THE MAZE EVENT

[November]

The Maze Event

Greetings my young Dreamers and welcome to School of Dreams' first forum-wide event, aply named The Maze.

It seems Dream Forms and Dream Beings alike have been led into the entrance of the vast hedge maze upon the grounds of the Castle Demens by the alure of possible delicious cake. But alas delicious cake was nowhere to be seen, smelt or heard in this overgrown labyrinth and they soon found themselves, thanks to the maze entrance's unfortunate habit of growing itself closed, trapped. But who could be responsible for such a devious trick? And who could know that delicious cake was the vice of so many? Why The Guides of course, Jor and Don Docent, whose love for mischeif was known in both worlds.

It seems the only way out of this mess is to find The Maze Exit, wherever that may be. But be wary my young Dreamers, for it is not simply a case of Thesius with his hand upon the wall, this maze is like no other and a good dose of wit and logic will be required for the exit to be revealed.

How To Play

- The Maze Exit can be found by CLICKING HERE. But of course we're not going to make it that easy. The board is, after all, password protected.

- Every now and then Jor-Don (or myself) will reveal a portion of a riddle. The answer to their riddle will be the password to The Maze Exit. The password consists of only one word; no spaces, no hyphons, none of that funky punctuation jazz. Just one word.

- The first character to post in The Maze Exit shall be crowned the event winner and their character will be placed in the Featured section of the sidebar as the Event Winner. The post must be In Character, detailing the character's reaction on finding the exit and so on.

- Only characters who have posted in this thread can win the event. No stalking the thread just for the riddles. All posts in this thread must be In Character.

- Other events apart from Jor-Don's riddle may occur. They shall be posted by myself. These events may range from monsters or... other types of monsters and some more monsters maybe (think of it along the lines of "a wild Snorlax appears!", if you get that reference). Feel free to RP your character getting injured as it is just the answer to the riddle that is required to find the exit. Do not injure other characters unless it's consensual.

- All in all have fun. I am NOT ripping off Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire!

[Jor-Don Docent]

JorDon leaned the Maze hedge. It was so simple. So incredible simple. Jor had been of mind that it was too simple, but then, it seemed, she had more confidence in the Dreamers than her brother. Don, it seemed, knew all along that they would fall for it. Of course, he was the charmer and seemed to know all ways in which to charm people beyond sex apeal. All they had to do was forge a simple invitation:

You have been cordially invited by proclamation of King Reginald Kingly to The Maze Celebration.

The Celebration starts at 11:15 promptly at the Maze within the Royal Castle grounds. Cake and other delicious sweets shall be served.

[/i]

Signed, the King himself!

Of course, Don hadn't actually gotten the King to sign or order the sending of such an invitation, but it didn't really matter. It was all about illusions after all.

In fact, it was so about illusions that Jor disguised herself (with the help of an unnamed witch) as the King's Jester and handed out the invitations personally. She even went so far as to hand one to the King himself and convince him that it was indeed his doing. Had he really believed her, Jor wasn't so sure. But the mission had been accomplished and the event was to happen tonight.

And now they waited. They were still disguised but still in their own skin. They simply wore costumes this time, hiding their faces to look more as though they were one in the same. This way it would be harder to point them out as the Twins of Chaos, but easier to reveal themselves later, if they so chose. It was all about playing their mischief without getting caught, playing their game without having to deal with any consequence afterward. They still wanted the poor naive and gullible souls who trusted them now to still trust them later.

Besides, this way, in their form that made it so hard to tell which was which and where one stared and the other ended, they could between to be just the first of the guests. It's know as though everyone in the dream world knew everyone else. If they were just some random Being, then people would be less likely to just walk away. But if they were JorDon, surely someone would figure something was up.

And so they waited, hidden in plain site, for the their victims to arrive.[/blockquote]

[matsunaga]

The Headless Horseman had been perplexed by his inability to drink, so when presented with an invitation from the King, the notion of eating royally-prepared cake had caught his interest. He was a rogue sort by nature, and while he gave the ruling monarch of his world his due for being who and what he was, the Horseman had no real place in whatever noble society the dream-world held.

In any event, the idea of royal treats intrigued him; if there was any type of food the dream world had to offer, that he could actually eat, then surely it would be served at the King's table, wouldn't it? And perhaps it would have some positive effect on his waking self, the poor thing.

Having dismounted from his steed at the gate, he simply walked to the edge of the Maze, taking in its scenery in silence.

[aashongi2]

One fine eyebrow quirked at the piece of cardboard in his hand. “A Maze Celebration,” Lucifer intoned to nobody but himself. He had been rather pre-occupied with playing his golden harp in his hidden humble abode by the Mists when the “Jester” arrived with the invitation. Lucifer couldn’t be fooled though. Rare are the disguises that deceive his eyes. He had even winked and smirked mischievously at the lovely Guide Jor, who had quite effectively disguised herself as the King’s Jester. He would have invited her in and maybe spend just a little quality time together, a quick one, but she seemed to be in a hurry, and so he let her leave.

