出典 Book of the Damned 5ページ
最もよく知られており、最も直接的な悪魔的腐敗の形式である地獄の契約は、デヴィルと定命の者との間に拘束力を形成する。このような契約はさまざまな形をとり、通常は定命の者の社会の法律や用語をパロディしたものである。地獄の契約は、通常、贅沢な品物や一見不可能と思われるサービスに対する申し出という形をとり、まさにそのような目的のためにデヴィルを召喚した定命の者にデヴィルが提示する。これらの契約は非常に強力であり、そのような地獄のような文書に署名することに同意した人々の人生——さらには現実をも——さまざまな方法で変えることができる。デヴィルは契約条件を満たす見返りとして、契約者が死亡したとき、あるいは契約で指定された時期に、その定命の者の魂を受け取る。そのような契約の対象となるのはほぼ常に定命の者の魂であるが、デヴィルはしばしば、紛らわしい法律用語、副条項、付録の中で、あるいは契約の履行を調整して契約者に自分自身を呪う手段を提供することによって、彼らの欲望を封じる。このように、地獄の契約の中には、冒涜的なやりとりを単純に記録したものもあれば、悪魔的な意図を覆い隠す乱雑な文書であるものもある。 より複雑な契約はデヴィルの欲望を隠すのに効果的であるが、賢い定命の者たちに天罰から逃れる機会を与えるかもしれない。
地獄の契約は時代を超えた真実の表現である；定命の者は常により多くを望むのだ。多くの定命の者はこの世の富と異世界の権力を夢見るが、広大な次元界の計画の中では、彼らの存在は短く、交渉力も限られている。ヘルのデヴィルは、そのような制限を回避する方法を提供する。定命の者が多元宇宙の仕組みや無形の魂の真価について無知であることを利用して、デヴィルは一見何の代償も払わずにこの夢の実現を定命の者たちに提供する。取引を成立させ、自分たちの誠実さを証明するために、デヴィルは公然と地獄の契約を結ぶ——ヘルの鎖に勝るとも劣らない拘束力を持つ、精巧に書かれた約束だ。
地獄の契約者たちの中で、フィストフィルス——契約悪魔とも呼ばれる——は、地獄の契約の最高傑作者と考えられている。ヘルの支配者たち——アスモデウス、アークデヴィル、地獄の公爵、マレブランケ——は名高い交渉役である。しかし、地獄の契約は契約の作成者だけの権限ではない。ヘルの勢力は、定命の者の生命に対するほぼ統一された脅威として存在しており、ヘルの軍団のほとんどの標本は、膨大で裏切りだらけの武器庫から道具を徴発することができる。したがって、ほぼすべてのデヴィルとの定命の者の遭遇は、オファーで終わる可能性を秘めている：偉大さのために何を捧げますか？
出典 Book of the Damned 202ページ
地獄の契約の複雑さを探る前に、他のフィーンドもしばしば定命の者と契約を結ぼうとすることに留意すべきである。この点では、通常、秩序にして悪のフィーンドが最も信頼できる。中立にして悪のフィーンドは、契約から何かを得たり、自分が得をしたと感じたりする限り、契約を守るのが普通だが、混沌にして悪のフィーンドは、ほとんどの場合、契約の文言をごまかしたり、あからさまに無視したりしようとする。デヴィルでないフィーンドとの契約はすべて、定命の者にとって著しくリスクの高いものであり、多くの場合、そのような愚かな努力の唯一の可能な結果は、定命の者の魂の剥奪である——しかし、そのような危険な契約を結ぶことが実行可能な（あるいはおそらく唯一の）選択肢となるような情状酌量の余地は常にある。例えば、ある王が強力なデーモンとの契約に同意し、そのデーモンが契約を破ることを十分承知の上で、その契約に署名することで、冒険者たちが王国を救うために絶望的な賭けを試みる時間を数時間でも余分に稼ぐことができるのであれば、このような犠牲は最終的には価値があるかもしれない。デヴィルではないフィーンドがどのように契約を履行するかは、通常GMの判断に委ねられるが、基本的な仕組みは地獄の契約と同様に機能する。
出典 Book of the Damned 203ページ
すべてのデヴィルが契約を結ぶことに興味があるわけではない。ほとんどのデヴィルは、悪魔の上司からの命令を遂行することに精力を注ぎ、定命の者との交渉に時間を無駄にしたくないだけのデヴィルもいる。しかし、優れた定命の者が現れれば、デヴィルは取引に応じるよう説得するかもしれない。
最も基本的なレベルでは、地獄の契約は単純な取引である。デヴィルは定命の者が要求するものはすべて提供し（デヴィルの力の範囲内で）、それと引き換えに署名者のimmortal soulを受け取り、定命の者の死の瞬間にデヴィルに届けられる。
ピット・フィーンドなどの一部のデヴィルは願いを叶えることができ、定命の者に望みのものをほぼすべて与えることができる。このような強力なデヴィルの場合、契約条件はプレイヤーとGMの間で合意されなければならない。
それほど強力でないデヴィルには願いを叶える力はないが、この記事の最後に詳述されているような、より特殊な地獄の契約を結ぶことはできる。いずれの場合も、代償は同じである——定命の者の契約者の魂であり、その魂は定命の者の死と同時にヘルに堕とされる。
