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There's an old AME Church in West Philly that's seen better days. The attached graveyard dates back to the late 1800s, and while it no longer sees use for present day burials it remains one of the more historic gravesites in the area. It is here, where Walsingham holds his congregation, that the Avernian Gate is located. It likely predates his presence, and is quite incidental to the age and importance of the graveyard itself. It is at night, after all decent people have gone to bed and left the church grounds and its neighborhood that he leads the team to the mausoleum containing it. He unlocks the door and swings it open, revealing the iris into the underworld beyond, and the cloying decay of death resonance that suffuses the place. It's a decidedly unpleasant sensation to the unfamiliar.
"I'll stock the interior with food, water, and comfortable bedding in the event you return during the day. I'll check on it every evening until you're back in order to let you out. If a bunch of mostly white ladies come crawling out of a mausoleum in West Philly during the day, you're going to get the wrong kind of attention down on us. So don't do that." The risk this Councilor and Guardian of the Veil is taking in letting them all use this gate is not small, and he's making a point of pressing that home. "Do you need anything more from me?"
Kay looks at Ripeka with a shrug of her shoulder. "Don't worry and thank you for the attention, I think right now all we need is a short bit of time to prepare the magic and go." then at Aletheia and Alexis "I'll empower your magical tools and protect your soul and allow you all to detect lies easier."
Kotahitanga nods to Diamond. "Let me know if there's anything you want me to cast before we head out, Sister."
"You're lucky I'm fairly easily convinced to go to places that I haven't been before due to my over curious nature." she'd say to Kay with a playful grumpf and cross of her arms "Also, hello to those of you who I haven't met yet, I'm Aletheia!" (I don't think I'm met everyone yet!)
"This is Aletheia, or Jessie in casual company we solved a murder together a while ago and we've been on friendly terms since them." Kay explains and smiles toward Ripeka "This is Kotahitanga, or Ripeka for casual" she then point to Alexis "And this is Rashida, or Alexis."
"A pleasure to meet everyone." Alexis gives a little bow, "I'll be giving us all a little cushion against adversity. Every little bit can help."
Taking the lack of response as a 'no', Walsingham gives a sigh that suggests he's having second thoughts about all of this but is committed to the attempt, at the very least. "Be careful," is all he can suggest at the last, before turning about and shuffling his way back towards the church building itself. He peels off his glasses and cleans them with his tie along the way.
"Thank you!" She speaks toward Walsingham and then turn toward the Iris to the Underworld and she rubs her hand together. "Alright, right now, I feel as if we're okay. I think Ripeka can keep us from starving? Or make us more likely to survive?" She asks toward Ripeka "Now, let's see how to open this thing." (any spells I need to cast in order to open the Iris?)
She'd look towards Councilor and shake her head "I think we should be alright, and when we get out I think I can cloak us to make us seem like just a group of people who got done mourning a dear friend or something. Thank you for your help!"
"I honestly dislike that this is just open, we can take measures to change that later but for now? As a ever famous doctor would say, allons y!"
"You probably shouldn't cast spells on that, this is on Councilor's Walsingham's territory and he's a guardian of the veil, so, my guess here is don't do that." toward Aletheia with a chuckle "He may chose to close it later." then turn to the others. Alexis and Ripeka "Ready?"
Kotahitanga arches an eyebrow at Alethia's joke, before nodding to Diamond. "Ready when you are, Sister."
"Ready. Let's do this." Alexis follows the others into the iris
If anyone has ever wondered 'Hey, what's it like? Dying, I mean.'? Everyone can now supply an answer. It's cold. And feels damp without being actually damp. Chill. There's a moment of feeling insensate, and all the colors have flushed out of the world, but apart from that? Pretty much all is well.
They emerge into a sewer, though not a tidy modern sewer. No. It's made of fired brick and mortar with a central trench and narrow walk ways on either side of the culvert. Fortunately, the slurry in the sewer is the stuff of memories rather than offal and waste. Not that it's doing much for the stench, really. Everything here feels unclean, unwholesome, and thoroughly foul. Even the memories swirling their way downward share this blighted feeling.
