[gardening!! . . . "gardening"]

[sevenhorrorsmods]

Who: Katsumori and the rest of the school
When: September 21
Where: the equipment shed
What: more things happened!!
Warnings: spiders, spider bites, and someone getting chomped on in the adventure itself

[It's a bit overcast today, isn't it? Clouds rumble lightly in the sky above, dark with rain that has yet to actually fall. It is still pretty hot outside, but at least the weather is beginning to cool, right? Fall must be right around the corner!]

[If you happen to be taking a moment to enjoy the great outdoors, then you may stumble across some friends in green uniforms hanging out around the equipment shed.]

[The]

[Opened equipment shed]

Comments

[ratiocinations]

[Venom? Oh, that's a new one. And problematic, too, for what she says is true: they haven't anything to tend to a venomous wound.

FROWNING.]

Venom? So you were bitten. By...?

cw spiders

[darkholder]

Spiders started dropping from the ceiling at one point.

[ratiocinations]

How horrid. With strong enough venom to completely disable your arm?

[Then again, if that's all she's had to suffer through, he imagines she's lucky.]

What else was there?

[darkholder]

Moving lanterns. With teeth, somehow.

[sighs]

I managed to miss those, but Smith...

[ratiocinations]

Did not fare quite as well. Yes, I did see a few individuals fussing over him on the way here.

[He will have to do so, too, of course.]

For lack of a better word, was there no "greater" spirit that harassed you? Like Anzen's train, or Kenkou's ghoul with the scissors.

[darkholder]

Good.

[she supports this fussing. to the question, though:]

I think there was, but we weren't able to see them. We only heard a voice that instructed us to play a game of chance... We had several options of areas to travel down each time, and when we chose incorrectly, we would come across one of the obstacles I mentioned. It indicated some degree of pleasure each time this happened.

[ratiocinations]

Of course it did.

[Sadistic ghosts. What a shock.]

Areas, though? Were you transported to a different location?

[darkholder]

Yes. The caves where we had to witness things we were scared of, a while ago.

[ratiocinations]

I see. So then that location holds more importance than we might've originally thought.

[darkholder]

I think so. But notably, the voice we heard this time was different from back then.

[ratiocinations]

[So... what, then? Any spirit that wishes to toy with them might reside over the caves? Does it not have its own specific haunting? Thing to wonder about.]

So, then... It wanted to play a game of chance with you. Was it really as simple as "pick a path and pray"? No hints, nothing else?

[darkholder]

Looking back at it... The first choice was between two paths, the second between three, and the third between four.

At each choice we made, one of the paths seemed to be associated with water. The first had blue colored torches, the second had moisture on the walls, and the third had seashells laid within. I think the right choice each time would have been the one to do with water.

[ratiocinations]

Ah, clever, Ms Star. [For even noticing at all!] It is quite unfortunate that hindsight offers so much more clarity than the present moment ever does.

[Hm.]

Those caves in general seem to have a watery theme. If you recall our test of courage, we were under constant threat of drowning. Then there was the dark pool of water, and then the waterfall itself within.

[Good to note for next time, if there ever is a next time.]

[darkholder]

Yes. I wonder if that's the theme, rather than a particular spirit that presides over it.

[ratiocinations]

Make certain to note it in your mind, and underline it thrice. In case any of us should find ourselves there again.

[Seems important!]

This game, however, how did it end? Surely you did not "lose", or else...

[He trails off. Or else they'd be super dead?]

[darkholder]

[shakes her head]

When we took the path with the shells, we found ourselves back at the shed. It was still locked, with some kind of dark blue aura sealing the door. But... I think our earlier theory may have been correct. When I held up my omamori, it started to scream, and the color faded before disappearing entirely.

[ratiocinations]

I see. I don't think there is any "may have" any longer, Ms Star. The theory does seem to hold water.

[No pun intended.]

And after that? The shed was as we see it now, or did something else transpire?

[darkholder]

It did, but... Perhaps I could tell you later? I should accompany Smith to the nurse's office.

[mostly because i'm waiting on a mod response for the last part]

[ratiocinations]

[valid

He nods.]

Very well. I can pay you a visit later, if you like. Perhaps by then your arm will be feeling better, as well.

[darkholder]

I hope it will... I suppose we'll see.

[giving him a nod, though]

I'll await your visit.