cancry | Superbia Intro Log

[ Rei's face falls, just a bit. This boy... he has to be around her age, right? And he's not hesitating to jump right into things. She's not going to draw things out by asking if he's sure, since Achilles is certain to have had that talk with him already... but it unsettles her a bit that he's so ready. ]

Well... has Achilles explained what an Authority is to you yet? We're stuck here for now, but I'm certain that if we track down whoever the Authority here is, and we can reclaim their power, we should be able to keep moving.

Well...he mentioned there would be monsters we'd have to fight.

[He looks over at Achilles out of the corner of his eye, who...no offense, looks like a monster to Varian just on his own. But he's not going to say that.]

I'm assuming an "Authority" is one of those?

Not exactly. Though they... hm.

[ He taps his chin. Explaining that might need a bit more context. He returns to the snack that he singled out to represent Superbia and runs his finger along the top. ]

...Let me explain first.

An Authority is a Specter who has, as the name suggests, managed to gain absolute power over the specific layer. They cannot change the entire layer to their whims necessarily, but it is their domain and that affords them a level of privilege and power. For example it is impossible to physically harm them while they maintain the Authority - any attempt to and they will easily over power you. They are also the ones who close off the way forward, and while we have tried reasoning with them in the past, they have refused to let us through. The fact that we can also not go back this time is also more than likely the work of this layer's Authority. Whoever they are, they clearly want the ones already here to stay here and neither go forwards or backwards.

[ ...When he puts it like that he suddenly... gets a sort of sad feeling. But he pushes it back down. ]

The only solution we have for now for dealing with the Authority is to use our cunning to find a way to take the authority from them or transfer it to someone more cooperative. It's a fluid thing that can change hands at any time, though what makes someone the Authority differs on each layer.

[ He moves his finger onto the Invidia snack. ]

On Invidia it seemed to be whoever became the most "enviable" to everyone else. The Authority was a celebrity named Esme who everyone on the layer strongly envied and wanted to be like. Beating her in a contest was enough to secure that crown from her.

[ And then over to the Avaritia one. ]

And then Avaritia... where money ruled all. The Authority there was a gambler named Greta who had become the wealthiest person there and was ensuring her wealth with more gambling and stealing from others. As you can probably imagine, the solution to that one was a little simpler to figure out, though not quite as easy to pull off.

[ He taps his finger, thinking. ]

Some of us have brought up that back when they were alive there was a concept called the "seven deadly sins". Such a concept did not exist where I came from so I'm afraid I'm not familiar enough to recite them all, but two of them were envy and greed, which correspond a little too well with the last two layers. So it feels like a logical conclusion to think that the other layers might have a similar connection. It's just a matter of figuring out which.

Make sense so far?

Edited 2021-07-16 21:35 (UTC)

[It's kindof funny. At this point, Amber has the understanding that every Executor that has happened to arrive here doesn't actually work at this school. That includes Achilles, despite the fact he's acting as a guidance counselor at present. Yet...he feels a lot like a teacher with the way he's explaining everything. Though it's a lot of information to take in, Amber feels like he's understanding it...for the most part.]

Hm...I haven't heard of anything like that either. The seven deadly sins, I mean.

[It's...possible some form of Christianity exists in Corona but I don't have the brainpower to imagine what exactly so we're just going to pretend it doesn't, MOVING ON]

But yeah, I think so. You did mention going through two of those layers so far...which sounds to me like there are going to be seven before reaching the actual bottom. We're on the third.

[ He nods. ] That’s what I would figure as well.

Now as for the “monsters” and their connection to the Authority…

[ He takes the Avaritia snack and turns it upside down, again running his finger over it. ]

There’s something important I’ve left out - and that’s that every layer has an Underside.

In order to pass through the next layer you have to also make it through its respective underside. Down there, revenants are kept safely away from specters.

Revenants… are monstrous beings that specters can unfortunately turn into when they lose sight of themselves and go berserk. They… will try and consume and destroy everything in their path, including other specters.

…All of the authorities we’ve encountered so far… have retreated to the underside once they’ve lost their authority and transformed into extremely strong revenants in a last ditch effort to stop us.

[Amber leans forward in his seat a little to look at the snack, as if it's hiding some secret to be revealed as Achilles explains.]

So that's it. We're basically guaranteed to have to fight them if we want to keep moving.

[Which, well. Isn't the best outcome, but it's the only course of action they have, it seems.]

How are we supposed to fight back, though? Sounds to me like they're going to be really tough.

That’s where being an Executor comes in.

[ He focuses his powers for a moment and then makes his harp appear out of thin air. ]

We have the powers necessary to fight back.

[Amber's eyes widen, blinking owlishly.]

...magic?

[ Rei smiles a little. ]

Something like that, at least.

