Sugarcane

Following the old cristaur's advice, you turn away from the crowd and head home. You are greeted by your parents and many siblings, who ask where Cylan is. You stay silent and help prepare the daily meal. Cylan's bowl remains empty.\n\nLater that day, you learn that the protest at the district gates turned into a massacre, as the escalating tensions caused the syluti to take over the more outspoken protesters and use them to kill the others. Cylan does not return. The district is torn over how to react: some are convinced the act demands a full-out rebellion, whereas others are worried by the syluti's growing use of violence and caution against any further provocation. You hear a few days later that the cristaur mother jumped from the city walls.\n\nYou continue to keep your head down, as the old cristaur advised, and wonder when you'll finally have your first syluti take-over.\n\n\nThe End

[Syluti]\nNo. I would not be stupid enough to do so nor be stupid enough to stand before you had I done so.\n\n[[Who are you?|whoyou]]\n[[Do you know about the murders?|murders]]\n[[The one who killed those young must be brought to justice.|just]]\n[[You must do something. This crowd is getting out of control.|crowd]]\n[[Hand over the murderer now!|demand]]\n[[End the control! (attack)|attack]]

[Cylan]\nYou...refused a syluti? Do you realize what you've just done? No one has ever resisted!\n\nBefore the two of you can sort out what that means, you notice the possessed cristaurs have all turned towards you. From the other side of the gate the syluti watches you, its narrowed eyes even narrower.\n\n[Cylan]\nThey know it was you. You have to get out of here! Go!\n\nYou run. As you weave through the streets of the cristaur district, Cylan's words echo in your thoughts.\n\nYou are the first to resist.\n\n\nThe End

[Cylan]\nThe syluti make our lives miserable and force us to do things for their own entertainment, but never this. This is too far. They have to pay. We have to make them pay.\n\n[[We should bring this to the syluti. They're the ones who can bring justice to one of their own|ignore]]\n[[This is a crime. The syluti can't ignore this.|ignore]]\n[[The only way we're getting justice is if we take it!|takeit]]

[Old Cristaur]\nYou can go on your way and forget about this. Hope it doesn't happen to you. That's the best any of us can do.\n\n[[What happened here?|here]]\n[[Do you know her?|her]]\n[[Isn't anyone going to do anything?|do]]\n[[Goodbye.|bye]]

[Syluti]\nIt was an unfortunate accident by a foolish youth. They will be dealt with according to our standards.\n\nAt this, the mob's cries grow louder. Above the shouting you can hear the young cristaur.\n\n[Young Cristaur]\nAn accident? Murder for entertainment! They will not punish one of their own! Death deserves death!\n\n[Syluti]\nDo you punish a child for wrecking its toys? For killing a pet? The act is cruel, yes, but it is not murder.\n\n[[You must do something. This crowd is getting out of control.|crowd]]\n[[You are as guilty as the one who did it. (attack - throw rock)|throw]]\n[[(attack - lunge)|attack]]

[Cylan]\nHow do you fight someone who can possess you at will - who can possess any of us at will? Mama says we've tried several times over the years, but they always turn our own people against us. I think we just haven't tried hard enough. One day we'll break free of them.\n\n[[Don't we have magic?|magic]]\n[[Why do the syluti possess us?|possess]]\n[[Who are the syluti?|who]]\n[[Why do you think it was the syluti?|why]]\n[[I hope they're not causing trouble again. There's enough tension in the distrct.|district]]\n[[You don't know it was them.|them]]

The voice is calm and comforting. You let go and slip away. The last thing you vaguely see is Cylan. He looks concerned, maybe even more than that.\n\n[A Voice]\nIt's okay. Shhh.\n\nEverything goes black.\n\n\nYou wake up. It seems quiet. There is a heavy weight on your chest.\n\n[[Stand up|end2]]

This game is just a snippet of what would be a full-length game. The characters, location, and creatures were all created by me. This story is a small side affair of a much larger fantasy novel-in-progress.\n\nBe sure to visit my page: annieyam.wordpress.com for more!\n\nThanks for playing!\n-Annie\n\n\n[[Begin|begin]]

