Cardboard Cataclysm
Upon returning to Spring from your travels in Autumn you are given a local delivery job for some wooden planks to be delivered for bookshelves at a wizards art studio just outside of the city.
The client, a wizard by the name of Gilbus Blott requested the planks delivered and the new shelves constructed and so your group has set off towards his art studio with a small cart pulled by a small pony.
Spring not being a particularly large city, the group easily make their way arriving shortly outside Gilbus Blott's art studio.
The art studio is quaint, with a high arching thatched roof, white plaster walls, and a little stone chimney which seems to be made from different coloured stones.
The garden is mostly grass with a well manicured lawn and a row of blueberry bushes all neatly tucked away inside a white picket fence.
The house is surrounded by a lush and peaceful spring forest, not unlike many homes outside of the city.
The back of the property is a stark contrast to the neat and orderly front yard.
The grass is wild and gone to seed, there are art supplies piled up against the house, paint splatter on the white plaster walls and across the grass, unfinished art projects left out in the rain, and a large waist bin where unwanted art and materials have been thrown out.
the back door is slightly open and there is a note on the door, it reads;
'Welcome,
please come in and set up the shelves in the sunroom I'll be...........'
the note seems unfinished and the ink and quill lay on the door mat outside as if they were dropped unexpectedly.
*looking at the note I suspect there's something that happened but I just ignore it and open the door and go inside taking a look inside the house*
Opening the door you expect to see the inside of the cottage, but instead you are met by a wall of cardboard, the cardboard is overlapping and seems quite sturdy. Nestled in the cardboard wall you see another door made of cardboard, it looks like it was drawn on with crayon then the shape cut out, even the doorknob looks to be made of cardboard.
Above the cardboard door is a cardboard sign which reads 'The Great Cardboard Culmination'.
"this feels like it was made by a Child and..." *she takes a close look at the text* "looks like it's some text by a cult for...cardboard?"
Poppyseed
"Cardboard Cult?.... well out of all the strange and unusual, this is something new."
*giggles*
cyreme
"also did they like put cardboard or wood all over here this looks more like a abomination than art"
Poppyseed
"It is definitely not what I was expecting."
cyreme
so where should we put the shelves should we just attach them with bolts on the walls like floating shelves?... *she whispers under her breath "I definitely wasn't built for this job but hey at least the others should be good at it right?"*
Poppyseed
"I'm only a foot tall ... manual labor isn't really my thing."
As the group discusses what to do the little cardboard door opens invitingly.
cyreme
"did we all just take this job thinking it was free money?" *she covers her face embarrassed at the two and herself included*
Poppyseed
"Honestly usually I just sit on the cart, then something seems to always go wrong, and we end up running for our lives or fighting, a Witch or Zombie horde or now I just go with the flow and try not something to overthink it."
* looks up at @cyreme and smiles sweetly*
Poppyseed
"So I guess we go in.... not much else we can do from out here."
Chỗ Lung
"Don't you feel a bit... Off? I don't like the idea."
cyreme
"same but we don't have an option were all here for different reasons specifically money and we don't know if we'll get lucky to find a safe mission for us like this one what's the harm in exploring it's just a house with cardboard they'res nothing big that you can fit here I'm sure of it we can just exterminate things that attack us and charge extra for it!"
cyreme
"buuuuuut....just to stay safe I think I'll gather some leaves to use my magic on"
Poppyseed
"Wow..... all this time I never thought to ask about that..... come to think of it, all this time I don't think I've been paid at all!"
cyreme
"then...." *she side eyes the gullible girl* "you've just been scammed"
cyreme
*she takes a look at her component pouch and realize... she's too BROKE for her spells*
Poppyseed
*@Poppyseed makes the action of turning out her pockets, even though her outfit has none. and shrugs.*
"Don't feel bad, I never seem to have any money..... but the things you need in life have a way of presenting themselves..... sometimes."
The group gathers themselves and heads through the small cardboard door.
For @Chō Lung and @cyreme it's not easy and they get down on all fours to crawl through the door, but for @Poppyseed the door is a good size and she happily strolls in through the door.
Upon entering it seems that the party has entered a cardboard maze of some kind and the area is large enough for @Chō Lung and @cyreme to stand up in.
Looking around they see that everything is covered or made of cardboard.
There is a doorway to the left and right and two doorways directly ahead.
There seems to be a cardboard table of sorts in the center of the room, on the table is a book made of cardboard and a cardboard box of crayons.
Near the ceiling there looks to be small air vents made of cardboard with strips of coloured cardboard hanging from them, air seems to be circulating through the vents and the coloured cardboard rises and falls with the passage of air through the vents.
At the base of the wall and corners, there are small light sources, they are covered in different coloured crape paper which casts colours of pink, orange, yellow, green, and blue across the room.