He held the card in one hand, and gently tapped it against the other as he looked out the window to see King Reginald’s castle towering above all of Dream World. Lu couldn’t help the strange desire and sheer curiosity that rose within him at the thought of the game. Yes, it was just a game, but an intriguing one nevertheless. He was here to live and be merry anyway. Long gone are the days when he would labor over demon fights in Hell or worry over a new dead mortal entering the gates. This right here was paradise. Or at least something close to it. He was going to enjoy every bit of it. With a wave of his hand, Lu had changed from his flowing white robe into a casual get-up of jeans, shirt and a newsboy hat to boot. Of course, his strong and wide angel wings will always be there. He secretly thanked the Creator that he had lost the glittering halo over his head when he fell from the Heavens. He wasn’t fond of that one.

He had arrived at the Royal Castle grounds in no time. He had appeared at the gates, and slowly made his way towards the grounds. He frowned when he found that someone else was already there ahead of him. Obviously, not fast enough, Lu. He recognized Jor and Don again in disguises, but didn’t acknowledge them as such. Perhaps, it was part of the game. He was willing to play along. Heck, he even promised himself not to use any of his powers at all to enjoy this one thoroughly, and not take the fun out of it. He nodded at the Headless Horseman, and then to the disguised Guides. ”Need we wait for the others?” he asked. Yes, he was a rather impatient man…or being.

[Joker]

It was a quiet day at his stall and Joker had been quite bored until the arrival of the King's Jester. The encounter had quirked Joker's brow, namely that there was someone who went by a title so close to his own name. Now though, he sat upon the railing of his stall, tapping an invite against his lips thoughtfully.

"A Maze Celebration... Joker has not been to one before that he knows of. What would Joker have to do at a celebration of Mazes? Does Joker dance through the Maze with streamers and bells tied to his feet? Do people normally celebrate mazes? Is Joker meant to bring his own maze? Is the King a man with a fetish for Mazes and as such created a celebration to see other people's mazes? Perhaps people are meant to dress up as hedges and create a maze dance in honor of the maze! Yes! Joker does like cake!" His mind settled he swung himself down to the ground and set off towards the castle - but not before stepping into his stall to get an appropriate gift for the Maze.

Upon his arrival, Joker was excited to see that already there were a few people gathered ahead of him. One was a winged being in casual garb, two others stood side-by-side next to what Joker guessed was the Maze and the final being was a familiar face.

"Cha~ra~ra~! Joker is here~!" he announced happily, waving his arms above his head wildly. Grinning, he walked to stand beside the winged one while rummaging in one of his sleeves.

"Tatters! Dids you bring the required celebratory gift for the Maze? Joker brought it a branch!" Apparently finding what he sought within the voluminous folds he proceeded to pull out his 'branch'. Smiling with pride he proceeded to stab it into the ground and stepped back to admire his handiwork.

"Really, Joker admits it was a bit small but there be other tricks Joker must makes room for up his sleeves! Happy Maze Day~!" With a gleeful flick of his hands he sent up little black balls that burst into colorful sparks to shower upon his gift.

His gift being a little ever-green tree standing at just under six feet tall, its branches springing up after having been confined by his sleeves.

"Now Maze has someone to talk to when its bored!"

[Cybele Renard]

The Maze Celebration. Hatter flipped the invitation in his hands before sliding it into his hat. Mazes in and of themselves were celebrations, works of art even, in Hatter’s mind. They were created solely to muddle and frustrate with a reward to the select few who made it through the ordeal, minds changed forever by the experience. Hatter wouldn’t miss it for the world. He could care less about the cake. When you let a large group of people loose in a small, confusing, confined area, chaos was sure to ensue. He made a mental note to find a ‘c’ word for small and headed for the Castle.

A group was already assembling at the entrance to the maze. Hatter waved and shouted as he approached, “Hi hi hi! Glad to see you haven’t started yet. I was afraid I was going to be on time.” He scanned the crowd. These seemed like his kind of people: dark, strange, potentially insane. Or was he just describing himself? It didn’t really matter in the long run.

“Impressive…” He examined Joker’s tree and nodded to him approvingly. “I seem to have forgotten my gift for the maze.” Hatter sighed and began to rummage through his hat. “I lost my manners last week, you see. Still can’t quite locate them. Elusive things…Ah!” Hatter grinned and pulled a gold pocket watch out of his hat. He flipped it open and wrapped the chain on one of the tree branches. He positioned the watch so its face was towards the maze. “And now the maze will know what time it is too. I’m quite proud of this watch; it is exactly two days slow.”

[Nessie Vaile]

Nessie had peered curiously at the jester when he gave her the invitation. He looked pretty normal. He sounded, smelt and felt normal too. There was just something she could sense about him. If she did focus, she could see slight flickerings in his appeareance. Magic. Whatever had given her that invite, it was not Maximillian Juspexck. Nevertheless, she was curious to learn why someone would want to hude their appeareance. Could it be a trouble maker? A student? JorDon? Maybe even another witch, though if a memeber of the Coven was pulling pranks without the others' assent, they would get an earful from them, definately.

