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{{Species
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|Image = Olvikan.png
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[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 1)|B1]] - [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 3)|B3]] - [[Angel (season 5)|A5]] - [[Angel (IDW series)|A6]] - [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight|B8]] - [[Angel & Faith|A&F1]] - [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine|B9]] - [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten|B10]]
  
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|Caption = The Old One Olvikan.
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|Name = Old One
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{{Quote|The Old Ones were demons pure. They warred as we would breathe—endlessly. The greater ones were interred, for death was not always their end.|[[Drogyn]]|A Hole in the World}}
  
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|Type = Pure [[demon]]
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|Powers = *[[Immortality]]
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{{species
  
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*[[Shapeshifting]]
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|Image = OldOneIllyria.jpg
  
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|First = "[[Prophecy Girl]]"
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|First = "[[Graduation Day, Part Two]]"
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|Last =
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|Last = ''[[Finale]]''
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|Appear =
 
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|Name = Old Ones
  
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|Alternative Names =
 
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|Status = Extant
  
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|Type = Pure-breed [[demon]]s
  
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|Affiliation =
 
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|Powers = <br>
  
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* Superhuman strength, stamina, and durability endowed by their massive size
  
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* Immortality, capable of [[resurrection]]
  
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* Unique mystical powers for each Old One
  
 
}}
  
}}
   
  +
{{Quote|The Old Ones were demons pure. They warred as we would breathe — endlessly. The greater ones were interred, for death was not always their end.|[[Drogyn]]|A Hole in the World}}
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The '''Old Ones''' were extremely powerful pure-breed [[demon]]s that dominated [[Earth]] eons before [[human]]s appeared, during the [[Primordium Age]].
  
  +
  +
'''{{PAGENAME}}''' were pure-breed [[demon]]s that dominated the [[Earth]]<ref name="Harvest"/> during the [[Primordium Age]].<ref>"[[Time Bomb]]"</ref>
   
 
==History==
  
==History==
 
===Primordium Age===
  
===Primordium Age===
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{{Quote|This world is older than any of you know. Contrary to popular mythology, it did not begin as a paradise. For untold eons demons walked the Earth. They made it their home, their... their Hell. But in time they lost their purchase on this reality. The way was made for mortal animals, for, for man. All that remains of the Old Ones are vestiges, certain magics, certain creatures...|Rupert Giles|The Harvest}}
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{{Quote|For untold eons demons walked the Earth. They made it their home, their Hell. But in time, they lost their purchase on this reality. The way was made for mortal animals, for man. All that remains of the Old Ones are vestiges, certain magics, certain creatures…|[[Rupert Giles]]|The Harvest}}
   
  +
The Old Ones were brought forth from another, more horrific, [[dimension]] during the creation of Earth through the [[Seed of Wonder]].<ref>''[[Last Gleaming, Part Two]]''</ref> They shared the Earth with fellow [[higher being]]s which would come to be known as the [[Powers That Be]]. The rise of the Old Ones led the Powers to flee this world,<ref>"[[Shiny Happy People]]"</ref> while the demons became rulers of vast territories, commanded enormous armies that worshiped them as deities, and constantly made war against each other,<ref name="Hole"/> turning the Earth into their home, their hell.<ref name="Harvest"/>
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[[Image:Old ones in primordium age.jpg|thumb|left|The Old Ones.]]
  
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−
The Old Ones were brought forth from another, more horrific, dimension during the creation of Earth through the [[Seed of Wonder]]. They shared the Earth with fellow higher beings which would come to be known as [[The Powers That Be]]. The rise of the Old Ones led the Powers to flee this world, while the demons became rulers of vast territories, commanded enormous armies that worshiped them as gods and constantly made war against each other, turning the Earth into their [[hell]]. This ancient epoch was known as the Primordium Age, and it is likely that the [[Primordial Sanskrit]] language was from this time.
  
