Mammon

It has only been in the 21st century that the other demon princes have come to learn just how much power Mammon actually wields. Where other princes through they were chipping away at the Prince of Greed’s influence, they actually spread it into their own organizations without even realizing it.

## Band Attunements

### Rapha (restricted)

These Skulkers can tell what a human most desires by looking into their eyes.

### Malak

*Efficiency and self-reliance*

Mammon is a great proponent of “unfettered” capitalism. He preaches the gospel of Supply Side Jesus, and measures success in GDP and market returns. The malakim in his service can tell at a glance if someone is intentionally violating a fiduciary trust. When they use their resonance, they can also determine whether or not someone has done all that they can to maximize personal and/or stockholder profits.

#### Common oaths

* Help only those who have proven they can help themselves.
* Contest any barriers to efficient management/production.
* Never work without compensation.

Rather than impose a vow of loyalty, Mammon would be far more likely to ensure that the Dark Virtue possesses the Greed discord.

## Distinctions

### Duke

Mammon *sells* his greater distinctions. In practice this works more like a permanent silent auction. In order to "displace’ one of his higher-ranking nobles you need to promise greater annual returns of gifts and Essence *and* offer a “one time” blood-price sufficient to handle any *possible* costs incurred by ‘removing’ a great lord of Hell (the upstart’s take-over plans, the higher the price).

The rewards can be great, but the fees are often ruinous for the unprepared. The savvier nobles will stand aside and “accept” the indignity of a lesser rank for a decade or two while the upstart ruins themselves trying to please Mammon. The conflict (already paid for) is only likely to erupt if it looks like the newcomer might actually be able to sustain the outlandish fees they are charged.

It is also not unheard of for “demoted” lords to take up temporary service under allied princes. So long as they’re willing to pay all relevant back taxes upon their return, Mammon will welcome them back with open arms (he’s a bit less forgiving towards those who take up service under more hostile powers).

As you might have realized, this scheme makes it impossible to compile a list of Mammon’s dukes, as the individuals holding that distinction is in a state of relevant flux depending on whose Words or holdings are the most productive.

### Magnate

Any demon who has spent more than two centuries as either a duke or in close contention for a duchy will hold the unofficial distinction of magnate. This title will last in perpetuity. Magnates are typically more respected than their equivalent non-magnate peers, though this attitude is reversed in the case of baron magnates (who are seen as having "lost their touch").

#### Well-known magnates

This is hardly an exhaustive list. Mammon has had several dukes over the years. Regardless of whether these nobles are now dukes, counts, or marquises ~ they are all still obscenely wealthy and influential (even the Poverty Magnate).

* The Magnate of Graft, one of three candidates for the Word of Corruption

* The balseraph Magnate of Luxury
* The balseraph Magnate of Wealth

* The djinni Banking Magnate
* The djinni Ownership Magnate
* The djinni Rental Magnate

* The calab Magnate of Colonization
* The calab Insurance Magnate
* The calab Mining Magnate

* The habbalah Magnate of Inflation
* The habbalah Poverty Magnate

* The lilu Smuggling Magnate
* The lilu Magnate of Want

* The shedu Magnate of Riches
* The shedu Magnate of the Wealthy
* The shedu Profit Magnate

* The impudite Magnate of Industrialization
* The impudite Market Magnate
* The impudite Tax Magnate

## Relations

### Princely Opinions

**Alaemon:** Where would Mammon be without Secrets? He's always looking for inside information . . . and selling it as well. We can do business together. *(Alaemon knows how to create a demand where there was none before ~ by keeping information scarce, and making it valuable. And he hungers for more, always more, and hoards what he has.)*

**Fleurity:** Many dealers are my servants, if he only knew. Fleurity has the sense to keep the supply restricted and the profit margin high. *(A petty relic of a bygone era, but he's too useful to ignore.)*

**Furfur:** You get people who want something bad enough, and are willing to do anything to get it, they can get pretty hardcore. But Mammon is a fossil . . . who needs him? *(Hmph. Not very interesting. He doesn't really want anything, except to break everything in sight.)*

**Magog:** Mammon himself is useless, but his riches could be useful, and some of his demons are the sort of cold-blooded bastards I like. He's not the only one capable of a hostile takeover . . . . *(He's a bloodthirsty lunatic, albeit smarter than Saminga. But he's also poor, and weak, and that means I may be able to use him.)*

### Archangelic Opinions

**Christopher:** If children don't learn early how to share, they become easy prey for Mammon later in life. He often teaches them their first lesson in selfishness. *("I want one!" "Mommy, buy me that!" Ah, the sweet sound of greedy children is music to my ears. All too often, their pure, desperate selfishness is spoiled by tawdry morality, but some of them never grow up, and never stop wanting.)*

**Khalid:** Every religion teaches the evils of greed and encourages charity. What better evidence is there that Mammon is the enemy of God? He is one of our most ancient foes, and his eradication will be one of our greatest victories. *(I love the faithful . . . they are sheep who thank God for the privilege of being sheared. As for Khalid and his pious claims of Islamic virtues . . . who rules the Middle East? It's a three-letter word and it's not spelled G-O-D, it's spelled O-I-L.)*

**Litheroy:** Greed only flourishes when people are able to keep their wealth and their financial dealings hidden. If everyone did business in an environment of complete openness, no one could be cheated, and greed would not be so tempting. *(An irritating pest who's always trying to expose my dealings. My books are closed and will remain so.)*

**Zadkiel:** He's despicable. The wolf-and-sheep metaphor is all his fault; he teaches people to be wolves, and I have to protect the sheep. (If you can't hold onto it, you don't deserve to have it. And if it's worth having, it's worth wanting. Zadkiel is a persistent thorn in my side.)

## Spies and Defectors

Any Wordbound demon whose Word is connected with payment or the accrual of temporal power has the potential to be on Mammon’s payroll (ditto for any Greedy demon, and there are quite a few more of those).

Theft was the worst hit, having ‘lost’ most of the Duchy of Kleptocracy in just a week, but the only princes to be unaffected by Mammon’s re-emergence into center stage were Saminga, Beleth, and Fleurity. The first holds little interest for Mammon and the other two were not in a position to stop his infiltration anyway ~ so they’ve always assumed it was there.

## Internal Police

Mammon’s internal security is officially handled by the Acquisition. However, if Mammon has been clever enough to outwit the Game for decades, he needs a more competent investigative branch. Something like the Auditors.

The Auditors are the second arm of Mammon’s internal police. He expects them to know, enforce, and find ways around all of the rules set by the Game and the Acquisition, even the ones that those organizations typically ignore. However, they don’t come cheap. Barons are expected to pay dearly for the services of the Auditors, who will clean house until it is spotless, except for the handful of saps they leave exposed to the Game.

It wouldn’t do to look too competent.

However, now that Mammon has revealed his hand, he knows it is only a matter of time before Asmodeus starts poaching some of his best auditors. He’s doing his best to set up some new infernal rules and norms before that happens.

## Indirect Payment

While Mammon is as likely as any other prince to grant rites to his known servitors, he is far more likely to pay his undercover agents with relics and reliquaries. If someone wants to being the game as an agent of Mammon, you should allow them to buy a coin of Mammon.