IOLITE

[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

[fallinflames]

Well, this is off to a good start.

SUBMIT

[dramatispersonae]

Please list only three. No more, no less.

Re: SUBMIT

[fallinflames]

1) We voted to get Carnelian killed in a game after they'd been injured already.
2) A teammate killed a member of Turquoise outside of a game and then we talked ourselves into doing nothing to police the actions of a known killer unless outside parties demanded something.
3) We accused Emerald of being the guilty ones in the mouse game in self-preservation, even knowing there was a good chance of them being innocent.

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

[fallinflames]

... Can we just declare immediately that we are against the death sentence?

SUBMIT

[dramatispersonae]

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

Re: SUBMIT

[whereismypie]

1) Reparation for crimes committed, apologies
2) Take away their means of attack and put them under supervision
3) Anger management classes

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

[splittheparty]

I don't think we should really be doing that kind of thing at all...

Re: DISCUSSION

[fallinflames]

To the best of my knowledge, Onyx and Sterling can be considered innocent. They seem pretty steady in supporting the hero teams.

Re: DISCUSSION

[whereismypie]

Now that's just cute.

Who am I, Judge Dredd?

Re: DISCUSSION

[sticksofthejedi]

Too bad we can't just pick him.

SUBMIT

[dramatispersonae]

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

ROUND FOUR

[dramatispersonae]

Today, you have been accused twice, for being not guilty 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

[sticksofthejedi]

So we could have found a persona guilty. There's an opportunity missed.

Re: ROUND FOUR

[splittheparty]

...We've been accused of being not guilty..?

[How should I interpret that...?]

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

[fallinflames]

I deal with it by picking up the pieces and moving forward. The guilt doesn't disappear. It will always haunt me, for my failures, for my wrongful thinking, for the actions I have taken that hurt others. But dragging myself through it over and over again doesn't help. I have to just... try to improve myself, to turn over a new leaf. I have to... ask forgiveness and do what I can to try to prove that I am willing and trying to change my behaviors.

... As for betraying a friend. I was killed.

Re: BONUS

[whereismypie]

What's done is done. Dwelling on it won't get you anywhere. You shut in a box and you stuff the box deep, deep down and you don't think about it anymore. That's how you move forward.

I've done crap I ain't proud of. I messed up. But that's a bridge I'll cross when I get to it.

As for my crimes being... No thanks.

Re: BONUS

[splittheparty]

I... don't really have any strong examples for that, really... I think the best thing to do is to do your best to help the people you hurt, though.

Re: BONUS

[sticksofthejedi]

I do what I can to save my friend. Unfortunately, that's had mixed results. At that point...there's nothing you can do but carry it with you and try not to do it again. Learn from it, and be better in the future.

Let's keep the crimes back, this time.