   
 
===Banishment===
  
===Banishment===
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{{Quote|There were demons, monsters beyond imagination, most of them pure evil. They ruled this dimension as they did so many others. [...] Eventually, as mortal animals evolved, under the protection of certain mages and loranites-- [...] The demons, most of them, found more hospitable dimen... places, and left the Earth to the mortals. For the most part. Some remained, hidden away. Some bred within the human community, their power weakened throughout generations. Some assimilated. And some... infected.|[[Urkonn]]|Ready, Steady ...}}
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{{Quote|There were demons, monsters beyond imagination, most of them pure evil. They ruled this dimension as they did so many others. […] Eventually, as mortal animals evolved, under the protection of certain mages and loranites— […] The demons, most of them, found more hospitable dimen… places, and left the Earth to the mortals. For the most part. Some remained, hidden away. Some bred within the human community, their power weakened throughout generations. Some assimilated. And some… infected.|[[Urkonn of the D'Avvrus]]|Ready, Steady...}}
   
  +
The Old Ones eventually lost their claim over Earth. Some were killed in their own wars while others either fled or were banished to other dimensions.<ref name="Hole"/> It was widely believed that the rise of [[human]]kind was responsible for the demise of the Old Ones.<ref name="Harvest"/> Those who were killed were placed in sarcophagi which were hidden at the [[Deeper Well]], a hole in the world running between England (in the Cotswolds) and New Zealand. The remains of the Old Ones were supposed to be kept there in order to prevent their resurrection, as not only their corpses but also their essences were trapped.<ref name="Hole"/>
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[[Image:Old ones.jpg|thumb|right|Illyria being killed by its enemies.]]
  
   
  +
According to the [[Last Guardian]], the [[mʔ]] weapon was created to kill the last Old One to walk the Earth.<ref>"[[End of Days]]"</ref> The ''[[Vampyr]]'' reported that the last pure demon to leave Earth infected a human with its [[blood]], creating [[Maloker's first victim|the first vampire]].<ref name="Harvest">"[[The Harvest]]"</ref><ref>''[[The Core, Part One]]''</ref> Indeed, when [[Alexander Harris|Xander]] tapped into the Old One [[Maloker]]'s memories, he saw the time of the banishment of the Old Ones at the hands of humans wielding powerful magicks. Fearful of his imprisonment, Maloker sought to raise an army, and so [[sire]]d the first [[vampire]].<ref>''[[New Rules, Part Four]]''</ref>
−
The Old Ones eventually lost their claim over Earth. Some were killed in their own wars, while others either fled or were banished to other dimensions. It was widely believed that the rise of humankind was responsible for the demise of the Old Ones. Those who were killed were placed in sarcophagi which were hidden at the [[Deeper Well]], a hole in the world running between England (in the Cotswolds) and New Zealand. The remains of the Old Ones were supposed to be kept there in order to prevent their resurrection, as not only their corpses but also their essences were trapped. According to the [[Guardians]], the last Old One to walk the Earth was killed with the [[Scythe]], at the [[Hellmouth]] that would come to be known as [[Sunnydale]]. Other records claimed that the last pure demon to leave Earth infected a human with its blood, creating the first [[vampire]]. However, after her resurrection in the modern era, the Old One [[Illyria]] implied that vampires already existed during the Primordium Age, suggesting whatever the truth, it was not quite so poetic as that.
  
   
  +
===Modern day===
−
When [[Xander Harris|Xander]] tapped into the Old One [[Maloker]]'s memories, he saw the time of the banishment of the Old Ones at the hands of humans wielding powerful magicks. Fearful of his imprisonment, Maloker sought to raise an army, and so sired the first vampire(s). This may suggest that the banishment of the Old Ones took place over a protracted period of time, during which time the vampire race (and presumably other sorts of half-breeds) widely proliferated.
  
  +
{{Quote|All the demons that walk the Earth are tainted, are human hybrids like vampires. The Ascension means that a human becomes pure demon. They're different.|[[Anya Jenkins|Anya]]|Graduation Day, Part One}}
   
  +
The demons that remained on Earth were forced to remain hidden and breed within mortal animals, creating weaker offspring as time went on.<ref>''[[Ready, Steady...]]''</ref> However, the legacy of the Old Ones remained not only in the form of the hundreds of demon species,<ref>"[[Graduation Day, Part One]]"</ref> but also in the form of cults that worshiped them, awaiting their return to bring about the destruction of mankind. These included the [[Order of Aurelius]], led by the vampire known as the [[Master]],<ref>"[[Welcome to the Hellmouth]]"</ref> and [[acolytes of Illyria|Illyria's cult]], of which the humans [[Knox]] and [[Sparrow]] were followers.<ref>"[[Shells]]"</ref>
−
===Modern Day===
  
−
{{Quote|All the demons that walk the Earth are tainted, are human hybrids like vampires. The Ascension means that a human becomes pure demon. They're different.|[[Anya]]|Graduation Day, Part One}}
  
