"You might become drained and filled with a sense of dread. Memories of past failures might play before your very eyes" I think there is a demon in my apartment building.
My theory is that demons are merely spirits that have fallen to their own kind of madness and desperation. Lacking worshippers they now stalk the ruins for the stray faith found in wanderers, rather than sit idly by and starve while hoping for supplication.
It occurs to me that sufficiently powerful and experienced demons might attempt to build armies of keepers and launch attacks on spirit shrines. Less ambitious demons might simply attempt to recruit a squad of keepers to hunt down, physically restrain, and capture wanderers- think five keepers chasing just one wanderer.
I imagine some Keepers would use more creative tactics than just simply attacking and dragging targets to their demons, or tricking them by saying "follow me" or smth. Imagine a merchant who sells supplies to travellers - not specifically useless supplies, not actively terrible supplies, but supplies that ensure their target is able to go to the Lair on their own - for demons who live in pits, they sell rope and climbing resources, for demons who live in dark sanctuaries or caves, they sell torches and fuel, and for demons who just wander, they sell food. It would be fun to see some random _guy,_ get some resources and feel safe, maybe be told that a spirit or relic is nearby "In that cave" or "In that totally real temple," only for them to find that the place they are perfectly equipped to journey to is not, in fact, safe.
Oh man, I can just imagine it- a particularly canny demon making its home in a faded spirit shrine, masquerading as a spirit itself, using Keepers to upkeep their lair and lure in prey...
Ive got the feeling that the eternal ruins are a metaphor for our personal life itself. We dont know were we came from we simply were born into this world and wander our own way of life. Spirits and Demons incapsulate the good and bad side of ourselfs and show which potential we could have. While life itself is filled with many people we met.. one can often feel lonely and lost in this huge and sometimes strange times we live in.
I just love the idea of demons who haunt and hurt the spirit. So foreboding and scary. What a great sense of melancholy you've created. I love this world
I just love the mechanic of the demons trageting what lies inside, inciting true FEAR, rather than classic beasts that simply opt to cause physical harm. This makes them so dreadful combined with the fact that neither can their 'attacks' be avoided easily, and neither can they be harmed. Absolute gold worldsbuilding
The subtle nature of the danger they pose fits perfectly with the vibe of the project. You're not in danger of being physically torn to shreds, instead it is your spirit they will break, your will to wander the ruins, to see wonder within ...
Man if I was in the Eternal Ruins, I'd be one of those shrine servants. No way I'm surviving out there on my own lmao Maybe with companions, as I'm really not the type to be alone for long, but meeting others seems to be rare. Amazing video once again, your works are a real treat. :D
5:45 I love this particular score. It perfectly gives the vibe of the eternal ruins and to me has become kinda like the eternal ruins theme song in a way
Gotta agree with the fencing fox. That music is eerie, unique and FULL of character and unbalancing sounds. Makes me think of ancient temples buried in sand on a moonless night. Oooo love it ❤
I really wonder where this is going, i mean once you've presented every aspect of your world, what next then? stories ? This is Really good! but i'm left starving for more each time i finish each of your videos ^^
Good question! I'm starting with the broad strokes and then I'll go more specific. Like you said, I'd love to cover stories set in the ruins once the stage is set.
Amazing video! Absolutely love this project! I was thinking about the question of whether or not the ruins have a center. The answer I think should be yes. But in world this is a shunned topic. For every generation there comes some youth that grow the desire to search for a center. And while most who set out in search of the core soon give up on their pursuit and return to their home tribe, most others are found dead, cursed, or bonded by a demon in time, the rare competant youth is never seen again. Likely they just fell prey to a demon farther out, or got lost and never found their way back home. But some dreamers speak in hushed tones in the quiet of night, imagining that those youth managed to achieve what all else thought was impossible... But surely that is nothing but a fantasy thought up by teenagers during a particularly stircrazy season.
At this point in the Eternal Ruins, I can easily envision a story following a child of stone who seeks to document his findings to assist other wanderers - kind of like Hiccup making discoveries in How to Train Your Dragon. Thanks for this interesting world, keep up the good work!
I wish someday I'll be able to support this incredible project in a more tangible way, but for now I'll leave a like and patiently wait for the next video.
I am sure I'm not the first one to say that but a game set in this universe would be sooo interesting. A exploration game where you just walk around this olace meeting NPCs and encountering demons and spirits. It wouldn't be everyone cup of tea but it would still be interesting
In the first video i had subconsciously head-cannoned that demon were spirits a long time ago but had lost their power/had been wronged in some way. i see now that this is not true for your world (since you mention demons creating their sanctums in shrines of faded spirits, so im assuming you intend to make demons and spirits are entirely separate entities) but maybe u can expand on this route a lil bit in the future?
Beautiful, you should make an alphabet of runes to make it seem more like a civilization used to be there. Maybe we can’t translate some to make it more real!
