Posts from Information about the INFERNO faction.

MIGHT AND MAGIC – FACTIONS

INFERNO

”We will burn the world to ash and dance upon its ruins!”

Also known as: Demons, Lords of Chaos.

Briefly: Demons are the embodiment of Chaos. They consider personal freedom and independence to be the only value and do not feel the need to justify their actions. They kill because they can or want to.
Therefore, they are considered "evil" and dangerous, and other factions of Ashan prefer that they remain imprisoned in their kingdom, Shio, created by Sar-Ilam.
However, even among these nations, there are individuals tempted by the idea of Free Will, and they eventually become demon worshipers.

Sources of inspiration: Greek Maenads/Bacchae (companions and worshipers of Dionysus), Rome during its decline (Nero, Caligula, Heliogabalus, etc.), Carthaginian and Aztec priests.

Colors: black and red.

Symbolism: Ouroboros (a snake eating its own tail), Unicursal Hexagram, Chaos Spiral.

Revered deities: Urgash, the creator of all demons, the Primordial Dragon of Chaos.

Fundamentals of worldview: "Might makes right." The ability to commit a crime is sufficient justification to commit it. Conquer, plunder, and kill the weak – or not, as you wish – do not deny yourself the most selfish desires, corrupt fools who do not understand the true meaning of "freedom." The strong rule the weak.

Country/kingdom: Shio, the Fire Prison.

Capital: Ur-Hekal, "Gate of the Burning Heart."

Social organization:
Demon society is organized according to the principles of absolute monarchy. All orders of each of the six Demon Lords are carried out. Even the slightest manifestations of disagreement or disobedience are punished quickly and severely. Their subjects are organized into a crude and power-based hierarchy, with the stronger ruling the weaker. The most powerful demons call themselves Lords and claim some territory in hell as their own. The strongest of them keep entire cities and other places at the court of their Master and zealously protect them.

Magic: Demonic magic is drawn from unrestrained chaos and is destructive in nature. In general, demons demonstrate an unsurpassed ability to use the most negative aspects of all types of magic (direct damage, damage over time, curses).
Most of their spells are actually distorted versions of ordinary elemental spells.

Inferno Strategy: "Divide, Summon, and Conquer"
Summon as many additional troops as possible, while spreading chaos and fire among the enemy ranks, and then order your strike force to finish off the enemy.
Inferno generals focus on swift and dangerous attacks, the high offensive capabilities of their troops, as well as the destruction of enemy support and the disruption of their tactical plans, calling in reinforcements.

Strengths: unsurpassed potential of attacking spells, high mobility, melee troops are resilient and deadly, high luck of troops.

Weaknesses: lack of discipline, no opportunities to support their own troops, low morale.

Faction ability: Opening the Gate – Inferno troops can summon temporary reinforcements directly on the battlefield.

The entire Demon nation is one large army. Everyone lives to roam in search of prey and destroy, everyone has exceptional abilities to sow chaos and destruction. United together in a disciplined army, the Demons are virtually unstoppable.
Fortunately for their enemies, disciplining demons is more difficult than it seems, and minor demons often need control from larger and well-wielding masters.
And even the frightening presence of legions of demons on the battlefield is not all; demons will resort to various tricks, such as destructive area-of-effect spells, mind control, shape-shifting, curses, etc.
And only when the enemy's defenses have been properly dealt with will the demons begin to attack. If discipline reigns among the demons, they usually swiftly break through everything in their path. Otherwise, they turn into an unorganized, greedy mob.
Demons also have other advantages over their enemies:
Being able to alter the space-time continuum, they can teleport onto the battlefield.
The "Opening the Gate" ability also allows them to summon reinforcements directly from Shio.
The weapons of demons are covered with spikes, teeth, and hooks, all in order to inflict maximum damage, cause terrible pain, and make healing any wound they inflict extremely difficult.
Chaotic by nature, Demons have a wild character and a corresponding unpredictable fighting style.
Their unpredictable and large-scale abilities are also notable in that they can affect their own troops, so their goal on the battlefield is often to make the opponent suffer more than they do.
Usually, it is better to sacrifice summoned troops than regular ones, so a passive initial game can be useful and continues, at least until the commander decides that enough troops have been summoned to unleash them on the enemy.

Canonical Inferno Hero: Lord of Chaos (Bloodline hero)
This status is received by demon worshipers who have performed well in serving their master.
Lords of Chaos are not true demons, but Humans (Elves, Dwarves) who have received "blessings" from Urgash and been "changed" by Chaos Magic.
Their depraved bodies are now hidden in armor that is capable of feeling, and it is impossible to remove it. They lead legions of Demons in the lands of Ashan.
Unlike true demons, they are also not bound to Shio and can freely leave it, which makes them excellent agents of the Master in Ashan.
Hell Knights are not great masters of Chaos Magic themselves, but the ritual they perform grants them various "chaotic" abilities.

