"The Greatest Purveyors of Seduction, Fear, Suffering, and Evil" (quoted from the Everlasting, Book of the Light, page 199, © 1997-98 by Steven C. Brown)
These vile creatures are the enemies of the earth and the human race. They are the enemy of nearly every other Gentes of Everlasting. It is not recommended that players use Demons as Protagonists, as they are the ultimate in evil within the setting. Next to them even the grotesque Abominations, and alien Rakasha are tame and good by comparison, despite their vile and evil ways. Demons are intended to be the ultimate antagonists of the characters in most games taking place within the Secret World.
The following quote is being re-printed from page 200 of The Everlasting, Book of the Light, and describes what these twisted, vile, and utterly evil beings:
Demons have existed in a multitude of forms and by countless names throughout human history and among most every culture. Demons are paragons of forbidden knowledge and rebellion against the Divine. Some are summoned and bartered with my stupid mortals, (since even the weakest demons are still dangerous to deal with). Demons are responsible for much evil, passing on bad luck and harm, and instigating innumerable troubles among people.
The word "demon" means "replete with wisdom". Obviously this name is false; the demons named themselves this because they are liars supreme. Some divide demons into two categories- good demons called eudemons and evil demons called cacodemons. However, the eudemonds are not actually demons, they are jsut helpful spirits. Many of the cacodemons, however are true demons, though evil spirits have also been called cacodemons as well.
The Testement of Solomon, written betwen 100 A.D. and 400 A.D., describes the demons known to the Assyrians, Babylkonians, Egyptians, Greeks, Hebrews, and Persians. It also tells of Solomon's magickal ring, which allowed him to command the demons. However, most of these demons were actually Shaitan- a type of djinn.
Johann Weyer, a medieval scholar, devised the most defined and complex structure of demonic heirarchy, which he claimed consisted of seventy-two dark princes ruling over 7,405,926 demons.
In Judaism, demonology is intricately detailed and drawn from many cultures- Hebrew, Christian, Arabic, Germanic, and Slavic. According to the Zohar, lesser demons speak of greater demons, such as Lilith, that were created during the Creation, on the Sabbath at twilight. Other legends speak of demons crafted from the elements themselves. According to the Kabbalah, evil comes from the left pillar of the Tree of Life. It was said that evil arose from the sephirah (sphere) that is the power of the wrath of God. In the 13th century it was said that a separate Sephiroth for evil existed that contered the Sephiroth for good. (See chapter 4 for details concerning the Sephiroth).
In Christian demonology, demons were angels who sided with Lucifer against God. Demons do not, however have any connection to the Pagan god Cernunnos, despite the efforts of medieval Christians to create such a link. Demons are, however linked to several forms of magick and to Satanism. In Shinto and Buddhist demonology, demons are related to ghosts of humans, particularly those who were evil in life. Indeed, some dead souls of the Secret World may have been transformed into demons.
Within the Secret World of The Everlasting, demons are foul spirit entities that are dedicated to the destruction of all that is good. The "Devils" among the demons are former angels. The Shaitan among the demons are actually of djinn genos. Other demons are dead shouls, astral spirits, dream entities, and creatures from other planes of existence. Demons vary in form and power, but demons are totally evil, dishonest, cruel, and power-hungry. demons perticularly enjoy corrupting mortals and eldritch. Some are destroyers of nature, having become servants of the leviathans (ancient and powerful dragon-demons). Some demons are far more traditional, behaving like, and taking the forms of, traditional demons. Some have become interested in attaining power and influence within the human world. There are several factions among these loathsome creatures, each with a different perspective on their Dark Labors (the evil works that demons perform) and ultimate goals. Some of these malign forces war on other demons more than they work against humanity.
Demons are more powerful now than they have ever been, as they can not only tap into Pandemonium (an astral realm of evil energies) for sustenance, but also gain power through their own Dark Labors. Demons represent the greatest threat the Secret World has ever faced. If the everlasting do not stand together against the demons, the demons will no doubt eventually destroy the immortals and all other eldritch that do not serve them as willing pawns. Many believe the demons destroyed the great number of missing daevas, and that the collective rapture of those slain daevas is what is now causing the many magickal rifts in time and space.
Demons will not be played by characters, they will remain the domain of NPC antagonists.
Abominations:
Angels: 1 Arch enemies
Daevas: 1 Arch enemies
Dead Souls: var. (they can serve as useful tools to our plans, however never completely trust them as many of them have their own agendas)
Demons: 5-9
Djinn: var. (some of their number are willing to help us (however be causious, as they are powerful and may fight back when we are ready to rid the universe of their presence), while others actively fight against us in our mission)
Dragons: 1-3 (destroy them at all costs)
Elves: 1-3 (destroy them at all costs)
Faerie: 3-7 (these strange biengs can not be trusted, however some may be willing to side with us if promised power)
Gargoyles: 2-4 (do not trust them, for while they are much liek us, their motives are for good and thus they work against our goals)
Ghuls: 3-8 (these wretches can sometimes prove useful as tools for our mission, however they can easily be discarded as needed when the time is right)
Manitou: 2-4 (these creatures are not a serious threat, however do not trust them nor underestimate them for they work for the side of good and thus support our enemies)
Osirians: var. (be causious with these beings, some can be manipulated into our service with promises of power, however be causious, for they are powerful and intelligent, and can turn on us in a moments notice, never completely trust them)
Possessed: 2-3/7-8 (some can serve our purpose, but others of their bretheren can seriously hamper our goals)
Questers: 1-3 (Some are our arch enemies, while toehrs are simply nuisances that get in the way of our plans, either way, they must be destroyed)
Reanimates: var. (some of these creatures have been created to serve our goals, however others have been created to hamper our eforts, so be cautious when dealing with them, or better yet simply destroy them for none of them are worthy of existance anyway)
Revenants: 2-7 (they can serve as useful tools to our plans, however never completely trust them as many of them have their own agendas)
Vampires: 2-7 (they can serve as useful tools to our plans, however never completely trust them as many of them have their own agendas)
Wer: 6-8 (these worthless creatures are a drain on our enemies, asnd as such should be supported to a limited degree, however if they get in the way destroy them for they are not worthy of serious help, only as a thorn bush to be limitly nurtured so as to slow down our enemies)