Clavicus Vile & Barbas - TES miniature

Clavicus Vile in D&D 5e

Domain & Nature

Clavicus Vile is a Fiendish Archfiend who thrives on pacts, bargains, and manipulation. In the cosmology of D&D, he would fit as a unique Archdevil or Fiendish Power who does not fully align with the Nine Hells or Abyss but operates in the Gray Expanse, a liminal plane between the Lower Planes and the Shadowfell. His essence is tied to desire and consequence—he grants mortals what they want most, but always with a twist.

• Alignment: Lawful Evil (with Chaotic tendencies in his bargains)

• Portfolio: Ambition, Vanity, Deals, False Hope

• Symbol: A smiling mask with curling horns

• Titles: The Prince of Bargains, The Trickster of Promises, The Smiling Fiend

Appearance

Clavicus Vile manifests as:

• A dapper nobleman with an unsettling grin, dressed in finery that seems to shimmer with illusory wealth.

• His true form: a horned, elongated fiend with a canine-like face (a nod to Barbas, his hound), and robes woven from contracts and mortal souls.

Personality

• Charming and eloquent, Clavicus Vile speaks in riddles and half-truths.

• He never lies outright, but his words are crafted to mislead.

• He views mortals as playthings, enjoying the irony of their downfall when their wishes turn against them.

Goals

• Spread dependency on bargains among mortals.

• Undermine other fiendish powers by binding souls through contracts.

• Collect unique souls—those of ambitious heroes, kings, and mages.

Mechanics for D&D

• Patron Option: Warlock Patron – The Bargain Maker

  • Expanded Spell List: Charm Person, Suggestion, Bestow Curse, Geas

  • Features: Ability to grant temporary boons in exchange for permanent drawbacks.

• Artifact: Masque of Vile Promises

  • Grants Wish once per long rest, but the DM twists the outcome dramatically.

• Servants: Fiendish lawyers, soul collectors, and Barbas (a CR 15 fiendish hound).

Cult & Worship

• His cults are secretive cabals of merchants, nobles, and politicians.

• Temples resemble opulent halls of wealth, hiding infernal contracts in their vaults.

• Worshippers believe that success is earned through clever deals, not hard work.

Adventure Hooks

1. The Price of Power: A local lord has risen to prominence overnight—rumors say he made a pact with a smiling stranger.

2. The Twisted Wish: A hero’s dying wish was granted, but now the kingdom suffers from its consequences.

3. The Hound’s Hunt: Barbas stalks the party after they unknowingly interfere with one of Vile’s bargains.

Clavicus Vile

Large Fiend (Archfiend), Lawful Evil

Armor Class 21 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points 472 (32d10 + 288)
Speed 40 ft., fly 60 ft.

STR 22 (+6) | DEX 18 (+4) | CON 28 (+9) | INT 24 (+7) | WIS 20 (+5) | CHA 30 (+10)

Saving Throws: Dex +11, Con +16, Wis +12, Cha +17
Skills: Deception +17, Persuasion +17, Insight +12, Arcana +14
Damage Resistances: Cold, Fire, Lightning; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities: Poison
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Poisoned
Senses: Truesight 120 ft., Passive Perception 15
Languages: All, Telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge: 26 (90,000 XP)

Traits

Legendary Resistance (3/Day): If Clavicus Vile fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.

Fiendish Bargainer: When a creature within 60 ft. makes a Charisma check, Clavicus Vile can impose disadvantage unless the creature has made a pact with him.

Twist of Fate: Whenever a creature within 60 ft. uses a Wish spell or similar effect, Clavicus Vile can alter the outcome (DM’s discretion).

Innate Spellcasting

Clavicus Vile’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 25, +17 to hit). He can cast the following spells innately, requiring no components:

• At will: Charm Person, Detect Thoughts, Suggestion, Disguise Self

• 3/day each: Dominate Person, Geas, Modify Memory, Teleport

• 1/day each: Wish (always twisted), Power Word Kill

Actions

Multiattack: Clavicus Vile makes two attacks with his Infernal Cane or casts a spell.

Infernal Cane (Melee Weapon Attack): +13 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 21 (3d8 + 8) bludgeoning damage plus 18 (4d8) necrotic damage.

Soul Rend (Recharge 5–6): Targets one creature within 60 ft. The target must succeed on a DC 25 Charisma saving throw or have its soul partially severed, taking 75 (10d10 + 20) psychic damage and suffering disadvantage on all saving throws for 1 minute.

Legendary Actions (3/Turn)

• Charm Mortal: Clavicus targets one creature within 30 ft. It must succeed on a DC 25 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 minute.

• Fiendish Step: Teleports up to 60 ft. to an unoccupied space he can see.

• Twist the Deal (Costs 2 Actions): Forces a creature within 60 ft. to reroll a successful saving throw or attack roll.

