Imladris Maze: RP Game - Closed!

[Zôrzimril]

The western path led to nothing new. The familiar wolf stood sentinel. He looked up, tongue out in a kind of grin when Tara and Sírdal entered the clearing. The wolf was clearly still hungry. "I can't give you anything right now, friend," she said. "I've got to get out of this maze." The wolf tilted his head quizzically. Tara looked East and South - she'd already been down the other paths. They started East.

As Tara looked back to the clearing, she noticed the wolf was no longer there. She glanced around and, to her shock, saw the wolf tailing them from a short distance. She stopped Sírdal and hopped to the ground to face the wolf. He gave a small whine and slunk submissively toward her, ears down. This wolf was uncannily intelligent and perhaps a bit emotionally manipulative, Tara concluded, and Sírdal seemed totally unconcerned by his presence. This last bit made up her mind. "Okay, come along. Just don't try to eat us. We'll try getting out of here together. If we can't, we'll just set up camp and live in this maze forever." She sprung back into the saddle and the three - Ranger, horse, and wolf - set off East.

[Quill]

Quill
Hopelessly Lost

It turned out that choosing randomly served her no better than choosing with deliberation. In only a few strides, the permanently lost pair arrived at a dead end - or rather, dead air off the edge of a cliff. For a long moment, Quill sat in the saddle and looked out over the admittedly lovely vista before them. Sunset dripped down the sides of the sky like wet paint. “You know something, Shanstrin?” she said after a pause. “I think we’ve earned ourselves a rest.” She slipped down from the mare’s back, took several parcels out of one of her saddlebags, and settled in the grass to partake of the dusk and some food. Shanstrin followed suit, grazing peacefully as the light faded around them. Only once they had both enjoyed a leisurely meal did Quill rise, mount Shanstrin once more, and guide the palomino back the way they had come before quietly turning North.

[Dimcairien Luiniel]

"Hello again," Zarâm snarled as she ran across the orc for what had to be the millionth time. This clearing was starting to look too familiar, and in a bad way. Knowing the orc wasn't going to be any help, Zarâm spat on the ground as she looked at her options. "I don't think I've tried going North from this place yet," she muttered, "though who knows if it will do any good. This bloody maze moves every single time." Growling low in her throat, Zarâm began to head along the Northern path. Hopefully this way would bring with it new territory.

[Silky Gooseness]

The door, heavy though it must be, opens soundlessly and weightlessly at a touch from Silarien’s hand, swinging to reveal a short path opening into a clearing.

Silarien freezes just a moment before she enters the clearing. She smells it before she sees it: a wolf.

Wolves are always larger than you expect, in life; a great beast more than waist high, golden eyes glowing, fur lightening into a spring coat. Silarien’s hands are already on the smooth wood of her bow, an arrow ready to nock; but even as the feathers bristle against her fingers, she stops. The wolf has made no move to attack her yet. Why not? Is this another guardian, like the tree? She is in no mood to wrestle - not after the tumble she took earlier.

Boldly Silarien strides forward, not breaking eye contact with the animal until she stops, a scant breadth before it, and drops her gaze.

“I am a friend, and I wish to pass”, she declares.

The wolf seems to be startled by her bold approach. But the animal’s haunches are shifting and his tail is starting to move. Still, Silarien’s reluctant to attack such a great beast - he’s clearly not a Warg, after all. She edges past him NORTH, her shoulder blades prickling- and runs for it, one hand on her long knife.

Just in case.

[Androthelm]

A hunt. It had only been a hunt -- and an unsuccessful hunt, by the traditional standards (did he catch anything? No). But mostly it had been a few days on the road again, the feeling of his horse beneath him in the day and the solid ground beneath him at night. The comforts of the wild -- All made better, Androthelm had long ago decided, by the promise of a warm bed and days of rest and reading, once he found his way back through the maze.

