[Graduation Dungeon] Meixiang

[Yayoi]

She was nervous. It was obvious if anyone had been watching. But luckily for the ghoul no one was. When she entered this space she was alone. There were no prying eyes. No one to comment on her efforts. Whether or not she succeeded of failed.

It was quite.

The quite made her all the more nervous. But she would push forward. It was time for her to move on from this place. Meixiang had learned all she could here and the time to venture out on her own was near. She was on the cusp of adulthood. Soon she would leave to start her life in the town. Though she would miss all the students and teachers here she knew that this was what she needed to do. To prove to herself and to her family that she could. She would not return to the home of her parents once she left the dorms. Having already scoped out a pleasing apartment, once she was moved she would begin the process of acquiring the space for her studio.

But now she needed to focus on the task at hand. Graduating.  

[Yayoi]

When she slipped through the door of the first room a strange sensation washed over her. As if her body was no longer the body she had become familiar with all these years. She had no arms, no legs. Her senses were not entirely her own. They were someone else's. Like she was merely piggy backing off of another person.

And then it hit her.

Meixiang was a weapon. And not only that she was a Hunter weapon. Her body split into two metallic bladed fans. Each grasped in warm, fleshy hands. For a second she lost herself until a voice rang in her head. "Meixiang get a hold of yourself!"

Her attention snapped back into focusing on what was going on. This...human. Lynn? Yes, that was her name. Lynn. She was her Hunter. Her partner against the evil people they were sworn enemies of. The creatures that terrorized human kind. But...hadn't she been one of those before? She was unsure. Everything was strange. While familiar it wasn't. Not at all.

A figure stood in front of them. Short, dark skinned. Long wavy brown hair. For a second another feeling of strong familiarity washed over her. But she couldn't place it. If she had a heart it seemed to skip a beat as she saw the figure through Lynn's eyes. What was this feeling? It made her withdraw into herself.

No, no. Why could she not fight? Why did she feel this way? Who was this creature? She could not explain it.

As Lynn lept forward to continue an ongoing battle Meixiang hesitated as she was swung forward in a slashing motion. She couldn't. No. She wouldn't allow it. It was too much to handle. And in an instant she unsummoned herself to the shock of her Hunter who cursed under her breath before leaping back. Giving the creature one last look before spitting on the ground in front of her and making a hasty retreat. Lynn couldn't fight without a weapon.

"What is your problem, Meixiang? You could have gotten us killed!"

"I'm sorry. I just....I couldn't. I don't understand what is going on Lynn. I feel weird."

A concerned look washed over the Hunter's face. Her weapon was feeling weird. That didn't make sense. "Perhaps we should get someone at the labs to take a look at you. Maybe its some weird virus or whatever those monsters have developed that effect weapons...or something. You've never hesitated before."

"No...no. I should be ok. I think I just need some rest. Lets go back to the dorms. You look pretty tired and I don't want you to push yourself to the point of exhaustion, Lynn. It does neither of us any good."

"Fine. But if you're not better after a nap I'm taking you to the labs." The Hunter made haste towards the nearest portal back to the island. And as she stepped through Meixiang found herself in her original body. A cold shiver ran down her spine as she wrapped her arms around herself.

Was that was it was like?

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3. Prompt - Forged Anew
You step into a room. Except it now isn't a room anymore. You realize quite quickly that you are now a Hunter's Weapon. What kind of weapon are you? Who is the human you're with? What is your relationship? And oh, look -- your human appears to be fighting against someone you recognize. You don't remember their name. But there's something about them that sparks... something within you. Is it joy? Sadness? Hatred? You... You don't quite know why you're feeling it, but you can't deny the feeling is there.

 

[Yayoi]

In her heart Meixiang hoped the second room would not be like the first. A part of her cried out to stop when she moved to the next.

But as she stepped into the second room everything began to move and twirl. The room around her melted and moved like a drippy goo until she finally found herself in a somewhat familiar place. It...was the human world? Yes! She had been a couple of times but this was most likely it. It was warm and not Halloween themed like her home.

People bustled around her, unaware of her presence for the time being. It didn't seem horrible actually. Not in the least. And for the most part no one really noticed she was there. Oh oh how fun!

She moved about the crowds, glancing about as she observed them here and there going about their business. This was a really busy city it seemed. So many people. So many things to see. Her head would have come off from spinning around to look at everything if it weren't properly attached. Meixiang eventually found herself in what seemed like a business district. Many little shops and places that humans ate.

