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

[katzenpfote]

[Caleb looks wiped. He has two cats sitting on him, barely able to move, and he's mostly been staring straight ahead for a bit.]

[... Slowly, he pulls his mind back together.]

You can ask me any personal questions once we get out of this. Right now... we need a plan. How are we going to handle this? What's our play here? I don't have another magical religious artifact I can pull out in front of this Empress.

[otherworldlyking]

Do something that distracts her while someone moves in for the kill.

[ He'll just assume everyone else will fill in the blanks where applicable.

Or make a better plan. ]

[overworker]

[Having just now remembered it, Towa pulls a jar out of her pocket. It's filled with a strange blue, swirling liquid.]

"Her Twice-Renewed Majesty's Elixer of Salvation"... that's what it said, anyway. I don't know if it will serve any purpose but... it felt like something I should take with me.

[biddentodance]

[He's had a bit to.....stop being a total disaster, by now, and this snaps him back to business mode. Right. Leader. Cannot falter, cannot break.

He pulls out a half dozen jars of a red, honey-like substance. Familiar, isn't it?]

Ah... Brought what I found, too.

[...Also a laptop, unless RGB was the one who grabbed that?]

[higanbana]

"Twice-Renewed," hm? It's odd.

We spoke with one of the brainwashed – an excitable boy, who kept telling me that "Rika" would be there soon. When we inquired further, he informed me that "Rika" was their queen.

I expressed confusion, as I believed her name to be "Victoria," but he informed us that was merely a "formality."

So, I have to wonder. Victoria, the Twice-Renewed... the name she went by was Victoria Erica, correct?

And why have we found so much relating to that when she has been "renewed" again, and goes by "Misericordia" now?

[overworker]

Oh-- that looks like...

[Well at least one of the weird liquids looks familiar.]

There were signs saying that the one I found was highly toxic but... I had no issues with it. Still, we should probably be careful with it. If it truly does belong to Victoria, then I doubt it's anything good. It may... be what's keeping her alive.

[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 think we need a bit of a plan if you intend to kill something that powerful. Most of us do not have very useful combat options, and it is foolish to think that she does not have protection or guards or some sort of magical means to destroy anyone who tries this.

[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?

[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.

[otherworldlyking]

[ As he's been told twice (and knows by now), but it's still a pain rushing in and starting a fight without some kind of plan wouldn't solve everything. ]

I'm sure you guys could come up with something.

[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]

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

[katzenpfote]

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

[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]

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.

[katzenpfote]

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

[overworker]

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

[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...

[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?

[higanbana]

Consider this.

We lack the strength we might have at full power, so rushing in physically is bound to fail.

However. What we lack in powers we have in information, and we know that the Queen is no God. Nine minds working as one should be able to overpower her.

So, I suggest that rather than striking her down physically, at least to begin with, we break her as she has broken us.

[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...

[biddentodance]

...Sounds sort of like who I was, a year ago. Or...year and a half, with time in this universe factored in, I guess.

[Mmmmm that's uncomfortable.]

Not a good way to live, if that is the case.

[otherworldlyking]

...Hah, we break her by talking to her and then strike her down?

[ ...Well, he's considering it at any rate. ]