"They think they can just come into my castle without me noticing?" Prince Jonathan was a rage of a man, stuttering as he pressed his heels into the ground and rounded the turn around the table. "We have to put an end to this. Their enemy camp has been encroaching on ours far too long. We have to strike back, and harder."

"With half our your special knights missing? We have to wait, Jon."

"We can't keep waiting, Adeline."

♔

King Gavin Ilbertus grinned, holding a flask in one hand and a stick in another. "Tonight, we relish in the information from those idiotic Elusians. Let their downfall be our rise."

Sir Garner nodded, placing a hand on the map before them. "Our knights remain in their kingdom. They should return soon with knowledge of the enemy. When do we consider that one of them may be against you, my Lord?"

"Everyone's against me." King Gavin took a large drink and shook with laughter. "And all against me learn why that idea fails, don't they, Garner?"

"Yes, your Majesty."

♔THE TASK♔

Well, look what the cat dragged in! You all are looking a little rung out, a little drug through the mud. You're not getting tired, are you? Don't worry, we'll set you up with a nice easy task this round, something light-hearted and cute to revive those damp spirits of yours.

Or maybe...not.

Sadly, you won't be rejoining your buddies again this task. We know you must miss them terribly, but you'll just have to hold out a little while longer. But while you wait, enjoy all the comforts your new homes have to offer you. Half of you are still living in the castle, where you're comfortable and safe. It was a rough night last night, wasn't it? People breaking in, stealing things or trying to kill your liege, you know we doubt you got too much sleep. Unfortunately, there's no time for that now. 

In this task, if you were in the A GROUP previously, congratulations. You've found yourself living in the dungeon cells of either Adrigole or Lemaria, depending on where you're from originally. This...this is not going to be a pleasant night for you. We won't lie. In fact, any minute now someone will be sent to interrogate you for information. Their methods will be significantly less than humane. Your job is to write the torture, as well as choose any torturer you like. It could be a random guard, one of the other knights, or maybe even Prince Johnathan or King Gavin himself. The choice you have to make: tell what you know to spare yourself the agony or hold fast and face a crippling challenge in the next task. 

However, if you were in B GROUP, your job is going to be a little different. You're not being tortured, you are the torturer. Your ruler has ordered you to interrogate one of the prisoners reprimanded last night. Whichever you pick and whatever methods you use is entirely up to you. However, you will also face a choice. For some of you, the task of tearing into another person for information is mountainous. So we offer you this choice: agree to the order and begin to pick away at your humanity, or refuse and face a destructive challenge in the next task. 

♔WORD LIMIT♔

You have 2,100  words to use for this round. Good luck.

♔DEADLINE♔

Friday, February 9th at 9 PM CST

♔BALLOTS♔

Two ballots for each of you. Use them wisely.

One death, if you find it necessary to use it. 

Unfortunately for Florian Hawthorne, his fellow knights seem a little perturbed by his closeness to the royal court. He'll receive a reduced word count of 2,000

♔A TRAITOR'S CHALLENGE♔

The results are in! For your traitors, you chose Florian Hawthorne and Meric Ophelen! We are pleased to announce that...sorry! Neither of them are the traitors! Which means:

Florian Hawthorne: Wow, bad luck. Accused of being the traitor, turned on by the other knights, and targeted by the real traitor. Maybe you should take a closer look at who your allies are? Unfortunately, this means that your word minimum is also 2,000 words. No more, no less. 

Cassius Dandylock: I guess the traitor's tired of hearing your songs. So let's give them one they won't forget. Your entry must include the words Buckweasel and Fluddgenbutter, as well as the phrases "jasmine rice", "family size", and "rabid snake-eyed lunatic". We'll be removing half a point for every one of these you fail to use. 

Better luck next time!