jigokulogs | June 2022 Event Plotting PART 2

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June 2022 Event Plotting PART 2

Who ⬤ The selected teams
What ⬤ Finding the source of the cursed energy and putting an end to this.
When ⬤ /waves hands vaguely
Where ⬤ Kaigo no Bou
Content Warnings ⬤ Horror imagery, possible gore.

The tower that is Kaigo no Bou is an intimidating sight on normal days, but the way its black figure cut into the deep crimson of the cursed sky made it that much more imposing as the teams approached. Evidence of just how devastating the initial waves of the cursed energy had been to the nearby buildings was on clear display, everything looking warped and disfigured into shapes no longer identifiable as anything built for humanoid needs. Even the streets themselves seemed twisted and knotted, turning into something more like jagged slopes than thoroughfares. Even the entrance of the tower has been shifted from its original glass displays to a giant steel gate that Toraguma struggles to open for the rest of the group.

Within the tower itself, it's much the same. The Enma officers that had been brought along to help navigate each team would find themselves struggling just slightly, almost immediately, as the interior of the building was a menagerie of rust and decay. It was if the building was rotting, but not as a structure, but as a once living thing now reduced to a cadaver for them to navigate.

Well... it could be worse. Time to split into their teams.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Cain was going to ask if this was normal for an elevator, but the way it was shooting up and the Daitengu's response solidified it. Not long after, an uneasy feeling swept over Cain and Megumi's shikigami dog started growling and baring its teeth.]

Back! Away from the walls!

[Cain shouted as he saw a blur of motion from the side, a giant shadow coming into peirce through the cage with it's deadly talons. He grabbed whoever was closest to the wall to shield them, as it rocked the entire structure.

He could hear the wolf howl, leaping right for any limbs that had started reaching inside the elevator to rip them off. He stabbed blindly at the huge bird, hoping to dislodge it at least before it sent them all crashing down.]

[Almost drowned out by the rattling of the elevator mechanism:] 'Elevator music'?

[As the elevator accelerates, to Minato it feels more than ever like a distorted illusion of the Ryounkaku. But from the camera feed, there's nothing illusory about the monstrous bird.]

--! It's real!

[Pulled aside by Cain, it's hard to maneuver without accidentally stabbing the wizard; but he manages to drive his sword home, severing one of the taloned feet before it can savage one of them. The creature is still a danger, but injured and off-balance...]

[Opposite of the bird, arms are reaching in through the bars; so pale they're almost blue, dripping with river mud. The drowned coming to drag them all down.]

[Minato sees the dog familiar leaping and snapping at the arms -- biting clean through one of the arms by the elbow. The limb dissolves into muddy water on hitting the floor -- and that poses a different problem--]

Don't let them douse out the chalice!

[As she felt the elevator moving higher, it was difficult to get a good view of the bird. There was only so much her polearm could do but now with it injured, the very least she could do was quickly make a leap before trying to attack its neck.

While she managed to attack it, it doesn't stop from moving.]

You got it! Although, you better be careful too! We don't know what those things might be!

[After all, if they do disappear into muddy water, what would happen should they touch it?]

You "wonder if it's even going to ask"?

[He's eyeing that elevator with much more suspicion now than before. But everyone stepped into it and away they went. Up faster and fast, higher and higher until...

Ah- of course it wouldn't be that easy.

The loud bang of his gun going off towards the more immediate threats of the grasping arms reaching for Hu Tao as she goes after the big bad bird. Blowing them away in a blink. The best way to make sure nothing bad happens is to simply not get near any of it at all.]

[ The bird didn't hold the shape of a bird as it was stabbed and shot at, morphing into something significantly less concrete in shape. Too many eyes, too many teeth, allusions to faces but made by something that only had a bare conceptual idea of what a face even was. But it did understand "sharp things stab", and "wet things splash", so it continued to try and thrust itself into the elevator, trying to grab the chalice specifically. ]

Bothersome little thing, isn't it?

