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* In Seasons Four and Five of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' we find out that Lucifer is this trope. [[spoiler: Azazel]] first finds "the crack in his cage" in order to communicate with him; it's implied that Lucifer also [[spoiler: made a backup plan that Lilith and Ruby carried out in order to get Sam Winchester to release him.]]
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* In Seasons Four and Five of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' we find out that Lucifer is this trope. [[spoiler: Azazel]] first finds "the crack in his cage" in order to communicate with him; it's implied that Lucifer also [[spoiler: made a backup plan that Lilith and Ruby carried out in order to get Sam Winchester to release him.]]
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* In Seasons Four and Five of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' we find out that Lucifer is this trope. [[spoiler: Azazel]] first finds "the crack in his cage" in order to communicate with him; it's implied that Lucifer also [[spoiler: made a backup plan that Lilith and Ruby carried out in order to get Sam Winchester to release him.]]
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* The Soulstones from the ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'' series turned out to be this as a result of [[spoiler:[[FallenAngel Izual]]]] filling the Prime Evils in on how to corrupt them. Mephisto's soulstone in particular resulted in the Zakarum high priesthood becoming corrupted and turning into demons.
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*The creator of Phyrexia, Yawgmoth, was the [[BigBad big bad]] of the storyline of ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' until the Invasion block, where it was defeated by Jerrard Capashen and his crew with the activation of the Legacy Weapon. In the Time Spiral block we learn that Urborg, the land where Yawgmoth was defeated is still tainted by the blood, oil and pieces of phyrexian corpses more than three hundred years later.(Urborg was an [[SwampsAreEvil evil swamp]] to begin with, but it turned out even worse.) When [[spoiler: Lord Windgrace sacrificed himself to close the rift over Urborg he infused part of his essence in the land to keep it in check and prevent an ulterior spreading of the phyrexian infection. ]]
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->''"Yawgmoth's corpse is a wound in the universe. His foul blood seeps out, infecting the land with his final curse."''
-->--'''Lord Windgrace''', flavor text of ''[[MagicTheGathering Tomb of Yawgmoth]]''
-->--'''Lord Windgrace''', flavor text of ''[[MagicTheGathering Tomb of Yawgmoth]]''
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Namespaces, people.
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* ''CastlevaniaOrderOfEcclesia'': Dracula was defeated and sealed some time ago. The Order of Ecclesia has found a spell that will finally destroy Dracula once and for all. Which is good, because his evil monsters are still about. [[spoiler: Dracula can also still corrupt minds within his seal, which is why the TreacherousAdvisor will use the spell to destroy Dracula's seal.]]
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* ''CastlevaniaOrderOfEcclesia'': ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaOrderOfEcclesia'': Dracula was defeated and sealed some time ago. The Order of Ecclesia has found a spell that will finally destroy Dracula once and for all. Which is good, because his evil monsters are still about. [[spoiler: Dracula can also still corrupt minds within his seal, which is why the TreacherousAdvisor will use the spell to destroy Dracula's seal.]]
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* ''CastlevaniaOrderOfEcclesia'': Dracula was defeated and sealed some time ago. The Order of Ecclesia has found a spell that will finally destroy Dracula once and for all. Which is good, because his evil monsters are still about. [[spoiler: Dracula can also still corrupt minds within his seal, which is why the TreacherousAdvisor will use the spell to destroy Dracula's seal.]]
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* In ''Literature/TheElenium'', the [[EldritchAbomination Elder God]] [[BigBad Azash]] was imprisoned by the rebelling Younger Gods inside a tiny clay idol of himself. However, even though he can't move around or use most of his powers directly anymore, Azash can still ''talk'' to people physically near his idol, vector magical power to his minions, and send his spirit into any copy of the idol that has been properly prepared.
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* Many of the [[EldritchAbomination Old Gods]] in the ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}'' universe were sealed away by the Titans, but their influence remains, affecting events on Azeroth through the centuries.
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* Many of the [[EldritchAbomination Old Gods]] in the ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}'' universe were sealed away by the Titans, but their influence remains, affecting events on Azeroth through the centuries. centuries.
* Justified in ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'' because the Sealed Evil built the Can itself for its own protection. After Illefarn's final attempt to destroy the [[BigBad King of Shadows]] nearly succeeded the King hid in another dimension while it recuperated. Both times it started to leave (once via the Astral Plane, where it ran afoul of the githyanki, and once in the game proper where the PlayerCharacter defeats it), it first used various types of minions (undead, Shadow Priests, and an avatar called the Nightwalker) to prepare the way.
* Justified in ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'' because the Sealed Evil built the Can itself for its own protection. After Illefarn's final attempt to destroy the [[BigBad King of Shadows]] nearly succeeded the King hid in another dimension while it recuperated. Both times it started to leave (once via the Astral Plane, where it ran afoul of the githyanki, and once in the game proper where the PlayerCharacter defeats it), it first used various types of minions (undead, Shadow Priests, and an avatar called the Nightwalker) to prepare the way.
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* Shendu the demon sorcerer from ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'' is sealed into the form of a statue whenever the magical talismans that control his power are removed from his body. When in this form he retains the ability to speak and apparently to breathe fire.
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* Shendu the demon sorcerer from ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'' is was sealed into the form of a statue whenever when the magical talismans that control his power are were removed from his body. When in this form he retains the ability to speak and apparently to breathe fire.
