IOLITE

[dramatispersonae]

[As the game begins, each team finds themselves standing in a small ring of stones. The crystal pillar rests in the center of the circle, easily within sight and hearing of everything that will be going on. You can leave and see the other columns if you like, but once the game has started you can't see what the other teams are doing.

Also present is a small wrought-iron table, on which a curious mechanical swan rests. There's a glass panel set into its back, under which you can see a corroded key. The swan seems to be completely lifeless.]

Comments

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

[Odile's voice rings clearly through the air:]

You have been given a key, my heroes. But the metal is still too corroded and weak to free your friend. Perhaps if you breathe life back into it, the metal will shine again.

Be warned, however, that you are on a strict time limit. The pillars will be completely full just as the fourth trial ends -- and if your key is not yet ready, it will not open the column. The swifter you are, the less your companion will suffer.

(( OOC: Pick a trial and go for it! Each one will have two options, one of which is worth one point (white) while the other is worth two points (black). The key will be ready after at least 5 points have been collected.

If any of the tasks are OOCly squicky and/or your group gets stuck between a black choice that's OOCly unfun and losing their teammate, then ping Odile! Alternate challenges can be arranged. Also, bonus points may or may not be available depending on how crazy/hilarious/horrifying your team is. ))

TRIALS

[dramatispersonae]

[Each symbol has been labeled with delicate golden letters:

An ornate letter A: Trial of Soul
A set of scales: Trial of Balance
A monstrous face: Trial of Courage
A stylized heart: Trial of Heart
A red droplet: Trial of Blood
A vial: Trial of Life

You get the feeling that they arranged in some sort of order and that you should probably attempt the Trial of Soul first. But there is nothing forcing you to do so.]

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

Re: DISCUSSION

[dormancy]

Where shall we begin?

CHOICES

[dramatispersonae]

Put the task number (Task 1, Task 2, etc.) in the title, please.

Task 1

[shipwithwings]

A Trial of Courage.

Task 2

[dormancy]

Trial of Soul

Task 3

[shipwithwings]

Trial of Blood

Task 4

[dormancy]

Trial of Life

COURAGE

[dramatispersonae]

[A mirror made out of black steel appears on the table. Anyone who peers into it sees a distorted, monstrous version of themselves. The following inscription has been carved into its handle:

"What fears do you hide, my heroes? The white swan shows an image for a short while before it fades again, but the black swan's touch is more permanent."]

WHITE SWAN: Projected image of character's greatest fear
BLACK SWAN: Character's greatest fear becomes real (if possible). Otherwise, the character turns into a monster (PM Yukio for details.)

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

Re: DISCUSSION

[dormancy]

. . . Who fears spiders~?

Re: DISCUSSION

[arbiterary]

[watching form the column with interest]

Re: DISCUSSION

[shipwithwings]

I am not doing the black swan, I am not.

Re: DISCUSSION

[sticksofthejedi]

I don't see any reason to hold back.

DECISION

[dramatispersonae]

SOUL

[dramatispersonae]

[A sheet of parchment and a quill appear in front of your mechanical swan. Despite the rain, both seem perfectly dry; the letters are clear and unsmudged. The following has been written down already:

"To grant this poor creature a soul, it must first have a name. The white swan needs only a weak collection of letters and sounds, but the black demands tribute: a memory it can call its own."]

WHITE SWAN: Name
BLACK SWAN: Name and Memory

[As always, you may choose either option, leave, or attempt something different.]

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

DECISION

[dramatispersonae]

BLOOD

[dramatispersonae]

[A number of different tools appear, ranging from a pincushion full of sewing needles to a small handsaw, with all sorts of things in between (pliers, knives, scalpels, even a large butcher's knife). There are also some helpful things, like supplies for tourniquets and disinfectant The inscription reads as follows:

"All things that live draw their strength from their blood. The white swan needs a drop -- only a small drop -- but the black must have flesh and bone as well."]

WHITE SWAN: Drop of blood
BLACK SWAN: Finger/other extremity (ear, toe, etc.)

[As always, you may choose either option, leave, or attempt something different.]

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

DECISION

[dramatispersonae]

LIFE

[dramatispersonae]

TRIAL OF LIFE

[A slim vial of poison rests on the table.

"How much do you truly love your teammate? Enough to sacrifice yourself? Or to sacrifice another's beloved?"

WHITE SWAN: Self (character slowly begins to turn to stone)
BLACK SWAN: Others (poison put in the water of another team's column. they might die?)

[As always, you may choose either option, leave, or attempt something different.]

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

DECISION

[dramatispersonae]