[ The Daitengu's words didn't quite match up the real panic in their voice, doing their best to keep both themselves steady and try to body block the chalice. All the while, the elevator was still rocketing upwards, now going well faster than any thing with people inside of it had any business going. ]

We're going to have to bail out, I think!

[ Wherever it was they wound up, it was a sight better than where they were! Probably! ]

[One last lunge and slash at the bird-creature, and it shudders, splitting in half and shedding black ichor onto the floor. One of the last faces he sees in the bird's spasms, a gaunt middleaged man with an incongruously friendly smile, makes Minato freeze and go pale for a moment.]

I...

[The Daitengu's words bring him back to the present. There was the door, or...] R-right. Knightley, can you get the ceiling open? I'll help you up.

[He did not feel good sheathing his sword, especially not when whatever that bird was turning into was still crawling around trying to get in.]

Understood, we can go up top and get out that way. Aurora-stay down here and help these guys out, okay?

[The dog gave a bark as it continued circling the elevator and the Daitengu in particular, leaping and tearing at anything that tried to shove its ways in between the bars.

Cain made sure his friend was steady, then with Minato's help, boosted up to the ceiling hatch. He didn't have his magic, but he had brute force and proceeded to punch through the rusted old door out onto the top. It was easy to pull himself up and then reach down to Minato, but as the man was being pulled up, something else had crawled up as well.

It looked sort of like a middle aged man with a beard, but it was clear from his expression that Cain knew who this was.]

Cain, you monster...you've killed them all....

[Minato was up far enough that he could probably pull himself to the surface, which was good, because Cain had frozen in place.]

[Hu Tao wasn’t one to curse but at times like these? She couldn’t help but give one under her breath. There was only so much she could do without her vision and especially with an enemy like this. As she saw the remains of the bird, she could have sworn she saw something.

Was that her…?

No, she immediately shook her head before her grip tighten. She couldn’t allow herself to be tricked! She had to stay focused!]

Cain? We have to get going!

[She shouted before attempting to stab what was the face of her grandfather. Even then, she couldn’t. Instead, she found herself staring before whacking it to the side.]

[Hu Tao might not be able to, but Billy certain is. Another ringing blast sends the illusion splattering around the area. Friends, family, loved ones, any and all. None of it was real....]

Get on goin', all o' ya!

[Another gunshot, this one towards another shape closing in around a member of the group as it slowly began to materialize into a massive, twitching tendril. Covered in weeping, puss-filled sores and twitching eyes that seemed to look everywhere and nowhere.]

Ah- we see... we see... where we are... Interesting....

[Great. He goes ahead and shoots at the bird if it was still around.]

[ No one noticed it, or how it even happened, in the chaos, but the Daitengu was... already on top of the elevator, chalice in hand, reaching down to help the others get out. ]

On my mark we're all going to jump, hand in hand, got it? Everyone buddy up!

[ Jump onto what? Onto where?! Regardless, just like them suddenly being on top of the cage wasn't explained, the Daitengu didn't take the time to explain how they'd survive such a poorly explained plan either. Point was, the moment everyone was on top and holding hands, the Daitengu timed out a count of three and...

The Elevator shot up the rest of the shaft, if it could be called that, behind them, carrying the beast away along with it, smashing at full force into whatever top of the shaft there was, causing a massive screeching sound, crunching smashes of metal, and a monstrous scream that carried out through the building.

As for the group they... Gently floated? Down to a balcony. The massive black wings of the Daitengu let them waft on the air as if feathers themselves, until the ground was once more beneath their feet. The wings disappeared just as quickly as they had been summoned, the Daitengu taking a moment to catch their breath and steady the chalice before... ]

Now... Knightley-san, if you'd be so kind as to tell us what floor we landed on?

[He had to shake himself out of the daze that manifestation put him in-Cain was already berating himself for freezing and endangering the others like that. So he just pushed it aside and looked around.]

