Demons

[The City]

Demons

Overview

• Demons are composed of Essence, which is entirely different to anything from this world. They appear as a ‘black smoke’ in their incorporeal form.
  
• They usually have a 'true form', this is not, in fact, a manifestation of their actual true form, but merely a convenient statement as to the nature of their power on Earth.
  
• They also manifest by possessing humans via Demonic Possession. Exorcism will drive the demon from its human host and return it to the Hell.
  
• Demons are ageless; they’ve been around since time in memorial and in all cultures in some form or another.
  
• Demons are bound to the hell and cannot freely come and go. To enter the realm of earth, they must find conduits: souls of evil people, or be forcibly summoned.
  
• No demon wishes to be severed from hell, as they will receive the possibility of dying their ultimate death.
  
• Certain rites, such as a benediction, can prevent a demon from returning to Hell.
  

  
  There are many orders and levels of demons and their strength is ranked according to a hierarchy. Scholars have referred to Dante’s Inferno in order to recognize these levels.
  
  

• First Circle- These demons are bestial, they are creatures of brute strength without rational minds. These include hell hounds and other hell beasts. Some of them are more powerful than the higher-leveled demons.
  
• Second Circle - Barely worthy of classification, these have little power, despite their higher intelligence than the 1st Circle although some of them fulfill useful roles, such as acting as spies or messengers.
  
• Third Circle - These demons possess only the basic abilities of demons. They are quite numerous and are those usually plaguing normal human lives. They can physically keep up to par when battling average vampires and werewolves.
  
• Fourth Circle - This is the first circle where demons begin to manifest unique abilities. Their physical capabilities equal those of the Septum.
  
• Fifth Circle - A step above the circle before them, these demonic entities have greater powers and a greater reserve of demonic energy.
  
• Sixth Circle - These demons begin to become dangerous when summoned (technically all demons are). These demonic entities are more powerful than their predecessors, and can do serious damage.
  
• Seventh Circle - These demons are known as a sort of special-ops team of demons. They have greater abilities than their preceding circles, and are usually existent for specific purposes.
  
• Eighth Circle - These demonic entities are already powerful, usually commanding legions.
  
• Ninth Circle - These are extremely powerful demonic entities. They are known as demons lords, and their powers are known to be enough to level cities.

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Powers and Abilities

• Gift of Tongues– They can easily understand, speak read and write any known vernacular without any prior training.
  
• Shapeshifting– These Spirits create vessels for themselves, as such they can take any form that they wish. Some spirits have better skill in this than other, changing from one shape to another with great alacrity.
  
• Potens – Demons possess strength beyond that of human level
  
• Immortalis – If their vessels are destroyed they can simply make a new one, and if their incorporeal forms are destroyed they are forcibly sent back to the hell where they will be sustained in time.
  
• Anima – Demons have an innate sense to know the level of evil in the hearts of people.
  
• Infernus – Demons are able to utilize their demonic energy to create feats of energy projection and manipulation.

Weaknesses

• Magical means can hurt them. They are very susceptible to magic, and certain magical rituals can trap demons in spell circles.
  
• Religious relics, unless blessed, have no real effect upon demons. It all depends upon the faith of the person wielding the relics.
  
• They also cannot enter hallowed ground. However, powerful demons can ignore this.
  
• When exhausted, or severely damaged it can be harder for them to shift between shapes, or even maintain a solid one at all.

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[Crisis]

Demons - Extended Lore

Overview
Demons are composed of Essence, which is entirely different to anything from this world. They appear as a ‘black smoke’ in their incorporeal form. Their presence may leave traces of sulfur. While they usually have a 'true form', often a hideous creature with many tentacles and other protrusions, this is not, in fact, a manifestation of their actual true form, but merely a convenient statement as to the nature of their power on Earth. On the lower planes, demons can shape shift at will, taking on any form they choose, though this is somewhat limited by the extent of their power.

They also manifest by possessing humans via Demonic Possession. Exorcism will drive the demon from its human host and return it to the Hell. A possessed human may incur physical damage while the demon is present, including fatal injuries, but will be unaffected by it until they are dispossessed. A high volume of dispossessed individuals die; demons seem to enjoy wearing out what they call their meat-suits. When channeling their demonic powers, humans possessed by demons exhibit black, red, yellow or white eyes depending on the demon involved.

Demons are ageless; they’ve been around since time in memorial and in all cultures in some form or another. Demons are bound to the hell and cannot freely come and go. To enter the realm of earth, they must find conduits, usually existing in the souls of evil people, or they can be forcibly be summoned by Warlocks.

