Achronum

Of Blood and Magic

Varis sent the back of Aaron’s head a scathing look at the request. The impedance of his request notwithstanding, the shoes Varis wore cost more than the head of every mage in this insane exercise. If the boy thought for one single second he’d acquiesce to this pathetic request without protest then he had another thing coming. Varis spent his time considering it however before sighing. “Another thing to add to the list: strength and endurance training. Perhaps tonight isn’t as much of a waste as I thought. It seems to be highlighting your weaknesses.” Varis dug at the boy as he let himself down. His grip was irn on his bicep though and the Count had little interest in letting him move, standing less than a hair’s width apart as he reflectively tried to peer around at their surroundings.

“We’ll stay right here until we’ve solved the riddle. Clearly, we just need to unlock the door and claim whatever is inside. Hopefully, further directions.” Varis demanded. “Now, left is right and right is wrong, right is right and left is left. What an annoying little phrase. This is precisely while language is such a mess. How many different readings does this have? At least three depending on how you stress the words.” Despite his complaining, Varis’ tone lacked much of his normal bite as he spoke. Puzzles were fun when they weren’t poking at his injured pride or lack of independence. He tapped his foot thoughtfully.

“And a final word of warning... But nothing mentions these little spots of dirt?” Varis asked. That seemed odd but maybe it had to do with the magic that got doors in trees. His knowledge of the magical arts were limited to those that didn’t affect him and those that did and while plant magic fell firmly into the latter, he never considered it threatening enough to be interested. “Well, we should probably first consider which door to use this key on and then once we decide that, we can figure out what the last line means. Left is right and right is wrong… So, either the left tree is the wrong tree or we should consider the left tree the right tree which is wrong. Right is right and left is left. Which suggests the red key is the right key for red so the first interpretation is the most likely. He repeated the last phrase a few more times.

“What else can we turn here? Is it only the key?” Varis asked the boy.

Interacting with: @Obscene Symphony

The Gifted - Concluded

James Kingston

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Location: The Mutant Underground's New HQ
Skills: N/A

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James wanted to reply to Sunshine but his attention was diverted as the smell of pizza filled the room. His mouth water and he barely waited for Sunshine to grab her pieces before quickly following suit, putting one on top of another and tearing into them. “Oh thank god.” James mumbled around his food. His stomach rumbled pleasantly as he swallowed and flashed Waverly a thumbs up. “You had the better of the jobs. It fucking sucked all the way around.” He shoved another bite of pizza in his mouth, feeling like he couldn’t eat fast enough. “I don’t think pizza has ever tasted so good. Nothing like your heart stopping to add a little flavor, I guess.”

His slices were finished faster than he cared for. He wanted to snatch up another slice or two but he knew it’d probably be better to let this food settle anyways, not to mention he really needed to let everyone else grab some. He wasn’t the only one today was rough on. His mind jumped to the feeling of Glimpse going still for that second―god, was it really only a second? It felt like an eternity―and he felt the flash of panic he felt when Glimpse stayed on the other side of the portal. Everything could have gone so much differently. That brief feeling of nothing… James gave an involuntary shiver but shook his head to clear the thoughts. He was here and safe, no one was wielding a sword, no one was bleeding out, Glimpse was… “Oh hey. Did you see Glimpse downstairs by any chance?” James asked as nonchalantly as he could, forcefully ignoring the tremor in his voice as much as he could.

Harry Potter and the Alchemist's Quest - Discontinued

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Artemis “Arty” Harrington

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Location: Compartment 3
Magic: N/A

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Arty was going to dismiss the suggestion of a death eater on board as utterly absurd. This wasn’t the first time they’d stopped the train and it probably wouldn’t be the last. Arty wouldn’t admit it but it was reassuring that they did. You-know-who’s cult didn’t take kindly to “mudbloods” in their midst. More than once, he’d wondered if he could report Merula as suspicious but his brother said no. Bullocks because if anyone has death eater tendencies, its her. Without a doubt. One hundred percent. Arty leaned with Georgina as she poked her head out, trying to see around her but he side eyed the sneakoscope and sat back up.

“Aren’t sneakoscopes a bunch of cadswollop anyhow? Like, they totally go off at anything sneaky, right? Maybe someone’s mate is pulling someone’s leg around the corner or something or they’re bringing in something forbidden by the school?” Arty rationalized nervously. His leg bounced nervously as he spoke, a high pitched chuckle coming out awkwardly as his nerves started tightening. A death eater on board was a problem. He pulled his wand out of his robes, spinning it in his fingers. There wasn’t a death eater on board, there wasn’t, but if there was, Arty wouldn’t be caught off guard without a shielding charm in his lips. “Why don’t we just put that away and let the aurors clear the train and let us go? Then, everything will be totally aces and we can start planning the dance!”

