Odyssey Investigations: AEAEA - Chapter 2, Part 2 - The Case of the Lesser Key of Solomon DeMorge

[GBA]

Very well, let's try to get CYMK (or Buxbaum) to draw the Fallen Lotus symbol with those colors

You approach CYMK in the Exhibition hall. He seems to have stopped sobbing, but is currently pounding down two different kinds of energy drink in sequence. You explain the situation to him, and he seems excited to be useful, until you explain what he has to draw, and he tries to hide a sour look on his face.

- [CYMK] - ..... well, if I treat it like a commission, and the payment is Storm being okay, and maybe I wake up from this nightmare, then... I-

Dr. Buxbaum interjects, and offers to doodle it himself. Moderately experienced, as shown by his stunning picture of the notorious balkan wonderfuck.

- [CYMK] - ....thanks, Buxy. I owe ya one. Give me a call if you need something else drawn, or like, if I need to try and find some colorful spirits to talk to, or... something. I can also share what I saw, if it helps. Let me finish these four energy drinks.

[He reveals two more cans in his jacket pockets, then pops the lid on them, and chugs them in a 2x2 formation all at once.]

Buxbaum attempts to draw the symbol of the fallen lotus. It returns a 23% accuracy rate. You suppose the main subject of the picture isn't the lotus, then.

 

[Turboo]

Spoiler: Music

"■-■■■■■■-senpai, seriously, do you have to take a photo for everything...?!"​

"Ahaha! Just because you're calling me senpai doesn't mean I'm going to stop what I'm doing.
I already told you, □□□□! Just call me ■■■■■■. Really, I'd prefer ■■■, but I know you'll never go for that.
It's annoying to be treated as an upperclassman. We're not that far off in age, are we?"

"Urk... b-but it's... I'm never gonna change your mind on that, am I...?"​

"Oh, look here! This one has a little ghost in it!
See, see, right off near the corner -"

"WHAT-"​

Why did I begin to take photographs?​

I was enraptured by displays of raw emotion, I guess.​

"I want to- fuck, god dammit, I wanna go home!! You bastards are all-"

"No, no, don't - my family, my friends, I-I can't - you can't do -"​

"...I don't want to die...!!"​

"Do you understand, ■■■?
Of course you do. You're a smart boy. Yes? Isn't that right?
Don't focus on their reactions. The differences are so minute each time that it doesn't matter.
Simply... maintain the ability to 🗙🗙🗙🗙 them. You will, won't you? My ■■■."

But I wanted to know more about them first, Mother.

What makes them hurt? What makes them suffer?
What pains them physically? What pains them mentally?
What do they learn? What do they remember? What do they forget?
What do they enjoy? What makes them happy?​

Completely contrary to what I'd known to be possible, one day, I realized I could hear the deceased.
I was surrounded by decay, after all. Lasting images of their torture.
And, of course, they had nothing pleasant to say about me. Dots and dashes that they were.

I think I found it comforting. Even if I had to work to decode these messages, it meant I imprinted onto these individuals,
and it meant there was an existence after this one. In some cases, I was able to get my answers from them directly.

In retrospect, it was because I had a weak heart that I didn't ask Mother these questions myself.
That I didn't tell her I developed these powers, even when she questioned if I were of the same lineage as her.
That I didn't argue when she comforted me, because despite my uselessness, I was still her smart, obedient boy.

That I didn't risk my seat in Heaven that my mother promised me by asking too much of her,
after everything I put her through.​

That selfsame weak heart is why I lost that seat, and why I refused to seek □□□□'s voice out, in the end.
If I focused enough on my pictures, he was alive, if just barely out of reach.
I was fired after he died. I mean, it was my job. That "one person" I was meant to cultivate was gone, so it was my fault.
That's reasonable, isn't it...? Termination wasn't new to me. It's a nice way to say "death," with a pretty little bow to soften it.

...I was released onto the streets with little fanfare, and that was that.
When I think back on it, I'm sure they thought that, for me, that would be the worst punishment possible.
I stayed awake as long as I could. I glanced behind myself at every moment.
I hardly left my shelter during the day, and the times I did were marked by an overwhelming paralysis I'd never felt before.
I loved humans. I love humans. Even though I can't express it, I truly love humans.
Humans had power over me now.
My only thought, at the peak of my hypocrisy, was that I, too, did not want to die.​

When strange things started happening on that ship, I was secretly thrilled.
...Feelings I had tried to bury long ago welled up within me.
And I let my guard down, which allowed me to be possessed, I suppose.

I shouldn't have been surprised. Well, ahaha, I wasn't, really... though, I still didn't want to die.
I was so excited to take part in Mother's little game as a child,
and here I was as an adult, thrust into what looked like a pocket of Heaven itself and only concerned about my own survival.

...Buuut, that aside, I haven't ever been able to figure it out.
Why I got the job in the first place, I mean!
Was it because Solomon saw something in me that my mother never could, or...
...hmm, was it because □□□□ and I had that shard?
I always thought it'd been destroyed by that fire, but...​

---

"Sighhh... it always comes back to something related to that cult, or that comet.
Carcass Vermilion, my eternal pain in my rear.
Not to sound uncaring, of course!"

"But... Mr. Dhurvakt, it's fine if you don't want to talk about the specifics...
I'm not picky anymore. I'm old enough that I won't sweat the details too hard.

But shouldn't you at least tell the others about what happened to you during that seminar?

While you were discussing... ahaha, I don't know.
The weather, or whatever you want to call it.
I mean, Mr. CYMK saw it. Quite a few of us, really. Including Mr. Tarlow.

