Interview With Mephistopheles

Mand'alor asks: What do you feel the greatest strengths and weaknesses of Devil magic are and what is your analysis of the powers of his lord Wrath?

Mephistopheles says: Devil magic, like all magic, is shaped and formed by its source origins. We Devils and Demons are creatures of pain and anger and terror. We feed our anger into our enemies. Their agony, or our own, is kindling for the spells we weave. You must feed your emotions into the intent of your magic. As such, Devils' magicks excel when cast for the purposes of destruction and harm. We can cast protective magicks as well, but rarely are they simply for pure defense. For example, a traditional ward placed on an object to protect it from a thief would simply act as a barrier, making it impossible to touch. A ward cast with Devil magic would have some inherent consequence. It could be something as simple as a shock or burn, or something more devastating like a powerful withering effect that can quickly turn a thief's hands and arms to dust.

As for weaknesses, like Devils themselves, our magic is weak to Holy power. If a Devil and Angel, or Fallen, of equal might were to cast the same spell against one another, with equal amounts of magic in the spell, the Holy spell will have the natural advantage. But Devil magic is naturally more subtle. Which is why our spellwork tends to be far more intricate and layered than the Hosts of Heaven and the Grigori. Then again, it's easier to hide things in the Shadows than in the Light, no?

As for the Lord Wrath, ah, what can I say? Though the Prince is an adept at magic, from what I gather telekinesis seems to be his forte, Hellfire is not magic. In fact, there is nothing magical about Hell. The First Flame precedes magic, after all. There is nothing it cannot burn. Nothing. Were the Lord Wrath to summon it in concentrated force, I doubt any in the Underworld, save his siblings of Pride and Greed, could stop him.

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SplooshMeister asks: Lord Mephistopheles would you be able to explain the process and the deal Lucifer made with Hell that turned him and his followers from fallen angels to demons?

Mephistopheles says: Ah, now here's a topic that has filled countless sorcerous tomes across many dimensions over the eons. Alas, all of it is speculation.

When Lucifer struck his bargain, he became the focal point of a metaphysical Node of Infernal Power which none truly understand, even today. And when he made the pact, he convinced 72 beings of extraordinary power and evil to enjoin him. Lucifer was the anchor point, and all 72 of these beings were bound to Hell through him. These became first Demons, the original Pillar Lords. Those that joined later, became the Extra Houses, myself included. I cannot tell you the details, not because I am bound by oath or secrecy, but because your mortal mind would burn to cinders at the conceptual Horror invoked. What I will say is this: I laid myself bare, my literal existence. And Lucifer broke that existence and took the fragmented shards of my glass and forcefully put them back in the wrong order. Because Demons are a Wrongness upon existence itself.

We Demons delight in corrupting the Souls of others, even as we too are corrupt. And every blackened Soul is a Soul fed to the Eternal Flame. And every Demon who breathes will join them in time. For us, all roads lead to Hell.

How did the original Lucifer manage to forge his pact with Hell? What were the terms? Alas, 'tis a secret he took to his accursed grave. And yet, astonishingly, the current Lucifer has managed to uncover and use said secret to renew the pact. Mayhaps the secret is in the name itself?

As to what terms Lord Sirzechs forged? I will encourage you to think on this: why do you think Ajuka Beelzebub named them Evil Pieces?

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Boondoggle asks: Lord Mephistopheles, do you have anything to tell us of the phenomenon of Lord Sirzechs and Lord Ajuka as Super Devils? Ever since their birth, people have been wondering how beings of their power came into existence.

Mephistopheles says: The term 'Super Devil' is a absurd invention of third-rate sorcerers and would-be-scholars to explain a phenomena they have no understanding of. Bah! Say the childish term no more!

As part of their effort to modernize and simplify the Rating Game system, the Lords Ajuka and Falbium created classifications of power. Low-Class, Mid-Class, High-Class, Ultimate-Class and Satan-Class. Alas, this has created confusion as to what being Satan-Class and being an actual Satan means. There can only ever be Seven Satans. Seven Crown Princes who rule unchallenged over the Legions of Hell. It is not just a title. It is a metaphysical role in reality. A vital part to be played in this grand cosmic play.

