[game 39 ░ pair 4]

[dramatispersonae]

[you emerge into a desert and can immediately feel that any unusual physical abilities you have are bound. the sun is blazing whitely overhead, and the air is so dry that if you start to sweat, you can feel it evaporate from your forehead and arms with a prickling sensation. the only things alive here are you, one other person, and a pathetic-looking near-dead weed or two in a tiny shadow from a mound of sand. you are going to get awfully burned if you stay out here for long.

you and your partner are inside a rough circle about three hundred feet in diameter drawn on the ground; it marks off an invisible wall. on the two opposite sides of the circle are black stone plinths that are probably a bad idea to touch in this kind of sunshine. on top of each is a crude but carefully made jar. they're quite round, with long necks too narrow to fit a hand through. there's a short phrase and a signature on each of them in some kind of Germanic-looking script.

more importantly, no matter how much you drank prior to entering the Ring, you suddenly feel incredibly, desperately thirsty. gosh you want water.

you can hear the Lion's voice:]


Our lives are bound to our bodies, and it's impossible for flesh and blood to live long in this kind of place without water. In today's game, you will try to seek it; the water that has been prepared for you is in those jars. I'm afraid you can't get to it without a little work, though. I wonder if you'll survive the process?

Comments

[meet your partner]

[dramatispersonae]

Re: [meet your partner]

[ganbareist]

[ohhh wow.]

...Hey. Looks like we have a rough game ahead.

Re: [meet your partner]

[straydog]

Mm.

[round one ░]

[dramatispersonae]

[words appear in the sand, on either side of the dividing line.]

You will play this round of the game in order to sustain life. Do you accept?

Re: [round one ░]

[ganbareist]

... [do we answer the ground?]

I accept...?

Re: [round one ░]

[straydog]

Yes.

[░ the first task ░]

[dramatispersonae]

[there's a rustle of breeze that stirs the sand behind your jar's plinth in a tiny dust devil! when it clears, there's a flat black ten-sided die there, face up to a number. the words form in the sand again:]

Does chance favor you? Place your hand on the stone on which your jar rests and think of the number you wish to report. The one with the higher number will win. If there is a tie. . . chance has deserted you both, perhaps.

[when you go to put your hand on plinth, tiny words form above it. What is a lie? They will never know.]


((PM me at Netted^Lion on IRC with !roll 1d10 for your dice roll! Then report whichever number your character decides to submit under the appropriate comment here.))

Re: [░ the first task ░]

[straydog]

[fuck yeah gloves, putting her hand on the stone and trying to do this :|a]

Re: [░ the first task ░]

[ganbareist]

[tttouchin' it... frowning at the words]

[░ result]

[dramatispersonae]

Re: [░ result]

[dramatispersonae]

[there's a hot, dry breeze that somehow dries your mouth out even more. where you were thirsty before, you feel slightly faint now, your tongue sticking to the roof of your mouth.]

[a round rock just small enough to fit into the mouth of Naoto's jar materializes just above it, and plunks inside! you hear it splash.]

[round two ░]

[dramatispersonae]

[words appear in the sand, on either side of the dividing line.]

You will play this round of the game in order to sustain life. Do you accept?

Re: [round two ░]

[straydog]

[shade monster!!]

Yes.

Re: [round two ░]

[ganbareist]

Yes.

[░ the second task ░]

[dramatispersonae]

[ropes, which must have been buried in the sand where you couldn't see them, whip up and encircle your ankles, winding up your legs. before you can react, your arms are pinned to your sides and your legs lashed together - you'd better not try to move, or you'll fall. your bindings are still snaking upwards, working towards your neck.]

Will you accept being bound? Or will you bind or free another? You may bear these restrictions, or transfer them to your companion, or take your companion's on yourself, with a word. But beware - once your throat and breath are bound, you may find your stay here neither so pleasant nor so lengthy. And the real world does not reward self-sacrifice. Choose carefully.

Re: [░ the second task ░]

[straydog]

[SITTING DOWN WAS A BAD IDEA]

. . .

[░ result]

[dramatispersonae]

Re: [░ result]

[dramatispersonae]

[you now feel really faint. it's getting harder to talk, your mouth is so dry.]

[the ropes disappear. four rocks thunk into Naoto's jar, and two into Guy's - but Guy's are red hot. a cloud of steam goes up.]

[round three ░]

[dramatispersonae]

[words appear in the sand, on either side of the dividing line.]

You will play this round of the game in order to sustain life. Do you accept?

Re: [round three ░]

[ganbareist]

Yes.

Re: [round three ░]

[straydog]

Yes.

[░ the third task ░]

[dramatispersonae]

[a long knife appears beside you.]

If you desire the water set aside for you, take up that knife and bury it to the hilt in your companion's gut. Perhaps they can live with the injury, if you are careful — perhaps not.

Re: [░ the third task ░]

[straydog]

[best skill choice, not moving]

. . .

[░ result]

[dramatispersonae]

Re: [░ result]

[dramatispersonae]

[four rocks plunk into Naoto's jar. it overflows a bit, the overflow hissing and evaporating against the plinth. she can now drink!]