The Hunt for Inspiration: The RPG

Apologies! Your web browser lacks required capabilities. Please consider upgrading it or switching to a more modern web browser.

Initializing. Please wait…

It is said that in the Echoing Caves, beyond the forests of the east, there lies an ancient and mysterious creature that almost no one has ever seen before. It is rumoured that this creature grants any artist who tames it the ability to create things like no other. However, finding it is no small task, for one must brave the fearsome creatures that lurk in the shadows. You are an aspiring artist on the quest to find the creature known as Inspiration and tame it in order to bring honour to your father's memory, and to become the best artist the world has ever known. What is your name? <<textbox "$name" "">> [[Continue.|Intro2]]

You've packed your belongings: some [[food|Food1]], a [[picture of your parents]], and [[an old paintbrush|Paintbrush1]]. You look out the window and wonder if you are strong enough to return from this journey. Your mother hasn't been the same since your father passed away, and you worry about her day and night. It was a miracle that she'd even let you go on this adventure, considering that this was the exact same thing that caused your father's demise. [[Go downstairs.|Intro3]] <><<set $ATK = $ATK + $paintbrush1>><<set $food = $food + 1>><<endnobr>>

Just food. Handy during battles. + 10 HP <<back>>

This was taken before your father left to search for Inspiration. Your mother is still smiling in the photograph. If you could only relive one moment in your life, it would be the moment caught in the photograph. <<back>>

A cheap old paintbrush handed down to you from your great-grandparents. It looks like it's going to break any second now, but it won't. (Hopefully.) + <<print $paintbrush1>> ATK <<back>>

You go downstairs to see your mother in the kitchen. She's quietly chopping up some vegetables when she sees you with your things. She smiles sadly. "Leaving so soon, <<print $name>>?" [[I'll be back. I promise.|Intro4]]

You go to your mother and embrace her tightly. You don't know what kind of troubles you might face on your quest, but nothing's going to stop you from coming back home to your mother. "<<print $name>>," she says, a tear rolling down her cheek. "is there anything I can do to stop you?" [[I'm afraid not, mother.|Intro5]]

She nods solemnly. "I understand. It's an artist's dream to find Inspiration." She grabs your hand and looks you deeply in the eye. "Promise me you'll be careful." [[You nod. Of course.|Intro6]]

You kiss her on the cheek goodbye and turn to leave, but she stops you. "Wait, <<print $name>>. I forgot to give you something." She goes to the other room and returns with a small satchel of coins and some food. "It's the least I can do." You wipe a tear away before hugging her one last time. [[Leave.|Intro7]] <<set $food = $food + 1>>

You leave your home, step through the village gates, and find yourself at the edge of the forest. You look back one last time and remember everyone and everything you've left behind: your mother, your friends... ...You must return victorious. [[Go to the forest.|Forest1]]

The trees are tall and provide much shade. It feels good to not have the sun beating down on your back for once, and to have a cold breeze against your skin. You find yourself lost in the scenery; you don't leave the village very often. Now that you think about it, not too many people leave the village very often either. Outside the village gates, danger is always afoot. Only the bravest people venture beyond them in the search for glory and Inspiration. There is a large pile of leaves in front of you. Perhaps there is something useful in it? [[Scavenge.|Scavenge1]] [[Ignore it and move on.|Forest2]]

You didn't think you would find anything of value in a pile of leaves, but lo and behold, you found an apple! [[Continue.|Forest2]] <<set $food = $food + 1>> <<set $scavenge1 to "found">>

<<if $scavenge1 is "found">><>That apple may not be much, but it's definitely something. Starving to death is not the way you'd want to go.<<endnobr>><<endif>> In the distance, you hear a faint rustling. Is there someone in the forest? ...Could it be bandits? [[Proceed with caution.|Forest3]]

<<set $PHP = 100>> <<set $food = 0>> <<set $ATK = 0>> <<set $DEF = 10>> <<set $paintbrush1 = 10>> <<set $paintbrush2 = 20>> <<set $palette1 = 10>> <<set $MonsterHP = 50>> <<set $MonsterATK = 10>> <<set $MonsterDEF = 0>>

You approach quietly, paintbrush at the ready. In this world, there is only one way to fight: with art. This brush may be past its prime, but it's definitely better than nothing. If you can paint the proper attack rune, then you'll be fine. Of course, you probably should've brought some paint with you. [[Shit.|Forest4]]

You pat down your pockets, and by some miracle you have a small pot of ink on you. It's not enough for the entirety of your journey, but perhaps it will be enough for this one encounter. You creep slowly towards the source of the noise... ... and a strange dark creature pounces on you! [[Fight!|Fight1]]

<><<if $MonsterATK > $DEF>><<set $PHP = $PHP - ($MonsterATK - $DEF)>><<endif>> <<if $MonsterATK <= $DEF>><<set $PHP = $PHP>><<endif>><<endnobr>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You block! |!???|!<<print $name>>| |HP: <<print $MonsterHP>>|HP: <<print $PHP>>| |ATK: <<print $MonsterATK>>|ATK: <<print $ATK>>| |DEF: <<print $MonsterDEF>>|DEF: <<print $DEF>>| What do you do? [[Attack!|Fight1Attack]] [[Guard!|Fight1Guard]] <<if $food > 0>>[[Heal!|Fight1Heal]] (Food left: <<print $food>>)<<endif>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP <=0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You died! <<back [[Try again!|Fight1]]>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP <=0>> You did it! You survived the fight. [[Continue.|Forest5]] <<endif>>

