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

[voreaciously]

Agreed, sir.

[Hawkeye can't miss

It is a little odd to aim directly for the target. The archer's paradox is that to hit the target, you cannot be aiming directly for it. It's odd and strange and different, and she expects these things. What she is doing is using a gun, not extending a part of herself.

But she is driven, competitive, enjoys learning new things, and does not like doing things by halves, so she is going to keep practising if he does not make her stop.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ He's going to let her get about three more shots out, curious to see if she can hit the target in five tries. ]

[voreaciously]

[all her shots are very close to the bull's eye and actually very close to one another. She has a very good sense of control, but she still does not hit it.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ He holds his hand out to get his gun back. ]

I get the impression you've got some kind of experience with aiming for a target.

[voreaciously]

[She does not want to give it back, yet, but does not hesitate to do so, only giving it a final look once he has it. It belongs to him, it's as simple as that.

Even if her mediocrity is grating.]

What gave you that impression?

[bad_crowmance]

[ He puts his guns away at his hips and back to wherever the hell they are. ]

It's the way you aim... there's an air of ease to it, like you're used to it. Maybe not with a gun, but... something.

[voreaciously]

[SEROIUSLY. WHERE DO THE GUNS GO!!! she is mystified all over again.]

I see.

[well, she won't elaborate. she isn't being cagey or not open, she just feels like a bit of mystery. if he asks, she'll cop to it.]

What a thoughtful observation, sir. Thank you for the lesson.

[she bows a little, respectfully]

[bad_crowmance]

[ He's curious, but it's not really relevant right now so he'll leave it alone. ]

Of course, it was fun. Now it's my turn to learn-- that water filtration method you mentioned?

[voreaciously]

I may as well teach you two, since we already here. Having a solar still would be too convenient at sea, but if you ever adrift at sea and have nothing but the clothes on your back, filtering seawater through fibrous clothing will absorb salt molecules and increase potability. If you are on an island, with wood, you've significantly more options with charcoal. It is a natural absorber of harmful substances. It is good to take if you've been poisoned, somehow.

[bad_crowmance]

[ He nods, listening intently. ]

That's really handy to know.

[voreaciously]

The last method assumes you have a few more resources--perhaps you've gone camping, but have simply run out of water--namely...

[And something begins to take shape in her hand. It's a water bottle--literally. In that she's shaped a bottle of water.]

A bottle, perhaps two. One for gathering, the other for filtering. Perhaps some coffee filters, paper towels, silk, or cotton swabs. They will prevent the materials from leaving. Cut the bottom of the bottle.

[The bottle reshapes and its bottom becomes open and shorter.]

Poke a hole in the lid. Ideally more than one to increase the rate of filtering.

[She removes the lid and holes appear before she reattaches it.]

Now, the more layers of materials you can add the better, but they may not be available to you. However, charcoal is very important and should go in first after the plug.

[she does not have any on her but wood chip constructs appear in her bottle for demonstrative purposes.] If you've any extra paper towel, that can follow, if not, gravel, and then sand. These both work to trap any particles between them.

[These she gathers herself from the beach adding to the bottle.]

When gathering water--[and here she makes another bottle]--cover the opening with some cloth to prevent larger particles from entering and contaminating the source.

[She crouches low to gather some and pours it into the bottle. Nothing comes out the other end just yet, but it will. Eventually.]

It is a lengthy process, but simply done. Any questions at all?

[bad_crowmance]

Nope, I'm following. The magic examples are really helpful.

[voreaciously]

[She brightens a little, her face turning pink.]

Ah, are they? I am glad then. That is another square, I believe.

[She pauses, thinking.]

I wonder if we can make bonds out of these, thinking about it.

[too bad she think about this during Crow's display of modesty, that sure af had an impact on her]

[bad_crowmance]

You know, I hadn't thought about it... that'd sure be a good way to make some quick cash. Sparks, whatever.

[ Same difference. ]

[voreaciously]

You really enjoy gambling.

[bad_crowmance]

Haha, what's not to enjoy?

[voreaciously]

Lo...sing?

[is this a trick question]

[bad_crowmance]

Well yeah, no one likes to lose. But that's the risk you take! And the feeling when you win is definitely worth trying for.

[voreaciously]

[


She grows quiet, cradling her chin in a bid of honest consideration. She has odd af principles, but she also is surprisingly open to new experiences.

Then again, it's not as if she's never gambled, but at this time it won't involve body parts.

Hm. She may as well make a bond of this, too, actually.]

Would you kindly show me, sometime? Please.

[bad_crowmance]

Sure, sounds like fun! I was planning on buying a deck of cards at some point anyway.

[voreaciously]

Very well. ...Advice, then.

[bad_crowmance]

[ Ah yes: One of the squares he least wants to do. ]

....I'll let you ask for advice first.

1/3

[voreaciously]

It can be for something of little consequence like...

[hey, crow, how do i stop being such a fuck up
hey, crow, how do i tell people i care
hey, crow, how do i stop being such a burden to people
hey, crow, how do i stop missing people
hey, crow, how do i normal
hey, crow how do i--]

...

2/3

[voreaciously]

[this is a bad square and i don't like i]

3/3

[voreaciously]

Actually, this is of some consequence, but how do I better your pleasure?

[THEY'RE OUTSIDE NO ONE ELSE IS HERE]