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A masquerade ski
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A masquerade ski
A masquerade ski lodge!
Has this ever been done before? Well, whatever. Here it is.
You slam the computer shut and rub your eyes. The essay is good enough. A solid B. Hopefully. You don't need anything more, just some sleep. You push away your chair and walk off to the kitchen, hoping to grab a snack before you go to bed. The kitchen is still and quiet when you enter, and you scan the fridge for anything good. Something catches your eye. It's a note.
Look in the third drawer
That's all. You flip it over, but it's just a semi-soggy piece of paper. Well, what do you have to lose? You go look in your mom's desk drawer. Nothing is in there. But it's not the only desk in the house. When you go back to your room and open the third drawer, you find a gilded envelope with a mysterious seal in the shape of a masquerade mask.
You stare at the envelope. It couldn't be for you. Too fancy. But sure enough, written on the back is:
To the CBer holding this.
The CB? What does the CB have to do with this? It couldn't be a...ski lodge, could it?
(SPOILER IT IS)
Dear random person holding this,
You are invited to the notorious Mulberry Mansion. Which is a mansion, if you haven't heard of it. I, Madam Masquerade (OBVIOUSLY that's not my real name, if you couldn't figure that out, just throw this note in the recycling) own it, and am throwing a masquerade. I throw no parties other than those where the guests come masked. On to the point. You are invited to my exclusive masquerade ball, which will begin on December first. Do not give away your identity! Instead, don a fancy mask, whether it's painted wood carved into a cat's head or fabric with so many feathers I can't see your head at all. Don the most wonderful outfit or costume you can imagine and you'll find your way to Mulberry Mansion. Do not reveal who you are...it could be dangerous.
It will be a multiple-day grand party with balls and games and food provided. You'll also get your own room in the mansion, which will change to look however you'd like. All for free, of course.
Just fifteen spots. Hurry to claim one by RVSPing immediately!
~Madam Masquerade
- - - - -
So, a ski lodge where no one knows who is who! Please make up a name, based on your outfit and mask. There will be fifteen spots and it will begin on December 1st, because NaNo. One more thing! In the spirit of a masquerade, you may guess who your fellow partygoers are. You may also guess who I am.
Good luck, and have fun!
submitted by Madam Masquerade, age Unknown, Mulberry Mansion
(November 19, 2020 - 6:20 pm)
(November 19, 2020 - 6:20 pm)
Name (alias, not your real CB name): Senorita Crepusculo
Gender/pronouns: She/her
Mask: A dark Navy blue mask with a smile/almost-smirk on it, with stars around the edges
Outfit: A plain navy-blue gown with stars around the collar and edges, made of silk, and short black boots. I can't stand high heels.
Personality: Quite sarcastic, in a charming way.
I'm very sorry for not posting this earlier, I'm afraid I had forgotten. I hope it is not too late.
(November 25, 2020 - 8:59 pm)
Florence Flour-Que sat down heavily, her hands shaking. "W-what should we do?"
"We should follow the clue," Lady Cerulean said firmly.
"Where snow fell," Gold Rose said, "let's go to Kitty's room."
The guests were nervous, but eventually they followed Gold Rose to Kitty's room. The room was silent and still, and it looked as of it had never been touched. Kitty Cat's body was gone.
Suddenly, the Plague Doctor flinched.
"What is it?" Pea asked, instantly turning to them.
On their shoulder was a note, just like the one that had been in Nightfall's hand. The Plague Doctor paused, then pointed above them, where there was a grate. Just as the guests looked up, paper fluttered down the vent into their faces.
They snatched the notes and peered at the writing. There was one note for every three guests.
"Are they all the same?" Asked Silver Birch.
"No," said Windy, "look."
Each note had two numbers on it. One was above the other. The bottom number was 1-5 and the top number seemed very random, but it didn't go past ten.
"Well what on earth does this even mean?" Asked Mistress Bloodmoon.
"I think I know," Gold Rose said. "Maybe it's a floor number..."
"And a room number," finished the Black Master. Everyone turned to stare at him for a heartbeat.