"This is cute strange and a little creepy, I haven't had good experiences with mazes recently."
Chỗ Lung
"If I had claustrophobia this would be my demise."
cyreme
"what the hell?... this looks so weird"
Chỗ Lung
"Tell me about it."
Poppyseed
*@Poppyseed moves up to the little cardboard table studying the book which lays there*
"I wonder what this is?"
@Poppyseed pokes the book with her finger gingerly not knowing what to expect, but it seems the book is just that, a book made of cardboard.
she opens it to look inside.
Poppyseed
"Seems it's a diary of some kind."
Chỗ Lung
"Can you read it?"
cyreme
"can i see?"
Poppyseed
*Flicking through the pages*
"It looks like a diary by Gilbus Blott, recording his progress in his latest art project, the last entry is strange though it's dated yesterday...."
*Clears her throat and begins to read.*
"It has grown beyond me, things seem to move and I find things I don't remember building, I must attempt to find the heart and turn it off, but I fear it knows my plans and moves to block me.....I hope it's not too late."
*puts the book back on the table.*
"Typical."
Chỗ Lung
"Typical?"
Poppyseed
"Something terrible has happened and we are left to clean it up ........ maybe once we will go to do a job and make some shelves and I don't know, make the shelves and go home."
*sighs*
"Well I guess whatever Mr Blott was going to do he didn't do it, otherwise everything would be normal around here.......so......... which corridor do you think we should take?"
Chỗ Lung
"Well... You know my opinion, always go left."
Poppyseed
"We'll it hasn't killed us yet so... left it is."
Poppyseed
*@Poppyseed pips a tune on her pan pipes and sings in a unsure and slightly worried tone.*
"Within the walls of paper brown, where every turn's a cunning frown, I creep and crawl with silent tread, among the shapes the maze has bred. It knows my wish, it shifts and sighs, reflected in its crayon eyes; To find the Heart and set things free, before this cardboard claims just me!"
Cho Lung
"It almost killed us, yes but... Not yet."
*Sighs*
"At least we have good music."
cyreme
"it knows my wish...? it might have something to do with desire or what you prefer something that sneaks in your mind maybe"
cyreme
"we should be a bit more silent though we don't know what's really here be it living or a parasitic thing it's best to keep it quiet for now @Poppyseed"
Poppyseed
*stops singing*
"Sorry... you're probably right. I'm nervous... and when I'm nervous I sing...."
Chỗ Lung
"Let Miss Poppy sing, maybe a bit quieter, but let her sing."
cyreme
"don't worry old habits die hard... i would know but I'm not trying to insult you or anything it's not something too important and you didn't know"
cyreme
*she reacts to @Cho Lung * "but it's true you could sing just a bit silent"
Chỗ Lung
*Sighs*
" I just hope there's no traps....."
Poppyseed
"ok I'll try"
*slips her pan pipes away.*
"after you..."
*motions towards the left passageway.*
cyreme
"your right they're could've be traps"
Chỗ Lung
*Chō leads the way* "If there is, let me be the one getting hit."
Moving to the left passageway it forks left and right.
Chỗ Lung
*Chō peeks right, then left*
cyreme
*I look at Cho Lung as she covers her body knowing she could just fly through it but she can't... she musnt let anyone know...*
"yeah go on.." *she trails on her word kind off feeling bad letting someone take the potential hurt,
Chỗ Lung
(Do I see anything by peeking?)
looking right @Cho Lung sees that the passageway continues about 20 feet before turning left.
The left passageway turns right then ends with another doorway on the right.
Chỗ Lung
*Keeps following left, the left wall* "I think I shouldn't tur anything new... My master always told me to follow the left wall."
cyreme
"it's so... confusing"
Chó Lung
"And I believe in my master and I have faith on his lessons."
Following the left wall you come to the doorway.
Chỗ Lung
"Who has a keen eye for inspection?"
cyreme
"I'm not profound in it maybe @Poppyseed does"
Chô Lung
"Chō stretches his arms and back*
"Yeah... Perhaps."
cyreme
"but if she isn't i could try it I'm pretty mediocre at it I do warn"
Chỗ Lung
"I'm not the sharpest observer but I'm wise."
cyreme
"then I guess I'm plan C"
Looking through the cardboard doorway you see a small room of cardboard, at the end of the room on the left is another cardboard doorway.
The room is lit by green crape paper lights in the corners of the cardboard ceiling.
The cardboard floor looks a lot more uneven than what you've seen so far, and you can hear a faint rustling sound coming from within the walls.
