The Twenty-Third Trial

[advisories]

Who: trialgoers etc!
When: Day 50, morning
Where: the ~trial zone~

[Another morning, another Trial! Ugh.

At least this one seems normal, starting out with a shake and the Hermit’s booming voice:]

"Good morning, Heroes. You can guess why you're being called, but before we begin I have an official statement. The Prince of Stars and associates were not responsible for yesterday's Trial. It appears the system was copied by a Malicious entity -- we apologize for any confusion and are doing our best to locate this entity and find a way to prevent any such incidents in the future.

In the meantime, we've scheduled a low-stress Trial for today to lift your spirits. With teamwork and a little silliness, let's search for unity and peace within ourselves."

[The Hermit's tent is in the clearing, awaiting your arrival.]

rules | sign-in | mingle | rooms | winners & endgame

Comments

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[malignstar]

[ As he finally listens to her, his shoulders and head slump, as the spikes de-materialize and sky starts to return to its earlier gray. His voice is once more the heavily melancholic tone she heard once before. ]

I thought I could... I wanted to believe in his team. Thyme. That they would protect him. But he wanted to protect them more. I could not stop him...

He does not know how to let others protect him. I have only managed it by taking control. He would most likely reject me... So what am I supposed to do? Stand by and watch this happen again and again? He is not the only one it hurts.

And he never learns. Protecting is too important to him.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[daydreamshimmer]

[Solar approaches then, slow and cautious. She still feels the pain of the last attack, but she is determined. She is going to see this through.]

Mostly likely means he hasn't yet.

Have you....talked to him? About all this? How you feel?

Does he understand you get hurt too?

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[malignstar]

[ Not!Felix remains in the air, flapping slower now ]

... he does not understand who I am. To him, I am... another side of the coin. There is nobody to get hurt.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[daydreamshimmer]

So....like just a voice in his head?

Even with all this? [She gestures to the mindscape.]

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[malignstar]

He does not see it. Do you see your own?

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[daydreamshimmer]

I don't have two people in my head.

[....as far as she knows EVEN IF SHE SUSPECTS....]

Usually, anyway. And when I do, this happens.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[malignstar]

Either way, it would be different. As I said, this place is mine. Nobody else is supposed to see it.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[daydreamshimmer]

But he's here.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[malignstar]

Because he is asleep. He would not be able to reach it on his own.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[daydreamshimmer]

So...how DO you talk to him?

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[malignstar]

... I can't. Not here. I do not know if there is a block or I simply forgot how.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[daydreamshimmer]

....ah.

Thus the psychological bubble.

[She looks around. Then at herself.]

[Then shrugs.]

I mean.

I can probably fix that.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[malignstar]

Fix what?

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[daydreamshimmer]

The blockade. Make a pathway.

I'm winging this stuff. [Gestures at herself.] But there are actual mind spells. They're not as....efficient as getting so deep, but with a willing subject, finding hidden stuff is doable and I might be talented at that part with. This. [More gestures at herself.]

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[malignstar]

[ He finally allows himself to flap back to the ground again. ]

I am not sure how... For all I know, it is the influence of this land. My memories are still incomplete, although I have somewhat more information.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[daydreamshimmer]

[She'll land to. A little stumble as she touches down, wincing because OW still, and how do wings.]

[....Celestia, wings AGAIN.]

Then I should be able to see that. Most mindscapes spells were made to deal with curses and magical creatures that could invade the mind after Nightmare Moon's banishment.

And then there's this stuff which I guess goes super deep if I just want it bad enough.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[malignstar]

This is indeed a curse.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[daydreamshimmer]

....you see yourself as a curse?

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[malignstar]

Of course I am a curse. I am demon. But more than that, this... situation is a curse. This... shared existence.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[daydreamshimmer]

...okay, suddenly I get why Penric was nervous. You should talk to him. Like. Get some perspective.

Because first time I heard about demons was from him and honestly, they don't sound so bad. A bit confused on what chaos versus destruction means maybe....

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[malignstar]

[ Another low growl. ]

I already know of that one.

[ He looks down at his own claws, no longer extended ]

Demons are murderers. That is all you need to understand. All they know is how to destroy. The compulsion is always just at the surface, waiting for its chance. The moment we let ourselves indulge it.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[daydreamshimmer]

Penric is a delight and Desdemona honestly shares that whole growly protectiveness you do.

[Raises an eyebrow at that description.]

And that is....different from a human?

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[malignstar]

Most humans do not desire destruction and violence as a rule. There are always exceptions.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[daydreamshimmer]

Humans have a thing known as 'terrorism' which is literally about causing destruction and death to cause discord.

For a pony, that sounds an awful lot like a creature in love with wanton destruction and is liable to go off the rails at any moment.

Re: WINNERS & ENDGAME

[malignstar]

As I said, there are always exceptions.

[ Fisting his claws at this sides again ]

I know well the evils human can commit.