The Eros Trap Dungeon: Room of Three Doors

Task: Raid the Eros Trap Dungeon

• Risk: High
• Reward: High
• In the final chamber of the dungeon is an idol. Retrieve it and be rewarded. The dungeon should have few, if any monsters, but has many traps, trails, and puzzles of an erotic nature.
• Rewards: 200xp to each party member who helps complete the task. 15CP to be divided among participants based on contribution. Any loot besides the idol is yours to keep. Two additional magic items shall be rewarded upon completion.

The task had included a location for the dungeon that was about an hour’s hike away from their lair. Hilde had offered to run ahead to try to find the exact entrance, as it wasn’t clear how obvious it would be. Flora was hesitant to send Hilde off on her own, but then Ellen offered a suggestion. “Why don’t I go with her?”

Hilde let out a slight scoff, “Ellen, not to be rude, but you won’t be able to keep up with me.”

Ellen’s body then slowly shrank and shifted until she was a near replica of Hilde. Ellen said, “I’m a doppelganger. I can mimic other people. Not all of their abilities, but I focused on mimicking your speed, and I can confirm I do have it.” Ellen then zipped behind Hilde at super speed.

Hilde whirled around, slightly impressed, “Okay… that is extremely useful. Also, a little bizarre, as you don’t quite have my features right. Like your nose and eyes are the wrong shape.” As Hilde critiqued Ellen’s appearance, it shifted, and now the nose and eyes were indistinguishable from Hilde’s. “That was disturbing to watch. It was like your face sort of melted and reformed.”

Flora then said, “Okay, well, with there being two of you, sure, go and scout ahead. Please don’t try tae clear the dungeon on your own. I think we should be able tae clear it as a full group, even if it is high risk for our level. We don’t need one or both of you incapacitated, though, before we begin.” With that, Hilde and Ellen zipped off in the direction of the dungeon.

Mary was trudging along at the back of the group. Mary was against this task, with only Aubrey on her side. Everyone else thought it was a good choice for their party. Mary described the sort of things they might encounter on the way. Mary said, “I just want to make this clear. If any of the ‘puzzles’ require something sexual that I’m not going to be the one to do it.”

Flora rolled her eyes again. “Yes, Mary. We heard you the first dozen times. Aubrey is also your dedicated protector as you are our healer.”

“Don’t worry, Mary, I’ll make sure to protect you. Honestly, it’s a shame your outfit isn’t pink. It would likely be easier for me to protect you if it were. Maybe we will find something.”

Mary sighed, “Thanks, Aubrey. Also, any clue how your equipment has been enhanced by your boon?”

“Yes, actually. It’s conveniently on my status page. My sword does a little bit more damage. Probably because it only has a few pink gems in it. But everything else is a lot more impressive. I’m not as fast as Hilde, but my greaves make me a bit faster normally and also provide me with a dash effect on a cooldown.” Aubrey demonstrated and dashed forward around twenty meters in a second. She let the others catch up and continued to explain. “I can probably only use it once per fight because of the cooldown, but considering I have a ramming effect that I can combine it with, I think it will be really useful. The cape makes me luckier, and my armor essentially weighs nothing, but only to me, and it is sturdier as well.”

Flora raised an eyebrow, “I’m surprised that your gear is that good. Mine is rather basic. My cloak makes it so I’m stealthier, and my armor is just basic armor.”

“Well, it is because of a TF that it is all enchanted. It is actually listed as an outside enhancement that isn’t part of the item itself.”

“That’s fair, I suppose,” Flora replied. “I was wondering, do you think you could wield that sword of yours with your hair?”

Aubrey thought about it and decided to just test it. After a few minutes of walking and testing, Aubrey replied, “Well, maybe eventually, but not right now. I think either smaller weapons or a shield might be better. This sword is clearly meant to be used in two hands, and my hair has a bit more strength than one of my arms when used together.”

The group kept walking for a while longer and saw Hilde waiting by the side of the path they had been following. Hilde indicated to follow her, and after another couple of minutes of walking into the woods, they met Ellen, who had reverted to her form by the entrance to the dungeon.

Chloe said, “Glad you two went ahead, this would have been a bitch to find on our own.” Chloe couldn’t tell why, but it felt like Ellen was glaring at her.

Ellen said, “Yeah, we didn’t go in, but I can already tell you that there are multiple traps in the entrance hallway. Traps that we are quite familiar with.”

