Difference between revisions of "Demonology"
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In episode 3.01 The Magnificent Seven the seven deadly sins, who were released when the Devil's Gate was opened, possess humans and start killing people. Bodily contact appears to imbue the person touched with that sin. Thus a family starve to death in front of a television (Sloth), Isaac drinks drain cleaner (Gluttony), while Pride confronts Sam and Lust tries to seduce Dean. | In episode 3.01 The Magnificent Seven the seven deadly sins, who were released when the Devil's Gate was opened, possess humans and start killing people. Bodily contact appears to imbue the person touched with that sin. Thus a family starve to death in front of a television (Sloth), Isaac drinks drain cleaner (Gluttony), while Pride confronts Sam and Lust tries to seduce Dean. | ||
| − | Envy possesses Walter, who is killed in the process, but is exorcised by Tamara. After Gluttony kills Isaac, he is possessed by Wrath, but is immobilized by Tamara with a stake of Palo Santo. Sloth is trapped under a Devil's Trap and exorcised by Bobby, while Lust is subdued by Dean with Holy Water. Wrath and Lust are later exorcised by Bobby. Gluttony, Greed, and Pride are killed by Ruby with a demon-killing knife. | + | Envy possesses Walter, who is killed in the process, but is exorcised by Tamara. After Gluttony kills Isaac, he is possessed by Wrath, but is immobilized by Tamara with a stake of Palo Santo. Sloth is trapped under a Devil's Trap and exorcised by Bobby, while Lust is subdued by Dean with Holy Water. Wrath and Lust are later exorcised by Bobby. Gluttony, Greed, and Pride are killed by Ruby with a demon-killing knife. |
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==[[Samhain]]== | ==[[Samhain]]== | ||
Revision as of 00:20, 15 July 2010
Demonology is the study of demons.
Contents
Background
Lucifer, the archangel, was banished from Heaven by God for refusing to worship humans. In defiance he took a woman and stripped away her humanity to create the first demon - Lilith. For this God commanded Michael to imprison Lucifer.
All demons were once originally human.
Culture
The demon Casey tells Dean that demons have a belief system just like humans, but while humans believe in God as a higher power, demons view Lucifer in the same regard. Casey tells him that no demon has ever actually seen Lucifer. 3.04 Sin City
It is unclear on what criteria humans end up in Hell other than selling one's soul to a Crossroads Demon. Once in Hell, people are tortured until they lose their humanity and become demons.3.09 Malleus Maleficarum
Dean spends four months in Earth time in hell, but he reports that time passes differently there, and for him it was more like forty years 4.10 Heaven And Hell. This makes 3 days on earth roughly equivalent to a year in hell.
There is obviously a loose hierarchy in Hell, with some demons more powerful than others. However, demon allegiances are, not unsurprisingly not always long lasting.
History
In 1972, Azazel made contact with Lucifer by sacrificing a dozen nuns at a convent and was then instructed to find a 'special child' who would help break The 66 Seals that were the lock to his cage. Azazel embarks on his plan and in 1973 makes a deal with Mary Winchester for the life of her husband.4.03 In The Beginning Ten years later he returns and feeds Demon Blood to an infant Sam Winchester.
Throughout Sam's childhood, Azazel has demons possess people in Sam's life, and keep an eye on him.5.22 Swan Song. When Sam leaves hunting for college, he appears to be trying to pursue a normal life. Later on, Azazel has a demon possess Sam's friend Brady in an attempt to corrupt him. When this fails Brady introduces Sam to Jess - they fall in love, and then her death is ordered by Azazel in order to propel Sam back into hunting - and the path to becoming Lucifer's Vessel.
Azazel finally takes Sam, along with other people he has recruited over the years. However one of them - Jake - kills Sam. It is Jake who helps Azazel open the Devil's Gate in Wyoming, losing demons on the Earth before the Winchester's can close it. Dean finally kills Azazel with the Colt
The first seal on Lucifer's cage is prophesied to be broken when "a righteous man spills blood in Hell." When John Winchester makes a deal with Azazel for Dean's life, the plan is that he will break the seal - but he resists. It is Dean, who sells his soul in exchange for Sam's life, who breaks in Hell and becomes a torturer.
