Vondal and Vandederp go shopping for armour. Vorest and I go talk to Stefan.
We talk to Stefan and he tells us that he has heard some tales and found some information that might be of interest. He had sent missives to colleagues out east, and one of them had a story to tell.
"As the story goes, Huăngyán Shān (Huangyan Shan) was a great and powerful wizard warrior, but is home was located near a Demon Pit. Year after year, attacks came and Shan barely fended them off, but they were taking their toll on him and his family. So, in desperation, he summoned Admodeus and bound him using a ki technique called Binding of Law. Once bound, Shan offered Asmodeus a deal: teach Shan and his 5 sons to fight demons, and in return, Shan would fight demons here, on Toril, and teach generations after as well. For Shan knew that Asmodeus hated demons and would be most grateful for a chance to have humans fighting the battles as well. Asmodeus agreed and produced a contract which Shan signed.
"So great was Shan's mastery, that Asmodeus taught him all of the elemental forms in 1 week, which Shan then passed on to his sons. When he was done, Asmodeus then laughed and boasted: "Now you shall come with me to fight the demons."
"Shan expressed mild shock: "I said I would fight them here."
"Asmodeus grinned evilly and said: "What you signed was to fight demons *in* here, and here happens to be a little place I named In Nessus, and these are not demons, these are devils." and he snapped his fingers and the now revealed Devil Pit closed.
"Shan knew then that he had been tricked, but he was not unprepared for this. He then pointed out: "I see, but you only get me when you've taught me and my 5 sons. And I do not have 5 sons." With that, his 5 sons dropped their disguises to reveal 5 warrior maidens.
"It is said that Asmodeus then threw his head back and roared with such laughter as to shake the heavens. "Well done Mortal! I will enjoy you."
"Thus it was that Asmodeus spent the next year bespelling women to seduce Shan, with such success that Shan sired 5 sons by the new year.
"Now Shan tried to escape with his wives, sons and daughters, heading for the foreign West, but there is no escaping a devil with a lien on your soul. Even so, Shan embarked on his journey but halfway there, in the evening of the last born son's 8th birthday, Asmodeus appeared. Shan knew he couldn't prevent the teachings of his sons, so Asmodeus proceeded to teach the sons over the next month. At the end of the period, Shan knew that he had lost and bid his family to continue their journey."
We then talked about how Tieflings came to be and how we've changed. Basically, Tieflings are people who have been "tainted" by a demonic or diablolic presence. It can happen a lot of different ways - mating, or dealing for power being the most direct. But Warlocks can also produce Tieflings by being in a pact with a demon or devil. Or really anyone, corrupted by someone from Baator. There has even been stories of an elf that used a demon forged sword and then birthed a Tiefling.
He then asks how old I am (about 17, I think?) and tells me about the Time of Troubles, 18 years ago, when 13 Tiefling Warlocks tried to make Asmodeus their god, thus granting him godhood. It was very powerful, and while it didn't give Asmodeus the title of god, it did change all Tieflings so that they looked like I do. Apparently, baby Tieflings are starting to vary again, and take up the traits of the devils / demons that they are tainted by.
It was a lovely visit. But I must think on this, I feel my leaders want more for me than they have said.
We leave Stefan's and head back to the tavern. I tell them I have my info and they decide that next we should hunt slaves.
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