Welcome to Gaia! ::

Day 7: Under the Peach Tree
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Cherry Ave knelt under the tree, digging up and turning over the dirt. “You guided me, you led me this far, you gave me a purpose, you brought me to your tree, and now, they say you’ve abandoned us- abandoned me,” he muttered. “But I don’t think it’s true. I don’t think that anyone can kill a goddess. Not death itself, not a trickster god, nor wind, nor sun, nor rain. So, what’s the truth? Were you a goddess at all? Or just an overly creative magic-user with a lot of spare time and an obsession for peach trees?”

“You know why she liked the peach tree, don’t you?” Cherry Ave looked up when she heard the voice from above. “She thought they were funny. A peach kind of has a line down it, so it looks like a butt. Or boobs.”

“So, she set me to work on her favorite trees- because of a bodily joke?!” Cherry Ave snapped. She tossed her trowel at the trunk of the tree. “I’ve been trying to get the smell of blood out of this dirt for days- so the damn peaches will come out right- and it just doesn’t help! Dammit, Mana Goddess!”

“So, are you ready to forsake her?” A figure wearing a fox mask and a cloak jumped down from a higher branch. “You could just accept the darkness and step into it. It’s a place for the nonbelievers, or the weak-willed, whatever lets you sleep at night, and you can do what you think needs to be done.”

“Uh huh.” Cherry Ave folded her arms. “And what exactly do you think needs to be done?”

“I think we need to forget what the gods want us to do and live only for ourselves, enjoying the pleasures of hedonism and self-worship to the fullest.” The Saboteur spread his hands in a shrug. “This place is so distant, so free, why should we bother contributing to the community? Why should we care? All I want to do… is ruin it.”

“That just seems pointless and unkind.” Cherry Ave shook her head. “Not at all like a peach. Peaches are sweet, they nourish both thirst and hunger, and they give back their pit to contribute to the rest of the world. I don’t care if there’s a goddess or not. I just like the peaches.”

“A pity. I suppose, then, I’ll just have to sabotage you.” The Saboteur pulled an axe from his bag. “Now hold still. You’ll make excellent fertilizer.”

“Wait, really?” Cherry Ave chuckled, grabbing the Saboteur’s wrist. “You think that’s clever? Chop me down like you would a peach tree? I don’t have time for any more of your crap!”

“Stop right there!”

“Ah, damn,” the Saboteur sighed as he turned and saw the two priests running up the path towards them. Cherry Ave took the opportunity to pin the Saboteur to the tree by his hand and stepped on his foot. “God!” He snarled, fighting back, but Cherry Ave was strong from her days in the orchard, and he wrenched his elbow under the Saboteur‘s neck. The two priests skidded to a halt, and the old priest pulled a length of rope from inside his robe.

“As we thought,” the young priest smirked. “We were just going to come up here to investigate you, Cherry Ave, but Mus Maddie, who was wearing a mask for some reason, pointed out the Saboteur here on his way to your place as well. We checked our sources, and realized just who the people thought was the killer.”

“You’ve got your killer right here.” Cherry Ave smirked. “Who did the people pick?”

“Her.” The young priest took off the Saboteur’s mask, revealing LittleLadyPhoenix’s face. She gave them a heartless smirk.

“And what are you going to do with me? What can you do? I‘m not possessed. What, are you going to tie me up in the basement?”

“We have plans for you,” the old priest said softly, a terrible grin crossing his face.
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When all was said and done, the Saboteur, LittleLadyPhoenix, was hung from the peach tree. The Reaper, Bellecat, was never seen nor heard from again, but sat alone in the church basement, chained and covered in talismans to seal the demon inside her. The Harlot, Kozmo6, eventually left town to cause trouble elsewhere. The last Vigilante, Mus Maddie, maintained her watch, and the dead rested. Perhaps Sniperville had found peace. Perhaps not.

But as long as people remained, the town would continue to provide and give back to those who lived in it, like the peach and its pit. All it needed was love.
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A big thanks to all of you who played roles in this game, as well as all of my participants! Despite its brevity, we played a fun game. Look for GM confessional soon.

Thanks, guys!

*raises hand* Uh.. I'm a girl...?

lol, apparently so badass I go by male pronouns? X3