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

[godspiousjasper]

Ah... if I had to guess... you must be Vergil and Dante??

[ Just going by the color associations hes heard about from both Alastor and Nero.

He's got a pleasant smile on his face all the same as he approaches. ]

It's nice to actually meet you and see you two are doing alright.

[devilmehcry]

In the--well, you know the saying.

We don't have flesh.

Besides the point! Takes more than death to keep us down, eh, Verge?

...Something like that, I suppose. You are?...

[godspiousjasper]

[ The way they talk definitely aids the idea that the two of them are brothers. He straightened up and nodded his head, smile still inherently present. ]

My name is Roland Fortis! I'd offer to shake hands as a courtesy but you both are currently intangible at the moment.

[ There's a moment if he wonders if either of them would recognize his name. Mostly in wondering if his last letter had made it here or not. ]

[devilmehcry]

...Vergil, son of Sparda.

That one is Dante.

I'm the cooler brother.

[somuchshipping]

I'm Hermes. Fictional character from the computer game called Fortuna.

...Have you ever heard of it?

[devilmehcry]

Video games? Really.

Nope, can't say I have.

[godspiousjasper]

The cooler brother? What would classify you as that, Dante?

[ Oh he's mildly amused at all this, though after a second he turns to look over at Vergil. ]

Ah! Vergil! I wanted to let you know I did run into your son, Nero. He's still on the ship, but we intend to see he's freed by the end of this.

[devilmehcry]

Well, where would you like me to start?

...My. What.

[He stares at Jasper, looking a tad confused and a bit suspicious.]

I don't have a son.

[godspiousjasper]

Hm? He shares your family resemblance, down to the same hair color and I could see it in the face.

[ A pause and he hummed softly. He'd seen Nero... at least the already dead version of him, and remembered the things Nero had said while he was possessing his body and didn't think that the young man would have any reason to lie about things. ]

Do you not remember him? Nero definitely referred to you as his dad, as well.

[ Then, to Dante: ]

Name two things that would make you the 'cooler' brother, at least.

[devilmehcry]

[His eyes narrow.]

No. I don't remember anyone named Nero.

Well, first off, my clothing is cooler, second, I have the better hair-

You say he's claiming to be...my son?

[godspiousjasper]

How peculiar.

[ Roland had to wonder if it was a matter of memories or something, since he definitely had no reason to think that Nero would just make something up like that when they even looked related. ]

Yes. I very much remember him saying something like... [ Clearing his throat. ] That asshole in blue is my dad.

[ Ah. Cussing felt weird to him. Though he'll easily recover. Nobody said he couldn't address both with different matters here. ]

Better hair? That is a little debatable... but... out of the two of you... would you say you're the better fighter?