This one has spoilers for my crew, so if you're in my group get out while you can!
The Seven Virtues, and the organization they represent, have emerged as the great villains of my Inquisition campaign. But who are they exactly?
The Ordo Ferrum, the Inquisition's demon-hunting arm, has long been experimenting with the unthinkable heresy of demon binding.
It all began in 987, when the Pope became possessed by a demon so mighty that even the most expert exorcists failed to rid him of the afflicting spirit. Many a fearful clergyman believed that this demon must be Lucifer himself, and that this disaster might spell the end of the fledgling Church.
With nowhere left to turn, the high clerics called upon the Knights Evisser, founded by a legendary paladin of the same name. With all haste she was rushed to the Vatican and brought to the Pope's bedside. Faced with perhaps her greatest challenge, she did what any sensible crusader would do when faced with Satanic incursion: smite the Pope and declare herself head of the Church.
With the Knights Evisser and their allies behind her, the organs of the Church could do little to thwart her, and so her seizure of the Papacy went uncontested aside from the lamentations of the Cardinals.
Her power secure, Evisser turned her mind to the corruption plaguing Christendom, for what other reason would God in his infinite wisdom allow the Pope to be overcome by Satan? She gathered knights from every land under God and launched a massive purge. With sword and fire she swept across kingdom after kingdom, putting millions to the torch. If Evisser sensed even a whiff of heresy in a city, it would burn. If a king's relative had ever been accused of consorting with dark powers, there was war against him and his people. Her great crusade was deadlier than any plague that ever touched the lands of man, and all told it remains the bloodiest war in the Church's already sordid history.
But the fire burning in Evisser's heart could not be extinguished, and soon she turned her eyes abroad. Across the Sea of Whales to the north were arctic lands who knew not God's love. In the 19th year of her purges, grown old and scarred, she swore an oath that before her death she would spread the true faith to all who lived under the sun.
An expedition was mounted to that hyperborean place beyond any map's edge, a venture unthinkable to even the most ambitious of conquerors in history. But Evisser was unlike any other. With a cadre of her most elite, she boarded a great black ship and set sail for the unknown.
What she found was a temple, nestled amidst the peaks of a mountain they called Erebus.
Evisser set her mind to abolishing this shrine of false gods, and they left the ship to scale the frozen slopes of this craggy mountain. It was cold, cold enough to crack stones, and the winds that assailed her force was so ferocious that many among them spoke dreadfully of elder forces keeping them at bay, that perhaps the gods of this place still dwelt within and even now resisted the approach. In hushed tones, they spoke too of Evisser's madness. Fitfully they slept, plagued now with nightmares of the cities they had razed in her name, of women and children fed to endless fires, and always they dreamed of her blood-mad eyes. Unknown to Evisser, mutiny brewed among her faithful.
Men starved and froze upon the mountain. Every sunrise over the mountain was a fresh grave dug in the frost-hardened earth. Talk of insurrection glutted itself on every buried warrior.
Then finally, after many days of hardship, Evisser gained the peak, and entered that unhawllowed pagan place.
To the shock of a learned woman named Abyssinia among the crusaders, the ruins were Assyrian! An ancient empire, long vanished, that once ruled half the world. But they were never thought to have ventured beyond the Sea of Whales, there was no record of their journey to this land of wind and ice. Abyssinia warned of the great and restless evil of this people, but her fear only enraged Evisser, who set about the task of tearing down the hateful forms of inhuman idols.
Ill content to watch yet more wanton destruction, Abyssinia set off deeper into the temple. She followed a trail of runes carved into the wall, a script that told stories of the War in Heaven, the Dragon, and the Hidden Ones.
One of the crusaders followed Abyssinia, likewise discontent with Evisser's rages. This is how it began. First one, then his sword-brother, then many flocked to Abyssinia, lost in following her runes.
By the time she reached the tomb, half the expedition was behind her.
