auroraexpress | The Fourth Trial

Entry tags:

The Fourth Trial

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That's what I thought. Everyone else was a lot angrier than he was.

At least on the outside.

[ he fully expects revenge. or round 2. "round" "two". ]

Who did you stab? Why were you stabbing anyone in the first place? From what I saw light cuts were all that was necessary.

The big red guy. [ listen... ] If that dragon was really satisfied by light cuts, I'd be disappointed in them. What kind of hostage situation can be defused by scratches?

Edited 2019-01-27 06:39 (UTC)

...You're the one who stabbed Randy and left him with that distasteful mark? I'm not surprised he was masochistic about it.

As for that overgrown lizard claiming greatness, I see no reason to be so intimidated into dancing for a puffed up gecko. Have more pride than that.

[ just... smiling faintly. ]

I think we just have different ideas of pride. If I'm asked to save somebody, I'm not going to halfass it.

Edited 2019-01-27 06:46 (UTC)

So you will endanger more for that purpose? How extremist.

...

[ He doesn't regret it, and the pause is only minuscule, but it's. Huh.

There's a feeling there. Like a very small spark of shame. ]

That's right. I don't think I'll ever change.

That attitude is what annoys me most.

That I can't be taught new tricks?

That you seem uninterested in trying.

[ ....ugh. why are good guys like this. ]

I don't think I was wrong. [ 99% anyways. ]

Of course not. You know, stubbornness can be an admirable trait, correctly applied. Coupled with rigidity though, it simply becomes the domain of inflexible old men and zealous fools.

[ Ah.

Hah. Ouch?? ]

That explains it. It's the only language those types understood, so I had to become fluent in it. [ A pause. ] I did say you wouldn't want to find out this sort of thing, didn't I?

I wouldn't or you wouldn't want me to?

[ ugh!!!!!!! ]

You good guys are such a pain.

Perhaps you should attempt to stop doing things that invite such annoying responses then.

[ SIGHS. ]

Is that how you start changing people? Bothering them about it?

There's np other way. People must change on their own, no one can force someone to a new perspective, but doing so without an outside impetus or catalyst is rare, isn't it? If all you have are your own limited views even if you try to change you won't get far.

I guess we'll see.

[ His tone is pretty "I don't think so, buddy," but.

It's not impossible.

He had been open to changing, just a little over a week ago. It's just, everything that happened—he'd found himself spiraled back into the worst of it.

But it's not likely that he's going to get better anytime soon. He certainly doesn't think he will, at least. ]

I think the mark he got makes him look cooler, though. You called it distasteful.

[ THIS IS A SAFER CONVERSATION TO HAVE. ]

I'm amazed he's not more upset by it. The symbol may look "cool" to you. Perhaps it is so, objectively. But it is also the emblem of a well known jaeger corps in my world, one I'm surprised Randy is so calm about having carved into his skin.

Is that right? Are they criminals or something?

You are free to ask him the details yourself.

[ THAT SOUNDS EXCITING!!!!!!!! he will do that. eventually. ]

Unfortunately, even a small cut left the same type of brand. He'd have it regardless.

How delightful. Why did you opt for the drastic measures?

They were being hung over lava. The dragon was already more drastic than I was.

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