A/N: I should clarify one of the questions I asked in the last chapter. There will only be around 10 or so champions being featured in this fic, and most of them will be functionaries or lords of ELO Hell. Sorry, should have clarified that in the beginning. Anyway, let us begin the descent into Hell proper!
Chapter 2 – The Descent into Damnation
It wasn't long before Fenrir could hear the sounds of scream and wails in the distance.
"We will soon be approaching the Gates of Lamentation," Nasus confirmed his suspicions. "It will not be long before you see the souls of the damned."
As they rounded a corner in the cavern, Fenrir could finally see the Gates of Lamentation. And stopped short in horror.
In front of him was a line of shades, enslaved together with dark magical chains, all being dragged towards an imposing gate at the end of the cavern. He could hear several shades crying out in pain and regret, some of them huddling together and whispering words of meaningless comfort. As soon as the souls saw Fenrir, they all started pointing at him and shouting, but their words were lost to him in the confusion.
"Who are these spirits?" Fenrir asked, his former enthusiasm rapidly being replaced by fear.
"These are the most recent of many souls who will pass this way into the Inferno," Nasus responded. "For since they never atoned for their crimes in the League, any hope of glory and peace will be stripped from them in this blackest of realms." He watched as the last of the shades entered the gate, before it slammed shut.
"Is there any way for these shades to rise from ELO Hell?"
Nasus smiled. "This may come as a surprise to you, but yes, it is possible. It is not unheard of for those in the first and second circles at least to ascend into higher kingdoms of the afterlife." His smile vanished. "But for those in the lower regions, there is no redemption possible."
Slightly heartened by this, Fenrir approached the Gates of Lamentation. He was surprised by how intricately carved the gates were. Inscribed upon them were hundreds of images of matches gone poorly. He could see a Blitzcrank pulling an Amumu into his own team, a Sona (which he assumed was jungling) getting smashed by the Blue Golem, a summoner storming off from the rest of his team, and countless others.
"The sins of countless summoners are inscribed upon these gates, a testament to the incompetence or wickedness of thousands of League matches," Nasus explained. He turned to face the Gates. "This is your last chance to flee, if you so wish. There are sights in ELO Hell that would horrify even the most stalwart warrior. You may leave now without shame."
Fenrir shook his head. "I have visited the Shadow Isles countless times in the past," he asserted. "I am no stranger to darkness and horror."
Nasus nodded. "Then in the name of Shurelya," he suddenly bellowed, "I command these gates to open!" He raised his halberd, which suddenly glowed a bright blue light, and smashed it against the gates.
The gates slammed open, and Fenrir beheld a vast abyss which glowed faintly red with distant fire. From above, countless shades were falling into its depths like meteors, encased in fire.
"Jump!" Nasus shouted. Mastering his fear, Fenrir leaped into the abyss, Nasus following close behind. He zoomed past other flaming souls, focusing on the depths below. The fire he had seen earlier was now in full view, but instead of engulfing the abyss it seemed to surround the darkness. For a long time he fell, before finally, he could see the bottom below him. Calling upon his magic, Fenrir slowed his descent so that he only landed roughly, instead of being dashed to pieces on the rocky ground below. A few seconds later, Nasus also landed, though with his greater mastery of the arcane arts he was able to land much more smoothly than his charge.
"We have now descended into ELO Hell itself," Nasus declared. "Gather your courage and put aside all fear, for even though you have not earned a place here, the evil of this place will cripple your spirit and tear away your will if you are not careful."
Fenrir took out his staff and adopted a ready stance with it. "Let us go on," was all he said in response. As he gathered his bearings, he could see that he was on the top of a cliff, from where he could see, to his dismay, countless shades still falling from the sky. Looking below, he saw in the distance many figures lining up on the shore of what appeared to be a river of some sort, entering a giant wooden barge. Given where he was, however, Fenrir knew that the truth would be far more sinister.
"What is this place?" he asked Nasus as they made their way down a steep path to the shore.
