DIRECTORY

• STATS
• HISTORY
• PERSONALITY & ABILITIES
• CONNECTIONS
• EXHIBITION
• METATEXT [WIP]

  THE WANING MOON  Umbra Witch, High Priestess, the Violet Contessa. As elusive as her coven sisters, Magdalene is an Umbra Witch who keeps to herself and her small circle. She presents a cheeky and clever front, but beneath this guise is an observant and decisive woman who dedicates herself to her overseeing duties through compassion for humans and demons alike.As a High Priestess, Magdalene is the tactician Left Hand to her Supreme, Jeanne. She is expected to be completely objective and analytical concerning witchly matters, functioning as a knowledgeable truthseeker and leading any archival and research work. While capable of cold calculation and cruelty, Magdalene's warmhearted nature can cloud her judgement.While often able to keep her cool, Magdalene's underlying critical and short-tempered nature is as likely to lead her to failure as it is to victory. While graceful and deadly in equal measures, she is often restrictive of the true might at her disposal, and prefers skill to raw power.It is easiest to find her at the Gates of Hell, the Devil May Cry office, or her own archives— just make sure to keep an eye on the time.

  MINUTIAE  

HISTORY

you've been playin' around with
magic that is
  BLACK  ...

  CHILDHOOD, PRE-VOWS.  — Born as the full moon began its disappearing act, perhaps it was fate that Magdalene would wane from the standards of her kin. The daughter of the Umbra Witch and High Priestess Martine, Magdalene was born centuries after the near-extinctual Witch Hunts.Her Spirit Energy and Dark Arts skills were cultivated early under the keen eyes of both her mother and “aunt,” Eva. Despite lacking a traditional Umbran education, Martine and Eva proved to be strict teachers as Magdalene was put through intense training and study. After Eva’s murder and the presumed death of her sons, Magdalene lived in solitude with her mother as she continued to prepare for her vows.Martine, however, would not see the completion of her daughter’s studies— no longer using her Umbran Watch’s ability to halt the progression of age after Magdalene’s birth, Martine passed on due to natural causes, leaving Magdalene alone and uninitiated at 16.Following her mother's death, a mourning veil would wrap itself around Magdalene. Without her mother to see all of her efforts come to fruition, as well as having lost the person she was closest to, Magdalene became isolated and apathetic. She would continue to walk through the motions—practice her Bullet Arts and summonings, find hordes of troublesome angels to slay—but it was clearly done through the virtue of routine. Although instilled with a strong sense of compassion to be used as fuel for her Umbra Witch duties, Magdalene couldn't find it within herself to move forward. At least, not on her own.Shortly after Magdalene's mother passed, she began to hear things. It started small, at first: whispered instructions and appraises during a fight, or a sharp sigh of annoyance and disappointment if she misstepped with a ritual or concoction.It wouldn't be long until this presence revealed its true identity, and what it was there to offer. One of the four Demon Kings, Madama Mystery, the Whore of Babylon— and the previous Infernal pact holder of the High Priestess Martine. She would claim that Martine had plead with Madama Mystery, before she passed, to offer Magdalene the same contract that the two of them had shared for over a millennia. After watching Magdalene for her entire life, occasionally gazing through her mother's eyes, She decided to honor Martine's request.Magdalene wasn't sure what shocked her more: the offer itself, or how quickly the "No" left her lips without much conscious thought. But she knew what accepting this pact would mean— undertaking her Witchly Vows, ascending to a fully-fledged Umbra Witch title. She didn't want that, not now, and the condescending and demonic presence in the place of the mother Magdalene wanted only made her more assured in her rejection.Madama Mystery wasn't the kind of demon to forfeit, however, especially to an opponent that She felt worthy of Herself, something incredibly rare for the ancient demon to feel (let alone admit to). Magdalene would have to deny the persistent offer for a year while grieving her mother.It would only be when, under a dire divine attack, Magdalene would be trapped and forced to truly listen to Madama Mystery: the begrudging respect, the admission of worthiness, and finally, how Magdalene was ready for this. How her mother knew she was ready for it, too, before she died. It would be this dialogue between witch and demon, shared in the catacombs of a decaying cathedral while angels bore down around it, that Magdalene would accept Madama Mystery's offer, sealing their pact and undertaking her Witchly Vows.

