• Graded • The Maze: Round 2: Ari'sora and Amaris

[Pegasus]

1st Vhalar 718
Little Sister

"Where am I?" Metaphysics says
No question can be asked unless
It has an answer, so I can
Assume this maze has got a plan..

Antrhopos Apteros slumbered and in his slumbering he dared to dream. His dreams were of beauty and life, love and hope ~ or so he believed them to be. As the rip in reality caught the fevered dreams of the wingless man, it took them and it twisted, experimenting with each one. Science, after all, is an amoral creature and 'what happens if' is an emotionless question.

What happens if you take a mortal who is broken, emotionally, and expose him to the depths of Emea?

Thou shall not fall

... and thus, Antrhopos Apteros was born

What happens if that mortal watches the torture of the one person above all others who he loves?

Thou shall not fear

... and then, his sister joined him

What happens if that mortal is pushed beyond every limit he believes he has and then left, alone and afraid?

Thou shall not die

.But soon, they were both no more...

What happens if his love was so strong that he comes back and exacts vengeance?

Thou shall not kill

... ...

"I think he killed himself, you know"
"Aye,"
"I don't understand though. Why kill her, too?"
"It doesn't make sense"
"She visited him every trial, too"
"Without fail"
"Bloody 1st Vhalar"

Ari'sora
The two of them walked, the woman and the cat and, as they did Ari'sora heard echoes of a voice - whispers which were not distinguishable, not clearly made out at all.

"Yeah, I hope you've got nine lives too, two legs" said Cat, somewhat skittishly, They went right and they came across some very poignant flowers.The Saikuru blossoms gave bittersweet feelings. Then, there was a strange metal branch and an apple. Reflecting in the metal of the branch, shimmered an image of a maze. It was endless and impossible, it ran from one end of the world to the other and met itself where it had started. In the middle of it was ... whatever home looked like to her. That place where comfort and warmth and acceptance lived.

What did home look like?

Still, they walked and then, turning a corner as mazes are wont to do they walked straight into another..... well, actually - what looked like a ghost.. and a ghostly hare

Amaris
The two of them walked, Amaris and the hare and, as they did Amaris heard echoes of a voice - whispers which were not distinguishable, not clearly made out at all.

"It's trying to out spooky us" said Five, reassuringly, They went left and they came across a strange flower.The Solomon's Seal, so symbolic to Amaris. Then, Amaris caught sight of a piece of parchment - on which was a charcoal sketch of a maze. It was endless and impossible, it ran from one end of the world to the other and met itself where it had started. In the middle of it was ... whatever home looked like to him. That place where comfort and warmth and acceptance lived.

What did home look like?

Still, they walked and then, turning a corner as mazes are wont to do they walked straight into another - and she, too, could see Amaris.....



Both
For a moment, they only noticed each other, but in front of them, there stood a statue. Made from cut crystal, it seemed, it was exquisite and the Vhalar sun reflected on it, creating a sort of rainbow of colours within it, shifting and swirling in constant change. A beautiful cacophony of shades and hues - but those colours swirled out and around and created a solid wall beyond which they may not - as yet - pass.

The statue was of a being - neither male nor female, nor of any one race, but it held one hand out, as though expecting something specific. Then, from the statue itself came a soft and whispered voice - much like the one they'd been hearing already. Now that they could make out the words, it was a child's voice. A young girl, high pitched and lilting.

"The winding, twisting maze ahead.
Has dangers that could make you dead.
Rewards to make a miser weep
Or answers from the dreamers sleep.

You know that you travel to the middle
To get closer to it, tell me a riddle
If puzzles and riddles are not your path
Tell me a joke, to make me laugh.

If neither of these is meant for me,
Then, I give you option three!
Put your mirror in my hand
And in your way, I no more stand
"

Shadow looked at Ari'sora and sighed. "Any chance you like riddles, love?". Whereas Five glanced at Amaris. "Think she takes ghost mirrors?"


Rewards Achieved Last Round
Arisora

1. All Must Do Objectives from Round 1 met.
   • I spy with my little eye Someone beginning with K! Kura is through your mirror. This will have an impact of some kind on one of you.
   • I follow directions You went right! The directions you take will have an impact on a final reward.
   • Wake up and smell the flowers Achieved: Positive consequence at the end of the thread
   • That looks odd! Achieved! Positive consequence at the end of the thread
2. Can Do Objectives from Round 1 met.
   st]
3. Ho Hum! Ari'sora chose to hum. Positive consequence at the end of the thread.
4. Is this friendship? I think so! Nickname given! Positive consequence at the end of the thread!