Aubrey bleated, “BAAA! You don’t mean those dart traps and the dildos from the first challenge, do you?” Ellen nodded. “Is there any way to disable them?”

Ellen shook her head. “No. Luckily, there are instructions on how to get past them. Though it isn’t going to be easy. Hilde and I devised a plan while waiting.”

Hilde said, “So the floor is covered in pink, black, and white tiles. To get through, you have to step only on pink tiles. Though you can’t step on a pink tile that has an even number of black or white tiles adjacent to it. The thing is, we don’t know if that includes diagonally adjacent or not, or zero black or white tiles adjacent, either, as there are some groupings of pink tiles.”

“Oh, is that all?” Aubrey said. Aubrey, without hesitation, went inside and just skipped from tile to tile without worry, care, or thought. Like she was walking down any normal hallway, she was at the other end in no time. Aubrey went ahead and removed the ammo from the pair of repeating crossbows aimed down the hall. “I disabled the crossbows.” Aubrey shouted.

Hilde and Ellen blinked. Hilde said, “Well, guess the first part of the plan isn’t needed. I was going to run down and do that, assuming my speed would let me just ignore the trap.”

Ellen decided to transform into Aubrey. She then turned to Mary, “How do I look?” After a few corrections, Ellen looked almost like Aubrey’s twin. She then asked Mary, “Would you like a lift?”

Mary smiled, “Sure, just don’t drop me.” Mary ended with a playful wink. Ellen scooped her up and repeated Aubrey’s feat, but had to actually focus to accomplish it. She sat Mary down at the end of the hall.

+1 VP Princess Carry the Mistress (Ellen)

Merida gave a weak smile to Chloe and Flora as Merigold became a tail, and Merida just floated down the hall, not touching a single tile. Chloe was annoyed and shouted, “Seriously! I could barely follow which tiles were okay, and it definitely looked like Aubrey had to move pretty far to get to some of them.”

“Sorry,” Hilde said as she zipped down the hall. She triggered the traps but managed to avoid them hitting her.

Chloe looked down at the needles that now littered the hallway. Most were on the edges, but some were definitely on the path she would need to take. With her thick leather gloves, she swept up some of the needles, thinking they might be useful later as they were all still tipped with some sort of substance. She put them in a container and then placed it in her backpack. Merida shouted down the hall, “Haud on a second, I hae somethin' that micht help.” She cast a spell, and little motes of tiny flame floated down the hall. “There, the flames are harmless, but they are on the tiles ye twa need tae step on.”

Flora looked at the flames and, with feline grace, moved through the hall quickly. Chloe once again thought this was unfair. Seriously, there is no way she moved like that before. Must be her class. Okay, this shouldn’t be too hard. Chloe moved slowly and deliberately. She was about two-thirds of the way down the hall when she hit a snag. Everyone else had just been moving from tile to tile and let their momentum carry them from one to the next. Chloe realized that had she been moving quickly, she would have been able to move to the next tile, not easily, but it was doable. Standing still, though she thought she was stuck. “Shit, guys. Any ideas? I can’t make that jump.” Again, Ellen gave Chloe a disapproving stare, which, coming from Aubrey’s face, momentarily distracted Chloe, and while readjusting her balance, she slipped on some needles that were scattered on the floor. She fell forward but managed to stabilize herself, but she had stepped on a black tile to do so. She started running, trying to shield her exposed skin as much as possible. Her gear protected her somewhat, but she got struck by a couple of needles. As she did, she let out a squeal of delight, “SQUEEEE! SQUEEEEE!” Chloe almost collided with the others, but they quickly stepped out of the way. “SQUEEE! That sucked. Damnit, I can tell I’m lactating too. Also, Ellen, what the SQUEEE!. What is your problem with me? Why did you glare at me for no reason?”

“It wasn’t for no reason. I’ve told you that I don’t care for the kind of language you’ve been using. I’m sorry that I distracted you, though.”

“Fine… sorry. Can someone help me get these, SQUEEE!, needles out of my clothes? Put them in this container. They might be useful later.” Chloe lay out a container and held still while those with sturdy gloves picked the needles out of her clothes.

“Well, that wasn’t so bad,” Flora said. “Two traps down and we are mostly okay.”

