Difference between revisions of "Demon"

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This page discusses those characteristics and abilities that are common to all demons. There are endless types of demons, but the most common types include the following, found on their own pages:
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[[File:Demon.jpg|right|525px|thumb]]
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'''Demons''' are [[Chthonic|chthonic]] supernatural beings originating in the [[Lower Planes of Existence|lower planes of existence]], and most especially [[The Abyss (lower plane)|the Abyss]].  As a race of beings utterly devoid of compassion or charity, they exist for the sole purpose of wringing pain from their victims while acting to bring misery and suffering to other beings.  Upon their own plane of existence they receive the souls of [[The Damned|the Damned]], who are condemned to an eternity of torture following their death; these wretched beings are herded into nightmarish pits, where they are imprisoned while gleefully harrowed and tormented by demons.
  
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[[Balrog]]
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__TOC__
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[[Glabrezu]]
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Demons are subject to powerful and malevolent gods, many of whom are horrific beyond demonic standards.  By such entities, demons are forced to work as slaves, performing tasks beyond torturing the Damned; this includes acting as servants, standing guard, performing for entertainment and for carnal purposes ... acts that demons find humiliating.  More than anything, demons ache to escape these tasks and wreak anguish upon innocent, unsuspecting beings on the [[Prime Material (inner plane)|prime material plane]].  This gives them great pleasure and joy.  If they obtain this opportunity, demons will seek to [[Demonic Possession|possess]] the hapless creature and work evil and harm upon the world through the victim's person.
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[[Hezrou]]
 
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[[Manes]]
 
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[[Marilith]]
 
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[[Nalfeshnee]]
 
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[[Succubus]]
 
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[[Vrock]]
 
  
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Though demons have a wide range of powers, and many of them are very powerful, they are not free to wander from the [[Lower Planes of Existence|lower planes]] simply because they have the means. Demons are very much under the control of powerful and malevolent gods, and as such are expected to serve those gods as commanded. However, this does not mean that demons are necessarily malevolent ~ they have tasks they must perform and some of these tasks do involve the torture of the dead, in specified ways ... but an ordinary demon might, if they free themselves from their yoke of service, choose a different path from malevolence.
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== Types ==
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While thousands of demon species exist, only a few appear in numbers outside of the Abyss so as to become familiar.  Each has a range of dangerous [[Natural Abilities|natural abilities]], along with powers they all have in common. There are eight well known demon types:
  
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== Possession ==
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<div style="column-count:4;-moz-column-count:4;-webkit-column-count:2">
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All demons have the power to possess creatures of every kind. For more detailed rules about this, see [[Demonic Possession]].
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* [[Balrog]]
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* [[Glabrezu]]
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* [[Hezrou]]
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* [[Manes]]
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* [[Marilith]]
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* [[Nalfeshnee]]
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* [[Succubus]]
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* [[Vrock]]
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</div>
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<br>
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Each serves a different function within the demonic heirarchy.  Part of their duties include maintaining order upon lesser species of demon, though even the weakest chafe and struggle to free themselves, even temporarily, from the least responsibilities.  The result is a continuous, irrational chaos, with the strong bullying the weak while the weak bully the Damned. As a result, demons frequently compete or argue with one another, sometimes enabling an intended victim to take flight amidst squabbling.
  
 
== Natural Abilities ==
 
== Natural Abilities ==
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All demons have specific abilities that are not spells. These abilities may be performed at will, which means that they require no more than 1 [[Action Points|action point]]. Demons are, therefore, quite dangerous to face as enemies.
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These are magic powers that can be performed at will by '''all demons''', regardless of type.  Each can be done at a cost of only 1 [[Action Points|action point]] (AP). These don't require [[Spellcasting|casting or discharge]], and cannot be disrupted in [[Combat|combat]] as spells can; they don't require concentration.  Only one power can be employed each round, in addition to the demon's physical [[Attacking in Combat|attacks]] and [[Movement (stride)|movement]].
  
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Demons are able to see perfectly well in complete darkness or light. This ultravision is similar to the [[Ultravision (spell)|2nd level illusionist spell]] of the same name, except that it is continuous. Additionally, demons can produce [[Darkness (spell)|darkness]] at will, encircling themselves with a 20 ft. radius of inky blackness, which can be dispelled only with [[Dispel Magic (spell)|dispel magic]].
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* '''[[Ultravision]]''' enables the demon to see natural light that's normally invisible to [[Humanoid|humanoid]] eyes, effectively [[Illumination|illuminating]] darkness to the intensity of dusk or dawn.
  
