Game 182: Mini Game [The Somber Path]

[SpellCraft]

Keep in mind, the places / items are general.

You can do stuff when searching the place / item, but it will cost an action.
Things will be hinted in the description, it is up to you if you act upon those hints.

[ponchi]

Any who oppose me will face the wrath of the

[SpellCraft]

ponchi, I just saw this XDD

[ponchi]

XDD But in the end @aki took my bible. His sermon wasn't that good either. All brimstone and lynching.

Here's what the group discovered, in case anyone wanted to follow along.

---

Locations: (a single X = area has been visited, two X's = an area that has been completely explored)


1. XLeft WallX
Missiwiss -- You see lots of broken stained glass. Along the wall, there are lots of scratch marks and overgrown vines. Some vines look climbable. You see something shine above you.
--> climb the vines: You climb the vines. Unfortunately, the shiny object was just bits of broken glass in the light.


2. XRight WallX

Adlet -- You see lots of broken stained glass. Along the wall, there are lots of scratch marks and overgrown vines. Some vines look climbable. You see something shine above you.
--> climb the vines: You climb the vines. Unfortunately, the shiny object was just bits of broken glass in the light. (also:) You peer out of the window. You don't find much out of the ordinary. The sight of the blackening sky gives you chills.


3. XFront WallX

Missiwiss -- Along the wall, there are lots of scratch marks and overgrown vines. Nothing peaks your interest here.

4. XBack WallX (most likely a dead end)

ponchi -- You see lots of broken stained glass. Along the wall, there are lots of scratch marks and overgrown vines. The door you came through to enter the chapel is directly in the middle of the wall. You think to yourself, "Find the key at the chapel." Could this mean the key is outside, not in?
-> outside: You check outside along the walls of the chapel and the area in front or it. You don't find much out of the ordinary. The sight of the blackening sky gives you chills.


5. XFloorX (has a loose floor board, +1 CROWBAR)

Randa -- Along the floor, you see dust and debris everywhere. It's hard to make out anything out of the ordinary with all the mess everywhere. However, you find what appears to be a loose wooden plank on the floor.
-> pull plank: You yank the loose end with all your might, but the floor board is too tightly bound to the other side. It seems like a 2 person job.
--> get another person (Missiwiss ): The two of you grab the floor board together. Pulling upward, the floor board still stubbornly stays in place. . . Until CRACK! The floor board snaps in half. It is hard to see under the floor, because it is dark. Luckily, when you reach into it, you find something metal. Pulling it up, you see that it is a crowbar.


6. Ceiling (requires 2 people) -- (+4 KEYS)

Adlet and ponchi -- The two of you make your way to the balcony. Using it's height, you two carefully climb in the rafters, watching each others backs. Careful not to break any of the rafter boards, you both make your way towards the back of the room, scanning the ceiling for anything. One of you catches a glimpse of what appears to be a hidden compartment in the ceiling, but it will take the two of you to pull it open without falling.
-->pull the compartment: The two of you decide to open the compartment. One grabs the handle with both hands, and the other supports them. Heave, Ho! The compartments swings open rapidly, nearly knocking you both off. Lots of debris slam to the ground from the comparment. Among it, you see something shiny.

---> Missiwiss : You check the pile of debris. In it, there are lots of ...dismembered body parts. You don't like the look of this. However, in one of the hands, you find keys! Enough for every other person. Could this be the key the soul was talking about?

You hold the remaining 4 keys. You can tell no one, or tell everyone. You also can decide who to give them to.


7. XBenchesX (+1 HEAVY BOOK)

ponchi -- Along the benches, you see lots of dust and rotting wood. On the the benches, you find a book. It's a religious text, with golden rims along the side. You decide to take it with you, incase you need it.

Adlet -- open bible: Upon opening the book, you see something fall out. You found a key! Could this be the key the soul was talking about? (+1 KEY)


8. XLecternX aka podium (+1 KEY)

Dream -- At the lectern, you see scraps of cloth everywhere. What happened here? Among the grime, you see an outline of what appears to be a compartment, but there's no keyhole or handle to be found.
(after the click) At the lectern, you see scraps of cloth everywhere. What happened here? Among the grime, you see an outline of what appears to be a compartment, and it is slightly opened. What could be inside?
--> use the crowbar: You cautiously open the compartment with the crowbar.
You found a key! Could this be the key the soul was talking about?


