Cambions

A Cambion is a human which has been corrupted by darkness beyond the point of no return, and now physically resembles a demon. They often have horns, black skin and red eyes. Some may have extra features, such as fur, a tail, or even hooves. Cambions can be distinguished from other human-adjacent creatures by the fact that their nonhuman features are usually red or black.
Unlike Demons, Cambions are not mindless servants of darkness, and still possess the sapience of a human. Often, however, by the transformation, or at least are influenced by the presence of Darkness.
As the demonic power within a Cambion grows and advances, their demonic side will often gain more control. When they reach their peak, the demon within will often take control of the body, and completely obliterate any remaining humanity. A particularly strong-willed cambion may be able to fight back against the demon, and sometimes they can completely suppress the demonic side, though the physical changes are permanent.
The light counterpart to cambions are called Devas. Cambions are more common than Devas, due to the innate corrupting nature of darkness.
== Basic Information ==
=== Anatomy and Morphology ===
Cambions are the most stereotypically "demonic" looking creatures. They commonly have horns atop their head, sharp claws, sharp teeth, and red eyes. Their skin is usually either black or red, or somewhere inbetween. However, cambions can differ greatly, and their appearance is usually determined by the nature of whatever corrupted them in the first place.
Tyrranean cambions often resemble woodland creatures, they may have fur or feathers in places, have hooves instead of feet, etc. They will sometimes have tails, and the most powerful sometimes have bat-like wings.
Cambions which have been corrupted by the dark influence of Azjol the Spider King will bear spider-like characteristics. They may have extra limbs, mandibles, and the ability to create silken webs.
Cambions who spend time around the sea, or are influenced by the lingering presence of Ulgard Greenblood and his church of Navicism, often have disturbing aquatic characteristics, resembling squids or crustaceans.
=== Reproduction ===
Cambions can be created in a number of ways. A child with a demonic or cambion parent will share in this demonic heritage. Cambions can also be formed if a human is corrupted by Darkness, but strong-willed enough to prevent being turned into a full demon. A human can be corrupted through proximity to Darkness or being cursed by a dark entity.
In some places, Dark rituals are performed to intentionally transform a person into a Cambion, in order to make them stronger.
The transformation into a Cambion is one stage of the metamorphosis into a full demon. The process is usually irreversible, but it can be halted or accelerated by the will of the cambion themselves.
=== Growth ===
After a cambion is formed, their dark power will begin to grow rapidly, though this may be slowed if the cambion resists the dark influences. As their affinity for darkness grows, so will their physical strength, and they may gain extra physical features, such as wings or larger claws.
A cambion will usually go through "surges", stages of growth in which they rapidly grow and change physically. This may happen overnight, or could take a week.
=== Mentality ===
Cambions are innately tainted by darkness. This doesn’t make them evil, but it does mean they are often more short-tempered, indulgent, and erratic, and usually apathetic towards laws and authority figures. If they allow this part of them to take hold, they can develop into becoming bloodthirsty, hedonistic, and chaotic. Cambions who continue on this path, and allow darkness to consume them, may become fully demon, and lose control of their minds.
=== Relations with Humans ===
The existence of cambions is a divisive and controversial issue among many human societies. Depending on the culture of a location, cambions can be anything from useful, to abhorred. Any society which reveres the Light tends to view cambions as inherently evil, and may attempt everything from curing them, to destroying them.
In most parts of Hirokir, especially the Zulaca Cities, Cambions are not just tolerated, but seen as normal, and often deliberately created. The Hirokiri people have fought demons for centuries, and have worked out that sometimes you have to fight fire with fire. As long as the Cambions remain relatively lucid, they are accepted in their society.
In Andukir, the Dark Isles, and the Orkhovan Zongol Tribe, Cambions are seen as a superior form of humanity, and sometimes outright worshipped.