L-Lyra? What did you d-

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[!WARNING - MAJOR ESOTERA SURGE DETECTED!]

RECOMMENDED ACTION: AVOID AFFECTED SUBJECT AND/OR BREACHING ANOMALY IN QUESTION AND LOCATE THE NEAREST SAFETY POINT UNTIL BACKUP ARRIVES!



Kya… ha… Avoidance? Safety points? No… My hypothesis indicates that neither of those are going to be of much use to you. It’s just like when I first felt the Seal’s power, all those days ago… I can see into the depths that lie beneath your fragile frames. You saw me as expendable, killed those who aligned themselves with me. I made my case, I begged and pleaded - threw my dignity away in hopes of mercy.

And still… It meant nothing.



Oh, Phenera… my last faithful assistant. The last of those dedicated to dredging the darkness beyond our understanding. Science’s strongest soldier. At last, I finally see. Your proposal stands above those of your peers. Kyahahaha… All along, I thought Anomalies were subjects to be researched and discarded accordingly - but I understand now. To sit by and record findings… to dissect and analyze and attempt to understand… It’s all a waste of time. What use is data without lived experience, after all? What I felt before, “synchronized” and seeking answers… it’s nothing compared to this intoxicating power. It’s fascinating, really…



Astrid… Your dad must be just as stupid as you are, to stop at only the little tease offered by his “synchronization”. But it’ll all be okay. It’s like I said, we’ll all sink together… until you reach the very same conclusion.



You… you’re… not thinking right. I’m sorry they voted for you but… it wasn’t malicious, and it wasn’t my fault. You were in the forest, you were a suspect. It… it wasn’t anything like that. People genuinely suspected you, I’m not…



I’m not doing this anymore! You keep doing the same thing, over and over and I keep listening to you and I'm done with it.

You walk around here like you own the place, talking bad about everyone and everything. Bragging about tearing apart Anomalies for your own gain, insulting everyone's intelligence, doing absolutely nothing to help anyone except you and your “lab assistants”…



Well, guess what? You’re the one who put yourself on this path. You want people’s sympathy? You want people to trust you? You should’ve earned it! Now look at you, you’re...



Cease your conversation, stay behind me and heed my warning thus. You are no longer speaking to the woman you once knew. In her place… naught but a magicked beast, a creature of fell origin, intentions warped by the magicks taken unto her being - corroding her very soul itself. ‘Tis a process I have seen at work many a time, upon many individuals.

Not unlike the whispers of the false prophet - yet more unpredictable in nature. Such a being makes for a dangerous hunt indeed, far more than that which you refer to as a mere “Anomaly”.



Well, I think we’ve found common ground again, 23~

Say, how about we momentarily put aside our… ideological differences and do our job for a little while, hm? Anomaly or Aberration, we’re the Control Department at the end of the day! There’s certainly a thing or two we could do about this one, mm?



…Very well. For the good of those who yet remain… I shall add yet another target to my sights.

Assist me if you wish, if there is anything left of that which you once were. But do not think I will hesitate for a moment to behead the one who holds your chains should they cross my path.



Well, this is a… rather unexpected development. The Ritual does not necessitate the… creation of such a being. Nor does it typically facilitate the… subversion of the execution required upon the resolution of the voting process.

Ahahaha… I suppose it matters not. Dr. Orpheus is simply no longer my problem. Treat her as yet another “Anomaly”, treat her as that creature within the facility depths, or treat her as your ally. I care not for the resolution.



This time, do make sure to kill someone relevant to the proceedings. I would certainly hate for this to… happen once more.

---

It is now Night 9.

You may submit Night Actions to @Spooks?. You have 48 Hours to submit. The longer you take to submit, the longer the waiting period for results will be. Live with your consequences, and pray your peers feel sympathy.

Your Night Condition for the night is...

An overflow of Thalassic esotera has distorted the facility, causing several rooms to Sink, making them unusable. Entering a room that is Sinking will result in immediate drowning and heavy pressure damage. The following rooms are Sunken:

• Both Gates
  
• Meeting Room
  
• Chapel
  
• Liturgical Study
  
• Botany Lab
  
• Archaeologist's Office
  
• Break Room
  
• Lab Zero
  
• Killing Game Lab
  
• Dispatch
  
• Bathrooms
  
• Crystal Cave
  

Sunken rooms will be marked on the map with the following icon:



Please allow a while for the interactive map to update. In the meantime, refer to the list above and the thread map's placements.

