[Closed] Field trip to the Underworld

[faceguy]

Who: Leo faceguy, Donnie purplexing, Accelerator levelshift, Huvrye effiomsfavorite, Jason 2 reneger, and Nico dimigoth
What: Leo's dead, but hopefully this condition can be fixed
When: Late February, after the battle with the Atlanteans
Where: Sunset Falls, the Underworld
Content Warnings: idk it's hell? violence? dead people?

Leo died. At least it happened fast.

Balthier died as well. The Alliance made their choice, and Balthier was brought back. Even one starfallen radiating cosmic energy is a massive risk, and so they did not bring Leo back alongside him. Instead, his soul was left to go to Hades, with the other dead from the war.

All is not lost, however. Leo's body is taken by the Alliance and put in stasis, and his family contacted. Go to the high school gym in Sunset Falls, enter the Underworld, and guide Leo's soul back to the surface. They have 72 hours.

Should be easy enough, right?

[[OOC: I'll be putting specific comment headers in this post that break down the different parts of the trip. If you want anything else specific, hit me up at dandywonderous!]]

Comments

Part 1: Sunset Falls

[faceguy]

Donnie and Huvrye are called to Alliance Headquarters. Leo's body is there, suspended in stasis, still and drawn. There's a chance to save him, they're told, but they'll have to act fast. Assemble anyone they trust, anyone they think will be useful, and head to the high school gym in Sunset Falls. If they enter the Underworld from there, there's a chance they can bring Leo back.

It's late now, and the gym is empty and quiet. The way down is open for them now. Getting into the Underworld is easy enough, but getting out is almost impossible. If there's any preparations they want to make, now is the time.

[[OOC: Basically if there's any threads you want to do before going in, this is the place!]]

[purplexing]

Everything's been something of a blur since the battle. Donnie's not entirely sure he even knows the outcome of it, and up until finally seeing his brother's body, he'd felt considerably detached from the rest of the world. Reality all came flooding in rather rudely, this display like a forceful confirmation of a truth he'd been refusing to accept. He was only half-listening to the explanation and might have even half-convinced himself this was all just some really terrible dream.

Even now that they're at the gym, the whole venture sounds like some bizarre fantasy quest. In all honesty, Donnie hardly looks ready to be embarking on any sort of trip, giving off the general sense of a precariously locked down coiled spring. He hardly feels like he'd gotten any rest since Huvrye had retrieved him from the battlefield. If he'd somehow managed any sleep at all, he doesn't remember it. He grips his bō tightly, looking anxiously towards where they're supposedly to go. He also hasn't said a word, but he's been like that since Huvrye had found him.

Part 2: Cerberus

[faceguy]

The first obstacle is Cerberus, the three-headed dog.

He guards the path forward, not letting anyone in or out. Three sets of snapping jaws, three sets of sharp eyes, three keen noses to sniff out trouble. Getting past him won't be easy, but it's the only way ahead.

If anyone has a plan for how to do that, now's the time to speak up!

[[OOC: This part can probably be one thread. Kia has called Huvrye fighting Cerberus to get past.]]

[demigoth]

"The Cerberus I know," Nico says quietly so that the name won't draw the dog before they've thought up a plan, "likes honey cakes and fetch with bouncy balls."

He pulls a hand in his pocket, because yes, he's brought a spaldeen for this. "Or bones, but I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable."

[purplexing]

Canine or not, Donnie looks more than a little dubious about the suggestions Nico makes. Then again, if Gus can still give into his doggie instincts, then maybe a bigger demon dog will too. Of course, Gus wasn't the brightest crayon in the box...

"And...if this one isn't like the one you know?" he puts forth.

Not that he wouldn't prefer it to be like whatever version Nico's familiar with. Why is this kid familiar with something like this anyway? Donnie hadn't gotten that memo, but he might not have been paying much attention either.

[effiomsfavorite]

"If it's not like the one he knows, then I'm taking care of it." There is a terrible calm in Huvrye's tone, one that leaves no room for argument. Taking out a giant three-headed monster is definitely in his wheelhouse, even if being the backup plan is a change of pace. Regardless, if the soft approach doesn't work, he has no qualms about drawing the monster's attention from everyone else and taking it down if need be. It's normal mission fare.

