“There are playthings from the Pit, and then there are succubae.”
— Lydia, Good Intentions, chapter 14
A succubus (plural succubae) is a female demon of seduction and lust; punishment and retribution.
General[]
Succubae are demons with the purpose of punishment, retribution, and the claiming of souls directly for Hell. They guarantee that a person on the path towards Hell ends up there using the tools of seduction, lust, and pleasure.[1] During final intercourse with their prey, the soul of their victim passes through the succubus and into Hell.[2]
They are inherently hedonistic, and are crafted to respond strongly to their masters.[2][3] There are some indications that sexual desire—in themselves or other people—is an innate or compulsive need for them.[1][4]
Succubae are among the more powerful and capable demons that can be found active on the mortal plane.[5][6] They are also more likely to receive directions from their lords than lesser demons.[7][6]
There are lesser demons of lust of one or more types, described as seducers and temptresses, which might be one and the same.[5][8] One possible difference between the lesser demons of lust and the succubae is that the purpose of the succubae is punishment and harvesting souls directly, rather than temptation or corruption.
Succubae who are killed will develop new bodies in Hell.[4]
Known succubae[]
It is also possible that Cynthia is a succubus.[9] Shannon Abrams is the mortal carrier of a succubus spirit, and has gained many of their abilities.[4]
Abilities[]
Succubae draw and gain power from their own sexual acts. Their main source is however the sexual and sensual acts and feelings of their prey. The amount of power the succubus receives from the sexual acts of the prey at least partly depends on how emotionally meaningful the acts are. As an example, Lorelei received a much greater amount of power when Alex was with Taylor than when he was with Audrey.[10][11] Free will and consent also likely increases the power generated from the act, no matter who is involved.[12]
They have great natural capability of seduction and are invariably extremely good-looking. This can be augmented by their powers of mind control and suggestion. They can sense feelings, thoughts, and dreams of lust and desire among mortals, both from their prey and from people in the vicinity.[1][13] This ability does not normally extend to other demons or to angels. A succubus can enhance their sense of a person by giving oral sex.[14][4]
They have powers of illusion and in going unseen, something which they can extend to other people as long as they stay close.[15][7] One minor ability is to keep people warm with a touch.[15]
They can change her physical bodies, but the power required can be substantial.[1] Minor changes like quickly changing the nails, changing fingers into talons, shaping the tongue or changing the hair color can be done easily and habitually.[4] It is unknown if succubae can change into a male body. Lorelei has appeared as a man, but it might have been mostly or entirely an illusion.[7]
All known succubae possess great strength, speed, and resilience. Like some other demons, they can emit flames from their mouth. Their wings are functional and can be used to fly short distances. The tail is highly mobile and sharp, and can be used both as a weapon and a tool.[15] Both Lydia and Lorelei had the ability to see angels, implying it is a shared ability among succubae.[3][16]
Due to their great power, succubae have a hard time hiding or staying undetected from other demons or angels.[5]
Prey[]
“Your succubus cooties. We’re having a moment here, but is this how it is for you all the time? You get laid and it’s awesome and then two minutes later something sets you off and you’re all horny and frustrated again?”