You’ve managed to make these demons a unique and incredibly haunting, more existential threat, in a personal, poignant way. Incredible work, it matches the feeling you’ve established for the Eternal Ruins greatly. And their lil’ helpers too!
What if you had large underground sections in the eternal ruins? The ruins just reminded me of Hollow Knight and I think that's an excellent place to get inspiration.
One item I thought of is a mask that would basically make you invisible to a demon. Hower the keepers will still be able to see and if a demon becomes aware of yoir existence the demon becomes more determined to hunt you
I like to think the great sprits that passed on after not receiving enough warship become twisted and turn into these evil ever hungry and resentful demons
I think so too. I've been inspired enough to want to make a fan game, but I don't want to infringe anything, so even if I make it, it'll stay on my drive
You know, you have an amazing talent for storytelling. It feels like you grab my hand and walk me through the ruins, showing me the surroundings. I hope that all of this finds its shape, no matter which one (video game, book or both). I wish you good luck, keep up the good work.
This is like a sandbox for stories and character design, i could see this being an incredible setting for a ttrpg! Every new video you post inspires me to create, thank you for sharing with us
i feel like the wanderers wouldn't have much of an identity to erode, or even a sense of hope for the future or escape. if most never congregate they can't really form bonds or attachments that they can lose. it's as if their default state is near despair anyway? idk
I disagree! I think a lot wanderers would reach peace with the solitude. They would form strong bonds with the few wanderers they do happen to meet as well as their possessions, routines and way of life.
This left me wondering... Could there be different types of Demons? For example, some Demons might be born from the despair and fear from Wanderers, which stains the Ruins, while others could be born from fallen Spirits, who have lost too much power to remain as such, and thus become Demons. Just a little curious as I am absolutely LOVING this worldbuilding project. It makes me a way that little other media has, so thank you :D
This channel is ultimate vibes and ultimate melancholy. I love the ruins, I love the wanderers, I feel pity at the demon keepers and dread from the demons themselves. Truly an awesome, vivid world you've built, it always inspires me to go write or draw. It's amazing.
I'm imagining an exceptionally patient Demon that cultivates a quid-pro-quo relationship with people who live in its territory, having learned over many eons to temper its appetite lest it drive its food away. Perhaps such an arrangement would be worth considering for one who is not so keen on wandering.
*The Eternal Ruins: Lore Entry #3: Demons of the Eternal Ruins:* (Full Video Transcript) _"Best to run or hide, Child of Stone, lest you fall to despair."_ “Welcome back to the Eternal Ruins. In this entry, I will speak of demons. What they are, why you should fear them, and how to protect yourself from them. In your time wandering the Eternal Ruins, you will inevitably encounter a demon. You must ready yourself, as demons are the most prominent danger of the ruins. They are beings of emptiness that cause suffering in order to feed and gain power. They always require more and are never sated. If they cannot stay full, then they will grow weak. However a demon that can continue to feast will grow powerful indeed. Demons can be found all over the ruins, stalking the ancient halls for prey. All demons work alone. Their hunger does not allow them to co-exist, as sharing is not an option. I believe that each demon has a territory for hunting in, that they try to constantly expand. There do seem to be rivalries among demons, and I have even heard of them fighting over prey. When they are done hunting, they return to their Sanctum to feed and rest. They have to sleep to increase in power. These Sanctums are often dark and airy spaces. You might see the floor covered in broken pottery and filth from one of its feasts. Some demons even dare to make their sanctums in the forgotten shrines of faded spirits. Demons cannot physically harm us, but we must beware. They can cause great damage to the mind and the soul that will leave us wishing for death. We can sense their presence long before we see them. The shadows might seem darker, and the air more chill. Whispers and upsetting glimpses of images fill the mind. You will have to learn to see the signs if you wish to survive. Their unnatural forms vary widely and can be difficult to comprehend. Demons are otherworldly, but seem to require a physical vessel to inhabit the ruins. This ‘shell’ is often made from matter found from their surroundings, such a cloth, moss, roots or pottery. They do not follow the same rules as us. Demons can distort their size and shape at will, and they can walk, crawl or even float through the ruins. A very foolish wanderer might attempt to fight a demon. While their physical vessel can be damaged or broken, the demon cannot. Our weapons do not seem to truly affect them, like hacking at water. The demon can easily use it’s power to reform it’s shell. Some wanderers whisper of Relics that can affect demons, but if you wish to survive, you are better off running and hiding. If you are very unlucky, you may fall prey to a demon. Their attacks are subtle and insidious. You might become cold, drained and filled with a sense of dread. Memories of past failures might play before your very eyes, swelled by the demon. Vivid nightmares might become reality around you, distorting and bending. The mind can only take so much, and eventually a wanderer will be brought to despair. When a demon brings