Friday, February 17, 2006

   Masquerade!

Welcome to Equus's castle and the clone mystery Masquerade!

A large reddish horse walks up to you. "Hi. Welcome to Equus's masquerade ball. This party is to celebrate the arrival of her new clone (the third to come to her household.) If you are not a regular visitor to Equus's castle, please read her introduction. It will be some help in reading this post. ^_^ By the way, I'm Xihuitl, her muse.

"Please come into the ballroom. At this end, in case you didn¡¦t bring your own mask, we have a mask-making table. At the far end is the banquet table. (It's all finger food.) There are seats around the walls, and the rest of the floor is open for dancing. (Look, there's the dj on the balcony. Equus has always liked that sort of thing.)

"Now, there is one thing about this party that you should know. It's a mystery. We aren't going to tell you who Equus's new clone is. It's up to you to find out. There are eight contestants. Some really are clones; some aren't."

From Rurouni Kenshin:
Sanosuke
Kenshin
Megumi
Yahiko

From Fruits Basket:
Kyo
Haru

From Yu-Yu-Hakusho:
Hiei
Kurama

"There are also four pairs of mask."
tiger and wolf
sun and moon
silver and gold
black and white

"Your main objective is to find the new clone. If you choose, try to figure out who are her old clones (one you haven't met before) and anything else you may glean along the way. There are a couple bonus clues at the end. For further information, you can always visit Refi's castle or the Clones R Ussite. Now, happy clue-hunting!

"One quick hint: have you ever used those Punnit squares in biology? ^_^ Set up large squares for all possibilities, then mark if they are impossible, possible, or definite."

You enter the crowd. The first person you see is a girl with long blue hair, and she bounces over to you. She's wearing a blue-violet, glimmery gown and a butterfly mask, through which purple eyes smile.

"Glad you could come to the party! I'm Equus, for anyone who hasn't met me, and I see you've met Xihuitl already. I hope you're ready to dance and eat and explore. ^_^ Here's your first clue to the mystery. There are two contestants at each place--the banquet table, the dance floor, the mask table, and one in each of two corners. Here's a pen and paper for clues, etc. Good luck." She bounces off.

Feeling a bit hungry, you edge around the dance floor to the banquet table. You make your way down the table, loading your plate with finger food--sandwiches, cookies, brownies, pretzels, chips and dip, whatever you want. When you get to the end, there are big stone bowls of hot cocoa, punch, milk, and cider. You also find the wolf mask there, getting two cups of drink.

You: "Oh, hi. Um, can I ask you some questions?"

Wolf: "Sure, as long as you don't ask directly if I'm the new clone, or who I am, or that sort of thing. ^.^ And as long as it doesn't take long."

You: "Okay...what are you doing?"

Wolf: "I'm just getting some hot cocoa for my girlfriend."

A blue-haired girl in a butterfly mask skips over. "Oh, thank you, sweet."

Wolf: ^///^

You: "I see. ^_^ Well, I think I'll be off now."

As you munch on your food, you see a black girl with curly white hair and large, orange, red-capped wings. Her mask is made of black and purple feathers.

You: "Hi. I've never seen anyone with wings like that before."

She smiles. "I'm Starflower, a friend of Equus's."

You: "If you're a friend of Equus's, can you tell me anything about the mystery?"

Starflower: "Heehee. Not much. ^.~ But I can tell you two things. No character is currently at the same place as another character from his or her show--except at the food table."

Someone comes over and takes off his mask of purple and red feathers. It's Dark.

Dark: "Starflower, do you want to dance?"

Starflower: "Of course. Just one second. I saw the gold mask introduce himself to the tiger mask earlier, and he asked her to dance. He's still dancing over there, though she's gone to help at the mask table. Bye." Starflower sweeps off with Dark.

You find the gold mask wearer dancing, but he kindly steps aside with you when you introduce yourself.

Gold: "Yes. How can I help you?"

You: "Can you tell me anything about yourself?"

Gold: "I have lived here longer than Equus's other clones. However, I'm usually in the rose garden, so I haven't met her visitors before."

A girl runs up to the gold mask. "Oh, oh, I was hoping to meet you here. Will you dance with me?"

Gold: ^//^ "I would be honored to. Rae, I believe it is."

Rae squeals and glomps him. "You've heard of me" She drags him off to dance.

You shrug and go on to the mask table to talk to the tiger mask. You find the sun mask there as well.

You: "Hi."

Sun: "Hello."

You: "Did Tiger ask you to help?"

Sun: "No. I was looking for the banquet table, but I couldn't find it. I ended up here instead."

You: ^^; "Well, if you're hungry, the food's right over there."

Sun: "Thank you. I'm rather enjoying it here, but maybe in a bit."

You: "Okay. Have fun."

You go speak to the tiger mask next.

Tiger: "I will admit that I had a crush on the black mask practically since I first met him. But I gave up finally. He fell in love with the main girl. Sigh. He's over on the dance floor, if you want to meet him."

You go back to the dance floor, amd you meet the gold mask again. He seems to have escaped...that is, lost...he's alone now, so you ask him if he can tell you anything about the other contestants.

Gold: "Well, truthfully, the silver mask was very unhappy when the new clone arrived a couple weeks ago."

You: "Really? Why?"

