#limbic system

[disco-archetypes]

INLAND EMPIRE - We all told you. *Everyone* warned you.

YOU - Who, everyone?

ANCIENT REPTILIAN BRAIN - Everyone.

LIMBIC SYSTEM - Literally all of you.

[mrtequilasunset]

[charon-cries]

ahh i have the curse of not being able to articulate my thoughts properly but there is something so intense to me about disco elysium's separation between the "characters" of the limbic system and the ancient reptilian brain.

the ancient reptilian brain as a beast separated from the body, "siblings" rather than being one and the same, despite the brain being a literal body part. the brain's active encouragement of harry's downward spiral. the limbic system's far more passive, but just as pained and self-hating role. how the body is cynical, but clearly exhausted, and sort of feels more honest? equally as unreliable and biased as the brain, but she does not posture herself the way the brain does. where the brain will encourage self-hatred and self-destructiveness with glee, the body presents harry's shortcomings (both the genuine and the perceived) as hash facts.

the brain framing harry's spiral as something he is choosing, while the body simply states that this just is how harry is. inevitable. where the brain revels in worsening, the body simply and bitterly insults harry, as if she is just making observations about him.

and that's not even to mention the portrayal of the personification of harry's body being referred to as HER. especially considering they are both clear projections of harry's depressive thoughts. in his mind, where his body is a woman. idk.

[disco-dancing-in-the-desert]

[lil-mr-slipstream]

Furies in your head

[bonniejkj]

i fw austistic brain demons💕💕💞

i'm never doing this again. too far out of my comfort-zone. If i ever do it again it would probably not be posted. Atleast limbic system never let me down. flawless design <333🧠🧠

[quotesfrommyreading]

Smell is the most direct of the senses. Aromas must literally enter the body before they can be consciously identified. With every inhalation, molecules travel through the thin craggy pathways that begin at the nostrils and head toward the brain. They speed past the olfactory cleft, a narrow opening toward the top of the nose. They hit the olfactory receptors, which are housed on the hairlike tips of the millions of neurons that peek through a gold-hued mucous membrane called the olfactory epithelium.

Every human has around 350 different types of these receptors, which are unique proteins on both the left and the right side of the upper nostrils. These receptors are the gateway to the complex dance of perception. They connect to the smell molecules upon arrival and then transfer signals toward the brain by chemical impulse. Every human has between six and eight million neurons in the nose to do just that. These signals are fired rapidly, by many neurons at a time, forming a pattern not unlike a line of musical notes, or the HTML coding of a webpage. When combined, the brain interprets the signals as a smell, an “odor image”.

These patterns are both complicated and minute. Scientists have found that if the chemical structure of two smells are identical except for just one carbon atom, the patterns sent in response are nonetheless distinguishably altered. Nonanoic acid, for example, is a nine-carbon chain that yields the salty smell of cheese. Decanoic acid, with only one carbon atom added to its structure, however, smells rancid, like sweat.

These patterned signals travel on pathways made by neurons, which snake from the nose through a thin sheet of bone called the cribriform plate, and are deposited in the olfactory bulb, which lies toward the bottom of the brain. The bulb takes these patterns, like reading the score of a piano concerto or lyrics to a lullaby, and sends them farther on to the olfactory cortex. The cortex, in turn, relays an interpretation to other parts of the brain like the thalamus, which deals in conscious perception, and the limbic areas, for emotional response.

  —  Season to Taste: How I Lost My Sense of Smell and Found My Way (Molly Birnbaum)

[owenbroadcast]

[avianartstuff]

Disco Dragons 3

[disco-elysium-via-polls]

3. "I think I'm good with Harrier Du Bois these days."

LILIENNE, THE NET PICKER - "Well then, Officer Du Bois..." She nods to you, then turns toward the sunlit sea.

THE SUN - The remains of the dying sun are reflected in the waves and the skyscrapers rising across the bay. Your mind clears for a moment as your senses take it all in -- not just the glass skyscrapers, fragile-looking in the shimmering air, River Esperance flowing into the bay...

LILIENNE, THE NET PICKER - "Isn't it strange," she breaks the silence abruptly, "For this all-powerful thing, the sun... to be so generous towards us? You know, the best time to go out fishing is usually toward sunset, when the water is warmer..."

