piles you all in the cyoa jalopy, alright let's go!!!
when the group is through with their investigations and have chewed over their findings, they can proceed towards the plant... a large concrete mass that is windowless, old grooves around the face of the building indicating that maybe, maybe they once had them. maybe, there was once a mote of freedom.
the flecks of dark detritus from earlier seem to be congregating here, like a group of flies hovering over a corpse. an enormous person who makes io look quite small, stares down at the group, one hand on an enormous lever. they wear a dark mask over their face, though there is a grate where their eyes are visible, making them look as if they are in more of a prison (ironically) than a helm. ]
Disturb nothing. Touch nothing. Take nothing.
[ that's all the foreman says. the doors scream open, wailing even might be a better term, until they slam fully apart, revealing the lightless path before you. upon entering the dark of a building, you are all greeted by an absolute cacophony.
the sounds of cutting, the sounds of water, the sounds of labor.
the doors close with the same heaviness, shuddering to a final close. the tell-tale signs of someone bolting the doors behind the group are audible.
if one thing is certain, it is that this place hates you. the dim light, the glassy eyes gazing your way from tired, hungry faces, the severity of stone and earth. it hates you in a way that only the blind tonnage of concrete and humid air can have. it hates your living blood, it hates the way that the warmth of sunshine still lingers on your skin.
the people inside of this building focus on you all for a few more moments, stopping in their carrying of baskets and buckets, packages of what look to be ruby-red glistening meat, and more. each of them wears a long chain around their necks. they stare, a few moments longer before they disperse and go on about their day... so you can assume.
there are two directions to go immediately from here, where these workers-slash-prisoners file through no other paths seem to be available... to the right, there is a long, dark hallway with a ceiling that tapers higher and higher the further you go in, or a precarious-looking set of stairs that lead upwards. ]
Lot of ground to cover in only the time we have...
[ does this mean you'll need to split your party? maybe that's exactly what it means. especially if you want to cover more ground quickly. considering the oppressive nature of this place... the way it starts to crawl beneath your skin, ... well. what say you? ]
[ well. this is unpleasant, isn't it! honestly, there's nothing that unusual about walking into a building and feeling like it hates you - that's just the sacred guard's headquarters - but the atmosphere is downright oppressive.
temenos has his hand curled loosely around his staff, currently being utilized like a walking stick, and it tightens a little as they approach, though his expression and posture have not moved an inch. internally, he feels for the spark of his magic, lets the reminder of it humming through his veins bolster his already strong confidence. alright. here we go.
he glances to the long, dark hallway, and looks at charles and shoma. ]
Be careful. [ softly - a more concerned glance at shoma, and then a silent "take care of him" look for charles. trusting! but also that's the baby. and then he glances back to keith. ]
[ downright oppressive is right. this isn't very unlike the galra cruisers he's stepped foot on or even more so the work camps he's been in. people working day in and day out, under horrible conditions... this place sucks.
he keeps his blade concealed, like advised in the very beginning, but still where he can easily reach it for when things go south. ]
Watch each other's backs out there. [ giving charles and shoma a nod. then turning to io. ]
What are you going to do? Come with one of us or is choose your own path?
[ and then whatever his response is... just gives temenos a nod. ]
Let's get in and out, this place gives me the creeps.
[ you go to the right, down a long dark tunnel where it seems rather dark at first, but soon you can see a few figures up ahead, who are hauling pails of water, the liquid sloshing onto the ground here and there, where the run off is grimy and pink-tinged, bloody.
two large figures are working at two oblong stone slabs with grooves in the center of them. they are wheezing heavily as they work at sharpening two long, thick blades against another stone, the scraping sound rising high like a shriek. there's a sound not far beyond them, where you can see the swinging heads of long-horned cattle, who are leashed.
not far from the slabs... is an enormous pit, black, strange.
the two figures will pause when you enter, but just seem curious as to why you are here. ]
[ oh, that's awful. temenos would love a little light, but alas. he walks carefully, trying to avoid stepping into any puddles, not at all flinching at the shrieking awful noise of the scrape, but frowning slightly. hm. unpleasant.
he looks from the pit (why is there a PIT) over to the other two, and dips his head in polite greeting. it seems like they've already been noticed...? ]
Hello, to the both of you. [ so might as well just Go At It ] We're representatives of the Survey Corps. Perhaps you'd like a moment to catch your breath?
