EVENT LOG: THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS

[asgardmods]

Who: ANYONE leaving Asgard to fight the demons at the Qliphoth
What: the Devil Is in the Details event
When: January 14 - 22
Where: three days north of Asgard's kingdom
Warnings: blood, gore, death, ridiculous gross stuff

❧ january 14-16: departure.

On January 14, the gods summon everyone to the castle ground to announce that Asgard is moving out to face the newest threat on the horizon. what seems like the whole of Asgard prepares and departs the kingdom. From the youngest to the oldest of the able and willing, all hands are needed as this mission serves two highly critical purposes: to defeat the current threat and to build outposts that can be used as midway safe houses on missions like these.

Similar to the last time Asgard embarked on such a journey, a long train of wagons guided by the eight-legged horses and several of the gods pass through the thicc barrier of the forest into what appears to be a blinding light for any that remain in the city. As the caravan breaks through the treeline, that brightness barely fades as a blistering sun gleams off of what appears to be a solid landscape of pure ice. An odd chill travels from the top of your head to your toes as Honir calls out "Hold onto your limbs!" in a strangely cheerful warning to match the unusual warmth that envelops you afterwards.

Over the course of the next three days, the caravan travels northward through the strange landscape of Yggdrasil in winter. It seems like ice and snow rise and fall at whim, clear skies turning into a swarming blizzard from one stretch of land to another. It's like it can't quite decide what type of winter it would like to be, and the caravan is left to navigate and make camp through this fitful weather. On January 16, the caravan halts as the gods declare this to be the safest point between the kingdom and where the Qliphoth is growing. Construction of the outpost will begin here in the morning, as those moving on to destroy the wretched tree prepare to confront the demons of another world.

❧ january 17-18: descent into hell.

On the morning of January 17, everyone sets upon their separate tasks as those prepared for combat continue onward to travel through rocky and mountainous terrain, passing solitary homes and small settlements along the way that are all empty and destroyed. While there are clear signs of a struggle, there are no bodies and no other signs of life to be found until you continue onward.

A smell will reach you first, the stench of iron and rot that some might recognize as the telltale signs of carnage, and it won't be long before you find the source. Wicked vines as thick as a humanoid body appear snaking up from the ground and winding around the mountain pass, covered in nasty thorns and pulsating masses of blood that harden for protection as anything approaches. As you follow the trail, you begin to see human corpses impaled upon the vines' thorns, frozen in suspended horror, that turn to dust and fade away if touched.

It isn't long before the crux of this nightmare comes into view as a massive tree rises into the sky and is lost behind a raging storm of thunder, blood, and destruction. The city that was here - and it was itself a developed city, not a settlement or encampment as the minor signs of life you've encountered elsewhere in Yggdrasil - is decimated entirely, the ground ripped up and buildings obliterated by violence untold. The environment becomes increasingly hostile the further in you go as the vines (now more clearly presumed to be the roots of the tree) thicken, corrupted plantlife bare angry teeth, and the ground transitions from solid to unpleasantly organic (cw: blood, gore).

It quickly becomes apparent you aren't here alone, either. While the only signs of human life you find are gore and death, other beings stalk through the ruin searching for new victims. Demons patrol the city, taking various forms like walking nightmares bent on destruction. Their goal is to find more humans to feed the tree with their blood, and they will attack relentlessly on sight, only stopping once they've been destroyed.

Once you've made your way into the city and assessed the present threat, it's unclear where to go or what to do next. Making way towards the tree at the center of it all seems an obvious course, but with demons lining the path and these violent roots twisting into the city with ominous intent, there may be more to contend with than simply the tree itself. To reach the conclusion of this event, your characters will spend the next three days searching for answers and trying to survive in a hellish landscape.

See the event post for broad details on what surviving in the city looks like and this thread to find what challenges your character might face as they seek and destroy various seals to bring down the Qliphoth. Characters that die in this event will receive one death consequence.

❧ january 19: boss faito.

Midday on January 19, as everyone continues searching through the city and fighting for their lives, it will be nearly impossible to miss the moment the battle turns in Asgard's favor. As more of the seals are broken, the roots winding throughout the city begin to wither and die as the blood is drained from them. The demons shriek and howl as the Qliphoth begins to crumble, sending them all into a frenzy. Their attacks become more feverish and vicious, desperate to revitalize their efforts with fresh blood in spite of their clear and obvious failure.

