Demon

Demons are a race of creatures which inhabit oneirosea. Many of them aim to cross over into reality by possessing a human, so they are resented and seen as threats by most of human society.

Overview

Appearance

Demons have a wide variety of physical characteristics, and no two are the same. Humanoid, animal-like, and completely monstrous demons have all been recorded. However, most demons have features of fish or other oceanic creatures, which contributed to the naming of oneirosea.

Size also varies, with known demons ranging from cat- to skyscraper-sized. Large size indicates an abundance of mist energy, but can also mean the demon lacks the mastery over its mist to condense itself into a more convenient form, so it is not perfectly indicative of power.

Regardless of their form, all demons can be identified by their eyes. Demon eye contain at least three layers of concentric circles in different colors, and have a flat / non-shiny texture. Some demons have human-like eyeballs, while for others, circular patterns on their skin serve as their "eyes". It is theorized that the eyes are a physical manifestation of a demon's sense of identity and purpose.

Behavior

Demons inherit some knowledge and personality traits from the humans who created the mist that makes up their form. This process is inconsistent, so demons vary in intelligence and even sapience. Some are human-like, while others are mindless or have strange alien mindsets. Demons often come into existence simply "knowing" random facts, without any idea of the source of that knowledge.

Rather than being born, demons spontaneously form out of the mist in oneirosea. In the absence of any family structures, they are largely solitary creatures who wander oneirosea alone. However, some have the ability to form bonds and feel affection for one another, and others band together for practical reasons (e.g. protection from more powerful demons). Therefore, it is not uncommon to see small groups of demons.

Being made of mist, a demon's mind and shape are highly malleable. As long as a demon remains in oneirosea, it is susceptible to the dimension's shifts and changes. Environmental changes may completely alter a demon's personality or body. While some demons are content with this, many are unsatisfied with their inconsistent existences and seek to become "real" by infiltrating the human world.

Classification

Alcyon Corporation sorts demons into six ranks: sunlight, twilight, midnight, abyssal, hadal, and benthic. Sunlight-rank demons are those whose power level is typical for demons found in the Sunlight Zone of oneirosea, and so forth.

Minor Demons

"Minor demons" are constructs made of mist that are weaker than even sunlight-rank demons. They are not actually demons, and lack the distinctive eyes. However, if they absorb enough mist, they can sometimes become full-fledged demons. As such, Alcyon Corporation keeps track of their patterns, and sometimes dispatches agents to exterminate them before they can become a threat.

Most minor demons resemble floating white specks, shaped like plankton, microorganisms, or simple dots. There are also some that are attached to the ground, and these generally resemble land or sea plants. The study of these plant-like minor demons is called oneirobiology. There is some debate among oneirobiologists whether the "trees" of oneirosea are minor demons or merely non-living landscape features.

Powers & Abilities

Most demons demonstrate an intuitive grasp of the basic mist manipulation skills. Many of them also have combat abilities based on their current physical forms. For example, demons with wings can often fly even if it would violate the laws of physics, and some demons that resemble venomous animals are acidic to the touch.

Demons become more powerful the more mist they have in their bodies. Demons who wish to improve their combat abilities might swim to deeper zones of oneirosea, where they can absorb more mist from the atmosphere, or eat other demons to integrate their mist. However, both these processes run the risk of identity contamination, so other demons avoid becoming more powerful so they can stay as they are.

Wake

Main article: Wake

A wake is a unique power based on a demon's sense of identity, similar to a human diver's mare. Wakes are mostly restricted to diels, but a few demons with very strong senses of identity have one as well.

Possession

Main article: Changeling

Demons have the ability to possess dreaming humans, by finding the human's soul in oneirosea and travelling up its tether into the human's body in reality. If they manage to maintain control of the body until the tether snaps, then they permanently fuse with the body and become a changeling.

Diels

Main article: Diel

A diel is a demon that has made a deal with Alcyon Corporation. They are given a robotic shell that allows them to survive in reality, in exchange for working at the company.