Enshrined here was a woman, with skin like starry night and a robe like flowing blood. The aeons of interment had not touched her.
And her eyes opened. And she spoke. And they listened.
She told of the evils that Evisser had wrought as if she knew them firsthand. She told of all this suffering as part of a cycle, one that echoed itself over and over, the bell of history tolling with cries of woe. Before Evisser's purges the Romans had done much the same, before them the Assyrians, and so on. Human history seemed trapped in an endless flat circle of self-destruction.
What God, she asked, would allow this?
God is long departed from us, she said, his throne in Heaven empty since Adam was cast out of the garden. He has abandoned you, and yet you perpetrate bloodshed in his name. Why?
God has trapped this world in a yoke of pain, and the only way free is the utter destruction of the horror-stricken earth he has created. Then the new world will grow up from the ashes, as such things always do. But a world free of God. A world free of pain.
It was simple then, to slay Evisser. Lost in her destruction of the temple, she never heard Abyssinia behind her. Her only warning that something had gone wrong was when her sword was seized from her belt. Then, as Abyssinia had done to a thousand heretics in Evisser's name, she ran the woman through.
Returning to the woman in the tomb, Abyssinia thanked her for setting them upon the path to freedom. And the woman in the tomb introduced herself.
I am the Black Goddess, she said.
And she taught Abyssinia the lost art of binding, by which she might chain demons to her followers and grant them great infernal power.
Returning to the Vatican, Abyssinia asked the crusaders to keep this secret from the Church. She was not Evisser, she said. She would not command them or threaten them, there would be no execution of those who disagreed. If they desired, they could kill her then and there for all she had done. There would be no resistance.
It was simple then, to win them over.
So Evisser's sword was buried in lieu of her body, lost to northern pagan arrows as far as the Church would ever know. And the Inquisition was founded to carry on her great mission of rooting out heresy in the peoples of Christ. And its first order, Ferrum, "of steel and sword", was founded. And Abyssinia bound the princes of Hell to her mightiest followers, great demon kings helplessly slaved to mortal men by the Black Goddess' secret knowledge.
And Abyssinia faded into history, leaving a legacy of extraordinary Inquisitors that would be exalted by layman and clergy alike as great heroes, called the Seven Virtues.
Long story short, here are some stat blocks for 5th edition enemies:
Humility (Pride)
Humility, in another life, was a beggar boy in the Lotus Empire. The Inquisition records are incomplete, but somehow he became a pupil of the swordmaster Masanari Hanzo and quickly rose to prominence in the school of the Falling Star. The boy's gift with the sword elevated him from the lowest of the low to one exalted across the prefectures of the Empire. Perhaps this sudden and unexpected rise to fame led him to fall from grace. One morning, the other students discovered him kneeled in the master's study, stolen sword drenched in Hanzo's blood. Needless to say, Humility fled the Lotus Empire and found himself picked up by Inquisitors at the edge of the Oasis Kingdoms. Eventually brought before Abyssinia, psychological evaluation revealed him to be a perfect candidate to be bound to Lucifer, the prince of Pride. He accepted with an easy smile.
AC 18, HP 162, STR+5, DEX+5, CON+4, INT+3, WIS+5, CHA+5
Saves Str/Dex+7, Con+6, Wis+9, Cha+9
Immune to frightened condition
Compelled duel is cast on anyone who hits him with a melee attack.
Smirk: Each time he is missed by an attack or lands one, he gains +1 to hit and AC, and 10 temp HP and a battlemaster die (starts with 1).
Look Down Upon: Each time he is damaged, he gains advantage to hit on his next round.
Starfall Sword: 3/round, +8 to hit, d8+4 damage plus 4d8 radiant damage, make a battlemaster move if he has a die available.
