CLOSED | treehaus.

[poleaxed]

WHO: Jone, James Holden, Beth Greene, Gabranth, Margaery Tyrell, Adrasteia, Edgard
WHAT: Haunted hedge maze.
WHEN: Mid-Ferventis
WHERE: Orlais!
NOTES: A way less sexy Labyrinth.

WHAT'S GOING ON: To review, Jone has been asked to sort out a hedge maze on the Gaume estate. It seems to be haunted-- spirits have taken the form of various plants and trees within the huge hedge maze out back. While traveling through the maze, the walls will shift; your characters will be split up into groups, re-split, etc.

While it's possible to beat the shit out of some enchanted plantlife, for whatever reason, you can't hack your way through the walls of the maze. More shrubbery grows in its place no matter what you do. Otherwise, this would be over very quickly. Don't question it. This is a video game, and we should probably just all relax.

HOW DO THE MECHANICS WORK: This is a plot with rolling!

The main focus of the plot will be overcoming riddles and puzzles to reach the end, but you can get clues with rolls. Unlike in Murderhaus, rolls function to investigate the situation, not determine the outcome of actions (IE, I'll give you clues). When you want to roll, put ROLL in the subject of your comment, and bold what your character is investigating. I will reply with a clue, the helpfulness of which will be determined by behind-the-scenes rolls. Likewise, since there is a plant NPC for each scenario, do the same to ask them a question; their helpfulness will be determined by rolls as well.

For example: Bob studies at the strange pattern of pebbles on the ground, etc. Alice asks the enchanted tree, "what the fuck?" and so on.

If you think you've come up with the answer to the riddle, put ANSWER in the subject line, so I know to pop in and NPC spirits' reactions, etc.

(I've purposefully given you guys puzzles and riddles that have multiple potential answers! Likewise, if you come up with something I wasn't expecting but still works, I'll count it as a success. I'm not here to make anyone squirm. Have fun, and if you get bored of a puzzle, do the following...)

If your characters are out of ideas and just want to move on to the next action, put NO ANSWER in your subject line, and feel free to wreck the shit out of some enchanted shrubbery. While your characters can't beat up the walls, decimating any spirit-enchanted topiary NPCs will get them through the conundrum. I won't need to NPC this, because the spirits won't put up much of a fight. Please imagine some sad little Henson-esque 'wahh oh noooo' noises, though.

If you have any questions, hit me up!

After characters have solved a certain amount of puzzles / riddles, I'll open up a new toplevel and link you to it for endgame. Instructions on how that will work will be revealed there.

WHAT DOES MY CHARACTER SEE:

Upon coming up to the maze, the entrance is blocked by a network of vines, all entangled in one central knot. A spectral voice emanates from the maze:

O! Challenger, come forward now,
to give us peace in your solemn vow:
untie this knot and enter as our true friend.

Jone studies the knot before rolling her eyes and slicing it through with her poleaxe. There is a screeching scream from somewhere far off, twisted and inhuman. The cut vines turn vengeful, and quickly pull Jone inside the maze before here is time to react.

Entering the maze, there is no sign of Jone or where she may be. The hedge walls quickly begin to shift, separating the group.

Comments

[acreage]

The thing is,

it's not a bad strategy that Gabranth proposes. And it's good to know, from Adrasteia, that there isn't any immediate danger waiting for them once they clear the wall. And normally, if he hadn't been beaten to the punch by Adra's attempt to defuse the conversation, he might've quipped something like, you do know I work in space, right?

The thing is,

normally, such a stupid little barb wouldn't even land. Especially when he knows where it's coming from — hard not to guess, with the scream before the maze took Jone still ringing in his ears. But there's a kind of sense memory of Gwenaëlle in the dark so recently; and the exhaustion of taking fucking everyone's pain when they don't know where else to put it. If it bothered him less, he'd snap back.

Instead, he looks up.

"You should probably get clear," to Adrasteia, with a hand gesture towards one side or the other of where she's standing, "the last thing we need is for me — or anything else — to hurt you."

And with that said, he'll cross to the seesaw. We're doing this, we guess.

[archademode]

He places one weight tentatively in place on one edge before he moves to stand beside it, balancing by broadening his stance and lifting yet another stone into his arms, the scale-like device pitched already at an angle for it. Blind to Holden's discomfort (and eased by the idea of having his way), his voice resumes its calmer cast. His posture more passive, patient.

“By your leave.”

Both of them, in fact.

[kantikoy]

There's a nod and then Adrasteia shifts off to the side closest to Gabranth and the stones, hopefully giving Holden plenty of room to land alongside. She sits down, debating casting a protective bubble around the Captain before she gives in to her mild paranoia and just does it.

Then she gives both men a smile. "Ready."

ROLL

[acreage]

Anyway, he gets up onto the seesaw. How's going up, up, and away go?

[poleaxed]

Holden lands on the top side of the wall! But probably not very gracefully.

You can decide how not-gracefully for yourself.

[acreage]

Well, he doesn't manage to quite land on his feet and stumbles, very possibly requiring Adrasteia's help to avoid falling (whether safely still atop the wall or down one side), but manages to get up there without catastrophe.

Time to start ferrying up weights.

[archademode]

He uses weight and leverage to fit himself as near to center as he can be, heavy weight still held in hand. It takes effort to throw it, perhaps more still to catch it, though Gabranth does all he can to ensure his hand is light and the pitch itself slow.

Do your best, Captain. He believes in you.

