Apocalypse Later FINAL Copy

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APOCALYPSE LATER <<timed 1s t8n>>Ahem, hrrmgh...<</timed>> <<timed 2s t8n>>Hey.<</timed>> <<timed 4s t8n>>Hey you!<</timed>> <<timed 6s t8n>>...Idiot child,<</timed>> <<timed 6800ms t8n>>[[LISTEN!]]<</timed>>

With a hiss, the earth splits open before you, swallowing a few shrieking villagers. You hear smacking and slurping from the darkness, then a bony claw plumed by tendrils of smoke emerges and settles in the mud, which fizzles and bubbles around it. The creature pulls itself out of the earth. Stable boy, meet Akh Rukhiel the Bone Drinker, Drinker of Bones. Will you smite him with your bucket? Or perhaps take a terrified shit in it? Oh wait look, he's plucked up the large crying man from earlier. What could he be doing? Yeah, yep, hes drinking his bones. [["[Smite with bucket, SMITE WITH BUCKET]"->fight Akh.sword4]]

Oh, what do you know? Silly boy. [["[Enjoy Pantry Time]"->pantry3]]

'Be silent, idiot child!' with a gnarled hand, the handsome creature scratches at a rebellious tuft of hair growing out of the side of his head. 'Can't you see I'm a Grublin? Incidentally, Grublin is also my name.' He stuffs a potato almost the size of his head into his mouth and crushes it between his teeth. He studies the boy as he chews, lying comfortably on the pile. [[Oh... What's a Gubbin?->what's a grubbin]]

Varg's teeth clack together in front of the stable boy's eyes. Another day, another trough to fill, another gnashing horse to dodge. But a job's a job, and he fills the trough while Varg stares at his face meat, ignoring the feed. That's when he [[hears it]].

Well first of all, "Ö" is the sound you make when you pick up a delicious fruit but discover it's all soft and gross on the other side: Eugh! So... RAGNAR - EUGH - K!! It's also the word used to describe the apocalypse, where the Bone Giants climb out of the earth to scour the land and suckle the flesh from our tiny bones. It's a bit similar to the Viking end-myths, but, you know, cooler, and also real, and... you know, we're all going to die. [[Then the Gods will protect us!]]

THUMM thumm thumm [[What.]]

I'll have a <<linkreplace "cupcake" t8n>>slice of key lime pie<</linkreplace>>, please. <<link "Height">> <<replace "#text">>Your height is about average for someone your age.<</replace>> <</link>>: 5'10" <<linkreplace "You'll //never// take me alive!" t8n>>On second thought, don't hurt me.<</linkreplace>> "Fire one!" <<timed 2s transition>> "Hit!" <<next>> "Deflected by armor" <<next>> "Fire two! <<next>> Miss! <<next>> [[Next|Some Passage]] <</timed>>

It's soft, at first, a rhythm in the ground, but he feels it through his feet. It's [[growing...]]

Shh. <<timed 2s t8n>>THUMM thumm thumm [[What's happening?]]<</timed>>

Don't move. <<timed 2s t8n>>THUMM thumm thumm [[Wait, but - who're you?]]<</timed>>

Shut up! Just... I'm building suspense, all right? Just let me do it. [[Oh, fine.]]

Grublin Narrator- Different Font, same colour as dialogue. Narrator - Greyish Dialogue - White Player - Blue

THUMM thumm thumm <<timed 2s t8n>>THUMM thu<</timed>><<timed 2700ms t8n>> - all right [[enough of that]].<</timed>>

Don't you know the stories? It's the DRUMS OF RAGNARÖK! [[...?]] [[Ohh right, yep! Cool!]]

You still don't know what I'm talking about, do you? <<link "Ohh, the //drums// of Ragnarök, yeah, sure!">> <<replace "#text">>[[...What are the drums of Ragnarök?]]<</replace>> <</link>>

I suppose it's cool in a //way//, but definitely not for //you//. You still don't know what I'm talking about, do you? <<link "Wait, no! Right, the //drums// of Ragnarök, yeah, sure!">> <<replace "#text">>[[...What are the drums of Ragnarök?]]<</replace>> <</link>>

'Then the Gods will protect us!' shouts the boy at the horses, which all stake a step back in surprise. A villager who happened to stand nearby jumps, startled by the boy's outburst, then hurries away from the crazy boy. But the boy felt the drums. The Bone Giants are coming. [['Ol' Blugg will know what to do!']]

Who the Hel is Ol' Blugg? [[The greatest stable master in the village, he is! My employer, Ol' Blugg! He even has a sword!]]

Right, yeah. Where's Ol' Blugg? [[He's usually in the Fermented Potato Tavern.]]

Of course he is. [["[Go To The Fermented Potato]"|Go to the Fermented Potato]]

Making his way to the tavern, the stable boy feels the steady beat of the drums from below, and it seems the townsfolk are beginning to catch on to their impending doom too. Worried looks, harsh whispered conversations. Some are clustering together and rushing home. A child and it's parents cut across the garden of a little house next to the tavern, trampling blue flowers. A man holding the tiniest watering can - wait no, he's just huge - holding a watering can, stares in horror at the broken flowers. Why's he so huge? He falls to his knees in the mud, tears streaming down his face. He brings up his mucky hands and buries his face in them, then seems to realise what he's just done, and cries a bit harder. [["[Gently Pat Thörg On Shoulder]"|Thörg joined]] [["[Avoid Giant Man-Baby At All Costs]"|Thörg avoided]]

As the boy makes his way past the man, he reaches out to grasp him, but the boy deftly dodges around him, and then immediately finds himself at [[his destination...->tavern.]]

Thörg doesn't seem to react to the words. With each thrum of drums beneath them, his grip tightens. The boy's frail spine hurts. You better not suffocate right before the apocalypse. Miss quite the spectacle, you know. [[Hey, hey Thörg, listen! Want to come inside the tavern? For a cup of nice warm milk? Mmmm, yum yum, right? Yeah?->join Thörg]] [["[Lick Thörg's face.]"|Lick Thörg's face.]]

'AAAAAAAAAAAHH!!' the boy shouts into Thörg's face from the range of about a pinky finger. The rather incomprehensible act startles the man, who recoils and falls on his butt in the mud. He resumes crying. [[HA! And I don't even feel bad! It's Ragnarök! NO RULES! WOO RAGNARÖK, BABY! WOO!]] [[Oh, I'm sorry Thörg, don't know what got into me. But listen! Want to come inside the tavern? For a cup of nice warm milk? Mmmm, yum yum, right? Yeah?->join Thörg]]

The man sobs once, twice, then pouts and says, 'I like vodka.' [[Well they don't call it the Fermented Potato for nothing! Let's go!->join Thörg2]]

The boy li - Wait, no, come on, that's disgusting. He's all muddy. And sweaty. And - <<timed 2500ms t8n>>THUMM thumm thumm [[LICK THE FACE! LICK THE GODDAMN FACE!]]<</timed>>

'LICK THE FACE! LICK THE GODDAMN FACE!' shouts the boy at the man, then licks his grimy cheek. The man seems to snap out of his grief and pushes the boy away. He touches his cheek with a mixture of confusion and disgust. 'Did you just... lick my face? Ew, weird. Ew. And... why did you shout it?' [["Uh, uhm... [Run away to the Fermented Potato Tavern.]"|Run away]]

You amuse me stable boy, you're even crazier than I thought. The boy has finally reached the [[tavern.]]

The man-child's eyes brighten with the promise of vodka. 'I like vodka!' he rumbles with a smile and picks the boy up under one arm. [[To the tavern!->join Thörg3]]

THE FERMENTED POTATO TAVERN! The sign above the oak door squeaks on the breeze, a sign depicting a potato inside a glass bottle. [["[Enter Tavern]"|blugg's song2]]

The familiar aroma of sweat, stale beer, and burnt bacon gust past the boy as the door swings shut behind him. With its earthen floor and dark wood, the Fermented Potato would have been cosy if it weren't for the oozing pools of strange liquids here and there. The main hall is empty except for a small round man with a beard like a log. He's singing a jaunty tune in <<linkreplace "a foreign language" t8n>> unintelligible drunken slurring<</linkreplace>>: Ayy tha lovleh goateh AYY THA goln goat Ah tryedah shaviz shiny furr Eebit me fore ah could AYY! With the final "ayy" he punches the air with his drinking horn, sending a wave splashing down on his shiny pate. Boy, I swear to the Gods, if this drunk little man is Ol' Blugg I'll - [[Ol' Blugg, you're here!->beer in beard]]

Really? Sure you haven't <<linkreplace "lost the plot?" t8n>><<linkreplace "played the invisible tuba?" t8n>><<linkreplace "seen the dancing banana king?" t8n>><<link "slapped your last fish?">> <<replace "#text">> <<link "No?">> <<replace "#text2">> <<link "Hm.">> <<replace "#text3">> All right then. The boy finds himself at [[tavern.]]<</replace>> <</link>><</replace>> <</link>><</replace>> <</link>><</linkreplace>><</linkreplace>><</linkreplace>>

It's a gross mud-rat. What did you expect? Did you think maybe we would seek out the mud-rat king and convince him to ally with us against the Bone Giants, and then - wait, that actually sounds pretty cool, but then again, mud-rats are gross and I don't wanna... Um. LOOK, BEHIND YOU, A BONE GIANT! [[Oh!->Thörg joined]]

When the boy pats the man on the shoulder, he turns around and envelops him in a hug. 'They done crushed my blue sips!' sobs the man. Oh bloody Hel... Well, yep... The boy is stuck. Also, he's muddy as a [[mud-rat]] now. [[There there, Thörg, it'll be all right.->Gerroff]] [[Gerroff me, you shaved bear!->Gerroff]] [["[Shout Incoherently Into Thörg's Face]"->shout into Thörg's face]]

Blast it all! Fine! But don't come crying to me when the Bone Giants eat your feet! Ol' Blugg turns as he hears you. He attempts to take a drink at the same time but misses his mouth, pouring it into his beard. 'HO! HAH HAH! Boy!' he laughs through his dripping beard, then sneezes with a shake of his head, droplets flying. A real winner, this guy. [[Ol' Blugg, the Bone Giants are coming! Ragnarök is here!->pull/warn]]

Oh shit - That's when the earth crumbles beneath them. With a - holy shit - humoungous man-leap, Thörg clears the unstable ground, boy still held under his arm! From the collapsed patch of ground spews the stench of death and a breath that hisses like the ocean. Inside is blackness. Thörg places the stable boy on his feet. 'You go to the tavern now, okay?' [["[Wait, but what about you? There's vodka, remember? Yum, yum!]"->join Thörg4]]

'I like vodka,' agrees Thörg - You and every other moron in this bloody town - 'but I love garden.' he points at where the garden was, now a black stinking pit. 'I stay. You make vodka ready, okay?' This guy for real? Stone cold. With steel in his eyes the humble sensitive herculean green thumbed vodka lover, Thörg for short, turns to face whatever will emerge from the depths. I'll let you in on a secret. It's going to be Bone Giants. [[I'll see you inside the tavern then, okay? I mean... Yeah. In a bit. Don't die.->Thörg fights Akh]]

The main hall of the Fermented Potato is empty except for a small round man with a beard like a log. He's singing a jaunty tune in <<linkreplace "a foreign language" t8n>> unintelligible drunken slurring<</linkreplace>>: Ayy tha lovleh goateh AYY Tha goln goat Ah tryedah shaveiz shiny furr Eebit me fore ah could, AYY! With the final "ayy" he punches the air with his drinking horn, sending a wave splashing down on his shiny pate. Boy, I swear to the Gods, if this drunk little man is Ol' Blugg I'll - [[Ol' Blugg, you're here!->beer in beard2]]

Blast it all! Fine! But don't come crying to me when the Bone Giants eat your feet! Ol' Blugg turns as he hears you. He attempts to take a drink at the same time but misses his mouth, pouring it into his beard. 'HO! HAH HAH! Boy!' he laughs through his dripping beard, then sneezes with a shake of his head, droplets flying. A real winner, this guy. [[Ol' Blugg, the Bone Giants are coming! Ragnarök is here!->pull/warn2]]

'Eh?' Blugg squints at you, 'Bo... Gian?' He hops off his stool and swings his head around. 'Ma sword, WEZZ MA SWORD?' The boy's eyes catch a glint from above. He looks up and sees the sword, plunged into a supporting beam above Ol Blugg. How did... you know what, never mind. Piercing screams from outside are followed by a terrific crash which shakes the building. Sawdust powders down from the roof in rivulets. [[Above you!->warn blugg][$swordshoulder to true]] [["[Grabb Ol' Blugg By Beard And Pull]"->interruption]]

'Eh?' Blugg squints at you, 'Bo... Gian?' He hops off his stool and swings his head around. 'Ma sword, WEZZ MA SWORD?' The boy's eyes catch a glint from above. He looks up and sees the sword, plunged into a supporting beam above Ol' Blugg. How did that even... you know what, never mind. Piercing screams from outside are followed by a terrific crash which shakes the building. Sawdust powders down from the roof in rivulets. [[Above you!->warn blugg.][$swordshoulder to true]] [["[Grabb Ol' Blugg By Beard And Pull]"|interruption3]]

Just as Ol' Blugg looks up, the sword dislodges from the wood and plummets down, burying itself halfway into Blugg's shoulder. [[Shit.->interruption2]]

With a fist full of beard, the boy pulls Ol' Blugg as hard as he can. The cabbage shaped man yelps and stumbles forward, narrowly avoiding the sword which buries itself into the floorboards where he was just standing with a loud thud. 'Ho HA HAH! GUBBOY!' He high fives the air without waiting for the boy to react, clearly oblivious to how a high five works, then pulls the sword out of the floor with a grunt. 'Arigh, ye gian boners! Ol' Blugg's comin fer yeh!' he says, and makes for the door, tripping over a chair, then side-stumbling into a table. [["Wait for me Ol' Blugg, I'll fight with you! [Look for a weapon]"->fight Akh.sword]] [[Ol' Blugg, don't! Let the Gods fight the Bone Giants!->shout]]

'Pullih ou, pullih ou!' he leans forward so the boy can grab the hilt. [["[Pull Sword]"->fight OR shout]]

The boy grabs the hilt and, drawing upon the deepest might of his stable boy muscles, he fails to budge the sword. It's right the fuck in there. 'Arrigh, arright, stop! Ah don' neeno sword!' he says, and makes for the door, tripping over a chair, then side-stumbling into a table. [["If he's going to fight the apocalypse without a weapon, I will join him! [Look for a weapon]"->fight Akh]] [[Ol' Blugg, don't! Let the Gods fight the Bone Giants!->shout]]

Blugg doesn't respond. He kicks the door open and walks out, and for a moment what you see freezes your blood; bone giants, blue-green limbs reaching out of sink holes, climbing out. Two have fully surfaced, and through the opening of the door you see only their legs . There are screams, wails, and from the giants, hoarse, deep laughter. The wind slams the door shut. [[I think... I think I'll go to the pantry. Yeah.->pantrytime]]

Seriously? The idiot boy looks for a weapon. The tables and chairs are too heavy, but there is an excellent bucket, no doubt built for the purpose of destroying Bone Giants. Does the idiot boy follow his blind drunk stable master into battle against the apocalypse, or does he stay in the tavern and SENSIBLY make his way to the PANTRY. The narrator repeats that part, in case the boy didn't hear: THE... PANTRY... [["[Grab Bucket And Follow Ol' Blugg Into Glorious Battle]"->fight Akh2]] [[All right, chill your pants, I'm going to the pantry.->pantrytime]]

The boy grabs a - //sigh// ...bucket, and strides out into the muddy main street of the village. The Bone Giants are feasting. Villagers scurry this way and that, crying and praying to the idle and absent Gods, as they are being plucked by long fingers and plopped into gaping laughing mouths. Ol' Blugg is standing his ground, angrily brandishing an old rake he has found and shouting at no one in particular. With every movement, the sword jutting up from his shoulder wobbles. "Aahhll et yer BALLS, ye flthuh SHITES!" he shouts. In the few heartbeats since he left the inn, he has lost his breeches. [[This is fine. Everything will be fine.->fight Akh3]]

Seriously? The idiot boy looks for a weapon. The tables and chairs are too heavy, but there is an excellent bucket, no doubt built for the purpose of destroying Bone Giants. Does the idiot boy follow his blind drunk stable master into battle against the apocalypse, or does he stay in the Fermented Potato and SENSIBLY make his way to the PANTRY. The narrator repeats that part, in case the boy didn't hear: THE... PANTRY... [["[Grab Bucket And Follow Ol' Blugg Into Glorious Battle]"->fight Akh.sword2]] [[All right, chill your pants, I'm going to the pantry.->pantrytime]]

The boy grabs a - //sigh// ...bucket, and strides out into the muddy main street of the village. The Bone Giants are feasting. Villagers scurry this way and that, crying and praying to the idle and absent Gods, as they are being plucked by long fingers and plopped into gaping laughing mouths. Ol' Blugg is standing his ground, angrily brandishing his sword and shouting something at no one in particular. "Aahhll et yer BALLS, ye flthuh SHITES!" he shouts. In the few heartbeats since he left the inn, he has lost his breeches. [[This is fine. Everything will be fine.->fight Akh.sword3]]

Hello, subject. Recipient? Player? Person. I welcome you, Person. In this story you will at times choose how events progress (within limits, keep your pants on), by clicking the underlined text. It's not about winning (oh but it is), so don't worry about making the smart choices (//that// one's actually true). Depending on how much text you skip, this will take you anywhere between 1 and 30 minutes. I won't tell you to follow your heart, wits, or instincts. But always, ALWAYS, follow the shiny candy. [[Ooh! Shiny candy!]] [[Ew, I don't like candy.]]

Unbelievable. Why do I even - FINE! The IDIOT stable boy charges at Akh Rukhiel the Bone Drinker, Drinker of Bones, and swings his bucket into its ankle. It makes a //bonk// noise, and the boy stubs his finger between the rim and the ankle. That's going to be swollen tomorrow! Akh Rukhiel notices him, bends down to pick him up between index and thumb claw. Oh well, you had a good run, boy. [[Help!->fight Akh.sword5]]

'Help!' mewls the boy. Akh Rukhiel brings the boy up to his huge skeletal face. He opens his giant mouth and out comes a gasping sound - that's him laughing at you - mixed with the wails of the countless souls he has consumed. Um, want to try swinging your bucket again? You know what? Forget it. I'm out of here. I'm not dealing with any more of thi - Oh, what the shit?! Out of nowhere, Blugg throws his sword like some goddamn olympian. The sword pierces Akh Rukhiel in the eye, who unleashes a shriek and drops you, clutching at his face. Blinded, his foot catches on a horse carriage and he stumbles and falls face first, crashing into and through the roof of the Fermented Potato Tavern. 'NOOO!' screams Ol' Blugg! Akh Rukhiel's legs twitch, head hidden in the ruins of the tavern. Ol' Blugg runs inside through the door in the front wall, most of which is still intact. [["[Follow Blugg]"->Gushk arrives]]

Unbelievable. Why do I even - FINE! The IDIOT stable boy charges at Akh Rukhiel the Bone Drinker, Drinker of Bones, and swings his bucket into its ankle. It makes a //bonk// noise, and the boy stubs his finger between the rim and the ankle. That's going to be swollen tomorrow! Akh Rukhiel notices him, bends down to pick him up between index and thumb claw. This isn't going to last very long, I'm sorry to say. [[Help!->fight Akh5]]

'Help!' mewls the boy. Akh Rukhiel brings the boy up to his huge skeletal face. He opens his giant mouth and out comes a gasping sound - that's him laughing at you - mixed with the wails of the countless souls he has consumed. Um, want to try swinging your bucket again? You know what? Forget it. I'm out of here. I'm not dealing with any more of thi - Oh, what the shit?! Out of nowhere, Blugg throws his rake like some goddamn olympian. The rake pierces Akh Rukhiel in the eye, who unleashes a shriek and drops you, clutching at his face. Blinded, his foot catches on a horse carriage and he stumbles and falls face first, crashing into and through the roof of the Fermented Potato Tavern. 'NOOO!' screams Ol' Blugg. Akh Rukhiel's legs twitch, head hidden in the ruins of the tavern. Ol' Blugg runs inside through the door - most of the front wall is still intact. [["[Follow Blugg]"->Gushk arrives]]

The boy enters the tavern and sees that half of the main hall has collapsed, but the bar is still intact. The Bone Giant landed on his face, pushing the weapon through his eye and into the skull. Ol' Blugg makes his way past the head to sit on a stool at the bar and pours himself a big one. Before he has time to swig it, the boy hear a thump, then loud snoring under the bar. A colossal scream tears through the ambient noise of the village being destroyed by Bone Giants. Through the hole in the roof, the boy sees a giant much larger than even Ahk Rukhiel the Bone Drinker. It's staring at the body in fury, it's eyes mad, larger than a wagon's wheels. Each word like the grating of mountains, it [[screams]].

Oh crap is right. That's Gushk the Gore Sipper, //spawner// of Akh Rukhiel. I don't think he's seen you yet. Hey, remember the pantry? My, wouldn't hiding there be a GREAT IDEA? [[All right, it's pantry time!->hide pantry]]

As the boy turns to run, he hears crashing and roaring behind him, two voices. Blugg? Wood groans and splinters fly. The boy chances a look back. The tree like arm of Gushk the Gore Sipper is reaching into the inn through the collapsed roof. It's probing for the boy, when Blugg, woken from his power nap, leaps onto it, sword swinging. The arm recoils. Back of the tavern, now! [[Survive, Ol' Blugg!]]