Minor Demons enjoy frolicking around on earth, and will always try to enter the realm when the circumstances allow them. However no demon wishes to be severed from hell, as they will receive the possibility of dying their ultimate death. However, certain rites, such as a benediction, can prevent a demon from returning to Hell.

There are many orders and levels of demons and their strength is ranked according to a hierarchy. Scholars have referred to Dante’s Inferno in order to recognize these levels.

• First Circle- These demons are bestial, they are creatures of brute strength without rational minds. These include hell hounds and other hell beasts. Some actually do possess unique abilities. Some of them are more powerful than the higher-leveled demons....what separates the 1st circle from the rest is that they are incapable of intellectual thought...they're just animals from hell.
  
• Second Circle - Barely worthy of classification, these have little power, despite their higher intelligence than the 1st Circle although some of them fulfill useful roles, such as acting as spies or messengers. They come by the billions and are usually employed in swarms. The bulk of demonic legions are comprised of them.
  
• Third Circle - These demons possess only the basic abilities of demons. They are quite numerous and are those usually plaguing normal human lives. They can physically keep up to par when battling average vampires and werewolves.
  
• Fourth Circle - This is the first circle where demons begin to manifest unique abilities. Their physical capabilities equal those of the Septum. Demons from this circle are usually the preferred summons utilized by warlocks as they are perfectly balance between power and being controllable.
  
• Fifth Circle - A step above the circle before them, these demonic entities have greater powers and a greater reserve of demonic energy. They are utilized by more experienced warlocks.
  
• Sixth Circle - These demons begin to become dangerous when summoned (technically all demons are). But this is the circle when the rituals have a higher chance of failing rather than succeeding. These demonic entities are more powerful than their predecessors, and can do serious damage.
  
• Seventh Circle - These demons are known as a sort of special-ops team of demons. They have greater abilities than their preceding circles, and are usually existent for specific purposes.
  
• Eighth Circle - These demonic entities are already powerful, usually commanding legions. Given enough time, they can also level entire cities. They tend to be risen entities from the 7th circle.
  
• Ninth Circle - These are extremely powerful demonic entities. They are known as demons lords, and their powers are known to be enough to level cities. They have come from the Unnum-angels.

Powers and Abilities
Demons come in many different level and orders; each demon has their own unique powers. But demons do possess a set of basic abilities.

• Gift of Tongues– These spirits are not bound by language, and they can easily understand, speak read and write any known vernacular without any prior training.
  
  
• Shapeshifting– These Spirits create vessels for themselves, as such they can take any form that they wish. Some spirits have better skill in this than other, changing from one shape to another with great alacrity, but overall even the weakest of spirits can become invisible or assume a human form whenever they require. Demons that possess human vessels actually are able to contort their meat-suits. More talented demons of this ability aren't even limited to things which are physical or naturally occurring (eg. a form rapidly rotting, darkness etc.)
  
  
• Potens – Demons possess strength beyond that of human level, the stronger spirit they are the more physical strength they posses. At the third circle, they can meet the strength level of a newborn vampire.
  
  
• Immortalis – Demons are metaphysical beings and do not experience death the same way other creatures do. If their vessels are destroyed they can simply make a new one, and if their incorporeal forms are destroyed they are forcibly sent back to the hell where they will be sustained in time.
  
  
• Anima – Demons have an innate sense to know the level of evil in the hearts of people and usually use this knowledge for temptation or possession. They can throw back at you the sins you have committed, the stronger the demon the further back.
  
  
• Infernus – Demons are able to utilize their demonic energy to create feats of energy projection and manipulation. The stronger the demon the more they can do with their demonic energy such as crafting it into matter.

Weaknesses
Demons are spirits, and as spirits within the earthly realm they are incredibly resilient to physical harm, but magical means can hurt them. They are very susceptible to magic, and certain magical rituals can trap demons in spell circles. More spells can be used to harm demons, or bind them from preventing certain actions. Mages can also use certain wards to keep demons away, or also seal demons into objects.

Religious relics, unless blessed, have no real effect upon demons. It all depends upon the faith of the person wielding the relics. They also cannot enter hallowed ground; the essence of the area makes it physically impossible for them, much like an invisible glass wall. However, powerful demons have been known to shatter this.

Moreover, the people they possess are mortal and can be killed. Entering vessels limits the power of demons., but at the same time this is also the easiest way for them to interact with the world. When exhausted, or severely damaged it can be harder for them to shift between shapes, or even maintain a solid one at all.