GMの裁量で、悪魔は署名者の魂以外の代償を受け取るかもしれない。どのような状況であれ、デヴィルが手に入れるものは、一点ものやアーティファクトなど、重要でユニークなものでなければならない。あるいは、善や混沌のアーティファクトを破壊したり、1,000人の無実の人々を殺害したり、家族、国家、人種、宗教に対する裏切り者となるなど、確実に魂を滅ぼす行為を定命の者に要求するかもしれない。
デヴィルは通常、悪のクリーチャーと地獄の契約を結ぶことはない。このようなクリーチャーの魂はすでに悪属性の次元界に拘束されているからである。いずれにせよ、定命の者の意図や潜在的に良い結果になろうとも、地獄の契約を結ぶことは常に秩序にして悪の行為である。
出典 Book of the Damned 203ページ
条件が合意されると、デヴィルは地獄の契約を作成しなければならない。契約したデヴィルは、このような文書を即座に生成する地獄の契約能力を利用して、これを最も簡単に実行する。半神レベルの力を持つデヴィルも同様に、あたかも自分たちが地獄の契約の能力を持っているかのように、オーダーメイドの地獄の契約を即座に呼び出すことができるが、作成することができる効果はより強力で変化しやすいことがわかっている。 他のデヴィルも地獄の契約を作成することができるが、それほど即時性のない技術を使用する必要がある。
特別な状況がない限り、
グレーター・テレポート能力を持つほとんどのデヴィルは、地獄の契約を作成するために行くことができる場所を知っている。これには、ヘルへのポータルを開くこと、同じ定命の世界に潜む契約するデヴィルを見つけること、またはその他の手段が含まれる。いずれにせよ、デヴィルはこの方法を利用して、自分のニーズを満たす地獄の契約を結ばせることができる。ただし、時間はかかる。各契約の説明に記載されているCreation Timeの項目には、ほとんどの一般的なデヴィルがその種類の地獄の契約を作成するのにかかる時間が記載されている。これは、デヴィルの移動時間、他のデヴィルとの交渉におけるデヴィルの影響力、contract’s creationに盛り込まれた詳細、および戻ってくるまでにかかる時間を組み合わせたものを表す。この時間の終わりに——定命の者が身を隠すための特別なことをしない限り——デヴィルは契約を持って戻ってくる。
ほとんどのデヴィルは地獄の契約を即座に作成することはできないが、そのような能力に価値を見いだし、長い年月をかけてその才能を開花させる者もいる。この例外的な訓練は、ディスのFallen Fastnessやステュクスの沈んだ図書館、あるいはヘルの冒涜的な保管庫の奥深くで行われ、
《地獄の法学者》特技として現れる。
出典 Book of the Damned 203ページ
地獄の契約とは、不可解な言語迷宮のようなもので、何年も前の法律用語、異世界からの引用、無限に近い条項と反条項が蔓延している。立派な手書き文字で書かれた一巻の巻物で構成されたものもあれば、セーブルで装丁された印刷物で構成されたものもある。
難解な契約書にざっと目を通し、要点を把握するには、ほんの数分しかかからない。しかし、1つの契約書を全部読むには、何時間も、場合によっては何日もかかることがあり、多くの点で図書館で調査を行うのと似ている。すべての地獄の契約には、契約情報の合計を表す知識ポイント (「kp」と略記) がある。地獄の契約を調査するには、キャラクターは、その契約で指定されている
〈言語学〉判定または専門的な技能判定に成功しなければならない。この調査判定のDCはさまざまだが、調査員がこの調査を行うために、より専門的な技能判定を使用する場合、一般的な
〈言語学〉の使用とは対照的に、契約を解釈するための正確な正しい技能を使用することで、＋2の状況ボーナスを得る。調査判定を試みるためには、中断のない8時間の調査時間が必要であり、キャラクターはこの判定で出目10または出目20を行うことはできない。同じ契約でさらに8時間の調査時間を追加するごとに、調査判定に累積する＋1のボーナスが与えられる。最大2体のキャラクターが、援護アクションとして調査員を援護できる。
調査判定に成功すると、クリーチャーのヒット・ポイントにダメージを与えるのと同様に、契約の知識ポイントが減少する。知識ポイントが減少するにつれて、契約の秘密が明らかにされていく。調査判定に成功した場合に削減されるKPの量は、契約の主要調査者の知的能力によって異なる。A character with the ability to attempt any Knowledge check untrained (such as a bard, loremaster, or skald) reduces a contract’s kp by 1d12 + the character’s Intelligence modifier. Other scholarly characters (alchemists, arcanists, investigators, wizards, and so on, at the GM’s discretion) reduce the contract’s knowledge points by 1d8 + the character’s Intelligence modifier. All