Your head aches. "Ngh..."
You open your eyes.
You have no memory of where you are or even //who// you are...
[[Listen.->Listen]]
[[What's that smell?->Scent1]]
[[Look around.->Look Around]]
[[Look at yourself.->Look Self]]
(set: $Getcoin to false)
(set: $GetNote to false)
(set: $Drink to false)
(set: $Eatfood to false)
You hear the dripping of water nearby.
[[Follow the dripping sound.->Water1]]
[[Look at yourself.->Look Self]]
[[Look around.->Look Around]]Your clothes are threadbare, worn, stained, and hang loose from your thin body. The bones protrude under your skin.
[[Look at your hands.->Hands]]
[["I don't feel so good..."->Status1]]
[[Look around.->Look Around]]Your hands are dirty, nails bitten, bloody, and caked in grime and dirt.
[[Look around.->Look Around]]The room is dark and cold. Shivering, you gaze about.
Light flickers from a single torch in the hallway beyond, beyond the bars that trap you within.
It is not a room at all, but a prison cell.
[[Inspect the cell.->Cell1]]
The walls are old brick, stained from the constant trickle of water that seeps out from the edges of the ceiling. The floor is dirt and stone. In a corner you see a pile of worn blankets that are likely used as a bed.
[[Look down.->Grate]]
[[Search the cell.->SearchCell1]]Faintly you make out a floor grate beneath you. The stench rises up from it, nearly choking you. Your lungs burn and your eyes water.
"Oh god..."
You gag, but nothing comes up except stomach acid. It burns as it rises up in your throat. You swallow it back down.
[[Move off the grate.->Moveoffgrate]]
[[Try to move the grate.->Gratemove]]
You take a deep breath, one that isn't quite as foul as the last. Your eyes water still...
[[Search the cell.->SearchCell1]]You walk around your cell on trembling limbs. The earth is worn away in a few spots and it looks like someone tried to dig their way out at one point.
There is a quiet scratching sound, but you cannot pinpoint the source.
(if: $Getnote is false)
[(link-goto:"Check the wall","Wall1")]
[["Is someone there?" You ask, voice cracking.->Scratching1]]
The scent of urine and excrement wafts up from below you.
[[Look down.->Grate]]You are lightheaded. Your stomach gurgles loudly.
The room seems to wobble.
You stagger on your feet.
"Shit."
(if: $Drink is true)
[(link-goto:"Take a breath and try to search your cell.","SearchCell1")]
(else:)[[You feel more than just parched, but possibly dying of thirst. You notice water dripping down the wall.->Drink1]]You stumble over to the wall and grasp it, barely able to see straight. You feel the cold chill crawl through the stone and into your fingertips. The wall is moist. Your press your lips to the stone, letting water drip into your mouth.
You swallow mouthfuls with a desperate need, trying to ignore the grittiness that coats your teeth.
When you quench your thirst, you turn back to the cell.
Your voice is quiet and barely more than a rasping whisper, "I need to get the fuck out of here."
(set: $Drink to true)
[[Search the cell.->SearchCell1]]Water runs in rivulets down the walls, leaving a trail in the dust and grime.
Your throat is dry. You lick your lips and it's painful. Your lips are cracked.
[["I don't feel so good..."->Status1]]You get no answer, but pause and hold your breath as you listen more intently.
The sound of scratching intensifies before it too pauses.
[[Speak again.->Hello1]]
[[Crouch down and listen carefully.->Crouch1]]
[[You inspect the cell door.->Celldoor1]]The door of your cell is wrought iron and looks heavy. It has a spot for a key.
[[Attempt to open the door.->Door1]]
[[Pick the lock. ->Lockpick1]]"Hello?" You croak as you draw closer to the cell bars.
"Oy! Who's making all that noise?" Yells a voice from down the hallway.
[[Yell for help.->Help1]]You put your hands on the door and try to pull it open.
It rattles loudly.
"Oy! Who's making all that noise?" Yells a voice from down the hallway.
[[Yell for help.->Help1]]
[[Keep quiet.->Quiet]]"Help! Please!" You cry out.
You hear heavy footfalls and a shadow swells in the torchlight.
[[A guard approaches.->Guard1]]The guard is very large, heavy set, and wears a full suit of armor, but no helmet. He has a sword sheathed on his side and a small dagger on his belt.
He doesn't look pleased. Keys jangle on his belt with his every step.
