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

[GBA]

The Ritual of Truth has concluded.

The seven stars have accused Aldrich Ethos of being Lorenzo Moretti, the culprit, and Soleil Baskerforge of being his co-conspirator to both crimes.




A silence rings out in the courtroom, as the gavel falls, indicating the time for accusations has finally elapsed.



...


Then... you all turn towards Aldrich.


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...



...



...

To Be Continued...


​

 

[GBA]

Smoke continues to erupt from the burning visage of the former Aldrich Ethos, as the deductions of the group ring out in the courtroom with harmonic truth.

Lorenzo Moretti, guilty of vandalism, of Astral Plane interference, guilty of impersonation and ritual perjury, guilty of murdering Otto Dazmuna, of poisoning Storm DeMorge, guilty of attempting to claim two lives which escaped his and his executor's grasp almost three years ago. To his side throughout this stood Soleil Baskerforge, a bright woman with a shadow within her heart that had finally manifested before them all in full.

The primary culprit stood in their ranks, and was likely already attempting to circumvent the ritual he was now proven bound by. Circe and Kane lunge towards the burning figure as a gavel strike booms overhead. Kleidi's voice follows in a sense of urgency.

- [Kleidi] - The Ritual of Truth has concluded, and the chamber of Justice shall now hand down its verdict. By the magic of justice, the accused will be apprehended for sentencing posthaste.

...​

Lorenzo's aide looks briefly wild-eyed as her expression fades from one of sunny joy to one of darkened shadow. It seemed their time was finally up, and she laid down her staff in quick surrender, her face hidden by her large sun-hat as golden shackles locked her wrists together.

However, from the smoking body of Aldrich rises a black shadow. A falcon. It spreads its wings and screeches towards the judge attempting to lock him down.

- [???] - Shamsiel, strike the gavel!

With her face finally broken into emotion at seeing the truth behind her missing falcon confront her directly, Kleidi's impartiality in the ruling is jeopardised for but a single moment, just as the shapeshifting menace had calculated long ago.

Soleil kicks her sword up and unsheathes it in an instant even with her arms bound in chains, charging towards Kleidi as Circe attempts to knock her back, but to no avail. She runs the sword past the Chief Justice's face, then whips out two syringes with one chained hand and, in a lethal demonstration of her dexterity, plunges them straight into her neck, injecting their contents.

Kleidi splutters, and spits up red, before collapsing on the ground.

Circe charges to kicks the assassin away, and Soleil backflips while dodging Kane's fireballs, as wings of light erupt from her back. She takes off to keep them occupied, while Kleidi begins to glow... red.

With no suitable adjudicator to complete the ritual, the fell bird seizes the opportunity to render his own judgment. He aims for the window of the courtroom, and with a loud shattering noise, the illusion is broken, and so are Soleil's chains. Rain thunders down in sync with the shattered glass falling from the ceiling. Moh dives to protect CYMK with a shroud of clouds, Cassia pulls Valerie out of the way with her vines, Darkwing Duck dives to protect Rhoda, and Garett pulls Storm away from harm.

The falcon lands as everyone is disoriented, its form burning into blackened fire, as a new humanoid one emerges, finally addressing the investigators, and Storm, himself.

In a flash, Lorenzo projects a shadow which traps them in his domain for a single moment that feels like three hundred. It looks almost like the burned remains of a quiz studio, with a window into what occurs outside, on the plane.

With no sound to hear, before their view is a colossal being with a single red eye, spewing black and red fire as it burns portions of the Astral Plane to nothing. Its form shifts incomprehensibly, as it incinerates everything in sight with a primal fury. The onlookers notice it carries wings, and a birdlike body.

An astral phoenix, corrupted beyond recognition.

Lorenzo finally steps into the ruined spotlight.​

Threatening ambience... a suitable callback... yes, the scene is now set. My chalkydri is keeping the "trio of Justice" busy as the script dictates, so... a bit of an ad lib monologue is on the cards! The great detective might recognize where we stand at the moment.

