The explorer's life isn't easy. You've been descending through Germa cave for $days days now.
You've just arrived at the final [[campsite]].You crouch in a chest height limestone cavern about 20 feet wide illuminated only by the yellow glow of a lantern. Beside the lantern there are several (if: $story is 2)[{[[sleeping bags]]}](else:)[sleeping bags] and a crate containing the last expedition's extra (if: $speleofood)[{[[supplies]]}](else:)[supplies]. You've spent $days days in these caves.
The (if: $story is 0 or 1 or 3)[{[[speleologist]]}](else:)[speleologist] sits hunched over the lamp scribbling at a map.
To one side of the campsite a vertical shaft leads upwards. The path to the surface is this way.
Opposite from the exit is a two foot opening in the cave wall. The last expedition never entered this (if: $story > 3)[{[[crawlspace|crawl1]]}].This crate contains the supplies that the previous expedition left for you before they abandoned [[camp|campsite]]. There is food and water here for you and your companion to survive for several days before heading back to the surface.
[[Make yourself some food]]
[[Make some food for the Speleologist]]This passage is only about two feet tall. You have to crawl on your hands and knees to push [[forward|crawl2]]. The passage continues. It is only about two feet tall. You have to crawl on your hands and knees to push [[forward|crawl3]].There's gravel here. You're glad you brought kneepads. You have to crawl on your hands and knees to push [[forward|crawl4]].=><=
You stand on a ledge. Below you a vertical shaft stretches into the depths of the Earth. There is a pile of [[rope|descent]] that you could anchor to an outcropping and abseil down.
(color: (hsl: 24, 0.80, 0.50))[The shaft leads deeper]
(color: (hsl: 24, 0.72, 0.45))[And deeper]
(color: (hsl: 24, 0.64, 0.40))[And deeper]
(color: (hsl: 24, 0.56, 0.35))[And deeper]
(color: (hsl: 24, 0.48, 0.30))[And deeper]
(color: (hsl: 24, 0.40, 0.25))[And deeper]
(color: (hsl: 24, 0.32, 0.20))[And deeper]
(color: (hsl: 24, 0.24, 0.15))[And deeper]
(color: (hsl: 24, 0.16, 0.10))[And deeper]
(color: (hsl: 24, 0.08, 0.05))[And deeper]
(color: (hsl: 24, 0.01, 0.01))[And deeper](set: $days to 5)(set: $story to 0)(set: $radio to 0)(set: $speleo to 0)(set: $speleofood to true)
=><=
[[Depth|Start]]
by Jack Toth
"I still get nightmares. In fact I get them so frequently I should really be used to them by now. I'm not. No one ever really gets used to nightmares"
Johnny Truant, //(color: blue)[House] of Leaves//
Mark. Z. DanielewskiYour childhood friend and companion in this expedition. You're an expert in traversing caves and she's an expert in their composition. She wrote the grant for this expedition.
(if: $story is 0)[{[[Say hi]]}
](if: $story is (1,3))[{[[Check in]]}
]You really should catch up with your companion before leaving [[camp|campsite]].(font: "Courgette")[Hey there. We should be at 2420 meters now. The maps from the other expedition end just a little bit past here. We should sleep here and continue once we're rested]
(if: $story<2)[{[[Yeah, I'm tired|say hi 1]]}
][[I'm gonna explore a little bit more before bed|Check in]](set: $speleo to $speleo + 1)(set: $story to 2)(font: "Courgette")[Great, let's talk when you wake up]
[[return to camp|campsite]](set: $food to (either: 0,1,2,3))(set: $speleofood to false)
(if: $food is 0)[
[[You make yourself some beans and rice. Little else is still edible.|campsite]]
](if: $food is 1)[
[[You discover a box of mac and cheese among the supplies. Unfortunately the box is empty. You eat some stale bread instead.|campsite]]
](if: $food is 2)[
[[The bread has gone stale, but you eat it anyway|campsite]]
](if: $food is 3)[
[[You choke on a can of old tuna|campsite]]
](set: $speleo to $speleo + 1)(set: $speleofood to false)She seems pleased. She thanks you and returns to her maps. The [[cave|campsite]] is silent other than the sound of her eating.The ceiling drops to about one foot off the ground here. You have to crawl on your belly to push [[forward|crawl5]].The passage continues. It is about two feet tall. You have to crawl on your hands and knees to push [[forward|cavern1]].(set: $days to $days + 1)
(if: $story is (0,2))[(set: $story to 3)]
You tuck yourself in and go to sleep. A while later you are awoken by (if: (either: 0, 1) is 0)[your alarm](else:)[the Speleologist]. You struggle out of your sleeping bag into the [[campsite]] itself.(set: $story to 4)(font: "Courgette")[Alright, here's what we've got to go off of. The last expedition made it here before they decided to turn back. Something about an injury. That crawlspace over there supposedly leads to the way down. Can't tell you much about what to expect, but you're about to break the record for deepest cave ever explored. When you're done come back to the [[campsite]]. Be careful while you're down there. I'll be taking speleotherm samples from up here today and our radios aren't going to work through solid stone, so don't get into any trouble.]It's dangerous to go caving without proper rest. You're far too professional to leave the [[camp|campsite]] this tired!=><=
(text-rotate:90)[The]
(text-rotate:90)[rope]
(text-rotate:90)[descends]
(text-rotate:90)[down]
(text-rotate:90)[this]
(text-rotate:90)[vertical]
(text-rotate:90)[shaft]
(text-rotate:90)[for]
(text-rotate:90)[quite]
(text-rotate:90)[some]
(text-rotate:90)[distance,]
(text-rotate:90)[requiring]
(text-rotate:90)[significant]