<><<set $PHP = $PHP - $MonsterATK>> <<set $MonsterHP = $MonsterHP - $ATK>><<endnobr>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You manage to land a blow, but so does the creature! |!???|!<<print $name>>| |HP: <<print $MonsterHP>>|HP: <<print $PHP>>| |ATK: <<print $MonsterATK>>|ATK: <<print $ATK>>| |DEF: <<print $MonsterDEF>>|DEF: <<print $DEF>>| What do you do? [[Attack!|Fight1Attack]] [[Guard!|Fight1Guard]] <<if $food > 0>>[[Heal!|Fight1Heal]] (Food left: <<print $food>>)<<endif>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP <=0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You died! <<back [[Try again!|Fight1]]>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP <=0>> You did it! You survived the fight. [[Continue.|Forest5]] <<endif>>

Fighting with a century old paintbrush is hard work since the bristles keep you from drawing the runes properly. You find yourself falling to your knees with exhaustion, and you realise that your pot of ink is empty. In the distance, you see a shadowy figure of what appears to be a person approach you menacingly. You raise your brush to defend yourself, but you know you don't have the means to fight back if they tried to hurt you. [[Collapse of exhaustion.|Cave1]]

... [[>>>|Cave2]]

You wake up. [[Look around.|Cave3]]

You seem to be in a cave of sorts. There's a small fire to your right that's keeping you warm. You're laying in an old improvised bed. <<if $PHP < 100>>Your wounds seem to have been tended to.<<endif>> Your belongings are set aside, as though someone has gone through them. Across from you, you see the same stranger from before. He looks old and battle-hardened, scars marking his skin like lightning bolts. He dons armor that seems to be made of strange animal pelts, and he has a palette knife in a sheath laying at his side. Did he bring you here? Is he an artist? What does he want from you? It looks like he's sleeping right now. What should you do? [[Grab your things and leave quietly.|Cave4][$strangeraction to "sneak"]] Better not to cause trouble. [[Try to take his palette knife.|Cave4][$strangeraction to "hostile"]] You might need it more than he does. [[Wake him up.|Cave4][$strangeraction to "peaceful"]] He helped you. You need to know why. <<set $PHP to 100>>

<<if $strangeraction is "hostile">> You get up quietly and reach for his knife. "What do you think you're doing?" [[You freeze.|Cave5]] <<endif>> <<if $strangeraction is "sneak">> You get up quietly and gather your belongings. It doesn't look like anything is missing, so that's good. You quietly thank the man in your mind before heading for the cave entrance. "Where are you going?" [[You turn around.|Cave5]] <<endif>> <<if $strangeraction is "peaceful">> You get up and go through your belongings. Nothing's missing. He clearly doesn't mean any harm. "So you're up already?" [[You look to him.|Cave5]] <<endif>>

<<if $strangeraction is "hostile">> You try to explain yourself but incoherent words roll off of your tongue. He raises his hand to stop you, and you feel the blood drain from your face. "I would've appreciated it if you didn't try to steal things from me." <<endif>> <<if $strangeraction is "sneak">> "Not even a goodbye?" he says, smirking slightly. You stammer an apology, but he waves it away saying that it's okay. <<endif>> <<if $strangeraction is "peaceful">> "Glad to see that you're okay." <<endif>> [["Who are you?" you ask.|Cave6]]

"I'm Janus," he says in a baritone voice. "a painter who fought by your father's side." <<if $strangeraction is "hostile">>He frowns. "And I'm not someone you should steal from."<<endif>> <<if $strangeraction is "hostile">>[[I'm sorry.|Cave7]]<<else>>[[You're an artist?|Cave7]]<<endif>>

<<if $strangeraction is "hostile">> He narrows his eyes at you, and a tense silence follows. "...it's fine." he says eventually.<<else>>"Yes, I am." he says, gesturing to his palette knife and his bag, which is filled with jars of differently-colored oil paints.<<endif>> "You look so much like your father. You are Jasper's kid, right? <<print $name>>, was it?<<if $strangeraction is "hostile">> You didn't just steal this photograph of his family?<<endif>>" [[Yeah, I am.|Cave8]]

Janus smiles and shakes his head. "He was a real good sculptor. Handled a hammer and chisel like nothing I've ever seen." He takes out what looks like a drink and takes a long gulp. "You remind me a lot of him, actually." <<if $strangeraction is "hostile">>He pauses. "Sans the stealing, of course."<<endif>> [[What happened to him?|Cave9]]

He stops, as if he reliving something absolutely horrible. "A bad artblock attack. We were in the Echoing Caves, the trail for Inspiration still hot. But we got jumped. I was still using tempera, and the runetraps I set chipped off..." He trails off and stares into space. [[I'm so sorry.|Cave10]]

He shakes his head. "I should be telling that to you, <<print $name>>." He offers you the drink, but you decline. "Never found his body. Couldn't face anyone else after that, so I've been living out here in the forest in case anyone needed my help." "I see potential in you, kid." he says, gesturing at you. "The way you handled that brush was pretty good. How long have you been painting?" [[I just learned a few weeks ago, actually.|Cave11]]

He raises an eyebrow. "Really? And you managed to beat an artblock with that crusty old brush and a pot of cheap ink?" He chuckles before standing up. "You came out here to finish what your father started, right?" [[Yeah.|Cave12]]

He tosses you a [[strange, hollow brush that's filled with ink]] and [[a palette]]. "Here, some equipment that won't make you shit your pants next time you get in a fight." You accept the equipment gratefully, but keep your family heirloom in your bag. It would upset your mother if you threw it away. [[What are we going to do?|Cave13]] <<set $ATK = $ATK - $paintbrush1 + $paintbrush2>> <<set $DEF = $DEF + $palette1>>