   
  +
Mortal beings could even take on the physical form of an Old One through a complicated ritual known as the [[Ascension]].<ref>"[[Graduation Day, Part Two]]"</ref> They could also be reborn in mortal bodies, killing the hosts in the process. Illyria was resurrected in a human body in 2004,<ref name="Hole">"[[A Hole in the World]]"</ref> and Maloker attempted to return through [[Dracula]], transforming his body and overwriting his persona with that of the Old One's in the process, although he was ultimately unsuccessful.<ref name="NR5"/>
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[[Image:Wilkins02.jpg|thumb|left|Richard Wilkins after his Ascension.]]
  
   
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==Biology and powers==
−
The demons that remained on Earth were forced to remain hidden and breed within mortal animals, creating weaker offspring as time went on. However, the legacy of the Old Ones remained not only in the form of the hundreds of demon species, but also in the form of cults that worshiped them, awaiting their return to bring about the destruction of mankind. These included the [[Order of Aurelius]], led by the vampire [[The Master|Master]], who tried to open the Sunnydale Hellmouth on several occasions to bring the Old Ones back to Earth or [[Illyria]]'s cult whom the humans [[Knox (human)|Knox|]] and [[Sparrow]] are follower. Mortal beings could even take on the physical form of an Old One through a complicated ritual known as the [[Ascension]]. They could also be reborn in mortal bodies, killing the hosts in the process. Illyria was resurrected in a human body in 2004, and Maloker attempted to return through [[Dracula]], transforming his body and overwriting his persona with that of the Old One's in the process, although he was ultimately unsuccesful.
  
  +
{{Quote|The Old Ones are the mightiest of demonkind… Primordial forces that cannot truly die. They would not hide, any more than a tsunami or hurricane would.|Rupert Giles|Old Demons, Part One}}
   
  +
Though each Old One had a different form and powers, what they all shared in common was their enormous size; they could [[shapeshifting|shapeshift]] to become as big as they wished to be.<ref name="NR5">''[[New Rules, Part Five]]''</ref> They were also vastly more powerful than even the strongest hybrid demon races that walked the Earth.<ref>"[[Graduation Day, Part One]]"</ref>
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{{Quote|The forces of darkness are always around us. Just beyond the edges of our vision, waiting for an opening... an opportunity to insinuate themselves into this world. Those who stand against the dark must band together, trust one another, and share what few simple weapons we have. The alternative... the disaster that would result if what lurks beyond should ever return-- well, it's simply... unimaginable.|Rupert Giles|Giles (comic)}}
  
   
  +
The Old Ones were [[immortality|immortals]] in the sense that they could never be completely destroyed:<ref name="Hole"/> even if their bodies had perished, their essence lived on, and they could find ways to come back into being.<ref>''[[New Rules, Part Two]]''</ref> This was the case of Illyria, inhabiting [[Winifred Burkle|Fred]]'s human body when she died with the creation of a [[Seed of Wonder]], her soon return also [[resurrection|resurrecting]] Fred.<ref>''[[United, Part Two]]''</ref> Wilkins also returned from a deathly explosion thanks to his Old One constitution, spending years pulling himself back together as the Olvikan.<ref>''[[One Year Later]]''</ref>
−
== Biology and Powers ==
  
−
Though each Old One had a different shape and powers, what they all shared in common was their enormous size; they could become as big as they wished to be.<ref>[[New Rules, Part Five]]</ref> They were also vastly more powerful than even the strongest hybrid demon races that walked the Earth. The most powerful Old Ones could never be completely destroyed: even if their bodies had perished, their essence lived on, and they could find ways to come back into being.
  
   
 
==Known Old Ones==
  
==Known Old Ones==
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{| class="wikitable" width="100%" style="text-align: center;"
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* '''[[Lohesh]]''' — Described as a "four winged soul killer", weaker descendants of Lohesh survived until the present day. Around 1200, a sorcerer in the Kastka Vallies above the Urals Ascended to the form of Lohesh. He laid waste to the village within hours. [[Anyanka]] was the only known witness to this event, and even hundreds of years later, the disturbing things she saw there stayed with her.
  
  +
|-
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* '''[[Olvikan]]''' — An enormous snake-like demon, Olvikan was killed by a volcano in Hawaii.; human villagers near the volcano site later told stories about the "legend of Olukai". In 1999, the human [[Richard Wilkins]] achieved [[Ascension]] and became the embodiment of Olvikan, but was soon killed in an explosion by Buffy Summers.
  
