lies. greed. misery. (open, feat. anyone)

[Deleted]

Liberation oftentimes means making sacrifices. Sometimes it takes a little more than unbinding one's chains to free them from imprisonment. Sometimes... the only way to liberate someone is to make an example out of them; ending their lives to bear the cause. To Idris, most sacrifices were ones worth making if it got his point across in the end. He wasn't against ending those who stood in his way, but god forbid someone harm the absolute innocent in front of him. Needless to say, bloodshed wasn't a new concept for him, so the fight that had just occurred in front of Hell's Gate was just another Friday for him. As he wiped the blood off of his cheek, he pulled the unconscious bodies under nearby cover. Their ignorance deserved punishment, but they still had time to learn. Death wouldn't be their friend just yet.

Finally, there was peace. Idris crouched in front of the gate, observing the practical desolate wasteland that stood before him. It was almost as if time stood still in this side of Lorsette. You could tell him life couldn't be conjured near the gate and he'd very well believe it. They said Hell's Gate would never open again, but Idris welcomed the day it did. Maybe then he could meet one of the supposed gods that dwelled there before him... 

He could spend all day up here, but it was probably about time he left. After all, he still had a mission to finish. Returning to his hunch, the mage stretched, breathing a sigh of relief at the pop of his bones. He began to walk down the trail, cracking his neck as he pondered the next place to go. Today was a good day to be alive. 

[Salem Esmeree]

Salem knew very well of the realm that was Hell, believing to already understand the kind of suffering that occurred there. He believed his mother belonged there, and if it wasn't for his fear of her potential down there, he'd throw her into the pit millions of times over himself. That was part of the reason the musician found himself outside Aria for once: a fight had broken out, so as quickly as he could, Salem rushed to the scene, his body aching the closer he got. Salem was still not one to even consider venturing into crowds, instead easily taking a hidden path through the Outskirts' wilderness to get to the West side of Lorsette... one of the many things he learned existed through the writings left over from the deceased.

Slowing his pace down, Salem immediately noticed the sudden heat in the air. He was very close. A frown began to creep onto his face... was the fight connected to that damned Seer somehow? If it was, Salem, just for a moment, doubted his ability to take her on. Surely there will be deceased nearby? He could use those to his advantage. Walking up the trail, still with a slow stride, he decided he would deal with one thing at a time. He wasn't an expert at multitasking anyhow.

Today, in addition to his usual sharp attire, with him he carried his favored long sword just in case something went down, the blade concealed far on his hip beneath his cape. If no angelic being was near the Gate, Salem still planned to linger a bit. Necromancy practice wasn't something he had a chance to do outside of the Purgatory District. Noticing he was walking aimlessly up the path, he noticed another figure descending, a very large figure. Immediately ruling out the possibility of there being another reaper here, he went down a mental list of what or who it could be. A survivor? A soon to be dead soul? The former would possibly benefit him when they pass. Salem stopped where he was, addressing whoever the stranger was politely, yet cautiously, with a simple "Hello there".