15strangers | FINAL INVESTIGATION

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

[...

There's a moment as he stares at her...and then shakes his head.]

Akane, I'm disappointed in you.

[...]

Put more emotion into it! Make me feel your sorrow and despair! Assaulted on all sides by those who you once called friends....show me the depths of agony one would feel during that moment!

[For a moment she looks surprised, perhaps slightly taken aback, pose faltering slightly, but then he continues and immediately her pose adjusts to be even more dramatic. Back further arched, head further thrown back, expression something that might approximate what one might call anguish.]

Alas! I fear! You are right!!

[There is a brief pause, and then, not quite sure what else to do in this moment, she...

Well it's more that she carefully lies down than falls over, but.

The attempt is there? Maybe?]

[....no this is even worse.]

No! No! You needn't put that much into it!! The spirit is willing, but your execution lacking, my dear! Watch and learn!

[THE CAPE BILLOWS AROUND DRAMATICALLY as he leans over her prone form, his voice suddenly laden through with grief]

Ah, my dearest one! Who did this to you, that leaves you so pale upon the floor?!