  ADULTHOOD, POST-VOWS.  — Following the undertaking of her Witchly Vows, Magdalene would go on to become a true Umbra Witch, independently immersing herself in the secretive otherworldly society of magic, demons, and angels. She would first encounter Rodin, the demonic weaponsmith and owner of the Dump the Gates of Hell, who Magdalene would work with to craft her gun set, Black Sabbath. At the age of 19, she would then meet Vergil, her thought-to-be dead childhood friend, by happenstance, the two of them finding each other amidst a divine attack within a ruined cathedral. Vergil, using Magdalene under false pretenses for more information about Sparda and demonic power, would stay for only a year before departing without a word, leaving Magdalene alone once more as her research guided his journey.It wouldn't be until a year later that Magdalene would re-encounter a Son of Sparda— this time, however, it would be the younger brother, Dante. She had been alerted to the Temen-ni-gru's rise from the Underworld by one of her demonic contracts, but by the time she had been able to make it back to Red Grave City, the tower was gone, as was Vergil. She would stay with Dante to help pick up the pieces, and stomp out any demonic risings, but made yet another vow: she would find Vergil. For nothing else, she owed him a piece of her mind.Within the next few years, the darkest moon would rise. After years of solitude, believing herself to be the last Umbra Witch alive, Magdalene would be suddenly confronted by the Heiress to the Throne herself, Jeanne. They shared a mutual surprise at the other's existence, and their relationship was strenuous; Magdalene, used to being alone and behaving the way she deemed fit, now had to fulfill the Left Hand role to an Umbran Supreme, while Jeanne battled against the influences controlling her to try and keep her newly-found sister safe.With the resurfacing of another Umbra Witch, Bayonetta, and the defeat of Jublieus, the three witches would come together to form a triumvirate coven with Jeanne as its Supreme, Magdalene as its High Priestess, and Bayonetta as its Pillar.As time flowed on, she would find herself carried by her work and her search for Vergil— from the pits of Inferno to the island-nation of Fortuna. She would occasionally work with Dante on his missions when they extended beyond the normal demon hunting, though she always operated from the shadows and would let him shine in the spotlight. One noticeable example of this would be during the fall of the Order of the Sword, where Magdalene would lurk around the island to repossess stolen demonic and witchly artifacts (as well as to avoid a certain younger white-haired knight).It would only be in Red Grave City, where everything started, that it would also end.These days, Magdalene can often be found slaying angels and keeping demons in line, either in the company of her coven sisters or the descendants of Sparda. Her work as a High Priestess also requires her to engage in archival research and Umbran Artifact Creation and Recovery, which leads to long hours (and often sleepless nights) cooped up at her home in Red Grave City or abandoned locales. She also assists Nero in exploring and learning to harness his demonic power, occasionally accompanying him on missions or providing guidance— both practical and emotional.

...but all the powerful
MAGICAL MYSTERIES
never gave a single thing back.

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PERSONALITY

  HERE FOR A GOOD TIME, HUN, NOT A LONG TIME  
Unlike her coven sisters, Magdalene chooses to not utilize her Umbran Watch to halt her aging. Due to her unorthodox up-bringing (different from the Umbra standard, anyway), Magdalene was able to form relationships that she could not see herself losing in the sands of time Therefore, she has resolved to fight with the life she naturally has— Death can have her when she says so. Or, at least, after they buy her dinner first.  FASHIONABLY LATE  
Despite being an Umbra Witch, Magdalene is habitually time-blind. Her archival work takes a great amount of focus, especially when handling Umbran Artifacts, and Magdalene cannot stand to leave a job unfinished. Furthermore, though she does not feel a need to prove herself, a desire to live up to Jeanne's confidence in her drives her work ethic, at least partially. Therefore, it is not uncommon for her to spend hours at a time, even pulling all-nighters, locked into her study.  SQUEAL LIKE A PIG  
Magdalene's patience only lasts for a select few; unfortunately for her enemies, they're never among that class. She can be particularly brutal in battle, whether it be a shot from her guns or a barb from her tongue. Although she's certainly enjoying herself (taunting an enemy is half the fun, isn't it?), it doesn't take much for Magdalene's true ferocity to show, and for playtime to take a back seat to raw destruction.  MY COSMOS IS MINE  
Adding to her brutality in combat, Magdalene wields a cold and calculating cloak when calling upon her High Priestess title. As the Left Hand to her coven Supreme, it is required for Magdalene to be critical when need-be; it is rare for anything to escape her sharp eye and judgement. This also causes her to need a strong sense of control, and will fight like hell to get it and keep it.  WE CAN FACE THE DARKNESS, BABY  
For all of her impatience, bad temper, and analytic nature, Magdalene at her core is a compassionate woman who cares for those around her and the balance of the Trinity of Realities at large; in her mind, she wouldn't be an Umbra Witch if she didn't. She's always willing to lend a hand or answer any "burning" questions (as long as they don't stray too close).

ABILITIES & EQUIPMENT

MADAMA MYSTERY,
THE WHORE OF BABYLON

One of two demons born soon after the creation of Inferno, Mystery is fated to herald the apocalypse of the Human World, and contributed to the creation of many early, ancient demons. She has little interest in the Human World aside from the role that She will eventually play in its downfall and is more so engaged with keeping everything on track until this event takes place. She views two of Her fellow Kings, Mundus and Argosax, with unveiled contempt; in Her eyes, it is pointless to rule over a second world simply for the sake of it, or to sow chaos. Rather, Mystery views power and Her throne as a means of control, and the destruction Her demons and their spawn reek, as well as their inevitable defeats, as small moves on the board in the grander game of fate— something She shares with another Demon King, Madama Khepri.She has made very few pacts with Umbra Witches over the years, being incredibly critical of those She deigns to grant in power to. In more recent times, Madama Mystery held pacts with the Umbran High Priestess Martine, which lasted for over a millennia, and then Martine’s daughter, Magdalene, following her death. Madama Mystery views Her witches as members of her court, similar to the demons beneath Her, and treats them with respect or contempt based on Her judgement of their behavior.

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CONNECTIONS

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MADAMA MYSTERY
Bayonetta
Contracted Demon