Of Blood and Magic

_{Time: 12:16 - The Forest}

Max/Eris

The trip onwards was a little more overgrown that the last trek with the periodic sign marking the way. The wind picked up too and what little light had been trickling down though the canopy was disappearing for long moments as clouds rolled in. This path was far more winding and directions made use of landmarks now rather than just cardinal directions and lefts and rights. The path took the pair into an area long larger than their living room where all the vegetation had been cleared out, leaving only packed dirty. A few animal tracks had disturbed the area but otherwise, it was eerily quiet.

Two wooden poles stood at the far end of the little spot held what at first glance seemed like bird feeders. On closer inspection, these rectangular boxes were simple in construction, one yellow and one blue, but a missing spot in the front of them fit the blocks from the table perfectly. A phrase was carved into the top of each box, Sratum Picon and Oceleusi Picon and words were written on the posts under the boxes.

The left one read: “Between the posts, you’ll find a game that starts when we are whole again. Five paces back and name read loud, choose your fate or don’t be found.”

The right one read: “But if you chanced to fix us both, no single hand may do. Two separate entities like siblings two must choose their fates new. Speak in tandem and begin with little room for error. Step out of sight and lose the game without a sense of bearing.

Lilie/Ben

The wind picked up as Lilie took down her vial, a little colder than before. What little light trickled down disappeared for long seconds as clouds rolled slowly in. With each drop on the blub, the plants bloomed beautiful and full. One was a dandelion and the other a rose, both shimmering with the faint light of the potions.

Salem/Victor

Waiting for a Victor post. Will give Salem the next description once you guys decide to leave this scene or the next next description if you skip the challenge.

Aaron/Varis

As the wind picked up and rustled the trees with a soft bite, the light faded in and out as clouds started rolling over the night sky. The walk to the next part of the challenge was a little more obscure: a few instructions were written not on posts but on trees and rocks despite their clarity. Eventually, the winding path they were instructed to take came to an end and two trees stood before them. Some manner of plant magic must have been employed because these trees, massive in comparison to those around them, also had metal doors embedded into them. Each door had a keyhole and a handle to pull it outwards. The area had several spots of disturbed earth, each just a mound no taller than a few inches but noticeable because of their lack of vegetation. A sign between the trees proudly exclaimed:

“Now it comes time to choose which lock responds to that you picked. If red is your belief, valiant but weak, Left is right, right is wrong, right is right, and left is left. If blue is your morale, slow but steady true, choose opposite above and make your final do. But warning if you chose the opposite of true then suffer with the consequences so be wary what you will.

But a final word of warning: That which turns cannot too touch til victor claims the spoils.

Maddie/Amaris

“On the bumpy side, I’m afraid.” Maddie admitted as she glanced ahead. It wouldn’t be difficult but it may slow them down more than she wanted. “Nothing drastic though. I’ll get you through it just fine. I’ll admit though, I would have appreciated a straight forward sign as our first direction rather than something on a subject I know almost nothing about. Survival training wasn’t exactly part of a proper lady’s curriculum.” Maddie sighed as she guided ari forward with quiet instructions on the way.

It was slow going until Maddie got more confidence in guiding the Countess, finally breaking out into a small clearing. Several lanterns flickered as they swayed gently in the wind, each partially shuttered to reduce how much illumination the provided, and chimes swayed at the bottom of each one. Maddie had to keep her spell up to notice but the little chimes were either painted or made of metals of different colors, blue and red and yellow. Colors were muted with the spell but the faint glow of the lanterns gave her just enough extra light to see the detail.

A sign in the middle read:

The test that waits in the west requires many things. First, you must select the bell that sings the sweetest to you: That of trust or that of act because stillness is far too selfish but claim it if you must while woe becomes your misery. Take it now and trust your path until it reaches end for that is where lies are grown in plentiful abyss.

Maddie read the sign out loud and described the scene for Amaris. “I’m not sure I like that last part, honestly.”

Of Blood and Magic

Varis’s grumbling faded away after a few minutes, growing bored of complaining as he reflexively tried to look ahead. He even tried sharpening his sight but its difficult to tell if something was working when he couldn't see anything. Varis sighed irritably, silently resign himself to his fate while the boy carried him along to their next destination. Hopefully, this next challenge would prove more entertaining. He quite enjoyed puzzles and he was glad he had an opportunity to do something. This was not a situation he was familiar with and frankly, he had no desire to repeat it but the riddles at least gave him something to focus on. He only hoped the next one would come quicker.

