Game: Hermaeus Mora's Labyrinth

[MARS]

Mars started sweating as he realized that the answer didn't come to him as easily as the others. He closed his eyes and nade his guess, praying to the divines that it was right.

[Musicman247]

The Labyrinth was silent and dark except for the shimmering light emanating from the Frost Atronach. Slowly a darkness covered the group, and the silence became unbearable. Then Hermaeus Mora spoke.

“The answer to the riddle was, of course, a chain. I was lenient and allowed chainmail as an answer as well. Most of you will continue through the maze, but first we must separate the wheat from the chaff.”

Zorok, terrified, looked around rapidly, his eyes pleading with his companions for help. The Frost Atronach’s right arm plunged downward through the Orc’s skull, freezing and crushing it at the same time. The last thought that ran through Zorok’s mind was that he would never again see the young Orc that held his heart. The Atronach lifted the skewered Orc’s body into the air, freezing it solid as it rose, then smashed it against the wall of the Labyrinth, shattering it into a thousand pieces. The Atronach then walked past the group toward the beginning of the maze.

The wall in front of the group slowly sank into the ground until there was a passage opening where it used to be. The group began to walk through the opening. Arnand thought, “He missed me!” and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Not so fast, Arnand!” bellowed Mora. “You also have failed, and so have met the end of your journey. Your answer amused me, however, so I will not make your passing as violent as those who have gone before you.”

The breton's face petrified as he heard heavy sounds, then suddenly a cage rose around him, extinguishing any flame of hope that was left for this young man. He could have not wished for a better end. Knowing that he wanted to die this way, he faced it with courage. As the poisionous gas was released, Arnand inspired his final, deep breath, and slowly closed his eyes. His body slumped to the ground and the cage disappeared into the earth along with Arnand.

The group, now only 9, was now faced with a choice: go left or forward. They knew the time limit in effect, and they knew the severity of the situation.

[Frost Mage]

Ra'daaz watched with large eyes as the two were crushed, too shocked to say anything. He felt rather proud of himself, though still slightly worried about the next riddle.

[MARS]

Mars laughed aloud as he realized that he had answered correctly.

[OblivionDuruza]

"Only the greatest survive," Elidor said pointedly, a slight sneer appearing momentarily on his lips. "Well, let us press onwards," he declared.

[ArgonianDunmer]

"Which way?" Hannibal mumbled, still stunned by the two most recent deaths. "I think I need to lie down," he announced airily.

[Leilah]

"I want to go left," Leilah said. "Yep. Left."

[Black Thunder]

Spoiler:

LOL, I would never had guessed... well, at least I had a good time. Good luck to all!

[Deandra]

"I'd rather be consistent in our direction, and go straight," Deandra said.

[OblivionDuruza]

"I concur," Elidor said, "my vote is to go straight."

[Frost Mage]

"I say we go straight also." Said Ra'daaz with a flick of his wrist, almost as if he was scolding those who said otherwise. "Yes, straight is my vote."

[AddictedtoMorrowind]

Atomius was sad on the inside for the two who died. However, he voted straight.

[Musicman247]

The 48 hours being up and only a few of the participants voting led the group to travel straight. They walked for what seemed like quite a while. They were hopeful that they had chosen a path that led to another crossroads rather than a dead end, knowing that the further they ventured into the maze the harder the riddles would get.

Unfortunately, they ran into what they feared: a dead end. Hermaeus Mora's voice boomed from above,

"Back so soon? Good. I look forward to seeing how you handle this next riddle. I can see that you are anxious to hear it, so I will not waste any more of your or my time. Here it is:

What can show as bright as the sun, as dark as night, as pretty as a flower, or as ugly as a hag?

You once again have 48 hours to let me know what you think the answer is."

The group was left alone with their thoughts.

Spoiler:

Just a reminder, these riddles are not necessarily solvable by looking in the wiki.

[Deandra]

Deandra cocked her head as she thought. "Something about the wording... hmm..."

[OblivionDuruza]

"An unfortunate dead-end," Elidor muttered, as he considred the riddle, "but not insurmountable."

[Arch-Mage Matt]

Spoiler:

Would it be illegal to ask if we're looking for an ES specific object or something general, like the last two?

[Musicman247]

Spoiler:

Would it be illegal to ask if we're looking for an ES specific object or something general, like the last two?

Spoiler:

Completely legal. Most of the riddles will be generic and not Elder Scrolls specific. I tried to make that clear in the first post. Sorry if I did not make it clear enough.

[ArgonianDunmer]

"This one is a little tricky," Hannibal mumbled, "but it rings a bell yes."

[Arch-Mage Matt]

"Hmm... I have an idea. It's a gambit, though." Matt said thoughtfully. "The question itself is a bit ambiguous, but I'm fairly certain I have it."

[Kerr]

"I have no idea!" screamed Kerr.

[Deandra]

Deandra grimaced at Kerr. "So foolish and rude," she muttered to herself.

[Musicman247]

"Is someone giving up?" chuckled Mora. "All the more researchers for my library! Now you understand why should not mock a god!"

Spoiler:

Those of you who have answered, good for you! Those of you who haven't for shame. I am going to give you until Midnight CST (GMT -6 (in 5 hours)) to give a guess. I am also going to extend the deadline for Frosty until he returns from his camping trip. I'll let Mora tell you who got it right tonight at Midnight, and we'll pretend Frosty is in a coma or something.

[OblivionDuruza]

"Those unfit to for the challenge must be removed," Elidor stated flatly.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

"My answer certainly fits," Matt mumbled. "But is it correct? Bah, I hate these types of riddles."

[Musicman247]

The ground beneath the group began to shake as pressure plates formed under each person. The voice that the group had come to dread spoke again.

“I am going to do things a little differently this time. I enjoy seeing how individuals react to certain situations. Pressure is a wonderful example. As each of you have noticed, most of you are now standing on your own pressure plate. This last riddle was quite difficult, so I will let you each decide when you find out if you were correct or not. But first let me deal will two that decided not to answer at all.”

A whistling sound could be heard coming down the corridor. An arrow as large as an oar flew out of the darkness and caught Mars in his right shoulder, lifting him off his feet and impaling him against the wall of the Labyrinth. Mars cried out in agony and tried to pull the arrow out of his shoulder. As he struggled another arrow pierced the darkness and struck home in his left leg. The anguish in Mars’ voice made some of the others cringe. A third and a fourth arrow whistled by the group, hitting true to their aim in the left shoulder and right knee of Mars’ body. His eyes wide, Mars gasped for breath and shrieked one final time before the last arrow pierced his heart. Mars hung there, dead.

Leilah, distracted by the arrows, began to wander off by herself into the darkness of the Labyrinth. The last anyone ever heard from her was, “Tentacles! Now I get it!” and a squishy wrenching sound as she was pulled limb from limb.

The dead end once again disappeared into the ground, leaving an opening and another decision. The group could continue straight or turn to the right.

“You have 48 hours to both determine your fate as well as make your choice in direction.”

Spoiler:

So as soon as you're ready to find out if your answer is correct, just post something like "Music Man stepped off of his pressure plate" You can discuss the riddle amongst yourselves if you would like, or just step off the plates. This should build a little more tension as well as give FrostMage a chance to get back from his camping trip and answer the darn thing.