You MUST attempt tonight, or you will immediately perish. This applies to all players, NPCs, and Wraiths - the latter of which will not be permitted Day Phase participation should they not attempt.

Players will be sent a random player name alongside their bond powers and curses. Attempting on this player will grant Unlimited Access for the night. If the kill is successful, that becomes permanent

---

Interactive Map

room descriptions: Show

Main Elevator - An elevator that takes you downstairs to the Underground Facility. It is fairly spacious, likely to aid in the transport of anomalies.

Lobby - The Central Facility's check-in lobby. Flanked by two staircases, the check-in desk sits abandoned, though it contains office supplies and some files. There are a variety of places to sit down as well. There is a vault door open behind the front desk, housing an Anomaly Containment Room.

Meeting Room - A small boardroom, with a long table, a couple chairs, and a laptop connected to a projector.

Checkpoint - A security checkpoint with a metal scanner, requiring you to walk through if you enter or exit.

Liturgical Study - A laboratory dedicated to the study of religion and so-called miracles. Contains a variety of religious texts from around the world, as well as religious symbols such as crosses, prayer beads, and small statues.

Chapel - A non-denominational chapel for whatever you wish to pray to. An altar sits at the end of the room, and pews line the sides of a central aisle. A small bowl containing nonspecific holy water is planted firmly in the middle. It is currently bloody, and graffiti is on the wall.

Patio - A patio overlooking the Black Forest. You can climb down to explore from here, but the forest is easy to get lost in.

Black Forest - A forest infamous for stories of lost researchers and strange occurrences. A few landmarks inside have been identified and categorized, but it remains difficult to locate them again. Enter at your own risk.

Boiler Room - A room with an old boiler, as well as a supply of cleaning supplies and maintenance tools. While the boiler is out of use now that modern systems are in place, it can burn hot enough to start fires.

Sleep Lab - A room with three beds and some monitoring equipment. Seems like it is intended for monitoring dreams. Also seems like a comfy place to sleep.

Somatic Seal - A large, deactivated machine.

Anomaly Hall - A hallway containing three strange, yet harmless, anomalies. The Bottomless Beer Bottle and One-Way Cloak are missing.

Library - A library that appears to be fairly old, filled with several books about the supernatural, both fact and fiction. Some are older than others, and many are filled with blacked-out text.

Security Office - An office by the entrance of the building, where the security personnel usually spend their time in case something tries to break in. It has several lockers, a couple CCTV feeds on a monitor, and various other trinkets.

Whisper Valley Archives - A room housing a variety of files and leftover items from the Whisper Valley Historical Society. They are very well organized, and can be easily found with a reference number. You can look for a random file too, but don’t expect much.

Classified Files - A smaller offshoot of the Whisper Valley Archives, with a higher level required to access. Contains more files, somewhat stranger ones too.

Museum Hall - A hallway containing many old objects and displays. The most notable being an anomalous pipe, but other cases and pedestals contain everything from ancient texts to masks.

Gate #1 - A security gate by the front entrance, containing a few CCTV feeds and a locked cabinet. Not much else of use.

Gate #2 - A security gate by the tunnel leading underground. Contains what appears to be a variety of emergency equipment.

room descriptions: Show

Fountain - A fountain just outside the back of the building. Water is currently flowing, though the fountain appears pretty old.

River - A trench dug from Mirror Lake to the Mines, carrying a steady stream of water into the depths.

Arboretum - A large greenhouse, the interior wrapped in thorny vines. Housing a variety of plant-based experiments, low-risk anomalies, and regular plants, you can find most known botanical life here, though maybe it's possible to find some… unique specimens as well?

Climate Controls - A control panel used to manipulate the climate in the Arboretum, including heat, water level, and the dispensing of pesticides and herbicides.

Botany Lab - A laboratory dedicated to the study and breeding of plant life. Contains a variety of equipment, soil, fertilizers, and gardening tools. Maybe you can grow your own plants?

