Demon

**Demons** (occasionally spelled **Daemon**) are a lawful evil race of extraplanar creatures who dwell in the Nine Hells.

## Behavior

Beings of total wanton wickedness, demons are cruel savage, utterly devoid of compassion or empathy. Every thought that has crossed their mind is tainted with hate and malice, each believing that it's own desires are the most important. They cannot comprehend mercy or benevolance, and all are driven by the desire to distort and then destroy all of creation.

However, the instinct and nature of a demon is restrained by an ancient infernal document called the Pact Primeval. This corrals a demon's nature into more organized and insidious forms of evil. Since a demon believes entirely in it's own desires and intrests, it is driven to lead and command others to follow it's bidding. In order to forward it's own goals, a demon might follow the orders of another more powerful demon and so forth. This creates a natural hierarchy where lower demons follow the instruction of higher demons in order to forward their own twisted agenda.

## Types of Demon

All demons are born from the Abyssal Ichor, a vast ocean of black sludge where damned souls are sent to wallow in misery. A demon is formed when a particularly strong soul is able to gather consume and conquer lesser souls, and leave the torment of the ichor. This process often lasts hundreds of years, and when the soul is strong enough to create a body for itself from the ichor it leaves the ocean stripped of its previous identity and any hint of good. The type of demon formed from the ichor depends on the sin of the damned soul.

### Buer

A buer is formed from the soul of a liar, who mislead people philosophically or religiously. Buer are bizarre creatures made from the head of a lion and five goat legs. Buer are often called upon for wisdom or insight, which is happily grants. It often leads it's victim on with genuine advice and excellent philosophy, until slowly feeding the victim destructive ideas and ruinous strategies. A buer thrives on dispair or misleading others; often building up it's victim in wealth and knowledge only to have them fall down.

### Rakshasa

A rakshasa is formed from the soul of a murderer driven by revenge. A rakshasa can be identified by their feline features, and their deformed hands to represent their twisted sense of justice. Rakshasa is fueled by their self-righteousness and ego, violently lashing out against anything it sees as a slight. These scheming demons seek the perfect revenge, plotting and scheming for the most poetic death to repay a mortal for their insolence. Their greatest form of entertainment is to drive other mortals to avenge their victim's death, thus repeating the cycle. If a rakshasa is ever killed in mortal form, they will return with an unholy fury, unable to rest until their killer is dead.

### Succubus/Incubus

A succubus (if female) or incubus (if male) is formed from the soul of a fornicator or adulterer, and seeks for others to commit the same sin. These demons often take physically alluring form and have a charming surface-level personality. A succubus/incubus will drive it's victim to total mental insanity, until the victim is driven to take their own life.

## Culture

### Hierarchy

All demons follow a strict hierarchy where the strongest and ambitious demons quickly ascend in rank. These ranks in the hierarchy aren't absolute, and tend to fluctuate. A demon's rank is comparable to a human title. There is nothing inherent that comes with the rank, instead a demon's place on the hierarchy shows their strength compared to other demons. A demon can move up in rank if it defeats another in a higher category.

### Lesser Demon

A lesser demon is a demonic creature that does not have sentience. These demons can be identified by their animalistic tendencies, acting more like monsters than demons. Most creatures at this rank aren't intelligent enough to have an alignment. Examples of lesser demons would be Lashers, Nightmares, and Hellhounds.

### Greater Demon

A greater demon is the rank given to all demonic creatures that have sentience. These demons are capable of complex thought, decision making, and communication. Although there are greater demons that are weaker than lesser demons, their intellect propels them into a higher category. Examples of greater demons would be Bone Devils, Calicanes, and Imps.

### Archdemon/Marquis

An archdemon is a greater demon whose physical, mental, or magical feats cause them to be propelled to greater status. This category is not bound to particular races of demons, and is based on merit alone. The definition of an archdemon may change as the standard of what is strong changes. Examples of archdemons would be Narune, Tigaleth, and Nailic Demons.

### Demon Prince/Archduke

A demon prince is a exceptionally strong archdemon assigned to rule a circle of hell by the demon king. Considered the strongest of the strongest, demon princes act as advisors and governors of hell that enforce the demon king's will. There are exceptions to this rule however. Jubilex is called the demon prince of Embla, even though it isn't intelligent to govern anything. Jubilex holds the title due to killing the previous holder. Ryaiid Nailo was given the honorary title as the demon prince of Limbo as a reward.

### Demon King

The demon king is the de facto ruler of the Nine Hells. There can only be one demon king active at a time. Any demon prince can challenge the demon king in an attempt to take the title from the current holder. It is the demon king's responsibility to monitor the human souls in hell along with maintaining law throughout the Nine Hells. The only demon king to be named is Thay.