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

[strangerpeople]

[No dice.

However, it seems someone on the other side is trying to, well. Do the same thing.

There's a rumble, there's a scream, and then...silence.]

[pegasinister]

Hmm... Well.

[The roots are a living thing, right? He tries snapping out a beat and using his power to urge them to move away]

Avoid attacking the roots, I think someone was just attacked for doing so.

[strangerpeople]

[And then there's a shout.]

NOW, EVERYONE! FOCUS YOUR ATTACKS ON THE ROOTS AT ONCE!

[A very British-sounding shout, actually.]

[pegasinister]

[does he recognize that voice?]

[strangerpeople]

[Yes. It sounds very Napoleon of Crime-y.]

[godspiousjasper]

Wait. That's Moriarty's voice!!

[ How could he not recognize him? ]

[pegasinister]

!!! Moriarty! Can you hear me?

[He tries to get the attention of the others- nevermind what he said before maybe going on the attack is a good idea???]

[exequte]

DADDY?!?!?!??!!??!??!?!?!??!

[This is now Personal. These roots are now keeping Akane away from her precious people.

Others may want to maybe take a step back because the temperature is going to plummet around her as ice absolutely races forward, thick and very cold. Very, very cold.

She will not be stopped.]

[pegasinister]

[Hubert jumps out of the way, and just watches with delight]

[strangerpeople]

[Soon enough, the roots start to shrivel and calcify, dropping slowly into dust.

It looks like whatever's happening on the other side of these roots, it's cleared the way for the living to go in...or for someone to come out.]

[somuchshipping]

[OH GODS.]

[Hermes hides behind Akane, trying to make sure his two front legs aren't seen by the other side.

He regrets not putting that gauze back on at the moment.]

[exequte]

[When Akane is done forcing a tunnel of ice to freeze back through the roots she sways, just a little, and then looks back at Hermes. That much power kinda took it out of her, but he seems worried.]

Are you... okay?

[somuchshipping]

[Hermes briefly glances down at his front legs which are covered in the red circuity lines of clockwork, then back to Akane. Sorry, but he can't help worrying what the others will think!]

[exequte]

[Once a path has been frozen through, Akane begins to let the cold go and the temperature begins rising, though she forces more ice out, spinning a tunnel of ice that will shove any of the roots that are still alive back.]

1/?

[strangerpeople]

[There's a doorway. It seems to lead to a set of well-appointed stairs.


And as the last of the roots disappear, what should come down the stairway but-]

[unpossibilities]

....

Uh.

Hi?

[This is a purple blob with a spiky head and a star-patterned robe.

You can almost hear the orchestra die at this moment.]

[lovedthemost]

[It takes a moment as well, but another blob-shade-creature comes floating out of there. There's what looks like a deep scratch on his face and what looks like the thigh area that are slowly starting to come back together as he looks around]

...ah. I see we've made it.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[ - A Robed figure, practically seeming to stumble-float down the stairs in what has to be exhaustion.

Floating, because they are actually just shadows in the shape of a person covered entirely by a robe, though the faint grunts of pain hint at the fight they all just went through.

Speaking of the Robe, it's...elegant. Black with golden loops embroidered on the ends closest to the figure's body, and scalloped edges at the bottom with each scallop looking like the wing of a blue butterfly.

Once they reach the bottom of the stairs, the robe seems to falter and 'sink' down, the robe spreading out around them as they give a groan.]

Give me - a moment...that was rather taxing...Ah, how awful it is to be so old...!

[....Yeah, that sure is a british accent. Almost sounds like someone you all just heard yelling at the top of his lungs, huh?]

[devilmehcry]

[And here comes someone with an blue robe!


They have a spiky head and a cloak that seems to whoosh in an invisible breeze. Their eyes set on the living and the dead]

...Interesting.

Welp, we're out. Nice digs.

[And here comes a dirty red robe that somehow smells faintly of pizza. Trying to sling their...blobbiness on the blue shade's shoulder.

The blue shade deftly avoids it.]

Ruined by a weed. A pity.

Yeah, yeah, don't be chummy with me, I get it.

[15unknowns]

[After a bit, another, almost sky blue shade appears, with a black wrap around its head.

It starts to float towards Akane, its posture a but morose-but it's mixed with relief.]

...Akane...you're all right.

[godspiousjasper]

[ He also moved back in an instant, if only because he's not quite wanting to get frostbite if it gets that cold. ]

[exequte]

[Hold on. Another voice?]

[strangerpeople]

[Yup.

This is followed by the tones of a somewhat competently-played saxophone.]

[yesorwoof]

??????!!!!!!

[Makima is scanning the environment for chunky musical notes. She summons a naginata to use to telekinetically sweep away whatever might be blocking such notes from view, for example pieces or dust of the roots.]

[somuchshipping]

WAIIIIIIIIIIT!

Don'tAttackTheRoots! You'llOnlyGetHurt!