Ascended demons
Introduction
Some demons rebel against their natural habits of treachery and deceit and begin a process known as "the ascent." When a demon's moral compass wavers into the territory of good and beneficial, they start to lose their connection with Hell and gain the approval of Heaven, turning from cunning deceivers to benign helpers. While their nature never truly changes into completely virtuous, ascended demons can be summoned to aid mortals with various tasks and needs.
When creating an ascended demon, consider:
The progress on their ascension, age, unique powers, and old rank.
Related
The ascent
An ascension is a long, painstaking process that cannot be completed on a whim. Compared to an angel's instant fall, a demon's ascent takes years to complete. They may not take on malicious contracts or help mortal souls end up in Hell but must prove their righteous intent by cutting off their horns. As horns signify a demon's status and power, this makes them vulnerable and forces them to hide from their kin. Hellspawn created from human souls have an advantage on their journey, as they already have the gift of free will and repentance on their side.
As a demon works towards divinity, their body transforms by growing feathers on their wings and turning their regrowing horns and tail into a lighter shade. Corruption washes out of their body through several high fevers and other ailments, leaving behind white scars that eventually form self-illuminating tattoos. These marks will help protect the demon from their unholy kin and make them immune to holy elements, even lessening the effect of angelic powers used against them.
The road to forgiveness is slippery and easy to fail, yet some demons have managed to turn their coat and become allies of Heaven. As long as they keep their head straight and don't fall victim to their less virtuous kin's tricks, salvation is open even to those considered hopelessly wicked.
Powers
Ascended demons keep all their innate abilities except for regeneration—instead, most of their powers mutate throughout their journey. Depending on the demon's old rank and thus the amount of corruption, some abilities take a while to transform, while the rest can change seemingly overnight.
Immortality
Invulnerable to a degree, ascended demons keep their immortality throughout their ascension, ignoring illnesses and the effects of age like they already have. Theoretically, a demon could survive a short trip to outer space as long as the affecting forces wouldn't rip their true form to shreds, freeze, or boil them alive. Succumbing to extreme elements would knock them out for the duration of the exposure, allowing the demon to regain their senses once they're back in more neutral surroundings.
Telekinesis
A demon's skill in telekinesis stays the same despite their moral alignment, despite losing their empowerment through Hell. Instead, they eventually gain the blessing of Heaven; in between the two opposites, however, a morally ambiguous demon may feel underpowered and vulnerable. They may experience weeks or months being stripped of their innate powers, further alienating them from their devilish kin.
Contract manipulation and empowerment
While a demon can't risk their ascent by taking on malevolent contracts, they can still form beneficial pacts with humans and gain additional powers through them. Fulfilling such contracts would help an ascending demon by adding good karma to their moral account and thus allow them to advance their spiritual realignment. All pacts that provide protection and blessings count as beneficial, as do various contracts dealing in good fortune and will.
Curse nullification
Opposite to their nefarious kin, ascended demons have the knowledge and capability to negate curses. As long as the curse isn't powerful enough to corrupt the demon undoing it, holy hellspawn can overpower even the most vile of curses and nullify their effects. However, neutralizing isn't the same as removal; a pacified curse will still exist, able to be powered again by anyone with enough knowledge and ill intent.
Body creation and/or possession
While ascended demons retain their ability to possess any mortal body they desire, they shall no longer do so without the vessel's consent. In addition, they'll lose the ability to fight the host's will and can be ejected from the shared body, causing ascended demons to share a weakness more common to angels. Hellspawn able to create and maintain their own human body are less affected until they decide to change their features and may require additional time and resources to alter their appearance.
True form
Just as before, a demon is at their most powerful in their true form, regardless of whether they are holy or unholy. As a demon's ascension progresses, even their true form displays signs of their moral realignment. The same luminescent tattoos and marks will carry over from their human form, as do the lighter color of their horns. Their spikes may change or disappear completely, transforming the demonic beast into a less intimidating figure.
Innate abilities
Ascended demons have the same innate abilities as their unholy kin.
Weaknesses
Divine weapons
Any weapon that could damage a demon before can still damage them, despite their increased resistance to holy damage. While divinity loses potent as a poison against ascended hellspawn, cuts and injuries caused by blessed weaponry can still be fatal. Healing from a wound will take an extended time and weaken the injured demon, especially when they are still between alliances.
Exorcisms and magic
Exorcisms can still repel any demon back into Hell, making them even more of a threat to hellspawn, who no longer consider Hell their home realm. Other kinds of magic are equally effective, though dependent on the caster's intent and knowledge of their craft. While all banishment spells work against demons, exorcisms withstand the most resistance.
Summoning
An ascended demon can still be summoned, although not as abruptly as before; even demons can gain the privilege of free will and consent once they have undergone the initial steps of redemption. Instead of a sudden, violent pull through realms, ascended demons feel compelled to answer the summoner's call, nagging at the back of their mind until they do so.
Salt
Salt loses some of its effect against righteous hellspawn, only working against their smoke form. Depending on the demon's level of accumulated redemption, they may surpass salt's effects entirely or merely be slowed down by it. Feeding a demon a tablespoon of salt will still force them to speak the truth and prevent them from escaping their vessel, allowing their opponent to utilize the temporary weakness however they wish.
Iron
A fully ascended demon will become affected by iron and steel instead of silver, another weakness inherited from angels. Any closed circuit physically touching or otherwise surrounding the demon will work, nullifying the hellspawn's powers. Unlike silver, iron will not burn or harm a demon—only momentarily remove access to their abilities.
Damage to true form
True forms remain the most vulnerable aspect of any hellspawn: all kinds of damage that bite through a demon's outer flesh will harm their true form and potentially cause life-long injuries, even disabilities. As a demon ascends, they become more susceptible to unholy damage, making their nefarious kin even more dangerous opponents.
Primordials
Primordials don't care about moral high ground and will turn any lesser being into minced meat if they so desire. Demons do not fare against the archaic gods of the universe, no matter their alignment, and should refrain from gaining the attention of far more powerful beings. Unless the demon possesses a silver tongue capable of making them seem like nothing more than an uninteresting speck of dirt, a confrontation with a primordial will most likely end in a gory mess.
