Recap / Library of Ruina

(UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

Story

Scene 1: Canard

'I go out to the street, my hands in my pockets.'

Prologue

It starts with a man in a black suit finding himself in a mysterious library. He encounters a woman in black, who attacks him for entering without an invitation. The man, calling himself Roland, loses his arm and leg before fainting from blood loss. He's saved when the woman decides to use him, granting replacement limbs in return for him to work as the Patron Librarian for the Floor of General Works, so she can come to understand how he entered the library - and to gather books about the city, so she can find the one absolute book. After Roland complains about his fate as a test subject, the lady introduces herself as Angela, head librarian and director for the Library. She then explains that his role is to run the reception for "Guests" invited by Angela into the Library, where the Guests must fight against the Liberians in combat. If the Guests win, then they walk away with books from the vast reservoir of knowledge collected by the Library; but, should the Librarians win, then the Guests will be converted into books themselves.

Rats

The Rats receive their invitation

The 'Rats' Pete, Lenny, and Mang-chi were occupied with a gut-harvest in a territory protected by the Zwei Association, hurriedly scraping up their victim's organs into a large duffel bag. Upon returning to their hideout, they discovered that the organs they collected were completely damaged beyond any form of profit. It was as if they were already blown up somehow without any external damage or incisions. Mang-chi comments how the victim had a tattoo of an orange circle on the back of their neck, which is strange, as the victim was not the type of person to have a tattoo in the first place, foreshadowing a calling card of a certain Distortion. The group began to panic slightly as they were now unable to pay off their debt to the Stray Dogs, and it was hinted that they were still under pursuit by the Zwei.

To their luck, they found an Invitation within the victim's gathered organs. After determining that there was no better option and that they would die either to the Dogs or the Zwei, they chose to go to the Library for one last chance at scraping by.

The scene changes back to Roland and Angela in the Library, with him acting startled a little. Angela explains that the Invitation allows them to see the stories of the Guests that are coming, which is usually the moments following the acquisition of the Invitation and before they sign it to get transported. After Roland tries to ask if the Library can just trap them and kill them easily, Angela says that is the will of the Invitation and the Library, while she just borrows that power. She also explains that the invitation finds a way to the Guests and is not responsible to the external acts. Roland mentions about the Ruins, where phenomena similar to magic appears; explains about the Rats, and finally the Backstreets to Angela, before she goes to greet the group.

Angela appears in front the Rats, with Pete asking if they can take whatever they want. Angela affirms it with "if you're able" and Mang-chi hesitates, questioning the worthy of the books but Pete scold him as beggars cannot be choosers, needing to take this opportunity. Then they enter to the Library.

In the Post-Battle after the Rats are defeated, Angela ask to Roland if is really important to join a Syndicate, with him responding that is necessary to join to a group as life in the City will become tough otherwise.

Yun's Office

Episode 1

The first scene of Yun's Office is of Finn and two generic Fixers looking for a lost cat in the Backstreets. While searching, the 2 Fixers complain about how their office only gets garbage requests, but Finn stays optimistic overall and hoping that their work will eventually lead them to a promotion or a better position in another Office or even an Association. In the middle of it, Finn finds an Invitation to the Library in his pocket. Wanting to report this to the Office Operator, Yun; the two Fixers decide to take it and go off on their own first instead of reporting to the Office and getting clearance. The first battle is against the two randomized Fixers.

Episode 2

After they fail to return, Yun and Finn have a discussion about the Library and its circumstances, how a door appeared out of nowhere when the Fixers signed the invitation, but Yun dismisses Finn's concerns and says that his Office is not up to tasks like going to the Library without clear evidence. Halfway through the conversation, an Invitation finds its way onto Yun's desk. He tells Finn to stay out of the room, to then communicate with an unknown person, possibly from an Association; to report to and take out a loan from them to hire some muscle for this case. The person tells Yun to confirm one more time, and with a strange concern, he sends Finn ahead to scout out the Library. Finn arrives at the Library and is defeated shortly after.

Episode 3

Yun meets Angela

Afterwards, Yun meets up with Eri, a recently promoted Grade 8 Fixer of his Office. Yun expected Finn's failure, but Eri says she will miss his cutesy attitude but agrees. Eri brings up Yun's Office struggling to pay the monthly bills of taxes and the rent of the office space, but Yun places his last hopes in The Library's case by sending the entire Office out on an expedition to it. There, they're greeted by Angela, who remarks on Yun acting sentimental about Finn, when he was the one who sent him out to die in the first place. He says that all get exploited and abandoned at some point in their lives. The last of the Office sets out in search of Books. Three generic Fixers are fought first in Act 1, and then the Librarians battle Yun and Eri in Act 2.

