Abomination

An abomination is a creature created when a Demon possesses a living being with magical abilities. There are stories of abominations that have ravaged entire settlements or even gone on to tyrannize a countryside for years after their creation. Most of the world does not know, however, that the strength of an abomination depends entirely on the power of the demon that possesses the mage. Thus, the magnitude of threat an abomination can pose is dependent on the type of demon that possesses the mage.
In the broadest sense of the term, "abomination" is sometimes used to refer to the demonic possession of mage corpses, or the produce of merging a mage with a benevolent spirit. The spirits can also possess almost any creature or object, including plants and rocks - however, these hosts cannot become abominations in the truest sense, as the spirits gain no additional powers through possession.

Background

Abominations are rare and usually created when a weak mage enters the Fade and is exposed toa demon's influence, such as during the ritual of Harrowing employed by the Circle of Magi. Mages who experiment with blood magic are more susceptible to demons and also risk becoming abominations. It is not unheard of for mages of the Grey Wardens trapped by Darkspawn behind enemy lines with no hope of rescue to willingly surrender themselves to demons and become abominations in order to slay as many darkspawn as possible.
Once a demon-possessed abomination is created, it will try to create more abominations. While it is possible to free someone who has been possessed, this is rarely done due to the risks involved in such an attempt.

One method involves an independent party entering the Fade and killing the dominating being of the possessed. Marethari Talas, former Keeper of the Sabrae Clan, said that those who were freed in such a way would never truly recover, as the soul of the formerly-possessed is scarred. She described the liberated host as a wounded animal that could easily fall prey to scavengers.
The Avvar employ a ritual to release themselves from possession, but this ritual involves a spirit voluntarily leaving its host, rather than fighting off a demon.
Aside from those listed, death of the host is the most convenient way to end possession.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Demon