Demon (Ashan)

For other uses, see demon.

An arch-demon from Heroes V

The demons of Ashan are the children of Urgash, the Dragon of Chaos. They dwell in Sheogh, the prison of Urgash, ever since Sar-Elam sacrificed himself to imprison them away from the children of Asha.

Properties

Demons believe the only moral value is individual freedom. The desire and ability to commit an act justifies its execution. Demons live only to raven and destroy.

Demon armies are undisciplined, with lesser demons often requiring whip-wielding taskmasters to drive them. If their leaders are capable of instilling enough discipline, demonic forces wait for enemies to be softened up by ranged attacks and chaos magic, then power straight through anything opposing them. Otherwise, they turn into a ravening mob.

In addition to their sheer power, Demons are capable of using mind control, shape-shifting, and fear spells. Demon leaders have the ability to open gates to Sheogh on the surface of Ashan, often "gating" in reinforcements during battle.

Through complex rituals, a Wizard can temporarily summon a Demon to Ashan if they know its true name, at the cost of their soul. Some Demons adopt a pseudonym to avoid being summoned for pointless tasks, the most common of which is "Nymus". Additionally, as demonstrated by Toghrul, Orcs can use their Demon blood to summon Demons in exchange for their soul, without requiring knowledge of a Demon's true name.

When a child of Asha dies, its soul purged of its memories and suffering, then sent back to Ashan to be born anew. Conversely, when a Demon dies, they are reincarnated as an Imp with all of their memories intact; however, they lose their strength and must work to regain it, possibly taking decades to return to full strength. Members of the elder races who sell their souls to Urgash are also reborn in Sheogh with their memories intact, but as a Succubus or Incubus.

Demons will often be born to a new mother each time they are reincarnated, but mothers in Sheogh do not raise the children they spawn. Breeder mothers can reproduce asexually, relying solely on the power of Urgash to increase their own numbers.

Demons have the power to corrupt the children of Ashan. The Breeder Queen is capable of corrupting all pregnant women in the area, causing their fetuses to turn into Demons that claw their way out of the womb and eat their own mothers. Additionally, through a demonic ritual, the children of Asha can be turned into Heretics, corrupting their flesh and soul, and fusing them with a suit of armor.

Demons do not really worship Urgash, as he is too absorbed in his own ravings to pay attention to his children.

History

Creation

Asha, the primordial Dragon of Order, created Ashan and the six Elemental Dragons. Asha then created the mortal elder races as servants of the Elemental Dragons, and placed them in Ashan.

Consumed with envy and disgust, Urgash, the primordial Dragon of Chaos, endeavored to destroy and corrupt Asha's creations. Urgash created the Demons, a race of vicious creatures who yield to their base urges, as a mockery of the elder races.

To rule over his vicious offspring, Urgash created the six Demon Overlords, twisted counterparts to the Elemental Dragons. Each Overlord was given dominion over a different aspect of Urgash's unbridled passions: Ur-Jubaal, Overlord of Madness; Ur-Traggal, Overlord of Pain; Ur-Hekal, Overlord of Hate; Ur-Khrag, Overlord of Destruction; Ur-Vomoch, Overlord of Voracity; and Ur-Aazheel, Overlord of Proliferation.

Banishment to Sheogh

In the aftermath of the Elder Wars that destroyed the Shantiri Empire, the Demons took advantage of the ensuing chaos to reestablish themselves in Ashan, leaving their hideouts and building their strength in uninhabited parts of Ashan.

In 3 YSD, Ronan Falcon was crowned emperor of the Falcon Empire. At his coronation, Sar-Elam, the Seventh Dragon, prophesied that "For as long as your blood endures, the children of Ylath shall prosper". The Demons, aware of this prophecy, became determined to exterminate the Falcon bloodline.

Once they had built up their strength, the Demons emerged from their hideouts and attacked the races of Ashan, in an event known as the Wars of Fire. The races of Ashan band together to fight back against the demons. During this war, the Demons bring down many of the Angels' sky cities, and most of the Angels perish. After years of brutal conflict, the war was finally ended when Sar-Elam, the Seventh Dragon, sacrificed himself to lock the demons away in the prison world of Sheogh, where Urgash had been banished. To do so, Sar-Elam had to weave his soul into the barrier, preventing him from reincarnating.

A tiny flaw in the prison Sar-Elam constructed allows the demons to break out of Sheogh every time a Bloodmoon Eclipse occurs, although the event is rare and can usually be predicted by astrologers long in advance. During each eclipse, portals to Sheogh open up in ancient volcanoes, allowing the Demons break out of Sheogh and wage destruction on the surface of Ashan. While the Dwarves of Grimheim have sealed many of the volcanoes that connect to Sheogh, they cannot seal all of them, but these seals do prevent the hordes being too overwhelming. During these invasions, the beings living on the surface of Ashan often band together to beat these invaders back. After the eclipse is over, the Demons are dragged back to Sheogh — although sometimes a few Demons find a way to remain on the surface, often involving the consumption of magical artefacts or Dragonblood crystals.

