001 Video

[redenzione]

[It's been around two weeks and finally Dante's making his first post on the network. He still seems rather tense around the Gear, almost as if he's expecting some demon to pop out of the screen, but two weeks isn't enough to catch up on nearly 900 years of technological advancement.]

Good day. My name is Dante Alighieri and I have been here for twelve days. The last sight I remember before I awoke here was a tall mountain in the distance, it's peak stretching far into the clouds in the sky. I had thought to begin my ascent, to submit myself to further trials and redeem myself of my sins, but before I had yet to take the first step I found myself here instead.

Wherever here may be.

I must ask; is this Johto part of Purgatory? Are these children's battles and pets part of my penance?

Even if you do not have an answer, I would like to hear of your thoughts.

Thank you for your time and God bless.

[The feed then switches off after some minor fumbling. Serious one, isn't he?]

Comments

[necessaryrisks]

[... Uh.]

So, just to clarify. You're saying you've been resurrected in this place to repent for your sins?

I uh... guess that's one way to look at it? How has that been working out?

[redenzione]

It is not easy for a man to change his ways like he changes his clothes.

I do not know for sure how or why I was brought here. But all I know is that I must continue to turn away from sin and hate. Love, kindness, patience, humility...these all must I learn again, before I may enter Paradise. And if I may do so here in this strange land and put my new resolve to the test, then I shall not complain of want.

It has gone well. I have been caring for my Pokemon and helping those in need. I feel that this village is very blessed, as small as it is, so I may move on to find others who are in need of more assistance.

[necessaryrisks]

[It is an awkward and kind of weird feeling to listen to this guy and know he's saying this sincerely and not because he's acting out a line in a movie.] Not a bad thing to achieve for. Though, what exactly did you do before that you feel as if you need to cleanse yourself of your sins?

[redenzione]

Enough to damn a man to the lowest level of Hell. All nine sins have I committed to a most perverse extent, and all nine will I have to atone for.

[necessaryrisks]

[Nine?] I thought there were only seven deadly sins?

[redenzione]

Seven deadly sins, but nine circles of the Inferno. The first cycle is Limbo, where the unbaptized and virtuous pagans reside, guilty of the sin of not accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour. I suppose it does not fall into any of the seven sins directly, but it is a sin nevertheless in the eyes of God.

The other cycles are Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Anger, Heresy, Violence, Fraud and Treachery, in that order. Compared to the seven cardinal sins, Sloth, Envy and Pride are missing, but perhaps those sins are but merely a precursor to the sins depicted in each cycle. And Wroth can be split into Anger and Violence.

[necessaryrisks]

[Hmmm...] So you didn't believe in God prior to arriving here? I wouldn't have guessed, given what you just said but...

[Right.] Even so, that's a lot. [Enough to make him uncomfortable thinking what he might have done to have committed all those sins. Was he that dangerous?] That's why you believe that you've been given a chance to repent here.

[redenzione]

I had thought I believed in God, but perhaps what I merely believed in was my arrogance and the words of a bishop who sought only his own personal gain. I started putting words into the mouth of God; I justified my actions as the will of God Himself.

Yes. Not many are given such a chance and sometimes I wonder why God saw fit to preserve my soul, as corrupted and sinful it was and still is. But it is His grace and mercy, and I shall not disappoint Him nor my beloved a second time.

[necessaryrisks]

[Well, that was plausible enough. It sounds accurate of... a lot of people.]

Good luck in that pursuit then. It sounds like you've gotten a fairly good idea of what you want to do. Err, make him proud, I guess?

[redenzione]

Thank you, young stranger.

What is your name? So that when I may include you in my prayer tonight.

[necessaryrisks]

Alvin Draper. [Why did you have to say that? Now he feels bad about lying.] It's... fine. You don't really need to do that.