Just as the opening feast threatens to descend into unmanageable chaos, a breakthrough is made. DHARMA and CITTA are able to successfully diffuse the brewing argument between SATYA and DRISHTI and reach the conclusion that the tiger figurine is part of a sword and in order to release the scroll, the sword must be re-pieced together. MANTRA and PRAKRITI, having procured the blade portion of the sword, return to the main hall, where they cross paths with AHIMSA and JNANA who were able to find the 3rd and final piece of the sword, which would connect the hilt and the blade. Meanwhile, VANYA is able to evade KAMA and upon looking at the three parts, is able to piece them together, releasing the scroll.
एक (EK).
Together, competitors and spectators gather around the scroll as it is read aloud for all to hear:
To my people of Parakram,
Congratulations on completing your first task. You must know this already, but as you embark on this great journey I must warn you that the throne will not be easily earned nor earned entirely without help. However, for those brave enough to step forward as competitors, your first challenge awaits you in one days time. This challenge you must face alone as you will prove your own strength by way of sword. A ruler must be ready to defend themselves and their people at any cost, so I encourage you to utilize these next hours to ready yourself for a fierce fight.
Sincerely,
Your Maharani
दो (DO).
MANDATORY TASK: The first challenge will consist of 7 rounds of “swordfighting”. All players writing competitors please post a list of seven guesses of head or tails and tag this with #mokshatask/link it in the discord. All players writing spectators, can also submit guesses and while they aren’t eligible to win the challenge, if they do end up having the most points, they’ll earn the chance to increase their attributes and have their character spotlighted in the next plot drop!
For this challenge, I will be making 7 random coin flips and each correct guess will earn a competitor 1 point. The character with the most points at the end of 7 flips will win this challenge. Characters with 15+ strength earn an automatic 2 points bonus and if applicable, will win in the case of a tie. Players who utilized the words ‘heads’ or ‘tails’ in last week’s thread earn an automatic 1 point bonus. Here is an example of guesses for the challenge:
Heads
Tails
Heads
Heads
Heads
Tails
Tails
This plot drop is slated to last 1 week in real-time. All threads can take place anytime before or during the first challenge and results of the competition will be dropped as soon as I receive everyone’s guesses, so players can feel free to have reaction threads to the results once they are posted. Some thread ideas include: training for the challenge, choosing one’s weapon, ect. ect.
And so it begins. You have found yourself in the wake of a competition unlike any other other. As a competitor or valued spectator, you have been invited to the Parakram Palace to enjoy a feast of monumental proportions, where no expense has been spared to celebrate the end of the Maharani’s era. The great queen has promised her guests of night of incomparable indulgence and lively festivities before the true competition begins, however, for those clever enough to claw away at the gilded surfaces-- there is more to this feast than what meets eye. Little do they know that the Maharani’s games have already begun.
एक (EK).
Competitors are free to roam the palace. They are encouraged to spend their precious time gauging their competition. Some make seek out friendly banter laced with poisonous or merely curious intent, while others may prefer to observe silently, fading away into the crowd the avid spectators. All the while, the true spectators find themselves treated to the numerous delights of the palace, gaining knowledge of what it has to offer. It isn’t long before whispers spread through the dining hall like a wildfire-- a tiny, decorative sculpture of bronze tiger is found hidden within the rice, it’s paws clasping a tightly rolled up scroll in it’s unbreakable grasp.
दो (DO).
SATYA and DRISHTI take to the sculpture immediately, for their expertise on metal works is unmatched. Drishti attempts to remove the scroll but finds no success, where Satya remains convinced the tiger is not merely a sculpture but rather a piece of something far bigger. DHARMA and CITTA, engaged by any discussion, join in on the debate, but quickly find themselves playing mediators in a brewing conflict that’s on the edge of boiling over, as they attempt to figure out what secrets the figurine holds for themselves.
MANTRA, although intrigued, decides to stray away from the main debate and investigate the palace for further clues. As she searches the palace, she runs into PRAKRITI who has been given the night off from guarding duty. With intimate knowledge of the palace, Prakriti notices a crooked tapestry slightly out of place and together, they find a silver blade tucked away behind the fabric. The blade itself appears to be missing it’s hilt, which prompts them to continue their investigation for a part that might connect the blade to the previously found sculpture.
Meanwhile, AHIMSA and JNANA remain mostly unconcerned with the chaos that surrounds them, deciding to take a quiet stroll around the palace gardens and catch up for old time’s sake. While taking a moment to pause beside the central fountain, they manage to overhear AMRITA intensely scolding ANANDA for wading through the fountain water and soaking some important work. In the wake of this information, Jnana and Ahimsa, both intimately familiar with water, spot something unnaturally glinting in the fountain.
Back in the dining hall, KAMA spots VIDYA who’s already begun to theorize on how to release the scroll from the figurine’s tight grasp. Vidya remains reluctant to share her thoughts, which may be the key to releasing the scroll, but Kama seems to determined to convince her otherwise, offering her the resources to create a potential prototype, the pair currently trapped in a stalemate.
तीन (TEEN).
OPTIONAL TASK: Include the word ‘heads’ or ‘tails’ in any one of your threads for special surprise in next week’s plot drop!
This plot drop is slated to last 1 week in real-time. All threads can take place anytime during the night of the opening feast (i.e. during the festivities before the sculpture is found, after learning certain information, ect.), but all characters are encouraged to interact with each other in some capacity. Basically, just consider this plot drop to be a jumping off point for your threads!! Sharing/not sharing of information learned in the plot drop is vital and will effect the story moving forward, so feel free to exercise your creativity however you feel fit!