Gold: "I don't think they've ever really been friends, and it's gotten worse over the years."

Rae bounces up. "That's probably why Silver is sulking in the corner right now," she chirps. She drags Gold off again.

You: "And I was going to ask him another question."

A quiet voice behind you speaks. "Excuse me."

You turn around to see the black mask.

Black: "I can help you, that I can."

You: ^^ "Do the masks have any significance?"

Black: "In this they can help you. There is no pair of masks where both masks are worn by characters of the same show."

Starflower and Dark swish past. "Except one pair," Starflower calls over her shoulder.

You: "One?"

Black: "Oro..."

Xihuitl trots by, snorting, her ears laid back. You ask her what's wrong.

Xihuitl: "Yahiko is trying to start a food fight, and I am not letting all that food go to waste. Not to mention the time and energy preparing it, and the clean up of a food fight..." She trots away, grumbling under her breath. ^^;

You say good-bye to the black mask wearer, and you find Rae again. Except she looks a little different...and her dress is no longer black and blue, but red and gold. And she isn't with the gold mask, but with a man in a hawk mask.

You: "Rae?"

The girl laughs. "No, I'm her sister, Kayla. This is my husband."

You introduce yourself, then ask if they can help you.

Kayla: "Well, I can definitely tell you that Hiei didn't want to be here. But since he can't leave, he's hiding in a corner somewhere."

You: "Thanks. What about the other characters?"

Kayla: "Well, Equus said something about Haru wanting to wear the moon mask. But she insisted on him wearing its partner instead. Something about not wanting the masks to be too obvious."

Hawk: "And you just gave it away, sweetheart."

Kayla: ^^; "Oops."

Equus pops up from nowhere. "That's okay. Hi, guys!" She runs off again.

You thank Kayla and her husband. You continue on, until you meet a trio of gargoyles. They introduce themselves as Lex, Broadway, and Brooklyn.

You: "Are you friends of Equus?"

Brooklyn: "Yep."

You: "Can you help me with this mystery?"

Broadway: "About the masks? The only one I heard say anything was Kyo. He said something about agreeing with the guy wearing the white mask."

You: "And do you know who the guy in the white mask is?"

Lex: "We're not allowed to tell. But he's hiding over there in the corner."

You: "Thank you very much."

You start to head off, but Brooklyn stops you.

Brooklyn: "There are a couple other things. I heard the white mask wearer say he thinks it's an outrage he's here at all. I don't know if you know, but he almost got here late and was apparently forced to come."

Lex: "That's right. He said something about not even belonging here."

You: "Hm...did he say where he belonged?"

The gargoyles look at each other. "Nope."

Brooklyn: "One other thing. Not all the contestants are actual clones."

You: "Thank you. See ya later."

You head towards the white mask. He's lounging in the corner, behind one of the stone pillars.

You: "Excuse me."

White: "Hmph."

You: "Well. Excuse me, but I wondered if you would tell me where you really belong?"

White: "I don't belong here." (looks at you) "I'll tell you this. My clone number equals the number of eyes I truly have."

You: "Okay...thanks."

White turns away, and you leave him. You go to your own place to finish eating and to figure out the clues.

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The masquerade will finish Monday night. Tuesday (hopefully in the morning) I'll post the answers. If you need more time, just pm me, and I will look at extending the deadline. Pm me your answers and, if you want, as many facts as you figure out about the contestants--who's wearing what mask, which ones definitely are or aren't clones, where they belong, etc.

Also, feel free to comment and tell us what you're doing at the party. Remember, it's full of guests and anime characters and other characters. Please remember that this is a g-rated site. ^_^ Thank you.

If you guys want, I'll do something for everyone who correctly figures out the mystery, or at least part of it. (The harder parts. :) ) Happy solving!

Hugs and pocket hugs for whenever you need one. God be with you and bless. Love. Take care.
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God gives us commandments so that, if we follow them, we will be kept in spiritual safety.
God be with you, and hugs.

Psalm 91:14-16
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Psalm 119:129, 132-135
Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
[...]
Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.
Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.
Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.

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Fact of the day: Mammals that live in such a way that they need to move (like horses and cows) have babies that can generally move relatively quickly, walking within hours of birth. Other mammals have babies that are much more dependent, like the kangaroo and predators such as lions.

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God is in every miracle. He sends all good blessings. He loves us. Hugs, guys! ^_^

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Jesus is the Christ. He died for us that justice can be paid, so that mercy may have us--so He could redeem our souls. He was resurrected so that we will all have immortality and can have eternal salvation--a perfect, joyful eternity in God's presence, earning like wisdom and with like glory.

This all depends on us as well. Will we accept Jesus Christ's Atonement, that brings us back into spiritual alignment with Him and Heavenly Father? Will we obey as well? I hope that we will. In God's love. Take care.

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The Mountain of God--His Temple
Part of eternal life is eternal families. Yes, we don't always get along with our families, but hopefully all of us have or will have a family that we love and want to be able to be with for ever. Truly, forever. It is possible, in God's gospel and love.

Hugs! And love! Help each other, as God and Christ have helped us.

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Moroni 10:8
And again, I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not the gifts of God, for they are many; and they come from the same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the same God who worketh all in all; and they are given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God unto men, to profit them.
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