Demons, painted for this archiveArch Demons: overview
Creature, Demons
Seven arch demons rule the demon hordes under Mephistopheles, appearing when called by names given them by ancient races, since their true names are known only to him. Their price is a one-third claim on the summoner's soul, and each grants one wish or a signature service.
Also called Arch Demons
From the book
Seven arch demons govern the numberless greater and lesser demons, and they in turn serve their pitiless lord, Mephistopheles. Each answers to the names given it by the ancient races that first knew and dreaded it; their true names are known only to Mephistopheles and are said to be almost impossible for a human to say or remember.
The only offering an arch demon will accept is a claim on one third of the summoner's soul, collected when the summoner dies. No character can ever make more than three such offerings, and once one arch demon holds a two-thirds claim, the summoner can never call another. Because these bargains are permanent and cannot be undone, few summoners dare risk their souls this way. The only alternatives are to force the arch demon to submit, which is extremely dangerous, or to swear to serve it for at least ten years.
Each arch demon projects an aura of influence twenty feet around it, and each will grant one wish when successfully summoned.
At a glance
- Number
- Seven
- Names
- Aaman, Astorath, Baal, Moloche, Nergal, Shax, Thamuz
- True names
- Known only to Mephistopheles; nearly impossible for humans to pronounce or remember
- Offering
- A claim on one-third of the summoner's soul, payable at death; at most three such offerings per character; if one Arch Demon holds a two-thirds claim no other may be summoned by that person
- Alternatives
- Force the Arch Demon into submission (perilous) or swear to serve it for at least ten years
- Common traits
- Each emanates an influence in a 20-foot radius; each will grant one wish if successfully summoned