Ness floated down from the summer sky, gracefully alighting on the grassy turf. She thrust her broom into the air, allowing it to roam free for a bit. She could see six people already arrived. From here she could easily pick out Lucifer, along with four dark figures, and a peculiarily colourful man, stood beside a tree.

She strand of speech from the dark one, something about gifts. 'Oh, we're doing presents? Okidoke- Broom!' It shot down from the sky immediately towards it smistress. She plucked one twig from its rear end, then sent it off again. She then walked away from the tree, poked it into the ground near the hedges, and spoke softly: 'Do vito'. It flushed green instantly and bloomed with a rose. 'That aught to keep give the hedge something to look at,' she joked. 'So. Any idea when we start?' she asked, hoping to spark a conversation between the gathered contestants.

(Sorry for murdering your name, Jester )

[Connor Ashling]

Connor stepped into the maze and had the urge to step right back out again. The dream world, he had come to realize, was full of loons, but he wasn't quite prepared to see them all stacked up in a confined space. All of them had an air that set his nerves on end, particularly the headless horseman.

His mother had found it terribly amusing to hide the book randomly in his belongings to scare him at a young age and exclaim that the ghost of the headless horseman had put it there. He'd eventually set up a sting operation and had caught her, but the thing had scared him ever since.

He chose to stick the the edges of the crowd, skulking around the group of misfits like a ghost himself. Perhaps it'd be better if he kept his trap shut for once, especially since they all seemed to be offering gifts. He wasn't aware that it was required, and even if he did, he still hadn't quite figured out how to carry things anyway.

He took up residence in a sheltered corner of the corridor and watched. He was growing to appreciate when he was the sanest person in the room...

[matsunaga]

The Horseman couldn't frown at the gift-giving display, but he rather wished he could; not because he disapproved, but because he had nothing to give, and he was suddenly ashamed of his behavior. Even that obnoxious little blue-haired person... creature... thing had the etiquette to remember a present for the Maze. And so did the others, it seemed; it was an odd little christening, but he supposed that the Dream World must have its own laws and customs.

He considered a moment, and in a rare moment of self-awareness, wondered how much of himself was dependent upon his waking-self's mind. He had never met Devon, and did not know him any better than one might now the author of one's favorite book through his writing, but he did know that the boy was a nervous sort and prone to over-preparing himself.

He reached into his cloak for his satchel bag, and rummaged inside it; what does a Headless Horseman carry around, anyway? Or more importantly, what did Devon think a Headless Horseman carries around?

Very little it seemed; sheafs of paper with the indistinct writing that one often sees in dreams, a hunting knife (which seemed a poor gift for a thing that ought to behave in a plantlike manner), a few scraps of leather, and a few extra buttons that matched the ones on his cloak.

Deciding those would have to do, the Horseman produced two of them-- rather tarnished-looking bronze things with an embossed leaf emblem on their faces-- strung them on a thin leather thong, and looped it over a branch. A humble gift, perhaps, but he was satisfied, and said nothing.

[Leyah Luna LaNoche]

Leyah sorta glided in mentally. The letter had appeared in the cage that she lived in.

You have been cordially invited by proclamation of King Reginald Kingly to The Maze Celebration.

The Celebration starts at 11:15 promptly at the Maze within the Royal Castle grounds. Cake and other delicious sweets shall be served.

Cake... yum And so she had glided herself here. In the maze she began to wander. The key around her neck scratched her. Shge tried to strech her wings or use her bbeak to pick up the key. But her beak kept missing... and eveuntally she gave up.

She began to walk near people, other people. A jester, a crazy...thing, a headless man, a boy, a gir... A girl thats who she would speak to.. Hopefully she wouldn't chicken out... No pun intended. But she needed help... would anyone even help her if she was competion? "Excuse me, but could anyone open this cage?"

[watercolorstain]

You have been cordially invited by proclamation of King Reginald Kingly to The Maze Celebration.

The Celebration starts at 11:15 promptly at the Maze within the Royal Castle grounds. Cake and other delicious sweets shall be served...

Her fingers gingerly touched the delicate lettering on the note; she had been debating whether or not she should go. (She couldn't help but think there was something...familiar about the Jester)

The welcoming scent of food inticed her, seducing her as if it were saying, "Com'on! Free food and celebration for everyone! You know you want to join in the fun..."

K stopped. There was the enterance. A slight inkling of fear trembled into her heart. She had no shoes and her dress was still its ugly off-white. She peaked her head through the opening hedge, and soon, she walked through. Her eyes uneasily darted, she was very much out of place and very scared. She soon realized who she was and quickly shed her fearful nature and put up a haughty one. She wasn't scared, she was going to have fun! She was going to meet the King and eat sweets and...and...something didn't feel right.

She quickly moved her hands from her nonexistant hips and placed them in front of her, one covering her belly while the other was idly playing with her necklace, biding time. A spring green coloring began to creep up the hem of her dress as she waited.

