Dæmons

The purported subterranean inhabitants of the chthonic realm of Balgurd in Shirerithian and Benacian mythology. Dæmons are tormentors of human souls, devourers of human flesh and the inveterate enemies of humanity. It was once suspected that they bare some relation to the extinct Ohl'tar.

Attributes of the Dæmonic

As related by the revivified shade of Kaiser Aiomide:

• The dæmon reproduces asexually, it carries its demonic spawn within itself as though they were hibernating parasites throughout the long aeons of its dreadful existence;
• Although asexual - the mature dæmons are capable of inflicting traumatic insemination on other species, as well as the lesser demons and juveniles of their kin. Indeed the act of forced insemination is one of the primary means by which hierarchy in the necrotic realms of Balgurd is maintained;
• There are many breeds, or species of hellkin. There are, for instance, hive species with one daemon dedicated to consuming while subservient daemons feed it so that there is more flesh to feed its young upon death;
• For protection, many bands of juvenile dæmons roam in packs. Amongst the worst pits of Balgurd are those regions where these packs rape and devour amongst the damned souls of the worst sinners;
• Only in the final death of a dæmon do the larvae awake. Their 'metabolism', for want of a better word, is triggered by the loss of controlled blood flow from the mother-host and their ravenous hunger is awoken by the stench of decay and putrefaction. The first meal of the Balgurd sporn is the mother-creature that had borne them thus far, but it is not their last. Unless tended by their demon kin, the dæmon spawn will turn on each other, each member of the litter falling upon and devouring the other until only the strongest remains, then it will turn its attention outwards, towards whatever other forms of flesh, living or dead, it can seek to devour;
• Killing a dæmon would result in triggering the release of larval 'nymph' daemons carried in the creature's womb-cyst;
• To combat one in the mortal realm, you have to subdue it without killing it;
• To defeat a dæmon you contain it and kill it within a contained area, you can starve the larval daemons.

Types of Dæmons

As part of their extensive Deep Research program, the College of Our Lady Ergane has catalogued and studied the varied morphology of the dæmonic realm. They have categorized them as follows:

• Loliginoid : superficially resembles cephalopods. Body is composed of a mantle and a varying number of tentacles. Upon reaching maturity, the interior of the mantle becomes filled with polykontal gamete cells. Reproduces both sexually and asexually: a mouth-to-mouth mating process that involves opening sores near the mouth to facilitate the exchange of gametes. Gametes fuse to form zygotes, which develop and grow in the interstitial fluid, then eat the mother/host to escape.

• Myriapod : superficially resembles leg-sized centipedes, though with significant modification depending upon what it has preyed upon. Base form is a segmented body, each segment having a varying number of appendages. Consumes via invasive absorption upon skin contact. Will attempt to integrate anatomical features of its prey to adapt and camouflage itself in the environment. Reproduces by budding detaching a piece of itself, which then continues as an independent creature. Buddings may revert to a larval stage.

• Lumbricoid: superficially resembles earthworms in size and shape. Body is wormlike, though smooth without segments; no limbs. Eats by secreting dissolving enzymes, then drinking the liquefied material. Burrowing habit. Reproduces by burrowing into a host and feeding off the host, multiplying via fission along the length of the body. Once the host dies, the lumbricoids will scatter and burrow into the ground to find new hosts and continue the life cycle.

• Megaloid: superficially resembles jawed fish. Body is of significant size, born the size of an automobile and growing continually until death; head and thorax covered with bony shield segments, which include those lining the mouth which are adapted to function as teeth; several paired fins; serrated spine and tail which can be used offensively and defensively. Highly territorial, will eat juveniles of its own kind found within their territory. Reproduces by laying eggs.

• Pseudophiloid: superficially anthropomorphic. Humanlike cognition, has significant control over its own appearance and dimension, significant psychic influence over both dæmons and mundane creatures. Vain and arrogant. Reproduces with a human or near-human host, offspring mature quickly via a series of cocoon stages. Examples of this type may include the Sovereign of the Dawn recently, as of 1716 AN, discovered to be active in the upper reaches of Blue Elwynn river valley.