THE INFERNAL
The infernal aren't born from the fell; they're summoned through the fell.
They're unnatural, foreign, alien to this world. They feed off the darker side of mortality, and work tirelessly to pull souls into death, corruption, servitude, and damnation.
Their home is a true hellscape. They gain access to the mortal world through rifts - tears in the veil - created through various means.
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Demons are the manifested product of dark impulse.
They're creatures of instinct, emotion, and consumption. They coalesce from concentrated emotional and magical turmoil.
They manifest through rifts. The signs of a rift opening are often indicated by: dramatic temperature fluctuation, the smell of iron or sulfur, animals suddenly fleeing, shadows moving independently, vegetation dying rapidly, whispers drifting around from no seen source, and other strange phenomenon.
Some demons emerge through rifts as fully-formed nightmares. Others assemble themselves through corpses, ash, spilled blood, or various other material tools. Greater demons may require days to manifest, with lesser demons appearing first to defend the greater entity, being of the same energy.
In the Darkmere, these rifts are abundant. But they can exist elsewhere in the world, such as a battlefield soaked in blood, a village consumed by panic, a ritual fueled by hatred.
These places become fertile ground for demonic manifestation. And once manifested, they feed on that same energy, and then project more of it, circulating their own existence. This is how they multiply, dominate, destroy.
Most don't speak. They lack true intelligence, instead acting purely on instinct. The more they thrive, however, the stronger they become, and the more efficient they act. This level of energy marks the potential making of a greater demon.
【 LESSER DEMON EXAMPLES 】
▶ SCAMPS
Mischievous and malicious, feeding off confusion and chaos.
They're fast, can create illusion, such as fake doubles of themselves.
Tend to pick and pry at their prey until they meet a slow, painful end.
▶ DEVOURERS
Scavengers, constantly seeking food, consuming with never-ending hunger.
The more they consume, they more they grow, the hungrier they get.
They feed off anything, anyone. Nothing is inedible.
▶ FIENDS
Small, fire-imbued demons manifested from unbridled anger, fury, rage.
Prone to igniting structures, and cause burns when touched.
Explode in a fiery detonation when killed.【 GREATER DEMON EXAMPLES 】
▶ SUCCUBUS
An intelligent desire demon formed from longing, yearning, obsession, lust.
Can take many forms, always impossibly attractive to the one that perceives it.
Lures victims in rather than attacking outright.
Incredibly alluring, convincing prey to abandon course, give into their passions, and submit themselves to their desire.
Succumbing to temptation means a very pleasurable, and then very horrific, death.
▶ BEHEMOTHS
Hulking pride demons with immense physical strength and a nearly impenetrable body.
They form from a surplus of egoism, narcissism, arrogance, conceit.
Wield the power to topple entire buildings. Everything is beneath them, and must be dominated.
They present a definitive challenge, seemingly insurmountable.
How much pride must one have to think they can best a pride demon?
Found in many forms, the common thread being always large, with dominating strength and resilience.
▶ REVENANTS
Vengeful demons formed from deep hatred, resentment, and a very distinct need for revenge.
Typically latch on to one person or object that's related or symbolic to their point of manifestation.
They seek only to destroy that thing, with expert precision, utterly and completely.
Everything and everyone that stands in their way must burn.
Tend to take the form of dark knights, red judges, and reaper-like executioners.-------------------------------------------------------------
Where demons widely attack mortals and their civilizations to kill and destroy, devils infiltrate, influence, manipulate, and corrupt from within. Instead of just raw manifestation of emotion, they incorporate control, ambition, and order in their purpose of not pure destruction, but ultimate possession, ownership, and control.
Unlike demons, devils are extremely patient. Deliberate. They require a very intentional invitation to appear upon the mortal plane. Corrupt promises, broken oaths, breaches of blood contract, a desperate prayer with dark intent, a betrayal of the soul – these are the invitations devils seek.
Devils are highly intelligent. They communicate effectively, act civilly, and typically choose to appear in an appealing, acceptable, even relatable form. Unlike demons, they have names. They don't tend to give their true name, but they do have them, as well as rank in the devil hierarchy.
They are rare encounters, and have the power to command demons to some degree, though focus more on the manipulation and control of the mortal realm. Though it can be subtle at first, by the end of a devil contract, a soul can be completely dominated, owned, eternally doomed. This has the potential to extend to entire settlements, cities, kingdoms.
