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]

Hmph! As if you would not do the same, Alastor.

[That's said in good spirit, at least, even as he remains on the floor...and doesn't blink at the robot dragon. He's seen weirder shit in Chaldea, man.]

'Just' a soul? Please, if there was not whatever is asserting it's Authority over us, I could regain my proper abilities! After all, such a state as this is much more 'natural' to me than the Incarnation I was in previously.

[He assumes, anyway.]

[superstylishsquid]

I at least told Roland I had plans for the trial when Aoi let me in on what he'd done and gave me a message for after his death.

[This grin shows...a little too much fang, but...frustrated as he is, there's still a sense of relief.]

And since you don't have your magic back, you're still no different from any other ghost.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

You make a mistake one time when you don't have all your memories and you can never live it down! I thought a fellow compatriot in Evil would understand my plight.....Sob, Sob.

[mmmrohrrhhgh DON'T REMIND HIM]

...And must you be such a killjoy, Alastor? Really, I've already a broken arm, I don't need a broken pride on top of it!

[superstylishsquid]

I thought a partner in villainy would let me in on his evil schemes.

[ARMS. CROSSED.]

Or did you not think I could keep a secret?

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[He didn't explain well...then again, it's been a while. He sighs, putting his head down.]

At the time, I assumed I was not truly James Moriarty, but a cast off bit of the man - the remnants of his 'good' nature. And I did not know how accomplices would be punished within the game.

[It's an explanation, not an excuse.]

I had thought that if anyone had to be killed, to let it be myself, totally and utterly, and despised as a hideous villain for none to mourn over. Telling Aoi was merely because he was in the same area I returned to for my Alibi for trial, if it had come up.

But, regardless, I now know who I am. I am fully James Moriarty, not a cast away fragment...and I have more than enough knowledge to know when I have slighted a friend.

[The robe bows, head almost to the floor.]

My deepest apologies, Alastor, for leaving you in the dark. Though my intentions were to spare you, I realize I instead hurt you more.

[superstylishsquid]

[With the full apology, he seems to relax, arms uncrossing and tail lowering from where it had been arched in anger.]

Alright...apology accepted. But for the record, I saw through your ruse from the beginning.

[A slight smirk, maybe with a hint of pettiness to it.]

For one thing, you've got too much Good in you to torture someone unless you were desperate or they deserved it.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[He gives another huff, as if sulking.]

And now you must kick me while I'm down? Alastor, mercy!

[Though...]

But yes, if I'd regained my full memory - well, I wouldn't have faltered so, I could tell you that much. Though working in the going theory about Kaito's death was a bit much in hindsight....

[superstylishsquid]

Yeah well...I knew what Aoi did before his trial and didn't say a thing until we'd worked the evidence over enough to point at him anyway, so.

[Shrug.]

Sometimes the good thing and the nice thing aren't the same. Agreed that rolling with the torture theory was over the top, though.