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

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Hubert!

[It's hard to make out, but he looks happy.]

Indeed, it did! Do I have you to thank for that thermos of ambrosia, just before our breakout?

['Ambrosia' IT WAS TEA, MORIARTY]

[pegasinister]

[He bows slightly]

Indeed. I know the pain of planning revolt without caffeine.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

I could hug you - sadly, you'll have to make do with my eternal gratitude! Wahahahaha!

[That laugh sounds creepier (?) coming from a robe shadow tbh]

It is good to see you again, though I am just a little disappointed you didn't manage to make it down to us. Er, no offense, of course!

[pegasinister]

[He seems surprised by that- maybe he wanted to take revenge on him for everything? What did Aoi tell him?

No... his tone doesn't suggest revenge... some of his morose listlessness that has clung to him since Aoi's death lifts]

... were you lonely Moriarty? Or perhaps that desperate for a decent tea conversation?

[hatesdeerstalkers]

....Look, we have been trapped alone in an empty hall, with nothing to occupy us but a few portals to dangerous areas, and nothing to eat but pizza. Many of our number grew despondent immediately, and there was no tea whatsoever.

[Like, he's being dangerously genuine here when he just.....starts vocally sobbing again.]

SOB, SOB......of course I was lonely!! Aaah, that thermos was akin to a gift from god, but still! Separated from good teatime company was hell on top of not having any tea whatsoever!

[pegasinister]

[He chuckles... and it really is lightening his week long mood]

Well, once we are done here I will brew you some more.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Please. If nothing else, when we are free from this underworld, I won't need a body to manifest and interact with the world, given my status as a Heroic Spirit.

[He's said before he's basically a magic ghost, and that continues to be true. He's convinced he's even like this due to whoever's running this joint having Authority over the dead enough to tell even Servant Bullshit to fuck off.]

...Though depending on the ambient mana in the world, I may need a Master. I had taught Akane how to summon me, but given her condition, I wouldn't want to put that sort of strain on her if she does not have the Od for it.

[pegasinister]

Od. I take it that is similar to 'mana' and-or magical ability?

[Akane's nature as [spoiler] worries him too- maybe she shouldn't be doing magical shit]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Er...no, technically it is what Magus call the 'internal' mana - because of course they'd muddy up a simple concept with inane terms.

[BOY, DID HE HATE MAGES THIS MUCH BEFORE?]

Personally I would just use 'Internal' and 'Ambient' Mana to describe both types, but they refer to the Mana inside the body as Od, and the Mana outside the body as simply 'Mana.' Regardless, supporting a Servant on your own is a massive undertaking - I had only suggested it to her given the clearly high levels of Mana in the area around us, and that I have the ability to function for an extremely long period of time without needing extra mana intake.

[pegasinister]

Oh, so it is the innate magic ability. Well, if that is all you need I can maintain it.

[Said so casually]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[what]

I - Pardon?

[DID YOU JUST OFFER TO BE HIS MASTER?]

[pegasinister]

Is it so strange? I can not say for sure this Od is the same as magic in Fodlani spellwork, but it seems similar enough. We use our innate wellspring of magic through formulas to produce effects. Anyone can learn spells, but how many and how powerful they are is limited by natural ability and stores.

I happen to have a very above average ability in this regard, though I would not claim to have the most.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[He's definitely noting that 'Formula' comment - SHIT TO ASK LATER - but right now he's just.

How does he explain this??]

That - that is not what I was taken aback by, Hubert!

[UH]

You - You're offering to become my Master. Are you aware of what that entails?

1/3

[pegasinister]

[pegasinister]

end

[pegasinister]

I assume... it is not a sex thing.

[You're his bf's sorta dad that'd be weird]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

NO!!! ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!

[pegasinister]

Well, that is a relief. Is it not simply a magical source for you to maintain a body?

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[HUFF HUFF....someone was not listening to his explanation, but it's also been a while so he'll give bert a break.]

Yes, but it is also a Contract between the Servant and the one maintaining that magical source. You would be given three Command Seals - three spells, essentially, in which you could command anything of me and I would be forced to obey, no matter the order.

[This is probably not helping the 'not a sex thing' huh]

Including taking my own life or forcing me to carry out something I found distasteful. In that sense, your offer is essentially the same as telling me to place my entire being into your hands.

[pegasinister]

Well, then it seems the issue is not if I understand but if you trust my intentions.

[The idea... doesn't seem to bother him particularly.]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

...As long as you understand the importance of it, that is all I need.

[Honestly, thanks for not being weird about this, Bert.]

But I do intend to leave with Akane, so perhaps this wouldn't work out for the best anyway.

[SOMEBODY! DOESN'T KNOW! ABOUT A LOT OF SHIT!]

[pegasinister]

Hm. True. Well, it is an issue for the future. And we are not lacking for powerful people here.

[Just know he'd be willing, if things turn out that way]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Still, I am grateful for the offer. And for whatever it may be worth?

[He smiles, somehow, even though he's just shadows.]

I wouldn't mind being your Servant, and you my Master.