[November]

A rumbling began to shift the soil and in a great flurry of leaves and tangled thorns the entrance to the Maze sealed itself shut.

[/font][/i][/color]

Note: this does not prevent new characters from posting, this is only to advance the event. If you have yet to post then feel free to do so, detailing reactions and whatnot.

[/blockquote]

[Nessie Vaile]

After speaking, Nessie blushed and hung her head, as she realised she was the only female in a growing crowd. And so, she was definately relieved to hear a female voice come from a caged eagle: 'Excuse me, but could anyone open this cage?"

'I'd be honoured, child.' She realised the student would wonder how she knew that it wa s achild. 'I can tell you're a student. You are disconnected from our world slightly, your soul feels uncomfortable in an unfamiliar enviroment, and therefore it... "squirms". Let's see... I don't think I can reach that key from here... vene.' The key came to her hand obediently, and she unlocked the cage. 'There you go, child. Oh, Ithink we can go in now.'

She strode confidentally across the grass, knowing that no nestle or thistle would have the audacity to sting the bare feet of a witch, that would be both cowardice and suicide. After she had stepped across the threshold, the hedge suddenly clashed together with a great roar. 'Now now, is that any way to treat a guest?' she said with unconvincing motherlyness. she was never good at that. That was the Mother's talent, of course. She walked closer tot he hedge, practically placing her head inside the foliage, whispering little things to the plant, trying to coerce it into opening. After some time she conceded: 'It's no good. It's been sealed with magic. Someone's tricked us. Trapped us. I won't be able to dispel the enchantment without my equipment.' she stated, to no one in particular.

'Well, I always say, "if you can't go up, you'll have to go down." ' said Nessie, and promptly walked down the corridor of the maze, to the right. 'Right is right,' she thought, stating her generic mantra for boolean passage problems.

[aashongi2]

Nothing but a bored look stayed on Lucifer's face as he watched one participant after another arrive at the scene of the so-called "celebration". While he found the mix interesting, he was not one to go out and about gushing about his thoughts and feelings. He stayed on one side, leaning against a tall hedge, arms crossed over his chest, trying not to roll his eyes as each of the new arrival produced a gift of sorts to the Maze. "Pathetic beings. It's not like they can bribe the Maze into letting them win," he mumbled more to himself than to anyone.

His sharp eyes never missed a thing as they all continued to wait for what was about to happen next. Truly now, he was starting to get really bored. A thought about starting a teenie-weenie chaos, a seemingly mindless fight amongst themselves flashed through his mind, but then he decided against it. Too messy. He thought as he tried to stifle a yawn.

He was watching the pretty maiden free a caged eagle and a little kid unsurely walking towards them when the ground trembled, and the entrance of the Maze sealed itself shut. Lucifer had stood up straight, and watched everyone else. He wondered if this signals the start of the game, but then nothing else happened.

The Maiden started walking towards the corridor of the maze mumbling to herself, and so Lucifer raced up next to the pretty little creature to join her. "You really think we are trapped, my dear?" he asked rather amusedly, walking in step with her, paying more attention to her than to the maze.

[Cybele Renard]

Hatter didn’t even flinch when the entrance to the maze sealed itself. He had expected as much and was rather disappointed to find his expectations fulfilled. He had also expected at least one person in the group to cause some trouble off the start, but that didn’t seem to be happening.

Without saying a word, Hatter pulled himself away from everyone else and headed into the maze. This appeared to be a game after all. Nothing interesting was going to happen until the game started, “Are you enjoying yourself thus far?” No one responded but Hatter nodded his head in agreement anyway.

He paused, reaching a fork in the maze. “It is feeling like a right day, isn’t it?” Type of day decided, Hatter promptly turned left and headed deeper into the maze. Maybe he would run into a Minotaur or a duck or something equally as strange.

[November]

A hum filled the air and out from the bushes an immense swarm of midges appeared like a cloud of smoke. They made their way towards the wanderers, moving as if of one entity. Their figure vaguely resembled that of a human and when this creature of flies opened what could only a described as a mouth a dreadful scream filled the air.

It hurtled itself towards the wanderers.

[/font][/i][/color]

Note: this does not prevent new characters from posting, this is only to advance the event. If you have yet to post then feel free to do so, detailing reactions and whatnot.

[/blockquote]

[Joker]

Joker had felt an insatiable desire to giggle as one after the other offered gifts to the Maze. It was quite possibly the first time anyone had followed his lead - something most usually decided was a bad idea. Not that he blamed them for such responses because usually his ideas were made in jest and would not do well for a persons health should they be followed.

That being the case, when the opening of the Maze closed itself he sighed. Again, a typical thing to happen when one entered a Maze. Couldn't the creators do something more interesting like suddenly catapult the entire structure high into the sky? That would be one way to keep people contained on that bit of soil - but no wait someone had freed the caged eagle and so they would have been able to escape such a plan. Joker wondered what the Maze had planned for people trying to go up and over its structure.

