FINAL INVESTIGATION

[strangerpeople]

FINAL INVESTIGATION


[Fifteen X-Passes. Six weeks. Freedom at last.



But it's not the end. Of course it's not. There are questions to answer, and souls to save. And now that the group is outside, they can see where they are.

They are inside a massive cavern, illuminated in an eerie green light, standing on a stone path. On one side is the ship-or rather, a massive, ship-shaped tangle of bloody branches, the trunk-like roots snaking out and into the river its buoyed on, as well as into the ceiling of stalactites. Said river is wine dark, but it's clearly not water. No-it is blood.

And on the other side of their little pathway? A root-encrusted palace. It sits over a labyrinthine city, bathed in emerald, and all is eerily silent save for some sounds coming from within the castle. It's clear the infestation somehow started here. And it is here that answers are likely to be found.

The doors are right in front of the group-and they are already open, covered in branches. From the outside, it seems little more than a ruin. Once everyone goes in, though?




It's even worse. The tree has taken over. Whatever lives here is no longer in charge. There's no easy way to disentangle the Qilphoth from this place. But there is life here, somehow. You can see figures entangled within the roots as you explore. And-they are still, somehow, alive. More than alive. They are beings that bleed ichor instead of blood-beings of incredible divinity and power. They are gods. And they are hostage to the tree, forever and ever, trapped in induced ennui, unless something is done.


So welcome, Strangers, to the House of Hades.]







[Once you enter, the investigation shall begin.


Good luck.]



((OoC: And here are team assignments!))

Comments

[autonomousthought]

Discovered small armory consisting of spear, shield, bow, gauntlets, gun, one plinth empty. Armaments appeared dulled but were retrieved for potential use. Room also contained root mass surrounding collection of nine bodies of abnormally large size, assorted. Curio cabinet not noteworthy; modern computer with printer situated nearby, was unable to activate. Printer used recently: output photo of young male, white hair, blue eyes. Posterior side read: ORDER, PRIDE, HEART, HACK. Also located in room: pair of pod-like devices of approximately human size. Attached console indicated use once 6 weeks ago to output single object into present timeline; implied opposite use also possible. Device requires energy recharge: will not be operational for 34 weeks.

[superstylishsquid]

Yeah. Made for a pretty upsetting scene for the mortals.

[superstylishsquid]

[He just nods. Brain should remember what happened with Kaito's body, after all.]

[devilmehcry]

[p o u t]

Yeah, yeah, rub it in. Can't even let it go after I'm dead. Argosax wasn't even that fun, you seriously didn't miss anything that time!

...You fought Argosax. That was your first mistake.

I didn't know! How was I supposed to know he'd be boring!?

[yesorwoof]

Oh, yes, I can go back and tell Ritsu-chan.

[Makima has come in now.]

Kira-kun and I were actually investigating a bedroom.

[lovedthemost]

[Brain listens, quietly. If he could, he would frown--experiencing it over and over? Interesting.

But then why would Zack--probably Zagreus--appear now?

As for the rest of that]

Predetermined, then. I see what you mean.

[a huff of air]

It seems that these oaths, also, end up being very important. Perhaps unbreakable, especially if they involve blood. It seems to be a common...theme, here.

[superstylishsquid]

Argosax might have been a brute, but he was still Mundus' only rival for control of the underworld. Even if it wasn't an exciting fight, I'm sure your brother can tell you what being part of it would mean to a warrior's pride.

[He remembers the honor Vergil fought with on Mallet, even under Mundus' control...]

Besides, any mission would've been less boring than sitting in some makeshift armory. With Agni and Rudra, even!

[lovedthemost]

Makima-san. [Brain, as always, brightens when she shows up]

A bedroom? That might be a convenient place for some peace and quiet, then, for those that need it.

[lovedthemost]

[hhhhhhhh]

I suppose that makes any retrieval of my body a useless endeavor.

[superstylishsquid]

Ritsu needs a new one anyway, so I've already talked to Gai and we've figured out a way to get spares. So long as we can take your souls with us, getting you and Kaito functional bodies should actually be easier than getting Ritsu one.

[somuchshipping]

Brain, I... I made sure your body was nothing but ash.

[Hermes summons a fireball on an upturned footclaw, but doesn't release it or throw it anywhere.]

