Abatha, Princess of Madness
Abatha in Detail

The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.
-Marcus Aurelius

ABATHANS, SHRINKS AND LOONS
Servitors of Madness are known commonly as "Abathans," and tend to fall into one or the other sub-categories of epithets: "Shrinks" or "Loons." Depending on the demon in question, they may or may not take kindly to the sobriquet placed on them. With an Abathan it's always a bit of a crapshoot.

Abatha attracts as many demons who wish to study the mental and emotional states of humanity as she does the unstable. Madness has also attracted demons who see their Words more intertwined with the Princess's, or who simply see the capability to rise in greater power by attaching their Words to hers than their current masters. While popular with the many of Gluttony's more intelligent demons, as well as demons of Drugs and Fire and the less stable demons of Technology and Nightmares, Abatha gained Saminga's anger when some of his Word-bound left him for her. While the Shedite Prince retained the Demon of Serial Killings, he lost the Word-brother, Mashhit, Calabite Demon of Serial Killers to the Habbalite Princess--a loss he will never forgive.

The whispered rumors of Abatha eventually taking Beleth's place have attracted bottom-feeders and power-mongers alike, hoping that eventually Abatha will have a more distinguished place in the Descending Hierarchy. Those demons believe that within the currently small and weaker ranks of Madness they will eventually have a greater influence than they could with their former masters.

ORGANIZATION
To the outside observer, with the exception of Abatha's Red and White Queens, there are no formal ranks of organization under Abatha, nor do the demons seem to conform to the typical dominance of a stronger demon over a weaker--despite the titles that Abatha may give out. Indeed, to the outside observer, and even to many of the demons who serve Madness, every demon is operating based on whims of their Princess. In many ways, this is true; Abatha keeps a lot of plates spinning all at once, adding new small structures on caprice or random thought. Despite Abatha's seeming organizational whims, the Princess does have a plan with each hierarchical change; there is method to her madness.

Abatha classifies demons under her purview in one of two categories: the researchers and those who seek God. The former category are typically the more rational demons who further the Word of Madness by tearing away the minds of patients. The researchers include the Demon of Electroshock Therapy, the Demon of Ritalin, etc. The latter category are made up of demons who help further Abatha's goals by actually doing. Those who seek God include the less stable demons such as include the Demon of Serial Killers, the Demon of Rabies and the Demon of Hearing Voices. The Princess of Madness organizes her servitors by examining each of their personalities and grouping them toward what would best accomplish her goals. This sometimes includes placing those of little power in charge of those without or creating potentially internally volatile groups. These groupings may not seem sane or logical, but Abatha does it to increase her Word's power, regardless to the effect on her own political power.

Rewards and Punishments
Abatha feels the tide of her Word in the Symphony and the ecstasy she feels when Madness swells, she shares using her own Habbalite resonance. This can often be reward enough. The punishment for failure--especially when it adversely affects her Word--is always tied into the same force of her resonance on the transgressor. The despair and pain of Word-loss is agonizing and punished Abathans can suffer the same effects of Trauma in some cases. The Red and White Queens help single out the individuals who contributed to the success or failure of Abatha's Word-growth.

Because her emotions and state of mind are tied deeply to her Word, successful demons quickly clamor for her attention; hoping to catch her while still enjoying the success and that Abatha doesn't experience a ebb in the tide of Madness before they experience their reward. Likewise, demons who know they failed will often attempt to hide or avoid their Princess for as long as possible, hoping that somewhere else a success occurred, stemming their possible punishment.

Rewards and punishments are not limited to Abatha's current emotion. The Red Queen has the power to punish demons by inflicting Discord. One reason for demons not to hide their failure is the Red Queen makes sure they get their just desserts and the punishment is increased if avoidance is suspected. The White Queen can reward Abatha's triumphant with Songs or artifacts.

The truly thriving demons who have fostered Madness, are well rewarded by Abatha personally. Not only do they experience Abatha's ecstasy, they can gain new attunements or even distinctions. The utterly dismal may not only personally experience their Princess's emotional disfavor, they may also be used as experiments in Ward 13.