(text-rotate:90)[exertion]
(text-rotate:90)[to]
(text-rotate:90)[safely]
(text-rotate:90)[descend.]
(text-rotate:90)[You]
(text-rotate:90)[really]
(text-rotate:90)[didn't]
(text-rotate:90)[expect]
(text-rotate:90)[it]
(text-rotate:90)[to]
(text-rotate:90)[go]
(text-rotate:90)[this]
(text-rotate:90)[far]
(text-rotate:90)[down]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[You're]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[beginning]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[to]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[tire]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[as]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[you]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[struggle]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[to]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[keep]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[your]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[grip]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[on]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[the]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[rope]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[without]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[slipping.]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[You're]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[not]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[really]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[sure]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[how]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[much]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[longer]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[you]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[can]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[keep]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[this]]
(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[up.]]
(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[If]]]
(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[you]]]
(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[don't]]]
(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[reach]]]
(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[the]]]
(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[bottom]]]
(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[of]]]
(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[this]]]
(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[shaft]]]
(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[soon]]]
(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[you're]]]
(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[probably]]]
(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[going]]]
(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[to]]]
==>
(color: #363330)[unless you grab a [[ledge]]]
=><=
(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[end]]]
(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[up]]]
(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shudder")[(text-rotate:90)[{[[falling|fall]]}]]]You stand on a stone shelf jutting out from the shaft walls. There would appear to be a foot-wide [[gap]] in some stone here that you could squeeze through.[[Nobody survives that kind of a fall. Your neck snaps upon impact|death]]Squeezing through the gap, you begin to hear a bubbling sound coming from ahead of you. [[Water]] is not unknown in deep caves, but it is often [[treacherous]].A (color: blue)[sump]. Great. You'll have to dive through that. You almost died [[diving]] once before, and that was when you were properly prepared, with an oxygen tank and everything. [[Diving|diving]] a (color: blue)[sump] now would be suicidal. Besides, nobody told you about a (color: blue)[sump] on this expedition, you don't have to [[dive|diving]] it if you don't want to, right? That's not in your job description.As you are contemplating the dangers of diving a sump underground, your foot catches in a crag in the crevasse that you're squeezing through. You've dealt with this before, there's no need to [[panic]]. Take your time and [[think]] through it.(text-style: "shudder")[(text-style: "smear")[(color: red)[Holy shit this wasn't [[supposed|break your ankle]] to happen. How did [[you|break your ankle]] let this happen? You're a professional you're supposed to be better than this. This is just like that time in the ocean when the [[whispering|break your ankle]] came for you. No. Stop. It's not like that. You're supposed to remain [[calm|thinkprep]] under pressure not [[break|break your ankle]]. This time you're not drowning. This time there's nothing [[hunting|break your ankle]] you. You need to [[sit down|break your ankle]] and [[think|thinkprep]] about this before you [[hurt yourself|break your ankle]]]]]You try to wiggle your foot free but it's rather stuck. You might [[break your ankle]] if you move too quickly. Wouldn't want to do that. You could try again to [[wiggle your foot free|think2]].=><=
(color: red)[(text-style: "Smear")[{(text-rotate: 60)[Rip](text-rotate: -15)[Tear](text-rotate: 30)[Crunch]}]]
Old injuries resurface as your ankle [[shatters|stumblecave]]You try to wiggle your foot free but it's rather stuck. You might [[break your ankle]] if you move too quickly. Wouldn't want to do that. You could try again to [[wiggle your foot free|think3]].
