Feel free to skip the story and go to the next heading (Your Quest: Rules and Forms) if you want to get straight to the rules, quest, and eligible stories.)
The crimson forest of oaks and maples opens up around you as you crest another hill. Up ahead lies a ramshackle shack just beyond the silver weeping willow. This must be the place Beatrice told you about. You slow down.
There’s an odd scent coming from this place. A burning mossy odor filled the air, growing stronger with each step. Then the air changes again. Now there are undertones of saffron and truffles with just a hint of vanilla.
Someone is close by.
That shack doesn’t look like it’s being used for shelter. But a faint light pulses at the base.
You take a few steps closer, curious about what’s inside. Just as you reach the heavy iron door, it opens with an elongated creak. A tall imposing figure stands in the crooked doorway, his face hidden behind a mask made of shimmering black feathers, long brown and white locs flowing down his back. He wears light jeans without a shirt, heavy furs wrapped over his back and shoulders. Smoke rises from him but has no obvious source.
“Oh. Excellent. Company. Just what I was hoping for.” His voice rasps deep and low through the forest, ancient and powerful. “I am the matchmaker. Perhaps you have heard of me.”
“You’re a matchmaker?” Of all the things that this powerful individual might be, matchmaker isn’t the one that comes initially to mind.
“I am indeed.” He lifts the mask off and sets it aside. Then he bows his head forward. His eyes seem to be at once both dark green and dark brown. Or perhaps one is dark green and the other is dark brown. You can’t tell, and your head starts to spin as you try to focus. “You may call me Indigo. I am the Lord of the Weres, and I am here on a very serious matter.”
“I thought you said you were a matchmaker?” That smoky scent wraps around your senses, making you feel a little giddy. The very air of the forest around you shimmers and transforms. Patterns emerge in the air. Smoke-like wisps that grow stronger the more you stare at them.
“I am a matchmaker. And I am the Lord of the Weres.” He smiles calmly as if this is the most natural of things to say. “It is the responsibility of every lord to ensure that his people live their best and fullest lives. That also means helping them find their mates.”
“I didn’t know that.” You fold your arms over your chest, impressed. “So what are you doing out here? It seems like it’s just the two of us.” As soon as you say that though, you realize it isn’t entirely accurate. There are other…somethings out here. You can feel them. You just can’t see them.
“Ah. You can sense them too.” He tips his head forward at this, then gestures to the air around them. “You’re right. They’re here. And they’re sad.” He draws closer to her. “Nothing more tragic than a soul that never found its love, is there?”
You’re not sure if you should be scared or intrigued by this Lord of the Weres, but you can’t help but feel drawn to him. “So, what do you want me to do? Help you find these lost souls their mates?”
Indigo leans closer, his eyes narrowing. The scent of his earthy cologne intensifies as his breath grazes your cheek. “Not precisely. I need you to help me learn what makes them work, and I’ve heard that in all this land, there is none better nor finer than you for spotting the tropes that count in love stories. And no one better when it comes to knowing love stories.”
“So you want me to find you love stories?”
“I do indeed, dear one” He grins, his expression somewhere between delighted and feral. His long canines glint in the moonlight. “The more the better.” He hands you a blank piece of paper. “I have written out what I require in spirit ink. Your intuition will guide you, and if you are on the right track, the words will appear before you on this page.”
Hm. That’s new. You’ve never worked with spirit ink before. You take the piece of paper, feeling a sense of excitement and adventure flow through you. “Consider it done,” you say with a smile. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
Indigo nods gratefully. His eyes then scan the area. “Excellent. Now, please excuse me. I must continue with my preparations. I will be here when you return.” He stalks then toward one of the saplings and examines its twigs.
Strange night indeed. You study the paper with the spirit ink. Can you see anything? You frown. Yes…to your surprise, the letters do start to form. They twist and turn, forming strange symbols and shapes that you can’t quite make out. An acrid scent like burning walnuts fills the air, and you taste something bitter on the tip of your tongue. Slowly the symbols coalesce into words, becoming readable. They shimmer and glow, forming the requests for tropes that focus on the stories that will help Indigo with his mission.
Perfect. You know precisely where to start.
