☆BETTER TO PRETEND: MATCH UPS!

[interdimanagers]

☆BETTER TO PRETEND pt 2

Just as the Hook siblings promised, within a week the various “Heroes” have been selected and contacted to their fabulous new roles. A few days after the initial contact, those who were successful in their audition are picked up in another bus to be brought back to Sevetop along with the various musicians who agreed to sign up for this little publicity stunt. It’s purely business when it’s revealed…

Some of the musicians will be participating as heroes as well!

What a twist.

There’s also something planned to be aired as the finale. Each challenge has a win and lose condition, and those that succeed at "winning" qualify for the finale! And that’s where we need to figure out things ICly.

Down in the comments below, we have 12 different challenges with both the Hero-Royal pairings that are participating and the details of each one. What we need from the participating players is for them to reply to the challenge relevant to their character and tell us some things.

For Royals, are you helping your Hero? Hindering? Doing nothing but heckling?

For Heroes, do you have any traits or skills that could help you out in your challenge? Ones that would slow you down?

Alternatively, you can talk with your partner and decide what the two of you want to do and how you want it to do. If your character succeeds at the "WIN" condition of their trial, they qualify for the grand finale, which will be a large free for all with only one winner!

Let us know here by March 24th!

☆GOLD'S RESCUER MISSION

While this goes on, of course, the Rescuers are going to have to have an ulterior motive. There’s a reason Gold enabled them into getting these roles, of course, and in the days leading up filming, they are going to go into more detail.

They’ll explain that they’ve tried to make it as simple as possible for people, in order to expedite the mission. All they have to do is, by one means or another, cause each of the musicians to injest a dash of the fine, iridescent white power that Gold will be handing out. These samples will be given in very, very small portions - the equivalent amount of several cupcake sprinkles. Gold will make sure to express just how valuable this dust is, and how they can’t afford to lose much, if any of it.

As for how to get them to “ingest” it? Gold will say the easiest way is definitely to have them consume it in a drink or something of the like, though for that they will need to consume most of whatever it’s dissolved into. Beyond that, things that could be attempted: causing them to inhale it, injecting it, using it as a suppository - in the end it doesn’t really matter! As long as as many musicians as possible have been given a dose before filming is over, things will be good.

This can be done either by the rescuers they are paired with for the actual game show, or by the support that will be glamoured with a kind of “invisibility” (AKA everyone who sees them will be disinclined to question how they got there and will assume they are just working for the company). Contestants and support will be encouraged to work together to make this happen.

Comments

☆QUESTIONS

[interdimanagers]

For asking Gold questions IC and also for general OOC "what the hell?" type queries.

RE: the Savitri challenge and some general stuff

[i_am_not_cute]

1. Is it purely a capella, or are the Heroes also provided with instruments of some kind?

2. I haven't decided yet when Pao-Lin's electricity powers will manifest ICly. If there were some minor display of this -- equipment malfunction or something -- what would be the reaction from production and NPCs and whatnot?

[sharktrash]

► Haruka Tenoh & Dino Cavallone / Superbia Squalo

So about this threesome, who here are rescuer(s) and who royal(s)?

ic snark for gold (leading presumably to a question, gdit haruka)

[actsmagnificent]

You sure expect us to be trusting.

[ Haruka hasn't reached out for her powder yet. She's starting to feel that disguising her distrust even of their fearless leaders isn't worth it. ]

Re: ☆QUESTIONS

[liarmonstersnappydresser]

Okay, just so I am understanding this right:
If three pairs are doing the same fairy tale, is it at the same time? Like can the heroes interact while they run through their course or is it partitioned off into separate rooms? Are the royals all fighting over the same control panel etc? Are Bill and Art able to get at eachother, do you realize what you have done?

Re: ☆QUESTIONS

[possessedbygreeed]

With the powder, if say a character wants to target two people with the powder, is it a big drop in effectiveness to split it, or would Gold recommend against doing something like that?