After a moment of quiet contemplation she made her way into what looked like a convenience store. They sold everything from food to magazines here. It was quite the little one stop shop from what she could tell. As she moved up and down the small isles she eventually found herself in the candy isle. There she observed a scrawny looking little kid with a dirty face. She watched him as he stared at the candy bars, a desperate look of want on his face. Did he not have the money for it? Well that wouldn't do. How could anyone deny a little spooky of any race candy.

Giving candy was the best part of Halloween.

She knelt down to the little kid, dropping her glamour for just a brief second. Meixiang placed a finger to her lips to keep the kid from making any loud noises. "Shhh, lets pretend its Halloween. Trick or treat. Take the treat." She reached out and plucked one of the candy bars off the shelf, placing it into the little kid's pocket. With a grin she faded from his view before moving towards the soda fountain. All of a sudden all the dispensers were going off and the shop keep was in a panic trying to get them to stop as Meixiang made them go off one by one at random.

Little did the shop keep know that while he was busy with the fountain the little boy ran out the door unnoticed.

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8. Prompt - The World In My Hands
The room you step into shifts and spins. When it settles, something tells you you're in the Human World. What will you do? Will you harvest Fear the Halloween or Horseman way? Will you perform Tricks or Treats? You have full run of the Human World now. What will you do?

 

[Yayoi]

The third room was quite familiar. So familiar in fact she knew exactly where she was. A classroom.

But she wasn't a student this time. Oh no. There were students in each desk, some were fighting off naps, others were sleeping. Some were texting on their skellyphones and doing a really bad job at hiding the fact. Others really didn't care if she saw them. Because apparently Mei was the teach this time.

Oh Jack.

But this was something similar to what she had planned for her future. Teaching. But not in a normal classroom. No, she wanted to teach people dancing in a studio. How on earth had she ended up teaching at the school of all places?

When she looked towards the chalk board it had 'The History of Halloween' scrawled across it in her own hand writing. Oh...oh no. History was her worst subject. While the life and times of notable characters in Halloween were interesting she just couldn't find the interest to retain the information. How in Jack was she going to teach these spookies?

She finally noticed the stack of folders, papers and a rather large book in her arms. Well, no point in just standing there staring. Moving towards the desk she set her belongings down. "Good morning, students. And welcome to The History of Halloween. Today we will be learning about.....about...." She glanced down at a notebook before flipping it open. "We will be learning about Jack Skellington!" She blinked a few times, having said that last sentence rather loudly which prompted many students to look up. Mei laughed nervously as she moved towards the chalk board, picking up a piece of chalk. "Now who can tell me a fact about Jack?" Looking over her shoulder she waited for a student, any student, to raise their hand.

None did.

"You!" She pointed to a ghoul in the front row. The ghoul sat up straight, partially startled as she fiddled with a book. "A fact...about Jack..."

"He....is a....skeleton?" The class giggled as Mei merely sighed.

"You kids won't pass this class if you don't read your material." She turned back to the board, chewing on her bottom lip. The Jiang Shi couldn't think of anything either and now she was starting to panic. Why couldn't she have just taught dance? Why did it have to be history?!

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2. Prompt - In Their Shoes Now
You step into a room. Except it now isn't a room anymore. It's now a classroom, and the students within it are staring at you in a mixture of interest, disinterest, boredom, and several of them are doing a rather poor job at attempting to hide their skellyphones as they text one another beneath their desks. It suddenly occurs you that you are now a professor. What subject are you teaching? How are you teaching it?

 

[Yayoi]

Finally out of that last nightmare, Meixiang entered the next room. It seemed like a...really plain and bare room. In fact, there really wasn't anything special about it. It was just white walls. White floor. Nothing.

Was this it?

As she moved through the room when she got to the middle the room began to shift and warp. Yea, no. This was weird and probably not good. A sinking feeling settled into the pit of her stomach.

All of a sudden Meixiang was surrounded by walls of flames. Hot, searing flames that licked at her clothes and skin. Shrieking in horror she spun around, trying to find a way out but the entire room was on fire. The floor was beginning to melt into some hot, molten form of it's former self. To hot! It was too hot!

Undead did not like fire. Not one bit. And Meixiang was extremely terrified of it. She could feel her white hair being singed. The heat against her skin making the flesh begin to melt off her bones. Flames burning her clothes away. She couldn't get out. There was no where to run.

She cried in pain and fear as the flames closed in all around her. This was it. She was going to die here. She would never make it through. Never get out. The ghoul felt suffocated. And as the flames engulfed her she slumped to the floor. There was nothing she could do. All that she was fated for was to burn and dissipate into nothingness.

With every last ounce of strength she curled into a ball and wept. Her tears hot and stinging her burnt cheeks until suddenly the flames were gone. Brown eyes popped open in horror. This was it, she was gone to wherever it was creeple went when they were dead forever. But as she looked around she was back in the same white room. No flames. Her skin unburnt. Clothes intact.

