cancry | Luxuria Underside Log

Luxuria Underside Log

LUXURIA DUNGEON LOG
A sense of unease permeates the air as the Executors go to meet up with Lana. While she's been nothing but friendly so far, the manic energy of the Luxuria layer and her demand for the power of an Executor in exchange for letting them pass through to the so-called 'VIP rides' makes things seem a little uncertain. Add to that the mysteries still surrounding much of Purgatory and the still unknown event that shook the whole world down to its foundations and things are starting to seem a little more grim. But it's too late for second thoughts now. Once the group meets with Lana and she cheerfully forms a contract with Rei, the Executors and their newest recruit descend down into the VIP section of the carnival – down a set of stairs that, by now, should be very familiar to all of you... Please note that due to the nature of Luxuria and its Underside, this entire log has a warning for adrenaline addiction, death, injuries and reckless self endangerment.
THE UNDERSIDE
♪♫ Now Is A Dull Party – Sakuzyo A blast of dry heat batters your face as the Executors descend into the Luxuria Underside. Rapid winds, seemingly whipped up solely by the excitement and energy of the layer push and pull at you as you descend the stairs, making for a hair-raising climb down. As you look down at the carnival that swims into view below you, that seems to be a bit of a theme. Curiously, from this far up, you can't see any Revenants freely wandering about and any who can sense them will find that what few Revenants remain have been corralled into cages and stables, almost like circus animals. It's... a little unsettling to see, honestly! Similarly unsettling is the noise and lights all about. While just about on the edge of tolerable, even to the Executors who might be more sensitive to the noise, there's a certain feverish excitement to things down here in the Underside that brings back unpleasant memories of the casino at Avaritia. And maybe they're not too dissimilar to each other – people are still gambling down here, after all. The only difference is that the huge crowd of Specters that occupy the Luxuria Underside aren't betting just money – they're betting their lives... Once they arrive in the Underside, Lana turns to the group and gives them a grin that shows just a little too much teeth. "Alright! I wanna see you guys strut your stuff. I mean, you've all got some crazy powers, right? Show me what you can do with 'em. Blow me away with some cool stunts on these rides and I just might let you further down." The same decreased inhibitions effect is at play down here as well, even more prominently than before. Surely that won't cause any sort of issue with all the dangerous rides at play, right? AREAS OF INTEREST ⚝ CARNIVAL ATTRACTIONS: As with the upper half of the Layer, there are a huge number of carnival attractions to be found, though they all have a slightly wonky bent. The food provided is largely in the form of 'challenge' foods with huge portions or extreme flavours – there's more than a handful of stalls serving spicy food so hot it makes you taste colours and hear blood. As well as food, though, there's some surprisingly normal rides and... some roadside attraction cages containing some of the Revenants that once wandered freely down here, now boxed up like animals. Say hi to Charles... ⚝ DEATH RIDES: What's a carnival without some rides? ⚝ CIRCUS TENT: Come one, come all... ⚝ . . . ?: See for yourself. HAZARDS ⚝ Rides: I Literally Can't Overstate How Dangerous These Rides Are. Thanks to their enhanced movement and durability, the Executors have a huge edge over your average Specter but all of them are still at serious risk of injury while taking part here. ⚝ Revenant Types Present: None.

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So Lion is gonna try and cheat by being the one to try and eat the dangerous foods.

How bad does it go .)

He'll get all of the spice with none of the delicious(???) flavour. Whether his white ass survives is entirely up to you to decide!

oh no .(

The Underside Carnival is full to the brim with all manner of, quite frankly, death defying rides. Many of them are similar to attractions up on the main layer but with some bone-chilling twist to them. Of particular note are the following:

Dioscuri

Asmodeus,

devil's wheel

Supernova,

pendulum ride

Other similarly horrible rides include bumper cars that smash into each other with truly dangerous force, claustrophobic water rides with just one too many loops and a bit too much water, and drop towers that rocket up and down far too fast to be safe.

