"How well are demons concealed in your games?" Topic

Behold the cursed pet ruse.

Looks like you found Brown Jenkin

The last time I had a demon in my game, it was summoned on the first turn in plain view and went on a merry rampage until it was killed.

I have only used a concealed demon ONCE in a game.

It was in a found weapon (looted) and stayed hidden for a few sessions before speaking to the wielder and trying to influence them. After a session of fights and RP, the PC doing some things, refusing others, when the PC put his foot down, it revealed itself and a good time was had by all…

Something that can work well if you have a good group of role players. Pre-game, the GM gives them each their own set of objectives in addition to the group goal that everyone knows. They can even be trivial things like getting the team to stop at least four times and waste time because that PC "just heard something behind them…" or "I just had a flash of insight…DO NOT take the next left fork in our path" or "question the motives of the cleric repeatedly but not in an overbearing manner – you don't want to make folks think YOU are the demon trying to get the party to turn on the cleric. But there are things to be learned from watching reactions"

But the kicker is that "Your PC got a tip from a reliable source that one of the members of the party is possessed by a demon that has nefarious plans for the group…be very cautious, keep yourself safe at all costs and trust no one…"

Of course, it is a red herring and the usually reliable source was mistaken. But she heard it from someone who is a VERY reliable source.