Sitting straight up she looked around before scrambling to her foot and running for the door. She had to get out of this room before the horror started again.

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6. Prompt - What Can't Be Denied
You step into a room. It's a bare, plain room. By the time you reach the middle it warps and shifts, and you are left facing your greatest weakness. What is it and how do you deal with it?

 

[Yayoi]

After the last few rooms, Meixiang was looking forward to the last. She hoped the dungeon would give her a break in this one.

And her hopes were rewarded.

When she stepped into the room she stepped into her childhood dream. A studio. A studio for her to teach dance to others. To scarelings, spookies and all types alike. All creatures. All ages. Her dream to teach others to dance was something she had from the first time she had danced herself. To show others how wonderful it was. How amazing you could feel when you learnt something new. The pride that would swell up in your chest after practicing a dance you never thought you could do and perfecting it.

This was what she wanted. This was what she was working for.

Her clothes had changed into her regular dance outfit. And she stood next to the rail that had wall length mirrors. Running her hand along the smooth and polished wood. A rush came to her head as her body tingled with excitement.

A clock above the far door struck noon and the door to the studio practice room swung open as a gaggle of little ghouls in tutus and leotards came shuffling in. Loud and giggly, it warmed the Jiang Shi's heart to see them. Her students. They made her so proud.

Clapping her hands together to get their attention she smiled wide. "Good afternoon ghouls. Are we ready for practice today? Lets do some warm ups on the bar to get nice and stretched out. I don't want anyone to be getting hurt now ok?" The ghouls raced to the rail in front of the mirrors. Lining up one after another. "Lets do some leg stretches. Keep your backs and legs straight ladies. No slouching!" She moved from one ghoul to another, adjusting their positions so that they would not hurt themselves.

This was it. This was her dream. She could have stayed in this room forever if they would have let her. But no. The ghoul would leave and she would make this room, this dream, a reality no matter what it took.

She was more determined than ever.

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12. Prompt - Who You Wanted to Be
You step into the room. In the blink of an eye, you realize that you are now your childhood dream. What did you want to be when you were a scareling? For those that were suddenly spawned into existence, you are now the first profession you took an interest in. What is it? Are you successful?

If in a group, either solo it out or hold a prp where you and your groupmates are discussing your childhood dreams together. Or pick the childhood dream of one and prp it, ie if someone dreamed about running a dayscare then now would be a good time to write up how terrible your scarelings are.

 

[Yayoi]

This next room had to be the last. It was large and circular. The air full of mist that hung low to the ground. It was the clatter of metal that drew her attention as the rather large figure emerged from it. Meixiang took a small step back. It was so large she had to crane her neck up just to get a good look at it.

And...it was in her way. Behind it she could see something sitting on a pedestal. Something shiny. She knew exactly just what it was.

Her diploma.

Taking a tentative step forward a large javelin sunk into the ground before her. The knight's voice boomed loudly as it proclaimed that she could not pass. Oh...she was going to pass. She had stuff to do and this metal jerk was not going to stand in her way.

"I'm pretty sure I will."

show spoilerhide spoiler

You enter a circular room. A fine, clean mist covers the ground. The clatter of steel and iron can be heard as a large figure emerges from the mist. Some may be jolted with recognition. Others may marvel at how large and foreboding the figure is.

The large, Green Knight plants itself in your way. Beyond it you can see something glimmering, something you want really badly: your diploma.

A large, shadowy javelin suddenly appears between your feet as you try to step forward.

"HALT. YOU SHALL NOT PASS."

Of course it was going to end with a fight. You ready yourself and prepare for combat!



THE GUARDIAN HP ???/???
gaia_smilies/icon_crown.gif For every hit: take -5 HP auto damage.
gaia_smilies/icon_crown.gif For every miss: take -10 HP auto damage.
gaia_smilies/icon_crown.gif If you die: you respawn at full HP. Keep on truckin!
gaia_smilies/icon_crown.gif To defeat: successfully hit the boss three times and roll 1d10 for a finisher. You don't need to hit it three times in a row; just three times total!
gaia_smilies/icon_crown.gif Finishing Rolls:
- 1-3: You miss entirely. Hit the boss three times again, then reroll.
- 4-7: You are reasonably successful. It's nothing impressive, but it gets the job done.
- 8-10: You do something really cool and impressive, like hit the Guardian so hard that its armor flies off and it dissipates like the badass you are.
gaia_smilies/icon_crown.gif Rolled 1-3 three times? Go ahead and take the reasonably successful finisher to get the job done. In addition, your diploma also has a misshapen gold star that reads: "u treid."

gaia_smilies/icon_crown.gif Boss Loot: (On DEFEAT of boss only)
AMITYVILLE ACADEMY DIPLOMA GET! The diploma itself is made out of heat/ice/water/electric/acid/rip resistant parchment, rolled and bound with a ribbon in your dorm's colors. You unravel it.