Just as Ol' Blugg looks up, the sword dislodges from the wood and plummets down, burying itself halfway into Blugg's shoulder. [[Shit.->warn blugg.2]]

Is this a good time to interrupt? Sorry. Hey, stable boy, listen, you should hide in the tavern's pantry, you know, till this all blows over? Just a thought, I'll let you think it over. Anyway, back to Blugg, sorry. 'EH? Oh! Oh shi!' He tries to look at the sword but can't quite turn his head all the way. The sword wobbles as he turns in place. Well, thank the Gods he has a sword! [[What do I do, what do I do?!->warn blugg.3]]

'Pullih ou, pullih ou!' he leans forward so the boy can grab the hilt. [["[Pull Sword]"->fake choice]]

The boy grabs the hilt and, drawing upon the deepest might of his stable boy muscles, he fails to budge the sword. It's right the fuck in there. 'Arrigh, arright, stop! Ah don' neeno sword!' he says, and makes for the door, tripping over a chair, then side-stumbling into a table. [[I believe in you, Ol' Blugg!->thörg arrives, blugg ko]]

With a fist full of beard, the boy pulls Ol' Blugg as hard as he can. The cabbage shaped man yelps and stumbles forward, narrowly avoiding the sword which buries itself into the floorboards where he was just standing with a loud thud. 'Ho HA HAH! GUBBOY!' He high fives the air without waiting for the boy to react, clearly oblivious to how a high five works, then pulls the sword out of the floor with a grunt. 'Arigh, ye gian bastards! Ol' Blugg's comin fer yeh!' he says, and makes for the door, tripping over a chair, then side-stumbling into a table. [["Wait for me Ol' Blugg, I'll fight with you! [Look For Weapon]"->thörg arrives, blugg ko]] [[Ol' Blugg, don't! Let the Gods fight the Bone Giants!->thörg arrives, blugg ko]]

Before Ol Blugg has time to react, the tavern door is flung open, slamming into his face. He crumples into a heap and doesn't move. At the entrance stands Thörg, bloody and bruised. 'Hullo.' [[How the Hel are you ali - Er, come in! [Pour Thörg Large Fermented Potato special]->Thörg killed Akh]]

The boy looks under the bar and grabs a bottle filled with dubious liquid, filling up a mug. If a Bone Giant couldn't kill him, this probably won't, either. Thörg sits down, a sheepish smile on his face. He takes a sip, holding the mug with both hands. 'Yum.' he says, nodding. He notices Blugg on the floor, takes another sip, looks at you, smiles, sips. [[So uh... You going to explain how you're alive?->chat OR pantry]]

Really, you're going to "chat" with Thörg? He's about as talkative as Blugg is sober. [[How's the drink, Thörg?->chat]]

Leaving the mystery of Thörg for another day, the boy exuses himself and makes his way to the back of the tavern, where the pantry is. He arrives in a hallway, and then sees a door with the words 'Pantry - KEEP OUT' carved into it. [["[Don't Keep Out]"->Thörg alive]] [[What's this other door labeled "Shiny treasure and also ice cream"?->ice cream]]

Thörg tilts his head pensively. 'In the morning I wake up. Always first wake up.' As fascinating as this is, I don't care much about Thörg while he isn't slaying Bone Giants. Come on, boy, it's pantry time! [[Really? Me too! What do you do after that?->chat3]] [["[Go To Pantry]"->go to pantry]]

Sweet baby Wodan, thank you. Excusing himself, the boy leaves Thörg at the bar and makes his way to the back of the tavern, where the pantry is. He arrives in the back hallway, and then sees a door with the words 'Pantry - KEEP OUT' carved into it. [["[Don't keep out.]"->Thörg alive]] [[What's this other door labeled "Shiny treasure and also ice cream"?->ice cream]]

'I...' he scratches his chin, 'I water blue sips!' he beams. 'I love blue sips.' In the many, MANY years I've lived, I've never heard a dumber name for a flower than "blue sip". [[Fascinating, and after that?->chat4]] [["[Pantry]"->go to pantry]]

'I sit outside. In the sun. It's warm.' [[Indeed it is. How long do you sit in outside for?->chat5]] [["[Pantry]"->go to pantry]]

'Um.' he shrugs. 'Sometimes I get hungry. Then I eat. Sometimes potatoes. Sometimes Hadir gives me eggs.' I swear to the Gods I will end you both if only to save myself from death by boredom. [[Wow, Hadir gives you eggs? That's nice of him!->chat6]] [["[Pantry]"->go to pantry]]

'I give him potatoes too sometimes. I have many potatoes. Many many!' his smile fades, 'but now... I don't know.' I DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT YOUR POTATOES THÖRG! YOU HEAR ME? NOT A SINGLE FLYING FUCK! NOT A SPANKED MULE'S HAIRY ASS! [[Yeah, unfortunately the world is ending, I guess. But cheer up! We're safe in here, at least until they find us. And until then we have... whatever it is you're drinking! Yum yum?->chat7]] [[Geez, chill your pants Grublin, I'll go.->go to pantry]]

'Yum!' Thörg agrees. [[Come to think of it, where are your parents, I've never seen them.->point OR pantry]] [["[GO TO THE PANTRY GO TO THE PANTRY GO TO THE PANTRY PLEASE GO TO THE PANTRY]"->go to pantry]]

'Yum.' he smiles, nodding. [[Tell me what a normal day is like for you, Thörg.->chat2]]

'Momma died. Long time ago. Don't remember poppa. Don't know where he is. Momma said his name was Tyr and -' Before he has time to finish, the roof above them is ripped apart, revealing bright blue sky. A gigantic eye replaces it, like a moon, peeking in. A voice like collapsing mountains screams: WHO KILLED MY SON Wait, did he say Tyr? Never mind, run! [["[Escape To Back Of Tavern]"->scurry]] [["[Point At Thörg]"->point]]

Wow, well remind me to never trust you. The giant eye fixes on the boy and then shifts to Thörg. It disappears. A skeletal blue-green arm reaches into the hole and plucks Thörg up by the scruff of his neck. I think Thörg will be fine, boy. Don't you know who Tyr is? Tyr, the god of war? Gods, you're thick! That son of a bitch is a godling! As Thörg is raised into the air, he looks longingly at his mug of Fermented Potato Special. He waves at the boy, then disappears through the hole. You hear a crunch, and then the eye returns. You hear what sounds like methodical chewing. Never mind, Thörg the godling just got eaten. Running time is now. [["[Run]"->Thörg DEAD]]

The boy leaps off his stool and makes for the back rooms. Crashing and roaring behind him, two voices. Thörg? Wood groans and splinters fly, but the boy runs. Back of the tavern, now! [[Survive, Thörg!]]

Did he say Tyr? //The// Tyr? Could it be...? A Godling? The boy chances a glance behind him. Blugg has woken up and has leapt onto the hand, hanging on for dear life, sword swinging. Above him on the arm, Thörg is clambering his way up. The boy reaches the hallway at the back of the tavern, the sounds of crashing and fighting are still coming from the main room. Among the doors in the hallway, one has the words 'Pantry - KEEP OUT' carved into it. [["[Don't Keep Out]"->Thörg alive][$thörgtyr to true]]

'Oh, yes!' he says, eyes wide. 'I punched him.' He... punched him? Is he still talking about a Bone Giant? That's not possible. 'I punched him with my fist.' Thörg blinks with both eyes. It's like he needs to consciously decide when to blink. Don't see that every day. [["[Have a chat with Thörg]"->Thörg chat]] [[You enjoy that drink, Thörg, I'm heading to the pantry.->pantry]]

Oh, who gives a damn! Just get to the pantry! The boy, having finally decided to made use of his brain, makes his way to the back of the tavern, where the pantry is. He arrives in a long hallway, and sees a door with the words 'Pantry - KEEP OUT' carved into it. [["[Don't Keep Out]"->Thörg gone]]

The boy leaps off his stool and makes for the back rooms. Crashing and roaring behind him, two voices. Wood groans and splinters fly. The boy chances a glance backwards. Blugg has woken up and has leapt onto the arm, somehow hanging on, sword swinging. Back of the tavern, now! [['Survive, Blugg!']]

Oh, who gives a shit? Get to the pantry! The boy reaches the hallway at the back of the tavern, the sounds of crashing and fighting still coming from the main room. Among the doors in the hallway, one has the words 'Pantry - KEEP OUT' carved into it. [["[Don't Keep Out]"->Thörg gone]]

The door swings open, and heavenly aromas wash over you. The pantry is a spectacular display of food and colour. Racks stocked with food line the walls; baskets of different coloured fruit; jars of herbs and bright jams. Smoked meat and sausages are suspended from hooks; sacks overflow with golden onions; garlics hang in clusters from the racks lining the walls. Barrels hide hidden treasures, potatoes, pickles, maybe even cheese? Oh gods, there might be cheese! One corner is full of crockery. Knives and cleavers, pots and pans, a cool mop. The faint sounds of slaughter and tragedy are drowned out by the smells of the delicious food. The scrumptious, glorious - [[That doesn't make sense! How does smell drown out sound?->pantry2.]]

The muted sounds of battle and carnage seep through the walls of the tavern. The boy, having finally decided to made use of his brain, makes his way to the back of the tavern, where the pantry is. He arrives in a long hallway, and sees a door with the words 'Pantry - KEEP OUT' carved into it. [["[Don't Keep Out.]"->Thörg gone]] [[What's this other door labelled "Shiny treasure and also ice cream"?]]

Please. [[No, it could be important!->trap2]] [["Oh, fine! [Enter Pantry Instead]"->Thörg gone]]

Please, no. [["[Enter Room Of Shiny Treasure And Also Ice Cream]"->trap3]]

I am //so// tired of your shit, boy. The boy enters the wrong room, doing the wrong thing - again. It's empty. Wait, no. The room is empty, except for a piece of paper on the floor. [["[Pick Up Paper]"->trap4]] [["Stupid lying door labels! [Leave Room And Enter Pantry]"->Thörg gone]]

In a magnificent display of stupidity, the boy takes a step forward. As his foot touches the wooden floorboards next to it, he hears a click, and the [[floor disappears below him.->trap5]]

Tell me about it. [[So, what do I do now?->trapped]]

I suppose you sit on your stupid ass and wait for someone to save you, eh? Or for the bone giants to find you, heh heh. [["[Wait For Knight In Shining Armour]"->wait]] [[I refuse!->I refuse!]]

Please. [[No, it could be important!->trap2.]] [["Oh, fine! [Enter pantry room]"->Thörg alive]]

Please, no. [["[Enter Room Of Shiny Treasure And Also Ice Cream]"->trap3.]]

I am //so// tired of your shit, boy. The boy enters the wrong room, doing the wrong thing - again. It's empty. Wait, no. The room is empty, except for a piece of paper on the floor. [["[Pick Up Paper]"->trap4.]] [["Stupid lying door labels! [Leave Room And Enter Pantry]"->Thörg alive]]

In a magnificent display of stupidity, the boy takes a step forward. As his foot touches the wooden floorboards next to it, he hears a click, and the [[floor disappears beneath him.->trap5.]]

A message reads: 'Dear filthy thief, I hope the fall hasn't killed you, because that would rob me of some of the pain I wish to inflict upon you. I like this person already. You will stay down here until I think you have learned your lesson. I better not find you skulking around in the private rooms ever again. Best wishes, Tavern Owner Grelka' [[This is bullshit!->This is bullshit!.]]

The boy refuses! A good choice! <<timed 2000ms t8n>>Yet, <</timed>><<timed 4000ms t8n>>nothing happens.<</timed>> <<timed 6000ms t8n>>Somehow, not liking his sitation does not remove him from it!<</timed>> <<timed 8000ms t8n>>What trickery is this?!<</timed>> <<timed 9000ms t8n>>[[I'm so confused!]]<</timed>>

The boy waits. <<timed 1500ms t8n>>And waits...<</timed>> <<timed 3000ms t8n>>And waits...<</timed>> <<timed 4500ms t8n>>He picks his nose...<</timed>> <<timed 6500ms t8n>>Gross.<</timed>> <<timed 8000ms t8n>>[["[Wait Some More]"->wait more]]<</timed>>

Before the boy's mind can reach meltdown, he hears footsteps above. Then a coil of rope lands on his face. Well deserved. Pain in the face that is, not the apparent rescue. [["[Climb Rope]"->Rope]]

He hears footsteps above! A coil of rope lands on his face. Well deserved. Pain in the face that is, not the apparent rescue. [["[Climb Rope]"->Rope]]

He lands heavily on dirt, luckily not breaking anything, but the narrator hopes he is in a lot of pain. Cold, damp and dark, the only light is the square hole above where he fell from. There is no way out of the hole. The paper drifts down. [["[Catch It]"->trap6]]

Tell me about it. [[So, what do I do now?->trapped.]]

He hears footsteps above! A coil of rope lands on his face. Well deserved. Pain in the face that is, not the apparent rescue. [["[Climb Rope]"->Rope.]]

Before the boy's mind can reach meltdown, he hears footsteps above. Then a coil of rope lands on his face. Well deserved. Pain in the face that is, not the apparent rescue. [["[Climb Rope]"->Rope.]]

<<timed 1ms t8n>>WHO<</timed>> <<timed 1s t8n>>KILLED<</timed>> <<timed 2s t8n>>MY<</timed>> <<timed 3s t8n>>SON<</timed>> <<timed 4500ms t8n>>[[Oh crap.->hide]]<</timed>>

The boy grabs an armful of food and plops himself down in the corner, legs splayed out before him. Taking a bite from a pickle, relishing the crunch and saltiness, he hears a piercing death scream penetrate the thick walls of the pantry. The boy tries to focus on the pickle. [[Mmm, pickle.->pantry4]]

Suddenly, a pile of potatoes in the corner shifts. The boy leaps to his feet in alarm. Out of the pile pops a tiny furry head, and... It's the handsomest little guy he's ever - [[GYAAH! It's a hideous Bone Giant! I must escape!->hideous]]

'Grublin!' the g-r-u-b-l-i-n shouts, raw potato spraying from it's mouth. 'Come on, you must know about Grublins! We take care of uh, your animals and.. I don't know, stuff, all right? We take care of stuff. In exchange for the occasional snack, of course. We do it in secret, that's why you've never seen us, but everyone knows about us! Stupid boy, doesn't even know about Grublins!' he laughs, more potato flying from his mouth. 'Seeing as the world's ending though... thought I'd have a nice last meal before I go to Grublin Valhalla.' Grublin spots a jar of apricot jam on a shelf next to the boy. He licks his lips, then, staring at it hard, he snaps his fingers at it. Nothing happens, and he grumbles to himself, 'I swear that used to work.' [[Whatever you are, stay quiet, I'm hiding here.->hiding]]

'Ah yes,' Grublin nods sagely. 'Clever boy, hiding in the pantry from the end of the world. Last bastion of humanity this place is!' he taps the wood behind him. While the rest of the world burns, this little room will stand fast.' [[Right.]]

'NO, idiot!' he angrily chomps on a sausage, chewing furiously, looking at you with incredulous eyes. 'It's the END times, boy, Ragnarök! You can't possibly have already forgotten what that means!' [[We're all going to die?]]

'Mm, well. Most likely. But haven't you noticed something strange? About what's happening?' [[Not really.]]

'The Gods boy, the Gods! Where are they? "When the Bone Giants rise, the Gods descend to meet them!" You see any Gods? Besides the one right in front of you of course.' he cackles. [[You're right, how could I have missed that?]]

'If your thoughts were arrows, boy, you wouldn't be able to hit the ground. But don't worry, because you have a PLAN!' [[I do?]]

Grublin visibly struggles to remain patient with the addled human. He pinches the ridge of his nose and tightly shuts his eyes, muttering to himself. <<timed 2500ms t8n>>'Deep breaths, <</timed>><<timed 3500ms t8n>>deep breaths.'<</timed>> [[Hey, you okay?->startpage]]

'Of course!' Your plan? Well, what do you do to catch the attention of the Gods, boy?' [[Pray?->pray][$pray to true]] [[Cover yourself in mud and do the snake dance?->snakedance][$snakedance to true]] [[Blood Sacrifice?]] [[Be awesome?->awesome][$awesome to true]] [[Swing a cows liver on a rope above your head at full moon?->impotence][$impotence to true]] [[Insult them.->insult][$insult to true]]

'That may be the dumbest thing I've heard all day, and trust me, I've heard a LOT of dumb shit today.' <<if $snakedance is false>>[[Cover yourself in mud and do the snake dance?->snakedance][$snakedance to true]] <</if>>\ [[Blood Sacrifice?]] <<if $awesome is false>>[[Be awesome?->awesome][$awesome to true]] <</if>>\ <<if $impotence is false>>[[Swing a cows liver on a rope above your head at full moon?->impotence][$impotence to true]] <</if>>\ <<if $insult is false>>[[Insult them.->insult][$insult to true]] <</if>>\

The grublin stares at you with a grimace bordering on concern. 'No, what? Whatever that is boy, never do that. Never. Okay? Good.' <<if $pray is false>>[[Pray?->pray][$pray to true]] <</if>>\ [[Blood Sacrifice?]] <<if $awesome is false>>[[Be awesome?->awesome][$awesome to true]] <</if>>\ <<if $impotence is false>>[[Swing a cows liver on a rope above your head at full moon?->impotence][$impotence to true]] <</if>>\ <<if $insult is false>>[[Insult them.->insult][$insult to true]] <</if>>\

'YES! By Wodan's sweet pickled herring, you got it! [[I did it!->i did it]]

The Grublin sighs. 'No. Try again.' <<if $pray is false>>[[Pray?->pray][$pray to true]] <</if>>\ <<if $snakedance is false>>[[Cover yourself in mud and do the snake dance?->snakedance][$snakedance to true]] <</if>>\ [[Blood Sacrifice?]] <<if $impotence is false>>[[Swing a cows liver on a rope above your head at full moon?->impotence][$impotence to true]] <</if>>\ <<if $insult is false>>[[Insult them.->insult][$insult to true]] <</if>>\

'No, that's how you cure impotence. Try again.' <<if $pray is false>>[[Pray?->pray][$pray to true]] <</if>>\ <<if $snakedance is false>>[[Cover yourself in mud and do the snake dance?->snakedance][$snakedance to true]] <</if>>\ [[Blood Sacrifice?]] <<if $awesome is false>>[[Be awesome?->awesome][$awesome to true]] <</if>>\ <<if $insult is false>>[[Insult them.->insult][$insult to true]] <</if>>\

Indecision flashes across the Grublins face for the first time. 'That... You know, that's actually a good idea - but! - there's a better way.' <<if $pray is false>>[[Pray?->pray][$pray to true]] <</if>>\ <<if $snakedance is false>>[[Cover yourself in mud and do the snake dance?->snakedance][$snakedance to true]] <</if>>\ [[Blood Sacrifice?]] <<if $awesome is false>>[[Be awesome?->awesome][$awesome to true]] <</if>>\ <<if $impotence is false>>[[Swing a cows liver on a rope above your head at full moon?->impotence][$impotence to true]] <</if>>\

'But a sacrifice can't just be performed anywhere! You have to reach a holy site. And I just happen to know where one is.' [[Holy smokes!->holy smokes]]

<<set $pray to false>> <<set $snakedance to false>> <<set $impotence to false>> <<set $awesome to false>> <<set $insult to false>> <<set $cleaver to false>> <<set $mop to false>> <<set $sausage to false>> <<set $varg to false>> <<set $salad to false>> <<set $robert to false>> <<set $swordshoulder to false>> <<set $battle to false>> <<set $boychicken to false>> <<set $grublinchicken to false>> <<set $bluggchicken to false>> <<set $thörgchicken to false>> <<set $studystatue to false>> <<set $thörgtyr to false>>

'No, holy //site//! I'll even come with you, since I'm fairly sure you'd mess it up otherwise. Took you long enough to get here. Just... give me a minute with these.' The Grublin fills his a pair of loose pockets on his tiny worn overalls with cheese and pickles. 'All right, squat down so I can climb on your back. Didn't think I was going to be running myself, did you? Hah!' 'You better climb out that window' he points out, 'the way we came is pretty busy, eh?' [["[Climb Out window]"->climb out]] [["[Grab Cleaver On Wall]"->cleaver][$cleaver to true]] [["[Grab Humongous Sausage]"->sausage][$sausage to true]] [["[Grab Cool Mop]"->cool mop][$mop to true]] [["[Collect Every Item In Pantry]"->collect equipment]]

As the boy struggles to squeeze through the window like a seal with an epileptic fit, his patient companion gives wise advice. 'The holy site is in the forest to the east. You won't make it if you run, so I would suggest taking one of your horses. If they haven't already been eaten by Giants. Oh, and bring a chicken.' [[Why do I need to bring a chicken?->why chicken?]]

'Every item? You want to collect EVERY ITEM in this room? Are you out of your goddamn mind? No, NO! The boy -' The boy tries to pick up useless crap but he is ENCUMBERED. That's right, he's too weak and stupid to carry more than ONE item. What does the boy pick up? [[Ha ha, look at this humongous sausage!->sausage]] [[This cool mop. Shit, check me out.->cool mop]] [[Oooh, this shiny cleaver.->cleaver]]

'What a stupid question. Because they're transportable and juicy of course. Now get out of this window!' [["[Wriggle Like Mighty Seal]"->wriggle]]

The boy picks up a sausage, for reasons no doubt only he knows. Hopefully he won't trip on it butt-first and have an unfortunate accident. Hopefully. 'All right, now move before I decide that gorging myself in this pantry until the Bone Giants get me is a better idea than this.' [["[Climb out window]"->climb out][$sausage to true]]

The boy picks up a mop. Big fuckin' woop. 'All right, now move before I decide that gorging myself in this pantry until the Bone Giants get me is a better idea than this.' [["[Climb out window]"->climb out][$mop to true]]

'Well all right, that's reasonable I guess. Now move before I decide that gorging myself in this pantry until the Bone Giants get me is a better idea than this.' [["[Climb out window]"->climb out][$cleaver to true]]

Landing softly (on his face) outside the tavern, the boy looks around. Across a field he sees his destination - the forest, but the Bone Giants will see him if he attempts to run. Inside the village are his horses and the sound of Bone Giants' laughter. And... a familiar snoring. He should use the village buildings as cover to reach his horses. [["[Sneak To Horses]"->horses.]] [["[Investigate Familiar Snoring]"->Find Blugg2]] [["Screw that! I am the mighty STABLE BOY! [Run For Forest Across Open Field]"->runforest.]]

Oh, what do you know? Silly boy. [["[Enjoy Pantry Time]"->pantry2.5]]

'Be silent, idiot child!' with a gnarled hand, the handsome creature scratches at a rebellious tuft of hair growing out of the side of his head. 'Can't you see I'm a Grublin? Incidentally, Grublin is also my name.' He stuffs a potato almost the size of his head into his mouth and crushes it between his teeth. He studies the boy at you as he chews, lying comfortably on the pile. [[Oh... What's a Gubbin?->what's a grubbin.]]

'Grublin!' the g-r-u-b-l-i-n shouts, raw potato spraying from it's mouth. 'Come on, you must know about Grublins! We take care of uh, your animals, and... I don't know, stuff, all right? We take care of stuff. In exchange for the occasional snack, of course. We do it in secret, that's why you've never seen us, but everyone knows about us! Stupid boy, doesn't even know about Grublins!' he laughs, more potato flying from his mouth. 'Seeing as the world's ending though... thought I'd have a nice last meal before I go to Grublin Valhalla.' Grublin spots a jar of apricot jam on a shelf next to the boy. He licks his lips, then, staring at it hard, he snaps his fingers at it. Nothing happens, and he grumbles to himself, 'I swear that used to work.' [[Whatever you are, stay quiet, I'm hiding here.->hiding.]]

'Mm, well. Most likely. But haven't you noticed something strange? About what's happening?' [[Not really.->not really.]]

'The Gods boy, the Gods! Where are they? "When the Bone Giants rise, the Gods descend to meet them!" You see any Gods? Besides the one right in front of you of course,' he cackles. [[You're right, how could I have missed that?->missed that.]]

'If your thoughts were arrows, boy, you wouldn't be able to hit the ground. But don't worry, because you have a PLAN!' [[I do?->i do?.]]

