The Demon Mindset
Think of someone you like. Now, find a flaw in them that irks you, if only slightly. Think about it, and how much it bothers you. If it doesn't, keep thinking about it until it does.
Now think of someone you hate. Think of all the things they've done to annoy you, think of every little character flaw they have that bothers you. Keep thinking about it, keep getting madder and madder until you're about to run out the door, into your car, and chase them down with a 2x4 to club them to death.
That's what a Demon feels on a good day.
Every moment of the Demon's life, he hates. It's a all encompasing hate. The demon has no friends, no allies, no one he tolerates. There are those he hates a little less than the others, but make no mistake, he hates them too.
Now, take any random demon. He hates everything and everyone. Those weaker than him, he punishes severely, merely because he can. Those stronger punish him, forcing his hatred of them to grow. It's a never ending cycle, the Greater beating the weaker, who hate the greater, who beat those lesser than themselves, who hate the ones who beat them, and so forth, and so on.
Now, imagine this creature being summoned. Here it is, a pasty worm with a book and a funny hat who wouldn't last three seconds in the Abyss, much less survive for thousands of years. Yet, sure enough, this worm has trapped the Demon in a summoning spell. A lowly, pathetic, completely inferior Human has trapped a member of the great Demonic Race.
Well, at least you now know why Demons are so pissed off when you summon them.
Demonic Anatomy
First off, take that misconception you have from reading the Monster Manual. Demons are creatures of Chaos. Don't think for one second they shape their forms into neatly identifyable catagories.
Those presented in the MM are good templates, good judges of Demonic Power. But not all Vrocks are the same. Not all Mariliths have six arms, not all Balors use flaming swords.
But a Demon's anatomy can tell you much of it's home. Demons with fur probably come from cold layers of the Abyss, and fire would be a good attack. Demons with many armor plates are probably prey for some other creature in the Abyss. Demons with many spikes and claws probably shun ranged combat. Demons who seem to lack muscle definition and do not carry weapons are probably highly magical.
But, demons are creatures of chaos, and even this logic will not help you against all of them.
IE - If you're a DM, and using stock demons right out of the MM, and not even saying they're different colored, much less changing their anatomy completely, you need to re-think the way you make your Demons.
The Blood War
Most Demons say they're in the Blood War, fighting the "Good" Fight. Most Demons are lying as well. Mariliths and Balors are usually the only ones truly concerned. They raise their army through drafting whatever Demon they can find. And few demons can stand up to True Tanar'ri. If given the chance, though, most Demons wouldn't come within a thousand miles of a Blood War battleground. For the most part, they just don't care. It is this fact alone, their chaotic nature, that has allowed the War to continue as long as it has. If every Demon in the Abyss were to enter the battlefield, not even a united front of Yugoloths and Devils could hold the Demonic Army back.
Now, you, dear reader, have a job to do.
While I'm sure there will be many questions about the Blood War, the major players, and the Demonic lifestyle, I'm sure there are others. And to be honest, I'd rather answer these questions a few at a time, rather than trying to think of every possible answer at once.
So ask your question, and I shall answer it.
And so, I sez to the guy, I sez "Look, you only gots five bullets left, and there's eight o' them. No ways you can do it." And alls he does is gimme this goofy grin. Last time I saw him alive.
And now, for some shameless self promotion
Think of someone you like. Now, find a flaw in them that irks you, if only slightly. Think about it, and how much it bothers you. If it doesn't, keep thinking about it until it does.
Now think of someone you hate. Think of all the things they've done to annoy you, think of every little character flaw they have that bothers you. Keep thinking about it, keep getting madder and madder until you're about to run out the door, into your car, and chase them down with a 2x4 to club them to death.
That's what a Demon feels on a good day.
Every moment of the Demon's life, he hates. It's a all encompasing hate. The demon has no friends, no allies, no one he tolerates. There are those he hates a little less than the others, but make no mistake, he hates them too.
Now, take any random demon. He hates everything and everyone. Those weaker than him, he punishes severely, merely because he can. Those stronger punish him, forcing his hatred of them to grow. It's a never ending cycle, the Greater beating the weaker, who hate the greater, who beat those lesser than themselves, who hate the ones who beat them, and so forth, and so on.
Now, imagine this creature being summoned. Here it is, a pasty worm with a book and a funny hat who wouldn't last three seconds in the Abyss, much less survive for thousands of years. Yet, sure enough, this worm has trapped the Demon in a summoning spell. A lowly, pathetic, completely inferior Human has trapped a member of the great Demonic Race.
Well, at least you now know why Demons are so pissed off when you summon them.
Demonic Anatomy
First off, take that misconception you have from reading the Monster Manual. Demons are creatures of Chaos. Don't think for one second they shape their forms into neatly identifyable catagories.
Those presented in the MM are good templates, good judges of Demonic Power. But not all Vrocks are the same. Not all Mariliths have six arms, not all Balors use flaming swords.
But a Demon's anatomy can tell you much of it's home. Demons with fur probably come from cold layers of the Abyss, and fire would be a good attack. Demons with many armor plates are probably prey for some other creature in the Abyss. Demons with many spikes and claws probably shun ranged combat. Demons who seem to lack muscle definition and do not carry weapons are probably highly magical.
But, demons are creatures of chaos, and even this logic will not help you against all of them.
IE - If you're a DM, and using stock demons right out of the MM, and not even saying they're different colored, much less changing their anatomy completely, you need to re-think the way you make your Demons.
The Blood War
Most Demons say they're in the Blood War, fighting the "Good" Fight. Most Demons are lying as well. Mariliths and Balors are usually the only ones truly concerned. They raise their army through drafting whatever Demon they can find. And few demons can stand up to True Tanar'ri. If given the chance, though, most Demons wouldn't come within a thousand miles of a Blood War battleground. For the most part, they just don't care. It is this fact alone, their chaotic nature, that has allowed the War to continue as long as it has. If every Demon in the Abyss were to enter the battlefield, not even a united front of Yugoloths and Devils could hold the Demonic Army back.
Now, you, dear reader, have a job to do.
While I'm sure there will be many questions about the Blood War, the major players, and the Demonic lifestyle, I'm sure there are others. And to be honest, I'd rather answer these questions a few at a time, rather than trying to think of every possible answer at once.
So ask your question, and I shall answer it.
And so, I sez to the guy, I sez "Look, you only gots five bullets left, and there's eight o' them. No ways you can do it." And alls he does is gimme this goofy grin. Last time I saw him alive.
And now, for some shameless self promotion