a wanderer to despair, their mind is broken and their soul is laid bare. This is when the demon feasts. After feasting, a demon will sometimes leave a curse embedded deep in the soul to take root. I think that this curse acts like a parasite, and allows them to constantly drain a wanderer for power. The outward affects of the curses seem to vary, perhaps depending on the nature of the demon? I have met wanderers who have fallen to despair, and it is a sorry sight. They struggle with lingering nightmares and feelings of shames and guilt. They are hollow shells, consumed by hopelessness and anguish, their sense of identity eroded. Though in time they can recover, they are never truly the same. After a wanderer has fallen to despair, a shrewd demon might decide to forgo their feast and instead choose to bind their prey. Binding is a traumatic process that ensnares the wanderer to the Demon as a Keeper. They seem to lose their sense of self, and desire only to please their master. They cannot lie to them without them knowing, and if their master feels pain, they feel it too. The binding process leaves a mark on the hand that signifies the pact. Keepers roam the ruins, seeking to bring back sustenance for their masters. This can involve the drudgery of collecting Dewlets in jars and bringing them back to the Sanctum, or finding and luring Wanderers for their master to feast on. Keepers can also be given some of their master’s power to help them. I can only imagine if that one Keeper would encounter another, that they would fight in their master’s names. If you wish to protect yourself from these foul beings, then heed my words. First of all, you must learn to see the signs of a demon so that you may avoid them entirely. Learn their territory and do not set foot there. Next, you must never stray too far from a Spirit Shrine, lest you have nowhere to run to. If you can, build favor with powerful spirits and seek their protection. One might even seek Relics to help fight off a demon attack. Some hold to wearing masks supposedly crafted from a demon’s shell, said to help avoid a demon’s notice. I don’t not believe in these myself, for I have never heard of a demon dying. I personally hold to the belief of strengthening the mind. I try to cultivate an inner strength through a series of mental routines so that I might resist falling to despair. If you have the opportunity, then travelling with a fellow Wanderer might offer you solidarity in times of peril. However you must be careful. Always check the hands of any wanderer who wishes you to follow them, for they might be Keepers to a demon. And if all this fails, and you find yourself standing before a demon, flee. Flee and do not look back, and when your legs will not carry you anymore, hide. Hide yourself away until the shadows lighten and the chill air warms. When the dread fades, then you may continue your wandering.” That’s all for this video on the Demons of the Ruins. I’ve had a lot of people wonder why demons should be scary if they can’t physically harm you, and I hope this video made clear why they are a threat.
Oh man, I wonder if there's any way a Keeper can break free from their involuntary servitude to their demon master. I love the way these videos are told from an in-universe perspective, making it so that not all the details are known, so questions can still be asked about various aspects. Awesome work as always!
I can't help but think about how similar the demons are to the spirits. That may be intentional it may not be. But i feel they must have similar origins. In my mind though i see them as a sort of fallen spirit that tried to find a new way to survive in the ruins.
Would you discuss the artifacts next? What if there are cursed artifacts that keepers, pretending to be fellow wonders or merchants, try to give to wonders? For example, some demon masks may be an extension of the demon they are made from, and they feed on the wearer as a curse. Even the belief that these masks ward off demons could be a lie spread by keepers.
@@Eternal_ruins Thank you! If you don't mind me asking, what happens if the only way to identify a Keeper is by a mark on their hand, but that hand is cut off? Will the mark move to their other hand? What if both hands are lost will it move to their arm? What if there are curses that affect the body, similar to the one featured in your spirits video? For example, a curse that gradually transforms people into terracotta or one that alters someone's appearance to make them look more monstrous or demon-like. This could lead to individuals being mistaken for keepers or lesser demons, making it difficult for them to access sanctuaries and further isolating them from society. As a result, they may become more vulnerable to despair, which the demon can feed on. However, only spirits or experienced wardens and erudite wonders can recognize the true nature of the affected individuals.
Great work! I am enraptured by your world! it is sooo intriguing. As someone who grew up with ICO, SotC, Zelda and Ghibli, this world really resonates with me! Big fan of The Last Guardian and Hollow Knight too! Also, I figured I'd mention that binging these videos has caused me to die during my Dark Souls farming and I lost a ton of souls 🤣Blaming you for that hahahaha jk jk
Did you work out a backstory for the world yet? Who built the ruins and for what purpose and what happened to their original inhabitants? If so how do you plan for an in universe character to learn about all this naturally?
Yeah I have a lot of pre-ruins history, but I don't think I will reveal any of it. I'd rather have the wanderers explore the remnants of that time and have that history be felt rather than told.
@@Eternal_ruinsthat’s so much better, show don’t tell. Let the story unfold slowly and naturally. You are crafting stunningly beautiful work, thank you.