[/list]



Amaris

1. All Must Do Objectives from Round 1 met.
   • I spy with my little eye Someone beginning with P! Patrick is through your mirror. This will have an impact of some kind on one of you. (I think it's Patrick!? Please name people in future, I can't guess!)
   • I follow directions You went left! The directions you take will have an impact on a final reward.
   • Wake up and smell the flowers Achieved! Positive consequence at the end
   • That looks odd! Achieved, albeit unusually!! Positive consequence at the end of the thread
2. Can Do Objectives from Round 1 met.
   • Ho Hum!! Amaris chose to hum. Positive consequence at the end of the thread.
   • Is this friendship? I think so! Nickname given! Positive consequence at the end of the thread!

OOC Info

Things to note!

• I will post a plot post again this time next week: Sunday 21st October
• However, in between plot posts, you may have a conversation with your companion - this can be done once a day for as many of the days as you wish.
• You may also ask the statue up to 3 questions. These can be all in one post or one, then another
• You may also have a conversation with each other. This can be done via editing your own posts as many times as you like. Just please make sure that I know what I'm supposed to be responding to / what's between the two of you.
• Please don't control the NPC

Objectives

!	Message from: Must-Do Objectives
	Answer the statue (joke, riddle, hand over the mirror, something else...) Describe the "home" that you see at the middle of the maze

!	Message from: Can Do Objectives
	Tell your companion a story as you walk

[Rei'sari]

Ari'sora couldn't help but search for the source of the echoing whispers as they walked. She recognized the sounds for what they were; words. But she couldn't quite make them out, and that gave the whole situation an eerie feel to it.

"Maybe these voices are all that's left of the people who get sucked into the maze...?" she wondered out loud.

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"Ohhh, I hope not. That's spooky. Nah. What voices?" Shadow asked, as though deaf to them.

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Ari'sora frowned in confusion.

"You don't hear them? I wonder what they could be?"

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Shadow chuckled. "I hear them, you literal puppy." Padding up to her, the cat rubbed her head against Ari'sora's leg. "I just hope they're not ghosts so I'm pretending not to hear them."

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Ari'sora stuck her tongue out at Shadow. Then her expression turned thoughtful.

"In that case, I don't hear them, either. I'd rather not find any ghosts floating around. In most of the stories I've read about them, they tens to seek revenge against the living rather than trying to help anyone, or simply being content to leave the living alone.

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"Good! Shadow exclaimed, after tilting her head slightly in confusion at the stuck out tongue, but figuring it was a two-leg thing. "That means we don't either of us hear them! Excellent. Onwards!"

She hoped that that wasn't the case, but the idea certainly seemed to fit. If the maze really was eating people, then maybe their voices remained behind as lingering echoes to warn others who got stuck in the maze. Or perhaps the ghostly voices were people who were trapped within the maze who would be freed if someone ever made it to the center of the maze? Ari'sora liked that idea better than the first.

"You know...this reminds me a bit about something I read when I was a child. Would you like to hear the story, Shadow?"

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"A story from a book! Yes! Oh, I love stories!" Shadow said, with a deep purr of pleasure.

Secret Achievement: These are a few of my favourite things! Unlocked: Shadow Cat's favourite thing is books!

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Ari'sora gave her new friend a huge smile.

"So do I. Have you heard any good ones? We could trade stories!"

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"We could! I'd like that! Do you know the one about the bee hug?" Shadow asked. "It's a rhyme, but it's nice."

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"I don't know that one. Will you tell me?" Ari'sora asked hopefully.

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Shadow cleared her throat. She did it in a high pitched "hemhem" sort of way, like she was preparing for public speaking. "I like hugging Owl, but her feathers make me sneeze," she said, formally. "And it's rather hard to hug a hive of fuzzy buzzy bees. Bunnies are too bouncy. Spiders are too small. But I love the hugs I have with you, the very best of all!"

OOC This is a rhyme from a book that my eldest used to have. I don't remember the author but all credit to them

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"You're right. That is a wonderful rhyme, Shadow." Ari'sora said softly.

She couldn't remember ever being hugged by her mother, but she couldn't help but wonder if it might be sort of like a hug if she was curled up comfortably in her bed, or on a chair with Shadow in her lap as they shared a good book. She thought the experience might feel as good as she imagined a hug would feel.