"My skills are more for making people feel better about themselves, and providing moral support...... kind of like a mascot.... maybe..."
cyreme
"it's good to try new things you never know if your gonna be good at it"
Looking into the room @Cho Lung notices that the uneven cardboard floor seems to move slightly like the waves of a pond.
@cyreme can tell this room isn't what it appears to be and that something isn't right.
@Poppyseed pokes the floor with her finger and then cardboard bobs up and down as though it is suspended in liquid.
Chỗ Lung
"Are we like... Above a body of water? The floor is moving like waves." (Edited)
cyreme
"I don't trust it there's something beneath it I think if it's moving in liquid"
Poppyseed
"The floor is definitely not stable.... it's bobbing up and down!"
Poppyseed
"I can fly but I don't know what you're going to do."
*chortles... then covers her mouth.*
"sorry..."
Chỗ Lung
"I could just... Walk carefully. I don't know why you said sorry?"
Chỗ Lung
*Chō places his hands on the floor, crouching and putting his feet over the hands* (the ninja walk)
cyreme
"probably she said it from instict"
As @Cho Lung steps onto the floor he begins to sink as the cardboard gives and the rooms floor begins to churn and ripple.
Poppyseed
"Chō!! what were you thinking! it's like cardboard quicksand!"
*@Poppyseed quickly stabs an arrow into the floor at the doorway.*
"Grab on to this!"
Chỗ Lung
"Damn... I thought it would work..."
Poppyseed
*@Poppyseed flies out to try and grab hold of @Cho Lung *
Chỗ Lung
*Chō quickly pulls his sickle with a free hand and stabs it on solid ground*
@Poppyseed grabs @Cho Lung by the hair and flapping her little wings manages to keep the monks head from going under the cardboard.
cyreme
* instinctively unraveling her wings she grabs poppyseed trying to lift her up to help her to get him up*
Chỗ Lung
*Cho struggling to pull himself up doesn't even notice what's happening*
@cyreme tries to help @Poppyseed but @Cho Lung is to heavy for her, but @Cho Lung with @Poppyseed pulling him up by his hair is able to stick his sickle into the doorway and pull himself to safety.
cyreme
"that was... STUPID please on gods name never do that again"
Chỗ Lung
*Chō falls face first on the floor, breathing heavily*
*He stays lying down for a while trying to process what happened*
Poppyseed
"Does anyone have any rope? maybe I can fly it over to the other side and make like a rope bridge or something?"
cyreme
*cyreme immediately covers her wings acting as if she never used them* "i have a blanket but please do tell..."*her voice gets sharper and a bit deeper* "did you take a glance at me while I was helping" *she said looking at the two eye to eye filled with shame to release her wings yet she doesn't reveal it as if it's very calling makes her feel shame*
Chỗ Lung
*Chō starts to get himself up, looking at his hands, the wavering floor and finally the sickle still stabbed on the solid floor*
*He exhales heavily*
"... T-That... didn't go as I thought it would. Apologies."
Chỗ Lung
*He picks his sickle and puts it back in the quick access sheath*
Poppyseed
"I felt you tickling me which was irresponsible when I was trying to save Chō..... why what was I supposed to see?"
cyreme
"no it's nothing I didn't mean to tickle you I was just unable to carry you guys weight and it took a tol on my fingers it's kinda embarrassing that's why I asked" *she says getting her composure back together as she lies with a straight face*
Chỗ Lung
*Cho takes some steps away from the doorway and sits down, examining his trembling hands*
*speaking quietly to himself: "I don't understand... I had faith that technique would work..."*
Chỗ Lung
(I'd say cho is too focused on himself and on what happened that he's not even paying attention)
@Cho Lung can sense that @cyreme isn't telling the whole truth, but he isn't sure about what since he didn't see anything other than cardboard and tears in his eyes.
Chỗ Lung
*Chō finally gets up and calms down*
"Hm... You're tone was a bit off telling that, @cyreme but I'm also in shock so... I might be just overthinking."
cyreme
yeah your letting the stress get in your head *i get close to @Cho Lung smiling next to he's shoulders as he looks at him pretending to be friendly yet sharp and observing*
Poppyseed
*@Poppyseed flitters above the sinking cardboard quicksand with her hands on her hips.*
"Soooooo about that rope?"
Chỗ Lung
"No rope on me."
cyreme
"only a blanket on me"
*Sigh*
"Ok plan B then."
*@Poppyseed takes out her bow and fires an arrow into the cardboard wall close to the floor but not quite. She then fires another and another keeping the spacing within three feet of each other leading to the exit cardboard doorway to the left.*
The arrows strike the cardboard wall, sticking out providing a relatively stable point at which to cross the room, although the first two arrows seem a little loose.
Chỗ Lung
"I still think my weight will break them."
