(set: $personality to 0)(set: $countdown to false)(set: $count to 0)(set: $supplies to "the supplies you started with")(set: $hp to 15)(set: $coins to 0)(set: $jams to 0)(set: $crown to 0)(set: $cloak to 0)(set: $book to 0)(set: $items to 0)(set: $goat to 0)(set: $sword to 0)(set: $crystal to 0)(set: $ring to 0)(set: $newgame to 0)(set: $season to "nothing")<div style="text-align:center;color:green;"><strong>PERSONALITY</strong></div><div style="text-align:center;">
a game in which you discover yourself
by Lydia Eickstaedt
(if: (history:) contains "countdown_finished")[[[I want more time! (New Game +)|newgame start]]]
[[I'm ready to find myself!|start]]
[[Tell me more about this game|about]]
[[Gimme some credits|credits]]</div>
(set: $countdown to true)
(set: $count to 25)
<center><strong><div style="color:green;">A Journey Begins</div></strong>
It's the beginning of a new day! You are preparing to go out and seek adventure, but first you need to collect some things to prepare. What time of day is it when you finish your preparations?
[[Barely dawn|dawn]]
[[Midmorning|midmorning]]
[[Midday|midday]]
[[Late afternoon|afternoon]]
[[It is night|night]]
</center>
<center><div style="color:#f08080"><strong>About the Game</strong></div>
(link-reveal: "//Why did you make <strong>Personality</strong>?//")[
Well, around the time of writing this, some friends and I took an online personality quiz. We enjoyed the quiz in theory, but there were numerous complaints that the results felt arbitrarily generated, and not really reflective of the choices we had made.
So I thought: Why not make a game that is also a personality quiz? Why not take this thing that appeals to our curiosity about ourselves, and make it more fun?
That's how we ended up here. In total, it took about a week- June 20-27, 2016.]
(link-reveal: "//What is the purpose of <strong>Personality?</strong> Should I take this seriously as a description of myself?//")[
The purpose is to have fun and be a little self-indulgent. It's a game, not a psychological tool.
I tried to assign a meaning to the kinds of choices made that felt universally understandable to me (ie, if someone made this choice repeatedly, then it would mean they intended for XYZ effect, and so on), but are they a guide to live by? Nah.
Take them as seriously or not seriously as you'd like.]
(link-reveal:"//How did you make <strong>Personality</strong>//?")[
<strong>Personality</strong> is made with Twine 2, hosted on Philome.la, and written by me from scratch.
I also drew the accompanying pictures, which are hosted elsewhere instead of embedded, to minimize the file size of the game.]
[[Back|intro]]</center>
<center><div style="color:#8a2be2;"><strong>Credits</strong></div></center>
//Twine 2//
A free programming tool / game development tool, used to make the game (you can use it too at: http://www.twinery.org/)
//Philome.la//
A free hosting site for twine things
//Lydia Eickstaedt//
Wrote, bug-tested, illustrated, and put together the game from scratch
//You, the Player//
Your choices make your experiences unique and interesting. Please enjoy and have fun!
<center>[[Back|intro]]</center>
<center><div style="color:#e9967a;"><strong>I was up early to be sure I could leave with the rising sun!</strong></div>(set: $time to "dawn")
You have always believed it's important to be prepared for any eventuality. You went to bed early last night, and packed in advance of your trip so you'd be sure to have everything in order. Punctuality is important!
[[Now it's time to get started!|main]]
</center>
<center><div style="color:#008080;"><strong>Midmorning is when I set out. A good night's sleep is far too important to risk an improper start.</strong></div>(set: $time to "morning")
You did your best to anticipate what would come up on your trip, but in this case, you decided that leaving at the crack of dawn wasn't better than being fully rested before you started out. You'd rather have a slightly late start than an underprepared finish.
[[Time to head out!|main]]</center>
<center>(set: $time to "noon")<strong><div style="color:#1e90ff;">I decided to be sure everything was in order, double check, and take lunch before leaving.</div></strong>
You didn't pack in advance, because unpacking something that's already been packed and then having to RE-pack it sounds silly to you. Packing the day-of means you've worked up an appetite by the time you're done. It's only being safe to eat before you leave, you don't want to risk passing out because you're hungry.
[[Once I've finished my meal, time to go!|main]]</center>
<center>(set: $time to "afternoon")<strong><div style="color: #ff8c00;">I see no rush to get started and I will arrive when I am ready.</div></strong>
You got up at your leisure, and took your time packing things same-day. Everything about this journey is kind of spontaneous for you, and that's how you like it. Better to enjoy yourself following your instincts than get stressed out trying to adhere to some strict schedule.
[[You're in the mood to get going, now!|main]]</center>
<center>(set: $time to "night")<strong><div style="color:#00008b;">I find travel in the dark far more comfortable and enjoyable than the alternatives, and planned accordingly.</div></strong>
After all, time is an illusion, and societal needs aren't necessarily the same as yours. It will be less busy at night on the roads you travel, and you expect you'll have more time to yourself.
[[Once the cloak of night has settled about the world, I depart.|main]]</center>
<center><strong>It's a great (if: $time is "night")[night](else:)[day] for an adventure!</strong>
You have $count days left until your adventure will come to an end. (if: $items > 6)[(set: $supplies to "supplemented your original supplies with numerous useful things")]
You began your journey at $time on (either: "an auspicious","a portentous","one fine","a remarkable","an appropriately monumental") (if: $time is "night")[evening](else:)[day]. (if: $coins > 0)[You have $coins coin(if: $coins >1)[s] to spend at market if need be.] (if: $hp > 15)[You're extremely energetic today!](if: $hp is 15)[You are feeling fully prepared for your journey.] (if: $hp < 13 and it > 7 )[You are feeling a little less than enthusiastic about your journey.] (if: $hp < 8 and it > 4)[You are feeling decidedly unwell and are considering taking a rest.](if: $hp < 5)[You are gravely injured and probably need some time to recover.]
(if: $bpotion >0)[You have $bpotion black potion(if: $bpotion >1)[s]. [[Drink|dragontimes]] (if: $bpotion >1)[one?](else:)[it?]] (if: $gpotion >0)[You have $gpotion green potion(if: $gpotion >1)[s]. [[Drink|quaff]] (if: $gpotion >1)[one?](else:)[it?]]
(if: $goat > 0)[You have $goat (if: $goat >1)[goats](else:)[goat], following you in your travels and bleating cheerfully from time to time. ](if: $hat >0)[Atop your head sits a fancy hat fit for a pirate captain. It's //vintage.//] (if: $cloak > 0)[You're wearing a fine gray cloak with red velvet lining. ]You have $supplies. (if: $book > 0)[Among your possessions is a well-made astronomical guidebook.] (if: $jams > 2)[You've also picked up several jars of jam.] (if: $crown > 0)[And finally, a crown is stuffed in your bag.] (if: (history:) contains "Use the key to unlock the door")[Lately, you've started to carry around a (if: $season is "winter")[music box](if: $season is "fall equinox")[flute](if: $season is "spring equinox")[kite](if: $season is "summer")[locket and its chain](if: $season is "spring")[vial of sunflower seeds](if: $season is "autumn")[scarf], though you are not sure what to do with it.]
[[Adventure]]
[[Explore|Explore and Travel]]
[[Socialize]]
[[Shop]]
[[Rest]]
(link-reveal: "<strong>How to play?</strong>")[
<div style="color:#9370db;">//How do I earn some coin?//</div>
Adventure, Explore, and Socialize. These actions can help you earn coin. Note that Adventuring and Exploring are more lucrative than Socializing, monetarily.
<div style="color:#9370db;">//How do I regain lost health?//</div>
The Rest and Socialize actions can restore your health.
<div style="color:#9370db;">//Where can I spend my coins?//</div>
The most obvious location is in the Shop. There are other places you may spend coins that are less obvious!
<div style="color:#9370db;">//What happens when I run out of days?//</div>
Your adventure will come to an end and you will receive your result. After all, this is just a super-fancy personality quiz!]
(if: $count is 0)[(set: $countdown to false)(goto: "countdown_finished")]
(if: $countdown is true)[(set: $count to $count -1)]
<center><strong><div style="color:#008b8b;">You decide to take a much needed rest.</div></strong>
(if: $hp < 15)[You feel rejuvenated! That was a much needed (either: "few days","night","fortnight","week","ten minutes","two hours","afternoon","half hour")! (set: $hp to $hp + (random: 3,8))]
(else:)[It doesn't seem to make a very big difference overall, but it's nice to take a breather now and then. You spend the time (either: "having a nice hot bath", "reading an interesting book", "meeting a new friend at the town square", "drawing a picture based on a dream", "mending your torn clothing", "just watching the sky for hours and feeling connected with the whole natural world").]
You now have $hp health. (either: "","","","That's more like it.","...........But you're still hungry.","Yep.","Whew.","Good, good.","Excellent!","Neat!")
[[Return|main]]</center>
<center><strong>You decide to go on an adventure!</strong>
(set: $obstacle to (random: 0,9))
It's a (either: "strange", "beautiful", "chilly", "mysterious") sort of (if: $time is "night")[night](else:)[day]. You are traveling (either: "on foot for now.","by horse.","by mule.","via bicycle. ...What! Bikers gotta get around too, okay?","with caution, on foot to minimize the sound you make.")
(if: $key is >0)[You come out of a daze to find you are in a valley, passing between two obsidian carved columns. You're not sure how you ended up here, but you are doggedly drawn to this spot, and feel compelled to continue forward. Directly between the columns is a door, standing seemingly in the middle of nowhere.
The door is made of obsidian as well, and shimmers occasionally with a prismatic gleam. When you try the knob, you find that...yes, it doesn't open. The key! You must need to use the key you found in the forest maze...
[[Use the key to unlock the door]]](else:)[(if: $obstacle is 0)[A small orc appears and tries to attack you! Their weapon (either: "does not seem very good", "seems in bad repair", "reminds you of a farming implement") and they look upset. (set: $monster_hp to 5)] (if: $obstacle is 1)[You encounter a pack of wild (either: "horses", "dogs", "hydrangeas") on the road. They seem to be lost.] (if: $obstacle is 2)[A being of some strange amalgam of energy and (either: "flowers", "stone", "water", "fallen leaves") approaches you for aid.] (if: $obstacle is 3)[You discover a local legend about a ghost haunting the forest is true.]
(if: $obstacle is 4)[Several giants block your path to the Capitol.] (if: $obstacle is 5)[(either: "Icy", "Fiery", "Lightning") magic strikes you unawares from behind. (set: $mage_hp to 7)]
(if: $obstacle is 6)[A wagon up ahead on the road (either: "looks like it has been abandoned", "looks like it is under attack")] (if: $obstacle is 7)[A wagon up ahead on the road (either: "seems to have set up shop", "seems to be slowing down, almost like you could catch up to them").] (if: $obstacle is 8)[You glance up at the sky. (if: $time is "night")[(either:"The stars are twinkling down at you.","The moon is shining, almost full.","Clouds are covering most of the night sky and it is very dark.","The moon is only just now rising. It feels unusually quiet.")](else:)[(either: "It's looking murky out, hard to see in this lingering fog.", "The sun is shining fiercely, and you are sweltering.", "The sun is out and shining, but it's pleasantly temperate.", "It looks like it might rain later on today. Tiers of soft gray clouds are on the horizon.")]] (if: $obstacle is 9)[There is a song stuck in your head. You can't seem to remember the words.]]
What do you do?
[[Time to attack!|fight]]
[[Time to talk!|talk]]
[[Time to flee!|main]]</center>
<center><strong>You visit a local set of tents and small shops! </strong>
(if: $supplies is "the supplies you started with")[There are several interesting things for sale here. What catches your eye are the following items:
(if: $book < 1)[A finely bound book made entirely of linen thread, pulped grass paper, and carefully worked bark for its cover. It is for sale for 10 gold coins.]
(if: $jams < 3)[Three jars of delicious fruit jam, magically preserved. One is (either: "peach","strawberry","apple","grape","pear"), one is (either: "blueberry","currant","blackberry","raspberry","gooseberry"), and one is (either: "papaya","mango","kiwi","duran fruit","actually marmalade"). They are for sale for 2 gold coins.]
(if: $crown < 1)[Some old tiara, decorated with pretty symbols but no jewels. The vendor claims it lets you breathe underwater. It is for sale for 20 gold coins.]
(if: $cloak < 1)[A heavy gray cloak with fine red velvet lining. It is for sale for 25 gold coins.]
You have $coins coins. (if: $coins > 24)[You can afford any one of these items. Do you want to purchase one?
[[Yes|buy]]
[[No|main]]
]
(elseif: $coins > 0 and it < 25)[You might be able to afford some of these items, but there are others you cannot afford.
[[That's all right, I'll buy what I can!|buy]]
[[I need a little more time to save up.|main]]
]
(else:)[You cannot buy any of these items right now.
[[Time to go earn some coin!|main]]
]]
(else:)[It looks like you've bought everything worth anything from these old shops. You decide scrupulously that you will just have to take your business elsewhere.
<img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/2552ed238a4914c1482dea93118825fa/tumblr_inline_o9f9kgvK911qkc6mz_540.png">
[[I most certainly will!|main]]]</center>
<center><strong>Congratulations! You've finished your quest.</strong>
(if: $time is "dawn")[You chose to begin your journey as early in the morning as possible. You don't want to wait around for someone else to tell you it's time, you make your own schedule.] (if: $time is "morning")[You chose to begin your journey only after you were fully ready. In your opinion, being a little bit late is a lot less terrible than forgetting something because you left before you were ready.] (if: $time is "noon")[You chose to begin your journey at noon. You capitalize on the way that your schedule sometimes has to shift to accommodate real life interruptions, taking the chance to get extra packing done, or snag lunch before you leave, since there's time.] (if: $time is "afternoon")[You chose to begin your journey in the afternoon. There's a bit of laziness behind your decision, but your main reason was to avoid becoming stressed out. This journey may be important, but it's //your// journey, and you want to have the time to appreciate every step of it.] (if: $time is "night")[You chose to begin your journey at night. You don't see the point in adhering to artificial societal concepts like time and what's appropriate about travel. It's easier to travel when nobody else is awake and clogging the roads and thoroughfares, after all.]
(if: $goat > 0)[//You are secretly a shepherd!//
Purely through chance, good luck, and excellent taste, you have acquired many goats, thus proving that you are a goat farmer. Congratulations! You are the envy of all around you, and the love of your (if: $goat is 1)[goat's heart](else:)[goats' collective hearts]. This probably doesn't have anything to do with your personality, it really is just fantastic good fortune!
<img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/ab824142dc1570fbf94ca59201e54dda/tumblr_inline_o9f9ker0jc1qkc6mz_500.gif">]
(if: $personality > 80)[//You are a marvel-worker!//
You literally make it your business to achieve things that other people would find nearly impossible. Your determination, curiosity, and ceaseless efforts to further your development and the development of the world around you are impressive. Not only that, but you are an inspiration to the people around you. You work hard, and that hard work makes people want to trust you, and become close friends with you.
Never change who you are! Even the goddess of Fate is impressed with you.](elseif: $personality > 25 and it < 80)[//You are a diplomat!//
You seek the non-violent resolution to any conflict that you are put up against, and always do your best to make peace around you. You love interacting with the world and maybe the sound of your own voice. That's okay! It's a nice voice, and your positive attitude is very appreciated by those around you. While it may not always be the best method, it is indicative of your dedication to the art of communication, and the importance of compromise and synthesis.] (elseif: $personality < 25 and it > 20)[//You are a true adventurer!//
You roll with the punches and you'll give as good as you get, but generally, you prefer to explore and discover new things whenever possible! Generally you will rely on trying to get to know people and exploring places before you lash out. This can make others think you are weak or easy to take advantage of, but they couldn't be more wrong. Your adaptability and interest in learning new things lets you adjust to each new situation and react appropriately, protecting you from harm and enabling you to go further than many others could!] (elseif: $personality < 21 and it > 15)[//You are a traveler!//
The primary goal for you is to see and experience new things! You are always on the lookout for new places to go or people who might have stories to share with you. Generally speaking, you like to be in charge of your own destiny, and while this can also get you a little lost, overall it has served you very, very well. You experience things because you want to experience them, and always work hard to maintain control of your own destiny. Because of that, you have a unique passion for the things you choose to do that some may envy. Your confidence is a tremendous thing about you, never lose that!] (elseif: $personality < 16 and it > 10)[//You are a dreamer!//
You interact with the world around you sometimes more out of duty than desire. While you are interested in seeing all that the world has to offer, you also are interested in the worlds that exist within your own mind. Your dreams, your stories, and your imagination are wonderfully rich, and attract people to you. You have a way of talking about what you see that is different from the perspective many others bring to the table, and it makes people curious about you. Sometimes that's too much socialization for you and you would rather be left alone with your dreams, and that's okay. You know very well that your own comfort and stability is the most important thing!] (elseif: $personality < 11 and it > 5)[//You are an idea person!//
More than anything, you have lots of little ideas about great possible projects. You love to start new journeys but you are also still working out the best way to juggle all of the different things you want to do! It's not even that you don't get started, but sometimes you have a very difficult time sticking to the path you first chose, either because that path is perilous and you have to adjust your steps, or because it just isn't as exciting as you'd hoped it would be. Right now your best goal is to focus on finding the projects that you are most passionate about, and sticking them through. Every time you complete a project, you will be able to look back on one more thing objectively to determine whether it's the sort of thing you'd like to continue to do. Being open to suggestions and eager about new ideas is one of your most incredible strengths-- not everybody has your energy! Don't let that get trodden down by the occasional project that doesn't work out quite like you'd hoped.] (elseif: $personality < 6 and it > 0)[//You are a generalist, specializing in nothing and trying everything!//
If there was a job to become a connoisseur of every facet of life, you would apply in a heartbeat. You love variety, and change up your routine as often as you possibly can. More than most, you understand the value of having basic knowledge, because basic knowledge in one subject can assist you in picking up the similar knowledge for many more subjects. The only downside to this is that sometimes, you encounter problems, ideas, or projects that are beyond your ability because you lack the knowledge and skills that would come of a more focused approach. When this happens, your best bet is to seek out an expert in that subject, and begin learning from them in order to increase your own ability. You have the gift of being capable of picking up many things instead of preferring to focus on just one. Use that gift to learn more about those varied interests, even if you have to do so at a different pace than you'd originally expected. You will get there, and it will be worth it!] (elseif: $personality < 1 and it > -5)[//You are a watcher!//
Some people disparage your preferred tendency to watch and wait to see where things will go, but that is unfair and doesn't appreciate the importance of your self-confidence and self-love. A watcher is someone who never puts themself at risk, because you recognize that it is important to protect yourself, since nobody else is tasked with that but you. Watching doesn't necessarily denote inactivity or a lack of passion. Sometimes you are simply waiting for the safest moment to act, or you have yet to make up your mind; sometimes, you are in the middle of a sensory overload, and need to process everything before you make a decision about what to do and how to do it. It is definitely important when something that you value or feel strongly about is on the line to lean on the support of your friends. Maybe you will not feel comfortable having to speak up, but a friend who is can provide you with the support you need to make your desires known and respected.] (elseif: $personality < -4 and it > -10)[//You are a strategist!//
You have a tendency to think about things in terms of the best course of action. You may have planned out several possible things in advance of them happening, and often you are doing your best to be prepared at all times for anything. In a pinch, you're a lifesaver, especially when someone is in crisis. You are dependable, clever, and think on your feet, always trying something new if your first solution didn't work-- fallbacks of fallbacks of fallback plans. The only danger here is that nobody can be on constant alert all the time and not start to feel the strain. When you have those moments of stress or exhaustion, try to be gentle with yourself, and remember to give yourself time to relax.] (elseif: $personality < -9 and it > -15)[//You are a realist!//
Where others might be more interested in fantasy, possibility, imagination and all that, you are concerned with the immediate potential of the world right now, in this exact moment. You are extremely good at looking for the practical applications of everything you learn and do, and you derive a lot of happiness from being able to work with other people, especially when you work in a capacity where you can help improve their lives. You see the needs for change in the world we live in, and take the solutions that are currently available, even if you recognize fully that they're not the most effective or efficient ones. You strongly believe that there's no point in letting a problem fester just because the perfect solution hasn't yet made itself apparent, and you can't just sit still when there's something to be done.] (elseif: $personality < -14 and it > -20)[//You are a rabblerouser!//
That doesn't mean you just like getting into trouble, though that might be true for some of you. More, you enjoy shaking things up. You are cognizant of the everyday world around you and its flaws, and you think it benefits from being forced to question its methods, examine them and optimize them. Rules are not something you see as especially useful, since rules are the ultimate test of the honor system, and no human being can be 100% trusted to be honorable 100% of the time. Instead of rules, you like to follow your gut, and act on the belief that in the middle of any situation, the moral compass of every individual should guide and reveal their true intentions. Some might call you jaded, but you just think of yourself as honest. Not everybody can be trusted, and you will be able to tell who can by their actions in times of trouble.] (elseif: $personality < -19 and it > -25)[//You are a fighter!//
It's not a negative thing necessarily, though you do have a little trouble keeping your pride in check from time to time. You are always ready for a fight, no matter the circumstances. You strongly believe in your core values, strongly enough that you will make them known for any stranger no matter the consequences. That takes a great deal of courage, and it's not always easy. The one thing that is worth remembering is that even though it feels very unpleasant, there is no shame in admitting when you do find out that you might be wrong about things as they come up. Nobody is perfect, nobody is right all of the time, and nobody is expecting you to be. Being willing to admit when you're wrong only makes it all the easier to be confident of when you are right, and it helps others to trust your judgment, too.
] (elseif: $personality < -24)[//You are an instigator!//
You can't stand the idea of passively sitting around waiting for stuff to happen. If you have the opportunity, you will always make an effort to get involved in whatever is going on. If nothing IS going on, you might even get something going. Whether it's organizing a party, suggesting an activity, making a decision about what to do, or pitching an idea to people in a work environment, you will never shy from the opportunity to get out there and make sure things are happening. That's a great attitude to have and it keeps the world from becoming stagnant. You are driving innovation, and that's a great thing. Just be careful not to start things just because you are bored. Sometimes the backlash from such instigations can be very far reaching! ] (else:)[This result doesn't make sense, since every other possible outcome should be accounted for. As a result, it isn't very fair to say that YOU don't make sense, so let's just say that aside from this probably being a quiz glitch or bug, you are just probably very impossible to define, fitting neatly into no categories and obeying no particular rules of self-governance.]