Whether the cat was especially interested or not, Ari'sora continued talking after a few trills in the hopes that a conversation with her animal companion would distract her from the eerie voices.

"There was a young girl who wasn't at all happy with her life. Actually...she wanted to be a cat, because she was a very lazy girl, and she liked the idea of spending her life napping in the sun all trial the way her own cat did. She made a wish while rubbing an old ring that her grandmother had given her for her birthing trial."

"The ring was actually a wishing ring that had been passed from mother to daughter in her family for generations. And the ring did make her dream come true...in a way. The young girl woke up one morning to find that she had indeed become a cat, but she was in a room that she had never seen before...a room made entirely out of gold. She learned later that in return for granting her wish, the young girl was now trapped inside the ring. She could hear whispering voices surrounding her just the way we can hear them now."

"Those faint whispers were the voices of her family, wondering where she had gone, and what might have happened to her. The young girl missed her family very much, and she wished as hard as she could to be back with them. After a while, the ring granted her wish, but as a reminder of the importance of being careful what you wish for, those voices haunted her dreams for the rest of her life, always asking each other where she was, and never being able to find her."

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Shadow looked up at Ari'sora and asked, apparently quite seriously. "So, no rubbing gold rings, and no making wishes, right? Right."

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Ari'sora nodded in agreement.

"Making wishes never really helps in real life, and it never turns out well in most of the stories I've read. I think it's better to work for what you want to achieve with your own two hands...or four paws in your case." Ari'sora added with a grin.

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Shadow nodded and then sighed. "If I had a wish, I'd stay as a talking cat. Do you think I might?" When she teased her about her paws, Shadow lifted one up and licked it, then stroked it over her ear. "These paws will change the world, you know."

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"I think you can, Shadow. I am starting to believe that anything is possible, so that should be, too. You could live with me if you want to. The house I share with my sister isn't a big one, but it is a nice, cozy house. And if you lived with us, we could trade stories every evening." Ari'sora said with a smile.

To her, that sounded like a wonderful thing. She loved her sister, but things were complicated between them. It would be wonderful to have a friend like Shadow living with her, too. Ari'sora glanced at Shadow's paws after her friend's comment, and nodded.

"I think you're right." she said softly.

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Shadow stopped walking as Ari'sora made her offer and looked at the young woman. "I'd like that. Very much. Thank you," said the cat, simply. But the deep purr which came from her told a lot.

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"Then it's settled. When we find a way out of this maze, you can come home with me, and stay for as long as you like. Forever sounds good to me."

Back where the metal branch was growing, if anyone was to look, Ari'sora's vision of home had changed. The book was still there, but nestled safely in the heart of its pages was a cozy scene of Ari'sora curled up in a comfortable chair in front of a warm fire in Cylus. Shadow was curled up in her lap, purring as she read a story book out loud for them both to enjoy.

"Yeah, I hope you've got nine lives too, two legs"

"Me? No, I just have one. But I kind of wish I did have nine lives like a cat right about now..."

Ari'sora caught a glimpse of the maze reflected within the branch, and she stared at it with awe and dread. The maze was...everything. Endless. The entire world had somehow become the maze. And within the center lay her house in Beacon. In the middle of the floor within her house lay a glowing book. But this wasn't just any book. All the answers to every question in the world were hidden within its pages. The story that it told was a window into a million different worlds, each better than the last. Ari'sora stared at the book with longing. Books had always been a source of comfort to her. They showed her distant lands and amazing things to brighten up her miserable existence before Ren'zar was arrested. They taught her things that no one else would. Books didn't judge her and find her lacking the way Ren'zar had, or her mother had when she was alive. They accepted her as she was. Journals were blank books that guarded the secrets that people wrote within them. They didn't betray you in order to get out of trouble themselves. And this book was the most wonderful book of them all. In a very real way, books were her home...her sanctuary. Especially now when everything around her was so new and uncertain. Ari'sora had the feeling that if she could just reach that book, she would never be confused, or frightened again. She would be home.

When she turned a corner, someone else was just...there. She had heard no sounds of the other person approaching, unless they were the source of the whispering echoes. The person was transparent...like a ghost. And beside her...it? Beside the ghost was a ghostly hare. Ari'sora's eyes widened as she frantically ducked to one side to avoid a collision. She stumbled when she overbalanced, her wings beating frantically as she struggled to regain her balance. Once she did, she turned to stare at the ghost warily.

"Did the maze eat you?" she asked worriedly.

