The Red Queen's Labyrinth Group 4

After entering with her friends, Mira looks at what is in front of her in awe. This is her first time ever in a maze, and she feels a bit dizzy at the three paths ahead. Among them, only one would be the right path. One wrong choice, and she and her teammates might fail the game.

But Mira soon calms down. She is from the Horned-Serpent house of Ilvermorny, which is like Ravenclaw of Hogwarts. She has a bestie from Ravenclaw, who has taught her some of the riddles they have faced at the entrance of their common room. Mira is not that unfamiliar with riddles. She reads the words on the parchment carefully.

'Curious' she murmurs as she reads. The first few pararaphs emphasizes the fact that only one path can be the right one, and describes the three paths. But the last paragraph, using bigger letters than the rest, seems to be the key to finding the right path.

Mira reads for three times. 'A knowing local.' she says quietly. She knows which path to choose. But she needs to ask the rest for advice first. 'I have an idea.' she says softly, 'It says we need a local to lead us,and the second path has gnomes as guides. I suggest choosing the second path! What do you think...'

1. @Ebony Vetra
2. @Verona Andréas
3. @Estella Cain
4. @Aly Salinger

location ; small hall.	12/04/26 ; date
wc ; 380	choosing the second path. ; ooc notes

Wonderland eerily reminded her of her own family's origins and dwellings. The witch could not help herself from feeling immense familiarity, the whimsical aesthetic that clung to every edge of Hogwarts. Indeed, it was a spring ball, the theme being wonderland, reminiscing to the muggle book Alice in Wonderland. It was one of her favourites, from the few that she read. Muggle literature was always fascinating, especially ones that depicted magic and magical beings. She would sit by the fireplace in her Manor, warm tea in her hands, and cackling at the absurdity that those writers wrote. It was—and still is— a great amusement.

Clutching the periwinkle silk of her gown, she approached the Small Hall with great anticipation. If it was upto her, she would've chosen something carmine, glimmering of blood. But Alas, her mum heard one word of Alice and chose something blandly blue. Granted, it was not a bad choice, far from it, but she missed her crimson. Twirling the key without much thought, a sly smile playing at her lips, steps increasing speed as she reached. The key was delivered to her by owl, so mysteriously she jested about it being akin to a heist. But it was no heist, but a maze.

The Small Hall looked entirely like a large rabbit's burrow, and she was Alice as she fell down through the hole. But instead for holes, there were doors of many shapes and sizes, each one peculiar from another. Trusting her unreliable intuition again, she blindly walked to a door that spoke to her, hoping it may be the one. And as the key clicked against the one, it opened.

Upon entering a garden, she was once again faced with choices. Three paths lined in front of her, with riddles displayed for each one. The first path was adorned with fungi of different colours, but too colourful..

The second one thrived of gnomes, a familiar presence. While the third was magnificently opulent, but too royal. The riddle held a clue to the correct choice, speaking of a knowing local. The only one familiar enough was the gnomes, and it could only be the second path. Lost in her thoughts, she was then aware of neglecting her teammates. With a blinding smile stretched, " Yes, I agree. It must be the second path. "

Group 4 was an interesting and the most international team of all; there were, of course, Hogwarts students and also students from Castelobruxo and Ilvermorny. Although there were competitors for the Spring Royalty in the group, they seemed perfectly friendly with each other. As they saw the riddle, Mira Hawkins was soon to speak up about their thoughts about it, and the keywords in the riddle had already been found. Estella Cain agreed with Mira while observing the three respective paths. Aly Salinger joined the discussion with her own remark. The other two members seemed to be a bit absentminded. Upon reaching a conclusion, Aly made the first move and led the group into the second path.

For players who chose to brave the SECOND PATH, they would find themselves rewarded! Players who walked down the path would be excitedly crowded and shuffled along the path by the dancing garden gnomes present. Despite their excited gibberish, the gnomes would soon prove to be the “knowing locals” that the riddle hinted at. Without trouble or hurdles, the group would find themselves in overly friendly, but safe hands. The peaceful passage through the breezy, grassy path with the cheery gnomes would eventually lead them to the second obstacle in the labyrinth…

At the end of the correct path lay the next obstacle for our brave challengers. Before them stood a door buried deep in neat, jade hedges. The air smelled of fragrant roses, and there was nothing around other than roses, hedges, and that mysterious door. If players were to try and twist its shimmering rose-gold handle, they would find it locked. A keyhole could be found beneath the handle. It was unusually small, smaller than most keyholes. To the right of the door, between a trimmed hedge and a stone wall, players would find a table. Resting on the table was a silver key, the metal glinting in the sunlight.

