Long Form Roleplayers

Previously: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chatper 5, Chapter 6

Characters:

You are not logged in. - Lloyd Morgan-Jackson

You are not logged in. - Myster Emmet

You are not logged in. - Bartender Ghost

The Author:
Previously Lloyd Morgan-Jackson and Myster Emmet were getting ready to head out into the winter storm to look for Wendy Torrance when they came face to face with the rabid canine Cujo. Having evaded him and gotten their coats, they now head out unsure of what they will encounter.

Bartender Ghost:
Just after 3:00 pm, you both step outside and are immediately assaulted by the blizzard. The weather report you heard earlier in Mr. Hallorann's room said that the storm would reach its worst by around 6:00 pm and yet it already seems worse than the report was calling for. With the temperature around 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and the ground blanketed with white, you can see the hedge maze up ahead with the entrance about halfway between the hotel's door and the gate of the grounds.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
Are there footprints in the snow?

Bartender Ghost:
There are not, whatever footprints that may have been here have been covered by the blizzard. Cutting through the sounds of the wind is that of a cry for help coming from the maze itself, clearly, Mrs. Torrance screaming out. The hedges themselves are tall, about 15 feet tall.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"Oh shit, do you hear that?", I turn to Emmet before rushing toward the entrance of the maze.

Myster Emmet:
I do, so I sprint forwards towards the entrance of the maze as well, the cold forgotten as I call out: "Wendy?! Are you hurt! Where are you!" I tried using the loudest volume I can!

Bartender Ghost:
The sounds of the Blizzard muffle your voice as Mr. Emmet calls out to her, but you do hear her respond by crying out with something that sounds like a "Thank God". Stepping through the snow leaving clear footprints behind you, the entrance to the maze is simple enough to get to, and fortunately, the snow has not compacted enough to make a slick surface. Are there any final preparations before you enter it, my two young detectives?

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"Emmet, can you get out that picture you took of the maze? We should probably make sure we don't get lost."

Myster Emmet:
"Sure, let me.." I bring out my phone and bring up the picture of the maze.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
Is there some sort of a fork or a crossroads right at the start?

Bartender Ghost:
Armed with the image you took of the maze's layout from before, surely this will be no problem. You are quickly able to orientate your electronic screen in line with the entrance you are at, the exit is completely on the other side.

- The Hedgemaze

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"Holy shit, this thing is complex....", I mutter.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"Wendy, we are the entrance!", I shout. "Can you tell us where are you?"

Bartender Ghost:
Of course, the problem your sharp minds may immediately begin to wonder about is that you do not know where Mrs. Torrance is in this location. Calling out to her, you hear her respond someplace to your right, any clear communication with her being impossible due to the sounds of the storm.

Myster Emmet:
"I think I can hear her over here...?" I say to Lloyd as I point towards the right, "Maybe we should start walking and keep calling out to her so we can find her?"

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"Yes, let's do that", I say. I start walking to the right, taking a path that isn't an obvious dead end.

Bartender Ghost:
Having both entered the maze and chosen your direction, the next complication comes your way as there is a loud monstrous roar that bellows out from the direction of the Overlook Hotel. You are able to see its three-story grandeur even with the tall hedges, but what you see standing on the roof is something that sticks out even through the blizzard. A large creature, easily 8 or so feet tall with piercing glowing green eyes and a huge set of antlers stands on the roof. It is humanoid, standing on two bulky legs like a man, and points its clawed hands in your direction. It is then that Hedges around you begin to shift, and the entrance behind you disappears almost as though the creature was moving parts of a Chinese puzzle box.

You are not logged in. - The Wendigo

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"Shit.....", is the only thing that comes out of me at the moment.

Myster Emmet:
"Well...there goes one theory..." I mutter as I instinctively tense up at the appearance of this....creature. "Lloyd, I think the entrance just disappeared on us!" I take a quick look around, wondering if i can see any obvious pattern of the hedges shifting.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
As Emmet examines the pattern, I think that this might inadvertently open up a path to Wendy. "Wendy?", I shout. "Can you walk?" I realize that she might be injured.