9. XBalconyX

BleedingRayne -- Reaching the balcony, you notice lots of books piles and thrown all over the floor. The bookshelves here are nearly empty, with the exception of a few scattered books and ...what appears to be a string. The string is attached to the wall. That's odd.
--> pull string: You decide to pull the string. The group hears a click somewhere in the chapel, but are unsure where it came from.


10.XOrganX (+1 KEY)

Dream -- You examine the organ from top to bottom. Nothing looks out of the ordinary, just a dusty organ. You play a few notes, but it seems the organ doesn't work. Could something be clogging the pipes? It's too bad there's a lock to get inside of the organ.
--> Dream and BleedingRayne -- Breaking open the organ lock with the crowbar, you scan the inside of the organ. It's hard to tell every shiny object apart, for the pipes appear newly cleaned. That's odd, since the organ itself is dirty. However, you finally see the source clogging the organ pipes. You found a key! Could this be the key the soul was talking about?

---

[SpellCraft]

Results

Out of the 7 who answered so far . . .
7 passed! Congratulations!

[Somber: 4 Answer]

1: You see lots of broken stained glass. Along the wall, there are lots of scratch marks and overgrown vines. Some vines look climbable. You see something shine above you.
> You climb the vines. Unfortunately, the shiny object was just bits of broken glass.
2: You see lots of broken stained glass. Along the wall, there are lots of scratch marks and overgrown vines. Some vines look climbable. You see something shine above you.
> You climb the vines. Unfortunately, the shiny object was just bits of broken glass.
3: Along the wall, there are lots of scratch marks and overgrown vines. Nothing peaks your interest here.
4: You see lots of broken stained glass. Along the wall, there are lots of scratch marks and overgrown vines. The door you came through to enter the chapel is directly in the middle of the wall. You think to yourself, "Find the key at the chapel." Could this mean the key is outside, not in?
> You check outside along the walls of the chapel and the area in front or it. You don't find much out of the ordinary. The sight of the blackening sky gives you chills.
5: Along the floor, you see dust and debris everywhere. It's hard to make out anything out of the ordinary with all the mess everwhere. However, you find what appears to be a loose wooden plank on the floor.
> You yank the loose end with all your might, but the floor board is too tightly bound to the other side. It seems like a 2 person job.
> > The two of you grab the floor board together. Pulling upward, the floor board still stubbornly stays in place. . . Until CRACK! The floor board snaps in half. It is hard to see under the floor, because it is dark. Luckily, when you reach into it, you find something metal. Pulling it up, you see that it is a crowbar.
6: The two of you make your way to the balcony. Using it's height, you two carefully climb in the rafters, watching each others backs. Careful not to break any of the rafter boards, you both make your way towards the back of the room, scanning the ceiling for anything. One of you catches a glimpse of what appears to be a hidden compartment in the ceiling, but it will take the two of you to pull it open without falling.
> The two of you decide to open the compartment. One grabs the handle with both hands, and the other supports them. Heave, Ho! The compartments swings open rapidly, nearly knocking you both off. Lots of debris slam to the ground from the compartment. Among it, you see something shiny.
> > You check the pile of debris. In it, there are lots of ...dismembered body parts. You don't like the look of this. However, in one of the hands, you find a key! Could this be the key the soul was talking about?
7: Along the benches, you see lots of dust and rotting wood. On the the benches, you find a book. It's a religious text, with golden rims along the side. You decide to take it with you, incase you need it.
> Upon opening the book, you see something fall out. You found a key! Could this be the key the soul was talking about?
8: At the lectern, you see scraps of cloth everywhere. What happened here? Among the grime, you see an outline of what appears to be a compartment, but there's no keyhole or handle to be found.
> You attempt to use the crowbar on the lectern. Unfortunately, there isn't a big enough gap to yank it open.
> You attempt to smash the lectern with the crowbar. As the wooden lectern easily crushes away with every swing, you realize the the compartment is a metal safe. With the lectern completely destroyed, you try to crack open the safe with the crowbar, but to no prevail. The safe appears to just be a metal box, with no handle, lock, or hinges. It's as if there's no way in. However, you heard rattling inside, like metal on metal.(edited)
> At the lectern, you see scraps of cloth everywhere. What happened here? Among the grime, you see an outline of what appears to be a compartment, and it is slightly opened. What could be inside?
> > You found a key! Could this be the key the soul was talking about?
9: Reaching the balcony, you notice lots of books piles and thrown all over the floor. The bookshelves here are nearly empty, with the exception of a few scattered books and ...what appears to be a string. The string is attached to the wall. That's odd.
> You decide to pull the string. The group hears a click somewhere in the chapel, but are unsure where it came from.
10: You examine the organ from top to bottom. Nothing looks out of the ordinary, just a dusty organ. You play a few notes, but it seems the organ doesn't work. Could something be clogging the pipes? It's too bad there's a lock to get inside of the organ.
> Breaking open the organ with the crowbar, you scan the inside of the organ. It's hard to tell every shiny object apart, for the pipes appear newly cleaned. That's odd, since the organ itself is dirty. However, you finally see the source clogging the organ pipes. You found a key! Could this be the key the soul was talking about?

