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Your teeth may or may not be chattering as you walk along a pathway that is covered in a layer of freshly fallen snow. The pathway soon comes to an end beside a large stone, a subtle warning that treading any further will mean putting oneself at risk. Standing before you, in all of her glory, is the Whomping Willow. Currently the tree remains still, icicles glistening from her branches. But something about them seems a little off...
What is your next move? Dare you take a closer look?
OOC: Post in this thread for your challenge to begin. You will have until June 20th @ 11:59 PM GMT to complete this challenge. Good luck!
Rucole Club Club|| film lyfe || mac and cheese queen|| *exits with trunkshot*
A deep shiver darted down her spine with every crunch of snow beneath her steps. The cold air nipped at her skin and danced through her hair. All the while, her heart beat hard in her chest.
She wasn't as nervous as the last time, nor scared of it. She was just worried about messing up her chances again.
Plus, her feelings still were hurt from that muggle-not-muggle calling her a freak.
Her hand briefly ran over the large stone as she stared up at the tree. If it wasn't for the sign, Teddy would've forgotten that this tree existed.
The Slytherin stood still across the just-as-still tree. Her mind was pulling up the memory of when Lucy introduced her to the infamous Whomping Willow. A single word resonated from it: Violent.
She looked around. Everything was quiet and still. Suspicious....highly suspicious. Her first instinct was to send in a scout to see if anything happens, so she thought up of a spell to use.
Teddy stepped behind the large rock, pointing her wand at the tree's branches. "Avis."
The stillness could very well choke you as you step into the enclosure, face to face with the infamous Whomping Willow. It stood there in all its glory, idle despite the layer of snow that rested on its branches, silently inviting you for a quick challenge.
It didn’t have to wait long, however, when a flock of birds erupted from the your wand, directly aimed at the Whomping Willow's branches. At first, the tree didn’t mind the intruders much like a snake waiting patiently for the perfect opportunity to strike. And without even giving you the chance to blink, the tree flicked its branch and slammed it against the ground before you sending a powder of thick snow your way. And while you try and clear your vision, a single cauldron rolls toward your right foot with a note inside it:
“Well, this isn't a hat. Get on with it! Make your way to the passage beneath the tree!”
As the tree straightened itself, you could see that there are assorted frozen potion ingredients in glass phials hanging from its branches. Some were already broken and damaged from its first violent assault. What should you do next? Cauldron? Potion ingredients? And was that a workstation nearby? If anything, its first attack was a clue: the Whomping Willow is very much alive, dear Hogwartian.
OOC: You can decide which Potion your character will retrieve and brew.
Rucole Club Club|| film lyfe || mac and cheese queen|| *exits with trunkshot*
Teddy flinched with a gasp when the loud THUNK of the tree slamming into the ground shook the ground beneath her. The flurry of snow coming at her made her duck down behind the rock to shield her face. Okay, so the tree was very much still at full violent. She was starting to think these people were really out to kill them all.
She felt something tap against the tip of her shoe, taking a moment to blink a heavy amount of snow off her eyelashes, she stared at it like it was some unknown creature.
A cauldron?
What in Mulder's name was this all about???
She read over the note inside the cauldron, peeking over the rock at the tree to see this so called passage. Her eyes scanned the ingredients hanging from the branches with a deep focus and then sunk back behind the rock.
What she needed to develop first was a safe zone where she can work from. She dived towards the workstation, holding her hands up around the area. "Protego Totalum...Protego Totalum..."
She was only hoping it'd hold up against a very huge tree with rage issues.
Cauldron, Workstation, Protective Charms...good. As long as you are within the safe zone, well away from the Whomping Willow, you will be fine. However, time is ticking dear Hogwartian. Better to get on with summoning your potion ingredients if you want to get past the Whomping Willow.
Rucole Club Club|| film lyfe || mac and cheese queen|| *exits with trunkshot*
After finishing the protective barrier, Teddy stood at the edge of it, searching the tree's branches for any kind of ingredient that stood out for her.
If only Felix Felicis didn't take months to brew...
She considered a herbicide potion, maybe it could give some damage to the tree and distract it enough for her to make her run. The problem was that herbicide potion took about an hour to brew. An hour was too much time to waste. She needed another option.