You push the weight off of you and discover that it is another cristaur - one of the protestors. Its vacant eyes stare at you as a fly lands on them. As you struggle to your feet, you see bodies scattered all over the place. None are moving. The gate is still standing, but the guards and syluti are gone. You look down at your hands and discover they are covered in blood. You are about to call for Cylan when you see him - lying close to the gate, where you last remember seeing him. His head crest is bloody and - upon closer inspection - smashed open.\n\nWhat have you done?\n\n\nThe End

[Syluti]\nMy name is Lacion, and my position and importance are far above you. That is all you need to know.\n\n[[Do you know about the murders?|murders]]\n[[Are you the one who forced the mother to kill her young?|forced]]\n[[The one who killed those young must be brought to justice.|just]]\n[[You must do something. This crowd is getting out of control.|crowd]]\n[[Hand over the murderer now!|demand]]\n[[End the control! (attack)|attack]]

[Old Cristaur]\nGood luck, then.\n\nThe old cristaur sighs and shakes his head before walking back towards his home.\n\n[[Go to the district gates|nextplease]]

You shake your head. The voice speaks again, more insistent this time.\n\n[A Voice]\nIt's okay, shhh. Let it go.\n\nYou shake your head again. Things come slightly back into focus - you can see Cylan, his face much closer to yours than it was a few moments ago. You feel something in your hands.\n\n[A Voice]\nCrush it.\n\nYou feel your hands tense up and tighten.\n\n[Cylan]\nDon't do this, Drinan! Please!\n\n[[(Crush it)|rest]]\n[[(Fight it)|fight2]]\n

You and Cylan reach the fountain in the central area of the district. The fountain is a gathering place for socializing and under-the-table deals when syluti-controlled cristaur guards aren't around. There doesn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary, until you notice a small crowd gathered around a nearby hut.\n\n[Cylan]\nWhat's going on over there?\n\n[[Investigate]]

[Cylan]\nGood idea. It sounded like it was coming from the fountain area.\n\n[[Find the source of the scream|find]]

The cristaur district - more a filthy containment area than a true city district - is the only place you and your kind can call home. The tall, glimmering spire of the syluti palace is always on the horizon, a constant reminder of both the opulence of your masters and the lifelong servitude of your people.\n\nYou hear a defeaning SCREAM from somewhere in the district. Others on the street turn to stare in the direction of the sound, but no one moves. Your brother, Cylan, runs up beside you.\n\n[Cylan]\nDrinan! Did you hear that?\n\n[[I'm pretty sure the whole district heard that!|that]]\n[[It sounded like a scream.|scream]]\n[[I didn't hear anything.|anything]]

A syluti approaches the gate from the other side. It is a tall, thin creature, much taller than the personal cristaur bodyguards escorting it. While its body appears frail, its massive head is protected by a tough outer shell. Patterned markings on the polished shell give the creature an opulence that seems out of place in the rundown district.\n\nThe syluti stops several feet from the gate. It stands there for several minutes, silently watching the protesting cristaurs.\n\n[[Talk to the syluti|youtalk]]\n[[Attack the syluti|attack]]

You approach the gate. With a subtle turn of its head, the syluti looks at you, its narrowed eyes singling you out. The mob notices.\n\n[Mob]\nSmash him!\n\nThe syluti keeps its gaze fixed on you.\n\n[Syluti]\nStand back.\n\n[[Who are you?|whoyou]]\n[[Do you know about the murders?|murders]]\n[[Are you the one who forced the mother to kill her young?|forced]]\n[[The one who killed those young must be brought to justice.|just]]\n[[You must do something. This crowd is getting out of control.|crowd]]\n[[Hand over the murderer now!|demand]]\n[[End the control! (attack)|attack]]

[Old Cristaur]\nWhat could I do? It's a punishable crime to interfere with a taken over cristaur. And she definitely wasn't herself.\n\n[[Do you know her?|her]]\n[[Isn't anyone going to do anything?|do]]\n[[Can I help?|help]]\n[[Goodbye.|bye]]

[Cylan]\n(snorts) Why wouldn't they?\n\n[[Maybe we should go find out.|out]]\n[[Let's go find out so I can prove you wrong.|wrong]]

