Post by Adramelech on Oct 28, 2011 18:18:19 GMT -5
Devils
Statistics
Average Height
Male: Variable
Female: Variable
Average Weight
Male: Variable
Female: Variable
Skin *OR* Fur Color(s): Variable
Eye Color Range: Variable
Age of Physical Maturity
Males: N/A
Females: N/A
Racial Langauge
Common
Undercommon
Celestial
Infernal
Standard Alignment Disposition Range
Lawful Evil (Common)
Lawful Neutral (Rare)
Standard Religion/Deities:
To devils, is not so much a religion as a perversion thereof. The only `religion` to a devil is how it can best serve to increase its own status. That is to say, they practice the religion of personal power. This does not, however, mean they are without guidance from those greater than themselves. The nine layers of hell each have a particular being ruling over them. While not gods, they do possess immeasurable power so long as they do not leave their particular region.
Deity List
King Minos - Judge of the damned. He sits before his great wheel in the first layer of hell. Those souls not condemned to merely limbo fall victim to his wheel as spun by his enormous tail. Sins are weighed accordingly, and that for which one is most guilty dictates their eternal home. Even Death itself bends knee to great King Minos, he who was ancient even as mankind entered into infancy. He holds power over Limbo itself as opposed to a particular element.
Lilith - Seducer of men and the first human woman. Her transgressions eventually landed her in hell, transformed by Lucifer's power into an adequate ruler for the second circle. All imperfections of man taken away, she is the very image of beauty... and of adultery. She reigns from a small platform high above the unending storm. She is probably the least powerful ruler in hell, but her purpose is not to wield supreme power; It is to tempt, staying forever beyond the reach of those souls damned for lustful behavior. She commands the power of the air.
Cerberus - Lord of the hellhounds and jailor of the damned in the third circle of the inferno. He wanders forever through a sea of the most vile substances imaginable (largely different human bodily excretions), devouring those he sees it and `depositing` them in another area of his realm. Cereberus is both gate and gate keeper, being the only way down to the next circle and capable of acting in his own defense.
Pluto - None really know which iteration of Pluto this is, for it chooses to remain largely unseen. Warden and lord of souls so infested with greed that they found themselves in the fourth circle, this being of immense power might not even be a devil at all. Out of sight and out of mind as they say, he is known to be a giant of epic proportions that never even so much as ventures beyond the walls of its citadel.
The Furies - Individually they hold little power, but the three siblings oversee the fifth circle of Hell. United as one, they possess power sufficient to rival that of any individual ruler of a circle, though requiring each other's aid has them often regarded as inferior. For this reason, they are as tormented by their own building anger as those they oversee.
The Heretic - A nameless (presumed) male, seen only as an elderly gentlemen in robes of the purest white. Those damned for heresy against their respective deity(deities) often find themselves in his care. And as they suffer for their sins, so too does he long to return to the world above. Whatever powers he might possess are irrelevent, for he refuses to share them with his underlings. For this reason, there is much dissention in his region of Hell.
The Minotaur - Regarded as a personification of violence by those dwelling in the depths. His involvement in day to day torture is non-existent, but that he commands the legions situated inside the seventh circle is itself enough to keep would-be nay sayers in line. Enormous, with the body of a man and head of a bull, his physical prowess and unbridled fury are legendary even amidst those giants that dwell below.
Geryon - The great serpent, with wings spanning a thousand feet across. The head of an honest man sits upon this beast's neck, forever lamenting awful actions that damned him to infernal plane. While not truly a ruler of hell, he is none the less respected and revered for both his sheer immensity and great wisdom. Geryon circles endlessly above the eighth circle, Malebolge.
Lucifer - The first among traitors: He who betrayed Him Most High, once hailed as a beacon of hope in his creator's lofty realm. It was he, the Morning Star, that once occupied a seat by Adonai and basked in holy radiance. Pride was his weakness however, and in time, it became all too evident. Into the abyss he was cast, with his descent splitting it into nine distinct levels. He now inhabits the ninth ring, imprisoned forever at the heart of a frozen wasteland, surrounded in turn by some of history's greatest traitors. He holds sway over the whole of Hell, commanding power unrivaled in the realms below. A savior to some, the world's enemy to most; Time's eternal march only serves to deepen the King of Nothing's suffering.
Physical Appearance: While varied, all devils do have a few things in common. At least one part of their body must possess scales or some other deformity, rendering them at best a cruel mockery of the beauty they once represented. Furthermore, your common devil will retain wings in at least some form. Older ones--the original fallen--aren't quite so fortunate. Their destroyed are as smoking stumps of burning flesh and bone.
Racial Innate Abilities
Physical Prowess: All devils possess some degree of superhuman strength. The weakest might be no stronger than a lycan, while the strongest could easily snap something so durable as adamantine in half like a twig. However, taking a host to enter the mortal world provides certain limitations. Their strength may not exceed twice that of a moderately aged vampire while inhabiting a host and even then, only while manifesting some small modicum of their true self in material form through the host. Similarly, they possess speed about on par with that of a reasonably aged vampire (or their angelic counterparts), which is to say they are several times faster (and more agile) than baseline humanity to begin with. It should also be noted that many injuries which would otherwise be lethal to a normal creature won't necessarily kill a devil. Depends entirely upon frequency, number, and severity of the aforementioned injuries, however. This same increase in survivability does extend to the physical shell in reduced fashion.