temenos can indeed take care to avoid the less-than-pleasant puddles, and his approach is... well. it's straightforward and to the point. as they arrive, the two figures slowly lower their tools, though they do not release them. there's a loud stomping noise from where the cattle are kept, and not long after, a low, slow rumble, the source of which is... well. it's hard to say.
the two figures don't seem to mind. they are both wearing dark leather aprons, with their own masks, though they are made of cloth it seems. a poor substitute in comparison to what you have, though you both can hear your respirators working away at the thick, strange air in here. they're working harder than they were outside.
the first one: "rare that inspectors want to talk with us."
then the second, who is moving slowly towards the cattle pen in the far back: "they don't pay us to talk." ]
anyway once they speak, he nods, politely straightening back up. the respirator feeling is unpleasant, but he leans on his staff a little and tries to ignore it for the moment, giving off his usual - relaxed, confident, calm. ]
Rare, but hopefully no less welcome. I promise we won't take up much of your time.
[ are they wearing the chains, too? ] There are some matters we'd like your opinion on.
that's it, that's the energy here. when all of them enter the plant and the doors rattle behind them, he immediately feels the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and he's gradually scooting closer and closer to everybody else. at least in the first anomaly the atmosphere was a little more familiar and open. this feels...stifling. and terrifying, actually, and he looks around as they walk through to get a sense of the plant. it's a weird feeling, a kind of oppressiveness he hasn't felt in some time with their empty and judgmental gazes. the meat makes him recoil just slightly, and when they reach the point where the paths split he stops.
and then there's the suggestion of splitting the party, and he shivers a little. ]
...stairs it is. [ as temenos and keith begin to head down the hall, he turns to look at charles. ] Ready?
[he places his hand on shoma's shoulder, if shoma doesn't seem averse to it. either way, he gives him a reassuring smile, despite the way his own skin crawls.]
[ you go to the left, following some people wearing brown leather suits, a couple of them holding baskets in their arms. the stairs are steep, uneven, and they swerve a little to the left or right when you least expect it. you should be careful as you climb...
at a glance, there are workers up here who are tanning hides here with barely acceptable ventilation. the air is astringent and sharp, and despite the rebreathers, you can still feel the faint sting. everyone in this room is wearing a mask, though they only fit over nose and mouth, and seem to be makeshift at best. they are all coughing and clearly feverish and glassy-eyed and clustering together here. a woman is hunched over a big tub in a crouch, just quietly scrubbing away at a hide. a man is sat in a corner with a bundle in his arms, rocking back and forth slowly.
[ he hates this, frankly, and he's a little jumpy as they head up and the stairs trip him up every now and then. as their climb, and once they reach an opening to where they can see the workers, he steps to the side so they can observe for now. he observes the movements of these workers, frowning softly as he squints against the stinging of his eyes. ]
...do you think they'll actually talk to us if we approach them? [ it's mumbled quietly as to not draw attention, though he's trying to see what the bundle in this man's arms is. ]
shoma tries to see what's in the man's arms - it's a bundle of cloth, and upon closer examination from where he is at the moment, it does look a little... baby shaped. he keeps rocking it and shushing the bundle, rocking and shushing almost rhythmically to the scrubbing of a hide against a tub.
charles will approach and that motion will slow as glazed over eyes glance upwards at him. charles, you can feel the hiss of your helmet and respirator working now, really working. the atmosphere out there is bearable (barely) but bearable. but in here? in here there is something wrong... ]
[ oh this is incredibly depressing, thank you. he's following along to charles, but since he's dealing with the man he'll just as slowly approach the woman to get a look at the tub and the hide she's working on.
does it seem like she's losing strength the longer she's doing this? also...i don't...like asking but this looks like cow hide, right? ]
[ the area is rumbling, groaning, crumbling just beyond the gaping hole of a hallway, your groups will be reunited, io bringing up the rear with an awful clanking noise, but at least you're all... whole. maybe. temenos' holy light that he's conjured to the top of his staff is beautiful, warm beacon, something signaling familiarity, guidance, warmth of some kind because this place is become cold, so very cold.
and very meaty. and bloody. there's viscera everywhere, charles and shoma, and two large, stone slabs that are bloody and messy. there's a decapitated head of a girl on the ground... the girl from the missing person's report. it's... rough-looking in here, man.
shoma, charles, the both of you have had a bit of acid damage, and as such... you'll find that it's begun to eat away at you bit by bit, some burns have become worse than others, and a feverishness might accompany it.
temenos, keith, your injuries are really smarting in here, and the damage to you seems... well. despite the small heal gun mutual blastie, your wounds... itch. badly. a feverishness might accompany it.
in here, in this moment...
it might be a good time for a party heal of some capacity.