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* Shendu the demon sorcerer from ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'' is sealed into the form of a statue whenever the magical talismans that control his power are removed from his body. When in this form he retains the ability to speak and apparently to breathe fire.
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To be clear, the evil in question has been sealed away, but in a way that allows it to still influence the mortal world, most often in destructive ways. In religious and mythological uses, the evil is usually not aware it has this ability. In fictional stories, especially in the {{Horror}} genre, it is likely to be aware of its ability to affect the mortal world, and will probably use that influence to facilitate its release.
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To be clear, the evil in question has been sealed away, but in a way that allows it to still influence the mortal world, most often in destructive ways. In religious and mythological uses, the evil is usually not aware it has this ability. In fictional stories, especially in the {{Horror}} genre, and CosmicHorrorStory genres, it is likely to be aware of its ability to affect the mortal world, and will probably use that influence to facilitate its release.
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* This is a major staple of the Franchise/CthulhuMythos, most famously appearing in the short story ''Literature/CallOfCthulhu''. Despite being dead and trapped within the sunken city of R'lyeh, the eponymous Old One is still capable of influencing certain humans through their dreams, guiding them to release him [[WhenThePlanetsAlign when the stars are right]].
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** The ''TabletopGame/{{Eberron}}'' setting's main cans for sealed evils are varying degrees of leaky:
*** The prisons of the [[DemonLordsAndArchDevils Overlords]] are pretty sturdy, with most of the Overlords having no power to affect the world at all (though they do have cultists/minions willing to work on their behalf). A few are able to affect the world ''very'' subtly, mostly by manipulating people, most notably Bel Shalor, the Shadow in the Flame.
*** The nightmare spirits called quori can't leave their [[DreamLand home plane]]. They ''can'', however, project their minds into mortal dreams, and from there possess people. As the quori have been able to use this method to create an [[TheEmpire empire]] and [[PathOfInspiration religion]] in the mortal world, this can is ''very'' leaky.
*** The [[HumanoidAbomination daelkyr]] may not be able to leave [[BeneathTheEarth Khyber]], but they can move around freely within it and talk to their servants on the surface, and drive the odd mortal mad.
*** The prisons of the [[DemonLordsAndArchDevils Overlords]] are pretty sturdy, with most of the Overlords having no power to affect the world at all (though they do have cultists/minions willing to work on their behalf). A few are able to affect the world ''very'' subtly, mostly by manipulating people, most notably Bel Shalor, the Shadow in the Flame.
*** The nightmare spirits called quori can't leave their [[DreamLand home plane]]. They ''can'', however, project their minds into mortal dreams, and from there possess people. As the quori have been able to use this method to create an [[TheEmpire empire]] and [[PathOfInspiration religion]] in the mortal world, this can is ''very'' leaky.
*** The [[HumanoidAbomination daelkyr]] may not be able to leave [[BeneathTheEarth Khyber]], but they can move around freely within it and talk to their servants on the surface, and drive the odd mortal mad.
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* In ''DannyPhantom'', Sidney Poindexter's spirit is trapped in an alternate spirit dimension version of 1954 Casper High. The mirror he left behind in his old locker, 724, serves as a portal between the worlds. Poindexter can't normally cross through the mirror portal, but as he witnesses several bullying attempts on the present-day real world side, he is able to use his ghostly power to reverse the bullying and turn it back onto the bullies.
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* In ''DannyPhantom'', ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'', Sidney Poindexter's spirit is trapped in an alternate spirit dimension version of 1954 Casper High. The mirror he left behind in his old locker, 724, serves as a portal between the worlds. Poindexter can't normally cross through the mirror portal, but as he witnesses several bullying attempts on the present-day real world side, he is able to use his ghostly power to reverse the bullying and turn it back onto the bullies.
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* [[EldritchAbomination The Snarl]] from ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' was sealed by the gods in a jail that used the entire planet for the lock. However, five rifts have formed in said jail, one of which allowed it to reach through and kill Soon the paladin's wife. Soon's party locked the rifts with impassable gates, but now four of the five gates have been destroyed, and the rifts they covered have grown huge.
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* [[EldritchAbomination The Snarl]] from ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' was sealed by the gods in a jail that used the entire planet for the lock. However, five rifts have formed in said jail, one of which allowed it to reach through and kill Soon the paladin's wife. Soon's party locked the rifts with impassable gates, but now four of the five gates have been destroyed, and the rifts they covered have grown huge. (Although, oddly, nothing of the Snarl has yet reached through.)
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* [[ExploitedTrope Weaponized]] in ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' with the Jinchuriki, humans with {{Pure Magic Being}}s sealed inside them. For the most part the seal allows a controllable amount of chakra to leak out, letting the Jinchuriki borrow their power, but Naruto's Nine-Tailed Fox in particular is quite malevolent and can take him over if he isn't careful. (The others may or may not be examples: for example, Eight-Tails is pretty friendly with its host Killer Bee, and Gaara's initial {{Ax Craz|y}}iness seems to have been all him.)
