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pixieledmemes2025-05-16 12:28 am
Test Drive Meme #3
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You wake up at a party.
You're not sure how, exactly, you got here. You may have just been walking in the woods or at a meeting for work or doing any other normal activity for you. But you know you weren't supposed to be at this party, you're fairly certain.
Anyone you ask about it will say the party is for you. You and the others also waking up and looking confused. Further questions will lead to the partygoers insisting you have something to eat. You're starving and others are eating the food without repercussion, so you figure there's no harm in a bite. You finish your portion.
It's another garden party near a large hedge maze in the middle of the night. With his penchant for games the Ruler of the Spring Court decided it would be nice to hold an actual game for all the Adopted present. None of that dreidel game a couple of parties ago. This time, he wants more spectacle with higher stakes. Forced to participate and host aspects of this gathering as well, the Ruler of the Dark Court wanted nothing to do with this, so he figured his participation in itself is for the party to happen at night, during his rule, when his mood is at its most pleasant.
Of course, there is no shortage of light sources such as candles and torches, much to the Earl's chagrin, as well as no shortage of food. This time, the fae decided to try their hand on some pasta. They heard it's a good delicacy from the mortal plane. Thing is, sauces look and smell bizarre. One's purple, while another's bright pink, and they taste fruity, as well as flowery, much like the cookies from the last gathering.
As the party winds down and everyone's eaten, a tall, stately woman stands up and speaks. You feel her voice more than hear it.
I am the Lawspeaker of the Fae, elected by Seelie and Unseelie alike, and you are all, now, subjects of Faerie. You cannot leave this realm once you have eaten our food, and even if you could, there is no saying how much time has passed back where you're from. Your loved ones are likely dead, your problems have likely played out. We require assistance in various matters, and each of you has been chosen for your talent and skill. You will be adopted by one of the Seelie or Unseelie Courts based on your strengths and personality. Your Court will decide what to do with you from there.
As suddenly as she stood, she sits back down.
So, what about this hedge maze that seems to have appeared out of nowhere and looming quite eerily beside this night's gathering? For one, peculiar noises can be heard whenever one's near its entrance. From the rustling of leaves to a woman crying, everything seems to be coming from inside.
Of course, the Adopted's participation is required and paramount. Anyone who refuses will be met with harsh penalties and consequences, whatever those may be. They also hint of a prize to anyone who comes out victorious on the other side. It's unclear what it is, though.
The fae know that while the Adopted have been very useful so far, they are also vulnerable and susceptible to fear, so to mitigate that, they have some colorful shots on a table marked LIQUID COURAGE near the entrance to the maze with such effects:
- Gold: Essentially a strong drink that gives you profound energy for 24 hours.
- Red: Downing this will make you feel warm like an aphrodisiac.
- Blue: Basically functions like a normal tequila shot. Or three. Comes with a little bag of salt.
These shots are not compulsory for the Adopted to take, but they will be highly encouraged to do so before entering. Once inside, the rustling of leaves and the sounds of someone crying become louder and even more evident. There are also a few key things that seem to be very clear the longer an Adopted is within the maze's walls:
- The maze is moving. How it's doing it, nobody knows. But it appears to be alive somehow, much like the castle grounds, so finding a clear pathway is almost impossible.
- Whenever an Adopted turns right two consecutive times, they will see a more positive outcome from a terrible event in their lives. Lost someone? They're now here and alive. Gave up on a dream? You find yourself currently living it.
- If an Adopted turns left two consecutive times, they will see someone, a family member or a friend who's still alive and had a deep impact on their lives, bleeding and dead on the ground.
It would be great if no one else can see an Adopted during their most vulnerable, but since the maze moves constantly, another Adopted or two might be able to see them trying to parse out what they're seeing, even if their fellow Adopted can't see it themselves.
CW: dismemberment, body horror, forced body transformations, mild gore, asphyxiation, drowning of children, death
The Spring King only wanted some good-natured fun within the maze, but unbeknownst to him, some Unseelie creatures and Unseelie magic have appeared inside, threatening the safety of the Adopted traversing every nook and cranny. Surely this will not have any lasting consequences between the relationship of the Seelie and Unseelie court rulers. Not at all.
A few of these Unseelie beings and Unseelie magic roaming around the hedge maze that the Adopted will have a chance to meet are as follows:
- Manananggal: Capable of severing its torso from its legs, this vampiric creature usually preys on sleeping pregnant women and unborn babies. But not anymore. Due to magic put on it, this manananggal will strike anyone it comes across. Better pour salt on its severed lower torso once you find it, or else.
- La Llorona: Remember that woman crying? Well, somewhere in the maze alongside the eerie sounds of water flowing, you'll come across a weeping woman cloaked in white with her back turned against you. Be careful not to approach her because once you do, she'll try to choke you to death, reminiscent of how she drowned her own children.
- Jersey Devil: The first thing you'll hear once you turn is a high-pitched, blood-curdling scream then the sound of bat wings flapping. You better run as fast as you can to the other direction because this devil is out to attack anyone it sees on its path.
