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

[otherworldlyking]

Where'd you get that idea from?

[biddentodance]

The Empress isn't a judgement, but her behavior, from what I can tell, has similarities. She's in a position of power with more direct control over the everyday happenings of the world - law in a practical sense, as opposed to the Judgements' more theoretical command over the laws of reality. Many things that've bothered or disturbed us have been a result of the Sun's power, rather than her use of it, as far as I can tell...

Rather than someone ostensibly mostly mortal managing to control something that powerful, wouldn't it make more sense for the Sun to control her, for finer control over Albion? Maybe it started with her in control, but....look how people exposed to the Sun behave. Like they're brainwashed. Maybe...she is, too.

[otherworldlyking]

Guess it's possible, over a long time.

Or the Empress could have something that'd protect her from the Sun's influence.

[biddentodance]

[Oho! An idea. A more comforting one, in some ways.]

You have any idea what that might be?

[otherworldlyking]

[ Maybe...!

He'll just give a shrug, though. ]

She could have just a natural immunity or it's some power protecting her from it.

[eternaldivide]

... The soot that covered the windows seem to keep the sun's light out. A lot of it, as all I wiped barely made a dent. But just the amount I smeared off was enough to see some of the light if you looked out.

In fact some moron came over so they could see their "Best Friend". A good part of him was made of glass, so I imagine he's done that often.

... Of course, unless she's also in a place that's covered in soot, I'm not sure if it's the answer to your question.

[otherworldlyking]

[ ...That's certainly food for thought. ]

If she has something like that lying around, it wouldn't be hard to make clothes from it either.

[ Or some kind of shield where she's at, by having it covering any windows if there's any of them in the place she's in. ]

[higanbana]

Oh, you too...? The man I saw lose himself, he called the Sun his "best friend," too.

[katzenpfote]

... I'm wondering about he degree of lucidity. Is he merely totally insane, or...

The executed were screaming about how they loved the sun. Is it merely them losing all sense... or could the sun also be someone who ascended?