antumbrac | THE FINAL CONFRONTATION

THE FINAL CONFRONTATION

[It's time.

Once everything has gathered, perhaps they feel as prepared as they can be under these circumstances. Behind that door lays the place where things will end. The door opens easily, giving them access to the most important place underneath Krakow.

It's a rather large chamber, carved in the rock, but on the far end it feels like someone decorated the place to give it a very mystical vibe. A polished stone staircase leads to what seems to be a very large, glowing gate. It's being assaulted by an uninterrupted beam of volatile energy. Its origin is visible: a large, imposing laser machine, where all the tubes and wires are connected to. Right beside it, there's a coffin-shaped machine, the antenna blinking intermittently. Looks like it's on! But is it doing anything right now?

And, standing there with your backs to you, are the two people who have caused you so much grief and pain during the last month and a half. They're standing some distance away from the gate. Throughout the room are a few rocks that could serve as cover, as well as a pillar or two, but do you intend to hide? Regardless, looks like your intrusion didn't go unnoticed]

You all are so noisy.

[The door opening seems to have alerted her of your presence, yup. The Lady turns around. She doesn't have her half-mask anymore. The eye that's usually under it has a summoning circle carved onto it, shining so noticeably it can be seen even from the other side of the chamber. To her hip there's a sword, and her hand goes to a weapon a couple people may be familiar with: the marshmallow gun...with modifications. That sure is the fire-spewing trombone attached onto it. It's all pretty dangerous-looking yet still ridiculous. ]

Welcome, everyone, to the secret of this world. In here--why are there cats here?

[She blinks, puzzled. A good sign! Looks like, despite everything she has done and worked on, there's still room to catch her off guard in many ways!

The Lady shakes her head]

If you're down here it means you have been snooping around, haven't you? I'm sure this isn't the only place you sneaked into. My, darlings, that's naughty of you. All you had to do was stay on the surface and do nothing, and you could have the happy ending you wanted. Now, since you have seen more than I intended, I have no more option but to kill you. You can only blame yourselves, darlings.

[The Lady glances back at the gate, pensive, for just a moment before slapping a grin on her face]

My followers call me their Lady. My priestesses their Goddess. Everyone else calls me...the Other, for...some reason. [She doesn't seem terribly fond of that moniker.] But you all can just call me Lucrezia. And this here is my servant, Rembrandt as you well know by now. [She turns to him to add:] Oh, feel free to strike fear into their hearts by undoing your current form. The charade is over.

Now, have you all grasped the truth of this project?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Definitely going to look at all of these... hm. ]

There was a large antenna in the workshop in the mines as well, which didn't seem to fit onto the door machine there. Maybe it was from an earlier iteration of this one.

[ And as for the reports... yes, that does indeed sound like a cliche villain declaration. That aside, is that person helping on the Twilight side one of the "guardians of this world" mentioned here? ]

Interesting that half of the file ended up that far from the hotel.

If it was an earlier design, perhaps it could match the schematics I found. I'm not entirely certain what the last one is supposed to be, but it looks like Rembrandt is present there.

She may have been working on the files underground, while they were digging. Her last one may have been fairly recent.

[ Considering her grandstanding at the beginning of the week... ]

It might not fit, but they could be connected still. Why would you need an antenna on a coffin with a doll? To program them?

[ A coffin is also... an interesting box for them. ]

If it's the same as that schematic Iago has, it may be for some sort of... soul transmission or something, I suppose, for putting a soul into an empty vessel.

The false you...

[ Tapping his own face. ]

This is just a theory, but it would explain why I still had the fresh gun shot wounds despite being here for much longer.

Maybe we aren't in our actual bodies in the Night.

...What do you mean?

She can hop bodies and has done research on brains. She also wanted to find a way to stay in the Night to keep her plans from being interrupted.

If we assume people can't normally stay here, then she must have found a work-around for that. Maybe she only sent our minds here?

[ There's a pause as he looks at Rean, trying to read his expression. ]

[ Rean's expression was difficult to read at the moment—but he's never been the best at hiding his emotions. It showed in his eyes, that burning determination. ]

Then, you think she has our real bodies elsewhere?

[ He's glad he's determined. Relaxing a little as he nods. ]

They might still be in the Day.

What use would only minds be? A mind does not make a soul. [ Butting in because sometimes he can't help himself when it comes to fine dining. ]

So it's the minds and the souls. [ A beat as he looks at Remmy ] How do our souls look to you now that we've been providing power to the Lady with them? Are we still just as tasty?

Incorrect. [ The second question distracts him though. ]

I have no interest in the majority of you.

[ Just souls then. That's interesting. Unless he's really missing something here. ]

I am curious, but I don't want to worry anyone who does catch your fancy.

[ Since it's about teef and wiggling eels being into them. ]

Are you enjoying the show?

One of them seems as unflappable as ever. [ That probably says enough in itself. ]

I've seen worse, but I do my best not to judge until the curtain calls.