The Red Queen's Labyrinth Group 6

The voice freaked the crap out of Ellie and she just stood there, unsure what to do. The voice had said OFF WITH THEIR HEADS! So they probably got the path wrong but that didn't mean they would actually lose their heads, right? The rest of her group was running and screaming. That sounded like a good idea. And so, Ellie followed them, back to the main hall where the rest of the doors were. Ellie was in shock, she couldn't think but luckily someone in her group could as the rest of them had decided upon the second door and began walking to it, Ellie followed behind. The gnomes were creeping her out, but no more weird voices said anything so this must be the correct path.

There was another door, this seemed to be filled with those. It had a lock, but was very small and on a table was a key but it seemed much too large. There was another riddle, Ellie made sure to look at it deeply, not missing any aspect of the riddle. She went over it a couple times in her head, seemed as if they would have to shrink it.

"Does anyone know how to shrink the key, with magic of course?" Ellie paused, hating to admit it, "I don't know that spell..."

She waited, hoping that one of them would know the spell. Hopefully the third year, Brookline would know how to cast it correctly.

@@Aluna Vern @@Brookline Quinn @@Bree Grey @@Charlotte Evergreen

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XXXXX𝕭rookline turned to Charlotte as she was speaking to the underclassmen. Memories of Tigeress and naughty Tinsel surfaced to her mind, and the Welsh Ravenclaw could only remain quiet as she waited for the young Ravenclaw to response, even if Charlotte didn’t. A small, lifting grin spread across Brookline’s face when Evergreen gave her a nod when the underclassmen recognized her. She played with the underneath of her nails as the second years had a friendly chat about the riddle. The Welsh girl didn’t feel safe here, she could feel in her young bones - filled with unrelenting marrow - and with a chilled shiver down her spine. It was like her squirming intestines could just tell that something bad was going to happen. Brookline just wished she was outside, and the sanctuary of her dorm, out of this foolish escape room before that bad thing even happened.

Apparently the second path was indeed correct, and Brookline and her group was on their lengthy way out of this hell hole. The sweet, dewy perfume of deep-red roses filled her nose, and she wrinkled her pale nose. For once, the young Ravenclaw wished she had teal-blue sleeves so the soft fabric could block out the saccharine and cloying fragrance.

She spun around to her new friends when they reached a door, her skirt twirling around with her. With all the bushes and hedges behind her, Brookline did not know what to do. A shiny handle caught her eye, and the older girl decided to be bold, without halting to think first. With an outstretched, trembling hand, she grabbed for the rosy door handle, yanking on it. The door didn't move the inch. Locked. Of course. Though it wouldn’t be much of a freaking escape room if there weren’t fierce challenges.

“Well, shit….” Even so, a small hiss spat from her, and Brookline turned around with a lukewarm half smile. She shrugged, her voice soft and questioning, almost like she was a detective, and this was a vital case, life or death.“I guess that door doesn't work. Is there a key? Somewhere.....I’m guessing.”

Then her eyes traveled back to the unfortunately latched door. Was that a keyhole underneath the pretty handle? Brookline had to admit; the colour of the lever was quite pretty. Squatting down, careful to avoid her blue gown flapping up, she was now eye level with the tiny keyhole. She was pretty sure someone had found a key, yet, she stayed where she was, her tight-fitting Mary Janes seemingly pasted to the floor. Almost admiring the size of the unusual key-hole, Brookline ran a curious fingertip over the peek-hole. It felt real, and Brookline now knew it wasn’t fake. She could scathed that off the bucket list. Then, like a little, foolish child, the Welsh girl slapped shut one eye and brought her face to the key-shaped hole in the handle. Perhaps the young girl thought she could see over the other side, and that the girls would have a better idea what they would have to overcome. But, all the witch could see was pitch black, her ocean-breeze gaze disclosed.

