Post by DornKoon on Jul 24, 2023 14:47:20 GMT
General Information
Name:
Frederick Edelstein
Alias:
Fred (By friends)
Sir Edelstein
Moon-Eye (Nickname in the Wasteland)
Age:
36
Origin Game:
Castlevania (OC)
Homeland:
Hyrule (The Kingdom)
Faction:
The Horadrim (The Wasteland)
Gender:
Male
History:
Frederick was born and not wanted. As such, he was abandoned outside a monastery located among cold mountains. He never knew his parents, nor did anyone return to claim him as time passed. His life at the monastery was not bad, and he was never treated poorly by the monks. Life was not one of luxury, but it was still a life with the essential comforts, food, warmth and belonging. Frederick learned much from the monks: reading, writing, philosophy, and how to survive the harsh wildernesses. He was told the histories of the world and, when he was old enough, trained to defend himself against the evils found in it.
He became a skilled hunter, a slayer of monsters and beasts alike. He knew the signs, the traits, and the weaknesses and used these to protect others. As repayment for what the monks did, he swore to spend his life serving and protecting those in need. He made a name for himself, travelling the Wasteland and Kingdom.
The First Deal
Mothers tell stories of ghosts and spirits; Frederick heard many himself from the monks. He did not know that he was being watched, that a ruthless evil had set its sight on him. His first encounter with The Presence happened when he was alone in the wilderness; as the creature approached him, a spectral entity of darkness and fire offered him a contract that promised power. Frederick had not heard anything about an entity such as this but only needed to look once to see the malignant nature it had. He would slay it, but none of his weapons (even silver) did anything besides pass through harmlessly. Just as The Presence could not be harmed, it could also not interact with the physical world meaningfully, and it made no secret of this.
Still, Frederick refused the entity, telling it to go away. The Presence did leave, but only in the sense that Frederick could no longer perceive it. No, it was not so easily rejected and would wait for its time.
As a hunter, Frederick made friends and allies over several years, but also his share of enemies who would see him destroyed, which would return to haunt him, as a group of vampires working for Dracula decided to get back at him for ruining their nest. They set ablaze a village Frederick had once aided against the forces of the Dark Court, and many died. And by the time Frederick (accompanied by a travelling Witcher) managed to slay the vampires, the village had all but burned to the ground. The surviving people were left without a home, and Frederick blamed himself for letting those vampires escape the first time.
This was what The Presence had been waiting for and once again appeared before Frederick. It said how sad it was and that had Frederick only made a contract, it could have restored the village to the way it was before. The young hunter was not in the right state of mind to make decisions, something The Presence was very much aware of. It did not take a lot of prodding for him to agree to a contract, making his first deal as a way to seal it. In exchange for restoring the village, The Presence only wanted a "small thing" in return. What it wanted seemed for Frederick comically small.
And so the contract was forged, and using its power over fire, The Presence reconstructed the village. Each burned building as before the fire even started, each window fixed, and each roof restored. It even returned the burned, charred bodies to pristine condition. But, The Presence could not revive those who died, only restore their now dead bodies. It was little comfort for those who had lost loved ones, and Frederick knew that The Presence enjoyed the anguish of the people of the village and made little effort to hide this glee.
Afterwards, he tried to get answers from the entity he bargained with; it was honest but not very open about giving answers. It only told him what it needed for the contract to be valid. Their little cooperation would last until Frederick had asked for and completed seven deals. When the hunter asked what would happen then, The Presence replied that the contract would be concluded but refused to go into details that had not been part of any promises they made. Of course, Frederick could always make a deal to get more answers, but the hunter refused. He was deciding to find more answers himself.
The Quest for Answers
Chained to an entity he does not understand, Frederick sets out on a quest for answers. He began to search far and wide, visiting scholars, sages and wizards from all walks of life. He ventured into the wilderness, visited ancient ruins, and climbed tall mountains. He listened to the minstrel's stories, seeking the wisdom of the ages. People have different theories about what occurs when the seventh deal is made. Some were fantastic, others benign, but none offered Frederick solid answers.
