F̡I͘N͏A̶L ͜͠I̸N̶͏V̶̕E̛͞S̀́T҉̧I͢GA҉̴͟T̢I͝O̵͘N̵

[strangerpeople]

F̨I̛NA͞L ̨̢͟I̴͜N҉V̵̛ES͡T̴̕I̸͢G̷Ą͜T͘̕I͝O̶̢N͘҉

[You have gathered together. There's not many of you at all on this place-barely enough to fit in two cars. You'd hoped there might have been more. But, this is who you have. This is who everyone here has left, the only ones currently capable of solving the problem in their positions.

You take a deep breath as you look on the landscape. This is the land where the blight was, if not born, than certainly where it transitioned into the horror it is today. This is where the answer will lie as to how to stop it. There is precious time left-you can feel it in your bones. If you do not solve it here, it will not be solved at all.

This is it.

It is time.]


--


[When you wake up this day, there is something in the air. It's hard to explain. Maybe it's the feeling of righteous anger after everything that's happened. Maybe it's the resignation of knowing that something must change, that this cannot go on. Maybe it's some renewed sense of hope from the message given by the dead.

Perhaps, also, it is the note slipped under everyone's doors.]


Still Living Strangers,

The locks that have been keeping you from exploring the restricted areas of the Central Building have been disabled. Before you think this is a trap, I will say that this was done on the orders of IT itself. IT wishes to show you just how hopeless and futile fight against it is, and has decided that doing this, and preparing for a meeting with IT personally at around 7:00 PM will do the trick. You’ve apparently managed to wear IT's patience down long enough that they have decided to take the direct method of making you join him.

If you want to cling to any hope of surviving this, go to the floor marked in the elevator by the Stick-It Note-the other floors are like your dead friends’ heads: empty with very few useful things, if any at all. You can explore them of course, and I’m sure IT would love to see you waste their time and simply kill you all if you take too much time after that. After all, there’s a good chance I may need some new players for my Game in the near future.

In any case, we’ll be seeing you soon. Have fun coming to the realization you are truly doomed.

Your friend, Rachel.


[...wow. How inspiring.

But, it appears that Rachel-wherever she might be-was telling the truth. There is, indeed, a small Post-It note is next to what looks like empty nothing. However, pressing there will cause a light to appear, and immediately, everyone is shooting upwards with dizzying speeds. It's a bit stomach-dropping, especially in comparison to how the elevator had generally acted before.

As the doors open on the floor, the Strangers are given to what looks like walls. But, you surely know better by now. Some of these walls can be pushed aside. And soon enough, the floor plan becomes clear:]



[So. This is it. The beginning of the end. What is found here may aid in the fate of all existence. Countless trillions are on everyone's shoulders-and the clock is ticking until the inevitable final confrontation.

So. Good luck, Strangers.

You will need it.]

Comments

STRATEGIZE

[strangerpeople]

[Whether it is discussing investigations, preparing for the long-haul, packing, or doing some last-minute item delivery to the Hosts. Whatever you need to do. This is the time to do it.

Once the Final Investigation has finished, everyone will be barred from entering the City again until after the Final Trial has concluded. After all, you've all got a date to keep!]

[katzenpfote]

[Caleb doesn't head to the central building right away. Instead, he simply stands in the middle of the street, waiting for everyone else to show up.]

[Going it alone seems like the worst idea possible, right now.]

[unwittingking]

Think we should just go over and get it over with?

[Hey Caleb, a corgi is not by your side this time. Instead, it’s that buff dog again. What can he say? The cheetah might be tall, but height doesn’t really compare to actual strength, and everyone heard him at the trial.]

[necroyalty]

[Ambro's packing what belongs to her - the spellbook, the new journal she's been scribbling things in, the archmage robe - some potions, and very little else.

And then she leaves a note on the whiteboard in the classroom.]

I HOPE YOU ALL BURN

[Okay, other than helping other people wrangle their pets she's done.

Also she's hijacked some of the things in the dressing room to create the most bodacious (and cleavage-y) Disney villain witch queen outfit she can, you're welcome.]

[poorlovefool]

[much titty... femdom vibes.... wow

Eric cannot look directly at Ambrosine anymore but. you go gurl]

[relieable]

[when Ambrosine emerges, Osomatsu is going to stare.

then whistle appreciatively. not really a wolf-whistle, though. it's a respectful whistle for a Queen]

Area 2 shenanigans

[otherworldlyking]

[ Honestly he should've known this was going to be a giant pain in the ass. ]

Someone figure out a way to get to the console in the second room. There's too much red fog.

[poorlovefool]

Shit, I dunno. Maybe we can get Arthur to glasses it and solve that puzzle.

[tell them what to do o fearless child!!]