<strong>Thank you very much for playing! </strong>
(link-reveal: "<strong>How were my results calculated?</strong>")[
Players have an invisibly tracked personality stat!
It goes up and down based on certain types of actions you chose to take. There are a few kinds of changes to your personality state that are based on random chance, but certain types of actions will always affect the stat in one direction or another if you take that type of action, no matter the specific nature of the action. I feel the intent behind an action, rather than the result of the action, is more indicative of personality overall.
Likewise, some actions do nothing to change the stat at all, so they have an effect of a different nature than the other types.
//Special note:// The Shepherd result, if you got it, is probably not indicative of your personality. That one is only indicative of your goats.]
[[Start over?|intro]]
</center>
<center><strong>Fighting is always the answer! GRAHHH!</strong>
(set: $personality to $personality -1)
(if: $obstacle is 0)[
(if: (random: 0,1) is 0)[The orc stabs you with their weapon! (set: $hp to $hp - (random: 1,3))
(if: $hp < 1)[ You are [[dead]]! ]
(else:)[ Your health is $hp.
[[Keep fighting!|fight]]
[[Flee!|main]]]]
(else:)[ You hit the orc with your bare fists!
(set:$monster_hp = $monster_hp - (random:1,2))
(if: $monster_hp < 1)[ The [[orc is dead]]! ]
(else:)[ Its health is $monster_hp.
[[Keep fighting!|fight]]
[[Flee!|main]]
]
]
]
(elseif: $obstacle is 1)[You frighten them away! Well, that works too.
[[Guess it's back to the usual.|main]]
]
(elseif: $obstacle is 2)[The being dissipates instantly. You get the feeling it will warn others about your violent nature.
[[Hopefully it won't be a problem later...|main]]
]
(elseif: $obstacle is 3)[Despite several hours spent attempting to punch the ghost, it doesn't really seem to accomplish much.
[[Redfaced and irritated and kind of out of breath, you give up the ghost. FOR NOW.|main]]
]
(elseif: $obstacle is 4)[The giants respect your show of strength. When you punch the first one, they all excitedly get up to punch you back. You have successfully cleared the road. (set: $hp to 1)
[[But at what cost?!|main]]
]
(elseif: $obstacle is 5)[
(if: (either: 0,3) is 3)[The enemy mage strikes you again!
(set: $hp to $hp - (random: 2,5))
(if: $hp < 1)[You are [[dead]]! ]
(else:)[ Your health is $hp.
[[Keep fighting!|fight]]
[[Flee!|main]]]]
(else:)[ You swing about in time to interrupt the mage's next attack with your bare fists! (set: $mage_hp = $mage_hp -(random:1,7))
(if: $mage_hp < 1)[ The [[mage is dead]]! ]
(else:)[Their health is now $mage_hp.
[[Keep fighting!|fight]]
[[Flee!|main]]
]
]
]
(elseif: $obstacle is 8)[(if: $hat >0)[You start to feel a deep and powerful rage building within you. It seems to seep down into you from the hat upon your head, and leaves you unable to calm yourself. There's nothing around to take it out on, so instead you scream up into the sky, furious and aimless, until your throat is raw and the feeling passes. In its wake is a curious sense of desire, almost wistfulness? (if: $newgame is 1)[
You feel faint, almost dizzy, as a vision of a woman appears before you, faint and unclear. She looks like she could have been the owner of this hat...
Oh, heck. She's got to be-- she is!
[[But what about the swordswoman?!]]
]](else:)[You swing your fists at the empty air! Got to keep practicing in case you ever need to fight something for real!
[[I'll be ready, all right!|main]]]]
(else:)[You swing your fists at the empty air! Got to keep practicing in case you ever need to fight something for real!
[[I'll be ready, all right!|main]]
]</center>
<center><strong>You try to talk your way through this one!</strong>
(set: $personality to $personality + 1)
(if: $obstacle is 0)[
(if: (random: 0,5) is 0)[(either:"The orc swings at you with their weapon!", "Talk is not for orcs! This one decides to whack your knee for your insolence! Ow.","This orc seems convinced that the time for talking has passed. Maybe they have a point-- and it's jabbed into your side, ouch!","The orc unleashes some truly killer dance moves. They're so good it hurts! Literally!", "The orc is having none of your funny business. Or your serious business. In fact, the only business they seem concerned with is the business of killing you. Yow!") (set: $hp to $hp - (random: 1,2))
(if: $hp < 1)[ You are [[dead]]! ]
(else:)[ Your health is $hp.
[[Keep talking!|talk]]
[[Flee!|main]]]]
(else:)[ You (either:"ask the orc why it's attacking you instead of doing something more enjoyable, like bursting into song","suggest that you could help the orc find a nicer weapon if they really like weapon collecting","try to talk to the orc about your shared interests","challenge the orc to a thrilling game of chess","try to get the orc to dance with you instead of fighting", "start quoting your favorite movie at the orc, and it finishes the quote in surprise. Maybe you have something in common after all!", "dodge and try to tell a knock knock joke. Hopefully the orc likes knock knock jokes!")!
(set:$monster_hp = $monster_hp - (random:0,3))
(if: $monster_hp < 1)[ The [[orc stands down]]! ]
(else:)[(if: $monster_hp is 5)[The orc seems wary of you still and likely to attack again.](if: $monster_hp is 4)[The orc seems to be warming up to you!](if: $monster_hp is 3)[The orc looks like they don't quite agree with this, but they're willing to consider your opinion.](if: $monster_hp is 2)[The orc looks torn between giving you a chance and kicking your butt.](if: $monster_hp is 1)[The orc is all but weaving a friendship bracelet. You've got this in the bag!]
[[Keep talking!|talk]]
[[Flee!|main]]
]
]
](elseif: $obstacle is 1)[After a lengthy discussion, you (either: "give them directions back to the nearest town","help them find the correct path to the local faire","point out the way back to Big Rock Candy Mountain","admit that you don't know where the Pot of Gold is but the End of the Rainbow is somewhere in Smalldale. That's just about a day's walk north of here","mark the way back to their home on their glowing map. Seems pretty magical but you figure it is not your business to ask","invite them to join you in the Central Kingdom for the Royal Ball this year","realize that they just had their map turned upside down and gently right it for them. They are quite excited by your discovery"). Before they go, they thank you and give you some gold coins in gratitude for your assistance. (set: $coins to $coins + (random: 4,15))
....where were they even keeping those?
[[Well, whatever! That was nice of them!|main]]
](elseif: $obstacle is 2)[(if:$book is 0)[You try and try to manage some kind of conversation with the creature, but just can't seem to find common ground. They gesture (either: "frequently","gingerly","urgently","excitedly","hopefully", "questioningly") to the sky during this time, but you can't figure out what they're asking about. You probably need some kind of dictionary or other book to help translate for you.
[[Frustrated, you head back to town.|main]]]
(else:)[Thanks to the astronomical book you purchased, you find that you are actually able to help the mysterious being. It's not that you understand exactly what it's asking you about, but within the pages of the book are several images drawn in recreation of the night sky.
Pointing to one such image of a constellation you recognize as (either:"Cygnus","the Pleiades","Scorpio","Lyra","Pegasus"), the being inquires how to get there. You're still oriented, thanks to your compass, and don't even need the stars to be able to help guide the being relative to north, based on their request.
They kindly offer you some gold coins as payment for your invaluable help. (set: $coins to $coins + (random: 4,8))
[[That turned out well, you think!|main]]]
](elseif: $obstacle is 3)[(if: $crown > 0)[The strangely carved crown in your belongings shines and shimmers in a way that seems to draw the ghost in. As it comes closer, you can see that it is (either: "terrifyingly inhuman in its advanced ghostliness!","surprisingly normal looking. Almost like a living person...", "astonishingly adorable! With such a cute smile you are frankly amazed anybody feels haunted by anything but the desire to play a few games and have a nice chat with this ghost.", "comically similar to one of those bedsheet ghost drawings you have seen before in Ye Olde Funny Pages.", "OH MY GOD! A //FLOATING SHOPPING LIST!// AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!")
What do you do?
[[I'm going to try to talk to it!|ghosty]]
[[Nope I have concluded that ghosts are scary I'm out|main]]]
(else:)[No matter how you try to chase it, the ghost outruns you easily. If only you had some item that might get its attention...
[[You give up out of sheer exhaustion.|main]]
]
](elseif: $obstacle is 4)[The giants don't appreciate your tiny noisemaking. When you try to talk to the first one, they all start getting up and grousing about how kids these days just don't understand them.
...You have successfully cleared the road.
[[Now you feel all weird and uncool. Rude.|main]]
](elseif: $obstacle is 5)[
(if: (either: 0,5) is 3)[The enemy mage (either:"sneers and shoots you with another bolt of magic","attacks in a panic","attacks you with cold determination","is still attacking you so watch out","shouts a lot of words! Including some which are unfortunately magical and create a spell meant just for you but in the bad way")!
(set: $hp to $hp - (random: 2,5))
(if: $hp < 1)[You are [[dead]]! ]
(else:)[ Your health is $hp.
[[Keep trying!|talk]]
[[Flee!|main]]]]
(else:)[ You (either:"narrowly dodge the mage's next attack and try to make a connection with them by talking about your favorite book","start growing hair rapidly on your face and hands and tell the mage 'Aw! Come on. Why are you like this?' Honestly","sidestep a sizeable blast of magical energy and grin nervously at the mage while asking them to stop","shout to the heavens in rage that the mage is still attacking you. This briefly startles them","demand that the mage stop everything and commit to a dance off with you. The mage unfortunately refuses","point in another direction in an effort to distract the mage from well. Trying to kill you","wonder what you did that made the mage so angry with you. They don't bother to respond")! (set: $mage_hp = $mage_hp -(random:1,7))
(if: $mage_hp < 1)[ The [[mage stands down]]! ]
(else:)[(if: $mage_hp is 7)[The mage looks ready to set your head on fire and likely to attack again.](if: $mage_hp is 6)[The mage cracks their knuckles, spits off to the side, and hunkers down like they think they're a big buff person and not a scrawny mage. They must really have a problem with you.](if: $mage_hp is 5)[The mage swings around their staff really cool-like and slams the butt of it into the ground as they concentrate on gathering energies to attack you with. If only they'd listen!](if: $mage_hp is 4)[The mage seems to be warming up to you! Of course, seems is the operative word here, and they are casting illusions left and right...](if: $mage_hp is 3)[At the very least, it seems like the mage is open to the suggestion that you might be worth keeping alive. That's a start!](if: $mage_hp is 2)[The mage seems to be strongly considering if your preference for (either:"dragons over trolls","giants over fairy folk","mermaids over sea-serpents","trolls over elves","elves over dwarves") is really worth risking a friendship over.](if: $mage_hp is 1)[The mage looks almost shy about initiating the conflict now. And is that a Best Friends necklace they're forming out of the aether?]
[[Keep talking!|talk]]
[[Flee!|main]]
]
]
](elseif: $obstacle is 6)[(if: $cloak is 0)[You investigate the wagon, and (either: "find nothing worth sticking around for","discover several abandoned traps just begging you to get hurt trying to disable them","decide it's not worth the risk","decide to stay well clear of it just in case","can't be sure it's not some kind of trap so you avoid it").
[[You decide to head back to town.|main]]]
(else:)[(if: (history:) contains "yrmayes1")[The illusion remains, but you see no sign of the Lion of Fate beneath it. Yrma doesn't seem to be here anymore. You only hope she is doing all right.
[[Return|main]]]
(else:)[(if: (history:) contains "lion")[Wait...you remember these wagons! This is an illusion. That lion is here!
"H- Hey!" You shout, trying to call the lion back out.
//"So, you return,"// the lion answers. It steps out from behind a boulder, not far from you at all.
[[Whoa, is it bigger than you remembered?|lion]]](else:)[Wait...something's not right. You sense that there is an ambush being laid for any unsuspecting traveler who might pass through here, something far sneakier than what you thought you saw before. The illusion of the wagon fades away, replaced by a ferocious lion with a mane of starlight.
When you look into the lion's eyes, you feel as though it can see every single truth about you. Your past, your present, your future. It knows you perhaps better than you know yourself.
Your body feels frozen in terror, unable to move. You're struck equally by awe and a sense of dread as the lion approaches you, staring intently all the while. When it is only a step or two away, it speaks to you in an otherworldly voice.
"//Answer...my....question!//"
Do you...
[[Agree to answer the question?|lion]]
[[Break yourself out of your terrified frozen state and flee?|main]]
]]]](elseif: $obstacle is 7)[(if: $cloak is 0)[You catch up to the wagon and (either: "take a look around. But nothing really appeals to you.","chat for a while with the people who are driving it but eventually you go your separate ways.","offer to help brush down their horses who look tired. It's something to do for a few hours.","notice that it seems to be driven by a bunch of tiny orcs. They're friendly enough but don't have much to say to you.","point out a crack in one of the wheels. The people driving the wagon are grateful for your help, and accept when you offer to assist in the repairs.")
[[Once you've satisfied your curiosity, you quickly grow bored and head off on your own again.|main]]
](elseif: (history:) contains "dragonstore")[The dragon from before looks up at you, and waves. "Oh, hello again! How are things? Did you decide you'd like to buy something?"
[[Oh yes, you absolutely would.|dragon buy]]
[[Nah, that's okay.|main]]](else:)[(if: $crystal is 0)[You catch up to the wagon and realize that you can see through it. It seems to be some sort of illusion! Behind the overlay of the wagon is the massive body of a fat, cheerful looking, red-and-gold scaled dragon! The dragon is bespectacled and appears to be in the middle of reading a book. When you directly address them, the dragon jumps in surprise.
"Oh!" The dragon adjusts their glasses, aghast. "You startled me, I'm sorry. How can I help you, human?"
You explain that you're not sure what's going on. You were just investigating the wagon.
"Oh, I see. Well, the cloak you're wearing grants the person wearing it the ability to see the truth. I put up the wagon illusion because most people don't find wagons half as interesting as dragons."
You accept this pun, but are convinced the dragon could really have done better if they tried.
"Anyway, if you have some spare gold coins, I do have an object that might be of interest to someone who seeks the truth, like you. Would you like to buy it?
[[I don't know what it is but I want it so YES!|dragonstore]]
[[Thanks, but I think I'll pass for now.|main]]](else:)[The dragon from before looks up at you, and waves. "Oh, hello again! How are things? I hope you're enjoying the crystal ball."
You explain that you're still not sure how to use the thing, and the dragon clicks their tongue.
"I'll try going over it with you again. Okay, so from the beginning..."
[[Ultimately, you're still not sure if you really get it.|main]]]]] (elseif: $obstacle is 8)[(either: "You whisper the name of someone you once knew, with regret that they're no longer a part of your life. Maybe it's just nostalgia, maybe not, but right now you miss them.", "'Oh, //LIFE OF BRIAN//!' you shout apropos of nothing. You've been trying to remember the name of that movie with the guy and his shoe and the mob for like literally WEEKS! FINALLY.","You wrestle with the feeling that you are being watched, and pretend that there couldn't possibly be bandits on this road to ease your mind. Maybe there are, maybe there aren't, but for the time being they don't make themselves known. IF there are any.","You can't help but think that there is something unique and special about this sky you're looking up at. Even though you know it's a statistical improbability, you feel as though you're the only one witnessing this moment, and it brings you a peaceful sense of wonder.","Nobody is looking. Right now would be a GREAT time to scratch your butt. The only thing that stops you is the fear that someone will happen by RIGHT while you're doing that.")
[[You wonder if it will rain tomorrow.|main]]
](else:)[You try to talk yourself through the melody until you find a line that you do remember, and see if you can jog your memory that way. (if: (random: 0,2) is 2)[Ah! That's right. It's //(either:"Rumor Has It","Love, Love, Peace, Peace","No Prejudice","Tunak Tunak Tun","All Star by Smashmouth...now you wish you hadn't remembered","Pop Goes the Weasel","Stardust","Radioactive","Hold Up","Electric Lady","E.MO.TION","Uptown Funk","Anaconda","Guns and Ships")//!
[[You hum to yourself the rest of the day, hoping to jar the song out of your thoughts again.|main]]](else:)[Ugh, no luck. This is really getting on your nerves!
[[Oh well! At least you can walk with rhythm around here, and you won't attract any unwanted company.|main]]
]]
</center>
<center><strong><div style="color:#ff4500;">You are dead!</div></strong>
(either: "Could have been worse. You could have died from being turned into a cube of green jello!","Circumstances have led to this unfortunate outcome. But don't give up hope! You can always restart.","Ouch! That looked...painful. And maybe a little gross? Well, anyway. Good news is, you're not really dead! The game even has a restart button. Do not despair!","There once was a player of Twines
Who found a game most unspeakably fine
but they had a bad turn
ended up in an urn
And spent some of their day just retryin'","That's the end of the line! The personality result for this ending would probably not be funny, so let's just restart the game instead.","Oh no! Now you can only talk to your friend, the spooky ghost...what about all those other people you were going to meet?","Uh, hm. Don't know how to tell you this, buddy, but things didn't quite work out. You know what they say-- try, try again?","Your body has ceased to function! You have the option to restart your game from the beginning.")
[[Restart?|intro]]</center>
<center><strong>You decide to explore for a while!</strong>
(set: $path to (random: 0,13))
It's a (either: "strange", "beautiful", "chilly", "mysterious", "humid", "muggy", "frigid", "sweltering", "cheerful", "gloomy", "bright and sparkling", "misty", "whimsical", "nostalgic", "glowing", "snowy","bug-filled") sort of (if: $time is "night")[night](else:)[day].
(if: (history:) contains "But what about the swordswoman?!")[(if:(history:) contains "blueflowers")[Now that you have completed your business with the monstrous evil that was done to Captain Allegra, you decide to honor her spirit by leaving behind the artifact of her that was given you at her burial site. (set: $hat to $hat -1) [[Now you are ready to go elsewhere.|Explore and Travel]]](else:)[Directing your travel is a simple feat. You know the place that Captain Allegra meant, and you head that way with a burning determination that feels almost otherworldly. Perhaps she is lending you rage, or perhaps the thought of her continued separation from her loved one is what makes you so angry. Whatever the case may be, it is not long at all before you [[reach the tree with blue flowers.|blueflowers]]]](else:)[(if: $path is 0)[Quiet sounds of the forest chirp and whistle, rustling all around you for miles. It is very dark this deep in the woods, with the boughs of ancient trees entangled overhead, shading you and hiding you from the sky.] (if: $path is 1)[The path ahead of you leads past a lake's edge, rippling gently with soft, smooth waves that lap its sandy shore. The short trees and flourishing ferns and bushes all along the lake's edge are verdant and bursting with life. You can smell the sweetness of the tree bark and the tickling perfume of flowers.] (if: $path is 2)[You have found your way to a grueling mountainous path, high above your usual comfort. The path here is narrow and rocky, but even at this high altitude some signs of life still cling on around you, determined. You draw inspiration from the shrubs and crabgrass as much as you do from the promise of discovery ahead, and do your best not to look down more than you absolutely have to.] (if: $path is 3)[Ahead lies the arid desert, not so different in looks from the greener places you have seen in your travels. The high line of the mountains is a pale purple shadow on the horizon, a reminder that the rain stops there and will not pass over this valley. Bleached and bleak, it seems colorless, almost cruel as you continue to walk these paths, doggedly ignoring your own sweat and discomfort. Only when you reach midday and hide in the shadow of a low hill do you finally see the clouds roll in, covering the sky and letting the land breathe. Brilliant colors lie in wait beneath that gray emptiness, orange and yellow flowers, red fruits, gray-green cacti and deep brown trees with cinnamon scented seed pods. You crush the leaves of a waxy green bush as you pass, and the smell of something like rain rises in your nostrils, reassuring and delicious.] (if: $path is 4)[Here the road follows a river as it snakes along the earth, wide and deceptively placid. Broken branched trees all around you rustle in the sharp winds, reminding you that the wind is probably quite substantial around here. Small rodents scurry away at your approach, bounding through bushes and under brush to hide. Larger fauna simply stares at you expectantly while you pass, eyeing you with a measured sort of patience.] (if: $path is 5)[In the distance you can make out the ruinous outline of a castle. It seems almost like the castle is moving, at times, though it's hard for you to keep track through the persistent, heavy sheet of mist over the land. Despite your best intentions, you're uncomfortable, alternately sweating your clothes through and shivering with unpleasant chills. Every signpost seems increasingly unclear and poorly tended, and it's growing difficult to see through the murk, even with a torch as your aid.] (if: $path is 6)[You feet have carried you through some of the hinterlands and into the hills, where the fields are golden with late summer harvests, dandelion seeds on the wind and the smell of baking pies on the air. All the houses here are built of fine golden wood, stained with varnish and set very neatly apart. The roofs are tiled with red clay tiles, and the doors and windows all closed. You get a strong sense as you pass through these empty streets that you are being watched, but there is no sign of anyone in the houses around you.] (if: $path is 7)[Amidst the roots and detritus of the massive trees here are the shattered columns and forgotten remnants of a once-great city. It seems to drop away quite suddenly at the edge of a cliff, where a waterfall spills down into the bowl of a lake below. Some of the ancient structures are still partially intact, but most of them are so far degraded from their original state as to be indistinguishable from the natural elements around them. Aside from the sound of running water, everything about this place is almost supernaturally quiet. You have the sense that even the birds and other fauna of this area remain silent here out of a respect for those whose very history has been forgotten, everywhere else in the world.] (if: $path is 8)[Carefully, you pick your way down the mossy ravine. It is one of many that leads toward the center of this crater, where water has collected to form an ethereally beautiful lake. You have heard it said that, on nights when the moon shines, visions of the future can be seen within that lake's surface, among other, stranger things.] (if: $path is 9)[After winding your way down the steppes to the beach, you begin following the coast of the ocean. The smell of salt on the air and the sounds of gulls above and around you are peaceful. You are careful where you step, trying to avoid disturbing the hermit crabs, sand fleas and other critters living in the shallows where you walk. The rhythmic roar of the waves brings with them a distinct feeling of timeless patience, and you draw strength from it. Ahead, you can see a long-abandoned pier where someone seems to have recently abandoned a rowboat.] (if: $path is 10)[Several hours' trek is required before you reach the open part of these massive salt caves, and are able to easily see again in the filtered light from holes in the ceiling, slicing through the shadows from outside. Many sounds of dripping water and the faint chirping and squeaking of bats and other native creatures serve as the background here, and though the smell of wet rock and sulfur is strong, you are awestruck by the calciferous formations on the ceiling and cave walls around you. Millions of years went into the development of this place, its teeth-like stalactites and glimmering mineral formations. The whole cave seems to breathe around you, humid and warm like the inner heart of a strange, mystical beast.] (if: $path is 11)[It's getting much more humid and a bit rainier than you'd prepared for, though you knew you should expect this when you set out. You do your best to push through the bushes and trees without disturbing the natural lay of the land too much. Few people have been this way, it is cold and often wet, and though the vegetation is flourishing, most people worry about being caught in the sucking mud and puddles of bog here and there. As you continue forward you are extremely aware of how important it is to watch your step.] (if: $path is 12)[This high in the mountains you find that the snow is a constant companion, and now it crunches under your feet as you carefully pick your way over a plateau, avoiding patches of solid ice as you slowly draw closer to an old fortress. There is no record of any such fortification in any history book you've read, nor did anybody in the nearest town know it when you mentioned it, but you have been following your instincts toward it for some time now, and you are too close to give up the chase yet. The bitter breeze brings an unexpectedly sharp chill to your windburned cheeks.] (if: $path is 13)[As far as the eye can see, green grass rolls and sighs in the winds. Every now and then the plains are broken by a black, small tree or a gray bush. Overhead the sky seems to be always in motion, usually cloudy, no matter how clear it might have seemed at the start of the day. The plains are dotted with herds of animals moving about to graze them, and blue stone monuments to deities whose names are no longer whispered by the living.]
