Author: Anonymous

Overview

Mortals can find themselves the underworld through a variety of means. Typically, this process is reached through the help of a demon. In a futile attempt from granting even more mortals access to the realms of the dead, this guide will omit the methods one can take to enter the underworld without first losing their life.

How are Mortals Different to the Souls of the Dead?

In contrast to the souls of the dead, the souls of yet living mortals are capable of enacting fundamental change in the underworld. The best understanding of why this is the case comes from our admittedly spotty knowledge of The Aether. It seems that living mortal souls are connecting in a much stronger way to this mirror image of reality and as such, can direct their wills to much higher ends to that of the dead.
One place in which this truth is revealed comes from the slaying of demons and the bestowment of final rest to the dead. When the dead fight each other or demons, the absolute the best they can hope for is that they temporarily banish the creature that they were fighting. Although this will sometimes occur when mortals fight the same foes, mortals can banish souls completely. A demon killed by a mortal in the proper way will be gone forever, the fragment of soul brought to life by their creator returned to the aether.

Dangers Faced by Mortals in the Underworld

Although powerful in the underworld, any mortals that find themselves here should be careful. If a mortal is to die in the underworld, their soul is returned to the aether immediately. The practical upshot of this is that a mortal who dies in Hell does not get to enjoy the afterlife, they simply cease to be.
Mortals who enter the underworld by means of a contract bear a glowing mark somewhere on their body. Typically, these marks are covered as advertising one's mortality is amongst the fastest ways of losing one's life in the underworld. This advice should be followed universally although there can be exceptions.