Fiend

Fiends (魔物) are evil spirits that differ from the general monsters roaming Zemuria.
== Background ==
Unlike regular monsters which inhabit Zemuria, fiends are regarded as entities which shouldn't be able to exist. They are a form of particularly malicious spirit that seeks to cause harm to humans. Their existence had never been proven, having only been mentioned in the scriptures and sacraments of the Septian Church. This is similar to the Seventy-Seven Devils, which share certain characteristics and can be regarded as a type of fiend in and of themselves.
The Church teaches that it is in a fiend's nature to oppose the goddess, Aidios, and that they take shelter in the hearts of humanity. Their nature forces them to try to bring harm to innocent souls. The appearance of fiends is regarded as an omen of even worse things to come. Old fairy tales in Erebonia suggest fiend shave the ability to change the personalities of the people they affect.
A definitive answer to where fiends come from has not been provided. However, common themes include the idea of trapped souls becoming fiends after death, with the Septian Church describing this as being the fate of many trapped in Gehenna. Tormented souls are said to lose all their form, becoming shapeshifting masses known as grimoires, whereas cursed objects such as haunted mirrors (Speculos) and cannons (Death Sluggers) are said to have similar origins. Some fiends can manifest as a result of the 'memories' of an area, with hostile spirits remaining to take vengeance. This was the case when a Spirit World incursion in Hamel affected the area, and the fake salt pales attributed to the Tuatha De Danann were also able to read the memories of the land and recreate fiends.
== Locations of Fiends ==
Certain circumstances allow fiends to exist in the physical world. Disturbances in the septium veins caused by unrest of the surface (in a 'as above, so below' type of relationship) can adversely affect the world's balance, allowing fiends to appear in areas of dense mana. This was especially the case in the Great Twilight, which also allowed incursions of the Spirit World itself. Fiends can also be active in areas where the higher elements of space, time, and mirage are active, and many fiends that appear in such circumstances carry weaknesses to these elements in addition to the regular four. 
* Phase Spaces in general may feature fiends, existing in separate planes from the physical world.
* Phantasma, a plane created by the Recluse Cube that populates itself based upon the minds it reads from.
* The Sun Fort, Moon Temple and Stargazer's Tower in Crossbell.
* The Azure Tree.
* The Spirit Shrines and sanctuaries in Erebonia, including the Old Schoolhouse and Sanctuary of the Dark Dragon.
* Lohengrin Castle in Legram.
* The Infernal Castle and catacombs beneath Heimdallr.
* The Gral of Erebos.
* The Eerie Woods and Saint-Gral Labyrinth near Eryn.
* The Tuatha De Danann and fake salt pales.
Other locations in which the higher elements are active, but fiend activity unconfirmed include the Isthmia Great Forest, Lunaria Nature Park and Ancient Quarry. Spirits are known to inhabit each of these locations.
== Classification of Fiends ==
Certain types of fiends are grouped together based on similar natures, origins or behaviours. The following groups have been mentioned, although there may be others:
Type of fiend 	Description 	examples 	Image
Undead 	Spirits, ghosts or remains that haunt an area, seeking vengeance or the opportunity to possess someone. 	Skeletal warriors, ghosts, banshees etc. 	
Grimoires 	Formless fiends created from souls tortured by the endless flames of Gehenna, losing their sense of self until they become a chaotic lump of spirit. can replicate other forms and individuals. 	Doppelgangers 	
From Fairy Tales 	Beings that should only exist in fairy tales. 	Clawrie, Djinn, Dwarves, Meditating Monarchs, Vargem, Veludo Fiend, Faeries 	
Cursed Objects 	Animated objects or statues that move autonomously and seek to do harm. 	Haunted Mirror/Speculo, Death Slugger, Wandering Armor & Swords, Sudorodo, Aries pot.	
Beastmen 	Creatures that have the attributes of beasts and anthropomorphic forms. May wield armour or weapons. 	Birdman, Werebat, Werewolf, Wererat, Femael/Mael Beasts, Dracols 	
Dream Devils 	Fiends that specialise in attacking the mind. They may devour dreams. 	Nightmares, Incubus, Succubus, Arch Devil, Greedy Widows, Poltergeist, 	
Demons 	Particularly powerful fiends that may be conflated with devils. 	Aka Manah, Amon, Lugh 	
"Noctfamilia" 	Also known as vampires or kings of fiends, they are group of creatures from folklore that subsists by feeding on the blood of humans and can make others into more of their kind. 	'Vampires', the Family, night-touched 	
Nosferatu 	Known as 'Immortal Kings', souls trapped by chanting the forbidden 'False Soul' spell in trying to achieve immortality. Also created by failed candidates for the Awakener trials or Awakeners from destroyed Divine Knights. The Albarea house fought off Nosferatu in their history using two holy swords, Ishnard and Elvars.	Nosferatu, Lucifuge 	
Seventy-Seven Devils	A group of exceptionally powerful beings from the Septian Church's scriptures. 	Arachne, Rostrum, Bennu, Great Zan Su 	
== Gallery of Fiends ==
Determining exactly which monsters in the series are fiends can be difficult due to many terms which seemingly overlap, and secondly due to the shared models are lots of monsters and fiends, differing only in colour or minor design changes. Outside of monsters explicitly identified as fiends, it is not also possible to give a definitive answer to a fiend status.
