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

[unaffective]

Vexing though the gap in my understanding may be, I must confess that it is likewise of little interest. Certainly there is merit in maintaining one's appearance, but to place my attentions elsewhere would be more prudent, by far.

[ but there's a tiny pause before she adds ]

... My apologies.

[bad_crowmance]

Eh, there's nothing wrong with that either.

[ He shrugs briefly, though she really can't see it because he's still working out the knots in her shoulders. ]

[unaffective]

Rather than that, that I would have you perform such a thing, knowing perfectly well my own condition... It simply feels as if there is some apology in order.

[bad_crowmance]

Heh! If it bothered me, I wouldn't be afraid to complain. Don't worry about it.

[unaffective]

... Is that so... Then - thank you.

[ another pause, ]

At any rate - it shall regretfully take some time, at any rate; to fulfill other squares in the interim would be prudent, certainly. Have you given much thought to your goals?

[bad_crowmance]

Of course I have. My primary goal right now is to get my memories back. What about you?

[unaffective]

I'll save everyone within this place, of course.

[bad_crowmance]

Right, you mentioned something about that-- for your brother's sake.

[unaffective]

- Of course, it's for the sake of each person present here. While it's certainly something that he would like of me, it's hardly as if he is here...

[bad_crowmance]

Of course, my mistake.

[unaffective]

And more scarcely still it is not as if he's requested that I do any such thing. I'd simply like to do so.

[bad_crowmance]

It's an admirable goal, to be sure.