Lost Souls

[The Eyeball Kid]

These are examples of potential significant figures in your character's life who signed a contract with Asmodeus and were murdered before they could fulfill their end of the bargain and thus were condemned to Hell. Feel free to tailor them to your character or to come up with your own figure so long as they exhibit one of the sins and signed the contract.

• Brother (Anger)
• Bounty (Murder)
• Business Partner (Deceit)
• Childhood Friend (Sinless)
• Father (Greed)
• Mentor (Oppression)
• Mother (Pride)
• Sister (Jealousy)
• Spouse/True Love (Deceit)
• Student (Harm)

 

Edited November 3, 2023 by The Eyeball Kid (see edit history)

[The Eyeball Kid]

Brother (Anger)

From the day he was born, your brother was a problem child -- impulsive, aggressive and violent, though never toward you. He was constantly getting into fights—most of which he started—and you were constantly coming to his rescue and cleaning up his messes. But despite his flaws, you always knew he had your back. His temper grew worse as he grew older, and his fights often resulted in people getting hurt. He fell in with an unsavory crew, and you drifted apart. Now you’ve learned he was foolish enough to sign an infernal contract with Asmodeus, and his soul is trapped in the Nine Hells. You can’t deny your brother deserves his fate … but he’s still your brother, and you’re not going to turn your back on him.

Edited November 3, 2023 by The Eyeball Kid (see edit history)

[The Eyeball Kid]

Bounty (Murder)

Someone of your reputation and talent is always in high demand. If the price is right, you’ll take on any job … but you don’t work cheap. Still, this is the strangest adventure you’ve ever been hired for. The ruthless matron of a powerful noble family has disappeared, and you’ve been hired to find her. Your first assumption was that she’d either been kidnapped for ransom, murdered by a rival family, or killed by one of her own ambitious kin. But during your investigations, you discovered the shocking truth: decades ago, she signed an infernal contract to help advance her family’s fortunes, and Asmodeus came to collect his payment. Tracking her soul through the Nine Hells wasn’t part of the original deal, but the reward for bringing her back is too high to pass up, and you never leave a job unfinished.

Edited November 3, 2023 by The Eyeball Kid (see edit history)

[The Eyeball Kid]

Business Partner (Betrayal)

For years, you and your business partner shared the fruits of your adventures in a mutually beneficial arrangement. Sure, they were always trying to squeeze a few extra drops from your cut on every mission, but you never thought they’d actually betray you. On your last adventure, however, they double-crossed you, stealing a rare and powerful magic item you’d spent years questing for. They disappeared with your treasure, leaving you high and dry. You searched for the precious item in vain, only to discover that your old partner’s soul is trapped in the Nine Hells because of an infernal contract they signed with Asmodeus. The only way you’ll ever get back what is rightfully yours is to track them down and bring them back to life so they can tell you where the treasure is hidden.

Edited November 3, 2023 by The Eyeball Kid (see edit history)

[The Eyeball Kid]

Childhood Friend (Sinless)

Growing up, you never seemed to fit in. You were always different—perhaps that’s why you became an adventurer. Your childhood was lonely until you met your childhood friend. Like you, they were completely ignored by other children on the good days, ruthlessly bullied on the bad. But in each other you found a kindred soul. You formed a powerful bond of friendship that allowed you to rise above the taunts and torments of the other kids. Together, you found the strength to survive and flourish. You became a successful adventurer. Your friend chose a different path, one of domestic bliss with a family and a quiet, fulfilling life. Years would pass between seeing them, but you still remained close—united by your childhood bond. But when your friend’s youngest child became ill, they didn’t turn to you for help. Instead, they signed a contract with Asmodeus, condemning themselves to an eternity in the Nine Hells

[The Eyeball Kid]

Father (Greed)

You loved your father. He helped shape you into the hero you're now. He supported your ambitions, gave you advice when you needed it, and was there for you when things looked darkest. Your mother loved him even more, for he was personable, funny, and kind. But everyone has a flaw, and your father’s flaw was gambling. The risk-taking behavior that you inherited from him made you into a hero, but he didn’t have your outlet. Instead, he took risks with money. His debts grew, as did his shame, but you never knew. Your mother didn’t tell you about it until it was too late. Asmodeus used his shame to convince him to sign an infernal contract.

[The Eyeball Kid]

Mentor (Oppression)

You learned your craft at the feet of a true master. Recognizing your raw talent and potential, your mentor took you under their wing and trained you. Your mentor was a difficult master and demanded complete obedience. Over the years, they taught you everything you needed to know about adventuring and life, shaping you into the hero you're today. They shared all their secrets with you … except for one. Long ago, your mentor signed an infernal contract with Asmodeus. Now your mentor has been whisked away to the Nine Hells, and it’s time to use everything they taught you to save them from an eternity of torment and suffering.

[The Eyeball Kid]

Mother (Pride)

Your mother was kind and loving, but also strong and independent. She raised you on her own, supporting you by telling fortunes and performing tarot readings for the locals in the town where you grew up. Once you began your adventuring career, her reputation grew quickly. Officials and nobility of ever-increasing rank and importance began to come to your mother for insight into their futures, amazed at the accuracy of her predictions. What you didn’t know was that her rapid rise in stature was due to her signing an infernal contract with Asmodeus to enhance her gifts.

[The Eyeball Kid]

Sister (Jealousy)

Your sister was fearless. There was no challenge she wouldn’t tackle, no dare she wouldn’t take. She became an adventurer, living a life filled with thrills and excitement. She even inspired your own career, pushing you to ever greater accolades. But over the years, her risk-taking became a compulsion she couldn’t control. She became more and more reckless, embarking on foolhardy quests and what seemed like suicide missions. What you didn’t realize was that it was your sister’s envy of your accomplishments that drove her recklessness. Asmodeus exploited her need to be your equal, convincing her to sign an infernal contract in exchange for the ultimate adventure.

[The Eyeball Kid]

Spouse/True Love (Deceit)

True love is real—you know this because you were lucky enough to find yours. In a world too often filled with darkness and danger, you were blessed to find someone to stand by you through thick and thin. They supported you when you needed it most, helping you to reach your full potential. Together, you made a life for yourself: a wonderful, perfect life. But now you have learned that your love kept a secret from you: they made an infernal contract with Asmodeus to help keep you safe during your adventures. They made the ultimate sacrifice to protect you, and now they're paying the ultimate price.

[The Eyeball Kid]

Student (Harm)

You started at the bottom and clawed your way to the top, forging your reputation over the years. As your legend grew, others came to you seeking guidance, but you always turned them away. One day, you discovered a student who was different than the others. Although the student was willful and prone to violence, you still saw a spark in them that reminded you of your own humble beginnings, so you took them under your wing. You helped them reach their full potential, growing skills until their ability and reputation rivaled your own. But despite all you taught them, your student still made a tragic mistake. They signed an infernal contract with Asmodeus, foolishly convinced they could get out of it before it came due. Now it’s up to you to help them one last time.