:[VDay 2020]: The Maze of Shadows

[Elros Namasi]

Beltan x Xoana choose C and head South toward the tiny speck of light

Was it just Beltan or did it seem like it suddenly got very crowded in here? Normally, he would have paused to weigh the options (and probably driven himself crazy doing so because of everything that had happened so far), but he found himself and his charge hemmed in and jostled by the large group of pae. He didn't know which one of them slipped first, him or Xoana, but they were heading into the darkness with its oily walls and reaching hands whether he wanted to or not.

"Keep your head down and hold on tight!" he yelled, performing the world's fastest and smoothest piggyback ride despite the less than optimal circumstances. Hooking his arms under her knees at his sides, he waited for her arms to wrap around his neck and shoulders before he took off running, aiming for the tiny pinpoint of light he could just barely see in the distance.

Menelie

 

[Twitchapher the 3rd]

Well look at their luck! They met up with a bunch of the others. "Guess we all got lost huh Dash?" He chuckled lightly. Despite the darkness he was feeling pretty good. They had proven to themselves they could handle this place. Or had this 'maze' not thrown out the punches yet? Hmmm. It would be good to stay on the side of caution still. He did promise Rainbow Dash he'd try to keep her safe. He was no liar.

Dash pointed out the path and he was curious. "Something sparkling? In the darkness? Wouldn't that mean there is something reflecting light? Like some sorta metal?" He was more into the fact there had to be a light source that way. "If anything we might be able to snag whatever light is that way. Maybe a torch? It might be easier to see our way if we do." Seems they were in agreement and he started down the eastern path.

Wolfs Heart

 

[Revel1984]

(since i don't see an update Erminea in the last staff update, i'm going to respond with her from the update here )

Erminea is choosing A

Erminea didn't like being in this strange place, she certainly didn't want to be here by herself, so she follows the sound of voices  

[MiddyGlow]

A. It looks like some others are further south, we should follow them!

At first, Kelpie was at a loose what did she do here, on one hand, she could go and face whoever was chatting. She had no fear that she couldn't handle it, so she didn't think they would take her out. On the other hand, there looked like there was something shiny that way and that was really tempting. She finally pulled something out of the pocket of her outfit tossed it up and went down the path that it landed closest to. She picked up the little trinket as she passed she liked it a lot and didn't want to leave the little shiny shell behind. It reminded her of the water, of home.  

[Fea Line]

B. Follow the purple feathers Southeast. Perhaps it’s a breadcrumb trail

Parker couldn't keep his eyes off the feathers. Even though they were purple and not blue, he felt like they might lead somewhere that would give him a clue as to where Dad and all the others were. Or at least, that's what he hoped. He didn't really know anyone else under Venus and he was sure these didn't belong to her....but...well it was the only idea he had in this short amount of time. Pete wasn't here with him and that was beginning to make him feel very alone and uncertain about everything. Oh how he wished he had stayed home instead with Momda this year.... he'd be safe back home, eating cookies and probably playing Sharks and Shatters.  

[Irish Night Fox]

Oriana x Bindi C. Head straight South into the darkness.  

[Menelie]

"Where'd all these people come from?" asked Xoana as they were suddenly surrounded by a large group. They hadn't all come with them in the cave, had they? Her skin was dry and sensitive--and wherever someone's hair or clothes or anything brushed against her it almost burned. She couldn't wait to get out of here! The only places that felt safe were, strangely, her legs where she'd gotten oil on them. Speaking of oil...

"Oh no, oh no!" exclaimed Xoana as she and Beltan started slipping together, but she couldn't help but get a little thrill as he hoisted her up on his back. Pressed together like this, it was almost a little romantic. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed herself into him, holding on tightly. She put her head down against his shoulder and squeezed her eyes shut.

Elros Namasi

Beltan

 

[Teigra]

Daisicle

Ranuin > Killa

Even if she was still crying, Ranuin could see relief flood the fae's posture before she turned back to take his hands. Even if she wasnt a faun, he hated seeing any woman cry. That was a relief for him as well. And at least she didn't seem spooked by him anymore, having realized he was trying to help her earlier. He noted the pronunciation of her name and was about to share his when she froze again. His ear twitched towards the strange clanging sound, not one he was familiar with, yet it made him tense. Or perhaps that's because Killa's hands had begun shaking again.