The Fallen
Abatha, being a minor (and unstable) Princess, doesn't attract many Fallen. Those that come to her are the previous angels driven mad by their own loss. The Princess of Madness attracts the seemingly hopeless Fallen. She encourages their madness, breeding it and shaping it so the new demon can become an agent of her Word. Some do not survive the process either mentally or physically, but those that do are placed into the organization and treated like any other Abathan, regardless of origin.

Because of their understanding of animals, Abatha especially enjoys obtaining a fallen servitor of Jordi--and their new-found selfishness often draws his servitors to her. Novalis's corrupted, with their ties to emotion, also are often found amongst Madness's ranks.

Humans
Abatha sometimes wonders if her Word would still be as strong even without humans. Animals experience madness and some might say there is madness in the universe--the Symphony--itself. Destruction of all humanity, simply to discover the outcome is not something she's willing to do, however. Especially when her greatest moments of rapture come from the rise of human madness.

Most Soldiers of Madness are involved in psychiatry--on one side of the wall or another. The psychiatrists and chemical scientists who break the rules to not treat but further insanity for their own studies are particularly favored by Abatha. The demented make excellent brute force soldiers, as their actions are not expected to be diabolical in nature, simply the effects of their own mental instability.

RED QUEEN AND WHITE QUEEN
Red Queen and White Queen (more commonly known as The Red Queen and The White Queen) are Abatha's chief lieutenants and each have very specific duties. These positions are not only titles, they are the names of the demons themselves. The two demons are seen as more than high-powered servitors, as they have been granted a level of power that few demons who aren't Princes have.

Red Queen is a Shedite who oversees and manages Abatha's less stable servitors. She also doles out punishment for lesser transgressions. Red Queen can force Discord on demons, even if they have not acquired any Dissonance.

White Queen is a Balseraph in charge of Abatha's researchers. She also provides Songs and artifacts as rewards when a mission is deemed a certain level of success; which she can always see (and feel) from Abatha.

Together, the two demons have almost as much power as some of the strongest Word-bound demons, or proto-Superiors as they're sometimes called. They are the voices of Abatha and only her direct intervention (or the intervention of Lucifer, of course) can countermand their orders.

BANDS
The attunements of Madness are not tied to Band resonance, but regardless of the power gained, many members of each Band tend to view and treat Abatha's Word in similar ways. Each Band tends to favor a specific mental illness, disorder or psychosis.

Balersaphs
One of best lies a Balseraph can tell themself is that they and their target are the only sane ones left. When this lie is shared, there is a breakdown that can occur in the target. When you're the only sane person left, the best option is to go insane. Liars of Madness on the corporeal plane are often placed in Roles as psychiatrists, guiding those seeking help into finding the opposite. These Serpents believe themselves the most favored Abathans, as their numbers are some of the fewest. This is another lie they tell themselves.

Most Balseraphs who serve Abatha are "Shrinks" rather than "Loons." The latter of this Band are often transfers from other Princes who have suffered great amounts of trauma or discord by their own lies--but are not worth gutting for their Forces. These Liars are often placed in places where disguised madness can be celebrated, such as religions and cultures that believe speaking in tongues or seizures are granted from a divine place. While, in some cases, this may be true, the Balseraphs in these positions foster both madness and the jealousy it can evoke when another is seen as "more holy."

Liars tend to favor the infliction of delusions from the minor beliefs about religion or sexuality to destructive paranoid delusions. A charismatic charmer might begin to suffer delusions of grandeur, where the lies he tells himself can be spread to others.

Djinn
If Balseraphs are the shrinks, then Djinn are the orderlies, handing out meds and putting the useless in their place. Stalkers are typically found in institutions and asylums, where they can achieve results with a minimal amount of work--regardless on what side of the wall they might be. Djinn deal with the insane Soldiers of Madness more than any Band and are typically responsible for break-outs of said Soldiers. They don't really care what sort of end occurs to the Soldier, only that they get credit and Abatha's rewards.

Abatha's "hounds of Hell" are prone to obsessive-compulsive disorders, the single-mindedness that comes with the disorder echoes their own warped personal Symphony. Woe be to those who might suggest that to their face, though.

Calabim
Many Destroyer Princes like Abatha, and their non-Princely counterparts are drawn to her for the same reason: Madness is destruction; it breaks minds. When the mind is broken to send someone towards destructive impulses, that's even better.

