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 first sign of the event was a colourful ribbon tied in plain view near the entrance to the Forest Path -- only it led away from the usual area, and further off to the side. The ribbons continued towards the Forbidden Forest, but that was not their eventual destination.
It was a bit of a trek, as students followed the bright ribbons into a new entrance into the Forest Path, tucked away where few thought to even explore... until now. Following the leaf-strewn path lined with trees in the process of their Autumn transformation, they arrived at an area that was a bit of a shock to see at first.
The trees thinned into a large clearing, which was clearly magically-expanded for the purpose of the event. Grass turned to soft sand -- something one might find at a dessert rather than a forest's clearing. A huge sandpit was set up in a grid, with little numbered flags to identify each square. It was a delightful sight to those with any interest in Archaeology; it looked completely legitimate, and enticed one's curiosity.
Or it also appealed to those who loved Pirates, treasure hunting stories, or otherwise. The sandpit could also just as easily be the end destination of a treasure map -- albeit a little more structured than a deserted island or the basement of a dangerous catacomb. Everything about it stimulated a child's imagination.
Professor Rivera stood nearby to oversee the event she'd created, proudly gesturing the arrivals to a table set up nearby -- containing the written instructions, and a variety of refreshments. There were no tools, and using magic wasn't allowed. The sand itself seemed enchanted, as it was silky smooth and non-invasive -- easily flowing off any object or hand as if it were water.
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Treasure Dig
Your character chooses a square in the sandpit grid, and uses their bare hands to carefully dig for a prize -- it will be quite deep, so be sure it's not a quick and easy task. For them, it's mostly just a bit of fun without too many expectations or shocking outcomes. For members, this is a chance to boost their progress and assist them on their RPG journey.
Although this special event is Free-RP, the benefits are primarily OOC. Whatever prize you pick in the grid is not what your character digs up. Their discovery is up to you, or you can even say they didn't find anything just enjoyed the activity. Examples of things they could find IC: a bottle of fancy ink, a handful of Galleons, a new chess set, a sample box of Honeydukes chocolate, exotic seed packets, a Wand Maintenance Kit, a patterned scarf, a face paint kit, and so on.
Every square contains an OOC prize. Their value / rarity differs, but most are things not easily obtained on HAU -- including challenging ingredients, useful Potions, exp, Galleons, and more. However, the main attraction is the Runes, and there's one of each type to be found.
Each member is permitted a maximum of 3 digs / squares, and can only choose 1 per post. This can be done with one character or spread out among your others; it's your choice. Whichever character does the dig receives the prize; it's non-transferable.
When choosing your square to dig, please add a note at the very bottom of your post to state its number, so mods can easily spot and assign. Even if it's mentioned in-RP, as your character is also choosing that square, we'd really appreciate the clear and separate marker.
If you are lucky enough to get a Rune, you cannot dig again until all other Runes are found (if you have digs remaining).
If a prize is simply a number, that's the amount of EXP given to your character -- which goes to all skills. For Galleons, it'll be a number with a G on the end. Every other prize is an item, added to your character's Inventory.
All prizes are pre-allocated to each square, and were carefully scattered throughout the grid to ensure there's no pattern or predictability. This is a truly random lucky dip.
This event is open all RPG afternoon. You're free to come and go as you please, even with digs remaining. Many can play at once; every digger has their own space, so there's no waiting period or otherwise. Please keep this thread as social-free as possible; they're here to dig, not to hangout (as it would make things harder on our mods and players).
When the event concludes, every participating member receives 100 Marauder exp. It's given in full to each character they have, regardless of how many digs they used and which character did so. This is just a bonus thank you from our staff. ❤ Happy digging!
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Jun 14, 2023 16:21:50 GMT 10
"Hi Professor!" MJ greeted her Head of House brightly, her attention torn between the amazing looking sandy area to dig in and the instructions they were supposed to read in order to get started.
She set her satchel down at the table and hoped it would be okay to leave it there while she dug around in the sand.
MJ hurried off to a spot to dig, eager to get started and couldn't help but think about how much fun her ferret, Woozle would have had here.
"Let's see..." She had to pick her spots carefully, even if she had multiple chances to win something great. The first one would be a no-brainer -- she was definitely picking her favourite number!
At the square she wanted, MJ dropped to her knees and started digging eagerly. Not quite like a dog but definitely with the enthusiasm of a child who hasn't been to a beach to dig in the sand since the summer. Bits of sand flew about her as MJ dug deeper.