“Speak for yourself.” Chloe said a little breathily, “I have my HP gauge a quarter full. Getting hit by a few more of those and I could be incapacitated.”

Mary reassured her, “I can help you recover, but I’d rather not waste my resources, so hopefully it’s bearable. I can also help if you get incapacitated, but that is very limited per day, and I have to get to you quickly.”

The group moved on to the next room, which was square, and found a set of colossal gemstone doors with ornate metal locks on them. There was a door on each of the walls except for the archway they entered from. After the last of them had entered the room, an obsidian slab dropped behind them, trapping them inside. In the center of the room was an obelisk clearly engraved with words, and in front of each door stood a matching pedestal.

Flora asked, “So I guess we read the obelisk first? Then something with the pedestals?”

Mary said, “Assume everything is a trap, but yes, that seems sensible.”

Flora walked up to the obelisk with the rest following her. The words spiraled around the obelisk, requiring Flora to circle it to read them. Flora read aloud:

“A trinity of gates, a trinity of trials. What is given, what is gained, by wit or by denials.

Pride denies the mirrored twin, so seek the stranger's hand to win.

One truth remains to show the way, and turn the lock at the end of the day.

Before you choose and step beyond the stone, know that the nature of the path is sown: The heart's domain holds double-edged the trial, Of peaceful vein, and bloody, grim defile. The heavens' road, a choice in cosmic time: A comet's flight, or an eternal climb. The verdant growth, a maze of twisting ways, where one true branch survives the leafy haze.

A single voice may sing a lonely note, but three in harmony may clear the throat and open ways to glories yet unknown.

To walk the path of glory, you must bear its sign; Its metal mundane and gem divine. Carry the token of the road you've sown.”

Merida asked, “Are we gaun tae split up? I mean, whit if the idol we are supposed tae get is pairt o' the glories yet unknown?” Do we really want to have to have all of us go through every tunnel and come back here to go through the other two? Assuming we can even come back.”

“Isn’t that like breaking rule one of gaming? You never split the party.” Aubrey said.

Mary said, “I mean, yes, but I also think Merida is partially right. We do need to consider splitting the party.”

Chloe let out another, “SQUEEE! Sorry, I can’t help myself.”

Mary continued. “I don’t think that getting the idol will require us to go down every path, but I think the true value of this task is that there is a treasure room beyond the idol that requires us to do something in each path.”

Flora said, “I’m okay with splitting up the group? But what groups?”

Mary commented, “I think that Ellen, Aubrey, and Hilde should all be in separate groups. I also don’t think I should be in Merida’s group, as I think I should be the third person in a group, and Merida has Merigold, who can act as a third in one group.”

Chloe said, “Well, unless there is a reason not to, I’ll go with Aubrey.”

Flora said, “I think it would make more sense for Merida tae go with Hilde. Than myself, but why should those three be on separate teams, Mary?”

“Because Ellen can turn into one of them and act as a melee if you encounter a monster. The task said ‘few if any,’ which almost certainly means there are a couple. Chloe, correct me if I’m mistaken, but you do have a few healing and support abilities even if you are a ranged character, right?”

“Yes, but they aren’t suitable for combat. I have some potions and stuff that can buff and recover, but I have to mix them, and they have to be imbibed fairly quickly.”

“In that case, I think that after we get all three doors open, I will heal everyone the best I can, pass out some buffs, and go with Flora and Ellen.” Chloe didn’t seem happy with that. “Chloe, I know all of us made that first hallway look easy, but if I were much bigger, Ellen wouldn’t have been able to carry me. It was also a trap your class wasn’t particularly equipped to handle, but I think you should be fine supporting Aubrey alone. Also, Aubrey has the best gear by far, and I wouldn’t be surprised to find out there are more pink traps. It makes sense that she is in the two-person party.”

Chloe nodded, “Okay, those are some good points. Now what about the keys?”

Merida illuminated the room better while Ellen stepped up to inspect each pedestal, lock, and door. She shifted back to her grey doppelganger form to do this. Ellen then replied, “Well, the door and locks are both trapped. I would assume that using the wrong key will trigger something. The pedestals all just have a button to begin their trial.”

Mary said, “Well, I’m going to assume we need to complete all three puzzles, so want to just start on the left and go clockwise?” They all nodded, so Flora went over to the ruby door and pushed the button.

