“We are gathered here today to recognize one of our own for thirty years of loyal service.”
You sit in the middle of a crowded auditorium with sweaty bodies pressing against you from all sides. On the stage, a man stands behind a podium. Barely into his thirties, he nonetheless has a head covered in [[gray hair]], same as everyone else—save for you. Beside him stands a [[Kashni]], his ruby-red scales long since drained of color.
“Pathorm Hurkvein,” says the man, “I am proud to award you the [[Silver Chain]]. May your remaining days be restful, and your mind at peace.”
Pathorm bows without a word, and the man slips the chain over his thick neck. He then steps back and claps.
“Happy retirement, Pathorm!”
As one, the other [[Gray Rangers]] rise and applaud as well.
[[Applaud]]
[[Stay Seated]]
Extended exposure to the Graylands’ toxic atmosphere will turn every strand of hair or fur on someone’s body gray, regardless of age. Kashnis will find their scales turning gray. The Gray Rangers consider a full head of gray hair to be a sort of milestone in their career.
[[BACK|Beginning]] One of the three dominant races in Tassendile. Reptilian, with red scales and long, thick tails. They grow to be around seven feet tall. They are a proud race, quick to take command and quicker to defend their honor.
[[BACK|Beginning]] An imitation of Embin's dawniron chain forged from silver. Worn as a necklace and awarded on the rare occasion that a Gray Ranger survives to retirement.
[[BACK|Beginning]] The warriors appointed by the Church of Embin to patrol the cursed Graylands and prevent the agents of Vashiil, the Black Moon, from ever escaping into Tassendile.
[[BACK|Beginning]] You rise to your feet and join the applause. Pathorm is the first Ranger to retire in nearly seventy five years, a feat so rare that it warrants a ceremony such as this. You might be a new recruit, but even you understand how slim a Ranger’s chances of survival are.
The Kashni steps up to the podium and the crowd immediately quiets.
“I won’t keep you here long,” he says in a hoarse voice. “I just want to say how honored I am to have served with all of you. I’ve known a hundred good men these past thirty years, and the [[Graylands|[[graylands1]] have claimed every one of them. Each of them deserved this chain more than I do. I’ll never forget…”
Try as you might, you can’t keep your mind from wandering. It’s suiting that Pathorm should retire today—as one Ranger leaves, another arrives to take his place. You reflect for a minute on [[WHO]] you are, [[WHERE]] you're from, and [[WHY]] you're here.
“And with that,” Pathorm concludes with a laugh, “go get drunk!”
The crowd cheers again, and begins to slowly file out of the auditorium to the larger room outside, where food and—more importantly—drink are waiting for everyone in attendance.
[[Follow the Crowd]]You remain in your seat while the other Rangers cheer for their long-lived companion. A few of them give you dirty looks, but you ignore them. You’re not doing this out of disrespect or rebellion, but sheer nervousness. You feel like if you move, you’ll throw up all over the Rangers in front of you.
You might be a new recruit, but even you understand how slim a Ranger’s chances of survival are.
The Kashni steps up to the podium and the crowd immediately quiets.
“I won’t keep you here long,” he says in a hoarse voice. “I just want to say how honored I am to have served with all of you. I’ve known a hundred good men these past thirty years, and the [[Graylands|[[graylands2]] have claimed every one of them. Each of them deserved this chain more than I do. I’ll never forget…”
Try as you might, you can’t keep your mind from wandering. It’s suiting that Pathorm should retire today—as one Ranger leaves, another arrives to take his place. You reflect for a minute on [[WHO|WHO2]] you are, [[WHERE|WHERE2]] you're from, and [[WHY|WHY2]] you're here.
“And with that,” Pathorm concludes with a hearty laugh, “go get drunk!”
The crowd cheers again, and begins to slowly file out of the auditorium to the larger room outside, where food and—more importantly—drink are waiting for everyone in attendance.
[[Follow the Crowd]]You follow the crowd out of the auditorium but you’re stopped just outside the doors. A gray furred, one eyed [[zik]] grabs you by the arm and motions for you to follow him. You do so without complaint. Even though the food smells delicious, you’re too nervous to eat anything.
