Banshee

The Banshee are a reasonably rare breed of demons with distinctive white hair, and a high pitched scream - audible only to dogs and their intended victim - that can burst glass and blood vessels, killing a mortal, or turn a witch pre-disposed to emotional pain into a Banshee. Powers of a witch are capable of vanquishing a Banshee, seen when Piper blew up a Banshee in Look Who's Barking. The only way to revert a Banshee back into their previous witch self is for the being who caused the witch emotional pain to express clearly how they feel about them and allow them to return back to normal. However, if a newly-turned Banshee kills a person, than they will become a Banshee permanently. In Hell Hath No Fury, Phoebe described the Banshee as a demonic screamer, kind of trampy and feeds on pain.

When a Banshee elevates her call into a Scream, it does not kill a Witch, it zeroes in on her pain and slowly turns her into a Banshee. The Book of Shadows has an entry on Banshees, and a "To Track a Banshee" spell, which will turn the volunteer into a dog, which can hear the high-pitch cries of Banshees, outside of the human hearing range.

Look Who's Barking
In 2001, a Banshee attacked several heart-broken people in San Francisco, such as a grieving husband (murdered) and a young teenage girl. However, Piper and Phoebe (with the help of a dog) were able to save the girl by attacking the Banshee. But with a loud sonic scream the Banshee zeroed in on a grief-stricken Phoebe. Piper attacked the demon with her new power but missed. The Banshee ran off though it wasn't long before she returned. When Phoebe was in the attic crying over her loss of Cole, the Banshee was able to sense her grief and attacked Phoebe in the attic. Phoebe called for her sister but it was too late. The Banshee's call unknowingly turned Phoebe into a Banshee. Piper and Leo rushed into the attic and Piper threw out her hands and vanquished the demon by blowing her up. This Banshee was the first demon Piper was able to vanquish with her new molecular combustion power on purpose.

Once Phoebe fully turned into a Banshee she leaped out the attic windows, screaming her call, and looking for anyone in grief. She stalked a woman in the streets but her pain was soon subdued when she saw her lover. Phoebe backed off, screaming again. After Piper cast the spell to summon Belthazor, Cole showed up and his aching heart called out to Phoebe. Phoebe attacked Cole and they shimmered out to the mausoleum. They fight each with super strength. Belthazor pins Phoebe to the ground and she begins to scream her deathly scream. He quickly wraps his hands around her throat and tells her not to make him kill her. She flings him across the room and Belthazor changes back to Cole. He confesses that he loves her and she can feel his broken heart. With a final scream, she then transforms back into herself.

Sword and the City
In 2003, when Piper temporarily gained control of Excalibur, a Banshee was on her round table of the strongest demons. However, the Banshee was vanquished when Mordauntdouble-crossed her, in an attempt to capture Excalibur for himself.

Powers and Abilities

 * Active Powers
 * Sonic Scream: This is the ability to generate vocal sounds of a higher amplitude than a normal human.
 * Super Strength: The ability to have magically augmented physical strength and stamina.
 * Agility: The ability that provides the possessor with inhuman agility, reflexes, and speed.
 * Levitation: The ability to propel oneself up in the air and hover. The Banshee could leap great distances with it.
 * Power Granting: The ability to grant any number of powers to another being.

Appendicies



 * (Book of Shadows text:)

A Banshee

 * is a Demon who
 * wanders the earth
 * feeding on souls in
 * great pain. Hunting
 * only at night, this
 * Demon uses her voice
 * as a high pitched Call
 * to locate a victim, by
 * hearing the inner cry.


 * She does this by
 * zeroing in on the waves
 * of pain that emanate
 * from the stricken


 * A Banshee then
 * elevates her Call
 * into a Scream, so
 * powerful it kills
 * those she targets.

To Track a Banshee

 * The piercing cry
 * That feeds on pain
 * And leaves more
 * Sorrow than it gains
 * Shall now be heard
 * By one who seeks
 * To stop the havoc
 * That it wreaks