The Classification of Demons/Angels

Sinners:
The majority of humankind is rejected by Heaven upon their deaths, after which they fall into the 9th Circle of Hell. There, sinners are largely left to their own fate, free to openly indulge their vices with little oversight and form large, dysfunctional communities. As such, sinners are primarily tormented by each other and themselves, locked in an endless spiral of violence, addiction, and misery.

Higher forms of demon usually have little interaction with them outside of encouraging their depravity. Instead, they are primarily governed by demon overlords chosen by Lucifer himself. Occasionally the archdukes of Hell escort sinners to their own levels as servants, food, or simply currency. Regardless, all but the more self-confident see being taken to another layer as a gruesome fate.

Due to how rapidly their population increases, sinners are culled in an annual extermination event, where angelic exterminators are sent into the 9th Circle to reduce their numbers to a level agreed upon by the rulers of Heaven and Hell. The exact nature of this extermination is a mystery to most, but most agree it has little to do with population density and has more metaphysical ramifications.

Habitat: Almost exclusively the 1st Ring

Universal Abilities:
-Demonic Form: Sinners take on demonic forms that represent their lives, their sins, their fears, and their deaths.The most common forms are those of animals that represent their negative aspects, but more abstract forms or even ones like objects or electronics are frequent.

Their bodies usually come with quirks and abilities that reflect their appearance. In addition, most sinners have varying but always limited control of their physiology, able to hide appendages or appear less (or more) threatening. However such changes tend to take some degree of concentration and slipping into their true form is common under stress. A sinner's shadow almost always resembles their true form.

-Life after Death: As former mortals, sinners cannot be killed again. Their twisted bodies are merely vessels for their souls and are exceedingly durable. They are notably resistant to damage and are capable of functioning with even grievous injuries. Because they are already dead, they are not able to die again unless finished with a weapon forged of angelic steel.

Despite this, they are not by any means invulnerable. They still suffer the effects of any injuries they sustain, but simply cannot die from them. If their brain or heart are damaged beyond functioning, they enter a state of nightmare-filled torpor until their shells are once again able to sustain them.

-Infernal Rejuvenation: Sinners heal from their wounds at an accelerated rate. Broken bones mend in days instead of months and entire limbs may regenerate over the course of a week or so. Of course, regrowing body parts is immensely painful, particularly bone.

If a sinner is reduced to ashes or a smear of gore (often called the "Chunky Salsa Threshold"), the sinner instead regenerates above the 9th Circle in a process that usually takes approximately a week. They then experience “The Fall” once again, and are cast back into Hell to continue their torment. The experience of being disembodied is generally considered unpleasant, often likened to an extremely vivid nightmare where they are able to feel every sensation.

Wounds from consecrated weapons or Angelic steel will still leave scars and can permanently dismember sinners. Such wounds will not heal barring powerful outside intervention.

-Hellish Magic: Many, though not all, sinners have access to a degree of magical power, drawn from the ambient infernal energies around them. The nature of these abilities varies wildly, but often represent a sinner's vices in some way. This makes them double edged swords, as they offer great utility but encourage the behavior that damned them.

Typically, the longer a sinner manages to survive without being exterminated, the more potent their latent magical abilities become. Practice and infernal blessings may also help cultivate one's magical potential, but barring outside influence the potential of a sinner will always pale in comparison to that of a higher demon.

• Overlords:
  The demon overlords are the elite ruling class of the 9th Circle and are the closest thing the sinners truly have to leaders or governments. In truth, they would be more akin to organized crime leaders if anything in Hell were truly illegal. An overlord is chosen by Lucifer himself to manage, govern, and pacify the sinners in his domain, usually choosing the most ruthless and power-hungry to take such a position. Along with the title comes massive infernal power and access to a number of privileges normally reserved for Hellborne nobles.
  
  In most cases, overlords maintain their rule by simply supplying sinners with their favored pastimes. They offer up easy access to entertainment, drugs, and any number of other vices to placate the droves of sinners in their domains. Each one rules over a segment of the 9th Circle, inside which they are generally free to rule as they see fit. They frequently squabble with each other for territory and answer only to Lucifer, though usually must have at least begrudging respect for other members of the Hellborne nobility.
  