[[Beg for help.->Beg1]]
[[Collapse on the floor. ->Fall1]]
[[Quick, a distraction!->distract1]]
(if: $Eatfood is true)
[(link-goto:"Act casual.","Convo1")]
(else:)[["Excuse me, could I have some food?"->Food1]]
You attempt to pick the lock of the door, but you have no tools. With unsteady hands you try to stuff a finger in the keyhole.
Nothing happens.
[[Attempt to open the door.->Door1]]"Sir, please help me. I'm hungry and cold and-"
"Yeah, yeah! Fuckin whinging like that..." The guard glares at you and turns away.
[[Wait patiently.->Food2]]
[[Complain.->Food3]]
(if: $Drink1 and $Eatfood is true)
[(link-goto:"Move the Grate.","Gratemoveyes")]
(else:)[[Move the grate.->Gratemoveno]] You collapse on the floor of your cell.
"Fuck!" The guard exclaims as he wrestles with his keys, unlocks the door, and steps into your cell.
He crouches over you.
[[Grab his keys.->Keys1]]
[[Kick him in the balls.->Ballkick]]
[[Grab his sword.->sword1]]
[[Pretend you're unconscious.->Playdead]]"Hey, this might sound crazy but there's been some mistake. I'm not supposed to be here..." You explain to the guard.
He comes to a stop at the cell door and arches an eyebrow at you. "Is that so?"
[["Uh, yeah?"->Yeah1]]
You crouch down and listen. The scratching resumes, before you notice something small and furry scurry across the floor just outside your cell.
It's a rat.
[["Psst. Psst. Psst." You try to summon it as if it were a cat. ->rat1]]The rat ignores you and disappears into a crevasse in one of the walls.
"Worth a try..." You mutter to yourself.
There's something shiny just past the cell bars, where the rat last stood.
[[You stretch and reach for the shiny thing.->coin1]]You reach as far as you can, face pressed against the bars of your cell. Your fingers scrape the earthen floor a few times before you grasp onto something small and hard.
Hopeful, you draw it back into the cell and inspect your newly found treasure.
"Damnit."
It's a single silver coin.
[[Put it in your pocket. ->coin2]]
[[Throw the coin.->coin3]]You put the coin in your pocket.
(set: $Getcoin to true)
(if: $Drink and $Eatfood and $Getcoin and $GetNote is true)
[(link-goto:"Move the Grate.","Gratemoveyes")]
(else:)[[A guard approaches.->Guard1]]
You throw the coin and it ricochets off the walls, bouncing across the hallway before rolling to tha stop.
(set: $Getcoin to false)
"Oy, What's this?" Exclaims a voice.
You see a guard at the end of the hall. He bends and picks up the coin.
[[A guard approaches.->Guard1]]You try to think of a distraction.
You start singing the only thing you can remember, a baudy tavern song, "There was a young man who sold barrels and buckets. He loved a fine lass an' daydreamed she might suck-"
"Oy!" You hear a sudden banging as the guard throttles a nearby cell. "Ain't wanting to hear yer shite bard's tales, fuck nugget!"
The guard glares at you.
[["Some people like my shitty bard's tales..."->Sarcasm1]]
[["Sorry! I just get bored in here..."->Convo2]]You nod at the guard.
He snorts, "An' what you want me do to do 'bout that, eh? You've been 'ere for few weeks now, an' you think what? You get t' see someone? Yer nobody."
[["That's not true." You say.->Lie1]]
You stand up straight and do your best to look imposing, despite your appearance and imprisonment.
"Actually, I'm rich. If you let me out, there will be coin in your future..."
The guard snorts and grins, a front tooth missing in his rows of yellowed teeth. He's not winning any beauty contests...
"An' I'm the queen." The guard says snidely.
(if: $Getcoin is true)
[(link-goto:"You pull a silver coin from your pocket.","Bribe1")]
(else:)[[You shrug your shoulders.->NoBribe]] You ask the guard politely for a meal.
"Fine. 'Spose it's been long 'nuff. Keep yer britches on, yeah?" The guard pauses and turns, disappearing out of sight down the corridor.
[[Wait patiently.->Food2]]
[[Complain.->Food3]]You grab onto the guard's keyring and pull with all your might.
He grabs your wrist with one hand and punches you in the face with his other.
The world goes dark.
"Nice try, asshole!"
(align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[''GAME OVER. '']
[[Start from the beginning.->Awakening]]The guard hovers over you. You strike out with your foot and slam it into his crotch.
He wears a metal codpiece.
The bones in your foot snap like twigs.
"Ahhh!!!" You howl in pain.
The guard sneers and punches you in the face.
The world goes dark.