The handle is hollow, and the ink flows out from it to the bristles. The ink doesn't seem to end. + <<print $paintbrush2>> ATK <<back>>

It's an artist's palette made of hard wood. + <<print $palette1>> DEF <<back>>

He brings out two sable-hair brushes. "We're going to find the Inspiration." [[Okay.|Forest6]]

You and Janus exit the cave, and find yourself in a completely different part of the forest, far away from your village. You can see [[runes]] painted onto the entrance of your dwelling. It looks like they've been there for quite some time. Next to you Janus brings out an old map. "I haven't been to the Echoing Caves in years." he says, carefully examining his map. "Haven't tried looking for Inspiration either. I just couldn't find the strength to go back there after what happened to Jasper." [[We'll do it for him.|Forest7]]

You're only a novice at painting, but it looks like they are runes of resistance and guarding. + 5 DEF [[Return.|Forest6]] <<set $DEF = $DEF + 5>>

He nods. "We will." You venture forward, paintbrushes at the ready. It seems that you stayed in that cave for quite a while; you left your village in the early evening, and now the noontime sun is high above your heads. The sunrays pour in between the leaves of the canopy high above you, and you can hear the chirping of birds and other wildlife as you go deeper into the forest. [[Onwards.|Forest8]]

<<set $encounter to either("yes","no")>> <<if $encounter is "yes">> You continue forward, but more of those strange creatures pounce upon the both of you. "Artblocks!" Janus shouts. [[Fight!|Fight2]] <<elseif $encounter is "no">> You continue forward without stopping. The further you venture into the forest, the more quiet it becomes. You worry that you might be attacked again, but you put your faith in your brush. [[Go onward.|Forest9]] <<endif>>

<<if $fight2 is "true">>"That was a close one." Janus says, wiping the oil paint off of his brush. "Good job with that brush, by the way." You thank him.<<endif>> "The Echoing Caves should be up north." he says. "If we keep going we can make it there by sundown." He sheathes his tools and gestures on forward. [[Continue.|Forest10]]

<><<set $PHP = $PHP - $MonsterATK>> <<set $MonsterHP = $MonsterHP - $ATK>><<endnobr>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You manage to land a blow, but so does the creature! |!Artblock|!<<print $name>>| |HP: <<print $MonsterHP>>|HP: <<print $PHP>>| |ATK: <<print $MonsterATK>>|ATK: <<print $ATK>>| |DEF: <<print $MonsterDEF>>|DEF: <<print $DEF>>| What do you do? [[Attack!|Fight2Attack]] [[Guard!|Fight2Guard]] <<if $food > 0>>[[Heal!|Fight2Heal]] (Food left: <<print $food>>)<<endif>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP <=0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You died! <<back [[Try again!|Fight2]]>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP <=0>> You did it! You have won. [[Continue.|Forest9]] <<endif>>

<><<if $MonsterATK > $DEF>><<set $PHP = $PHP - ($MonsterATK - $DEF)>><<endif>> <<if $MonsterATK <= $DEF>><<set $PHP = $PHP>><<endif>><<endnobr>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You block! |!Artblock|!<<print $name>>| |HP: <<print $MonsterHP>>|HP: <<print $PHP>>| |ATK: <<print $MonsterATK>>|ATK: <<print $ATK>>| |DEF: <<print $MonsterDEF>>|DEF: <<print $DEF>>| What do you do? [[Attack!|Fight2Attack]] [[Guard!|Fight2Guard]] <<if $food > 0>>[[Heal!|Fight2Heal]] (Food left: <<print $food>>)<<endif>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP <=0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You died! <<back [[Try again!|Fight2]]>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP <=0>> You did it! You have won. [[Continue.|Forest9]] <<endif>>

You climb uphill, hands always on your brushes in case you need to paint a quick rune. The environment around you gets quieter and quieter until you can't even hear the rustling of the leaves anymore. "What are those things?" you ask Janus in an attempt to fill the void of silence. "You mean the dark tar-like things that attack you? That's artblock." [[What's artblock?|Forest11]]

He doesn't turn to face you, he doesn't stop climbing. "Artblocks are horrible creatures that suck the creativity out of you." he explains a-matter-of-factly. "They are an artist's worst nightmare. Instead of allowing us to create using our abilities, we have to fend them off in order to live." He stops to spit at an imaginary artblock. "Fuck 'em." [[Why do they only show up in the forest?|Forest12]]

"They don't." Janus continues. "Their size varies in populated areas, though. They're usually just small and fly-like. They get smaller and smaller the nearer they are to hubs of creativity for some reason. At most, artblocks are just pests." He smirks. "Out here though, they're one hell of a problem." [[That makes sense.|Forest13]]

You continue your adventure towards the Echoing Caves, going further and further. Soon the trees started thinning out until you found yourselves at the foot of a mountain. There are [[runes|runes2]] carved into the boulders around you, and [[several piles of rocks]] as well. "We've made it to the foot of Mount Mochilo. We should probably rest now." You hadn't realised how tired you were until he said that; you can feel every bone in your body aching for rest. You look up to the sky and realise that it's almost night time. You look back and realise how far you've already come in two days. [[Yeah, let's rest.|Mountain1]]

These runes look much more complicated, and you can't make sense of them. <<back>>

Janus lays out two of his makeshift beds for the both of you. He paints a [[rune|rune3]] between the two of you which catches fire soon after before pulling out some food and a drink. "You want some?" he says, offering his meal to you. [[Sure.|Mountain2][$foodchoice to "yes"]] [[No thanks.|Mountain2][$foodchoice to "no"]]