Lana's made it clear that she wants to see the Executors take on at least some of these rides so... uh, good luck!

Win Conditions:

Edited 2022-06-16 13:13 (UTC)

[Wolfsbane resisted at first. She grumbled about Lana trying to make fools of them, they couldn't really be agreeing to this, it's gone beyond a death trap to simply walking into a minefield and throwing rocks where you think a bomb might be.

But it would seem that Luxuria's been wearing at her far more than she's been letting on. Something changes in her expression, and she heads onto Supernova without even a care for the lack of restraints.]

You want to try and re-kill me? Go ahead.

[Medic is on the Dioscuri coaster tracks.]

[I need to be absolutely clear with you: she is not riding the coaster. She isn't inside the cars at all. I mean that she is on the tracks.]

[She hopped the guardrails, shimmied her way up to a point about halfway through the track, and is now just flat-out fucking standing there, her back to a sheer drop, on the track of the roller coaster.]

[There is a car coming.]

[She smiles serenely, remains standing in place- and, just at the last second before she would have been hit, jumps up over the front of the coaster car to land in the middle of one of the seats.]

Oh good, I got the timing right!

[If you were trying to ride this fucking nightmare like a normal person and just had an entire teenager land in your lap, I'm sorry in advance.]

[Veil has clinging to the side wall of her seat with her eyes clenched tightly shut (and screaming in absolute terror), so when Medic doesn't quite completely miss her, that's her first indication that another Executor is there at all. She opens one eye slightly, hoping not to see anything more than a few feet away from her.]

Dame Medic?!?!

Oh, hi Veil! [Medic carefully shimmies in next to Veil, taking a seat while trying her best not to knock anyone else out of the car. She just seems genuinely happy to be here.]

Isn't this fun?

[Chiron's having a good time on all these rides, frankly. Lana wants them to show off, and he is perfectly okay with this.

On Asmodeus, he might be cheating a little bit. He's got one of his weapons, in this case it looks like Phoenix's sword cane, shoved down into the middle, and he's holding onto that. While the rest of his body wheels out wildly. Standing is for suckers, apparently. His grip is pretty good, but he is not immune to the shocks that go through the patrons, and five minutes is still a long time to hang. It seems...his grip...might be slipping...!

At which point he goes flying out over the edge like a shooting star-!!!

And then warps back to the so-called devil's wheel, shoving a new weapon in and doing it all over again.

He does something similar on Dioscuri, but he intends to go leaping from the cars and warping to the next hill back into his seat, or across the way into someone else car.

he's having fun for an old man with old bones apparently]

[One might expect Wolfsbane to snap that he isn't taking this seriously or something, but no. No, she's trying to climb to the top of Dioscuri with a gleam in her eye.]

I don't suppose you can dodge some additional hazards, can you?

[is she. is she going to shoot fireballs at him --]

Oh ho? Try not to melt the track into oblivion with all of your missed shots, my dear~

[Bring It On, basically.] Be careful not to fall~! I would hate to have to come get you before an unceremonious splat.

Oh, I'll show you oblivion!

[Just for that, she launches herself the rest of the way up and perches on the sign. She summons her halberd and begins to fire at him, one fireball at a time first.]

[Oh, just one at a time? He rolls up his sleeves and peers up at her, then takes a look across the track to see where the next train is. He seems like he's taking his sweet time. Surely he's not going to just take it--oh no, there he goes, nyoom. Rather than wasting effort with warping, he does a surprisingly graceful backflip. Landing sends him sliding a little down a banking dip before his feet come to a stop.]

My, the wind certainly does catch all the way up here! I hope that doesn't interfere with your aim~

Showing off already. Well, if that's going to make our dear, gracious host happy, who am I to argue?

[She spins her halberd and swings it from the sign. This time, she's up to three fireballs at once, like he's seen her do in battles. Something twists in her expression.]

