[Warning, incoming game. Warning, incoming game.] [Date: Monday, Ramuh 2nd, 1360] [The day has passed mostly, and the sun has since gone below the horizon. Due to extensive use of everburning torches, however, the Council's hut-type thingie stays well-lit. Harmony is answering the summons telling her to come before the council in regards to her application to join the caravan. Without even waiting, she is found by a friendly moogle that's tending to the affairs outside the tent.] [Session start] [The summons required that Harmony be ready for anything, and that she also sign a waiver before the auditions began. I assume she had no problem with this?] * Harmony does not! She approaches the moogle with a shy smile and a small wave. "Hello." * The moogle looks up from her paperwork. "Hello! And you would be..." *check check* "Harmony Lenora?" * Harmony nods. "Yep! That's me." Well, if you would please enter, the council is waiting for you. ^_^ * Harmony nods. "Thank you." She walks up to the tent and stops, taking a deep breath before entering. [The council is sitting around a large U-shaped wooden hardwood table. From the left to right you can make out Mog, Penn Lak Illich, Loren Hasgord, Squenix Knackstedt, Cid, Gwesus Masahcarey, Ran Dom Iffin, Yarksetnik Czretzinger, and Darell Racht. Each of them observes you appraisingly, and a few whisper among eachother regarding what they see. Light is centered on you, although you can still see the council.] [Behind you and to the left is a small sparring area, and back and to the right is what appears to be the magical equivalent of a firing range. There is still a good amount of blood in the sparring area, which may or may not disturb you. Once you have entered proper and have had a seat on the chair at the focus of the U, Cid stands up and starts into one of his speeches.] * Harmony enters the proper and has that seat. She takes in the council, offering a small smile and trying to look confident. It may not be working. Welcome, welcome! Your mere presence shows us all the commitment and loyalty you have to the town, nay, to the world! It is vital that this task be done, and by volnutarily holding the town's fate on your shoulders, you are doing a great service to us all. Even with that praise, it is important that you realize that the hardships and fears will become greater, and more real, but so will you in your quest against miasma. With that, I feel it is necessary tha- * Penn Lak breaks a pencil to stop Cid's speach, then makes a motion across her neck with her finger. * Harmony sweatdrops. Aheh.. Okay, maybe we should simply begin questioning, then. It seems the council is eager to get underway. Mog, if you will? * Mog gets up and flies over to Harmony. "Kupo!" He looks over her and reviews with the paper in-hand. It says you want to discover your past. Is there another reason you're joining the caravan, Kupo? * Harmony thinks about that. "Um... Well, I want to make my parents proud... I wrote that too, but, um..." * Harmony pokes her fingers together. "Well, I've, um, had trouble fitting in here and making friends, so I, um, thought maybe if I went on the caravan, I might be able to, well, get closer to people... and stuff." Do you like to do anything else? Like sing? * Harmony blinks. "Sing? Uhh... I don't think my voice is very good, but it might be fun to do it. Maybe if I practiced first..." And why would you do that? * Harmony pokes her fingers together again. "I wouldn't want to, um... sing badly in front of people." * Mog nods. "Kupo, your turn Penn Lak!" He flies back to his seat. (So... that's still none then? :P) * Penn Lak picks up the papers and thinks. "Mmmm... Okay, I've got a question for you." * Harmony turns her attention to Penn Lak. Manages to look her in the eyes, even. * RDMgryphon is now known as RDMenchi Suppose you were caught by some goblins. They had rigged a rather wicked device that slowly drags you away from the chalice. At your disposal, you have a knife and a bunch of rocks. Now, here's the wicked part. If the rope from either the chalice or you is cut, then something... nasty will happen to you. How would you go about saving yourself? * Penn Lak has deep purple eyes, if that's what you're looking for. They don't falter. * Harmony scratches her head. "How does the device do that?" * Cid gets up about to go into something, then Penn Lak shoots him a glance that says 'not your turn'. ( He thought the device up, didn't he? :P ) A pully system with a failsafe incorperated into it. (Well, of course.) Hmm... And no goblins are around? They patrol often enough, but they're not common enough that you can't do what it is you want to do. Ok... And what kind of rocks? How big? Varrying sizes, ranging from the size of magicite orbs to as big as a person. And what happens if I cut the rope? The chalice is wisked away and a pit of acid opens beneath you. * Harmony thinks hard. "Hmmm... Then I guess I would replace the chalice and myself with rocks that were about the same weight." How would you do that, Harmony? Well... Does the pit open as soon as I cut the rope, or because I'm not on the other end? Because if not I could tie a rock to it, then cut it. * Penn Lak nods, regards the papers, then passes them. "A