Such is the seeping sewage of pain and suffering here.
Ahead, fades and washed out as though by fog, the tunnel stretches downwards and forward, twisting in sinuous ribbons into the meat of the underworld's corpse.
"This clashes with my aesthetic so hard." Oh, that's your complaint Diamond? Of course, she says that with a gentle smile on her lips as she makes her way forward. The cold doesn't seem to bother her much, so, she let's it go easily. She's careful not to step into the stream of bad memories and feelings, as that sounds thoroughly unpleasant and reminiscent of the Ghostbuster 2 movies, of course. "Do be mindful of any rules or instruction we might come across, they'd be important. And most things here won't like us very much initiatlly because we're alive. But I think we're lovable enough to overcome that somewhat."
"Understood. Is there anything else we should be watching for, while we travel?"
"I am not going to pretend like I know too much about the underworld but I'd think be careful of voices trying to lure you places?" She puts out there and its obviously kind of a question more than a statement of fact "I feel like that could be a thing."
Alexis scans the area around them with her flashlight as they walk deeper, "Why do I get the feeling that this place is made all the worse because of the general urban decay in Philly?" Looking upwards at the ceiling, she adds, "And for once I'm thankful for being tiny."
"Rub it in, why don't you?" The very much not tiny Rīpeka mock-scowls at Alexis.
"As of right this instant, I think being on the lookout for things that may try to attack us is the best thing we could do. I did some research on the whole thing, this'll be kind of a big trip. We might convince a denizen to help us get to the Tree." Diamond shrug "If we can convince one to help, of course." As they make their way deeper into the tunnels
As the tunnel worms its way slowly downward, it is joined by other sewer junctions, each one pouring more black, viscous fluid into the growing river of memory. On occasion they might hear a distant, impossibly mournful wail up one of the side tunnels, or dripping water that sounds like the sobs of broken men. But no shades loom out of the mist to confront them yet. The course downward takes several hours to complete-- the underworld makes navigating down so much easier than navigating back out again. Follow the flow? That's easy. Finding one's way back will be a trick, however. At least to that particular gate.
Eventually the tunnel comes to an end in the face of a sheer cliff, a lip of culvert jutting out to pour the now rather sizeable flow of fluid and filth outwards and downwards roughly sixty feet, where it crashes waterfall-style into a pool of similarly dark, filthy fluid, forming into a river which winds its way off across the blighted landscape of the shallow domains.
Here, in this location, the land looks blasted. If one has seen photographs of Hiroshima after the bomb, that's a good idea of what the landscape looks like. Blackened stone, naked, brittle trees, not a building or structure standing, smoke rising from smoldering ruins. In short the landscape really does fit the overall vibe of the river itself.
Getting down will be a trick!
"Well, not to be undone, I think I could do something about this. Anyone here can fly or teleport?" Kay kneels near the edge of the cliff, trying to see what's the safest landing zone by the looks of it, the amazing perception bonuses given by the magic would maybe help. "If not, I can probably conjure stairs made of shadows."
"I'm afraid I don't have teleport just yet, I'm working on a whole bunch of projects and that's on there but sadly not at the top of the list." a small sigh "So you may have to conjure some stairs for us." She glances down at the mountain "I am not a massive climber, we got any ropes or anything?"
"I can't teleport, but I can fly down, if someone's willing to carry my stuff for me," Rīpeka grins slightly. "I don't have any rope with me, no."
"I think it might be easiest if you just shape us a ladder, Diamond." Alexis scans the descent, "I could probably climb down but it would be risky."
Diamond pulls a diamond shaped wood piece which look old and dessicated and holds it against her chest for a moment, she quietly weave and wave her hand around it and soon shadows gather about the cliff and form a long, long stairway down to the ground. "Now, let's get going. Don't worry the stairs will support you and they will only vanish if I will them too, which I will when we're safely down"
It's a safe trip down, even if it's not safe feeling. No doubt everyone's happy to have their feet on firm ground such as it is. At ground level, one steps into several inches of ash and soot. The fact that the landscape is parched dry is probably a blessing, because this stuff would turn into concrete if water were introduced to it. Presently travel will be dirty, grimy, and probably leave them coughing. If it were to rain? It would be like walking through freshly poured cement. So. Thank goodness for small mercies.
