An active, character-driven Hogwarts experience set in the early 2000s. Unique items, plots, and features. Non-canon; this isn't Harry Potter's story, it's ours.
The slowing charm barley worked properly this time - either she didn't cast it as well, or the room had adapted. The light from her wand, however, proved to be the most efficient method. It was still hard to balance, but it was doable so long as she focused and watched her step.
Yet it was also a tedious task, as she had to slow the wriggling vines ahead of her to step on them all while the ones she stood on began to wriggle more. It was a strange combination of quick steps but slow progress.
She was halfway across the chamber now, just had to keep it up and not lose her balance.
Post by Reena Ashworth on Jan 19, 2021 23:30:33 GMT 10
The vines had barely slowed down this time, much to Reena's disappointment but the lighting charm seemed to still work on them. She made slow progress, concentrating on quick steps in place, then some steps ahead to keep her balance on the vines that appeared to lazily trying to shake her off while she stood on them while making progress and also concentrating on keeping her light intact.
She reached out for the wall on her left to help with balance and continued at this slow pace, almost like a very odd, slow dance with quick steps to stay afloat.
It took a while and a lot of careful effort, but Reena finally crossed the last vine and was able to approach the chest. There was no further resistance, though the glowing had faded. Inside sat a Water Rune, which she knew to be a valuable object.
She felt different, as if she'd learned a lot from her task and was better off for it.
Post by Reena Ashworth on Jan 20, 2021 0:23:21 GMT 10
The effort and the slight stumbling turned out to be worth it once Reena had crossed the vines and opened the chest eagerly. Despite the faded glow she was sure her eyes had to be glistening when she saw what was inside: A Water Rune. She carefully picked it up and handled it with care as though it was the most delicate thing she had ever touched.
Looking back she realized she had overcome the vines not by the means she had expected. She had been hesitant at first and then tried to rush it which had only landed her on the ground right back where she had started. The key to success had been balance and patience in the end, as she had slowly but steadily reached her goal. And the reward was valuable!
Reena wondered if she should work on her patience in the future as well and use what she had learned to overcome the obstacles in her life. Only had she not sought out the obstacles she had been dealt with and had no chance to turn and run away from her responisbility to her family. But maybe, just maybe she could try to meet Jax and the letter writing later with more patience.
Making her way back carefully, she picked up her bag and exited through the door. Feeling her pocket for the Bronze Key she had won this morning in charms, she felt tempted to use it despite her planned meet up with her brother.
Oh, well. It was still early, wasn't it? There would be enough time to discuss what to put in a letter later. Instead of turning to the library, Reena pulled out the key and unlocked another door.
It was a brighter, less gruesome-looking version of Professor Snape's office or the Potions classroom. Walls were lined floor to ceiling with various jars of unlabeled ingredients, though an occasional shimmer of magic indicated they were not up for grabs. Though everything was properly stored, and there weren't any cauldrons nearby, the room had a strong yet undefined aroma to it.
In the middle was a wooden table with three stoppered potion vials - different colours, scents, and even thickness.
A plaque reads:
"Two are safe. One is not. Make a choice and drink up."
How to Play
There are three rounds. Choose and drink a vial, which has a 2/3 chance of being safe. If it's a poison, it's game over. These poisons aren't lethal, but your character doesn't know that. The numbers are for your reference only - they don't appear to your character.
Potion details/scent/colour/taste etc are free-RP. Sometimes, nice potions are secretly poisons or gross ones are medicine. Or perhaps the potion is exactly how it seems. You can RP it, and the way they reason/approach the task, however you want.
To win, complete three rounds without drinking poison.
Winning earns 200 exp to their Potions skill, and 20 exp to every other skill.
Although playing a mini-game, this is still an RP-thread. We strongly encourage immersing your character in this experience and challenge, as these threads are also designed for character development.
Post by Reena Ashworth on Jan 20, 2021 2:22:39 GMT 10
The first thing she noticed was the smell. A strong aroma which she could not quite identify hit her nerves and she entered to see a room full of ingredients. It was tempting to take some and use in her free time making potions but the shimmer of magic around them indicated that they were not to be taken effortlessly.
The room was rather bright, almost friendly and was a welcome contrast to the chamber with the wriggling snake vines. Reena felt more welcome here yet when she read the plaque by the three stoppered vials, she frowned.
She realized that this was a game of chance but the indication that one potion was not safe had her worried. Reena had expected a room from a Bronze Key to be less dangerous than that of a Gold Key but an unsafe potion was just a safety hazard.
There were no further indications and Reena mused about the meaning of the plaque. Two are safe. One is not. But how unsafe? Would it make her sick? Would it hurt her in a different way? Would it even kill her?
No. She doubted the latter strongly. This was a Bronze Key room. A room her friend had suggested to her. She knew Jurni did not wish her any harm and neither would this school. No harm that was unrepairable anyway.