— Molly Murray, Past Due, chapter 12
The most usual sin among those chosen as the prey of a succubus is selfishness.[1]
The prey of a succubus experience several changes, both mystical and physical. They become infertile, but also immune to sexually transmitted and other diseases.[1][17] They receive fitter and more attractive bodies, greater sexual endurance and appetites—both in general and toward the succubus—and more sexual appeal. The succubus curse also makes the prey more likely to find themselves in situations where they can find sexual partners, drawing on and enhancing existing desires.[18][19] This effect is increased for a short time after having had sex with the succubus.[10][20]
A possible side effect of exposure to a succubus is a greater capacity for confrontation and aggression.[21][4] Another possibility is that the prey gains some measure of subconscious empathic sense for lust and desires, which would explain Alex’s ability to choose and do actions best suited to his partners, even the first time and while relatively inexperienced sexually.[10][22]
There are indications that the succubus can initiate some or all of these changes on other people using physical contact and intent, and appears to have some control over the strength and impact of the effects.[23][24] It is unclear how long these changes last after contact with the succubus has ended. Intercourse with a succubus also has physical effects on the partner.[12] However, Lorelei has later stated that she can not cast an enchantment of extra sexual appeal and attractiveness on someone not her prey.[18]
Personal wards of sufficient quality can block these effects.[12][18]
These changes might appear neutral or beneficial. Lorelei has theorized that they only are dangerous when they are focused on people who are selfish or without conscience.[18]
Known prey[]
- Damon Bell
- Alex Carlisle (atypical prey)
- Raymond Cordingly
- Jack, a mercenary and war criminal[4]
- Jurgen, World War 2 concentration camp commander[3]
- Malik, a cruel 11th century warrior[1][2]
- Dalton McGinley
- Carlos Medina
- Nicolas, for unknown reasons[7]
Theories[]
Two of the three known succubae—Lorelei and Serena—were mortal women who were turned into succubae. Lorelei’s body is also her original one; she does not wear a mortal skin as most other demons on the mortal plane do.[5] Both Lorelei and Lydia were able to walk on holy ground, though it was painful to them.[25] This gives a strong indication that every succubus started out as a mortal who was turned into a demon while still in life, and thus still wears their original body. This would also fit with that the dead Serena seems to have left a body behind, unlike other demons.[4] Lorelei’s power on the mortal plane compared to other demons was in part because of her original body.[5]
Doing cunnilingus on a succubus is normally addictive and gives the succubus greater control over her partner. However, it worked differently when Alex went down on Lorelei: she lost more of her control over Alex and became more loyal to him.[21] One possible explanation for this is that the reason and intent for the act guides its effects, which would fit with the way magic is built on intent and symbolism. Another is that Alex was her master at the time.
A similar explanation might also be the reason why Taylor and Ted seemed less psychologically affected from making love with Lorelei compared to Bridger. In Bridger’s case, Lorelei was focused on gaining power through the sex with Bridger, while in the case of Taylor and Ted she was focused on mutual pleasure. She had also used a greater and more focused degree of supernatural suggestions towards Bridger. On the other hand, Lorelei had used a fair bit of magic on Taylor.[24]
Serena showed her demonic features to Jack during their final tryst. It is unknown if she did this as a way to taunt him about his impending fate or if this is something all prey can see near their end.[4][2]
The incubus (plural incubi) are the male equivalent, but has only been seen in Hell so far.[26][6]
Trivia[]
The way the books use succubae as plural is interesting. The normal plural ending in Latin for a noun ending in -us is -i (i.e. incubus becomes incubi), and nouns ending with -us are masculine. However, the English term succubus is not pure Latin, but an adaptation of the word succuba, which is feminine and has the plural succubae.
The forms succubus and succubae are thus an example of an only partial linguistic change.
Sources[]
Succubae play a key role in the following stories:
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Good Intentions, chapter 4
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Good Intentions, chapter 5
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Good Intentions, chapter 12
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Halloween for Life
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Skin
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Ask Me Anything (Elliott Kay’s Patreon, May 15, 2023)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 “Amends”
- ↑ Past Due, chapter 13
- ↑ “Red Flags”
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Good Intentions, chapter 8
- ↑ Natural Consequences, chapter 11
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Natural Consequences, chapter 16
- ↑ “Proper Focus”
- ↑ “Clear Communication”
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Personal Demons, chapter 1
- ↑ Natural Consequences, chapter 13
- ↑ “Can’t Stab Everything” (noncanon)
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Past Due, chapter 12
- ↑ Past Due, chapter 14
- ↑ Past Due, chapter 10
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Good Intentions, chapter 6
- ↑ Good Intentions, chapter 11
- ↑ Good Intentions, chapter 3
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Good Intentions, chapter 13
- ↑ Good Intentions, chapter 19
- ↑ Personal Demons, chapter 16