'Of course!' Your plan? Well, what do you do to catch the attention of the Gods, boy?' [[Pray?->pray.][$pray to true]] [[Cover yourself in mud and do the snake dance?->snakedance.][$snakedance to true]] [[Blood Sacrifice?->sacrifice.]] [[Be awesome?->awesome.][$awesome to true]] [[Swing a cows liver on a rope above your head at full moon?->impotence.][$impotence to true]] [[Insult them.->insult.][$insult to true]]

'That may be the dumbest thing I've heard all day, and trust me, I've heard a LOT of dumb shit today.' <<if $snakedance is false>>[[Cover yourself in mud and do the snake dance?->snakedance.][$snakedance to true]] <</if>>\ [[Blood Sacrifice?->sacrifice.]] <<if $awesome is false>>[[Be awesome?->awesome.][$awesome to true]] <</if>>\ <<if $impotence is false>>[[Swing a cows liver on a rope above your head at full moon?->impotence.][$impotence to true]] <</if>>\ <<if $insult is false>>[[Insult them.->insult.][$insult to true]] <</if>>\

The grublin stares at you with a grimace bordering on concern. 'No, what? Whatever that is boy, never do that. Never. Okay? Good.' <<if $pray is false>>[[Pray?->pray.][$pray to true]] <</if>>\ [[Blood Sacrifice?->sacrifice.]] <<if $awesome is false>>[[Be awesome?->awesome.][$awesome to true]] <</if>>\ <<if $impotence is false>>[[Swing a cows liver on a rope above your head at full moon?->impotence.][$impotence to true]] <</if>>\ <<if $insult is false>>[[Insult them.->insult.][$insult to true]] <</if>>\

'YES! By Wodan's sweet pickled herring, you got it! [[I did it!->i did it.]]

The Grublin sighs. 'No. Try again.' <<if $pray is false>>[[Pray?->pray.][$pray to true]] <</if>>\ <<if $snakedance is false>>[[Cover yourself in mud and do the snake dance?->snakedance.][$snakedance to true]] <</if>>\ [[Blood Sacrifice?->sacrifice.]] <<if $impotence is false>>[[Swing a cows liver on a rope above your head at full moon?->impotence.][$impotence to true]] <</if>>\ <<if $insult is false>>[[Insult them.->insult.][$insult to true]] <</if>>\

'No, that's how you cure impotence. Try again.' <<if $pray is false>>[[Pray?->pray.][$pray to true]] <</if>>\ <<if $snakedance is false>>[[Cover yourself in mud and do the snake dance?->snakedance.][$snakedance to true]] <</if>>\ [[Blood Sacrifice?->sacrifice.]] <<if $awesome is false>>[[Be awesome?->awesome.][$awesome to true]] <</if>>\ <<if $insult is false>>[[Insult them.->insult.][$insult to true]] <</if>>\

Indecision flashes across the Grublins face for the first time. 'That... You know, that's actually a good idea - but! - there's a better way.' <<if $pray is false>>[[Pray?->pray.][$pray to true]] <</if>>\ <<if $snakedance is false>>[[Cover yourself in mud and do the snake dance?->snakedance.][$snakedance to true]] <</if>>\ [[Blood Sacrifice?->sacrifice.]] <<if $awesome is false>>[[Be awesome?->awesome.][$awesome to true]] <</if>>\ <<if $impotence is false>>[[Swing a cows liver on a rope above your head at full moon?->impotence.][$impotence to true]] <</if>>\

'But a sacrifice can't just be performed anywhere! You have to reach a holy site. And I just happen to know where one is.' [[Holy smokes!->holy smokes.]]

'No, holy //site//! I'll even come with you, since I'm fairly sure you'd mess it up otherwise. Took you long enough to get here. Just... give me a minute with these.' The Grublin fills his a pair of loose pockets on his tiny worn overalls with cheese and pickles. 'All right, squat down so I can climb on your back. Didn't think I was going to be running myself, did you? Hah!' 'You better climb out that window,' he points out, 'the way we came is pretty busy, eh?' [["[Climb Out Window]"->climb out.]] [["[Loot Cleaver On Wall]"->cleaver.][$cleaver to true]] [["[Loot Humongous Sausage]"->sausage.][$sausage to true]] [["[Loot Cool Mop]"->cool mop.][$mop to true]] [["[Collect Every Item In Pantry]"->collect equipment.]]

As the boy struggles to squeeze through the window like a seal with an epileptic fit, his patient companion gives wise advice. 'The holy site is in the forest to the east. You can't outrun a Bone Giant, so I would suggest taking one of your horses, whichever's fastest. If they haven't already been eaten by Giants, that is. Oh, and bring a chicken.' [[Why do I need to bring a chicken?->why chicken?.]]

'Every item? You want to collect EVERY ITEM in this room? Are you out of your goddamn mind? No, NO! The boy -' The boy tries to pick up useless crap but he is ENCUMBERED. That's right, he's too weak and stupid to carry more than ONE item. What does the boy pick up? [[Ha ha, look at this humongous sausage!->sausage.]] [[This cool mop. Shit, check me out.->cool mop.]] [[Oooh, this shiny cleaver.->cleaver.]]

'What a stupid question. Because they're plump and juicy of course. Now get out of this window!' [["[Wriggle Like Mighty Seal]"->wriggle.]]

Landing softly (on his face) outside the tavern, the boy looks around. Across a field he sees his destination - the forest, but the Bone Giants will see him if he attempts to run. Inside the village are his horses and the sound of Bone Giants' laughter. And... a familiar snoring. He should use the village buildings as cover to reach his horses. [["[Sneak To Horses]"->horses]] [["[Investigate Familiar Snoring]"->Find Blugg]] [["Screw that! I am the mighty STABLE BOY! [Run For Forest Across Open Field]"->run forest]]

Once out of the hole, the boy sees that the other end of the rope is tied to the metal ring handle of the pantry door. [[I have decided that entering the pantry is a wise decision.->Thörg gone]]

Once out of the hole, the boy sees that the other end of the rope is tied to the metal ring handle of the pantry door. [[I have decided that entering the pantry is a wise decision.->Thörg alive]]

Having lived in the village all his life, the boy could traverse it in the dark without walking into (too many) things. The streets are empty, as most have taken refuge in their homes. Bone Giants lumber around the village, prying off the roofs of buildings to get at the plump villagers within. Some houses burn, and the boy also sees one Bone Giant breathing fire. Yeah, some of them can breathe fire, it really sucks. Sneaking from cover to cover, the boy reaches the stable unseen. The horses stomp the ground in recognition, thinking it's time for food. [["[Pick Varg, The Bloodthirsty]"->Varg.]] [["[Pick Salad, The Strong]"->Salad.]] <<if not $robert>>[["[Pick Robert, The Old Dead Horse]"->Robert.][set $robert to true]]<</if>>

Once again ignoring sense, the boy sprints out into the open field, where the wheat has not yet grown tall, meaning that the Bone Giants in the village will most likely spot him and then eat him like a miniscule meat biscuit. [[I'm going to make it!->shouts]]

Having lived in the village all his life, the boy could traverse it in the dark without walking into (too many) things. The streets are empty, as most have taken refuge in their homes. Bone Giants stomp around the village, prying off the roofs of buildings to get at the plump villagers within. Some houses burn, and the boy also sees one Bone Giant breathing fire. Yeah, some can breathe fire, it really sucks. Sneaking from cover to cover, the boy reaches the stable unseen. The horses stomp the ground in recognition, thinking it's time for food. [["[Pick Varg, The Bloodthirsty]"->Varg3]] [["[Pick Salad, The Strong]"->Salad3]] <<if not $robert>>[["[Pick Robert, The Old Dead Horse]"->Robert3][set $robert to true]]<</if>>

Once again ignoring sense, the boy sprints out into the open field, where the wheat has not yet grown tall, meaning that the Bone Giants in the village will likely spot him and then eat him like a miniscule meat biscuit. [[I'm going to make it!->shouts.]]

Having made it a small distance from the inn, the Bone Giants can now be seen towering over the village. 'I'm going to make it!' shouts the boy immediately before tripping over a dead cow and sprawling into the dirt. Clambering to the boys neck, his unfortunate companion manages to hold on. One of the Bone Giants' head turns - GET UP YOU IDIOT! GET UP, [[Bloodball God Excretor->Bloodball God Excretor2]] has seen you! MOVE! [[Wait, that's not a cow.->cow.]]

'Ouch,' says Thörg, rubbing his head. He sees you, waves. 'Hullo.' he smiles. 'What's that?' he adds wide eyed, pointing at Grublin. [[Thörg? Wha - No time! We have to go!->no time.]]

Thörg turns to see the Bone Giant. It is taking giant steps over buildings, and is almost at the inn. An ugly smile stretches across its face. Thörg leaps to his feet. Without a word, he grabs you and throws you over his shoulder like a sack. [[Oh, okay. Run for the forest, Thörg!->run Thörg.]]

I'm almost certain Bloodball confused "Execute" with "Excrete" when devising his terrifying title. [[Still scary.->shouts.]]

With the boy bouncing on Thörg's back, and the Grublin bouncing around the boy's neck, Thörg shoots towards the forest. They are almost halfway to the tree line, but the Bone Giant has already cleared the inn and is in the field. Other Bone Giants have noticed the chase and are following, eager for entertainment. It can't end like this, thinks the Grublin. Not in a field with these two idiots. These two complete imbeciles. [[We're not going to make it!->Thörg's stand.]] <<if $sausage>>[[Thörg, use this sausage!->sausage strength.]]<</if>>

Thörg stops and puts down the boy and his companion. 'I will distract Bone Giants. You must run!' As the boy hesitates, he notices the Grublin isn't around his neck anymore. He looks around, and finds him a fair distance off, waddling towards the forest. [["Give him Hel, Thörg! [Follow Grublin]"->follow grublin.]] <<if $mop>>[["[Solmenly Give Thörg Your Cool Mop] You're welcome. Good luck."->give mop.]] <</if>>\ <<if $cleaver>>[["[Solmenly Give Thörg Your Cleaver] You're welcome. Good luck."->give cleaver.]] <</if>>\

Thörg follows your orders and takes a bite mid sprint. 'Om, gooth thauthage.' he says, chewing fiercely. [[It's a MAGIC sausage Thörg! A strength sausage! You can run faster now! Run Thörg, RUN!->speed sausage.]]

Kidding me? There's no way in goddamn Hel that's going to work! <<timed 2s t8n>>This is where he runs faster... isn't it?<</timed>> <<timed 4s t8n>>Thörg speeds up. The Bone Giant roars in fury and lunges.<</timed>> <<timed 6s t8n>>Time seems to slow.<</timed>> <<timed 9s t8n>>Holy crap, that's slow...<</timed>> <<timed 12s t8n>>The Hel's goin' on?<</timed>> <<timed 15s t8n>>With a colossal sound, it lands, its hand barely missing them as they fly past the treeline and into the woods.<</timed>> <<timed 16s t8n>>[[STRENGTH SAUSAGE, YES! Works every time!->safe.]]<</timed>>

The boy cheers and laughs as Thörg puts him down. 'Bloody Hel, we're alive.' Grublin gasps. 'How'd you run so fast?' Grublin narrows his eyes at Thörg. [[Yeah, that was crazy.->THÖRG AND BOY]]

Thörg shrugs and munches on the rest of his sausage. Then, from the field, they hear Bloodball God Excretor speak: <<timed 4s t8n>>DAMN TINY FOOD<</timed>> <<timed 6s t8n>>OK, ANYONE SEEN FRED?<</timed>> <<timed 8s t8n>>WHERE IS HE?<</timed>> <<timed 10s t8n>>SOMEONE GET FRED<</timed>> <<timed 12s t8n>>YOU KNOW, FRED...<</timed>> <<timed 14s t8n>>WITH THE EYEPATCH...<</timed>> <<timed 16s t8n>>THE FIREBREATHER, FRED!<</timed>> <<timed 18s t8n>>I DON'T CARE IF HE'S BUSY!<</timed>> <<timed 20s t8n>>LISTEN!<</timed>> <<timed 22s t8n>>TELL FRED A FOREST NEEDS BURNING<</timed>> <<timed 24s t8n>>GO ON, I'LL WAIT HERE<</timed>> <<timed 25s t8n>>[[We better get moving before this Fred arrives.->forest10]]<</timed>>

As the boy runs, he chances a glance behind him. Bloodball has noticed Thörg is waiting for him. 'Hey! Bone Giant?' Thörg shouts, 'No, you Boner Giant!' at these words he turns to the boy with a huge smile on his face, clearly proud of his clever and cutting remark. Bloodball Boner Giant snarls picks Günther up, and in a terrific arc, he flings Thörg straight up into the air. The boy tries to follow Günther's path through the skies, but he has already disappeared through the clouds. I think we just found out why Günther was in the field earlier... Something tells me he's not coming back this time though. May you land in Valhalla, Thörg. [["[Enter Forest]"->JUST BOY (Thörgdead)]]

As the boy runs towards the forest, Thörg solemnly holds his boon and turns, once again, to face a Bone Giant. He cracks the top off of the cool mop, leaving a jagged splintered edge, then hefts it in his meaty fist, testing it's balance, <<timed 5s t8n>>finds the equilibrium,<</timed>> <<timed 7s t8n>>places his leg behind him for balance, drawing his arm back,<</timed>> <<timed 9s t8n>>takes two light steps forward,<</timed>> <<timed 11s t8n>>and FLINGS the cool mop like it were a spear.<</timed>> <<timed 12s t8n>>It streaks through the sky and into Bloodballs eye. The Giant goes down clutching its face, ground shaking from the impact.<</timed>> <<timed 15s t8n>>The Hel is actually happening right now? [[Come on Thörg, run!->he did it.]]<</timed>>

As the boy runs towards the forest, Thörg solemnly holds his boon and turns, once again, to face a Bone Giant. He hefts the cleaver in his meaty fist, testing it's balance, <<timed 5s t8n>>finds the equilibrium,<</timed>> <<timed 7s t8n>>places his leg behind him for balance, drawing his arm back,<</timed>> <<timed 9s t8n>>takes two light steps forward,<</timed>> <<timed 11s t8n>>and FLINGS the cleaver like it were a war axe.<</timed>> <<timed 12s t8n>>It streaks through the sky and into Bloodballs eye. The Giant goes down clutching its face, ground shaking from the impact.<</timed>> <<timed 15s t8n>>The Hel is actually happening right now? [[Come on, run!->he did it.]]<</timed>>

Rage and shock are written on the faces of the Giants behind Bloodball. As they try to understand what has happened, the boy, Grublin, and Thörg make it to the tree line and into the forest. Grublin speaks up, 'All right, we're relatively safe in here, the Giants don't really do forests. Like walking on a bed of nails, you know? They'll just burn them down, like they'll do to everything else.' [[Hot Damn! How many Bone Giants have you killed today, Thörg?->THÖRG AND BOY3]]

From under the cover of the trees, you hear Gruluk Slurp Machine speak: <<timed 4s t8n>>DAMN TINY FOOD<</timed>> <<timed 6s t8n>>OK, ANYONE SEEN FRED?<</timed>> <<timed 8s t8n>>WHERE IS HE?<</timed>> <<timed 10s t8n>>SOMEONE GET FRED<</timed>> <<timed 12s t8n>>YOU KNOW, FRED...<</timed>> <<timed 14s t8n>>WITH THE EYEPATCH...<</timed>> <<timed 16s t8n>>THE FIREBREATHER, FRED!<</timed>> <<timed 18s t8n>>I DON'T CARE IF HE'S BUSY!<</timed>> <<timed 20s t8n>>LISTEN!<</timed>> <<timed 22s t8n>>TELL FRED A FOREST NEEDS BURNING<</timed>> <<timed 24s t8n>>GO ON, I'LL WAIT HERE<</timed>> <<timed 25s t8n>>[[We better get moving before this Fred arrives.->forest7]]<</timed>>

Having made it a small distance from the inn, the Bone Giants can now be seen towering over the village. 'I'm going to make it!' shouts the boy immediately before tripping and sprawling into the dirt. One of the Bone Giants' head turns - GET UP YOU IDIOT! GET UP, [[Bloodball God Excretor->Bloodball God Excretor]] has seen you! MOVE! Bloodball God Excretor takes two steps towards the boy, cutting the distance between them in half. The boy realises Grublin is no longer around his neck, then sees him a ways off, waddling towards the forest, cheese and pickles in his pockets bouncing. [["[Run]"->dead boy]]

I'm almost certain Bloodball confused "Execute" with "Excrete" when devising his terrifying title. [[Still scary.->shouts]]

The stable boy runs. Then, suddenly, magically, he is FLYING! He'll make it to the forest in no time! Nah, just messing with ya, you're so dead, boy. The Bone Giant has picked up the boy, and with a sickening bone-wrenching tug, he flings the boy skyward. Clouds wizz past the boy on his way up, up, up. Sorry buddy, but that's it for you. Enjoy the next minute of your life. It's been a wild ride. Well, for you, anyway. What are the boys last thoughts? Not that it matters. [[That Bone Giant looks so tiny from here.->sleeping]] [[Maybe some sort of giant bird will save me.->sleeping]] [[Perhaps I should have listened to the lumpy faced troll thing.->sleeping]]

<<timed 1s t8n>>Wake up!<</timed>> <<timed 3s t8n>>Hey, FAT MAN!<</timed>> <<timed 5s t8n>>BLUGG, WAKE YOUR STUPID ASS UP!<</timed>> <<timed 7s t8n>>[[Hrgm... shurrup... sleepn...]]<</timed>>

This is, uh... This is your MOTHER speaking! [[Wuh? Ma? Waz... Wazappenin, ma? Wher'r ye? Yer ded.]]

Well... yes, I am! But uh... I'm speaking to you from the other side! Now listen up, you good for nothing son! [[Yer ma! Whass, how can'ah help?]]

First of all, what are you doing on this roof? How the Hel did you get up here? Where's your sword? How are you even alive?! You know what, it doesn't matter! I have a mission for you! [[Ah mshhn? Wazzat?]]

No, a... a QUEST! To defeat the Bone Giants! Save the village, the WORLD! [["[Swig Fermented Potato Special From Flask]"->drink]]

You need to get a horse and ride to the forest! You'll be safe there, for a time, Bone Giants hate forests, you see, like walking on a bed of nails. In the forest you will call on the Gods to save us! [["[Another Swig]"->drink2]]

And bring a chicken! Are you listening to me? [["[Swig Delicious Booze]"->drink3]]

Blugg? I mean, son? HEY! It's time to go, son! [["[Take Short Nap]"->nap]]

<div class="fade">Blugg? Don't sleep now! WAKE UP YOU USELESS BASTARD! I'LL GODDAMN CUT YOU YOU PIECE OF - </div> [["[Zzzz]"->nap2]]

... [["[Zzz...] uh! Nuh? Ma?"->nap3]]

'Finally, you goddam... I mean, yes dear. Here I am, now listen to mother, or I'll will beat the ever living Hel out of you. Get off the bloody roof and get to where your horses are. You ARE the stable master, aren't you? [["Aye, ma, aye! [Carefully Climb Down From Roof]"->climb down]]

Blugg takes one step, slips, and rolls off the edge of the roof, landing hard on his back. Good thing the roof is low. The streets are empty, as most have taken refuge in their homes. Bone Giants lumber around the village, prying off the roofs of buildings to get at the plump villagers within. Blugg manages to approach the stable unseen by Giants. The horses stomp the ground in recognition. Pick one and let's GO! [["[Pick Varg, the Bloodthirsty]"->Varg]] [["[Pick Salad, the Strong]"->Salad]] [["[Pick Robert, The Old Dead Horse]"->Robert]]

Blugg avoids the snapping teeth of Varg, having learnt his lesson at the cost of an index finger, and mounts him. 'Errhh...' he says, closing his left eye, letting it take a rest. Keep it together now, Blugg, son. Now then, get a chicken, then go to the forest! [[Aye, ma! Furrist! Hyargh!][$varg to true]]

Salad's grotesquely muscular body ripples with anticipation for a run as Blugg jumps on her back. 'Errhh...' he says, closing his left eye, letting it take a rest. Keep it together now, Blugg, son. Now then, get a chicken, then go to the forest! [[Aye, ma! Furrist! Hyargh!][$salad to true]]

Robert is dead. He was old and the Bone Giants' presence was too much for his frail heart. [["[Pick Varg, The Bloodthirsty]"->Varg]] [["[Pick Salad, The Strong]"->Salad]] [["[Mount Robert]"->robert2]]

Blugg bursts out of the stable with a mighty warcry WHY, BLUGG?! turning the head of every Bone Giant. 'HO HA HAH!' he laughs. 'Go, horse, go!' Chickens are loose everywhere, broken out of their coops by the carnage. [["[Dismount And Pick Up Chicken]"->dismount]] [["[Lean Out Of Saddle And Pick Up Chicken Mid-Gallop]"->lean]]

Again, Robert is dead. Dead as a hay bale. Blugg still gets on top of him and kicks his feet together. 'Hyah!' he says, wiggling. He seems perplexed by his immobility. [[Godderm horse! Ah said, Hyah!]]

Son! It's ma again, listen... Robert is tired. Pick another horse, yeah? 'Arrigh, ma, arrigh!' [["[Pick Varg, the bloodthirsty]"->Varg]] [["[Pick Salad, the strong]"->Salad]]

As the Bone Giants stare in surprise, the pommegranate shaped man dismounts his horse and begins to - unsuccessfully - chase chickens. Their moment of surprise is brief. They charge. Forget the chicken, Blugg, get out of there! [["Ye didn' raise no quitter, ma! [Lunge For Chicken]"->lunge]]

Blugg leans down and manages to grab a chicken around the neck, but then loses his grip on the pommel, leaving the back of the horse. His foot catches in the stirrup. The Bone Giants stare as a riderless horse gallops full speed towards the forest, dragging a small round man holding on to a thrashing chicken. [[BLREAAARRGH! Blasted chickn! BE STILL!->JUST BLUGG2]]

Feathers trail behind the horse as the Giants close on it. The forest grows closer as they gallop across the field. <<if $varg>>A hand reaches down to grab them, but Varg's teeth flash and come away with a mouthful of Bone Giant Finger. The hand retreats to the sound of a roar.<</if>>\ <<if $salad>>A hand reaches down to grab them, but Salad's muscles bunch and she dodges, again and again, as hands reach down. The frustrated Giants roar.<</if>> [[HOH HAH!->JUST BLUGG]]

With a desperate lunge, Blugg throws himself forward and manages to grab a chicken around the neck. He whistles sharply, and his mount bursts into action. It charges Blugg's prone body, as if to trample, but in the last moment it lowers its head and clamps down on Bluggs belt, lifting him, then flinging him backwards. The Bone Giants stare as the man's limbs flail in the air, then lands in the saddle facing the wrong direction, all the while trying to prevent a thrashing chicken from pecking his face. Pretty limber for a fat man... The horse races towards the forest, and the Giants pursue. [[BLREAAARRGH! Blasted chickn! BE STILL!->JUST BLUGG2]]

The boy reaches for Varg's reins, but Varg snaps at his fingers. Stable boy is a far cry from stable master, and the horses do not accept him as their rider. [[I'll have to find Stable Master Ol' Blugg!->find blugg]] <<if $sausage>>[["[Bribe Varg With Humongous Sausage]"->varg2][$varg to true]]<</if>>\

Salad's grotesquely muscular body ripples as the boy approaches, then skips away from the boys reach. Stable boy is a far cry from stable master, and the horses do not accept him as their rider. [[I have to find Ol' Blugg! He's the stable master!->find blugg]] <<if $sausage>>[["[Bribe Salad With Humongous Sausage]"->salad2][$salad to true]]<</if>>

'That horse is dead, you idiot.' says Grublin. [["[Pick Varg, The Bloodthirsty]"->Varg.]] [["[Pick Salad, The Strong]"->Salad.]] [["[Mount Robert]"->robert2.]]

