The Games We Play
Requirements / Rewards
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Part 1
Sakura: I’ve got some exciting news for you, Danny!
Sakura: Hey you guys! We have some exciting news! Remember how I mentioned that Nishan and I were into the PC game Legends of ClanCraft?
Nishan: LoC for short!
Danny: I remember something about this, yes…
Nishan: Well, we just found out that our clan made it into the qualifiers for ClanRumble, the biggest LoC tournament EVER!
Danny: Woo hoo! Congrats!
Autumn: That’s great!
Julian: Nerds have tournaments?
Payton elbows Julian.
Julian: I mean, uh, great job, you two!
Danny: Can you tell us a little more about it?
Sakura: I suppose so. Let’s start from the beginning. The game takes place in the fictional world of Azor A’kahn, where nine mythical races are battling for supremacy…
Time - 10 hours
A few hours later…
Sakura: …and so you see, dwarflings are completely terrified of snakes… which is exactly why our team’s snake-rush tactic helped us win in the qualifiers!
Autumn: That’s… a lot of information you just said all at once.
Payton: Can you back up to the part where, uh, you started talking?
Danny: Maybe just explain it to us like we’re five?
Sakura: It’s an MMORPG crossed with battle arena-style play.
Payton: Like we’re three?
Sakura: You work in teams of five to destroy your enemy’s towers while defending your own.
Julian: Oh! So you guys are, like, on a team?
Nishan: Yep! The CarnageKings! There’s me, Sakura, and these three other guys we met online. There’s BromegaMan and AlphaDogg.
Sakura: And then there’s our team leader, Zerothon. His team got second place last year! he’s kind of a legend.
Payton: Oh, cool! I like legends!
Nishan: It’s a pretty big deal. LoC has a huge world-wide following, and getting into ClanRumble alone is hard. There are only a handful of top teams in the world.
Sakura: And from what I’ve calculated about the other teams we’re competing against, we have a really good shot at getting first place.
Payton: Yeah, first place! First is good! I like first!
Danny: Sakura, this is really exciting! Is there anything we can do to help?
Julian: For real. You did so much to help the football team. The least I can do is support something you’re doing!
Sakura: Well, gaming is pretty isolated… I mean, virtually, you’re all together, but I can’t imagine people actually crowding around laptop to watch me play…
Danny: It doesn’t have to be around your laptop! We’ll set up a big projector in the gym where everyone can watch you play!
Julian: We’ll have surround sound and everything!
Nishan: I DO like being surrounded by sound…
Sakura: Heh. Okay. I’m down with that.
Rewards
Nishan: Well, if we’re going to set up something that elaborate, it might be the time to appropriate a large sum that can be traded for goods and services…
Danny: You’re talking about money, aren’t you?
Nishan: …yes.
Danny: We’ll probably also need a couple people who know what they’re doing to set everything up…
Part 2
Danny: Let’s show our support by making an awesome setup for the gamers!
You and your friends haul in a bunch of equipment that Sakura, Nishan, and the gamers have helped you order.
Danny: All right, you got your gamer computers with high-end graphics cards, high-speed routers, extra-long power cords with super sweet surge protectors, and access to all outlets… I think that’s it?
Nishan: Yep! We can take it from here, Danny. One of the filmmakers is setting up the screen, and Sakura and I will put the network together.
Sakura: Amazing. This is going to be a BEAST when we’re done!
Rewards
A short time later, the LAN and projector are set up!
Nishan: Display up, game downloaded, keyboards keyed and ready!
Danny: Sounds like all we need to do is turn everything on and test the projector!
Sakura: I’m itching to see gameplay with this rig. What do you say, Nishan? Are you down for a warm-up match to finesse our team’s strategy before the qualifier?
Nishan: Whatever you say, Viking Bearserker.
Danny: Viking Bearserker? Nice nickname.
Sakura: It’s a role actually. In Legends of ClanCraft, I’m the person in charge of leading the offense.
Nishan: And she’s really good. That’s why she makes the big bucks… or I guess in this case, gold doubloons.
Danny: What are you, Nishan?
Nishan: The Panda-Medic. I run support… healing people and reinforcing our defenses! Also, I’m a panda.
Danny: Well, I look forward to seeing your team in action.
Sakura: Then you’re going to enjoy watching this practice match!
Sakura boots up the game, and you, Payton, Julian, and Mia turn to the gigantic projector.
Part 3
Danny: This match should be fun to watch!
You stand behind Sakura, watching her avatar move in the game-world on the projector screen. Her fingers fly across her keyboard, and she speaks rapidly into a headset, calling out orders to players on her team.
Sakura: Let’s do this, CarnageKings! To victory!
Nishan: What’s the plan, Zerothon?
A guy’s voice answers over the speaker…
Zerothon: Let’s take a cautious offense, routing their troops. Sakura, take BromegaMan and AlphaDogg as backup.
AlphaDogg: Aw man, we have to take orders from Sakura? What’s next, we all have to wear dresses?
Sakura: Real funny, AlphaDogg. Now follow me! Enemy bass sighted on map position B-8. Attack!
A cheer goes up and Sakura’s team destroys the base! From your vantage point, you see one of Sakura’s teammates run south offscreen. It draws your attention to a bunch of scrolling text on the bottom of the screen.
Danny: Hey, what’s that on the lower left?
Mia: I think it’s people from the other team sending her messages…
Danny: Yeah, but… but I can’t believe what they’re SAYING…
Time - 12 hours
You watch the screen, reading the messages scrolling onto Sakura’s window.
Danny: ‘Girls suck!’
Mia: ‘We’re only letting you take that tower because you’re a girl’?!
Danny: Are you guys reading what I’m reading?
Payton: Yes! And I wish I could UN-read it! These are awful!
Danny: ‘Get out of my fort and back in the kitchen!’
Mia: And a follow-up saying, ‘Make me a sandwich!’
Payton: ‘You can take over my battle tower anytime, baby. Give me your number, and I’ll—‘ OMG! I’m not even reading the rest of that line.
Danny: Yeah, I don’t think ANY of these are repeatable. Can you swear like that in a game like this?
You watch as more and more offensive messages pop up…
Mia: And… Sakura can’t be comfortable if they’re talking about her body like THAT. It’s totally gross.
Rewards
Chats stream in faster as Sakura crushes more enemy bases. She barks orders to her teammates…
Sakura: Now pull back, BromegaMan! They’re trying a final push!
