Crossroads Demons

Amongst the most cunning and manipulative of the fiends that come to Varda are the Crossroads Demons. Offering bargains in exchange for the souls of the living, these Demons differ greatly from their kin. Gone is the need for chaos and destruction on The Material Plane, and instead, an insidious nature to gather souls for their own means. These deals include a plethora of mortal desires: wealth, power, and even love.

Appearance and Behaviour

Very rarely will a mortal see the true form of a Crossroads Demon, and instead the creature will take a form designed to appeal to the one that summoned them. Eloquent beauties, figures of authority, and even close loved-ones are all forms the Demon will take to try to charm their potential quarry.

The true form of a Crossroads Demon is very different. A creature made of twisted shadow and grotesque features, no two tend to be alike. Crossroads Demons seem to despise revealing this form, showing only brief glimpses when intimidating or concluding their deals.

Unlike other Demons, a Crossroads Demon seldom exhibits the usual paranormal activity one expects from Demons. Possession and Demonic Hauntings are not their style. Even attempts to cross over to the Material Plane are not their forte, and instead they imply wait until they are summoned.

This summoning always happens at a crossroads, and is done by a mortal seeking a deal with the Demon. The typical price is the soul of the summoner, and a contract will be made. Crossroad Demons hold all their contracts in high regard, as they appear to have a great lust or need for as many souls as possible. It is for this reason, they are inherently patient, and will happily wait decades to collect their bargains.

Signs of Presence

The presence of a Crossroads Demon is often hard to find, as they will only stay on the Material Plane for a short time, either to make a deal or to collect. A lingering smell of sulphur or burnt wood is common, as well as an unsettling aura. Shadows may dance out of the corner of one's eyes when in the presence of such a Demon, or if one has been summoned recently.

Upon collection of a soul, many signs commonly attributed to a Demonic Haunting may occur. These are often centred around the individual who traded their soul. Cold spots, the movement of objects, disembodied voices; all will follow the unfortunate victim. These are stark warnings to the doomed soul: your time is up.

Known Lore (In-World)

Many ancient texts and forbidden tomes go in to detail about Crossroads Demons and the methods for summoning them to acquire untold desires. The typical summoning ritual involves burying a small box in the centre of a crossroads, which gives the Demons their name. Within the box, key items must be included; some graveyard dirt, a small amount of coins, and the name of the person who wishes to make the deal. This can be written on any surface and with any substance, as long as the name is full and legible.

Folk tales of Demons are common in many places of Varda, especially concerning making deals with them. These warn against the perils of greed and desperation, and that deals with the other side seldom end well. Many villages near major crossroads will place wards or talismans to deter these entities, but there is little evidence to support that these have any effect.

True Origins

The following is for world-building purposes only – no Character or mortal found within Varda will be privy to such information (although Divine Beings and Crossroads Demons themselves may be).

Crossroads Demons originate just like every other Demon; corrupted souls that are reborn in the Magical Plane of The Weave .However, they are born with a degree of control over their hunger for the Material Plane. This still exists, but they are privy to the knowledge of how souls return to the Weave upon death. This leads them to knowing that if they capture these souls, they can use it to bolster their own power and influence.

The deals they make are made of the very substance of magical energies that permeates the Weave. Strict rules govern these contracts, dissolving the deal if either party breaks its conditions. This also gives the Crossroads Demons an almost god-like amount of power over the Material Plane. Events an be manipulated instantly to grant the mortals their wish, and many in positions of power have found themselves their due to a deal made with a Crossroads Demon.