Item locations: Crowbar = Under floor board, String = along balcony, Book (on a bench)

Key locations: In the Organ (after breaking open with tire iron), In ceiling (2 people job), In lectern (after someone pulls the string), In a book (requires searching benches and reading the book)

[SpellCraft]

Decision 5

"The was a close one."

Clutching your keys, the group watches the outside hit full nighttime. It is now officially impossible to see anyone or anything. In this moment, however, you all watch the same soul that gave you directions, floating into the chapel. It is lit up a brilliant blue color. It speaks in it's language, but you understand it now:

Here is where we rest, slaughtered by a creature far more terrifying than death itself. This place is our graveyard. I will not let it be yours. Please, take those keys and free us from this torture.

With that, the soul glides over to the chapel door. Everyone carefully follows, with the soul being the only source of light. You all make your way about half a mile from the chapel, and discover cellar doors. Upon opening those doors, the group makes their way into the cellar, and find a handful of chests, 1 for each remaining player...plus 1? It appears there is a trap chest mixed in with the real ones, might kill you. There are descriptions in front of each chest, but appear to have been worn away through many years of decay and rot. What remains read:
Chest 1 - ...prot......ad...nd....ros...w..
Chest 2 - .....ote.....bo....
Chest 3 - .....st....pel....ir...
Chest 4 - ....sim....agge...a....alin....rbs...
Chest 5 - .....pik......ce....an.....hi...
Chest 6 - Remains Completely Unreadable.
Chest 7 - ......th...y......rro....
Chest 8 - ....ng....wo....d.....eld....

"Which chest will you chose?"

---

Answers MUST be messaged to me. (Either RDG or Discord is fine.)

This is how you can deceive / betray your competition. You can say one thing in the thread, but PM me something totally different. You may also be completely honest and work with everyone else. However, if you all get the wrong answer, you will all fail.

Based on the difficulty of this puzzle, you get: 0 hints.

First come, first serve.
Everyone must wait 12 hours before submitting a decision.
(You can still send me your choices, and if no one else wanted that chest within the 12 hours time frame, you will get it. Otherwise, if more people wanted a certain chest, it will be decided another way.)

The chest choice will either help or hamper your next Decision.

[SpellCraft]

Results

Out of the 7 who answered so far . . .
7 passed! Congratulations!

I will post the final answer here after the next decision!

[SpellCraft]

Decision 6

"Here's the truth."

Gathering up all the items, the group looks at one another. "I wonder who'll survive," the somber girl says out of no where. "This doesn't look like any ordinary battle. I think we're going to fight...it." It?, the group ponders. "There's something about this world you need to know, and it's better sooner than later. Both the somber world and the sweet world used to be combined; not too much sweet and not too much somber. But, there was this ...monster. A Kuro among Kuros. Someone who everyone thought was ...good. Someone who--" the somber girl is interrupted by a terrible growl in the near-by distance. The spirit floats near the group. Without words, they know that it is time...

Leaving the cellar, the group stays close to one another. It's far to dark to see, and the snarling is getting closer...and multiplying, until the group is surrounded by the sound. From these sounds, you can hear 8 distinct ones. You can't tell if it's real or fake, but there are 8 targets to choose from.