BromegaMan: No way! I’m not running away like a little GIRL!
Sakura: I said PULL BACK!
BromegaMan: And I said NO, you stupid b--
Just then, the warhorn blares. The match is over. The CarnageKings win!
Julian: …Yay?
Sakura and Nishan slide back in their seats, taking off their headsets.
Nishan: Boom! A total shutout! We’re SO gonna win ClanRumble!
Sakura: Yeah. How great. Hooray for us.
Sakura storms out, and Nishan follows after. You and the rest of your friends watch her go…
Payton: Uh, not trying to be a Judgey Judy, but that was pretty awful, right? The way everyone was talking about Sakura?
Julian: And what was with her own teammate putting her on blast? That seemed messed up…
Danny: Whatever that was, it was totally unacceptable. I don’t care what activity you’re doing or what the rules of your subculture are. It is NOT okay to talk to someone like that.
Autumn: I agree! I don’t think we should stand for it!
Julian: I know it sounded bad, but… on the other hand… some of the stuff the guys say in the locker room could sound pretty bad to an outsider, but it’s just how we joke around. Maybe this is the same thing? But… you know… in public? Maybe Sakura’s okay with it?
Autumn: Maybe… but what if she isn’t? Do you think if anyone told Sakura those things in real life that she’d let it go this easily?
Julian: She’d probably end up punching them.
Mia: May I suggest that instead of standing around speculating, we talk to someone who actually knows how normal this is? Like… say… Nishan?
Part 4
Danny: I wonder what Nishan has to say about all the trash-talk people throw at Sakura…
You find Nishan on his laptop, customizing his character.
Danny: Hey, Nishan… can we talk?
Nishan: Yeah, one sec, I just need to dye my pants blue…
Danny: What? Why?
Nishan: Because blue pants increase the range of my War Cry by 30 percent whenever my enemies are less than half life—oh, was that rhetorical?
Danny: Kind of, yeah… I wanted to ask you about Sakura…
Nishan: Wait, this is about the chats, isn’t it? Look, Danny, let me explain something about gaming to you…
Time - 14 hours
Nishan: The way people were talking about Sakura? Everyone does it.
Danny: Do you?
Nishan: No way! Sakura’s my best friend! I wouldn’t say those things to her, and I won’t say those things to other girls like her.
Danny: So you agree that it’s bad.
Nishan: Of course. But I can’t do anything about it. Believe me, I’ve tried. When I speak up about it, things only get worse for her. And you know how independent Sakura is. She can’t stand the idea of anyone trying to fight her battles for her. Yeah, I hate that people are treating her like this, but Sakura can handle herself.
Rewards
As Nishan walks away to prep for the match, you run into Julian, Payton, and Mia.
Mia: What did he say?
Danny: To leave it alone for now.
Mia: It does seem like Sakura can handle it on her own.
Payton: But she’s not really on her own. She has us! And I wan her to know we’re on her side!
Julian: You want me to bust some heads online? Believe me, I can trash-talk…
Mia: That’ll probably just make it worse…
Payton: I was thinking of something more productive. There’s not much I can do about what goes on in the game, but we can support her by making snacks for the match! I say we make her a cake!
Julian: That sounds like cooking.
Autumn: I think that’s a great idea. I want in!
Mia: Me too!
Julian: Yeah… I’ll help… I guess.
Part 5
Payton: Let’s support Sakura by baking! It makes perfect sense!
You, Payton, Mia, and Julian gather in the kitchen of the school cafeteria.
Danny: So what’s the plan?
Payton: So, Sakura’s a gamer. Let’s make her a gamer cake.
Julian: What’s that? Something made out of Mountain Dew and Cheetos?
Payton: Ugh, is that a thing?
Mia: What if we just do something video game inspired? You know, those old school games where the people look like boxes?
Danny: 8-bit?
Payton: Yeah! We could put one of the characters from a classic game on the cake!
Julian: Which one should we go for?
Danny: How about Sakura herself? I’m sure she’d get a kick out of seeing herself pixelated.
Julian: Hey, it’s like she’s half-video game character already. I like it!
Danny: Let’s grab the ingredients!
Time - 16 hours
A short time later, you’ve whipped together a cake!
Julian: I think we’ve outdone ourselves.
Mia: She’s going to LOVE this.
You stare down at your work of art.
Payton: You think she’ll recognize it?
Danny: She’s got to see it’s her! Look at her pink pixel hair! She’ll know who it is right away.
Mia: All I know is that every 8-bit of it looks good enough to eat!
Rewards
You set the cake in the gymnasium. Autumn comes up to you.
Autumn: Hey, Danny… I was thinking about how we can support Sakura, and after talking it over with some of the others, we thought we’d dress up for the event!
Danny: Dress up? Like characters from her game?
Autumn: Well… as close as we can get!
Part 6
Autumn: The entire school’s going to dress up for the match!
Danny: Wow! That is a LOT of people dressed up to support The CarnageKings…
Julian: I know, right? It’s crazy. I figured people only get this pumped about, you know, sports.
Payton: Jealous?
Julian: Not at all. I actually think it’s pretty cool to be the guy cheering from the sidelines for once…
Julian and Payton turn to the assembled crowd…
Payton: Wooooo! Go CarnageKings! Punch some dragons! Steal some coins! Eat some power- berries!
Julian: You have no idea how the game works, do you?
Payton: Not even a little bit, no!
Rewards
Just then, Sakura walks by…
Danny: Hey! Sakura! Did you see all the people gathered around to support your team?
Payton: And there’s a cake! It’s all game-y and everything!
Sakura: Huh? Oh, yeah, that’s great. Really, uh, great. Thanks and all that.
Sakura smiles politely and takes a bite of cake.
Sakura: Mmm. Yeah. Pixelicious.
She takes her plate and eats quietly in the corner. Payton and Autumn gather around you, whispering…
Payton: Is it just me or does she seem really frowny? I mean, more than usual.
Autumn: I don’t think our efforts to cheer her up really helped.
Danny: Maybe we should go talk to her and see what’s going on…
Part 7
Danny: What’s wrong, Sakura?
You walk over to where Sakura is eating by herself…
Danny: Hey there. You okay?
Sakura: Huh? Yeah. I’m just busy going over strategies for the big match, that’s all. I’m fine.
