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| nav=[[Main Page]] '''→''' [[Creatures]] '''→''' [[{{PAGENAME}}]]
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{{Creature
| name={{{name|{{{1|{{PAGENAME}}}}}}}}
| image
| creature_tl=3
| creature_cat=Demonics
| creature_disp=[[Factions|Faction:]] Hell, Inc.
| creature_ac=C1
| creature_ps=10%
| creature_blood=20
| creature_agi=+0
| creature_head=Head - 10 HP
| creature_body=Upper body - 40 HP<br/>Lower body - 30 HP
| creature_limb=2 arms - 20 HP<br/>2 legs - 20 HP
| creature_extr=2 hands - 15 HP<br/>2 feet - 15 HP
| creature_wp=2 eyes (Head)<br/>Crotch (Lower body)
| creature_bones=[[File:Has bones.png|25px]]
| creature_gear=[[File:Yes box.png|25px]]
| creature_wear=[[File:Human clothing.png|25px]]
}}
The '''dark maiden''' is a creature belonging to the '''Demonics''' category. Being former [[human|humans]] (see [[Shrine maiden#Overview|overview]] for details), they are one of the [[:Category:Civilized creatures|civilized species]] of the Mazes.
= Attacks and techniques =
This creature has seven attacks: '''Punch''', '''Kick''', '''Black shield''', '''Hellcloak''', '''Fire beam''', '''Charge shaku''' and '''Hell-gating'''.
=== Punch and kick ===
Identical to the basic [[Unarmed combat|unarmed combat punch and kick]]. Maximum attacks per turn is determined by the [[Combat skills#Effects (Melee and misc skills)|Martial arts]] combat skill level.
=== Black shield ===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:10pt;text-align:center"
|-
! Damage type !! Range !! <span style="color:#274e13">MAPT</span> !! <span style="color:#0c53a6">IS</span> !! <span style="color:#980000">LDV</span> !! Pain (All ACs)
|-
| '''Special''' || Special || '''<span style="color:#274e13">1</span>''' || '''<span style="color:#0c53a6">5</span>''' || '''<span style="color:#980000">N</span>''' || N/A
|}
* Inflicts no [[Pain]] or [[Limb Damage]].
* This technique is a '''Demonic power''' which requires '''1 DE''' to cast.
* 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 [[Cover]]. The order of priority is as follows: [[Cover]] > ''Black shield'' > Physical shields > Target creature (AC/body armor).
** 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.
=== Hellcloak ===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:10pt;text-align:center"
|-
! Damage type !! Range !! <span style="color:#274e13">MAPT</span> !! <span style="color:#0c53a6">IS</span> !! <span style="color:#980000">LDV</span> !! Pain (All ACs)
|-
| '''Special''' || Special || '''<span style="color:#274e13">1</span>''' || '''<span style="color:#0c53a6">5</span>''' || '''<span style="color:#980000">N</span>''' || N/A
|}
* Inflicts no [[Pain]] or [[Limb Damage]].
* This technique is a '''Demonic power''' which requires '''2 DE''' to cast.
* Upon casting, the creature's body becomes semi-transparent and emits several intangible after-images of itself, making it difficult to tell apart which is the creature's real body. The effects of this technique last for '''3 turns'''. If a Hellcloak is already active, casting it again will extend the effect duration by another 3 turns.
* While active, any creature targeting the Hellcloaked creature sustains a '''[[FT]] +2''' malus.
=== Hellfire beam ===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:10pt;text-align:center"
|-
! Damage type !! Range !! <span style="color:#274e13">MAPT</span> !! <span style="color:#0c53a6">IS</span> !! <span style="color:#980000">LDV</span> !! Pain (All ACs)
|-
| '''Spec-Fire''' || Ranged || '''<span style="color:#274e13">3</span>''' || '''<span style="color:#0c53a6">14</span>''' || '''<span style="color:#980000">+2</span>''' || 32%
|}
* This technique is a '''Demonic power''' which requires '''2 DE''' to cast.
=== Charge shaku ===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:10pt;text-align:center"
|-
! Damage type !! Range !! <span style="color:#274e13">MAPT</span> !! <span style="color:#0c53a6">IS</span> !! <span style="color:#980000">LDV</span> !! Pain (All ACs)
|-
| '''Special''' || ''Special'' || '''<span style="color:#274e13">1</span>''' || '''<span style="color:#0c53a6">0</span>''' || '''<span style="color:#980000">N</span>''' || N/A
|}
* Inflicts no [[Pain]] or [[Limb Damage]].
