Jubilation fills the evening air in the normally staid town of Trunau, for it is the twelfth birthday of the Chief Defender’s youngest daughter, Ruby, and the townsfolk have been preparing all day for the ceremony and festivities to follow. A throng of spectators has amassed at the town Commons; the buzz of the crowd subsides as the weathered town leader, Halgra of the Blackened Blades, takes the stage flanked by Kurst and Rodrik Grath and begins to speak.<br/><br/>“Thank you all for joining us this night. I take immense pride in my responsibility as Chief Defender, especially when it comes to the honor of the hopeknife ceremony. It is always a great privilege to bequeath Trunauan youths their hopeknives as they come of age.” Halgra stops speaking long enough to open an ornamental case and retrieve a slender, ornately decorated dagger hanging from a silver chain. “But tonight is a special occasion, for the recipient of this hopeknife is none other than my youngest daughter.” Once again, Halgra pauses, but this time she turns to talk to the child beside her.<br/><br/>“Ruby, by the traditions of our town, you have come of age. This hopeknife represents your responsibilities as an adult and defender of Trunau. You must be willing to use it on yourself, your fellow Trunauans, and your family—even me, should it come to that. It will be a far quicker death than that which the orcs will offer, and providing it is your duty. Do you swear to guard Trunau from all comers, and to use your hopeknife only for its intended purpose?” Ruby—dusky skinned, black haired, and painfully shy—nods her head in response to her mother’s question.<br/><br/>“If the orcs come, and there is no other option, this is where you cut—here, here, and here.” Halgra demonstrates which arteries to sever while Ruby watches. When she is finished, Halgra sheathes the hopeknife and places the necklace around Ruby’s neck before turning back to address the crowd.<br/><br/>“Tonight, Ruby becomes a full member of our community! Let us welcome her, and celebrate her passage into adulthood! Trunau forever!” The crowd echoes Halgra’s last words in unison, signaling the end of the ceremony.<br/><br/>The townsfolk waste no time transitioning into more light-hearted celebrations. Kurst and Rodrik haul a gigantic rope up onto the stage with the aid of three of their militia men. “We are here today to celebrate Ruby’s coming of age,” booms Rodrik, “and welcome her to the ranks of the champions who defend our town! As such, my brother Kurst and I challenge her to a tug-of-war dual! We have the militia on our side - Ruby, which champions of Trunau do you choose to dual alongside you?”<br/><br/>Awkwardly, Ruby gazes through the crowd of adults around her, then jabs her finger forward. "Them! I choose them!”<br/><br/>She is pointing right at you and your companions. The crowd sheers and starts to shuffle you toward the stage. What do you do?<br/><br/><br/>