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It's night. You'r
Chatterbox: Pudding's Place
It's night. You'r
It's night. You're sitting in your bed, staring out the window, searching for something lost. But you can't remember what it is, or was. All you know is that it's out there...it's important...and it was once yours.
Perhaps you never used it, perhaps you did--once, maybe twice. Or more. But for some strange reason, you can't remember if you did or didn't. Or what effect it had on you. Or...where it is now.
As you awoke from a particularly bland and boring dream, the memory that you were missing this...thing slid into your head. As you sat in a haze between asleep and awake, you stared outside, scouring the landscape that, for one fleeting moment, was no longer the familiar world you saw every day.
So here you are, staring outside, searching.
And then you finish waking up.
And here you are, trying to remember what you were just doing.
Hm, you think, smacking your dry lips. The covers rustle as you reach for your water glass, which sits by your lamp on your nightstand like it does every night. That's really wierd...I can't remember my dream. It seemed important--almost real. Your hand meets cold glass and you close your fingers around it. You bring it to your lips for a satisfying sip, but you realize that it's empty.
"Darn," you whisper. You'll have to get out of bed to fill it up--but it's really cold, and you don't have socks on.
Eh, it's no big deal. You'll fill it up.
Throwing the covers to the side, you haul yourself out of bed. With every footstep towards the kitchen all memory of strange dreams and searches leaves you, and by the time you return to your comfy nest of blankets with your full cup of water, the night seems almost normal. That is, until you glance outside the window.
Something moves across the front of the moon, which is full and shines right through the middle of your window, lighting up your comforter. What could it have been? It seemed familiar...And perhaps it's the fact that you're still half asleep, half awake that you can sense it, but a powerful force beats from it. Calling you. Presenting opportunities that you absolutely cannot miss.
Without any hesitation you get back out of bed, but before you can even leave your bedroom you notice a puddle of water near your nightstand.
So that's where all my water went, you realize. I must've knocked it over. Upon closer inspection you realize that there's writing on the carpet, glowing faintly yellow from under the patch of wetness.
The writing is so interesting you don't even realize how strange it is that the puddle isn't soaking into the carpet, or wonder how the words got there. In fact, the words don't even seem scary to you, despite their suspicious nature.
Hello, person! You are one of the lucky few CBers to be chosen to go on a nice, relaxing, beautiful vacation over Lake Lelillo! (Lay-LIH-loh) If you do indeed come, and we absolutely hope you do decide to, you will be given a free getaway from work, school, and empty water glasses! Here at Lake Lelillo, you will have all-day access to the lake itself, the fun attractions, the ice cream stands, the hot dog stands, the hamburger stands, the steak stands, the spagghetti stands, and any other stand marked with a silver star. (Which is all of them, so please don't forget!) Your rooms will be huge and most of them will even overlook the lake! They will of course be inside our one and only Luxury Lake House, which you will live in until your stay comes to a close. Remember this is all completely free, free free! Please pack your things, bring an AE and/or CAPTCHA if you'd like, and wait with them by the nearest stream at sunrise tomorrow morning. As we always say: All inlets lead to Lelillo!
~Your Soon-to-be Chaperones,
Cassy and Lily of Lake Lelillo
How you read all that small print was beyond you. Will you go? It certainly seems relaxing enough. The choice is yours to make.
-------------------------
I'll tell you all when the spots are closed, so join while you still can!
Please note that this is my second ski lodge, and it's kind of linked to my first. In a sense, it's the next part. I don't know if I should call it a part two, or what, but some things might reference the first ski lodge. Don't worry--I'm not going to make things super confusing. I'll explain things as I go--and I really need new CBers to join in. But I also need some CBers from my previous ski lodge to come. ('Course, they don't have to join if they don't want to; I'll understand.)
Here's another clue (if you didn't catch the others...) for the CBers who were in my first ski lodge, or read it, and wanted to be in this one:
What do you get when you cross a scorpion and a sloth?
Hehe, my alias isn't going to last the day. :D
submitted by Your Chaperones, Cassy and Lily
(January 1, 2017 - 11:51 am)
(January 1, 2017 - 11:51 am)
CLUE #5
"Where
It's the air
SOME say I'm full of lies...but when you really get down to it...the name says it all."
(March 10, 2018 - 7:11 pm)
And on the back of Clue 5:
"My fellow siblings ate rather tricky to understand. Thankfully I can help you out. Here's the clue to understanding ____. Careful; she's tricky to decipher. Always covering her clues with rambling words...
3-3, 7-8, 1-2, 4-1, 1-4, 9-3, 2-2"
(March 10, 2018 - 7:17 pm)
CLUE #6
"Don't you listen to silly old Moonscape! She's always giving out half-baked hints! If you want to be able to decipher her nonsensical sense, you'll want to know that she only about--and only ever talks TO--the sibling she's closest to."
