Okay, thought I'd post, since we're talking about this in chat anyways.
In the dream, your character appears to have self-awareness, seeing as how you get options in dialogue. But it's in a dream world, so virtue doesn't affect you?
Then in the Hell Trials, you are in a world that isn't "The Real World", seeing as how Ellesime mentions that you appeared dead for however long. Virtue is affected in this situation because your choices are made while the PC is completely aware. Whether they affect anything or not is irrelevant.
So now that my thoughts have wandered away while writing this post, I'll pretend it's done and finish it. Virtue loss/gain in real world = good, because of conscious choice, and possible consequences. Virtue loss/gain in dream worlds (Irenicus dreams/Hell Trials) = good, because of conscious choice, and possible consequences.
Edit: Oh, and don't argue that virtue shouldn't be affected in dreams because nothing apparent happens. That's using meta-game knowledge. Does your character know that nothing will happen? Personally, I don't think so.