BAYONETTA CONNECTIONS

MADAMA MYSTERY
Bayonetta
Contracted Demon

Magdalene's relationship with Madama Mystery is intricate, to say the least. Although the two have only been together for 26 years (a blink of an eye for an Umbra Witch or an Infernal Demon), it is clear that their bond transcends whatever limited time they have had and will have together.Due to Magdalene's initial rejection of Madama Mystery's pact offer, as well as their opposing views on power and humanity, the two argue frequently, and aren’t afraid to get on each other’s nerves. Furthermore, Madama Mystery seemingly views Magdalene with a sense of entitlement—she may be borrowing Her power, but Magdalene has become Her witch in return. However, if there is one thing the two come together on, it is matters of control. The Demon King highly values power and dominance, and Magdalene’s role as a High Priestess mirrors this affinity, through for the sake of safety and balance rather than assuring the eventual apocalypse.Nevertheless, these two work exceedingly well together when need-be, and rely on each other a great deal (though neither would ever admit so outright). Their bickering, despite how it may sound, is usually light-hearted in intention—bordering on sounding like a mother and daughter, but don’t let either hear you say so. Magdalene respects Madama Mystery’s role in the grander scheme of time and fate, as Madama Mystery in turn acknowledges Magdalene’s dedication to ensuring the flow of history and the balance of all three realms. In this way, one could not exist without the other; Mystery’s apocalypse cannot take place if Magdalene doesn’t assure that time passes as it should, and Magdalene knows that Her apocalypse must come to its fated arrival.As She is one of the most powerful demons in Inferno, Magdalene is reluctant to summon Madama Mystery in full unless absolutely necessary. Not for a lack of control, mind you; rather, she is mindful of the power that she, through their pact, could invoke. While Magdalene can be devastating in battle, she doesn’t see the point in causing entirely unnecessary destruction (though some can be forgiven). Madama Mystery views this as a childish endeavor, not understanding Her witch’s restraint, and it remains a point of contention for the two.As an equivalency for offering Her powers to Magdalene while she is still living, Madama Mystery also requests that Magdalene act as her “Court Witch,” handling any affairs that She sees fit in both Inferno and the Human World. While she may complain—is her immortal soul not enough in exchange for power?—Magdalene does appreciate this role, both for the respect that Madama Mystery must have for her abilities to give her this responsibility, but also to give her a stronger foothold in upholding her Overseer of History duties even into the furthest reaches of Inferno. It pays to have sympathy for the devil it seems, or at least compared to the contempt they both hold for the angelic divine.

JEANNE
Bayonetta
Platinum Supreme

The relationship between a coven’s Supreme and their High Priestess is a foundational one. As the highest authority of a coven, the Supreme looks to their High Priestess for council, knowledge, and an objective eye when their own might be too clouded by circumstance.For Jeanne and Magdalene, their partnership was anything but—at least, to begin with. They first met by happenstance, responding to the same demonic disturbance. Magdalene, 23 years old at the time and for so long assured that she was the last Umbra Witch alive, wasn’t sure what to make of the Platinum Knight. Jeanne struggled similarly, but in a different light—the promise of a new Umbra Sister, after spending so long in solitude, brought forth a happiness she didn’t know she could still feel. However, these emotions were overshadowed by and struggled against the controlling influences of Balder and Jubileus, who saw Magdalene as nothing more than an unknowing pawn in their plot. While Jeanne was able to convince them that bringing Magdalene into the know was pointless, and that simply using her would be enough, she was still made to employ Magdalene in their scheme against Bayonetta upon the trio becoming aware of her awakening.The sisterhood between the two remained tense for a decade. Magdalene, both annoyed by having to take someone’s direction after having her own rule for so long and confused by Jeanne’s strange behavior and seemingly paranoid crypticness. Jeanne, trying so hard to keep her newfound High Priestess safe while being pulled by the strings to use this new witch against one of the people she cared about most.Following the rising of the Umbra Witch Bayonetta and the fall of Balder and Jubileus, Magdalene and Jeanne would find themselves settling into more into a true sistership. Not two sides of the same coin, but two phases of the moon: Jeanne, standing proud as the shining New Moon, and Magdalene as her Waning wave, watching over all even as the darkest night looms in the not-so-distant future. In battle, their joint brutality is unmatched, and their trust in each other is unwavering. It helps that they have fairly matched tempers as well (or not, if you’re in their line of sight).Like any sisters, though, they continue to lovingly dance on each other’s nerves—nothing that can’t be fixed with a nice outing for tea, however. Magdalene looks to Jeanne as something of a source of inspiration for her role as an Umbra Witch and the duties she carries out, while Jeanne views Magdalene as an evolution of the traditions she holds so much pride for. Just as much as this Supreme looks to her High Priestess for insight on witchly work, Magdalene isn’t afraid to lean on Jeanne for emotional support or advice, knowing that her coven sister would never truly judge her (though some good-natured ribbing is to always be expected).

CEREZA
Bayonetta
Blue Blaze

Watchful eyes, or an annoying shadow? Magdalene and Bayonetta would certainly know of each other to start, in the barest senses of the word. For Magdalene, monitoring the black-and-red cloaked Umbra Witch was a job tasked to her by Jeanne—not that she had actually explained why, at least not in any amount of detail. For Bayonetta, it was the consistent feeling of being followed, of being just a moment too late to see what she was missing. A particularly infuriating tango for both reluctant partners.It wouldn’t be until pieces started falling into place for Magdalene, wouldn’t be until she realized just who Bayonetta—Cereza—might be, that she would step out of the shadows and into the gaze of the Left Eye of the World. She had no other choice; something was wrong with Jeanne, and if this woman was at the heart of her strange behavior, then her High Priestess-borne thirst for knowledge would lead her forward, orders from her Supreme be damned. It wouldn’t be the most fruitful conversation, mind you, as Bayonetta was still only recovering scraps of memories, but to finally have an ally that could tangibly help (rather than a crying baby and the world’s most annoyingly persistent journalist) was a boon she wouldn’t turn down, especially when they seemed to be of the same world.Following the defeat of Balder and Jubileus, Bayonetta would join Jeanne and Magdalene’s coven as its Pillar, the Supreme’s right hand, the sword. Since then, Bayonetta and Magdalene have a warm relationship, and often play into each other’s humor and sarcasm, occasionally to Jeanne’s annoyance. Their less-than-traditional flares also work well together in both combat and civility, with Magdalene being able to act as a balance between Jeanne’s prideful dedication to tradition and Bayonetta’s willingness to step outside of the law.Amongst Jeanne’s strong sense of pride in her Umbran heritage, position, and tradition, Magdalene and Cereza share a bond of their unconventional views and behavior. Furthermore, though both women are known for their teasing, they both operate on a foundation of kindness—even if crying babies or bad-tempered teenagers are involved. They carry themselves with an air of authority that is colored by openness—although it heavily depends on just who they may be opening themselves up to.Lastly, with their corresponding positions in their triumvirate coven as Jeanne’s Left and Right hands, it is imperative that Magdalene and Cereza both compliment and contrast each other in a plethora of ways. Whereas High Priestesses are the analysts and judgement-providers, Pillars act as guardians for the coven and for the Supreme especially. In this way, it is important for these two to be able to work together for the best outcome for the coven, while also being able to provide more diversity for their Supreme. As an example, whereas Bayonetta may be more casual and indulgent in any combat-related fun, Magdalene’s flair comes with a deadly precision that seeks her enemies’ ends above all else.

