Nobody's Contract

This document has been contributed by: Unknown

Contract of Exchange of Offering and Compensation

THIS CONTRACT (“the Agreement”), is entered into by and between the undersigned parties:

Lyrveld, Lord of Vastour,

hereinafter referred to as the “Patron”, and

hereinafter referred to as the “Beneficiary”.
This Agreement is made

this 24th day of Nevaug, 1392,

and shall be binding upon both parties in accordance with the terms and conditions stated herein.
In consideration of the mutual covenants set forth herein and other good and valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:

Article I: Purpose of the Agreement

1. The Patron possesses the power to enter into contractual agreements, wielding the authority to grant boons, favours, or fulfil desires, as dictated by the rules of the Plane of Law.
2. The Beneficiary desires the Patron’s services and is willing to enter into this Agreement.
3. The Patron agrees to bestow to the Beneficiary an “Offering”, defined in Article III.
   1. The Offering is subject to certain stipulations, as defined in Article IV.
   2. Should the Patron breach the terms of the Offering, the consequences for such a breach are defined in Article V.
   3. The Offering is subject to the universal Rule of Law and all relevant precedent for such contracts defined in the legal history of the Nine Hells, as outlined in Article IX.
   4. The Offering is subject to changes brought forth by Amendments as outlined in Article X.
4. The Beneficiary in return agrees to a “Compensation”, defined in Article VI.
   1. The Beneficiary’s Compensation shall include the souls of the “Supporters”, defined in Article VI, clause 2, section 1.
   2. The Beneficiary’s Compensation shall include Acts of Service to the Patron, defined in Article VI, clause 3.
   3. The Compensation is subject to certain stipulations, as defined in Article VII.
   4. Should the Beneficiary breach the terms of the Compensation, the Offering is considered “Forfeit”, as defined in article VIII.
   5. The Compensation is subject to the universal Rule of Law and all relevant precedent for such contracts defined in the legal history of the Nine Hells, as outlined in Article IX.
   6. The Compensation is subject to changes brought forth by Amendments as outlined in Article X.
5. The duration of the Agreement, hereinafter referred to as the “Duration”, are defined in Article XI.
   1. The Duration is subject to changes brought forth by Amendments as outlined in Article X.
6. The termination of the Agreement, hereinafter referred to as “Termination”, are defined in Article XII.
   1. The Termination is subject to changes brought forth by Amendments as outlined in Article X.
7. The parties bound by the Agreement, hereinafter referred to as “the Parties”, are defined in Article XII.
   1. “Vessels” of the Parties may be subject to some or all terms of the Agreement as applicable in Article XII.
   2. Agents of the Parties may be subject to some or all terms of the Agreement as applicable in Article XII.
   3. “Successors” of the Parties may be subject to some or all terms of the Agreement as applicable in Article XII.
8. The Agreement shall come into effect at a point in time hereinafter referred to as the “Effectiveness”, as defined in Article XV.
   1. The conditions of the Effectiveness are outlined in Article XVI.

Article II. Necessary Acts

1. Each party shall use all reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions necessary or desirable to make effective the transitions this agreement contemplates or to evidence or carry out the intent and purposes of this agreement.

Article III: Obligations of the Patron

1. Upon the Effectiveness, the Patron shall grant to the Beneficiary an Infernal blessing such that the Beneficiary shall become well-known and beloved as a performer, songwriter, and singer. This task must be completed to Satisfaction.
2. For the Duration, the Patron shall take actions to ensure the success of the Beneficiary’s career as up to Interpretation.
   1. The Patron shall not take actions to the detriment of the Beneficiary’s position or reputation as a performer, songwriter, and singer.
   2. Vessels of the Patron shall not be instructed to act in a manner that is detrimental to the position or reputation of the Beneficiary.
3. The Patron shall not bring harm upon or cause harm to be brought to the Beneficiary for the Duration.
   1. Vessels of the Patron shall not be instructed to bring harm to the Beneficiary.
   2. The Patron shall guarantee safety for the Beneficiary from all Vessels of the Patron for the Duration.
   3. Actions of self-defense by the Patron or Vessels of the Patron against the Beneficiary are permitted.
4. The Patron shall allow the Beneficiary reasonably safe travel, as up to Interpretation, through the Eighth layer of the Nine Hells, Vastour.
5. The Beneficiary may call upon the Patron at any point for the purposes of fulfilling any of the terms of the Agreement.
   1. To invoke this clause, the Beneficiary must shed fresh blood and speak the words “I, [the Beneficiary’s full name], call upon the Patron under the terms of the Agreement through which I am Bound,” verbally while on the Material Plane.
   2. Upon completion of the Invocation Clause, the Beneficiary may request of the Patron whatever is permitted through the terms of the Offering or Compensation, request to negotiate an Amendment to the Agreement, or request to negotiate the dissolution of the Agreement.
   3. The Patron is permitted travel to the Material Plane through Rule of Law, and such business may not be impeded by external parties, as outlined in Article IX.
   4. The Patron is obligated to remain in conversation with the Beneficiary for as long as it takes to resolve the request.
   5. The Beneficiary may not purposefully obstruct negotiations, or the Patron may abandon negotiation.
6. Upon the passage of the Beneficiary’s soul into Vastour after death, the Patron shall immediately promote the Beneficiary into the station of an opulentei. The Patron nor any Vessel of the Patron shall demote the Beneficiary for the time span of 1,000 years, as relevant to the Beneficiary’s perception of time.