Hard to tell with everything, but I'm pretty sure this is floor 83. Stairs are over here.

[He pulled out his sword to take point again, gesturing for everyone else. The wolf, now dubbed Aurora by Cain, wiggled out of Billy's grasp and nosed around at everyone to make sure they were okay before joining the knight in the front.]

[There's the glimpse of something looming over Billy, then the chaotic rush of the jump and the landing. He takes a moment to glance over the balcony, seeing the whole of the city sprawled out under them.]

Haah... Is everyone okay?

[Taking the same position he had at the start of the expedition, a few steps behind and offset Cain. Somehow the camera hadn't been lost in the scramble and the landing, and as they approach the stairs he takes a moment to film the bizarre red growths snaking up the walls. No time to examine them now, there's no time, but -- someone is going to want to see this.]

[Well, that was quite the experience she wasn't expecting. But no matter, she would much rather deal with flying than to see her grandfather once more. Flashing a smile, she gave a quick nod.]

Yes, I'm doing fairly well! Especially when we're all flight as a feather!

[She gave a chuckle before taking a quick look at her surroundings. As creepy as the red glow was, it wasn't something she hadn't seen before.]

I suppose the same could be said for everyone ?

[Whelp, this was it... or maybe not? He doesn't quesetion the following instructions, shooting towards the eye tentacle before grabbing the wolf, holstering his weapon and keeping hold of Hu Tao. The eyes glaring up at them before fading away into red pinpoints in the inky blackness.

That was certainly something.

The moment they land he sets the dog down and takes a look around.]

The 83'rd floor huh? Think next time I'll go ahead and take the stairs.

[At least William seems to be energetic as he loads his weapon for future use.]

We'll have to leave a complaint form about the state of elevator safety in this building, I think.

[ The Daitengu chuckled, turning to Hu Tao with a wink before resuming following Cain's lead.

The first few flights are fine, but by the time they get to the 86th floor, the stairway is blocked off by debris. They were going to have to cut through the offices and find another way up, by the look of it.

It was there, within the offices, they'd see it... Shapes, images of people. Sitting, running, screaming, frozen in time, still as death. The rot covered them, but somehow there was still a shine to their eyes and... ]

They're alive.

[ The Daitengu spoke, their voice soft and solemn. ]

For whatever state being 'alive' means, like this...

[He heard Hu Tao ask about everyone's wellbeing-just something else to add to the pile.]

Ah sorry, I forgot. Everyone's okay, that's good. Tell me if it changes.

[And it did. Cain could confirm whatever was in the cocoons as he circled around the room checking for threats was alive, since he couldn't see them. Maybe that was a good thing. He and Aurora continued patrolling until he noticed one of the other companions looking around.]

Billy? You notice something?

[He should be helping to look for another way up, but he can't tear his eyes off the encased people. Panning the camera around slowly, trying his best not to bump into any of them, he feels sick. He's seen a lot of things, since all hell broke loose, but this...]

Can they still... are they still awake?

[Please let them be asleep somehow, not aware and frozen like this all this time.]

[Again, Hu Tao should be surprised at what she saw but it wasn't anything new to her. When they're in hell, anything can and will happen. Still, seeing the look on their faces made her flinch. What were their last moments like?

She wasn't sure but...]

I'm not sure but if they are, I can't imagine the suffering they are going through.

Haha! I'm sure the city's building inspectors would love to know all about it.

[He gave a jovial laugh in spite of the everything. They were well into the thick of things now, holding some level of optimism was going to be important here. Even if the back of his mind still swirled over potential outcomes, none of them all that great.

The outlaw's eyes darted this way and that. From Hu Tao, to the Daitengu, Cain, and Minato, then back again to the space around them. No time to focus on the people. A pile of debris and tiles catches his attention and makes his ever wandering eyes glance up.]

Hm- looks like there's a spot in the ceilin' up there that's collapsed. Reckon it can be a shortcut if we can get up to it.