@@Eternal_ruins As long as there are enough hints to give us a solid understand while leaving enough gaps to evoke one'e imagination like say the soulsborne games that will be great
@@GILGAMESH069I dunno, that's part of the charm of it. What was before the ruins? Who knows, the mystery is so captivating that it just drives you deeper. Never knowing the ruin's origins fits into that feeling of loneliness, searching for answers that will never be answered, looking for a purpose that will never be found in an endless maze of ruins. That's what Eternal Ruins is about. Personally, I never want to find out. Then it just ruins the charm of it all.
I like the touch of wanderers who have fallen prey to demons essentially being robbed of their self-love and security. It's not an obvious choice from a writing perspective as far as dangers go, but it's sinister in a subtle and potent way.
Between spirits and Demons it would seem physical weapons are seldom needed aside from fending off a demon aligned keeper. Are there other threats in the ruins that a regular sword could wound?
Incredible designs that are reminiscent of eldritch horror but have been stamped with your own special brand of art that makes it all look so wonderful and mysterious and whimsical yet with danger lurking. And throughout it all a sense of loneliness and isolation. Amazing.
Yayy, a new entry! Your art is so atmospheric and inspiring, I forgot about the reality for the time of the vid I would probably be among the foolishly brave to try to fight, not with weapons, but with my sheer will
Very neat concept, that despite the fact that they cant hurt you physically, the mental and inner suffering can be just as damning. Interesting, and relevant to the times we live in. Love the atmosphere, keep it up!
Am I witnessing the birth of a new type of content? As soon as videos get inspiration from this, I can see it blowing up. I mean, just think about new UA-cam. Maybe we'll all look back and see how brokenly fast paced our videos were? I am all for it.
Tip: the voice audio is a bit quieter than the music, or harder to make out (I'm not sure which but there's some problem that makes it a bit harder to hear you). Love your art.
I wonder why demons bother fighting over food and are in danger of starvation if they cannot die🤔 perhaps they seek a more pleasurable existence, which could be as simple as not being hungry for a time.
God I'm so obsessed I have been doing a worldbuilding project like this but is has no direction and right now it's just 100s of funny little guys that all vaguely fit into a universe with almost no writing about them
"You might become drained and filled with a sense of dread. Memories of past failures might play before your very eyes" I think there is a demon in my apartment building.
That's depressing
@@KrunchWorld thats depression
that's depressing
That’s depressing
That's depressing
My theory is that demons are merely spirits that have fallen to their own kind of madness and desperation. Lacking worshippers they now stalk the ruins for the stray faith found in wanderers, rather than sit idly by and starve while hoping for supplication.
I just said the same thing
Me, opening yt:
"Ah, eternal ruins."
*scrolls further
*stops
*scrOLLS BACK AT LIGHTING SPEED
"ETERNAL RUINS-"
THAT WAS LITERALLY ME
heh, comedy
Lmao, me when I got the notification
I love the point of view in which we are told about the ruins, as if it's from someone who has actually visited
Me too!!!
eternal ruins? more like based and super cool worldbuilding project
fr
It occurs to me that sufficiently powerful and experienced demons might attempt to build armies of keepers and launch attacks on spirit shrines.
Less ambitious demons might simply attempt to recruit a squad of keepers to hunt down, physically restrain, and capture wanderers- think five keepers chasing just one wanderer.
That’s a good idea actually. Pack hunters
maybe, but i definitely expect there to be some sort of limit to how many they can recruit
So competitive cults basically
I imagine some Keepers would use more creative tactics than just simply attacking and dragging targets to their demons, or tricking them by saying "follow me" or smth. Imagine a merchant who sells supplies to travellers - not specifically useless supplies, not actively terrible supplies, but supplies that ensure their target is able to go to the Lair on their own - for demons who live in pits, they sell rope and climbing resources, for demons who live in dark sanctuaries or caves, they sell torches and fuel, and for demons who just wander, they sell food.
It would be fun to see some random _guy,_ get some resources and feel safe, maybe be told that a spirit or relic is nearby "In that cave" or "In that totally real temple," only for them to find that the place they are perfectly equipped to journey to is not, in fact, safe.
Never clicked on a video so fast in my life 🔥🔥
lol, same. It’s very understandable tho ❤
Same bro, these things are gold
Same here
Same
I indeed agree. SAME
Oh man, I can just imagine it- a particularly canny demon making its home in a faded spirit shrine, masquerading as a spirit itself, using Keepers to upkeep their lair and lure in prey...
i can imagine a keeper luring a new wanderer to a demon, saying its a spirit.
This is why you check the hands for Demon marks
Ive got the feeling that the eternal ruins are a metaphor for our personal life itself. We dont know were we came from we simply were born into this world and wander our own way of life. Spirits and Demons incapsulate the good and bad side of ourselfs and show which potential we could have. While life itself is filled with many people we met.. one can often feel lonely and lost in this huge and sometimes strange times we live in.
I just love the idea of demons who haunt and hurt the spirit. So foreboding and scary. What a great sense of melancholy you've created. I love this world
ahh yes, the demons! There should really be tour guides in this place!
