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kaisou2023-08-03 04:57 pm
Krusnik Mission Log (CONTENT WARNINGS AHOY)
Krusnik Mission Log
CONTENT WARNINGS: The following log will involve discussions of kidnapping, stalking, child abuse, and human experimentation. Proceed with caution.
So let's take a moment to recap: amongst the numerous groups connected to the paranormal, one of the more infamous ones is Krusnik. For years, Krusnik's name was synminonous with the darkest parts of the world. Known for taking children no one would miss and other such people to do God only knows what to them, they're a group that seemed more like a horror story than anything real. There's been many efforts to try to stamp them out, some more successful than others, but they always managed to slink away into the shadows and survive another day.
In the past, Krusnik didn't usually go stateside. Too much risk, was the theory. However something must have changed, as they've decided to try their luck in Kaisou. Perhaps it was the active Spirit Vein that led them here, or more possible... the otherworlders that no one would think twice about if they disappeared. Gaining their hands on some of those would be a great benefit to Krusnik. And if they happen to get their hands on one or two escaped prisoners in the process...well. So much the better.
Like hell they will.
Thanks to the combined work of many factions and people; the alarms have been sounded. Alba, the researcher who asked for help a few times, has been revealed to actually be Georg Weissmann - a high ranking member of Krusnik. Now it's time to gather the wagons, make sure those vulnerable are protected, and as for Krusnik itself? It's time to root out these demons wearing human-skin once and for all.
Within the CityWhile only one Krusnik member had been identified in July, it turns out there's a sizable crew of them within the city. There's several operatives scattered throughout the city. Alba himself is no where to be found in the city, but plenty of his lackeys are. They primarily target the young (or young looking), though it's possible they may go after some slightly older people if they have particularly strong magical energy. It's never very many of them at a time, usually only one to three, and they seem to be focused in areas with a high concentration of supernaturally inclined people (except, notably, the Zodiac apartments and Cathedral Hill). Usually they will attempt to strike when they think someone is alone or their guard is down, so staying in groups and making sure there's someone keeping constant watch is a good way to deter them.
Though the groups are small, they are dangerous in their own right. All of them have been trained for combat to an extreme amount. Not only that, but they have magical abilities in some form or another, some who may rival the Libra app users thanks to years of experiments done to their bodies. Their modus operandi leans towards using stealth tactics to get the jump on their target. Not wanting to make their presence too known while in the city, they will tend to flee if they're met with a confrontation that'll draw attention. These aren't people who can be reasoned with, as they are nothing short of fullblown fanatics to their cause. Though, if you wish to capture and get information about their operation in the city, certain interrogation methods aren't out of the question.
In HyruleHyrule was a dangerous enough realm on its own, but the presence of Krusnik operatives have heightened that danger even further for some. Just like in Kaisou, they will try to strike potential targets when they see an opening in groups of one to three. Since they are away from the prying eyes of the city, these Krusnik members will be more willing to have more drawn out fights in order to obtain their targets. Most of them are more than willing to fight to the death for their cause and have the combat ability to back that up, so you best be prepared for a challenging fight.
However should you manage to capture some of them alive, it may be possible to obtain information about their operation using interrogation tactics. As it turns out the leader of their operation and the target of the Black Order, Weissman, is in Hyrule itself. He's set up camp at the Coliseum Ruins in the southeastern part of the Hyrule Fields. The Black Order has been ordered to kill him on sight, so that'll be their destination. If there's anyone looking to dissuade them from carrying out their mission, they're going to have a tough argument to sell.
