Gula Underside Log

[cancrymods]

GULA DUNGEON LOG

As you make the now familiar descent, the screeches and chatterings of the Underside's inhabitants swim up to meet you alongside a suffocating wall of heat. The Gula Underside unfolds itself before you in jewel colours and sweltering heat. In stark contrast to the Rusted City stripped bare and the sterile Undercity, the Gluttony Underside is bursting with life - and danger. This densely packed rainforest spills out in all directions like a natural maze and you're going to have to pull out all the stops to find Gerda before something else does - or before it finds you.

THE UNDERSIDE

♪♫ Floating -Liquidly- – Sakuzyo The jungle is thickly clustered with huge palm trees rising to form an almost impassable canopy that only opens out occasionally when branches shift or when the wind blows, revealing the dim green light of the Underside's sickly looking sky. As you look up, you occasionally see the shadows of Revenants (or at least you HOPE they're Revenants) darting around high above your head. The ground is blanketed in luscious undergrowth that feels soft underfoot - loamy moss, tangled patches of grass, leaves. Occasionally, the uneven ground gives way to puddles of water or patches of loose, sloppy mud that you're forced to wade your way through if you want to proceed. Fortunately (or unfortunately), the jungle is so dense that you're never not within reaching distance of a sturdy tree or rock you can use to steady yourself. Somewhere in this place is Gerda and your way further down into Purgatory. Let's hope you can make your way through unscathed. AREAS OF INTEREST Due to the sheer scale of this Underside, explorations will proceed slightly differently. The Executors will be split into three teams – two to explore the Underside itself and the third being the team assigned to this layer's Boss Combat. Please see below for your role assignments. ⚝ NORTHBOUND: The Executors exploring the north are Medic, Etoile, Lion, Chiron and Veil. ⚝ SOUTHBOUND: The Executors exploring the south are Rei, Genius, Mona, Achilles, Ariel and Phoenix. ⚝ THE WATERING HOLE: Boss Combat volunteers, report! HAZARDS ⚝ Dense Wood: The overgrowth of the jungle and the tightly packed trees mean there are very few wide open spaces as you make your way through. For those of you who rely on your eyeballs, this means visibility is hampered - and that Revenants could ambush you if you're not on high alert! Uneven Footing: Given how wild the terrain here is, you might find that it's a bit hard to get stable footing when you're running to and fro here. Some of this is varied elevation but a lot of it is varied textures too. Stumble too close to anywhere with running water and you'll be slipping and sliding all up and down the Underside! ⚝ Revenant Types Present: Charles, Minturno

Comments

South - Rei, Genius, Mona, Achilles, Ariel and Phoenix

[cancrymods]

The south path through the Gula Underside is a muggy, muddy slog through a sloppy swampy riverbed. While the water only comes up to knee height on even the smallest Executor, it's still a deeply unpleasant trip - the water is slimy and stagnant and it absolutely reeks. With the mud being as thick as it is, your mobility is somewhat hampered and you're constantly slipping about, slowing your progress.

You do eventually reach a fork in the road. To your left, the path continues on, the river branching off into spidery streams until it cuts through a small clearing in the trees where, just beyond, you can see the murky waters of the river disappear into a dark cave opening.

To your right, however, is a narrow, twisted path that leads off into the jungle. It's barely discernible against the foliage but it looks like it might lead upwards rather than downwards. The jungle gets more densely packed this way, though.

How do you proceed?

[twibeast]

[ He takes one look at this water

One look at their group

Before sighing and transforming back into his beast form. He’s been doing a bit of practice with it since he finally transformed back before, and so now it’s a lot easier to just go back and forth. ]

This may go easier if some of you get on.

[ Rei gets shot gun ]

[discutio]

[A deep, long-suffering sigh.]

You can just say it, I won't be hurt.

[or, 'how bad is it' in other words]

[twibeast]

Not just you, I assure you. If I could fit all of us on my back it would probably be better, but that may not be possible even for a beast like me.

[ He lowers his heads for a closer look and is full of regret immediately at the smell. ]

…It’s a river. I can’t tell yet how far it goes and it doesn’t seem too deep, but it could be slippery and - for you and the smaller of us - a bit difficult to deal with.

[ And also stinky. But you can probably tell that yourself. ]

[phantasmagorial]

I could see if I could freeze the surface of the water enough for us to walk on top of it...? I don't know how long it'd last with how hot it is out here, but it's worth a try.

[ ... of course, she's carefully making her way up onto dog dad's back even as she says that. this place STINKS ]

[seasharp]

You think that'll work?

[...well, that's what she says.

What Rei hears is more of a muffled mess because Ariel is holding her cape over her mouth and nose to try to block the smell.]

[discutio]

It's not the worst idea.