First Eclipse

The First Eclipse occurred in 344 YSD. The demons broke out of their prison world and wrought destruction on Ashan. The races of Ashan were taken by surprise, not aware of the flaw in the spell sealing the gates of Sheogh, but were forced to ally to fight back in the War of the Blood Moon.

In a desperate attempt to create a force to fight back against the Demon invaders, the Crimson Wizards of the Seven Cities infused Human slaves and criminals with Demon blood, creating the Orcs. The Orcs proved extremely effective soldiers for killing demons.

The demons, terrified of this new enemy, realized that Orcs were difficult for the Wizards to create, so tried to prevent Orcs from reproducing. Demons created portals near Orc villages, then killed all of the Orc babies and pregnant Orcs. The furious Orcs have ever since considered the Demons their most hated enemies, even more than the Wizards who enslaved them. The Orcs call this conflict the War of Empty Cradles.

Ultimately, the Orcs defeated the Demons, successfully banishing them back to Sheogh. After the Demons banishment, the sages of Ashan discover the flaw in the barrier of Sheogh: when the moon (Asha's cocoon) is shadowed by Ashan (Urgash's prison), the walls of Sheogh are sufficiently weakened to allow Demons to escape.

Second Eclipse

The Second Eclipse occurred in 564 YSD. This time, the races of Ashan were aware of the impending eclipse, so were not caught completely unprepared.

In their siege of the Holy Falcon Empire's capitol Falcon's Reach, the Demon armies lead by Ahribban killed Archangel Uriel and Emperor Liam Falcon. Jezebeth, a member of Princess Gwendolyn's personal guard, revealed herself as a traitor who had sworn allegiance to Urgash and attempted to assassinate the princess. Duke Anton of Griffin killed Jezebeth and Ahribban, saving the Falcon Dynasty.

Up to this point, most Demons in Sheogh served one of the six Demon Overlords; the arch-demon Kha-Beleth instead relied on his own resources, not serving any of the overlords, and functioned as a powerful player in the politics of Sheogh. Sometime after the Second Eclipse, the Demon Overlords disappeared, and Kha-Beleth seized power as the Demon Sovereign, ruling a unified Sheogh. The only resistance against his rule in Sheogh was Kiril Griffin and his followers, who guarded the Invisible Library that Kiril himself had banished to Sheogh. In 650 YSD, Raelag used a Tear of Asha to return the Invisible Library to the surface; when Raelag purged the library of demons, defeating Kiril, Kha-Beleth became the unopposed ruler of Sheogh, presuming Kiril to be dead.

Third Eclipse

The Third Eclipse occurred in 717 YSD.

Now lead by Kha-Beleth, the Demon armies launched a coordinated attack, targeting the Dragon Knights and destroying their Hidden Houses.

Fourth Eclipse

The Fourth Eclipse occurred in 843 YSD. The Blind Brothers, having studied the eclipses, were able to predict exactly when this eclipse would occur, allowing the armies of Ashan to prepare.

Empress Maeve Falcon of the Holy Falcon Empire believed the empire was prepared for the invasion, but underestimated the Demon Sovereign. Demon assassins lead by the now-Succubus Jezebeth infiltrated the imperial capitol Falcon's Reach, killing Maeve and slaughtering her entire family, then burning Falcon's Reach to the ground. This event became known as Falcon's Last Flight. In reference to Maeve's hubris, this war became known as the War of Pride.

After the Demons had been beat back and the eclipse was over, a few Demons had managed to remain on the surface of Ashan. Among these remaining Demons was Jezebeth, who Duke Ivan of Griffin was able to track down and kill. Despite the Demon's interpretation of the prophecy, the end of the Falcon line did not trigger the end of the prosperity of Humans, although it did cause a succession war for the imperial throne known as the Ten Years War.

Fifth Eclipse

The Fifth Eclipse occurred in 951 YSD.

The Gray Alliance — lead by High King Alaron of Irollan, Emperor Alexei IV of the Holy Griffin Empire, and Cyrus, First of the Circle of the Silver Cities — successfully defeated the Demon invaders in what became known as the War of the Gray Alliance. As the Demons retreated through a portal back to Sheogh, Alexei charged through the portal, intending to destroy the Demon Sovereign, but Alaron and Cyrus did not follow out of cowardice; alone in Sheogh, Alexei was killed. However, the Dragon Knight Tieru was able to collect a piece of Alexei's soul at this moment, and used it to create the Heart of the Griffin, an artifact that could banish Demons from Ashan back to Sheogh.

During this eclipse, Kha-Beleth was able to mark an infant born on the day of the eclipse — Isabel Greyhound. The Kha-Beleth intends to use her to bear his child, the Demon Messiah. Kha-Beleth assigned the Heretic Agrael to watch over Isabel.