"Nice try, asshole!"
(align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[''GAME OVER. '']
[[Start from the beginning.->Awakening]]He returns a moment later with a bowl of something grey and watery and a chunk of what may or may not be bread. It is unappetizing.
[[Accept the food.->Fed1]]
[[Throw the food.->Throwfood]]
You grab desperately for the guard's sword. You manage to pull it halfway from it's scabbard before the large man slams you into the floor.
"Ah!" You yelp as the air is knocked from your lungs.
"That's it, is it? Fucker!"
The guard sneers and punches you in the face.
The world goes dark.
(align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[''GAME OVER. '']
[[Start from the beginning.->Awakening]]"What's taking so long?" You complain, trying to peer past the edge of your cell door. Your nose juts out from between the bars.
"Ain't your servant, so you can goddamn wait a minute more." The guard growls out.
"I'm //literally// starving." You say with a snappish retort.
"An' you will be starving 'lot more if you don't shut the fuck up!" The guard snaps back.
[[Quiet yourself and wait.->Food2]]The guard's eyebrows rise and he pauses to consider your words.
You place the coin in his hand. "There's plenty more where that came from"
You smile and hold the coin out to him.
(if: $Getcoin is true)
[(link-goto:"Charm the guard and encourage him with bribery.","BribeYes")]
(else:)[[You try to Bribe the guard.->BribeNo]]
You reply to the guard with a voice that drips with sarcasm. He doesn't seem to think you're particularly witty or funny.
"Want to see a magic trick?"
//"What?"//
(if: $Getcoin is true)
[(link-goto:"Show the guard a magic trick.","magiccoin1")]
(else:)[[The guard looks at you like you're crazy and sneers.->Guard1]] The guard doesn't look impressed with you, but his head nods once. He understands boredom all too well.
(if: $Getcoin is true)
[(link-goto:"Show the guard a magic trick.","magiccoin1")]
(else:)[[The guard grumbles and turns away from you.->Guard1]]
The guard wrinkles his nose at you and snorts, "A magic trick? Come the fuck on... what do I look like, a fucking idiot?"
"I'm bored. You're bored. Come on. It's innocent fun. I'm liable to die soon. Think of it as my dying wish."
"Suit yourself..." The guard grumbles and watches you suspiciously.
"Great. Okay." You smile with the showmanship and confidence of a street performer. You hold your hands out, palms up. "Nothing there, right?"
"Uh-huh." The guard nods. "And?"
"And now..." You reach forward and the guard tenses, before you pull a coin out from behind his ear. "//Tadaa!" //
The guard's eyebrows rise and he chuckles. "That... that was a kid's trick."
You smile at him, "Ah, but still it's magic. Want to see an even better one?"
The guard relaxes slightly, a small smile on his lips. "Uh, sure."
You bow dramatically. "Lovely. So it's quite similar to the last, but has a surprise ending."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yep. Just watch."
You tuck the coin away and again show your open and empty palms. The guard watches you with rapt attention.
You reach again for the same ear as the last time. The guard smiles.
He thinks he's figured it out.
//Not even close. //
He doesn't notice your other hand at that moment.
[[You pull one hand away from his ear to show him the coin.->MagicKill]]
You accept the food politely and the guard leaves you to eat.
[[Sit down with the bowl. ->Sitfood]]
You sit down on the dirty floor and tuck your legs under yourself.
[[Eat your food.->Eatfood]]
As you eat, a rat timidly ducks into your cell. It seems drawn to the chunk of bread.
[[Let the rat grab the bread.->ratbread]]
[[Grab the rat.->grabrat]]
[[Grab the bread. ->grabbread]]
[[Whisper to the rat. ->ratwhisper]]The bread becomes spongey in the liquid.
You take a bite of it and immediately it tastes like //regret//.
"Ugh. Terrible..."
You put the bread on the floor. It even resembles a sponge.
[[Continue eating your food.->rat3]] You try to bite into the bread.
"Ah!"
You slice open your gums and start to bleed on the stale bread.
That was a mistake.
"Ugh. That's one way to soften it, I suppose." You mutter.
You put the bread on the floor and glare at it.
[[Continue eating your food.->rat3]] Holding the bowl in your hands, you scoop a handful of gruel into your mouth. It is mushy to the point where it feels like you're chewing something that's been chewed once already.
Your stomach churns painfully and you swallow a mouthful, then two.
The bread is so stale that when you attempt to bite off a peice, you think you might chip a tooth.
