Vrardexi

Source: The Gods Are Bastards - Web Serial
Type: Upper Middle Tier Caster Demon
Hierarchy: Upper Middle Tier (assistants to Khelminash, below them in hierarchy)
Minimum Warlock Level: 10

Physical Description

Vrardexi are caster demons with a humanoid form featuring elongated limbs and ethereal features. Their appearance is designed for magical work and soulcraft rather than physical combat. They often display spectral or shadowy qualities reflecting their soul-based magic. Their form is optimized for spellcasting and the manipulation of souls for infernal magic purposes, reflecting their role as specialized practitioners of soul-based magic and necromancy.

Role in Hell

Vrardexi are upper middle tier caster demons specializing in soul-based spell work and necromancy. They serve as assistants to Khelminash, operating below them in the hierarchy. Despite their lower status compared to Khelminash, they are highly valued for their specialized expertise in soulcraft and necromantic magic.

Vrardexi are preferred servants of Prince Vanislaas and play a crucial role in assisting with the creation of Vanislaad demons (incubi/succubi). They work alongside Prince Vanislaas in the transformation of human souls into these powerful demonic entities, using their soulcraft expertise to facilitate the process.

Human souls that end up in Hell after being barred from paradise by Vidius are typically claimed by either khelminash or vrardexi for use in spells. Only a very few souls impress Prince Vanislaas enough to become his children (incubi/succubi); the rest are used by these caster demons in their magical workings. Vrardexi's specialization in soul-based magic makes them particularly effective at processing and utilizing these souls for both spellwork and demon creation.

Making a Pact

What Vrardexi Want

Vrardexi demons seek: - Souls for spellwork: They may request access to souls or opportunities to acquire souls for their magical purposes and for assisting Prince Vanislaas in creating Vanislaad demons - Magical knowledge: They value knowledge of soul magic, necromancy, and infernal spellcraft - Service to Prince Vanislaas: As preferred servants of Prince Vanislaas, they may require warlocks to support the Prince's interests and assist in demon creation - Service to Khelminash: As assistants to Khelminash, they may need to balance their pact obligations with their duties to higher-tier demons - Proof of magical ability: They prefer warlocks who demonstrate strong spellcasting ability, particularly in soulcraft and necromancy

What They Get from the Pact

Through the pact, Vrardexi gain: - An agent: The warlock becomes an agent for acquiring souls and advancing soulcraft, potentially assisting in Prince Vanislaas's work - A connection: The warlock provides access to the material plane and its resources - Magical advancement: They gain satisfaction from teaching soulcraft and advancing infernal magic - Service opportunities: The warlock may provide opportunities to serve Prince Vanislaas and assist in the creation of Vanislaad demons

Contract Difficulty

Negotiation DC: Hard (DC 18 Charisma check)

As upper middle tier caster demons, Vrardexi are difficult to contract with. They are choosy about who they will pact with and expect warlocks to demonstrate strong magical ability and dedication to infernal magic, particularly in soulcraft and necromancy. They are skilled negotiators who will ensure the pact favors their interests in acquiring souls and advancing soulcraft, though they are somewhat more accessible than elite demons like Khelminash.

Demon Summon

When you summon your pacted Vrardexi demon, it appears in its caster demon form and can aid you in the following ways:

Soulcraft Instruction: The Vrardexi can teach you new soulcraft techniques, grant advantage on Arcana or Religion checks related to souls, or help you learn necromancy spells more quickly
Soul Manipulation: The demon can assist with capturing, binding, or manipulating souls for magical purposes
Necromantic Magic: The Vrardexi can cast powerful necromancy spells in support of you, coordinating magical attacks involving souls or undead
Advice and Strategy: As an upper middle tier demon with vast experience in soulcraft, the Vrardexi can provide strategic advice and information about soul magic, the afterlife, and infernal matters

The demon can remain summoned for a number of hours equal to your warlock level, and it will follow your commands related to soulcraft, necromancy, and advancing infernal magic. However, as upper middle tier demons who serve Khelminash and Prince Vanislaas, they may need to balance their pact obligations with their duties to higher-tier demons. They will resist commands that conflict with Prince Vanislaas's interests or their role as assistants to Khelminash.

