Chatterbox: Inkwell

ROCK PAPER SCISSORS

You glare at your co-worker, who is laughing at your expression. “Come on, it was just a game of rock paper scissors!” he says, still laughing. “But if you LOSE, you have to take the other person's WORK!” you growl. Your co-worker starts laughing again. “Oh well. Go sort those books in section three,” he says, giggling. You glare at him again and stomp off. Stupid extra work… you think, slamming books onto the shelf. But eventually your rage is tamed and you find yourself at ease with your job working at your local library.
An hour later, you leave the library, tightening your scarf, bracing yourself against the cold November wind. You slog down the sidewalk, your boots crunching bits of dirty snow. Finally you make it to your street. Weird… why is there a bunch of gravel on the sidewalk? You wonder, hopping over a rather large piece of gravel that's in front of your mailbox. In fact, gravel is in a wiggly trail going up to your front door. You shrug, blaming the construction workers down the street, and get out your key. Stepping inside your house, you’re shocked to find that there's gravel scattered on the furniture, scissors wedged in the couch, and… toilet paper wound around everything?!? What in the world happened? You sit down on the couch, then leap up again as a scissor blade cuts into your leg. While going into the kitchen to get a band-aid, you spot something on the counter. It seems to be a gray envelope. You pick it up and open it. Inside is a flat, thin rock that's engraved with curly writing. You start to read…

Dear letter recipient,

Oh, hello there! So nice of you to open this! I am Queen Agabba of Northern Gravelah, but technically I'm the ruler of all Gravelah… Oh, you might be thinking-what is Gravelah? Why, Gravelah is one of the three kingdoms! We are bordered by Tailett Papero and Scissoni. Recently the three kingdoms broke out into war for control of the land. I hear you are a CBer? (Yes, even we in a different world know about the CB.) We also know that the CB is formed of some very intelligent, amazingly resourceful people! We would be delighted if you came to stay with us for a while-a break from your job and annoying co-workers! You would help us strategize (And fight if you wish) and win the war. Of course, there’ll still be some fun involved-Gravelah is home to Gravel Mountain, which, despite its name, is perfect for rock climbing and camping. If you would like to come, please fill out the form attached. Hope to see you soon! 

                                                  ~Queen Agabba of Northern Gravelah

PS-My assistant will send a portal. 

PPS-sorry for any messes in your house. We were racing the Scissoni people and the Tailett Papero people to invite you! 

You shrug. It’ll be a nice break-but how did they know about your co-worker? You look around at the mess in your house and decide to go. So you pull out the form, grab a pen and fill it in.

NAME:

APPROXIMATE AGE:
GENDER/PRONOUNS:

SPECIAL TALENTS:

APPEARANCE:
PERSONALITY:
LUGGAGE:
COMPANIONS (TWO MAXIMUM):
PERCENTILE CHANCE OF HAVING MAGIC:
IF OVER 50% MAGIC CHANCE, WHAT TYPE?:
Please fill out a form for your companions as well. Again, hope to see you soon!

You finish filling out the form and the second you take your pen off the paper/stone, a whirling, stony gray portal appears in front of you. Suddenly, with a pop, your battered suitcase lands next to you. You shrug (for like the fiftieth time) and grab your suitcase, then jump in. This is going to be one heck of an adventure.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Yes. This is a ski lodge. Two companions maximum (EG-one AE, one CAPTCHA or two AEs, one AE, one CAPTCHA, two CAPCTHAs… etc.) Feel free to guess who I am. 

And I know it sounds silly-a ski lodge based on rock paper scissors? Oh no. Ski lodges are murder mysteries, and Ive been studying. Be prepared. Note-this is going to be a shortish ski lodge, as I am preoccupied with other things--but when the idea struck, it stuck, and now I have to finish my duty as the narrator and write out your deaths. Have a nice day.