Danny: Are you sure? It seems like something might be bothering you…
Sakura: Look, Danny, I know you think you’re some kind of Lvl 80 Issue-Wizard who goes around helping everyone all the time… But I don’t need some sappy pep-talk or inspirational speech, okay? I can handle my own problems.
Danny: Sure. I totally understand. …but you admit there’s a problem.
Sakura: Ugh, yes, there’s a problem, okay? There IS a problem!
Time - 18 hours
Danny: What’s going on, Sakura?
Sakura: It’s not, like, a big deal, okay? It’s… it’s really nothing. I’m probably just overreacting.
Danny: Stop me if I’m reaching, but… does this have anything to do with the trash-talk during the games?
Sakura: Yes. I mean, no. I mean… argh, it’s complicated. My whole philosophy is that as long as I get to play, nothing else matters… Except sometimes… the other stuff matters.
Danny: I think I understand.
Sakura: It’s like, I know trash-talk is a part of gaming, okay? I know that. And I can handle it. It’s just… it feels like they treat me differently because I’m a girl. Not just my opponents, but my teammates too. They say ‘oh, we’re just joking’, but they don’t joke with anyone else that way, and they don’t listen to my orders, not the same way they do with Zerothon! There’s just this… this constant disrespect. These endless reminders that I don’t belong. And I could take it when I thought it was just trash-talk, and I could take it when I thought it was just hazing. But if we lose the match because of it? Because my teammates have a problem being led by a girl? No. I can’t take THAT. I won’t take that.
Danny: That sounds like a tough situation.
Sakura: I just… I don’t want to deal with all this crap, you know? I just want to win the tournament. But how am I supposed to do that if my own teammates don’t respect me?
Mia: Then you MAKE them respect you.
You look over to see Mia standing next to you, along with Payton.
Mia: Look, Sakura. Your teammates act that way online, but they wouldn’t dare do it in person. You know why? Because they think they can get away with it with no consequences.
Payton: But you have the power to make them know there are consequences.
Mia: In the end, they want to win just as bad as you do… which means they’ll have to listen!
Sakura: Yeah! You’re right! Those jerks NEED me to win! I’m the best Bearserker this team has ever had, and I’m not going to take any trash-talk from my own teammates! If they have a problem with me being a girl… well, they can learn to respect me, or they can quit the team!
Danny: That’s the spirit!
Sakura: Thanks, you guys. This pep-talk was exactly the Elixir of Strength I needed.
Rewards
Nishan: Hey guys! I hope I’m not interrupting a classic inspiring Danny speech… But the next match in ClanRumble is starting in just a few minutes! We need you in there, Bearserker!
Sakura: I’m on it!
Sakura gets up to go with Nishan…
Danny: You ok, Sakura?
Sakura: Oh yeah. I’m ready to crush my enemies and drink their sweet, sweet tears of defeat!
Danny: There’s the Sakura I know!
Sakura: But first… I’m going to have a serious talk with my team.
Part 8
Sakura: That does it! I’m going to talk to my teammates and tell them the harassment has to stop!
Sakura and Nishan settle down at their computers a few minutes before the match. Their other teammates sign on…
Zerothon: All right, CarnageKings. You guys ready for this?
BromegaMan: YEAH! Let’s break some skulls!
AlphaDogg: They’re going down!
Sakura: Yeah, they are… but before we go in, there was actually something I wanted to talk about.
BromegaMan: What’s up, Sakura? You gonna ask me out? Ha!
Sakura: Look, I don’t want to make a big deal, but during that last game, I was a little bothered with how some of you reacted when things got intense. We can’t afford to second-guess each other on the battlefield, and we really can’t afford to disrespect each other. If you guys have a problem with how I play, I’d be happy to talk about it outside the game. But when we’re in a match, I’m asking you to follow my orders the same way you’d follow Zerothon’s… and to keep my gender out of it.
AlphaDogg: Look, Sakura, we just talk how guys talk. We’re horsing around.
BromegaMan: Yeah, don’t get all whiny and emotional. So long as we win, why does it matter?
Sakura: Well, it matters to me, okay? It matters to me.
Zerothon: A good talk all around. We’ll make sure to be extra-sensitive around you, okay? Now let’s get geared up! The match starts soon!
Sakura: …right.
Rewards
Sakura and Nishan get into the game and start prepping. You talk to your other friends…
Payton: Think her talk worked?
Danny: I sure hope so. Either way, we should probably get some people here to come cheer her on!
Part 9
Sakura: Initiate neural handshake! This match is on!
Soon enough, you and a bunch of your classmates are gathered in the gym to watch Sakura and Nishan play.
Channing: Go Sakura!
Uma: You can do it!
As the game starts up, Lyndsay provides commentary…
Lyndsay: Well, folks, here we are, gathered for one of the first games of the ClanRumble! On one side, we have hometown favorites The CarnageKings, including our very own Nishan and Sakura… And on the other, we have last year’s ClanRumble runners-up, OneDissection, famous for their devastatingly sneaky strategies! Given rumors of trouble within The CarnageKings, the oddsmakers think OneDissection has a clear advantage!
Sakura shoots a withering glance at Lyndsay…
Lyndsay: By which I mean… uh… The CarnageKings are sure to win!
The warhorn sounds, and the match begins! You can hear the CarnageKings’ leader, Zerothon, over the speaker…
Zerothon: We’re pushing hard and fast! Sakura, lead the offense! Nishan and I will hold our towers!
Sakura: You got it! BromegaMan and AlphaDogg! Follow my lead!
The characters take off, sprinting across the battlefield! In real life, Sakura grits her teeth…
Sakura: Come on, come on… I NEED this win!
Time - 20 hours
The match rages on! While Nishan and Zerothon protect their towers, Sakura leads her two other teammates deep into enemy territory… And they take one of the three towers with ease! As Sakura, AlphaDogg, and BromegaMan hurl fireballs, it goes up in a pillar of flame!
Sakura: YES!
Nishan: Awesome!
Channing: The CarnageKings take the lead!
Rewards
The chat stream fills up with a wave of toxic commentary from the rival team, calling Sakura all kinds of horrible things. She glowers and ignores it, turning toward the next tower…
AlphaDogg: I’m going in!
Sakura: Wait… something’s wrong… why haven’t we seen their cannons at all… Oh no… it’s a trap! AlphaDogg! Pull back! That tower’s a trap!
