Demons
The Courts of Chaos commands powers both arcane and mundane. The Houses of that place each gather terrible strengths to their secret councils of defense. Seldom have those Houses known defeat by any power or reckoning of the shadowy universe.
Perhaps the greatest of all these powers is the Logrus. The MindThreads of the Serpent are efficient at insinuation and control.
And of all the forces of Chaos, the one weapon most likely to look back at you is the demon.
Demons.
Many observers believe there to be a thousand varieties of these abyss kin. This is true and false at once. There are five kin to demons, and many variations within each kin.
None of the abyss kin seem to have dominance over the others, instead they seem to fear each other in equal parts. Demons are not forthcoming about their own society, if they even have one that we could understand. It is known that demons do not like the Abyss, that they take opportunity to make extended contracts with Chaosians. Some demons actually negotiate service that involve generations of Chaosians by manipulating the terms of the contract.
The five kin are:
:: kin of perfidy
:: kin of speed
:: kin of blood
:: kin of ephemera
:: kin of paradox
Chine :: common name the 'boneslingers.' These gothic horrors are bonebladed and spiked for conflict. They are considered treacherous and most Chaosians will not deal with them. They range in size/power from insect to oliphant; only smaller varieties fly. Chine are considered clever in combat and are the most willing to associate with demons not of their kind. *
Chaser :: common name the 'trackers.' Chasers are diligent to their tasks. All the varieties are built for speed and many of them fly or use magic for quick strikes. Chasers are sometimes considered dull, but are considerably brighter about hunting.
Challenger :: common name the 'guardians.' Challengers are diligent to tasks and not easily dissuaded by overwhelming force. They are not as reliable in conflicts of intelligence. They are usually among the largest demons and have defensive magics. Challengers require the least maintenance of all demons and heal quickly.
Chaste :: common name the 'flimsies.' Quite intelligent, difficult to task, and known for odd magics. They can be fragile in physical combat and are most rare in summoning. Chaste work least well with other demons.
Chimeric :: common name the 'weir.' Nearly as rare as the Chaste, Chimeric are unpredictable and seldom retain form from one encounter to the next, yet many Chimeric do not seem to have control of their form. Their arcane abilities, when they have them, are not dependable.
* :: cultural note :: it has been observed that in the Courts many personal formal motifs are based upon Chine demons.
Demons :: abyss kin :: demonology 10 pts with sorcery (or 5 pts with conjuration) [1] Casting: Cast a line into the Abyss and contact a demon [1] Contract: Commit a pledge that the demon will honor [1] Calling: Call back the line from the Abyss with demon in tow [1] Coerce: Coerce any creatures or demons not bound by contract from the cast line [1] Chain: Chain servitor demon to your own life [5] Castle: lock Castle about Chain to protect the bond from other demonology
As is the case with the guilds of Healers, Shadowmasters, and Trump artists, the guild of Demonologists is a weak and non-political organization. While their members are sometimes consulted by House lords, it is more often the case that specific traditions of demon calling and handling are kept secret within each House. The guild also supports current archeology projects within the Courts. As with the other guild systems, it is only the Chaos persons not supported by their House, or seeking a retreat from House traditions that join, or are allowed to join, this ancient guild.
The reference library of the guild is said to contain a few volumes of lore more than a hundred-thousand years old.
Delve deeper into the mysteries of the Logrus. If you are the Blood of Chaos, you have little to fear.
Read about the Courts of Chaos, from an Amber point of view. Report to King Random.