"Uh, all right, then," said Mistress of the Wind. "I must split into groups."
"What?" Asked Señorita Crepúsculo.
"She's kind of right," Lady Eclipse said calmly. "We have to split into groups of three and head to the rooms on these floors."
Lady Cerulean interrupted. "I'm sorry, but I'm getting hungry. Who wants to go raid the kitchen of their cheese?"
A few of the guests exchanged concerned glances. "You do know people have been murdered and we're locked inside a mansion, correct?" Asked Mistress Bloodmoon. She laughed. "And you can't go alone anyway, so you're wasting our time."
"Well, I can't do any detective work if I'm hungry."
Lady Eclipse rolled her eyes. Or, that's what it seemed like she was doing. You couldn't be sure.
Lady Flower daintily climbed upon a chair and stood up. "Everyone, into groups of three!" She began directing the crowd with her hands. "If it's not quite even, we can have a group of four or five."
Eventually, groups were made. Lady Cerulean and Mistress Bloodmoon decided to stick with Lady Flower. Showstopper, Señorita Crepusculo, and Lady Eclipse (to her annoyance) were in a group. Monocle Man, The Black Master (who was talking quietly to the Student), and the Plague Doctor were in a group, which everyone else stayed away from. This could go on, but let's line this up a little bit nicer:
Lady Flower, Mistress Bloodmoon, and Lady Cerulean
Showstopper, Senorita Crepusculo, and Lady Eclipse
Monocle Man, The Black Master, and the Plague Doctor
The Mistress of the Wind, Pea, and Gold Rose
Silver Birch and Florence Flour-Que were left. After some discussion, Florence was with Lady Flower's group and Silver Birch with Windy's group. Everyone looked at their little papers and set off.
Lady Flower's group had floor #5, room #2. Lady Flower mustered up confidence and looked at her group. "We have to go to the attic."
Florence looked near to tears again, and Mistress Bloodmoon squeezed her hand. Lady Cerulean took her other hand. "It's okay, Florence, we're all here. We're doing this together."
The attic turned out to not be very scary at all. It was the largest attic any of them had ever seen, with chandeliers. The only thing that made it seem remotely attic-y was the feeling of forgotten old things, and the dust that poofed up from the floor as they walked.
"What are we looking for?" Asked Florence shakily.
"Probably another note," said Lady Flower. "Let's start looking in these chests."
They started rummaging through the chests.
"Wow, look!" Mistress Bloodmoon said, holding up an elaborate blue ballgown. "Sorry, I should stay focused. But this place is fascinating."
"I know," said Lady Cerulean. She held a turquoise gown covered in aquamarine and diamonds up to her and looked in an old cracked mirror.
Florence smiled then burst into tears. The others rushed to her side. "What happedned, Florence?"
"Nothing, just...what if we never make it out of here? What if the murderer kills me?"
"Oh, Florence! We'll be right here. Don't worry," Lady Flower said. Lady Cerulean and Mistress Bloodmoon agreed. "We'll stick together."
"O-okay. B-but Nightfall and Kitty, they're dead..."
"I found something!" Lady Cerulean said suddenly. She bent down. There was a piece of paper stuck between the floorboards. She yanked it out.
"It looks like a piece of a word? Did I rip the paper?" Asked Lady Cerulean, frowning. But there was no other paper.
"Oh! I bet we need to get everyone else, and their papers will make up the sentence! Like a puzzle!" Mistress Bloodmoon exclaimed.
"Oh yeah! Let's go!"
Lady Flower helped Florence up and then they all ran downstairs. A couple groups met them, and words were exchanged. It seemed everyone had come to the same conclusion.
Eventually, everyone came back. They started putting the pieces together, but were interrupted by a scream.
Florence Flour-Que was crumpled on the ground. Her heart wasn't beating. She was dead.
Lady Flower gasped. Mistress Bloodmoon and Lady Cerulean ran to her, and they crouched around her.
"Oh no, oh no, oh no," whispered Lady Flower.
