SHC Hunt 1 PV Finished

─────────────────── ROUND 2! Our Participants: @May Moonstar @Adonis Thorn @Sapphire Riddle @Mars T'ien @Natalie Taylor ──────────────────────────

────────────────────────── Modding: Next on June 25th Total Clues Found: 3 ──────────────────

Katrina was sure now that they were missing somebody. The worst part was, she couldn't quite remember who. It must have been one of the people who had signed up but she hadn't met yet. Katrina made a mental note to be sure to reach out to them after the hunt. It would be sad to see someone leave her club already.

May proudly read aloud the clue. Katrina realized just then that she should have made it slightly clearer that this was supposed to be a group activity. At least, that is how she had intended it to be. In her mind Katrina tried to see if they could figure out the clues as a competition. It was likely, but not anywhere near easy.

As May began investigating one bookshelf, she attempted to cast Lumos. The tip of her wand would light up for a second before fading into nothing. Sadly, her searching resulted in the finding of no further clues.

However, in the moment where May's wand was lit, Sapphire would spot something on the second to last shelf. Perhaps her determination aided in her search. A slip of paper was attached to the wood, cleverly hidden from any other spot in the room. If she were to pull the slip down, she would find that there was the next clue written on the paper in a very precise script, the edges seeming to be torn from a book. As her mind began to search for the answer, she would notice some letters were bolded with a slightly different color pen.

when will you ever learn just how much everyone...

Thankfully, this time people looked at different places around the room. Instead of following the lead on the bookshelves. Mars and Adonis searched the opposite corner of the room. The desk to be exact.

Mars inspected the underside of the desk before anything else. The wood was matted down there, clearly the top and drawers had been recently painted, or at least tampered with. All three drawers were locked with a silver lock, it seemed they would need a key to get inside. They would notice that there were three items on the top of the desk. There was a paper with some numbers on it, an old journal, and a picture of the exact room they were standing in with just one thing different. If they were to investigate any of the items, they would certainly piece together that there was a clue in at least one of them.

Adonis instantly took interest in the journal. It was an old leather book with yellowed paper and a worn down appearance. He certainly had luck on his side today. Katrina smirked, obviously pleased with herself. It seemed that they had unlocked a second clue. Sure, it wasn't supposed to be found until later, but at least they would be able to get more done this way. Adonis would find that the journal, once he opened it, was hollow. An aspect hidden from the outside. Laying in the hole where pages would have been was a key, almost identical to the one Katrina had used to unlock the door to the Study Room. However, this key had one thing different-- there was a letter V on it.

This had been quite a productive last five minutes. Katrina still couldn't shake the feeling of anticipation and pride. She had actually set up an event that was unique and exciting. She couldn't wait to find out what would happen next.

«•»

UPON SPOTTING THE SLIP OF PAPER ON THE BOOKSHELF, Sapphire immediately snatched it up and looked down at the words scrawled on it.

When will you ever learn just how much everyone…

The pale-haired girl supposed that the clue had something to do with the bolder letters. It seemed like an intentional detail. H…ou…s…e… That spells house, doesn’t it? What does it mean by house? As she thought on that, she studied the paper. It was written in a neat script, the letters that she’d previously noticed bolder with a slightly different colour.

She pondered whether she should ask someone else for help, because she wasn’t getting anywhere. What in the room could pertain to houses?And did it mean like a Hogwarts house? Or one a person lived in?

Sapphire let out a noise that was between a sigh and a groan. May was closest—maybe she could ask her. After all, two heads were better than one, weren’t they? The girl ran her tongue over her teeth as she tried to make up her mind. Eventually, she caved, because she couldn’t figure much out.

She headed over to May. “Hey,” she started nervously. “Could you maybe help me solve this? It’s got something to do with “house,” but I honestly have no idea what it means by that because it could mean Hogwarts house or one that you live in at home or a number of other things…” She trailed off, gaze darting to her feet. God damnit.

Action: Asking @May Moonstar for help on the clue

«•»

May was thinking so hard, she thought her head would literally explode. She knew it had something to do with house. But the clue didn't only say that. It was a puzzle that had to be solved. 'When will you ever learn how much everyone...house....curtains! It has something to do with curtains...we mist search for that...before she could take one step to the curtains, someone stopped her What does she want now? She had an odd look when she saw that I found the first clue... she scrunched her nose a bit, but turned her lips into a smile. "Sure! Teamwork, right?"

She decided to tell her what she thought that she had figured out. "I think it has something to do with the curtains. You know, a house is full of curtains. Plus, you can...peek outside them, no?" now, she was feeling odd about what she had said. At first, it had been easy, but now that they went deeper into it...