simple solution, and useful. Loren, you may ask now." Or I could... oh. You have something else to add? Well... I was just going to say I could also climb the rope up to the mechanism and try to jam it, or I could swing the chalice and myself out from over the pit then cut the rope... * Penn Lak grins. "Okay, thank you dear. Loren really needs to start now, though." Um, ok... * Harmony pokes her fingers together and wonders if she went too far. * Loren waits until Penn Lak's done, then start. "How badly do you want to go on the caravan? What would you do to get on?" * Harmony blinks. "What would I do? Umm... Well, I want to really badly... Um, I think I'd just have to try my best to get accepted... I don't think I could bring myself to force someone else to give up their spot if they were picked over me..." She hesitates, then adds, "But I'd try to stowaway." Would you commit a tasteless act to get on, even if nobody was watching and nobody would discover what it was? * Harmony shakes her head. "No! I couldn't do that..." * Loren nods and grins at Squenix. "Your turn." * Squenix is playing with her half-eaten cherry cluster and toothpick model of the town. She points down at it. "What does this make you think of?" * Jexless is now known as Jex * Harmony blinks. "Uhm... The town. And cherries." * A few of the other council members murmer, among themselves. Squenix looks at Harmony with a seemingly uncaring and unflinching gaze. "Cherry?" She offers, and holds out some of them torwards Harmony. * Harmony takes it hesitantly. "Thank you." * Squenix watches Harmony eat, when Cid continues a few minutes later. * Cid takes the papers, clears his throat, coughs, clears it again, and adjusts his glasses, looking down at the papers through the bottom half of his bi-focals. He, like so many other old people, moves the papers torwards and back from him until they're in focus. You say you're an... outsider? Does this keep you from being a 'team player'? Umm... * Harmony looks down. "I don't... really fit in well." * Harmony looks up at him and blurts out suddenly: "But I try! I really do!" * Darell looks over at Cid, then back at Harmony. Cid continues speaking. Quite, but it is important that you can work with someone even if you don't fit in. Without such dedication and cooperation, a caravan is nothing more than a bunch of individuals trying to run around and do what is in their best, personal interests. I am not asking if you fit in, I'm asking if you can work with others. Maybe that wi-, um... Maybe tha- What was I saying again? * Gwesus jumps up and whispers something into Cid's ear. Oh, right! Maybe that will help clarify the question? * Harmony nods. "I can do that, I think... No, I'm sure of it!" * Cid nods and sits down, passing the papers over to Gwesus. * Standing up on the table and looking pretty impressive despite being short for a lilty, Gwesus spouts out a question. "What do you live for?" * Harmony blinks. "Uh... Live for?" What do you think *your* purpose in life is? What would you give up your life for? ( Gwesus took interogation lessons from the Vorlon? ) (...Gwesus and Squenix running into Vorlons would explain a lot.) (Vorlons? ^^;) * Harmony considers. "My family... and people who trusted me. (Zeg: You never watched B5?) (Oh, THEM!) * Gwesus nods. "No further questions." She sits down and passes the paperwork. * Ran Dom takes up the papers. He's been paying more attention this time. Assuming you're on the caravan, if forced to chose between saving an elderly person or yourself on the road, who would you save? And why? * Harmony tilts her head. "Save from what?" * Ran Dom thinks for a second. "Let's say a large firebreathing dragon." Couldn't I escape with the person? Too heavy, And I couldn't kill the dragon either? You could try, but it would be akin to committing suicide. And I couldn't find a place to hide us? There's only enough room for one of you. Then... I would try to save him, and take my chances running from the dragon. * Ran Dom nods. "Yarksetnik, you may ask your questions now." * Yarksetnik looks at the papers silently. A voice comes from nowhere - it's probably Yark's, but sometimes you never know. "Does might make right?" * Harmony instantly shakes her head. "No. That's just bullying." What do you do if you see someone else bullying? Um... Try to stop them. I'd talk to them first, try to resolve things peacefully... * Harmony shakes her head. "But it can't always be resolved that way." * Yarksetnik passes the papers on. "Thank you." * Darell takes up the papers and goes through them. "You know, I was an outsider before too. And some still think I'm like that. Just remember that you're not alone." * Harmony smiles. "Thank you." * Darell adjusts and sits up. "In fact, I already know my response from the questions asked already. We should get on to the next part of the audition." * Harmony blinks. * Penn Lak smirks. "You're not supposed to tell them that! Well, too late now." Darell throws the papers at her, landing unceremoniously at her spot on the table. She picks them up. "You're good at... A unique fighting style? Well, I don't know exactly what you'd call unique or not, but let's see it anyways." * Penn Lak looks up expectantly. * Kaede has