Welcome to Gaia! ::

It didn't take long for the spirits to alarm other guards. Footsteps began echoing from the hallway outside the office. Not nearly as many as had been in Fisk's office, but enough to draw one's attention. There was also the sound of a low rumbling growl that seemed to flow in from somewhere outside. It was delayed compared to the footsteps and panicking balls of light, but it was heard soon enough. As deep and aggressive as the growling sounded, it was almost more worrisome than the guards that were now just outside the door. The only thing keeping it from being the biggest worry was the fact that it seemed to originate from somewhere far off outside.

Cerberus was stationed at the main entrance after all. They wouldn't leave their post unless commanded to.



When the doors opened, several men rushed inside. All of... what looked like varied eras of time. There were a few "younger" looking men, all wearing a more modern looking toga or outfit. The "older" guards seemed to have a more antique look to them. The long curly beards, longer hair, spears, old Greecian armor, swords... angry... ready to pin the intruder to the ground with the points of their weapons while the "younger" ones stood and stared at the apparent "drop off".

The older men moved their blades closer to CJ's chest. They began talking to one another in a language that... wasn't used much any more. The "younger" guards didn't seem to understand them either. "N-no one is seeing Hades until you explain yourself." one replied. "Who are you? How did you get in here like..." he began, then sort of just motioned to the gaping hole in the ceiling.

"Your gun will do just as much damage to them as the ones imbedded inside of you did for you." a woman said from the hallway. The guards, (save for the ones with their blades still aimed at CJ) stopped what they were doing and turned to look in the doorway. Standing between the two large black doors was a woman wearing a long white Grecian gown. A file of papers in one hand, and her other resting comfortably on the open door. Her curly brown hair was loosely pulled back with a gold ring on the back of her head, while curly locks fell around her shoulders. She said something under her breath, and the guards all backed off. The few older ones with the spears still eyed CJ aggressively, but the woman must have told them to leave him alone.

"I appologize for that. It's not often we have... well someone arrive as you did. They usually have to cross the river just like everyone else. Those who die anyway." she said as she walked into the room.

"Acacia Makos". the woman answered as she stepped farther into the room and shook the man's hand. "Lord Hades' assistant, if you will. I was the closest to the Master's office, so I'm here to welcome you. The master is currently in the throne room, which is several floors down from here." she continued, then drew her hand back. "I'm sure that the Master will wish to see you, so if you'll just follow me I'll show you to the throne room. I'll answer any questions you may have on the way down."

"Well..." Acacia began. "He doesn't mind them too much, though he isn't a "devil" in the same sense that most people would label him as. Though we are in the same realm as Hell, you shouldn't think of this as such. The Underworld is... was... in a realm all it's own until the universal mergance. This is one of many places for the after life, and though there are those here who are punished for eternity, many are not." she said, then led him around a corner to a set of spiraling stone stairs lit by torches.

"So... you shouldn't really think of him as what most people would think of him as. He doesn't mind it... though he will get irritated if you continue to call him something in derogatory taste. He is first and foremost the Lord of the Underworld..." she said, then glanced back at CJ. "...and secondly a twenty-some year-old Greek millionaire from the modern era. He's aloof most of the time but just try to use your better judgment on what he'll tolerate and what he won't."

The woman chuckled lightly as she focused on walking down the steps again. "It doesn't pay any sort of checks, I'm afraid. The Master inherits his wealth from his Earthly life. Years of business have made the Kronos family very wealthy, and the Master and his siblings are the last generation of that family. As of right now anyway."

Acacia nodded as she continued down the stairs. "From our own universe... probably a few years past now." she replied. "That is a.... rather long and complicated story. It would be easier to explain if you knew how powers were given in our universe, but I suppose the laymen explanation would be... she began, then paused a moment to think. "She was friends with the Master's siblings, and came with them to Athens. During her stay there, they were all involved in a fight, and died inside the cave leading to the Earthly plane entrance to the Underworld. She died, along with many of her other friends. Hades had an interest in her powers, and she exchanged her freedom of life for the rest of her team. Another deal was made by Hades older brother, and miss Gallay was set free. Hades has kept his eye on her ever since, and approached her each time she has been in a position where she is... at deaths door shall we say. Each of those times, she has had a reason to live, and offered a deal."

"Well... a few have been killed. The ones she traded her freedom in for are all alive. She had agreed to stay in the Underworld as long as they were given their lives back. When the eldest Kronos brother came to meet with the Master, he and the Mistress convinced Hades to let miss Gallay live as well." Acacia replied.

And finally they reached the bottom of the stair well... leading into yet another torch-lit hallway filled with black stone. "Not much longer now. Just at the end of this hallway."