Alastor wanted to limit the number of bodies feeding the tree.

[devilmehcry]

...

Funny you should mention my brother, actually.

[At this, Vergil's eyes flash.]

Don't.

Don't what? Tell him? Because he ought to know Argosax wasn't the only rival.

[lovedthemost]

Yes, Gai-san mentioned to me that, if body retrieval wasn't possible, then he would be able to help if we went back to his home.

Admittedly, I am not interested in spending any more time in this form than I have to.

[yesorwoof]

[Is he. Not reacting. Brain-kun never change.]

Yes, its sound was well-insulated enough. Zack seemed to have lived out a parallel life as a Greek god there. It was a nice place to sleep and to study. The tape recordings in there were high quality, though perhaps edited. I take it that soon we'll have the chance to look over the transcripts together.

[After... glances out at room... this.]

[superstylishsquid]

[He tilts his head, tail still reflecting tension...but expression hinting at curiosity.]

What do you mean? Pretty sure I'd have remembered if there was a third devil fighting on that scale.

[lovedthemost]

[Yeah that was 100% right over his head. But he's glancing back at the room as well]

...ah. Yes. Far more than here.

[this is fine he is just going to pretend he's Very Composed and didn't get tackled by Moriarty earlier for calling him old]

[superstylishsquid]

And being the god of blood would explain why he doesn't have ichor, like the gods the tree's feeding on.

[devilmehcry]

Yeah, well, there was. Called himself Urizen. Destroyed my childhood hometown and everyone in it growing the Qilphoth. And you know what? I'm glad you weren't there.

[He goes to point a finger at Alastor. Stops. Curls his blobby shade hand into a fist.]

...I'm glad none of my other Devil Arms were there, because that son of a bitch shattered Rebellion. Rebellion, the sword that killed Mundus. Captured and enslaved Trish and Lady of all people, without breaking a sweat! He put me out for a month, Alastor!

That's never happened to me when facing any other demon. But he...he was.......

...I only managed to figure out what I could wield against him through sheer luck. Any other demon weapon outside of Yamato would have been ripped apart in seconds.

[Vergil is. Pointedly not looking at Alastor.]

[superstylishsquid]

[He turns his head to look at Vergil, arms crossed.]

I had heard Red Grave City was destroyed by the Qliphoth. Not who cultivated it, though. Guess you're lucky Sparda doesn't seem to be conscious inside that sword of his, huh? Can't imagine he'd approve.

[And THAT blow dealt, he looks back at Dante.]

As for you...what, afraid he'd have taken control of me too, and made extra work for you? Guess I'm flattered you think I'm dangerous enough to at least be a nuisance.

[superstylishsquid]

Can't blame you. Being insubstantial sounds even worse than being barely animate.

[devilmehcry]

.........


Or he'd have destroyed you like Rebellion because you weren't...useful to him, and then I'd never have gotten to have this lovely heartwarming Hallmark moment with you.

[Yes, he gets it. The irony that Alastor was somehow deemed useless, in Alastor's mind at least, by Dante, and then comparing it to Vergil-destroying what he can't use, using what he deems worthy. Worthy of hurting Dante. It's just been how they've been for most of their lives.

Even a closet is better than utter oblivion. At least a closet's cozy.]

[superstylishsquid]

Please, this is more like anti-Hallmark. [His tail swishes.] Don't try to pretend it would've made a difference to you if he had destroyed me, at least, not until what I know helps us get to the bottom of all of this.

Can't imagine losing a weapon you never even use anymore would be a huge inconvenience, after all.

[devilmehcry]

...Why the hell would you think I wouldn't care if I saw you die or found you dead?! Look, I messed up, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't be upset if someone waltzed in and killed you!

Am I that much of a heartless bastard now, or do you think so little of yourself that you believe no one would mourn you?!

[superstylishsquid]

I think I'm not willing to be human enough that you could forget I'm a devil!

Why would I expect to be mourned by someone who doesn't think I can do the same?!

[somuchshipping]

[There was a time where Hermes [Rarely Meddles] in the affairs of other people. That was before everyone wanted him to make decisions and have agency and he caved in.]

Alastor, if Roland doesn't care at all about you being a devil, even though he's a fucking PRIEST, then I don't see how Dante's forbidden to mourn or care about you.