After all, I'll crush you before I let you take me for granted!

There seems to be a lot of excitement and noise about the circus tent set up in the middle of the carnival. Specters stream in and out and though you can hear announcements and commentary from inside, it's difficult to hear exactly what's going on. Either through curiosity or wandering in by mistake, you find yourself heading into the tent with the rest of the crowd – at least until one of the staff suddenly directs you to a different entrance. You fumble your way through the dark and quiet, following directions from staff until suddenly you stumble out into the circus ring with lights glaring down from above.

All around you in the stands there are Specters cheering and yelling and an announcer hyping up the crowd. It only takes a few seconds of looking around at the number of pneuma stains sprayed everywhere and the pathetic weapons scattered about the circus ring for the realization to set in.

This isn't a circus performance – it's a gladatorial arena and you're next on the lineup!

As the gates at the other side of the other side clatter open, the crowd roars in anticipation – and out come not just one but four Revenants, surging across the circus ring to face you in combat. And – wait a minute, aren't these all faces you've seen before?

There's Rigaud, Henricus, Ficino and even our old buddy Charles?!

Facing them all head on was tough enough but now you're being forced to content with all four at once. Of course, things have changed since your first encounters – you've all grown so much stronger as Executors and most importantly, you're not alone.

Win Conditions:

Edited 2022-06-16 12:44 (UTC)

This would be a problem for most people. But Chiron--or the person who used to be Chiron--thrives in a spotlight. After a moment of confusion, he grins, shifts into his Executor form in such gleaming white. Laughs brightly while summoning up a weapon in a glitter of crystal.

"Such fine faces, such blasts from the past! Come back for more?" Yes, the fast blanket, the blind one, the floaty one, and--he hasn't personally faced the last, but that will make it all the more interesting. "Who wants to go first~?"

At some point among all the chaos of the Underside, Lana manages to hook in three of the Executors with a cheery, reasonably innocent sounding offer to show them her favourite spot in the Underside Carnival. With an offer like that (and uh, your passage further down on the line), how can you refuse?

She seems in good spirts as she leads the three of them along, occasionally flapping out the sides of her baggy jacket like a pair of wings and chattering nonstop the whole way.

"So like, do all of you have the same powers or what? What can you do?"

Edited 2022-06-17 14:54 (UTC)

[ it's strange. Mona keeps thinking that she should feel more... apprehensive. not of Lana herself, necessarily, but the gravity of their need to succeed here in order to pass through without further violence. a responsibility that heavy should make her nervous. instead, Lana is easy to talk to, and Mona's should-be worries are far from her mind. she wants to make friends; she wants to have fun.

earlier when she was playing around with everyone else, she'd suddenly felt too restricted, and so she's even taken off the gloves and, bizarrely, the shoes of her Executor outfit. she casually reaches out to hold someone's hand — whether it's Lion, Galea, or even Lana — and starts swinging their joined hands back and forth. ]

Some of what we can do is the same; we're stronger, faster, more agile... And everyone has their own unique abilities, too. I can only stop time a little, but — everyone else has a lot more.

[ Galea seems focused on Lana as they walk, the kind of fondness in her expression like a reminder of someone of before all of this. Being in her Executor form is still a strange feeling - she had to utilize it to scale the ferris wheel, but hasn't really used it much since then. Her horns and tail shimmer like crystal, as do her scales, reflecting off the lights of the carnival in a pretty way.

Her tail perks up in surprise when Mona takes her hand - but at seeing how content Mona is, Galea just smiles, warm and gentle and grips Mona's hand back, saying nothing but humming along with Mona's enthusiasm. ]

It's as Mona says! But as for unique abilities - I can breathe out lightning and create a barrier. I can also use a bow and arrow.

[and counter to Galea's scales, Lion's black armor seems to absorb and cancel the lights, making him a featureless shape. Still, he smiles and allows Mona to take his hand as well, careful with his gauntlets since she is bare handed now.]

