FINAL TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

FINAL TRIAL

[The Strangers manage to escape. By the time anyone has realized they have left, the Analemma is already on a course to a new destination, one not intended by their Conductor-who was certainly surprised to find their ride gone, hours later.

Cardia has turned off radar and other equipment that would allow anyone to find the train easily. There is no barrier around this train, so everyone can see the Clockwork Sun as it gets closer and closer.

They aren't going to London, obviously. Cardia manages to explain that, originally, the Throne of Hours was located there, but after Victoria became Twice-Renewed, the Throne was ordered moved closer to the Sun. Now, it is connected to the station called Sunspur-a desolate place, formerly an exhibition hall, where only the Sun's engineers and wayward captains now go. No one dares to cross the bridge that connects the Throne to it, when they are there.

That will change, but not immediately. Even at top speed, it will take several hours for the train to reach its destination. Cardia suggests everyone relax in the Lounge of this new train. Apparently, this one was going to pick up its newest passengers very shortly, and so the bar and kitchens are stocked with food and drink, at least.

There is much to talk about. Much to look through, and much to consider. The past four weeks have been difficult to process, but the evidence from Perdurance has been especially daunting. It only shows just how stark the situation is-and it's up to the Strangers to figure out just what they will do when they do, at last, confront Her Enduring Majesty.
After all.

Whatever happens, a reckoning cannot be postponed. Not indefinitely. And the bill is almost due...]





[It's time! The objectives are simple in this trial: untangle the story of this place and decide what to ultimately do when they finally confront Victoria, the Mastermind of the Little Courtesy! It will not be easy and the truth, as ever, will not be a light one.

Will they triumph? Will they go home? What else might happen? What else could be in store? There's only way to find out!

Have fun, and good luck! And remember-

All shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.]

Comments

[overworker]

It's like... her identity shifts every time.

[Which sounds absolutely insane, but-- why would you change names each time like that?]

Do you think some part of her changes, every time she's "Renewed"?

[katzenpfote]

I would not put it past her. The Kryn Dynasty... they have an Empress who has been reborn many times. Supposedly anyone 'consecuted' to their relic, their fragments of the Lord of Light, is reborn and regains memories of their past lives. They are changed, partially, but are still the same people...

[otherworldlyking]

...And with different worlds being involved, it'd make it easier for her identity to completely change, wouldn't it?

[katzenpfote]

Of course. She could even put up a decoy on the throne.

[overworker]

But that would require her to trust at least one other person enough to have them stand in her place. I... don't know that I think she does.

[overworker]

Also... I encountered someone, while taking the liquid from the vat. A floating girl. She was small, and was wearing a black hood.

...she told me she'd answer my questions if I could catch her... but I wasn't able to.

She said... ah... "Still thinking you'll stop what we've started? What a fool. You're not the first person whose tried to play hero. You won't be the last. You'll fail just the same, you stupid brat!"

[otherworldlyking]

...Sounds like a pain in the ass to me.

[overworker]

I can't argue with you there. Whoever she is, she doesn't see us as allies, that's for certain.

But... it does seem to point towards the fact that there are others involved.

[otherworldlyking]

...So, someone could've came on by and suggested the idea of having this 'courtesy as these games to her. Then she could've decided she liked it and ran with it.

[ Though that is troublesome, if it wasn't just one person involved, and if that is true. ]

[eternaldivide]

[ ... hm. ]

Sounds similar to the floating girl I saw a few weeks back. Also small and wearing a black hood. She asked me if I was enjoying myself and if I missed my world. Told her no and her response was...

[ Give him a moment a lot happened the last few weeks including many many years of memories coming back. ]

I'll just stop here and tell you ... you don't have to worry about either of them soon. Not for much longer.

... Something like that.

[katzenpfote]

She's definitely not our ally... or she thinks of herself as one and thinks a mercy kill is more kind.

[overworker]

It maybe be one and the same. It certainly seems like she's been watching us for a long time.

And it sounds as though she knows more about us than even we can. But then... if she had some part in bringing us here, we may have been watched even before this began.

[biddentodance]

Would make sense, wouldn't it? Not sure what the "renewal" process is, but doesn't seem like anything here just...stays constant. Except the Judgements. And she isn't one.

[overworker]

If she is taking the lives of others to prolong her own life... perhaps... it's them that become part of who she is.

[biddentodance]

[He...stares at his hands. After everything they witnessed in Perdurance, knowing he already has been exposed to the light of the Clockwork Sun directly...]

Consuming.....existence as nothing but a means to sate hunger. She isn't one, but that's the same. ...Wonder what that means for her mind - isn't exactly easy, to balance being several different aspects at once...

[overworker]

[Towa bites her lip and reaches out and gently takes his hand. She doesn't know if it will be any comfort but... after all they've gone through it's the least she can do.]

That may be part of the reason why she shut herself away... maybe... it was easier to be alone. Or... she wanted to hide what she'd become...

[higanbana]

Some part of her, or all of her?

After all, no one has seen the Queen in ages. All we have is, essentially, propaganda. Can anyone confirm she is one singular Queen Victoria?

[overworker]

I suppose we can't be certain. The way she is "renewed"... it's quite possible anyone could do the same.

...but with all the signs up around, I think she was trying to avoid that. She didn't want anyone interacting with those vats.

[katzenpfote]

If only Yeza and Nott were here... they are alchemy specialists...

[katzenpfote]

It could just be a name change - sometimes rulers change their names when they ascend to a throne. But it is also possible it is not just one.

Or perhaps she can duplicate herself.

[overworker]

But several times? If it were just a name, a title-- or even one should be enough.

[katzenpfote]

I don't know. People are fickle. The sun is green, nothing makes sense.

[higanbana]

I say this because the case of the Twice-Renewed, in particular, is troublesome to me.

She changed her name to Victoria Erica. Her real name, according to the boy who claimed to be her cousin, was Rika. That can't be a coincidence, can it?

But why would she change herself to match her true name only on her second renewal?

cw: talk of parasites? idk

[technicolourdifficulties]

...Perhaps each of these separate names indicate subsequent hosts for the being known as the Empress, though whether this means Misericordia is the latest in a series or the newest addition to the collective is anyone's guess.

[Why yes, he is suggesting that they may be dealing with a parasite.]

[katzenpfote]

... Perhaps the empress was someone else. Then this Rika person took over, and either was replaced or changed her name to throw someone off track.