Ah, the maze. It was longer every time he returned to the hidden valley, Androthelm was sure of it. And more baffling. Last time, Éohelm had stumbled and nearly fallen in the gathering dusk. And then where would I be, lost and in the dark, and accompanied by a broken-legged horse?.
Well, soon enough it Androthelm would be lost, and in the dark, if he didn't begin finding his way through the maze. He had come up from the South, and had better press on.

The Whitemane nudged his horse forward, focusing on the path now -- so that he could focus on rest later.

[Laintaen]

@Tarawen - 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?

@Quill - 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! The shortcut North is also available so which direction will you go - North, East, South or West?

@Dimcairien Luiniel - 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?

@Sil - 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 - You enter the maze from the South. Almost immediately, you find your path blocked by the Bruinen. Nearby, there is an abandoned boat and a single rope tied between two trees, a typical bridge of Elves in Lórien. In addition to this, you may be able to swim over. How to you proceed?

[Aerlinn]

Spiders! In his mountains! The nerve of it! Yávië was still growling when his front paw plunged into empty air and he found himself tilting precariously downwards on the edge of a cliff.

"Roowffooo!" he yowled and windmilled backwards in an undignified scramble. From a sprawling heap a few feet back on the path, he twisted his head this way and that. Had anyone seen? The birds would laugh at him! Worse yet, the rodents would be in stitches! "Arooowr," he whined quietly, a little disheartened. A hound of the Noldor, brought to such straits!

He trotted back to the last clearing and resolutely turned south, though his ears were drooping just a bit. He was not lost, thank you very much. Aerlinn Mordagnir's most faithful companion did not, absolutely, positively ever, get lost.

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
Crossing the Bruinen

Androthelm surveyed the Bruinen for a moment before taking action, sitting stock-still in the saddle and surveying the stream. Sometimes, in the dry months, there were other fords besides the most famous one, and you might easily enough get a horse across here, if you knew the way.
But these are not those months. "Alright, old friend." The Whitemane murmured as he dismounted. "We get one shot at this, and if it doesn't work then you'll have to find your own way in."
Éohelm blinked. He was a a mostly ordinary horse, although long-lived as his master. Yet on occasion, when his heart was full of singing, Androthelm could almost believe his steed could understand him. Perhaps, perhaps, he was of some lost line of Felaróf, the Kingly Horses who Béma blessed--
"No time for stories, you old fool." Androthelm muttered. "Lets get this kingly horse into a boat."

[Zôrzimril]

The odd trio continued down the Eastern path. Tara glanced down at the wolf, who was padding along beside Sírdal, every now and then. She still couldn't figure him out. Was he just hungry, or did he want to stay with them indefinitely? She wasn't sure how the elves of Rivendell would respond to such a guest, if they should make it that far.

No sooner had she thought this than the ringing of immortal voices lifted in song caught her ear. The wolf's ears pricked as well, and he paused, one paw lifted, sniffing the air. Had they finally, at long last, made it to their end goal? She could not believe it. Had the gods of the maze - for she definitely thought there were some of these now, and that they weren't entirely benevolent - finally taken pity on her?

Tara's shoulders relaxed for the first time she'd entered the maze. She had not realized how tense she'd been this entire time. No sooner had she realized this than a tall elven warrior stepped out from the shadows to block their path. "Oh for Fredegar's sake," Tara spat, after he'd explained his presence and threatened to kill her. She had the advantage here in some ways - she was mounted, he was not. She had a wolf friend, he did not. But of course nothing had worked out the way she'd hoped in this maze. The wolf uttered a low growl, eyes fixed on the warrior.

Laegrist rang as she unsheathed it; she urged Sírdal to a gallop to charge the warrior. She feinted an attack from above before leaning down to attack low and sweep at his leg. She thought she'd made contact, but didn't pause to see the effect. She turned her horse to charge again. The warrior struck first this time. With a cry, she blocked low...