Lair Actions

On initiative count 20 (losing ties), Clavicus Vile can use one of the following:

• Contract Seal: All creatures in the lair must succeed on a DC 20 Charisma saving throw or be restrained by spectral chains until the next round.

• Illusory Wealth: Creates illusory treasures that charm creatures (DC 20 Wisdom save).

Barbas

Large Fiend (Shapechanger), Lawful Evil

Armor Class 19 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points 310 (27d10 + 162)
Speed 50 ft., fly 40 ft.

STR 24 (+7) | DEX 18 (+4) | CON 22 (+6) | INT 18 (+4) | WIS 16 (+3) | CHA 20 (+5)

Saving Throws: Str +13, Dex +10, Con +12, Wis +9
Skills: Perception +9, Insight +9, Intimidation +11
Damage Resistances: Cold, Fire, Lightning; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities: Poison
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Poisoned
Senses: Truesight 60 ft., Passive Perception 19
Languages: Abyssal, Infernal, Telepathy 60 ft.
Challenge: 20 (25,000 XP)

Traits

Shapechanger: Barbas can use his action to polymorph into a humanoid form or revert to his true form (a massive infernal hound). His statistics remain the same in either form.

Infernal Loyalty: While within 120 ft. of Clavicus Vile, Barbas has advantage on all saving throws and attack rolls.

Soul Tracker: Barbas can sense any creature that has made a pact with Clavicus Vile within 1 mile.

Actions

Multiattack: Barbas makes two attacks: one with his Bite and one with his Infernal Breath (if available).

Bite (Melee Weapon Attack): +13 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 32 (4d10 + 7) piercing damage plus 18 (4d8) fire damage.

Infernal Breath (Recharge 5–6): Barbas exhales hellfire in a 60-ft. cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw, taking 72 (16d8) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much on a success.

Soul Snare (1/Day): Targets one creature within 30 ft. The target must succeed on a DC 21 Charisma saving throw or be paralyzed for 1 minute as Barbas binds its soul.

Legendary Actions (3/Turn)

• Fiendish Leap: Barbas moves up to 40 ft. without provoking opportunity attacks.

• Terrifying Howl: All creatures within 30 ft. must succeed on a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of their next turn.

• Hellfire Bite (Costs 2 Actions): Makes one Bite attack and deals an extra 18 (4d8) fire damage.

The Bargain Maker (Warlock Patron)

You are bound to the Prince of Bargains, a fiendish power who grants boons with consequences. Your patron delights in desires granted with exquisite twists, collecting debts from mortals and heroes alike. You wield words like blades, contracts like chains, and promises like spells.

Expanded Spell List

The Bargain Maker lets you choose from an expanded list of spells when you learn a warlock spell.
Spells

• 1st: charm person, dissonant whispers

• 2nd: suggestion, mirror image

• 3rd: bestow curse, hypnotic pattern

• 4th: compulsion, greater invisibility

• 5th: dominate person, geas

Design note: This list emphasizes charm, compulsion, and the “grant-and-twist” vibe. All are PHB spells.

1st Level — Tongue of the Smiling Fiend

You become a consummate dealmaker.

• You gain proficiency in Deception and Persuasion. If you already have either proficiency, you instead gain expertise in that skill (your proficiency bonus is doubled for checks you make with it).

• You learn the friends cantrip. It doesn’t provoke hostility when it ends if the target willingly agreed to a bargain with you during the last hour.

• You can cast disguise self once per long rest without expending a spell slot.

1st Level — Devil’s Bargain

You can offer irresistible aid—at a price.

Reaction; uses: equal to your proficiency bonus, regained on a long rest.
Range: 60 feet, a creature that can hear and understand you (you can target yourself).
Trigger: A creature makes an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw.

You swiftly whisper terms. If the target accepts your offer, it gains advantage on the triggering roll and becomes Debt‑Bound by you for 1 minute (no concentration).

• Debt‑Bound is a special condition that ends early if the creature drops to 0 hit points or if you become incapacitated.

• When a Debt‑Bound creature fails any roll during the duration, you immediately invoke the fine print (no action) and choose one of the following effects (no save):

  1. Collect: The creature takes psychic damage equal to your warlock level + your Charisma modifier, and you gain temporary hit points equal to the same amount.

  2. Bind: The creature is charmed by you until the end of your next turn.

  3. Twist: The creature must reroll the failed roll; if the new roll succeeds, the creature has disadvantage on its next saving throw made before the end of your next turn.

A creature can refuse the bargain (no effect occurs, and the use is expended). You can present terms in six words or fewer (the patron loves brevity).

Table use tip: In combat, you’ll most often use Devil’s Bargain on yourself or allies (guaranteed acceptance), but enemies may accept out of desperation—especially on a crucial save.

6th Level — The Fine Print

Your contracts tighten like chains.