Bartender Ghost:
A valid concern Mr. Morgan-Jackson, as she has indeed been out here for about 2 hours now. You hear her call out, and now that you are at least a little closer to her, you hear her hoarse voice say something like "The Walls... Are Moving!" As Mr. Emmet looks around for a sign of a pattern, such a thing is not the easiest to do without a bird's eye view, something that Mr. Morgan-Jackson may be somewhat familiar with or so I am told. That being said, your footprints in the snow do remain, though they will not last too long.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
I take Emmet by the forearm, so we are not separated, as I move toward Wendy's voice.

Myster Emmet:
I notice that our footprints remain in the snow, "If worst comes to worst, we can use our footprints to retrace our steps." I hold my bat steady as I am led around by Lloyd.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"Well, they will be snowed in soon... and besides, not much reason to return where we were, because the entrance isn't there anymore."

Bartender Ghost:
Locking arms almost like pair of lovers on a stroll, you two begin to move in the direction of Mrs. Torrance's voice hopeful the path will be clear. It would seem you are even making progress as you hear her shouts call out, "That Thing... [Muffled] Moving the [Muffled]... Damn Bush!" The pathway snakes around away from her direction, and you cannot be sure if you are moving in the correct direction or toward a dead end.

Myster Emmet:
"Wendy! Are you there? Are you injured?" I yell out, hoping to hear her voice and if I do, ascertain where her voice is coming from.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
How thick are the bushes? After all, we have weapons, the lead pipe and the baseball bat. We could try cutting a path through one of the hedge walls.

Bartender Ghost:
"Cold... [Muffled] Hypothermia!" You hear her call out only barely audible over the sounds of the wind. As for your query of the bushes, Mr. Morgan-Jackson, they are thick and sturdy. Though upon inspection there is something peculiar about them... one would not expect to see bushes like these to be filled with sharp thorns.

- The Brambles

You may be able to bash your way through a section, but it would take work, energy, and a few minutes of hard labor.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"Hmm... I was thinking of trying to just smash the parts of the wall open, but this seems like it would take too long, and the wendigo could just rearrange the walls as we do this... Is there a faster solution?", I ask Emmet.

Myster Emmet:
"If we had gloves, we could try to climb it. But...." Wanting to test out a theory, I reached out to touch one of the bushes gently, just to make sure it's not an illusion."

Bartender Ghost:
Reaching your hand out carefully so as to not prick yourself on the thorns, you are able to see that this is no illusion, Mr. Emmet. The hedges of this fine and intricate maze are as real as you are, their thorns as sharp as needles. Climbing is not out of the question, but it would no doubt be unpleasant. While you spend time investigating, you hear Mrs. Torrance’s voice again, this time more toward the direction of the Hotel different from her last location. "[Muffled] Keeps Moving [Muffled] ...Trance North!"

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"Sounds like the entrance is to the north now....", I say, and turn toward the direction of Wendy's voice. I briefly wonder why the wendigo even bothers to leave an entrance at all, as opposed to just closing the maze off fully, but decide not to voice this thought.

Bartender Ghost:
An interesting thought indeed Mr. Morgan-Jackson. Could it be that the creature has... limitations? For now, the best you may be able to do is try and connect with the lady or resume your idea of bashing through some of the maze to clear a path.

Myster Emmet:
"Well, I rather not be swept up at the creature's pace..." I say as I hold my bat with both of my hands. Making sure to take a few steps back I also disconnect my connection to Lloyd for a moment, and rush forward to bash the wall! I try to aim for the wall that the voice seems to be coming from.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
Perhaps the wendigo can only change the shape of the maze, but not add new material, meaning that there will always be an entrance..... Before finishing this thought, I am startled at Emmet's sudden bashing of the wall.

