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

[desirestruth]

I just mostly haven't had much opportunity before now.

[A pause.] Oh! I forgot my teammates.

[THEY'RE JUST ALL VERY QUIET...]

[bad_crowmance]

I don't think I've talked to as many of them.... Elaine's pretty cute.

[desirestruth]

She's cute, but I don't know much about her. I think Pathiri's asleep, but he's very...I'd feel bad playing tricks on him.

[A long pause.]

And Ciabatta would get revenge and I live in the same car as him, so, no.

[bad_crowmance]

I don't know Pathiri or Ciabatta. I don't actually know much about Elaine either, just that she's cute and has a brother complex.

[desirestruth]

Pathiri's quiet and has long, braided hair...Ciabatta's about yae tall, black-haired, looks like he really doesn't want to be here...

[Because he does not, Naeva.]

[bad_crowmance]

I mean... he probably doesn't.

[desirestruth]

He absolutely doesn't. But not everyone wears it on their face, so it's still a useful identifier.

[bad_crowmance]

Haha, that's fair. I'll keep an eye out for the unhappy guy in red.

[desirestruth]

He's just right there?

[POINTING.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ He follows the direction of her finger. ]

That's the guy, huh? I've seen him around.

[desirestruth]

I think he tries to show up to every trial, if he can.

[bad_crowmance]

That's pretty impressive.

[desirestruth]

I can sort of understand it. I've only missed one trial, but I still have only gotten enough sparks for two power tokens so far. Senna winning is going to be the fastest way for any of the team to regain anything.

...But then, it's the same for anyone else, so it's not like we have it worse.

[bad_crowmance]

I've actually managed to get four memory tokens... I've already used two, and I'm gonna use the other two after this trial. Although it may be three by that point.

[desirestruth]

Four...you've been generating a lot of sparks then.

[She knows Lucien has at least three. But, hmm.]

Curious. I wonder why memory tokens are cheaper? I suppose memories must be easier to restore...

[bad_crowmance]

That's pretty much how my theory goes. Abilities, skills, powers... those are huge and most people aren't going to have a lot of them. So whatever system Cardy's got set up for this may need more sparks to pull in something that big. A memory's like... a mental recording of the past. An echo, something impermanent.

[desirestruth]

That does make the most amount of sense. It's just a little frustrating right now.

[bad_crowmance]

Yeah, I don't doubt it. At least if I remember a skill or an ability, I can use it right away. We've both had pieces of ourselves taken away... they're just very different ones.

[desirestruth]

Nothing we can do but work to gain them back.

[bad_crowmance]

And that's just what I intend to do.

[ He pounds his fist into an open hand. ]

[desirestruth]

...Did the card count that as a goal, I wonder?

[HM.]

[bad_crowmance]

I don't see why not.

[desirestruth]

Well then. I need the prank and that experiment...I'll spare you accidentally crushing this dainty old lady.

[She's considering this.]

...I wonder how broad their definition of 'experiment' is?

[bad_crowmance]

I don't get the impression you're dainty.

[ He considers that himself though, tucking his hands behind his head. ]

If you ask me, I'd say "as long as you come up with a hypothesis and test it out, it's an experiment." Even if it's a dumb one.

[desirestruth]

Without my powers, I may well be.

[...]

Alright, I hypothesize you could probably pick me up one-handed.

[she is SMOL. or at least doesn't weigh very much.]