Poppyseed
"Possible..... just be careful, without rope there's not much else we can do. unless you want to turn back and try a different way..... not following the left wall?"
*gives a little giggle*
Slowly and carefully @cyreme and @Cho Lung make their way around the edge of the room stepping across on @Poppyseeds arrows.
@Cho Lung is able to make it across without incident but as @cyreme steps on one of the looser arrows she slips. @Poppyseed quickly grabs her by the hand to steady her and with a little help manages to make it across.
@Poppyseed attempts to retrieve her arrows but most are either bent or too deep in the cardboard wall to remove.
The group now stands at the other end of the room ready to move on. The cardboard passageway now heads left or right.
Chỗ Lung
"That wasn't that bad..."
Poppyseed
*@Poppyseed just stares at the monk*
"both almost got swallowed up but cardboard quicksand?!"
Chỗ Lung
"Exactly... compared to previous adventures wasn't that bad."
Poppyseed
"fare enough."
Chỗ Lung
*Sighs*
"Gladly we're alive."
cyreme
"ugh how is this even here are you sure we shouldn't go back we might just be paid the minimum because only the cardboard shelves were asked after we do these reality warping things"
Poppyseed
"so should we go left again or right this time? I feel like we are making good progress here."
Chỗ Lung
“We go...”
Chỗ Lung
*Cho hesitates”
“I think left...”
Poppyseed
“Of course you do. So left it is.”
*Goes to pip a tune on her pan pipes then looks at @cyreme and puts it away, and begins to hum a little tune quietly to herself while smiling.
Chô Lung
“I’m not so sure...”
cyreme
*i take a curious look at Chô Lung” “what is up with you and left? tell me I’m curious”
Following the left path the group turns a corner to their right and comes to a long corridor, the corridor is so long they can’t make out the end of the passageway. The floor, walls, and ceiling are all cardboard, and look crumpled creating uneven surfaces across the floor, walls, and ceiling. The blue coloured crape paper lights along the floor seem damaged and flicker unevenly.
Poppyseed
“I have bad memories of long corridors....... you can go first Chō.”
*nudges the monk in the back*
Chō Lung
“@cyreme it’s just my master’s teachings. But... I’m losing faith in them... since that cardboard incident. I’m not so sure anymore.”
Poppyseed
“It hasn’t killed us yet, so don’t lose faith, the other choices might have been twice as bad.... who knows.”
*Flapping her wings she pushes @Chō Lung from behind towards the corridor ahead but the monk is unmoving.*
Chỗ Lung
“I don’t know what to believe in anymore.”
cyreme
“you should be wary but you shouldn’t lose complete trust nobody knows everything you should trust your masters teachings but not too much sometimes you need to learn things yourself”
Chô Lung
“But all my learning was done inside that dojo.”
Poppyseed
“Life is one big classroom, build on what your teachers taught you, and grow as a person.”
*Gives the thumbs up”
“Now get moving and spring whatever horrible thing is waiting for us down that corridor! You can do it!! We believe in you!”
Chỗ Lung
*Cho slowly but unsurely starts walking and following the left wall*
As @Chō Lung steps into the crumpled cardboard passageway the trio hear a rumbling off in the distance.
Moving into the passageway the three companions realize that it is beginning to crumple in on itself the entrance behind them already too small for @Chō Lung and @cyreme to pass through.
Poppyseed
“Oh NO!! Not good not good at all, I don’t want to be squished!!”
Chō Lung
“We should run!” *Chō sprints*
cyreme
*I run along with them not hesitating*
Chō Lung
“Come on miss @cyreme you can do it!”
running along the uneven cardboard floor is difficult but @Chō Lung manages, @Poppyseed flies quickly ahead but @cyreme stumbles along the way, just managing to keep her footing and not fall down.
behind the group the cardboard passageway is collapsing and crumpling in on itself.
@Chō Lung and @cyreme continue to trip and stumble bumping into the walls as the passageway shakes.
@Chō Lung trips but quickly recovers making good progress, but @cyreme trips and rolls along the floor ending up on her face.
The cardboard passageway continues to collapse and crumple in on itself and starts to gain on @cyreme .
@Chō Lung again pushes forward stumbling down the uneven and shacking passageway.
@cyreme barely makes it to her feet but is unable to make any real progress.
The cardboard passageway continues to crumple closing in fast on @cyreme
@Poppyseed makes it to the end of the crumpling passageway and turn to cheer on her companions.
Poppyseed
“Come on you can do it!!”
@Chō Lung dives out of the passageway, safe at last, and @cyreme does her best to get away from the crumpling passageway.
but as @cyreme manages to find her footing and make progress, the crumpling passageway speeds up.
Poppyseed
“Go @cyreme Go!!”
(bardic Inspiration)
@cyreme keeps running over the uneven cardboard floor too scared to look behind her.