other characters reduce the contract’s knowledge points by 1d4 + the character’s Intelligence modifier. Rolling a natural 20 on a Research check acts like a critical threat. If the researcher confirms the critical hit by immediately succeeding at a second Research check with all the same modifiers, the resulting knowledge point reduction is doubled. Rolling a natural 1 on a Research check results in an automatic failure, and the contract’s knowledge points increase by 1d8. Because of the purposefully obtuse nature of infernal contracts, some researchers reach a dead end in their understanding of the document and are unable to further decrease a contract’s knowledge points. Failing two consecutive Research checks means the researcher has misunderstood the contract’s terms. In this case, the contract’s knowledge points return to maximum and the researcher can’t attempt to research that particular contract again until he gains a level.
Infernal contracts contain only the overt terms of the agreement and, potentially, oblique provisos. Unless a GM stipulates otherwise, no knowledge other than that specified is gained through researching a contract. Not every infernal contract has hidden language—some are completely forthright. Those that do conceal cunningly disguised traps, though, can have their secrets revealed by reducing the contract’s kp to its hidden condition threshold. Note that it is possible for a contract to have multiple hidden condition thresholds, though the ones detailed in this book have only one each. If such an unfavorable term is called out to a devil, it will usually acquiesce to changing the contract, though doing so means creating the contract all over again, and the new contract is by no means assured to be free of insidious new stipulations.
Once a contract’s kp is reduced to 0, the researcher discovers a flaw that could allow for an early termination of the contract. A mortal might exploit such a loophole to end the contract. In doing so, she would lose the contract’s benefit but regain her soul. The specifics of this loophole might not be simple to engineer, but they provide hope of an escape. Not all infernal contracts contain such flaws, although the four detailed in Sample Contracts do.