A formal introduction, and congratulations, are in order, for your amusing deductions. Let the record show you have successfully outwitted Lorenzo Moretti, Lazarus, Lemegeton, Lazza, "huge lazzhole", anything is fine, aha! You'll find I've outgrown the need for any one name.

Alas, we were never going to be bound by that meaningless ritual, and will be taking our leave as soon as I disperse this abandoned set, but putting us on the ropes sure does make for a more dramatic ending, hm? I suppose you all deserve part of an explanation before that happens. It's only fair to the audience. You were mostly correct, of course.

Kleidi wouldn't bring her falcon to Cascade, so I had to lean on one of my... Fallen conspirators, for another undetectable entry point. A worthless fuzzy! That foolish researcher never thought once she could be duped by one of her precious animals so. Once my method of entry was secured, Soleil's time duplicating and distributing key intel on this place's post-Solomon security measures to my network, undetected, was what allowed us both to shut Cascade down in one evening.

Incurable poison to the system, hm? Thematic consistency in my plays is important.

...not to mention AE's shutdown was far more reactive to the poison than I anticipated. It almost ended up being in my favor, however. Ah, to have fooled the great detective Sholmes for but a moment.

Once Aldrich was offline, I'd take his place, and keep the Golems in check with his cane and facial recognition. Otto wouldn't suspect anything until I sent the fear of the stars down his neck. Just enough to tip him overboard into full paranoid rupture. The second-last "person" he could trust in the world, finally turning on him too. Possessing Otto's body, and launching him out the window he shot at was nothing but a cool breeze through my feathers thereafter. You were correct that I rigged his connection to broadcast a fake message, after I carefully monitored his mannerisms and speech while in fuzzy form.

Storm fled to Otto as expected, and I split from Circe, then beat her to his room in falcon form. I set up the locks, before planting the second set of keys on Storm, then made it appear as though "Aldrich" was slightly held up before Circe arrived. That, and the timing obfuscation provided by Moh, made it all click together to give "Aldrich" and "Soleil" the alibis they needed, while making Storm look like the only culprit.

Cyrus, how did it feel being used by your mentor? In fact, how did all of you!? Moh stopped anyone from hearing the crime occurring or the ice bullet hitting the water by putting your heads in the clouds. Part of our agreement, of course. He was an unwitting accomplice this whole time.

There were many reasons for our attack on AEAEA occurring precisely this moment, but... of the opportunities it granted us... revenge on Otto one of those...

...I'd say the Fallen truly wanted to offer Storm that very same opportunity which Garett and he got three years ago. He managed to wound my executor, and even impress me with his odd back-up power. A chance for Storm to prove himself with his newfound maturity, to grant us Dagon's inherited legacy, and to join our ranks officially, as he once desired. Those nightmares he had were giving him an easy way out at every turn.

"Submit to me, fool."
"Give into that red aura entirely, as you did on the ships."
"Seize your path as your father's son, and surpass him as my right hand."​

Yet, he resisted long enough to be rescued. It must have felt like an eternity in that state. He truly burned bright. It almost reminded me of the Blumenthal house, all those years ago...

No matter! All's well that ends well, as they say. Everyone else played their assigned parts wonderfully, and it truly was the performance of a lifetime.

Moh finally recovers, and his voice booms, shattering Lorenzo's domain with a gust of clouds.

- [Moh] - You've violated enough of the plane with your composite monstrosity. You have nowhere to run, and Cascade's barriers prevent your escape. You'll be captured, and subjected to the most solitary of Astral confinements in existence.

- [Lorenzo] - Oh, Moh, your naivete never fails to amuse me! After all of that to kill and frame Otto and Storm, sometimes the simplest way to escape is best, fool.

- [Moh] - ...Ignorant fiend. My pact yet remains unbroken, and so shall yours.

- [Lorenzo] - Fool is drastically underselling it, actually. A renowned skywarden like yourself being bound by a basic pact, all to ensure that amateur deinos remains unharmed, you'll never hear the end of it from the delegation. You sold Otto's life for his, all because I possessed him during the vandalism, and spooked you just enough to make an opening in your heart. You were truly the hardest wall to overcome, and I soared it all the same.