"Is that why you are a ghost?"

Was it going to eat her too if she couldn't find the center fast enough?

As she waited for an answer, she noticed a statue blocking their path. It was quite possibly the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Made entirely out of crystal, and lit from within by a rainbow of colors, constantly swirling, constantly changing. Part of Ari'sora's mind supplied the fact that the colors were likely caused by the reflection of the sun on the crystal statue. But Ari'sora was too caught up in the sheer beauty of it all to pay the thought much heed. After a few trills, Ari'sora noticed that the colors were swirling out of the statue, forming a solid wall around it. A wall that blocked her passage further into the maze.

Edit for Amaris: Ari'sora flushed with shame, feeling a little like she had when her mother, or Ren'zar had chided her for something. Of course with them, their scolding was always followed by a punishment. She had always been able to tell how much she had angered them by how bad the punishment had been. Was this ghost going to punish her, too? If so, she guessed that she deserved it for making a mistake.

"I'm sorry. I'm Ari'sora. I didn't mean to bother you. It's just that Shadow here told me that the maze was sucking people into it, and that someone has to get to the middle and make it stop. Getting sucked into the maze is kind of like being eaten by it, so I thought maybe...since you're a ghost inside the maze...I'm sorry."

Ari'sora figured she should shut up now before she said the wrong thing again. She was really good at saying the wrong thing, and getting in trouble for it.

When the statue began to speak, Ari'sora paid close attention to its words. The message was a chilling one in some ways; there would be dangers that could kill you. The mention of answers and reward was interesting...but neither would be any good if you died to get them. And as Ari'sora glanced at the ghost she had run into, she had to wonder what kind of reward you could give someone who was already dead. But there was little choice but to move forward since going back wasn't an option. Ari'sora supposed that she could just stay here rather than risk the dangers that lay in wait, but there was no saying that the dangers couldn't find her here. Besides...she didn't have any food or water with her. Eventually, she would die of hunger or thirst if she couldn't escape the maze before that happened.

So. To move forward, she needed to give the statue a puzzle, make it laugh with a joke, or give it her mirror. Ari'sora had no intention of giving up her mirror. Shadow had said something about it being able to protect her somehow, and Ari'sora had a feeling that she was going to need protection sooner or later. And who was to say that she wasn't going to need it once she got to the center of the maze? No, giving up her mirror wasn't an option as far as she was concerned. Making the statue laugh was an option,,,but how was she supposed to know what a statue would consider funny? Humor was a very individual thing, and something that one person thought was hilarious might seem dull, or even offensive to another. But puzzles now...that she could work with. She liked puzzles.

"Any chance you like riddles, love?"

Ari'sora nodded.

"Yes, I do, actually."

Ari'sora looked at the statue thoughtfully. If it could talk, then it must have an awareness of sorts. And if it was aware, then maybe it knew something about the maze it lived in. Or existed in. Either way, maybe it would be willing to give her some answers.

"I would like to offer you a riddle. But I am hoping that you might be willing to answer some questions in exchange. What is the purpose of the journal I found at the beginning of the maze?" she asked, showing the statue the journal with her "name" on it.

"What can you tell us about the creator of the maze?"

Ari'sora thought for a while before asking a third question.

"As a being who lives in this maze, and likely knows all of the dangers that dwell within, what would you say that we should watch out for?"

"And as for my riddle, consider this. Voiceless, it cries. Wingless, it flutters. Toothless, it bites. Mouthless, it mutters. What is it?"

Off Topic

For Shadow the Cat to respond to:

1. "Maybe these voices are all that's left of the people who get sucked into the maze...?"
2. "You know...this reminds me a bit about something I read when I was a child. Would you like to hear the story, Shadow?"
3. The story Ari'sora told.
4. "Yes, I do, actually." (in response to the question about liking riddles)

Questions for the Statue:

1. What is the purpose of the journal I found at the beginning of the maze?
2. What can you tell us about the creator of the maze?
3. As a being who lives in this maze, and likely knows all of the dangers that dwell within, what would you say that we should watch out for?

Puzzle/Riddle for the Statue:

Voiceless, it cries. Wingless, it flutters. Toothless, it bites. Mouthless, it mutters. What is it?

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Edits made! Statue stuff comes in my next modpost!

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Second edits made!

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Third edits made!