It has been several hours, but you have time yet in this day. What do you do?
(if: (history:) contains "hut")[You can go back to [[Yrma's hut|hut]] from here, if you like.] (if: (history:) contains "Dive in")[Or you could [[go back to the lake instead|Dive in]].] (if: (history:) contains "enter castle")[You can also [[go back to the castle intentionally|enter castle]].] (if: (history:) contains "crater lake")[You can also return to the [[crater lake]].] (if: (history:) contains "Continue exploring the maze")[You can also return to the [[forest maze|Continue exploring the maze]] you found.] (if: (history:) contains "faeries1")[Oh, or that [[fortress]] full of faeries.] (if: (history:) contains "island")[Or, you can return to the [[island]].]
[[Press on and investigate!|travel]]
[[There will be time to explore another day.|main]]]</center>
<center><strong><div style="color:#8b008b;">You decide to go socialize with some people!</div></strong>
(set: $people to (random: 0,7))
It's a (either: "strange", "beautiful", "chilly", "mysterious", "humid", "muggy", "frigid", "sweltering", "cheerful", "gloomy", "bright and sunny", "misty", "whimsical", "nostalgic", "glowing", "snowy","bug-filled") sort of (if: $time is "night")[night](else:)[day].
(if: $season is "nothing")[You encounter (if: $people is 0)[(either: "a luthier, who is currently crafting a guitar. They ask for your help, and while you hold down some small pieces of thin, cured wood to help them glue the frame together, they regale you with stories of the various interesting and clever customers they have helped in their time", "a silversmith, who asks if you can help them carry their unsmelted ore to the smithy at the back of their shop. While they work, they tell you all about the latest news of the local crafting fair, where crafters are putting forth their works for use by those who cannot afford to purchase such things normally", "a jeweler in the midst of setting rubies in a fine necklace. When asked, they offer you assistance in locating an appraiser for a family heirloom you were considering selling", "a carpenter who is in the middle of sanding down some boards for a table. You offer to assist, and they offer to share the stew cooking on their hearth when the work is done", "a tailor, who is in the middle of carrying several bolts of freshly woven, brightly dyed linens back to their home. You offer to assist, and they offer to give you a fresh water-proof blanket to replace the old one you have been using to wrap your pack during your harsher travels"). (set: $hp to $hp + 3)] (if: $people is 1)[(either: "a bard, who gladly serenades you in exchange for some of the rations from your travel supplies","a harpist, who is playing for several dancers and urges you to join in","a small chorus, who beckon you to sing along. Even though you are unfamiliar with the song, you do your best to vocalize and stomp the rhythm with them, and they delightedly cheer you on","an oboeist, and are delighted by the unique timbre of their instrument, and their cheerful disposition","a trombonist, who agrees to play a duet with your percussive stylings. The hook of the song they play is extremely catchy and makes you want to dance"). (set: $personality to $personality + 1)] (if: $people is 2)[(either:"a ragtag group of older adventurers. They are more than willing to spend some time with you and offer some advice about the local spots of interest for fellow travelers", "an exciteable group of sailors fresh in from port. You trade stories with them and their eldest member challenges everybody to an arm-wrestling competition that eventually devolves into joking and laughter", "a swaggering bunch of Definitely Not Pirates. They tell you to stay away from the mysterious islands to the east of the coast from here, and you make a mental note to absolutely not listen to them, wink wink", "a solitary, brooding adventurer who explains that he was repudiated by his friends for a bad decision he made in the past, which cost him most of what he held dear. He implores you to be sure never to make the same mistake, and always act with thought to how your actions will affect your friends", "a pair of lady adventurers who look like they're having a wonderful time together. They explain excitedly that they are on their honeymoon after recently getting married, and looking for exciting places to explore together. Between your own travel logs and theirs, you gain a few new destinations to check out, and they get a few ideas about where to check based on your prior experiences too. What a nice, loving couple! you think if you ever were interested in romance, that would be the kind of relationship you'd like to have").(set: $personality to $personality + 1)] (if: $people is 3)[(either:"a haughty clerk of the local nobility, who is generally unpleasant to be around and can't get away from you fast enough", "a frighteningly large guard who turns out to be the bodyguard for a small old lady. She seems to have business at the local post and delivery building and you decide to stay well clear of them both", "an extremely harried scribe who works for the local printing press. You think you could have been friends in another life, but this person is just in too much of a hurry to distract them right now", "a charming, moderately unsettling public speaker who you realize has a face on the back of their head as well. Strange magic! The face on the back of their head looks like a mask of the moon, but they wear a mask of the sun upon the front of their head. You wonder if they switch off with their other face at all..", "a chilling, but genial public speaker who you realize has a face on the back of their head as well. Intriguing magic! The face on the back of their head looks like a mask of the sun, but they were a mask of the moon upon the front of their head. You wonder if they switch off with their other face very often..").(set: $personality to $personality - 1)] (if: $people is 4)[(either:"a desperate noble, who begs you for some assistance with surprisingly commonplace problems. You suggest that they consider paying some of the local lower class citizens to help them, and encourage them to spread their wealth. They hadn't even considered this solution, but find that once they start, it is actually quite equitable and helps their relations with the other townsfolk immensely","a harried noble, who hides behind you and pretends not to be there when a cadre of angry soldiers arrives, demanding that you tell them which way the noble went. You point them in the wrong direction, and then ask what that was all about. The noble tells you breathlessly, No time, no time!! and runs off again", "a cranky noble who rushes up and demands that you help them find another noble who apparently has offended their honor by cutting out on a duel they were scheduled to have. You detest duels by their very nature so even if you knew where to find the rival you wouldn't say so...but this stranger doesn't need to know that", "a tiny noble approaches you and asks for your assistance in climbing a large flight of stairs. You agree and once at the top of the stairs, the noble offers you several gold coins in exchange for your service", "a particularly fancily dressed noble asks you if you know the way to the masquerade. Masquerades, nobles...you care not for these things. You don't misdirect them, though, instead simply pointing out that you have no idea and encouraging them to ask someone else"). Nobles may not be much for socialization, but oddly spending time with them does pay surprisingly well. (set: $coins to $coins +3)] (if: $people is 5)[a livestock farmer, who offers you a goat in exchange for a day's work on their farm. You readily agree. Goats! Goats are awesome! (set: $goat to $goat +1)
<img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/ab824142dc1570fbf94ca59201e54dda/tumblr_inline_o9f9ker0jc1qkc6mz_500.gif">] (if: $people is 6)[(either:"a rancher. They are working their horses, using cattledogs to help herd a group of sheep toward a fresh pasture. You watch, impressed, and when they're done they let you pet the cattledogs!", "a dairy farmer, who has three cows. They have just finished milking the cows for the day and let you pet the cows' soft noses. They moo and you moo back at them, laughing. Cows are awesome!", "a vegetable farmer, who confesses to having a bit of an army of cats to deal with the local rodent problem. Most of the cats are feral, but you are able to coax one while the two of you are talking, and it is extremely affectionate, even letting you hold it in your lap while it purrs and grooms your forearm.", "a fruit farmer, who you recognize is quite busy when you arrive. The harvest is on for their apple trees, and they ask your help to collect the apples from the finest tree in the orchard as a sign of trust. While you are picking the apples, their sweet scent catches on the wind, and in the distance, you see a flaming bird. When you report this incident to the farmer, they do not seem the least bit surprised, and thank you for your honesty.", "a flower farmer, who has row upon row of irises, daisies, jonquil, and several rose bushes cultivated on their small farm. The whole place is green and growing, and smells strongly of herbs as well.") (set: $hp to $hp +2)] (if: $people is 7)[(either:"an apprentice squire", "an apprentice baker", "an apprentice wizard", "an apprentice smith", "an apprentice scribe"). You don't even remember much else of the experience, except that it somehow results in you being temporarily set on fire. Apprentices are truly dangerous! (set: $hp to $hp - 3)]
You now have $hp health, and $coins coins.
[[I'd like to continue looking for people to meet!|Socialize]]
[[That is quite enough socializing for me, thanks.|main]]](else:)[(if: (history:) contains "barn")[Yrma waves you down, asking you to join her at the pub again.
[[Go with her, sounds good|barn]]
[[Tell her you'll come back later|main]]](else:)[While you are in town, a tall, dark skinned woman with beautiful hair in a golden halo about her head approaches you.
"I am Yrma," she says. She looks young and hearty, a traveler much like you. There is something about her that reminds you of other things you have encountered on your travels. Still, you greet her pleasantly. You are happy to meet a fellow traveler.
You tell Yrma hello, and introduce yourself.
"Can I get you a drink?" Yrma asks. "I'd like to spend a little time with you, if you don't mind."
[[Go talk with her for a while?|barn]]
[[For now, you go back.|main]]]]
</center>
(set: $drop to (random: 3,10))(set: $personality to $personality - 1)(set: $coins to $coins + $drop)<center><strong><div style="color:#dc143c;">The orc is defeated!</div></strong>
You collect $drop coins from the (either: "unlucky", "pitiful", "small", "slain") orc's carcass! You have $coins coins and your health is $hp.
[[Continue Adventuring|Adventure]]
[[Go home for now|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You have decided you would like to buy something after all!</strong>
Which of the items would you like to buy?
[[The book]]
[[The jams]]
[[The crown]]
[[The cloak]]
[[Never mind, I might come back later.|main]]</center>
(set: $drop to (random: 11,15))(set: $personality to $personality - 1)(set: $coins to $coins + $drop)<center><strong><div style="color:#dc143c;">The mage is defeated!</div></strong>
You collect $drop coins from the (either: "stinky", "berobed", "heavily tattooed", "finely dressed") mage's body! You have $coins coins and your health is $hp.
[[Continue Adventuring|Adventure]]
[[Go home for now|main]]
</center>
<center>(if: $book < 1)[
(if: $coins > 9)[(set: $coins to $coins - 10)(set: $book to $book + 1)(set: $items to $items + 1) <strong>You purchase the book!</strong> (set: $bookvendor to (random: 1,3))
<img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/dd36569a14ad0bad960d362499ae8acd/tumblr_inline_o9f9keycc61qkc6mz_540.png">
(if: $bookvendor is 3)[The book vender seems to be loathe to part with the tome, but they don't fight you on it. You can see why, though. It's not just finely made, it has a treasure trove of information on the movements of the stars.]
(if: $bookvendor is 2)[You flip through the pages of your book and are astounded by the many beautiful illustrations that you see hidden within. Some fine artist's craftwork went into the making of this. You thank the vendor earnestly for making this available to you.]
(if: $bookvendor is 1)[Marvelous though the book's appearance may be, the contents are even more exciting. Pages upon pages of information about astronomical readings, starcharts, and navigational data you need to be able to effectively travel the world. This is just what you were looking for!]
[[That's satisfying! All right, onward!|buy]]
](else:)[You can't afford that yet!
<img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/dd36569a14ad0bad960d362499ae8acd/tumblr_inline_o9f9keycc61qkc6mz_540.png">
[[It was worth a shot!|buy]]]]
(else:)[Nah, all the other books on sale seem pretty boring and ordinary. You really aren't that interested in the ones you're seeing here, not least because you've already read most of what's available.
<img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/2552ed238a4914c1482dea93118825fa/tumblr_inline_o9f9kgvK911qkc6mz_540.png">
[[Back to business, then.|buy]]
]
</center>
<center>(if: $jams < 3)[
(if: $coins > 1)[(set: $coins to $coins - 2)(set: $jams to $jams + 1)(set: $items to $items + 1) <strong>You purchase the three jars of jam!</strong> (set: $jamvendor to (random: 1,3))
<img src="https://65.media.tumblr.com/92a7f25c8e8e24523f5f40cd96a03a23/tumblr_inline_o9f9kgpYco1qkc6mz_540.png">
(if: $jamvendor is 3)[The jam vendor offers you an additional bag of grapes for free in addition to your purchase. You (either: "graciously", "reluctantly", "excitedly", "secretively") accept.
[[Swag!|buy]]]
(if: $jamvendor is 2)[The jam vendor thanks you profusely for your business, and clamors loudly to try to drawn in other business by showing off how satisfied you are with your purchase.
[[The resultant crowd means it's time to get outta here!|buy]]]
(if: $jamvendor is 1)[(either: "Surprisingly","Unsurprisingly","To your intense disapproval","Strangely","Suspiciously"), the jam vendor also seems to be selling some kind of (either: "mysterious","odiferous","striking","gaudy","brightly colored") (either: "fish","oils","pet birds", "baubles", "cheeses", "wines") on the side.
[[Huh. Well, anyway...|buy]]]
](else:)[You can't afford that yet!
<img src="https://65.media.tumblr.com/92a7f25c8e8e24523f5f40cd96a03a23/tumblr_inline_o9f9kgpYco1qkc6mz_540.png">
[[It was worth a shot!|buy]]]]
(else:)[Alas, you have bought up all of the sets of jams that were for sale. It looks like the jam vendor has packed up shop and gone home.
<img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/2552ed238a4914c1482dea93118825fa/tumblr_inline_o9f9kgvK911qkc6mz_540.png">
[[No! I'll never have enough jars of jam!|buy]]]
</center>
<center>(if: $crown < 1)[
(if: $coins > 19)[(set: $coins to $coins - 20)(set: $crown to $crown + 1)(set: $items to $items + 1) <strong>You purchase the crown!</strong> (set: $crownvendor to (random: 1,3))
<img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/ca106e95c74ce8e7a3768060b365f249/tumblr_inline_o9f9kfr2C41qkc6mz_540.png">
(if: $crownvendor is 3)[The crown vendor tries to tell you a long and complicated story about how fabulous the crown is. You listen (either: "boredly", "intently", "with some suspicion that the tale is fake", "patiently").]
(if: $crownvendor is 2)[No sooner have you purchased the crown than the vendor who was selling it has literally vanished into a puff of thin air. You can't help wondering if you should be worried...]
(if: $crownvendor is 1)[(either: "There's a strange glint to the crown","You sense a presence about the crown","Upon touching the crown, you feel distinctly uneasy","A weird sense of purpose fills you when you complete the purchase","You're struck by a brief but intense flash of vertigo"). The crown vendor seems to be (either: "completely unaware of your reaction","watching you intently","watching you nervously","anxious to leave","fearful for you", "reluctant to let you complete the purchase").]
[[Well, either way, that's that.|buy]]
](else:)[You can't afford that yet!
<img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/ca106e95c74ce8e7a3768060b365f249/tumblr_inline_o9f9kfr2C41qkc6mz_540.png">
[[It was worth a shot!|buy]]]]
(else:)[Alas, you have bought the only crown that was for sale. Perhaps your dreams of royalty and wealth can be sated some other day.
<img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/2552ed238a4914c1482dea93118825fa/tumblr_inline_o9f9kgvK911qkc6mz_540.png">
[[Well. I GUESS.|buy]]
]
</center>
<center>(if: $cloak < 1)[
(if: $coins > 24)[(set: $coins to $coins - 25)(set: $cloak to $cloak + 1)(set: $items to $items + 1) <strong>You purchase the cloak!</strong> (set: $cloakvendor to (random: 1,3))
<img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/926ebfdf1ac9cf0424bf73392e597ae9/tumblr_inline_o9f9kersEH1qkc6mz_540.png">
(if: $cloakvendor is 3)[You are so distracted while purchasing the cloak that someone else bumps into and picks your pockets. You don't notice until much later. (set: $coins to 0)]
(if: $cloakvendor is 2)[It's a bit warmer when you pull the cloak on than you'd been expecting, but it's also (either: "incredibly comfortable and soft", "pleasantly light when you're wearing it", "waterproof, according to the vendor"). You find yourself distractedly tracing your fingers along the lining. (either: "This cloak and you. You're going places.", "Did you remember to lock the door? Oh, damn it.", "Is that a stray thread? You'll have to find a tailor...")]
(if: $cloakvendor is 1)[Just as you are pulling on the cloak to try it out, you notice that it has a lingering smell of (either: "hydrangeas", "roses", "wet dog fur", "dill pickles", "freshly baked bread", "soap", "ginger", "fresh mint", "citrus") to it. Just who owned this thing before you, anyway? The vendor (either: "claims not to know", "claims it was someone whose name almost matches a famous person's", "claims it was their relative's", "shrugs and says you don't wanna know").]
[[Well, either way, that's that.|buy]]
](else:)[You can't afford that yet!
<img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/926ebfdf1ac9cf0424bf73392e597ae9/tumblr_inline_o9f9kersEH1qkc6mz_540.png">
[[It was worth a shot!|buy]]]]
(else:)[Alas, you have bought the only cloak that was for sale. I know that gray isn't really your color, but at least it's very soft on the inside!
<img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/2552ed238a4914c1482dea93118825fa/tumblr_inline_o9f9kgvK911qkc6mz_540.png">
[[But it really ISN'T my color...|buy]]
]
</center>
(set: $drop to (random: 5,13))(set: $personality to $personality +1)(set: $coins to $coins + $drop)<center><strong><div style="color:#5f9ea0;">You and the orc are friends now! Yay!</div></strong>
You help the orc out with some of their life problems. (either:"After a peppy musical number together and a montage training sequence, you both feel ready to take on the world!","After a peppy musical number together and a montage shopping sequence, you both feel ready to take on the masquerade ball!","Several hours later, the two of you lie beneath a maple tree together, pondering the mysteries of the universe. How much wood //would// a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood? You can't decide.","You agree to help them pick out a new set of leather armor. Green is really not their most flattering color, it blends in too much with their skin. You suggest the navy blue set for a nice complementary color, instead.","Math homework isn't necessarily your strong point, but you're able to walk them through the concepts behind the problem. Trigonometry's a little beyond what you remember from school, though.","They explain that some of their anger comes from hunger, and you tell them not to worry. One trip to town later has the both of you set for the nonce with a bowl full of fresh stew each and a baguette to share.","Your listening ear as they explain their woes comes in second only to the advice you're able to offer. It really sounds like they should stop worrying about what their troll friend thinks of them.","They really just needed someone to repair their scarecrow on their farm nearby, and you're able to help them out in no time.")
Your new buddy the orc offers you $drop coins from their (either: "fancy", "leather", "frugal", "secret","sequined","rainbow","suede","geometrically patterned") coin pouch! You have $coins coins, now. The two of you part ways amicably.
[[Continue adventuring|Adventure]]
[[Go home for now|main]]
</center>
<center>(if: $sword is 0)[<strong>The lion advances, and you could swear you see literal stars forming in its mane.</strong>
//"My question...is this...!"// intones the lion.
"//(either: "Some say my might is lacking in battle; but I am the method to silence their prattle. What am I?","I bring highest honor to one who brings death to ten; what is my name when I am lifted again?","My tongue tastes only blood and bone; when the deed is done, I sleep at home. What am I?","A child of the elements, I am born of fire and earth, and killed in water, then shaped anew by the earth that birthed me. What is my name?","Someone who wrote this riddle was bored, the answer to it rhymes with gourd. And hoard, coincidentally. What am I?","Dreams I cut and years I take, grief I bring, and skin I break. What am I?")//"
You (either: "stutter nervously", "raise one eyebrow skeptically", "sigh heartily","frown, scrunch up your nose","shrug") and answer, "Um...so, it's a sword?"
//"That's right, have this magic sword, thanks, goodbye."//
The lion disappears in a smattering of glitter and leaves a pearly sword in your arms. Its sheath is carved with many runes of an unfamiliar language, and the blade feels as though it faintly calls to you. (set: $sword to 1)(set: $personality to $personality + 1)
[[Well, that was weird.|main]]](else:)[<strong>The lion looks at you awkwardly, then glances away. </strong>
"//(either: "...so.","Hi again.","Oh. Uh. You.")//"
"(either:"Uh. So that sword, you gave me...", "Hey, I wanted to ask you...","Come on, please tell me what the sword's for?")"
The lion coughs awkwardly and throws down some magic powder. You think you hear it shout //"(either:"Phantom image!","Alazakam!","Isappear-day!","Kapow!","You saw nothing!")"// but when the sparkly smoke clears, it's gone again.
[[What is this lion's problem anyway|main]]]
</center>
<center><strong>You're at the dragon shop! It's weird and ethereal, and smells like smoke.</strong>
<img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/ec17a039cef77190656e7aef5b0666fd/tumblr_inline_o9f9kf7b4v1qkc6mz_540.png">
(if: $crystal < 1)[The dragon reveals a perfectly round sphere of polished, gleaming amber. It seems to shimmer when you look at it, and you feel drawn to the orb.
"I'm willing to part with this for 15 of your coins, if you have them," says the dragon.]
(if: $ring < 1)[You also notice a human-sized ring that is sitting amidst a pile of treasure that seems to be the dragon's hoard. The ring is unornamented, but it's made of twining ropes of bronze, silver and gold, and looks very finely made.
When you ask about it, the dragon looks surprised.
"That? Well...I guess I'd part with it for 20 of your coins."]
You have $coins coins.
(if: $coins > 0)[You might be able to afford one of these, but...do you really want one, now that you know what it is?
[[YES!|dragon buy]]
[[Er, I can't afford that, not really.|main]]
]
(else:)[You cannot buy any of these items right now.
