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]

[Her eyes finally flash up at that, stricken.]

No... don't think like that.

Aoi.... Aoi, without you... I'd have died. So many times.

[15unknowns]

....Akane-

[That. Breaks it. He looks down, ghostly tears in his eyes.]

I couldn't bear watching you die again. Not again, damnit-!

[exequte]

[She flinches at that, just barely.]

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I wish I could... promise....

[15unknowns]

...then I will.

You're getting out of here and I'll make sure of it no matter what.

[exequte]

[She looks at him for a moment, then nods and forces a smile.]

You too.

Y-you have....

You have Ayame to get back to, right?

[15unknowns]

...My whole family will get out. You, Ayame...Moriarty. Everyone.

[exequte]

Will you....

Will you talk to me? When you get back?

I bet I miss you. I bet she does. Stay with me, then, okay?

[15unknowns]

...Yes. I will. I'll tell you everything.

[exequte]

[She lifts a hand, a little limply, before letting it fall again.

She can't touch him, not yet, but....

She wishes.]

Good.

Don't try to push me away again, okay?