The pedestal in front of the ruby door lowered, and in its place rose a large sybian saddle with two dildos on it, one looked like sapphire, and the other like copper. There was a plaque that read. ‘One or two. The question is up to you. But know, however you choose; one chance is all you have to use. Endure the time and claim what is thine.’

Flora looked at the saddle. “Are we really supposed tae have one of us take on both of these dildos at the same time?”

Mary shook her head. “I don’t think so. I mean that is an option, but I think the question of one or two could also be how many people ride at the same time.”

Hilde commented, “With how close those are, whoever it is will have to be facing one another. They will most certainly be grinding against one another, too.”

“Well, I’m not doing it,” Mary stated. “Absolutely not.”

Chloe stepped up, “I’ll do it if Aubrey is up for it. But I expect not to have to do something like this on the other two puzzles.”

Aubrey said, “Well… I guess. But in front of everyone?”

Merida, Flora, Ellen, and Hilde all turned away. Mary did not.

Aubrey said to Mary, “Really?”

Mary shrugged, “I mean, if you want me to, I will, but you could end up getting points if I watch. Plus, it isn’t like we haven’t done stuff before.”

Aubrey blushed but didn’t say anything more. Aubrey took off her armor, not wanting it to hit Chloe while they were pushed up against one another. Chloe simply took off her panties as her gear was far more padded. As soon as they were on both dildos, they found straps extending to lock them on. Then they felt the dildos moving. Slowly at first and quickly building.

Chloe reached out and embraced Aubrey, while letting out a “SQUEEE!”

Aubrey wrapped her arms around Chloe as well, pressing their breasts up against one another. She bleated out a “BAAAA! I just realized BAAAA! How long is this for?”

Mary pointed to an hourglass that had appeared to the side. Mary said, “I think it will be about three minutes? Not sure. Remember to try not to cum.

“SQUEEE! That’s sort of hard right now!” Chloe exclaimed.

Ellen shouted, “Chloe, you climax from this, and I’m going to turn into Sadie and make you watch as Mary does stuff with me.”

“OH YOU BITCH! SQUEEE!”

“Then don’t climax. Plus, you don’t hear Aubrey saying she can’t do this.”

Chloe felt Aubrey trying to buck her hips and pull back, but Aubrey kept a firm grip on Chloe. She could see that Aubrey was biting her lips. Chloe was determined not to be the reason they failed. A few minutes later, and desperately ignoring the happy thoughts that came to her mind, Chloe heard two clinking sounds as a pair of keys fell on the floor. The sybian did not stop, however.

Mary shouted, “Quickly help me get them off this. They have built up quite a bit of HP.” The others rushed to their aid, undoing the straps and laying the two up against a wall to rest. The sybian and hourglass retreated into the floor, leaving a sapphire and copper key on the pedestal that rose.

Aubrey and Chloe were both panting heavily. Mary said, “Okay, so, I’m going to heal you both up some right now. The thing is, all the healing is… erotic in nature. Are you two okay with that?”

Mary received nods. She then pulled out a drink and pulled some of the liquid into her own mouth. Then she kissed Aubrey, pushing the liquid into Aubrey’s mouth while also fingering Aubrey. Aubrey swallowed the liquid and orgasmed quickly after. She repeated the same thing with Chloe, except Chloe orgasmed as soon as Mary inserted her fingers.

+1 VP Fingered by Mistress to completion (Chloe and Aubrey)

The two lay against the wall, exhausted. Mary stood up and said, “They’ll be okay in a minute or two. Their HP pool is mostly empty now, which is good.”

“Wait, they were taking damage from that?” Flora asked as she picked up the keys.

“Yeah. Not a lot per thrust, but I think that if it had been even thirty seconds longer, Chloe would be incapacitated, having exceeded her HP pool.”

“Well, let’s go ahead and figure out what the next puzzle will be.” Flora said as she went and activated the sapphire puzzle. The pedestal went into the ground again like before. This time, a large rectangular prism that was taller than it was wide or deep rose up, covered with a black sheet. Flora was confused and removed the sheet. When she did, everyone was confused by what they saw. “This is a claw machine, right? Like that isn’t just me imagining things.”

Mary nodded, “Yeah, it is.” Mary walked over and peered into the machine. “Yeah, this one has the emerald and gold keys in it, judging by the contents of the machine.” There were a multitude of emerald and gold objects in the machine. Mary hadn’t found the specific keys yet, but assumed they might be buried somewhere. The machine had a sign that read, ‘As many plays as you need; Be careful not to be consumed by greed.’ Where the claw would deposit the prizes was a clear container, and there were various lines up the container.

