How to Sell Your Soul (in D&D)
So you’ve decided to sell your soul for what is, almost assuredly, a short-term gain. Here’s how you can do that in D&D.
Dungeons & Dragons is a game of fantasy adventure where heroes overcome impossible odds to triumph against great foes. Of course, there are multiple ways to sell your soul for short-term gains.
That’s right, whether you want to sign away your soul for some power right now or maybe money, or if you want to make some hideously one-sided bargain with an otherworldly entity that will be Future You’s problem, then here’s how you can do it in D&D right now.
One of the biggest pieces of D&D lore that kind of gets handwaved into the background is that devils like to make deals to tempt mortals. They’re incentivized to do exactly that! It’s a great way for devils to get promoted to being a more powerful devil. Nobody wants to be a lemure, after all.
All you have to do is know where to start. We’re here to help.
Look For a Devil Way Behind or in a Bind, Willing to Make a Deal
First things first, you’ll have to find a devil willing to make a deal. This is trickier than it sounds. Because the most powerful devils are often restricted to operating through agents or other proxies. If you can get to the Nine Hells, where devils can more easily use their power, then you’ve got most of the work done already.
Outside of the Nine Hells, however, devils are rarer. But they can be found. You might track down an infernal cult. Or try one of the summoning spells to make contact with a feind. Or the spell Contact Other Plane is another way to do so, even if that’s primarily a vehicle for divining the future.
But even if you can find one, certain terms and conditions apply.
Terms and Conditions, Pre-Existing Preferably
The one problem is, outside of the Nine Hells, most devils are restricted from using their full power. They cannot usually enter into binding deals. The only exception is when some preexisting condition is met. Which is almost the exact opposite of American Health Care.
Lesser and Greater Devils can gift their talismans to summoners, for instance. Or they might let their true name get out. Mortals can create ritual circles that are used to forge a deal instead of summoning a monster into service. And any Archdevil can act through intermediaries, as long as you find the right one.
Know What You Want
Once you find a devil who is in a bind, you have to know what you want. Devils can offer you something in exchange for a price. But you have to know what you’re getting. The biggest prize is your very soul, which is a pretty good deal because you don’t have to give it up until you die.
But you might also be able to get away with doing a service or swearing fealty (which is just as juicy to archdevils who can grant fabulous secret powers as a result). In exchange, you can get some pretty cool prizes, depending on the kind of devil you’re dealing with. Here’s a look at some examples from Descent into Avernus:
They can also help you out if you fail a death save in the Nine Hells or any other place where their influence can be wielded in full. All you have to do is agree to do a favor, perform a task, really, for the archdevil and then you automatically roll a 20 on your next death save, getting back up and into the fight.
You are, of course, subject to a geas spell and if you break it, you drop to 0 hit points and are dying. But all you have to do is some simple, straightforward task to the benefit of an archdevil and you’re good. And after two failures…it starts to look pretty good.
Set Your Terms
Before you sign on the line, in blood or ink or that strange glowing ichor that burns hotter than a flame for a moment, before vanishing and leaving you feeling…empty, you’ll have to come to terms with the deal you’re making. Literally. Because we’re talking about establishing a formal contract or license which then exists as a physical object that the devil can summon.
You’ll have to establish the terms and be careful that devils don’t insert some deceptive clause into the contract that leaves you open to getting hosed, legally. Like being able to unauthorize an otherwise perpetual license.
You’ll also have to establish what happens if you’re in breach of contract.
- Forfeit your soul (meaning that instead of serving as a devil with some semblance of who you are, you are reborn as a lemur after you die)
- Lose all monetary wealth and property or a powerful magic item to the devil, giving them some free real estate
- Marked by devilish powers: you grow horns or a tail or some other thing that cannot be removed and makes you seem fiendish
- Gain a new flaw and whenever you act out of character with the flaw, you are at a disadvantage on all attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws until your behavior matches the flaw
You might be able to get out of it, but that’s a matter for devils and their lawyers to figure out.
Now you know how to sell your soul!
