A while ago we had a similar thread, and I've always admired the creativity that comes with this sort of thing. So let's discuss existing or original concepts then.
Fates worse than death
Wyatt Bell
Aaron Nguyen
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Matthew Hall
Have you a link to the thread you talk about ? I'm interested.
Brody Rodriguez
There's an anime called Shinsekai Yori where one of the characters is punished for his revolution and war crimes in a pretty horrific way.
Using Psionic powers, his captors make every cell in his body feel the most intense pain imaginable. At the same time, they heal his wounds and keep him alive with Psionics.
The idea is that he will be suffering the most horiffic pain imaginable for the rest of eternity, while never being able to slip away into death.
Here's a link to the characters trial and the actual explanation of his punishment. Obvious spoilers.
youtube.com
Angel Rodriguez
a state of constant back pain?
Other than that, I wouldn't say anything. I mean, at least you're still alive. That's better better than feeling nothing I guess (except you have back pain)
Liam Adams
A life completely devoid of any meaning or justification is a fate worse than death. This is hard for us to conceptualize. Even when a human is extremely depressed and seems to not actually care about anything, they still have basic physical reasons to live at the very least.
Having absolutely no reason or meaning to go on, but being unable to end it is a fate worse than death. Someone who can feel no pain, have no attachments, feel no happiness. Someone who doesn't need to eat or sleep, and who can't even get any enjoyment out of it even if they did. Being forced to live and interact with the world without it doing anything for you.
Mason Thompson
That wasn't so bad until it showed him in a museum, still suffering, that affected me. A creative touch to be sure.
Isaac Hill
is that not a rather neutral fate?
And would you not first have to define what death is in the setting or, if you are talking about reality, what you think death is in comparison for this fate to be percievable as worse?
Kevin Green
Reading into 40k lore, many times being trapped in the realm of the chaos gods entail unending punishment of horrific degrees. Since your soul is snagged the moment you die.
However, what is worse? To suffer such fates, or lose your sense of identity and embrace it as something you once hated?
For example, being turned into a Plague Bearer after a bout of Nurgle's Rot.
Anthony Diaz
Personally, I think the worst fate would be to still be concious of everything while being unable to do anything, ie a comatose state where you are still aware every moment, able to feel, hear, taste, and smell but unable to move or talk.
Theres a couple of things similar to this in JoJo actually.