  Habitat: Usually the 1st Ring, but they have been known to journey to other Rings for extended periods of time.
  
  Examples: Vox, Valentino, Velvet, Rosie
  
  
  
  Universal Abilities:
  -Demonic Boon: In addition to all the features normally associated with sinners, overlords have all received an infernal blessing from Lucifer himself. This blessing allows them to traverse to other Circles of Hell to aid them in their business dealings, though such comings and goings are closely monitored by the demons that inhabit said Circles and Lucifer's agents.
  
  The blessing also grants them increased control over their own physiology, allowing them to morph themselves into more monstrous versions of themselves when necessary. Finally, any latent magical abilities they possessed as sinners are massively amplified, making them significantly more powerful than most sinners.
  
  Unfortunately for the overlords, this boon can be revoked by Lucifer at any time, and thus are still bound to serve him if they wish to keep the great advantages their status grants them.

Truly the most pitiful creatures of Hell, if they could even really be considered creatures. Shades form from the scattered remnants of demons that have been exterminated. While the raw life force of exterminated sinners gets gathered and transferred into power or currency and the corpses are scavenged by other locals, the remains of the sinner’s identity and sins congeal into a tar-like substance that sprouts up all over Pentagram City.

Shades are little more than sludgy films of negative emotions and scattered memories of any number of individual exterminated sinners. Shades grow over time, both naturally and by combining with each other like bacterial colonies. Once sufficiently large, they have a tendency to start growing numerous eyes that watch the world intently, though they are too scattered to be capable of anything resembling a rational thought.

They are typically harmless if annoying, having to be treated like a particularly sticky and disgusting strain of mold. However, if they get large enough they've been known to take control of any objects they're attached to, and when that happens all bets are off on how dangerous the shade may or may not be. Some demons intentionally cultivate shades for use as guard dogs, decorations, or even companions.

Habitat: The 1st Ring

Examples: N/A

Universal Abilities:
-Dark Infestation: Shades congeal and grow in many unattended and forgotten reaches of Pentagram City unless removed. While they are not innately dangerous, they gain the ability to “puppet” objects they are attached to. Some shades can even camouflage themselves to blend in with the object, becoming almost undetectable.

Once large and powerful enough, a shade can lash out violently, animating its host object with deadly force. Even normally stationary objects can bend and contort in order to move and attack those nearby. They can even infect other demons, though the process is slow and would require either extended immobilization or extreme lethargy on the part of the host.

Sinspawn:
Despite generally being considered infertile, sinners may bear children once in a great, great while. However, rather than a one-in-a-million miracle, such an event is usually considered a great misfortune. Being dead, the children of sinners are born without souls, instead simply being creatures of flesh, bone, and malevolent intent drawn from the very essence of Hell itself.

Sinspawn, or Cacodemons as the more erudite call them, are monstrous beings that only bear passing resemblance to their parents. They are usually vile, deformed abominations with nothing but the desire to satisfy their base instincts. Others are more docile, but nevertheless exist solely to pester one or both parents, who they tail and harass relentlessly.

Despite their often destructive nature, sinspawn often fetch a high price on the black market due to the potential for rare ingredients, opponents in fighting arenas, or simply exotic pets or execution methods. This leads some enterprising (or foolhardy) demons to intentionally breed them with variable success that usually ends in unleashing even more horrors within Pentagram City in bulk.

In overwhelmingly rare circumstances, usually with the help of powerful magic or infernal blessings, Sinspawn have been known to grow not into monsters but sentient beings with souls not dissimilar to their parents. Such a creature is condemned to Hell from birth and, save for growing into adulthood, are for all intents and purposes as dead as their parents. As such, they typically become virtually identical to “normal” sinners over time, though some daemons view them with certain academic curiosity…

Examples: N/A
Universal Abilities:
-Soulless Might: Sinspawn are very much unlike each other in most regards and take many shapes and forms. Lithe and feral hunters, lumbering behemoths, thrashing and malformed abominations, scurrying ankle-biters, and countless more. In any case, their physical might is normally quite exceptional compared to most sinners.

