“The circle cracked. The chanting stopped. And the screaming began.”
You were not born to darkness—you were made into it. Whether by a failed ritual, ancient punishment, or cruel divine design, a demon was bound to your soul. You are its prison, its cage, and sometimes... its mouth.
- Skill Proficiencies:
Skill Proficiencies
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Arcana: To understand the forces that bind you.
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Insight: To tell when the demon is whispering lies—yours or others.
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- Tool Proficiencies:
Tool Proficiencies
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Calligrapher’s Tools: Used to etch summoning wards, seals, and infernal contracts.
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- Languages:
Languages
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Infernal or Abyssal (choose based on the demon’s origin)
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- Equipment:
Equipment
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A bone-carved seal used in your original binding ritual.
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A mirror that cracks when you are within 5 feet of it.
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A warning letter written in Infernal, smeared with blood.
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A set of traveler’s clothes with subtle warding symbols stitched into the seams.
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A pouch containing 15 gp.
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You always know the direction (but not distance) to the nearest fiend, infernal rift, or demonically-aligned site. This feature works passively—your soul tugs faintly like a compass needle when infernal presences are nearby.
Additionally, infernal creatures instinctively recognize your cursed condition and may react differently: with hostility, reverence, fear, or curiosity. Some cults may seek to “free” the demon. Others may seek to enslave you instead.
Suggested Characteristics
| Personality Trait | |
|---|---|
| 1 | I talk to the voice in my head like it's a real person. Because it is. |
| 2 | I keep extensive notes on every strange feeling—I’m afraid I’ll lose control. |
| 3 | I try to act like a hero, to prove I’m more than a vessel. |
| 4 | I believe the demon is lying to me—but sometimes it’s hard not to listen. |
| 5 | I can’t stop carving protective runes into nearby surfaces. It’s not even conscious anymore. |
| 6 | I find other people exhausting. They don’t have something inside trying to claw its way out. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Control. I will master the thing within me. (Lawful) |
| 2 | Power. If I must carry this burden, I’ll use it. (Neutral) |
| 3 | Sacrifice. I must stay alive so the demon cannot escape. (Good) |
| 4 | Destruction. The world made me this—I’ll watch it burn. (Chaotic) |
| 5 | Redemption. Maybe I can undo what was done. (Good) |
| 6 | Freedom. One of us will be free. Even if the other isn’t. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I protect those who might one day kill me if the demon breaks free. |
| 2 | I owe my life to the warlock/cleric/wizard who keeps the seal stable. |
| 3 | I seek the other Vessels—I know I’m not the only one. |
| 4 | I will destroy the cult that did this to me. |
| 5 | The demon inside me once saved my life. I don’t know how I feel about that. |
| 6 | I secretly keep a diary for the demon. It deserves a voice, too. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I fear sleep. That’s when it whispers loudest. |
| 2 | I enjoy the power too much. It scares me. |
| 3 | I don’t know which thoughts are mine anymore. |
| 4 | I’d kill to stop feeling hollow. |
| 5 | I sometimes intentionally provoke the demon to feel alive. |
| 6 | I’ve made a bargain I haven’t told the rest of the party about. |
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