The boy carefully proffer the sausage to Varg, who then suddenly wrenches it from his hands. As it chews, the boy quickly mounts him. It seems Varg will not murder him now. [["[Ride Out!]"->ride out]]

The boy still gets on top of poor Robert. 'Hyah!' he says, wiggling. He seems perplexed by his immobility. 'This is both wrong and stupid, boy. Move or I'm taking my chances waddling all the way to the forest by myself.' [["[Pick Varg, The Bloodthirsty]"->Varg.]] [["[Pick Salad, The Strong]"->Salad.]]

The boy carefully proffers the sausage to Salad, who voraciously munches it down. This time, when he try to mount, Salad does not dodge. [["[Ride Out!]"->ride out]]

Grublin swats at a fly that keeps alighting on his head. 'Surely that guy's dead by now. <<if $swordshoulder>>Also, didn't he have his own sword lodged in his shoulder?<</if>> I admit it's as good as any idea I've heard today. Not that that means much.' [["[Set Off On Great Search For Blugg!]"->find blugg2]]

Stepping out of the stable, the boy listens for trouble. Instead he hears... snoring. Extremely loud snoring. Both the boy and Grublin spot Blugg sleeping on a roof two houses down. <<if $swordshoulder>>The sword is still lodged in Blugg's shoulder, but judging by how much it's troubling him, it seems more like a fashion statement than an injury.<</if>><<if not $swordshoulder>>He seems to have lost his sword.<</if>> He must be woken up. <<if not $mop>>[[I better climb up there.->climb roof]]<</if>>\ <<if $mop>>[[Good thing I have this cool poking mop!->poke mop]]<</if>>

Handing Grublin the mop, the boy lifts him high above his head. 'If you drop me I swear I'll bite your ear off.' Grublin <<linkreplace "pokes" t8n>> bludgeons<</linkreplace>> Blugg with the mop until the snoring subsides. 'Wah? Wazzit! Boy? HO -' before Blugg can finish his loud and cheerful greeting, Grublin shoves the mop into his mouth. 'HFF HFF!' says Blugg. [[Am I glad to see you Ol' Blugg! We're leaving town!->leaving town]]

Grublin stays on the ground as the stable boy climbs to the roof, because he is not an idiot like the stable boy. Finally, the boy reaches Blugg. [["[Poke Blugg]"->poke]] [["[Roll Blugg]"->roll]]

The three of them carefully make their way to the stable, Blugg staring wide-eyed at Grublin the entire time, probably wondering if he's real or just the result of too much Fermented Potato Special. They arrive at the stable, and the horses stomp the ground in recognition. They must choose one of them. [["[Pick Varg, The Bloodthirsty]"->Varg..][$varg to true]] [["[Pick Salad, The Strong]"->Salad..][$salad to true]]

Blugg avoids the snapping teeth of Varg, having learnt his lesson at the cost of an index finger, and mounts him. 'BOY! Wherr'd yeh find'ese yuge sheep?' Blugg says, clearly impressed. He wavers in the saddle and closes his left eye, letting it take a rest. [[You okay to ride Blugg?]]

Salad's bunched muscles quiver with anticipation for a run as Blugg jumps on her back. 'BOY! Wherr'd yeh find'ese yuge sheep?' Blugg says, clearly impressed. He wavers in the saddle and closes his left eye, letting it take a rest. [[You okay to ride Blugg?]]

'Wazzit?! 'Yebboy! HO HAH!' Blugg pulls the boy up to sit behind him. 'Run, ye dern horse!' he shouts at the back of the horses head. The horse runs. [[To Battle!->To the forest!][$battle to true]] [[To The Forest!->To the forest!]]

<<if $battle>>Grublin casually slaps the boy in the face. 'No, idiot, we're going to the forest. If we just make it there, those giant bastards can't get to us. Like walking on a bed of nails, you see. Sure, eventually they'll burn it down, along with everything else, but not before we can make our plea to the gods, eh? And sacrifice a juicy, plump, delicious -'<</if>>\ <<if not $battle>>'That's right, if we just make it to the forest, those giant bastards can't get to us. Like walking on a bed of nails, you see. Sure, eventually they'll burn it down, along with everything else, but not before we can make our plea to the gods, eh? And sacrifice a juicy, plump, delicious -'<</if>> [[CHICKEN!!->chicken2]]

'Eh? What're you - AAAHH!' Grublin shouts, as the cruel boy swings him low off the saddle. They ride through the gaggle of chickens and Grublin grabs one almost his own size with both arms. The stable boy swings him back into the saddle. [[Good job, Grublin!]]

'Go to Hel.' he says, then adds 'Speaking of Hel, what's that smell?' A huge shadow suddenly falls over them and they look up. With a yelp, Grublin exclaims, 'AAH! Gruluk Slurp Machine! Uh, hi! Still have that human skin hat I see. Lovely. Suits the shape of your head. Angular. A tad left-heavy? Real nice.' Gruluk Slurp Machine's mouth twists, and he reaches for them. <<if $varg>>As the hand closes, Varg's teeth flash at it, and comes away with a mouthful of Bone Giant finger. Slurp Machine yanks his hand back, and Blugg kicks Varg into a full gallop, heading for the fields.<</if>>\ <<if $salad>>As the hand closes, Salad the horse dances away, the hand darts for them again, but Salad is too quick. The giant screams in frustration and Blugg kicks Salad into a full gallop, heading for the fields.<</if>> 'Your hat's shit!' yells Grub back at Gruluk. [[To the forest, Blugg! We have the chicken! I REPEAT: WE HAVE THE CHICKEN!->go go]]

Speeding across the field, the boy looks over his shoulder and sees several Bone Giants lumbering after them. Gruluk is at the forefront, skin hat bouncing. <<if $cleaver>>[[I have a cleaver, can I use it for anything?->cleaver?]]<</if>> [[They can't catch us! We've made it!->BLUGG AND BOY]]

Grublin cuffs the boy on the head. 'What do you think?' he says, 'Might come in use for cutting that infernal chicken's head off though! A blood sacrifice needs blood, eh!' [[We're Almost There!->BLUGG AND BOY]]

With a whoop, they cross the tree line and into safety. From under the cover of the trees, they hear Gruluk Slurp Machine speak: <<timed 4s t8n>>DAMN TINY FOOD<</timed>> <<timed 6s t8n>>OK, ANYONE SEEN FRED?<</timed>> <<timed 8s t8n>>WHERE IS HE?<</timed>> <<timed 10s t8n>>SOMEONE GET FRED<</timed>> <<timed 12s t8n>>YOU KNOW, FRED...<</timed>> <<timed 14s t8n>>WITH THE EYEPATCH...<</timed>> <<timed 16s t8n>>THE FIREBREATHER, FRED!<</timed>> <<timed 18s t8n>>I DON'T CARE IF HE'S BUSY!<</timed>> <<timed 20s t8n>>LISTEN!<</timed>> <<timed 22s t8n>>TELL FRED A FOREST NEEDS BURNING<</timed>> <<timed 24s t8n>>GO ON, I'LL WAIT HERE<</timed>> <<timed 25s t8n>>[[We better get moving before this Fred arrives.->forest2]]<</timed>>

The boy pokes Blugg. 'Zzzz...' 'Boy, he's borderline dead, that's not going to cut it. Try moving him!' [["[Roll Blugg]"->roll]]

The boy pushes Blugg's side to roll him onto his stomach and succeeds, but due to the his round shape, Blugg keeps rolling. He rolls straight off the roof and hits the ground with a crunch. The snoring stops. 'Oh... did he die?' asks Grublin. [[You're down there, YOU check!]]

As the stable boy climbs down, he hears Grublin shout in alarm. He hurries back to the pair and finds Ol' Blugg sitting up, awake, with his jaw is set at a very odd angle. 'UUUHH?' says Blugg, then sees the boy, 'UH AH AH, OY!' 'That is a //very// broken jaw.' says Grublin. 'Well, let's find the stable. Let's go, Blugg!' He clambers back up around the stable boys neck. [["[Go To Stable With Blugg]"->return stable]]

The three of them carefully make their way to the stable, Blugg staring wide-eyed at Grublin the entire time, probably wondering if he's real or just the result of too much Fermented Potato Special. They arrive at the stable, and the horses stomp the ground in recognition. They must choose one of them. [["[Pick Varg, The Bloodthirsty]"->Varg.2][$varg to true]] [["[Pick Salad, The Strong]"->Salad.2][$salad to true]]

Blugg avoids the snapping teeth of Varg, having learned his lesson at the cost of an index finger, and mounts him. 'Aaaahhh. Aaauuh?' Blugg says, wavering in the saddle, a sliver of drool running through his beard, which is pointing a bit to the side along with his jaw. He closes his left eye, letting it take a rest. [[You okay to ride Blugg?->ok?]]

Salad's bunched muscles quiver with anticipation for a run as Blugg jumps on her back. 'Aaaahhh. Aaauuh?' Blugg says, wavering in the saddle, a sliver of drool running through his beard, which is pointing a bit to the side along with his jaw. He closes his left eye, letting it take a rest. [[You okay to ride Blugg?->ok?]]

'Uh.' confirms Blugg and pulls the boy up to sit behind him. 'ARARARHH!!' he shouts angrily at the back of the horses head. The horse runs. [[To Battle!->To the forest!2][$battle to true]] [[To The Forest!->To the forest!2]]

Speeding across the field, the boy looks over his shoulder and sees several Bone Giants lumbering after them. [[They can't catch us! We've made it!->BLUGG AND BOY, JAW]]

The boy reaches for Varg's reins, but Varg snaps at his fingers. Stable boy is a far cry from stable master, and the horses do not accept him as their rider. [['I'll have to find Stable Master Ol' Blugg!'->find blugg3]] <<if $sausage>>[["[Bribe Varg With Humongous Sausage]"->varg3.][$varg to true]]<</if>>\

Salad's grotesquely muscular body ripples as the boy approaches, then skips away from the boys reach. Stable boy is a far cry from stable master, and the horses do not accept him as their rider. [[I have to find Ol' Blugg! He's the stable master!->find blugg3]] <<if $sausage>>[["[Bribe Salad With Humongous Sausage]"->salad3.][$salad to true]]<</if>>

'That horse is dead, you idiot.' says Grublin. [["[Pick Varg, The Bloodthirsty]"->Varg3]] [["[Pick Salad, The Strong]"->Salad3]] [["[Mount Robert]"->robert3.]]

'Well done,' whispers Grublin, 'now we just need a chicken and we can be on our way to the holy sacrificial site in the forest...' [["[Engage Chicken Sense]"->chicken sense]]

The boy closes his eyes and seems to concentrate. 'Boy, what're you doing?' Grublin slaps him in the face. 'Are you back? Look, there are chickens escaping from that broken pen over there.' [["Oh. [Charge Chickens]"->charge]]

The chickens try to scatter from the charging horse. [["[Swing Grublin Down To Grab Chicken]"->swing grublin2]]

'Go to Hel.' he says, then adds 'Speaking of Hel, what's that smell?' A huge shadow suddenly falls over them and they look up. With a yelp, Grublin exclaims, 'AAH! Gruluk Slurp Machine! Uh, hi! Still have that human skin hat I see. Lovely. Suits the shape of your head. Angular. A tad left-heavy? Real nice.' Gruluk Slurp Machine's mouth twists, and he reaches for them. <<if $varg>>As the hand closes, Varg's teeth flash at it, and comes away with a mouthful of Bone Giant finger. Slurp Machine yanks his hand back, and the boy kicks Varg into a full gallop, heading for the fields.<</if>>\ <<if $salad>>As the hand closes, Salad the horse dances away, the hand darts for them again, but Salad is too quick. The giant screams in frustration and the boy kicks Salad into a full gallop, heading for the fields.<</if>> 'Your hat's shit!' yells Grub back at Gruluk. [[We're doing it, Grublin! We're going to call on the Gods!]]

Speeding across the field, Grublin is struggling to keep hold of the thrashing GODDAMN chicken, while the the boy looks over his shoulder and sees several Bone Giants lumbering after them. [['hey can't catch us! We've made it!->BOY]] <<if $cleaver>>[[Hey Grublin, I have a cleaver, can I use it for anything?->cleaver?.]]<</if>>

Grublin smacks the boy again. 'What do you think, boy?' <<linkreplace "'Want to stop and face them in combat? Actually, never mind! I didn't ask that, you can't do it. I never said it. Shut up.'">><</linkreplace>> The chicken repeatedly pecks Grublin in the temple. 'Ack! You know what - ack! - you can use the cleaver for cutting this - ack! - GODDAMN chicken's head off! Blood for the blood sacrifice!' [[What are you blabbing about? Look Grublin! They can't catch us! We've made it!->BOY]]

infolink = tag for links that just provide info - Same colour as text, but underlined. Clarify why forest is safe. Make clearer that there is no such thing as a Grublin. And that he is a forest troll. And that he is sentinel. https://www.reddit.com/r/twinegames/comments/3lppjb/character_creation_in_harlowe_my_twine_2_guide_2/?st=j39x577k&sh=3285736d

Hiding under the low eaves of houses, freezing as the occasional huge foot tramples by, the boy follows the snoring, until he spots it's origin: Blugg sleeping on a roof two houses down. <<if $swordshoulder>>The sword is still lodged in Blugg's shoulder, but judging by how much it's troubling him, it seems more like a fashion statement than an injury.<</if>><<if not $swordshoulder>>He seems to have lost his sword.<</if>> How that guy's still alive I will never understand. Better wake him before a Bone Giant spots him. <<if not $mop>>[[I better climb up there.->climb roof]]<</if>>\ <<if $mop>>[[Good thing I have this cool poking mop!->poke mop]]<</if>>

The boy carefully proffers the sausage to Salad, who voraciously munches it down. This time, when he try to mount, Salad does not dodge. [["[Ride Out!]"->ride out2]]

The boy carefully proffers the sausage to Varg, who suddenly wrenches it from his hands. As it chews, the boy quickly mounts him. It seems Varg will not murder him now. [["[]"->ride out2]]

'Well done,' whispers Grublin, 'now we just need a chicken and we can be on our way to the sacrificial shrine in the forest...' [["[Engage Chicken Sense]"->chicken sense2]]

Stepping out of the stable, the boy listens for trouble. Instead he hears... snoring. Extremely loud snoring. Both the boy and Grublin spot Blugg sleeping on a roof two houses down. <<if $swordshoulder>>The sword is still lodged in Blugg's shoulder, but judging by how much it's troubling him, it seems more like a fashion statement than an injury.<</if>><<if not $swordshoulder>>He seems to have lost his sword.<</if>> He must be woken up. <<if not $mop>>[[I better climb up there.->climb roof2]]<</if>>\ <<if $mop>>[[Good thing I have this cool poking mop!->poke mop2]]<</if>>

Grublin stays on the ground as the stable boy climbs to the roof, because he is not an idiot like the stable boy. Finally, the boy reaches Blugg. [["[Poke Blugg]"->poke2]] [["[Roll Blugg]"->roll2]]

Hiding under the low eaves of houses, freezing as the occasional huge foot tramples by, the boy follows the snoring, until he spots it's origin: Blugg sleeping on a roof two houses down. <<if $swordshoulder>>The sword is still lodged in Blugg's shoulder, but judging by how much it's troubling him, it seems more like a fashion statement than an injury.<</if>><<if not $swordshoulder>>He seems to have lost his sword.<</if>> How that guy's still alive I will never understand. He must be woken up before a Bone Giant spots him. [[Maybe I should climb up there.->climb roof2]] <<if $mop>>[[Good thing I have this cool poking mop!->poke mop2]]<</if>>

'Go to Hel.' he says, then adds 'Speaking of Hel, what's that smell?' A huge shadow suddenly falls over them and they look up. With a yelp, Grublin exclaims, 'AAH! Gruluk Slurp Machine! Uh, hi! Still have that human skin hat I see. Lovely. Suits the shape of your head. Angular. A tad left-heavy? Real nice.' Gruluk Slurp Machine's mouth twists, and he reaches for them. <<if $varg>>As the hand closes, Varg's teeth flash at it, and comes away with a mouthful of Bone Giant finger. Slurp Machine yanks his hand back, and the boy kicks Varg into a full gallop, heading for the fields.<</if>>\ <<if $salad>>As the hand closes, Salad the horse dances away, the hand darts for them again, but Salad is too quick. The giant screams in frustration and the boy kicks Salad into a full gallop, heading for the fields.<</if>> 'Your hat's shit!' yells Grub back at Gruluk. [[We're doing it, Grublin! We're going to call on the Gods!->we're doing it]]

Speeding across the field now, several Bone Giants lumbering after them. 'They can't catch us!' Grublin cheers, 'We're too fast! Then a dead cow appears in front of them - [[Aaeegh!->flying3]]

The three of them carefully make their way to the stable, Blugg staring wide-eyed at Grublin the entire time, probably wondering if he's real or just the result of too much Fermented Potato Special. They arrive at the stable, and the horses stomp the ground in recognition. They must choose one of them. [["[Pick Varg, The Bloodthirsty]"->Varg..2][$varg to true]] [["[Pick Salad, The Strong]"->Salad..2][$salad to true]]

Blugg avoids the snapping teeth of Varg, having learnt his lesson at the cost of an index finger, and mounts him. 'BOY! Wher'd yeh find'ese yuge sheep?' Blugg says, clearly impressed. He wavers in the saddle and closes his left eye, letting it take a rest. [[You okay to ride Blugg?->ok to ride?]]

Salad's bunched muscles quiver with anticipation for a run as Blugg jumps on her back. 'BOY! Wher'd yeh find'ese yuge sheep?' Blugg says, clearly impressed. He wavers in the saddle and closes his left eye, letting it take a rest. [[You okay to ride Blugg?->ok to ride?]]

'Wazzit?! 'Yebboy! HO HAH!' Blugg pulls the boy up to sit behind him. 'Run, ye dern horse!' he shouts at the back of the horses head. The horse runs. [[To Battle!->To the forest][$battle to true]] [[To The Forest!->To the forest]]

Speeding across the field now, several Bone Giants lumbering after them. 'They can't catch us!' Grublin cheers, 'We're too fast! Then a dead cow appears in front of them - [[Aaeegh!->flying2]]

The boy pokes Blugg. 'Zzzz...' 'Boy, he's borderline dead, that's not going to cut it. Try moving him!' [["[Roll Blugg]"->roll2]]

As the stable boy climbs down, he hears Grublin exclaim 'Aah! he's hideous!' He hurries back to the pair and finds Ol' Blugg sitting up, awake, but his jaw is set at a very odd angle. 'UUUHH?' says Blugg, then he sees the boy, 'UH AH AH, OY!' he laughs. 'Yeah, that jaw is very broken.' says Grublin. 'Back to the stable, let's go, Blugg!' he says, and clambers back up around the stable boys neck. [["[Return To Stable With Blugg]"->return stable2]]

The three of them carefully make their way to the stable, Blugg staring wide-eyed at Grublin the entire time, probably wondering if he's real or just the result of too much Fermented Potato Special. They arrive at the stable, and the horses stomp the ground in recognition. They must choose one of them. [["[Pick Varg, The Bloodthirsty]"->Varg4][$varg to true]] [["[Pick Salad, The Strong]"->Salad4][$salad to true]]

Blugg avoids the snapping teeth of Varg, having learnt his lesson at the cost of an index finger, and mounts him. 'Aaaahhh. Aaauuh?' Blugg says, wavering in the saddle, a sliver of drool running through his beard, which is pointing a bit to the side along with his jaw. He closes his left eye, letting it take a rest. [[You okay to ride Blugg?->ok?2]]

'Aaaah!' confirms Blugg and pulls the boy up to sit behind him. 'ARARARHH!!' he shouts angrily at the back of the horses head. The horse runs. [[To Battle!->To the forest!3][$battle to true]] [[To The Forest!->To the forest!3]]

'Go to Hel.' he says, then adds, 'Speaking of Hel, what's that smell?' A huge shadow suddenly falls over them and they look up. With a yelp, Grublin exclaims, 'AAH! Gruluk Slurp Machine! Uh, hi! Still have that human skin hat I see. Lovely. Suits the shape of your head. Angular. A tad left-heavy? Real nice.' Gruluk Slurp Machine's mouth twists, and he reaches for them. <<if $varg>>As the hand closes, Varg's teeth flash at it, and comes away with a mouthful of Bone Giant finger. Slurp Machine yanks his hand back, and Blugg kicks Varg into a full gallop, heading for the fields.<</if>>\ <<if $salad>>As the hand closes, Salad the horse dances away, the hand darts for them again, but Salad is too quick. The giant screams in frustration and Blugg kicks Salad into a full gallop, heading for the fields.<</if>> 'Your hat's shit!' yells Grub back at Gruluk. [[To the forest, Blugg! We have the chicken! I REPEAT: WE HAVE THE CHICKEN!->go go3]]

Speeding across the field now, several Bone Giants lumbering after them, a dead cow appears in front of them - [[Aaeegh!->flying]]

They fly. <<timed 2s t8n>>The boy soars upside down, making a stupid scrunged up flinching face.<</timed>> <<timed 5s t8n>>Grublin, not surprised that something has gone wrong again, holds on to the panicked chicken.<</timed>> <<timed 8s t8n>>'Uhh?' says Blugg, and falls asleep mid-flight.<</timed>> <<timed 11s t8n>>Their mount is on its way to doing a double forward somersault, the glory of which it will unfortunately never understand.<</timed>> <<timed 14s t8n>>[["[Land Safely]"->land]]<</timed>>

The boy lands on his face - Heh heh! - filling his mouth with earth. [[Curse You Dead Cow!->curse cow]]

'Uss u eh oow!' gargles the boy through a mouthful of dirt. 'Ouch.' answers the cow, rubbing his head. [[That's not a cow!->not cow]]

Thörg sees you, waves. 'Hullo.' he smiles. 'What's that?' he adds, pointing at Grublin. [[Thörg? Wha - No time! We have to go!->no time2]]

The ground is trembling now with the approach of the Bone Giants. Leading the charge is Gruluk Slurp Machine, skin hat bouncing, expression murderous. He'll probably add them all to his hat. Except Grublin, hopefully. [[We're all going to die!->blugg in saddle]]

Grublin ignores the boy as he squeals something pathetic. 'Thörg, pick up Blugg and mount up! Boy, get on that goddamn horse right now or I'll tell the Bone Giants you're tastier when cooked //real slow//!' [["[Get On Goddamn Horse]"->mount]]

Building a small human pyramid on top of the horse, the party manage to get going. The Bone Giants are close behind, forest just ahead. <<if $salad>>Luckily, Thörg's huge weight is not a problem for the muscular monstrocity that is Salad.<</if>><<if $varg>>It is obvious that Varg is having trouble with the huge weight of Thörg.<</if>> <<if $varg>>[[We're not going to make it!]]<</if>>\ <<if $salad>>[[Yes! We're going to make it!]]<</if>>

'Thörg's gotta go!' says Grublin. Before the boy can protest, Thörg swings his leg over the saddle, jumping off, leaving an unconscious Blugg with the boy. Varg immediately picks up speed. <<if $mop>>[["[Toss Thörg Cool Mop] You're welcome!"->toss mop]]<</if>> <<if $cleaver>>[["[Toss Thörg Cleaver] You're welcome!"->toss cleaver]]<</if>> [[It was nice knowing you, Thörg!]]