[ anyway. we are here. we are covered in blood and gore, again. charles and shoma really have to stop bonding like this, actually, but the two of them and io come stumbling into this area at top speeds, and only seem to come to a stop when they reach the light and have outraced whatever the fuck that was.
he stops, good arm leaning against a wall for a second and it's obvious he's trying not to be sick as the putrid air continues filtering into his cracked helmet. the other arm has taken a hit, acid eating away at his sleeve and into his skin, burns deeper toward his hand and wrist than the top. his head's spinning a little, and everything hurts after falling down an entire flight of stairs but that doesn't seem to be enough to distract him.
why is there a decapitated girl. why is this room also covered in blood and meat. oh my god this is literally the worst, actually, and he takes a breath to try and recover for five seconds. ]
...everybody okay? [ besides all of us being battered, dying and overheating. ]
[charles is looking a little sick himself because everything fckin sucks, and the front of his suit is fairly melted off, but.
he looks at the decapitated head and winces, before looking elsewhere. not that anywhere here is great to look at. he glances down at himself, and sighs.]
And I'd just mostly healed from the last burns too...
[ coming to meet the three of them, looking them all over with a wince. ]
So it was you three making all the noise. The stairs really did a number on you guys.
[ warned you about the stairs bro.
kosmo comes to fuss at each of them, not caring about the nasty. he's limping a little bit and looks like he's been through it. keith meanwhile is bleeding from his face and shoulder, helmet long gone somewhere. ]
We need to get you healed up, first, but what was it you all were running from?
[ temenos looks warily at the collapsing concrete and ceiling once everyone is all settled in the terrible meat room, looking between charles and shoma and their suits and their burns. welcome to the awful meat room! ]
We've some bad news on the front of our missing girl. [ nodding to each... temenos is also bleeding from the shoulder and the face (matchies) though less so after being jabbed with the heal gun, and it's about to be less in a minute. ] I'm glad you're all in one piece - here.
[ he sets his hand back on his staff, closes his eyes. ] Be healed.
[ and enjoy a heal wounds spell! in the dim darkness of the Awful Meat Room, it lets out a soft green glow, washing over injuries with a warm, magic cleric's light. it's not a full heal by any means, but it's pretty strong. ]
Pretty sure we have bad news on our end, too. [ he's a little shaken by everything, but then there's a healing spell.
it helps, at least. in that he feels a little less like he was hit by a truck and he slides down to sit on the floor with a quiet "thank you." whatever. we're already covered in blood, who cares. ]
[he flexes his arm a bit, adjusting to the semi-healed state. unlike shoma, he elects to remain standing, although he wasn't as injured as shoma to begin with. probably the best of the group, tbh.]
Long story short, we found the owner's son. The bad news is that he and everyone turned into some kind of flesh monster integrated with the plant that chased us. Io too, from another direction.
Also saw some familiar faces used against us, so that's fun and something to watch out for.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
— WITHIN WITHOUT (an open wound as a window)
ENTER: THE PROCESSING PLANT.
piles you all in the cyoa jalopy, alright let's go!!!
when the group is through with their investigations and have chewed over their findings, they can proceed towards the plant... a large concrete mass that is windowless, old grooves around the face of the building indicating that maybe, maybe they once had them. maybe, there was once a mote of freedom.
the flecks of dark detritus from earlier seem to be congregating here, like a group of flies hovering over a corpse. an enormous person who makes io look quite small, stares down at the group, one hand on an enormous lever. they wear a dark mask over their face, though there is a grate where their eyes are visible, making them look as if they are in more of a prison (ironically) than a helm. ]
[ that's all the foreman says. the doors scream open, wailing even might be a better term, until they slam fully apart, revealing the lightless path before you. upon entering the dark of a building, you are all greeted by an absolute cacophony.
the sounds of cutting, the sounds of water, the sounds of labor.
the doors close with the same heaviness, shuddering to a final close. the tell-tale signs of someone bolting the doors behind the group are audible.
if one thing is certain, it is that this place hates you. the dim light, the glassy eyes gazing your way from tired, hungry faces, the severity of stone and earth. it hates you in a way that only the blind tonnage of concrete and humid air can have. it hates your living blood, it hates the way that the warmth of sunshine still lingers on your skin.
the people inside of this building focus on you all for a few more moments, stopping in their carrying of baskets and buckets, packages of what look to be ruby-red glistening meat, and more. each of them wears a long chain around their necks. they stare, a few moments longer before they disperse and go on about their day... so you can assume.
there are two directions to go immediately from here, where these workers-slash-prisoners file through no other paths seem to be available... to the right, there is a long, dark hallway with a ceiling that tapers higher and higher the further you go in, or a precarious-looking set of stairs that lead upwards. ]
Lot of ground to cover in only the time we have...