[kantikoy]

Adrasteia does the best she can to make sure that Holden doesn't go toppling off the wall, even though her protective bubble around him would keep him from breaking any bones.

That bubble, however, wears off in the brief moments before the first stone is hauled up, and Adrasteia primes herself to reach out and steady the Captain if need be.

[acreage]

No disasters, luckily; with Adra's help, he's able to catch the stone without too much of a stumble, sets it down on the wall beside them.

ROLL

[archademode]

The motions are gone through from there, Gabranth setting the rest of the weights in place atop one end of the device, knowing full well it isn't enough to counterbalance his own armored bearing. At the other end, he rests one plated boot. Lifts his gauntleted hand, letting wind snake itself across his fingertips, the slow start of what will no doubt end as something stronger.

"When I give word, drop the weight, I shall use my magic to buffet the scale. With luck, it should prove sufficient." If not...there is the possibility of dropping Holden back down the wall, and leaving him for last as he'd insisted.

Gabranth lifts his hand, shifts his weight across his heels.

"—now."

[poleaxed]

Swing and a miss.

You can decide how embarrassing that looked for yourself.

[kantikoy]

Well that... didn't end the way it was expected.

"Perhaps magic is cheating." She'd ask the spirit but that seems a little rude, all things considered. "What now?"

[acreage]

"Why would magic be cheating to spirits?"

He doesn't sound combative or even disbelieving, just bemused. And also preemptively tired, like, c'mon.

ROLL

[archademode]

Laid out on his side in the aftermath of that utterly disastrous failure (to call it embarrassing would be putting it lightly, his pride as scuffed as his helm, which now rests beside him— and is quickly pulled back into his arms as he rights himself), Gabranth lets out a low, embittered noise of determination, fitting his helmet back into place and reaching to pull the topmost weight back into his arms so that it might once more be ferried to Holden.

There are Judge Magisters with cleverness in their repertoire. With adaptability and grace, and poise enough not to beat their skulls against a literal wall.

They are not Gabranth.

"Again."

[poleaxed]

Gabranth makes it over this time! If both parties are willing to grab him when he hits the wall and help drag him up.

Teamwork!

[kantikoy]

So there is a human man under that helm!

This is fascinating news for Adrasteia, who knows better than to make any noises about it, and does her level best to help grab Gabranth by the gloves when he hits the wall, hauling one hand over the other and finding whatever purchase she can in his armor.

The wall is narrow, and she's worried one of them is going to topple over the edge to the grass below, but hopefully that won't happen.

[acreage]

He glances to Adrasteia before they try again, gauging her readiness to make another go at it. Nods encouragingly if she looks his way, and then —

he grabs an armored shoulder, and Jesus fuck is the metal unpleasant under this much sunlight. But he hangs on, undeterred, pulls Gabranth up with all the strength he can muster.

excuse u holden that's luxury metal

[archademode]

Up and over, weight pitching far enough that—

Well, that they'll all three go right over the edge to the other side if they aren't careful about accommodating that heavy suit of armor.

Of course, they're free to let him fall as they like, should they decide to simply let go and let nature take its course. Either way, it will, technically, be over the wall.

https://tenor.com/view/alzolanskii-gif-19879268

[kantikoy]

Adrasteia doesn't let go, at least not well enough to end up disengaged from the falling man in metal. She does cast a protective bubble, which keeps her and Gabranth from breaking any bones on their way down, but doesn't reach Holden in time. Nor does it keep her head from ringing when she hits the ground.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/4c/48/08/4c48088e33491c7c83f49a185ff6bc5a.gif

[acreage]

Nor does Holden let go, so they all tumble over the other side of the wall. Without the benefit of magical protection, he lands hard enough on his shoulder that it'll blossom into a fairly impressive bruise.

y'all lmf

[archademode]

Gabranth hears more than he sees: his helm shows but a flash of light before the darkness of tumbling to the earth takes hold, and though his landing runs soft in comparison to all anticipation, his armor still bites and digs on impact, compounding all earlier damage.

but in numbers, it would be -4 hp compared to Holden's -13

He sits upright with clinging stiffness, straightening his helmet as he casts one glance towards the wall behind them, assuming the riddle has been solved. Adrasteia is next, his hand finding her shoulder to check for all visible signs of damage.

Holden, his trusted ally and close compatriot, is an afterthought.

big yakkety sax energy up in here & ROLL

[kantikoy]

Before she can even properly open her eyes, Adrasteia waves a hand and casts a healing spell. Her head clears, and she nods at Gabranth before blinking her eyes open, squinting, and then casting once again, for good measure.

Everyone should be well healed, now.

"Are we all in one piece?"

Time to look around and see what's what.

[poleaxed]

The face in the garden wall is laughing so hard he begins to wither away, giving you a way forward on the top of the ledge, as well as the bottom should someone fall.

[acreage]

Thank God for Adrasteia and her healing spells, honestly. Between the two, it's easy to sit up, then stand, stretching briefly.

"Thank you," he says to her by way of answer, turning long enough to scowl at the laughing spirit.

AT LEAST SOMEONE'S ENJOYing this.

[archademode]

Gabranth opts to offer much of the same by way of spared glances, though the heavy, eyeless gaze of his helm affords no expression of bitter disapproval.

Games. A despicable waste of time and effort.

"I believe we have mastered this task," he grunts coarsely, one rough translation meaning that it is time to move on in Gabranth's own opinion. "Can you walk?"

Both of them, he means.