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![]() ![]() Being an Examination and Comparison of the Means and Methodologies of the Fiendish Tempters of Mortals Her skin of silk,
her eyes acharm, <chorus> <finis> |
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Part the First: The Fiendish Tempters: More Complex than Commonly Thought
![]() Part the Second: An Examination of the Methods and Means of Succubi The first of the fiends discussed will be the succubi, because of their greater frequency. While most tales of the succubus describe her as going after one mortal at a time, draining him and taking his soul to the Abyss, this only truly describes succubi at certain times. Mostly, this tactic is only used when either it is particularly important for an individual mortal, such as a powerful leader, to be destroyed, or when the succubus is pressed for time. When a succubus is not under such constraints, she prefers to take a more long term approach. The prevalence in tales of only the individual attacks of these fiends can be attributed mostly to the above average standing of the victims, and the fact that the succubus is not trying to conceal herself. When given the choice, most succubi gladly conceal their tracks, making it difficult to detect the presence of the fiend in the chaos she causes. ![]() |
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Part the Third: An Examination of the Methods and Means of Erinyes An erinyes' first step is very similar to the succubus'. When it arrives, it scouts an area, discovering the cultural values of the community. Since it lacks ESP or similar mind reading abilities, it typically remains invisible, spying on the mortals until it has learned all it can. Once it has a comprehensive knowledge of the community's values, it polymorphs into a form of a reasonable attractive, but generally average female. The erinyes tries to take on the role of a person with a fairly large amount of indirect influence. Often, this involves being the partner of a powerful person. The erinyes is always careful to see that any liaison she makes is done according to the moral standards of society, and gleefully reports anyone who tries to act with impropriety towards her. ![]() Part the Fourth: A Comparison of Succubi and Erinyes Although the succubi and erinyes powers seem at first glance to be similar, their effects, and the fiends ultimate goals, are radically different. The succubus strives to free sex, to promote an attitude that whatever a person wants, he or she should do, regardless of how it hurts anyone else. A succubus' goal is to create a society in which a large number of people damn themselves to the Abyss when they die. ![]() Part the Fifth: A
Note Regarding Erinyes Although common knowledge holds that there are only 500 erinyes at any one time in Baator, this figure is certainly incorrect. After all, the baatezu have an infinite, or at least uncountable, number of fiends in their ranks. Actually, there are many more erinyes than just the known 500. There is a significance to the figure of 500, however. This is the number of special erinyes. These fiends are the highest ranking of the baatific tempters. Part the Sixth: A Note Regarding Gender Although throughout this essay succubi and erinyes have been referred to as exclusively female, there are male counterparts to these beings. The tanar'ric version is known as an incubus, while the baatific version is properly referred to as an erinyi, although most people call them erinyes. These fiends are not encountered as often, but it seems likely that they are equally as common as their female counterparts. Speculation runs wild as to why they are seen less often. The most plausible explanation is that almost all known societies have a gender bias that makes the female form an easier one for the fiends to work with. There are almost certainly societies which have an opposite bias, where the male versions of the tempting fiends are active, but these societies do not currently have large scale contact with the known planes. -- The Sage of Everything |
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![]() Copyright 1999 by Kelly
Pedersen Author's Note I have tried to write this essay with an unbiased view as possible. Of course, I have prejudices, like anyone else, and these are bound to come through. If you see any glaring ones, please write me and let me know. I might agree with you. I probably won't rewrite this essay, but anything I write in the future would try to avoid the prejudice. That said, let me note that I consider myself to be liberal where it comes to sex. I think a healthy sex life is a good thing. However, I don't have too much of a problem with a society that restricts sex, either. I do have a problem with carrying either uninhibitedness or restrictiveness to an extreme. I think that both ends of the spectrum can be dangerous. For instance, in the example provided by the succubus, a total lack of inhibitions causes social strife because no one respects the rights of others. Rape would be common in such a society. At the other extreme, the society created by the erinyes uses the laws to let the strong remain strong, and oppress those under them. Legalised abuse would be common in a society like that. Obviously, evil can come from both over legislating and under legislating. -- Kelly Pedersen ![]() Consult the Mimir Again |