Black Forest - A forest infamous for stories of lost researchers and strange occurrences. A few landmarks inside have been identified and categorized, but it remains difficult to locate them again. Enter at your own risk.

Waiting Room - A relatively uninteresting room with a front desk and some seating. Probably contains office supplies and a couple magazines.

Decontamination - A room that releases a gas that instantly cleans your body and equipment. It logs its usage for the night however, to prevent any shenanigans.

Cafeteria - A completely unremarkable Cafeteria, the sort of thing that you probably could go without a detailed description of.

Chem Lab - A laboratory with a variety of chemicals and equipment with which to use them. A door sits off to the side, requiring Access Level 4. It is covered in radiation warning stickers.

Aux. Bathrooms - A set of unisex bathrooms for the Auxiliary Building. Sinks and toilets, what else do you need?

Archaeologist's Office - An laboratory belonging to the Archaeological Team. Its walls and desks are lined with a variety of strange artifacts you don't recognize, and shelves contain various historical books and research notes. The desk belonging to the team leader is locked.

Observatory - An observatory located a short distance up the mountain. Its oversized telescope points skyward, and several notes and charts regarding celestial bodies and phenomena sit scattered about.

Somatic Seal - A large, deactivated machine.

Geology Lab - A laboratory dedicated to the study of stone samples and the composition of the nearby earth. Contains drills, chisels, picks, and other means of examining stone. Lots of rocks too.

Boathouse - A quaint, old boathouse by the dock. It contains fuel, rafts, books, paper, and other boating and emergency supplies.

Mirror Lake - A lake to the northwest of the facility, accompanied by a boathouse and a small dock. The lake is known for its still, reflective waters, immense depth, and reports of something moving in the water, despite the fact that there are no fish in mirror lake.

Lighthouse - A lighthouse on the island in Mirror Lake. Inside is a variety of sailing and rain gear, as well as a lighthouse lamp capable of cutting through fog like a knife. There's also an Anomaly Containment Room in here, housing a diving suit. A nearby building housing an elevator leads to the Aquatic Lab.

room descriptions: Show

Main Elevator - An elevator that takes you upstairs to the Historical Society. It is fairly spacious, likely to aid in the transport of anomalies.

Facility Lobby - A spacious lobby containing a front desk and a large carpet depicting the Bureau’s logo. A door at one end, behind the desk, leads to the Director’s Office, though his receptionist appears to be out.

Shuttle Line - A tunnel for a shuttle that facilities quick transport from the Auxiliary Building to the rest of the facility. You can walk along the tracks, but you might get run over, for obvious reasons.

Station 2 - A rail station for the shuttle, this one on the side of the main facility. There are some benches to sit in while you wait. The Lab Zero entrance is here, firmly sealed up.

Station 1 - A rail station for the shuttle, this one on the side of the main facility. There are some benches to sit in while you wait. There is a facility map on the wall and some shit on the floor.

Lounge - A bar built into the facility for employees who live on-site. Food and drink are free, but abuse of this privilege is discouraged. It’s furnished with bar stools and booths alike.

Kitchen - A professional bar kitchen with a variety of implements, attached to the Employee Lounge. You can prepare food here if you want, but accidents are known to occur, so stay safe.

Service Elevator - A larger elevator that seems to go deeper below ground. It is functional and leads to the Facility Depths. There appears to be some kind of power/maintenance room within the empty shaft.

Receiving Bay - The room where new Anomalies are delivered to the facility. Connects to the upper levels via a road tunnel, but it's a bit of a walk

Lab Passage - A small passage between rooms, with some seating and tables. There’s not much going on here and you get the sense that it's just a transitory room.

Morgue - A morgue containing several cadavers in various states and an autopsy table, along with several tools for medical analysis and dissection.

Killing Game Lab - A laboratory dedicated to researching the link between Killing Games and anomalous phenomena. All the files are gone.

Anomaly Lab - A laboratory dedicated to studying anomalies. Contains some monitoring equipment, computers, and several containment cells. Covered in black liquid. Liz's corpse is missing.

Dispatch - A room where dispatchers use a variety of equipment to communicate with other agents. You can use the intercom here to remotely make an announcement to other rooms.