[Silky Gooseness]

Once again, her nose tells her what’s coming. Silarien crinkles it almost unconsciously. Her bow is already in her hand: made in Mirkwood; just a short bow, for travelling, and not the great stave of the longbow with the power to send a yew arrow slashing straight through the body of a giant spider. It’s a hunting bow, for game; but the curved tips hold a coiled strength. It’s as familiar to her as her own face. She has an arrow nocked against the stench even as she rounds the corner and sees it.

An Orc. It’s a dark, ugly blot on the landscape - glowing, fresh and green; whatever power Master Elrond wields stretching out over the lands near the Tumladen vale. How has such a creature made its way here, so far and undetected? Silarien doesn’t believe for a minute the Rivendell guards don’t know about it. It cannot be much of a threat, alone, homeless, friendless. But it turns with a snarl to face her; wide mouth full of broken teeth, the reddened, angry eyes squinting against the sun. It scuttles, keeping to the shade of the hedge, building up speed as it races towards her, long arms outstretched. No doubt she represents valuable bounty to it: weapons, wealth; a way out. Meat.

She turns, without thinking. Flicks her hair. Muscle memory sets the arrow to the bow, draws the fletching back cleanly, and releases, all in a single moment.

The last sigh of its putrid breath hits Silarien’s face before the Orc hits the floor, shot through the throat. With the Sun blinding it, it did not have much of a chance.

Silarien reclaims the arrow and stabs it clean of black blood in the clean grass, grimacing. It still reeks.

She heads WEST.

[Laintaen]

@Aerlinn - You head South. You follow the path to another clearing. Now the path splits into three directions: North, East and West. Which way will you go?

@Androthelm - You climb into the boat and push off from the bank. Unfortunately, the old boat starts taking on water and begins to sink. You are forced to abandon ship and make your way back to the bank to choose another method.

@Tarawen - You attack low. The Warrior rolls a 2 and blocks high. You win. You block low. The Warrior rolls a 1 and attacks low. You win both rounds!

The Warrior lowers their sword. “You are noble and strong. You have beaten me and I can no longer stand in your way. Go forth and live in bliss under Lord Elrond.” They step aside and you follow the path into Rivendell to join a great feast.

Congratulations on finishing the maze. I am going to send you a picture of the route you took! I'm sorry you were stuck there for so long.

@Sil - You head West. 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 in this clearing waits the wolf you encountered earlier. You've been here before! What will you do this time? And which way will you then go?

[Androthelm]

Androthelm and Éohelm
Very Wet

It was the horse's fault. Androthelm would have sworn that the beast had whinnied a snicker as the boat took on water.
"Last time I put you in a boat." groaned the old man as he drug himself up out of the water and onto the bank -- hair and beard and pack all soaked through, of course.
Éohelm was already grazing, minding his own business, and (though the saddlebags were soaked, of course) the water running down off his graying hide gave the steed a somewhat majestic look--
"No." said Androthelm. "No songs of the Mearas. You are finding your own way to Rivendell, and you are--" Here he struggled to remove his soaked pack for a moment before slinging it over Éohelm's saddle. "--Carrying my things with you."
Before turning back to face the river, Androthelm paused. I just need some good luck.
He returned to Éohelm, unstrapped his spear -- Béma's Bite -- from the saddle, and turned -- hurling it in a smooth motion over the river so that it stuck in the bank on the other side. Following, and trying to be spearlike himself, Androthelm took a running start and dove into the Bruinen, swimming as well as he could against the current.

[Zôrzimril]

The warrior had fallen for her feigned attack. Their swords came together with a crash that cut through the stillness of the woods as Tarawen blocked his blow while Sírdal sped past.

She turned her horse once more to face her opponent. Her wolf friend had stayed supremely and unnaturally still through all of this; they were now back at his side. The warrior acknowledged his defeat and permitted them to pass: "Go forth and live in bliss under Lord Elrond."

