Infernal Beings
No tears please, it's a waste of good sufferingDemon. It is a common word used rather freely in Tairos but few really understand the complexity, diversity, and danger associated with the true meaning behind it. What the common citizen in cities like Ghal Pelor think of when they imagine a demon is a horned beast with great wings and an aura of flame. These are images conjured from children's stories and salacious works of fantasy, they have little to do with the actual nature of the demonic. Scholars from the old College of Magic who specialized in the study of hellish entities were known as Diabolists. Their aim was to study and harness the powers of underworld, bending them to their will. Such magic was often known as Diablerie, Dark Thaumaturgy, or simply Blood Magic. Those who practiced this taboo art have become the source for all that is known about Infernal Beings; the term commonly used by these experts. First and foremost, Infernal Beings come in two forms - Hellborn and Helltaken. The Hellborn are those birthed by the realm colloquially known as Hell. Helltaken are living beings who have been dragged into Hell and reforged by it (as well as their natural born offspring). Hellborn rule over the infernal realms, wielding the power invested in them by the very dimension itself. They are immortal in the truest sense, reshaping into new and horrific forms each time their material shell is sundered. They feed upon the suffering they cause, soaking in emotional misery whenever possible. Once they've glutted upon all the despair they can drink, they return to Hell to incubate within the energies of their home before emerging as something stronger and hungrier. This is the cycle of a true demon, feasting and metamorphizing until they reach a zenith of power they cannot crest or till their power is stolen by another. Hellborn who have amassed considerable stockpiles of this negative energy are quick to form small empires around themselves; dolling out slivers of power in exchange for service. By this means they can accumulate loyal hoards of lesser Hellborn as well as mortal warlocks. Helltaken, in contrast to their Hellborn superiors, are meek living things that have been exposed to Hell's corrupting touch and been forever changed by it. How it is Hell comes into possession of living subjects is varied in means and always tragic. In individual cases it can be through bargains with demons of greater power. The investments given to mortals may at first seem like exactly what they wished for, yet the longer they remain exposed to Hell's energy the more they will be twisted by it... both in body and in mind. Helltaken created by these means tend to be the most powerful of their kind and the rarest. Hellborn are loathe to give away any of their power to mortals unless they are guaranteed a greater return. More often, these unfortunate souls are taken by demons and dragged into hell. There, they become food of sorts for the Hellborn. Mortals can be made to suffer in untold magnitudes when trapped in Hell, squeezed of every last possible drop of despair before being transformed into something more wretched. Lastly, and perhaps most plentifully, are Demonic Annexations. The machinations of the Hellborn can rise to such heights that often times their plans will involve dragged entire cities, continents, planets, and even planes into Hell itself. And sometimes... they succeed. The unfortunate citizens of these damned places are fated to become Helltaken and join the legions of their captors. Unlike the Hellborn, Helltaken are still living creatures. They must feed, breath and drink like other living creatures. They serve their new masters because only the Hellborn can offer them any modicum safety against the ravages of the underworld. Diabolists have many more technical names for the Helltaken that delineates them into all manner of categories, castes and types. The most meager of them are known as Tieflings while other more exceptional varieties include the Incubi, Succubi, and Cambion.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Hellborn have extremely alien anatomy that is very much reliant on the whims of the Hell energy that spawned them. Lesser Hellborn demons tend to be mewling pathetic creatures regardless of the exact form they take.
Helltaken will usually resemble their mortal self before being transformed. Those born of a union between Helltaken or with at least one Helltaken parent will tend to resemble their parents general physical form.
Biological Traits
With Hellborn, there is almost no real consistency in traits other than that they all require negative emotional energy to sustain their existing forms or to evolve into new ones. Helltaken will have recognizable biological traits similar to those of mortal beings found in the material universe
Genetics and Reproduction
Both types of Infernal Beings are capable of sexual reproduction. With Helltaken it is much simpler. They mate and produce offspring that are similar to themselves like most most living creatures do. Hellborn are rather reluctant to bare offspring because in doing so they surrender a considerable amount of their gathered power to do so. The resulting child will have access to the abilities of both Hellborn parents. In the case of a Hellborn mating with a mortal, the offspring will almost always be some form of Helltaken resembling the mortal parent. Some Hellborn will consider doing this, investing a small part of themselves into the creation of a mortal child so that it can grow strong and later be consumed. Thus the Hellborn parent is making a small investment for a much larger later gain.
Growth Rate & Stages
Hellborn can take untold ages to grow and mature. And upon death of their physical body they may return to Hell to feast upon the storehouses of suffering they've accumulated, thus quickly regrowing and regenerating. Should they lack the nest egg of despair needed to regenerate, the process could take centuries. Assuming one of their rivals doesn't use the opportunity to devour them.
Helltaken age at rates similar to mortal counterparts, specifically Humans. Lesser Helltaken like tieflings will mature and die of old age, though such a thing is rare for anyone in service to demons. Stronger Helltaken may enjoy exceptional longevity if not a total immunity to aging.