Enhanced Senses: As with most supernatural creatures, devils do possess a certain degree of play in their sensory perceptions. Smell, sight, and hearing are all heightened to some extent. Sight roughly 1.5 times greater than that of a human, while hearing is increased many times over. It would really be more akin to that of a lycanthrope.
Stoneskin: The more durable devils have flesh rivaling dense stone in terms of hardness. It may vary, but almost all of them possess some degree of superhuman durability.
(Note: A side effect seen in many devils with tougher bodily tissues is diminished sense of touch.)
Adept at Deception: Those with truesight will none the less be denied a glimpse of the devil's true nature. They will, however, be able to see runed shackles around their human host's wrists that constantly glow in resonation with one another. The symbolism is one of imprisonment--simultaneously one of binding. Otherwise, there is no real hint as to what the individual is (or what lurks just behind that mortal face, as the case likely will be) aside a wildly volatile and powerful aura. Individuals so perceptive as to `sense` paranormal activity might get a feeling of unease or something being horribly off with any host they encounter.
(Note: The devil's actual alignment is not hidden in the event that sort of spell is cast.)
Darkvison: 1/1: Devils, being from a realm where many corners never see light, have developed the ability to see perfectly without it. Unlike with many forms of this ability, its only discernable limitation is how far their own eyes can see.
(Note: Exposure to bright light while using this ability carries largely the same penalties as seen in drow. It is both exceedingly unpleasant and may render them temporarily blind. Unlike drow, the vision will eventually return.)
Hellfire Manipulation: 1/?: All devils possess some degree to generate and manipulate hellfire for a wide variety of abilities. The flame itself burns much hotter than most fires commonly associated with the mortal realm, as it is indeed meant to be an instrument of torture in its place of origin. Intensity and potential uses are dictated entirely by the length of time spent in channeling this most vile of forces. Many devils themselves consider this an ability which lets them tap into Lucifer's own energies, though whether or not it's true has yet to see proof.
(Note: Hellfire comes in many forms. It could be something so simple as a flash of bright orange light to a ball of molten material. For that matter, it could be focused into some sort of beam, though such an application would require a good deal of skill and concentration.)
Hellmouth: 2/?: The innate ability of devils to jump between two points utilizing his or her native dimension as a means of travel. Greater distance requires greater focus, as does bringing others along for the ride. Only those individuals so reckless as to go willingly may tag along through the dimensional aperture and in truth, seldom will they emerge unscathed on the other side.
Telepathy: 1/?: Allows the reading of surface thoughts by default, though with concentration a deeper measure of one's mettle can be taken. Their deepest desires, their fears.... Whether or not they're able to resist depends entirely upon willpower, not the number of preps used. Those only determine how deeply the reading can go. One possessed of a strong will could prevent entry all together, while another meager resolve might be an open book. May also be used to communicate words and images at will if the individual's mind is vulnerable or willingly opened. Far more effort may be required to transmit to those unwelcoming or resistant.
Shapeshifting: 2/?: The act of assuming any shape that is not inherent to a devil's chosen host body. Required concentration and energy increases with complexity. For example, completely mimicing the appearance of another person might be as much as 5/5, while just making up a new appearance would be of minimal difficulty.
Bloodpact: Not so much a spell that is cast as simply an agreement made. In return for something of the devil's choosing, an individual may request a specific task be performed. A devil entering in to a bloodpact may perform feats that might qualify as a miracle in some circles. This may include, but is not limited to; transmutation, bringing back the dead, imparting a certain degree of power to an individual, or altering memories of a person or persons. Obviously, there is a limit to what can be accomplished with what is made available in the physical world. What it boils down to is this: If playing as a devil, don't make bloodpacts your character literally has no possible way of fulfilling. Failing to fulfill a bloodpact results in the devil owing said mortal a single favor of their choosing, but success? Success damns the individual responsible for making the pact to an eternity of unspeakable agony.
(Note: There are certain OOC stipulations with a bloodpact as well. Anything that involves other player characters will first require their consent in order to proceed. Restoration of life to a dead character will require that it first remain dead for a minimum of three weeks. Another important thing to realize is that the character responsible for making the pact is NOT to be collected from straight away. Devils have all the time in the world to wait. ... And really, doesn't watching their growing fear as they approach the end make it all the sweeter? There is one other important stipulation; An individual wishing for a life extension won't get a second chance. The laws preventing a devil from slaying them do not apply once the pact is made. It is likely to take from the person to whom they've fulfilled their end of the bargain their life.)
Racial Weaknessess
True Faith: An individual possessing of both true faith and sufficient will may be able to take certain liberties with a creature such as this. While they cannot outright force it to reveal its true name, it is possible to issue a few different commands. Among those, forcing it to reveal its true form is actually permissable though requires a bit of work.
Holy Symbols: As with any unholy creature, the symbols of certain deities may be used as a deterrant against a devil's presence. While not inherently a frightful experience, it goes without saying that they'll not be pulling somebody's head off if this object is held by one possessing true faith in whatever entity it represents. Items symbolizing neutral or darker forces will have no impact whatsoever, no matter the holder's faith.
Sorcery: There are those amongst sorcerous circles with knowledge on how to bind and control infernal beings. The true name, while not required for the summoning, will be necessary to create more than a fleeting sense of control. The act of binding a devil into service requires that something of great personal worth be sacrificed -- not just any old item. An alternative is to enter into a contract with the summoned entity. No sacrifice is required for the latter, but the devil may refuse a contract if it is not found to be adequate.
(Note: A devil will uphold any contract to which they've signed to the letter. Its spirit is lost on them, however, and it's likely they will carry out the task as they see fit unless very precise details are given.)