The zik leads you down a crowded [[hallway]] and into an empty room. The windows are shut and the curtains drawn so that the only light comes from a pair of candles set at opposite ends of the room—and from within the [[wooden box]] that sits on the table in front of you.
The zik closes the door behind you. “You know what this is?”
“Yes, [[Captain Glaen]],” you say. “This is where I choose my pendant.”
Glaen nods and opens the box. The room is instantly flooded with light.
[[Look Inside]]Your name is Rooquan “Rook” Hathew. Human, twenty three years old, and born for the Gray Rangers. That’s what you’ve always told people, anyway. Your hair is dark brown, but you hope that won’t be the case for much longer.
[[BACK|Applaud]] Your earliest memory is being thrown out of the orphanage in Theden Brook after breaking another child’s arm. You were three years old. A member of the nearby church heard about this, and put you into the custody of the Gray Rangers in anticipation of this very day.
[[BACK|Applaud]] This is it. This is what you’ve been waiting for your whole life. All the sweat and blood you shed during training, the countless hours you spent memorizing the Words of Order as an acolyte, all for this. This is more important than the day you became a man.
Today, you become a Gray Ranger.
[[BACK|Applaud]] Your name is Rooquan “Rook” Hathew. Human, twenty three years old, and born for the Gray Rangers. That’s what you’ve always told people, anyway. Your hair is dark brown, but you hope that won’t be the case for much longer.
[[BACK|Stay Seated]]Your earliest memory is being thrown out of the orphanage in Theden Brook after breaking another child’s arm. You were three years old. A member of the nearby church heard about this, and put you into the custody of the Gray Rangers in anticipation of this very day.
[[BACK|Stay Seated]]This is it. This is what you’ve been waiting for your whole life. All the sweat and blood you shed during training, the countless hours you spent memorizing the Words of Order as an acolyte, all for this. This is more important than the day you became a man.
Today, you become a Gray Ranger.
[[BACK|Stay Seated]]One of Tassendile’s three dominant races. They resemble primates, human shaped but covered in fur. They have long prehensile tails that the females of their race keep covered, and ears that stick straight out from the sides of their heads and come to sharp points.
[[BACK|Follow the Crowd]] Gray Ranger Headquarters, located mile outside the holy city of Embraus, is always crowded. Even with all the off-duty Rangers celebrating with Pathorm, you have to bob and weave between people as frantically as if you were in a firefight.
[[BACK|Follow the Crowd]] Light shines between the box’s cracks as brightly as if the sun itself were trapped inside. Four colors: red, blue, green, and purple. Each beam of light is distinct, never merging with the other colors despite their close proximity. You can feel a weak hum of power in the air.
[[BACK|Follow the Crowd]] The closest thing you ever had to a father. He took every opportunity to beat and berate you, and you’re grateful for every second of it. To survive in the Graylands, you have to be harder than stone and colder than ice. Glaen didn’t beat you because he enjoyed it, he beat you because he knew that if he didn’t you would end up as a smear on the Grayland ground… if you were lucky.
[[BACK|Follow the Crowd]] Four stones sit lined up in a row inside the box. Each has been chiseled into the shape of an arrowhead, with a string running through it. Four pendants, red, blue, green, and purple, one for each of Embin’s Moons. You were prepared for this, but you still find yourself short of breath as you gaze upon the four moon shards. [[Wurstramite]], [[Lisharum]], [[Jaminskite]], and [[Atroyen]].
“You’ve trained with all four,” Glaen says. “Pick whichever one you’re best with.”
Which one will you choose?
[[Take the Wurstramite pendant]]
[[Take the Lisharum pendant]]
[[Take the Jaminskite pendant]]
[[Take the Atroyen pendant]]A stone as red as ruby, glowing from within with a mysterious power. This is a piece of the Red Moon, Wustram the Just. Anyone who Pierces with this shard will absorb its power and gain temporary control over fire. Rangers who use Wurstramite pendants are known as Scorchers, and are the first line of defense against the Graylands’ abominations.