[poorlovefool]

[So. Eric really does not want to walk into a trap, so even though he busted his ass last night sewing up a storm in an attempt to fill the chasm in his soul with friends, he's got a lot more stuff he wants to do before he goes out.

So first of all, he's going to be in the conservatex making potions, mostly offensive ones like frenzy because what else is he going to do with this human heart. The number one potion he's making is invisibility though.... and then he'll distribute these to the houses, along with an additional handmade gift. Eric made a bunch of scarves out of the purple fabric he got from King, plus a few hats for anyone he thought he could guess their head size, and he is giving out either or both - player's choice. They are clearly what he was doing with the rest of the roll after he made his own battle outfit, which is a long hooded vest that turns his lights black. He thinks it looks badass. He's also wearing the 'invincibility amulet' with Mira's picture in it, even if he still never opened it to look at her. Hey, if it still has its original powers, it'd pretty much guarantee his survival. ....It doesn't though, someone should probably help him test that so he doesn't get too reckless. As for his own potions, he'll be carrying them in a designer handbag called 'revolution.' Well, he may not like it much but he didn't have enough fabric to make more bags, so this is what he gets!!

Now it's time to loot dead houses for more things to put in his bag. This will include people's personal items that can fit, such as Vita's fan, because after their party crash he's got pretty high hopes for death revival. He also finds his shotgun at Kurama's and immediately gets very excited. It doesn't fit in the bag, but hey! He's unstoppable when he has this thing!! He quickly unloads the ammo to dip them in the new potions he made. Eric is a big fan of overkill. Once he's holding the newly loaded gun, he holds it up to his chest and pauses, wondering if the enemy might be able to mind control him to use this for evil............ nah, that was then and this is now. He can rely on the shotgun, he doesn't need to take any more weapons. Warhammers and crossbows are cumbersome. He'll leave them outside somewhere in case anyone else wants to take them.

With that, all that's left is to take Gab and Spike... now this is a bit worrying. They don't look like they should be anywhere near a confrontation. Hopefully there will be a good place to drop them off in the final investigation. He also stops by the cat cafe, staring down all of the cats. ....They should at least get them to the elevator. Even if #7 tries to bite him.]

[mermaidkin]

[#7 is peering straight ahead into space without disturbance, yet when Eric crosses her gaze it's clearly felt that she's glaring at him.

She does not like the idea that the cats are getting shepherded out. As soon as more than one animal is out of the cafe, this cat begins meowing insistently - like an alarm to go with the clock, and getting louder at each time. By the halfway point her hackles are fully raised as she yowls consistently. Whenever Eric does extend a hand towards her for the first time, there's a solid attempt at getting it bit.

And yet she never strikes first. As the last cat goes, all this screeching is clearly wearing #7's little throat out. Before the door slips closed, she pads out - and then stubbornly tries to assure that she is the seventh cat in the line.]

[relieable]

[hm. Osomatsu almost leaves the City quickly, but then remembers he still has some things in his House. he puts on the scarf from Eric, gathers up the non-perishable items, like the key, his photo, the keepsake from Franciscus, the pokéball containing Gerard.

and Arthur's letter.

everything is tucked into some blanket, folded up like a sack. then he's heading off to investigate. if you want to say anything to Osomatsu before the trial, now is a good time!]

[poorlovefool]

[at some point Eric starts waving the letter he found around for attention.]

Everyone... I am wired as fuck! If you want to be too, look at this letter from my friend and a bunch of other people who might be your friends.

[comesaround]

[ Oh. That's a thing. He wandered over, raising an eyebrow. ]

Alright. I'll bite. Let's see this letter.

[unwittingking]

[He's probably running into him soon enough, considering they keep ending up in the room? Either way King's giving you a concerned look Eric.]

Um, sure? You're going to need to hand it over though.

[Also...does he recognize handwriting? Or is it foreign to him?]

[incendiarize]

[It's been a little while now since Demon Boy, Mage Noodle, and Door Baby headed into the fog. Those who are not asleep (lookin' at you, McBurn) will eventually see figures emerging from the fog! And probably hear some bickering.

Caleb and Karma are wearing identical pairs of glasses, and Karma is hauling The Guy from Arthur's drawing.

So.....reverse dieday, anyone? We have a hissy math cat, please harrass him.]

INVESTIGATION START

[strangerpeople]

AREA 1 (3 clues)

[strangerpeople]

[Please put links to clues found in Area 1 here!]

AREA 2 (2 clues)

[strangerpeople]

[Please put links to clues found in Area 2 here!]

AREA 3 (2 clues)

[strangerpeople]

[Please put links to clues found in Area 3 here!]

AREA 4 (2 clues)

[strangerpeople]

EVIDENCE SEARCH

[strangerpeople]

AREA 1

[strangerpeople]

AREA 2

[strangerpeople]

AREA 3

[strangerpeople]

AREA 4

[strangerpeople]