[b]Kathelia![/b]

Isolde smiles at you. It’s an exhausted, I am having the worst day of my life right now but I’m deliberately pushing it down because you’ve just told me something wonderful, regal smile. “If my Lina has a smart cookie like you for a friend, she’s choosing her company wisely. Although I’d rather she was in here than out there being mocked, but...” She shakes her head. “I can’t blame you for wiping the floor with those two fools she has for teammates. Now, I don’t think we have much time at all, but while Eupheria’s entertaining herself outside: please do not forget that this maze, these games are rigged. Eupheria trusted before, and it only brought her pain. She won’t make that mistake again.”

“So we cheat?” Dandy chews thoughtfully on her cake, and if you were feeling mean, you might compare it to the chewing of a barnyard animal.

“We play along, we buy time, and if any of us see an opening to separate her from the Caduceus, we take it, no matter the consequences.” She might have Eupheria’s bubbly voice, but it’s muted and serious. This is where Alina got her scariness from. “Promise me. No matter what. We have to end this for the good of Hyperborea.”

***

[b]Adila![/b]

Well, at least [i]that’s[/i] over with, and at least Dandy didn’t have to watch. Or listen. The jeering from the stands nearly drowned out your voice anyway, as you sang the traditional Felorian children’s song.

One by one, the other members of the teams end up dragged up there. First, there’s Eska, who’s Dared to compliment everyone. (“Ugh. Adila, you’re... remarkably pliable. Crybaby, you’re... colorful.”)

Then there’s Rita, shimmering and swaying as she marches up to the Sphinx, demands a Truth, and is ordered to tell the world what her least favorite thing about Alina is.

“My heart... she blames herself for everything, especially things which aren’t her fault at all!” Shimmy, shimmy, swish swish. “She needs to learn to forgive herself, and—“

“[b]LIES.[/b]”

[i]”She only eats fish skinned and deboned and that’s so cowardly I’m so sorry Lina!!”[/i]

Then, finally, there’s Adila I, who resolutely decides on Dare, because not even wild bucking hippogriffs could induce her to pick Truth.

“[b]APOLOGIZE TO EUPHERIA FOR YOUR SINS.[/b]”

“...I’m sorry that you misinterpreted my intentions in Jedad, Euphie. If you hadn’t jumped to the worst possible conclusion—“

***

[b]Mittens![/b]

You prance over to the smoldering crater on the far side of the field, holding hands with Azora, mostly because she can’t pick you up one-handed.

“Nice job,” Azora twitters, as Adila I pulls herself up with an aching groan. “Are you going to be okay to play, old hag, or did that swing from Caddy put you in need of a full body cast?”

“I’m fine,” Adila I lies, like a liar, and then faceplants into the grass.

...so, um, two-player [i]Heist![/i] You’ve won this before, but... well, you’ve won with [i]Rita[/i] on your team, not Azora Howl.

[Your next event is [i]Heist![/i] which is rolled with Courage. You may roll without Despair if you have an undamaged stat. Yes, even Mittens.]