Spire of Hell

The Spire of Hell

From a distance The Spire of Hell appears like a mountain that dominates the northeastern landscape of the Ark. The structure is thick and fat at the base but narrows quickly the higher it goes until all that remains of it is a single needle pointing straight up with an endless cloud spewing out of it. The nearer that one comes to it though, the less that it resembles a mountain at all. The apparently smooth edges give way to sharply jutting supports and a myriad network of twisted tubes that burst from the surface of the structure in seemingly random places. It comes to look less and less like a single structure and more like an interwoven mesh of separate facilities fighting to share the same space. Though the thing that stands out most when looking at The Spire of Hell from the outside is the steam. Thick, roiling clouds of it that waft away from some sections of the structure and cling to others, obscuring them within a haze that blends together form and color as it rises up along the towering smokestack at the structure's heart and joins with the billowing plume there.

The inside of the structure resembles the outside precisely. The first thing that is immediately noticeable after stepping off of the tram at Station C is the oppressive heat. This is to be expected, after all 'The Spire of Hell' is only a nickname given to this facility; The Furnaces is the beating heart of the Ark. Unlike the rest of the island which runs on electrical power, it seems as if there are few electrical devices inside of The Spire of Hell other than the lights themselves-- everything from the doors to the lifts that move between levels of the structure are powered by the steam pressure created by the boilers. Tubes and conduits run along every wall and every ceiling, carrying either boiling steam, sea water, or electrical current to various parts of the structure. As for the furnaces themselves, they are enormous things that sit at the center of networks of connections; dotted in several places throughout the entire structure and suited to different purposes such as boiling water, melting steel, or disposing of burnable waste.

The Furnaces provide electrical power to the rest of the island, as well as housing facilities for smelting and manufacturing equipment that is needed on the Ark as well as recycling waste material. As such the interior of the structure is suited more to being a factory than anything else-- there are enormous open spaces and others where walls are conspicuously absent, there are seemingly no floors above ground level despite how high the Spire towers; only networks of platforms and catwalks that seem more like the canopy of an iron jungle than something constructed by man.

The main furnace itself towers above all other aspects of the structure though, easily over a hundred feet tall and anchored to numerous other parts of the facility walls by chains easily twice as thick around as a man.

Pylon Wrote:

Standing before you is one of the strange, crystalline monoliths that seem to be placed all over the Ark. The cyclopean pylons have been chiseled in such a way that it is impossible to garner a solid look at them – the seemingly-perfect angles are not right to the eye, causing momentary lapses of vertigo or even hallucinations. The objects thrum with power of a wholly unknowable sort, possessing a prismatic glow that is both spectacular and disturbing to behold. If one is able to inspect them more closely, they will be able to see things carved into them – runes and glyphs that writhe and morph, never constant. Of course, it would be rather difficult to obtain such proximity, given the security that continually guards and monitors each outcropping.

Pylon Gamma sits just below the fourth level of the spire, roughly sixty feet above ground level and just over an arm's reach below a catwalk that passes by it to the north. Despite that it is not physically touching any other object it does not 'float' in place like some sort of balloon. It remains in exactly the same place at all times, as if it were riveted to the space itself.

"I often ask myself the same question."

A deep wizened voice called out from behind Terran. Perhaps Terran would have noticed the old man's approach earlier though, Sieg's whole massive aura throbbed with dense traces of positive and celestial energy that an infernal construction may have been somewhat uncomfortable with. Once Terran turned to face the old yellow jumpsuit wearing black man, he would note that nothing about his body language seemed aggressive. Maybe it was that bright smile the old man had on his face that seemed absolutely out of place in the hot oppressive surroundings. Sieg was a large man and very powerfully built, but nothing about him seemed particularly violent or mean. He seemed relaxed, even though all around him was dangerous machinery.

"I think this world just tends to do that to you.", Sieg walked up next to Terran to look over the railing at the workers.

"I was. I heard about what happened to him through various sources and people. That man will be brought to justice, eventually...", Sieg spoke of the finality of justice. Eventually, no matter who we were, we would all face judgement for our crimes one day. Sieg had heard from Griff's death on the news and through James Eradas. Though it must be noted that Sieg and james were not on good terms, after Siegs conflict with Yuusuke Yurameshii the spirit detective in Sigil. (Read Sigil: City of Doors #10)

"I knew him. Not well but I did know him. What is your relation to him young man?", Sieg knew in general of what Terran was and he knew that what Sieg was must have been somewhat aggravating. Sieg respected however that Terran conducted himself civilly despite the fact that they were heralds to an old conflict. Sieg turned away from Terran somewhat. It wouldn't fix the problem but the minds eye, the tan tein, and the physical eyes often mitigated spiritual energies.

((Lol, plays off my mistake of not including the hand shake logically...))

Sieg appeared to be a simple eccentric old man in a bright a** jump suit. However, his fist had humbled so called 'gods', they were powerful weapons that leaked celestial energy. To touch Terran would be to burn him and despite what he was Sieg had no malice towards this man. He simple returned a smile and a nod. "You trained griff. Wow, I ought to take a few lessons from you then.", it was strange to note that an old man was willing to learn from anyone. Often the elderly thought they were the masters due to their age. However, Sieg was different. He seemed to be constantly learning and constantly growing. He was constantly in a state of evolution and flux, that was the secret of his strength.