With a magnificent stride, Salad leaps through the brush and into the safety of the forest. [[We made it!->EVERYONE, JAW2]]

The boy twists in the saddle to see Thörg shout 'Hey! Bone Giant? No, you Boner Giant!' at these words he turns to the boy with a huge smile on his face, clearly proud of his clever and cutting remark. Gruluk snarls picks Günther up, and in a terrific arc of his arm, he flings Thörg straight up into the air. The boy tries to follow Günther's path through the skies, but he has already disappeared through the clouds. 'I think we just found out why Günther was in the field earlier,' Grublin says, 'but something tells me he's not coming back this time. May you land in Valhalla, Thörg.' [["[Enter Forest]"->BOY AND BLUGG]]

A few seconds later the group crash through the tree-line and into safety. [["[Witness Fate Of Thörg]"->fate of thörg]]

The Giants behind Gruluk slow down, probably as confused as Grublin. Shock and rage on their faces as they realise Gruluk is dead. In infernal chorus, they howl and set their eyes on Thörg - Who has been running for the forest since the weapon left his hand! [[You can do it!->You can do it, Thörg!]]

With a magnificent stride, your mount leaps through the brush and into the safety of the forest. From under the cover of the trees, you hear Gruluk Slurp Machine speak: <<timed 4s t8n>>DAMN TINY FOOD<</timed>> <<timed 6s t8n>>OK, ANYONE SEEN FRED?<</timed>> <<timed 8s t8n>>WHERE IS HE?<</timed>> <<timed 10s t8n>>SOMEONE GET FRED<</timed>> <<timed 12s t8n>>YOU KNOW, FRED...<</timed>> <<timed 14s t8n>>WITH THE EYEPATCH...<</timed>> <<timed 16s t8n>>THE FIREBREATHER, FRED!<</timed>> <<timed 18s t8n>>I DON'T CARE IF HE'S BUSY!<</timed>> <<timed 20s t8n>>LISTEN!<</timed>> <<timed 22s t8n>>TELL FRED A FOREST NEEDS BURNING<</timed>> <<timed 24s t8n>>GO ON, I'LL WAIT HERE<</timed>> <<timed 25s t8n>>[[We better get moving before this Fred arrives.->forest2]]<</timed>>

The Bone Giants hiss with fury. From under the cover of the trees, the group hears one of them speak: <<timed 4s t8n>>DAMN TINY FOOD<</timed>> <<timed 6s t8n>>OK, ANYONE SEEN FRED?<</timed>> <<timed 8s t8n>>WHERE IS HE?<</timed>> <<timed 10s t8n>>SOMEONE GET FRED<</timed>> <<timed 12s t8n>>YOU KNOW, FRED...<</timed>> <<timed 14s t8n>>WITH THE EYEPATCH...<</timed>> <<timed 16s t8n>>THE FIREBREATHER, FRED!<</timed>> <<timed 18s t8n>>I DON'T CARE IF HE'S BUSY!<</timed>> <<timed 20s t8n>>LISTEN!<</timed>> <<timed 22s t8n>>TELL FRED A FOREST NEEDS BURNING<</timed>> <<timed 24s t8n>>GO ON, I'LL WAIT HERE<</timed>> <<timed 25s t8n>>[[We better get moving before this Fred arrives.->forest5]]<</timed>>

Thörg is holding the boy's boon with great respect. Gruluk Slurp Machine is almost upon him. He cracks the top off of the cool mop, leaving a jagged splintered edge, then hefts it in his meaty fist, testing it's balance, <<timed 5s t8n>>finds the equilibrium,<</timed>> <<timed 7s t8n>>places his leg behind him for balance, drawing his arm back,<</timed>> <<timed 10s t8n>>takes two light steps forward,<</timed>> <<timed 12s t8n>>and flings the cool mop like it were a spear.<</timed>> <<timed 14s t8n>>It streaks through the sky and into Gruluk Slurp Machine's eye. The Giant goes down clutching its face, and the ground shakes from the impact.<</timed>> <<timed 16s t8n>>'The Hel just happened?' Grublin says.<</timed>> <<timed 17s t8n>>[[Hot damn!->he did it2]]<</timed>>

A few seconds later they reach the forest, and safety. [["[Witness Fate Of Thörg]"->fate of thörg2]]

Thörg solemnly receives the boy's boon and turns, once again, to face a Bone Giant. He hefts the cleaver in his meaty fist, testing it's balance, <<timed 4s t8n>>finds the equilibrium,<</timed>> <<timed 6s t8n>>places his leg behind him for balance, drawing his arm back,<</timed>> <<timed 9s t8n>>takes two light steps forward,<</timed>> <<timed 11s t8n>>and flings the cleaver like it were a war axe.<</timed>> <<timed 12s t8n>>It streaks through the sky and into Gruluk Slurp Machine eye. The Giant goes down clutching its face and the ground shakes from the impact.<</timed>> <<timed 14s t8n>>The Hel just happened?<</timed>> [[Hot damn!->he did it2]]

The boy lands on his face - Heh heh! - filling his mouth with earth. [[Curse You Dead Cow!->curse cow2]]

'Uss u eh oow!' gargles the boy through a mouthful of dirt. 'Ouch.' answers the cow, rubbing his head. [[That's not a cow!->not cow2]]

Thörg sees you, waves. 'Hullo.' he smiles. 'What's that?' he adds, pointing at the Grublin. [[Thörg? Wha - No time! We have to go!->no time3]]

The ground is trembling now with the approach of the Bone Giants. Leading the charge is Slurp Machine, skin hat bouncing, expression murderous. He'll probably add them all to his hat. Except Grublin, hopefully. [[We're all going to die!->mount2]]

Everyone scramble back on the horse, and manage to get going as the Bone Giants close on them. The forest is just ahead. <<if $salad>>Luckily, Thörg's huge weight is not a problem for the muscular monstrocity that is Salad, and they slowly pull away from the Giants.<</if>><<if $varg>>It is obvious that Varg is having trouble with the huge weight of Thörg.<</if>> <<if $varg>>[[We're not going to make it!->not make it]]<</if>> <<if $salad>>[[Yes! We're going to make it!->make it]]<</if>>

'Thörg's gotta go!' says Grublin. Before the boy can protest, Thörg swings his leg over the saddle, jumping off, leaving an unconscious Blugg with you. Varg immediately picks up speed. <<if $mop>>[["[Toss Thörg your cool mop] You're welcome!"->toss mop2]]<</if>> <<if $cleaver>>[["[Toss Thörg your cleaver] You're welcome!"->toss cleaver2]]<</if>> [[It was nice knowing you, Thörg!->nice knowing you2]]

With a magnificent stride, Salad leaps through the brush and into the safety of the forest. [[We made it!->EVERYONE2]]

They fly. <<timed 2s t8n>>The boy soars upside down, making a stupid scrunged up flinching face.<</timed>> <<timed 5s t8n>>Grublin, not surprised that something has gone wrong again, holds on to the panicked chicken.<</timed>> <<timed 8s t8n>>Their mount is on its way to doing a double forward somersault, the glory of which it will unfortunately never understand.<</timed>> <<timed 11s t8n>>[["[Land Safely]"->land3]]<</timed>>

The boy lands on his face - Heh heh! - filling his mouth with earth. [[Curse You Dead Cow!->curse cow3]]

'Uss u eh oow!' gargles the boy through a mouthful of dirt. 'Ouch.' answers the cow, rubbing his head. [[That's not a cow!->thörg cow]]

Everyone scrambles back on the horse, and manage to get going as the Bone Giants close on them. The forest is just ahead. <<if $salad>>Luckily, Thörg's huge weight is not a problem for the muscular monstrocity that is Salad.<</if>><<if $varg>>It is obvious that Varg is having trouble with the huge weight of Thörg.<</if>> <<if $varg>>[[We're not going to make it!->not make it2]]<</if>> <<if $salad>>[[Yes! We're going to make it!->make it2]]<</if>>

'Thörg's gotta go!' says Grublin. Before the boy can protest, Thörg swings his leg over the saddle, jumping off. Varg immediately picks up speed. <<if $mop>>[["[Toss Thörg your cool mop] You're welcome!"->toss mop3]]<</if>> <<if $cleaver>>[["[Toss Thörg your cleaver] You're welcome!"->toss cleaver3]]<</if>> [[It was nice knowing you, Thörg!->nice knowing you3]]

With a magnificent stride, Salad leaps through the brush and into the safety of the forest. [[We did it!->THÖRG AND BOY2]]

A few seconds later the group crash through the tree-line and into safety. [["[Witness Fate Of Thörg]"->fate of thörg3]]

A few seconds later the group crash through the tree-line and into safety. [["[Witness Fate Of Thörg]"->fate of thörg4]]

Thörg is holding the boy's boon with great respect. Gruluk Slurp Machine is almost upon him. He cracks the top off of the cool mop, leaving a jagged splintered edge, then hefts it in his meaty fist, testing it's balance, <<timed 5s t8n>>finds the equilibrium,<</timed>> <<timed 7s t8n>>places his leg behind him for balance, drawing his arm back,<</timed>> <<timed 10s t8n>>takes two light steps forward,<</timed>> <<timed 12s t8n>>and FLINGS the cool mop like it were a spear.<</timed>> <<timed 13s t8n>>It streaks through the sky and into Gruluk Slurp Machine's eye. The Giant goes down clutching its face, and the ground shakes from the impact.<</timed>> <<timed 15s t8n>>The Hel is actually happening right now?<</timed>> <<timed 16s t8n>>[[Hot damn!->he did it3]]<</timed>>

Thörg solemnly receives the boy's boon and turns, once again, to face a Bone Giant. He hefts the cleaver in his meaty fist, testing it's balance, <<timed 4s t8n>>finds the equilibrium,<</timed>> <<timed 6s t8n>>places his leg behind him for balance, drawing his arm back,<</timed>> <<timed 9s t8n>>takes two light steps forward,<</timed>> <<timed 11s t8n>>and FLINGS the cleaver like it were a war axe.<</timed>> <<timed 12s t8n>>It streaks through the sky and into Gruluk Slurp Machine eye. The Giant goes down clutching its face and the ground shakes from the impact.<</timed>> <<timed 14s t8n>>The Hel is actually happening right now?<</timed>> [[Hot damn!->he did it3]]

The Giants behind Gruluk slow down, probably as confused as Grublin. Shock and rage on their faces as they realise Gruluk is dead. They howl and set their eyes on Thörg - Who has been running for the forest since the weapon left his hand! [[You can do it, Thörg!->you can do it]]

A few seconds later the group crash through the tree-line and into safety. [["[Witness Fate Of Thörg]"->fate of thörg.]]

A few seconds later the group crash through the tree-line and into safety. [["[Witness Fate Of Thörg]"->fate of thörg.2]]

Thörg is holding the boy's boon with great respect. Gruluk Slurp Machine is almost upon him. He cracks the top off of the cool mop, leaving a jagged splintered edge, then hefts it in his meaty fist, testing it's balance, <<timed 5s t8n>>finds the equilibrium,<</timed>> <<timed 7s t8n>>places his leg behind him for balance, drawing his arm back,<</timed>> <<timed 10s t8n>>takes two light steps forward,<</timed>> <<timed 12s t8n>>and FLINGS the cool mop like it were a spear.<</timed>> <<timed 13s t8n>>It streaks through the sky and into Gruluk Slurp Machine's eye. The Giant goes down clutching its face, and the ground shakes from the impact.<</timed>> <<timed 15s t8n>>The Hel is actually happening right now?<</timed>> <<timed 16s t8n>>[[Hot damn!->he did it5]]<</timed>>

Thörg is holding the boy's boon with great respect. He turns, once again, to face a Bone Giant. He hefts the cleaver in his meaty fist, testing it's balance, <<timed 4s t8n>>finds the equilibrium,<</timed>> <<timed 6s t8n>>places his leg behind him for balance, drawing his arm back,<</timed>> <<timed 9s t8n>>takes two light steps forward,<</timed>> <<timed 11s t8n>>and FLINGS the cleaver like it were a war axe.<</timed>> <<timed 12s t8n>>It streaks through the sky and into Gruluk Slurp Machine eye. The Giant goes down clutching its face and the ground shakes from the impact.<</timed>> <<timed 14s t8n>>The Hel is actually happening right now?<</timed>> [[Hot damn!->he did it5]]

Thörg runs, a huge smile splitting his face as he spots his friends waiting under the trees. Seemingly without a care in the world, he clears the treeline. [[No need to thank me, Thörg!->EVERYONE, JAW]]

Thörg runs, a huge smile splitting his face as he spots his friends waiting under the trees. Seemingly without a care in the world, he clears the treeline. [[No need to thank me, Thörg!->EVERYONE]]

Like a spear, they shoot through the tree line, and the horse slows down. From under the cover of the trees, Blugg hears one of the Bone Giants speak: <<timed 4s t8n>>DAMN TINY FOOD<</timed>> <<timed 6s t8n>>OK, ANYONE SEEN FRED?<</timed>> <<timed 8s t8n>>WHERE IS HE?<</timed>> <<timed 10s t8n>>SOMEONE GET FRED<</timed>> <<timed 12s t8n>>YOU KNOW, FRED...<</timed>> <<timed 14s t8n>>WITH THE EYEPATCH...<</timed>> <<timed 16s t8n>>THE FIREBREATHER, FRED!<</timed>> <<timed 18s t8n>>I DON'T CARE IF HE'S BUSY!<</timed>> <<timed 20s t8n>>LISTEN!<</timed>> <<timed 22s t8n>>TELL FRED A FOREST NEEDS BURNING<</timed>> <<timed 24s t8n>>GO ON, I'LL WAIT HERE<</timed>> <<timed 25s t8n>>Better get moving before this Fred arrives. The shrine where you'll make the sacrifice is just a few minutes further east. [[Righto, Ma!->forest4]]<</timed>>

'Yes, why are you shouting? Can you not control the volume of your voice, stupid child?' [[Over there! Chickens! They're escaping through that broken fence!->chickens2]]

'What are you waiting for, //grab one//!' 'Urarghh!' agrees Blugg. [["[Swing Grublin Down To Grab Chicken]"->Banana]]

'Yes, why are you shouting? Can you not control the volume of your voice, stupid child?' [[Over there! Chickens! They're escaping through that broken fence!->chicken.]]

'What are you waiting for, //grab one//!' 'Grabbat oily burd!' agrees Blugg. [["[Swing Grublin Down To Grab Chicken]"->swing grublin]]

'Yes, why are you shouting? Can you not control the volume of your voice, stupid child?' [[Over there! Chickens! They're escaping through that broken fence!->Banana3]]

'What are you waiting for, //grab one//!' 'GUH!' agrees Blugg. [["[Swing Grublin Down To Grab Chicken]"->Banana2]]

The bickering behind them continues as they move deeper into the forest. After just a dozen paces, the vegetation becomes too thick for <<if $varg>>Varg<</if>><<if $salad>>Salad<</if>> to traverse, so the boy ties the reins around a tree. Grublin climbs off your back and up to Blugg, who is still draped like a sack of potatoes over the saddle. He pushes him off. 'Uh. ARARGH!' cries Blugg, waking up. Aah?' he says, looking around, scratching his head, lower jaw still jutting to the right. [[We're in the forest Blugg. We're going to save the world!->Forest a]]

The bickering behind them continues as they move deeper into the forest. After just a dozen paces, the vegetation becomes too thick for <<if $varg>>Varg<</if>><<if $salad>>Salad<</if>> to traverse, so the boy ties the reins around a tree. Grublin climbs off your back and up to Blugg, who is still draped like a sack of potatoes over the saddle. He pushes him off. 'Wazzit!' cries Blugg, waking up. 'Whyrwe ineh furrist?' he says, looking around, scratching his head. [[We're saving the world!->Forest2 a]]

The bickering behind them continues as they move deeper into the forest. After just a dozen paces, the vegetation becomes too thick for <<if $varg>>Varg<</if>><<if $salad>>Salad<</if>> to traverse, so the boy ties the reins around a tree. Grublin shoves the thrashing chicken into the boy's arms, then clambers up to sit on the stable boy's shoulder, comfortably using the boy's head as an arm rest, surprised to find an actual use for it. [[This forest is creepy...->Forest3 a][$boychicken to true]]

The bickering behind Blugg continues as he moves deeper into the forest. After just a dozen paces, the vegetation becomes too thick for <<if $varg>>Varg<</if>><<if $salad>>Salad<</if>> to traverse, so Blugg ties the reins around a tree and continues, holding the chicken under his arm. All right son! Time for me to go! Just keep heading east, and you'll find a stream. Cross that and you'll find the shrine. [[Oh, arrigh Ma. Are ye proud o me?->forest4 b]]

The bickering behind them continues as they move deeper into the forest. After just a dozen paces, the vegetation becomes too thick for <<if $varg>>Varg<</if>><<if $salad>>Salad<</if>> to traverse, so the boy ties the reins around a tree. Grublin climbs off your back and up to Blugg, who is still draped like a sack of potatoes over the saddle. He pushes him off. 'Wazzit!' cries Blugg, waking up. 'Whyrwe ineh furrist?' he says, looking around, scratching his head. [[We're in the forest Blugg. We're going to save the world!->Forest6 a]]

'Yes, why are you shouting? Can you not control the volume of your voice, stupid child?' [[Over there! Chickens! They're escaping through that broken fence!->grab one]]

'What are you waiting for, //grab one//!' 'Grabbat oily burd!' agrees Blugg. [["[Swing Grublin Down To Grab Chicken]"->swing grublin4]]

The chickens try to scatter from the charging horse. [["[Swing Grublin Down To Grab Chicken]"->swing grublin3]]

Thörg sees you, waves. 'Hullo.' he smiles. 'What's that?' he adds, pointing at the Grublin. [[Thörg? Wha - No time! We have to go!->not cow3]]

Grublin ignores the boy as he squeals something pathetic. 'Thörg, get on the horse! Boy, you too, before I tell the Bone Giants you're tastier when cooked //real slow//!' [["[Get On Horse]"->in saddle3]]

The bickering behind them continues as they move deeper into the forest. After just a dozen paces, the vegetation becomes too thick for <<if $varg>>Varg<</if>><<if $salad>>Salad<</if>> to traverse, so the boy ties the reins around a tree. Grublin shoves the chicken into Thörg's arms, then clambers up to sit on the stable boy's shoulder, comfortably using the boy's head as an arm rest, surprised to find an actual use for it. 'All right, let's move.' They move deeper into the forest. [["[Take Chicken From Thörg]"->forest8 a][$boychicken to true]] [["[Let Thörg Keep Chicken]"->forest8 a][$thörgchicken to true]]

The Bone Giants hiss with fury. From under the cover of the trees, the group hears Gruluk Slurp Machine speak: <<timed 4s t8n>>DAMN TINY FOOD<</timed>> <<timed 6s t8n>>OK, ANYONE SEEN FRED?<</timed>> <<timed 8s t8n>>WHERE IS HE?<</timed>> <<timed 10s t8n>>SOMEONE GET FRED<</timed>> <<timed 12s t8n>>YOU KNOW, FRED...<</timed>> <<timed 14s t8n>>WITH THE EYEPATCH...<</timed>> <<timed 16s t8n>>THE FIREBREATHER, FRED!<</timed>> <<timed 18s t8n>>I DON'T CARE IF HE'S BUSY!<</timed>> <<timed 20s t8n>>LISTEN!<</timed>> <<timed 22s t8n>>TELL FRED A FOREST NEEDS BURNING<</timed>> <<timed 24s t8n>>GO ON, I'LL WAIT HERE<</timed>> <<timed 25s t8n>>[[We better get moving before this Fred arrives.->forest8]]<</timed>>

Thörg shrugs, and before he can respond, the Bone Giants hiss with fury. From under the cover of the trees, the group hears one of them speak: <<timed 4s t8n>>DAMN TINY FOOD<</timed>> <<timed 6s t8n>> HOW'D HE KILL BLOODBALL?<</timed>> <<timed 8s t8n>>OK, ANYONE SEEN FRED?<</timed>> <<timed 10s t8n>>WHERE IS HE?<</timed>> <<timed 12s t8n>>SOMEONE GET FRED<</timed>> <<timed 14s t8n>>YOU KNOW, FRED...<</timed>> <<timed 16s t8n>>WITH THE EYEPATCH...<</timed>> <<timed 18s t8n>>THE FIREBREATHER, FRED!<</timed>> <<timed 20s t8n>>I DON'T CARE IF HE'S BUSY!<</timed>> <<timed 22s t8n>>LISTEN!<</timed>> <<timed 24s t8n>>TELL FRED A FOREST NEEDS BURNING<</timed>> <<timed 26s t8n>>GO ON, I'LL WAIT HERE<</timed>> <<timed 27s t8n>>[[We better get moving before this Fred arrives.->forest10]]<</timed>>

The bickering behind them continues as they move deeper into the forest. Grublin clambers up to sit on the stable boy's shoulder, comfortably using the boy's head as an arm rest, surprised to find an actual use for it. 'All right, let's move.' [["[Go Deeper Into Forest]"->forest7 a]]

Well done, Player. With this choice, we have left all the unenlightened candy haters behind. Feel good? All right, let's boogie. [[Play the game.->Off we go!]]

"Ew, I don't like candy." See? That's what you sound like. Anyway, the candy is figurative. Now, [[enjoy the game.->Off we go!]]