THE SUN - The sun also falls on the cape-side tenements and war-torn ruins. An old sea fortress juts out, seemingly impervious to the sheen cast over everything else, shaking you out of your reverie...

INLAND EMPIRE [Easy: Success] - The Sun does little for the dead, and those hopelessly lost in their own minds.

LOGIC [Easy: Success] - Or people living in desert climates with sparse vegetation and little drinking water.

"Is that why you named your boat 'The Sun'?"

"I'm not sure desert people are happy with too much sunlight."

Just enjoy the view. (Continue.)

LILIENNE, THE NET PICKER - "Oh, that was a bit of pride, and a bit of superstition..."

+5 XP

CONCEPTUALIZATION [Medium: Success] - And a bit of conceptual unity too, it being yellow and all...

2. "I'm not sure desert people are happy with too much sunlight."

LILIENNE, THE NET PICKER - "Now you're just nitpicking." She smiles. "But aye, I concede -- maybe *desert people* sometimes disagree."

3. Just enjoy the view. (Continue.)

THE SUN - There's salt in the air and the cries of the gulls and the skuas; the grit of sand and the green glint of broken bottles. But still your gaze always returns to the streaks of light, wherever they may be reflected, their fading opulence...

LILIENNE, THE NET PICKER - "It's bringing us spring, summer... It's entirely on our side, no matter what we do or who we are. For absolutely *no* reason. It's unlike no other powerful being -- certainly no powerful organisation, or government? How can that be?"

"The sun isn't exactly an organisation."

"There's an explanation to this. And it's political. You see…" (Begin a long, impassioned political tirade.)

"Well, *something's* gotta be on our side."

"Because it's not human. Humans betray you."

LILIENNE, THE NET PICKER - "Do they? Some of them do but..." She shrugs. "Sounds to me like you should choose your allies better, that's all."

VOLITION [Challenging: Success] - True, you ought not love ruins and hell -- and the fading scent of apricots.

SUGGESTION [Challenging: Success] - Maybe some general remarks before you say something big? Work your way up to the *cool*.

"You have fish-hooks in your ears."

"There's an interesting lilt in your voice."

"Do you wish you were out there fishing right now?"

"So... who do you think killed the hanged man?"

[Conceptualization - Heroic 15] Say something about the sun.

"This was nice. Thank you." (Conclude the date.)

LILIENNE, THE NET PICKER - "These?" she turns her head and they dangle. "These aren't real fish-hooks, silly. They're earrings shaped to look like fish-hooks. A drunk called Rosemary brought them to me. I kept them."

PERCEPTION (SIGHT) [Medium: Success] - She's right. They're made mostly of plastic. A cheap novelty gift you can buy from a flower shop or a kiosk.

LILIENNE, THE NET PICKER - The wind ruffles her hair as she looks at the setting sun.

2. "There's an interesting lilt in your voice."

LILIENNE, THE NET PICKER - "Thank you. I'm half Ubi. My mother was from Ubi Sunt?. Not a lot of sun there, I hear, though I've never been..."

The wind ruffles her hair as she looks at the setting sun.

3. "Do you wish you were out there fishing right now?"

LILIENNE, THE NET PICKER - "Aye, always do... I like it. It's like being on another planet. A water planet. With water worries... and water joys."

The wind ruffles her hair as she looks at the setting sun.

4. "So... who do you think killed the hanged man?"

LILIENNE, THE NET PICKER - "Good one. I'm gonna go with *the rope*."

LOGIC [Easy: Success] - She thinks it was a riddle. She must not even know of that business. Better that way.

5. [Conceptualization - Heroic 15] Say something about the sun.

+2 Your lost love. +1 Artful background. +1 Time to think.

CONCEPTUALIZATION [Heroic: Success] - Here we go. Two different approaches to cap this off with style.

(Stare into the sun.) "Yeah, a massive thermonuclear reaction, five billion years old -- the sun is a god."

"The only fault with the sun is -- it shines on us as well as our *enemies*."

LILIENNE, THE NET PICKER - "Aye," she nods. "And a benevolent one. When did you last have one of those on your side?"

"In my early twenties, maybe?"

"When I had my love with me."

"Never."

"I still do. I'm righteous."

LILIENNE, THE NET PICKER - "Well -- now you have that giant thing to watch over you. So... to hell with love." She smiles. "You know..."

