This is one of six threads for the Summer Camp 2024 Scavenger Hunt. To view the starting post and the rest of the threads, click here.

The Concessions

Feeling a bit peckish during a Quidditch match? Well, make your way down to one of the many Concessions stands littered on the bottom level of the stadium surrounding its outer ring, yet still comfortably inside so you're not crowded by screaming fanatics trying to make their way indoors to see the game. At a Concessions stand, you can pay an inordinately expensive rate to pick up your favourite Chocolate Frogs, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, or, if you're looking for something a bit heartier, perhaps a Pumpkin Pasty? (Merlin, price markups these days are ridiculous.)

No one is currently manning the Concessions, though - and no, you can't climb in and steal the snacks that await you inside. Instead, you see three piles sitting upon the stand's simple wooden countertop - a pile of bowties, a pile of scarves, and a pile of necklaces, all in various colours. Which will you choose, when you make it to the Concessions?

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CLICK THE REDUCIO FOR A REMINDER OF THE SCAVENGER HUNT RULES:

Reducio

• Anyone can join the scavenger hunt, but in order to be eligible to win, you must complete all six riddles before the moderation deadline.
• Each player may only join with ONE character (e.g. you may not join with both your Hogwarts character and your iNPC).
• Each riddle has a deadline of 1 week before moderation will occur and the next riddle will be announced. If you miss the deadline, you are welcome to continue posting and following with the Hunt, but that riddle will not count towards your total score even if you get it right (since the answer will have been announced via moderation).
• When posting in the scavenger hunt, please follow all standard H.io rules, including post word minimum of 200 words.
• Each round, you will be given a riddle that will lead you to one of the 6 locations in the Scavenger Hunt as well as describe an item that you need to pick up at that location. Each location will have 3 previously described options. You will then post in the location you believe to be correct (preferably a description of your character arriving), and you will include in this post which of the items you pick up.
• You will receive points for choosing the correct location, and you will receive points for choosing the correct item. Note that you cannot choose the correct item if you choose the wrong location because each location has different items. You only get one post per round, so you cannot change your answer or edit it once posted.
• If you accidentally choose the wrong location in one round, no worries! The next riddle will still appear in your location during moderation even if you picked the wrong location, so you can get back into it and try to get the rest right.
• Items that are picked up are solely for the use of the scavenger hunt and you will not actually receive these items in-game or out-of-game. All "items" will be "returned" at the end of the hunt and you do not get to keep them in-game.
• No hints or help will be given from the moderation team. Do not ask us for hints or help, because you will not get them. Also, please do not share the answers or just copy what other users are doing. It's every user for themselves - and if you copy someone, they could be wrong and then you don't get points either!
• Any cheating, in-character or out-of-character, will result in your immediate disqualification from the hunt. We want this to be a fair and fun game for everyone. This includes any magical violence, physical violence, purposeful dissemination of incorrect answers, etc.
• Moderation will occur once a week, every Sunday, but times may differ week to week due to the moderator's availability. As such, you are strongly encouraged to not wait until the last minute to post your choice of location and item because you may miss the moderation deadline if you do so.
• This event will take place for seven weeks OOC - six weeks of the Hunt and then a final, currently secret portion in the last location. IC, it all takes place on the same day!

You do not need to sign up for this event. You are simply free to join.
The event will begin, OOC, on JUNE 30 and end on AUGUST 18. Moderation will occur every SUNDAY.
However, the event takes place, IC, on JULY 30.

MAKE SURE YOU DON'T POST IN THIS THREAD UNTIL YOU BELIEVE THAT THE CONCESSIONS IS THE ANSWER TO THE CURRENT RIDDLE! WHEN YOU DO, MAKE SURE YOU CHOOSE ONE OF THE THREE ITEMS: BOWTIES, SCARVES, OR NECKLACES!

Action
Gong to Concessions and grabbing Scarves

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When Alliasta finally read the second riddle, she became even more excited. The treasure hunt was wasting no time. Alliasta read the riddle. She thought for a while...