Don't you think that'd be a big help? Especially if you happen to also know whatever this 'Rupture' Mr. Dazmuna was suffering from is.

Heeey, I should probably find Mr. von Lichtenfels and ask him the same thing... but if anyone else gets to him before me, inquiring minds want to know."

 

[GBA]

View attachment 68364
"But... Mr. Dhurvakt, it's fine if you don't want to talk about the specifics...
I'm not picky anymore. I'm old enough that I won't sweat the details too hard.

But shouldn't you at least tell the others about what happened to you during that seminar?

While you were discussing... ahaha, I don't know.
The weather, or whatever you want to call it.
I mean, Mr. CYMK saw it. Quite a few of us, really. Including Mr. Tarlow.

Don't you think that'd be a big help? Especially if you happen to also know whatever this 'Rupture' Mr. Dazmuna was suffering from is.

Heeey, I should probably find Mr. von Lichtenfels and ask him the same thing... but if anyone else gets to him before me, inquiring minds want to know."

Moh removes the bandana covering his mouth to ensure he's heard.

- [Moh] - ...........Arcane Rupture is rareish a kind of condition that affects the hearts of strong mages past a certain age.... but it can be accelerated rapidly by stress. Arcane energy build-up within the heart of the body crystallizes and causes a catastrophic shutdown, and energy release, like a overcharging a battery.

- [Moh] - It typically spells death for those with magical abilities of exceptional potency. Normally on death, the mind fails before the body does, and the spirit leaves to prevent the body inducing complete rupture, usually just resulting in a messier heart attack. Such explosive effects only occur with direct attacks, and as you are now presuming from our surroundings...

[He replaces the bandana, and the beard vanishes like it was never there.]

- [Moh] - .............Piercing his heart, he died from impalement. I assume he knew this would happen when he jumped. Medications of all kinds exist for its prevention or suppression, and keep exceptional talent alive provided the doses are administered frequently enough. I don't fear death, far from it, but in the interest of keeping myself useful to Noktmathi and the Astral Plane, I remain here on Naos.

- [Moh] - Pacemakers...? Hohoho... I suppose you could say the badge I wear on my chest is a similar device.

 

[Dr. Lyra Orpheus]

Well, if nobody else is to do it, I suppose it'll fall to me, hm?

I'll wander into The Depths to rescue von Lichtenfels from his, er, horking. He's a reliable sort, perhaps he's got something to share.

 

[GBA]

I'll wander into The Depths to rescue von Lichtenfels from his, er, horking. He's a reliable sort, perhaps he's got something to share.

You enter Cascade Depths, passing by Aldrich standing around in the Thalassic Conduit.

The air is quiet. The emergency alarms have all shut off, with some of the fancier looking lights unscrewed and taken. The pipes have all quietened, and not a pool of water is disturbed. The pulsing water you heard earlier is gone, replaced with silence. Only the blinking of a single red light illuminates the room, as the Conduit's abyssal trench glows fainter and fainter. It remains guarded by Aldrich.

Amidst the deep ambience, you approach the concierge. He's forbidding you from looking into the pool while maintenance occurs, but peering around him, you can see beneath the faint purple glow, dots and dashes manifest over the shield, though you can't make them out with Aldrich preventing access. There's no water within the main unit.

He remains unmoving, leaning on his staff, insistent that while you are allowed to investigate the rest of the depths, the main unit is under his strict watch with the Lotus still unapprehended. He cares not what you do to the rest of the hotel. You ask if he's seen, or heard, von Lichtenfels.

- [Aldrich] - ...Justice Hall. I've heard nothing but-

Gaheheh.... [HORF]

- [Aldrich] - -that. Since I've been standing here. The man is infuriating.

You then walk into the Justice Hall, leaving the eerie cake-eater to his eerie business.

Within, Kane sits at in the biggest chair behind Kleidi's desk, tinkering with his fire staff. It seems like he's been looking over some of the files and evidence in this room. On the desk sits a few reports titled "Solomon Demorge", "Otto Dazmuna", and "Lorenzo Moretti", as well as the small, black box.

- [Kane] - Ah, Mr. Sholmes.

- [Kane] - What a spectacular evening it's been, mm? Did you happen to catch any of the death combat in the Casino? I did the effects for that as well. Heard little Sol got her sunny backside handed to her by the Dreamweaver! His Roulette Formal outfit, incredible. He might beat me at the cosplay event, so before I come join you all at the Brewing, I've been tinkering with my staff, cross-referencing some files in light of new information, biding my time in h-

You appreciate his passion, but interrupt him with the dire news, and his face darkens. He stands up, and coughs.

- [Kane] - ...lead me to Circe, please.

You don't look at the files on the desk, but take Kane on a stroll back to the East Botanical Gardens, and he views the scene before him with a grave expression.

- [Kane] - Were it not so gruesome, this would be fantastic inspiration for the Brrlais Winter Festival. I must discuss things with my partner in justice, but ask me any urgent questions you have.

 

[Dr. Lyra Orpheus]

I regret having to bring this up, Mr. von Lichtenfels, but regarding this briefcase... It appears to be locked by a sigil that both Mr. Dazmuna and Storm knew well in advance of their exchange. You wouldn't happen to have any knowledge of what it could be, would you? I'm afraid we've hit a dead end on that front.

Furthermore, I think I'd like your testimony. We were together much of the night, particularly around the moment of death, but I'd rather cover every angle. Perhaps you saw something earlier in the evening? Knowing what we know now... does anything stand out to you?