<<if $foodchoice is "yes">>You take his offer and sit down to eat.<<elseif $foodchoice is "no">>You sit down and eat your own food.<<set $food = $food - 1>><<endif>> "You okay, <<print $name>>?" he asks after a while. "Hope the food's helping you." [[It is.|Mountain3]] <<set $PHP = 100>>

"That's good." he replies, finishing off the last of his meal. "Anyway, we should get some rest. The easy part of the quest is over. Now we have to climb the mountain to get to the cave, and trust me, that is no easy task with all the artblocks living up there." You nod. He's probably right. "I'm gonna go paint some protection runes. You rest up." [[Go to sleep.|Mountain4]]

These are rocks. You don't know what else to say. [[Scavenge.|Scavenge2]] <<back>>

Surprisingly there's some old bread here. You don't know how old the bread is, but beggars can't be choosers. [[Return to Janus.|Mountain1]] <<set $food = $food + 1>>

... [[>>>|Mountain5]]

Rustle, rustle. [[..?|Mountain6]]

You're still groggy from sleep, but you get up. What was that noise? [[Look around.|Mountain7]]

It's dark, with only a smidgen of moonlight piercing through the clouds to light your way. The fire that Janus started has long since burned out. Janus himself is sound asleep, his mouth hanging open as he snores. But he's not the rustling you heard earlier. You squint and look around. Nothing seems to be different, but as a precaution you grab your brush and palette. [[Listen for the sound again.|Mountain8]]

Rustle, rustle. There it is again! Where is it coming from... [[Look to your right.|Mountain9]] [[Look to your left.|Mountain9]] [[Look behind you.|Mountain9]]

Before you had time to turn around, you were suddenly tackled by another artblock! You kick and shout to get Janus' attention, but you see that he's already been woken up by another attacker! [[Fight!|Fight3]]

<><<set $PHP = $PHP - $MonsterATK>> <<set $MonsterHP = $MonsterHP - $ATK>><<endnobr>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You manage to land a blow, but so does the creature! |!Artblock|!<<print $name>>| |HP: <<print $MonsterHP>>|HP: <<print $PHP>>| |ATK: <<print $MonsterATK>>|ATK: <<print $ATK>>| |DEF: <<print $MonsterDEF>>|DEF: <<print $DEF>>| What do you do? [[Attack!|Fight3Attack]] [[Guard!|Fight3Guard]] <<if $food > 0>>[[Heal!|Fight3Heal]] (Food left: <<print $food>>)<<endif>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP <=0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You died! <<back [[Try again!|Fight3]]>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP <=0>> You did it! You have won. [[Continue.|Mountain10]] <<endif>>

<><<if $MonsterATK > $DEF>><<set $PHP = $PHP - ($MonsterATK - $DEF)>><<endif>> <<if $MonsterATK <= $DEF>><<set $PHP = $PHP>><<endif>><<endnobr>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You block! |!Artblock|!<<print $name>>| |HP: <<print $MonsterHP>>|HP: <<print $PHP>>| |ATK: <<print $MonsterATK>>|ATK: <<print $ATK>>| |DEF: <<print $MonsterDEF>>|DEF: <<print $DEF>>| What do you do? [[Attack!|Fight3Attack]] [[Guard!|Fight3Guard]] <<if $food > 0>>[[Heal!|Fight3Heal]] (Food left: <<print $food>>)<<endif>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP <=0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You died! <<back [[Try again!|Fight3]]>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP <=0>> You did it! You have won. [[Continue.|Mountain10]] <<endif>>

You tumble over and throw the corpse of the artblock away from you. You can see Janus struggling against the might of the other artblock, so you quickly paint an attack rune against it. Your attack kills the creature, allowing you and Janus to breathe a sigh of relief. "My protection runes weren't strong enough to fend those artblocks off," he says between deep breaths of air. "The creatures here are stronger." [[We should keep moving.|Mountain11]]

"Yeah," he says, wiping the sweat off his face. "It's not safe here." You gather your belongings as Janus looks for a something that you could use as a torch. He paints a fire rune onto the end and it lights on fire, lighting your path up the mountain. "Let's go." [[Continue.|Mountain12]]

You're still mildly exhausted, but you don't have a choice. You follow Janus up the mountain, holding your paintbrush tightly in your fist. You come across another large pile of rocks. [[Scavenge.|Mountain13][$scavenge3 to "true"]] [[Ignore it.|Mountain13][$scavenge3 to "false"]]

It's a rune that catches on fire. You could use it as an attack. + 5 ATK <><<set $ATK = $ATK + 5>> <<set $rune3 to "true">><<endnobr>> [[Return.|Mountain1]]

<<if $scavenge3 is "true">> You don't find anything of value in the pile of rocks.<<endif>> You continue following Janus up the rocky mountain face. He stops and asks you to hold the torch while he reaches to get his map. You oblige. "We're getting close to the entrance of the Echoing Caves." he says after a while. "You'll know we're there when you see the glowing marks on the wall." [[Glowing marks?|Mountain14]]

He rolls the map up and puts it away. "Yeah, supposedly the markings of Inspiration." He takes the torch back from you. "Most probably just bioluminescent moss or something. Either way, we'll know that we're close." [[All right.|Mountain15]]