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* [[ExploitedTrope Weaponized]] in ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' with the Jinchuriki, humans with {{Pure Magic Being}}s sealed inside them. For the most part the seal allows a controllable amount of chakra to leak out, letting the Jinchuriki borrow their power, but Naruto's Nine-Tailed Fox in particular is quite malevolent and can take him over if he isn't careful. (The others may or may not be examples: for example, Eight-Tails is pretty friendly with its host Killer Bee, and Gaara's initial {{Ax Craz|y}}iness seems to have been all him.him rather than a result of Shukaku[[labelnote:*]]One-Tail[[/labelnote]].)
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-->The Master: I am free because you fear it. Because you fear it, the world is crumbling. Your nightmares are made flesh.
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* Many of the [[EldritchAbomination Old Gods]] in the ''VideoGame/WarCraft'' universe were sealed away by the Titans, but their influence remains, affecting events on Azeroth through the centuries.
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* Many of the [[EldritchAbomination Old Gods]] in the ''VideoGame/WarCraft'' ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}'' universe were sealed away by the Titans, but their influence remains, affecting events on Azeroth through the centuries.
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* Many of the [[EldritchAbomination Old Gods]] in the ''VideoGame/WarCraft'' universe were sealed away by the Titans, but their influence remains, affecting events on Azeroth through the centuries.
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* [[ExploitedTrope Weaponized]] in ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' with the Jinchuriki, humans with {{Pure Magic Being}}s sealed inside them. For the most part the seal allows a controllable amount of chakra to leak out, letting the Jinchuriki borrow their power, but Naruto's Nine-Tailed Fox in particular is quite malevolent and can take him over if he isn't careful.
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* [[ExploitedTrope Weaponized]] in ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' with the Jinchuriki, humans with {{Pure Magic Being}}s sealed inside them. For the most part the seal allows a controllable amount of chakra to leak out, letting the Jinchuriki borrow their power, but Naruto's Nine-Tailed Fox in particular is quite malevolent and can take him over if he isn't careful. (The others may or may not be examples: for example, Eight-Tails is pretty friendly with its host Killer Bee, and Gaara's initial {{Ax Craz|y}}iness seems to have been all him.)
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* [[ExploitedTrope Weaponized]] in ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' with the Jinchuriki, humans with {{Pure Magic Being}}s sealed inside them. For the most part the seal allows a controllable amount of chakra to leak out, letting the Jinchuriki borrow their power, but Naruto's Nine-Tailed Fox in particular is quite malevolent and can take him over if he isn't careful.
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* ''ComicBook/{{Shadowpact}}'' reveals that the slumbering, highly powerful and ''very'' evil sorcerer Dr. Gotham has been sleeping beneath (wait for it) [[{{Batman}} Gotham City]] for centuries. He inadvertently influenced the city into becoming a crime ridden cesspool with a penchant for attracting costumed lunatics.
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* ''ComicBook/{{Shadowpact}}'' reveals that the slumbering, highly powerful and ''very'' evil sorcerer Dr. Gotham has been sleeping beneath (wait for it) [[{{Batman}} [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Gotham City]] for centuries. He inadvertently influenced the city into becoming a crime ridden cesspool with a penchant for attracting costumed lunatics.
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* ''Manga/SoulEater'': The [[EldritchAbomination Demon God]] [[TheBigBad Asura]] was sealed in a bag made of his own skin. Even after this, his [[TheCorruption madness]] is strong enough to warp the statue of a god holding his container and make everyone who tries to approach it [[ThroughTheEyesOfMadness see horrible hallucinations]]. However, it is only when Asura is freed that his madness is able to spread all over the world.
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* ''Manga/SoulEater'': The [[EldritchAbomination Demon God]] [[TheBigBad Asura]] from ''Manga/SoulEater'' was sealed in a bag made of his own skin. Even after this, his [[TheCorruption madness]] is strong enough to warp the statue of a god holding his container and make everyone who tries to approach it [[ThroughTheEyesOfMadness see horrible hallucinations]]. However, it is only when Asura is freed that his madness is able to spread all over the world.
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* This is how Winnowill from {{ElfQuest}} ends up when Rayek traps Winnowill's soul inside his own. Winnowill is mostly contained but occasionally is able to either affect Rayek's actions or even lash out with her own magic powers.
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* This is how Winnowill from {{ElfQuest}} ''Comicbook/{{ElfQuest}}'' ends up when Rayek traps Winnowill's soul inside his own. Winnowill is mostly contained but occasionally is able to either affect Rayek's actions or even lash out with her own magic powers.
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[[folder: Film]]
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[[folder: Literature]]
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[[folder: Live Action TV]]
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[[folder: Religion and Mythology]]
* The titan Typhon from GreekMythology. He was sealed away along with most of the other titans, but his roars were capable of causing volcanic eruptions across the world.
* The titan Typhon from GreekMythology. He was sealed away along with most of the other titans, but his roars were capable of causing volcanic eruptions across the world.
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* The titan Typhon from
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[[folder: Tabletop Games]]
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[[folder: Videogames]]
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* ''VideoGame/EpicMickey'': The Phantom Blot is a being of paint and thinner who spilled over Wasteland and spread destruction all over it. They managed to seal it back into its jar, but little blotling enemies keep leaking out of it.
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* ''VideoGame/EpicMickey'': The Phantom Blot from ''VideoGame/EpicMickey'' is a being of paint and thinner who spilled over Wasteland and spread destruction all over it. They managed to seal it back into its jar, but little blotling enemies keep leaking out of it.