  +
| style="width: 25%;" |[[File:Boluz.JPG|110px]]
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* '''[[Hellmouth Spawn]]'''
  
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| style="width: 25%;" |[[File:Shells Illyria 02.jpg|110px]]
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* '''[[Boluz]]'''
  
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| style="width: 25%;" |—
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* '''[[Vrill]]'''
  
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|[[File:Maloker-s10.png|110px]]
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* '''[[Neauth]]'''
  
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|-
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* '''[[Illyria]]'''— The only Old One who demonstrate a positive evolution in his comportment, sacrifying his own life for to save the world.
  
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|[[Boluz]]
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* '''[[Illyria's killers]]'''
  
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|[[Illyria]]
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* '''[[Arsgomor]]'''
  
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|[[Lohesh]]
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* '''[[Sephrilian]]'''
  
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|[[Maloker]]
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* '''[[Quor'toth (Old One)|Quor'toth]]'''
  
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|-
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* '''[[Maloker]]''' — This Old One sired the first vampires before he was sealed in the [[Deeper Well]]. [[Simone Doffler]] woke him up and let him out of his sarcophagus. His body was destroyed when the new [[Seed of Wonder]] took root, but he was able to return through a vague description written in the Vampyr book that caused [[Dracula]] to transform into the Old One. He was staked by a giant Dawn, after which Dracula reassembled himself in his human form but quickly started transforming into Maloker again. Xander wrote into the Vampyr book that Dracula was able to fight off the Old One using his willpower, barring Maloker from coming into existence through Dracula.
  
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|[[File:Neauth.jpg|110px]]
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|[[File:Olvikan.png|110px]]
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|[[File:Quortotholdone.jpg|110px]]
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|[[File:Vrill.JPG|110px]]
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|-
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|[[Neauth]]
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|[[Olvikan]]
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|[[Quor'toth (Old One)|Quor'toth]]
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|[[Vrill]]
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|}
   
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===Non Canon===
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==Behind the scenes==
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*Old Ones from non-[[canon]]ical sources are the [[Aegir]], [[Arsgomor]], [[Azogg-Mon]], the [[Cold Bringer]], [[Garth]], [[Ky-Laag]], [[Laibach of the Abyss]], the [[Triumvirate]], and [[Baticus' father]].
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* '''[[Azogg-Mon]]'''
  
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* '''[[Garth]]'''
  
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* '''[[Laibach of the Abyss]]''' — Spike was forced into [[Resurrection|resurrecting]] [[the Master]] or Laibach would kill [[Drusilla]].
  
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* '''[[Ky-laag]]'''
  
   
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== Appearances ==
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==Appearances==
  +
===Canonical===
−
*"[[The Harvest]]" (only mentioned)
  
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;''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]''
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*"[[Prophecy Girl]]" (First apparition)
  
  +
{{AppearancesBuffySeason1
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*"[[The Zeppo]]"
  
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|episode1=note
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*"[[Graduation Day, Part Two]]"
  
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|episode2=note
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*''[[Ready, Steady ...]]'' {{FBO}}
  
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}}
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*''[[The Gateway]]''
  
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{{AppearancesBuffySeason3
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*''[[All Hell]]''
  
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|episode21=note
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*"[[Reprise]]"
  
  +
|episode22=yes
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*"[[Shiny Happy People]]" (only mentioned)
  
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}}
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*"[[A Hole in the World]]"
  
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{{AppearancesBuffySeason4
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*"[[Shells]]"
  
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|episode3=note
−
*"[[Anywhere But Here]]"
  
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|episode11=note
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*"[[Family Reunion]]"
  
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|episode12=note
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*"[[The Core]]"
  
  +
|episode17=note
−
*"[[New Rules]]"
  