Tears springing to her eyes with relief, Tara smiled a rare smile and bowed her head to him. She sheathed Laegrist. "I thank you," she said. "I struggled here for what felt like an age, and to leave with the knowledge of victory makes it all the sweeter." Her stomach rumbled; the laden tables at the feast would be a most welcome sight.

She wasn't yet sure how her wolf friend would be received, but the warrior made no move to stop all three of them from passing out of the maze and into the Valley of Rivendell.

OOC: This was so fun! And that picture of my path was just . . . wow.

[Silky Gooseness]

Silarien’s feet slow as she approaches the clearing. Somehow, it feels familiar...

... she gazes into a set of lambent eyes.

“Hullo,” she says to the wolf. “Fancy seeing you here. Uh, are you lost too?”

The wolf says nothing.

“Well, this is awkward,” says Silarien.

The wolf says nothing. It’s sitting on its haunches in the last of the sun. It looks quite peaceful. Evidently, not hungry yet.

“Well... I won’t disturb you further, sir,” Silarien agrees. She backs off and away... WEST.

[Dimcairien Luiniel]

"Another clearing!" Zarâm snarled, letting out a few choice explictivities. "How many more of these things are there? And how long have I been in here?" She growled as she shook her head. It was too bright and too green. Why she had left the dusty paths of Mordor for this was beyond her. But, it would not do to get lost in the maze. They were counting on her to infiltrate the elven lands and she would do it. In a fit of annoyance, she turned East hoping that it would at least be a new clearing.

[Laintaen]

@Androthelm - Distrusting the other methods, you decide to swim across. Though the water is strong, you persevere and strike your way to the opposite bank. You are wet, but safe.

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?

@Sil - You follow the path West. 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?

@Dimcairien Luiniel - 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 in this clearing waits the Orc you encountered earlier. You've been here before! Which way will you go this time?

[Silky Gooseness]

Silarien presses on, uncertainly. She feels oddly disoriented. Perhaps it’s the sweetness of the air, or the lulling whisper of the leaves. The hedges are taking on a sameness which is confusing her, and the ground is springy enough she can barely hear her own footsteps.

Another clearing...

Silarien goes NORTH

[Nen]

A figure stumbled out of the underbrush onto the pathway. It was a petite figure, ragged and filthy in a robe that, that could have once been any colour, but was now several shades and layers of mud and dirt. Brown hair reeked of sweat and dust. A small blade tied about a small waist appeared to be the only weapon of defence. This shabby appearance told its own tale. And it could have gone several ways.

However, the brown eyes that gazed out of a heart-shaped face turned from fearful to hopeful. "Nearly there!" she said on a breath. And the trees appeared to echo her sentiments with a whoosh that settled about her in a gentle breeze mixed with the swirl of falling leaves.



--Mistriel is coming in from the SOUTH.--

[Quill]

Quill

The meal must have done more good than she had anticipated, for Quill experienced only a twitch of frustration when she saw the familiar tree that she had climbed only an hour or so earlier coming up ahead. There was no need to climb it now, of course. She could now easily see the shortcut she had taken before, the one that had eventually led her to the cliffside. She thought for a moment, chewing on her lip. Should she try the shortcut again, and choose a different direction, or take a stab at another path entirely? In the end she decided the process of elimination was the best route here, and returned to the shortcut North.

[Dimcairien Luiniel]

"Fredegar!" Zarâm shouted when she once again found herself in the clearing with the orc. She was completely turned around by this point. Would she ever find her way out of this bloody maze? She looked around at the paths that were her option. She was certain she had tried all of them, some of them likely numerous times, but the Southern path looked the least familiar. Perhaps she hadn't gone that way at. With a groan and a sigh, she headed down the path. If she were to ever get out of this place, she needed to start paying attention to the paths she had already chosen.

[Laintaen]

@Sil - 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! Which way will you go this time?

@Nen - You enter the maze from the South. Almost immediately, you find your path blocked by the Bruinen. Nearby, there is an abandoned boat and a single rope tied between two trees, a typical bridge of Elves in Lórien. In addition to this, you may be able to swim over. How to you proceed?