RODIN
Bayonetta
Wicked Weaponsmith

Their meeting was a promise that Magdalene’s mother, Martine, had made to her once upon a time—after her Witchly Vows were taken, it was only right to have a proper gun set forged. It wouldn’t do to run around as an Umbra Witch with cheap toys, after all. And for what all of the halos they collected were worth, there was only one weaponsmith in this realm who could do the job justice.Martine had said the name before, “The Gates of Hell.” After her first step inside, 17 years old and vows freshly taken, Magdalene understood why it was more often referred to as “The Dump” instead. Regardless, it had to be the man behind the bar that she was here to see—the powerful aura emanating from him was more than enough of a tip-off, as if she wouldn’t also feel the sharpness of his gaze behind those dark shades. He wasn’t human, that much was certain, and with the way that it seemed his own patrons were actively avoiding him, almost scared of catching his attention, Magdalene wondered just who and what she was about to strike a deal with.Rodin wasn’t sure what to make of Magdalene, at first. Finding yet another Umbra Witch sitting at his bar, only a few years after another black-haired woman had sat in that very seat, claiming the same title, felt like too much of a coincidence. Never mind the platinum-haired one before both of them, too. Once was a fluke, twice was a coincidence, but three times? That wasn’t a pattern, that was trouble. But Magdalene knew how to talk shop, and the rudimentary plans she presented were more than enough to get his own creative drive going. Similar enough to the previous forging he’d done for those other witches, but still wholly her own, that much was clear. It had been a while since he had a client who actually knew the ins-and-outs, the caveats and the intricacies, beyond just wanting something fast-shooting or deadly-sharp.If the girl wanted guns, she’d have them, especially with the amount of halos she set as a “down payment”—he’d just need to take a little trip downstairs. Besides, Rodin could always smell when a wicked storm was brewing, and if Magdalene was involved in it like he guessed, she would need to have weapons that could withstand the power she would face and the power she herself would pour into them.From this moment forward, Magdalene and Rodin have remained consistent contacts and even better collaborators. Magdalene’s skill and knowledge regarding Umbran Artifact creation and preservation brings a different eye to Rodin’s schematics, and the two frequently get lost in creative discussions. It’s clear that they highly value each other’s work, with Rodin always being Magdalene’s first call when a new idea strikes, and Magdalene having a space in Rodin’s backroom workshop for whenever inspiration strikes (though he’s required to have a sneak peak).

• RETURN

DEVIL MAY CRY CONNECTIONS

VERGIL
Devil May Cry
Slow Dancer

Magdalene’s relationship with the eldest son of Sparda is complicated, for better and for worse. The two would first meet as children, their mothers each rare survivors of the Witch Hunts who kept in contact over the centuries. Martine, Magdalene’s mother, had requested Eva’s aid in her daughter’s witchly education, which brought her around Eva’s twins sons frequently enough to establish a friendship with them. However, with Eva’s murder and no sign of either child, Martine and Magdalene could only assume that they were deceased as well.Magdalene and Vergil wouldn’t meet again until nine years later. On the search for information on Sparda and demonic power, Vergil was investigating an ancient demonic cathedral in the Human World, used by priestesses to commune with demons for their Infernal power. As fate would have it, Magdalene was already there, searching the archives for a grimoire her mother had been researching before her death, the cathedral having originally been home to Umbra Witches before being used by heretical humans.After handling a horde of pursuing angels, followed by a tense stand-off between the two of them as well, a reintroduction would warm Magdalene’s heart and set Vergil’s mind to work. Surely a knowledgeable witch would be of use in his quest. Telling Magdalene that Dante was dead and that his research into Sparda was motivated by a desire for familial connection, she would agree to aid him.The two would stay by each other’s side for a year, and while romantic feelings sprouted, there were moments of strife. Vergil, after learning that Magdalene had forged a pact with an apparently incredibly powerful demon (she was adamant in not telling him who it was), couldn’t fathom why she held back in battle when she could so easily slaughter her foes. Magdalene, conversely, would be increasingly unnerved by Vergil’s brutality in combat and slowly-uncovered obsession with power.Regardless, Magdalene's love for Vergil would be founded on a respect for his independence, persistence, and his skill—not his power. Vergil would develop an appreciation for Magdalene's combat prowess and strength, as well as the warm and thoughtful nature she engaged him with. Although these feelings were never outright confirmed, the mix of comfort, insecurity, and fear that they invoked in Vergil practically made his decision for him. Love was a human fallacy he had no need of, and it was clear he had used Magdalene as much as she was needed of. It was time to go, her research pointed to a new destination—Fortuna.The two wouldn’t see each other again for over two decades; despite Magdalene’s searching for him after his sudden and silent departure, she always find him just out of reach: late to his descent into the Underworld after the fall of the Temen-ni-gru, only catching his armored shadow on Mallet Island. It would only be in Red Grave City that the two would find each other again, being yet another unforeseen wrench (or boon, depending on your view) in V’s last ditch effort.

