OOC - This Year’s Amicrest Trials and Their Location
Every year, a different High House hosts the Amicrest Trials. This year the trials will be hosted by House Apollyon on their capitol planet of Casmin, in the city of Demnaeus (a city suspended high in the trees of the densest jungle, the floor of which is stalked by terrifying beasts). The planet is primarily terraformed to be covered in jungle terrain, in addition to the native swamps. This planet is also very rock in old energy sources such as coal and oil, though, very few but the lowest of common folks use such things for currency. Too, well, common. The people of Demnaeus dress with almost all of their body parts covered in fabric, from their head to their boots. Breathable, colorful fabric, but fabric the insects of the jungle cannot penetrate—except for those member of the multitudinous ranks of House Apollyon. They, with their gift, have no fear of such things, and in fact all of them flaunt this fact with sleeveless and open front tops, shorts, dresses, and skirts.
As for this years Trials, they will take place in four parts (one in honor of each living generation of House Apollyon). In the first, the only part the participants are aware of the contents of, the participants will descend to the jungle floor to survive for two weeks on their own. There is no true chance of death, because though the participants are unaware, they will be in a fenced in biome with controlled animals and insects. The participants will be told to form two (and in one case, a three) person alliances—alliances that will be tested in the next trial. After returning to the city, the participants will be informed individually that they have one week to discover and reveal to said instructor a damning secret about one of their new allies. Most individuals, it is hoped, will pass this test—because the real test here is if they refuse to reveal any secrets at the end of the week. Of course, even the instructor is unaware of the true test goal until the end, given the presence of Eudokians and Verities. When that trial is complete, the third begins with battle. Each team of allies, now sorely tested, must fight an elite and enhanced officer from House Apollyon. They are not necessarily expected to win, but to perform well. Finally the last task is thus: the participants will be informed that their ally, a friend, someone they care for dearly has been poisoned with a substance that will leave them forever debilitated, and the cure will only be administered if the participant willingly makes a sacrifice of equal value. It could be the devastating secret from before, an injury, or a precious possession—but it must be a sacrifice. Then it’s all over. The members of House Apollyon will vote on the alliance with the best performance, and on down from there.
After the trials there is a feast, and a courtly dance. The elders schmooze and the young ones hit the booze, if you will. And the cycle repeats next year, with different tasks, in the next set of Trials.