Project3final

The old sorcerer hands you a scroll. "A letter from the king, sanctioning any action you take in accomplishment of this mission. Try to avoid having to wield it." "Yes, master." You fold the paper and stick it into the inside pockt of your coat. <br> Master Keomeneon turns to the window, frowning. "Discretion and expediency is key to this. The truth of the matter is best left in the bowels of that accursed Cathedral." "But if the king's children are gone, as is likely..." "Likely? I think not. I spoke truly to the king, they will keep the prince and princess alive for as they can extract 'value' from them." "I don't belive they are dead, master, what I meant is-" He whirls back around to face you. "They are not dead. That is the end of this discussion, disicple." He says harshly. <br> You purse your lips. //The Conclave can always trust you to keep a secret, master.// After a moment you bow your head. "Of course master. I won't fail us." (set: $name to (history:)'s last) The previous passage was $name. [[Back->$name]]

"Atroram." You say as you begin walking through the dark hall. Taking in the scene of the ruined, plundered hall you imagine this cathedral must have been a fine place once, before. //It's too quiet here.// You think. After rounding a corner you see why. <img src=https://i.imgur.com/aqNzusQ.jpg width=1000px height=500px> You can't tell where the light is coming from, or how the tree is able to grow here. Yet when you approach it, you feel a strong calming presence, like a blanket being draped over your shoulders. <br> You feel the urge to sit, lie down under the tree. You think you should rest, you do feel tired. (if: $Woman is true) ["No harm in it." Comes a voice. A young man steps out from behind the tree. He reminds you of someone. "Is your name Rogyr?" You ask. "Aye. Are you to clean out this cathedral?" You nod. "Good." His hand rests on a sword at his side. "So am I. We'd be stronger if we went together." "This is a dead end. We need move on." "Of course. But surely you can spare some time to rest. There's no harm in it. Better to face what evils lurks deeper in this place."] [[Next|Right 2]]

You hear something grinding behind you. You turn around and see the statues moving. The platform beneath them is spreading apart, and reveals a staircase leading downwards. A low-burning torch sits on the wall of the tunnel. <br> "Oh. A secret passage." Lynd says, disappointed. You take a step forward to peer down. The brimstones smell emanates strong from the passage. <br> "You're thinknig of going down there, aren't you." Lynd says, pacing behind you. You kneel down to inspect the steps. You hold out your hand. "Atroram." A ball of soft white light grows in your palm, illuminating the stairs and confirming what you suspect. "Footprints in the dust. Fresh." You say. "They're down here." <br> Lynd sighs. "Of course they are. In that case..." He unslings his crossbow from his back and loads a bolt into it. "Keep that light on for me. I don't do dark tunnels." [[Go down the passage]]

The stairs wind and descend a great distance. After what you estimate to be thirty minutes there is still no end in sight. The air is becoming stale, and the odor more pungent. <br> "By the gods, can you imagine how this will be on the way up?" Lynd asks. "What kind of madman thinks this many stairs is necessary? What is a chruch doing with a secret passage anyway?" "This Cathedral was built by King Aerdric I, the Pious." "Is he important?" <br> "He was infamous for his harsh judgment. He thought all crime was sin, and affront to the gods. A boy stealing food from a market was no different to him than a murderer. And death was the only suitable punishment, but not before torture. Crime pained the gods, and so the criminal must know that pain, he said once." "A charming fellow, sounds like." <br> "During his reign, this country was governed by the church in all but name. The priests and cardinals were all as zealous as the king, the crow nand the faith operated as one unlike any time since. Only hte gods now know which was truly in charge. But waht is known is that the churches became prisons as well, so that the righteous could punish the sinners, as the self-proclaimed righteous said. That's what this place is, a prison made for torture. I thought they had all been destroyed though, after Aerdric was deposed. //Is this one just an outlier, or was that another lie of omission by the Conclave?// <br> "But //why// is it so deep?" "So worshippers wouldn't hear the screams of the damned." [[Next|Passage 2]]

Lynd spits on the floor. "Back in Cercedeon people always say you mainlanders are all mad. Warmongering, fanatical, and barbaric. A small wonder why, with things like this." He gestures around. "You're island's had its share of that I recall, and recently." "True, but nothing so macabre as-" <br> A shrill, guttural scream suddenly pierces through the passage, rustling dust from the walls and rattling the torch sconces. You halt, while LYnd kneels over, dropping his crossbow and covering his ears. <br> "What in bloody blazes is that?" He shouts. "I've a feeling we're about to find out." <br> You're unsure what to expect, and that makes you unsure how to defend yourself. Select: [[Dagger]] [[Fire Magic]] [[Frost Magic]]