[ does this mean you'll need to split your party? maybe that's exactly what it means. especially if you want to cover more ground quickly. considering the oppressive nature of this place... the way it starts to crawl beneath your skin, ... well. what say you? ]
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temenos has his hand curled loosely around his staff, currently being utilized like a walking stick, and it tightens a little as they approach, though his expression and posture have not moved an inch. internally, he feels for the spark of his magic, lets the reminder of it humming through his veins bolster his already strong confidence. alright. here we go.
he glances to the long, dark hallway, and looks at charles and shoma. ]
Be careful. [ softly - a more concerned glance at shoma, and then a silent "take care of him" look for charles. trusting! but also that's the baby. and then he glances back to keith. ]
Well. Shall we?
[ time to hunt for clues. ]
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he keeps his blade concealed, like advised in the very beginning, but still where he can easily reach it for when things go south. ]
Watch each other's backs out there. [ giving charles and shoma a nod. then turning to io. ]
What are you going to do? Come with one of us or is choose your own path?
[ and then whatever his response is... just gives temenos a nod. ]
Let's get in and out, this place gives me the creeps.
ENTER: STAGE RIGHT
two large figures are working at two oblong stone slabs with grooves in the center of them. they are wheezing heavily as they work at sharpening two long, thick blades against another stone, the scraping sound rising high like a shriek. there's a sound not far beyond them, where you can see the swinging heads of long-horned cattle, who are leashed.
not far from the slabs... is an enormous pit, black, strange.
the two figures will pause when you enter, but just seem curious as to why you are here. ]
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he looks from the pit (why is there a PIT) over to the other two, and dips his head in polite greeting. it seems like they've already been noticed...? ]
Hello, to the both of you. [ so might as well just Go At It ] We're representatives of the Survey Corps. Perhaps you'd like a moment to catch your breath?
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keith looking from the two hauling pails, noting the grimy bloody water. then to the pit... why a pit. (probably for bodies or something)
he stops, kosmo watching these two closely. keith nods alongside temenos. ]
Sorry to bother you, while you're at work.
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temenos can indeed take care to avoid the less-than-pleasant puddles, and his approach is... well. it's straightforward and to the point. as they arrive, the two figures slowly lower their tools, though they do not release them. there's a loud stomping noise from where the cattle are kept, and not long after, a low, slow rumble, the source of which is... well. it's hard to say.
the two figures don't seem to mind. they are both wearing dark leather aprons, with their own masks, though they are made of cloth it seems. a poor substitute in comparison to what you have, though you both can hear your respirators working away at the thick, strange air in here. they're working harder than they were outside.
the first one: "rare that inspectors want to talk with us."
then the second, who is moving slowly towards the cattle pen in the far back: "they don't pay us to talk." ]
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anyway once they speak, he nods, politely straightening back up. the respirator feeling is unpleasant, but he leans on his staff a little and tries to ignore it for the moment, giving off his usual - relaxed, confident, calm. ]
Rare, but hopefully no less welcome. I promise we won't take up much of your time.
[ are they wearing the chains, too? ] There are some matters we'd like your opinion on.
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what kind of tools are they holding? also what condition do these two look to be in...]
Your cooperation would be greatly appreciated. [ he's not as good at talking as tem, but he's gonna do his best. ]
What are your two's duty, here?
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that's it, that's the energy here. when all of them enter the plant and the doors rattle behind them, he immediately feels the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and he's gradually scooting closer and closer to everybody else. at least in the first anomaly the atmosphere was a little more familiar and open. this feels...stifling. and terrifying, actually, and he looks around as they walk through to get a sense of the plant. it's a weird feeling, a kind of oppressiveness he hasn't felt in some time with their empty and judgmental gazes. the meat makes him recoil just slightly, and when they reach the point where the paths split he stops.
and then there's the suggestion of splitting the party, and he shivers a little. ]
...stairs it is. [ as temenos and keith begin to head down the hall, he turns to look at charles. ] Ready?
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Yeah, ready. Onto the adventure!
