at once short of life, and long of sorrow.

[strangerpeople]

[You are dead.




Well, obviously. You remember how you died. It was...not fun, to say the least. But hey, at least you're off that ship, right?

Except...you don't know exactly where you are now. It seems like a house, but if it is, it's...a work in progress. Most of the rooms are empty, and your steps echo up through the marble columns and down faint mosaics on the tiled floor. The few windows you find have a green light gleaming through them; you can't really see anything beyond the eerie light.

It feels like you're in a temple of some kind. The columns and mosaics seem to indicate it is something like that-it's certainly reminiscent of something out of an ancient culture, perhaps even one you're familiar with. For some reason, though, it's clear someone-or something-lives here. One of the rooms to the south is stuffed with pizza boxes. Another, larger room has a makeshift futon in one of the corners. There are imprints of multiple footsteps all through the dusty floors as you look around, many of them leading to a small alcove to the west. And-

and there's a giant van. Just. hanging out there. Completely out of place with the seemingly ancient decor. And inside, there is the sound of light snoring.



Ok then. You're apparently not alone in death, after all.]

((OoC: Map for reference.))

Comments

[devilmehcry]

...I see. The portals, I believe, are a side effect of the Qilphoth growing in this place. All of them have various monsters-spirits who have been twisted in some way to fight.

But, there are three types of portals. The green ones lead into a brick and mortar maze. The red ones lead to a place overrun by lava-that is where I bought the monster I referred to earlier. The blue one leads to a...rather pleasant place. Grassy, cool...

I recommend against drinking the water there, though, should you be tempted to.

[carvemyname]

Nah, they made me feel all serene and shit.

[ Popping up behind Moriarty's shoulder. ]

[devilmehcry]

...My brother knows nothing about his mythology, in other words.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

My condolences.

[On the brother thing, he means. He's just met his brother and he's amazed at Virgil's restraint.]

Regardless, then - am I correct in assuming that the Gimme is Charon, and the portals you are referring to are parts of the Greek underworld?

...Specifically, in that the field you mentioned are the fields of Elysium.

[devilmehcry]

[I N D E E D.]

Yes. Not...everyone is aware of this underworld's properties. Not everyone's been from Earth, after all. But yes. Green leads to Tartarus, and red leads to...Asphodel.

The waters in Elysium are those of the Lethe, in other words.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

....Then I have quite a few questions, mostly in why I am still here and why the dead connected to that game found ourselves here.

[Not that he expects Virgil to know everything, but at least he's being upfront about all of this.]

But first - I believe I should introduce myself. My name is James Moriarty, the man called the Napoleon of Crime and the Old Spider who held all of London's Underworld in his iron grip.

[He bows like a Victorian Gentleman would towards his conversation partner.]

A pleasure to meet you, truly.

[devilmehcry]

The rival of...well. I won't say it for your sake, then.

[He's clearly read the books. He gives his own bow.]

Vergil, eldest son of Sparda. The man who keeps attempting to annoy you is my twin. Dante. Feel free to ignore him.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Sherlock Holmes, yes. No need to be gentle for my sake - it's actually a pleasure to meet one who has read those books, even if quite a bit was left out of them.

[He nods, though....hm. Has he heard the name 'Sparda' before? He's almost certain he has, but with everything that's happened some things have flown out of his head for the moment.]

...Vergil and Dante. I take it one of your parents was a fan of the Divine Comedy, hm?

[devilmehcry]

You could say that, yes.

I'm more of a Blake fan myself. Pity the owner of the Qilphoth saw fit to deprive my of my book.

[...is his fist clenching? Yes. Yes it is.]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[Well, that's interesting.]

Your book? And I assume you've no idea who the owner of the Qilphoth is?

[devilmehcry]

Yes. My book of William Blake works.

And...I don't know this time, no.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[HM.]

...Would you mind expanding on that? I'm aware there were apparently more 'runs' of this game, but if that is the case...

[He gestures to what's around them, and well...how empty it is.]

I would expect there to be far more people here than what I have currently seen.

[devilmehcry]

Yes. There's been two rounds of this nonsense so far. I was a victim of the first. He-

[pointing to Dante-]

Came in during the second. Most of those who came with us preferred to look for a way out, and they've mostly stayed out there. I decided to make my base of operations here, since we are at least able to return here. However, no one's found a means of escape yet; the Qilphoth has blocked many passages that might lead somewhere. Anywhere.

It would be much easier if our powers weren't gone.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

So we are the third, then.

[He's surprisingly calm as he mulls over the information, rubbing at his chin as he thinks.]

When you say that the Qilphoth has blocked many passages, what do you mean exactly?

And by powers, do you mean the ones we had as part of the game, or our natural abilities? Or perhaps both?

[After all, he hadn't really tried to use his power since he died, because, uh. He Had a hell of a weekend.]

[devilmehcry]

Our natural abilities.

The Qilphoth is a tree that feeds on blood; it is getting blood at such a fast rate that it's now capable of not only regenerating its branches and roots almost immediately, they become more numerous as time goes by, making it more difficult to cut through them, especially without Devil Arms of other demonic weapons or powers.

Needless to say, even with these new abilities we've been granted, it's become increasingly disadvantageous towards us getting through with any ease.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

I see - yes, that would leave us at a disadvantage.

[Idly, he creates a portal in front of him - the area being shown being the one he woke up in, the light surrounding it casting small shadows around them.]

Sadly, my own ability is more utility based than anything else - so I fear I cannot help there.

[Guess who doesn't know what his power can do with killing intent? Moriarty]

[devilmehcry]

[At the sight of this, Vergil's eyes narrow.]

...I see. You...were endowed with that.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

...I beg your pardon?

[Vergil, he understands wanting to sound ominous, but please clarify instead of being vague.]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[He doesn't react, strangely.]

Hush, the adults are talking.

[carvemyname]

You mean the nerds are talking.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

And that would make you the 'jock' in this situation, hm?

[carvemyname]

[ Dante smiles. ]

Want a wedgie?

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Not particularly, no.

[He sighs, transported back to having to deal with unruly students.]

You are Dante, then. And the one who left the notes, for...whatever reason.

[Probably to annoy his brother tbh.]

[carvemyname]

I figured we're all stuck here and can use a laugh.

Plus, you were gonna wear your voice out.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

....I was having a moment.

[He's playing off his mortification that he was yelling that intensely, but look, he's very disappointed in himself so cut him some fucking slack.]

Still, I suppose your intentions were...noble, in a sense. Though I've no idea what you intended if we'd followed your little hunt.