Traits

This is a 3-part blurb, so I stuck them together.

Your Trait is Intellect

Enhancing what you already know by accelerating thought processes.

For example:

You’re locked in a room with a single door and a task-find the key.

This room is an office or study, if you will, containing a wall of bookshelves, a large portrait over an unlit fireplace, several table and chairs, and an ornate desk.

With your objective at the forefront of your mind, Intellect sweeps over the room like a visual scanner for your eyes only. The room is divided into colors.

It’s easy to surmise that the tables, chairs, and fireplace would not be adequate hiding spots for a key so these areas are tinted monochromatically; set aside.

This leaves the portrait, the bookshelves, and the desk to inspect.

You focus on the desk. The two former fade ever-so slightly into the background.

Intellect provides clear data about the desk in seconds that might otherwise take several minutes to compile.

Such as: one of the four drawers requires a key.

Two of the remaining drawers contain average office materials made obvious by the ink and lead marks along the one as if repeatedly opened with a pen in hand. The other has the corner of a paper sticking out of the edge at an angle that confirms it to be sat atop a flat pile of similar pages. These two drawers are immediately plunged into shades of black and white.

While it is unlikely that this puzzle include more than one key to solve, inconclusive evidence keeps the locked drawer in mind.

The final drawer sits at the lowest point, touching the floor and deeper than the afore mentioned. Further study shows the drawer is seldom used and would likely hold unnecessary, larger items that don’t hold much significance to their owner. This drawer is dismissed.

A quick glance at top of the desk reveals nothing more than a calendar that sits flush on the surface, so it is also discolored by the Trait.

Possible locations for the key are now: the portrait, the bookshelves, or the one locked drawer of the desk.

You choose the portrait next.

This observation goes much quicker when you notice the heavy frame, the spotless edges, and slight off-alignment it sits at. With a weighted frame, any movement it makes would scuff the wall around it or knock it off of its single point it hangs on. Conclusion: there is no key hidden behind the portrait.

Locations are narrowed down to the drawer and the bookshelves.

Your Trait notices two details that stand out beyond your first survey. Despite a regular dusting, several books are clearly used more frequently than the rest. And, while the books are arranged into series as well as author, there is no specific method of organization to follow.

Three books, however, are noticeably out of place. One is a part of a trilogy that sits several tomes away. Another is a full case apart from other books by the same author. A third towers over every other book on its shelf even with books in similar size segregated to the tier above it.

Further data is needed.

Intellect focuses on the first. It is in the same group of novels as the other parts to the story and doesn’t stand apart from the second of its author. It’s set firmly in place with the hint of a bookmark peeking out of the middle. It must have been put back after a quick chapter. Disqualified.

The second book looks worn. Odd for such an off-place novel that has seen so much handling. Separated from others by the author, it doesn’t stand out as much as it should. One would think a tome so heavily used would, after being retrieved so often, make it back to its place rather easily. Considered.

Finally, the tall book, while out of place in its spot amongst shorter surroundings, remains in the group of author it’s meant to. It also appears to be in the midst of a series it shares a title font with. Disqualified.

Current progress: the book contains a key either to the door or to the desk drawer where a second key will be found.

With your discoveries, the world fades back into full color, only a few seconds passing in real-time.

Upon opening the book, the pages willingly fall open to reveal an old, rusted key that is notionally smaller than the door’s lock.

The key fits perfectly into the desk drawer where a larger, silver key sits among several belongings that must have some measure of importance to their owner.

Your freedom is granted when the silver key unlocks the door.

*a.n.- I like to think I'm smart*

Your Trait Is Self-Preservation

Giving you every means available to ensure you survive.

For example:

You are running for your life.

The environment you find yourself in is one far more fit for an athlete than for you. Stairs stretch farther up than you can see. Doors line each floor with a short distance between each implying little to no hiding spots. And no clear exit.

You have nothing on your person to use in defense.

Assailers are approaching fast.

Your Trait provides options by, within a millisecond, plotting out courses for you to take.

In this scenario, let’s say it finds three.

The first has you running up the stairs and, using data provided, hoping the light cast from the upper levels is an accessible exit. This option is swiped away when it ends with a jump to your death. There’s no way that light is coming from anything but a window.

Second option is quickly dismissed when it offers you a chance to use the combat skills you have gained any confidence in. At times, this Trait requires manual management as flight or flight can be narrow-minded.

Your final choice utilizes the doors you can see. While they may be small and lacking proper cover, the doorway will funnel your pursuers enough to make them slightly more manageable in worse come to worse. If not, choosing a door at random may be what it takes to throw them off. It would also give you more time to come up with another plan.

So that’s what you do.

Self Preservation makes sure all probabilities of the door you choose are in your favor. No one would think to check this specific door first, but it’s within auditory range of several other more obvious options in hopes of hearing the search begin before being discovered.

You shut the door to your hideaway the second they arrive. There is nothing more than a bed and dresser in this room, but you make the best with what you have and crouch behind the dresser. You’d first think to choose under the bed, but your Trait shows a clear picture of you being immediately spotted and unable to get out fast enough.

Their footsteps pound past your door, assuming you’d made a break for the upper levels.

The moment the final pair of boots is on the next floor, your Trait provides your options.

Three more choices.

One: stay where you are and hope help comes before you’re discovered. They’ll realize once they reach the top that you’ve chosen to hide. It will only be a matter of time before your door is chosen. It won’t be the first, but even being the last night be too soon. Maybe.

Two: choose another door. They haven’t started searching yet, but the farther up they get, the less likely they are to think you’ve made it to the top levels. Choosing a door up higher and waiting for them to begin searching on the bottom floor would provide an opportunity to sneak up the to top and find another exit. Maybe.

Three: use the time you’ve been given to sneak out now. You came in through the door on the first level and know the way out from that point. There is a possibility of stragglers, but you picked up on several figures passing your hiding spot. Anyone left behind would be either by themselves or with one other. Maybe.

Unable to choose, your Trait takes away your ability to and forces you into motion.

Better the devil you know than the one you don’t.

It takes you out of the room on light steps and soundlessly rushes you out of the building and back into the hallway.

No one is waiting for you as you sprint towards safety.

Your Trait releases control when you see the familiar faces of those who can protect you.

Your Trait Is Determination

Considered the strongest achievable, this Trait enables you to conquer anything you set your mind to.

However, it requires self-determination.

It is the only Trait with anything more than prerequisites. Lapse in this Trait are known to demote it to Bravery or Ornery.

You can’t just be. You must stay.

An example of this Trait:

You’re faced with a challenge; a puzzle, though you’ve never been the best at them, you must complete before your teammates can be set free.

You are determined to save them.

Several attempts fail and you are left searching for other options, retrying most of your first guesses to no avail.

You think of your friends and you are filled with Determination.

Your Trait empowers you with strength, bravery, and optimism as you stand before the obstacle once again.

Failure lingers, but you are stubborn. You keep trying until you gain understanding and, soon after, the upper-hand.

With victory in sight, you find your Trait swelling up inside you and pushing you to succeed.

You do.

Your team slips through the enemy’s fingers.

You’re filled with Determination.