What if demons live in the mortal realm?

b-dog · 08-18-2024, 05:52 PM

I was reading about how Satan was not stuck in Hell but roamed the Earth like a hungry lion in search of souls to devour. So it made me think what if the demons in dungeon fantasy were living on the Earth in the mortal realm instead of Hell? In this scenario the demons would have their amulets secured in the Earth and they would likely live deep underground and possibly connect to dungeon levels and temples. Eventually demons would be sent to Hell but in the mean time they would be amassing armies on Earth to attack the forces of good. Demons would not want to go to Hell to suffer forever because Hell is a punishment that they want to avoid and that would be why they would be trying to overthrow the Divine so that they would not have to be sent to a place of eternal suffering. When a demon is slain then it must go to Hell and suffer greatly until it is able to escape back into the mortal realm. So basically a demon on Earth would create a deep underground realm on Earth to secure their amulet and also to make a safe place.

b-dog · 08-19-2024, 01:09 PM

Maybe demon lords could create their own planes of existence that suit their motif but when a spell like Banish is used against them or they are slain in the material plane the demon lord would be sent to Hell and suffer until they are able to escape by returning to the plane that they made or to the material plane.

martinl · 08-19-2024, 02:12 PM

It is perfectly in line with much of the source material if Hell is literally deep in the Earth, and Heaven literally in the sky.

The modern approach of different planes of existence is because we looked at where we thought these places were and didn't find them.

b-dog · 08-19-2024, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martinl

It is perfectly in line with much of the source material if Hell is literally deep in the Earth, and Heaven literally in the sky.

The modern approach of different planes of existence is because we looked at where we thought these places were and didn't find them.

I think the demons would have more reason to live in dungeons too. Ultimately I don’t like the idea that demon lords would have a plane in Hell where they have absolute power because it doesn’t really make sense that the Divine would create Hell as a punishment yet the demon lord is able to live there and have complete power over it. Hell should be a place where nothing wants to be, even demons IMO. The fact that in the end times demons will be sent to Hell would give them a lot of motivation to try to change their fate.

restlessgriffin · 08-20-2024, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b-dog

I was reading about how Satan was not stuck in Hell but roamed the Earth like a hungry lion in search of souls to devour. So it made me think what if the demons in dungeon fantasy were living on the Earth in the mortal realm instead of Hell? In this scenario the demons would ...

I've been playing a lot of Diablo IV lately. Have you?

The Colonel · 08-20-2024, 03:59 PM

This would fit both the medieval European perception - that demons were, if not actually resident in the mortal world, certainly quite free to "be in it and go to and fro in it" like their leader, but having them congregate in dungeons would also suit the trope of the mythic underworld with dungeons being not entirely real and potentially "wounds in the earth" or otherwise supernatural in nature. The dungeon as nest of demons would certainly put a whole new slant on the need to enter them and clear them.

08-18-2024, 05:52 PM	#1
b-dog Join Date: Nov 2006	What if demons live in the mortal realm? I was reading about how Satan was not stuck in Hell but roamed the Earth like a hungry lion in search of souls to devour. So it made me think what if the demons in dungeon fantasy were living on the Earth in the mortal realm instead of Hell? In this scenario the demons would have their amulets secured in the Earth and they would likely live deep underground and possibly connect to dungeon levels and temples. Eventually demons would be sent to Hell but in the mean time they would be amassing armies on Earth to attack the forces of good. Demons would not want to go to Hell to suffer forever because Hell is a punishment that they want to avoid and that would be why they would be trying to overthrow the Divine so that they would not have to be sent to a place of eternal suffering. When a demon is slain then it must go to Hell and suffer greatly until it is able to escape back into the mortal realm. So basically a demon on Earth would create a deep underground realm on Earth to secure their amulet and also to make a safe place.

08-19-2024, 01:09 PM	#2
b-dog Join Date: Nov 2006	Re: What if demons live in the mortal realm? Maybe demon lords could create their own planes of existence that suit their motif but when a spell like Banish is used against them or they are slain in the material plane the demon lord would be sent to Hell and suffer until they are able to escape by returning to the plane that they made or to the material plane.

08-19-2024, 02:12 PM	#3
martinl Join Date: Jan 2006	Re: What if demons live in the mortal realm? It is perfectly in line with much of the source material if Hell is literally deep in the Earth, and Heaven literally in the sky. The modern approach of different planes of existence is because we looked at where we thought these places were and didn't find them.

08-20-2024, 03:59 PM	#6
The Colonel Join Date: Jul 2006	Re: What if demons live in the mortal realm? This would fit both the medieval European perception - that demons were, if not actually resident in the mortal world, certainly quite free to "be in it and go to and fro in it" like their leader, but having them congregate in dungeons would also suit the trope of the mythic underworld with dungeons being not entirely real and potentially "wounds in the earth" or otherwise supernatural in nature. The dungeon as nest of demons would certainly put a whole new slant on the need to enter them and clear them.