(color: (hsl: 24, 0.80, 0.15))[You hear a soft whispering sound behind you. You've heard it once before on a trip to the ocean with your father]You try to wiggle your foot free but it's rather stuck. You might [[break your ankle]] if you move too quickly. Wouldn't want to do that. You could try again to [[wiggle your foot free|think4]].
(color: (hsl: 24, 0.80, 0.30))[You hear a soft whispering sound behind you. It sounds just like it did in the deep water when your father took you diving the first time]You try to wiggle your foot free but it's rather stuck. You might [[break your ankle]] if you move too quickly. Wouldn't want to do that. You could try again to [[wiggle your foot free|thinkdeath]].
(text-style: "rumble")[(color: white)[You hear a raucous (color: red)[(text-style: "smear")[WHISPER]] behind you. Louder than you've ever heard it before. You never saw the creature that bit you in the ocean. How could it be here?]][[As you balance yourself on your free foot trying to unstick yourself from the rocks, an immense presence fills the space behind you. Seconds later something sharp slams into the back of your head|death]]You steady yourself and breath for a few moments before attempting to [[wriggle your foot free|think]]=><=
You stumble to the floor into a stone chamber, clutching your (color: red)[bloody ankle]. (color: blue)[Water] trickles from a crack in the ceiling into a still pool of (color: blue)[water] that saturates the floor here. This would appear to be the (color: blue)[sump] that you heard before. In order to continue through here, you'll need to dive through it, but you have no idea how far it goes. You could (link-reveal: "shine a light on it")[
(color: blue)[
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
You dip your flashlight into the sump and shine it into the depths. You can see an opening a few meters forward, apparently leading to an [[open space]] beyond.]](color: blue)[You dive under the water and make for the other end of the sump. The water tastes clean, filtered as it is through millenia of solid stone, unsullied until your (color: red)[blood] mingles with it as you [[swim]]]=><=
(color: blue)[
Once long ago, when you were very young, you took a trip with your father into the deep ocean. You'd been training for months to dive on your own. You were ready.
And yet, something had felt wrong that day. There had been a smell in the air quite unlike the salty ocean air, and there had been a [[whispering]] that you couldn't get out of your head.
]=><=
(color: blue)[(text-style: "Blur")[
You dove under the water and put the sound out of your head. It wasn't real anyway.
You followed your father under the ocean waves, taking careful slow breaths from your respirator and enjoying the elation of swimming freely for the first time, not bound by the strangling burden of breath.
A [[whispering|whispering2]] continued to bubble in your mind
]]=><=
(color: blue)[(text-style: "blur")[
The (color: red)[WHISPERING] wouldn't go away. What was it? You looked around and saw nothing. No shapes, no lights, no motion, just darkness and the grey-green stink of the deep ocean enveloping you. You looked up, where was the boat? Where was your father? Where were you?]]
<==
(color: white)[(text-rotate: 45)[{[[shark?|shark]]}]]
=><=
(color: blue)[(text-style: "blur")[The (color: red)[WHISPERING] continued, and would not go away. You spun and tried to locate it. What could it be?
]]
==>
(color: white)[(text-rotate: -80)[{[[squid?|squid]]}]]
=><=
(color: blue)[(text-style: "blur")[It got louder and louder as you spun in circles in the dark green water, frantically searching for the source of the noise as it grew in intensity. Louder and louder, the (color: red)[WHISPERING] resonated in your head until finally...]]
