Krusnik Mission Log (CONTENT WARNINGS AHOY)

[kaisoumods]

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 City

While 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 Hyrule

Hyrule 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.

The Base

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.

Aftermath

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.

Comments

[medicgunner]

Fuck off, Arsehole! [Eunie may have let the man have his speech, but even she had enough of his bullshit after not too long.]

No one wants the kinda power you're giving, only people as awful as you and we don't need another goddamn one of 'em! [She was sick of him. Sick of his face, sick of his stupid Evil Eye power that didn't work a lick on her with Oberon combined with Zhongli's power. At the edge of her tone her voice started to crack. This was too familiar, too much like what some of the fucking Consuls wanted, throwing people's lives away for what they wanted and not giving a shit about other people's lives...!]

You're not getting away from us again. I'm not gonna let Ash and the other's hope for the future die. Their hopes are riding on us so I ain't afraid of you!

[Said setting turning her rod around to aim the rifle side straight at this worthless bastard.]

For their sake, we're not just gonna stop you. We're gonna kill you.

[kanka]

One would think he'd have known better to talk this long with us here.

[There is a sharpness to Ayato's tone that does not show itself often, if at all. It was reserved for rare cases in his previous life, mostly as he was not a man who took to violence unless necessary. But here, now, there is no other path but the one Weissmann has now chosen for his end, his own grave.

There would be no more innocents taken, no more torture and anger and sorrow. As a Hinoki- no, a Kamisato- Ayato's patience and his kindness in a matter such as this have long since disappeared. Before them all is not a man, but a monster. It brings back the bitter and horrid memory of that night, the vampire easily having his clutches on his sister's mind, forcing Ayato to leave the same room against his will. The aftermath of locking him inside his own body, powerless to do anything except be trapped for what felt like an eternity. Those are not people, but vile things that prey upon others for their own needs.

The meteor forms above Weissmann and Ayato's gaze goes up, one hand shifting to Haran Geppaku Futsu's hilt as it forms automatically by his side. There are suspicions being reconfirmed as the meteor drops, dust and debris pushing forth, but it's not that simple. It couldn't be.

Sure enough- the sound of whizzing and whirring darts out of the mess and Weissmann has his mechanical little robots immediately honing in on the group. Zhongli's shield may be enough to stop the Evil Eye, but in order to keep it up and running, it leaves the god a prime target as he has to focus on that.

That is not how this goes, or how it will end. Ayato will not let them touch his teammates if he can help it.]

Allow me.

[There's a water replica of himself that remains as he steps back, paused in time as the automations zoom, lasers ready to fire. The second they come close enough, the replica explodes, causing one of the machines to somersault in the air and careen right off course. The other ones don't get much of a chance to fire, as Ayato barely moves beyond what looks like a flicker of a stance, and sword strikes imbued with water attempt to strike away their potential attackers.]

He's prepared, I see. [A beat, but he doesn't even sound phased. They are here with a purpose, and this time, it will be done.]

[eiternity]

[Many of the Black Order members have seen Ei Inazuma before. But few have seen Raiden Ei. Tonight, any trace of Ei's typical "Ei-ness" is gone. No sweatsuit. No penchant for snacking on fast food. In a former life, Ei was divinity. And today, it shows.]

[She's come today in a more traditional kimono, and the look on her face is serious. Weissman, you done fucked up.]

The head that wears the crown of divinity is heavy indeed. Those who have experienced it would not wish it on their worst enemy--and yet you would don it willingly?

[She lays her naginata to the side. Raiden Ei is serious.]

To act as a god is to be responsible for those under you. To carry the weight of their hopes and dreams. And yet you--you have no regard for people's lives. For their wishes. For their dreams. You are a fool.

[The air around her starts to spark, and the other members of the Black Order may notice static in the air. For Zhongli and Ayato, they likely know what's about to happen. For Eunie, good luck.]

And you will be judged by thunder incarnate.

[With that, Ei pulls out a sword, electrifying the area around her. All of the robots that Ayato hit off course are now struck. Hopefully this gives them an opening.]

[lapislazily]

[This is what a team feels like. Zhongli isn't at his full power even now, so knowing that the people at his side will cover for his weaknesses—such as being exposed while shielding everyone—is a great comfort. Unfortunately the petrify on his meteor only lasts for a moment, but it's a long enough moment to allow everyone else to attack. Of course this guy could take a meteor to the face... of course.

There's a reason he used to drop mountains on people instead, but there's too much collateral damage involved with a move like that now. No. This was not the time for heroics but for teamwork, for a display of solidarity... as he told Jun.

And there are few things more terrifying than seasoned fighters, gods among them, linking arms against the night.

The machines fire lasers when they aren't being targeted enough to have their aim knocked off course. But the lasers find Zhongli's jade barrier waiting for them, and they bounce off harmlessly. He knows he'll need to refresh the barrier soon, and when that happens, everyone will be defenseless for a moment—but he's pretty sure he can outlast the Evil Eye until that time, as long as the others take care of the hits. Thankfully, everyone else seems to be focused on creating an opening.