出典 Book of the Damned 204ページ
The easiest way to avoid the consequences of an unfavorable infernal contract is simply not to sign one. If that isn’t an option, thoroughly researching the contract and learning of dangerous provisos and potential loopholes can mean the difference between life and damnation.
When an infernal contract is signed, two copies manifest: one for the mortal signee and one for the devil. The mortal is free to do whatever he pleases with his copy, though destroying it is rarely directly helpful. Devils tend to do one of two things with their copies: Some keep the documents close at hand, securing them in vaults or in the care of guardians of their choosing. Most, however, send their contracts back to Hell for safekeeping, typically to the Fallen Fastness in Dis. In this infernal library, contracts are protected by countless diabolical scholars, the sanity shattering complexity of the library’s organization, and its planar inaccessibility. For most mortals, retrieving a contract from Hell is practically impossible. Yet even once an infernal contract is signed and secured, there are still routes by which it might be changed—or escaped.
Transferring a Contract: A devil might be convinced to adjust the terms of an infernal contract to apply to a different mortal. Just as in the case of the original signee, the new mortal must enter into the contract freely, accepting the benefits but also the damnation. Occasionally, a damned mortal can convince a second mortal to take his place in an infernal deal, or a particularly self-sacrificing mortal might decide to take on a loved one’s contract. In either case, the devil must deem the new signee an equal or more valuable soul. Only the devil that created the original document (or had it created) can adjust the terms of an infernal contract, which must be done in the presence of the former signee, the new signee, and one copy of the original contract. Once the new signee commits her signature to the contract, with the devil as witness, the former signee’s name is erased and both copies of the contract immediately change. The effects of the adjusted contract are left to the parties involved, but most commonly, the former signee loses all benefits and conditions of the contract, while the new signee gains them.
Destroying a Contract: If both copies of an infernal contract are destroyed, the contract ends. The mortal and devil lose all benefits of the contract, and the mortal’s soul is released to follow whatever natural course it might take upon death. This requires obtaining both copies of the contract, which isn’t easy; a devil guards its contracts and isn’t likely to let a mortal go back on a contract without a fight. Recovering the devil’s copy of a contract might require the mortal to plunge into the depths of Hell itself.
If the mortal signee has already died and her soul is already in Hell, destroying the contract does not transport the soul to the afterlife where it otherwise would have been sent. The best the petitioner can hope for is to be liberated from her tortures, and her escape is made even more challenging by the fact that her soul is now free game for all of Hell’s various deadly denizens. Moreover, the weight of having made a deal with a devil stays with a soul for the rest of its existence. Even after escaping a contract (or Hell itself, in the previous case), a mortal might still be forsaken by her deity and find herself condemned to Hell or any of the other evil-aligned planes. Actual salvation might require much more than the mere destruction of the infernal contract.
出典 Book of the Damned 205ページ
Though the denizens of Hell share many goals, their schemes are far from uniform. The infernal contracts they create vary widely in cost, effect, terms, and methods of escape. The following are contracts common to some of Hell’s bestknown inhabitants. Most reflect the power, influence, and predilections of the devil offering the contract. However, GMs should feel free to use these examples as guidelines for creating their own custom infernal contracts. Complexity, kp, and Research checks are further detailed under Researching Contracts.
The sample infernal contract stat blocks detailed below contain the following sections.
契約名／Contract Name：This is the name of the type of contract, potentially used by diabolic scholars and infernal barristers.
CR／CR：This entry lists the challenge rating of the infernal contract. It is usually equal to the CR of the devil that most commonly creates it (as listed in the Devil entry), but in the case of unique contracts created by demigods such as archdevils, infernal dukes, and Queens of the Night, the infernal contract’s CR can vary (but is rarely over CR 20).
XP／XP：This entry lists the experience points gained for reducing the contract to 0 kp.
デヴィル／Devil：This entry lists the type of devil that commonly creates the contract in question.