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Demons are also able to [[Gate (spell)|gate]] in other demons, always of their own kind but sometimes greater or lesser demons as well. Demons will resort to this ability when they are pressed in combat ~ but only if their presence in a particular time and place is absolutely required, due to commands that have been given by the gods. Otherwise, the demon is far more likely to simply teleport to safety, as this is also among their abilities. Demons will make rich and continuous use of their teleport ability, moving from place to place in a combat more easily than moving even a single hex. They are known to attack, teleport, then use the remainder of their movement that round to attack again.
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* '''[[Darkness]]''' can be conjured at will surrounding the demon, plunging a 20 ft. radius area into inky blackness.  This eliminates infravision as well a natural light — but has no effect on ultravision, so while the demon's enemies can't see, the demon can. This darkness will persist as long as the demon wishes, or until it is [[Dispel Magic (spell)|dispelled]].
  
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They have limits. They can only use one magical power per round, including darkness, [[Teleport (spell)|teleport]] and gate. They can perform that one magical attack, however, and employ their physical attacks as well.
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* '''[[Gating & Summoning|Gate]]''' can be employed to materialize other demons should the demon feel pressed in the attack.  Because of the hateful nature they have towards their own kind, they will use this power only when it's absolutely needful.  The exact sort of demon that can be gated differs with each demon type.
  
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== Immunities ==
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* '''[[Teleport]]''' allows the demon to flick from place to place during a fight, or move to safety when they feel truly threatened. They will make rich and continuous use of their teleport ability, using it to attack foes from behind or skip far away as to be out of their enemies' reach. A demon can attack, using some of its AP, teleport, then use the remainder of its movement to attack another enemy.
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All demons are immune to normal weapons. To cause damage to a demon, the weapon must be made of magic. Take note, however, that if the demon is in possession of a creature's body, then the body itself can be killed by use of normal weapons. This body will have a set number of [[Hit Points|biological hit points]] (BU), but never hit points gained from levels, as the will driving the movement of the body is the demon's, that cannot benefit from the host's knowledge. Damage done to the body is not counted against the possessing demon.
 
  
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If the host body is then killed, the demon will shuck it away, revealing itself for what it truly is. Often, up until it is revealed, a demon will hold back on revealing most of its powers, particularly teleport and overt magic; once it is exposed, however, the demon will likely unleash all the power it has.
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See each type of demon for additional abilities.
  
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Demons are have immunity to many elemental attacks, such as those that employ cold, electricity, fire or gas of any type.  They are not affected by the spells death nor trap the soul, as they have no life or soul that may be taken or trapped.
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== Natural Immunities ==
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These include [[Attacking in Combat|attack]] forms that have little or no effect upon a given creature.  Like the attacks above, these apply to all demons.
  
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== Misconceptions ==
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* '''[[Magic to Hit|Magic weapons are required]]''' to cause [[Damage (hit points)|damage]] to demons — though if the demon is in possession of a creature's body, the body will be hurt and killed through the use of normal [[Weapons List|weapons]]. Damage done to the body is not counted against the possessing demon.
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Through the millennia, a great number of folk tales have arisen that suggest that demons can be controlled by various means that do not exist as limits on other monsters. These fabrications are designed to undermine very powerful monsters with tricks and shortcuts ~ and, in fact, are all completely false with regards to the actual nature of demons.
 
  
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Demons have names, but having knowledge of these names grants no power over a demon. Demons are not repelled by the presence of holy symbols, relics or artifacts (given that they act in the service of many gods that also employ these symbols).
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* Demons are immune to [[Cold Attacks|cold attacks]], [[Electro-based Attacks|electricity]], [[Natural Fire|natural]] and [[Magical Fire|magical fire]], and [[Gas-based Attacks|gas]]; these immunities apply to spells as well as other kinds of attack. Additionally, they cannot be harmed by magic that causes [[Death]] or somehow [[Soul Trapping|traps the soul]], such as [[Magic Jar (spell)|magic jar]].
  
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There is no such thing as a "demon's amulet" that maintains the demon's essence to ensure that it returns to the underworld after it has been killed on the Prime Material Plane — this just happens. Therefore, there is no special object that, if possessed, that makes a demon into a mindless slave.
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See each type of demon for additional possible immunities.
  
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For further information on the motivation of demons in the underworld, see [[Demonic Culture & Origins|Demonic Culture and Origins]].
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== Folklore ==
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Throughout the millennia, so-called scholars and demon hunters have fabricated false myths about demons, proposing that they could be controlled by knowing their individual names, or through the implementation of "demon amulets."  Demons cannot be repelled through the use of special sigils or relics.  These old wives' tales have no basis in fact, and have led many a gullible believer to his or her death.  Demons can be controlled, but the means is complicated and cannot be accomplished by mere amateurs.
  