Finally @cyreme reaches the end of the passageway collapsing against the wall out of breath.
Poppyseed
“Cardio cardio cardio.”
As @cyreme reaches the end, the crumpling cardboard passageway stops crumpling and unfolds back to its original position, like it had never happened.
Leaving behind the collapsing cardboard corridor you stand at the edge of a small room, coloured crape paper streamers are piled up a foot high all around the floor of this cardboard room.
There are two sets of lights in the ceiling a green light and a red light, currently the red crape paper light is blinking.
There is a cardboard doorway leaving the room in the bottom right corner.
Chō Lung
This is confusing...”
Poppyseed
“This room doesn’t seem so bad, and it’s kinda pretty with all the coloured crape paper streamers.”
Chó Lung
“I’m confused. I... I’m sorry for taking us this way. Please... Lead the way now, Poppy.”
Poppyseed
well there only seems to be one way forward here so that’s an easy choice right?”
Chỗ Lung
“Is it?”
Poppyseed
“I guess not....”
Chô Lung
“Sits down on the ground meditating”
cyreme
“are you sure poppy? i could lead the way if you all want also we should probably stop for now @Cho Lung did almost get stuck in quicksand”
Poppyseed
“And you almost just got crushed by a collapsing cardboard corridor.... but we do have to keep moving, tell you what you go first this time and I’ll go first next time.”
Chỗ Lung
“All because of my choices...”
Poppyseed
“No Cho! All because we are in some crazy cardboard maze of death. I’m pretty sure if we followed the right wall, the outcome would be the same.
Screams and panicking, left, right, up or down, just nonsense!”
Chó Lung
“I think if we did follow other paths maybe we would be better... | don’t think my strategy is the best anymore.”
Poppyseed
“Fine, next time we’ll turn right, I bet it’ll be terrible.”
Chō Lung
“Okay...” *Chō looks conflicted but gets up from the mediation* “Right it is.”
cyreme
*i hasten my walk whispering to poppyseed*
“what should we do if the right is good and he doubts himself even MORE”
Poppyseed
“I don’t want to think about it, he seems very fragile at the moment.”
As @cyreme walks into the room the flashing red light stops and the green light begins to flash.
From under the crape paper streamers you hear the sound of wind gathering.
Then from under the streamers a strong wind blows up into the room.
The crape paper streamers burst into life from the updraft standing on end and flapping and flailing in the air.
They flick and curl around @cyreme threatening to wrap around her and tie her down.
Chō Lung
“Oh no...”
The crape paper streamers wrap around @cyreme holding her tight.
Poppyseed
“Okay here goes nothing!”
*@Poppyseed pips a tune on her pan pipes and sings*
“The ribbons rise in colors bright, a rainbow dance within the light,
They twirl and dip and softly tease, like silken flags upon the breeze.
But woven in their joyful spree, a sticky thread is waiting for me;
They loop and laugh with gentle sway, to tangle up and steal the day.”
(bardic Inspiration for @cyreme )
*She then attempts to cross the room dodging the colourful crape paper streamers as she flitters this way and that.*
But the streamers flick and wiggle and latch on to the little fairy as she tries to fly away.
Poppyseed
“oh no they caught me! help Chō!!”
Chō Lung
*Chō takes his sickle out and tries helping @Poppyseed*
@Chō Lung moves in with his sickle to help, but the streamers latch on to his arms and legs.
Chō Lung
“What’s the point of even trying...?”
Poppyseed
“Don’t give up Chō!!”
The streamers start to tighten.
Chō Lung
“It’s all because of my choices... If we didn’t go left we wouldn’t be here.”
@cyreme is able to bust free thanks to @Poppyseeds inspiration.
@Poppyseed tries to break free but the streamers are too strong and start to pull her down to the ground.
@Chō Lung is also able to free himself from the streamers as he tears and cuts at the colourful paper.
Chō Lung
*Chō tries to free @Poppyseed again*
cyreme
*i try to help free poppyseed*
@Chō Lung is able to cut the little fairy free.
But she is quickly nabbed again as she tries to leave the room.
Trying to move forward @Chō Lung is also snatched up once more by the streamers.
Followed quickly after by @cyreme who is again grabbed and wrapped up in the colourful streamers.
Poppyseed
“This is terribly frustrating.”
cyreme
“these paper streamers are annoying! just how strong is it”
*@Poppyseed easily tears a single crape paper streamer, but trying to tear and break a bunch together seems almost impossible, and the little fairy remains stuck.*
@cyreme is also unable to break free and is pulled to her knees.