When you arrive there, you'll find that the place is covered in a red sludge that is toxic and painful to the touch. You'll have to do your best to avoid contact with it as much as you can. Once you get into the coliseum itself, well, it turns out Weissmann knew you'd be coming for him. This isn't the first attempt to take him out, after all. So as soon as you step into Coliseum, Weissmann will call down to you from his ledge he's using as his vantage point. Before you can react, he'll cast a spell that conjures an evil-looking eye before everyone who looks upon is magically immobilized. Now that he has a captured audience, he'll go into a full villainous speech mode. From mocking the Black Order's shortcomings, to emphasizing that all Krusnik is doing is trying to unlock humanity's full potential. "You could have the power of gods," he says "But instead you hold yourselves back with pointless barriers you call morals". He'll even callously speak of the "progress" the former victims have made: first lamenting that Johan would give up the power of his possession after failing to control it - a true failed experiment. Subject Zero, he notes, has clearly allowed her growth to stagnant while in the outside world. Kohinata, on the other hand... well, the Water Spirit he possessed himself with was weaker than Weissman would like, but it was still some progress.
When he's finished saying his rage-inducing, sociopathic piece - he'll decide that's time to finish you all off. Not by his hand, but rather the Silver Lynel he found living in these ruins. It's a massive centaur beast, wielding a claymore emitting flames. He'll release it from his spell, which it's now angry enough to charge and attack everyone who are nothing more than sitting ducks while under Weissman's Evil Eye spell.
Fortunately, for those who came prepared, there are ways to counteract the spell. Barrier spells will deflect the spell entirely, and extremely strong willpower stands a chance to make the spell's hold break. And if someone manages to break Weissman's concentration (by say, shooting him)- that'll break the spell entirely. Whatever ways you manage to free yourself from his magic chains, it's now up to you to fight off the Lynel and get to Weissmann. Weissmann himself, caught off guard by the surprise resistance, will use elemental magic to defend himself. How you deal with this man is up to you, but it's clear he'll be a threat as long as he keeps breathing.
Once Weissman and the Hyrule team are dealt with, there is only one more thing that needs to be dealt with: the demon's den that is their base of operations. You can find out information to its location either through interrogating captured agents, tailing their agents, or looking into a trail of breadcrumbs in the form of undertown gossip. Eventually, enough leads will bring you to a cluster of warehouses. Most seem to be just regular warehouses, filled with various stocks for businesses in town and for more illicit business ventures. In the middle of these stands a warehouse which outwardly doesn't seem any different from the others. By design, it is made to fit in, be inconspicuous. The inside, however, is a much different story.
You are not alone, first off. There are plenty of Krusnik goons to fight- who will quickly leap to defend their organization. They will fight back with weapons, elemental abilities, with everything they have. And they will fight tooth and nail. Worse still are other, younger members of Krusnik- former captives who have been beaten down and fully indoctrinated into Krusnik's cause. They will not listen to reason, and they will die for this. There's a couple among them that seem to no longer even have presence of self at all and act more like mindless weapons - results of Weissmann's handiwork, it'd seem. Some are exceptionally powerful- if you have the ability to sense them, you will quickly realize these people have been possessed by monsters and demons. There is no benevolence here. Mercy might not be an option.
The bottom floor of the warehouse is filled with rows upon rows of shipping containers. They all have padlocks and chains around them, but none are currently locked. Opening them, you will find a mattress in the back corner, with chains and shackles bolted to the side of the metal wall. Almost all of them, thankfully, are empty- but there's a few that house the three app users (Takame, Vergil, and Rose) who managed to get grabbed. All three of them are alive, though their harrowing physical and emotional states serve as a stark realization that the horror stories about what Krusnik does to victims are anything but stories.
The upper level of the warehouse has a few rudimentary lab setups. It's clear this isn't anything high-tech or powerful, but the remnants of something that once was. Mismatched equipment can be found everywhere, vials and medical equipment scuffed and cracked- things grabbed in a hurry from a crumbling coalition. It's not all scientific, of course. Ancient tomes line the walls, equally damaged and hodgepodge together. Pages are marked which indicate powerful deities, sheets of notebook paper pushed in amongst the pages, with scribbled theories on the best methods to give a "higher rate of spiritual contact". As any former Krusnik captive could tell you, and as is plane in front of you now, all of the methods are grizzly. Means of pushing a person to the brink of death, to try and induce a possession of a spirit. Ideally, of a god.
