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

THE SHADOW OF THE SUN

[strangerpeople]

[As the train gets closer to the Sun, and while Charlotte is trying that red honey for absolutely not-unfortunate reasons, the landscape begins to change. Rock and steel turn into glass, jutting out with sharp points. Ossified settlements and buildings float past in the murky green sea of space as the creaks and squeaks of metal begin to echo through the air.

The windows of the train begin to turn green. Sunlight becomes ubitquitous. Soon enough, a massive gold skyscraper with endless windows appears on the horizon-gold, with its side facing the sun a jagged edifice of translucent spikes. Connected to it is a complex of buildings, their glass windows dimly reflecting the bright above them.

Somehow, Cardia manages to land at the station, which is shielded by its own shadow from the deleterious effects of the minty light. Behold the Clockwork Sun, the ultimate in British industrial brilliance, in all its glory as you disembark. Notice how murky its light is as the helix within swirls at breakneck speeds. Hear the strange clicking sounds that emits from the massive pistons below, like an automobile trying to start in the cold. Every so often, there is a dissonance in the rhythm of the machinery, somewhere within.

There is a long, black bridge that connects the station to the skyscraper. There is no one guarding it; there is no one there to try and stop anyone from entering where the Empress is.

You are finally here.

The end is close at hand.]

[overworker]

[The vision ahead is one that looks frightening and dangerous. But the time for turning back has long since passed. Her hands are shaking terrible, but she's ready to take those steps.]

We should go.

[otherworldlyking]

Might as well.

[ He'll take the lead without any hesitation. ]

[overworker]

W-wait up!

[She'll take off after him. Don't go to far jeez. Short legs.]

[otherworldlyking]

[ At least she's not chasing after little girls in hoods this time...! ]

[overworker]

[Nah, just her questionable cotton-candy-hair'd friend.]

A GILDED SEAT

[strangerpeople]

[What McBurn and Towa find as the cross the bridge is a room. It looks like it could be a throne room, at least. The ceiling is high and domed with mint light coming through the windows. A massive window with bombazine curtains has been thrown open, allowing the light of the Sun into the room. Glass stalactites have sprung up through the red carpet as a result.

And there, a few feet from the window, is a magnificent throne carved in what looks like gold wood, also partly turned into glass sherds. And sitting on that throne is a figure that stares out that window, hands folded in serenity, a smile of peace in their profile.

This must be the Empress herself. She doesn't stand up and toss wine glasses. She doesn't turn and demand the reasons they have come, or zap them with laser eyes, or order guards to come forth. Indeed, she doesn't acknowledge that anyone has come into the room.



>Approach?]

[overworker]

[Towa takes a deep breath and approaches in a slow manner-- no need to risk things getting out of hand at the onset. She'll stand before the throne with as much confidence as she can manage.]

Excuse me.

[She bows her her head, but there's not much respect in it.]

[15unknowns]

[Silence, for a moment.

She doesn't turn as she speaks. There's a certain harshness to it.]

What are you doing here.

[The harshness, though, diminishes after a moment.]

...Are you here to see V?

[overworker]

We received an invitation to meet with the Empress.

[Well. One of them did, technically.]

...or weren't you aware?

[15unknowns]

...That's right. I'm the Empress.

[Still she doesn't look.]

But look. Isn't he beautiful? Every day, he gets more and more beautiful...how could I have ever hated his light?

[Are...those tears in her eye?]

Don't you agree?

[otherworldlyking]

[ ...Figures that Minato was right. ]

Why would we?

[otherworldlyking]

[ Yeah, he approaches alright.

She doesn't speak first and they're supposed to maybe talk her into submission, so... ]

Got anything to say for yourself?

[ No bowing on his end. ]

[15unknowns]

[well]

[eternaldivide]

Heh. Someone's ready to finish this.

[ Fine with him. He'll go and follow after Towa and McBurn. ]

[overworker]

I'm terrified... but I don't want this to continue anymore. It's hurt everyone too much as it is.

[For her friends and family's sake, she can't accept failure.]

[eternaldivide]

[ Mithos is silent for a moment. ]

I didn't think I'd be playing a game of 'good and evil' again. But so be it. This needs to end one way or another.

[overworker]

...you're not alone.

[One last quick hug before-- whatever comes next.]

We're all worried but... it's going to be okay.

[eternaldivide]

[ his eyes widen slightly at the hugs. and, more important, towa's words.

'you're not alone'

..... it's ironic. how he's somehow on the other side right now. and that he cares enough to want this to turn out okay.

he doesn't hug back. instead he just sighs. ]

That's what we need to hope for, isn't it... Alright then. Let's go.

[overworker]

Right.

[She's shaking a little less at least. The task before them is, in fact, probably more than she should be hoping to accomplish. But look at all they've managed to accomplish? In the end maybe... she just has to believe in that.

And... if it ended poorly...]

Let's make sure we do this in a way that we won't have any regrets.

[She could still be happy with their choices, standing here with them now.]

[technicolourdifficulties]

[He doesn't like the landscape, nor where they're going, nor the state that they've all been put in, but... Well, RGB is nothing but a theatrical individual and this is the final confrontation they're heading towards, so he follows, a spring in his step and a deeply ironic song issuing forth from his speakers, anger and sorrow and fear streaming from his almost manic grin.]

[unwittingking]

[He's following as well, hoping this isn't the road to getting them all killed]

[unwittingking]

[He's still worried, but...at this point?]

It doesn't get much more do or die than this, does it?

[overworker]

No, I think not. But we've managed to come this far together... this is something we have to do. And I think as long as we continue to stand together we'll be fine. I really do.

[unwittingking]

And I hope you'll be right.

[And with that, he's following McBurn as well.]