DANTE
Devil May Cry
Beloved Hunter

Flames burn the brightest when they’re enshrouded in welcomed darkness, each enhancing the nature of the other despite the appearance of the contrary. The light of the flame emphasizes the deep shade, and the nothing blackness highlights the only illumination in its depths. Dante and Magdalene function similarly.The two were friends in their childhood before the attack that would kill Dante’s mother, Eva, and separate him from his twin brother. Magdalene and her mother had presumed both brothers to be deceased, while Dante never chose to seek Magdalene out to prevent opening up old scars. Operating as Tony Redgrave, alone, was simply easier at the time.They would eventually reconnect following the fall of the Temen-ni-gru, which Magdalene had arrived too late to investigate. This meeting was bittersweet—they had each other to lean on but shared a reeling grief over Vergil’s voluntary exile.Moving forward, Magdalene and Dante, both living in Red Grave City, would often pass by each other on missions; the younger son of Sparda often setting out on jobs which would cross the world-threatening threshold, something Magdalene would always be required to investigate and see solved due to her own overseeing duties. Regardless, when it involves hellish origins, the Umbra Witch is content to leave Dante to it and work in the same area from the shadows, taking in the bigger picture while leaving him to the “dirty work” (his words).Magdalene is a bit more indulgent in Dante’s dramatic combat antics than the others and isn’t afraid to match them with her own flair. She appreciates his insight and levity, though does have a limit to her patience. Dante, on the other hand, trusts Magdalene unquestioningly, and isn’t afraid to turn to her both for knowledge on a mission and support in his darker hours. While they may work together on Dante’s missions, Magdalene has a strict rule against him helping with hers, a mix of innate Umbran secrecy and a worry for Dante’s safety informing this decision, despite his whining about “missing out on her fun.” The bond these two share runs deep enough to allow for borderline silent communication: in the right circumstances, a shared glance is all it takes for these two to understand each other and make a decision.While this Devil Hunter and Umbra Witch do work together well, they aren’t without their issues. Both share the habit of letting others get only so close before closing off, both doing so from a place of concern. While this is a frustrating habit for others to deal with, it becomes outright infuriating when one of them is dealing with the other’s walls. However, when you know how to employ a strategy yourself, it is easy to defeat it with an intimately curated offense. This also allows for them to have someone who understands why those walls are up in the first place, even if they view each other’s as unnecessary.

NERO
Devil May Cry
Young Star

The island nation of Fortuna and its Order of the Sword had been in Magdalene’s periphery for a while. Even from her limited outside view, she would’ve placed her bet on it having a cultish culture without a second thought. Open and close case, right? Regardless, the heightened reports of Infernal activity that seemingly had no resolution—no human death tolls, no littering of demonic corpses—needed to be investigated. Furthermore, Enzo had it on good authority that the Order was poking around on the black market for anything that reeked of the Dark Knight Sparda, and that couldn’t be good.Unfortunately, it was one hit after another: they had gotten their hands on Eva’s Umbran Watch, they had gotten their hands on the goddamn Yamato, they were experimenting on demons, and there’s no way that can be Dante’s son, the Yamato responds to him scarily well, she knows that gaze, that only leaves one option.After a brief encounter (a fight to Nero, a test to Magdalene), she would seclude herself to the shadows for the rest of the event—she had to stay focused, and she couldn’t do that while seeing so much of him in Nero. It was bad enough how viscerally upset she had been to find out this organization was experimenting on demons, she couldn’t afford further distractions. There would be time to process the kid afterwards—hopefully with a bottle of whiskey, if she could snag one from Dante’s supply (though she suspected he would want a bottle himself). For now, she had artifacts to recover and an Order to see brought down.The two wouldn’t reconnect until Magdalene’s arrival to aid in dealing with the Qliphoth, but they would grow closer following Dante and Vergil’s descent into the Underworld. Wherever she and Vergil stood, she wouldn’t allow it to sully her friendship with Nero, especially when he would come to her for aid in learning more about his demonic heritage. His persistent, hard-fought hope is something she can’t help but encourage, despite his consistent attempts to learn things about Magdalene herself that she would rather not share, for his safety.They have remained close, with Nero relying on Magdalene for guidance while his “favorite” uncle and old man are trapped below. They care for each other a great deal, seeming to have formed a bond similar to that of a mother and son—not that they would ever admit such to the other, even when it’s pointed out by outside observers. They have their moments of tension: Nero cannot stand that Magdalene shares Dante’s habit of secrecy, and while Magdalene has her own temper, trying to reign in Nero’s during training or missions together remains difficult. However, she sees a lot of herself in Nero, independently stepping into his own among individuals well-established beyond him. Furthermore, Nero greatly appreciates that Magdalene doesn’t have kiddie gloves on with him, and pushes him with a purpose rather than just aggression and harsh expectations.