"Ughh", she let her distaste for the vague warning show. Professor Snape would surely be disappointed if she got sick by drinking a random potion in a secret room on a tower somewhere. Or would he be disappointed she had backed away from such a challenge? What if it had been the Potions Master who had left this puzzle here? The room did not exactly scream "Snape" but who knew?
She stepped closer and inspected the vials more carefully. The potions were different in texture, colour and scent. Enough to make an educated guess? The first one smelt sweet to her, it was almost see-through with a red taint and looked like a really thin liquid. The second one was thicker, almost looked like syrup when she tilted the vial and the scent was nothing she could place. Spicy, maybe? The third one smelt unpleasant to her but had the texture of juice. It was blue with little particles of what appeared to be golden glitter in it.
Nothing told her anything and she figured she would have to chance it. She avoided the sweet and the unpleasant smelling one and decided to try the spicy syrup-ey one in the middle first. She did not want to fall into the trap of drinking good tasting water first try.
The spicy potion tasted almost like licorice and Reena made a surprised face as she drank it. She did not care for it but it was alright, it would be alright if it was not unsafe anyway.
The potion was safe. Free-RP her experience with it, though the effects will wear off soon enough.
The bottle she held vanished once she'd drank from it. The two on the table disappeared as well, only to be replaced with a new set of three different potions. Round two?
Post by Reena Ashworth on Jan 20, 2021 19:01:28 GMT 10
Upon emptying the syrup-ey potion Reena felt a chill in her body and it was as if whatever noises she had heard before where gone, as if sound did not exist. Instead her skin prickled when she set down the vial, her body interpreting the vibration of the clonk not in sound but in touch. It was rather fascinating and a bit frightening and she started talking to see what it would feel like. Her lips were moving and the vibration coming from her throat made her feel warm but the sensation stopped promtply as the effect wore off quickly.
"...am finding the legacies of-", Reena stopped when sound came back to replace whatever sense the potion had given her instead. The effect had worn off rather quickly and she did not have time to muse about what it might have been as she was presented with a whole new set of three potions. It appeared she would have to try again.
Reena was intrigued by this game now, her competitive spirit awoken. Not that she had anyone to compete against than this game of course. She inspected the three new vials, two smelling bitter and one smelling sweet. The first one was black, the second green and the third yellow.
They did not seem to differ too much in texture and Reena decided that she would try one of the bitter smelling ones. She picked the green on and prepared for a bitter taste as she started to drink it.
The potion was safe. Free-RP her experience with it, though the effects will wear off soon enough.
Once again, the bottle she held vanished after being drank. As did the two on the table. She was presented with another set of three potions, though she had an unexplainable feeling the game wasn't endless and perhaps this was her last set.
All she had to do was get through the final round...
Post by Reena Ashworth on Jan 20, 2021 20:11:16 GMT 10
'Gross' The potion really was bitter and Reena made a face but nothing bad happened after drinking it. In fact she actually felt a bit lighter and breathing seemed easier than before- not that it had been hard by any means.
She felt normal again after a short while and eyed the three new vials that had replaced the old ones. The first one was pink and reminded her of the plant goo she had spent at least half an hour to get rid of so she decided to ignore it. The second one was red with purple swirls in it with a texture that looked juice-like to her. Its smell was enticing and sweet. The third one was some orange-ey colour and did not smell much like anything at first. After a while she thought she smelled oranges but that might have been a trick of her senses.
Her choice was between the sweet red-purple and the orange one and she finally gave in to the sweet smell and chose the one with the sweet smell to drink. Just once did she want to drink something that was not bitter or syrup. Hopefully she would not come to regret it.
The potion was safe. Free-RP her experience with it, though the effects will wear off soon enough.
They vanished. Instead of another test, an ornate goblet appeared. It contained a steamy, chocolate beverage with purple froth that tasted of berries. It was a delicious reward.
Post by Reena Ashworth on Jan 20, 2021 20:39:44 GMT 10
The scent may have promised sweet but the taste was disappointing: It did not taste like much of anything. "What the-", she started to speak but stopped when red and prurple bubbles popped out of her mouth, containing the words she had just said in written form. "Marvellous!", she exclaimed and watched the purple bubble with the word 'marvellous' dance on the air before her face before it popped into glittery dust.
She had some fun making words and watching the bubbles pop before this potion's effect too wore off.
Reena perked up when instead of new potions a cup with a chocolatey drink popped up and she gathered that she had won this game of potions. With a wide smile of triumph on her face she drank the tasty beverage and licked the corners of her mouth for every last drop. It seemed the key to success was not only patience but also a good handful of luck and educated guesses.
She would have to tell Jurni about this room tomorrow! Or later at the Frivolity thing. For now she knew she had wasted enough time playing around and had to meet up with Jax to discuss their situation at hand. Her mood had already dropped down a notch when she left the potions room behind her.
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