Under the Hill - Second Circle: Lust

[Notus]

((Some sound for you guys.))

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3EAV40qlGk

Slowly the adventurers opened their eyes, feeling sore as if they had fallen from a considerable height. Looking around them, the first thing they noticed was their companions from the Library waking up. Then they started looking around to the place they were in.

One thing was for sure: it didn't look like Hell at all.

The place was a lush garden, filled with flowers and fountains and huge trees. Pathways of worked stone cut through the green of the place, adorned by statues of fantastic creatures.

The garden was enormous. To one side it extended for as far as the eyes could see: to the other, it got progressivelly higher, divided in terraces, until it ended up in a peak, very far away. Between the terraces they could see waterfalls feeding the irrigation sistem, and adorned stairways linked the different levels.

It was in this environment that they woke up after receiving their sentences, and as the sun moved over towards the horizon, signalling that the day was about to end, they started their journey through the Second Circle of Hell.

((Note: Again, you are grouped as you were in the Library.))

[Rosesong]

Rose glanced at Enya and Ace, Damian, Ellaria, Kenny, Ethic, and Mr. Taylor. "So," she said, looking around at their new environment, "this is the next circle of...Hell?"

It was funny, this looked nothing like hell to her, or at least what she thought hell would look like. The garden was beautiful, and the temperature was so warm it almost reminded her of-- No, Rose thought, she wouldn't think of that. Last time she had, she hurt Ellaria's feelings. The only thing she wanted to focus on was getting out of here. "Where should we go first?" she questioned, hoping to take her mind away from the negative thoughts that haunted her.

Edited June 9, 2014 by Rosesong

[anethia]

Annie gazed at the new group that had just appeared. She had been here for a while. She couldn't progress alone. She was strong, but she still hadn't mastered her powers. She subconsciously glanced at the cut in her arm. She stood in the canopy, on a thick tree, leaves faintly rustling against her skin. She slowly walked across the branches. Chances are, they'd find her if she stayed there. But perhaps that would be better? No, it would be better for her to make the first move. If she grew to despise them, it wouldn't be hard to ditch them. She didn't even have to trust them. She was quite apathetic, and a fairly good actor. Annie fixed her hood, before shifting her hair to the side, then tucking it behind her ear. She swiftly jumped from the trees, landing on the stone path, however making no sound.

Standing in front of the group, and blocking their path, her bored eyes stared in their direction, sizing them up, looking at them all in the eye. They all seemed startled, which was fair enough. Yet, still, there was something... off about the little girl that clutched a bear. She'd be keeping an eye on her, that bear just seemed wrong. Something straight out of this hill itself. Probably just her being paranoid. How they even got this far was unknown to her. It was the second circle, yet they seemed shaken up - or at least most of them. If they were scared of what they'd seen, they're in for a treat when they see some of the things she's seen. Oh, yes indeed.

"Let's hope they're friendly. Or not. I don't care." she thought. They were just another hurdle she would overcome to finally save the vision she saw. The world she saw.

Edited June 9, 2014 by Alatreon

[Sutoratosu]

Ethic got up from the ground, a bit dazed... he looked out at where the group had landed, dumbfounded that a place like this could really exist inside the pit of hell. he turned as he heard a familiar voice speak.

"this is the next circle of...Hell?"

Ethic looked over at rose and the others.

"I guess so... though, it's surprising... Didn't think It'd be... Nice here..."

He walked around the space, glancing at various plants. he couldn't help but be suspicious... it couldn't be this good... not down here

"Though... It's probably best not to touch... or Eat anything here... or even to drink the water..."

He turned back to face the others in the group

"God knows what kind of nasty venom or lethal toxins could be in them... just waiting for someone foolish enough to take a bite or a sip..."

that's when something caught his attention in his peripheral vision... he turned and noticed a figure suddenly appear on the path a little bit away from where they were... he had no Idea how long they had been there, nor how they had gotten there without making a single sound....

but he saw how the stranger seemed to just be standing there... almost like a predator stalking it's prey... sizing it up... He backed away from the plants he'd been examining, staring at the figure, whose face was obscured by a hood.

Hope things don't get bad this soon... He thought to himself we've only been here... what? a few minutes...?