Bartender Ghost:
With Mr. Emmet turning to vandalism of the elaborate maze, the creature lets out another loud roar as it points its clawed hand, not at you two this time, but to another spot perhaps to the northeast toward the hotel. As it does, you hear Mrs. Torrance again call out in frustration, "Not again!" The flashing eyes of the Wendigo dim for a moment, before flaring back up with bright green flame.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
Is there currently an open path toward the direction of Wendy's voice, or is the place that Emmet is attacking the quickest and easiest way to get there?

Bartender Ghost:
Indeed Mr. Emmet has chosen a spot that would theoretically offer the most direct path to her. He continues to bash away having torn through about half of the wall now.

Myster Emmet:
"Urgh. If you can't find the most direct path, Make! It! Yourself!" I grunted with each bash!

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
I take out the lead pipe, and start pulling the branches and thorns to the side, trying to create a wide enough opening for us to squeeze through.

Bartender Ghost:
With your combined efforts, you manage to make a small path, so you could squeeze through the brambles of the wall. The creature raises its clawed hand again, this time in your direction as its eyes flare up again.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"Hurry! Go through!"

Myster Emmet:
I immediately takes Lloyd's hand and pull him with me as we both race through the opening!

Bartender Ghost:
With Mr. Emmet tugging on his companion's hand, he starts to rush through. The question is, do you resist his action Mr. Morgan-Jackson, or go along with his pulling?

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
I go along, of course, and try to leap through as fast as I can.

Bartender Ghost:
Crossing through the hole is not without a price, the sharp thorns cut into both of you leaving superficial injuries punctuated by the bitter cold of the blizzard. The eyes of the Wendigo flash, growing dimmer, as the maze again begins to shift, the hole you just made moving down the path and eventually to another part of the maze entirely far from you and Mrs. Torrance. From your current position, she would be directly to your north, you think, toward the hotel, unless she has also moved.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
Well, it's a good thing we put on our outerwear, I think as I feel the stinging on my legs, which aren't protected with as many layers. I call out to Wendy again, as we keep moving north.

Myster Emmet:
Still holding hands to not get separated, I hiss quietly as I feel the superficial scars on my hands and legs. "Wendy!? Are you there??" I call out with Lloyd.

Bartender Ghost:
You hear her holler, as she seems to be trying to make her way toward you as well, "Over here!" Her voice is clearer this time, perhaps your acts of vandalism paying off, as she rounds the corner within view of you, now not more than 30 feet away. The creature points its hand in her direction just north of you and, with another flare of green light, its eyes growing dimmer, the maze moves as a wall of vegetation blocks the path to her.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
I growl in frustration as our reunion is thwarted at the last second. I think back. This pattern of flashing and going dimmer... do the monster's eyes always return to the same color, or do they keep getting dimmer and dimmer with each change he makes in the maze structure?

Bartender Ghost:
With the raging storm, its silhouette is mostly that of shadow, but its burning eyes are clearly dimming each time it manipulates the maze.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"Hmmm.... maybe he can't keep doing this forever.... this green flare seems to be getting weaker....", I tell Emmet, before shouting to Wendy: "Wendy, stay there, just don't move.... We'll get to you."

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
I use the bent lead pipe to pull at some of the branches, leaving the others exposed for Emmet to bash at.

Myster Emmet:
I take the cue to start bashing the ever living hell out of the wall of thorns and branches! I keep up a repeated rhythm of bashes in order to make at least some progress!

Bartender Ghost:
Bashing away at the greenery that Mr. Hallorann works so tirelessly to maintain through the year, you start to clear a path seeing Mrs. Torrance just on the other side. "Every time it moves things..." She says through shaking heavy breaths, "Its eyes darken..." Right on cue, its eyes start to brighten again, as though whatever primal power the creature wields is slowly regenerating. It points at your gathering just behind Mrs. Torrance as the hedges behind her start to move.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"Wendy, get to us!", I try to reach to her with my free hand and pull her through the opening.

Bartender Ghost:
It is fortunate that she has bundled up as well, though she was clearly not expecting such extreme weather when she came out for her stroll. You can see her too suffering cuts from the thorns of the maze along her hands and face. She is also freezing, with a slight bluish tint to her skin.