* This technique is a '''Demonic power'''. The creature must be equipped with a [[shaku]] to use this technique.
* This technique's sole purpose is to charge the [[shaku]] with Charge points; at a rate of '''1 DE for 1 Charge point'''. Any amount of available AE can be converted into Charge points, up to the shaku's maximum amount.
=== Hell-gating ===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:10pt;text-align:center"
|-
! Damage type !! Range !! <span style="color:#274e13">MAPT</span> !! <span style="color:#0c53a6">IS</span> !! <span style="color:#980000">LDV</span> !! Pain (All ACs)
|-
| '''Special''' || ''Special'' || '''<span style="color:#274e13">1</span>''' || '''<span style="color:#0c53a6">0</span>''' || '''<span style="color:#980000">N</span>''' || N/A
|}
* Inflicts no [[Pain]] or [[Limb Damage]].
* This technique is a '''Demonic power''' which requires '''10 DE''' to cast.
* Upon casting this technique, a portal opens on the creature's Side, which spawns '''1d3''' random Demonic creatures of threat levels 1 to 3 (except dark maidens). The spawned creatures are under the caster's command.
= Equipment =
=== [[Clothing and armor]] ===
This creature can wear [[List of human clothing and armor|human clothing and armor]]. Their default clothing is as follows:
* Top: '''Sarashi'''
* Bottom: '''Leather pants'''
* Footwear: '''High-heeled shoes'''
=== [[Load-bearing equipment]] ===
* [[Utility belt]]: Basic utility belt
* [[Leg rigs]]: Pistol mag rig
=== Equipment and inventory ===
Equipped weapons:
* Holster 1: [[SIG Sauer P220]] (8+1 /8, 9x [[.45 ACP]], Standard JHP)
* Holster 2: [[Gohei]]
Inventory:
* Pistol mag rig, Ammunition: 3x [[P220 magazines|P220 8-round magazine]] (Each: 8 /8, 8x [[.45 ACP]], Standard JHP)
= Other information =
[[Skills]]:
* Combat skills: '''Skilled''' (Semi-auto pistol, One-handed club), '''Unskilled''' (all other combat skills)
* Non-combat skills: '''Unskilled''' (all non-combat skills)
Creature traits:
*'''Demonic''': This creature is demonic, and therefore has access to certain '''[[Demonic powers]]''' (listed above as techniques), and the resource needed to cast them, '''Demonic Energy'''. See this page for more details.
*'''Cannot be butchered''': On death, this creature's body quickly fades then disappears, dropping any equipment it carried (if any) and making it impossible to butcher this creature.
= Overview =
{{Lore}}
Demonic creatures are employees of '''Hell, Inc.''', the Demonic [[Factions|faction]].
Dark maidens are a special type of formerly human demonic creature, devoting their lives to serving Hell and promoting the ''Demonic Way''. The process of creating a dark maiden is detailed in the [[Dark maiden#Becoming a dark maiden|section below]]. They are famous for the intricate body art covering their bodies and their faces, which represent imagery and symbols of Hell.
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 broad types of activities: sanctum management 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 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).
Certain dark maidens are assigned to "special operations" which do not fall in either category; such individuals are usually under the orders of a higher-ranked demonic creature. Special operations include, but are not limited to, spying on angelic activities, tracking down and eliminating angelics or angelic sympathizers, or performing a variety of odd jobs to raise money.
==== Becoming a dark maiden ====
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 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.
The last array of changes are those related to Demonic powers and capabilities. Dark maidens have access to no less than five different demonic powers; the most important of which are ''Charge shaku'' (which lets a dark maiden use their Demonic Energy to power up their [[shaku]]) and ''Hell-gating'', by far the most powerful of demonic powers, which instantly summons a small squad of demonic creatures to serve and fight by the dark maiden's side.
The term ''dark maiden'' may seem strange or even inappropriate to some, an intentional mockery of the term [[shrine maiden]] to others. Hell's official position on what the term means to them suggests another opinion; they have stated that the term "maiden" is the closest Common language equivalent to an unpronounceable Demonic term that roughly translates to "she who serves Hell steadfastly and indomitably", and is in no way meant to convey the angelic idea of virginity or purity. Multiple alternative terms were proposed, such as ''dark abbess'' or ''anju'' (Youkai-go: '''庵主''', pronounced ''An-joo'', which roughly transliterates to "abbess"), but were all rejected.
[[Category:Creatures]]
[[Category:Hell, Inc.]]
[[Category:Civilized creatures]]