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

[desirestruth]

Hmm...

[She's thinking about this for a moment.]

What do you do to relieve stress?

[Hello, Landmine, meet Naeva.]

[voreaciously]

[she's fucking determined not to take one damned drink if she can help it.]

I become productive.

[IT'S TRUE, SHE ABSOLUTELY DOES SO SUCK IT, GAME.]

[desirestruth]

I...I see.

[THIS IS A GAME WITH SPARKLY PUNCH AND QUESTIONS, WHY IS THIS SO INTENSE, WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS.]

[voreaciously]

[because she is a hypercompetitive shit

it's literally a goddamned party and yet here we are

but look, she's still perfectly polite and does not miss a beat regardless of naeva's feelings on whatever]

Can you use any weapons?

[desirestruth]

Whips, spears, staves, short swords and knives. I prefer hand to hand combat, however.

[She pauses.]

...That is, I should be able to, but right now I believe my body would no longer remember it's training. So I'd kindly ask you don't make me prove any of that, right now.

Can you use any?

[voreaciously]

This is hardly the venue for that, I would not ask that of you.

[please, she does have manners and a sense of propriety.



most of the time.]

Yes, I can.

[she would be content to leave it at that, honestly, like too bad for naeva but also two things occur to her. and she supposes, perhaps, that she could stand to give a little more.]

Polearms, swords, daggers, bracers.

[desirestruth]

Bracers...[The others are familiar to her. But, she supposes, that wouldn't make for a very interesting question.]

It's your turn.

[voreaciously]

How many moons are there where you are from?

[desirestruth]

...One?

[WHAT. AN ODD QUESTION?]

Was there more than one moon, where you come from?

[voreaciously]

No.

[desirestruth]

A...alright.

[She's confused and alarmed by these questions, 80H.]

[voreaciously]

[Amane is ever patient and calm, explaining nothing. Even if she were not blindfolded, her eyes would be placid and revealing nothing. But she thinks, wondering how many mundane, inoffensive questions she can ask. She does actually harbour curiosity about naeva in some respects, but she will bite her tongue on it for now, if she can manage to.

Hmmm...]

Why do you enjoy flowers so much?

[desirestruth]

[It is not often that Naeva is so off-guard. But she's allowed her self-control to lapse a little (she resented wolf calling her scary more than somewhat), because--

because she's not a queen here. She's not in charge. It is frivolous and dangerous but for a little while, she imagines this might be what it would have been like, if she'd been raised differently.

That question, though. Mmm...Naeva is quiet for a little while. Wondering how much of it she really should answer to an aquaintance.]

...I took care of the royal gardens, from a young age. Because no one else would approach them, they became...a solace, I suppose.

[voreaciously]

[oh for--

she resists the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose. she means or this to be easy, meaningless, harmless, but she can tell she touched on something there. she couldn't have known, of course, but she doesn't care about that. obviously, she should know everything.

still, her voice is unfailingly polite. if there is something to think about naeva's consideration, she does not let on about it.]

I see. It is your question.

[desirestruth]

...Where did you learn the magic you use?

[Magic is a safer topic, right? Even if amane asks similar questions back, the nature of her old powers isn't a sore spot. Nothing can go wrong here!]

[voreaciously]

[



fuck.

There's a pause. It's a very short one, but there is a pause. Her voice is a little quieter.]

...From the most brilliant woman in my world. A lady without peer in everything she aspired and even in matters where she did not.

[desirestruth]

[










oh.]

...I see.

[WHAT...DOES SHE DO WITH THIS,]

[voreaciously]

Indeed.

[we just pretend it didn't happen, obviously.

honestly, it's like you don't know how to repress?]

Where did you learn yours?

[desirestruth]

It depends on which kind...witchcraft is an innate gift. One might call it instinctual, almost...

As for magecraft, I taught myself.

[She repressed for a century and then some blonde jackass with a sword broke her ability to it's not her fault!!!]

[voreaciously]

[She opens her mouth to ask another question but she remembers it is not her turn.]

Please, go ahead.

[also yeah that is totally your fault sorry]

[desirestruth]

You can ask two, if you want.

[She chuckles, though.]

But, if you insist--what other kinds of magic do you know, besides the water magic?

[voreaciously]

I will ask two after.

[she does not want this to get too messy BUT SHE KEEPIN TRACK DON'T U WORRY]

The premise of your inquiry is flawed as it applies to me; put simply, I do not know anything aside from water magic. It is all that I do and can know.

[EXCEPT....WELL......]

Though, I suppose, depending on philosophy, I can manipulate aether.

[desirestruth]

Aether...a word for mana?

[Count that if you want she needs the clarification.]

[voreaciously]

[she's counting it.

three questions.]

No, aether is an element. [she moves to push her glasses up before she realises oh right she's not wearing them she's fucking blindfolded]

Mana--energy--is the potential and level of magic a mage or sorceress possesses, its signature unique to them.

[desirestruth]

...The terminology seems to be reversed. Or rather, there is no equivalent to Aether, where I am from.

Ah, but it is your turn.