[[Time to go earn some coin!|main]]
]
</center>
<center>(set: $personality to $personality +1)<strong>You try to talk with the ghost!</strong>
It is not entirely capable, despite its (either: "mildly unsettling", "weird", "admittedly odd", "maudlin") appearance, of communicating in words. You end up having to play a kind of guessing game with the ghost to learn more about it. Thankfully, the crown seems to keep the ghost's interest and make it capable of talking with you.
(either:"Through a complicated game of charades, the ghost invites you to play charades. The irony is not lost on either of you, but you concede that you must be decent at it if it worked thus far, and agree to play. It goes pretty well as long as you both steer clear of pop culture. Having been dead so long, the ghost's idea of recent books is a bit skewed.","The ghost makes a strange warning to you, something about watching out for deadly flowers. You're not sure which ones they mean though.","After the third straight knock-knock joke doesn't quite work out, you feel bad for the ghost and try to help it out. Your knock-knock joke scares it badly. Why would it be glad you didn't say banana?","The ghost tells you the complicated story of how it came to be haunting this wood. They hint at, but never quite fully admit, their identity as the legendary swordswoman Brynna, who was known locally for standing up to a Demonic Army and sending their General back to the nether plane.","In the middle of telling you a story about a local dragon who makes exceptionally good pasta, the ghost notices a cat. You notice the cat too. It's a super sweet cat! It doesn't seem to have a collar, so you have to assume it is feral, but it is absolutely the nicest kitty you've ever met, all purring and soft and cute. The ghost pets the cat too, since cats have one paw in the ethereal plane, and then the cat starts chasing a nearby dragonfly that leads it away. You both sigh happily. Cats are so great.")
(either:"After that, the ghost abruptly vanishes without saying anything about leaving. Maybe it's shy?","The ghost waves to you, and fades off into the ether again for now.","Suddenly, the ghost begins loudly singing and flies off without you. The song is embarrassingly familiar but you just can't place it.","Disturbingly, the ghost begins to melt away, eventually completely disappearing from view.","You glance away a moment, distracted by the sounds of nearby ducks, quacking malevolently. When you look back, the ghost is...gone!!")
[[Huh...that was interesting.|main]]
</center>
(set: $drop to (random: 11,18))(set: $personality to $personality +1)(set: $coins to $coins + $drop)<center><strong><div style="color:#5f9ea0;">You and the mage are pals now! Awesome!</div></strong>
Your new friend the mage doffs their mage hat and produces a deck of playing cards. They challenge you to a game!
(either: "It's an intense affair, with a great deal of sneaky card switching on both your parts, probably some magical cheating on their part, and just regular old cheating on your part.", "You play the game completely fair and even catch them trying to cheat.", "Neither one of you cheats but the game takes forever and both of your bellies are grumbling with hunger by the time the game is over.", "You're not even sure you've ever played 'Six Hats of Duke Duckington' before, but you seem to be naturally good at it, anyway.", "To be honest, before you can really get all that far in the card game both of you devolve into a lengthy debate about who the coolest wizard ever is.","You pretend not to be interested, and proceed to wipe the floor with them at their own game. Little did they know you're an absolute ace at 'Go Fish!'","You counter their game with a wager that you know cooler magic tricks than they do, and they of course are instantly insulted by the affront to their craft as a mage. Several party tricks later, they are forced to concede that, in fact, you HAVE guessed their card. They grudgingly respect your tricks, but remind you touchily that that's not //really// magic. You want to stay friends, so you are sure to let them know that you agree.","You've never played solitaire with another person before, and it's all around a bit more confusing and frustrating than you'd have thought card games possibly could be. On your round you're able to at least clear the deck, so technically you win. Yay?","Since their deck is actually a set of tarot cards, you offer to read their fortune instead, and they agree. While they look on in rapt excitement, you explain that the five of swords indicates a need to put themselves first, a lack of connection to their self-interest. This really seems to speak to them.")
(either: "Magefred", "Magatha", "Magellan", "Mageina", "Magerick", "Mageford", "Mageington", "Magebeth", "Magebelle", "Mageibund", "Mageicent", "Magus", "Mager") knows when they're beat, though, and pulls out some coins from their (either: "ornate", "unicorn-hair", "dragon-scale", "fabulous", "deceptively plain") coin pouch to pay up! You have $coins coins, now. The two of you part ways amicably.
[[Continue Adventuring|Adventure]]
[[Go home for now|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You find yourself in the thick of a strange area...</strong>
(if: $path is 0)[At a certain point in your travels, you come to a fork in the path. There are four paths you might take from here, each of varying qualities; one to the north-east, one to the north-west, one straight to the west, and one to the south-east. (if: $jams > 0)[A small squirrel seems to be waiting here, and chitters excitedly at you. It bounds towards the path that is a bit harder to see, where the branches are thicker.]
[[Look NE]] | [[Go NE]]
[[Look NW]] | [[Go NW]]
[[Look W]] | [[Go W]]
[[Look SE]] | [[Go SE]]](if: $path is 1)[As you peer out over the lake's rippling surface, you are astonished by how clear the water is. You can see what looks almost like the entrance to a subterranean cave. If you go down there, you wonder, what would you find?
[[Dive in]]](if: $path is 2)[It is extremely tenuous going for a while. This high up, you find that there are rarely handholds to keep you steady, let alone clear markings of the path that you can take to accomplish your ascent. Eventually, you come upon an area where you see no obvious way to continue forward. There is a path above, but you would have to free-climb up there from here. There is another, wider path below. You are confident you could probably get down there relatively easily.
[[Climb up anyway|climb up]]
[[Better to head to the lower path|climb down]]](if: $path is 3)[When you set out again from your brief rest in the shade, you catch sight of an injured (set: $animal to (random:0,4)) (if: $animal is 0)[coyote, limping far ahead of you](if: $animal is 1)[gila lizard, hiding on a sunning rock on a nearby outcropping of the hill where you rested] (if: $animal is 2)[mountain goat, whose horn is chipped and ear is bleeding] (if: $animal is 3)[cactus wren, whose leg is caught under a stone] (if: $animal is 4)[ocelot, crying piteously in the shadow of a mesquite tree].
[[Cautiously approach the animal to help it|help animal]]
(if: $jams > 0)[[[Leave some food for the animal but do not approach|feed animal]]]](if: $path is 4)[When you reach a particularly turbulent knot of the river, you find yourself at a loss. There are three floating orbs of light in the distance ahead, each in a different direction. One emits a yellow light, one emits a blue light, and one emits an eerie green light.
Which do you follow to try to wade through these rapids safely?
[[Blue|blue orb]]
[[Yellow|yellow orb]]
[[Green|green orb]]](if: $path is 5)[Just when you are thinking you might have to turn back because of the fog, a light pierces the murk like a sword through a monster's hide. Out steps (if: $time is "night")[an eerily pale-skinned person, dressed in finery](if: $time is "morning")[an astonishingly beautiful person, dressed in rags](if: $time is "dawn")[an unsettlingly familiar person, dressed in peasant's clothing](if: $time is "noon")[an armored person, whose physique intimidates you](if: $time is "afternoon")[a disarmingly pleasant person, dressed in fine but comfortable clothing].
"Hello!" they greet you, as if they had been expecting your presence for some time. "I was sent to bring you inside. Won't you come this way, please?"
You didn't realize it, but somehow you are just outside the castle you had noted from further away. But how could you have mistaken (either: "such a busy place","such a glimmering beacon","such a pleasant place") for a ruin? Is it really the same one?
Your guide motions for you to follow them.
[[You do so, taking in the view around you with surprise|enter castle]]](if: $path is 6)[(if: (history:) contains "escape")[ You remember what happened the last time you came to the small town, and decide to completely avoid it.](else:)[There is something (either: "deeply familiar", "strangely nostalgic","distractingly friendly","unusually attractive", "admittedly odd") about this town, as if you have been here many times before. You feel quite certain this is not the case, and yet that sensation lingers, nagging at the back of your mind.
Gradually, you begin to feel unsettled as no one comes out of the houses or responds to your presence in the town at all.
What do you do?
[[Rest here|rest town]]
[[Keep investigating|search town]]]](if: $path is 7)[(if: $crystal <1)[You stand for a long time amidst the sighing winds and peaceful half-destroyed houses, these temples to an age long gone. You feel a sense of purpose here, but it is impossible to describe what that purpose is calling you to do.
Eventually, you give up. You can't seem to make sense of it.](else:)[(if: (history:) contains "switch press")[You make a beeline back through the ruins for that hidden cache you found. You're sure there's more coin to be had from there.](else:)[A flash and hum from in your travel packs startles you so badly that you let out an undignified yelp. The crystal ball! You had all but forgotten it, tucked so neatly away in your packs. You hastily dig through your things to retrieve the amber globe, and peer into its unfathomable, shimmering surface.
A vision flashes through your mind. There is a switch, a stone hidden within one of these falling walls. You feel yourself drawn to go uncover the switch and press it. Then, the vision fades, and the crystal ball is blank once more.
When you check, it is there, exactly as you saw it.
[[Press the switch?|switch press]]]]](if: $path is 8)[You have finally reached the lake at the center of the crater. For the better part of an hour, you simply admire the unique colorations of the minerals that serve as this lake's bed, peppered with otherworldly crystals from the meteor that struck so long ago. Then, an inconsistency makes itself obvious to your discerning eye, and you begin to wonder if you are simply seeing things.
It seems like there is an almost invisible path, carved of stone that lies just beneath the water's surface. The stone has as reflective a quality as water, and from directly above is invisible to the naked eye. When you look upon the pool from a different angle, however, you can clearly see that there is something there.
[[Walk along the path toward the center of the crater's lake?|crater lake]]](if: $path is 9)[When you reach the pier proper and can investigate, you discover that the rowboat is in fact serviceable. There are oars still resting inside of it, and it is only loosely tied to the pier. This must mean that the faint shadow on the horizon is not too far away to reach by rowing, you muse.
[[Get into the rowboat and explore this island|island]]](if: $path is 10)[(if: $sword is 1)[(if: $ghost < 1)[As you press deeper and deeper into the caves, you begin to experience an intense feeling that you must take out the sword that that strange dragon foisted on you that one time. As soon as you do, a ghostly woman appears before you. She looks like she could have wielded this sword effortlessly, which is more than you can say for yourself as she approaches and you jump away in fear, screaming.
//Hear me, living one,// says the spirit. Her voice is strong and makes you feel less nervous, like you can trust her. She isn't actually all that spooky, now that you are looking at her more closely. //You have returned the Sword of Azahni to its rightful place, after it has been held hostage in the claws of the Lion of fate, Yrma. You were entrusted with a massive task, though no one made this mission clear to you.//
You are a little surprised that nobody DID bother to tell you about this. Why didn't they?
"Uh...it was nothing?" You say, hoping to put this ghost-- well, Azahni, maybe?-- at ease. "Why didn't anyone tell me, though?"
//The Lion of fate does not wish to occupy their role any longer,// the spirit said, almost sadly. //They are seeking a replacement, and attempting to remove the articles of immortality which granted them that power, now.//
You don't know what to say. That all seems so...sad, somehow.
//But enough about that. I offer you a boon, living one. I would show you my gratitude for putting my soul at rest. What desire you most?//
[[Money]]
[[To be Hale]]
[[To live forever]]](else:)[You return to this place because it is familiar, and because you wonder if the spirit truly was put to rest or is yet trapped here. A soft wind howls through the caves, but otherwise no disturbance nor sign of otherworldly presence makes itself known to you.]](else:)[These caves are extremely impressive, and leave you breathless, but you see no signs of other human beings living here, let alone reasons to continue wandering deeper into the natural habitat of so many small sleepy animals. ]](if: $path is 11)[(if: $cloak > 0)[The bog is thick and visibility is poor. Just as you are beginning to get too tired to continue dealing with this nonsense, you spot the eerie form of a will-o-wisp up ahead.
[[Follow it?|follow]]
[[Stay clear?|avoid]]](else:)[You splorch and squelch and stumble around for hours and hours, but find nothing interesting in the muck, mulch, and stinky stew of this swamp. So much for that plan.]](if: $path is 12)[(if: $crown >0)[Just as you are beginning to think you might die out here of frostbite, you come upon the elusive fortress, and pound upon its outer gate. To your alarm, the gate seems almost to spring to life of its own accord, slowly dropping down to reveal an ordinary seeming stone door.
[[Approach and open the stone door?|fortress]]
[[Call out instead?|yelling]]](else:)[You climb and climb and work yourself until you're almost frozen through, but the fortress always seems to stay the same distance away from you. Before you can become seriously injured, you decide you'll have to give up this search...today, at least. (set: $hp to $hp - 3)]](if: $path is 13)[(if: $goat >0)[With your growing flock, you have much use of the plains. Oh, your (if: $goat <2)[goat is](else:)[goats are] happily grazing on the long, sweet grasses of these unsettled lands. You enjoy the chance to spend some time worrying only about what your next meal is, and take a day or two to enjoy the open fields, laying under the peaceful sky with no one else to answer to. (set: $count to $count - 1)](else:)[You wander the rolling plains, keeping clear of the herds of animals so as not to frighten them. You are drawn to one of the blue stone monuments. It seems that once, this statue was the figure of a pair of healing deities, one who wears the face of a beautiful human and the lower body of a swan, the other with a cat's head, ox's body, and three serpents for tails. They are both bent as if to lift buckets from the small clear pond between them. When you wade into the pond, you discover the waters are pleasantly warm. It does feel a lot like you are receiving magical healing from this place. (set: $hp to $hp +1)]]
[[You decide to return to an inn for now|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You are at the dragon shop!</strong>
Despite the increasing smoke cover making it a little unpleasant to breathe around here, you are going to buy something from the dragon! Which of the items would you like to buy?
<img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/ec17a039cef77190656e7aef5b0666fd/tumblr_inline_o9f9kf7b4v1qkc6mz_540.png">
[[The crystal orb]]
[[The ring]]
[[Never mind, I might come back later.|main]]</center>
<center>(if: $crystal is 0)[(if: $coins > 14)[<strong>You purchase the crystal ball! Ominous portents wriggle across its surface, vague and disturbing.</strong>
(set: $coins to $coins - 15)(set: $crystal to $crystal + 1)(set: $items to $items + 1)(set: $personality to $personality + 1)
<img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/72c6e11e6c5898c724ae7f2ce4decf37/tumblr_inline_o9gz3b0HBr1qkc6mz_540.png">
The dragon hands over the crystal ball of amber, clearly excited to have even a measly 15 more coins in that hoard over there. You ask how to use the crystal ball, and the dragon provides a lengthy explanation. Basically, it seems that the crystal ball can be used to see the future, but only bits and pieces. Once a vision has come to pass, it won't continue to show, meaning a repeated vision is likely to be fairly far in the future.
Overall, you're pretty tempted to just stuff this thing in your supplies and more or less try not to think about it for now.
[[You thank the dragon profusely for their kind offer and head on your way.|main]]
](else:)[<strong>You try to buy the crystal ball!</strong>
Hey, wait! You can't afford that yet!
<img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/72c6e11e6c5898c724ae7f2ce4decf37/tumblr_inline_o9gz3b0HBr1qkc6mz_540.png">
[[It was worth a shot!|dragon buy]]]](else:)[<strong>You already bought that!</strong>
<img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/2552ed238a4914c1482dea93118825fa/tumblr_inline_o9f9kgvK911qkc6mz_540.png">
[[Oh, right!|dragon buy]]]
</center>
<center>(if: $ring is 0)[(if: $coins > 19)[<strong>You purchase the finely crafted ring! It is kind of underwhelming but you get a good feeling from wearing it.</strong>
(set: $coins to $coins - 20)(set: $ring to $ring + 1)(set: $items to $items + 1)(set: $personality to $personality + 5)
<img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/399c3424d9ba8fff0d90f5aa09226084/tumblr_inline_o9gzbo6gR41qkc6mz_540.png">
The dragon hands over the ring, a little puzzled by your interest in it. When pressed, you do get an explanation that this ring once belonged to a very prominent adventurer and scholar whose works you actually admire very much. This little keepsake is a nice bonus to your brief encounter with the dragon, and you feel excited about the purchase.
[[You thank the dragon profusely for their kind offer and head on your way.|main]]
](else:)[<strong>You try to purchase the finely crafted ring!</strong>
You can't afford that yet!
<img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/399c3424d9ba8fff0d90f5aa09226084/tumblr_inline_o9gzbo6gR41qkc6mz_540.png">
[[It was worth a shot!|dragon buy]]]](else:)[<strong>Oh, wait, you already acquired this ring!</strong>
Silly you, forgetting. Eheheheh.
<img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/2552ed238a4914c1482dea93118825fa/tumblr_inline_o9f9kgvK911qkc6mz_540.png">
[[Back to the dragon shop|dragon buy]]]
</center>
<center><strong>You peer deeper into the forest from your vantage.</strong>
The open pathway seems to become a well-traveled walkway here, with hard-packed dirt that doesn't show any footsteps, yet implies footsteps came this way at least once, if not recently. Overhead the branches are tightly knit together, but the path itself seems quite open. This far into the wilderness, though, you can't be sure if this is truly a path, or only seems to be made by humankind...
[[Okay.|travel]]</center>
<center><strong>You head down the northeastern path.</strong>
(if: $jams < 1)[You travel along the hard-packed dirt for several minutes, making careful note of the few landmarks visible in this dim, quiet part of the woods. After a little while, you begin to feel vaguely suspicious you are turned around, and make a mark on one of the trees to help keep your orientation. But sure enough, a few minutes later you pass by the same tree, wearing your mark. Scratching your head, you pause, only to realise you are right back where you started. (if: (history:) contains "Go NE")[You are beginning to think you may need some kind of guidance to be able to navigate this forest.]
[[Maybe you should try looking around again.|travel]]](else:)[The hard-packed dirt path is a circuitous one, deceptively curving around itself and splitting so that one could circle the same spot for a couple of hours thinking they'd never stopped going straight. Eventually, you recognize one of the trees you've passed by before, and turn around to find you're almost exactly where you'd started.
[[With a grumble, you head back.|travel]]]</center>
<center><strong>You peer deeper into the forest from your vantage.</strong>
Thick brambles clutter the north-west passageway, and it looks like the trees grow closer and closer together the further you go. Like the north-east passageway, it seems to be poorly lit, the canopy overhead shrouding it in deep gloom and shadow.
[[Okay.|travel]]</center>
<center><strong>You head down the northwestern path.</strong>
(if: $jams < 1)[Thick brambles clutter the area and block your path. As you proceed, breaking the occasional branch out of necessity, the trees grow closer and closer together, making it difficult to move and see. The canopy overhead shrouds you and the path you're forging in deep gloom and shadow, and you get an ominous feeling that this may be a bad idea. (if: (history:) contains "Go NW")[You are beginning to think you may need some kind of guidance to be able to navigate this forest.]
[[Better go back for now|travel]]](else:)[The squirrel scolds you from its perch, clearly urging you to go down this path first. You follow its lead, and after pushing your way through the densest part of the trees are delighted to discover that things open up a bit more. Breathing a sigh of relief, you look around for the squirrel. It is watching you from a few paces away, and seems be looking towards your packs.
After a bit, you realize it wants some of your delicious jams. You are loathe to part with them, but you're pretty good and lost. You dab just a bit on a leaf and set it down on a nearby branch, then back away. The squirrel rapidly descends on the branch and picks up the leaf like a tiny plate, licking it clean of the jam.
With a happy chirp, the squirrel dashes off again.
[[Continue exploring the maze]]]</center>
<center><strong>You peer deeper into the forest from your vantage.</strong>
A cheery path stretches out in this direction, patches of sunlight peeking down through the ceiling of thick black branches above. These trees are ancient, and the forest floor is thick with mulch from many seasons of fallen leaves which lay untouched until you arrived. You might have to cut your way through some of the thicket to follow this path.
[[Okay.|travel]]</center>
<center><strong>You head down the western path.</strong>
(if: $jams < 1)[As you walk, you can't help but notice what a lively place this particular piece of the forest is. Frogs are croaking from somewhere not far out of sight, and the birds overhead seem to be drawn to this part of the forest, perhaps because of the dappled sunlight marking this as a safe and cheery place. Your every footstep crunches through the fallen leaves and mulch on the forest floor, and occasionally you have to push through some tightly packed, flexible young branches on smaller trees, but overall, you do not encounter many obstacles. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to really lead you anywhere in the long run. Soon enough, you find yourself retracing your steps back to the crossroads-like clearing where you'd first started heading this way. (if: (history:) contains "Go W")[You are beginning to think you may need some kind of guidance to be able to navigate this forest.]
[[Back you go|travel]]](else:)[You begin to head down the western path, drawn by the sounds of birds and the patches of sunlight peeking through the branches overhead, but stop yourself when you realize that the squirrel did not head this way. You re-orient and try going back to the crossroads to figure out where your tiny guide went.
[[Back you go|travel]]]</center>
<center><strong>You peer deeper into the forest from your vantage.</strong>
From what you can see, in this direction lies little more than a game trail. There may be something to those clustered boulders in the distance though, once you reach them.
[[Okay.|travel]]</center>
<center><strong>You head down the southeastern path.</strong>
(if: $jams < 1)[Though the path itself is little more than a game trail through a few boulders and past a shallow cave, you are more interested in the striking image of a doe that has been carved into the face of one such boulder. There are several signs like this, little charcoal markings that feel intentional, a few finely carved runes in a language you don't know. It seems that there must once have been people living in these woods, though you can't imagine who they were or where they might have gone. (if: (history:) contains "Go SE")[You are beginning to think you may need some kind of guidance to be able to navigate this forest.]
[[It seems best to go back for now|travel]]](else:)[For a moment, you consider passing this way. You're drawn to the rock formations, curious about the signs that there may once have been human, or human-like, occupants here. When you check, though, there's no sign of your squirrel companion. This must not be the right way.
[[Maybe if you go back you can find them|travel]]]</center>
<center><strong>You wade into the lake, and dive down into it.</strong>
(if: $crown < 1)[You swim and swim, but to your increasing alarm, you become aware that there is actually a great deal of peril to be had in this lake. It was so clear that the lake's bottom seemed much closer than it is proving to be. You realize in time, fortunately, and reorient yourself, kicking desperately so you can breach the surface and take a much-needed breath.
(if: (history:) contains "Dive in")[You are beginning to think you may need some kind of magical assistance or apparatus to make it possible for you to dive deeper.]
[[That was close!|travel]]](else:)[(set: $personality to $personality +1)You manage to reach the bottom much faster than you remember doing so before, and wander along it for several seconds before finding the thing you'd thought might be a cave entrance down here.
