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]

Wh-what the name of Aidios was that?

[???]

[1/3]

[friedwings]

[For an eternal moment, she is still. She isn't breathing. She isn't doing anything.

MC, the....MC, is

[2/3]

[friedwings]

suddenly and jerkily standing onto her feet like a puppet, before straightening up and cracking her neck.

The cracking sounds like rocks scratching against one another.]

[3/3]

[friedwings]

[From behind the walls furthest from the bridge, there is a rumble as she speaks again.

This time, her voice is distorted, like a tape being sped up and rewound at the same time, making her voice echo in multiple timbres.

Whatever is talking, it is not a human voice.]

{ I taKe tHaT yOU wIlL noT bE hAviNg thOsE...meAtbAllS. }

[overworker]

[In this situation, regardless of anything else, Towa isn't ready to let this become a threat that could hurt her friends.

She draws her orbal gun and points it at her.

Fighting... isn't the end she wanted, but she's going to protect the people that matter to her at any cost.]

Sorry, but I don't think so.

[friedwings]

[Head tilt.]

{ I wOulD suGgesT putTinG thE weaPOn awAy. thE gOleM iS sTiLl pReCiouS tO Me. I dOn't wIsh To lOse It.

yOuR wEaPOnS..iN aNy cASe, yoU riSK tHe sUN...dEstroYinG tHem. It mAy sEe iT a tHreAt. }

[overworker]

I wouldn't have it out if I didn't already feel like we were in danger.

But if that body is so precious to you, then why don't you come out of it?

[friedwings]

{ tO hEar mY tRue vOiCe...yOu wOulD gO mAd.

UnLeSs thAt iS...yOur wiSh?? }

[A curious rub of the puppet's hand behind her head.]

[overworker]

...very well, then you can stay in there.

But if you are answering questions then I have one.

[She pulls out the jar of blue liquid that she obtained earlier.]

What is this? The one I wanted to ask before ran away before I could ask.

[......ah.]

[friedwings]

{ . . .I hOpe nOne of YoU hAd tHat FoUl dRiNk. }

[f r o w n]

[overworker]

Oh? You don't like the idea?

[Towa takes a deep breath, opens the jar--


And drinks a portion of it.]

[unwittingking]

[oh

he made a mistake calling out those rock eyes didn’t he]

[katzenpfote]

Are you Misericordia? Or a Messenger?

[He misses Mage Armor.]

[friedwings]

{ I aM...wIlLinG to SpeAk. tO eXpLaiN. wHat yOu sEEk iS bEyOnD the wAlL. Is tHat Not wHy yoU cAmE?

tHe gOleM shALl spEAk FoR me. mY tRue vOiCe wIlL cAusE...PrOblEms fOr yOur eArS. }

[More rumbling.]

[katzenpfote]

That's fair. An explanation would be very helpful.

What is your name? Or at least, a name we can call you without harm?

[friedwings]

{ . . .

MisErIcoRdiA suFfiCes aT prEseNt.

sHalL We? }

[Cue the golem...staggering towards the wall in a somewhat drunken manner. She goes to press what looks to be a hidden button by one of the photographs, whereupon the entire wall slides...into darkness.]

[katzenpfote]

I think we shall.

[Caleb looks around at the group - including Lilac - and nods. He produces a flame in his hand, just enough to cast some light. He steps forward.]

[technicolourdifficulties]

And so we venture into the depths at the behest of Cthulhu, I suppose...

[He'll follow you, Caleb, but he won't like it.]

[unwittingking]

Caleb, please, this is the most obvious trap I have ever seen in my life. Please stay in here.

[Don’t do this to him man YOU’RE ONE OF THE FEW COMPLETELY REASONABLE PEOPLE HERE]

[unwittingking]

...how about we talk in here instead?

[Like HELL is he walking into the shadow dimension like that. Nah-uh, no way, not in a million years.]

[friedwings]

{ i tHouGhT yOu cAmE hEre fOr aNsweRs? }

[higanbana]

[Ris is actually not that upset by this darkness. Frankly, the weird drunken robot movements are worse.

But it is as Ris has said. The darkness is comforting, in its own strange way.

She's not going to go forward immediately. There's a promise to keep, after all. So, before doing anything else, Ris is going to head over to Mithos, quietly brushing the back of her hand against his and looking at him.

Wherever they go, they go together, right? So... hold hands?]

[eternaldivide]

[ Mithos doesn't... mind the darkness. Really, it's something he's been experiencing in a way since his arrival. To where, much like Ris, its comforting in a way.

But there's that promise, so when Ris brushes the back of her hand again he looks over before taking hers into his.

Wherever they go, they go together indeed. So here they are. Holding hands as they go through that darkness. ]

[otherworldlyking]

Nah, don't think so.

[ He's moving in pretty quick so he's there to back Towa up as well as probably be the primary target if things get hairy, bringing up his sword and prepared to attack if or when needed. To clarify, it's Angbar, so he's at least gotten serious. ]

[overworker]

[She looks at him out of the corner of her eye and nods.

Thanks pal.]