Stage 38: Running Man

A quick reminder - Nobody remembers who Octavius is except for those who interfaced during this adventure. So Kaitlyn mentioning Professor Baird - the answer would be "never heard of him". If you did not go to Octavius during this adventure, please edit out references to knowing who Octavius is.

@Eonaria Kabukimono and @Kai Draxon would stumble upon a gathering in their common room, though the term 'cult' hardly did it justice. It was a 'gathering' as there was no chanting, summoning circles or flickering ritualistic candles to set their nerves on edge, but that made the scene no less wrong. It was the glassy, vacant stares of their peers. Their rigid, puppet-like stillness. The way their smiles seemed drawn on too tightly, as though someone had forgotten how human expressions truly worked.

This was a mockery of humanity. Looking at those gathered in that common room, it felt less like a group and more like a performance staged by something that only pretended to understand people.

Among the Gryffindors there in the common room, there were countless Twinkle dolls, identical to the ones both Eonaria and Kai had received. Same burlap bodies, the color of warm butter. Same dark button eyes, like obsidian beads. What should have been a comforting caricature dressed in faded red velvet robes and a pointed wizarding hat. A few of the students cradled something... different.

A variant. A brother or a cousin maybe.

This one, unknown and unnamed. Its burlap skin was the hue of scorched earth, its stitching more erratic, stretched or crazed even, as though the stitching was holding something inside. This one wore a tattered purple top hat stitched with mismatched thread, and a matching cloak that once might have shimmered. It looked like a performer, perhaps a ringmaster. The kind of showman that grins too wide and never takes a bow.

The moment hung in the air like fog, heavy and still. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

Eonaria and Kai did not linger in this strange place. They did not have the luxury of questioning what was happened, even if they said something. She really should not have... Rather than stay, they both chose instinct. They both ran.

Neither paused to inspect the packages sitting innocently in the center of the room, wrapped in simple faded parchment paper, marked with their names, and already torn open at the corners as if someone or something had already peeked inside. Or more concerningly, crawled out from these dark, unknown confines.

Eonaria and Kai didn’t look back. Didn’t take the dolls. They ran from a terror that they could not yet name, ultimately finding refuse in an abandoned classroom outside of normal class hours.



@Lyanna Oak’s path diverged quietly, but not without consequence, but she would find herself in the same place as students from other houses. Each of them encountering similar terrors before the would come to the same irrevocable conclusion: they needed to run.

It began with a package, plain, unmarked, waiting for her as though it had always been there. This package was the kind of thing that waits. what the package held was the kind of thing that watches, that acts when one is not looking. Lyanna had no reason to expect a package, there was no sender, so she ignored it at first. Lyanna denied that call to adventure, but she could not defy the pull of something deeper and darker. Of something that searched for her and ultimately found her. She could not escape the insistent package or the gift inside, Twinkle.

She knew something was wrong from the start and she tried to do her due-diligence and look, ask, even try to learn. But the eeriness of it all never seemed to escape her. She tried to ask around, but the signs that something was wrong began to rot through the veil of normalcy. Whispers in the corridor with no mouths to shape them. Shadows that lingered one second too long. Laughter echoing where no one stood.

And then, the student.

Not a familiar face. Not one Lyanna could place in a class, a dorm, a memory. Their voice was soft—too soft, like parchment tearing—and their words left splinters in her thoughts:

“If you speak their names, they hear you. If you name them… they own you.”

Lyanna tried to understand, to trace the meaning but the statement was a riddle without context or form. She tried to find the knowledge but she did not know where to search or even what she was looking for. The vague notion of answers was simply not enough. Knowledge had slipped just beyond her reach, as if someone had moved it deliberately.

Lyanna crossed paths again with the same pair of strangers who gave her that riddle. That had warned her something was wrong without clearly telling her what. They stood beneath the archway, pale as smoke, clothes hanging like old curtains soaked in something old and wet. They didn’t speak this time. Just extended a hand. Not inviting. A gesture, a simple wave to follow.

Something ancient stirred beneath Lyanna's ribs. A feeling not unlike fear, but colder. Quieter. She would not follow. No, she ran. she ran as fast as her feet could carry her, rushing past clueless students who seemed offended by the race she was having against an unknown opponent.

Behind her, the ashen pair moved with impossible grace, they were fast. They did not shout. But they chased her all the same, their presence curling around corners like fog with teeth. She would round a corner, then another. when they were finally out of sight, she would dive into an abandoned classroom. The room was dark and large with plenty of hiding places, disused spaces such as this seemed to repulse the curious and she could only hope that she could hide.

And hide she would, but she would find that others had chosen the very same hiding space.



@Astra Norrick opened the package, ac ccepting a gift she never asked for. That was her first mistake.

