Devils

Devils are a micro to median race of red skinned demons that live in hell and in various areas of Welt. Devils are well known for their craftiness and the soul trade.

## Biology

Devils are a mystery in regards to their origins, they reproduce sexually without any obvious form of colonial budding seen in, but are still entirely made up of colonies of saccharomyces demonica. They are tethered to the moon like other demons, and will return there should they fail to collect their quota of anima by their overlords.

## Anatomy

### Attributes

Devils are immediately recognizable for their red skin and goat legs, as well as their wings and tail. They commonly have a satchel of contracts and a pitchfork.

### Hair

Devil hair protects against demon magic, and is used to make magical twine, which can repair a chopped neck, among other things. Devils don't trade their hair easily however, for it gives protection against their magic.

## Abilities

### Conditions

Devils lack a specific condition to be invoked, there are many rituals to summon one. They are all however subject to the obligation of collecting souls for hell in exchange for the privilege of being abroad.

### Powers

Devils possess limited powers, such as small illusions, evocation and conjuration.

Devils are capable of taking souls, but not without its proprietor's consent, which is why they have developed a culture of cunning and trickery to acquire one's soul through trade and contracts. Devils do not possess souls, as such they spend most of their time in contact with the other races to obtain them. Recently they have begun harvesting the souls of animals.

### Pacts

Depending on the devils skill, it can impart many things to its trade partner, knowledge, wealth, beauty, magic are all things devils can provide (mostly through illusions). Devils also gamble for the powers they can provide, and take indentured servants from time to time, to whom they can grant their powers.

### Followers

Devils tend to not be worshiped, given that they are a part of everyday life in certain settlements, they do however have followers, willing or as a result of a deal.

## Magic

### Sorcery ritual

The asker will sign a paper in its blood, the devil will add cabalistic symbols and sign with a dog's paw on the user's body, turning the asker into a sorcerer.

### Servant wind

Devils can fly using certain winds. These winds are often bound to the devil and cannot leave its service unless given permission. Should the devil be captured, the winds will blow harshly, as they aren't freed from their servitude.

## History

Devils originate from the moon, like most demons, and maintain embassies in major cities.

Devils originate from the kingdom of hell on the moon, while they are not the first demons to visit Welt, they are its most numerous demonic minority.

## Society

Devils have what is essentially a slave bureaucracy, devils brand each other as proof of ownership, which creates a hierarchy among them with the Devil (capitalized) being the leader of all devils, because it owns all of the devils.

Pacts, deals and trades are a part of life for devils, devils are also legendary for the sheer variety of trade in which they are willing to partake in and for their tenacity in bargaining in order to obtain souls. Devils rarely let a soul slip from their grasp and are more than capable of bargaining it for less than it is worth. Industrious devils have established shops and trading towns across Welt in an impressively brief span of time. These outposts vary in size and location, but all have an impressive array of goods and services, and the price is always the same. The outposts send out regular supply shipments, all coordinated by the trade embassies of hell.

The ambassadors are the most cunning of their race and will stop at nothing to amass their fortunes and power, whether through legitimate means or treachery. In larger cities one can find communities of devils and embassies to the kingdom of hell.

## Devils and the other races

Devils are easily the most numerous of demons found on Welt. but they aren't necessarily welcome, the soul trade prompts many settlements to adopt defensive measures such as Cathedral interdiction devices; sculptures and effigies in the form of devils fixed on cathedrals, so that mass can capture demons and bind them within the temple's walls, to protect them from devils.

## Economy

### Soul economy

Devils trade in souls, the bureaucracy of hell is in fact geared towards this trade with quotas of souls to collect, an accountancy for keeping track of collected souls and a disciplinary branch for devils who do not meet their quotas.

Souls can be used by devils to reproduce, like most demons, but they are mostly placed into dead bodies to be tortured by devils in hell to extract ectoplasm they emit. Ectoplasm is used to fuel various powers (telekinesis, flight, invisibility, possession, haunting).

Devils aren't foolproof in their dealings, and sometimes fall victim to their own schemes, it isn't uncommon to find a devil in servitude. Being tricked into rowing a boat forever is a common saying for ineffective soul takers.

## Construction

Devils have a natural talent for building, their constructions often have some connection to their trade or their kingdom.

### Devil wells

A well built in order to access hell. If exorcised with holy water, gives water.

### Devil bridges

Infrastructure elements whose construction was done by devils. The construction takes place when the contractor cannot finish its pledge and must make a deal with devils to finish it. Standard contracts are that the first person to cross belongs to the devil that built it. The next to cross must do the devil a favor, if the first to cross is an animal, those of its species in the area will belong to the devil. It isn't common for villagers to chase a cat across a newly built bridge to avoid having a devil steal someone's soul.