You gently touch her shoulder. She flinches and leans away from you, but doesn't look up. You ask her what happened. The mother doesn't seem to hear you. She rocks back and forth cradling her child, every few moments letting out a renewed wail. You back away.\n\nAn old cristaur standing nearby motions you to come over.\n\n[[Talk to the old cristaur|talk]]

[Cylan]\nYou would know if you had. You feel like you're slipping away, like you're falling asleep and can't stay awake no matter what you do. And it can happen to anyone, at anytime, anywhere. Our lives are never our own.\n\n[[Why don't we fight back?|back]]\n[[Don't we have magic?|magic]]\n[[Why do you think it was the syluti?|why]]\n[[I hope they're not causing trouble again. There's enough tension in the distrct.|district]]\n[[You don't know it was them.|them]]

You pick up a rock and lob it at the syluti, aiming for its shiny, porcelain head. One of the bodyguards raises its shield, and there's a thud as the rock impacts with it instead. The syluti doesn't flinch.\n\n[Syluti]\nArrest them. Arrest them all.\n\nThe guards respond instantly, grabbing on to the nearest protestor. Several cristaurs climb atop the nearby roofs and throw stones at the guards, trying to distract them long enough for the others to scramble away. With the guards distracted, the crowd pushes back against them, driving them up against the gate.\n\n[Young Cristaur]\nBreak down the gate! Bring it down!\n\nThe mob rushes the gate, overwhelming the guards in their way. The gate rocks back and forth, barely holding back the mob. The guards on the other side of the gate press themselves against the gate, trying to keep it shut.\n\n[Cylan]\nCome on! We have to help!\n\n[[No! This is getting out of hand!|hand]]\n[[We'll tear it down!|tear]]

[Old Cristaur]\nThat's terrible! She's the victim here, just as much as her young. You obviously have never felt the shame of being taken over by those monsters. I'm done talking to you.\n\n[[Goodbye.|bye]]

You lunge at the syluti, but the wall of guards easily pushes you to the ground. The syluti simply watches you fall, unfazed by your attempt.\n\n[Syluti]\nRemember that you charged first.\n\nThe guards push back against the crowd, shoving the cristaurs closest to them to the ground. Several cristaurs climb atop the nearby roofs and throw stones at the guards, trying to distract them long enough for the others to scramble away. With the guards distracted, the crowd pushes back against them, driving them up against the gate.\n\n[Young Cristaur]\nBreak down the gate! Bring it down!\n\nThe mob rushes the gate, overwhelming the guards in their way. The gate rocks back and forth, barely holding back the mob. The guards on the other side of the gate press themselves against the gate, trying to keep it shut.\n\nCylan rushes over to help you up. As you stand, there is a startling cry. You both look up just in time to see the young cristaur push another protestor off the roof. All around you the protestors are turning on each other – those with glowing white eyes and those not possessed.\n\n[Cylan]\nThis can't happen!\n\nAs Cylan speaks, you hear another voice. It is quieter, almost like a whisper in your ear.\n\n[A Voice]\nShh, go away now. Take a rest. It'll be fine...\n\nYou can barely see Cylan. Everything - the guards, the protestors, the syluti - are nothing more than blurry colors. Everything sounds muted, removed.\n\n[[(Take a rest)|rest]]\n[[(Fight it)|fight]]\n

[Cylan]\nWhat, ask them to please listen to our sad story? Ask them to help us? We will be ignored and rejected, as we always have been!\n\nYou can hear the young cristaur who had incited the crowd earlier shouting at the cristaur guards. She stands atop another roof, leading the mob's cries.\n\n[Young Cristaur]\nJustice for our people! End the control!\n\n[Mob]\nEnd the control!\n\n[Cylan]\nEnd the control!\n\n[[(shout at the top of your lungs) End the control!|appear]]\n[[(say quietly) End the control!|appear]]\n[[(say nothing)|appear]]

You follow the sound of the crowd to the district gates. The crowd has grown much larger by now, as more cristaurs took up the cause. The tall, iron gates are barred shut - defended on either side by a wall of cristaur guards. Their eyes glow white, indicating syluti control. Despite their own people crying for justice in their face, the guards remain stoic and at a standstill. You see your brother near the front and push your way to join him.\n\n[Cylan]\nDo you feel it, Drinan? We are rising! No more will we tolerate this oppression!\n\n[[This isn't the way, Cylan. We can't threaten the syluti - not while they control us. There has to be something else we can do.|way]]\n[[It is our time, brother!|time]]\n[[Don't be stupid! We have to get out of here!|stupid]]

