| creature_tl=3
| creature_cat=Demonics
| creature_disp=[[Factions|Faction:]] [[Hell, Inc.]]
| creature_ac=C1
| creature_ps=10100%
| creature_blood=20
| creature_agi=+0
* Upon casting the shield, the creature becomes engulfed in a protective shield, which will block all incoming damage. It will break after sustaining a certain amount of limb damage. If a black shield is already active, the technique can be used again to refill the existing shield's HP back to full.
** The black shield counts as '''Armored''', with '''40 HP''' and '''LDV-0'''.
** The black shield engulfs the user, which means it takes priority over personal body armor and/or shields, but will not engulf counts as a '''special shield''' (behind [[Covercover]]. The order but in front of priority is as follows: [[Covershields]] > ''Black shield'' > Physical shields > Target creature (AC/body armor)in the [[Shields#Defensive order of priority|defensive order of priority]].
** The black shield is fully impenetrable until broken - there is no pass-through of damage until the shield is broken, which makes it possible to survive powerful hits without taking damage (other than the casting costs), even if they would destroy the shield in one hit.
Equipped weapons:
* Holster 1: [[SIG Sauer P220]] (8+1 /8, 9x [[.45 ACP]], Standard JHP)- IS 3** Combined effects: 1.8x damage against unarmored ACs, 0.5x damage against armored ACs, FT +1* Holster 2: [[GoheiShaku]]- IS 1
Inventory:
Within the demonic hierarchy, they are classified as '''Echelon 5''' or '''Team leaders''', above [[fiend|fiends]] and [[cubi]], equal in rank to [[vampire|vampires]] and [[cacobaron|cacobarons]], and under [[malduke|maldukes]] and [[incinerator|incinerators]].
The primary purpose of a dark maiden is the promotion of Hell's ''Demonic Way of Life'' and the ''Seven Core Values'', through one of two three broad types of activities: sanctum management , store duty and external operations. Every dark maiden is assigned to a 'home' sanctum and a corresponding town of residence.
When assigned to sanctum management, dark maidens are provided with many tasks to keep the sanctum running, such as cleaning and maintenance, providing lessons and seminars on Demonic values, collecting and counting financial donations to keep the sanctum in business, providing counseling to visitors and followers (for a fee), general help and guidance, as well as psychological and physical therapy (the latter of which is conducted in the sanctum's euphemistically named ''Stress Relief Chamber'').
When assigned to store duty, the dark maiden's role is to run one of the ''Circle H'' [[convenience store|convenience stores]]. These duties are largely the same as those of a [[trader|regular convenience store manager]]; however, all ''Circle H'' stores possess the same donation boxes as sanctums. Customers of ''Circle H'' stores are regularly encouraged to donate their spare change.
When assigned to external operations, dark maidens walk routes across the Mazes, offering assistance and protection to any passers-by they come across. Dark maidens are also tasked with offering their physical and psychological expertise to anyone who requests it (so long as they pay for the service).
To become a dark maiden, the candidate must be a [[human]] or a [[halfling]], and must have been recognized by a sanctum or a demonic creature as truly enthralled and devoted to Demonic values. The worthiness of a candidate is measured by the time spent practicing and living according to the ''Demonic Way'', but also the intensity of their actions. A candidate's life and past actions will be judged on their most intense act for each of the Seven Core Values (Lust, Wrath, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony, Envy, and Pride). To be considered worthy, the candidate must receive passing grades in at least four of the seven types of actions.
If judged worthy, the candidate must confirm their wish to abandon their humanity in the name of Hell. This process is known as the ''rebranding''; a corporate euphemism which that refers to the abandoning of humanity in favor of becoming a fully demonic creature. The process is extensive and deeply changing, transforming the candidate's body, mind, and capability to the point of being completely unrecognizable from their previous selves. All potential candidates are informed of the changes involved in the process.
The physical changes are extreme and extensive; regardless of the age, species , and biological sex of the applicant, their body will be transformed into the general shape of a young, female human. If they happened to already match that description, their physiological traits will be modified to make them unrecognizable. Smaller details, such as skin tone, eye and hair color, and other miscellanea are usually retained. The bodies are then covered in intricate tattoo art depicting various demonic symbols and imagery; each dark maiden has unique body art, usually evoking the best or strongest demonic aspect of their lives before their rebranding. For example, a candidate who was particularly good at expressing their Wrath will have body art representing fire, symbols of violence and violent scenes, Angelics being decimated, etc. Lastly and most importantly, their bodies become ageless, and their life expectancy rises to 150 years on average.
The mental changes are also extensive. Dark maidens retain their sense of self (without which they could not express Pride) but are hardwired with indomitable loyalty for Hell. Hell does not consider that its servants have free will, but all are encouraged to display and demonstrate their loyalty in creative ways. Although it is customary to refer to dark maidens as female, using female pronouns, they do not seem to view themselves as anything but demonic in their very nature and identity, suggesting some Demonic form of non-binary identity.