It was upon this journey that Frederick came in touch with a group called The Horadrim, protectors of the meek and smiters of the wicked, the last gasp of hope in the Wasteland. In them, he found allies, people who understood the plight and agreed to help him find answers. It from them that he did learn one Truth: the only way to deal with The Presence permanently would be to fulfil all seven deals. That was the only recurring theme in all the information he found. If he died, The Presence could move on to the next innocent person and do the same thing all over again.
Frederick decided to join the Horadrim to use his cursed alliance for something good, if possible.
The Second Deal
As a member of the Horadrim, Frederick began to hunt monsters in earnest, spending a lot more time in the Wasteland and making himself a continued thorn in the side of the Dark Court and the Library. He was forced to invoke the second deal during another large-scale confrontation with members of the Dark Court. They had discovered one of the Horadrim HQs and laid siege to it in the name of their dark master. A plan was formed, with most members retreating and a select few staying behind to hold the onslaught off for as long as possible. Frederick was one of those who remained behind, putting up a valiant fight against the vampires and forces of darkness.
Of course, Frederick knew that he could not hold them off forever and that their small number was insufficient to turn the tide. So, for the second time, he turned to The Presence, wanting to strike the second deal. The deal was simple: destroy the creatures attacking their HQ but spare all those affiliated with The Horadrim. In return for this, The Presence's price was:
With the Dark Deal struck, The Presence unleashed a massive firestorm, utterly destroying not only the monsters but the buildings and the wildlife. The inferno swallowed everything. As bargained, none of the Horadrim present were touched by the flames, and as the fire died down... they were standing in the remains of what could only be described as a crater of ash. Frederick, however, failed to note that this would not protect those innocent who just happened to be there, who were not part of the Horadrim but also not allied with the Dark Court. Only afterwards, as they discovered the burnt remains of refugees, did he understand the flaw in his words, much to the delight of The Presence, who took a moment to comment that it had been for the "Greater good" had it not?
Frederick became even more set to find a way to destroy The Presence and became willing to dive deeper in search of knowledge from someone who could give him answers.
If not among the living... then maybe someone knew among the dead?
Drive:
Frederick's drive and his single goal is to learn The Presence's full true name so he can destroy it. Seven Dark Deals must be struck, as each deal will grant Frederick a piece of Presence's name. Think of them like a letter or syllable that, when put together, makes up the whole. Frederick is unsure what will happen once the seventh deal is fulfilled, as there are several different ideas. One is that both he and The Presence will be destroyed; another says that the two will merge and become one entity; and the last foretells that The Presence will gain physical form and, therefore, be killable.
The Presence's drive is to turn Frederick into a Villain, whether he likes it or not. Every action that The Presence makes pursues this goal; every price it exacts from Frederick is to further this agenda.
Visuals
Sir Frederick Edelstein
The Presence
Visual Appearance
Frederick is a man with a solid and muscular physique, resulting from his extensive training and the physical demands of his profession as a knight and monster hunter. He has light-brown hair and a well-kempt beard. Another striking aspect of Fredericks' appearance is his unusual eyes, as they are white and slightly glowing. Overall, his appearance is that of a seasoned and formidable warrior. He exudes a sense of strength, resilience, and capability. Frederick often wears a grim expression, reflecting the challenges and dangers he faces in life. Frederick has several prominent scars, giving him a rugged and weathered appearance.
Clothing/Armor:
Frederick prefers to wear leather armour, which protects him during his hunts and adventures. His armour is practical and utilitarian in design, nothing even remotely ostentatious or luxurious. Apart from this, he also likes to wear comfortable tunics and pants in sturdy material, both for comfort but also for sensibility and warmth.
Personality
Frederick is a man who likes the straightforward approach and, as such, prefers to speak directly and clearly. He usually avoids poetic or flowery language because he strongly believes those things muddy the discussion and create an opening for misinformation or, worse, abuse of intentions. The exact Truth is the letter of the law—the rules as they are written. The precise, direct, and clearly stated meaning. Frederick does not infer; he dictates precisely what he means, what he wants, what he will trade, and what he expects in return. He must, and he has no other choice due in large to his dealings with The Presence; he cannot afford to slack off.