"The wind's gonna pick up soon and I have to go, but..." She takes her sword out of the scabbard. The blade shines in the gathering dark.

"Have this. The sun's good but it doesn't *stick* things -- I've no use for it anymore."

Item gained: Standart 115mm Sabre

"Are you sure you don't need the sword?" (Look at it.)

"Think we can do this again sometime?"

"Thank you for coming on this walk with me." (Conclude.)

LILIENNE, THE NET PICKER - "No. Men around here are too drunk to pose a threat to me."

2. "Think we can do this again sometime?"

LILIENNE, THE NET PICKER - "Doubt it." She smiles sadly. "But thank you for the company."

SUGGESTION [Easy: Success] - This is as far as it goes with her. You'd need to put a year between you and your last drink for anything more.

3. "Thank you for coming on this walk with me." (Conclude.)

LILIENNE, THE NET PICKER - "Farewell." She nods to you and turns to go.

STANDART 115MM SABRE

Equip this to impress yourself.

The blade of this mass-produced sabre has dulled over the years and won't slice or stab anyone. It still commands respect in your hand, however. Holding on to its bakelite hilt fills you with a sense of purpose – and a memory of the date.

Not wanting to start anything else until we can meet up with Kim again, I head back to our shack.

🎵 Coastal Shack

Since it's not quite midnight yet, let's pass the time with a little light reading.

THE GREATEST INNOCENCE - "The Greatest Innocence" by João Paolo Salomao Lopez de Fuego. The book is large and heavy.

Crack open this immense tome.

[Put the book away.]

THE GREATEST INNOCENCE - Browsing through the various chapters, you try your best to understand the ceaseless overflow -- the sprawl -- of names, dates, places, events historical. Most of it ends up as a twisted mass of facts inside your brain.

Your educational survey is done. Did you catch any of that? No? Oh well, it's pop quiz time! Let's see what you've learned. This might take a few minutes. You ready?

Sure, why not?

Oh god no, let me out of here.

THE GREATEST INNOCENCE - That's the spirit. Here we go! Question 1: Who was the first innocence?

ENCYCLOPEDIA [Medium: Success] - Oh yeah, this is what I was made for.

That so? Alright, go on, give me all the hints you got.

Sola?

Dolores Dei?

The Perikarnassian?

You know, I didn't really absorb anything from what I just read.

ENCYCLOPEDIA - A pop quiz is a short examination designed to test your knowledge without any prior warning or announcement. Such exams allow the teacher to assess how thoroughly the students have retained the material at hand -- voila! Now blast that first innocence!

HALF LIGHT [Easy: Success] - Thanks for nothing.

PAIN THRESHOLD [Easy: Success] - Dolores Dei! Dolores...

5. You know, I didn't really absorb anything from what I just read.

THE GREATEST INNOCENCE - Then go with your best guess! Isn't that what students are trained to do when they don't know the answer?

Well, Pain Threshold said...

3. Dolores Dei?

THE GREATEST INNOCENCE - Incorrect. Dolores Dei was the innocence of humanism, internationalism, and the welfare state. She codified parliamentary democracy and created modern institutions, among these the Moralintern. She was powerful. And beautiful, on all her icons...

Her colours are silver, white, and apricot. And when you think her name, Dolores, stomach acid rises to the back of your throat and it hurts -- you see a flash silver, a wreath, an airport bag. And blonde hair, you don't know why. Another choice, perhaps?

INLAND EMPIRE [Easy: Success] - Steer clear of this one. There's something terrible about this one.

What?

Not thinking about it. Not thinking about it. Back to quiz.

INLAND EMPIRE - A strange sensation of loss. When she left the Earth, the dust and the ice and the humans... That is unimportant to the quiz. Stop thinking about this.

-1 Morale

THE GREATEST INNOCENCE - Yes. The quiz is impersonal. No need to rouse *sensations* in yourself at the mention of Dolores Dei. Who was the *first* innocence -- it wasn't Dolores Dei...

Um...

2. Sola?

THE GREATEST INNOCENCE - Incorrect. Sola was anointed during the previous century and even lived to see the current one. She was an urban planner who spoke her mind and largely left history to its own devices, encouraging people to excel on their own rather than prescribing to a deified model of history. She is often called an *anti-innocence*.

