Akhoman
Akhoman, also called Akhos, is the Demon Lord of Pain, one of the most ancient and powerful of all the demon lords. Some even claim he is a son of, or was created by, Ahriman himself. He is considered a sanguine-type demon of the Circle of Destruction. His lesser demonic spawn are called Algoi (singular Algos).
Akhoman is the father of the cambion Kye and the primary deity of the Svartalfar city of Ak'varylystha.
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Depictions
Being such an ancient demon, Akhoman has been depicted in a variety of forms. Sometimes, he is drawn as simply a formless shadow, much like Ahriman, while at other times he has a canine head or skull, with four massive horns, prominent fangs, and purple eyes. His weapon of choice is a whip, multi-tailed and often bladed. The dark elves make statues of him in this form, also featuring four arms - two with bat-like wings attached - each bearing a hand with three great claws. In Parsanshar, he is sometimes depicted as a humanoid beast with long hair and many fangs as long as an elephant's tusks.
History
According to ancient texts from Parsanshar, Akhoman was a son or creation of Ahriman, the prime evil and god of darkness. However, following his defeat by a great hero of old - possibly a young god or demigod - he was cast into the Underworld to become a demon lord, restricted to the domain of pain instead of his previous lordship over all evil thought and torment. He has been striving ever since to regain his lost godhood. One of the most ancient demons, even other demon lords are said to fear him.
Personality
Despite his often bestial appearance in his depictions, Akhoman is said to speak with great cunning and guile, tempting his followers into evil thoughts and deeds with words of silken shadow. When words fail, he can inflict tremendous pain to get his way, but he is even a master of using pleasurable pain as a temptation for those who desire it.
Domain
The souls that fall under Akhoman's domain primarily include individuals obsessed with pain, such as those who tortured others for pleasure, whether they did so openly or under the guise of enforcing law or another mortal excuse, as well as those so obsessed they even torture themselves. Likewise, those who led lives burdened by great physical pain and lost themselves in their own misery, rather than striving for goodness in spite of their suffering, may find their souls going to Akhoman. Some scholars say that Akhoman created or influenced many magical curses that bring unbearable pain with them, such as the unimaginable agony of lycanthropy, though no one knows this for certain.
Akhoman rules a kingdom in Hades sometimes called Agonia, which lies between the Kokytos and Phlegethon rivers - literally between fire and ice, much like the Ginnungagap, the shadowy realm of Akhoman's father Ahriman. The wailing of lost souls is louder in this black land than almost anywhere else in the Underworld, as they are tortured and tormented unceasingly until the end of time.
Minions
The Algoi (singular Algos) are Akhoman's minions. Like all demons, they come in a variety of forms, but most appear like a lesser form of Akhoman's primary avatar, with bat-like wings, great horns and fangs, and a bestial head with red or purple eyes. Their skin is usually heavily scarred and tattooed, and they favor the whip as their weapon. Cambions born of Akhoman or an Algos can perform the Touch of Pain, causing extreme, debilitating agony to wrack a victim's body with a mere touch.
