Task 4 - Waters

[sangraal]

You find yourselves in a round gilded stone room, perfectly empty except for a pedestal in the middle that holds a sphere of lapis lazuli. Babalon's voice comes from the ceiling, warm and gentle.

"You have embarked upon a journey through trials. Past these doors, you will find a series of rooms. Each room contains a choice between two tasks; one of you must make that choice, explain why you chose as you did, and perform that task in order to go forward. Some choices are easy, and some are harsh. I cannot tell you which will be which. Once you've performed a task, you may pass freely through that room if you wish to try another door. There is no forwards nor backwards; any sealed door will open upon a new task. You must clear four rooms, not counting this, to find a path out, and each of your group must perform at least one task, though you are not required to strictly take turns.

"This is the Point of Solace. You may return here at any time to try the other door. This sphere, which you should take with you if you wish to be able to use it, may be used to clear one room without performing either task. It may only be used once, and those who ask for solace may have little chance of winning. But I know many of you are not in this to win.

"I will heal any wounds you may receive when the task is over, and if you seek comfort from me, I shall always grant it. If at some point you are the only person left on your team, you may choose to leave early, or you may choose to call for me to be a passive partner as needed to perform further tasks."

There are two doors. One is marked with a large red א, and the other with a large red ב. Neither has a doorknob; rather there is a hand-shaped imprint where a doorknob might be.

(OOC: Please indicate OOC if you are lying when you submit your answer to why you made a particular choice. You certainly can, but Babalon will know.)

Comments

The Point of Solace

[sangraal]

~

Questions for Babalon

[sangraal]

(or discuss among yourselves if you need to)

Re: Questions for Babalon

[fakebook]

I'm fine with taking the harsh ones.

Which Way?

[sangraal]

א or ב?

(Copy/paste or put down the first or the second, you don't need to type Hebrew.)

Re: Which Way?

[knightspath]

Okay, if we're just picking random, then what about this one?

א

The Choice of Sensation

[sangraal]

This room has two cauldrons under the two floating rubies, each steaming gently, flanking the empty pedestal in the middle.

One ruby says: "Lose a hand to fire." The cauldron under it is filled with flame, and the air around it shimmers with heat.

The other ruby says: "Lose a hand to ice." The cauldron under it is filled with liquid nitrogen, and the air around it is filled with cloudy white steam.

Discussion

[sangraal]

~

Re: Discussion

[pucelleflambe]

[meep]

Neither of those is really good...

Choice & Outcome

[sangraal]

(The character who's doing the task should comment here to set the ruby in the pedestal, state out loud their reason for the choice they made, and start doing whatever they need to do. Results can then be threaded out accordingly.)

Re: Choice & Outcome

[knightspath]

[takes the ruby for ice and sets it on the pedestal]

To spare my teammates.

[let's do this!]

The Choice of Oblivion

[sangraal]

This room has two person-sized globes of inky darkness behind each of the floating rubies, flanking the pedestal in the middle.

One ruby says: "Step into the darkness and die with little pain."

The other ruby says: "Step into the darkness and suffer fearsome pain, then return alive and unmarked."

Discussion

[sangraal]

~

Re: Discussion

[fakebook]

Right. Mine.

[grabbing the painruby]

Choice & Outcome

[sangraal]

(The character who's doing the task should comment here to set the ruby in the pedestal, state out loud their reason for the choice they made, and start doing whatever they need to do. Results can then be threaded out accordingly.)

Re: Choice & Outcome

[fakebook]

[sticking the painruby into the pedestal]

Because Diarmuid's had his turn and neither of us want Liane to get hurt. Because I don't want to disappear even for a moment. And because I think I can take it. [very quietly] Need to prove I can take it. And that I exist.

[and charging into the appropriate shadowblob. welp let me playercest the result comment because Blade Bladed this shit and I can't not >.>]

The Choice of Revelation

[sangraal]

As you step into the next room, reality seems to blur slightly, and you find yourselves in a similar round gilded-stone chamber--but with no doors or exits. In the center is a pedestal, with a carved recess that would perfectly fit the lapis lazuli sphere you have, or another of its size. Floating in midair, to either side of it, are large faceted rubies--not quite the right size to fit, but close. Behind each ruby is a full-length mirror with a golden frame. The mechanical hand is also sitting in this room, unexpectedly enough, ink on its fingertips drying from writing on the frames of the mirrors.

Babalon's voice comes from the ceiling again. "Touch the stones to know the choice each offers to you. When you have selected who shall do the task, that person must place the ruby in the pedestal and state their reason for choosing one over the other. Once they have performed the task, the ruby will grow to fit, the doors will be revealed, and the room will be cleared."

When you touch the rubies, they will speak the options in Babalon's voice.

One ruby says: "Look in this mirror and the greatest desire of your past will be revealed for all to see. This mirror reflects even the pages still lost in the abyss beyond Kohos."

The other ruby says: "Look in this mirror and the greatest fear of your past will be revealed for all to see. This mirror reflects even the pages still lost in the abyss beyond Kohos."

Discussion

[sangraal]

~

Re: Discussion

[fakebook]

[letting out a breath of relief, something okay for Liane yes good]

Re: Discussion

[knightspath]

Ah, this one isn't so bad, if you don't mind people seeing those things.

Choice & Outcome

[sangraal]

(The character who's doing the task should comment here to set the ruby in the pedestal, state out loud their reason for the choice they made, and start doing whatever they need to do. Results can then be threaded out accordingly.)

Re: Choice & Outcome

[pucelleflambe]

[going for the desire ruby]

This is my choice! I've seen my fear...so I want to know what this can show us.

The Choice of Surrender

[sangraal]

As you step into the next room, reality seems to blur slightly, and you find yourselves in a similar round gilded-stone chamber--but with no doors or exits. In the center is a pedestal, with a carved recess that would perfectly fit the lapis lazuli sphere you have, or another of its size. Floating in midair, to either side of it, are large faceted rubies--not quite the right size to fit, but close. Underneath each ruby is a polished stone table.

Babalon's voice comes from the ceiling again. "Touch the stones to know the choice each offers to you. When you have selected who shall do the task, that person must place the ruby in the pedestal and state their reason for choosing one over the other. Once they have performed the task, the ruby will grow to fit, the doors will be revealed, and the room will be cleared."

When you touch the rubies, they will speak the options in Babalon's voice.

One ruby says: "Bare your back and accept twenty lashes, either from a teammate or from my own hand." On the table beneath it is a knotted leather cat'o'nine-tails.

The other ruby says: "Bare your throat and wear this band until the entire task is over, and know that while wearing it, you will unquestioningly obey any order given you by a teammate." On the table beneath it is a leather collar.

Discussion

[sangraal]

~

Re: Discussion

[fakebook]

[glaring at that collar with instinctive hate]

...much rather be whipped.

Choice & Outcome

[sangraal]

(The character who's doing the task should comment here to set the ruby in the pedestal, state out loud their reason for the choice they made, and start doing whatever they need to do. Results can then be threaded out accordingly.)