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* In FinalFantasyV, Exdeath spends the first half of the game sealed away by the crystals, but he is still able to command monsters and to mind control some people in order to bring about his release.
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* In FinalFantasyV, ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'', Exdeath spends the first half of the game sealed away by the crystals, but he is still able to command monsters and to mind control some people in order to bring about his release.release.
* Dhaos from ''VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia'' is capable of brainwashing people even when sealed in mausoleum. In particular, he ordered [[BlackKnight Mars]] this way to find pendants that will unseal him.
* Dhaos from ''VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia'' is capable of brainwashing people even when sealed in mausoleum. In particular, he ordered [[BlackKnight Mars]] this way to find pendants that will unseal him.
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[[folder: Web Comics]]
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[[folder: Western Animation]]
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* ''WesternAnimation/MightyMax'': Skullmaster spends the first season sealed up inside the Earth's core, but still manages to control his various minions on the surface.
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* ''WesternAnimation/MightyMax'': ''WesternAnimation/MightyMax'':
** Skullmaster spends the first season sealed up inside the Earth's core, but still manages tocontrol command his various minions on the surface.surface.
** In the episode "Souls of Talon" the titular Talon, a [[YourSoulIsMine soul-devouring]] monster from the astral plane, throws itself against the gateway to the physical world in an attempt to escape. Unbeknownst to Talon, its attack causes natural disasters in the human world, which draws the attention of Max, Norman, and Virgil.
** Skullmaster spends the first season sealed up inside the Earth's core, but still manages to
** In the episode "Souls of Talon" the titular Talon, a [[YourSoulIsMine soul-devouring]] monster from the astral plane, throws itself against the gateway to the physical world in an attempt to escape. Unbeknownst to Talon, its attack causes natural disasters in the human world, which draws the attention of Max, Norman, and Virgil.
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Is a Subtrope of SealedEvilInACan. If the evil is SealedInAPersonShapedCan it will usually become this trope. If the evil is sealed within a physical object, that object is likely to become an ArtifactOfDoom or a HappyFunBall. Compare MightAsWellNotBeInPrisonAtAll, for when this applies to mundane criminals. See also EvilIsNotAToy and MadeOfEvil.
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Is a Subtrope of SealedEvilInACan. If the evil is SealedInAPersonShapedCan it will usually become this trope. If the evil is sealed within a physical object, that object is likely to become an ArtifactOfDoom or a HappyFunBall.ArtifactOfDoom. Compare MightAsWellNotBeInPrisonAtAll, for when this applies to mundane criminals. See also EvilIsNotAToy and MadeOfEvil.
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Is a Subtrope of SealedEvilInACan. If the evil is SealedInAPersonShapedCan it will usually become this trope. If the evil is sealed within a physical object, that object is likely to become an ArtifactOfDoom. Compare MightAsWellNotBeInPrisonAtAll, for when this applies to mundane criminals. See also EvilIsNotAToy and MadeOfEvil.
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Is a Subtrope of SealedEvilInACan. If the evil is SealedInAPersonShapedCan it will usually become this trope. If the evil is sealed within a physical object, that object is likely to become an ArtifactOfDoom.ArtifactOfDoom or a HappyFunBall. Compare MightAsWellNotBeInPrisonAtAll, for when this applies to mundane criminals. See also EvilIsNotAToy and MadeOfEvil.
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Is a Subtrope of SealedEvilInACan. If the evil is sealed within a physical object, that object is likely to become an ArtifactOfDoom. Compare MightAsWellNotBeInPrisonAtAll, for when this applies to mundane criminals. See also EvilIsNotAToy and MadeOfEvil.
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Is a Subtrope of SealedEvilInACan. If the evil is SealedInAPersonShapedCan it will usually become this trope. If the evil is sealed within a physical object, that object is likely to become an ArtifactOfDoom. Compare MightAsWellNotBeInPrisonAtAll, for when this applies to mundane criminals. See also EvilIsNotAToy and MadeOfEvil.
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And, as per the suggestion of a person in the YKTTW, I added Sealed Evil In A Colander as an alternate title. :p
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Long, long ago, there existed a terrible evil. The people of the time managed to [[CapturedSuperEntity defeat the evil and seal it away]] never to return. There's just one problem: they may have sealed away the being itself, but they didn't manage to completely seal away its power.
To be clear, the evil in question has been sealed away, but in a way that allows it to still influence the mortal world, most often in destructive ways. In religious and mythological uses, the evil is usually not aware it has this ability. In fictional stories, especially in the {{Horror}} genre, it is likely to be aware of its ability to affect the mortal world, and will probably use that influence to facilitate its release.
Is a Subtrope of SealedEvilInACan. If the evil is sealed within a physical object, that object is likely to become an ArtifactOfDoom. Compare MightAsWellNotBeInPrisonAtAll, for when this applies to mundane criminals. See also EvilIsNotAToy and MadeOfEvil.
----
!Examples
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* ''Manga/SoulEater'': The [[EldritchAbomination Demon God]] [[TheBigBad Asura]] was sealed in a bag made of his own skin. Even after this, his [[TheCorruption madness]] is strong enough to warp the statue of a god holding his container and make everyone who tries to approach it [[ThroughTheEyesOfMadness see horrible hallucinations]]. However, it is only when Asura is freed that his madness is able to spread all over the world.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Comic Books]]
* This is how Winnowill from {{ElfQuest}} ends up when Rayek traps Winnowill's soul inside his own. Winnowill is mostly contained but occasionally is able to either affect Rayek's actions or even lash out with her own magic powers.
