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

Hijinks ensue

[notquitedracula]

[So there he was, on the precipice of what was probably going to be the most dangerous hour of his entire life. The door was open, he was armed to the teeth and wearing armor that would stop a tank round point blank. Time to show chaos who's boss!

...and then he steps through the door, only to find himself in what looks suspiciously like a reception area. The effect is so jarring that he doesn't immediately notice he's in a room full of demons; probably a good thing, since his policy up to this point has been 'kill them before they can kill me'.

Stunned, he turns to the gatekeeper (not noticing her ears).]

...I... how... where... huh? What in the world's going on here?!

[lazyvassals]

[The Gatekeeper's usual calm is starting to crack, but she still manages to stay polite, despite.]

I cannot tell you beyond that the dimensional gate seems to have broken. My apologies, but I cannot send you back.

[It sounds like she's done this spiel quite a few times.]

[notquitedracula]

[...And just like that, you lost him.]

Dimensional gate? I'm guessing this isn't the heart of chaos, then - not that I thought it was to begin with, but that's where I'm supposed to be. It's rather important that I get there as quickly as possible - is there any other way?

[...and now, now he notices the ears. And the zombie in the corner. And the other, progressively less human denizens of the room. Is that a sword in his coat, or is he just not glad to see them? ...Nope, definitely a sword. A great big shiny one, and it's not in his coat anymore, it's in his hand.]

What the hell is going on here?! This isn't any part of the castle I've seen before...

[lazyvassals]

That's because this is not the castle you must have left. This is the Overlord's Castle in the Netherworld. I'm afraid there seems to be something wrong with the dimensional gate at this time.

[She shakes her head, eyes still closed.]

I cannot send you anywhere.

[notquitedracula]

[The general lack of reaction to brandishing a rather large blade from so many of what he would have pegged as vicious monsters ten minutes previously stymies him for a second; when no one offers to attack (or be attacked), he slumps a bit and rests the blade on his shoulder. Well, it beats the hell out of the alternative, at least.]

O...kay. So, uh, is there anyone around who might know how to get out of here, then?

[lazyvassals]

[She shakes her head.]

Very unlikely. This is the main form of transportation here in the Netherworld and I am the gatekeeper. Few know how to use it as I do.

[So if she says it's broke and doesn't know why... yeaaah.]

[notquitedracula]

That's not exactly what I'd call promising news...

[He looks around, finds the door and asks to be let out. Of course, that ain't happening, the gate guard's too lazy. Sooo, he's gonna wander off in search of the castle's master.]