CitW: Round 2: The Culinary

[Patrick]

Patrick's attempts had produced nothing and for a few ticks this proved frustrating on him, as the pressure of failure seemed to intensify when he approached the caterpillar. What would happen if he didn't find the apple? Would he vanish like Fury and that Mer he'd just seen? Did a dark fate await them all if no one could find the apple? The caterpillar himself seemed quick to imply the apple resided on one of the other tables, but the Rharnian narrowed his eyes almost to challenge that theory. Why on Idalos would the apple be hidden among the tables?! It would be foolish to think that the case when the wiggling worm could've easily hid it elsewhere, and Patrick could not help but speculate this as he looked at the creature hard. Finally. Recognition of whatever freaky thing this was, caterpillars never talked in the real world after all.... so why should this one be any different?

Yet Patrick's one try to make the impossible happen seemed to work, albeit in the way he did not suspect it to nonetheless. A popping sound ached his eardrums as he jolted, his eyes on the three that had now joined him while the tables... reappeared? Did he cause them to appear? Or rather just reset the room for their arrival? Either way the numbers went from one to four again in the blink of an eye, and while he didn't appreciate the aroma of parmesan as much; he visibly relaxed a little as he stepped away from the caterpillar's table.

The big guy might've stirred beneath his table he slept under, but when that plushy teddy bear came out instead? Patrick's lips hardened into a frown as he watched with raised eyebrows. "Looks like he's sticking with the table he checked earlier." His bright companion remarked while she fluttered about the room, curious to see what possessions were on the outside of each table. If the tables were reset that meant the pear... and the top hat might've either remained or moved. Patrick had to recollect the tables he checked previously, and he couldn't help but contemplate the situation itself when the others started to search.

"If this is anything related to a dream... then shouldn't I...?" Pat curled a finger under his chin as he looked at his other free hand. He'd been able to remember dreams with more clarity, ever since the cataclysmic end that was felt from the maze event. But remembering them wasn't enough to get out of here, if he had the power to affect the shape of this world... he needed to figure out how it worked to begin with, and maybe then he could've attempted escape from this whimsical place. The Ithecal seemed to have an idea of a plan to enact and for the most part, it remained a solid one that the others willfully acted on. Tables were being checked and since Patrick had stood back to watch, he determined there to be three tables left unchecked at this point and focused on those. He started with his first choice and investigated that table with a slight quiver in his hands, the quick sifting through items sure enough led him to investigate the table next to it.

It conflicted him so much to have so little power or even leeway in this world. Was it a world though? What else should he call it? Reality? Realm? Was it even a place? His stomach felt unsettled and for once Patrick could admit he wasn't as scared as the thought, nervous yes but the fear itself felt more exhilarating compared to before. As he finished quickly sifting through his second choice his eyes went to the last table nobody had touched yet, his heart pounding as the search for the apple continued. Slowly but surely the Rharnian reached the final table and hoped to find their quarry there. Lush and Ri both joined him at his final table, curious to see what results panned out for everyone.

Off Topic

Tables 7, 8, and 10 are investigated.

"Pat", "Ri", "Dom", "Lush", "NPC"

[Pegasus]

Event Wiki

You're fighting for your life

Ahahahahahahahaha
It's close to midnight
Something evil's lurking from the dark
Under the moonlight
You see a sight that almost stops your heart

You try to scream
But terror takes the sound before you make it
You start to freeze
As horror looks you right between your eyes
You're paralyzed
'Cause this is thriller
Thriller night

And no one’s gonna save you
From the beast about to strike
You know it’s thriller
Thriller night
You’re fighting for your life
Inside a killer thriller tonight, yeah
Ahahahahahahahaha
I'm gonna bring it tonight
Ahahahahahahahaha

You hear the door slam
And realize there's nowhere left to run
You feel the cold hand
And wonder if you'll ever see the sun
You close your eyes
And hope that this is just imagination
Girl but all the while
You hear a creature creeping up behind
You're out of time
'Cause this is thriller
Thriller night

