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

[schardynfreude]

No. I'm perfectly fine. So is my companion. We've...been talking like civilized people.

[He looks to Achilles, and it's hard to read the look on his face through the smear of scourge and the fog. Looks to see Rei through that same fog.]

We're all fine, aren't we? No need to draw any weapons.

[alcahest]

[ Mona only hesitates briefly, at the sight. it's unusual to see Chiron so close to someone other than a few members of their own group, and especially someone who, last encounter, attacked him — which means that something has changed, significantly. and she trusts his judgement. if Chiron believes there is no reason for hostility, then she has no reason to doubt that. she continues forward at a calm, steady pace. ]

I'm glad you're alright, Chiron... [ she does look at the girl, as she approaches. but the only reaction on Mona's face is concern. ] What about the others? How did you get separated?

[schardynfreude]

Ah, we were taking the high road, as it were, but the ground was so damnably dry and brittle it must have just given way under our weight. I've no idea how we ended up in separate places...

[His hand drops from Birdie's head mostly so he can give Mona a hug. She would be the most understanding of them all, would empathize with the predicament. He might have to explain the whole of it to her. Later.] And you all? Have you found anything? Not the Authority, clearly.

[Who's going to address the elephant in the room? Not it!]

[twibeast]

[ At Chiron’s mention of not needing weapons he lets his harp dissolve. His eyes don’t leave the girl, and even though there’s enough context clues for him to catch on, it doesn’t actually register to him that this is the same girl who attacked them before and caused Chiron to momentarily lose his memories.

Maybe he wouldn’t be so soft right now if he did.

He knows, somewhere inside, that the right thing to do now would be to stick by the Rei still steps behind them and make sure she’s okay, but…

He steps closer, until he’s next to Chiron and Mona… and then gets down on one knee so he’s at a more even eye level with this strange NotRei. With all the gentleness he gives the Rei he’s always known he speaks directly to her: ]

Why is your face like that, dear? Are you all right?

[ He doesn’t mean to ignore Chiron’s question - he figures Mona and Phoenix can answer them - but like. He has so many himself for their guest. ]

[discutio]

[Phoenix approached just as cautiously when he heard Achilles move, coming to stand next to Chiron and speak in an undertone:]

...Tell me what we're looking at, Chiron.

[something is Afoot here]

[schardynfreude]

[He supposes...that if Achilles is going to speak to her directly, perhaps he should inform Phoenix of at least some of the very basics.]

The girl we fought before. She has what she thinks is an unfortunate appearance under ribbons she wore around her face. She has a face just like Rei's, but terribly cracked around the eyes as though a porcelain doll were dropped and glued back together.

[He leans in closer, cheek to cheek with Phoenix to speak into his ear directly.] I don't want to get into the details here. Let her say what she will, let us go through this place as we can, and we...shall speak of it later.

[discutio]

[he's pretty sure he hates this but]

Very well. I'll trust your judgment on this.

[cancrymods]

[ When Achilles addresses her so gently, the girl doesn't just step back – she recoils, her face twisting with an expression of taste that's so unlike Rei, it's a little upsetting to see it take over her face. Her shoulders are set in a hard line and the words that come out do so in a hiss, forced out between gritted teeth. ]

Don't speak to me like that. I'm not a child for you to coddle.

[ Like that, she sounds more like a cat than she does a bird. ]

[discutio]

Do forgive Achilles, he has a tendency to want to parent anyone that looks in need of it.

[Said fondly, with a gesture back n the direction of the others.]

How would you prefer we spoke, then?

[twibeast]

[ If he's affected by her reaction, he certainly doesn't show it. Rather he just takes it in, inclining his head towards Phoenix for a moment as the other speaks, before turning right back to the girl and rising to his feet. ]

Yes, I'm afraid I do. I'm also prone to being quite the worrier, so I apologize for overstepping...

...though in this case you have a face and voice much like my beloved daughter, so I feel one can hardly blame me.

[cancrymods]

Without that doe-eyed look on your face, if you please. [ It's not hard to figure out who she's referring to. ] I don't think that it's too much for me to ask that you speak to me without putting on those sorts of airs.

[ Some of her immediate aggro energy seems to have cooled down, though, given that this doesn't seem to be about to turn into a fight. ]

Have you come to collect your companion?

[discutio]

It's rather more that we happened upon the pair of you, truthfully. But I might ask you something similar--did you not come to fight us again?