RIPLEY CRAWFORD
Devil May Cry
Friendly Death
belongs to mothchime

Magdalene has come across many types of otherworldly beings during her lifetime: demons, angels, even every principal god from each realm in the Trinity (or two and a half, at any rate). However, she has had the privilege—or curse, depending on who you ask—of meeting an entity that one only meets at the end: a Grim Reaper.Their meeting was by chance. Ripley, by their nature, was responding to the unnatural level of death and devastation caused by the great wyrm Fáfnir who, in all of his greed, had snatched an Umbran Artifact that increased his Infernal power; something Magdalene couldn’t let stand. On that rainy day, the two formed what they believed to be a temporary alliance in order to achieve their corresponding goals. Fáfnir’s disrupting the delicate balancing act of death needed to be stopped, and a powerful Umbran Artifact can’t just be left lying around.While the two tangoed with the devilish wyrm, they were also in something of a dance between with each other as well. Meeting an Umbra Witch was as new to Ripley as meeting Death was to Magdalene, and an air of cautious curiosity lingered between them. By the time their mission was complete, Magdalene had decided that being friendly to a Grim Reaper had to have its benefits—and if it didn’t, at least she’d be able to brag that she had Death in her rolodex. In turn, Ripley, emboldened by their more recent step away from complete solitude thanks to the persistence of a certain young Devil Hunter, decided to trust Magdalene’s lead and shadow her rhythm.They have continued to be dear companions ever since. Magdalene keeps a mirror in her home specifically for Ripley to travel through, and she has made it clear that they’re always wanted by her side, valued more than the typical creeping death peering over her shoulder (though they are certainly welcomed to that as well). Furthermore, as they are a being born from Purgatorio, Magdalene often calls upon Ripley for knowledge and power that may have been unexplored by Umbra Witches from before her time. Certain enemies slain by the High Priestess swear that, upon their deaths, she would have two shadows—only one of which could actually be attributed to her.For an Umbra Witch who does not choose to use her Umbra Watch to extend her life, it could be considered painfully ironic that Death would make themself a mainstay within Magdalene’s graces. But Magdalene embraces the idea of death, more than willing to do what she can with the time she has. As much as she treasures her duties, she cannot fathom the idea of continuing to do so without a natural end, as those she loves pass on without her. For Ripley, this respected value of life and death is incredibly important, and with any luck, they will be the one to lovingly reap her soul and ferry it down to Inferno, into Madama Mystery’s waiting hands.

Further art of Magdalene.

UMBRA WITCH COVEN STRUCTURE

there isn't an
ending to  EVERYTHING  ...

  UMBRAN ELDERS  — Former Supremes who no longer wish to lead their own covens, trusted by the next generation of Supremes for advice and guidance. Ascended from individual covens to clan oversight and logistics, as well as intense spirit and archival work or teaching, and headed by the Umbran Elder. They may take on Maidens/Apprentices as students, either training them to directly ascend to a Supreme level (bypassing the High Priestess or Pillar titles) or training them to become High Priestesses (a position that requires teaching by an Umbran Elder).  SUPREMES  — Coven leaders, more likely to have ascended from Pillars than High Priestesses. These leaders have the final say in any coven-wide decisions and set about rules and guidances, as well as mission assignments for that coven, but do not go against the overarching Umbran doctrine. The Umbran Throne must be taken by a Supreme, who then works with the Umbran Elder to lead the entire clan.  HIGH PRIESTESSES  — The Supremes’ left hands—the council. Formidable in their own right, High Priestesses are the pure analysts of the coven. They are a trusted source of knowledge and judgement, and their typically thoughtful nature helps in dissecting a situation for a second opinion should their Supremes ask for one. Often in charge of educating Maidens/Apprentices and First Degrees. Archivists and researchers.  PILLARS  — The Supremes’ right hands—the sword. Pillars are the guardians for the coven and are trusted to carry out extremely dangerous missions. They also take on education responsibilities for Maidens/Apprentices and First Degrees, especially combat-related lessons. Trusted by Supremes to provide a third opinion if required beyond a High Priestess's assessment, or a second opinion if a High Priestess is unavailable/not able to be objective in their analysis.  MAIDENS/APPRENTICES  — Post-completed initiation, demonic pact secured, but required to continue their general education before moving onto either a path towards becoming a Pillar or a High Priestess. If neither path is chosen, maidens/apprentices who specialize in a certain art or craft may move with the Umbran Elders and take on a teaching/mentoring role for those interested in their field (title becomes Meister, ex: Summoning Meister, for an Umbra Witch who specializes in demonic summoning better than the average).  FIRST DEGREES  — Pre-completed initiation, demonic pact unsecured. Still getting a handle on Spirit Energy and the Dark Arts. May or may not be engaging with Bullet Arts lessons if they can be trusted to not shoot their own foot off.

...toward the PAST
and toward the FUTURE.

INFERNO-UNDERWORLD ORGANIZATION

our conjuration sings
INFERNAL PSALMS...

  THE ARBITERS OF INFERNO  “Inferno’s sovereigns; one everlasting, one transient. Are they devils, or something worse?”

