Fantasy Hunter's Moon: The Sin & Sentence [IC] [CLOSED]

[Fubuki]

Aliana jolted from the hand on her shoulder, looking towards whoever it might be. She didn't know who it was, but the calming voice left her feeling more reassured than the bite of Gwen's scolding. The intensity of the person who laid the hand on her left her feeling a bit uneasy, but thankful for the encouragement nonetheless.

With her best effort, Aliana released the tension from her shoulders, her rifle being returned, specifically making sure to keep the barrel pointed away from her face. "Maybe I'll live," she thought to herself, "Just stick with the taller people..."

 

[Doomevil]

Senya raised up her hand slowly, looking at Cassiel, “What’s going to happen as soon as we enter through that door? Should we expect trouble once we enter?”

 

[Dmaster]

Hudson stayed just within earshot of Cassiel, passively looking to the gate while the others were gathered. At the mention of working with yet more demons, leather creaked at his sides as he clenched his fists in held back anger. Ascended or not, he did not trust demons. They all would have ulterior schemes or motives, even if they could be assumed good. That's just what they want.

The hunter fumed in anger to himself, steeling himself for the journey to come without saying a word. Their success was slim, even slimmer now that they have invited filth from the Abyss to work with them. Vampires and werewolves were one thing, but this? Velin was sending them to their deserved deaths.

 

[Infab]

“What’s going to happen as soon as we enter through that door? Should we expect trouble once we enter?”

Cassiel looked to Senya. "As soon as the door opens, you will be allowed into a black tunnel. At the other end is a door exactly like this one. Just continue to walk towards the other door, and step out when it opens. There's no need to expect trouble on the other side. You may find corpses near the door. Simply victims of the statue you will encounter. Ignore the statue, as it isn't meant to stop you."

He then motioned for some of the group to move out of the way, walking towards the door. He stopped a few yards from it, and looked back to them. "You see that the door does not have handles, or any physical way to open it, correct? Vincent, would you please step up to the door?" he said, before motioning to Vincent. Vincent quietly nodded, before walking over and up to the door itself. The skulls around the door's archways began to glow, red orbs appearing in their empty eye sockets. Then, a hellish voice announced something which echoed past them into the forest. It started the horses briefly. "MURDER BORN OF WRATH." it announced, and then, there was a rumble. The door shook a bit, before opening up slowly, folding inward down the middle. Inside was utter blackness. Vincent glanced back to Cassiel, whom motioned him through with a smile. He glanced to the others, before turning back about and stepping into the blackness. Then, the door shut behind him. Returning to its previous state.

Cassiel then looked back to the others. "Next?"

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

“Guess I’ll go.”

Loque steps up, eager to be next.

 

[Infab]

As Loque stepped up to the door, the skulls lit up once more. But nothing was announced. Instead, the door simply opened like it did with Vincent. She could now pass through, and she quietly did after a little hesitation.

 

[Doomevil]

Senya nodded, figuring how the process worked. Once Vincent and Loque stepped in she volunteered to go next. She stepped up to the door, fully prepared.

 

[Emperor Sagan]

Inari was a little disappointed that the angel wouldn't join them, so that was another lost piece of entertainment. Hopefully she wouldn't be bored to death on this journey.

When the ethereal voice spoke up from Vincent approaching the door, Inari glanced around at the air and their surroundings wondering what was even talking. She figured it was probably some decent illusion magic rather than an actual creature. Then again, they were at the door to hell, so it was possibly there could be something lurking around.

Sadly she wouldn't be able to play pretend with her innocence, though she knew the others likely suspected more about her. It was simply a little game to her. Plausible deniability, as a scholar told her once.

She stepped forwards at about the same time as Senya, but allowed the woman to go first given she was closer.

 

[Dmaster]

Hudson was prepared to go after Vincent but scowled as Loque cut in front of him. He seemed far more passivr with Senya and Inari stepping up next however. After they both proceeded inside he marched up to the door, awaiting judgment from the ethereal voice.

 

[SniperComZero]

A solemn nod was all that Aliana was given, before Gwen turned her sights towards the door. Impressive, though she supposed that's what would be expected of demon magic. She slung her rifle over her shoulder, nerves causing her to twirl a bullet around between her fingers before stepping up next in queue. It's fine. It might tell their sins, but all that matters is that they can work together and get through alive. Not what they think of each other.

