Infernal Magic Overview

Magic System: #Infernal
Color: Red/Orange tones
Tag: #Infernal

What is Infernal Magic?

Infernal magic is power drawn from the infernal realms of Hell, channeling hellfire, demonic energy, and the uniquely corrosive forces of the lower planes. Unlike arcane magic (learned through study), divine magic (granted by gods), or fae magic (granted by nature spirits), infernal magic is accessed through pacts with demonic entities—bargains, negotiations, and contracts with the denizens of Hell.

Infernal magic is inherently dangerous and corrupting. It represents power that comes with strings attached—every spell cast channels destructive, corrosive energy that can twist and mutate the caster. The power itself wants to be used, flowing freely to those who can handle it, but the price is often corruption, mutation, and loss of one's mortal form.

Characteristics and Capabilities

Infernal magic is defined by its destructive and corrupting nature: - Hellfire and Destruction: Infernal spells often deal fire or necrotic damage, representing the burning, destructive energy of Hell - Manipulation and Control: Fear, charm, and other manipulative effects are common - Demonic Summoning: Infernal magic excels at summoning demons and other infernal entities - Corruption and Mutation: Prolonged use can cause physical mutations and infernal corruption - Unknown Limits: The player doesn't know their exact tolerance—they must discover it through play - Enhancement Relationships: Infernal magic is enhanced by arcane magic (Arcane → Infernal) and enhances fae magic (Infernal → Fae)

Spell Types and Characteristics

Infernal spells typically include: - Destructive Magic: Fire damage, necrotic damage, and destructive effects - Fear and Charm: Manipulative spells that control or frighten targets - Demonic Summoning: Spells that call forth demons and infernal entities - Corruption Effects: Spells that leave traces of infernal energy or cause corruption - Darkness and Shadow: Spells that manipulate darkness, shadows, and negative energy

Visual and Sensory Identification

Infernal magic is immediately recognizable by its distinctive appearance: - Color: Red and orange fire/energy, often with black or shadowy tones - Effects: Hellfire, brimstone, shadows, demonic symbols - Sensory: Heat, sulfur smell, feeling of "wrongness" or "unnaturalness" - Manifestation: Spells appear as hellfire, demonic energy, or corrupting shadows

Source of Power

Infernal magic draws power from Hell—the plane created by the Elder Goddess Scylith during the time of the Elder Gods. Hell is Scylith's domain, and Infernal magic flows from Scylith herself, just as Fae magic comes from Naiya.

Scylith and Infernal Magic

Scylith is the Elder Goddess of Light, Beauty, and Cruelty. She created Hell as her dimensional domain during the time of the Elder Gods, and it became infused with her personal magic—the Infernal. This magic is uniquely corrosive, explaining why demons are not beings of infernal energy but rather those that evolved to exist while suffused with it.

Scylith was ousted from Hell by Elilial during the Third Hell War, but Hell remains the source of Infernal magic. Some demons still adhere to Scylith, while others serve Elilial, the current Queen of Demons.

Hell and Demons

Hell is a plane of infernal energy, populated by demons who grant power to mortals through pacts. Different types of demons offer different combinations of spells, abilities, and summon capabilities: - Rhaazke: Warrior demons, physically powerful and magically gifted - Khelminash: Elite sorceresses, high-caste demons specializing in infernal magic - Hethelax: Swarming demons, often used in combat - Djinn: Powerful demons with control over infernal forces - Vanislaad: Infernal undead, empathy demons, cunning tricksters - Sshitherosz: Recruiter demons, masters of manipulation

See Magical Patrons/Infernal/Demons for complete details on demon types.

Dragons and Infernal Magic

Red Dragons are the dragons associated with infernal magic. When dragons mature to their Colored Stage, they choose one of the four magic systems. Red dragons specialize in infernal power and hellfire.

Black Dragons are elevated Red dragons who have been formally invested with infernal power by a deity. Currently, only Scylith and Elilial have attempted to elevate dragons, with mixed results.

How Spellcasting Works

Infernal magic uses a tolerance-based system with no technical daily limit—infernal power wants to be used and will flow as long as the caster can handle it. However, this comes with severe risks and consequences.

Infernal Tolerance System

Core Mechanics: - Two Limits: Infernal casters must manage both an Instant Limit (per spell) and a Daily Limit (per long rest). - Estimates: The limits you know are only estimates. You can never be sure of your exact tolerance. - Intelligence: Your Intelligence helps you calculate and manage the strain, making it a vital stat for safe casting, though the exact formulas remain unknown to you. - Pact-Based: Infernal power is accessed through pacts with demonic entities.

Tolerance Limits (Estimates)

Instant Limit (Backlash Threshold): * Estimate: Constitution Modifier + Warlock Level * Effect: Exceeding this limit on a single spell causes Backlash.

