𝔒𝔫𝔠𝔢 𝔘𝔭𝔬𝔫 𝔐𝔬𝔡𝔰 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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onceuponacomm2021-07-17 10:35 am
faentasy) wrote in onceuponacomm2021-07-17 10:35 am
FINAL TRIAL
Final Trial
This Friday morning you've investigated as has become commonplace, even if the circumstances have shifted. And now it's time to take stock of what you've found, what options you have, what options you don't, in the lull of action you have left.
The abyss in the fountain beckons, but doesn't demand quite yet. Who knows when that will change, though.
[OOC NOTE: You'll have the first hour of trial to discuss what you found in final investigation yesterday, and then we'll get this show on the road! ]
Let's go + Some Room 5 stuff
[ He's standing here, munching on some snacks. He pauses in between eating those to speak. ]
So...once Yeager, Alexei, and myself went into the mirror in Room 5, I started off by checking out the boxes in this shoddy attic. There were various items like bells, fishing materials, leaves, stuff from a pantry, a fisherman's cot, a deck of cards, a stick, along with poppy seeds and some peppercorn.
When Alexei and I kind of moved a box together it revealed a trapdoor with a ladder; Alexei mainly explored what was down there, though.
Also, the items in the boxes were from the time in the mirror; on second look through the box there was also some thread and needle, which was handed over to Alexei.
That's all on my end.
[ He's leaving the other details to Yeager and Alexei, of course. ]
bedroom stuff
[ When McGillis comes to join the group, he's carrying a bag that is, based on the shape of it, filled with a few books. He also has his dagger and Jack's sword and... inexplicably, he is holding a bouquet of dried blue cornflowers.
Rather than actually speaking, he's taken a leaf out of poor Suga's book, and prepared a written note for everybody to read about their results. ]
We went into Hamelin's bedroom. He was researching the adder stones and we likely have him to thank for getting them at all. They see through powerful illusions.
The flowers I am carrying sparkle under the adderstone and I am certain it is because they are the flowers Raven used to protect people with. In fact, Red was none other than Hamelin himself - he revealed as much to me and Jack last week.
Further there was this sheet music called 'her realm'. If someone could play it, it might lead us to B - for better or for worse.
[ He'll hand the piece of sheet music around alongside his summary note. ]
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more room 5 stuff
[Hopefully the abyss is not part of the black void??? Because, um.]
I believe it's very important to note that our journey into the mirror was different this time. We were not playing a role and we were not being watched. The mirror creature doesn't seem to be around at all right now.
[So we should be able to talk without being overheard!]
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bug room
It was filled with bugs. [ YIKES. ] Bugs were everywhere, serving as furniture. I investigated the desk in the room.
[ A note, along with a globe with some clay pieces on it. ]
I found notes on us inside a drawer, as well as these clay pieces that, when assembled, seemed to form a globe of Aira Niluc. The palace piece also has a beam of light that goes through the fountain and into the core of the globe. The core of the globe feels like a pocket of emptiness.
more bug room stuff!
[And he'll pass it around to anyone who wants to read it, the important pages marked.]
Interesting how there's space to write more, huh?
There was also an end table with a note inside. Yuri might wanna check that one out.
[He's also got a handful of assorted parts of plants that he'll set down with the notes.]
Castor beans and jessamine, according to the labels on the plants. Now all we're missing is the ricin...
more bug room stuff!
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still more bug room
[ Because he sure brought that with him. He's probably keeping all this stuff in a pillow case or something right now. ]
Aside from that, in one of the drawers I found a book of fairy tales with highlighted sections that corresponded to the various things we saw here in each of the areas — the clock tower, pumpkin, and castle for Cinderella, and so on. There wasn't one that matched up with the final area, however.
...And this key with a head in the shape of a button.
[ Holds it up! ]
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group 1: grimm estate courtyard (4 letters)
These were tied to the legs of some magpies in the courtyard when we looked into the mansion.
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Courtyard 2! Apples
In the courtyard of the Grimm Estate, there is an apple orchard. This apple - [ A gesture to the half-eaten apple. ] - had fallen on the ground. The top hat ants were incredibly desperate to have at it. When I sprinkled salt on them, they melted away, but the few that remained still tried to return for the apple.
[ And now they're all dead dead dead. ]
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Why were they so desperate for it? That's weird, when I sprinkled salt on the ants before though they didn't melt.
[ So why did those ones melt? Ah, well. He threw those little bastards into the chocolate river anyway. ]
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Room 5 basement
Huaisang, Yeager and I were brought into the mirror in Room Five. The place we ended up seemed like an attic of some sort, with a trapdoor leading to a lower level. I went down into the lower area first.
It seemed as though it hadn't been accessed for some time; there was a heavy layer of dust and grime on the surfaces, and I received the impression that the area was something that people weren't meant to see. There were...people down there, and animals; they looked fairly realistic, but they seem to have been made by someone, and they had buttons sewn over the spots where their eyes should have been. They twitched a bit and they looked at me, but they didn't say anything. They were the people and animals the rest of you encountered in the mirrors; there was an old woman there who seemed to recognize Yeager, and the salmon recognized Huaisang.
I found the rabbit that guided Edelgard discarded in a corner with a large gash across its back. I did what I could to help it - [and he does seem to have, he's sewn up a good-sized wound across its spine] - and it spoke to me while I worked on it. It...seemed pleased to have someone care for it.
It said that "she" wasn't listening right now, and that it thought this was "the usual", but since we were there something must have changed. I told it we were there to put a stop to everything, and it said that it didn't know how we could do that but it thought that it would be possible. It said that she's weak right now, and today might be our only chance.