* ''ComicBook/{{Shadowpact}}'' reveals that the slumbering, highly powerful and ''very'' evil sorcerer Dr. Gotham has been sleeping beneath (wait for it) [[{{Batman}} Gotham City]] for centuries. He inadvertently influenced the city into becoming a crime ridden cesspool with a penchant for attracting costumed lunatics.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Film]]
* In ''Film/TimeBandits'', [[BigBad Evil]] has been locked away in the Fortress of Ultimate Darkness by The Supreme Being. He plots on acquiring the McGuffin map that would allow him to escape and wreak havoc upon all creation. Albeit he's locked away, he can still MindControl the weak-willed bandit across time and space to lead the group into his lair with the coveted map.
* ''Film/PrinceOfDarkness''. The Anti-Christ is [[SealedEvilInACan trapped inside a glass cylinder]] inside a church. It sprays a liquid at one of the people researching it and takes control of them, then has that person spit the liquid at other people to possess them as well. It also uses MindControl on street people who live near the church to surround it and trap the researchers inside.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Literature]]
* In prologue to the ''Literature/SpaceWolf'' novel ''Ragnar's Claw'', set about a century after the rest of the book, a Chaos cultist tells Ragnar that "Botchulaz sends his regards." In the book proper the Inquisition and Ragnar's squad of Space Wolves end up having to [[spoiler:repair the seals on an eldar construct keeping a Great Unclean One confined]].
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': In the very first book, the prison of the Soul Devourer is untouched by time, and avoided by most wildlife because of that.
* In ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', the Dark One is sealed outside of reality. In the Age of Legends, a bore was made into its prison, and it wreaked havoc across the world until a seal was made. Throughout the series, the seal is weakening, and the crux of the plot is finding a way to restore it before the Dark One can escape and unravel the world.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Live Action TV]]
*In ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' season 1, BigBad TheMaster is trapped underground inside the Hellmouth but he has minions who work to free him, Darla being the one with the most character development. He almost gets out a couple of times, and during one episode where people's nightmares come true he's seen free and walking around Sunnydale in Buffy's nightmare.
-->The Master: I am free because you fear it. Because you fear it, the world is crumbling. Your nightmares are made flesh.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Religion and Mythology]]
* The titan Typhon from GreekMythology. He was sealed away along with most of the other titans, but his roars were capable of causing volcanic eruptions across the world.
* Loki from NorseMythology was sealed away in an underground vault, with a snake drooling [[PoisonIsCorrosive venom]] onto his face. His beloved wife is usually there with a bowl to catch the poison, but when she has to empty the bowl Loki's agonized thrashing causes earthquakes.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''
** In the ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'' setting, after Cyric, god of murder and lies, murdered Mystra, goddess of magic, in 1385 DR and caused the [[ApocalypseHow Spellplague]], several other gods worked together to imprison Cyric in his home plane. He can still grant spells to his worshipers but he can't affect the Prime Material directly and is slowly going (more?) insane. Strangely his co-conspirator Shar seems to gave gotten away scot free.
** Module [=WG4=] ''The Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun''. Though the evil deity Tharizdun has been sealed away, his power can still affect creatures that enter the title temple if they touch certain places or objects.
** Module [=OA6=] ''Ronin Challenge'', Episode 6 "Keluh Valley". The powerful being known as the Earth Spider is trapped in the Realm of Mirrors, but it can still communicate with its worshippers in the Keluh Valley. It orders them to look for a woman of the Wood Spirit people so it can [[AndNowYouMustMarryMe marry her and be freed from its prison]].
** Module B3 "Palace of the Silver Princess". Arik (AKA Arik of the Hundred Eyes) is an ancient, evil being of great power. He was banished to a special dimension centuries ago to be imprisoned for all eternity. However, he has managed to send one of his eyes into the campaign world, where it works to open the dimensional barriers and free him from his imprisonment.
* ''TabletopGame/CallOfCthulhu''. In his tomb on the sunken isle of R'lyeh dead Cthulhu lies dreaming. True to [[CthulhuMythos the source material]] Cthulhu is capable of communicating with his followers through their dreams. In the ''Cthulhu Now'' supplement adventure "Dreams Dark and Deadly", Cthulhu was able to contact the minds of dreaming people and tried to use their magic points to create an avatar of himself that didn't need [[WhenThePlanetsAlign the stars to be right]] to exist.
* A specialty of daemonically-possessed weapons in Warhammer40K / {{Warhammer}}. Using them gradually brings you under the daemon's control (or just makes you go insane, which is often the same thing). ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar II: Chaos Rising'' has an entire game mechanic based on this, to determine which member of your squad becomes the traitor.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Champions}}''
** Organization Book 3 ''The Blood and Dr. [=McQuark=]''. Inhuman creatures who are virtually immortal, immensely powerful and hideously evil are trapped inside the Earth. They can contact humans and corrupt them to gain followers, but can't escape on their own.
