Goetia No. 72 - Andromalius
Goetia No. 72 - Andromalius
The name of this spirit eludes me. I have seen “strong man,” “evil man,” and even “man-hammer” as
translations, and popular titles like Adramelech suggested as possible mythic equivalents. I do not
consider any of these accurate, although the Medieval concept of Adramalech as a tattle-tale would fit
neatly with the powers ascribed to Andromalius. Unfortunately I had forgotten to inquire about the
name at the time of conjuration, for reasons described below, and the trivia will have to wait until some
time in the future.
It should be apparent to all but the cloistered and the delusional that in the real world, it is often the bad
guy who wins. Perhaps you pay your bills, file your taxes, keep in one lane of the street, and avoid
stealing your neighbor’s furniture. Perhaps you price your goods and services fairly, or otherwise attempt
to maintain an equitable relationship with your fellow humans. This is laudable, but all too often
someone will step far out of line and suffer little or not at all for the infractions. Such an accusation is
often leveled toward the owners of large corporations, particularly those who products employ many at
low wages, or whose services destroy the natural environment. It is also something I hear very
frequently in reference to small-time scam artists and other law-breakers.
Not meaning to cast a gloomy cloud over the moral life and positive efforts, but it is highly probable that
people of questionable virtue have intruded into the lives of every one of us. Some shut them out, or try
to pay them no heed, and others attempt to strike back in vain. In the end, the low-grade thief, vandal,
killer, or other criminal will get away. It is tempting to say that they are so desperate as to be unworthy
of your vexation, or to hope that in some way they will be visited with retribution; but such does not
always (or even usually) occur. It is far more often the case that the poor are cheated by the wealthy, the
strong bully the weak, liars entrap the ignorant, and in general the bad guys go away happy while you are
left to suck your thumb about it.
Such is the case for the ordinary person, but King Solomon the Wise had a solution: conjuring demons! If
they are compelled and empowered by evil forces, those evils may be bound by magical bindings
executed upon their superior demons. The estimate of the vast majority of writers on the subject, for
centuries, is that these threescore and twelve spirits of the Brazen Vessel are in fact some of the most
high-ranking demonic powers believed to exist. It is no surprise that in seeking to end the work of wicked
people, one may undo their work by subjugating their spiritual masters.
Now I myself am relatively content and free from malicious works of others, and I hold no grudges over
old crimes. I can think of no debts owed to me and what enemies I do have lurk in dark places with far
more pressing concerns than my anxiety. Of my wife I cannot say that this is the case, or ever has been
the case, and what troubles she does have are significant and insurmountable by any means available to
her.
She has been the target of several attempts on her life (during her childhood), she has been robbed by
family and neighbors, and she has been given many lies from people who she has no choice but to trust,
yet who all now sit in contentment which has no foreseeable end. Though all of this is more or less old-
news and not immediately troubling to us (it has not been a trouble in years), it seemed prudent to put a
decisive end to all of this mayhem at some point in time, and we chose now to do it. I hope that my
readers will permit me to omit the details of my charges to the spirit in this regard, out of respect for my
wife and as a necessary precaution. These details are trivial in any case: full listings of stolen property
and those responsible, the names and reasons behind her troubles, and similar data concerning others
among her family with whom she is in good standing.
My command to the spirit was simple: undo what has been done, overturn their hearts to make them
repent of their evil deeds, and force them to make some manner of recompense appropriate to their
crimes but regardless of their means and preferences. The spirit agreed, and gave minor details about
what these things would involve, all of which were agreeable to me.
One curious thing about this spirit was that it did not like noise in any way. Despite being eager to
perform its conjured labors, it was very insolent about my poor choice of locations. I chose a place for
the conjuration which was too close to an airport, and every time a plane arrived the spirit would silence
(at McCarran airport in Vegas, we get a flight about every two minutes), and more than once did it
complain about the noise. It was, despite the difficulties, just as described: a very large Mediterranean
like a pro-wrestler, making a very concerned effort to keep a huge python at bay. At its arrival, the snake
was able to coil around the whole length of the circle, and at its departure the man was swallowed in a
gruesome display lasting more time than I would describe as “comfortable.”
Since I have written this after-the-fact, I might add that many of the charges given to this spirit have been
fulfilled in a most excellent manner.