# 🩸 Lost Souls — Choose Your Soul > *"Asmodeus never takes a soul by force. He waits until you offer it freely — then makes certain you never stop paying."* Each of you is descended into the Nine Hells for one reason: someone you love had their soul taken. Before play begins, **each player chooses one soul** from the list below. That choice determines where in the Nine Hells your story leads. When you find your soul's **phylactery**, you carry it with you for the rest of the journey — and the soul inside can speak to you, advise you, and even argue with you. It also grants you a **gameplay benefit** while in your possession. Only Asmodeus can break the contract. Getting him to do so is the point. --- ## 📖 How to Choose 1. Read the soul descriptions below 2. Pick the one that fits your character's backstory 3. Note the **sin**, **location**, and **phylactery benefit** — these define your personal arc 4. No two players need to choose the same soul > **Souls of the Damned:** If you'd prefer your *own* soul to be at stake rather than a loved one's, ask your DM about the Souls of the Damned option. --- ## 🔥 Lost Souls — Full Table | Soul | Relationship | Sin | Phylactery Location | Layer | Phylactery Benefit | |------|-------------|-----|-------------------|-------|-------------------| | **Brother** | Sibling | Anger | The War-Slough | Avernus (1) | Once per turn on your first attack, you may attack recklessly — advantage on Strength melee attacks, but attacks against you also have advantage until your next turn. | | **The Queen** | *(Soul of the Damned)* | Jealousy | The War-Slough | Avernus (1) | — | | **Bounty** | Client / Target | Murder | The Agora of Floating Knives | Dis (2) | When you miss with a melee weapon attack, you may choose to hit instead. Once per long rest. | | **The Chosen One** | *(Soul of the Damned)* | Pride | The Agora of Floating Knives | Dis (2) | — | | **Patricide** | *(Soul of the Damned)* | Murder | The Agora of Floating Knives | Dis (2) | — | | **Father** | Parent | Greed | The Ineffable Trove | Minauros (3) | After rolling an attack, ability check, or saving throw, you may roll an additional d20 and choose which result to use. Once per long rest. | | **The Infinite Treasure** | *(Soul of the Damned)* | Greed | The Ineffable Trove | Minauros (3) | — | | **Sister** | Sibling | Jealousy | The Elemental Preserve | Phlegethos (4) | You are immune to the Frightened condition while carrying this phylactery. | | **The Furnace** | *(Soul of the Damned)* | Anger | The Elemental Preserve | Phlegethos (4) | — | | **Business Partner** | Colleague / Rival | Betrayal | The Chasm of Found Things | Stygia (5) | You have advantage on saving throws against illusion spells and effects that would cause the Charmed condition. | | **The Oathbreaker** | *(Soul of the Damned)* | Betrayal | The Chasm of Found Things | Stygia (5) | — | | **Mentor** | Teacher / Master | Oppression | The Sign of the Hag's Arms | Malbolge (6) | You gain a +1 bonus to AC and all saving throws. | | **Mother** | Parent | Pride | The Sign of the Hag's Arms | Malbolge (6) | After each long rest, roll a d20 and record the result. You may replace any attack roll, saving throw, or ability check (yours or a creature you can see) with this roll — declared before the roll is made. Lost if unused when you next long rest. | | **The Heartless Master** | *(Soul of the Damned)* | Oppression | The Sign of the Hag's Arms | Malbolge (6) | — | | **Spouse / True Love** | Partner | Deceit | The Eye Market | Maladomini (7) | You have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. | | **The Great Con** | *(Soul of the Damned)* | Deceit | The Eye Market | Maladomini (7) | — | | **Student** | Protégé | Harm | The Sorrow Mine | Cania (8) | As a bonus action, heal a number of hit points equal to twice your level. Once per long rest. | | **The Merciless** | *(Soul of the Damned)* | Harm | The Sorrow Mine | Cania (8) | — | | **Childhood Friend** | Friend | Sinless | *Assigned by DM* | Varies | You have advantage on Wisdom and Charisma saving throws. | > *Souls of the Damned (italicised) are options for players who want their character's own soul at stake. They do not provide a phylactery benefit but carry other narrative weight. Ask your DM.* --- ## 🗺️ Where Each Soul Is Found ``` Layer 1 — Avernus │ The War-Slough │ Brother, The Queen Layer 2 — Dis │ The Agora of Floating Knives │ Bounty, The Chosen One, Patricide Layer 3 — Minauros │ The Ineffable Trove │ Father, The Infinite Treasure Layer 4 — Phlegethos │ The Elemental Preserve │ Sister, The Furnace Layer 5 — Stygia │ The Chasm of Found Things │ Business Partner, The Oathbreaker Layer 6 — Malbolge │ The Sign of the Hag's Arms│ Mentor, Mother, The Heartless Master Layer 7 — Maladomini │ The Eye Market │ Spouse/True Love, The Great Con Layer 8 — Cania │ The Sorrow Mine │ Student, The Merciless ``` --- ## ⚠️ Important Rules - **You must carry the phylactery** for the rest of the adventure once recovered. It cannot be left behind. - **Only Asmodeus** can break the infernal contract binding a soul. Destroying the phylactery destroys the soul permanently. - **Lost souls can speak** — once recovered, the soul inside the phylactery can communicate with you. They may not always be grateful. - **Childhood Friend** has no fixed location — the DM will assign them to whichever soul location was not chosen by another player.