FINAL TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

FINAL TRIAL

[Soon after the final clue it found, the large set of double doors at the end of the hall finally open.

And beyond is what Nyaf-ya calls the Room of Reckoning. And this room is...]





[...rather impressive. Large, for certain. Maybe a bit too large for the space it would have to occupy beneath the mall, or to have light streaming from the windows, all things considered. But given everything else that the surviving strangers have encountered, this might not be the strangest thing with this situation overall.

There is a wooden throne at the top of the staircase, and at the bottom of the staircase are four large, comfortable-looking sitting pillows - one green, one orchid, one gold, and one pink. The red pillars surrounding the staircase are also decorated with markings that definitely don't look like they fit the aesthetic of the room.

There are also two low hot pot induction cooker tables in the great hall area before the staircase. One table has six spots, all with sitting pillows, each with a name written onto a paper placed carefully on a plate. When everyone sits at their place, they will find that the stove in the center is already heated and ready to go, and every imaginable ingredient for a proper barbecue and hot pot meal is available to them for cooking. A pitcher of their favorite drink is also next to each respective cup.

And, once everyone finds their place, their phone pings with a message.]

Once you've figured everything out, the Boss....wants to talk to you. She doesn't want to fight. Not this time. Please, take your time, but please be careful, ok? The rules of the Game are still in effect.

We're rooting for you. I know you'll find a way!

[So it's time, then. The objectives are simple in this trial.

It's time to finally answer the questions the Titled have about why they are here - and face the Masterminds behind the Game.

Good luck, Titled.]

Comments

[theirmagic]

Adding to that... I'm guessing you're similar to a familiar? A magical animal with great capabilities all your own?

[ Chariot is likely the person in the room to find Japhet the least odd, one of the teachers at Luna Nova is a fucking FISH. ]

And yes, now that she mentions it, we did find your ID card...

[flaming_sovereign]

I am a bird. I can show you my true identity, if you like.

[ He smirks widely, though without showing his teeth. His mouth stays completely closed. The effect is rather odd on his face, and his skin stretches oddly from the fact he's making the effort. ]

I am no familiar. I am a Guardian, I am a Sovereign, I am a powerful being all of my own!

[incrediblystressedout]

Yeah...you remind me of a cartoon I watch, about a pony and her Shadow.

You uh...aren't reminding me of the pony, exactly.

[flaming_sovereign]

I am unsure as to whether that was a compliment or an insult. However, it does make me wish to stop beating around the bush.

[ He opens his mouth and out peeks the head of a bird. This is where the voice has been coming from all along - the mouth of the bird moves where the mouth of the cat had not. ]

Do I remind you of a pony or shadow now?

[incrediblystressedout]

No now I'm having flashbacks to weird alien kitchens thank you sir I think you just jogged another memory please be a cat again now.

[flaming_sovereign]

[ The bird slips back in, and he smiles with his mouth completely closed. ]

I shall stay a cat, then.

[scienceofmagic]

...I think you and Woodward would get along a lot.

[ She's not sure that's a compliment. Maybe it is? ...It's weird. ]

[comesaround]

This... just when I thought it couldn't get any weirder.

[ This is a lot to say the least. But just shaking his head and trying to take all this in. ]

how could i not comment on this

[theirmagic]

[ Watching from a conversation downward and all she really has to say is: ]

... It's not the oddest thing I've ever seen. Our school has a festival where people regularly get consumed by an angry ghost...

[ Ha ha ha wow you are... definitely odd though, sir. ]

[thegreenhornet]

What.

[The hell, Ursula?]

[theirmagic]

... It's not happening anymore? My student put the spirit to rest, finally. No more need for human sacrifices on Samhain.

[incrediblystressedout]

...I still want to go to Witch School, but I should warn you I'm going to have a lawyer look at all the waivers after all this.

[scienceofmagic]

Let's just say a lot has changed now that they've learned that doing something just because it's traditional isn't always a good idea.

[theirmagic]

... Look, it was a terrible festival ritual, but no one ever got hurt. It was just gross. You had to go through the ghost's digestive tract, but you'd be harmlessly spit out in the end.

There's nothing actively dangerous at our school unless you can't fly a broom and are dumb enough to jump off the tallest point, or something. ... Mostly.

[ Why is she glancing at Croix? ... Huh. ]

[beguiledcard]

[ Okay that's actually seriously cool?? ]

That's one way to open up...

[ akiranostop ]

[theirmagic]

... Then you must be incredibly skilled.

[ She's respectful. She believes him. ]

How did you end up in this position? Your ID card said you were executed, along with the other person over there...

[flaming_sovereign]

I ascended through the ranks. It was not easy, but the important things never are. First I became a Composer, then my world was gone... eaten by the Noise. Where else was I to go?

[theirmagic]

... So it's true, then? There's things endangering everyone's worlds? And... they're called Noise?

[flaming_sovereign]

Indeed. They endanger every single one.

[theirmagic]

... The things I saw in someone's vision. I don't... know who I read. But they looked like odd, tattoo monsters. The same as the ones used in the executions. Please tell me... if they're so dangerous, why are you using them to kill people?

[flaming_sovereign]

Structure. As long as we control the noise, then it helps encourage everything to stay together. Thus, the world continues.

[theirmagic]

But... if the Noise are the source of all the problems... wouldn't it be better to be rid of them completely?

[scienceofmagic]

...You can't entirely get rid of a natural frequency, I don't think, only work with it and lessen it.

[cyclicalconcept]

That's right. A certain amount of such a thing is natural - even essential, if you think about it.

[thegreenhornet]

So if you were once a Composer and your world was destroyed..you know what you did wrong? Just for, you know, future reference for us. Just in case.

[He's feeling kind of lost right now, yep]