Culture

Demons are the most ancient of supernatural creatures, and profess to possess a collective memory of all that has gone before. The validity of this claim is oft-disputed as demons are notoriously dishonest and self-serving creatures, and piety suits them down to the ground -- if they can claim superiority in any capacity they are generally swift to do so, particularly when it comes to who is the most powerful force on the planet. Their loyalty to one another is superseded only by their loyalty to themselves individually, and it bothers them a great deal that vampires have taken up residence at the centre of the supernatural community.

 

After all, vampires, werewolves, ghosts and ghouls are all former humans, and demons are entities unto themselves.

 

Appearance

Unlike the biblical illustrations which portray them as horned, tailed, hoofed devils, demons appear as humans do. It is unclear whether this has always been the form they have taken or if they have an evolutionary capacity to mimic whatever is most common at the time -- and none of them are telling.

 

Types of Demon

 

Incubus/Succubus Demon

These demons are sexual predators, and can inspire lust and obsession in their victims. They have two forms, both humanoid: one is an attractive, young façade that is used to draw people in, and the other -- their true form -- is that of a withered old hag. While these demons can hypnotise their victims, their powers are limited. They may only target one individual at a time -- everyone else in the room will see the true form; those who are supernatural are not affected by the trance, and they will also see the true form at all times.

Maintaining the illusion is a task that requires energy, and it cannot be done 100% of the time. These demons must recharge in order to remain effective. Generally speaking they are hedonistic narcissists, and tend to indulge themselves without restraint.

Succubi and incubi are the only types of demons that can spawn progeny, yet they are sterile unless they will themselves to create a child during the act. The offspring of a succubus/incubus and a human is called a cambion. To account for their mixed parentage, cambion all have varying degrees of heterochromia and are partially able to see through demon magic -- they can see through the young facade of their demonic parent, and if their demonic parent wears a glamour it will be more obvious to them. Like other species hybrids, cambion are also infertile.

Cambion are non-playable characters.

 

Orthon Demon

Orthon demons are non-corporeal creatures who must possess humans in order to find any physical traction in their existence. They often choose those who are already troubled, finding it easier to put the hooks in over those who are of particularly strong and cogent mind. They can be expelled via an exorcism or when the victim dies, however the demon itself is eternal and may only be repelled by traditional methods -- not destroyed.

 

People who are possessed by Orthon demons are usually estranged from their families when their behaviours change, though some are kept prisoner in their own homes and the least lucky of all end up in institutions.

 

If an Orthon demon changes hosts, the player must change their account name (available in your control panel) to the new host's name.

 

Imp Demon

The practical jokers of the demon world, Imps like to cause trouble just because they can. Equipped with the ability to fade into a mischievous shadow, they can often flit around unseen by those who don't know what to look for -- and they spend their time knocking things (and people!) over, 'haunting', and generally making nuisances of themselves. Though they are thought by many to be a minor class of demon, Imps possess a particularly strong temper and are prone to having tantrums. The damage they can do when they do not get their own way is often spectacular.

 

Goblin Demon

Cuckoos in the nest, Goblins are demons who are raised unwittingly by humans and then have the unfortunate tendency to eat their host families when they are fully grown. The consumption of human flesh is an unfortunate side-effect of their adult existence (as infants they are designed to subsist on human food, but the transition into adulthood sees them become fully carnivorous). Goblin demons are considered to be one of the most dangerous, certainly the most destructive, and the Gardeners have specialist branch dedicated to their capture.

 

Elemental Demon

Earth, fire, wind, water, heart. These demons take on certain characteristics belonging to their corresponding element, though it must be said that they cannot generate water, wind, earth or fire, only manipulate what is already present. (So for example, outdoors an air demon might use gusts of wind to push or lift, indoors they cannot.)

 

Powers

Demonic powers are wide-ranging and varied, so there is some freedom on this subject. Beyond what is listed above you may equip your demon with one or two other abilities, though these must be balanced by appropriate flaws and weaknesses.

 

Weaknesses

All demons are weak to Holy water, religious artefacts, and exorcism, and there is magic that can repel them from an area or a person. They may not cross consecrated ground. A disillusionment spell can undo their appearance changes. They can feel pain, but cannot be harmed physically in a way that endangers them (unless they are Orthon demons, in which case they can only be expelled from their hosts).

 

Because demons cannot be killed, interacting with religious paraphernalia is incredibly painful for them. However, it's not necessarily any divine power that causes this reaction; demons react negatively to the power of belief imbued in religious paraphernalia, and therefore any icon from any religion is an effective defence against demonkind.

 

Demons can also be summoned unwillingly by using their true name in an incantation. If they are lucky, they can find a discreet place to vanish; if not, they are simply yanked from wherever they may be to wherever they have been summoned. Summoners, however, are cautioned to take the appropriate precautions for keeping a demon contained, because most are very unhappy to be called in such a way.

 

Trapping a Demon

Demons cannot be killed, but they may be contained. A circle of salt will work as a temporary measure, for a more permanent imprisonment binding spells must be performed and they must be contained within an object that can be sealed when the ritual is complete. Coffins, boxes, and bottles are popular choices -- only Orthon demons may be contained in small spaces.

 

Registering a Demon

Demons traditionally only have one name, so it is fine to register with just that (e.g. Beelzebub). Orthon demons tend to assume the identity of those they have possessed, and so those accounts should be named for the person they are currently inside. Goblin demons have a human identity from when they were raised -- whether they maintain that identity or not is up to the player. Demons may also choose their own names (e.g. Jasper and Smith) over and above their biblical or legendary monikers.

NOTE: Demons are not "biblical" creatures -- they are not servants of the devil or fallen angels of any sort. (Who's to say, after all, if heaven and hell are actually places?) Except for goblins, demons simply appear full formed for whatever reason. Their existences are more an exercise in self-determination than anything else.