# Demonology — Topic Index

**Read this file first.** It tells an AI agent what exists for this topic and
which artifact to use, so you don't re-read the full source corpus (~3.4 MB)
unless you actually need a direct quote.

## Decision order for an agent

1. **Need a fact, attribute, rank, or to filter/sort entities?**
   → Query `demons.json`. Do **not** read the sources. It is the fact-cache.
2. **Need the narrative, the argument, or how the sources disagree?**
   → Read `demon-hierarchy-synthesis.md` (prose).
3. **Need a verbatim quote or a detail not in the data?**
   → Open the one source `.md` named in the entity's `citations`, at the cited
   page/line. Read that file whole (repo convention), not a snippet.

## Artifacts

| File | Type | Use it for |
|------|------|-----------|
| `demons.json` | structured data (33 entities) | Querying attributes: rank, legions, domain, signs, sin, source_count, cross_refs. The machine source of truth for facts. |
| `demons.schema.json` | JSON Schema | Field definitions, allowed values, validation. Read to learn the data shape. |
| `demon-hierarchy-synthesis.md` | prose synthesis | The ranked hierarchy as narrative + the recurrence map + where sources disagree. |
| *(6 source `.md` files)* | converted sources | Direct quotes / details beyond the dataset. Listed under `sources` in `demons.json`. |

## What's in `demons.json`

- **Scope:** only entities attested in **2+ of the 6 sources** (33 entities).
  Single-source names (most of the Goetia 72, the world-folklore long tail) are
  intentionally excluded — see the synthesis for why.
- **Tiers:** `supreme-prince` (11), `directional-king` (4), `goetia-officer` (2),
  `watcher` (7), `other-recurring` (9).
- **Source codes:** `FG` Field Guide · `DM` Dark Mirrors · `PU` Personal/Impersonal
  (Barth/Unger) · `SP` Spiritism · `DJ` Daemonologie · `EN` Encyclopedia. Full
  descriptions in `demons.json` → `sources`.
- **Aliases are merged** to a primary name; `cross_refs` link conflated/related
  entities (e.g. `satan` ↔ `lucifer` ↔ `satanael`; `asmodeus` ↔ `aeshma`/`ahriman`).

## Example queries (jq)

```bash
cd md/demonology
# All Kings attested in 2+ sources
jq -r '.demons[] | select(.rank != null and (.rank|test("King"))) | .name' demons.json
# The seven Princes of Hell by deadly sin
jq '.demons[] | select(.deadly_sin) | {name, deadly_sin}' demons.json
# Everything naming the Watcher myth (Dark Mirrors)
jq '.demons[] | select(.sources|index("DM")) | .name' demons.json
# Most-corroborated entities first
jq '[.demons[] | {name, source_count}] | sort_by(-.source_count)' demons.json
```

## Keeping it in sync

`demons.json` is the source of truth for **facts**; the synthesis is the source of
truth for **narrative**. If you add/correct an entity, update `demons.json` first,
re-validate against the schema, then reflect it in the synthesis prose — not the
other way around.

```bash
# validate after editing (schema + house rules: source_count, cross_refs, unique ids)
./.venv/bin/python validate.py demonology   # this topic
./.venv/bin/python validate.py              # every topic in the repo
```

The validator is generic: any topic that drops a `<name>.schema.json` next to its
`<name>.json` is picked up automatically. Exit code is non-zero on failure, so it
doubles as a git pre-commit hook or CI step.

To extend scope (e.g. add the full Goetia 72 or the folklore long tail), re-run
the per-source extraction, set each record's `sources`/`source_count`
accordingly, and relax the schema's `minItems: 2` on `sources` if you drop the
2+ rule.