Article IV: Freedoms of the Patron

1. The Patron reserves the right to void the terms of the Offering should the Beneficiary at any point Forfeit these protections.
   1. The Patron may choose to continue the Offering despite a breach of contract on the part of the Beneficiary should the Patron deem the transgression Trivial, as up to Interpretation.
   2. If the Patron deems a transgression Trivial, the Patron may no longer enact this clause unless and until another breach of contract.

Article V: Consequences for the Patron

1. Should the Patron at any point violate the terms of the Offering, this Agreement shall immediately be held null and void, requiring compensation to the Beneficiary in the degree of a sum of gold determined by the number of Supporters of the Beneficiary at the point immediately prior to the breach of contract.

Article VI: Obligations of the Beneficiary

1. Upon the Effectiveness of the Agreement, as determined in Article XV, the Beneficiary’s soul shall be bound to the plane of Vastour, Eighth Layer of the Nine Hells.
   1. This clause is Eternally Binding.
2. Upon the mortal death of the Beneficiary and the progression of the Beneficiary’s soul into the afterlife, the souls of all Supporters of the Beneficiary during life shall be immediately bound to the plane of Vastour, Eighth Layer of the Nine Hells.
3. A Supporter of the Beneficiary is defined as any individual in possession of their own soul who retains knowledge of the Beneficiary's name at the time outlined in this clause.
4. The Patron may request of the Beneficiary an Act of Service, which the Beneficiary will be required to enact within the allotted time frame.
   1. The Acts of Service that may be requested of the Beneficiary are limited to those defined and outlined in the hereinafter sections.
   2. The Patron may request of the Beneficiary an Act of Murder no more than once each calendar year as relevant to the Beneficiary’s perception of time.
      1. The target of the Murder may not be a creature previously known to the Beneficiary.
      2. The death of the target may not cause any adverse effects to the Beneficiary’s career or reputation.
      3. The Patron shall supply the necessary transportation to the target’s vicinity and back to the Beneficiary’s original location before the request, should the Beneficiary request this.
      4. The time frame for this Service shall begin at the point of assignment and end in exactly one calendar month as relevant to the Beneficiary’s perception of time.
   3. The Patron may request of the Beneficiary an Act of Tribute no more than once each calendar month as relevant to the Beneficiary’s perception of time.
      1. The value of this Tribute must not exceed one-fifth of the Beneficiary’s current available wealth.
      2. The item or items requested must be within the means of the Beneficiary to obtain within the time frame.
      3. The time frame for this Service shall begin at the point of assignment and end in exactly one calendar week as relevant to the Beneficiary’s perception of time.
5. The Beneficiary may not discuss the Agreement, the circumstances of the Agreement, or the Articles, clauses, sections, and subsections herein without the express permission of the Patron.
   1. The Beneficiary is permitted to disclose that they are bound by an infernal contract, but is not permitted to disclose the identity of the Patron.
   2. The Beneficiary is permitted to disclose that they are prohibited from discussing the terms of their contract.
   3. The Beneficiary is permitted to disclose the terms of the Offering to any Vessels of the Patron.
   4. The Patron may at any point allow the Beneficiary to discuss their contract, but must specify to what degree and to whom. Such permission must be written and signed by the Patron.
   5. The Patron may require additional Acts of Service, not restricted by the terms of the Compensation, from the Beneficiary in order to grant such permission, if the Patron so desires.
      1. Failure to accomplish an Act of Service requested in accordance with this clause cannot cause the Beneficiary to be found in breach of contract.
      2. Upon invoking this clause, the Patron and the Beneficiary must verbally agree upon what degree and to whom the permission will be granted.
      3. If the Patron requires an Act of Service and that Act is completed by the Beneficiary to the Satisfaction of the Patron, the Patron is then required to grant the agreed-upon permission.
6. The Beneficiary may not speak negatively of the Patron.
   1. When engaged in conversation on the topic of the Patron, the Beneficiary may not agree with any negative statements regarding the Patron.
   2. When engaged in conversation on the topic of the Patron, the Beneficiary must disagree with any negative statements regarding the Patron.
   3. If this is impossible, the Beneficiary must do whatever is currently possible to change the topic of conversation.
7. The Beneficiary may not enter into any additional contract with any Devil other than the Patron or Vessels of the Patron, regardless of terms, for the Duration.