Oliphemus - Introduction (CS III).png|The Giant of Madness, Oliphemus
MON049 C00 (Sen IV Monster).png|Starer
Iglute Garmr - Concept Art (Sen).png|Iglute Garmr
Minos Demon (Sen Monster).png|Minos Demon
Cherubic Gate (Sen Monster).png|Cherubic Gate
Ramon (Sen Monster).png|Ramon
Orderbelisk (Sen Monster).png|Orderbelisk
Pit Demon (Sen Monster).png|Pit Demon
Ghost Soul (Sen Monster).png|Ghost Soul
Lunar Bee (Sen Monster).png|Lunar Bee
Surtr (Sen Monster).png|Surtr
Thunder Hydra (Sen Monster).png|Thunder Hydra
Durgnessa (Sen Monster).png|Durgnessa
Ginosha- Zanak - Concept Art (Sen).png|Ginosha-Zarak
Wandering Armor (Sen Monster).png|Wandering Armor
Wandering Sword (Sen Monster).png|Wandering Sword
Death Slugger (Sen Monster).png|Death Slugger
MON242 (Sen II Monster).png|Ebony Pawn
MON076 C00 (Sen II Monster).png|Grim-Zanak
MON220 C00 (Sen II Monster).png|Abaddon
MON148 C00 (Sen II Monster).png|Black Ooze
MON214 (Sen II Monster).png|Demonic Mirror
MON226 (Sen II Monster).png|Greater Devil
MON067 (Sen III Monster).png|Blurred Shadow
MON308 (Sen III Monster).png|False Abaddon
MON062 C00 (Sen III Monster).png|Octofiend
MON035 C00 (Sen III Monster).png|Vampire Bat
MON063 C00 (Sen III Monster).png|Weed Beetle
MON070 (Sen III Monster).png|Vargem
MON061 C00 (Sen III Monster).png|Volg Tiger Werewolf
MON066 C00 (Sen III Monster).png|Calvary Lancer
MON008 C01 (Sen III Monster).png|Teropes
MON307 C00 (Sen III Monster).png|Tiamat
MON077 (Sen III Monster).png|Dark Knight
MON078 (Sen III Monster).png|Greater Devil
MON309 C00 (Sen III Monster).png|Arachne Zigma
MON120 (Sen IV Monster).png|Mizerambler
MON070 C00 (Sen IV Monster).png|Masked Magewraith
MON122 (Sen IV Monster).png|Rubbletroll
MON130 (Sen IV Monster).png|Grimblade
MON101 (Sen IV Monster).png|Kijimun
MON119 (Sen IV Monster).png|Sylvan Banshee
MON011 C01 (Sen IV Monster).png|Dog Mummy
MON124 (Sen IV Monster).png|Wyvern Warrior
MON126 (Sen IV Monster).png|Astral Domina
MON125 C00 (Sen IV Monster).png|Dracol Staff
MON101 C00 (Sen IV Monster).png|Kijimunmon
MON067 C00 (Sen IV Monster).png|Double Sickle
MON301 C01 (Sen IV Monster).png|Soul Eater
MON000 C02 (Sen IV Monster).png|Skull Scythe
MON143 C00 (Sen IV Monster).png|Nastilus
MON144 (Sen IV Monster).png|Rostrum bug
MON122 C01 (Sen IV Monster).png|Gust Inferno
MON146 (Sen IV Monster).png|Goliath Lugh
MON142 C01 (Sen IV Monster).png|Cursed Looper
MON145 (Sen IV Monster).png|Nyarlathotep
MON072 C00 (Sen IV Monster).png|Findias Nuada
MON151 (Sen IV Monster).png|Amon
MON078 C00 (Sen IV Monster).png|Aka Manah
MON008 C03 (Hajimari Monster).png
MON127 C02 (Hajimari Monster).png
MON146 C00 (Hajimari Monster).png
MON185 (Hajimari Monster).png|Hammer Dwarf
MON186 (Hajimari Monster).png|Shield Dwarf
MON187 (Hajimari Monster).png|Bazooka Dwarf
== Trivia ==
* The concept of fiends and the higher elements in general was only introduced in making it possible that monsters in previous games were also fiends, and just not recognised as much. There are references to monsters being from 'outside spaces' or 'other dimensions' which might be an early concept of the idea of creatures from other planes.
* also features 'angelic' enemies that appear in Castle Phantasmagoria. Similarly 'angelic creatures' appear in the same locations as fiends, such as the Thousand-strong, Angels or Tildawns. It is unknown if these are also types of fiends or another classification of spirit altogether.
* The Grimoires and their ability to shift into different forms resembles the ability shown by 'Hollows' in the True Reverie Corridor in . They seemingly cannot speak but possess all the skills and crafts of the originals, differing only in the glowing, shadowed eyes.
* Despite being referred to with distinct terms, some fiends and cryptids are referred to interchangeably. They are both existences from another plane that spawn in areas where the higher elements are active. This includes Zoro-Agruga and Oliphemus.
Category:Concepts