The meeting area was set up a little strangely today. Strings stretched between two trees, criss-crossing and forming a giant spider web, and a closer look would reveal tiny bells attached to the strings. A large patch of ground nearby had been covered with a swath of red-orange cloth about 15 yards across, and scattered about it were flat stones that were large enough for one person to stand upon, perhaps two if you were cozy with one another. There were red streamers dangling down from the trees overhead as well, and a pile of small red beanbags off to one side. But that didn't mean there wasn't a table full of food.

"Today we thought we'd try something different," Raven began the meeting. "Often times we must face physical hazards when attempting to find an object we require or reach a place we must get to. We've tried to replicate two examples. The first is this web, which is home to a deadly giant spider. You must get through the web without making the bells on the strings ring, for that will attract the spider to you." She paused a moment, then added, "There is not really a giant spider, that is only pretend." Just in case anyone was wondering.

She gestured to the red cloth on the ground. "This is a river of lava that you must cross, and the streamers represent lava that is pouring down from the above. You may jump from stone to stone to cross, but if you are touched by a streamer, it will make you fall. But as it is only pretend, you may go back and try again." Raven picked up one of the red bean bags and added, "You may also throw these 'lava rocks' at your friends as they attempt to cross to make it more difficult, if you wish."

"Or," Tara added hastily, "you can go through either obstacle in pairs and help each other." She didn't like the idea of making it harder on purpose. "Just ... try not to get fake-killed before you get to the other side."

"Magic or ingenuity can get you through," Karla said, idly tossing a beanbag from hand to hand. She had the strangest desire to hurl it at someone while yelling 'Fireball.' Go figure. "The important thing is to keep trying. Who knows when the island will throw something weird at us next?"

She looked at the small pine tree that was raining glitter on her shoes. "Besides this, I mean."

They made a good point. Dolf smiled at everyone there, his hands in his pockets, though he was aching to give the set-up a try himself. "You never know when learning how to do these things will be useful," he added. "So try doing it again if you're done. It might save you later, and teach you to be careful when it matters. It's not just a game, though we'll hope you have fun. Go!"

Raven glanced up at the glitter with a puzzled look on her face. "That does not count as lava," she clarified.


[Co-written with the hot-as-lava glacial_witch, life_inshadow, and swordsandsoccer. Oh yeah. It's a LARP module. I used to do these for a living. It just needs some guys in rubber masks and wielding boffer swords. ;) ]