THIRD TRIAL

[bathymetric]

If you have time for a grisly operation like that, I think you've had all the time you need to gather evidence. Please proceed to the door to the trial room elevator as quickly as possible.

[ Once you arrive, it's the same song and dance as the last two weeks. Angel helps you all get through the vault door and into the elevator, and watches as you all make the slow descent to the dome below. Standing in the elevator is more than a comfortable fit now, even for the largest among you. A few more of you lost and there'll be room enough to pace in here.

But maybe you don't want to think about that.

The dome of the trial room is the same as it's been, the only change the dull red glow coming from the two newly-unoccupied podiums. The screens above flick on, and lower down to make an address. ]

You know the score by now. Find Seteth's killer and you can all go free. Fool them all, killer, and you'll have your life and your reward. Other than that, whatever happens here is between all of you. Call for me if you need anything.

[ The screens rise again, leaving you here.

Welcome to your third trial. ]

Comments

[emberserker]

What, so you just want to toss that away? Because it's not needed?

[pimpplan]

You got it!

[ He closes his eyes, a fist balling up. ]

You have no idea how much having that stupid title has ruined my and her life. And, for what? For some snivel-nosed brat to be able to find a host for his dead sister's soul?

[blackmass]

...Pardon?

[wHAT]

belatedly tags massive symphonia spoilers lmfao whoops

[pimpplan]

[ He's responding to Kirei, but he is full on staring at Rhea at this point. ]

Yeah! That twerp 4000 years ago couldn't live with the fact his precious sister died, so he created the whole Chosen system to control marriages to create people with the right mana signature to serve as her vessel.

[blackmass]

[well this all smacks of nonsense]

...You and your sister alike wish such a fate for her? How strange, I would think family should care enough to avoid something so insane.

[archboxer]

[... Wait. Something in that makes Rhea stop and focus her attention.]

A vessel does not get to decide their fate!

[reallyhatesharks]

Oh so we're just gonna throw the word "vessel" around like he's not people too now.

[Nova is losing her shit for completely different reasons than everyone else.]

[archboxer]

He admitted that was his fate. He is just a coward.

[reallyhatesharks]

You can't fucking hide behind saying "fate" and "destiny" like that makes horrible things okay! If that's the case, then wasn't it Seteth's fate to die?

[lovelikeyou]

Everyone gets to decide their fate.

[oh - shit. maybe she shouldn't - ]

What he's done is terrible, but he's still a person.

[archboxer]

He is a cowardly failure.

[Did you say something?]

[lovelikeyou]

He doesn't owe his existence to anybody! Not just because he was born with some dumb title! It would be just as wrong for someone else to steal his body as it would for somebody to steal Seteth's!

[rhea you were complaining about how awful body theft is THIRTY SECONDS AGO]

[archboxer]

It is quite different! He would be giving his life to help someone else not being turned into an ornamental weapon to be fought over by his murderers.

[she's a hypocrite sorry]

[lovelikeyou]

It's not different at all! He didn't choose to give up his life for that girl! He's just some tool to those people.

[and what's a weapon but another kind of tool?]

[mouflon]

And you're the one who gets to decide who should be helped and who's a disposable tool, right? Give me a break. I guess some people really can't help showing their true colors.

[mouflon]

[ are you, like

trying to squander whatever sympathy points this earned you, rhea ]

[nothingcanstop]

Rhea. You're grieving and hurting right now. I get that. But maybe it's time for you to shut up.

[pimpplan]

[ He's got a huge smirk on his face. ]

And what would you know about that, Rhea?

[archboxer]

[She... stops to laugh.]

Unlike that 'sniveling brat' I have already won. Mother will return. Sothis, the true goddess, will return to Fodlan.

[pimpplan]

[ That smirk fades as he realizes what she means. ]

... Oh, you've got to be fucking kidding me. I should've known you were no better.

[archboxer]

It took over a thousand years of ruling and so many failures... but it matters little now. Whether she turns back the hands of time or simply creates a new generation of my kin, I will have won...! You, with your rebellious heart, may curse fate but in the end the river of time pulls us along all the same!

[reallyhatesharks]

We should've let her stab him. She's literally crazy.

[just saying]

[lovelikeyou]

[Rose would never say this but

it's a little bit of a mood]

[snackooed]

Of all the times for him to not cut this short--

[hardnosed]

[ this statement is completely fine and checks out by her standards, what's everyone else so mad about ]