Merida walked over and said, “Is this really a puzzle?”

Ellen replied, “Mary is the one to say puzzle, the pedestals say a trial. I don’t know about all of you, but I am horrible at these claw machines.”

“I’m not,” Flora said. “I’m just concerned about the part, not tae be consumed by your greed. That is a shovel claw, and with how small everything is in here, your skill isn’t going tae matter; you will pick up stuff with it. Can anyone actually see the keys?”

Everyone crowded around the machine. Merida said, “I think sae. I see ane ower here stickin' up oot o' some o' this other jewellery.”

Aubrey said, “Wait a sec, I have two over here that I can see half of. One gold and one emerald. You sure you see a key too, Merida?”

“Aye, see richt here.” Merida pointed, and Aubrey saw part of a key as well.

Flora said, “Well, that’s not good; some of them will be fakes.”

Merida put a hand on Flora’s shoulder. “Hey, ye've got this.”

Flora placed her hand on the joystick and tapped the start button. When she did, a cuff shot up and wrapped around her wrist, making it so she couldn’t swap out with someone else. “Well, shit!” Flora immediately went for the pair of keys that Aubrey had seen before on the right side of the machine. She had grabbed both in the claw, but grabbed some nearby stuff as well. On the trip over, though, one of the keys dropped directly into a pile of piercings that were surrounded by an emerald-studded gold collar. The claw opened on the container, dropping its contents into it.

Chloe looked at the key that landed in the container. “This isn’t the right key. It’s part emerald and part gold.”

“The other key ye got wis pure emerald. See, ye can still see it on tap o' those piercin's.” Merida pointed out.

Having figured out where one key was, Flora decided to try to find the second key first. No one could see another key besides the one Merida had pointed out at the beginning. Flora made another attempt and went after that key. She easily got it and several gold coins, emerald pebbles, and a necklace. Flora was nearly over the first line of the container.

Chloe shook her head. “Sorry, not that key either.”

Ellen pressed her blank face up against the glass. Flora waited until Ellen was done with whatever she was doing, as she kept doing it on each side of the machine. Two minutes later, she said, “There are six more keys, including the emerald key in the center of the collar.” Ellen pointed out where they were.

Flora spent the next four plays uncovering three other keys while picking up almost nothing by placing the claw just right. She did get a few gold coins, though. None of them was the key she was looking for. The last unknown keys were together, according to Ellen. Flora deftly maneuvered the claw, getting one key and uncovering the other. This put her over the first line, though. As soon as the treasure crossed the line, Flora let out a yelp of pain. “OW MOTHERFUCKER!” With her free hand, she reached up to her breasts, which seemed sensitive based on how she was touching them. “Sorry, Ellen, but that was warranted. I’m pretty sure I have nipple piercings now.” The others winced in sympathy. “Did I at least get the richt key?” Chloe shook her head once again. Flora sighed and pushed to play again. This time, she got the gold key along with some bangles. “Now for the tough part.”

Hilde was watching, “I’ve never done one of these things myself, but why is this the tough part?”

Flora explained. “I’m almost certainly going tae have to pull the collar away. The claw won’t be able tae land properly otherwise. The thing is, I don’t know if I can move it without winning it.” Flora made a few more attempts but was ultimately correct. After the third try of moving the collar, the claw didn’t simply shift it but picked it up and dropped it into the container. Causing another yelp of pain, and Mary thought a bit of pleasure as it had pushed well past the second line. Flora had doubled over, reaching down to her crotch this time.

Mary went over to Flora. “Hey, as soon as you’re free, I have some numbing cream for the pain. It should help.” Flora just nodded as Mary and Merida helped Flora stand back up. Flora played one last time. She placed the claw in the right position to get the key, but was distracted and hadn’t considered how much treasure she was picking up. With everything she had picked up, she pushed the treasure over the third line.

This time, there was no yelp of pain from Flora, just a sigh of relief, “Finally, this is over.” It was then that the emerald-studded gold collar appeared around her neck, and the cuff that was around her wrist was replaced with emerald-encrusted gold bangles. Flora tried to remove the bangles but couldn’t. “What the hell? Why can’t I take these off?”