He stood there, eyeing the stranger but choosing not to speak about it to the others, hopefully they'd notice as well... that and the fact that if something did go down, it's not really like there was much he could do to help at the moment...

Edited June 10, 2014 by Stratos

[Flux]

Phantom stood, making eye contact with the new arrival who stood in front of the group. The glow of the mask was as strong as before, a reflection of his newfound determination. He remembered why he was here now, and nothing was going to stop him from reaching the bottom of the hill. Still, he felt like he'd lost something that he had known before, but he could not remember what. Eventually, he broke contact with the hooded figure. He looked over his shoulder at those still behind him before holding out his right hand, a portal appearing in front of it. He strode through, leaving the others to themselves.

OOC: (((That sound was really awesome and fitting...)))

Edited June 10, 2014 by Flux

[Bluewolf]

Damian was about protest at phantom's dissapearance but he felt a strong wave of assorted emotions. The strange aura was radiating from a figure off in the distance. Who ever this person was, they were hiding something and Damian could not tell what.

"Uh, you guys see that over there?"

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

Bang!!!!! All of a sudden the serene silence was broken by gunshots. THey rung out through the whole gardens, seeing as there was little to stop the sound from traveling.

"You shame me Byron, you say you are a killer but you don't enjoy it? What is the point in that? Why not give into the darkness, and bathe in their blood?" shouted a crazy ratman.

"If I do that, everything I do is for nothing but myself, I never wanted to be a killer!" the man shouted.

The Rat repositioned himself, standing on top of a nearby hedge. Byron below hid just out of the beast's sight. "You would never understand me, you are a fiend that kills out of enjoyment, I kill to preserve those I protect. I bloody my hands so nobody else has to."

"Soooooooooo Noble of you. Pathetic worm......". replied the crazed Ratman.

"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!!!!!" yelled Byron, at the top of lungs. It echoed throughout the garden almost as loud as the gunshots before. Energy surged in Byron's body. His eyes started to glow Green, and spark. He placed his hand forward, out of instinct A green bolt of Lightning flew forth, crackling the air. The Ratman looked terrified as the bolt struck him dead in the chest. It hung there for a second, but started to convert colour. It slowly converted from an emerald green, to a crimson red. It sunk into his chest, as he stood there dazed.

"What the hell? What did you do? CAN I DO THAT TOO?" The ratman yelled, a terrifying look of glee on his face. He then conjured a bolt of his own, this time of the same crimson red. He flung it towards Byron, who was to stunned to move after what had happened. It produced the same results. "Dammit, DAMMIT, DAMMIT! I WANTED TO SEE YOU FRY BYRON!!!!!!" Shouted the Ratman, at the top of his lungs.

[anethia]

Annie gazed over at where the commotion was. She raised her hand slowly to her teeth. She bit down. Hard. Blood spurted out, and then, she dashed at an incredible speed, heading right towards the two. She saw a rat man and what looked like a normal man. As a rat man wasnt exactly unusual, she kept up the pace, before her fist turned a light blue. Twirling round, her hood fell down, revealing her blonde hair in a bun and her face. She smashed her fist between the rat man's eyes, then spun round and smashed the normal man with a kick. Unbeknownst to them, she had turned her fist and leg as hard as diamond, and it was her little secret..

Well, hers and the people she had just punched and kicked, of course.

"Shut up. Stop making such a commotion. I don't care what your reasons are. Shut up. I don't care about you being a psychopath. I don't care about your cause. Fight all you want. But shut up. We don't have time for you guys if all you'll do is screech at each other. You either get out with a plan, or you stay here and repeatedly die, forever. Your choice."

Of course, she'd have no objections if they'd rather die forever. One less person to compete with. Or, would it be two?

Edited June 10, 2014 by Alatreon

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

Quincy bounced off after getting punched in the face, a bit of blood running from his nose. Byron lay on the ground after taking a blow from nowhere, he was face down. "I don't know who it was that attacked me, but I could have killed that Rat and got him out of our hair for a bit." said Byron, still lying on the ground. "He is trying to keep keep everybody he can here so that he can kill us for the rest of eternity."

[anethia]

"I don't know who it was that attacked me, but I could have killed that Rat and got him out of our hair for a bit. He is trying to keep keep everybody he can here so that he can kill us for the rest of eternity."