Im gonna save these videos and make it some kind of a bedtime story for my child when the time comes.
If you like this project, don't forget to like the video. It helps a lot with the algorithm.
I just love the mechanic of the demons trageting what lies inside, inciting true FEAR, rather than classic beasts that simply opt to cause physical harm. This makes them so dreadful combined with the fact that neither can their 'attacks' be avoided easily, and neither can they be harmed.
Absolute gold worldsbuilding
Someone made his homework. The sounds for the atmossphere really dig you deep in the experience.
This just keeps getting better and better.
Hmm, so demons can't physically hurt Wanderer's, but would Keeper's be able to using their master's power?
Yes absolutely.
@@Eternal_ruins Wow, then meeting a Keeper is really just as bad as meeting their demon counterpart. Great video as always!
Where does light come from to grow the plant life? Is there a sky that can be seen through the cracks of the ruin's ceilings?
Light can be from coming from above in certain areas, though it's hard to see any sky. Endless marching upwards seem to lead no closer to it though.
The subtle nature of the danger they pose fits perfectly with the vibe of the project. You're not in danger of being physically torn to shreds, instead it is your spirit they will break, your will to wander the ruins, to see wonder within ...
Man if I was in the Eternal Ruins, I'd be one of those shrine servants. No way I'm surviving out there on my own lmao
Maybe with companions, as I'm really not the type to be alone for long, but meeting others seems to be rare.
Amazing video once again, your works are a real treat. :D
5:45 I love this particular score. It perfectly gives the vibe of the eternal ruins and to me has become kinda like the eternal ruins theme song in a way
Do you know the name by chance? Its my favorite!
@@jadenmajors4481”Wanderers Rest” by mihau. There is a link to their channel in the description of the video.
I love that this is presented as a survival guide.
Amaizing as always!! Thanks for using my music!!
Thank you for making it!
Your music is amazing💚
@@TheFencingFox Thank you!! 🥹🥹
Gotta agree with the fencing fox. That music is eerie, unique and FULL of character and unbalancing sounds. Makes me think of ancient temples buried in sand on a moonless night. Oooo love it ❤
I love the Ghibli / Koh the face stealer vibes
The humans seem way too cute for this grim world
I really wonder where this is going, i mean once you've presented every aspect of your world, what next then? stories ? This is Really good! but i'm left starving for more each time i finish each of your videos ^^
Good question! I'm starting with the broad strokes and then I'll go more specific. Like you said, I'd love to cover stories set in the ruins once the stage is set.
@@Eternal_ruins Aww, Sweet! I can't wait!
I discovered just today the Eternal Ruins, and I'm already a huge fan of it. So happy that I have a new video!!!
Welcome, hope you enjoy it!
Amazing video! Absolutely love this project!
I was thinking about the question of whether or not the ruins have a center. The answer I think should be yes. But in world this is a shunned topic. For every generation there comes some youth that grow the desire to search for a center. And while most who set out in search of the core soon give up on their pursuit and return to their home tribe, most others are found dead, cursed, or bonded by a demon in time, the rare competant youth is never seen again. Likely they just fell prey to a demon farther out, or got lost and never found their way back home. But some dreamers speak in hushed tones in the quiet of night, imagining that those youth managed to achieve what all else thought was impossible... But surely that is nothing but a fantasy thought up by teenagers during a particularly stircrazy season.
At this point in the Eternal Ruins, I can easily envision a story following a child of stone who seeks to document his findings to assist other wanderers - kind of like Hiccup making discoveries in How to Train Your Dragon. Thanks for this interesting world, keep up the good work!
I'm so glad I stumbled upon your first video a few weeks ago, I love seeing and listening to other people's worldbuilding projects :D
I wish someday I'll be able to support this incredible project in a more tangible way, but for now I'll leave a like and patiently wait for the next video.
Thanks, appreciate any support you can give!
I am sure I'm not the first one to say that but a game set in this universe would be sooo interesting. A exploration game where you just walk around this olace meeting NPCs and encountering demons and spirits. It wouldn't be everyone cup of tea but it would still be interesting
"Memories of past failures might play before your eyes" literally me when I try to fall asleep 😭
In the first video i had subconsciously head-cannoned that demon were spirits a long time ago but had lost their power/had been wronged in some way. i see now that this is not true for your world (since you mention demons creating their sanctums in shrines of faded spirits, so im assuming you intend to make demons and spirits are entirely separate entities) but maybe u can expand on this route a lil bit in the future?
Beautiful, you should make an alphabet of runes to make it seem more like a civilization used to be there. Maybe we can’t translate some to make it more real!
You’ve managed to make these demons a unique and incredibly haunting, more existential threat, in a personal, poignant way. Incredible work, it matches the feeling you’ve established for the Eternal Ruins greatly. And their lil’ helpers too!