And no sooner did the thought cross his mind than when the boy stopped and described their next little game. Varis frowned at the description of the area. A stone pillar with keys? An interesting decision. [color=f7976a] “Read each line again, one at a time.”[/colo] Vari demanded, listening intently. “The first line is clearly instructing which one of us should make a decision unless you’ve suddenly been rendered unable to see. However, I’m frankly sick of being reminded that I’m crippled. It’s difficult to forget without every passing object screaming it at me.” Varis grumbled under his breath as the boy ready the next part.

“The truth hidden and buried…” Varis mused for a moment, his fingers tapping thoughtfully. “That could be anything but if we consider turning inwards, it’s clearly a metaphor for some self reflection idiocy. Of course Ryner would turn this into a night of self discovery. May the Queen save us all or we’re doomed.” Varis sighed as he gestured for the next line and then the line after. “Clearly, we pick a key to open up some hidden part of ourselves and the keys here are symbols of how we do that. Clearly the red key is blood fast pumping. Besides the direct correlation of color to substance, red is the color of passion which gets the blood pumping quickly. The blue key by default is the other. I’m going to take a wild guess and say the gears slow turning suggest a lethargic analytic process because blue is the color of intelligence, the mind, and self reflection. Either way, this “turning sightless eyes inwards” nonsense ends when we complete the challenge.”

“The audacity of this whole affair. Can you believe not only does she force us to work like this but she has the gall to then take it a step further and try to force us toreflect? Varis gripped. “Nothing to be done about it now though. Take the blue key. As if passion is some sort of virtue, bah.” He gestured blindly forward as he instructed

The Gifted - Concluded

James Kingston

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Location: The Mutant Underground's New HQ
Skills: N/A

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“Thanks.” James said as Sapphire left, his attention turning to Havok at the touch to his shoulder. He returned Havok’s smile with as much of one as he could muster at the moment. “You don’t owe me anything dude. We’ve got to look out for each other here, right? Not like anyone else is going to do it for us. I’m just glad you were in good enough condition for me to patch you back together.” James shook his head. “That being said, I’m definitely not above that food offer but don’t work too hard at it. Apparently, Professor X is stopping by and I can only imagine that’s going to cause some ripples here shortly.”

His smile got a little bigger at Sunshine’s direction, hauing himself off the floor and onto the cot. “Thanks, Sunshine. I really appreciate it.” James said sincerely as he took the blanket from her and wrapped it around himself. He took a moment to look over here, checking for injuries but he didn’t see any. A little guilt shot through him when he realized he hadn’t checked in with her since the whole Morlocks incident. She’d finally found a place and chose to take their mark only to have it torn away from here. “How you holding up in all this, Sunshine? It’s been a fast, exhausting couple of days. I didn’t realize when we ran from the police we’d get caught up in all this but here we are. Saving mutants and kicking bad guys’ ass. Well, you guys are doing the kicking. Probably better than I could.”

Of Blood and Magic

Dancing lights in the sky? Well, that was easy. Enough vampires waxed poetic over the centuries about the incredible display unless Ryner made some obscure reference but considering her obsession over them, he sincerely doubted she'd challenge them like that. So the Northern Lights it was. Which meant they were heading north. Excellent, first direction figured out and now they had a heading.

“Congratulations, you get a gold star or whatever juvenile, inconsequential reward system you nostalgic creatures so easily accept.” Varis grumbled over Aaron’s shoulder. It was more than just a little annoying he couldn’t add in an equally sarcastic slow clap but sacrifices did have to be made. “Hurry up and start walking. The sooner I get my sight back, the better. And I would appreciate them not using such visual solutions. It’s like they’re mocking me. Here I am, depending on a mage to guide me, and they’re taunting me with this imagery. The disrespect. Next, they’re going to ask us to analyze a painting for clues and I’ll be absolutely useless. What an unnatural arrangement.” Varis sulked from his spot on Aaron’s back. It was absolutely ridiculous. This entire situation was a nightmare come true.

Interacting with: @Obscene Symphony

Harry Potter and the Alchemist's Quest - Discontinued

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Artemis “Arty” Harrington

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Location: Compartment 3
Magic: N/A

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“You’re my favorite twin? Oh bugger, it totally slipped my mind!” Arty exclaimed, nudging backing at his sibling’s foot. “Don’t bother yourselves too much about it! I’m chuffed you want to help but I have to like at least try on my own! Buuuut, I’ll totally take your offers to bother you at 3am before the Quidditch match and the sign is bloody spazzing.” Arty chuckled. It really was nice of them to offer but Arty wanted to do it himself.He wouldn’t really wait until the night before to ask but he’d try! Hopefully, with the prefect duties and volunteering to organize the celestial ball wouldn’t interfere too much. He’d be totally gutted!