True Name: A person with access to a devil's true name may bind it into service for no longer than a year. They may not command the devil to kill itself, kill another, or reveal the celestial war to outsiders. Actions taken while under the true name's compulsion will not be punished if they are of good alignment, though it is likely the person forcing the devil into such
Divine Weaponry: ... Pretty obvious, wouldn't one thing? Weapons so imbued with divine power are particularly effective, doing for devils what silver would a were creature. In this case it is not so much allergy as downright intolerance.
Shapeshifting Limitations: Generally speaking, devils are very limited in possible shapes. They must be humanoid, they must be be of an existing race that does possess a soul, and they must not belong to any soul that has since risen to paradise.
Unholy Charge: Knowingly taking actions of a benevolent nature without some sort of underlying malevolent cause may (and probably will) result in punishment from a higher power. It may range from something so simple as excruciating pain to being all but stripped of one's powers until proper penance (doing something really awful) is made.
Racial Lore
Act I:: A Beautiful Life
Long ago in a time well before man ever walked the earth, there was a realm of pure paradise. All sang the praises of Adonai unto the heavens themselves without regard for the self, for there was no need. A joy amongst joys reigned during this time of great peace. For time immemorial did the very angels themselves know nothing of pain, suffering, deceit, or what have you. Their lives wereas near to perfect as had ever been; free of vice, they basked in the light of Adonai. One amongst them was permitted that which no other had until that point; a seat beside the Father. He above all others bathed in his creator's love and affections as any favored son would, coming to believe it would always be so. This showering of affection instilled in him the first vice their world had ever seen; pride. No other was treated so well as the favored son and in time, he would become known amongst his peers as the Lightbringer.
Act II: Trouble in Paradise
All remained well for the longest of times, but then... then the new baby came home. The first human beings appeared and with them, did Adonai's gaze turn below to their well being. Jealousy brewed within the Morning Star. At first he couldn't recognize it, but time brought to his attention exactly what had become of him; he was no longer the favorite. No one could believe their Lord and master would ask them to bend knee to inferior dullards, but that was precisely the case. For this reason, a third of the heavenly host took up arms against their own brothers in all out war. The Lightbringer at the helm, it would rage for what seemed like eons before the inevitable conclusion; an irrevocable parting of ways. The bitter taste of defeat was worsened still by His light denied and down did they go. First was their leader, whose own descent shattered the lower planes into nine distinct levels. Shortly thereafter came countless others that had been swayed by his words down the path to damnation, each being deposited at a random location within their new hime and eternal prison. There they would reside until the end of forever...
Act III: The Fallen Unite
Beaten and badly injured, the old Morning Star came down in Lake Cocytus with surprising force. Shattered to pieces, Hell itself was quickly restructured into its present state due in no small part to Lucifer's wish; a realm of torment befitting one who had turned his back on his own Father. Conflicting emotions cast aside, he set about building his empire. The strongest and most worthy followers came to rule the eight circles above Lake Cocytus, with they in turn being permitted to choose three dukes for each circle. The dukes, they began to choose archdevils that would serve under them. Thus was the infernal hierarchy born, its purpose decided in that same span of time. The lords and dukes met with their master one final time in the frozen depths to determine a course of action; vengeance. King Minos' voice boomed from the back of the ranks, demanding that both penance must be made by those who so damned them. The meeting went on as any discussion of important business would.
Act IV: Forging the Pact
Unbenownced to all but the highest ranking of devils, it was decided to make contact with their hypocritical creator one final time before the gates fully closed. With much displeasure did Lucifer reach out for the master; that familiar voice ringing even above the choir of seraphim standing eternally by His throne. Great Adonai agreed that a system based soley on willing compliance was both shortsighted and flawed. With their well being in mind, He agreed to Hell becoming the final resting place of all those individuals so unfortunate as to go unabsolved of slights against Him. Lucifer, lord of his own prison, was granted free reign to do as he saw fit with the condemned masses. The ordering of Hell's purpose at last became apparent to its many denizens not as of yet aware; energy, power.... as each soul is tormented, it would be their task to harvest what power they could from the process for use of their dark master.
Racial Society
The Infernal Hierarchy
The Lightbringer: Lucifer himself, history's greatest traitor and simultaneously the greatest of the devils. It is by his grace alone that they might subsist--that those beneath him in rank might command the immense power they do in their individual realms.
The Eight Lords of Perdition: Rulers of the eight circles above Lake Cocytus, they command supreme power in their respective domains. For this reason, all those beneath them both fear and revere that which Lucifer has freely given.
The Dukes of Hell: These individuals directly serve the eight lords, acting in their stead to ensure souls under their `care` remain well taken care of. Generally, they will have a fair chunk of their respective patron's own domain in which they can exert influence similar to that which a lord may have over the entire circle.
Archdevils: Very similar to dukes in intention and purpose, only with a much smaller plot of land to call their own. They must bend knee to lord and duke alike, though command similar attributes in their small little hovels (which may actually be massive by human standards). Theirs is a more specialized lot, in that they are often assigned souls struck from a particular mold, that they might break them to fuel the great wheel.
Devils: Commoners, foot soldiers, little more than cogs in the devil war machine. It is them that carry out the day to day activities required, while their masters sit fat and happy upon their thrones of sin.
