Incubus

Incubus
Title(s)	Lord of the Golden Army Sword King of the Middle Army Bearer of the word Flame
Epithet	The Laughing God The Glitter God
Classification	Demiurge
Gender	Male
Occupation	Ruler of 111,111 universes
Debut	KSBD 3:45
Status	Active

Incubus is a demiurge and a member of the Seven. He rules over 111,111 worlds as 1/7th of the multiverse. As the embodiment of Lust, he is an ambitious and bloodthirsty swordsman, obsessed with victory. He is also a parasitic force, stealing souls and power in exchange for granting wishes.

Appearance

Incubus is a thin, albino man with scars and bulging veins across his body. He has long white hair and pink colored irises. He often wears a filthy white robe that conceals much of his form. Along with his Key of Kings, he has 3 studs in his head for his Head of John.

While in the mindscape of Allison, he appears to take on a nicer, more attractive form, either due to how he views himself or for the benefit of endearing himself to Allison. In this state, he has short, cropped hair and fashionable clothes, as well as jewelry.

As a child he was incredibly dirty and disheveled from living as an orphan on the streets, though he would clean up during his time with Meti and Maya.

Personality

Incubus is an incredibly cunning, conniving, and spiteful person. He is representative of either the sin of lust or of envy, and has shown himself to be a manipulative parasite, stealing the dreams and wishes of his subjects, siphoning power from the blood of his victims, and having seemingly stolen his Key of Kings.

While alone or with Allison he has shown himself to be exceeding casual and carefree, but towards the other demiurges he has only shown his more stand-offish qualities.

While talking with Jagganoth he showed himself to be afraid of the power Allison wields, that she is the true heir of Zoss with limitless potential. He has only shown a grim seriousness when Allison harmed him in their sparring and when facing Jagganoth on Rayuba.

A folk saying says that his mirth is more brittle than a fingernail, and he is not one to jest with. Incubus does not dance. Incubus is probably gay, but he is gay for ambition the most of all.

Abilities

Incubus is a demiurge and is among the most powerful beings in existence. That being said, he is often disrespected and looked down on by the other demiurges and is often seen as less deserving of his throne. He remains, however, extraordinarily powerful.

Incubus showing his martial prowess

Much of his power rises from his consumption of blood and souls, similar to a vampire.

In terms of magic, Incubus has shown great proficiency in manipulating the minds of people, having been able to enter Allison's mindscape and manipulate her into making a deal with him.[15] He also spent some time influencing her emotions and instructing her on the ways of wielding a key and manifesting her will.[16]Incubus uses his power over dreams to help people realize their ambitions at a price, effectively making them his emissaries.

In terms of physical and martial talents, Incubus was trained by Meti, the greatest swordsman to ever live, though he understood very little of her lessons. Though he has often seemed sickly and ill, he has shown incredible physical feats while fighting Jagganoth, including running on his sword.[17]

While he is proclaimed to be a King of Swords, he is also is a master of Head of John

History

Background/Universal War

Incubus was born and abandoned during the early days of the Universal War, and knew Meti as well as a young Maya when he was a young starveling. He was the first to shave his head as per Meti's instructions and became her student, followed soon after by Maya; however, Meti had never intended for him to become her student, being well aware of his inherent bloodlust.

At some point Incubus and Maya left Meti's mentorship, thinking her teachings as feeble and irresolute. Together they became wandering swordsmen, always staying by each other's side as they had nobody else. He took the name "Pale Bolt" after his long white hair, in direct defiance of Meti. In their travels they were sent to relieve a garrison of 20,000 men, only to discover that they were already dead, having been slaughtered by Jagganoth.

In time, Maya would go on to become one of the last demiurges, improving the already magnificent Middle Army and claiming the word Flame, with Incubus by her side. When Maya confronted Meti for the last time, she became discouraged and realized she had lost to Meti's teachings. At some point after this he killed Meti and fed her to the dogs, something which Maya has never forgiven him for.

After Maya abandoned her power, Incubus would take it in her place. He found her with her family and farm on a small, distant world. He burned the farm to the ground and slaughtered her husband and children. Then, he attempted to decapitate her 10 times, failing, as he is an exceptionally poor swordsman. Somehow, Maya escaped.

Incubus had become the new bearer of the word Flame and took the Middle Army as his own. By the Pact of the Seven Part World, he came into possession of 111,111 universes and the Key of Kings of each.

His worlds suffer from brutal anarchy, with what little of value there picked apart by warlords he hand raised from the remnants of the most powerful army in the universe - probably by giving these warlords Emissary power, but ultimately letting them waste away in his fortress on Throne.

He is presumably in contact with Praman Nand.

