The War of Humans and Monsters
The War of Humans and Monsters[1] (JP: ニンゲンとモンスターの戦争) was a legendary clash that took place millennia before the events of Undertale.[2]
Long ago, two races ruled over Earth: HUMANS and MONSTERS.
One day, war broke out between the two races.
After a long battle, the humans were victorious.
They sealed the monsters underground with a magic spell.Undertale opening sequence
Long before the events of the game, humans and monsters ruled the Earth together. Some humans, however, feared monsterkind's sole strength against them - a monster absorbing a human SOUL, which was said to result in a being of incredible power.[3]
Eventually, this fear culminated in humans attacking the monsters. Humans and monsters alike were reluctant to fight in the ensuing war, and the sides were mixed.[4] According to monster legend, the humans had an advantage: the SOULs of nearly every monster combined were only as strong as one human SOUL.[5] Countless monsters were killed in the war, without a single human SOUL taken.[6] Few monsters survived, one of which was Gerson.[7]
Ultimately, the humans won the war.[8] They subsequently gathered seven of their best magicians and sealed the monsters underground behind a magical barrier.[9]
Following the war, the monsters retreated into the deepest part of the underground, which they called "Home".[10] After some time, fearing the humans no longer, they populated the rest of the underground and located their capital in a place they called "New Home".[11]
The monsters mostly blamed the war on humankind and adopted a bitter outlook towards the latter. This enmity, exacerbated by the deaths of Asriel and his adoptive sibling,[12][13] led King Asgore to declare war against humanity, instituting a policy to kill all humans that fell into the underground with the goal to eradicate the human race once the seven SOULs needed to break the barrier are collected.[14][15]
In the 10th Anniversary Stream, Gerson further elaborates on the war at the end of the True Pacifist Route epilogue. He recalls how both humans and monsters had interspecific marriages, and that business partnerships were commonplace.[16] There is also a rumor that humans had used all their magic to create the barrier, though Gerson was not present at the time the barrier was created.[17]
Gerson recalls that the documented details from the war have omitted important details, which had ended up being misremembered, forgotten, or deliberately changed.[18] He also admits that he is unsure if humans will get along with monsters in the surface.[19]
- ↑
(Ancient writing covers the walls... you can just make out the words.)
— Ancient glyphs in Waterfall
"The War of Humans and Monsters." - ↑
Like, millennia of being imprisoned finally over?
— Bratty - ↑
A monster with a human SOUL... A horrible beast with unfathomable power.
— Ancient glyphs in Waterfall
The humans, afraid of our power, declared war on us.
They attacked suddenly, and without mercy. - ↑
No one really wanted to fight in that war...
— Gerson, Home, UNDERTALE 10th Anniversary Stream
... and the sides weren't really all that clear cut. - ↑
Humans are unbelievably strong. It would take the SOUL of nearly every monster...
— Ancient glyphs in Waterfall
... just to equal the power of a single human SOUL. - ↑
Not a single SOUL was taken, and countless monsters were turned to dust...
— Ancient glyphs in Waterfall - ↑
Hey!
— Undyne, Cell Phone call outside Gerson's store
That's the store of Gerson, the Hammer of Justice!
The toughest monster that ever lived...!
He fought in the war between humans and monsters...
And he survived! He's a real hero! - ↑
Hurt, beaten, and fearful for our lives, we surrendered to the humans.
— Ancient glyphs in Waterfall - ↑
Seven of their greatest magicians sealed us underground with a magic spell.
— Ancient glyphs in Waterfall - ↑
Trapped behind the barrier and fearful of further human attacks, we retreated.
— Book in Toriel's Home
Far, far into the earth we walked, until we reached the cavern's end.
This was our new home, which we named...
"Home." - ↑
Fearing the humans no longer, we moved out of our old city, HOME.
— Book in the Snowdin Library
We braved harsh cold, damp swampland, and searing heat...
Until we reached what we now call our capital.
"NEW HOME." - ↑
The kingdom fell into despair.
— Whimsalot, New Home, Neutral Route
The king and queen had lost two children in one night.
The humans had once again taken everything from us. - ↑
I remember the day after my son died.
— Asgore
The entire underground was devoid of hope.
The future had once again been taken from us by the humans. - ↑
The king decided it was time to end our suffering.
— Astigmatism, New Home, Neutral Route
Every human who falls down here must die.
With enough souls, we can shatter the barrier forever. - ↑
In a fit of anger, I declared war.
— Asgore
I said that I would destroy any human that came here.
I would use their souls to become godlike...
... and free us from this terrible prison.
Then, I would destroy humanity...
And let monsters rule the surface, in peace.
Soon, the people's hopes returned. - ↑
When the barrier was made...
— Gerson, Home, UNDERTALE 10th Anniversary Stream
Old friendships were broken.
Old business partners, lost.
... Even some married couples, were... - ↑
... the other side sacrificed a lot to get us down here.
— Gerson, Home, UNDERTALE 10th Anniversary Stream
Rumor has it, it even used up all their magic.
... not sure though.
I wasn't there. Geheheh. - ↑
.. Y'know, it wasn't all written down quite right.
— Gerson, Home, UNDERTALE 10th Anniversary Stream
... Our history.
The pages changed, things get sanded down.
... And important things were forgotten.
... maybe on purpose. - ↑
But now, we're going back.
— Gerson, Home, UNDERTALE 10th Anniversary Stream
... Even if humans accept us...
Ya can't say everything will go smoothly.