joined #ffcc Umm... Right here? Where else? Do you need a target? You did bring your weapons with you, didn't you? Oh. No, I have them. * Harmony stands up and draws her twin swords from behind her waist. She holds them out in front of her, points down. * Kaede is now known as Rowyn Two short swords? That seems to have caught on recently... Do you need a sparring partner? * Harmony shakes her head. "I can do a drill from practice." Okay then! * Harmony does it! Swords crossed in front of her, she strikes out to the right at an imaginary foe, throwing both fists almost as though she were punching. Without turning around, she then drives the points backwards behind her. She drops into a roll, slashing in an X as she comes up from it, then jumps and slashes downwards. As she lands, she spins around, slicing with one sword as she goes... * Harmony buries the point of the other into the fifth foe's chest as she stops her spin. She looks to the council for reactions. * The council seems a bit impressed by the display. You can guess that they have seen it before, but regard it as a considerable achievement none-the- less. Nice display, good form... I think you've got some talent there. * Harmony smiles. "Thank you." * Penn Lak thinks, then flips through some pages. "Are you talented at anything other than that? You say you've got keen ears and have been trying to learn more about caravaning. Can you explain?" * Kaede is now known as Rowyn * Harmony nods. "I've, um, tried to learn as much as I can about the miasma. It's possible that we could get seperated when we travel or, um, find ourselves in a place that, uh, contains a higher concentration of miasma. So I've tried to make sure I can identify that so we don't walk into it unprepared. * Penn Lak nods. "Are you talented at anything else?" * Harmony thinks... "I learned Ancient Selkic, too, and, um... I'm good at hiding and... not being noticed, and... Oh, I can sew, too. In case..." she pauses as she realizes how stupid she probably sounds, and wrings her hands nervously. "In case people rip their clothes or... something," she finishes lamely. Nono, that's a very good skill to have. So is cooking. You wouldn't imagine how bland trail rations get after a month or two. * Harmony brightens a bit. "Oh." * Penn Lak looks over at Gwesus and Squenix and nods. "Okay, Gwesus, Squenix, your turn." * Gwesus nods and gets up, walking with Gugnir in-hand. "Now, as you know, caravaning is a dangerous business. And it is very common that someone, at least temporarily, gives up their life for the good of the caravan. It's been proven that it's better for someone to experience this first-hand in a safe, closed environment rather than out on the road, to see if it's right for them." If you'll step into the sparring area, please? * Harmony blinks a few times. "Um... Okay." She steps in nervously. * Gwesus holds the spear in her back-right hand. "This is going to hurt. You can still back out if you want." * Harmony boggles at how it's better to experience death in a safe environment. She stares at Gwen, "It's not permanent, right?" You'll feel woozy for a day and the experience will last in your mind for a long time. No permanent physical damage. * Harmony nods. "Okay." She takes a deep breath. * Gwesus spins the spear in her on-hand, then dashes forward with phenominal speed, stabbing Harmony in the chest five times, the last one impailing her as Gwesus swings the spear around and slams Harmony to the floor. It hurts. A *lot* * Harmony looks shocked, but doesn't scream. Probably because of punctured lungs. She grabs onto the spear with both hands. * The last thing Harmony sees before she dies is her own blood on the floor... * After what seems like an eternity of emptyness and nothingness, Harmony wakes up with the council looking over her. She's got one hell of a headache and a bit of a pain in her chest, but other than that she's just fine. Oh, and her shirt's covered in blood. * Harmony sits up, rubbing her head. She looks down at her chest. * The shirt has four smaller holes in it, and one huge hole in the middle of the chest. The last hole is even apparent on her back. * Squenix motions and Harmony is covered in a brief blue and green light, removing the pain in the chest. That migrane's still there, though. * Harmony eeps and covers her chest with her hands, blushing fiercely. * Darell Racht offers Harmony a shirt. "You might want to cover up before you head out, little lady." * Harmony puts it on hurriedly. "Th-thank you." Now don't go spilling to anyone about that, okay? Don't want to ruin the surprise for anyone else. ~_^ Ah, I won't! * Penn Lak offers Harmony a hand up. * Harmony takes it gratefully. Well, that went along smoothly! Nice job Harmony. You'll know if you got on soon. That concludes the audition. Do you have any other questions? * Harmony shakes her head. "No, sir." * Squenix goes back to her model. * Gwesus is busy cleaning blood from her weapon. From the looks of it, she's been doing this a lot recently. Good! Now, go out and don't make a fool of yourself. (... Ha. Ha ha. You said 'stares at Gwen'. Ha ha ha ha.) * Cid pats Harmony on the back. * Harmony nods. "I will! Ah! I mean I won't!" She blushes sheepishly. [Session end!]