15strangers | FINAL TRIAL

FINAL TRIAL
(1 of Hekatombaion)

[When the time comes, Charon arrives on a boat, hrrhrrhrring a little tune as he rows. No need to worry about space, even with all of the shades coming with. Fluffles, unsurprisingly, doesn't go; he does see everyone off, at least, before he falls asleep.

With a final hnnnngrrrgh, they're off. Charon is the master of the Styx, in his own way, deftly avoiding roots and branches from the Qliphoth as he guides his charges up through the layers of the underworld. From the dark and gloomy green of Tartarus, to the lava-flooded Asphodel and it's giant many-headed bone snake, sadly snarled in demonic roots (without thinking, Zack waves to it), on through the lazy rivers of Elysium, and lastly through the pitch stink of the corridors of a temple separating the underworld from the living world.

Throughout, there is eerie quiet. No shades appear to watch their procession-indeed the few wisps around seem to be fleeing, hiding. No rats try to bite Zack's face off. Aside from Lernie, there's truly nothing but tree, tree, and more tree.

Finally, though, the surface air hits, and it is...not cold, but not warm, either. Though, as everyone disembarks, that's probably not what catches everyone's attention. No-it is the barren fields of ancient Greece, just outside the entrance to the underworld-and there is only one thing alive in the area.

It is late afternoon, and the silhouette of the new moon is the only thing that emits real light now in the grey. Indeed, if there is a sun, it is blocked out by the massive, massive roots in the sky, swirling into the stratosphere. The roots in the underworld were in fact more akin to greedy branches; the roots in the sky of the world of life, however, are far more massive, and it's clear the tree is fully grown. And-if the dead grass and trees and barren lands around the Temple of Styx are any indication-it isn't simply feeding on human blood-it's affecting the life of the earth itself, greedily lapping up what it can as it further embeds itself, further spreads, further grows. Further destroys.

It won't stop. There is obsession and power, and Delta is right-it will never stop unless someone intervenes.

Wordlessly Delta points to a Spire of blood in front of them. Yup-they need to enter it to get to where they need to go. Lovely.]

Through here is the core of the tree where the fruit of the Qliphoth is being cultivated. Come.

[Well, no turning back. With luck, the Catillac has some extra towels.

So, immediately after squishing into the...blood elevator?...everyone is schllllorped on a ride akin to w water slide, going up and down, left and right, up, up, up, then down, down, down....down.......

d

o

w

n

into the depths.

And when they emerge...]

[Bright flowers grow on the vines. There is distant birdsong, and the sun shines among fat, lazy clouds. But you can see the shine of glass in the corner of your eye; the air is too perfect to breath, too cold to touch. You don't feel the grass or dirt underfoot that you can clearly see The smell of blood is everywhere.

An illusion? A dream? A delusion? Something else? Who knows. There is a patio table laid out with tea, and four seats. It's almost as if the owner simply got up and left for a moment. It's all strange, all...wrong.

Still. You're finally here. You're in the core. You freed a possible god from the grip of forced ignorance. And you have-you hope-everything you need to end this. But there is still one question:

Who is the true Mastermind, and what is their goal in doing all of this?

It is time, Strangers. By the seas, the heavens and the earth, by blood and darkness, it's up to you.

Good luck.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Well same, but. Hmm.]

... There is our ostensibly female witch.

I CERTAINLY can't see why she would want me alive- unless she simply liked my blood enough for a second sip.

That's true. He must have enough ability to send them after you. What I wonder is what role they play in any of this. Why are they present in the first place?

Edited 2023-07-22 19:19 (UTC)

Akane says they mentioned contracts to her- perhaps they are also demons? Or a demon.

[They do seem to be a hivemind from what he's been told]

I...was able to read their minds. It appears they have a contractual system which specifically targets ladies with karmic potential.

The lady...does not like them.

So they are not a demon but they do work with a similar modus operandi.

Akane doesn't like them either- I will admit neither do I. Their round face taunts me.

[Yes he still has the plush]

Do you know why she dislikes them?

Other than them being pests.

[Kira just has to get in that he also doesn't like them.]

[Makima gives a jittering smile that can be recognized by the chosen few as utter resentment of The Pests.]

They attempted to contract with her.

Needless to say, the lady was...displeased, given what said contracts for power normally entail.

I take it the contract is heavily weighted in the beast(s) favor?

Yes. In any case, the end result is that the soul ends up with these creatures for whatever purpose they wish use it for.

[He wrinkles his nose at that]

So are they still attempting to woo her or just taking advantage of a place where young women in desperate situations are in plenty supply?

Yes.

Both?

Both.

(no subject)

pegasinister - 2023-07-22 21:05 (UTC) - Expand

Do go on.

They have continued to try and contract with her regardless. And she continues to refuse in her own...special way.

Why are they so persistent? Did you work with them at all, with your mind reading?

Very briefly. As for why, they seem to be obsessed with the heat death of their home universe.

Their home universe, hmm. That's irrelevant to the current situation I suppose..... Then what did you cooperate with them in?

15unknowns - 2023-07-22 19:57 (UTC) - Expand

pegasinister - 2023-07-22 19:58 (UTC) - Expand

onychomance - 2023-07-22 20:05 (UTC) - Expand

onychomance - 2023-07-22 20:04 (UTC) - Expand

That explains the pile of dead ones I found. And the live one Lord Charon gave me that died shortly after.

[She sounds rather blasé, all things considered those were some of the less horrifying experiences she had on the Gigantic.]

Karmic potential? What does that mean?

To put it simply, it's a person's capacity to change the world. The greater karmic potential, the greater their magical power when these creatures contract with them.

SO these things want to take over the world? Do they taste good when roasted?

[Getting a little aggressive there, Hermes.]

No. Their aims are truly utilitarian in nature.