Demons
Type: Infernal
Demons are supernatural beings spawned in one of the innumerable hells of the multiverse. Born from sin itself, their capacity for malice is utterly bottomless.
- Abilities: There are billions of species of demons, with countless different supernatural powers. Demons favor powers that maim, torment, poison, corrupt, terrorize, and devastate, truly reveling in the sadism of violence. Demons are limited, however, by their extraplanar nature. It’s not easy to simply open a portal from hell to the mortal world — usually that must be done from the other side. It is also difficult to push large amounts of demonic power into the mortal realm, so even more powerful demons are limited in how strong they can be when summoned. Demons are extremely difficult to kill permanently; if their bodies are destroyed, they eventually reform in their hell of origin.
- Origin: Demons and their hells came into being from raw emotions and impulses. These psychic currents carved out spaces for themselves in the Astral Chaos, pooling and congealing into their purest, most unfiltered forms. With nothing keeping them in check, they transformed first into obsessive excess, and then rotted into malevolent corruption. The first demons arose from this cosmic pustulence. Since then, demons have evolved into numerous species. In most cases, they can reproduce in the manner of mortal species. Proto-demons also continue to spawn from sources of raw corruption. Mortal souls particularly heavy with a certain sin may find themselves drawn to one of the hells when they die, transforming into a wretched larval demon. Finally, certain powerful and especially wicked supernatural beings have been known to become so corrupted that, rarely, they transform into demons. This happens occasionally with particularly malevolent phantoms, and, infamously, with fallen angels — former lesser divinities.
- Varieties: There are far too many demon species for even an entire encyclopedia of demonology to catalogue. Their forms are typically monstrous and grotesque, though some are deceptively alluring. When summoned into other realms, demons may manifest physically or merely as spirits. The latter option requires less energy, but does mean the demon will need to find a body to possess.
- Personality: Demons are formed from a single, intense emotional impulse — a sin — which dominates their personalities. They’ll seek to spread this sin in mortals, given the chance, which in turn empowers the demon. As demons lack true souls, they also typically lack any sense of empathy, and will pursue their goals with unrelenting sadism. In short, most demons are correctly called evil. However, some demons develop more multifaceted and grounded personalities.
- Visibility: Secret. Demons are mostly found in the hells, and have a difficult time even reaching the mortal realm. When they do, they often appear as possessing spirits in order to better blend in.
A special note regarding succubi/incubi and lust demons. Yes, they both exist, but they might not be quite what you expect. Succubi/incubi are infiltrators and corrupters who use seduction as a tool to accomplish their fiendish agenda, not for personal pleasure. Lust demons, meanwhile, tend to be cenobite-style skin-flaying nightmare fuel, not kinky party beasts.
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