Snooty Syluti

After talking to the old cristaur, you notice Cylan is shaking and breathing heavily. His gaze is fixed on the weeping mother.\n\n[[Talk|onward]]

[Old Cristaur]\nWhat can be done? Should she be punished for committing a crime she had no knowledge she was doing? Even if we could find the syluti responsible, we'd never be able to get justice. It's just the way things are.\n\n[[Maybe she should be arrested then.|arrest]]\n[[What happened here?|here]]\n[[Do you know her?|her]]\n[[Can I help?|help]]\n[[Goodbye.|bye]]

[Cylan]\nReally? Who else could it be?\n\n[[Maybe we should go find out.|out]]\n[[Let's go find out so I can prove you wrong.|wrong]]

[Cylan]\nYou're right. Damn syluti.\n\n[[I hope they're not causing trouble again. There's enough tension in the distrct.|district]]\n[[You don't know it was them.|them]]\n[[Who are the syluti?|who]]\n[[Why do you think it was the syluti?|why]]

You shake your head again. Focus.\n\n[A Voice]\nWhat are you doing?!\n\nYou break free. The voice and its soothing presence vanish, and your senses return immediately. You look down and see Cylan pinned to the ground beneath you - your hands on his head crest. You help him up.\n\n[Cylan]\nDrinan? Are you there? Did the syluti let you go?\n\n[[It's me. I just said...no.|end3]]\n[[My eyes aren't glowing, are they? No syluti can take me!|end3]]\n

[Cylan]\nMama wasn't kidding when she said you don't pay attention to her lessons. The syluti have been controlling us since, well, forever. They use their magic to possess us. They walk around with their big shelled heads, hiding behind their walls and using our own people as their personal bodyguards. You haven't been taken over yet, have you?\n\n[[No. I heard it's terrible, though.|though]]\n[[I don't think so.|though]]\n[[Maybe I have, maybe I haven't.|though]]

[Old Cristaur]\nThe poor thing. I was on my usual morning walk passing by this way. One moment she was fussing over her young, trying to get them to sit still. Then I just heard screaming. Lots of little screams. And then I saw her bash the little ones against the walls.\n\n[[And you didn't do anything?|youno]]\n[[Do you know her?|her]]\n[[Isn't anyone going to do anything?|do]]\n[[Can I help?|help]]\n[[Goodbye.|bye]]

Cylan ignores you and rushes to help the mob. You hang back, not letting your brother out of your sight. You watch as the gate begins to give, urged on by the cristaurs on the rooftops. There is a startling cry - you look up just in time to see the young cristaur push another protestor off the roof. Her eyes glow white.\n\nAll around you the protestors are turning on each other - those with glowing white eyes and those not possessed. A nearby protestor charges at you, his head crest aimed at your gut. Cylan tackles the possessed cristaur before he reaches you.\n\n[Cylan]\nThis can't happen!\n\nAs Cylan speaks, you hear another voice. It is quieter, almost like a whisper in your ear.\n\n[A Voice]\nShh, go away now. Take a rest. It'll be fine...\n\nYou can barely see Cylan. Everything - the guards, the protestors, the syluti - are nothing more than blurry colors. Everything sounds muted, removed.\n\n[[(Take a rest)|rest]]\n[[(Fight it)|fight]]

[Cylan]\nHah! Need to prove yourself? Fine. It sounded like it was coming from the fountain area.\n\n[[Find the source of the scream|find]]

[Syluti]\nYou do not demand from us. You have no right to anything beyond your foul district.\n\n[[The one who killed those young must be brought to justice.|just]]\n[[You must do something. This crowd is getting out of control.|crowd]]\n[[You are as guilty as the one who did it. (attack - throw rock)|throw]]\n[[(attack - lunge)|attack]]\n

[Syluti]\nYou are easily impressed. Typical.\n\n[[Who are you?|whoyou]]\n[[Are you the one who forced the mother to kill her young?|forced]]\n[[The one who killed those young must be brought to justice.|just]]\n[[You must do something. This crowd is getting out of control.|crowd]]\n[[Hand over the murderer now!|demand]]\n[[End the control! (attack)|attack]]