(It has to be normal. If he thinks too much about what exactly this mission is for, he'll falter, so normal it is.)

[demigoth]

“We should try the nice way. He’s a pet. My father won’t like it if we hurt Cerberus.” The massive three-headed beast isn’t a pet by regular standards, and he knows it’s more of a guard-monster than a guard dog. In the Underworld, it’s the same thing.

The ground trembles slightly, as Nico mentally reaches down and mentally sifts through the clay to find a large bone. Only when a femur surfaces by his feet along with broken shards of bleached white bones does Nico get the pink ball out.

He gives it a few good bounces, high and a little wild so Nico has to dart to and fro to make the catches. He wants to get its attention - and does. Two of three sets of eyes are tracking the ball, and Cerberus’s triple growl is rolling when Nico throws the ball forward and left.

“Cerberus, fetch!” He orders the dog in Ancient Greek, and all three heads fixate on the demigod.

And the beast lunges.

[purplexing]

Huvrye puts Donnie on edge. Maybe it's because he recognizes that calm, the mirror-stillness of a pond that doesn't betray whatever lurks beneath the surface. Even so, he still feels detached about the whole thing. It's hard to believe you're in the Underworld when you just strolled into it.

He doesn't look terribly convinced when Nico insists on his stance. Wait. Father? Who is this kid?

Pictures certainly don't do Cerebus any justice. For one thing, it's hard to really determine size from. Donnie takes a step back. "I don't know if this is going to work..." he starts, tensing. And then the huge thing is moving, so Donnie throws his arms up over his head. Gus is a puppy by comparison!

Part 3: the River Styx

[faceguy]

Beyond Cerberus, the expanse of the Underworld is laid out before them. Their final destination is the House of Hades, where Hades himself sits on his throne, working away at the business of running the Land of the Dead. It is Hades who the party will have to negotiate with to free Leo's soul - but first, they actually have to find Leo.

Leo's soul floats in the river with the rest of the dead, whisked downstream by the force of the rivers. If he makes it to Elysium before he is pulled out, his soul will be lost to them. Fishing him out is the only way for this plan to work.

Once he is fished out, it's nothing but a gentle boat ride to the House of Hades, to petition the God of the Dead for his soul. Or, a not so gentle boat ride, as the souls of those living here fight to take his place and ride the living back to the surface.

But following the river is the easiest and fastest way to fine Hades, and so they must venture onward!

[[This is the other mingle section of the log! Feel free to do whatever you want here - fight dead souls, explore the Underworld, chat with dead people, etc.

Once Leo is fished out of the river he'll be available to talk to in this part of the log! Though keep in mind he'll be pretty out of it so he may not remember everything people tell him later on.]]

[levelshift]

Accelerator is standing at the edge of the river Styx, leaning on his crutch as he stares down at the water. It's kind of ironic, even though he's an athiest he figured that, if Hell existed, he'd definitely be going there after he died. The Underworld isn't quite that, but still. He never expected to be in a place like this for a reason like this.

Rescuing someone from the Underworld is something a hero does. Not... him.

But he feels like he needs to do something. Leo was his friend, and he wants to help. He wants to be there for Donnie, wants to drag Leo back to the world of the living so he can punch him for being so dumb (even though none of this was his fault). He's been hanging back for most of the journey, though, his meltdown from before hanging around in the back of his mind. Despite wanting to help, he also doesn't want to end up making things worse.

He's poking around at the river, not quite touching the water as he mulls their options over. "Do souls even have vectors?"

Is he debating using his vector manipulation to control the river? Maybe.

[purplexing]

Taking in the situation as a whole makes this look incredibly daunting. There are other people, other souls there, practically making up the flow of the river and Donnie's eyes widen as he stares out, feeling that all too familiar overwhelming sensation start to claw its way up into existence again.

Accelerator's voice snaps him out of it, the words having no business being strung together but it's enough to make the turtle's own mind start to kick into gear from its stall-out again. Donnie's fingers tighten into a fist as he continues to stare out at the river.