** Adventure 4 ''The Great Super Villain Contest''. The Crimson Claw's secret masters once ruled the Earth, but the power that banished them set up barriers to keep them out. The only way they can return is to be summoned by a creature on this side. They have sent the Crimson Claw to provide three devices - the Emerald Eyes of Azog - to the most powerful supervillains. In addition to being able to see through the Eyes, the secret masters can cause them to act as gates to allow powerful demons to enter our reality.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Videogames]]
* Ganon was sealed away into the Dark World by the seven mages in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'', but used his evil influence to recruit Agahnim. The mage infiltrates Hyrule Castle and sets into motion Ganon's plans to capture the seven maidens and break the seal made by the seven sages.
* In the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' franchise, the central antagonists, The Reapers, sealed themselves away 50,000 years ago to wait for the right time to return. However, they left one of their own behind to observe and report. Even after that one is killed by the central protagonist, however, The Reapers still have thousands (if not millions) of SlaveMooks that they control, as well as the ability to make more almost any time they want. They can even [[VillainOverride Assume Direct Control]] of these mooks to directly speak to, and deal with, tougher threats.
* In ''Videogame/EternalDarkness'', Mantarok the "Corpse God" is in its death throes for more than ''seven centuries''. However, it had already set a chain of events in motion by this time that manipulate several pawns and allow them to defeat the other {{Eldritch Abomination}}s that bound him.
** The other Ancients qualify as well. They're sealed in the great Darkness with only Mantarok to keep them in check. The events of the game involve one of them ([[spoiler:actually all of them]]) using their various pawns, artifacts, and minions to simultaneously get themselves free as well as completely screw over the others.
* ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes''. The demon Bat'Zul, which was sealed under Cap Au Diable in the Rogue Isles. He was sealed properly, until a MadScientist realize he could drain electrical energy from the demon to provide cheap and efficient power to the city... with the small side effect of lightning demons occasionally jumping out of the power lines.
* In ''VideoGame/TheSecretWorld'', most of the cans are a bit leaky to begin with, with [[TheCorruption The Filth]], a tarry ooze that causes nasty tentacled growths and even nastier insanity, being the most obvious sign. Some of the sealed evils can influence the world in other ways, too (Aten was able to keep its cult going despite being imprisoned, for example).
* ''VideoGame/EpicMickey'': The Phantom Blot is a being of paint and thinner who spilled over Wasteland and spread destruction all over it. They managed to seal it back into its jar, but little blotling enemies keep leaking out of it.
* In ''VideoGame/DantesInferno'' {{Satan}} was able to send his essence out from Hell and corrupt others to do as he wishes. He escapes his secondary prison (a giant EldritchAbomination body) to fight Dante, but in the end, [[spoiler: Dante uses the souls he absolved in Hell to defeat Lucifer and seal him back in the 9th Pit of Hell (with a stronger seal this time). However, he somehow manages to escape as the ending reveals he transforms into a snake.]]
* Corypheus, the ancient sentient Darkspawn in the ''Franchise/DragonAge'' series, has been sealed away by the Grey Wardens since the First Blight, but is still able to telepathically enthrall individuals in the general vicinity of his prison, who then devote their lives to finding a way to break him out (which involves trying to kill the PlayerCharacter and his/her sibling in the ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' DLC ''Legacy'').
* In FinalFantasyV, Exdeath spends the first half of the game sealed away by the crystals, but he is still able to command monsters and to mind control some people in order to bring about his release.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Web Comics]]
*In ''WebComic/MeatShield'' the ancient half-dragon demon Disparoxus is imprisoned in a magic seal inside a cave, but if somebody actually comes into the cave and finds the seal he can talk to them, and he gives one guy a medallion the lets him talk and cast spells through it (although he only uses the latter when his dupe [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness outlives his usefulness]]).
*[[EldritchAbomination The Snarl]] from ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' was sealed by the gods in a jail that used the entire planet for the lock. However, five rifts have formed in said jail, one of which allowed it to reach through and kill Soon the paladin's wife. Soon's party locked the rifts with impassable gates, but now four of the five gates have been destroyed, and the rifts they covered have grown huge.
*''Webcomic/AntiHeroes'' has the demigod [[BigBad Arderas]], who was imprisoned in a special demiplane by a fiend who used to be his colleague. However, he managed to kill said fiend halfway through, leaving enough gaps in the prison for him to talk to mortals. At the time of the story, that ability had earned him his own city and army.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/MightyMax'': Skullmaster spends the first season sealed up inside the Earth's core, but still manages to control his various minions on the surface.
* In ''DannyPhantom'', Sidney Poindexter's spirit is trapped in an alternate spirit dimension version of 1954 Casper High. The mirror he left behind in his old locker, 724, serves as a portal between the worlds. Poindexter can't normally cross through the mirror portal, but as he witnesses several bullying attempts on the present-day real world side, he is able to use his ghostly power to reverse the bullying and turn it back onto the bullies.
[[/folder]]
----
To be clear, the evil in question has been sealed away, but in a way that allows it to still influence the mortal world, most often in destructive ways. In religious and mythological uses, the evil is usually not aware it has this ability. In fictional stories, especially in the {{Horror}} genre, it is likely to be aware of its ability to affect the mortal world, and will probably use that influence to facilitate its release.
Is a Subtrope of SealedEvilInACan. If the evil is sealed within a physical object, that object is likely to become an ArtifactOfDoom. Compare MightAsWellNotBeInPrisonAtAll, for when this applies to mundane criminals. See also EvilIsNotAToy and MadeOfEvil.