And no one’s gonna save you
From the beast about to strike
You know it’s thriller
Thriller night
You’re fighting for your life
Inside a killer thriller tonight

Ahahahahahahahaha
I'm gonna thrill ya tonight
Get up, get up

Darkness falls across the land
The midnight hour is close at hand
Creatures crawl in search of blood
To terrorize y'all's neighborhood
And whosoever shall be found
Without the soul for getting down
Must stand and face the hounds of hell
And rot inside a corpse's shell

I'm gonna thrill ya tonight
Ooh, babe
'Cause this is thriller
Get up, get up (I'm gonna thrill you tonight)
Cause this is thriller

120th Ashan, 719. Midnight

The First Shard.

The Culinary

The stream is shrunk — the pool is dry,
And we be comrades, thou and I;

With fevered jowl and dusty flank
Each jostling each along the bank;

And by one drouthy fear made still,
Forgoing thought of quest or kill.

Now ‘neath his dam the fawn may see,
The lean Pack-wolf as cowed as he,
And the tall buck, unflinching, note
The fangs that tore his father’s throat.

The pools are shrunk — the streams are dry,
And we be playmates, thou and I,
Till yonder cloud — Good Hunting! — loose
The rain that breaks our Water Truce.

"How Fear Came"
by R. Kipling

All of You!

The new people arrived. Praetorum even tried to get people to follow a very.. very sensible plan. But it didn't quite happen. Prae found, in his quick search, a small peg-doll. Dressed in a white dress, she had a smiling face. Rakvald, however, thoroughly searched his table - best as a stuffed bear can - and then he went for a little lay down. There was nothing on his table which drew his attention at all. Oluwanje found nothing on the tables but - very cleverly - thought to look beneath the table cloths. Underneath the cloth on the table he looked, there was a frame. Like, the frame of a hand-held mirror.

Patrick, too, checked and he found a most odd thing. A tiny silver locket ~ it was beautiful, truly beautiful. When he lifted it, he felt like he'd come home. There was a sense of ... familiarity to it.

But it was Rabu who found it. The apple. It was there, on Table 4 and the little Cassion-born simply lifted up a glass and, there it was.

"Oh!! Well done!!" The Caterpillar said, clapping his chubby caterpillar hands. He was more than delighted, although the chef was less pleased. "So! You have the apple!! And now, you can choose.. no! No! You must choose!"

Suddenly, there were no more tables in the room.

It was an empty room and, ahead of them, there were three doors.

"The apple will cure him," the caterpillar said, pointing at Rakvald. "But, in order to wake the twins, you need the apple. You have three choices. You must each make your own, and whatever happens from it, it your responsibility."

He pointed to one door, then another and finally the third. "Give all of the apple to Rakvald. Guarantee his survival. Give half and half, Rakvald and the Quest or, give all to the Quest." The caterpillar smiled at them each, as though it were the easiest choice in the world. "Before the door you choose will open for you, you must state your reasoning."

You're out of time

Objectives & Rules

!	Message from: MUST DO OBJECTIVES
	Ok so the situation is: Even though the picture looks different. The doors are all identical and all the same size etc. You MUST choose a door and a reason. You MUST tell me what (if anything) you are taking with you. This might be special item or things which could be reasonably picked up from a dining room. Please note: Your choices here will impact every other thread. Potentially. No pressure.

!	Message from: OBJECTIVES MET LAST ROUND
	All must-do objectives met.

!	Message from: CAN DO OBJECTIVES
	There are 3 hidden objectives here. I'll let you know if you meet them.

Dates & Deadlines

You need to post here by Monday 11th March. If you have not done so, you've missed the round. I will be locking the thread at that time.
I will post on Tuesday 12th March.

[Rakvald]

Rakvald wasn’t hungry at all. The Teddy bear his spirit resided in didn’t appear to have a digestive tract, unless you counted the squeezy bladder that whistled as he snuggled his self. And the teddy had no teeth with which to injest it. Supposing they fed the apple to Rakvald’s body itself, there was no guarantee that he’d be able to keep it down. So it was.

