The Red Queen's Labyrinth Group 10

❂ ⌜ Red Queen's Labyrinth ⌟ ❂ ❂ April 19, 2026 ▎ Some time ❂

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With the amount of times things had gone wrong in balls in Hogwarts, Raizel would've learned her lesson by now by not participating in any of it but here she was, arriving at a labyrinth that who knows what was inside. It sure was bringing back memories. Didn't the hedge come to life with that one, trying to drag her further in and then almost burning herself while trying to escape? How did she survived that when she was just a first year?

“This thing won't swallow people, right?” She was just thinking out loud and not like anyone else was there to hear her. (Maybe there was but she wouldn't notice them right away.) Well, unlike before, she had more spells in her arsenal and surely there would be a way for her to escape without turning herself into crisp doing so in case something like that would happen which was highly likely to happen. Perhaps not the same situation but you’ll never know. This was Hogwarts she was talking about. Anyway, she wasn't fond of balls ever since she had experienced all sorts of misfortunes and if possible, she would avoid them every time, especially now when her socialization energy is zero. So, what's her reason to be here? Team building, that's all. This was their broom racing captain, Della Barfield’s idea.

After that disaster of a broom race with them turning it into a snowball fight, it doesn't seem to be enough for a team bonding activity. So, here they are, trying to strengthen the bond even further then maybe the next time they compete in a race, they'll be more in synch and actually win.

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▪ ▫ ◙ Dialogue | #800000 ◙ ▫ ▪

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◘ ◘ ❂ Interactions: @ | @ | @ ◘ ◘ ❂ Mentions: @Della Barfield | @Pyce Rotanski | @Graci Laren

Outfit Reducio

Items Reducio Wand Enchanted Satchel Potions: See Inventory

STATS AND ABILITIES STA: 7 | EVA: 9 | STR: 3 | WIS: 12 | ARC: 10 | ACC: 10 Perfectionist I | Fearless | Wandmaker | Terrible Presence

Action

English | Parseltongue
interacting: @Raizel Volutrouz, @Graci Laren, @Pyce Rotanski
mentioning: @Linda Ramirez & @Martyr Daeva-Lazarus

If someone had asked Della two years ago to assemble her broom racing team at the school's spring ball, she'd have knockback jinxed that person into the nearest hard surface. But things had changed—the school functions were calmer now. Or the Hogwarts violence machine had other students in mind … for now.

And this broom racing team needed some assembling. Gone were the days when the lions led the pack in the sport, gone were the days when Della could pass the finish line herself a few times a year. This was a new team, much younger, but she believed them wholeheartedly. They just needed to act together (and stay on their brooms). So she firmly requested that the whole team join her for the labyrinth game after she saw it being set up in the grounds. Linda, her fellow co-captain, was running for the royal court with her French boyfriend—sure, yeah, good excuse. And Martyr, well, was being Marty somewhere, too cool for school … and labyrinths. But everyone else agreed to show up.

When Della arrived, wearing polished pants and a blazer—tactical but worthy of a ball—she saw Raizel was the first to arrive. Odd, the younger girl being so prompt when she was probably the most reluctant. The broom captain found her staring at the tall hedges, muttering about them swallowing people. Well, Della could assure her that, of course, no such thing would happen. But that would be a lie.

"If the hedges start trying to eat us, I have your back, Voltrouz."

While they waited for the others to arrive, Della eyed the potential paths. There was an eyesore filled with mushrooms, most likely poisonous, and there was a posh one that made Della feel outclassed. But the middle one had little dancing gnomes and lots of little voices chatting away. That's probably what they all needed: more communication. It's not like their captain was much of a talker to begin with. She quickly scanned the poem, hoping the riddle would give them more guidance. A knowing local? Maybe the gnomes could help?

"Hmm, we should take the middle path. Seems the most jovial. I didn't bring any antidotes for those mushrooms and the idea of riches is always a trap."

action: choosing the middle path with the gnomes
note: Della's snake, Greta, is in her school bag, hanging on her shoulder

Make way, the Gryffindor broom-racing team has arrived at the Red Queen's Labyrinth as Group 10! Seemingly disgruntled in some way, challengers Raizel Voltrouz and Della Barfield took the lead in deciphering the riddle presented to them. After exchanging some concerns and assurances about the likelihood of wizard-eating hedges, Della identified the trick to the riddle and suggested the group embark on the SECOND PATH to avoid the threat of toxic fungi and fishy luxuries.

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…

Moderator's note: Please note that for this labyrinth game, we need you to clearly write your moderated action in OOC notes (like what Della did)! I read your RPs for the (assumed) action, but please make your actions clear next round!