Brotherhood of Iron

The Brotherhood receives their invitation.

The Brotherhood of Iron was in their hideout when Mo was telling them about refilling regularly their heads with 'brain fluid' so it doesn't dull their thoughts. Consta asks where they are going to rob next time, with Arnold suggesting a workshop for components, Consta suggest an office to gain infamy but is discouraged as they cannot get anything valuable from the ones they can raid. After suggesting raid a restaurant for food, Mo reminds them that they replaced their own bodies to focus on the work of gaining money. It is all about money after all. Once they have enough, they will try to get better ones, because the ones they have were from a cheap workshop, but still very expensive; and they still can remember their experiences like taste or touch that distract them of their work.

Suddenly, they receive their Invitation embedded onto Mo's shoulder, which doesn't notice at first since their body doesn't feel touch. After investigating and accepting it, they go to the Library. They are greeted by Angela, thinking that is just a play of the 'rich folks' for their own entertainment, but Mo reminds them they already come this far and have to do this.

In the Post-Battle after the Brotherhood of Iron are defeated, Roland discuss with Angela that replacing your original body with a robotic one is a one-way life changer that ends badly. He explains that one could enhance one's own body by other alternatives like tattoos, drugs, prosthetic limbs; without replacing it completely. However, is better to replace it in two situations: To sell the body parts for huge amounts of money, or to do repetitive tasks with easy parts to replace and repair. That last part of repetitive tasks reminds Angela of her past life.

Hook Office

Taein, McCullin, and Naoki resting in the Backstreets

In a part of the Backstreets; Taein, McCullin, and Naoki are discussing their last job of yesterday and about Taein's new bionic weapon, as they got excessive with their destructive attacks and killed more people than they should have, and since it was their mistake, they wouldn't get paid by the additional kills. Taein points out that Naoki was the one who spent more time on the rampage and that McCullin had to calm her down. After expressing she was sorry, McCullin doesn't mind as he still owes them a few things, and that now they must remain low.

Afterward, they reflect how they ended up in their new Office in the first place, as they used to be from a Syndicate that killed and hanged the victims from hooks on the streets which got the attention of an Office to hire them, due to their methods and outfits that make them stand out, which means the Office also stands out. Naoki comments it feels more like a pack of Rats Icon.png Rats than a proper Office. Just then, McCullin gets a message from the operator and their next work is handling the Library. Along with additional Hook Fixers, the group is given the Invitation and they are instantly transported to it.

On their arrival, Angela greets them but Taein attempts to strike first but doesn't harm Angela due to her body. Soon Naoki notices that Angela is not human and to the Hook Fixers' surprise, discover she is an AI, thinking now in how much profit they are going to get from this task. The group enters after Angela leaves.

In the Post-Battle after the Hook Office is defeated, Roland ask if Angela is okay by the remarks of the Guests about Angela being a machine, which she respond if he is trying to consolate her. Roland doesn't really mind if she is a machine or a human, making Angela feel better with such words of comfort. He tells that is the age of humanity, after all. In the past there were intelligent and sapient beings that were too close to resemble humans and were driven out of the City to the Outskirts. In addition to it, the Artificial Intelligence Ethics Amendment was created to stop the creation of androids -machines that resemble humans- as part of the movement because they were capable of making machines with emotions and feelings. Not even machine body replacement could be made to resemble humans.

Angela mentions a phrase "I'm no human. I'm a machine, an artificial being" and explains about her own creation, as she was made from the template of a human, by using an electronic map of a copy of her brain. Roland felt that was it and also that she was living oblivious of the outside, warning her to be careful if she thinks in going out as the Head would go after her and the Library. He also says that the Librarians in here seem human but are not actually human. Angela reaffirm what he said that she was made to feel emotions, but spending a time repeating a play for an eternity. Roland wonders who could have made her and even dared to break the rules of the Head, as none has escaped of the Head's enforcement. Angela tells that they all died eventually and the Library will remain safe. Comparing it with a metaphor of a birdcage, Roland points out again about that type of dreamy speech that she said to hate. Angela tells she will get out and gain her freedom, but Roland reply that he doesn't really care, finishing by saying "That's that, and this is this."

