CORAL

[dramatispersonae]

[You are standing in an amphitheatre constructed of off-white marble with several rows of seats surrounding you on all sides; in the performance space at the bottom is another banquet table, with fourteen different crowns placed upon it. They are, in no particular order:

A jeweled tiara lined with diamonds
A crown of wheat
A faded kokoshnik
A coronet with its jewels missing
A gold diadem
A civic crown made out of oak leaves
A mural crown
A naval crown missing a sail
A hoop crown missing the top insignia
A crown of thorns
A striped nemes
A crown of dandelions
A plain modius
A coronation crown with beading on the side falling off]

Comments

PART ONE

[dramatispersonae]

[Mr. Right's voice echoes quietly off the amphitheatre walls, sounding closer than normal.]

Ladies and jellybeans, it's my pleasure to inform you that you've all been chosen as potential heirs to the throne of your own little kingdom. Isn't that something? Ah, but there's only room for one at the top, so you'll have to make sure you impress me enough to earn that title. We'll find out later on how much potential is really in you. Now I know most of you don't got experience with this sort of thing, so I'll guide you through the process. Think hard about what kinda ruler you'd like to be. King, queen, prince, princess, duke, duchess, marquis, marquise--pick whichever title suits you. I'm fond of "emperor" myself. Regardless, every monarch's gotta have a mark of their autonomy, so your first task is to pick a crown--any crown. Make sure it's one you can hold onto, though--once it's on your head, it won't be easy to keep it. And if you do, make sure you're prepared to carry its weight.

((Each team member present picks a crown from the pile to wear; one team member per crown, please. ONCE YOUR CHARACTER HAS DECIDED ON A CROWN, IT WILL NOT COME OFF. If you arrive past part one, make sure whatever crown you choose is not one that's already been chosen by your teammates.))

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

Re: DISCUSSION

[browbeater]

[uh.]

... So this is how games normally work.

Re: DISCUSSION

[blackjacked]

[-- oh a knight!]

Sometimes. Yo! Welcome to Coral~

Re: DISCUSSION

[pitching]

[jiiiiiiiiiiiii]

Re: DISCUSSION

[pitching]

It isn't that much, I guess.

Re: DISCUSSION

[blackjacked]

[but what if we don't want to impress a Persona. . .]

Re: DISCUSSION

[mylittlecavallone]

... Huh. Interesting.

DECISION

[dramatispersonae]

Re: DECISION

[browbeater]

[Mako had the nemes placed upon his head by a mischievous Coral]

Re: DECISION

[mylittlecavallone]

[ Mural crown mural crown. ]

Re: DECISION

[blackjacked]

[The thief has (naturally) chosen the diamond tiara]

Re: DECISION

[pitching]

[Dragonfly was forced to wear the crown of dandelions but at least I am handsome in them]

PART TWO

[dramatispersonae]

[Mr. Right's voice comes echoing through again, sounding amused]

Ain't you all looking fancy. But good looks and a winning smile aren't enough--trust me, I know. Question is, do you think you deserve that kind of title? Regal-looking or not, you've got to walk the walk and talk the talk. And a ruler's just a nobody if they can't reach deep into the hearts of their subjects. What makes you so special? You got to think about what being a leader really means to you, and how you'd handle it in particular. The first thing every ruler needs to address is what kinda rules they're laying down. So here's your second task: figure out how you'd pluck the heartstrings of your vassals--in this case, your teammates--and play me a sweet tune.

Sounds pretty open-ended, right? Well, like everything in life, there's a catch: those crowns aren't just shiny little decorations. They've been worn before, and inherited certain... traits from all those past generations. And there's one piece of advice all those old dead guys can agree on: if you want to avoid being usurped, you'd better live up to your predecessors.

[If you chose the jeweled tiara, your trait is: HATEFUL.
If you chose the crown of wheat, your trait is: SORROWFUL.
If you chose the kokoshnik, your trait is: LYING.
If you chose the coronet, your trait is: CHARISMATIC.
If you chose the diadem, your trait is: PESSIMISTIC.
If you chose the civic crown, your trait is: OPTIMISTIC.
If you chose the mural crown, your trait is: BRAVE.
If you chose the naval crown, your trait is: MOURNFUL.
If you chose the hoop crown, your trait is: FLIRTATIOUS.
If you chose the crown of thorns, your trait is: RECKLESS.
If you chose the nemes, your trait is: ANXIOUS.
If you chose the crown of dandelions, your trait is: WHIMSICAL.
If you chose the modius, your trait is: SERIOUS.
If you chose the coronation crown, your trait is: IGNORANT.