'Uhuagh! Hah!' laughs Blugg. Grublin shoves the chicken into Blugg's arms, then clambers up to sit on the stable boy's shoulder, comfortably using the boy's head as an arm rest, surprised to find an actual use for it. 'All right, let's move.' They move deeper into the forest. [["[Take Chicken From Blugg]"->forest b][$boychicken to true]] [["[Let Blugg Keep Chicken]"->forest b][$bluggchicken to true]]

Grublin finds a lint covered pickle in his pocket and pops it into his mouth. 'It's old, this forest is,' he whispers from the boy's shoulder. 'People used to come here to worship the Gods. Not anymore. Now it's all thunder Gods this, fertility Gods that.' He waves his hand dismissively. 'Over there, past the stream. Our destination.' [[But which god will we sacrifice to?->forest c]]

'Ah, you'll see, boy.' Grublin says with a toothy grin. Almost entirely hidden under the hanging branches of a large pine, encased in the trunk itself, is a blackened stone sculpture, oblong in shape. It seems as though the rock has sprouted from the earth itself. Roots have grown around it, forming what looks like two arms with cupped hands. Blugg gazes at it with heavy lidded eyes. Does he know? A strand of drool slowly descends from Blugg's open mouth. Of course he doesn't know. [["[Study Sculpture Closer]"->sacrifice study][$studysculpture to true]] [["[Hold Cupped Hands]"->sacrifice poke]]

The boy steps closer to the statue. The carvings on ancient stone reveal a smiling face with sharp angular features. It's staring hungrily at the cupped hands before it. Long moss hangs from the head and forms a luxuriant beard below the mouth. At the base words are carved into the stone: BLOOD FOR THE SENTINEL WHOSE VOICE SHALL SOUND TO CALL ON THE GODS WHEN GIANTS ABOUND Looking into the cupped roots reveals tiny bones, ancient forgotten offerings. [["[Pick Up And Study Bones]"->sacrifice poke]] [["[Prepare Sacrifice]"->who has chicken]]

The boy reaches towards the cupped hands, and with a jerk, they grab //his// hands! Other roots snake out to grip his ankles too, but they seem without purpose, unsure what to do other than simply hold him. <<if $boychicken>>Unable to move, the boy drops the chicken, which goes squawking into the forest. 'IHIN!' Blugg shouts and follows.<</if>> Grublin is rolling on a bed of moss, laughing at the boy. 'Hah hah! Your stupid face when it grabbed you - "Oh no! The roots are going to eat me!" HAH!' Grublin snaps a finger and the roots return to their cupped hands position. [[Wow, how'd you do that?->sacrifice b]]

'I just snapped my fingers, wasn't that obvious? Pay attention, boy! Now, where's that chicken?' <<if $boychicken>>Blugg returns, holding a very angry chicken. [[So what now?->chicken blood]]<</if>>\ <<if $bluggchicken>>[[You gave it to Blugg.->blugg chicken]]<</if>>

'...Blugg?' 'Uh.' Blugg says, 'ihin?' 'You... Blugg, I swear, if you lost that chicken.' Blugg stares at Grublin, looks at his own hands as if maybe they would be holding a chicken, finds them empty, then lifts them to show Grublin that they are, indeed, empty. He shrugs as if it's magic. 'I might kill you, Blugg. I'm seriously considering it.' [[What about our own blood, can we use that?->Human Blood a]]

'Excellent, let's begin. First, chop that thing's head off and hold it so the blood pours into the cupped roots, then repeat the words I say.' <<if $cleaver>>[["Oh, oh! With my cleaver? YES! FINALLY! It's Cleaver o'clock, baby!"->chicken yes cleaver]]<</if>>\ [[And how am I supposed to chop it's head off?->chicken no cleaver]]

'Human blood? Doesn't taste like chicken, but I suppose it'll do. Now, a few drops isn't enough. This God's been sleeping for centuries. It'll take a hearty meal to really wake him up. So... you know... you might bleed out. But what do I know, I'm not a medicine man.' The stable boy and his master stare at Grublin. 'Oh, right. Uh, Grublin blood is weak, very weak, yep. Won't do at all. So who wants to be the lucky man?' [[You're up, Blugg!->blugg blood]] [[I offer my blood!->boy blood]] <<if not $studysculpture>>[["[Study Sculpture Closer]"->sacrifice study a]]<</if>>

'Get the chicken ready.' Grublin says. [[I don't really want to kill this chicken. Can't we use our own blood?->human blood]] <<if $boychicken>>[[Got it right here!->chicken blood]]<</if>>\ <<if $bluggchicken>>[[You gave it to Blugg.->blugg chicken]]<</if>>

The boy steps closer to the statue. The carvings on ancient stone reveal a smiling face with sharp angular features. It's staring hungrily at the cupped hands before it. Long moss hangs from the head and forms a luxuriant beard below the mouth. At the base words are carved into the stone: BLOOD FOR THE SENTINEL WHOSE VOICE SHALL SOUND TO CALL ON THE GODS WHEN GIANTS ABOUND Looking into the cupped roots reveals tiny bones, ancient forgotten offerings. [[You're up Blugg!->blugg blood]] [[I offer my blood!->boy blood]]

'Oh wait, this isn't going to work. Look at his jaw, it looks like it's trying to escape from his face. He can't speak the words!' [[Fine, then I offer my blood!->boy blood]]

'Excellent, I'm sure someone will thank you, if you survive. Get on with it. Make a cut on the wrist, lots of blood there.' <<if $cleaver>>[["[Use cleaver] YES! FINALLY! It's Cleaver o'clock, baby!"->boy yes cleaver]]<</if>>\ [[Uh, how do I cut myself?->boy no cleaver]]

The boy laughs somewhat maniacally and chops the chickens head off, finally silencing its incessant clucking. He then turns his blood spattered face to Grublin expectantly, not sure what to do. Grublin rolls his eyes and points at the shrines cupped hands. Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. [["[Pour Blood Over Hands]"->chicken sacrifice]]

Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. Grublin waddles over to the boy and grabs the chicken. Before anyone can react, he bites the head off, spits it out, and hands him the body with a wide bloody grin. [[Uh... Oookay...->chicken sacrifice]]

The boy laughs somewhat maniacally and holds his wrist over the roots. Carefully, he makes an incision with the cleaver. Blood Spurts. Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. [["[Let Blood Flow Over Roots]"->boy sacrifice]]

Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. Grublin waddles over to the boy and grabs his wrist. Before anyone can react, he plunges a sharp nail into it, causing a brief spurt of blood. 'No whining! Hold it over the roots and repeat what I say!' [["[Hold Wrist Over Roots]"->boy sacrifice]]

The boy lets the blood spill onto the cupped roots and drip through. Immediately, the roots tighten and the tiny basin begins to fill. Then the basin seems to drain again, but nothing is passing through. The roots are drinking. 'Repeat after me: Accept my paltry gift,' [[Accept my paltry gift,->chicken sacrifice a]]

'Human blood? Doesn't taste like chicken, but I suppose it'll do. Now, a few drops isn't enough. This God's been sleeping for centuries. It'll take a hearty meal to really wake him up. So... you know... you might bleed out. But what do I know, I'm not a medicine man. Chicken's still on the menu though.' The stable boy and his master stare at Grublin. 'Oh, right. Uh, Grublin blood is weak, very weak, yep. Won't do at all. So who wants to be the lucky man?' [[On second thought, Mr. Chicken will do the honors after all.->chicken blood]] [[You're up Blugg!->blugg blood]] [[I offer my blood!->boy blood]]

The blood spills onto the cupped roots and drips through. Immediately, the roots tighten and the tiny basin begins to fill. Then the basin seems to drain again, but nothing is passing through. The roots are drinking. 'Repeat after me: Accept my paltry gift,' [[Accept my paltry gift,->boy sacrifice a]]

'and hear my puny voice.' [[and hear my puny voice.->boy sacrifice b]]

'Thank you for your mercy,' [[Thank you for your mercy,->boy sacrifice c]]

'your strength and your muscles,' [[your strength and your muscles,->boy sacrifice d]]

'that guard us from the giants.' [[that guard us from the giants.->boy sacrifice e]]

'We are in your debt,' [[We are in your debt,->boy sacrifice f]]

'Grublin, greatest of Gods.' [[Grublin, greatest of Gods. Wait what?->boy sacrifice h]]

'you sexy beast,' [[you sexy beast,->boy sacrifice g]]

'and hear my puny voice.' [[and hear my puny voice.->chicken sacrifice b]]

'Ohh yes that hits the SPOT!' yells Grublin. It'd been so long! He'd forgotten how GOOD it tasted, mmh, sacrificial blood. Grublin smacks his lips. He feels his bones shift, stretch, his muscles vibrate. He touches his chin, and ahhh, yes, the beard is back. He stretches his spine, hears it pop pop pop, vertabrae slotting into place. 'FEAST YOUR EYES, MY CHILDREN! GRUBLIN THE GREAT IS BACK!' Grublin looks //down// at the boy and Blugg and they stare back up at him, utterly stunned by his brilliance, of course. [[Oh my Gods, you're even uglier than before.->boy sacrifice i]]

'You know what, I won't even destroy you for that comment! But now, I have business to attend to.' Grublin snaps his fingers and vanishes. The boy looks around in confusion. So very amusing. He's practically spinning in place; he wonders where his God has gone. It's only natural. Blugg seems completely unaware of his surroundings, and the boy is starting to feel dizzy from the blood loss. [[Damn you, Grublin! Help us!->boy help]] [[Please, Grublin the Great! Help!->boy help]] [["[Pee On Sculpture]"->boy pee]]

The boy's words are ignored, mostly, but he hears a mocking cackle on the wind as he shouts them. That's when they hear it. [["'What? Hear what?!'"->bone giants come boy]]

The boy approaches the ancient relic and drops his pants. Is he really going to...? The roots of the statue lash out and grab the boy, picking him up and flinging him away. The boy's frightened squawking is very pleasing. That's when they hear it. [["'What? Hear what?!'"->bone giants come boy]]

<<timed 1s t8n>>SHHH!<</timed>> <<timed 2500ms t8n>>I THINK I HEARD THEM<</timed>> <<timed 4000ms t8n>>THAT WAY<</timed>> <<timed 5500ms t8n>>HURRY UP FRED!<</timed>> <<timed 6s t8n>>[[I'm too skinny and weak to die!->bone giants come boy a]]<</timed>>

A wall of heat hits him hard and he immediately breaks out in a sweat. Not far away, he sees Fred above the treetops, spewing fire from his mouth, decimating the ancient forest. Beside him is Gruluk Slurp Machine, practically jumping with impatience. He has spotted the boy, and they lock eyes. He laughs and points for Fred to see. The heat is almost unbearable, and the boy's blood loss has made him weak. He feels his knees wobble. But then the boy feels himself be picked up. It's Blugg! He's carrying him on his back. Blugg takes two steps. He feels Blugg fall under him. He hears snoring. [[Goddamn it.->bone giants come boy b]]

Burned trees are being pulled out and swept aside around the boy. Then he smells their breath, like spoiled milk and rotting meat. The boy looks up and sees all the Bone Giant faces pressing in, blotting out the sky. <<linkreplace "This is the end.">>Hah! Just havin' a bit of fun, don't worry! [[Grublin?->bone giants come boy c]]<</linkreplace>>

The boy hears the snap of fingers and then there is a blinding light followed by cool, aromatic air washing over him, easing his blistered skin. Thunderclaps sound all around him, pounding the earth so hard it shakes. The air humms with energy, making his hair stand on end. Then silence. Except. Footsteps. Retreating. Time to sleep, thinks the boy. Again, as usual, he is wrong. Stupid boy. Because then he feels something like icy water flood into him, giving him life! He bolts upright. [[What's... who're, whe - what?->bone giants come boy d]]

Standing around the boy and Blugg are several figures who seem to be dressed in liquid light. Except for one, who is hairy, dirty, and apart from a loincloth, naked: Grublin. 'Care to explain this, Grublin?' says a woman in sunlight armour, thick golden braid hanging over a shoulder. Her hands rest on the pommel of a giant claymore driven into the earth in front of her. The blade is slick with Bone Giant blood. 'Why of course, Lady Froyo. This here is... uh, boy. Stable Boy. The round one is Blugg, a stable master. They may have helped somewhat. More like assisted, I mean they -' 'I smell human blood on you,' interrupts a one handed man with a helmet shaped like a bear. 'Oh, yes. That was just... necessary. Don't worry, it tasted horrible, really. Won't happen again. Thanks for the help though, I think you can go no-' 'Not only have you called us late, you have consumed human blood! I always said your decadence would be your undoing! We shall find a new Sentinel.' Tyr One-Handed says. [["[Defend Grublin]"->defend grublin2]] [["[Say Nothing]"->say nothing2]]

'Thank you for your mercy,' [[Thank you for your mercy,->chicken sacrifice c]]

'your strength and your muscles,' [[your strength and your muscles,->chicken sacrifice d]]

'that guard us from the giants.' [[that guard us from the giants.->chicken sacrifice e]]

'We are in your debt,' [[We are in your debt,->chicken sacrifice f]]

'you sexy beast,' [[you sexy beast,->chicken sacrifice g]]

'Grublin, greatest of Gods.' [[Grublin, greatest of Gods. Wait what?->chicken sacrifice h]]

'Ohh yes that hits the SPOT!' yells Grublin. It'd been so LONG! He'd forgotten how GOOD it tasted, mmh, sacrificial blood. Grublin smacks his lips. He feels his bones shift, stretch, his muscles vibrate. He touches his chin, and ahhh, yes, the beard is back. He stretches his spine, hears it pop pop pop, vertabrae slotting into place. 'FEAST YOUR EYES, MY CHILDREN! GRUBLIN THE GREAT IS BACK!' Grublin looks //down// at the boy and Blugg and they stare back up at him, utterly stunned by his brilliance, of course. [[Oh my Gods, you're even uglier than before.->chicken sacrifice i]]

'You know what, I won't even destroy you for that comment! But now, I have business to attend to.' Grublin snaps his fingers and vanishes. The boy looks around in confusion. So very amusing. He's practically spinning in place; he wonders where his God has gone. It's only natural. Blugg seems completely unaware of his surroundings. [[Damn you, Grublin! Help us!->chicken help]] [[Please, Grublin the Great! Help!->chicken help]] [["[Pee On Sculpture]"->chicken pee]]

The boy's words are ignored, mostly, but he hears a mocking cackle on the wind as he shouts them. That's when they hear it. [[What? Hear what?!->bone giants come chicken]]

A wall of heat hits him hard and he immediately breaks out in a sweat. Not far away, he sees Fred above the treetops, spewing fire from his mouth, decimating the ancient forest. Beside him is Gruluk Slurp Machine, practically jumping with impatience. He has spotted the boy, and they lock eyes. He laughs and points for Fred to see. The heat is almost unbearable. He feels his knees wobble. But then the boy feels himself be picked up. It's Blugg! He's carrying him on his back. Blugg takes two steps. He feels Blugg fall under him. He hears snoring. [[Goddamn it.->bone giants come chicken b]]

Standing around the boy and Blugg are several figures who seem to be dressed in liquid light. Except for one, who is hairy, dirty, and apart from a loincloth, naked: Grublin. 'Care to explain what this is, Grublin?' says a woman in sunlight armour, thick golden braid hanging over a shoulder. Her hands rest on the pommel of a giant claymore driven into the earth in front of her. The blade is slick with Bone Giant blood. 'Why of course, Lady Froyo. This here is... uh, boy. And that round man under him is Blugg, a stable master. They may have helped somewhat. More like assisted, I mean they -' 'Why did you call us so late?' interrupts a one handed man with a helmet shaped like a bear. 'Oh, yes. Well, the humans may have stopped sacrificing to me. Uh, through no fault of my own of course. Lost most of my powers. Won't happen again. Thanks for the help though, I think you can go no-' 'The humans are to be protected. And we will leave only when the Bone Giants are dealt with. Next time, we expect to be warned sooner, Grublin, or we shall find a new Sentinel.' Tyr One-Handed turns away from Grublin and faces the boy. 'And you, human named Boy, well done.' [[I did it!->bone giants come END1]]

The boy raises his hands in the air like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. Blugg snores on. THE END

'Oyeh? Good, good!' says Blugg. Grublin shoves the chicken into Blugg's arms, then clambers up to sit on the stable boy's shoulder, comfortably using the boy's head as an arm rest, surprised to find an actual use for it. 'All right, let's move.' he says. They move deeper into the forest. [["[Take Chicken From Blugg]"->forest2 b][$boychicken to true]] [["[Let Blugg Keep Chicken]"->forest2 b][$bluggchicken to true]]

'Ah, you'll see, boy.' Grublin says with a toothy grin. Almost entirely hidden under the hanging branches of a large pine, encased in the trunk itself, is a blackened stone sculpture, oblong in shape. It seems as though the rock has sprouted from the earth itself. Roots have grown around it, forming what looks like two arms with cupped hands. Blugg gazes at it with heavy lidded eyes. Does he know? A strand of drool slowly descends from Blugg's open mouth. Of course he doesn't know. [["[Study Sculpture Closer]"->sacrifice2 study][$studysculpture to true]] [["[Hold Cupped Hands]"->sacrifice2 poke]]

The boy reaches towards the cupped hands, and with a jerk, they grab //his// hands! Other roots snake out to grip his ankles too, but they seem without purpose, unsure what to do other than simply hold him. <<if $boychicken>>Unable to move, the boy drops the chicken, which goes squawking into the forest. 'BLASTID CHICKN!' Blugg shouts and follows.<</if>> Grublin is rolling on a bed of moss, laughing at the boy. 'Hah hah! Your stupid face when it grabbed you - "Oh no! The roots are going to eat me!" HAH!' Grublin snaps a finger and the roots return to their cupped hands position. [[Wow, how'd you do that?->sacrifice2 b]]

'I just snapped my fingers, wasn't that obvious? Pay attention, boy! Now, where's that chicken?' <<if $boychicken>>Blugg returns, holding a very angry chicken. [[So what now?->blugg chicken2]]<</if>>\ <<if $bluggchicken>>[[You gave it to Blugg->chicken blood2]]<</if>>

'...Blugg?' 'Wazzit?' Blugg says, 'Chicken?' 'You... Blugg, I swear, if you lost that chicken.' Blugg stares at Grublin, looks at his own hands as if maybe they would be holding a chicken, finds them empty, then lifts them to show Grublin that they are, indeed, empty. He shrugs as if it's magic. 'I might kill you, Blugg. I'm seriously considering it.' [[What about our own blood, can we use that?->human blood2 a]]

'Excellent, let's begin. First, chop that thing's head off and hold it so the blood pours into the cupped roots, then repeat the words I say.' <<if $cleaver>>[["Oh, oh! With my cleaver? YES! FINALLY! It's Cleaver o'clock, baby!"->chicken yes cleaver2]]<</if>>\ [[And how am I supposed to chop it's head off?->chicken no cleaver2]]

'Human blood? Doesn't taste like chicken, but I suppose it'll do. Now, a few drops isn't enough. This God's been sleeping for centuries. It'll take a hearty meal to really wake him up. So... you know... you might bleed out. But what do I know, I'm not a medicine man.' The stable boy and his master stare at Grublin. 'Oh, right. Uh, Grublin blood is weak, very weak, yep. Won't do at all. So who wants to be the lucky man?' [[You're up, Blugg!->blugg blood2]] [[I offer my blood!->boy blood2]] <<if not $studysculpture>>[["[Study Sculpture Closer]"->sacrifice2 study a]]<</if>>

'Aye, Ah got great blood!' Blugg says. Grublin's expression says he's not convinced. 'Make a cut on the wrist, lots of blood there.' <<if $cleaver>>[["'[Use cleaver] YES! FINALLY! It's Cleaver o'clock, baby! Uh, sorry Blugg.'"->blugg yes cleaver2]]<</if>>\ [["'Uh, how do I cut him?'"->blugg no cleaver2]]

'Excellent, I'm sure someone will thank you, if you survive. Get on with it. Make a cut on the wrist, lots of blood there.' <<if $cleaver>>[["[Use cleaver] YES! FINALLY! It's Cleaver o'clock, baby!"->boy yes cleaver2]]<</if>>\ [[Uh, how do I cut myself?->boy no cleaver2]]

The boy steps closer to the statue. The carvings on ancient stone reveal a smiling face with sharp angular features. It's staring hungrily at the cupped hands before it. Long moss hangs from the head and forms a luxuriant beard below the mouth. At the base words are carved into the stone: BLOOD FOR THE SENTINEL WHOSE VOICE SHALL SOUND TO CALL ON THE GODS WHEN GIANTS ABOUND Looking into the cupped roots reveals tiny bones, ancient forgotten offerings. [[You're up Blugg!->blugg blood2]] [[I offer my blood!->boy blood2]]

'Get the chicken ready.' Grublin says. [[I don't really want to kill this chicken. Can't we use our own blood?->human blood2]] <<if $boychicken>>[[Got it right here!->chicken blood2]]<</if>>\ <<if $bluggchicken>>[[You gave it to Blugg.->blugg chicken2]]<</if>>

'Human blood? Doesn't taste like chicken, but I suppose it'll do. Now, a few drops isn't enough. This God's been sleeping for centuries. It'll take a hearty meal to really wake him up. So... you know... you might bleed out. But what do I know, I'm not a medicine man. Chicken's still on the menu though.' The stable boy and his master stare at Grublin. 'Oh, right. Uh, Grublin blood is weak, very weak, yep. Won't do at all. So who wants to be the lucky man?' [[On second thought, Mr. Chicken will do the honors after all.->chicken blood2]] [[You're up Blugg!->blugg blood2]] [[I offer my blood!->boy blood2]]

The boy laughs somewhat maniacally and holds his wrist over the roots. Carefully, he makes an incision with the cleaver. Blood spurts. Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. [["[Let Blood Flow Over Roots]"->boy sacrifice2]]

Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. Grublin waddles over to the boy and grabs his wrist. Before anyone can react, he plunges a sharp nail into it, causing a brief spurt of blood. 'No whining! Hold it over the roots and repeat what I say!' [["[Hold Wrist Over Roots]"->boy sacrifice2]]

The boy laughs somewhat maniacally and chops the chickens head off, finally silencing its incessant clucking. He then turns his blood spattered face to Grublin expectantly, not sure what to do. Grublin rolls his eyes and points at the shrine's cupped hands. Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. [["[Pour Blood Over Roots]"->chicken sacrifice2]]

'and hear my puny voice.' [[and hear my puny voice.->chicken sacrifice2 b]]

'Thank you for your mercy,' [[Thank you for your mercy,->chicken sacrifice2 c]]

'your strength and your muscles,' [[your strength and your muscles,->chicken sacrifice2 d]]

'that guard us from the giants.' [[that guard us from the giants.->chicken sacrifice2 e]]

'We are in your debt,' [[We are in your debt,->chicken sacrifice2 f]]

'you sexy beast,' [[you sexy beast,->chicken sacrifice2 g]]

'Grublin, greatest of Gods.' [[Grublin, greatest of Gods. Wait what?->chicken sacrifice2 h]]

