Pact Demons

"So I just have to sign this, right? Okay... What's that written here? Per the term of the contract, should the contractor's heart be ripped apart in a gruesome fashion by the other party, the contractor's soul as well as all their physical possession would belong to said other party. What does that mean, Eliez?"
"Dear mother of Devils, John, I can't believe you really signed this."

— A few seconds before a harrowing scream came from John's basement.

Demons, just like angels, try to cross the veil that separates their realms from ours. Since it is not a frontier one can easily cross, they need someone to open the door for them from the other side. To do so, they rely on a large panel of schemes and trickery more or less detrimental to the poor victim of their ambitions. While their methods do not really differ from a human's perspective, there is one kind of invader that extensively uses wits and words of madness to dupe a desperate soul into opening the way for them. Pact Demons are a real scourge here in London.

Sick Whispers

It always starts small. A distant call in a dream, a scratch in the basement or an annoying feeling in the back of the head. Then things escalate. Soon, life becomes unbearable. Dreamless exhausting nights, everyone seems extraordinarily annoying, nothing goes your way, and even the slightest mishaps can send you into an uncontrollable rage. And finally, the whispers come like a messiah to end your suffering.

They tell you how to make all the annoyance disappear, through fake or real occult rituals. Sacrifice a lamb to cast an angel tear which will help you sleep at night. Hear the voice of Baphomet to clear your mind of anger and hunger. Each brings you closer to the occult veil while driving you madder each time.

You begin to see the world as it is, and you don't like it. Madness draws close, but the voice in your head is benevolent and never takes you too far. Too far, and you would not belong to it at all. Finally, as you are on the verge of losing your mind, it tells you that you only need one last ritual, a final step to sanity. Following the instructions, you open the gate to Hell and the demon appears before you with a paper that looks made out of human skin and a bloody quill.

Note that the situation described here is an example among others. Some demons simply promise wealth or love in exchange for their entrance into this world, while others need the contract signed before they are able to cross the veil. I got first-hand reports of this specific case after I myself made a pact with one such demon. I would direct him toward a suitable prey and he would give me in minute details what happens. I feel a bit sad for Constable Leonard, but he was probing a bit too much into my affairs despite the warnings of his hierarchy. It was only a matter of time before the zealous officer would be disposed of, I only seized the opportunity to further my comprehension of otherworldly creatures - and potential clients.

The Pact

Pact demons draw their power and presence on Earth from the contract they make their victims sign. I could not manage to make the demon explain to me the working of his pact sorcery, but one thing is certain: each pact must have a breach of contract clause, stipulating what would happen to the breaker. The sentence is applied through a mysterious occult law tapping directly into Hell, with strict consideration of what a breach of contract is.

When targetting ordinary people, the benefits of a contract are rather simple. An enhanced physique, the resolution of all financial issues and an occult vendetta against their enemies. To the demon, it results most of the time in the possession of the contractor's body and mind, allowing the creature who cannot remain in our realm in its real form for long to find shelter in a human body. The contractor's soul is often obliterated in the operation, effectively going beyond killing their bond.

Exorcism

Despite their great power, pact demons have a fatal weakness. If the bond to their vessel is shared between every demon and angel, most of them have some way to change bodies in case of emergency. Not Pact Demons. Per the terms of their own contract, they are often pinned in one vessel and cannot escape. And their human vessel remains mortal even when completely taken over.

Thus, most demons hide among the mortals, carrying out their malevolent deeds in secrecy. There has been evidence of such a demon living a perfectly normal life with a human family before being confounded and exorcised. Destroying the vessel is not enough to kill the demon, as it merely exiles it back to its plane of origin, though severely weakened. There it might get eliminated by other demons, but I personally wouldn't count on that.

Signing

I strongly advise against signing any kind of contract with these demons if there is mentioned anywhere that the demon may take possession of your body. I saw lawyers, elder Vampires and Mages sign these kinds of pact thinking they would outsmart the demon. If witnessing all these occurrences taught me one thing, it is that no one can outsmart a Pact Demon when it comes to redacting terms and conditions.

Pact Demons are not inherently bad. For my business, as an example, it is a good thing. They live by the occult and may need some of my preparation, and possess unaware people that would not have been part of my clientele to begin with. Business is business, and I don't discriminate against paying customers.