Counter-Terrorism - A department dedicated to combating the Crimson Eye, an evil criminal organization opposing the Bureau. You can find materials and information regarding the Crimson Eye here, as well as some recovered technology. It is currently in disarray, with Ruby's body in here.

Bathrooms - It’s a bathroom. Feel free to use the toilet. No notes.

Armory - A room filled with lethal weaponry, such as guns, energy weapons, and explosives. Access is largely restricted to higher ranking agents.

Holding Cell - A relatively low-security containment room to hold troublemakers or the occasionally possessed until they calm down. Anyone who assisted in a murder or caused too much damage will end up here temporarily.

Facility Jail - A room for the guard assigned to the Holding Cell to spend their time in. There’s a desk and an evidence locker, though the latter is locked.

Anomaly Records - A room where the Bureau keeps its physical copies of records in case of problems with the facility database. Requires high access and the BPI-XXXX number of the anomaly to properly search.

Control Department - The workplace of the team assigned to contain and control Anomalies. Contains a couple weapons, and many notes on Anomaly strengths and weaknesses.

Break Room - A room with some tables and chairs for staff on break. Also contains a small kitchen with cutlery, a toaster oven, a microwave, a coffee machine, a kettle, and a sink.

Leisure Center - A gymnasium meant for keeping agents both in shape and entertained. Contains a variety of workout equipment, sporting goods, and even a pool. Gus' body is sitting on the workout bench, bloody and burned.

Locker Room - A room for employees to store their belongings. All the lockers are unlocked besides 3, which are locked with combination locks.

Crusher - A large crushing device capable of pulverizing rock. It pounds up and down rhythmically, though too quickly to safely get through. It is currently not functional due to water damage, and the Telluric Seal lies behind it.

Explosive Storage - A large cavern housing a variety of old explosives. A rope dangles through a hole in the ceiling, leading to an area near the Observatory.The room is full of knee-deep water, thanks to a certain someone and their river. The explosives are largely waterlogged.

Crystal Cave - A large cavern containing a large number of luminescent crystals and some far more modern research and excavation gear. The crystals are said to contain Esotera. The room is full of knee-deep water, thanks to a certain someone and their river.

Aquatic Lab - An underwater laboratory with several windows looking out onto the lakebed. Much of this room has been utterly destroyed in the fire.

Station 3 - A Shuttle station nearly identical to Stations 1 and 2. The Shuttle is currently operational, and can be taken to any other shuttle station.

Esotera Lab - A strange laboratory full of unknown equipment, various masks, and plenty of obscure files. Appears to be related to the study of Esotera, whatever that entails.

Lab Zero - A room filled with surgical tables and strange equipment, as well as a variety of masks. A strange creature lurks within, chanting religiously.

room descriptions: Show

Observation Room - A room deep underground, filled with various high-tech monitoring equipment and a window overlooking a strange, ancient underground city.

Laser Hall - A hallway “locked” by an array of high-powered scorching lasers. Probably best not to fuck around in here.

Submerged District - A vast underground lake, glowing faintly with vestiges of Esotera. The ruins of several buildings stick out from beneath the surface.

Water Filtration - A sizeable mechanical room that appears to pump water from the nearby lake for an unknown purpose.

Arcana Lab - ???

Mining Equipment - A room stocked with a variety of modern excavation equipment of a much heavier-duty variety than the Geology Lab, as well as modern explosive devices.

Drafting Office - An offshoot of the Mining Equipment seemingly converted into an office for engineering and drafting blueprints. Contains a CNC Machine, which can be used to create metal objects from raw materials.

Residential District - A strange sector of the underground city, seemingly a residential district of some sorts. Contains several ancient dwellings and many mummified bodies. A few Bureau research stations have been set up down here for

Lost City Outpost - A large hall between the two segments of the city. There are a few places to sit in here, and an elevator at the southern end of the hall. It looks to be a bit of a rest stop for researchers working in the city.

Occultic Seal - A tower containing an ominous, broken seal chamber.

Chaotic Seal - A large room ending with a huge, sealed stone door. It is unresponsive to all forms of contact and will not open. The mechanism in the center appears to be missing at least one Seal input.

Communications - A room with a sizeable communications terminal. Appears to require an uplink with the "forest relay station" to function.

