Chapter 31: Fifth Circle

In which I am a tourist in hell.

I've decided to stay some days down here in 5th. It's an interesting place, at least more interesting than 2nd where I come from.

To set the context, let me first explain the topography of Hell. The "floors" schema I posted earlier is somewhat simplified. Hell reminds, in fact, a giant funnel. The circles of Hell are concentric rings:

Each cercle is deeper than the preceding ones, except 5th and 6th which are almost on the same level, but separated by the Walls of Dis:

The city of Dis is, properly spoken, the 6th Circle and everything below, in other words, the lower hell.  It is extremely hot, that's why it's also called the Burning City. It is surrounded by the river Styx which i crossed when I wrote my last entry.

Since the visit of Dante Alighieri, the circles have been mordernized. In the old time, the wrathful and slothful souls were tortured in the swamp-like water of the Styx. Since then, the river has been canalized and crosses several Torture Centers, not unlike terrestrial purification plants, where souls are tortured in a more industrial manner.

At the opposite side of the Circle, we find the administrative district with contains, among others, the Local Souls Office. Next to the Administrative District are the research facilities, large buildings where thousands of scientist demons research new temptation and torture methods.

The walls of Dis are impressive, huge walls with giant towers, a symbolic stronghold of evil. They haven't been much modernized, as their value is symbolic, and the older a symbol is, the more powerful.

Behind the walls lies the 6th Circle, the Circle where I had been judged and imprisoned. I didn't feel like sightseeing in this zone. It's general impression is that of a city with lots of spires. Dante thought they were minarets, but this is, of course, nonsense - of course there are no mosques in hell, as they are no churches. The spires are, in fact, watchtowers, from which Inquisition watches out - symbolically - for heretics. As you might remember, symbols are important down here in hell.

Alltogether, it's the most interesting and impressive place in Hell I've seen so far. I don't know if a human would consider it "beautiful", as the concept of beauty is still somewhat unclear to me.

I think I'll still stay one or two days before coming back. My superiors won't miss me, they probably think I'm dead. Which would be the case, if it wasn't for my mysterious "friend"...

Chapter 30: Alife!

In which I cross the River of the Dead back to life.

I'm alife! Don't ask me what happened - I've no idea. The guards who came to my cell didn't bring me to the dogs pit, but to the prison door where I was released without any explanation. Maybe it's an intervention of my mysterious "friend" (see  Chapter 25).

I was eager to leave the 6th so I went on my way back. The Fallen Angels who guard the Wall of Dis were no problem, after a short look into my papers they let me go. I'm writing those lines in the ferry boat across the river Styx. Phlegyas, the ferryman, is a quiet guy. I had to wait for the ferry - Phlegyas is much busier that his collegue Charon who plies the Acheron between 1st and Reception Area, as there is no Downway between 5th and 6th. I've no idea how he manages all the traffic all alone.

When I'm on the other side, I just have to get to Styx Terminal to take the Downway upwards towards 2nd. I hope I'll not be sent immediately back to Earth, I need some rest.

Or maybe I could do some sightseeing in fifth - I've never been deeper than 4th in my life. On the other side, sightseeing in Hell can be a dangerous thing... We'll see.

Chapter 29: De profundis

In which I am waiting for becoming dog's food.

One day has passed since my death sentence, but I'm not yet dead. However, it won't take long. In some hours - or minutes, who knows - they will come. Faceless myrmidons who will bring me to the place where I will be devoured by hellhounds. 

 

Being devoured is a common punishment in hell. It's kind of recycling. Depending on who devours you, it may even be a honourful death. But I'm a heretic, no demon would stoop to devoiring me - so I will become hellhound food. What a pathetic end.

 

I hear steps on the floor. They are coming. I guess this will be my last entry.

Chapter 28: In Jail

In which I face an inquisitional court and am punished for my own stupidity.

I'm writing this post from an oubliette somewhere in 6th cercle. The summons yesterday was very short. The inquisitional court consisted of a magistrate - judge and accuser in one person - and two assessors.

 

 

First, the magistrate read the accusation: "Fraternization with humans by promise of favours". From this mmoment on I knew that I was doomed. In a hell trial, the guilt and the judgement are determined from the beginning, the trial is only a demonstration of justice. In this case, the demonstration was very short: One of the assessors read the text of the favour voucher for Divine Light - the name was certainly not an aspect in my favour - then the other assessor allowed me to defend myself. I stuttered something about too short formation as tempter and the necessity of knowing the humans' customs - but after some sentences the magistrate raised the hand to command silence. 

