Paradaemons

**Paradaemon** are spiritual entities without physical bodies- usually very negative and malicious in nature or intent. None have a defined physical appearance aside from what is common between them, blacked-out sclera. They are thought to come from a place known as **The Veil** in religious texts- described as an infinite purgatory that accepts none, their souls fractured with the long periods of time spent in such a hellish environment which leads to the creation of a **Paradaemon**.

The folklore behind Paradaemon labels them “Demons” or “Stalkers” of mortals, commonly giving them nightmares more and more often until their mentality breaks and they turn to what could be called a **crossroads deal**. Crossroads deals are blood pacts made between a mortal, and a Paradaemon, which allows a Paradaemon to occupy the vessel of a mortal- or so that’s what they tell most people when making the deal. The true nature of Paradaemons is to rob mortals of their lifeforce, Ethir. This is done after the deal is commenced- by completely and utterly destroying the previous soul, sending it into broken shards within the body. Its memories and prior life remain in its mind- however, the feelings are contorted, twisted into hatred and malice with no normal reason.

Paradaemons know no bounds of mutation once they have their hands on the body- sometimes extra limbs even sprout from the body, or it gains some sort of inhuman physical strength or speed with the possession. Effects are varied- and still, no research can be solidified as to how these effects are done- or cured. Some research suggests the only way to fix a Paradaemon is to kill it- while others suggest there have been apparent reactions between loved ones and possessed that show signs of hope to change. Ill-thought researchers have been led down a bloody path in findings to realize they only lurk their true forms out at night- and tend to stay out of the sunlight at all costs to avoid being simmered alive by the sun rays. Aside from their vulnerability to the sun, no other weaknesses have been noted directly. With many rumors, secrets, and closed doors keeping common folk from knowing the true tales behind these creatures, a superstition of traveling alone, or in small groups at night has been warned against by most large kingdoms and even small villages that border wildlands.

**OOC Guide to Paradaemons:**

Paradaemons lurk at night, they sense blood like sharks and have no difficulty after their first few victims- growing power with each victim. Approval should be written in a document, including the vessels short past biography and a short biography of who the Paradaemon might have been in their past life- which plays into their **power trait**.

Currently, Paradaemons all respond to a single entity, thought to be a king or dictator over their physical bodies through either spiritual or physical means. They have increased night vision, much like animals but superior to even some night predators. Their human forms will sometimes look sickly at the early stage- given no current name. As they grow stronger, their bodies become favored and tailored to their newfound power, growing in some way or another to befit their personality or power trait.

A **power trait** is wild magic that each Paradaemon is created with, a natural magic that strays from most normal fields to give some sort of specific and rather accustomed effect. A power trait cannot be used by a Paradaemon until they have consumed at least 10 people and will start out very weak in most cases (although when your approval to advance past the beginning stage is submitted, you may or may not be allowed to roleplay a slightly more powerful unlock depending on your characters document and roleplay logs). Paradaemons noticeably get slightly paler as they get comfortable in their new body due to the lack of sunlight, and veins may bulge around the muscles and eyes at night to signify the person in question is attempting to use their strengths as a Paradaemon- such as their inhuman speed and inhuman strength, x2-3 of the average human after beginning advancement is over (this must be specified with good reason, such as a lack of a power trait or a weaker power trait that was given due to their physical body being honed more than any other factors of modification or mutation).

**Crossroads deals** can be requested by players to staff, only because the normal form of a Paradaemon is staff only. However, it can also simply be put on your sheet as you make a character if you’d like. They are an influential and deciding factor of the story of your character as they decide a random array of details from their appearance to even their future power trait. It isn’t required of a staff member to join you or come to RP your interaction.