Scene 2: Urban Myth

'They do not have time to think about the terror at the end of the song, before the setting of the sun.'

Prologue

Pierre's Bistro

Pierre about to sign the Red Invitation

Pierre was trying to come up with a new dish, but she is left frustrated because she is unable to do it since nothing has struck her with inspiration. Moments after, Jack enters the room bringing some "ingredients" with him, people that were captured. Both converse about how their vendors, Lil' Piggy's and The Musicians of Bremen, stopped trading with them and that also they have to find a new place to hunt their ingredients since their old spot is now being safeguarded by the Zwei Association Icon.png Zwei Association. Pierre and Jack also comment about how she desires to become one of 'The Eight Chefs' and about changing some of their dishes, with Jack suggesting using more aged ingredients instead of the younger ones, but Pierre had another idea in mind.

The Bistro's owner states that she wants their dishes to have a more original flavor which she wishes to achieve by using the meat of monsters instead of human flesh. Pierre mentions the Library as the place they will seek for such ingredient since otherwise, they would have to travel to the Outskirts to get it and she reveals that she received an invitation to enter the Library a while ago. She asks Jack to join her in such adventure for monster meat, which he accepts.

While Pierre prepares to sign the Red Invitation, Jack questions her about what he should do with the ingredients he brought, she answers him saying that they should be made into meat jam and states that Jack must put them legs first, not head first in some sort of not mentioned machinery to prevent the ingredients to die too quickly claiming that the more they suffer the tastier their meat will be.

Streetlight Office

Episode 1

Inside of San's Office, Lulu and Mars are bickering over how they've not gotten any work lately despite being claimed as affiliates of the Zwei Association, with Lulu planning on moving to a better Office and remarking that she's still better than Mars despite him being the son of a famous Fixer. As Lulu yells at Mars for eating her cake, San walks in while Mars defends himself due to the cake being a day old. The older Fixer informs them that they finally got work for them to do from the Zwei Association, the catch being that it's off the books and won't be on their official record, since the Hana Association hasn't yet declared the Library as being something worthwhile to investigate, but the Associate Fixer San got the job from promised that they'd get pay equal to if it was an official Urban Legend job. Though Lulu has some reservations, they agree to investigate the Library due to needing the pay.

In the Library, Roland notes that it's foolish of them to form such tight bonds as Fixers, since tragedy could strike them at any moment. The Fixers enter the Library, and Mars and Lulu continue to bicker with each other, and San notes that he can't tell if they're best friends or worst enemies. Angela greets them, and after she leaves, San confirms to a weirded-out Lulu that Angela is, in all likelihood, a machine.

During the reception, Lulu and San are able to flee after realizing they're outmatched, but Mars is unable to get out before being turned into a book.

Episode 2

Having returned to San's Office, the two Fixers recover, with San apologizing to Lulu due to it being outside of their range of skill. Lulu asks whether San bought the new cake in the fridge, which San denies. Hearing that, Lulu runs outside to grieve Mars, saying that he wasn't the type to buy cake for others. When she realizes that Mars being turned into a book means that if she succeeds, she can save him, she plans to find another invitation without San, as he would just shoot the plan down, so she instead goes with some of her own friends.

In the Library, Roland says that the scene is kind of heartbreaking. When Angela calls him out as having been the one to say that Fixers shouldn't forge close bonds to each other, he says that it's still sad and that you shouldn't burden others with your sorrows, saying that "That's that, and this is this". Angela notes that he's rather experienced and jaded for someone claiming to just be a washed-up Grade 9 Fixer, with Roland responding that he used to be important, but he fell on hard times and sank to the bottom of the barrel.

Angela greets Lulu when she reenters the Library, but Lulu just responds by attacking her, laying out her plan of saving Mars, killing all of the librarians, and blowing Angela's head off. Angela says that she'll find the third task rather difficult, to which Lulu just tells her to shut up again. Seeing that the conversation is over, Angela allows Lulu to continue onto another reception.

Scene 3: Urban Legend

'And I savior the magnificent fragrance of the sacrifice, which fills my room.'

Prologue

Zwei Association

Episode 1

San (from the Streetlight Office) is begging two Zwei fixers, Julia and Isadora, to help him retrieve the books of Mars and Lulu. Julia is sympathetic and wants to help, but Isadora says that they have to process everything through the proper channels and that it isn't worth the risk-until an update from the Hana association places the Library at the level of Urban Legend.

