Imladris Maze: RP Game - Closed!

[Mazana]

Whoa there. Eámanë blearily blinked her eyes and yawned. She must have fallen asleep or lost consciousness or something. Every part of her body ached—a standing position, holding a silver key to a stone door, was not comfortable by any stretch of the imagination. Her forehead had an imprint from where she had been leaning on the door and a new crick in her neck made itself known as she tried to stretch it out. What had she been doing? She studied the silver key in her hand. If the stone door didn't open the whole time she had been standing there, then it must have been the wrong door. Creakily, the elleth hobbled to the next door, a wooden one, and tried the same key.

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
Retracing His Steps

Well, that's alright. Now that he was drying off, Androthelm didn't mind a long-ish walk in the woods. So long as he didn't lose the path. There were stories, after all. About those who lost the path. The Vales of the Troll-shaws were not quite so cruel as Greenwood-Gone-Dark, but still...
Elf-magic in the air. It was a beautiful thing, and a deadly thing, and Androthelm smiled as he returned to the cross-path and turned to the North.

[Silky Gooseness]

Silarien and the Wolf

With vague horror, Silarien found herself staring into the lambent eyes of the wolf... again. Perhaps this was the doggy aura she had felt before?

“Double awkward this time,” she ventured.

The wolf said nothing. He cocked his head and lolled his tongue as though this were somehow funny.

“Erm, backing up again,” said Silarien, edging off EAST

The wolf said nothing.

[Laintaen]

@Pele Alarion - You climb into the boat and push off from the bank. Though the boat is old and threatens to collapse, you manage to steer your way to the opposite bank.

After crossing the Bruinen, you follow the path North to another clearing. Now the path splits into three directions: North, East and West. Which way will you go?

@Mazana - You fit the silver key into the wooden door. The lock does not turn. Try again.

@Androthelm - You head North. You follow the path until you come to a clearing. The path splits into three directions – East, South and West – and in the centre of the clearing stands a huge tree. Perhaps a view from the top will give a hint as to which way to go, but a fall could be dangerous. Will you climb the tree or ignore it? And which way will you go?

@Silarien - You head East. You stumble your way into a clearing and can hear the sounds of laughter and music. You have reached the end of the maze! Rivendell is close. But barring your way is a large Elven Warrior. “Greetings wanderer,” they say. “You have travelled long to find your way here. But I cannot let you pass so easily. If I cannot beat you, you may enter the Hidden Vale. ” They level their sword at you. Do you attack high or low? Do you block high or low?

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
Reflecting on a Fellow Soul

There is a little fellow, a half-ling, who Androthelm met once a long time ago, and who told a grim tale once about a deep forest and a tall tree. This forest is not so deep or so dark as that one, but still--
"Who am I kidding," Androthelm mutters. "I just want to climb the tree."

[Silky Gooseness]

Silarien almost sobbed with relief as the air freshened, carrying with it the scent of flowers and wine, and the faint tinkling of laughter and the rushing waters of the river. She’d done it! She had actually found the entrance to Tumladen. That didn’t mean her challenges were over.

She stared into the eyes of the Elven warrior. His helm made him indistinguishable from any other guardian; but Silarien felt at peace. She would die here or enter Imladris. Either one of these options felt preferable to facing the eternal maze again. It was with calm in her heart that she drew her two long knives.

BLOCK HIGH, ATTACK LOW

[Laintaen]

@Androthelm - You climb the tree. Unfortunately, you have not the tree climbing skills you thought you did and slip from the boughs. You crash back to the ground, sustaining bruises and a sore back. You abandon the attempt and must pick another path - East, South or West.

OOC: Ai Iluvatar, please forgive me. I'm so sorry, Sil!

@Silarien - You block high. The Warrior rolls a 2 and attacks low. You lose. You attack low. The Warrior rolls a 2 and blocks low. You are beaten!