There is a pocket of breathable air down here, and when you circle under and come up into the cave you are pleasantly surprised to discover that the air does not smell too stale. Whatever keeps the airflow in this area moving is likely occupying the space though. You take a look around, and all too quickly find that the owner of this space appears to be a (either:"blue-scaled", "fish-smelling", "long-necked", "wise and terrible", "web-finned") water dragon, sleeping on...WOWZA, one incredible pile of treasure! (set: $coins to $coins + (random: 20,45))
You collect as much of value you as you can and flee before the water dragon can wake up and notice!
[[Flee, my friends!|main]]]</center>
<center><strong>You try to free-climb up to mountain path.</strong>
This is easily the most stressful thing you've done in the last week, if not just in your entire life. It takes grim focus on what lies above to keep you moving, and you're very, very glad your upper body strength is enough to manage this task.
Sweating, tired, and ready to just lay on the mountainside in gratitude for your life for a while, you finally reach your destination. Up here, there is a plateau covered in markings. (if: $book >0)[You are able to read them, thanks to the book.
You're moderately startled by the sudden appearance of a friendly looking child. No...not just a child. It's a ghost!
You ask them what they are doing up here, and they explain that many millennia ago, they died up here and were stranded from their family. That seems kind of sad to you, but they seem pretty enthused about it so you don't want to try to make them feel bad.
When you ask what made them decide to appear to you, they tell you they're really really interested in your book. So, you lay back again since you're really too tired to be sitting up right now, and leave the book open on your stomach. The ghost hovers above you, reading each page and asking you to turn to the next one when they have finished.
Afterward, the ghost thanks you profusely. By way of repayment, they show you a safe path back down from here, and a small cache of coins they found.(set: $coins to $coins + (random:1,4))
[[Return|main]]](else:)[The markings are a mystery to you.
After a while, you get a sort of uncomfortable feeling of being watched. You're not totally ready to continue on, but you decide you'll come back here later, maybe, and slowly find a way back down.
[[Return|main]]]
</center>
<center><strong>You decide to climb down to lower path carefully</strong>
Down here, you are able to find footholds and even a viable (if exceptionally narrow) path that continues along in the same direction you were already going. You feel much better once you are able to walk normally again.
(if: $jams >0)[At one point, you stop for a snack break. The scent of your jams draws unexpected interest from the wildlife around you, particularly from a small yellow bird that chirrups cutely at you.
When you share your jam with the yellow bird, some of the other animals become emboldened. In what seems like no time at all you're a veritable druid with all the animals that are clamoring for your jam.
The experience makes you laugh. It's oddly more comforting than you'd have expected if someone told you this was going to happen to you. (set: $hp to $hp + 5)]
[[Return|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You cautiously approach and try to help the wounded animal. (set: $personality to $personality +1)</strong>
After you have bandaged it with surprisingly little resistance, the shape of the creature wavers and blurs, fading away to reveal that this is actually a (either: "mini-unicorn","three-headed snake","jackalope","gnome","tiny, hummingbird hippogryph").
It looks at you inquisitively.
"Why did you help me, traveler?"
You explain that you saw it was injured, and wanted to help. This seems to satisfy it, and it puffs up with pride.
"I will answer any question, then. What would you like to know?"
[[What items would best serve me in my quest?|items]]
[[What should I be on the lookout for?|lookout]]
[[How can I extend my quest?|extratime]]
</center>
<center><strong>You don't want to get too close to the animal, but you do toss it some of your jams. (set: $personality to $personality -1)</strong>
It jumps up, catching the jar of jam in an entirely unnatural looking way. Its shape seems to waver and change right before your eyes, revealing that the true creature is actually a perfectly healthy, rainbow-colored raccoon.
"Thanks," says the raccoon, saluting you. Its little pink mask is adorable. You are a little lost for words. "I love jam, honestly. I was just trying to make sure you wouldn't mess with me, but uh...for your trouble, I guess...."
It shakes out a few coins from its raccoon pockets, and scampers out of sight. (set: $coins to $coins + (random: 10,20))
[[Did...that really just happen?|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You decide to follow the blue orb.</strong>
It's a long and circuitous path that leads more away from than towards or across the river you were trying to pass, but the orb is polite (for a weird glowing orb) and lingers when you need to stop to catch your breath.
After (either: "only a few minutes","several hours","an indeterminate amount of time","long enough to start getting on your nerves","a pleasantly short amount of time"), you arrive at a softly steaming natural hot spring. The orb circles the place, as if enticing you to get on in.
At this point, you're sore, you're tired. A little bit of time resting in a hot spring sounds like a great idea. You test the water first to be sure it's not so hot it could hurt you, and then shuck your outer clothes so you can take a quick soak.
That feels like it's definitely getting your shoulders uncramped, at least. Whew! (set: $hp to $hp + 15)
(if: $hp > 35)[By the time you've finished bathing you feel incredible! Like you could take on the entire world!](if: $hp < 35 and it > 30)[By the time you've finished bathing you feel like you could kick the butts of an entire squadron of fighters!](if: $hp < 30 and it > 25)[By the time you've finished bathing you feel like a thousand gold coins!](if: $hp < 25 and it > 20)[Whoa! That was a much needed boost! You feel like you could get back up and make the whole trip over again without breaking a sweat!](if: $hp < 21 and it > 14)[Whew, you were really barely hanging on for a while there. What a relief!]
When you're feeling ready to head back, you [[find the path easily.|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You decide to follow the yellow orb.</strong>
After a particularly complicated series of switchbacks and turns that leave you mildly disoriented, the orb comes to a sudden stop and buzzes sadly. You step up to investigate what is troubling it, and find a (either: "dessicated","spooky, scary","long-abandoned","lonely looking","humanoid") skeleton.
(if: $crystal is >0)["Oh-- oh!" You look at the glowing yellow orb, and then back at the skeleton again. "Is this...your body?"
The orb seems to dance and sing, sparkling excitedly. You conclude that that is exactly what's going on.
"Would you like me to do something to help you go to rest?"
The orb flutters around you confusingly, and you follow it a couple more feet away. Here, there is a partially buried wooden box. You can see that inside it are a bunch of old gold coins.
"You're not saying you want me to have those, are you?" You inquire. The Orb chirps and zips back over to its body, and you deduce that maybe, it wants you to return the box to the body. You dutifully do so.
The orb shouts out a last, softly ringing sound of gratitude, and fades from your view. You hope it's happy, where ever it is. You're a little too worried that the orb might be pulled back out of its afterlife or whatever if you steal from it though, so you leave the wooden box of coins behind.
As you pick your way back out of this strange grove, you trip over another wooden box. This one is in poorer condition than the other, but you're not going to look a gift horse in the mouth!
You now have (set: $coins to $coins + (random: 4,10))$coins coins. Nice! (set: $personality to $personality +1)
[[Return|main]]](else:)[A SKELETON!!!! AAAAAHHHH!!!
You run away in terror of the dead before the orb can stop you. It's not on purpose, it's just a- a--!! A panic thing!
Later, when you're out of breath and well away from it all, you regret your impulsive action. If only there was some way to talk to that orb more directly, maybe then you wouldn't be so scared.
[[Return|main]]]
</center>
<center><strong>You decide to follow the green orb.</strong>
It leads you safely across the river, and helps you evade several obstacles that might've led to your severe injury. You'd be grateful already, but then it shows you a small meadow of some of the most rare and exquisite orchids you have ever seen. They are incredibly beautiful.
[[Pull out your travel book, and draw a likeness to remember them by|draw]]
[[Try to take a cutting of the flowers so you can bring it back home|cutting]]
</center>
<center><strong>You enter the castle against your better judgment.</strong>
The (if: $time is "night")[eerily pale-skinned, finely dressed person](if: $time is "morning")[ragged but astonishingly beautiful person](if: $time is "dawn")[unsettlingly familiar peasant person](if: $time is "noon")[intimidating armored person](if: $time is "afternoon")[disarmingly pleasant person] who greeted you is keeping pace with you.
Inside, the castle appears to be in perfect repair. It feels good to be out of the mists and murk.
Your host, you are told, is (if: $time is "night")[The Noble Sir Luc, of the Arda family.](if: $time is "morning")[The Wise Lady Ned, of the Scholars of the Sun.](if: $time is "dawn")[The Giving One, a holy figure of some import with the local religion.](if: $time is "noon")[The Grand Council's chosen Paladin, a nonbinary person known as Ermeridane.](if: $time is "afternoon")[The Viscountess Vera, who knows everything there is to know about anything, and thus wanted to know more about you.] You feel a bit at a loss, since you have never heard of your host at all. For now, you decide not to mention that.
You ask if you might be permitted to explore the castle, since that's really why you're here, and your guide tells you placatingly,
"Oh, I'm afraid everybody is currently prepared for a night's rest. I'm sure you'd be more than welcome to tour the castle in full come morning. You can stay the night in the guest room for now, though."
[[You accept|fatestaynight]]
[[You say you accept, but plan to sneak out and explore later|sneakthief]]
[[You respectfully decline|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>Rest in this spooky town</strong>
After a while you eventually find an open house. It is small and cozy, with just a bedroom, a kitchen, and a front room, the perfect size for a single occupant. It seems strange to you that this is the only open house in the whole small town, but try as you might you can't see any sign of anyone else living in the town.
You shrug and decide to wonder about it come morning. Once you've set your stuff down, you close the door and prepare to go to sleep.
[[You'll figure it out tomorrow.|escape]]
</center>
<center><strong>Search this spooky town</strong>
After a while you eventually find an open house. It is small and cozy, with just a bedroom, a kitchen, and a front room, the perfect size for a single occupant. You find this incredibly suspicious and rush back outside so as not to become trapped in it.
On closer examination, you find that all the other houses, particularly the ones you feel as though people are watching you from, are closed and locked.
You decide to break the windows of some houses with a stone. When you cast the stone through the first window, you see a brief image of the person you think is trapped inside. They have wide, terrified eyes and are screaming at you to run.
[[Before you can make heads or tails of this, you pass out.|escape]]</center>
<center><strong>You seek out the mysterious device, and press the secret switch.</strong>
(if: (history:) contains "switch press")[Since you've been here before, you just reach in to claim as many more of the rest of the coins as you possibly can. The entry hole is small and the stone won't give, so you pretty much just have to stick your arm in there and claw around as best you can. (set: $coins to $coins +(random: 2,25))(set: $personality to $personality -1)
When all is said and done, you walk away with $coins coins. You feel pretty satisfied with this outcome.
[[Return|main]]](else:)[At first, it seems like nothing is happening. Then there's a little rumble and the sound of small stones shifting, and a totally concealed little stone door (either: "reluctantly","slowly","suddenly","dustily","gratingly") pops open!
Once the scattered dust has cleared, you're astonished to discover that there is a cache of treasure hidden here! It's huge-- hidden away deep in this big, secret compartment, maybe meant to be stored for use thousands of years ago by someone else. Most of what you can see is piles and piles of gold coins! You're not sure you can carry them all-- or even reach them!
You dig inside, and grab as many as you can. When all is said and done, you walk away from this discovery with (set: $coins to $coins + 100))$coins coins. Not too shabby at all!
[[Pleased as punch, you head on back.|main]]]
</center>
<center><strong>Head to the center of the lake</strong>
Walking on the submerged path to the center of the crater lake makes you a little uncomfortable. It feels surreal, your each step lightly churning the otherwise still reflection with tiny ripples. Eventually you reach your destination.
Here there is a crescent-shaped island. There is a small podium protruding from the stone of the island. When you touch it, you are briefly blinded as it delivers a vision to you.
(either: "Images flicker across the surface of the lake, depicting a flickering figure whose visage is obscured. The figure is bound in the black branches of a tree, with blue flowers sprouting from their body like wounds.","You witness a marvel of some technical secret that has since been lost: images of an island that flies above the surface of the world like a ship, powered by energies you can only imagine. Yet it seems to you that this ship is in the middle of sinking, almost falling apart.","A deep cave is made known to you. In its depths, you foresee a... a battle? A figure wielding a sword, approaching a second, fainter figure. Wait, that's you!","A figure whose shape is flickering and changing appears in the waters. You see a halo of gold about their dark-skinned face. Then, the gold seems to flicker, turning to the darkness of night, and the figure's eyes turn almost feline.","You witness a cloaked figure, approaching a ferocious lion, and kneeling before it. But it looks to you as though the lion is about to attack...")
Then, the waters still, and try as you might, no other images come to you.
[[After taking some time to recover, you return.|main]] </center>
<center><strong>You row out to visit the mystery island</strong>
It's about three hours' trip from the mainland, but well worth it. Upon the island you find bounteous fruits, dangling from untended trees. The air smells sweet and you find yourself considering the value of building a home on the island for a moment or two.
(set: $count to $count +(random:3,10))Better to just enjoy yourself while you're here, you think. You take a bite of a (either: "round red","yellow and green","purplish black","spiny red","blue and orange","striped pink and yellow","pulpy white") fruit, and then feel a strange sense of magic upon you. Time itself seems almost to be stretching out...
You now have $count days until the end of your journey.
[[Eventually, when you've had your fill of the island, you head back.|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You continue to explore the forest maze!</strong>
You are being guided by the squirrel from before, in exchange for some of your jam. As you watch it go, the squirrel heads off towards the path that seems to be leading to a higher elevation. (if: $newgame is 1)[You sense a shuddering sensation deep in the ground.]
[[Look N]] | [[Go N]]
[[Look S]] | [[Go S]]
[[Look E]] | [[Go E]]
</center>
<center><strong>You peer deeper into the forest to the north from your vantage.</strong>
This path appears to be dropping down as it approaches the bank of a nearby brook. It's very close, you can hear the water burbling by.
[[Okay, let's continue.|Continue exploring the maze]]</center>
<center><strong>You decide to head North.</strong>
(if: $newgame is 0)[This path winds about, slowly descending to the nearby brook. As you near it the sound of water burbling by becomes a bit louder. There is no sign of your guide squirrel here, and after a while you conclude you must have made a wrong turn. You head back to the last place you were sure the squirrel knew where you are, and wait for the squirrel to return, hopefully.
[[Okay, next time you'll get it right|Continue exploring the maze]]](else:)[Another rumbling shakes the earth beneath your feet. This time the tremor is so fierce that a few younger trees nearby shake violently. At first, you had thought this must be seismic activity. Now you're not so sure...
[[Search for clues about the strange tremors|tremors1]]
[[Go back and ignore them|Continue exploring the maze]]]</center>
<center><strong>You peer deeper into the forest to the south from your vantage.</strong>
This path appears to be rising up as it passes out of sight, heading towards some kind of mountainous range.
[[Okay, let's continue.|Continue exploring the maze]]</center>
<center><strong>You decide to head South.</strong>
This path gradually rises as you continue along it, ascending towards a massive hill up ahead. You catch sight of your squirrel friend, dashing about up there. You wave to it when you finally catch up, and offer it a bit more jam as thanks.
This high up, you can actually see much of the forest where you just were. It's very pretty from up here, not dreary at all. The change in position is startling in its contrast of perspective, and makes you feel a little more at ease. At some points in the forest, you had felt a bit hopeless.
[[So where am I now?|final maze]]
</center>
<center><strong>You peer deeper into the forest to the east from your vantage.</strong>
This path appears to stay pretty level, carrying you through several patches of fruit bushes that are weighed down with tons of fresh berries.
[[Okay, let's continue.|Continue exploring the maze]]</center>
<center><strong>You decide to head East.</strong>
This path stays fairly level, carrying you through increasingly thick patches of brush and heavy blackberry brambles. When you finally break through to a clearing, you are covered in little scratches from the brambles and have sated your growing hunger with a few hastily picked, deliciously fresh blackberries. (set: $hp to $hp - 1) There is no sign of your guide squirrel here, and after a while you conclude you must have made a wrong turn. You head back to the last place you were sure the squirrel knew where you are, and wait for the squirrel to return, hopefully.
[[Okay, next time you'll get it right|Continue exploring the maze]]</center>
<center><strong>You wish for money!</strong> (set: $personality to $personality - 3)(set: $ghost to 1)
//It will be so,// intones the spirit. //Thank you again for your great service, adventurer.//
You feel your coin pouch becoming significantly heavier. (set: $coins + (random: (50,100))When you look, you see that you now have a total of $coins coins.
[[It's time to go home|main]]</center>
<center><strong>You wish to be hale!</strong> (set: $ghost to 1)
//It will be so,// intones the spirit. //Thank you again for your great service, adventurer.//
You feel all fatigue lift from your body. More than that, you feel a magical strength and endurance settling over your entire being. You feel healthier than you ever have in your life. (set: $hp + (random: (50,100))
[[It's time to go home|main]]</center>
<center><strong>You wish to live forever!</strong> (set: $ghost to 1)
//I cannot grant you immortality,// apologizes the spirit. //Only a pale shadow of that which you desire. It would drain all that is good from your persona, leaving you a shell of yourself.//
[[You insist that this would be fine|undead]]
[[You rethink your choice, and ask what else they can offer you|choice 3]]
</center>
<center><strong>You are undead!<strong>
//Very well,// sighs the spirit. She snaps her ghostly fingers, and disappears from sight. At first, you don't think that's all that weird. But then, very slowly, you come to realize that the reason the spirit seemed to disappear is because you seem to be moving at a drastically reduced rate of speed to the rest of the world around you.
In this way, you are trapped, moving so slowly that time races around you, the world painting endless pictures of beauty as its face arranges and re-arranges. There is a poignance and wonder to this gift, even if it is frightening in its infinity.
Even though you asked for this outcome, you lament over the loss of those things which you cherished. (if: $goat > 0)[Your (if: $goat < 2)[goat](else:)[goats].] Your life!
Once this choice was made, though, there was no undoing it. You are stuck solidly in place, aging so infinitesimally only because time is passing by, years like seconds, for you. Were you to be restored to your previous mortal state, you have no doubt you would become dust in an instant, since you died many, many years ago.
<strong>The End</strong>
[[Restart?|intro]]</center>
<center><strong>You ask what else the spirit can do for you.</strong>
//I can make you a really nice hat,// offers the spirit.
"A hat?" You hadn't really considered this as an option before, and aren't sure how you feel about it. The spirit shrugs, looking somewhat apologetic. "Will it be fancy?"
//Yes. It will look like this.// The spirit shows you a vision of a fabulous looking hat, fit for a pirate captain. She seems to be...embarrassed? It's hard to tell with spirits. //It used to belong to my wife.//
"Oh! Well, then I'd be honored. I accept."
//My thanks once more for the service you have done me,// says the ghost. //Now, finally, I can rest and be with her...//
The ghost fades from view, and that amazing hat materializes on your head. You are absolutely satisfied with this outcome. It's not immortality, sure, but it is pretty wonderful. And it's flashy, too! (set: $hat to 1)
[[NOW it's time to go home|main]]</center>
<center><strong>You feel as if this part of the forest has been lifted above the gloom of the rest.</strong>
A (either: "pleasant","gentle","softly howling","fragrant","playful") wind stirs the air here, sighing through the leaves of the trees.
Your squirrel friend chirps excitedly, gesturing to the path ahead of you. As you follow along, the trees grow increasingly close together, until you almost don't fit past them.
[[Press on|push through]]
</center>
<center><strong>Follow the Will-o-Wisp</strong>
The Will-o-Wisp never lingers for more than a few seconds at any point, as if it is willing to wait for you only so long as it takes to move safely. You follow it doggedly, trying to take careful steps and avoid getting injured as it circuitously wends its way through the cloying murk of the swamp.
You're tired, sweaty and out of breath when you finally catch sight of something else further ahead. The Will-o-wisp still won't hang back for very long, but it seems to slow as you get closer to this goal.
It looks like your destination is a worn-down, friendly little wooden hut, deep in the center of the bog.
[[Approach the hut|hut]]
[[Head back|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>Avoid the Will-o-wisp</strong>
Despite your situation, you decide that you'd better listen to the common folklore about Will-o-wisps. They're known to lure the unsuspecting to their deaths, after all, and you are pretty...okay, maybe you're rather suspecting, but that, you tell yourself, is why you are not following some mysterious glowing being of the bog.
You are so distracted by these thoughts that you accidentally trip on a root as you are picking your own path out of here, and twist your ankle badly. Ow! (set: $hp to $hp - (random:2,5))
[[Disgruntled and a little uneasy, you go home.|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>Enter the mysterious fortress</strong>
(if: $newgame is 0)[There's not much in here. It's dark, and seems empty. You feel a little uncomfortable, like maybe there's something...above you? But it's too hard to see in this cramped little front room. You're able to close the door behind you and sleep for the night, but even when morning comes there's not enough light to really see much of anything here.
Oh well, at least you feel a little better. You think you can probably shave a couple of days off of your return trip.
(set: $count to $count +1)You now have $count days left before your adventure is completed.
[[Return|main]]](else:)[(if: (history:) contains "faeries1")[(if: (history:) contains "down")[You return to visit your friends the faeries again. It seems like there's a big party going on!
(either: "Everybody is human sized, and there's music, drink, food, dance-- what a great time! You can tell the faeries are having a lot of fun with being tall-sized, and they greet you cheerfully.","Everybody seems to be alternating between human sized and faerie sized. That seems like a huge waste of magic, but you're not really an expert on magicky stuff. The faeries seem happy, anyway, so who could complain?","Everybody is faerie sized. They say they wanted to switch off today, and be normal sized again. Frankly, it blows your mind when you realize that for faeries, faerie-sized is normal and human-sized is giant. You wonder if they even know about actual giants. You wonder if actual giants think of themselves as normal. //They probably do.// Whooooaaaaa.","It looks like the order of the day is shape-shifting. Some of the faeries are still in their default fairy forms, but some of them have turned into birds, one is pretending to be a housecat, and two turned into matching alligators in top hats. ...never a dull moment with these folks.","The faeries are loudly cheering as they transform one of their number at a time from faerie-sized to human-sized, and bequeathing each new 'human' with a 'human name'. This makes for a pretty bizarre ritual. 'Bob!' shout the assembled faeries as one of their number becomes a tall, broad shouldered woman with a sheepish smile. 'Mike!' cheer the faeries as the next becomes a stout, sniffly woman with big thick arms. 'Jenn!' scream the faeries, as the third becomes a round woman with three eyes. You aren't sure why they seem so hung up on using literal nicknames as their new names. Or why they need human names?","The faeries are playing leapfrog. With actual frogs, which seems kind of dangerous for the frogs with the faeries at their new human size.","The faeries greet you happily and the motion for you to join them in laying upon the floor. Each faerie has their head laying upon another's stomach in an interlocking pattern. They put you somewhere in the middle, and explain that the nature of the game is to try to get everybody laughing by telling a funny joke. By the time it's technically your turn, everybody is already giggling in response to other people giggling, and you chuckle until your sides are sore. That is one heck of a party!")
