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

[exequte]

[Akane pauses in her soulful and Extremely Dramatic pose, and for a moment looks puzzled.]

Is it a play if there's not really a script?

I guess I'm not sure what else to call it....

[lovedthemost]

Eh? [HM???] Ah...well, that is a good question...

[lmao he is now distracted from the yelling good job Akane]

I suppose you could call it an improvisational play...

[exequte]

An improv! Yes!!

[She seems disproportionately excited over this but possibly she's just feeling giddy.

HER FRENS

THEY HERE]

1/3

[lovedthemost]

Ah, so, that's what it is! [he seems almost pleased with the answer]

2/3

[lovedthemost]

[......wait]

3/3

[lovedthemost]

But that still doesn't explain why you're all doing it now!

[exequte]

[She considers this briefly.]

Well... Daddy hasn't been around for weeks, so we couldn't have done it then....

[lovedthemost]

[....]

Ah, I suppose that's true. [Brain tilts his head in thought]

Most of the drama and ridiculous tangents do happen around Moriarty.

[(source needed)]

[exequte]

I don't know about that, but....

Well, he was one of the initial actors....

[lovedthemost]

Very much an initial actor. [the shade blob makes kind of a motion like someone pushing their glasses up on their nose but they have no arms????]

I suppose it comes naturally to him as Moriarty to attempt to divert attention; perhaps he does it without even thinking.

[Brain nods, almost solemnly]

Truly, his tangents, though they get things very off topic, must be something impulsive for him at this point.

[exequte]

Actually, I think the initial actor was me! Or actress, actually.

[Brain you are getting

FULL
SHOJO
SPARKLE
ENERGY]

[lovedthemost]

[...that is

well

It's odd, but for a moment, he can almost see Medic in the way Akane smiles and sparkles and lights up the room. Of course, that was never directed at him personally, but he always got an eyeful of it whenever she would talk to Heart.]

A-ah, well.

I suppose if it was you, Akane-san, that's more acceptable. It is only natural for a young lady like yourself to have some fun.

[...yeah, alright, Heart. He gets it.]

[exequte]

I think everybody could probably use some, after everything we've been for.

[And then, she clears her throat, and puts on.

Well it might be a vulcan impression. It's a little hard to tell. Her expression is Deeply Serious.]

It is only logical.

[lovedthemost]

[askdhfslh Akane]

...ah. Yes, I suppose it is only logical, however, if you are to say so, I think you need a pair of glasses.

It would make you seem very much more professional.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Not that many!!

1/2

[lovedthemost]

[shades can't smirk but the energy is so >:3 right now]

2/2

[lovedthemost]

Ah, Moriarty, terribly sorry--did you lose count in your old age?

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[HNRHRHRHRRHGH]

I'M NOT THAT OLD, YOU DAMNED SUPERCOMPUTER!

[lovedthemost]

No need to be rude! I'm simply trying to be considerate of your needs. You did complain about your back before.

I understand it must be terribly difficult to begin loosing track of things in your later years, something I will never have to worry about, seeing as I don't age.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[Hey guys, have you ever seen blob on blob violence?

Because Moriarty is leaping at Brain now, boy howdy.]

I'm only 50-something, you wretched upstart!!!

[lovedthemost]

Waugh! [Brain yelps as Moriarty leaps at him, and is definitely darting out of the way as quickly as he can, probably starting to lead Moriarty in a merry chase]

Moriarty, if you needed to exercise, you should have just said so! But don't go too fast, you don't want to strain yourself!

[hatesdeerstalkers]

YOU'LL SEE WHO'S STRAINING HIMSELF!!

[Time to chase down that blob, as he quickly flicks a portal open to position himself in front of Brain for another leap.]

[superstylishsquid]

[Munching on a donut as he watches this.]

[lovedthemost]

Uwa--! [Brain skids to a halt as Moriarty pops out right in front of him, immediately trying to turn and go the other way]

No fair using your port--oof! [yeah that getaway attempt was wholly unsuccessful as Moriarty goes slamming into him, and uhhh DOWN THEY BOTH GO]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[Time to for Brain to learn Moriarty is surprisingly a grappler of all things, as he quickly tries to flip Brain over so he can hold him in a lock.]

I'm so - hrrr - clearly old that I need the handicap, obviously! Just a mere doddering old man who keeps forgetting things, Hm?!