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About
In Heroes 6 and in Ashan in general, demons are the embodiment of Chaos. They believe that the only meaningful moral value is individual freedom and they feel no need to justify their actions. They kill because they can or because they want to. That's why they are viewed as "evil" or dangerous and why the other factions of Ashan prefer them to be locked up in their prison realm, Sheogh, which Sar Elam created for them. However, there are individuals amongst these nations who are seduced by this absolute notion of free will above all and end up converted to demon worship. Inferno has as its inspiration the Greek Maenads / Bacchantes (the frenzied followers of Greek God Dionysus), Decadent Rome (Nero, Caligula, Heliogabale etc.), Carthage, and Aztec Priests.
Vital Statistics
Associated colous: Red and black
Symbols: Ouroboros (the snake that eats its own tail), Unicursal Hexagram (six pointed star), Chaos spiral
Worship: Their progenitor - Urgash the Primordial Dragon of Chaos
Core Philosophy: "Might makes Right": the ability to commit an act is sufficient justification to do it. Conquer, plunder and rape the weak - or not, as you wish - indulge yourself in selfish pleasures, convert the fools who do not understand the meaning of liberty. Power is to be taken by the strong and lorded over the weak.
Country / Kingdom: Sheogh, the Prison of Fire
Capital City: Ur-Hekal, the "Gate of the Burning Heart"
Lore
“We will burn the world to ash and dance upon its ruins!”
The Demons were spawned by Urgash, the Dragon of Chaos, to confront and overcome the children of the Elemental Dragons. For centuries, they’ve been imprisoned in Sheogh, a mystical jail-world created at the heart of Ashan’s fiery core by the sacrifice of the prophet Sar-Elam.
The Demons have evolved to appreciate the heat, but the fact that they cannot escape their prison is intolerable. However, a flaw in the ritual weakens the prison when a Bloodmoon eclipse occurs, allowing the demon legions to regain a momentary freedom, that they usually use to swarm and ravage Ashan.
The Infernal hierarchy is complex but simply structured; the strongest rule, imposing their will on the weakest, and all bow their horned heads to the six Demon Overlords.
A new leader, Kha Beleth, has started to preach another possibility for demonic organization. He speaks of a world where all demons are created equal and have a right to live freely within and without Sheogh. He is gathering followers, and intends on using the upcoming Bloodmoon eclipse to gain a foothold on Ashan, and expose, if not impose, his people’s right to an equal place amongst the children of the Dragon Gods.
Worship
Their progenitor – Urgash, the Primordial Dragon of Chaos
Inferno is the faction of demons, spawned by Urgash, the Dragon of Chaos, to confront and overcome the children of the Elemental Dragons. For centuries, they have been imprisoned in Sheogh, a mystical jail-world created at the heart of Ashan¢s fiery core. They believe that the only meaningful moral value is individual freedom, and they feel no need to justify their actions. That's why they are viewed as "Evil" and dangerous, and why the other factions of Ashan prefer them to be locked up in their prison-realm. However, there are individuals, among these nations, who are seduced by this absolute notion of Free Will above all, and end up converted to demon worship.
Social Organisation
Demons have an absolute monarchy. What the six overlords say, goes. The slightest disagreement or disobedience is met with swift and severe punishment. Their "vassals" are organized into a rough hierarchy based on power, with the stronger bullying the weak into obedience. Powerful demons usually style themselves Lords of sorts and claim some section of their particular hell as their own. The strongest hold cities or positions in their master's court, which they guard jealously.
Architecture
Demon architecture is built entirely by slave labor and shaped by Chaos magic. Designed to intimidate, it is often massive, twisted and eminently impractical. There is no basic shape for a given demonic building but they all mix basalt, lava and some sort of thick organic slime as their basic materials. The final result is definitely alien-looking.
Magic
Demon magic is drawn from raw chaos and destructive by nature. Overall demons show an unsurpassed ability to use the most negative aspects of magic (direct damage, damage over time, debuffs)..
Most of their spells are in fact corrupted versions of the "regular" elemental spells.
Recent Events
The heat and lava is something the Demons have evolved to actually appreciate, but the fact that they cannot escape their prison is insupportable. A new leader, Kha Beleth, has started to preach a world where all demons are created equal and have a right to live freely within and without Sheogh. He is gathering followers, and intends on using the upcoming Bloodmoon eclipse to gain a foothold on Ashan, and expose, if not impose, his people¢s right to an equal place amongst the children of the Dragon Gods.
Inferno warfare: “Divide, Summon and Conquer”
The entire nation of Demons is an army. Each one lives only to raven and destroy, and is quite capable of wreaking tremendous havoc on his own. Forged together into a disciplined army, they would be nearly unstoppable. Fortunately for their enemies, instilling that discipline is harder than it looks, and the lesser demons often need to be driven along by massive, whip-wielding taskmasters.
Military strengths
Deadly magic, unparalleled stamina and toughness, luck is always on their side.
Military weaknesses
No discipline, flickering morale very few support abilities.