@Quill - 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 in this clearing lies the body of the Orc you killed earlier. You've been here before! Which way will you go this time?

@Dimcairien Luiniel - You head South. 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 filth,” they sneer. “You have travelled long to find your way here. But I cannot let you pass! May the Valar give me the strength to beat you, that you may never enter the Hidden Vale!” They level their sword at you. Do you attack high or low? Do you block high or low?

[Androthelm]

"Well." said Androthelm, dragging himself like a large and wet dog up and out of the river on the far bank. "That could have gone worse, all things considered."
He cast his eyes around the bank and saw three paths forward. He cast his eyes back at the shore behind him and saw that Éohelm was watching from the far bank, his skin glossy, his eyes sharp.
"Well, I wasn't going to ride you across." shouted Androthelm and, too his irritation but not much of his surprise, Éohelm whinnied like he was laughing and splashed through the shallows, swimming only the deepest part of the river and emerging soaked on the bank.
Sighing at the impudence of animals, Androthelm collected his spear from where it had fallen, looked around again--and decided the North route seemed hale and wholesome this season.

[Dimcairien Luiniel]

Zarâm stumbled into yet another clearing, but something was different about it this time. At last she could hear the sounds of laughter and music. They sounded very strange and uncomfortable to her orcish ears. But, she was not yet into the Hidden Valley. Alas, her way was blocked by an angry looking Elven Warrior, who glared at her and said, "Greetings filth,” they sneered. “You have travelled long to find your way here. But I cannot let you pass! May the Valar give me the strength to beat you, that you may never enter the Hidden Vale!" With that, he raised his sword and prepared to attack.

Zarâm, who was very determined to infiltrate the quiet valley, quickly pulled her knife out of its rather unmentionable storage place and prepared to fight the elf. She quickly raised her knife to attack low. A moment later, she spun and blocked high.

@Laintaen (I love how you changed the elven warrior's greeting to fit my dark personality.)

[Silky Gooseness]

Silarien’s eyes narrow as she sees a familiar sight. The tree rustles its leaves benignly at her, but she’s not fooled. “What charm is in thy fragrance, leafy one?” she scolds it. “Never before have I been so wayward led, nor my nose fooled in its route-finding. I am minded to blame thee.”

As you might expect, the tree makes no reply.

Silarien bites her lip. She’s thinking, drumming her fingers on the elbow of her other arm and tapping her foot, lightly enough she does not crush the grass.

Finally - decisively - EAST she goes.

[Laintaen]

@Bombadillo - 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?

@Dimcairien Luiniel - You attack low. The Warrior rolls a 2 and blocks high. You win. You block high. The Warrior rolls a 2 and attacks high. You win both rounds.

The Warrior lowers their sword. "Alas, but you have beaten me! Run forth before I regain my strength! You shall not get far though. No doubt you will run into another, more skilled than I, that will end your twisted life." You hurry past the Warrior and head down the path to Rivendell, though what welcome you meet with is anyone's guess.

As the Warrior regains their breath, they think "I'll be lucky if I only get fired for letting an Orc into Imladris."

Congratulations on finishing the Maze!

@Sil - 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?

[Silky Gooseness]

Silarien strides on confidently. Surely - surely - she cannot be far now from Tumladen. She feels as though she's been in this maze for hours, although as she shades her eyes with a slim hand and looks up, the Sun is still smiling at her. And she's hot. The hedges and hillocks at least provide a green, cooling presence. As much as Silarien is tempted to simply leap over them and gain a better view - or a crow's flight path - she has a strange feeling this will only cause her to be further entangled in the maze of the Hidden Valley. It opens to none except at its whim.

And so she continues on: EAST.

[Aerlinn]

Yávië was definitely not turned around, certainly not trotting through this forest in circles, and absolutely not scratching odd symbols on the ground with one daintily extended claw. Circle, circle, pawprint, spindly leaf, rock, circle...