Imps: Somewhere between the devil and the lesser devil in terms of overall strength. They possess slightly greater abilites than a lesser devil while paling in comparison to the real thing. More importantly, they far exceed lesser devils in terms of intellect. Adept at trickery; it is quite common for them to escape into the mortal world unnoticed by either side due to their lack of any real power. Imps are mischevious as they are smart, capable of finding nearly any loophole in any document placed before them in a matter of moments; their knowledge of law is absolute, so much so that it takes mere minutes for them to learn the laws of other realms when given access to proper documentation.
Imps (Physical Traits): Imps generally stand between one and three feet in height and may or may not have wings. Traits that all share are a bladed tail (or a scorpion-esque stinger), a paralytic toxin in the saliva (may also be injected through the tail in the case of it being like a scorpion's), scale covered bodies, tiny horns, and hooked talons. Their teeth are often jagged and very, very sharp.
Lesser Devils: These unfortunate fellows lack the brawn of their larger brethren. On the bright side? They make up for it with raw intelligence. Few in number, lesser devils are most often seen acting as book keepers for other devils.
Half-Devils: A mix of monster and man, as they say. Their ranking within devil society is so absurdly low that they're hardly even valued above the lost souls they've trapped in their web of lies.
(Note: There will be a write up for half-devils coming at a later date.)
Laws of the Mortal Flame
1.) No devil so chosen to enter the mortal realm through the flesh of its own children may make an unprovoked, direct attack upon any living man or woman. Violation of this law will be met with immediate and extreme action on the part of the Morning Star.
2.) The taking of a mortal life, even in self-defense, is not permissable under all but the most extreme conditions. Even mortals so capable of striking directly at the essence or brandishing weapons of courteous blessing should not be struck down unless a devil's life and/or mission are placed in significant danger.
3.) Devils may not unveil their true form while in the presence of anyone as of yet unaware of the unending war. See the above two laws for circumstances under which reveleation of one's real self might be permissable.
4.) No devil, regardless of personal standing, may enter the material world without first assuming possession of a host body. This is as much for the devil's protection as it is preservation of public ignorance.
5.) No creature of the lower planes beyond the standing rank of archdevil may manifest itself in the world beyond under any circumstances. This is not just a law of Hell; It is a law of the universe at large, one which even the strongest amongst them does not yet possess power enough to defy.
6.) All devils to enter the material plane must, to the best of their ability, conceal their true nature for as long as possible. They are there to win souls, not reveal a war that's remained in the shadows for time immemorial.
7.) All blood pacts must be upheld to the best of the involved devil's ability. If the task proves impossible, they are not held responsible. Being unsuccessful in a pact within one's means, however, renders the individual subject to their mortal `employer's` whims for exactly one week. Infernal law may not be broken by command of a mortal, however.
Laws of the Holy Flame
1.) Under no circumstances may any devil directly assault a being of the upper planes without having first been sufficiently provoked in one of several ways. The offending party must physically strike, directly involve themselves in the devil's business on more than one occasion, or otherwise be a thorn in one's side for an extended period of time. Petty offenses such as being rude or otherwise prickish do not indemnify a devil from repraisal in the event that any such creature is attacked without due cause. Violation of this precept carries astoundingly high penalties. The offending devil will be immediately torn from their host body and plunged back to the Inferno's heart, whereupon they shall become subject to Hell's `red delights` for a period no shorter than one (real time) week. More severe or continued violations will increase the length of time taken for proper penance.
2.) A devil may not directly reveal the identity of any entity of the upper planes wishing to hide who and/or what they are from the public eye.
3.) It is not permissable to enter into a blood pact with any being of the upper planes through means of spoken lies. The individual entity must be allowed to make the decision without having been directly badgered into doing so.
(Note: This does not mean they must be made ICly aware of the consequences. Their ignorance is to your benefit.)
4.) Knowingly breaking any of the aforementioned laws is considered direct defiance of Lucifer, and will therefore result in immediate and terrible vengeance wrought upon those so guilty.
Laws of the Infernal Flame
1.) The purpose of every devil is the harvesting and/or torment of souls. Those so caught going against their basic function--that is to say, ceasing to be malevolent--will be wholly stripped of their power until such a time as penance is made.
2.) No being of the lower planes greater in status than lesser devil may enter into the mortal world without prior authorization of their reigning archdevil or duke, respectively. Attempts to do so are doomed to failure from the very beginning. More importantly, punishment for doing so is being stripped of all one's innate abilities and imprisoned in a mortal shell until such time as they win five souls for the dark kingdom.
3.) Being caught standing in direct opposition to a devil of superior rank entitles that individual to enact swift and terrible punishment of their choosing. Even the smallest act of defiance may be taken as due cause for repraisal.
4.) Engaging in benevolent behavior is permitted only when done so for a malicious purpose. Each benevolent act taken without proper cause will result in a small decrease in power, one which will not be reversed until such time as every `good` action is made amends for. Making amends is as simple as engaging in malicious activities. Numbers required and severity of required activities will depend entirely upon the scope of witnessed benevolence.
5.) The extraction of energies from a soul sentenced to Hell is only to be performed by a devil of appropriate standing. Those without the proper authorization will be summarily and permanently destroyed for their transgression.
6.) The purpose of torturing souls is not only one of punishment. From their suffering do the devils gain power. Devils on the individual level are not permitted to extract more than a miniscule amount from their victims. Most--if not almost all--of the mystical force taken from near every soul in Hell is guided directly to the Morning Star, that he might become empowered and one day break free of bondage. Archdevils, dukes, and the various lords may tap into this power whenever it is deemed appropriate, but the amount available varies depending upon rank.
7.) All of the above laws as seen in each category are considered the word of Lucifer himself. Any so foolish as to be caught breaking them risk the ultimate punishment at his discretion.