Her eyes caught sight of something hanging from the west side of the tree.
Doxy eggs.
A new plan formed in her head. Now, she had to get the needed ingredients without being crushed.
Teddy pointed her wand at the branch holding the eggs. She was looking to see if she could knock them off instead of picking them like apples. Casting a sharp spell, she waited to see if the first part of her plan was going to work.
Taking your own sweet time, eh? One must definitely think things through if you want to go through the Whomping Willow unscathed. But we all know that that is wishful thinking unless you brew a clever potion to get to the base and freeze the Whomping Willow.
The Willow swayed a bit to the side, as if sniffing the air for more intruders. Could there be more aside from the flock of birds? The tree twitched as one of the icicles got knocked off from the branch, while the phial landed on thick snow.
Dare you go near the fallen potion ingredient? Perhaps, summoning it would be the best choice for now…
Summon and get on with your plan, dear Hogwartian!
Rucole Club Club|| film lyfe || mac and cheese queen|| *exits with trunkshot*
A grin spread across her face as the ingredient dropped. Excellent! Now, to see if she could summon it.
"Accio, Doxy Eggs!" The phial soared toward her at will. Fantastic, she wouldn't have to leave the safe zone.
Searching for each ingredient and knocking it down individually would take too much of her precious time. So Teddy instead did the next best thing. Garnering a hefty amount of energy, she made a sweeping gesture with her arms, almost like combination of dance and magic martial arts, and watched the phials rain down from the tree branches like hail.
She raised her hands again, like a conductor orchestrating their philharmonic band, and summoned the following ingredients: fairy wings, dragonfly thoraxes, and flying seahorses.
Now that she had everything, she quickly returned to the workstation, where she cleaned out the cauldron and filled it with water.
Teddy glanced up at the tree, half expecting to see it charging at her, before returning her attention back to the cauldron, plopping in a pair of fairy wings.
With a grand gesture, potion ingredients were summoned by the Hogwartian, leaving the Whomping Willow restless. The disturbance was definitely not welcome, but a champion has got to do what she needs to do. The tree curled up its twigs, like a human would with his fingers, and shook off the remaining potion ingredients.
Here’s hoping you got everything you needed Hogwartian, because the tree didn’t have all day to hold it up for you.
Rucole Club Club|| film lyfe || mac and cheese queen|| *exits with trunkshot*
The potion turned turquoise after heating up for a moment and Teddy knew that was the cue for the next step.
She added a measure of doxy eggs and toasted the dragonfly thoraxes with her wand while she waited for the mixture to turn pink.
Some of the thoraxes went in after and she waited until the potion turned red.
...then blue.
Another round of thoraxes and then it turned silver.
...then back to red.
Three more measures of doxy eggs and some more dragonfly thoraxes and it turned blue.
Finally, all she needed was to add three flying seahorses and the mixture turned green.
Her Girding Potion was at last complete...and smelled absolutely repulsive.
Teddy poured the mixture into an empty phial, gagging a bit at the smell. She took a deep breath, pinching her nose, and tossed the potion back. She jumped in place, waiting for the gross mixture to go down, and shook off the disgust.
A surge of adrenaline ran from her head to her toes. Wasting no time, she casted the Feather-light Charm and the Silver Shield Spell on herself to finish her preparation.
She kicked over the workstation, dumping out the cauldron of its contents. The kicking of the workstation wasn't really necessary, but you know, her body was feeding off an adrenaline high and wasn't responsible for any workstation casualties.
The fifth year blasted the cauldron with her wand to send it rolling into the battle field. She positioned herself at the edge of her safe zone like a sprinter at a track and field competition waiting for the go.
Teddy waited for the willow to take the bait and for the right moment to....
If only the Whomping Willow could smell the potion, it would’ve plucked itself out from its spot, and stomp on the smelly concoction. But instead of doing that, the tree twisted to the left, then to the right-- as if it could feel the surge of energy flowing through its roots.
The first to take a blow was your workstation. The cauldron was upturned, dumping all the contents to the ground, and soon, the she-snake sent it towards the battlefield like a knight throwing down his gauntlet.