"The riddle mentions snacks as a pun... But what if it's not just a pun! Of course, where can I find the best snacks... Definitely at the concessions!"

The girl walked towards the concessions with cheerful steps. This is the best place to grab a few snacks when you're feeling hungry during the match. Alliasta was very happy with this treasure hunt because it gave her excitement and a goal to achieve. She didn't exactly come here for the award, but she would do her best to get it.

"Hmm, I wonder what I'll need to get from here?"

Alliasta talked to herself as she walked. She was lost in thought when she finally saw that she had reached the place she wanted.

There were three items stacked here. Just like in the previous area. This time Necklaces, Bow ties and Scarves. Items that will complete your combination, just like the riddle says... The girl thought to herself. It was written in the riddle that what he would receive was the one she should be more modest with. So that means it should be a scarve rather than a necklace or bow tie.

Action:Picking a scarve

Ability: Lovely Creature, Calming Presence

Interacting: OPEN!────── Outfit Reducio .║ .║ .║ ☽☾ .║ .║ .║ OOC notes Reducio Word count: 221

»»————-　❂　————-«« ˗ˏˋ 𓅰 ˎˊ˗ 𓅭 ˗ˏˋ 𓅰 ˎˊ˗ 𝔹𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕘 ℍ𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕪 ℕ𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝔾𝕠𝕖𝕤 𝕆𝕦𝕥 𝕆𝕗 𝕊𝕥𝕪𝕝𝕖 »»————-　❂　————-««

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July 30th 2024

Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics

Huzzah! Emily had managed to take care of the first riddle. It only took to quieten her discord of thoughts and tangents, to calm down and keep her train of thought simple. With one riddle down, she had been greeted with another and so the journey continued.

If the first riddle was easy, so was this next one. Sure enough Emily didn't find herself overthinking this one at all and blissfully made her way to the Concessions. If the word "snacks" on the riddle wasn't the biggest hint on the card then Emily may as well be wandering around with the sheerest blind luck she has ever had.

Arriving at the Concessions she was once again met with a display of objects placed in front of her; bowties, scarves and necklaces. This was where perhaps Emily would find herself contradicting herself once more. She knew nothing about fashion. It was all overzealous nonsense to her. As long as people were dressed appropriately she couldn't care less about it. Nevertheless, she would have to put up with it just this once if she were to solve this next riddle.

She immediately dismissed the necklaces. Too many times had she found herself in needless conversations about jewellery for people to look good. It was now a toss up between bowties and scarves.

Humble...

She reached for the scarves. It was apparent to her in a split second thought that bowties were a bit common at parties than scarves were. With that revelation being the case, scarves seemed the only logical solution.

"This ought to be it..."

_{Word Count: 293}

Action: Picking up Scarves

Stats: Stamina: 7|Evasion: 6|Strength: 6|Wisdom: 8|Arcane Power: 7|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast|Cat's Grace

wc: 297/200

As golden fireworks erupted above the scoreboard, Rachel felt a thrill of accomplishment, celebrating those who had correctly deciphered the first riddle. The display was brief but dazzling, and it ended with the appearance of a stack of scrolls on the wooden table underneath the giant advertisement-riddled blackboard. Rachel quickly grabbed one of the scrolls, unrolling it to reveal the second riddle:

"Your journey's just beginning now
So don't you give up yet.
You've still got plenty of riddles to go
And plenty of snacks to get.
Here you'll find more than expected,
Some accessories to jazz up your ensemble.
Don't be fooled by fanciful things,
The true prize is far more humble."

Again, Rachel didn't know much about a Quidditch Stadium but learned much about muggle football, thanks to her two older brothers. They would head to the concessions stand in a football stadium to grab snacks, so she felt that should be the first place she looked to solve this second clue. She set off towards the stand, the hustle and bustle of other participants around her adding to the excitement.

