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

[poleaxed]

The tree leans closer, curiosity now obvious. It opens its mouth, but verse does not issue forth. Instead, only: "Why?"

[archademode]

"Mankind does not share."

With itself least of all, but it is a cycle that ever repeats. Gabranth would claim himself no different, nor Thedas, nor—

"You trespass now upon their lands and patience is a finite resource. The longer you linger, the more you burn at peril."

[poleaxed]

"You bid us leave under your threat of violence? We shall not leave yet. To hide from threats is hardly a good reason."

[archademode]

Another weight slid into place. Another note made in the forefront of his mind.

"I take it you do not still hold Jone of Denerim in your care." His voice is still and tepid when he speaks; they are beyond the point of presumptive exchanges.

[poleaxed]

This, the tree considers as though it's a very odd thing to say. How can a tree care for a mortal being?

"Now you stand at maze's heart, and further you may still depart, following her if that is what you do wish."

[kantikoy]

Coming around the corner at this point is one (1) elven mage, staff still strapped to her back, curiously looking at both the tree... spirit? and Gabranth. "Hello," she says to both, nodding at Gabranth because it never hurt her to be polite. "Have we found Jone yet?"

[archademode]

“She has taken her leave, it seems, if this spirit is to be believed.”

There is mischief in this maze, and he would be a fool to discard its presence entirely— yet he suspects more and more the creature does not lie to him.

“And so remains the question of what we must do— and what must be done.” The latter stressed for its relevance, his hand lingering still against the pommel of his longsword, though he fears no attack, and turns to face Adrasteia as she approaches.

[poleaxed]

The tree refocuses its attention on Adrasteia. "Little friend of the people, welcome to our humble test, we pose a question: how do you think you did?"

[kantikoy]

"That's good, then." If she was able to leave, that means that Jone's alright.

Not that she's ignoring his other point; it just seems, well, rude to discuss driving spirits out of a place right in front of what (or whom?) is probably the strongest of them. Speaking of, she blinks at the question posed and then gives a little shrug.

"I think I did alright. I helped to figure out the puzzles I encountered with my friends." Even if Gabranth used magic to solve his side of one. "What is earned by passing the test?"

[archademode]

Standing off to one side, that horned helm bores an eyeless stare into the midst of Adrasteia and the creature's conversation.

He was here first. How dare you sidestep his very uncouth topic of choice.

[poleaxed]

"Knowledge," the tree murmurs, "the greatest gift of all. For us and for your lot as well. It is the only thing we trade in freely."

Yeah, the tree is definitely ignoring Gabranth now.

[kantikoy]

"What knowledge were you hoping we'd walk away with, in this case?"

Sorry, Gabranth. But Adrasteia is she's gonna give her best shot to this concept of maybe convincing the spirit to leave as opposed to, say, setting the maze alight and burning them all out.

She does glance in his direction and offer a small smile.

[archademode]

In turn, he stares directly back at Adrasteia. Unmoving. Still.

Is he livid? Probably. Possibly. Perhaps he's simply standing sentry. He hasn't the face to tell.

If nothing else, however, it means they are free to continue their exchange as they like, for the time being. No doubt he'll interject if he has something of import to say.

[poleaxed]

"Knowledge of our time spent here, for time is something finite, dear, in such a place as this, reliant on memory."

[kantikoy]

"Well. If it helps, there will be a written report of everything we've encountered in the maze here when we go back to where we've come from." Adrasteia presses her lips together. "Is there anything specific you want to be remembered in that regard?"

[poleaxed]

"We would be remembered as you, the daring sort and clever too, would find the most suitable for our features." The tree considers this a bit more, before adding, "would you tell us more about this record?"

[kantikoy]

She glances at Gabranth again but sees no trouble in being honest: "They're written reports given to division heads and often made public for anyone in our organization to read at a later time. Because there's a war on, you see. It's important to know who we've interacted with."

[archademode]

"You say too much to this creature." Gabranth grits in cold warning, posture drawn suddenly as tight as a bowstring clutching at an arrow.

[poleaxed]

"Would your words be widely read? The thought fills me with no small dread, to be trapped in a book never visited."

The tree leans in closer, focus entirely on Adrasteia, heedless of Gabranth's apparent worry.

[kantikoy]

The creature should know they're at war, Adrasteia figures, but she also doesn't wish to argue with Gabranth so she nods, once, before returning her attention to the spirit.

"There is someone with knowledge of a printing press, I've been told; we could write a short story of our adventure, here with you, and see that people received a copy to read."

It seems like a small promise to make, honestly. She's sure the story would be widely read.

[archademode]

"It is an ideal arrangement," Gabranth interjects, sounding less amenable to it, and more insistent upon it; voice hardened with intent.

"For if it does not suit, one would be forced to remedy your presence here in other ways."

[poleaxed]

"We know what you would much prefer-" the tree begins, but it cut off when a rock is thrown at it. Jone emerges through a space between the foliage, shaking her head.

"A daft cunt you are, that was a good offer."

The tree seems to consider this, nodding to itself. Jone turns to her companions, expression bright. "Finally, some folk without moss on 'em."

[archademode]

"All this time, have you been listening?"

There's no small amount of tensity in that question, no matter how relieved he is to hear that voice. He was worried about you, Jone!!

WORRIED.

[kantikoy]

Adrasteia gives Jone a knowing look. The man was worried and also nigh insufferable. Thank you for showing up hale and whole or they might have a literal firestorm on their hands.

"It's good to see you're well."

[poleaxed]

Jone's expression goes from concerned to rather smug. "Just touched, I am."

The tree leans in behind her. "Threatened us, he surely did-"

Jone cuts him off. "Already knew that, mate. Don't you want us to write about you?"

The tree considers this, nodding slowly, while Joan leans in to whisper to assembled mammals. "Can you think of anything to sweeten the deal?"