Kill Six Billion Demons

For reasons unknown, Incubus does not arrive when the Concordance of the Demiurges is called by Jagganoth and instead chooses to send his first consort.

He first appears in the comic in person as Allison is resting on her way to the Palace of Radiance with Cio. He appears to her in her dream in a handsome, boyband-esque appearance, explaining that he saw her ride the lightning and that while the other demiurges think Zaid is the heir, it's clear that Allison holds the power, though he is not sure if this is what she really wants. As Allison wakes up in Mykos, he disappears, having seemed to be only her imagination.

Seeker of Thrones

He deals in dreams

Incubus appears in Allison's mindscape once again, after Allison has decided to go to Yre and rescue Zaid. He explains that he has been poking around inside of her mind for quite some time and that her self loathing has been taking up a lot of room. He takes the outfit of David Bowie's Goblin King and explains that what Allison really wants is power. Allison lashes at him for coming uninvited, to which he explains he deals in dreams, able to control the power of ambition to bring people to greatness. He takes the appearance of Tuxedo Mask next and continues, that he can unlock Allison's true potential by giving her a fragment of himself, making her his emissary. Allison, in a fit of anger and weakness, agrees, to which he commends and slams a piece of his key into hers.

Incubus awakes from his meditation in his true form, a disgusting cloaked prince lying in a pool of blood, humming a tune. He walks through Lethyx, mirthfully and without care of the rot surrounding him. Jagganoth is waiting for Incubus in his throne room, crouched upon his pile of goblets, blocking his throne. Jagganoth says that the throne was never his to begin with, to which he responds: So you all keep REMINDING me!

He asks Jagganoth if he thinks she will take it back, alluding to the idea that his throne actually belonged to Maya, who fits his description of being a fat, washed-up drunk. The two demiurges talk, with Incubus thinking that Allison will drive a wedge among the other demiurges and is the true heir of Zoss. It would be up to Jagganoth to see if he is worthy of the Master Key. The two part ways as Incubus says they both want the same thing in the end. War.

Later, as Allison is silenced by the Heretic's Court, Incubus appears to her again. He shows her the power of her feelings, that anger and the will to change is a weak thing to common men and women, but they are not common. Their anger is a hammer that can shatter gods. With that, Allison mantles the power of Ys-Myra.

Incubus admires the result of Allison's cut

While in Yre, Incubus appears over Allison's shoulder as she is covered in blood and vital fluids from slicing a mimic apart. He seems to take great pleasure in her work, alluding to his more wicked and vile nature. As his teacher Meti said in her sword manual "A man who finds pleasure in the result of cutting is the most hateful, crawling creature there is."

When Allison is betrayed by one of the thieves, he simultaneously says 'That bitch' with Allison. When Allison and Cio have a divide over what just happened, he chimes in to tell Allison that she doesn't need anyone and that Cio only wants her around to protect her from her husband. When Allison tries to respond, he disappears again.

As Allison discovers that her ego is trapped alongside her many selves and emotions within her own body, she demands to see Incubus, who is this time dressed as a businessman.[18] He explains that as much as Allison may want control she already is in control. As much as she might not like it, she is the weaker part of her personality and that the cruel, heartless part of herself, along with himself, is keeping her alive. A sexy secretary version of himself appears and tells him he has a meeting with 'Mr. J' and he disappears in a flash of light, telling Allison and her many selves to stay safe.

King of Swords

It's only about winning.

Incubus is first revealed in the book to be Allison's final lessons for the day, consisting of him instructing on the ways to wield a Key of Kings while in her mindscape as she sleeps.[19] The mindscape transform into stone ruins and Allison asks him if she is strong, but he coyly deflects. When Allison attacks him he effortlessly blocks her with one arm and explains the meaning to be a demiurge, that they are princes of the world who break power and make it theirs. Allison forges a Ten Cubit Spear with her key and stabs at him, causing him to bleed from his cheek. While in private this deeply unsettles him, he turns back around to Allison to play it off. He tells Allison she needs to learn how to mantle her power if she wants to win and that winning is the only thing that matters. Incubus then tells her the backstory of Solomon David, the person she is training to fight against and a fellow member of the 7. He explains that even with all of the purpose and power Solomon had cultivated, and even past all of his previous struggles, he hasn't won yet.

Afterwards, Incubus attends the Concordance of the Demiurges with the other 5 demiurges, excluding Jagganoth. Incubus appears from behind a pillar and scolds Solomon for daring to think their war is over. At Nadia Om's provocation, he says that he deserves his seat as much as the rest of them. He listens to what Solomon has to say about fighting Jagganoth when the time comes.

In the next scene, Incubus's backstory with Maya and Meti is shown.

