His blazing eyes remain trained on the cauldron as his reflection turns instead to visions. Jack observes the spellbound equines don their costumes and he can’t help the shrill cackle of glee that comes bursting from his jagged, carved mouth. Wait a minute. Not one of them chose the three he made perfectly abundant. Not one vampire? Not a single ghost? And what, praytell, was wrong with a sexy glowing skeleton suit? Oh, but they’d rather be vermin and mediocre white men peddling INSURANCE. Well, so be it then.
A thin, wispy hand reaches for the lid to his pumpkin head and he pulls it aside with a moist fwop before plucking a handful of seeds from within his noggin. Jack replaces the orange plug and casts the seeds into his bubbling potion. Immediately, the concoction erupts into purple steam. Slowly, painfully, they become their costumes through and through: a mouse, a classically handsome man in a Superman leotard, a puppy, a mountie, Sexy Jake from State Farm, a child in a hood, another child with pigtails, some kind of teenage boy who will undoubtedly have many online friends, a 30 story tall monster from the cretaceous era who hassles people for money, a dirty man with scurvy, a possum, and a horse. He finds himself amused by the last one, truthfully.
“You made your choice, you chose your fate.
My monsters now all lie in wait.
Escape the woods and cross the river,
Avoid the things that make you shiver!”
Their bodies are awkward and new, he knows, so he bestows each one with a gift, a little something to help them make their way through this first trial. Jack snorts and hacks and spits a gooey pumpkin-flavored loogie right into the cauldron that seems to calm it a bit. From the woods, a sort of cackling can be heard as witches mount their broomsticks, and spells are whispered through the trees. Trees groan and begin to flex their branches, testing their strength. Massive pumpkins bob and bounce in place despite the river’s vicious current. Jack, meanwhile, sips his cocoa and settles in to watch their efforts.
A thin, wispy hand reaches for the lid to his pumpkin head and he pulls it aside with a moist fwop before plucking a handful of seeds from within his noggin. Jack replaces the orange plug and casts the seeds into his bubbling potion. Immediately, the concoction erupts into purple steam. Slowly, painfully, they become their costumes through and through: a mouse, a classically handsome man in a Superman leotard, a puppy, a mountie, Sexy Jake from State Farm, a child in a hood, another child with pigtails, some kind of teenage boy who will undoubtedly have many online friends, a 30 story tall monster from the cretaceous era who hassles people for money, a dirty man with scurvy, a possum, and a horse. He finds himself amused by the last one, truthfully.
“You made your choice, you chose your fate.
My monsters now all lie in wait.
Escape the woods and cross the river,
Avoid the things that make you shiver!”
Their bodies are awkward and new, he knows, so he bestows each one with a gift, a little something to help them make their way through this first trial. Jack snorts and hacks and spits a gooey pumpkin-flavored loogie right into the cauldron that seems to calm it a bit. From the woods, a sort of cackling can be heard as witches mount their broomsticks, and spells are whispered through the trees. Trees groan and begin to flex their branches, testing their strength. Massive pumpkins bob and bounce in place despite the river’s vicious current. Jack, meanwhile, sips his cocoa and settles in to watch their efforts.
The rules for round two are a bit tricker, now, so ask questions if you’re confused!
1. The gifts are as follows: @Rare is a giant mouse but she can shrink herself and return to normal twice. @Saffron can use super speed for a total of one minute, divided as he sees fit. @despoina may charm enemies with her puppy-dog eyes one time. @Anuya may summon a moose to fight for her one time, and she’s maple-scented. @Cyan gets the power of insurance, so if he’s mortally wounded, Jack has him covered. @Elliana has a basket of goodies that she may distract enemies with one time. @Llorona has super strength that she may use once. @sawbone can use his depressing lyrics to make enemies cry themselves to sleep once. @gaspard is a horse-sized plesiosaur who has both fins and four human legs sticking out of the bottom of him. The legs are very hairy. @Sintra has a magical jar of dirt that lets her become undead and therefore unable to die or feel damage for one minute. @Beechbone is a horse-sized possum who can play dead and hide things in her weird skin pouch. @Etojo may become a Trojan horse, of sorts, in that he can deploy a small squad of miniature people from his belly to help him fight twice.
2. Everyone’s normal traits/defects/abilities have now been taken from them.
3. End your post at the base of the mountain, facing either a cave or a path up the mountain itself.
4. No more than 1,500 words per reply.
5. This round will end on October 10th at 11:59 pm. Late replies will receive a penalty in the third round.