Despite his outwardly cold nature, allies have noted that behind Frederick's exterior hides a fiercely loyal friend, a man of good humour and someone not indifferent to suffering. He remains very protective and devoted to his friends and companions and will go to great lengths for those who matter to him. He also knows when to keep certain people at arm's length, not to give The Presence any ammunition to use against him. This has, at times, made him appear as apathetic, cynical, and even threatening to regular people.
Regarding Fredreick's view and contract with The Presence, he considers it a burden. They are not partners; they are both jailers. The relationship between The Presence and Frederick is one of mutual destruction, and both parties know it. Frederick wants to keep The Presence in check and ensure it doesn't cause havoc, destruction, or suffering. However, there is no denying the power of The Presence, and there are times when it becomes necessary to make a Deal with the Devil you know rather than the one you don't. Frederick has accepted this fact, however, unwillingly.
Weapons/Items
Frederick carries two swords on his back: a steel sword against human opponents, bandits, and other non-magical creatures and a silver sword used to fight supernatural creatures, including monsters, ghouls, and other magical entities. He also has several throwing knives and a crossbow. He carries a small dagger as a secondary melee weapon, and it can be helpful in close-quarters combat or for performing precise and delicate tasks.
Abilities/Powers
Monster Hunter
Frederick is trained to hunt different kinds of monsters and beasts, largely as a way to do something useful with his cursed duty and also as a way not to depend on the magic provided by The Presence. He is a seasoned fighter and knows how to use most kinds of weaponry, swords, axes, maces, and shields. His preferred style of combat is using one two-handed sword. As a Hunter, he is also well-versed in tracing different kinds of beasts and monsters, possessing the know-how to deal with them and knowing many weaknesses. He has also trained to fight in the darkness of night, in the cold of the north, and spent much time alone in the wilderness.
The Dark Bargain
The art of a Dark Bargain is a magical tradition few are familiar with; one who practices it has forged powerful and binding contracts with a powerful otherworldly creature, an eldritch horror. They are not physically part of the world and, as such, cannot interact with anything in it or be interacted with; in turn, even things like ghosts and other spirits cannot interact with these creatures. They can only affect the world as part of their contract. This is the same for Federick, who has created such a bargain with a creature known simply as The Presence. The Presence is a spirit of darkness and fire, and as such, its power comes from these two elements. There are two ways for Federick to gain access to, and for The Presence to affect, the material plane. Either with Favours, or Dark Deals. Either can only be linked to The Presence's domains of Darkness and Fire; it cannot go outside of these, even if Frederick tries to ask it.
Favours
The Presence cannot refuse a Favour: these are part of the larger Contract Frederick made with the demonic spirit. The prices for these favours are minor but galling, usually made to make fun of Frederick or done for The Presence's amusement. In return, The Presence can do certain limited things aligned with its dominion over fire and darkness. What follows are some examples of what favours can look like, along with potential prices:
Darkness
Fire
Prices
Dark Deals
A Dark Deal is another matter altogether. The Presence can always deliver a Dark Deal, but it is costly. The Presence knows that to ask for such a thing, Frederick must be desperate, and desperate men will make poor decisions and agree to do things they would never otherwise do. The consequences of such large-scale changes to the world reach farther than a mortal can understand, and wielding such power innately changes you. Frederick also has a limited number of Dark Deals that can be made, numbering seven, with the seventh said to result in the contract being fulfilled. Frederick has already used two of these Dark Deals, making his current number of available ones five.
Here are a few examples of things which could be done with Dark Deals:
Dark Deals
The price for any deal largely depends on the nature of the situation and what can be used to drive a story forward. The Presence always seeks to force Frederick into doing acts of evil, and as such, the idea of having to accept a Dark Deal is not something to be done lightly.
Important: Should Frederick refuses a deal after the fact, he loses access to all his powers, including favours, until he fulfils it. If the mission, for some reason, become impossible, The Presence can instead offer a new one, but this will almost certainly be even more difficult and morally compromising than the first.