(set: $Eatfood to true)
(if: $Getcoin is true)
[(link-goto:"It's inedible. Maybe the rat can eat it. You put the bread on the floor.","rat3")]
(else:)[[Continue eating your food.->rat3]]
[[Soak the bread in liquid. ->Soakbread]]
[[Try to break off the bread with your teeth.->Breadteeth]]
You attempt to grab the rat.
Your hands are too slow.
It leaps back from you and puffs up, beady eyes staring at you like you're a threat.
It doesn't look happy.
[[Let the rat grab the bread.->ratbread]]
[[Grab the bread. ->grabbread]]
[[Whisper to the rat. ->ratwhisper]]Your hand lashes out and you grab the chunk of bread. The rat tugs the other end, looking at you helplessly.
You can't really eat that. Why would you keep it?
You release the bread.
[[Whisper to the rat. ->ratwhisper]]
[[Grab the rat.->grabrat]]
The rat chomps onto the stale bread and begins to drag it away.
[[Grab the rat.->grabrat]]
[[Grab the bread. ->grabbread]]
[[Whisper to the rat. ->ratwhisper]]You whisper to the rat, "I could really use your help, little buddy."
It stares at you, head wiggling side to side ever so slightly. It seems unafraid.
For a moment you are transfixed. It's as if you almost feel a kinship with the rat. You're both stuck here, aren't you?
How //strange//...
Maybe there's something there, a keen intellect behind beady little eyes.
Just as you think perhaps it could help you after all, it dashes away.
The rat scrambles, crossing in front of the floor grate before it flees the cell with your bread.
You frown and sigh heavily.
Nope.
It is just a rat.
"Fine. Bugger off. I'll just help //myself//." You say irritably as you finish your gruel.
It's probably best not to lose your mind, but you are unsure if you ever had one.
You're not crazy, right?
You look at the floor grate again.
Your stomach churns at the horrible smell that rises up from it.
You don't intend to die in prison.
(if: $Drink and $Eatfood is true)
[(link-goto:"Feeling slightly better off from your meal, you attempt to move the grate.","Gratemoveyes")]
(else:)[[Move the grate.->Gratemoveno]]Your fingers hook into the metal grate and you pull with all your might.
(if: $Drink and $Eatfood is true)
[(link-goto:"Move the Grate.","Gratemoveyes")]
(else:)[[Move the grate.->Gratemoveno]] You pick up the piece of paper that was folded up in the wall. You unfold it.
You have no idea what you see is your handwriting or someone else's.
The note reads:
//"I hear something in the darkness. Whispers...
It calls to me. Do I answer? Am I going mad?"//
There's something else written, but you're unsure of the language.
//"Baruk kiel averion, ree-ost."//
(set: $GetNote to true)
[[You memorize the note and put it back in the wall..->SearchCell1]]
(if: $Drink and $Eatfood and $GetNote and $GetCoin is true)
[(link-goto:"Maybe you can move the grate.","Gratemoveyes")]
(else:)[[Move the grate.->Gratemoveno]] The wall is cool to the touch and wet in some spots. The bricks and limestone are worn with age and stained from grime. Water seeps down in thin streams here and there. Your fingers brush over a stone and it wiggles.
[[Pull on the loose brick.->Brick1]]You tug on the brick in the wall and it shifts enough that a slip of paper falls onto the floor.
[[Pick up the paper. ->Read]]You are able to lift the grate enough to slide it to the side. The metal scrapes against the stones, but it's relatively quiet.
You breath in short gasps, trying not to inhale the stink rising from below.
Between your feet is a hole that's barely wider than you are. It leads straight down into darkness. It stinks of excrement and urine and god knows what else. Your eyes sting and water.
(if: $GetNote is true)
[(link-goto:"Speak those strange words from the note.","Chant1")]
[[Lower yourself into the hole.->Gratelower]]
[[Jump down the hole.->Gratejump]]
(if: $Getcoin is true)
[(link-goto:"Drop the coin into the hole.","Gratecoin")]
The grate doesn't budge. You feel the blood rush to your head. There's a ringing in your ears.
[["I don't feel so good..."->Status1]]You remove the coin from your pocket and drop it into the hole, listening for anything... anything at all.
You hear silence.
"Well, that can't be good. Jumping would probably be suicide." You say quietly, frowning.
Now you wonder, how desperate are you to leave?
(set: $Getcoin to false)
(if: $GetNote is true)
[(link-goto:"Speak the strange words from that note.","Chant1")]
[[Step away from the hole.->Grateretreat]]
[[Lower yourself into the hole.->Gratelower]]
[[Jump down the hole.->Gratejump]] You lower yourself into the hole, feeling with your feet for some sort of bottom. There's nothing below your feet except air...