Your Quest: Prize, Rules, and Forms
Prize
Once you complete this quest, you will be entered in a chance to win a $5 gift card.
This is open to anyone.
Rules
To complete the Quest, you can use stories from the list below.
You can only use a story for one element on the list in this quest. It is all right if you repeat a story from any other quest though.
This quest includes a custom curated list of all the stories in the event that include ghosts or spirits. You may use any of the ones on this page to solve this quest.
Be kind to your fellow readers and other authors.
The Forms
This one you will either fill out a Google Form or email us your discoveries. Refer to the form to find the list of required stories even if you choose to email.
Each answer is worth 1 token. Each token is an entry into the giveaway.
Bonus Tokens
In addition to the regular tokens, you can get bonus tokens by completing the following acts.
One extra token for every story you share in an individual social media post. (Yes, you can post on multiple platforms.)
Use #thematchmakerbonus (and if you want to absolutely bless me, save off the links and paste them in the forms or an email to make sure we definitely see them. Screenshots also work.).
(We have graphics of all the stories here so you don’t have to make something separate. Just look look under the author’s last name to find the stories.)
Submitting Your Form
Once you’ve gathered up your collection of stories, you’ll need to turn them in so we can verify.
You can turn in your stories in two ways.
- Complete this form and directly post your answers (if you do this, you don’t need to turn in anything else. The form will allow you to return to it and edit your answers).
- Email your answers to faeornofae@farofeb.com. Make sure to include any of the bonus activities you have done as well. Use the title The Matchmaker or Ghosts and Spirits Quest or some similar identifier.
Make sure to submit your completed form or list by October 30 at 11:59 PM EST.
If you have any problems, please feel free to email faeornofae@farofeb.com.
Heat Levels
All stories are ranked on a romance scale of one to four chili peppers to indicate spice levels. We use the Heat Levels Guide depicted here.
This graphic has also been saved in the Graphics Folder for the event in case you want to share it as well.
Ghosts and Spirits in Our World and Others
Conclusion to A Spooky Question
You love the idea of the matchmaking for ghosts and spirits, so you go the extra mile and gather up copies of all the books you recommend.
Indigo waits for you at the shack. His face lights up as soon as he sees you. “Your instincts are impeccable,” Indigo says with a warm smile. He gratefully takes the books from you and sets them down beside the faded shack wall. “Thank you.”
“Happy to help.” You find his happiness contagious.
Indigo’s eyes flicker over the titles, his fingers tracing the spines lovingly as he crouches beside them. “These are perfect,” he murmurs. “You truly are the best in the land. Because of you, I can now make my preparations and conclude the research. And then these poor souls will have a chance to find happiness, love, and fulfillment. And that…that is a beautiful thing, is it not?” He grins, lifting his chin and baring his teeth. There’s a beautiful viciousness in his manner. The air around him continues to shimmer, and the excitement is palpable.
“It is beautiful,” you agree. “I wish you all the best.”
“Are you going to continue on then?” Indigo stands, his gaze fixed upon you with contemplation.
“I am.”
“Be careful. You are drawing near to a powerful source of magic. Perhaps one that is connected to that wretched abyss. I suspect your skills and knowledge will be put to the test even more.”
“Really?” You tilt your head, then turn, taking in your surroundings. “Are we near another portal point?”
“Another access point yes.” He draws closer to you. His long jet-black claws catch the silver moonlight. He grins at you. “Are you sure you don’t want me to make you a match before you leave, dear one? It might be wise to have someone you can trust before you continue on your quest.”
You chuckle a little at this, both at the offer and the powerful way which he says it. If you didn’t have such a good feel for his personality at this point, his tone might have made that offer seem like a threat. “Maybe another time.”
“If ever you have need, all you must do is ask.” He bows his head. “I and all those with me will be more than happy to provide what aid we can. Fare thee well, human.”
“Fare thee well, Indigo Lord of the Weres.” You bow your head to him as well.
Drawing in a deep breath of the rich night air, you turn back toward the north and resume your journey. As you continue on your journey, the air grows denser and the ground beneath your feet begins to vibrate with power. A sharp electric scent pierces the air. You are getting closer to the source of magic that Indigo warned you about. You can feel it in your bones.