The Eternal Rain

In the poem it is the circle of the gluttons, «al terzo cerchio, de la piova / etterna, maladetta, fredda e greve» (Inf. VI 7-8), hail and filthy water and snow together; in the game the rule never varies, and the rain is the map of the circle.

Here the game’s own rule turns over. «Pute la terra che questo riceve» (Inf. VI 12): the ground already stinks by itself, so holding your breath no longer takes anyone out of the air, and what gives you away is your step, «a passi lenti» (Inf. VI 28). The rain covers it, but only where it falls: under the overhangs there is no rain, no noise, and everything is heard. Light and silence stand on opposite sides.

Where the band narrows and the steep way down begins stands Cerberus, who «con tre gole caninamente latra» (Inf. VI 14). There is no room to get around him there, so whoever will not pass under his muzzle walks the whole ring to the other descent.