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]

[MMMMMMM. his expression wrinkles, looking a bit put out]

It's a little more complicated than that, I'm pretty sure.

[. . .]

But you're not completely off base.

[he wishes the dragon was here and not so he could fight it like he wanted to earlier. he wishes it were here so he can SHOWER IT IN PRAISE AND PLEDGE HIS UNDYING LOYALTY TO IT and oh my god that's weird right?? that's so weird!!]

[legis_vox]

[that's absolutely weird, buddy]

reversed a feeling you had

its all right if you don't want to talk about it

i may not be able to help if its complex anyway

[purrtagonist]

. . . little more complicated than that, too.

[stuffs his hands into his pockets and immediately takes that conversational out, because he'd rather not focus on these weird. . . feelings. . . that he can't even get angry about]

Don't worry about it; I'll ride it out until it's over.

[if it ends]

[legis_vox]

[pauses a bit but nods, lifting his Chain up to study it briefly before he types again]

so your world has devices like these

[purrtagonist]

[relaxes a bit as the topic moves into safe territory]

They're called "cell phones" where I come from. Anyone who doesn't have one is socially ostracized.

[more joking]

[legis_vox]

[and yet]

are they rare

[purrtagonist]

So rare that they hold tournaments where people fight each other for the right to carry one.

It gets brutal.

[Akira it's not nice to take advantage of someone's naivete like this]

[legis_vox]

one of those statements has to be false

if they were rare enough to fight for then winning one would be a badge of honor

not having one wouldnt be a mark of shame because most people wouldnt have one

and if they arent rare then why fight for them

[purrtagonist]

Oops. Caught in a lie.

[holds up his hands, palms forward]

Kidding. They're not that rare, but they can be pretty expensive. But having one is practically required for staying in touch these days.

[legis_vox]

they seem useful for that

much easier than birds

[purrtagonist]

Less messy, too.

[heh]

[legis_vox]

[looking amused]

no argument with that

[purrtagonist]

. . . and you're sure you're okay after all of that?

[whoops, quick subject change. but all joking aside, Akira's concern for Timur's well-being was real]

[legis_vox]

[an almost startled smile, as if surprised by either the concern or the subject change]

good as new

barely even scorched thanks to all of you

thanks for your efforts

[purrtagonist]

[haa. . .]

Like hell I was just going to let you or Jusis-san fall into that pit of lava.

[legis_vox]

i still appreciate it

[purrtagonist]

[offers Timur a small smile. it should be noted that he isn't reacting as. . . ah. strongly as he did before. there's no hint of anger or irritation or righteous indignation]

Anytime. Really.

[legis_vox]

[it's noted, and probably processed as yet another clue, but Timur isn't going to push that by now]

hopefully i wont have to test that

[purrtagonist]

[holds up a hand, his index finger crossed with his middle finger]

Finger crossed.

[legis_vox]

other trials werent that dangerous or so i hear

do you think theyll keep escalating