Ars Goetia

## About the Ars Goetia

The Ars Goetia are a group of ancient and powerful Wraiths that hold great knowledge and power in a variety of different magic. The group is so ancient that records of them are almost nonexistent due to rarely ever appearing throughout history, aside from a few vague mentions. However, there is a reason for why they have not had any prominent appearances despite their almost god-like strength.

While the group still preys upon the negative emotions of humanity, they strangely also possessed a high level of intelligence and self-awareness. Because of this, the Ars Goetia realized that the constant struggle between Masketeers and Wraiths will only lead to a mutual destruction. As such, they have decided to detach themselves from the struggle, instead focusing on growing their group's power and build their own empire.

The Ars Goetia created several pocket dimension within the Astral Realm and have been isolating themselves from the rest of reality ever since. However, this does not mean they haven't stopped keeping tabs on the humans and the Wraiths as some would occasionally visit the human realm in order to gather information and harvest the negative emotions needed to grow their pocket dimensions. Up until the recently, the Ars Goetia have been keeping distance from everyone and everything else, so why did they suddenly make themselves known to the realms of existence? Could there be some sort of ulterior motive? Or did they decide that it was necessary to reach out?

## Hierarchy

The Hierarchy of the Ars Goetia is divided into four categories, with an additional sub-category dedicated to servants. These categories are known as (from strongest to weakest): Kings/Queens, Lords/Ladies, Dukes/Duchesses, Barons/Baronesses, and Knights/Jesters.

* **Kings/Queens-** The highest rank in the hierarchy and are the ones who possess the most power, knowledge, and wisdom of the Ars Goetia. They keep the lower ranking members in check and also enforce or impeach laws among the Ars Goetia. They are generally the ones with the least amount of contracts with humans, due to a lack of trust and because of a law that limits interactions with the human realm.

* **Lords/Ladies-** The second highest in the hierarchy. While not as powerful as the Kings and Queens, they prove themselves to be very competent when it comes to leadership and combat. Like the Kings and Queens, they do not form contracts very often with humans but are generally more amicable and friendly in comparison. Their job in the hierarchy to train the Knights and Jesters and to ensure that laws decreed by the Kings and Queens are upheld.

* **Dukes/Duchesses-** The middle of the hierarchy. Out of all the ranks in the Ars Goetia, the Dukes and Duchesses possess the highest amount of contracts with humans, due to their great interest and fondness of them. Their job is to gather and convert Wraiths into Knights and Jesters while also performing espionage and information gathering.

* **Barons/Baronesses-** The lowest ranking and generally consists of the younger, more inexperienced members in the Ars Goetia. The Barons and Baronesses are tasked with assisting the higher ranks with their objectives while also training their skills in combat and politics. Though they are lowest rank in the Ars Goetia, they are still considerably powerful.

* **Knights/Jesters-** An unofficial ranking in the hierarchy, usually used to refer to the servants. Knights and Jesters are normal Wraiths that have been converted via the power of the Ars Goetia upon dying in their pocket dimensions. Knights serve as bodyguards and meat shields of the Ars Goetia while the Jesters are meant to be the handmaidens and butlers. Though very weak compared to the Ars Goetia, they are considerably stronger than regular Wraiths.

## Powers & Abilities

As the Ars Goetia have been around for a long time, they are naturally far more powerful than regular Wraiths. They possess the same ability to feast upon negative emotions from humans like other Wraiths, but they can also harvest negative emotions from other Wraiths as well. Other abilities they have in common with other Wraiths include the ability to float/fly/levitate and ability to sense negative emotions. However, that is where the similarities end, as the Ars Goetia possess higher intelligence and self-awareness compared to their "cousins".

* **Variety-** Many members of the Ars Goetia, mainly the higher ranking ones, possess distinctive traits such as superior magic, higher endurance, intelligence, etc. Some members can even share the same power but to a different degree. For example, one member can control fire while another can raise the temperature of the surrounding area.

* **Contract & Wraithsketeer Forming-** All members of the Ars Goetia, except for the Knights/Jesters, are capable of forming contracts with humans. The contracted human would become a Wraithsketeer but will not suffer any damage to their mental stability or morality like they would with Contract Wraiths. Additionally, humans can have contracts with more than one Ars Goetia at a time. The only downside to the contract is that the resulting Wraithsketeer will have a shortened lifespan (by how much depends on the Wraith and the number of contracts) and they will feel much weaker in both body and mind in daylight.

* **Pocket Dimensions-** The last and most prominent power that the Ars Goetia possess (mainly those of the higher ranks) is the ability to create pocket dimensions in the Astral Realm. In these pocket dimensions, they are the absolute power and can make anything and everything they desire happen. By collecting negative emotions from both humans and Wraiths, the Ars Goetia are able to expand and strengthen these pocket dimensions, creating more space and new additions such as furnishing and plants and even adding wildlife.

## Gallery

Mask of Ars GoetiaLady NebirosDuke Amdusias
## Trivia

* The Ars Goetia are based on a group of demons of the same name from *The Lesser Key of Solomon*.
* In the Fansketeer universe, the Ars Goetia served as inspiration for the Ars Goetia in *The Lesser Key of Solomon*, with a few of the higher ranking members even participating in the grimoire's creation.