[[You stick around and have fun, but eventually go home.|main]]](else:)[You head back upstairs to meet up with the faeries again. You're glad they haven't put back up the illusion once more, it's hard enough to get here without having to navigate the downstairs area in the dark.
When you re-enter the grand hall you come upon the fairies in a big circle, evidently in the midst of (either:"weaving flowers into each others' hair","threading a magical loom","playing a game of pin the tail on the donkey","having a tiny tea party","a rousing folk dance","telling scary stories","playing a game of charades").
You clear your throat awkwardly.
[["Oh! Hello again," says the leader fairy.|faeries1]]]](else:)[You set aside your doubts, and decide to trust in the strange structure before you, walking forward into pitch blackness.
As your eyes begin to adjust, you realize that there is a faint light coming from across the room, outlining a staircase. You follow it up to a second floor, where the ambient light is a bit brighter. Further in, you discover a grand hall full of people all talking and moving about as if they are attending a party.
Confused, you squint about at the assembled people in disbelief. How could so many people be here in the middle of nowhere with no sign of the approach to the fortress, nor place to stable their mounts while they're inside?
As you step into the center of the room, all eyes suddenly turn to you.
"Hail, stranger!" Chorus the gathered people.
(either: "Well, that's unsettling.","You are unnerved.","You gulp dramatically.","You take a step back subconsciously, feeling the urge to run.","This is definitely weird.")
[[You hail them back.|faeries1]]
[[You decide to slip out the way you came and worry about this some other day.|main]]]]
</center>
<center><strong>You call out into the gloom ahead.</strong>
You feel nervous about attempting to enter this strange fortress, and instead you call out, trying to make sure you are truly seeing what you seem to be seeing ahead of you.
The sound of your voice seems distant even to your own ears, and the longer you stand before the fortress, the further away everything seems to get. In short order, you pass out-- the harsh cold and your long exertions have taken their toll.
When you wake up, you are surprised and grateful to discover that some kind traveler has laid a blanket over you. The minor wounds and fatigue you'd acquired seem to have been healed through magic, as well, and when you check your coin pouch, it's heavier with coin than it used to be.
What...what was that?! (set: $hp to 15)(set: $coins to $coins + (random: 4,7))
[[You are shaken, and head back down the mountain for now.|main]]</center>
(set: $countdown to true)(set: $newgame to 1)
(set: $count to 75)(set: $mushrooms to 0)
<center><div style="color:green;"><strong>A Journey Begins</strong></div>
It's the beginning of a new day! You are preparing to go out and seek adventure, but first you need to collect some things to prepare. What time of day is it when you finish your preparations?
[[Barely dawn|dawn]]
[[Midmorning|midmorning]]
[[Midday|midday]]
[[Late afternoon|afternoon]]
[[It is night|night]]
(link-reveal: "<strong>What's the benefit of New Game + mode?</strong>")[
The primary difference between New Game + mode and the normal mode is that you start with 75 days left in your journey instead of 25.
The other difference is that certain events can only happen in a New Game + playthrough. They are not integral, but they are unique to the New Game + mode.]
</center>
<center><strong>You decide to look around for the source of these weird tremors.</strong>
For a while you just search aimlessly, not sure what all you could really do if you do find what you're looking for. You've all but given up on it when there's a loud crash from up ahead, and another quake knocks you off of your feet.
From where you land, you have a spectacular view of the source of all this weirdness, now: high above the forest, there's a floating island. It's so far above you can't quite make it out clearly among the clouds, but. It seems to you that there's shadowy spires indicating some kind of structure on top of that floating island.
How is this possible?! Why is it dropping chunks of island on the ground now?!! What should you do?!!!
After gaping at the sky for a few minutes, you pick yourself up, and dust yourself off. 'What should you do?' you ask yourself. Obviously, you should find a way up there.
(if: $jams > 0)[
[[Try to entice a Roc with your delicious jams|roc]]](if: $cloak > 0)[
[[Look for a trailing ladder or something|ladder]]](if: $crown >0)[
[[Look for a teleporter|teleporter]]]
[[Eh...you'll figure it out later.|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>Birch trees stand to either side of you as you pass through the doorway. Their silver bark shimmers in the (if: $time is "night")[star](else:)[sun]light.</strong>
Beyond the doorway, you feel a curious sensation of falling. When you instinctively reach out to try to catch yourself, you grab hold of a handful of dandelion seeds, and look about wildly. Somehow, you have found yourself in an isolated ring of birch trees, completely closed in on all sides. The air is thick with dandelion seeds, and the ground is littered with fallen blackberries, suggesting that the vines growing between the birch trees are the source.
At the center of this strange clearing, you see the shape of a stone altar. It is radiating a light sensation of pleasant chill that cuts through the building heat here, and as you approach, you wipe the sweat from your brow.
Words are carved into the surface of the altar:
//I am change, the passage of time
Promise of what is to come
I am turning, I am the r me
Of when the cycle is soon done//
Strange, are some of the letters missing? Still, you have a definitive sensation that your answer is required.
[[You answer, "Autumn."|autumn]]
[[You answer, "Rhythm."|nope]]
[[You answer, "Music."|nope]]
</center>
<center><strong>To either side of the doorway stand tall, proud oak trees. Their leaves are fiery colored, a sign of autumn.</strong>
As you step through the archway of these two trees, you find yourself looking out over a vast field of oaks. The playful wind is scattering red and orange leaves everywhere, the yellower ones still clinging determinedly to the branches above. You can't remember leaving the forest and arriving here, but as you wade out into the piled up leaves and across the field, you spot a small stone column at the center of this place.
It appears to be an altar. It seems to be whistling in the wind softly, and you can see that there are words carved into its surface:
//Picnickers set beneath my sight
And dreamers stayed up through the whole night
I am a beacon of restful play
But none enjoy my extended stay//
You have a definitive sensation that your answer is required.
[[You answer, "Sleep."|nope]]
[[You answer, "Aliens."|nope]]
[[You answer, "Summer."|summer]]
</center>
<center><strong>On your right and left stand proud cottonwood trees, their seed pods rattling on the wind.</strong>
As you pass through the archway, you hear the wind roaring to life across the whole forest, and a sound much like the crashing of ocean waves fills your ears. The sensation of the wind on your skin is pleasantly gentle, and for a moment you close your eyes, arms spread, just enjoying the sensation of being outdoors.
When you open your eyes, you are startled to find that you have been transported as if by magic to some strange, floating island, high above the forest. You are in the center of a ring of cottonwood trees, all growing too closely together for you to see beyond them. Their glimmering leaves flicker in the (if: $time is "night")[star](else:)[sun]light.
At the center of this place there is an altar. It feels almost as if you are being drawn toward it, and you can see text carved upon its surface:
//When I arrive there is a sound of applause
When I am not yet here, a heavy pause
When I am gone, the world seems bright
But when I arrive, it's rarely light//
You have a definitive sensation that your answer is required.
[[You answer, "a Dream."|nope]]
[[You answer, "the Rain."|rain]]
[[You answer, "a Storm."|nope]]
</center>
<center><strong>The stunted hickory trees flank this door, their fresh new leaves forever just on the cusp of budding more.</strong>
As you pass through the archway created by these small trees, the world seems to spin sickeningly about. You stumble, trying to keep your balance, and when things straighten out you find yourself standing in a light shower of gentle, spring rain. You don't seem to be in the same place you were; you cannot see past the ring of young hickory trees' numerous, crowding leaves. They seem to reach up into the sky, branches intertwined, drinking in the rain gratefully.
At the center of this place there is an altar, and it hums softly. You can see text carved upon its surface:
//The darkest times are known to me
My children sleep, while I am free
Beneath the Earth, may all rejoice
I celebrate that deathly choice//
You have a definitive sensation that your answer is required.
[[You answer, "Winter!"|winter]]
[[You answer, "Undeath!"|nope]]
[[You answer, "Necromancy!"|nope]]
</center>
<center><strong>To either side of the doorway stand massive eucalyptus trees, swaying in the wind.</strong>
As you walk through this door, you peer up, noting how the fluttering, thin leaves look like the wings of a fanciful bird. A peaceful sensation stirs within your heart, and the world seems to soar and shift, as if you had leapt up to a very high overhang.
You are standing upon the soil of a tiny, floating island. Ringed around you and this small patch of soil are more eucalyptus trees, tightly packed enough that you almost can't see the rest of the forest stretched out past them, and far far below you.
At the center of this place there is an altar, and it glows with text:
//I dance in time with every bird
I hide your tears and steal your words
There is no place I cannot go
No wonder sailors love me so//
You have a definitive sensation that your answer is required.
[[You answer, "the Rain."|nope]]
[[You answer, "the Sea."|nope]]
[[You answer, "the Wind."|wind]]
</center>
<center><strong>To either side of the doorway stand cherry trees, leafless and covered in moss, the bearers of winter.</strong>
As soon as you step forward through the archway of those two slumbering trees, you feel a curious sensation as of being cast forward through the sky. When you shake your head to clear it, you see that you are now standing within a fully enclosed space that seems neither to be quite a room, nor the place you witnessed through that strange forest path. You are standing inside of a ring of those same trees, all tightly packed together, and beyond them you catch glimpses of what looks like the rest of the forest, far, far below.
At the center of this place there is an altar, and it glows with text:
//I who march from year to year
Herald that which you hold dear
Zephyr blow and bring my kiss
Persephone rise, and give us this//
You have a definitive sensation that your answer is required.
[[You answer, "Time."|nope]]
[[You answer, "Spring."|spring]]
[[You answer, "Hope."|nope]]
</center>
<center><strong>You ask the squirrel to aid you once more, and show the correct path to travel.</strong>
The squirrel chitters anxiously, and circles around, clearly trying to determine which path is the right one for you. It's not that you can understand its communication, exactly, but you gradually come to realize that the squirrel cannot choose for you.
Crouching down, you apologize for asking the impossible of your companion, and thank it for helping you get this far. The squirrel chirps and seems to calm down. You can't be certain, but you think it understands. You hope so, anyway.
[[But that does leave the matter of which door to choose.|push through]]
</center>
<center><strong>You feel as if this part of the forest has been lifted above the gloom of the rest.</strong>
Each of the six doorways seems to be framed by a different type of tree.
The first door is ringed by a wall of birch trees, and their silver bark and pale gray-green leaves twinkle and shine under the (if: $time is "night")[starlight](else:)[sunlight].
The second doorway stands tall, with oak trees flanking its entryway. Up here seasons seem to have no meaning, because these trees appear to be caught in eternal fall, their leaves a brilliant, fiery display.
The third door is made up of cottonwood trees. Overhead their green leaves flicker, and their seed pods rattle in the continuous breath of the wind.
The fourth, least impressive of all that you see at first glance, is made up of shriveled little hickory trees. They are short for hickory, and look a little younger than the rest. You realize, after a moment, that like the eternal autumn of the oaks, these trees appear to be frozen in their infancy, the heralds of spring.
The fifth door is made up of tall and pungent eucalyptus trees, stretching up like multicolored fingers reaching for the heart of the sky. Their long thin leaves rustle and sing, whispering promising things if you listen, long enough.
Finally, the last door is made up of leafless trees whose bark is covered in soft moss. Beneath those trees lie red leaves, and discarded, pale pink flowers. They creak, and inspire an ache in your chest of sympathy. This door's guardians seem to be the bearers of winter.
[[Ask the squirrel to help you select the path|squirrel]]
[[First Door]] | [[Second Door]] | [[Third Door]]
[[Fourth Door]] | [[Fifth Door]] | [[Sixth Door]]
</center>
<center><strong>You are talking with the ghost of a pirate captain.</strong>
Her beloved swordswoman wife, whose ghost you laid to rest, had told you she moved on, but clearly...the swordswoman was misled. It feels to you as though there is a weird energy in the air, almost as though this moment has frozen in time.
"Who-- who are you?" You ask of the ghost. The question almost seems to put her in agony.
//"I'm-- I'm Captain."// It's like pulling teeth. She flinches as if in pain, screaming. //"Captain Allegra!"//
"No, no-- stop, please. What's hurting you? Am I hurting you? I want to help!"
//"Burn-- the tree-- the poisoned tree. My body-- desecrated by our rival. The tree was planted over me. You will know it."//
You can sense her strength is fading, but you're afraid you won't know what tree she means when you see it.
"Wait! Which tree? How will I know?"
Another scream rips through the air, and you feel yourself shivering in sympathy. No other sounds seem to be reaching you in this moment, as though all wind, all birds, all animals, all the rest of the world was still.
"//It is the only tree-- AAAA!! The only tree in the forest-- with blue flowers!"//
Then, finally, the ghost can take no more, and disappears into a more familiar form. To your horror, you recognize the strange ghost of the local legends. It seems to have forgotten itself, and the heavy presence of evil you felt is all but gone now. You're not sure if Captain Allegra was able to speak to you because of the hat her beloved bestowed upon you or for some other reason...but you know where to go.
[[Time to explore.|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>A massive tree with blackened bark stands in the thickest part of the forest.</strong>
You'd passed it by several times when you were traveling before. It was one of so many other landmarks to overcome, and nothing that really caught your eye.
Now you feel it, feeding off of the essence of the land it grows in, poisoning the earth itself. Its bark is warm to the touch, and sticky. When you pull your hand away, the yellowish residue smells almost like bile.
You must do something.
[[Set fire to the tree|fire]]
[[Climb the tree and pull down its flowers|flowers]]
</center>
<center><strong>You gather dried wood, tinder, and fallen branches from the trees surrounding this one, and create something like a funereal pyre.</strong>
You can sense the agony of Captain Allegra. (either: "From time to time, you see visions of her, screaming.", "Her voice seems to be on every gust of wind here, pleading for freedom.", "A sense of vertigo, lostness, and overwhelming pain overcomes you.")
No time to waste. As you use your camping supplies to light your fire, catching the tinder alight with flint and steel, clouds seem to roll in from everywhere in the sky, centering above you. They split open in a maelstrom of rage, thundering and casting rain that burns your skin at a touch down upon you.
You shield the flames with your body, denying the storm its purpose, until they are out of control, ripping through the black tree. You can hear Captain Allegra's startled voice calling out to her wife, you can even //feel// the moment the heavy weight in the air begins to lift.
You feel as though all of your energy has been drained from you, and slowly drop to your knees before the pyre as it burns, watching it faithfully until the clouds disperse and the remains of the tree begin to break apart, cracking and splintering, disappearing into the wind-- only ash-- and then, nothing.
It is a long time before you feel ready to return. You have much to think about. (set: $personality to $personality +3)
[[At least that is done.|main]]</center>
<center><strong>Ignoring the horrible, sticky sap, you slowly climb the tree. </strong>
It is difficult to reach its higher branches at first, but once you are there, you are able to see all of the blue flowers from your vantage.
There are seven of them. You wonder if there were ever more, or if not, what each one represents. (either: "You feel a strange sensation, as if almost compelled", "Captain Allegra's spirit appears before one of the flowers, trying to grab it and thrust it into her mouth.", "You feel your stomach growl, and look at the flowers again, wondering if your hunger is supernatural. You had never before considered this option, and yet...")
No time to waste. A terrible, odiferous ooze is seeping into your clothes and skin, and it burns at the touch. Continued exposure to the tree seems incredibly risky, but you do not allow yourself to look back.
With every ounce of determination, you crawl out to each flower. The first one you reach is bobbing lightly in the wind. You grab it with one hand, and shove its petals into your mouth, not sure if you should be following your instincts here or not. To your astonishment, the petals taste (either: "sweet","tangy","like apples","savory","delicious"), not acrid and disgusting as you'd feared. Taking heart, you repeat this action. The wind picks up as you eat each flower, as if trying to rip you from the branches of the tree, but you hang on tight until you have reached the final flower.
You eat the last flower's petals as well, and feel the change instantly as the air goes still, all signs of storm dispelled. You can hear Captain Allegra's startled voice calling out to her wife, you can even //feel// the moment the heavy weight in the air begins to lift.
You feel as though all of your energy has been drained from you, and crawl slowly down the tree. It is no longer covered in that mysterious, putrid sap, and partway down, it seems to you that the branches and trunk are rapidly petrifying into stone. You linger and stare at the bleak monolith of it until it shatters, suddenly, startling you. Every last speck of what the tree once was flutters to the ground, like so much dust.
It's gone.
It is a long time before you feel ready to return. You have much to think about. (set: $personality to $personality +3)
[[At least that is done.|main]]</center>
<center><strong>You try to answer the riddle, but as your answer becomes sound, you feel powerful winds swirling about you, and are carried away again.</strong>
You are cast back to the entrance to the forest, as if you had never started your journey.
But...was it all a dream?(set: $personality to $personality +1)
[[You aren't sure...|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You answer the riddle: "Spring!"</strong>
The glowing upon the altar brightens almost impossibly.
<div style="color:#0000cd;">When it fades again, you discover that it has been replaced with a mysterious cobalt key. </div>
The key is set with a diamond, and feels heavy in your hand.
(set: $key to $key + 1)(set: $season to "spring")
[[Return|main]]</center>
<center><strong>You venture inside the hut at the center of the swamp.</strong>
(if: (history:) contains "hut")[Yrma looks up as you enter her home once more, and smiles. Her wrinkled face is a welcome sight, full of good humor and probably some bad jokes.](else:)[You step inside of the hut cautiously, nervous that you may still be entering a trap. To your immense surprise, however, there is no monster waiting for you here...only a huge, muscular old woman, who looks up from her loom at the sound of you closing her door.
You awkwardly say hello.
"Oh!" she says. "Hello there! Have you been waiting around for very long?"
You explain that no, you just arrived, and apologize for intruding on her home. She laughs, and motions for you to have a seat.
"That's quite all right! I get customers at all hours, so you're more than welcome."
As you hesitantly sit down, accepting her suggestion, she does the same, leaning back in a wooden chair you suspect she made herself.
"Now, then. My name's Yrma; I take it you followed the wisp here?" At your nod, Yrma smiles toothily. "Good! That's what she's supposed to do, help me bring in the lost and get them unlost."]
She motions to a small shelf lined with potions. There are three distinct kinds, from the look of them.
"Now, I make just these things, if you're interested. The green ones make you feel better if you're hurtin', the black ones turn you into a dragon, and the sparkly bubbly ones prolong your life."
You nod, intrigued.
"Can I interest you in anything?"
[[A green potion]]
[[A black potion]]
[[A sparkly, bubbly potion]]
(if: (history:) contains "yrmayes1")[[[You ask Yrma about her other forms.|otherforms]]]
[[You thank Yrma and tell her you are going to head back for now|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You tell Yrma you would like to buy a green potion.</strong>
"That's just fine, my dear. If you have ten coins, I'll give you one."
<img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/b0af176099703e052d30a22b3505c5ec/tumblr_inline_o9gz3bfhib1qkc6mz_540.png">
(if: $coins >9)[(set: $gpotion to $gpotion +1)(set: $coins to $coins - 10)You let Yrma know that you do have enough coins, and make the trade. You set the green potion into your supplies, along with everything else.
"Is there anything else you'd like to pick up, while you're here?" Yrma asks.
[[Another green potion|A green potion]]
[[Actually, you'd also like a black potion|A black potion]]
[[Maybe you'd like one of those bubbly ones...|A sparkly, bubbly potion]]
[[You tell Yrma thank you, but right now you don't need anything else.|main]]](else:)[You don't have enough coins to buy the potion just now, and tell Yrma you will come back later.
[[Return|main]]]
</center>
<center><strong>You tell Yrma you would like to buy a black potion.</strong>
"That's just fine, my dear. If you have fifteen coins, I'll give you one."
<img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/502b39225758365083e85be7dcbe25f9/tumblr_inline_o9gz3anfhA1qkc6mz_540.png">
(if: $coins >14)[(set: $bpotion to $bpotion +1)(set: $coins to $coins -15)You let Yrma know that you do have enough coins, and make the trade. You set the black potion into your supplies, along with everything else.
"Is there anything else you'd like to pick up, while you're here?" Yrma asks.
[[Actually, you'd like a green potion|A green potion]]
[[Maybe another black potion|A black potion]]
[[You're considering getting one of those bubbly ones...|A sparkly, bubbly potion]]
[[You tell Yrma thank you, but right now you don't need anything else.|main]]](else:)[You don't have enough coins to buy the potion just now, and tell Yrma you will come back later.
[[Return|main]]]
</center>
<center><strong>You tell Yrma you would like to buy a green potion.</strong>
"That's just fine, my dear. If you have twenty coins, I'll give you one."
<img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/88e3d38aa079e2a1bcd62d62e03354b6/tumblr_inline_o9gz3bVt7g1qkc6mz_500.gif">
(if: $coins >19)[(set: $count to $count +(random: 4,10))(set: $coins to $coins -20)You let Yrma know that you do have enough coins, and make the trade. You quaff the bubbly potion immediately. (either:"It tickles going down.","Mm, shiny!","It tingles on your tongue, like pineapple.","It tastes surprisingly good.").
"Is there anything else you'd like to pick up, while you're here?" Yrma asks.
[[Actually, a green potion sounds good|A green potion]]
[[Maybe you'd also like a black potion|A black potion]]
[[Another of these.|A sparkly, bubbly potion]]
[[You tell Yrma thank you, but right now you don't need anything else.|main]]](else:)[You don't have enough coins to buy the potion just now, and tell Yrma you will come back later.
[[Return|main]]]
</center>
<center><strong>You answer the riddle: "Wind!"</strong>
The glowing upon the altar brightens almost impossibly.
<div style="color:#b0c4de;">When it fades again, you discover that it has been replaced with a mysterious, glass key.</div>
The key is set with two aquamarine stones, and feels almost as if it were woven from silk in your hand.
(set: $key to $key + 1)(set: $season to "spring equinox")
[[Return|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You answer the riddle: "Winter!"</strong>
The humming around the altar intensifies almost painfully. When it fades again, you watch the altar fade away.
<div style="color:#8b0000;">It has been replaced with a mysterious, silver key.</div>
The key is set with a single garnet, and feels cold in your hand.
(set: $key to $key + 1)(set: $season to "winter")
[[Return|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You answer the riddle: "Rain."</strong>
The sense of connection to the altar intensifies, pulling you down to your knees before it. When you look up from where you are now crouching, the altar has faded away.
