AMETHYST

[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]

decision

[dramatispersonae]

room

[dramatispersonae]

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]

decision

[dramatispersonae]

room

[dramatispersonae]

Re: discussion

[balancetheblood]

[purses her lips] Hands, heart, or mind. Anyone have a preference?

Re: discussion

[artificialcommand]

[we are minus a tiny teammate that's concerning]

Re: discussion

[debossy]

A peasant girl? How is it possible to drive off hypothermia with one's mind or heart?

Re: discussion

[vitalsarecritical]

[. . . WHERE IS OUR TINY TEAMMATE]

What--?

Re: discussion

[2xcanoodlingkind]

Egads a talking bird.

Re: discussion

[debossy]

I don't understand the meaning of this. But I imagine it is magical, and that there is no way to discern which will do this common match girl the most good, nor which task will be most difficult. With that in mind, there is no use debating it for long.

Re: discussion

[balancetheblood]

[Yeah, Lucky's looking kind of like she wants to punch someone because of that.]

Re: discussion

[vitalsarecritical]

[!!]

A giant bird?!

Re: discussion

[2xcanoodlingkind]

I dare say heart is probably where we have the most to spare, wouldn't you agree?

Re: discussion

[debossy]

You must realize the Persona running this game is also a talking bird, you fool! Though I am not magical in nature the way she is, I still wonder at those of you who are surprised! Surely this entire situation must be more startling than that.

Re: discussion

[artificialcommand]

[you are a talking bird]

I assume it's metaphorical.

Re: discussion

[debossy]

Why must I have been taken from Jasper . . . ?

Re: discussion

[balancetheblood]

[........a talking bird. Okay. She's just going to go with it.]

...True. But we should come to a consensus about it at least. I'm inclined towards the first or third doors, myself.

I... don't think we've met, incidentally. I'm Lucky.

Re: discussion

[artificialcommand]

[yeah I look like I want to stab something because of it but reigning it in]

...She'll be fine.

Re: discussion

[vitalsarecritical]

I don't know. I can't answer that question. One of our teammates is missing, too.

Re: discussion

[debossy]

Ah, yes, "heartwarming." I still fail to see where one's mind comes into this. I suppose a commoner in poor circumstances will be comforted by words and promises, but--such things are essentially meaningless.