The Warrior lowers their sword and looks at you in disappointment. “You cannot beat me and I must stand by my orders. I cannot let you into Rivendell and I am sorry you have come so far (like, REALLY far) only to fail now.” The Warrior raises their sword again and ends your life. At least the last thing you heard were sounds of happiness.

[Silky Gooseness]

OOC: omg ahahahahaha hurghhh (me laugh crying-dying)

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
On the Ground

Ohhh, that is what you get, you old fool. Climbing trees at your age. Androthelm struggled to his feet, and found his spear again, leaning on it like a staff as he scanned the options. Finally, finally, he pushed himself back onto his own weight and staggered off to the west.

[Aerlinn]

As a puppy, Yávië might have made a foolish charge for the wolf's throat. As a year old hotshot, he would have stuck his snout into the air disdainfully and stalked past. Under the current circumstances, he took a detour into the bushes, caught a rabbit, and dropped it at the wolf's feet. "Look neighbor," he woofed and ruffed, wrinkling his nose in resignation. "Canine to canine, there's strange things happening here, and I could use some information.

The wolf blinked.

"I need to get to the elf-place. Guide me true and I'll steal you the biggest steak I can find in the kitchens."

The wolf may have cocked its head towards the path he had just come from, or he may have caught sight of a squirrel. Ah well, it was better than nothing. Yávië tried going east.

[Laintaen]

@Androthelm - You head West. You follow the path and it soon splits into three directions: North, East and South. Which way will you go?

@Aerlinn - You head East. You stumble your way into a clearing and can hear the sounds of laughter and music. You have reached the end of the maze! Rivendell is close. But barring your way is a large Elven Warrior. “Greetings canine wanderer,” they say. “You have travelled long to find your way here. But, biped or otherwise, I cannot let you pass so easily. If I cannot beat you, you may enter the Hidden Vale. ” They level their sword at you. Do you attack high or low? Do you block high or low?

[Pele Alarion]

Tala

The boat creaked and rolled dangerously from side to side, and Tala took great care to balance herself just right in the middle of it, as she paddled ever so carefully. When she had reached the middle of the river, a bigger wave knocked hard against the side of the boat, but she managed to get through the scare unscathed. Climbing up the other bank, she pulled the boat up as well, so that it would not float away.

Before her now stood a different choice: she had followed the only path she had found leading away from the river, and it led her into a clearing which had paths branching off from the one she had followed. For a while she lingered in the midst of the clearing and then decided to continue on the path she was already walking on.

Go north

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
Limping Along

"Of all the damned..." Androthelm murmured, coming to the new intersection. Did they have to make the path so winding? Mightn't they not simply... station archers, hidden in the trees? Or spearmen 'neath the bushes?
But they were elves, and he had no business disagreeing with how Master Elrond opted to shield his hidden valley. To the north, then, he would go... And pray it lead him straight-on.

[Laintaen]

Oh Eru, I've just seen @Aerlinn's signature block. Well Aerlinn, if I were choosing my friends, acquaintances and enemies, I could count you within all three groups.

@Pele Alarion - You head North. Your path leads you into a small cave. Before you are three doors, a steel door, a stone door and a wooden door. Upon trying these, you find they are all solidly locked. But on a ledge in the cave, you find three keys, a gold key, a silver key and a brass key. Which key will you try in which door?

@Androthelm - You head North. You follow the path until you come to a clearing. The path splits into three directions – East, South and West – and in the centre of the clearing stands the tree you fell from earlier. You've been here before! Which way will you go this time?

[Pele Alarion]

Tala

At the end of the path she took the woman found a cave. At first she simply peered in trying to see if there was any danger, but everything seemed quiet, so she dared to enter. There was no one in the cave, yet she found that there were doors, whole three of them, all locked. Tala had half a mind to turn around and leave, but then she noticed the keys on the ledge: but how was she to know which keys fit where? Curious of why would someone leave the keys within reach and what was behind doors, she decided that she would start by trying the silver key for the steel door, the gold key for the stone door, and the brass key for the wooden door.

