sangraal | Task 4

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.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

[glaring at that collar with instinctive hate]

...much rather be whipped.

[well this looks can tell you exactly who isn't going to whip you :T]

[that's fine it'd be weird if you did it anyway >.>

This shouldn't be a problem, should it? I mean, if any of us takes the collar it's not like we're going to order each other to do anything terrible.

Edited 2012-10-13 23:42 (UTC)

That sounds right...No one gets hurt this way.

[shudders]

Like that's not just as bad.

I don't think it's so bad, though. We can trust one another, so there's not really anything to worry about.

I'm sure we could deal with the whip, too, but given there will probably be more opportunities to be hurt, it makes sense to take the easier way...

[what is this t-word you're using]

[prodding the whip] Doesn't look like it would hurt much. But if you really want to do that...ugh, whatever.

[nod]

I could take the collar, since it won't hurt, and I know you two won't take advantage.

[................................................]

[my feelings are too complicated ugh]

...if that's what you want.

Ah, if you think that's best. I wouldn't mind doing it either, if you'd be uncomfortable.

You could do it too if you rather, but I'd feel strange telling you what to do.

Re: Discussion

knightspath - 2012-10-14 00:09 (UTC) - Expand

pucelleflambe - 2012-10-14 00:13 (UTC) - Expand

knightspath - 2012-10-14 00:18 (UTC) - Expand

pucelleflambe - 2012-10-14 00:24 (UTC) - Expand

(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.)

[taking the collar and setting the ruby in the pedestal]

I trust my teammates, and I have nothing to fear from following their lead.

[putting on the collar]

It's snug and comfortable, and as you latch it, you feel a strange calm settle over your mind. You have surrendered your will by choice; you will obey any order, even inadvertent, given to you by either Blade or Liane, immediately and without question, unless it's something that makes no sense or that you're not physically capable of.

With a soft hum, the ruby grows slightly, its facets filling out. Three doors gently blur into existence. One is an open archway, leading back where you came from to the Point of Solace. The other two are identical to the door you came through, complete with hand-recesses and symbols.

א or ב?

Edited 2012-10-14 00:27 (UTC)

[eyeing him. totally not fussing. no.]

...what does it feel like?

It's not a problem. You don't need to worry about me.

[it would be pretty awkward if I told you it felt weirdly comfortable, but he's calm and appears to be telling the truth]

[.........]

...well I'll try not to say anything stupid.

I appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Right, we should take one of these, then?

Well, don't forget to enjoy yourself!

[someone thinks she's being clever]

Should we maybe do the same symbol, since that worked well?

Fine by me.

Of course!

[so clever aslk;kjd]

Right, let's do that, then.

The door disappears when you touch it, and leads here.

Task 4 - Waters

The Choice of Surrender

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Choice & Outcome

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