investigation wrap...?

[cancrymods]

Well that all sure... uh, happened!

Despite the initial hostility, you've gotten a lot of important information to chew over: Esme, the one who holds Authority over Invidia has made it very clear that she opposes the Executors and their intended goal of repairing the Cogs of Renewal at the bottom of Purgatory. And thanks to that, and Esme's degree of control over Invidia, the gang are stuck here until they can find a way to bypass Esme and continue descending the layers of Purgatory.

Surely, everyone will be on the same page about how to handle that!

Either way, with discussions with Esme wrapped up and the Executors on their way, now's a good time to put your heads together and see if you can't work out where to proceed from here.

Or you know, just kick back and relax in Invidia for a bit. You've had a tough weekend!

Comments

[daughterofthemark]

Other than remove Dame Pariah in self-defense, she's done nothing to harm any of us! [Hahaha... ha...] I'm certain she can still be reasoned with!

[crypddyd]

Pray so, because if she insists on baring our way to the Cogs, then I will happily show her the consequences of her actions.

[twibeast]

Could we please perhaps not speak of such things while still so close to where she might hear?!

[ Bruh we just left her house, who knows what bird spies she's got ]

[cancrymods]

[ A plaintive meow comes from the other side of the wall.

... I don't need to tell you it's probably not a cat. ]

[twibeast]

[ aw goddamnit SEE ]

[crypddyd]

Eh, what was that?

[crypddyd]

Let her, if she is an enemy I don't see why we are not attacking as we speak.

[phantasmagorial]

I don't think it would do any good. Now that I've seen how it works for myself, I think her control over Invidia means that we wouldn't be able to attack her if she wouldn't allow it.

[crypddyd]

...how do you mean, Lady Rei?

[He at least respects her enough that she can distract him from his murder tirade, even if he still looks Elevated]

[phantasmagorial]

It's... a little hard to explain, since I don't fully understand it myself. But Esme has "Authority" over this part of Purgatory – somehow, she managed to become powerful enough on her own that Invidia itself recognized her power and now she more or less has control over all of it.

I don't think she has control over everything here, or she could just snap her fingers and get rid of us, but she can easily protect herself against any attacks that come her way. So violence against her just wouldn't work.

[crypddyd]

Like the most deadly predator in a forest. Is there any way we can remove that protection?

[phantasmagorial]

[ Rei looks thoughtful. ]

I... hm. I was about to say that I'm not really sure but she said something a little strange while we were in there...

1/2

[crypddyd]

Ariel mentioned that she said something about her power coming from her followers...

[crypddyd]

If she has no more followers, that would certainly solve the issue.

[YOU WERE SO CLOSE BUDDY]

[schardynfreude]

Ah-!

Remember, Lion, that those followers are the souls of the dead who haven't awoken yet. And, as she pointed out to me earlier, people are always dying. There will always be someone here.

[crypddyd]

... damn it all, I suppose you're right...

[phantasmagorial]

No, it wouldn't...!

[ NOOOOOO FIGHTING!!! ]

She said she's so powerful because they love her. So maybe if we redirected some of that...

[crypddyd]

...make them not love her?

[daughterofthemark]

Make them love... someone else instead?

[discutio]

We could redirect it, certainly. Or find a way to ruin her image.

[twibeast]

I am not fond of her or her actions right now, but despite seemingly being frightened of us she still allowed us into her home to discuss things.

Feelings and missions aside, I would at least prefer not to justify that fear so immediately after leaving.

[ Course he'll be changing that tune in a few hours but you know ]

[schardynfreude]

Is that what you got out of that meeting? Truly? Resistance at every turn, literally no interest in doing anything other than what she is doing and to keep doing so, and you want to--what, have another tea party where she can continue to be unfriendly and extremely condescending at best?

[crypddyd]

Everyone here adores her like a Queen. Who would ever wish to give that up and move on?

[daughterofthemark]

She must still have felt threatened! If we can only speak to her again, we may get through to her!

[schardynfreude]

[Chiron barks a laugh. It's tired.] Threatened by...what, exactly? Seeing as we cannot even so much as touch her.