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When a demon is destroyed on the prime material plane, it automatically reverts to its plane of existence.  It's unknown if demons can ever be truly killed, even on their own plane of existence.
  
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See [[Bestiary]]
 
  
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[[Category: Lacks Image]]
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See also,<br>
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[[Bestiary]]<br>
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[[Demonic Culture & Origins]]<br>
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[[Dweomercraft (sage study)]]
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[[Category: Don't Review until 2022]]

Latest revision as of 05:14, 6 March 2023

Demon.jpg

Demons are chthonic supernatural beings originating in the lower planes of existence, and most especially the Abyss. As a race of beings utterly devoid of compassion or charity, they exist for the sole purpose of wringing pain from their victims while acting to bring misery and suffering to other beings. Upon their own plane of existence they receive the souls of the Damned, who are condemned to an eternity of torture following their death; these wretched beings are herded into nightmarish pits, where they are imprisoned while gleefully harrowed and tormented by demons.

Demons are subject to powerful and malevolent gods, many of whom are horrific beyond demonic standards. By such entities, demons are forced to work as slaves, performing tasks beyond torturing the Damned; this includes acting as servants, standing guard, performing for entertainment and for carnal purposes ... acts that demons find humiliating. More than anything, demons ache to escape these tasks and wreak anguish upon innocent, unsuspecting beings on the prime material plane. This gives them great pleasure and joy. If they obtain this opportunity, demons will seek to possess the hapless creature and work evil and harm upon the world through the victim's person.

Types

While thousands of demon species exist, only a few appear in numbers outside of the Abyss so as to become familiar. Each has a range of dangerous natural abilities, along with powers they all have in common. There are eight well known demon types:


Each serves a different function within the demonic heirarchy. Part of their duties include maintaining order upon lesser species of demon, though even the weakest chafe and struggle to free themselves, even temporarily, from the least responsibilities. The result is a continuous, irrational chaos, with the strong bullying the weak while the weak bully the Damned. As a result, demons frequently compete or argue with one another, sometimes enabling an intended victim to take flight amidst squabbling.

Natural Abilities

These are magic powers that can be performed at will by all demons, regardless of type. Each can be done at a cost of only 1 action point (AP). These don't require casting or discharge, and cannot be disrupted in combat as spells can; they don't require concentration. Only one power can be employed each round, in addition to the demon's physical attacks and movement.

  • Ultravision enables the demon to see natural light that's normally invisible to humanoid eyes, effectively illuminating darkness to the intensity of dusk or dawn.
  • Darkness can be conjured at will surrounding the demon, plunging a 20 ft. radius area into inky blackness. This eliminates infravision as well a natural light — but has no effect on ultravision, so while the demon's enemies can't see, the demon can. This darkness will persist as long as the demon wishes, or until it is dispelled.
  • Gate can be employed to materialize other demons should the demon feel pressed in the attack. Because of the hateful nature they have towards their own kind, they will use this power only when it's absolutely needful. The exact sort of demon that can be gated differs with each demon type.
  • Teleport allows the demon to flick from place to place during a fight, or move to safety when they feel truly threatened. They will make rich and continuous use of their teleport ability, using it to attack foes from behind or skip far away as to be out of their enemies' reach. A demon can attack, using some of its AP, teleport, then use the remainder of its movement to attack another enemy.

See each type of demon for additional abilities.

Natural Immunities

These include attack forms that have little or no effect upon a given creature. Like the attacks above, these apply to all demons.

  • Magic weapons are required to cause damage to demons — though if the demon is in possession of a creature's body, the body will be hurt and killed through the use of normal weapons. Damage done to the body is not counted against the possessing demon.

See each type of demon for additional possible immunities.

Folklore

Throughout the millennia, so-called scholars and demon hunters have fabricated false myths about demons, proposing that they could be controlled by knowing their individual names, or through the implementation of "demon amulets." Demons cannot be repelled through the use of special sigils or relics. These old wives' tales have no basis in fact, and have led many a gullible believer to his or her death. Demons can be controlled, but the means is complicated and cannot be accomplished by mere amateurs.

When a demon is destroyed on the prime material plane, it automatically reverts to its plane of existence. It's unknown if demons can ever be truly killed, even on their own plane of existence.


See also,
Bestiary
Demonic Culture & Origins
Dweomercraft (sage study)

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