“Nothing.” Brookline stated this one word akin to if someone demanded her to look into the keyhole. She stood up with an unwanted hop, and the items in her private pockets jangled and mixed together. And her eyes saw something she hadn't seen before. Brookline narrowed her eyes at the next riddle on the wooden sign. Shrink the problem and not the door? God, if only Little Miss Marie were here, then the first year would have already figured out the puzzle. The little Ravenclaw was a bright witch in her year, and Brookline just knew that her little sister was even more and intelligent that she was ever was in her own first year. Eyes trailed around and a table appeared in her vision. A key. Brookline scoffed, her lips drawing in a disapproving snarl; of course the key would be too large for such a compact hole.

Then, one of her group mates, Blue Streaks Girl, asked if anyone knew a shrinking spell. Aha! That’s it! Of course, Brookline thought and scolded herself for not thinking of it, first. The younger girl explained to the group that she didn’t know the spell, and the Welsh girl glanced around. She was the only upperclassmen, right? That meant she would only know the spell to shrink the key. She slipped her hand in the deep placket of her Alice-themed dress, her fingertip had caught on her knife but she quickly adjusted and wrapped her fingers around the chestnut wand. “I’ve got it,” Brookline murmured to no-one in particular, her voice a tad scratchy. Grabbing the rather large key with a pearly shine, she tossed it gently to the ground in front of the door, lest she end up shrinking something else instead. Precautions, Brookline’s mum used to chirp a lot around her little children.

At least that was before. Before everything blew up like a bomb.

With a simple, swift flick of her wrist, she pointed at the key on the ground. Brookline’s dark blue eyes narrowing in focus. If she got this wrong, incorrect, she would have a heart attack because she knew this spell. Or die of embarrassment. She was in front of many second years who would have no trouble at bringing her down because it can be a complicated spell. “Reducio,” Brookline uttered quietly, her lips spreading apart for a few seconds, before shutting when she was finished. Hopefully it would work, her wand slipped back into her pocket, and in the secrecy, she crossed her fingers. Seemingly confident, at least that’s what she thought she seemed like. She would kill herself if she looked akin to a new, fawning first year. And to second years, no doubt. Unfortunately there was no other third years. Brookline would know if there was a fellow third year.

While Brookline overthought too much, her gaze was elsewhere on the undersides of her ragged nails. Those fingernails looked like they’ve been everywhere, without stopping…

date ; april 19th, 2026 language ; english | welsh wordcount ; 1,016 words small hall ; location casting reducio ; actions here ; outfit [ coded by elena clark ] stats ; STA 8 × EVA 9 × STR 8 × WIS 11 × ARC 4 × ACC 8 abilities ; LOVELY CREATURE × HEALING SAGE × STEADY FLYER

x

occ note: brookline’s thoughts and actions are not my own and are used for her purpose of her character. mentioning these lovely people, Charlotte Evergreen, @Bree Grey, @Aluna Vern, and @Ellie Randensmith.

Upon reaching the second obstacle, the girls would find themselves blocked by a door! After some investigating around the premises, checking through the keyhole, and reviewing the riddle, Ellie Randensmith would eventually suggest the key to solving the riddle's puzzle! With her groupmate setting the direction, Group 6's Brookline Quinn identifies the correct spell, Reducio!

Upon Brookline Quinn'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
Brookline Quinn casts Reducio (WDC 12)
[d20 : 13] + 11 = 24 > 12 [Success]

Obstacle 2

With the newly shrunken key, the players would find it a perfect fit into the door’s keyhole! 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. 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!

Evasion DC: 20

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OOC Instructions

Reducio

Rules

Congratulations, your group has made it to the third obstacle! I decided to moderate this round even though 2/5 posted because of the delay on my end, so it's fair as well. Please note the following rules for this obstacle:

1. Moderation will happen if at least HALF of the members in the group have posted an action.
   • Due to moderators’ schedules, moderation may take 1-1.5 weeks.
   • 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.
   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 6
   1. @Charlotte Evergreen
   2. @Bree Grey
   3. @Aluna Vern
   4. @Brookline Quinn
   5. @Ellie Randensmith

DEADLINE: 1 week from time of posting

Sorry for the late moderation post, I'm currently ill ;;;