PROLOGUE: PART 5 - THE GARDEN (SIMULATION 3)
Last modified 5 hours, 37 minutes ago
Pre-Game Preparation
The session began in the luxurious accommodations center, where we also learned that family members were preparing to watch the final exam in a digital stadium. We had only six hours to prepare, forcing us to execute quick Recovery moves. Dorian, taking time to soothe Selene's competitive drive, underwent treatment for his existing injuries (Heal roll, Strong Hit), while Selene recovered her focus and calm (Sojourn roll, Weak Hit).
Feeling recovered, we confronted our arrogant rival, Joric, in the lounge. Selene, adopting a political charm she was still learning, initiated the conversation. When Joric responded with condescending insults about our competence, Selene successfully matched his arrogance but could not break his composure. The encounter ended with Joric's final, quiet insult directed at Dorian, causing Selene to tense up and realize she had been baited. We quickly retreated to the staging area to prepare for the final trial.
ARC set the final trial as a Vow of Dominance, rank Formidable.
- Be the first pair to navigate the Nocturne Labyrinth and claim the precursor relic.
- Only the final two pairs would proceed to combat for the win.
The Labyrinth and the Core
ARC revealed the arena: the Nocturne Labyrinth, a shifting, alien ruin filled with mechanical traps and creatures. We entered the Garden alongside seven other pairs, swearing the Vow of Dominance. We encountered grid platforms that dropped away, forcing a Face Danger roll that cost Selene a hit to her health, a cost Dorian immediately mirrored in his spirit for his momentary failure to protect her.
In the second chamber, a contagion gas filled the room, slowing Selene to a crawl. Her Face Danger roll was a miss, but Dorian used a brilliant Check Gear move to deploy emergency breathing filters, neutralizing the threat. As we dropped lower, the environment grew more hostile. Our Undertake an Expedition roll failed, leading to a crisis: a colossal, serpent-like creature breached the floor, shaking the entire structure. We chose to flee, using a fierce Battle move to fire blasters and kinetic force to keep the beast at bay, securing a strong hit and racing toward the core.
At the core, we found our rivals: Joric and his partner Vorren. Our Enter the Fray roll was a miss, immediately putting us in a bad spot against Joric's kinetic assault. Selene reacted under fire, blocking the worst of the damage but taking a hit to her health and spirit. Dorian, riding a wave of protective rage, then used a brilliant Gain Ground move to tackle Joric, opening the fight. Dorian quickly dispatched Vorren with a clever leg sweep that sent him plummeting into the abyss.
With Joric distracted, Selene seized the moment, using a Clash move to lift Joric with her kinetic power. Holding him over the chasm, she delivered the final verbal and physical blow, dropping him to the deep. We claimed the relic, achieving a strong hit with a match on our final Vow roll, and finished Top of the Class.
What it taught us: The three trials forged us into a true team. Dorian proved his strategic and physical worth, tackling threats when Selene was pinned down. Selene learned that restraint can be a powerful tactic, but that ultimate victory requires unleashing her full, aggressive kinetic force. Our win secured our legacy, but not before Selene’s eyes met those of a mysterious, handsome violet at the victory banquet.
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