Magicians, Sorcerers, and Mortal Hangers-On

    Hell has always viewed mortals as inferior cannon-fodder, and most of Hell's royalty would rather send a million humans to their deaths before risking a single demon. For their part, humanity is an ambitious race, always eager to take the short route to glory. Hence, there is always a ready market on both sides for the age-old Faustian bargain — worldly (or unworldly) power for the trivial price of one's immortal soul. The illusory nature of modern fame and wealth makes this easier than ever for Hell to arrange.

The roster most certainly does not just extend to magic — executives seeking wealth, celebrities and fame, politicians and power (and their violent alternatives, rebels or generals)...even a pasty-faced vampire-wannabe, espousing darkness and despair while safely ensconced in designer clothing and expensive makeup, represents a tiny loss to the forces of Light.

Despite the abundance of riches Hell makes available, sooner or later most ask for the inevitable next step, Sorcerous Power Beyond Mortal Imagining. It is these men and their agents who the Board clash with the most, since their quests for power tend to leave a bloody trail - whatever is granted by demonic overlords always comes with both a catch and a price, usually in innocent blood and/or the user's sanity. To make matters worse, the inevitable displays of dark power the average sorcerer makes before going down often inspire yet more credulous occultists to seek it themselves.

The dismal fate of their predecessors never seems to deter each generation of suckers, although more subtle demons ensnare targets with lies and assurances that they are hellbound anyway. Breaking such a pact is possible, but the power is so intoxicating that most Sorcerers arrogantly (and erroneously!) believe their skills superior to their "masters". Few bother to rebel, or have fallen too far to care anyway, and most end up in the old, old trap of assuming they can back out and repent any time they like.