HERE is a discussion about demons in games that I thought was interesting, but lacking.
So here is the thing: demons (I believe) are first and foremost, rebels against the Creator of the universe.
They are fallen angels. As such, they are:
1) Primordial sentient beings of super human power.
2) Former servants of the Almighty.
3) Beings who had the inordinate temerity to rebel against the Almighty...
4) ...and lost.
I infer from this that they are all at least:
1) Extremely capable.
2) Have the experience of extreme timespans.
3) Live with inhuman arrogance, inhuman denial, or both.
4) They have no hope, and live in a perpetual state of fear, anger, and malice.
5) Are essentially insane, and irrational no matter how smart they are.
None of this is really an amazing revelation. Furthermore, while derived from the Bible directly, the medieval invention of the Seven Deadly Sins is not contrary to the character of the Bible either, so it is a useful model. As noted though in the link, I like the earlier model of the Eight Evil Thoughts, and will work from those. I don't think it is as interesting to link demons to elemental spheres, as their issues are moral and thus their "elements" are moral in character. They may manifest incidentally in the world in an element, but this is incidental and personal to the individual.
So how would I go about designing a demon for a game? I'm roughly thinking of Fate style mechanics, so assuming a d6-d6 or 4df die roll.
1) Rate the Demon in each of the eight sins, with one at 6, one at 4, two at 3, two at 2, and two at 1.
- Gluttony
- Lust
- Greed
- Pride
- Despair
- Wrath
- Vanity
- Sloth
These are essentially the "skills" and "abilities" that the demon has.
Whenever they seek to take an action that requires a roll in game, they
choose which one they will use, so long as it can be justified. It can
obviously use any one of them in an effort to tempt a character, but it
can also use them for itself. It wishes to destroy the wagon-load of
bread being sent as a charitable donation to a starving village? It may
use Gluttony to devour it all, or perhaps Wrath to strike the wagon
with hellfire, or Despair, to blight it with mold.
2) Choose two different species of animals. These together give primary form to the demon.
3) Choose an ordinary object that can be held, carried, or worn. This is the primary tool for the demon, and through which it tempts, seduces, blasphemes, destroys, or fights. It may or may not be integral to the body of the demon.
4) Choose another object or place, without the limitation of size. This is another focus through which the demon manifests both it's obsessions as well as it's power.
5) Choose an abstract concept, role, function, or office. This is one more focus for the demon to manifest it's obsessions and power.
6) Items 2, 3, 4, and 5 are each defining personality traits for the demon. Any time in which the demon may find one of them appropriate to a situation or action in the game, they may add a bonus +2 to the sin they are acting with.
So to spitball out a quick demon adversary for a game (and referring back to the original post for reference), I might come up with:
BLUE TOM
Gluttony: +2 Lust: +3 Greed: +1 Pride: +3 Despair: +6 Wrath: +2 Vanity: +1 Sloth: +4
Demonic Form: (Toad and Chicken) Blue Tom appears in demonic form as a bloated, warty, slime covered beast with the feet of a chicken on the legs of a bull frog, with the body of a frog. A rooster tail with scruffy feathers sprouts from the hind end, while the front legs are actually chicken wings. It has a chicken head with enormous frog eyes. When wearing a human shape, it is a skinny but pot bellied, haggard, slovenly man with stubble, and large watery eyes.
Object: (Guitar) Blue Tom lives as a blues musician with a heroine addiction. In demonic form, unfolding one wing reveals a distorted guitar with exposed tendons for strings, and frets and keys out of bone. In human shape, the guitar is a nauseous pearlescent crimson and venom green thing with unearthly haunting music coming from each string. Each note sounds as if it is plucked from multiple instruments and resonates physically as palpably as it sounds upon the ear.
Object: (Weeping Willows on River Banks) Blue Tom's hunting grounds are bars, clubs, midnight diners, street corners and bus stops. However, the place that he finishes his business is at willows on river banks. Those he finds to destroy he induces to meet him at his places of power, and there is always water deep enough to drown in, and he has more than enough spare guitar string for a noose.
Role: (Accuser of the Guilty) Blue Tom's favorite prey is the person who seeks to drown their indiscretion in drink, be they the adulterer discovered, the embezzler caught, the contractor who cut corners revealed by a fatal accident. This is the person that Blue Tom promises to give relief to, if they are willing to meet him 'neath the Willow Tree.
That is my take.
