The Devil
Addiction, Dependency, Excess, Toxic Dependency, Materialism, Lust, Idle Hands, Contract Negotiation, Hiding in Details, Going Down To Georgia Looking For a Soul to Steal
Like Death, I think The Devil needs no introduction. Why, it’s possible that you’ve heard of this scalawag before. He’s a firmly established fella.
This, like The Hanged Man, is also a card that is thematically about being trapped, but in the case of The Devil, one is trapped by one’s own desires or limitations in some way. Trapped in drug use, an ill-advised contract, a job that’s lucrative but awful, or a toxic mindset.
Technically the kind of trap implied here is one that can always simply be walked away from. Theoretically, a heroin addict could just stop taking heroin1, or someone in a bad relationship could simply just leave that bad relationship — but it’s never quite so easy, is it?
Friends & Foes
The Abstract Addict is addicted to something that’s not chemical in nature, but much stranger, like “watching drama unfold” or “exasperation”.
The Ball and Chain are a pair who clearly do not like one another at all, and yet, are always together2.
The Substance Mercenary can be counted on to help out, so long as they are provided with something they badly need a ready supply of3. They’re not reliable in the long term, though — they can always be bought out by someone with better supply.
The Toxic Dependency is not pleasant to be around, or useful, or dependable, or kind. The only time at all that they are palatable is when they are concerned they are about to lose someone they consider theirs, at which point they become attentive and helpful. For a while.
The Hunger Demon is simple, unintelligent, obedient, all they want to do is eat. They can eat anything.
The Greed is Good believes in nothing more than the primacy of currency. They’re very wealthy and, despite this, they are deeply concerned with becoming even more wealthy.
Hooks
It looks like your players are in some trouble with the local authorities. The mysterious benefactor could help out with that — your players will just have to owe them a favor.
Your players have been offered a contract — an enormous cash sum for what seems like an extremely simple, very innocuous delivery.
Locations
The Cursed Object Store4 contains many useful, seemingly miraculous objects that are, of course, all cursed.
Oh no, it’s a Portal To Actual Hell, that’s a serious problem Someone should close that Portal to Actual Hell.
Good ol’ Treasure Chest with an Armed Trap5.
The Fractal Wall Mural is so detailed that one can stare deeper and deeper in to it, revealing valuable information and exposition, but dealing increasing psychic damage to the people who attempt to take it all in. It’s easy to become obsessed, because every detail seems to contain an even smaller detail.
The Extractive Industrial Zone has been set up to strip every last resource from this place, leaving nothing behind but environmental ruin.
Treasures
Try your very best to convince your players that the Not Actually Cursed Amulet carries a terrible curse. It doesn’t, it’s just a nice, valuable amulet6.
Names
Damien, Shift, Randall, Adam, Wormwood, Iscariot, Adrian, Lilith7, Siren, Thatcher, Jezebel, Alecto