[[Take the Wurstramite pendant]]
[[BACK|Look Inside]] A stone as blue as the deepest ocean. Its light shimmers on the walls like the sun reflecting off a calm stream. This is a piece of Lishara the Wise, the Blue Moon of Embin. Those who Pierce with this will absorb Lishara’s power and gain temporary control over water. Gray Rangers who utilize Lisharum pendants are known as Flooders, and use their powers for both offense and defense.
[[Take the Lisharum pendant]]
[[BACK|Look Inside]] This green stone shines brighter than an emerald. In its light you see visions of flight, the freedom only birds can know. This is a piece of Jaminska the Joyous, the Green Moon of Embin. Those who Pierce with this shard will absorb Jaminska’s power and gain temporary power over the winds. Rangers who use this power are known as Windbags, and their powers, though usually not deadly, are used to great effect against the monsters of the Graylands.
[[Take the Jaminskite pendant]]
[[BACK|Look Inside]] You swear you can hear the rumbling of thunder as you look at the Atroyen pendant. It shines a deep royal purple, and the air around it is tingly with an electric charge. This is a piece of Atroyo the Bold, the Purple Moon of Embin. Pierce with this shard, and you will temporarily gain power over lightning. Rangers who use Atroyen pendants are called Shockers. Though their abilities are the least versatile, no other power can decimate Vashiil’s forces like this one.
[[Take the Atroyen pendant]]
[[BACK|Look Inside]] You reach into the box and pull out the Wurstramite pendant. Heat radiates from it as if you’d left it sitting near a fireplace. You smile. With this, you can burn those d’yargo [[Shapeless|Shapeless1]] straight back to [[the Pit]]!
Captain Glaen nods approvingly. He, himself, was a Scorcher, and you know he considers them to be the most practical Rangers’ classes.
“Are you sure?” he asks. “There’s no changing your mind once you’re out on the field.”
[[I’m sure.|ChooseWurstramite]]
[[Actually…|Put Back]]You reach into the box and pull out the Lisharum pendant. A trickle of water runs down your wrist. You nod to yourself. You could wash the [[Shapeless|Shapeless2]], the Graylands, and even [[the Pit|Pit2]] itself clean with this.
Captain Glaen nods approvingly. He’s a Scorcher, but you know he’s also a man who can respect duality. When one man lights a fire, another must put it out.
“Are you sure?” he asks. “There’s no changing your mind once you’re out on the field.”
[[I’m sure.|ChooseLisharum]]
[[Actually…|Put Back]]You reach into the box and pull out the Jaminskite pendant. A light breeze wafts through the room, mussing your hair. Using Jaminskite is a double edged sword. While the most versatile in its uses, it also packs the least punch. When used wisely, though, a Windbag is a fine asset to any squad.
Captain Glaen frowns. He doesn’t have the highest opinion of Windbags. This is your decision, though, not his.
“Are you sure?” he asks. “There’s no changing your mind once you’re out on the field.”
[[I’m sure.|ChooseJaminskite]]
[[Actually…|Put Back]]You reach into the box and pull out the Atroyen pendant. As soon as your fingers touch it, a shock courses through your body, not enough to hurt but enough to let you know this shard means business. You smile. With this, nothing can stand in your way. Not the [[Shapeless|Shapeless3]], not [[the Pit|Pit3]], not even [[Vashiil]] itself.
Captain Glaen nods approvingly. Shockers lacked subtlety, but a Gray Ranger’s job wasn’t to be subtle. It was to protect Tassendile.
“Are you sure?” he asks. “There’s no changing your mind once you’re out on the field.”
[[I’m sure.|ChooseAtroyen]]
[[Actually…|Put Back]]The unfortunate victims of Vashiil’s dark power. The first creature to touch a shard of Vashiila will have its soul ripped from its body and trapped inside the shard. Any who then Pierce with that shard will absorb that creature’s soul, transforming into that creature proportionately to how much of its soul was absorbed. This is called Twisting, and has been outlawed by the church. A Shapeless is created when too much Vashiila is put into a creature’s body for it to handle, and it transforms into a writhing puddle of flesh. Shapeless either have no minds, or else the minds of all the captured souls are constantly fighting for control over their single body. Shapeless can grow and un-grow body parts as they please, and a single touch from one will cause you to be absorbed into it, thus becoming part of the Shapeless itself forever. A Shapeless wants only one thing: to feed on any and all living creatures that cross its path.