'You know what, I won't even destroy you for that comment! But now, I have business to attend to.' Grublin snaps his fingers and vanishes. The boy looks around in confusion. So very amusing. He's practically spinning in place; he wonders where his God has gone. It's only natural. Blugg seems completely unaware of his surroundings. [[Damn you, Grublin! Help us!->chicken help2]] [[Please, Grublin the Great! Help!->chicken help2]] [["[Pee On Sculpture]"->chicken pee2]]

The boy's words are ignored, mostly, but he hears a mocking cackle on the wind as he shouts them. That's when they hear it. [[What? Hear what?!->bone giants come chicken2]]

A wall of heat hits him hard and he immediately breaks out in a sweat. Not far away, he sees Fred above the treetops, spewing fire from his mouth, decimating the ancient forest. Beside him is Gruluk Slurp Machine, practically jumping with impatience. He has spotted the boy, and they lock eyes. He laughs and points for Fred to see. The heat is almost unbearable. He feels his knees wobble. But then the boy feels himself be picked up. It's Blugg! He's carrying him on his back. Blugg takes two steps. He feels Blugg fall under him. He hears snoring. [[Goddamn it.->bone giants come chicken2 b]]

Burned trees are being pulled out and swept aside around the boy. Then he smells their breath, like spoiled milk and rotting meat. The boy looks up and sees all the Bone Giant faces pressing in, blotting out the sky. <<linkreplace "This is the end.">>Hah! Just havin' a bit of fun, boy! [[Grublin?->bone giants come chicken2 c]]<</linkreplace>>

Standing around the boy and Blugg are several figures who seem to be dressed in liquid light. Except for one, who is hairy, dirty, and naked apart from a grimy loincloth: Grublin. 'Care to explain what this is, Grublin?' says a woman in sunlight armour, thick golden braid hanging over a shoulder. Her hands rest on the pommel of a giant claymore driven into the earth in front of her. The blade is slick with Bone Giant blood. 'Why of course, Lady Froyo. This here is... uh, the one named Boy. And that round man under him is Blugg, a stable master. They may have helped somewhat. More like assisted, I mean they -' 'Why did you call us so late?' interrupts a one handed man with a helmet shaped like a bear. 'Oh, yes. Well, the humans may have stopped sacrificing to me. Uh, through no fault of my own of course. Lost most of my powers. Won't happen again. Thanks for the help though, I think you can go no-' 'The humans are to be protected, we will leave only when the Bone Giants are dealt with. Next time, we expect to be warned sooner, Grublin, or we shall find a new Sentinel.' Tyr One-Handed turns away from Grublin and faces the boy. 'And you, humans named Stable Boy and Blugg, well done.' [[I did it!->bone giants come END]]

The boy raises his hands in the air like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. Blugg snores on. THE END

'and hear my puny voice.' [[and hear my puny voice.->boy sacrifice2 b]]

'Thank you for your mercy,' [[Thank you for your mercy,->boy sacrifice2 c]]

'your strength and your muscles,' [[your strength and your muscles,->boy sacrifice2 d]]

'that guard us from the giants.' [[that guard us from the giants.->boy sacrifice2 e]]

'We are in your debt,' [[We are in your debt,->boy sacrifice2 f]]

'you sexy beast,' [[you sexy beast,->boy sacrifice2 g]]

'Grublin, greatest of Gods.' [[Grublin, greatest of Gods. Wait what?->boy sacrifice2 h]]

'You know what, I won't even destroy you for that comment! But now, I have business to attend to.' Grublin snaps his fingers and vanishes. The boy looks around in confusion. So very amusing. He's practically spinning in place; he wonders where his God has gone. It's only natural. Blugg seems completely unaware of his surroundings, and the boy is starting to feel dizzy from the blood loss. [[Damn you, Grublin! Help us!->boy help2]] [[Please, Grublin the Great! Help!->boy help2]] [["[Pee On Sculpture]"->boy pee2]]

The boy's words are ignored, mostly, but he hears a mocking cackle on the wind as he shouts them. That's when they hear it. [[What? Hear what?!->bone giants come boy2]]

The boy laughs somewhat maniacally and grabs Blugg's wrist. Blugg snatches the cleaver. 'Ah think ah bettr do't.' Carefully, he makes an incision with the cleaver. Blood spurts. 'Oops.' he says. 'Hold it over the roots!' Grublin says. 'Wazzit.' says Blugg thickly, wavering on his feet like a weak human. Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. [["[Hold Blugg's wrist over the roots.]"->blugg sacrifice2]]

Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. Grublin waddles over to Blugg and grabs his wrist. Before anyone can react, he plunges a sharp nail into it, causing a brief spurt of blood. 'Hold it over the roots and repeat what I say! Now!' 'Wazzit.' says Blugg thickly, wavering on his feet like a weak human. [["[Hold Blugg's wrist over the roots.]"->blugg sacrifice2]]

Blugg's blood spills onto the cupped roots and drips through. Immediately, the roots tighten and the tiny basin begins to fill. Then the basin seems to drain again, but nothing is passing through. The roots are drinking. 'Now repeat after me: Accept my paltry gift,' 'Ac - Ac... Axehd mah poultry gaft.' 'What? No! Imbecile! Boy, say the words for him! ACCEPT MY PALTRY GIFT!' [[Uh, Accept my paltry gift,->blugg sacrifice2 a]]

'and hear my puny voice.' 'An'ear mah pony's choice...' Blugg mumbles. 'Shut up Blugg!' [[and hear my puny voice.->blugg sacrifice2 b]]

'Thank you for your mercy,' 'Thankya fer our messy,' [[Thank you for your mercy,->blugg sacrifice2 c]]

'your strength and your muscles,' 'My sternk an mussles,' [[your strength and your muscles,->blugg sacrifice2 d]]

'that guard us from the giants.' 'tha giant gurd ina... gurd?' [[that guard us from the giants.->blugg sacrifice2 e]]

'We are in your debt,' 'Wer all ded,' [[We are in your debt,->blugg sacrifice2 f]]

'you sexy beast,' 'Ima sexy beast,' [[you sexy beast,->blugg sacrifice2 g]]

'Grublin, greatest of Gods.' 'Glub, grass on Gods.' [[Grublin, greatest of Gods. Wait what?->blugg sacrifice2 h]]

'Ohh... YES!' yells Grublin. The humans turn to look at him, to witness the glorious transformation. It's been so LONG! He'd almost forgotten the taste. Mmh, sacrificial blood. Grublin smacks his lips. He feels his bones shift, stretch, his muscles vibrate. Yeess... But, something's wrong. His thoughts... slippery. What's happening? He touches his chin, and ahhh, yes, the beard is back. He stretches his spine, hears it pop pop pop, vertabrae slotting into place. He hiccups. He tries to stand. Can't. Balance is off. No matter. 'FEASHT YOUR EYESH, MY LITTLESH! GRUBLIN THE GREETH - GREH... THE GREAT ISH... BACK! //Hic!//' Grublin lies on his side - why is he lying on his side? He looks at the tiny boy and Blugg and flexes gloriously. They stare at him, utterly stunned by his brilliance, of course. He's hungry now. Where's that chicken? [[What's going on? Are you drunk? Why're you so big?->blugg sacrifice2 i]]

'SHUSH, BOY, I'M AWAY ON IMPORTANT BUSHINESH.' Grublin snaps his fingers and vanishes. He's in a tree. He falls through the branches. Blugg and the boy stare at him. He snaps his fingers again. He's up in another tree. Snaps fingers. Ah, there, good. Time for important business... The boy looks around in confusion. So very amusing. He's practically spinning in place; he wonders where his God has gone. It's only natural. Blugg seems completely unaware of his surroundings. [[Damn you, Grublin! Help us!->blugg help]] [[Please, Grublin the Great! Help!->blugg help]] [["[Pee On Sculpture]"->blugg pee]]

The boy's words are ignored, mostly; he hears a mocking cackle on the wind as he shouts them. That's when they hear it. [[What? Hear what?!->bone giants come blugg]]

The boy approaches the ancient relic and drops his pants. Is he really going to...? The roots of the statue lash out and grab the boy, picking him up and flinging him away. The boy's frightened squawking is pleasing. That's when they hear it. [[What? Hear what?!->bone giants come blugg]]

Standing around the boy and Blugg are several figures who seem to be dressed in liquid light. Except for one, who is hairy, dirty, and apart from a loincloth, naked: Grublin. 'Care to explain yourself, Grublin?' says a woman in sunlight armour, thick golden braid hanging over a shoulder. Her hands rest on the pommel of a giant claymore driven into the earth in front of her. The blade is slick with Bone Giant blood. 'Well, of coursh, Lady Froyo. Thish here ish... uh, that'sh "boy". And that round man under him ish Blugg, a //hic!// shtable mashter. They may have helped shomewhat. More like ashi, ash, ashishd, I mean they -' 'What's wrong with you?' Lady Froyo demands. 'Ah, yesh, //hic!// well. The fat one sacrificed hish blood to me. Sheemsh it'sh rather... hah hah, loaded. Hah hah!' 'Human blood!' shouts a one handed male with a helmet shaped like a bear. 'Come on, Tyr ol' buddy! It jusht kind of happened! Geesh. Tashted horrible anywaysh. Won't happen again, pinky promish! 'Not only have you called us late, you have consumed human blood! I always said your decadence would be your undoing! We shall find a new Sentinel. I revoke your Sentinel powers!' Tyr One-Handed says. [["[Defend Grublin]"->defend grub2]] [["[Say Nothing]"->blug sentinel]]

Grublin finds a lint covered pickle in his pocket and pops it into his mouth. 'It's old, this forest is,' he whispers from the boy's shoulder. 'People used to come here to worship the Gods. Not anymore. Now it's all thunder Gods this, fertility Gods that. As if they listen to humans, hah!' He waves his hand dismissively. 'Over there, past the stream. Our destination.' [[But which god will we sacrifice to?->forest3 b]]

The boy reaches towards the cupped hands, and with a jerk, they grab //his// hands! Other roots snake out to grip his ankles too, but they seem without purpose, unsure what to do other than simply hold him. <<if $boychicken>>Unable to move, the boy drops the chicken, which goes squawking into the forest. 'Goddamn it boy! Imbecile!<</if>> Grublin snaps a finger and the roots return to their cupped hands position. [[Wow, how'd you do that?->sacrifice3 b]]

'I just snapped my fingers, wasn't that obvious? Pay attention! And since you lost our feathery blood bag, you've single handedly screwed the world. Well done, boy!' [[What about giving my own blood?->human blood3]]

'Get the chicken ready.' Grublin says. [[I don't really want to kill this chicken. Can't we use our own blood?->human blood3]] <<if $boychicken>>[[Got it right here!->chicken blood3]]<</if>>\

'Human blood? Doesn't taste like chicken, but I suppose it'll do. Now, a few drops isn't enough. This God's been sleeping for centuries. It'll take a hearty meal to really wake him up. So... you know... you might bleed out. But what do I know, I'm not a medicine man.' The stable boy stares at Grublin. 'Oh, right. Uh, Grublin blood is weak, very weak, yep. Won't do at all. So are you ready to bleed? I mean, save the world?' [[I offer my blood!->boy blood3]] <<if not $studysculpture>>[["[Study Sculpture Closer]"->sacrifice3 study a]]<</if>>

'Excellent, let's begin. First, chop that thing's head off and hold it so the blood pours into the cupped roots, then repeat the words I say.' <<if $cleaver>>[[Oh, oh! With my cleaver? YES! FINALLY! It's Cleaver o'clock, baby!->chicken yes cleaver3]]<</if>>\ [[And how am I supposed to chop it? I don't have a knife!->chicken no cleaver3]]

'Excellent, I'm sure someone will thank you, if you survive. Get on with it. Make a cut on the wrist, lots of blood there.' <<if $cleaver>>[["[Use cleaver] YES! FINALLY! It's Cleaver o'clock, baby!"->boy yes cleaver3]]<</if>>\ [[Uh, how do I cut myself?->boy no cleaver3]]

The boy laughs somewhat maniacally and chops the chickens head off, finally silencing its incessant clucking. He then turns his blood spattered face to Grublin expectantly, not sure what to do. Grublin rolls his eyes and points at the shrine's cupped hands. Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. [["[Pour Blood Over Roots]"->chicken sacrifice3]]

Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. Grublin waddles over to the boy and grabs his wrist. Before anyone can react, he plunges a sharp nail into it, causing a brief spurt of blood. 'No whining! Hold it over the roots and repeat what I say!' [["[Hold Wrist Over Roots]"->boy sacrifice3]]

What? Yes yes, whatever. Bye. Blugg beams, poor imbecile, and keeps walking. A bush rustles nearby. 'Hoh? Who de bush?!' he shouts. Out from the bush waddles a small, albeit extremely handsome creature. He brushes his long sharp nails through a patch of beard and says, 'All right, I'm going to keep this short. I'm Grublin and - [[Arrghh, tha Giants done tried'a boil a poor child! Cmere, Blugg'll end yer misry, poor thing.->forest4 c]]

'Damn it, Blugg! I'm not a child! I'm a Grublin, which also happens to be my name.' Blugg scratches his head. 'Yeah, sometimes things just work that way. Now, what's a Grublin, you ask? Well, uh... We're forest creatures, that's right. We protect the forest from - No wait, we protect the people in the village from bears.' 'Burrs?' Blugg mumbles. 'That's right! Ever seen a bear in the village? Nope! You can thank me for that. Anyway, point is, you're here, which means you must be looking for the shrine! Am I right?' [[Aye, ferta save tha village from ose Dern Bone Giants!->forest4 d]]

'Exactly! Well, follow me, then!' He waddles off. 'It's old, this forest is,' he whispers. 'People used to come here to worship, you know. Not anymore. Now it's all thunder Gods this, fertility Gods that. As if they listen to humans, hah!' He waves his hand dismissively. 'Over there, past the stream. Our destination.' [[But who's this ere chickn for??->forest4 e]]

'One thing at a time, Blugg.' Having crossed the shallow stream, he sees it. Almost entirely hidden under the hanging branches of a large pine, encased in the trunk itself, is a blackened stone sculpture, oblong in shape. It seems as though the rock has sprouted from the earth itself. Roots have grown around it, forming what looks like two arms with cupped hands. [["[Study Sculpture Closer]"->sacrifice4 study]] [["[Hold Cupped Hands]"->sacrifice4 poke]]

Blugg reaches towards the cupped hands, and with a jerk, they grab //his// hands! Other roots snake out to grip his ankles too, but they seem without purpose, unsure what to do other than simply hold him. Unable to move, Blugg drops the chicken, which goes squawking into the forest. Goddamn imbecile. Grublin snaps a finger and the roots return to their cupped hands position. [[Wazzit? Owd yeh do tha?->sacrifice4 b]]

Blugg steps closer to the statue. The carvings on ancient stone reveal a smiling face with sharp angular features. It's staring hungrily at the cupped hands before it. Long moss hangs from the head and forms a luxuriant beard below the mouth. At the base words are carved into the stone: BLOOD FOR THE SENTINEL WHOSE VOICE SHALL SOUND TO CALL ON THE GODS WHEN GIANTS ABOUND Looking into the cupped roots reveals tiny bones, ancient forgotten offerings. [["[Pick Up And Study Bones]"->sacrifice4 poke]] [["[Prepare Sacrifice]"->who has chicken4]]

'I just snapped my fingers, wasn't that obvious? Pay attention! And since you lost our feathery blood bag, you've single handedly screwed the world. Well done, Blugg!' [[Don' worreh hideous child. Ah'll jes give mah own blood!->human blood4]]

'Human blood? Doesn't taste like chicken, but I suppose it'll do. Now, a few drops isn't enough. This God's been sleeping for centuries. It'll take a hearty meal to really wake him up. So... you know... you might bleed out. But what do I know, I'm not a medicine man.' Blugg stares at Grublin. 'Oh, right. Uh, Grublin blood is weak, very weak, yep. Won't do at all. So are you ready to bleed? I mean, save the world?' [[Got mah jam in hand!->blugg blood4]] <<if not $studysculpture>>[["[Study Sculpture Closer]"->sacrifice4 study a]]<</if>>

'What the Hel does that even mean?' Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. Grublin waddles over to Blugg and grabs his wrist, and before he can react, plunges a sharp nail into it, causing a brief spurt of blood. [["[Pour Blood Over Roots]"->blugg sacrifice4]]

'Get the chicken ready.' Grublin says. [[Arrh, howzit we don' kill tha poor chickn?->human blood4]] [[Gotteh righ ere!->chicken blood4]]

'Excellent, let's begin. First, chop that thing's head off and hold it so the blood pours into the cupped roots, then repeat the words I say.' [[How'dah makit bleed?->chicken no cleaver4]]

Blugg's blood spills onto the cupped roots and drips through. Immediately, the roots tighten and the tiny basin begins to fill. Then the basin seems to drain again, but nothing is passing through. The roots are drinking. 'Now repeat after me: Accept my paltry gift,' 'Ac - Ac... axe mah patty gaff.' 'What? No! Fool! Try again!' [[Uh, axehd mah poultry gefft,->blugg sacrifice4 a]]

Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. Grublin waddles over to Blugg and grabs the chicken. Before Blugg can react, he bites the head off, spits it out, and hands the body back with a wide bloody grin. [[Uh... Oookay...->chicken sacrifice4]]

Grublin stares at the human, incomprehending. 'Gods, it'll have to do...' he mumbles to himself. 'and hear my puny voice,' he continues to Blugg. [[An'ear mah pony's choice...->chicken sacrifice4 b]]

'and hear my puny voice.' [[and hear my puny voice.->boy sacrifice3 b]]

'and hear my puny voice.' [[and hear my puny voice.->chicken sacrifice3 b]]

Grublin stares at the human, incomprehending. 'Gods, it'll have to do...' he mumbles to himself. 'and hear my puny voice,' he continues to Blugg. [[An'ear mah pony's choice...->blugg sacrifice4 b]]

'your strength and your muscles,' [[My sternk an mussles,->blugg sacrifice4 d]]

'that guard us from the giants.' [[tha giant gurd ina... gurd?->blugg sacrifice4 e]]

'We are in your debt,' [[Wer all ded,->blugg sacrifice4 f]]

'you sexy beast,' [[Ima sexy beast,->blugg sacrifice4 g]]

'Grublin, greatest of Gods.' [[Glublub, grass on Gods. Uh... Wazzit?->blugg sacrifice4 h]]

'Ohh... YES!' yells Grublin. The human turns to look at him, to witness the glorious transformation. It's been so LONG! He'd almost forgotten the taste. Mmh, sacrificial blood. Grublin smacks his lips. He feels his bones shift, stretch, his muscles vibrate. Yeess... But, something's wrong. His thoughts... slippery. What's happening? He touches his chin, and ahhh, yes, the beard is back. He stretches his spine, hears it pop pop pop, vertabrae slotting into place. He hiccups. He tries to stand. Can't. Balance is off. No matter. 'FEASHT YOUR EYESH, MY LITTLESH! GRUBLIN THE GREETH - GREH... THE GREAT ISH... BACK! //Hic!//' Grublin lies on his side - why is he lying on his side? He looks at Blugg and flexes gloriously. Blugg stares at him, utterly stunned by his brilliance, of course. He's hungry now. Where's that chicken? [[HOH HAH! Ah see ye gotsum Fermented Potaddo Speshl in yeh!->blugg sacrifice4 i]]

'Shush, now, I'm away on important bushinesh!' Grublin snaps his fingers and vanishes. He's in a tree. He falls through the branches. Blugg stares at him. He snaps his fingers again. He's up in another tree. Snaps fingers. Ah, there, good. Time for important business... Blugg looks around in confusion. So very amusing. He's practically spinning in place; he wonders where his God has gone. It's only natural. [["O well. [Swig Fermented Potato Special]"->blugg help4]] [["[Pee On Sculpture]"->blugg pee4]]

As the hum -Blugg- swigs his delicious- that is, vile drink, he hears a mocking cackle on the wind. Then he hears something else. [[Uh?->bone giants come blugg4]]

Blugg approaches the ancient relic and drops his pants. Is he really going to...? The roots of the statue lash out and grab him, picking him up and flinging him away. The man's surprised grunt is pleasing. Then he hears it. [[Uh?->bone giants come blugg4]]

<<timed 1s t8n>>SHHH!<</timed>> <<timed 2500ms t8n>>I THINK I HEARD THEM<</timed>> <<timed 4000ms t8n>>THAT WAY<</timed>> <<timed 5500ms t8n>>HURRY UP FRED!<</timed>> <<timed 6s t8n>>[[Arr come an suck mah fist den!->bone giants come blugg4 a]]<</timed>>

A wall of heat hits Blugg hard and he immediately breaks out in a sweat. Not far away, he sees Fred above the treetops, spewing fire from his mouth, decimating the ancient forest. Beside him is Gruluk Slurp Machine, practically jumping with impatience. He has spotted Blugg, and they lock eyes. Gruluk laughs and points for Fred to see. [[I'll rip yer ears aff an shit in 'em!->bone giants come blugg4 b]]

The Bone giants seem confused by the threat. Blugg is swinging his fists blindly, his hair on fire. Burned trees are being pulled out and swept aside all around him. Blugg looks up and sees Bone Giant faces pressing in, blotting out the sky. <<linkreplace "Thish ish the end.">>Hah! Jush havin' a bit of fun with you! [[Glublub?->bone giants come blugg4 c]]<</linkreplace>>

Blugg hears the snap of fingers and then there is a blinding light followed by cool, aromatic air washing over him, easing his blistered skin. Thunderclaps sound all around him, pounding the earth so hard it shakes. The air humms with energy, making his hair stand on end. Then silence. Except. Footsteps. Retreating. Sleep time, thinks Blugg. Of course, he is wrong. Stupid human. Because then he feels something like icy water flood into him, giving him life! He bolts upright. [[Whatta... who're, whe - wha?->bone giants come blugg4 d]]

Standing around Blugg are several figures who seem to be dressed in liquid light. Except for one, who is hairy, dirty, and apart from a loincloth, naked: Grublin. 'Care to explain this, Grublin?' says a woman in sunlight armour, thick golden braid hanging over a shoulder. Her hands rest on the pommel of a giant claymore driven into the earth in front of her. The blade is slick with Bone Giant blood. 'Well, of coursh, Lady Froyo. Thish here ish... uh, that'sh Blugg //hic!// shtable mashter. He may have helped shomewhat. More like ashi, ash, ashishd, I mean they -' 'What's wrong with you?' Lady Froyo demands. 'Ah, yesh, //hic!// well. The fat human sacrificed hish blood to me. Sheemsh it'sh rather... hah hah, loaded. Hah hah!' 'Human blood!' interrupts a one handed male with a helmet shaped like a bear. 'Come on, Tyr ol' buddy! It jusht kind of happened! Geesh. Tashted horrible anywaysh. Won't happen again, pinky promish!' 'The humans are to be protected, not consumed. And you are to call us //on time//. You have spat upon the honorable position of Sentinel, and for that, I revoke your Sentinel powers!' [[Glublub?->bone giants come blugg4 e]]