---

History Team

@Indiana Jones (Old)
@Phenera
@Tinkaton


Survey Team

@Pea
@Riki
@DxHustler3000

Research Team

@Morgan
@Izumi Konata
@Nashu Mhakaracca
@Giffany
@Columbo


NPCs

• Astrid
  
• Dexter Hexley
  
• Dr. Lyra Orpheus
  
• Nancy Partridge & BPI-2300
  
• Spooks, The Magical Cat™
  

---

I'm just gonna leave them to deal with that. How about that motive, huh? Yeah, you know... not gonna take that offer.



But I'll tell you what. A little birdie told me that you guys talk pretty loudly about your secrets while I'm in earshot, so let's say that my investigation turned up some dirt that might benefit anyone looking for a Seal Power. Somewhere they can't get without taking that motive, and somewhere I just happen to know the location of.

I wanna destroy that book, you want... I dunno, a magic power or something. Seems pretty win/win, right? So here: If you take the motive? Meet me in the Lost City Outpost. No judgement, not my business. I'll take you to where you have to go, and do what I have to do to get that seal broken - just as long as you're not on my patented Dexter Hexley: Paranormal Investigator Official "SUS LIST" . Because otherwise I'll shoot you.



Kidding, kidding! Hey, trust me. You'll know my attempt when you see it. Stop it if you want. Just consider this a trust exercise, yeah?

...Dex?

Where am I supposed to pee if the bathrooms are quicksand?

This post was last modified: Jun 13, 2024 at 8:07 PM by Fun With Despair.

...Dex?

Look, I'm not an idiot. I know these things are going down one way or another, and that there's not much we can do about it. It's like what Dodo said about the Liturgic Seal. Better to know who gets power than to sit and leave it for whoever the hell. Doubly so if you can control who gets it.



So that's what I'm gonna do. If the Occultic Seal breaks, I'm gonna make sure it's someone who's not gonna abuse it. There's already someone... dangerous running around pumped up on Liturgy, if you haven't forgotten - and now this shit with the science chick. If nobody trustworthy shows up, then that's that. I leave it alone. But the alternative is just watching and waiting until someone else does the same thing but with less oversight while a bunch of crazy monsters run around finishing us off.



I don't really see another option. Gotta do what you gotta do.

Beyond the shadow you settle for, there is a miracle illuminated.

---

A quote, from one of my previous films where I played a lovestruck poet. I am Tom Zane, a celebrated filmmaker and actor. Please, no autographs.

You may be wondering where my collaborator Alan is - well, he's gone a little bit loopy. Very high strung, you know how neurotic writers can be. I find it's best to leave him to his own devices when he gets like that. So I'm making a guest appearance, while he's really getting to grips with his new book.

I just can't wait to dive into the production you all have going on here. It'll be a blockbuster for sure.

This post was last modified: Jun 13, 2024 at 8:31 PM by Indiana Jones (Old).

...Dex?

Look, I'm not an idiot. I know these things are going down one way or another, and that there's not much we can do about it. It's like what Dodo said about the Liturgic Seal. Better to know who gets power than to sit and leave it for whoever the hell. Doubly so if you can control who gets it.



So that's what I'm gonna do. If the Occultic Seal breaks, I'm gonna make sure it's someone who's not gonna abuse it. There's already someone... dangerous running around pumped up on Liturgy, if you haven't forgotten - and now this shit with the science chick. If nobody trustworthy shows up, then that's that. I leave it alone. But the alternative is just watching and waiting until someone else does the same thing but with less oversight while a bunch of crazy monsters run around finishing us off.



I don't really see another option. Gotta do what you gotta do.

Meet me at the Lost City Outpost. We'll go to the seal room from there.

They never should have treated you like that. I'm sorry for what they did. I should have known better than to let those blasphemers near you. And now, well... look at you, all bleeding and bruised and covered in bullet wounds.

Worry not, partner. You're a stronger investor than me, that I am certain of. So, I am here to heal you. Save you. And, maybe, one night, I can divine your identity. Your motivations.

Who are you, faithful disciple? Bird, or man? Why must you look at me with such devotion? I am yet to prove myself, yet you treat me as if I was... as I was before.