In an effort to pull her back to the moment and away from the fear, he squeezed her hands and bent down a bit to meet her at eye level. "You're very welcome, Killa," he said in a deliberately slow and even tone. "It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Ranuin."

Ranuin stood up straight, looking at the paths before them. He didn't like any of them. The harsh noises made him anxious, but the oily grasping hands made his fur crawl just looking at them. No thanks. The remaining path had no clues but the purple feathers. He wondered if they had come from an angel, which concerned him for multiple reasons, but that seemed a lesser evil than the other paths. "Come on," he urged Killa gently. "Let's see if we can get out of this crazy place, hmm?"  

[Teigra]

DaemonGabrielle

Phorcys > Mellinae

Phorcys considered Mellinae's words carefully. It was an interesting hypothesis. Maybe. After a moment, he spoke aloud, "Makes as much sense as anything else in this Waters-forsaken maze." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly while reaching up to rub the back of his neck.

He would ask how he ended up in these situations, be he kinda just kept flinging himself into them, didn't he? And dragging others with him.

No, Mellinae had wanted to come. Even with everything that had happened in previous years, she had answered his suggested invite with enthusiasm. Maybe they were both crazy to keep throwing themselves into these situations that always seemed to turn out badly. Or maybe it was the adrenaline rush and experiencing it together...

He took her hand with a grin in her direction and steeled himself as they rushed into the darkness together.  

[shadica]

Hauyne grimaced as more pae began to gather in their spot. The other pae where chattering on and being annoying ugh. Why did they have to run into so many people.

What ever there where three paths now so the group was likely to split up.

The darkness path looked interesting, but the feathers caught his eye.

He grinned when his partner asked if he wanted to follow them.

"Absolutely, Hopefully it's from a tasty little harpy."

SSBrosB

 

[FA Goddess Eris]

Killa x Ranuin, Parker, Beryl, Hauyne
As Killa, Ranuin and Parker band together to follow the purple feathers, they find themselves coming up on a dead end cubby hole, straight ahead cloaked in shadows. Shadows that seem to twist and turn, crawling about the wall as if they were made of insects or tendrils. From within the shadows, a young voice could be heard pleading for help as she tried to desperately fight off her slithery black captors. Upon hearing footsteps approach, the shadows shoot back momentarily, as if hissing, giving the trio a brief but conclusive look at the victim. Shansa, the teen daughter of Venus and Adonis screamed for help, reaching out towards them before being sucked back into the shadows, leaving only her face from her nose up and her arms uncovered, grasping for help. As if to try to dissuade the trio, the shadows forms hands that began pointing to the Southeast as well as pull a sign out from its shadowy mass that reads ‘Come this way, we have cookies!’. Upon looking, the trio noticed there was indeed another path that led away and seemingly down a calmer corridor that smells of chocolate and cinnamon.
Which do they choose:
A: Free Shansa from the shadows any way they can.
B: Head southeast - Sorry Shansa, free cookies!

Jae, Aquos, Rainbow Dash
Deciding to go east and towards the shimmering object, Jae moves forward first through a shallow puddle of multicolored liquid. Thinking nothing of it, she continues forward until she realizes her movement seems…. Off. Glancing down, Jae notices that instead of her usual naga body, her back end is now that of a caterpillar. Except that all her new tiny feet…are made of hands. Sticky hands that make it irritating to move forward because it takes a little more force than should be required to lift them.

Mind your puddles dears!

Strawberri Stardust

Jae has triggered a booby trap! But lucky for her, it seems a power scroll got stuck to one of her many sticky handfeets. Congrats!

Watching from Jae’s mistake, Raindbow Dash and Aquos avoid the puddle and push forward with the Snekapillar and find themselves at a threeway junction. To the east looks like a shorter path but they can very clearly hear the clanking of spears against shields and competitive shouting coming from that direction. To the south they can hear four sets of voices, one of which seems to be young and screaming for help, to the Southwest is utter darkness yet with the faintest glimmer of oil.

Which do you choose:
A: East towards the various sounds of combat.
B: South towards the voices and screaming.
C: Southwest into the oily darkness.