You hold onto the floor, but your grip is only so strong.
The floor is cold and your fingers feel numb as they scrabble for purchase. You feel as your grip loosens.
"Shit. Shit!" You desperately try to pull yourself back up.
(if: $Eatfood is true)
[(link-goto:"Lift yourself back out of the hole","Grateretreat")]
(else:)[[You lose your grip and fall.->Gratejump]]
Falling is terrifying and exhilarating.
At first...
You continue to fall.
And fall.
And fall.
Rocks whizz past your face, but you cannot see them in the inky blackness.
It's terrifying. You scream until your voice is lost.
Then you laugh.
A thought comes to mind of //"How far is this damn thing?"// but then-
You hit water, feet first. It swallows you up.
[[You try to swim.->Gratedie]]You remember the strange words... whispers come to your mind, urging you to speak them. You open your mouth and chant.
Your voice is not your own. You speak words that sound foreign, even alien to your tongue. "Baruk kiel averion, ree-ost."
Your hair rises on your skin and a chill crawls up your spine.
There is power in words...
You hear something in the hole...
[[Listen.->Gratelisten]]
[[Step away from the hole.->Grateretreat]]
[[Lower yourself into the hole.->Gratelower]]
[[Jump down the hole.->Gratejump]]
A voice murmurs to you, so quiet you can't be sure if you're really hearing it at all or if it's all in your head.
"You summoned me? How amusing... Come visit me, little mouse."
You don't think that's a good idea. You don't want to visit whatever lives in that stinky dark hole.
[[Answer the voice.->Voicechat1]]
You move away from the hole in the floor, overcome with a feeling of foreboding.
"Well, now what?" You glance nervously at the hole, unsure of what to do next. Your hairs rise on your skin.
"There must be some way out of here..."
(if: $GetNote is true)
[(link-goto:"Speak the strange words from that note.","Chant1")]
(else:)[[Put the grate back and look around.->Wall1]]
You stiffen in response to the voice and speak, "And who did I summon, exactly?"
From deep in that abyss below you, echoing up the dark hole, you hear a chuckle rumble, so deep and melodious in timbre that your bones seem to rattle. "Who indeed..."
You swallow hard and stare into the darkness.
[[Continue speaking with the strange voice.->Voicechat2]]
[[Step away from the hole.->Grateretreat]]
[[Lower yourself into the hole.->Gratelower]]
[[Jump down the hole.->Gratejump]]
You stare deeply into the hole and swallow a lump in your throat. You try not to make a habit of speaking with dark strange voices that come from cesspools underground, or you would like to think so.
[[Ask for help leaving the prison.->Askhelp]]
Maybe this voice can help you. It's worth a shot, right?
"Can you help me get out of this place?" You ask cautiously.
Another chuckle rises from deep down and reverberates through you, making your teeth ache.
"I can."
[[Ask for details.->Details]]"And what do you want in return?" You shift your weight from one foot to the other. You have a bad feeling about this...
"Payment..." Hisses the voice.
[[You need clarification.->Details2]]That's awfully vague...
The voice makes your skin crawl, "I accept many forms of payment..."
You're terribly uncomfortable, but see no alternatives at this point in time. You might as well ask for more details on what this voice considers payment for it's help in your escape.
You have a feeling you're not going to like what those might be...
[[You ask anyway.->Deal1]]
"Payment, such as?"
The voice drips and slithers in your skull, as if someone were pushing cold wet fingers through your brain. "Blood, coin, service, sacrifice..."
[[You ask about blood.->askblood]]
[[You ask about coin.->askcoin]]
[[You ask about service.->askservice]]
[[You ask about sacrifice.->asksacrifice]]
"How much coin?" You ask.
"Show me..." Hisses the voice.
(if: $Getcoin is false)
[(link-goto:"You're broke.","Nodealcoin")]
(else:)[[You pull the silver coin from your pocket. "I have one,"You say. You toss it into the hole.->Dealcoin]]
"What do you mean by service?"
"Pledge yourself to me..." The voice says with a raspy growl.
You don't like the sound of that.
[[Pledge yourself in service to the disembodied voice.->Dealservice]]
[[You ask about coin.->askcoin]]
[[You ask about sacrifice.->asksacrifice]]
[[You ask about blood.->askblood]]
"What do you mean by sacrifice?"
"Offer a life for a life..." The voice says with a raspy growl.
