The Fifth Trial

[hot_mess_express]

Who: ALL
When: Day 11, noon
Where: Outer Space

Come hither, Heroes. Prove thy worth.

[ That familiar silence befalls everything following the call, and just like before the third trial there’s a glittering void, points of light twinkling in the air. As you step into the space it expands, seeming to consume you, the Aurora, and all that exists in general. There’s a feeling of vertigo as this happens, frozen lights swirling all about you and once again it's all accompanied by obnoxious giggling.

This time, however, when the darkness fades, you're...

Back inside of the Aurora? No, this is actually an entirely different train. Outside the windows, you can only see wispy, dancing lights illuminating the surroundings, which you can't quite make out. The doors outside don't open. ]

SIGN-UPS ☆ PRE-GAME MINGLE ☆ RULES ☆ ROOMS

Comments

Re: ENDGAME

[purrtagonist]

[recounting this for Timur as well]

[he has calmed down but he's still holding himself tensely and speaking curtly. it's very unlike him]

Re: ENDGAME

[legis_vox]

[it's concerning, is what it is]

So the proof they wanted was your deaths, to save simulated civilians?

Re: ENDGAME

[purrtagonist]

[STILL BITTER]

So it seems, doesn't it?

Re: ENDGAME

[legis_vox]

And what did they intend by setting that as a goal, do you think?

Re: ENDGAME

[purrtagonist]

They're a self-proclaimed "villain."

[he responds as he lifts a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose]

Hell if I know what their intentions were beyond giving us the illusion of choice and then yanking it away at the very last second.

Re: ENDGAME

[legis_vox]

From what you're telling me? They wanted us to start associating "being the Star Prince's hero" with futility and death. To plant the idea that we're fodder for the battle line, with no choices to make, and get us either accepting that or resenting it. Either way works to the opposition's advantage.

[shrugs]

Since I wasn't there, though, that's just a guess.

Re: ENDGAME

[purrtagonist]

[falling silent, trying to mull this over]

. . . you're thinking they're trying to get us to hate the Star Prince on purpose?

[he's already not the Star Prince's biggest fan]

Re: ENDGAME

[legis_vox]

It fits. We've been told that positive feelings are the key to victory, so it makes sense that the opposition would try to disrupt them.

Re: ENDGAME

[purrtagonist]

Who is the opposition, then?

Re: ENDGAME

[legis_vox]

Apparently the same force as whatever creates those monsters. Or so the claim goes.

I haven't made up my mind whether I believe that completely, yet. But the behavior fits.

Re: ENDGAME

[purrtagonist]

So. . . the malice.

[tch]

Re: ENDGAME

[legis_vox]

[nods]

When I spoke with the Prince, he mentioned the possibility of intelligence behind it.