Chō Lung
*Chō keeps trying to use the sickle to cut them all*
@Chō Lung is able to cut @cyreme loose from the coloured paper streamers, even @Poppyseed is able to break free, and all three make a run for the exit as quickly as possible before more streamers latch on to them.
@Poppyseed flies as hard as she can for the exit grabbing @cyreme by the hand and together with @Chō Lung diving out of the cardboard room with the grasping flickering streamers.
As they collapse in a heap outside the wind dies down and the streamers slowly drift back to being a pile on the floor.
Poppyseed
“That was horrible!!”
Poppyseed
“So you really want to try going right this time?”
Chỗ Lung
“I don’t know anymore Poppy!”
Chỗ Lung
*Chỗ punches a wall in frustration*
Poppyseed
“Well we won’t know until we look so let’s take a peek down to the right first.”
moving to the right, the group find themselves outside a large room, in the four corners of the room are four large cardboard statues.
Poppyseed
“hmmmm before we go in and commit ourselves should we check what’s left as well?”
Chō Lung
“Yeah, I think.”
The group heads back down the passageway taking the left turn eventually coming to a large cardboard room with six cardboard pillars leading down the center towards a cardboard archway leading out of the room.
The cardboard pillars seem to have long cardboard fronds hanging down from them as if they are peeling.
Poppyseed
“Ok... so now we’ve seen both the right and left paths, @cyreme which one should we take? Let’s give @Cho Lung s brain a rest, and we can make the hard decision this time.”
Chỗ Lung
*Cho sits down on the floor, looking up” “I’m sorry.”
Poppyseed
“Ok so what do you think @cyreme the left or the right?”
cyreme
“hmm I think I’ll choose...”
*she looks at cho” “left”
Chỗ Lung
“I think that’s going to be a rookie mistake...”
Poppyseed
“Ok well as promised I’ll go first this time.....”
*Gulps*
As @Poppyseed enters the room, the peeling cardboard strips attached to the cardboard pillars begin to move and the group realizes that they are actually cardboard snakes.
The snakes stretch out trying to bite at poppyseed but she is luckily just out of reach. The cardboard snakes seem to follow her movement as she searches for a way to get around them.
Chō Lung
“Oh no...”
Poppyseed
“I’m not sure what we should do here, there’s a path that leads to the exit, but it is definitely within reach for these giant cardboard snakes........ so do we fight our way through or try and make a run for it?”
Chō Lung
“I need to take my frustration out, I suggest fighting!”
Poppyseed
@Poppyseed does a twirl in the air, as she does so multiple mirror images dance off around her.
“So many poppies in the field can you find the one that’s real!”
(casts mirror image)
*Chō throws a dart at the closest serpent to him*
The dart strikes the giant cardboard snake but doesn’t seem to do any damage.
@Poppyseed flitters up a little higher, and looking around gasps.
Poppyseed
“Wow this whole room kind of reminds me of that game ..... what’s it called...... snakes and ladders.”
looking around @Poppyseed sees a little cardboard dish attached to the wall, inside a pair of six sided dice. She takes the dice and rolls them on the floor.
Poppyseed
“ooooooh five.”
*@Poppyseed collects her dice and moves forward five spaces on the board.*
@cyreme moves up next, taking a pair of dice and rolling them.
Cyreme
“Six!! bet I can get to the end before all of you!”
*laughs*
It seems it is now Chō Lungs turn.
He takes a pair of dice from the dish and rolls.
Chō Lung
“Eight! I’m in the lead.”
@Poppyseed rolls her dice again.
*@Poppyseed lands on a snake, as she does she is pushed along back to the beginning.*
Chō Lung
“Oh an unlucky roll!”
Poppyseed
“Drats!”
*@cyreme rolls*
@cyreme lands on a snake and is pushed back down to where she started from.
cyreme
“That’s not fair!”
Poppyseed
“At least you’re not all the way back at the beginning again.”
@Chō Lung takes his turn.
Poppyseed
“Wow! nice roll Chō!”
Chō Lung
“That was just luck.”
@Poppyseed rolls her dice.
@Poppyseed lands on the same space as @cyreme
Poppyseed
“Hello @cyreme ”
cyreme
“Bye @Poppyseed ”
*laughs and rolls*
@cyreme lands on the same space as @Chō Lung
Chō Lung
@cyreme lands on the same space as @Chō Lung
cyreme
“could be worse.”
@Chō Lung rolls, but landing on a snake he is pushed back down through the room.
Chō Lung
“I guess my luck ran out.”
cyreme
“bye bye..... hehehe... told you I was going to win.”
@Poppyseed rolls
“oh wow double six!!”
*@Poppyseed lands on a snake, as she does she is pushed along back to the beginning.*
Poppyseed
“Oh no! I’m back at the start again!!”
cyreme
“hahaha.... I’m definitely going to win.”
