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

[emberserker]

[She blinks and uncrosses her arms, stepping back with wide eyes like he'd turned into a pumpkin.]

That -- well. Yes, of course. Come now, everyone will be glad to see you. We could use some good news, with all this nonsense.

[ourtomorrow]

Right.

[ He is ready to follow her anywhere!

As they go, however: ]

Have we found the Authority?

[emberserker]

Unfortunately not. It could be any of these people. Chiron was following someone around for a bit, but that turned out to be more of a personal thing.

[ourtomorrow]

So we don't have any leads.....

[ He starts thinking. Well, okay, he never stopped, but now this is the thing that he is thinking about. ]

Which sins are left?

[ He skipped a Layer, he's out of the loop. And was in a bit of a hurry to get as far as the train would take him. ]

[emberserker]

Sloth and Wrath. And by process of elimination, this isn't very angry, I don't think.

[ourtomorrow]

So we're looking for the person who most embodies the sin of Sloth.....

[ A hand goes to his chin. Is that the person who wants to do the least....? Who makes people do other things for them the most....? ]

[emberserker]

Which could be anyone, at this point. Honestly, the sooner we get through this place, the better. But at least it's better than Gula.

[ourtomorrow]

The Gluttony layer, you mean?

[ He can math. He missed one. ]

[emberserker]

Insufferable hellhole that it was, yes. The people had stripped it of everything, and the Authority practically blackmailed us to give them supplies instead of pass forward for far too long, while the layer did something to our minds to make us want more and more the longer we were there.

[ourtomorrow]

[ A Layer that attempted to trap the Executors....Is that because it's deeper down? Does that mean this one is more dangerous, too? Could that be the reason other Executors are here, and no longer wish to proceed? ]

Escaping sounds difficult.

[emberserker]

Precisely. I do wonder why anyone would even break the Cogs in the first place, if it's led to this much disarray.

[ourtomorrow]

I've wondered that, too.

[ Other people worry about "why"......! ]

What they had been after, and whether we'll encounter them.....

[ He may want to ask directly. He may think that will work.

He's twelve. ]

[emberserker]

...If anyone would know, it's that -- the girl who was trying to impede our progress. She's with us now, Chiron somehow managed it. She's essentially "Rei," but not.

[ourtomorrow]

[ Monarch is not surprised to hear that Chiron-san was the one who got through to her. He's been there for Monarch many times, as well.

"Rei", but not, though..... ]

So we have an information source, but she hasn't said anything.

[emberserker]

Well, she might have to others. It's not like we're in the greatest shape as a group. You could always try it, people adore you.

[ourtomorrow]

....Eh?

[ People WHAT now? ]

[emberserker]

Did you really not notice how attached nearly everybody was to you when you were around?

[ourtomorrow]

I....

[ Oh. Now that he's thinking about it. Oh.

Here's a little smile, and a BIG blush. ]

[emberserker]

Really, first Medic and now you. And yet Sword still thinks he's fantastic.

[ourtomorrow]

[ did monarch just witness a murder?????

not.....real keen on replying to that.... ]

W-well, if you think it'd help, I can talk to her.

[emberserker]

It certainly couldn't hurt. I've been searching the area for anything useful or interesting. Nothing so far, save what I've already told you.

[ourtomorrow]

Okay.

[ He falls silent, pensive, at that. He is doing the Big Think, digesting this information she's been good enough to give him.

And he shivers, a little. It's cold, here. ]

[emberserker]

[Wolfsbane is quiet for a second. She glances around the streets and, finally, gives a sharp sigh and turns on her heel towards the nearest building. A homey pizza place, the kind you wouldn't expect to catch her dead in, except she literally is dead so there we go.]

Come now, before you give yourself frostbite.

[ourtomorrow]

[ Before he...oh. ]

Mm. Sorry.

[ Not dressed for the weather, this child. ]

[emberserker]

What are you apologizing for? [She holds the door open expectantly.] If I brought you back frozen and hungry, I'd never hear the end of it.