Calabim love to foster psychopathy, destroying a mind to reduce someone into a physically destructive person is a treat for any Destroyer. Especially if they get to watch the results in action.

Habbalah
Punishers swell the ranks of Madness; drawn to the Word for the same reason their Princess is. Madness is a punishment that can lead to the divine. Habbalah work best as counselors or therapists, places of position where an emotional tapestry has already been frayed and they can pluck the edges until they craft a design of their own.

Abatha's Habbalah usually specialize in the growth of mood disorders, where emotions are dominant and are both the weakness and punishments of the inflicted.

Lilim
Madness has only a scant handful of Tempters and an even smaller amount of those Lilim who could be considered stable. Lilith's animosity toward Abatha is no secret. For that reason, the few Lilim Abatha can get are treated quite well. Many are put in positions of power where they can spin their webs and grow madness from the outside the looking-glass.

The Lilim who are broken due to Trauma, discord or other influences are placed where they can serve the Needs of those already afflicted, using the Geased to direct at some later deed. They make excellent caretakers to the home-imprisoned until it's time for their "ward" to escape and fulfil a function.

Tempters of Madness prey best upon those with factitious disorders, especial those who Need their "meds" to function and end up creating their own problems.

Shedim
Abatha took the knowledge and understanding she gained from Beleth when rising to her position of power and nowhere does that shine more than in Shedim of Madness. The mere sight of a Shedite's celestial form can torment the viewer, driving them to madness--especially when the viewer is already teetering on the edge. Shedim do more than corrupt the soul of humans, they corrupt the mind. Shedim try to foster Discord like tics, word-salad and hallucinations; leaving their host not only corrupted but disgusted by others--disgust which can breed corruption of its own.

Corruptors spread schizophrenia more than any other form of madness. The act of riding in someone's mind and speaking to them, causing hallucinations and unorganized thinking is their forte, after all.

Impudites
There are so many things for an Impudite to enjoy in service to Madness--after all, you not only get to take their mind, but their Essence, as well. And many Takers find it so easy to obtain what they want from those who find their place in Abatha's domain. Impudites often work in support groups, where group hugs are more a source of comfort for the demons than the humans.

In the past few years, an overpopulation and abundance of stress has allowed Impudites to find a niche amongst the ranks of Madness. Takers prefer to work with various anxiety-related disorders, exacerbating them as they take Essence from the sufferers. After all, there's such a huge line of anxieties growing every day, it's not like the meals will stop any time soon.

JOBS
Celestial Jobs
Most Abathans in Hell work in Pandemonium itself. There's no end of experiments, administration and clean-up work that needs to be done. The Institution holds the largest number of demons of Madness, all working to explore new avenues of Madness which can be inflicted upon the world.

The rest of hell is not barren of demons and demonlings serving Abatha. Many are sent out to find, scavenge or trade for damned souls, newly Fallen or other demons to recruit--usually as experiments, but also as potential new servitors.

Ethereal Jobs
The only Prince more actively involved in the Marches than Abatha is her former mistress, Beleth. Demons of Madness explore dreamscapes, tormenting and experimenting upon dreamers. The least subtle demons inflict torture and pain while the more fastidious conduct research of the psyche and subconscious. Since the efforts of the demons often further Beleth's Word, they and Nightmare's servitors often work together. And, though Vapula may view Abatha as an usurper, many demons of Technology and Madness collaborate their research.

Some demons of Madness are sent into the Far Marches. While many trade with the Ethereals there, others never return--lending credence to the rumors that Abatha made deals with powerful gods in exchange for some of her power.

Corporeal Jobs
The corporeal is where the greatest diversity of work lies as demons study and inflict madness any way they can. Demons of Madness establish themselves in a wide variety of Roles, but the majority of these Roles do end up in some contact with psychiatric studies--from the director of a psychiatric institute to an inmate of an asylum or anywhere in between. Demons establish themselves as counselors, drug researchers and college professors of behavior science.