Episode 2

Episode 3

Stray Dogs

Molar Office

Scene 4: Urban Plague

'He says I don't have a disease'

Prologue

The Carnival

Full-Stop Office

Dawn Office

Gaze Office

Kurokumo Clan

The Musicians of Bremen

Wedge Office

Love Town

Scene 5: Urban Nightmare

'The dream has been shattered; the tower has collapsed'

Prologue

Sweepers

Shi Association

The 8 o'Clock Circus

Puppets

Index Proselytes

The scene shift to a young man in white giving strange and nonsensical commands to

Smiling Faces

We cut to Argalia punishing Thelma, leader of Section 2 the Shi Association by using the Smiling Faces, a group of cannibals using smoking pipes, for failing to uphold his promise. Along which, Eileen, the Leader of the Church of Gears, is shown to be wearing his suit and notably has animal ears compared to last time. After Thelma dies, he has the Smiling Faces go to the Library to look for the book of Yuijin before leaving with Eileen to "meet more friends".

After watching the encounter, Roland shudders how Argalia managed to get Distortions and the leader of the Church of Gears to follow him and has the Smiling Faces on a leash. Roland talks about Argalia having a Color designated by the Hana Association, noting that he's one of the highest ranking (and most powerful) Fixers in the City. Roland and Angela then compare the Red Mist and the Blue Reverberation before wondering if it'd be possibly to eventually get Argalia's book.

Once the Smiling Faces arrive, they briefly note their astonishment with the appearance of the Library before being surprised that Argalia correctly predicted that the Book of Yujin would be available. Jin states that "Everything's goin' as he says." Hinting that there may be more at play.

Once the reception is finished, Roland and Angela wonder for a small moment on what the Blue Reverberation could be looking for.

The Crying Children

At the 8 o'Clock Circus, Philip is brutally tortured by Oswald's distorted carnies, before being subjected to mind games based on his darkest fear that his lover was sleeping with his boss. Broken, Pluto makes an appearance and promises to write down his wish via contract. Filled with despair, he decides to cease hearing, seeing, and speaking, only cry, and is transformed into a group of stone angels called the Crying Children. Pluto then sends the Abnormality to the Library before giving Oswald an invitation to join the Blue Reverberation's Ensemble.

Back at the Library, Roland pities the man that became a monster, while Angela notes how someone with an E.G.O. can become an Abnormality.

Warp Cleanup Crew

Scene 6: Star of the City

'I try calling each star something beautiful.'

Prologue

The Thumb

Episode 1

Episode 2

The Blue Reverberation

Liu Association

Episode 1

Episode 2

Cane Office

Index Proxies

The Red Mist

Liu Association Section 1

R Corp. Ⅰ

enlxmifflsdis^Note A cipher that translates to "Distorted Yan"

The Purple Tear

Xiao

R Corp. Ⅱ

Scene 7: Impuritas Civitatis

'And the reason I am living is only because I am looking for what I have lost.'

Prologue

Hana Association

Episode 1

Episode 2

The Reverberation Ensemble

The Reverberation Ensemble manages to enter the Library without an invitation by knocking down the Library's front door, though Pluto fixes it shortly thereafter. Confronting Angela and Roland, the Puppeteer steps forwards and reveals himself to be one of the victims of Roland's rampage before unveiling his newest puppet; Angelica. This enrages Roland, which throws Angela off guard at his uncharacteristic anger, before the Ensemble reveals that the person responsible for the death of Angelica was Angela, due to having instigated the Distortion phenomena. The Ensemble then scatters to the ten floors of the Library as Roland tells Angela that Argalia and his members must be dealt with first before he confronts Angela on what she did.

After taking down the Ensemble, Angela notes that she's finally gained a human body and has finally gained the One True Book. However, Roland prepares to betray Angela for what she did.

The Black Silence

Roland reveals everything to Angela. The reason he came to the Library was to investigate it, hoping to figure out the cause of the phenomenon that created distortions like the Pianist. Everything pointed to Angela. There were four reasons he didn't kill Angela right then and there, as he reveals: One, she was unkillable back then. Two, he wanted to know why she made that choice, and three, he had hoped Angela would go down a different path, and four: in the event she didn't (which happened), Roland wanted to make Angela suffer at the end, by killing her as soon as she acquired a human body. Midway through the fight, Roland ends up distorting, but he still loses.