Name:
Frederick Edelstein
Alias:
Fred (By friends)
Sir Edelstein
Moon-Eye (Nickname in the Wasteland)
Age:
36
Origin Game:
Castlevania (OC)
Homeland:
Hyrule (The Kingdom)
Faction:
The Horadrim (The Wasteland)
Gender:
Male
History:
Frederick was born and not wanted. As such, he was abandoned outside a monastery located among cold mountains. He never knew his parents, nor did anyone return to claim him as time passed. His life at the monastery was not bad, and he was never treated poorly by the monks. Life was not one of luxury, but it was still a life with the essential comforts, food, warmth and belonging. Frederick learned much from the monks: reading, writing, philosophy, and how to survive the harsh wildernesses. He was told the histories of the world and, when he was old enough, trained to defend himself against the evils found in it.
He became a skilled hunter, a slayer of monsters and beasts alike. He knew the signs, the traits, and the weaknesses and used these to protect others. As repayment for what the monks did, he swore to spend his life serving and protecting those in need. He made a name for himself, travelling the Wasteland and Kingdom.
The First Deal
Mothers tell stories of ghosts and spirits; Frederick heard many himself from the monks. He did not know that he was being watched, that a ruthless evil had set its sight on him. His first encounter with The Presence happened when he was alone in the wilderness; as the creature approached him, a spectral entity of darkness and fire offered him a contract that promised power. Frederick had not heard anything about an entity such as this but only needed to look once to see the malignant nature it had. He would slay it, but none of his weapons (even silver) did anything besides pass through harmlessly. Just as The Presence could not be harmed, it could also not interact with the physical world meaningfully, and it made no secret of this.
Still, Frederick refused the entity, telling it to go away. The Presence did leave, but only in the sense that Frederick could no longer perceive it. No, it was not so easily rejected and would wait for its time.
As a hunter, Frederick made friends and allies over several years, but also his share of enemies who would see him destroyed, which would return to haunt him, as a group of vampires working for Dracula decided to get back at him for ruining their nest. They set ablaze a village Frederick had once aided against the forces of the Dark Court, and many died. And by the time Frederick (accompanied by a travelling Witcher) managed to slay the vampires, the village had all but burned to the ground. The surviving people were left without a home, and Frederick blamed himself for letting those vampires escape the first time.
This was what The Presence had been waiting for and once again appeared before Frederick. It said how sad it was and that had Frederick only made a contract, it could have restored the village to the way it was before. The young hunter was not in the right state of mind to make decisions, something The Presence was very much aware of. It did not take a lot of prodding for him to agree to a contract, making his first deal as a way to seal it. In exchange for restoring the village, The Presence only wanted a "small thing" in return. What it wanted seemed for Frederick comically small.
"In seven years' time, a man from a court will come to you and ask you a favour. You must refuse him."
And so the contract was forged, and using its power over fire, The Presence reconstructed the village. Each burned building as before the fire even started, each window fixed, and each roof restored. It even returned the burned, charred bodies to pristine condition. But, The Presence could not revive those who died, only restore their now dead bodies. It was little comfort for those who had lost loved ones, and Frederick knew that The Presence enjoyed the anguish of the people of the village and made little effort to hide this glee.
Afterwards, he tried to get answers from the entity he bargained with; it was honest but not very open about giving answers. It only told him what it needed for the contract to be valid. Their little cooperation would last until Frederick had asked for and completed seven deals. When the hunter asked what would happen then, The Presence replied that the contract would be concluded but refused to go into details that had not been part of any promises they made. Of course, Frederick could always make a deal to get more answers, but the hunter refused. He was deciding to find more answers himself.
The Quest for Answers
Chained to an entity he does not understand, Frederick sets out on a quest for answers. He began to search far and wide, visiting scholars, sages and wizards from all walks of life. He ventured into the wilderness, visited ancient ruins, and climbed tall mountains. He listened to the minstrel's stories, seeking the wisdom of the ages. People have different theories about what occurs when the seventh deal is made. Some were fantastic, others benign, but none offered Frederick solid answers.
