Thanks for sharing scenes from the game! These are always great references :3
Have you ever found a reference to a giant ivory corpse in the Rut at the prison? I’ve never been able to trigger it myself, and it feels like it might be related to some of the new content (the “whale bones” that the fake clutching bones are carved from)
Thanks for your archiving! :3
Hi anon! Glad to be of service. Thanks for reading :3
I couldn’t find anything about an ivory corpse. However, there is a line mentioning “ivory insects” in the Prison Rut.
Tbh haven’t kept up with newer updates so I don’t fully understand the context in Avery’s mansion, but here are the text snippets where they talk about bones.
Bullet point = Only one of these lines will be spoken. Extracted from the game’s code.
Scene: Intro Where PC Gets Sent Prison
(Relaxed Guard) opens the door on the far side of the room. A chill wind blasts you as you're led through. You shiver, and almost trip as your feet find a gentle slope. The room would be similar to the last, if not for the gaping hole at the foot of the ramp, opening onto a cavernous abyss.
"Can we get this over with?" (Anxious Guard) says. "The rut freaks me out." The others laugh.
Control >80: “You're more scared than the prisoner," (Veteran Guard) says. "Have some backbone."
Control <80: “Just hide in the corner then. Let us grown-ups do the work."
"Prisoner," (Methodical Guard) voice cuts through the others'. "Stand between us and the far wall."
You take a step toward the hole, careful to keep your footing. Then another. You hear one of the guards keeping pace. The light closest buzzes and fails, and the dark seems to grasp at you.
You ignore the surge of anxiety, and keep walking. "That's far enough," (Methodical Guard) says. You turn. (Veteran Guard) is stood at arm's reach. (Relaxed Guard) and (Anxious Guard) remain on the other side, carrying a hose between them.
Your body freezes. You can't do it.
You hear footsteps behind. A pair of hands grasp each of your shoulders, and force you towards the hole. You're too frightened to struggle, to risk falling.
Right at the edge, (Veteran Guard) grasps your hair and holds your head over the abyss. "Bad girls go to prison," he hisses. "We have lots of ways to deal with bad girls here, but really bad girls get dumped in the rut. No one will give you a second thought. So be a good girl, and do as you're told."
They blast you with icy water. The shock knocks you to your knees, but they keep blasting, until you tumble towards the hole.
Firm hands grasp you at the last moment. (Veteran Guard) grips the back of your hair, and holds your head over the abyss. "Bad girls go to prison," he hisses. "We have lots of ways to deal with bad girls here, but really bad girls get dumped in the rut. No one will give you a second thought. So be a good girl, and do as you're told."
Meek: "I-I can't,">> you say. "It's too scary."
Bratty: "You must think I'm insane," you say. "Fuck off."
Other: "Please don't make me," you say.
(Relaxed Guard) and (Veteran Guard) march towards you, and grasp your shoulders. You struggle to keep your footing as they shove you towards the hole. The light closest buzzes and fails, and the dark seems to grasp at you.
Right at the edge, (Veteran Guard) grasps your hair and holds your head over the abyss. "Bad girls go to prison," he hisses. "We have lots of ways to deal with bad girls here, but really bad girls get dumped in the rut. No one will give you a second thought. So be a good girl, and do as you're told."
Scene: PC gets sent to the Rut as punishment
(Veteran Guard) laughs. "Nice knowing you," he says, pushing you towards the gaping hole across from the desk.
"If shebrings us something valuable," (Anxious Guard) says, "we let her back up, right?"
"Right," (Veteran Guard) replies. "But the rut was picked clean a long time ago."
"Some inmates find their own way up," (Relaxed Guard) adds.
"Not often." (Veteran Guard) thrusts his boot into your back, and you plunge into darkness.
You fall through darkness, and land in a pool of cold water.
You swim/writhe to the shore.
You listen for voices above, but can't hear a thing. You smell something, however.
If blindfolded: A sweet vapour, erupting from somewhere nearby. It seems to clear your mind.
If not: A purple plume of vapour trails from a strange mushroom. The mushroom itself looks dangerous, but the vapour smells so sweet. It clears your mind.
(If you pass out in the Rut, you can get this)
You awaken in a dark place, far underground. A violent current carries you. You slip in and out of consciousness. You have strange dreams, of great ivory insects feasting on a fallen god.
The next time you awaken, you're on your back, floating in the sea.
Scenes from Avery’s Mansion
A (person)’s voice makes you jump. You look towards the direction it came from, and see a figure in a hooded green cloak leaning against a tree.
He turns, revealing that he’s wearing a brown fox mask. The same one you saw speaking with Landry.
"Have you had any luck finding the clutching bones? Or wishing stones, if you prefer?" His voice is gentle and soothing like birdsong. You snap out of it, and shake your head. He smiles patiently.
"Nor have I. They'll be hidden deep, deep down. Near the bottom, perhaps. They're Avery's lifeline to a life he believes will make him whole."
He shakes his head. "It will only leave larger holes. In him, and the world."
You feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up as you walk down Danube Boulevard. A rustle from a nearby tree grabs your attention.
A figure drops out of it gracefully, but stumbles after a moment. It's the brown fox. He waves you over.
"Listen. I've got a lead on the bones, but it cost me. I'm compromised." There's some fresh bandages wrapped around his upper right leg. The centre is still dark with blood. From this close up, you also notice that what little of his face you can see is deeply flushed.
He notices you staring. "It's just a graze. It's not my first, and it won't be my last. The important thing is, the Elks only suspect a petty thief at work, and they've got no trail on me. Except that one." He points to the end of a faint blood trail.
He lets out a long breath, trying to compose himself. "The chase was exciting. Pardon my unprofessional look.
It's thanks to you that I was able to give the High Elk the slip with only this."
I gave the High Elk some wounds of his* own."
Meek: “Thank you for your help." You bow. "I couldn't have done it without you."
Bratty: “Thanks for the help. It would have been a lot harder without you."
Other: “Thank you for the help," you say. "I hope this will be over soon, too."
"You did most of the work. This was your victory." He waves his hand.
You hug him tightly. He squeaks in surprise. After a moment of hesitation, he returns it.
"You've done well by me. When the day comes for the bones to be used..."
He looks away briefly. "I'll come sneak into the mansion after Avery leaves for the tower. We can share a drink over your victory. Promise." He smiles at you.
The two of you leave the dungeon, sealing it behind you.
The brown fox waves and climbs back over the garden wall.
"You weren't meant to be that close to the bones when they activated. You weren't meant to be in the tower at all. I know their rituals. The Cannibal Fox changed it. He* knew something."
He lets out a dry, sad laugh. “He’s* still one step ahead of everyone else."
He lets out a satisfied huff after downing his glass. "It tastes so much better with a partner, doesn't it?"
If bones are real (? this is just tagged as bonesReal. sry i didn’t play this part yet):
"I suppose I owe you answers. I don't normally speak so freely." He paces.
"They're wrist bones. That's why they're called 'clutching bones.' They're very old. Preserved as a holy relic. Or an unholy one, depending on who you ask."
He turns to you. "Hold on to them. You're their keeper, now."
If bones are fake (? this is tagged as bonesFake):
"I suppose I owe you answers. I don't normally speak so freely." He paces.
"They were the bones of a deceased whale, picked clean. It gave life to those at the bottom. It takes life back from those at the top just as easily."
He folds his hands in front of him. "I hollowed them out, and carved them into shape from photos that Landry had of the real ones. The rest was simple chemistry." His explanation is cold and clinical, lacking any sort of pride or emotion.