She started to wonder if maybe she had picked a dud spot since she hadn't found anything yet but the sand was very smooth and easy to move out of the way so she didn't mind.
Would Professor Rivera answer questions if MJ asked about the sand and if it was magical? It definitely didn't seem like regular sand found at a regular beach. Professor Rivera had to have made or found this specifically for the event.
Soon MJ was down to her knees in a mini-pit. She looked around to make sure no one was in danger of somehow falling but anyone else digging was occupied with their own areas. Good!
Content to keep going until someone told her to stop, MJ's fingers brushed over something that was distinctly Not-Sand and she let out a yell of happiness. She struggled but managed to climb out of her mini-pit while she held it above her head.
Once she was away from the sand (and somehow not covered in it! Amazing!), MJ checked to see what she had found and let out a happy yelp -- the case was smooth and embossed with the words 'Wand Maintenance Kit'! MJ was definitely going to put this to good use tonight.
He'd been waiting for this all day! As soon as it had been announced, Giovi Monbeau had made his way rapidly toward the grounds, easily finding the ribbons that led them down the path. His eyes were huge with excitement as he trod through, taking in every last detail that he could before he followed the bath, a beaming smile on his face.
This was turning out to be an amazing day!
He stepped carefully along the path, feet taking him to a huge, expanded space that looked like something out of Jurassic Park! Those movies had fascinated him as a kid, and he inhaled an excited breath as he gazed at it. Professor Rivera directed them to a table, so he went, picking up the instructions and reading.
No tools. Hands only. He smiled to himself. So, he was going to have a good time, then! Digging in the dirt like he had only two short years ago. He could see it now! And he was living for it!
He had to just... pick a spot. But the spots didn't go as high as his lucky number, so he had to math it in his head. One hundred twenty three was his favorite number, he saw it everywhere he went... so one plus two plus three was six. He strode over to number six and sank to his knees, fingers slipping through the water-like sand as he pushed it aside, watching it roll.
It reminded him of the wet sandbox back in Kindy. The way they could play with the sand and build things. But this sand didn't seem like it'd be good for building much.
And he dug.
And dug.
And dug some more.
It was taking forever but it was fun! His fingers scooped sand out, laying on his stomach from the depths of his little hole he'd spent quite some time digging, a happy smile on his face as sand rolled over hair and face and stuck to his robes. But he was serious about this!
So he kept going.
Eventually, his fingers brushed against something and he squealed with glee, pulling the item up and glancing at it with a cocked head, brows furrowed as he pulled up the box with... paint? His heart fluttered as he beamed over at the professor. How had she known he loved art?! He had to remind himself it was random and that maybe, just maybe, when he was able, he should take up divination.
Sarah's eyes widened with excitement as she surveyed the magical sandpit before her. The vibrant ribbons had led her and her fellow students on a captivating journey through the Forest Path, culminating in this unexpected clearing.
The sand under her feet felt soft and inviting, promising a treasure trove of goodies. The thought of uncovering something remarkable filled her with wonder, and she couldn't wait to dig in.
Without hesitation, Sarah darted toward square number 6, her heart pounding with anticipation. Someone beat her to it and she showed her tongue to that rude Slytherin before picking another square, 1 this time. Far enough from the boy she dislikes, but maybe close enough that some of the sand spray might get him.
She crouched down, her hands plunging into the silky-smooth sand with the fervor of a dog digging for buried bones. Sand flew in every direction as she worked with unbridled enthusiasm, an infectious smile spreading across her face.
With a burst of energy, she lunged forward, her hands plunging into the silky-smooth sand with unrestrained fervor. Her arms moved in a blur, her fingers sinking deeper and deeper into the enchanting grains. The sand cascaded off her hands like a golden waterfall, creating a small cloud that hung in the air for a moment before settling back down to the ground.
Time seemed to slip away as Sarah delved further into her excavation. She was completely lost in the rhythm of her actions, the repetitive motion of scooping and tossing sand becoming almost hypnotic. Each handful revealed more of the glistening treasure beneath, urging her on with each discovery.
Her focus was laser-sharp, her determination unyielding. Sarah's hands worked tirelessly, seemingly possessed by an insatiable hunger for what lay hidden within the sand.
The sand flew around her like a whirlwind, proof of Sarah's uncontainable excitement. She was in her element.
In time, the sand began to scatter, revealing what lay beneath, Sarah's eyes widened even further. Nestled within the grains was a small, weathered wooden case. She carefully lifted it from its sandy embrace, her hands trembling with excitement. The box felt surprisingly light.