Sieg turned his head to look at the whistle as it screeched, his expression despite the shrill sound seemed to be one of peace and acceptance rather than annoyance. Sieg seemed to be in a constant state of peace. Sieg knew that Terran didn't want to hear it, but Griff was in a better place now. Rather than saying it, Sieg simply talked about one of his favorite subjects...justice.

"Well. I recently took a job to help support my wife and my son...like either of them need it...with the GPD. If you ever need any additional assistance. Then we are willing to help you. We have great investigators, though my specialty is mostly in special operations and exorcisms.", Sieg handed him a card from his back pocket, careful with his outreaching hand not to touch Terran.

Sieg lowered his hand calmly away from Terrans. Sieg didn't seem to be shocked by the proximity in equal measure but Sieg did not the lack of comfort in his fist. Though Sieg was experienced in punching, demons, devils, and dragons all the same. Siegs brow lowered when Terran posed the question about getting a body back from the dead. Sieg looked over Terran, thinking that the construct was his body but now thinking other wise. 'Hmm the soul of a man tied to a machine. Interesting.'

"When a person dies my friend. They are meant to stay dead. Any other alternative is a perversion of the natural cycle. There are however, many spells and powers that can be used to preserve bodies that have bee deceased. Harder though it is to undo the decaying of a body once the tan tein has been broken.

If the body is decayed, the only thing that can bring it back is powerful reality revising magic. There are very few wizards and even fewer psychics capable of the feat. Short answer, not likely.

Retrieving the soul however, is sadly easier. Impossible once the soul has passed on into the outer planes, such as the seven heavens or the nine hells. In the former case the soul has become one with god again and sits at his table in Heaven. In the latter case, the soul has likely become the bargaining chip of some devil destined by be broken down into quintessence to feed some horrible abomination.

However, often it takes time for souls to move on and also souls often become attached to physical objects just as they become attached to the physical body upon conception. This is what you call possession or in the cases of a inanimate object...a haunting.", Sieg was going off on a tangent.

The man was really into his job.

Sieg was an old man. If Terran knew about him and he likely did, he would know that not everyone held a favorable opinion of Sieg. Sieg was known for a large part of his life to be an individual who saw the world in black and white. Even now in his advanced age when Sieg thought something was wrong he was willing to fight and die for it stubbornly. It was the reason he, Yuusuke Yurameshii and James Eradas came to blow over Trinities fate. Trinity, the assassin had just gotten done murdering hundreds in Sigil and Sieg was not willing to give the woman, a repeat offender, any quarter.

"I know of her, and I know of many men like you. When I was a little younger, when I saw something that was undead I returned it to dust, without a moments hesitation. Though eventually I had come to see that the world wasn't that simple. You didn't ask to be what you are today and you seem to understand that what you live is an unnatural existence.

However god has a plan. Even I don't understand it a lot of the time but he does has a plan. My god is one of mercy, charity, love and compassion. My god does not have hate or anger in his heart. You have encountered much hardship and pain in your life, but never doubt that he loves you and he blessed you to do what is right even when it is the hardest thing to do in the world.

Your life has been extended, you did not ask for that extension but it happened and now you choose to live for a righteous cause.

I simply say to you, don't get attached to this life. Don't fear the after life. Death isn't the end. Proof if it flows through all of us, we just have to open our eyes to it. Do the right thing, fight for justice and when it is time, take your well deserved rest.

but what of this girl?"

Love was a beautiful and mysterious thing to Sieg. The old man had often wondered if his wife were to fall to the powers of necromancy or chaos, would he be strong enough to slay her. He wondered if when the time came to give his life in the war against evil, could he stay true to his beliefs and move on. Sieg had long ago transcended the limits of aging, he could fight as well as he could when he was young and he would likely live for a much longer time. However, Sieg knew that with his life style death was not long away. Terran didn't want to leave Fayble, because he cared for her and Sieg understood. Sieg wanted to place a consoling hand on the demons shoulder and tell him it was going to be ok, but he could not.

"Often times it is not clear what the right decision is and even if we know, making that decision is often the hardest thing in the world. I can't imagine how you feel, but there is someone who I love dearly. My wife Athena has been with me at the hardest times, times when I doubted myself and though we are often a part are minds and are hearts are always together.

I want to make this world better for her. I want to protect this world so that she has one to live in. So I will say this, if you love this girl, live for her and protect her and when she is strong enough to protect herself think of whether or not it is her you wish to protect or are you simply attached to life. Then move on and enjoy the after life. God loves and forgives you, and an existence of eternal bliss and enlightenment awaits you."

"Brother I most certainly will. Know that everything is going to turn out alright. If you ever need a hand in anything. Just call that number on the card and I'll be there."

Sieg said before looking back over the rail again. He didn't walk away but he didn't have anything more he needed to say. If the man needed to have a quiet moment to think then Sieg would give him that. If he wanted to talk, then Sieg was always there to speak.

OOC: Awesome scene. but I got to hit the sack. Thanks man.

She was here, waiting for the Void to meet her.

There were secrets that needed to be told, and understood. She was orchestrating something quit large, and without his help he would never come full circle and accept certain truths.

“Come Ertai, I’m waiting for you.