There are a number of jobs for demons outside the normal psychiatric scope, as well. Abatha's rise to power was in no small part to Madness from unconventional sources, such as syphilis and mercury in hats. There's no shortage of demons focusing their attention elsewhere, seeking new ways to promote Madness. The risks of failure may be higher, but if successful so are the rewards.

Demons are typically assigned to a task, rather than a locale, unless a Role demands it. As such, they are given a certain amount of freedom, so long as they check in and promote their Superior's Word.

THE MINDS OF ANIMALS
The Princess of Madness takes great interest in the link between the soul and the mind; and no creature with an afterlife is safe. Abatha has teams of demons invested in comparative psychology and animal psychopathology. While some of her appointed are studying the link between the mind and the soul and others are examining the differences and similarities in animals and humans, some are aiding in the spread of madness through the animal kingdom. The mental afflictions placed upon animals may be caused by chemical changes/disease (such as rabies or Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) or by direct, physical treatment that mars the psyche of an animal.

Though Abatha's research has never resulted in an animal soul in Hell--all animals go to Jordi's Savannah--she considers her work important to her Word and an overall success. Her mistreatment of animals sets the Princess directly against the Archangel of Animals and conflict between the two grows steadily.

DEALING WITH OUTSIDERS
Most Abathans have little issue in working with other demons, seeking new (and sometimes unusual or unexpected) avenues for the study and infliction of madness. Abatha doesn't really care who another demon works with (even sworn enemies, angels or Ethereals), so long as she gets to feel Word-growth.

Outsiders, on the other hand, rarely feel as chummy towards demons of Madness. While they might enter into occasional exercises of mutual benefit, few count any Shrinks or Loons as actual friends. In the end, Words will collide and few demons of Madness will risk punishment by their Princess to accidentally stem the flow of Word-power; even for the sake of a favor.

DEALING WITH THE GAME
Abatha views Asmodeus as someone who just doesn't get it, who believes that control of everything, including emotions, is of the greatest import. She's not wrong. Asmodeus, on the other hand, thinks Abatha a slightly better candidate to control the Marches than Beleth and few of her demons have gone renegade--they simply disappear.

Both factions of demons typically give a wide berth to each other. Gamesters rarely interfere with Abathans and servitors of Madness are instructed not to associate with The Game unless necessary.

The only conflicts between the two parties is when another demon, believed to be driven mad or riddled with Ethereal Discord, goes missing. Only then do Shrinks and Loons have to deal directly with The Game. Demons who escape The Game in failure may find themselves in no better position with Abatha then they would with Asmodeus.

This ire and scorn that Abatha uses is seen as an effective tool by Asmodeus and he, in his own way, respects the Princess of Madness for it, though she holds nothing but contempt for the Djinn Prince.

SAMPLE SERVITORS
Jetrel, Habbalite Demon of Electroshock Therapy
Jetrel was a former servitor of Nightmares, a dedicated believer in Abatha's goals. Alongside the Demon of Madness, he studied the ideas of waking nightmares and indulged in the terror of its "cures." Specifically, the fear of induced seizures which had been introduced to mankind in the 16th century. Jetrel saw this as a delicious form of punishment which would torment not only the receiver, but also their family and, in rare instances, also provide nightmare fuel for even the administrators. When Abatha rose to a status of Princess, Jetrel was one of the first to follow her.

The Punisher worked alongside various psychological institutions, promoting the use of seizure induction. In 1937, when electroshock therapy was first applied to a human, he was there. The use of shock therapy quickly rose to preference in the 1940's and the torture it applied to all not only won the favor of Abatha, but Lucifer himself. Jetrel was given the Word of Electroshock Therapy. Not for the instances of good it did, but for all the misapplications of it.

For thirty years, Jetrel's Word only grew stronger. In the 1970's, the use of electroshock therapy underwent new scrutiny by the psychiatric community and its use--especially its miss-use--has been on the decline since.

Jetrel is not in disfavor with his Princess. Yet. While not as strong in more scientifically advanced regions, he still brings his own brand of "cure" to backwater counties and countries alike. Jetrel typically works as a traveling psychologist, introducing new types of cures to remote areas, promoting the idea of electrically-induce seizures as a form of therapy for everything from bad behavior to actual insanity. So long as the people keep cranking up the voltage, they'll eventually be cured--even if the cure is found in frying their brain.