"...they probably don't," he says quietly. "But if Leo's out there... I should be able to sense him."

It isn't scientific, but the Hamato ninpō is more than just DNA. Even in death that bond can't completely be broken. Maybe...maybe it just needs a reconnection.

[levelshift]

Accelerator hums thoughtfully, tapping his crutch on the ground. Honestly, he'd like to just rip the entire river right out of the ground, even if that would possibly fuck things up. But he knows that's just his emotional instability threatening to overwhelm him again. It isn't a reasonable thing to do.

"That would probably be a safer test," he replies lowly. "You won't suffer any adverse side effects from trying it?"

[purplexing]

Donnie hesitates, looking about to reply before he thinks better of it. He shakes his head.

"I'm not sure... Technically there shouldn't be. Our clan's ninpō is a connection through our family and it's what links our power." He tries not to think about how awful it had felt when he felt that connection snap, not quite able to suppress a shudder.

"I don't know what state Leo's soul is in, if...he'd be aware enough to sense me back and try to reach out. ...or if anyone else around here might be able to do the same." Yeugh, now that thought is a creepy one. As though traveling on a boat floating through a bunch of people isn't creepy enough.

"I'm not an expert on this sort of thing, but if it'll give us a better chance of narrowing down where to find Leo, it's worth a shot. But I'm going to have to really focus, so...the rest is on you guys," Donnie says, casting a look at the others around, trying not to look completely uncomfortable about it.

[levelshift]

If it's an exclusive link between Leo and Donnie (and the rest of their family, but they aren't here so that's a moot point), then there shouldn't be any major problems. Probably? If this were some kind of bond that could be explained scientifically then Accelerator is fairly sure he could just control the vectors to prevent any issues. But it being some weird spiritual nonsense....

He isn't sure. Does ninpō have vectors? It must, or at least the spiritual equivalent of vectors. Could he control those? What kinds of equations would that even require?

As much as he'd like to figure all of that out, that isn't why he's here. He gives Donnie a small nod, turning his attention to how he can support the turtle. "Yeah, that'll be fine. You do your thing and we'll make sure you don't end up getting your soul sucked out or what the fuck ever."

little OTA for Leo

[faceguy]

Good news: Leo's soul is out of the river! Bad news: he doesn't seem to be all there, or even fully aware of what's happening. He acts sleepy, lolling against anyone who's hanging onto him and trudging along at a slow pace when made to walk, dragging his feet. He's calm as long as someone is with him, but left along he starts to grow agitated, the fear that he doesn't understand but definitely feels growing and causing him to cry out for help.

All this means he'll have to be babysat as they continue deeper into the Underworld. Hope no one minds dragging along a teenage mutant sleepy turtle.

Part 4: Hades

[faceguy]

They've made it to the end of the river, and now only Hades awaits. Unsurprisingly, he isn't too happy that a bunch of living mortals have been traipsing around his realm, getting into scrapes and trying to abduct one of his souls.

He's the lord, here. He'll have to be negotiated with (or "negotiated" with) if they want to free Leo. Good luck!

[[OOC: This will be one thread, and Donnie gets to take point on this one. We can work out more details as we go!]]

[purplexing]

Donnie's never been so simultaneously sure and uncertain of anything in his entire life until now.

Well no, that's a lie. There's been plenty of smaller, (mostly) inconsequential instances in which he's probably had similar sentiments, but when it comes to science and experimentation, you had to push forward hoping for the best while bracing for the worst. But this is probably a lot worse than something exploding or your tech trying to kill you.

Yet here he stands, because there isn't any other option, not one that ends up with Leo still by his side. Donnie takes care in getting him out of the boat, although he might let Accelerator handle his sleepy brother thereafter. He wants both hands free. Just in case.

He's not sure what to expect. The books always had generic ideas of how gods and goddesses look. While he's seen one before, he's only actually went toe-to-toe with a representative of her power. He'd observed the power radiating from Nemretes, and that was only because of a few shards. But if he lets himself start to think too much about it, he might lose his nerve, and he can't let that happen. It only takes one look back at Leo to boost his resolve. Time to face Hades.