She would find Twinkle, a charming doll made from a soft sandy hued burlap. Wide-eyed, with big dark pearl eyes and a green patch over their heart. Twinkle might have been adorable, but they were no friend of Astra's. Astra did not perch Twinkle in a place of honor like her bed or on her bedside table, rather Astra shoved the doll beneath her bed. Twinkle was tucked deep into the shadows, where it couldn’t watch her. Where it could not be with her. Where it couldn’t breathe. But the moment her fingers released it, she knew something was wrong.

Dolls, even the strange ones with stitched smiles and velvet robes, did not move on their own. She would not feel the movement, but once Twinkle disappeared into the darkness beneath her bed, she would hear it. Movement. She should have ran just then, it was wrong, but it was easy to make an excuse. An elaborate prank, some sort of charm, maybe someone was hiding under the bed.

Astra did not run. She knelt to look beneath the bed... there was nothing. Just empty space. Just dust, and the low hum of stillness that felt far too aware.

But she’d just put Twinkle there.

And something had moved. She heard it.

Yes, she heard it. A soft, crawling shuffle. She wouldn’t stay. She couldn’t. The room felt wrong now, dangerous perhaps. Like the walls were listening.

So Astra left.

From her dormitory, she would find herself in the common room. Distance perhaps all she needed. Perhaps thinking she would find relief in the warmth of company. But the moment she crossed the threshold, she might have felt safer in her dorm.

The room was full of students… but they were too still. Too silent. Their eyes glazed, locked on something unseen.

Each held a doll.

Identical. Or nearly—each one dressed in familiar red velvet, soft burlap skin, a wizard’s hat perched neatly atop their heads.

And yet, there was another.

A doll that did not match the others. Scattered, like a speckling of pepper. A nameless friend, Steven. They were not yet introduced. Steven's burlap was darker, like dried blood or old coffee, and its pale green eyes seemed to pull at the light. It wore a purple top hat, stitched with colors that didn’t quite belong, and a long, fraying purple cape.

The Slytherins were not talking.
It was hard to be certain that they were breathing.
But it was certain that they were waiting.

Astra didn't wait to understand.
She just ran.

______________

@Kaitlin Connor

I could not find the path that was taken to bring your character here. I'm sorry but I cant provide narrative context for your adventure.

Screaming and running wasn't her usual choice. But staying with that weird company wasn't the path she was ready to go with either. Something weird was happening and the castle was unusually quiet.

Getting to the room, Linda found some students already here. But was here more safe than with that weird Gryffindors? She was uncertain. She chose to stay quiet and just wait silently for whatever was going to happen next.

Interacting with : Reducio @Lyanna Oak, @Linda Ramirez

Date: Reducio March 22nd

Notes: Reducio Speech: #3CB371 Thoughts: italics

Outfit: Reducio Slytherin Uniform + sandals

Kaitlyn looked to the door when another student came rushing in. This time, she knew this one. Whatever was going on was impacting the Hufflepuffs, as well. Weird. And it was all connected to these dolls. She looked down at the Twinkle doll still in her arms, wondering if it was even safe to keep. Considering the students she saw so far, it sounded like it wasn’t safe to keep.

“Hi Lyanna. I only know I got this doll,” Kaitlyn held up Twinkle. “I went to Professor Baird with it … and I don’t know, some freaky things happened. It was like his mouth was sewn shut,” she sighed. “What happened to you? It’ll be all right, you’re here now,” she offered, hoping to make Lyanna at least less scared. Then again, if she also received Twinkle, then her doll wouldn’t put Lyanna at ease.

Then Linda came into the room. Another Gryffindor that likely encountered a doll. Kaitlyn waved at her. “Hi Linda,” she greeted her quietly.

Word Count:

Reducio

Note: 168 words

For reference, I went Stage 1 > Stage 2 > Stage 8 > Stage 18 > Stage 38

XXXEonaria nodded slightly in response to the other Gryffindor's question. Kai "Yep..." What do you mean, still?? How long has this been going on? One of the older Slytherins spoke rather grimly of their predicament, spinning her wand. Astra For a moment, Eonaria wanted to protest, to say that she wasn't that limited and she already knew a lot of spells- but she backed down from the thought. What good would arguing over something like this do? Compared to the others, most likely, she was probably pretty incompetent in terms of leadership and bravery. If Eonaria couldn't bring herself to take out her wand and use it properly, then she might as well not know any spells at all.

XXXThe other older Slytherin squeaked slightly, holding the doll closer. Kaitlyn "Say what?" Eonaria blinked. "Professor Baird?" She tried to remember which professor that was. "I mean... if a teacher was going to take away the doll, why didn't you give it to him...?" For your own safety...? The answer came easily, and Eonaria paled. "Well... that's understandable, then," she squeaked. A thread coming out of his mouth?! That almost sounds like he's turned into a doll himself!!