But if someone had listened very closely to the rumbling woofs in the back of his throat, and if that someone had been particularly attuned to the nuances of canine speech, they might have heard something like "...if the cliff was one short dash east of the spiders, and the spiders were a morning stroll south of the wolf and the wolf was two good stick throws and five long jumps south of..."

In fact, the wolfhound was so busy thinking that he padded straight through the next clearing without really noticing it was there, and continued south.

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
Doing Some Comparative Mythology

Elf-puzzles and elf-riddles... And a proper maze, at last. Better than a river. thought Androthelm, examining the keys.
A stone door, perhaps, unlocked with silver? That felt suitably elvish--but no! That combination was the work of the dwarves of Erebor, if the songs spoke true. So, with a mind to the lessons taught by folk-tales and fairy-stories, Androthelm selected those which seemed the least: the brass key, the wooden door.

[Dimcairien Luiniel]

With a devilish smirk, Zarâm defeated the Elven Warrior, who slumped, exhausted against a tree. For a moment Zarâm contemplated killing him there and then, but decided it would be far more amusing to watch him get slain by Elrond for letting an orc into the Hidden Valley of Rivendell.

She began to hurry down the path to Rivendell, listening to the sound of the elves partying and wondering what would await her. Oh, what she chaos could cause in this place. It was time to do some pilfering of elven treasures that would greatly excite her customers back home in the Black Land.

OOC@Laintaen: Thanks for putting up with having an orc running through the maze. It was rather fun to tap into my evil side for this quest.

[Laintaen]

@Sil - 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 in this clearing lies the body of the Orc you killed earlier. You've been here before! Which way will you go this time?

@Aerlinn - You head South. Unfortunately, you do not get far before you find your path blocked by the Bruinen, with no way across. A dead end. You must go back and pick another path.

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

@Dimcairien Luiniel - *shakes fist* :smiley8:

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
Being Practical

A failure! Then the moralists were wrong (when it came to writing down folktales, anyway).
Well, Androthelm had the brass key in his hand anyway. Might as well do the practical thing and try it on the stone

[Pele Alarion]

Tala
Approaching from the South

After a shipwreck that set her free, endless roaming and mere survival, the former Umbarian slave found herself somewhere near Rivendell. Yet she was not that sure what she would even do, if she was successful in finding the place. Perhaps she could obtain some sort of useful piece of clothing instead of tattered rags she had on and snatch a bit of proper food. If she was caught, she imagined that at best she'd be driven off immediately, and at worst she'd get killed. A hope of getting even bits of real bread seemed too tempting to give it up, now that she was here.

[Silky Gooseness]

Silarien hisses through her teeth as she beholds the body of the orc again. It doesn’t look right here - a blemish on the landscape. But there’s nothing to be done, short of rolling him into the hedge. Perhaps he’s even a warning or deterrent of sorts, but she still wrinkles her nose at him before striding NORTH quickly, wanting to get away.

[Aerlinn]

Burble, gurble, blub!

Yávië huffed a breath into the cool water of the Bruinen and snapped distractedly at the resulting bubbles. The running water was luxury to his paws and addled brain. He dawdled in the shallows for long moments, reluctant to turn back into the forest. Why had it turned so strange? He was only trying to get home. He sighed a long doggy sigh and then broke into a fit of furious sneezing as he inhaled water on the other end. Woo--roa-a-a-choooooo! Ruuuu-ckaaa-oof-chooo!

With a final snort and a grumble, the wolfhound returned to the last clearing and turned west.

[Laintaen]

@Androthelm - You fit the brass key into the stone 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. But before you can move on, a wolf from the mountains appears. Will you fight this creature or flee? How will you kill it or distract it long enough to get away? And which way will you then go?