The demon Ruby, working as part of Azazel's plan, get's close to Sam and gains his trust. She tries to encourage him to use his powers, but he resists. it is only in his grief stricken state after dean's death, when he has failed to rescue him, that she convinces Sam to use his powers ostensibly to save people from demonic possession, with the promise that he will one day be able to kill Lilith, who was responsible for Dean's death.
However, Ruby is playing Sam all along - it is actually Lilith's death, which finally frees Lucifer. The angels have been complict in letting this happen, as Michael wishes to kill Lucifer.
Sam finally allows Lucifer to possess him, and is able to overpower him and throw him, along with Michael back into Lucifer's cage.
Characteristics
- Appear as a ‘black smoke’ in incorporeal form
- Presence may leave traces of sulfur
- Manifest by possessing humans see Demonic Possession
- Can resurrect people but only if a deal is made
- A possessed human will be unaffected by physical harm until they are dispossessed
- Exorcism will drive the demon from its human host and return it to hell
- Some demons appear to be able to move freely between Hell and the mortal realm eg Alastair. Others are trapped and can only escape through portals such as Devil's gates.
- * Humans possessed by demons exhibit black, red, yellow or white eyes depending on the demon involved.
- Other demons, or people close to the gates of Hell (like Dean in episode 3.16 No Rest For The Wicked) see the "real" face of demons, not just the body they use to walk earth.
Abilities
- Have a range of abilities including mind control, telepathy, telekinesis and super strength
- Higher Level demons have shown the abilities: Pyrokinesis (Known: Azazel, Brady. Shown: Crowley), Causing internal bleeding (Shown: Azazel), the ability to destroy things with telekinesis (Shown: Crowley destroys a light) and the ability to obliterate things with "Fiery White Light" (Shown: Lillith, Samhein)
Vulnerabilities
- When a demon is exorcised, it returns to hell where as the Colt, Ruby's Knife and Sam actually kills, as in obliterates, the demon.
- It can be assumed that most upper level possess these abilities (though the Fiery White Light could only be associated with "white eye'd level demons).
- Until Season 3 the only method of permanent dispatch was to shoot them with the Colt. In episode 3.01 The Magnificent Seven the character Ruby introduced a Knife that could kill demons as well. In episode 3.04 Sin City Bobby rebuilds the Colt with Ruby's help. Sam's powers also allow permanent dispatch.
- While most have some vulnerability to Holy Water, higher level demons appear to be able to enter consecrated ground such as churches eg:
- Meg in 1.21 Salvation
- Father Gil in 3.04 Sin City *Note: The demon may have entered Father Gil's body after the suicide in the church, which would have rendered the holy ground corrupted, allowing a lower-power demon to enter.
- Alastair in 4.09 I Know What You Did Last Summer
- Azazel in the flashback scene in 4.22 Lucifer Rising
- Hex Bags can be used to help disguise a persons whereabouts from demons.
- At the end of 2.14 Born Under a Bad Sign after Sam is possessed, Bobby gives the boys charms to protect against possession. In 3.12 Jus in Bello, we find out the boys have had the protection symbol tattooed on their chest, somewhat over their hearts.
There are several methods that can be used to trap or slow down a demon:
- Salt - They cannot cross a line of salt. And they feel intense pain when they come in contact with it. Hunters use it in shotguns to wound them.
- Iron - They cannot cross an iron line, and can be hurt with an iron rod
- Exorcism - Removes them from the human host and returns them to Hell
- Holy Water - Burns them like acid
- Palo Santo - Burns in a similar way to Holy Water
- Devil's Trap (symbol) - A symbol that is marked on the floor or ceiling that can trap a demon within it
But only two can permanently destroy them:
- The Colt
- Ruby's Knife
- Sam's psychic ablilties
Lucifer
Lucifer is not a demon, but an Archangel, who after his fall created hell and demons.