Acting from old instinct, you reach for the dagger you keep holstered about your thigh. "Is that really the best you've got? A dagger?" Lynd says. "I thought you were-" "Delanach." Lightning sparks to life across the dagger's blade, arcing around the steel. "Oh. Nevermind." <br> "Prepare to shoot." You say to Lynd. The scream grows louder, closer. You hear pounding footsteps and the rake of claws over stone. You lurch forward to strike as soon as the source rounds the corner. The lightning iluminates the passage, you'll have a clear view of whatever it is. <br> A shadow appears on the wall, and then the beast appears. <img src=https://i.imgur.com/UZU5obi.png width=300px height=300px> [[Next|Dagger 2]]

"Prepare to shoot." You say to Lynd. The scream grows louder, closer. You hear pounding footsteps and the rake of claws over stone. This passage is too small and narrow for a fight, you have litte hope of standing against a demon down here. You only best chance to is strike first and strike decisively. You clap your hands together. The ball of light feels warm between your palm, like a slice of freshly baked bread. "Tuana." You shout, and the ball turns hot. A shadow appears on the wall. You rush forward to meet the daemon head on. You round the coner, and unleash the fireball in your hands. <br> You get a good look at the beast in the second before the whole tunnel ignites. <img src=https://i.imgur.com/UZU5obi.png width=300px height=300px> <br> [[Next|Bad Ending]]

"Prepare to shoot." You say to Lynd. The scream grows louder, closer. You hear pounding footsteps and the rake of claws over stone. This passage is too small and narrow for a fight, you have litte hope of standing against a demon down here. You only best chance to is strike first and strike decisively. You clap your hands together. The ball of light disappears between your palms. <br> "How'm I supposed to shoot when I can't bloody see?" Lynd says. You can hear him fumbling with his crossbow. "Easily. Just a minute please." You say casually. <br> A shadow appears on the wall, and then the beast appears. <img src=https://i.imgur.com/UZU5obi.png> You rush forward to meet it head on. Rounding the corner, you part your hands. [[Next|Frost 2]]

<img src=https://i.imgur.com/UZU5obi.png width=300px height=300px> "Good Mother Above!" Lynd screams. You shout and charge the daemon. The lightning curves like a whip as it slices into the creature's flesh. It reeals back, hissing and clawing at itself as its body sizzles and smokes. You don't relent, and strike it again, and again, and again until its on its knees. Then you plunge the blade into its head, just between its eyes. <br> The daemon falls over in a smoking heap. You don't remove your dagger until its body starts to melt. <br> Lynd whistles, and walks up the the corpse. "Well, I hadn't expected such moves from a mage. I thought you all preferred wands or staffs." You wipe sweat from your brow. "Not so friend. Anything can be used to harness magic so long as you know how to work it. Anything can be an instrument, even musical instruments." "And where'd a fancy man like you learn to use a dagger? That's a weapon for rought gutters." "Precisely." <br> Lynd looks away and nods. "I see." [[Next|After the Daemon]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/UZU5obi.png" width=300px height=300px> The air turns cold in seconds. The charging daemon slows to a halt. It reaches for you with long, clawed hands, before the sheet of ice paralyzes it completely. Its scream fades away in a whimper. <img src=https://i.imgur.com/LrjCPxA.png width=1000px height=500px> "Atroram." You say, and the light reppears in your hand, illuminating the wall of ice that now blocks off the passage. <br> "Good Mother Above!" Lynd exclaims, taking a cautious step forward. You hold the light up to ice around the daemon's head. It starts to melt, forming a small opening. "Shoot it through there." You tell Lynd. You pinch the bolt in his crossbow, it sparks with purple light. <br> "Hm, not much fun in shooting a still target. Where's the thrill of the hunt?" He says, taking aim. You chuckle. "Your legs are shaking. Not exactly huntsman-like." "It startled me, that's all." He says, then looses the bolt. It flies through the opening and sinks into the deamon's flesh. It's eyes darken. The walls shatters, and the daemon with it. [[Next|After the Daemon]]

The staircase goes on for a great longer while, until you eventually reach the end. You stand in a dark narrow hallway. <br> (if: $Lynd is true) ["Finally." Lynd says. "My legs ache. Can you open portals? I hope so. I do //not// want to walk up that." "Of course I can. What do you take me for?" "Just making sure. Now then, which way do we go?" You look around. The hall has a myriad of different paths. "Down here, the criminals of Gadgya spent their lasts days in unspeakable torment. There's no telling how large this place actually is." "Then how-"] (if: $Lynd is false) [You look around. The hall has a myriad of different paths. Here the criminals of Gadgya spent their last days in torment. You curse under your breath. //Who knows how massive this place could be? I could wander for hours and never find them. How-//] <br> A forceful gale of hotwind rips through the hall. "Trespassers." A deep woman's voice rumbles all around you. "Approach." Ahead, a bright red light appears in the path. <br> (if: $Lynd is true) [Lynd clutches his crossbow. "Seems we've been invited in." "Let's not keep our host waiting then."] [[Walk through the light]]

