[complete] Event 2 Task 1

[The Goddess Nike]

Another day breaks over the horizon, and the crowd has gathered for another day of the Beqanna Games. Emerald green banners flutter over the scene as The onlookers fill the stands. The leader board has shifted again, reflecting the final results of yesterday's trials. 

Team Alpha, Eros has earned you a total of 23 points
Team Beta, Mosrael has earned you a total of 28 points
Team Gamma, Sarkis has earned you a total of 23 points
Team Delta, Valensia has earned you a total of 25 points
Team Epsilon, Wishbone has earned you a total of 13 points
Team Zeta, Madelyn has earned you a total of 31 points
Team Eta, Kuma has earned you a total of 22 points
Team Theta, Nayl has earned you a total of 24 points
Team Iota, Khaedrik has earned you a total of 30 points
Team Kappa, Kagerus has earned you a total of 23 points 

The winged Goddess appears once more, her gaze falling on each of the first event's contestants. 
"That was a difficult trial. It was meant to be. But perhaps you will be stronger and, dare I say, more courageous for it. Nothing can master a man or woman who has mastered themself. However, I have a parting gift for you all." With a glimmer of golden magic, the apples retrieved during the second task appear before them. "These are not mere shining fruits. They will not rot no matter how long they exist, and when eaten, they have a particular power. They can erase a single memory. Even the bravest among us has their limit, and should something occur which you cannot cope with, eat the apple. It will not undo the past, but it will shield your mind from it." Her gaze lingers sympathetically on Kagerus and Kuma, knowing that they might benefit from this gift more than most. 

_____________________________________________________

Modicum Mortem, Jesper, Hestia, Saedís, Ilma, Amorette, Imperial, Nymf, Belgaer and Wound. Step forward! You are here because you think yourself more clever than the average equine. Let's put that to the test, shall we? 

A strange shape appears in the air before them, along with lettered solutions. Which block will match the shape? 



Starting out simple. Give me a short (>200 word) post, describe who you are, and what you think, then give me the answer to the puzzle.

[Amorette]

Many have gathered around. The Goddess has called for a friendly competition and that is what brought Amorette to her makeshift arena. First to watch, now to compete. Her attention focusses on the Goddess at their summoning, listing to the task she has for them. It is not that she thinks herself more clever, but she enjoys the challenge, like a way to challenge and push herself.

Like that, she might learn something new. And that she could bring back home, hopefully to make Tephra thrive. After all, her home, or the sanctuary her home is, is what drives her. Amorette is passionate about Tephra, and all that heard her talk about her home know it. If this new way of thinking, this new view, would help her, why couldn’t she bring it back home?

She steps closer to the cube, curiously studying the blocky object. Never before had she seen such a thing, but there is no time to ponder over it. Perhaps later. Amore pushes, rolling the block to another side, ears pricking forward at the new image that appears. This one isn’t hard. ”The answer is B” she tells Nike.

The answer is B!

[Belgaer]

He watches his sister in her tasks with a sense of pride, and occasionally fear. She has nothing, he knows, to protect her from any challenge set against her except her own courage; not like Bel, who has the many varied gifts of their father.

Gifts he has learned to master, thoughtfully, but which would lend themselves far better to someone of his sister’s temperament (or his father’s) than of Belgaer’s. Because Bel would rather solve problems with words than with actions - though he is not adverse to strategy to minimize damage when action becomes necessary.

He steps forward when the second task is summoned, wings tucked neatly to his sides, and watches his opponents only briefly before turning his attention to the puzzle, and silently working it out. When he has finished, he turns to Nike to orate his answer. “It must be the second option, B,” he responds, “because that is the only configuration that allows the point of the triangle to line up with the white center of the striped side.”

[Jesper]

Jesper awakens to find himself in a team with the spotted brown mare and, the two-toned stallion. Although both are new to him, Mosreal holds a familiarity about her (that he plans on exploring later) and, he had spotted Castile before, on the battlefield. Unsure of his own courage, the black withheld from volunteering for that task. Still, he thoroughly ponders each task asked of his teammate. The end of the first day leaves Team Beta in solid standing; however, Jesper could feel his nerves on fire on all night. Tomorrow would start his trials.

The dawning of the next day takes its time, but soon he hears his name. Marching forward fervently, tufted lobes listen carefully to the Goddess’ instructions. Ceil blue gaze carefully studies the images laid out before him. He notices that the triangle in options A and C will not align appropriately with the band on the top. And, option D is out of order. With a strong voice, young stallion exclaims, “Option B will correctly match the shape.”

