THE SECOND CIRCLEVilpamolan is a city known for its lawlessness and debauchery, with no shortage of taverns and brothels for its visitors. The Second Circle sits towards the center of the city, spanning over nearly an entire block. The main floor, upon entering, serves as a rather sophisticated looking tavern, decorated lavishly in black and red velvet and silk – not something one would expect in Vilpamolan at all. Tables spot the floor, along with a long, shiny black bar lining one wall, with well-dressed men tending. Beautifully dressed and made up women, as well as incredibly handsome men, mingle among the patrons.
A grand staircase lays at the back of the room, leading up to a second floor where many just as lavishly decorated rooms line the halls – though unlike a typical inn, these rooms are for rent by the hour, not by the night. Heading up even further, one will find themselves facing a locked door to the third level of the building – this level contains Serafina’s private rooms above the tavern and are not for public use.
On the main level of the tavern, where the lavishly decorated bar sits, there is a very ornate tapestry toward the back of the room, hidden away in a dark corner. The tapestry does not reflect a scene, but rather an emblem – the emblem of Serafina, Goddess of Death and Debauchery. The emblem depicted on the tapestry is that of a wolf with a snake coiled around its neck, a crown of coriander flowers atop its head. With the right intentions in mind, one can place their palm against this tapestry and be transported to Inferos, Revaliir’s Underworld – where the Hall of Indulgence can be found once one has been found worthy of the reaching it.
(Please note: one may also enter Inferos to visit the Hall of Indulgence by other means, including a personal invitation by the Goddess which will include a token to assist with travel, or by finding one of the many statues devoted to the goddess throughout the land – statues of a woman, scantily dressed, consuming a flagon of wine with one hand, and slitting the throat of a man with another.)INFEROSUpon passing through the portal, one will find his or herself within Inferos, the underworld of Revaliir. Inferos contains nine circles in which the souls of the damned are tortured, each circle pertaining the sins they had committed during their mortal lives. Travelers merely seeking an audience with Serafina do not need to visit these circles, though she may send someone there as a punishment if they displease her. (For a description of each circle, please click
here or scroll down.)
Once entering Inferos, one will find themselves walking past different doors on a strange and dilapidated pathway, as though one is walking through the ruins of a great castle. What seems to be ash is raining down from the skies, and the screams of the tortured souls can be heard in the distance. Each of these doors leads to a different scenario, in which someone is reliving either their worst memory or their most indulgence memory over and over again; such as a man, forced to relive the moment his daughter was killed right in front of him and he could have stopped it. A woman, partaking in sins of the flesh and heavy wine on an endless binge.
In order to gain entrance to the Hall of Indulgence, one will need to pass through one of these doors and find a way out of the scenario they are set into. One may think that getting set into one’s most indulgent memory would be better than their worst, however, it is sometimes harder to leave the things we enjoy the most…
HALL OF INDULGENCEAfter successfully surviving their personal trial, a new door will present itself, and upon passing through this one will find themselves in the courtyard of the Hall of Indulgence. Beautiful and fragrant flowering plants and trees line the pathway, with small benches and alcoves with beautifully carved fountains found throughout. Some of the fountains, upon further inspection, depict some rather lewd acts of people enjoying themselves quite thoroughly, while others depict incredible scenes of torturous violence and death.
Following the pathway will lead one directly into the Hall of Indulgence. The building itself is rather large and crafted from white and black stones with large columns lining the front of the structure, along with an ornately crafted black door, gilded with gold filigree. The door will open automatically, an enchantment in place to detect any time anyone gets close enough to enter.
The main foyer of the Hall of Indulgence is decorated much the same as the Second Circle – in fact, it looks almost identical. There is a bar counter lining one side of the room, where guests can have a drink or food from one of the two people tending – a well-dressed, handsome man, and a lavishly dressed, beautiful woman – an incubus and a succubus, disguised. If one is not careful, they may attempt to distract from the current task at hand – but should one be able to resist their charms, an enchantment in the foyer will have informed Serafina of the traveler’s arrival. She will either send one of the
messorem to escort them to the area of the Hall she wants to meet in, or she will come to greet them herself.
There are many more rooms throughout the Hall, but most of them are not for just anyone to visit. There is a large room dedicated just to holding Serafina’s clothing, a room dedicated to her weaponry, and several rooms dedicated to activities of a more intimate nature. There is a massive library filled with tables and furniture, with information on every subject imaginable. And, of course, Serafina’s private chambers, but those are strictly off limits.
The building is laid out in a sort of square shape, with an open courtyard in the center. Out here, there is a beautiful garden, filled with many exotic species of plants. There is a sitting area as well, as this is one of the areas that the goddess prefers to receive visitors. The sky above is a blood red color during the day, due to the red sun hanging in the sky; and a deep abysmal onyx speckled with glittering stars and no moon in the evening.