North - one

North-East - two

East - three

South-East - four

South - five

South-West - six

West - seven

North-West - eight

This isn't luck, but a rhyming tactic.
Aim carefully, or it will be tragic.
Out of 8 directions, there's only 1 monster.
Do you want to die, or do you want to prosper?

"Which direction do you attack?"

---

Final answers MUST be messaged to me. (Either RDG or Discord is fine.)

This is how you can deceive / betray your competition. You can say one thing in the thread, but PM me something totally different. You may also be completely honest and work with everyone else. However, if you all get the wrong answer, you will all fail.

Based on the difficulty of this puzzle, you get: 1 hint. (Ask when you need it)

If at least 1 person attacks the creature, everyone will live. However, in order to keep your items for future decisions, you must hit the creature. Otherwise, if you miss, you will lose your equipment.
If no one hits the creature, you all die.

[SpellCraft]

Hint 1: The thing that you want the most will rhyme with one of the numbers that corresponds to a direction.

[Duchess]

Adlet
ponchi
Randa
Missiwiss
Dream
BleedingRayne

[SpellCraft]

Results

Out of the 6 who answered so far . . .
7 passed! Congratulations!

[Somber: Answer 6]

North - one/done
North-East - two/pew
East - three/flee
South-East - four/gore
South - five/alive
South-West - six/tricks
West - seven/heaven
North-West - eight/bait

[SpellCraft]

Decision 7

"Pressing on."

After a struggling fight, the group manage to hit the creature. No matter how bad they fought, however, the beast didn't  seemed to perish. After the last strike, the creature let out a might roar, and backed away into the black night. When the rustling finally faded, the group let out a sigh. "Night does not last long here. Although, with everything somber, it's never really not nighttime," the somber girl exhaled in relief. "Let's recuperate." 

Impossible to see anything, the group decides to lay down and rest until dawn breaks. With eyes closed, you all begin to feel something. It touches your skin softly, almost like the caress of a soft touch. At first, however, because after a few seconds, it feels rough. Abrasive, even. It feels like it's raining sand all around, yet more of a powder. Off in the near-distance, you all hear a CRASH, as if a tree had fallen near the group. Standing up, you all form a circle. With various items in hand, you use your senses to figure out what's happening around you all, and how to stop it.

"What happening?"

---

Final answers MUST be messaged to me. (Either RDG or Discord is fine.)

This is how you can deceive / betray your competition. You can say one thing in the thread, but PM me something totally different. You may also be completely honest and work with everyone else. However, if you all get the wrong answer, you will all fail.

Based on the difficulty of this puzzle, you get: Freedom to Explore. (Be careful what you do. 5 actions each.)

Here's a map:


It's too dark to see a thing. You start at the star, and you can only move to an adjacent square (corners count).
Keep in mind, your only goal is to figure out what's happening. You don't have to move, you can use a sensory check, or just bide your time. Events will happen every certain number of turns though.
For Example, if a tree falls on action 7 (which means the group in total has made 7 actions) in square 21, and you are standing in square 21 at that time, you will die.
All events are pre-made, so nothing will be done on purpose. I'm not evil enough to just kill someone because I want to. The faster you (not including group) figure it out without taking actions, the more likely you will survive. PM me/ping me on Discord for further questions.

[SpellCraft]

Results

Out of the 1 who answered so far . . .
7 passed! Congratulations!

[Somber: Answer 7]

There was a volcanic eruption near-by. It is raining ash.
Action 3, a flying rock from the eruption will crash at square 1.
Action 7, a tree will fall and crush anyone in square 26.
Action 12, erupting lava from the volcano will land on squares 5 and 20.
Action 13, strong ash covers square 16. It's impossible to breathe. Get out while you can.
Action 19, the ground trembles a bit over all squares. What could be happening?
Action 22, a flying rock from the eruption will crash at square 12.
Action 25, a tree will fall and crush anyone in square 23.
Action 28, a flying rock from the eruption will crash at square 8.
Action 31, the beast lumbers back, near the group. It is lurking at square 30.
Action 34, the ground starts to tremble beneath you. __Get out quick__.
Action 35, erupting lava from the volcano will land on every odd-numbered square.

[SpellCraft]

Decision 8

"New Enemies?"

