Acedia Intro Log

[cancrymods]

MOVING ONWARDS

With Lana's blessing and direction it's at last time for the Executors to proceed deeper into Purgatory. Despite the downtime, the sense of unease that settled in you before has yet to wane, even at the prospect of making further progress in your journey. Unanswered questions still linger, as does the possibility that for all the progress you've made there still exists roadblocks that could keep you from fulfilling the duty you've taken on to Purgatory. Strangely, though, you feel your spirits lift as you begin your descent. Part of it is the relief that comes from the drop in temperature but mostly, you feel embraced by a sense of deep comfort and relaxation. As the snowy white landscape and gentle colours of Acedia swim into focus below you, it brins with it a sureness that whatever was going wrong before that none of it matters - you'll figure it out.

ACEDIA

♪♫ Blossom – Sakuzyo A gentle, fluffy snowfall tumbles down ceaselessly over Acedia, the Sloth Layer. In contrast to the layers above, things here are chilly enough to warrant wrapping up warm and an occasional gust of wind seems to blow right through you. With snow blanketed everywhere, all the bustle of the town seems quite muffled and far away and the overall vibe of the settlement is... sleepy. Peaceful. If it weren't for the fact that you know you're in Purgatory, you could almost be fooled into thinking that nothing bad could or would happen in a place like this. Initial explorations uncover the town's purpose - Acedia takes the form of an onsen town, a settlement built and centered around the many natural hot springs that have sprung up in the area. Traditional inns with luxurious rooms and serving all manner of incredible feasts can be occupied free of charge with waitstaff who'll serve you like a visiting king. Even aside from the springs and the inns, the whole town is packed to the brim with the sort of entertaintment you might find in a town in the snowy mountains, but all of it comes at a gentle, relaxing pace as if the very existence of this town relied upon easing your heart and your troubles. More so than the town, though, perhaps the familiar faces you encounter here will be enough to bring you some comfort... AREAS OF INTEREST ⚝ HOT SPRINGS: A number of natural hot springs can be found and visited in this layer. Some are indoor and some are outdoor with spectacular views of the snowy landscape. ⚝ RESTAURANTS: Feeling peckish? Eateries serving cuisine of any sort line the streets and all of it is free of charge. If there's anything you can imagine wanting to eat, chances are good you'll find it here. ⚝ MOUNTAIN: The town as a whole sits at the base of a mountain with a towering peak. If you squint, you see what you think is some sort of structure at the very top... but surely not. Who would want to live in a place as lonely as that?

THE DOPPELGANGERS

As discussed on Discord, the Executors aren't the only ones who seem to have found their way down to Acedia. Once they arrive in the Sloth Layer, each of the Executors will come across up to three of their castmates who seem to have been occupying the Layer for quite some time before their arrival. Each of these castmates will tell roughly the same story - they were once Executors too and found their way this deep into Purgatory but have found no way of progressing any further. They have tried every possible way to escape but no matter how long they stay here, they can't proceed any further. Despite the news, all of them seem happy and fulfilled and will encourage the Executors to try and settle here in Acedia and simply enjoy the miracle that is their reunion. It probably goes without saying that these are not actually the Executors' castmates. They are, essentially, a tangible illusion based on their memories of their loved ones. They can be talked to, touched, interacted with and basically treated like any other real person and the trickery is, at first, imperceptible. As time passes, it will become increasingly clear that there are some conflicts and missing spots in the doppelganger's memory of their lives together and confronting them on this will have them respond in confusion. If you continue to confront them on the conflict, they will become increasingly upset and eventually violent. Who is casting this illusion and why, though? Well... that's something the Executors will have to investigate themselves.

Comments

NPC CONTACT & INVESTIGATION REQUESTS

[cancrymods]

If you plan to investigate, place a comment under this toplevel detailing your investigation.

You may also use this toplevel to communicate with any of the party NPCs. Currently available are Rei, Birdie and the mysterious butterfly who lead Ariel to the Superbia Underside. Be sure to mention in your comment header which NPC you want to speak to!

[emberserker]

Wolfsbane has not had a good day all year. Naturally, she'll take the time to relax, or attempt... although the hot springs do also seem to warrant investigation. Any noticeable differences between this and the bathhouse back in Limbo?

[cancrymods]

There's a few, but nothing that seems suspicious or untoward. The biggest difference are that the hot sprints seem to actually be staffed by Specters rather than everything being automated.

[emberserker]

In that case, she'll start asking them how it is that so many people have supposedly been here so long. When did the uptick start? Or do they not care about that either?

[cancrymods]

She gets some pretty basic customer service-y responses. Like most Specters, none of them have noticed anything particularly unusual with all their arrivals but they'll make some comments about it being the "busy season" so an uptick of her customers is to be expected.

I'll give you a heads up; this is a pretty dead end line of investigation, since the Specters won't be able to directly tell her any more than they already have.

[emberserker]

Well, Wolfsbane's used to Spectres not giving her what she wants, anyway. She'll just investigate the actual hot springs instead! With her good old standby: magically dumping ice into one of the baths to cause a distraction for the staff so she can check out the other ones more in depth. Wolfsbane is checking for anything that might be left behind in there or markings that don't look like they belong.

[cancrymods]

Honestly, there's not much! The only thing really of note to find is a personal item of clothing that seems to have been left behind by a previous occupant – a red sweater sized for someone small and slight, probably close to Mona's build but a little taller.

