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

[exequte]

Daddy!!!!

[Now that she's a little more used to the idea Akane is going to race over.

Can she hug him? She'd better be able to hug him.]

[somuchshipping]

[HIWOHFWNWOF FINE HE'LL HIDE HIS LEGS BEHIND ROLAND.]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

....Hermes?

[He saw that nyoom!]

Why are you hiding? am I truly so frightening?

[somuchshipping]

[Poker face!]

NoNoNo,NothingLikeThat! I'm fine!

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[....Okay, that's a bit new.]

...Is there something wrong with your vocal components, Hermes?

[He didn't think Hermes was glitching like that when he was alive...]

[somuchshipping]

...SoHowHaveYouBeen? Have you found a way to magic back our powers?

[hatesdeerstalkers]

...Hermes.

[Don't you try to distract him, boy.]

Whatever the issue is, I'll hardly think less of you for it. There's no need to hide such a thing from me of all people!

[somuchshipping]

[...]

[...]

[Hermes slowly steps out from behind who he was hiding behind, revealing his two front legs, both are which are covered in red circuity lines.]

[Hermes is not looking at Moriarty, opting instead to look at the floor.]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[Oh...]

...Ah, I see. This is a kind of...disease, yes? Or a curse?

[He's not repulsed, though - more soft and gentle, seeing as how much this disturbs Hermes to be seen.]

Still, you needn't worry. I think no worse of you regardless of what it is, I assure you.

[somuchshipping]

[Hermes sort of claws at the ground.]

There's an... infection... in my game that makes things both flesh and metal. It's... it's called clockwork. And only a lucky few of them manage to keep being normal citizens. Most of them... end up bery dangerous and infectious...

[Please don't ask how he got it, please don't ask how he got it...]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[....]

I see...Well, I assume, then, that yours is not like most infections, given as you are able to keep calm, and no one else among the living shows signs of the contagion.

[And that's...that. He remains completely calm about the whole thing.]

[somuchshipping]

Hopefully, it stays that way...

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Well, it's not as if I can catch it as I am now! Wahahahahaha!

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[Sadly, she....kinda just. goes through him.]

My darling Akane!

[One 'part' of the robe sticks out, like he held out an arm to her....only to drop it as she passes by.]

...Ah, of course it would not be so simple.....Forgive me, my dear. Curse this blasted place!

[exequte]

[








Gosh.

Darn it.

For a moment she is just devastated, and its unclear if shes crying because she's happy or because she's sad.

But after a moment she shakes her head, wipes the tears off her cheeks, and smiles.]

That will have to wait, I guess. We're not done yet, after all!

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[His arm moves again, as if trying to wipe away her tears, with a frustrated sound coming as he realizes he can't.

Still, the warmth he feels from her as he does is enough for now. Enough to cement that they did it, and they have reunited.]

For now, my dear. For now - yes, I shall have to merely content myself with being able to see and talk to you, after so long of being away!

[He -a bit shakily - stands, a true blob of robes and shadows.]

That alone makes any injury gotten during the attempt more than worth it!

[exequte]

...!

Injury? What injury? You're hurt, Daddy??

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[ ....Oops.]

Ah...Well, I...may have, just an itty, bitty tiny little bit...broken my left arm. during the fighting.

[exequte]

DADDY!!

[She is now full of distressed fluttering because she does not know what she can do for that when she cannot touch him somebody help]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

I-It's fine, I assure you! The pain has already lessened, and I believe my injuries are slowly recovering!

[He's not lying, either, though rn he just doesn't want her to get so distressed another fever pops up.]

I will be fine, I've had far worse before! You needn't worry in the slightest!

[exequte]

You have to be more careful with yourself!!!!

[FRET FRET FRET]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

I could say the same with you, my dear!

[HE'LL FRET RIGHT BACK AT HER, DAMMIT]

I've been ever so worried! Now that we're back together again, I promise I will take better care of you, even if I cannot hold you in my arms once more at the moment! I won't leave a single thing out or withhold anything if it will help you!

[exequte]

[She stares at him for a moment, her eyes perhaps overbright, then nods her head and steps close, and "hugs" him as best she can, holding the air in the general vicinity of his chill, leaning towards him slightly because she can't lean against him.]

I missed you, Daddy.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[Oh - damn his form at the moment, keeping him from what he so wishes. Still, he can feel her warmth, as his own eyes in the shadow close.]

And I you, my Akane. Always.

[His cape billows a bit towards her, almost as if to envelop her - even if it can't.]

I was so very lonely without you, you know? Of course I missed everyone else, but...as much as I was glad you were not with me among the dead, I also couldn't help but feel that selfish desire to have you near me.

...

This time, I will not let anything separate us again.

[exequte]

I do know.

There were other people there, but... I was lonely without you too.

I wished.... I wished I hadn't had to kill you. Especially.... not like that.