Hidden Lore: Demons

Demons: spiritus immundus (Evil spirits)
Demons are a race of creatures native to the abyss, the great void or the nothing. They are ferocity personified and will attack any creature just for the sheer fun of it—even other demons. Some are not as bloodthirsty and would rather gather the souls of the unfortunate by trickery or blackmail. The possibility to gain more power is usually enough to motivata a demon to act.


Species of Demons:

Fates, who alter destiny
Incubi and Succubi, who stimulate lust and perversion
Marching Hordes, who bring about war
Familiars, who assist witches
Nightmares, who disturb sleep through bad dreams
Disguised Demons
Demons who Assail the Saintly
Demons who Instigate Witchcraft


Devils:
Those demons that serve a more powerful demon are called devils. Usually invoke and offer pacts, vows or deals in exchange for something highly sought by the evil entities. A soul. Specially pure souls.


Demonic posession:
Demonic possession is the control of an individual by a malevolent supernatural being (Demon or devil). Descriptions of demonic possessions often include erased memories or personalities, convulsions, “fits” and fainting as if one were dying. Other descriptions include access to hidden knowledge (gnosis/spiritual knowledge) and foreign languages (glossolalia/speaking in tongues), drastic changes in vocal intonation and facial structure, the sudden appearance of injuries (scratches, bite marks) or lesions, and superhuman strength. Unlike in channeling or other forms of possession, the subject has no control over the possessing entity and so it will persist until forced to leave the victim, usually through a form of exorcism.


Exorcism:
Exorcism (binding by oath) is a religious practice of evicting demons or other spiritual entities from a person or place which they are believed to have possessed. Depending on the spiritual beliefs of the exorcist, this may be done by causing the entity to swear an oath, performing an elaborate ritual, or simply by commanding it to depart in the name of a higher power.