STERLING ONE

[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

[breakingtheice]

Geeze . . . This is pretty serious today.

Re: DISCUSSION

[dailydouble]

. . . hm.

[glaces at the floor, but doesn't sit there]

Re: DISCUSSION

[adogchasingcars]

[WOW SUCH A DOWNER]

Probably not getting to know them all quick enough! But hey, did you try making up with him, y'know. . .before now?

Re: DISCUSSION

[theliesof]

Are we making a list for each of us, or for the group as a whole? Because I have to tell you, I think those answers will be pretty fucking different.

SUBMIT

[dramatispersonae]

Please list only three. No more, no less.

Re: SUBMIT

[theliesof]

As a team, Sterlings are divided against one another and without unity or purpose, we're a screaming pack of martyrs ready to stupidly throw ourselves on our spears for the good of whatever, and we're blind to the wonderful nuances of the moral spectrum, seeing the world in black and white. Division, martyrdom, moral oversimplification. How does that sound?

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

[dailydouble]

. . . this is ridiculous.

Re: DISCUSSION

[adogchasingcars]

Dude, you've really gotta calm down about this. Sounds like your friend cared about you, even more than his own people.

Anyway, this one's easy. Any punishments? A little jailtime, community service, aaaand doing something cool for the person you wronged. And you've gotta mean it.

SUBMIT

[dramatispersonae]

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

Re: SUBMIT

[theliesof]

One: The dastardly son-of-a-bitch behind the worthiest crime in Aather should be punished with public recognition of their diabolical fuckery. Known forever as the most elegant and sinister mastermind in Camelot.

Two: lesser criminals can be punished by having snow stuffed down their shirts, being rolled down a hill of snow, or any similar snow-based punishment.

Three: convicted parties who are old enough to drink can issue a drunken apology to all of Aather, pass out, wake up with a headache, and their victims will be provided with enough lipstick to cover their faces in sketched cocks proportionate to the gravity of their offense.

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]

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

[theliesof]

I'll gladly accept the penance for being the worthiest criminal in Aather.

Re: ROUND FOUR

[breakingtheice]

I'll pass, thanks.

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

[dailydouble]

I think they should be public, as long as the rest of you agree?

Re: BONUS

[theliesof]

Jasper's in fine form today.


... I don't remember feeling guilty before Aather. Here... I face up to who I've wronged, I tell them what I've done, and I trust that they've got a better assessment of what a sad sack of shit I am than I do myself. When it comes to making up for it, I do two things. Listen, and learn. Sounds to me like you're starting to do both.

Let's broadcast my crimes far and wide. You can do what you like about yours.

Re: BONUS

[breakingtheice]

If I hurt someone then I'd do anything I could to make things right. There's no saying what it'd take since every situation's gonna be different, so you've got to decide for yourself where to start. "I'm sorry" is a good first step.

Re: BONUS

[adogchasingcars]

Dude, all I remember is eating pizza with a group of friends. Or at least I assume they were friends.

But in general like, you gotta do what the situation calls for. Start by apologizing, and see what you can fix. You can't fix all your mistakes, heck, you can't make up for them all, either, I bet. All you can do is try, and try not to hurt more folks along the way. Learn from it, and become a better person.