Demonology

Demonology is the study of demons. This resource discusses demon history, creation, characteristics, types and specific examples of demons who - when not possessing humans - appear as smoke.

Creation and Culture

The first demon was created by Lucifer, an archangel, after God banished him from Heaven for refusing to revere humans. In revenge, he took a human woman -Lilith- and stripped away her humanity tomake her the first demon. For this offense, God commanded Michael to imprison Lucifer in a cage in Hell.

Demons have a belief system analagous to humans, but while humans believe in God as their higher power, demons view Lucifer as theirs. No demon had ever actually seen Lucifer, so it is possible that Lilith was turned into a demon without seeing her maker.

All demons were once originally humans, who become demonic when tortured in Hell until their humanity is lost. Prior to becoming demons, it is unclear on what criteria the human spirits are judged of being worthy of Hell, other than selling one's soul to a Crossroads Demon, being a Witch or simply being an unrepentant, evil bastard in life.

Some demons live together in 'nests'.

Hell

Hell was created sometime after Lucifer's rebellion. It is a place where demons are produced from human souls after centuries of torture. Human souls can get sent to Hell after making deals or agreements with Crossroads Demons or other demons. Hellhounds hunt and then kill humans who made a demonic agreement and then the human's soul is sent to Hell. Black-eyed demons are constantly being created, and they occupy positoins on Earth under the demon-favored term for their human shell - "Meat Suits". Time itself is also altered in Hell, as four months of Earth is equal to 40 years in Hel.

The exact structure of Hell is unknown, although some demons have said that "there is a real fire in the pit, agonies you can't even imagine" and "a prison made of bone and flesh and blood and fear". Angels can bypass Hell's defenses, enter and retrieve human souls. Death can enter Hell and bring souls back to Earth. The King of Hell has limited access to Lucifer's Cage.

The demon heirarchy is unknown, although they do have their leaders, it is believed that this is solely to prevent anarchy and outright civil war.

Characteristics

Demons usually do not have bodies of their own, except in the case of Acheri Demons, who can "manifest" as human children. Other demons appear as 'black smoke' in their incorporeal form. Their presence may leave traces of sulfur. They manifest by possessing humans, alive or recently deceased, via Demonic Possession.

Demons themselves, and people close to the gates of Hell, see the "real" decaying faces of demons, not just the body they use to walk the Earth. Angels can as well.

Demons' abilities and weaknesses vary depending on the apparent rank of the demon. Demons share many strengths and weaknesses with ghosts such as an aversion to salt and iron.

Abilities

Lower-hierarchy Powers:

Telepathy and telekinesis - Demons can read minds. Some can move objects with their minds.

Superhuman strength and enhanced endurance - While hosting a demonic entity, a human's body can be made to perform extraordinary feats and resist lethal damage. However, when the demon leaves, the host often dies of its injuries.

Seeing Reapers - Like angels, demons can percieve entities that are invisible to human beings, like Reapers.

Can Resurrect or Heal People - But only if a deal is made

Capable of Overpowering Alphas - But only in groups and attacking at once.

Upper-hierarchy Powers:

Mind Control - Upper-level Demons can influence and control the actions of human beings

Pyrokinesis

Injury to Humans by Thought - A popular method among higher level demons is to slash across the belly. It is also a favored method of torture.

Destruction of Objects with Telekinesis - Useful for breaking Devil's Traps. White-Eyed demons have also been known to be able to admit a "Fiery White Light" to obliterate people.

Overpowering or Possessing Reapers

Resurrecting People at Will

Vulnerabilities and Preventative Measuresp

Preventing possession and location

Exorcism - When a Demon is exorcised via ritual, it returns to Hell

Preventative Charms - There are charms that exist to protect against possession.

Preventative Tattoos - Some of the more creative Hunters have protection symbols tattooed on their bodies.

Hex Bags - Not just for black magic, Hex Bags can be used to help disguise and hide a person's whereabouts from demons.

Hindering Demons

Holy Water and Consecrated Ground - While most demons have some vulnerability to HolY Water, Higher Level demons appear immune. Some demons are also able to enter consecrated ground such as churches.

Salt - Most cannot cross a line of salt as they feel intense pain when they come in contact with it. Hunters use it in shotguns to wound them.

Iron - Demons cannot cross an iron line, and can be hurt with an iron rod or an iron knife.

Palo Santo - Burns in a similar way to Holy Water

Devil's Trap - A symbol that is marked on the floor or ceiling that can trap a demon within it as long as the symbol remains intact.