[twibeast]

[ This time Achilles reacts, flinching back and looking hurt for just a few seconds. His recovery is swift though and he’s looking off, uncertain.

He’ll let Phoenix talk to her for now but honestly he’s feeling more than a little frustrated and is having to stop himself from going into stern dad mode instead. ]

[cancrymods]

[ She shakes her head. ]

I suppose you could say I happened upon you in turn. I travelled down here to do my duty and that you all happened to be here as well is pure coincidence. ... Though I should have suspected you might continue making your way down to the Cogs regardless of anything you heard from me on the matter.

[discutio]

Whether you should be right or wrong in your assessment of the Cogs, I think most of us would wish to see the truth for ourselves.

[that one wasn't intentional.]

...Metaphorically speaking.

[cancrymods]

[ She lets out a hard breath through her nose that you could mistake for a laugh. ]

Precisely. The impression I'm beginning to form is that you all seem to be much too stubborn for your own good. It's gotten you this far, at least.

[schardynfreude]

I don't think anyone is looking for a fight today, at any rate. We would, I think, be too stubborn to simply give up. [Not to mention that there are now more of them than last time.] Aside from whatever's become of the Authority--or former Authority?

Achilles, dear, are you quite all right?

[twibeast]

…Huh?

[ His head snaps back up to look at Chiron ]

Y-Yes, I’m all right. Just perhaps a little… lost still, I think.

[ Look like daughter but is mean?????? And cracked face???? :(((

…he is though maybe going to just. Step a little bit closer to Chiron. ]

[cancrymods]

[ Birdie cocks her head, like she's listening to something from a great distance. She's quiet for a few moments, then – ]

It seems as though the rest of your companions are dealing with that. ... Have dealt with that? Either way, they've stumbled across whatever remains of it and are handling it.

[discutio]

[alright well he can see the direction this is going. does he like it? eeeehhhhh. is he gonna argue? he knows better than to try.]

...You could come with us. Travel the rest of the way to the Cogs together, and perhaps even get to say 'I told you so' if we should be wrong in our approach.

[cancrymods]

[ Phoenix might not be able to see it, but the surprise that colours her face at that is so sincere, it softens her a little. Not by much, but still. ]

You truly want me to accompany you? After everything that's happened?

[schardynfreude]

[Chiron takes a breath. Like a moment of hesitation. After everything that's happened is a valid concern, for him, for Phoenix in particular, surprise that he would even make the offer. But after their talk...well, he doesn't see any reason for her to get in their way. He's not certain that she'd want to actually join them on their idiocy crusade, but...

There is, however, Rei to consider.]

Only if that's something you would like to do. You have your job you've set out to do, [even if it seems like there's little point to it when the Cogs are stuck and there's no forward momentum to be had] and we've ours. If you've no interest in tagging along, or in explaining yourself to the others as you will inevitably need to do, then we'll certainly understand, so long as we then don't get in each others' way again.

[He looks to Achilles. And the girls. (And Rei.)] It would be your choice, though perhaps if there are objections...?

[twibeast]

[ Achilles doesn't really respond but he also now finally turns and look over to Rei to see how she's faring. ]

[cancrymods]

[ Rei, perhaps unsurprisingly, looks a little bit like she's about to be sick. She's dropped out of her Executor form – unconsciously, perhaps? – and she's wearing an expression that makes her look like someone who's just seen... well, a ghost. ]

I don't... understand... [ She looks from Birdie, to Chiron, to Achilles – any of them, as if looking for an explanation. ] What is she?

[ Birdie's face twitches before settling back into pointedly calm neutrality. You could almost guess that she seems... hurt. ]

A question your fellow Executors would rightfully have as well, I gather. [ She smiles. It's not a particularly nice one. ]

[schardynfreude]

[The inevitable question, and the one he has some answers to. It's just a matter of deciding what to say. How much to say.]

She is Purgatory's Authority. And, if she is to be believed, has no intention of stopping us again if we are so determined to reach the Cogs.

Rei, dear... [To at least start to address the garula in the room.] You truly don't remember anything, do you? About having been part of her.

[He wants to ask about this girl, this other girl Birdie mentioned and refused to expand upon, wants to know what happened, suss out the truth of the matter, Rei's intentions, her innocence--he just can't see a manipulative mastermind. And he knows a thing or two about that. Better not to air everything out, right now, in a split group.]