Well, doesn't that just sound delightful? You don't want to die to live...
[[What about the guard?->Dealsacrifice1]]
[[You ask about service.->askservice]]
[[You ask about coin.->askcoin]]
[[You ask about blood.->askblood]]
You ask about the blood, feeling more than a little nauseous at the mention of it. "Uh, how much blood would be considered payment?"
"All of it." Says the voice.
You don't intend to give it all of your blood.
What about the guard?
Surely he has some blood...
What about the rat?
No...
You think you won't do that. It probably doesn't have enough blood anyway.
You wonder what sort of person you are, that you'd prefer to kill the guard over a rat.
Maybe you //do// belong here.
[["Fine. Blood it is.".->Bloodpay]]
[[You ask about coin.->askcoin]]
[[You ask about service.->askservice]]
[[You ask about sacrifice.->asksacrifice]]
You toss the coin into the hole.
You listen, listening for anything... anything at all.
You hear silence.
Then a rumble nearly knocks you from your feet.
You stumble toward the hole.
You manage to keep your balance, but just barely.
[[It seemed like the least dangerous plan.->Dealyes]]
(set: $PayCoin to true)You make a deal.
"Acceptable." Says the voice.
"Okay. Get me out of here."
You swear you hear chuckling.
The room feels a little colder and you shiver, rubbing your arms.
"Hello? Uh, how am I being freed?"
Something cold seems to slide up your skin and sink into your body, into your bones, into your very soul.
"From this mortal coil..." Hisses the voice.
Your hairs rise.
"Wh-" The words die on your lips as you stumble.
It feels like you're being choked by cold invisible hands. You reach for your throat, but feel nothing but clammy skin.
[[You're unable to draw breath into your lungs.->Dealyes1]] You take a deep breath and try not to feel frightened, but this feels like a really bad idea. What alternatives do you have?
[["You speak, "I pledge myself in service to you..."->Dealyes]]
(set: $Service to true)You remember the guard. Maybe the sacrifice doesn't have to be your own.
"What if I sacrifice the guard?"
"That would be acceptable."
[[Make a deal to sacrifice the guard.->Dealsacrifice2]]
You decide freedom is worth it. You'll kill the guard to make a deal with this strange voice.
(set: $SacrificeGuard to true)
"I'll kill the guard for you. Sound good?"
"Excellent."
//"Great."// You breathe out, feeling anxious and ill at the idea of murder, but not //that //bothered. That's a bit disconcerting...
"Don't go anywhere." You say to the voice.
It doesn't answer you, but the rumble you hear feels like a monster chuckling at your expense. It makes your skin crawl.
You slowly push the grate cover back on.
[[Yell to the guard for help.->Help1]]
"Look, I really could use some help..."
"Shoulda thought 'bout that before ya did what shit you did to get here then. Tough tits."
Fine. You'll kill the guard and use his blood as payment.
(set: $Blood to true)
[[Yell for the guard.->Help1]]
"Wut's this?" The guard takes the coin and holds it up to the light. He inspects it scrupulously. His eyes narrow and he puts the coin to his mouth and bites down on it.
"Jus' one tho'." He says with a snort, pocketing the coin.
"We've got a deal?"
"Nah. But I've got your coin." The guard chuckles before walking away.
Looks like you just got robbed.
"Fuck." You mutter under your breath.
[[You look around, feeling a little hopeless.-->Look Around]]"How much more ya got?" The guard asks you as he reaches for his keys.
"That depends on how quickly you get me out of here..." You say.
He looks at you and then unlocks the cell.
This is your chance...
(if: $Blood or $SacrificeGuard is true)
[(link-goto:"You made a deal. It's time to pay.","KillGuard1")]
(else:)[[You leave the cell with the guard.->GuardFree]] The guard frees you from the cell and escorts you down the hall. You are led to a room with clothes and weapons. Most are in poor shape, save for a few.
"Get dressed an' be quick 'bout it." The guard says, looking at you with suspicion.
You better not screw this up.
"Right. I'll just be a moment." You say hoping to put the guard at ease. He has a sword and you'd hate to get stabbed with it.
You change your clothes and arm yourself with a sword, dagger, bow, and a quiver of arrows.
"I'm ready."
[[It's time to go.->Freedom]]The guard opens the door and stepps inside.
He nearly takes up the entire doorway of your cell.
You smile at him with a nervousness that must be evident on your face. He crosses his arms.
"Well? What're you waitin' for?" He growls out.
You're going to have to pretend to be a good actor. Who knows, maybe you're an excellent actor.