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AMITYVILLE ACADEMY

To all whom these presents shall have come: Greetings unto you.

Be it known that we, the Headmistress and Faculty of the Academy under authority of Fear and the Laws of Halloween, have admitted

(( You see your name here, along with what looks to be a title ))

the Rights, Privileges, and Dignities to which a Persons of Halloween with Amityville Experience may Expect.


gaia_smilies/icon_crown.gif Determine Your Title:
Count the number of rolls you made during the Graduation Dungeon, including double prompts. ie, if I rolled 3, 5, 3, 4, 6, 7 for prompts then I rolled six for prompts. Also include each roll you made against the boss.

If you are doing the dungeon in a group, the group will SHARE the same number of prompt rolls. When a group makes it to the boss room, then the players will count their individual rolls made against the boss.

Match the total number of rolls you made in the Graduation Dungeon to find your title:

5: The Incredibly Lucky
6-8: The Impetuous
8-10: The Swift and Daring
11-12: The Steadfast
13-14: The Adventurous
15-16: The Bold
17-18: The Triumphant
19-20: The Determined
21-22: The Stubborn and Hard Headed
23-24: The Tribute
25+: The One Who Overcame Suffering

 

[Yayoi]

She knew it wasn't going to be easy getting past this knight. Taking a good stance she lept forward. Clasping her hand into the other as she aimed her elbow at the knight's chest.

Contact!

The knight lurched backward a few steps. Mei jumped off to the side, to try and avoid any attack he might unleash.

HP: 45/50
Hits: 1/3  

[Yayoi]

She didn't give it any time to recover from her first attack. Running at him, she let out small roar before running up his side, standing on his shoulder before she brought her heel down on the back of it's head. It was pretty darn solid that was for her. Her entire leg felt like it was vibrating.

As the knight swiped at her she jumped off, landing and stumbling just a bit. She ducked as it grabbed for her. Flattening her body against the ground in a half split.

HP: 40/50
Hits: 2/3  

[Yayoi]

It looked like the knight was slowing down a bit. It's grabs, swipes and javelin jabs were more and more predictable. Meixiang could easily avoid them as long as she payed attention and didn't make a mistake.

She went in for a shoulder spear to it's knee. It was large so taking it down piece by piece would be easiest. The ghoul wasn't that big so she had to be systematic about the whole battle.

HP: 40/50
Hits: 3/3  

[Yayoi]

This was it. She was going to go all out with this attack. The longer she took the more tired she would get and that would just do her no good.

Taking a good few steps back she began to run at the knight. It began to slump forward a bit and she could tell it was getting worn down. With a flying leap she planted the bottom of her foot good and hard into the middle of it's chest. In an instant the knight reeled back and all of a sudden its armor flew off. The knight dissipated back into the mist. Armor clattering to the ground until it too disappeared.

Well...that was impressive.

- 8-10: You do something really cool and impressive, like hit the Guardian so hard that its armor flies off and it dissipates like the badass you are  

[Yayoi]

Finally. It was time.

With a light sigh she approached the pedestal. Reaching out a tentative hand towards her diploma. Her hand shaking she pulled back for a second, expecting another test or some kind of trap. But when her slender fingers wrapped around the parchment and pulled it away she grinned.

It was wrapped with a ribbon of the Undead dorm colors. A wax seal with the Undead crest on it. She had done it. Meixiang had bitten the bullet and finally graduated. Now she could really begin her journey as an adult.

Unwraveling the ribbon, she unrolled the paper. Giving the text written upon it a good look over.

Quote:

AMITYVILLE ACADEMY

To all whom these presents shall have come: Greetings unto you.

Be it known that we, the Headmistress and Faculty of the Academy under authority of Fear and the Laws of Halloween, have admitted

Meixiang - The Swift and Daring

the Rights, Privileges, and Dignities to which a Persons of Halloween with Amityville Experience may Expect.

Swift and Daring hm? That seemed to fit quite nice. The ghoul liked it. With a grin she rolled the parchment back up and began to take her leave of the dungeon. Looking back only briefly. Her experiences here at the school had shaped her and now she was off to shape the world herself. She would miss her time here and those at the school, but they would all see each other again in the end.

Meixiang was off to make new memories.