▷ On The First Day of Giving Day [CYOA]

[RozeyBear]

Round Four

Round Five begins:

12/24 @ 11:59pm CST or when all participants have answered

With the bird staring so intently, you try the only thing you can think of. You whistle back to them, mimicking the same tune they'd been singing. It seems to make them happy and they give an elated little chirp before fluttering over to perch on your shoulder.

You smile as the apparently affectionate bird cuddles into your neck. Deciding you had spent enough time here you set off into the maze.

Broad trunks band together to form the walls of the maze and thick canopies dotted with small blooms and fruit in various stages of ripeness block most of the sunshine above you. As you come out into the first section of the maze, you notice the path you're on splits into two.

The path to the left is dark, much darker than it should be and you swear you hear the eerie call of an owl. While the path on the right is bright and inviting. The trees there are all speckled with large, ripe apples that you can practically smell from where you're standing. It seems to be the better choice but the bird on your shoulder keeps staring down the other path.

Do you choose:
A.) The right path
B.) The left path

Erina_Nobara

Doing anything with the bird may be a hassle so you walk around the tree and make your way into the maze.

Broad trunks band together to form the walls of the maze and thick canopies dotted with small bloom and fruit in various stages of ripeness block most of the sunshine above you. As you come out into the first section of the maze, you notice the path you're on splits into three.

The left path is bright and filled with birdsong. A warm breeze dances through the leaves of the trees lining that path, encouraging you forward. To your right, the path is dreary and a chill creeps into your skin. It smells of rain and you can almost hear the soft drip of water falling from the leaves, but somehow it feels more inviting than even the sunny path. Finally, the center path is mostly dark, though it is lined with smooth grey stones and looks much more manicured than the others.

You pause a while, considering your options.

Do you choose:

A.) The left path
B.) The center path
C.) The right path

SwordOfTheDarkOnes

PZMJNP

 

[Erina_Nobara]

Route: B. The left path
Items:

show spoilerhide spoiler

-enter your items here, you will receive them via playing-

RP Response: Stardust smiled as the bird flew over and nuzzled against him. The duo set off into the maze together but soon came across a split in the path. The bird kept looking down the left path despite the right path looking much nicer. The eerie call of an owl came from the left and Stardust gulped. "Are you sure we should go that way?" He seemed to be asking the bird it's opinion. "Well if you say so..." Stardust quietly tiptoed down the left path, being as careful as possible not to get spooked by anything.
Did You Equip An Item?: no
 

[SwordOfTheDarkOnes]

Route: C.) The right path
Items:

show spoilerhide spoiler

N/A

RP Response: Thyme looked around. This was not cool...the middle path was far too easy. The left path was too obvious. The right however...he tilted his head. Well, if he got lost. He got lost. He at least tried to get out of this nightmare.

Did You Equip An Item?: n/a
 

[RozeyBear]

Round Five

Round Six begins:

12/27 @ 11:59pm CST or when all participants have answered

For some reason, you trust the bird on your shoulder. Perhaps it's your own curiosity or maybe you just feel drawn to it, but you choose to walk down the left path. It's dark and, if you're being honest with yourself, a little spooky but the path ends almost as quickly as it began. You step out into a small clearing occupied only by a small tree. On the lower branches you can see two turtle doves preening and singing cheerily to each other. Huh. That must have been where the song came from. After listening to them for a moment you think it best to move along.

Beyond the clearing, there seems to be three paths before you. The more you look, the more each one tempts you closer. Each path is filled with sunshine and warm air.

You step closer, pausing in front of each choice as you weigh your options.

From the looks of things, all three were exactly the same but something definitely set them apart from one another. It took you a moment, but you finally figured it out! The smells. Each path had a different smells centered around them, as if each one were surrounded by a barrier that kept it from seeping out or mixing with the scents from a different path.

The right smells of honey and fresh cream while the center smells of freshly cut grass and blueberry pastries. A gentle breeze swirled the scent of strawberries around the middle path.

While you consider your options, the bird on your shoulder flutters off. You watch as they land in a border tree next to the middle path and pluck a flower from the canopy before flying off.

Do you choose:
A.) The right
B.) The middle
C.) The left

Erina_Nobara

Rain or shine, you were getting out of this maze! Unfortunately for you, you choose rain. It isn't as bad as it could have been though. The path to the right merely seems to have experienced an isolated drizzle. Water droplets glisten on leaves and flowers alike as you make your way down the short path silently.

When you exit the path, you come out into another clearing. This one seems smaller than the last even though it appears to have the same small tree as before. You idly wondered if it was another pear tree.