...Right?

 

[EdwardDewey98]

Jakob let out a little sigh, looking over his guns while walking towards the door. But before that, he stopped near Cassiel. "Uhm...thanks again for earlier. I...uh...really mean it." He gave the angel a smile, before walking up to the door. He then glanced back, exchanging one last look with Velin, before stepping in behind Hudson and whispering to the man. "Lets hope for the best."

 

[Fubuki]

The loud, booming voice of the door made her cover her ears. Even with the...angel boys reassurance, there isn't much she can encourage herself with to step forward. She eventually finds herself shuffling after the one who scolded her, and plants herself behind the elf woman with the flat chest. "This isn't so bad..." She said to herself. "Cover ears, ignore loud door." Aliana repeated her instructions as she waited behind Gwen.

She clenched the amulet in her hand tightly, already knowing what the door might say.

 

[Dmaster]

"No 'best' when it comes with me, chap. Believe me." Hudson replied, turning his head to see Jakob slightly. "... Appreciated, though. Even if you have no business here I have to respect why you've come. Even if you're a jackass for leaving your kid behind."

 

[joshuadim]

Venextos had no hesitation for whatever his crimes would be stated, for he was only guilty in trying to do the right thing. As such, he stood in front of the door and awaited the signal to pass through.

 

[Infab]

As Senya stepped up, the door prepared itself once again before announcing "MURDER BORN OF ENVY." The door soon opened, and Senya stepped through. Next up was Inari. "MURDER BORN OF VAINGLORY." Then, Hudson. "MURDER BORN OF GREED." Followed by Jakob. "MURDER BORN OF SLOTH." After Jakob came Gwen. "MURDER BORN OF LUST." Then came Aliana. "MURDER BORN OF WRATH." And then Venextos. "MURDER BORN OF PRIDE."

The others soon came up. Takato stepped up, and the door opened without a word for him. Confusion set in, but he pressed on and the door shut behind him. Wesley moved in behind him, and the door announced his sin. "MURDER BORN OF VAINGLORY." Seriphine then stepped up. "MURDER BORN OF PRIDE." The same was said for Uloth, whom followed behind. Anya moved up, and hers was soon announced. "MURDER BORN OF WRATH." Then, Riberta and Henderson were up. Henderson went first. "MURDER BORN OF GLUTTONY." followed by Riberta's "MURDER BORN OF PRIDE."

All of them passed through the door, continuing on through the black tunnel before stepping through another door at the other end. As the door opened, a cold gust of wind hit each of them. They were now in the Abyss. And just as Cassiel had mentioned, there were various rotting corpses scattered about around the door. What had happened here could only be described as a massacre. There were guts and gore strewn everywhere, and standing before them in the middle of the mess was a stone-like feminine statue. It was stained in the blood of the demons scattered around it. Yet it didn't move as they emerged from the door and moved about it.

 

[Fubuki]

Aliana flinched as she heard her judgement, before walking through the door with the ones before her. The smell.. The horrid stench of death greeted Aliana with open arms. The corpses reminded her directly of her killings, having suppressed the images so far up until now.

A hand shot to her mouth as she kept down whatever food she may have eaten in the past few hours. Blood, limbs, guts. Tears well up in her eyes, her hands quivering in full force, her knees locking in place. This really was her punishment after all. She didn't know how the others could handle this, if she could handle this mission at all.

 

[K0mori]

Having now heard the terrible truth of the journey she was being set upon, Anya felt a creeping sense of dread. Was it possible for her fate to become even more hopeless? She didn't even want to approach the door, but seeing others do it, she let out a sigh, which, due to unseen changes within her, sounded more like a dog's whine. Her eyes turned yellow as she approached, trying to focus on the Gods' wishes. She was bound for damnation anyway, but perhaps it won't have been in vain.

By the time she reached the threshold, she was barely holding onto her human form, as her ears had gone sharp and sprouted black dude, and her hands had been overtaken by gnarled flesh that rearranged itself into her familiar claws. The voice boomed out it's approving judgement and the dark tunnel revealed itself to her. She felt an urge to run in sheer terror, and she collapsed unwillingly to all fours. Shamefully, she plodded forward, her tail now appearing as she foamed at the mouth, stuck in a half-transformed state.

