Abaddon Archetypes, Anyone?
Alliteration Gets Me Every Time
I think archetypes specific to any universe are popular because it’s a way of connecting ourselves to this story that we’ve come to love–or a story we want to get to know. An unfortunate side-effect of so often comparing ourselves to others is that we begin to blame ourselves for our differences, or measure ourselves based on someone else. But I believe one good thing can come from wanting to compare ourselves to others: if there were only a way to condition ourselves to either see the beauty in the differences or to instead see the similarities.
Most fantasy RPG games introduce alternative races. Lots even let you choose which one you would like to be. And I think that’s because a large portion of us innately look at diversities in fantastical realms and say, “Oh, if I were in this universe, I would want to be one of those!” Why? I have lots of speculation, but I think the simplest answer is it’s just fun to imagine! I suppose it all ties in with the very reason games and fantasy novels exist; foreign is attractive to us and if we can see ourselves fitting in it, we’d like to think about it.
I’ve now written 2 books (one as part of a series, and one that is–so far–a standalone). I incorporated a way for the reader to make this kind of connection in both of them because it’s what I want to do when I read a book. Ignite features Abilities of fire, water, ice, electricity, and acid–as well as Special Abilities, which are very open-ended psychic-based powers. And while I don’t harp on it much in Abaddon, I’ve created different races of demons.
Allow me to introduce you!
Lupine demons typically resemble canines with prominent muzzles with black, wet noses. They have fangs and fur to go with their lovely set of horns. They may have more humanoid hands and feet, or they may have paws. They also may or may not have wings, but if they do, they are probably feathered. They are known in Abaddon for their keen sense of smell–surpassing every other kind of demon in the realm. This makes them skilled hunters and trackers.
Pantheran demons possess remarkable cat-like features, emphasized by their teeth and sharp eyes. Their fur can be solid, striped, or spotted. Their claws are incomparable to anyone else’s and they are known for their impressive speed. They excel as a hunters or even in the prestigious positions of the Royal Guard. Few pantheran demons have wings, but if they do, they can be feathered or fleshy.
Hooved demons create the majority of the populous in this realm, but they also have the most variety in their features. They are crowned with horns or antlers that can come in all shapes and sizes. If they do have wings, they are likely fleshy or bat-like. While their hands most certainly have talons, their feet are hooves, cloven or not. They come from the most ancient of all demon ancestry and are known for their keen sense of hearing. Many hooved demons take traditional roles within the community such as farming and trading, yet they also make the most wonderful musicians and singers.
Avian demons sport bird-like features with feathers and beaks consistent throughout the type. They may have a lovely set of horns, or perhaps their feathers create a plumage crown worthy of a longer stare. Most avian demons have wings, but they aren’t always feathered. Their hands may resemble raptor feet, or maybe they have wonderfully articulate feathers as digits. This kind of demon is known for their exceptional eyesight, surpassing every other kind of demon in Abaddon. They do well in fields of studying artifacts and creating art.
Anguis demons have reptilian appearances with tons of variety in their facial features. While some more closely resemble snakes and lizards you are accustomed to, others look more like dragons. Anguis demons typically have more than one set of horns, contrary to most other demon types, and most often have fleshy wings. They are known for their superior sense of taste, making them excellent wine and cuisine connoisseurs.
Sapien demons are known for their humanoid or ape-like appearances, like the Royal Family. While their skin and hair can be any color or neutral you can imagine, they sport long, pointed ears, a set of horns or antlers, fleshy wings, a tapered tail, and some monstrous feet. Sapien demons are known for their intelligence and intuition, making them wonderful scholars, linguists, and scientists.
You can see how even these races would vary a lot in appearance, even within the same race! I think it’s important to give a lot of detail, but not so much that you leave no room for the imagination.
Curious to see which of the above you might be? Well, I just so happen to have a quiz you can take!
Go nuts!
As always, thanks for reading! And I hope you have a fabulous Thanksgiving!