Annie gazed down, her voice and eyes showing no emotion.

"If that rat believes he can single handedly take on all of us, he's in for a grave shock. We have proven he can be harmed. We have proven he can be surprised. We know where he has gone. Look at the blood. If you want to, track him. I wont stop you." Her eyes suddenly hardened as she began her next sentence. "But he went in the direction where a few things are waiting. If he can even get past them, you'll have to get past them as well. Alone. You versus the forces of hell. How will that end, I wonder?"

She calmly activated her power, fixing his wounds and a couple bones she had injured. He would be fine now, but it had made her wound dry up. She'd have to hurt herself, again, to trigger her abilities, and that was painful. Using her powers was uncomfortable - having fists of diamond really takes a number. But no matter. Her eyes gazed away and she headed back to the group, and standing in front of them, her hand on her hips. She'd wait for them to talk.

Edited June 10, 2014 by Alatreon

[Ragnar]

Meanwhile on the other side of this utopia, in the subconscious mind of Ixidor, he heard a voice. Wake up, time to freeze hell and everything around it. the young painter saw his hands filled with frostbite as a giant icy beast roars above him.

The young painter was laying flat on his back and quickly wakes up from this bad dream with cold sweats as he was palpitating. He turns to his side and saw his sketchpad with an unfinished drawing, he was in shocked of what he just saw "Did i drew this?" he mumbles. he quickly close his pad. Ixidor soon heard a gun shot from a distance. "Oh shiit" said the cowardly artist, he gets up and starts looking for his new-found companion. "mister Marcus, where are you?"

Edited June 10, 2014 by typhlosionrulez

[Sutoratosu]

Ethic heard as shouted sounded off in the distance, followed by a burst of red and green light, almost as if electricity or something was being tossed around by crazy people...

then he saw as the hooded figure looked over to see what it was, apparently able to see from where they were... he was a bit surprised when the person reached their hand up to their mouth and then chomped down, drawing a sizable amount of blood, then dashing away towards the noise. deciding to risk a look he walked over to where the figure had been standing a few moments ago, to see some kind of altercation ensuing...

and lo and behold, who did he spot... But Shot Gun McGee... except... He was a little confused

Wait, He thought as he backed away back around the corner to the group

What's going on? didn't he transform into that rat thing? why the hell are there two of him?

he walked back to the group, about to suggest they get moving, when Lucian appeared beside him, his form pale in the light of the sun above the garden, but gradually growing more solid looking. he spoke hurriedly to Ethic

"I've gotten something...Come with me, quickly." he started walking off down a path leading to the south, then stopped and looked back at Ethic, considering something deeply.... he seemed to make up his mind quickly though.

"On second thought, deal with this first..." he pointed his staff over Ethic's shoulder, and he found the stranger standing back where they had been moments ago, hands on their hips, he could see their face now and the blonde hair pulled back into a bun and realized it was a women.... and he couldn't help but get a menacing feeling from her presence... he pushed it down though, and cast a quick glance at the others, thinking to himself.

What is this, a freaking staring contest? he looked at the young women again, then over his shoulder back to lucian mouthing the words:

and just What am I supposed to do about this?

Lucian gave no response, simply continued standing there waiting, his form shimmering now, a sign that he had chosen to make himself visible to others. Ethic looked back at the women. he was beginning to get a little agitated about this situation for some reason... maybe it was just the monotonous silence?

he spoke up, deciding to break to apparent silence of the situation, loud enough for the whole group to hear.

"So... " he began, wishing he didn't have to say anything...

"Guess we should try negotiations to make sure this person doesn't come rushing over here and cut our throats...dying isn't permanent here... but still..."

Edited June 10, 2014 by Stratos

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"I think we are fine, she did heal me after all." Said Byron as he jumped up off the ground. He brushed off his Suit since it was now covered in dirt. He didn't really notice who had said it, let alone would he have even really recognized Ethic. Most of his encounters with the others didn't last long, nor did he have time to really get their faces. Quincy had seen more of them than he, and now that rat was running around somewhere, lurking.

[K_H]

All of a sudden, a Woman came out of nowhere, bit her lip, and then she ran off, punched Quincy and kicked Byron, whom Kenny noticed as she ran to them. Surprisingly enough, one punch was all she needed to take down Quincy.

