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 William Doren on Sept 2, 2023 15:04:49 GMT 10
William felt the two bronze keys in his pocket, picking one without bias and pulling it out. He looked at it and wondered if it was time for him to see if everything he had heard about the Spiral Tower was true.
A few whispered words had informed him that the keys he had in his possession could unlock a door at the Spiral Tower and behind that door... He would experience something. The stories varied depending on who he overheard talking. Younger students talked about daring adventures, almost drowning or fighting with fire.
Older students, who he was more inclined to believe, spoke of educational or purposeful experiences. About feeling more competent or finding the rooms challenging but feeling accomplished when they completed them.
William wanted to feel accomplished. He did consider seeking out one of his siblings and inquiring if they had part-took of these rooms before.
But instead, his feet brought him right to the Spiral Tower and he felt compelled to continue.
What harm would there be in indulging in one room? William could find for himself if it was a worthy use of his time or not. The idea of wasting a part of his morning did make him feel uneasy but he pushed that aside.
Picking a door at random, for there was no distinction between them or any indication which one he should favour, William slid the key into the lock and it turned with a light click.
The door swung open and William stepped inside.
Last Edit: Sept 2, 2023 15:05:46 GMT 10 by William Doren
It was jarring, to leave a stone tower through a previously-locked door -- only to be surrounded by sunshine (enchanted ceiling) and an abundance of nature. If there were walls, they were covered in vines with colourful leaves. The floor remained stone, but everywhere in the massive room was green and lush with life.
There were shelves of small seedlings and flowers, then pots in the corners that were as big as a chair. It was impossible, no matter one's knowledge, to name or categorise everything. In was almost a sensory overload, yet smelled sweetly fresh.
The plants were healthy and kept to themselves, except a row of large pots in the middle of the room. Sprouting from the damp soil were huge succulents with gold thorns resembling fangs. They wriggled, aware of the company -- or hungry for it. Wedged in the center of each, surrounded by sharp thorns / fangs, was a glass box containing a viable yet difficult-to-obtain ingredient: fish eye.
A plaque reads:
"Beware: one Alowort bites."
How to Play
Choose an Alowort to retrieve the ingredient container from. There's a 1 / 3 chance it's the biter. The numbers are for your reference only; they don't appear to your character.
If it's a safe one, pick another -- which has a 1 / 2 chance of being the biter.
Don't get bitten, and you win.
Winning earns 200 exp to their Herbology skill, 20 exp to every other skill, and 2 Fish Eyes (X ingredient).
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 William Doren on Sept 2, 2023 18:37:03 GMT 10
William paused just inside the threshold of the room and glanced behind him. It was still the normal corridor -- perhaps a little dimmer than expected but the weather was cloudy. He looked ahead and took a few more steps.
The room he entered was unlike anything he had witnessed before, or as certain as he could be by such a statement. He squinted at first at the bright sunlight but soon grew accustomed which made it easier to notice how everything was just...
Plants.
Plants everywhere.
He wondered if Professor Sprout had something to do with this and the immediate assault to his senses. Especially the smell! William couldn't get over how pungent and sweet the room smelled.
It was enough to encourage the beginnings of a headache.
Determined, however, William continued with careful steps until he was right where he was supposed to be. Before him were three plants that he quickly deduced were part of whatever test this room was giving him. A plaque was nearby and easy to read.
"Alowort." William scrunched his nose at the titbit about the plant biting. He didn't like the idea of being the next meal for one of these.
Those fangs looked razor sharp, like they would puncture his skin and leave behind scars. William rubbed one hand over the other and frowned -- he had finally noticed the boxes within each one. He had been too overwhelmed by everything before to notice.
"I see." He would have to attempt retrieving a box, one by one, until the last Alowort remained and avoid the one that was going to bite. William wondered how good his odds were and decided it would be a waste of time not to continue.
A waste of a key too.
"I shall proceed." William said aloud and quickly felt silly -- he was very much alone in this room and despite how magical everything seemed, he doubted there was anything here to listen to him.
He studied the plants but there was no way for him to deduce which one would bite. They were triplets, really. Each one as identical as the last, right down to their thorns and the placement of the boxes.
As much as he didn't want to touch the plants, he knew he had to in order to proceed. Touching unpleasant things was bearable if it was for a purpose and this had a purpose.
"Hm." William knew this was a game of chance. He reached out and placed his hand on the box in the third Alowort and hoped he was correct. William wasn't overly fond of leaving things to chance and would rather have the chance to prove himself.
