Arithon

Arithon

Flag of Arithon
Motto: Embrace the darkness.
Region	Fatal Terrain
Capital	None
Official Language(s)	Arithonian (demonic)
Leader	Lord Arithon
Population	<8.051 billion
Currency	Charred Skull
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History

The Nation

The physical realm known as Arithon was once a heavily populated planet filled with life and civilisation. The major species occupying the planet were humanoid and a reasonably bland people known as Acheons. They had no technologies of significance and merely clung to an ancient faith, content with their simple and peaceful existence.

This planet did not exist in a place where one would find other planets and people, it belonged to a completely isolated realm. A place no other being occupied. These people were completely isolated and hence had no fears of external threats. Their god gave them all they needed.

This existence went on for countless millennium, the people unaware of watching eyes. Beyond their ability to comprehend, a battle was waged and won by a force without a name. Something so dark and incomprehensible that the planet referred to as Acheon would never be the same after it's taint manifested. With the divine force protecting Acheon dead, the path was clear for this force to spread. The first tangible sign of it's presence was a creature named Arithon.

Meeting little resistance, Arithon had little trouble corrupting the land. His mere presence killed the environment and caused instability within the planet itself. Unpredictable storms became a permanent fixture of the skyline and the land collapsed in on itself, allowing the molten rock of the planetary mantle to flow free, burning anything in it's path.

With the Acheons crushed beneath Arithon's power, the force behind the demonic creature imbued it's energies into the planet and surrounding realm, twisting and moulding the very fabric of existence in order to create something new.

The planet of Acheon was no more, in it's place was a realm of existence known as Arithon. Only Arithon and his master knew the true secrets of such a place. The creator of this realm bestowed charge of it upon his other creation of the same name, giving Lord Arithon completely and utter control over the realm. Within the confines of the world known as Arithon, the demon lord was akin to a god. Whilst his powers outside such a realm were vast, within they are limitless.

The Individual

There is no measuring Arithon's age. He has existed long before the place known as Earth or even the region known as Sol. Time has no meaning to his master and very little meaning to himself. Whilst there is no true definition for what he is, many would classify the being as a demon, a creature of darkness and evil. Although such terms are subjective, they will suffice.

It should be noted that whilst Arithon does possess a perishable physical form like every living creature, he cannot die. His body can indeed be destroyed if he were to allow so or was overpowered, but the essence that is Arithon will simply return to his natural realm of existence and forge itself a new shell. In essence, he is not invulnerable (although very difficult to kill) but he is immortal in the truest sense.

Arithon's will is difficult to gauge at the best of times. The countless beings destroyed under his foot would say his only goal is mindless destruction, yet he acts through the will of his master and no one knows what it could possibly desire.

Throughout time he has conquered nations, empires, planets and even systems of other sentient beings. Of course this was not done single-handed. As he encountered different creatures Arithon began to experiment with his own powers of creation. He began breeding 'demons' of his own in order to combat the beings he encountered.

Over time many breeds were moulded into existence, designed with specific attributes for specific purposes. With an organised force of loyal and specialised minions behind him, Arithon merely required time to spread his disease upon all life that he encountered.

Throughout his travels about the Universe and the many dimensions of existence, Arithon has conquered many worlds and destroyed many races with little resistance. Eventually he became aware of a place known as the Sol system and the single inhabited planet called Earth. At that point the planet was still in it's infancy, the population mostly random animals of no consequence. And yet it was protected by a god, one with enough strength to deny Arithon existence upon Earth.

It took many millions of Earth years for Arithon to force his energies through the barrier erected by it's god but he finally established a land of his own within Earth. This place was also called Arithon, but was merely a wasteland where no life could exist. Nothing of consequence to the now dominant species, humans.

The significance of this place was that the barrier between the realm of Arithon and Earth was weakest at this point. Therefore it would be the obvious place for Arithon to establish a permanent gateway to his world.

The Outpost

Thanks to the cooperation of a demon native to the Sol system named Abaddon, Arithon was finally able to open a permanent gateway between his world and the region on Earth known as Fatal Terrain. With this gateway open the energies of Artihon's world flowed forth like a river and established a permanent taint upon the land, corrupting it beyond recovery.

Being situated within a region of other populated nations presented advantages and threats for the outpost. Whilst some nations would be no match for Arithon's forces, others possessed technologies unlike he had encountered before, weapons capable of widespread mass destruction. In order to protect the new found outpost, it was surrounded with a shield composed of the energies sourced from his world. Nothing could pass through it without his intention, not even the advanced weapons of the surrounding nations.

This outpost provides the perfect launch pad for large scale invasions of surrounding nations and simply an easy way to transport forces from one world to the other. The residents of Fatal Terrain are only beginning to learn the significance of such a place.

Demonic Breeds

Despite Arithon's power, he does not perform every task himself and hence relies upon a range of specialised demonic breeds to accomplish certain tasks for him.

These are not naturally occurring creatures and only exist due to Arithon's will. Whilst not being a geneticist, Arithon is able to create breeds with certain characteristics that he can imagine or has encountered within other species. Many breeds are hybrids of a number of species, using the most effective characteristics of each species in order to create a demon appropriate for specified tasks. There is a clear distinction between several breeds, dividing them into two categories.

