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Choice: A.2
Sleuthsparks: 10


Erilyn had an answer to everything, didn't they? Lorata still wasn't sure they were the murderer, there was a reason she hadn't added a tally to the vote after all, but even if they weren't, it seemed clear enough that the majority thought they were at least a criminal. And well, apparently they didn't intend to wait around and see how that turned out. Suddenly Erilyn was gone behind a curtain, gas was filling the room, everyone was up and moving.

The seadweller hopped out of her own chair with a gasp and then immediately pressed her hands over mouth with every intention of holding her breath as that gas began to rise from the floor. MeduMa closed in, ready to lead her out of danger as she had in the caves, but Lorata ignored the first eager hiss, wide eyes frantically searching for her friends. Some trolls were rushing the wall and curtain, others were bearing down on the door. A whistle followed by a crackle of energy and breaking tables made her flinch, and there was Tigwyn and some of the other kids and another way out but she wanted-

Another shout caught her attention, and when she whirled she finally found two of the faces she was searching for. Her hands dropped away and she sucked in another breath before she'd even thought about it. "Sarcel! Elidae!" She rushed towards them, eager to make a run for the exit with company, and her lusus followed quickly behind her.

Alifax didn't really have time to pay attention to what anyone else was doing. It wasn't like Frossa was in the room, after all. And everyone else...well, either he didn't know them at all or they were competent enough to handle running. He hoped.

Well...Nahori.

Not thinking about that, Alifax thought, an eye on the exit. He was still thinking through what Awassi had said - he wasn't sure that he bought the likelihood that they'd murdered Epratt, and he figured the running was more indication of guilt in relation to, well, contact with Akko's Phoenix Initiative, or harboring mutants, than anything else. It wasn't like those things were particularly innocent after all.

He didn't have much time to think, though. He sprinted out of the room as quickly as he could manage - he didn't want to sit around examining potentially risky unfamiliar gasses if he didn't have to, especially given that he didn't have anyone watching him, like he'd had with the cigarettes.

But as it was he had only a few moments to be surprised that Tigwyn still had use of his abilities, before remembering he needed to get out of here. He'd think on that later - after all, it'd already been implied to him that Tigwyn wasn't ordinary.

[Alifax chooses path A2!]

Path Choice: A.3] Investigate the wall
✦Sleuthsparks: 10/10

Before Nahori could even wrap her think pan around what was happening, there was panic. Any chaos among the trolls around her was like a blur, quite honestly, just as their trial had been, just like most of this gog forsaken night had been. Fear rolled in Nahori's gut not because of other trolls, or even really because of the gas now leaking with a hiss into the room. No, it was her lusus who concerned her the most. Her mother who was now stomping and squealing so loudly that the orangeblood had to cover her ears while she awkwardly dance-dodged away.

She never really had been the graceful type, and no matter how many hours she'd walked on these heels already, she still couldn't quite do it. Guineamom had almost slammed her against the wall, but Nahori wasn't sure if the throb she now felt in her ankle was worth avoiding it. Tears welled in her eyes as she realized she'd twisted it. Each new step brought a renewed sting.

All Nahori wanted to do was go home. She'd been dragged into this world of things she had no means to understand and it was overwhelming. Guineamom was still shrieking and it was overwhelming. Stop, stop, stop...

"I-I h-hear you!" she shouted at her lusus, voice strained with frustration, as the room full of trolls felt like it was spinning. Despite the aching in her ankle, she stumbled over to the wall where the greenblood had been, fingers splayed and smacking against it like her sanity depended on finding something. What was she even looking for? She didn't care... Anything to make her mother stop screaming.

"Nahori....are you still here?"

Her head shot around. Her name? Was someone calling her? Her thoughts went to Alifax first, but he wasn't there, no where she could see. No, in the distance, a vague shape among many, she saw Tierte. "I-I-I wanna go h-home!!" she sobbed, hands now clutched in her cape as she called out the only thing she could think to say with her mind as jumbled as it was.