<==
(color: white)[(text-rotate: -30)[{[[eel?|eel]]}]](color: red)[
That's what it was. A shark. It had to be. It had snuck up behind you and taken a chunk out of your [[ankle|break your ankle]]](color: red)[
That's what it was. A squid. It had to be. It had snuck up behind you and enveloped your [[ankle|break your ankle]] in its tentacles, sinking its beak into your flesh.](color: red)[
That's what it was. An eel. It had to be. It had stunned you with an electrical impulse and had sunk its razor sharp teeth into your [[ankle|break your ankle]]](color: blue)[Your (color: red)[blood] spreads out from the (color: red)[wound] in your (color: red)[ankle] as you (color: red)[swim] toward the [[opening|opening]] (color: red)[above] you. A (color: blue)[(text-style: "smear")[(color: red)[WHISPER]]] resurfaces in your (color: red)[mind], long-forgotten]=><=
(color: red)[Where did it go? The opening is missing. The entrance to the sump that you came from is gone too. You're swimming in a pool of your own blood
The [[WHISPER|the whisper returns for you]] is louder now]=><=
(set: $read to 0)(font: "GLYPH")[(link: "It's good to see you again")[(font: "Rock Salt")[(color: red)[(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shadow")[(set: $read to $read+1)It's good to see you again]]]]]]
(font: "GLYPH")[(link: "You really must be more careful. It wouldn't do for you to hurt yourself")[(font: "Rock Salt")[(color: red)[(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shadow")[(set: $read to $read+1)You really must be more careful. It wouldn't do for you to hurt yourself]]]]]]
(font: "GLYPH")[(link: "After all, where would I be without you?")[(font: "Rock Salt")[(color: red)[(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shadow")[(set: $read to $read+1)After all, where would (live: 0.5s)[(if: $read is 3)[{[[I]]}](else:)[I]] be without you?]]]]]]=><=
(color: red)[The Speleologist appears before you, suspended in your blood, hair flowing around you both like a matted red halo. Her mouth yawns open and she (color: white)[(text-style: "smear")[(color: red)[WHISPERS]]] to you]
(font: "GLYPH")[(link: "I'll make this painless")[(font: "Rock Salt")[(color: red)[(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shadow")[I'll make this [[pain]]less]]]]]](set: $left to false)(set: $right to false)(set: $days to $days+1)You give in to the pain in your (color: red)[ankle] just before the Speleologist's hand reaches out to touch you. You wake up on the other side of the sump, lying face down in a small puddle of (color: red)[blood]. Was that really her? You've known the Speleologist all your life, [[she's your best friend]]. Could it be true that [[she's the source of the whisper?|cavern2]](set: $speleo to $speleo + 1)(display: "cavern2")=><=
Before you is a cavern about 20ft wide. Behind you lies the (if: $left and $right)[{[[sump]]}](else:)[(color: red)[sump]]. There is a crawlspace on the left and a passage to your right. Above each something has been carved into the wall
|==
Crawlspace
(if: $left)[{(font: "Rock Salt")[(color: yellow)[Go]]}](else:)[{(font: "GLYPH")[{[[Left]]}]}]
==|
Passage
(if: $right)[{(font: "Rock Salt")[(color: yellow)[Back]]}](else:)[{(font: "GLYPH")[{[[Right]]}]}]The crawlspace leads to a small cave about the size of a closet. You manage to squeeze in, scraping your (if: $right)[(color: red)[chest]](else:)[chest]. On the floor you find a [[radio]]You walk through the passage to the right. Stalagmites block your path. You'll have to [[squeeze|stal]] through them.You pick up the radio and attempt to [[call the Speleologist]].=><=
The radio buzzes as it [[rings|call2]]=><=
The radio buzzes as it [[rings|call3]]
(color: (hsl: 24, 0.80, 0.15))[You hear the beginnings of the whisper returning]=><=
The radio buzzes as it [[rings|call4]]
(color: (hsl: 24, 0.80, 0.45))[It's back]The Speleologist picks up the radio
(font: "Courgette")[Hey, how's it going down there?]
[[Not great|what's wrong?]]
[[we need to talk|what's wrong?]](font: "Courgette")[What's wrong?]
[[You tell me, you tried to kill me!|speleomad]]
[[I'm not sure. Something's following me. It looked like you|call5]](set: $speleo to $speleo - 1)(font: "Courgette")[What are you talking about? I've been up here the whole time waiting for you to get back! You're worrying me!]