3 legendary actions (sword)
Patience (Wrath)
Patience was eldest daughter to Lord Melrose, Anglikan old money. By the time Melrose's incestuous predations were revealed to the public, it was far too late for his daughter. Horrifically burned in an "accident" her father perpetrated, she learned to quietly build her rage for select moments when it could be unleashed. Taking after her father, this was usually played out on the helpless; first animals, then children, and finally - rising to prominence as a crack confessor - prisoners of Church and state. After observing her 10 year interrogation of the Sabine Witch, Abyssinia selected her as a candidate for binding to Baphomet, the prince of Wrath. No persuasion was necessary - she volunteered.
AC 19, HP 146, Move/Climb/Fly 40, STR/CON+4, DEX+3, INT+1, WIS+2, CHA+3
Saves STR+8, DEX+7, CON+8
Acid Blood: Any weapon that strikes her is corroded to the point of uselessness.
Howl of Pain: Her constant screaming drowns out spellcasting as
silence.
Rising Anger: Every hit she takes grants her +1 attack and +2 damage.
Bloodied: At half HP attacks and reactions per round double.
Claw: +11 hit, d8+8 damage.
Flames of Rage: 15 ft cone, 2d8+4 damage or strike nearest creature for +2 damage.
Vengeful Riposte: When hit moves to attacker and makes claw attack, 2/round reaction.
Chastity (Lust)
Chastity was a humble nun at a flagging convent in Cordoba. She and another sister loved eachother, deeply, secretly, and in the desperation of their plight tried to conjure up Lucifer to free them. He agreed to grant them their desire, only if she would break her vow of chastity, as she had done many times with the other sister, and lay down with him. Their congress cursed her, destroying her heart and leaving a bottomless pit that no pleasure could fell. When Inquisitors dragged her away, Abyssinia picked her from the bottom of the heap to find her begging for possession, anything to fill the emptiness. And so she was given to Asmodeus, the prince of Lust.
AC 19, HP 142, STR+4, DEX+3, CON+4, INT+1, WIS+2, CHA+5
Saves Int+5, Wis+6, Cha+7
Skills Deception+7, Insight+6
How Charming: Any mind-affecting spells are reversed on the user with no save.
Perfection: While she is at full HP, foes must WIS save DC 20 to attack her or fall into admiration. Whoever kills her falls into a deep depressive fugue that may last forever.
Eloquent (DC 20): Every sentence she speaks is a suggestion. When she smiles, save vs charm.
Thorn Whips: 2/round, +8 to hit, reach 15 ft, d8+4 plus 1 bleed/round, and either throw 30 ft for additional d8+4 or grapple (escape DC 20).
All credit for the Perfection and Eloquent abilities goes to this article on a way cooler blog.
Temperance (Gluttony)
Temperance was born in a time of plague, and turned to the old ways of flagellation, seeking salvation through penance. By some miracle he was spared, and he led a movement to repopularize this ancient tradition. What began as a cleansing act became an addiction for him, and his followers were pulled in his wake as they transformed into a pain cult. When the Ordo Ferrum broke up the cult, Abyssinia made him a prime candidate for binding to Belphegor, the prince of Gluttony. He agreed, so long as an enchantment was placed on him that would leave his wounds to never heal.
AC 16, HP 133, STR+5, DEX-1, CON+4
Slam: 2/round, +8 to hit, 2d10+5 damage, he regains HP equal to damage dealt.
Glutton for Punishment: When damaged, 50% roll below instead (use for finishing moves too):
- Leg severed. Blood geyser grants 60ft jump. 2nd result grants 60ft fly speed. Ignore additional results.
- Disemboweled. Intestines grapple @ 20ft and drag targets in to be dissolved 3d6/turn. Additional results = additional grapples.
- Decapitated. Blind but locally omniscient @ 10ft. Stump roars, head still speaks.
- Hand severed. Shoot as missile @ 30ft, choke or blind (DC 20 to remove). Second result = additional attack. Ignore additional results.
- Foot severed. Foes knocked prone in blood when entering 5ft. Second result = 10ft radius. Ignore additional results.
- Struck in heart. Weapon grabbed.