Above the door, a wooden, heart-shaped sign swings with the following riddle:

A key that’s right but far too tall,
Will never fit a door so small!
Shrink the problem, not the door...
Then the key may be used once more.

Oh dear, such a predicament. Perhaps this will be a job for those wands!

OOC Instructions

Reducio

Rules

Congratulations, your group has made it to the second obstacle! Please note the following rules for this obstacle:

1. Similar to before, moderation will occur once a week, if at least HALF of the members in the group posted an action.
   • If one or no members post an action that round, moderation will happen only the next week to give more time for members to post. This is for the sake of game progression.
   • If there are any special circumstances (eg, members are ill), please owl us. We will consider making exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
2. Each participant is allowed one moderated action per round. Please include your abilities and stats in your post.
3. Please specify your character's action(s) in your post (as an OOC note).
   • This includes moderated actions, which are actions that require dice rolls to determine their outcome, like casting a spell.
4. Please follow all usual HIO rules.
   • This includes 200 IC word requirements.
5. Wave those wands and good luck, challengers. Have fun!

ROUND 2 SPECIAL INSTRUCTION:
As hinted above, a spell should successfully be cast in order to pass on to the next stage. Procedure will go as follows:

1. The moderator will moderate the actions by order of whoever posted first.
   Moderation notes will be left for each player.
2. If the obstacle is successfully passed before the moderation of some of the later posters’ actions, we will disregard the other actions and automatically let the group pass.

Group 4

1. @Ebony Vetra
2. @Verona Andréas
3. @Mira Hawkins
4. @Estella Cain
5. @Aly Salinger

DEADLINE: 1 week from time of posting

Banner made by the amazing Elisa Shakestra

The Red Queen's Labyrinth Outfit – Soft lavender tuxedo (see banner for details) Notes – None WC – XXX Mentions – @Estella Cain, @Mira Hawkins Location – Small Hall, Hogwarts Date – 04/19/2026 Interacts – @Aly Salinger, @Ebony Vetra

Mira is excited when they walk into the second path and realize that it is the right one. She has just given a right suggestion. Before joining the labyrinth, she has panicked a bit. She knew there are some elder students, who are much more experienced and knows way more spells than she does. What if she ends up doing nothing good to the team? What if all her ideas are rejected or simply ignored? Now, on the other hand, she is no longer worrying. Her teammates are friendly, and she just proved that her existence in the team is not a mistake.

To the second obstacle, she studies the riddle. A key too big for the keyhole. 'Shrink the problem' the riddle suggests. The key is the problem. They need to shrink the key. 'Maybe...' she wants to suggest casting reducio, the shrinking spell. She has no advantage in spell casting. She only knows a few spells, and she has little real time practice.

Just then, an elder girl in the team suggests performing the spell reducio confidently. Mira recognizes that she is Aly Salinger. 'I agree.' she says, 'this seems the most reasonable answer to the problem.' She stands aside, ready to study the girl's wand movement and incantation carefully, hoping to learn some more.

@Ebony Vetra @Verona Andréas @Estella Cain @Aly Salinger

location ; small hall.	12/04/26 ; date
wc ; 315	none ; ooc notes

In a blink of her eye, the next obstacle arrived without warning. It was in very wonderland fashion, alluring enough to forget the ticking of clocks. Without company, Estella could easily spend an eternity here without knowing. They arrived in a garden of roses and hedges of jades, a picturesque sight full of romanticism. To the young trickster, it was entirely her domain. Every second in the labyrinth caused her extreme happiness, a sense of belonging. Even if she was in the company of seniors twice her age and experience, the almost whimsical demeanour stayed just the same.

The second path turned out to be correct, and joy was evident on her face. They were on the right path, and without much issues, they could easily win. Still in the mirth of victory, she moved on to the next obstacle. They were faced with a door adorned with all that flora that seemed to flood the garden. With a closer look, she could see that the keyhole was unnaturally small, and the key far too big. Wands would have to dance for this obstacle, and the spell for such an occasion was on her tongue. There was no wish in her heart to cast it, lest she made the matter worse and potentially stomping their opportunity as well. Students far more skilled were here, and her wand could sit comfortably in her pocket. She spared a quick glance to the riddle, and one glimpse of it certified that her guess was correct after all.

Without much seconds to idle away, the seventh year, who had just introduced herself as Aly Salinger, chose to cast it. Estella agreed with the choice, with her expertise, they could finish sooner this way. Though she would miss it a little, this event was easily her favourite among all Hogwarts hosted. She smiled encouragingly at her senior, charming as ever.

—And in the end, in Wonderland, we both went mad.