All the powers of Hell

Choosing to play a demon is a mingled exercise of unfettered power, a blaze of pure emotion - no matter how spiteful, and a catharsis of the repressed thoughts that we keep restrained. Demons may be 'evil', but they also live, moment to moment, riding one emotional extreme into the next. Sensation is meat and drink, and some pleasures are paltry shadows compared to the rush a demon gains.

Make no mistake, most demons are incapable of remembering what they were like before they became demons. Most therefore are unrestrained, excessive, embodiments of the very vices and sins over which they have power, influence, and command. When considering your demon character, think of what they were like before they became demons, how much of that original personality is left? How much of it is gone? What finally broke the character? Not all demons are twisted and insane monstrosities, and all demons, at some point, choose to accept the change instead of enduring torment until their sins are expiated in the refiners fire.

Trafficking with the Living

Because demons must generally possess someone in order to interact with the living, and the material reality, consider the host your demon is controlling. Who were they? Were they powerful individuals, or weak souls? Were they accustomed to living well, or poorly? While the demon may possess the host utterly, the memories of the host are still in there, a resource which a clever demon can use to their advantage.

There are some demons which have had the same host for hundreds, maybe thousands of years and which continue to walk the world in modern times. Most of those that maintain a host for so long are usually the most subtle and the hardest to capture of the host of hell.

Being Evil

This subject has been touched on in other places(such as here), but deserves special mention as you consider how best to play your demon. Morality and ethics are often two different things that are often situational and dependent on who is observing or judging any given situation. For example, what is acceptable in wartime is usually unacceptable in peace time. When portraying your demon, please remember that different people share different sensitivities, boundaries, and things which upset them. Treat your fellow players respectfully and respect their limits.

Innate Demonic Powers

• Born of Flame - All kinds of demonic entities spend a considerable period of time enmeshed in the fires of the Pit. Natural fire does not harm demons and they are resistant to flame-based powers and abilities.
• Brimstone Trace - All demons leaves traces of sulfur on things they touch when they exert their powers.
• Demonic Omens - When demons escape from the Pit and venture into the mortal world, this event is preceded by freak electrical storms, wildfires, unexplained deaths of livestock, and other strange phenomenon. These omens can also occur in places the demon intends to visit. The stronger the demon, the stronger the omens are. Demons, by their very presence, can cause interference with electronics and lights, causing them to flicker as if caught in a power surge, or display static. The more powerful or angrier the demon is, the stronger this effect is.
• Possession - All demons require a human vessel or "meat suit" to travel on Earth and they do not need a person's consent in order to possess them. It is easier to take control of people who are in states of heightened emotions, fear, or mental instability. When possessing a human, the Demon invades their muscles, bones, and brains, and can also access the host's memories while possessing them (even if it is a brief possession). This ability can be thwarted by anti-possession tattoos, wards, and certain protection spells. Also under certain circumstances, the person being possessed can regain control if his or her will is strong enough. Typically the easiest way to drive out a demon is with an exorcism ritual, but other magics can sometimes achieve the same results.
• Reshape Host - Demons are capable of reshaping their host body in order to resemble a specific person. This can be their original host body, or merely a particular person that they find particularly pleasing on the eyes.
  • (OOC Note: This power exists to let demons maintain their claims in the event of exorcism or return to Hell, and is optional.)
• Supernatural Senses - Demons imbue their vessel with an enhanced sense of smell and taste, as well as the ability to see and recognize hidden supernatural activity and beings, such as Reapers, ghosts, the true appearance of other demons, the nature of what is possessing a host, spirits in astral form, and hellhounds. Demons also have an innate sense which allows them to feel when large quantities of supernatural energy such as through magic spells, angelic powers, or other demonic gifts, is being used. They can follow this feeling to its source with enough practice.
• Supernatural Strength - Demons imbue their vessel with supernatural physical strength exceeding that of vampires and lycans and are capable of subduing monsters and humans alike through strength alone. This strength increases the older the demon is and as the demon climbs through the ranks. The higher ranking the demon, the stronger it is. The highest ranking demons, which are typically the oldest, can overpower most types of angels, short of archangels.
• Telekinesis - This level of telekinesis is common to all demons who are capable of moving or otherwise exerting force on small to medium-sized targets, but usually only what they are can perceive with physical senses. Offensive and defensive uses including grabbing, pulling, lifting or knocking down a target from a distance, making them glide along the floor as they stand (usually towards the user so they can be physically attacked or restrained), pinning them onto walls and leaving them suspended against it, or sending them flying through the air a great distance.
• Innate Power (Red Eyed Demons Only) - Soul Pact -Crossroad Demons gain the power to warp reality on behalf of a client by making a Pact. The victim states what they want and agrees to the price of their soul in exchange. The demon uses the soul to reshape reality to confirm with the victim's desires and is capable of resurrecting people, granting powers, abilities, talents, or just about anything else the person may want. This is a negotiation and a contract. The client must be participating of their own free will, but like all contracts can be entered under duress. This agreement is binding on both parties. If the demon breaks the terms, then the person gets to keep the gift and the demon loses the soul. If the victim breaks the agreement, he forfeits life and soul alike. Most demon's include a period of time, with 10 years being favored, during which the client enjoys their bargained gift, but the length of time is another piece of the contract and can be negotiated.
• Innate Power (White Eyed Demons Only) - Resistance - White Eyed Demons gain the ability to endure Holy Water and Holy ground better than other demons. Holy water still burns, but not as badly. They can walk on holy ground, but suffer pain while they remain upon it. They are also resistant to weapons that specifically kill demons, suffering pain rather than instantaneous death when stabbed/bludgeoned with the weapon.
• Innate Power (Yellow Eyed Demons Only) - Immunity - Yellow Eyed Demons gain the ability to completely ignore the effects of holy water and can walk on holy ground without pain. They are not vulnerable to weapons specifically designed to kill demons, suffering neither pain, nor instantaneous death. Princes of Hell are also immune to standard exorcisms, most other types of exorcisms, or powers which drive a spirit from its host. Enochian exorcisms will continue to work.