----
!Examples
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* ''Manga/SoulEater'': The [[EldritchAbomination Demon God]] [[TheBigBad Asura]] was sealed in a bag made of his own skin. Even after this, his [[TheCorruption madness]] is strong enough to warp the statue of a god holding his container and make everyone who tries to approach it [[ThroughTheEyesOfMadness see horrible hallucinations]]. However, it is only when Asura is freed that his madness is able to spread all over the world.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Comic Books]]
* This is how Winnowill from {{ElfQuest}} ends up when Rayek traps Winnowill's soul inside his own. Winnowill is mostly contained but occasionally is able to either affect Rayek's actions or even lash out with her own magic powers.
* ''ComicBook/{{Shadowpact}}'' reveals that the slumbering, highly powerful and ''very'' evil sorcerer Dr. Gotham has been sleeping beneath (wait for it) [[{{Batman}} Gotham City]] for centuries. He inadvertently influenced the city into becoming a crime ridden cesspool with a penchant for attracting costumed lunatics.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Film]]
* In ''Film/TimeBandits'', [[BigBad Evil]] has been locked away in the Fortress of Ultimate Darkness by The Supreme Being. He plots on acquiring the McGuffin map that would allow him to escape and wreak havoc upon all creation. Albeit he's locked away, he can still MindControl the weak-willed bandit across time and space to lead the group into his lair with the coveted map.
* ''Film/PrinceOfDarkness''. The Anti-Christ is [[SealedEvilInACan trapped inside a glass cylinder]] inside a church. It sprays a liquid at one of the people researching it and takes control of them, then has that person spit the liquid at other people to possess them as well. It also uses MindControl on street people who live near the church to surround it and trap the researchers inside.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Literature]]
* In prologue to the ''Literature/SpaceWolf'' novel ''Ragnar's Claw'', set about a century after the rest of the book, a Chaos cultist tells Ragnar that "Botchulaz sends his regards." In the book proper the Inquisition and Ragnar's squad of Space Wolves end up having to [[spoiler:repair the seals on an eldar construct keeping a Great Unclean One confined]].
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': In the very first book, the prison of the Soul Devourer is untouched by time, and avoided by most wildlife because of that.
* In ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', the Dark One is sealed outside of reality. In the Age of Legends, a bore was made into its prison, and it wreaked havoc across the world until a seal was made. Throughout the series, the seal is weakening, and the crux of the plot is finding a way to restore it before the Dark One can escape and unravel the world.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Live Action TV]]
*In ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' season 1, BigBad TheMaster is trapped underground inside the Hellmouth but he has minions who work to free him, Darla being the one with the most character development. He almost gets out a couple of times, and during one episode where people's nightmares come true he's seen free and walking around Sunnydale in Buffy's nightmare.
-->The Master: I am free because you fear it. Because you fear it, the world is crumbling. Your nightmares are made flesh.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Religion and Mythology]]
* The titan Typhon from GreekMythology. He was sealed away along with most of the other titans, but his roars were capable of causing volcanic eruptions across the world.
* Loki from NorseMythology was sealed away in an underground vault, with a snake drooling [[PoisonIsCorrosive venom]] onto his face. His beloved wife is usually there with a bowl to catch the poison, but when she has to empty the bowl Loki's agonized thrashing causes earthquakes.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''
** In the ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'' setting, after Cyric, god of murder and lies, murdered Mystra, goddess of magic, in 1385 DR and caused the [[ApocalypseHow Spellplague]], several other gods worked together to imprison Cyric in his home plane. He can still grant spells to his worshipers but he can't affect the Prime Material directly and is slowly going (more?) insane. Strangely his co-conspirator Shar seems to gave gotten away scot free.
** Module [=WG4=] ''The Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun''. Though the evil deity Tharizdun has been sealed away, his power can still affect creatures that enter the title temple if they touch certain places or objects.
** Module [=OA6=] ''Ronin Challenge'', Episode 6 "Keluh Valley". The powerful being known as the Earth Spider is trapped in the Realm of Mirrors, but it can still communicate with its worshippers in the Keluh Valley. It orders them to look for a woman of the Wood Spirit people so it can [[AndNowYouMustMarryMe marry her and be freed from its prison]].
** Module B3 "Palace of the Silver Princess". Arik (AKA Arik of the Hundred Eyes) is an ancient, evil being of great power. He was banished to a special dimension centuries ago to be imprisoned for all eternity. However, he has managed to send one of his eyes into the campaign world, where it works to open the dimensional barriers and free him from his imprisonment.
* ''TabletopGame/CallOfCthulhu''. In his tomb on the sunken isle of R'lyeh dead Cthulhu lies dreaming. True to [[CthulhuMythos the source material]] Cthulhu is capable of communicating with his followers through their dreams. In the ''Cthulhu Now'' supplement adventure "Dreams Dark and Deadly", Cthulhu was able to contact the minds of dreaming people and tried to use their magic points to create an avatar of himself that didn't need [[WhenThePlanetsAlign the stars to be right]] to exist.