(March 10, 2018 - 7:21 pm)
CLUE 8...?
"(Picture riddle)
Honestly, who are you going to listen to? Me, or my sister Mirage? Me, obviously. So...allow me to let you in on a little secret. Ever heard of Arithonium?
No?
Well, I can't say I'm surprised--not many have. But it's very toxic. Probably one of the most deadly poisons on that table.
Well, I'll be completely transparent with you, that's what's inside me. Yep, you definitely don't want to drink me!
The only question is...where exactly AM I?
--
...
So you've found my clue...but will you be able to find ME?"
(March 10, 2018 - 7:35 pm)
CLUE #7
"13-9-18-1-7-5
They call me Mirage...but I'm real as can be, if you know exactly what you're looking at, that is. Don't listen to my nine other siblings. They'll only try to confuse you...
But on to the clues!
First off, just so you know, Moonscape only consorts with one sibling. That sibling it's not me, but I'm one away from the sibling she's closest to.
Secondly, one of us contains deadly Arithonium. Yes, you've probably already heard that it's Deadfall. Well, she and I always tell the truth, so this do well to believe her. And it's in my best interests that you don't drink her; after all, I want you to drink ME! So I'll let you in on a little secret--four of us glasses are identical quadruplets. We look the same and act the same. And we'd all be together if it weren't for Candid, who's always in the middle of our business..."
(March 10, 2018 - 7:41 pm)
(Ahhh that was a lot of typing to do on my phone!) There's still one more riddle and the CBers' final conclusion for me to post, but this is enough to tell you which glasses are where. The remaining things I'll have to post tomorrow.
(March 10, 2018 - 7:46 pm)
TOP TOP TOP TOP TOP TOP!!!!
I will try to decifer the code tomorrow-or maybe today. I think I have an idea of what it is! :)
(March 22, 2018 - 10:12 am)
AAAAAugh!!!! Soooooo amazing!!!!!!!!! Keeeep WRITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(April 3, 2018 - 12:53 pm)
(April 4, 2018 - 4:52 pm)
TOP TOP TOP TOP TOP TOP TOP TOP TOP TOP TOP!!!!!!
(April 5, 2018 - 6:54 pm)
(April 7, 2018 - 11:39 am)
(April 8, 2018 - 4:50 pm)
(April 14, 2018 - 6:52 pm)
(April 16, 2018 - 12:57 pm)
I'm so so so sorry it took me so long, but here's the next part! Thank you, Joan, for encouraging me to continue!!
I'm skipping the poem because it's proving to be way too complicated to finish, but I might add it in later.
In case you're curious, the correct order of the glasses is as follows:
Moonscape, Ebony, Candid, Mirage, Deadfall, Aurora, Cirrus, Petrichor.
---
Owlgirl stepped forwards. “It’s Petrichor. It has to be.”
Elvina checked the notes one last time. “Yeah. I mean, all the clues point that way.”
“Are you absolutely certain, though?” Hotairballoon pressed. “Honestly, at least two lives are at stake here.”
“Of course we’re not ABSOLUTELY certain,” Elvina replied. “There are so many different interpretations of the clues. But this is our best guess.”
“Your logic is a paradox. The poem says that Petrichor is as real as a mirage--but I thought we decided it meant the glass, Mirage. Which means it’s poison. And I thought we weren’t going with the other theory anyway--”
“Shhh…” Cinderpelt interrupted. “Don’t get riled up, Hotairballoon. If you have any better ideas, then please, tell us.”
HAB stared at the table. “Well. We already decided that Cirrus was the mint-water, didn’t we? Are you sure that it’s really the mint-water? I mean...reread its passage in the poem.”
“Hm. I don’t--” Autumn Leaves began.
“Wait. We know it’s obviously not Petrichor,” Cinderpelt said. “And Hotairballoon is really good at solving these riddles. He called the clue in Echosong’s room. I think he’s right.”
“Well...okay,” the others agreed.
“W--you’re seriously going to trust me. Just like that.”
The CBers looked at one another. “I think your logic makes sense,” Joan said.
“It’s our best bet…” Dragonrider/Winter Lilac agreed. “And the safest route too. At first we thought it was the mint-water. So even if it’s not the water, it’ll probably still be safe to drink.”
“Okay. If you’re all sure, I’m going in,” Owlgirl said, taking a deep breath. She stepped up to the table, and as the CBers watched her approach the final glass they desperately went over every clue they had read--they were almost certain this was the safest drink. But...what if it wasn’t? No, no, worrying would only make it worse...they had thought this out logically…
Owlgirl reached the table. She stood before the glasses, contemplating them each in turn. Her eyes stopped at the crystal-clear glass titled Cirrus.