The bear lifted his head only fractionally when they said they’d found the apple. Regardless of what they intended to do with it, his answer would be the same, ”I don’t want the apple. I’m not feeling very hungry at all. Go on ahead, I’ll just stay here. You’ll need every bit of that apple to guarantee the success of the Quest.” So saying, the bear got hold of Rakvald’s beard. If he was able, with the lack of sinews and strength, he would begin dragging the oaf’s metamorphosizing body toward the First door.

His reasoning was, when in doubt, go right, so he went left.

The teddy bear strained and stretched its little arms as it dragged the huge oaf slowly toward the first door. With each exertion he exhaled with a squeaky refrain.

As he neared the first doorway, with all his teddy might he would heave and push the great big Lotharro through the door, ahead of the others. The teddy waved at the others before leaving the area, and hung onto Rakvald’s ankle as he slipped through the portal.

”Bye bye!” he squeaked. ”I’ll see you some other time, maybe.”

ooc

Taking the first door, because when in doubt go right, he's going left!

He's taking everything on his body with him, including his body and the teddy. So the bracelet is with him.

[Oluwànjẹ]

➸ 120th Ashan, 719. Midnight ➸
➸ Mood: Confident
➸ Company: Many people
➸ Current Thought: I want to be useful
➸ Current Theme: Save Me From Myself

➸ It seemed our search was over, as the little guy.......wait why was he so small? Was he........he was.....heas a tunawa, that was the only explination I could come up with that or this weird place was starting to get to me. In anycase the tunawa seemed to have found the apple, evident by the caterpillars delight, and the chef's disdain.

At least the apple was found by someone, I only found a mirror frame of all things. Something about it was......it was like I wanted to pick it up, so I did. It didnt look weird at all, so I held on to it for some reason, even more so as the surroundings shifted in the room.

As such doors now appeared before us, and the small creature explained that we had to choose, no that we had no choice but to choose. Choose what though....a door? As I looked at the three before me, I decided to walk up to the one in the center.

"I may not have been any use in this room, but I want to help I want to be useful in some way to aid in this quest, and the only way I feel I can do that is by moving forward.

I stated, giving everyone a wave before going through the center door. ➸

"Common Speech"

"Xantheon Speech"

OOC

Im taking the mirror frame thingy with me

"Save me from myself"
— Oluwanje Toa

[Rabu]

Rabu’s eyes widened and his mouth stretched from corner to corner in delight at the sudden appearance of an apple under the glass he had lifted up moments ago. He raised his prize high into the sky for the others to see as he hollered and danced about in glee. They did it, the apple was found and now they could cure the pig man of his nasty curse…or so Rabu foolishly thought. After congratulating them on a job well done, the Caterpillar revealed that a choice must be made. Rabu could give it all to Rakvald, to the quest to wake some kind of twins or give half to both. The tunawa didn’t understand “the quest” that was going on or who these “twins” were but they definitely sounded important and in need of help. Rabu bit his lip and his brows pinched in focus as his tiny mortal born mind worked through the gravity of his decision. As he did this, a teddy bear dragged the unconscious pig man towards the doorway using remarkable strength for a stuffed creature. The teddy bear was talking about not being hungry and how he didn't need the apple but Rabu didn’t put two and two together before it was too late and the bear was gone with the man he was supposed to help.

“Stop!!” Rabu cried in alarm as the last parts of the Pig man were sucked though the door.

The mortal born turned to the Caterpillar with a fiery gaze “Where did that Teddy bear take the pig man!!”

“It doesn’t matter, I’ve made my decision.” Rabu said firmly as he ponded a fist into his open palm. “i’m going through the door that splits the apple. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t try to help them both.” And with a determined and focused stride, Rabu charged forward.

Before he could enter the door however, Yah began to choke on something. Certainly an odd occurrence since she had no throat and had never so much as touched food in her entire existence but it was happening regardless. After a few gags, burps and gurgling sounds, a red sphere shot out of her mouth and on to the floor. Rabu looked behind him to see what was the commotion and saw the spectacle.

