Demon

Demons are immortal spirits associated with Hell. They first appeared in *Good Intentions*. See also list of demons.

## General

Demons are immortal spirits associated with Hell. They can be identified by their horns, tail, and wings.

They have varying origins. They can be born within Hell, have mortal origin, be fallen angels, or deposed ancient gods.⁠⁠

The most powerful demons are the princes of Hell.⁠

Most demons are made to torment or corrupt mortals, but some have other functions, like to punish and enact retribution.⁠

Demons are functionally immortal. A demon killed in Hell will normally return within a few days. A demon killed on the mortal plane will take longer to return, but they will eventually be reborn in Hell in some way, the exact specifics depending on the type of demon.⁠⁠ An exception is if the demon is killed on holy ground, in which case it will be destroyed permanently.⁠

They do not need food or drink for sustenance, though they can eat and drink for social or sensous reasons. They also do not have excretion functions.⁠ It is possible that demons in Hel are sustained by consuming damned souls in some way.⁠

## Demons on the mortal plane

A demon without a physical body is vulnerable on the mortal plane. While monstrous and fearsome, they are more easily detected by angels. Mortal courage is painful to them in a fight.⁠ However, there is an indication from Rachel that courage alone isn’t sufficient.⁠

Holy ground, and other objects infused with faith, is hurtful to demons to various degrees.⁠⁠ The results depends both on the strength of the faith and the status of the demon.

### Skins

A skin—or sometimes shell—is a mortal body worn by a demonic spirit. The process is usually done using a fitting room, and kills the original person. One side effect is terrible taste in music.⁠ The skin anchors the demon to the mortal realm, allows the demon to move in the open, makes it harder to detect and find, and much more resilient to damage.⁠⁠ The skin also become much stronger and durable, and does not function as a normal body anymore.⁠

Holy ground seems to be particularly hostile to the skin, and can cause it to disintegrate.⁠

The demon’s spirit is apparently tied to the skin. If the skin is destroyed the demon is usually banished back to Hell.⁠⁠ At least some skins disintegrate into ashes, and will not leave a body behind.⁠ There are indications that the demon to some degree will shape and mold the appearance of the skin according to its nature.⁠ Even if the demon might have access to some of the skills of the original body, it will still have real trouble trying to impersonate the original person.⁠⁠

Some demons with mortal origin may still have their original bodies, though it might be molded and shaped. This makes them comparably more powerful within the mortal realm, and less physically affected by holy ground. Lorelei is one such example.⁠⁠

## Abilities

It is probable that the abilities of a demon depend on their type and role, similar to angels. The following is a brief overview with some conjecture.

Many demons can expel fire from their mouth. They are very strong and fast. They have powers of mind control and suggestion.⁠⁠⁠

Demons can sense the presence of magic⁠ or supernatural beings nearby.⁠⁠ They can also sense if a person is protected or at least accompanied by a guardian angel.⁠⁠ They have some ability to read auras. At least succubae can read and sense feelings of lust and sexual desire to a great degree. It is possible that other demons can sense feelings—or the state of a person’s soul—tied to their specific roles and areas.

Demons have functional tails, though it is possible that demons wearing mortal skins have limitations on its use. Many demons are known to use it as a weapon, and at least some demons have tails with a poisonous sting.⁠⁠

## Types of demons

There are different ways to classify demons. The most common is to describe how they interact with mortals. The following is a partial list that also might contain duplicates, inconsistencies, and overlaps:

### Hunter

A spider-like demon which tends towards all black or white, except possibly for its eyes, which might be red.⁠⁠ Examples of hunters are Harrow and Victor, and they act both with and without mortal skins.⁠⁠

### Imp

A relatively small and weak demon. Their natural state seems to be small and red with yellow eyes and sharp teeth.⁠⁠

### Stalker

Humanoid demons made to hunt and kill, who generally prefer to act without skins on the mortal plane. They are equipped with a long tail and large claws. Their wings have been shorne of flesh, and might have been repurposed to be used only as weapons.⁠

### Other demons

* Corruptor⁠
* Fetch⁠
* Incubus⁠
* Juggernaut⁠
* Seducer⁠
* Servitor—a comparatively weak demon⁠
* Shadow⁠
* Squiddies⁠
* Tempter of avarice⁠
* Tempter of sorcery⁠
* Temptress (of lust)⁠

## Theories

Succubae can sense the feelings of sexual lust and desire of the mortals around them.⁠ Could other demons who regularly tempt and interact with mortals have a similar ability of sensing feelings, tied to their specific role and purpose?

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1  *Personal Demons*, chapter 2
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1  *Personal Demons*, chapter 11
3. ↑  *Good Intentions*, chapter 4
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6  *Personal Demons*, chapter 1
5. ↑ *Halloween for Life*
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1  *Good Intentions*, chapter 10
7. ↑ “Can’t Stab Everything” (noncanon)
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4  *Personal Demons*, chapter 16
9. ↑  *Good Intentions*, chapter 15
10. ↑  *Good Intentions*, chapter 9
11. ↑ “Amends”
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 *Skin*
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 “Good Neighbors”
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2  *Past Due*, chapter 13
15. ↑  *Past Due*, chapter 25
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 “Red Flags”
17. ↑  *Good Intentions*, chapter 19
18. ↑  *Natural Consequences*, chapter 16
19. ↑  *Natural Consequences*, chapter 13
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2  *Good Intentions*, chapter 8
21. ↑ “Strangers”
22. ↑  *Personal Demons*, chapter 10
23. ↑  *Past Due*, chapter 26
24. ↑  *Good Intentions*, chapter 14
25. ↑  *Personal Demons*, chapter 21
26. ↑  *Past Due*, chapter 14
27. ↑  *Personal Demons*, chapter 25
28. ↑ “Guardians”
29. ↑ “Lifestyle Changes”
30. ↑ “Proper Focus”