[Cylan]\nExactly!\n\nThe growing crowd around you hears Cylan and grumbles their agreement. A young cristaur climbs atop a nearby roof and addresses the crowd.\n\n[Young Cristaur]\nBrothers! Sisters! We will not let this go! We will go to the syluti and demand justice!\n\nThe cristaurs around you bellow in agreement. Several bash their head crests against each other's. The mob departs for the district gates - the divide between the cristaur district and the rest of the city. Cylan motions for you to follow before running after them.\n\nThe old cristaur approaches you.\n\n[Old Cristaur]\nDon't join them, young one. No good has ever come from hot heads. Go home, and keep your head down, and this will eventually pass.\n\n[[My brother is with them, so I have to go.|go]]\n[[We have to at least try.|go]]\n[[You don't get it, old one. You can hide while we actually do something!|go]]\n[[That sounds like a good idea.|end1]]

[Cylan]\nThe syluti use their magic to take control of us whenever they want. Once we're taken over, we can be forced to do anything. ANYTHING - and we'll have no memory of it. What do you think the syluti do when they're bored?\n\n[[Why don't we fight back?|back]]\n[[Don't we have magic?|magic]]\n[[Why do the syluti possess us?|possess]]\n[[I hope they're not causing trouble again. There's enough tension in the distrct.|district]]\n[[You don't know it was them.|them]]

[Cylan]\nBecause they can. I don't know. Papa says at first we let them, but I can't see how that's true. We are stronger than them, which is why we usually serve as their bodyguards. It's disgusting.\n\n[[Why don't we fight back?|back]]\n[[Don't we have magic?|magic]]\n[[Who are the syluti?|who]]\n[[Why do you think it was the syluti?|why]]\n[[I hope they're not causing trouble again. There's enough tension in the distrct.|district]]\n[[You don't know it was them.|them]]

[Cylan]\nNo, we don't. Legends say we are all the gods' children, and the world was created for us as a gift. Their favorite children were also granted magic: the faeries, merpeople, and syluti. Only the syluti remain, though - the faeries and merpeople both vanished long ago. (snorts) Legends would have us believe we're not the gods' favorites.\n\n[[Why don't we fight back?|back]]\n[[Why do the syluti possess us?|possess]]\n[[Who are the syluti?|who]]\n[[Why do you think it was the syluti?|why]]\n[[I hope they're not causing trouble again. There's enough tension in the distrct.|district]]\n[[You don't know it was them.|them]]

[Old Cristaur]\nI see her on my walks to the fountain. She always says hello and seemed like a very dutiful mother.\n\n[[What happened here?|here]]\n[[Isn't anyone going to do anything?|do]]\n[[Can I help?|help]]\n[[Goodbye.|bye]]

[Cylan]\nDon't keep your head in the sand. I bet it was the damn syluti again.\n\n[[I hope they're not causing trouble again. There's enough tension in the distrct.|district]]\n[[You don't know it was them.|them]]\n[[Who are the syluti?|who]]\n[[Why do you think it was the syluti?|why]]

You rush the gate with your brother, joining the throng. You feel something hard and smooth beneath your feet, but it's unclear whether it's a guard's lost shield or an actual guard getting trampled by the mob. The gate begins to give...you see the fist just before it slams into your face. You fall to the ground, but not before seeing that your attacker is a fellow protestor. Their eyes glow white.\n\nCylan punches the cristaur and helps you up. All around you the protestors are turning on each other - those with glowing white eyes and those not possessed.\n\n[Cylan]\nNo! This can't happen!\n\nAs Cylan speaks, you hear another voice. It is quieter, almost like a whisper in your ear.\n\n[A Voice]\nShh, go away now. Take a rest. It'll be fine...\n\nYou can barely see Cylan. Everything - the guards, the protestors, the syluti - are nothing more than blurry colors. Everything sounds muted, removed.\n\n[[(Take a rest)|rest]]\n[[(Fight it)|fight]]

