Abomination

An **abomination** is a creature created when a demon possesses a living being with magical abilities. There are stories about abominations that have ravaged entire settlements, or even gone on to tyrannize a countryside for years after their creation. Most of the world does not know, however, that the strength of an abomination depends entirely on the power of the demon that possesses the mage. Thus, the magnitude of threat an abomination can pose is dependent on the type of demon that possesses the mage.

In the broadest sense of the term, "abomination" is sometimes used to refer to the demonic possession of mage corpses or the product of merging a mage with a benevolent spirit. The spirits can also possess almost any creature or object, including plants and rocks, however, these hosts cannot become abominations in the true sense, as the spirits gain no additional powers through possession.

## Background

Abominations are rare, and are usually created when a weak mage enters the Dreaming, and is exposed to a demon's influence; such as during the ritual of Ascension employed by the Institute of Magic. Mages who experiment with blood magic are more susceptible to demons and also risk becoming abominations. Malicious blood mages, and demons in solid form, are also able to summon demons into unwilling hosts.

Once a demon-possessed abomination is created, it will try to create more abominations. While it is possible to free someone who has been possessed, this is rarely done due to the risks involved in such an attempt. One method involves an independent party entering the Dreaming and killing the dominating demon of the possessed. Those who are freed in such a way never truly recover, however, as the soul of the formerly possessed is scarred, and could more easily fall prey to possession again. The Cleve employ a ritual to release themselves from possession but this ritual involves a spirit voluntarily leaving its host rather than fighting off a demon. Aside from those listed, death of the host is the most convenient way to end possession. The mages who are not yet fully possessed can be saved by using the Recitation of Adalia.

The possession is not physical; the demon is still in the Dreaming, but so is the mage's spirit, and the demon is able to control the body through that captive spirit like a puppet. The demon channels its power through the body, sees through the mage's eyes and is able to use magic in ways the mage would have never imagined. However, the experience of entering the physical realm is overwhelming to weaker demons, and abominations are often driven mad by the unfamiliar sensations, turning into monstrosities and going on a rampage. The most powerful demons are able to adapt to the new form and even maintain the original physical shape of their host, in particular, when the possession is accepted willingly. Some demons also have the ability of shapeshifting. The most common way to get an abomination to reveal its nature is to make it feel threatened so that the residing demon would impulsively defend its host. The Cleve claim that the benevolent spirits they worship as gods watch for signs that an abomination has turned dangerous, and will kill it in its sleep before it can endanger others.

As stated, possession can occur with either a spirit or a demon and thus the possession experience varies. In some cultures across Morgaea, mages deliberately seek out possession by spirits. Cleve apprentice mages allow themselves to become possessed by spirits to learn how to control their magic, then release the spirit once they have mastered their talent. The seers of Ghallen, wise women who are in fact hedge mages, also communicate with spirits and allow themselves to become possessed.