"Guys, a woman just came out of nowhere, hurt herself, ran off to the now Two Shotgun McGees, Punched the Rat-like Shotgun McGee, and Kicked the Human Shotgun McGee. We'd best be careful not to upset her."

then, Ethic spoke up, saying that they should probably negotiate with the woman.

"I wholeheartedly agree with you on that bit, Ethic. If she could beat up both of the Shotgun McGees like that, I'd hate to think of what she could do to us."

[anethia]

"I am Annie Tsokyo. That is all you need to know." Her eyes still stared, giving away no emotion. The wind blowed her hair to the side, a few strands covering her hair. "Now, who are you?"

Edited June 10, 2014 by Alatreon

[K_H]

"My name is Kenny Holmes, and that's all that i'd like to let you know at this point in time."

Kenny was a little wary of the newcomer, but that was usual for him.

[Sutoratosu]

Ethic heard as the young women gave them her name then demanded they do the same. he didn't really feel like going to such pleasantries as he did just wanted to get this over with and head off to see what Lucian was so adamant about, so he decided to just get to the point

"Names are nice little pleasantries, but they aren't necessary to Negotiate." he said plainly "That's Business 101... you don't have to know a person's name to enter into a trade with them."

Ethic stepped forward a little, placing himself and Kenny now protectively in between the others in the group and this women.

getting even more agitated by the hold up,Ethic went into full business mode.

"Now what do you want?" though it was more of a demand than a question with the coldness in his voice

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

Byron stepped up behind the women, showing himself more than previously. Might as well back her up a bit, and not get overwhelmed. "I am not 100% sure what she wants, but no sense in being cold in your negotiations, all that shows is that you don't really care about the outcome. Why would she want to make a deal with you if that was the case?"

[Sutoratosu]

"I am not 100% sure what she wants, but no sense in being cold in your negotiations, all that shows is that you don't really care about the outcome. Why would she want to make a deal with you if that was the case?"

Ethic looked over the women's shoulder to see a man was behind he now; Shot-gun McGee. he really didn't have any time for anyone budding in.

he looked to the man

"Oh, I'm sorry, Shotty McGee, but do you speak for her now?" He said rather sarcastically

"I don't see anything wrong with her mouth except for a bit of blood at the edge of it. It hasn't been sewn shut. her throat hasn't been cut and filled with hot lead. her tongue obviously hasn't been cut out. she seems like she can still talk herself, so stay out of this." he was going farther in this then he should've and Lucian was giving a signal to cut it out. Ethic sent a mental message to the mage

"If you don't like how I deal with this, then why don't we just leave?" it sounded like an excellent idea actually, as Ethic recalled why he'd begun denoting the Man as Shot-Gun McGee in the first place.

He spoke again

"Of course, If she has any objections to my tone that she'd like to voice herself, then I'll go attend to some business i have elsewhere and let someone else do the talking here."

Edited June 10, 2014 by Stratos

[anethia]

"Tch. I should have expected as much. I go to the trouble to give you my name and you don't even tell me yours?" Annie said, eyebrows raised. "I demand for your names, you don't tell me. You demand for what I want, I don't tell you. Surely you've heard that little business rule, or maybe it's a saying in life? 'What goes around, comes around?' Wait a second, I heard.. Kenny, I believe, say something that begun with E. Would that happen to be your name? 'E'?

She stood her ground, not afraid at all. Her eyes started into his, and she saw the agitation he so plainly had. "Why are you so vicious to me? You don't even know me. For all you know I could be your ticket outta here. Maybe I'm not. But you have no way of knowing. And it's your own fault." She gave out a small little giggle. "That's gonna be my nickname for you. 'E.'" Annie's eyes randomly blinked, and her small episode of emotion ended as soon as it began. Her monotone yet still threatening voice rang out once more. "I'm not scared of you, E. I'm capable of a lot of things. I'm also trained in the martial arts, and I've seen more horror than you'd care to imagine." Her eyes seemed to leak a small tear, but she quickly wiped it away. "You know very well why I am here. It is the same reason for us all."

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"I don't know who you are, but if you are going to speak to me, at least address me by name." said Byron to Ethnic. "I am Lord Byron the 3rd, and I suggest we stop squabbling quickly, there are much more dangerous things in level of Hell than that Ratman."