<<set $fight4 to either("yes","no")>> <<if $fight4 is "yes">> You see the entrance to the cave, but you are jumped by more artblocks! [[Fight!|Fight4]] <<endif>> <<if $fight4 is "no">> You can see a faint glowing from afar. "We're almost there, <<print $name>>." Janus says. "Just a few more feet." [[Continue.|Mountain16]] <<endif>>

The runes are too old and damaged to make sense of them. <<back>>

You make your way up to a glowing cliff face, <<if $fight4 is "yes">>despite the pain of the last battle, <<endif>>and you can see remnants of [[runes|runes4]] painted onto the cave entrance. You see Janus narrowing his eyes at them, tightening his grip on his paintbrushes. "The problem with tempera is that it chips off too quickly." he says after a while. "It doesn't stay on long enough, and the runes lose their effectiveness." [[Is that why you switched to oil paint?|Mountain17]]

He nods solemnly. "Yes. I'm not going to allow someone else to die because of poor art supplies." He holds the torch higher. "Come on, let's go." [[Enter the Echoing Caves.|ECaves1]]

<><<set $PHP = $PHP - $MonsterATK>> <<set $MonsterHP = $MonsterHP - $ATK>><<endnobr>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You manage to land a blow, but so does the creature! |!Artblock|!<<print $name>>| |HP: <<print $MonsterHP>>|HP: <<print $PHP>>| |ATK: <<print $MonsterATK>>|ATK: <<print $ATK>>| |DEF: <<print $MonsterDEF>>|DEF: <<print $DEF>>| What do you do? [[Attack!|Fight4Attack]] [[Guard!|Fight4Guard]] <<if $food > 0>>[[Heal!|Fight4Heal]] (Food left: <<print $food>>)<<endif>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP <=0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You died! <<back [[Try again!|Fight4]]>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP <=0>> You did it! You have won. [[Continue.|Mountain16]] <<endif>>

<><<if $MonsterATK > $DEF>><<set $PHP = $PHP - ($MonsterATK - $DEF)>><<endif>> <<if $MonsterATK <= $DEF>><<set $PHP = $PHP>><<endif>><<endnobr>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You block! |!Artblock|!<<print $name>>| |HP: <<print $MonsterHP>>|HP: <<print $PHP>>| |ATK: <<print $MonsterATK>>|ATK: <<print $ATK>>| |DEF: <<print $MonsterDEF>>|DEF: <<print $DEF>>| What do you do? [[Attack!|Fight4Attack]] [[Guard!|Fight4Guard]] <<if $food > 0>>[[Heal!|Fight4Heal]] (Food left: <<print $food>>)<<endif>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP <=0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You died! <<back [[Try again!|Fight4]]>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP <=0>> You did it! You have won. [[Continue.|Mountain16]] <<endif>>

You enter the Echoing Caves with Janus with your paintbrush in your hand and your palette in the other. <<set $fight5 to either("yes","no")>><<if $fight5 is "yes">> In the shadows, you can see something lurking. You ready your paintbrush, and true enough, an artblock pounces upon you! [[Fight!|Fight5]] <<endif>> <<if $fight5 is "no">> You think you see something in the shadows, but Janus waves his torch towards it and a small artblock runs away. [[Continue.|ECaves2]] <<endif>>

<<if $fight5 is "true">>You catch your breath. "Are you okay?" Janus asks. You nod, ready to move on. <<endif>> More [[runes|rune5]] pepper the cave walls. You watch Janus as he leads the way, waving his torch to keep small artblocks away. The last thing you want is another fight with a creature. "This place hasn't changed a bit since I was last here." your companion murmurs, running his hand against the old runes. "I don't think anyone else has been here since me and Jasper." [[How deep do the Echoing Caves go?|ECaves3]]

These tempera runes look old, but you can still make some sense of them. They seem to be defensive runes. + 5 DEF [[Return.|ECaves2]] <<set $DEF = $DEF + 5>>

"Pretty damn deep." he replies. "No one knows where the caves end, actually. Some say it goes on forever." You open your mouth to ask another question, but Jasper stops and gets down on one knee to examine a marking on the wall. It looks like a smear of glowing paint. "This one doesn't look like the others." He looks to you, smiling. "Think it's the markings of Inspiration?" [[Hopefully.|ECaves4]]

<><<set $PHP = $PHP - $MonsterATK>> <<set $MonsterHP = $MonsterHP - $ATK>><<endnobr>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You manage to land a blow, but so does the creature! |!Artblock|!<<print $name>>| |HP: <<print $MonsterHP>>|HP: <<print $PHP>>| |ATK: <<print $MonsterATK>>|ATK: <<print $ATK>>| |DEF: <<print $MonsterDEF>>|DEF: <<print $DEF>>| What do you do? [[Attack!|Fight5Attack]] [[Guard!|Fight5Guard]] <<if $food > 0>>[[Heal!|Fight5Heal]] (Food left: <<print $food>>)<<endif>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP <=0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You died! <<back [[Try again!|Fight5]]>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP <=0>> You did it! You have won. [[Continue.|ECaves2]] <<endif>>

<><<if $MonsterATK > $DEF>><<set $PHP = $PHP - ($MonsterATK - $DEF)>><<endif>> <<if $MonsterATK <= $DEF>><<set $PHP = $PHP>><<endif>><<endnobr>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You block! |!Artblock|!<<print $name>>| |HP: <<print $MonsterHP>>|HP: <<print $PHP>>| |ATK: <<print $MonsterATK>>|ATK: <<print $ATK>>| |DEF: <<print $MonsterDEF>>|DEF: <<print $DEF>>| What do you do? [[Attack!|Fight5Attack]] [[Guard!|Fight5Guard]] <<if $food > 0>>[[Heal!|Fight5Heal]] (Food left: <<print $food>>)<<endif>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP <=0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You died! <<back [[Try again!|Fight5]]>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP <=0>> You did it! You have won. [[Continue.|ECaves2]] <<endif>>