Statistics
Average Height
Male: Variable
Female: Variable
Average Weight
Male: Variable
Female: Variable
Skin *OR* Fur Color(s): Variable
Eye Color Range: Variable
Age of Physical Maturity
Males: N/A
Females: N/A
Racial Langauge
Common
Undercommon
Celestial
Infernal
Standard Alignment Disposition Range
Lawful Evil (Common)
Lawful Neutral (Rare)
Standard Religion/Deities:
To devils, is not so much a religion as a perversion thereof. The only `religion` to a devil is how it can best serve to increase its own status. That is to say, they practice the religion of personal power. This does not, however, mean they are without guidance from those greater than themselves. The nine layers of hell each have a particular being ruling over them. While not gods, they do possess immeasurable power so long as they do not leave their particular region.
Deity List
King Minos - Judge of the damned. He sits before his great wheel in the first layer of hell. Those souls not condemned to merely limbo fall victim to his wheel as spun by his enormous tail. Sins are weighed accordingly, and that for which one is most guilty dictates their eternal home. Even Death itself bends knee to great King Minos, he who was ancient even as mankind entered into infancy. He holds power over Limbo itself as opposed to a particular element.
Lilith - Seducer of men and the first human woman. Her transgressions eventually landed her in hell, transformed by Lucifer's power into an adequate ruler for the second circle. All imperfections of man taken away, she is the very image of beauty... and of adultery. She reigns from a small platform high above the unending storm. She is probably the least powerful ruler in hell, but her purpose is not to wield supreme power; It is to tempt, staying forever beyond the reach of those souls damned for lustful behavior. She commands the power of the air.
Cerberus - Lord of the hellhounds and jailor of the damned in the third circle of the inferno. He wanders forever through a sea of the most vile substances imaginable (largely different human bodily excretions), devouring those he sees it and `depositing` them in another area of his realm. Cereberus is both gate and gate keeper, being the only way down to the next circle and capable of acting in his own defense.
Pluto - None really know which iteration of Pluto this is, for it chooses to remain largely unseen. Warden and lord of souls so infested with greed that they found themselves in the fourth circle, this being of immense power might not even be a devil at all. Out of sight and out of mind as they say, he is known to be a giant of epic proportions that never even so much as ventures beyond the walls of its citadel.
The Furies - Individually they hold little power, but the three siblings oversee the fifth circle of Hell. United as one, they possess power sufficient to rival that of any individual ruler of a circle, though requiring each other's aid has them often regarded as inferior. For this reason, they are as tormented by their own building anger as those they oversee.
The Heretic - A nameless (presumed) male, seen only as an elderly gentlemen in robes of the purest white. Those damned for heresy against their respective deity(deities) often find themselves in his care. And as they suffer for their sins, so too does he long to return to the world above. Whatever powers he might possess are irrelevent, for he refuses to share them with his underlings. For this reason, there is much dissention in his region of Hell.
The Minotaur - Regarded as a personification of violence by those dwelling in the depths. His involvement in day to day torture is non-existent, but that he commands the legions situated inside the seventh circle is itself enough to keep would-be nay sayers in line. Enormous, with the body of a man and head of a bull, his physical prowess and unbridled fury are legendary even amidst those giants that dwell below.
Geryon - The great serpent, with wings spanning a thousand feet across. The head of an honest man sits upon this beast's neck, forever lamenting awful actions that damned him to infernal plane. While not truly a ruler of hell, he is none the less respected and revered for both his sheer immensity and great wisdom. Geryon circles endlessly above the eighth circle, Malebolge.
Lucifer - The first among traitors: He who betrayed Him Most High, once hailed as a beacon of hope in his creator's lofty realm. It was he, the Morning Star, that once occupied a seat by Adonai and basked in holy radiance. Pride was his weakness however, and in time, it became all too evident. Into the abyss he was cast, with his descent splitting it into nine distinct levels. He now inhabits the ninth ring, imprisoned forever at the heart of a frozen wasteland, surrounded in turn by some of history's greatest traitors. He holds sway over the whole of Hell, commanding power unrivaled in the realms below. A savior to some, the world's enemy to most; Time's eternal march only serves to deepen the King of Nothing's suffering.
Physical Appearance: While varied, all devils do have a few things in common. At least one part of their body must possess scales or some other deformity, rendering them at best a cruel mockery of the beauty they once represented. Furthermore, your common devil will retain wings in at least some form. Older ones--the original fallen--aren't quite so fortunate. Their destroyed are as smoking stumps of burning flesh and bone.
Racial Innate Abilities
Physical Prowess: All devils possess some degree of superhuman strength. The weakest might be no stronger than a lycan, while the strongest could easily snap something so durable as adamantine in half like a twig. However, taking a host to enter the mortal world provides certain limitations. Their strength may not exceed twice that of a moderately aged vampire while inhabiting a host and even then, only while manifesting some small modicum of their true self in material form through the host. Similarly, they possess speed about on par with that of a reasonably aged vampire (or their angelic counterparts), which is to say they are several times faster (and more agile) than baseline humanity to begin with. It should also be noted that many injuries which would otherwise be lethal to a normal creature won't necessarily kill a devil. Depends entirely upon frequency, number, and severity of the aforementioned injuries, however. This same increase in survivability does extend to the physical shell in reduced fashion.
Enhanced Senses: As with most supernatural creatures, devils do possess a certain degree of play in their sensory perceptions. Smell, sight, and hearing are all heightened to some extent. Sight roughly 1.5 times greater than that of a human, while hearing is increased many times over. It would really be more akin to that of a lycanthrope.