[Sutoratosu]

Ethic decided right then that he didn't much like this chick. he completely ignored this Byron guy or whom-ever he was as he spoke after her.

"I don't tell you my name for security's sake..." He glanced over quickly at Kenny

"But it seems security went out the window when my friend here spoke... So fine, my name is Ethic, strange name, yes I know."

He glanced back at her as he continued

"If you think I'm being vicious to you now, then you've seen nothing of what I can be capable of, no one here has. I want to clear that up right now. You're right though, I don't know you, but I just saw you act pretty aggressively towards two individuals involved in a conflict which had nothing to do you until you inserted yourself right in the middle of it... So what am I to think except that you're a threat to my companions, after witnessing that?"

he actually chuckled a little

"Fear? you really think I give a damn about whether or not people are afraid of me?"

He chuckled a bit more then stoped

"you're right. I already know why your here, I just wanted to ask anyway because I wanted to see how you'd answer."

He cast a glance over at the group, knowing he should just stop himself now before he escalated this situation and put them needlessly in danger

"But You voiced your objections loud and clear, and I'm a man of my word, so I'll leave now in hopes of not completely escalating this situation."

With that said, he stuck his hand into his pockets, pivoted on his heels, and walked off towards lucian, whispering to Rose as he passed

"Hey, don't get the wrong idea here, I'm not abandoning you guys. I just have things that need to be taken care of... that and the fact that I know I won't be helping anything if I continue to talk to her"

Not waiting for a response, he walked past her to Lucian, who turned and began heading down the path, with Ethic following in tow

"You don't know when to shut it." the magus said simply

"Yes I do." replied Ethic as they walked farther and farther away

"Hell, I just shut it for the good of the group right now."

Edited June 10, 2014 by Stratos

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"You lot actually put up with that? No way to treat people you consider part of your group." scoffed Byron. "Anyway, we best get to a defensible position. It is about to be night soon. And we are about to be up to our eyeballs in monsters."

[anethia]

"And if we want to survive, we'll have to stick together. Knowing each others names will help, non? Sometimes, E, you need to put up with people you dislike. I'm doing it right now with you!" With that, Annie leapt up, grabbed a branch and hoisted herself up onto the tree, and began to pick at the leaves.

[Sutoratosu]

Ethic could hear someone shouting something at him as he walked away with lucian. he was still close enough to hear exactly what was said though...

"And if we want to survive, we'll have to stick together. Knowing each others names will help, non? Sometimes, E, you need to put up with people you dislike. I'm doing it right now with you!"

Ethic couldn't help but wonder...

"Lucian... is there anything we should... watch out for here?"

Lucian replied as he picked up the pace

"How am I supposed to know? not like I live down here or something... though, we'll be seeing someone soon who can answer your question."

after a while, the two exited off the pathway and into a little plaza that had a babbling fountain in the middle. Lucian stepped up to it, then looked to Ethic.

"Ethic," He began "Hand me the Devil Arcana."

Ethic took a moment to absorb what he had been asked to do, then began getting a little suspicious of what would happen if he did

"Lucian, answer me this, because this is starting to get suspicious..."

he stepped up next to Lucian at the fountain

"We're in the second circle of hell right now, right? Ergo, that means that Satan must be lurking somewhere in this pit... so what exactly happens if the Devil Arcana is Invoked here?"

Lucian looked at him, a bit annoyed

"Look, stop all that and just give me the damn card, Ethic... besides, we're not gonna invoke it, encase you haven't realized it yet, YOU KINDA GOT FIRED..."

Ethic couldn't help but grit his teeth a little at lucian's last remark as he reluctantly reached into his pocket and pulled out the Arcana in question, handing it to Lucian, who then set in a float into the fountain, a small black and scarlet flame engulfing the thing as it hit the water, though it didn't seem to be consuming the card...

"Etheral Fire..." Lucian began "one of the many perks of it... It's versatile as hell and doesn't destroy things unless you specifically tell it to..."

Ethic looked over at Lucian

"so what happens now?"

"Oh..." Lucian responded

"You'll see in a few moments..let's just say I managed to convince someone to help us...."

Edited June 10, 2014 by Stratos