Demons

Through the gilded gate of Eldheim

What is a demon, or what is demonic. A question that has been asked a countless times. But from where did the legend of these creatures birth.
In ancient northern tradition, they speak of an ancient elemental plain known as the land of Muspel, or Eldheim. Home to the element of heat, and thus fire. A land seen as most hospitable and kind towards it's infernal inhabitants, but seen as hell in the eyes of most civilisations that percieve it's fiery aspects as pain and torment.
When the veil between reality and myst became thin like silken cloth, the runes uppon the gilded gate lost it's powers, as an ancient zeal was broken. Thus they came marching from ash and soot to a world of cold.
-Ignius the Demonologist.

Infernal Demon

Demons that are philosopher to be born within the infernal realms are generally known in scientific term as Infernals, yet go by many other cultural names like the scarnzan Surtenlings, dwarven Fire Elementals or diestrain Hellspawn.
The infernal demons are unique in the fact they've not been birthed in the physical realm of Arcathia, or at least their ancestors were not. It is believed that they are the most ancient of demons that passed through the torn veil of reality during the collapse of the ancient ones. Even more intriguing is the fact most infernals seem to share little to no hatred towards other creatures but are generally kind and wise, with more than a few bad apples in their bunch though, which are known to cause raging infernos to break loose.
Furthermore, the new age of Frozen Empire scholars do not believe the demon term fit at all on most infernals, as they tend to lean further towards northmen cultural representation and mythology, as well as a few dwarven similarities.

Corrupted Demon

Borne to this world by the chaos deity Draghânir: God of Corruption. These demons are generally known by the entire world as plain demons. A corrupted demon generally consists of the flesh and soul of a once normal person of a race and culture that have undergone a heavy transformation of corrupted blood in their veins, either from a pact with Draghânir himself or through ritual sacrifice of the young and innocent.
The irony behind corrupted demons lands in the fact a majority of their numbers and not bad people, but either pact sworn by Draghânir to fight back against the sacrificial cults, and thus could be considered the good guys. Many others are simply born that way by other demons, seeing as they are able to reproduce with most races and birth about three to five children from each pregnancy, combined with a high lust drive and dominant genes.
A few other corrupted demons, known as unchained, are unwillingly changed by these cults that managed to break free from their old masters grasp. There have been many debates in the various kingdoms and empires if they should be executed or integrated back into society, where humanity quite swiftly grabbed their executioners axe, while the elves looked at them far more kindly.
On a side note, Corrupted Demons are generally respected by dragons as Drakkenblood, meaning their combined blood which twisted their beings happened to both races, which created a bond between them.

Blood Demon

These wicked bastards are by far the most cruel and hated of all demons. Blood Demons, or as they are better known as Vhaaki or Vampires from Dwarven mythology of monsters so evil they should be exterminated. These demons share the ancestral bonds from the Infernals and similar changes as the corrupted demons, with a twist that their corruption has slowly mutated within their minds and souls from countless acts of violence, torment and cruelty.
While the new generations of blood demons are not necessarily evil by nature, most scholars and even philosophers agree that their sheer existence is based on energies of pure evil that have become so overwhelming that they have turned physical and slowly reformed their kin within cocoons like an insect.
Therefore Blood Demons don't breed for the sake of bearing children, but can sow legions of their spawn within great chambers hidden in their castles or in caverns underneath the mud.
This is another reason as to why blood demons are the most terrifying of the pack. To the difference of corrupted demons that in most cases wish to return back to their former societies or Infernals that seem to share a good part of their culture with dwarves and northmen, they instead build their own cultures and societies based on their sinister ideals such as cannibalism, slavery, murder and torture.
The fanged ones of their kin also spread a disease known as the blood kiss, which generates a bloodthirsty sickness within a creature, thus turning them into a so called Vampyr. The most dangerous of blood demons are even capable of giving a so-called soul kiss. The soul kiss doesn't just make an individual sick, but slowly transforms them into a very brand new higher blood demon to share their vital genes with the rest of the pool.

Demonic Tier-list

Minion
Generally an incredibly weak and young demon that stands little to no threat against even the oldest and most gnarled of angry farmers with a hoe. This category pretty much just sums up all the different forms of imps
Familiar

A list that completely lacks sentient demons, but sums up their changed beasts and elementals that often can be seen serving either a demon or demonologist in either combat, research or other activities, either professional or daily. A familiar should never be underestimated for it's low tier though, as while they are unable to think and coordinate as an intellectual being, many of these creatures are far more deadly than most devils and some Daemons in sheer force and ferocity.
Devil

Sometimes considered as the civilian demon tier as most Devils are no more dangerous than your average squire, and wouldn't stand a chance against an average man with a rifle or trained sword arm. Ironically, devils might be the weakest and are by far the most easily dealt with demons, as they lack the erratic madness of imps and beastial might of familiars. One could say they are just average village or city people in the skin of a demon.
Daemon

The most common forms of demon, known as the footman tier. These demons actually possess a slight threat on their own and can easily turn deadly within groups. Thankfully, well depending on which side you're on, Daemons are mostly found either being mercenaries, civilians, nomads or soldiers within the Elven and Dark Elven armies. A few can also be found serving various draki.
High Daemon

High Daemons are the most warlike and violent of their kin, for worse and even better. The majority of these demons can be found either serving Vampire armies as just above cannon fodder, or they serve Draghânir's cause as his elite soldiers. Still, a few can be found holding higher positions such as taskmasters or captains within the elven armies, or as the spokesperson or right and left hand of draki.
Daemon Lord

Fittingly named for their tendencies to be in charge of something. Daemon lords are the most black and white tier of them all, and really have no gray zone between good and evil. The most known Daemon lords are higher vampires, certain Dark Elven generals along with a few Bladesisters and the leaders of outcast demon bands and caravans. The less known lords are generally those that use their vast potential for magic to cast illusions on themselves to look like an ordinary person, and then try to live life like nothing happened, or break lose all hell to take revenge on a society that hates them.
Arch Daemon

Easily the most rare and dangerous types of demons, as where Daemon Lords are thought to have about twenty thousands within their numbers, the amount of Arch Daemons in the world is thought to be barely above a thousand. A number which is large enough as they are well known to be powerful enough on their own to rival the power of kings, queens and emperors. Unless these individuals are empowered by the deities of course.
Thankfully the Occult Hunters Guild and Draghânir settled their differences a few years ago to combine forces should an Arch Demon ever rise to sow chaos in the civilised world.