- A fountain: How odd. Running from the jersey devil or the manananggal might have made you thirsty so perhaps there's no harm in drinking from it. But just coming in contact with its water will make any Adopted soon realize they have transformed into an Unseelie creature.
Fighting off these creatures might be best with a fellow Adopted. After all, there's power in numbers. Just be careful not to die within the hedge maze. There might be some dire consequences.
You feel a vibration in your pocket sometime after the Lawspeaker addresses everyone. When you search for the source, you will pull out your Leaf, the device the Fae use to stay in touch with each other. Anyone who's used a smart phone will easily recognize how it works.
Greetings, Adopted. This is your Lawspeaker.
To be on theme with our festivities for tonight, we want to know a time in your life when you felt lost and wandering about. Perhaps the most compelling story will receive a reward from us.
no subject
[ Gentarou is still caught up in his initial panic when Regis asks him a question, and then he has to back track to realize that he'd just received more information while he was busy yelling. The creature has legs and apparently they need to find them. The knowledge trickles in behind the calm of the question, and in the wake of that new perspective, Gentarou too stops flailing around inside the barrier. He blinks back at the enraged manananggal and nods. ]
Yeah... but shouldn't I distract it? What if you get hurt?
no subject
Still, they don't have time to argue about who is best suited to be a distraction. Already the manananggal is making a circle around the shield, trying to find a way into the glittering dome, and Regis really doesn't want to give it time to figure out digging might work. It'd been bad enough when the annoying, but not deadly, mini-Narcisos had done in earlier in the month.]
Does your world have healing magic? Mine does, so I have us covered if someone gets injured, but I have no plans on letting that happen. I'll stay close to you in case something does happen either of us, though. I have no idea if the legs can fight back like the top can.
no subject
[ That's something, although Gentarou unfortunately isn't really smart enough to explain what it is. ]
Ah, that's right! I can fight if you can keep it from sneaking up on us. You said we have to find the legs, right? They can't be walking too far away with all these weird paths!
[ Now that he's finally focused on something other than the manananggal itself, the goal of defeating an enemy kicks Gentarou back into a familiar frame of mind and he remembers he's been toting around his Driver this whole time. He moves back and presses it into place at his torso, activating the belt and then the buckle to transform with a click of switches and the release of a handle. A mechanical countdown and a swirl of cosmic energy herald the transformation -- Gentarou's body is surrounded by smoke and light, leaving an armored fighter in place of the lanky young man. He crouches down, arms tucked to his chest, only to leap back up and spread his hands skyward with an excessive battle cry. ]
UCHUU KITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!
[ His motivation set, Gentarou pats Regis's shoulder. ]
Okay! I'll look for the legs from overhead, but don't let that guy get close to you, 'kay? Just tell me what'cha need!
[ He's off before he can really think about it, activating a switch that summons an orange rocket that attaches to his right arm and lifts him into the air. It does put him closer to the manananggal, but since he's flying, he can at least dodge. He just has to be careful not to crash into the barrier that is also shielding them. ]
no subject
The pat on his shoulder pulls Regis from his thoughts, and he makes a mental note to see if his new ally will tell him about his powers later. They don't look like any magic Regis is familiar with, so that has to mean it's some kind of technology and technology is definitely not his strong point.
As the young man launches himself into the air, Regis begins shifting the shield to make sure he has plenty of room to preform his check. When the manananggal tries to sweep in for an attack, Regis sends a bolt of lightning out at it "encouraging" it to change it's mind.]
Try not to fly too high! You might catch the attention of one of its friends!
[That and Regis is certain the maze is enchanted if not more, and he doesn't want to risk it turning against them as well.]
no subject
If he's flying, he can at least focus on the excitement of being Fourze. ]
What? Oh- right!
[ Oops. The one thing about essentially being a spaceman is that Gentarou typically launches himself straight upward. The thrust from the rocket is fast, but hard to really aim. Gentarou goes spinning in the sky, leaving a spiral trail of smoke behind him as he ends up accidentally flying at the Manananngal, a few moments after it gets thwarted by the bolt of lightning. Gentarou yells in surprise, the creature shrieks in the wake of the electricity, and the two just barely miss a head on collision. Gentarou waves his left fist in an erratic punch and the monster slashes with its claws, but both swing at the same time and end up missing their mark.
But thanks to overshooting, Gentarou flies up higher and ends up pulling back to hover, pointing down and in the distance with a yell. ]
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! LEGS! THERE!!! I think I see them!!
[ So much for subtle. ]
no subject
Good! Keep moving toward it. I'll come to you! See if you can spot anything that might tell us how to destroy the legs.
[Getting to him may be the hardest part of this since Regis can't just follow by flying, but if he can get into line of sight with the legs a warp will bring him the rest of the way.
Since lightning didn't do as much as he hoped it would to the creature, Regis sends a bolt of ice at it instead. If nothing else, maybe it will freeze the creature's wings in place and cause it to fall. That would buy them some more time to deal with the legs.
Without waiting to see if the bolt hits, Regis drops his shield for a few moments and then dashes in the direction that the young man pointed, hoping the maze doesn't turn him around too much in the process.]