The tree stands, however, and the storm above it roils with thunder that booms over the cries of the panicking demons. With almost every inch of the city searched already, the only place left to look is throughout the Qliphoth itself (cw: blood, gore) and the many challenges that come with it.

It isn't until someone traverses to the top of the tree (cw: blood, gross stuff) that the last seal is found in the form of what may have resembled a fruit given a chance to fully form. As it is, those that come across it find half of it collapsed on itself as blood drains from it onto the ground. With even the slightest of pressure, the fruit shatters like glass - and immediately afterwards, the surrounding hellscape bleeds away rapidly.

The vines and corpses turn to dust, scattered into the air. The demons give a final mournful wail as they vanish from sight. The Qliphoth itself cracks and splinters into jagged shards that crash to the ground in a violent display before disappearing completely. As the magic that brought this nightmare to Yggdrasil is dispelled, all signs of the carnage vanish, leaving only the ruins of a city with no one left to remember it.

It's a victory, but a harsh one. There are no survivors to be brought back to Asgard. Whatever civilization may have been here before this, your characters are left to wander through the abruptly empty and abandoned streets as they make their way back to the encampment. They arrive by nightfall to find the outpost successfully completed, each party with their own stories to tell of the recent days' trials.

❧ january 20-22: return.

With the Qliphoth destroyed and the outpost established as best it can be, the caravan makes its way back to Asgard on January 20. While the load is a bit lighter for the supplies it took to build and battle their way back home, some carry new burdens and memories of the strange happenings that took place here. The magic the gods warned of has shown its powerful capacity to overwrite the landscape of Yggdrasil, and new creatures in the world are becoming increasingly aware of the Wanderers' presence.

All along the three day journey back to the kingdom, the gods and the natives can't help but discuss and speculate what this means for the future. A nervous energy travels back to the city with them in spite of their victories, the vast and mercurial landscape of Yggdrasil providing a frigid reminder of their isolation at the heart of it. Asgard may come to contend with the fact that they are safer within their kingdom and the veil of obscurity - and the fact that the veil has been lifted, leaving an open window for them to see out into the dangers of the world, and for the world to look back at them.

[ OOC NOTE: This is the event log for the Devil Is in the Details event! Your characters will be left to survive in a demon-infested city for three days as they solve puzzles, defeat enemies, and destroy seals to bring down the tree. Details on the quests and challenges you can play with are here; there are solutions to each challenge that depend on what your character tries to do to solve it. The success rate for this event was determined by how many people attempted to solve the puzzles in each route. For the sake of this event, you successfully destroyed all of the seals in time to stop the Qliphoth from fully producing its fruit and inviting a powerful new evil into the world. If you have any questions or need any help, please feel free to hit us upon the mod contact page. Enjoy! ]

Comments

Asterios | Fate Grand Order | OTA

[beefaroni]

Departure

[The thick ice is something Asterios is wholly unfamiliar with. He's not even sure what to make of it all - but he's not here for sightseeing. He's here to travel onward!

... But ice is slippery, and he's finding he does not care for that. At All.

So as he walks with the caravan, he's taking great big steps... very slowly. And the slowly is really emphasized here. Slowly. S-l-o-w-l-y.]

... Cold.

Descent Into Hell - Green Path - The Open Road

[Asterios already has his split labrys out, ready to fight. But he knows he's not alone here, and it appears there's more to this room that meets the eye. He looks around, before coming to a decision.

He steps forward, eyes ahead.]

I will... distract, enemy. Fight enemy. You... go on, ahead. Do what you have to. But... you must. Stay away from me, as I fight. No matter what.

Descent Into Hell - Green Path - Wildcard
[Make your own prompt if you'd like the explore the other rooms with him!]

the open road

[splitinvain]

[ V has spend a fair amount of time in this journey reading from his book than actually paying attention to what was happening around him. As they stepped into this room, he glances down at the panther walking by his side and then up again, taking in the spiked vines wrapped around the strangely floating objects and the very long open path. There's a brief twitch of his lips, and he taps his cane against one of the objects, smirk widening as he hears the ring of metal under the spines. ]

Oh, they are making this easy.

