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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.
no subject
[The shittalking at least keeps him focused on the task at hand, to remain still even as he ignores the horrors the entire facility around them has brought to bear.
They'll find Yamato, and they'll get out of here. Together. That's what matters right here, right now.
Nox exhales, listening, eyes open even as he holds his father in a tight and comforting grip. We persist, do we not? The touch, the affection; Nox breathes, willing his voice to be steady even as his entire heart wants to tremble in joy and his knees collapse in exhaustion.]
We do. And you know that we're not gonna let anything happen to each other now, 'long as we can help it. [He pauses, lifting his head back, and meets Vergil's eyes.] Doesn't matter what it is- none of us are alone anymore.
[And that is a fucking promise.]
no subject
and there's still that part of his heart that wonders if he even deserves it.
the things he's remembered while trapped in that hot, uncomfortable iron box. they easily like to point out that maybe he doesn't deserve such kindness from Nero.
The boy he'd left on his own for years.
And then ....
His fingers linger down on one of Nero's arms, and then they come back up. Acting as if he wasn't checking for ... something. ]
I have been alone just fine most of my life, you know.
[ he has to at least act a LITTLE contrary, nero. ]
But I suppose the idea of having that being part of the past is... fine, as well.
[ no, it's what he'd always wanted, wasn't it. ]
no subject
So instead, Nox gently bonks his head against Vergil's, exhaling, both hands on his shoulders now.]
I'm here for you, okay? We all are.
[Because I care. Because you're family. Because I'm your son and I wouldn't change that for anything.
The contrary words just makes Nox grin, noticing a familiarity in his father's tone.]
Yeah, so was I. Then shit changed last year, and here you and Dante are. I don't think there's anything else I'd ever want, now.
[So sue him for his sentimentality, he means every word.]
no subject
It's. Weird. Having people willing to reach for you.
It's something he'd always told himself in this life--he'd only have himself to rely on. Noone would help him unless he could help himself.
It seemed his past self felt the same--and yet, his past self had a fond wish that it didn't have to be that way.
And maybe that's why he's drawn to the support. The feeling of not having to worry--that someone would come and save him. That's what had kept him sane in that container after all: that if noone else came for him; he knew Dante and Nero would.
He laughs, quietly. It's not an amused sound; more of a quiet huff of defeat. ]
I knew you'd come. Above all else, something told me you would. [ he had before, after all. when malphas had been staring him down. ...malphas?
he squeezes the handle of Nero's version of Yamato, as if to center himself. ]
You will not be alone. Not again.
Not now, when we're finally all together. [ ...if dante ever disappeared, he'd... ]
no subject
The quiet laugh concerns him, but Nox just breathes, understanding what his father says.]
You know I'd do anything to get you out- we would. Hell, Dante had to force me to sit back down a few times before Mercie got me to focus on how we were going to find you. [A beat.] You two would do the same for me.
[Something he knows to be a fact, and nothing less.]
...Yeah. [An exhale, and Nox swallows down the lump in his throat at that ("You will not be alone. Not again."), head raising and offering something soft before he switches gears.]
C'mon, let's get looking. Yamato's not gonna find herself, you know?
[...Nox knows that one day, more than likely, the people who are from other worlds are going to go home. He doesn't know if it'll be sudden or apparent, but he knows it's going to happen. The hardest part will be convincing Dante to go back- considering his nephew and his brother are already here, living better lives, Nox can't imagine Dante wanting to leave something of a "normal" life behind.
But Nox knows they need him just as badly back home. Nero and Vergil, the two people who matter to him from that life, are waiting for him. Vergil, in hell, and Nero, back in the human world. It's a painful thing to realize, to know that the happiness here will eventually disappear.
And yet, despite all that, there's a feeling in the back of Nox's head, one that says not to worry so much. More than likely, and given time, Dante would wake up or arrive in Kaisou one way or another. After all, the family can't stay separated for long- that's not how they are.]
no subject
He closes his eyes as Nero explains his restraint, letting the sound of his firm, but compassionate assurances settle into him. Showing your compassion was never something his parents in this life did--most everything done in gestures or in praise for achievements. Never reassurances or unprompted, like this--and it's something Vittore realises he... wanted.
Who knew how a spontaneous show of affection could affect the brain in such a weird way. ]
...I would drop most everything I am doing to assure you are safe. yes. That goes without saying, or even really without having to think on it.
[ fool.
But he makes a good point.
Relaxed as he feels now with Nero's version of his beautiful Katana in his hands, there's still something not Right about it. ]
I remember, vaguely, when we were brought in, most of our belongings were torn off and thrown into a crate, and then shoved into some sort of. Side room. Closet?
Surely, the items could have been taken or removed since then, but...
[ there's also a chance they were still there... ]