AlphaDogg: What are you scared? SUCH a little girl!
BromegaMan: You said it, dude! Real MEN go for the glory! We don’t go crying to our dollies and our stupid little ponies!
Sakura: HEY! What did we talk about?!
Part 10
Sakura: Hey! That is NOT okay!
Sakura talks to her teammates in the middle of the game…
Sakura: I'm serious, that tower’s a trap! AlphaDogg! BromegaMan! Do NOT attack!
AlphaDogg: Yeah, whatever! I am NOT missing a chance to win because Princess Pansy is scared of a little risk!
BromegaMan: For real! This is why we never should’ve had a girl as Bearserker!
Sakura: HEY! You know what? That is NOT okay! That is EXACTLY what we talked about!
The room goes quiet. Everyone turns to look at Sakura…
Time - 19 hours
As the game rages on, Sakura calls out her own teammates!
Sakura: That kind of talk is UNACCEPTABLE! If you want to debate strategy, we can do it, but there is NO reason to bring my gender into it!
There is a moment of tense, charged silence… then…
AlphaDogg: Are you KIDDING me? This is NOT the time to get all sensitive and girly!
BromegaMan: SERIOUSLY! Talk about HYSTERICAL!
Sakura: EXCUSE ME?!
AlphaDogg: We’re in the middle of a battle! We can’t sit around and blab about your feelings!
Sakura: This is the exact OPPOSITE of what I wanted!
AlphaDogg and BromegaMan turn to rush the tower, leaving Sakura defenseless! Right as they cross the threshold, there’s a shimmer on the battlefield…
Sakura: Cloaking spell! CLOAKING SPELL!
The spell lifts, revealing the entire enemy team right behind the tower! Their Bearserker and Shogunner take out AlphaDogg and BromegaMan, while their NinjaKnight attacks Sakura!
Sakura: Oh no.
Withing thirty seconds, the game is over! The CarnageKinds lose! OneDissection wins!
Rewards
Sakura: We… we lost…
Everyone files out of the room, leaving just you, Sakura, and Nishan. You walk over to her…
Danny: Sakura, listen, I…
Sakura: I… I can’t talk now, Danny. Zerothon just called a team meeting!
Part 11
Sakura: Can’t talk, Danny. I’m meeting with my teammates.
You watch from the side as Sakura and Nishan hold a virtual meeting with their team…
Zerothon: That was a disaster! If we lose one more game, we’re out of ClanRumble! What HAPPENED back there?
Sakura: Well, I had reason to suspect there was a trap, so I s--
AlphaDogg: She got all super-sensitive and started rambling about how we need to treat her differently because she’s a girl!
BromegaMan: We lost because Sakura couldn’t handle the game!
Sakura: That’s not what happened at all! YOU TWO ran into the trap!
Zerothon: Sakura, did you or did you not divert from the game to talk about how you should be treated?
Sakura: Well… only because AlphaDogg and BromegaMan were--
Zerothon: You can’t blame them for your distractions, Sakura. This was totally unacceptable.
Sakura: But… I'm the only one who saw the trap…
AlphaDogg: I vote to kick her from the team!
BromegaMan: Either she goes, or I go!
Sakura: Wait, what?
Nishan: No! You can’t do that! I won’t let you!
AlphaDogg: Oh, wow, what a surprise, White Knight McGee stands up for Sakura!
BromegaMan: She’s never gonna date you, dude! Get over it!
Nishan: That’s NOT what this is about!
AlphaDogg: So you DO want to date her?
Nishan: I… that’s… well… she…
Sakura: Could we focus on the game? Please?
AlphaDogg: Oh, we’ll focus… on kicking you off our team!
BromegaMan: What do you say, Zerothon? You’re the deciding vote!
Time - 23 hours
Sakura and Nishan’s teammates consider what to do about her. Finally, the leader speaks…
Zerothon: Sorry, Sakura. You’re out. We just can’t have this kind of division in our team. Not during ClanRumble.
Sakura: W… what?
Nishan: Well, then I’m out too!
AlphaDogg: Boo hoo! We’ll replace you two with better players in ten minutes!
BromegaMan: Go play Cooking for Babies or whatever!
The line goes dead as Sakura and Nishan are booted from the group chat.
Nishan: Welp. That just happened.
Sakura: This… this is so messed up!
Sakura bolts out of the room!
Rewards
You and Nishan follow Sakura outside and catch up to her in the parking lot…
Danny: Sakura! I am so, SO sorry!
Sakura: No. It’s not your fault, Danny. You have me good advice. It’s just that this whole stupid system is rigged against me! If I don’t say anything, they keep disrespecting me… But when I do speak up, they think I’m being sensitive and boot me from the team! I just can’t win!
Danny: Actually, you can… By getting first place in ClanRumble and showing them who’s the best!
Sakura: Huh? But I don’t have a team…
Danny: No, you don’t have THAT team… but they weren’t right for you anyway. Teammates that don’t respect you will never have your back.
Sakura: Are you saying I should make my own team and enter the Rumble? But I don’t have anyone…
Nishan: You’ve got yourself. The best Bearserker in the game. You were totally right about that trap, and they went right into it. And you’ve also got… you know… me. I might just be a Panda-Medic, but I’ll throw you heals any day.
Danny: And you’ve got me. I know I’m not some world-class gamer, but I learn quick, and I’ll always have your back.
Sakura: You know what? You two are right! I don’t need Jerkothon or Alphadumb or ButtmegaMan! And I certainly don’t need teammates that don’t respect me because of my gender! I’m going to make a new team, right here and now, and we’ll crush the CarnageKings so bad they’ll be too scared to ever use a computer again!
Nishan: Yeah we will!
Danny: Let’s do this!
Payton: I’m in too!
Everyone turns to stare at Payton.
Nishan: …wait, what?
Will Sakura be able to make a new team in time to win ClanRumble? Does Payton have what it takes? Find out in our next quest!
Sakura: I’ve got some exciting news for you, Danny!
- Danny
- Nishan
- Sakura
Sakura: Hey you guys! We have some exciting news! Remember how I mentioned that Nishan and I were into the PC game Legends of ClanCraft?
Nishan: LoC for short!
Danny: I remember something about this, yes…
Nishan: Well, we just found out that our clan made it into the qualifiers for ClanRumble, the biggest LoC tournament EVER!