As you get closer to the hut, you hear uncontrolled sobbing and wailing. You push your way to the front of the crowd and discover a mother cristaur on her knees, covered in blood. In her arms she holds one of her young, its still and tiny body limp. Around her are four more little bodies - the rest of her brood.\n\nAn old cristaur beside you watches the mother, shaking his head slowly.\n\n[[Talk to the mother|mother]]\n[[Talk to the old cristaur|talk]]

[Syluti]\nWhat do you think this is?\n\nThe syluti nods to the guards on your side of the gate, who, without a word, begin to push back against the crowd. The protests grow louder. Those closest to the front lean their bodies against the guards' raised shields, pushing them back. Without warning, a rock is launched into the air, aimed at the syluti's head. You hear the thud as the rock impacts one of the bodyguard's shields instead. The syluti doesn't flinch.\n\n[Syluti]\nArrest them. Arrest them all.\n\nThe guards respond instantly, grabbing on to the nearest protestor. Several cristaurs climb atop the nearby roofs and throw stones at the guards, trying to distract them long enough for the others to scramble away. With the guards distracted, the crowd pushes back against them, driving them up against the gate.\n\n[Young Cristaur]\nBreak down the gate! Bring it down!\n\nThe mob rushes the gate, overwhelming the guards in their way. The gate rocks back and forth, barely holding back the mob. The guards on the other side of the gate press themselves against the gate, trying to keep it shut.\n\n[Cylan]\nCome on! We have to help!\n\n[[No! This is getting out of hand!|hand]]\n[[We'll tear it down!|tear]]

[Cylan]\nYou think they will punish their own kind for killing cristaurs? We are beasts to them! Slaves! No - we have to stand up for ourselves!\n\nThe growing crowd around you hears Cylan and grumbles their agreement. A young cristaur climbs atop a nearby roof and addresses the crowd.\n\n[Young Cristaur]\nBrothers! Sisters! We will not let this go! We will go to the syluti and demand justice!\n\nThe cristaurs around you bellow in agreement. Several bash their head crests against each other's. The mob departs for the district gates - the divide between the cristaur district and the rest of the city. Cylan motions for you to follow before running after them.\n\nThe old cristaur approaches you.\n\n[Old Cristaur]\nDon't join them, young one. No good has ever come from hot heads. Go home, and keep your head down, and this will eventually pass.\n\n[[My brother is with them, so I have to go.|go]]\n[[We have to at least try.|go]]\n[[You don't get it, old one. You can hide while we actually do something!|go]]\n[[That sounds like a good idea.|end1]]

[Cylan]\nWhat, are you scared? Of the fragile syluti? Don't worry so muhc! I can feel it - we will be the change our people have been too afraid to hope for!\n\nYou can hear the young cristaur who had incited the crowd earlier shouting at the cristaur guards. She stands atop another roof, leading the mob's cries.\n\n[Young Cristaur]\nJustice for our people! End the control!\n\n[Mob]\nEnd the control!\n\n[Cylan]\nEnd the control!\n\n[[(shout at the top of your lungs) End the control!|appear]]\n[[(say quietly) End the control!|appear]]\n[[(say nothing)|appear]]

[Cylan]\nOur time. This is it - we will change everything starting today!\n\nYou can hear the young cristaur who had incited the crowd earlier shouting at the cristaur guards. She stands atop another roof, leading the mob's cries.\n\n[Young Cristaur]\nJustice for our people! End the control!\n\n[Mob]\nEnd the control!\n\n[Cylan]\nEnd the control!\n\n[[(shout at the top of your lungs) End the control!|appear]]\n[[(say quietly) End the control!|appear]]\n[[(say nothing)|appear]]

Annie Yamashita

[Syluti]\nI have been informed of them.\n\n[[You're very helpful.|not]]\n[[Who are you?|whoyou]]\n[[Are you the one who forced the mother to kill her young?|forced]]\n[[The one who killed those young must be brought to justice.|just]]\n[[You must do something. This crowd is getting out of control.|crowd]]\n[[Hand over the murderer now!|demand]]\n[[End the control! (attack)|attack]]

[Cylan]\nI bet it was the damn syluti again.\n\n[[I hope they're not causing trouble again. There's enough tension in the distrct.|district]]\n[[You don't know it was them.|them]]\n[[Who are the syluti?|who]]\n[[Why do you think it was the syluti?|why]]