After the voyage to the concessions stand, she saw various wizarding snacks and souvenirs. She had to fight the urge to try at least one of each. Some looked delicious, while others looked a little questionable. She scanned the area, looking for the piles described in the riddle. Her eyes met three distinct piles: bowties, scarves, and necklaces. Remembering the riddle's hint not to be fooled by fanciful things, she knew the correct item had to be more humble.

“Don’t be fooled by fanciful things... The true prize is far more humble,” she whispered to herself. It clicked. A scarf was more practical and humble than a bowtie or necklace.

Rachel confidently picked up a scarf from the pile. As she did, she felt proud of herself. She was trying to participate in the new wizarding community. She was going to be around these people for several years, and she was now in the wizarding world for life. She glanced around and saw other students making their choices, each determined to solve the riddles and win the hunt. Holding her scarf tightly, Rachel smiled, ready for the next challenge.

With the second item in hand, Rachel eagerly awaited the next riddle, feeling more confident than ever. The scavenger hunt proved an exciting adventure; she was determined to see it through.

Picking up a scarf.

Interactions: @Mention | @Mention Mentions:

Date: July 30th Location: London Quidditch Stadium

Outfit: x

- Scavenger hunt -

The second riddle was a no-intestiner for them (or whatever that muggle saying was). The only place that one could obtain snacks without theft from the other patrons was the concessions stand. Unless you had brought some from home, though they had a feeling they were overthinking things there. Whatever the "accessories" meant, it was a problem for future Cass. First they had to actually reach the Concessions. They followed a few other hunters to the stand where the new three items were displayed. All this talk of snacks was making them hungry, but sadly none of the items were of the edible variety. To a normal human being at least. Though they couldn't say the had tried eating a bowtie...

A pile of scarves, bowties and necklaces greeted their hungry eyes. Sadly, none of them seemed to be made of candy. Would colour matter for this riddle? They doubted it, since it wasn't mentioned on the note at all. "Fanciful things" had to mean the necklaces and bowties, even though they had seen some very out of the ordinary scarves. When magic was involved, nothing was ever quite that simple. Questioning their choice slightly, they reached out and grabbed a scarf. Surely it had to be the correct answer.

Scarf or no scarf though, staring at a concessions stand was not helping their rumbling stomach. They had a feeling they would get disqualified if they attempted to "borrow" and snacks. Hopefully the prizes in question would be edible.

Action: Grabbing a scarf

ACTION:
Picking a yellow and blue scarf.

No sooner had Evelynn snagged a stick from one of the piles at the base of the scoreboard than had a small jet of golden light zipped to explode in a shower of shimmering fireworks. There was certainly no loss of flair in the event, she had to credit Salinger for that, and a tendril of thought at the back of her mind wondered how much the decisions in its planning had been influenced by the howlers of the ball's scavenger hunt. Instead of a shouting piece of paper to announce the next clue, a small scroll appeared in thin aware, beckoning her to continue. She did so without delay, unfurling the parchment to reveal the next clue.

Your journey's just beginning now
So don't you give up yet.
You've still got plenty of riddles to go

Her gaze skimmed over the first few lines with relative disinterest, finding nothing in their content to warrant particular attention. While they suggested that this wasn't to be a quick affair, they didn't provide any hint for the location or identity of her next quarry. The following line, however, did. And plenty of snacks to get. Instinct suggested that the next checkpoint would likely be found near consumables of some sort. The dinner tents, perhaps. Or one of the various stands that had been set up for treats and between-meal snacks. Even as she continued reading, her steps already carried her from the score board and towards the nearest collection of such stands. And, as it would happen, given her starting point in the midst of the sports' stadium, that trek would take her right to the concession stands.

Coincidental or otherwise, the remainder of the clue only supported it as the correct location. Stocking more than expected and accessories to jazz up an ensemble, the concessions near the pitch were more than merely food stands. Many displayed paraphernalia to show support for the various schools, as well as necessary items to encourage health and fun during the camp, or devices like omnioculars to better follow the sports action. Unmanned in the absence of an active match, however, the area remained largely desolate, a ghost town awaiting the return of excitement and bustle. Every stand kept its good well and away from would-be groping hands of naughty children. Every stand, but one.

