Goetia

The son of Chaplain, born when the military hero discovered that he was actually possessed by a demon. He had a nervous breakdown as the truths about various super-heroes came out in the 60s, and ended up in a mental institution. After two decades of painstaking research, Chaplain discovered a ritual that he believed would free him from the demon forever.

With careful behavior management, he was released, and he immediately found a young woman. He performed the ritual on her, having sex with her and passing the demon along with his seed. He then attempted to kill her, in order to return the demon to Hell, but the neighbors had heard the commotion and called the police, who burst in just as he was about to kill her, and shot him dead.

Unfortunately, the ritual also resulted in the conception of a child, who the demon possessed. The girl’s grandfather, a goeticist and Kabbalistic magician, discovered this fact and performed a complicated rite at the moment of the boy’s birth, banishing the demon back to hell and freeing his grandson.

Unfortunately, because the entirety of the boy’s time in utero was spent in possession, he had no soul of his own. He is, in fact, the perfect vessel for demonic possession. After the second time he was possessed at the age of 13, his grandfather tattooed potent seals and wardings on his, causing any demon that attempts to enter him to be rendered completely powerless.

As the boy grew, however, his mother’s overweening Christianity — a very reasonable reaction to his youth — drove him further and further away. He began experimenting with demonology and black magic. At the age of 17, he discovered the Key of Solomon, and managed to identify the seals used to protect him.

Visiting a local tattoo artist, he worked out the method to subtly change the seals somewhat, allowing him to use them as a trap for demons, which will prevent their escape until he agrees: a counter-possession. He has also begun dabbling in goetic magics, and has stumbled into a fascinating technique: the ability to summon a goetic demon and force it inside himself. He has learned to trap the demons and force them to allow him to use their powers.

Powers: A variety of power suites, each based on being possessed by a goetic demon. The trick being, of course, that he cannot use more than one such template at the same time, and that he must spend an action summoning and trapping them, and another releasing and banishing them (though he may have the option to just let one escape into the world without banishing as a free action, maybe).

These should be treated as normal powers, essentially. The only power he himself should have is the ability to Trap demons within himself. He is tattooed with a massive Seal of Solomon on his chest, an invocational triangle at the base of his skull, and a series of smaller Goetic Seals tattooed up and down his arms and across his torso, each one representing a demon he knows well enough to summon and trap.

Character Creation

Because of the playtest's parameters, I am building this character under the assumption that our game dice are d6's - that of Human-level characters, with 28 Build Points, as per GM email.

Stats

• Body: 7
• Mind: 4
• Soul: 9
  • Health: 100
  • Energy: 95
• Combat: 7
  • Defense: 5

Attributes

• Resources: 2
• Item of Power: Anima-Sword (2) - +7 damage
• Extra Attacks: 1
• Energy Bonus: 3
• Damn Healthy: 2
• Unique Character Attribute (Empty Soul): 2
• Unique Character Attribute (Goetic Tattoos): 2

Goetic Demons

These are the 72 demons of the Lesser Key of Solomon, or the Legemeton, which is the primary source of information on goetic demons, their invocation and uses. Each is described first by the reasons for invoking them, then described after the semicolon.

Kings of the Goetic Courts

• King Bael: Can turn those who call him invisible and make men wise; appears as cat, toad, man or form that combines all three.
• King Paimon: Teaches all arts, philosophy and sciences, as well as secret things, revealing the mysteries of the Earth, wind and water, what the mind is; grants good familiars and binds men to the conjurer's will; man with an effeminate face, wearing a crown, on a camel, and roars with a great voice when he is summoned, until ordered to be silent.
• King Beleth: Teaches knowledge of mathematics, grants the love and affection of men and women; hellish looking king astride a pale horse, surrounded by music; summoner must use hazel wand and hold a silver fring in the middle finger of the left hand against the face to command him; must always be threatened
• King Purson: Knows hidden things, can find treasures, tells the past, present and future, and can speak on the secret and divine things of Earth and the creation of the world; man with the face of a lion, carrying a ferocious viper in hand, riding a bear, trumpets sound before he appears.
• King Asmodeus: Incites gambling and lust, protector of homosexuals, tempting men to homosexuality, master of lasciviousness, lust and revenge; body of a man with three heads (bull, man and ram), tail of a serpent, who speaks with words of fire, riding an infernal dragon, bearing a lance with banner.
• King Vine: Can tell present, past and future, discover witches and hidden things, create storms and make the waters rough, bring down walls and build towers; lion holding a snake in his hand, rising a black horse.
• King Balam: Gives perfect answers on things past, present and future, and can make men invisible and witty; naked man with three heads (bull, man and ram), with flaming eyes, the tail of a serpent, a hawk on his fist and riding a bear.
• King Zagan: Makes men witty, turns wine into water, blood into wine, blood into oil, oil into blood and fools into wise men, as well as changing raw metal into coins of that metal; griffin-winged bull that turns into a man after a while, though the man often has the head of a bull and griffin wings.
• King Belial: Very respectful, demon of lies and guilt, rules over the element of earth, bringer of rebellion; appears as two angels seated in a chariot of fire.

