Needing Help ~ Demon Creation.

[Dark Masamune]

Hello people ^_^

I am writing a fantasy story which will contain the race of demons. Despite being a merciless, malevolent race they also possess formidable powers. In an anime film known as Ninja Scroll, there are eight demons who each have a unique power. I was wondering if any people here could come up with some really unique, original ability/power ideas for my demons, please? I cannot stress how original (ish) these powers should be. And I do not care if the powers are especially freak or even crude in a certain sense.

Thanks for your time.

~DM

 

[Brian G Turner]

Hi Dark Masamune, and welcome to the chronicles network.

As a starter for playing with this - why not write down a set of attributes that are basic and boring in themselves...

...then tear each one into a separate peice of paper...

...and then mix them all up together...

...then draw a few at random and add them up.


By drawing out two or three at a time, you could mix them up into more interesting character traits -

For example:

Trait 1: invisibility
Trait 2: lycanthropy

Combined Result: Demon becomes invisible in moonlight - or: demon takes on some human form every full moon - or: demon only becomes visible in moonlight.

Simply mix up attributes using a little imagination.

Try that and see if that helps bring out some interesting attributes?

Ultimatrely, a possibly fun tool for creating slightly more interesting powers.

 

[Michael]

Hmm. Honestly, I'd think this might be something you'd want to work out for yourself, although I'll give it a shot anyway because it sounds like an interesting exercise. If you do use any suggestions offered here, you can proabably explore them further until you develop something that reflects your imagination more.

How about a demon (or maybe even a "type" of demon) that can transfer abilities from opposing foes--specifically angels--to his master? He can do it according to rules, such as maybe only during a battle and the transfer is temporary, or only after the foe is defeated and the transfer is permanent. You can always develop variations of this.

How did I do?

EDIT: Wow, Brian seems to have an excellent idea there!

 

[Princess Ivy]

for me, daemons are not frightening. That may sound odd. But what I mean is, that compared to the evil that lurks within the minds and hearts of men and women, that is used around the world on other people, animals or the envoironment. And then our justification of our actions to make them palitable, compared to that, a demon who can shoot fire balls is nothing. its something tangible that can be fought.
My suggestion therefore would be for a demon with an intangible ability. Swaying a crowd to its will by pheromone, or helping people to justify great evil.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Yep - in my personal opinion, "demons" and the like are nothing more than external representations of internal human moral conflicts. So if you want to be a little more high-brow, you can examine some of your own "inner demons" - ie, points of moral conflict" and then personify them. The method suggested in post 2 is if you'd rather be a bit more pulp.

Heck, mix both approaches - high-brow pulp.

 

[Circus Cranium]

Here's a demon site:

http://www.djmcadam.com/demons.htm


But I must agree that you need to come up with their powers on your own. Make it fun. Demons, like any other sort of over-used monster, (vampires, werewolves, ghosts) present a challenge when writing fiction---to give an ancient boogie man a new twist. But the good part is, this is YOUR story, therefore you are the god, and you get to decide what unique attributes THESE demons have. It's wide open; just try to make it something nobody else has done. Good luck!

 

[Chimeco]

I think Ivy hit the nail on the head with this one. Certainly the most terrible demon would be the one that brings out the darkest nature in oneself, and gives that part of you conscious control.

 

[Cuda Rahl]

hey heres a shot i dont i f this is unique but i did think itup what about a demon who can copy peoples best trait i.e strength speed agility so you get a really wierd demon with big mucsly arms and long powerfull legsand bi eyes for the dark, wide nostrils you know stuff like that and you dont have to worry about poportions cos demons dont obey the laws of science
just a little thought that took me a while

 

[dustinzgirl]

Hello people ^_^

I am writing a fantasy story which will contain the race of demons. Despite being a merciless, malevolent race they also possess formidable powers. In an anime film known as Ninja Scroll, there are eight demons who each have a unique power. I was wondering if any people here could come up with some really unique, original ability/power ideas for my demons, please? I cannot stress how original (ish) these powers should be. And I do not care if the powers are especially freak or even crude in a certain sense.

Thanks for your time.

~DM

I like extremes. So, if you are trying to create characters, regardless of whether or not the are demons, look at thier atmosphere and make an extreme opposite or extreme compliment of that.

For instance, in one story I am working on, I have a virgin 27 yr old who is endowed with the spirit of mother nature.

Another, I have a warrior princess who has always fought for the good side, suddenly finding herself giving birth to a demon.

I like to take bad guys and give them immense powers. I have a wizard that commands dragons, but can not tie his own shoes. I have a demon who can insintigrate anything of living material with a look, but doing so leaves him unable to see anything for a few minutes.

I think that is what makes really good fiction, a set of extreme situations balanced by extremes in abilities, or disabilities.

 

[_Kitana_]

The first thing that came to my mind was the power to control blood. I am not sure what exactly I mean by this. However I got this feeling like if you cut yourself and you are bleeding a demon can use it to summon a bloody creature forward or can cause your blood within to boil or freeze. Depending which way you want to go with this. Maybe even have the power to make it burst from underneath your skin and gush out your eyeballs.

Think of the challenges put forth to fight a monster that could control your very own life force. That could kill you from with in. Think of the new powers or things you would have to come up to fight him, every time someone around you died the demon grew more powerful.

How about a demon that can control your emotions or even one that can draw upon the energy of your soul? Hell why not mix an enchanter and a demon together….. One who can take control of your mind, take on forums of others and enchant you into liking them and believing them. If that wasn’t enough how about memorizing you were you could only focus on one object or thing and forget everything else.

I think people tend to follow the laws of fantasy lure to much. After all it is your imagination so you do not always have to go with traditional folklore. Create your own.

 

[Michael]

I think people tend to follow the laws of fantasy lure to much. After all it is your imagination so you do not always have to go with traditional folklore. Create your own.

This is what I like best in fantasy. Your own story (to your ability), your own way, and still write an effective work of fiction. We build on conventions, because what else do we have to go on about writing a story? But somehow we need to stretch the boundaries of those conventions.

 

[_Kitana_]

This is what I like best in fantasy. Your own story (to your ability), your own way, and still write an effective work of fiction. We build on conventions, because what else do we have to go on about writing a story? But somehow we need to stretch the boundaries of those conventions.

I don't know I get bored when the story follows and binds the chars to much to those conventions. I always find myself intrested in people who make up there own.

 

[Michael]

I don't know I get bored when the story follows and binds the chars to much to those conventions. I always find myself intrested in people who make up there own.

Oh, yes. I guess I did not say it right because that's exactly what I mean. Imagination is what creates a story, as I said "your own story." But I also tend to think that some conventions are unavoidable whether we intend it or not. What I meant was to say that "there's nothing new under sun," so we try to say something in our own way. In this case, create a story with our own imaginations, as different as we can from other stories.

 

[Hesh]

How about demons set on the Seven Deadly Sins?

Like Gluttony could be a fat, bulbous monsters consuming anything and everything in it's path with his large tongue, and everytime he eats something, he becomes bigger.

Lust could be a beautiful succubus.

Pride could be an anti-paladin, always talking of his great powers. The result of his own pride is an increase in strength.

Envy could be a creature who steals the heros' powers.

Greed could be a small demon, and as he steals items from the heros, he gets bigger and more powerful.

Wrath(or Anger) could be an average, hateful, powerful demon. Perhaps he traps and tortures the heros.

Sloth could be a fat demon sitting on a throne of corpses. It emits an aura that causes any and all around it to become lazy.