Creation Time：This entry lists how long it takes for a devil to create a contract and return to a mortal signee (assuming it doesn’t have the infernal contract special ability or the Infernal Legist feat).
利益／Benefit：This is the benefit the contract grants the signee.
Payment：This lists an alternative payment the devil might accept in return for the contract’s benefit in lieu of a soul. Not all devils are open to alternative payments.
Description：This entry is a brief description of the style of the contract’s text.
Complexity：An infernal contract’s complexity is equal to 10 + twice the infernal contract’s CR. The number listed in this entry is the DC of the Linguistics check or other specialized skill checks required to reduce the contract’s kp.
Specialized Skills：This entry lists the skills other than Linguistics that can be used to research the contract. Using one of these specialized skills grants the researcher a +2 circumstance bonus on the check.
kp：This entry lists the contract’s maximum number of knowledge points. This is typically equal to the contract’s CR × 3.
Hidden Condition：This entry lists a hidden condition that the devil has slipped into the contract. If the signee reduces the contract’s kp to the value listed in parentheses in this entry, the hidden condition is revealed.
Termination Clause：This entry lists a flaw in the contract that could allow for an early termination of the contract. If the signee successfully exploits this loophole, she loses the benefit of the contract but regains her soul.
Unique Feature：Some powerful devils add specific characteristics to their contracts, such as special magical protections. Such features are listed in this entry.
Pact of Blood-Taking CR 5
XP 1,500
Devil bearded devil (barbazu)
Creation Time 2d6 months
Benefit Attacks made with melee weapons by the contracted mortal deal persistent wounds that cause 1 point of bleed damage. Bleeding caused by these infernal wounds can be stopped with a successful Heal check, but anyone attempting to magically heal a creature with an infernal wound must attempt a caster level check. Success indicates the healing works normally and stops all bleed effects on the victim. The DC of each of these checks is equal to 10 + the contracted mortal’s Strength modifier.
Payment The signee can no longer regain hit points through natural healing.
Research
Description Infernal contracts created by barbazus are typically inelegant and rife with references to ancient battles, bloodletting, and tactical maneuvers.
Complexity 20
Specialized Skills Knowledge (history), Knowledge (planes), Profession (soldier)
kp 15
Hidden Condition (6 kp) The barbazu becomes the owner of any weapon the contracted mortal finds. Once per year, the barbazu can appear and take the contracted mortal’s best weapon. The mortal must comply as though affected by dominate monster (no save; this effect bypasses normal immunities to mind-controlling effects).
Termination Clause (0 kp) The contract seems to assure that the barbazu will not kill the contracted mortal, but vague phrasing opens the door for a broader interpretation. If the contracted mortal is killed by any barbazu or by bleed damage, the contract is terminated.
Shadow Coin Bargain CR 11
XP 12,800
Devil barbed devil (hamatula)
Creation Time 1d6 months
Benefit The contracted mortal gains the ability to speak with shadows (as per the spell stone tell, but with any shadow cast by a living creature) once per day. Additionally, he gains the see in darkness ability common to devilkind.
Payment Once per week, the contracted mortal must kill a sentient creature with a piercing weapon and leave a platinum coin in the victim’s mouth. If the mortal neglects to do this, his soul is damned to Hell upon his death.
Research
Description Infernal contracts created by hamatulas typically contain references to accounting principles, mathematics, and slow deaths.
Complexity 32
Specialized Skills Appraise, Knowledge (planes), Profession (clerk)
kp 33
Hidden Condition (12 kp) Once per month, the hamatula can appear before the contracted mortal and collect a debt in gold equal to 100 gp × the mortal’s Hit Dice. If the devil does not collect, the debt carries over to the next month, and the next month, and so on—likely without the mortal’s knowledge. The hamatula can erase the debt by taking one or more of the mortal’s appendages, digits, or similar bodily features, resulting in 2d6 points of ability drain to an ability score of the devil’s choice.