There is only one Truth, and The Presence knows it. It is, in many ways, darker than many of the theories made up by mortals. It pertains more to sacrifice from Frederick than any of his previous Dark Deals. Once he makes the Seventh Dark Deal, The Presence can leave its world and become wholly material. It will enter the physical realm fully embodied and with none of the rules that it was forced to follow previously. Once Frederick has accepted the final deal, after The Presence gives whatever boon he wished for, it will permanently manifest with its complete power. For this to happen, there will be a price. Frederick must sacrifice a part of his soul. An aspect of himself, be it joy, dreams, etc. This is not a symbolic sacrifice, and if Frederick gives up his happiness, he literally gives up his ability to feel happiness. The aspect of him vanished--permanently. The Presence will use this sacrifice to become corporeal.
While The Presence is undeniably empowered upon entering the physical world, it receives one significant weakness. Here, it can be killed, like anything else. This death is permanent and only possible when it is corporeal. Any action taken against it before is laughably ineffective. But, in the physical realm, The Presence bleeds when cut with a blade. When it dies, it is irrevocably dead. Nothing can help it cheat its way out of this death. If The Presence dies this way, the aspect that Frederick sacrificed to provide for the entity also dies. If happiness was sacrificed, he must live with this sacrifice for the remainder of his days.
While The Presence is undeniably empowered upon entering the physical world, it receives one significant weakness. Here, it can be killed, like anything else. This death is permanent and only possible when it is corporeal. Any action taken against it before is laughably ineffective. But, in the physical realm, The Presence bleeds when cut with a blade. When it dies, it is irrevocably dead. Nothing can help it cheat its way out of this death. If The Presence dies this way, the aspect that Frederick sacrificed to provide for the entity also dies. If happiness was sacrificed, he must live with this sacrifice for the remainder of his days.
It was upon this journey that Frederick came in touch with a group called The Horadrim, protectors of the meek and smiters of the wicked, the last gasp of hope in the Wasteland. In them, he found allies, people who understood the plight and agreed to help him find answers. It from them that he did learn one Truth: the only way to deal with The Presence permanently would be to fulfil all seven deals. That was the only recurring theme in all the information he found. If he died, The Presence could move on to the next innocent person and do the same thing all over again.
Frederick decided to join the Horadrim to use his cursed alliance for something good, if possible.
The Second Deal
As a member of the Horadrim, Frederick began to hunt monsters in earnest, spending a lot more time in the Wasteland and making himself a continued thorn in the side of the Dark Court and the Library. He was forced to invoke the second deal during another large-scale confrontation with members of the Dark Court. They had discovered one of the Horadrim HQs and laid siege to it in the name of their dark master. A plan was formed, with most members retreating and a select few staying behind to hold the onslaught off for as long as possible. Frederick was one of those who remained behind, putting up a valiant fight against the vampires and forces of darkness.
Of course, Frederick knew that he could not hold them off forever and that their small number was insufficient to turn the tide. So, for the second time, he turned to The Presence, wanting to strike the second deal. The deal was simple: destroy the creatures attacking their HQ but spare all those affiliated with The Horadrim. In return for this, The Presence's price was:
"When you meet her, you will not let the princess pass, and you cannot tell her why."
With the Dark Deal struck, The Presence unleashed a massive firestorm, utterly destroying not only the monsters but the buildings and the wildlife. The inferno swallowed everything. As bargained, none of the Horadrim present were touched by the flames, and as the fire died down... they were standing in the remains of what could only be described as a crater of ash. Frederick, however, failed to note that this would not protect those innocent who just happened to be there, who were not part of the Horadrim but also not allied with the Dark Court. Only afterwards, as they discovered the burnt remains of refugees, did he understand the flaw in his words, much to the delight of The Presence, who took a moment to comment that it had been for the "Greater good" had it not?
Frederick became even more set to find a way to destroy The Presence and became willing to dive deeper in search of knowledge from someone who could give him answers.
If not among the living... then maybe someone knew among the dead?
Drive:
Frederick's drive and his single goal is to learn The Presence's full true name so he can destroy it. Seven Dark Deals must be struck, as each deal will grant Frederick a piece of Presence's name. Think of them like a letter or syllable that, when put together, makes up the whole. Frederick is unsure what will happen once the seventh deal is fulfilled, as there are several different ideas. One is that both he and The Presence will be destroyed; another says that the two will merge and become one entity; and the last foretells that The Presence will gain physical form and, therefore, be killable.
