Yes, it is hard. Unless you are in the Abyss...in which case it is much easier.

This is one reason demons enjoy proxy fights as much as the deities. Far better to wage war on foreign planes where it's very hard to permanently loose your entire army.

So as you can imagine, demons don't like combat in the Abyss...thus for all the various ego maniacs running around and all the drama and conflict of the court...the Abyss itself has been quite peaceful for the last several thousand years. Everyone has pretty much agreed to "take their fights outside" so to speak.

This will actually get a good amount of discussion in book ii, and then I fear it may come home to roost in book iii.

Well, much like for humans, a brawl generally does not involve a desire to kill.

This actually goes back to the discussions about ruined buildings.

Demons do get in fights, a lot, but generally not fight to the deaths. Usually we just want to kick butt on each other.

So to clarify, I was talking more about wars between the demon princes and arch demons. Those did happen but not so much recently as you will learn in book 2.

Now, that being said...this ties into the activities of one really nasty demoness in book 2.
In a case we discover, she's not playing by these rules and is in the business of killing demons she doesn't like. Of course, no one knows she's doing this (except those getting killed)

But yes, demons are still very hard to kill in the Abyss, we regenerate and so we can brawl very often and very hard.

And as for off plane, completely correct. But we are talking about some greater greater demons, most archdemons and all princes in this case...war again.

Again, hitting close to home on book 2 here...

All that being said, I do note a large number of people trying to, or wishing to, do me harm. I've never understood that. I'm thinking they must be very antisocial...you know the stereotype of the grumpy old demon waving his cane and shouting "get off of my dungeon you young whipper snappers!"

Although I have never actually, ok may be a few times, but not that often, gone into someones dungeon and started playing with their whips and snapping them in the air or at people.

Well usually, all the same rules apply to humans getting killed at to demons, it's just demons are more resilient and regenerate.

However, big strong demons can hold smaller demons down and do damage to them faster than they can regenerate or use a prison to hold them. I get you in a locked room...think of Rupert dismantling the demon guard that Exador had put upon his lab. If that had been in the Abyss, the little demon would have had to escape the room physically and run away from Rupert before Rupert dismembered him.

As it was, he knew escape was going to be very difficult, so he sort of stood there and took his medicine, knowing that it would be extremely painful, but that he would live. In the Abyss, he'd have tried to escape.

It's really no different than with humans, just harder.

However, there are some "rules" by which I mean societal understandings that that sort of thing isn't normally done, or is only done with the approval of a higher up. Think of it like the mob.

If I kill your henchdemon, you might retaliate by killing one of my henchdemon. These are societal rules, not unlike feudal or mob rules.

This is one reason for a demon to swear loyalty to a higher up. For protection. Not all demons do this though.

Boggy and I are generally independent.

Antefalken is nominally in Lilith's camp. Not officially, but unofficially. So for example if one of Sammael's people permanently killed Antefalken without Lilith's permission, she would likely see this as an affront and retaliate. If some nobody from the outback killed him who she had never heard of, she probably wouldn't care too much. However, if said nobody from the Outbacks killed someone sworn to her, she would seek retribution.

The point being, killing other demons permanently is seriously frowned upon. Killing a vassal of someone else is a crime at least to the point that the liege can enact justice/retribution. Independents who kill each other get bad reputations and are shunned and maybe taken down themselves if they become a big enough problem.

As far as the Concordenax...well that is something I can't answer without serious spoilers. But hypothetically, assuming the presence of said Demon All Father, perhaps he doesn't care? Maybe he's a very Darwinian sort, survival of the strongest?

But I will say, these current accords, or at least the "no wars in the Abyss" thing is something that emerged post a pivotal event that is critical to book 2 and that happened thousands of years ago. It is also reflective of why you haven't been introduced to too many demons older than about 3000 or 4000 years old.

Boggy and Antefalken are both less than 1000. Younger than most elves.

Lilith is old, but don't tell her I said so. Ramses is about as old as you might think, given his name. Similar for Exador.

As to how old some of the rest of us are, that will be much clearer in book 2 as we spend quite a bit of time in the Abyss. And we also spend a lot more time in Astlan with people of long lived races who have memories that go back a long way (big surprise: elves can be very old).

Only a of the new characters introduced are "currently human"

Welcome George as a fellow fanatic of the book.

By the way it becomes a tradition here to sign your name in blood red text if you want to beta read the next book. Its a contract for Tizzy to own your soul.

Yes George Demon, you must sign in blood!!!!! bwah hah hah hah

Not sure there is a method other than dogged persistance, if you are in a three dimensional battle with demons in all directions it can be hard to run away, opponents can gang up on you etc. Plus, there may be big demons using WMD's etc

Yes, Tom is "independent" I have to use the quotes to maintain consistency with book 3.

Tizzy and/or T-A-G could you perhaps answer this.

Now that Tom could take over the priests through the mana-links from the blessed arrows can he not take control of his accursed master through their link? I started reading the book again, to prepare for the beta(when? soon?) and when he discovered the cord between himself and Lenamare it got me thinking.

I know you've gotten this alot but now that were getting closer to spring do you perhaps have a firmer idea as to when you may release book 2 ?

Thanks

Welcome to the club, don't worry though since Tizzy is no doubt enjoying the suffering of the fans. I bet it's his favorite past time, watching us scream and moan about the release, knowing full well he has all the answers. So close yet so far.

Hmmm. Any plan B if the cover isn't delivered?

And since T-A-G wants a consistent style for the art...he would have put down a payment for book iii...if he knew what the title was...

technically the artist doesn't need to know that, but he'd like the title and the picture to sort of align.

He has some great ideas, but he can't bring them up until all the beta demons have beta read (due to spoilers) and then they can add their own to the list and then vote on the title of book iii.