Demonic Weaknesses

• Devil's Traps - A devil's trap is a sigil trap for a demon. Like salt or iron, demons can't escape once inside the trap. Any demon with the exception of Cain can easily walk into one, but can't get out unless the circle is broken, and they cannot use their powers nor break the circle directly while within it. Although able to trap demons and strip them of their powers, it does not take away their ability to cast spells.
• Holy Water - Holy water burns most demons that come into contact with it.
• The Word "Christo" - The pronunciation of this word makes nearby demons reveal their demonic eyes
• Exorcism - Demons can be exorcised and sent back to Hell using many forms of this ritual.
• Iron - Most demons are vulnerable to iron and contact with it burns their skin.
• Palo Santo - Holy Wood that effects demons in the same way as holy water. It is capable of harming and immobilizing even higher level black-eyed demons like the Seven Deadly Sins, while also making it easier for them to be exorcised
• Salt - Most demons are unable to cross a line of salt and could be harmed and tortured by it.
• Burning their Human Remains - Burning a demon's original human bones is capable of killing them, causing both the demon in question and their vessel to burn to ash.
• Angels - Angels are capable of overpowering and smiting most demons. Higher ones can kill even the oldest demons. It is unknown if regular Angels can kill Knights or Princes, although this seems unlikely, as angels have been overpowered in many confrontations with them.
• Hellhounds - Hellhounds could overpower and kill demons.
• High-tier Demons - Stronger demons can overpower or even smite lower demons.
• Demon Blooded Psychics - Demons are vulnerable to a demon-blooded psychics powers and could be killed by them
• Angel Blades - Angel blades are capable of killing most demons. Princes have shown to be immune to Angel Blades. It is unknown if they can harm the Knights and/or White-eyed Demons.
  • Angel-killing bullets - Bullets forged from melted-down angel blades are capable of killing demons.
  Archangel Blades - Archangel Blades are capable of killing regular demons even in the hands of regular humans and can kill even the Princes of Hell.
• Magic - Demons could be restrained and harmed by magic, and some spells have the proven ability to kill them.
• Demon-Killing Enchantment - Enchanters (see Magic Item Creation) are able to bestow certain weapons with the power to kill most demons.

Power Limits