Danny: Woo hoo! Congrats!
Autumn: That’s great!
Julian: Nerds have tournaments?
Payton elbows Julian.
Julian: I mean, uh, great job, you two!
Danny: Can you tell us a little more about it?
Sakura: I suppose so. Let’s start from the beginning. The game takes place in the fictional world of Azor A’kahn, where nine mythical races are battling for supremacy…
Time - 10 hours
A few hours later…
Sakura: …and so you see, dwarflings are completely terrified of snakes… which is exactly why our team’s snake-rush tactic helped us win in the qualifiers!
Autumn: That’s… a lot of information you just said all at once.
Payton: Can you back up to the part where, uh, you started talking?
Danny: Maybe just explain it to us like we’re five?
Sakura: It’s an MMORPG crossed with battle arena-style play.
Payton: Like we’re three?
Sakura: You work in teams of five to destroy your enemy’s towers while defending your own.
Julian: Oh! So you guys are, like, on a team?
Nishan: Yep! The CarnageKings! There’s me, Sakura, and these three other guys we met online. There’s BromegaMan and AlphaDogg.
Sakura: And then there’s our team leader, Zerothon. His team got second place last year! he’s kind of a legend.
Payton: Oh, cool! I like legends!
Nishan: It’s a pretty big deal. LoC has a huge world-wide following, and getting into ClanRumble alone is hard. There are only a handful of top teams in the world.
Sakura: And from what I’ve calculated about the other teams we’re competing against, we have a really good shot at getting first place.
Payton: Yeah, first place! First is good! I like first!
Danny: Sakura, this is really exciting! Is there anything we can do to help?
Julian: For real. You did so much to help the football team. The least I can do is support something you’re doing!
Sakura: Well, gaming is pretty isolated… I mean, virtually, you’re all together, but I can’t imagine people actually crowding around laptop to watch me play…
Danny: It doesn’t have to be around your laptop! We’ll set up a big projector in the gym where everyone can watch you play!
Julian: We’ll have surround sound and everything!
Nishan: I DO like being surrounded by sound…
Sakura: Heh. Okay. I’m down with that.
Rewards
- 139 XP
Nishan: Well, if we’re going to set up something that elaborate, it might be the time to appropriate a large sum that can be traded for goods and services…
Danny: You’re talking about money, aren’t you?
Nishan: …yes.
Danny: We’ll probably also need a couple people who know what they’re doing to set everything up…
Part 2
Danny: Let’s show our support by making an awesome setup for the gamers!
- Spend 210,000 coins
- Have 2 Filmmakers at Level 7+
You and your friends haul in a bunch of equipment that Sakura, Nishan, and the gamers have helped you order.
Danny: All right, you got your gamer computers with high-end graphics cards, high-speed routers, extra-long power cords with super sweet surge protectors, and access to all outlets… I think that’s it?
Nishan: Yep! We can take it from here, Danny. One of the filmmakers is setting up the screen, and Sakura and I will put the network together.
Sakura: Amazing. This is going to be a BEAST when we’re done!
Rewards
- 139 XP
A short time later, the LAN and projector are set up!
Nishan: Display up, game downloaded, keyboards keyed and ready!
Danny: Sounds like all we need to do is turn everything on and test the projector!
Sakura: I’m itching to see gameplay with this rig. What do you say, Nishan? Are you down for a warm-up match to finesse our team’s strategy before the qualifier?
Nishan: Whatever you say, Viking Bearserker.
Danny: Viking Bearserker? Nice nickname.
Sakura: It’s a role actually. In Legends of ClanCraft, I’m the person in charge of leading the offense.
Nishan: And she’s really good. That’s why she makes the big bucks… or I guess in this case, gold doubloons.
Danny: What are you, Nishan?
Nishan: The Panda-Medic. I run support… healing people and reinforcing our defenses! Also, I’m a panda.
Danny: Well, I look forward to seeing your team in action.
Sakura: Then you’re going to enjoy watching this practice match!
Sakura boots up the game, and you, Payton, Julian, and Mia turn to the gigantic projector.
Part 3
Danny: This match should be fun to watch!
- Danny
- Sakura
You stand behind Sakura, watching her avatar move in the game-world on the projector screen. Her fingers fly across her keyboard, and she speaks rapidly into a headset, calling out orders to players on her team.
Sakura: Let’s do this, CarnageKings! To victory!
Nishan: What’s the plan, Zerothon?
A guy’s voice answers over the speaker…
Zerothon: Let’s take a cautious offense, routing their troops. Sakura, take BromegaMan and AlphaDogg as backup.
AlphaDogg: Aw man, we have to take orders from Sakura? What’s next, we all have to wear dresses?
Sakura: Real funny, AlphaDogg. Now follow me! Enemy bass sighted on map position B-8. Attack!
A cheer goes up and Sakura’s team destroys the base! From your vantage point, you see one of Sakura’s teammates run south offscreen. It draws your attention to a bunch of scrolling text on the bottom of the screen.
Danny: Hey, what’s that on the lower left?
Mia: I think it’s people from the other team sending her messages…
Danny: Yeah, but… but I can’t believe what they’re SAYING…
Time - 12 hours
You watch the screen, reading the messages scrolling onto Sakura’s window.
Danny: ‘Girls suck!’
Mia: ‘We’re only letting you take that tower because you’re a girl’?!
Danny: Are you guys reading what I’m reading?
Payton: Yes! And I wish I could UN-read it! These are awful!
Danny: ‘Get out of my fort and back in the kitchen!’
Mia: And a follow-up saying, ‘Make me a sandwich!’
Payton: ‘You can take over my battle tower anytime, baby. Give me your number, and I’ll—‘ OMG! I’m not even reading the rest of that line.
Danny: Yeah, I don’t think ANY of these are repeatable. Can you swear like that in a game like this?
You watch as more and more offensive messages pop up…
Mia: And… Sakura can’t be comfortable if they’re talking about her body like THAT. It’s totally gross.
Rewards
- 139 XP
Chats stream in faster as Sakura crushes more enemy bases. She barks orders to her teammates…
Sakura: Now pull back, BromegaMan! They’re trying a final push!
BromegaMan: No way! I’m not running away like a little GIRL!
Sakura: I said PULL BACK!
BromegaMan: And I said NO, you stupid b--
Just then, the warhorn blares. The match is over. The CarnageKings win!