Merida came over and cast a spell. “They're cursed. Sorry, but ye'll be wearin' them for a while, I think. Same wi' the collar. I bet the piercin's are the same way.”

“OI! CASSANDRA THESE BETTER NOT BE FUCKING PERMANENT!” Flora shouted at the ceiling. “Well, we need to find a way to remove them soon. Any idea if they have any other effects?”

Merida nodded. She moved the bangles together so they touched. Flora couldn’t separate the bangles from one another. Merida then pulled Flora’s hands apart. “Ye need tae be careful if the bangles touch; someane else needs tae separate them. The collar makes ye mair obedient tae those ye would normally gie deference tae, but also makes ye mair persuadin' tae everyane else. Dinnae ken aboot the piercin's wi'oot actually seein' them, sae unless ye want tae strip richt noo, it'll hae tae wait until later.”

Flora immediately began to strip out of her leather armor. Not caring that there were others around. Merida examined the piercings and stared at Flora’s naked breasts and pussy longer than necessary. Merida said, “Aye, cursed. They mak' ye mair sensitive in the relevant areas an' actually gie a bonus tae ony healin' abilities used on ye involvin' those areas, tae.”

“Well, I can definitely feel the sensitive portion having an effect,” Flora replied while putting her armor back on. “I’m starting tae think that maybe Mary was richt about this place.”

Mary said, “Oh, thinking about backing out now? Listening to the person who says they have read stuff about something explicitly called the Eros Trap Dungeon before? I mean, that did seem like it would have been a good idea. But I don’t know, I’m apparently the wench just here to serve drinks.”

Aubrey chuckled, “A little salty there, Mary? I mean, I agreed with you that we shouldn’t do this one, but we’re here. Honestly, we have made progress, and it hasn’t cost us much yet.” Flora glared at Aubrey. “Okay, well, it hasn’t cost most of us much yet. The biggest cost has been time. Also, it is a moot point considering we can’t leave the way we came in. Also, Flora, I thought you said you would be willing to take one for the team, if you needed to.”

“I didn’t realize that I might have my body permanently altered coming here. I thought, at worst, I might get something that would last for the LARP. Not have my nipples and clit pierced.”

Hilde said, “You thought that there wasn’t a chance that you might suffer permanent alterations, while on a show that is all about transforming you physically and mentally into a better partner for Mary?”

Flora raised a finger to object, then lowered her hand after thinking about it. “Okay, I guess that is a good point. But pretty much all the other permanent TFs have been something that happened from the voting or that we bought. It isn’t like we could get permanent TFs just walking around the Island.”

Hilde said, “Eeehh…” No one looked at her like they thought she was funny. “Look for fairness, Cassandra muddled some of my memories at least until the Harem knows about something as well. I am pretty sure there are permanent TF effects on the island. I just don’t know what they are or where exactly. Also, Chloe, didn't you get a permanent TF from the Casino?”

Chloe nodded. “Yeah, from the stupid prize wheel. At least it wasn’t a horrible one.”

“What was it?” Ellen asked.

Which caused Chloe to become evasive, and she deflected by saying, “How about we figure out the next trial thing, okay?” Chloe went over to the next pedestal and pressed the button.

While the pedestal lowered into the ground, Flora reached into the claw machine and took the keys. She was surprised to find that they got the rest of the items she had won as well. She pushed all of it into the bag of holding. Mary held out a thing of numbing cream to Flora, but she shook her head, “No, the pain is mostly gone already. I’ll be fine.”

In place of the pedestal in front of the emerald door rose a large glass vat with the two keys suspended in the middle of the vat. There was a lid on top of it, keeping it sealed, and a ladder to climb up the side of the vat. Ellen climbed the ladder and said, “There appear to be two ways to open this. One is like an airlock. You sit on top of the vat, and someone flips the lid portion, and then they can drop you inside. The other just opens the vat.”

Mary replied, “Pretty sure if we open the vat, we are fighting a slime monster. This thing doesn’t have a clever rhyme to it, but it does label it as Experiment S. Alternatively, we let someone go dive into the slime monster.”

