Session 9-A: Shuushar, Shadows, and Souls

## Key Plot Developments

Trix, surprised to meet a talking raven, asks Ichabod about his intentions. Ichabod freely admits to being a greater devil trapped in the form of a bird. Trix, wary of any deals with fiendish entities, attempts to lie to Ichabod about his name and goals, but finds himself trapped in a Zone of Truth. He intuits that Ichabod is cursed to always tell the truth (an apparent inconvenience for a devil). He alerts Ichabod to the Demogorgon's onslaught; the bird takes an interest in both the resurgence of demons in the Underdark and Trix's position as a cleric of Pelor. He offers the goblin power, and suggests that he could present a contract upon request.

Slagathor and the Mug Goro clan finish a preliminary plan to conquer the Underdark through bed and breakfasts. Slagathor freely greets Ichabod. Ichabod complains to Trix that he, a greater devil, has been reduced to flapping around the Underdark as a raven, making deals with simpletons. Slagathor is appreciative of Ichabod, who granted his wish to grow a second head ("A new friend!"). Ichabod argues that, as a devil, he is fundamentally different from the Demogorgon, a being of chaos and brutality with no regard for contracts or laws. Trix develops an opinion that devils are more predictable and controllable than demons. He also asks Ichabod to tell him if the Demogorgon truly cursed him; after sniffing the goblin out, Ichabod confirms that he's been deceived. Trix resolves to reunite his family.

Ichabod suggests that, as a raven, he is physically constrained against enacting his power on the material plane in the absence of a willing partner. While Trix is reluctant to sell his soul, he agrees to do a favor for Ichabod: in exchange for clearing out a nest of nearby demons, Ichabod will help him find his family.

Before he leaves to clear out the nest, Trix performs a rousing fishing tale for the ogre and orog. Slagathor, impressed, gives him an impressive, magically-enhanced staff. Slagathor, gifted the staff by Ichabod, was using it as a household tool.

Trix and Shuushar leave Lemon in Slagathor's care as they travel to the demons' nest. There, they encounter a horde of undead shadows and their shadow demon master. As a cleric of light, Trix uses radiant energy to subdue them. Shuushar, moved by Trix's determination, bends his oath of pacificism to physically defend Trix for the first time. Shadows drain Shuushar's life energy, and push Trix to the brink of death, but he uses the staff to beat the shadow demon back to the Abyss. The two survivors express their sense of affection and duty towards each other: Trix will defend Shuushar with his life, and vice versa.

Weakened, they return to Ichabod, who is seething at Slagathor's lack of ambition. Ichabod promises to uphold his end of the deal and summons the magic of hell to divine what's happening to Trix's family. Trix receives visions of the five family members he remembers (he forgets Bogtooth, and mentions Stool instead). Ichabod intuits that Trix, as a cleric of Pelor, would substantially help him restore his hellish standing if he could be persuaded to sell his soul. Consequently, he offers Trix a new deal called the Ichabond.

## Memorable Quotations

**The Ichabond:**

1. **Initiation:** Ichabod offers up a verbal contract to a sentient creature. To begin the bargain, they must say Ichabod's name thrice consecutively. Then, they must chant: ***“Utch, Utch, iuv py las, tmilqy ph oizy, xe picy zmuw jas.”*** The thrice-naming and chant must be repeated before any subsequent favor.
2. **Boons:** Ichabod can call on the powers of Baator to grant the recipient spells and/or abilities from select domains/subclasses. Ichabod does not have access to level nine spells as a result of this contract. **Ichabod can offer two options:**
3. **Option One:** The recipient can receive limited boons in exchange for favors to Ichabod. Ichabod and the recipient must both verbally affirm their general understanding of the terms of the favor prior to the enactment of each favor and boon. The favor can include, but is not limited to, menial labor, physical tasks, spells, possession, memory-delving, memory-wiping, loss of class features, loss of belief systems, loss of identity, severe harm, and death. The recipient must have hit dice equal to the subclass feature/spells offered (for example, a level four character cannot be granted a level five spell). The recipient cannot request boons more than once per day. The recipient cannot request subclass abilities that go beyond their character level (for example, a level three fighter could not be granted access to the level six Twilight cleric ability 'Steps of Night').
4. **Option Two:** The recipient can enter into a contract that they cannot intentionally break for the price of their eternal soul. During their mortal life, Ichabod can call on the recipient for favors three times per day, who must respond affirmatively; the recipient, too, may call on Ichabod for boons three times per day, who must grant at least one. Ichabod's boons are not limited by domain-specific class features and may grant spells equal to the recipient's total hit dice (for example, a recipient with five hit dice may access any level five spell within Ichabod's power). Upon physical termination and entry to Baator, Ichabod will have subpoena rights for all relevant parties regarding the recipient’s initial sentence.
5. **Severability:** It is understood and agreed that, if any provision of this agreement or the application thereof is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this agreement which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications. To this end, the provisions of this agreement are declared severable.
6. **Arbitration:** If Ichabod is harmed, and that harm was directly and/or proximately caused by the negligence or recklessness of the recipient, the contract with that recipient may be terminated, and all boons may be rendered null and void. This harm includes any and all mind-altering effects. The dispute may be taken to Baator for arbitration, and the recipient acknowledges that the procedure may be forcefully prioritized before all other business they have on any and all planes of existence, both discovered and yet unnamed.
7. **Consent:** By engaging in the initiation chant, the recipient acknowledges the voluntary nature of their participation in this transaction (see sections 3 and 4). The recipient further assumes all risks, both physical and metaphysical, stated and unstated, and agrees that Ichabod assumes no responsibility for any liability, damage, or injury that may be caused by the recipient's negligent or intentional acts or omissions or for any liability, damage, or injury caused by the intentional or negligent acts or omissions of others, including other participants.
8. **All disputes are subject to the will of Baator. The word of Baator is binding and final.**

> **Trix:** Thanks, Shuushar. I love you.
>
>

> **Shuushar:** And I, you, little one.
>
>

**Glyn** (in Trix's vision): Are you sure, Pyrite? We're never had alcohol before...Miss Anna, they're going to hurt you! Please, fly away!...Well, what happens if I show it to one of the matriarchs!...Thank god it was just a mummy and not another one of those wights, right, Pyrite?

**Pix** (in Trix's vision): He...he has to be fine. I mean, Pyrite knew where to go, and she was able to find him, so he has to be out there!...Tremble! Tremble, be careful!...Seems like this thing was really into something called "Joo-blex?" I don't know...Tremble, we have to go. Sarith said it's the way, and we have to hurry for Stool...

**Pyrite** (in Trix's vision): I know where he is! I know where Trix is, Glyn! I told you I would find him!