A few of the group had already gone ahead and Joker decided he would be one to follow. Until a creation of midges rent the air with a scream that had his toes curling in his boots. Insects. Joker didn't like them all that much and had thought that being in a world of Dreams would have let him see the last of them.

"Che, Joker didn't bring fly spray. Maybe the Hatter... no, no, he left already," he muttered, grabbing a little black sphere from within his sleeve and testing the walls with a kick of his leg. The monstrosity was fast moving towards them and Joker easily vaulted to the front of the group.

"Run~! Run like little piggies deeper into the wood lest the butcher find ye all~!" Joker yelled, leaping to the side of a hedge and then off it to get higher than the midgelet. It's open maw turned with him, and as Joker flipped up and over it, he dropped his little sphere down.

Crouching once hitting ground behind it, he quickly ran deeper into the maze - calling to the group, "That was sleeping gas! Don't inhale it~!" They either had the option of running through the gas now and holding their breaths or waiting til it dispersed, the way Joker saw it.

He turned left at the intersection.

[matsunaga]

The Horseman calmly walked toward the shrieking thing; he had no lungs to breathe the smoke from the thing that Joker had thrown. He had no skin for the flies to bite. He had no truly suitable weapons to fight off the swirling swarm of buzzing insects, and certainly he had no magic to his name, but at least he thought he might give the others a chance to get away if he attempted to distract the thing.

He drew his cavalry saber, for all the good it would do him, ready to defend himself should the mass of vermin prove more than a shrieking cloud of pests.

[Nessie Vaile]

'You really think we are trapped, my dear?' said Lucifer the Fallen Angel in a patronizing voice,as he crept up to Nessie. She blushed again, but then got a grip over herself and rember that Lucifer wasn't the sort of... man... to show weakness to. She was a strong confident woman, who had no need of men. She was the Maiden. soe some mollycoddling whore of a Mother, not some crotchety old Crone. She then mentally placed her head under an iron for thinking something so cruel and false. Well, the Mother wasn't a whore, definately.

'Well, I'm sure you, I, and several other contestants could blow a hole in that hedge, but that would be cheating wouldn't it? And although the hedge is being so very rude, I doubt that that is a fair punishment. You could fly out, and I could call my broom over, or simply jump the hedge with some assistance... but there could be all sorts of enchantments over the maze against escape, and I dont know about you, Lu, but i want to find who's responsible for this.' A thoguht then corssed Nessie's mnid, about Lucifer's reputation and moral alignment. 'You know dont you?'

Before she could wait for a response, a loud humming drowned out all sound, and suddenly, melting out of the walls in huge swarms, came millions of midges. 'Oh no,' said Nessie sarcastically. 'How ever will I cope with a bite?' The she saw the humanoid shape appear, and realised there was more to this swarm than spontaenous insects. He let out a horrific scream, blood curdling and diabling. she clutched at her ears, all of her being wishing for it to stop. Then she caught hold of her remaining willpower, grabbed a handful of mud from the floor, and shouted out an incantation, just barely a whisper under the scream:

'With this wet and earthly mound
I can ignore your evil sound
and send it far below the ground
and never stop; tis Hellward bound'

She threw the mud out from her chest into the cloud, and the sound stopped abruptly, thoguh the others eould still hear it. The colourful man from before jumped in front of her and threw down a smoke grenade, while the headless horseman cantered forth boldly to attmept to fight it off with a sword. Communicating with the swarm-man probably wontwork, but fighting it might.

'Electrolorium pestamorium, peto ab caelo, entoborium.' she spoke the compolex incantation calmy but firmly, sending a several huge arcs of lightning into the cloud, hopefully killing a large amonut fo the midges.

[tope]

OOC: So much to respond to! Hope nobody minds I'm terribly late getting in here.

IC:

But what about the cake? There were certainly no sweets in sight as the small boy joined the group, looking wildly about at all the unusual people congregated around the entrance. It seemed he was likely the last of the invited to arrive. Why he had received an invitation at all was completely beyond him; he had never met anyone of any importance and was certainly not someone of importance himself, but the thought of sweets had quickly wiped his mind of worries- perhaps everyone had been invited.

The boy had missed the whole bit about gift giving, but then again the pockets of his khaki shorts were bereft of anything but pocket lint and band-aids, quite definitely unsuitable gifts for a maze, although why ever a maze would need something was beyond him to begin with.

It was during those ponderings that the opening was no longer such. It took a moment for the effect of the closing of the maze to occur to the small, roughed up boy. There’s, no way out. It was a slow thought, calm only due to the creeping way fear arises on a person. This concept claimed his complete attention, leaving him oblivious to the others going-ons right up until that dreadful scream jolted him to the moment. His hands lept to his ears while his eyes darted about, taking in the scene.

To a terrified little boy; that was, after all, his primary state it seemed, the approaching swarm (as frightening as it was on it’s own) was only slightly more distressing than the actions of the others. From smoke bombs to the headless horseman’s attack and the witch’s spells he was frozen. It was as though his tongue has swollen threefold and a fist had lodged itself in his throat. The only sound he heard was his own heart beat, thrumming as though he were hearing the individual beats of a hummingbird’s wings instead of his own heart- so loud a beat he heard that the screams of the little flying men were mere whispers in the distance. Tears began to well in his eyes as his fear heightened, his mouth felt so full of saliva from the lump in his throat preventing him from swallowing- fear has many causes, as well as many effects.