Chloe said, “OR we do neither of those options.” Mary looked at Chloe curiously. “I’m sure those are the intended solutions, Mary, don’t get me wrong. But why do things the way you are supposed to?” Chloe rummaged through her pouches and pack. She started to mix a few concoctions. “Here, Ellen, can you put this into the airlock mechanism and then drop it into the vat?” Chloe passed up a bowl of black sludge-looking material. “Just make sure not to touch the stuff in the bowl, it’s toxic.” Ellen did as requested, and the party watched as the bowl of toxic sludge was dropped into the vat. They saw that there was a slimy creature inside that quickly began to melt the bowl down. Then the black sludge started to mix with the slime, causing it to lash around the container, clearly not pleased. The slime shrank smaller and smaller until there was a thick, black, viscous puddle of goo at the bottom of the vat with the keys resting on the bottom. Chloe looked at Mary smugly.

“Hey, that was a good idea. I was just making suggestions earlier.” Mary said with a shrug. “Ellen, can you get the keys out of there?”

“Sure, not a problem. Chloe, should I be okay as long as I don’t get that stuff on my skin?”

“Yeah, plus it should be mostly inert at this point anyway. Maybe a little sticky.”

Ellen lifted the lid of the vat and let the fumes air out before she lowered herself into the vat. Once she was standing on the bottom of the vat, she reached down and grabbed the keys off the floor. At least that is what she tried to do, but she found that the keys were stuck to the bottom, and her fingers were stuck to the gunk on the keys. Ellen tapped on the glass and said, “A little help? This is a lot more than a little st—” The black goo sprang up and engulfed Ellen, encasing her from head to toe in a shiny black material.

“ELLEN! Are you okay?” Mary shouted worriedly. While Hilde zipped up the ladder and shut the vat. Mary then shouted at Hilde, “What did you do that for?!”

“Think, Mary. If that thing is hostile and has control of Ellen, it would be really bad if it could just get out of there. Imagine if it could cause Ellen to change into me or worse, Laura, and go on a rampage.”

There was some more tapping on the glass. “Hey. I’m still in control, but this stuff won’t come off me. Honestly, it doesn’t feel much different than my equipment. I have the keys. Can you please let me out?” Ellen was holding up both keys.

Merida used an identification spell. “I’m gettin' a readin' that it is a symbiote an' has bonded wi' Ellen. That’s a' I’m gettin' richt noo.”

Ellen’s head became uncovered with the black goo retracting as did her hands and feet. It now looked like she was just wearing a latex suit. “I mean, you aren’t actually going to keep me locked in here, right? Either this isn’t that bad, or we— Eep! Hey, quit that!” Ellen said, pulling at the goo. “I think the goo is just a pervert. You should be safe. I’m getting the feeling it won’t attach to anyone else.”

Flora told Hilde, “Open the vat. We aren’t leaving her here indefinitely, so we need tae deal with it one way or another.” Hilde undid the vat lid and zipped down the ladder. Flora rooted through the bag of holding and pulled out some rope and tossed one end inside the vat. “Aubrey, would you hold the other end? You said your armor only feels weightless tae you, not that it is weightless. So, including gear, you should be the heaviest among us right now.” Aubrey firmly gripped one end of the rope, and Ellen climbed up and out of the vat.

Ellen landed next to Flora and offered her the two keys. “Here, now we just need to figure out which keys to which door.”

“That’s easy,” Merida replied. Everyone looked at her. “Weel, it is either the emerald or silver for the ruby door, the sapphire door is either ruby or copper, an' the emerald door is either sapphire or gowd. Personally, I think it is the gemstone keys, but that pairt I micht be wrang aboot.”

Mary went and reread the obelisk, while Hilde asked, “Why those?”

“Weel, we dinnae want the mirrored twins, sae the matchin' keys tae the doors or locks are oot. ‘Seek a stranger’s hand tae win’ means the key is in front o' anither door. If ye didnae notice, the pedestals hae slight engravings on them that mak' them look like hands. Noo, I'm no' sure aboot the last pairt, but it said metal wis mundane an' gem divine. Though that could be for a later pairt, as it wis talkin' aboot walkin' the path, which micht hae tae dae wi' the area ayont each door.”

Mary finished rereading the obelisk. “Well, Merida is definitely right about the possible combinations. I would lean towards the gemstone keys too, both because of what Merida said, and I’m pretty sure the gold, silver, and copper keys are a reference and have to do with mimics.”

Flora got out the keys, and Merida took the gemstone keys and went to open each door. The locks fell to the floor one by one. Merida said, “I guess noo we jist need tae figure oot wha is gaun doon which door?”