The Human Seduction/Corrupting class concept with Satan in lesson 29 got me thinking a lot. We don't see the brothers corrupting humans and claiming their souls in the game, but it's alluded to sometimes. Like for example at the beginning when Satan warns MC that looking into Asmo's eyes is the best way to get hypnotized and eaten, or when Mammon reminisces in London about the time he corrupted tons of humans left and right. So what do you think is each's brother go-to human corruption method?
Obey Me: Seven Deadly Corruptions
To be honest, I think their corruption methods would mostly be a mix of their personality and their sin 🤔
For example, Mammon and Asmo would be able to corrupt people with very little effort - we know the former can bestow riches and manipulate people into spending money, and the latter has a charm stat so high he can literally memorise his target.
The Seven Deadly Sins are all ones that were/are preached against for good reason, and it's important to remember that the Obey Me versions of the sins are quite different from their historical definitions.
In the game, Asmo can use his charm for his own benefit, to get out of trouble, or to pursue his goals. When he needs to, he puts it up to maximum effect, eg for stopping a giant snake in its tracks!
But in demonology, Asmo isn't merely lustful himself - he tears apart couples, breaks hearts, destroys lives, and drives people to end their lives in despair.
We get one small clue of this in the game when we meet Helene, the woman trapped in a painting because of his actions, who Asmo thought nothing of leaving in such a position for centuries. When reminded of his cruelty, he shows no remorse and offers no solution.
Even so, his sin is very watered down.
Beel is another good example, as in OM he is most affected by his sin, having to consume massive amounts of food just to stay in control of himself. But in demonology, he is not merely a big eater, but someone who takes resources from the starving and hoards them himself, more than he could possibly ever consume, and gains pleasure from watching people die as a result of his actions.
Definitely not the Beel from OM!
And Pride of course, is considered the worst of all seven sins (though it was not always so), but even Lucifer is watered down for OM. In demonology, the demon of pride is one who never helps another soul, who murders and r*pes with glee, because only his feelings matter and everyone else is to be crushed beneath his heels. He takes everything from everyone, commits genocides and demands all bow to him as he breaks their backs.
The Lucifer we know is a pussycat.
I say "in demonology" above, which is a distinction from "in a certain religion" - most of these demons are older than christianity, have undergone various name changes, or are mistaken for one another in modern sources. The concept of sins/virtues and virtues also certainly predate this religion, and it's good to bear in mind that no one culture or set of societal rules was ever the first to think these thoughts.
[Disclaimer: I am not advising people to summon demons. Pls stop sending me bible passages 🙏👀]
In demonology then, many of these demons have historical reasons for their summoning.
Lucifer has a mixed up history, due to the conflation of him and Satan. Whether they truly are two separate demons, or aspects of one, is mostly up to interpretation. Similar to his next eldest brother, Lucifer has perhaps gone by many names, both demon and god, and he was summoned primarily for his unrivalled power and knowledge.
In fact, if one summoned Lucifer, it was said he could then summon any other demon to appear at command. However, only the expert summoner should dare make the attempt. He is also sought for his discipline, focus, transformation, and healing.
Modern summoners describe him as stern, and his appearance as god-like, though it should be noted that such accounts are always subjective. If such a summoning was possible, it may be out of the summoners hands which aspect chooses to appear.
Mammon, known as the prince of tempters, remains a popular demon with modern summoners. Historically said to bestow riches of course, he is also associated with helping any goal be met, which is unsurprising if we consider what past names this immensely powerful demon(/god) may have gone by...
Labelled as a challenge to work with, he is said to never turn his back on those loyal to him. He has been described as a man with tan skin, white blonde hair, and piercing blue eyes 👀
Leviathan is a favourite of modern summoners who seek enlightenment and personal growth. He is also frequently conflated with Lucifer and Satan (his symbol/seal for example is the alchemical sign for sulphur, ie brimstone). If summoned with respect, he is said to be very helpful and friendly, providing emotional healing and guidance.