Unlike demons, who can possess anyone, Lucifer, being an Angel requires the consent of his Vessel.
Alastair
Alastair appears in pursuit of Anna Milton in 4.09 I Know What You Did Last Summer and 4.10 Heaven And Hell.
- He has white eyes (iris and pupil)
- He tortured Dean in Hell, giving him the option to stop being tortured if Dean agreed to torture other souls.
- Alastair can send angels back to Heaven
- He is resistant to Ruby's Knife
- He is resistant to an angel's power of exorcism, as shown when Castiel tried to in 4.10 Heaven And Hell
- Alastair was known to be a very powerful Demon. Ruby addressed an important point to the Winchesters, which was, Alastair was to be immediately exorcised by Sam, apparently Ruby thought the only other option was death, for she thought that Alastair was far too powerful to be fought by any human - Ruby was correct; her demon killing knife didn't work against him nor did Sam's powers have any affect on him.
- Alastair's true demonic form was witnessed by Dean while he was in Hell
Lilith
- The First Demon
- Has white eyes (iris and pupil)
- Appears in the form of a female child in earlier episodes and as a lady in later episodes
- Has the power to obliterate things as first seen in episode 3.12 Jus in Bello
- Sam is immune to Lilith's powers.
- Her death is what breaks the final seal on Lucifer's Cage and frees him.
Azazel
Powers and abilities:
- Azazel is extremely strong, even for a Demon. He possess a high degree of super-strength
- Azazel can pin down multiple people at the same time using telekinesis
- He has the power of pyrokinesis (control of fire)
- He has the power to cause internal bleeding, and cause grevious wounds with his mind.
- Presence in an area will be presaged by cattle deaths, electrical storms and temperature fluctuations.
- Makes clocks stop, and electrical devices go haywire
- He is considered the demons leader, almost in a prophet-like sense. he is held in fear and reverance by other demons. able to command and orchestrate hundreds of demons, and even alastair and lilith.
- Like Crossroad Demons, Azazel can raise the dead, only after he has sealed a deal with someone. After Azazel made an agreement with Mary, which some-how concerned Sam, he then raised John from the dead. This was after Azazel kissed Mary, as she gave Azazel permission to swing by in a few years.
- Is impervious to Holy Water
- Has yellow eyes (iris and pupil)
- Unaffected by a salt barrier
- Can also possess other supernatural beings such as a Reaper
- He is the most loyal demon to Lucifer and is his confidant and agent on earth
- He is Lucifer's son
- It has also been suggested that he is a fallen angel with lucifers original rebellion. or at least one of the original demons. azazel in mythology is often considered Lucifers herald and general
- In mythology - azazel is seen as the demon that caused mankind to commit the first sins, make weapons (to encourage war), cosmetics (to encourage lust), and money (to encouage greed). as well as convincing a whole order of angels to fall
- Azazel is incredibly powerful and cunning - able to keep his plans hidden even from heaven
- Casey in 3.04 Sin City told Dean that 'Yellow Eyes' true name was Azazel
- Meg Masters refers to the Yellow-Eyed Demon as "Father" 1.11 Scarecrow
- In 1.22 Devil's Trap, the Yellow-Eyed Demon refers to Meg as his daughter, and Tom as his son.
Crowley
Crowley is the king of the Crossroads Demons. He took possession of the Colt, but handed it over to Sam and Dean. Crowley believes that once Lucifer succeeds in wiping out the human race he will then destroy all the demons. His beliefs are backed up when Lucifer sacrifices several demons to raise the horseman Death saying, "They are just demons."
Ruby
- A black-eyed demon
- Possesses a knife that can kill demons
- Confidant of Azazel and Lilith and instrumental in the plan to free Lucifer
Crossroads Demon
The Crossroads Demon makes bargains with people, granting a wish in exchange for claiming their life and soul.