  +
|episode21=note
  +
|episode22=note
  +
}}
  +
{{AppearancesBuffySeason5
  +
|episode8=note
  +
}}
  +
{{AppearancesBuffySeason6
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|episode9=note
  +
}}
  +
{{AppearancesBuffySeason7
  +
|episode1=note
  +
|episode21=note
  +
}}
  +
{{AppearancesFray
  +
|issue1=voice
  +
|issue3=flash
  +
|issue4=yes
  +
|issue5=note
  +
|issue6=yes
  +
|issue7=yes
  +
|issue8=yes
  +
}}
  +
{{AppearancesBuffySeason8
  +
|issue20=note
  +
}}
  +
{{AppearancesBuffySeason9
  +
|issue16=yes
  +
|issue17=yes
  +
|issue18=yes
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|issue19=yes
  +
|issue20=note
  +
|issue21=flash
  +
|issue22=yes
  +
|issue23=yes
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|issue24=yes
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|issue25=yes
  +
}}
  +
{{AppearancesBuffySeason10
  +
|issue2=note
  +
|issue3=note
  +
|issue4=yes
  +
|issue5=yes
  +
|issue10=vision
  +
|issue16=note
  +
|issue22=note
  +
|issue29=note
  +
}}
  +
{{AppearancesBuffySeason12
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|all=yes
  +
}}
  +
  +
;''[[Angel (series)|Angel]]''
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{{AppearancesAngelSeason2
  +
|episode7=note
  +
}}
  +
{{AppearancesAngelSeason4
  +
|episode4=note
  +
|episode18=note
  +
}}
  +
{{AppearancesAngelSeason5
  +
|episode15=yes
  +
|episode16=yes
  +
|episode17=yes
  +
|episode18=yes
  +
|episode19=yes
  +
|episode20=yes
  +
|episode21=yes
  +
|episode22=yes
  +
}}
  +
{{AppearancesAngelATF
  +
|all=yes
  +
|issue1=no
  +
|issue7=no
  +
}}
  +
{{AppearancesSpike
  +
|ATF1=yes
  +
|ATF2=yes
  +
|ATF3=yes
  +
|ATF4=yes
  +
|issue1=yes
  +
|issue4=vision
  +
}}
  +
{{AppearancesAngelFaith
  +
|issue12=note
  +
|issue13=yes
  +
|issue14=yes
  +
|issue22=note
  +
}}
  +
{{AppearancesAngelFaith10
  +
|issue11=flash
  +
|issue12=yes
  +
|issue13=yes
  +
|issue14=yes
  +
|issue15=yes
  +
|issue16=note
  +
|issue17=note
  +
|issue19=yes
  +
|issue22=note
  +
|issue23=yes
  +
|issue24=yes
  +
}}
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{{AppearancesAngelSeason11
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|all=yes
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}}
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===Other===
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{{Scroll box
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|width=100%
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|content=
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;[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer novels|''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' novels]]
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*''[[Immortal]]''
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*''[[Spike and Dru: Pretty Maids All in a Row]]'' {{Om}}
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*''[[Original Sins]]'' {{Om}}
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*''[[The Wisdom of War]]''
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*''[[Chosen: The One]]'' {{Om}}
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*''[[Slayer (novel)|Slayer]]'' {{Om}}
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*''[[Bloody Fool for Love]]''
   
−
*''[[Spike and Dru]]''
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;''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Classic]]''
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*''[[Giles: Beyond the Pale]]''
  
 
*''[[The Dust Waltz]]''
  
*''[[The Dust Waltz]]''
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*''[[The Blood of Carthage]]''
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*''[[Double Cross]]''
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*''[[The Blood of Carthage, Part Two]]'' {{Om}}
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*''[[The Blood of Carthage, Part Three]]'' {{Om}}
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*''[[The Blood of Carthage, Part Four]]'' {{Om}}
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*''[[The Blood of Carthage, Part Five]]''
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*''[[Giles: Beyond the Pale]]'' {{Om}}
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*''[[Spike and Dru: All's Fair]]''
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*''[[Haunted, Part One]]'' {{Om}}
  +
*''[[Note from the Underground, Part Four]]'' {{FBO}}
   
  +
;[[Angel comics|''Angel'' comics]]
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== Gallery ==
  
  +
*''[[Vermin, Part One]]'' {{Om}}
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<gallery widths="174" orientation="square">
  
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*''[[Vermin, Part Two]]'' {{Om}}
−
Neauth.jpg|Neauth
  
  +
*''[[The Curse, Part Three]]'' {{FBO}}
−
Mayor-snake.gif|Olvikan
  
  +
*''[[Old Friends, Part Two]]''
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Ky-laag.gif|Ky-Laag
  
  +
*''[[Old Friends, Part Three]]''
−
old ones.jpg|Illyria's death by other Old Ones, according to the crossover with IDW comic "Fallen Angel:Reborn # 1"
  