She comes through the opening, joining the two detectives, while the pathway behind her closes. The Creature's eyes flash while it does this, and again grow dim, the light barely visible now through the raging storm.

Myster Emmet:
"Okay, so...we should probably go back inside as fast as we can." I look back to where we came from, but instead I'm looking for possible exits...

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"Seems like his energy is limited....", I say hopefully. "If we stay persistent and determined, we might tire him out. Wendy, you should huddle with us for warmth", I say, as I make space for her between Emmet and myself.

Bartender Ghost:
She eagerly joins the huddle, eager to get whatever warmth she can. "It appeared when I was resting in the center." She begins, "I was so scared. It was just staring at me at first, but then as the storm started to pick up, he started to change the maze. I know it like the back of my hand, have walked it almost every day, but it started to change things to lock me in every time with those flashing green eyes." Her voice is hoarse, as though she has been yelling a lot.

Myster Emmet:
Something tugged at my mind, once more a dangerous thought whispering in my ear; 'Wait, if the wendigo's been here making Wendy lost...how did it have time to go inside and throw the oven down the stairs?' I don't voice the thought, but I make sure to keep it in mind for later. "Don't worry, Wendy, we'll keep you safe."

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
Thinking along similar lines as Emmet, I ask: "Wendy, do you remember approximately when it first appeared? Was it more or less than an hour ago?"

Bartender Ghost:
She takes a moment to think, "It was about... an hour ago or so. I'd say just before two, when I was getting ready to head back in to bring Jack some stew." She keeps eyeing the creature, a look of fear yet intrigue in her eyes.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"I guess it disappeared for a while after that? Or... were you able to see it at all times since then?"

Bartender Ghost:
She shakes her head no. "It's been there the whole time..." She is shivering but seems to be doing a tad bit better with the huddle and sharing of body heat. However, the creature continues to look over your group with its eyes starting to glow more brightly as time passes. "I think we should move before it traps us." She adds.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"Hmm.... so it was something else then...", I muse, as I look for the best available path.

Myster Emmet:
'Well...either this creature is more powerful than I thought...or...' "There's two different beings..." I mutter out loud, but I instantly shake my head. "I think we can discuss this later, right now we need warmth." I also look for the best path.

Bartender Ghost:
There is the path you took here through the hole you made, but that was moved by the Wendigo. There are a few paths you can take from here and after a moment of consideration, you take the one that you feel is most beneficial. However, as your group moves from point to point, so too does the Wendigo thwart your movements as it can easily block your progress, for as Mr. Morgan-Jackson determined, it seems to regenerate enough power to manipulate the maze while blocking a single person.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
I growl once again in frustration. "So.... does this mean we should... split up? It seems like he isn't fast enough to block two people at once. But we will also be slower if we want to try to bash through the walls..."

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"And then even if one person or pair escapes, someone will still remain inside.... But then... maybe whoever escapes could try distracting the monster..."

Myster Emmet:
"Perhaps...either way, I think one of us needs to go with Wendy and get her inside first. Then, whoever it is, can come back and help the remaining person?" I suggest.

Bartender Ghost:
Mrs. Torrance listens to your conversation, "Would it want to trap the couple in that case instead of whoever was by themselves?" She again eyes the creature, disbelief on her face as she drinks in the shape of its silhouette.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"Hmm... well... earlier on, it seemed equally focused on hindering both you and us... Do you think... it holds a specific grudge against you, Wendy?"

Bartender Ghost:
"I honestly don't know." She responds, "But when you two were calling to me, it was blocking me at the same time. I was about to pass out." She adds.

Myster Emmet:
"I think that's even more reason to go with what I suggested, if we don't get you inside soon...it could be disastrous for you and..." I look downwards at Wendy's belly...

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"Alright... do you want to go with Wendy then? You're bigger and stronger, plus you have that bat....", I suggest.

Bartender Ghost:
She does seem to be doing better now that she has had a brief rest, "I'll go along with whatever you two think is best..."

