SURAJ VENGALI

Sociability: 20

Intelligence: 20

Deception: 20

Creativity: 5

Physical Strength: 15

Synergy (ability to work in a team): 5

Courage: 10

when: after the tiger figurine is initially found  status: open to all!

Aesha hummed nervously to herself as the whispers around her grew louder and more forceful, though she seemed to be unable to decipher anything for herself. It seemed to be this way often, for the cleverer forces of the universe seemed to always tread far beyond her grasp. She knew if she were to garner any information of real value, she would have to turn to those around her, hoping that the the more loquacious instincts of the people of Parakram would bear well in her quest for information. An open ear, as it occasionally turned out, could often produce rather successful results. 

“Say, you wouldn’t happen to know what everyone’s chattering about, would you? I’ve managed to catch something about a tiger, but I some how feel a tiger loose in the palace might have caused more commotion…” 

He knew what people were murmuring - it was no secret to most that the invitation that had been extended to were here to play to the maharani’s whim. He recognized the familiar voice, knew her voice too. Perhaps the seamstress was here by the request of the palace. He felt no need to question her standing, she was certainly not one to be pursuing the game. Though there was the smallest voice of doubt that kept him alert of all that were present. 

“A tiger loose in the palace would be amusing,” he chuckled, mirth gleaming in his eyes as he conjured his imagination to produce the scene in his mind. “With all this noise, you’d think the Maharani’s already declared the winner,” he said, careful of his implications. He meant no ill will but needless to say, he was hungry for all the frivolities to end. For the love of Parakram, one would think there was a war with the poise of all gathered in the palace. 

OPEN TO ALL

Despite the fact that Vanya had lived at the palace for six years during her time creating the orrery, it still felt grand and unwelcoming to her. Through no fault of the guards or the other palace residents, Vanya never quite felt like she belonged.  She was thankful, at least, to have the thoughts of the statue to distract her. She already had plenty of theories of how to acquire it, but the trick was finding the time to test them without anyone else watching over her shoulder. 

For now, she was content to pace by her favorite pond and think. She hoped that most of the tasks would be like this: thinking based. It was her strongest asset after all: her mind. Staring over the murky green water, she watched a shadow approach from behind and pause when it got near. Stopping mid-stride, Vanya did not turn, instead she just raised her head and spoke, “Do you think it will be considered unfavorable if I destroy the scroll in my pursuit to read it?” 

The game had begun and there was a surge of undeniable delight in Suraj. He needed to get ahead, to up his chances on the very thing that he believed would give his a life purpose. His arrogance had already entertained fantasies of life after his victory. 

Despite how much he liked to dream of his own grandiose illusions, reality had sent him back to the thick of mysteries. He had been walking about, in search of answers to the first task. And by perhaps stupid luck or sheer chance, had had the fortune to stumble upon her. But it wasn’t her existence that had his eyes pierced like a needle, it was the item that she held between her fingers. The scroll - he wanted it.