If you screw this up, you'll be dead probably...
You stumble and cry out, falling to your knees.
"Oh gods, my stomach...!"
"Eh?" The guard comes closer, bending and reaching for you. "Don't you retch on my shoes." He growls out.
"I-I'm sorry, I-" You stammer, coughing. You feel his hands on your shoulders.
(if: $Blood is true)
[(link-goto:"Grab the guard's dagger.","Blood1")]
(if: $SacrificeGuard is true)
[(link-goto:"Grab the guard's sword.","Kill1")]
You grab the guard's dagger and pull it from its sheath.
"What're y- Fuck!" The guard snarls,
He reaches for you, but your hand is quick. With a flick of your wrist you slice open his throat with the dagger.
"Hk!" He gurgles loudly, stumbling as his hands clamp down on his throat. He tries to keep pressure on his wound.
It doesn't take much for you to shove him to the floor. He's heavy and falls with a loud clatter. A distressed cry escapes him as his mouth fills with blood.
"Sorry about that. It was you or me, and I rather like being alive."
You stand over him, dagger in hand. He stares at you, his eyes bulging wide.
His blood flows down into the grate and into the depths below.
You swear you hear chuckling as the life leaves his body.
"Well, I guess that would be what happens when all your bloods leaves..." You comment to yourself, frowning a little at the now dead guard.
[[You did make a deal.->Blood2]]You grab the guard's sword and pull it from its sheath.
"What're y- Fuck!" The guard snarls,
His hands wrap around your throat.
You don't have much strength, and he very much does.
His grip chokes you, constricting air and bloodflow in your neck. You see stars and your vision becomes hazy.
You can barely feel your fingers and hands as you try to lift the sword.
Your limbs tremble.
[[The sword bites into flesh.->Sword1]]
"Agh!"
Blood coats the blade.
Its //yours//...?
Somehow you sliced into your thigh.
//Oh no.//
Your eyes bulge as the guard towers over you, squeezing your throat in his grasp.
Your vision fades.
Your body grows still as blood pours from your wound. It pools around you and flows down the grate into the depths below.
You suppose there are worse ways to die... but none come to mind.
You swear you hear chuckling as the life leaves your body.
(align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[''GAME OVER. '']
[[Start from the beginning.->Awakening]]The guard returns. He escorts you through the building.
You thought you were somewhere up high, but you were apparently many flights of stairs down in some underground jail. Your calves protest and your body trembles as you make your way up staircase after staircase.
You pause to catch your breath once or twice, much to the guard's apparent dismay.
Eventually you make to the end of the never-ending stairs and gasp air that doesn't stink of death or feces. The guard looks at you and motions for the door. You feel fresh air chilling you from under the door.
"Better come back with enough coin ta' need a fuckin' cart for it all." The guard warns you.
You nod, "I'm good for it."
//You're not.//
The guard buys your bullshit and opens the door for you with one last click of a key.
You try not to let him see your intake of air, your eyes light up, as you're nearly giddy.
Will this really work? Is it really working? Is this real?
You walk out the doors and into the cool night air.
When you're out of earshot, you smile to yourself. "Damn, I'm sly as a fox..."
You did it.
(align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[''THE END.'']
[[Start from the beginning.->Awakening]]You play dead. The guard checks your pulse with rough fingertips against your throat. You try not to squirm and keep your eyes shut.
After a moment, the guard grumbles and leaves.
Maybe pretending to be an opposum isn't the best gameplan.
You open your eyes and sigh, "Now what?"
[[Stand up.->SearchCell1]]You throw the food against the wall. It splatters specatularly and drips down like grayed sludge.
"Good job, asshole! You're right fucked now. See if I feed you anytime soon. Hope you like starving." The guard sneers.
That was probably not the smartest idea you've ever had...
[[Apologize.->Foodtryagain]]Your pockets are empty.
If only you'd had a coin...
"Uh... sorry, I don't have any money."
You hear a growling sound and inch away from the hole.
"Maybe we can work something out. There are other options, right?" You speak nervously.
[[You ask about blood.->askblood]]
[[You ask about service.->askservice]]
[[You ask about sacrifice.->asksacrifice]]
Your other hand grabs hold of his dagger.
Quickly you slice his throat open.
(if: $Blood is true)
[(link-goto:"Did you forget? You made a deal.","Blood2")]
(if: $Blood is false)
[(link-goto:"It's time to go.","MagicKill2")]
You silence yourself and wait for the guard to lose interest.
Maybe there's some other way out of here...
