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[The following text is taken from the Encyclopaedia Sacrum Imperium Solarum, published in the Year of Our Lord 11,000.]
Philip Constantine Polk (April 3, 5098 - November 13, 5667) was a Jovian scholar, theologian, perennialist, and occultist who specialized in demonology. He disliked the term occultist, instead preferring to call himself a "spiritual researcher."
Born in Campbellstown on Ganymede on April 3, 5098 to academic parents, he proved himself to be a gifted child after he learned how to read research papers by the age of 6. His intense curiosity led him through many fields of study, and he learned as much as he could about each of them. He also took a great interest in music, but his favorite genre was metal. It was through listening to ancient metal albums that he developed a fascination with the occult despite his secular scientific upbringing. When he was 15, he acquired a copy of The Infernal Legions. He then summoned Beleth in the woods outside of town just to see what would happen. She immediately tried to possess him, but he managed to fight her off and banish her, but not before she set fire to the woods. After that incident, he began studying the many religions of mankind so as to better guard himself against evil spirits.
At the age of 16, he began attending Galileo University in Herculaneum. It was there that he met Luna Rohman, who shared his love of metal and obsession with the occult. They got married one year later. After four years of study, he got a degree in physics. He then moved back in with his parents and got a job as an editor for the Jovian Scientific Journal. It was through this position that he gradually gained the respect of the scientific community. He continued to study the occult during his free time, and after saving up money for 20 years, he bought a small cabin in a secluded region of the Ganymede countryside while Luna stayed in Campbellstown. 18 months later, on June 21, 5140, he became one of the only people in history to successfully complete the Abramelin Ritual.
After completing this ritual, he sold the cabin, then he and Luna bought a studio apartment in Herculaneum. He then created a magazine called Jovian Mysticism on January 1, 5141, and began writing articles on religion, occultism, and spirituality. Though initially he received much skepticism, he eventually won over his colleagues with his detailed arguments. The magazine slowly grew as others contributed their own articles to it. Over the next several years, he subdued the Solomonic demons and forced them to confess their secrets to him. All of these conversations were transcribed and published. He also wrote hundreds of pieces of pulp fiction, which were published in magazines such as From Beyond and Bizarre Realms. His wife also earned money through tarot card readings under the name Lady Luna.
Eventually, Jovian Mysticism grew too large for him to effectively manage, so on December 14, 5150, he sold it to Gerard Schuon, a close friend of his. He still contributed articles to it, but he used most of his newly acquired free time to further his studies of the occult. This work culminated in a book called Protection Against the Infernal Legions, a guide on spiritual warfare, which was published on May 17, 5177. This book would go on to be his most financially successful.
One year after his book’s publication, Galileo University granted him a position in their Theology Department, where he became a professor of esotericism. It was there that he taught students the nature of demons and how to combat them. He also taught that every major religion is rooted in an Absolute Truth. Prominent figures from every religion in the Jovian System accused him of encouraging the young to consort with infernal powers, but he assured them that by teaching about such subjects and their associated dangers, one could better protect oneself from demonic influence.
In the year 5200, several fires broke out in Herculaneum and the police were unable to pinpoint the cause. Polk volunteered his aid, and after much work, he was able to determine that the fires were caused by Seth Orestein, one of his former students who made a pact with Haborym. After the arsonist was apprehended, Polk felt that he was partly responsible for the fires that occurred, so as a form of penance, he retired from his teaching position and became an investigator for the Ganymede Police. He helped them in cases where supernatural involvement was suspected.
On June 2, 5456, Stephen Sutherland, the Leader of Jupiter, visited Polk’s home and told him that his son, Louis Sutherland, was suffering from a strange illness that no medicine could cure. After a brief examination, Polk determined that someone placed a curse on Louis. After dispelling the curse, he began investigating its source. One month later, a red-robed figure broke into his home and attempted to murder him. Polk fought back and chased him off. With the aid of the Ganymede Police, he learned that the man was a member of the Kult ov the Red Storm. They pursued the cult and slowly dismantled them over the course of ten years, culminating in the arrest of their leader Tor Madsen in 5466.
In the year 5554, members of the Order of the Black Sun arrived from Mars and established a branch on Ganymede. Two years later, on May 7, 5556, they instigated a riot in the hopes of killing Stephen Sutherland and taking over the planet, but they were crushed by the police. One month later, on June 7, Polk reported that he thwarted a demonic attack against Stephen that was orchestrated by the remaining members of the Order of the Black Sun. The police apprehended and executed every member of the Order they could find. Ten years later, in the year 5566, the surviving members of the Kult ov the Red Storm and the Order of the Black Sun came out of hiding, joined forces, and unleashed a demonic attack against Ganymede. Many fires broke out across the world. Polk pushed back the demonic powers long enough for the police to find and kill the perpetrators.
In the year 5577, Polk was contacted by Ethelstan Vittner, a Martian who fled to Uranus due to political persecution. Vittner informed him that he had formed the Traditionalist Society, an organization devoted to the study and promotion of the universal truths held by all religions. Polk agreed and proceeded to generously fund this endeavor.
At the beginning of 5666, Polk began suffering extreme headaches. He later learned through his dreams that the Kings of Hell were conspiring to do away with him once and for all and unleash mayhem upon Jupiter. His body wasted away as he fought back against them with all his might for over a year. In a last ditch effort to banish the demons and save Ganymede, he sacrificed himself by burning himself alive on November 13, 5667. Eyewitnesses stated there was nothing left of him but ashes, but everything around him was unscathed.
Polk remains a controversial figure to this day. He is often dismissed as a sorceror, but his book Protection Against the Infernal Legions proved to be very helpful to demon hunters.
Related Articles: Demonology, Campbellstown (Ganymede), Galileo University (Ganymede), Herculaneum (Ganymede), Jovian Mysticism, Stephen Sutherland, Kult ov the Red Storm, Order of the Black Sun, Ethelstan Vittner, Traditionalist Society
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