☆THE RAPUNZEL CHALLENGE

[interdimanagers]

Pairs:
► Haruka Tenoh & Dino Cavallone / Superbia Squalo
► Agent 3 & Finnick
► Signless & Aramat

To reach their Royal, our brave Heroes must scale a 36 foot/11 meter high tower! Since the surface is made much like a rock climbing wall, this isn’t an impossible task. The tower is also in the middle of water, so if you fall, it won’t be too bad. Medical and lifeguards are on standby regardless, but you can handle this, right, Heroes?

If you’re lucky, the Royal can also help you by lowering you a knotted rope for the last ten feet. Since it’s secured to the tower itself, the Royal doesn’t have to do any holding or pulling, but it’d sure be nice, wouldn’t it? Hopefully they don’t decide to hinder you instead since they have two nice and full bottles of olive oil up there with them… That might make gripping things difficult.

► Win Condition: Make it to the top of the tower.
► Lose Condition: Fall in the water.

[woomy]

The tower is also in the middle of water, so if you fall, it won’t be too bad.

... Unless water will kill you because there's no respawing here.

So... Agent 3 must win hers because losing means death. (Or I guess she could reveal she's not human on TV and Super Jump to safety because either way the truth will out... and probably be taken out by security.) She is quite athletic and looks like a child, so the task shouldn't be too hard for her if she's not sabotaged horribly. She's going to look terrified at the idea of failing her task, so maybe she'll tug heartstrings? 8D;;

☆THE THUMBELINA CHALLENGE

[interdimanagers]

Pairs:
► Jecht & Trucy Wright
► Nico Robin & Tooru Oikawa
► Kuroku Tetsuya & Kise Ryouta

Gasp! Our fair and beautiful Royals are trapped within a cage, however elegant and excessively flower themed a cage it might be. It’s quite a large ‘pond’, but fortunately for our dashing Heroes, enormous bouncy “mushrooms” make a straight line to the cage’s platform with solid non-rubber platforms in-between every couple of bounces. Falling into the water is an instant disqualification.

If the Royal so wishes, they can help by blowing a “friendly fish” whistle, and a small fish themed motorized platform will show up. The Hero can then use this to make it straight to the cage’s platform, although “Frog Guards” will show up on it to fight the Hero. (They’re actors, and it’s mostly for show.) Alternatively, well… There’s a remote control in their cage that just happens to have a small flying drone with a paintball gun attached to it…

► Win Condition: Make it to the cage to free the Royal.
► Lose Condition: Fall into the water.

[worthlesspride]

Ryouta is going to be very helpful because he's excited to see Kai rescue him. So he's going to be easy.

Tooru on the other hand is more likely to be a dick for the sake of being a dick. Especially if his Hero says or does something to annoy him. This can range from being unhelpful, to the silent treatment, to using the paint ball gun. He'll ham it up. Of course, if the hero manages to impress him he'll be helpful. He can go either way, just gotta make a good impression on him Robin.

[sublimelymagnificentblitz]

WATER IS A DISQUALIFICATION?!

YOU MONSTERS

☆THE DANCING PRINCESSES CHALLENGE

[interdimanagers]

Pairs:
► Sora & Jamie Hemeros
► Lucifer & Yuffie Kisaragi
► Oscar & Luce

For this challenge, the Heroes and Royals actually get to speak to one another… But not face-to-face. Before the challenge proper, they get access to a room with a large screen and keyboard. For five minutes, the Hero gets to ask questions of the Royal. Hopefully they have a good memory and can keep the answers they receive in mind… Because when they’re released, it’s into a grand ballroom where twelve others are in attendance. Only one is their Royal, however, and the other eleven party goers merely approximate doubles. It’s up to the Hero to figure out which is their Royal and then escape the ball.

But be careful. It’s up to the Royal how much they want to help or hinder. The Royal has to tell all their doubles at least one fact from their exchange with the Hero… But it doesn’t have to be more than that, if they want to help. If they want to hinder, well, the whole conversation is at their fingertips to show the others - and lying is completely allowed.