Ah. A challenge, clearly.
The excess energy, the noise, the commotion...it was enough to fully wake the Whomping Willow. To accept its challenge, it straightened its trunk, curled up its twigs and slammed its branches to the ground sending a thick powder of snow flying. Perhaps, the Whomping Willow was too fast for you because it didn’t show any sign of slowing down.
As it curled back up, the Whomping Willow did a quick sweep, hooking one of its sturdy twigs on your outerwear, and hurled you up up and away!
Is that all you got, girly?
The Whomping Willow crouched a little, its branches and twigs ready to take the second assault.
Rucole Club Club|| film lyfe || mac and cheese queen|| *exits with trunkshot*
She was ready.
...or at least she thought she was...
Teds had her wand pointed at the general direction where the willow came down with tremendous force, but the wave of snow blocked her vision completely. Her hands quickly went up to help her clear her eyesight, but it wasn't quick enough.
She felt herself get whipped up into the air, losing grip of her wand in the process. It seemed her shield spell didn't hold up enough to the force of the tree and if it wasn't for the immense amount of adrenaline running through her body, that landing would have really hurt.
As her dazed vision cleared, her hands searched the snow for her wand. Her training back home gave her the strength to be wandless, but she could use all the help she could get, which meant using a wand.
Her eyes caught sight of it west of her by the spilled cauldron, slightly sticking out of the snow. She stood up, facing the tree who seemed to be menacingly squaring up to her. Let's play.
Teddy thumped her fist against her chest and charged towards her wand. She kept focused on her wand, sprinting with all her might, the feather-light charm practically making her glide across the snow. She broke down onto her knees to a power slide, scooping up her wand with a hand, and turning herself around with the other.
She didn't spare a moment to see if the tree was coming for her. Her wand shot out towards the willow, "IMMOBULUS!"
The Whomping Willow stretched back a little, looking like it was either gloating by what it did to the poor Hogwartian, or laughing in triumph if it had a mouth and a voice.
But the movement was short-lived as it felt its intruder move. It knew that its challenger was on the move again, ready to get past it. What better way to get rid of the annoying intruder than to just sweep, sweep, and sweep the ground before it until the opponent loses the heart to charge.
Both of the Willow’s branches were raised to the heavens, twisting its trunk to the right, ready to do a clean, grand sweep of the ground when the Hogwartian’s immobilising spell hit its right branch, freezing it in place completely.
While the Willow was taken aback by the loss of movement, you notice a dark hole just to the side of its base, and an intricate knot above it. It was a good thing that you had your featherlight charm on because now is the time to immobilise the Whomping Willow completely.
Better run for it Hogwartian, because the Willow’s left branch is about to sweep you up again in 3...2...
Rucole Club Club|| film lyfe || mac and cheese queen|| *exits with trunkshot*
She held her breath in the moment the snow flurried around, the sound in the air settling like the snow. Holy Scully....it worked. The tree was frozen in place! A big, smug grin stretched across her face and a small jig joined along in celebration.
The celebration halted to an abrupt stop when her ears picked up the sound of slight creaking. The tree was fighting the spell. Time to go.
Teddy broke out into a sprint again, beelining for the hole beneath the tree. She ran like she was running for her life, which she kind of was, digging her shoes in the snow with every step.
She dove in the hole, hands first, hoping to Scully that she would make it in with her body intact.
You definitely would’ve been swept away for the second time, if you stood any longer in that spot. But now that it is over, there is no single second to waste because your second challenge awaits you at the very end of this muddy path.
Crashing on the ground hands and head first, in a rather unrefined manner by the way, you find yourself in a very dark cavern. Since you forgot to depress the knot above the entrance, the Willow was still mobile, half-mobile at least, but you wouldn’t want to head back out to face it. Clearly, there is no other way but to head for the opposite direction.
Rucole Club Club|| film lyfe || mac and cheese queen|| *exits with trunkshot*
Teddy's expectations as she dove into the dark hole were hopeful ones. She was expecting to dive into a field where the crowd would be waiting for her and the other competitors having finished the challenge.