The initial paralysis of fear finally passed, leading to the maddened strength that many attribute to adrenaline. The little boy, covered with bruises and scrapes, one eye blackened and slightly swollen was usually was the image of weakness, now though, as he reached into the hedge and snapped a brittle branch he had a fierceness mixed with the terrified tone of his eyes.

“Stay away!” He wailed, bounding at the swarm and wildly swinging the branch, it’s leaf covered twigs acting so solidly together they were more like an oversized fan than a branch. Crazed, the boy swung the branch over his head to the ground, his arm extended to catch the midges as far from his body as he could reach.

He hated bugs.

[aashongi2]

Lucifer gave more than rapt attention to the fair maiden by his side. A measured step and a quirk of an eyebrow here and there were his non-verbal responses to her speech. A slight smirk tugged at the corner of his lips when she called out the obvious answer to his question. Of course, most of the creatures and beings now “trapped” in the maze are probably every bit as capable of escaping and destroying it. ”Ahhh…enchantments. I would not want to mess with those,” he mumbled following that with a knowing wink at the Maiden. Lucifer hated enchantments. He was too lazy to work against it.

He gave Nessie an innocent questioning look when she asked if he knew who was behind this happening. Does she really expect me to spill what I know so easily? Before he could mouth his response, however, his ears caught the sound of a rather loud humming filling the air. He turned just in time to see a large swarm of midges turn into a humanoid being screeching into every wanderer's ears. Everyone that is, except his. He was enjoying the scene too much to care about everyone else’s predicament. He watched with curious amusement as the Joker, the Headless Horseman, and then the Maiden battle it out with smoke, sword and spells, and wondered if those would be enough to stop it. What could he do? Would he even do anything? He was not exactly inconvenienced. In fact, he could even use the distraction to his advantage, go rush into the maze and leave everyone else behind. It was not in his nature to save. He felt bile rise up his throat at the thought. I am no saviour.

Then he saw a little child, scared yet trying so hard to fight it off with the tiny branch in his hands. That would have been laughable had he not felt shame at just standing there doing nothing while a little boy is giving all he could to help. He hated it when a bout of conscience overtakes him like this. Why didn’t He take it away as well when I fell? No, it wasn’t conscience, he reasoned inwardly. It was because he didn’t want to be overpowered or bested by just a mere little boy. He was far better, more powerful to be just standing there, doing nothing. Such childish reasoning really, but Lucifer had to cling to something else. Conscience will not be his reason for giving in, he told himself.

With a bored sigh, he reached one hand out and closed his eyes. His massive angel wings stretched out threateningly and, in an instant, a blinding flash of light erupted from his open palm, glowing from his fingertips towards the advancing creature. Lucifer, at least, hoped it’ll burn the swarm of midges, and make them drop one by one like the ordinary flies that they should be.

[November]

The swarm was weakening, the human figure that it attempted to embody now morphed and disfigured. It screamed in anger at the loss of its brothers to the witch's enchantment and began to lurch itself forwards, towards the weakest being it could sense--a small boy with but a mere branch as a defence. It could not get that far, however, for the great light that had arisen from the fallen angel's palms stopped it in its track.

The light was burning and the swarm was wailing in pain. It began to expand so it could no longer keep the human figure, each individual fly glowing a deep red in the heat. Soon, in a great wave of embers, the swarm burst and small white strips of what seemed like paper fell from the sky, all throughout the Maze, in the place of what should have been dead flies.

Upon each of the many thousand strips were writ two lines:

Five of us there be, small but true,
We'll help your thoughts escape from you.

Could this be part of a riddle? Perhaps one must venture further in the Maze to find out.

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Note: this does not prevent new characters from posting, this is only to advance the event. If you have yet to post then feel free to do so, detailing reactions and whatnot.

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[watercolorstain]

When the flies arrived, she attempted, in vain, to swat the few with her ukelele that attacked her. She didn't even bother to call out her pendant (she still wasn't of its shape shifting abilities).

When the flow of insects began to slow down she ran, not really looking where she was going. A piece of paper landed on her cheek in a quick slap, she rubbed her face. What's...what's this?, she thought as she began to recite the words.

Five of us there be, small but true,
We'll help your thoughts escape from you.

She sounded out each syllable. But, what did it mean? And it seemed so simple, yet, it was difficult. Five, five of what? She folded it and ventured further, ukele in hand and with a look of determination. She knew that insects were not the least of her troubles.

[Cybele Renard]

“So let me get this straight, in your world dogs don’t walk upside down, fish can’t fly, and the sun isn’t blue?” Hatter shuddered in horror. “Sounds like a dreadful place.” Oddly enough, no one answered his declaration.