At ground level, the roaring of the waterfall sounds more like a protracted groan of a suffering and dying person than a waterfall, properly. Something to do with the acoustics of the rock face, no doubt. Nothing can really be seen in any direction other than more blasted landscape, smoke, and ruins. Of course, with all the smoke and ash in the air, visibility isn't that good. So who knows what's a mile in any direction. The river winds its ribbon of suffering onward. If they're looking for what passes for civilization down here, it's likely to be on a river. If they're seeking to avoid such things? The wastelands await.
"My research states that following the rivers into the domains is a way to reach the domain where the Tree is." She looks over at her traveling companions. "However, maybe the wasteland would lead us there in a different way." She ponders the possibilities, searching the occult knowledge that was infused into her mind for a moment, for a potential answer.
'Hmmm, which is the best way to go?" she'd glance toward Kay "You're the boss on this journey and the one with the most knowledge on this place." She glances around a little bit as she tries to recall some times about the underworld to hopefully help out
"Which is likely to get us there fastest and safest?" Rīpeka asks. "Do those differ?"
Alexis follows the others down the stairs, sparing some of her attention to keep an eye behind them just in case something follows them down from above. "Good question, Rīpeka"
'This place is sorta like the astral but I'm much less welcomed here." a small chuckle "We should find someone to talk to, as it stands I have no idea where we are but usually going down is the best bet. Though we won't know how far down to go without knowing where the tree is so yeah."
"I definitely think asking the local might be a good idea, so that would mean following the river, right this moment yeah." Kay points down that direction. "Hopefully, the locals are friendly and can be spoken to"
Rīpeka glances towards the direction Kay points. "Lead on, then, Sister. This expedition was your idea, after all."
Kay then makes her way along the river, being all careful to try not to fall into the strange looking water and the weird moaning sound, she leads the way along the flow of the river, smiling still on her way there.
"let's get to it then!"
She puts her arms behind her head and follows after Kay, staying somewhere in the middle as she keeps her eyes open and looking around to see if she notices anybody that could be spoken to:
"At least we don't have to go wading through a river full of horrible deathtraps?" Alexis observes
Following the course of the river makes sense, and it's not long at all until the groaning water and the sheer rock face behind them fades from view into the smoke and filtering ash of the overall landscape. If it weren't for the river and its course, it's easy to see how one could become hopelessly lost in this terrain. It's all the same general vibe of ruin, refuse, and desolation. But finally, after several more hours of walking, something novel looms up out of the smoke and fog. Hard to discern at first, it looks rather like walls fashioned from mounds of blackened stone and rubble from across the landscape, carefully piled in such a fashion that the rock face is nearly uniform and the walls reach about thirty feet in height. This settlement is built at the junction of two rivers, one more clear and bright than the one they'd been following before now. The mingling of the two streams leaves the resulting water looking mottled and striped, rather than simply 'less disgusting'. The landscape beyond that river? It appears far less blasted and ruined. Appearing more like a grassy high plain than the wasteland they've been plodding through all this time.
Throats parched and bodies aching, they near the settlement, and it becomes apparent that outside of the settlement, numerous shades have congregated. Perhaps outcasts with nowhere else to go, perhaps those hoping to somehow gain entrance according to the realm's archaic and arcane rules. Who knows. There's a small camp set up with a fire burning and figures all hunched about the embers, speaking with one another in mumbled tones. None of them are paying too awful much attention, so none of them have spotted the group as yet.
TheUserWin (Floretta/Spicy/Kay)Today at 5:03 PM
Kay turns around as they grow closer and she notices how the shade in the camps are speaking. "Maybe don't speak too loudly, I think that may be part of the rules." Which she says in a hushed tone, her gaze goes to the greener areas and, while this might be an indication of where they need to go, better to make abundantly sure of it. "Let's get closer to that group there and ask them if they know" again, in a hushed tone, just in case.
"Seems like a good plan to me," Rīpeka nods. "Unless anyone has any better ideas?"
