15strangers | FINAL INVESTIGATION

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!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...But that's just what I'd think.

We've got plenty of time before that, though. No need to worry a lot about this yet!

At least, I'd like to think so.

[And she dissolves into helpless giggles, covering her mouth to muffle the sound so that the baby doesn't wake up.]

HOW ARE YOU SO GOOD, KAITO?!

[SURPRISE IT'S FATHER IN LAW JUMPSCARE TIME

wait did he just yell in front of a baby-]

Truly, I continue to be astounded by how there can be two souls in this vast multiverse that shine so brightly with pure Goodness! It's preposterous! Unthinkable!

Edited 2023-07-21 02:33 (UTC)

Wagh! Hey, Pops!

[He does jump, a little.]

I just...say what's on my mind, heh. That's just honestly how I'd--

[wait. looks. at the baby.]

[Follows his line of sight -

oh.

oh fuck,]

...Ah.

[OOPS]

[still here rocking the crib. Whsipering:]

If either of you wake this baby you will not have to worry about returning to Tartarus after I am through with you.

Understood?