighting and dying inside my skull, their bodies piling up against the backs of me eyes. Stinging and stinging. Dad's voice. Somewhere across the river. Calling my name. I've never heard him sound like that before. He's so frightened he can't hide it, even though he tries (he ALWAYS tries). The dead boy floats by. Facedown. So I wait for his head to pop up, show the holes where his eye used to be, say somthing with his blue lips. One of the terrible things it might make him do. But he just passes like a chunk of wood. I've never been here before, but I know it's real. The river is the line between this place and the Other Place. And I'm on the wrong side. There's a dark forest behind me but that's not what it is. I try to get to where Dad is. My toes touch the river and it sings with pain. Then there's arms pulling me back. Dragging me into the trees. They feel like a man's arms but it's not a man that sticks its fingers into my mouth. Nails that scratch the back of my throat. Skin that tastes like dirt. But just before that, before I'm back in my room with my missing sock in my hand, I realize I've been calling out to Dad just like he's been calling out to me. Telling him the same thing the whole time. Not words from my mouth through the air, but from my heart through the earth, so only the two of us could hear it...FIND ME”
