cancry | Invidia Underside Log

Invidia Underside Log

INVIDIA DUNGEON LOG
For the Executors who've travelled down to an Underside before, today's trip isn't out of the ordinary. But for those of you new to all this... well, buckle up because it's a bit of a ride. Though the cold green light makes it hard to see, if you squint through the glare, you'll spot a wide, steep staircase leading down from the fissure into the light below. As you descend, it feels for a frightening moment as though you might be walking blind but eventually the light gives way to the sight of the Invidia Underside waiting a great distance below you. By some trick of perspective or just wonky Purgatory logic, however, it seems to take hardly any time for you to descend the stairs and set foot in the Invidia Underside.
THE UNDERSIDE
♪♫ Lyx – Sakuzyo The only saving grace of the Invidia Underside is that its layout and structure is more or less the same as Invidia itself. Some of the paths have turned a little twisty and there are buildings here and there that have gone missing, but if you can navigate your way around Invidia then you can more or less find your way around the Underside. The atmosphere on the other hand is where things really start to feel different. Where Invidia is bustling with life, the Underside is just as quiet in contrast. Some sounds filter down from the city above but they sound not just distant but muffled, too. This, coupled with the eerie green light that illuminates the city from above gives the feeling of being trapped at the bottom of some sort of lake or seabed. But more notable than all that is the screens that usually blast Esme content into everyone's eyeballs. Down here in the Underside, all of the screens are either apparently dead or displaying looped clips from TV talk shows, vlogs, movies and the like starring a person none of you have ever seen before. They have a vague similarity to Esme, but they're clearly not the same person. There's a shine to them and a sense of authenticity that was missing from everyone's least favorite Envy Authority that just feels... correct. If Esme was some kind of counterfeit then this is undoubtedly the original. There are no clips of Esme – or any sort of media with her at all, in fact – anywhere to be found in the Invidia Underside. AREAS OF INTEREST ⚝ Park: The park seems to have fallen victim to the same odd spatial distortions at play in many other places in Purgatory. While from the outside it doesn't seem that much bigger than it was originally, once you actually enter the park you'll find that it stretches on far enough that you can't quite see all the way to the other end, not helped at all by the fact that the area seems to have become fogged over, thickly enough to make it hard to detect the presence of Revenants here. Usually, the glowing trees would be enough to guide you through, but thanks to the presence and occasional outbreaks of violence of the Revenants, the trees are looking, uh... a little busted. Many of them have been gouged or even completely uprooted from the ground with wires spilling messily out and all over the ground. And... the less said about whatever the hell that colourful liquid coming out of them is, the better. Just tell yourself it's the stuff you see inside glowsticks and move on. Of course, moving on might be a little hard, as when you reach the very center of the park, you might just stumble across exactly what had the Revenants here so worked up in the first place... ⚝ Mall: Those of you who were fans of the conbini in Limbo: congratulations! Those of you who were fans of the mall in Invidia being normal: my condolences. While the mall hasn't changed much physically down here in the Underside, the shopping experience certainly has. The items up for purchase have fallen prey to the same effects as the ones in Limbo and so everything is a little... off. Food comes in strange shapes and flavours, clothes don't look quite right and any books or written media you pick up to try and read will just be a jumble of text that only occasionally becomes discernable. The same unfamiliar person who was all over the screens outside can also be found here, looking for all the world like the average celeb. It won't be easy finding anything to read, though, because the mall is crammed full of Revenants who seem to be doing their level best to full on loot the place. Take great care in your investigations, because if they get the idea that you're trying to steal anything from the mall, they'll set on you quicker than you can blink. ⚝ Rooftop Stage: Given that the rooftop stage was the last place you all saw Esme, it's not a bad idea to check there again to see if that's where she's ended up. There's an eerie similarity between the rooftop here and the one back in Invidia, too – just like that one, the rooftop here is in disrepair, as though it's been subject to some sort of violent tantrum, with all the equipment smashed to bits and the stage itself almost completely demolished. At second glance though, it becomes a bit more obvious that this place has been systematically broken down to allow as many of its components as possible to be harvested to construct what looks to be a gigantic cage right on the stage. And what's inside the cage you ask? You'll have to see for yourself... ⚝ Mansion: Esme's mansion seems to be the only part of Invidia that has escaped the warping and confusion of the Underside. The gate at the front is locked again but the outer walls no longer grow in height to keep outsiders at bay, so if you want to get in then scaling the wall is your best bet. No problem for the Executors, of course! Once you're inside, you can look around and see that not only has the interior escaped the uncomfortable twisty-turny distortions of the Underside but it also looks... lived in. Like "the bed still isn't made from being vacated this morning" lived in. There's food in the fridge. Was she... living here...? ⚝ Broadcasting Station: See for yourself. HAZARDS ⚝ On The Spot: Though there seems to be no actual source for them, large spotlights sweep through the streets of Invidia. They're easy to see coming and not too large that you can't dodge out of the way if there's one coming at you, but take care – if you happen to be caught in the glare of one of these spotlights, then you'll be plastered all over the screens that are scattered about the city and find yourself beset by Revenants who all want a very literal taste of you. ⚝ Structural Damage: Many of the buildings around the city have fallen into disrepair due to the presence of the Revenants here. Some have taken extreme structural damage and are on the verge of collapse so be careful not to end up trapped in a collapsing building, or you might be stuck waiting for a fellow Executor to fish you out. ⚝ Revenant Types Present: Henricus, Rigaud