<div style="color:#2f4f4f;">It has been replaced with a mysterious, pewter key.</div>
The key is set with a single pearl, and feels as if it constantly changes shape in your hand.
(set: $key to $key + 1)(set: $season to "fall equinox")
[[Return|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You answer the riddle: "Summer."</strong>
The whistling through the altar takes on a distinct melody. It sounds hauntingly familiar, but when it finishes its sequence, the altar cracks apart, shattering into a pile of small stones.
Amidst the rubble, you spot something shining.
<div style="color:#8b4513;">It appears to be a mysterious, wooden key. </div>
The key is set with a single emerald, and feels as if it is slowly sprouting leaves in your hand.
(set: $key to $key + 1)(set: $season to "summer")
[[Return|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You answer the riddle: "Autumn."</strong>
The pleasant chill seems to fade, and you watch in surprise as the altar melts away.
<div style="color:#a0522d;">It leaves behind, in the resultant puddle, a mysterious, copper key. </div>
The key is set with a single yellow topaz, and feels fragile in your hand.
(set: $key to $key + 1)(set: $season to "autumn")
[[Return|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>The Obsidian Door stands before you. </strong>
(if: $season is "winter")[<div style="color:#778899;">//You unlock it with your $season key.//</div>](if: $season is "spring")[<div style="color:#00fa9a;">//You unlock it with your $season key.//</div>](if: $season is "spring equinox")[<div style="color:#6b8e23;">//You unlock it with your $season key.//</div>](if: $season is "summer")[<div style="color:#daa520;">//You unlock it with your $season key.//</div>](if: $season is "autumn")[<div style="color: #ff6347;">//You unlock it with your $season key.//</div>](if: $season is "fall equinox")[<div style="color:#8b4513;">//You unlock it with your $season key.//</div>]
The key in your hand feels (if: $season is "winter")[astonishingly cold](if: $season is "fall equinox")[as though it is shattering](if: $season is "spring equinox")[like it has evaporated](if: $season is "autumn")[wrinkled and fleshy](if: $season is "summer")[brittle and dry](if: $season is "spring")[soft and smooth], almost as if it has transformed with its travels in your pocket. When you remove your hand from the door, there is no sign of the key or the lock any longer. There is only the door, slowly creaking open on a bizarre portal.
(set: $key to $key -1)The portal is (if: $season is "winter")[unsettlingly blank](if: $season is "fall equinox")[constantly shifting and changing](if: $season is "spring equinox")[sparking with electricity](if: $season is "summer")[looking out on a world sodden with rain](if: $season is "spring")[glimmering like a rainbow](if: $season is "autumn")[muted, but seems only to lead to the same valley where you currently stand].
You do not trust it, so you reach through with just your hand, lest you find the portal to be dangerous. As your fingers pass through the portal you feel it on your arm like a cool line of liquid, creeping up your skin. The other side of the portal is a mystery, but something bumps into your fingers. An...object!
You grab for it, catch hold, and pull your hand free, stumbling back.
It is a (if: $season is "winter")[music box](if: $season is "fall equinox")[flute](if: $season is "spring equinox")[kite](if: $season is "summer")[locket and its chain](if: $season is "spring")[vial of sunflower seeds](if: $season is "autumn")[scarf]. Wait, what?
You look back at the obsidian door, only to find that it has been closed. A massive crack crosses from its upper right corner to the lower left, and you get the distinct impression that this portal will not open again.
[[Return...|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You tell Yrma that she may have the (if: $season is "winter")[music box](if: $season is "fall equinox")[flute](if: $season is "spring equinox")[kite](if: $season is "summer")[locket and its chain](if: $season is "spring")[vial of sunflower seeds](if: $season is "autumn")[scarf] you found.</strong>
As you hand it over, you feel your perception of time and space shifting. Everything...seems different. You can see where every strand of choice will lead. It's (either: "freaky","exciting","alarming","kind of cool","intimidating","vast and abstract, like a deepwater fish","bizarre","scary","strange","confusing"). Yrma now seems to be a combination of the three forms you met: the old woman, the young, strong woman, and the lion.
She smiles at you.
"Thank you, traveler. You have done me a great service."
You nod awkwardly. You are a little overwhelmed at the moment!
"It is very rare that someone manages to help the Goddess of Fate. I hope I can help you in return."
Yrma reaches out to touch your shoulder, and you feel some kind of powerful energy pass through you. You're not sure what effect it has had, but it lets you look on the world normally again. (either: "That's better","Thank goodness","Whew, what a weird feeling","You're relieved","Aww")!
"You'll be seeing me again at the end of everything," Yrma promises, beginning to fade from view.
It doesn't seem like she's disappearing, more like it's becoming more difficult for you to notice her.
"Keep up the good work, traveler."
(set: $personality to $personality + 100)(set: $season to "nothing")[[You stumble back to your campsite, still reeling.|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You tell Yrma you'd like some clarification before you agree.</strong>
"The greatest adventure for both of us?" You suspect there's a catch to that particular word choice, but you're not sure entirely what it is.
Yrma lifts one hand, and presses a finger to her lips in the well-known sign for keeping quiet.
"Is it a secret?"
"I'm afraid so."
"...will you die?"
Yrma shakes her head.
"No, I can promise you no one will die."
[[You decide to say yes.|yrmayes1]]
[[You aren't sure yet and ask for more time to think.|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You ask this strange magical creature which items will best serve you on your quest.</strong>
"Well. I cannot say; I do not know what you desire. But I can tell you what some of those items will do."
This seems fine with you, so you agree.
"(either: "The jams can be used in many places. They can be used to lure companions out to help you, or earn coin from certain animals. They can be used to help you escape certain traps, or proceed in places you might not be able to go, otherwise.","The crown can be used to communicate with some ghosts. It is not the only item that allows you to interact with ghosts, but it is the easiest one to get.","The cloak will let you see through illusions. Seeing the truth can be difficult without it.","The book will let you speak to creatures you could not otherwise understand.","The crystal ball permits you to interact with some things you could not otherwise see. It lets you see visions when you are in a place where those visions are relevant.","The key takes shape based on what you decide to do. It can open the door to saving someone who is lost.","The sword is a memento of someone fallen. It will put someone to rest.","The hat is a gift from someone who needs to see the sword.","The ring is an important key for the gate of the flying island. You need it to get in there.","The mushrooms are a much-needed reagent for a magical spell. The thanks you might receive for finding them is not small at all!","Goats are simply a gift from a friend. They don't really mean anything or do anything except be adorable. And goatly.")"
You make a note of this information, then ask if there's any other items it might know about. The creature thinks about it for a moment.
[[More about items?|items]]
[[That's okay, time to head on back.|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You ask this strange magical creature what you should be on the lookout for in your quest.</strong>
"Well. I cannot say; I do not know what you plan to do. But I can tell you what some of the things you might want to find."
This seems fine with you, so you agree.
"(either: "There is a maze in the forest, which can lead you to either a floating island or a room of riddles.","There is a hut in the swamp.","There is a dragon who sells a few items.","There is an island where magical fruits grow.","There is a cave where a swordswoman's ghost lies in mourning. Be sure to bring her sword.","There is a lion hidden by the illusion of a wagon. It will not hurt you, do not flee.","There is a castle full of riches, but it is dangerous to stay there.","There are a lot of hilarious jokes in this game. I am absolutely unbiased, despite being written by the person who made this game....","There is a mage who will attack you. It is possible to befriend them instead.","There is an orc who will attack you. It is possible to befriend them instead.","There are all kinds of people to meet, but one of them will give you goats, because goats are adorable.","Some places you explore can be intentionally visited again after you've been there. This isn't true of every location.")"
You make a note of this information, then ask if there's any other notable things to watch for that the creature knows about. The creature thinks about it for a moment.
[[More about what to look for?|lookout]]
[[That's okay, time to head on back.|main]]
<center><strong>You ask this strange magical creature how to get extra time to complete your quest.</strong>
"(either: "If you complete a game, you can replay with more turns using the new game plus feature.","There is a sparkly, bubbly potion you can buy that will grant you a random amount of extra turns to play.","If you fail to enter certain locations, you will gain extra turns.","The fruits you can find on the island just off the coast will grant a random amount of extra turns to play when you eat them.")"
You make a note of this information, then ask if there's any other ways to do this that the creature knows about. The creature thinks about it for a moment.
[[More about extending your stay?|extratime]]
[[That's okay, time to head on back.|main]]
<center><strong>You decide to draw the orchids, since they are so rare and you have no way to preserve them if you take one.</strong>
It takes some time, and the lighting is only possible thanks to the continuous presence of the little green orb. It seems to bob happily just out of arm's reach, perhaps pleased to have shared this little wonder of its neck of the woods.
When you've finished your sketch, the orb even guides you along the rest of the way, back to a safe path so you can easily get home.(set: $personality to $personality +1)
[[Return|main]]</center>
<center><strong>You try to take a cutting of the orchids so you can bring them back.</strong>
You're not very well equipped to put such a plant in stasis, and when you try to take the cutting the green orb suddenly starts making sharp, angry noises, buzzing at you threateningly. It zaps you, and defensively begins chasing you off!
(set: $hp to 3)As you try to evade the green orb's furious zaps, it strikes you a few times before it seems satisfied to let you go. The trip home is an achingly slow and painful one. (set: $personality to $personality -1)
[[Return|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You drink your black potion! You have turned into a dragon! ROAR!</strong>
<img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/502b39225758365083e85be7dcbe25f9/tumblr_inline_o9gz3anfhA1qkc6mz_540.png">
You turn into a (either:"big","small","middle-sized","huge","tiny","two-headed","fire-breathing","scaley","fuzzy"), (either: "red and gold","blue and pink","black and brown","white and green","striped","yellow and blue","polka-dotted","rainbow colored","pastel colored","grey and black") dragon. Roar!
In this form you can sense the presence of another dragon. Sniff sniff. A dragon who is red and gold!
You (either: "stalk","swim","burrow","crawl","fly") about until you find the dragon you smelled, and then introduce yourself excitedly. Being a dragon makes you surprisingly sociable.
(if: $ring < 1)[Through a complicated explanation you manage to ask the dragon if they might be willing to part with anything from their hoard. Eagerly, they offer you a very finely woven ring made of copper, silver and gold. You accept it graciously, and then agree to a draconic race.
About halfway through the race, you transform back into a human from a dragon, and collapse from a few feet gliding above the ground. Weird! But you stuff the ring in your pocket for later, just in case. (set: $ring to $ring + 1)(set: $bpotion to $bpotion -1)](else:)[They challenge you to a draconic race, and you accept graciously. It's great fun, but about halfway through you transform back. It's just lucky you weren't very far above ground! The fall still gives you a bit of a sore lower back. (set: $bpotion to $bpotion -1)]
[[Return|main]]
</center>
<center><strong><div style="color:#008000;">You decide to drink a green potion to restore your health.</div></strong>(set: $gpotion to $gpotion -1)
<img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/b0af176099703e052d30a22b3505c5ec/tumblr_inline_o9gz3bfhib1qkc6mz_540.png">
(if: $hp < 15)[It tastes delicious! Not to mention you feel (either: "like you could dance on air", "scintillating", "ready for the world", "invincible","loads better","like you got a full night's sleep") now! (set: $hp to $hp + (random: 10,20))]
(else:)[It doesn't seem to make a very big difference overall, but it still tastes good. Kind of like...(either: "mango", "green tea", "raspberry soda", "apples", "strawberries and kiwi", "grape juice","mineral water","coconut milk","almond milk","fresh orange juice").]
You now have $hp health.
[[Return|main]]</center>
<center><strong>You decide to stay the night in the castle. </strong>
You are escorted to the guest room and bid goodnight by your guide, who retires shortly thereafter. With a yawn and a stretch, you climb into bed.
All is going well, until (either: "a distant scream echoes through the house.","you hear a sudden, terrifying noise from the next room over.","a crawling sensation runs up your spine.","you feel the distinct sensation of someone breathing near you.","a frightening sensation overwhelms you that you are paralyzed and cannot flee.","you become deeply drowsy, feeling a strange presence trying to enter your mind and control you.","a horrifying urge to scream takes root in your mind, but you cannot seem to make any sound.").
You bolt awake, trying to make sense of what just happened. Was it real? Or...
(if: (random:0,2) is 2)[As you try to make sense of it all, you become increasingly unsettled and agitated. You are unable to get back to sleep, and by the time morning comes, you want nothing to do with meeting the host.
You flee the wretched castle as fast as you can, in a terrible mood and even worse condition.(set: $hp to 3)
[[Return|main]]](else:)[Slowly, drowsily, you eventually manage to get back to sleep. You stir again later in the night to a feeling of being dragged down, as if you were being sucked into your very mattress, but you are too weak and tired to fight back.
With a single terrified scream, you pass from this realm into the next...
You are [[dead]]!]
</center>
<center><strong>You decide to explore the castle on your own, once you leave your guide behind.</strong>
Your guide cheerily escorts you to the guest room and retires, bidding you goodnight.
But you know what? Spooky o' clock is a little before your bedtime.
Once you're sure you're no longer being directly watched, you stealthily sneak from your room, tiptoeing around the castle. There's a lot of stuff here, a lot of highly noticeable things that would probably be missed if you stole them.
What stood out to you, though, when you were being led to the guest room, was a lounge. There, several stacks of coins are sitting out on the table, clearly still in process of being counted by the mysterious host you're not planning to meet.
You swing by the lounge on your way out and steal as many of those coins as you can in one swipe of your greedy little paws. Then, before anything weird can happen to you, you flee the castle immediately. (set: $coins to $coins +(random: 10,20))(set: $personality to $personality -1)
[[Return|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You are trapped!</strong>
(if: (history:) contains "danger1")[How...did this happen? You're stuck inside one of these houses. You feel like...maybe you were always stuck here?
[[Shout for help]]
[[Check the bed for clues|danger2]]
[[Check the kitchen for food]]
[[Test the window]](if: (history:) contains "Test the window")[
[[Test the door]]](if: (history:) contains "Test the door")[
[[Light the fireplace]]](if: (history:) contains "Light the fireplace")[
[[Use the coals to melt the window glass]]]](else:)[How...did this happen? You're stuck inside one of these houses. You feel like...maybe you were always stuck here?
[[Shout for help]]
[[Check the bed for clues]]
[[Check the kitchen for food]]
[[Test the window]](if: (history:) contains "Test the window")[
[[Test the door]]](if: (history:) contains "Test the door")[
[[Light the fireplace]]](if: (history:) contains "Light the fireplace")[
[[Use the coals to melt the window glass]]]]
</center>
<center><strong>You test the window. </strong>
It is filled with thick, strong glass. It feels just a little cloudy, so you can't really see anything clearly through it. Where are you? Are you even still in the small town?
[[You try to open the window with no luck.|escape]]
</center>
<center><strong>You test the door. </strong>
The door is not only not locked, it never had a lock or a handle. You don't know why there is a door in the first place, when this particular one looks like it is not designed to open.
You try pushing on it and kicking at it, but nothing seems to budge it even the slightest bit.
[[You stop just shy of hurting your foot.|escape]]
</center>
<center><strong>You decide to look at the fireplace in the kitchen. </strong>
You'd assumed the little stove-like area would not have any fuel in it, but when you open the stove proper you find plenty of charcoal, some accelerant, and several long matches.
It's a relatively simple matter to get things started, pouring the acrid accelerant upon the charcoal bricks. When you strike the match, the charcoal catches easily.
[[Shortly, you have a sustained flame in your unwanted kitchen.|escape]]
</center>
<center><strong>Using the coals you've heated up, you melt the window's glass.</strong>
It's weak enough now to kick out, so you do, knocking the glass away from the sill and climbing out as quickly as you dare. As soon as you step outside of the house, you feel a heavy weight on you is lifted.
Relieved, you let out a shaky sigh, and glance around to see if the other houses still make you uneasy. It feels to you like they are still dangerous, but you know how to escape them now, at least. (set: $personality to $personality +4)
[[For now, you just want to go home.|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You go to the door, then the window, and scream for help as much as you can. </strong>
You shout, scream, and curse your mystery captors, but there's no response from anything, not even inside the house. It's as if you made no sound at all, which isn't a comforting feeling.
[[Your throat is a little sore now.|escape]]
</center>
<center><strong>How long were you even out? How did this happen?</strong>
(if: (history:) contains "Check the bed for clues")[You check the bed again, just in case. Oh, it's...your favorite color, isn't it? Your favorite color was always gray.
Maybe you could stand to take a nap, after all. Just for a few minutes. Why are you so panicked, anyway?
[[Yawning, you lay down on the bed again to rest your eyes.|danger1]]](else:)[You check the bed for signs of other people here. (either: "A weird feeling of confusion begins to bother you. You feel like maybe this is really your bed and you've always lived here.","No signs of other habitation are present, and yet you can tell that the bed has been prepared for you, even with sheets in the colors you would pick.","There are some pieces of hair that are definitely not yours, but you can't tell if they are from someone who put you here, or someone else who used to be trapped here and is now missing.","The bed itself feels almost like it is pulling you back in, willing you to forget about your fears and just accept that you will never leave.","Something about the investigation makes you very on-edge. You feel like looking for clues is wasting valuable time.")
[[Shuddering, you decide to give the bed a wide berth for now.|escape]]]
</center>
<center><strong>You have a bad feeling about this. You check the kitchen for food.</strong>
It looks like there is very little food stocked in here-- only just enough for you to get through one day. You have a deeply uneasy feeling that this may restock tomorrow...but you're not interested in finding out.
The stove looks like it's never been used, some kind of woodburning thing that you're not sure you'd know how to work. Is there even fuel in there? Probably not...
[[Things look bleak|escape]]
</center>
<center>(if: (history:) contains "faeries2")[<strong>You greet the Fairy Leader and friends once more.</strong>
They are all still sitting in their circle, and while they still seem ready to bolt at a moment's notice, you get the impression that they're less scared of you than last time. That's a small relief.
You can't stop mentally punning though. You wonder what would happen if you sneezed and scared them by accident.
"Welcome back, Tall Person," says the lead faerie. "What can I do for you?"
(if: (history:) contains "skycastleend")[[[Show them the mushrooms you gathered from the Sky Castle|mushroomgive]]](else:)[You still haven't found those mushrooms that the Faerie Leader asked for, have you? They might be in the forest maze...]
[[Tell them you will come back later|main]]](else:)[<strong>You bravely return the greeting of the staring crowd.</strong>
They look amongst themselves and seem not to know how to respond to your response, which is even stranger than all the rest. Then, quite to your surprise, the whole room flickers to life. You can see magically lit torches set in every sconce, and in the new lighting, the people in the room suddenly look--
Much, much smaller.
The number of people is the same, but it looks like they're all tiny faeries. They cluster behind a faerie whose hair looks like it is probably the fanciest, almost as if they're hiding. Why...they are afraid of you!
"Tall person!" Shouts the lead faerie, pointing at you dramatically. You can tell she is a little scared, but she still acts tough for the sake of the others. You respect that. "What do you want of our Fair City?"
You shrug, and explain that you are an explorer. You just like to explore.
The lead faerie hesitates, her dragonfly wings beating a bit more slowly for a moment.
"Oh. Um. Well, do you have any questions for us then?"
[[Ask why they are cowering]]
[[Ask why they pretended to be human-sized]]
[[Ask why they opened the fortress to you]]
[[Tell them you will come back later|main]]]
</center>
<center><strong><div style="color:#483d8b;">You ask Yrma about why she is still here, instead of connected to her other forms.</div></strong>
She winks at you. "I'm still whole, don't you worry. But, I didn't want to leave you high and dry. I'm here to help you out while you are still on your journey. That's what friends are for, right?"
You smile back at her, and nod.
While you're still here, you could ask for something.
[[A green potion]]
[[A black potion|A black potion]]
[[One of those bubbly ones...|A sparkly, bubbly potion]]
[[You thank Irma, and let her know you are fine for now.|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You ask the faerie leader why all the faeries are hiding from you.</strong>
"Uh. Well...the thing is, you're super duper tall. Like, giant-sized."
Oh. When you think about it, that makes sense.
[[Ask why they pretended to be human-sized]]
[[Ask why they opened the fortress to you]]
[[That's enough questions for now.|faeries2]]
</center>
<center><strong>You ask the Faerie Leader why they all pretended to be human-sized.</strong>
"Well," says the faerie leader. "It's complicated. See, we used to be able to cast size-changing magics. So we could be tall like you whenever we needed to be! But, there were these mushrooms we used to make those magics, and they don't grow up here."
One of the other faeries nods emphatically, and flies out from behind the leader to add,
"Yeah, they only grow in the sky."
(if: (history:) contains "Go NW")[You remember seeing something in the forest a while back. Maybe in the maze? The mention of things that grow in the sky feels connected to all of this.
]
[[Ask why they are cowering]]
[[Ask why they opened the fortress to you]]
[[That's enough questions for now.|faeries2]]
</center>
<center><strong>You ask the leader faerie why they opened the fortress up to you if they're scared of you.</strong>
"We're not scared of you!" the lead faerie retorts.
Then, thinking better of it, she admits that actually, they are.
"But we opened the fortress because you looked like you were cold and tired. We thought you'd just rest downstairs and then leave in the morning."
Sheepishly, they all nod and agree with that statement. You suppose you can't blame them, there.
"Anyway, we didn't really have a plan for if you came up here. The illusion was the best we could do on short notice, and we kind of. Maybe panicked. ...a little."
You do your best to assure them that you won't hurt them and they have nothing to fear from you. You're not sure if they believe you.
[[Ask why they are cowering]]
[[Ask why they pretended to be human-sized]]
[[That's enough questions for now.|faeries2]]
</center>
<center><strong>The Faerie Leader looks at you thoughtfully.</strong>
Sensing that the danger has passed, the rest of the faeries are slowly coming out from behind their leader, arranging themselves into a circle. They talk softly, pretending to ignore you and their leader. (They're totally eavesdropping though.)
"I have a request, Tall Person. If you'd consider it. We...would very much like to be able to change size again. If you could bring us some of those mushrooms, maybe. If you chance upon them in your travels, that is. Would you consider giving them to us?"
Before you can even take a breath to start to think about answering, the Faerie Leader adds hastily,
"We'd pay you! We have human coins!"
(either:"You aren't totally committed to the idea. You tell them you'll think about it.","You agree enthusiastically. Faeries are adorable, but you want them to be comfortable too!")