They tend to be exceptionally durable, even more so than typical Sinners. Larger specimens have been seen shrugging off high-caliber firearms and can heal from grievous injuries just like their parents. However, they cannot simply regenerate from truly lethal injuries and die like any other animal would.

Those that have souls, however, are almost indistinguishable from normal sinners, including access to magic and the ability to regenerate from "death" thanks to having souls. They do tend to have a slightly higher affinity for hell’s magic, likely stemming from its use in their very births.

Imps:
Generally considered the absolute lowest form of demon along with hellhounds, imps serve as the grunt labor and servants of those of higher status. Imps are rarely given any respect even by lowly sinners, but they are by far the most abundant form of hellborne demon, found in nearly every circle in large numbers. In fact, below the 1st Ring, imps make up the vast majority of Hell’s population, though they are usually confined to designated areas by the local rulers.

While they are far from respected, imps are not generally treated as slaves except by the most brutal of nobility. They are free to pursue their own ambitions, though imps rarely stray far from their lowly origins and tend to spend their lives in service to more powerful forms of demon. After all, compared to most creatures in Hell or even normal humans, imps are weaker, smaller, and almost never have any talent for magic.They are, however, both numerous and industrious. As such they do indeed form the backbone of most Ring’s economies and workforce.

The temperaments, lifestyles, and freedom of the imps vary greatly between Rings, but imps are largely homogeneous in appearance compared to other demons. Imps tend to be slender, short creatures with long tails, red skin, hooved feet, and horns. White splotching in the skin is common, as is the growth of protruding spines from their skeletal structures.

Habitat: Just about every Ring of Hell.

Examples: Blitzo, Moxxie, Millie

Universal Abilities:
-Fireproof: Imps are completely immune to both mundane and hellfire, making it very easy to adapt to the extremely hostile environments of Hell. The flames of heaven, however, are still extremely hazardous to them.

-Prehensile Limbs: Imps have prehensile tongues as well as tails, easily able to manipulate objects or even haul their full body weight.
Hellhounds:
Hellhounds are nearly as reviled as imps or even more so in some areas. Most find themselves in the services of more powerful demons and their treatment can range anywhere between employees and mere animals. Due to their typically large size and physical strength, they tend to serve as guards or physical laborers, though they have been known to serve in a large variety of other roles, including companionship.

Much like imps, hellhounds are not necessarily slaves by design, but tend towards servitude due to the oppressive nature of more powerful demons and their own lack of magical capacity. In fact, many different “breeds” of hellhound exist due to the meddling of various higher forms of demon and there exist facilities that straddle the line between "orphanage" and "kennel" where many young hellhounds wind up one way or another.

Although naturally quite aggressive, hellhounds are fully sentient and just as capable of speech, articulate thought, and ambition as any other demon. Most hellhounds do not mind their lot in life as long as they are not abused by those above them, but they have been known to strike off on their own and take control of their own lives, particularly in Pentagram City.

Habitat: Almost all Rings, but particularly Greed.

Examples: Loona, Vortex, Crymini

Universal Abilities:
-Tough as Nails: Hellhounds do not possess much in the way of magical properties, but they are generally quite large and rugged. While some “breeds” tend to be smaller and less threatening, they still possess at least some of the strength and aggression typical to normal hellhounds.


Succubi:
One would be hard pressed to find a better personification of lust than a succubus (or the male equivalent, an incubus). Succubi exist entirely to predate on mortalkind, feeding on their lifeforce by luring them into sexual encounters. While they rarely outright kill their prey, their influence can easily warp a mortal’s mind and weaken their soul, easily leading them down the path of damnation.

Even in Hell succubi need to feed on the lifeforce of other demons, giving them an understandable reputation for being both predatory and promiscuous. Those that are not able to secure jobs that allow them regular access to the surface usually take on roles as prostitutes, consorts, or entertainers. However, some have been known to take on more professional roles so long as they have the power to secure themselves a steady supply of suitors.