But then, suddenly, she made it. All at once she realized that she was in the Abyss, and that nothing had immediately happened. In fact, it was rather calm, here. Sitting up and looking around, transfixed on the eerie surroundings, Anya slowly lost her more animalistic traits. She stared in silence and forced herself to breathe evenly.

 

[EdwardDewey98]

Jakob looked at the hellish landscape around him. The stench of gore made him cough up a bit, before looking at Vincent. "Well, boss...time to go, right?" Jakob began moving just a few feet ahead, stopping to stare at the feminine demon statue for a bit before stepping over the demon carcasses. "I wonder...if Ethraeil is still down here." he said, looking around at their surroundings. He pumped his shotgun, as he continued forward.

 

[joshuadim]

"Merde..." Venextos remarked with disgust as he saw the grusome scene laid out before everyone. He could only wonder what had happened here. Poor souls trying to escape? Or something worse? When Jakob spoke up he turned to him with a smile. "Like I said before monsieur, you needn't worry about him."

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

The sounds of a rifle rattling in Loque’s shaky arms accompany those of her slow footsteps as she trembles down the path, knee deep in blood. She just can’t seem to stop shaking, and isn’t sure why. Is it the blood that’s been splattered everywhere? Is it the slashed and sliced innards scattered about? Is it the lingering smell of iron and rot in the air? Is the bodies, the ones “lucky” enough to still be somewhat recognizable? She looks at one of them. It’s dead grey eyes stare right back into her own. She nearly drops her rifle, barely stopping herself from screaming. Maybe living in the comforts of clean luxury for so long had been such a detriment to her; she’d very nearly forgotten what her old lifestyle of cruelty and suffering was like, but seeing this is all it takes for every single agonizing memory of the Abyss to painfully surface from the depths of her mind.

Perhaps, that’s what’s scaring her. She’s finally back home.

 

[Dmaster]

He felt a numbness move through him as they traversed the black tunnel, yet whether or not that was the product of his own outlook or the shifting of planes was anyone's guess. The announcement of their sins should not have been a surprise to anyone, and while Hudson wasn't exactly shameless the guilt of his actions followed him everywhere. It was why he was here in the first place, after all.

When he emerged he was ready, sword already drawn and the caged flames they were attached to held by the chain in his offhand. Stepping over the corpses he looked toward the expanse before them, breath visible as it pushed out of his mask. "I think we are off to meet our demonic 'benefactors'." he muttered as he began to shuffle on ahead.

 

[SniperComZero]

As the group walked down the tunnel, Gwenaelle hugged herself, rubbing back and forth over her shoulders, compelled by the chill. Then something hit her nose. A smell utterly foul. She looked up, face scrunched into a pained ball, looking to the light at the end of the tunnel. Then she saw it. Piles high, of gore and bodies. They seemed mostly cleared away, but there was still the not uncommon sight of severed arms, or rotting heads, strewn about the place. All the stone around looked like it was a deep crimson, stained eternally in blood. The sight was fresh, but the smell was like a weeks-old mass grave.

...Gwen wouldn't doubt that's what it actually was.

She froze up on the sight, the smell nearly making her retch a couple times, and taking all of her willpower not to simply feint in the eerie, black tunnel. Shakily, she brought her hands up to her head, pulling both scarf and hood tight around it. Gwenaelle walked, a noticable shiver in her step, with her eyes pointed low to the ground. She just-- just had to think of something else. To try and take her mind off of the soul-crushing scene laid out before her.

"MURDER BORN OF LUST." ...She was hardly the cleanest person around (and by historical accounts, was actually perhaps the worst of her family), but she had never killed out of lust. At worst, she would've expected it out of greed. Envy, perhaps. Maybe pride? Just what did the door mean?

 

[Emperor Sagan]

Inari stepped carefully forwards with the others, one hand on the hilt of her spirit blade and the other keeping the scabbard steady. The angel said there would be no danger ahead for them, but that didn't mean he was right. Ambushes happen. One didn't always know one was ahead. The cold air sent a mild chill through her body, and when the smell of blood and gore reached her, it reminded her of most winters on campaign. Unlike many lords, she was willing to force an army through snow and ice. It often brought great pain to the troops, but victory was warmer than any campfire, and her men knew that.