As you think, two turtle doves pop out from the leaves, chittering noisily at you until you walk by and leave them be.

Beyond the clearing, there seems to be three paths before you. The more you look, the more each one tempts you closer. Each path is filled with sunshine and warm air.

You step closer, pausing in front of each choice as you weigh your options.

From the looks of things, all three were exactly the same but something definitely set them apart from one another. It took you a moment, but you finally figured it out! The smells. Each path had a different smells centered around them, as if each one were surrounded by a barrier that kept it from seeping out or mixing with the scents from a different path.

The right smells of honey and fresh cream while the center smells of freshly cut grass and blueberry pastries. A gentle breeze swirled the scent of strawberries around the middle path.

Do you choose:
A.) The right
B.) The middle
C.) The left

SwordOfTheDarkOnes

Unable to resist, you venture into the darkness. It's oddly quiet and the air feels so heavy it seems to burn your lungs but you press forward. No bit of darkness would stop you from finding a way out of this maze!

You trip once or twice, sure, but you always get back up and dust yourself off. The longer you walk, you start to see a small speck of light ahead of you. You hurry along the path, leaping over rocks and root alike. The deeper you got, the more unkempt the path became and the more difficult it became to navigate.

Just as you no longer have to squint to the see the light ahead, you trip again. This time, however, your hooves are trapped in a tangled knot of raised tree roots. No matter how hard you try, you can't seem to get free.

On the first day of Giving Day my true love gave to me--

You lie in bed, staring at the ceiling.

Tree roots? Really?

PZMJNP

 

[Erina_Nobara]

Route: b. the middle
Items:

show spoilerhide spoiler

-enter your items here, you will receive them via playing-

RP Response: Stardust followed the path to two turtle doves. It was just like the song! Upon walking past them though there was a new set of paths. Examining them they all looked alike. but when Stardust closed his eyes he noticed different smells. So he took the path that was the center where the bird had plucked a flower. it smelled like strawberries in that direction..
Did You Equip An Item?: no
 

[SwordOfTheDarkOnes]

Route: B.) The middle
Items:

show spoilerhide spoiler

N/A

RP Response: Thyme shook himself off. He didn't mind the rain it was fine by him. As he looked around, he gave the two turtle doves a nod of respect. Then stopped to weigh his options. Well...he nodded to himself. Might as well go all in...he stared down the right. That seemed like it would lead him back to the cottage. Not in the mood for that. He looked down the center...a singular scent made him uneasy. As for the left...fresh grass and pastries. Well, the song mentioned hens...grass might lead him there? Logical approach he can't be faulted for that.

Did You Equip An Item?: n/a
 

[RozeyBear]

Round Six

Round Seven begins:

12/29 @ 11:59pm CST or when all participants have answered

You look between the paths one last time before making your decision and stepping into the middle path. The further you walk, the stronger the smell of pastries becomes and you stomach grumbles in protest. Stamping your hunger down, you exit the maze and come out onto a... farm?

You turn back to the maze, confused as to how you hadn't seen all this from the cabin. After all, when you turn back to look around the farm seems massive. A cluck by your hooves grabs your attention and you notice three French hens staring up at you. Nervously, you make your way passed them and continue out onto the farm.

The farm stretches out before you for miles, a picture perfect example of commercialized farm life. All the animals seem docile and well taken care of, the grass neatly mowed and trees trimmed. It's all very beautiful if you're being honest. The more you look around, you find yourself staring at an equally beautiful house tucked away on the corner of the property.

You pick up the pace, changing direction to ensure you'd come to the front door. You've only made it half way when you hear the call of a small group of blackbirds. You tilt your head and head over curiously, drawn to the squabble. It seems like the four of them are fighting. But over what, if anything?

Do you:
A.) Shoo them away
B.) Ignore them and head into the house
C.) Investigate the commotion

Erina_Nobara

SwordOfTheDarkOnes

 

[Erina_Nobara]

Route: C. investigate the commotion
Items:

show spoilerhide spoiler

-enter your items here, you will receive them via playing-

RP Response: Stardust followed the middle path to beautiful farm filled with animals. At his hoof he heard a cluck and looked down. A french hen! This was getting eerier and eerier that he was following the song along. But then in all the peacefulness he heard a commotion. Some birds seemed to be have a squabble! Stardust just new that he should go investigate to see what the problem was! So he made his way over to see if he could help.
Did You Equip An Item?: no
 

[SwordOfTheDarkOnes]

Route: C.) Investigate the commotion
Items: None

show spoilerhide spoiler

N/A

RP Response: Thyme tilted his head. Exploring another cabin could wait...four calling birds. Ha. Irony. So far following the song as he sings it in his head has worked. If this sets him back...oh well. He trotted over to the birds intent on finding if there's a golden ring over there.

