RUBY

[dramatispersonae]

[The room is circular and surrounded by a series of ionic columns, the floor and ceiling stretching overhead fashioned out of cracked, white stone. The area beyond the columns is pitch black, and the room itself is lit only by dimly flickering candles. The candles rest on top of a stone table, which sits in the middle of the room.

And next to the candles rest four numbered boxes]

Comments

Round 1

[dramatispersonae]

[Pandora’s voice is solemn, yet firm. You can’t quite tell where it’s coming from, though it fills the entire room. . .]

The chilled steel of a knife, the bitter taste of poison. . . perhaps both are made colder and sharper when they come from the hand of someone you trusted.

Which will you choose?

[There are four boxes waiting for you on the table, heroes and knights. Pick one]

Discussion

[dramatispersonae]

Decision

[dramatispersonae]

Round 2

[dramatispersonae]

[It’s Pandora again, and this time she sounds almost. . . angry]

With the desire for power may come the desire to conquer and destroy, which leaves those targeted only one choice: to fight back with all of their might. But in conflict, there can only be one victor.

Choose.

[The boxes from last round disappear in a waft of smoke. Four new ones appear soon after]

Round 3

[dramatispersonae]

Flesh, blood, and bone only do so much to protect us from injury. In the end, we are all mortal.

Choose. You have come so far-- the end is in sight.

[Four more boxes replaced the ones from the previous round. Are you ready, heroes and knights?]

Round 4

[dramatispersonae]

[A small vial of clear liquid suddenly appears on your table. Someone has given you a dose of hope. Better hold onto it!]

Sometimes, we gain nothing without giving something up in return. This is your final task, heroes and knights.

Choose wisely.

[The final four boxes appear on your table. You’re so close, you can taste it. . . !]

Re: Discussion

[pchaaair]

[greeeeeeeeeeat]

This is probably, going to suck a lot.

Re: Discussion

[wildnight]

...It seems not unlikely...

Re: Discussion

[pchaaair]

[FLOPS AGAINST]

At least she was kind of ominous, so, it wasn't completely unexpected.

Re: Discussion

[wildnight]

[pets his back soothingly]

Re: Discussion

[pchaaair]

I guess... we should probably pick one, then?

Re: Discussion

[wildnight]

Does it make any difference which?

Re: Discussion

[pchaaair]

I don't think so, since, there isn't really a hint, as to which one has hope.

Re: Discussion

[wildnight]

[kisses his forehead]

Would you like me to pick?

Re: Discussion

[pchaaair]

Sure.

And, I can pick the next one, if you want.

Re: Decision

[wildnight]

[picks the third box]

Re: Discussion

[wildnight]

[does so then o/]

Re: Discussion

[pchaaair]

[watches to see what this box is then '-'a]

Re: Decision

[dramatispersonae]

. . . and yet sometimes, the bonds of trust are woven too thickly to be challenged.

[Inside the box is a small vial filled with clear liquid. Upon picking it up, you know instinctively that you have stumbled across something special-- hope]

You may keep it, or pass it to another team.

Re: Discussion

[wildnight]

[we got hope!]

...Shall we keep it?

Re: Decision

[followtheblackrabbit]

[stumbling in late, whups]

Ah—what did we get—?

Re: Discussion

[pchaaair]

We probably should, right? Just in case, we need it later, for something.

Re: Decision

[pchaaair]

It's hope. And, that is a good thing, considering the game.

Re: Decision

[followtheblackrabbit]

Ah—that's great. At least we won't have to worry about this round.

Re: Decision

[pchaaair]

No.

Are you okay, with keeping our hope for this round?