Words: 173/200

[wound]

Wound had watched her daughter compete (watched her voice her fears and dodge a snake and vanquish her demons) and now it is her turn. She limps forward on timid feet. She has certainly grown in her confidence since coming to Tephra, but in the light of many eyes Wound can feel her anxiety flaring up. Her heart quickens in her chest and she can feel the fluttering of a hundred butterflies in the low of her stomach.

She’s here, but it’s for reasons she can’t quite figure out. Although Wound could be considered brave, she is not as a courageous as her daughter. And she is certainly not strong with her deformed leg (the damned reason her anxiety comes to light under the eyesight of many) and various ailments cursed to her. Her best bet between the three events is Intelligence.

So she comes to a slow stop among her competitors, petite frame barely shaking with the force of her nerves. Her eyes scan the block and various answers, analyzing each option and working through the problem in her mind. Not long after, she nods toward a block and answers the Goddess, “The answer should be choice B.”

Words: 199.

[Hestia]

Who is Hestia, a queen, a mother, a lover... Maybe not the last. One love that royally screwed her over. Could that be considered a lover? Meh to much to think on, or it is simply to painful to dwell her thoughts on. She's a queen its as simple as that. everything she does, feels, thinks embodies is about her kingdom with her children constantly in the back of her mind. Driven, forward thinking, calculating? But isn't every creature complex? She ponders the puzzle for a moment, to polite to Option B, as the only one with the triangle pointing in the right direction green eyes widen a little, how the frick did she know these terms? unnatural glowy lady must have done something to her. She eyes the mare suspiciously.

[Imperial]

The black and silver stallion comes forward.  Finding his place amongst the events competitors.  He looks around, some he recognizes but others he does not.  His icey blue gaze falls upon the golden goddess as she enters.  She wishes to know each of them.  He thinks for a moment before he speaks, "I am Imperial of Loess.  My world begins and ends with the love of my life, Kuma and my children.  Loyalty and honesty are my most treasured traits." He doesn't mention the horrors of his childhood for they no longer define him.

When finally there task is brought forwards he carefully examines the cube and the templates.  He is quick to note which one is like the other.  "B is the correct answer.  It is the only one where the triangle points up and to the middle of the parallel lines.  With the square to the side." 

[Saedìs]

Saedís has been watching the others compete, heart fluttering in her chest. She is not fit for such events - her dreamer´s heart aches with every challenge, every fear they are faced with. She cannot tell why she has come here, was it those traitorous legs of hers, ever seeking adventures her starshine soul could never handle. Or was it her heart - of butterfly-wings and stardust that had led her astray yet again.

She cannot know, all she knows is that she is here and she is intent on facing whatever challenge laid upon her slender shoulders. She is a curious thing - brittle-boned and sylph-like, with sea-spray eyes and a soul filled with stardust and dreams. Let it be known that Saedís is no fountain of astute wisdom and brilliance of mind, but she is fiercely loyal and noble - and she will do whatever it takes not to let down her team-mates.

And thusly she steps forward into the arena - on trembling legs and with her heart on her sleeve, and though her voice is an echo of self-doubt and uncertainty, nevertheless she answers the question sought:

Option B, is what you seek

[Ilma]

To be honest, Ilma had never thought she was more clever than the average equine. But Intelligence seemed the competition most close to her heart - teaching was the second best thing in the world besides caring for those same little ones you were trying to teach a bit about the world. So yes, in a way, the challenge would befit her, she had thought.

Now, she looks left and right to watch her fellow competitors. She had been standing in the back, and so, she is a little late to the scene; later than most to observe the floating square anyhow. But not the latest, the white winged mare thinks.

She spots the right one rather quickly. "It's the second one, letter B. Although the top of the cube seems to have a wider white stripe than the choices given." she comments - it wasn't a trick question, was it? If this was all?

[Modicum Mortem]

Modicum Mortem knows he is intelligent. 

He was not brought up to be anything but. With his short stature, one of his greatest strengths was being smart - it has won him battles, hearts, and rewards. He would not be where he was today without his mind. 

Which brings him to the goddess. She is beautiful, in all her golden glory. The others answer quickly, excited to tell of their names and attributes. Finally, she locks eyes with him. He grins. ”I am Modicum Mortem of Sylva, Goddess, He states, then moves his attention to the peculiar floating box. ”The answer you are searching for is B.”