Gently prying it open, Sarah's eyes met the sight of a quill nestled snugly inside. Its delicate feathers shimmered in the dappled sunlight, and she marveled at its exquisite craftsmanship.
Post by Aisling Gregory on Jun 14, 2023 18:21:11 GMT 10
The Forest Path had seemed quite well known to Aisling, until the carefully marked path led her deep into a part of the forest she’d never before explored. Was this, too, secret magic? A hidden place, only revealed slowly? How much more of this Forest Path was there to discover?
Quivering, flushed, out of breath from all the climbing, exploring and wondering she’d done, Aisling eventually came to the end of the marked path. She beamed at Professor Rivera, who was overseeing a sea of shining, pure sand and a whole archeological dig.
“Ooh, Professor Rivera. Thank you for this.” Aisling caroled, before skipping over to choose the number seven. Because that was a lucky number, in a lot of stories!
She knelt in her chosen area, sifting through the sand, feeling it along her fingers, giggling as it wiggled into her boots. No tools, no magic. Just her hands and hard work. Aisling hummed softly under her breath while she dug in the shimmering, fine sand.
Long before she found anything, her hands hurt, and her shoulders ached, but that was ok. She needed to be stronger, anyway. Boredom – her arch enemy – threatened, so she began to make patterns and sculptures from the sand she excavated, so that she was less digging, then building.
Small domes for faeries to dance on, a maze for a magical frog to explore, her best attempt at a bunny. but the sand didn't build, ready. flat was better. So the patterns became butterflies and flowers, a slithering snake, and a couple of silly looking stars.
Quite unexpectedly, midway through an attempt at a mermaid, Aisling's tired fingers brushed against leather.
A small black leather pouch, beautifully tooled. Carefully, she brushed away the sand, revealing a unicorn embroidered on the pouch.
With wonder, she spilled a few seeds from the pouch into her hand.
She sent a beaming, happy smile to the Professor, tidied up the mess she’d made, and tucked the pouch into her pocket.
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Jun 14, 2023 20:45:02 GMT 10
Spurred on by her first find (which was safely tucked into her satchel now), MJ studied the plots left and tried to decide which one to pick next. She didn't have any other numbers she favoured so it would have to be on her gut instinct!
She was happy to see Giovi, Sarah and Aisling had all come to join in the fun as well, with her waving to each of them if they looked over and saw her. It was then MJ decided which plot she wanted and she marched over, sleeves rolled up.
MJ stopped at the right square and started digging with her hands. As soft as the sand was, and how amazing that it didn't stick to anything, MJ still wished she had a little beach spade or something.
Not that this sand would be any good for sandcastles -- it flowed too easily.
She dug down, tossing handfuls of sand over her shoulder without a care. MJ wondered what would be at the bottom of this hole. She wondered if Professor Rivera buried everything herself or did she have help.
Finally, she wondered what would happy if the Nifflers from the Beast Reserve saw this sand. Would they want to invade? Go on strike until they had magical silky sand as well? MJ liked the Nifflers and if they wanted nice sand, she'd support that.
Her daydream scenario certainly helped to pass the time. The hole got bigger and bigger, and MJ was soon down to her waist (or up to her waist?) in a hole. It felt like she had dug deeper with this one to find a prize and luckily there was one!
How disappointed she would be to put in that much effort and be rewarded with nothing.
She peeked across the sandy expanse at her classmates and wondered if someone had found nothing yet. MJ's hands unearthed a pouch this time and when she held it up, it looked good as new with no sand on the velvet material at all!
When she climbed out of her second pit, MJ went back towards her satchel and peeked inside the pouch along the way. Some coins! She wouldn't complain about that -- pocket money was always good to have.
''This is the best thing ever!'' Sarah yelled when she pocketed the beautiful-looking case and the quill inside it. It was looking very fancy, and Sarah couldn't wait to start writing with it.
In Sarah's fervor, she accidentally left behind sizable holes in spot number 1, remnants of her previous exuberant digging. The ground looked as if it had been visited by a playful and enthusiastic mole, with mounds of sand strewn about.
But her focus quickly shifted to her current objective - spot number 33. She darted across the sandpit with the energy of a lightning bolt, her eyes never straying from her destination. As she sprinted past spot number 6, a mischievous idea sparked within her.
Accidentally on purpose, Sarah kicked up a spray of dirt, sending a small shower of sandy particles toward Giovi, who happened to be diligently exploring his own area. The sandy dirt cascaded through the air, glinting in the sunlight before settling somewhere on or around Giovi's unsuspecting form.