The Hufflepuff looked at the Slytherin and mumbled "Let's go. I bet there's something there." she made her way into the little scavenger crowd to the curtains. "House...everyone....what clue is that? It's supposed to be easy...."

Action: Helping @Sapphire Riddle and searching the curtains.

Mars scowled when their search proved to be more or less fruitless. Oh well, that least there hadn't been any gum. They straightened up, almost bumping into a figure right beside them. Adonis. The wizard was holding a journal and peering inquisitively inside. Mars shifted their weight to peek in beside him. Instead of the normal pages of a book, there was a hole cut out of the center and a key resting within the hidden compartments. Huh.

The key had—the letter V? Mars stared at confusion at the piece of sculpted metal. Was there something in this room that needed a key?

"Huh," they said out loud, mostly directed at Adonis, "What do you think that's for?"

Their eyes scanned the Study Room for something that fit the bill. They caught on the three drawers of the desk. Ah, that would probably make the most sense. But then, what was the point of the letter V? Maybe—something to do with the start of the word? Again, the eyes flitted out to the objects surrounding the room. There was a vase... but why the hell would a vase need a key? That didn't make as much sense as testing the drawers. Besides, the two wixes were already at the desk anyway. Efficiency dictated that the drawers would have to come first.

Mars crouched, coming eye level with the middle drawer. One out-stretched hand beckoned at Adonis, the other went to test the strength of the bottom drawer. Subconsciously, the V made them go for the lowest one. Maybe it was a stretch to think that placement in the alphabet had anything to do with it, but that was all they had at the moment.

"Can I get the key?" they asked, "I'll give it right back after I test this drawer."

ACTION:
Asking for the key from Adonis to attempt to unlock the bottom drawer.
(I guess if he doesn't respond, it's up to you if Mars gets it)

Adonis honestly wasn't expecting to really find anything of use to him or interest. Even a clue for that matter or something that could help them at least in getting closer. The Slytherin boy opened up the journal that he had just now found after taking quite an interest in it. When he opened up the book, he didn't find pages like any other regular journal but rather a key inside where the pages should've been. This was certainly something. Don wasn't sure who else saw or was nearby but then when he looked over his shoulder, he noticed Mars doing their own thing as well beside him. He didn't mind at all. "Not sure yet. Could be for anything around here that has a specific keyhole." He shrugged, not sure what to think of it due to the letter V on it. Hopefully the others were lucky as well in their findings. Or maybe not.

Adonis glanced over his shoulder once again as Mars gestured for him to go over towards them in which he did shortly after. "Oh- uh sure, yeah." Adonis hesitantly handed the key over to the other first year student. He then walked back over to the area he was already searching through and this time caught sight of another item to investigate and did so quickly to see if there was anything else that they might've had.

Action: Searching Item C

Interacting with @Mars T'ien

─────────────────── ROUND 3! Our Participants: @May Moonstar @Adonis Thorn @Sapphire Riddle @Mars T'ien @Taylor Natalie Rogers-Freeman ──────────────────────────

────────────────────────── Modding: Next on whenever everyone posts and I get to it Total Clues Found: 3 ──────────────────

Sapphire came upon the clue quickly, but had a harder time deciphering it. If anyone were to look at Katrina, they would see her deep in thought, biting her lip and staring at the rug. To help? Or not to help? Well, May would peer in the curtains and the only clue greeting her would be a pile of dust. So much dust, however, that it would tickle her nose and cause her to sneeze. No clue here.

Even though the first duo had little luck, the second group was still on their way to the next clue. Mars borrowed the key from Adonis and tried it on the bottom lock. To their surprise (and luck), the drawer would slide open easily showing the empty drawer. The drawer opened, but there was nothing inside.

Mars may have come up with nothing, but Adonis was still deciphering clues. He picked up the third item on the desk and would see that it was an image of the room from the perspective of the door. However, there was one thing different. The candelabra, the one in the opposite of the room was circled with a blue pen. Upon further inspection, he would see that the candelabra had hinges on the left side. If he were to pull it open, he would find that it was all made of plastic (besides the burning tip) and inside was a key with the letter E on it.

SAPPHIRE WAS STILL A BIT STUCK ON THE CLUE. May had gone over to the curtains, but that didn't strike her as... right. It didn't seem like that was what the clue meant. She grumbled an obscenity under her breath, tapping her fingers against the inside of her arm as her gaze fixed on the floor.