[[BACK|Take the Wurstramite pendant]] The deep hole that Embin buried Vashiil in. Over the centuries, the surges of power from Vashiil have raised a volcano over that spot, with Vashiil itself residing inside the mountain.
[[BACK|Take the Wurstramite pendant]] You shake your head and put the pendant back. This isn’t a decision to be made lightly.
[[Take the Wurstramite pendant]]
[[Take the Lisharum pendant]]
[[Take the Jaminskite pendant]]
[[Take the Atroyen pendant]]The Black Moon that betrayed Embin and the other moons. It crashed into Tassendile and began to corrupt the land and steal the souls of any living creature it touched. In the end, Embin was forced to make himself flesh and trap Vashiil, along with a large portion of Tassendile, in an alternate dimension now known as the Graylands. Today, it’s the job of the Gray Rangers to patrol the Graylands and make sure Vashiil’s mutated monstrosities never make it through the Forbidden Gates.
[[BACK|Take the Atroyen pendant]] The deep hole that Embin buried Vashiil in. Over the centuries, the surges of power from Vashiil have raised a volcano over that spot, with Vashiil itself residing inside the mountain.
[[BACK|Take the Lisharum pendant]] The deep hole that Embin buried Vashiil in. Over the centuries, the surges of power from Vashiil have raised a volcano over that spot, with Vashiil itself residing inside the mountain.
[[BACK|Take the Atroyen pendant]] The unfortunate victims of Vashiil’s dark power. The first creature to touch a shard of Vashiila will have its soul ripped from its body and trapped inside the shard. Any who then Pierce with that shard will absorb that creature’s soul, transforming into that creature proportionately to how much of its soul was absorbed. This is called Twisting, and has been outlawed by the church. A Shapeless is created when too much Vashiila is put into a creature’s body for it to handle, and it transforms into a writhing puddle of flesh. Shapeless either have no minds, or else the minds of all the captured souls are constantly fighting for control over their single body. Shapeless can grow and un-grow body parts as they please, and a single touch from one will cause you to be absorbed into it, thus becoming part of the Shapeless itself forever. A Shapeless wants only one thing: to feed on any and all living creatures that cross its path.
[[BACK|Take the Lisharum pendant]] The unfortunate victims of Vashiil’s dark power. The first creature to touch a shard of Vashiila will have its soul ripped from its body and trapped inside the shard. Any who then Pierce with that shard will absorb that creature’s soul, transforming into that creature proportionately to how much of its soul was absorbed. This is called Twisting, and has been outlawed by the church. A Shapeless is created when too much Vashiila is put into a creature’s body for it to handle, and it transforms into a writhing puddle of flesh. Shapeless either have no minds, or else the minds of all the captured souls are constantly fighting for control over their single body. Shapeless can grow and un-grow body parts as they please, and a single touch from one will cause you to be absorbed into it, thus becoming part of the Shapeless itself forever. A Shapeless wants only one thing: to feed on any and all living creatures that cross its path.
[[BACK|Take the Atroyen pendant]] You nod and slip the cord around your neck. The glowing red pendant swings for a minute at the end of its string before settling, a warm weight against your chest. A comforting weight. It feels right to you. Somehow, you’d always known you’d be a Scorcher.
Glaen closes the box and slaps you on the back, smiling proudly. “Well chosen, brother. Follow me.”