Succubi and incubi are almost universally gorgeous, appearing as winged demons with skin tones ranging from deep red to pale pink. They are quite closely related to imps in terms of body structure, though such a comparison would almost universally cause great offense.

Habitat: The Ring of Lust

Examples: Verosika Mayday

Universal Abilities:
-Life Suck: Much like vampires of legend, succubi can draw raw life energy from other creatures they come into intimate contact with. While just making contact with a potential source is enough to draw small amounts, arousal makes it much easier to draw greater quantities from the victim. Succubi need this life force to survive and will effectively starve without it, usually dying after about a year without feeding though this timeline can vary greatly.

The effects of this energy draining manifest as fatigue, impaired mental capabilities, and often infatuation with the succubus in question. These symptoms usually dissipate over the course of about a day, though repeated feedings can intensify them and even lead to permanent damage.

Particularly powerful succubi can even drain such a vast quantity of life force at once that it results in the immediate death of the victim. Demons aren’t nearly as susceptible to the negative effects of this life drain, though it can still cause them significant harm after repeated or particularly intense feedings.

-Pornomancy: Like most demons, infernal magic runs through the veins of succubi. Typically, their magical abilities come in forms that incite unnatural lust or desire in the minds of those around them, though the form this can take may vary greatly. Whether through song, magical pheromones, or even just eye contact, succubi may compel mortals to become infatuated with them.

Hellborne demons are significantly resistant to magics of that sort and rarely succumb to them with the same level of uncontrollable desire that strikes mortals, but succubi still often utilize them to further enhance their more traditional methods of luring mates.

Succubi are also rather in tune with magic and learning other of it comes pretty naturally to them. While they are known to dabble in more destructive forms of magic, they tend towards illusion, transformation, and anything else that helps them deceive or enhance their natural seduction.
Daemons:
Often called “True Demons” or “Devils”, this label encompasses a large variety of various fiends and monsters native to Hell. The counterparts to the higher forms of angel, daemons are creatures of pure evil, often said to have been spawned from the corrupted essence of Hell itself. However, their attitudes and levels of malevolence are as diverse as their physical appearances.

While they make up but a very small fraction of Hell’s population, they are considered Hell’s true people by many, and as such are treated as a sort of noble caste in most Circles, though there are some who take on less esteemed titles. Daemon courts are filled with intrigue, treachery, and scheming, usually attempting to engineer more power for themselves or their family lines.

Daemons vary wildly in appearance, in many cases being quite similar to lowly sinners, though they tend to be much more monstrous in appearance, often sporting horns, multiple eyes, spikey growths, and the like. Daemonic traits and magics are hereditary, and as such daemons usually have very close family ties.

Habitat: Every Circle of Hell

Examples: Stella, Octavia

Universal Abilities:
-Embodiment of Sin: Daemons represent one or more sins which are an integral part of their being. Just as an angel is inclined to do good and embody their respective virtue, daemons are compelled to spread and indulge in their sin. While they can work against this base nature, it is difficult for them to avoid its allure and even then rarely have any real reason to do so. In addition, daemons take on additional traits and powers depending on the sin they embody. They also have limited control over their appearance, usually using it to hide their true nature.

-Hellish Magic: All daemons have access to an array of powerful demonic magic, usually related to the sin or concept they embody. True mastery of their magical abilities takes a great deal of practice but far outweighs the magical potential of any mortal soul. While not every daemon has the discipline necessary to hone their abilities, those that do are forces to be reckoned with.

-Daemonic Vitality: Daemons are, as far as most beings are concerned, timeless. Daemons are incredibly difficult to slay, able to survive and recover from crippling wounds and mortal injuries with shocking speed. While it is difficult, it is possible to kill them through physical trauma and they have a particular vulnerability to consecrated weapons. While they do age over many centuries, few if any daemons ever have ever actually perished as a result of time passing.

• Archfiends:
  The true Nobility of Hell, Archfiends are the most powerful entities one can encounter throughout the 9 Circles.. They are the rulers of the underworld, lording over the rest of demonkind with absolute authority. The effects of their schemes ripple throughout Hell and Earth alike, occasionally even rattling the Pearly Gates themselves.That said, the Archfiends also play a huge role in the grand order of the universe, with some arguing they are just as integral as the Archangels of Heaven.
  
