A Book With 1d6 Demons for Your Campaign (Inspired by The Ars Goetia, Signs by Me)

Abbyn’s Little Book of Names: A jaundiced, leather-bound book with a poorly-etched title. The narrator (ostensibly Magus Esoth Tertius, a lesser demonologist of the last century) claims to have collected the names and signs within from his helpful imp-familiar, Abbyn, who takes the form of a skinless kitten. It teaches the spells used to summon demons, bind demons, and banish demons, as well as a circle of protection (the lesser versions of whichever spells your campaign uses). The book is seldom found complete and contains multiple errors, rendering all but the demon-summoning spell ineffectual. However, this copy contains annotations by a thorough and thoughtful editor, including the functional versions of all the spells. It contains the true-names and signs of the following demons. Assume demons are HD6 monsters, with appropriate defenses and attacks.

1-      1. Baobas, He Who Crawls

The first demon is Baobas. He is a custodian of the 12^th Hell (the Hell of Mires and Entrails). He appeareth as a large, red-skinned man, crawling upon his belly, and wields a skewering fork. His approach is heralded by sounds like the scurrying of vermin. Upon his arrival, do him homage and burn sweet smokes in his name, elsewise he will not be correspondent to thy commands. He teaches the Art of Haruspexy, (that is divination by the entrails of animals) and the forbidden Art of Anthropomancy (that is divination by the entrails of humans). If so commanded, he will break the legs and arms of thine enemy. This is his sign, which must be drawn inside the triangle of binding.

 

2-     2.  Cacognos, The Accounter

The second demon is Cacognos. He is a librarian of Hell. He appeareth as a wasted man, with the feet of a swine, and a candle lighting the hollow of his head. His voice is like that of a crow [editor’s note- some sources say “cow”]. He tells naught but lies unless threatened with an iron-capped rod, but after he shall take on the voice of a child and speak of secret vendettas and trysts, past, present, and future. If so commanded, he will confuse the voices of thine enemies. This is his sign, which must be drawn inside the triangle of binding.

 

3-      3.  Päre, She Who Attends the Rotting

The third demon is Päre. She is a steward of the 16^th Hell (The Hell of Foul Airs). She appeareth as a crone riding upon a giant, fly, but may be commanded to take the shape of a comely woman, with the wings and hairs of a fly. Should you order her out of the triangle of binding, you must cover your face with a posset of sweet herbs, lest the reek overcomes your senses. She hath the power to make corpses speak and to raise the bodies of dead animals to attend you. She may soil the person of your enemies with stench and filth, but also make clean all wounds. Her sign is this, which must be drawn inside the triangle of binding.

 

4-      4.  Dyballian (also called Dybathon, or Ditholon), Persecutor

The fourth demon is Dyballian, or Dybathon, or Ditholon. He is a marshal of Hell. He appears as a black wolf-bitch with the arms and legs of a man but may be commanded to take on the shape of a hairy man with a wolf’s mouth upon his stomach. He hath command of a posse of 12 minor demons, which shall march before him. He hath the power to incite thine enemies to rage, amongst their own, and may set gossip to harry them, wherever they go. He maketh one immune to torture. He giveth good familiars. This is his sign, which must be drawn inside the triangle of binding and must be drawn with the blood of a white hen, mixed with ashes.

 

5-      5. Venet, That Which Feeds

The fifth demon is Venet. It is a juror of Hell. It appears as a bloodied calf’s head, at the center of 10 arms, each of which holds a pair of scissors or shears. It speaks in a high, comely voice. Its office is to inspire addiction, especially that of food or drink, and may so bedevil your enemies, if commanded. It will bring forth great feasts in your honor and teaches the secret of revealing poisons. It will serve you faithfully but will demand a victim to possess. A clever summoner can trick it into possessing a swine or a slave. This is its sign, which must be drawn inside the triangle of binding. [editor’s note: This entry originally contained multiple errors, which would dupe a careless summoner into calling forth “Vanay, The Disgorging One”, a greater demon which could not be held by the meager spells contained herein, and which would doubtlessly force-feed the caster its fetid vomitus, unto bursting.]

 

6-      6. Tyg, The Unfulfilled

The sixth demon is Tyg. She is a secretary of the 7^th Hell (the Biting Hell). She appears as a weeping woman, who covers her face. A large centipede crawls upon her back, and these creatures will precede her appearance. She teaches the way of finding treasure with a lodestone and reveals the presence and number of riches. She may unlock all doors which are not shielded by mighty enchantment. If she is ordered from the triangle of binding, you must wear a veil of pure white cloth, for looking upon her face will drive a man mad for a day and a night. She will not be correspondent to your commands unless placated with a sacrifice. She will demand a child of 3 years, but may be coerced into accepting a lamb, or a black colt. This is her sign, which must be drawn inside the triangle of binding, using a brass key.