Sola resigned after an assassination attempt by a Yugo nationalist, who blamed her for not taking the side of the left during the turn of the century revolutions. (Innocences don't usually resign). Care to try again?

4. The Perikarnassian?

THE GREATEST INNOCENCE - Correct! Nothing much is known about him. It's not even clear that he was a *he*, but Franconegro presumed as such and called him Pius. He's depicted as a young man with molten gold pouring out of his mouth -- all he spoke was gold. It's said he *invented* god; and equality of men before god. He also introduced the gold standard as a way for measuring people's love for aurum.

As the first innocence, he declared that there should be more of those like him. It is presumed his disciples were the beginning of the Holy Party (the Founding Party).

Question 2: Who was the strongest innocence?

ENCYCLOPEDIA [Easy: Success] - Easy! Everybody knows the answer to this. You, me, anybody.

Level up!

Sure, try again. I trust you've got my back.

Vesper-Messina?

Franconegro?

Dolores Dei?

ENCYCLOPEDIA - An innocence is the highest category of historical personage in the world, a literal personification of History. Traditionally, an innocence, when anointed, assumes supreme rule over the Occident, or the known world in general -- at least the parts that matter.

Yes, yes, so interesting, but I thought you'd give me the answer to the question.

ENCYCLOPEDIA - Um... I can do better! Okay, so commonly an innocence does not enforce his or her power through military power. This is seen as unnecessary. The innocence wins because an innocence can't help but win, for their deeds are inevitabilities. Did this help?

No.

Yes. Immensely.

ENCYCLOPEDIA - Damn.

PAIN THRESHOLD [Easy: Success] - Dolores...

...

4. Dolores Dei?

THE GREATEST INNOCENCE - Incorrect again. While she originated many modern institutions, launched several successful expeditions, and was even critical of the innocentic system itself -- and *somehow* keeps popping up in your mind! -- she is not often considered the *strongest*.

Even though the words most associated with her rule are *l'amour, la compassion, l'autodiscipline* -- love, compassion, self-control -- which could be seen as facets of strength. Would you like to try again?

INLAND EMPIRE [Easy: Success] - Please. Relax.

2. Vesper-Messina?

THE GREATEST INNOCENCE - Incorrect. Vesper-Messina is not a person, but a defunct state on the southeastern coast of the Occident. It used to take up most of the peninsula, before separating into the Republics of Vesper and Messina. Care to try again?

3. Franconegro?

THE GREATEST INNOCENCE - Correct! Named the innocence of militarism, he codified hereditary rule -- but at the same time ended serfdom and established the interisolary reál as the global reserve currency. He also established the concept of the Nation.

Franconegro attempted to solve the rising tensions between the aristocracy and bourgeoisie by building a unified society, in which every man has a place and a mission, but at the same time may rise to nobility provided on the strength of his virtue.

Question 3: Who was the false innocence?

ENCYCLOPEDIA [Medium: Success] - Got it under control. No problem. Solid on this one. It's wide-spread historical information.

You going to be helpful this time? I could use a hint.

Ernö Pasternak?

Kedra?

Stepan the Despicable?

ENCYCLOPEDIA - Yes. There exists a group called the Founding Party. Known as the Holy Party during the time of the Perikarnassian. This, the world's oldest international organization, spends its time in search of either the re-emergence of the innocence, or new members.

Sigh heavily, out loud.

ENCYCLOPEDIA - There seems to be a mix-up with the sources. It's not my fault.

PAIN THRESHOLD [Easy: Success] - At least it clearly wasn't Dolores Dei. She wouldn't be *false*. She's beautiful.

2. Ernö Pasternak? 3. Kedra? 4. Steban the Despicable?

THE GREATEST INNOCENCE - Correct! There have been a number of counter- or false-innocences -- some assumed to have innocentic qualities, some who just thought so themselves. Occasionally they have the support of a faction inside the ecclesiastic organization, and accusations of foul play have arisen...

The most famous -- and important -- of these was Ernö Pasternak. He was into torture, despotism, hymns, cannons, and world conquest, but got defeated and humiliated by Stepan the Despicable of Kedra.

Final stretch, you've come so far and learned so much. This is the most important one. Question 4: Who was the *greatest* innocence? The most *important* of them all. The most precious to human kind...