Still, he knows he can't keep this up forever. Jetrel is working on ways of bring ECT back into vogue. One of his more recent ideas is to present electroshock therapy as a cure for depression. A few volts here, a few volts there and the weak believe they can be all better. Of course, Jetrel is also making sure that the recipient stays depressed and, therefore, keeps needing the treatment.
Expanded Character Sheet

Pitt, Calabite Servitor of Madness
Pitt is one of Abatha's first created servitors--which still leaves him relatively young. He noticed the freeway construction in Houston during its initial development and came in to help with the construction notes, helping to cause a distinct lack of flow when it came to traffic. Humans put so much love into their fragile little cars, that they have the potential to be a nice little push-start madness when things go wrong.

The Destroyer hangs around freeways creating potholes that need to be repaired, giving cars that extra push to crash, and disabling lights near freeway exits. He wants to get the Word of Freeway Gridlock, and knows he'll have to step it up before someone else tries to nab it.

Pitt is a typical Calabite. Not terribly bright, not entirely cautious of disturbance, and a big fan of making things break down. He takes a special enjoyment in that the breaking of physical things can have a domino effect until it breaks the mind. And the fact that humans are so wrapped up in their cars and moving quickly amuses him to no end. Heck, hasn't everyone seen the movie "Falling Down?"

In the 1980s, Pitt began changing electronic traffic signs to display rude and discouraging messages, so a sign that would normally read "Slow traffic ahead" would instead display "You'll never get to work on time! Ha ha!" This raised the hysteria caused by traffic that much more, pleasing not only Abatha but Kobal as well. Kobal gifted the Calabite with a gremlin named Pimple. Together, the two wreak as much havoc, hysteria and (dark) humor into gridlock as they can.

Pitt is still mostly active in Houston. He was in Las Angeles for a while, but the humans have pretty much taken care of any work he could do there. He wants Houston to be the next LA; overly congested of both cars and pollution, helping to push the Monkey's buttons until they crack. And break.
Expanded Character Sheet

Kazbeel, Baleraph Servitor of Madness
It's Kazbeel's first time on the corporeal plane and already she has a problem. Maybe. Probably.

The young Liar found a charismatic splinter-group church leader who was starting to build a following. Luke Patton was young, attractive and passionate about his interpretation of the bible. Kazbeel integrated herself into his small following and, shortly thereafter into his bed. She wanted Luke to become the next cult leader, inspiring others to find God not in themselves but in induced madness and hallucinations. Little by little, she has helped shape Luke's self-perception into a far more grander and important scale than it was. She wants Luke to believe he's speaking to angels and has been sent to usher in a new era of godliness. Godliness in madness.

For every step forward she takes, however, she's hindered by Luke's best friend, Daniel. She's beginning to suspect that Luke really is talking to an angel and that angel is Daniel. Kazbeel isn't positive yet on Daniel's nature and doesn't know if he suspects her celestial alignment. All she knows is that Luke has yet to really step up and start preaching what she wants him to preach and acting how she wants him to act.

Kazbeel's suspicions are correct. Daniel is a Cherub of Stone, who also sees Luke as a potential leader, someone who can help direct the fight against evil here on Earth. He's not sure if Luke's girlfriend is simply power-hungry or might be a demon, but he's waiting for her to make the first move.

The two are at a stalemate that can't last forever. Each is waiting for the next to prove themselves, but there's also the risk that the other knows and will call for backup. And with the conflicting messages of the two, Luke isn't growing in any direction.
Expanded Character Sheet

WORD-BOUND SERVITORS
As a relatively minor player amongst Hell's Superiors, Abatha has fewer Word-bound servitors under her than the more powerful Princes. However, some of the broad associations within her Word have attracted some who survived escaping their previous Princes and are now bound to her service. Some of her most powerful Word-bound servitors include the demons of Psychiatry, Serial Killers, and Delirium. Other Words under Abatha's jurisdiction include Electroshock Therapy, Rabies and Uncontrollable Fidgeting. Many of Abatha's demons vie for Words related to specific mental illnesses or treatments (which they can corrupt). Currently, a servitor of Drugs and one of Abatha's demons are both in competition for the word of Prozac.