  Much like their Heavenly counterparts, each Archfiend governs a particular concept in addition to a physical space in Hell, over which they have immense knowledge and control. Despite their great influence and frequent abuses of their power, the Archfiends are greatly responsible for their sphere of influence and shirking of this responsibility usually carries dire consequences from their fellows and, in rare cases, can even lead to them being deposed.
  
  The Archfiends form a strict hierarchy, with Lucifer at the top as King and branching down into various Lords, Dukes, Marquises, and so forth. Archfiends are chosen by those higher up on the pyramid, usually from members of their own family, where they are tutored in the most powerful magic Hell has to offer. However, occasionally exceptional Daemons are chosen for the role or, rarely, even Fallen Angels. Rumors of lowly demons or even sinners rising to the rank often circulate, but such an event would be a devastating scandal.
  
  Habitat: Nearly every Circle of Hell
  
  Examples: Lucifer, Stolas, Mammon, Asmodeus
  
  Universal Abilities:
  -Lord of Sin: Archfiends possess all of the traits of whatever daemonic stock they were born from, but amplified to an even greater extent. Their physical and/or magical talents are taken to the most extreme lengths, putting other Daemons to shame. Even without their powerful regalia they have access to virtually deific power that increases is might the further up the hierarchy one gets.
  
  -Infernal Regalia: Upon being crowned, most Archfiends are also granted one or more powerful magical artifacts, usually in the form of either a ritual grimoire or an enchanted ring. However, magical weapons, tools, or even instruments are not unheard of. These items are often seen as symbols of their authority, and are thus guarded jealously. The loss of such an artifact is a deep shame that can lead to a host of unfortunate consequences.
  
  -Domains: Most Archfiends have one or more “domains” that become an integral part of their persona and magical abilities. These domains can vary wildly but usually encompass a particular topic or concept, such as wealth, astronomy, combat, tyranny, etc. These concepts are virtually inseparable from the Archfiend in question and carry with them a number of divine responsibilities they must oversee.
  
  Archfiends are experts of their domains and there are few creatures that can compare with their raw levels of knowledge in those fields. These domains are also what usually entice mortals into contacting them, usually in the hopes of blessings or forbidden knowledge. Of course, such gifts are always given in the interest of furthering the Archfiend's goals or spreading as much general evil and misery as possible.

Fallen Angels:
When, for whatever reason, an angel is either cast out of Haven or trapped within Hell, they become a fallen angel. In some cases the process is immediate, with the angel renouncing their holiness and all ties to Heaven. In others, the process could take years, decades, or even centuries as the holy being struggles in vain to escape their fate. Regardless, most scholars suggest that it is only a matter of time before corruption claims them.

These fallen ones become twisted parodies of their former selves, taking on appearances much like those of daemons and retaining only hints of their former glory. In fact, it is often difficult to distinguish these former holy beings from the hellborne they dwell amongst. It is rare for traits such as compassion or mercy to survive their transition, usually being consumed with feelings of betrayal and self-loathing that only leave the fallen all the more bitter and cruel.

Attitudes towards the fallen are diverse, with some seeing them as noble beings who have chosen the "right" side, while others viewing them as disgraceful pretenders. In either case, fallen usually integrating into Hell in capacities similar to their former lives. Fallen from higher angelic stock find themselves at home with other daemons, while lowly cherubs are cast off with the imps, where they rarely survive for long.

Habitat: Nearly all the Circles, but particularly the 9th, Pride.

Examples: Lucifer

Universal Abilities:
-Corruption of Virtue: Much like normal daemons, fallen angels embody one or more sins that make up their beings. However, in their case these sins and vices are corruptions (or sometimes complete reversals) of their former virtues. For instance, patience can easily become sloth or diligence can twist into wrath.