Daily Limit (Corruption Threshold): * Estimate: Constitution Modifier × Warlock Level * Effect: Exceeding this limit over the course of a day causes Corruption.

Pact Negotiation: Charisma modifier is used when: - Forming new pacts with demonic entities - Renegotiating existing pacts - Persuading demons to grant additional power - Social interactions with infernal entities

Hidden Mechanic: The GM tracks your actual tolerance, which varies based on your Intelligence, active pacts, and current conditions. You must discover your true limits through play and experimentation.

Consequences of Overuse

Infernal magic exacts a heavy toll when pushed beyond its limits.

Instant Limit Breach: Backlash

When you exceed your Instant Limit on a single spell, the magic recoils against you. This is called Backlash. - Damage: You take 1d4 necrotic damage per point excess mana used. * Targeting: An overpowered spell may twist to target you instead of your intended target. This can be prevented by succeeding on an Cha Save with DC = 12 + Spell Level. * Loss of Control: If you critically fail the targeting save, the spell may fail completely or produce random, deleterious effects similar to a Wild Magic Surge, but always harmful.

Daily Limit Breach: Corruption

When you exceed your Daily Limit, the infernal energy begins to warp your body and soul. * Corruption Points: You gain Corruption Points for every point of tolerance used beyond your limit. * Mutation: When your accumulated Corruption Points equal your Warlock Level, you gain a Mutation. * Reset: Upon gaining a mutation, your Corruption Points reset to 0. * Awareness: Unlike tolerance limits, you are aware of your Corruption level and can feel the mutation taking hold.

Mutations are always deleterious. They represent the loss of your humanity to the infernal forces.

Infernal Mutations

When a caster gains a mutation, roll on the appropriate table:

Minor Mutations (can be removed with greater restoration): 1. Eyes glow red in darkness 2. Small horns appear 3. Fingers become slightly clawed 4. Skin takes on slight reddish tint 5. Breath smells of sulfur 6. Voice has slight echo

Significant Mutations (requires wish or divine intervention): 1. Large horns grow from head 2. Tail sprouts (3 feet long) 3. Skin becomes scaly or leathery 4. Eyes become solid red or black 5. Fangs replace normal teeth 6. Hands become clawed permanently

Major Mutations (permanent without extreme measures): 1. Wings (bat-like, 10-foot wingspan) 2. Demon-like appearance (obvious infernal nature) 3. Constant infernal aura (damages nearby plants) 4. Cannot enter consecrated ground 5. Vulnerable to radiant damage 6. Must consume souls or suffer penalties

Spellcasting Ability

Charisma is the primary spellcasting ability for infernal magic, representing force of will and personality. Charisma is used for: - Forming and negotiating demonic pacts - Social interactions with infernal entities - Spell save DC and spell attack modifier (for warlocks)

Understanding Your Limits: - Knowledge Infernallia checks can be used to understand limits - These checks help discover tolerance thresholds

Spell Access

All Known Spells Available: Infernal casters have access to all spells they know without preparation. No spell preparation is required—all known spells are available to cast at any time (subject to tolerance limits and spell level restrictions).

Spells from Pacts: Warlocks know spells granted by their demonic pacts. Each pact provides access to specific spells from the warlock spell list. You know all spells granted by all your active pacts.

Infernal Pacts

Each demon pact grants: - Specific Spells: The demon provides access to particular spells - Increased Power: Each pact increases the caster's Available Infernal Power (AIP) - Additional Spells: New pacts unlock new spell options - Risk: More pacts = more power but also more corruption risk

Recovery

Infernal mana doesn't have a daily limit, but casters may suffer from accumulated corruption or exhaustion from overuse. Recovery: - Short Rest: Recover from exhaustion normally, but corruption remains - Long Rest: Recover from exhaustion, but mutations persist - Corruption Recovery: Mutations require specific spells (greater restoration, wish) or quests to remove

Magic System Interactions

Infernal magic has specific relationships with the other three magic systems according to the Circle of Interaction. See Magic System Interactions for complete details.