−
Illirya.jpg|Illyria
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*''[[Spotlight: Illyria]]''
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*"[[Unacceptable Losses]]"
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baticus.jpg|Baticus
  
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*''[[Aftermath, Part One]]''
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boluz.JPG|Boluz
  
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*''[[Only Human, Part One]]''
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vrill.JPG|Vrill
  
  +
*''[[Only Human, Part Two]]''
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azogg mon.jpg|Azogg-Mon
  
  +
*''[[Only Human, Part Three]]''
−
hellmouth spawn.jpg|Hellmouth Spawn
  
  +
*''[[Only Human, Part Four]]''
−
Illyria crossover.jpg|Illyria according to the crossover Fallen Angel: Reborn.
  
  +
*''[[Only Human, Part Five]]''
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Illyria´s killer symbol 3.png|One of Illyria's killers according to the Fallen Angel: Reborn crossover.
  
  +
*''[[A Hole in the World, Part Two]]'' {{Om}}
−
Illyria´s killer symbol 2.png|One of Illyria's killers according to the Fallen Angel: Reborn crossover
  
  +
*''[[A Hole in the World, Part Three]]''
−
Illyria´s killer symbol 1.png|One of Illyria's killers according to the Fallen Angel: Reborn crossover
  
  +
*''[[A Hole in the World, Part Four]]''
−
Old ones in primordium age.jpg|Old Ones in the Primordium Age according to the Fray comic book.
  
  +
*''[[A Hole in the World, Part Five]]''
−
arsgomor.JPG|Arsgomor
  
  +
*''[[Lorne: The Music of the Spheres]]''
−
arsgomor as a baby.JPG|Arsgomor turned into a baby by Illyria.
  
  +
*''[[The Crown Prince Syndrome]]''
−
Quortotholdone.jpg|Quor'toth
  
  +
*''[[Immortality for Dummies]]''
−
</gallery>
  
  +
*''[[The Trouble with Felicia]]''
  +
*''[[The Big Dustup]]''
  +
*''[[Roman a Clef]]''
  +
*''[[Letters Home: A Jamesian Interlude]]''
  +
*''[[Bedroom Follies]]''
  +
*''[[Prophet for Profit, Part One]]''
  +
*''[[Prophet for Profit, Part Two]]''
  +
*''[[Prophet for Profit, Part Three]]''
  +
*''[[Cats in the Cradle]]''
  +
*''[[The Wolf, the Ram, and the Heart, Part One]]''
  +
*''[[The Wolf, the Ram, and the Heart, Part Two]]''
  +
*''[[The Wolf, the Ram, and the Heart, Part Three]]''
  +
*''[[The Wolf, the Ram, and the Heart, Part Four]]''
  +
*''[[The Wolf, the Ram, and the Heart, Part Five]]''
  +
*''[[The Wolf, the Ram, and the Heart, Part Six]]''
  +
*"[[Fight for the Remote!]]"
  +
*"[[This One Time]]"
  +
*''[[Illyria: Haunted, Part One]]''
  +
*''[[Illyria: Haunted, Part Two]]''
  +
*''[[Illyria: Haunted, Part Three]]''
  +
*''[[Illyria: Haunted, Part Four]]''
  +
*[[Angel + Spike 13|''Angel + Spike'' #13]]
  +
  +
;''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game]]''
  +
*"[[Sweeps Week]]" {{Om}}
  +
*"[[Lair of the Wendigo]]" {{Om}}
  +
  +
;[[Video games]]
  +
*[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Xbox)|''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' (Xbox)]]
  +
  +
;[[Spike comics|''Spike'' comics]]
  +
*''[[Plush]]'' {{OV}}
  +
*''[[Doppelgangbang]]''
  +
*''[[The Devil You Know, Part One]]''
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;''[[Fallen Angel: Reborn]]''
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*''[[Reborn, Part One]]''
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*''[[Reborn, Part Two]]''
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*''[[Reborn, Part Three]]''
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*''[[Reborn, Part Four]]''
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}}
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==References==
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{{References|scroll=1}}
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[[fr:Les Anciens]]
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[[pt-br:Antigo]]
   
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[[Category:Demon species]]
  
 
[[Category:Terminology]]
  
[[Category:Terminology]]
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[[Category:Worshiped entities]]

Latest revision as of 20:17, 17 April 2024

“The Old Ones were demons pure. They warred as we would breathe — endlessly. The greater ones were interred, for death was not always their end.”
―Drogyn[src]

