Mythology of demons
Demons are intelligent and can even be talked to and reasoned with. They will even warn you about their ward (their special defence against particular weapons e.g. swords). However they can never be dissuaded from fulfilling their mission.
Some demons have a nanorian for a heart. The nanorian is a stone that has magical properties.
In Scripture and in Catholic theology, the word has come to mean much the same as the devil and denotes one of the evil spirits, or "fallen angels who have sinned."
To early Christians, demons were incorporeal, made of moving vapour - not unlike the Holy Spirit, who similarly enters believers but with dramatically different results.
Zoroastians in Persia believed in a constant warfare between good and evil spirits.
Chinese fold religion included a large number of devils to be placated or avoided.
Many demons in folklore are connected with dangerous or unfavourable aspects of nature and are regarded by anthropologists to be related to animistic belief
The Old Testament mentions demons comparatively briefly and rarely. Later Judaism included accounts of a great number of demons, including the fallen deities of other peoples, fallen angels and the spirits of the wicked dead. These invisible spirits, whose leader was Satan, are everywhere and responsible for human ills.
In the New Testament, demons are presented as personal spirits that beset men and even possess them.
According to the Scripture, (Revelations 12:9) demons are the angels that fell from heaven with Satan when he chose to rebel against God
As monsters, demons are highly resistant to magic often having magic absorption and always having high magic slaves. Almost all demons are fire resistant and able to teleport. Many are resistant to poison and hellfire.
The last two classes of demons are more rare: mage and spirit demons. They tend to have shape-shifting ability, or lack bodies, and have spiritual or magical powers ranging from the annoying to the devastating. When they take on material bodies they often look like members of whatever race their summoner belongs to.
Demon Lords come from the warrior, mage, and spirit demon categories often combining the abilities of the various types. The Prince of Demons is reputed to have all the spiritual skills as well as knowing Fire, Air, Ether, Demon Lore, and Necromancy. There are orders of demons created from each of the six orders of elementals.
Mammon -Prince of Temptors
Asmodeus -Prince of Venegance
Satan- Prince of Deluders
Belzebuth - Chief of False God
Pytho - Prince of the Spirits of Deceit
Beliel - Prince of Iniquity
Merihim - Prince of the Spirits of Pestilence
Abbadon - Prince of War
Astaroth - Prince of Accusers and Inquisitors
Because the Word was veiled, special techniques were developed to elucidate the true meaning. Kabbalistic theosophy has been deeply influenced by these attempts to find a deep meaning in the Bible.
It is not clear how Kabbalah was involved in the propagation of ritual magical techniques, or whether the ritual techniques were preserved in parallel within Judaism, but it is an undeniable fact that the most influential documents appear to have a Jewish origin. The most important medieval magical text is the "Key of Solomon" which contains the elements of classic ritual magic.
The combination of non-Jewish Kabbalah and ritual magic has been kept alive outside Judaism until the present day, although it has been heavily adulterated at times by hermeticism, gnosticism, neo-platonism, pythagoreanism, christianity, tantra and so on. The most important "modern" influences are the French magician Eliphas Levi, and the English "Order of the Golden Dawn". At least two members of the Golen Dawn. (S.L. Mathers and A.E. Waite) were knowledgable Kabbalists, and three Golden Dawn members have popularised Kabbalah - Aleister Crowley, Israel Regardie, and Dion Fortune.Demonolatry
The worship of demons and/or practising sorcery with the aid of entities known as demonsSorcery (also Magick)
Practicing divination, black magic, dark sorcery. Calling on infernal spirits to create a change according to the Sorcerer's will.Demon
Defined as a lesser spirit of God or a 'devil' in Christian mythology.
Literal meaning for Demon = "replete with wisdom". Derived from the Greek word: "Daimon" meaning divine power.The Historical Context of Demons
- Ancient Babylonia and Assyrian religious beliefs included numerous demons and priests who performed incantations to protect people from evil spirits.Other views:
Justin Martyr, a Christian who lived about 150AD, believed, (based on Gen 6:2-4) that demons were the offspring of angels and men. Whilst the Greeks viewed demons as the spirits of wicked dead men (Heb 9:27)Orders of Demons
Demonic Lore is the area of magic that allows demons to be raised and controlled. It also allows the control of lesser orders of demonic beings and of hellfire, a common substance on the demonic planes but an incredibly destructive force on the material plane. One of the major sources of power for a Demon Lorist is the power of the demons he raises.Demons come in four general types:
The weakest are small creatures whose major use is as spies or troublemakers. These creatures are usually called imps. They tend to be size -2 to 3, not too bright, and are often capable of flying or phasing. They are cowards and flee combat at the least excuse. The majority of demons are cannon fodder. These fabled "legions of hell" are made of large (size 0-6) creatures without much brains but with heavy armour, large damage potential, possibly fire auras, and very high to hit numbers. These sort of demons tend to be overconfident and have a love of fighting.The Demonic Hierarchies
According to Francis Barrett's 'The Magus' (1801)Black Lodge
Modern term for a black magic coven - a society where black arts are performed. Usually under the leadership of a priest, or priestess.Sigils
A sigil is a type of signature or symbol of intent. Sigils incorporated with other influences can add great direction and focus to spellwork. Sigils can be traced in air, carved on candles, drawn on paper and burned etc. Specific sigils are related to specific demons and their conjuring.Belial or Beliar, (Hebrew)
The Earth elemental. Thought to have come from the Hebrew phrase beli ya 'al - meaning "without worth". Prince of Trickery. One of the 72 Princes of Solomon.Asmodeus, Asmoday (Hebrew)
The God of Lust. A demon most commonly involved in possession cases, particularly noted in the possession of the Louviers nuns.Kabbalah
The word "Kabbalah" (including alternative spellings such as Kabbalah and Qabalah), means "tradition". The core of this "tradition" was the attempt to penetrate the inner meaning of the Bible, which was taken to be the literal (but heavily veiled) word of God.