15strangers | FINAL TRIAL

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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh yes, perhaps I should mention something a bit... Shall we say concerning that the white haired madman mentioned.

He said that he had seem things that should not and cannot be, such as the fall of the Sixth City, the death of the stars, and - these are his words, not mine, though he did utter them at a much greater volume than I care to use - "The Black Thing that has seeped, seeped into the Between. The between of all Things."

The darkness between the clusters, I suspect. Though what these clusters are, I am not sure.

I have a few ideas, although they are little better than baseless speculation.

You may as well share.

If you insist. Ahem. [And yes, he did just say "ahem" since he lacks an actual throat to clear.] The "clusters" could refer to worlds, whether they be individuals or collections of those nearby one another. More abstractly, perhaps they are groupings of Things- Groupings of Concepts, as odd as that likely seems.

...But then, you are still in possession of a piece of- [He struggles with whether to capitalize for a moment.] ...Time, are you not?

I am, yes. Not quite sure what to do with it right now, but...

I'm sure it will come to you in the right moment. I mentioned it largely as an example of a manifested concept.

...Although, I suppose we cannot rule out crystallized Time being the clusters either.

(no subject)

katzenpfote - 2019-08-18 00:30 (UTC) - Expand

technicolourdifficulties - 2019-08-18 00:34 (UTC) - Expand

katzenpfote - 2019-08-18 00:36 (UTC) - Expand

...please tell me there no actual chance an inter-dimensional eldritch being type thing is real and it’s putting a lot of people and universes in danger.

[Just let it be the ravings of a madman, don’t let it be some prophetic thing about anything, please, please, please...]

We're all here, aren't we?

[Fair]

Sounds like it.

[ Look he's being #helpful. ]

[He sure is]

Would explain the pieces of world and creatures that I met in the places we stopped at if we had no explanation before.

[Indeed it does! Too bad King is too busy having a bit of a breakdown to acknowledge that.]

As much as I would like to tell you that, I make a point of never lying.

[He just. Puts his face in his paws.]

Why couldn’t it have been Tarot or Sabrina. They know magic. They’re used to it. They could probably handle all of this stuff.

Why me.

[He’s...mostly talking to himself right now...he may need a minute.]

I don't know, you've handled it pretty well so far.

That’s because it’s stuff that I may have actually dealt with before. When it just looked like too much power was given to beings akin to gods.

This is a threat to multiple dimensions that, for all we know, is straight up Lovecraft and will make us go insane at the sight of it.

I’m kind of out of my element here!

[Sorry for the shouting, he’s just. Upset.]

Most of us are. You're keeping up just fine. You'll be all right.

[And then, a bit lower, he speaks.]

We'll get you to your children.

unwittingking - 2019-08-17 23:55 (UTC) - Expand

...Perhaps you aren't used to it, but I think I speak for most of us when I say that we are glad it was you.

[...he knows you’re trying to be nice and say I did help out and stuff, but his immediate thought is...nowhere near as nice.

But, he won’t say that. He’s not ruining the mood.]

I appreciate that, but having to deal with childish, all-powerful beings more than once in my life...I’m not sure if I can deal with that without losing my sanity entirely.

technicolourdifficulties - 2019-08-18 00:30 (UTC) - Expand

unwittingking - 2019-08-18 00:38 (UTC) - Expand

...We wish we could offer such comfort, however.

It does seem likely, given the information we have.

[She's less upset about this than she should be, honestly, but like... around here and with everything she's seen back in her home world, besides? Just another day ending in Y.]

[Welcome to the "Yep, same shit as always" club, Ris. There are no benefits beyond maybe commiseration over how tired and Done with everything they all are.]

[Seriously. What isn't going to shit at any given time, really?]

[Yada yada, his reaction.

It’s hard to be creative every time.]