Demons (Ownage)

Random detail: Wyverns are similar to manta rays

Categories

Humans have found it convenient to classify the forces their up against. Normal taxonomy is not only unsuited for this task, it's worthless. To the average person, the biological details of whatever they're fighting is much less significant than what they can expect from it. Hence, the development of the categorization system.

Creatures are assigned a category based on what can be observed of their power, Awakened impressions of the potency of their souls, and the overall danger they present. These range from category 1 (the most basic demons, little more than grunts) to Khronos, rated at category 9 (a somewhat arbitrarily chosen number; Tartaros was ranked slightly lower, at category 8). No demons above category 5 have been encountered on Earth, aside from the two aforementioned Gods.

In addition to the category number, a system of alphabetical codes has been developed to provide more detailed information. Saying that a creature is a 'category 1' may let an infantryman surmise that he stands a decent chance against it, but will not tell him how to prepare or what to expect.

More codes are added as more variation of demons are encountered, and every once in a while letters will be shuffled around.

At present, the codes consist of the following:

• A: Armored, extremely resistant to damage. Complaints have arisen about this code not being precise, as some code A demons can be countered by armor-piercing rounds, whereas others will shrug off rocket-propelled grenades.
• B: Burrowing
• C: Cunning. Used to designate demons which display behavior consistent with an estimated IQ of 160 or higher. It is preferred to engage these head-on, rather than allowing them a chance to resort to tactics similar to guerilla warfare.
• F: Flying, also applied to demons which can hover or levitate. This is not clearly defined, but is something of a 'common sense' category; a demon capable of floating two feet off the ground would not be classified as Flying, but one which drifted slowly a quarter of a mile up would.
• G: Gargantuan. Although there's no official cutoff, this refers to extremely large demons. The use of explosives is preferred, and it's often possible to bring an operative in close, lay an explosive (in some cases even attaching it to the demon itself), and then detonate it from a distance. The possibility of using high-yield nuclear warheads on suicide runs against extremely large code G enemies has been considered. Code G enemies are considered relatively low-risk, as a Hellfire missile or any modern bomb will typically have no trouble hitting the target, and produce satisfactory results.
• H: Healing. Originally R for Regenerating. It was recoded when parasitic (P) demons were discovered (at the time, Replicating demons were classified P for Propogating, and S (for Symbiotic) was already occupied by Shapeshifter). The remains of category H demons are to be destroyed as completely as possible; while most cannot recover from fatal wounds, some can, and it's best to just not take chances.
• I: Illusionist. There has been some talk of merging this with M. The primary difference is that while code M's induce hallucinations, code I's actually create phenomenon which produce sensory responses. Infrared, sonar, and other non-standard methods of detection have proved effective against these, especially at lower categories.
• M: Mind-affecting, from mental domination to inducing hallucinations, paranoia, et cetra. Code M's are considered some of the most dangerous demons to attempt engaging, and Awakened are typically called in to handle the task. When that is not an option, protocol for most militaries requires an absolute minimum of twelve to one odds against the enemy, or more depending upon their category.
• N: Noncorporeal, either permanently or capable of temporarily assuming such a form.
• P: Parasitic. This is typically applied only to demons which actually
• R: Replicating. For demons which reproduce at uncontrollable rates once they've settled in an area. Detection of a code R guarantees a rapid and overwhelming response from local and nearby military presences, or, if too late, evacuation and sterilization of the area.
• S: Shapeshifter
• T: Teleporting.
• W: Swimming, not necessarily capable of remaining aquatic for long periods of time.

For reference, Wyverns are considered 1F, whereas Khronos was posthumously classified as a category 9ACG (he may have possessed additional characteristics which would have been coded, but if so he died too quickly to demonstrate them).

Overlods

Needs-a-name. Escaped to Earth and went into hiding in an attempt to make a bid for power, hoping to reach the level of the Gods. Probably specializes in extreme long-distance chanelling of power; would set self up as something satanic or maybe wicca-esque, do things for people (make them stronger, help them pass that test, bestow bad fortune on people they don't like, etc.) in exchange for things--living sacrifices, or a piece of their soul, or whatever.