What if you had large underground sections in the eternal ruins? The ruins just reminded me of Hollow Knight and I think that's an excellent place to get inspiration.
Gosh that's evil. They don't just eat people like typical demons but constantly feed on their victims for as long as they live.
Your character design and story telling is fascinating! I adore your concept of the demons and how they work in your world.
One item I thought of is a mask that would basically make you invisible to a demon. Hower the keepers will still be able to see and if a demon becomes aware of yoir existence the demon becomes more determined to hunt you
I like to think the great sprits that passed on after not receiving enough warship become twisted and turn into these evil ever hungry and resentful demons
I low-key want to cry for the ensnared keepers ... 😢
So to fight away a demon, you must be mentally chill af. Got it.
This would be such a cool ttrpg setting or perhaps a solo journaling rpg
This has so much potential to be adapted into a fine game.
Literally, or a mini series, like made in abyss
I think so too. I've been inspired enough to want to make a fan game, but I don't want to infringe anything, so even if I make it, it'll stay on my drive
You know, you have an amazing talent for storytelling. It feels like you grab my hand and walk me through the ruins, showing me the surroundings. I hope that all of this finds its shape, no matter which one (video game, book or both).
I wish you good luck, keep up the good work.
I hope this get to become a survival RPG someday
show what the cities and villages are like, and if they have crops and how they eat
This is like a sandbox for stories and character design, i could see this being an incredible setting for a ttrpg! Every new video you post inspires me to create, thank you for sharing with us
Inner strength. It’s important to have a strong sense of self even in the real world.
Love listening to your videos. Thanks for sharing more about your lore!!
Glad you like them! Thanks for watching
i feel like the wanderers wouldn't have much of an identity to erode, or even a sense of hope for the future or escape. if most never congregate they can't really form bonds or attachments that they can lose. it's as if their default state is near despair anyway? idk
I disagree! I think a lot wanderers would reach peace with the solitude. They would form strong bonds with the few wanderers they do happen to meet as well as their possessions, routines and way of life.
I love your work so much, thank you so much for making it available to see to the public
Brother you can cook, keep on cooking
love your stuff pls keep uploadinggggg
I hope this ends up being like a game, a movie, a book or something. Love ur work sm
This left me wondering... Could there be different types of Demons? For example, some Demons might be born from the despair and fear from Wanderers, which stains the Ruins, while others could be born from fallen Spirits, who have lost too much power to remain as such, and thus become Demons.
Just a little curious as I am absolutely LOVING this worldbuilding project. It makes me a way that little other media has, so thank you :D
Why is every one of these videos so amazing and fascinating. I'm addicted
This channel is ultimate vibes and ultimate melancholy. I love the ruins, I love the wanderers, I feel pity at the demon keepers and dread from the demons themselves. Truly an awesome, vivid world you've built, it always inspires me to go write or draw. It's amazing.
I'm imagining an exceptionally patient Demon that cultivates a quid-pro-quo relationship with people who live in its territory, having learned over many eons to temper its appetite lest it drive its food away. Perhaps such an arrangement would be worth considering for one who is not so keen on wandering.
*The Eternal Ruins: Lore Entry #3: Demons of the Eternal Ruins:* (Full Video Transcript)
_"Best to run or hide, Child of Stone, lest you fall to despair."_
“Welcome back to the Eternal Ruins. In this entry, I will speak of demons. What they are, why you should fear them, and how to protect yourself from them.
In your time wandering the Eternal Ruins, you will inevitably encounter a demon. You must ready yourself, as demons are the most prominent danger of the ruins. They are beings of emptiness that cause suffering in order to feed and gain power. They always require more and are never sated. If they cannot stay full, then they will grow weak. However a demon that can continue to feast will grow powerful indeed.
Demons can be found all over the ruins, stalking the ancient halls for prey. All demons work alone. Their hunger does not allow them to co-exist, as sharing is not an option. I believe that each demon has a territory for hunting in, that they try to constantly expand. There do seem to be rivalries among demons, and I have even heard of them fighting over prey.
When they are done hunting, they return to their Sanctum to feed and rest. They have to sleep to increase in power. These Sanctums are often dark and airy spaces. You might see the floor covered in broken pottery and filth from one of its feasts. Some demons even dare to make their sanctums in the forgotten shrines of faded spirits.
Demons cannot physically harm us, but we must beware. They can cause great damage to the mind and the soul that will leave us wishing for death. We can sense their presence long before we see them. The shadows might seem darker, and the air more chill. Whispers and upsetting glimpses of images fill the mind. You will have to learn to see the signs if you wish to survive.
