History
The Realms
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The Hell-world is made up of six realms stacked on top of each other. From top to bottom, they are: the Sun Realm, War Realm, Ash Realm, Fire Realm, City Realm, and Frost Realm. Each one has a unique biological and magical biome, and many are the homeland of at least one type of demon or infernal creature.
For the most part, the realms are separate but connected. This means that demons are somewhat able to move freely between them with the usage of portals, but portals are not easily accessible and require physical items to cast. In some realms, those physical items are nonrenewable resources and are either extremely rare, or completely impossible to find. In that case, only very proficient mages are able to craft functional portals, and generally traveling between realms while using their services costs a hefty fee, and therefore transports are typically local government-sanctioned or done in large groups in order to split the fee evenly across all parties. |
While the distance between realms can seem astronomical, there is some bleeding over of reality and circumstance between the realms, especially those that are neighboring. A volcanic eruption in the Fire Realm can be felt as a quake in the City Realm, just as the endless battle in the War Realm can be physically heard in the quiet areas of the Sun and Ash Realms.
Overall, life in the Hell-world is not very similar to our own. For one, creatures in this universe do not require large amounts of moisture in order to sustain life. The terrains are often imbued with volatile magic, and are inhabited by many terrifying, either unintelligent or all-knowing enormous creatures that represent the magical qualities of that realm. Therefore, the denizens of each realm tend to have developed their own magical prowess in order to live properly within the realms. Without further ado, let's get into the details of each realm!
Overall, life in the Hell-world is not very similar to our own. For one, creatures in this universe do not require large amounts of moisture in order to sustain life. The terrains are often imbued with volatile magic, and are inhabited by many terrifying, either unintelligent or all-knowing enormous creatures that represent the magical qualities of that realm. Therefore, the denizens of each realm tend to have developed their own magical prowess in order to live properly within the realms. Without further ado, let's get into the details of each realm!
The Sun Realm
Inhabitants: Sun Demons
The very top realm in the Hell-world is known as the Sun Realm. This realm, in its populous areas, feels very much like a run-down area of suburban America. The streets are paved, but there are cracks in the pavement, and the terrain is littered with wooden houses in disrepair. There is very little technology here, and if it is, it is an illusion created by the realm itself to make things appear more appealing to its denizens. It is constantly the season of Summer here, the sun always high in the sky, a misty smog hanging heavily in the air and obscuring the light, creating a broad, yellow glow to everything. Giant shadow creatures are often walking in the distance, occasionally blocking on the sun - strange shapes on too many spindly legs, and they are not to be interacted with. It is devastatingly hot in this realm, and visiting by astral travel is not recommended unless you have a way to protect yourself from the heat.
The Sun Demons are the primary denizens of this realm, having proudly trailblazed into this realm of decay and entropy, and choosing to make it their home. Their lives are based around survival, something that can be very difficult in a realm that is always shifting realities and dangers. Many of them are scavengers, picking out items that are gifted to them by the realm itself, or finding the remnants of civilizations that no longer exist within the realm. The Sun Realm is one of both mirages and entropy, meaning that from a distance, something might look promisingly safe or edible, but when you draw closer you realize it is the mouth of a beast, or a fully rotten fruit. There have been discoveries of ancient ruins full of fruit preserves, just as there have been discoveries of structures similar to nuclear fallout shelters full of canned goods. There is very little by way of produce or food here, which means that food fetches a high price, but it also means that the Sun Demons have evolved to not require as much food, living mostly off the energy of the sun and using physical food for the occasional energy boost. The hell-world is engaged in an endless war in the realm just below the Sun Realm, and the Sun Demons try their best to stay out of it, as they are the least aggressive of the demonic races - they say if you listen hard enough on a quiet afternoon, you can hear the screams and clashing of metal in the realm below.