Deep breaths, Owlgirl...deep breaths. It’s going to be fine.
Her hands were clammy, she found, as they closed stickily around the cold, smooth surface of Cirrus.
Thin wispy clouds at the highest altitude.
She lifted the glass up to her lips. This action alone was difficult for her to do. What if she was about to willingly drink poison?
Stop worrying.
“You can do it, Owlgirl,” assured her friends.
“It’s safe. It’s definitely safe,” Hotairballoon said, though his eyes appeared to hold uncertainty.
But Autumn Leaves had recalled something in this moment, as Owlgirl held up the glass with shaking hands. It was something the murderer had said…
“Nine different glasses, nine different choices.”
That was it--that was the confusing thing from earlier. Had the murderer mistakenly said there were nine glasses, when in reality there were only eight? Or...
“Hand me those clues,” Autumn hissed at Elvina.
Elvina, eyes wide, complied. Autumn Leaves rifled through, searching for some kind of hidden sign…
Owlgirl, oblivious to the commotion, brought the glass to her lips. It never occured to her--or anyone else--that there was a different solution to this conundrum.
Autumn Leaves’s eyes flickered frantically over clues 6, 7, and 8…
Owlgirl willed herself to do it quickly. She had to be brave.
It took her a little while to find them. But finally--There. At the bottom of Clue Number Eight--is Clue Number Nine. Oh, no, nononono...She squinted at the tiny clue but then realized there was no time to decipher it--she had to stop Owlgirl--
Well, there was nothing suspicious about the drink’s scent...so Owlgirl tipped the glass up. Cool liquid poured into her mouth.
Autumn Leaves reached out a hand. “STOP WAIT--”
Too late.
The Chatterboxers had jumped at Autumn Leaves’s warning. Briefly they expected to see Owlgirl topple to the floor, but instead she just stood there, staring at the glass. Minty flavoring was spreading through her mouth.
“I think it was the mint water,” she murmured quietly.
The Chatterboxers lowered their heads.
“I’m sorry,” Hotairballoon whispered. “I thought for sure…”
A few seconds passed. Owlgirl set the glass back down. Autumn Leaves scrutinized the ninth clue again.
“Mmmm,” she murmured sadly. “We shouldn’t have rushed so much. Look at this.” She held up the eighth clue and pointed to the tiny label on the bottom. “Another code.”
The Chatterboxers gathered around and realized she was right. “Remember what the murderer said? Nine glasses, nine opportunities...a bonus prize, ‘if you can find it’. I think--I think the water was never here.”
“You mean the murderer cheated?!” Elvina exclaimed.
“No…I think the water was hidden somewhere else.”
The Chatterboxers attempted to crack the code. But while they did so, Owlgirl simply stood there, stock still next to the table. Something was wrong--a fuzzy feeling was spreading through her insides. And it was definitely not the good kind.
“Guys--” she attempted to say. But her voice came out weak and scratchy.
“GUYS!” she tried, louder this time. Cinderpelt heard her and broke away from the group.
“Owlgirl, what is i--” She then saw how pale Owlgirl looked. “Oh no.” The CBette cut into the center of the crowd. “GUYS, something’s wrong!” she shouted. The conversation stopped.
Owlgirl knew she was poisoned. She knew she only had minutes to live. There was no sense in assuring herself she would be okay.
“It--it was minty--” she stammered. “But--but--” On a whim, Owlgirl picked up the Aurora glass, her hands pale and shaky. Holding it up to her nose, she inhaled, and a minty scent curled into her nostrils. The same went for Ebony. And Mirage. The glasses were ALL mint flavored, and there was no telling which one was the real deal. Perhaps the murderer had added the flavor as a failsafe to cover up any other suspicious scents. Or maybe it had done this to be extra cruel. But it didn’t matter--it was already too late at this point.
“They’re--they're all mint flavored--we were wrong--” she gasped weakly.
The CBers rushed closer to help her--but it was too late. Owlgirl was already gone.
The Chatterboxers were stunned. Despite their careful planning...despite how well they thought they knew the clues...they had been utterly wrong.
That was when the phone had turned back on.
It was a fair try, Chatterboxers...but you ultimately failed. Unfortunately you will have lost two of your own today.
I hope you’ve learned some valuable lessons during this game. At any rate, you will at least be better prepared for next time. I’m sure by now you’ve figured out I’m a very tricky person to understand…And on top of that, I’ve stopped going easy on you.
Either way, I commend you for sticking with the game and being fair sports. Cheating would not have boded well. For your excellent sportsmanship I will give you all a bonus point.
The score chart flashed up on the screen. The murderer was given another point--but so were the Chatterboxers.
Now, I suggest you clear out of this area...things are about to get explosive if you know what I mean.
(April 17, 2018 - 8:40 pm)