'If talking is an issue I can link our minds." she offers in a slight whisper
Alexis just nods, gesturing for Kay to lead the way
As the group gets closer, one of the shades facing the approaching group points their way, but shouts no warning. The spirit lifts up a junkyard version of a crossbow and levels it at the group, an act which has the other ghosts standing up and finding their own salvaged weapons and readying them, though nobody moves to attack the newcomers. Yet.
Each of them are dressed in rags and tatters. Tunics made from old tarps or old sacks with holes punched through them. Old jumper cables used as belts. Pretty much everything they're wearing looks like it was picked off the carcass of a victim of WWIII, and literally none of it started as clothing. The crossbow's aim traverses from one of the mages to the next, as though trying to get the point across without shouting.
"I'm guessing they're not friendly, somehow," Rīpeka deadpans. "Do we want to try talking to them anyway?"
Diamond, immediately stops moving and indicate to the others to do as much, holding her hands up in a sort of peace tactics, assuring them quietly they weren't coming closer. In a volume no louder than the shade were speaking earlier, she replies to Ripeka first. "we can try." then turn her attention right toward the shades again "We only need one piece of information and we'll be on our way elsewhere, would you answer our questions?"
The crossbow shade seems to be the one in charge, or at least nominally so. The others defer to him, and he lowers his crossbow slightly when the approaching group makes no threatening motions. He seems to consider it for a moment or two, then shrugs his shoulders and nods his head in silent answer.
Aletheia glances between Kay and the shade, deferring to the other woman
"Pity they probably can't sign, that would be the easiest way to speak silently," Alexis murmurs, mostly to herself.
"We wish to know where the path to the Domain of the Martyr's Tree is, where would we need to go to find it?" She speaks as low as she can toward the shades and then looks back to the group, seeing if they have questions to ask too "And if there are any rules we ought to know in this domain that would hinder our departure?"
Rīpeka watches the shades carefully for their response to Kay's questions.
The ghost carefully lowers the fabric tied over his face, revealing his nose and mouth. He's impossible to hear at this distance, but he carefully mouths: What's in it for us?
The others seem to approve of this question, because they're all nodding their heads and looking expectantly towards the living visitors.
"I think we can come to an arrangement, let me ask my friends what's possible." Kay observes the surrounding carefully and smile and look over her shoulder. "Anyone here good with crafting? maybe repairing their equipment would work and I could assist with magic" she asks to the others, hushed whispers.
"That sounds like a Matter thing," Rīpeka murmurs. "Anyone good with that?"
"I can craft a little bit. Or we could just trade them my multitool? I can't imagine they get good new gear down here very often." Alexis whispers back
"I would be able to enhance your ability to craft." she says in a soft murmur "My current spell grants us more knowledge, it didn't improve upon already existing knowledge. The two are different and thus would both work."
"We could help repair some of the gear you have, or offer to trade you a new tool from her." Diamond points toward Alexis. "I could empower you and your group for a time." (how many of them are there?)
He perks up at the suggestion they have a tool. He lifts his hand from the trigger of the crossbow to make a 'show me' gesture with his hand. 'A new tool' could be many things, though it must be said he looks slightly more wary now.
Alexis slowly reaches down and pulls out a middle of the range leatherman multitool, holding up the shiny steel tool and unfolding it for them to see.
When the group all spy the shiny new tool and discern that 'a new tool' is indeed 'a new tool', they begin to back away from the mages slowly before turning to run in more or less every direction that isn't towards the mages, doing their level best to do so quietly.
They'll probably also be able to detect the sound of a rustling wind starting up, causing the ash, soot, and sand to begin swirling up in the currents of air.
"...oops?" Alexis said
"They . . . don't like new things." she whispers "We needed to try and like improve their stuff without making it new. It needs to like not be new . . . now."
"Welp, Plan B showing them something new was really bad apparently." Diamond winces and she closes her eyes as she whips out her dedicated tool "All of you grab onto me Now"
(This close to the settlement there's a lot less than elsewhere? But there's rubble and such all throughout this domain, yeah. Depends on what you're looking for in terms of debris.)