“..Is that another apple?” Rabu muttered to himself in disbelief.

► Show Spoiler

Rabu choose the middle door but he also may have invoked a Stroke of Luck (at least I hope), Rabu is talking his hat, and hopefully two apples

[Patrick]

The search this time almost proved fruitless yet again on Patrick's behalf, as no apple seemed at present when he rummaged through his selection. However among the pilfering one random trinket he came across piqued his interest, a locket made of silver as the miniscule object rested in the center of his palm. He felt unusual clarity with the trinket in his possession somehow, almost like a piece of home resided with it. It looked nothing like the pendant he would've wore here, had personal belongings carried over with him into this place. When he heard the caterpillar exclaim that the apple was found, the excitement led Patrick to grimace a little.

That thing could've been leverage if he'd came across it... but regardless with it found their purpose here seemed to be done. Three doors appeared and with the locket held tightly within his left hand, Patrick watched as the others made their decisions beforehand. The teddy bear insisted that the apple be used for a better purpose, and not to cure him, as he picked first what door he wanted to traverse through. A sacrifice for the greater good some would say, the Rharnian doubted he could count himself as selfless. Next seemed to be Olu with the confession that he wanted to be of more help, his choice the central door whereas the teddy dragged his human form into the left. Then the rabbit looking Tunawa, Rabu, decided to go into the central portal as well with prize in tow, hopeful that he might've very well produced another apple.

And just like that Patrick was alone in the room save for the caterpillar and the cook.

He wanted to go along with the others... but should he really? He looked down at the locket once more and popped it open, curious to find that an empty slot remained within. Hold on... His eyebrows furrowed as he fished for that crystal in his pocket, the one that didn't seem active again until he'd came here. With that piece of crystal observed he compared the shape to the outline of the slot. Curious really how the two seemed to belong together, and when he pressed the crystal into the locket a click confirmed that the two belonged. Like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle they were now one, though what mystical purpose it served remained a mystery. "We should probably move." Lush reminded him as he stood next to Patrick, eyes glinted with curiosity over what ran through the Rharnian's own head.

"But do we really? I can barely comprehend what's going on, much less what we're supposed to be doing here. I don't know what good I can do in this place, especially since I don't have any means of protecting the others."

"It'll be okay," Ri'ku tried to convince him, "we get that you're worried for everyone else here. Sitting around isn't going to change anything though!"

"If I could just..." But he couldn't. He had no means of generating a weapon, no means of fighting anything back if he needed to. What good could he be here? The only one he could protect is himself, and that was by running away from all this; except running wasn't an option any more in this place. Patrick sighed at the frustration he felt now that his companions new the discord in his heart, the halo around his left wrist a reminder of whatever quality he should've possessed. What did Qylios really see in him? He didn't feel that he deserved the blessing, much less the light in which she brought back to him. Thus he put the thought in the next place to go, remembering that it was the left and central corridors the others went into; leaving the right portal unexplored in this instance. He'd be alone but that was something he grew accustomed to thanks to the Sessfiend, and if a dark fate awaited him beyond then maybe...

No. He was ready. He'd face whatever waited ahead and conquer it, just as he would one day conquer the shadows still weighing over his own heart. With the locket still in hand he moved forward towards the right portal, ready to traverse whatever awaited beyond that door. Somehow without even looking over his shoulder he felt his companions watching him, with the comfort of knowing that they were there to support him the rest of the way.

Off Topic

Patrick chose the portal to the right due to the reasoning that he should 'go it alone' and explore what the others didn't. He's also taking that shiny new locket with him too, and saving that Stroke of Luck for a crucial moment in the event one does happen.

"Pat", "Ri", "Dom", "Lush", "NPC"

[Praetorum]

Praetorum grimaced, searching through each table quickly, and each time finding nothing even remotely like an apple. It was just plates, glasses, cutlery, all the normal things you would expect to find in a dining room—including a carving knife. Praetorum hesitated only a moment before hanging on to it, and moving on.  He paused for a little longer at the last table, finding something out of place, as much as anything could be out of place in this dream; a simple piece of carved wood, dressed and painted to look like a girl, beaming happily up at him. 