XXXSeconds later, the door opened again, and a Hufflepuff came in, looking out of breath. She introduced herself as Lyanna, speaking rapidly. Ah, I think I've seen her around before... "You too?" Eonaria exclaimed, her voice steadily rising in pitch. Sooner or later, she was going to tire out her voice. "It's all the houses, then?"

XXXThe Slytherin with the doll greeted Lyanna just as another Gryffindor entered. Linda It's a whole party in here, Eonaria thought almost dizzily. She wasn't going to faint. Probably.

I am trying to be polite here, can you guys link me where you guys had a thread with Octavius and the dolls...

I have literally checked every level and every stage and I only see Nabi Park and Mellani Miller in Octavius threads. This could be an error on my part, but I am going to need to see how you got here with the information that you have.

Ah, I'm sorry, I completely forgot to post in that topic (Stage 8 was the initial interaction and then Stage 18). I can quickly post in those, though.

Edit: I posted in those stages. My apologies, yet again. Sorry for the hassle.

Did you hear the sound of drums? No, not drums, foot steps growing louder. You’re being followed. No, you're being pursued. There’s a difference. Following is passive. Curious. It waits. Watches. There is a clandestine humor almost when someone follows and perhaps all too coincidentally finds themself in the same room, the same hall, a part of the same conversation.

There was no humor or charm in this. This was pursuit. This was a hunt and you were they prey.

The footsteps echoed down the corridor. A percussive rhythm that matched your collective heartbeat, that of all of you. Beat for beat, the many hearts were like the many feet the now pursued you. It was impossible to tell where your racing heart ended and your pursuers footfalls began.

“I think they went this way,” someone called out. Their voice wrong, there was not enough inflection to be right.

They were coming for you. Was it the students in the common room or was it Octavius, the Professor you all had forgotten. Or what was left of them.

There was no options prepared for you, but you probably knew the choices - fight, flight or hide. They were coming, what do you do?

Interacting with : Reducio @Kai Draxon, @Astra Norrick, @Eonaria Kabukimono, @Lyanna Oak, @Linda Ramirez

Date: Reducio March 22nd

Notes: Reducio Speech: #3CB371 Thoughts: italics

Outfit: Reducio Slytherin Uniform + sandals

Kaitlyn froze for a moment, hearing a noise. At first, she didn’t know what it was, but she didn’t want to be rude to the others in the classroom. So, she closed her eyes. It sounded like footsteps. Someone was coming … or something. Another student, perhaps? Maybe a Professor? That would be nice. But, wouldn’t either of them be running at this point? Something was off.

Soon enough, Kaitlyn noticed something even odder. The footsteps rang out in the corridor, practically matching the beat of her thumping heart. Strange. Opening her eyes, she was about to say something to the other girls when a voice could be heard. A chill went down her spine. ‘Fudge! Are we being … hunted? That voice … didn’t sound right,’ she thought, fear gripping her mind.

Her eyes looked at her wand … and the doll she still had with her. Kaitlyn frowned, dropping the doll on one of the desks. Whatever was pursuing them … likely wasn’t looking for a doll. It was for them. ‘I … I hate to sit back and do nothing. I’d rather try something than hide and cower in fear. I want to do what I can to help. I don’t know if I’m strong enough for whatever is coming, but I can’t sit back,’ she thought.

“Someone is coming … go hide,” Kaitlyn whispered to the other girls. She slowly hopped her way to the door in a few graceful movements. Drawing her wand, she waited by the door as a first line of protection for the others.

Word Count:

Reducio

Note: 262 words

ooc: I have the twinkle doll, yes.

Action: waiting next to the door with her wand raised.

The question whether it could get any worse didn't have to be in her head. It seemed that everything that could go wrong went wrong. Why did she run here? In a classroom that didn't have place to truly hide. Attempting to run now could be a better decision. At least she wouldn't be in a closed room. But it wasn't the best choice either. Running will be more vulnerable.

She sighed. Footsteps were just like the sound of her heartbeat. What if she tried to slow it down? Perhaps, it still wasn't the best choice. Were those creatures afraid of the light? Could they be slowed down? Or perhaps, could they burn? However, Linda was afraid there was no time for searching the answer.

She looked at Kaitlyn as the girl prepared her wand. Hide? Where would they hide? Did this unfortunate classroom had anything they could use? What good was if she chose to hide? She doubted it was a good choice. There had to be something that could help them more. But what was that? Linda didn't know.

Dark creatures were usually not friends with light. Would it help here? Such a waste of time. That's what she was doing with all her thinking. But running and hiding? She wasn't sure if there was any place left for hiding. Why not trying to fight instead? That's a good offer. But I'm sorry, Kaitlyn. I will stay with you. Besides, are you sure there's some place in the castle where all of us can be safe? And how long would it be safe there?
@Kaitlyn Connor

Action: choosing to stay, thinking about the way to fight