AMETHYST

[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

[detectivewonder]

As a team? So, faults or... crimes... most of us share?

Re: DISCUSSION

[artificialcommand]

[whelp]

. . .

SUBMIT

[dramatispersonae]

Please list only three. No more, no less.

Re: SUBMIT

[detectivewonder]

We're too serious, we dwell on the past, and we take responsibility for things we can't control.

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

[artificialcommand]

If these are punishments that are going to come into play against others later, we shouldn't have them be too extreme.

Re: DISCUSSION

[stigmateyes]

Actively working toward changing for the better, with the guide of others, would be the easiest response.

SUBMIT

[dramatispersonae]

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

Re: SUBMIT

[artificialcommand]

Actively working toward changing for the better, with the guide of others.
Remedial lessons in morality.
Jail time proportional to the crime committed.

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

[crimsonjewel]

That just sounds like an excuse to start fights between teams.

Re: DISCUSSION

[fourthsaken]

Shit.

Re: DISCUSSION

[stigmateyes]

This is really stupid.

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

[stigmateyes]

That sounds about right.

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

[detectivewonder]

I'm fine with these crimes being public.

As far as my guilt... I don't know. I make sure the people close to me know, so they can watch me for any signs that it's... still a problem. I try to listen to criticism... no matter where it comes from... and I try to listen when people tell me I'm over-reacting.

... No. That's not true. I'm trying now to hear people tell me I've been over-reacting. I don't know how it will go, yet.

This game... helped. I hope it helps you, too.

Re: BONUS

[stigmateyes]

Ahh, I'm pretty awful at this sort of thing. I usually just dwell forever. The best I've ever managed was apologized and doing everything I could to prove myself a better person to them and to myself.

Re: BONUS

[crimsonjewel]

Ahhh, I wish I remembered! I don't know what I would do, if I betrayed a friend. I suppose it would depend on why I did it. If I felt like I had no choice, or I had been misled, or...

I think the whys are too important to ignore. I don't know if I'd forgive myself, if I did something like that, though, whatever the reason. But it wouldn't be my call, now would it? As Jasper has said, if your king chose to forgive, then you have to respect that! (But this isn't about you, this time, it's about me. Um...) What I'm saying is, I think I understand why you feel guilty. But if my friends still wanted me around, even after I hurt them, I'd grab that second chance with both hands and do everything I can to help them and make things better. Maybe it's because I'm selfish and don't want to be alone, but also because I don't want to make things worse by denying the friend's decision.

And if that person didn't forgive me, I'd do what I can to try and fix things (assuming I didn't still think I did the right thing, which I'm guessing I wouldn't...) And stay out of their way, cause they probably don't wish to see me again.

Re: BONUS

[fourthsaken]

It's fine if the crimes are public.

I don't have a lot of memories yet, and none of them really deal with guilt. But, uh, if I betrayed a friend and that betrayal destroyed something, I'd work to fix what was destroyed and make things up to my friend. I'd apologize too, but I know that's not always enough and it never feels like enough.