The Presence's drive is to turn Frederick into a Villain, whether he likes it or not. Every action that The Presence makes pursues this goal; every price it exacts from Frederick is to further this agenda.
Visuals
Sir Frederick Edelstein
The Presence
Visual Appearance
Frederick is a man with a solid and muscular physique, resulting from his extensive training and the physical demands of his profession as a knight and monster hunter. He has light-brown hair and a well-kempt beard. Another striking aspect of Fredericks' appearance is his unusual eyes, as they are white and slightly glowing. Overall, his appearance is that of a seasoned and formidable warrior. He exudes a sense of strength, resilience, and capability. Frederick often wears a grim expression, reflecting the challenges and dangers he faces in life. Frederick has several prominent scars, giving him a rugged and weathered appearance.
The Presence is a malignant spirit and usually appears as a long and spindly humanoid with black hair, grey skin, sharp fangs and shining red eyes. It is constantly levitating off the ground and does not seem to possess any visible legs. On the other hand, its arms and fingers are abnormally long, causing the hands to remind people of spiders. Whatever the case, The Presence always seems slightly "out of phase", there and not simultaneously, like smoke and mist in the colour of ink and blood.
Clothing/Armor:
Frederick prefers to wear leather armour, which protects him during his hunts and adventures. His armour is practical and utilitarian in design, nothing even remotely ostentatious or luxurious. Apart from this, he also likes to wear comfortable tunics and pants in sturdy material, both for comfort but also for sensibility and warmth.
The Presence is generally the opposite of Frederick, and it likes to appear wearing ostentatious outfits in fancy fabrics with ruffles, feathers and other designs, usually in shades of black and red. It is never seen without a big hat decorated with a skull and several feathers.
Personality
Frederick is a man who likes the straightforward approach and, as such, prefers to speak directly and clearly. He usually avoids poetic or flowery language because he strongly believes those things muddy the discussion and create an opening for misinformation or, worse, abuse of intentions. The exact Truth is the letter of the law—the rules as they are written. The precise, direct, and clearly stated meaning. Frederick does not infer; he dictates precisely what he means, what he wants, what he will trade, and what he expects in return. He must, and he has no other choice due in large to his dealings with The Presence; he cannot afford to slack off.
Despite his outwardly cold nature, allies have noted that behind Frederick's exterior hides a fiercely loyal friend, a man of good humour and someone not indifferent to suffering. He remains very protective and devoted to his friends and companions and will go to great lengths for those who matter to him. He also knows when to keep certain people at arm's length, not to give The Presence any ammunition to use against him. This has, at times, made him appear as apathetic, cynical, and even threatening to regular people.
Regarding Fredreick's view and contract with The Presence, he considers it a burden. They are not partners; they are both jailers. The relationship between The Presence and Frederick is one of mutual destruction, and both parties know it. Frederick wants to keep The Presence in check and ensure it doesn't cause havoc, destruction, or suffering. However, there is no denying the power of The Presence, and there are times when it becomes necessary to make a Deal with the Devil you know rather than the one you don't. Frederick has accepted this fact, however, unwillingly.
The Presence, on the other hand, is a devious, clever, and manipulative creature, but an honest one in its way. It abides by the terms of its agreements and its contracts. But, The Presence is also wicked and cruel, playful, and teasing. It has its desires, goals, and agenda and will make no secret of it. Its power is considerable, but it is also its only currency. It guards it jealously. The Presence always follows through on its promises, but only in the strictest and most literal sense of the word, and will often twist things into something that Frederick never intended. It will always attempt to twist his words so long as the agreement remains technically valid. It can't redefine terms.
Weapons/Items
Frederick carries two swords on his back: a steel sword against human opponents, bandits, and other non-magical creatures and a silver sword used to fight supernatural creatures, including monsters, ghouls, and other magical entities. He also has several throwing knives and a crossbow. He carries a small dagger as a secondary melee weapon, and it can be helpful in close-quarters combat or for performing precise and delicate tasks.