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I want to know more, too.

[ Yes, Monarch is still hung up on this, Esme. I would say "sorry not sorry", but this is like the one thing in his afterlife he isn't even that level of sorry for.

What they end up doing with her will likely be determined by how she handles this encounter - if she forces their hand, given the apparent makeup of this group. But before whatever happens....happens....he's seizing even the faintest hope of closure. ]

Why go to the lengths you did? I'm not satisfied. I haven't been satisfied with the answer you gave!

[ Esme doesn't answer at first. She just tips her head back to watch the black and white images play across the screen, the light casting her face into sharp contrasting shadows and making it impossible to read her expression.

But then, finally; ]

Sounds like it's really tearing you up inside, not knowing. You sounded pretty mad about it up there too, but to think you'd follow me all the way down here, too...

[ She stands up, slowly. She's swaying a little, evidently instead on her feet... but then she gives a horrible smile and puts a finger to her lips. ]

So I'm not telling you anything.

Tch, does the stream of venom ever stop pouring from your damned mouth?

[He glances at Monarch and Veil, his expression softening slightly, though his tone is still a bit harsh]

She will keep dangling answers and possibilities in front of you- she enjoys having that power. Do not fall for her tricks.

We'll not allow her to bite us.

[See, because of her venom!

She doesn't mean that literally.

Probably.

She looks back to Esme.]

In any event, while I would prefer not to fight... you did strike first.

[ They're right. These people are right. No matter how much he resents her attitude...

Monarch nods. He'll be fine. He's got himself under control. (Probably.) ]

We won't let you sacrifice anyone else!

. . . you really are that eager to kill me, huh?

[ Esme's expression doesn't change in any visible way, but something about her face suddenly seems... distorted and hard to look right at, like some sort of magic eye illusion. ]

I guess that's fine. After all, I've wanted to kill you since the day you were born, Lapis.

~~WELP THAT SURE SOUNDS PLOT IMPORTANT AND MAYBE A SIGN SHE'S AN ILLUSION OR TRANSFORMING OR SOMETHING. GOOD THING WE'RE HERE TO TALK THIS OU-~~

[ while she's doing her creepy act Lion pops Atrocity and tries to decapitate her right there in the studio with one fast hard swipe]

"La"--

[FDSHAFJKLASHFAAAAAAAAAAAAAH]

[ Like a knife through butter

Lion's spear cuts clean through Esme's neck. For a gruesome, almost comical moment her head stays perfectly balanced on her shoulders and then slides backwards and topples to the ground. The moment it impacts the floor, it splatters apart into a viscous green ooze. ]

Lapis... Lapis...

[ Esme's voice, breaking apart almost beyond recognition comes not from where her head splattered against the ground, but from where it once was sat on her shoulders – a wound from which something is starting to bulge, something sharp and bone like. ]

Ah... aaahh...! UuuuUUUUAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHH, LAAAAAAPIIIIIIIIIIS!

[ Esme – or rather, the thing that used to be Esme – comes bursting apart, like a doll overstuffed with cotton. And from the inside of her, something comes charging directly at Lion. ]

BEELZEBUB

Born from the gut-deep resentment of Esme's Envy, the Aberrant of Envy, Beelzebub. She carries a cruelly sharp scythe and the single eye behind her beak pierces you with what can only be called hatred. Her voice is no longer recognizable as Esme's but she continues to scream that unfamiliar name as she charges directly at Lion, swinging that scythe right at his head – to return the favor, of course.

"LAPIS! LAAAAAAAPIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS!"
Its Movement is two. Its Durability is unknown. Its abilities are unknown – but it's Esme... so try not to get too up close and personal. She's always peen a poisonous sort of girl, after all.

The turn order is Beezlbub, Lion, Veil, Monarch.

[it's a shock of course, but by the time her weapon comes down Lion is grinning, showing off his teeth and swinging his own blade to meet hers.