Did You Equip An Item?: n/a
 

[RozeyBear]

Round Seven

Round Eight begins:

01/03 @ 11:59pm CST or when all participants have answered

Your curiosity gets the better of you, or maybe it's your soft heart that's unable to take their nagging calls and angry beak snaps. Either way, you step towards the birds carefully to check out what's going on.

The birds back up, cocking their heads to eye you with suspicion. When it's clear you aren't trying to hurt them, they seem to loose interest and the four of them fly away.

On the ground where they had been lies a single old silver bit. You bend to pick it up, taking only a moment to examine the coin before slipping it into your pocket then you turn and head toward the house. (Players! Please add 'old silver bit' to your inventory.)

After what feels like an hour of waiting on the porch, you gently push open the door and peer inside. It seems as if no one is home. They could be there you supposed, but why wouldn't they come to the door then?

You shrug it off and make your way inside. Just as you thought, the inside was just as beautiful as the outside. So beautiful that you forgot how to keep your jaw from falling open in such an awestruck manner while you moved through the house.

The illusion of overall beauty is shattered when you come to the dining room. The table in the center is covered in various sizes of golden rings and there's a sign hanging on the wall opposite you. It reads: 'Only five will match'.

Action post!
Players, please randomize a number between 1 and 250

SwordOfTheDarkOnes

Erina_Nobara

 

[Erina_Nobara]

Route: action post, rng
Items:

show spoilerhide spoiler

old silver bit

RP Response: Stardust watched as the birds flew away leaving behind a silver bit. He examined it before slipping it into his pocket for safekeeping. Then after deciding there was nothing more to do outside, he entered the house. Upon entering the room filled with rings, his eyes grew wide. There were so many! How was he supposed to find five that match? Well he definitely had his work cut out for him that was for sure. And so he began examining rings to see if he could find the five matching ones.
Did You Equip An Item?: no
 

[SwordOfTheDarkOnes]

Route: Action, rng
Items:

show spoilerhide spoiler

old silver bit

RP Response: Thyme hummed as he entered the house. Making sure the silver bit was tucked away safely. He blinked at the house itself. Holy mack---oh...shucks...he narrowed his eyes. "Ha. Ha. Funny."

He sighed as he looked at the rings. "Called it..."

Did You Equip An Item?: no
 

[RozeyBear]

Game End

You search for hours and hours but can't seem to find all five matching bands. Instead of fussing over it, you walk into the living room and plop onto the couch with a huff.

You lean back against the pillows and close your eyes--

On the first day of Giving Day my true love gave to me--

--and open your eyes to the ceiling of the cabin instead of the one in the farmhouse. Just great.

SwordOfTheDarkOnes

You have been eliminated! Thank you for playing!

You spend what feels like hours at the table, digging and searching but you finally found them! With the matching five coins in your pocket, you leave the dining area.

You move to the the back of the house, surveying everything around you as you go. As you pass it by, you notice a sign beside the back door. While the other had elegant, looped writing on it's face, this one is simply a crude picture of a gold ring. Doubling back, you stand before it for a while, unsure of whether or not you should exit just yet.

Soon enough, you tire of hemming and hawwing over the so called dilemma you face and you pull open the door---

Bright, white light fills your vision, making you throw up an arm in order to shield your eyes. Surely the sun didn't cause that light, right? It felt too cold to be sunlight. You try your best to peer through it, just able to make out blurry, dark shapes. But... you're looking up at them, as if you'd somehow ended up on your back. But you're standing, right??

"The anesthetic is wearing off for this one, Piper." A low, smooth voice sounds beside you. You turn your head and find yourself staring into the most intense set of grey eyes you'd ever seen. But... not completely grey? The pony just stares at you for a moment before moving away. "Hurry along, would you? I have somewhere I need to be."

"Yes, Dr. Astik."

In a matter of moments, everything fades again. This time when you awaken, you're back at home. No sign of golden rings or birds or doctors with striking eyes. Had it all been a dream?

You look over at the nightstand beside your bed, intending on checking the time when you notice a slate grey card sitting neatly amongst your things. It's blank all except for the design of a smoking beaker in a shimmery, metallic pale yellow. ...That definitely hadn't been a dream, then.

Erina_Nobara

Congratulations! You have beaten the game.... you think.
Either way, you don't have to repeat that day any more and that's all that really matters, right?

At your convenience, please PM or DM Nymphiea with a colour palette or form of inspiration for your prize.

 

[Erina_Nobara]

Yay! Thank you so much for the game! ouo <3333