"She's dead," said Mistress Bloodmoon quietly. She put her masked head in her head.
"What-how-what happened?" Lady Cerulean asked. The Plague Doctor bent down, and said, "She was...um...poisoned."
Mistress Bloodmoon and Lady Cerulean exchanged glances. They weren't sure if they could believe the creepy guest.
"Well, uh, I guess we should take off her mask..." said Lady Flower. "She was such a good person..."
They lifted Florence's mask gently...
The murderer was content. Their plan was going perfectly.
- - - - -
Dead: 3 (Queen Sunrise, Florence Flour-Que, Madam Snow)
Revealed: 2 (Kitty Cat, Nightfall)
Murderer: ???
Clue: #3
(November 26, 2020 - 4:13 pm)
Hmm. I am female, Madam Masquerade. Strictly speaking I am not irritated by the repeated mistake--my gender has only been mentioned twice, after all--but I thought I would eliminate possible doubt in this.
I believe that the murderer could be one of Flour-Que's teammates, Bloodmoon, Cerulean, or Flower.
/prhps/ /itis/ /thee/ /plage/ /doctr/
It could be. That's quite feasible, seeing as they were the only one who could tell Flour-Que was poisoned.
(November 27, 2020 - 6:52 am)
Oh my goodness I am SO sorry. Somehow I missed that, my brain keeps getting jumbled looking at all of the forms. I see now that it says female she/her in the form, and somehow I am continuously missing things. Apologies, I will fix my mistakes and it will not happen again.
(November 27, 2020 - 11:49 am)
I, Queen Sunrise of the Dragons, suspect the Plague Doctor. The '...um....' was very creepy indeed. Hm. Perhaps
Lady Flower is not eliminated. It does not say how the Lady in question was feeling. Therefore, the Lady in question is not eliminated. And the ',uh,' was very suspicious as well.
(I can be fancy when I want to ahaaa)
(November 28, 2020 - 12:27 am)
(November 27, 2020 - 10:07 pm)
(November 29, 2020 - 11:51 am)
What is your identity?
(November 29, 2020 - 12:27 pm)
I agree with both Queen Sunrise and The Black Master. I suspect one of Florance's teamates or the Plague Doctor since they seemed to be the ones near by at the time. However it could be someone else who snuck away from their group (though that is less likely).
The Plague Doctor, are you, perhaps, Nyx?
(November 29, 2020 - 3:56 pm)
Well, I'm still not sure on who this murderer is. Given that the victim was poisoned, it could have been anyone really…
I suppose the Plauge Doctor?
Also, I'm not sure if we're supposed to be guessing each others identity… I thought we were supposed to reveal it when we die or the Ski Lodge ends?
(November 29, 2020 - 5:27 pm)
If you die, your identity is revealed. If someone guesses you correctly, your identity is revealed. But there will be twists, too, so...yeah. You shall also reveal it when the ski lodge ends.
If you are revealed by someone guessing you...I clearly have not thought this through, my apologies. Either you get revealed in the ski lodge or you don't. Which should it be? Does anyone have a preference? If you have suggestions I'd love to hear them.
~Madam
(November 29, 2020 - 10:32 pm)
I am not...um...Nyx. Silver Birch, might you be Inari?
(November 29, 2020 - 5:24 pm)
Oh dear goodness I have not been keeping up with this- I am so sorry, Madam Masquerade. Though, I have been reading, and let me assure you this is a-m-a-z-i-n-g. I absolutely love it! I'm feeling a little creeped out, though..
and I wonder who Florence is? Also I'd like to agree, I think that someone on her team is the murderer.
Goodbye for now!
-Pea
(November 29, 2020 - 8:19 pm)
Wow, things are getting spicy!
Btw, what happens if Florence never says her identity? Would we just keep going with her staying unknown? Hopefully this won't happen but just saying if...
(November 30, 2020 - 2:31 pm)
Hi everyone, sorry I haven't been posting anything. The things I write keep getting deleted when I come back to them, and I haven't had very much time for this either. Sorry!
(December 3, 2020 - 9:37 pm)