Old One were pure-breed demons that dominated the Earth[1] during the Primordium Age.[2]

History

Primordium Age

“For untold eons demons walked the Earth. They made it their home, their Hell. But in time, they lost their purchase on this reality. The way was made for mortal animals, for man. All that remains of the Old Ones are vestiges, certain magics, certain creatures…”
―Rupert Giles[src]

The Old Ones were brought forth from another, more horrific, dimension during the creation of Earth through the Seed of Wonder.[3] They shared the Earth with fellow higher beings which would come to be known as the Powers That Be. The rise of the Old Ones led the Powers to flee this world,[4] while the demons became rulers of vast territories, commanded enormous armies that worshiped them as deities, and constantly made war against each other,[5] turning the Earth into their home, their hell.[1]

Banishment

“There were demons, monsters beyond imagination, most of them pure evil. They ruled this dimension as they did so many others. […] Eventually, as mortal animals evolved, under the protection of certain mages and loranites— […] The demons, most of them, found more hospitable dimen… places, and left the Earth to the mortals. For the most part. Some remained, hidden away. Some bred within the human community, their power weakened throughout generations. Some assimilated. And some… infected.”
―Urkonn of the D'Avvrus[src]

The Old Ones eventually lost their claim over Earth. Some were killed in their own wars while others either fled or were banished to other dimensions.[5] It was widely believed that the rise of humankind was responsible for the demise of the Old Ones.[1] Those who were killed were placed in sarcophagi which were hidden at the Deeper Well, a hole in the world running between England (in the Cotswolds) and New Zealand. The remains of the Old Ones were supposed to be kept there in order to prevent their resurrection, as not only their corpses but also their essences were trapped.[5]

According to the Last Guardian, the mʔ weapon was created to kill the last Old One to walk the Earth.[6] The Vampyr reported that the last pure demon to leave Earth infected a human with its blood, creating the first vampire.[1][7] Indeed, when Xander tapped into the Old One Maloker's memories, he saw the time of the banishment of the Old Ones at the hands of humans wielding powerful magicks. Fearful of his imprisonment, Maloker sought to raise an army, and so sired the first vampire.[8]

Modern day

“All the demons that walk the Earth are tainted, are human hybrids like vampires. The Ascension means that a human becomes pure demon. They're different.”
―Anya[src]

The demons that remained on Earth were forced to remain hidden and breed within mortal animals, creating weaker offspring as time went on.[9] However, the legacy of the Old Ones remained not only in the form of the hundreds of demon species,[10] but also in the form of cults that worshiped them, awaiting their return to bring about the destruction of mankind. These included the Order of Aurelius, led by the vampire known as the Master,[11] and Illyria's cult, of which the humans Knox and Sparrow were followers.[12]

Mortal beings could even take on the physical form of an Old One through a complicated ritual known as the Ascension.[13] They could also be reborn in mortal bodies, killing the hosts in the process. Illyria was resurrected in a human body in 2004,[5] and Maloker attempted to return through Dracula, transforming his body and overwriting his persona with that of the Old One's in the process, although he was ultimately unsuccessful.[14]

Biology and powers

“The Old Ones are the mightiest of demonkind… Primordial forces that cannot truly die. They would not hide, any more than a tsunami or hurricane would.”
―Rupert Giles[src]

Though each Old One had a different form and powers, what they all shared in common was their enormous size; they could shapeshift to become as big as they wished to be.[14] They were also vastly more powerful than even the strongest hybrid demon races that walked the Earth.[15]

The Old Ones were immortals in the sense that they could never be completely destroyed:[5] even if their bodies had perished, their essence lived on, and they could find ways to come back into being.[16] This was the case of Illyria, inhabiting Fred's human body when she died with the creation of a Seed of Wonder, her soon return also resurrecting Fred.[17] Wilkins also returned from a deathly explosion thanks to his Old One constitution, spending years pulling himself back together as the Olvikan.[18]

Known Old Ones

Boluz Shells Illyria 02 — Maloker-s10
Boluz Illyria Lohesh Maloker
Neauth Olvikan Quortotholdone Vrill
Neauth Olvikan Quor'toth Vrill

Behind the scenes

Appearances

Canonical

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Angel

Other

Buffy the Vampire Slayer novels
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Classic
Angel comics
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game
Video games
Spike comics
Fallen Angel: Reborn

References

Français Português do Brasil
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