Shadow.

[ The panther pounces and the object spins into motion hitting a couple Hell Caina as it bounced along until it crashes into stone and breaks. ]

[beefaroni]

[Hey, he gave you instructions! Rude!

Asterios looks around as the object spins around, his shoulders up and ready for a fight. He doesn't quite get what's going on just yet.]

What's... happening?

[splitinvain]

[ Well, yes, but V is one of those that doesn't actually listen as much as he should. Besides, this is fun. ]

The pillars move. I believe that we may have to get them down the end of this path to their respected slots to open the doorway to the next level. [ A tilt of his head at the nearest vine-covered spiked pillar. ] They also take out the demons while they move.

[beefaroni]

Mmm.

[He thinks he understands... sort of.]

... Will try to move pillar. Will try to remove vines.

[So, in an attempt to copy what he's seen, he holds up part of his labrys, gives it a spin, and sends it flying to the pillar!]

Wei Wuxian | The Untamed | mostly OTA

[yiling_laozu]

i. caravan:

The road to Hell is deceptively beautiful. With Honir's warmth to keep the worst of the chill at bay, Wei Wuxian finds the trip to the Outpost is mostly peaceful. He either rides atop his donkey Little Apple or walks next to her as she shoulders supplies, his eyes on the frozen landscape that glimmers in all directions. The sea of ice around them is lifeless, and for the first few days it's a struggle to look at it and not see Lan Wangji freezing before him in the Castle.

It's nearly a blessing when gusts of snow swirl suddenly around them, and Wei Wuxian reaches for the person walking next to him, helping to shield them from the gusts with the long edge of his outer robes.

ii. descent:

Horrific thought it is, the devoured city reminds Wei Wuxian of home. Not the home he'd been born to, but the one he'd been forced to choose, with a new family of hunted Wens to protect and find a home for in the midst of the ghostly burial mounds. Yiling had been cold and grey, its soil and rocky terrain unkind and the earth literally haunted, but it had been home. Wei Wuxian wanders and dispatches demons and shadows with Suibian, using his god power to shield himself when he has to, and eventually finds himself in a strange room full of mirrors.

He walks past them, but no other exit exists on the other side. Tapping his nose, Wei Wuxian turns a circle. Is he meant to do something with the light to catch the mirrors?

iii. vines - closed to Lan Wangji:

He's lost sight of Lan Wangji in the struggle. They put down so many Hell Caina together that Wei Wuxian has nearly forgotten to miss demonic cultivation, finding the creatures terrifying to behold but simple to best when one picks up their movements. He chases one down a dark path, only slowing when he realizes he can't see it anymore.

Neither can he see Lan Wangji. Frowning, Wei Wuxian calls for him. It isn't that the man can't take care of himself, but Wei Wuxian is very firm on the idea that if hell must be endured, they will do it together. He turns another circle to seek out white robes - he doesn't see the Soul Eater until it's nearly upon him.

With a shout, Wei Wuxian summons a shield with his god power, holding the demon at bay so he can study it for weaknesses. It's a decent plan, but one better made with backup, for a second shadow soon joins the first, followed by another, and another. They wheel around his shield, battering it from above and the sides as Wei Wuxian desperately holds it, growing more fatigued by the moment. Heimdall's power doesn't consume him as the Yin metal had, but it does drain him in a way that goes past mind and muscle. It hollows out his energy, and as the shield cracks and falls, Wei Wuxian throws up another one, going to his knees beneath the strain.

Where is Lan Zhan?

He lifts Suibian, throwing it into the gaseous maw of a Soul Eater as it solidifies for another strike against his shield. The blade pierces the creature through, but Wei Wuxian has only a moment of triumph before another flies in to take its place. He has no sword now. He has no Lan Zhan. He has his shield, but for how much longer?

