The Thirteenth Trial

[catcophonous]

Who: trialgoers
When: Day 27 all day
Where: The Cat's Zone

[Once again the Trial time has come. Just like the Eleventh, it's the Cat's bar that's appeared in the clearing, and just like then, he's not here for formalities.]

Can you believe you've been dumped on me again already? Lame, I know. But come on in and let's get going.

[But he's not the only voice! The booming, cheerful tone of the Hermit can be heard as well.]

Right, right, come along! This one should be fun for you and us.

[Once you enter the bar, you'll find... it's just a bar. In fact, you are free to come and go from it. The inside, though, has been dolled up -- there are swaths of colourful fabric above the windows, jingly dangly crystal decorations hanging down over tables, and patterned tablecloths. It's the kind of cheesy fortuneteller decor you've seen in the Hermit's tent before!

Otherwise, though, there's nothing strange. There are plenty of tables and an open dancefloor. The cabinets behind the bar are sturdily locked, but there are pitchers of non-alcoholic punch on every table, and on the bar is a jar of paper slips and a laminated instructions sheet.

The name of this game is: Fortune and Lies.]

RULES ☆ TURN-IN ☆ WINNERS & ENDGAME

Comments

[desirestruth]

My dignity is very important to me.

[yip to self: never let Hlasoh see her near Lucien.]

[nihilmancy]

As it must be for a queen. You could never cavort in taverns, a-and pick up dancing girls like me.

[desirestruth]

There weren't really any taverns.

[A long pause.]

There is an entire assassin order based around sexy rabbit women, though.

[nihilmancy]

Oh. Y-Yes, I am intrigued, please tell me more.

[desirestruth]

I don't know that much, since the way that order operates is dictated by their devotion to the Woods, so they went into hiding from my mother, but...one came back into contact shortly before I had to leave.

The stories tell us they're all tall, immune to corruption, and blessed with beauty. The order's methods involve a hunter's techniques, but rumor has it they also seduce their victims to allow an order-sister to gain the element of surprise.

[nihilmancy]

[





...hot]

I see. They must be marvelous to behold...

[desirestruth]

[hlasoh you useless bisexual]

I tend to find the constant reminder of possible imminent death a bit of a buzzkill.

[A beat.]

Which is why I set her up with my advisor.

[nihilmancy]

The trick is to believe that you are destined to suffer, so anything bad that happens is okay.

She interested in sharing?

[Bless her poor heart, she's flushing horribly during this whole conversation.]

[desirestruth]

I don't know about her, but Konstantin almost certainly is not.

[Poking Hlasoh in the nose. Gentle beep!]

I'll hear no more of your poor self-esteem today, and you can let that blue fortune go now.

[nihilmancy]

Ah, that's a shame.

That's my fatalism, not my self-loathing. What sort of gloomy wretch would I be if I only had one complex? But yes, you are correct. It is blue. And now I may rest for a moment.

[desirestruth]

They're often of a piece, Hlasoh.

[But she'll wait for Hlasoh to recompose herself and go get a new fortune.]

[nihilmancy]

[Doing so and taking a deep breath! The poor girl flusters easily.]

Tell me a little more about the forest.

[desirestruth]

Mm...that's difficult. Do you want to hear about the order of the Royal Archivists?

[nihilmancy]

Yes, tell me.