Dukes of the Goetic Courts

• Duke Agares: Cause runaways to return, those who flee to stand still, cause earthquakes and teach languages, finding pleasure in teaching immoral expressions; pale old man riding a crocodile, with hawk on fist.
• Duke Valefar: Tempts people to steal, in charge of a good relationship among thieves but brings them to the gallows; often tempts magicians to theft; lion with the head of a man or donkey
• Duke Barbatos: Gives understanding of the voices of animals, speaks of past and future, conciliates friends and rulers, leads men to treasures hidden by the enchantments of magicians; bearded man accompanied by four kings.
• Duke Gusion: Tells all past, present and future things, showing meaning of all questions asked of him, reconcile friends, gives honor and dignity; appears as a baboon.
• Duke Eligos: Discovers hidden things and knows the futures of wars and how soldiers should meet, attracts the favor of lords, knights and other important personages; a spectral knight, astride a winged horse bearing a lance and serpent-scepter.
• Duke Zepar: Tries to seduce women and men (to whom he appears as a comely youth), can assume the form of a woman's beloved man and seduce her, rendering her sterile, makes women love men; soldier with red clothes and armor
• Duke Bathin: Knows the virtues of stones and herbs, can transport men from one place to another instantly; appears as a strong man with a serpent tail, riding a pale horse.
• Duke Sallos: Master of peace, causing men to fall in love with women, and women to fall in love with men; gallant and handsome soldier, wearing a ducal crown, riding a crocodile
• Duke Aim: Sets places on fire, makes men witty in all ways, gives true answers concerning private matters; handsome man with three heads (one serpent, one man with two stars on forehead and the third of a cat), riding a viper and carrying a lit firebrand.
• Duke Bune: Changes the place of the dead and makes them demons under his command, makes men eloquent and wise, and gives true answers to their demands, and wealth; three-headed dragon that speaks in a comely, high voice (heads of a dog, griffin and man).
• Duke Berith: Tells things of the past, present and future with true answers, can turn all metals to gold, gives dignities to men and confirms them, though he speaks with a clear and subtle voice and is a liar when not answering questions; to speak with him the conjurer must wear a silver ring and put it before his face; a red-skinned soldier, wearing red clothese, golden crown and riding a red horse.
• Duke Astaroth: Seduces by means of laziness and vanity, teaches mathemetical sciences and handicrafts, can make men invisible and lead them to hidden treasures, answers every question formulated to him, gives mortals power over serpents; nude man with dragon-like wings, hands and feet, a second pair of feathered wings behind the first, wearing a crown, holding a serpent in one hand and riding a wolf.
• Duke Focalor: Kills men, drowning them and overthrows warships, has power over wind and sea; man with the wings of a griffin.
• Duchess Vepar: Governs the waters and guides armored ships laden with ammunition and weapons, can make the seas rough and stormy, create illusion of a sea full of ships, can make men die in three days by putrefying sores and wounds, causing worms to breed in them, and can heal such wounds immediately as well; appears as a mermaid.
• Duke Vual: Gives the love of women, causes friendship or strife between friends and foes, tells of things past, present and future; appears as a camel that speaks Egyptian in a deep voice, which can be commanded to take the shape of a man.
• Duke Crocell: Teaches geometry and liberal sciences, warms bodies of water, creates the illusion of the sound of rushing waters, reveals the location of natural baths; appears as an angel who speaks in dark and mysterious manner.
• Duke Alloces: Provides good familiars, teaches astronomy and liberal arts; appears as a lion-faced knight astride an enormous horse, and speaks with great gravity.
• Duke Murmur: Teaches philosophy and music, and can cause the spirits of the dead to appear before the conjurer; Preceeded by two ministers who make the sound of trumpets heralding his arrival, and he appears as a soldier astride a griffin, wearing a ducal crown, or in the form of a vulture.
• Duchess Gremory: Tells of things past, present and future, about hidden treasures and procures the love of women, particularly maidens; appears as a beautiful woman with the crown of a duchess tied around her wait, riding a camel.
• Duke Vapula: Teaches philosophy, mechanics and sciences; appears as a griffon-winged lion.
• Duke Flauros: Gives answers of all things past, present and future, but must first be commanded into a magic triangle lest he lie and try to beguile him in other business; speaks truly and gladly about divinity, the creation of the world, himself and other demons, destroys the conjurer's enemies by burning them, prevents the conjurer from suffering temptations; appears as a terrible and strong leopard that can be commanded into the form of a man with fiery eyes and leopard's claws.
• Duke Amdusias: Master of thunder whose voice can bring storms, can give great musical concerts of incredible sublimity and make trees bend at will; appears as a demonic unicorn, who can be commanded into the form of a clawed human with the head of a unicorn, whose voice is trumpet-like.
• Duke Dantalion: A master of jinn who teaches all arts and sciences, declares the secret counsel of anyone because he knows the thoughts of all people and can change them at his will, can cause love and transport people to anywhere in the world, create hallucinations; depicted as a man with a thousand-thousand faces of men and women, all speaking in unsettling whisper