You are take your chances, knowing what's to come, and quickly run out of the area, guided by a mysterious light that shines over the horizon, away from the danger.
What seems like forever, really turns out to be 2 hours of running towards this blinding light. Your group, or at least what's left of it, watches the world slowly succumb from something dark and devoid of life to candy brights and sweets. In fact, it would make more sense to say that one side of your view remained ark and dismal, while the other side becomes full of sweets and joy.

Upon reaching the end of the hill, your group stares out forward. The light blinds you slightly, having remained in the darkness for quite some time. You are now presented with a choice. Neither are right or wrong, but it will define the rest of your adventure.

Will you turn back, and remain in the somber world of chaos you've come to know through your time here? 

Or will you continue forward and enter this sweet, new world before you?

It seems, while you are making this decision, that there is a group standing on the line between these two worlds, near the end of a milky river. You are unsure if they mean you harm, so you may want to decide quickly.

"Leave or Stay?"

---

Final answers MUST be messaged to me. (Either RDG or Discord is fine.)

This is how you can deceive / betray your competition. You can say one thing in the thread, but PM me something totally different. You may also be completely honest and work with everyone else. However, if you all get the wrong answer, you will all fail.

At this time, I will open up sign-ups for anyone who is new to RDG within the last year we took hiatus.
Why? Because from here on out, it will get a lot harder, and people will die off.
We will reach the conclusion, on way or another.

Lastly... can you go up to this mysterious group in front of you?
Of course you can! At your own risk.

Based on the difficulty of this puzzle, you get: 0 hints.

[SpellCraft]

Results

Out of the 8 who answered so far . . .
8 passed! Congratulations!

Everyone moving on with the Somber Path:

BleedingRayne
Adlet
Randa
Alucard
Duchess
ponchi
Missiwiss
Dream

[SpellCraft]

Decision 9

"Easter in April."

Continuing your travels along the somber path, you all recognize one thing.

"I suppose..." chimes in the somber girl, as if reading your thoughts. "...it's Easter."



And with that being said, you all stop in your tracks. It was pretty dark, not nearly like before when it was impossible to see, but dark enough to not notice the "quick sand" you all had stepped into. Quick sand, so you assume, although a bit muddy and sticky and wet. Regardless, you can tell that you're sinking downward at a snails pace, but unable to free yourselves without getting into a bigger mess, or sinking faster.

"Stay calm, and don't thrash around." exclaims the somber girl, who's looks up intensely. Looking up yourselves, you barely read what seems to be... another riddle.

Valentine's day comes in February. Easter comes in April.
Is there any way to reverse the hands of time?

Confused, you all look around more closely at your surroundings. There are 26 vines hanging from trees high above. Each vine is made up of a different material, some sturdier than others. It might take some time to examine each vine, but will also probably be worth it. The somber girl begins examining some vines near her, but she can't reach them all.
"I have a vine made of wood and a vine made of marble near me. What about the rest of you?"
You all have 3 vines that you can reach and examine, all made of different materials. Two will kill you, one will save you.

"Which vines do you pull?"

---

Final answers MUST be messaged to me. (Either RDG or Discord is fine.)

This is how you can deceive / betray your competition. You can say one thing in the thread, but PM me something totally different. You may also be completely honest and work with everyone else. However, if you all get the wrong answer, you will all fail.

Based on the difficulty of this puzzle, you get: 1 hint.

[SpellCraft]

Hint: Don't let the vines confuse you. Find out the answer to the riddle.
Find out what is different about every single vine, don't fall into the wrong answer just because vines seem similar. What do you notice when you put all of the vines together?

[SpellCraft]

Your fellow companion has fallen.

BleedingRayne has dropped the game.

In light of this, you watch her pull her Bamboo rope. Climbing at it, you watch it break near the top. As she falls, she grabs onto the Elephant trunk next. This, however, gives off a loud elephant toot, and slams Rayne down into the quick mud. You all watch as her body sinks far too quickly to help her, completely absorbed in seconds.

Perhaps the correct answer was her Iron vine?

With this, you have learn that there is only 1 correct vine.

Additionally, the correct vine corresponds with 1 common thing that makes every vine different from the others.

This 1 thing has nothing to do with the specific materials they are made out of... but maybe more to do with wordings and letters and the riddle?