Gods

Tier 1:
Ananke (asleep), Khronos (hit w/ massive damage), Thesis (half-dead)

Thesis tried to amass too much power too quickly. Although it did become phenomenally powerful, it also wound up dying, as it was unable to sustain its physical body. By that point in time its soul couldn't truly die, but nor could it continue to exist in a full active state. Thesis' remains spiritually 'alive', in a half-dormant state, tied to its physical remains (which may not be totally dead). Zombies?

Khronos got nuked, and unlike Thesis, that was enough to well and truly kill him. However, a soul that massive being severed from its body away from its worldsoul had some interesting effects. Namely, it broke apart and latched onto a number of humans, turning them into Thirds. Probably special ones, or maybe Khronos is the source of all Thirds.

Ananke saw Thesis' mistake, but didn't want to be like Khronos and simply stop gathering power after reaching a certain plateau. She went into hibernation, and enough dust and such eventually acreted around her tha she more or less turned into a moon. She's semi-conscious, and can physically manifest without moving her body--something which she is loath to do, due to how much energy it would expend.

Tier 2:
Gaia, Ouranos, Tartaros (gets cancer)

Tier 3:
Nyx, Erebos, Hemera, Aither, Khaos

Erebos tries to escape to the demiurge's "universe," the Archons show up and destroy it. For some reason its soul gets shunted to Earth, where it takes on a (substantially weakened) human form, setting itself up as satan.

Khaos shifts between various elemental-themed forms. Range of mountains, giant ball of fire, immense windstorm, etc.

Tier 4:
Okeanos, Phanes, Tethys, Pontos, Thalassa

Early draft of Gods

Although many humans take offense as the use of the term, it's stuck. From what's known they aren't actively worshipped (at least, not frequently), and few beings of any species consider them to be actual deities. However, it's difficult to call these creatures anything but godlike. The demon gods are ancient, extraordinarily powerful beings. Only two of them have ever appeared on Earth, and both were the victims of nuclear strikes. The fact that one of them didn't survive was immensely demoralizing to the demons; the fact that one of them did was deeply disturbing to the humans.

Gods are not only phenomenally powerful, but also extremely large. This has led some to believe that there must be some advantage to extreme sizes, despite the obvious downsides. The most obvious would be that the larger a being is, the more of it one must destroy to kill it; had the nuclear warhead been dropped anywhere on Khronos except directly above his brain, he almost certainly would have survived.

Khronos was the most poweful of the gods, and also the first noteworthy non-human casualty of the invasion. A nine megaton nuclear warhead was dropped directly on his skull, leaving a crater in it and destroying most of his brain, along with four of his eyes. Other than that, his body was virtually undamaged. Large portions of his corpse, especially his carapace, were salvaged by the United States after they (temporarily) reclaimed New York.

Physically, Khronos could be said to resemble a cross between massive armadillo with a flatter, wider body, and some sort of insect insect. His body was segmented, and covered in an extremely resilient carapace, with dozens of legs. Estimates of his weight are given simply as 'astronomical'; his movements were reigstered as substantial earthquakes. He had three distinct faces, though only one head.

Tartaros was the demon that appeared in Tokyo, at the same time that Khronos manifested in New York. Although he was by far the weaker of the two, Tartaros needed no assistance in devastating the city. He was hit in the torso by a thermonuclear warhead. Although not enough to kill him, it did force him to retreat to his own world, seriously injured. Rumor has it that he's suffering immensely from radiation sickness. He was one of the strongest after Khronos, though it's unclear how greatly his present condition may have weakened him.

Ananke is something of an enigma. While plenty of demons know of her, none of them seem to actually know her, or indeed, much about her. She seems to have an almost mythological status, as nothing definitive is really known about her. It is said, however, that she was at least close to Khronos' power. However, a being of such power does not simply go unnoticed; many demons were intimately aware of Khronos' existence, and are certain that they would know of any being with comparable power.