TAKSHAKA and AMALTHEA

[soulping]

The walls of the hedge maze close in around you. Before you is a single stone table covered in quill pens and several sheets of parchment. Even if you normally cannot read or write, for the time being, you find that you can.

Comments

ROUND ONE

[soulping]

[One sheet of parchment before you bears a symbol much like a blank crossword puzzle.]

  000000000
   0
   0
   0000
   0
000000

[Below it are instructions:]

Fill in the blank spaces with words that fit.

DISCUSSION

[soulping]

Re: DISCUSSION

[forthemackerel]

[ glancing around from the maze closing in like that, obviously tense, but it doesn't seem like last game . . . ]

This is it?

Re: DISCUSSION

[hopefullybetter]

. . . I think so? I've never been to a game before, so I don't know.

Re: DISCUSSION

[forthemackerel]

[ notices the colors ]

You're new.

[ he doesn't seem annoyed by that, more matter-of-fact ]

Hopefully this is all there is to it. I haven't been in too many games, so I don't know if they're all straightforward.

SUBMISSION

[soulping]

[Submit: down (6 letters), top across (9 letters), middle across (4 letters), and bottom across (6 letters).]

Re: SUBMISSION

[forthemackerel]

Waters, Swimsuits, East, Passed

Re: SUBMISSION

[soulping]

[The words glow faintly as they settle onto the parchment...]

ROUND TWO

[soulping]

[Another sheet of parchment now offers new instructions.]

Create a saying or short story based on the puzzle you made, without using any of the words themselves. This will be the clue for your puzzle.

DISCUSSION

[soulping]

Re: DISCUSSION

[forthemackerel]

A short story...

Re: DISCUSSION

[hopefullybetter]

I think we can do that.

Something about... uh... people helping each other, or something. They had to swim east so they had to pass it on? Like a relay.

Re: DISCUSSION

[forthemackerel]

[ you just had to mention a relay, didn't you ]

Mm, something like that works.

"But what should we wear? I don't want to get my clothes wet."
"Oh, I've got a lot to choose from across the top shelf that you can wear."

That type of thing might work?

SUBMISSION

[soulping]

Re: SUBMISSION

[forthemackerel]

"But what should we wear? I don't want to get my clothes wet."
"Oh, I've got a lot to choose from across the top shelf that you can wear."
"Is that going to help in the relay later, though? Is it going to help for where I have to go?"
"There's probably something that will work for you."
"I'll be down by the pool, when you're ready."
"Just make sure not to just jump in when you get there."
"I know, it's always going to be obvious when it's my turn. That's how relays work."
"Just make sure you surprise everyone. I don't think they expect us to come from behind?"
"Hopefully the wind's blowing in the right direction. Does that even help when you're swimming outside?"
"It's for luck. Every bit matters."
"You just like that direction because of the sunrise."

Re: SUBMISSION

[soulping]

[The words glow faintly as they settle onto the parchment, and then the papers around you ruffle in a sudden breeze, which whisks your crossword and your clue away...]

ROUND THREE

[soulping]

[Another blank crossword puzzle has appeared on a sheet of parchment.]

  000000000
   0
   0
   0000
   0
000000

[This one, however, is accompanied by a clue...]

CLUE

[soulping]

"Reddish brown metal and ore. They sparkle and shine, and look good in a type of jewelry worn around your neck."

DISCUSSION

[soulping]

Re: DISCUSSION

[forthemackerel]

[ . . . well, that's pretty sparse compared to what they sent off to the void, narrowing his eyes from the obnoxious color, too ]

Re: DISCUSSION

[hopefullybetter]

. . . Is it just me, or is that really had to read?

Re: DISCUSSION

[forthemackerel]

It is. I wonder if it's like that for everyone or if it's a clue.

Let's rewrite it so it's easier to read.

SUBMISSION

[soulping]

[Submit: down (6 letters), top across (9 letters), middle across (4 letters), and bottom across (6 letters).]

Re: SUBMISSION

[forthemackerel]

Amulet, Carnelian, Lode, and Luster

Re: SUBMISSION

[soulping]

[The words glow faintly as you write them down...and then the hedge maze opens up again. You can go to endgame.]