HOW DID SHE EVEN KNOW THE WAY TO THE UNDERWORLD!
She went to a temple of Orcus apparently, and managed to bribe them for the spell to open the gateway to Hades.
Frown.
Orcus. The minor god who hunts contract breakers as well as those who attempt to escape the underworld. Of course he would hold a spell that opens the underworld.
What happened next?
Well...
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How did you even get down here? Anubis looked bewildered.
"Orcus showed me how." At that statement Anubis' expression changed to exasperation.
Figures. Well, it seems you've brought me a gift.
With a click of his fingers, the bindings on Dilucius disappeared.
Before he could speak, Dilucius was bound once more, this time in an appropriate mummy binding.
Normally, I'm not allowed to judge people unfairly, as the lord of judgement.
He paused. An unnatural grin growing on his face
Thanks to the grace clause though, I get to choose your punishment myself.
Guards! As he roared, two spirits in armor arrived, and at his order, apprehended Dilucius.
You wanted to rule, did you not? Very well, you'll be sent to work under Hel for the next thousand years in Tartarus. You'll even get to be a marquis.
The mummified Dilucius struggled, but he could not stop his fate.
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The grace clause?
The grace clause. Usually, gods must act within certain parameters, as prescribed in the religion, but once a generation we may choose someone we may specifically spoil and shower with gifts. They're not saints per say, but there's no name for them really. It's called the grace clause. Unfortunately, as the god of judgement and contracts, there wasn't much I could spoil you with, but in this regard, I could give you something.
Thank you, lord Anubis. Having a second life if already blessing enough, as well as you taking the time out of your day to talk to me.
... And I'm sorry about getting mad about this, it's just that-
No worries child. I understand your anxiety in regard to your fiancé. One gets worried when the people they care about get into imminent and reckless danger.
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Now, as for you.
Anubis turned his gaze upon the two other intruders, causing the maid to squirm ever so nervously, while Maria strode forwards without hesitation.
"I've come to take Earl back!" she announced.
Hoh? And what makes you think you can do that? Anubis asked curiously, as he rested his head upon his hand.
"I read that Orpheus in ancient times was allowed to bring back his wife by persuading the lord of the dead with music."
And you think you can do that child? He asked, amused by the way the child acted. How bold to compare oneself to an infamous musician of old.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
"I can try, can't I? What do I have to lose!?" She stated confidently, a bluff considering the chaos she left behind.
Anubis narrowed his eyes in amusement. She could just leave afterwards, but still, the audacity.
Well, as much as I'd like to humor you child, I regret to inform you that Earl is not here.
"What?" she wavered, her momentum lost.
Your princess as you've described, is in another world.
"What?"
He's already back in the overworld, Midgard. Back in the land of the living.
"But usually it takes a year for someone to reincarnate, and Earl was a great man, he did great things! Shouldn't he have gone to Elysium? Valhalla? Folkvangr? "
Anubis shrugged. New program. Certain unfortunate people get chosen, sent to the overworld with their memories intact and are reincarnated as monsters to live a second life. They call it a system or something.
Maria lost all momentum for a second, just pausing, unsure what to do.
This didn't last long.
"Does this system have a way to track other participants."
Anubis paused, as his eyes read through an unseen document.
He hesitated.
Yes, you could find other players within this system, but there's no guarantee, and it'll be a trial amongst trials, you do not get to choose your race nor your location-
"I don't care. I'm willing to take that risk." She said without hesitation, and the maid soon followed suit.
"Wherever my master goes, I'll follow."
Anubis squinted at the two before chuckling.
Very well. Usually, you have to be chosen by the system or recommended by a deity. And luckily, you have someone to recommend you.
And with a waive of his hand, they're gone.
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...So she's in the system now?
Indeed. Though, where the two have went is beyond me. You would have to ask the system
Stolidus?
[Sorry, that's beyond me as well. Currently, the system has a rule of not sharing player locations to other players. I can tell you, however, that both players are now alive as players 6890 and 6892 respectively.]
Good, good, that's good to hear.
Maria will do fine.
Such confidence in a child who has never ventured into the greater world, her house being her own prison.
And yet she managed to thrive, excelling, and even managing to break into another noble's house, inspite of her limitations.
I can't disagree with that
Besides, she also has Nessie, her maid.
Nessie will protect Maria as best as she can.
That maid is talented I suppose.
... You're not mad, are you?
Of course not! I'm upset, but I know it's not your fault.
Maria has always been strongwilled.
I just didn't realize that meant that she would go as far as she did.
Mmm, that's good to hear. Well, I wish you the best of luck, my child.
And to you as well, my lord.
Anubis' presence fades, leaving me alone to ponder these problems.
Sigh.
I may as well go collect the leftover equipment and bodies as well as equipment, so that I may best explain my disappearance as well as reap as much as I can from this situation.
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Bzzzt.
The connection gone, Anubis sighs, very much annoyed with someone close by.
This is all your fault you know. Anubis grumbled, as a raspy hoarse laughter echoed in the chamber, for Orcus the hound entered the room.
Orcus, the hunting hound. If Anubis and Cerebrus are the guard dogs of Hades, then Orcus is the hunting hound, sent out to retrieve the lost souls who do not come willingly.
His priests are thus appropriately, exorcists and paladins who often seek to extinguish the undead, to see that they properly head to their final destination, all under the watchful eye of the hunting hound Orcus.
It's also his followers who pursue those who have broken contracts and greater oaths.
They were really stretched out.
Orcus was always... a sight.
A tusked, flaming skull of a beast set upon the body of an ogre, he'd always stood out amongst the dogs of the underworld, being one of the more feared and less revered.
Considering Anubis' status amongst the people, as well as Cerberus, that basically meant he had few followers.
The deity laughed.
I had little other choice. Had I denied her what she wanted, she would have sought less... proper means.
You know that would not bode well, not with her will, not with her status.
Anubis sighed, agreeing with this. Indeed, he knew Maria's will.
At least, he thought he had. Clearly, he had underestimated the girl.
However, it was with such will that he was sure that Maria would survive, and that he would seek out Earl once more.
She would be fine, with the support she has.
Though...
Really brother Orcus? Did you need gold that badly?
Orcus snorted.
It's hard to track all the oath breakers of the world when I barely make more than the average marquis.
I could give you a loan.
That's embarrassing. Orcus rattled
Sigh.
Little brothers. Either too over reliant on hand me downs, or too stubborn to accept it.
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On a sandy beach, far far away
Two eggs stood, one significantly bigger than the other.
Crack!
Crack!
[Welcome, player 6890]
[Welcome, player 6892]