As Executors, it's our duty to protect order in Purgatory... and so, when you become an Executor, you'll be granted the power you need to do it.

[ She holds her hands a few inches apart, to demonstrate. After a few moments, a small ball of ice begins to form between them, growing in size as she speaks until it's about the size of a tennis ball. ]

We all have different strengths and weaknesses... but at the very least, you'll have a weapon to protect yourself with and a power to use. It might not come naturally to you right away, but we'll all be here to help you.

[Magic, huh. Magic...

Something about it feels familiar. And important. But he can't quite put his finger on what that might be.]

Weell I'm glad to hear that, cause uh...me and magic don't necessarily get along. It's not that I have anything against it, of course! I just prefer, you know...logical explanations for things. Science. Something I can actually see and get my hands dirty with, you know?

[ Achilles quirks a brow. ]

Oh, Medic is really going to like you.

[ And then he looks to Rei. ]

Throw that at me, darling.

[ He means the ice ball. ]

Edited 2021-07-24 08:01 (UTC)

Mm? Ah, okay then...

[ And throw it she does! It's just a gentle lob, though. ]

[ It hits him right in the face— JUST KIDDING he strums his harp in time to make a sun shaped shield, which the ice ball hits like a snowball and then slides off of. ]

As you can see, the powers come in all kinds. I’m sure yours can develop as something less “magical” to suit your means.

Edited 2021-07-24 19:56 (UTC)

[WASTED

That is definitely enough to leave Varian with his mouth agape, because that...he has to admit, was really cool.

So cool, in fact, that he's suddenly standing up out of his seat.]

So, wait, hang on- you said I would have to discover this power for myself, right? Is that something anyone who "wakes up" can do, or do they have to become an Executor first?

[And if the latter is the case WHERE DOES HE SIGN CMON]

Yes. This is something only we can do – it's what allows us to protect order in Purgatory. But since you're awake now, like the rest of us... you could easily become an Executor as well. So long as it was something you truly wanted to do.

[ She gives Achilles a wary look. Is this student a little eager, or is it just her...? ]

[ He returns that look. He IS noticeably very eager but then again so were a lot of the others. The only one who didn't seem quite so eager was Second... even Monarch seemed to jump at the chance to prove himself.

Which makes him wonder all the more about Amber here... but that's not his business to pry into now, especially when the boy doesn't remember anything else yet. At the very least he thinks it's prudent for the younger ones to have some way to protect themselves if they're going to be with the group, Executor or not, should any later Authorities try a bolder approach to getting rid of them than Esme did. ]

And you absolutely must be sure it's what you want to do. We'll protect you no matter what [ or more specifically, he will, if it has to be just him ] so make sure it's something you're really okay with.

Look...guys. I really appreciate what you're trying to do, here.

[Amber says as he moves to stand from his seat, as if to address them both in a more direct manner.]

You're trying to...stop me from being hasty, or whatever. But you should understand as much as I do that this is all I have to go on right now. I can't...remember anything else.

[He looks down at his hand, gloved and bearing the marks of many experiments that he only sort of remembers performing.]

But what I do know is that...I want to do this. I don't want to spend my time at this school when I could be getting out of it. And...maybe remembering more about who I am.

Isn't that what you want too? Why do you think I'd want to just sit around and let you guys do all the work?

[ For a long moment, Rei just stares him down without saying anything at all. That sounds – feels – familiar. The only thing you remember. The one thing you have to go on. And the inability to bear the idea of turning away from that and trying to slot yourself back into the life you'd lived before.

She doesn't give Achilles a chance to respond before she steps forward as well. ]

Then make the contract with me. And we'll fight together.

[ Her voice is still soft as it's ever been, but there's an undeniable authority to it now. If this boy wants to become an Executor, then the least Rei can do is show him she's capable of bearing the responsibility of making that offer to him. ]

[That's more like it.

Varian steps a bit closer, holding his hand out to Rei instead of just staring at it as if it has all the answers.]

I will.

[ Rei closes the distance between their hands, clasping Amber's in both of hers. Under her sleeve, her Executor mark blazes white gold and for a moment, the office is awash in the light.

Then it dies – but the feeling of old gears suddenly coming to life in Amber's heart will remain.

Contract established.

With that, you're free to claim your freebie starter power and you also have a free Memoria Regain, and a free Idea to use as you'd like! ]

...woah.

[Yeah, that's kindof all he can say after that. Just...

Woah.

He looks at his hand after he lets Rei's go, flexing his fingers a bit.]

So...that's it, huh? I'm in?

[ Achilles has been watching all this quietly, idly tuning his harp as he waits for it to be done. ]

That's it. You're in now.

Welcome to the team, Sir Amber.

[ Rei gives him a smile. ]

Yes, that's right.

It's good to have you.

Superbia Intro Log

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