QUEEN SHEBA“When the cosmos was split into light, darkness, and the chaos in-between, the incredibly powerful Sheba was born alongside the darkness controlling the world of Inferno. She lives in the hellish land, and is often classified as a demon; however, the full details of her existence are unknown.”Sheba is the Queen of Inferno, ruling over every corner of the reality. However, due to both Her power and Her age, having lived longer than any other demon since the dawn of the Trinity of Realities, She does not often burden Herself with the trivialities of those beneath her unless absolutely necessary. She typically slumbers beneath the Ninth Circle, often keeping Herself within a meditative state. Within this domain, Sheba is able to stay connected to the happenings above Her, and is still summonable if enough power is generated.While She may have the innate desire to continue the eternal struggle against the light, calling back to darkness’s roots during the First Armageddon, Queen Sheba is more concerned with keeping Paradiso in check and within its natural boundaries—a similar concern She has for Inferno. Because of this desire, She created demons who, while still devilish in nature, are as equally determined to uphold the equilibrium; Madamas Mystery and Khepri are primary examples of these demons.RODIN“It is rumored he was once a resident of Paradiso with the power of creation, but witnessing his acts in Inferno, most would think him more suited for destruction. Though his principal purpose for collecting the souls of Inferno's denizens is to use them in making his weapons… As the famed weaponsmith of Inferno, he destroys to create, then creates to destroy.”Rodin, currently known as the barkeep of the infamous Gates of Hell (and otherwise known as a demonic weaponsmith if you can pay the right price), takes an interesting place in the hierarchy of Inferno. Similarly to Queen Sheba, he cares little for the smaller time politics, and cares more about the balance amongst the Trinity of Realities. He could very easily take a ruling position if he so chose—however, his desire for creation has always taken precedence. Besides, if you asked him, working the bar and ruling a portion of Inferno are pretty damn similar. Regardless, Rodin will still use his power and feared reputation to his advantage when it comes to “picking parts” for his dangerous creations.Besides tending bar, Rodin creates weaponry, amongst other crafts, for business and pleasure alike. His creative clientele has included several Umbra Witches over the centuries, with the Triumvirate Coven of Jeanne, Magdalene, and Cereza being his most recent patrons.

  THE FOUR KINGS  “Red eyes cast over every corner, watching each other and all below with ambition and scorn.”

The Four Kings of Inferno are older, powerful demons, each ruling a quadrant of the underworld. No King is inherently eternal—they have not lived since the dawn of Inferno’s fire, like Queen Sheba, and they can be killed or sealed away, at least for some time. Each King is an embodiment of some concept or element that ties Inferno to the Human World—these concepts are not set, meaning a new King can embody a concept that a previous King did not. Typically, each King has their own court or army, made up of demons they either created or who have simply decided to follow this King as a leader. Kings may also have a Knight or Mistress, who act as a close companion or right-hand.MUNDUS, THE PRINCE OF DARKNESSBorn to the Demon World over two thousand years ago, Mundus, the embodiment of darkness, was a demon who sought dominion, and would go to great lengths to see himself in one of the hellish thrones. His power was never entirely his own, having eaten the fruit of the Qliphoth to go beyond his innate strength. After amassing an army of followers, Mundus slew one of the previous Kings and took that seat for his own. He has consistently fought with Argosax, who previously sought Mundus’s throne before claiming another. The two had continued to clash up until their subsequent defeats at the hands of Dante.In the present, Mundus’s throne remains empty. While he would have been capable of forming a demonic pact with a human, he refrained, viewing humans as entirely beneath him and seeing no use of forming a pact.MADAMA MYSTERY, THE WHORE OF BABYLONOne of two demons born soon after the creation of Inferno, Mystery is fated to herald the apocalypse of the Human Realm, and contributed to the creation of many early, ancient demons. She has little interest in the Human Realm aside from the role that she will eventually play in its downfall, and is more so engaged with keeping everything on track until this event takes place. She views her fellow Kings, Mundus and Argosax, with unveiled contempt; in her eyes, it is pointless to rule over a second world simply for the sake of it, or to sow chaos. Rather, Mystery views power and her throne as a means of control, and the destruction her demons and their spawn reek, as well as their inevitable defeats, as small moves on the board in the grander game of fate.She has made very few pacts with Umbra Witches over the years, being incredibly critical of those she deigns to grant in power to. In more recent times, Madama Mystery held pacts with the Umbran High Priestess Martine, which lasted for hundreds of years, and then Martine’s daughter, Magdalene, following her death. Madama Mystery views her witches as members of her court, similar to the demons beneath her, and treats them with respect or disdain based on her judgement of their behavior.MADAMA KHEPRI, THE PROTECTOR OF TIMEThe other of two demons born soon after the creation of Inferno, Madama Khepri represents a demonic twist of time, as well as the Sun. Similarly to Mystery, Khepri is concerned not with ruling, but with ensuring that fate and time endure undeterred. She has engaged with Umbra Witches in a variety of aspects due to their nature as overseers of history but has only ever formed a single contract—that with the Umbra Witch Rosa. Due to her ability to foresee the passage of time, Khepri has largely stayed out of both Inferno and Trinity “politics,” deigning to act only when a grave interference of time is taking place.Whereas Mystery spawned demons to spread a natural course of destruction, Khepri is acknowledged as having attributed to the Purgatorio-born creation of grim reapers, as well as King Zero and his Little Devils. Alongside her Mistress, Madama Styx, Khepri entrusts the more “mundane” aspects of death and signs of time-passage to these demons, while keeping the grand scheme of time within her own domain. Khepri’s court is noticeably smaller than those of her fellow Kings because of this, but she and her legions are nonetheless still incredibly powerful and not to be trifled with, lest one’s life be cut short.ARGOSAX, THE DESPAIR EMBODIEDBorn to the Demon World over two thousand years ago, Argosax, the embodiment of despair, sought a demonic throne in order to spread chaos and despair, which he derives further power from. After acquiring his own throne, Argosax dueled with Mundus throughout their shared time in the Demon World, before they were both defeated by Dante.In the present, Argosax’s throne remains empty. While he had formed one demonic pact or another over his life time, Argosax largely remained untethered; if he could not use a human to spread his desire for chaos and despair, under his control, he was uninterested.

  KNIGHTS AND MISTRESSES  “The Right-Hands; not council, but execution.”

