I fell

[sneaks]

The Underworld Meme



Perhaps you fought bravely and fell in battle defending innocents. Maybe you were a tyrant who's just been given your comeuppance. Maybe you have another reason for seeking out the place beyond death.

Whatever happened, you're here now. What next?


What kind of afterlife have you reached?

I. Greek: The Greek underworld comes in two flavors: the misty Hades and bloody Tartarus. All dead mortals are sent to Hades, but the most wicked are delivered to Tartarus for eternal suffering. Hades can be visited by the living, but do take care around the cuisine. Those who eat the delicious food are bound to Hades forever.

II. Buddhist: One is not reborn into Naraka without having lived a very low life. If your karma has not been considered during life, if you have not done to others as you would have them do to you, then you shall suffer in the next life. The lifetimes in Narakas can range from firey penetration to cold so extreme that it cracks the body open. This is a lifetime that lasts for hundreds of years, until you are reborn over and over again waiting to restore your karma to a clean state once again.

III.Christian: Hell is a residence for the unsaved. Like the fallen angels before you, you will be expelled from paradise and left to burn and suffer forever. Will you repent? And will you be allowed to ascend if you do?

IV. Egyptian: The realm of Duat is an interesting place to visit, but one should hope never to be forced to live there. It is the realm of Osiris, and the home of gods and fierce creatures alike. To pass through Duat, one must find a way through a series of gates guarded by fearsome creatures. What will you do to pass by the "Blood-drinker who comes from the Slaughterhouse"? Will you spend eternity in pieces decorating the gates to warn the next traveller?

V. Judaism: Sheol is a place of darkness. It isn't concerned over whether you were kind to others in your life. It has no interest in making you suffer. You lived, and then you died. And now you are here, in the blackest of voids, where God has no interest in you. How will you keep hold of yourself here? Will you whither away into a mere shade of a spirit, rendered weak and emotionless?

VI. Aztec: The journey though Mictlan is a long and arduous one. The journey from the first to ninth levels requires four years of unending travel over mountains and through bloody rivers. Will you be chased by wild beasts? Will your undead guide bring you to the next world safely? Or will you be sent to join one of the elemental gods to bear the sun or rain instead?

VII. Norse: It's cold in Nifleheim, the land of mists. You are here if you have dishonored yourself. And here you will stay under the rule of the goddess Hel. Beware of the dragon Nithhogg, who sucks on the blood of the deceased.
Unless of course your warrior spirit has died in glorious battle. In that case, please enjoy your paradise in Valhalla.

VIII. Islamic: Sinners are banished to one of the seven gates of Jahannam. Jahannam is a place of pain and fire, where the condemned move about with flame-charred skin under a smoky sky that provides no shade from the heat. Angels, strict and severe, oversee that the tortures are befitting of a person's misdeeds in life. They dress the deceased in clothes made from fire and feed them boiling liquid that scalds them from the inside out.

IX. Pop Culture: The vision of Hell commonly depicted in media takes hints from different religions and mashes them together as it sees fit. Consider this the "mix and match" option.

X. Something else: There are several other visions of the underworld, as well as religions with afterlives far more complex than I felt comfortable simplifying for meme's sake. Where will you go when your life ends?



What brings you here together? Are you fellow damned? Did you find a way to visit the underworld in an attempt to rescue a loved one who died too soon? Are you one of the guardians or challenges? Who were you before, and what will become of you next?

As per the "everything goes" nature of many depictions of the underworld, threads in this meme may include triggering content. Please remember to note any limits in your thread openers if particular content causes you problems.

Comments

[queenofkur]

[ I-Is that a person? Did someone find their way to her Underworld? Did her attempt at adding the prompt work?! W-Well, she's going to try not to look too distressed! At least she's no longer crying... And since her eyes are naturally red, there's no way she was crying mere moments ago! ]

I-It's a work in progress! We'll have big cities for the souls to live in eventually...

[5min]

[ Whether Daybit counts as a 'person' or not is entirely debatable, but he's something drawn by the emptier afterlife. He doesn't point out because he can tell the present ruler looks distraught without further commentary. A "work in progress that began BC." He doesn't say that, either.