The Alowort reacted when William reached for the box within its leaves. It vibrated lightly, as though glad to no longer have its prize and stretched out happily. It quickly settled and stilled.
If William checked, he would find the container sealed and with no way for it to be opened -- yet.
The remaining two Alowort were silent guardians. Neither moved nor hinted at which one was likely to bite. If anything, they seemed unbothered that William was even present. There was a choice to make now -- which of them would William pick the container from?
Post by William Doren on Sept 2, 2023 18:52:40 GMT 10
When the plant vibrated, William reacted and snatch his hand (and the box) back quickly. He had been afraid he was about to be bitten but it seemed as though the plant was just... Relaxing?
He watched it with a certain degree of distrust, frowning as the leaves stretched and then went still again. He looked at the box in his hands but saw no way to retrieve the item inside.
Not that he was certain he wanted to when he noticed what it was. Best not to dwell on that for too long.
His attention, therefore, was directed back to the two remaining plants. William would have to decide which of them wouldn't bite and it wasn't easy. His mind flitted between picking the first one and then the second and then vice versa. He drummed his fingers on the box he held while he tried to make up his mind.
Once again he was faced with the reality that a lot of this came down to chance and luck rather than skill. Not what he had expected when he slid the bronze key into the lock only moments before. He had expected something a bit more, well, dramatic if he was to be entirely honest.
Perhaps his thoughts were betraying him since he hadn't got bitten yet. His tune might chance if he failed in the next choice.
Those fang-like thorns sinking into the soft skin of his hand would certainly be a wake-up call and a reminder that the Castle could be dramatic when it wanted to.
He shook his head, trying to make the thoughts fly away and then boldly made a choice. Since there was no need to debate over it and he had a fifty-fifty chance of being right, William placed his free hand into the leaves of the second Alowort, already wincing.
Despite his anticipation, no bite came. This Alowort also wriggled, glad to be rid of the container while the one remaining Alowort attempted to gobble up its container -- it vanished by magic.
The two boxes William had successfully retrieved had also vanished but left behind two, potion-grade Fish Eye ingredients as a prize.
Post by William Doren on Sept 2, 2023 19:03:21 GMT 10
Without meaning to, William had closed his eyes and scrunched up his face as he waited for the bite. Which never came. He blinked as plant before him reacted much like the first one and he was left was two containers now.
The middle plant, which had clearly been the biter all along, tried to eat its container but it was gone.
William then felt something unpleasant in his hands and looked down -- Fish Eyes. He groaned as he quickly stored them away in his Potions Kit and felt glad he had brought his school bag along with him.
After doing that, he turned for the exit and attempted to wipe his hands clean with a handkerchief from his pocket. It helped a little but he could still feel some of the sliminess only now it smeared around and dried in.
Stepping from the bright room into the dimly lit corridor was every bit as jarring as the reverse had been. William squinted to get used to the change in light and considered the second key he had.
He turned to the next door, considered it as good as any, and slotted the key into the lock.
Just like the first one, this turned with ease and the door swung open.
William thought of his experience in the first room and how well it had gone for him. This gave him the boost needed to believe that he would succeed in the second one as well. A brief thought was given to what his older sister, Elizabeth, would say if she told him about this morning.
The room was pitch black, concealing its true size and surroundings -- apart from the skeletal-like limbs of ancient trees. Growing from the branches were lantern-like objects, revealing a huge board game imprinted on the stone floor. On each square was an unlit lamppost, too tall to be lit by hand.
There was a pale, glowing wolf sitting at the starting line. It watched, waiting.
A plaque reads:
"Among a forest of the forgotten, there are whispers of hope. Believe in yourself, and the magic shall flow through you without incantation. Here you need not the knowledge, but the heart, to light your way. First to the end, wins."
Player 1 (your character)
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Player 2 (the wolf)
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How to Play
Your character goes first. To have your turn, RP attempting to light lanterns with their wand -- yet without using a spell, as per the plaque's message. It's open to interpretation.
A mod will roll a die to determine which of the three outcomes occur for your character:
Failed to light a lantern. Remain on the current square.
Succeeded in lighting the lantern ahead of them. Take one step forward.
Succeeded in lighting two lanterns ahead of them. Take two steps forward.
Included in the mod post will be the NPC wolf's turn (using the same die roll method).
The game continues until someone reaches the finish line. When a lantern succeeds / fails, you can free-RP the reason why or how your character received that result.