[[Maybe you're right, I must be crazy|speleohap]]
[[No I know what I saw. We were in a pool of my blood and you tried to kill me|callwhisper]](font: "Courgette")[I've been up here the whole time. Are you sure you're ok to explore down there? I'm getting worried up here]
[[You're right, but I can't make it back up on my own|speleohap]]
[[Yeah I'm OK. I didn't come here to give up|callwhisper]](set: $speleo to $speleo + 1)(display: "callwhisper")(color: red)[She pauses a moment before saying]
(font: "GLYPH")[(link: "This really would be easier if you'd stay put")[(font: "Rock Salt")[(color: red)[(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shadow")[This really would be easier if you'd [[stay|callwhisper2]] put]]]]]](color: red)[her bloody hand reaches out of the radio at you. You throw it down and [[jump to your feet]], yelping as your weight falls on your broken ankle](set: $left to true)You find yourself standing in the same cave, staring at a rock on the ground where you threw the radio. You limp back to the [[junction|cavern2]]As you've wedged yourself between two stalagmites, the (color: white)[(text-style: "smear")[(color: red)[WHISPER]]] rushes in all at once
(font: "GLYPH")[(link: "I don't think you'll be needing this")[(font: "Rock Salt")[(color: red)[(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shadow")[I don't think you'll be needing [[this|dark]]]]]]]]A hand quickly snatches away your flashlight, and for a brief moment you see the Speleologist, illuminated by it's glow, before she flicks it off, plunging you into [[darkness]](color: #252525)[The cave is pitch black. You can't see a thing as you stumble blindly around in the dark. As you bump into stalagmites, she speaks]
(font: "GLYPH")[(link: "Stop trying to escape. For once in your life I need you to stay and listen to me")[(font: "Rock Salt")[(color: red)[(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shadow")[Stop trying to escape. For once in your life I need you to [[stay and listen]] to me]]]]]](color: #252525)[You stand and listen. You hear footsteps around you, but with all the echoing you can't really localize them]
(font: "GLYPH")[(link: "Thank you. I've tried to keep you from coming here, to no avail. It isn't safe, but you'd never listen to me would you?")[(font: "Rock Salt")[(color: red)[(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shadow")[Thank you. I've tried to keep you from coming here, to no avail. It isn't safe, but you'd never listen to me would you?]]]]
(font: "Playfair Display SC")[{}[[I'm listening now]]
[[You just tried to kill me, how is that keeping me safe?|hurt]]{}]]](color: #252525)[The footsteps stop suddenly. A low growl echoes throughout the otherwise silent cavern]
(font: "GLYPH")[(link: "I can see that. This is the first time you've ever listened to me. Hopefully we can make some progress now")[(font: "Rock Salt")[(color: red)[(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shadow")[I can see that. This is the first time you've ever listened to me. Hopefully we can make some progress now]]]]
(font: "Playfair Display SC")[{}[[Fine, what is it you want?]]
[[No, get me out of here|get out]]{}]]](color: #252525)[The footsteps stop suddenly. A low growl echoes throughout the otherwise silent cavern]
(font: "GLYPH")[(link: "What was I suppsoed to do? You were on a path that led straight here, into the depths of the Earth itself. The others always encouraged you to follow your dreams. I was the only one who told you the truth")[(font: "Rock Salt")[(color: red)[(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shadow")[What was I supposed to do? You were on a path that led straight here, into the depths of the Earth itself. You shouldn't be here. I was only (text-style: "shudder")[looking out for you]]]]]
(font: "Playfair Display SC")[{}[[That's a lie. If you were looking out for me you wouldn't be attacking me|lie]]
[[I don't want your advice. I want to get out of here|get out]]{}]]](color: #252525)[The cave is silent save for the whisper and your own breath]
(font: "GLYPH")[(link: "That's the spirit. Come here")[(font: "Rock Salt")[(color: red)[(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shadow")[That's the spirit. Come here]]]]
(font: "Playfair Display SC")[{}(color: #252525)[Far away, on the other side of the cavern, your [[flashlight]] lights up]{}]]](color: #252525)[The cave is silent save for the whisper and your own breath]
(font: "GLYPH")[(link: "And what are you going to do about it? You think you can stumble your way out of here in the dark?")[(font: "Rock Salt")[(color: red)[(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shadow")[And what are you going to do about it? You think you can stumble your way out of here in the dark?]]]]
