The Possessed are humans who share their minds and bodies with akathartoi.[1]
Possession[]
Possession generally begins with some form of weakness in the host.[2] There are a variety of such weaknesses, all of which render possession far easier for a demon. Among them are a surfeit of hatred, despair, moral innocence (or ignorance), madness, and selfishness.[3] Additionally, being chosen in some way for possession (e.g. a child's parents giving him up in a deal with a darker power) can act as such a weakness.[2]
Possession can be detected immediately by the victim, who gets the sense that there is a "presence" attempting to take control, though most tend to dismiss this sensation.[4] A successful possession will be heralded by strange signs, such as temperature fluctuations, a smell of sulfur, or the sudden appearance of flies or other insects.[5]
It is possible to resist possession, with a strong enough will and moral sense, though sharing a Vice with the aggressor can make this more difficult.[4]
The Possessed[]
Once possessed, the traits of the demon begin to bleed somewhat into the host.[6] These traits tend to revolve around the Vices, given that the Vice is a demon's core. The stronger a host's connection to his Vice, the stronger the manifestation of those traits, usually in the form of Vestments, powers granted through the demon.[7]
The strength of one of the Possessed is often determined by both Willpower and Morality. The former is used to power Vestments and is boosted by the demon's own contributions.[8] The latter dictates the level of control the demon has over its host — the higher the host's Morality, the less control it has.[8] This becomes especially relevant when the host and demon disagree on a course of action. The two, in such a scenario, will engage in a clash of wills, with the victor being the one to control the body for a time.[9]
It is worth noting that regardless of how much control the demon has, it cannot compel the Possessed to commit suicide (though it may throw said host into a variety of dangerous situations or push him into Burnout, which occurs when a Possessed exercises too much demonic power).[10]
Powers of the Possessed[]
All Possessed have some innate talents acquired upon possession. The first is the Gift of Tongues. The more in tune with his Vice a Possessed is, the more languages he innately knows. The explanations for this vary — some say it is a holdover from the fracturing of mankind's languages when the Tower of Babel fell; others believe it is simply a factor of being more in tune with a demon that has existed for untold ages.[11]
A second talent is the ability to tap into the nigh-encyclopedic knowledge and eidetic memory of the demon.[11]
Third, demons can always recognize one another. This effect extends to their hosts, who become able to, in some way or another, see akathartoi and those possessed by them.[11]
Finally, just as demons are eternal, so too are those they inhabit. The Possessed are functionally immortal — at least against the depredations of time.[12]
Combatting the Possessed[]
Much of what damages demons also can be used to harm or free those possessed by them. This includes such things as abjurations[13], exorcisms[14], blessed items [14], and consecrated ground.[15]
Organizations[]
As with any set of people sharing a common trait, Possessed have been known to organize into a number of groups. The following are known Possessed organizations:
- The Abolitionists of Men[16]
- The Circle of Bethlehem[16]
- The Doormen[17]
- The Escapists[18]
- Knights of Ashtoreth[18]
- Library of the Bridle[19]
- The Lucky Ones[20]
- The Servants of Undoing[20]
- The Seven Deadlies[17]
- Sons and Daughters of Sarah[20]
- The Wharton Club[17]
Gallery[]
References[]
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