Warlock

Practitioners in the dark art of fel—warlocks are the most erratic and voracious spellcasters. Though they frequently pledge themselves to noble causes and are not innately evil, their desire to understand darker magic and exercise unwavering command over demonic forces breeds distrust among even their closest allies. Their goal is dominance, and they have found a way to achieve it through the dark arts. In the name of power, warlocks can even peer into the Void without hesitation.

These dark casters were most likely someone else before they became warlocks, with many of them having been mages at one point or another. However, when given the option of more power, they chose power regardless of the risk. While some were drawn to power, others believed that learning how an enemy worked was the best way to defeat it. To defeat fel, you must first become fel.

They use the chaos they see within themselves to devastating effect in battle—their greatest abilities are fuelled by the souls they've stolen from their victims. They use powerful Fel magic to manipulate and degrade their opponents' minds and bodies. They have the ability to channel the souls of the fallen, raining hellish rain from the sky to immolate the opposition. They have the ability to summon and command invincible demons from the Nether to do their bidding or even to be sacrificed as the Warlock sees fit, empowering and protecting the dark caster from harm. Most heroes see death in the face of demonic power. Warlocks only see opportunity.

## **Characteristics**

Most people see death when confronted with demonic power. Warlocks only see opportunity. Their goal is dominance, and they have found a way to achieve it through the dark arts. These voracious spellcasters summon demonic minions to assist them in battle. Initially, they command only the service of lesser demons from the Nether, but as a warlock's knowledge grows, a slew of demonic and horrific creatures join the dark sorcerer's ranks to wreak havoc on anyone who gets in their master's way. Warlocks can engulf distant enemies in searing flame, send them fleeing in terror and pain, or inflict corrupting diseases and curses that drain the victim's vitality.

Warlocks use a combination of crippling disease and fel magic to burn and destroy their enemies. Warlocks attack their enemies from a safe distance, while their demon pets protect and enhance them. Cunning warlocks allow their minions to take the brunt of enemy attacks in order to save their own skin as physically weak spellcasters without heavy armor. The fire conjured by the warlocks is not found in nature. It is blue in color and is said to be made of living souls. Interestingly, the afflictions and diseases that warlocks inflict on their enemies have a link to Necromancy magic, though more research is needed to confirm this.

Mages can manipulate space and use teleportation spells in the same way. Warlocks are also skilled at summoning their allies, whether they are "friends" or bloodthirsty demons from the Nether. Warlocks have the ability to bind demons to their will; these infernal denizens of the Nether are also Fel users. They either defend their masters with their lives or kill their enemies. Warlocks, ironically, made pacts with these so-called "demons" by promising them their own blood, which contains the power of Fel magic, a valuable resource for Chaos beings. However, most of the time, warlocks are able to trick these demons into servitude without cost.

Warlocks use native fel regents found throughout the Nether to empower their spells, making them efficient or more deadly. Soul lanterns are a common resource among all warlocks.

### **Demon Binding**

Demons are a well-known component of a warlock's arsenal. Their opponents are well aware of their ability to bind and control a demonic entity. On paper, the art of doing so is not difficult, but the following conditions must be met:

The warlock must first form a binding circle. A type of ritual circle that will first draw the demon from the Nether and then prevent it from leaving.

Second, the warlock must learn the demon's true name. Knowing a demon's true name grants you control over it. This is a crucial rule in the warlock's code. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways, including torture, bribery, and so on, but the end result dictates the entire ritual.

Finally, the warlock must make a contract with the demon, which is the ritual's actual binding part. After this point, most demons are completely bound to the warlock service, though there are some exceptions. Accounts from the past have shown how manipulative and cunning demons can be, and if given the opportunity, they will seize control of their former masters.

Demons are the unique trademark of warlocks, but they aren't used very often, with the exception of some warlocks who specialize in them. Despite the fact that most, if not all, warlocks can summon a demon, other types of warlocks rely less on them. However, due to the difficulty of binding a demon, let alone controlling it in the long run, warlocks frequently focus on other arts instead.

