EXILED: Crooked Rose Woods

I wanted to pop back in and explain what I unearthed those final nights in the woods.

Friday, November 25th
I witnessed a large blowup between Cletums, Lily, and Dorothea. At this point I was unfortunately numbed to Cletums being berated and ran off by his Pa and sister; however, this time I decided to prod Dorothea.

“Why are you still so upset with Cletums?” I felt comfortable asking Dorothea as we had formed a close relationship after many, many nights in the woods. Dorothea explained that Cletums had been disappearing for hours at a time, and he didn’t know where he went. I asked for him to give Cletums some extra love and make him feel like family, that he may be feeling excluded. “Keep your son by your side. Close.” I told him before I went to find Cletums. I had no idea how right I was.

I spotted Cletums across the midway and immediately started in on him. “Hey, your dad is concerned. He said you have been disappearing. I’m not trying to snitch on you or rat you out, I’m just worried.” Cletums seemed hesitant to share..

“I’m trying to help my family…” I could tell he was withholding something. “I’m trusting someone.”

I had committed to treating everyone in the woods as a cherished friend, and regrettably decided to not push Cletums. If he wanted to share, he would. “Please be safe.” I said, and moved on with my evening.


October 31st
My “What Happened to Lazarus” post covers what happened the next night I attended. I learned about the Vial of Life and opulens former host (RIP Jennifer.)


Friday, November 1st
The night of the finale, Maddison made sure to tell me in the Opulence tent that the Vial of Life was hers. She said she would do whatever it took to have it. I believed her 100%.

I spent a lot of time asking about the Vial of Life and a new host for opulens. This is where I partially lost sight of the bigger picture. I remember talking to a handler (I think it was Molly) who said “they always choose a Redcurve as a host.” For whatever foolish reason I immediately retorted “Morgan wasn’t a Redcurve.” And she said “oh.. you’re right.” Why I moved on and considered it a closed case I will never know.

I decided I needed to track down Dorothea and tell him what I know. About the Elites looking for a new host. Dorothea let me know that the Vial of Life is made from a part of an Old God. He said they needed opulens to do it. At this point I thought Haley was going to be the host and I told him so. We had another great conversation about free will and how she might be exactly where she wants to be.

I found out that Haley was brought into the Opulence Tent. I decided to take action and went charging towards it. I had to get Haley out of there. Chris H. was talking with a handler and I asked them to come with me. We needed to get into the tent and stop them. Chris told me there was nothing I could do, that what would happen would happen. I felt the wind leave my sails. I was deflated.

You all have been clued in to the final ritual. I won’t recap that here but I will say that I cried.

I also went to Lazarus and asked him why. Why did he betray Cletums? I was so hurt. I trusted him. (Later I found out he did he best to protect everyone involved. Sorry for making you feel bad, Dairy King!)

Afterwards I was in complete shock. I was ashamed for not rushing into the Opulence Tent to stop them from using Cletums. My heart ached for the Redcurves. Hindsight bias is so real. I had a whole pocket full of tokens, so I wanted to cash them in at the merch stand. It took me a while to find anything I wanted that I hadn’t already brought home.. and when I went to leave I saw him.

Dorothea was exiting the trail. I hesitated to bother him, as I knew things had wrapped.. but I had to thank him. I found out in that exchange that the wager at the bar… that pool game I won against all odds.. was the only reason Cletums survived his experience as opulens.

I imagine the next time we meet in those woods… things will be different. The Redcurves have unfinished business with the Elites. I am eager to see where the woods will take us.

Pia, I think you may have got the closest to the bigger picture than any of us and for that I salute you.

Halloween was my last night but I just realised on reflection that something maybe happened of significance. Cletums was the last person I spoke to. I was leaving and he called me back. He said thank you. Earlier in the night, Dorothea was berating him and myself, Haley, and Chelsea literally ran to comfort him. He could’ve called them back too. But he called ME. Someone that had also been marked as a potential vessel.

But I wasn’t going to be there the next night was I? Ignoring what I was told on my first night, I had realised that even if I was capable of being a vessel, I wasn’t going to be there at the pivotal moment. Did I ever think I was leaving Cletums to that fate?

No. Despite all the signs.

Despite being pulled into the Opulence tent by Lazarus after spending time with Cletums.

Despite being reminded that Lazarus had never lied to me.

Despite being allowed to say goodbye to opulens by Lazarus (and Stephanie).

Despite being given the chance to ask a question of the Elites in the Opulence tent on Halloween in front of a bunch of you guys.

Hindsight truly is a b*tch, huh?

Wait… I don’t think I’ve adequately expressed the feeling I had that Cletums was gonna do something big. I was worried he was gonna kill someone to prove himself to his family. He did do something big, he did prove himself. I am very proud of him. I should’ve made that clear in my last post.

blondie wrote: ↑Wed Nov 27, 2024 6:43 pm Wait… I don’t think I’ve adequately expressed the feeling I had that Cletums was gonna do something big. I was worried he was gonna kill someone to prove himself to his family. He did do something big, he did prove himself. I am very proud of him. I should’ve made that clear in my last post.

Thank you. It was a wild ride and I appreciate you sharing your experience as well. It’s funny looking back at our experiences and seeing the missed clues.

I will say (and I did not witness this first hand) that apparently Cletums (under opulens control) went on a killing spree in the midway. He killed Mistress Jen, Nathaniel, and Uncle Charlie. Apparently Nathaniel was revived.. this all happened when the level 3 guests were already seated in the chapel in the woods. This was before he was dragged in.

I am sorry. I wanted to share but I knew it would pain you to hear about Uncle Charlie as you were so fond of him.

I should also add that I don’t feel good about sharing someone else’s experience and I was not a part of that. I didn’t witness.

Thank you. I truly did love Charlie. He made me feel like the most precious thing in those woods. I know he died defending what he believed in. His family.

The whole “ending” leaves me so conflicted. If Lazarus believed it was worth it, I find it hard to question it. And he did what he could to mitigate the fall out. He brought the witch back for example. But I do question if this was all Maddison’s folly and that… is not enough for me.

blondie wrote: ↑Wed Nov 27, 2024 7:02 pm Thank you. I truly did love Charlie. He made me feel like the most precious thing in those woods. I know he died defending what he believed in. His family.

The whole “ending” leaves me so conflicted. If Lazarus believed it was worth it, I find it hard to question it. And he did what he could to mitigate the fall out. He brought the witch back for example. But I do question if this was all Maddison’s folly and that… is not enough for me.

I do feel similarly. There is perhaps a larger purpose that remains to be seen. I hope next fall we can uncover more of the story here.

If it was just for Maddison to acquire the Vial of Life for herself… ugh.