Myster Emmet:
"Well, I think it's better for you to go back in. I think I can handle the cold better right now." I gesture to my long thick trench coat I am wearing.

Bartender Ghost:
She does seem wary of the blood on the trench coat, but given the present state, she doesn't question it. Her gaze is more focused on the creature on the roof whose eyes continue to regain their brightness.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"Alright, let's split up then, and try to confuse him." I wrap an arm around Wendy's shoulders, as I look for a path heading north.

Myster Emmet:
I wave a goodbye to Wendy and Lloyd and then turn around and walk in the opposite direction. Holding my bat at the ready....I start swinging down at random spots in the walls!

Bartender Ghost:
And so the group splits. The situation continues as expected, the Wendigo raises its clawed hand blocking your progress over and over, his attention more focused on keeping Mr. Morgan-Jackson and Mrs. Torrance trapped, but the occasional diversion to offset Mr. Emmet's movements. While walking with Mr. Morgan-Jackson, she speaks. "It wasn't like this in the story..." She keeps eyeing the creature and its monstrous yet majestic form, a creature of primal beauty.

You are not logged in. - Wendigo

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"Which story?", I ask, as I keep looking for paths, hoping that Emmet is making progress faster than us. If he can find a way out, he can go to the hotel, and get an axe, or something else that's more efficient at chopping branches.

Myster Emmet:
Seeing how the random strikes aren't working enough as a diversion, I decide to start focusing on just whacking at one particular spot over and over again!

Bartender Ghost:
The random holes made in the maze by Mr. Emmet have been drawing the creature's attention, flashes of green light from its eyes expending whatever power the creature has to move holes and block your progress. Its attention is drawn between your two groups, and you make progress as its eyes grow dim. The insightful thought indeed, Mr. Morgan-Jackson, but it would seem that such an action would not be needed if the creature runs out of the resource needed to block your escape. As for the response of Mrs. Torrance, she speaks.

"This thing... Wendigo. It's from one of Jack's stories." She says while she and Mr. Morgan-Jackson continue to navigate around. "But it wasn't like this... it hated humans, humanity, but in a more general way. This is... pure malice."

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"Well, from what Richard and Emmet said back in the hotel, it is also a creature from Native American mythology. Jack's version isn't the first or the.... true one, I suppose. Richard mentioned that this creature forced a fox to attack him... I guess it wants to get rid of us all.... By the way... did Danny ever mention seeing something else, beside Wendigo, that would be very big and strong?", I ask, as I keep looking for ways to inch toward the northern outer wall of the maze.

Bartender Ghost:
Continuing to work your way through the maze, she is about to respond, when the creature lets out another loud bellowing roar, as at this point its eyes are barely glowing at all. It throws back its horned head with a savage frustration, a sound that eclipses the howling wind of the raging storm. The creature then disappears while there is a shifting of the walls of the hedges, the thorns disappearing as it reverts to its original layout.

Bartender Ghost:
"Is it... over?" She says turning her gaze to you, Mr. Morgan-Jackson, a moment that might even be romantic, given a different set of circumstances. As for Mr. Emmet in the other part of the maze, the path restores and you are able to use your cellular device to navigate your way out at this point. The snow continues to fall with it easily being 6 inches high now.

Lloyd Morgan-Jackson:
"Seems so", I nod. "Let's get out before it changes its mind."

Myster Emmet:
I walk towards the exit, using the map to orient myself of course.

Bartender Ghost:
Mr. Emmet's journey through the maze has come to the other exit, and once coming out, he sees something from the Hotel itself. Mr. Torrance is standing in a window at the junction of the hallways on the second floor looking down over the maze. Your eyes meet for a moment, and then he backs away from the window out of view.

You are not logged in. - Jack Torrance

You two are able to connect at the entrance to the Hotel, a brief shelter from the falling snow that has piled up around it. Mrs. Torrance is shivering, exhausted, but looks relieved for the first time since you've encountered her out here.

Published: 2023-03-05, viewed 31 times.