FINAL TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

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.]

Comments

[voidseeing]

[That's that, then.

Holding the bottle out to Zack now.]

I think this is meant for you.

1/?

[not_a_lego_maniac]

. . .



All right, then. I guess I am a bit thirsty.

[He takes it, clearly nervous, before he cradles it in his hands, staring at it.]

...it's the color of pomegranate. Quite pretty.

[Yes, yes, now drink it.]

Don't rush me, Zack Jr.

[somuchshipping]

[Hermes offers a thumbs up and a reassuring smile. You got this!]

2/?

[not_a_lego_maniac]

[Taking one final breath, he starts to chug it. He does it get it all down in one gulp, but he ultimately he does empty the bottle.

He lets out a little burp, and for a moment, nothing happens.]

3/?

[not_a_lego_maniac]

[And then-]

HURGHK-

[He doubles over, grabbing his head, the bottle falling out of his hands and shattering.]

Ghhgk....bby.....blood and....and..............darkness-!!

[onychomance]

Oh, shit!

[yesorwoof]

[Makima is standing there, clearly serenely thinking that if the group poisoned Zack then what happens happens.]

[somuchshipping]

Z- Zacky!?

4/5

[strangerpeople]

[And then, with a scream, he explodes into bright purple light, floating up into the air. His clothing disappear, and previously-unseen Enochian symbols dissipate from all over his body. His body seems to shift within the magical light-his hair immediately spikes up, his left eye bleeds red and black, and his feet suddenly combust into flames.

Then, his clothing reappears, also changed-crimson vambraces, wrapped in a strange, vaguely infinity-shaped symbol over his hands. A crimson and black robe, a trio of canine-esque skulls acting as a pauldron. Silvery greaves wrap around his lower legs, and his head is crowned with a wreath of molting leaves, gold as wheat and red as blood.

Finally, the light dissipates, and a sword appears in the ground as Zack lands on his feet.

But it's not Zack anymore.

Zack Prince, the One, is dead. Again. Sort of.]

1/2

[unpossibilities]

[This is fine.

It'll probably be fine...]

5/5

[godofblood]

...Huh. Wow.

...

Thank you, mother Nyx. Wherever you are.

[Zagreus, the God of Blood, has returned.]

[somuchshipping]

[Hermes looks over the current outfit Zagreus is wearing.]

...Meh. Moriarty still has more style.

[godofblood]

...Now that's just unfair, mate.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Thank you!

[HE'S FUCKING PREENING, WHAT DID YOU DO HERMES]

[pegasinister]

...for the love of- cover yourself man!

[HE DIDN' WANNA SEE YOUR SCULPTED TIDDY]

[godofblood]

I am covered, what are you on about?

[wat]

2/2

[unpossibilities]

[Oh no.

It's worse than he thought.

He's GORGEOUS!!!]

[godspiousjasper]

Ah!!

[ Roland's eyes light up. So they were right!! Zack-- no, Zagreus was actually a god! It was a great idea to get him to drink that bottle. ]

Welcome back, Lord Zagreus!

[voidseeing]

[... heh.]

Watch out for any rakes.

[lovedthemost]

Well, maybe now we can get some questions answered, at least. [dryly]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

....Nyx?

[Yeah sorry no time for 'hellos', Moriarty is a man on a mission. Er. A Shade on a mission?]

[exequte]

Do you....

Um....

Do you remember what happened to you?

[Them, she means. The murder game. All of this.]

And...

Do you remember what you thought was your life before?

[onychomance]

My roommate was not my roommate. Incredible.

[How is he supposed to feel about this.... Well it explains the dolls but christ]

[superstylishsquid]

[While everyone else is going 'oh no' over Zag being hot...Alastor just whistles.]

[autonomousthought]

[Headtilt...













Giggle.]