Hatter had stopped paying attention to what direction he was going after the initial left turn. He was currently sitting in the center of a crossroads purposefully not thinking about which of the five paths he should take.

“Why do you keep suggesting we go left? I don’t want to go left. After all, if you go left too many times, you just wind up going right. So if you want to go left, you really should just keep going right.” Again, no one answered Hatter’s declaration, but he nodded as if agreeing with something.

Without looking around Hatter reached up and grabbed several pieces of paper. He stuffed them under his hat and picked one more off the ground. Holding it upside down, he carefully read the message.

“See? Told you the maze could talk…” Laughing to himself, Hatter stood and chose a path.

[Joker]

Joker walked down the path he had chosen, arms outstretched so his fingers could trail upon the walls on either side of him. He walked like a child was wont to do when bored, big measured steps as though looking for the 'safe spots' on the imaginary lava floor he walked upon. When it began to rain slivers of paper, he squinted up at the sky with a bemused smile on his lips whilst holding out his palm to watch the papers settle in a little mound.

"Ara, paper showers~!" he cried with glee as the corridor he was within was soon blanketed white by the sheer amount. Waving his arms he began to run down the path, a flurry of white marking his passage as his feet kicked up the papers.

Skidding around a corner, he found himself within a vast courtyard with three exits, one a marble archway, the second of gold and the last looked like it had been blocked by a stone wall that was now gaping open as though something had smashed its way out. Joker would assume that since the stones lay within the courtyard and not down that path - obviously something big and strong.

Not that it bothered Joker - he flopped onto his back and started flapping his arms and legs quickly, another flurry of paper flying at his movements.

"Paper Angels~!" he laughed as he played. When the paper he had displaced settled atop him, he finally picked one up to read.

"Ara... why must riddles always be so broken~" he murmured, throwing the paper away. Flipping to his feet he brushed himself off and headed off towards the stone exit.

[Alexis Belmonte]

Though she would never admit it, Alex had been quite fascinated by the idea of a Maze Celebration and cake. So that was the main reason for the big sphinx to show up for this event. When she arrived she saw that there were already a bunch of people there, so she just walked over there, greeting them all with a polite nod. After all, she wasn't the most talkative person in the world, so she really saw no need to say anything to them, and they just seemed to be waiting for the event to start. Then she remembered that she'd almost forgotten her gift to the maze, a golden bracelet. Carefully she hung it on one of the mazes branches. There, it was done.

Sigh. The wait was probably the most boring time of the day (Sure, she could just talk to the others, but she still didn't feel like it) and she was just about to leave again when all of a sudden the entrance to the maze sealed itself shut.

Great, now they were all trapped inside the bloody maze. Not exactly her idea of a fun way to spend a day. But what could she do? She had a felling that they weren't gonna get out of there anytime soon, so she just had to get used to the thought. So, what were they supposed to do now? Just keep waiting? Or maybe they should start exploring the maze? Meh, she probably had to wait for the others, so that was what she was going to do for now.

But suddenly, out of nowhere, a hum started filling the air, and she then saw a human running toward them. No, not human, she realized, midges! Just great. Midges. A part of her wanted to run screaming away from there, but that probably wouldn't look too good, so what should she do? A horseman was trying to attack the thing, and another person was throwing lightnings at it. But obviously, neither of them were doing much damage to it, so she wasn't too keen on attacking. Rather save the energy till it was really needed.

Just as she was about to turn around and run she saw that the creature was disappearing. And then it told a riddle. Or a part of one. She had a feeling that it was important for all of them to remember it. She really didn't take much interest in the paper around her. Maybe they should try to walk deeper into the maze in order to find out more about it? That was what she was going to do, and so it was.

[Jor-Don Docent]

Don was quite pleased with himself. The reactions of those trapped in the Maze were quite... delicious. At least the reactions of those who were indeed frighten by his antics, but he found it quite annoying that the combined attempts of the witch and the angel were raining on his parade, or really, destroying his monsters. The next attacker would be stronger, but if they still kept this out he might find need to separate the group.

A wicked grin crossed his lips and he looked from just behind the hedges. Yes, perhaps separation would be key. Keep the strong ones from teaming together and perhaps bring the weaker ones alone.

Just then the leaves began to sway, tossing and turning in every direction. The wind picked up and it seemed as though it was whispering, or perhaps signing or maybe even wailing. It gripped at people's hair and kicked dirt into their faces.

The first of us shall start all arts
And with the second will remain in hearts.

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Don frowned. It was too soon for the next part of the riddle to be released. Way too soon. What on earth was Jor thinking? He emerged from the hedges into an empty part of the Maze and began walking toward where he was sure Jor was, angry that she was messing with his plans.

Note: this does not prevent new characters from posting, this is only to advance the event. If you have yet to post then feel free to do so, detailing reactions and whatnot.