After the fight, Roland requests that Angela finish him off, giving her a choice.

If she does, she embraces her sorrow and pain, and opts to continue expanding the Library, causing it to spiral even further out of control, after also killing all of the Sephirot, who opposed such action. After thirteen years of such, Angela is then killed by somebody belonging to a group known as Bookhunters, which notably serves as a callback to Lobotomy Corporation where they were mentioned by the Dusk of White ordeal. (Bad End)

If Angela forgives Roland, she resolves to let go of everything and break the cycle of sorrow, and then prepares to bring back those who fell in the Library, hoping that Roland still viewed her as a friend as she attempted to undo the harm she has done (knowing full well it would leave her wide open for Roland to attack and kill her as she is now mortal). This gives Roland a choice.

If Roland chooses to kill Angela, he gives her a painless death via a swift beheading as opposed to his original plan, acknowledging that he and Angela were friends. The Library collapses with Angela's demise and Roland returns to the City. News of the Black Silence's return spreads but, with him now taking drugs, alcohol, and dirty jobs. Eventually, he winds ends up dead in a gutter, impaled by all kinds of weapons as Astolfo sadly notes his fate as a man who has been consumed by vengeance. (Bad End)

If Roland chooses to forgive Angela, however...

Keter Realization

Angela releases the Light she stole, attempting to fulfill Ayin's plan, which she had sabotaged long ago. She laments that she would not live to see the results of her actions. However, as she does this, she is confronted by a doppelganger who attempts to prevent Angela from going through with it, either by convincing her or by defeating her. After a long and arduous battle, Angela finally breaks through the Doppelganger's words and actions, before the doppelganger reveals themselves to be Carmen. Angela and Carmen have a brief discussion, with Angela resolving to oppose Carmen's plans. As she slowly fades into the light, though, she hears a voice, presumably Ayin, saying a simple 5 word sentence: "I'm sorry... And good job.", giving Angela the acknowledgement she had longed for. The scene then shifts...

The Reverberation Ensemble Distorted

The people who have been turned into books start waking up. Unfortunately, The first to appear, however, are the Reverberation Ensemble, who have distorted even further due to the exposure to the Light. The Reverberation Ensemble attempt to claim the Light, forcing Roland and the Librarians to protect Angela for the next seven days. This eventually culminates in all of the Reverberation Ensemble dead, with Argalia dying by Roland impaling him (his dying words implying that he accepted Roland as his brother-in-law in his final moments).

Roland saved Angela by pulling her out of the light at the last moment though. This comes at the cost of Angela's restoration of everybody not being immediate, and Angela returning to a mechanical body. Roland notes that he could at least do something he wanted to do without being held back by anything, with both him and Angela noting that The Purple Tear seemingly anticipated this. Roland then hands Angela a bucket list she had written, and resolves to help her accomplish the things on it.

The Final Reception

As Roland and Angela discuss their future plans, they are confronted by a group of three individuals who appeared uninvited: Zena, an Arbiter, Luda, a Beholder, and Baral, an Executioner of the Claw, who were sent there by The Head. They reveal that they are there for three purposes. 1: To eject the Library into the City's outskirts, 2: to kill Angela, and 3: to retrieve Garion's body. The reason they want to kill Angela is because she is a robot, but too much like a human for their liking. Due to Zena's monologuing, Angela has time to get away and start a reception which Roland receives. He is initially overwhelmed by Baral alone, but Angela also awakens Gebura to help him. Even this proves to not be enough, but Binah arrives shortly afterwards to assist the two Color Fixers. With the three combined, while they prove unable to defeat their 'guests' due to the Library having lost most of its power, they do manage to hold them off long enough for them to leave, as the Library is ejected into the Outskirts.

Epilogue

As Roland and Angela look upon the Outskirts where the Library (which has taken the form of a tower) now resides, they discuss their future plans, with Angela planning to take down The Head, and Roland wanting to write a book about the City with Angela's help. Meanwhile, in the City, Iori, the Purple Tear is seen wanting to take charge of an Association specifically to deal with Distortions.

Librarian Story

Lower Floors

Malkuth – History

Yesod – Technological Sciences

Hod – Literature

Netzach – The Arts

Middle Floors

Tiphereth – Natural Sciences

Gebura – Language

Chesed – Social Sciences

Upper Floors

Binah – Philosophy

Hokma – Religion

Keter – General Works