Stoneskin: The more durable devils have flesh rivaling dense stone in terms of hardness. It may vary, but almost all of them possess some degree of superhuman durability.
(Note: A side effect seen in many devils with tougher bodily tissues is diminished sense of touch.)
Adept at Deception: Those with truesight will none the less be denied a glimpse of the devil's true nature. They will, however, be able to see runed shackles around their human host's wrists that constantly glow in resonation with one another. The symbolism is one of imprisonment--simultaneously one of binding. Otherwise, there is no real hint as to what the individual is (or what lurks just behind that mortal face, as the case likely will be) aside a wildly volatile and powerful aura. Individuals so perceptive as to `sense` paranormal activity might get a feeling of unease or something being horribly off with any host they encounter.
(Note: The devil's actual alignment is not hidden in the event that sort of spell is cast.)
Darkvison: 1/1: Devils, being from a realm where many corners never see light, have developed the ability to see perfectly without it. Unlike with many forms of this ability, its only discernable limitation is how far their own eyes can see.
(Note: Exposure to bright light while using this ability carries largely the same penalties as seen in drow. It is both exceedingly unpleasant and may render them temporarily blind. Unlike drow, the vision will eventually return.)
Hellfire Manipulation: 1/?: All devils possess some degree to generate and manipulate hellfire for a wide variety of abilities. The flame itself burns much hotter than most fires commonly associated with the mortal realm, as it is indeed meant to be an instrument of torture in its place of origin. Intensity and potential uses are dictated entirely by the length of time spent in channeling this most vile of forces. Many devils themselves consider this an ability which lets them tap into Lucifer's own energies, though whether or not it's true has yet to see proof.
(Note: Hellfire comes in many forms. It could be something so simple as a flash of bright orange light to a ball of molten material. For that matter, it could be focused into some sort of beam, though such an application would require a good deal of skill and concentration.)
Hellmouth: 2/?: The innate ability of devils to jump between two points utilizing his or her native dimension as a means of travel. Greater distance requires greater focus, as does bringing others along for the ride. Only those individuals so reckless as to go willingly may tag along through the dimensional aperture and in truth, seldom will they emerge unscathed on the other side.
Telepathy: 1/?: Allows the reading of surface thoughts by default, though with concentration a deeper measure of one's mettle can be taken. Their deepest desires, their fears.... Whether or not they're able to resist depends entirely upon willpower, not the number of preps used. Those only determine how deeply the reading can go. One possessed of a strong will could prevent entry all together, while another meager resolve might be an open book. May also be used to communicate words and images at will if the individual's mind is vulnerable or willingly opened. Far more effort may be required to transmit to those unwelcoming or resistant.
Shapeshifting: 2/?: The act of assuming any shape that is not inherent to a devil's chosen host body. Required concentration and energy increases with complexity. For example, completely mimicing the appearance of another person might be as much as 5/5, while just making up a new appearance would be of minimal difficulty.
Bloodpact: Not so much a spell that is cast as simply an agreement made. In return for something of the devil's choosing, an individual may request a specific task be performed. A devil entering in to a bloodpact may perform feats that might qualify as a miracle in some circles. This may include, but is not limited to; transmutation, bringing back the dead, imparting a certain degree of power to an individual, or altering memories of a person or persons. Obviously, there is a limit to what can be accomplished with what is made available in the physical world. What it boils down to is this: If playing as a devil, don't make bloodpacts your character literally has no possible way of fulfilling. Failing to fulfill a bloodpact results in the devil owing said mortal a single favor of their choosing, but success? Success damns the individual responsible for making the pact to an eternity of unspeakable agony.
(Note: There are certain OOC stipulations with a bloodpact as well. Anything that involves other player characters will first require their consent in order to proceed. Restoration of life to a dead character will require that it first remain dead for a minimum of three weeks. Another important thing to realize is that the character responsible for making the pact is NOT to be collected from straight away. Devils have all the time in the world to wait. ... And really, doesn't watching their growing fear as they approach the end make it all the sweeter? There is one other important stipulation; An individual wishing for a life extension won't get a second chance. The laws preventing a devil from slaying them do not apply once the pact is made. It is likely to take from the person to whom they've fulfilled their end of the bargain their life.)
Racial Weaknessess
True Faith: An individual possessing of both true faith and sufficient will may be able to take certain liberties with a creature such as this. While they cannot outright force it to reveal its true name, it is possible to issue a few different commands. Among those, forcing it to reveal its true form is actually permissable though requires a bit of work.
Holy Symbols: As with any unholy creature, the symbols of certain deities may be used as a deterrant against a devil's presence. While not inherently a frightful experience, it goes without saying that they'll not be pulling somebody's head off if this object is held by one possessing true faith in whatever entity it represents. Items symbolizing neutral or darker forces will have no impact whatsoever, no matter the holder's faith.
Sorcery: There are those amongst sorcerous circles with knowledge on how to bind and control infernal beings. The true name, while not required for the summoning, will be necessary to create more than a fleeting sense of control. The act of binding a devil into service requires that something of great personal worth be sacrificed -- not just any old item. An alternative is to enter into a contract with the summoned entity. No sacrifice is required for the latter, but the devil may refuse a contract if it is not found to be adequate.
(Note: A devil will uphold any contract to which they've signed to the letter. Its spirit is lost on them, however, and it's likely they will carry out the task as they see fit unless very precise details are given.)
