Challenging a Queen

* Pantheon
* Green
* Red
* Blue

**"Challenging a Queen"** is the fifth song of Act I in the game *Stray Gods*. It features Mary Elizabeth McGlynn as Persephone and Laura Bailey as Grace.

## Lyrics

Main page: Lyrics:Challenging a Queen
* Pantheon Edition
* Green Edition
* Red Edition
* Blue Edition

### Breakdown

"Challenging a Queen" consists of five verse choices and a total of 49 different verses. In addition, having a Charming Grace grants the ability to choose the green option in verse 3 ("What would Calliope say?"), and changes the green option in verse 5 to "[Let Persephone win.]".

* Green verse choices from Grace aim to de-escalate and defuse the confrontation while extending a helping hand to Persephone.
* Red verse choices from Grace take the aggressive route, changing the direction of Grace's verses into rap slam and dragging Persephone's name through the mud.
* Blue verse choices from Grace redirect attention to the crowd, asking for their opinion, getting them involved in the song, and even having them sing.

#### Verse 1

The first decision of the song has 3 possible verses, and establishes the hook for Persephone's responses to Grace, with certain subsequent choices resulting in Grace using it instead.

* **Green** uses the hook "A thousand times before."
* **Red** uses the hook "How it ends."
* **Blue** uses the hook "Who I am."

#### Verse 2

The second decision has 9 possible verses. Persephone responds negatively if a different color is chosen than the first verse, noting the switch-up in style between Grace's two choices.

* **Green (3 variations)**: Grace either expresses that she is not a threat or is willing to hear Persephone out.
* **Red (3 variations)**: Grace mocks Persephone for dissing someone so far below her status, remarking that her fame means little now.
* **Blue (3 variations)**: Grace either cracks a joke about Persephone's impoliteness as a host, or plants the idea of the crowd being an equally important part of the show.

#### Verse 3

The third choice has 11 possible verses, with each combination dependent on what was chosen for verses 1 and 2. In addition, the green verse can only be selected by a Charming Grace.

* **Green (3 variations)**: Grace brings up Calliope, asking Persephone if she'd also turn her away.
* **Red (6 variations)**: Grace declares that Persephone has no power over her, noting that the crowd is starting to favor Grace.
* **Blue (2 variations)**: Grace invites the crowd directly to participate, granting them all the chance to sing in unison.

#### Verse 4

Grace's fourth response has 9 possible verses, with each result dependent on what was also chosen for verse 3.

* **Green (3 variations)**: Grace explains that she's not responsible for Persephone's bitterness, and offers to help her.
* **Red (3 variations)**: Grace exclaims that Persephone's time in the spotlight is over, stating that it's now her own time to shine as a Muse.
* **Blue (3 variations)**: Grace either brings the crowd in to sing if she has not already done so, or asks Persephone if she even knows her own audience.

#### Verse 5

There are a total of 17 possible results for Grace's final choice, each dependent on what was also chosen for verses 1 and 4. In addition, a Charming Grace has access to a different green verse than normal, meaning there are a total of four different options.

* **Green (4 variations)**: Grace either shows sympathy for Persephone's pain and suffering, or somberly states that the show's over, and quietly asks the crowd to leave.
* **Green - Charming (2 variations)**: Grace, recognizing how much Persephone has been through, steps down from the encounter to give the victory to Persephone.
* **Red (7 variations)**: Grace states that Persephone has lost, declaring that the crowd is no longer on her side, and wants something new.
* **Blue (4 variations)**: Either the crowd sings their praises for Grace in harmony, or Grace tells Persephone that she was the only the warm-up act, asking her to excuse herself from the stage.