Animoria - AB Game (Round 1)

[Sachi]

Three teams of five return to the Library through the three coloured doors.
You've all been through a lot. But the Library eases your worries somewhat. It brings a hint of something familiar to what has otherwise been a stressful day. Funny. I think that's called Stockholm Syndrome.

No one comes to get you, so you do your best to remember the path from your door to the hub. All three teams seem to arrive there at the same time.

And it doesn't look like anyone is missing.

You're even relieved to see two particularly annoying faces again. It looks like they've prepared a celebration for you.

                              
"Congratulations!"                                       "Congratulations!"

A banner carrying the same sentiment has been put up over the obsidian black wall behind their desks. Some recreational items - children's toys, actually readable books, and several other kinds of wonders - have even been left on the tables for you.


"You did good. Really good! There were some hiccups here and there, but in the end, nobody dropped below zero points! Even the Blue Trio is still alive! Isn't that something?"

"It sure is, bro! But there's still one thing left for them to do, right?"

"You got that right, Semi! Ahem... Ladies and gentlemen! Since you all chose to go through a coloured door, and made it out the other side alive... You've all been rewarded the opportunity to participate in the AB Game!"

"What's the AB Game? Hehehe... You might've guessed already, seeing as you had to submit your answers separately, but you're not all buddy-buddy with everybody you went through those doors with! That's right! It's the Duos against the Trios!"


"The rules are simple. Each team will be given a choice: Ally or Betray."

"If you both pick Ally, then everybody wins! Both teams get two points!"

"And if you both pick Betray... Bzzzt! Everybody loses! No points all around!"

"Buuuuuut... If one team chooses to Ally, while the other chooses Betray... The "Ally Team" loses two points, while the "Betray Team" gains a whole three!"

"And don't forget that your goal is 9! The AB Game is the quickest and best way to get you there!"

"Oh, and of course, you REALLY don't want to hit zero... And I get the feeling you'll find out why veeeeery soon... Hehehehe!"

"And those are the rules of the AB Game! Does anyone have any questions?"

[Ame]

How long had it been? Since she was really in this room last? She couldn't tell, but some part of her felt as though it had been in the Yellow door for an eternity, and another felt it had only been a couple of hours. I guess falling asleep hadn't helped her at all either.



"The AB Games, huh?"

"To Ally or Betray? I wonder what to do."

She thanks Knight for lending her shoulder, and hazily walks over to a chair

"Hey, Demi, Semi. I don't know what's going on here. But, I'd like to tell you the end. She said that you were... what was the term? Retiring that room?"

"You should've said goodbye. I don't know what rules you have in place, or why you didn't. But she wanted you to know, she's gonna miss you."

The sound of tears echos throughout the Library



"Both you two, and the... old man."

"I hope that, where ever she is now. She's finally able to find peace. And that her friends accept her in the afterlife. What a nightmare- what a bloodbath."

[Izumiko (Emi)]

Knight carefully lets go of Gaap, standing close by in case the latter loses her balance. 

Knight seems to react to the crying pretty heavily. She holds her hands to her chest. Tears stream down as she quietly cries out the grief herself. A familiar feeling.


"A tragedy... once more... on repeat... Repeat... Repeat in a loop..."

[Vaellin the Bard]

Trigger excitedly beats on Rocky with a big grin.

"Ours didn't end in a bloodbath. Sure a good man died, but love was discovered by the end of it and there was even a proposal!"

"I also got to experience what it was like to be on the opposite end of justice! Remind me not to do it as the beds are uncomfortable and it's hard to piss in a bucket."

[Hansbulla]

Exvy stands somberly aside.

"There is peace in finality, but an eternal recurrence... I can relate to that. It is cruel. That story should have been closed a long time ago."

[Sachi]

Demi's playful, mischievous persona begins to fade, as does the devilish smile that accompanied it. You might've hit a sore spot.


"Amy..."


"Tch! Don't try and change the subject! This is meant to be about the AB Game! Why should I care if a puppet misses me or not? Keep this up and I'll take away points! I really, really will!"

[Ame]

[Source] Izumiko (Emi) said:

Knight carefully lets go of Gaap, standing close by in case the latter loses her balance. 

Knight seems to react to the crying pretty heavily. She holds her hands to her chest. Tears stream down as she quietly cries out the grief herself. A familiar feeling.