Abilities/Powers
Monster Hunter
Frederick is trained to hunt different kinds of monsters and beasts, largely as a way to do something useful with his cursed duty and also as a way not to depend on the magic provided by The Presence. He is a seasoned fighter and knows how to use most kinds of weaponry, swords, axes, maces, and shields. His preferred style of combat is using one two-handed sword. As a Hunter, he is also well-versed in tracing different kinds of beasts and monsters, possessing the know-how to deal with them and knowing many weaknesses. He has also trained to fight in the darkness of night, in the cold of the north, and spent much time alone in the wilderness.
The Dark Bargain
The art of a Dark Bargain is a magical tradition few are familiar with; one who practices it has forged powerful and binding contracts with a powerful otherworldly creature, an eldritch horror. They are not physically part of the world and, as such, cannot interact with anything in it or be interacted with; in turn, even things like ghosts and other spirits cannot interact with these creatures. They can only affect the world as part of their contract. This is the same for Federick, who has created such a bargain with a creature known simply as The Presence. The Presence is a spirit of darkness and fire, and as such, its power comes from these two elements. There are two ways for Federick to gain access to, and for The Presence to affect, the material plane. Either with Favours, or Dark Deals. Either can only be linked to The Presence's domains of Darkness and Fire; it cannot go outside of these, even if Frederick tries to ask it.
Favours
The Presence cannot refuse a Favour: these are part of the larger Contract Frederick made with the demonic spirit. The prices for these favours are minor but galling, usually made to make fun of Frederick or done for The Presence's amusement. In return, The Presence can do certain limited things aligned with its dominion over fire and darkness. What follows are some examples of what favours can look like, along with potential prices:
Darkness
- Make a room dark as night
- Observe an area or another person through shadows.
- Open a shadowy portal to instantly travel a short distance to another shadow in sight
- Cause a creature to be attacked by its own shadow.
- Wreath a weapon with supernatural flame. Unless enchanted, the weapon melts or is burned to ash when the effect of the favour ends.
- Reconstruct an object that was destroyed by fire, returning it to the condition it was before being exposed to the fire
- Create a controlled and contained fire the size of a bonfire or smaller.
- Set another creature's clothes aflame. This fire is not magical, and the victim can put the flames out, ending the effect.
Prices
- "Raise a toast in my honour!”
- "After I do this, you must say thank you. And you must mean it."
- "Commission a song/poem in my honour"
- "Insult the next person you meet, without telling them why"
- "Give away your shoes to the new person you meet"
- "Kick a cat and/or puppy"
- "Eat with your hands at next meal, yes even if its soup"
Dark Deals
A Dark Deal is another matter altogether. The Presence can always deliver a Dark Deal, but it is costly. The Presence knows that to ask for such a thing, Frederick must be desperate, and desperate men will make poor decisions and agree to do things they would never otherwise do. The consequences of such large-scale changes to the world reach farther than a mortal can understand, and wielding such power innately changes you. Frederick also has a limited number of Dark Deals that can be made, numbering seven, with the seventh said to result in the contract being fulfilled. Frederick has already used two of these Dark Deals, making his current number of available ones five.
Here are a few examples of things which could be done with Dark Deals:
Dark Deals
- Cause an eclipse, plunging a large area (such as an entire city) into utter darkness.
- Summon a shadow beast, a terrifying monster made of pure darkness.
- Create a massive firestorm, utterly destroying everything within 100 feet of the centre point
- Reconstruct a large area that has been devastated by fire (such as a city or forest), returning it to its condition before being exposed to the fire. It cannot revive those killed by fire.
- Summon a Monster of living flame, which will attack an enemy or enemies following a single command
The price for any deal largely depends on the nature of the situation and what can be used to drive a story forward. The Presence always seeks to force Frederick into doing acts of evil, and as such, the idea of having to accept a Dark Deal is not something to be done lightly.
Important: Should Frederick refuses a deal after the fact, he loses access to all his powers, including favours, until he fulfils it. If the mission, for some reason, become impossible, The Presence can instead offer a new one, but this will almost certainly be even more difficult and morally compromising than the first.
