This summary comprises the results of the study which I was requested to complete by a proxy of the winter duke. After some months of investigation; comprising interviews, profiling by both mortal and celestial experts, consideration of anecdotal evidence and interrogation; it is my great pleasure to present my findings, which I dedicate to my dark Prince who is a constant inspiration. A more complete report with full records has been sent to the local archives.
This work was made possible by the extensive support of my baron, who graciously allowed me to attend numerous interrogation sessions, and use condemned demons as research material.
Observation: Balseraphs are not prone to rebellious behaviour.
Query: Is the Lightbringer himself not a Balseraph? Surely this trait more
than any other, must be prevalent in his band-brothers?
Close observation has shown that despite numerous declarations to the contrary, Balseraphs do maintain a very tight pecking order via informal means, to the extent where it is almost unheard of for a younger demon to actively work against a more powerful infernal of the same band. It seems almost written into the structure of their forces that a Balseraph will tend to automatically defer to a more celestially powerful Balseraph.
Anecdotal evidence indicates that these demons are very sensitive to being resonated by other Balseraphs, because the peculiar nature of their worldview means that with a few brief words, an older demon can literally move the ground from under their feet and change the colour of the sky above their heads. To most other celestials, after time passes and the resonance ceases its effect, it is an easy matter to reorient in the case of a particularly unsubtle Balseraph. But a Liar seems to require to meld the lies seamlessly into its own worldview, with some kind of explanation as to why it was true then but is no longer the case. The more this happens, the more convoluted the demon's personal worldview becomes and the more likely it is to fall easy prey to dissonance.
It is perhaps for this reason that they have a strong preference for not taking chances. Similarly, I have seen powerful Balseraphs take advantage of this by demonstrating their superiority in a subtle manner. The younger demon will rarely, if ever, challenge the other's authority openly again.
In interrogations, it has been witnessed that it is a common first move when questioning a demon of this band to bring in a far senior Balseraph. The interrogator merely resonates the guilty demon, usually in some small way which may seem unefficient to an impartial observer, and then excuses itself and leaves.
Observers may feel that this is grossly unfair, in comparison to the more gory methods which are often used for other demons, but it is undeniably effective. Older Balseraphs with whom I have spoken agree that they expect any demon which they successfully resonate to take the hint and accept its submissive role afterwards. (Observers also note that this is only actually true of other Balseraphs -- other demons are more likely to appreciate a more aggressive show of power.)
I do not believe that this phenomenon has ever been studied in any detail (and I have put together a proposal for the sponsorship of a Technological project into Balseraph psychology[1]), but it seems that most Princes do rely on their more senior Balseraph servitors to keep the other demons of that band in good order.
By this argument, it could be implied that the only Balseraph which is likely to descend into anarchic and rebellious modes of behaviour is one which is deluded into believing itself more powerful than any other demon (a delusion which can be quickly cured). It also provides a generic (nay, genetic) argument as to why the Prince of the War has always been numbered amongst the most loyal to the causes of Hell. Current studies do seem to indicate that Balseraphs of the War are least likely of any except for your own servitors to go renegade, but this may also reflect on internal security measures.
Observation: Balseraphs are prone to paranoia, particularly with regard to
other demons of the same band.
Question: Is this generic, and does it affect their utility?
This follows partly from the argument set out above.
In many cases, it is not clear to the demons involved as to which of them is the more powerful, and neither are keen to try their celestial might openly for fear of losing. Given that they are reluctant to simply play with each other's view of reality by simply resonating, the Game is played on a different level.
Close observation has shown that in this case, they will speak to each other frequently, each acting as though it were undeniably more powerful but in reality sizing up the other demon and trying to push it into an unwise declaration. Sparring occurs behind the scenes and at a distance, through proxies, minions and any other resources which the Balseraph may control. It seems to be quite common for these tests of power to continue through centuries until one caves in, and even the younger Balseraphs may have a good knowledge of which of their elders are quietly engaged in power plays.
The object of the sparring is simply this -- since neither demon is confident of its ability to alter the other's reality via resonance, they try to do this in the real world until enough has been changed through the mechanics of competition that one demon's truth is _actually_ true. It may be that the original point of dispute between them was simply which type of tree is most common in a particular forest, which country will win a war, or which demon will be granted a vacant Dukedom; the magnitude of the problem seems to have no effect on the enthusiasm with which the Balseraphs attack it.
Every time a Liar exchanges words with another demon of the same band, it is liable to spark one of these 'reality wars' unless one demon is clearly more powerful.
This goes some way to explain why these demons are simultaneously so obsequious and submissive to their superiors, aggressive and arrogant to inferiors, and suspicious of peers. Whenever two Balseraphs openly disagree with each other in public, it is also why you might expect to see other demons of the same band taking an interest.They seem to be expected to have a good knowledge of the current 'pecking order'
Because of this, a Balseraph tends to assume that it may be in reality competition with other Balseraphs all of the time. Anyone the demon speaks to could potentially have been 'doctored' by a rival in order to soften the demon up for some carefully planned future reality assault.
It is sadly very common for these demons to squander vast quantities of time, effort and their master's resources in furthering these petty battles which occupy otherwise brilliant strategic minds in ways which do not especially further the causes of Hell. My recommendation is that it is counter-productive to assign two Balseraphs to the same team or city unless it is made very clear to both of them as to which is more powerful (in this case, power is more signicant than hierarchy). Contrarily, if a Balseraph in high corporeal position is becoming troublesome, arranging for another demon of the same band and comparable power level to move into the region is an excellent means of distraction.
[Rules Note: The IPG gives a way for Balseraphs to cure dissonance by 'making the lie true' but for some demons this isn't enough. They need to make other Balseraphs suffer by 'making their truths FALSE.' This doesn't work on Seraphim or non-arrogant Balseraphs (a set with approximately zero members :) ) who will just say 'It may be true now, but it wasn't true before' or 'Thank you for correcting me. In view of information which I now possess I concede that I was mistaken previously.']
jo, Impudite of the Game, Fashion Police, Archfiend-in-Training