Their unnatural forms vary widely and can be difficult to comprehend. Demons are otherworldly, but seem to require a physical vessel to inhabit the ruins. This ‘shell’ is often made from matter found from their surroundings, such a cloth, moss, roots or pottery. They do not follow the same rules as us. Demons can distort their size and shape at will, and they can walk, crawl or even float through the ruins. A very foolish wanderer might attempt to fight a demon. While their physical vessel can be damaged or broken, the demon cannot. Our weapons do not seem to truly affect them, like hacking at water. The demon can easily use it’s power to reform it’s shell. Some wanderers whisper of Relics that can affect demons, but if you wish to survive, you are better off running and hiding.
If you are very unlucky, you may fall prey to a demon. Their attacks are subtle and insidious. You might become cold, drained and filled with a sense of dread. Memories of past failures might play before your very eyes, swelled by the demon. Vivid nightmares might become reality around you, distorting and bending. The mind can only take so much, and eventually a wanderer will be brought to despair. When a demon brings a wanderer to despair, their mind is broken and their soul is laid bare. This is when the demon feasts. After feasting, a demon will sometimes leave a curse embedded deep in the soul to take root. I think that this curse acts like a parasite, and allows them to constantly drain a wanderer for power. The outward affects of the curses seem to vary, perhaps depending on the nature of the demon? I have met wanderers who have fallen to despair, and it is a sorry sight. They struggle with lingering nightmares and feelings of shames and guilt. They are hollow shells, consumed by hopelessness and anguish, their sense of identity eroded. Though in time they can recover, they are never truly the same.
After a wanderer has fallen to despair, a shrewd demon might decide to forgo their feast and instead choose to bind their prey. Binding is a traumatic process that ensnares the wanderer to the Demon as a Keeper. They seem to lose their sense of self, and desire only to please their master. They cannot lie to them without them knowing, and if their master feels pain, they feel it too. The binding process leaves a mark on the hand that signifies the pact. Keepers roam the ruins, seeking to bring back sustenance for their masters. This can involve the drudgery of collecting Dewlets in jars and bringing them back to the Sanctum, or finding and luring Wanderers for their master to feast on. Keepers can also be given some of their master’s power to help them. I can only imagine if that one Keeper would encounter another, that they would fight in their master’s names.
If you wish to protect yourself from these foul beings, then heed my words. First of all, you must learn to see the signs of a demon so that you may avoid them entirely. Learn their territory and do not set foot there. Next, you must never stray too far from a Spirit Shrine, lest you have nowhere to run to. If you can, build favor with powerful spirits and seek their protection. One might even seek Relics to help fight off a demon attack. Some hold to wearing masks supposedly crafted from a demon’s shell, said to help avoid a demon’s notice. I don’t not believe in these myself, for I have never heard of a demon dying. I personally hold to the belief of strengthening the mind. I try to cultivate an inner strength through a series of mental routines so that I might resist falling to despair. If you have the opportunity, then travelling with a fellow Wanderer might offer you solidarity in times of peril. However you must be careful. Always check the hands of any wanderer who wishes you to follow them, for they might be Keepers to a demon. And if all this fails, and you find yourself standing before a demon, flee. Flee and do not look back, and when your legs will not carry you anymore, hide. Hide yourself away until the shadows lighten and the chill air warms. When the dread fades, then you may continue your wandering.”
That’s all for this video on the Demons of the Ruins. I’ve had a lot of people wonder why demons should be scary if they can’t physically harm you, and I hope this video made clear why they are a threat.
Thanks, I need this for the Fandom wiki
@@KrunchWorld my plan is to transcribe every video as they come out. I've already done the other videos. I'm glad it is useful.
Oh man, I wonder if there's any way a Keeper can break free from their involuntary servitude to their demon master. I love the way these videos are told from an in-universe perspective, making it so that not all the details are known, so questions can still be asked about various aspects. Awesome work as always!
These are extremely comforting … 😊 please continue on, and on …
damn i think youve just described irl emotional abusers and cptsd
I can't help but think about how similar the demons are to the spirits. That may be intentional it may not be. But i feel they must have similar origins. In my mind though i see them as a sort of fallen spirit that tried to find a new way to survive in the ruins.
Would you discuss the artifacts next? What if there are cursed artifacts that keepers, pretending to be fellow wonders or merchants, try to give to wonders? For example, some demon masks may be an extension of the demon they are made from, and they feed on the wearer as a curse. Even the belief that these masks ward off demons could be a lie spread by keepers.
Very cool idea! Will be doing a video on relics in the future
@@Eternal_ruins Thank you! If you don't mind me asking, what happens if the only way to identify a Keeper is by a mark on their hand, but that hand is cut off? Will the mark move to their other hand? What if both hands are lost will it move to their arm?
What if there are curses that affect the body, similar to the one featured in your spirits video? For example, a curse that gradually transforms people into terracotta or one that alters someone's appearance to make them look more monstrous or demon-like. This could lead to individuals being mistaken for keepers or lesser demons, making it difficult for them to access sanctuaries and further isolating them from society. As a result, they may become more vulnerable to despair, which the demon can feed on. However, only spirits or experienced wardens and erudite wonders can recognize the true nature of the affected individuals.