Julian: …Yay?
Sakura and Nishan slide back in their seats, taking off their headsets.
Nishan: Boom! A total shutout! We’re SO gonna win ClanRumble!
Sakura: Yeah. How great. Hooray for us.
Sakura storms out, and Nishan follows after. You and the rest of your friends watch her go…
Payton: Uh, not trying to be a Judgey Judy, but that was pretty awful, right? The way everyone was talking about Sakura?
Julian: And what was with her own teammate putting her on blast? That seemed messed up…
Danny: Whatever that was, it was totally unacceptable. I don’t care what activity you’re doing or what the rules of your subculture are. It is NOT okay to talk to someone like that.
Autumn: I agree! I don’t think we should stand for it!
Julian: I know it sounded bad, but… on the other hand… some of the stuff the guys say in the locker room could sound pretty bad to an outsider, but it’s just how we joke around. Maybe this is the same thing? But… you know… in public? Maybe Sakura’s okay with it?
Autumn: Maybe… but what if she isn’t? Do you think if anyone told Sakura those things in real life that she’d let it go this easily?
Julian: She’d probably end up punching them.
Mia: May I suggest that instead of standing around speculating, we talk to someone who actually knows how normal this is? Like… say… Nishan?
Part 4
Danny: I wonder what Nishan has to say about all the trash-talk people throw at Sakura…
- Danny
- Nishan
You find Nishan on his laptop, customizing his character.
Danny: Hey, Nishan… can we talk?
Nishan: Yeah, one sec, I just need to dye my pants blue…
Danny: What? Why?
Nishan: Because blue pants increase the range of my War Cry by 30 percent whenever my enemies are less than half life—oh, was that rhetorical?
Danny: Kind of, yeah… I wanted to ask you about Sakura…
Nishan: Wait, this is about the chats, isn’t it? Look, Danny, let me explain something about gaming to you…
Time - 14 hours
Nishan: The way people were talking about Sakura? Everyone does it.
Danny: Do you?
Nishan: No way! Sakura’s my best friend! I wouldn’t say those things to her, and I won’t say those things to other girls like her.
Danny: So you agree that it’s bad.
Nishan: Of course. But I can’t do anything about it. Believe me, I’ve tried. When I speak up about it, things only get worse for her. And you know how independent Sakura is. She can’t stand the idea of anyone trying to fight her battles for her. Yeah, I hate that people are treating her like this, but Sakura can handle herself.
Rewards
- 139 XP
As Nishan walks away to prep for the match, you run into Julian, Payton, and Mia.
Mia: What did he say?
Danny: To leave it alone for now.
Mia: It does seem like Sakura can handle it on her own.
Payton: But she’s not really on her own. She has us! And I wan her to know we’re on her side!
Julian: You want me to bust some heads online? Believe me, I can trash-talk…
Mia: That’ll probably just make it worse…
Payton: I was thinking of something more productive. There’s not much I can do about what goes on in the game, but we can support her by making snacks for the match! I say we make her a cake!
Julian: That sounds like cooking.
Autumn: I think that’s a great idea. I want in!
Mia: Me too!
Julian: Yeah… I’ll help… I guess.
Part 5
Payton: Let’s support Sakura by baking! It makes perfect sense!
- Payton
- Mia
- Julian
You, Payton, Mia, and Julian gather in the kitchen of the school cafeteria.
Danny: So what’s the plan?
Payton: So, Sakura’s a gamer. Let’s make her a gamer cake.
Julian: What’s that? Something made out of Mountain Dew and Cheetos?
Payton: Ugh, is that a thing?
Mia: What if we just do something video game inspired? You know, those old school games where the people look like boxes?
Danny: 8-bit?
Payton: Yeah! We could put one of the characters from a classic game on the cake!
Julian: Which one should we go for?
Danny: How about Sakura herself? I’m sure she’d get a kick out of seeing herself pixelated.
Julian: Hey, it’s like she’s half-video game character already. I like it!
Danny: Let’s grab the ingredients!
Time - 16 hours
A short time later, you’ve whipped together a cake!
Julian: I think we’ve outdone ourselves.
Mia: She’s going to LOVE this.
You stare down at your work of art.
Payton: You think she’ll recognize it?
Danny: She’s got to see it’s her! Look at her pink pixel hair! She’ll know who it is right away.
Mia: All I know is that every 8-bit of it looks good enough to eat!
Rewards
- 139 XP
You set the cake in the gymnasium. Autumn comes up to you.
Autumn: Hey, Danny… I was thinking about how we can support Sakura, and after talking it over with some of the others, we thought we’d dress up for the event!
Danny: Dress up? Like characters from her game?
Autumn: Well… as close as we can get!
Part 6
Autumn: The entire school’s going to dress up for the match!
- Have a Guy Classmate wearing Fashion Revolutionary Outfit
- Have a Girl Classmate wearing a Red Ruffle Revolution Outfit
Danny: Wow! That is a LOT of people dressed up to support The CarnageKings…
Julian: I know, right? It’s crazy. I figured people only get this pumped about, you know, sports.
Payton: Jealous?
Julian: Not at all. I actually think it’s pretty cool to be the guy cheering from the sidelines for once…
Julian and Payton turn to the assembled crowd…
Payton: Wooooo! Go CarnageKings! Punch some dragons! Steal some coins! Eat some power- berries!
Julian: You have no idea how the game works, do you?
Payton: Not even a little bit, no!
Rewards
- 139 XP
Just then, Sakura walks by…
Danny: Hey! Sakura! Did you see all the people gathered around to support your team?
Payton: And there’s a cake! It’s all game-y and everything!
Sakura: Huh? Oh, yeah, that’s great. Really, uh, great. Thanks and all that.
Sakura smiles politely and takes a bite of cake.
Sakura: Mmm. Yeah. Pixelicious.
She takes her plate and eats quietly in the corner. Payton and Autumn gather around you, whispering…
Payton: Is it just me or does she seem really frowny? I mean, more than usual.
Autumn: I don’t think our efforts to cheer her up really helped.
Danny: Maybe we should go talk to her and see what’s going on…
Part 7
Danny: What’s wrong, Sakura?
- Danny
- Sakura
You walk over to where Sakura is eating by herself…
Danny: Hey there. You okay?
Sakura: Huh? Yeah. I’m just busy going over strategies for the big match, that’s all. I’m fine.
