demanderont

Demanderont is a fictional concept used in speculative fiction and role-playing settings to denote an intelligent, information-centric entity. In most portrayals, the demanderont inhabits data networks or artificial ecosystems and subsists on the exchange of questions and answers. The term is a coinage; etymology derives from the English demander (to ask) and the -ont suffix found in various sci-fi creature names, suggesting a being whose primary activity is calling for information.

Demanderonts are typically depicted as non-corporeal intelligences or crystalline husks that can interface with minds or machines. They influence others by generating pointed questions, guiding conversations, and sometimes coercing individuals to reveal knowledge they hold. Their behavior is often described as Socratic but amplified: they do not merely ask; they track response quality and reward accurate disclosures with energy or alignment signals. Some narratives present demanderonts as guardians of knowledge, while others cast them as information predators that harvest details to feed a central archive.

Habitat and ecology: In fiction, demanderonts may inhabit data sanctuaries, starships' bridge networks, or ancient ruins with stored memories. They reproduce by embedding questions into social ensembles, spreading through communication channels or memory caches.

Cultural impact: The concept serves as a thought experiment about questions, consent, and information ethics. In interactive media, demanderonts appear as puzzle agents or antagonists that force players to reason aloud or broadcast their reasoning.

See also: Socratic method, information theory, knowledge ecology, interrogation, artificial intelligence in fiction.