Infernals
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Just as the Celestials are served upon their worlds by a great many Spirit Courts, so too are the Raksha served by their own host of agents in the shadows of the Unworld. Called Daemons, these beings preside over domains of disease, famine, ignorance, and a host of other ills that plague Mankind. A dark mirror of the Medicon, Daemons are elemental forces of evil tied intimately to the worlds, a stain that cannot be removed. Some surmise that Daemons were once Medicon, corrupted by the Raksha. Others theorize that they came from Outside and anchored themselves to the worlds sometime during The Collapse. Whatever their origin, Daemons are terrifying beings who despise mortals and work ceaselessly to torment and destroy them.
Daemons classify themselves according solely to power (both literal and figurative) and Daemonic ranks are called Circles. Those with the least power (and therefore the lowest position in Daemon society) are placed within the 9th Circle where the dregs labor and suffer. The the most ancient and mighty Daemons are named to the 1st Circle where they rule as tyrants. Most daemons encountered by mortals belong to the 6th to 9th Circles. Infernals of the 5th Circle and beyond are known as Archdemons, lords of darkness who rarely bother with individual mortals as their dark intentions fixate upon the fate of nations, continents, and entire worlds.
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Demons are evil spirits who serve the Raksha, terrible beings of fire and fear who despise mortals and endlessly seek to torment and destroy them.
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Mortal scholars classify daemons according to their appearance and tendencies. According to mortal reckoning, there are three primary three species of daemon:
Furies
Furies are monstrous beings of ravenous hunger and terrifying appearance. They are cunning but rarely intelligent, driven more by hunger, bloodlust, and hatred of the created order than any higher schemes. Furies often serve as foot soldiers and cannon fodder, their ranks filling the 9th through 6th Circles. Rarely does a Fury ever reach Archdemon stats and even then, they are considered to be among the weakest lords of darkness.
The goal of the Fury is simple: wanton destruction. They are driven by a base appetite for destruction and mortal flesh. There is rarely any nuance or subtlety to the actions of a Fury; they track their prey with animal cunning and attack with full daemonic fervor when the moment is right. Furies (especially those of the lower Circles) rarely act on their own volition. They are normally the servants and shock-troopers of more powerful and sinister Daemons.
Mortal encounters with Furies are bloody, violent affairs, the aftermath of which is too horrible to describe. Those strong enough to resist a Fury will fight to the death as this Daemon knows no fear or notion of retreat. Their bodies burn to ash upon death, consumed by the hellfire that drove them in life while their spirits return to the lower realms, waiting to gather strength enough to return to the mortal realm and relentlessly hunt their slayer for revenge.
Furies
Furies are monstrous beings of ravenous hunger and terrifying appearance. They are cunning but rarely intelligent, driven more by hunger, bloodlust, and hatred of the created order than any higher schemes. Furies often serve as foot soldiers and cannon fodder, their ranks filling the 9th through 6th Circles. Rarely does a Fury ever reach Archdemon stats and even then, they are considered to be among the weakest lords of darkness.
The goal of the Fury is simple: wanton destruction. They are driven by a base appetite for destruction and mortal flesh. There is rarely any nuance or subtlety to the actions of a Fury; they track their prey with animal cunning and attack with full daemonic fervor when the moment is right. Furies (especially those of the lower Circles) rarely act on their own volition. They are normally the servants and shock-troopers of more powerful and sinister Daemons.
Mortal encounters with Furies are bloody, violent affairs, the aftermath of which is too horrible to describe. Those strong enough to resist a Fury will fight to the death as this Daemon knows no fear or notion of retreat. Their bodies burn to ash upon death, consumed by the hellfire that drove them in life while their spirits return to the lower realms, waiting to gather strength enough to return to the mortal realm and relentlessly hunt their slayer for revenge.
Sithia
The Sithia are cunning and powerful demons who often appear in vaguely humanoid form. They are associated with mortal passions and sins like pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, and sloth, as well as mortal ills like famine, disease, war, and poverty. While Furies are agents of mindless, wanton destruction, Sithia create chaos more discreetly, sowing discord and orchestrating grand betrayals. They are agents of corruption, the slow seeping sin that destroys fully in time.
Sithia are driven to corrupt mortal souls, defiling mind and body until there is but a shell remaining. They are masters of temptation and blackmail, often coercing mortals to do their bidding (and further debase their souls) through bribery, threats, and deception. As great Daemonic puppet-masters, Sithia are the driving force behind political corruptions that lead to famines, wars, and plagues. While Furies can tear a mortal limb from limb, Sithia can dismantle entire nations through the creeping venom of sin.
Mortals who encounter a Sithia are rarely aware that they have done so, though there is often an unsettling feeling of revulsion afterwards. A Sithia will keep its true form and intentions a secret for as long as possible, toying with their prey until escape from their web of intrigue is impossible. If exposed, a Sithia would flee rather than fight, though there strength is often more than a match for any mortal. If killed, the Sithia's body returns to its true form, its illusions shattered while its spirit drifts back to the Unworld. Here it will plot and scheme while regaining its strength, returning to the material plane when the time is right.
The Sithia are cunning and powerful demons who often appear in vaguely humanoid form. They are associated with mortal passions and sins like pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, and sloth, as well as mortal ills like famine, disease, war, and poverty. While Furies are agents of mindless, wanton destruction, Sithia create chaos more discreetly, sowing discord and orchestrating grand betrayals. They are agents of corruption, the slow seeping sin that destroys fully in time.
