Worlds Numberless and Strange
The ring and clatter of metal on metal precedes the arrival of a chain demon. Lengths of rusted chains wrap this humanoid figure like funerary linens wrap a mummy. Chain, barbed and hooked, unfolds like ungainly wings from the demon’s back. Additional lengths extend from both its forearms, giving the creature a greatly extended reach with claws of animate, hooked iron links.
Chain demons appear in several recursions seeded by (or that include) hellscapes, including the Sword Realms and Hell Frozen Over. A chain demon is usually created from a human soul of such wretched evil that, upon reaching the afterlife, it is promoted to become a bleak angel of its new environment. Chain demons are great at torturing those already trapped in the demon’s native hellscape, but even better at catching fresh targets and pulling them down with hell-hot chains.
Motive: Delight in causing anguish
Environment (Magic): Any hellscape
Health: 21
GM Intrusion: Instead
Damage Inflicted: Moderate wound (5 points)
Armor: 2 wings
Combat: A chain demon can animate its chains to attack a target within short range. If the demon desires, a creature damaged by its attack must succeed on a Might defense roll or be snared by a chain hook. The snagged target is drawn into the demon’s embrace if it fails a second Might defense roll on its next turn (on a success, the victim breaks free). A victim drawn into the embrace takes 7 points of damage each round if the chain demon wishes to inflict it (no defense roll allowed), and the difficulty of the Might defense roll to break free is increased by one step.
Interaction: A chain demon is demonically motivated to inflict anguish, and it may engage in drawn-out negotiations only to betray its target at a time guaranteed to inflict the most spiritual pain.
Use: An influential recursor without a moral compass sends a chain demon to kidnap a target. He provides the demon with inapposite access to a recursion long enough for it to snatch its prey and flee.
Movement: Short; long when being lowered, raised, or pulled by animate chain wings
GM Intrusion: Instead of being drawn into the demon's embrace, the character is wrapped in animate chains, which threaten to completely cocoon her. Meanwhile, the chain demon turns its attention to other victims.