Devil Trigger

**Devil Trigger** is an ability in the *Devils Might Surrender* continuity of Nat19. It is based on the ability used by various characters in the *Devil May Cry* franchise. It is the power to drastically enhance one's own combat abilities through means unique to each individual.

## Role in Plot

The first time a Devil Trigger was used was by Immanuel during the party's fight with Irisolthe in the Anchor of Epiphany. After using his magic, Bastet began to change shape, growing to the size of a large panther. Immanuel's appearance and abilities also changed, allowing him and his feline familiar to fight much more efficiently. The exact cause of this sudden emergence of power is currently unknown.

Later that day, after the party defeated Layden, he gave Ardyn a concoction created from the latter's blood. He had planned to use it to achieve a higher level of power, but with his death quickly approaching he chose to give it to Ardyn. During the subsequent fight with the Anchor's defenses, Ardyn injected himself with the vial, transforming him into a much more powerful, demonic form.

During the battle against Lilith in the Anchor of Epiphany, Mariley also achieved her Devil Trigger transformation, using her new abilities to turn the tables on the First Mistress. Her new form allowed her to fly using flaming, butterfly-like wings, as well as charm her foes far more easily.

As the party fought against Agnus outside of one of the anchors, he took the unconscious Mariley hostage. As the helicopter they were both in plummeted to the ground, Niccolo boarded it and tried to free Mariley before they crashed. It appeared as though he was too late, but moments after the helicopter crashed, a transformed Niccolo landed safely on the ground with Mariley in his arms. He then used this newfound power to combat Credo as Agnus laid in the distance, cackling at his experiment's success.

Fionula would later unlock her Devil Trigger during the DMS Party's fight with Valefar on Isla Cinnamon. After Valefar threw her hundreds of feet into the air, Fionula was passed by a biplane. Though she couldn't see who was in the biplane, whoever it was threw her a large chunk of the Yamato, which was immediately absorbed into her skin, thus granting her much greater power.

## Features

* Ardyn Doyle
* Fionula Ione
* Immanuel Locke
* Mariley Injusteez
* Niccolo Bernadino

As a bonus action on his turn, Ardyn can assume a demonic form as long as he has at least 2 style points.

While transformed he cannot gain style points except by rolling a 20 on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw (or by completing situational objectives as described by the DM). At the start of each round he is transformed, Ardyn must spend 1 more style point or revert back to his normal form.

When he reverts, he loses all remaining style points and must roll 1d6 at the start of each of his turns. He cannot use his Devil Trigger again until he rolls a result of 5 or 6, or until he completes a short or long rest.

When transformed, Ardyn gains the following benefits:

* **Chain Lash**: When Ardyn hits a creature with a thrown weapon attack, he can choose to pull himself into an unoccupied space adjacent to his target.
* **Distant Return**: The chains binding Ardyn's weapons allow him to throw his melee weapons as if they had the Thrown (range 60) property, having those attacks still count as melee attacks. If Ardyn scores a critical hit against a huge or smaller creature using a weapon he throws, he can pull them into an empty space within 10 feet of him.
* **Double Jump**: Ardyn can make a long jump or high jump from a standing position. His jump distances for both are doubled.
* **Empowerment**: While transformed, all of his Ability Scores are increased by an amount equal to his proficiency bonus. He has advantage on saving throws he makes to resist being paralyzed, stunned, or incapacitated.
* **Extra Action**: Ardyn gains an extra action, which can be used to make one extra weapon attack, Dash, or use a style action that normally takes 1 action or 1 bonus action. He can also use this action to shroud himself in his dark tendrils, granting him half cover until the start of his next turn.
* **Regeneration**: At the start of each of his turns, as long as he has 1 hit point, he regains hit points equal to 1d6 plus his proficiency bonus. The d6 becomes a d8 at 9th level, a d10 at 13th level, and finally becomes 2d6 at 17th level.
* **Sauntering Style**: Once each turn, Ardyn can spend 1 style point as if it were the same amount of style points he started that turn with.
* **Strength of the Demon Lord**: Ardyn has advantage on all Strength and Dexterity checks and saving throws. While he is using any of his crimson rites, his weapon attacks deal extra damage of an amount equal to the dice he rolls to regain through his regeneration feature.
* **Truesight**: Ardyn has truesight out to 240 feet.

