The Ninth Trial

[advisories]

Who: everyone
When: Day 18, starting just after dawn
Where: The Hermit's Tent, and all around

[This morning as the sun begins to pour through the train's windows, there's the tremor that signals a Trial.]

Come hither, Heroes. Prove thy worth. Or something like that!

[It's the same older man's voice from the sixth trial, and outside is the same fortune teller's stall. Today the front flap is lifted to show a normal interior -- there's a wooden table, carved with geometric patterns and painted in bright colours, lit by teal-coloured carved candles.

At the table sits a man of indeterminate age, somewhere between 30 and 60. He's wearing what appear to be monk's robes, teal with patterned trimming. In front of him is a crystal ball and a stack of bingo cards, along with a stand-up sign bearing the rules of this Trial.

Across the top in large font, it says:

Icebreaker Bingo

Good luck and have fun!]

Comments

[nihilmancy]

[WOW THIS IS ILLEGAL.]

...I think that I'm rather good at cooking, and flute playing.

[bad_crowmance]

[ He saw an opportunity to go for the jugular and he took it. ]

And I think I have a nice face!

[nihilmancy]

It's alright.

[bad_crowmance]

It's more than alright, but you're free to have your own opinions.

[nihilmancy]

Alas, you have set me free that I may find somebody even prettier to have torrid flings with.

[bad_crowmance]

You've got pretty slim pickings if your standard is "prettier than me."

[nihilmancy]

I have broad tastes. For example, I think Eliza could pamper me forever. 80H is mysterious and sexy. There was also that boy on our team I haven't seen in a few days. He was a lovely singer.

[I WILL SURVIIIIVE]

[bad_crowmance]

There's a lot of great options, it's true. So many attractive people...!

[nihilmancy]

Maybe I'll go straight for Cardamom. We'll see.

[bad_crowmance]

We'll see! Have fun with whoever you go for.

[nihilmancy]

That was mostly a joke. I hope.

Anyway, what shall we go for next?

[bad_crowmance]

I figured as much. I'll let you pick the next square since I picked this one.

[nihilmancy]

Let's exchange nicknames.

[bad_crowmance]

Sounds good to me! I can call you "H."

[nihilmancy]

That's boring. I'm going to call you Magpie.

[bad_crowmance]

I've already decided. Going for another bird name, huh?

[nihilmancy]

An annoying bird, yes.

[bad_crowmance]

Ouch! If you're not careful, you might really hurt my feelings.

[ He's smiling despite his words. ]

[nihilmancy]

I wasn't lying about being a sadist.

Want to see if you can outrace a flying girl?

[bad_crowmance]

[ He pounds his fist into his other hand. ]

Sounds like fun!

[nihilmancy]

[Floats off the ground and starts heading outside.]

Flying is pretty fun sometimes, I guess.

[bad_crowmance]

It's a pretty impressive skill.

[nihilmancy]

[But then she goes back to the ground and walks the rest of the way.]

Tires me out, though.

[bad_crowmance]

That's not a surprise, either. How do you do it-- some kind of magic?

[nihilmancy]

That's right. It's a form of Star magic, which is concerned with space and movement.