Demons

Leader: Apollo Theseus

Species Overview

Demons are born of The Abyss, a primordial realm of shadows, chaos, and power. They are immortal beings tied to dark forces, each bearing unique marks of their lineage. Demons are not inherently evil... they are creatures of passion, ambition, and instinct, molded by their environment and their House's values.

Most demons belong to one of five Noble Houses, each representing a domain of power within the Abyss. These Houses are embroiled in a constant game of dominance, diplomacy, betrayal, and survival. Royal bloodlines, such as House Vexmir, trace their ancestry to the first-born of the Abyss itself.

History of the Demons of Valtheris 

“From the Abyss, We Rose.”

Long before Valtheris was carved into realms and kingdoms, before the mortals shaped their histories and the stars whispered magic to the Arcanists, there was The Abyss—an endless, chaotic void of raw creation and destruction. From this churning darkness, the first demons were born, not of flesh, but of shadow, flame, and will. These beings were the original children of entropy, molded by instinct, ambition, and elemental force.

Among the earliest to rise were the Founding Bloodlines, each claiming dominion over a fragment of the Abyss’s raw power. These bloodlines would eventually become the Noble Houses, establishing hierarchy, civilization, and law within what came to be known as the Cinderstone Bastion—the seat of demonkind's power and politics.

✦ The Rise of the Houses

To curb the endless infighting among demons and bring order to the chaos, the five most powerful bloodlines founded the House system. Each House was carved from a core aspect of demonic nature... shadow, fire, desire, wildness, and law. As their power grew, they established dominions within Cinderstone Bastion, binding lesser demons to their banners through allegiance, oaths, and blood.

These five Houses are:

• House Vexmir – Scholars of pact and punishment, the arbiters of infernal law.

• House Draven – Masters of shadow and blood, the most enigmatic and cunning.

• House Virexen – Whisperers of secrets and temptation, moving unseen but ever-present.

• House Tzareth – Wild-hearted and primal, speaking the language of beasts and instincts.

• House Noctharis – Lords of war and flame, feared and revered in equal measure.

Though each House claims noble blood, only a few lineages—like House Vexmir —can trace their ancestry back to the First Flame or the Abyssal Singularity, the origin point of their kind.

✦ The Royal Divide

High-ranking demons, especially royals, are rare and revered. Born of the purest Abyssal blood, they are walking legacies of ancient power. They alone retain multiple abilities, are granted access to forbidden rites, and carry the Royal Aura—a force of presence that can bend the will of lesser beings and silence entire courts with a look.

But such power comes at a price. Royalty is not just privilege—it is burden. Royal demons are bound to their House’s legacy and expectations. Their lives are dictated by political games, strategic marriages, ancient vendettas, and ancestral oaths. Some royals, seek freedom from these chains... only to find that the Abyss never truly lets go. Others embrace it and thrive from it. 

Strengths and Weaknesses

Demon Strengths (Choose 2 Only) 

(Non-high-ranking demons only — Royals are exempt)

• Infernal Fire
  Control hellfire to burn, sear, or intimidate. Strong in battle and resistant to regular flames.

• Basic Soulbinding
  Form temporary contracts or pacts that last a short time. Cannot trap souls or make eternal deals.

• Lesser Shapeshifting
  Morph parts of your body (claws, wings, horns) or fully transform into one beast-like form.

• Minor Illusions
  Create small, temporary illusions to deceive, hide, or misdirect. They fade under scrutiny or light magic.

• Charm Aura
  Emit a soft, demonic allure that can sway emotions or encourage trust. Subtle and short-term.

• Shadowmeld
  Blend into nearby shadows to hide or move unseen. Less effective in bright or holy environments.

• Lesser Pactcraft
  Offer simple infernal deals (e.g., protection for a task). These are short-lived and non-binding to souls.

• Beast Tongue
  Communicate with or control lesser demonic creatures and infernal beasts.

Demon Weaknesses 

These weaknesses apply to all demons, regardless of their rank or House.

• Vulnerability to Holy or Celestial Magic
  Light-based or divine magic burns through demonic defenses, causing immense pain and damage.

• Infernal Pact Binding
  Once a pact is accepted—willingly or tricked into—it becomes magically binding. Breaking it invokes punishment from the Abyss.

• Bloodline Flaws (House-Specific)
  Each demon House has a unique inherited flaw:

  • Draven: Vulnerable to truth magic and ancestral blood rituals.

  • Noctharis: Infernal fire dims and weakens in extreme cold.

  • Virexen: Strong emotions can unravel their enchantments or soul-ties.

  • Tzareth: Beast form may trigger involuntarily under primal stress.

  • Vexmir: Must speak the truth when discussing deals, oaths, or contracts.

• The Abyssal Mark
  Every demon is born (or transformed) with an invisible sigil tied to the Abyss. When found and targeted through spell or ritual, it can be used to weaken, trap, or banish them.

• True Name Binding 
  Demons who were once human carry a hidden weakness: their true (human) name.
  If another character learns and speaks this name with intent, it can summon and bind the demon to them until a pact, agreement, or death resolves the bond. This act bypasses normal pacts and is viewed as dangerously taboo, even among demons.

Powers of High-Ranking Demons

• Shadowcraft (exclusive to House Draven) – Craft illusions, travel through shadows (Shadowstep), summon shadowbeasts
  

• Infernal Fire – Command hellfire in combat
  

• Soulbinding – Trap souls for power, create binding pacts (infernal contracts)
  

• Demonic Form – A monstrous, powerful form that reflects their House and bloodline
  

• Royal Aura – Instills dread in mortals and low demons; grants commanding presence
  

• Ancient Rites – Access to bloodline rituals, gates between realms, and forbidden knowledge

Demon Territories & Their Leaders

Here you will find the names of the all the houses in Cindestone Bastion to join and their leaderss to contact if you want to join their house. To find out information on each Territory you will click on it to read more. 

House Name	Leader	Territory
House Vexmir	Apollo Theseus	Territory
House Draven	Seraphina Draven	Nerezza Spire
House Noctharis	Braxton Obscura	Vulkan Vale
House Virexen	TBD	Territory
House Tzareth	Zarek Raxthar	Ember Marshes