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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.
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Nunya.
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Nunya?
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[ She's pretty sure she hasn't mentioned Webby's name to anyone since she first arrived here months ago. Newbies don't get special privilege. ]
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[She's quiet for a moment.]
Would you like me to be silent?
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Unless otherwise prompted or danger appears, Sophia won't speak again, merely nodding once and continuing to try and find the most optimal path through the maze.]
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There's demonic screeching up ahead, from one of the Unseelie creatures roaming around. Lena's eyes nearly pop out of her sockets, and she scrambles to grab her glowing dagger from underneath her sweater. ]
Great, what now...?
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Just ahead, another screech tears through the air, and as they watch, one of the Jersey Devils lumbers into view from around a corner. It peers in their direction, unnaturally long neck cocked to one side. Then, it screams again, and begins charging towards them full-pelt. Incoming!]
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And Lena is highly tempted to just let Sophia take it. Use her a shield and then run in the opposite direction. Leave her to it, if she wants to defend humanity so much.
And yet. ]
Get lost, creep!
[ She holds up her hands, and begins blasting off orbs of pure magic - it's not much, about the size of baseballs, but hard hitting and hard burning. ]
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Sophia is surprised for a moment at the blast, in part because oh, that's an unexpected power, but mostly because she's not seen anyone cast magic without a Persona or a shadow assisting before. Hardly a time for questions about it, though (and she's still trying to be silent as requested, honest), so she lifts a hand and re-summons Pithos, sending forth her own burst of aggressive light towards the devil still stomping their way. The effect is similar (effective, but not quite effective enough), but yay for teamwork?]
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This is still not something I've mastered, so don't blame me if you wind up getting a haircut or worse.
[ She spreads her hands out, and the dagger begins to glow the same way as her magic - and floats! She then begins to move her arms around, 'guiding' the dagger around haphazardly, trying to go for the eyes or other vital areas. As warned, she's still new to this, so the dagger flies haphazardly here and there! ]
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Her eyes widen as Lena floats and sends out the dagger, unable to help bursting out,]
That's amazing!
[before catching herself, whoops. This is an emergency, though! Surely praise is acceptable. Anyway, they're fighting...! She calls Pithos to spin around her again, acting as an additional defense to keep her from getting accidentally stabbed. She stretches a hand out towards the beast, casting Rakunda: debilitating energy swarms around it, slowing it down and making it more susceptible to the dagger attacks.]
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Unfortunately, right now, these are Lena's only forms of attack - blast, stab, blast, stab. She's also struggling to make sure the dagger only hits the target and nothing else. As the battle wears on, it wears on her - she begins to shake a little, energy draining. It's been a while since she's had to use so much magic at once, and it's like running a marathon when you're only used to a simple jog. ]
Ugh... why won't this thing go down...!
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...We should run! It is unwise to keep fighting this battle!
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[ But as frustrated as she is, she knows Sophia is right. She can barely keep this up. But what's to prevent this monstrosity from chasing them if they book it? ]
... I'm going for one final blast to the eyes. That might buy us some time. Just start going NOW, and don't look back for anything!
[ Even if it means straight-up abandoning Lena. Which she expects. Ultimately, everyone looked out for their own self-interests.
With a gigantic inhale, she summons the last bits of magic within her body, puts her palms together, and fires a hard, heavy blast towards the Devil's eyes - this time it's the bigger and wider than both hands combined! ]
GO!
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The sudden, sharp command snaps through her indecision, and Sophia turns and runs for the nearest unblocked corridor of the maze. She starts going... and then she stops, tense and ready to move again, yo-yos out to attack as needed. She followed the directions, but she's also following what she's been taught: a real Phantom Thief would never leave someone behind like this, right? So she's waiting!]
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C-C'mon... can't... die here, not in this... stupid maze, I... I gotta back to...
[ And as she falls onto the ground, Sophia does get her earlier question answered. ]
... Webby ...
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Hastily she spins around, darting forward as quickly as she can. The Jersey Devil is some distance away, obviously wounded but not dead; that last hit was intense enough that it's been slowed considerably. It isn't safe however. In between where she and it is, lies Lena. Sophia hurries over, crouching down beside her.]
I cannot follow your request! [Surprisingly strong for her petite form, she scoops Lena up in her arms, running back towards the clearing exit as the monster behind them struggles to rise.] Please, accept my help!
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She grunts, trying to object, but she doesn't even have strength to get a good argument going. ]
... Looks like I don't really have a choice about it...
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[Perks of not having a real body: no lungs to run out of air, no muscle to strain or tire. Maybe magic fuels her body, and that can run out, but Sophia can run for some time without getting tired like a normal human would. She runs and runs, trying to get as far away from the Jersey Devil as possible, following a random route through the maze.]
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[ But it's not said with as much bite as before. Just an automatic defense mechanism.
It takes some time, and it's a little mumbled, but she finally says... ]
... Thanks.
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The gratitude, quiet it may be, still manages to give her a burst of happy energy. Even if she is annoying or talks too much, being thanked means she's helping! It makes her pick up the pace, darting around several corners and through another dark, leafy clearing. Behind them, the screams grow quieter.]
You're welcome.