Means of Killing Demons

The Colt - Legend has it that in 1835 Samual Colt, the legendary gunmaker created a revolver that can kill anything. He made it for a Hunter. He also forged 13 bullets. The Hunter used it six times before it disappeared and the gun with him. Most believe this to be legend, but there are some Hunters who think that the Colt is still out there somewhere.

Knife - Rumor has it that a special knife that can kill demons also exists.

Angels - Angels have the power to smite demons with a touch.

Death's Scythe - It is also said that the scythe of Death himself can also kill demons.

Burning Earthly Remains - Demons, like spirits, can be killed by burning the bones of the bodies they had as humans, before they became demons.

Types of Demons

Crossroads Demons - A Crossroads Demon makes bargains with people, granting them a wish in exchange for claiming their life and soul at a later date (Ten years is the standard contract). Deals are sealed with a kiss. They have red eyes (all except for a black pupil).

According to folklore, this is where the "sell your soul to the devil at a crossroads" legend comes from and legend has it that blues musician Robert Johnson made such a deal.

Crossroads Demons are the brokers of Hell. While all demons can make deals, it is the Crossroads Demons that specialize in them. It is unknown how one becomes a Crossroads Demon as opposed to a regular black-eyed demon.

But if for some insane reason you want to make a deal, you need only perform a ritual involving burying a box with your picture inside it in the middle of a crossroads to summon a Crossroads Demon.

Black-Eyed Demons - These demons are the most common type of demons, but they are not a homogenous group. They occupy positions on Earth and in Hell as they are constantly being deployed and produced throughout Hell.

They appear to hold different ranks in demon society and display a range of abilities and powers. They are grouped together because when they possess a human, they can turn the hosts eyes entirely black at will (hence the name). Most black-eyed demons serve a higher ranking demon or entity as bodyguards, entourage or henchmen. They are subject to the typical demon weaknesses - holy water, salt, exorcism, the Devil's Trap and certain rare mythical weapons. Some of the more powerful black-eyed demons are impervious to hallowed ground.

The stronger black-eyed demons often have an advanced knowledge ofmagic and spells that helps them achieve their goals.

As with most demons, their appearance can be accompanied or presaged by odd weather phenomena and electrical interference as well as the presence of sulfur. Demons are also associated with EVP.

Acheri Demon - An Acheri Demon is a very rare form of demon and the only ones who can manifest without possession. In their case, Acheris manifest as children. They possess the standard demon weaknesses - aversion to iron and salt, etc.

White-Eyed Demons - White Eyed Demons are very powerful and are among the highest ranking in Hell. It is they who possess the "Fiery White Light" ability.

Yellow-Eyed Demons - Rarely seen outside Hell, Yellow-Eyed demons are the generals of Hell's legions.

Hellhounds - A demonic dog of Hell, Hellhounds are aggresive, violent dogs that can and do serve demons. They commonly appear to kill a person who has made a deal with a Crossroads Demon allowing the person's soul to be harvested by Hell. In the days preceding the end of a person's time, they will appear to the victim in dreams. The person will also hallucinate, and be able to see the true face of demons when they are possessing humans.

Hellhounds are invisible to humans.

They can be kept at bay with Goofer Dust, Devil's Shoestring and Salt.

It is said that once they have the scent of a person they won't stop until they catch them.

Hellhounds can be killed using a number or all of these components: Salt, iron nails, and explosives. They are the only denizens of Hell that can be killed using conventional means.

Although any demon may keep and use Hellhounds as attack dogs, the biggest and most vicious Hellhounds belong to the Crossroads Demons.

Possession

Possession is identified throughout human history and its innumerable religions as the act by an outside force, either demonic or spiritual in nature, of taking physical control of an individual's body or an object. Humans, animals, even places and objects alike are susceptible to these supernatural forces.

Demons work by possessing living or dead human hosts. It is the only way a demon can interact with the Earthly world (although a large cloud of demons in black smoke form are strong enough to overturn cars). When an incorporeal demon finds a host, it forces itself down the victim's throat. While possessed, some hosts will remain conscious and aware of what is happening to them, although they will be powerless to control their bodies.

Demons ride their hosts hard, and it is common for hosts to die during possession (though the demon will continue using it). It is also common for the host to die when a demon leaves them, whether it be voluntarily or through exorcism. Demons leave their hosts the same way they entered--through the mouth, and far worse off than they found them.