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.
Post by Nyx Nordstrom on Jun 14, 2022 10:03:43 GMT 10
It wasn't the many, spiraling stone stairs that led up the tower that had Nyx's breath knocked unsteady, teeter-tottering around in her lungs to create peaks and valleys, it was the excitement of entering one of these rumored secret rooms. Apparently, all you needed was a bronze key and it would unlock a magical door that led you into completing a certain task, an objective that was random and for you alone. Nyx originally believed it to be hogwash, but apparently it wasn't.
"Good luck in there," Nyx called out to a departing Amara, a little bit breathless. "Wherever there is exactly," she scoffed, and inhaled hard, her breath catching. You'd think she'd be used to climbing stairs given the location of her common room—but no. There was no getting used to running up countless steps in a short amount of time, especially when they spiraled like these.
Nyx turned toward her door, and she felt everything stop for a moment, the fading footsteps of her friend, the creaking tower arches, and the light snow that gently hit against the wall outside the tower, softly falling against its tall windows. Everything stopped moving around her and time seemed to stand still as she reached for her key, making her smile grow wider, more excited, her eyes bright as she unlocked the door, convinced that something special awaited her behind it.
Last Edit: Jun 14, 2022 10:09:35 GMT 10 by Nyx Nordstrom
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 -- yet 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 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, 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 of 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 with / 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 Nyx Nordstrom on Jun 15, 2022 1:33:54 GMT 10
The room was full of familiarity; colorful ingredients, varying liquids, unlabeled jars. It was like the Potions classroom, but something was different. It was brighter, less depressing. Nyx turned, spinning a slow circle as her eyes wandered the room. Ah, yes. Just as she thought. There was an occasional shimmer of magic, one that flashed briefly, indicating that nothing was able to be picked up or taken. The only thing that appeared to be missing were black pewter cauldrons.
Her blue eyes cast toward the organized shelving, everything in their proper place, as she tried to guess what some of the contents were. Asphodel, powdered? Wormwood fusions? That one over there definitely looked like a Sopophorus bean. But none of it really mattered, did it? Not if she couldn't collect or take it. So, her gaze flicked toward the plaque before her and she gave it a glance, following the words as she read them before looking at the three vials mentioned.
"This better not be some sort of prank," Nyx whispered under her breath, cautious as ever. "Surely there wouldn't be a dangerous poison in one of these bottles, would there? I can't imagine Hogwarts would allow something like that—but there's also a murderous willow living on the grounds, so who's to really say," she quipped, rolling her eyes.
Her decision wavered, her hand indecisive, as she picked up each bottle, one after the other. They were all of different color, scent and thickness. There was a chance Nyx could pick the unsafe bottle, but she pushed the thought to the back of her mind. She was going to go with her intuition, nothing more, and reached for the third vial. Popping its cork, she inhaled the sweet scent, and tossed it back between her lips. After a rather quick downing, she consumed it.
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 Nyx Nordstrom on Jun 15, 2022 7:54:19 GMT 10
Her face pinched at the taste, but she choked the liquid down in one go, gulping softly. That was supposed to be a safe vial? It tasted disgustingly sweet and lukewarm, like thick medicinal syrup that an infirmary nurse would give a sick child. Nordstrom could scarcely resist grimacing as it went down, before eventually pooling in the pit of her stomach. It made her feel nauseous. Her face turned pale, and she began to breathe heavily—until her symptoms suddenly vanished.
"Uck! What kind of twisted game is this? Whoever created this little jest needs put away," Nyx panted, pushing her nails into her scalp, trying to regain her composure. "I can't keep drinking these if they are all going to taste like that. There's no way. They're positively vile. How do students walk out of here without paying Madam Pomfrey a visit?" she protested, her voice strangled and her own ire growing rapidly by the minute.
Nyx turned to look for the door, but there was no visible way out. She hadn't a bronze key to try anymore either, it was gone, vanished just as the three vials before her had. Then, another three appeared and she rolled her eyes, groaning as she threw her head back for a moment to collect herself. If she wanted out of here, if she wanted to reap the rewards, she had to see the task through until the end—just like anything and everything else she did. There was no giving up.
Keeping her eyes closed, she reached out blindly and grabbed hold of another vial (1). This was a different approach to her first go. Maybe if she didn't see the bottle, her mind wouldn't be able to play tricks on her. Perhaps it was all in her head. Her painted fingers found the stopper and she pulled it free from the bottle, as a heavenly smell of citrus wafted through the air. Nyx quite enjoyed citrus, especially lemon, coaxing her to take a quick swig with an effort to finish it.
Last Edit: Jun 20, 2022 5:42:35 GMT 10 by Nyx Nordstrom
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. Nyx 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 Nyx Nordstrom on Jun 16, 2022 2:44:49 GMT 10
She titled back the vial in as few swigs as possible. It tasted of citrus and pineapple, flooding her senses, a carbonation tingling her tongue. And, underneath all that flavor, was the undeniable spice of cinnamon. Overall, not the most enjoyable drink. But, the moment the potion hit her stomach, Nyx felt a surge of energy. Any heaviness in her limbs disappeared, her body radiating with newly excited anticipation. Her mind felt sharp and keen, and her lungs felt open and full.
Nyx opened her eyes and studied the bottle a moment, trying to figure out what it could've been. The face she could feel herself making made her laugh, a chorus of amusement singing from her lips. She shook her head and stuck out her tongue, as though licking the air in attempt to rid her mouth of what remained. Before she could drop the vial as if it were toxic, it vanished from her grasp just like before—and again, another three potions appeared as replacements.
Looking over the three unmarked vials, she gently nibbled the inside of her lip, deep in thought. For one reason or another, this felt like the last round. It was one more chance to drink another safe potion, or so she believed. Her gaze flicked between each unlabeled bottle until she settled on one. Nyx felt a sudden jolt of decision blow through her and she reached for a vial (2). It was reddish in color, a bit like molten lava. Popping the topper, she held it out in a toast and drank.
Last Edit: Jun 16, 2022 2:45:31 GMT 10 by Nyx Nordstrom
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 Nyx Nordstrom on Jun 20, 2022 5:24:30 GMT 10
The vial clattered against Nyx's teeth as she choked back the clear potion. It fired her throat and warmed her insides, and a gradual shiver erupted throughout her body before slowing to a gentle twitch. Again, it had a nice enough flavor, but it wasn't anything she could see herself regularly drinking. As she wiped her mouth, all the vials disappeared and an ornate goblet appeared in their place. Was her secret task complete? Nyx surely hoped so. She'd been ready to go.
The drink was steaming, smelled of pure chocolate and frothed purple. Curious, Nyx held the stem of the goblet and gently shook it in circles so that the aromatic cocoa would fill her nostrils. A chill of anticipation ran along her skin, pooling in her fingertips, as she tipped the goblet ever so slightly. As soon as the liquid hit her tongue, her blue eyes widened with amazement. It tasted like berries, sweet and thick, but Nyx couldn't figure out what kind of berry it was made from.
Placing the goblet back down on the table, she smiled with a fondness in her blue eyes. It wasn't the reward she was expecting, or wanting, but it had been a delicious bonus. It was better than the three vials she'd consumed moments before, and for that she was thankful. But that was all for today. Nyx was rather full, and after consuming four drinks she had a sudden urge to visit the girls' lavatories. In a rush, she exited the room with her things, hoping to run into her friends.
Last Edit: Jun 20, 2022 5:25:00 GMT 10 by Nyx Nordstrom: This is Nyx's exit from the thread.
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