[Laintaen]

@Pele Alarion - You fit the silver key into the steel door, the gold key into the stone door and the brass key into the wooden door. The steel door opens and you take this path.

You follow the path until you come to another clearing. The path splits three ways, or you could go back the way you came. You can go North, East, South or West. Which way will you go?

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
Grumpy and Confused

The damnable.. That was the tree! That was the very tree! His back still ached and he was still picking leaves out of his beard and he was back at this damnable tree. Very well. East, then. If the path insisted on twisting and turning, he would do as much as he might to spite it.

[Pele Alarion]

Tala

Her attempts at trying to unlock the door provided some tangible results, as she had managed to get the right key for the steel door. As it opened, Tala peered in suspiciously, and then took a few steps. Hoping that she would not run into any great danger, she followed the path, until it led her out into a clearing. The woman sighed, seeing that she had to make some choice again, and without much thought headed north.

Go north

[Laintaen]

@Androthelm - You head East. You follow the path until you come to another clearing. The path splits three ways, or you could go back the way you came. You can go North, East, South or West. Which way will you go?

@Pele Alarion - You head North. You follow the path until you come to a clearing. The path splits into three directions – East, South and West – and in the centre of the clearing stands a huge tree. Perhaps a view from the top will give a hint as to which way to go, but a fall could be dangerous. Will you climb the tree or ignore it? And which way will you go?

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
Mapping the Wood

Well then, lets see... If I began here and went this way, and then... It was no good. Androthelm was lost, and no amount of scratching maps in the dirt floor of the path or struggling to estimate distances or to predict the location of the hidden valley based on the positioning of the sun or the swiftly diminishing (and, Androthelm thought, specifically hidden by the trees) Misty Mountains to the East.
No, the Whitemane would simply have to wing it. He would continue on to the East.

[Pele Alarion]

Tala

She walked along, breathing in the scent of the trees stood along the path, until she came into yet another clearing. However, from here she could not continue in her current direction. With a quiet sigh she glanced in all the possible directions, tapping her chin with the index finger as she thought. Perhaps she should climb up that tree that was stood in the clearing? It was large and tall, and possibly would offer her a good view around; yet currently she was afraid to climb it, since it might go just as bad as trying to walk the rope. Decision made, she headed West.

[Laintaen]

@Androthelm - You head East. You follow the path until you come to another clearing. The path splits three ways, or you could go back the way you came. You can go North, East, South or West. But before you can move on, a crazed Orc appears. He has obviously been looking for Rivendell and became lost in the maze. You must kill it before he discovers the secret location. How do you kill it? And which way will you then go?

@Pele Alarion - You head West. You follow the path and it soon splits into three directions: North, East and South. Which way will you go?

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
Preparing to Strike

An orc. A crazed orc. In the woods of Imladris. This would not do at all. These were meant to be safe woods, secret woods, the hills and dales where Elves and Elf-friends could freely walk, to sit and think or stand and talk.
Androthelm readied his spear, settling into a low crouch and--ignoring the aching of his weary bones--prepared to thrust with Bema's Bite.

After this, he decided, meaning both this fight and his stay in Rivendell, I will go east, against the enemies of the Elf-lords, and my spear shall bite indeed.

[Pele Alarion]

Tala

She had patiently walked along the path, and it did not lead her to the target, only to a place where the path split up yet again. Without any undue hesitation Tala set off north yet again, as for some reason it was her chosen direction whenever possible. She could not quite explain why she was so drawn to it, and only blindly followed this idea hoping that it won't destroy her at the end.

Go North

[Laintaen]

@Androthelm - You follow the path East. Unfortunately, you do not get far before the path runs out at the top of a sheer cliff face, with no way down. A dead end. You must go back and pick another path.