((The second task is a speech! Your character must perform as a monarch giving orders with the trait listed to their chosen crown. Their purpose is to address rules and regulations with your teammates as your subjects, but feel free to interpret this however you like! You can go full-on monologue or soliloquy, or do a simple list, or whatever. Be ~creative~! If you arrive late, please specify which crown you're wearing in your comment.))

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

Re: DISCUSSION

[browbeater]

Anxious. Sounds easy.

Re: DISCUSSION

[pitching]

[twiiiiiiirls]

Re: DISCUSSION

[blackjacked]

. . . [hateful]

I kinda hate rules.

Re: DISCUSSION

[mylittlecavallone]

I think I can do brave.

SPEECHES

[dramatispersonae]

Re: SPEECHES

[blackjacked]

[HOPPING UP ON THE BANQUET TABLE, arms folded over his chest. because elevation helps catch attention]

If there's one thing I've learned during my long and incredibly adventurous lifetime, it's that rules are stupid. They bind you, restrict you, hold you back, and keep you from living up to your real potential. What kinda ruler would I be if I restrained my subjects like that? C'mon, think better of me~

So this speech serves one purpose and one purpose only: to let you all know that I hate rules and think they're stupid. There's only one rule in the kingdom of Coralopolis, and it's that no rules exist. That's it! No stupid, hate-worthy things that pull you down or hold you back. Go forth, my subjects, and live your lives! 'M sure not gonna stop you.

[a beat]

And also rules are still really stupid and I still really hate them. That should be hateful enough.

Re: SPEECHES

[browbeater]

So.

Uh. The first new rule? No more ridiculous headdresses. Just saying.

Next new rule, there is going to be a sign posted outside the ring saying what the game is and how it's going to be played.

Then, uh, putting out a new pamphlet letting people know how crazy this place is?

Yeah, sounds good.

Uh. Any questions? You might be better off asking someone else, but sure, I'll take a crack at it.

Re: SPEECHES

[pitching]

Hello everyone, hello! What a marvelous tiara you're wearing, Kit! It sparkles so nicely in the sunlight, doesn't it? Almost as bright as the stars!

[hands to face]

Ah, what a lovely idea. The sun that helps the stars to shine~ Wouldn't it be nice to be that sun? I should think any aspiring king or queen or ruler or general person or cat should aspire after their aspiring aspirations. Just like that ruler- [waves a hand towards Chariot] -aspires to be a fashionable little house and how that ruler- [waves a hand towards Gale] -aspires to be a curtain.

Oh, right, where was I? I do suppose we should follow a few guidelines or so, but I keep getting sidetracked with so many things these days. I mean, look at this cute crown that was fashioned just for me! I couldn't stop thinking about it because it really does fit me, doesn't it? Cute and quaint and unique!

Oh, right, right. I guess I should do what I'm here to do, hm? But, oh, it's always such a bore when we have to go through them one by one so I think I shall tickle my own fancy and go through the guidelines that I came up with . . . but in a random order! Oh, what a marvelous idea, don't you think? I actually came up with it while taking a bubble bath last night. Along with the rules themselves. Why not, right?

Lord Kit, Lord Kit, please pick a number between 1 and 5!

Re: SPEECHES

[mylittlecavallone]

Hahah jeez these are some tough speeches to follow...

I'd like to keep it easy and simple. In this kingdom, the ambitious and adventurous are rewarded. There's no reason to fear what may lay ahead because we'll all work together and support one another. No one stands alone, no one fights along, yeah? Our target is... world conquest sounds pretty good and suitable enough, so let's all go for that together.

Mmm, and I'll face any and all challengers to my authority if there are any.

A brave speech is pretty hard to do after all...

PART THREE...?

[dramatispersonae]

[Mr. Right's voice can be heard, low and reverberating as though coming from inside your own chest--but he only laughs... and then, abruptly, the crowns you are all wearing trigger an effect.

If you are wearing the tiara or the crown of wheat, you are suddenly overcome with the urge to cry.
If you are wearing the kokoshnik or the coronet, you lose your voice completely.
If you are wearing the diadem or the civic crown, you are suddenly overcome with lust.
If you are wearing the mural crown or the naval crown, you suddenly feel incredibly clingy or in need of physical affection.
If you are wearing the hoop crown or the crown of thorns, you suddenly recall your worst memory and are unable to put it out of your mind.
If you are wearing the nemes or the crown of dandelions, you are suddenly overcome with violent urges.
If you are wearing the modius or the coronation crown, you are suddenly overcome with the urge to scream.

Mr. Right speaks, sounding darkly amused.]

I told you, didn't I? A crown's a weighty thing. Too bad--guess I'll have to keep looking for someone better.

[With a sudden jerk, you are brought back to the Ring.]