ENCYCLOPEDIA [Medium: Success] - I've got it! Honest.

PAIN THRESHOLD [Medium: Success] - I don't even have to say it anymore.

Okay, are you sure *this* time? I'll bite. Hint me.

Franconegro.

Ernö Pasternak.

Dolores Dei.

ENCYCLOPEDIA - Of course! This is my *thing*, the reason I exist in this world. The correct answer is Franconegro.

You're *absolutely* certain of this?

ENCYCLOPEDIA - Zero doubts.

PAIN THRESHOLD [Medium: Success] - While it was actually her...

Franconegro.

THE GREATEST INNOCENCE - Incorrect. While Franconegro built concrete churches and cathedrals, and while many people, especially the Mesque, consider him a father figure due to his militarism and nationalism, João Paolo Salomao Lopez de Fuego argues differently. Another choice, perhaps?

ENCYCLOPEDIA - Oh yes, militarism and nationalism -- my bad.

LOGIC [Easy: Success] - Yes. Obviously.

4. Dolores Dei.

THE GREATEST INNOCENCE - Correct! The Mesque might see Franconegro as the father of nations, but as of this century there's been a great shift in attitude -- Dolores Dei has become widely regarded as the greatest innocence. A most radical change to the whole fabric of the world.

Everything from interisolary travel, to the connected world, to three consecutive scientific revolutions can be traced back to her. Every decade that passes she seems less human somehow -- and more beautiful...

PAIN THRESHOLD [Medium: Success] - And more beautiful, and *more* beautiful...

THE GREATEST INNOCENCE - Congratulations on finishing the test. The results and your subsequent grade have been calculated. You get...

... a D. Not particularly remarkable, but technically a passing grade. Not that anyone really expected better.

INLAND EMPIRE [Trivial: Success] - You would have done better if you'd just left Dolores Dei for the end. Dial the Dolores Dei down *a bit*.

"Damn you, you arrogant book."

Close the book. [Leave.]

THE GREATEST INNOCENCE - You are shouting at an inanimate object like a real weirdo. No wonder you seem to have trouble with the right answers.

HORRIFIC NECKTIE - Man, something's weird about this book. You should do something fun instead. Rock out, forget about it.

2. [Put the book away.]

BED - The bed is comforting, if a bit run down. Still, you've earned a rest.

Go to sleep.

The place feels almost like home now, quiet and dignified around you -- a new life by the seaside. You're incredibly tired. The darkness and warmth come fast. You're falling asleep...

...

LIMBIC SYSTEM - It's easier, this time, drifting off. Your head has found a comfortable indent in the pillow. Your legs and your torso feel like lead weights sinking to the bottom of the sea, until they're suddenly light...

ANCIENT REPTILIAN BRAIN - This respite -- you've earned it, brother. Bask in the darkness. Let it swallow you up and swivel you around while you forget everything you've managed to remember...

But I've been bad. I haven't earned this.

Is this the last dream?

ANCIENT REPTILIAN BRAIN - No, you haven't. You've just *been*.

Is this the last dream?

Thank you, darkness. Thank you.

ANCIENT REPTILIAN BRAIN - No. This is the one before that. We'll just keep cycling it for you, if you don't mind. As long as we can. Spin it like black yarn.

LIMBIC SYSTEM - Enjoy it while it lasts.

Thank you, darkness. Thank you.

ANCIENT REPTILIAN BRAIN - You're welcome, Harry-boy. You earned it.

(Fall into a deep, uninterrupted sleep.)

LIMBIC SYSTEM - After centuries of darkness, the alarm rings -- but what's this? You *actually* feel rested. There's no time to cuddle with your pillow, however, or as much as shiver from the cold. The world awaits.

VOLITION [Easy: Success] - Go.

[Open your eyes.]

END OF DAY FIVE.

[idiotthewise]

..... unfair really.

[disco-archetypes]

YOU - No. Let me back into the fight. Let me save Kim.

LIMBIC SYSTEM - Kim? There is no Kim. There is no fight, it's over -- it *was*...

[nando161mando]

Limbic capitalism

[twisted-pact]

Because somehow this gem hasn't been clipped yet

[disco-dancing-in-the-desert]

[the-uncanny-dag]

Every time I hear Limbic System speak, all I can picture is Abigail Thorn doing a bit