Article VII: Freedoms of the Beneficiary

1. The Beneficiary is held to the responsibilities of the Compensation so long as the Patron upholds the terms of the Offering.

Article VIII: Consequences for the Beneficiary

1. Should the Beneficiary at any point violate the terms of the Compensation, they Forfeit the right to the Offering.
   1. In the event the Beneficiary Forfeits the Offering, the Beneficiary remains bound by the Compensation for the Duration, unless and until the Agreement is held null and void.
   2. Due to the nature of the Agreement, this clause can only be enacted once. Further violation of the terms of the Compensation merits additional consequences as outlined in the remaining clauses of this Article.
2. Should the Beneficiary breach the terms outlined in Article VI, clause 3, any eligible Successors to the Beneficiary’s souls shall be bound to the plane of Vastour, Eighth Layer of the Nine Hells.
   1. If this is the first instance of a breach of contract on the part of the Beneficiary, no other clauses in this article may apply.
3. Upon any and each further breach of the terms of the Compensation on the part of the Beneficiary, the Patron may determine the consequence.
   1. The consequences that the Patron is permitted to exact are limited to one of those specified hereafter.
   2. The Patron may decide that the Beneficiary shall immediately perish, enacting Article VI, clauses 1 and 2.
   3. The Patron may decide to possess the body of the Beneficiary at a future point in time of the Patron’s choosing for a duration of 10 minutes, as relevant to the Patron’s perception of time.
   4. The Patron may decide that the Beneficiary shall forfeit an item in the Beneficiary’s possession of the Patron’s choice to the Patron.
   5. The Patron may decide that the Beneficiary shall forfeit a treasured memory of the Patron’s choice.
   6. The Patron may decide that the Beneficiary’s form will immediately change to that of a hellspawn.

Article IX: Applicable Law

1. “Patron”: As defined in the Rule of Law, Part 33: “Infernal Patrons”.
2. “Beneficiary”: As defined in the Rule of Law, Part 49: “Infernal Beneficiaries”.
3. “Act of Service”: As defined in the Rule of Law, Part 63: “Acts of Service”.
4. “To Satisfaction”: As defined in the Rule of Law, Part 92: “Interpretation of a Contract”, Article XXV, clause 42, sections 22 through 60.
5. “Up to Interpretation”: As defined in the Rule of Law, Part 92: “Interpretation of a Contract”, Article CLII, clause 11, sections 3 through 8.
6. “Null and void”: As defined in the Rule of Law, Part 1127: “Duration of a Contract”, Article XII, clause 72, sections 41 through 87.
7. “Eternally Binding”: As defined in the Rule of Law, Part 1127: “Duration of a Contract”, Article XCVI, clause 12, section 6.
8. “Breach of contract”: As defined in the Rule of Law, Part 1127: “Duration of a Contract”, Article CCXCVII.
9. “Invocation Clause”: As defined in the Rule of Law, Part 3313: “Invocation through Contract”, Article IV.
10. “Terms”: As defined in the Rule of Law, Part 8762: “Contract Etiquette”, Article C, clauses 127 through 756.
11. “Agent”: As defined in the Rule of Law, Part 11219: “Contract Authority”, Article LXXIV, clause 17.
12. “Transfer”: As defined in the Rule of Law, Part 29751: “Contract Transfer”, Article XLVI.

Article X: Amendments

1. The Patron retains the right to modify or alter the terms of the Agreement.
   1. Such modifications shall be mutually agreed upon in writing by all Parties and appended to this Agreement as an addendum.
   2. The Patron must supply prior notice to the Beneficiary of intention of modification.
2. The Beneficiary may at any point request to modify the Agreement, through the process outlined in Article III, clause 5, section 1.
   1. In order to modify the Agreement this way, both Parties, along with a Witness, must sign the addendum in their own blood.

