The Fourth Trial

[hot_mess_express]

Who: Heroes
When: Day 9, Midday
Where: The Dragon's Tower


Come hither, Heroes. Prove thy worth.

The earth rumbles beneath your feet with a mighty roar. This time a crumbling stone tower looms above you, unscalable and unbreachable. At the top of the tower is a single window with a single light, beckoning. The only entrance at the base is an arched wooden door which creaks in protest when you open it.


Upon entering the tower you will find yourself in a large room with high walls constructed of dark, uneven brick stone. The ceiling is so high that you cannot see anything but darkness as torches lining the walls serve as the only source of light. The room itself is achingly cold. It’s reminiscent of a dungeon… or a treasure room.

But the only treasure to be found lies in the middle of the room; a small pile of seven bracelets, each one inlaid with a beautiful jewel corresponding to each team’s color. It may be fairly obvious, but just in case anyone is slow on the uptake:

“What is it that you treasure in this world? What are you willing to give up? Until you can decide that much, you will not be allowed to leave this room. It matters not to me if you rot in here.

However, I will tell you this much; should you decide who among you is most precious, only they may bear the weight of your altruism.”


Mingle | Pre-Game Rules | Hostages | Rooms | Endgame

Comments

[purrtagonist]

[stands up a little straighter, eyeing him thoughtfully]

I heard about them from some guy in blue. What was his name?

Rando. . . Ranger. . . Rudolph. . .

[saddleclub]

Randy?

[purrtagonist]

[. . . soft snort]

I was kidding. Yeah, that was him. You know him?

[saddleclub]

Yes, he's an acquaintance of my brother's and a friend of a friend, apparently.

[He waves a hand vaguely.]

Something about being from the future so I may know him as well, according to him.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN]

Ah, all right. Makes sense.

[no it doesn't]

[saddleclub]

[Look it's nonsense he feels no need to elaborate on it either.]

These trials seem determined to test our mettle in some form or other, whether it be our moral resolve or our wits. As such, I would like to take the treasure. If bearing the weight of altruism or whatever nonsense is a chance to share a piece of my mind...

[purrtagonist]

[it's fine, Akira isn't asking]

[but he is pausing to stare at Jusis for a moment, as though he's considering whether he should argue or not. and in the end?]

. . . mmm. Okay. If you want it, then you can take it.

[in the end, this is his first trial, and he has no idea what to expect. why argue at that point?]

[saddleclub]

My thanks. If this turns out badly step on Ceylon for me.

[purrtagonist]

[thumbs up]

Gotcha.

[a beat]

[. . . wait]

Whiiiich one is Ceylon again?

[give him a break it's been a DAY]

[saddleclub]

The useless snake. Assam is the baffling pink woman. I haven't gotten a name for the newer baffling pink woman.

[purrtagonist]

[raises a brow]

[BAFFLING PINK WOMAN ONE AND TWO--]

She didn't remember her name. When I asked her if she wanted to choose a placeholder one for herself, she refused.

[saddleclub]

We'll come to something for her then.

[purrtagonist]

Whatever we call her, it should be something she likes. She's pretty. . .

[a beat]

Jumpy.

[understatement]

[saddleclub]

Feral, you mean?

[purrtagonist]

Thaaat's one way to put it, yeah.

[tilts his head, tugging on a unicorn ear]

But if we have to sharing living space with her, I'd rather she learn to feel comfortable around us.

[saddleclub]

I see no reason she would not but her own issues. I will not go out of my way to tiptoe around her.

[purrtagonist]

She has her issues for a reason. None of us know what it is.

[taps his finger against his upper arms, which are folded across his chest]

The last thing I'd suggest is tiptoeing around her, though.

[saddleclub]

Yes she seems a bad idea to startle.

[purrtagonist]

As long as she isn't armed. . .

[trailing off]

[. . . he's, like. halfway joking, and halfway not]

[saddleclub]

...Perhaps we should call her Wildcat.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . HEH. Akira's smile is ironic, but he doesn't seem willing to explain the humor he sees in that suggestion]

Just "Wildcat?" Or are we looking for specific breeds, here?

[saddleclub]

Panther, perhaps?

1/2

[purrtagonist]

[STARES INTO THE DISTANCE]

[purrtagonist]

I was thinking. . . Lynx? Cougar-- wait, no. Not Cougar.

[saddleclub]

...?

[Do you not like panthers....??]

....Yes, not cougar. [why does he know what a cougar is??] Lynx then.