Princes of the Goetic Courts

• Prince Vassago: Can tell of past and future, discover hidden and lost things, has a good nature (considered mellow, quiet and calm), loves magic.
• Prince Sitri: Causes men to love women and vice versa, shows images of them naked, reveals the secret of women, mocking them; man with the face of a leopard and wings of a griffin, but can be forced into the shape of a beautiful man at conjurer's command.
• Prince Ipos: Knows and can reveal past, present and future, and makes men witty and valiant; body of an angel with the head of a lion, tail of a hare, feet of a good, or in the shape of a lion or vulture.
• Prince Gaap: Rules over the water and controls demons of the waters, teaches philosophy and liberal sciences, can cause love or hate, make men insensible and invisible, deliver familiars out of the custody of other magicians, teaches how to consecrate things to goetic forces, gives true answers concerning past, present and future, can transport men from one nation to another, and can make men ignorant; takes the shape of a human being
• Prince Stolas: Teaches astronomy, knowledge of plants, herbs and precious stones; appears as a crowned owl with long legs, a raven or a man.
• Prince Orobas: Gives true answers of things past, present and to come, divinity and the creation of the world, confers dignities and other titles, grants the favor of friend and foe, prevents other spirits from tempting him and never deceives those who call him; appears as a horse that can take the form of a long-maned man with the legs of a horse.
• Prince Seere: Can transport himself to anywhere in the world to perform errands for the conjurer, brings abundance, help in finding treasures or in theft, and is indifferent to evil; appears to be a beautiful man riding a winged horse.

Marquis of the Goetic Courts

• Marquis Samigina: Marquis of Hell; teaches all liberal sciences, gives an account of the souls of those who died in sin and drowned in the sea; horse or donkey, speaks with a rough voice.
• Marquis Amon: Marquis of Hell; tells of things past and future, reconciles feuds and controversies between friends; appears as a wolf with a serpent's tail and breathing fire, or a man with a raven's head with dog teeth.
• Marquis Leraje: Marquis of Hell; causes great battles and disputes, causes gangrene in arrow and other projectile wounds; gallant and handsome archer in green, carrying bow and quiver.
• Marquis Naberius: Marquis of Hell; makes men cunning in art, especially rhetoric and public speaking, restores lost dignities and honors, or causes men to lose them; appears as a three headed dog or raven.
• Marquis Ronove: Teaches rhetoric, languages and gives good and loyal servants and the favor of friends and foes, can take the souls of animals and decrepit humans; appears as a monster holding a staff
• Marquis Forneus: Teaches rhetoric and languages, gives men a good name and makes them beloved by friends and foes; appears as a sea monster.
• Marquis Marchosias: A strong and excellent fighter and gives true answers to all questions; created the Blatzegaurd, the "Wanderer of the Worlds" an immensely powerful creature; appears as a wolf or ox and must be persuaded to take the form of a man.
• Marquis Phenex: Teaches all sciences, is an excellent poet and very obedient; appears as a phoenix which sings sweet notes in the voice of a child which can sway the mind and emotions, so the conjurer must immediately request that he take the form of a man, which he does reluctantly
• Marquis Sabnock: Builds high towers, castles and cities, furnishes them with weapons and ammunition, gives good familiars, inflicts gangrene, sores or worms on men; appears as a lion-headed soldier in armor and weapons, riding a pale horse.
• Marquis Shax: Takes away the sight, hearing and understanding of anyone his conjurer appoints, steals money from kings, steals horses and anything the conjurer asks, can find hidden things if they are not protected by evil spirits, sometimes gives good familiars (but sometimes they are deceptive); appears as a stork that speaks with a hoarse but subtle voice and is a terrible liar and deceiver until ordered into the magical triangle, whereupon his voice becomes beautiful and speaks the truth.
• Marquis Orias: Teaches the virtues of the stars and the houses of the planets, gives dignities and prelacies, the favor of friends and foes; appears as a different man each time he is summoned.
• Marquis Andras: Sows discord who hunts and kills men, skilled in using the anger of men against them, quite difficult to detect and only too happy to kill his summoner; appears in the shape of an angel with the head of an owl, riding a black wolf and wielding a saber
• Marquis Andrealphus: Raises great noises and teaches cunning in astronomy and geometry, can turn men into birds or give them great deductive power; appears as a noisy peacock.
• Marquis Kimaris: Can find lost or hidden treasures, teaches trivium (grammar, logic and rhetoric) and can turn a man into a warrior of his own likeness and cause men to cross seas and rivers quickly; appears as a powerful warrior riding a black horse.
• Marquis Decarabia: Knows the virtues of all herbs and precious stones, can change into all birds to sing and fly; appears as a burning pentagram hanging in the air until ordered into the form of a man.