Great work! I am enraptured by your world! it is sooo intriguing. As someone who grew up with ICO, SotC, Zelda and Ghibli, this world really resonates with me! Big fan of The Last Guardian and Hollow Knight too!
Also, I figured I'd mention that binging these videos has caused me to die during my Dark Souls farming and I lost a ton of souls 🤣Blaming you for that hahahaha jk jk
The style is a bif diffrent in someways reminds me of very new modern works but also cartoons from the 40s to 50s.
go Sam go!
I seriously look forward to these being released!
incredible writing and storytelling, i'm glad i found this hidden gem
THE DEPRESSIONATOR 9000
Your lore and world building is fantastic!
Nice video video man, never disappointed
Did you work out a backstory for the world yet? Who built the ruins and for what purpose and what happened to their original inhabitants? If so how do you plan for an in universe character to learn about all this naturally?
Yeah I have a lot of pre-ruins history, but I don't think I will reveal any of it. I'd rather have the wanderers explore the remnants of that time and have that history be felt rather than told.
@@Eternal_ruinsthat’s so much better, show don’t tell. Let the story unfold slowly and naturally. You are crafting stunningly beautiful work, thank you.
@@Eternal_ruins
As long as there are enough hints to give us a solid understand while leaving enough gaps to evoke one'e imagination like say the soulsborne games that will be great
@@GILGAMESH069I dunno, that's part of the charm of it. What was before the ruins? Who knows, the mystery is so captivating that it just drives you deeper. Never knowing the ruin's origins fits into that feeling of loneliness, searching for answers that will never be answered, looking for a purpose that will never be found in an endless maze of ruins. That's what Eternal Ruins is about. Personally, I never want to find out. Then it just ruins the charm of it all.
So, are demons not actually able to destroy a wanderer in any way? They cannot eat the entire soul, leaving only a corpse behind?
They could, but then they’d remove a valuable source of food. Maybe some greedy ones do it anyway.
@@Eternal_ruinsI kinda think of dementors from Harry Potter
LOVE all Eternal Ruins videos!
I like the touch of wanderers who have fallen prey to demons essentially being robbed of their self-love and security. It's not an obvious choice from a writing perspective as far as dangers go, but it's sinister in a subtle and potent way.
I love how you made them unable to cause physical harm. Makes it much more interesting.
Stranger, your words, the music, the intent, it brings forth tears.
Between spirits and Demons it would seem physical weapons are seldom needed aside from fending off a demon aligned keeper. Are there other threats in the ruins that a regular sword could wound?
Yes, there are other Wanderers, as well as Servitors. There’ll probably be others too down the line, just starting with the big stuff for now
As someone that has absolutely no talent as an artist, it is so amazing to see how world building works from an artists perspective. Its fascinating.
I love the sense of dread the demons create! So eerie yet cool!
LETS GOOOO!!!, this is the video ive been most hyped about!!!
this needs to be a GAME :D
Incredible designs that are reminiscent of eldritch horror but have been stamped with your own special brand of art that makes it all look so wonderful and mysterious and whimsical yet with danger lurking. And throughout it all a sense of loneliness and isolation. Amazing.
Yayy, a new entry! Your art is so atmospheric and inspiring, I forgot about the reality for the time of the vid
I would probably be among the foolishly brave to try to fight, not with weapons, but with my sheer will
Ah, and can I send you Fan Art at any other way than discord?
You can always email me if you prefer.
Very neat concept, that despite the fact that they cant hurt you physically, the mental and inner suffering can be just as damning. Interesting, and relevant to the times we live in. Love the atmosphere, keep it up!
I absolutely am in love with this world building project
Your narration always makes my imagination get lost in the Ruins, it is very relaxing and inspiring.
please do not stop making more for this world and this video series, these are so amazingly well written and illustrated
Am I witnessing the birth of a new type of content?
As soon as videos get inspiration from this, I can see it blowing up.
I mean, just think about new UA-cam. Maybe we'll all look back and see how brokenly fast paced our videos were? I am all for it.
Well, other videos do exist with their own world building.
These time lapse production videos are so illuminating. Thank you!
Tip: the voice audio is a bit quieter than the music, or harder to make out (I'm not sure which but there's some problem that makes it a bit harder to hear you). Love your art.
Thanks! Still learning about mixing the audio. Tried not boosting the voice so much, but I should probably lower the music a bit if it’s hard to hear.
I wonder why demons bother fighting over food and are in danger of starvation if they cannot die🤔 perhaps they seek a more pleasurable existence, which could be as simple as not being hungry for a time.
God I'm so obsessed I have been doing a worldbuilding project like this but is has no direction and right now it's just 100s of funny little guys that all vaguely fit into a universe with almost no writing about them
Come for the art and storytelling; stay for the whole ass therapy session.