Indeed. You will gain your own personal skills with training and time.

Man, the more you guys talk, the more fake it sounds. If I wasn't one of you now, I'd half think you were making it all up.

[ She shoots a cheeky grin over her shoulder at that. The way her hair spills back as she does so makes her Executor mark visible – a stamp on the side of her neck, an ornate heart symbol entwined in vines.

She's dancing a few steps ahead, clearly full of energy and excitement to be leading them – a few Specters call out on her way past but Lana's too focused on the Executors to give them more than a passing greeting as she goes. ]

So how am I supposed to know what my power is? Do I just feel it?

[ walking between Galea and Lion, she is beaming, bouncing lightly with each bare-footed step. Lana's own excitement is a little infectious; this hardly seems like an Underside at all, with the lights and colours, the cheerful Specters, the weightless and bubbly feeling in her heart. ]

Mmhm. Or sometimes it comes to you suddenly when you need it? [ she adds, somewhat flippantly: ] If you were in danger, for example.

[ It's hard to not get caught up in Mona and Lana's enthusiasm, she realizes - maybe it's just the nature of this place, that makes her so susceptible to such things. Her tail sways in tandem with Mona's swinging, and at Mona's comment chuckles lightly. ]

You won't be in danger with us around though. We're quite capable!

[ Though now she's curious about something, having spotted Lana's mark... ]

I have been wondering something. Our Executor symbols - what significance do they hold?

[ Another remnant of something before, maybe? ]

I can't say for yours, but I know mine was That Man's Crest in life- I assume everyone's is something personally significant.

So they're not just whatever?

[ She lifts a hand to itch at the stamp on the side of her neck. ]

I figured it was just the sort of thing I might've gotten as a tattoo, back up there. You know. [ In life. ] But even then it's got some meaning to it, huh?

[ They're heading away from the carnival now, to a part of the Layer where things are getting more and more sparse. Without as much light, things are starting to look a bit gloomy. But it's still possible to see what looks like stalled construction equipment and building supplies scattered around - like an abandoned construction site. ]

Oh. And I guess this is a little late to ask, but...

None of you guys mind heights, right?

I don't have a problem with heights... I assume? I climbed the Ferris wheel car and I wasn't frightened.

[ so if she was afraid of heights when she was alive, it doesn't seem to have carried over into death, anyway. ]

I think the symbols must mean something. I'm not sure about mine, but it's on my Executor uniform, too — [ she lets go of one of the hands she's holding to tap at the symbol on the arm of her clothes, and then quickly goes back to joining hands. ] — so I'm sure they're connected to us, or our lives.

[ her head cocks to the side, and she asks innocently, sincerely: ] What kind of life did you have, Lana?

[ That Man, huh? Curious phrasing, but not something Galea will comment on. As Lana and Mona speak up, Galea quietly takes in her own symbol adorned on her outfit. A flower, but what kind? It's too stylized for her to guess and trying to rack her brain over it brings nothing to the surface. ]

I suppose I'll have to figure out what mine means. [ A sigh, that was going to be future Galea's problem. ] But I'll be fine with heights.

[ As the topic shifts, even though she's not sure the topic is a good one, her expression remains pleasant...and admittedly, a little curious. Her gaze wordlessly flicks to Lana, thinking of her standing at the highest point of the ferris wheel. ]

I am fine with them as well... but I am curious what you have planned?

[ Lana throws them a grin over her shoulder. ]

You'll see soon enough.

[ True to her word it only takes another minute or so of walking to come across her apparent destination - a massive pit - some few hundred feet in circumference and since the interior of the pit disappears into blackness only ten feet down, you have no way of guessing how deep it is.

You can guess that the answer is probably very.

In the middle of this hell pit is a platform about fifty feet wide suspended precariously by four wobbly looking bridges. By literally all course of logic, this thing should not be staying upright.