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 10

1. @Della Barfield
2. @Raizel Voltrouz
3. @Pyce Rotanski
4. @Graci Laren

DEADLINE: 1 week from time of posting

English | Parseltongue
interacting: @Raizel Volutrouz, @Graci Laren, @Pyce Rotanski

All the gnomes continued to gibber and jabber happily as the two Gryffindors joined their path. “So good so far. I wouldn’t want to have to fight all these little guys.” Maybe the labyrinth would be an easy challenge—that would make for poor broom racing training, but it would make for a merry night. “Knowing the locals” had Della suddenly thinking how little she actually knew about her teammates. Friends for her were few and far between, and apart from Greta and her cousin, she probably considered the broom racing team her closest comrades. Yet, she spent the most time actually talking—not commanding—with Linda, who was not here. Huh. Maybe there were other ways of getting in sync with one’s teammates than flying really, really fast together.

“So, Vol—er, Raizel, what are your plans after the labyrinth? Like, what do you usually do during these things?” Della hoped she hadn’t stolen the younger girl away from a night of merriment with friends—i.e., people who actually talked to her about things other than sports.

As she asked the question, Graci Laren caught up with them. A pit dropped in Della’s stomach. Just as she was opening the lanes to actual conversation and attempting to be a little vulnerable, one of her teammates from that night in Tenusa had shown up. Della had expected Pyce and Graci to come; they had agreed, but considering they were late, she had thought it would just be her and Raizel. The Gryffindor captain had been particularly closed up since the incident in the jungle; she had planned to get to know Pyce and Graci a bit better that night, too, but thanks to the chaos and terror of super-sentient plants, she had missed the opportunity. Instead, she probably inadvertently revealed to them that she was a Parselmouth and that she was hiding a snake on her. Sure, Greta was usually an important part of race strategy—it wasn’t explicitly in the rules that your pet snake couldn’t get a peek at the obstacles for you—but none of her non-captain teammates knew about that. Well, it’s not like advantage had been helping them win races anyway.

Did Graci know? Had she told anyone? Greta was here right now, tucked in her bag—honestly getting heavier and heavier by the day—what if Della needed her again? Is this why Pyce wasn’t here yet? The stigma against Parselmouths wasn’t as bad as it used to be, based on Della’s after-hours library research, but it hadn’t been eradicated. With her losing leadership, combined with the weight and stigma of her mysterious “dark” heritage, could her team even trust her?

The night’s temperature was pleasant, but Della could start to feel herself sweat. If Graci had made any sort of greeting, Della had not seen nor returned it. But finally, the younger Gryffindor spoke, and Della steeled herself for the worst. "Seems pretty straightforward to me. Shrink the key, go through the door. Reducio, right?"

Wait, what? It took the fifth-year maybe too many seconds to understand the statement. But finally, she glanced around her; they had seemingly arrived at the door. It was most likely locked. And there was a large key next to it. She hoped her voice wasn’t shaking when she finally answered, “Um, yeah, you’re probably right. You can do the honors.”

action: letting Graci cast reducio at the key
note: Della's snake, Greta, is in her school bag, hanging on her shoulder

Group 10's successful advancement to the second obstacle was followed by the arrival of their last member, Graci Laren. While Della Barfield experienced a bout of internal conflict and nervousness, Graci remained blissfully unaware and focused on the riddle at hand. She was able to quickly decipher the riddle and identify the Shrinking Charm as the solution for this round!

Upon Graci Laren's successful casting of Reducio, the golden key shrinks up, a glistening shine covering the key as it became just the right size. With the newly shrunken key, the players would find it a perfect fit into the door’s keyhole! The lock seemed to glow and hum, as if in approval at the players' success. Twisting the key, players would hear a click. In the blink of an eye, light glowed from the door as the material chipped away into dust, revealing a now-empty doorway.

Moderator's Notes
Graci Laren casts Reducio (WDC 12).
[d20=20]+7 =27 > 12 [Critical success!]

Stepping past this doorway, players would be faced with an opulent yard fit for a queen. In the centre of it was a huge, luxurious pool made of shiny marble and adorned with ruby gemstone statues. The water was a brilliant, shimmering teal in the pool, quite unlike regular water, and under the sunlight, the sight was almost blinding.

The pool would have been perfect for a summer party– If not for what seemed to be a death machine in the middle of it. A flat path of emerald grass connected one end of the pool to the other, and hanging atop it was what seemed to be an axe. Back and forth the axe swung over the centre of the path, blocking the path to the next obstacle! Thankfully, if any players squinted, they would realise the axe is almost akin to a soft pillow-version to the real deal.

Tighten those shoelaces and watch your step, challengers! You're going to have to make a mad dash.

Evasion DC: 20

OOC Instructions

Reducio

Rules

Congratulations, your group has made it to the third 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 3 SPECIAL INSTRUCTION:
For this obstacle, your character will have to use the action of “run forward”.

1. The moderator will roll an evasion difficulty check (Evasion DC 20).
2. The moderator will moderate the actions by order of whoever posted first. Moderation notes will be left for each player.
3. For this obstacle, ALL members need to pass this difficulty check to succeed.

Group 10

1. @Della Barfield
2. @Raizel Voltrouz
3. @Pyce Rotanski
4. @Graci Laren

DEADLINE: 1 week from time of posting