Like an eager beaver with a newfound sense of purpose, Sarah bounded toward her chosen spot. The sand shifted beneath her feet, making her sink a few inches.
With renewed determination, Sarah's hands dove into the silky-smooth sand once more. The rhythm of her digging was familiar, but this time, her enthusiasm was even more palpable. Her arms moved with a vigor that matched her racing heartbeat, each movement punctuated by the exhilarating sound of sand being displaced.
It took her a while, maybe because she was tired from her previous dig, but her hands finally found purchase on something soft this time. Curious, Sarah dug around the soft leather-like material and took out a tightly tied pouch.
Sniffing at it, the Gryffindor gave it a few shakes, listening to the jingle of something inside it.
Deciding to celebrate her win, Sarah took out some chocolate galleons and ate them up, chewing while she inspected the contents of the pouch.
(OOC: She chose spot 33. Sand kick with permission.)
Last Edit: Jun 14, 2023 21:14:18 GMT 10 by Deleted
Post by MJ Birdwhistle on Jun 14, 2023 22:51:08 GMT 10
MJ dug into her satchel after she stowed away her coins. She pulled out her freshly brewed (well, it had been that morning) Pumpkin Juice and took a small break. She had one last chance to dig up something else.
Anything was good and she was very happy with her prizes so far.
She sipped the juice and watched Sarah traverse from her first spot to the second and dig up something else. It was hard to tell from this distance but MJ was glad the Gryffindor seemed to be having fun.
Feeling refreshed after her drink and small break, MJ gazed over the sand and put her hands on her hips. She had to pick her final spot and it had to be a good one. The whole experience was very exciting and made her feel like she was on some kind of adventure.
Like a dinosaur dig from Jurassic Park or exploring a sandy tomb like Indiana Jones.
MJ headed for the middle of the pit. She had nothing to lose by digging here and finding something -- anything. She started to dig, burrowing down like the Nifflers at their sandpit. She scooped and threw sand out of her way with energetic movements.
Moments wore on as MJ continued to dig and scoop, a pile of sand forming behind her growing hole. She dug down, eager to see what was hidden in this square. Soon she seemed to disappear from sight as she bent over while she dug.
This time, it didn't seem like she was going to find anything. MJ would have been annoyed if this was her first or even second dig but for her third she didn't mind. She sat at the bottom of her hole and considered digging a tunnel across to the next spot.
That would be too mischievous.
She was tired, despite her earlier break and decided to keep sitting in her hole until she felt she had enough energy to leave. The top of her head was visible to anyone who looked over and MJ did scratch at the sand under her legs. Just in case she missed something (she hadn't).
As the excitement of the second sandpit square began to wind down, Sarah found herself reluctantly leaving the place. There were so many more holes to dig up. With a satisfied smile on her face, she made her way toward Professor Rivera, her footsteps light with child-like joy.
"Professor, that was amazing! This activity was the best idea ever! Thank you!" She beamed with pride, her voice filled with enthusiasm and a touch of self-assuredness. Sarah showed her spoils to the professor before deciding to take her leave.
Luckily, the sand seemed to be enchanted, so there wasn't any of it clinging to her or made an unwelcome appearance somewhere else.
Sarah bid Professor Rivera farewell, and with a quick goodbye, she turned and hurried back toward the castle, almost skipping along the long path to the castle.
Post by Aisling Gregory on Jun 15, 2023 3:34:01 GMT 10
Aisling laughed, as a fine dusting of sand coated her hair and face, on her way to her next grid-point. "Sand storm!" she called out, bright smile flasing as she passed each student. She liked glimpsing everyone’s prizes and seeing how much fun they were having.
But it did slow her down!
She skipped along, trying to remember the significant numbers in myths and tales, dodging the occasional sand flurry, giggling wildly. “Oh! Three. Three’s matter, in a lot of fairy stories,” she said earnestly, to no one in particular, and jumped square into the middle of grid three.
Perfect!
The way the sand had squished down her boots as she landed gave her pause. Would it be hard to work, with sand tickling her toes? Her brow wrinkled as she sat in the middle of her pit and contemplated how much sand she could handle in her shoes.
More than she had now!
With a whoop of delight, she burrowed in, carefully making rings of sand around herself as she worked. Nine circles! Like the rings of Saturn, maybe? Though that planet might have more rings by now; it seemed the changeable sort, to her.
