RUBY

[dramatispersonae]

You're in the Ring by yourselves this time, surrounded by the same columns on all sides--except this time there is no spacing between them whatsoever, and the vines seem thicker.

A statue about four feet tall stands in the middle of the room; it is a woman in a simple tunic carved from white marble, but her head is missing. Although it's clearly a solid statue, it seems that the limbs can be moved and manipulated to imitate other positions.

Next to the statue is a chest (somehow) containing all of the following:

A round shield made of bronze
A boa constrictor (yes, it's alive)
A guitar with strap
A pair of thick horn-rimmed hipster glasses
A fedora
A bonnet
A mohawk
Platform shoes
A lei made of seashells
A belt of knives
A makeup kit
A peacock feather
A gun holster with guns in it
A pink mini-skirt
A clown nose
Fuzzy earmuffs
A pair of Groucho Marx glasses
A butcher's knife
Lipstick
A pair of striped arm-warmers
A pair of striped leg-warmers
A bodice
A cigar
A jeweled sword
Golden armlets
A pearl necklace
A series of shrunken severed heads on a string
A pair of black leather gloves
A cape
A wooden staff
Gold paint
A pair of sandals
A Hawaiian shirt
A big red bow
A spear
A blowtorch
A pair of black high heels
A pair of stick-on fuzzy eyebrows
A bow
A quiver of arrows
A long-stemmed pipe
A simple cloth shoulder-bag
An apron
A pair of fairy wings
A necklace of pure-cut diamonds
A blank journal
A golden crown of laurels, broken in twain
Glass-blown orbs in various colors
Purple nailpolish
A baby doll
A blindfold
A leather jacket
A plain white t-shirt
A simple, unadorned clay pot. ...?

Comments

FIRST TASK

[dramatispersonae]

". . ."

... Your directions are suddenly planted into your mind. They are as follows:

Embellish the statue with the accessories from the wardrobe in order to strengthen its appearance, for however you choose to define that. You may use as many as you like. When you turn-in your finished statue, please include why you consider your choices strengthening.

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

Re: DISCUSSION

[oneknightstands]

This certainly is an interesting task to set before us.

Re: DISCUSSION

[tsunbender]

Uh. Hello.

Is it?

Re: DISCUSSION

[astheywish]

Strength, huh . . .

Re: DISCUSSION

[oneknightstands]

So it seems.

[nods to him]

It should not prove too difficult.

Re: DISCUSSION

[tsunbender]

But what kind of strength?

Re: DISCUSSION

[oneknightstands]

Hello.

[holds his hand out]

Flynn Scifo, of Sterling. It's a pleasure to meet you.

TURN IN

[dramatispersonae]

Re: TURN IN

[oneknightstands]

[Ruby + Flynn is giving the statue A simple cloth shoulder-bag, A jeweled sword, A pair of black leather gloves, A cape, A wooden staff, A blank journal, and A round shield made of bronze. The sword goes at her waist, the gloves on her hands, the cape over her shoulders and the bag over that with the journal peeking outside of it, and the shield on her free arm. The explanation is as follows:]

We thought it would be best to strengthen her appearance in a way that demonstrated more than just physical strength. The sword does lend itself to her fighting prowess, her strength in battle, but the shield also shows that she has strength in strategy, she knows when it is best to defend as well as when it is best to attack. Her bag shows a strength of sensibility, she knows to be well prepared for whatever she might face upon the road that lies ahead of her. Within the bag, she has a journal that shows strength of mind, in her knowledge as well as desire to learn more of the world around her. The cape and staff both show how far she has traveled and demonstrate her strength in coming to understand cultures and worlds distant from hers.

SECOND TASK

[dramatispersonae]

". . . . . ."

... A piece of parchment appears hovering in mid-air. Your directions are planted into your mind as before. They are as follows:

Choose three battles from the following list that you think your statue could feasibly fight in, and list at least one reason why:

A raid
A skirmish
A naval battle
A navel battle
A fashion battle
An aerial battle
A tank battle
A space battle
A toy battle
A cooking battle
A dance-off
A marriage battle
A pet battle
A ranged battle
A stalemate
A scrimmage
A literary battle
A timed battle
A motherfucking walk-off

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

Re: DISCUSSION

[oneknightstands]

[looking at some of the battles, ummm]

What in the world . . .

Re: DISCUSSION

[tsunbender]

. . . A walk-off?

Re: DISCUSSION

[oneknightstands]

I don't believe that I've ever heard of that sort of competition.

TURN IN

[dramatispersonae]

Re: TURN IN

[oneknightstands]

[Ruby + Flynn selects A timed battle, A literary battle, and A skirmish]

For the timed battle, we feel that her wisdom and knowledge of strategy would make her well suited to this sort of fight. She would be able to quickly and easily assess her opponent's strength to determine how to swiftly end the fight.

Her knowledge and skill at writing would also prove useful in a literary battle. We feel that her travels to many different lands would also provide her with a plethora of material that could be used to earn her victory in this field.

Finally, all of these strengths would also make her well suited to a skirmish. Both strategy and a willingness to embrace new tactics and forms of fighting would surely aid in reducing casualties while ensuring that she is able to best her attackers.

THIRD TASK

[dramatispersonae]

". . . give her a name." Mr. Right's voice sounds raspy, as though unused for a long period of time.

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

Re: DISCUSSION

[oneknightstands]

That would be all that she is missing.

Re: DISCUSSION

[tsunbender]

[oh no names]

Yeah.

Huh. Lan?

Re: DISCUSSION

[oneknightstands]

[nods]

I like the sound of it. For her last name, maybe "Stark"? It means strong or brave.

TURN IN

[dramatispersonae]

Re: TURN IN

[oneknightstands]

We have chosen the name Lan Stark for her.

END

[dramatispersonae]

The statue stands straight and lifts both arms to touch where its head should be, and jerks, as if surprised. It reaches for something at its right side, then its left side, but does not seem to find it... it turns to face you, but just as soon you're whisked to endgame...