Welcome to the Netherworld!

[lazyvassals]

[It is difficult to define what a normal afternoon is by Netherworld standards. In the dark, torch-lit halls of the Overlord's Castle, penguin-suited prinnies totter about pretending to do work, while most other vassals make no effort at all to pretend. No fights have broken out yet, but it is questionable how long that will last with the Overlord being awake. It is just the sort of calm that comes before something unexpected happens, or someone makes it happen out of boredom.

And that is precisely when the first stranger comes through the swirling vortex of the Dimensional Gate.

It doesn't seem so unusual at first, because people use that gate on a daily basis. But more people start to show up, people who aren't demons. The Gatekeeper herself has no idea where they've come from, or how they've found their way to the Netherworld.

Unfortunately, neither do the unexpected guests.]

Comments

[bound_skyward]

I'm fine...

[The "Netherworld?" That sounds close enough to the afterlife, doesn't it? It's either that or a place that ought to be populated by dwarves. Either way, Kain isn't convinced. His memories of that final battle won't let him believe anything else.]

Are you entirely certain about that? [He moves to get up, finds it hurts too much, and then drops back into a half-crouch. Ow. Ugh. Some afterlife he's been sent to, if he's still worn out from that battle...]

[wannabesaint]

Of course I am. Why would I be dead? Everything was fine about a minute ago--

[Whoa there! She was about to get up as well, but his fall made her crouch back down as well. He's hurt, isn't it? Damn, she's not the one with most of the healing spells... where the heck was her brother, he was there a minute ago...]

Okay, no, you're not fine. Who did this to you?

[Maybe the demons were waiting to ambush them after all...]

[bound_skyward]

Well, I'm certain that this is the afterlife...

[Kain gasps, grimacing and trying to hold back the pain. Really, they couldn't have healed him when he crossed over to the next world? It seems all very strange.]

No one... [Pained sound.] No one simply 'did this'... it happened in battle.

[wannabesaint]

Hey now, I'm pretty sure that if you were dead, you wouldn't be half on the floor. Plus, do I look dead to you?

[She nods, content about her own conclusions, though it quickly fades away and gives way to exasperation.]

Well yeah... I kinda gathered it was from a battle... you don't go walking into town wearing that. Urgh... where's Culotte when you need him? Just... gimme a sec here, okay?

[She claps her hands in a prayer and shortly after, a small light appears over Kain and heals him. It's not the best healing possible, but he should at least feel less pain and be able to get up. Healing miracles are just not her forte.]

[bound_skyward]

You don't look it... [Nor does he feel dead, though he's certain he isn't supposed to feel much of anything in such a state. This whole thing is confusing him.]

[At least they seem to have white mages here... Kain sighs with relief. He's at least... improved from before. He gets up, but he's still very pale, and drained of energy. He probably won't be able to get far... and would be best brought somewhere to rest. Not that he'll admit that.]

...You've my thanks, for that. I'm better now.

[wannabesaint]

[Well, more like a monk with a few random healing spells due to her job, but the point is, it helped. But yeah, one look at him tells her the exact same thing: he needs rest. Small problem though... this is the Netherworld, where exactly can you rest when you're surrounded by demons?

Sure... there's a huge sign that says "HOSPITAL" not too far from here, but... well, are hospitals supposed to have giant swords and axes sticking out of the walls?]

Clearly not enough though... urgh... Especially not for the Netherworld...

[Crap, what was she supposed to do now? Demon Hospital just... doesn't seem like a good idea to her...]

[bound_skyward]

Then you know of this place? Can you tell me anything about it?

[Kain tries to divert the conversation away from his condition, at least for the moment. He rubs at his forehead a bit, hating that he feels so weak and overall weary. But after where he's just come from... it's a surprise he's even moving around at all.]

[wannabesaint]

There's not really much to know. It's the Netherworld, home of demons, dark energy, big nasty monsters... stuff like that. Usually, if there's too much darkness back home, gates will pop up and demons would come out. We used to go down here to train but...

