Cryto

From Charmed

Cryto was a demon known as the Demon of Vanity.

In the 16th century, Cryto traveled the Dukedom's offering youth and beauty, but at a great price. In exchange for his services, Cryto demanded the souls of those he restored. A group of three witches sought to stop Cryto by skinning him alive, believing this would prevent his spirit from returning. Rather than being vanquished, the demon was reduced to non-corporeal, gaseous state.

In the season 2 episode, How to Make a Quilt Out of Americans, the members of Penelope Halliwell's old coven - Amanda, Helen and Gail - summoned him and traded him The Charmed Ones' active powers, along with their souls, in order to bargain with him for youth and hence gaining beauty and health in the process. However, Cryto didn't want to chance them turning on him, so he turned Helen and Amanda to dust; it takes three witches to banish him again.  When Gail refuses to help him kill the Charmed Ones, Cryto turns her to dust as well.

Contents 1 Powers & Abilities 2 Appendices 2.1 Book of Shadows 3 Spells 3.1 To Summon Cryto 3.2 To 'Vanquish' Cryto 4 Notes 5 Appearances

Powers & Abilities

Cryto is a demonic personification of vanity, given the title of the "Demon of Vanity" due to this and his ability to either restore a person's youth or wither them to dust with a simple wave of his hand, as Javna could and given the SPX and effect of the power they probably shared the same power, with Javna channeling through his eyes rather than his hands as with Cryto.

The only other trick he had under his sleeve is that, unlike Javna, he cannot be vanquished normally, similar to The Triad. For example, one can destroy his body but his spirit will remain afterwards and may even ressurect. To truly destroy Cryto one must vanquish spirit also, a feat which not even The Charmed Ones have managed to accomplish.

Appendices

Book of Shadows

In the sixteenth century,

Cryto travelled from

dukedom to dukedom,

preying on people's vanity.

bestowing youth and beauty

in exchange for their souls.

Cryto was found out and

skinned alive by a group of

witches who believed it

would keep his spirit from

ever being resurrected

again.

Spells

The members of Gail's coven used this spell to summon him in spirit form:

To Summon Cryto

We call on the demon Cryto

Reach back throughout the ages.

Humbled by his power

We invite him into our circle.

• Witches Be Warned: This spell requires one to have a "body" prepared for Cryto in order for him to return corporeally. For example, Gail and her friends made a body for him by taking pieces of dead skin from graves and clothing a mannequin with it. If there is n body to act as a vessel for the demon then he will only appear as a gaseous spirit.

To 'Vanquish' Cryto

What witches done and then undone,

Return his spirit back within,

and separate him from his skin.

• A witch from the Halliwell line at some point discovered the witches had attempted Cryto's demise had been unsuccessful. As preparation for the day when his spirit might rise again, a spell was written in the Book of Shadows. Prue, Piper, and Phoebe were able to use this spell to send spirit back again.

Notes

• Although Prue mentions "there is a spell", no spell is found in Cryto's entry.

Cryto corporealizes in human form	Cryto is summoned	The Demon Cryto	Imbued with the Power of Three
Offering to make exchange	Cryto bestows youth and beauty	Prue and Piper pour potion down his throat	Stripped of the Charmed Ones Powers
Cryto is seperated from his skin	Cryto is vanquished

Appearances

Cryto appeared in a total of 1 episode throughout the course of the series.

Season 2 -

How to Make a Quilt Out of Americans