@cyreme rolls
cyreme
“WINNER!!”
“Come on slowpokes”
Chō Lung
“Poppy, do you see anything we could use as a ladder?”
Poppyseed
“There are ladders around the place...... We just haven’t landed on any.”
Chō Lung
“What if we do some cheating?”
Poppyseed
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
@Chō Lung rolls trying to fudge the dice.
*@Chō Lung lands on a snake, as he does he is pushed along back to the beginning.*
Poppyseed
“Welcome to the beginning space @Chō Lung hahaha.”
@Poppyseed rolls
Poppyseed
“No cheating you.”
@Poppyseed lands on a ladder and moves up a level.
@Chō Lung rolls
@Chō Lung rolls a nine, everything is going great and he moves far, but landing on a snake he is pushed back to where he started again.
Poppyseed
“wow, that was unlucky, and such a high number roll as well.......... I need a two, or a six, that would be great!”
@Poppyseed rolls
Poppyseed
“eight.... hahaha I rolled a two and a six....... life’s funny like that.... at least no snake.”
@Chō Lung rolls.
@Chō Lung lands on a ladder, moving up two levels.
Poppyseed
“That was lucky!”
@Poppyseed rolls.
Poppyseed
“YES! That’s me out..... come on Chō you can do it!!”
@Chō Lung rolls
@Chō Lung continues along as he avoids the spaces with snakes looking for a ladder or a good roll to get him to the finish line.
@Chō Lung rolls an eight, allowing him to reach the finish line.
Poppyseed
“Well done, you made it.”
The group find themselves in a large cardboard room, in the center on a cardboard pedestal sits a shining red prism.
The prism is made of cardboard and red cellophane, inside a kaleidoscope of light can be seen shining out like a small galaxy dwells within.
Chō Lung
“This is so weird...”
Poppyseed
“Do you think that prism is the heart we’ve been searching for?”
cyreme
“I have to point out that it doesn’t look anything like a heart....... but it definitely gives off some crazy creation vibes...... we were supposed to turn it off, does anyone see a switch?”
Looking around the group sees a large leaver on the side of the cardboard pedestal.
Poppyseed
“Oh look a leaver, that’s probably what we’re looking for!”
Chō Lung
“I don’t think so...”
cyreme
“What do you mean you don’t think so? The diary entry said to find the heart and turn it off..... ”
Chō Lung
“It feels weird. Almost like a trap.”
Poppyseed
*Looking around the room*
“It’s possible.... but I don’t see any other way out of this room, and it’s the first thing we’ve found that even closely resembles what we are looking for.”
Chō Lung
“Okay but be careful.”
Poppyseed
*@Poppyseed flitters over towards the leaver, she looks at the group, then looks back at the leaver. and gulps*
“Ok here goes nothing.”
*@Poppyseed flips the switch*
Chō Lung
*Chō instinctively flinches*
At first nothing seems to have happened, then the room begins to shake, cardboard falls from the ceiling and the exit caves in.
Cardboard from the floor erupts upwards enveloping the prism in the center of the room and almost enveloping @Poppyseed before she flitters out of the way.
The whole cardboard maze seems to be tearing itself apart,and as the ceiling and walls collapse the group notices daylight streaming in where a hole has been created in the wall.
Chō Lung
“Oh gosh...”
Poppyseed
*Pointing at the hole in the cardboard wall*
“That looks like our exit... Let’s get out of here before the whole place collapses!!”
Chō Lung
“Maybe.”
The group dashes for the tare in the cardboard wall heading for the light in the hope that it leads out of the maze before it collapses.
The group manages to dive out through the hole in. the cardboard wall landing in a heap in a small warm sun lit room which appears to be an art studio.
Chō Lung
“Woah... this is weird.”
Poppyseed
“Compared to a killer cardboard maze?”
Looking back towards the hole and maze they just came from the group sees a crumpled box floating in the air in the middle of the room, it is shaking violently and its form seems to expand and contract as it shakes and morphs.
Chō Lung
“Look at that!”
The floating morphing cardboard box begins to take shapes, first a chair, then a bookshelf, then a dog which barks at the group, then a large cardboard beast. The cardboard beast opens its large mouth and roars, as it does gloopy glue and paper fly out and around the room sticking to the walls and floor, and knocking over painting and art supplies.
Chō Lung
“That was something I’ve never seen before.”
Cyreme
“Garrr you soggy cardboard monstrosity, get out of here!”
(vicious mockery)
The @Cardboard Cataclysm is taken aback by the Teiflings insults
Poppyseed
“So many poppies in the field, can you find the one that’s real!”
(Casts mirror image)
@Chō Lung moves up to the @Cardboard Cataclysm and attacks with flying fists and lightning fast kicks.