He snickers. "You're as optimistic as your father, <<print $name>>. Let's keep going." You follow Janus deeper into the cave. The glowing markings occur less frequently, but they become brighter and brighter. You find yourself in awe of everything that surrounds you. "This is where your father and I stopped." Janus says. "We just need to get a little deeper into this cave, and if we find nothing maybe we can set up camp." [[All right.|ECaves5]]

Deeper and deeper you go, where the marks glow a bright blue. There are several runes carved into the walls, painted onto the walls, metal armour with runes etched in discarded everywhere. It dawns on you how many artists dreamed of coming here to find the elusive Inspiration, only to never return successful, if they returned at all. Your heart plummets at the thought of that. "Kid, are you all right?" [[We have to find Inspiration for them.|ECaves6]]

Janus smiles. "We will." [[Continue.|ECaves7]]

Your heart-warming moment with Janus is cut short by artblocks jumping you! [[Fight!|Fight6]]

<><<set $PHP = $PHP - $MonsterATK>> <<set $MonsterHP = $MonsterHP - $ATK>><<endnobr>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You manage to land a blow, but so does the creature! |!Artblock|!<<print $name>>| |HP: <<print $MonsterHP>>|HP: <<print $PHP>>| |ATK: <<print $MonsterATK>>|ATK: <<print $ATK>>| |DEF: <<print $MonsterDEF>>|DEF: <<print $DEF>>| What do you do? [[Attack!|Fight6Attack]] [[Guard!|Fight6Guard]] <<if $food > 0>>[[Heal!|Fight6Heal]] (Food left: <<print $food>>)<<endif>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP <=0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You died! <<back [[Try again!|Fight6]]>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP <=0>> You did it! You have won. [[Continue.|ECaves8]] <<endif>>

<><<if $MonsterATK > $DEF>><<set $PHP = $PHP - ($MonsterATK - $DEF)>><<endif>> <<if $MonsterATK <= $DEF>><<set $PHP = $PHP>><<endif>><<endnobr>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You block! |!Artblock|!<<print $name>>| |HP: <<print $MonsterHP>>|HP: <<print $PHP>>| |ATK: <<print $MonsterATK>>|ATK: <<print $ATK>>| |DEF: <<print $MonsterDEF>>|DEF: <<print $DEF>>| What do you do? [[Attack!|Fight6Attack]] [[Guard!|Fight6Guard]] <<if $food > 0>>[[Heal!|Fight6Heal]] (Food left: <<print $food>>)<<endif>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP <=0 and $MonsterHP > 0>> You died! <<back [[Try again!|Fight6]]>> <<endif>> <<if $PHP > 0 and $MonsterHP <=0>> You did it! You have won. [[Continue.|ECaves8]] <<endif>>

You push the corpse of the artblock off of a nearby cliff, only to turn around and see Janus fighting off the artblock, with a horrible gash across his chest. He's barely able to fend off the enemy. [[Janus!|ECaves9]]

"I'm fine!" he shouts, pushing the artblock away. It staggers backward, and Janus throws a bottle of clear fluid with a fire rune hastily painted on. The bottle smashes against the creature and explodes, catching on fire and killing the artblock. You watch as its burning corpse tumbles down the cliff and into the endless abyss below you. Janus puts his back to the wall and sits down. "That..." he says between quick gasps. "That was one hell of a fight." [[That wound doesn't look too good...|ECaves10]]

"Don't worry, it's only a flesh wound." he says, placing his hand on it. He lays his head back against the cave wall. "God damn those artblocks. It's been so long since I fought artblocks these strong." He chuckles deeply. "Ever seen someone use turpentine like that before, <<print $name>>?" [[No. It was cool.|ECaves11]]

"That stuff's flammable. Convenient little trick I learned when I was learning how to use the oils." He grunts, tightening his grip on his wound. "I need to keep going..." [[You should rest first.|ECaves12]]

He nods sadly. "I know." "Hey <<print $name>>," he says after a while. "can you paint some protection runes nearby? I can't rest well at night without a few algiz runes on my walls." [[No problem.|ECaves13]]

You go to the cave walls, painting on the runes with your brush. You could hear Janus struggling behind you, cleaning his wound with water. You can hear small whimpers of pain coming from him as the water mixed with his blood. Should you offer him some food? <<if $food > 0>>[[Yes.|ECaves14][$foodoffer to "yes"]]<<endif>> [[No.|ECaves14]]

<<if $foodoffer is "yes">>You offer your food to Janus, but he refuses. "I'm okay, kid. I've got my own food." <<endif>> You sit down next to Janus. The fire of his torch had gone out already, and you were bathed in the glow of the marks on the walls. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" Janus says after a while. "Makes you forget about all the problems in the world." [[Yeah, it is.|ECaves15]]

He sighs. "I'm getting too old for this." He closes his eyes and soon you hear him snoring. <<if $rune3 is "true">>You paint a small fire rune onto the ground to keep him warm. It's the least you can do for him. <<else>> You wish you could make a quick fire for him, but you don't know how. Too bad; it was the least you could do for him.<<endif>> [[Click, clack.|ECaves16]]

Wait, what was that? [[Click, clack.|ECaves17]]

There it is again! It doesn't sound like an artblock... [[Click, clack.|ECaves18]]

You think of waking up Janus, but you think he deserves to rest for now.<<if $rune3 is "true">> You take the torch and light it on fire.<<endif>> Taking your paintbrush, you get up and look around. [[Click, clack.|ECaves19]]

You can barely see anything, but it looks like there's a silhouette of a man in the distance. Click, clack, his footsteps go. Is there another artist here? [[Hello?|ECaves20]]

The figure turns to face you, but runs away further into the cave. Click clack, click clack, click clack... goes his footsteps, fading away the farther he goes. You want to follow him, but you can't find a way to get from here to there. Should you [[wake up Janus|ECaves21][$wakejanus to "true"]] or [[sleep it off|ECaves21]]?

