Disclaimer: This document has been created for academic purposes only. Do not attempt to replicate anything mentioned here without a proper supervision.
While studying the legends of old, we have come across an occult ritual by which one can, supposedly, use a tubular slide, such as those in children's playgrounds, to enter an altered state of existence and temporarily reach beyond the mortal realm. (or this is at least our current theory)
According to most traditions, the ritual requires at least six participants present: five chanters and one crawler. The ritual does not explicitly forbid passive observers to be present.
The time to conduct the ritual at depends on tradition. Some common times claimed to work are: midnight, 3am and 7pm. Few tradition also claim that the time is not important, which could explain the disagreements between the remaining ones.
The chanters will form a circle around a chosen tubular slide and wrap a long string around all of them, enclosing the area. Then they pass one end of the string around in such way, so that a pentacle is formed. Both ends of the rope will be tied together and the participants will position themselves in such way, so that the rope is tight in all places.
After the pentacle is formed, the crawler positions themselves at the bottom end of the slide. The chanters then start chanting an incantation, as the crawler starts to slowly crawl up the slide.
The incantation is the following poem:
Through the slide and into Hell To be never seen again Such the fate of <crawler's name>, friend I will stand there til the end Across worlds and across stars There awaits only demise But to he who passes through Golden times will then ensue
There is another place where traditions diverge. Some say that as the crawler enters the slide, they should focus on a memory of a particularly traumatizing event, while others claim it should be overindulgence in one of the seven deadly sins. Some even say the memory should be of someone dying.
If the ritual is unsuccessful, the crawler just comes out on the other side as per usual. If it is successful, however, they will find themselves in a seemingly infinite version of the slide. From now on, they can only continue forward, as the slide closes in behind them with each step. They can still be heard from within the slide by the outside world, just as they can hear the outside world back.
From now on, no-one should look into the slide, as that causes the ritual to end and the crawler to be pulled back into this realm.
As one progresses through the slide, they start hearing crying and ominous whispers. Small parts of the slide will become transparent. These transparent parts will slowly become larger and more frequent, until most of the slide is see-through. The surroundings of the slide are mostly described simply as 'hell'. The crawler is not immune to this realm, however, and many helldwellers are either not fond of visitors, or they like them a bit too much in all the wrong ways.
Should one find themselves in a violent confrontation with a creature from the other side, the recommended procedure is to let the chanters know about this unfortunate turn of events and let them end the ritual by looking into the slide.
It is currently unknown what awaits at the end of the slide. Some traditions claim it is the Devil himself, who will grant successful crawlers any wish they desire. Others say that 'devil' is simply a position, which will be passed unto them. Few claim that Hell is only the first level, being followed by Purgatory and, eventually, Heaven, where one faces God, who will reveal them the true meaning of life.
Further research is required.