Episode 12: The Third Circle
The current of the river Styx pushed the trio deeper into the depths of CSR Hell. The air was getting thicker with the stench of disease coming off the waters. Here it was apparent that the players and punishments were only going to get more severe than those seen before. For while the previous two circles, encircled by the lava river Acheron representing their misplaced fire for the game, the Styx represented the rot of misplaced desire.
"I can barely see," Nexii said. "It's thicker than Toxxulia Forest." She added, coughing on the vile air.
"Here, take a Rebreather." Sirken advised, putting the mask around her face.
"Thanks, I guess those greasy creatures are good for something." Nexii remarked.
The boat soon came to a stop once more, and Sirken and Nexii got off again to tour this circle.
"This is another level without a GM overseer. The fog here represents their ignorance of the mind. Welcome to the Third Circle, Apathy." Sirken motioned about.
"Permit me not to care, I can't see anyone suffering? It's too hard to see even with ultravision." Nexii complained, though she did feel anxious at the sense of this level. There was something disconcerting about not being able to see.
With a wave of his hand, Sirken cleared the fog temporarily. Many players could be seen wandering about the dark caves aimlessly, but not blindly as in the Circle previous. "Here we have all the players who are too ignorant to improve at the game. The sorts that just exist, and manage to obtain experience and power solely on the charity of others." The GM went on. "Don't confuse this with newbies, newbies to this world are innocent."
"Hnnn..." Nexii moaned, feeling rather dizzy at trying to recollect Sirken's words. "What did you just say?"
"I'm sorry. You must have breathed in too much of the air, Mistress. It has a temporary memblurring effect. The punishment for these souls is to continually forget what little they have learned, as soon as they have learned it." Sirken adjusted his Mistress's Rebreather. "We won't have much longer here, but take a look around."
"Sure." Nexii replied and did as told. This simple direction she could follow even in her mind-fogged state. "I see...rogues who don't backstab or evade. Clerics who sit starry-eyed with their fingers on the CH button. Pet classes with idle pets. Monks who stand at zone in. Useless DPS monks....Jenssen? SKs who don't do...whatever it is SKs are actually useful for?" Nexii wandered about. "They're all tagged <Clue> or <Dawn Believers>. Why is this?"
"We couldn't put them in <Venerate> and <Fires of Heaven> as they left this place for a greater Hell. A shame, this Circle was tame in comparison to the time locked progression servers." Sirken replied to the priestess. "Let's get back to the boat, I can't ward off the fog forever."
"Just a minute. There's one player...on the other side of this drawbridge. Eduin?" Still she felt confused, though she could remember that Scottish accent. It was unmistakable even if the words were incomprehensible.
"Dammit Capt'n, I cinnot git this bridge to lowar! I'm giving 'er all she's got!" The shaman was running in place with levitate, trying haplessly to click a drawbridge to lower down so he could cross to the other side. It was a comical sight, seeing those Barbarian legs try so hard and yet be so ineffective. Nexii grinned, feeling warmth at the thought of just how long he must have been down above the River Styx, trying to meet with the rest of the Third Circle residents. She figured at least a year, maybe longer. It was hard to remember that Veeshan's Peak raid. She stood there and gave a listless shrug. Even if he did reach the rest and try to explain the game to them, they'd never amount to anything.
"Mistress Nexii, come. We'll get some refreshments in the boat." Sirken took the female by the wrist and led her out of the winding caves.
"Y...yes. I don't think this place could ever be me. I was always...a good girl. I mean, a good healer." She blinked her eyes and allowed Sirken to escort her back to the boat's safety.
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