SAPPHIRE

[dramatispersonae]

[Unlike with previous games from Lancelot, the room today is sparse … and cold, as if this is a place where some of the remaining winter hasn’t left (though surely that has nothing to do with the Snow Queen …)

Instead of wine, bread, and meat, there is dirty water, some berries (that are safe to eat), and some other plants that clearly have been picked off a plant.

There is nowhere to really sit except the cold, hard ground.]

Comments

ROUND ONE

[dramatispersonae]

In the past, I betrayed my oath to my king. I was not truly loyal to him, not as I was meant to be. Did you know … we were friends when we were young, though perhaps not as young as many of you? We came to be brothers. And still, I hurt him. I broke that vow.

So I must ask you, Aather. What are the sins … or crimes … of your team? Please list three.

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

Re: DISCUSSION

[glorious]

[taking a glass of water and looking inside...then scowls and sets it back.]

Honestly...

Re: DISCUSSION

[appleofhiseye]

[. . .]

Well, one time I took something from the clinic without asking.

Re: DISCUSSION

[aristocritical]

That's your own business, sir!

[with a little "hmph" noise]

And if I were to say my only crime is being too well-bred for this place?

SUBMIT

[dramatispersonae]

Please list only three. No more, no less.

Re: SUBMIT

[appleofhiseye]

The crime of offering assistance when it might not be wanted.
The crime of pampering our pets.
The crime of having hair that makes others jealous.

ROUND TWO

[dramatispersonae]

When Arthur learned of my betrayal, of what I had done—he did nothing. A strong king in every way, but in the face of betrayal from a loved one, he could only stand by and do nothing. His mercy led his realm to despair; many others thought him to be weak.

They weren’t right. But they were correct in another way: I was deserving of punishment. A crime is not a crime without the punishment that follows, some might say, but some crimes are worthy of punishment.

Today, list three suggested punishments for any crimes, worthy crimes, perhaps even your own crimes.

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

Re: DISCUSSION

[appleofhiseye]

Of all the...Pillows, or community service, or something.

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

Three punishments here. No more, no less. They can be anything.

Re: DISCUSSION

[appleofhiseye]

Community service as a guard.
Community service as a medic.
Community service as a cook.

ROUND THREE

[dramatispersonae]

Surely you have all witnessed the importance of being held accountable. Would Camelot have been so cold, so burdened, had Arthur punished me correctly? Would the Snow Queen have experienced such misery?

Now, hold your other Aatherites accountable in the same way. So many crimes have surely come to pass that it is time for them to face it.

Tell me one team you find guilty, and the reason for that guilt.

And … tell me one team you find to be innocent. This is according to your own understanding, of course.

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

Re: DISCUSSION

[appleofhiseye]

I'm afraid this is where I draw the line.

Re: DISCUSSION

[glorious]

. . . I assure you, this isn't the best way to confess to your own crimes.

Re: DISCUSSION

[aristocritical]

How very rude.

SUBMIT

[dramatispersonae]

One innocent team, one guilty team and the reason for that guilt.

ROUND FOUR

[dramatispersonae]

Today, you have been accused three times, for being not guilty, for dodging the rules, and for being neither guilty nor innocent. However, you were protected from these crimes, and you do not have to do penance.

The choices for penances are here.

I have been found guilty for not listening to reason, and I will do the penances suggested by Jasper:

1. For the crime of running tiresome and intrusive games, to only run cheerful and pleasant games from now on.
2. For the crime of being obsessed with his own self-judgment, to tell the story of his supposed crime, and to hear and accept someone else's judgment of him.
3. For the crime of betraying his friend, to apologize sincerely and actually accept the judgment of his friend in this instance, since it seems to be harder for him than any self-flagellating punishment we could give him. And to apply the energies he's no longer using to mentally punish himself to something productive, to find his king and remedy the damage he's done.

Re: ROUND FOUR

[glorious]

[...just. laughs.]

Re: ROUND FOUR

[aristocritical]

Well done, Jasper.

Re: ROUND FOUR

[appleofhiseye]

[...LAUGHS]

Well then!

BONUS

[dramatispersonae]

What are ways you have dealt with the guilt in your past, in your memories? What if you betrayed a friend and destroyed something very important? How would you recommend making up for it, if not through the means here in this game?

Also, would you like your crimes to be public knowledge?

Re: BONUS

[aristocritical]

I'm afraid I can't indulge you with an answer on the first part. But goodness, I'm certain I'd react better than you did.

Please do make our crimes public knowledge.

Re: BONUS

[glorious]

My memories won't provide you with the answers you seek. I didn't allow myself to feel guilt back then, because I believed that my actions were ultimately necessary if my world was to survive. However, here, I've learned that there is an importance to guilt. Simply having the emotion means you still have a conscious and that you're aware of the injury your actions cause. You're already a step better than I was, simply for having that.

However, dealing with the betrayal of a friend...I was only able to 'make up' with my friend after I met him here. I apologized to him and made a vow not to cause the harm back home. When I made a mistake and ultimately broke that vow, I let him know what happened. When I felt I was likely to lose my way again, I told him. I let him know where I stood at any given moment, so he could make the decision for himself as to whether or not I could be trusted again.

What Jasper is right. Apologize and be frank, and accept your friend's judgement. They would know better than you the damage you caused and the right way to atone for it. If your friend believes that your treachery is something that can be forgiven, then accept that judgement with grace. By running this charade of a game, you've shown that you're still thinking of yourself more than of your friend, which was your ultimate crime to begin with.