Chō Lung
“Stunning Strike Kyaaa!”
The @Cardboard Cataclysm overcomes the monks stunning strike attack, still suffers serious damage from the many blows.
The @Cardboard Cataclysm strikes out at @Chō Lung biting down with its massive cardboard jaws and slashing with its cardboard claws.
*@Poppyseed sees a claw heading straight for @Chō Lung *
“Oh no you don’t! There’s someone behind you!”
The @Cardboard Cataclysm is distracted long enough for @Chō Lung to move out of the way, as the @Cardboard Cataclysm misses with its attacks.
cyreme
“You’re so ugly you are made out of the ugly tree!”
But this time the @Cardboard Cataclysm pays no attention to the Teifling.
@Poppyseed pulls a deck of cards from her sleeve and as purple energy begins to swirl around her hands she flings the cards at the @Cardboard Cataclysm .
The glowing cards strike the massive creature exploding in purple energy and pink dust dealing massive damage to the @Cardboard Cataclysm and blinding it, as cardboard starts to fall away from its body.
@Chō Lung attacks with all his might, punching and kicking at the @Cardboard Cataclysm his Ki flowing into his blows against the blinded creation.
Cardboard flies across the room as the monk hits the @Cardboard Cataclysm over and over again.
The @Cardboard Cataclysm blindly lashes out with its claws, and opens its massive mouth regurgitates caustic bile all over @Chō Lung .
@Chō Lung easily dodges the clumsy claw attacks, but is covered in the caustic bile as the @Cardboard Cataclysm regurgitates all over the monk, causing massive damage, and rendering the monk unconscious.
cyreme
“You’re done for now soggy cardboard!”
(vicious mockery)
But the @Cardboard Cataclysm cares not for @cyreme insults.
@Poppyseed flings more cards at the @Cardboard Cataclysm hitting the creature with everything she’s got.
The cards explode around the @Cardboard Cataclysm blinding the creature once more and causing devastating damage as large panels of broken cardboard peel off onto the floor.
The @Cardboard Cataclysm stagers about blinded as it swings its claws here and there trying to catch the little fairy.
clipping @Poppyseed as it swings around.
@cyreme casts healing word on @Chō Lung
“Up you get lazy, this is no time for a nap.”
@Chō Lung is revived by @cyreme words, although the caustic bile has damage this clothes and equipment.
@Chō Lung leaps forward once more kicking and punching at the blind @Cardboard Cataclysm .
One after another the mighty blows land until suddenly the creature wobbles back and crashing into the corner collapses in a pile of old cardboard.
Poppyseed
“That was one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever seen! I am so glad everyone is ok!”
@Chō Lung
“Speak for yourself, my clothes, equipment, and hair have all but melted away!”
Poppyseed
“You were due for a change of clothes anyway.... I didn’t want to say anything, but I’m glad it happened.”
Suddenly the huge pile of cardboard begins to move.
Poppyseed
“Oh no! not again!”
But out of the cardboard mess a small gnome climes free and flops down on the wet floor.
Gilbus Blott
“Oh my goodness that was shocking, I thought I would be trapped in there forever!...... Who are you!?”
Poppyseed
“We came to deliver your shelves Mr Blott, but ended up swallowed and trapped in your cardboard maze.”
Gilbus Blott
“Oh.... has it only been a couple of hours then..... it felt like years....the cardboard grew beyond my control, but when I tried to turn it off, a humongous cardboard creature swallowed me whole....... oh ....... thank you for rescuing me.... I guess you found my note, and journal, which is why you knew to turn off the maze right?”
Poppyseed
“Actually we kind of just winged it from the get go, in fact, we are probably lucky to be alive.”
cyreme
“Lucky!! It’s a miracle!! This would have to be one of the worst jobs I’ve ever had!!”
*Storms off out of the house talking to herself as she goes.*
“Easy they said, just deliver the shelves they said.... no dental..... no overtime pay.... no danger pay.... I quit!”
Poppyseed
“Oh”
Chō Lung
“I saw that coming.”
Poppyseed
“Well I guess that’s that, do you need help cleaning up or installing the shelves Mr Blott?”
Gilbus Blott
“If you wouldn’t mind dear, I’ll put the kettle on for some tea, and fix some cucumber sandwiches, and cakes, I think you did an exceptional job.”
Gilbus Blott, @Poppyseed and @Chō Lung cleaned the art studio while enjoying a cup of tea, after which the pair installed the shelves for Gilbus Blott.
Once the work was done they all sat down for cucumber sandwiches, fairy cakes, and tea.
Poppyseed never saw @cyreme again, her and @Chō Lung assumed she found a better job..... maybe one that actually pays, but they both found a new appreciation for art.