Apparently our opponent is called the Beldam. She creates or utilizes things that lead children astray, and she keeps them as her own. She treats them well until they begin to die for some reason, and then she feeds on their lives. The rabbit said it didn't know why she's trying to feed on adults right now, but she hasn't successfully done so yet.
It didn't know if she was seeking someone to love as her own, or if she just wants to feed. But she holds no love for any of us, and her creations want to be rid of her.
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[ Koto takes out the little doll of herself with the button eyes. ]
...It's harmless but still. Creepy.
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Is the rabbit still asleep?]
Well... I'm glad that the rabbit is okay. Thank you for helping it.
That does concern me, however... have any of you heard of a Bedlam fairy tale character?
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I'd definitely be curious to know the reason behind the switch to older targets...
[ Like, look how many of us are over 30, what is this. ]
It seems like children would be easier to lure into these things. Isn't that part of Hamelin's story, even?
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PART I: THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN
Eventually it'll be too much to resist, so down the fountain on the emerald slide you'll have to go, down, down, down. The bottom is safe, if not damp, puddles of standing water beneath your heels. The area where you've landed is dark, but presumably you've brought some kind of light to see the singular door against the far wall. It's creaked open at the moment, the song clearly coming from inside.
Pushing open the door gives way to what is ostensibly a larger chamber, based on the acoustics. Like before it's pitch dark and it's hard to see more than a few feet in front of you, but when you're all gathered—
The lights come on. Well, not lights per see but the glow of a sparkle of fireflies, buzzing about your heads. The room you're standing in is clearly a prison, even if it is a particularly roomy one. The falls are dingy and dirty, a spare shackle the only other object in the room aside from a stool with one particular occupant. Hamelin stands and grins wildly, arms spread like a performer. ]
Welcome, welcome, friends! I've been waitin' for you, so let's write the final chapter of this story together! Final questions, comments, concerns? Hamelin, don of famiglia Grimm at your service!
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It's safe to assume that the Beldam still isn't listening right now, right?
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... Hamelin.
[ Ah... Is this room the same one that was in her mirror dream...? ]
Where is she? What do we have to do to get to her?
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There has been a death every week of this game. Per our contract, I have fulfilled my obligations and earned a wish. Am I still subject to the fate of this group as a whole?
[ Because that'd be kind of shitty. ]
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He looks around and feels gross. ]
You really couldn't pick a better room for this?
[ Really!! ]
What is up with those apples, anyway?
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And now he's here and he hates this place too. ]
So, is this where you've been lately? You have some kinda plan here, right?
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book submission - mods!!
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PART II: THE BELDAM
A lighter area can be seen in the distance, like there are some lights at the end of this tunnel. Careful while walking, it’s quite slippery in here.
Everyone prepared?]
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It's time.
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1/2
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White as far as the eye can see...until cracks appear. Some distance away water starts leaking through those cracks, waterfall falling into the emptiness. Right above where the kitchen is, distance away, the ceiling/base of the world is isintegrating like cookies in milk.
The Cinderella world is the first one to start collapsing, everything falling towards the black void From the widening holes on the ceiling there come a few mansions, the remains of the fountain, all of that missing the kitchen...and the clocktower. The clocktower falls towards the kitchen, horizontally. No other choice but to try to get on it one way or another or else they'll all be crushed or fall into the void below!
Curtains of water fall into the ether all around the place, accompanied by bits and pieces of the world of Aira Niluc falling into the distance. The clocktower isn’t spared, it’s going down, but it’ll be the only safe place for the time being.
Thank goodness some of you have some powers back!]
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I'll open an emergency transfer gate to the clock tower; as soon as you see the portal, jump into it.
[ A brief glance at Marcus, but he's going for it. He quickly casts an arte that involves some large magic circles spinning in formation around him, and then, voila, instant magic portal!! ]
Now!
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END
Whooops.
No time to panic, though -- from the pieces of the Beldam, small orbs of strange light are coalescing. They seem...completely non-threatening. Just from a glance anyone can see how much power is crammed into them. They float in the air, very slowly starting to go upwards.
Once anyone gets close enough the orb -- and it doesn't seem to take much to get close to it -- the orbs fly towards them, slamming into their bodies at the first chance. A strange, warm tingling sensation invades everyone, and before long, they know they can.
They can do a lot of things. They can...do whatever they want. Knowledge on how to use the untold power the Beldam had fills them. It's almost instinctual -- and most of it, unfortunately, is linked to the realm they're still in, but...it'll be useful.
For now, though, perhaps calling a door to get out is a good idea. You don't want to be on this clocktower anymore -- around you the white has almost turned into black, mere matter of seconds before collision into the complete emptiness.
Creating a way out takes just a moment. You have gained the Beldam's own resources, her control over this little pocket of reality. Mastering it probably will take ages, but, well, now that this is all over? Maybe at some point in the future you can go back to the now completely blank emptiness. Perhaps by then it'll have shrunk to a very tiny place, able to hold just a house and little more. The Beldam used most of her waning power in creating everything they enjoyed, after all. Maybe, if they're skillful enough, they can use everything her power had to offer to earn their wishes by themselves.
Maybe. But for now better leave this empty realm alone. Using all this power will have to wait for later in the future instead of soon.
You have places to be, namely, out of here. The clocktower is starting to disintegrate.
It's time to leave. Through the door to leave to the nearest safe place, everyone steps outside.
To a world nobody knows, but will be good enough to catch your breath after the events of today.]