OOC: This topic has TWO trick or treat options for you! You'll get a little drawn picture of one item, custom made by me.
I've written this intro in second person for effect, but please do reply in the third for everyone's convenience.
Thank you!
The sky is dusking and the lamplighters have brightened the capital of New Prague with orange fire. Jack-o-lanterns grin on every street corner, and leaves swirl in the chilly air that gusts across the streets, grazing at you like ghostly fingers.
You, traveler, are in the great chessman empire of Czechia on this, the most venerable day of All Hallows' Eve: a festival celebrated with great enthusiasm by this nation of once-dead people. How you got here doesn't matter--although if you don't remember, you may want to begin to worry about that... later, of course.
The cemetery wing of the palace gardens are opened to the public, a special occasion for this day. That is why you are here, isn't it? You approach the stern, black iron gates, thrown open to admit entry for all and sundry, albeit guarded by a pair of armored black Knights wielding spears, with dark rifles on their backs. You can feel their hidden eyes upon you as you pass them by, but you are simply one foreign face in a ragtag company of other visitors, some arrayed in quaint or clever costumes.
You step from rough street cobbles to the manicured pathways, lined with tombs and flowers. Willows bend low over the graves like mourners, and great orange oaks tower over the mausoleums as if they were monuments themselves, shedding their bright leaves to the wind. The paths are quaintly decorated with candles and pumpkins, deftly carved to resemble the intricate whorls of roses, chrysanthemums, carnations.
I.
Among the many branching walkways, a few corners are host to stands set up specifically for the benefit of visitors like you, distributing hot drinks and small favors: shaped candies, single stems of flowers for the graves, lightly decorated autumn gourds, and what looks at a glance to be small, plastic cats... or are they marbles?
II.
The palace towers in the distance, its spires and domes looming over the garden in somber silhouette. There is a parterre on the other side of the cemetery, and from it you can hear a loud, jovial voice booming over the quiet chatter of the crowds.
I've written this intro in second person for effect, but please do reply in the third for everyone's convenience.
Thank you!
The sky is dusking and the lamplighters have brightened the capital of New Prague with orange fire. Jack-o-lanterns grin on every street corner, and leaves swirl in the chilly air that gusts across the streets, grazing at you like ghostly fingers.
You, traveler, are in the great chessman empire of Czechia on this, the most venerable day of All Hallows' Eve: a festival celebrated with great enthusiasm by this nation of once-dead people. How you got here doesn't matter--although if you don't remember, you may want to begin to worry about that... later, of course.
The cemetery wing of the palace gardens are opened to the public, a special occasion for this day. That is why you are here, isn't it? You approach the stern, black iron gates, thrown open to admit entry for all and sundry, albeit guarded by a pair of armored black Knights wielding spears, with dark rifles on their backs. You can feel their hidden eyes upon you as you pass them by, but you are simply one foreign face in a ragtag company of other visitors, some arrayed in quaint or clever costumes.
You step from rough street cobbles to the manicured pathways, lined with tombs and flowers. Willows bend low over the graves like mourners, and great orange oaks tower over the mausoleums as if they were monuments themselves, shedding their bright leaves to the wind. The paths are quaintly decorated with candles and pumpkins, deftly carved to resemble the intricate whorls of roses, chrysanthemums, carnations.
I.
Among the many branching walkways, a few corners are host to stands set up specifically for the benefit of visitors like you, distributing hot drinks and small favors: shaped candies, single stems of flowers for the graves, lightly decorated autumn gourds, and what looks at a glance to be small, plastic cats... or are they marbles?
Click if you choose to TAKE A TREAT.
OOC: If you want to take one of any of these items, please note it in your post and I will draw one for you. Your character may choose a specific one from the list above or grab one at random.
OOC: If you want to take one of any of these items, please note it in your post and I will draw one for you. Your character may choose a specific one from the list above or grab one at random.
II.
The palace towers in the distance, its spires and domes looming over the garden in somber silhouette. There is a parterre on the other side of the cemetery, and from it you can hear a loud, jovial voice booming over the quiet chatter of the crowds.
Click if you choose to MEET THE CZAR.