ENTER: STAGE LEFT
at a glance, there are workers up here who are tanning hides here with barely acceptable ventilation. the air is astringent and sharp, and despite the rebreathers, you can still feel the faint sting. everyone in this room is wearing a mask, though they only fit over nose and mouth, and seem to be makeshift at best. they are all coughing and clearly feverish and glassy-eyed and clustering together here. a woman is hunched over a big tub in a crouch, just quietly scrubbing away at a hide. a man is sat in a corner with a bundle in his arms, rocking back and forth slowly.
what to do... what to do. ]
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...do you think they'll actually talk to us if we approach them? [ it's mumbled quietly as to not draw attention, though he's trying to see what the bundle in this man's arms is. ]
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... Might as well try.
[starts approaching the man slowly...]
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shoma tries to see what's in the man's arms - it's a bundle of cloth, and upon closer examination from where he is at the moment, it does look a little... baby shaped. he keeps rocking it and shushing the bundle, rocking and shushing almost rhythmically to the scrubbing of a hide against a tub.
charles will approach and that motion will slow as glazed over eyes glance upwards at him. charles, you can feel the hiss of your helmet and respirator working now, really working. the atmosphere out there is bearable (barely) but bearable. but in here? in here there is something wrong... ]
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does it seem like she's losing strength the longer she's doing this? also...i don't...like asking but this looks like cow hide, right? ]
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he glances down at the baby-shaped bundle, before back at the man's eyes.]
... Sir?
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EXEUNT: STAGE RIGHT
and very meaty. and bloody. there's viscera everywhere, charles and shoma, and two large, stone slabs that are bloody and messy. there's a decapitated head of a girl on the ground... the girl from the missing person's report. it's... rough-looking in here, man.
shoma, charles, the both of you have had a bit of acid damage, and as such... you'll find that it's begun to eat away at you bit by bit, some burns have become worse than others, and a feverishness might accompany it.
temenos, keith, your injuries are really smarting in here, and the damage to you seems... well. despite the small heal gun mutual blastie, your wounds... itch. badly. a feverishness might accompany it.
in here, in this moment...
it might be a good time for a party heal of some capacity.
take your respite, full party. ]
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he stops, good arm leaning against a wall for a second and it's obvious he's trying not to be sick as the putrid air continues filtering into his cracked helmet. the other arm has taken a hit, acid eating away at his sleeve and into his skin, burns deeper toward his hand and wrist than the top. his head's spinning a little, and everything hurts after falling down an entire flight of stairs but that doesn't seem to be enough to distract him.
why is there a decapitated girl. why is this room also covered in blood and meat. oh my god this is literally the worst, actually, and he takes a breath to try and recover for five seconds. ]
...everybody okay? [ besides all of us being battered, dying and overheating. ]
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he looks at the decapitated head and winces, before looking elsewhere. not that anywhere here is great to look at. he glances down at himself, and sighs.]
And I'd just mostly healed from the last burns too...
[damn. he gives everyone a wry smile.]
Well, glad we're all still alive.
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So it was you three making all the noise. The stairs really did a number on you guys.
[ warned you about the stairs bro.
kosmo comes to fuss at each of them, not caring about the nasty. he's limping a little bit and looks like he's been through it. keith meanwhile is bleeding from his face and shoulder, helmet long gone somewhere. ]
We need to get you healed up, first, but what was it you all were running from?
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We've some bad news on the front of our missing girl. [ nodding to each... temenos is also bleeding from the shoulder and the face (matchies) though less so after being jabbed with the heal gun, and it's about to be less in a minute. ] I'm glad you're all in one piece - here.
[ he sets his hand back on his staff, closes his eyes. ] Be healed.
[ and enjoy a heal wounds spell! in the dim darkness of the Awful Meat Room, it lets out a soft green glow, washing over injuries with a warm, magic cleric's light. it's not a full heal by any means, but it's pretty strong. ]
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it helps, at least. in that he feels a little less like he was hit by a truck and he slides down to sit on the floor with a quiet "thank you." whatever. we're already covered in blood, who cares. ]
But Charles can update you.
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[he flexes his arm a bit, adjusting to the semi-healed state. unlike shoma, he elects to remain standing, although he wasn't as injured as shoma to begin with. probably the best of the group, tbh.]
Long story short, we found the owner's son. The bad news is that he and everyone turned into some kind of flesh monster integrated with the plant that chased us. Io too, from another direction.
Also saw some familiar faces used against us, so that's fun and something to watch out for.
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