Almost every demon share some base characteristics. They are un-phased by fire and lava (does not include superheated substances such as plasma and stars) and do not require oxygen to breathe, hence they can exist in almost any atmosphere. Their blood is poisonous to almost any other living creature and is mildly acidic. All posses highly sensitive senses of smell, sight and hearing. Thick hides prevent most projectile weapons from doing major damage and make bladed weapons ineffective.

Lower Breeds

The lower level 'grunts' are designed to be tough and extremely dangerous in close combat. They are not intelligent creatures and do very little thinking for themselves. Therefore they do not require a highly sentient consciousness (a soul) to operate and simply run upon the small amount of demonic energy bestowed within them. These creatures have no personality and either act on instinct or command. Whilst tough, they are not immortal and can be killed.

Grunts

Grunts are the most basic combat demon bred. They range from about the height of a man to twice that of a man when standing upon their back legs. Incredibly strong bone is bounded by thick muscle and covered in a hide tough enough to prevent all but mid range high calibre bullets from penetrating. Bladed weapons are completely useless against these creatures unless the wielder possesses a strength far greater than most humanoid creatures.

These creatures can stand and move as humanoids can yet they're arms also double as front legs and running upon such allows these demons to reach speeds faster than any animal found on Earth. Razor sharp, retractable claws sit upon the end of all four extremities and can measure up to six inches in length. Combined with the immense strength these creatures possess, slicing up other living beings is no challenge.

Strong and agile, these creatures may be unintelligent but they are effective killers. They also see well in the dark and are able to pick up individual heartbeats, detect feint scents and even pick up heat signatures. They were created to seek and destroy and they certainly do a good job.

Higher Breeds

The higher class demons are far more intelligent and possess a personality and soul of their own. These demons are most commonly spell casters yet that is a very broad category in itself. They have a natural aptitude for channelling dark energies and their strength grows as they gain more experience and knowledge. Arithon employs these demons as his army commanders and to perform tasks beyond the mental capacity of the lower breeds. The 'souled' demons are far more dangerous and resourceful than their dim witted brethren and are incredibly dangerous on more than just a physical level.

Spellcasters

Spell casters are a very wide range of demons as each one possesses specific abilities and inclinations for certain tasks. These demons are very intelligent and cunning. Whilst physically resilient like all demons, their true talents rest in the mind, not the body. These demons are able to channel the energies of their home world in order to cast spells and influence the world around them.

Whilst not born with the knowledge of every demonic spell or energy use technique, they learn quickly and time is certainly their friend as most will naturally live for thousands of years and even afterwards their consciousness is unlikely to perish.

Naturally immune to most mortal magics, the only arcane power significantly threatening to these demons are that of the Light. Angelic creatures and associated beings possess a power directly opposite to that of these demons. The spells can range from energy discharges, mental manipulation, elemental control and whatever else the particular demon happens to be knowledgeable about.

There is no simple way to classify these demons as they all vary in shape and size with different characteristics and personality. They are unpredictable and dangerous beyond comprehension. One should never doubt these creatures as they thrive in deception and trickery to achieve their goals. Relentless and random, Spellcasters are the stuff of nightmares.

Associated Characters

Nez'gah

Nez'gah is Arithon's right hand man. For most of Arithon's efforts on other worlds he'd employed the used of brain dead grunts whilst he did all the thinking. The situation regarding Earth required that he spread responsibilities amongst many and so he created creatures of higher intelligence.

This first class of intelligent demon was known as Spell casters as they possessed the intellect to use demonic energies. Nez'gah was the first of these Spell casters and hence the first to rise above his peers.

This demon possesses a seemingly limitless desire for power and calling him ambitious would be an understatement. Whilst loyal to Arithon, this isn't due to any sense of honour bit simply because he cannot best his creator.

Quite quick to anger and prone to making rash decisions, Nez'gah has felt the bitter taste of defeat on more than one occasion and has suffered for it. Whilst he has been 'killed' on two occasions, Arithon does not permit his soul to fade from existence as he continues to find uses for Nez'gah.

Whilst not a true immortal like Arithon, Nez'gah will not die completely unless his master permits it. Unrivalled by all other Spell casters, Nez'gah is competent in an unknown range of demonic practices and is capable of actions most could only dream of.

Whilst time and past mistakes have taught him some patience, there's no denying his savage nature still exists and many slaughtered beings can vouch for his brutality and fury.

Whilst he does have a natural demonic form like all his brethren, Nez'gah possesses the ability to shift forms at will and so identifying him for who he truly is cannot be accomplished simply by someone with a keen eye. The transformation is completely physically accurate and can only be detected by those attuned to the ways of immortal beings, such as another demon or an angelic.

Serving as Arithon's main presence upon Earth, Nez'gah has had a hand in almost all demonic activity on the planet since the beginning of Arithon's operations regarding such. He is not a creature to take lightly, despite his evident flaws in character, none should doubt his strength.