As a bonus action on her turn, Fionula can assume the form of an Echo of Ambition as long as she has at least 2 style points.

While transformed she cannot gain style points except by rolling a 20 on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw (or by completing situational objectives as described by the DM). At the start of each round she is transformed, Fionula must spend 1 more style point or revert back to her normal form.

When she reverts, she loses all remaining style points and must roll 1d6 at the start of each of her turns. She cannot use her Devil Trigger again until he rolls a result of 5 or 6, or until she completes a short or long rest.

When transformed, Fionula gains the following benefits:

* **Double Jump**: Fionula can make a long jump or high jump from a standing position. Her jump distances for both are doubled.
* **Empowerment**: While transformed, all of her Ability Scores are increased by an amount equal to her proficiency bonus. She has advantage on saving throws she makes to resist being paralyzed, stunned, or incapacitated.
* **Extra Action**: Fionula gains an extra action, which can be used to make one extra weapon attack, attack with a weapon created by a spell (such as Flame Blade), Dash, or use a style action that normally takes 1 action or 1 bonus action.
* **Focus**: The first weapon attack she makes each round has advantage.
* **Regeneration**: At the start of each of her turns, as long as she has 1 hit point, she regains hit points equal to 1d6 plus her proficiency bonus. The d6 becomes a d8 at 9th level, a d10 at 13th level, and finally becomes 2d6 at 17th level.
* **Resistance**: She has resistance to all damage.
* **Speed**: Her base movement speed is doubled.
* **Sardonic Style**: Once each turn, she can spend 1 style point as if it were the same amount of style points she started that turn with.
* **Technical Mastery**: Each time she uses a feature that requires focus points, Fionula rolls 1d10. On a result of 6 or higher that feature only costs 1 focus point.

As a bonus action on his turn, Immanuel can manifest the corporeal form of Bastet as long as he has at least 2 style points. Bastet's form remains semi-ethereal, and can share its space with other creatures.

While Bastet is summoned, Immanuel cannot gain style points except by rolling a 20 on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw (or by completing situational objectives as described by the DM). At the start of each round it is manifested, Immanuel must spend 1 more style point or Bastet disappears.

When Bastet disappears Immanuel loses all style points and must roll 1d6 at the start of each of his turns. He cannot use his Devil Trigger again until he rolls a result of 5 or 6, or until he completes a short or long rest.

While manifested, Immanuel gains the following benefits:

* **Empowerment**: While transformed, all of his Ability Scores are increased by an amount equal to his proficiency bonus. He has advantage on saving throws he makes to resist being paralyzed, stunned, or incapacitated.
* **Extra Action**: Immanuel gains an extra action on each of his turns that can be used to cast a 3rd level spell or lower, use a style action that usually takes 1 action or 1 bonus action, or have Bastet teleport and make a bite attack against a creature within 50 feet of him. This attack uses Immanuel's spell attack bonus and deals magical piercing damage equal 1d8 per point of his proficiency bonus plus his spellcasting ability modifier.
* **Increased Spell Range**: Immanuel can target creatures up to 60 feet away with spells even if they have a range of touch, replacing their original range if it was shorter.
* **Magic Resistance**: He gains advantage on all saving throws against spells and magical effects, and Bastet imposes disadvantage on all attacks made against him.
* **Prancing Panther**: By riding Bastet (achieved by manifesting it at will when moving), difficult terrain does not cost him extra movement, and he gains a climb speed equal to his movement speed. Bastet, carrying Immanuel, can run along vertical planes and the surface of liquids without failing during the movement.
* **Regeneration**: At the start of each of his turns, as long as he has 1 hit point, he regains hit points equal to 1d6 plus his proficiency bonus. The d6 becomes a d8 at 9th level, a d10 at 13th level, and finally becomes 2d6 at 17th level.
* **Serendipitous Style**: Once each turn, Immanuel can spend 1 style point as if it were the same amount of style points he started that turn with.

As a bonus action on her turn, Mariley can assume a demonic form as long as she has at least 2 style points.

While transformed she cannot gain style points except by rolling a 20 on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw (or by completing situational objectives as described by the DM). At the start of each round she is transformed, Mariley must spend 1 more style point or revert back to her normal form.