Kelpie, Blush, Erminea
Somehow managing to meet up with each other, the junction where they stood was a little unique. They could go East, but one could hear clanking and yelling in the distance. They could go Southeast and follow a trail of small purple feathers. The third choice was straight south, into darkness. The walls looked oily and fluid. Hands reached out trying to blindly grasp anything daring to come too close. Deep down the path in the absolute darkness there was a tiny little speck of light.

Which do they choose:
A. Investigate the clanking. It obviously is metal hitting metal, but the yelling was intriguing.
B. Follow the purple feathers Southeast. Perhaps it’s a breadcrumb trail
C. Head straight South into the darkness. Hold your hair and wings down less they be caught.

Oriana, Bindi, Mellinae, Phorcys, Beltan, Zoana
As the group moves forward into the darkness, they find themselves slipping and sliding on the oil a little more than they anticipated. A few times a couple hands brushed against their skin or tickled at their hair. A few hands tried to reach out and grasp but was thus far, unsuccessful.

However as Mellinae an Phorcys hit a slippery patch and slide forward a bit, they manage to slide right into a group of outstretched hands. Clinging tightly as if in a hug, they suddenly find themselves briefly glowing….and slightly oily. Looking up into a flexing face of oiled beauty, the pair have enough time to register they have been grasped by Adonis. “Come… we must flex together!” he declares loudly then in a flash of strangely dark “light” they all disappear.

DaemonGabrielle

Mellinae and Phorcys have been saved from the maze by Adonis. They receive a shadow themed breeding additive!

Teigra

Mellinae and Phorcys have been saved from the maze by Adonis. They receive a shadow themed breeding additive!

Watching the others vanish before their eyes, the rest of the group try and book it through to the end. They come upon another split and stop, cursed maze just doesn’t seem to let up. Continuing south seems to take them out of the oil and hands but still into further darkness. To the east they can hear the sounds of small animals chittering and chirping, something that sounds like spinning, laughter and someone calling “Right hand, green!”

Which do they choose:
A: Continue south and see if it gets you any closer to solving this maze.
B: Go east towards the sounds of animals and laughter.

Please post your prompts before Feb 11th 4PM EST

 

[MiddyGlow]

A. Investigate the clanking. It obviously is metal hitting metal, but the yelling was intriguing.

Kelpie considered her choices and decided to follow the sound of metal hitting, and the yelling maybe she would find someone she could help. Who in turn could help her get out of the maze. She might have chosen the purple feather but she had a feeling that would end badly considering purple seemed to be the color of trouble in this event. While Kelpie loved fun and trouble she kinda wanted a little less trouble for herself right now and a little more trouble for the people she was up against.  

[Daisicle]

[Killa x Ranuin | A : Save Shansa!]

Killa's body flinched as she felt the pressure on her hands and looked down at them before looking back up and making eye contact with the now notably-shorter Ranuin. Her ears remained folded and her eyes widened as he spoke, and, once he finished, she sniffled once and nodded.

"O-okay..."

As they continued on, the bunny was about latched onto Ranuin - her officially-designated 'safe space' - and at most offered Parker a silent glance or two. He hadn't given her any reason to distrust him, but the opposite was true as well. The naga, though... they truly terrified her. It was likely she was instinctively pulling herself and Ranuin further ahead of them to reduce their likelihood of being eaten.

Her ears shot up and a shiver ran up her spine as she lay witness to Shansa. Oh no oh no oh no oh no. She was being eaten! The shadows were eating her! As the shadows covered Shansa once more, Killa looked over at Ranuin, then back behind her, then back to Shansa.

Oh no oh no oh no.

They had to do something! Right? Right.

Shrieking (was this her version of a battle cry, or was she just screaming cause she was scared), Killa pulled Ranuin with her as she rushed forward, letting go of his hand only to grab Shansa's. She kicked at the shadows with her paws and fluttered her wings behind her as she tried to maintain a grip on the teen's arm.

Teigra

Killa -> Ranuin

Fea Line

Killa notices Parker

shadica

Killa notices and is afraid of Hauyne

SSBrosB

Killa notices and is afraid of Beryl

 

[Revel1984]

Erminea picking A


rp to come later