The Afflicted

The Afflicted is a blanket term that encompasses many beings, the most well known name is Demons. They are beings formed of darkness, brought to life by powerful negative emotions. Some believe that they were once one of the corporeal species of Earth that descended to lower plane upon their death.  If this is true, they do not remember their lives before. They are selfish, greedy beings, hellbent on spreading chaos and destruction. Many religions from ancient times to the present day have stories of these beings. As their true form is incorporeal, they can take on whatever shape they like, though it can be difficult for them to interact with the corporeal world. Some have felt or even seen these beings, people who have reported feeling something push them or grab them, seeing something out of the corner of their eye that wasn't there when they turned to look properly. As such, sometimes they choose to inhabit a host. This host can be of any corporeal race, unlike their Anointed cousins, they do not need to ask permission. However, the host can fight against the Afflicted and potentially dispel them if they have enough willpower. Afflicted have found ways around this, the usually choose beings with no will left to live as the fight is far less of a problem. They can choose to leave their host at any time.

The Power of an Afflicted varies from being to being, though most use dark or shadow based abilities. Some take on the aspects of different sins or emotions and hone their skills to better prove their claim. Greed, Lust, Envy, Rage, Vengeance, Pain. They can use their abilities in any way they wish, having none of the restrictions of the Anointed. They are also far more common then the Anointed and tend to hunt the light based creatures with a hunger of a starving animal. They have a number of restrictions. In their incorporeal form, they cannot cross the threshold of a doorway, though windows don't seem to be a problem. They are bound by their word, if you make a deal with an Afflicted they must uphold their end. If you break that deal however, the bond that holds them will break and they no longer need to fulfill their part. The rivalry between the Anointed and the Afflicted has no end and no beginning, from the moment they came into being they have fought against each other. Some theorize it is the constant balance of the universe, good and evil.

The changes they bring to the host body is directly tied to how powerful the Afflicted is. Most Afflicted can control these changes, to better hide the creature within. When their host is harmed however, glimpses of the darkness within can be seen. Black eyes, dark wings, tattoos, even fangs or sharp teeth. It's different for each Afflicted. Certain spells can cause the darkness to come forth thereby revealing the Afflicted.

Afflicted can be trapped in certain enchanted vessels, they are weak to certain types of magic (usually Light) though their ingenuity and general lack for anyone but themselves usually sees them through. Killing an Afflicted is difficult, but not impossible. The blood of a host body inhabited by a Afflicted is poison to the host of an Anointed, just like the blood of Anointed's host body is poison to an Afflicted. Managing to trap an Afflicted in it's host with magic and then killing the host will cause their darkness to go out forever. Should the host die without the Afflicted being trapped, the Afflicted will return to its incorporeal form and be free to continue on with it's life. Light magics can dispel an Afflicted just like their Dark magics can dispel one of the Anointed. They cannot feel the presence of another Afflicted, or Anointed, though they greatly outnumber the Anointed in population.

(OOC Story Note: Afflicted can become Anointed if they reach the right emotional state, though it is very rare as it requires a level of selflessness most are not capable of)