Danny: Are you sure? It seems like something might be bothering you…
Sakura: Look, Danny, I know you think you’re some kind of Lvl 80 Issue-Wizard who goes around helping everyone all the time… But I don’t need some sappy pep-talk or inspirational speech, okay? I can handle my own problems.
Danny: Sure. I totally understand. …but you admit there’s a problem.
Sakura: Ugh, yes, there’s a problem, okay? There IS a problem!
Time - 18 hours
Danny: What’s going on, Sakura?
Sakura: It’s not, like, a big deal, okay? It’s… it’s really nothing. I’m probably just overreacting.
Danny: Stop me if I’m reaching, but… does this have anything to do with the trash-talk during the games?
Sakura: Yes. I mean, no. I mean… argh, it’s complicated. My whole philosophy is that as long as I get to play, nothing else matters… Except sometimes… the other stuff matters.
Danny: I think I understand.
Sakura: It’s like, I know trash-talk is a part of gaming, okay? I know that. And I can handle it. It’s just… it feels like they treat me differently because I’m a girl. Not just my opponents, but my teammates too. They say ‘oh, we’re just joking’, but they don’t joke with anyone else that way, and they don’t listen to my orders, not the same way they do with Zerothon! There’s just this… this constant disrespect. These endless reminders that I don’t belong. And I could take it when I thought it was just trash-talk, and I could take it when I thought it was just hazing. But if we lose the match because of it? Because my teammates have a problem being led by a girl? No. I can’t take THAT. I won’t take that.
Danny: That sounds like a tough situation.
Sakura: I just… I don’t want to deal with all this crap, you know? I just want to win the tournament. But how am I supposed to do that if my own teammates don’t respect me?
Mia: Then you MAKE them respect you.
You look over to see Mia standing next to you, along with Payton.
Mia: Look, Sakura. Your teammates act that way online, but they wouldn’t dare do it in person. You know why? Because they think they can get away with it with no consequences.
Payton: But you have the power to make them know there are consequences.
Mia: In the end, they want to win just as bad as you do… which means they’ll have to listen!
Sakura: Yeah! You’re right! Those jerks NEED me to win! I’m the best Bearserker this team has ever had, and I’m not going to take any trash-talk from my own teammates! If they have a problem with me being a girl… well, they can learn to respect me, or they can quit the team!
Danny: That’s the spirit!
Sakura: Thanks, you guys. This pep-talk was exactly the Elixir of Strength I needed.
Rewards
- 18,000 coins
- 139 XP
Nishan: Hey guys! I hope I’m not interrupting a classic inspiring Danny speech… But the next match in ClanRumble is starting in just a few minutes! We need you in there, Bearserker!
Sakura: I’m on it!
Sakura gets up to go with Nishan…
Danny: You ok, Sakura?
Sakura: Oh yeah. I’m ready to crush my enemies and drink their sweet, sweet tears of defeat!
Danny: There’s the Sakura I know!
Sakura: But first… I’m going to have a serious talk with my team.
Part 8
Sakura: That does it! I’m going to talk to my teammates and tell them the harassment has to stop!
- Level Sakura
Sakura and Nishan settle down at their computers a few minutes before the match. Their other teammates sign on…
Zerothon: All right, CarnageKings. You guys ready for this?
BromegaMan: YEAH! Let’s break some skulls!
AlphaDogg: They’re going down!
Sakura: Yeah, they are… but before we go in, there was actually something I wanted to talk about.
BromegaMan: What’s up, Sakura? You gonna ask me out? Ha!
Sakura: Look, I don’t want to make a big deal, but during that last game, I was a little bothered with how some of you reacted when things got intense. We can’t afford to second-guess each other on the battlefield, and we really can’t afford to disrespect each other. If you guys have a problem with how I play, I’d be happy to talk about it outside the game. But when we’re in a match, I’m asking you to follow my orders the same way you’d follow Zerothon’s… and to keep my gender out of it.
AlphaDogg: Look, Sakura, we just talk how guys talk. We’re horsing around.
BromegaMan: Yeah, don’t get all whiny and emotional. So long as we win, why does it matter?
Sakura: Well, it matters to me, okay? It matters to me.
Zerothon: A good talk all around. We’ll make sure to be extra-sensitive around you, okay? Now let’s get geared up! The match starts soon!
Sakura: …right.
Rewards
- 10,000 coins
- 139 XP
Sakura and Nishan get into the game and start prepping. You talk to your other friends…
Payton: Think her talk worked?
Danny: I sure hope so. Either way, we should probably get some people here to come cheer her on!
Part 9
Sakura: Initiate neural handshake! This match is on!
- A Level 8+ Cheerleader (Channing)
- A Level 8+ Cheerleader (Uma)
- A Level 8+ Gamer Except Sakura (Lyndsay)
Soon enough, you and a bunch of your classmates are gathered in the gym to watch Sakura and Nishan play.
Channing: Go Sakura!
Uma: You can do it!
As the game starts up, Lyndsay provides commentary…
Lyndsay: Well, folks, here we are, gathered for one of the first games of the ClanRumble! On one side, we have hometown favorites The CarnageKings, including our very own Nishan and Sakura… And on the other, we have last year’s ClanRumble runners-up, OneDissection, famous for their devastatingly sneaky strategies! Given rumors of trouble within The CarnageKings, the oddsmakers think OneDissection has a clear advantage!
Sakura shoots a withering glance at Lyndsay…
Lyndsay: By which I mean… uh… The CarnageKings are sure to win!
The warhorn sounds, and the match begins! You can hear the CarnageKings’ leader, Zerothon, over the speaker…
Zerothon: We’re pushing hard and fast! Sakura, lead the offense! Nishan and I will hold our towers!
Sakura: You got it! BromegaMan and AlphaDogg! Follow my lead!
The characters take off, sprinting across the battlefield! In real life, Sakura grits her teeth…
Sakura: Come on, come on… I NEED this win!
Time - 20 hours
The match rages on! While Nishan and Zerothon protect their towers, Sakura leads her two other teammates deep into enemy territory… And they take one of the three towers with ease! As Sakura, AlphaDogg, and BromegaMan hurl fireballs, it goes up in a pillar of flame!
Sakura: YES!
Nishan: Awesome!
Channing: The CarnageKings take the lead!
