Not sure I understand warlock pacts /u/MoeLesterTester DnD: Roll for Initiative!

This is for my first ever warlock, and its an important NPC

So afaik, they’re supposed to be like contracts between the warlock and his patron. The patron grants the warlock powers, and in exchange the warlock…. performs some sort of service? I’m not entirely sure if I understand this correctly but there must be something in it for the patron.

I’ve wrote into the backstory that this pact is something akin to a freelance employment contract – you get powers and can do with it what you like (moreless) HOWEVER, you must complete the tasks the patron requires of you. For instance, you may have made a pact with a shadowfell entity and gotten some cool dark warlock powers, but in exchange every so often you have to travel to the Shadowfell and take out some rival entity or some nosey adventurer.

I’m not sure if this is how these are supposed to work. I know PCs wouldn’t exactly like having to put up with this, as I can see how it would make the PC warlock feel not entirely in control of his character but this is for an NPC, and actually having to fulfill her contractual obligations does fit the story somehow.

I suppose not all pacts are the same, but is this really how warlock pacts are supposed to function? Otherwise it’s just edgy powers from unconventional source for little or no downside?

This is for my first ever warlock, and its an important NPC

So afaik, they’re supposed to be like contracts between the warlock and his patron. The patron grants the warlock powers, and in exchange the warlock…. performs some sort of service? I’m not entirely sure if I understand this correctly but there must be something in it for the patron.

I’ve wrote into the backstory that this pact is something akin to a freelance employment contract – you get powers and can do with it what you like (moreless) HOWEVER, you must complete the tasks the patron requires of you. For instance, you may have made a pact with a shadowfell entity and gotten some cool dark warlock powers, but in exchange every so often you have to travel to the Shadowfell and take out some rival entity or some nosey adventurer.

I’m not sure if this is how these are supposed to work. I know PCs wouldn’t exactly like having to put up with this, as I can see how it would make the PC warlock feel not entirely in control of his character but this is for an NPC, and actually having to fulfill her contractual obligations does fit the story somehow.

I suppose not all pacts are the same, but is this really how warlock pacts are supposed to function? Otherwise it’s just edgy powers from unconventional source for little or no downside?