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

[pegasinister]

Ah. Is she resting then? I will be quiet.

[He even closes the door softly behind him before... continuing on his exploration around Delta with no further hassle! Huh.]

[15unknowns]

Mm. See for yourself.

[Casually leans back.]

[pegasinister]

[He goes to do just that, heading towards the bed]

EVIDENCE

[strangerpeople]

[Well, the baby's not on the bed, but there is something there: a book.]

[pegasinister]

Dante. That same name as Alastor's 'friend'.

[he flips through it, oh, pictures!]

EVIDENCE

[strangerpeople]

Dante. Named after the poet, Dante Alighieri.

[Indeed!

One of the images has been cut out, or at least the majority of it has been.]

[pegasinister]

I see. He certainly doesn't seem as much a poet as his name sake.

[He glances at the art around the missing one- is the work similar to any of the posters?]

[strangerpeople]

[No. However, there is a piece of art that will immediately catch Hubert's attention.]

[pegasinister]

[Ohoho? Let's see]

EVIDENCE

[strangerpeople]

[It's a portrait.]

Re: EVIDENCE

[pegasinister]

[That's a big fucking dog.

Also he looks up and... does he see that woman's picture on the bedside like in the room image?]

Re: EVIDENCE

[strangerpeople]

[Yes. But that might not be the most...surprising thing Hubert finds on the portrait.]

[pegasinister]

[Let me guess, someone on there looks familiar]

[exequte]

...?

Hubert?

[She'd caught the tail end of that, even if she hadn't seen who he was talking to.]

[pegasinister]

[Through the door]

I'm fine, Akane. I will not stop you from coming inside but it may be... unpleasant for you.

And I ask you be quiet if you do. No yelling.

[exequte]

[Well. THAT makes her curious. So she'll open the door enough to slip in silently, looking around herself as she closes it behind her.]

[pegasinister]

[He's not surprised, and he steps aside so she can see, well, motherfucking Delta just sitting there before he moves on to continue exploring without a care of having that man at his back]

[exequte]

[Interesting.

She studies him with only an expression of mild interest, not seeming alarmed.]

Were you Zero after all?

[She really... seems to be studying him intently as opposed to reacting in the way that one might expect someone like her would.]

[pegasinister]

Me? Flames no. I am just a tool, as always.

[exequte]

[She just smiles, the expression amused amused, and shakes her head, pointing at Delta.]

[pegasinister]

[He blinks then mouths 'oooh'- not at all insulted by the implication that he COULDN'T be Zero]

[15unknowns]

[Delta, meanwhile, seems nonplussed at the question, simply adjusting his glasses.]

In terms of the person who ran the general logistics of this game you were subjected to? Yes.

However, I am not the one who brought you here, nor was I the ultimate mastermind.

[exequte]

Of course you aren't. Didn't you think I'd notice?

[The faint regret that colored his words, sometimes.]

Who is?

[15unknowns]

[When the pot and kettle meet.

Delta brings a hand to his chin.]

If I were to utter her name, she would unfortunately know, and there'd be little chance of anyone surviving, much less those who already have. Such is the downside to being beholden to a witch.

[exequte]

A witch?

Really?


.... gosh.

But... but what does that have to do with everyone here?