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Dragoncat wrote:

Not every pact is so dire, not every practitioner so dark.

Want two examples?

In a little story called Magic, Inc, by Heinlein, a witch is hired to help repair a business building. It's been royally walloped by water, earth, and fire. She conjures three spirits, an undine, a gnome, and a salamander.

Now, the latter of the three is a capricious, simple critter, who see burning things as a wonderful pastime, not in a malevolent sense, but out of pure, natural instinct. But the witch needs the fire damage removed, and he has the power to do it. So, they bargain.

Light a hearth, keep it burning for a year to give me a place to play. That would be the price he names.

Or there's the wonder that is the Dresden Files. Now, Harry Dresden's a wizard, but he does make a pact or two. Take for example, Storm Front.

He needs information about a certain house, and if a certain person has been there. He creates a circle of magic, hides the trigger that will lock in a fae, and adds some honey as a lure. Along comes Toot, who investigates, scans the area, then jumps in to grab the morsel. Harry closes up the trap, the two banter, and strike a deal.

Toot flies off to consult the local populace. In turn, Harry orders them pizza for a week. Fey looooooooove pizza.


Not every pact is some terrible price, bent on corruption. Sometimes, you need something done halfway across the multiverse, and you're busy with your Powerful Extraplanar Stuff. Along comes a little warlock, calling you up one day. He needs the Booms. You have the Booms. You need someone to go smack a cultist of Another Extraplanar Power upside the head. He's near the cultist. You strike a deal.

That, or your a Being of the Stars. The Stars are vast. The Stars are ancient. The Stars get really, really boring. So, to add some spice to floating in the void, why not toy with mortals? Heck, for the cost of a tiny burst of heat, which you can get at the white dwarf down the lane, he'll go running across creation, creating crop circles that serve no purpose whatsoever. By the time you're three eons old, that kind of stuff gets pretty funny.

This is why the Fey and Star packs exist. Not everyone wants souls. Not everyone needs souls. Heck, many powers have no use for souls whatsoever. Sometimes it is outer forces that say "To fulfill the prophecy, go switch the two babies, thus ensuring they will be raised accordingly." Or maybe it's "Strip naked, clad yourself in leaves, and dance around the mushroom ring." Or perhaps "Dude, I seriously have the muchies. Gimme your rations, man."

....Don't look at me like that. Fey have herb gardens. Special herb gardens.

Can I have your kittens? :D