Lana points right at it, still grinning all over her face. ]

If you're all that strong, you can make it out onto there with me, right?

[ even with the light, carefree feeling that's buoyed her through Luxuria's Underside, this causes Mona to stop short, and a sliver of anxiety worms in through the crack. she squeezes both of the hands she's holding, reflexive. there's a difference between being afraid of heights and being able to make it across — this whole situation. ]

Is that... really to do with strength? [ not that Mona really considers herself strong anyway, regardless of what abilities an Executor may have... ] But — um, I'll try my best.

[ it's not like they have much choice, do they? if that's what Lana wants, for them to prove themselves. ]

[ Galea's tail, which has been wagging back and forth with excitement, stops on a dime, like a metronome. There's a moment where earnest sense seems to creep in, just enough to combat the effects this layer has put her under. This is suicide - the rational part of her brain pleads with her. - and there's no way this isn't a trap.

The smile on her face remains in place, despite the thoughts racing in her head, but she squeezes Mona's hand back, flashing her a warm smile - and then letting go of her hand. She shoots Lion a quick look, expression more cautious and intent clear - if things get bad, please protect her.

Galea steps forward, eyes glinting. ]

That sounds like a challenge. Fancy another race? Just you and I, of course.

[ She grins with teeth, fangs glinting. She got them into this mess. If this was going to be trouble, she would take responsiblity. ]

[Lion knows that look, and it puts him on alert instantly, his face set. He doesn't like her attempting this alone, but he will abide it for now.]

Strength of heart? Strength of convictions? That sort of crap. Whatever you've gotta dig into to get out on there!

[ She spins on her heel to turn and face them again, her eyes alight with playful mischief and a sort of feverish eagerness that you've seen before – in almost all the Specters here down in Luxuria. ]

So call it a race if you want. Let's just get our asses out there!

[ Lana whips around and in the same movement, her whole body is swallowed by light for a brief moment – the light that heralds the transformation of an Executor. She's barely settled into her new form before she shoots off, pelting at top speed across the fragile looking bridge, not seeming to mind as it bounces and wobbles under her footfalls. ]

[ it's a dramatic change that Lana goes through, more so than any of the other Executors' — but there's very little time to admire it before she's gone and Mona's heart leaps to her throat. she makes no move to follow. ]

Ah... Um... I-I think I'll go slowly.

[ Galea gives herself a moment as Lana takes off, noting the quick steps across the fragile bridge. It would be a fool's errand to use the same one as Lana's, and she didn't want to risk that bridge snapping under the weight.

There was no room to be careful and cautious. She just had to pray instinct was enough. Still, she grins at Lana's remark. ]

Well then, who am I to refuse a request?

[ And she takes off on one of the other bridges, keeping her steps light and her pace quick, her Executor outfit fluttering like petals as she ran. Speed was the key, at least as far as she could tell... ]

[Once the two take off Lion says softly:]

Be ready, if it is a trap we need to be ready to rush to her aid.

[ The bridges have an uncomfortable amount of give and sway under their feet as the Executors begin crossing – it doesn't seem like they're in danger of breaking just yet but the sense of unease is impossible to shake, not helped by the way the yawning void under them is perfectly visible in the gaps between the boards. The whole thing is an acrophobe's most high octane nightmare.

For now though, it seems safe. As Lana runs out onto the platform, laughing and dancing all the way, it seems all you can do is follow. ]

[ well, it doesn't seem to be a trap, which is good. but it means they have to go over there now. which is bad. ]

... Y-you can go first, Lion...

[ Galea's solution, as she speeds along the bridge, is to just keep her gaze firmly ahead, even as the bridge beneath her feet sways and creaks. She knows if she stops for just a moment, gravity will take over, and it would only make things even worse.

It takes no time at all and yet seems to take forever at the same time, but finally her feet touch more solid ground as she reaches the platform. Galea doubles over to catch her breath, giving Lana an apologetic grin and a wink. ]

Seems like you beat me again. Guess I'll have to run faster next time.