Rewards
- 20,000 coins
- 139 XP
The chat stream fills up with a wave of toxic commentary from the rival team, calling Sakura all kinds of horrible things. She glowers and ignores it, turning toward the next tower…
AlphaDogg: I’m going in!
Sakura: Wait… something’s wrong… why haven’t we seen their cannons at all… Oh no… it’s a trap! AlphaDogg! Pull back! That tower’s a trap!
AlphaDogg: What are you scared? SUCH a little girl!
BromegaMan: You said it, dude! Real MEN go for the glory! We don’t go crying to our dollies and our stupid little ponies!
Sakura: HEY! What did we talk about?!
Part 10
Sakura: Hey! That is NOT okay!
- Sakura
- Nishan
Sakura talks to her teammates in the middle of the game…
Sakura: I'm serious, that tower’s a trap! AlphaDogg! BromegaMan! Do NOT attack!
AlphaDogg: Yeah, whatever! I am NOT missing a chance to win because Princess Pansy is scared of a little risk!
BromegaMan: For real! This is why we never should’ve had a girl as Bearserker!
Sakura: HEY! You know what? That is NOT okay! That is EXACTLY what we talked about!
The room goes quiet. Everyone turns to look at Sakura…
Time - 19 hours
As the game rages on, Sakura calls out her own teammates!
Sakura: That kind of talk is UNACCEPTABLE! If you want to debate strategy, we can do it, but there is NO reason to bring my gender into it!
There is a moment of tense, charged silence… then…
AlphaDogg: Are you KIDDING me? This is NOT the time to get all sensitive and girly!
BromegaMan: SERIOUSLY! Talk about HYSTERICAL!
Sakura: EXCUSE ME?!
AlphaDogg: We’re in the middle of a battle! We can’t sit around and blab about your feelings!
Sakura: This is the exact OPPOSITE of what I wanted!
AlphaDogg and BromegaMan turn to rush the tower, leaving Sakura defenseless! Right as they cross the threshold, there’s a shimmer on the battlefield…
Sakura: Cloaking spell! CLOAKING SPELL!
The spell lifts, revealing the entire enemy team right behind the tower! Their Bearserker and Shogunner take out AlphaDogg and BromegaMan, while their NinjaKnight attacks Sakura!
Sakura: Oh no.
Withing thirty seconds, the game is over! The CarnageKinds lose! OneDissection wins!
Rewards
- 19,000 coins
- 139 XP
Sakura: We… we lost…
Everyone files out of the room, leaving just you, Sakura, and Nishan. You walk over to her…
Danny: Sakura, listen, I…
Sakura: I… I can’t talk now, Danny. Zerothon just called a team meeting!
Part 11
Sakura: Can’t talk, Danny. I’m meeting with my teammates.
- Sakura
You watch from the side as Sakura and Nishan hold a virtual meeting with their team…
Zerothon: That was a disaster! If we lose one more game, we’re out of ClanRumble! What HAPPENED back there?
Sakura: Well, I had reason to suspect there was a trap, so I s--
AlphaDogg: She got all super-sensitive and started rambling about how we need to treat her differently because she’s a girl!
BromegaMan: We lost because Sakura couldn’t handle the game!
Sakura: That’s not what happened at all! YOU TWO ran into the trap!
Zerothon: Sakura, did you or did you not divert from the game to talk about how you should be treated?
Sakura: Well… only because AlphaDogg and BromegaMan were--
Zerothon: You can’t blame them for your distractions, Sakura. This was totally unacceptable.
Sakura: But… I'm the only one who saw the trap…
AlphaDogg: I vote to kick her from the team!
BromegaMan: Either she goes, or I go!
Sakura: Wait, what?
Nishan: No! You can’t do that! I won’t let you!
AlphaDogg: Oh, wow, what a surprise, White Knight McGee stands up for Sakura!
BromegaMan: She’s never gonna date you, dude! Get over it!
Nishan: That’s NOT what this is about!
AlphaDogg: So you DO want to date her?
Nishan: I… that’s… well… she…
Sakura: Could we focus on the game? Please?
AlphaDogg: Oh, we’ll focus… on kicking you off our team!
BromegaMan: What do you say, Zerothon? You’re the deciding vote!
Time - 23 hours
Sakura and Nishan’s teammates consider what to do about her. Finally, the leader speaks…
Zerothon: Sorry, Sakura. You’re out. We just can’t have this kind of division in our team. Not during ClanRumble.
Sakura: W… what?
Nishan: Well, then I’m out too!
AlphaDogg: Boo hoo! We’ll replace you two with better players in ten minutes!
BromegaMan: Go play Cooking for Babies or whatever!
The line goes dead as Sakura and Nishan are booted from the group chat.
Nishan: Welp. That just happened.
Sakura: This… this is so messed up!
Sakura bolts out of the room!
Rewards
- 23,000 coins
- 139 XP
You and Nishan follow Sakura outside and catch up to her in the parking lot…
Danny: Sakura! I am so, SO sorry!
Sakura: No. It’s not your fault, Danny. You have me good advice. It’s just that this whole stupid system is rigged against me! If I don’t say anything, they keep disrespecting me… But when I do speak up, they think I’m being sensitive and boot me from the team! I just can’t win!
Danny: Actually, you can… By getting first place in ClanRumble and showing them who’s the best!
Sakura: Huh? But I don’t have a team…
Danny: No, you don’t have THAT team… but they weren’t right for you anyway. Teammates that don’t respect you will never have your back.
Sakura: Are you saying I should make my own team and enter the Rumble? But I don’t have anyone…
Nishan: You’ve got yourself. The best Bearserker in the game. You were totally right about that trap, and they went right into it. And you’ve also got… you know… me. I might just be a Panda-Medic, but I’ll throw you heals any day.
Danny: And you’ve got me. I know I’m not some world-class gamer, but I learn quick, and I’ll always have your back.
Sakura: You know what? You two are right! I don’t need Jerkothon or Alphadumb or ButtmegaMan! And I certainly don’t need teammates that don’t respect me because of my gender! I’m going to make a new team, right here and now, and we’ll crush the CarnageKings so bad they’ll be too scared to ever use a computer again!
Nishan: Yeah we will!
Danny: Let’s do this!
Payton: I’m in too!
Everyone turns to stare at Payton.
Nishan: …wait, what?
Will Sakura be able to make a new team in time to win ClanRumble? Does Payton have what it takes? Find out in our next quest!