As the Hogwarts Express lurched to a halt, Arty threw himself into the corner as he splayed out like a starfish until the train settled. “Aw, they couldn’t skive off one bloody year? I thought everything was aces, done and over and all that.” He instantly complained, not moving until Georgina moved and he pressed right up to her, trying to peer over her shoulder far less subtly than his best friend. Mary’s comment made him look back over, squinting as the eerie green light bothered his eyes. ”But Mary, they can’t tell us about inspections! What if the head boy or girl were death eaters and they used magic to make themselves look like them? I don’t know if that’s possible but I’m totally sure that magic can do basically anything. I’d blame the slytherins but that’s a bit on the nose, don’t you think?”

Of Blood and Magic

Varis found the boy's shoulder and climbed onto his back quickly. If they were going to take away his ability to see, that was fine. Varis wouldn't stumble over nature and have the boy miss catching him. This way he could at least keep some semblance of control over the situation. And anyone who mattered was just as blind as he so his reputation, outside of groundless rumors out of mages, so he would just get down before they broke out of the forest. It was a foolproof plan; it wasn't like he was going to have to do anything anyways. All the responsibility laid on the mage. Maybe this would be refreshing.

"Now that I've accommodated you, let's go. I'm sick of this insane exercise but there is still no excuse for not finishing first with full marks. You've wasted enough time. Where is this sign you have to read?" Varis demanded.

Interacting with: @Obscene Symphony

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Maddie wasn't sure what to expect when the incantation finished but she certainly didn't expect the absence of everything expect cold. A bitter, bone chilling cold that overwhelmed her. She tried to feel for Amaris, for the ground beneath her feet, and she tried to speak but it was as if everything had disappeared and she was loose in the world, without anchor, without grounding. It was terrifying. She was certain this was where it ended.

The world slammed back into her, the chill of the winter air warm compared to wherever she just was. Ari hit her knee next to her and Maddie clutched at her, both to provide support when the Countess stood back up and reassure herself that Ari was still there. Maddie took a deep breath, laughing shakily at Amaris' question. It took her a moment to find her voice again after that and when she did, she wouldn't deny it came out more shakily than she cared for. "Yes, Countess. It seems everything is in order thankfully. Next time, I believe we should politely request an alternative method of transportation. That was certainly unsettling."

Maddie squinted in the dark if the forest. How useful being a light mage must be right now. She supposed she'd just have to suffer through trying to maintain the spell. She wasn't confident she could keep it up for all six hours so she may have to conserve it early like a marathon runner. Start easy. As long as they completed it they would pass so it's the bare minimum. They'd focus on challenges later. Maybe she'd find the edge of the forest first and then go back to find challenges once she was confident they knew the way out.

"Well, we can discuss that on the way. Tiltoure." The area didn't quite brighten but she could make everything out now and the expected blue lettering popped up on a wooden sign she hadn't seen previously. "The compass spins and spins and spins and spins until it finds your heading. Huh. Compasses only point north, right? There's a little compass carved on top too. How nice of them." The last part was a bit more sarcastic than she intended.

Interacting with: @WeepingLiberty

Of Blood and Magic

_{Time: 12:01 - The Forest}

Max/Eris Trip

There was little difference as they walked, a few more signs with much more straightforward instructions. Left 500 paces, continue straight, and slight right were all directions they encountered. These led the pair to a spot where the canopy thinned to let more moonlight illuminate a clear space wide enough to fit the large table that sat in the middle. Two glass domes sat on the table, five yellow wooden rectangles under one and five blue wooden rectangles under another, each set carved with intricate designs. The table, in similar fashion to the signs, read:

"Take what solace you each can find, that of others or that of mind, and keep it close as you trudge west to try and pass your first test."

Lilie/Ben Trip

The path through the woods grew narrow and winding, no other signs making a ready appearance for sometime until finally a neat wooden plaque blocked the center of the path, ten faintly shimmering vials hung from the tree tops around it. A variety of plants grew in the area although two bushes stood out from the rest: Long, slender stalks with bulbs at the end and a small sign with the image of a flower with a trumpet shape set on a star-shaped background and another bush with woody stalks studded with thorns with the familiar spiral flower pattern on the sign. Nothing flowered on either plant but the bulbs suggested they were close.

"A little lost is not all bad but it's time to find your way. Now that sight is lost, what keeps you safe in these early nights? See it bloom and take it South."

Salem/Victor Trip

The path West was easy enough, a few more signs guiding them onwards until they reached a stream. Little glass baubles floated on the water, little whirlwinds blue, red, and green in them respectively, and each was tethered to the bottom with a simple string tied around them. A sign on the opposite side read:

"In the garden of time do the sightless sow emotions, fed by action and belief alike. Passion and envy and sorrow survive the encroaching centuries. Pick that which flourishes and face its consequences to the South."