Instead she was cloaked in darkness and heard a sudden crack when her hands hit the ground and her body rolled in afterwards, head first.
Where was the end?? Wasn't nearly being pummeled by a violent tree enough?? She moved to push herself up, only to crumble back down when a sharp pain shot up her arm when she put pressure on her left wrist. Teddy lifted herself up again, using only her right arm and felt around for the wall. "Lumos" She held the lit wand out in front of her. Maybe the finish line was at the end of this tunnel.
There was no time left to be careful, so she hurried right along the tunnel with her wand out front, senses at high alert for anything that might jump out.
You can thank Merlin at this point because you wouldn’t need to ‘fight’ in your next challenge. You can simply tuck away the pain in your wrist for now because at this point, you need to speed your way to the very end of this path.
Minutes passed and you see yourself at a dead end. Before you is a wooden spiral staircase, and at the top is a trapdoor. You head straight for it by pushing it with all your might, and you find yourself in the historic Shrieking Shack. A very dirty, old, and smelly shack. Dust was everywhere, trash were littered here and there...and rats the size of cats scampered about and hid in their rat holes as they felt your presence.
No matter how dirty the place was, one thing stood out; a scroll just a few steps away from where you’re standing. Pick it up, and read it’s content.
Remember: things are not always as they seem,
And with odd trinkets this shack does teem.
In the time remaining, you must find your way
And locate two items that have gone astray;
One is held dear to our pigletted friends.
It can’t build a home, but a house it does amend
To every boy and girl cherished at the castle,
But you won’t find it without much hassle.
You’re looking for a lever that unlocks a door,
But to find the item you might need a particular score.
Try them all, and you will see. Something is off.
Dust covers this place like an infernal cough.
Now, our next item is from across the seas.
It can attach and reattach as you please.
It doesn’t write; it surely isn’t a quill,
And it’s small in size as well as beautiful.
Twist clockwise and nothing you’ll get,
But counter that, and you might regret
The noxious gas that fills your space
If you turn it too quickly, wood it would deface.
Good luck, champions. Find them both here.
Look with your eyes, hear with your ears.
Search up and down, and then high and low,
But don’t be too hasty or too slow.
OOC: Here is a floor plan provided OOC to make it easier to RP your character exploring the shack. Feel free to be as creative as possible.
Rucole Club Club|| film lyfe || mac and cheese queen|| *exits with trunkshot*
Teddy peered out of the top of the trapdoor, ducking back in after being spooked by a humongous rat running by. Gathering herself together, she hoisted herself out of the trapdoor with her right arm.
She casted a human-revealing spell as a precaution as she made her way to the scroll sitting very obvious among the mess. She picked it up and read it over, biting her lip in concentration.
Teds repeated the clues to herself as she looked around the room for anything that matched the riddle. The place was covered in dust and suffocatingly stuffy, it was so hard to breathe. She pulled the collar of her shirt above her mouth and nose, also ripping a piece of fabric off her sweater to wrap her wrist in for the meantime.
She kicked open the bathroom door, repulsed by the smell, and scanned over the living area, or what used to be. It wasn't until her eyes caught sight of the stove in the west corner that something clicked. Noxious gas.
The sixteen year old hurried over to it, remembering the days her grandmother would double check the stove when there was a funny smell in the air. She lowered the collar from her nose, she'll need that sense in this.
Twist clockwise and nothing you’ll get,
But counter that, and you might regret
The noxious gas that fills your space
If you turn it too quickly, wood it would deface.
Okay well, here goes nothing. "Eeny...meany...miney...moe..." She slowly turned one of the stove knobs to the right, sniffing the air in case there was gas leaking.
Come on in, don’t be afraid! There’s nobody here, except you...and the friendly rats. Although, perhaps they didn’t like the idea of the bathroom door being kicked because as soon as you did, five oversized rodents came rushing towards you and into the fireplace nearby.
Gross.
Repeating the riddle in your head, you find yourself in front of a defunct stove. You turn one of the knobs to the right, and indeed, nothing happened. Not even the smell of gas could be sniffed. Remember, the stove does not function anymore. However, once approaching the device, you could feel yourself go warm...like there was a cloak being wrapped around you. Curious by the sudden change of temperature, you look around-- to see no one.