- [Lorenzo] - Ahaha... even so, you obeyed well. Shamsiel's grudge was what did us in. She was ordered to lace the dessert I ordered with bracelet poison at the Casino fight, but insisted upon me grabbing extra Wydraseed "venom" for it instead, which wasn't part of the original plan. I suppose she thought this was more... entertaining, running around, trying to cure Storm from the incurable, feigning innocence until ENA saw right through her in the end. Rhoda's unexpected return and "Darkwing Duck"'s appearance were truly the extra thorns in her side.

Circe and Kane are thrown back in one motion by the executor, who has now turned their sights on the rest of the group as Lorenzo's spell has been dispersed.

Lazarus, working from the reflection of the sun's light off the moon, beneath cloud cover, my ritualistic power is scarcely what it normally is.​

The executor from Otto's memory may not be as stellar or shrouded in darkness, but she still resembles the star of black that slaughtered hundreds.

Ahehehehe... well, it'll have to do. My light will pierce each of you the same.​

- [Lorenzo] - Fear not everyone, We've gotten what we came for, and Otto lays dead. Shamsiel will only attack if you attempt to halt our escape, and that will only end... poorly, if memory serves!

With a wave of Aldrich's stolen cane, a loud roar erupts from the pipes as AE's water systems come back online, and water golems begin to reanimate from all sides.

- [Lorenzo] - Those vouchers were a real treat. Just had to slap an intruder sticker on them from Aldrich's office, and those Golems will come after anyone who happened to show up and take one of his generous gifts.

Tossing Aldrich's cane to Soleil, black fire begins to encircle Lorenzo as he begins a hallowing, final transformation before them all. His body becomes black and feathered as before, but much larger, and more pronounced. His size grows as he turns more monstrous and birdlike, and he scratches sharp talons on the plaza grounds as he achieves his final distorted form.

A phoenix, covered in black. Mimicking the very same that wreaks havoc on the Astral Plane above.​

- [Astral Corruption] - MY MOST IMPRESSIVE OUTFIT TO DATE, AND IT FITS... MAGNIFICENTLY.

I SPENT YEARS PIECING IT TOGETHER FROM FRACTURED MEMORIES OF THE COMET AND ITS POWER, AND NOW I AM THE ONLY ONE HOLDING IT BACK FROM DESTROYING EVERYTHING ABOVE US, CUTTING OUR UNIVERSE OFF FROM THE OUTSIDE.... FOREVER.

DEATH IS MEANINGLESS, AS MOH HAS SAID. BUT, MY SPIRIT IS BETTER SPENT SERVING THIS HIGHER PURPOSE. KILL ME, AND MY RESONANT COUNTERPART YOU ALL JUST WITNESSED WILL GO COMPLETELY BERSERK.

Unable to stand the idiot's self-indulgent babbling any longer, Storm finally finds his voice, and commands the rest of you.

- [Storm] - Everyone, you've saved my life. I don't have to order you to stop this freak from escaping, I'm sure you're gonna try that anyway. I'll... I'll figure out what I can do.

However... it becomes apparent Soleil isn't the only obstacle preventing them from reaching Lorenzo. The golems are swarming, and Kleidi has finally come to. Her eyes are glowing red with a matching aura surrounding her body. She's gripping her prison keys with an uncharacteristic fury. From the sides, Kane and Circe stir, heavily injured, but still ready to fight.

- [Kleidi] - ...ngh. Kane.... Circe....

- [Kane] - Gahehehehehehehehehe HORF. ...Seems Kleidi's got a bit of a fever. Circe, can we snap her out of it?

- [Circe] - Incapacitating her is our best shot. But if she dies, I'll... I'll.....

- [Astral Corruption] - ENOUGH TALK. HOLD THEM BACK WHILE I BREAK THE BARRIER. SOLEIL, WE'LL DEPART WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT!

With a crack of thunder, the thunderstorm has arrived. The closing act of AEAEA has begun.

---

Submissions for the finale are now open. All players can submit freeform actions to obtain an ending of their own making.