@Pele Alarion - You enter the maze from the South. Almost immediately, you find your path blocked by the Bruinen. Nearby, there is an abandoned boat and a single rope tied between two trees, a typical bridge of Elves in Lórien. In addition to this, you may be able to swim over. How to you proceed?

@Sil - 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?

@Aerlinn - You follow the path West. Unfortunately, you do not get far before the path fades before an impassable wall of trees. A dead end. You must go back and pick another path.

[Silky Gooseness]

Another clearing, in a series of another endless clearings. Silarien looks up in what is approaching despair. Will there ever be an end to this maze? Will she ever see the fabled valley of Tumladen and reach the Last Homely House? Will she fade away, endlessly treading these glorious, grassy paths? Or just make her way back to the wolf and let him eat her?

Despondently, once again she tries heading NORTH

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
Defending the March

Androthelm pushed through the unlocked door, still slightly perturbed at the failure of his folk-lore and myth-lore to select the right key and cast his gaze across the splitting path. Well! Another chance for the Myths to speak true-- but before Androthelm could launch into even the very first of his verses on Hyaryama, the Left-Handed Elf, there was a fearsome growl as a wolf appeared out of the trees.

"Well then!" cried the aging rider "It seems the path to Imladris does not go unguarded!" and, speaking thus (and seeing, as he spoke, the days of his youth -- the battles on the Marches of Rohan against Dunlendings and Mountain-Orcs alike), he settled into a low crouch with his spear (which was really too long to be effectively used on foot, but nevertheless!) set sharply forward.
"Back!" cried Androthelm "Back, Nauronotton!" and advanced.

[Laintaen]

@Sil - 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! Which way will you go this time?

@Androthelm - After engaging the wolf, your choices of path are North, East, South or West. Which way will you go?

[Silky Gooseness]

Silarien’s jaw drops open. She can’t believe it. Surely she can’t have retraced her steps - or gone in a full circle? Is this maze moving? She suppresses the urge to dramatically drop to her knees and cry “Why, Varda, why”, as she suspects only the tree is listening, and the tree has already made clear it has No Sympathy for Lost Wandering Elves.

Stupid tree.

Well- she’s already tried East and West - so SOUTH it will have to be...

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
Moving Through The Wood

Now the difficult part. No matter how often he visited Imladris, no matter how long he stayed--Androthelm never could get a grip on the paths through these wandering places. Perhaps that was the point.
Still, heading to the west never did anyone any harm.

[Pele Alarion]

Tala

She had stepped into the maze, but had not even taken too many further steps when she found herself standing on a river bank. Tala frowned, observing the waters and evaluating the current. If she were to continue she had to get over the river, unless she went straight back the way she had come.

Going down on one knee by the river, she dipped her hands into the Bruinen and splashed some of the water on her face; it was refreshing, but she did not think want to attempt swimming across - she was not very strong, and the current might just as well overpower her. Tala stood up again, and a good look around showed her a couple other options.

A boat! But if it was just left here, perhaps it was damaged? And then there was that rope. For a few moments the woman debated between the one and the other option, and then walked over to the tree, climbed up to take a hold of the rope. She crossed her legs over it and grabbed the rope tightly, hanging from it; at any rate she hoped she would be able to pull herself across, even if she earned a few blisters on her hands.

Choose rope

[Laintaen]

@Sil - You head South. Your path once again leads you into a small cave and you see the three doors before you. You've been here before! All doors stand open, since you opened all three on your last attempt. You chose the stone door last time. Will you take this path again, or take another door? Which door will you take: stone, wood or steel?

@Androthelm - You head West. 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 climb up onto the rope and begin to walk. Unfortunately, you do not possess the grace and balance of the Elves in Lórien. You lose your balance and fall into the water below. But you did not make it far and scramble back onto the bank to choose another method.

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
Musing Philosophically

"Well," said Androthelm, looking over the pathways before him. "As they say, the only way to not get turned around is to keep going the same direction." He pressed on to the west.