Tilting her head, eyes squinting, Evelynn spied one brightly decorated stand whose commodities were not all hidden behind the counter or locked cabinetry. No, much like the table at the base of the scoreboard, this one displayed three piles of goods: bowties, scarves, and necklaces. Scanning the riddle again, the lioness would endeavor to not be fooled by fanciful things, but it was easier said than done. On the surface, one might expect the bowtie and necklace to be "fanciful". Bowties, however, are often worn by serving staff, and a necklace could be an implement of humble worship, both very humble in their roots. Conversely, scarves were often fashion accessories, associated with haute couture and the more prestigious of individuals. Humble was a matter of perspective. Still, she suspected these interpretations were not the intent, and elected to select a more muted and practical knitted scarf.

ACTION: Taking a scarf

Rose stood beneath the massive blackboard, the golden fireworks' flittering remnants fading from the sky. The air was filled with excited chatter of students who had also solved the first riddle. Rose's heart pounded with a mix of pride and anticipation. She approached the newly appeared stack of scrolls, her fingers tingling with excitement. Picking up the scroll, she unrolled it carefully and read aloud:

Your journey's just beginning now
So don't you give up yet.
You've still got plenty of riddles to go
And plenty of snacks to get.

Here you'll find more than expected,
Some accessories to jazz up your ensemble.
Don't be fooled by fanciful things,
The true prize is far more humble.

Rose furrowed her brow, thinking hard about the clues. Plenty of snacks to get, she mused. That must be the Concessions. With a determined nod, she set off towards the stand.

The concessions area, usually bustling with the aroma of sweets and the chatter of hungry students, was eerily quiet. As she approached, she noticed it was completely empty of snacks. Instead, three distinct piles lay on the counter: bowties, scarves, and necklaces.

Rose's mind raced as she reviewed the riddle's clues. More than expected and accessories to jazz up your ensemble pointed to these items, but the line The true prize is far more humble caught her attention. She examined each pile closely.

The bowties were vibrant and eye-catching, perfect for jazzing up an outfit. The necklaces, adorned with various charms and trinkets, were equally appealing. However, the scarves, though colorful and varied, seemed simpler and more practical.

Remembering the riddle's warning, Don't be fooled by fanciful things, Rose felt a growing certainty. The scarves, while not as immediately impressive as the bowties or necklaces, were indeed more humble. Her fingers brushed over the soft fabric of a particularly plain yet cozy-looking scarf.

Taking a deep breath, she picked up the scarf, hoping her choice was correct.

Action: Approaches the Concessions and picks up a scarf

Great. Eugenia had solved the first part of the riddle. Maybe a bit late, but she had done it. The next riddle was, per se, interesting. Well yes, she would have lots of riddles to solve. But still.

Eugenia stood there, reading the riddle again and again. Food, snacks were mentioned. But why? Eugenia’s brain was working hard. She could not comprehend it. Until suddenly, a light in her brain lit up. Yes! The concessions! I’m pretty sure that my instinct is not wrong. So, she walked to her selected place and read the riddle again.

Now that she had made it to the correct location, it was not really difficult to find the correct answer. The true prize is humble, the riddle says. Considering what this scroll says, this must be it! Compared to a necklace and a bow tie, a scarf is truly humble. She paused for a minute. Was this truly the correct answer? She missed a round before as she was late, she could not just miss it again, only that she would be wrong. She just couldn’t.

With new-found confidence, Eugenia decisively picks up a scarf from the table. In a logical conclusion, it could be the only answer.

Action: Going to the Concessions and picking the scarf as item.

Stats: Sta:8 Eva:7 Str:1 Wis:10 ArcPower:6 Acc:8
Abilities: Perfectionist