top of page

Bog Demon

To the commoners, Bog demons, as any other demons, are nothing more than the usual child stories about the ‘thing in the swamps’, or the ‘monster in the woods’, tailored to make sure the young would not go out there risking getting lost. Nothing more distant from the actual reality.

Knowledge on these creatures is sparse even among the scholars of the Inquisition and the rare demonologists, there they are described as monstrous bringers of nightmares and disharmony. Further, most tomes are in complete disagreement, some noting that they are the least dangerous and most useful of all the demons: their subordinates crushed into absolute loyalty, even if at the cost of a desperate need for sloth. This turns the people who follow a Bog Demon, whether willing or not, into both great tools, and makes them more vulnerable to the old gods' corruption.

​

Other books though indicate how these demons are actually the most dangerous instead, highlighting how their inherent laziness would cause any societal apparatus they get involved with to collapse.

It is also noted that Bog Demons seem to leave a destructive trail behind them, although not in the form that one might expect. It is often heard that nightmares and horrific dreams follow them wherever they go. Deep within the marshlands of the Empire, stories speak of strangers claiming to be medicine men, wise women or scholars. Almost always following the arrival of these strangers the stories speak of horrific nightmares, collective dreams and mass hysteria gripping entire villages, often the inhabitants of these villages then turn to the stranger for guidance, who can then use their knowledge and control to bend the villagers to their will.

​

The Inquisition works hardest to keep their nature and existence a secret, as knowledge of these beings would only fuel the resentment towards the large bureaucracy within The Empire and of corrupt leadership. And as they see them as the most useful tools, if they can manage to manipulate them to do their bidding.

For the Bog Demon itself the experience of growing up is one of constant annoyance and self loathing. Being usually, but not always, born into some of the richest noble families, they find good positions early to hand over many of their responsibilities, yet their urges make it almost impossible for them to do any good in these early positions.

​

While feeling a need for grandeur, driven to reach the highest office they can manage, at the same time, they feel as an incredibly oppressing force that pushes them towards inaction, especially of the physical kind. The contrast between the two ends up eventually making the demon discover the pleasures of achieving something by making others work in their place, be it physically, by having any sort of hirelings and servants, or by parasitizing other nobles, rich families, scholars and diplomats: ultimately, trying to collect, almost hoard, as many servants as possible, only to do less and less, ending up at the top of an extremely inefficient pyramid of command.

​

Those that aren’t born into nobility often find they need to be more creative in how they manipulate those around them, finding it much harder to adhere to the social norms set by the Empire. Their human side often remains in turmoil between the teachings of the Three and the wish to be a respectable official, and the demonic urge to gain power and to abuse it to achieve a life of no efforts and all gains. Seeing their responsibility and power as a great honour in their human self, and seeing it as a tool to indulge in their pleasure when the demonic side takes over.

​

These conflicting parts of their nature make them strive to be great leaders, especially when trying to prove their worth to take their positions in leadership, just to fall into great sloth and indulgent idleness when they achieve such a position.

Appearance

In their true form Bog demons appear as ugly as their nature makes them. They seem like they are made of rotting bark overgrown with mushrooms and mold, which gives them a very distinctive odor. Their features are distorted and inhuman looking almost as if their face was melting off their bones.

​

It is this appearance that made most accounts of Bog Demons in their true form describe some monstrous walking corpse that must have arisen from the swamps, or any other form of woodland monster. However this form also makes it easier for them to hide within the woods, as from afar they will just appear as if they were part of them.

​

In their human form on the other hand they appear just as any child of their parents would appear. They tend to be uglier than their parents or siblings, though this seems to be true only on average, and they all have black hair, though this tends to become grey already since an unusually young age. They often are to some degree overweight, chubby, or at least having no signs of muscles or fitness, and might at times have a soft odour of stagnant water or mold over their clothes. Although, as they are almost exclusively born within the richest and noblest of families, they can easily afford the perfumes to mask these scents.