Breaker of Infinites

Incubus appears alongside the other demiurges on Rayuba following Jagganoth's attack. Incubus rises up from bubbling mud, as opposed to how the others rode the lightning. He remarks that Jagganoth is acting too soon and ahead of their plans. As the battle of the demiurges begins, Incubus removes his cloak, revealing his bulging veins. He tells Allison to run before engaging in battle with Jagganoth. Incubus runs along the massive sword of Jagganoth and maneuvers through the air to avoid being struck by his lightning before coming to rest on an earthen pillar nearby.

As the fight rages on and Allison attempts to send her and her allies away, Jagganoth steals their lightning and prevents their teleportation before sending a sword flying towards them. Incubus intercepts the blade and asks Allison if she is starting to understand how little she can do in this fight and tells her to run again.[20] Another sword appears over Incubus and he deflects it again, sending him away and into the sea.

As the demiurges attempt to seal Jagganoth, Incubus appears again and attempts to drive the binding into him. Incubus successfully drives the seal into Jagganoth by piercing his flesh with his sword. He loses his sword in the process.[21] Incubus recovers alongside his fellow demiurges as Jagganoth is temporarily sealed. As the battle is set to continue and Jagganoth begins to break through his seal, Incubus clambers in need for another sword. [22] Without a sword, and with Jagganoth's mantled power, Incubus deftly doges his strikes. As the demiurges strike at Jagganoth with all of their power, Incubus takes a sword out from Mammons throat and unleashes a flurry of slashes on his hand and arm that is holding Ruin, Jagganoth's primary sword.

Welp.

As Jagganoth deflects the demiurges, The Fool forms a cubit spear. Incubus is the second demiurge to give his strength to it. Grasping at such power drives him into a state of frenzy. When Jagganoth unleashes his supreme divine art, Blood-Sated Sword Soul, Incubus is cast again into the ocean. He is lacking all skin as he pulls himself to shore with his sword. He looks at Alison and Cio before looking back out to the ruins of Rayuba and remarking "Welp.".[23] Jagganoth turns his gaze upon Incubus and begins to walk towards him. Incubus prepares his sword, before Jagganoth is intercepted by Solomon David. After Solomon pushes Jagganoth away, Incubus stares at the newfound hole in reality. Allison wishes this to be over and he scoffs, saying that the conflict has only just begun. The demiurges are broken and now, with the Master Key, Incubus and Allison had survived and can win. Allison protests and he threatens that if she does not fight, he will take her key for himself.

Incubus isn't fucking around

Allison rejects his offer and calls him wrong. Cio, overhearing the confrontation, sneaks up behind him and stabs him in the chest. He laughs and cuts Cio apart in an instant.

As Allison lies in shock, Incubus goes to kill Allison. His sword stroke is interrupted by Maya. Maya and Incubus begin their clash as Allison escapes.

3 years later

Jadis reveals that Incubus is at the head of Jagganoth's forces and will soon invade Throne. Maya reveals that Incubus won their battle three years ago, surviving through blood alchemy after she decapitated him.

Commentary

“May God drag down the lids of those that watch the sleepers, and may their rest be unperturbed.”

-Prayer to Incubus

“In Lethyx dwells a white princeling who doth not sleep, but feedeth upon the sleep of other as a tick fattens itself upon a bloated vein. There doth he perch, and sifteth through the minds of men as one sorts marbles, to shatter them at his pleasure.”

- The Book of Black Kings

"A beggar king, king of the pit, he skulled out of his hypogean lair and pocketed the world one night. He then proceeded to use it as his plaything, for none could reach him, so far down was his domain."

- Unknown

“Though the lord of the pit clads himself in finery and smiles, do not be bedeviled. He is a wretched, stinking king, and the minds of men are playthings to him.”

– Solomon David, Celestial Emperor Seeker of Thrones 7-84

"He was a coward by nature. An unparalleled master of sword law, who only knew how to kill and maim. An exceptionally poor swordsman."

- Unknown King of Swords 4-40

“There are among men who vie for the Crown of the World men who cultivate evil Atum, who break the meridians and suck out the marrow of other men, who participate in blood alchemy and all kinds of dark and malicious alignments.

These men are the most powerful among immortals, but they are not to be envied. They are piteous, broken things that must be destroyed with exceeding force whenever they crawl out of their stinking holes. If one were to sit upon the Great Chariot of the Red City, it would be a most terrible thing indeed.”

– Six Purities Path manuscript, circa 250 S.C. Breaker of Infinities 1-8

Gallery

Appearances

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Trivia

• Incubus' name was originally supposed to be Michael, but Abbadon decided against it because it didn't sound threatening enough.
• His appearance as a pale swordsman, and his empowerment through the use of blood alchemy and souls, may be a refence to Elric of Melnibone.