Winning earns 200 exp to their Charms 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 William Doren on Sept 2, 2023 20:02:53 GMT 10
Any confidence William had quickly faded when he noticed the wolf. His stride slowed as well as he grew more uncertain. He wasn't very fond of dogs or other such creatures and did his utmost to avoid them whenever possible. And a wolf was just a giant dog but worse.
He cleared his throat and hoped the creature wouldn't pay him any heed. He knew it had to part of whatever task was being set for him and so he made his way towards the plaque and read the inscription.
"Believe in yourself." Great -- the one thing William was the worst at. Already the self-doubt started as the voice in his head told him to leave, forget this room and never come back, he'd never pass anyway.
He frowned, hesitating as he glanced between the plaque and the wolf.
The voice was probably right but William hated to leave something unfinished even if the fear of failure was great. Doren's weren't quitters, were they? At the very least, William didn't think his parents would approve of him wasting this opportunity.
Especially if it came with the chance to practice magic or earn a reward (like the previous room).
He took his wand from his robes and gripped it tight in his hand.
No spell incantation was needed, if he understood the plaque's message and so William took his place opposite the wolf. He aimed his wand at the lamp-post nearest to him and hoped it would work.
He fought with the self-doubt within him and could only wait to see if his desire to succeed was strong enough to make whatever magic was contained in this room, work.
While two lanterns lit for William, the same happened for his opponent -- the wolf moved two spaces, its ethereal form wispy at the edges. If anything that made it seem more dangerous. It didn't seem to regard William at all now but remained on the spot as if waiting with a noble air about it.
Post by William Doren on Sept 3, 2023 5:07:41 GMT 10
If William was surprised that two lanterns lit for him (he was) it didn't show on his face. He kept his cool and calm mask in place while marvelling that he had done it. But his momentary swell of pride was hampered by the wolf moving too.
William tried to avoid looking at it as much as possible as it unnerved him but it was hard to miss the two lanterns lit for the creature. It seemed like this challenge was going to test him in more than one way.
But there was some relief in knowing that the lanterns had lit for him.
He looked at the wand in his hand and contemplated how this would progress for him. William needed to stir up confidence within himself but knowing the wolf is there and can move as well... It's a double-edged sword. He's glad to know he can move too but having the wolf racing with him wasn't fun either.
Not that he should have expected a room like this to be fun -- had anyone found these experiences enjoyable? A room with plants that can bite you or one with a wolf that races you to the end?
Letting out a soft sigh, William nodded to himself as he readied himself to 'cast' again. He aimed his wand and tried to muster up more courage within himself to succeed. There was no other option but to win.
Post by William Doren on Sept 3, 2023 5:13:35 GMT 10
Nothing happened this time.
William tampered down his disappointment by trying to see a silver lining -- the wolf had not lit any lanterns either so they were still on equal footing. It helped, somewhat but William could feel the creeping doubt and disappointment that often plagued him following a failure.
And this was a failure.
He wasn't good enough, was he? It was his fault his parents had been taken away by the Ministry because he had messed up somehow. His exam results hadn't helped. He should have tried harder to be better.
To be the perfect son that his parents deserved.
William closed his eyes as he let the feelings wash over him. He took a deep breath, held it for a few seconds and then exhaled. He could feel himself starting to feel a bit better but not completely.
He pushed a hand into his hair and tugged, "I have to do better."
His grip on his wand tightened as well and William steeled himself. The only way to make up for his failure was to practice and try harder, to win somehow. He aimed his wand and hoped to do better. Hoped to light at least one lantern and beat the wolf.
Post by William Doren on Sept 3, 2023 5:18:08 GMT 10
William inhaled, then exhaled and gazed upward. Two new lanterns lit the way for him and William stepped forward into the spot under the second one.
Another beat passed and he glanced over towards the Wolf and it hadn't moved. William inhaled sharply this time and nodded before he quickly looked away again. He didn't want to dwell on what the Wolf could or could not do to him.
Progress had been made and he felt more assured by that fact alone.
Failure was two steps behind him now. William pointed his wand towards the next lantern with his lips in a tight line. He didn't say it aloud but in his own thoughts he asked -- no, begged -- to move forward again.
Please.
William couldn't ask for anything more than that. He pictured the lanterns lighting in the same manner he would picture one of his Transfiguration or Charm spells working. That had always helped him to perform a spell better even if it was a struggle at first.
His brain wrestled with the idea of picturing a lit lantern beyond what he could see in front of him and he forced it to work.
Or forced something to happen, for feelings of courage to expand within him and to triumph.
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