[just hopping up behind rei because the footing here is terrible.]

Achilles, are you alright with this?

[twibeast]

I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't. It's no problem, this form may as well be useful for something - besides cuddling and napping of course.

[ dogdad don't flirt while you're in the damn dungeon. ]

If anyone else wants on, be quick - we shouldn't linger long.

[phantasmagorial]

Knowing our luck, it won't do us any good. [ so optimistic... ] But I can try, at least.

[ With a flurry of light, she transforms. ]

I know there isn't much room on the bank, but could everyone step out of the water? If this works too well, I don't want you ending up frozen too.

[seasharp]

Mm, no need to tell me twice.

[...just gonna also hop onto dogdad real quick. she's small, it's fine.]

[twibeast]

[ Now that he’s got three of them on he takes a few steps back, onto the bank like Rei says. ]

[phantasmagorial]

[ With everybody up and relatively safe on the bank, Rei leans over and touches the tip of her sword to the muddy surface of the water. With the audible crack and groan of rapidly forming ice, a thick white sheen of the stuff begins to spread down the river. Spikes of uncontrolled ice burst out in places and the effect trails off about thirty or forty feet down the river, but it's better than nothing. ]

There. See if it can take our weight.

[ Surprisingly, it can - it's a little slippy, but nothing him paws can't handle. ]

[twibeast]

[ Best quality: his paw pads.

Once everyone who wants on is on aka you can hand wave your character got on if you want to say so later he starts walking into the ice, carefully. He’s a big boy and carrying extra people, the last thing he wants is for it to break unexpectedly because he was moving too fast and not braced for the possibility.

Let’s get a move on and hope it holds. ]

[discutio]

Well, that does seem to be the preferable option as far as transportation goes. My apologies for the inconvenience, Achilles.

[cancrymods]

[ Team Two Dogs go slippin' and slidin' down the river – Achilles' paws occasionally have to scrabble on a particularly slippy patch of ice, but for the most part it holds, with Rei reinforcing it or freezing up patches of the river as and when needed.

It takes a bit of time for it to become evident but eventually you realize – even aside from the frozen over river... isn't it starting to feel terribly cold?

A terrible cold that Phoenix, if nobody else, will recognize. ]

[discutio]

...Stop.

[He tapped Achilles lightly on the back to clarify he was talking to the group as a whole before hopping off; it took a second for him to steady himself on the ice, but he stepped forward all the same.]

I'm not interested in handling an ambush today. Why don't you show yourself?

[twibeast]

[ Achilles is less bothered by the cold when covered in fur and his core keeps him warm enough he doesn’t even notice. But when he still stops in his tracks when Phoenix says so, slightly confused but still lowers himself a little to make it easier for him to get off.

At what Phoenix says next though, he goes on alert. ]

What? Who is it?

[cancrymods]

[ There's no response. Those of the group that can see down the river will realize a thin fog has started seeping out from the undergrowth, which seems to be contributing to the cold.

And Phoenix and Achilles will, albeit very faintly, be able to hear the murmurings of a conversation taking place between two people. It's hard to pick out their voices but...

One of them sounds like Chiron. ]

[discutio]

...Stay behind me. No one do anything reckless.

[you bet your ass he's gonna Approach carefully.]

[twibeast]

[ Good that one of them is going to do so carefully because Achilles, upon realizing that he's hearing Chiron right now, needed the reminder to not rush forward recklessly.

So he stays behind with the girls but one of his heads gets closer to Phoenix's and says quietly: ]

Phoenix... do you hear him, too...?

[ His tone betrays how worried he now is. ]

[discutio]

I do. I'm trusting you to back me up if this goes poorly, so keep an eye out.

[After all, he had historically not been the most sensible person when Chiron was in danger.]

[cancrymods]

[ The ice shifts and groans under their feet, but the chill in the air and Rei's magic are keeping it solid. There's a deathly silence, a stillness in the air as you get closer and as the distance shrinks, you start being able to pick up the voice of the other participant of the conversation.

It sounds very much like a certain little bird.

Approach? ]

[discutio]

[of course he's going to approach what if Other Boyfriend is in trouble]

[that said he's also going to be listening to see if he can pick anything up before they're noticed, just in case]

[twibeast]

[ He’s also going to approach but before he does he hangs back a moment and turns his head to the others still on his back. His voice is still quiet. ]

Girls get down for now. Please.

[ dads might need to go in ]

[cancrymods]

[ With the teen girl trio presumably making haste to hop off their ride, Phoenix and Achilles are able to catch the last few threads of the conversation.

"...benefit of others... mistaken for the likes of her?"
"... a startling sight... something with a face like this..."

Both of them seem distracted enough that if you wanted to intervene... now's your chance. ]