The Who What When Where
Setting
I put the characters ahead of detailing the setting in the comic, because it's just that casual to them. There is an interlude comic planned that speaks and illustrates this, but if you want to know now, here you go.
The lines between heaven, hell and earth are not as solidly drawn as you would expect. Dis was once a level of hell where arch-heretics burned internally in coffins. Now, it's a island nation in the Pacific ocean. Funny how things happen like that.
Its transformation from hell city to urban center came because the strange atmosphere between the demons and those they tortured. Both defied the laws of Heaven, but obliviously one side had the upperhand. The archheretics were curious things to some demons, who saw themselves in these humans. Dis became a gathering point for demons, where they often neglected their work for social calls. The fires were not always kept their hottest, and many of the souls were transfered to other realms of Hell, according to other sins, to make room for the demons' leisure. Gradually, the city grew in the image of earthy cities, with twisted mockeries of man made structures.
Dis lost its shape as a realm of torture, and better mirrored earthly shapes with each new addition. Its ties to the infernal realm weakened so greatly that the city manifested, slowly, on the physical plane as a Pacific island covered in structures made from volcanic rock. The denizens often reflect on this as being a time when the city awoke and chose to resituate itself, but its sentience has not reasserted itself or even been fully prooven.
Demons welcomed their half-human spawn to a place that best suits their dual natures as infernal and mortal creatures. The demonkin moved to live among their kind and their parents, and helped better shape the city in the image of human habitations. Many demonkin felt the pull to the location, without being told or invited to Dis. The broods of Lilith came as hordes, building and providing to expand the city to hold them.
The city remained off the map for humans well into the middle of the 20th century. Their minds and eyes could not see the city that crawled and swelled with their nightmares that lived almost like any other nation. However, the rise of Occult Science as a practice to enhance humans, recreating them as powerful beings and living weapons, caused attention to be drawn to Dis.
The creations felt a pull to the island, much like the demonkin had, and felt awkward in their nations that demanded their lives and free will. They immigrated to Dis, leaving their nations of birth often in violent escapes. Their creators looked to where they had fled, and saw for the first time what they had thought impossible.
They saw an island where human appearances were often just a mask over frightening powers. They spoke of taking back their creations by force, but soon dropped their threats. They feared the island too greatly, not knowing how to deal with or even threaten its denizens. They marked the island on their maps to know where to avoid. The nations of the world sealed themselves away from Dis and continue to refuse to establish a long lasting communications system, let alone political ties, agreements or trades. The largest step the rest of the world has made to acknowledge Dis was building an artifical reef out of concrete and wreckage to better limit any mixing of the very separate cultures.
Dis did not mind the cold shoulder, and many were content to be left alone. The city's older and more powerful demons declared the island to be the Dominion of Dis, and formed a competitive hierarchy of decision makers who poorly mirrored any organized government. The humans who were altered or made by Occult Science slowly integrated into Dis' society, providing some services as their powers allowed.
Politics remain mostly in the hands of full blooded demons, but a few of the Sub-Creations have muscled their way into the scene. There is no justice system to protect the island, except for volunteers who define their own morals. The only system of laws applies only to the demons, and the most important of these rules is that no temptation, bartering or endangerment of souls may happen between or to people from Dis or standing on its soil. This strictly (and swiftly) enforced code is a way of respecting the demonkin, and preventing feuds between demons. No demon will tempt the purest of souls, lest he discover his victim is the lover or descendant of a more powerful demon. The rest of the population is expect to look out for itself. Many of the Sub-Creations feel a desire to help and protect, but most people rely on only friends or themselves for protection. Fear keeps most from committing offenses that might draw attention from powerful and blood thirsty things.
It can be a frightening place, but most get over the dread and accept it as home. Whatever drew them to the location keeps them there, and few dream of other shores. Hell on earth isn't such an unwelcoming thing to them.
Check out the info on the races in Dis
©2004 E.R.Riggs Make the world a better place and don't steal.