Sithia are driven to corrupt mortal souls, defiling mind and body until there is but a shell remaining. They are masters of temptation and blackmail, often coercing mortals to do their bidding (and further debase their souls) through bribery, threats, and deception. As great Daemonic puppet-masters, Sithia are the driving force behind political corruptions that lead to famines, wars, and plagues. While Furies can tear a mortal limb from limb, Sithia can dismantle entire nations through the creeping venom of sin.
Mortals who encounter a Sithia are rarely aware that they have done so, though there is often an unsettling feeling of revulsion afterwards. A Sithia will keep its true form and intentions a secret for as long as possible, toying with their prey until escape from their web of intrigue is impossible. If exposed, a Sithia would flee rather than fight, though there strength is often more than a match for any mortal. If killed, the Sithia's body returns to its true form, its illusions shattered while its spirit drifts back to the Unworld. Here it will plot and scheme while regaining its strength, returning to the material plane when the time is right.
Furies are destroyers. Sithia are corruptors. Eloi are deceivers.
Eloi
Unlike other Daemons, Eloi rarely appear as terrifying entities or deceivers in mortal guise. Eloi appear as beautiful, deific angels of light and beauty. On the surface, they appear wise and benevolent and offer favors to mortals, ensnaring them with promises of protection, healing, and wishes that are never without cost or unforeseen consequences. Despite their appearance, the Eloi are far from beautiful or altruistic and rarely offer assistance without an ulterior motive, some hidden cost, or a ripple effect that leads to great acts of destruction in due course.
Eloi are among the most powerful Daemons and many of their kind are considered Archdemons. Their motives are not as easily discerned as Furies or Sithia as the course of their interference in mortal affairs tends to play out over centuries. More than any other Daemon, Eloi possess mortal hosts and use their body to enact the Daemon's will. Often, this is the price of the wishes they grant. Eloi are particularly drawn to mages and offer arcane insight or forbidden knowledge in exchange for a foothold within the mage's soul.
Those who encounter a Sithia are struck by the beauty, the wisdom, and the appeal of the creature before them. Its voice sings as a nightingale as it offers gifts of gold, glory, and the deepest wishes of the heart...all for a small piece of one's soul. It is no task for an Eloi to destroy a mortal; if their end was merely destruction, they could achieve it better than any Fury. Only exceptionally powerful heroes can hope to challenge an Eloi in open combat. If confronted by an Eloi, the best one can hope is to resist their temptations and pray they do not return with a better offer.
Unlike other Daemons, Eloi rarely appear as terrifying entities or deceivers in mortal guise. Eloi appear as beautiful, deific angels of light and beauty. On the surface, they appear wise and benevolent and offer favors to mortals, ensnaring them with promises of protection, healing, and wishes that are never without cost or unforeseen consequences. Despite their appearance, the Eloi are far from beautiful or altruistic and rarely offer assistance without an ulterior motive, some hidden cost, or a ripple effect that leads to great acts of destruction in due course.
Eloi are among the most powerful Daemons and many of their kind are considered Archdemons. Their motives are not as easily discerned as Furies or Sithia as the course of their interference in mortal affairs tends to play out over centuries. More than any other Daemon, Eloi possess mortal hosts and use their body to enact the Daemon's will. Often, this is the price of the wishes they grant. Eloi are particularly drawn to mages and offer arcane insight or forbidden knowledge in exchange for a foothold within the mage's soul.
Those who encounter a Sithia are struck by the beauty, the wisdom, and the appeal of the creature before them. Its voice sings as a nightingale as it offers gifts of gold, glory, and the deepest wishes of the heart...all for a small piece of one's soul. It is no task for an Eloi to destroy a mortal; if their end was merely destruction, they could achieve it better than any Fury. Only exceptionally powerful heroes can hope to challenge an Eloi in open combat. If confronted by an Eloi, the best one can hope is to resist their temptations and pray they do not return with a better offer.
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A Daemon can only enter the mortal plane by taking over the body of a mortal creature. In order to do so, they must exploit some weakness in the host.
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Possession
Daemons are creatures of spirit, normally unable to enter the material plane of The Sphere in their true, terrible form. Having lost their hold at the end of the Dark Age, the only way Daemons can enter the material realm is to inhabit the body of a mortal creature, be it man or beast, and the vessel must be of adequate strength to contain the demon’s power. Thus, Furies often take over the bodies of wild beasts while Sithia possess mortal Men and Eloi seek to occupy the bodies of corrupted heroes and mystics. In order to possess a body, the demon must seize upon some weakness in the host. Be it guilt, a secret sin, physical or mental ailment…Daemons are constantly in search of weak-minded mortals they can possess. Some mortals even willingly invite a demon to possess them in hopes of attaining power or as part of some bargain with the infernal. A creature can only become possessed once its mind, will, and emotions are subjugated before the will of the Daemon. Powerful Daemons can easily break the will of a potential host almost immediately. Others must wear their prey down over time. Daemons may possess a living or dead body. Few deign to inhabit bodies that have been dead for long, however, as the decaying form severely limits their strength and mobility. Recent suicides are a favorite of many Sithia as these demons often drive tormented mortals to the death, quickly seizing the vacated body for their own. When a Daemon takes over, the host body becomes twisted and horrific almost instantly, riddled with horns, scales, and gaping wounds. Only powerful trickster Daemons can prevent this from happening and maintain the guise of a normal mortal. Even so, their true nature is revealed in direct sunlight. Their aversion to holy places and objects may also give them away to the perceptive. If the flesh they inhabit is destroyed, the Daemon must flee back to the Unworld to recover for a time before attempting another possession. The more powerful the Daemon, the longer it takes to recover and the more difficult it is to find a suitable host in order to return. |
