GAME 22 - SAFFRON

[teamposts]

Comments

HOSTAGE

[virgitarian]

[One corner of this small cave room is separated by stalagmite bars. Your hostage is dropped into this corner by Dragon. If they have powers, they are depowered.]

((Hostages comment here so I know who you are! The hostage risks death and dismemberment. They can still speak to their team, but Dragon will act as though they are not there.))

[tsuncience]

What?!

[THE HOSTAGE PARTY]

[learntofly]

Mister!!

[tsuncience]

This is very obviously why everyone else was frightened of the Dragon!

[learntofly]

He's a jerk!

Could you hear the explanation?

PICK A NUMBER

[virgitarian]

I'm thinking of a number between one and a hundred. ONE of you, try and guess it.

Re: PICK A NUMBER

[learntofly]

Thirty-two?

Re: PICK A NUMBER

[virgitarian]

The other team was closer. You'll have to wait for their message.

Re: PICK A NUMBER

[learntofly]

Okay.

HOW TO PLAY

[virgitarian]

Today we'll be playing a simple game - one of the most simple games of all, known as the Prisoner's Dilemma, albeit slightly modified. Here's how to play:

Each team has one prisoner. I shall not acknowledge the prisoner during play.

Each team has been also matched against another. You'll be allowed to exchange a short correspondence with your opposing team. The team whose number is closer to the one I was thinking of goes first, then the other team, and then the first team again. At that point, both teams will decide whether to trust or betray one another.

Should both teams trust one another, their prisoners will each receive a burn.
Should both teams betray one another, their prisoners will each lose a limb.
A team that trusts a betrayer will lose its prisoner entirely.
But a team that betrays the trusting will not receive any punishment.

A MESSAGE

[virgitarian]

"Don't be a dbag, trust us."

YOUR REPLY

[virgitarian]

I'll pass along a reply up to six words.

... By the way, what is a dbag?

[pronouncing it "duhbag"]

Re: A MESSAGE

[learntofly]

They mean douchebag.

Tell them "We're Saffron. Can we really trust?"

Re: A MESSAGE

[virgitarian]

Very well.

Re: A MESSAGE

[virgitarian]

[also, muttering to itself]

Douchebag... douche... bag...

THE REPLY

[virgitarian]

"Canary. Yes you can."

YOUR DECISION

[virgitarian]

Trust or betray?

Re: YOUR DECISION

[learntofly]

Trust. For . . . some reason . . .

OUTCOME

[virgitarian]

[A small burst of dragonfire enters the cage. It seems the other team trusted you. Afterward, the stalactite bars lower and the hostage is freed.]

((Burn can be wherever you want it. It's painful and is going to leave a large, nasty scar, but it's certainly not fatal.))

Re: OUTCOME

[virgitarian]

One last thing.

Ask me politely and I'll confirm which the other team was.

Re: OUTCOME

[tsuncience]

[Clinging to his burned as fuck arm, doubled over. Please hold while whimpering.]

Re: OUTCOME

[learntofly]

Mister, focus on breathing!

Re: OUTCOME

[tsuncience]

I--- I am breathing, that's what I regret--!

[Why can't I faint on command??]

Re: OUTCOME

[learntofly]

[IT WORKED!11]

I—G-Great Dragon, will you please tell us who the other team was?

Re: OUTCOME

[virgitarian]

The Canaries sang true.