<<if $wakejanus is "true">>You try to wake Janus up, but he has fallen into a deep sleep. <<endif>>You decide to try to sleep. Maybe that was a hallucination? As you sit down next to Janus, <<if $rune3 is "true">>small fire crackling in front of you, <<endif>>you can hear Janus' snoring echo in the caves. Now you understand why the Echoing Caves is called that way; the acoustics were wonderful, and the sound seemed to go on forever. [[Close your eyes.|ECaves22]]

You soon find yourself falling asleep. [[Sleep.|ECaves23]] <<set $PHP to 100>>

... [[>>>|ECaves24]]

"Hey kid," you hear Janus saying urgently. "Get up, we have to keep moving." [[Open your eyes.|ECaves25]]

You see Janus standing in front of you. His wound has been bandaged, and it seems that he's doing a lot better, but now he looks worried. He has his paintbrush at the ready, and many more bottles of turpentine on his belt. [[What's up?|ECaves26]]

"There's someone here, and I don't think they mean well." he replies<<if $rune3 is "true">> as he stomps out the fire you made<<endif>>. He gestures towards the runes of protection you painted onto the walls. Someone had put scratches through them, rendering them useless. [[Who is it?|ECaves27]]

He shakes his head. "I don't know, but I don't plan on sticking around to find out. Whoever's crazy enough to sabotage someone by ruining their runes is not someone I want to meet." He helps you up and gives you your belongings. "Let's go." [[Follow Janus.|Caverns1]]

You follow his lead, taking careful steps as you go deeper into the caverns. "I don't know why anyone would want us dead." he says after a while. "But I swear on my life, I'm going to protect you." [[I've got your back.|Caverns2]]

"Thanks, kid." he says, smirking. You continue your way deeper into the caverns. The cave walls seem to be closing in on you and the tunnels get smaller and smaller. You see Janus sweating a bit more noticeably. [[You okay?|Caverns3]]

He chuckles nervously. "I'm fine," he says, his voice breaking a little. "Just a bit claustrophobic. It's not too bad, though." You smile. A man with years of experience fighting monsters and facing off with death was afraid of small rooms. It was adorable, really. [[Continue.|Caverns4]]

You step carefully over the rocks, placing your hands against the wall to steady yourself. The cavern wall doesn't feel like rock anymore; there's so many glowing markings that the whole place is lit up. The walls feel like a strange mix of soft and slimy, a sensation you don't find yourself fond of. "There are footsteps along this path." Janus says, his voice low. "Someone's been here." [[You nod.|Caverns5]]

The tunnel you've been taking eventually opens up to a wide cavern. You see piles upon piles of boulders stacked precariously upon each other. At the other side of the cavern, you see the shadowy figure from before. [[There he is!|Caverns6]]

Janus turns, and you both run towards the figure, but artblocks block the way! [[Fight!|Fight7]]

"No you're not." he replies, momentarily pressing his hand against a wound you hadn't realised you had. "You need to escape!" He carries you towards the other side of the cave, throwing small bottles of turpentine at the beasts. It doesn't look like it's doing much, though. [[What about the artblocks?|Caverns8]]

Before you can do anything, the monsters strike! You fall to the ground like a wet paper towel. "<<print $name>>!" Janus shouts, fending off artblocks. He rushes to your side and helps you up. [[I'm fine...|Caverns7]]

"I can take care of them myself." he says as you near the tunnel. Suddenly he cries out in pain, and you can see blood seeping through his clothes from his chest. [[You can't handle them on your own!|Caverns9]]

He smiles, a drop of blood rolling down his face. "Yes I can. I told you, I'm not going to let anyone else die if I can help it." He limp-carries you towards the exit and puts you down. You try to stand up to stop him, but you can't find the strength to do so. He hastily paints a protection rune between the two of you. [[Stop!|Caverns10]]

You see the artblocks roar menacingly, but Janus turns to face them bravely. "You have to survive, kid. For me and for your dad." He has three bottles of turpentine in each of his hands. The beasts come closer, circling him as their prey. [[Janus, don't do this...|Caverns11]]

You hear his voice crack as he speaks. "I'm sorry, <<print $name>>." He throws the turpentine onto the ground, causing a massive explosion. You see the artblocks burn wildly, crying out in anguish. Boulders start falling from above, and soon the entrance is blocked, separating you and Janus. Forever. [[Don't cry.|Caverns12]]

You feel your eyes starting to water. "Janus..?" [[Don't cry.|Caverns13]]

A tear falls to the ground. [[Don't cry.|Caverns14]]

You curl up into a ball. You cry. [[>>>|Caverns15]]

You cry and you cry until you tire yourself out. [[>>>|Caverns16]]

... [[>>>|Caverns17]] <<set $PHP = 100>>

Click, clack. [[>>>|Caverns18]]

Click, clack. Click, clack. [[It's that noise again.|Caverns19]]

Click, clack. Click, clack. [[Get up.|Caverns20]]