Following the voice, you find its origin: a massive and rather posh looking King piece, grinning with his great golden teeth--the only 'natural' facial feature on his black, eyeless head--and gesturing grandly for the crowds to draw closer. There is a big black cauldron beside him, more than ample enough in capacity to fit a goodly sized person, its mouth spilling over with red, heavy smoke that drips and flows. You can see the occluded edges of solid shadows inside, just barely.
"Oh, gather 'round! It is not every day that you have opportunity to receive a gift from your Czar, is it? I have something for each and every one of you. Just step up, put your hand in the Cauldron of Curiosities, and take one--if you dare!"
OOC: The Czar has different items to give you from the stand. You'll get one at random.
Following the voice, you find its origin: a massive and rather posh looking King piece, grinning with his great golden teeth--the only 'natural' facial feature on his black, eyeless head--and gesturing grandly for the crowds to draw closer. There is a big black cauldron beside him, more than ample enough in capacity to fit a goodly sized person, its mouth spilling over with red, heavy smoke that drips and flows. You can see the occluded edges of solid shadows inside, just barely.
"Oh, gather 'round! It is not every day that you have opportunity to receive a gift from your Czar, is it? I have something for each and every one of you. Just step up, put your hand in the Cauldron of Curiosities, and take one--if you dare!"
OOC: The Czar has different items to give you from the stand. You'll get one at random.
Hayden approached the large cast iron gates. He didn't really know how he'd found himself here, but that didn't really matter at the moment. This place was similar yet so vastly different from his own world. He felt drawn to the huge palace. It was foreboding and all but demanded awe. A smirk crept across Haydens face. He was certainly up for whatever mischief he could find.
He followed the loud voice and was stunned to find something. . . not human. The cauldron was also intimidating. It looked about ready to swallow him whole. Maybe he should be curious as the how he'd gotten here and where exactly here was. Still, he wasn't going to wimp out. Boldly, he stuck his hand inside the frothing pot, meeting the eye of the self-proclaimed Czar..
He followed the loud voice and was stunned to find something. . . not human. The cauldron was also intimidating. It looked about ready to swallow him whole. Maybe he should be curious as the how he'd gotten here and where exactly here was. Still, he wasn't going to wimp out. Boldly, he stuck his hand inside the frothing pot, meeting the eye of the self-proclaimed Czar..
As the young man steps forward, the huge chessman's grin grows wider, and a glint strikes his monocle as he turns his head to peer at him.
"Yes, yes," he encourages warmly, "Don't be shy."
Hayden's arm disappears into the cold fog, and he grasps something that somehow feels both hard and furry at the same time.
It squeaks...?
"Well, well!" booms the Czar, "It seems you have acquired a new little friend. You'd best take good care of him, if you want to keep your toes. Haha! I'm joking. Probably..."
"Yes, yes," he encourages warmly, "Don't be shy."
Hayden's arm disappears into the cold fog, and he grasps something that somehow feels both hard and furry at the same time.
It squeaks...?
YOU GOT...
CANDY CORN JACK-O-RAT
A post-beast. Looks like a jack, moves and acts like a rat. This one is quite festive!
"Well, well!" booms the Czar, "It seems you have acquired a new little friend. You'd best take good care of him, if you want to keep your toes. Haha! I'm joking. Probably..."
Hayden crinkled his nose. What in the heck? Seemed he had an odd pet now. Looking at the creature, he tilted his head. "Guess I'll call you Todd. Let's go." He set the creature on the ground and considered the chessman. "What exactly does this thing eat? Or rather, what would happen if it accidentally got loose in that palace there?"
The newly-christened Todd wiggles its orange nose and clatters around the stones curiously, but very quickly turns around to climb up onto Hayden's shoe and, subsequently, tries to roll up his leg with tiny, needling white claws.
"Oh, he'll eat anything. Grain and sugar are his favorites. And toes," the Czar replies, his grin briefly collapsing into a serious frown, but then it returns again, even larger than before. "I would keep an eye on him, if I were you. It would be a shame indeed if he wound up a snack for one of the Vizier's cats..."
"Oh, he'll eat anything. Grain and sugar are his favorites. And toes," the Czar replies, his grin briefly collapsing into a serious frown, but then it returns again, even larger than before. "I would keep an eye on him, if I were you. It would be a shame indeed if he wound up a snack for one of the Vizier's cats..."
Todd certainly didn't seem shy at all. It definitely didn't move or act in a way that he was familiar with.