Previous path results:
A.1] Rounding up the trolls who didn't immediately charge for the exit, you ensure they all get out safely. After a few seconds you follow behind, before you inhale too much of the vapour in the room. You can pick up to three other trolls that took path A.1, A.3 or A.5. Trolls aided only loose half the noted ✦sleuthsparks✦ from their own path, thanks to your assistance in helping them out of the room. However, lose 3 ✦sleuthsparks✦ yourself from breathing in the gasses. They do not burn or hurt your insides, but instead you begin to feel woozy and sleepy.

A.2] You charge forwards towards the door. As you leap the threshold, you notice too late that there is now a gaping pit in the floor beyond. While it would have been possible to skirt around it if your exit had been less hasty, if you are a child you find yourself unable to stop and plummet into it. You lose 10 ✦sleuthsparks✦ and must follow the link below. If you are a teen, your longer legs and stronger jump propel you safely to the other side of the pit. You land heavily and sprawl on the floor, lose 2 ✦sleuthsparks✦.
✿△ △
(◕‿◕✿) ==>

A.3] You and any other trolls who take the time to investigate eventually locate a hidden switch. Flicking it, the hiss of gas stops and the paintings cease to emit their foggy smoke. While gas floats around in the room still, more will not be coming. You stumble out the door, woozy and sleepy from the vapours that you were unable to prevent yourself from inhaling. Lose 5 ✦sleuthsparks✦.

A.4] The door behind the curtain is clearly visible and you push it open, slipping through. It is expertly weighted and swings closed behind you, letting no more than a small puff of gas through. On the other side, you find yourself in a pitch-black passageway hidden inside the walls of the house. Is this normal? You and any other trolls who took the same path must now use the specified path A.4 options for today's choices.

A.5] You run around for a few minutes, until too much vapour inhalation makes you woozy and sleepy. You slowly sag down to the floor, as your eyes begin to close.... Lose 10 ✦sleuthsparks✦ and have an unfortunately-timed nap. If your troll is not aided via path A.1, the floor will withdraw into the wall shortly, dropping you down into a dark pit.
✿△ △
(◕‿◕✿) ==>



Today's Options:
As the last troll hurries out of the rumpus block, they slam the door behind them. There is a gentle layer of mist that curls around the edges of the floor in the hive, suggesting that there was more eminating from the other rooms, but thankfully the quick thinking of a few trolls has shut it off again. A quick check of the front door shows that it is as firmly locked as ever, and even rattling it will not get any attention from outside. You do however hear voices and footsteps on the second stem of the hive - it seems some trolls have already gotten upstairs!

B.1] Charge up the staircase
Trolls upstairs means stuff might be happening there without you. This is unacceptable. You propel yourself towards whatever might be going down with a furious speed.

B.2] Smash a window
While you were refraining from all out property damage before, at this point Awassi can go jump right up their own spinal crevice for all you care now. You need some fresh air.

B.3] Cautiously advance up the staircase
You're now aware that this house is riddled with more than a few little secrets. What if one is the staircase becoming poison? You cautiously advance towards it, letting others pass first.

B.4] Stand still and listen hard
You could swear -- yeah you can hear people inside the wall! With your sponge clot pressed against the wall, you follow the sounds around a corner. Suddenly you find the wall swinging forwards. You stumble through and find yourself in a secret passage inside the walls of the house, surrounded by surprised party-goers. You may now pick one of path A.4's options for today as well!


B.5] Try to find an exit
Awassi was nowhere to be seen when you stepped in, although the dark didn't help much. Maybe they ducked out again through another door, using this as a feint? You feel around on the walls, pushing and pulling to find other exits.

B.6] Walk forwards with your hands out
It's so dark. You can't see a damn thing. Chances of hitting your face against a wall are worryingly high, so you deploy some high level maneuvers - use your hands to feel ahead as you go.

B.7] Try to find exciting secrets
This is so cool - this is so cool! You madly scrabble around the passageway, trying to find anything that looks remotely touchable, and then touch the heck out of it if you do find anything. This hive must reveal it's innermost workings to you RIGHT NOW.

