time ticks on

[cancrymods]

TRACING A PATH

True to her word, following the fight in the Luxuria Underside, Lana shows the Executors where they can travel further down into Purgatory. From the now familiar set of stairs, though, comes something unexpected – a cold, damp breeze that chills you to the bone and makes you feel oddly sleepy. The sense of unease this generates is amplified by the reaction of the accompanying Executors – Rei seems particularly susceptable to the drowsiness inducing effect and while Birdie doesn't seem to be affected, she's nevertheless oddly quiet and a little brooding, like she has something on her mind. Either way, it seems wise to prepare for whatever may lay ahead before proceeding. Take your time to spar, train or whatever you need to do before proceeding to the next Layer...

Comments

[emberserker]

[Wolfsbane rolls her eyes.] It's as if Purgatory itself is invested in warping our minds so much that we'll give up or get ourselves re-killed. Or someone else is. I suppose you haven't gotten anything out of your new best friend.

[schardynfreude]

[He frowns lightly.] I presume then you speak of our little birdie. Like her or not, she's a font of knowledge about Purgatory. Though the things she doesn't seem to know are a bit unsettling.

Hard to know if all of this is a side effect of the Cogs being still. Backing everything up and thus vastly increasing the--rate of decay, let's say. That everything felt in the layers is now felt tenfold. [A light shrug.] We know we're going to keep going. What we do when we get there is something to decide when we get there.

[emberserker]

[sigh] Perhaps. At least somebody's got an idea. The last few layers were unbearable, and there should still be a handful left to go. I don't know if Sloth or Wrath is a worse prospect.

[schardynfreude]

[He considers the options (catholicism sure be weird) and gives a shrug.] Sloth implies we will be sluggish and tired and not want to do much of anything. And given the chill in the air by the stairs, I have no doubts about it. Wrath...will at least be violent...

[And full of hate and anger. Wolfsbane should thrive there.

So should he, he's realizing. Though he thinks his despair is stronger than the anger.]

[emberserker]

It'll all be violent eventually, I'm sure. Even if some of us have managed to befriend our way through Purgatory, the next Esme is just around the corner. It's not easy to assume things will be all nice.

[schardynfreude]

Some of the Authorities have truly not meant us harm, thankfully. No need to eliminate everyone, especially when we could have allies instead.

Though, true, I would presume one that oversees an area made for the wrathful would not be pleasant or friendly.

[emberserker]

Particularly since the Authorities tend to exemplify their sin more than most. And how that's usually how they got the job.

[schardynfreude]

Perhaps some of us really ought to take that power. [A shrug. Casual. The idea has been floated of becoming the Authority of Purgatory, together, though not to very many of them yet.] Or we'll simply fight through it to get to the other side. As we've been doing.

[emberserker]

Really, given we've been doing both for a few of them, I don't see why it should be an either-or.

[schardynfreude]

There's my girl. Perhaps a bit of rest will do you good before we descend further. This is all...exhausting, but we're nearly there.

[emberserker]

I should hope so. These things have been wearing on the lot of us, haven't they?