❧ what do I feel?

[dramatispersonae]

You head into the hedge maze. Immediately after everyone has crossed the stone, the leaves rustle loudly, and the hedges spring to life behind you, swiftly blocking the way back. Your only option is to proceed forward.

The pathway turns slightly up ahead, then turns again, twisting and winding deeper into the garden, before eventually opening up into a small clearing.

Comments

[dramatispersonae]

In the center of this clearing is a wide, deep, empty pit. There seems to be no way around it to the other side, where you can see a door leading deeper into the maze.

Strung above the pit, hanging from a thin chain that seems to be attached to the sky itself, is a too-small birdcage, on which a giant crow is perched, its wings spread wide. The gate of the cage is open, clanking slightly in the breeze from its wings.

"Welcome," says the crow, with a voice that sounds like it's drifting on the wind. "Tell me, why did you choose to come this way . . .?"

[bluejade]

[if I could remember how to fly...]

Why do you want to know?

[dramatispersonae]

"Because your answer is valuable to me."

[bluejade]

Because sometimes I have to figure out why I do what I do.

[engager]

Er... I suppose because feelings are important to me... hrmmm...

[dramatispersonae]

"You suppose?"

[engager]

That's how I was thinking of it. Action... is based off feelings. Maybe identity is too, sometimes.

[ahorseforgood]

[to the crow, though it isn't 'audible' to anyone else; her mind-voice is serene.]

Because who I am and what I must do is known, so only what I feel about it can change or tip the balance. . .

[dramatispersonae]

"You are certain of what to do?"

[ahorseforgood]

I am.

[merurulince]

Uh, I guess because I wanted to go with the least obvious choice? Y'know, just in case.

[dramatispersonae]

"How is it less obvious?"

[merurulince]

Well, I mean, 'What do I do?' called out the most to me, along with kind of 'Who am I?', but I thought, y'know, what if those weren't the right choices? Like, what if the idea is to go with what you already know?

[dramatispersonae]

The light seems to slowly grow dimmer as you continue along the narrow path. It’s difficult to see where you’re going—it starts to seem less of a hedge maze and more of a clustered forest path, wild and winding.

You exit into a clearing in which there is a single tall, high tower, with a single door at its base. The tower itself is heavily entwined with vines, thorns heavy and glinting like long needles. At the top of the tower sits a young man with long blond curls, a blindfold tight around his eyes. He is perilously close to the edge and a hard wind blows, sending wild flurries of leaves and flowers around.

"Greetings, stranger," he calls out.

[ahorseforgood]

[takes a hurried step forward, concerned...]

Greetings.

[dramatispersonae]

He leans forward a little, as if craning to see, although he obviously . . . can't . . .

"Will you answer me a question?"

[ahorseforgood]

[with a trace of worried sharpness overlaying her mental 'tone']

Certainly, if you would please stay exactly as you are. I don't want you to fall.

[engager]

[Did in fact scream]

[ok but carrying on and]

Hello! That doesn't look, uh, very safe??

[dramatispersonae]

"Oh, it's not safe at all!" He wobbles a little, trying to lean forward. "I could get hurt very badly!"

[engager]

PLEASE BE CAREFUL

[merurulince]

Uh, hey! Don't you think that's a little dangerous?

[dramatispersonae]

"Absolutely!" he calls back, laughing. "It makes no sense at all."

[merurulince]

Soo... why are you up there? And with a blindfold, too?

[bluejade]

Greetings. Are you comfortable up there?

[dramatispersonae]

"I like it here," he says agreeably.