The furthest room on the top level is an office. Sitting in a chair is a well-put-together man. He's clearly heard the ruckus of all the fighting but hasn't stepped into the fight himself. He welcomes you with a smooth, relaxed voice, like you've dropped in for a cup of tea and not to root out an evil organization. If given the chance to talk (and oh boy, will he talk) he'll explain he is Philip, he's the second of command of this current operation, and you Libra users have it all wrong. Krusnik is trying to understand the Spirit World, the GODS, better. They are simply reaching out to touch the heavens, to bring this power down to mortal folk. He had memories of a previous life, where this was used to better another world. A lost world. That the touch of a god would give everyone an equal playing field, would rid the world of pain and suffering, why would anyone not want that? He does his best to make kidnapping children and forcing them to become vessels for powerful beings by bringing them to the brink of death a reasonable thing to do. Of course, it's not and you can deal with him as you see fit. Once he realizes you're on the attack, he will lash out- his arms turning into green goop - which he can mold into spikes or just straight-up try and suffocate you with it.
Work together to take this guy out. And make sure you do a thorough job doing it- there's always a chance he might reform if not eliminated completely.
Eventually, once Philip is defeated (be sure to be VERY thorough with taking him out) you can check around the office. There's a computer where the attempts to hack Libra originated from. From the scattered paperwork, they will find candid photos of the escaped Krusnik members- there are also candid photos of current otherworlders, especially the minors. All have scribbled notes, times, days, places- an attempt to work out a routine. The beginnings of a plan to try and capture them.
Further investigation will yield Weissmann's personal logs, as you can always count on the evil scientist types to write down their crimes. Amongst the various records of stomach-churning experiments, unhinged manifestos, and detailed crimes against humanity- they'll gain context to why Krusnik was here of all places. It would seem the previous attacks on Krusnik facilities, those carried out by Abel and Zero, were basically fatal blows to the organization. What is here in Kaisou is the splintered remains of the survivors, trying to start again. There are notes of smaller pocket cells out there in the world- but it's clear this was Krusnik's last attempt to get a foothold and gain power once more. With this crushed, they have no hope of truly resurfacing again.
The last thing in the office is the filing cabinet. Weissmann had the key, so unless you looted it off his body, you'll have to pick the lock. Once inside, you'll be rewards with a treasure trove of documents about the organization. Not just their heinous experiments, but information on who gives them funding, who would help them get new victims, and so on. Perhaps Alba was planning on relying on these contacts again, or was holding onto it for blackmail. Either way, it's a treasure trove of evidence to help pursue justice against those who helped Krusnik. And in the very back of the filing cabinet, there's also a notebook containing information on a glyph Krusnik developed to help conceal their presence throughout the years. Maybe this could come in handy...someday.
With everything explored and dealt with, there's only one left to do: figure out what to do about the warehouse. Maybe it'd be good to alert the proper authorities or the Black Order or Zodiac to figure out--
Oh what you want to burn it? Well... okay, that works too. You did just take out a nefarious cult so...yeah, you can burn this building, as a treat.
OOC Notes
This is the catch-all long for the Krusnik subplot! Should you post about this event outside this log, please remember to use relevant content warnings. The original OOC plotting post for this event can be found here.
I
he'd do it again, too. Over and over if needs be.
He's roughed up himself by the time he fights through to where Takame is being kept. It's nothing compared to the state of his friend, though, and Zulius's stomach lurches uncomfortably as he clatters into the space, skidding to a halt in front of Takame.
He looks over the chained man, at how thin and frail he is. He makes special note of the burns and the anger and fear that's been driving him this far blooms anew.
How fucking dare they.He shifts a little closer, making sure he's in Takame's line of sight. Gently:]
Takame? Hey, can you hear me?
no subject
It worked, clearly. For better or worse.
Takame was a stoic man but even in his daily life something shined in his eyes. Not here. Zulius should be glad for losing his human body, because it was only due to him being a Centaur that Takame had a clue of who was entering.