- Fountain of gore. Foes in cone pushed back 15 ft and blinded d4 rounds.
- Mortal wound. Seemingly dead, automatic sneak attack 2 rounds later.
- Arm severed. Gains riposte with legs, as Slam but only as reaction to attack.
- Jaw broken. Spray broken teeth in 15 ft cone 3d6.
- Head pulped. Weapon grabbed.
- Pulp hand. Damage of that attack doubles, more surface area.
The Glutton for Punishment ability is a straight-up rip from a much better blog, found here.
Diligence (Sloth)
Diligence was raised by an Inquisitorial mage as a virtuoso, an absolute magical prodigy. He entered Vatican University at fourteen in the School of Magic, excelling in class though rarely attending, and certainly never studying. He didn't need to. The headmasters expelled him when he was caught using an enchantment to cheat, and he was brought to court for consorting with dark powers in an attempt to blackmail the masters into handing over his degree. At Abyssinia's order, an execution was staged with an unfortunate body double and Diligence was handed over to her care. On meeting her, he claimed to know about the binding project and requested Beelzebub, the prince of Sloth.
AC 15 (mage armor), HP 99, INT+5, CHA+3, DEX/WIS+2, STR-1
Saves INT+9 WIS+6
Magical Whiz: Advantage on magic saves, resist damage from spells.
Swarmlord: Surrounded by swarm of insects, does 2 each round for free:
- Shield of Wings grants +5 AC against all attacks.
- Sleepy Buzz all in hearing range save DC 17 WIS or take Exhaustion.
- Hornet Sting save DC 17 DEX or 8d6 damage, half on success, poisoned.
Spells: DC 17, +9 to hit, can hold 2 concentration spells at once.
- Ray of Frost (cantrip) spell attack, d8 damage, -10 ft speed.
- Bane (4 slots) 3 targets, CHA save, -d4 on rolls, concentration.
- Hold Person (3 slots), 1 target, CHA save, paralyzed, concentration.
- Time Stop (1 slot), d4+1 turns of frozen time.
Mercy (Envy)
Mercy is just her mortal guise. Envy is her name, or Leviathan, and she is the only one of the Seven Virtues who is not a human bound to a demon. Rather she is the demon, a full-fledged prince of Hell. She was bought easily by the Ordo Ferrum, who should by rights be her enemies. She was bought with the promise of that which she had forever desired: a human life. She was given a body to live out her fantasies through, fantasies of simple things and motherhood and the thousand experiences a demon would never have. After Abyssinia gave her this gift, a mortal coil that could be shuffled off so easily by the Ordo Ferrum, she became a faithful servant of their aims.
AC 16, HP 112, STR/CON+3, DEX+1, CHA+5
Shapeshift: Take the form of any creature she has seen.
Harpoon Arm: reach 60ft, +7 to hit, 4d8+3 damage target grappled (escape DC 20).
Sorrowful Embrace: DC 20 WIS save when grappled or 4d8 psychic damage, steals painful or triumphant memories (50% which ones she steals).
Never Let Go: When damaged while grappling someone, she deals an additional 4d8 psychic damage to them as a reaction and steals even more memories.
Charity (Greed)
The third son of a Cosa Nostra don, Charity was born into such extravagant wealth that he never knew want in his life. He was a self-consumed playboy for most of his life, which only ended when his father cut him off after the killing of his mother by a rival syndicate. He became a traveling mountebank, hawking snake oil from village to village and moving fast enough to stay ahead of the angry mobs formed in the wakes of his "miracle cures". Caught with counterfeit cargo by Inquisitors, Abyssinia picked out the insatiable desires in his profile and selected him for binding to Mammon, the prince of Greed. It was an ugly, unwilling binding.
Personally never saw the need to stat him up. He's just not a fighter.
If I did make a stat block for him, he would be a Noble straight out of the Monster's Manual, with the ability to turn every metal object within 20ft into gold as a reaction to getting hit.