Counts of the Goetic Courts

• Count Botis: Tells of things past and future, and reconciles friends and foes; an ugly serpent, but may be commanded into the form of a human, with big teeth, two horns and a sharp, bright sword in hand
• Count Marax: Teaches astronomy and other liberal sciences, gives good and wise familiars that know the virtue of herbs and precious stones; big bull with the face of a man.
• Count Glasya-Labolas: Causes manslaughter and bloodshed, tells all things past and future, gains the minds and love of freinds and foes, incites homicides and can make a man invisible; appears as a dog with the wings of a griffin.
• Count Furfur: Gives true answers to every question, causes love between man and woman, creates storms, tempests, thunder and lightning, teaches secret and divine things; appears as a winged hart, lies unless forced into a magic triangle, where he assumes the form of an angel and speaks truth with a rough voice
• Count Halphas: Builds towers and fills them with ammunition and weapons, sends warriors to the place he is requested to; takes the shape of a stork and speaks with a rough voice.
• Count Raum: Steals treasure out of kings' houses, carrying it where commanded, destroys cities and dignities of men, tells of things past, present and future, reconciles friends and foes; takes the form of a crow that assumes a human shape when he enters the magical triangle.
• Count Bifrons: Teaches sciences and arts, virtues of gems and woods, herbs and changes corpses from their original grave to other places, sometimes putting magical lights on the graves that seem to be candles; appears as a monster, but takes human shape when cajoled into the magical triangle.
• Count Andromalius: Brings back thieves and stolen goods, punishes thieves and other wicked people, discovers hidden treasures and all evilness and dishonest dealings; apears as a man holding a massive serpent.

Barons of the Goetic Courts

• Baron Marbas: Answers truly on hidden or secret things, causes and heals disease, teaches mechanical arts, changes men into other shapes; great lion that vomits flame, or changes shape into a man at will of conjurer.
• Baron Buer: Teaches Natural and Moral Philosophy, Logic and the virtues of all herbs and plants, heals all infirmities, especially of men; lion's head with five goat legs
• Baron Foras: Teaches logic and ethics, the virtues of all herbs and precious stones, can make men witty, eloquent, invisible, long-lived and can discover treasures and recover lost things; appears as a strong man.
• Baron Malphas: Builds houses, high towers and strongholds, throws down the buildings of enemies, destroys an enemy's desires and thoughts, or reveals their thoughts, feelings and deeds, grants good familiars and can quickly bring artificers together from all places of the world; appears as a crow with a rough voice, but will take the shape of a man within a magical triangle.
• Baron Haagenti: Makes men wise by instructing them in every subject, transmutes all metals to gold, changes water to wine and vice versa; large bull with the wings of a griffin, changes to a man once he enters the magical triangle.
• Baron Caim: A good disputer, gives understanding of the language of birds, bullocks, dogs and other creatures, and of the noise of waters, gives true answers to questions of the future; appears as a black thrush, but takes the form of a raven-winged and -headed man with a sharp sword standing on burning ashes or coals.
• Baron Ose: Grants wisdom in liberal sciences, gives true answers about divine and secret things, brings insanity to those the conjurer appoints (making them believe they are a creature or animal, or a king, president or Pope); appears as a leopard that takes the form of a man in the triangle.
• Baroness Amy: Teaches astrology and finance, can find treasures kept by spirits and grants excellent familiars; takes the form of a burning flame in the shape of a woman, but assumes the form of a beautiful woman in the triangle.
• Baron Volac: Grants true answers about hidden treasures, reveals where serpents can be seen and brings them harmless to the magician; appears as a small poor boy with angel wings riding a two-headed dragon.

Knights of the Goetic Courts

• Knight Furcas: Teaches philosophy, astrology, rhetoric, logic, chiromancy (palmistry) and pyromancy (fire-gazing); appears as a cruel old man with long beard and hairy head, riding a pale horse.