"This is the Tiimûrz," Nasus answered. "The first river of ELO Hell, the River of Dread. The dead must board Malovio's vessel to enter Hell proper."
Fenrir wasn't impressed. "Doesn't seem like a very solid system," he commented wryly. "What's there to prevent a soul from simply refusing to board?"
A howl of rage suddenly burst from the barge, and a group of demons leaped into the air and flew towards a soul attempting to escape. The soul barely had time to act before the demons started beating him savagely with their whips. Fenrir winced as he heard the cries of agony and the tearing of flesh, before the demons threw the soul back into the line.
"Oh…" he finally found his voice. "Yeah…that would do it."
As Nasus and Fenrir approached the line of souls, a voice suddenly boomed out from the inside of the ship.
"Through me, the way to the kingdom of noobs. Through me, the way to the world of the bad. As you ruined the lives of others, so now will your eternity be tainted with everlasting torment. Abandon all hope, ye who enter here."
"That voice!" Fenrir gasped. "Is that…Yorick?"
Nasus shook his head. "No, it is not the Gravedigger, but rather one of his ancestors. Many centuries ago, Malovio Mori dishonored the Mori name by abandoning his duties as a gravedigger in favor of a hedonistic lifestyle. Upon his death, he was given a choice: to suffer in the Ninth Circle of True Hell for breaking his vows, or to forever serve in ELO Hell as the ferryman of damned summoners. It was no surprise to any that he made the latter choice."
"True Hell? What are the punishments of those who are not involved in the League?" Fenrir asked.
"Depending on the quality of their lives, they suffer or experience bliss in kingdoms of the afterlife different from ELO Hell or Heaven. But their afterlives do not concern you, for you have tied your fate to the League," Nasus explained. "Let us board now, for soon the barge will be departing for the First Circle."
As if on cue, the last of the souls entered the barge and immediately it began moving across the river. The two mostly kept to themselves; Fenrir didn't want to risk attracting unwanted attention from either the shades or, worse, demons. For an hour he waited before, finally, the barge stopped and its mighty doors swung open.
"Let's get off this boat," Fenrir muttered. "Hanging around these shades just doesn't feel right."
As he made his way to the door, however, a hulking figure suddenly blocked his path. It looked like Yorick, but unlike the gravedigger in the land above he was carrying a mighty oar that crackled with dark magic.
"You who are living," the figure growled as he lifted his oar threateningly, "Stand aside from the rest. There is no place for you in the land of the damned."
"Silence, Malovio," Nasus intervened to Fenrir's relief. "He is here on a journey of understanding and under my protection." He pointed his staff at the ferryman. "Do you wish to challenge my claim?"
For the briefest of moments, Fenrir thought he saw a hint of fear in Malovio's eyes, before the latter laughed and lowered his oar. "Nay, agent of Shurelya. I have not the power to stop you or your charge from entering. Though I question the wisdom of coming here in the first place, I trust that your pilgrimage will be most…enlightening."
He turned to face Fenrir. "A word of advice to you, mortal. Your passage through the Circles of ELO Hell will not go unchallenged. Sooner or later, its demons will come for you. And I warn you now: if you are not prepared to fight, then you are not worthy of this pilgrimage. Do you understand?"
Fenrir nodded. "I understand, Malovio. And I thank you for your advice."
Malovio snorted. "ELO Hell has no sympathy, for the living or the dead. You'll need all the luck and help you can get." And with that, the Gravedigger's ancestor moved out of the way.
"Let us go on, Fenrir," Nasus pointed towards a distant tower. "The First Circle awaits."
/
A/N: Being familiar with the Dante's Inferno video game and the Divine Comedy, I always wondered: what was there to stop souls from simply refusing to board Charon's vessel and facing the torments that await? The Divine Comedy stated that damned souls eagerly boarded the vessel, but I feel like this question was still kind of unresolved. This is my way of wrapping up that particular loose end.
Tiimûrz means "dreadful" or "terrible" in the Black Speech of Mordor.
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