@Pele Alarion - You head North. You follow the path until you come to a clearing. The path splits into three directions – East, South and West – and in the centre of the clearing stands a huge tree. You've been here before! Will you climb the tree or ignore it? And which way will you go this time?

[Androthelm]

Androthelm Whitemane
Turning Back On Himself

East, then, was not the way. Alright. Androthelm tracked his way back to the clearing with his slain orc. These woods were making him dizzy--but Rivendell had to be getting close...
Didn't it?

He headed north.

[Laintaen]

@Androthelm - You head North. You follow the path until you come to another clearing. The path splits three ways, or you could go back the way you came. You can go North, East, South or West. Which way will you go?

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
Forging on

Would there be no end to this damnable forest? Well, not damnable. Elven-blessed, actually, which was sort of the opposite of damnable. Still. Androthelm would continue to press on. Rivendell awaited, and he suspected it awaited... Northward.

[Laintaen]

@Androthelm - You head North. You follow the path until you come to a clearing. The path splits into three directions – East, South and West – and in the centre of the clearing stands the tree you fell from earlier. You've been here before! Which way will you go this time?

Attention all:

I have a sneaking suspicion I need to re-draw this maze. Far too many people seem to be getting looped around in the same area (just ask @Dimcairien Luiniel , @Tarawen and @Sil Denafil ). Therefore, I think I am going to announce the closure of the Maze in a few weeks time, maybe around the end of September. I'll post the original layout so you can all see how you wandered about, then spend some time designing a new maze. Or I might let someone else take the reins for a while.

Therefore, those of you who have started but not completed the Maze, please let me know if you would like to continue.

@Aerlinn - You're so close!
@Durien , @Mazana , @Nen , @Quill - Let me know if you'd like to bow out. Maybe I'll send the eagles to get you, but we all know how picky they can be about how they get used as a transportation service.

[Silky Gooseness]

I cannot speak of it. For me the grief is still too near

[Zôrzimril]

I mean I did walk out with a wolf friend, so *shrug*

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
Considering a career in woodcutting

The tree. It was almost enough to break the old man, as he leaned heavily on his spear and gazed out over the intersections. He had found his way to his intended destination at last, only his destination... Was clearly this tree. Someone must want him to come here.
"But damn you, whoever it is. Damn elf-magic. I wont put up with it." And, with this remark, Androthelm turned on his heel and went back the way he'd come before bearing to the West at the last intersection.

[Laintaen]

@Androthelm - You head West. You follow the path and it soon splits into three directions: North, East and South. Which way will you go?

Your perseverance shall be rewarded eventually! Unless you're Sil. Or Queen Nerwen...

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
Making Note

Ok. Okay. This was new, and manageable. Unless he had been here before, and forgotten. That was also more than possible. Ah! For a piece of paper and some ink, so he could sketch this maze. But all his paper was in the saddlebags, on Eohelm wherever the horse had managed to go, along with his ink.
Here, though, was a bit of charcoal from last night's fire. That could do and.. Well, Androthelm would merely have to sketch a map on his arm. The charcoal was a bit wide, and it might get smudged, but still... Starting from the tree, westward and then... He quickly was lost in his map, and hardly noticed as his feet carried him on to the East.

[Pele Alarion]

Tala

As she walked, she found herself looking at the same big tree and the same branching of the paths that she had already visited not that long ago. The woman was not keen on going in circles, so she grumbled at her misfortune and, turning away from the tree, walked EAST with great determination. Now, if she ended up in another loop that would lead her back here, that would become a problem indeed!

[Laintaen]

@Androthelm - You head East. Your path leads you into a small cave. Before you are the three doors you encountered earlier. You've been here before! The stone door still lies open while the steel and wooden doors remain locked. Will you take the stone door again, or will you try to unlock another door with the gold or silver key?

@Pele Alarion - You head East. You follow the path until you come to another clearing. The path splits three ways, or you could go back the way you came. You can go North, East, South or West. Which way will you go?