Satan-class is the modern terminology used to refer to we Demons. I shall provide a link and transcript to a previous lecture I gave on the nature of Demons below. As for that ridiculous term 'Super Devil', thrice in our history have Demons been born. They did not come about through transformation or fearsome rite, but Demons true by inception. And thus, their potential is exponentially higher.

Mephistopheles says: The phenomena of transitioning from the modern context of the Ultimate Class to the Satan Class is a direct emulation of Lucifer's own final corruption, therefore a forceful cutting into one's own Node of Existence. But let us discuss the results of the endeavor, rather than the process. Once a Devil successfully imprints their consciousness onto their very demonic essence, they become their very power, freed from the needs and limitations of the physical world.

And here we find the being in question ceases to be a Devil, and is now regarded as a Demon in full. Demons, thus, are creatures of malicious and malignant power in crystalized consciousness. Understand, when I say crystallize, I do not refer to geometric molecular bonding, but of Precept-Thought that is self-actualized. Demons, by our nature, corrupt and infect all that we touch. It is axiomatic. Therefore, in order to contain our powers and interact with the greater world without imposing our inherent corruption within the immediate vicinity of our existence, we create facsimiles of our corporeal forms. These flesh forms are wrought from our very projected thoughts. Hence why Demon morphology is so much more inconsistent than the uniform appearance of Devils, who were meant to be a mockery of Humanity.

Though some Demons insist on following the so called 'old ways', and refuse to limit their existence in any fashion. Most of them are self-deluded uncultured swine. In my research, I have found that the consistent emission of demonic essence actually weakens the whole. Keeping one's form condensed is far better in the long term. But no one ever accused the Old Satan Faction of being intelligent.

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Saber of Red Asks: Professor Mephistopheles, with the advent of the Evil Pieces into Devil Culture, your race has to have seen a new influx of unique magics all being combined with Devil power. What types of these magics from other races has been the on average most compatible with devilkind? And as well, the least compatible?

Mephistopheles says: Ah, a wonderful question! Magic is a multi-faceted, constantly changing, ever mutating thing. It is never stagnant. With the massive influx of other cultures, and their magical knowledge and perspective being injected into our society, innovation and invention have been pushed to levels not seen since the demand brought upon my the Great War.

From my own Peerage; dear Tannin has enormously expanded our knowledge of Draconic magic. Never has it been easier to tear a meteor from the heavens and bring it down on your enemies' heads! Actually, in hindsight, we should have probably restricted that knowledge rather than make it so publicly available. Lord Sirzechs was rather irritated at having to deflect extinction events every other day. He ended up passing a law making it an illegal spell.

Ah! A more positive inclusion! Using Devil runic arrays in conjunction with Dark Elven nature magic, the Sage Alchemist Svarri created a celebrated potion that allows one to take on the the physical forms of anthropomorphized animals. It has become very, very popular amongst a certain subset of the youth. I believe the young people call them 'furries', yes?

As for the issues of compatibility, as I stated before, Holy magic and Devil magic are like water and fire. Diametrically opposed to one another. Another one that we have limited success in integrating is magics associated with Animism. Although, that is not to be unexpected. Our inherent magic is meant to corrupt and destroy, after all.

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NASUVERSE Relapsing asks: Lord Mephisto, have you, as the Demon known for his Deals and Knowledge, have ever tried to make a Deal with the Heavenly Father?

Aethor01 asks: Lord Mephistopheles, besides Faust are there other famous people that you made Deals with???

Mephistopheles says: My, my. Such dangerous questions. It is not in the nature of the Demon of Bargains to kiss and tell, as they say. 'Tis bad for business, you must understand. Customers don't appreciate their privacy being violated. That Faust chose to so publicly publish our dealings, embellished and exaggerated as it were, speaks volumes on what an arrogant wretch he was.

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Mephistopheles says: Well then, it's always a joy to educate young and curious minds! Thank you all for joining in on this little Q & A session. Alas, I do apologize for not being able to answer everyone's questions! You'd think being an immortal I would have all the time in the world, yet I never seem to have enough of it! You know how it goes, bargains to make, grimoires to write, exams to grade, the usual. I bid you all adieu!

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