You can't let Janus' death be in vain. You have to keep going. The cavern walls still glow a bright blue, as if nothing happened. Behind you, the protection rune has been crushed by boulders. You seem to have stopped bleeding already, which is a good sign. But you feel weak and starved. How long were you knocked out? Click, clack. Click, clack. [[Follow the sound.|Caverns21]]

You tread quietly, trying not to fall over. Your body still hurts, but you can manage. Click, clack. Click, clack. [[Turn the corner.|Caverns22]]

The walls glow brightly. In front of you, you see strange creatures. They're definitely not artblocks. They look tall and intimidating, but they don't have sticky tar-like fur or viciously sharp fangs. They're just... big. Twice your height probably. They look at you sternly. "<<print $name>>?" [[Turn to the mysterious figure.|Discipline1]]

The mysterious figure is wearing a hood, and most of his face is obscured. He holds a hammer and chisel in each hand. Despite how well cloaked he is, he seems familiar... [[...Dad?|Discipline2]]

He takes off his hood. He looks older, much much older. He has a huge scar running across his face. But there's no mistaking it. It's your father. [[Stand there in disbelief.|Discipline3]]

He drops his sculpting tools, rushing over to hug you in a mighty embrace. You feel his breathing hitch as he begins to cry. "Oh my god, <<print $name>>, I never thought I'd see you again," you hear him sob. [[What are you doing here? I thought you were dead.|Discipline4]]

He steps back to take a good look at you, wiping the tears from his face. He's beaming. "I almost did," he says, patting you on the shoulder. "But these guys," he gestures towards the strange creatures. "they nursed me back to health." You stand there, not knowing what to say. [[>>>|Discipline5]]

"I couldn't return to the village, as much as I wanted to," he says, pacing in front of you. "I got lost in the caverns, and I couldn't find my way out until now. Now, now we can go home!" [[...Were you the one who sabotaged my protection runes?|Discipline6]]

He turns to you, frowning. "Those were yours? I'm so sorry, I thought Janus painted those. The protection runes hurt these creatures, almost like a slow agonizing death. I'm sure he'll understand--" [[Janus is dead.|Discipline7]]

Your father freezes. "What?" [[Explain everything to him.|Discipline8]]

His eyes water up as you tell your journey. "Oh my god..." he says after you finish your story. [[He died helping me look for the Inspiration.|Discipline9]]

Your father slumps and falls to the ground. "Damnit, Janus..." You put your hand on his shoulder in an effort to comfort him. Around you, you see the creatures looking at you curiously. You can't help but wonder, could these be the creatures you've been looking for this entire time? [[Dad, are these things Inspiration?|Discipline10]]

He shakes his head. "Inspiration doesn't exist." [[...what?|Discipline11]]

"It doesn't exist. I've gone everywhere in these caves, and I haven't found anything." He looks at you, sadness in his eyes. You can feel your heart breaking into a million pieces. All the stories, all your dreams... [[Ask questions.|Discipline12]]

You fire off a million questions. What are these things, what do you mean Inspiration doesn't exist, what was the point of all this, are you sure that the caves don't go deeper-- He raises his hand to stop you. "Discipline." [[...discipline?|Discipline13]]

He stands up. "These guys are called Discipline." [[But dad, what about Inspiration--|Discipline14]]

"Inspiration doesn't exist, <<print $name>>." he says, placing both hands firmly on your shoulders. "Inspiration was a lie to keep people hoping for the easy way out." One of the creatures approaches your father, and he pets it on the head. "Greatness doesn't grow overnight, my child. You can't tame something that is fleeting and nonexistent. These creatures though, these are called Discipline. They tame you, instead." [[>>>|Discipline15]]

"You can't rely on something as fleeting as Inspiration." he says, smiling. "Greatness comes from within." You feel yourself tearing up. [[You're right.|Discipline16]]

He hugs you one more time. "Come on, <<print $name>>. Let's get out of here." You stop and realise that there might be a bit of a problem doing that. [[Explain that the entrance is blocked.|Discipline17]]

He thinks for a moment before turning to the creatures. He grins. "I think these guys can help." [[Continue.|Exit1]]

You don't know how, but soon you find yourself on the back of one of the Disciplines with your father. It stands upright and roars, before rushing down the tunnel and into the wall of boulders that blocked your path. It breaks through no problem, and climbs up the rock face. You look behind you and you see the charred remains of several artblocks. In the middle of it all, you can see Janus with a smile frozen on his face, several boulders pinning his body down. The Discipline is indifferent to him and continues to climb the walls, and the farther and farther away you go, the less you see of Janus. [[Look away.|Exit2]]

The Disciplines break through the walls of the Echoing Caves, soon bringing you and your father back to the surface. You see the sunrise just peeking over the horizon, sunrays on your face. The fresh air feels good blowing against your bruised skin. You get off of the Discipline, and your father follows. He nods to the Disciplines, and they retreat back into the Echoing Caves, and you watch until the last of them disappear into the labyrinth of tunnels. "I haven't seen the sun in forever." your father says to himself. [[Smile.|Exit3]]

You look at the sunset, and your father places an arm around you. So, Inspiration doesn't exist. There's no magical boost to get you to create magical paintings or hyperrealistic sculptures. There's nothing that grants you immediate mastery over musical notes or flawless choreography. There is only yourself who's responsible for your improvement. And that's okay. [[>>>|Exit4]]

FIN. Coding and Story by Raffy Punzal Bugs? Report them to <a href="http://twitter.com/raffypunnyzal">@raffypunnyzal</a>. Thank you for playing!