She walked over to the table in the middle, sweeping her cold gaze across the surface. The wood was cool against her arms. She glanced over at Katrina, to see if the head of the club was watching them, and noticed her eyes fixed on the rug. She looked down at the rug herself, to see if there was anything worth noting. Her gaze snagged on things, though whether she saw anything of merit...

Bright blue orbs would also sweep across the surface of the table and around the vase. Her fingers drummed a steady rhythm against the table, rapid falls of each of her fingers over and over. It reminded her of chanting, or marching soldiers. The rhythmic sounds of the fingers falling, the unrelenting noise. It was quiet, but she couldn't help but feel as if it was loud. She was curious. And she also wanted to thank May for at least trying to help with the clue, but she was... well, a bit afraid of doing it.

Action: Examining the desk and vase (+ rug)

Mentioning @Adonis Thorn
───── ⋆★⋆ ─────

Mars sat back in surprise as the drawer slid open easily. They had not expected that to work at all. Huh. Unfortunately, as they looked inside, nothing but bare wood stared back at them. Frowning, the wix reached a hand in, feeling around the panels of the drawer for some kind of secret. Nothing revealed itself.

They sighed. Oh well. It'd been a good attempt at any rate. Mars stared at the key and then back at the drawers. The locks on the other two glistened as they shut the bottom one with a thud. The Ravenclaw glanced over their shoulder, noting the progress of their fellow club members before scanning the room. There didn't seem to be anything else this key would be good for.

Mars turned it over in their hands, running a thumb over the engraved V. What could it possibly mean? Maybe if there were more letters, maybe more keys... they sighed. The drawers seemed to pull at them again, and the wix glanced up at Adonis still rifling through the items on the desk.

He probably wouldn't mind it if they kept the key for a little longer, right? Deciding that the Slytherin probably didn't give two bats in hell, they slotted it into the lock of the second drawer. It had worked so well last time, maybe it would work again.

ACTION:
Attempting to Unlock the Second Drawer

─────────────────── ROUND 4! Our Participants: @May Moonstar @Adonis Thorn @Sapphire Riddle @Mars T'ien ──────────────────────────

────────────────────────── Modding: Next on whenever everyone posts and I get to it Total Clues Found: 3 ──────────────────

Katrina was quite pleased how well everything was going along. From what she could tell, everyone was enjoying the Scavenger Hunt. Her mind continued to play through the remaining clues. There were only two, really, but they would likely be harder ones to figure out. Katrina continued to bite her lip, trying to decide if it was worth it to give hints or when.

Sapphire made her way over to the table, fingers tapping on the wooden surface. She seemed to be deep in thought, it was only when she shifted her weight that she would be able to feel a lump under her feet. It was something relatively small, the size of, perhaps, a key. If she were to lift up the side of the rug, she would find it was indeed a key. This one, however, would have an A painted on it.

Mars went with a different idea, attempting to open the second drawer with the key from the hollow journal. However, this would remain fruitless. The key wouldn't quite fit in the lock and it wouldn't quite turn.

They were so close, Katrina could feel it. She hoped they were enjoying her hunt as much as she was. It was thrilling and exciting and something she could devote her extra energy into. She was definitely going to do a second hunt, maybe with even more people this time. Bigger, wilder. Perhaps some sort of Summer hunt to end the school year with a bang.

SAPPHIRE FELT THE HARD ITEM UNDERNEATH THE SOLE OF HER SHOE, immediately becoming suspicious of it. It was clearly a solid item, small, but not unnoticeable. Her expression turned to an inquisitive frown. She dropped her gaze towards her foot, moving it and seeing a small lump. She almost missed it. Brows furrowing, she stepped off the rug, crouching down and lifted the edge, examining the dark space.

There was quite a bit of dust, but that wasn't what she was looking for. Then she saw it. Light from the room hit just right, making it even more apparent. It lit up the metal of the key, which she reached for. She pulled it from underneath, standing up and examining it.

Painted on the material was a letter A, in neat, readable script. The pale-haired girl ran her tongue over her teeth, pondering what the use of it would be. She glanced up, passing a critical gaze over the room. She saw Mars attempting to unlock the second drawer of the desk with a key very similar to the one she had acquired.

She headed over to the desk, going on Mars' idea of searching the drawers. She wondered for a second if the letters on the keys contained clues. There were 3 drawers, and 2 keys had been found. She furrowed her brows, then decided she would just attempt to open a drawer.

Under her breath, she contemplated which one she should check. After some thought, she decided to check the first one. "Welp, you'll never know unless you try..." she muttered under her breath, inserting the key in the lock and attempting to turn it...

Action: Attempting to unlock the first drawer