You obey, following as he leads you through Ranger headquarters until you reach an exit, stepping outside where the sun is shining brightly. A mile to the north, [[Embraus|Embraus-ChooseWurstramite]] is clearly visible, its walls rising higher than any other structure in Tassendile. To the south, across the seemingly endless sea of [[grass|grass-ChooseWurstramite]], you can faintly see the line on the horizon that marks the [[Shi Valen Mountains.|Shi Valen Mountains.-ChooseWurstramite]]
[[Keep Following|Keep Following-ChooseWurstramite]]Double-click this passage to edit it.Double-click this passage to edit it.Double-click this passage to edit it.A large portion of Tassendile that was locked in an alternate dimension to contain Vashiil and prevent it from corrupting the entire planet. The only way in and out are through the Forbidden Gates, which the Gray Rangers stand watch over.
[[BACK|Applaud]] A large portion of Tassendile that was locked in an alternate dimension to contain Vashiil and prevent it from corrupting the entire planet. The only way in and out are through the Forbidden Gates, which the Gray Rangers stand watch over.
[[BACK|Stay Seated]] The holy city, where Embin first descended from the heavens and became flesh. The center of the church and all its various branches, including the Gray Rangers.
[[BACK|ChooseWurstramite]] The Hyeva Grasslands, a part of northeastern Tassendile that stretches over a hundred miles from the Shi Valen mountains to just shy of the northern shores.
[[BACK|ChooseWurstramite]] The mountain range that divides Tassendile in half. The north is lush and fertile, but to the south stretches the massive and barren Taksten Desert.
[[BACK|ChooseWurstramite]] You can hear gunfire in the distance. Glaen has taken you to the headquarter’s shooting range. It’s a comforting sound. Each gun has a distinct voice, and you speak the language of gunpowder more fluently than your own. That crack is from a Uvendale Sixer, and that one is a Zen Longshot. You smirk. Some fool even bothered to drag a Tenryvol Thunderstick out here, for all the good it would do in the Graylands. Together, they make a more beautiful symphony than all the choirs in Embraus.
Glaen leads you to an open spot. Targets litter the landscape, all of them painted various shades of gray. The captain looks at you expectantly.
“Well? Show me what you’ve got.”
You have your guns on you, of course. A Gray Ranger is never without them, no matter where he is. You draw them, a pair of Vishal Sixshots. Nothing fancy, but they’re reliable.
[[Choose Your Target|ChooseTargetWustramite]]Three targets stand in the field in front of you, each resembling foes you’ll meet in the Graylands.
A gray tarp thrown over a pile of sand represents a Shapeless, the most dangerous and most common of Vashiil’s monsters. Bullets are all but worthless against the d’yargo shapeshifters.
A titantula, the giant arachnids of the gray wasteland, stands further back, a hastily cobbled together statue of wood and stone.
Beyond that is simple human-shaped scarecrow. A [[Twister|TwisterWurstramite]]. Traitor to the Gray Rangers, Embin, and all of existence.
You take aim at...
[[The Shapeless|ShapelessTarget-Wurstramite]]
[[The Titantula|TitantulaTarget-Wurstramite]]
[[The Twister|TwisterTarget-Wurstramite]]
[[None of them|NoTarget-Wurstramite]]Someone who uses shards of Vashiila the same way the Gray Rangers use the other moons’ shards. Called such because they “twist” themselves out of their natural state to take the shape of whatever soul is contained inside the shard. They are considered the worst of the worst, the lowest possible lifeform in the world.
[[BACK|ChooseTargetWustramite]]You pull the trigger, and your bullet flies across the distance between you and the fake Shapeless. It strikes true. The tarp ripples a bit, but the pile of sand absorbs the shot as easily as a real Shapeless would.
“Puke brained idiot!” Glaen barks impatiently. “You know better than to waste ammo like that!”
You scowl at the gray lump, and take aim again at…
[[The Titantula|TitantulaTarget-Wurstramite]]
[[The Twister|TwisterTarget-Wurstramite]]
[[None of them|NoTarget-Wurstramite]]You fire, and hear the satisfying crack as your bullet buries itself in the giant spider’s wooden hide. The statue wobbles, but doesn’t fall. Glaen nods approvingly, but says nothing.
The spider still stands, taunting you in the distance. The legs are the obvious weak point, but you’re not sure if you can hit them with these pistols…
“Get on with it!” Glaen barks.