As they continued further in towards the area where the stone demon stood, Inari eyed the scene with great admiration for this demonic guardian. This place... this place wasn't so bad. Her hands slipped away from her blade as she appraised the scene with a smile, her lips curling with delight. She took in a deep breath and let out a slow sigh. One of the most pleasant smells in the world.

When she noticed a number of others moving in look rather terrified or discomforted, she laughed loudly, arms splayed wide.

"Come now, soldiers, this is field of glory! Take deep breath and remember it well!"

She turned back to the guardian statue and bowed far lower for it than anyone else, including Velin. She held her hands in some strange gesture at waist level. If there was any sin around here, it would be the sin of not paying respect to such a great and powerful kami. There should be a shrine here. Perhaps she'd make one for it.

 

[Damian0358]

As the others slowly entered through the gate, Takato grew more anxious, especially having been told about the door's revealing of one's sin. The time approached, and soon, he was next in line. He approached the gate, and hoped that it would indeed say something. And yet, just as it had for Loque, the door opened without uttering a single word, witnessed by Wesley, Seriphine, Uloth, Anya, Henderson and Riberta.

He briefly turned around, looking back at Cassiel and Velin. Cassiel gave him a brief thumbs up and a soft smile, as the two seemed to discuss something. He responded with a quick nod, before heading inside. He wondered what it was they were discussing, though most likely it revolved around the reason why the door spoke without uttering anything...

The fact that he was an oni, one of the southern kind. The fact that none had asked about his true nature was relieving, true, especially for those who could possibly sense auras like him (as they, if sensitive enough, could've noted that, beneath the holy aura that enveloped him, there was a smidget of aura reminiscent to Loque's, indicative of his demonic heritage, which he has already minimized through qi control). For all they knew, he was just an ordinary Upper Redonian siennyin, or hermit as they called such men, one who has lived for the past eight centuries through his adherence to the Dou. And that wasn't a lie either. It just omitted what his species truly was... he did wish that the door had said something however, not for the purposes of concealment, but for the purpose of knowledge, for what if he was allowed into the Abyss anyway even if he weren't of demonic descent?

His thought process would find itself broken once he reached the other side, a cold gust nearly blowing off his skullcap, which covered his upper forehead too, concealing where the base of his now-shaven horns laid, and his zhuāngzi jīn cap. He looked around, seeing the corpses and gore which laid across the space they had entered. Just as Cassiel mentioned... the statue stained in blood seemed to briefly turn in his direction, before turning back to how it was. He watched, as the remainder entered.

Inari spoke up as people arrived, laughing and yelling as though this scene was natural for her... and he was sure that it was. Was it not the Red River where they say that bodies are still being found? And then she approached the statue and bowed for it, as though it were anything more than a deterrent and defeater of demons attempting to leave. Of all in the group thus far, he wished to be with her the least. He glanced down at his own hands, as he considered the thought of having to actually fight demons, with his right hand, nay, right arm still being completely wrapped in bandages. That was another thing he realized no one had asked about, which he was glad for, not having emphasized it terribly just now.

 

[Fubuki]

The whole area was surreal, like taking a page out of a horror story surreal. Yet it was too familiar, everything from the blood pools to the corpse piles only reminded her of her failure to control herself. She watched the others, seeing one person nearly turn into a werebeast just from stepping in. Had she known there were others like her here? Everything was becoming a blur. The others, some either reveled in the blood or didn't care at the sight. Her world was spinning, the smell of blood bringing her back to the day she killed eleven people. Or was it twelve? Twenty?

Were all these corpses her victims? She held her aching head in her hands, refusing to succumb to these rapid, intrusive thoughts, full well knowing it will make her situation worse. Were it not for the amulet she's clenching in her hand, she would be a beast by now. Aliana can already feel herself starting to turn however, the nails on her fingers growing and sharpening into points, her senses doubling in sensitivity as she fights back with what little strength she has left.

"Relax... I'm safe! I am!" She yelled at herself through her mind, even if she shut her eyes the smell of carnage kept bringing her anger back. She looked up, seeing the others walk by even through her tunnel vision. They've seen worse, why can't she cope as well? "Just calm down." She muttered to herself over and over as she forced one leg past the other, moving past shattered limbs or disembodied torsos. Be like the ones at the front, heroically charging forward...or something.