Mad as he is, he still has SOME battle sense, and thinking back on his recent battle with Ruin he tries to slide his polearm up the scythe blade, tries to tangle it in the decorative metal bits with his own bone and steel. He lacks Ruin's spear's sword-catcher spines, but the goal is the same- keep her locked to him with his strength if he can]

Veil, Monarch! Do not hesitate, tear her apart-!

[This is fine! Veil is fine with this! She just saw a girl get fucking decapitated in front of her and then turn into a boss battle and she's fine!

She's fine and she's going to show how fine she is! She's going to focus on... oh, Lion mentioned Monarch too, Monarch is something other than the possibility of Veil not being fine.

Let's give him an Attack Order.]

Sir Monarch, you can do this! Strike true!

[ So she really is an Aberrant---

Now is not the time. ]

Right!

[ He dashes forward while switching to Executor form, drawing his arm already back for his whip as the cape settles over his shoulders and his hair floofs up. Eyes narrowing right as his mask obscures them, he lashes his whip at Beezlesmebub while she's (hopefully) preoccupied with Lion.

Maybe this is what he can do. ]

The whip crashes into Beezlesmebub's (thanks mari) head and sends it cracking back and away from Lion's face with a critical blow. It doesn't seem to have done much in the way of damage for the time being, but she's definitely pissed. She lets out a horrible shriek and slams her head back down towards Lion's. Her beak catches his face, glancing off his cheek with another critical blow, and leaving behind a burning, acidic residue. The pain that flares up is so intense that Lion will be forced to sacrifice his Movement for the next turn while he recovers.

With Lion incapacitated for now, Beelzebub rounds on Veil and Monarch, sweeping wide with her scythe. She misses Veil but deals a glancing blow against Monarch.

[The pain is shocking and familiar- he can't remember WHY it is familiar, but as he bellows and wipes at his face he keeps pawing at his eyepatch too, his body remembering agony his mind doesn't. Thankfully none of the residue oozes into his good eye, but he might be sporting a new scar to go with his old ones soon.

He's unable to attack, shuddering and snarling- but he manages a word-]

Eye-!

[his own or...?]

[OH NO PEOPLE ARE GETTING HURT!

That doesn't include Veil herself though, so obviously she needs to hurry and act. She moves to put herself between Ezmebub and Lion--]

Yes, eye!

[--and, catching on since she's also a JRPG character, swings her staff to strike, aiming vaguely for the monster's eye although out of the three of them she probably has the worst reach for this sort of thing.]

Ngh--

[ Pushed back by the blow from Esme's scythe, Monarch steps clear of Veil's strike and aims to wrap his whip around said scythe when he cracks it again. She'd pushed off Lion's attempt to hold it at bay, so maybe disarming...? ]

Beelzebub swings her scythe again, aiming to intercept Veil's attack, but then Monarch's whip wraps around her weapon, locking it in place for the moment. Beelzebub strains to get free but the distraction gives Veil enough time to land a blow directly on the 'eye' at the center of Beelzebub's beak.

Shrieking in pain, she recoils. The force with which she yanks herself back causes her to pull on and snap Monarch's whip as she goes, forcing him to sacrifice one point of Movement next turn to re-summon it.

[And as Veil did for him, Lion move to defend Monarch while he's out of commission. Using his spear as actually intended for once: poking at range to keep her off balance and himself safe from acid. He aims, attempting to jam up under her beak.]

[With him up and about again, it's time for Veil to use her other Attack Order.]

Sir Lion! Show her your power!

[And now she backs off a bit, to get out of the way of the people who now both have higher attack than her.]

What?!

[ It broke...

But Lion is moving to shield him, and Monarch is staring at his hands, and willing, and -

There we go. One whip, resummoned, but the Movement lost to the process means he's only able to watch the man's spearited attack. ]

Edited 2021-01-07 00:49 (UTC)

Lion's spear jams into her beak and Beelzebub can't quite free herself from it. She has to writhe around to try and detach from the spear and it's only with a horrible crunch from her beak that she does so, dealing a critical blow's worth of damage.

A large chip has been taken out of her boney beak and the wound (if you can call it that) is leaking more of that unpleasant green ooze. Beelzebub lets out one final shriek before tossing back her head and... apparently, vanishing into thin air.

The room is suddenly very quiet.

[He's seen this trick before, so instead of panicking he raises a finger to his lips, trying to keep the others quiet. Of course, it's likely she teleported. But after Ruin told him how quickly Esme caught on to him... he's not sure. So he carefully backs to the exit, watching the ground for any dripping acid and listening.

If she DID teleport he has an idea where to look- but taking their time and being sure won't hurt]

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cw: body horror, 2/???

BOSS COMBAT ENCOUNTER: BEELZEBUB

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LION DURABILITY: 4 MONARCH DURABILITY 4.5

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