Sixth Eclipse

The Sixth Eclipse occurred in 969 YSD. Kha-Beleth planned to use this eclipse to kidnap Isabel (the child he had marked in the previous eclipse) and force her to give birth to his child, the Demon Messiah.

The Demons started their invasion by launching a surprise attack on the wedding of King Nicolai of the Holy Griffin Empire and Isabel Greyhound, but those Demons were defeated and Isabel sent away to safety. While these Demons were eventually pushed back, King Nicolai of the Holy Griffin Empire was eventually killed by Agrael during the invasion; in his final moments, Nicolai requested that Isabel rule in his stead as queen. This war became known as Queen Isabel's War.

Aware that the Demon Sovereign had marked Isabel, Zehir and his allies attempt to perform the Rite of True Nature on Isabel to purify her, but are betrayed by the Succubus Biara in disguise, who kidnaps Isabel and takes her to Sheogh. Godric, Raelag, Zehir, and Findan travel to Sheogh to rescue Isabel, but by the time they arrive, Isabel has already given birth to the Demon Messiah. The heroes defeat Kha-Beleth and bring Isabel back to the surface, unaware that she is actually Biara in disguise. The real Isabel escapes with Raelag to a secret cave in Ygg-Chall.

Disguised as Queen Isabel, Biara rules the Holy Griffin Empire, replacing the Church of Light with the Red Church, which worships Isabel as a saint.

Coming of the Demon Messiah

Kha-Beleth places his new son, Sareth, in the care of Phenrig. Sareth, the Demon Messiah, is a half-human half-demon who can walk Ashan like a human but wield chaos magic like a demon.

In 989 YSD, Sareth seeks out the Skull of Shadows, the only earthly remains of Sar-Elam, which can be used to free the Demons from Sheogh. The necromancer Arantir wages war against the Free Cities to stop the Demon Messiah, but he is defeated by Sareth. After finding the skull, Sareth is given a choice: use the skull release the demons from Sheogh, or to lock them away forever.

Types of demons

Succubi and Incubi

Main article: Succubus and Incubus

Children of Asha who pledge themselves to Urgash during their life are reincarnated as Succubi or Incubi after their death, instead of returning to Asha's cycle of life and death. Men are reincarnated as Incubi and women as Succubi. When a child of Asha is reincarnated as a Succubus or Incubus, they retain their memories from their previous life, just as they will for all future reincarnations. As reincarnations of powerful Demon cultists, they often have high ranks in Demon society.

Servants of the Demon Overlords

Each of the six Demon Overloads spawned a type of Demon who serve as its minions. After the disappearance of the Demon Overlords, these Demons instead all serve the Demon Sovereign.

• Ur-Jubaal, Overlord of Madness, is served by the Maniacs and Demented
• Ur-Vomoch, Overlord of Voracity, is served by the Hell hounds and Cerberi
• Ur-Traggal, Overlord of Pain, is served by the Tormentors and Lacerators
• Ur-Aazheel, Overlord of Proliferation, is served by the Breeders
• Ur-Khrag, Overlord of Destruction, is served by the Juggernauts and Ravagers
• Ur-Hekal, Overlord of Hate, is served by the Pit fiends and Pit lords

Additionally, some of the Demon Overlords have more powerful servants.

• Ur-Vomoch's avatar is the Abyssal Worm, a gigantic glutenous worm.
• Ur-Aazheel spawned the Breeder Queen, a gigantic breeder.

Champions of the Demon Overlords

During the first two eclipses, the Demon forces were lead by Demon Princes, each one a champion of one of the six Demon Overlords. In subsequent eclipses, the Demons instead all fight under the banner of Kha-Beleth.

• Ur-Hekal's Champion is Ahribban, the Prince of Hate.
• Ur-Khrag's Champion is Azkaal, Prince of Destruction. Despite serving Ur-Khrag, Azkaal has the appearance of a Pit fiend, the servants of Ur-Hekal.

Other demons

• Imps are small demons who love to steal mana.
• Horned demons are slow and sturdy creatures who form the basic infantry of demon armies.
• Hell chargers are cruel beasts summoned from the depths of Sheogh.
• Devils are Demons that lead armies into battle, under the command of a hero.
• Arch demons are the most powerful warriors in the infernal armies. Originally serving as the honor guard of the princes, they now serve Kha-Beleth.

Heretics

Despite not being Demons themselves, Demon armies are often lead by Heretics — Humans, Elves, Dwarves, etc. who abandoned their Dragon God to serve Urgash. The process of becoming a Heretic involves an excruciating ritual that corrupts their flesh and soul, but also confers the power to channel the fires of Sheogh and command its minions. Their corrupted body is then sealed underneath an irremovable semi-sentient suit of armor. This process can be reversed by conducting the Rite of True Nature, an exhausting and painful ritual.

As Heretics are not actually Demons, they are unaffected by the Heart of the Griffin.

Agrael was a notable Heretic.