Again it cracks, and as Wei Wuxian draws within himself for more power, he finds only dregs. The creatures seem to know it, too, descending on him in the space of seconds. Between the terror, the helplessness, and the pain as they latch onto him, Wei Wuxian is transported back to Luànzàng Gǎng, powerless as a dozen dead hands grab for him, alone in the dark and waiting to be ripped apart. Crying out in panic, he hardly notices when his body drags over the red, living earth, born by a half dozen Soul Eaters towards the thorns of the blood vines.

vines

[lan_wangji]

Lan Wangji understands duty. Asgard has given him a second chance for a life free of the complications of home and more importantly, it has brought Wei Wuxian back to him. He would not deny Odin nearly anything asked. Fighting for Asgard and for the surrounding people is an honor that he welcomes.

Such honor, however, fades in the face of Wei Ying's safety. Wei Ying is a gifted and capable fighter but Lan Wangji finds it unacceptable that he cannot find him. This place is worse than anything he's seen, it is freezing cold and Wei Ying is nowhere to be found. He cuts his way through monsters he does not even know how to name, yelling for Wei Ying.

Once he reaches an opening, he realizes that he nearest horde is moving away from him and he runs flat out, heart pounding until he is near enough to hear the yelling.

"Wei Ying!" he screams, leaping as far into the horde as he can, throwing up the brightest, most powerful light he can manage as he starts to hack his way through. He catches a flash of Wei Ying's red ribbon and the massive vines and realizes what they mean to do. He spins, cutting off the nearest head and pulls up every ounce of energy he has and sends the light at the demons dragging Wei Ying. They shriek and start to scatter but he's too late. He sees Wei Ying's face change before he sees the thorn sticking out of him and is frozen in horror as he realizes he has failed.

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian can't understand what's happening in the wheeling mass of demonic limbs, but for a moment he thinks he hears Lan Zhan, and his breathes in for the first time in long minutes. But then he's lifted up, and from his side erupts a pain like he's never felt. He's been hurt before to the point of that an ordinary man would have died, but the explosive power of his golden core had saved him, and after, the black, teeming mass of demonic energy.

Now he has nothing, and Wei Wuxian hangs there for a moment, stunned by the agony of the long thorn through his tender body. Already he feels a draining, and Wei Wuxian slots his eyes open, focusing on a blurry point of white before him.

No. No, Lan Zhan will not watch this again. Wei Wuxian closes his eyes, reaching, scraping, grasping for the last embers of Heimdall's powers. Holding a palm to the vine at his back, Wei Wuxian summons a last shield, holding it for only an instant, but it's all that's needed to shove him away and off of the cruel thorn.

[lan_wangji]

Lan Zhan will later be grateful that his body is trained enough to move without thought. Before he can think he has thrown himself forward, catching Wei Ying before he can hit the ground and staring down in horror at the already growing pool of blood.

"It's alright," he whispers, fingers deftly removing his own belt to wind it around Wei Ying's side. "I'm here, I'm here." He wills his hands not to shake. There is no time for it, right now.

They must get to safety, get somewhere where Lan Zhan can try and fix this enough to get help but he pauses long enough to kiss Wei Ying's forehead.

[yiling_laozu]

His head feels like it will split in two at any moment, which might be a welcome respite from the agony that is the pressure of Lan Wangji's belt around his middle. Wei Wuxian grits his teeth, but a whine escapes him all the same, and he looks up into Lan Zhan's tense, frightened face.

THey need to find shelter, but Wei Wuxian doesn't know where it can be found. He lifts his arm, halfway to touching Lan Zhan's cheek before he realizes he will smear him with blood. "Where is Suibian?" he whispers.

[imahealerbut]

Having lived among the blustery heights of Qishan, Wen Qing has experienced many cold winters. She’s thus among the more well-prepared members of the caravan- the fur-lined coat wrapped around her keeps out whatever chill Honir’s magic might have missed. She has a place on one of the carts for most of the trip, which she holds without fuss; but during one of the pit stops Wen Qing weaves her way to where Wei Wuxian is.

“Nasty weather,” she comments, as she rearranges the thick coat around herself. "It's worse than anything we've seen back home." Even she hasn’t gone as far north to see this kind of landscape, she’s half-convinced they’re headed into an ice monster’s lair.

[yiling_laozu]

"I have never seen ice and snow like this," says Wei Wuxian, only to correct himself a moment later. "Well, when I went into the enchanted snow for Lan Zhan's bunnies it was worse, but I didn't have Honir's magic to keep me warm."