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
Loop-de-looping

Impossible. This was impossible. The path had somehow lead him further out than he had been in hours. The three doors seemed to be laughing at him, with their twinkling keys.
No, this would not do. Perhaps he had entered the wrong path through the maze altogether... Time to try the gold key on the steel door.

[Pele Alarion]

Tala

She walked slowly, getting a bit tired from trying to decipher the mysterious maze and get to Imladris, and when she came yet to another clearing with paths leading every which way, Tala stopped thoughtfully. Keeping to northward direction had not helped her much, and yet... she still felt strangely drawn to it. A bit indecisively this time, she turned to go north.

[Giliathriel]

Giliathriel, a Lorien elf

Giliathriel smiled in relief as she finally sighted the entrance to Imladris. And about time too, she'd begun to wonder if she had truly been lost. No forest could conquer her, she was from Lorien! The forests could easily be read like a map, if only you knew where to look. Though now that she was looking, she realized there were not one, but three separate entrances into Imladris. "Tricky," she said out loud, to no one but herself. "But clearly, an elf knows that the true way to head into the path is from theNorth!. She refrained from saying, I hope out loud. She brushed her hand against the small sword at her side, pulled her cloak close, and headed into the woods.

[Laintaen]

@Androthelm - You fit the gold key into the steel door. The lock does not turn. Try again.

@Pele Alarion - You head North. You follow the path until you come to a clearing. The path splits into three directions – East, South and West – and in the centre of the clearing stands a huge tree. You've been here before! Will you climb the tree or ignore it? And which way will you go this time?

@Giliathriel - You enter the maze from the North. You follow the path until you come to a clearing. The path splits into three directions – East, South and West – and in the centre of the clearing stands a huge tree. Perhaps a view from the top will give a hint as to which way to go, but a fall could be dangerous. Will you climb the tree or ignore it? And which way will you go?

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
Trying Options

Well then, ok. Something else would have to be tried. Silver key, steel door. If this didn't work, then... well, then Androthelm would just walk away (or so he told himself -- the secret valley still called, so close and so far).

[Giliathriel]

Giliathriel

At last, she thought to herself, a tree worthy of climbing! She should be able to see for miles from the top of this beauty. She thought back to her youth, and days happily spent traipsing amid the canopy of the mallorns. Besides, it was starting to get late, and she was feeling less and less sure of her path forward. She set her belongings down at the base of the Tree and began to climb towards the top.

[Laintaen]

@Androthelm - You fit the silver key into the steel door. The lock turns and the door opens. You follow the path until you come to another clearing. The path splits three ways, or you could go back the way you came. You can go North, East, South or West. Which way will you go?

@Giliathriel - You climb the tree. Thanks to your skill and good balance, you reach the top. From your vantage point, you can see a secret trail heading North. You decide to take this path.

You head North. You follow the path until you come to another clearing. The path splits three ways, or you could go back the way you came. You can go North, East, South or West. But before you can move on, a crazed Orc appears. He has obviously been looking for Rivendell and became lost in the maze. You must kill it before he discovers the secret location. How do you kill it? And which way will you then go?

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
Forging New Paths

This, at least, was something new. Here, at least, were trails yet untracked, paths yet untraced. Of course, somebody had traced them -- the elves must have at least once, in the making of this winding wood, unless the trees...

For a moment, Androthelm was transferred back to his childhood, on the eaves of Fangorn. But, no--certainly the forest could not have shaped itself. The Tree-herds were legends and fairy-tales and little more.

But then, the elves had been too.
Shaking the thought away, Androthelm headed west.

[Giliathriel]

Giliathriel

Climbing the tree was as easy as Lembas. She curried to the top, taking care to keep her clothes from catching on the various twigs and branches, and surveyed her surroundings from the top. The wind lightly ruffled her hair and she smiled brightly, closing her eyes to take in the sensation. It felt amazing to be so high up, closer to the stars. Opening her eyes again, she looked around to try to discern the way the paths were twisting. As she had begun to suspect, it was indeed a maze. Wait, was that a shortcut? She squinted, peering closer to the north. Yes, that really did look like a shorter path forward towards Imladris.