Praetorum couldn't have said why he placed it in the pocket of his pajamas, only that it felt important. Perhaps it was the image of a teddy bear, dragging its own unconscious body along the floor that did it. Praetorum didn't stop the bear—Rakvald, he assumed from the caterpillar's gesturing—as it dragged his body with along the floor. Rakvald had made his choice, and had chosen sacrifice. He smiled sadly as the bear waved, and returned the motion, inclining his head. "Good luck." Was all he said. Giving up any chance of curing his own affliction, to increase their chances of waking everyone up. Everyone in the world. That was something Prae could understand, could respect. 



Striding up to the first door, the one Rakvald had just gone through, Praetorum squared his shoulders, a knife in one hand, and a doll in his pocket. "He made the honorable choice. Until we fix what is broken, no one will wake up. It doesn't matter what this Quest costs us, we have to see it through to the end. I will give everything I need to to fix this; the apple, and anything else I have."


And he stepped through.

[Pegasus]

And so it goes, and so it goes....

In every heart there is a room
A sanctuary safe and strong
To heal the wounds from lovers past
Until a new one comes along

I spoke to you in cautious tones
You answered me with no pretense
And still I feel I said too much
My silence is my self defense

And every time I've held a rose
It seems I only felt the thorns
And so it goes, and so it goes
And so will you soon I suppose

But if my silence made you leave
Then that would be my worst mistake
So I will share this room with you
And you can have this heart to break

And this is why my eyes are closed
It's just as well for all I've seen
And so it goes, and so it goes
And you're the only one who knows

So I would choose to be with you
That's if the choice were mine to make
But you can make decisions too
And you can have this heart to break

And so it goes, and so it goes
And you're the only one who knows

120th Ashan, 719. Midnight

The Moment.

The Curious

Master of human destinies am I;
Fame, love and fortune on my footsteps wait.
Cities and fields I walk. I penetrate
Deserts and seas remote, and, passing by
Hovel and mart and palace, soon or late,
I knock unbidden once at every gate.

If sleeping, wake; if feasting, rise, before
I turn away. It is the hour of fate,
And they who follow me reach every state
Mortals desire, and conquer every foe
Save death; but those who hesitate
Condemned to failure, penury and woe,
Seek me in vain, and uselessly implore.
I answer not, and I return no more.

~John Ingalls~

In the Culinary, choices were made and things happened. Some of these were good, others, not so much.

Rakvald tried to pull himself through but a teddy bear can not pull a Lotharro through a door. It simply wasn't possible. Yet, somehow, he did it. Inch by inch it was like the little Teddy Bear's will was pushing the body through. He went through the left door. Olu took the mirror frame, and he stepped forward, in to the middle door.

And in that moment, the group split up.

And as that happened, in the Prison, reality tore.

Rabu, after doing a rather wonderful dance, totally misunderstood all of it and strolled through the middle door, thinking that he was making a choice he wasn't. However, by a stroke of luck, there was another apple. How great is that!? However, this apple was red and shiny, unlike the other, green one. Would that matter? Who knew?

Whereas Patrick went through the right hand door.

All three doors were used by a group of five. They literally could not be more split up. And so, as Praetorum stepped through the same door that the teddy had gone, the caterpillar looked at the chef and sighed. The chef smiled, not a pleasant expression. "I told you, didn't I?" He said, as the caterpillar's gaze turned more stoic.

"Mortals are foolish."

The doors swirled and disappeared, the room vanished and the two Immortals turned, and left the mortals to it.

So, I will share this room with you.

And you can have this heart to break.......

Objectives & Rules

!	Message from: Left Door
	Rakvald & Prae - you two step through and find yourself in The Prison (2)

!	Message from: Middle Door
	Olu & Rabu You two step through and find yourself in The Dead 2. Please post there.