This place is new, though. Don't ever recall ending up in a castle... with shops and everything... [Nevermind that she didn't even remember stepping through a gate in the first place.]

Usually, there's more gates around and eventually one leads you back to the human world... but I haven't found it yet.

And... err, that's pretty much it?

[bound_skyward]

We're in... a land filled with things of darkness? How comforting.

[The sarcasm is of course pretty evident in the end of his statement. That whole thing catches his interest even more than the notion of finding a way home. Perhaps because he'd accepted his fate in the manikin battle, and so isn't really expecting to be home. He hadn't been expecting to be alive at all. Kain grips his head a moment, feeling it ache for more than just the reasons of the battle's toll. Ugh... What if that side of him comes forth again?]

[wannabesaint]

Pretty much.

... on the other hand, no demon has attacked yet.

[She seems honestly surprised at this. Usually it would be "kill on sight" in the Dark World. Here? Not even a single, small argument.]

... hey, you still don't look good... Are you sure you're okay?

[bound_skyward]

Are their attacks that common of an occurrence?

[Kain winces a bit, gripping his head again, but tries to shrug it off, though he's feeling a bit... unsteady right now.]

I'm fine, it's nothing... if there's as much danger as you imply, I can be ready to face it in a moment's notice.

[wannabesaint]

In the place I usually end up in, yeah. Pretty much non stop as soon as they spot you. But here...

[Yeah, even you can see that no one is giving a single damn about us. On the other hand, she can't help but sigh at his next comment.]

You were about to drop a few minutes ago. I'm pretty sure you're not really up to face anything.

[bound_skyward]

Ah... [Kain shakes his head, as if he can simply deny it and that would be enough to make him regain his full strength. It's not, though.] Even so, I'll do what I must, no matter my condition. I've just come from a war... [He gasps a little, wavering on his feet a little.] ...and there was no choice but to keep fighting no matter what. I can surely do the same here...

[wannabesaint]

Urgh... why do guys always have to act like this?

Look, fine. I don't know how strong you are, but maybe you would normally be able to kick their butts. But right now? I could probably knock you out by poking you too hard! How the heck are you planning on taking them all out if they decide to attack us? You'd be killed for real this time!

Just... let's find a place to rest and you'll be back up in no time and ready to do some damage.

[bound_skyward]

[Kain still has to wonder what would even happen here, in this world. If he died again, what would become of him? It all feels so strange, almost not real.]

Still... I can't rest for very long, if there's any threat of danger...

[He sounds reluctant but at least he's sort of agreeing to it.]

[wannabesaint]

[Priere honestly wouldn't know, but would highly suggest you do not try to find out!]

Don't worry, don't worry, if anything tries to attack anyone, I'll just punch them out. Now... we just have to find a place to actually rest...

[They ARE right near the hospital... not that it looks very inviting. Still... no demon HAS attacked yet and the lady in front looks like she's more after our cash then our lives, so... Priere looks at Kain; your call on this one.]

[bound_skyward]

[Kain looks to be pretty reluctant, surely he doesn't need that much care... or does he...? Because as he starts to move away, he again half-collapses. Yeah, ok, maybe that will be needed after all, much as he'd rather not.]

As long as they understand, I cannot stay long...

[wannabesaint]

[Not only do they understand, but the nurse pretty much agrees with the idea. In fact, she seems to agree so much that she's the one who makes the first move and heads towards him, ready to drag him to a free bed.]

Something tells me they won't mind at all...

You okay with this?

[bound_skyward]

Do I have much choice?

[Especially when he's being forcefully dragged along like this. Kain can't resist too well, as worn out as he is. It was a harsh battle, after all.]

[wannabesaint]

I-I guess not...

[Wow, forceful. Remind her not to get hurt here.]

Well... good luck. If she tries anything, just scream! I'll be right there!

[bound_skyward]

I'll keep that in mind...

[Kain scowls at the forceful treatment, but he can't do much else against it. Sigh. As long as he doesn't stay long. He's going to do all he can to avoid that.]

...it may be necessary before long.