[Amaris]

Timestamp: 1 Vhalar, 718th Arc

Hearing voices was nothing new to Amaris. They’d been hearing them for some time now - or maybe that was just a function of the way their...existence had become. A singular one was fine for them. “I don’t think it would be too hard to ‘outspooky’ me.” They were learning that very quickly. A few voices wouldn’t throw them off. “They can try all they like.”

“Mind you - there was a time when I was the one trying to outspooky someone else. My brother is far more entertaining than I, and being jealous of my sibling is not wrong, is it?” They didn’t wait for an answer, rather continuing on with their impromptu tale. “But Samir was very bad with loud noises and some of the animals we used to see. The Oh Deer were the worst, but he was quite good at pushing his luck.” A smile was on their face as they walked, shaking their head.

“Deer lose their antlers - they’re only meant for the mating period when they fight for mates and the like, after all. I found some, and I guess I was in a bad way because I got the bright idea to scare him with it. And I did. I caught him while he was doing chores. Peeked my head out of the bushes with the antlers held atop them and when he noticed, I rushed him. He didn’t catch on that it was me and I had a good laugh, but also got punched in the face for it. Mother threw quite a bit of a fit and I’m sure Father was very disappointed, but he didn’t show it. It was entirely my fault so I apologized and Samir didn’t let it go. I went through the same treatment a few trials later.”

It was a much simpler time, they supposed. When their only concern was being disciplined for strange ideas. And not, well, being shot to death.

Easily distracted they were these trials, eyes landing on a piece of parchment. The maze was drawn out on it. And a home - their home. The quaint little huts that marked where the mixed blood’s family lived were there at the center of the maze. Even the sprouting of the surrounding trees and the little pens for the animals had been marked down. Was this maze meant to take them home? Away from Toraj? Speaking of - said man was gone. That was a little disconcerting, but surely he was just a few steps behind.

Amaris had continued on, not quite watching where they were going when they heard the fumbling of something ahead of them. They jerked back - though there wasn’t much need for it much these trials. It was still nice to be considerate of other’s personal space. Hand placed over their chest, they sighed as if relieved. And truly, they were. At least it wasn’t some strange creature that might just eat them up. Not that it could, as far as they knew.

Instead, it was a winged woman - half avriel, most likely. She wasted no time in asking her questions and Amaris frowned. “Well, no; the maze didn’t eat me. It would be nice before you ask such an intrusive question to introduce yourself, at least. My name is Amaris Nyme - and you are?”

“And - I’m a ghost because I died of blood loss on Faldrass.” How does a maze eat people? One could also ask how a hare could talk but that would be beside the point now?

Again distracted - maybe they wanted to be at this point; no one liked remembering how they died - they turned their attention to great glittering thing. Except the thing was a glorious stature right there on the path. It, too, soon spoke and the mixed blood wondered if everything would be granted the ability to speak. It was the same voice they’d been hearing before, the whispering one.

It had a requirement for them to pass, and once that had been delivered Fiver made a comment that had them turning their head. “What; don’t think I can make a joke? I think since my death I’ve retained my humerus.” No - that...they winced. Not what they’d intended. Maybe it would be better to hand over the mirror. But they were feeling a bit more at ease knowing that someone they were familiar with - aside from Toraj, wherever he was - in the maze beside them.

They wracked their brain for some sort of riddle or joke. “I know; why did the skeleton not cross the road?” They paused, bright-eyed and pleased with themselves before the punchline had been delivered. “Because he had not guts!”

[Pegasus]

1st Vhalar 718
This Round, You're Somewhere Else!

Arisora -
back you go to your original thread!

Amaris: you go......
here!!!

[Pegasus]

Review!

Ari'sora

Overview

So many questions! So much curiosity! I love Ari'sora, she comes across as a very determined in a quiet way. Lots of emotion and kindness, too.

Points

XP: 15 (not for magic)

Renown:5

Loot

Knowledge

Interrogation: Following a line of questioning
Interrogation: Ensuring that you a thorough.
Investigation: Never stop querying, make sure you consider everything.
Investigation: Use your environment
Storytelling: The use of rhyme and rhythm in story.
Storytelling: Emotionally soothing.
Storytelling: Can help people to keep calm.

Amaris

Overview

Tricky, when one is mostly dead, but Amaris manages this just great!

Points

XP: 15 (not for magic)

Renown: 5

Loot

Knowledge

Detection: Wandering attention can be useful
Detection: Noting the out of context / unusual
Detection: Attending to unusual sounds.
Storytelling: Linking to the moment
Storytelling: Contextualising the tale