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

[Ruin has to quickly tune her rambling out to keep up with this thing, grunting and cringing at the sheer force of the impact when he side swipes her, the Lance glancing off the spiked plating that shields most of it's head. (It, not her. It's not a "her" anymore, if it ever was.)

Shit.]

Gotta come at it from underneath! [Which means he needs to change up where he's aiming, try to hit just the right spot on the breastplate that the Lance will be deflected upward, into the underside of it's head... jaw... it's making terrible noises so it has some sort of mouth at least.

Keeping it still though? He tries to circle back around toward cage so they don't have to yell quite so much. But he only has a moment before it's going to be on him again.]

One spot is gonna be hard without someone else to distract it. I can try to get it stuck though-

Oh, that should be plenty!

[Taking her cue from the fact that her "dance partner" for this fight is wielding a lance, she hurls her closed scissors down at Volucris like an unusually wide, flat javelin, letting the sharp point scrape at- if not, unfortunately, break- her armor before it clatters off to the side... and keeping her attention safely off Ruin for at least a brief moment.]

[She lets the weapon dissipate and resummons it, because even she isn't reckless enough to just go down and pick it up.]

I just need her to stay in one spot for juuuuust a second~ [...she's about to do something risky again, isn't she.]

[It's unsettling. Hearing Medic refer to the thing as "her". Something that makes his stomach roll unpleasantly. Something that he absolutely cannot take the time to think on.

Instead he just nods, clicks his tongue sharply to coax his steed back into motion and then, one more sharp sound and they're rushing out to meet this thing before it can get anyone closed in on the far more limited space of the stage. Ruin is a much more immediate threat and target than a small girl who happened to be able to throw something at it so the creature, of course, redirects after him straight away. He barely has time to plot the path he means to take and he should probably have mentioned that he cannot guarantee the integrity of the stage but once Medic sees where he's headed she'll know that quickly enough.

Besides, if he's reading her plan correctly she won't be there long. ]

Come on, you stupid thing.

[Muttered under his breath and he's never done this particular trick before but no time like the present. He charges for the remaining scaffolding that had once held the huge and heavy stage lights and speakers on one side. There were still boxes from equipment, all sorts of cords and miscellany. Tight quarters, less maneuverability, and he- it's determination to charge in full force should ruin it's chances of managing not to bring the whole thing crashing down.

Except that there's no room for his horse in that space either so he shifts his weight carefully into one stirrup, drawing his other leg over. And leaps.

He's trying to focus on too many things at once. Dismiss the Lance, dismiss his horse, tuck his arms in so he can roll with the momentum. But instead of using the momentum to gain more distance and get to his feet he ends up slamming into one of the supports himself. No time to think about that either because in a span of heartbeats she's on him and he's scrambling to his feet, darting between the bars and barely making it out of the way as the metal scaffolding begins to collapse on top of it.

Not without a nasty slash to his leg but... that's what he has the horse for, right?]

[It's a risky move, but it does what it needed to do- Volucris is in one place for just long enough for Medic to back up two steps, aim, and dash forward into a flying leap off the top of the cage.]

[Scissors in hand, open and point first, right onto the back of the Revenant's skull with all the force she can muster.]

[In a way, it's the same tactic she learned from fighting that first Henricus with Lion, but adapted to avoid needing someone else to toss her, providing her own momentum.]

[The blades sink in with a heavy thunk, digging in on either side of Volucris' jaw, as Medic braces herself and pulls back, exposing the Revenant's vulnerable head's unarmored underside.]

Now! [Hopefully, that leg wound won't keep Ruin from being able to get one last hit in...]

[Maybe it should. Probably it should. But, just as in his fight with Lion, Ruin seems to be exceptionally good at ignoring his pain. The amount of pneuma spilling down his leg does make him skid a couple of times as he closes back in on the beast.

He'd expected her to just slam the blade into it, not wrench it's head back for him and there's something immensely satisfying about smacking into the things chest, using his shoulder to brace because he can't trust his leg. The Lance is lined up, all he has to do is drive it home.

Just because it's head is caught though hardly means he's safe. Ruin drives the Lance upwards, the long bladed tip sinking into the bottom of it's jaw. Vicious claws rake over his back as he does it, making him cry out, not a scream but a bellow, channeling the pain into what he's doing with the efficiency of someone long used to to doing just that.

The blade sinks deeper, catches slightly and he shoves harder -the roof of it's mouth?- and again as the hands begin to twitch more than claw and with one final shove-

The blade drives straight up through it's skull, forcing that top plate to peel back off it's face like a broken nail pried away from the bed.]

Get... down...

[He barely manages to grind out the words but this thing is huge, it could easily crush medic if she doesn't land well. He doesn't know if she knows how to fall properly... so... while he has the last waning strength to hold the Lance in place she needs to move because as soon as the creature's full weight comes bearing down on the weapon his grip gives out and he skids backwards, pushed back by the falling beast. He's left in a pile of his own pneuma, her slick toxin, and the remains of his armor, peeled back in curling ribbons of steel, some driven into his back just as surely as her... it's claws had been.

Really it's a miracle he stays conscious.]

[Ruin's blow strikes home and Volucris properly, finally dies. Hopefully she'll rest better this time.]

