Urban Fantasy: On Demons, Part 2

Demons aren't the type of monster that should be used constantly or openly. What I mean by this is that they're (usually) not well suited to being a minion and a lot of their horror and advantages are lost if they just walk around shape shifted in the form of some red dude with horns. Now obviously they can and even will embrace such cartoonish forms of evil but there is a more complex reasoning to this. Last post was a bit too dark, so here's some ever so slightly more lighthearted matters.

As creatures of suffering, torment, corruption and general-purpose-dickery, Demons are notoriously smart and aware. One of their greatest trick is that they understand human nature, our history, our passions and our beliefs. Of course this all make too much sense if one see them as humanity's own dark reflection. Massive portions of demonic psychology can be dedicated to messing with people and leading them down the most destructive path.

Trickster-type demons are basically The Joker.
Any version of the Joker works, really.

This isn't to say every single Demon is like that. Not every single one of them is a trickster. That said, being able to manipulate people is certainly one of the demon strong suit. Raw displays of power, shooting fireballs and skinning people alive with telekinesis might be utterly terrifying but the damages it inflict upon humanity is comparatively low. Consider how much we became blasé after the most recent horrible act that shows up on the news. These things all blur into each others after a while, don't they? But personal suffering? Horrible events that cut deep to our core, our convictions and our very morality? That hurts. Forever.

Basic Demonic Powers

Demons share a lot of abilities with other Spirits in general and (usually) function under the same mechanics. A few key points to keep in mind:

• Demons in their natural form tend toward a Rank C or B in Materialization at best. As creatures of imperfection, corruption and general 'wrongness' they have a difficulty just walking around in their true form made material. Many demons, however, have means to reach a Rank of A when disguised as humans, even if these glamours are short-lived affairs (usually a Scene). There are other work around, such as possession (which is a good way to have a body but unless its brain-dead, there are ways for the person to fight from the inside) or creation of a vessel from filth or waste which is reshaped into a very convincing mimicry of a person.
• Demons, no matter their form, always have a flaw in their disguises. Ever heard of the term 'red right hand'? Its not always that obvious, even if some demons like the classics. Since Demons know they have a metaphysical weakness and imperfection which force them to have a flaw some savvy demons almost take it as a brand or statement. A missing finger, horrible scars somewhere on the body, reddish eyes hidden behind sunglasses, a subtle horrid smell are all classic examples but they're not as easily spotted as one might think. For those who take an unfamiliar form or who lack experience, this wrongness tend to manifest as a failure to properly mimic an individual or a specific look: a beautiful, desirable woman with yellow teeth or a copy of someone else who has a subtle cauliflower ear are examples. Of course some demons might willingly go all-out with glowing red eyes or bleeding black blood if it suit their agenda to be walking caricatures.

Finally, some Demons are immune to certain things. For one thing, most if not all demons lack the ability to recollect their specific origins, how they came to be and why they enact their suffering. Demons just...are.

Demonic Mantles - Tricks of Manipulation

Artist Unknown.

Not every single demon is a trickster, shapeshifter and manipulator but those encountered in human society, actively affecting things, are likely to be. A demon summoned by a warlock as a temporary servant or as a powerful patron or some way to imbue power can certainly act as a mighty monster that is a serious threat in combat but that's not where most demons excel. One major aspect of demonic manipulation is their mantle. Demons willingly shape and reshape their identities to suit their agenda and better blend in their locale. There are generally a few major angles they choose, some mutually exclusive:

• The Dark Muse: Some demons don't like to play their hands. Revealing their supernatural nature can break their slow mind-games and corruption which is better served through a mixture of mundane means and subtle mental manipulation. What they need is someone susceptible to something the Demon represent and slowly corrupt them. This is a trick which works well outside of religious places as it does not require them to play the supernatural angle.
• The False Prophet: The Demon assume the form of a major religious figure, either mortal or immortal. In the former case it will possess or replace a religious figure (note that this doesn't have to be an ordained priest or holy man of any kind, as anyone suitably devout with influence in a community can do just fine) or it will morph its shape to appear as some divine being, either a glowing Angel or perhaps the ghost of a Saint. Or maybe it will appear as an Alien, as this angle has grown in popularity among Demons from the 1980 onward with the rise of UFO hysteria and alien-related cults. The main advantage of this mantle is that inspire confidence and trust in the Demon.
• The True Demon: The opposite of the False Prophet, the True Demon embraces that it is a creature of evil and act like the open force of evil and spite that it is. These are your demons which enter the bodies of children and make them vomit and walk on walls or those who take the form of some dark stranger who push people to evil. These Demons tend to acquire a weakness to holy symbols of the faith it opposes. Now one would think this is such a major and obvious drawback that no Demon would ever willingly assume this mantle. This is wrong. Those who employ this tactic exploit the fear and hatred directed at them by true believers as well as often play upon the self-righteousness of believers. Some even go as far as to fake their destruction following an exorcism. Others still use this mantle to fuel paranoia and send people down a spiral of witch hunts: after all, isn't the best lie the one with a kernel of truth?
• The False God: A variation on both the False Prophet and True Demon is to completely forego picking the local dominant religion and deciding to play the third option. The Demon assumes the mantle of something unrelated to the major local religion and hijack the imagery of an unrelated deity or mythological figure, explaining it is true and not the dominant faith. Where it goes from there varies but particularly clever demons who learned some sorcerous tricks from elsewhere might have enough knowledge to initiate people into magic just enough to convince them. Any more powerful magic, however...now that requires delving into the dark arts. And that require sacrifices and mortals embracing a demonic nature.
• The Strawman: The non-religious equivalent to the True Demon mantle. The Demon embodies what the local community dislikes and use their hatred to grow stronger just as it grow its own power base from those who are marginal to that society. Every place in the world tend to have a general few major ideologies which dominate it, certain ways of life and thinking as well as those who do not fit in. It is oh so easy to give people what they want to hate, not realizing they feed the Demon. Sometimes the Demon doesn't even need to spew lies and nonsense!