Behavior

The Bog Demons' urges, other than most Demons, are not a drive to action most of the time, but instead a drive to inaction, to delegate and abuse those they are put in charge of. Their demonic side gives them great pleasure in indulging in food, drink, and merriment, and keeps them in constant bliss when able to pull strings to get their every wish fulfilled. The only drive when in that position of being able to command and control the people around them, are their whims. Leading to depraved and sadistic wishes. Not needing to indulge themselves, they are driven to bend the rules of what they can order someone to do, demanding their subordinates to give or prepare them mighty feasts, bring them luxuries, perform sexual displays for them, or even to do completely unnecessary, often even degrading tasks.

When outside of a position of power however, their urges turn into a frantic need to find a position of power, the more people to command in it, the better. They will go to great lengths to prove themselves, able to overcome some of their limits to prove that they are worthy of the position they are aiming for, driven by a demonic urges to achieve a position of power.

​

​When it would be otherwise impossible for them to reach a position of power, due to reasons they can not influence, they will try to instead resort to obtaining power by proxy, or by being close to these figures and exhorting an influence of them, often even thanks to their corruptive powers. These people, and the ones around the Bog Demon, might in fact often experience strange, often vivid dreams, where the Demon slowly introduces them to the notion of allowing them to have a saying, offer them the best position they could obtain, offer gifts, or a way to still conduct a mostly lazy life…transmitting the same influence to the very person in power.

These desires and urges are in stark conflict with their core human personality. Raised in well situated and educated noble families, they tend to have a strong sense of responsibility over their subordinates, which often comes into conflict with their demonic needs.

​

So one day, when able to fight their urges, they may be the best and most respectable leader one could imagine, the other when their urges take over, they are driven into needy indulgence in their abilities to command and control.

​

This leads to a constant fight between their friendly, helpful, and respectable self, and the dark and needy monster that hides underneath. And while many Bog Demons find themselves wanting to resign to stop their dark nature to harm, they will usually find themselves unable to, their urges making it impossible to refuse a position of power if offered, or to resign once they have taken office. Similarly, they would not refuse the chance, if given, to take advantage of or to be a parasite on someone else's position to make their life easier, and achieve power by proxy, if circumstances made it impossible to reach power directly.

​

The few Bog Demons that defy their nature and leave civilization or go into hiding often might end up with Ogroids, where they can live out their urges relatively freely. Being extremely weak , lazy, and totally unfit both for defending themselves and life in the wilderness, not many of the Bog Demons that leave civilization live very long, and even the other advanced societies of the Ilthir or Tlatlacah would tend to steer clear from the Bog Demons, should they know of their nature, as their influence is toxic and destructive.

Patron God: Boggereth

Possible Faith: The Three - Empire Loyalty

Personality traits: Extremely lazy, often arrogant, self centered, manipulative, always seeking to get into power positions. Trying to either get in power, or to be in power by proxy. Hate physical activity and any form of training or routine, such as military drill. Besides hating any intense physical activity, they also might get nervous if there is nobody to order or boss around. They also like feasts, and are particularly annoyed by uncooperative subordinates.

Physical characteristics: Usually to some degree overweight, or at least completely lacking in physical shape and muscle mass. Never of blonde or very light hair color

Demonic Urges: 

  • Urge to get into a position of power and to abuse it, especially to abuse servants and other underlings that can't say no. This also extends to service workers like barmaids

  • Extreme drive towards laziness and inaction, especially physical

  • Urge to procrastinate, to spend their days in comfort doing nothing but making others do their work

​

Weakness: Forced in Demon Form when forced to do manual labor

​

Other Weaknesses: Demons are asked to pick 2 out of a small list of weaknesses and must specify them at character creation. This list is private for metagaming reasons and will be shown to players during Character Creation.

​

Spells:

Illusion Self I, Read Emotions, Dream I, Dream II, Dream III*, Charm I, Charm II, Charm III*

* Only when in Demon form

​

​

Note: This race is for a restricted number of characters, before submitting a character, check for availability by opening a Character Creation Ticket.

​

Note: Demons are High Risk characters. They may be killed more easily given their nature by certain other characters and races (e.g. by the Inquisition). Opening a ticket before a possible death however is still mandatory.

​

Authors: Maya, Rashan, Squiggly, Hokan

bottom of page