Pact Infernal - A Summary of Demonology

Though Elementalism and Demonology are similar arts on the surface, calling an elemental is a whole different thing from summoning demons. While an elemental is called up of the existing animating force present since the creation of the world, demons are called from somewhere beyond the reach of the world.

Demonology is referred to as a 'quick and dirty' path to power. Books on demons exist, including everything from formula for spells to protect against a demon you've summoned to diagrams detailing the anatomy and abilities of demons. The information circulates magical communities, whether human or elven, and provides a quick way to come into power, should you simply have the will to make it happen.

How, you may ask, did these tomes of knowledge come into being in the first place? It's a simple answer: The demons gave the knowledge to mortals so they could be summoned.

Demons, through all their alien thoughts and reasoning, are inherently drawn to mortals to interact with. Though it may not make sense to scholars, demons are not mortal and yet represent amplified personages of mortal minds.

The most easily notable are the seven excesses. Because they represent an emotion felt/experienced by millions of mortals, those demons are some of the strongest existant. Other demons fill categories of mortal feelings, including several breeds that fell within Misery or Fear. 

To demons, mortals were a source of sustenance and power. To most, their sustenance came not in flesh and bone, but power drawn from mortals experiencing the thing they exemplified. For lust, the Succubi gained sustenance when a mortal was sexually aroused, even more so when brought to complete sexual abandon. Wrath had been known to possess their victims, amplifying their vessel's rage to supernatural levels and feeding on what came after. Demons of pride whispered secrets into the ears of those in charge of others as they slept, subtly guiding their plans.

While there were of course other demons who literally treated mortals as food, many of them desired something different from them. If possible, demons would reside in the world permanently. And so they seeded the books of their knowledge into the world.

Demon summoners become familiar with a concept known as 'The Barrier'. It is a defense that prevents demons from coming through the world except in places where the geomantic energies align closely with the geomancy of the demon realm, which gives powerful enough demons the chance to get something through. Otherwise, the barrier acts more like a membrane instead of a wall. it is pliable yet unyielding, and even the greatest of efforts can only temporarily enter the world. Demons entering the world found the elasticity of the barrier would snap them back moments after arriving.

This barrier is the reason why summoning is so structured. Without the barrier, demons would have invaded and overrun the world long ago. The only way a demon could remain on the world is if someone on that side held out a metaphorical hand to hold onto. This is the function that a summoning circle performs; it is a hook that holds the rubber band in place so it doesn't snap back.

The anchoring is worked by the summoning spell, but is contingent upon the balance of wills between the summoner and the demon. The one who wins such a battle gains control of the anchor and can banish the other (or themself) back to their home realm at will. This is why demons will fight the summoner's will; few creatures would give up the chance to remain in the world without repurcussion.

Summoning knowledge is taboo among the magical community; not strictly legal, but extensive practice is frowned upon, as it is also extremely dangerous. That said, almost every mage's library contains copies of the infernal texts, despite the fact that many of the originals haven't even arrived in the world yet, since time flows differently in that side.

Even a novice can follow the directions in an infernal manual and summon the weakest of demons. This 'slave' type of demon acts as a tutor and servant, teaching the summoner more about the demonic arts and showing time and time again how 'handy' demons can be, helping the summoner to both learn how to summon more powerful demons as well as grow dependent on their powers.

Though this entry has discussed only demons, there are a few things that can be reasoned from the information gleaned. First, the demons need the power they gain from interacting with humans. Second, all understanding of existance indicates there is a balance. Life and death. Light and dark.

Is there an opposite to the demons?