EMERALD

[dramatispersonae]

You're standing together on what seems to be the main street of a small village, paved with cobblestones, with low buildings standing silent on either side. If you look in any of them, you'll find them dark and empty.

In contrast to the Ring, it's rather chilly. The sky is slate-grey, and it seems like there's snow falling, blanketing you and the village in pure white. On closer inspection, the snow turns out to be ash – but the bleaching is literal. Even when you brush it off, your skin, your hair, your clothes, and your keys remain ash-coloured.

A single, feeble light flickers further down the street.

Comments

[dramatispersonae]

Your characters ICly know these instructions.

+ There are three rounds total.

+ In each round, you must choose a door to enter and deal with what's inside. Once you have entered a room, you cannot leave it until you're finished.

+ Once you've finished a door, you may do one of two things: proceed directly to the next round, or go back and take on more of the doors in the current or past rounds.

+ You may do a maximum of six doors across rounds – the more doors you do, the higher you score and the more power is generated from this game. You are also allowed to just do the three-door minimum and get the hell out of dodge.

+ The person from a different team who's joined you is essentially acting as your knight! It is up to them if they want to take on doors or sit out; it is also up to you if you want to let them take on doors or not. They do not win with you, but their actions will directly affect their team's score and chances of winning.

+ Skills are off, and all weapons/items are gone for the duration of the game.

round one

[dramatispersonae]

When you walk down the road and follow the light, you come to a solid wall blocking the path. Set within it are three doors.

“Here is a small tale, heroes.

There is a little one, in this wintertime, who stands out on the corners of this village with a basket of wares to sell. No one is buying them, and if she returns without having sold them all, she will be beaten. She has the clothes on her back, but they are not enough to deal with the cold. She has not the means to procure true warmth, or food, and she is unwanted and alone. It is your task to help her, as best as you can, as much as you are willing – you may also refuse, though then you will be trapped with her, and will fade away as she does.

Through the left door, you may give her warmth with your hands – she needs quite a lot of it. Through the middle, you may give her warmth with your mind. Through the right door, warmth with your heart. None of these tasks will be easy for you. Choose wisely.”

discussion

[dramatispersonae]

Re: discussion

[twilight_boy]

Can we ask what kinds of 'not easy' we're talking? The dangerous kind, or the kind where you have to be good at specific stuff?

Re: discussion

[itsalluseless]

Yeah, that seems like a useful thing to know.

Re: discussion

[maidmalapert]

Um... I'd like to help, too, but I don't want to be a bother.

decision

[dramatispersonae]

Re: decision

[itsalluseless]

[going through the heart door!]

room

[dramatispersonae]

Re: room

[dramatispersonae]

The room is plain, square, bleached white. The door disappears behind you once you've entered.

In the middle of the floor lies a strange contraption: a box of thick glass, with a hole to put your hand through – it's a tight fit! -- and a copper rod inside. One of you must place your hand inside and hold the rod tightly. The rod will burst into flame; only then can you shatter the box.

You know that the person who does this will not be burned, but will, for the rest of the game, be furious at one other person present – it'll be somewhat difficult, though possible, to focus on other things besides that.

round two

[dramatispersonae]

You reach another wall, with three more doors. The girl waits in front of them – she's still warm, but looks fainter now, see-through, weak.

“Even when the outside of her body is warmed, the inside of her is cold and hollow with hunger. Through the left door, you may give her sustenance from your own being, with your hands. Through the middle, with your mind. Through the right door, with your heart. These tasks are more difficult. Choose wisely.”

discussion

[dramatispersonae]

Re: discussion

[itsalluseless]

More difficult, huh...I wonder what the task for the mind door is like.

decision

[dramatispersonae]

Re: decision

[itsalluseless]

[taking a deep breath and opening the mind door!]

room

[dramatispersonae]

Re: room

[dramatispersonae]

In the middle of this room is . . . a knife, with a copper hilt and a very sharp blade. There is also a small pit; it smells vile and acidic. Dropping the knife into the pit just makes the knife reappear on the floor. The knife cannot leave the room.

You are aware that when you pick up the knife, you will experience a drilling headache, and feel like your memories of Aather and what came before it are being sucked out of your head – they're not actually being taken, but they feel like they're blurring, spotty, utterly uncertain, eroding . . . it is an extremely unpleasant experience, which will last the rest of the game.

Only one person may do this task.

round three

[dramatispersonae]

You reach the final three doors. The girl waits in front of them, looking between you anxiously.

“While her body is strengthened and warmed, there is the last thing. Through the left door, you may give her strength, by exchanging it for her weakness. Through the middle, you may give her this with your mind. Through the right door, with your heart. This will be your most difficult task. Choose wisely.”

discussion

[dramatispersonae]

Re: discussion

[twilight_boy]

[taking a moment, then] I think I can do this one.

Re: discussion

[maidmalapert]

I can take her weakness. I really think that would be all right.

decision

[dramatispersonae]

Re: decision

[maidmalapert]

[going through the left door]

room

[dramatispersonae]

Re: room

[dramatispersonae]

In the middle of this room is Firebird's golden sword.

You are aware that when you pick up the sword, you will be compelled to run yourself through the heart with it, and then twist the blade. You will not die or lose consciousness, but you will feel all the pain associated with this, and you will not be healed until after the game.

Only one of you has to do this.