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The Obsessed - Madmen

The Obsessed are spawn of Ur-Jubaal, Lord of Madness. These demons are spirits of the unpredictable, wrath-filled nature of Chaos. Like their creator, they sow fear and panic everywhere. Charging into attack, the obsessed scream and cry as if in pain, but begin to laugh when wounded.

Those obsessed who miraculously survive on the Path of Madness for a long time acquire a twisted sense of humor; everything around them seems amusing, or even hilarious. This leads to behavior that shocks enemies and strips them of their resolve. The jokes of madmen usually do not lead to own amusement.

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Hellhounds - Cerberi

Hellhounds are servants of Ur-Vomoch, Lord of Gluttony. These two-headed fire-breathing mastiffs surpass wolves and even saber-toothed tigers in size, speed, and fury.

When the heads of a hellhound begin to growl together, merging into one malevolent voice, it is a sign that they have attained the mental coordination inherent to cerberi, and are now capable of attacking several targets at once.

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Succubi - Lilim

Some children of Ashan who gave their souls to Urgash and the Lords of Sheol become succubi or incubi after death. Since they were powerful servants of demonic cults in their previous lives, this grants them an unusually high position in the demon hierarchy, although most clearly lack the wit, strength, and determination to become more than mere servants. Their "mortal" origin makes them useful as spies or diplomats, and in support of this role, they gain abilities to cast illusions and change their own appearance.

Lilim are succubi who have found their calling in military affairs. They are highly valued in many legions of Sheol. They have directed their art of seduction toward disarming opponents, making them very difficult to fight. Lilim view battle as a prelude to a passionate death, and often lean over a fallen opponent to give one last kiss before the enamored gaze forever fades from his eyes.

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Progenitors - Broodmothers

A Progenitor, spawn of Ur-Aazeel, is a fat, pulsating mass of flesh from which imps are constantly born through various orifices. They are practically incapable of movement, shaking with an irresistible urge to reproduce, and spend a significant portion of their strength keeping the body from mutating. Progenitors feed on mana, the reserves of which they can sense from kilometers away, but do not hesitate to sate their hunger with their own offspring.

Broodmothers are progenitors who have developed a primal drive for reproduction so great that they are capable of spawning others like themselves. No one has seen a father-progenitor, and there is a reason for that. To continue the species, Broodmothers need only the boundless power of Chaos provided by Urgash, in addition to the constant stream of imps their bodies bring into the world.

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Sadists - Perverts

Sadists are servants of Ur-Traggala, Lord of Pain. They are nourished by the boundless suffering of Urgash and torture their own bodies with incredible agonies. Their own pain gives them strength, and they strike enemies using the same techniques they use to torture themselves. The primary weapon of sadists is their skeleton, and in battle, they are capable of literally tearing their body apart. Their ribs can spring from the chest to pierce an enemy, and the bones of their arms can lengthen, emerging from the fingers to form razor-sharp bone blades.

Perverts have learned not only to bristle with sharp bones but also to release acid and bile. This causes unbearable suffering for the perverts themselves, but their victims feel even greater pain.

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Destroyers - Ravagers

With their enormous horns and basalt-covered hooves, destroyers—servants of Ur-Krag, Lord of Destruction—are easily recognized on the battlefield. In combat, they charge fiercely (and sometimes blindly) at enemies, impaling them with horns, crushing them with swings of massive arms, or simply trampling them into a bloody pulp with their hooves. If necessary, they also make decent siege rams.

A Ravager cannot be mistaken for a destroyer. When this creature appears on the battlefield, it becomes the only opponent the enemies see. It emits such an aura of inevitable doom that even experienced commanders forget caution and direct all attacks at the ravager. Their hasty decision is understandable, for this creature represents one of the most powerful destructive forces inhabiting the sulfur-smelling lands of Sheol.

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Abyss Demons - Abyss Lords

Urgash, the Primal Dragon of Chaos, defeated, wounded, and imprisoned in Sheol, is full of hatred for his sister Asha and her creation. Ur-Hikon, Lord of Hatred, embodies this boundless malice, and the mighty abyss demons are his strongest servants. It is said that the only being an abyss demon does not feel hatred toward is himself, though even this is debatable.

Abyss Lords are abyss demons who have risen through their complex hierarchical ladder. They are considered incarnations of pure hatred, surpassed in strength and cruelty only by archdemons.