ROOM 5

[dramatispersonae]

[ You are standing in a circle in a large, open field. ]

[ ....the people standing with you are not your teammates. ]

[ However, on the ground in the middle of the circle is a coral orb, that some may recognize as a cure materia. ]

Comments

[dramatispersonae]

The cure materia glitters in the muted sunlight. If you touch it, you will receive a message in a voice that sounds like Kit of Coral:

Hey! We know that sometimes these games can be kinda scary, and that you might feel like you're alone during them. But we want to let you all know: you're not alone. There will always be people to support you.

You realize that this item can be used to dull or relieve some of the pain that you receive during the game in Mulan's rounds. All you have to do is whisper what you want healed to the materia, and it will provide at least some relief, once during the game.

Round 1

[dramatispersonae]

As you walk through the field, you find an open clearing. In the clearing, people keel -- and they stare at you with worried, scared eyes. These are people you know.

John Constantine. Apple. Billy. Zen. Hail. Sam. Plum. Page.

In each of your hands, you now hold a sword. Mulan's voice echoes through the fields, but it sounds far away and hollow.

Are you willing to kill them, if ordered to do so by someone in authority?
Would you be willing to, even if the punishment was death?
And if you are not, would you be willing to take the punishment onto yourself on their behalf, even if it was death?

You understand that you may choose separately, or make the decision as a group. However, Mulan will value your discussion above everything else -- not talking to anyone about what choice to make will garner you a bad result.

discussion

[dramatispersonae]

Re: discussion

[idkmybffnirvash]

[putting her sword down, let's be real here]

No.

Re: discussion

[myfreeheart]

[Oh, well. Dropping that sword and running over to Billy.]

W-what's going?!

Re: discussion

[morbidlysexy]

Oh, the fuck with this.

[flipping the sword out of her hands with clear disgust]

Re: discussion

[icysemblance]

...they can't be serious.

Re: discussion

[axeboyfriend]

[ Shinjiro's eyes widen slightly. ]

What the hell is this?

Re: discussion

[tsunderbolt]

[freezes in place for a moment]

... Tell me this is just hypothetical.

Re: discussion

[whereismypie]

. . . Screw you, lady.

Re: discussion

[shockingability]

[...]

No. But I'll kill you if you suggest something like this again.

turn-in

[dramatispersonae]

( Please specify if your answer is individual or a group answer, and OOCly how truthful your character is being. )

ROUND 2

[dramatispersonae]

After having escaped the previous question… more or less intact, you must push forward. You've made serious enemies in this storybook world. At the end, you come across a gorge. On the other side, there is a door. But the bridge leading to the door has been burned down. Beside where the beginning of the bridge was is a rope, a knife, and a vial of liquid that never seems to run out, no matter what you do with it.

Nimue can offer no reassurance on your loved ones. Or rather, she chooses not to.

Nimue stands at the door, staring across the canyon at the characters. However, when she speaks, her voice carries as though she is standing next to you.

“You must rebuild the bridge to reach your escape… and your friends. The choice may be yours, and yours alone. You may choose to do nothing, you may choose your own limits, and you may choose as a group.

I will reward cooperation in the end. Choose your weapon, and your limits. This is a test, and it is serious to me. Those who do not take it seriously will face consequences in the end, even if they are not immediately apparent.

In order to help yourselves and your friends, what are your bonds worth? How far are you willing to go?”

Choose one of three punishments, the vial, the knife, or the rope.

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

"If you are willing to take the knife and place it in your heart, you will earn my favor.

Those who are willing to endure for their bonds must be honest, whether they think the bonds little, somewhat, or very worthy of sacrifice. Choose as you see fit."

Two tokens appear-- pendants.

"These will allow you to blunt the pain of only the most severe sacrifice, and of those, only 5 of you may receive protection. Choose wisely, the five may not change."

TURN IN

[dramatispersonae]

Round 3

[dramatispersonae]

The bridge may have been started, but – warriors, soldiers in full armor block your path across, standing on the edge of the bridge like a very solid wall.
At your ear, you hear the whisper of the person you care most about. If you look, they stand next to you, staring at the soldiers. Talking about the soldiers.

You could run. We should leave. This isn’t the place for us. If we don’t leave now, they’ll kill you. It’s what always happens to people on the front lines of the army, you know.

You sense that they are telling the truth: if you stay to protect the bridge you created, you will most likely die. However, if you give up the bridge, will you ever get across to that door…? And what about your friends on the other side?

Mulan, for this, prefers a group answer – but will not punish you for answering individually.

discussion

[dramatispersonae]

turn-in

[dramatispersonae]

ROUND 4

[dramatispersonae]

The bridge is only a third of the way built. But Nimue’s face is neutral and calm. She knows that it is the end, and she does not wish to push the heroes one way or the other.

“I ask again… How far are you willing to go?”

The task (and its rewards) remain the same as before.

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

TURN IN

[dramatispersonae]

Round 5

[dramatispersonae]

[ Mulan’s voice echoes through the air, ominous and cold. The other side of the gap looms, just out of reach.. ]

You have endured several different trials on this journey. But we have one final question -- to redeem you, or condemn you. Unlike every other situation, there will be no middle ground.

Your question is this.

Who, or what, was the real reason you participated in this game? What drove you to make your choices?

[ … ]

Answer this, or do not. The choice is yours.

discussion

[dramatispersonae]

turn-in

[dramatispersonae]

FINAL RESULTS

[dramatispersonae]

The two Personae appear before you and stare at you, critically.

This stare lasts for a long moment, before Clara begins to feel a burning pain in her throat.

Did you not think we would take this seriously?

Your death is long, and painful. You are alive long enough to feel like your soul is being pulled straight out of every fiber of your body.

When their bodies fall to the ground, the bridge connects with the other side of the chasm, and the door opens, leading you out to the Ring.