[Silky Gooseness]

Silarien’s groan is heartfelt. It echoes around the cave. At least all the three doors still stand open. Time for a different choice, since retracing her steps over and over is beginning to irk her. But which one? The steel one glows as polished metal does. There’s something forbidding about it. The wood one is slightly warm under her fingertips. Natural things... growth... trees... is the wooden door more likely to lead her to Rivendell? As likely as anything else in here, Silarien supposes...

WOODEN DOOR

[Aerlinn]

"But I'm a dooooooooooog," Yávië barked helplessly. "I can't be stopped by a measly tree wall! I can squeeze through any gap! Leap over any fallen trunk! Chase any dastardly squirrels to their miserable ends!" But the wolfhound was big, the gaps were small, and the trees were looming. Stiff-necked and affronted, he turned away and headed EAST at the previous, and all too familiar, clearing.

He wouldn't have minded a squirrel or two for a snack, come to think of it.

[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.

@Silarien - You take the wooden door. 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 large spider native to Mirkwood drops out of the trees. Will you fight this creature or flee? How will you kill it or distract it long enough to get away? And which way will you then go?

@Aerlinn - 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. But in this clearing lies the body of the spider you killed earlier. You've been here before! Which way will you go this time?

[Aerlinn]

Yávië
Haunted and Confused with @Silarien

He growled, and the spider didn't move. He nudged it with his nose, yuck!, and it didn't flinch. He gave one of its leg an experimental nibble--crunchy with strong notes of cobweb--and it didn't so much as twitch. He turned back towards the path, and the air shifted behind him, an ominous presence at his rear...

"Ao! RooOOOOoF!" he spun and jumped with a snarl, huge jaws poised! They closed on nothing.

The single spider still lay belly-up in the middle of the clearing, its black blood long soaked into the earth. The trees were silent. Yávië's hackles edged up and he slunk backwards away from the monster. What new demon was this, that could lurk unseen and impossible at the edge of his senses? A flash of red caught his eye then, seeming to brush against the sensitive fur of his ears, and he twisted a third time. His teeth pierced something very thin and he felt fabric, dry and cottony on his tongue. Then, just as quickly, the sensation was gone again. When he opened his mouth to drop his prize to the ground, nothing fell.

The wolfhound whined nervously and crept westwards.

[Silky Gooseness]

Silarien knows when spiders are nearby. Years of dwelling in Mirkwood have taught her the tell-tale signs. The wood is quieter; no chittering of squirrels, no birdsong. The air, always peculiar in Mirkwood, is filtered by silk. But she hadn’t expected to find one here. Is the maze making its own phantom enemies for her?

She has an arrow set to her bow and coolly fires for the dark cluster of eyes, and then another before the first has even struck. It can take a few to keep those creatures down and Silarien keeps her distance until it rolls belly up, its grotesque legs spasming and curling close to the immense body.

But it’s not the only phantom she seems to sense. Is that a dog she can smell? No, it can’t be, even as she rubs her fingers together at the sensation of a furry muzzle near her hand. What on Earth is going on?

Deeply perplexed, she follows the feeling WEST

[Laintaen]

@Aerlinn - You head West. 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 wolf from the mountains appears. Will you fight this creature or flee? How will you kill it or distract it long enough to get away? And which way will you then go?

@Silarien - You head West. 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 in this clearing waits the wolf you encountered earlier. You've been here before! Which way will you go this time?

[Pele Alarion]

Tala

The rope turned out to be very deceptive, and no sooner had Tala climbed up, it began to vibrate and move this way and that. No matter how hard the woman tried to hold on to it, eventually she ended up in the river with a splash. For a moment she sat there, suddenly amused at the awkwardness of the moment and laughing at herself, and then got herself back up the bank. She wrung out her clothing and headed for the boat. Perhaps that would work: she really did not want to swim if it could be helped at all. Carefully Tala stepped into the boat and pushed off the bank to see if she could paddle her way across without ending up in the river yet again.

Trying the boat