Heck it doesn’t even have to be a “deal”. I’m sure at least a few entities (Archfey, maybe) would grant magic powers just to see what happens. Sort of like the Outsider in Dishonored.
The Great Old One might be unaware of your existence or entirely indifferent to you, but the secrets you have learned allow you to draw your magic from it
Patrons can have whatever motivation or lack of motivation the DM wants. I personally like there being some kind of RPing effect. Maybe some task you have to complete, punishment for acting against your patron, slowly eroding sanity. But none of that is necessary.
Heck it doesn’t even have to be a “deal”. I’m sure at least a few entities (Archfey, maybe) would grant magic powers just to see what happens. Sort of like the Outsider in Dishonored.
From description of the Great Old One pact:
Patrons can have whatever motivation or lack of motivation the DM wants. I personally like there being some kind of RPing effect. Maybe some task you have to complete, punishment for acting against your patron, slowly eroding sanity. But none of that is necessary.