Example Stat Block

name: Vrardexi
size: Medium
type: fiend
subtype: demon
alignment: lawful evil
ac: 15
hp: 127
hit_dice: 17d8 + 51
speed: 30 ft.
stats: [10, 14, 16, 20, 16, 18]
skillsaves:
  - arcana: 13
  - history: 13
  - insight: 9
  - perception: 9
  - religion: 13
damage_resistances: cold, fire, lightning, bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
damage_immunities: poison
condition_immunities: charmed, frightened, poisoned
senses: darkvision 120 ft., truesight 60 ft.
languages: Abyssal, Tanglish, Infernal, telepathy 120 ft., understands all languages
cr: 12
traits:
  - name: Magic Resistance
    desc: "The Vrardexi has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects."
  - name: Soul Sense
    desc: "The Vrardexi can sense the presence of souls, undead, and soul-related magic within 120 feet. It knows the location and general nature of any souls or undead in this range."
  - name: Soulcraft Mastery
    desc: "The Vrardexi can cast animate dead and speak with dead at will without expending spell slots."
actions:
  - name: Soul Blast
    desc: "Ranged Spell Attack: +13 to hit, range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 26 (4d8 + 8) necrotic damage. If the target is reduced to 0 hit points by this attack, the Vrardexi can attempt to capture its soul (Charisma saving throw DC 17)."
  - name: Spellcasting
    desc: "The Vrardexi is a 15th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 17, +13 to hit with spell attacks). It knows the following spells:\n\nCantrips (at will): chill touch, mage hand, minor illusion\n1st level (4 slots): detect magic, mage armor, shield\n2nd level (3 slots): detect thoughts, hold person\n3rd level (3 slots): animate dead, speak with dead, vampiric touch\n4th level (3 slots): banishment, blight\n5th level (2 slots): contact other plane, create undead\n6th level (1 slot): circle of death\n7th level (1 slot): finger of death"
  - name: Soul Harvest
    desc: "The Vrardexi targets one creature that died within the last minute within 60 feet. The creature's soul must make a DC 17 Charisma saving throw. On a failure, the Vrardexi captures the soul, which it can use to power spells or create undead."

Greater Vrardexi

If a warlock contracts with a Vrardexi at level 10 and keeps it alive until reaching level 15, the demon evolves into a Greater Vrardexi—a master of soulcraft and necromancy with vastly enhanced magical abilities and the power to create and command powerful undead.

name: Greater Vrardexi
size: Medium
type: fiend
subtype: demon
alignment: lawful evil
ac: 17
hp: 210
hit_dice: 20d8 + 120
speed: 30 ft., fly 40 ft.
stats: [12, 16, 22, 24, 20, 22]
skillsaves:
  - arcana: 15
  - history: 15
  - insight: 12
  - perception: 12
  - religion: 15
damage_resistances: cold, fire, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
damage_immunities: poison, necrotic
condition_immunities: charmed, frightened, poisoned, exhaustion
senses: darkvision 120 ft., truesight 120 ft.
languages: Abyssal, Tanglish, Infernal, telepathy 120 ft., understands all languages
cr: 17
traits:
  - name: Magic Resistance
    desc: "The Vrardexi has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects."
  - name: Soul Sense
    desc: "The Vrardexi can sense the presence of souls, undead, and soul-related magic within 240 feet. It knows the location, general nature, and power level of any souls or undead in this range."
  - name: Soulcraft Mastery
    desc: "The Vrardexi can cast animate dead, speak with dead, and create undead at will without expending spell slots or material components. Undead created by the Vrardexi have maximum hit points and gain a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls."
  - name: Legendary Resistance (3/Day)
    desc: "If the Vrardexi fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead."
actions:
  - name: Multiattack
    desc: "The Vrardexi makes two Soul Blast attacks and uses Soul Harvest if available."
  - name: Soul Blast
    desc: "Ranged Spell Attack: +15 to hit, range 180 ft., one target. Hit: 36 (8d8) necrotic damage plus 18 (4d8) psychic damage. If the target is reduced to 0 hit points by this attack, the Vrardexi automatically captures its soul."
  - name: Soul Rend
    desc: "Melee Spell Attack: +15 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 45 (10d8) necrotic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 23 Constitution saving throw or have its soul partially torn from its body. While affected, the target has disadvantage on all saving throws and attack rolls for 1 minute."
spellcasting:
  - name: Spellcasting
    desc: "The Vrardexi is a 20th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 23, +15 to hit with spell attacks). It knows the following spells:"
    spells:
      - "Cantrips (at will): chill touch, mage hand, minor illusion, toll the dead"
      - "1st level (4 slots): detect magic, mage armor, shield, ray of sickness"
      - "2nd level (3 slots): detect thoughts, hold person, ray of enfeeblement"
      - "3rd level (3 slots): animate dead, speak with dead, vampiric touch, counterspell"
      - "4th level (3 slots): banishment, blight, dimension door"
      - "5th level (3 slots): contact other plane, create undead, cloudkill"
      - "6th level (2 slots): circle of death, create undead"
      - "7th level (2 slots): finger of death, plane shift"
      - "8th level (1 slot): clone, demiplane"
      - "9th level (1 slot): astral projection"
  - name: Soul Harvest (Recharge 5-6)
    desc: "The Vrardexi targets one creature that died within the last hour within 120 feet. The creature's soul must make a DC 23 Charisma saving throw. On a failure, the Vrardexi captures the soul, which it can use to power spells, create powerful undead, or bargain with other entities. The Vrardexi can store up to 10 souls at once."
legendary_actions:
  - name: Legendary Actions (3/Turn)
    desc: "The Vrardexi can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The Vrardexi regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn."
  - name: Cantrip
    desc: "The Vrardexi casts a cantrip."
  - name: Soul Blast (Costs 2 Actions)
    desc: "The Vrardexi makes one Soul Blast attack."
  - name: Create Undead (Costs 3 Actions)
    desc: "The Vrardexi uses its Soulcraft Mastery to create an undead creature of CR 5 or lower."