You pinch yourself. The sensation fades. You feel lightheaded, and your vision blurs. When it clears, the tree is still there, but it is now transparent. The light has vanished. (if: $Woman is true) [A skeleton sits under the tree, wearing torn leather and chain armor. A broken sword lies next to it. Rogyr.] //An illusion. A trap.// [[You decide to turn back.|Enter the Cathedral]]

You hear something grinding behind you. You turn around and see the statues moving. The platform beneath them is spreading apart, and reveals a staircase leading downwards. A low-burning torch sits on the wall of the tunnel. <br> You take a step forward to peer down. The brimstones smell emanates strong from the passage. You kneel down to inspect the steps. You hold out your hand. "Atroram." A ball of soft white light grows in your palm, illuminating the stairs and confirming what you suspect. //Footprints in the dust. Fresh.// You think. //They're down here.// [[Descend]]

The stairs wind and descend a great distance. After what you estimate to be thirty minutes there is still no end in sight. The air is becoming stale, and the odor more pungent. <br> You remember that this cathedral was built in the reign of King Aerdric I, "the Pious." He was infamous for his harsh judgment. He thought all crime was sin, and affront to the gods. A boy stealing food from a market was no different to him than a murderer. And death was the only suitable punishment, but not before torture. Crime pained the gods, and so the criminal must know that pain, he said once. During his reign, this country was governed by the church in all but name. The priests and cardinals were all as zealous as the king, the crow nand the faith operated as one unlike any time since. Only hte gods now know which was truly in charge. But waht is known is that the churches became prisons as well, so that the righteous could punish the sinners, as the self-proclaimed righteous said. //That's what this place is, a prison made for torture. I thought they had all been destroyed though, after Aerdric was deposed. Is this one just an outlier, or was that another lie of omission by the Conclave?// [[Next|Passage alone 2]]

A shrill, guttural scream suddenly pierces through the passage, rustling dust from the walls and rattling the torch sconces. <br> You sto pdead in your tracks. Something is coming your way. You're unsure what to expect, and that makes you unsure how to defend yourself. Select: [[Dagger|Dalone]] [[Fire Magic|Falone]] [[Frost Magic|Fralone]]

Acting from old instinct, you reach for the dagger you keep holstered about your thigh. "Delanach." Lightning sparks to life across the dagger's blade, arcing around the steel. <br> The scream grows louder, closer. You hear pounding footsteps and the rake of claws over stone. You lurch forward to strike as soon as the source rounds the corner. The lightning iluminates the passage, you'll have a clear view of whatever it is. <br> A shadow appears on the wall, and then the beast appears. <img src=https://i.imgur.com/UZU5obi.png width=300px height=300px> [[Next|Dalone 2]]

The scream grows louder, closer. You hear pounding footsteps and the rake of claws over stone. This passage is too small and narrow for a fight, you have litte hope of standing against a demon down here. You only best chance to is strike first and strike decisively. You clap your hands together. The ball of light feels warm between your palm, like a slice of freshly baked bread. "Tuana." You shout, and the ball turns hot. A shadow appears on the wall. You rush forward to meet the daemon head on. You round the coner, and unleash the fireball in your hands. <br> You get a good look at the beast in the second before the whole tunnel ignites. <img src=https://i.imgur.com/UZU5obi.png width=300px height=300px> <br> [[Next|Bad Ending]]

The scream grows louder, closer. You hear pounding footsteps and the rake of claws over stone. This passage is too small and narrow for a fight, you have litte hope of standing against a demon down here. You only best chance to is strike first and strike decisively. You clap your hands together. The ball of light disappears between your palms. <br> //Here goes nothing.// <br> A shadow appears on the wall, and then the beast appears. <img src=https://i.imgur.com/UZU5obi.png> You rush forward to meet it head on. Rounding the corner, you part your hands. [[Next|Fralone 2]]

<img src=https://i.imgur.com/UZU5obi.png width=300px height=300px> You shout and charge the daemon. The lightning curves like a whip as it slices into the creature's flesh. It reeals back, hissing and clawing at itself as its body sizzles and smokes. You don't relent, and strike it again, and again, and again until its on its knees. Then you plunge the blade into its head, just between its eyes. <br> The daemon falls over in a smoking heap. You don't remove your dagger until its body starts to melt. [[Next|After the Daemon]]