"I want to know if the water does what I think it does." Aletheia said
Alexis scoots back and puts a hand on Kay's shoulder, her other hand fishing out her pen as she drops the multitool in a pocket
She would place a hand on Kay
The wind gains in intensity, whipping the ash and smoke and dust into a black cloud that begins to assume a vaguely humanoid form. A feminine to androgynous sort of shape. It coasts over the ground on a swirling bed of tiny dust devils, appearing a bit like a many-legged squid dancing across the dusty plain. The hips on up is more distinct, particularly the face which is quite defined and centered with two flame red eyes. The head fades into tendrils of smoke and ash, making it appear like the creature's hair is blowing upwards in a wind tunnel, or as though its head were on fire with flames made of ash.
The creature is roughly twice the height of a human, too, and appears glaring at the group. Alexis in particular. Its voice carries like a whisper of sand across the bleached bones of a carcass in a strong wind. "You have transgressed."
Kotahitanga puts a hand on Diamond.
Diamond takes a deep breath and looks at the creature before her, she seems eerily calm at this point and looks up, she seems ready to do a thing, in case this turns out worse. "Apologies, we were attempting to learn of the rules of this domain and it led us to it." she speaks in a low hushed tone "What reparation do you seek for it?" She asks, curious
"The apologies of the living mean nothing to the dead. You will destroy everything on your persons that is fulfilling its original purpose. All that is made will be re-made. That is the Law." The creature extends its arm, pointing an inordinately long finger made of swirling ash and soot at the cluster of them all. "I will then permit you to live if you leave this place and take your ignorance with you."
"You're right, the apologies and ignorance of the living hold no influence over the dominion of the deceased. However, we still have business that we need to accomplish within this realm and the dead are not always allowed to return to the world of the living, we are. Perhaps there is some other recompense we can make that will allow us to continue on our way, fulfill our mission, and then do something for you in the world of the living that won't upset the cosmic balance?" She would ask curiously in a gentle, comforting and soft voice (May I make an attempt to persuade?)
"I did not create the Law. I enforce it. You have transgressed it. You continue to transgress it. You are bartering with me in order to transgress it further. It is my belief you are contemptuous of the law. You are alien here. You do not belong. I know your stench, Moros, and I know your powers. Now you will hear my mercy."
The being draws upwards to half again its height, rising on its bed of swirling dust and smoke.
"You will leave this domain and you will not return this way again. If I find you here a second time and you continue to transgress? I will re-make you all in my image. And all your precious trinkets and trifles that you cling to in life I will shatter into pieces, tear into tatters, mix into your gruel, and feed to you until they pass through you. And when it is all gone, you will starve in my dungeon and rot. I will sell your dusty bones to the nomads of the wastes. You will be currency and a warning. Now go. And enjoy your possessions that you respect more than this place you intrude upon; and more than me."
The being points down river with one hand, upriver with the other. "Go."
Rīpeka glances between the others. "Anyone object to doing exactly that?"
There is a profound frown on Kay now and she stares at the ground as if trying to contain some form of emotional response and she nods without word to leaves, shaking her head to what Ripeka says and make a motion to follow her.
She lets out a small sigh and motions out of the area and along a different path down before whispering "Sorry, that was my fault. I thought we all picked up on that there. I'll be more vocal with my observations going forward."
Kay pat her shoulder. "Look, we can talk about this in a normal fashion when we're out, I don't think we're mad about anything. You got us out safe." she then keeps moving toward the bridge.
"I'm growing a little tired of speaking in this tone, is everyone alright with me linking our minds?" she'd look between everyone, softly speaking
The Kerebos doesn't pursue them, but it watches them like a hawk as they head down the path to the bridge at the front of the settlement. Ghosts mill on the walls and around the gate, watching the banishment of the group with sunken eyes and hollow faces. The desperate and the dead, these unfortunate souls. It's hard to tell if they're watching the progression in pity or in envy, really.
Once they step onto the grassy plain on the opposite bank, the winds die down and the towering kerebos simply dissolves on the wind, its component dust and ash sinking slowly to the ground as its eyes burn away to sparks, carried off on the wind.
"I'm fine with that," Rīpeka nods to Aletheia.
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