He grins towards the front of the caravan where the god surely is. "He is so much livelier than Heimdall." Even so, they are going into battle yet again. A god like Heimdall is precisely what they need.

[imahealerbut]

"You're always like this. Think before you rush into dangerous situations, you can't outrun trouble forever," she grumbles, thumping him on the shoulder- but there's significantly less bite to her admonishment today. Something's on her mind.

"...Wei Wuxian, do you know what date it is?" Wen Qing gazes out across the desolate landscape, her face unreadable. "I think the New Year is soon. In a week or two."

The Chinese celebrate their new year by the lunar calendar, on the first new moon at the onset of spring- usually in late January or February. It's a fairly major festival- a festival about family and tradition, which makes the fact that they're alone in the middle of nowhere a bit more awkward than usual. At least they're not in Yiling. But then again, you could still celebrate the New Year in Yiling, as long as there was family around to celebrate with.

[yiling_laozu]

"Ey?" Wei Wuxian blinks. In all the fuss of the new threat, Wei Wuxian hasn't kept track of the days at all, but he smiles sadly now. "Another spent far from our preferred homes," he says, daring to link his arm through hers.

"At least we've brought our red garments," he says with a more proper smile. The pair of them are rarely without at least bit of red, after all. "Perhaps we will scrape out some time for nián yèfàn," he continues, "Even if it's just bread and bits of dried meat."

V | Devil May Cry | OTA

[splitinvain]

[ ooc; splitting up some top levels because it got way too long here, so incoming! Also will match format with anyone responding here. ]

Phone Calls!

[splitinvain]

So, there you are, wandering down the streets or making your way up the really stupid tree of demons. Maybe you just got around a weird puzzle, maybe you just made mince meat out of a bunch of demons, whatever you've done, it's time for a breather.

That's when you hear it. A ringing sound. Following it you find a rather strange sight. Maybe it's sitting on the corner looking perfectly normal despite everything else. Maybe it's got a bit of something stuck on the roof - lifeless and dull brown - maybe the building near it is rubble, but sitting there looking normal as everything is a phone booth.

And once you pick up the receiver there is a voice on the other end of the line.

"Do you need anything?"

[ ooc; so this is a chance to ask questions, get help, or just rant at one of the DMC guys. Doesn't matter which path is taken or where your character is as long as there is a phone, V will talk to you. ]

[sassery]

"The fucking van, for starters."

That voice on the other end of the line is an annoyed one, but honestly, he's sure he's not alone in this. Fighting demons along his own line has been hard and annoying, and while he's all for a challenge, it's not as fun when you're lacking all the powers you used to have. He's had a few close calls, and it's really different when you know for a fact that you can die here, and you've seen people you care about die.

A sigh, and Nero lolls his head to the side, eyes glancing to the carnage of the tree all around him, finger tapping on his leg in an unheard rhythm.

"It's a shitshow here, how about you?"

[splitinvain]

"I can't say that I don't miss the... ease in which it got use through the more difficult places last time."

There were many things about the van and Nico's driving that V did not care for, but he still misses it. The safety of being able to sleep inside of it, and the fact that there was always someone willing to talk about everything but the mess outside of it. And of course the weaponsmith herself, always busy with something that could ease their path along.

"The same, though I seem to have encountered a rather interesting character by the name of Asterios. He puts me to mind of a rather nicer version of our old friend Goliath. Without the tummy teeth."

On the Highway (14th-16th)

[splitinvain]

V isn't comfortable with the horses. Granted he was by nature rather scrawny and delicate compared to the other Sparda but there was something off about them that has him shying away from actually tending one. So for the most part he keeps to the wagons, wrapped in a warm blanket while his Shadow uses this chance to go running around in the snow and harassing other people and animals.

Which means that Shadow would definitely shadow a rider and horse, making little encouraging chirps or playfully pawing at the ground next to them. When camp is made, Shadow definitely has swiped at some food or if it's too well-guarded, edge into view and plaintively try the best woeful look that a big cat can muster while watching the food. There might even be slight little chirping sounds.