Opposite Actions: Infernal ↔ Divine

Infernal and Divine magic are diametrically opposed in the most brutal fashion. When these systems clash, they attempt to snuff each other out violently. - Energy-Based Contests: Victory determined by quantity of raw energy (spell level/mana cost) - Higher Energy Wins: Compare mana costs—higher automatically triumphs - Area Effects: Divine-saturated areas (temples, holy sites) give infernal magic Disadvantage on spell attack rolls and -2 to spell save DCs - Infernal-Saturated Areas: Demon sites, corrupted areas give divine magic Disadvantage on spell attack rolls and -2 to spell save DCs - Catastrophic Risk: If a Divine caster has Infernal mana in their aura and attempts to channel divine mana, a catastrophic incident occurs

Circle of Enhancement: Arcane → Infernal

Arcane magic reinforces infernal magic, allowing safe empowerment. - Infernal Enhancement: Infernal casters can use Arcane mana to empower their infernal spells - Reduced Tolerance: Arcane mana can reduce infernal tolerance cost - Risk: Still requires infernal tolerance check, but arcane mana can help buffer the cost

Circle of Enhancement: Infernal → Fae

Infernal magic reinforces fae magic, and this is one of the only safe ways to use infernal mana. - Fae Enhancement: Fae casters can use Infernal mana to empower fae spells - Safe Conversion: Fae casters do NOT suffer infernal corruption, tolerance checks, or mutations when using infernal mana to enhance fae spells - Unstable Results: Roll on enhancement unstable results table

Circle of Interference: Fae → Infernal

Fae magic disrupts infernal magic through one-way interference. - Concentration Checks: Fae magic can force concentration checks to disrupt infernal spells being cast - DC: 10 + fae spell level (minimum DC 10) - On Failure: Infernal spell fails and resource is expended - Gentler: More subtle than opposite actions

Species That Use Infernal Magic

Demons

All demons use infernal magic naturally, as they evolved in Hell suffused with infernal energy. Different demon types have different levels of infernal power and magical abilities.

Dragons

Red Dragons are the dragons associated with infernal magic. When dragons mature to their Colored Stage, they choose one of the four magic systems. Red dragons specialize in infernal power and hellfire.

Black Dragons are elevated Red dragons who have been formally invested with infernal power by a deity (Scylith or Elilial).

Races

While any race can access infernal magic through pacts, certain races have specific connections: - Tieflings (Half-Demons): Born with infernal heritage, have natural affinity for infernal magic - Deep Drow (Scylithene): Worship Scylith, can wield both Divine and Infernal magics simultaneously (unique ability) - Humans: Most common warlocks, as they are most willing to make dangerous pacts

Classes That Use Infernal Magic

Full Casters

Warlocks - The primary practitioners of infernal magic. Warlocks access infernal power through multiple demonic pacts, each granting spells, special abilities, and the ability to summon that specific demon. Warlocks use Charisma as their spellcasting ability and have no technical daily limit, but must manage tolerance carefully.

Variant Classes

Barbarians (Path of the Infernal Torment) - Barbarians who walk this path channel infernal power through raw, unrestrained fury rather than through demonic pacts. When they rage, infernal mana enters their aura, granting them destructive necrotic damage and corrupting abilities, but at the cost of accumulating infernal corruption. This path represents a dangerous communion with infernal magic where the barbarian becomes a conduit for hellfire and corruption.

Clerics (Infernal Domain) - Clerics who serve Elilial (Queen of Demons) can access the Infernal Domain. However, these clerics are heretical to most religions and may face persecution. Clerics using Infernal magic use the Infernal mana system, not Divine mana.

Knowledge Skills

Intelligence (Infernallia)

Primary Use: Understanding Infernal magic, demonic pacts, infernal corruption, and infernal phenomena.

With Detect Magic: - DC 10: Identify that magic is infernal in nature - DC 15: Identify the specific infernal spell or demonic source - DC 20: Determine the demonic entity or infernal source of the magic - DC 25: Understand the specific pact or infernal method used - DC 30: Identify subtle nuances, infernal modifications, corruption level, or unique manifestations

Special Uses: - Pact Identification: Can identify which demonic entities are involved in infernal magic - Corruption Assessment: Understanding the level of infernal corruption present - Tolerance Insight: Intelligence (Infernallia) checks can help Infernal casters understand their tolerance limits (though limits remain unknown): - DC 15: General sense if approaching a limit - DC 20: Approximate tolerance for spells of a specific level - DC 25: Precise tolerance for current conditions - Safe Usage: Can identify when infernal magic is being safely channeled through fae magic

See Magic Skills for complete details on knowledge skills.

Infernal Magic in Society

Infernal magic is viewed with fear and suspicion in most societies: - Heretical: Warlocks are often viewed as heretics or dangerous individuals - Persecution: Clerics of the Infernal Domain (serving Elilial) face persecution from most religions - Black Wreath: Elilial leads the Black Wreath, a heretical organization that uses infernal magic - Dangerous Reputation: Infernal magic is known for its corrupting nature and association with demons

The prevalence of infernal magic is limited by: - Divine Opposition: Strong divine presence suppresses infernal magic - Social Stigma: Most people fear and distrust infernal practitioners - Corruption Risk: The inherent danger of infernal magic limits its practitioners