Gili carefully picked her way down the tree, brushed the dirt and leaves off of her garments, then headed North

Pleased with herself, she almost didn't notice the sounds coming from the clearing instead and had to throw herself into some bushes, lest an orc see her as it fumbled around the clearing, clearly lost. An Orc! How did an orc get so close to Rivendell? Anger stirred within her. How dare this foul creature try to defile the beauty of the elven lands and people!

Giliathriel wasns't much of a warrior, but she did at least have the element of surprise. She checked in her belongings and found a spool of rawhide string, kept for when she needed to make roadside repairs to her waterproof traveling gear. Taking care to make sure she remained unseen, she traveled the path backwards and tied the string between two sturdy trees, looping it twice to make sure it wouldn't break. Satisfied with her work, she made her way back to the clearing where the orc still lumbered around, cursing in Black Speech.

"Hey!" She yelled, grabbing the orcs attention as its head snapped towards her voice. She could see the murder in its eyes. "Get away from here, brute!" As he began barreling towards her, she ran as fast as her legs could carry her back to her trap, and deftly leaped over it and to the side, waiting to pounce. He came after her, axed raised and roared at her, but he was so focused on getting to her that he didn't even see the trip wire. He landed on his face with a satisfying crunch. Giliathriel leapt towards the prone orc, stabbing her dagger into the back of the orcs neck before he could recover. Another quick strick saw the deed done. She pulled the body to the side of the path and wiped the nervous sweat from her brow. "That's one thing done," she remarked to herself. "Imladris is safe. Maybe they'll write a song about it." Making her way back to the clearing, she finally decided to next head East.

[Pele Alarion]

Tala

Yet again here she was, in the same clearing with the big tree she had already visited twice. "Is there even a way out of this maze?" she asked the tree, staring up at it. She could climb it, but then again she had already attempted to go in two of three directions, so only one remained. That is... unless she had taken the wrong turn in one of the previous choices. Mumbling something unintelligible under her breath, the woman set off in the only untried direction.

Go south

[Laintaen]

@Androthelm - You follow the path West. Unfortunately, you do not get far before the path runs out at the foot of a sheer cliff face, with no way up. A dead end. You must go back and pick another path.

@Giliathriel - You follow the path East. Unfortunately, you do not get far before the path runs out at the top of a sheer cliff face, with no way down. A dead end. You must go back and pick another path.

@Pele Alarion - You head South. Your path leads you into a small cave. Before you are three doors. You've been here before! The steel door still lies open while the stone and wooden doors remain locked. Will you take the steel door again, or will you try to unlock another door with the gold or brass key?

[Giliathriel]

Giliathriel

All that work just to find a cliff. No matter, she was still confident of where she had been. She backtracked to the last clearing. East was the cliff face, and South went to the clearing with the tree. So, perhaps heading North again would lead her to her destination?

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
Retracing (yet again)

Well, that was a dead end. For a moment, Androthelm wondered if he might scale the cliff -- he had attempted to climb that tree, after all. Perhaps this was simply one of the challenges that Lord Elrond had deemed it wise to put in the path of would-be visitors?
But, surely the Halfelven did not have to rock-climb every time he entered or exited his own keep. Well, well, Androthelm would be turning back.
Perhaps North would treat him better.

[Pele Alarion]

Tala

It appeared that she really was walking in circles somehow. Exasperated, Tala sat down in the middle of the cave and turned her back to the doors as if to show them that she really did not care. And yet, she could not just stay here forever, as she would soon run out of food and and water, and she was of no mind going back the way she had entered the maze. Having sat for a while, she eventually stood up with a deep sigh and approached the locked doors, exchanging the two keys to fit brass key to the lock in the stone door, and gold key to the wooden door.