*SQUAWK* "hhhhoollllyyyy...."

Hush now. Save your breath, for you must rest. We have a big day tomorrow. We're almost ready.

Well, that's a nice motive you've got there, sir, but I'll have to reject it purely on principle.
So, if anyone wants to know, my assigned "target" is Tinkaton.
Keeps me honest if I mention it now, before this whole hubbub starts.

The following is an archive of an audio log uncovered after the disappearance of Agent Andras.
If found, please report to your Handler for further instruction.

MISSION LOG: --------
DISPATCH: N/A
LOCAL TIME 23:28

<Begin Communication.>
[???] You don't mind if I record this? Officially, it's off the record.
[???] Yeah, whatever works. I'm surprised you actually bought tickets just to corner me in here.
[???] Yes, well, I wanted to get some of your papers signed off on, and you kept blowing me off. I thought this would be the place to catch you.
[???] Sorry, I've been busy with the move. What else is there to do? I thought you guys already burned my old birth certificate and stuff.
[???] The Bureau likes to cover its bases. Since we deal with the unknown often, it's good to have this sort of documentation ready in case something ever happens to you.
[???] Uh-huh. You think it's safe to do it like... in public?
[???] I believe we're the only ones stupid enough to buy tickets for the showing tonight. The seats are all empty.
[???] ...Touché. Though, stupid isn't the word I'd use. These are good movies.
[???] Plus, I get to have real popcorn and a big soda.
[???] That's exciting to you?
[???] Couldn't afford anything besides the utility bill before. I'm treating myself to celebrate the big day.
[???] ...Then, I'm sorry I came here to bother you with work. I'll see myself out.
[???] Nah, you can stay. I've seen this one more than once. Besides, like you said, the whole place is cleared out. It'd be a waste to send you away. Twin Dragons; With Vengeance is up next. It's a classic.
[???] Is that foreign...? I've never heard of that one.
[???] Take my word for it. We can mull the paperwork over after the this scene.

...

The theater thrums with the sound of overblown strikes and flying leaps as a lone Samurai garbed in red battles his way through an ancient temple.
The battle comes to a lull as the lone Samurai climbs the steps through the antechamber towards a man in blue robes...

Brother, I've come to stop you! The secrets of the Dragon Style can never be beheld by mortal men! Stop this madness!

You're too late, Matsunaga! I am beyond mortal ken! And once I have the Dragon Scroll, I will be the strongest thing alive!
You have no hope of defeating me!

Midori wouldn't have wanted this for you! She wouldn't want us to fight here, not after all we've been through!

Blood and Thunder! Do not speak of her wishes. I will burn those imperial bastards for what they did to her! Join me, Brother, and we can take revenge! Does your blood not boil for the deaths caused by those monsters!?

Shinada, no! They have agreed to stop their invasion, no more blood must be shed! I cannot bear to lose you to the Dragon's Curse as well!

You are a fool, Matsunaga... And no longer my Brother! It must be so! I will be the light to all my countrymen!
A guiding force, powerful enough to destroy all who oppose us!

No... you leave me no choice, Brother... I swore to never draw my blade again... but you've forced my hand!!
COME, MY DEMON BLADE... MURAMASA!!!

The Brothers' blades clash against one another in a dramatic display of strength...

...

[???] ...Are they all usually this... hammy?
[???] The good ones are. This dub is nothing at all like the one I have on tape.
[???] I wonder if they'd sell me a copy, actually...
[???] I don't believe I've actually sat down and watched a movie in... at least three years, now.
[???] You picked a good time to start again. Demon Blade; Hand of the Dragon's Curse is easily one of the best movies ever made.
[???] It's all practical effects, the blood and stuff. Back in the day, the rumor was that the swords on set were real.
[???] That doesn't sound very safe. Was there any truth to the rumors?
[???] Dunno. Never seen it on a screen with enough definition to tell. They look pretty real from here, though.
[???] Do you mind if... I step out and get a drink? I think I'd like to stay for the next film.
[???] If you'll have me, of course. I'd hate to intrude.
[???] Please, after you. You bought the ticket, after all. If you like it, I've got some more I can lend you after.
[???] Excuse me, then, I'll be right back.

...

