Emissaries

Emissaries stand as the shadowy intermediaries between the whims of Mephiston and the unsuspecting mortals of Tormentia. Manifesting as pitch-black, hooded figures composed of swirling black smoke and dark flames, these beings serve as the silent harbingers of the Devil-King's will. Their haunting appearance is punctuated by eyes that glow with a dim, spectral white, serving as a chilling reminder of their otherworldly origins and purpose. Emissaries have the unique role of bridging the divide between the Mortal Realm and the Realm of Shadows, ensuring that Mephiston's influence is perpetually felt among the living, even as he reigns from his dark domain. Their presence, often shrouded in mystery and fear, has become a subject of countless tales and legends, a testament to the profound impact they've had on the world of Tormentia.

## Abilities

### Inter-realm movement

Emissaries possess the unique ability to seamlessly traverse between the Mortal Realm and the Realm of Shadows. This fluidity ensures that they can execute Mephiston's bidding without being confined to a singular realm, making them formidable agents of influence and dread.

### Teleportation

Within the Mortal Realm, emissaries can disappear and reappear at will, moving across vast distances in mere moments. This ability ensures they can reach their targets quickly, making them near-omnipresent and extremely difficult to evade.

### Invisibility

An emissary can become completely invisible to the naked eye. This allows them to operate covertly, observing or influencing events without drawing attention. However, while invisible to most, certain magical artifacts or particularly attuned individuals might sense or even see their presence.

### Mental manipulation

One of their most subtle and dangerous powers, emissaries can gently sway the thoughts and emotions of mortals. They can implant suggestions, amplify existing feelings, or instill new ones. This manipulation is often so subtle that the affected individual believes these thoughts and feelings are entirely their own.

## Role and purpose

### Influencing mortals

The primary duty of an emissary is to subtly shape and guide the thoughts, emotions, and actions of mortals. Their ethereal nature allows them to operate from the shadows, planting seeds of doubt, fear, or ambition in the hearts of their targets. By doing so, they ensure that the Devil-King's insidious influence constantly lingers in the Mortal Realm. This manipulation can be as benign as nudging a ruler towards a particular decision, or as malevolent as pushing an individual towards acts of unspeakable darkness.

### Soul harvesting

Beyond mere influence, emissaries have the somber duty of collecting the souls of specific mortals on the brink of death. These are not just any souls but are particularly chosen based on criteria known only to Mephiston. Once identified, an emissary will appear at the dying mortal's side, their pitch-black form a stark contrast to the ephemeral nature of life, to extract the soul and drag it to the Realm of Shadows, turning these unfortunate souls into forsaken shades.

## Appearance

Emissaries bear a haunting visage that is both mesmerizing and terrifying. Manifesting as tall, hooded figures, their entire form appears as if made from a combination of swirling black smoke and dark, flickering flames. This smoky-flame composition gives them an ethereal and otherworldly quality, as if they are perpetually shifting and not entirely of this realm. Their hoods conceal most of their facial features, except for their eyes, which glow with a dim, spectral white light. These eyes, devoid of pupils, seem to hold an endless abyss, reflecting neither emotion nor life but a cold, unwavering purpose. The rest of their form, devoid of any distinguishable clothing or adornments, seamlessly merges into the smoky-flame silhouette, making it impossible to discern where the being ends and the ethereal robe begins. The mere presence of an emissary, with its ghostly luminance and shadowy demeanor, often instills an immediate sense of dread and unease in those who witness them.