[[In the meantime, they offer you a place to sleep for the moment, and then send you on your way.|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You show the faeries the mushrooms you collected from the Sky Castle.</strong>
They let out a collective squeal of excitement, rushing to grab the bag out of your hand. Cooing and chatting happily, most of them fly off to another room that can only reached through a back door of this hall, presumably to prepare to cast their embiggening spells to be human sized. (set: $mushrooms to $mushrooms -1)
The faerie leader stays though, and presents you with a small key.
"Thank you so much. You're pretty cool for a Tall Person. Uh...so this key goes in that chest downstairs. We keep all our human coins in there. Help yourself!"
Then, she excitedly flies off to join the rest.
[[Bemused, you head downstairs.|down]]
</center>
<center><strong>You use the key to unlock the treasure chest the faerie guided to you to.</strong>
Whoa, this is one ornate old looking chest! It's huge, even for a human, and inside are oodles of shiny things, not least of which are the gold coins. You know you were told you could take as many as you'd like, but you figure you'll just stick to what you can easily carry. (set: $coins to $coins + (random: 50,100))(set: $personality to $personality +1)
You now have $coins coins!
[[Return|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>Yrma motions for you to join her at a nearby pub.</strong>
(if: (history:) contains "barn")[The two of you return to the pub you were visiting before, and even manage to reclaim your window table as you settle down to share some drinks.
(if: (history:) contains "yrmadrinks")[(if: (history:) contains "lion")[(if: (history:) contains "hut")[[[You tell Yrma that you have now seen another of her forms.|yrmadrinks]]]]](else:)[
[[Ask Yrma about her travels|yrmatravels]]
[[Offer to tell her about your travels|itemstory]]
[[Let Yrma guide the conversation|yrmadrinks]]]](else:)[The two of you settle in for a few drinks at a table beside the window, where the two of you can talk in privacy. You comfortably lean back in your chair, and once the two of you have ordered your drinks, you ask what drew her to you.
"Well," Yrma says hesitantly. "It'll sound strange to you. That (if: $season is "winter")[music box](if: $season is "fall equinox")[flute](if: $season is "spring equinox")[kite](if: $season is "summer")[locket and its chain](if: $season is "spring")[vial of sunflower seeds](if: $season is "autumn")[scarf] seemed very familiar to me. When I saw it in your pack, I had this feeling like I'd known you for years."
You admit that that does sound pretty strange to you.
"Right? But, I couldn't help feeling we might be kindred spirits. I'll wander just about anywhere my feet take me. Judging from your travel dust, I'm not the only one."
[[Ask Yrma about her travels|yrmatravels]]
[[Offer to tell her about your travels|itemstory]]
[[Let Yrma guide the conversation|yrmadrinks]]]
</center>
<center><strong>You ask Yrma about where she's traveled, and what she's seen.</strong>
She laughs, brushing a tuft of hair back as she considers how to answer your question.
"(either: "Well, let's see. Have you ever been to the Queen's Ball in Southgate? It's about the best party I've ever had the honor to attend, dignitaries come from all over the world to participate. There's fireworks, dancing, music...","One place I've been to several times is Altea, across the sea. Beautiful place, with a lovely cultural heritage dating back thousands of years. They have some of the most intricate sculpture work I've ever seen, all carved straight from marble. They paint their roads in the most beautiful designs.","I once climbed a mountain on the far side of the world. It was the highest one I could see, stretching up above the clouds, but I wanted to know what was up there. I kept climbing until there weren't trees growing anymore, and looked down to see how far I'd come-- I was sure if I went any further, I'd have died. The view of the world stretched out beneath me felt as though I had taken flight, and I felt so at peace...","I went deep into the earth, where it's so much warmer you'd think there was a second sun down there. The lizards of the caves were my only light source and company, and I learned their songs while we wandered together. It was a place full of life, almost untouched by the rest of the world. They taught me their stories, and I gave them mine in gratitude.","I crossed the plains of Mianda, where whole cities are built to hover above the quaking ground. The grass buildings are as much powered by magic as the wind, but the people who lived there were probably the most kindhearted sorts I've ever encountered. They saved me from a particularly bad quake, I owe them my life.","I followed the trade routes of Ur down to the homeland of all elvenkind. They do not permit outsiders to live there, but I was allowed to visit for two weeks.","I've been to the eiderdown dales, where harpies and humankind live in harmony with one another. We hunted a rogue dragon together, and they let me buy a few of their blankets to use in my travels. There is nothing warmer than an eiderdown blanket, trust me.","I attended the festival of rebirth at the palace of prophets and sages, up in the north. It's a six day affair, with dancers, flag-twirlers. The whole city is constantly lit with song during the festival, and it was my honor to help pass the torch of the past to a runner who carried it forward to the prophets and the future.","I got shipwrecked once, not far out at sea. The only thing that saved me was a pod of dolphins. They helped me swim to shore. Once I was there, I was able to eventually build a raft and cross the bay back to the mainland. It was a dire sort of thing, but I came out okay. And I'm friends with dolphins for life! Not a bad trade.","Bandits ambushed me up in the slog between Ivhalla and Paszhe, where it gets boggy when it snows. It was so cold, I was able to escape by skating away on the frozen bog, and flee to the hills. I don't think they'd ever seen someone run so fast! But, in all honesty, Paszhe is beautiful, if a bit on the chilly side.","I got to ride in a glider plane that was headed west, once. The feeling of wind on your skin is glorious, but the height was not for me. Still, I don't regret the experience.")"
Yrma sighs wistfully, grinning. "(either:"It's really something.","You should try it sometime.","I think I would definitely go back.","There's something about it, I can't describe. But I enjoyed myself.","It was a great deal of fun.","Would that every adventure could be like that.","I'm sure you've done similar.")"
(if: $coins >2)[As the server brings around your drinks, you order some food too.](else:)[The server brings around your drinks. You hope that Yrma is buying, you can't afford much right now.]
"Well? What about you?"
[[Let Yrma ask you a question|yrmadrinks]]
[[Talk about your time in the forest maze|itemstory]]
[[Thank Yrma for the drinks and leave|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>Yrma looks curious about the (if: $season is "winter")[music box](if: $season is "fall equinox")[flute](if: $season is "spring equinox")[kite](if: $season is "summer")[locket and its chain](if: $season is "spring")[vial of sunflower seeds](if: $season is "autumn")[scarf].</strong>
You can tell that Yrma is preoccupied, even though she seems to be enjoying your company. After you've both sipped at your drinks in relative silence for a minute or two, she asks,
"...how did you come by that (if: $season is "winter")[music box](if: $season is "fall equinox")[flute](if: $season is "spring equinox")[kite](if: $season is "summer")[locket and its chain](if: $season is "spring")[vial of sunflower seeds](if: $season is "autumn")[scarf], anyway?"
You explain the whole experience, from start to finish. The maze, the altar, the key, the portal in the valley. None of this seems to surprise Yrma. She toasts your courage, though.
"That must have been something!"
[[Ask her about her adventures|yrmatravels]]
[[Take a sip of your drink|yrmadrinks]]
[[Thank her for the company, and retire for now|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You decide to let Yrma lead the conversation for a while.</strong>
(if: (history:) contains "itemstory")[After a pause, she asks you in a slightly more grave tone,
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but...have you met me before? In another form?"
(if: (history:) contains "hut")[(if: (history:) contains "lion")[Thinking on it, you put together the three forms as one person, and exclaim in startlement.
"Yes! I have. There was a lion, and an old woman in the swamp. But how are they connected to you?"
Yrma looks away, and then bows her head to you.
"I...once was the goddess of Fate. But I have been fragmented from my selves, these long years. I didn't know for sure they were even real. ...I can't reclaim them without getting something back, but it means a lot to me to know that they are out there. Thank you."
Troubled, you consider your options. Yrma has been very pleasant to you, if sometimes a little weird in her other forms. And this seems like a big deal.
[[Maybe you can help her?|yrmahelp]]](else:)[You mention that you have met an old woman named Yrma before. She lives in the swamp, and sells potions. She nods eagerly, but seems a little deflated when you don't mention anything else.
"There's another...somewhere on your adventures, you'll meet me, the other me. When you do, please come back here. I don't know why, but I feel that it's important." You nod in agreement, and promise you will.
[[For now, you finish your drinks together and part ways|main]]]](else:)[You try to think back to a time when you've met someone else that reminds you of Yrma, but nothing comes to mind. Just a bit you worry she'll be disappointed to hear that.
"That's all right, that's all right."
Yrma seems quite good natured about it, and her eyes seem to glimmer with promise. You wonder what she's thinking.
"Just keep me in mind if you do meet someone who reminds you of me, later on. Okay?"
You tell her you certainly will, and the two of you toast to that. It's still not the oddest thing anyone's ever asked you.
[[Ask Yrma about her own travels|yrmatravels]]
[[Let Yrma ask you another question|itemstory]]
[[Thank Yrma for spending time with you, but call it quits for tonight.|main]]]](else:)[As the two of you finish off your current drinks, Yrma orders some more, this time choosing a fruit juice concoction. You follow her lead, curious to see how this drink will taste.
"So, what's the strangest thing you've seen in your travels?"
You think hard on that. (either:"You decide that it would probably have to be the creepy small town that locked you in. You're not sure what the deal is with that place.","Is it wise to mention those weird faeries you met? You decide not to mention it and instead tell her about that one centaur who you ran into while they were in the middle of conducting a ceremony of communication with the worms in the earth there to check on how well their farm was doing. That was cool, but also still pretty weird.","You tell her that one of the weirder things you've encountered is dragons. They tend to be pretty wildly different from dragon to dragon. You're not sure how they can all be considered one species, but have been told this is just an aspect of the magic that dragons are composed of.","Of all the things you can think of, that one unicorn with the baby goblin it was taking care of is the strangest. You relate the story, with some minor edits to make it slightly less embarrassing to have to tell.","You tell her about this one time when you were briefly cursed to only be able to speak to cats, which was pretty great until you realized that you couldn't understand non-cat people anymore and had to go on a wild goose chase to find the hedge witch who'd cursed you and beg forgiveness.")
Yrma seems to love the story, anyway, which is nice.
[[Ask Yrma about her own travels|yrmatravels]]
[[Let Yrma ask you another question|itemstory]]
[[Thank Yrma for spending time with you, but call it quits for tonight.|main]]]
</center>
<center><strong>You consider what she has told you. Can Yrma really be the goddess of Fate?</strong>
You don't like to think of Yrma being stuck in her fragmented form for the rest of time. So you speak up.
"The (if: $season is "winter")[music box](if: $season is "fall equinox")[flute](if: $season is "spring equinox")[kite](if: $season is "summer")[locket and its chain](if: $season is "spring")[vial of sunflower seeds](if: $season is "autumn")[scarf] is yours, isn't it?"
Yrma nods gravely. You can sense that she would like to ask you for it, but feels that it would be rude to ask. Fortunately, you aren't bound by such compunctions.
"What would happen, if I gave it to you?"
Yrma smiles wryly. "The greatest adventure of all, for both of us. But if you do, it is a very...final decision. Are you sure you want to?"
[[You tell her, "Yes! I'm sure!"|yrmayes1]]
[[You ask her, "What do you mean?"|check]]]
</center>
<center><strong>You decide you'll find a teleporter. Surely something like that must be in the area?</strong>
This might seem like a long shot to some people, but you are pretty confident in the likelihood of your hunch being a good one. Here's why: you have traveled the land and found all kinds of evidence of ancient and magical civilizations with incredible engineering skill and aetherial talents.
A teleporter just. Seems like a logical option. They definitely invented teleporters. They invented all that other stuff! You just have to find it.
It takes a while, a lot of running around through the forest searching for likely markings somewhere, until you find a cave where there is an inexplicable copper panel in the center of the entrance. Sure, the copper has long-since become corroded with iron-oxide patina, but it is a perfectly circular metal panel that clanks ominously when you stand on it.
Next to the platform, there's even a switch you can kick!
[[No time like the present!|porterget]]
[[Absolutely not! How can you trust this ancient thing?!|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You try to lure a roc</strong>
First there's the matter of finding a Roc to try to lure. You spend probably about half a day scouting until you locate a giant nest, and by the time you've found the Roc, you're hungry, too.
With a sigh and a promise to yourself to finish luring the Roc later, you take out a jar of jam and some of your trail rations-- crackers, a magically sealed packet of fresh broccoli. The usual.
Just as you're getting settled in to your meal, however, you hear the sound of a massive //squawk// above you.
You just have time to look up before the Roc leans way way way down to stare at you with is big old Roc eye.
[[AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!|rocget]]
[[No time for screaming! The time for running is now!|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You're on a Roc!</strong>
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! AAAAAAHHHHHH! Oo, that's really pretty-- AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Rocs, being untamed creatures of majesty, are not the most reliable of mounts, but you manage (in between all the screaming) to toss it some of your jam. Lucky you, but apparently this magical beast likes fruit jams.
It carries you high into the air, and straight towards the flying island, beating its massive wings only every thirty seconds or so. The experience is exhilarating and terrifying. You are shaking and feel like you could take on the world.
At your request, the Roc aims toward that castle at the center of the island, slowly circling as you come in for a landing.
[[You land at the entrance to the Sky Castle.|skycastle]]
</center>
<center><strong>Hey, is this thing o--</strong>
<div style="color:#48d1cc;">//ZZARK//~!</div>
You stagger forward, then back, stumblingly trying to regain your balance and bearings. The sensation of being teleported was a little like throwing your guts into a blender. You almost lose your lunch, but manage to stop yourself, wheezing as you lean on a nearby, scraggly tree.
The counterpoint to the teleporter you used to get up here is still crackling with electricity, and catches fire to the surrounding brush while you're catching your breath. You stomp it out as best you can, shouting as you do so.
When it's finally been put out, you and the surrounding terrain are a smoking, sooty mess. At least the fire can't spread any further.
[[You wipe off your face and turn toward the entrance to the Sky Castle.|skycastle]]
</center>
<center><strong>THIS IDEA IS TERRIBLE, you tell yourself sternly.</strong>
Climbing up hand over hand is already hard on a normal sized ladder. Doubly so on a moving one. And here you are, with like probably a thousand handholds to go before you can rest, whipping winds jerking you about whimsically whenever they feel like it.
Years of your life are probably lost to this Herculanean task. It certainly leaves you exhausted, muscles cramping from all that work climbing for so long. When you reach the floating island it is with a ragged cheer of gratitude that there is, once more, land beneath your feet.
For a while you just lay under the sky, watching it change and shift, feeling the wind rustle your clothes and the skygrass around you.
[[After you catch your breath, then you can investigate.|skycastle]]
</center>
<center><strong>You'll find...a ladder? you...guess?</strong>
Okay, ladder. Not like a wooden ladder, or a metal ladder. You're thinking more like a very, very long rope ladder that's attached to the floating island, and you'll climb it. That makes sense, right?
Just as you're about to give your idea up for a better one, something smacks you in the shoulder. You grunt in pain and startlement, reflexively grabbing hold of the thing.
Is that-- a rope ladder?
You are yanked from your feet as you cling to the ladder with a death grip, screaming as the island's forward motion drags you through the forest. You're several feet above the forest floor, but if you let go right now, you could probably get away without too much injury.
[[You just won't look down!|ladderget]]
[[Discretion is the better part of valor!!!|main]]
</center>
<center><strong>You finally enter the Sky Castle.</strong>
This island feels incredibly preplanned, as though even the stones themselves were expressly chosen to be part of this grand experiment. There is in fact a whole layer of topsoil and earth in which silky yellow grasses and purple barked trees are growing, strangely colored but no less the stuff of worlds you are familiar with. The castle itself, though, yawns ahead like a great big amphitheatre.
Once, there must have been walls separating all the ruined rooms you can see. But now all is exposed to the sky, and you can tell the structural integrity of the place is fast diminishing.
Despite the interior damage, the exterior gate looks sturdy still, and stands between you and the wreckage. The gate itself has several doors, but many of them are blocked now by trees growing up against them, or by fallen stones from a ceiling long since left to fall apart.
One of the doors is not blocked, however. You can see a ring-shaped hold in its locking mechanism. Could this be the means by which you enter the castle proper?
(if: $ring is >0)[[[You take out the ring you acquired and try it.|skyindoors]]](else:)[You poke and prod at the thing, but you are pretty sure you do not have anything that will do the job. The local shops definitely didn't have anything like this, but. What about the red dragon? You recall something ring-like...Perhaps you could get it by taking on dragon form for a short while?
[[Return for now|main]]]
</center>
<center><strong>You unlock the door you found in the gate, and manage to shove it open with a solid push.</strong>
<img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/399c3424d9ba8fff0d90f5aa09226084/tumblr_inline_o9gzbo6gR41qkc6mz_540.png">
The rubble has obliterated everything that might have once identified who created this place, severe damage to the ceilings and exposure to the elements ultimately leaving only the basic shape of the building to suggest its original purpose.
Just as outside the fence, small signs of accumulated life, adapted to this particular climate and altitude, can be found growing everywhere. There is a type of blue lichen growing on the shadowy side of most walls, and tiny flowers sprout from the cracks in the stone.
As you pick your way through the rubble toward the central room of what once was a marvel of engineering, a shudder runs through the whole island. You get the impression that time is somewhat short, and you should hurry.
[[You head into the deepest parts of this once-massive castle.|skycastleend]]
</center>
<center><strong>You enter the recesses of the Sky Castle's now-empty main hall.</strong>
(if: (history:) contains "faeries2")[(set: $mushrooms to $mushrooms +1)Maybe the building itself is almost unrecognizeable in its advanced stages of erosion, but the life growing here matches the descriptions you were given //exactly//.
The mushrooms that the Faerie Leader asked you to collect are sprouting all over the place. A morbid part of you wonders if the dust where they grow might once have been the resting place of some of the sky-castle's residents, but you have no proof to show that this is so.
Using a spare cloth pouch, you collect as many of the mushrooms as you can. You don't get the impression that you'll be able to make a return trip to this place; it's beyond saving, at least with the tools you have available. The least you can do is try to get the faeries set for a while. Maybe they'll be able to cultivate more of these strange mushrooms if they have some of these new samples, too.
After wrapping your hands in linen kerchiefs so the fungi don't touch your skin directly, you manage to harvest (print: (random: 10,30)) of them before you decide to leave.
[[That's enough ponderous solitude. You want to get back to civilization now!|main]]](else:)[The damage is too significant for you to really have any idea what to do with what you've found. Is there a relic you could take to demonstrate the nature of the place? A plant you're sure can't be found anywhere else?
You can't figure it out without some guidance. You hate to leave, but you'll just have to come back if you ever locate some clues as to what should be done, here.
[[That's enough ponderous solitude! You want to get back to civilization now.|main]]]
</center>
<center><strong>You step past two exceptionally close trees, and find yourself in the middle of a clearing.</strong>
...wait. How did that happen?
You can kind of see the archway through which you passed to get here, but you're not sure you could go back that way. The squirrel urges you on.
You're standing in the center of a ring of trees, and it looks like there are six paths by which you might exit this place, each marked by a different species of tree.
(if: (history:) contains "First Door")[This time, though, you see that the entrances to each path have been sealed off, as if your previous choice were meant to be permanent.
[[Time to head back.|main]]](if: (history:) contains "Second Door")[This time, though, you see that the entrances to each path have been sealed off, as if your previous choice were meant to be permanent.
[[Time to head back.|main]]](if: (history:) contains "Third Door")[This time, though, you see that the entrances to each path have been sealed off, as if your previous choice were meant to be permanent.
[[Time to head back.|main]]](if: (history:) contains "Fourth Door")[This time, though, you see that the entrances to each path have been sealed off, as if your previous choice were meant to be permanent.
[[Time to head back.|main]]](if: (history:) contains "Fifth Door")[This time, though, you see that the entrances to each path have been sealed off, as if your previous choice were meant to be permanent.
[[Time to head back.|main]]](if: (history:) contains "Sixth Door")[This time, though, you see that the entrances to each path have been sealed off, as if your previous choice were meant to be permanent.
[[Time to head back.|main]]]
(else:)[[[Ask the squirrel to help you select the path|squirrel]]
[[Look at the doors]]
[[First Door]] | [[Second Door]] | [[Third Door]]
[[Fourth Door]] | [[Fifth Door]] | [[Sixth Door]]]
</center>
<center><strong>You wake up to find that you are still trapped. But...why were you so worried?</strong>
This is your home, isn't it? Yeah. You remember moving in. A while ago now...
(either: "You shake your head until your sight clears, gasping in surprise.","You lightly slap your cheeks with both hands, trying to jar yourself out of this stupor.","You pinch yourself, trying to shock yourself awake.","You curl your toes on both feet so tight that your ankles ache, trying to center yourself.","You whisper to yourself that that is a false memory, and not really a reflection of who you are.")
[[You have to get out of here!!|escape]]
</center>
<center><strong>How long have you been living here? What an exhausting day...</strong>
You check the bed again. It's almost impossible not to feel sleepy just thinking about laying down in such a comfortable, soft, inviting bed.
Your head hurts.
(either: "A brief, unsettling vision of a room with black walls and a black, pulsating flower with ichor-coated stamen flickers through your mind. Wait, was that...what's real, here?","You can still smell that sweet, cloying baking pie smell. It feels different though, like it's not really quite the smell of baking pies. Almost like your mind supplied the scent.","There's something weird about the floor. It feels...slippery. And soft, and yielding. More like flesh than stone.","There's a strange taste in the back of your throat, like you've been breathing in smoke or something. It makes your throat dry and scratchy.","You feel like you can almost hear a deep, distant, thudding heartbeat. It pulses three times, and then is silent. ....three pulses. Silence. ...it's just your own heartbeat, right?","The sensation of being watched from before returns with a vengeance, giving you chills so bad goosebumps start standing out on your skin in protest.")
Oh, but your head really, really //hurts//. Maybe you'll just lie down for a minute until you feel better.
[[Yawning, you lay down on the bed again to rest your eyes.|danger3]]
[[No! You HAVE to get out of here!|escape]]
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<center><strong>You lay back down upon the bed, and close your eyes, willing the headache away.</strong>
This time, the creature doesn't bother dosing you with more of the strange toxins that have been clouding your mind. You are slightly aware, though too weak from captivity to fight it, of the house-sized beast rising up from where it had been resting amidst the town. Ichor-coated tendrils of the plant begin growing about your body, wrapping you up like a spider might wrap a prize in their web.
When it's done with you, it casts your body aside, into a pile of other dessicated husks you now realize are the remains of this creature's previous victims.
Dizzy and intoxicated with the plant's poisonous spores, you slowly pass out, desperately willing yourself to struggle free. It's too little, too late.
[[This time, you don't wake up.|dead]]
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