► Win Condition: Select the real Royal and then escape.
► Lose Condition: Accidentally pick one of the duplicates.

☆THE TIN SOLDIER CHALLENGE

[interdimanagers]

Pairs:
► Ankh & Roxas
► Momo Kisaragi & Kido Tsubami
► Riza Hawkeye & Roy Mustang

Hopefully you’re an active sort, Hero, because to rescue your Royal from an evil goblin, that means going through an obstacle course first! Leap down from your starting point onto a soft landing pad, and then run for the start of a “river” where you’ll need to keep your balance on a surfboard carried down it automatically. Your end destination is going up the stairs to the music box, where the floor is made up of various rings- some which move jerkily and others which move smoothly but quick. There, you’re to do combat with your fake LARP sword against the Goblin actor.

Your lovely waiting Royal might help by taking up a sword of their own to help fight off the Goblin with you… Or maybe they’ll turn on you instead and hinder.

► Win Condition: Knock the goblin off of the platforms at the end, american gladiator style.
► Lose Condition: Get knocked off of the platforms at the end, onto the padding below.

[intohell]

Riza's combat trained and has actual battlefield experience. Also, swords are still a thing considering both Wrath and Olivier Armstrong use them (and technically Ed as well) so she should have some familiarity with one, so a fake one shouldn't be too difficult.

[connivingbird]

He has to use a sword? Ankh is so not happy with a sword, he rather glare at them and be huffy!

☆THE LINDWORM CHALLENGE

[interdimanagers]

Pairs:
► Pearl & Tiger Universe
► Mammon & Xanxus
► Eiji Hino & Mai

Prepared to go into the belly of the beast, Hero? In the starting room, each Hero will find themselves face to face with what appears to be an enormous white snake-like dragon protruding from a wall. No Hero will have to fight it. Instead, the beast’s mouth will open, revealing a way inside. The Lindworm’s head (and neck) are really the entrance into what seems like a large funhouse.

In the depths, the Royal waits on their throne. Behind this very throne is something the Royal can mess around with to their leisure: a control panel of the entire funhouse, complete with view screens. Turn stairs into a slide? Suddenly make the floor in a certain room spin around? Make the barrel room turn worryingly fast? All up to you for the sake of hindering the hero, whose progress can be tracked on a small screen. Of course, if you want to help them instead, you can leave the settings at a normal funhouse minimum and communicate through the speakers.

► Win Condition: Make it to your Royal in time to save them! You have 3 minutes.
► Lose Condition: Fail to make it to the Royal in time.

[maipokerface]

There's cameras she can watch, eh? Oh we're going to have fun here.

☆THE CAP O' RUSHES CHALLENGE

[interdimanagers]

Pairs:
► Shingo Izumi & Garnet
► Demyx & Terrance Ward
► Connie Maheswaran & Meril

For heroes of a more relaxed nature, never fear. This particular challenge features no running around, fighting, or glaring up at your Royal because you’ve ended up in water somehow. A ball is taking place, because they always are in fairy tales, and you are free to mingle for a short while. After mingling, however, the challenge appears: a set of various dishes is displayed for the Hero’s pleasure. It’s up to them to sample the various food, and figure out which one belongs to the Royal.

If the Royal wants to be nice and help their Hero, they’re free to hide a ring- a matching one on their own finger- into the meal they’re responsible for. Of course, if they want to trip the Hero up and hinder them, well, there’s no reason why they can’t have one of the chefs in attendance cook up a second dish to replace their own…

► Win condition: Correctly guess which dish the Royal made, if they made any.
► Lose Condition: Guess wrong.

[twoscompany]

HAHAHAHA well.

Garnet is going to have a hard time pretending she's a cook to begin with, so there will be a ring and the food will be...um....well.

Shingo will probably need a glass of water with the meal, oops.