Perhaps, this too is a clue?
Why don’t we go back to that riddle of yours, and try to read it as a whole. Pick it up again and try to understand what you’re looking for:
Now, our next item is from across the seas.
It can attach and reattach as you please.
It doesn’t write; it surely isn’t a quill,
And it’s small in size as well as beautiful.
Twist clockwise and nothing you’ll get,
But counter that, and you might regret
The noxious gas that fills your space
If you turn it too quickly, wood it would deface.
What could possibly be attached and re-attached as you please? Something that is beautiful from across the seas?
Rucole Club Club|| film lyfe || mac and cheese queen|| *exits with trunkshot*
Teddy spun around, feeling the presence of something there. Her eyes searched for whatever had made feel the way and even waved her arms around the space. It was colder outside of this area.
Perhaps the oven knobs had something to do with it? Maybe the idea, was to get the noxious gas out. Maybe it would lead to a crack in the wall or something...
Teddy turned the knobs counter clockwise this time around. If this didn't work, she would have to move on and come back to it later.
No matter how hard you look, there’s no one else in the Shack but you. Perhaps moving by instinct more than a guess, you turn the knobs in the other direction hoping for something to happen...but...apparently, the stove is too defunct to even perform what it’s supposed to do.
The warmth you feel lingered however, giving you the feeling that you found one of the hiding places identified in the riddle.
What could possibly be hidden here? Something that is...from across the sea? What exactly is across the sea?
Try juggling your American Magical History. What could be so beautiful that it can be attached...and reattached?
Rucole Club Club|| film lyfe || mac and cheese queen|| *exits with trunkshot*
Teddy was growing frustrated. She couldn't think to save her life right now from all the stress. So, she decided to come back to it later.
She moved away from the area, heading upstairs, keeping the progress she made on the oven tucked away for safe keeping.
She looked over the scroll again to read the first clue.
You’re looking for a lever that unlocks a door,
But to find the item you might need a particular score.
Try them all, and you will see. Something is off.
Dust covers this place like an infernal cough.
The sixteen year old looked over the area. The whole thing was covered in dust. A lever...She couldn't see a lever, but there was more to it. "You might need a particular score..." Score...Music score! THE PIANO!
The scroll said to try them all, the keys, so she did. Teddy played all the keys fast, worried about the time.
The piano!!! Well, you got that right, Hogwartian!
As you reach the second floor, the piano’s lid began to rattle violently. What could be so precious to you, our pigletted friend? A house it does amend for you?
Surely you’ve met this artefact years ago when you were once a tiny first year, who was eager to learn and control her magic.
Rucole Club Club|| film lyfe || mac and cheese queen|| *exits with trunkshot*
Teddy flinched a little at the rattle of the piano lid. She cautiously went to lift it. Either there was the answer to the riddle or it was another one of those giant rat-cats. She snatched whatever was the object was inside the piano, letting out a premature high-pitched scream.
As she held the object in her hands, she couldn't help, but roll her eyes at the obvious answer now that she knew what it was. Always, always over-analyzing.
No time for pondering. Teddy hurried back down to the oven, feeling for the warmth in the air. Frustratedly, she fumbled with all the objects on the oven. She opened the door, closed the door, lifted the grates, turned, tugged, and pulled at the knobs and all around hoping that something would just...JUST....JUST!!
The moment the lid was lifted, the rattling stopped and immediately,
you see a soft lump of cloth in between the piano strings. You pull it out and see that it was the Ancient Sorting Hat.
Tuck it carefully under your arm, and quickly find the second item.
Across the seas? Now that you've got the British Wizarding Artefact, perhaps next one is from the school of your Ilvermornian friends?
With such haste, you turn all the knobs, opened the oven's door...even lifted the greasy and rusty grates freeing a family of rats the size of cats.
Gross!
No time to get distracted though! What could be attached and reattached as they please? Have you been paying attention to your Ilvermornian friends' uniform? Think...what accessory could they be wearing that would best represent them?
The rightmost knob rattled and glowed. What could be behind it?
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IMPS Challenge #2 :: Tejashree Peale 
