auroraexpress | The Thirtieth Trial

Who: Trial players
When: Day 63, morning
Where: Trial zone

[The trial zone doesn't exactly appear to be inthe best shape. It's the ruins of an old building, something once grand, perhaps a castle, with a strange statue of sorts with six spheres leading to a large seventh on a pedestal. It's possible t see a forest beyond the walls, though find a way out to that seems impossible, and plants have overgrown almost everything.]

[On the statue's pedestal is an inscription:
Three tribes that brought a storm,
Winter brought them to task.
Eventually things would become warm,
What in return did springtime ask?]

[Not so far beyond it appears to be stairs leading down into the earth. And to the side of that is a throne.]

[And on the throne is....someone new in Senna colors? Though perhaps the hair is enough of a give away. Though those with a keen eye may yet notice she's still wearing her geode still, with the distinctive cutie mark still on it.]

[She's lounged across the throne, legs kicked over one side, elbow resting on the other, head in hand.]

I'm bored. [And she offers a grin that has a dangerous glint to it.]

How about we play a game?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[slight disapproval, but maybe they are taking longer or are hurt]

Perhaps they had more discussion.

That makes sense. They're mostly big talkers. [Mostly. Loki and Solar definitely were at least. Penric was quieter, or at least more succinct when he spoke.]

How about your team? Oh! I didn't ask, but are you going to be all right?

I see Mao. Not Felix or Eliza, though.

And I'm healing. That happens after trials. That and my own natural healing is faster than most.

[shows her arms, which had been cut up]

Oh! I know Felix and Eliza. They're both very friendly.

[That expedient healing gets a wide-eyes gasp of awe.] How amazing! That must be very handy here!

Right now, it's partially the effect of the trial. There are also healing pods in the infirmary. You would need Sparks to use them, but others will often be willing to pay for them. Especially teammates.

[He nods, squaring that information away. Then he looks down at his own hands, which seem to be still a little bluer from before, but returning to their usual ash-blue hue.]

I shouldn't need extra healing after this. I feel I must have been fairly lucky today. I'll need to try to be more prepared next time.

It's hard to prepare for the more dangerous trials. Beyond accepting the fact there are often difficult choices involved.

And sometimes we have a trial which is just a social gathering with a list of goals.

[Another nod, this one more resolute.]

That sounds much more appealing. Like a game to play with our teams!

[That's actually how he had first imagined trials to be, a way to win points for your team while you worked together in some way. This was just answering questions with the reward always being some form of pain.]

I agree. I'm glad it's the norm. Not that I didn't enjoy your company, of course.

It certainly could have turned out quite worse if I had been alone. [He grins at her.] You're a great trial partner in times of need!

Thank you. As are you yourself.

[He beams, happy to be praised. He still can't quite bring himself to say "Thank you for taking all those hits for me" but maybe that will come later. Maybe.]

Oh, there's Loki! So I did have other teammates in there.

[And he's not looking great, but he's a god. He'll probably be fine.]

Edited 2020-04-17 02:53 (UTC)

The Thirtieth Trial

Re: ENDGAME

Re: ENDGAME

Re: ENDGAME

Re: ENDGAME

Re: ENDGAME

Re: ENDGAME

Re: ENDGAME

Re: ENDGAME

Re: ENDGAME

Re: ENDGAME

Re: ENDGAME

Re: ENDGAME