☆THE CUPID AND PSYCHE CHALLENGE

[interdimanagers]

Pairs:
► Agent J & The Doctor
► Remi Hakurei & Sans Esqueleto

For our Royals, this is quite a treat. In a large and extravagant dining room, complete with ‘for show’ marble columns, they’re treated to a wonderful three course dinner and entertainment by an “invisible” host. As you might guess, the hosts are the clever Heroes, and they’re by no means invisible. They’re in the room, but stealth is the name of the game. At each “marble column” is a control panel they can uncover. Through it, they can do all sorts of things: set the mood with lighting, having a small flying drone refill a drink, send out a motorized tray with the courses, et cetera… And, if they go through the dinner successfully, they have to set the room to pitch blackness and escort their Royal out to freedom in a minute’s time. Don’t trip.

(But be wary- each control panel only lasts for a few minutes before freezing up, meaning you’ll be forced to move from one to the other.)

This is only if the Royal decides to make things easy on them. It’d be very easy to help, not purposefully hunting down the Hero and then helping them out…. But where’s the fun in that when hindering means hunting them down, or making things difficult when the lights go out?

► Win condition: Complete the dinner without being caught, and get the Royal out of the room.
► Lose Condition: Get discovered by the Royal, or don’t get them out in time.

[fantasyseal]

Reimu is going to be pure "...wait I'm doing WHAT?" so either way works for me?

☆THE BAMBOO CUTTER CHALLENGE

[interdimanagers]

Pairs:
► Osamu Dazai & Parker
► Lapis & Marty McFly
► Amethyst & Johanna Mason

Heroes, I have some bad news for you: you’re approaching a Royal of the moon, and they’re not interested in going anywhere with anyone… Unless their five demands are met within the time limit, they’ll disappear, and the Hero will have lost their chance.

For the Royals, the Hook siblings have already provided a list of tasks that they can use on the Heroes. For the most part, it’s a simple fetchquest of varying props from different shows on the Sevetop property- some of which are actually filming at the same time as Fairy Trial. (Don’t worry, permission has been granted for shenanigans.) However, both siblings have also said that if the Royal wants to make up some requests or demands of their own, it’s more than allowed for the sake of hindering.

► Win condition: Complete the demands given by the Royal.
► Lose Condition: Fail to complete three out of five demands.

☆THE YE XIAN CHALLENGE

[interdimanagers]

Pairs:
► Muraki & Bill Cipher
► Usagi Tsukino & Artolo Apemis
► Sabo & Nia Tepplin

In the story of Cinderella, the prince fits a glass slipper on every eligible maiden until he finds his love from the ball. Fortunately for the heroes, they won’t need to do something so redundant and kind of flawed. Instead, they’ll be going with the story of Ye Xian and try to steal back their Royal’s golden slipper. It’s a full on Sea’s Ten sort of scenario, where they’ll have to duck past various laser alarm systems and sneak by cameras to get to the slipper on display.

By no means does the Royal have to sit around and watch. If they want to be of some help, they can go and take the role as a partner in crime… Or maybe they want to hinder by staying where they are at a security center, and press a nice shiny button that calls the guards to do a sweep of the area and forces the Hero to hide.

► Win condition: Retrieve the golden slipper and escape back to the starting line.
► Lose Condition: Get caught by security.

Re: ☆THE YE XIAN CHALLENGE

[psyvampexperiment]

Muraki will be on hand as a trickster helper: he'll be something of a help, but that's not to say Sammael the Dark Huntsman won't trip an alarm just to mix things up.

☆THE SAVITRI CHALLENGE

[interdimanagers]

Pairs:
► Riku & Kaoru Hitachiin
► Pao-Lin & Keith Goodman
► Minako Aino & Rei Hino

You’re lucky, Hero. You don’t have to go searching for your Royal, because they’re right there with you. However, they might not be there for long. The God of Death has come to claim them, take them away. Your only chance is to win them over with every fiber of your being… in song form. That’s right- whether you’re trying to charm the God over, show how strong you care for your Royal, or just a rock ballad saying you could beat God in a fight, just sing with all your might. You can sing, right? Hopefully, because as it turns out, the God of Death is quite the music critic.