• The first time each turn a Debt‑Bound creature would make a saving throw against your warlock spell or class feature, you can impose disadvantage (no action).

• You have resistance to psychic damage.

• You may cast locate creature once per long rest without expending a spell slot, but only to locate a creature currently Debt‑Bound by you or under a geas you cast.

10th Level — Beguiling Ledger

You are protected by the weight of promises.

• You are immune to being charmed or frightened.

• Once per long rest, you can cast geas without expending a spell slot and without material components, targeting only a creature that is currently Debt‑Bound by you. That target has disadvantage on the saving throw. (This geas lasts 30 days as normal and requires no concentration.)

Design note: This mirrors other patrons’ defensive 10th‑level features while adding a signature binding effect linked to your bargain playstyle.

14th Level — Master of the Clause

You harvest debts—then spend them.

When a creature that is Debt‑Bound by you, charmed by you, or under a geas you cast is reduced to 0 hit points within 60 feet, you can capture its debt as a soul token (no action). You can hold a number of soul tokens up to your Charisma modifier (minimum 1). You lose all remaining tokens when you finish a long rest.

As a bonus action, you can spend a soul token to use one of the following effects within 60 feet:

1. Twist Fate: As a reaction within the next round, force any creature to reroll a successful attack roll or saving throw.

2. Shield of Promises: Gain resistance to all damage until the start of your next turn.

3. Power in Debt: When you deal damage with a spell or weapon attack this turn, add necrotic damage equal to your warlock level to one target.

Optional Eldritch Invocations (for the Bargain Maker)

These invocations are designed for this patron. Your DM may allow them as additional choices when you gain Eldritch Invocations.

Vile’s Masque

Prerequisite: The Bargain Maker patron
You can cast disguise self at will, without expending a spell slot. You have advantage on Deception checks made to maintain a disguise created by the spell.

Clause of Convenience

Prerequisite: The Bargain Maker patron, 5th level
When you use Devil’s Bargain, you gain one additional consequence option:

• Silence the Protest: The Debt‑Bound creature is silenced until the end of your next turn (no verbal components, cannot speak).
  You can choose this consequence in place of Collect, Bind, or Twist.

Barbas’s Pursuit

Prerequisite: The Bargain Maker patron, 7th level
When a Debt‑Bound creature you can see moves, you can use your reaction to cast misty step. You must end your teleportation closer to that creature than you started.

Soul Ledger

Prerequisite: The Bargain Maker patron, 11th level
You can hold two additional soul tokens beyond your normal limit. When you spend a soul token for Power in Debt, add your Charisma modifier to the bonus necrotic damage.

Roleplaying Your Bargains

• State terms briefly. Six words or fewer is a fun table rule (e.g., “Advantage now—my price later,” “You win—then I bind.”).

• Consent matters. NPCs may refuse in combat unless desperate; allies will often accept. Outside combat, bargains are social tools with clear consequences.

• Debts are stories. Track who owes you: a captain who escaped a storm thanks to your advantage, a rival mage who accepted your bargain to survive a duel, a demon bound by your geas after taking your aid.

DM Guidance & Balance Notes

• Devil’s Bargain is limited by reaction economy, Proficiency‑based uses, and consent. It’s powerful on allies; dangerous for enemies to accept; flavorful in social encounters.

• The Fine Print gives reliable leverage but only once per turn and only against your own magic/features, preventing stacking across party effects.

• Geas at 10th is gated behind Debt‑Bound, reinforcing the patron’s theme while not outpacing other patrons’ capstones.

• Soul tokens are potent but short‑lived (lost on long rest) and limited by Charisma—encouraging thematic play without long‑term hoarding.

Bargain Maker Quick Reference

Devil’s Bargain (1st) — Reaction, PB/long rest

- Offer: Advantage on a roll; target becomes Debt‑Bound (1 min).

- On first failed roll in duration: choose Collect (psychic + temp HP), Bind (charm), or Twist (reroll; then disadvantage next save).

The Fine Print (6th)

- Once per turn, impose disadvantage on a Debt‑Bound creature’s save vs. your warlock magic/features.

- Psychic resistance; locate creature (Debt‑Bound or geas target) 1/long rest.

Beguiling Ledger (10th)

- Immune to charm/fear.

- Geas 1/long rest (slotless, no components) vs. Debt‑Bound target; target has disadvantage on save.

Master of the Clause (14th)

- Gain soul tokens when a Debt‑Bound/charmed/geas target drops to 0 HP (within 60 ft).

- Spend token: Twist Fate (reaction reroll), Shield of Promises (resist all dmg), Power in Debt (add necrotic = warlock level).

Patron Spells

- 1st: charm person, dissonant whispers

- 2nd: suggestion, mirror image

- 3rd: bestow curse, hypnotic pattern

- 4th: compulsion, greater invisibility

- 5th: dominate person, geas