peckenpaugh | THE UPPER LEVELS

up into the balconies

you climb The breathing boughs of that nightmare tree crowd into the upper balconies of the ruined auditorium. You have to duck and bend to get by them in places, sometimes through spaces that seem to grow smaller as you press through. These branches are warm to the touch, some of them uncomfortably so, pulsing with something that isn't quite life.

You've climbed these stairs more than once in your time here; to take your place after your sorting, to watch new students find their House, or perhaps just for an assembly. This building always seemed so sturdy, so safe. It was a place to go for shows, for celebrations, and hell, to just get out of class. Now, the floorboards creek precariously, split and splintering where vines have crept through. Benches are broken, overturned and tossed aside to make room for the auditorium's new king: the malignant maple. Up here, the glowing blue seeds hanging from branches are close enough to pluck. Those that have ripened litter the floor and railings, filling the balconies with an eerie blue twinkle.

The air is muggy, clogged by falling ash. It stinks of coal and sulfer. But you keep moving, anyway. Keep opening portals and pushing on. Just a little bit higher, and then maybe you'll be able to plunge into the depths.

and you fight By now there's a plan, and with it, a slowly growing brigade of people, of beings, of bugs, who are gathering to push back against inevitability.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"He and I have just learned how to talk around each other, is all. But yeah, I'll let him know." Patrice looks down at Des, and then over to his two roommates, and after a long bout of indecision decides to sit next to the small boy.

"I'll save you guys a pastry each. Anything useful over there, yet?" he inquires, just as Presley is moving aside the flower pot.

"No, thank you. I don't need that much sugar in my diet." Presley frowns when he sees the key. Not exactly safe for your business, but there's something about the gesture—making sure your place is always available to a young boy with seemingly no one else—

No. Not his business. Presley picks up the key, and shows it to the others.

The key glows in Presley's hand, sparkling as he shows it off to his friends. With the linchpin found, the scene comes to life once more, all subtle movement at first.

Desmond's fingers stay curled together in his lap once the woman apparates away, managing to hold still for only a few moments before they're eagerly pulling at the top of the paper bag - wrapping around a pastry and shoveling it into his mouth fast enough to puff out his cheeks.

One leg swings as he chews, powdered sugar smearing onto his chin. And then footsteps. A seed of hope stretches out roots in his heart and grows leaves right up into his mouth - until a man turns the corner, tugging his collar up about his throat as he walks past the bench, past the door - and the whole thing withers, curls back up to sit heavy in his gut.

It'll be fine. His momma always comes back. She'll be the next person turning the corner if he can just wait.

[MEMORY COMPLETE! You have found the linchpin. You may continue to thread in this scene or exit. Use the key on the door to open a portal back to Peckenpaugh's auditorium.]

"It's memory sugar," Patrice argues, and he's about to say something else but Presley has the key, and things are moving again. He watches Des, who sits next to him, obviously without knowing it, and his brows draw in. This whole thing sucks. He abandons his strange duplicate of the paper bag and gets to his feet.

"Let's get out of here."

There isn't an obvious glowing exit, but Presley can guess what he's expected to do. He moves to the bakery door, and puts the key into the lock. Presley looks over his shoulder to Patrice and Uriah, and seems to hesitate a moment before finally saying, "We can worry about the rest of it later. For now, let's just find them."

He turns the key, and pushes the door open.

Patrice, Presley and Uriah completed the memory "Just Wait"!

Upon emerging from the memory out into the auditorium, the portal snapped shut behind them.

At the base of the tree, Desmond Savage was freed! Elsewhere in the auditorium, coal, a magimagicicada was freed!

Patrice, Presley and Uriah each received 5 Tokens for participating in this memory.

They received an additional 3 Tokens for finding the linchpin before the cap!

You can check your token totals in Pouch's shop here, and maybe see if there's anything worth grabbing while you're there!

THE UPPER LEVELS

MEMORY: Just Wait

MEMORY: Just Wait

MEMORY: Just Wait - LINCHPIN FOUND & CAPPED!

MEMORY: Just Wait

MEMORY: Just Wait

MEMORY: Just Wait - COMPLETE & TOKENS!