B.8] Hurry forwards
You're certain Erilyn couldn't have put that much distance between you that quickly - and you're not going to let the gap get any wider. Rush onwards, brave troll!

Each post containing your option must also include min 100 words. Trolls must all move individually - if you do not take an option for a day you will loose 4 ✦sleuthsparks✦. You will also be able to select what your troll did the previous day from a smaller list of the previous options, as a few will become unavailable. The selected option must be noted in your post along with your current option, for a total of 200 words. Any decisions that result in lost ✦sleuthsparks✦ must be added on in addition to the 4 ✦sleuthsparks✦ loss.

Sleuthsparks: 7/10
Choice: B.4 ---> B.6

Sarcel had turned her back for a moment, a moment. When she turned back around, she instantly could tell something was wrong, namely there was a very much missing presence from the spot next to her. Elidae(?) was still present, still clamped onto her hand. Lorata? Not so much.

Okay, okay, don't panic Sarcel. She still had one of them! She hadn't seen where Lorata had vanished into, and the tealblood she called out to earlier had been lost to the swath and the panic as well. Deep breathes. If she lost herself now, then who would be there for Elidae? She would mourn her losses later, though a pensive respect still welled in the cockles of her blood pusher. Farewell, brave soldier.

"Move it move it! L-Let's go!" she paused to cough, though she couldn't tell if it was from the gas or if her throat was still sore from her... exploits, earlier. <********>, she really hoped Alifax was alright. She hadn't caught a glimpse of the redblood since everything exploded into movement. Still, they had lingered here too long, they needed to get out of the gas now.

It felt like she blinked. Suddenly they were out of the door; fresh air never tasted sweeter. Well, maybe the gas was actually sweeter than this, but she preferred how clean it tasted. Taking a breath to collect herself, she realized how... exhausted she felt. Where did that come from? Was it... the gas? She didn't feel sick, her eyes weren't watering, she didn't feel like she was dying at least. Wouldn't it make sense if the gas was intended to kill...?

s**t, worry about that later Cincil. Her thoughts were snapped back into place when she heard faint sounds from the wall, and she cautiously craned her head towards them. The hell was that? As she started to follow the noise, she thought to speak, "E-Elidae? That's... y-your name, right?" it was who Lorata had called out for anyway.

"I-I'm Sarcel. I'll k-keep you safe, o-okay?" she wasn't sure how true she could stick to that, but she was going to damn well try—or go down in blazes with her. She wasn't going to leave behind a comrade. Part of her felt silly, Elidae was only a child, but they both had been through this four hours of hell and they were damn well getting out of it. Of course, the last time she felt so resolute about this, Lorata had been taken from her grasp despite her efforts. Damn it all. God dammit it all.

Despite the mounting frustration, Sarcel managed to find a door hidden behind a curtain. Erilyn must have had something similar to this in the other room! Ah, but... Sarcel wasn't about to try and confront her when she was supposed to be protecting the child... Maybe it would lead to a secret exit, seeing how they were locked in here. She bit her lip.

She managed to get the door open, peering into the darkness that stared back, "I-I think Awassi is u-using these passages, t-they should be free from t-that gas... it's r-really dark though..." Sarcel weighed her options.

"H-How are you holding up?" She looked down to Elidae, trying her best to wear a small smile. "T-Think we should try it?"

Aconan chooses the path B.5 and has 10 sleuthsparks remaining!

It was dark - and not just dark but pitch black - even Loupsus, who was now growling in unison with Aconan, could not see. Aconan sniffed the air, but even that didn't help her, and Loupsus was busy fretting so she couldn't ask him to track Awassi's scent. Still, Aconan mused, they'd either run off at quite a pace (and she couldn't hear running) - or they'd used this door as a distraction, and found another exit. Ignoring the fumbling and speaking going on around her, Aconan carefully swept her hands over the walls, the small greenblood pushing and pulling gently, searching for another exit.