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]

Because the sheep there - or, should I say, Hypnos - was looking for him shortly before Aoi appeared on our side.

[He's casual about it, but he remembers what the sheep did during the breakout, and he's confident in his theory.]

Think, if you will, upon his name, Zack Prince.

[somuchshipping]

[Hypnos...? Hermes will eye the sheep with some disdain over where he's at.]

[godspiousjasper]

...With what Alastor said... and the fact he was so hard to kill...

[ That and while the others were those blob-like things? Zack still looked like himself. Who he had been told was someone named Hypnos had also seemingly been looking for Zack too.. ]

Zack... Prince... Zagreus! It sounds similar enough.

[superstylishsquid]

Either version of the myth would name him the son of a king. In other words, a prince.

[This whole thing feels...weird. Talking about someone some myths have called his son, thinking about the possibility that...there might be another Zeus here. The man in Hades' chair, after all, is absolutely not the Hades he once knew.

...He hopes the other Zeus also doesn't match certain darker elements of the legends, or else he might have to punch him.]

[godspiousjasper]

...So... would the ones sleeping amongst the vines and around this place happen to be legitimate Greek gods?

[ Give him a second. He never put the pieces together before now, but with the very obvious thing of Zack very realistically now seeming to be a god with his previous strength and inability to die as well?

It's just... sinking in.

He. Is. In. The. PRESENCE. of GODS. ]

[somuchshipping]

I mean. I'm right here.

[not_a_lego_maniac]

...................





No. I'm not-I'm not this Zagris. I'm...I'm me. I'm nothing special, I swear!

[not_a_lego_maniac]

I...what?

[He'll take the towels, but as the moments go by, the blood seems to get absorbed, somehow, by him.]

But--that's utter nonsense. I've never heard of a name like...Zagris? And my parents are named Tom and Melinda...



[Also he looks. Very confused.]

[countingme]

Huh?

No, your name is Zagreus! Prince Zagreus! You're my frie--

[ It sounds a little distressed, drifting up towards Zack, looking up with its big, golden eyes. ]

You've got lots of friends down here who'd tell you that!

Well... if they weren't all napping they would! Maybe seeing some of them would jog your memory? Wow, those roots really did a number on you, huh?

[not_a_lego_maniac]

I...no, my name is Zack Prince...

[He slowly stands.]

I live in Greece. New York...and you're a talking sheep.

[countingme]

O..oh...

[ The sheep seems uncertain now, looking around towards the others nearby - perhaps the shade of Moriarty longer than the rest. ]

[not_a_lego_maniac]

[Well, if it makes Fluffles feel better, Zack also feels confused. A tad scared, too. But to be fair, he woke up in a pool of blood and has been down there for who knows how long.



And now people calling him "Zagreus".]

I'm me. I'm me. I'm still me...

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[Moriarty is just going to look at him, quietly, before speaking up again.]

Yes, you are you. But who you thought you were? Is nothing more but a lie placed upon you by another's hand.

[Because, well. He DID wipe his own memory and implant false ones before, so!]

You are Zagreus, son of Hades and Persephone. The fact you stand here in your own body, and not condemned to a shade's form like myself or the other dead is proof of that alone.

Though realizing this is undoubtedly terrifying, there is no point to averting your eyes to the truth. Especially when your true family lies languishing under the tyranny of these roots feeding off of them.

Or will you let them suffer, Zagreus? Will you continue to deny your very self for a more comfortable truth, and sit by when you have the power to change this, and help us all?

[not_a_lego_maniac]

I-my true family...?

[There's a loud whine coming from big doggo's direction.

He looks over towards the dog, towards Moriarty, towards the poll, then back towards the dog. The three-headed malodorous beat, meanwhile, stares back, looking utterly miserable.]


...my dog's name is Spot...

[He...reluctantly...starts to walk over to the biggest and goodest boy.]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Spot. Or as he is otherwise known...Cerebrus.

[Which, you know. Is Literally Spot.

He'll stay back here, watching as Zack goes to his dog.

As the godhead who has forgotten himself returns home, and greets his faithful companion.]

[not_a_lego_maniac]

[He finally comes up to the massive monster, who lets out a another whine.]

Hey. Hey, don't worry, my dog gets scared too.


[Immediately-almost instinctively, one might say-he goes and pets the muzzle on the head closest to the desk.]

Shhh, shhhh, we'll set you and your folks right. Good boy.

[The effect is immediate. There's a contented boof from the pet head, and the seemingly familiar gesture calms down the other two heads as well.




Well then.]

Good boy.

[countingme]

[ The sheep jolts, then proceeds to chuckle, one might even say nervously. ]

No, haven't you heard Kaito? I'm Fluffles...

[somuchshipping]

[Hmmm...]

...Then it's a very good thing you're Fluffles then! Thanatos can hang out with me instead of just some loser!

[Nope, not doing this because he's secretly jealous of his own Hypnos no sirree!]

[countingme]

Huh? Who're you?

[somuchshipping]

I'm Hermes.

[countingme]

PPfff! No you're not!

[somuchshipping]

[Hermes shows off his profile on the watch he's wearing.]

[countingme]

Hermes... the 6th? That's weird. So not Hermes Hermes.

And you're saying you're friends with my-- with Thanatos?

[somuchshipping]

No, it's v1. As in version 1. A first-gen AI. And yes, I'm based off of the real one. Also yes to the Thanatos one.

I'm from a computer game! There's lots of Greek and Roman gods there. Like Somnus!

[countingme]

Oh wow! I don't know what a computer is, but that sounds neat!

Anyway, I'm afraid Thanatos can't chat right now! He's resting and boy, he deserves it. He's always so busy, I didn't think he had any friends outside of Zagreus!