- Has red eyes (all except for a black pupil)
- Makes deals with:
- Robert Johnson in 2.08 Crossroad Blues in 1930
- George Darrow, Sean Boyden, Silvia Growman and Evan Hudson in 1996 in 2.08 Crossroad Blues
- Dean in 2.08 Crossroad Blues
- Dean in 2.22 All Hell Breaks Loose: Part Two
- In 3.05 Bedtime Stories she reveals that 'someone higher' than her holds the contract and describes herself as 'a saleswoman'
- Is killed by Sam with the Colt in 3.05 Bedtime Stories.
Black-eyed demons
Characteristics
- Not an homogenous group, they display a range of abilities and powers
- Eyes turn entirely black during possession, though this can seemingly be turned on and off.
- They are impervious to hallowed ground ("that may work in the minor league, but not with me" - Meg, Salvation), but not to Holy Water
- They can be exorcised and thus the demon returned to Hell
- Restricted by the salt barrier
- Vulnerable to the Colt.
- Vulnerable to the blade owned by Ruby
- Cannot resist exorcism (Meg!Demon in 2.14 Born Under a Bad Sign)
- Can trap themselves within their human host using a binding spell
- Can communicate
- via the Goblet of blood with the Yellow-Eyed Demon
- via EVP in 1.04 Phantom Traveler
- via the Goblet of blood with the Yellow-Eyed Demon
- Apparently many Demons have the ability to drive cars; Ruby demonstrated this as well as the Trucker, along with many others
- Tammi - the black-eyed demon in 3.09 Malleus Maleficarum - appears to be more powerful than other black-eyed demons. Similar to Azazel, she can pin both Sam and Dean to the wall, and use her power to kill at a distance. She causes internal bleeding in Dean, similar to that caused by Azazel, seen in 1.22 Devil's Trap. Tammi stops a bullet from The Colt in mid-air when Sam tries to shoot her. It is believed she is the leader of all witches, and gives them power in exchange for their souls.
Examples of Black-eyed demons
- Airplane Demon from 1.04 Phantom Traveler
- Meg!Demon (possesses Meg Masters and Sam)
- Ruby
- Tom
- Trucker
- Duane Tanner
- Seven Deadly Sins
- Casey
- Father Gil
- Tammi
- Lilith’s Chef (possesses Cindy McClellan)
- Brady
Special Demons
Acheri Demon
Ava can summon Acheris. Ava uses the Acheri Demons against the other Special Children. Sam says they are demons that manifest as children. He dispels it using an iron rod. It cannot cross a salt barrier.2.21 All Hell Breaks Loose: Part One
Seven Deadly Sins
In episode 3.01 The Magnificent Seven the seven deadly sins, who were released when the Devil's Gate was opened, possess humans and start killing people. Bodily contact appears to imbue the person touched with that sin. Thus a family starve to death in front of a television (Sloth), Isaac drinks drain cleaner (Gluttony), while Pride confronts Sam and Lust tries to seduce Dean.
Envy possesses Walter, who is killed in the process, but is exorcised by Tamara. After Gluttony kills Isaac, he is possessed by Wrath, but is immobilized by Tamara with a stake of Palo Santo. Sloth is trapped under a Devil's Trap and exorcised by Bobby, while Lust is subdued by Dean with Holy Water. Wrath and Lust are later exorcised by Bobby. Gluttony, Greed, and Pride are killed by Ruby with a demon-killing knife.
Samhain
Samhain is also known as the origin Demon of Halloween . In 4.07 It's The Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester he is summoned and possesses the dead body of a school teacher and witch Don Harding. His irises turn milky white, the pupils stay black. Samhain was exorcised centuries ago, he was later exorcised in 2008 by Sam Winchester.
Julia Wright!
A demon possessed Julia Wright who gave birth to the Anti-Christ. This particular demon was seen in 5.06 I Believe The Children Are Our Future. Its current status as of now remains unclear. It was probably sent back to Hell.