The very top realm in the Hell-world is known as the Sun Realm. This realm, in its populous areas, feels very much like a run-down area of suburban America. The streets are paved, but there are cracks in the pavement, and the terrain is littered with wooden houses in disrepair. There is very little technology here, and if it is, it is an illusion created by the realm itself to make things appear more appealing to its denizens. It is constantly the season of Summer here, the sun always high in the sky, a misty smog hanging heavily in the air and obscuring the light, creating a broad, yellow glow to everything. Giant shadow creatures are often walking in the distance, occasionally blocking on the sun - strange shapes on too many spindly legs, and they are not to be interacted with. It is devastatingly hot in this realm, and visiting by astral travel is not recommended unless you have a way to protect yourself from the heat.
The Sun Demons are the primary denizens of this realm, having proudly trailblazed into this realm of decay and entropy, and choosing to make it their home. Their lives are based around survival, something that can be very difficult in a realm that is always shifting realities and dangers. Many of them are scavengers, picking out items that are gifted to them by the realm itself, or finding the remnants of civilizations that no longer exist within the realm. The Sun Realm is one of both mirages and entropy, meaning that from a distance, something might look promisingly safe or edible, but when you draw closer you realize it is the mouth of a beast, or a fully rotten fruit. There have been discoveries of ancient ruins full of fruit preserves, just as there have been discoveries of structures similar to nuclear fallout shelters full of canned goods. There is very little by way of produce or food here, which means that food fetches a high price, but it also means that the Sun Demons have evolved to not require as much food, living mostly off the energy of the sun and using physical food for the occasional energy boost. The hell-world is engaged in an endless war in the realm just below the Sun Realm, and the Sun Demons try their best to stay out of it, as they are the least aggressive of the demonic races - they say if you listen hard enough on a quiet afternoon, you can hear the screams and clashing of metal in the realm below.
The War Realm
Inhabitants: No species originate from here.
As you might suspect from its name, the War Realm has a constantly-raging battle occurring within it. The meaning of the battle has been long forgotten, but young demons from the realms below are still conscripted into it at a young age, and it is considered a great honor to do so. Was the war originally waged to gain control over this now-desolate wasteland? Was it meant to solve a diplomatic conflict between two realms that was never resolved? Depending on who you ask, the story changes. My personal theory is that the war is a way to control the overall demon population and put good use to the aggression of young individuals - a violent practice that has leaked down through generations due to tradition. Many of the other realms are financially and population destitute due to the amount of resources that are thrown into this endless war.
The War Realm is not at all safe to travel through, especially for visiting humans - I have only caught glimpses of it through memories of retired or injured soldiers. The people in this realm are locked into terrifying levels of bloodlust, viciously attacking anything that does not wear their army's colors. The ground is covered in ash, dust, and bones. Corpses are left out to rot and the dead are not cared for. The armies here only listen to words or orders from their commanders. I suspect they are spelled or otherwise drugged to create this behavior pattern, as the armies are generally made up of demon types from other realms. If not, it is perhaps the magical influence of the realm itself, an influence derived of chaos and bloodlust - by this I mean that simply being present here compels one to lose sight of any and all logic, instead throwing themselves only into the fight, perhaps as the result of an ancient and forgotten curse on the land. For this reason, no companions will be homed from the War Realm for the forseeable future.
That being said, the spell of the War Realm is able to be broken by sending one away. The War Realm has a handful of permanent portals that can be used to send someone away - the only realm with any of these surviving. Generally, if a soldier is retrieved from a battle being injured but still living, and they can be brought safely to a portal, they will be cordially retired from the military. Additionally, there are several instances of retired demon commanders being brought home - it typically only happens to high-ranking demons who are not as influenced by the thrall of the chaotic magical signature here, who eventually become old and tired enough to return home, their bloodlust and energetic abundance sated. These individuals generally retire to the City Realm, where they might meet a partner and raise children together, if they deem it suitable.
As you might suspect from its name, the War Realm has a constantly-raging battle occurring within it. The meaning of the battle has been long forgotten, but young demons from the realms below are still conscripted into it at a young age, and it is considered a great honor to do so. Was the war originally waged to gain control over this now-desolate wasteland? Was it meant to solve a diplomatic conflict between two realms that was never resolved? Depending on who you ask, the story changes. My personal theory is that the war is a way to control the overall demon population and put good use to the aggression of young individuals - a violent practice that has leaked down through generations due to tradition. Many of the other realms are financially and population destitute due to the amount of resources that are thrown into this endless war.