 

Then I made an error. The first assessor said that I'm obviously guilty, but that the sentence will depend on my cooperation. He asked me if I knew a demon who had committed some kind of heresy. The Old Librarian came to my mind - he had helped me without demanding anything in return, which was a severe violation of the principles of hell. Denouncing him would certainly reduce my punishment - the more trouble he gets, the less I suffer. 1st Dogma. 

 

But something happened inside me at this moment. I don't know what, but I heared myself say "No, I don't know any heretic." When I realized what I had said, it was too late - I wanted to correct myself, yell "No, I know someone, the old librarian..." but the magistrate ordered me, again, to remain silent. Too late. Too fucking late. I was doomed.

 

After a minute of silence, the magistrate spoke the sentence: Being devoured alife by hellhounds. The execution will take place within 24 hours. The court was closed.

Chapter 24: On trouble

In which I get a letter from Inquisition.

Bad news: I've just received a summons to Sixth Circle. The letter informs me that a legal proceeding has been started against me and that I am to appear in C6, room 298812, on next Judasday. It's signed with the most dreaded symbol in Hell, the Sigillium Inquisitionis:

I've never been this deep in hell, and honestly, I don't really feel like this. Especially the Sixth Circle. For those who don't know: The Sixth Circle is the domicile of the Political Office, the inquisitional institution which chases heretics - anyone who deviates from the ideology of hell, by speaking, writing, acting or even thinking. Hell does not tolerate deviationists.

I've no idea what I'm accused of. The letter says "Fraternization with Humans" but I didn't fraternize with anyone in Strasbourg, I did nothing else but staying in the shadow and observing. Maybe it's something I wrote here on this blog? I don't know.


Anyway, I'm in serious trouble.

Chapter 12: On Strasbourg

In which you learn that I won't come to Canterbury to tempt you.

I've got the answer: I won't be sent to Canterbury. Too bad. According to my "mentor" there may be two reasons: First, everybody wants to go to Canterbury. Secondly, the Canterbury Cathedral is a very strong bridgehead of the Enemy, an age-old symbol of faith and religion. Remember what I wrote about symbols? It would be simply to dangerous for junior tempters to start there. Not that Corporate gives a damn about whether a demon gets into trouble or not - but they simply can't afford losing demonic ressources without reason.

In fact, I will be sent to a city called Strasbourg, in a country called France. I looked it up in the library but didn't find much, just a mention about the cathedral and an image of a Gargoyle.


It seems that humans have never finished the second tower of the cathedral - so it's an unfinished, deficient symbol, like the incomplete sigil of mine I posted some time ago. In consequence, its power as symbol is much less dangerous for rookie demons. Maybe that's why I am sent to this city.

Either that, or infernal administration simply assigned me to a random location. Which is in my opinion much more likely.

Chapter 8: On my Visa

In which I get the permission to leave Hell.

I finally got my visa to visit reality. Yea !


I can't tell you how much paperwork it needed to obtain this document, let alone the palm grease - in Hell you don't even get a postal stamp without bribing some functionaries. That's how it works. But I finally got the visa, with seal and signature. It's only valid for a year and I've only "observation" clearance - but who cares. I'm so happy!

Introduction

In which I present myself.

Please allow me to introduce myself: I'm a demon. My official name is "Underling 3281772", but my friends call me "Zogg". Well, what we call "friends" down here in hell - other demons I hang around with. I don't have any particular sympathy for them, neither have they for me - feelings like this are unknown down here.

You might imagine me as impressive creature, kind of a giant red satyr with dragon wings, but if you do so you are wrong. Being a small employee of the infernal administration, I rather look like this:

Up to now I worked as a soul accountant in the Second Circle. A boring job. Most jobs in hell are boring. Hell is a giant bureaucracy, each damned soul requires tons of paperwork, each soul captured by the Enemy needs even more.

But I'm lucky. Some months ago I've found out a dirty little secret of a co-worker who happens to have some connections to an assistant of Lord Valac, so I proposed him to keep my mouth shut in exchange for a little help... And guess what: Last Baalsday I got a letter concerning my transfer to Temptation Department.

I start tomorrow morning. Can't wait! And who knows, maybe I will soon be sent to Earth, to meet those strange creatures everybody is talking about: Humans.

I wonder what they look like.