Article XI: Duration

1. The Agreement remains in effect for the duration of the Beneficiary’s existence, including any form of immortal life or afterlife, unless and until the Agreement is Terminated or held null and void.
   1. In the event that the Beneficiary’s existence ends while another party is subject to any terms of the Agreement, all such eligible subjects may choose to sign the Agreement and take the place of the Beneficiary as a party to the Agreement.
      1. If an eligible party chooses to forgo this offer, they instead become subject to Article VI, clause 1.

Article XII: Termination

1. The Beneficiary may at any point request to dissolve the Agreement, through the process outlined in Article III, clause 5, section 1.
   1. In order to dissolve the Agreement this way, both Parties, along with a Witness, must sign this Article in their own blood.
2. The Beneficiary may at any time choose to dissolve the Agreement by choosing to immediately enact Article VI, clause 2.
   1. In order to dissolve the Agreement this way, the Beneficiary must, while of sound mind, raise a dagger to their heart and end their own life.
   2. Upon enacting this clause, the Beneficiary is no longer bound by the terms of the Compensation and the Agreement is held null and void.
3. The Patron may at any point choose to dissolve the Agreement by choosing to immediately enact Article V, clause 1.

Article XIII: Parties Bound

1. The Patron.
   1. Individuals or groups acting under the orders of the Patron, Individuals or groups acting on the behalf of the Patron, or Individuals or groups beneath those acting on the behalf of the Patron are collectively referred to as “Vessels of the Patron”.
   2. The Patron may assign any Devil as their Agent within the scope of the Agreement.
   3. The Patron may choose to transfer this contract to another Devil at any point.
2. The Beneficiary.
   1. Individuals or groups acting under the orders of the Beneficiary, Individuals or groups acting on the behalf of the Beneficiary, or Individuals or groups beneath those acting on the behalf of the Beneficiary are collectively referred to as “Vessels of the Beneficiary”.
   2. Any biological offspring of the Beneficiary are referred to as “Successors”.

Article XIV: Heading

1. The descriptive headings of the clauses, sections, and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience only, and do not affect this Agreement’s construction or interpretation.

Article XV: Effectiveness

1. This agreement will become effective when all Parties have signed it. The date this agreement is signed by the last Party to sign it (as indicated by the date associated with that Party’s signature) will be deemed the date of this agreement.

Article XVI: Entire Agreement

This Agreement constitutes the final agreement of the parties. It is the complete and exclusive expression of the Parties’ agreement with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. Except as set forth expressly in this Agreement or addendums herein, there are no conditions precedent to this Agreement’s validity. Each Party has read this entire Agreement, fully understands the contents hereof, has had the opportunity to obtain independent advice as to its effect, and is under no duress or obligation of any time to execute it. This Agreement reflects the mutual understanding of the parties with respect to all subject matter addressed herein and will be construed accordingly.

Signatories

By signing below, the Patron certifies, represents, and agrees that this Agreement is, and shall be construed to be, in keeping with the Rule of Law.

Signed in the day and the year of: 21 Nevaug 1392
The Patron:
Lyrveld, Lord of Vastour

By signing below, the Beneficiary acknowledges and accepts the terms and conditions of this contract.

Signed in the day and the year of: 24 Nevaug 1392
The Beneficiary:

By signing below, the Witness affirms that all Parties are of sound and willing mind, in accordance with the Rule of Law.

Signed in the day and the year of: 24 Nevaug 1392
The Witness:
Radueriel, Auctorian of Lyrveld

Type

Contract, Private

Medium

Paper

Authoring Date

17 Netyro 1392

Ratification Date

24 Nevaug 1392

Expiration Date

Never

Location

Vastour

Authors

• Lyrveld

Signatories (Characters)

• Lyrveld
• Nobody

Promised Souls

Many infernal contracts promise the soul of the mortal entering into the contract. A portion of those promise additional souls, of individuals who were not signatories to the contract. Such magic takes the promised soul upon death, intercepting before they go to their intended afterlife. Due to the weaker nature of these claims upon such souls, this fate can be easily remedied by simple divine magic placed upon an individual just before their death.
The contract in this article is one of the most powerful, and draining, contracts in existence, due to the number of souls promised within it. As such, there are very few devils with the power to uphold it - in fact, exactly two Archdevils wield this power: Lyrveld himself, and Zaldir, king of the Nine Hells.

And even if you are one of the few who are actually aware of the scope of your pact, if you know exactly what you're giving them, and you think you're okay with it - morals change, wishes change, desires change. There are no promises that you'll still want what they gave you five, ten, fifty years into the future. And there are no promises that you'll still be okay with what you gave. Devil pacts don't care about that. Permanently bound until the end of all time. Even if it's what you want right now, I assure you that it is not what you will want in the future.

— Excerpt from So You've Made a Deal with a Devil