Onryo

Epithet: The Unrequited

“Love is war. Love is subjugation. Love is violence. Love is desperation. Love is impatient.”

Introduction

Vul'karik’s wrath and his wish to conquer all of the planes is common knowledge, but his unrequited love for his fellow Eidolon, Eden, is lesser known. Recent discoveries in 1050 AC made by those who bravely ventured to the Viridgaol to free the Dragons of Rhyst uncovered this well-hidden information, and thus led to a better understanding of one of Vul’karik’s first Generals, Onryo. Where most Demons are regarded as crude, single-minded beasts who exist only to kill and enact Vul’karik’s will, Onryo presents as a more emotional, sophisticated being, perhaps even seen as rational and methodical by some. In the end, however, a Demon is a Demon, and Onryo is just as brutal as any of her kin, if not moreso.

Background

Like Mavkoda, Onryo was one of the first Demons sculpted by Vul’karik. Unlike the vast majority of other Demons who were created in batches as the Void’s foot soldiers, however, Onryo was made in a rare moment of angry sorrow. As the Void King privately mourned the loss of Eden, who he still thought dead at the time, he tore at himself in a self-destructive rage. Eidolonic ichor, shredded flesh and muscle, shards of rib bone, and overwhelming emotion coalesced to create Onryo, who resembled Vul’karik more than any other Demon had before. Embarrassed by this living reminder of his vulnerability, Vul’karik moved to smite the newly made being. He paused when she declared that she understood him better than any other, for she had inherited his emotions, though not his memories of why he felt them. The Void King replied that if she had no memory of why he felt this way, she could not truly understand and that her feelings were only a mockery of his. She pleaded, then, to be able to prove that she too could love and mourn. When he acquiesced, thinking that she would die in the process or come back ever stronger, Onryo departed from the Void and was not seen again for 99 years.

Shortly before Mavkoda’s return to Galgotha, Onryo came home and knelt before Vul’karik, gifting him the knowledge of Limbo and Angels, studied afar from the Astral Sea, as well as the heads of 98 Angels and one Archangel. Vul’karik scarcely recognized her until she spoke of now fully understanding him, for Onryo had transformed into an unnerving amalgamation of both Angelic and Demonic features during her time away from the Void.

Once the Void King recovered from his shock regarding the new information brought to him, Onryo told him of how she had taken a disguise and fell in “love” with a new Angel every year. Each time, she stalked and obsessed over them; learned about their interests, preferences, dreams, and fears; eliminated romantic rivals; made them fall in love with her. When they did, she would soon consume them, making them part of her by adapting their wings, eyes, halos, limbs, voices, quirks, traits, and other features into her own body. She referred to this as “honoring every part of them” by “ascending” them into her form to be forever remembered and cherished instead of simply murdering them.

Onryo went on to explain that while it was painful to honor them, she could never allow herself to actually be in a relationship with those she loved, for Vul’karik himself never knew what it was like, either. She vowed to never surpass him emotionally and would only know love as the hunt and pursuit of another, where the chase never yielded results. For the information brought, Angels and Archangel killed, and her understanding of his pain, the Void King rewarded Onryo with one of the highest blessings an Eidolon could grant, making her one of Vul’karik’s first Generals.

Those who pact, worship, and/or become Demon-Touched through Onryo exhibit different behaviors than those who act in the name of Vul’karik or the other Demon Generals. A standard Demon-Touched may become more apathetic, bloodthirsty, and develop Demonic or inhuman physical traits. An Onryo Demon-Touched, in comparison, may become more manic, impulsive, obsessive, and develop the physical traits of whatever they love most whether that is a person, animal, object, or concept. Thus, Onryo Demon-Touched are often misidentified as being Fae-Touched or Blessed, having mental or physical illness, or suffering effects inflicted by a strange curse or injury.

A clever Touched may use these misconceptions to their advantage to avoid detection for as long as possible if they feel so inclined. They may be identified by a common unique trait amongst most Onryo Demon-Touched, however, in that they feel strongly compelled to take physical and mental trophies of what they love and kill, incorporating it into themselves in both subtle and obvious ways.

Trivia

She is known as the Aspect of Yearning for embodying Vul’karik’s love for Eden and desire to see everything return to the Infinite Void once more

She especially despises Nevanerro and never “honors” Devils or his followers, instead opting to torture then eviscerate them

She is one of the most responsive of patrons, as far as unknowable powerful beings go; grand offerings, sacrifices, and momentous action taken in her name may be rewarded with a “heavensent” rush of ecstasy and sudden growth spurt of physical traits if Touched, though none mimic actual angelic features.

She and her followers aid Mavkoda at times in his efforts to conquer Rhyst, but primarily they focus on Limbo, Sol, and the Seraphim as well as destroying all related to Nevanerro and Sheol

She believes that if the Void conquers all of the other planes, Vul’karik will be reunited with Eden and then she too will be permitted to fully, truly love

Credit

Author: Ceph https://forum.verdict.dev/showthread.php?tid=3875