A machine falls, and then the other three, leaving Weissmann to conjure up his own defenses. He laughs as he's clearly enjoying this. With the residual static cracking in the air, he gathers his own spell to him and casts Thunder of Justice, summoning his own barrage of lightning down upon the group and temporarily sealing & silencing anyone who happens to have stepped outside of the barrier.

He also waves his hands and conjures more machines out of seemingly nowhere, but it'll take a moment for them to activate, because this is a turn based game.]

Everyone! Forward!

[PLEASE DISTRACT THIS MOTHERFUCKER SO ZHONGLI CAN REFRESH HIS SHIELD]

[medicgunner]

[What the hell, Ei too? You know what, it didn't matter. She was here on healing duty but she'll be damned if she wasn't gonna get her shots in too. The lightning from Ei didn't make her falter, though granted it did make sheer bafflement cross her expression for a moment.

He's got more cronies and Eunie can take them out at range with her rifle while keeping everyone patched up. And staying as close as was smart to the front.]

Got it, Ei, Ayato, give him hell! [Said planting a circular field within range of Weissman enough that the two could get hits off on him and feeling more powered up as they did to boot. With these cool steam punk wings she's got she had just as much time to fly back out of range to prepare to take pot shots at the other machines.]

[kanka]

[There's only a brief nod at this, Ayato moving his eyes towards the newly made machines, and his eyes sharpen. Looking to his side, and then ahead, he feels his anger rise at the thought of this man easily causing so much harm with no care for the damage he'd bring to others.

Weissmann is a man that must be stopped, and quickly.]

Eunie, if you can fire and keep them occupied when possible at range, we'll be able to focus on whittling down what defenses he has.

[The other member by his side, a familiar figure from his past. If he's nervous or uncomfortable around her at all, it no longer shows.]

Allow me to say it is an honor to fight alongside you, Shogun.

[Something he never did before, even as a Kamisato. But Ei was an incredibly powerful figure back then, as Raiden Shogun, and he is not one to deny this fact. Haran Geppaku Futsu is raised parallel to his shoulder, one foot placed forward even as he tenses in anticipation of the incoming attack.

As soon as anything gets close enough, it's going to rain blades.]

[eiternity]

[Ei turns towards Ayato and nods. This isn’t the time for niceties, but she manages a small smile nonetheless. It is good to have companions. It is good to have allies.]

Likewise.

[With the covering fire, Ei chooses to move in. She can’t deal with the robots forever, and Weissman needs to be dealt with. Anyone who would show such disdain for his people does not deserve to live.]

[She turns and nods to the others before rushing forward. As she moves forward, several red spears appear from the ground. For someone who has been extremely shut in for many years, she’s extremely quick on her feet, weaving in and out. Unfortunately, this means that there’s less attention paid to the robots, so she can only hope the covering fire from the others is enough.]

[lapislazily]

[This... is a good team. He watches the battlefield with a careful eye, thinking about all the times he and his allies had laid siege to the enemies of Liyue together. This is not Liyue, but these are his companions and they march in defense of the people.

It looks like they have a plan. The Evil Eye dissipates. At that precise moment, Zhongli temporarily drops the shield. Before Weissmann can take advantage of the opening, Zhongli advances and conjures another one at full strength to cover Ayato and Ei as they move forward. Eunie appears to be doing her own thing, and she ought to be resistant to the effects anyway.

At this point the robots activate and try to shower the others with lasers. Anyone in the barrier should be safe from that barrage, but they can probably be dodged if agile enough. More importantly, the robots should be falling again if they're attacked. Sometimes it pays to be a Black Order Guardian with combat experience and power.]

[medicgunner]

Don't gotta tell me twice, I'll keep the backline strong. [Eunie's own thing was still beneficial to the team. She could not only take to the skies but also destroy any of those annoying little flying things with a strong ether round whenever they show up.

Her eyes were everywhere on the field, the effective medic she was. Any hard hit taken would be healed straight up by the wide healing ring placed by her staff.

Once the healing field is put down, her gunrod changed in her hands to manifest two dual pistols she used to break the robots down with an even quicker flurry of gunfire and ether lasers. For all that could potentially be said about her, you can never say she missed.]

[kanka]

[Despite how few words are spoken in return, there's a sense of understanding between all of them, and it's a brief recollection of the times he worked alongside Itto and Gorou in assisting the residents of Inazuma. Here, now, their goal is aligned to the target and extermination of the monster above them.

As Ei moves forward, so too does Ayato. Weissmann focuses his attacks towards Ei and to Zhongli and his shield, his robots firing both at their feet and trying to aim where they can. But for two fighters such as these, Inazuma had brought them many joys, and also taught them much in return. If this monster thinks he can simply get rid of them with his toys, clearly he hasn't studied his opponents well enough.

One slash goes through the air, Haran Geppaku Futsu knocking a robot aimed toward's Ei's back out of balance and into the floor. With the others head for the rest of the group, Ayato raises his blade by his head.]

Mind the deluge.

[Kamisato Art: Suiyuu. The air before Ayato ripples, rain seeming to come from nowhere, except when it falls and hits any of the incoming barrage, the rain becomes a set of blades. He darts forward towards Weissmann, eyes focused and relying on the rest of the team to keep him safe as they move closer and closer to their target.]