But since Shadow is not suppose to be wandering around bothering people, V will finally show up to corner the big cat and apologize. Otherwise, he is going to stay almost by himself, reading his book and acting like he isn't as nervous as everyone else. By the second day, he's taken to reading out loud bits of poetry though he may be talked into explaining the kind of demons they can find once they reach the Qliphoth.

The Qliphoth (17th-19th)

[splitinvain]

Green Path - the key
It was just as he thought it was going to be like. V walked along the broken road, the gutted houses filled with little more than remains of a once vibrant town. There had been a few of the dust shapes of people who once lived there, but those collapsed at the sound of their approach. There was no telling how long this tree has grown here, but he noticed that some thing were not right with it. For one, the demons were not as numerous as he thought they would be. For another, they were moving along fairly well, despite what others may think.

Padding at his side, Shadow let out a low growl, ears flicking back. V glanced down, and then hummed, taking a few steps forward until red lines appeared, energy sparking and forming a barrier across the path ahead. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the energy swiftly expanded across the trail behind them as well.

"I see," he said lightly, taking a step back and leaning on his cane. "What task do you think it is this time?"

Green Path
Maybe it's an annoying demon that can't seem to die. Or maybe it's a difficult path. Whatever there is, V and his Shadow comes around the corner, the panther roaring out a challenge before charging forward. And while the hellcat is dealing with one demon, V just smoothly spins around another one, raises his cane and slams the tip through the head.

"Pardon me."

klaus hargreeves ☂ ota (unless marked otherwise)

[channellings]

descent into hell;

[the pungent scent hits him almost immediately; klaus's hands lift up, cover both his mouth and nose like it'll help, even though the further he walks, the stronger it seems to get. it's overpowering to the point he ends up stopping a couple times during the trek, propping against a nearby dilapidated building, attempting to catch his breath, although to no avail. try as he might, it's no use, so instead of continuing to waste time lingering around, he takes the deepest breath possible and continues onward, one hand still cupped over his face in spite of himself.

and just when he thinks he won't be able to stand it anymore, the source is revealed. huge, grotesque vines covered in disgusting bloodbags and dangerous-looking thorns with corpses impaled on them. much as the tiny voice in the back of his head tells him to, klaus forgoes touching any of the dead bodies, puts his head down, keeps moving along the path before anything else can distract him from the task at hand.

stumbling across the destroyed city with the qliphoth rising up from its remaining depths is a lot more heartstopping than he'd expected. none of this is anything he would've anticipated, but regardless, he adjusts the armor protecting his upper-half, goes for the largest knife strapped to his side and tucks himself behind the nearest cover, peeking out every few moments to examine the spread of demons.

whoever may be nearby, his unoccupied hand might gesture toward them, coax them over to where he's hiding or perhaps gesture for them to get down before they're seen.]



ring ring ring; (the obligatory payphone option)

[you better believe that when he stumbles across the payphones, klaus's first instinct is seeing if they actually work. thankfully, the one he finds isn't in an area that's got too many monsters crawling about; so, without overthinking it too much, he slips into the booth, plucks up the phone, gives it a once-over.]

Shit, I don't have any change for this thing... [which shouldn't matter, considering asgard's never had that kind of thing. still, it makes him wonder, has him curious about how well a payphone will actually work without any way to call out.

just as he hangs it back up, the faint sound of ringing catches his attention, causes him to lift the receiver to his ear and ask,] Uh, hello?



traversing the red path; (closed to dante)

[even decked out in partial armor and wielding a large dagger in his left hand, klaus had been easily recognizable. beneath the protective covering, he's wearing all black; a long-sleeved shirt with a high collar and pants that sit close enough to his skin, he won't end up getting caught on anything or if someone (something?) tries to grab him, he'll at least have a chance to get away.

but no matter what he's wearing, there are distinct wet marks of blood where he's been fighting creatures alongside the demon-hunter, messy splatters across his boots from the squishy skin-earth beneath them.] So, was it always this [pause] nasty when you were fighting demons back home? The flesh ground is a bit much if I do say so myself.