[ Still, she glances out, to the others. Were they okay...? ]

[Lion watches this, and looks down at his own size and heavy armor.

with a decisive nod he reaches over and picks up Mona like a beloved kitten, hauling her up onto his back]

Hold on.

[Which she better do, as he's not stopping to confirm, instead jogging back... and then taking a run at the edge, his lance manifesting and shoving it into the ground with all his strength.

... so yeah we're just gonna fucking super strength crest powered pole-vault over the gap. This in Lion's mind is somehow faster and safer than the bridge]

Edited 2022-07-28 21:17 (UTC)

[ Honestly shocked that I never once thought that Lion Yeet would be the solution to the problem here. Lana seems equally surprised and delighted, almost doubling up with laughter even as he lands and the platform bounces and jitters rather uncomfortably under all their feet. ]

You guys are seriously too much! You're probably not scared of anything at this point, huh? When you're that strong and sturdy, nothing gets you going.

[ Her smile fades just a bit. ]

Must get dull eventually.

[ contrary to how nervous she was about crossing the bridge, Mona barely reacts at all to being scooped up and carried — she was only worried about her own ability to make it, not the danger itself. when they're safely on the platform, she presses a quick kiss to Lion's cheek before she releases her tight grip on him and gets back down on her own feet. ]

Thank you, Lion.

[ meanwhile, it's obvious what Lana is thinking. they'd realised before they ever met her what had driven her further down into Luxuria's underside. ] ... We're not invincible, Lana. There are plenty of things that can still be scary.

[ there's a moment where galea's brows are furrowed in concern as she doesn't see lion or mona crossing one of the bridges - just before lana whoops with laughter. galea looks up and -

- w-well, that's. one way to do it! as lana doubles over with laughter, galea just lets out a deep sigh of relief, pinching the bridge of her nose just as she smiles wryly. as the platform shifts and lana speaks up again, the way her smile dulls, the way mona speaks up - it all sets her on edge.

time to ask the question she doesn't want to. ]

...Lana. Why did you bring us here?

[the kiss makes him grin, but he quickly sobers up as they question Lana]

Yes. We will not easily fall to trickery.

Psh, you think I'm low enough to trick you? Man, you guys are breaking my heart. [ She lays a hand on her chest as if to better get her point across – but she's grinning all over her face like she's pulled off some sort of cunning prank all the same. ] But I guess if you're getting all riled up, that works all the better for me.

[ She flexes her fingers. With the familiar glow of an Executor's weapons, twin swords with sharp, serrated blades, flash into being in her hands. ]

You guys know how to fight monsters, right? Have you ever fought an Executor?

[ slowly, Mona tenses, and one of her feet slides back a step, eyes on one of those swords. Lana isn't being subtle about her intentions. no matter how much Mona would like to see the best in people, she can't pretend otherwise. maybe Lana doesn't mean to be an enemy, but — what she wants is reckless and dangerous. ]

We... don't do that. These powers are for helping people.

[ And there it is. Galea wishes she could say the tenseness leaves her - but rather, it just winds her up all the more. Her demeanor shifts, immediately more protective of Mona and Lion. ]

Of course we haven't.

[ Direct, to the point. Galea's tone is as sharp as Lana's blades. ]

And there is no reason to start now. Whatever you're thinking, it isn't worth it.

[ That kind of power, turned against an Executor...Galea knows for a fact that could only lead to serious harm or worse. ]

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Luxuria Underside Log

QUESTIONS & INVESTIGATION REQUESTS

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DEATH RIDES

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CIRCUS TENT - MIDDUNGEON BOSS RUSH

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BOSS COMBAT ENCOUNTER . . . ? (Lion, Galea, Mona)

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Sorry didn't realize it was my turn

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whoops, sorry, dropped my foreshadowing