Termination Clause (0 kp) The contract is not for a mortal soul, but calls literally for “a priceless item with the contracted mortal’s name and blood.” If the mortal finds a priceless item, bleeds over it (taking an amount of damage equal to half his maximum hit points), gives it his name, and then destroys it in a fire, the contract ends.
Vow of Heartrime CR 13
XP 25,600
Devil ice devil (gelugon)
Creation Time 1d8 days
Benefit The contracted mortal stops showing signs of aging and gains immunity to cold damage. Additionally, she can survive indefinitely on 1 gallon of water per day, as long as it is frozen—this replaces her need to eat and drink.
Payment As a sacrifice of warmth, the area within 5 feet of the contracted mortal is always 10 degrees colder than the surrounding area. The mortal’s body is unpleasantly cold to the touch. Any liquid in the mortal’s possession, no matter how well insulated, freezes in 1 minute. This includes potions and other liquid gear; consuming a frozen potion takes 1 minute of uninterrupted work.
Research
Description Infernal contracts created by a gelugon are exceedingly complex, referencing cunning extraplanar generals, natural violence, and obscure predators.
Complexity 36
Specialized Skills Knowledge (nature), Knowledge (nobility), Knowledge (planes)
kp 39
Hidden Condition (25 kp) One year after the contract is signed, the ice devil can collect the mortal signee’s heart. The mortal survives this painful extraction, but from then on she is healed by negative energy and harmed by positive energy as if she were an undead creature. The ice devil keeps the heart safe (within its own chest, some say). Not having a heart neither aids nor hinders the mortal, but if the infernal contract is terminated while the mortal’s heart is missing, the mortal dies instantly.
Termination Clause (0 kp) A beautifully written but deliberately obtuse clause likens the contracted mortal’s existence to living, melting snow. The mortal can take advantage of this by arranging for the creation of a simulacrum. During the casting of the simulacrum spell, the contracted mortal must wound herself and bleed over the simulacrum until she falls unconscious. The mortal takes 1d4 points of Constitution drain and falls unconscious for 2d6 hours, during which time the simulacrum must be destroyed with fire. However, the simulacrum refuses to obey its creator and attempts to escape. If the simulacrum is destroyed before the contracted mortal awakes, the contract is considered to be fulfilled.
Unique Features
This contract can be destroyed only by sacred fire, such as that created by the spell from a good caster.
Curse of the Ever-Soul CR 20
XP 307,200
Devil pit fiend
Creation Time 1 hour
Benefit The contracted mortal gains 1,000 years of life, can speak and understand any language, and permanently gains the effects of speak with animals.
Payment The signee must deliver 100 sentient mortal lives, sacrificed in rituals to Asmodeus or a demigod residing in Hell. These souls need not be paid before the contract is signed, but must be paid within 1 year of the signing; otherwise, the payment becomes the signee’s mortal soul.
Research
Description Infernal contracts created by pit fiends are among the most elaborate in existence, referencing deities, souls, and half-comprehensible cosmic truths.
Complexity 50
Specialized Skills Knowledge (planes), Knowledge (religion)
kp 60
Hidden Condition (20 kp) Once per year, the pit fiend can instantly transport the signing mortal to its side across any distance, even across planar boundaries, as if conjuring the mortal via a gate spell. The pit fiend can command the mortal to perform one service for it, which the mortal cannot deny and must attempt to complete to the best of her abilities (regardless of any immunities). After 24 hours or upon the completion of the task, the mortal returns to wherever she was teleported from.
Termination Clause (0 kp) The contract is exacting in defining the signee’s nature and home world. If the mortal were to place her soul into the body of another humanoid not native to her world, the terms of the contract would remain effective over her body, not her soul. Any soul within the mortal’s original body is damned upon that body’s death. The mortal could potentially reclaim her body after a soul within it is taken in this manner. Of course, tricking another’s soul into damnation in this way is an evil act.
最終更新：2024年10月28日 20:09