[not that it matters, he's never seen their actual homeworld, has no idea what it might actually look like and honestly? if it does have this weird, demon-filled landscape all the time, dante and the rest of his family are a helluva lot tougher than he ever will be and he's not afraid to admit it.]



boss faito;

[whenever the demons begin to frenzy at the loss of their blood tree, klaus can't help watching, thoroughly amused despite the severity of the situation. one large monster wielding a pair of wicked scissors comes toward him, aiming to catch him off-guard, but he makes quick work of it with the throwing knives and his telekinesis.]

Nice try, though.

[wasn't there always a reason he'd been told not to gloat? from his peripheral, he sees another monster coming toward him, swinging an overly large scythe right toward his legs. without really thinking (because that'd just waste time), klaus leaps into the air, activating his god powers again to hold him aloft, widened eyes watching the curved blade narrowly miss him by inches.] Well, goddamn, it's just a party now. [then he kicks off the caina's head, unbalancing it, knocking the thing to its knees.

how unfortunate, the weapons he's wielding are not all that good for decapitating. so, as it stands, he'll have to continue levitating here and there, ineffectively stabbing it in the back. at one point though, he gets his hands on the scythe it's holding, puts all his strength into fighting for control of it. if he can just disarm the damn thing, he could use its own oversized sickle against his foe—

unless someone happens by that could help him? because that'd be convenient, too.]



wildcard;

[ooc: even though he wasn't really keen on the idea, going straight for the source is what klaus's doing, meaning he's taken the red path! anybody is welcome to encounter him there or before splitting off or even during the departure! literally, if these prompts aren't to your liking, hit me with something else!!]

[advivo]

[ To his credit Klaus has been keeping up well enough, holding his own so well that Dante hasn't had to worry about him too much. Even so Dante has been quick to come to Klaus' aid as they fought their way to, and through, the Qliphoth. Their path isn't the easy one after all, determined to go straight to the source of this mess and crush it before it gets any worse.

An all too familiar path.

Devil Sword resting across his shoulders he chuckles, casting a glance to the man beside him. ]

Yes and no. [ Attention flicks back to the path before them, fleshy path winding up with way too many nooks for something nasty to hide in. ] Mostly yes. After the fiftieth pool of blood dumped on your head you kinda get used to it.

[channellings]

[while he's no professional, klaus has fought against men and monsters before. the war back home (or in the past, rather) and the ice zombies a couple months before this have prepared him for what's to come— correction, most of it, that is. he hasn't ever fought demons such as these and they're nothing like the ones he's heard of in stories, either.

and that's exactly why he'd chosen this path: to get an understanding of what they were dealing with and to handle the shit before it really hits the fan.

he catches dante's gaze, scrubbing his empty hand across some of the blood staining his arm, although it only makes it worse, much to his dismay.]

Thanks, I hate it, [comes in a sulky murmur. he wants to stop, to maybe take a breather, and yet they can't for fear of something nasty possibly popping out the moment they decide breaking is a good idea.] I'm going to take the longest shower in history. Then, after that, I'm gonna sit in a bathtub... and for good measure? Another shower.

[advivo]

[ There's something oddly endearing about Klaus' sulking, it makes Dante grin as they press onward the taller man not at all bothered by the blood smeared across his face. Or the fact it's on his shirt, down his arm, staining his pants.

Just another day ending in 'Y'.

He breathes out, turning his gaze back to their path the fleshy corridor curving suddenly breaking off in two directions. One left and up, another down and right. He glances to Klaus again, brief frown replaced by a half-grin. ]

I got a couple of neat tricks for cleaning off blood and demon gunk if you need them.

[channellings]

[perhaps it wouldn't be so bad if he weren't getting blood in places where it does not belong. thankfully, he'd taken a tip from his gays friends and worn lots of coverage, this way it's mostly just his hands, face and clothes getting the worse of it. once that shower comes around, it'll be hilarious, having lines of caked blood along with other demon mess staining his skin in morbid-looking tan-lines.

at least one of them knows what they're doing here.

klaus's attention flickers between the fork in their path, considering which might be easiest, but making that assumption is a helluva gamble. when he turns back to dante again, he sees that grin, can't help an amused smirk himself.] Do you now? Considering how much of it I've already got on me, I think I'll need them. Especially since we aren't done.

Which way would you prefer to go? [he gestures toward the paths, assuming it's safe to think they'll split up.]