A fast way to snap him out of his trance. Perhaps in part out of worry as he knew how relatively inept the man was in combat.]
Zulius... Zulius is... that you?
no subject
He's used to Takame being... quiet, withdrawn. That's normal. But this? This is a million, billion miles away from normal. He tries a laugh, to ease his nerves as much as Takame's, but it comes out all hollow and wrong.]
Who else? Have you got other fabulous zebrataurs in your life you haven't told me about?
[He frowns, looking at the shackles. He could try teleporting them out, but he doesn't want to risk injuring Takame even more- he doesn't know if doing so would relase him from the chains or leave body parts behind. Okay, okay, Zulius. Think.]
We're gonna get you out of here, okay?
no subject
As normal, there was no reaction from the Au Ra. With the door having been broken down, it felt as though the boiling heat had subsided in an instant. Like he had resisted it.
And he'd sensed his employer's magic presence where he had no such sense when the door was sealed.
He could do nothing before. But now... he wanted to destroy.]
Where... are Rose and Vittore?
no subject
Zulius has been desperately trying to figure out how to get the shackles off his friend. The only weapon he has is his parasol and that sure won't do the trick. Maybe he could find a key on one if the guards?
His head snaps up at the question. Worry still rolling in his head for all of them, even though:]
They're both out. They're...not okay. Super not okay. But they're safe now. Was it just you three? No one else?
...I need to get something to get these chains off.
no subject
He learned something in one of those fight for your life Labyrinths. A power he had acquired, clearly quite recently.
Sparks jumped from the sides of his mouth, turning to plumes of smoke and then full embers.]
Stand back.
[Much like the dragon he was forced to transform into, he finally looked up with sheer fury in his eyes and flames spewing from his mouth as deep red lines formed in the patterns of his scales. He aimed for the chains that bound him, continuing to blow fire and pulling at them until they melted down enough for him to snap free.
With one hand free, his claws were able to make short work of the other chain to free both.
It was then Zulius got a direct view of this raging dragon known as Kesi Takame.]
I will kill them all. No Krusnik agent will be left alive when I am done. Nothing of this fucking hellscape will be left.
no subject
He watches his friend's display of power with no small amount of wonder. Quite literally, hot damn. Takame gets the hell out of his chains like they were made out of butter.]
...Well. That's new.
[He knows what Krusnik are about and it makes him a little worried if this means they were sucessful in trying to get his friend possessed. He figures that's a later thing to deal with. Once they're out of here.]
Okey dokey. [He wouldn't even try to deny hid buddy some much deserved vengeance. ] with you on that one, for once. There might still be some that aren't dead. Maybe. But we can totes torch the place.
no subject
With all my breath they will never operate here again... [All this anger and he could barely stand, but he would keep trying. He would stumble, his legs would give out but he would force himself to.
Because the pain was mental. No. He truly and genuinely did not feel it at all right now.] Whoever dares to try will DIE BY MY HAND.
no subject
Okay. So I am with you on the crater thing and wiping them off the face of the earth. Great points. Good points. Let's do it.
[He raises a finger.]
Buuuut can you please be checked out by a healer first? Because uh- you look like you could. Probably use that. Maybe some water? We can get you some water.
no subject
Even as he spoke his legs gave out and he forced himself to stand again.]
They have our belongings somewhere... Mine... Rose's... Vittore's... Things they have no fucking right to have.
I won't... I can't... not until I've found everything. [And killed every single one of them. But he also hasn't had good water in a long, long time and looked visibly dehydrated so maybe the water was a fair bed.
Sorry Zulius, he's a bit...]
no subject
Sure, yep. Absolutely not entitled to anyone's things. Let's get them back, but Honey, Sweetie, Babycakes, you look like you're about to collapse. Please can you have a drink of water, just for me? And then sure, we can go getting all the stuff back and committing all the casual arson in the world.
[He will support your murder and arson desires this once.]
But let's hydrate first, 'kay?