Demon

Within the natural laws of the Daoverse, a demon is any being that continues to move and act after death. Demons, unlike ghosts, possess a tangible, corporeal form (or vessel) and can directly interact with the physical world. Some retain fragments of their former consciousness or personality, but many are driven solely by instinct, rage, or the unnatural force that restored them to life.

Demons vary widely in appearance depending on their origin and the means of resurrection:

• Some resemble their former selves, though often marked by decay, pallor, or unnatural movement.
• Others are twisted beyond recognition, bearing grotesque or ethereal traits that mark them as unnatural.
• In rare cases, demons may possess vessels – animating magic items, animals, plants, or even other people.

Etymology

Though often conflated in common speech, the distinctions between Monsters, Ghosts and Demons are precise and fundamental.

• A demon requires a body – organic, reconstructed, or bound – to exist and act.
• Monsters are products of intrusion, not death. The monsters in Teel are glitch-entities from Rifts, originating from other worlds or universes.
• A Ghost is a disembodied soul that is capable of existing without a vessel.

Ghosts

Ghosts do not interact directly with the physical world; they cannot exert force, manipulate matter, or act through conventional means. However, their mere presence can alter The Countless Things on a metaphysical level, causing distortions in perception, probability, memory, or emotional states. Remaining in this state requires an exceptionally strong Inner Core at the moment of death (Cultivation State: Cosmocrat or higher).

Mental and Spiritual Consequences of Becoming Demonic

The transformation into a demon carries profound mental and spiritual risks. Its outcome depends on the duration of death before resurrection, the method of return, and the strength of the original soul. Even demons who retain fragments of their former selves often struggle with identity, memory, and purpose, caught between life and death in ways few mortals can comprehend.

• Some demons lose their mind, soul, and memory entirely, reduced to instinct-driven husks, retaining only fleeting echoes of their former selves.
• Others undergo radical transformation, their consciousness warped, amplified, or fused with other souls—sometimes resulting in strange, hybrid personalities or shared memories.
• The process is closely tied to the longevity of death and the state of the Inner Core: once a certain, unknown threshold is passed, return to consciousness becomes impossible, and any imprint of existence is erased irreversibly from the Ether.

Myths

The Myth of the Ochintis Dynasty

The natives of the mainland fear the Ochintis Dynasty, situated on Ochintis Island, just 24 kilometers off the western shore of Teel. Though the island is clearly inhabited, it is overrun by the Wave frequently, giving it an isolated and forbidding air. Rumors claim that some demons travel to the Ochintis Dynasty to let themselves decay in peace, embracing a final, self-imposed oblivion.

The Cursed Land Myth

Juru folklore speaks of old and powerful demons that inhabit entire local regions, warping the land as such with their lingering presence, most prominently in the Black Teeth of Gendal myth.

The Myth of Ghostboy Rhy Shen

The members of the Alchemist's Guild are still puzzled about the true nature of the first Sphere Arrival Rhy Shen. Although he appears like a ghost, he