!	Message from: Right Door
	Patrick - you find yourself somewhere new too.... welcome to Hell... or the Prison

Dates & Deadlines

You need to post IN YOUR NEW THREADS by Monday 18th March. If you have not done so, you've missed the round. This thread remains locked and is over, awaiting review.
May the Immortals have mercy on your souls.

[Pegasus]

The Review

Rakvald

Overview

It was such a pleasure re-reading this thread. I loved how you just rolled with all the punches here, Rakvald is such a fun character. I hope you enjoy your loot from this event!

Points

XP: 15 (not for magic)

Renown: 5

Loot

On the 1st Ymiden, 719, Rakvald finds the stuffed bear sitting on the path in front of him. It's there. Just there. If he ignores it, throws it away, etc, it comes back. When he wakes up in the morning, it's on the pillow next to him. Even if he throws the bear away, next morning - there's the bear. Now, maybe Rakvald might think this is a bit spooky and not like the bear, but soon he realises that - around the bear - good things seem to happen to him. Bad things get stamped on. As a mod-note - this is a "stroke of luck" sort of thing and is meant to bring plots and stories. It won't stop an avalanche from dropping on you - just think of him as a "lucky coincidence bear" not a "phenomenal cosmic power" bear. Enjoy!

Knowledge

None.

Cirrina

Overview

Oh my gosh I love Cirrina. She's so grumpy and rude and yet somehow endearing! I love her and I'm so pleased that she joined this event.

Points

XP: 15 (not for magic)

Renown: 5

Loot

On the 1st Ymiden, 719, Cirrina finds a small table-favor which she saw in the Culinary. It's just ... in a pocket / drawer / on the table, kind of thing. It's a small rose quartz in a fancy tie-bag. At first, it doesn't seem to do anything but then, over the course of time, Cirrina realises that it glows and gets warm when it's pointing in a certain direction. Warmer... warmer... and look at that. It's a story-seeking-crystal! Once a cycle, it leads Cirrina to treasure / an adventure / some other sort of trouble. Often, if she follows it, she will notice that these situations are completely out of her comfort zone.

Knowledge

None.

Max

Overview

Oh, I could write a thousand words on how much I love Max as a character - and a thousand more on how well you write her. She's a pleasure to write for and I hope you enjoyed this event!

Points

XP: 15 (not for magic)

Renown: 5

Loot

On the 1st Ymiden, 719, Max finds a a small piece of ribbon, tied into a sort of bracelet. When she (if she) puts it on, she discovers that while wearing it she doesn't feel cold. It still impacts her, she can still get frostbite, but she won't feel it. Handy in the winter, though.

Knowledge

None.

Patrick

Overview

We love Patrick - I think that your writing throughout this event was just excellent and Pat's struggles were so very real. It was awesome to see, and I had such fun writing with you.

Points

XP: 15 (not for magic)

Renown: 5

Loot

On the 1st Ymiden, 719, Patrick finds that hat. That very hat. Assuming that he puts it on his head, he will find that ~ when wearing it ~ he is able to see, perfectly, in the dark. Even pitch darkness is like twilight to him.

Knowledge

None.

Prae

Overview

I love Prae and the very no-nonsense, clear and calm approach he takes. He did so well here trying to sort this unruly bunch out - although I'm afraid "trying" was the operative word! Still - great writing, great fun.

Points

XP: 15 (not for magic)

Renown: 5

Loot

None

Knowledge

None.

Rabu

Overview

So cute I could cry. Just... so adorable. "Several eyes make light work" made me chuckle and I just love how you write - it fits the pc so well. It was a real pleasure to write with you in this event. Thanks!

Points

XP: 15 (not for magic)

Renown: 5

Loot

None

Knowledge

None.

Olu

Overview

Such a serious and earnest chap - I do like how you portray Olu, it's really interesting. First person writing seems to really fit him, too - it's right for him, somehow. I really enjoyed your contribution to this thread - and the event. Thanks!

Points

XP: 15 (not for magic)

Renown: 5

Loot

None

Knowledge

None.