True Name: A person with access to a devil's true name may bind it into service for no longer than a year. They may not command the devil to kill itself, kill another, or reveal the celestial war to outsiders. Actions taken while under the true name's compulsion will not be punished if they are of good alignment, though it is likely the person forcing the devil into such
Divine Weaponry: ... Pretty obvious, wouldn't one thing? Weapons so imbued with divine power are particularly effective, doing for devils what silver would a were creature. In this case it is not so much allergy as downright intolerance.
Shapeshifting Limitations: Generally speaking, devils are very limited in possible shapes. They must be humanoid, they must be be of an existing race that does possess a soul, and they must not belong to any soul that has since risen to paradise.
Unholy Charge: Knowingly taking actions of a benevolent nature without some sort of underlying malevolent cause may (and probably will) result in punishment from a higher power. It may range from something so simple as excruciating pain to being all but stripped of one's powers until proper penance (doing something really awful) is made.
Racial Lore
Act I:: A Beautiful Life
Long ago in a time well before man ever walked the earth, there was a realm of pure paradise. All sang the praises of Adonai unto the heavens themselves without regard for the self, for there was no need. A joy amongst joys reigned during this time of great peace. For time immemorial did the very angels themselves know nothing of pain, suffering, deceit, or what have you. Their lives wereas near to perfect as had ever been; free of vice, they basked in the light of Adonai. One amongst them was permitted that which no other had until that point; a seat beside the Father. He above all others bathed in his creator's love and affections as any favored son would, coming to believe it would always be so. This showering of affection instilled in him the first vice their world had ever seen; pride. No other was treated so well as the favored son and in time, he would become known amongst his peers as the Lightbringer.
Act II: Trouble in Paradise
All remained well for the longest of times, but then... then the new baby came home. The first human beings appeared and with them, did Adonai's gaze turn below to their well being. Jealousy brewed within the Morning Star. At first he couldn't recognize it, but time brought to his attention exactly what had become of him; he was no longer the favorite. No one could believe their Lord and master would ask them to bend knee to inferior dullards, but that was precisely the case. For this reason, a third of the heavenly host took up arms against their own brothers in all out war. The Lightbringer at the helm, it would rage for what seemed like eons before the inevitable conclusion; an irrevocable parting of ways. The bitter taste of defeat was worsened still by His light denied and down did they go. First was their leader, whose own descent shattered the lower planes into nine distinct levels. Shortly thereafter came countless others that had been swayed by his words down the path to damnation, each being deposited at a random location within their new hime and eternal prison. There they would reside until the end of forever...
Act III: The Fallen Unite
Beaten and badly injured, the old Morning Star came down in Lake Cocytus with surprising force. Shattered to pieces, Hell itself was quickly restructured into its present state due in no small part to Lucifer's wish; a realm of torment befitting one who had turned his back on his own Father. Conflicting emotions cast aside, he set about building his empire. The strongest and most worthy followers came to rule the eight circles above Lake Cocytus, with they in turn being permitted to choose three dukes for each circle. The dukes, they began to choose archdevils that would serve under them. Thus was the infernal hierarchy born, its purpose decided in that same span of time. The lords and dukes met with their master one final time in the frozen depths to determine a course of action; vengeance. King Minos' voice boomed from the back of the ranks, demanding that both penance must be made by those who so damned them. The meeting went on as any discussion of important business would.
Act IV: Forging the Pact
Unbenownced to all but the highest ranking of devils, it was decided to make contact with their hypocritical creator one final time before the gates fully closed. With much displeasure did Lucifer reach out for the master; that familiar voice ringing even above the choir of seraphim standing eternally by His throne. Great Adonai agreed that a system based soley on willing compliance was both shortsighted and flawed. With their well being in mind, He agreed to Hell becoming the final resting place of all those individuals so unfortunate as to go unabsolved of slights against Him. Lucifer, lord of his own prison, was granted free reign to do as he saw fit with the condemned masses. The ordering of Hell's purpose at last became apparent to its many denizens not as of yet aware; energy, power.... as each soul is tormented, it would be their task to harvest what power they could from the process for use of their dark master.
Racial Society
The Infernal Hierarchy
The Lightbringer: Lucifer himself, history's greatest traitor and simultaneously the greatest of the devils. It is by his grace alone that they might subsist--that those beneath him in rank might command the immense power they do in their individual realms.
The Eight Lords of Perdition: Rulers of the eight circles above Lake Cocytus, they command supreme power in their respective domains. For this reason, all those beneath them both fear and revere that which Lucifer has freely given.
The Dukes of Hell: These individuals directly serve the eight lords, acting in their stead to ensure souls under their `care` remain well taken care of. Generally, they will have a fair chunk of their respective patron's own domain in which they can exert influence similar to that which a lord may have over the entire circle.
Archdevils: Very similar to dukes in intention and purpose, only with a much smaller plot of land to call their own. They must bend knee to lord and duke alike, though command similar attributes in their small little hovels (which may actually be massive by human standards). Theirs is a more specialized lot, in that they are often assigned souls struck from a particular mold, that they might break them to fuel the great wheel.
Devils: Commoners, foot soldiers, little more than cogs in the devil war machine. It is them that carry out the day to day activities required, while their masters sit fat and happy upon their thrones of sin.
Imps: Somewhere between the devil and the lesser devil in terms of overall strength. They possess slightly greater abilites than a lesser devil while paling in comparison to the real thing. More importantly, they far exceed lesser devils in terms of intellect. Adept at trickery; it is quite common for them to escape into the mortal world unnoticed by either side due to their lack of any real power. Imps are mischevious as they are smart, capable of finding nearly any loophole in any document placed before them in a matter of moments; their knowledge of law is absolute, so much so that it takes mere minutes for them to learn the laws of other realms when given access to proper documentation.
