Being an Introduction to Spectras, Cambions, and other Lesser Demons
In this treatise I hope to give the reader enough understanding to avoid the worst consequences of a bad deal with a demon, and also simpler encounters. I should caution you to not attempt to use this advice on anything as lofty as a Seeyo, or any of the three upper choirs in general.[1]
The first and most important thing to understand is that spirits of any kind are not people. They have strange behaviors, and may take offense at the slightest touch, like using an improper term of address for their "gender" caste[2], or for violating some proscription of the gods.[3] Cambions, beyond this, are often crazed and actively malicious instead of merely acting on factors we cannot understand[4]. Because of this it is necessary to betray nothing during your bargaining, and to start off the bargain with a promise of some protection.[5]
The ideal first interaction involves making sure the spirit treats you as a "customer".[6] This seems to restrict their actions, and establishes you as someone able to be bargained with, if not actually respected. If the demon in question is a Cambion this may be more complicated, since they seem to have more leeway in interpreting the codes they're bound by. Keep a wary head, and always have a path to flee in mind.[7]
[1] For the purposes of this work, we shall be using Spina's classification system, as it is the simplest and best, or at least the one which has the fewest points of failure. However, Tira's system also bears note, especially for its explanatory power as to the nature of the least demons, as well as its refutation of Comi's baseless rejection of least demons as being least demons at all. For a fuller discussion of this, one should read Marak's Grimoire of Least Power.
[2] Note well that caste is only the current popular theory on what "gender" might mean, and remember the history of theories on that subject:
Ragn held that it was related to the size and puissance of a demon, and that "he" was the term for the stronger half of their population. They were killed by an enraged Cambion.
All theorists assumed the existence of two genders signified by "he" and "she" but Yanohk proved, almost at the cost of their life, the existence of others.
Shura proposed that it was related to the length of their head-fur, or to the nature of their garb, but both failed them when they attempted to bind the Seeyo of Ceeyatl and were slaughtered, along with their compatriots, for these mistakes.
Mahk's maxim stands as perhaps the best bit of advice, even as they infamous refused to participate in the "Gender Debates" of the second century. I shall quote it here in full, from memory, as it remains advice that shall form the centerpiece of my Caste chapter. "Demons posses a foreign and alien tribute sometimes called "gender" or "sex" which has no parallels within the our race. Rather than arguing as to its nature, or--to our peril--declaring it absurd and thus facing the wrath of demons, I propose a solution, one which must be forthwith adopted: ask them their "gender" and obey their dictates and dictums, lest you suffer the fate of so many great Mages and Scholars before."
[3] The Gods are beyond the scope of this work, but I have begun some notes on the matter, and once this book is published I shall journey beyond the mountains, in order to visit the Great Shrine of Alph-Bet. Should I survive this experience, it shall advance the Art of the Occult. I have an idea as to the meaning of "access override", as the demonic tongue calls it, which might shed yet more light on forbidden lore.
[4] As a reminder for the reader, Cambions have the strangest origin of most lesser demons, being produced from the union of a demon and a Forgotten, and so they share more of the characteristics of their creators and less marked divine influence. Don't expect them to follow any usual codes, and try to establish a longer deal with more protections.
[5] See the third chapter for a list of the most basic invocations, which must be pronounced exactly and perfectly right. Failure to do so can end very badly, as I have personal experience in.
[6] Translations of this word have included: Master, Overlord, King, but also Slave, Fool, Blackguard… yet in most cases this effort is meaningless. At times understanding the meaning of a word gets in the way of proper usage of it.
[7] There is no dishonor in fleeing before a Demon. Many flee upon their first sight, so hideous is their countenance, and so alien is their mind and body from the way people look and act. Bravery in the face of the absurd is often folly.
A/N: Yes, more than half of this is footnotes and explanations, because it's an academic text intended for Mages, and also the discourse on this kind of thing is heavily divided. Bugs can't into Human culture very well at all. But if you look at old manuscripts, especially medieval ones, taking a few verses of a scripture and then having the rest of the page be footnotes is pretty common. Scholars are like that!
