Of Contracture
Any burgeoning mage may be tempted to reach to the infernal, as there is much and more that can be gained from a demon's bargain, and truly, the practice of such exchanges is heartily encouraged. Demonology is a core discipline of magical practice, and any mage worth their color will explore its benefits. Let us discuss the nature of such a deal.
First, of course, one must draw a Circle of Invocation, in which to call the demon, with a Writ of Binding engraved in it. This is how the demon is bound to speak, and to negotiate terms. Thankfully, demons are not known to lie, and are strict followers of their rules who will unfailingly enforce and fulfill a contract once bound, and so the bargain is something to be trusted. However, demons are truly creatures of exchange, and demand consideration deemed to be of equal value in fulfillment of their contract. Such terms are spelled out and agreed to explicitly, but the terms are ironclad, and must be obeyed.
There are a multitude of additional modifying Writs one may wish to add to one's Circle of Invocation, extending from the Writ of Binding.
A Writ of Sequestration can be invoked for the creation of a second, duplicate circle, into which the invoker might step, and seal both from outside influence or observation until such time as negotiation is complete. This is of common usage, in time where negotiation is not private, and yet must be.
A Writ of Parol can be invoked, in negotiation, where the consideration offered is purely informational. By this Writ, a demon might be told the information that they are negotiating to receive, such that when the Writ is closed and the contract sealed, the demon is forced to forget, knowing only that they agreed to the task under Parol. When the task is complete, the Parol is lifted and information is unlocked.
A Writ of Exchange can be invoked for a small secondary circle attached to the primary Circle of Invocation, unsealed to the demon. The demon may then place an object in the Exchange circle, which can be triggered to seal it from the demon and open it to the invoker. By this means, a demon bringing material supply or object in fulfillment may give that exchange, without being unbound.
A Writ of Habeas may be used to call forth a specific demon, by name. Typically, the Circle of Invocation calls forth only by demonic circle of rank, but if one knows the name of the demon one wishes to summon - perhaps, due to prior relation or ongoing bargain - the Habeas can be called to summon that one in particular. If that demon is currently occupied, in summoning or task, a Writ of Interlocution can be invoked to interrupt, for immediate summoning.
A Writ of Nisi is an unusual kind of writ, very rarely used. In the event that the invoker is not yet of the age of majority, and so not able to enter into a binding contract, a Writ of Nisi can be invoked, and agreed to by the demon involved, to delay the binding and payment by the invoker until such time that they age into legal adulthood. While a typical contract requires payment at the time of service, or before it is undertaken, the Writ of Nisi serves to substitute; once filed in the Hells, the Writ is as controlling as a contract, but the invoker may void it at any time until the demon provides the service. As such, most demons will fulfill the contract immediately upon filing their Writ.
With the most common Writs described, it is time to move to the most valuable - and most dangerous - form of demonic bargain a mage might enter into. I refer, of course, to the Contracture of Naming.
A contract for a name can be viewed as something of an investment. In exchange for some temporal reward, or some material benefit, the mage offers the benefits of their name to the demon, in perpetuity. The demon will then gain power, and sustenance, and might, all as reputation and fame come to the mage for their success in practice. Many mages have entered into such contracts, and been great successes in their lives, but the bargain takes its lifelong toll; a mage in a Naming contract will find themselves sapped of creativity, and of liveliness, sinking into a depression as they feel little joy or satisfaction in their works - and how could they, for that is what the demon is taking? A Contract of Naming is, quite literally, the sale of the Name - all the fame and respect that should be due to your name, your infernal patron shall reap the benefits, as you wither into an unsatisfied and despondent void. The very definition of mortgaging tomorrow to pay for today. Even a minor demon will make such a deal with the nascent to power, given the opportunity, though the payment for a name of unproven expectation will be comparatively lower; the expectation being, even if the majority of such bargains do not end up paying out, it takes only one to create a famous spell to propel the demon to glory. Such a bargain may have to be signed under Writ of Nisi, but they are made, nonetheless.
However, I would be remiss if I did not mention the one trick to the Naming contract, discovered in the 17th tectad by the girl who would become Metric Rukam Lacourt, famed transmutation specialist and proudly claimant woman. When she was but a child, of the age of sitect, she called up a demon well above her expected ability, a baron of the sixth circle, and offered to trade her name for a full understanding of living anatomy, enough to support the writing of a comprehensive anatomical text to fuel her further research. The demon, of unknown name, agreed to the bargain under a Writ of Nisi, returning over the next months to offer notes and instruction that she dutifully recorded. When Rukam had enough information to write her work, she told the demon she had everything she needed, and dismissed it, to await the execution of the Writ.
Then, before she reached the age of majority, she revealed the truth of her gender to all she knew and all who knew her, including the fact of her real name being Rukam Lacourt, not the false name she had been given at birth. By the time she turned twoct one, for the Nisi to take effect, that was truly no longer the name by which she was known - and though the demon with which she had bargained would have known if the name she had signed was not the name by which she was known, a demon cannot know if it is the name you truly bear in your heart. The Nisi executed, and the demon claimed a name dead and valueless. Such a thing had never been done, but the Princes of the Hells agreed that this was a valid tactic in negotiation, and the fault lay with the demon who fell for such a deception; Rukam's baron was cast down to the first circle for their failure, and Rukam went forth to revolutionize the process of transmutative transition for claimant men and women. Should a claimant child be of the age of minority, and still in secret to the near-entirety of those who know them, then a Contract of Naming can be practically risk-free - though many demons are fearful to enter into such a deal now, as the entry into such a poisoned bargain is still punished fiercely by the authorities of the Hells.
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