You take aim at…
[[The Titantula’s Legs|TargetLegs-Wurstramite]]
[[The Shapeless|ShapelessTarget-Wurstramite]]
[[The Twister|TwisterTarget-Wurstramite]]
[[None of them|NoTarget-Wurstramite]]A black anger springs up inside your chest as you level your gun at the “Twister.” It’s the farthest away of the three targets, but even from here you can see that it has more bullet holes in it than the other two combined. There’s not a Gray Ranger alive that wouldn’t happily murder a Twister—if the word “murder” could even be used for something so inhuman.
You squeeze the trigger, and grin when a gout of straw erupts from the scarecrow’s chest.
“Don’t ever forget the hatred you’re feeling right now,” Glaen says softly, coming to stand beside you. “As you soon as you do, you’ll already have fallen for Vashiil’s trap.”
You nod, and take aim again at…
[[The Shapeless|ShapelessTarget-Wurstramite]]
[[The Titantula|TitantulaTarget-Wurstramite]]
[[None of them|NoTarget-Wurstramite]]You pocket your gun and pull your brand new Wustramite pendant out of your shirt. You’ve been shooting guns all your life, but this is something special. Glaen raises an eyebrow, but doesn’t stop you. You take the pendant from around your neck, roll your sleeve back, and raise the arrowhead-shaped stone over your head.
Then you Pierce your arm with it.
You grit your teeth through the pain, but it’s instantly forgotten as the pendant’s power flows from the stone and into your body. Your veins come alive with fire. Just like you’ve been trained, you force the power to gather in your hand, and a fireball ignites in your palm. With your other hand you pull the pendant out of your arm, its power healing the wound as if it’d never been there.
You look out at the targets. Who’s gonna get it?
~[[The Shapeless|BurnShapeless]]
~[[The Titantula|BurnTitantula]]
~[[The Twister|BurnTwister]]With the steady hand that years of training under Glaen has given you, you level the barrel of your gun at the titantula again and hold your breath. In a real fight, you know it would have already crossed the distance and killed you, but the wood-and-stone spider obligingly stands still as you take aim… and… fire!
The bottom segment of the titantula’s leg is reduced to splinters, and the whole thing topples over. With a whoop, you holster your weapon and thrust your fists into the air. Vashiil doesn’t stand a chance against you!
Laughing, Glaen claps you on the shoulder. “That’s Ranger I trained! Now come on, it’s time for you to meet the others.”
“Others?” you echo as he turns to lead you away.
“The rest of your team.”
[[Follow|MeetTeam-Wurstram-ShootLegs]]Glaen leads you to a bench overlooking Embraus, and the two of you sit down. No one else is around You’re tempted to ask where the team he spoke of is, but you know that he wouldn’t bring you here for no reason, and settle in to wait silently, contemplating your future—your very .near future.
Ten minutes later, the ground in front of you bursts into flame.
You react with the speed your training has drilled into you, jumping to your feet and drawing your gun. Only Gray Rangers have access to moon shards, and only one kind of Ranger would use one against his own comrades: a Twister. You scan the crowd, looking for…
You notice Captain Glaen is still sitting on the bench, ignoring the fire at his feet. He turns, his single eye glaring at someone behind you.
“Put it out, ya idjit!” he snaps. The fire vanishes, leaving nothing but scorched grass behind.
You spin around to find yourself face to face with another human. His hair is as red as flame, marking him as another new recruit, and a grin wide enough to swallow the moon—and crazy enough to try.
You say…
[[“What was that for?”|Whatfor-Wurstramite]]
~[[“Are you crazy?”|Arecrazy-Wurstramite]]
~[[Wipe that grin off your face before I punch it off!”|GrinPunch-Wurstramite]]
Double-click this passage to edit it.Double-click this passage to edit it.Double-click this passage to edit it.“What was that for?” you demand, your face red with anger.
The newcomer laughs. “I wanted your seat.”
With that, he skirts around you and plops his backside down on the bench where you had just been. Glaen scowls at him, and the newcomer wiggles his fingers in hello.
Double-click this passage to edit it.Double-click this passage to edit it.