On Sorcery           

Sorcery is, in short, the practice of bending the natural laws to one’s whim. A successful spell is comprised of three parts: The power source, the chant and the user’s imagination. One must utter a chant while imagining the proper result. Chants are specialized for every spell a sorcerer possesses. They serve to conduct the flow of energy in a way that allows the caster’s imagined effect to become reality. The method for constructing a chant differs between sorcerers but it is largely a process of trial and error.  

Sorcery is normally associated with demons but it has many potential applications. From healing to mind control, almost anything can be done with the proper chant. Even so, certain actions are almost entirely impossible. Creating new life has been attempted many times but so far, only conversions between life-forms have been successful. Reviving the dead is another abandoned practice. So far, research into immortality has also been unsuccessful but I have high hopes. If we can convert humans into other beings, then surely we can create a body that does not fall prey to entropy.

On the Soul

Speaking as a student of the natural sciences, souls do not exist. They are weightless, invisible and untouchable. Without sorcery, souls would simply be another part of this world that is outside of humanity’s understanding.

Even with sorcery, their exact relationship with our bodies remains a mystery. What are sure of is that the two of them are closely linked. When the body dies, the soul will fade away soon afterwards. When the soul is warped, the owner’s body will change as well. If your body is the physical representation of your being, then your soul is a spiritual representation.

On Demons

Demons are the result of a soul warped through sorcery. They are a strange lifeform that exists somewhere between the physical and spiritual. Demons can exhibit impossible strength and even perform actions that seem to defy the laws of reality. The abilities that demons possess could be considered as a natural form of sorcery.

Strong as they may be, demons are far from perfect beings. For starters, demons need to eat souls or else they will slowly fade away. They tend to move around at night as they are weak to sunlight. Demons are also natural sociopaths, regardless of their nature as a human. They also seem to lose their human memories as they age.

The most confusing part about demons is their ability to absorb souls. If they wish to, demons can gain memories from the souls that they ingest. This is more of a melding process than an additive one. When a demon absorbs a soul, their own personalities can suffer irreversible changes.

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On Marks

A scar-like brand that is associated with misfortune and evil, that is what we call the ‘mark of the sorcerer’. This is one of the greatest achievements in sorcery. The mark allows sorcerers to transfer their knowledge from one generation to the next. Unfortunately, it only transfers knowledge of sorcery. They were apparently created from a failed attempt to mimic the absorption ability that demons possess.  

Marks can be transferred through two methods: death and birth. When received, the mark will lie dormant until it is activated. A mark cannot be activated if it was transferred through death, although that same mark can still be passed on through birth. It is possible that a marked individual will never gain access to their hidden knowledge. Marks activate when their owner comes in contact with the occult.

On Half-Demons

Half-demons are, as anyone can guess, the product of a demon and a human. To my knowledge, copulation between two demons has never resulted in new life. However, as long as one of the participants is human, there is a chance that a half-demon will be born. The process for this is…far too unpleasant to discuss, even for a researcher such as myself. All I can say is that after they’re born, half demons only have one living parent.

The result of this unholy combination is a creature that combines positive and negative elements from both sides. Half-demons do not need to eat souls but they will need to consume almost twice as much food as a human would. Physically, they are stronger than humans and even most demons. Their souls seem to be similar to humans and their bodies are thoroughly rooted in the physical plane. As proof, they cannot use the otherworldly abilities that demons possess and their body parts won’t evaporate (tested with hair, blood and skin).

Speaking of blood, the strangest quality of half-demons is exactly that: their blood. The blood of a half-demon has a strong scent which will attract demons. Neither human nor demon blood possesses this quality and it is still unclear why a mixture of the two does. Demons have an impressive sense of smell and that is doubly true when it comes to half-demon blood. Large quantities of blood could potentially attract demons from neighboring towns. Such an experiment is far too dangerous for me to test. I’ve obtained a small sample from a subject but I’m afraid to expose it to the air for even an instant.

On the Grim Festival

Demons become weaker as they starve but the reverse is also true. A demon that eats souls in excess can gain enormous strength. This property is put to its limits during an event known as the grim festival. During this festival, demons gather to consume one another. The winner will gain an untold amount of strength, which also translates to longevity. Because it births a creature of immense power with a near-infinite lifespan, some refer to the as the ‘god’s festival’.

No one knows exactly how these festivals begin. Some believe that they are predetermined by greater beings. Others, such as myself, believe that they are the result of careful planning and organization. Who would organize such a terrible event? I honestly couldn’t say. However, if any creature would desire to bring a god into our world, it would be man.