[???] ...The door is locked? Isn't that a fire haza-
[???] Hey, look alive. I think the Samurai are stepping off the screen.
[???] They're what-?
[???] I guess it's time to find out if the swords were the real deal. You got any capture pods?
[???] I-I think a few? You're not going to fight them bare handed, are you??
[???] What else am I supposed to do? Hang back and try and get that door open, I'll try and slow 'em down.
<End Communication.>

still thinking about that sandwich. holy shit.

still thinking about that sandwich. holy shit.

Did you just say.... HOLY!?!??!?

(Split into pieces because it turns out gradient BBCode very quickly exceeds the character limit. Special thanks to TPG for collaborating on this.)

Music: Show

Leisure Center

*Knock* - *Knock* - *Knock*



Excuse us boss, can we step inside? We have a briefing on the project's current status to deliver!



Yes, I’m just about finished here. Please, sit.

Oh! Loob is here too! Excellent, we can all go over this progress report together!

---

---

Everything is on track. With Dr. Lyra willingly becoming an Aberration, Dexter offering to help unseal the Occultic Seal, and The Source's location uncovered, we should meet all of our objectives right on-schedule! There won't be any room left in this world for doubt soon. Not everyone has had faith in this operation until now, but when this returns the world to its former state, nobody will be able to deny you remade the world into a paradise. They'll make records of you more extensive and longer lasting than the records of the Black Scribe. Everyone will worship you as first among the world of equals we create!


There may be unfinished tasks still, but there's just so much to celebrate, too! It's too bad that Agent Morgan and the masked intruder are still security risks. It would be a great time for an office party.


It took so long to reach this point, but this is what the greater good means. To act in service of the greater good is to do what's best for the world, no matter how many objections the others raise. They won't understand yet, and that's why they're resisting… When the time comes to open the final two seals, some of them… might even become enemies of the project like Agent Morgan… They won't understand what it means to pursue the greater good… and they'll turn away from us until we accomplish our objectives and bring about paradise…



That's what you were trying to teach us all along, wasn't it? Father Dodo shared the meaning of faith and taught everyone that Heteromorphs are as capable and worthy of respect as anyone else… Then you saw potential within us and promoted us so we could learn what it means to use that faith to make the world that needs to be made.

…thank you for trusting us and giving us this experience… Working under you on this plan, it caused something about the world to change…

It was strange when we first arrived. At that time, the world was fractured. Since we started working under you, the world has been… unified. When we first arrived, we were filled with tension and friction. Now… we're filled with excitement and peace.

…for the most part.

There's something… else…

The Thing That Lives Beneath was murdered. Father Dodo sacrificed himself. Lita was terminated. Agent Morgan violated his employment contract and betrayed us. Now we'll have to be in open conflict with Agent Giffany and Riki…

Boss… Does working towards the greater good always require sacrificing so many bonds? When we collate all of the losses, it… hurts. We have faith in this operation. We know that everyone who has turned away will see the truth and come back when it culminates in a better world.

That's not making it any easier to concentrate on the work that still needs to be done.

How can we have the discipline to focus on work through the pain that you have? How can we forget what we've sacrificed so we can put in the overtime and hustle through the final stages of this project?



I’m glad progress is being made. The candidate for the Occultic Seal must be carefully chosen - like with Liturgy, it is an ancient and vast power that cannot be adequately used when in untrained hands. I pray that whoever seeks a monopoly over the Occultic will be amenable to our interests.

But yes, it is all coming together. The people around us doubt us because they have yet to see results. Like in any company, we have to prove our worth before being ready for responsibility. Once they understand our prowess and our ambitions, I have no doubt their minds will fall into place.

And, Phenera. Loss is a necessary and unavoidable step on the path to success. This is a great and cold truth, and one you will continue to learn now that you are learning to walk on your own. It’s not easily accepted - I faced this truth many times before I was ready to handle it.

Over time, I found it beneficial to incorporate those losses into your own self-motivation. Every misstep and forfeit only served to justify my actions - for if I gave up, every sacrifice up to that point would have been made in vain. That is unconscionable in the business world.

But we cannot forget. Not truly. Use that pain you have inside you, as I do, and turn it inside out, weaponise it into a force for the greater good.