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[Nessie Vaile]

Ness staggered, falling sprawled on her knees onto the floor. those spells had cost her... She preferred to cast more spiritual or profound magic usually, that involved communicating with Nature. Or at elast, a proper ritual, which had the power of spells, but the lack of input that nature magic afforded. She staggered onto her feet noce more, and grasped the hedge for support. 'Alrighty, hedge, time for your punishment. De me vite!' she said sharply, well and truly pissed off with the hedge. Being drained of energy wasn't good for Vanessa's temperament. A small patch of the hedge died, it's leaves turning brown and shrivelling up, and her vitality was restored nistantly.

She looked up at the continuing battle with the midge-man, and was genuinely surprsied to see him help out. Still watching the angel, she caught one of the shreds of paper without looking, and read it.
'Five of us there be, small but true, We'll help your thoughts escape from you.' Five... five clues? It seemed reasonable, if the clue itself was in the first person. Thoguhts escaping... That made Nessie think of creativity, thoughts escaping onto paper or whatever medium the art was for.

She could sense mischief about her. One might say that the presence of the Devil himself a few feet away would explain it, but he was just evil. There was a distinct scent of delight in misfortune on the wind. Faint, but there all the same. She decided to ignore it.

Just then, the whole maze seemed yo erupt into discontent. The bushes swayed about, as if fidgeting over some disconcertion. The wind itself jumped up aronud her, whispering intoh er ear. It was normal for Nessie to listen to the secrets of nature's forces, but this was not the voice of the wind. 'The first of us shall start all arts and with the second will remain in hearts.' Arts... had she been correct in thinking of creativity? 'With the second...' I guess I need to wait for the next clue then...

She set off at a leisurely pace, walking down the corridor, until she reched a junction, and turned left, humming her favourite song, 'Why a Raven is Like a Writing-desk in Some Ways, but in Many Other Ways it is Also Like a Chandelier, a Book, or a Crow,'.

[aashongi2]

A devilish yet triumphant smirk came to his lips when Lucifer saw the midges yield to what he and the witch had struck them with. But the smirk turned into a scowl when the embers turned into a thousand strips of paper that rained down on all of them. ”How dramatic,” he remarked sarcastically as he held a hand up to catch a piece, his angel wings closing and taming down behind him.

He quirked an eyebrow, suddenly interested yet again at the game at hand. He was reading the first part of the riddle when the leaves started to flutter around them, the wind picking up as the seconds ticked by. Then he heard it. So soon? He didn't expect to get the next part right after the other, but he just shrugged his shoulders. He tucked the first two parts of the riddle to the back of his mind ready for retrieval later when the rest comes, and turned to continue on his way.

Nessie had started walking, and he saw everybody else taking their own "roads" around the Maze. He chuckled to himself, and then went on his way as well. When he reached the same junction Nessie had been, he turned right. ”I’ll see you around, pretty Maiden,” he called out to her, not sure if she heard him or not. It was fun playing with her like that. He knew she, of all the three witches, was not exactly fond of “men” that much. Lucifer wondered if he could break her. ”You have to admit we made a pretty wicked team back there,” he added a little to arrogantly before turning and continuing on his way.

He saw a few more dream forms milling about, and Lucifer’s sharp eyes scanned the crowd for his next prey…or subject of entertainment, more like. He had to admit, it would be boring traipsing the seemingly massive maze all by his lonesome self. He wondered if Jor would make an appearance. Just Jor please. No Don. It would certainly make him enjoy this game more.

[Tetroneaque Tailchaser]

Tetroneaque had been taking a rather peaceful nap in the shade of the hedge. He truly hated being disturbed when he was sleeping, thus why he chose the maze as his napping grounds in the first place. What better way to avoid some bumbling, fumbling, jerk from stumbling on him than by going to sleep at the center of a maze? If there was a better way then Tetroneaque hadn't thought of it yet.

Imagine his surprise when a rather annoying ruckus awoke him from his slumber. He let out a low pitched growl and lashed his tails angrily as he sat up.

"Can't a fellow take a nap in peace!?!" He yelled out, though the sounds seemed to be coming from the edge of the maze and it was unlikely anyone without his own acute hearing would even hear his ranting.

"As long as I'm up I might as well find out what all the hulabaloo is about... and maybe add something nice to my collection." He laughed to himself, finding his good mood returning. The thought of a little petty theft was always fun to him.

He stretched lazily, in an almost cat-like fashion, being in no real hurry. It was then that a slip of paper, carried by the wind, found it's way to him. The Kitsune picked it up and read it.

"Five of us there be, small but true. We'll help your thoughts escape from you." He read aloud, tilting his head to one side as he thought on what it might mean. He shook his head and stuffed the slip of paper into one of his robe's many pockets. His clothing changed to a dark gray color, except his mask which remained white, as his puzzlement grew.

"I suddenly feel like I'm lacking key information. Only one way to cure that." He dashed from his spot in the maze toward the source of the noise, letting his nose guide him. The scent of strangers was strong and he didn't doubt that he'd soon find who had interrupted his nap time. As he ran though a strange whisper on the wind came to him. He stopped in his tracks.

"The first of us shall start all arts and with the second will remain in hearts? What in blazes does that mean?" He was becoming annoyed again. He decided to simply keep moving until he found out the source of all this noise.