Ecology and Habitats
Hellborn require the energy of Hell to manifest for any amount of time. They can rarely exist in any other plane but their own and to do so is dependent on having a source of energy to fuel their presence.
Helltaken have the benefit of being able to go where they please. However, the more hellish power they accumulate the closer they are in nature to their Hellborn betters. Meaning, tieflings are generally immune to the effects that would target anything demonic but something like an Incubi or Cambion may be so flush with demonic power that they can be impacted by things like banishments and summoning circles.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Hellborn require suffering. They feed off of the negative emotions their work causes and the more they accumulate the stronger they become. Helltaken require actual food in most cases. Powerful Helltaken like Succubi for example are often acting as agents for Hellborn and the suffering they cause is dedicated to their masters. They can however retain a small hint of that energy, relishing just a taste of what the Hellborn gain.
Incubi and Succubi are a notable exception. Diabolists note that these creatures are able to gain a very limited amount of nourishment from actual food. Yet, the majority of what they require comes in the form of life energy that can only be stolen during moments of intimacy. These scholars believe that this limitation forces Incubi and Succubi to desire spending the majority of their time among mortals rather than plotting and scheming back home in Hell. This is further reinforced by the fact that Incubi and Succubi are unable to draw life energy from anything molded by or born in Hell
Behaviour
Among Hellborn the most commonly shared psychology is one of selfishness. They are driven by a constant need to accumulate power and defend against those that would take it. This could be seen as fear. The one thing that binds them all together is fear of losing what they have and failing to claim more than they need.
With Helltaken, there is a much more varied spectrum of behaviors and psychology. Any not in service to one of the Hellborn are likely to suffer from deep emotional scars left behind from their masters and what it took to escape. Others may worship their masters like gods or caretakers, having been swayed by the deceitful nature of their owner and any promises they may have made.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Hell is an infinity of hungry and bickering mouths. Hellborn tend to organize themselves into regal courts and gather about them great empires of lesser beings. Helltaken exist in this structure wherever they can find a niche for themselves.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
The fluids, bits, and energies of Infernal Beings can often be used to fuel spells, craft magic items, or augment one's self (at their own peril).
Geographic Origin and Distribution
In Tairos, Infernal Beings can be found in places where they are summoned or where they escape to. The majority of the continent is not particularly friendly to them even on sight. Only places like Sha'Hidun and Cinderstone would allow such beings to walk freely. Probably Becklinberg too.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Hellborn have access to an entire host of extrasensory abilities that vary from type to type. Helltaken tend to have what they had in life, perhaps with some enhancements.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Hell is filled with species that have learned to sustain themselves on the same energy that demonic beings do. This can be anything from Tear Takers that steal away the despair of the suffering to make their honey to Cradle Worms that sneak into the hiding place of incubating Hellborn and feast upon them.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Hellborn will often "awaken" during their initial creation with an identity in mind. That identity will grow and mature as their own form does. Helltaken often maintain the naming traditions of their origin place for as long as they are able, unless some other naming structure is put in place by their new masters.
Major Organizations
Within Hell their are numerous cults and pseudo-religions that crop up. They can be short-lived gatherings that burn out quickly along with their leader, or they can transcend the eons like the Order of Sacred Flesh.
Outside of these few cults the majority of Hell's organizations are part of the hierarchy of one Hellborn or another.
Beauty Ideals
For Hellborn, beauty is the suffering of others and the manifestations of power they can conjure from such pain. For Helltaken, beauty standards are much more inline with those of mortals.
Gender Ideals
Hellborn can manifest as they choose and often slide between genders at a whim. Helltaken will find themselves on the same spectrums as mortals
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Balespeech is the common tongue of Hell and those that call it home. Other languages exist, many in fact, but Balespeech will link these many disparate groups together.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Bargains. Many greater Hellborn are able to create contracts that anchor beings to promises made and exchanges of power or service. The very energy of Hell itself, the same kind that gives birth to Hellborn, help make such pacts binding across time, space, and dimension.
Common Taboos
The breaking of infernal contracts. Those that find means of escaping their contract or who break the promise made in the agreement are seen as pariahs even among their own kind. Mostly because it calls into question the unshakable nature of such pacts and the faith lesser beings put into them.
Historical Figures
Greater Hellborn are the only historical figures that are remembered. Among the Helltaken their are heroes as well but their betters have an invested interest in erasing such history when possible.
Common Myths and Legends
Hell has its own myths, its own legends, and even its own gods. It has creation stories, it has tales of a singular master that unified Hell, stories of what Hell was before it became the eternal cauldron it is now, and many others. Unlike the living world where myth often has a kernel of truth, facts in Hell often lack any such foundation. For the Helltaken, many of the most common myths revolve around the mortal places that were dragged into Hell, the places they originally came from.
Origin/Ancestry
Extraplanar
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Fire is a common motif with most Infernal Beings. Either as an elemental manifestation or just in the form of markings or tattoos.
Geographic Distribution
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