Loss as a source of motivation… Turn it inside out… Weaponize it…

Then… the lesson to learn here is that nothing can be an idle resource! Any resource that isn't actively being channeled to the goals of the project needs to be redirected. Losses only remain losses if they're dwelled upon. Left as idle memories, they'll reduce productivity, but if they're invested into the convictions behind an operation, they'll propel it forward.. We can make an unproductive idle resource into a productive one.

That's so wise! We'll commit to that! We'll synthesize that into an addition to the core mission statement for the project of opening The Source's and bringing about paradise!

There are so many preparations that we still need to make, and that you must still have so much to carry out with Loob, so we won't stay much longer. We only have one more question.

Agent Morgan… he mentioned… someone named Lily. The handbook says we should maintain a strict separation between personal life and professional life, but we're already discussing sacrifices.

Are we allowed to ask? Was she one of the people who rejected the greater good? Did it hurt to have to sacrifice her? Do you have faith… she'll come back when we carry out the rest of this operation?



Lily. So he knows.

The woman he spoke of is an ex-partner, my... first partner. We worked together in our youth when climbing up the economic ladder. We had both endured grievous losses and agreed to, as I explained, profit from our pain, for the greater good.

Eventually, she faltered. When confronted with a chance to act for the greater good at a scale undreamt of, she struggled. Argued. I understood her hesitation, of course I did, but I couldn’t stop. Not when faced with the opportunity to change the world. So, I left her behind. It was the greatest sacrifice I ever made. Perhaps the one which provides me with the ultimate drive. The drive to justify losing her.

I don’t regret it, but I still think about it. A lot. There are a lot of personal risks associated with separating from a partner, and to this day I cannot be certain if she will accept what I am doing for her. For some people, the world is nothing compared to concepts of love and family.

But, not all was lost. I carry her spirit with me at all times. From her I learned my greatest values as a business winner. In this way, she is still contributing to our mission.

So… no matter how much faith we have in the plan… it's impossible to be certain everyone will accept it. Even once this plan remakes paradise, she - anyone - could still reject it… for love and… family…

No… No, those aren't as valuable as what we're doing. They can't be. We wouldn't be sacrificing a chance to have any bonds with the others here if this work weren't more valuable. We're not as experienced as you are, so please forgive us for speaking out of line, but… She'll have to come back. They'll all see what's most valuable. They'll all understand the sacrifices. They have to see! There's no alternative, because no sacrifice can be in vain! That's unconscionable in business!

You won't have sacrificed your partner without a return on your investment. We'll make sure of it!

We're going to double our effort! We'll build paradise, and we'll bring Lily back! We'll bring everyone back! You can count on us! We'll see that the job gets done no matter what happens from here.

We'll begin making preparations for the next stage on the plan right away. There's no time to waste. Thank you for your time, boss. We need to get back to Agent Nashu's room to finish preparing, but we'll report for duty bright and early. Goodnight! Goodnight, Loob!

Stay safe, and stay hidden. Darkness lurks behind every corner, so be not afraid to use my light as your guidance.

*SQUAWK*

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You should rest here. I can't risk losing you, too.

*chirp* HOOOLLLYYYYY....?

Yes. I suppose we needn't waste time. The Rapture is upon us.



I have no quarrel with the people of this era. No contracts to fulfil, no desire to stay now that I have a worthy successor. Only one piece of unfinished business remains.

You. Mastermind. This sermon is for you. I see your wicked designs, concealed in chaos and misery. I know you see me, too. I know how scared you are. I'm coming for you, and your wretched powers, and then they will all see me for the saviour that I am.

Gods like us aren't meant to be imprisoned. We do as we please with the power that we earned. You prevent me from recovering the full extent of my investments here. At first, you were simply an exercise in faith, and I was content. Now, you are an obstacle in the way of our salvation. This will not be satisfactory.

Here's what I will do. Tonight, I ascend, and then I will hunt you down. My angelic forces will hold you to the ground whilst I pour unbridled holy punishment directly into your skull. No mask will protect you from this. You will die, and I will leave, and finally rest in a grave dug millennia ago. The prayers will finally be answered.



By my divine hand, may you be cleansed of your sin through fire and blood.

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