un: civil serpent | video.

[inferus]

( The video opens on the largest fissure in the Room of Seals, revealing the stairs that lead into the dark. Black eyes dart into view and then fade. The imagery shifts to the many other cracks filling the room. Wrath speaks, voice hard and ancient in the way of war: )

This version of Hell grows more restless by the hour. The dark water we've encountered before infects it. Every act of violence and rage, every death and spirit feed it further.

( Wrath's hand dips into the largest fissure. The dark liquid smoke pouring out of it wraps around his palm and the length of his arm. As if greeting an old, almost-familiar friend. He spreads his palm out and the smoke obeys, skittering back in through the crack.

The temperature in the room dips then. Ice pours from him across and within the fissure, sealing it. The ice continues to spread from his point of contact across the floor and walls, spilling into the hallway. The ground quakes as he pushes back against the power attempting to shove its way out.

The video then turns to Wrath: his gold eyes flash with anger, with violence that he pulls back within himself. His jaw locks as he surveys the room. )

...this will not hold long. These fissures will split the room open, but we may buy them time to replenish their forces and allow for more of their people to escape.

If you have magic or power, if you are capable of guarding and sending messages in the days to come, go to the Room of Seals. I will be waiting.

Comments

[inferus]

( Wrath has only ever had one master - his Maker, and he fell from Heaven, clawed on to his throne in Hell to avoid ever having another. )

So you speak from pride then - as if your experiences are the only truth. At the same time, you show your inexperience. Gateways to Hell cannot be banished as the realms themselves cannot be. Balance is required. ( Hell must exist. )

I do not care what you think of me. I only care that you do not worsen the problem.

[matermali]

No pride, only wretchedness...by his hand. If Hell is to feed on hatred and misery—in my world and this one—why should I believe yours to be any different? Would you claim that your Satan does not relish the people's sin in the same way?

[ Rhetorical question, but she wouldn't believe anything he says, anyway. He is literally named after a sin. ]

I said it was my wish, not that I thought it possible. ...But I do not see how there must always be one. There is no such gateway where I come from.

[ It's her. She's the gateway where she comes from. ]

And you are mistaken if you suggest that I am here to do anything except help in correcting the problem. I have been working near that room more day and night, even playing maid for those within, and I am intimate with the danger it may pose for everyone.

[inferus]

Then you have answered your own question - there are differences between Hells across worlds if not every one has a gateway.

( His does. This one does. Wrath would never claim not to relish people's anger, people's fear, because he does. It feeds him, feeds his own power. He enjoys both a great deal.

There is no claim within this post that he is good nor pure (he gave that up when he chose to fell - better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven), but he purposefully avoids responding to any questions about his Satan. )

So you have not been tempted by what lies beneath then?

[matermali]

[ That wasn't an answer at all, it only suggests that his Hell might not be the same horrible soul-sucking sort. It's the kind of non-answer that Vanessa might have used to sidestep someone else's question. Irritating! ...Amusing.

No. There is simply no way he's any sort of demon that would seek to help mankind. What demon cares about balance? ]

No.

[ How convincing was that? ]

How is it that you are not tempted? There is nothing familiar there that wishes you to free it?

[inferus]

( Wrath does not answer her No, but the wide length of time that follows that single utterance is answer enough that he does not believe her.

Of course his temptation with Hell does not include freeing any aspect of it. His temptation is to reign in it, to become king of it and have it obey him as his own does, to turn this Hell into one like his, but he does not expand upon that. )

Any individual who exists within Hell is familiar to the temptations within it, and I am well versed in being unaffected by it. ( His mental barriers are strong, and his willpower is stronger. )

I suggest you learn to do the same, but for now, you should keep your distance or risk our efforts.

[matermali]

[ Is a Hell creature trying to keep her away from Hell? Vanessa really is going mad.

She knows it's better for her to stay away, but for him to be the one to say it absolutely grates her. She's been helping the paladins this whole time and hasn't sabotaged anything, has she? It's been something to prove to herself, if anything. ]

You cannot conceive of what I have resisted. A mistake to question my control. I want nothing of Hell. You think yourself the protector of these people? You, a demon. [ She can't accept this. ] And me the danger?

You will not keep me from my work.

[inferus]

You protest too much. It gives you away. ( Wrath's voice remains neutral as he moves through the room, ensuring there are no weak spots in it. ) I have never claimed to be anyone's protector. I am well aware of what I am.

( He is aware of his strengths and weaknesses - few though those weaknesses may be, aware of his temptations as well, and he has worked a long time to have the type of willpower he can wield, protecting his mind from outside influence, keeping the beast within locked away at all times. )

You have one chance. If your work strengthens Hell in the slightest, I will keep you from the Room of Seals. ( It is not up for debate, and with that he shuts off the feed, he does not have time to debate or explain his intentions to anyone. Actions are more valuable to him and always have been. )

[matermali]

[ He insisted on having the last word when leaving her apartment, too... Infuriating. For him of all creatures to be the one to threaten her over her risk-factor is...absolutely too much for her to comprehend.

She'll need to investigate that ice once a friendly acquaintance is on guard. Never has she seen a demon—anyone—use magic like that. Best to know what she could be up against if something should happen and he thinks to blame her. ]