(font: "Playfair Display SC")[{}(color: #252525)[Far away, on the other side of the cavern, your [[flashlight]] lights up]{}]]](color: #252525)[The cave is silent save for the whisper and your own breath]
(font: "GLYPH")[(link: "I don't see how you're going to do that without my help")[(font: "Rock Salt")[(color: red)[(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shadow")[I don't see how you're going to do that without my help]]]]
(font: "Playfair Display SC")[{}(color: #252525)[Far away, on the other side of the cavern, your [[flashlight]] lights up]{}]]](color: #252525)[Across the cave lies the Speleologist. Or the whisper. Or what have you. She's waiting for you. Other than the [[light]] from the flashlight, you can see nothing else. You're completely lost]=><=
(color: #252525)[You walk toward her, one foot in front of the other]
(color: #353535)[The light grows steadily closer as you push forward]
(color: #505050)[Finally only a single large stalagmite separates you from her]
You limp around the corner and come face to face with [[the Speleologist]]She stands before you, flashlight in one hand and the broken-off tip of a stalagmite in the other. Her lips part in an approximation of a smile as you approach. (color: red)[blood] drips from her hair and hands. You're pretty sure it's yours.
(font: "GLYPH")[(link: "Will you finally listen to me, or are you going to fight like always?")[(font: "Rock Salt")[(color: red)[(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shadow")[Will you finally give in, or are you going to fight like always?]]]]
(font: "Playfair Display SC")[{}[[I've had enough. Fine]]
[[No. Give me the flashlight, I'm leaving]]{}]]]She walks up to you, takes the Stalagmite tip, and jabs it into your neck. You keel over, spilling (color: red)[blood] from multiple wounds.
(font: "GLYPH")[{[[Took you long enough|death]]}](set: $right to true)She laughs, (color: red)[blood]-matted hair spilling into her face and mouth as she does so.
(font: "GLYPH")[(link: "It's never easy with you, is it?")[(font: "Rock Salt")[(color: red)[(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shadow")[It's never easy with you is it?]]]]
(font: "Playfair Display SC")[{}She drops the flashlight, dashes forward, and jabs the stalagmite tip into your (color: red)[chest] before disappearing into the darkness. You pick up the flashlight and hobble back into the [[junction|cavern2]]{}]]]Dead in a cave miles under the Earth. You never thought it would end this way, but then again, [[an explorer's life isn't easy|init]](color: red)[You splash into the sump and claw your way through the already bloody water. Your chest and ankle spill even more of your own life into the sump's unforgiving depths.]
[[But you make it out]]You make it back to the ledge where you almost fell before. Since you left it would seem that the Speleologist has installed [[additional climbing equipment]]. She must have come looking for you earlier.
(color: (hsl: 24, 0.80, 0.15))[It's coming back already][[Crawling the tunnel|camp visit 2]] takes longer than it did before, but you persevere. Your (color: red)[bleeding chest] slicks the ground enough to get you through.You crouch in a (color: red)[chest] height limestone cavern about 20 feet wide illuminated only by the yellow glow of a lantern. Beside the lantern there are several sleeping bags and a crate containing the last expedition's extra supplies. You've spent $days days in these caves.
To one side of the campsite a vertical shaft leads upwards. The path to the surface is this way.
Opposite from the exit is a two foot opening in the cave wall.
The [[speleologist|speleoend]] looks up as you approach and shouts at the sight of so much (color: red)[blood].(font: "Courgette")[Oh my god what happened to you!? You look half-dead. Come here, let's get you bandaged up and get out of here]
|==
(if: $speleo > 1)[{[[Please get me out of here]]}](else:)[(link: "Please get me out of here")[(font: "Rock Salt")[(color: red)[(text-style: "rumble")[(text-style: "shadow")[I won't allow it]]]]]]
==|
[[You've been trying to kill me this whole time! It's your turn now!]]With the element of surprise on your side, you dispatch of her quite easily. Her lifeless body tumbles to the floor in a heap, leaving you alone in the cave, crippled and bloody. As your blood leaves your body, you feel the edges of your vision dimming. Without help, how will you [[get out of here?|end]]=><=
The End
There are multiple different storylines for this game. If you're interested, feel free to play again and try to find another.The Speleologist bandages you up and, over the course of several days, carries you back to the surface. You wake to find yourself in a [[hospital]](color: white)[Light streams in through the windows. The Speleologist stands in the corner and jumps to her feet as you awake. She (link-reveal: "speaks")[
(link-reveal: "It's good to see you again")[
(link-reveal: "You really must be more careful. It wouldn't do for you to hurt yourself")[
[[After all, what would I do without you?|end]]]]]]