Royals don’t need to keep their mouths shut, either. Help and make your hero’s plea a duet, or hinder by singing against them. So long as it’s musical, that’s all that matters.

► Win condition: Successfully convince the God of Death.
► Lose Condition: Fail to impress the God of Death.

Re: ☆THE SAVITRI CHALLENGE

[hearted]

Minako's an aspiring idol back home. She'd sing on stage every chance she got, and she's apparently fairly decent at it. Which is why it's been a mystery (and a slight insult to the ego) all along that the kidnappers targeted Rei and not her.

She's absolutely giving it her all.

☆THE SNOW QUEEN CHALLENGE

[interdimanagers]

Pairs:
► Eda & Rarity
► Koumei Ren & Maxxie Oliver

Mind the cold, hero? Hopefully not. This challenge takes place in an ice rink. In the middle is a platform and throne, where your Royal await. On their chest is an impressive prosthetic, where a shard of ice appears lodged in their heart. It has to be removed, but first the Hero must get across the ice to their Royal… barefoot.

On one side of the Royal? A helpful pair of ice skates in the Hero’s size. On the other side of their throne? A bucketful of snowballs and icy water balloons. I’m sure anyone could figure out how to use those to be a hindrance...

For those who manage to get across to their Royal, they can find either the key hidden in the throne, or realize the trick to the prosthetic is pressing gently but firmly on it which makes the “ice shard” loose. Of course, they’re free to be creative. Just… don’t break that thing.

► Win condition: Remove the ice shard in a time limit of ten minutes.
► Lose Condition: Fail to remove it, or break the prosthetic.

☆THE SWAN CHALLENGE

[interdimanagers]

Pairs:
► Madame Vastra & Genos
► Papyrus & Bai Shen
► Ivan Karelin & Tsuna Sawada

Hurry, Hero! You’re on a time limit to get to your Royal before they’re burned at the stake! Of course, getting there isn’t easy. An entire obstacle course stretches out before you before you can reach them, all suspended above the ground and connected by various platforms and walkways. The first is a barrel run, where you must make your way up a ramp and jump over the barrels that come rolling towards you. After that, you’ll have to jump to a spinning platform that has various foam protrusions to grip to, and then leap to the next platform. From there, it’s a balancing act on a narrow half circle walkway while timing things perfectly so that you’re ahead of a foam bar that moves in a circle and threatens to bump you off.

And then it’s to the Royal’s platform, where you free them and together slide to freedom!

The Royal may be attached to the pole with handcuffs, the key of which only the Hero and staff have, but they can still affect things. On the pole are three buttons, one of which the Royal can press to slow the various obstacles to help the Hero. Alternatively, there’s a fourth button which actives spray guns to hinder the Hero their entire run.

► Win condition: Get to the Royal within three minutes.
► Lose Condition: Get knocked off the obstacle course.

[sponsorigami]

Ivan actually has the skills to do this. I imagine he went through training like this during the Hero Academy and does things like this while hero-ing. All the memory regains during this. Since he's gotten back his shapeshifting, he's not nearly as clumsy as he was in the start of the game. If he's not shot with the spray guns, he shouldn't have too much trouble until the end with the narrow walkway and foam bar.

He can easily go for a win or have some little klutzy accident due to being lost in a memory regain and fall. I'm not too picky on a win or lose.

☆ARE YOU WINNING OR LOSING?

[interdimanagers]

Let us know below, along with the name of your challenge.

THE YE XIAN CHALLENGE

[lightthedarkness]

Usagi and Artolo will be LOSING in no small part because stealth is not Usagi's forte and Artolo is sending security after her every five minutes. She'll cheer on all her loved ones, though. She will be succeeding in getting Artolo to drink the dust, though with absolutely no issue.

☆SUCCESSFUL DOSES

[interdimanagers]

[Did you get drugged by the rescuers? If so, let us know here. You can handwave this if you want, but we need to know if you want someone to have gotten to them as it will have certain effects in the future.]

[iitrebel]

Artolo Apemis has been successfully drugged. Good job Usagi.