Other than that, there doesn't seem to be anything amiss.

Butterfly buddy

[mementomoritz]

Medic is looking for any of Rei's butterflies around here, really. She looks a little worried, and she's carrying... is that a portable heating pad??

Yes, that's right. This girl is out in the snow, not wearing a coat, trying to find any metaphysical insects in case they need to be warmed up. She has priorities, apparently.

[cancrymods]

Thankfully for everyone, there don't seem to be any stray butterfly Specters this deep down in Purgatory – is she also wanting to check in on Ariel's butterfly buddy too?

[mementomoritz]

She absolutely does, if she can find them anywhere.

[cancrymods]

She's not too hard to find! If there's a particular place the Executors have been congregating in their stay here, that's where she can be found, perched next to a comfortable heat source.

She gives a little chime as Medic approaches and flutters her wings, but doesn't take off.

[mementomoritz]

Oh good, you're staying warm! [Medic looks genuinely relieved. Hypothermia is no laughing matter.]

I brought this for you. [She helpfully holds up the heating pad for them to examine.] We can set it up somewhere if you want to rest there!

[cancrymods]

[ Another little chime and a flutter of her wings. She takes off briefly and does a little loop-de-loop flight around her current heat source before landing again with a chime. The message seems to be – she's fine here, but she appreciates it. ]

butterfly

[schardynfreude]

Hello butterfly! Chiron-or-Ardyn will be looking for the little pretty to maybe have a conversation! He's not sssssure how this works entirely, given this one is different from the other he encountered. He's brought salted peanuts as a peace offering? Does it even eat do we even know

[cancrymods]

She's not too hard to find! She mostly seems to prefer sticking to places the Executors pass in and out from so if he checks anywhere a lot of them are staying, he'll find her just chillin' by a gently roaring fire and gets a soft chime in greeting.

[schardynfreude]

"Ah, hello, little friend." By the fire is a fine place to be. He opens a hand, and there are peanuts in the palm. If she'd like. Or to alight onto his fingers. He's not your dad, yet.

"I think we may have some very interesting stories to share, if you'd care to. I'm not altogether certain how communicative you are. Words? Thoughts? Sentences? Perhaps we should say flutter once for yes, flutter twice for no, hm?"

[cancrymods]

She flutters up gently onto his fingers, but makes no move for the food – she just seems happy to be palling around with him. There's some fluttering of wings a few chimes and then a word or two.

Tired... hard to talk.

[schardynfreude]

More peanuts for him, them. "Mm, I imagine coherence is something difficult for someone who has been through so much."

And he lets it sit at that. For a few quiet, almost peaceful moments.

"What have you been through? Do you recall?" well so much for that thanks chiron

[cancrymods]

Another few moments of silence, less peaceful than what came before. But then with a chime and a flutter of wings–

"... Cogs..."

Another tremble, like being buffeted in a breeze.

"We wanted to go through the Cogs... it all went wrong..."

BIRDIE WING

[ourtomorrow]

Monarch would like to speak to the other reformed villain of the party! He told Wolfsbane he would, to see whether Birdie will answer any of his Questions (because of course Monarch has questions). So he'll be poking around where the Executors all hang out, learning his way but also seeking her.....

She was described as "Rei, but not"......he wonders what that means.....

[cancrymods]

Well, it's not too hard to see once he finally tracks her down. She's a bit of a loner, but she's not too far from where the Executors usually gather when they're in Acedia. Most obvious is how similar her face is to Rei's and most startling is the abyssal black cracks splintered all across her face. Our girl's been through it a bit!

Either way, Monarch is, unfortunately, going to have to be the one who kickstarts this conversation because Birdie certainly doesn't seem to be the chatty type... but if she's an ally of the Executors then surely that's fine?

[ourtomorrow]

Starting a conversation: the most hellish part of Purgatory.

Monarch takes a deep breath. Tries not to worry about what must have happened for her face to look like that. Tries not to think "if I'd been there...". He reminds himself that Wolfsbane-san, of all people, believes in him. He doesn't think her good opinion is easily won, so that means quite a bit.

Then he walks stiffly up to Birdie and goes right for it.

"Sorry to interject. I just returned, and I have some questions."

You gonna introduce yourself, buddy? No?

Okay.

[cancrymods]

She blinks in surprise when he approaches and turns to face him – she'd had a bit of a faraway expression but once Monarch speaks up, she focuses. Her gaze is... kind of intense?? It's always like that, so the other Executors might be used to it at this point but it might be a little unsettling for poor Monarch to be subjected to for the first time.

"... Executor. You came from the upper levels?"

[ourtomorrow]

He nods. "Superbia. I'd been--"

But it doesn't matter what he'd been doing. He's ashamed, now, of having shifted his priorities. Perhaps because Superbia had felt somewhat nostalgic? Or like....like experiences he'd never gotten to have, a normal school life.....what could that mean....

No, he has to focus. Even if his brain freezes up when subjected to that scrutiny.

"In any case, I'm back. Monarch."

We've graduated to introductions devoid of context!

[cancrymods]

"I see."

It seems like that's all she's going to say at first. She doesn't return the introduction but maybe that's understandable, given the Fraught Identity Drama of it all. She keeps Monarch fixed with that steely gaze and though it's heavy, there doesn't seem to be any malice or ill will.

Eventually, she cocks her head. Bird-like.

"You may ask your questions – once you've answered one in turn. Why did you return?"