[Medic is already jumping as she falls, yanking her scissors out with an unsettling squelch and hitting the ground running. Not away from the Revenant's corpse, already beginning to dissolve, but towards Ruin.]

[She skids to a stop beside him and crouches down, surveying the extent of his injuries.]

I can fix that! [With a grunt of effort and air of brisk, practiced efficiency, she kneels down and rolls him carefully onto his side, just enough that his back isn't flat against the ground anymore.]

[After all, that metal is going to have to come out, and it'll have an easier time if it's not getting pushed out into a solid surface.]

[One hand is on his shoulder, bracing him. The other rests lightly against his forehead, her touch surprisingly gentle. And then she pours her power in.]

[It's an undeniable force, almost a physical pull, a blooming warmth that says be well, be whole, be healed.]

[He... well he tries to help with the whole rolling over part of things. It's not terribly successful. But as soon as she's touching him he tries to remind her before she gets herself hurt too.]

The toxin-

[Don't touch it!? Be careful????

But she's apparently going to just touch him and he's in no condition to argue. The gentle warmth of her power surprises him. He... somehow hadn't expected outright magic. Not from Medic, not from someone that deals in calculations and tools and experiments. It's... nice.

Now he kinda feels bad for being so insistent he didn't want her doctoring his wounds after the fight with Lion.]

[Cheerfully:] Don't worry- it's not like this is the first time I've exposed myself to toxic chemicals in the name of medicine!

[Because that's much more reassuring to hear.]

Besides, just getting it on my hands like this is a much smaller dosage than it was when Esme poisoned us, so healing myself is a lot easier. ...We should move when you're ready, though.

[She'll help him get back to his feet once the wounds have sealed up properly- no sense in having to heal him twice because he got Double Poisoned.]

[Honestly her good cheer makes him groan but... also grudgingly smile.

Once everything is closed up and he's not actively bleeding everywhere he finally just dismisses his armor. He sorta figured it'd be a nightmare for her trying to deal with his wounds suddenly through multiple layers of clothing. It's all going to be a mess but it was better than risking tearing something open again with the jagged remains of his armor.

Medic trying to pull him to his feet is honestly a little bit hilarious. But he's mostly able to move under his own power now, if a little gingerly.]

Dunno about you but... I'm not too keen on running into anything else tonight. [And look who he still has! He strokes a hand over the horse's mane and gives her a questioning look. You want a ride Medic? They should be able to out maneuver anything more basic pretty easily on horseback.]

Oh! [Medic smiles happily and very carefully reaches out to pat the spectral horse on the nose.] They're lovely. Do they have a name?

[She's more of a cat person, but she will definitely not turn down a horseback ride. Heigh-ho Silver, away!]

You know... she is sort of an extension of my abilities so I hadn't considered a name, exactly.

[He also rubs her nose a little and then he's moving to step up into the stirrup, heaving himself up and over with a practiced fluidity that speaks of deeply ingrained muscle memory. Then he leans down to offer her his hand. With their Executor strength and speed he has no doubt she can get up far more easily than it looks like she could.]

Any ideas?

Hmmm... maybe Baima? [She gratefully accepts the help up, because even though she can parkour her four foot ten self up onto tall stuff, sometimes it's nice not to have to.] I think that's from a book, but I don't remember it very well.

Bai...ma?

[He repeats it thoughtfully as he draws her around to start their way back to the stairs out of the underside. Of course the horse gives a sharp snort and he laughs.]

Maybe not. Here, hold onto me. [Gesturing for her to put her hands around his waist. War saddles are probably the least convenient to have someone riding with him and he doesn't want her to topple off the back.]

It does just mean "white horse", though, so maybe it's a little too obvious. [...is this horse even white? It's a ghost horse, who's to say.]

Well, she'd know her own name best! [Medic takes the as yet unnamed horse's disapproval with good grace.]

[She follows Ruin's instructions dutifully, more than willing to defer to someone with much more extensive Horse Knowledge than her own. She probably could tell you how to put together a horse from spare parts, but she's not entirely sure what you're supposed to do with a fully assembled one.]

[She's a palomino thank you very much.]

Does it? In what language?

[Hold on Medic you didn't tell him you know other languages??? He's completely derailed from names now. Teach. Him.]

Oh, it's Chinese- hm! [She looks thoughtful as she realizes something.] We were assuming that everyone understood each other even though some of us don't speak the same language because of something about Purgatory, no language barriers in death... but if that's true, then it's interesting that "Baima" didn't translate directly for you.

I wonder if it's because it's a name? Or maybe it's because I'm bilingual, and it only translates when I speak English because it's what I usually use to speak to people...

[She's genuinely curious about this now.]

Let's see if you can tell me... 怎么称呼?

Edited 2021-01-23 04:25 (UTC)

Chii-what?

[Muttered under his breath as she theorizes, though he turns back to look over his shoulder when she says.... whatever the hell that is.]

Uhhhh.... was that supposed to be words cause I'm not sure it succeeded.

Chinese! Mandarin Chinese, specifically. Instead of English, which is the language I'm speaking right now.

Y'know.... neither of those sound remotely familiar but at this point I'm not gonna question it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Invidia Underside Log

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

C...W? satisfying fight scene = graphic death blows???

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject