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Deviation Actions
!!! Important Note: Parts of the mystery/puzzles must each be solved by each user independently. Do not share answers with peers or tell them how to solve the puzzle in each scene. Doing so will cause your entry to be removed from this part of the event. These puzzles are meant to be solvable using the information given in each Scene. You will not need to search beyond this journal for an answer. That said some puzzles may use similar strategies you have encountered elsewhere in life. At this time we have no intent to give hints for any scene. If we find there is a need for hints at any point in time they will be added here. Thank you~ !!!
Scenes 2 (and 5 when it is released later this month) are image answers. They must be a submitted as a sta.sh link in their respective fields, for example: sta.sh/<specificimageinfo>. Please remember to test your link goes to the image you wish to submit! If you delete the image from your stash or it is not correctly linked after the form closes. We will not accept a new link as answers may be released before we finish checking submissions. We are using sta.sh as a means to verify answers are not edited after the form closes and will not accept alternative links at this time.
Scene 3 is live as is Scene 4!
Scene 5 is now also live! For Scene 5 clarifying that besides the words in the sleuth not running diagonally, you cannot move diagonally either.
Scene 6 is now live! A reminder all 6 scene answers that you wish to submit must be submitted by October 30th at 11:59pm PST!!! World Clock for the Masquerade Mystery's Final Answer Submission Deadline!
Scene 7, the conclusion to this mystery is now live!
We will be rolling the results in our discord's games_and_raffles channel here (discord.gg/PqMAdFb) using the following spreadsheet:
[Raffle Pools and Puzzle Scores]
UPDATE! Puzzle Answers/Solutions are now posted at the bottom of this journal there is a quick link to them near the scene selection links.
~~~
Welcome! To the Berry Bazaar's first muuuuurder myssssstery night!
This side event follows the story of what happens at Laurent Von Stygian's Masquerade Ball. While most elnin folk have come to join in some fun and merriment, players (that's you!) will need to keep an eye out for mischief-makers... and an even more terrible tragedy...
The plot itself will be divided up into scenes, posted a few days apart in this journal, although in the context of the story it all happens on the same night. This is to give you time to work on the puzzle at the end of each scene. If you are having trouble figuring out the puzzle, read through the scene carefully. There is often information within the story that will help you solve it! Complete each puzzle correctly and you will go in the draw for a spectacularly spooky prize!
Rules for entering and additional info:
- Entry Window: 10/13 - 10/30 11:59pm PST.
- Entry Form:
:thumb769055425:[Submit Answers Here]:thumb769055425:
- Participation Reward: If you answer at least one part of the mystery correctly, but not all parts, you will earn your choice of either 2EC or 1AP
- Completion Reward: If you answer all parts of the mystery correctly you will earn your choice of either 4EC or 2AP
- Regarding the above rewards:
- If you do not answer any parts of the mystery correctly then you will not earn any EC or AP.
- You will not receive both of the above rewards, just whichever applies to you. So if you answered all answers correctly you would only receive the "Completion Reward" not both completion and participation rewards.
- In the form you will be able to select what type of completion or participation reward you would like to receive (EC or AP) if you qualify for them.
- If you select EC it will be banked.
- If you select AP then there will be a comment posted to track it on the main event schedule after all submissions have been reviewed. Any AP awarded must go to the same elnin regardless of if you earned 1AP or 2AP. To claim the AP you must select what region that AP is for in the form. You must also own the elnin you are claiming the AP for. If you fail to specify any information associated with AP (because you forget to add a masterlist entry link that is working and a region) you will receive EC instead. We will not follow up to ask you which elnin or region you wanted the AP for.
- The Grand Prize and Runner Up Prizes will be drawn from the pool of users that submitted correct answers to all parts of the mystery.
- Grand Prize: A Noble MYO (with one 1 star fluff mutation and either a 4MP tail or a 1MP crown+3MP tail.) with three choices (choose one mutation from each set):
- Set 1: Fire breath / Cloud breath
- Set 2: Hallowed gaze / Infernal gaze
- Set 3: Mana saturated / Colored sclera
- Guidelines for the Grand Prize:
- If you don't want the MYO you can apply the above conditions to either a kittom growth or an existing elnin as an upgrade to noble rank.
- This reward HAS to stay together. That means if you use it on an existing elnin it would be an upgrade to noble rank + mutations and all. If it's a growth, it's a growth with the mutations tied to it. If it's a MYO it's a myo, etc.
- This reward has a 3 month trade lock cooldown that starts when applied to an existing elnin with approved art or when the MYO slot has its art finalized. Unused MYO slots are not able to be traded. This cooldown applies to elnin that can be resold too once applied. MYO slot prizes are ineligible to be exchanged into the sanctuary and once used can only be gifted or traded for other Berry-Bazaar CS.
- Runner Up Prizes: 3 winners for Kittom MYO slots will be drawn after the grand prize from the pool of entrants that submitted correct answers to all parts of the mystery. Each kittom MYO slot comes with either a 4MP tail or a 1MP crown+3MP tail and a single 1 star fluff mutation.
- These slots also have a 3 month trade lock cooldown that starts when the MYO slot has its art finalized. Unused MYO slots are not able to be traded. MYO slot prizes are ineligible to be exchanged into the sanctuary and once used can only be gifted or traded for other Berry-Bazaar CS.
- Scene Quick Links: These links will take you to each scene to minimize scrolling as this journal could get quite long.
- FAQs -
Q: I don't have an elnin, can I still enter?
A: Yes! While the story is written as if one of your elnin is attending the party, this is just to describe each scene. If you don't have an elnin you can still complete the form and enter for EC and the grand prize.
Q: Do I have to answer the puzzle for each scene before the next scene is posted up?
A: No. If you need more time to answer a particular puzzle, you can fill in that part of the form later. Just don't forget to fill it in and submit your completed form before the 30th Oct 11:59pm PST.
Q: Do I need to fill out all scenes to submit the form even though only Scene 1, etc. is posted?
A: No. The form has spots for each step to be submitted from the beginning this is mostly for our convenience on the moderator side so we have things we need to edit when each scene goes up. Hopefully this will reduce any mishaps or mistakes throughout this portion of the event. You do not need to fill all of the fields out to submit the form, just the required ones and the puzzles you are participating in. You will be able to go back and edit in answers to the next parts so long as you are still logged into the same google account you submitted the form from the first time.
Q: I answered one of the puzzles wrong, can I edit my form?
A: Yes. The form will be editable until the end date (30th Oct 11:59pm PST). After this it will be locked and no changes will be allowed. This includes changing to if you want to receive EC or AP for getting an answer (or all answers) correct. After the form is closed answers will be final so please be clear! If you fail to specify any information associated with AP (because you forget to add a masterlist entry link that is working and a region) you will receive EC instead. We will not follow up to ask you which elnin or region you wanted the AP for.
Q: How many puzzles will there be?
A: There will be 6 parts/puzzles in total.
Q: Why does the form close on October 30th when the 31st is the end of the month?
A: The last scene will be revealed on the 31st and it includes one of the solutions to a puzzle. In order to post this part the form must be closed otherwise everyone will get an answer without having to work for it.
Q: How will the grand prize and runner up prizes be picked?
A: The Grand Prize and Runner Up Prizes will be rolled/drawn in discord via random number generator (RNG) from the pool of users that submitted correct answers to all parts/puzzles of the mystery plot. If you submitted all answers but any were incorrect you will not be eligible for these prizes.
Q: When will prizes be rolled?
A: We're aiming to have prizes rolled on November 3rd at a TBA time. If submissions exceed our expectations and there are any delays we will announce any new rolling date here on November 3rd. Please be patient. There may be a lot of submissions to check and each has 6 parts!
(Written scenes and puzzles, scene banners, puzzle art, and portraits Loki and Rao were all done by deeed. Portrait art of Moriko, Konpei, and Neve were drawn by starbask)
With the formalities out of the way, let's begin the story!
Q: I don't have an elnin, can I still enter?
A: Yes! While the story is written as if one of your elnin is attending the party, this is just to describe each scene. If you don't have an elnin you can still complete the form and enter for EC and the grand prize.
Q: Do I have to answer the puzzle for each scene before the next scene is posted up?
A: No. If you need more time to answer a particular puzzle, you can fill in that part of the form later. Just don't forget to fill it in and submit your completed form before the 30th Oct 11:59pm PST.
Q: Do I need to fill out all scenes to submit the form even though only Scene 1, etc. is posted?
A: No. The form has spots for each step to be submitted from the beginning this is mostly for our convenience on the moderator side so we have things we need to edit when each scene goes up. Hopefully this will reduce any mishaps or mistakes throughout this portion of the event. You do not need to fill all of the fields out to submit the form, just the required ones and the puzzles you are participating in. You will be able to go back and edit in answers to the next parts so long as you are still logged into the same google account you submitted the form from the first time.
Q: I answered one of the puzzles wrong, can I edit my form?
A: Yes. The form will be editable until the end date (30th Oct 11:59pm PST). After this it will be locked and no changes will be allowed. This includes changing to if you want to receive EC or AP for getting an answer (or all answers) correct. After the form is closed answers will be final so please be clear! If you fail to specify any information associated with AP (because you forget to add a masterlist entry link that is working and a region) you will receive EC instead. We will not follow up to ask you which elnin or region you wanted the AP for.
Q: How many puzzles will there be?
A: There will be 6 parts/puzzles in total.
Q: Why does the form close on October 30th when the 31st is the end of the month?
A: The last scene will be revealed on the 31st and it includes one of the solutions to a puzzle. In order to post this part the form must be closed otherwise everyone will get an answer without having to work for it.
Q: How will the grand prize and runner up prizes be picked?
A: The Grand Prize and Runner Up Prizes will be rolled/drawn in discord via random number generator (RNG) from the pool of users that submitted correct answers to all parts/puzzles of the mystery plot. If you submitted all answers but any were incorrect you will not be eligible for these prizes.
Q: When will prizes be rolled?
A: We're aiming to have prizes rolled on November 3rd at a TBA time. If submissions exceed our expectations and there are any delays we will announce any new rolling date here on November 3rd. Please be patient. There may be a lot of submissions to check and each has 6 parts!
(Written scenes and puzzles, scene banners, puzzle art, and portraits Loki and Rao were all done by deeed. Portrait art of Moriko, Konpei, and Neve were drawn by starbask)
With the formalities out of the way, let's begin the story!
The date of the invitation had arrived, the clocks have struck midnight, and the invited guests have assembled before the tall iron doors that lead into the Stygian King's castle. Dressed in masquerade befitting the season, you stand amongst them and look up at the castle's dark silhouette.
Of course the towers of the castle can always be seen as it clings precariously to the mountainside. The jagged spires seem to mimic the craggy peaks. But the king that resides within rarely makes an appearance in public and no one has ever been invited inside.
Until now.
Which made the invitation all the more curious and you can hear the excited whispers of the other elnin around you. What would the host be like? What sort of food would there be? Will there be dancing? Off to you left you hear a couple of elnin talking, and although you only catch a few words, their comments sound... off.
"Well my plan is ready Moriko, what about your's?"
You turn to look and spy a hooded elnin talking to another wearing a rather unusual taco-themed mask.
"Oh yeah! I just have to place my little 'gifts' among the others.... I bought two of each: Giggling Juice, Hiccuping Hooch, Lisping Liqueur..."
You try to push through the throng to get closer but suddenly the doors swing open with a loud creak, seemingly of their own accord. The crowd of elnin gasp and then move cautiously inside. You lose sight of the pair and miss the rest of what she says as you're swept along with the rest of the guests.
What greets you inside isn't the dust-covered and spiderweb-filled room you'd expected. Instead you file into a large well-lit foyer. A pair of majestic grand staircases stand opposite the entrance, leading up.
"My guests!" Suddenly a deep voice calls out from above the group. There on the upper floor, looking over the banister, is your mysterious host, Laurent von Stygian.
"Welcome!" He says, while his vicious-looking pomu hisses from its perch on his shoulder. He gives it a little scratch under the chin and continues. "I want to thank you all for coming to my midnight soiree. There will be dancing, some games, and of course a magnificent banquet. But first, please join me in toasting the spooky season!"
You turn to see tables set up around the outside of the room with glasses and various bottles of wine for guests. As you move towards one you spy the elnin in the taco mask! Moriko smirks as she stands besides a collection of different drinks.
"Let me pour you one!" She offers innocently. But you know some of the bottles actually contain her pranking potions and after a look at the selection you spot which ones.
Of course the towers of the castle can always be seen as it clings precariously to the mountainside. The jagged spires seem to mimic the craggy peaks. But the king that resides within rarely makes an appearance in public and no one has ever been invited inside.
Until now.
Which made the invitation all the more curious and you can hear the excited whispers of the other elnin around you. What would the host be like? What sort of food would there be? Will there be dancing? Off to you left you hear a couple of elnin talking, and although you only catch a few words, their comments sound... off.
"Well my plan is ready Moriko, what about your's?"
You turn to look and spy a hooded elnin talking to another wearing a rather unusual taco-themed mask.
"Oh yeah! I just have to place my little 'gifts' among the others.... I bought two of each: Giggling Juice, Hiccuping Hooch, Lisping Liqueur..."
You try to push through the throng to get closer but suddenly the doors swing open with a loud creak, seemingly of their own accord. The crowd of elnin gasp and then move cautiously inside. You lose sight of the pair and miss the rest of what she says as you're swept along with the rest of the guests.
What greets you inside isn't the dust-covered and spiderweb-filled room you'd expected. Instead you file into a large well-lit foyer. A pair of majestic grand staircases stand opposite the entrance, leading up.
"My guests!" Suddenly a deep voice calls out from above the group. There on the upper floor, looking over the banister, is your mysterious host, Laurent von Stygian.
"Welcome!" He says, while his vicious-looking pomu hisses from its perch on his shoulder. He gives it a little scratch under the chin and continues. "I want to thank you all for coming to my midnight soiree. There will be dancing, some games, and of course a magnificent banquet. But first, please join me in toasting the spooky season!"
You turn to see tables set up around the outside of the room with glasses and various bottles of wine for guests. As you move towards one you spy the elnin in the taco mask! Moriko smirks as she stands besides a collection of different drinks.
"Let me pour you one!" She offers innocently. But you know some of the bottles actually contain her pranking potions and after a look at the selection you spot which ones.
Which bottles are the pranking potions?
(Type the corresponding letters shown next to each suspected bottle into Part 1 of the form [ex. L, M, N, O, and P. lmnop. LMNOP. L M N O P] Letters are not case sensitive. These are just example letters please reference the image for those you can choose from.)
Moriko’s smirk grows as you pick up one of her bottles, but it slowly slips as you continue to pick out the rest of her dastardly drinks. Gathering them all up you quickly hand them over to one of the waiters but when you turn back to confront the brown elnin she’s gone, already disappeared into the crowd. Well at least you’ve confiscated all her pranking potions so she shouldn’t be able to cause any more mischief.
Everyone else seems to be having a good time though. All the guests have dressed up lavishly and are happily sipping manaberry wine and nibbling the canapes being bought out from what you assume to be the kitchen. There are plenty of masks with frills and feathers on display, yet you can still make out several well-known elnin amongst the attendees. A number of Heralds have come and the Trickster King is unmistakable. Laurent Von Stygian seems to be making an effort to mingle too, as you spot him making small talk with Queen Sunleth. She doesn’t seem particularly interested in whatever he’s saying though, as you spy her hiding a yawn behind her mask. Oops, oh well….
Craning your neck, you grab a snack from a passing tray of food, when suddenly all the lamps go out and the room plunges into darkness.
“HOW DARE YOU ALL!!”
A loud echoing voice rings out. Up on the banister above the merry makers is a pale elnin figure! Its fur and clothes are entirely white and glow unearthly shades of green. A ghost?!
“How dare you disturb my castle after centuries! Doom will befall you all! NONE OF YOU WILL LEAVE HERE ALIVE!!”
The lamps along the walls flicker on and off before coming back to life, but the ghost is gone. Immediately the crowd begins murmuring worriedly and Laurent can be heard ordering some of his staff to go investigate. Then a scream cuts him off and you spin around to see…
Queen Sunleth, sprawled across the floor unmoving, her elegant dress stained a dark foreboding red.
There’s another scream and panic starts to ripple through the crowd like a wave.
“Everyone remain calm!” The Stygian King orders in a firm voice. “And go into the ballroom on your left. Loki, with me…”
You catch sight of the two kings crouching over Sunleth’s body as the waiters usher everyone away into the next room. But you have no intention of going with the rest. Not when there’s a murderer amongst you!
Slipping through the crowd you manage to find your way past the staff and quickly sneak through the opposite door. Judging by the amount of blood on poor Sunleth, she must have been stabbed and what better place to find a knife than the kitchen.
Sure enough, the door you suspected brings you into a large room with ovens lining the walls and pots and pans hanging from the ceiling. There are huge dishes of food being prepared for the banquet and standing near one is a colourful-looking elnin. As she turns around you spot the bloodied knife in her hand. She raises it to her mouth and gives it a slow lick….
“This jam is just tooooo good! People are definitely going to scream when they try my donuts! But what was all the commotion I heard just now?” Konpei asks.
You fill her in on what happened and her eyes widen in horror. “I did see someone suspicious! They came in here asking about the castle’s library. I told them to go out the door again and turn left. Then take the first corridor on your left, second passage on the right, turn right, then turn left and left again, then its first right and the door is on your left. Oh wait, it might be easier with a map!”
She hastily scribbles on a napkin and shoves it into your hands. “I better go help the others!”
With that she’s gone. You look down at the map she’s drawn you but unfortunately she’s left out an important detail, she hasn’t labelled any of the rooms!
Everyone else seems to be having a good time though. All the guests have dressed up lavishly and are happily sipping manaberry wine and nibbling the canapes being bought out from what you assume to be the kitchen. There are plenty of masks with frills and feathers on display, yet you can still make out several well-known elnin amongst the attendees. A number of Heralds have come and the Trickster King is unmistakable. Laurent Von Stygian seems to be making an effort to mingle too, as you spot him making small talk with Queen Sunleth. She doesn’t seem particularly interested in whatever he’s saying though, as you spy her hiding a yawn behind her mask. Oops, oh well….
Craning your neck, you grab a snack from a passing tray of food, when suddenly all the lamps go out and the room plunges into darkness.
“HOW DARE YOU ALL!!”
A loud echoing voice rings out. Up on the banister above the merry makers is a pale elnin figure! Its fur and clothes are entirely white and glow unearthly shades of green. A ghost?!
“How dare you disturb my castle after centuries! Doom will befall you all! NONE OF YOU WILL LEAVE HERE ALIVE!!”
The lamps along the walls flicker on and off before coming back to life, but the ghost is gone. Immediately the crowd begins murmuring worriedly and Laurent can be heard ordering some of his staff to go investigate. Then a scream cuts him off and you spin around to see…
Queen Sunleth, sprawled across the floor unmoving, her elegant dress stained a dark foreboding red.
There’s another scream and panic starts to ripple through the crowd like a wave.
“Everyone remain calm!” The Stygian King orders in a firm voice. “And go into the ballroom on your left. Loki, with me…”
You catch sight of the two kings crouching over Sunleth’s body as the waiters usher everyone away into the next room. But you have no intention of going with the rest. Not when there’s a murderer amongst you!
Slipping through the crowd you manage to find your way past the staff and quickly sneak through the opposite door. Judging by the amount of blood on poor Sunleth, she must have been stabbed and what better place to find a knife than the kitchen.
Sure enough, the door you suspected brings you into a large room with ovens lining the walls and pots and pans hanging from the ceiling. There are huge dishes of food being prepared for the banquet and standing near one is a colourful-looking elnin. As she turns around you spot the bloodied knife in her hand. She raises it to her mouth and gives it a slow lick….
“This jam is just tooooo good! People are definitely going to scream when they try my donuts! But what was all the commotion I heard just now?” Konpei asks.
You fill her in on what happened and her eyes widen in horror. “I did see someone suspicious! They came in here asking about the castle’s library. I told them to go out the door again and turn left. Then take the first corridor on your left, second passage on the right, turn right, then turn left and left again, then its first right and the door is on your left. Oh wait, it might be easier with a map!”
She hastily scribbles on a napkin and shoves it into your hands. “I better go help the others!”
With that she’s gone. You look down at the map she’s drawn you but unfortunately she’s left out an important detail, she hasn’t labelled any of the rooms!
Which room on the map is the library?
(Save the picture of the map and mark your path to the library, then use a sta.sh/ link to that url in the scene 2 answer field on the form.)
You make it to the library and lean against the doorframe to catch your breath. Konpei might make delicious jam but her directions could use a lot of work!
There's no time to linger on that though and you step in amongst the bookcases, straining your ears and eyes for any sign of this other elnin. Fortunately this personal library isn't nearly as big as the city one in Il'durahn and you quickly spy the letters on the spines of the books. You read a few titles along the way: Misbehaving Pomus... Offensive Spirits and Entities... Potions of Renown...
Creeping around the end of the bookcase you spot them, a snowy white elnin - the ghost! With a cry you leap out in front of her, ready to confront her for her awful prank and murderous crime! The elnin jumps in surprise, dropping the book she was looking at and several pieces of parchment.
"Wait! I can explain! I know what you're thinking and it wasn't me pretending to be the ghost!" She exclaims. "That's what I came to check, after seeing them upstairs in the foyer. I wanted to find out if this place had any history of being haunted. I couldn't find anything, although there is a curse- And I certainly didn't stab Sunleth either!! No no! I'm here trying to solve who did attack her, as I assume you are as well? I'm Neve. Personally I think someone poisoned her... That didn't look like blood to me, more like spilled wine."
You recall Moriko and her potions and quickly tell Neve about the bottles you confiscated.
"I need to interrogate her! She could have slipped something into the poured drinks, or had some other poisons stashed away. Where are my notes..."
Grabbing up the book of poisons, she snatches up the scattered pieces of paper and shoves them quickly in her pocket. "Thanks! You've been a great help but I can take it from here! Good thing the king invited a detective to his party!"
With that she hurries off, leaving you standing there, but it seems she missed one of her note-pages in her rush. You pick it up, wondering if it'll give you any more clues about her theories on how the crime was committed... but there aren't any words on it. Just a series of dots and dashes that don't make any sense.
There's no time to linger on that though and you step in amongst the bookcases, straining your ears and eyes for any sign of this other elnin. Fortunately this personal library isn't nearly as big as the city one in Il'durahn and you quickly spy the letters on the spines of the books. You read a few titles along the way: Misbehaving Pomus... Offensive Spirits and Entities... Potions of Renown...
Creeping around the end of the bookcase you spot them, a snowy white elnin - the ghost! With a cry you leap out in front of her, ready to confront her for her awful prank and murderous crime! The elnin jumps in surprise, dropping the book she was looking at and several pieces of parchment.
"Wait! I can explain! I know what you're thinking and it wasn't me pretending to be the ghost!" She exclaims. "That's what I came to check, after seeing them upstairs in the foyer. I wanted to find out if this place had any history of being haunted. I couldn't find anything, although there is a curse- And I certainly didn't stab Sunleth either!! No no! I'm here trying to solve who did attack her, as I assume you are as well? I'm Neve. Personally I think someone poisoned her... That didn't look like blood to me, more like spilled wine."
You recall Moriko and her potions and quickly tell Neve about the bottles you confiscated.
"I need to interrogate her! She could have slipped something into the poured drinks, or had some other poisons stashed away. Where are my notes..."
Grabbing up the book of poisons, she snatches up the scattered pieces of paper and shoves them quickly in her pocket. "Thanks! You've been a great help but I can take it from here! Good thing the king invited a detective to his party!"
With that she hurries off, leaving you standing there, but it seems she missed one of her note-pages in her rush. You pick it up, wondering if it'll give you any more clues about her theories on how the crime was committed... but there aren't any words on it. Just a series of dots and dashes that don't make any sense.
Can you decipher the note?
(Work out what it says and type it into the Scene 3 answer field on the form. You may need to use Google to help with this one.)
So it wasn't a real ghost! It must be the other prankster you overheard... Unfortunately it looks like the detective’s taken over the case.... So what’s left for you to do?
Wandering dejectedly out of the library something pale and moving appears out the corner of your eye. You look up just in time to spot the figure of the glowing 'ghost' disappearing around the corner! With no time to think and no one else around to apprehend them, you take off in hot pursuit.
Rushing around into the next passage you spot a door closing and you quickly wretch it open and run through. Inside it’s quiet and empty, with no sign of the prankster. Your pace slows to a walk as you explore deeper, looking around as dark and brooding eyes gaze down on you from the painted portraits on the walls. This must be some sort of gallery of Von Stygians long passed.
Now what was it Neve had mentioned in her notes?... You stare at the largest painting, pondering this possibility, when you see a bit of something trapped behind the ancient gold frame. Tugging it out you find a torn piece of white cloth. Ah hah! Their costume must have got caught and ripped. Yet they somehow did manage to go through the painting...
Some more searching of the room reveals a handle hidden behind a curtain. Studying it, you see it’s attached to some pulleys, then some gears…. In fact a whole series of turning contraptions! Some lead to the painting, no doubt to lift it, but some also lead to.. a bucket of paint? Looks like the prankster set up a booby trap in case of anyone following. You don’t particularly want a bucket of paint poured on your head.
You study the gears and pulleys again more carefully. Seems like if the handle is turned one way it’ll set off the trap, but if turned the other way you’ll gain access to the hidden door.
Wandering dejectedly out of the library something pale and moving appears out the corner of your eye. You look up just in time to spot the figure of the glowing 'ghost' disappearing around the corner! With no time to think and no one else around to apprehend them, you take off in hot pursuit.
Rushing around into the next passage you spot a door closing and you quickly wretch it open and run through. Inside it’s quiet and empty, with no sign of the prankster. Your pace slows to a walk as you explore deeper, looking around as dark and brooding eyes gaze down on you from the painted portraits on the walls. This must be some sort of gallery of Von Stygians long passed.
Now what was it Neve had mentioned in her notes?... You stare at the largest painting, pondering this possibility, when you see a bit of something trapped behind the ancient gold frame. Tugging it out you find a torn piece of white cloth. Ah hah! Their costume must have got caught and ripped. Yet they somehow did manage to go through the painting...
Some more searching of the room reveals a handle hidden behind a curtain. Studying it, you see it’s attached to some pulleys, then some gears…. In fact a whole series of turning contraptions! Some lead to the painting, no doubt to lift it, but some also lead to.. a bucket of paint? Looks like the prankster set up a booby trap in case of anyone following. You don’t particularly want a bucket of paint poured on your head.
You study the gears and pulleys again more carefully. Seems like if the handle is turned one way it’ll set off the trap, but if turned the other way you’ll gain access to the hidden door.
Do you turn it clockwise or anti-clockwise?
(Type your answer into the Scene 4 answer field on the form. And remember not to discuss your answer in the Discord forums!)
The painting lifts with a creak, revealing a dark passage beyond. Stealing your nerves, you duck under the frame and creep in. There isn't any light in here and you have to feel your way carefully in the dark. You cringe when you unexpectedly put your hand through a spider web. Finally you reach what seems to be a dead-end but after a bit of feeling around you find a handle and open another door.
Flickering lamp light fills the next room and you have to blink after being in the darkness. It looks like some sort of armory, with suits of elnin knight armor lining the walls on your left and right.
"Well well well! An accomplice!"
You blink again and Loki, the Trickster King, comes into focus. Held firmly by the collar of his coat is the 'ghost', but this time they've been unmasked. You recognize the culprit as Rao, the famous mask-maker. Quickly you shake your head and proclaim your innocence!
”Hm... so you were chasing him? I’m not surprised Rao came to see all his masks being worn tonight, but to cause mischief?... That’s usually MY job!”
”Hey! You can let go of me! It was just a harmless trick! People are supposed to get a little fright during Feyhallow.” Rao pipes up. He tries to tug free but Loki’s hold is too strong.
”I think you should come explain that to the Stygian King. You better come too.” Loki gestures at you and then points at the door on the other side of the room. “Ah! But hold on!”
Before you can take a step towards the exit the other elnin stops you. Taking Rao’s mask, he drops it on the tile in front of your foot. There’s a sudden whoosh of air in front of your face and a reverberating thunk as the arrow fired from one of the armored statues buries itself in the wall opposite.
”The floor is rigged in here. Laurent took a safe route across while we were carrying Sunleth but I can’t remember which tiles were ok to step on...”
You look at the other suits of armor standing guard and shudder at the swords, axes, spears and maces they hold. You certainly don’t want to have those thrown at you either!
Inspecting the floor you spy a letter engraved on each tile. Most don’t make sense with the ones next to them... but some do.... Slowly you start to pick out words that lead onto others, forming a path across.
Flickering lamp light fills the next room and you have to blink after being in the darkness. It looks like some sort of armory, with suits of elnin knight armor lining the walls on your left and right.
"Well well well! An accomplice!"
You blink again and Loki, the Trickster King, comes into focus. Held firmly by the collar of his coat is the 'ghost', but this time they've been unmasked. You recognize the culprit as Rao, the famous mask-maker. Quickly you shake your head and proclaim your innocence!
”Hm... so you were chasing him? I’m not surprised Rao came to see all his masks being worn tonight, but to cause mischief?... That’s usually MY job!”
”Hey! You can let go of me! It was just a harmless trick! People are supposed to get a little fright during Feyhallow.” Rao pipes up. He tries to tug free but Loki’s hold is too strong.
”I think you should come explain that to the Stygian King. You better come too.” Loki gestures at you and then points at the door on the other side of the room. “Ah! But hold on!”
Before you can take a step towards the exit the other elnin stops you. Taking Rao’s mask, he drops it on the tile in front of your foot. There’s a sudden whoosh of air in front of your face and a reverberating thunk as the arrow fired from one of the armored statues buries itself in the wall opposite.
”The floor is rigged in here. Laurent took a safe route across while we were carrying Sunleth but I can’t remember which tiles were ok to step on...”
You look at the other suits of armor standing guard and shudder at the swords, axes, spears and maces they hold. You certainly don’t want to have those thrown at you either!
Inspecting the floor you spy a letter engraved on each tile. Most don’t make sense with the ones next to them... but some do.... Slowly you start to pick out words that lead onto others, forming a path across.
Which tiles create a path to the other side?
(Save the picture and mark which tiles lead safely to the other side. Look for hidden words in the tiles, like a word sleuth. They can run forward or backwards, horizontally and vertically, but not diagonally. You cannot move diagonally either along the path. You can find the Eyre alphabet here.
Then save your answer using a sta.sh/ link and enter it in the scene 5 answer field on the form.)
Your group makes it across the floor with the rest of the statues remaining ominously, but thankfully, still. Opening the door, Loki gives Rao a shove through and follows after him.
Inside looks to be a boudoir, and immediately you spot the body of Sunleth laying on the ornate bed. Pacing back and forth is Laurent. He stops and his gaze immediately snaps up when you enter the room.
“What’s this?! Who are these elnin?”
“I caught the ghost!” Loki grins and gestures to Rao. You want to point out that you helped but he blocks you with a swish of his large tail.
“And we caught the poisoner!” Neve suddenly arrives with Moriko and Konpei in tow.
“Poison?!” Laurent turns his glare to the brown elnin.
“They weren’t lethal! And anyway, you confiscated all my potions!” Moriko points a finger at you.
“I thought Sunleth was stabbed?” Konpei gasps. “When the lights went out?”
“Well if that’s the case, Laurent was the one standing closest to her...” Neve muses.
Loki smirks at the Stygian King. “I did think your party was a bit dull but even I wouldn’t have tried to liven it up with a murder!”
Suddenly Konpei screams and looks like she might faint! When you turn to see what gave her such a fright you see Sunleth sitting up in bed.
“Zombie!” Rao yells.
“What? I’m not-“ Sunleth mutters groggily and rubs her head. Slowly she struggles off the bed and comes over to everyone. She stops in front of Laurent, Rao and Moriko.
“My apparent ‘death’ is the fault of one of you three...” She glares at each of them in turn.
“I’m not to blame!” Laurent huffs, indignant.
“Moriko did it!” Rao points at the other elnin.
“Rao is lying!” Moriko cries.
Sunleth frowns at them. “I can tell that one of you is telling the truth and the other two are lying.”
Who is responsible: Laurent, Rao or Moriko? And which of the three is telling the truth?
(To clarify, Sunleth's deduction only relates to the last three statements from Laurent, Rao and Moriko, which have been bolded. You must state who she thinks is responsible AND who is telling the truth to get this answer correct.)
(To clarify, Sunleth's deduction only relates to the last three statements from Laurent, Rao and Moriko, which have been bolded. You must state who she thinks is responsible AND who is telling the truth to get this answer correct.)
The gathered elnin all stare in shock as Sunleth advances on Laurent. The host of the party puts his paws up in defense and backs away slowly, tail twitching. There's a hiss from atop the canopy of the four poster bed as his winged and fanged pomu looks like it might swoop down to protect him.
"It was your fault..." Sunleth says in a low tone, coming closer.
"He stabbed you?!" Konpei gasps, her paws over her mouth.
"No!" Laurent denies.
"He poisoned her!?" Moriko looks shocked as well.
"No!"
"Hypnotized?" Loki suggests.
"No!!"
"Cursed her!" Rao declares.
"No!!"
"....Your fault I fell asleep." Sunleth finishes. She frowns and pokes him in the chest to emphasize her accusation.
"Err..."
"What?!" The others all blink in confusion, their eyes wide.
"I told you hosting a party so late at night was a bad idea! People get sleepy. I get sleepy!" Sunleth throws up her paws and turns away. She walks over to the bed again and sits down on it with a sigh. "I was already struggling to stay awake and then when the lamps went out.... I was out like a light too."
Laurent groans. "It's Feyhallow. It's supposed to be dark and spooky!"
"Your castle is spooky enough!"
"Do you mean to tell me...." Neve says slowly. "That there wasn't a murder after all? Or even an attack?"
Moriko tilts her head, thinking. "Well Sunleth is renown for her power naps..."
"She was dead to the world." Loki chuckles. "Just not dead dead."
Laurent sighs again. "I suppose I had better go reassure the other guests that there hasn't been any foul play. Then we can finally get on with enjoying ourselves! As for you two," he looks at Rao and Moriko, "You can go take care of the washing up in the kitchen."
"But we didn't hurt anyone!"
"Which is why you're not being sent to the dungeon! Alright everyone, let's get back. Sunleth, you should-"
But when you look towards the bed again Sunleth is sprawled out on it, snoring softly and sound asleep once more.
"Rest in peace?"
"It was your fault..." Sunleth says in a low tone, coming closer.
"He stabbed you?!" Konpei gasps, her paws over her mouth.
"No!" Laurent denies.
"He poisoned her!?" Moriko looks shocked as well.
"No!"
"Hypnotized?" Loki suggests.
"No!!"
"Cursed her!" Rao declares.
"No!!"
"....Your fault I fell asleep." Sunleth finishes. She frowns and pokes him in the chest to emphasize her accusation.
"Err..."
"What?!" The others all blink in confusion, their eyes wide.
"I told you hosting a party so late at night was a bad idea! People get sleepy. I get sleepy!" Sunleth throws up her paws and turns away. She walks over to the bed again and sits down on it with a sigh. "I was already struggling to stay awake and then when the lamps went out.... I was out like a light too."
Laurent groans. "It's Feyhallow. It's supposed to be dark and spooky!"
"Your castle is spooky enough!"
"Do you mean to tell me...." Neve says slowly. "That there wasn't a murder after all? Or even an attack?"
Moriko tilts her head, thinking. "Well Sunleth is renown for her power naps..."
"She was dead to the world." Loki chuckles. "Just not dead dead."
Laurent sighs again. "I suppose I had better go reassure the other guests that there hasn't been any foul play. Then we can finally get on with enjoying ourselves! As for you two," he looks at Rao and Moriko, "You can go take care of the washing up in the kitchen."
"But we didn't hurt anyone!"
"Which is why you're not being sent to the dungeon! Alright everyone, let's get back. Sunleth, you should-"
But when you look towards the bed again Sunleth is sprawled out on it, snoring softly and sound asleep once more.
"Rest in peace?"
~ Fin ~
Rolling has concluded! Winners will be pinged in the comments as well as any EC/AP grants for users to link to for AP reference/use when growths/etc. reopen.
[Raffle Pools and Puzzle Scores]
Puzzle Solutions!
Puzzle 1: This puzzle relied on the statement you overheard in the scene, that Moriko had bought two of each potion for her pranks. Therefore any bottle that had a matching pair in the picture was one of the potions. The answer being: A, B, C, F, G, H.
Puzzle 2: The trick to solving this one was to work out where you were starting from. If you were following the story, you would notice that you'd entered the main foyer with the stairs opposite but hadn't moved from this area until after Sunleth was 'attacked'. You then had two doors to choose from on opposite sides, one being the ballroom as indicated by Laurent and the other being the kitchen that you went into. Besides the rooms on the map looking either like a ballroom (larger and with several double-doors in and out) or a kitchen (with smaller 'pantry' rooms inside), if you tried to follow Konpei's directions from the wrong room it would lead you straight out the castle again.
With regards to the terms 'passage' and 'corridor', Konpei only means the narrow spaces either leading to other rooms or between them. There is a small alcove that could be considered a 'passage' but if you didn't the directions should still have led you to the library. So both these paths would have been acceptable: Map Answer.
Puzzle 3: If you didn't already guess that a code made up of dots and dashes was likely to be Morse Code, then the bolded letters on the books could be unjumbled to spell M, O, R, S, E as a clue. A quick google search for an image of the code's key would then allow you to translate the note. This is what it read: the lamps had definitely been tampered with so it was not a ghost but an elnin could vanish just as spectrally with a handy secret passage
Puzzle 4: This puzzle required some thought about how gears and pulleys work. Gears would make the next gear swap direction, while pulleys kept the same direction. Except when the ropes on the pulley crossed over! Easiest way to solve this was to start at the door and follow the path back to the handle. Each gear and pulley would then turn like this. Making the answer Anticlockwise.
Puzzle 5: While the words you were searching for weren't listed explicitly with the word-sleuth, they were listed within the scene. The first word corresponded with the first weapon that tried to block your path: 'arrow'. Thus the rest of the words were the other weapons the suits of armor were holding: axe, mace, spear, sword. They formed a path like this. A few eagle-eyed detectives also have spotted the 'red herring' on the right.
Puzzle 6: The final puzzle needed logic and elimination, no guesses here! The key to solving it was Sunleth's clue: "Two are lying, one is telling the truth." You can then look at each suspect's statement and see if, were they telling the truth, would the other two statements be lies? Once you'd worked out who was telling the truth, the guilty person would become apparent.
For example, if Rao were telling the truth then Moriko would be responsible. But that would then also make Laurent's declaration of innocence true too. If Laurent were telling the truth, then Rao's and Moriko's statements conflict and one would also have to be telling the truth. This leaves only Moriko to be the truth-teller and thus Laurent's words are a lie and he is the one responsible.
Puzzle 2: The trick to solving this one was to work out where you were starting from. If you were following the story, you would notice that you'd entered the main foyer with the stairs opposite but hadn't moved from this area until after Sunleth was 'attacked'. You then had two doors to choose from on opposite sides, one being the ballroom as indicated by Laurent and the other being the kitchen that you went into. Besides the rooms on the map looking either like a ballroom (larger and with several double-doors in and out) or a kitchen (with smaller 'pantry' rooms inside), if you tried to follow Konpei's directions from the wrong room it would lead you straight out the castle again.
With regards to the terms 'passage' and 'corridor', Konpei only means the narrow spaces either leading to other rooms or between them. There is a small alcove that could be considered a 'passage' but if you didn't the directions should still have led you to the library. So both these paths would have been acceptable: Map Answer.
Puzzle 3: If you didn't already guess that a code made up of dots and dashes was likely to be Morse Code, then the bolded letters on the books could be unjumbled to spell M, O, R, S, E as a clue. A quick google search for an image of the code's key would then allow you to translate the note. This is what it read: the lamps had definitely been tampered with so it was not a ghost but an elnin could vanish just as spectrally with a handy secret passage
Puzzle 4: This puzzle required some thought about how gears and pulleys work. Gears would make the next gear swap direction, while pulleys kept the same direction. Except when the ropes on the pulley crossed over! Easiest way to solve this was to start at the door and follow the path back to the handle. Each gear and pulley would then turn like this. Making the answer Anticlockwise.
Puzzle 5: While the words you were searching for weren't listed explicitly with the word-sleuth, they were listed within the scene. The first word corresponded with the first weapon that tried to block your path: 'arrow'. Thus the rest of the words were the other weapons the suits of armor were holding: axe, mace, spear, sword. They formed a path like this. A few eagle-eyed detectives also have spotted the 'red herring' on the right.
Puzzle 6: The final puzzle needed logic and elimination, no guesses here! The key to solving it was Sunleth's clue: "Two are lying, one is telling the truth." You can then look at each suspect's statement and see if, were they telling the truth, would the other two statements be lies? Once you'd worked out who was telling the truth, the guilty person would become apparent.
For example, if Rao were telling the truth then Moriko would be responsible. But that would then also make Laurent's declaration of innocence true too. If Laurent were telling the truth, then Rao's and Moriko's statements conflict and one would also have to be telling the truth. This leaves only Moriko to be the truth-teller and thus Laurent's words are a lie and he is the one responsible.
[PROMPT] 'Favored Flora' - [Closed!]
!!!NEW UPDATE: [5/1/2020] Kittsunami's start date is undetermined still. That said you can see more regular updates on our Public Group Trello [here]! Keep on the look out for some plans we have on the horizon. We're still chipping away at progress on much awaited systems reopening like growths and edits, however we're excited to announce some moderators have volunteered additional time to hopefully get a mini-event up and running in the near future.
You can also find a card of updates [here] on our trello for progress on a future Berry-Bazaar website. There are no immediate or long term plans for the Berry-Bazaar group to leave dA entirely
[PROMPT] 'Playful Pranking' - [CLOSED!]
!!!Important Notes: Kittsunami's start date is undetermined still. When the kittsunami event runs will depend heavily on when we can finish releasing growths and give people time to grow their elnin. For announcements and updates relative to how this process is going please keep an eye on this journal [here]! When we are beginning the early stages of Kittsunami preparation we will post an update so it is clear when we are switching gears to focus on preparing for Kittsunami!
The Regional Affinity information has its own resource here: [Regional Affinity Guide]! Please make sure you include the correct info for verifying your prompt qualifies
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[PROMPT] 'New Horizons' - [CLOSED!]
!!!Important Notes: Kittsunami's start date is undetermined still. When the kittsunami event runs will depend heavily on when we can finish releasing growths and give people time to grow their elnin. For announcements and updates relative to how this process is going please keep an eye on this journal [here]! When we are beginning the early stages of Kittsunami preparation we will post an update so it is clear when we are switching gears to focus on preparing for Kittsunami!
The Regional Affinity information has its own resource here: [Regional Affinity Guide]! Please make sure you include the correct info for verifying your prompt qualifies
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Congrats to the winners! 
Thank you guys for doing this event. It was fun to participate in!
Thank you guys for doing this event. It was fun to participate in!