* A specialty of daemonically-possessed weapons in Warhammer40K / {{Warhammer}}. Using them gradually brings you under the daemon's control (or just makes you go insane, which is often the same thing). ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar II: Chaos Rising'' has an entire game mechanic based on this, to determine which member of your squad becomes the traitor.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Champions}}''
** Organization Book 3 ''The Blood and Dr. [=McQuark=]''. Inhuman creatures who are virtually immortal, immensely powerful and hideously evil are trapped inside the Earth. They can contact humans and corrupt them to gain followers, but can't escape on their own.
** Adventure 4 ''The Great Super Villain Contest''. The Crimson Claw's secret masters once ruled the Earth, but the power that banished them set up barriers to keep them out. The only way they can return is to be summoned by a creature on this side. They have sent the Crimson Claw to provide three devices - the Emerald Eyes of Azog - to the most powerful supervillains. In addition to being able to see through the Eyes, the secret masters can cause them to act as gates to allow powerful demons to enter our reality.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Videogames]]
* Ganon was sealed away into the Dark World by the seven mages in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'', but used his evil influence to recruit Agahnim. The mage infiltrates Hyrule Castle and sets into motion Ganon's plans to capture the seven maidens and break the seal made by the seven sages.
* In the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' franchise, the central antagonists, The Reapers, sealed themselves away 50,000 years ago to wait for the right time to return. However, they left one of their own behind to observe and report. Even after that one is killed by the central protagonist, however, The Reapers still have thousands (if not millions) of SlaveMooks that they control, as well as the ability to make more almost any time they want. They can even [[VillainOverride Assume Direct Control]] of these mooks to directly speak to, and deal with, tougher threats.
* In ''Videogame/EternalDarkness'', Mantarok the "Corpse God" is in its death throes for more than ''seven centuries''. However, it had already set a chain of events in motion by this time that manipulate several pawns and allow them to defeat the other {{Eldritch Abomination}}s that bound him.
** The other Ancients qualify as well. They're sealed in the great Darkness with only Mantarok to keep them in check. The events of the game involve one of them ([[spoiler:actually all of them]]) using their various pawns, artifacts, and minions to simultaneously get themselves free as well as completely screw over the others.
* ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes''. The demon Bat'Zul, which was sealed under Cap Au Diable in the Rogue Isles. He was sealed properly, until a MadScientist realize he could drain electrical energy from the demon to provide cheap and efficient power to the city... with the small side effect of lightning demons occasionally jumping out of the power lines.
* In ''VideoGame/TheSecretWorld'', most of the cans are a bit leaky to begin with, with [[TheCorruption The Filth]], a tarry ooze that causes nasty tentacled growths and even nastier insanity, being the most obvious sign. Some of the sealed evils can influence the world in other ways, too (Aten was able to keep its cult going despite being imprisoned, for example).
* ''VideoGame/EpicMickey'': The Phantom Blot is a being of paint and thinner who spilled over Wasteland and spread destruction all over it. They managed to seal it back into its jar, but little blotling enemies keep leaking out of it.
* In ''VideoGame/DantesInferno'' {{Satan}} was able to send his essence out from Hell and corrupt others to do as he wishes. He escapes his secondary prison (a giant EldritchAbomination body) to fight Dante, but in the end, [[spoiler: Dante uses the souls he absolved in Hell to defeat Lucifer and seal him back in the 9th Pit of Hell (with a stronger seal this time). However, he somehow manages to escape as the ending reveals he transforms into a snake.]]
* Corypheus, the ancient sentient Darkspawn in the ''Franchise/DragonAge'' series, has been sealed away by the Grey Wardens since the First Blight, but is still able to telepathically enthrall individuals in the general vicinity of his prison, who then devote their lives to finding a way to break him out (which involves trying to kill the PlayerCharacter and his/her sibling in the ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' DLC ''Legacy'').
* In FinalFantasyV, Exdeath spends the first half of the game sealed away by the crystals, but he is still able to command monsters and to mind control some people in order to bring about his release.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Web Comics]]
*In ''WebComic/MeatShield'' the ancient half-dragon demon Disparoxus is imprisoned in a magic seal inside a cave, but if somebody actually comes into the cave and finds the seal he can talk to them, and he gives one guy a medallion the lets him talk and cast spells through it (although he only uses the latter when his dupe [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness outlives his usefulness]]).
*[[EldritchAbomination The Snarl]] from ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' was sealed by the gods in a jail that used the entire planet for the lock. However, five rifts have formed in said jail, one of which allowed it to reach through and kill Soon the paladin's wife. Soon's party locked the rifts with impassable gates, but now four of the five gates have been destroyed, and the rifts they covered have grown huge.
*''Webcomic/AntiHeroes'' has the demigod [[BigBad Arderas]], who was imprisoned in a special demiplane by a fiend who used to be his colleague. However, he managed to kill said fiend halfway through, leaving enough gaps in the prison for him to talk to mortals. At the time of the story, that ability had earned him his own city and army.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/MightyMax'': Skullmaster spends the first season sealed up inside the Earth's core, but still manages to control his various minions on the surface.
* In ''DannyPhantom'', Sidney Poindexter's spirit is trapped in an alternate spirit dimension version of 1954 Casper High. The mirror he left behind in his old locker, 724, serves as a portal between the worlds. Poindexter can't normally cross through the mirror portal, but as he witnesses several bullying attempts on the present-day real world side, he is able to use his ghostly power to reverse the bullying and turn it back onto the bullies.
[[/folder]]
----