He stares at her for a while, and then his uncanny gaze drifts across the barren afterlife. ]

Where would you like your first building?

[ He repaired the floodgates near Ixquic's home. He has some ideas about construction, and he can learn the rest. Daybit's good at pulling impossible feats when he's required. ]

I have some time. I can help you with that.

[ He'll be more useful than a sheep-shaped god at minimum. ]

[queenofkur]

[ Where...? Why would he ask that? ]

W-Well, I suppose it makes the most sense to start by the center where my temple should be, but...

[ Is he saying he can help? How? Even if he had a Holy Grail with him, that'd be barely enough to just get started. ]

How could you help?

[5min]

[ He nods as she names her priority. Makes sense. That's the first thing Tactloc built in the new Mexico City. ]

A zigurat huh.

[ He remembers them from his father's archeology books and recorded them to navigate in them during his solo run in Ancient Mesopotamia. How can he help? Brick by brick, old-fashioned style. Daybit's not relying on something like a Holy Grail. Would something made for this system even answer him? ]

Let's start with the basis. [ Brows raise as he dryly points the obvious. ] Hand me your design, or give me paper and pen.

[ He'll do one for her. Ereshkigal will never advance if she's stuck before the starter line, overwhelmed by the chores ahead. Unless she begins now, it'll remain a permanent work in progress. ]

[queenofkur]

[ A Zigurat...? The idea has merit, b-but... ]

W-Wait! [She shakes her head.] The shape Underworld is more like an upside-down zigurat. I-I don't think there's enough room in the bottom for the basis.

[ The Underworld covers such a large surface when you first enter, only to become smaller and narrower the deeper you go. Even without taking into account the seasonal change, there's just not enough room. And besides- ]

And besides, I don't want something that grand. Just a place where I could rest during my breaks would be nice. [A pause.] You are kind-hearted, but this is too monumental of a task for any one being.

[5min]

I didn't mean the size, but the structure.

[ It's important in her culture, right? All gods seem to have a favored architecture that reflects their civilization. He may have no idea why they care about it, but he can discern as much from his archeology observation.

But, he tilts his head. ]

If it's big enough, you could house the souls and rest together with them.

[ Instead of separated houses, everyone under the same roof. He may or may not be addressing her loneliness. It isn't something Daybit would outright say, but he has noticed. ]

Maybe, but time is flexible here. As long as you supply the materials, I'll work on something.

[ He nods. There is plenty of clay. That's a start. He prefers to finish what he starts, although his time is already ticking down for his departure. ]

They could also help if they want. [ The souls, he means. ] After a long time, they might not object to any activity. This is their home, too.

[queenofkur]

[ Supply the materials...? D-Does she look like she can do that? She barely has enough for the spear cages. The thought of housing the souls with her is nice. Honestly, she'd really love it.

But... ]

I... I can't understand what they say.

[ She wonders why sometimes. It's like she was cursed from the moment she came into existence. She must take care of souls that she can't speak to. She can resonate with their emotions to an extent, sure... But that's not the same. ]

No. They are to rest and find peace. They worked and suffered enough in life. I will not have them suffer more in death.

[ She won't put them through more. They can't rest and dream if they work. No, they must find peace so they can be ready for the next step. Rebirth. ]

I-I thank you for your kind offers, though.

[5min]

[ She can always ask Tezcatlipoca for his supplier's phone number. Sure as hell, it didn't originally have the fanfare of a modern five-star resort & spa. ]

Let me try.

[ He offers again. Communication with words may not be a problem, although he doesn't expect understanding. It isn't different from how he talks to other people from the sidelines of the universe. ]

It's not suffering. [ A shrug. She won't be slaving them if they are willing to work if they want activity and make that choice. ] Some people won't be willing to move on until they have done enough.

[ That's a truth about others, but mostly about himself. He can't but keep on moving, even after dying twice. He's now waiting for his inevitable return to life to try again.

He pauses, almost surprised, nodding. ]

I haven't done anything, but you're welcome.