When she reverts, she loses all remaining style points and must roll 1d6 at the start of each of her turns. She cannot use her Devil Trigger again until she rolls a result of 5 or 6, or until she completes a short or long rest.

When transformed, Mariley gains the following benefits:

* **Burning Butterfly**: She gains a fly speed equal to her base movement speed.
* **Coercive Assault**: When she makes a hostile action against a creature charmed by her, the creature does not perceive the action as hostile and does not end the effect causing them to be charmed.
* **Empowerment**: While transformed, all of her Ability Scores are increased by an amount equal to her proficiency bonus. She has advantage on saving throws she makes to resist being paralyzed, stunned, or incapacitated.
* **Extra Action**: Mariley gains an extra action on each of her turns that can be used to cast a 3rd level spell or lower, use her devil's kiss feature, or use a style action that usually takes 1 action or 1 bonus action.
* **Regeneration**: At the start of each of her turns, as long as she has 1 hit point, she regains hit points equal to 1d6 plus her proficiency bonus. The d6 becomes a d8 at 9th level, a d10 at 13th level, and finally becomes 2d6 at 17th level.
* **Scandalous Style**: Once each turn, Mariley can spend 1 style point as if it were the same amount of style points she started that turn with.
* **Skin to Skin**: The first time she deals damage to one or more creatures on her turn, Mariley forces her target to attempt to succeed a wisdom saving throw or be charmed by her. The creature that is charmed can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of their turns, ending the effect on a success.
* **Supernatural Charisma**: If Mariley charms a creature, but is immune to being charmed, that creature is stunned until the start of her next round instead.
* **Vindictive Mistress**: When she attacks a creature that is charmed by her, the attack automatically unless she rolls a 1 on the attack. As long as she rolls a 15 or higher, the attack is automatically a critical hit.

As a bonus action on his turn, Niccolo can assume a false angelic form as long as he has at least 2 style points.

While transformed he cannot gain style points except by rolling a 20 on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw (or by completing situational objectives as described by the DM). At the start of each round he is transformed, Niccolo must spend 1 more style point or revert back to his normal form.

When he reverts, he loses all remaining style points and must roll 1d6 at the start of each of his turns. He cannot use his Devil Trigger again until she rolls a result of 5 or 6, or until he completes a short or long rest.

When transformed, Niccolo gains the following benefits:

* **Ascended**: He gains a fly speed equal to his base movement speed.
* **Better Way**: When he fails a saving throw, he may spend a style point to succeed instead.
* **Clarity**: Niccolo cannot be charmed, frightened, stunned, paralyzed, blinded, or deafened.
* **Empowerment**: While transformed, all of his Ability Scores are increased by an amount equal to his proficiency bonus.
* **Extra Action**: Niccolo gains an extra action on each of his turns that can be used to make one extra weapon attack, cast a spell with a casting time of 1 action, or use a style action that usually takes 1 action or 1 bonus action.
* **Light of Guidance**: Niccolo gives off 30 feet of bright light, with 30 feet of dim light beyond that. This light is considered magical and cannot be suppressed by darkness.
* **Regeneration**: At the start of each of his turns, as long as he has 1 hit point, he regains hit points equal to 1d6 plus his proficiency bonus. The d6 becomes a d8 at 9th level, a d10 at 13th level, and finally becomes 2d6 at 17th level.
* **Savior Style**: Once each turn, he can spend 1 style point as if it were the same amount of style points he started that turn with.
* **Spell Slavery**: When he casts a spell, he may use style points in place of spell slots in one of two ways: he may cast a spell without using a spell slot by expending a number of style points equal to the slot level he wishes to use, or he can expend a number of style points to increase the slot level of a spell slot he has (but must use that spell slot immediately), to a maximum of 9th level.

## Trivia

* "Devil Trigger" is regarded as meta terminology used to describe a sudden increase in power. It is not unique to those with demonic heritage.

## Gallery

Ardyn Doyle's
Devil Trigger
(Artwork by Hazmi Thariq)Fionula Ione's
Devil Trigger
(Artwork by Hazmi Thariq)Immanuel Locke's
Devil Trigger
(Artwork by Hazmi Thariq)Mariley Injusteez's
Devil Trigger
(Artwork by Hazmi Thariq)Niccolo Bernadino's
Devil Trigger
(Artwork by Hazmi Thariq)