FINAL TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

FINAL TRIAL

[The doors at the other end of the city do not open for the Titled. However, whatever is going on in there still brings forth bright lights from within, and ultimately, it is to the steps of the entrance that everyone is drawn to. It's not the most formal setting for figuring out the truth of the matter before them.

Eric's brought the snacks, at least.

The Dragonborn sits at the top of the stairs, looking down as everyone congregates.]

...Having this key...I am certain I can open the door with little difficulty. But before I do we must make certain we know and understand exactly what we will be facing. What we are facing. These people...they are doing something and we must ensure we can somehow stop it.


[The end is near. The objectives of this quest are simple:

Who is the Mastermind? What is going on in this world? And...of course...why did the Mastermind want to kill 15 strangers?

Good luck, Titled.]

Comments

[carries_war]

[Jr. slides his drawstring backpack off his back and opens it up, laying his discoveries out on the floor as he mentions them.]

I found designs in a language I don't recognize, for something huge, big enough to be one of those Tower emulator things, along with enough translation notes to work out what it says. I also found a map. The symbols don't mean anything to me, but it looks like a target list to me.

The most worrying part, though...I found a collection of theoretical treatises about the disappearance of a race called the Dwemer. It mentions an arch-mage, and the last one is about preparations to perform some kind of experiment. Looks like you'll find mad scientists wherever you go...

[intercessing]

Arch-Mage?

[Blink. The light of recollection comes to their eyes.]

...Not...of Winterhold, by any chance?

[lightnen]

The Dwemer?? I actually found this pamphlet about them when I was looking around the prison area.

[ He takes out the pamphlet to show everyone. ]

Same with an experiment. There was a paper I found that lists this experiment and a bunch of names that seem vital to it. Though only three names stood out over the most. The Dragon Parrthenax, Ulfric Stormcloak and Delphine.

[carries_war]

That's what it looks like. It was written by a guy from the College of Winterhold, Arniel Gane, and mentioned finally getting help from a "new arch-mage".

[carries_war]

Technology? Huh...

[It sounds weird, but...]

Hey, Alexis. Did you ever remember the name of the race you were told we were?

[intercessing]

Arniel...oh, that...!

I know who the arch-mage was who helped him.

[intercessing]

...I...haven't thought you were them for some time, but I do.

They thought you were indeed the Dwemer.

[intercessing]

[At those names, the Intercessor stops cold.]

[carries_war]

Any idea which side of this they're gonna be on?

[lightnen]

What? Seriously?

[ He looks at the pamphlet and scowls. ]

If that's true, then that kind of pisses me off! This stupid pamphlet just belittles and demeans us with how they're putting things.

[lightnen]

...I take it those names actually mean something to you?

[ That reaction was definitely something that hadn't gone under the radar. ]

[intercessing]

...Well, I was hope I would be on your side, Jr.

[A little wry, but.]

[carries_war]

That's probably what they were trying to summon, but they got us instead. But that doesn't make sense why they'd want us to kill each other, if they were researching a race that disappeared a long time ago.

[Don't mind him pacing a bit and tapping his thumb to his lip.]

If they knew we weren't what they were after, they would've just disposed of us from the start. They also wouldn't let one of us just kill everyone else, so maybe they needed us to die just a few at a time? Still, that wouldn't make sense of the whole trial system, unless they were bluffing about letting one of us go. Ugh, dammit, this isn't enough to go on yet!

[intercessing]

[A long pause.]

They...they do.

They...they are friends...what happened to them? Does...is there anything that says what happened to them!?

[carries_war]

You mean...you're the arch-mage he meant? And this experiment is another thing you should know about but had ripped out of your memory?

[thiscomicsucks]

That's your problem with this whole situation?

[intercessing]

[A sigh.]

Yes, I became arch-mage due to the death of the previous one. I...still don't recall the particulars, though my memory is returning of things.

I don't remember the particulars of the experiment, either, but...I remember how it ended.

[lightnen]

Whaaaat? How am I not supposed to get mad about that?!

[ You forget he IS still kind of a child. ]

[thiscomicsucks]

[So's Linkara funny enough!]

They had us killing each other for weeks, and your big problem is that they happen to be snooty towards us?

[lightnen]

Not as far as I could tell. It said that they were the three most vital to this 'project' by someone named Moranviil, but that person wasn't responsible for directly conducting the experiment.

[ He holds the aforementioned paper up for Alexis to read. ]

There's a whole bunch of other names there too. Do any of them have any significance?

[lightnen]

[ Totally shrugging his shoulders at this and putting his hands into his pockets briefly. Kinda hard to do this for long periods of time with the things he had put in there. ]

Yeah. I hate being insulted like that. Don't you...?

[ He went there, Linkara. Totally unphased by the idea of murdering people and all that went on but totally offended by something like this. ]

[thiscomicsucks]

........

Priorities, kid! What are they!?

[intercessing]

.............

[A shaky breath comes from them.]

These names...my friends...my...my children...!

[Shaking hands.]

What. Did they do.

[Slightly murderous tone.]

[carries_war]

I'm guessing from the abrupt end to the notes that it didn't go well, but...what happened?

[intercessing]

Simply? He disappeared, leaving only the remains of his experiment behind.