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[center][sub]Time: 12:31 - The Forest[/sub][/center]

[hider=Max/Eris]

As soon as the incantations were spoken, a black mist rolled across the space and up through the canopy. It took over everything and suddenly Eris’ sight returned and the pair were surrounded by stars as far as the eye could see in any direction: left, right, beneath, and above. The trees, the posts, and the incantations were gone. Only a bird hopped along the ground until it touched one of the stars, the light vanishing along with the bird. 

The ground shifted beneath Max and then stopped abruptly. Eris, however, didn’t move but somehow, he was nearly ten feet in the air and an off yellow constellation glowed in front of him painted onto an invisible wall. The far end of the wall started brightening and the light, the same color as the constellation, crept towards Eris slowly. The stars shifted and the small constellation shifted with them. 

However, Max wouldn’t see Eris at all. Once the ground stopped moving, instead he’d see only a waxing crescent moon hovering above him with just the barest sliver of light on the right side though it seemed to be growing.
[/hider] 

[hider=Lilie/Ben]
Before Ben could respond, a little girl came bolting out of the forest, giggling madly as she stopped at a tree. Her dress was severely dated despite looking new and she looked around, taking a moment to catch her breath. The edges of her were a little fuzzy, like a picture just out of focus, and she looked ready to speak when suddenly the top half of a man appeared out of the trunk of the tree above her and with a roar, he swooped down and snatched her up into the trunk. Only her shrill laughter could be heard for a few more moments.
[/hider] 

[hider=Salem/Victor]
As the pair made their way with the blue orb in hand, it took them a bit to reach the next spot. Clues were becoming more difficult to find, the little wooden signs abandoned in favor of trees and rocks. Eventually, they would reach a small clearing with a small wooden table. Two chairs were pushed neatly in and a brass holder in the middle just the size of the orb. A table cloth fluttered in the breeze, not quite long enough to reach the ground. Words inscribed into the table read:

[color=deepskyblue]“With this choice, you’ve chosen the game. Take a seat with orb in hand and place it in the center stand. Wait a moment and then you’ll see what challenge awaits your misery. Guess the names with only clues given carefully to you. If you win, the orb you keep otherwise away you weep.”[/color] [/hider]

[hider=Aaron/Varis]

[color=f7976a] “Nothing else to turn…”[/color] Varis disregarded the boy’s comment for the moment. That which turns cannot too touch til victor claims the spoils… [color=f7976a] “The key must be the thing that turns but the only thing that turns the key is one of us. So does that mean whoever turns the key can’t open the door? Can’t touch what’s inside? Can’t touch the key again? And there’s been no mention of the piles in the riddle either.”[/color] Varis muttered to himself, unaware he was speaking out loud. He shook himself from his thoughts and gestured at the ground.

[color=f7976a]“You really want to sift through the dirt? That’s absolutely absurd but if you insist, by all means waste our time. And make sure to wipe your hands off before you touch me again.[/color] Varis sneered but didn’t loosen his grip, clearly preferring to walk with the mage rather than be away from him. [/hider]


[hider=Maddie/Amaris]

[color=FC8686] “Well, the instructions are clear enough. We just have to pick a bell and move on the actual challenge but I’m not quite sure what trust, act, or stillness mean. The only thing I can conclude is that it has to do with the colors. Some of them are blue, some are red, and some are yellow but I don’t know how that connects to the type of bell they are.”[/color] Maddie said. Why couldn’t it just tell her to pick one randomly and move on? That would be so much easier.[/hider]