"A tragedy... once more... on repeat... Repeat... Repeat in a loop..."

Gaap places her hands onto Knights, talking through her sobs

"We... should be grateful... no one... will ever step foot in Camp Greenwolfe again."

Streaks of red are left on her face from the now re-hydrated blood from her sleeves. Wiping her tears might have not been the best decision.

[Source] Hansbulla said:

"There is peace in finality, but an eternal recurrence... I can relate to that. It is cruel. That story should have been closed a long time ago."

"Let's... ensure that there's... no more death. I'll try to... convince Lia to press... ally. The sooner... We can get out... the better..."

[Source] Sachi said:

"Tch! Don't try and change the subject! This is meant to be about the AB Game! Why should I care if a puppet misses me or not? Keep this up and I'll take away points! I really, really will!"

"..."

"...Okay..."

"Knight... Exvy... and Enemy. I can trust you all... to ally?"

[Hansbulla]

"Naturally. We will place our trust in you too."

[Sachi]

"...Anyway.
Keep in mind, if your opponent chooses Betray while you've chosen Ally, and you have less than 3 points... you're done for.
If you're low on points... isn't the only option to Betray? Even in the worst case there, you save yourself, you know?
In that case, isn't picking Betray the smartest defensive play?

On the other hand... If you have 3 points right now, you can leave as early as the next round if you pick Betray... Wouldn't that be something? Back home in your nice warm bed?"

[crazynuto]

Defective strolls out the Cyan Door, with friends in toe. He looks somewhat perturbed. He mutters under his breath (loudly).

"Can't believe a lobster isn't kosher. THAT was the big twist? I had every little detail correct except that...if I'd thought harder I would'v- ah!"

He notices everyone here, who honestly look pretty freakin awful. He stands up and puts on a brave face.

"T'was Elemenski my dear friends. Not a singular issue here from the World's Greatest Detfective! _{agh why can't I say that right?}

Now, shall we tally up our points, so we know exactly how much help each of us needs to escape. I am at a healthy three points myself, as I didn't lose nor gain any points.

I understand some of you may be missing points, but my fellow Red friends have nothing to gain from betraying. If anything, they'd be losing the trust of their most powerful asset: i.e. me and my advice!

So stay hearty friends!

...also Demi, excellent work on the Diorama. It was a fascinating puzzle to solve, and I commend you on the twists you put within. Perhaps you should look into chronicling my stories, or writing mystery novels of your own?

[⋆⋅ Sage ⋅⋆]

A very sweaty and slightly intoxicated looking Psychic wanders up to Defective and pats him on the shoulder. His sleeves are rolled up enough that you can see the '1' on his bracelet.

"H-Hey, uh, aha. Um, so. Ha... well, uhm... You're not going to b-betray, are you...?"

[crazynuto]

"Of course not! Would be folly to even suggest it, for your dogged pursuits of the facts helped me piece them all together. If anything, I wish I could give you points. But ah...this isn't a request to betray me. Just...stay hearty, we shall get you out of here eventually!"

Could that be a hint of...desperation in Defective's voice? Maybe he's not as confident as he let on.

[Nekomaru]

Nov 23, 2023 13:59:48 GMT -6 Vaellin the Bard said:

Sure a good man died, but love was discovered by the end of it and there was even a proposal!"

 
"Moreso a love discovered too late, already too wilted to come to fruition..."

"Still, I'd have to say we left in a better place mentally than the others, so nothing to be too sad over! The Deputy is happy with his wife I'm sure."

"As for the five of us... We're friends, right?"

[⋆⋅ Sage ⋅⋆]

Nov 23, 2023 15:19:28 GMT -6 crazynuto said:

Just...stay hearty, we shall get you out of here eventually!

"Y-Yes, of course! No, I would never think of betraying you either! We'll all ally. As long as we all ally... we'll all be okay. And get some points out of it, too!"

He looks toward Punk-02, Novella, and Voivode.

"Right? R-Right?"

[Sachi]

"We are in a bit of a precarious situation. If Defective will choose Ally, then I don't have an issue with doing the same."


"What worries me, though, is the other one in the Pair. Say he were to overpower you and pick Betray. Where would that leave us, the team with one single point?"