The 'and toes' caused a shiver to run down Hayden's back. He looked down into the creature's black, beady eyes and swallowed. What would happen if he brought this back to his world with him? Actually, it'd be a pretty funny prank. "Good to know," he replied after a time. "Uh, well, bye. . . I guess." He turned to walk back down the path. Such an odd fellow. He pat Todd's. . . head? and strolled back out the gates, passed the guards. He couldn't help but wonder if this was all some odd dream.
The 'and toes' caused a shiver to run down Hayden's back. He looked down into the creature's black, beady eyes and swallowed. What would happen if he brought this back to his world with him? Actually, it'd be a pretty funny prank. "Good to know," he replied after a time. "Uh, well, bye. . . I guess." He turned to walk back down the path. Such an odd fellow. He pat Todd's. . . head? and strolled back out the gates, passed the guards. He couldn't help but wonder if this was all some odd dream.
Morgan paused at the gates, her breath curling faintly in the chill air. The lamplight flickered across the steel of the guards’ spears, gleaming like tiny comets in the dusk. Beyond them, the cemetery gardens stretched in shadow and gold, quiet except for the whisper of leaves and the soft tread of visitors.
She stepped forward, the scent of wax and old roses following her. A fine mist curled low around her boots. This place felt older than memory, the kind of ground that remembered who walked upon it. She reached into her coat pocket, brushing the edge of her EMF reader before catching herself. Tonight was for curiosity, not investigation.
The carved candles and pumpkins caught her eye, glowing with floral whorls and runes. Someone here had a macabre sense of humor. She smiled faintly and followed the path toward the laughter ahead.
When she reached the parterre, the towering figure beside a fog-filled cauldron drew her attention. “That is quite a setup,” she said, stopping just short of the cauldron’s rim. “You do not happen to offer safety disclaimers before people go reaching into boiling fog, do you?”
She stepped forward, the scent of wax and old roses following her. A fine mist curled low around her boots. This place felt older than memory, the kind of ground that remembered who walked upon it. She reached into her coat pocket, brushing the edge of her EMF reader before catching herself. Tonight was for curiosity, not investigation.
The carved candles and pumpkins caught her eye, glowing with floral whorls and runes. Someone here had a macabre sense of humor. She smiled faintly and followed the path toward the laughter ahead.
When she reached the parterre, the towering figure beside a fog-filled cauldron drew her attention. “That is quite a setup,” she said, stopping just short of the cauldron’s rim. “You do not happen to offer safety disclaimers before people go reaching into boiling fog, do you?”
@ Hayden
"Goodbye!" the Czar beams, wiggling his fingers in a farewell as Hayden takes his leave.
Todd makes a soft squeak, boggling his weird little eyes with a twitch of his whiskers. The creature is clearly pleased by the attention--at least he seems to be sort of domesticated...?
If it is a dream, it is quite a robust one: as Hayden returns to the gates, fallen leaves crunch underfoot, the air is awash with the scent of treats and funerary incense, the wind is cold and the lamplight is warm. Todd's little head is warm, too, and velvety, like felt on the bottom of a game piece.
Like an indistinct and hazy memory, this place might haunt Hayden with its surreal solidity long after he leaves it, even if he forgets he'd ever seen it.
@ Morgan
The Czar has already returned his attention to the rest of the milling crowds by the time Hayden has started walking away. A few other people, mostly chessmen, boldly step forward to seize objects from the King piece's ominous cauldron, most of them finding treats. A couple of them meet tricks as well, reeling backwards in surprise as ghastly grins emerge suddenly from the fog, laughing in echoing voices.
The Czar laughs, too, and points for good measure. "HAH! Every time! Oh, you should have seen the look on your--Oh! Why, hello." The giant chessman composes himself quite rapidly, returning to his stately poise as he leans to peer down at the red-haired woman with what is probably supposed to be a friendly smile. "Disclaimers? Whyever for? I would never harm my subjects during such festivities! Ehh, permanently, anyway. Oh, why don't you give it a try? Come, now, I know you're curious..."
Morgan’s brow lifted slightly, her lips curving into something between amusement and disbelief. “‘Permanently,’ you say. Somehow that does not inspire the confidence you might think it does.”