We should definitely not dwell on this for now...

[ As much as it pained them, they didn't have the resources or the time to help the trapped Department workers. If 'trapped' was even an accurate way to describe what was doing on. Billy called attention to the hole in the ceiling, and that gave them a direction to head in. ]

Besides... for some reason, I have my doubts that the Enma is in the same state as these people are. Let's move on.

[ The Daitengu gestured them to make their way towards the collapsed cieling. The pulsing red veins seemed to head in the same direction. As good an indication as any that they needed to head that way. They let Cain remain on point, staying close behind them and looking out for any novel threats...

... The upper floor was in even worse condition. The architecture had become twisted, covered in industrial sick, rotting and rusty, almost bleeding. The entire floor had lost any resemblance to anything it had once been, the marble floors and hallowed halls of the Enma's sanctum being twisted, as if to mock it's grand design.

What's more... they were there. Those formless manifestations. Too many eyes. Too many teeth. Agonized reflections of nightmarish humanity, only slightly adjacent to anything resembling a living thing. They patrolled the halls, slapping themselves around.

A confrontation would likely end poorly... they needed to be careful. ]

Yeah, best thing we can do for them is keep moving.

[Stay optimistic, at least for everyone else! They would get through this. Still..]

What do you mean by that, though-

[He was cut off as both the Daitengu and the wolf softly growling indicated their next hazards, dozens of shambling forms (that he could see) roaming about. The architecture was so twisted he barely recognized the place anymore, but that wasn't going to get to him.]

Yeah, stealth is probably the best. Around the edges there?

[Picking out where the enemies were going the least, he and the dog were going to crawl out first, observing the manifestations closely as he waved people on. They all really had to work together on this part.]

[Minato gives the others a slow nod, as he confirms on the feed: The entities patrolling the halls were all too physical. He sheathes his sword before he follows along; if they did get in a fight, then there would be a fight; until then, he'd rather have a hand free.]

[The enforced slow going is nervewracking, not least because the changes that had swept through the room means it feels like every step echoes like a drum. He starts to sidle past what he thinks is a safe wall, then halts: It's a long glass window into what might have been a conference room. The glass is filthy enough he thought it was opaque, but he can see shapes sliding past it. More of the manifestations.]

[He points at the glass, gesturing to the others to keep low; hopefully they understand...]

[Giving a thumbs up, she quickly look around for a hiding place. The last thing she wanted was to encounter yet another one of those strange creatures. One was already way too many.

Realizing what was before them, she gave a look toward the others. Crossing her arms, she didn't say anything but she knew the challenge before her. Without a moment to lose, she gesturing her head toward one of the nearby tables. Thank goodness for her tiny self as she made a quick dash at the object to stay hidden.

Hopefully, they didn't see her, right?]

[Billy honestly wanted to question the Daitengu more on the specifics of the everything here. Clearly they knew more about the space the group is in than they were letting on.

But all things in due to time, he guessed. Besides, they still had other matters to deal with. He'll go quiet with the rest of the team. Keeping a tab on everything still. So far so good... he thought to himself as they all did the creep through halls. Pasting the twitching forms of the manifestations, past that one grinning face-thing pressing against a glass pane.

Sneaky, sneaky. He ducks behind cover same as Hu Tao. Thank goodness he regularly wears dark colors.]

[ The Daitengu was...

Already on the other side of the gap they were crossing, chalice in hand, as if they'd been waiting for the rest of the group the whole time, despite having been behind them not a moment ago.

It didn't seem like a teleport; rather they'd all felt it, hadn't they? The sudden movement in the otherwise stale air. Could the they really move that fast?

Probably not a great time to question it. The stairs leading to the 88th floor were ahead, and there was still another manifestation between themselves and their goal. It would be a lot harder to sneak up the stairs, but attacking the manifestation would probably only draw the attention of the others. ]

I don't suppose anyone has any ideas... [ The Daitengu whispers. ]

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