[[You look around again.->Look Around]]You don't intend to stick around to chat with that creepy voice. Quickly, you move down the hallway.
You find a room with clothes and weapons. Most are in poor shape, save for a few. You change your clothes and arm yourself with a sword, dagger, bow, and a quiver of arrows.
A whisper makes you freeze in your tracks.
"All of it... I said all of it..."
Fear seems to gnaw at you, making your limbs tremble ever so slightly.
You speak with a quavering voice "You already got all of it!"
//"More."// It hisses.
The chuckle you hear makes you spin in place, your heart racing. "There isn't any more!" You say, nearly hysterical.
Something cold seems to slide up your skin and sink into your body, into your bones, into your very soul.
"The world is full of people..." Says the voice...
...from your own lips.
You made a deal.
(align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[''THE END.'']
[[Start from the beginning.->Awakening]]Deftly, you tuck his dagger away and take his sword, his keys, and walk out the door.
"See? //Magic...//" You chuckle darkly.
[[You see a room that's marked armory.->MagicKill3]]You find the key and unlock the door.
The room is small, but stocked with clothes and weapons. Most are in poor shape, save for a few. You change your clothes and arm yourself with a sword, dagger, bow, and a quiver of arrows.
You thought you were somewhere up high, but you were apparently many flights of stairs down in some underground jail. Your calves protest and your body trembles as you make your way up staircase after staircase.
You pause to catch your breath once or twice, heart pounding. You can't believe no one's come for you yet...
Eventually you make to the end of the never-ending stairs and gasp air that doesn't stink of death or feces. There's a door at the end of a long hall.
[[Approach the door.->MagicKill4]]
You feel fresh air chilling you from under the door.
It takes a few tries because the keychain has much too many keys, but one fits in the lock.
[[Your hands shake as your turn the key.->MagicKill5]]
The door opens for you.
You see the outside world.
It's night and somewhat chilly. There is a road ahead with coniferous trees and a craggy forested landscape.
With an intake of air your eyes light up. You're nearly giddy.
Will this really work? Is it really working? Is this real?
You walk out the doors and into the cool night air.
When you're out of earshot, you laugh to yourself. "Damn, maybe I should become a performer!"
You did it.
(align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[''THE END.'']
[[Start from the beginning.->Awakening]]You try to gasp, but you merely twitch and convulse as you feel your consciousness slipping away.
You suppose there are worse ways to die... but none come to mind.
You die, but your body lives.
Your fists bang on the cell bars.
The guard comes, "Oi! Why're ya making a fuckin' racket?"
Your body drops to the floor with a heavy thud.
"Oh, shit!" The guard quickly unlocks the door to your cell and throws it open.
He rushes to your side.
You're dead, but your hands grasp onto his face with a speed and strength that is not your own. You sink your teeth down onto his nose. He screams as you remove it from him.
With a bloody smile, you stare lifelessly at the guard as he tries desperately to free himself from your clutches. Your fingers sink into the soft skin of his face, into bone, and finally through it. He screams horribly as you tear into his skull.
You chuckle bwith a voice that isn't yours...
There was really no need for that...
...but it was fun.
(align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[''THE END.'']
[[Start from the beginning.->Awakening]]You try to swim, but your body is weak and cold and sluggish. You have no idea what's up and what's down. Hitting the water at whatever speeds you were careening probably isn't helping with your sense of direction.
It's cold and feels like you're stabbed by a thousand needles made of ice.
[[You're running out of air.->Gratedie1]]
You barely notice when the pain changes. Thousands of sharp needle like points bite down into your flesh.
The pain intensifies and reminds you that you're still alive.
You open your mouth to scream but swallow water as you flail uselessly in the deep dark cold...
The darkness is impenetrable. Considering your terror and pain, it might be a blessing.
Well, what have you learned?
You probably shouldn't jump down deep dark holes. You file that away for future reference... except you realize you won't //have// a future.
You suppose there are worse ways to die... but none come to mind.
You swear you hear chuckling as whatever lives in the dark tears you apart.
You're barely a meal.
(align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[''GAME OVER. '']
[[Start from the beginning.->Awakening]]"... I'm sorry. I'm acting like an ingrate. I just... don't you have anything better than that?" You nearly pout.
"//Fuck you.// Do I look like a servant? You eat what ya get!" The guard snarls at you.
You hang your head and try to look regretful and full of remorse.
Slop slides down the wall onto the floor.
The guard leaves and you hope that maybe you won't starve to death.
[[You're not in the best shape.->Look Self]]