Imps (Physical Traits): Imps generally stand between one and three feet in height and may or may not have wings. Traits that all share are a bladed tail (or a scorpion-esque stinger), a paralytic toxin in the saliva (may also be injected through the tail in the case of it being like a scorpion's), scale covered bodies, tiny horns, and hooked talons. Their teeth are often jagged and very, very sharp.
Lesser Devils: These unfortunate fellows lack the brawn of their larger brethren. On the bright side? They make up for it with raw intelligence. Few in number, lesser devils are most often seen acting as book keepers for other devils.
Half-Devils: A mix of monster and man, as they say. Their ranking within devil society is so absurdly low that they're hardly even valued above the lost souls they've trapped in their web of lies.
(Note: There will be a write up for half-devils coming at a later date.)
Laws of the Mortal Flame
1.) No devil so chosen to enter the mortal realm through the flesh of its own children may make an unprovoked, direct attack upon any living man or woman. Violation of this law will be met with immediate and extreme action on the part of the Morning Star.
2.) The taking of a mortal life, even in self-defense, is not permissable under all but the most extreme conditions. Even mortals so capable of striking directly at the essence or brandishing weapons of courteous blessing should not be struck down unless a devil's life and/or mission are placed in significant danger.
3.) Devils may not unveil their true form while in the presence of anyone as of yet unaware of the unending war. See the above two laws for circumstances under which reveleation of one's real self might be permissable.
4.) No devil, regardless of personal standing, may enter the material world without first assuming possession of a host body. This is as much for the devil's protection as it is preservation of public ignorance.
5.) No creature of the lower planes beyond the standing rank of archdevil may manifest itself in the world beyond under any circumstances. This is not just a law of Hell; It is a law of the universe at large, one which even the strongest amongst them does not yet possess power enough to defy.
6.) All devils to enter the material plane must, to the best of their ability, conceal their true nature for as long as possible. They are there to win souls, not reveal a war that's remained in the shadows for time immemorial.
7.) All blood pacts must be upheld to the best of the involved devil's ability. If the task proves impossible, they are not held responsible. Being unsuccessful in a pact within one's means, however, renders the individual subject to their mortal `employer's` whims for exactly one week. Infernal law may not be broken by command of a mortal, however.
Laws of the Holy Flame
1.) Under no circumstances may any devil directly assault a being of the upper planes without having first been sufficiently provoked in one of several ways. The offending party must physically strike, directly involve themselves in the devil's business on more than one occasion, or otherwise be a thorn in one's side for an extended period of time. Petty offenses such as being rude or otherwise prickish do not indemnify a devil from repraisal in the event that any such creature is attacked without due cause. Violation of this precept carries astoundingly high penalties. The offending devil will be immediately torn from their host body and plunged back to the Inferno's heart, whereupon they shall become subject to Hell's `red delights` for a period no shorter than one (real time) week. More severe or continued violations will increase the length of time taken for proper penance.
2.) A devil may not directly reveal the identity of any entity of the upper planes wishing to hide who and/or what they are from the public eye.
3.) It is not permissable to enter into a blood pact with any being of the upper planes through means of spoken lies. The individual entity must be allowed to make the decision without having been directly badgered into doing so.
(Note: This does not mean they must be made ICly aware of the consequences. Their ignorance is to your benefit.)
4.) Knowingly breaking any of the aforementioned laws is considered direct defiance of Lucifer, and will therefore result in immediate and terrible vengeance wrought upon those so guilty.
Laws of the Infernal Flame
1.) The purpose of every devil is the harvesting and/or torment of souls. Those so caught going against their basic function--that is to say, ceasing to be malevolent--will be wholly stripped of their power until such a time as penance is made.
2.) No being of the lower planes greater in status than lesser devil may enter into the mortal world without prior authorization of their reigning archdevil or duke, respectively. Attempts to do so are doomed to failure from the very beginning. More importantly, punishment for doing so is being stripped of all one's innate abilities and imprisoned in a mortal shell until such time as they win five souls for the dark kingdom.
3.) Being caught standing in direct opposition to a devil of superior rank entitles that individual to enact swift and terrible punishment of their choosing. Even the smallest act of defiance may be taken as due cause for repraisal.
4.) Engaging in benevolent behavior is permitted only when done so for a malicious purpose. Each benevolent act taken without proper cause will result in a small decrease in power, one which will not be reversed until such time as every `good` action is made amends for. Making amends is as simple as engaging in malicious activities. Numbers required and severity of required activities will depend entirely upon the scope of witnessed benevolence.
5.) The extraction of energies from a soul sentenced to Hell is only to be performed by a devil of appropriate standing. Those without the proper authorization will be summarily and permanently destroyed for their transgression.
6.) The purpose of torturing souls is not only one of punishment. From their suffering do the devils gain power. Devils on the individual level are not permitted to extract more than a miniscule amount from their victims. Most--if not almost all--of the mystical force taken from near every soul in Hell is guided directly to the Morning Star, that he might become empowered and one day break free of bondage. Archdevils, dukes, and the various lords may tap into this power whenever it is deemed appropriate, but the amount available varies depending upon rank.
7.) All of the above laws as seen in each category are considered the word of Lucifer himself. Any so foolish as to be caught breaking them risk the ultimate punishment at his discretion.