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

THAT WAS BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE MY ENTIRE MEMORY BACK, AND WE DESERVE A LITTLE LEVITY AFTER EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED!

IS NOW REALLY THE TIME FOR DISTRACTIONS CONSIDERING WE HAVE NOT ACTUALLY ESCAPED?!

I'D SAY NOW IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TIME OF ALL!!

THE ONLY WORSE TIME COULD BE DURING A TRIAL! BUT YOU'VE ALREADY DONE THAT!!

AND SO IT DOESN'T TRULY MATTER IF WE HAVE FUN HERE NOW, DOES IT?!

IT DOES IF YOU GET EVERYONE DISTRACTED WHEN WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE FOCUSING!

THEN GO BE FOCUSED SOMEWHERE ELSE AND LET US HAVE FUN FOR A MOMENT!

SOME OF US HAVE HEADACHES.

[Moriarty, sir, pls...]

HE STARTED IT!

[MORIARTY YOU ARE 50-SOMETHING, NOT A CHILD]

[THIS FACE RIGHT NOW]

[asldkfhs]

Ah. Gai-san...

I see. Then I will, ah, keep my volume lower.

[he sounds kind of sheepish lol]

[Digging pointedly in a long, pointy ear with his pinky.]

Don't worry-- you aren't the worst offender here.

[Fortunately.

LOOKING POINTEDLY AT MORIARTY NOW.]

[Not his fault he was born blessed with a good set of lungs and a penchant for using them, hmph]

Ah, that's a relief.

[he peers at Gai a bit, tilting his head]

Are there at least any medicine you can take? Considering our situation, a headache would be a bit of a distraction.

[he's not fretting a little, YOU'RE fretting a little]

I took some painkillers before we came down here.

[Well. Sort of. It's not entirely a lie?]

I should be able to function just fine either way. It's not like we're going to have a choice if it comes down to a battle...

[Which is really just a matter of when, not if. And Brain doesn't need to know the details anyway if he's already fretting! It isn't like this is going to be getting any better...]

Ha, that's true. However, if you need to rest before then...[he pauses, glancing around this rather loud and busy room] ...I would say now would be the time to do it, but here is not the place.

We don't have time for that.

[It sounds more resigned than anything else, but honestly, it's mostly just because he's practical. This room is far too chaotic to allow for anything of the sort.]

... or peace and quiet for that. I'd say that's the more pressing concern.

Hmm. Perhaps there is another room, then, that is less loud but does not have many of those roots...

[he's going to start to float off to take a look. This is obvs very important]

Ritsu could probably use some rest too.

[Y'know, just saying. This isn't just about him!!]

Edited 2023-07-22 05:07 (UTC)

Hm? [he pauses, glancing at Gai]

Did you want to find her also and see that she rests as well?

Yeah. She needs it more than I do right now.

[As for why... well, that's her place to explain and not really his, though he will if need be.]

I fail to see why you both couldn't get some rest.

[js]

Oh, yes, I can go back and tell Ritsu-chan.

[Makima has come in now.]

Kira-kun and I were actually investigating a bedroom.

Makima-san. [Brain, as always, brightens when she shows up]

A bedroom? That might be a convenient place for some peace and quiet, then, for those that need it.

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