Maybe it's that resolve that helps Donnie maintain such a calm, one that matches both inside and out. He knows what he's here for.

"I've come for my brother."

Hades!Hades is the only one I know how to write haha…

[faceguy]

Hades is powerful, certainly - a true god. Though one might be forgiven for being mistaken, because what kind of god does paperwork.

Yet here he sits, on his massive throne, clad in black and red and scribbling on parchment. He barely looks up at the address.

“So you are ones who have been gallivanting through my realm,” he says, unimpressed. “A fool’s quest. Your brother is dead; he is where he belongs.”

[purplexing]

Huh. So even in high (or low, in this case) places, you still can't escape paperwork. Talk about a bummer.

"Yeah, well I guess it's not the first time I've done anything foolish. And technically, none of us really belong here in the first place," Donnie counters. This isn't their world, after all.

[faceguy]

“So you would have me transfer him to the afterlife of your world, hm? That can be arranged.”

It’s more paperwork, perhaps, but one less soul to deal with is no skin off Hades’s nose.

He waves a hand to one of the ghostly attendants near his throne.

“Bring me the needed forms, then.”

Part 5: Orpheus Eat Your Heart Out

[faceguy]

The trial begins.

Only Donnie can touch Leo, and no one can touch Donnie. If Leo touches the ground, even for a moment, then it's all over - and "ground" was ill-defined, so, perhaps better not to let him touch anything.

The souls in the Underworld grow restless, now, knowing that someone is trying to escape. Some merely seek a ride to the surface, fruitless as it may be - others seek only to fight, their memories long lost to the river Lethe and their only inclination to battle for eternity. Hades has done nothing to quell them, so they will attack on the way to the surface.

Time is growing short - if Leo is not back in his body soon, their 72 hour window will pass.

Good luck.

[purplexing]

It's a long way back. Considering how they'd even gotten to Hades in the first place, retracing their steps while carrying Leo just seems an impossible feat. But then that's probably why Hades had given such stipulations. A challenge has been issued.

But Donnie's not backing down. He's going to do this. For his brother's sake.

He stands at the entryway, Leo on his back. Donnie had asked one of the others to carry his battle shell for him. Doing this with the added weight wasn't going to make things any easier, not to mention be pretty uncomfortable for Leo. How do souls even weigh anything? Was this an Underworld thing? He has so many questions but he manages not to let them fill up his head. There's a more pressing task at hand. He looks back at the others, back at Leo, nodding at them.

"Get ready," he says, telling himself as much as his companions. It's now or never. Taking a deep breath, he steps on out of Hades's palace.

[effiomsfavorite]

Huvrye has Donnie's battle shell slung over his back - there's no reason for Accelerator to carry the extra weight, and Huvrye's wings pass right through it, ignoring the obstruction. He stands at Donnie's side, just out of arm's reach and out of temptation. Accelerator had picked offense as opposed to defense, so Huvrye is sticking close to Donnie to make sure nothing tries to get at him or Leo.

They will make it out of here, even if Huvrye has to stay down here himself to ensure it.

He returns Donnie's nod and follows him out.

[levelshift]

There's a lot of stupid rules involved in all of this, and being someone who grew up in science Accelerator isn't particularly keen on any of it. Still, they don't have any other options, so dumb rules it is.

Having kept his choker in normal mode for the majority of this journey, he has a lot of battery life left, though he's waiting until they're out of Hades' palace and he actually sees a threat before switching. That means he's leaning on his crutch, and sighing a little. "... What a pain in the ass."

[faceguy]

For his part, Leo is quiet, head nestled on Donnie's shoulders and arms and legs held loosely around him. The shackles had turned ghostly, allowing Donnie to maneuver Leo however he wished, but paradoxically they still keep Leo's wrists and ankles bound. Donnie can move him, but Leo can't move himself.

He's oblivious to the true stakes of the issue. Donnie said they were going home, and that everything would be okay. Leo believes him. Even if he doesn't really understand, he realizes he should probably be still and not cause problems for Donnie, so he doesn't wiggle or fight, just holds on.

He could probably nap like this. In fact, he thinks he will nap like this.

At least not everyone is having a terrible time.