Lorenzo and Soleil are presently trying to escape AEAEA, Cascade Hotel, and the island as a whole. In an inverse of KG finales, you're on the offensive to thwart their escape.

Conditions:

• Cascade is protected by a host of barrier spells which keep everyone safe during the thunderstorm summoned by Atlas.
• Lorenzo has shapeshifted into a monstrous form, an astral phoenix, seven times the size of an average player. He will attempt to burn a hole through the barrier while stationary in the AEAEA Plaza, in order for him and Soleil to abscond by flying away. Efforts to distract him will stall their escape immensely.
• Lorenzo has stated his death will obliterate the chances of anyone stopping the real Astral Phoenix from wreaking havoc, as his and its mind are linked. Moh strongly urges you to incapacitate and capture both Lorenzo and Soleil for further interrogation and punishment, though Soleil's life is less important than Lorenzo's.
• Soleil is Lorenzo's final line of defense. She has become a Ritualistic, five-armed assassin wielding both shadow and light, though far weaker than she is during the day. Until she is taken out or killed, she will defend Lorenzo from all attacks while he tries to burn through the barrier.
• Justice Kleidi has been Cometstruck through Soleil's injected curse, and will use her Prison Keys to summon rogue spirits. She will need to be incapacitated to be stopped, and can be cured.
• AE has reanimated, but due to the poison in its system, its golems are going haywire. Curing AE will cause another system shutdown while the poison is dispersed, and save AE from death. Anyone who took a stickered gift voucher from the fake "Aldrich" will be attacked by golems on sight until this occurs.
• Storm has recovered, but is still weak.
• You can use any number of items on the island or personal powers to overcome this challenge. NPCs will work with players and can be commanded to assist with their abilities.

 

[Lin Beifong]

​

Cyrus, how did it feel being used by your mentor? In fact, how did all of you!? Moh stopped anyone from hearing the crime occurring or the ice bullet hitting the water by putting your heads in the clouds. Part of our agreement, of course. He was an unwitting accomplice this whole time.

Good heathers, you sure gloat a lot for a buster with a dying scheme.​

Cyrus, don't listen to him. He blundered and was completely seen through, so now he is trying to spin a yarn and make it look like this is all part of his masterplan. Let me put what actually happened more plainly:

You--Lorenzo Lazarinus Letmegetoff de Latrinus, less acclaimed sequel to a deadbeat dead man--had a far more competent person and world-renowned somaticists cover for your crime flawlessly... and despite this overwhelming advantage, this virtually guaranteed victory, you STILL somehow blew it and got caught?

Astounding! We are lucky there are so many scientists present, because you are plunging to depths of failure hitherto undiscovered.

Like, for crying out loud! I used to live with a man who committed crimes with exploding whoopee-cushions, and you somehow make him look like a master of subtlety!

Let me make one thing clear. You and your late benefactor have hurt a lot of people who are dear to me. Acedia Blumenthal and her parents, Enomoto, Mr. Sholmes, and everyone entrapped by the death games on the ships and the island.

It is for their sake that I will partake in bringing your childish ambitions to an end today.

But do not be mistaken: This is not revenge. I feel no burning hatred towards you, no grand rage born of justice or satisfaction in bringing about your demise. You are beneath all of that.

In truth, I am perfectly calm; my facing you a rational, calculated decision. There is no poetry, or irony, or heroism to it. Dispatching you is a matter of convenience, like blowing ones nose, or walking a dog, or taking a more circuitous route when picking BB up from the pound.

We have, quite frankly, more important things to do. There are bills to pay, and running after you and wiping your butt for you doesn't come with a big enough salary to justify the hassle. Mr. Sholmes needs his rest so he can solve the mystery of the bacon-filled bugle next week. Now there's a puzzle worthy of his intellect.

But here I say you deserve no words, but then blather on without cause. So let me put it this way:

I was a botanist by trade once, and still consider it a hobby of mine. Acting in this field of research comes with certain obligations, particularly to the upkeep of this planet's flora.

If our world were to be likened to a beautiful tree, then you two are one branch... a malformed branch that inhibits its growth.

As is my duty, I will cut you down and see it made healthy again.​