SPARDA, THE DARK KNIGHTThe Legendary Dark Knight Sparda is a well-known and by-gone phantom, whose presence and actions still hold great influence even long after his disappearance and death. Previously the most trusted vavasor to the Demon King Mundus, Sparda would grow to care about humanity and the balance of each world, realizing the injustice his leader sought to enact. Alongside his vassals, Modeus and Baul, Sparda would defeat Mundus and his armies and seal them, along with the bulk of his own demonic power, in the Underworld. After this, he forged a pact with the Umbra Witch Eva, having been able to sustain enough of his power to keep both himself and their pact alive.Across his many years in the Human World, this valiant and noble nature would lead Sparda first to acting as a Feudal Lord to the island of Fortuna, to both positive and negative outcomes, as well as crossing back into the Underworld once more to fight alongside the Protectors and Matier against Argosax’s forces. After his return, Sparda would abstain from positions of power over humans, despite his benevolent nature, and would instead settle with Eva to have a family before his disappearance and inevitable, mysterious death.MADAMA BUTTERFLY, THE MISTRESS OF ATROCITYMadama Butterfly, the Mistress of Atrocity, was originally a human woman who left the human world under “unfortunate circumstances.” In choosing to be reincarnated as a demon, Madama Butterfly retained her beautiful appearance (though clearly with an infernal twist) yet perhaps lost some sense of her humanity and compassion, as her visage belies brutal behavior and power well known amongst the denizens of Inferno. Due to this nature, she was adopted as a Mistress within Madama Mystery’s court and is entrusted to keep the demons below her in line, and to dole out punishment when they aren’t.Madama Butterfly has been engaged in a demonic pact with Cereza, also known as Bayonetta, since the mid-1400s. This pact went unused for nearly 500 years, as Bayonetta was sealed away at the end of the Witch Hunts in the 1500s. However, in the present day, this pact has grown ever stronger between the two as their interpersonal relationship is deeper than meets the eye. She greatly respects Bayonetta, and perceives her similar to herself—unfairly scorned, yet nonetheless beautiful and powerful in equal measure.MADAMA STYX, THE DECIDER OF ENDSMadama Styx, the Decider of Ends, is an infernal demon under Madama Khepri’s court, charged with ruling over the Styx River in Inferno and utilizing magical moths to lure the souls of sinners into her domain for damnation, perhaps earlier than expected. A demon of poise and composure, Madama Styx is known for her cold cruelty when angered. As a Mistress of Madama Khepri’s court, Madama Styx works closely with her “siblings,” including grim reapers, and King Zero and his Little Devils, regarding the passage of humans into Inferno and demons into rebirth.Madama Styx has been engaged in a demonic pact with Jeanne, the current Umbran Supreme, since the mid-1400s. It has been noted that many witches before her had tried and failed to properly summon and appease Madama Styx, resulting in the carving out of their souls and an early damnation to Inferno borne from her anger at the perceived slighting. However, Jeanne was able to summon her properly due to her dedication to (certain) traditional ways. In the present day, their pact and interpersonal relationship are founded on mutual respect for each other’s raison d’etre and role in the grander scheme of time and history.BOLVERK, THE KING OF FRONTIER GODSBolverk, the King of Frontier Gods, was the left-hand of Argosax, one of the Four Kings of the Underworld, and one of the most powerful demons within his legions. Bolverk is known for his hunter-like behavior and dogged determination, utilizing his demonic wolves, Freki and Geri, to pursue his prey for years at a time in order to ensure their deaths.Often seen as a counterpart to the Dark Knight Sparda, Bolverk embodies everything Sparda denied: he is avaricious, bloodthirsty, and ruthless, willing to sacrifice anything to attempt and satiate his own desires. Over the centuries, this has worn him down to nothing but his skeletal frame. Sparda had defeated him multiple times, though it was only through Dante that Bolverk finally met his end.

  VASSALS  “Lords in their own right, with loyalty as strong as diamond and blades even sharper.”

MODEUSOne of two vassals to the Legendary Dark Knight Sparda, Modeus was a demon lord and swordsman within Mundus’s court before rebelling and fighting the King alongside his master. After Mundus’s sealing, Modeus and his twin brother Baul were trusted and instructed by Sparda to remain in the Underworld until he returned to retrieve them. However, he never did.Modeus reflected many of Sparda’s ideals, combining a more kind and gentle nature with a natural aplomb. Because of this, Modeus was chosen over his brother Baul to receive Sparda’s Will.He would follow his brother’s path in hunting down Sparda’s son, Dante, after the pair discovered his existence. Baul, out for Sparda’s Blood, was inevitably killed by Dante after challenging him to a duel, and Modeus swiftly met the same fate after being forced to seek revenge. Despite the brothers’ vow to Sparda to live true to their aspirations, it is clear that the disappearance and death of their master, as well as the centuries spent battling against Mundus’s rising forces in the Underworld, left them both with little to live for.BAULThe second of Sparda’s vassals, Baul was a demon lord and swordsman within Mundus’s court before rebelling and fighting the King alongside his master. After Mundus’s dealing, Baul and his twin brother Modeus were trusted and instructed by Sparda to remain in the Underworld until he returned to retrieve them. However, he never did.Baul embodied pure and brutal demonic strength and discipline. Might underlies Baul’s true ambitions which, while not inherently evil, is not what Sparda valued the most in terms of an heir to his will. Because of this, Modeus received Sparda’s true blessing, leaving Baul scorned and determined to surpass his master.After discovering the existence of Dante, Sparda’s son, Baul would pursue the demon hunter for a duel, willing to find satisfaction in defeating Dante, if he could not best his father, and claiming Sparda’s Blood. This fight would end in Baul’s death, which was then quickly followed by his brother’s own, with Modeus having followed Baul and honor-bound to seek revenge for his death at Dante’s hands.

... and smear the smudge in
BLEEDING PALMS.

JOINT TIMELINE

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