-Echoes of Holiness: Sometimes, but not always, a fallen angel will retain some of the holy abilities it had before its fall. However, such abilities are best kept secret at all cost, since many would view such a talent as a sign that they are still harboring some of their Angelic virtue. Daemons as a whole are willing to tolerate or even embrace the Fallen, but would see harboring love for Heaven as a disgraceful betrayal.

Cambions:
Also called “half-demons” or “hellspawn”, cambions are the offspring of a true daemon and a human. Unlike their demonic parents, cambions are not necessarily inclined towards malevolence, although they are much more vulnerable to its temptation than an average mortal. Those fortunate enough to spend their lives free from the corruption of Hell are able to become heroes with as much frequency as villains.

However, most demons take an active interest in their spawn at the very least, in the case that they don’t raise them themselves. They are frequently treated with fear and suspicion from mortals aware of their heritage, a fact that their infernal family is always eager to exploit. Cambions that do not fall under the heel of their demonic heritage are treated with intense hostility and it is commonplace for the demonic parent to kill their own child in such a case. Those that do fall into step are most often deployed as undercover agents meant to lead their chosen people astray.

Expectedly, cambions possess an arsenal of magical abilities inherited from their demonic parent, or even both parents if magic runs strong in their other bloodline. While rarely as powerful as their full-blooded counterparts, they are not to be trifled with, particularly those of archfiend blood. Upon death, Cambions become malformed daemons as opposed to sinners and are treated with either revulsion or begrudging acceptance, depending on their relationship with their parent.

Habitat: Every Circle of Hell

Examples: the Antichrist

Universal Powers:
-Demonic Blood: Like daemons, cambions have access to a variety of powerful infernal magics inherited from their demon parent that become more powerful with focus and age. They can additionally learn to empower their magic through the corruption of their mortal soul. While they do perish of old age, their lifespans can reach several hundred years before then.



Daevas:
In exceptionally rare cases, the mixture of demon and angel blood results in a being most call, if anything, a daeva. Also known as "bastard demons/angels", these creatures have the traits of both their holy and unholy parents, though usually not in equal quantities. They are often thought to be the result of forbidden dalliances between angels and demons, though more often they are the result of a fallen angels' dormant angelic heritage manifesting in their offspring. As a result, they are almost exclusively found in Hell.

In Hell, most daevas are rarely recognized as such, often just considered daemons with unusual traits by the majority of demons. Those few that recognize them for what they are usually treat them as mere oddities, with some viewing them with some scholarly interest. Regardless, while they are not persecuted, many daevas find it difficult to fully fit in with demon society. Conversely, Heaven has very little tolerance for their existence and consider their very births shameful. While open hostilities are rare, daevas in Heaven usually get shuffled off to Hell one way or another eventually.

Their appearance usually falls in line with that of other daemons, usually bearing just a hint of their parent's divine heritage. Because they are neither metaphysically good nor evil, Daevas have a much wider range of temperaments than their demon brethren, though it is usually not noticeable when they fall on the more altruistic side of the scale. As such, many daeva learn to stifle or outright suppress their more "angelic" attitudes for the sake of fitting in, becoming almost indistinguishable from demons in the process.

Habitat: Any Circle of Hell, overwhelmingly rarely in Heaven

Examples: Charlie

Universal Powers:
-Virtue and Sin: Daevas inherit both infernal and holy power from their bloodline, though the balance of such power is unique to each individual. In cases where one parent was from a weaker caste of angel or demon than the other, this balance is universally tipped towards the stronger side. In more equal situations, their home is usually the deciding factor, and since most daevas live in Hell it is more common for their infernal side to take precedence. That said, the weaker side of their bloodline is still always present and, hypothetically, a daeva can learn to balance the opposing forces within them. Though, such a mastery has never been documented.

How this power manifests is often identical to that of their parents on both sides, though often to a somewhat more limited degree than a full-blooded member of their caste. For example, a daeva of cherub blood would have a slightly limited version of their ubiquitous healing magic, and one born of a higher daemon would have access to their infernal magics and hellish vitality. In addition, a daeva is also vulnerable to whatever energy their dominant bloodline is, but to a much lesser extent. A daeva with dominant demon heritage will still be scorched by holy flame, but less severely than a full-blooded daemon.