Re-imaging hell

[Jürgen Hubert]

I'm currently in the process of moving Urbis to yet another site after the current one hasn't worked out as I've hoped. This time, I'm putting the whole thing into a Wiki format. Only a minority of stuff has been ported over, but I'm slowly getting there...

And while I'm at it, I'm also redesigning some parts and writing new material to make it all fit better with D&D 4E. One of the most recent additions has been the introduction of the Urbis equivalent of the "Nine Hells" - the home plane of the devils. I've called it "Sheol", and you can read more about it here - basically, it's one huge mountain consisting of the petrified remains of dead devils.

Furthermore, since the 4E GSL does not list any specific types of devils, I came up with an entirely new description for them as well. You can read it here - essentially, devils are parasites and predators feasting on repressed desires and mortal souls.


Any feedback on these elements would be greatly appreciated!

[Biohazard]

Very interesting. The material you have says much about consequence, attrition, pollution, and the like, which is fitting for a world of cities. Whether that was your intention or not I think it serves your setting well.

[Jürgen Hubert]

Well, part of it was intention, part of it was happy accident.

Throughout much of the history of Christian Europe, morality was considered something absolute - there was Good and Evil, Right and Wrong. Sure, there was no shortage of hypocrites who thought the rules didn't apply to them, but all in all it was pretty clear how you were supposed to behave, even if most people didn't live up to it.

Then, in the 19th century, science got a huge boost and suddenly people were questioning everything - even the origin of humanity itself. If humans were descended from apes, then how do concepts of Good and Evil fit into all this? According to Darwinist thought, aren't we all just products of our environment?

That's what I attempted to do with the devils of Urbis. From a traditional perspective, it may look as if they are Evil Incarnate - but they are what they are and do what they do for reason that have little to do with "spreading evil" and all with gaining personal power. This changes little for innocents who stand in their way - they are still cruel, manipulative, soul-eating monsters - but the abstract morality of most religions doesn't really fit, once you understand them better.

And their very existence is a dilemma. People will always think about transgressing society's rules, whatever they might be. But on the other hand, society cannot function without rules, either. Thus, new devils will constantly spring into existence and plague humanity - so how do you fight their whole species?

[Jürgen Hubert]

I've also came up with a basic concept for the realm of the demons, which you can read about it here. Basically, it's based on an inversion of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life.

I haven't developed in too much detail though, so any suggestions are welcome. Basically, I see devils in Urbis as parasites - but demons as forces of destruction and annihilation. Devils act evil because that's the only way for them to get ahead. Demons destroy things because that's an inherent part of their own nature.