The way warlocks treat their demonic pets varies from person to person as well. Some regard them as mere slaves, their lives meaningless, their only purpose being to serve. Despite the fact that the demons are likely to despise their servitude, some others may treat them with the utmost respect or even bond with them.

Most, if not all, demonic summoning rituals involve the sacrifice of soul lanterns, each of which contains the souls of previously slain mortals. Once sacrificed, the lantern is left intact, albeit rendered useless, with the soul of its former occupant taken as payment for the demon's service. However, the inhabitant's soul is doomed to eternal torture and pain until, if they are lucky, their broken, torn soul is finally cast into the End.

### **Demonhood**

It has been demonstrated that warlocks can become bound to the Nether and become demons. This is portrayed as them maturing into the typical demonic characteristics. For instance, hooves, wings, scales, claws, and so on.

## **Morality**

Warlocks are not widely accepted in society. If warlocks were seen strolling through a city with their demons in tow, clad in armor adorned with spikes and chains and wielding a sword emblazoned with demonic runes, they would be arrested, and possibly killed on the spot!

It does, however, vary depending on the society. Warlocks will always be distrusted, but their usefulness will be recognized by authorities over time, provided they use their power for good. Human warlocks are by far the most despised members of their society, with many "witch hunts" conducted against all dark magic users. Humans are deeply rooted in the Light, and warlocks violate all of their sacred teachings, not to mention the scar from the Great Plague.

This gave rise to the common stereotype that warlocks are evil and dangerous, but is this true? Is it true that warlocks are the demonic fiends that we should all fear and hunt down?

For a warlock, it's mostly about power and the prestige that comes with it. Let's face it: no sane person would willingly trade with demons if they thought it would be a particularly enjoyable experience. Most rational people would quickly distance themselves from something considered evil or wrong. However, warlocks aren't exactly the most rational people. Think of the power-mad mages that get addicted to arcane, and then crank the dial-up another couple hundred notches, and you've got yourself a warlock.

This is not to say that all warlocks are completely insane or evil. A warlock, on the other hand, must have incredible self-control in order to keep a demon bound in servitude. A warlock is a master of power, knowing how to access it, wield it, and keep it in check. Furthermore, a warlock is fully aware of the magnitude of their power. Most of the time, they are proud of it, and they tower over those who have less—especially those meddling mages who were too cowardly to embrace the power that the dark has to offer.

It doesn't matter whether they help save the world or not; warlocks steal people's souls and use them as fuel for their evil magic. They are despised by everyone because the type of art they employ is morally repugnant. These profane practitioners are feared throughout the lands, and many who have felt their wrath prefer to fight alongside rather than against a warlock.

## **Paths**

Due to how secretive warlocks are about their art, little is known about their history in the world, but thanks to a reliable source, we are able to delve deeper into the art of warlocks. The warlocks follow one of two main branches. These are Destruction and Decay.

### **Destruction**

In battle, warlocks who wield the power of destruction prefer incantations of pure chaos and aggression. They'd have more in common with fire mages than with warlocks of other disciplines in this regard, if it weren't for their proclivity to use magic deemed detestable by all mage orders. The destruction warlock is skilled at unleashing a dizzying array of soul-imbued fire and Fel magic on opponents, ruffling souls and conflagrating bodies. They need little motivation to wreak havoc, content to revel in the destruction they cause—ecstatic at the prospect of watching the world erupt into chaos around them.

### **Decay**

Decay warlocks are masters of Fel-touched powers; these warlocks take great pleasure in using Fel forces to inflict severe pain and suffering on others. They take pleasure in corrupting minds and agonizing souls, leaving enemies in a state of torment that will eventually bring them down. Even the most battle-hardened warriors can be deceived, landing blow after blow on the warlock only to succumb to their suffering as the dark spellcaster saps their vitality.

## **Gears**

Warlocks, in general, specialize in using the same weapons and equipment as their arcane mage counterparts. Some warlocks, on the other hand, feel the need to dress in heavier armor in order to appear more imposing and menacing.