Still, she stepped closer, the mist licking around her boots as she studied the cauldron. The fog within shifted like living silk, hiding whatever waited beneath. “I have learned that curiosity is usually what gets people into trouble,” she murmured, glancing up at him. “But it also tends to make the better stories.”
With a quiet breath, she reached into the vapor, her voice soft with dry humor. “If I lose a hand, I expect hazard pay.”
The faintest smile ghosted her lips as her fingers disappeared into the swirling mist.
Still, she stepped closer, the mist licking around her boots as she studied the cauldron. The fog within shifted like living silk, hiding whatever waited beneath. “I have learned that curiosity is usually what gets people into trouble,” she murmured, glancing up at him. “But it also tends to make the better stories.”
With a quiet breath, she reached into the vapor, her voice soft with dry humor. “If I lose a hand, I expect hazard pay.”
The faintest smile ghosted her lips as her fingers disappeared into the swirling mist.
"Oh, my dear, you wound me," the Czar replies, still grinning as he lays a huge, disembodied hand across his broad chest as if she had struck him there.
But approach she does all the same, parting the cold red fog and reaching into the belly of it. The Czar watches most attentively, intrigued to see how this cool, aloof woman will respond to the cauldron--or rather, perhaps, how it will respond to her.
Her hand alights upon something round... and... soft...? Or is it hard and smooth, like glass?
"How do you like that? You've been chosen by one of my absolute favorites," the Czar declares, grandly spreading his 'arms' with a brilliant smile. "And you didn't even have to lose a hand for it! Hoho! If her affinity for my wife is anything to go by, I think she likes a smart, calculating woman--and I mean that with all due respect. Please do treat her well."
But approach she does all the same, parting the cold red fog and reaching into the belly of it. The Czar watches most attentively, intrigued to see how this cool, aloof woman will respond to the cauldron--or rather, perhaps, how it will respond to her.
Her hand alights upon something round... and... soft...? Or is it hard and smooth, like glass?
YOU GOT...
The rotund creature seems to be capable of, at any moment, altering its consistency to resemble putty or something hard and bristly--a bit like a regular cat, come to think of it.
BATTY MARBLE CAT
A post-beast. It's about the size of a normal cat, albeit quite round. This one has bat wings and long ears.
The rotund creature seems to be capable of, at any moment, altering its consistency to resemble putty or something hard and bristly--a bit like a regular cat, come to think of it.
"How do you like that? You've been chosen by one of my absolute favorites," the Czar declares, grandly spreading his 'arms' with a brilliant smile. "And you didn't even have to lose a hand for it! Hoho! If her affinity for my wife is anything to go by, I think she likes a smart, calculating woman--and I mean that with all due respect. Please do treat her well."
Her fingers brushed something warm and impossibly soft. A startled laugh slipped from her as the creature rose from the fog, round and winged, blinking up at her with luminous eyes. “Well,” she murmured, lifting the Batty Marble Cat with careful hands, “you are certainly not regulation issue.”
The little thing purred, if the deep, vibrating sound could be called that, and its wings gave an experimental flutter. Morgan looked up at the Czar, one brow arching. “A favorite, you say? Then I shall take that as an honor.”
She offered him a small, knowing smile, half challenge and half gratitude. “I will treat her well. And if she starts biting through walls or drinking candle wax, I will send you the bill.”
With that, she turned, the lanternlight catching the dark fall of her coat as she stepped back into the path. The mist closed around her in soft folds, her voice drifting faintly over her shoulder. “Goodnight, your majesty. Try not to lose any more subjects to curiosity.”
The fog swallowed her soon after, leaving only the echo of her bootsteps and the faint flutter of wings fading into the night.
The little thing purred, if the deep, vibrating sound could be called that, and its wings gave an experimental flutter. Morgan looked up at the Czar, one brow arching. “A favorite, you say? Then I shall take that as an honor.”
She offered him a small, knowing smile, half challenge and half gratitude. “I will treat her well. And if she starts biting through walls or drinking candle wax, I will send you the bill.”
With that, she turned, the lanternlight catching the dark fall of her coat as she stepped back into the path. The mist closed around her in soft folds, her voice drifting faintly over her shoulder. “Goodnight, your majesty. Try not to lose any more subjects to curiosity.”
The fog swallowed her soon after, leaving only the echo of her bootsteps and the faint flutter of wings fading into the night.
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