#helzhen

Binding a Succubus is extremely dangerous and should not be done without supervision. Many a would-be master of the Fel Arts reached this stage only to fail due to personal weakness and ease of exploitation. Unlike a simple Imp or brutish Felguard, a Succubus is a truly sentient demon with powers of persuasion and a higher intellect.

While ultimately it doesn't affect how well-made your bindings are, a bit of history is in order. In my research, I've discovered that the Succubi come from another world that was conquered by the Burning Legion. They call themselves the Sayaad or Sayaadi (adj.) and their matriarchal society consumed the males amongst themselves when they were conquered and imbued with Fel powers by the Burning Legion. They are adept at trickery, torture and manipulation, but if you are clever and prepared they can turn those skills to your advantage against the enemy, fighting felfire with felfire.

Succubi are empowered by consuming souls, however intense emotions can generate enough energy to substitute if you don't have a ready supply of spare souls to offer. Pain, suffering, fear, these intense emotions give off measurable psychic energy that they can take in and convert into the energy that they need to use their abilities. They may or may not also eat conventional food, little is known about the lives of Succubi when they're banished back to the Twisting Nether after their tasks are complete.

Create your summoning circle with care, arrange for support, and have a backup plan. Once the True Name of the Succubus is spoken (see: Compendium of Demon Names, Rotshock, Glimmons, Sunsworn et al.) there is no turning back and you will not have long to overpower and bind her. Fortunately a properly applied binding will tie the demon's will and motives to your own, but until it's in place she may beg, plead, cry, threaten, promise, tempt and manipulate you in any way that she can. She may take different forms, even those of lost loved ones or those that you most want to please. Do not think that you are safe just because you don't find women or demons attractive, no! A Succubus can take a male or female form of any race, depending on what you desire, and a Succubus can make you want them regardless of your preferences. If you've made your bindings and defenses properly you may be less susceptible to their psychic magic and otherworldly manipulation, but never underestimate your emotional vulnerability to what seems to be a genuine compliment, an offering of camaraderie, or a kind listening ear.

Once your Succubus is bound, it is extremely important to send them back to the Twisting Nether to await further orders until you need them next. Keeping a Succubus as a day to day servant or pet in your home is as dangerous as tea with a Dreadlord.

Above all else, keep this in mind. While your Succubus may act as though she adores you and would never betray you, research has not ever borne out the theory that Succubi truly experience emotion as we know it. If there was a time when the Sayaad race experienced kindness, compassion and sympathy, it was burned out of them by the fires of the Fel corruption that runs through their veins and the commands of the Legion. Even once they're bound, don't ever drop your guard. Never believe their lies, no matter how sweetly they're told.

Your soul depends on it.

(Editor's note: Oglesby Gigathorpe was ultimately consumed by his Succubus. This section remains unchanged, as a note on the foolhardiness of disregarding safety protocols.)

"What a bunch of bullshit. It's only like…half right," Helzhen muttered, tightening his arms around Verb as she settled against his chest in the ruins of the house he'd found. It couldn't be a permanent shelter, but it'd do for a night at least to keep them out of the view of the dead things shuffling around in the burned scar that the invasion had left straight through the middle of the capital city.

"Mmmm…my uncle had this book," Verb mused as she closed the book she found under a smashed desk, hazy-eyed and loopy from whatever she'd taken earlier. "Maybe I should've listened to it. Maybe you're eeeeevil, oh nooooooooo…"

"Oh no, that part is right, I'm totally going to eat you," Hel agreed dryly, muscling past the full-body shudder that her bringing up her uncle always stirred in him. Fortunately that asshole was super, super dead now. "Arrrgh arr arr arr…" He pantomimed chomping down on her head as she giggled and squirmed, noodling her arms out in a loose, flailing gesture--

There was a crashing sound nearby and Hel was instantly on alert, his wings wrapped around the Quel…well, now Sin'dorei girl to shield her from view, his seething felgreen eyes flashed as they searched the area. After a few long moments where nothing happened, though, he relaxed again, leaning back against the partial wall behind them.

"Get some rest, dollbaby," he said into the top of her head, pushing away some debris with one hoof so that he could stretch his legs. "We'll get you some food, or…some-fucking-thing tomorrow. We'll…figure it out." Even if the world was falling apart, there had to be someone looking to have a good time somewhere. Rich Elves never went without their parties and mana-wine and plates of little cheeses even while the city was still smoldering.

"What would I do without yooooooouuuuu…" Verb singsonged, already more than halfway out of it. It was probably a fragment of a song she heard or, more likely, just made up.