A brief one here: a demon from Herrick that takes the form of a pagan god. It aids people who want to harm themselves by destroying their own capacity for love. Love, in medieval theology, being one of the forms of God, and that humans should love being one of the commands of God, this is a sort of damnation. On reading critics of Herrick there’s a statement that this really is Cupid and that the cup is a trick of the real Cupid to punish the poet for forsaking the cause of love. and that he will love regardless. I prefer my interpretation for Ars Magica purposes, but suit yourself. Stats at the end.
***
A crystal vial Cupid brought,
Which had a juice in it:
Of which who drank, he said, no thought
Of Love he should admit. I, greedy of the prize, did drink,
And emptied soon the glass;
Which burnt me so, that I do think
The fire of hell it was.
Give me my earthen cups again,
The crystal I contemn,
Which, though enchased with pearls, contain
A deadly draught in them.
And thou, O Cupid! come not to
My threshold,—since I see,
For all I have, or else can do,
Thou still wilt cozen me.
Demonic Cupid
Order: Master of the False Gods
Infernal Might: 10 (Mentem). ,
Characteristics: Int 0, Per +1, Pre +3, Com +3, Str 0, Sta +1, Dex +2, Qik +3
Size: -2
Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Personality Traits: Proud +6
Virtues and Flaws:
Reputation: Keeper of the Chalice of Sweet Suffering +3
Hierarchy: 1
Combat:
Bow: Init +2, Attack +10*, Defense +8*, Damage +4**
*Specialization not included.
** Uses lead-headed arrows for symbolic reasons which don’t hold a keen edge, so the damage is reduced.
Soak: -1 Soft as a baby.
Fatigue Levels: 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious.
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-3), -3 (4-6), -5 (7-9), Incapacitated (10-12), Dead (13+)
Abilities: Awareness 4 (lovelorn people), Bow 5 (sinners), 5 Infernal Lore (love), Theology 5 (love)
Powers:
Coagulation, 3 points, Init +2, Corpus: See Realms of Power: The Infernal for common demonic powers.
Envisioning, 1 or 5 points, Init +3, Mentem. See Realms of Power: The Infernal for common demonic powers.
His Master’s Voice, variable points, Init +4, Vim: The demon can summon other demons or corrupt beasts to its current location. This costs one Might Point for every point of Infernal Might of the being summoned, so is used sparingly. The demon has no control over the demon he has summoned.
Obsession, 1 to 3 points, Init -2, Vim: Jealousy. See Realms of Power: The Infernal for common demonic powers.
Shroud the Stench of the Pit, variable points, Init +6, Vim: This Power may be used in two manners, both of which affect the expression of other Supernatural Powers. First, the demon can conceal the Infernal nature of any other Supernatural Power, making it appear to be magical or faerie instead. This Power is used on an overt expression of a Power, to prevent spells from recognizing it as Infernal in origin. Secondly, it may be used on more subtle Powers to remove all stench of the supernatural, making them appear wholly mundane. This Power costs Might Points equal to the original cost of the Power being concealed, or Might Points equal to the magnitude of the Infernal effect if it does not cost Might to use. This power lasts for as long as the Power it is masking.
The Wealth of Nations, 3 points, Init +3, Terram: The demon can summon riches, each use of this Power can create wealth equivalent to up to pound of gold for every point of Infernal Might possessed by the demon. This wealth can be of any form gold, gems, rich tapestries, ivory, etc. – but it always has intrinsic value, rather than being valuable because of its utility (a roomful of grain, for example). This wealth is not created, it is instead summoned from somewhere else, chosen by the demon, usually for the greatest corrupting effect. This might be a royal treasury on the other side of Europe or the purse of a man standing nearby. The creature uses this power ot call a chalice into which it pours some of its vis, so that a person may drink it.
Weakness: Protected group (People who are in love)
Vis: 2 pawns of Perdo, in chalice. Swallowing the creature’s vis causes blistering on the mouth and lips. It gives an in-story excuse for the personality traits of the character to be shuffled toward misanthropy.
Appearance: A cynical looking putto with a red loincloth and red, feathery wings
Statistical Source: Built using the False God rules in Realms of Power: The Infernal.
Textual Source: Upon Love by Robert Herrick.
Games From Folktales 