Satan shares the same mixed history as Lucifer, as well as his own wardrobe of potential past demon and god names. He is popular to this day, summoned by those who are lost in themselves, who have stumbled and fallen, or who have lost their creative spark. Described as brilliant and wise, stoic but with a surprising sense of humour, and of course, as a massive fan of cats.
Asmodeus was summoned to give true and full answers to any question put to him - if properly summoned. He was a favourite of magicians and sorcerers, and allegedly of witches (though much of that was propaganda), as an agent of deadly power.
He can render a human invisible, reveal treasure locations, and rules gambling houses (Mammon: "WAT?!"). His own agenda is focused on ruining marriages, disfiguring and slandering women, possessing humans, and committing murder, so he's very happy to help with any of those. He also has some knowledge of the future.
Beelzebub has his history as a god which is now mostly forgotten (potentially a protective and gracious god of weather, thunder, air, and healing), but as a demon he was summoned for power, sex, war, to corrupt the devout, to oust tyrants, and to commit murder. He was said to be the favourite of witches, summoned for their orgies, which true or not led to him being popular in the the black masses of high society in the 17th century.
It is warned that he is a dangerous demon to summon, the endeavour being likely to cause death, and the demon extremely hard to banish.
Belphegor, like his twin, also has his history of being god, though his is a little more remembered - he was worshipped via the form of a phallus, granted fertility and sexual power, and maybe even had his followers venerate women above men. As a demon, his virtues were inverted, and he became the ruler of misogyny and licentious men, worshipped via feces.
Difficult to summon, he can grant great wealth, wonderful inventions and discoveries, and sexual power... but only if he likes the summoner.
Incidentally, some of the side and background characters have very interesting skills they are summoned for. I should really do a "Theory of" post for each demon, one at a time maybe? 🤔
All that being said, as I mentioned with Mammon and Asmo, the OM demons could certainly use their sins to easily corrupt humans without embracing the full horrors of those sins.
Mammon runs gambling rings, a method of corruption in itself if targeted at humans, while Asmo would certainly find willing targets in the human world with very little fuss.
Levi too could easily ruffle a human's envy, Satan would find no shortage of opportunity for wrath, and many fans of gluttony would flock to Beel.
The trick however lies in what they can promise a human, and the key word there is lies.
The pacts that MC makes are rare (unilateral), because they are given of free will. The demons have not been summoned to the human world and trapped within magic. They are free demons, who wish to protect MC.
A normal demon pact requires at least part of the human's soul. This is what they mean by corruption.
The human gives them (at least) part of their soul and in return gets...?
Power, promised in seductive tones to the prideful, but the power is never the human's. Instead they become his, foolish mortals thinking to bind their frail lives to the devil himself.
Riches, promised to the greedy with examples shown, for Mammon can bestow riches upon those he favours. But a pact isn't a favour, and greedy humans are nothing but walking wallets to the Avatar of Greed.
Revenge, promised to the envious, but vengeance never quenches jealousy, and before long the human sits amongst the ashes of his life, as Leviathan laughs.
Knowledge, promised to the wrathful who wish to gain advantage over their foes, but a little knowledge in the wrong hands is a self-destructive weapon. No knowledge is ever enough, and soon, Satan holds the human's entire soul, crushed in his fist.
Love, promised to the lustful who foolishly wish for feelings to be returned or a no to become a yes. But Asmo deals in lust, not love, and the human who confuses the two will see the demon destroy their entire life.
Strength, promised to the gluttonous in begrudging tone. But vigor is subjective, and the human who pursues a demon to attain such ends will fall victim to vainglory and despair. No matter how big they get, it is never, ever enough.
Inspiration, promised to the lazy and desperate. The demon makes no effort to charm, and the humans don't care. They want ideas, acclaim, and fame. Alas, the demon who once loved humans now only loves one, but he will be delighted to... "help" 👀
The History of the Seven Deadly Sins & Lords
Obey Me: Animals and Power
Obey Me: The Theory of Demon Symbols
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