TR: Liber Animarum

Description:

An old, leather-bound tome, the corners of its spine bound in black iron. The book has survived years of abuse -- water and acid damage on pages, cracks in the spine, even burn marks, indicating it was at one point pulled from a fire at the last moment. Despite so many attempts to destroy it, the Liber Animarum has survived, much like those who would seek its knowledge.

Inside, one will find a wealth of illustrations of demons, their summoning sigils, descriptions of their personality, temperament and history, such as noteworthy demon tamers of years gone by. Most importantly, the book records in expert detail each demon's particular summoning ceremony, referred to as a 'rite'. These rites allow one to conjure, bind and negotiate with each demon. The demons whose rites are recorded in this book are no ordinary devils, but those with enough renown and power to have dominion over various aspects of reality. Some can work wonders of alchemical transmutation, others can inflict one's enemies with misfortune and disease from afar, and still others can call and quell storms with just a word. However, all demons conjured by this tome demand reverence and tribute in exchange for services rendered.

In many occultic circles, it is a commonly-held belief that one's practices in the present determine one's fate. With regard to the conjuring and taming of spiritual beings, it is said that conjuring for malicious purposes will lead one to discover more ways of hurting others with one's spiritual vassals. Conversely, conjuring them for benevolent purposes leads one to discover other benevolent purposes for these spirits. This is merely a belief, but then again, for these occultists, all so-called "mere belief" has power.

The Pages:

At first, only a few pages will be legible to anyone who picks up this book, which will give them access to only a few demons' rites. However, with study, practice, and the council of one's demons, more pages will become legible, allowing access to deeper aptitude in conjuring demons. There are also spots in the book where pages have clearly been torn out, likely scattered to the winds or sealed away by those who would deny the world such knowledge. Recovering these pages is another way of furthering one's options for summoning.

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Chapter I: The Key of the Kingdom

The first Chapter of the Liber Animarum is the first that all readers will encounter, and offers only a sampling of what it describes as "weak" demons, whose powers are not suited for battle or conquest. This Chapter is vital, as it deters those who have the ability and the know-how to summon demons, but not the patience to wait and study before they can summon more powerful demons. It also contains a guideline on the ethical, practical and wise summoning of demons, according to the conventions of various warlocks and witches who desired to spread their magic without having their practicioners get caught.

Demon Name: Ragalaseab
Gender: Male
Appearance: A blue-cloaked hybrid of cat and crocodile
Required Offering: 200 pieces of gold
Sigil Shape: Circle
Services Provided: Discerning the locations of lost people and things if provided with an ample description; Guiding one to shelter during storms and natural disasters, or to the nearest port if at sea; Surveying areas and assisting with map-making.
Personality: Short-tempered, biting and catty


Demon Name: Vefamalin
Gender: Male
Appearance: A monkey with the head of a lion and the tail of a serpent
Required Offering: A small vial of blood, any kind
Sigil Shape: Square
Services Provided: Assisting with negotiations; Improving one's reputation and increasing one's fame or infamy, whichever desired; Training one in all manner of etiquette, social skills, manners, decorum and body language
Personality: Posh and dignified, but has little patience for those who do not listen


Demon Name: Galutisons
Gender: Female
Appearance: An owl made of bark, with leaves for feathers and knotholes for eyes
Required Offering: A poem of praise, or a donation made to the poor or to orphans in her name
Sigil Shape: Triangle
Services Provided: Identifying all manner of plants and animals; Purifying poison or rotten food and drink; Curing a variety of sicknesses, mutilations and ailments, though not all.
Personality: Compassionate and slow to anger, except against those who abuse the unfortunate or stir up conflict unprovoked.