And she didn’t have any rocks to pretend to be moons. At least it was still a planet, though. So mean, to have made Pluto not count. It made her sad, in all sorts of ways.
Distracted by the plight of the that poor, forlorn ball of ice stuck out in the cold, far reaches of space, Aisling almost missed it when her sore fingers found a small box. Sealed, this time; no sand inside.
Perched on the edge of her pit, she ate two of the wonderful chocolates protected inside, fortified and refreshed, ready to try again. She’d keep the rest, to share later. Carefully she re-wrapped the chocolates, and beamed at the instructor. “Thank you!”
Benjamin and Caine approached the sandpit with a mix of curiosity, excitement (Caine) and small amount of disgust (Benji). It was quite popular, if the number of second years digging in it was any indication.
While Benjamin didn't mind getting dirty so much, he just hated sand. It was coarse, and rough, and irritating, and it got everywhere.
''Come on, I see some free spaces there,'' Benjamin pointed out to a place (with a flag with 38 next to it) that didn't have many students around and settled down, tugging Caine along with him. Caine had plenty of options to choose himself which one to take.
As Benjamin knelt down, he studied the square before him with a keen eye. The sand glistened under the sunlight, its golden hues captivating his attention. Taking a deep breath, he began his excavation with a methodical precision.
His fingers grazed the surface of the sand, feeling its silky texture against his skin. With gentle sweeps, he started removing the top layer, revealing the hidden treasures that lay beneath. The sand slipped through his fingers, falling back into the hole he had created, a soft cascade of granules.
As he dug deeper, Benjamin's focus intensified. He took care not to disturb the surrounding area, mindful of preserving the integrity of the walls of his hole. Each scoop was deliberate, as he sought to uncover the secrets buried within the sand.
His hands moved in a steady rhythm, meticulously sifting through the grains. The excitement built with each handful of sand that was cast aside, revealing more of the hidden depths. Benjamin's curiosity drove him forward, the anticipation of what he might discover pushing him to dig deeper.
With unwavering determination, Benjamin continued to remove the sand layer by layer. The sound of the shifting sand filled his ears, accompanied by the occasional clink as his fingers brushed against something solid. His heart quickened with each discovery, but it took some time for the Slytherin to uncover it all.
And then, at the bottom of the hole, nestled among the sand, Benjamin's eyes widened as he uncovered a collection of fancy ink bottles. They gleamed in the sunlight, their vibrant colors of the rainbow captivating his gaze.
With great care, Benjamin lifted the ink bottles from the hole, cradling them in his hands as if they were fragile relics. He marveled at their intricate designs and the remnants of dried ink that clung to their edges.
''What did you get?'' Benjamin peered over at Caine, curious at what his Hufflepuff might uncover. From what he had seen in other sections, people got pretty fancy stuff.
Post by Caine Hawke on Jun 15, 2023 6:05:57 GMT 10
He followed Benjamin when he directed him toward where he wanted to go. Since he'd drug his Slytherin to the sand pits the least he could do was let him choose where he wanted to dig!
And boy were there options!
Caine's eyes darted around the fields, landing at the second years that seemed to be having far more fun than the older students, a smile of excitement rolling through him at the vision of everyone digging into their sandpits as they picked and chose where to go, what to do.
Benji took spot 38, which left Caine with four options. He thought about the spots, which would be the best... and eventually chose 48. It just felt lucky! So, releasing Benjamin's hand, he knelt on the sand and dug in.
He was far less efficient at keeping from making a mess than others were - sand flying in every direction, his fingers working through the sand that felt... weird. Not bad, just strange.
It flew in every which way, sticking to hair and robes, some getting lost inside the folds of his rolled up sleeves. If there was a way to keep it clean, Caine Hawke had no idea what that secret was. In fact, the mess was what made it fun.
Between watching Benji and digging wildly within his own sand pit, he didn't notice when he hit the bottom, eyes glancing up at his Slytherin as he straightened, something in his hands. But... he glanced down at the hole, then back at Benji as he asked what he'd gotten.
There was nothing there.
So he smiled anyway and shrugged.
"Well... I guess I got to watch a burrowing Slytherin. You dig so neatly." he said with a laugh, using his hands to dust off his sleeves, sand falling back down into the hole. He didn't think it was an unlucky number. Nah, instead, number 48 had shown him a great many things... like how to dig a hole without getting overly messed up - because Benji was still clean somehow.
[ooc: Caine Hawke chose #48]
Last Edit: Jun 15, 2023 6:06:35 GMT 10 by Caine Hawke
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