The Eighth Trial

[hot_mess_express]

Who: Heroes
When: Day 17, morning
Where: the party zone The Fairy Circle

Come hither, Heroes. Prove thy worth.

Just like always, the train shudders in response to some foreign power. You’ve been here before, haven’t you? You know what will happen when you venture out of the train and into the dark forest beyond in search of some old house, or a tower, or whatever fresh nonsense awaits you.

But there’s no inexplicable new castle or what-have-you. Instead the air outside the train is filled with glittering bubbles floating lazily above what appears to be a collection of large white mushrooms grown in a circle.

Obviously there is no door, and touching any of the bubbles will simply cause them to burst. Should you step into the circle, however….

Foolish heroes, destined to be swallowed by the encroaching malice… can your hearts truly withstand the nightmare that is reality?

Darkness overtakes you.


When you wake up the first thing you may notice is this game has a soundtrack. The music appears to have no discernible source and fills the entire room. ... and what a room it is.

It appears you’ve been transported to some kind of… children’s… birthday party?

At the far end of the room is a large table with a sign above it reading HAPPY BIRTHDAY. It’s a pretty impressive set up with a variety of goodies including noise makers, party hats, disposable plates and cups, and enough sugar to fuel a whole room full of grade schoolers

The biggest and arguably most important party refreshment sits right in the middle of the table, however; a giant bowl of fruit punch. Don’t worry children it’s non-alcoholic. It's also not suspicious at all.


For now, don't worry! Mingle! Eat food! Don't think about all the bad things going on right now!! And don't forget to read the rules near the punch bowl.

RULES ☆ EFFECTS ☆ Q&A ☆ TURN-IN ☆ WINNERS & ENDGAME

Comments

[grimpa]

[LET'S DO THIS!! getting a cup of punch.]

Very well. Who would like to play?

[desirestruth]

We may as well.

[Hello large friend.]

[grimpa]

[not terribly large actually just a Large Presence]

[nods!!]

Now that we have the garden, what changes would you most like to see to the train?

[desirestruth]

[It's alright, Naeva's average height but exudes Smol]

Mmm...I feel as though a library would be very useful for stress relief. Although, if our highest priority is safety and self-sufficiency, some place to manufacture items on our own terms would probably be more useful.

What would you like to see?

[grimpa]

I had voted for a training space, but a library or workshop would be useful as well. Are you concerned about the sparks shop not being reliable?

[desirestruth]

It's less that I am concerned about it's reliability, so much that I feel it would make people feel less tense if we could be more self-sufficient, as well as give them things to do between waiting on trials. It may also make some bonds easier to create...

[malignstar]

Someone's been lying low.

[grimpa]

...Not deliberately. Have you been doing well?

[malignstar]

Got set on fire and grew feathers the other day. You?

[grimpa]

[ugh, winces sympathetically]

The Trials... Were you able to be healed?

[malignstar]

Yeah, had to give up some sparks though. Eliza was there and the new lady.

[voreaciously]

Yes.

[grimpa]

[nods!]

What changes would you like to see to the train? With the garden having just arrived.

[voreaciously]

A training area.

[grimpa]

That's what I had voted for, myself. Though I do see the utility of the garden.

[voreaciously]

Perhaps next time, then.

[here's a question]

What is your name?

[wontforbidtherain]

Fine, let's play.

[grimpa]

Are you beginning to remember things that are more helpful for you yet? Mine are all still vague.

[wontforbidtherain]

Both of my memories involve how much I enjoy books, so that's something. But I do feel like... like I'm looking through a peephole and see only shadows of something large.

Do you feel like that?

[grimpa]

[nods, thoughtful]

It is difficult to know... that we have a whole life we haven't remembered yet, and to only get it back perhaps minutes at a time. It makes me wonder how much I'm missing of who I am.

[wontforbidtherain]

So far, I haven't seen anything that seems discordant, at least, with how I see myself.

[nihilmancy]

So long as the questions are not invasive, I would not mind.

[grimpa]

I'll do my best not to pry. What is your name?

[nihilmancy]

My name is Hlasoh.

[The last "h" is actually a soft sound like the "ch" in loch.]

And yours?

[grimpa]

Fang. Nice to meet you. Do you have your memories? Some questions would be difficult to answer otherwise.