The War Realm is not at all safe to travel through, especially for visiting humans - I have only caught glimpses of it through memories of retired or injured soldiers. The people in this realm are locked into terrifying levels of bloodlust, viciously attacking anything that does not wear their army's colors. The ground is covered in ash, dust, and bones. Corpses are left out to rot and the dead are not cared for. The armies here only listen to words or orders from their commanders. I suspect they are spelled or otherwise drugged to create this behavior pattern, as the armies are generally made up of demon types from other realms. If not, it is perhaps the magical influence of the realm itself, an influence derived of chaos and bloodlust - by this I mean that simply being present here compels one to lose sight of any and all logic, instead throwing themselves only into the fight, perhaps as the result of an ancient and forgotten curse on the land. For this reason, no companions will be homed from the War Realm for the forseeable future.
That being said, the spell of the War Realm is able to be broken by sending one away. The War Realm has a handful of permanent portals that can be used to send someone away - the only realm with any of these surviving. Generally, if a soldier is retrieved from a battle being injured but still living, and they can be brought safely to a portal, they will be cordially retired from the military. Additionally, there are several instances of retired demon commanders being brought home - it typically only happens to high-ranking demons who are not as influenced by the thrall of the chaotic magical signature here, who eventually become old and tired enough to return home, their bloodlust and energetic abundance sated. These individuals generally retire to the City Realm, where they might meet a partner and raise children together, if they deem it suitable.
The Ash Realm
Inhabitants: Ash Demons
The Ash Realm is the only realm within the Hell World that supports plantlife, due to its warmth and rich soil. The chilly air is always full of ashes, and the ground is unusually warm due to its proximity with the Fire Realm. Denizens of this realm live few and far between, often utilizing couriers in order to communicate and do business with each other and the other realms. The Ash Realm is astonishingly quiet, and
solitude and obscurity
The Ash Realm is the only realm within the Hell World that supports plantlife, due to its warmth and rich soil. The chilly air is always full of ashes, and the ground is unusually warm due to its proximity with the Fire Realm. Denizens of this realm live few and far between, often utilizing couriers in order to communicate and do business with each other and the other realms. The Ash Realm is astonishingly quiet, and
solitude and obscurity
The Fire Realm
Inhabitants: Infernal Unicorns, Inferno Demons
The Fire Realm is a volcanic wasteland, with very little indication of civilized life having ever been established here, except for the occasional metal structure half-sunken into the ever-changing ground. The sky is always a dusky red here with a yellow glow along the horizon, without any semblance of day or night cycles. The realm is extremely volatile, and mostly inhabited by native creatures that are not humanoid demons, as all demons who once called the Fire Realm their home have moved somewhere a bit more feasible for their civilized lifestyles.
transformation and sanctuary
The Fire Realm is a volcanic wasteland, with very little indication of civilized life having ever been established here, except for the occasional metal structure half-sunken into the ever-changing ground. The sky is always a dusky red here with a yellow glow along the horizon, without any semblance of day or night cycles. The realm is extremely volatile, and mostly inhabited by native creatures that are not humanoid demons, as all demons who once called the Fire Realm their home have moved somewhere a bit more feasible for their civilized lifestyles.
transformation and sanctuary
The City Realm
Inhabitants: Incubi/Succubi, Fire Demons
The City Realm is the most abundant of all the realms, both in population and resources.
density and monotony
The City Realm is the most abundant of all the realms, both in population and resources.
density and monotony
The Frost Realm
Inhabitants: Ice Demons
Please note that all The Dragon's Library Encyclopedia entries are based on my own personal UPG and may not reflect yours.
This entry represents the type of Demon I conjure, while other conjurers may not work with the same exact type.
This entry represents the type of Demon I conjure, while other conjurers may not work with the same exact type.