Grublin gapes, then he feels himself shrinking, muscles shriveling, his full beard growing scraggly. In just a few moments, he's tiny again. He sits on the ground for a moment, not sure what to do. 'Well,' he says finally, plucking out another pickle from his pocket and taking a bite, 'Wash good while it lashted.' He stands up and walks off alone. 'Shentinel... not bad for a common foresht troll...' He chuckles, hiccups, then he is gone among the trees. But he sees them. 'You, human named Blugg, have shown considerable ability, helping the former Sentinel call upon us. Will you be the new Sentinel?' [[Senninel, eh? Aye, less ave a go!'->Blugg Sentinel END]]

'Thank you for your mercy,' [[Thank you for your mercy,->boy sacrifice3 c]]

'your strength and your muscles,' [[your strength and your muscles,->boy sacrifice3 d]]

'that guard us from the giants.' [[that guard us from the giants.->boy sacrifice3 e]]

'We are in your debt,' [[We are in your debt,->boy sacrifice3 f]]

'you sexy beast,' [[you sexy beast,->boy sacrifice3 g]]

'Grublin, greatest of Gods.' [[Grublin, greatest of Gods. Wait what?->boy sacrifice3 h]]

'Ohh yes that hits the SPOT!' yells Grublin. It'd been so LONG! He'd forgotten how GOOD it tasted, mmh, sacrificial blood. Grublin smacks his lips. He feels his bones shift, stretch, his muscles vibrate. He touches his chin, and ahhh, yes, the beard is back. He stretches his spine, hears it pop pop pop, vertabrae slotting into place. 'FEAST YOUR EYES, MY CHILD! GRUBLIN THE GREAT IS BACK!' Grublin looks //down// at the boy and he stares back up at him, utterly stunned by his brilliance, of course. [[Oh my Gods, you're even uglier than before.->boy sacrifice3 i]]

'You know what, I won't even destroy you for that comment! But now, I have business to attend to.' Grublin snaps his fingers and vanishes. The boy looks around in confusion. So very amusing. He's practically spinning in place; he wonders where his God has gone. It's only natural. The boy is starting to feel dizzy from the blood loss. [[Damn you, Grublin! Help us!->boy help3]] [[Please, Grublin the Great! Help!->boy help3]] [["[Pee On Sculpture]"->boy pee3]]

The boy's words are ignored, mostly, but he hears a mocking cackle on the wind as he shouts them. That's when they hear it. [["'What? Hear what?!'"->bone giants come boy3]]

A wall of heat hits the boy hard and he immediately breaks out in a sweat. Not far away, he sees Fred above the treetops, spewing fire from his mouth, decimating the ancient forest. Beside him is Gruluk Slurp Machine, practically jumping with impatience. He has spotted the boy, and they lock eyes. Gruluk laughs and points for Fred to see. The heat is almost unbearable. He is weak from bloodloss. His knees wobble. Where are his friends? He misses Blugg, even despite the smell. Burned trees are being pulled out and swept aside around the boy. Then he smells their breath, like spoiled milk and rotting meat. The boy looks up and sees the Bone Giant faces pressing in, blotting out the sky. <<linkreplace "This is the end.">>Hah! Just havin' a bit of fun, boy! [[Grublin?->bone giants come boy3 c]]<</linkreplace>>

'Thank you for your mercy,' [[Thank you for your mercy,->chicken sacrifice3 c]]

'your strength and your muscles,' [[your strength and your muscles,->chicken sacrifice3 d]]

'that guard us from the giants.' [[that guard us from the giants.->chicken sacrifice3 e]]

'We are in your debt,' [[We are in your debt,->chicken sacrifice3 f]]

'you sexy beast,' [[you sexy beast,->chicken sacrifice3 g]]

'Grublin, greatest of Gods.' [[Grublin, greatest of Gods. Wait what?->chicken sacrifice3 h]]

'Ohh yes that hits the SPOT!' yells Grublin. It'd been so LONG! He'd forgotten how GOOD it tasted, mmh, sacrificial blood. Grublin smacks his lips. He feels his bones shift, stretch, his muscles vibrate. He touches his chin, and ahhh, yes, the beard is back. He stretches his spine, hears it pop pop pop, vertabrae slotting into place. 'FEAST YOUR EYES, MY CHILDREN! GRUBLIN THE GREAT IS BACK!' Grublin looks //down// at the boy and he stares back up at him, utterly stunned by his brilliance, of course. [[Oh my Gods, you're even uglier than before.->chicken sacrifice3 i]]

'You know what, I won't even destroy you for that comment! But now, I have business to attend to.' Grublin snaps his fingers and vanishes. The boy looks around in confusion. So very amusing. He's practically spinning in place; he wonders where his God has gone. It's only natural. [[Damn you, Grublin! Help us!->chicken help3]] [[Please, Grublin the Great! Help!->chicken help3]] [["[Pee On Sculpture]"->chicken pee3]]

The boy's words are ignored, mostly, but he hears a mocking cackle on the wind as he shouts them. That's when they hear it. [[What? Hear what?!->bone giants come chicken3]]

Standing around the boy are several figures who seem to be dressed in liquid light. Except for one, who is hairy, dirty, and apart from a loincloth, naked: Grublin. 'Care to explain this, Grublin?' says a woman in sunlight armour, thick golden braid hanging over a shoulder. Her hands rest on the pommel of a giant claymore driven into the earth in front of her. The blade is slick with Bone Giant blood. 'Why of course, Lady Froyo. This here is... uh, boy. Stable Boy. He may have helped somewhat. More like assisted, I mean he -' 'I smell human blood on you,' interrupts a one handed man with a helmet shaped like a bear. 'Oh, yes. That was just... necessary. Don't worry, it tasted horrible, really. Won't happen again. Thanks for the help though, I think you can go no-' 'Not only have you called us late, you have consumed human blood! I always said your decadence would be your undoing! We shall find a new Sentinel.' Tyr One-Handed says. [["[Defend Grublin]"->defend grublin4]] [["[Say Nothing]"->say nothing4]]

'your strength and your muscles,' [[My sternk an mussles,->chicken sacrifice4 d]]

'that guard us from the giants.' [[tha giant gurd ina... gurd?->chicken sacrifice4 e]]

'We are in your debt,' [[Wer all ded,->chicken sacrifice4 f]]

'you sexy beast,' [[Ima sexy beast,->chicken sacrifice4 g]]

'Grublin, greatest of Gods.' [[Glublub, grass on Gods. Uh... Wazzit?->chicken sacrifice4 h]]

'Ohh yes that hits the SPOT!' yells Grublin. It'd been so LONG! He'd forgotten how GOOD it tasted, mmh, sacrificial blood. Grublin smacks his lips. He feels his bones shift, stretch, his muscles vibrate. He touches his chin, and ahhh, yes, the beard is back. He stretches his spine, hears it pop pop pop, vertabrae slotting into place. 'FEAST YOUR EYES, MY CHILD! GRUBLIN THE GREAT IS BACK!' Grublin looks //down// at Blugg and he looks back up at him, utterly stunned by his brilliance, of course. [[Whoa... Tha tineh burnt child grew!->chicken sacrifice4 i]]

'You know what, I won't even destroy you for that comment! But now, I have business to attend to.' Grublin snaps his fingers and vanishes. Blugg looks around in confusion. So very amusing. He's practically spinning in place; he wonders where his God has gone. It's only natural. [[O well. [Swig Fermented Potato Special]->chicken help4]] [["[Pee On Sculpture]"->chicken pee4]]

As the hum -Blugg- swigs his delicious- that is, vile drink, he hears a mocking cackle on the wind. Then he hears something else. [[Uh?->bone giants come chicken4]]

<<timed 1s t8n>>SHHH!<</timed>> <<timed 2500ms t8n>>I THINK I HEARD THEM<</timed>> <<timed 4000ms t8n>>THAT WAY<</timed>> <<timed 5500ms t8n>>HURRY UP FRED!<</timed>> <<timed 6s t8n>>[[Arr come an suck mah fist den!->bone giants come chicken4 a]]<</timed>>

Standing around Blugg are several figures who seem to be dressed in liquid light. Except for one, who is hairy, dirty, and naked apart from a grimy loincloth: Grublin. 'Care to explain what this is, Grublin?' says a woman in sunlight armour, thick golden braid hanging over a shoulder. Her hands rest on the pommel of a giant claymore driven into the earth in front of her. The blade is slick with Bone Giant blood. 'Why of course, Lady Froyo. This here is... uh, Blugg. He may have helped somewhat. More like assisted, I mean he -' 'Why did you call us so late?' interrupts a one handed man with a helmet shaped like a bear. 'Oh, yes. Well, the humans may have stopped sacrificing to me. Uh, through no fault of my own of course. Lost most of my powers. Won't happen again. Thanks for the help though, I think you can go no-' 'The humans are to be protected. And we will leave only when the Bone Giants are dealt with. Next time, we expect to be warned sooner, Grublin, or we shall find a new Sentinel.' Tyr One-Handed turns away from Grublin and faces Blugg. 'And you, human named Blugg, well done.' [[Ah did et!->blugg END]]

Blugg raises his hands in the air like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. THE END

'Uhuagh! Hah!' laughs Blugg. Grublin shoves the chicken into Thörg's arms, then clambers up to sit on the stable boy's shoulder, comfortably using the boy's head as an arm rest, surprised to find an actual use for it. 'All right, let's move.' They move deeper into the forest. [["[Take Chicken From Thörg]"->forest5 b][$boychicken to true]] [["[Let Thörg Keep Chicken]"->forest5 b][$thörgchicken to true]] [["[Give Chicken to Blugg]"->forest5 b][$bluggchicken to true]]

<<if $thörgchicken>>Thörg carefully takes the chicken, which immediately stops thrashing. He smiles and rubs his cheek against the feathers, then giggles. 'Tickles,' he says. <</if>>\ Grublin finds a lint covered pickle in his pocket and pops it into his mouth. 'It's old, this forest is,' he whispers from the boy's shoulder. 'People used to come here to worship the Gods. Not anymore. Now it's all thunder Gods this, fertility Gods that.' He waves his hand dismissively. 'Over there, past the stream. Our destination.' [[But which god will we sacrifice to?->forest5 c]]

'Ah, you'll see, boy.' Grublin says with a toothy grin. Almost entirely hidden under the hanging branches of a large pine, encased in the trunk itself, is a blackened stone sculpture, oblong in shape. It seems as though the rock has sprouted from the earth itself. Roots have grown around it, forming what looks like two arms with cupped hands. Blugg gazes at it with heavy lidded eyes. Does he know? A strand of drool slowly descends from Blugg's open mouth. Of course he doesn't know. 'It looks like an egg!' laughs Thörg. 'Yes, another valuable insight, Thörg.' Grublin sighs. [["[Study Sculpture Closer]"->sacrifice5 study][$studysculpture to true]] [["[Hold Cupped Hands]"->sacrifice5 poke]]

'I just snapped my fingers, wasn't that obvious? Pay attention, boy! Now, where's that chicken?' <<if $boychicken>>Blugg returns, holding a very angry chicken. [[So what now?->chicken blood5]]<</if>>\ <<if $bluggchicken>>[[You gave it to Blugg->blugg chicken5]]<</if>>\ <<if $thörgchicken>>[[Thörg's got it.->thörg chicken5]]<</if>>

'Excellent, let's begin. First, chop that thing's head off and hold it so the blood pours into the cupped roots, then repeat the words I say.' <<if $cleaver>>[[Oh, oh! With my cleaver? YES! FINALLY! It's Cleaver o'clock, baby!->chicken yes cleaver5]]<</if>>\ [[And how am I supposed to chop it?->chicken no cleaver5]]

'Human blood? Doesn't taste like chicken, but I suppose it'll do. Now, a few drops isn't enough. This God's been sleeping for centuries. It'll take a hearty meal to really wake him up. So... you know... you might bleed out. But what do I know, I'm not a medicine man.' The stable boy and his master stare at Grublin. 'Oh, right. Uh, Grublin blood is weak, very weak, yep. Won't do at all. So who wants to be the lucky man?' [[You're up, Blugg!->blugg blood5]] [[I offer my blood!->boy blood5]] [[Thörg, you're big and full of blood. Come here.->thörg blood5]] <<if not $studysculpture>>[["[Study Sculpture Closer]"->sacrifice study5 a]]<</if>>

The boy laughs somewhat maniacally and chops the chickens head off, finally silencing its incessant clucking. He then turns his blood spattered face to Grublin expectantly, not sure what to do. Grublin rolls his eyes and points at the shrine's cupped hands. Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. [["[Pour Blood Over Roots]"->chicken sacrifice5]]

'Oh, aaah.' says Blugg. 'Oh wait, this isn't going to work. Look at his jaw, it looks like it's trying to escape from his face. He can't speak the words!' [[Fine, then I offer my blood!->boy blood5]] [[Thörg, you're big and full of blood. Come here.->thörg blood5]]

'Excellent, I'm sure someone will thank you, if you survive. Get on with it. Make a cut on the wrist, lots of blood there.' <<if $cleaver>>[["[Use cleaver] YES! FINALLY! It's Cleaver o'clock, baby!"->boy yes cleaver5]]<</if>>\ [[Uh, how do I cut myself?->boy no cleaver5]]

The boy steps closer to the statue. The carvings on ancient stone reveal a smiling face with sharp angular features. It's staring hungrily at the cupped hands before it. Long moss hangs from the head and forms a luxuriant beard below the mouth. At the base words are carved into the stone: BLOOD FOR THE SENTINEL WHOSE VOICE SHALL SOUND TO CALL ON THE GODS WHEN GIANTS ABOUND Looking into the cupped roots reveals tiny bones, ancient forgotten offerings. [[You're up Blugg!->blugg blood5]] [[I offer my blood!->boy blood5]] [[Thörg, you're big and full of blood. Come here.->thörg blood5]]

'Get the chicken ready.' Grublin says. [[I don't really want to kill this chicken. Can't we use our own blood?->human blood5]] <<if $boychicken>>[[Got it right here!->chicken blood5]]<</if>>\ <<if $bluggchicken>>[[You gave it to Blugg.->blugg chicken5]]<</if>>\ <<if $thörgchicken>>[[Thörg's got it.->thörg chicken5]]<<if>>

'Human blood? Doesn't taste like chicken, but I suppose it'll do. Now, a few drops isn't enough. This God's been sleeping for centuries. It'll take a hearty meal to really wake him up. So... you know... you might bleed out. But what do I know, I'm not a medicine man. Chicken's still on the menu though.' The stable boy and his master stare at Grublin. 'Oh, right. Uh, Grublin blood is weak, very weak, yep. Won't do at all. So who wants to be the lucky man?' [[You're up Blugg!->blugg blood5]] [[I offer my blood!->boy blood5]] [[Thörg! You're large and full of blood. Come here. Tickles is staying with us, after all!->thörg blood5]]

'Oh, okay!' Thörg says. Grublin says, 'Make a cut on the wrist, lots of blood there.' <<if $cleaver>>[["[Use cleaver] YES! FINALLY! It's Cleaver o'clock, baby!"->thörg yes cleaver5]]<</if>>\ [[Uh, how do I cut myself?->thörg no cleaver5]]

Thörg looks up, a crease between his cliff-like eyebrows. 'No one's touching Tickles.' he says firmly. Grublin groans. 'Thörg, listen. That chicken is going to save the entire world! It - Tickles... will be remembered for EVER! The hero chicken!' 'No one is touching Tickles.' Thörg repeats, holding Tickles behind his back. [[Thörg, you may not know this but Tickles is a wild forest chicken. I know you want to keep him but we have to free him. He belongs in the forest, flying free. Uh, right Grublin?->thörg chicken5 b]] [[I don't really want to kill this chicken. Can't we use our own blood?->human blood5]]

Grublin starts. 'Uh, well yes. Wild forest chicken, that's right. How about you give us Tickles, and we'll make sure he finds his family. You just go stand... over - over there,' he points deeper into the thick brush. Thörg hesitates, looks at Tickles, then back to Grublin. '...Okay then.' he mumbles, and hands over Tickles to the boy. 'All right now. Go stand over there while we free Tickles. He won't leave if he sees you, right? Because you're his friend.' 'Okay.' Thörg says glumly and shuffles further into the forest. He stops a short distance away, still visible between the low brush. 'Little farther now, Thörg.' Grublin calls. Thörg moves out of sight. 'All right, chop it! Chop it now!' hisses Grublin to the boy. <<if $cleaver>>[[Oh, oh! With my cleaver? YES! FINALLY! It's Cleaver o'clock, baby!->chicken yes cleaver5]]<</if>>\ [[How do I chop? I don't know how to chop!->chicken no cleaver5]]

Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. Grublin waddles over to the boy and grabs his wrist. Before anyone can react, he plunges a sharp nail into it, causing a brief spurt of blood. 'No whining! Hold it over the roots and repeat what I say!' [["[Hold Wrist Over Roots]"->boy sacrifice5]]

The boy laughs somewhat maniacally and holds Thörg's wrist over the roots. Carefully, he makes an incision with the cleaver. Nothing happens. Thörg's skin is unblemished. The boy tries again, but can't seem to cut Thörg's skin. Grublin stares at Thörg, one eyebrow raised. Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. Grublin waddles over to Thörg and grabs his wrist. Before anyone can react, he plunges a sharp nail into it, causing a brief spurt of blood. 'Hold it over the roots and repeat what I say!' Thörg stares at the blood flowing from his wrist. [["[Poke Thörg]"->thörg sacrifice5]]

Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. Grublin waddles over to Thörg and grabs his wrist. Before anyone can react, he plunges a sharp nail into it, causing a brief spurt of blood. 'Hold it over the roots and repeat what I say!' Thörg stares at the blood flowing from his wrist. [["[Poke Thörg]"->thörg sacrifice5]]

Thörg lets the blood spill onto the cupped roots and drip through. Immediately, the roots tighten and the tiny basin begins to fill. Then the basin seems to drain again, but nothing is passing through. The roots are drinking. 'All right, now repeat after me...' Grublin says. [["[Listen To Words]"->thörg sacrifice5 a]]

'and hear my puny voice.' [[and hear my puny voice.->boy sacrifice5 b]]

'Thank you for your mercy,' [[Thank you for your mercy,->boy sacrifice5 c]]

'your strength and your muscles,' [[your strength and your muscles,->boy sacrifice5 d]]

'that guard us from the giants.' [[that guard us from the giants.->boy sacrifice5 e]]

'We are in your debt,' [[We are in your debt,->boy sacrifice5 f]]

'you sexy beast,' [[you sexy beast,->boy sacrifice5 g]]

'Grublin, greatest of Gods.' [[Grublin, greatest of Gods. Wait what?->boy sacrifice5 h]]

'You know what, I won't even destroy you for that comment! But now, I have business to attend to.' Grublin snaps his fingers and vanishes. The boy looks around in confusion. So very amusing. He's practically spinning in place; he wonders where his God has gone. It's only natural. [[Damn you, Grublin! Help us!->boy help5]] [[Please, Grublin the Great! Help!->boy help5]] [["[Pee On Sculpture]"->boy pee5]]

The boy's words are ignored, mostly, but he hears a mocking cackle on the wind as he shouts them. That's when they hear it. [[What? Hear what?!->bone giants come boy5]]

Thörg repeats the words Grublin says: <<timed 2s t8n>>Accept my paltry gift, <<next>>and hear my puny voice. <<next>>Thank you for your mercy, <<next>>your strength and your muscles, <<next>>that guard us from the giants. <<next>>We are in your debt, <<next>>you sexy beast, <<next>>Grublin, greatest of Gods.<</timed>> [[Wait, what?->thörg sacrifice5 b]]

'Thank you for your mercy,' [[Thankya fer our messy,->blugg sacrifice4 c]]

'Ohh... YES!' yells Grublin. The human turns to look at him, to witness the glorious transformation. It's been so LONG! He'd almost forgotten the taste. Mmh, sacrificial blood. Grublin smacks his lips. He feels his bones shift, stretch, his muscles vibrate. Yeess... He touches his chin, and ahhh, the beard is back. He stretches his spine, hears it pop pop pop, vertabrae slotting into place. But, something's different. It doesn't stop. Such POWER! Flooding in, coursing through him. Thörg's blood? He's... Yes... How did he not see it earlier? His dad better not find out. This is a //big// no no. Time's short. Got to go. 'FEAST YOUR EYES, MY CHILDREN! GRUBLIN THE GREAT IS BACK!' Grublin looks //down// at the humans, who stare back up at him, utterly stunned by his brilliance, of course. [[Oh my Gods, you're even uglier than before.->thörg sacrifice5 c]]

'Ohh yes that hits the SPOT!' yells Grublin. It'd been so LONG! He'd forgotten how GOOD it tasted, mmh, sacrificial blood. Grublin smacks his lips. He feels his bones shift, stretch, his muscles vibrate. He touches his chin, and ahhh, yes, the beard is back. He stretches his spine, hears it pop pop pop, vertabrae slotting into place. 'FEAST YOUR EYES, MY CHILDREN! GRUBLIN THE GREAT IS BACK!' Grublin looks //down// at the the humans and they stare back up at him, utterly stunned by his brilliance, of course. [[Oh my Gods, you're even uglier than before.->boy sacrifice5 i]]

Blugg lets the blood spill onto the cupped roots and drips through. Immediately, the roots tighten and the tiny basin begins to fill. Then the basin seems to drain again, but nothing is passing through. The roots are drinking. 'Now repeat after me: Accept my paltry gift,' 'Ac - Ac... axe mah patty gaff.' 'What? No! Fool! Try again!' [[Uh, axehd mah poultry gefft,->chicken sacrifice4 a]]

'Thank you for your mercy,' [[Thankya fer our messy,->chicken sacrifice4 c]]

'and hear my puny voice.' [[and hear my puny voice.->chicken sacrifice5 b]]

'Thank you for your mercy,' [[Thank you for your mercy,->chicken sacrifice5 c]]

'your strength and your muscles,' [[your strength and your muscles,->chicken sacrifice5 d]]

'that guard us from the giants.' [[that guard us from the giants.->chicken sacrifice5 e]]

'We are in your debt,' [[We are in your debt,->chicken sacrifice5 f]]

'you sexy beast,' [[you sexy beast,->chicken sacrifice5 g]]

'Grublin, greatest of Gods.' [[Grublin, greatest of Gods. Wait what?->chicken sacrifice5 h]]

'Ohh yes that hits the SPOT!' yells Grublin. It'd been so LONG! He'd forgotten how GOOD it tasted, mmh, sacrificial blood. Grublin smacks his lips. He feels his bones shift, stretch, his muscles vibrate. He touches his chin, and ahhh, yes, the beard is back. He stretches his spine, hears it pop pop pop, vertabrae slotting into place. 'FEAST YOUR EYES, MY CHILDREN! GRUBLIN THE GREAT IS BACK!' Grublin looks //down// at the boy and Blugg, and they stare back up at him, utterly stunned by his brilliance, of course. Thörg comes back and sees Grublin. 'Wooow!' he says, impressed. [[Oh my Gods, you're even uglier than before.->chicken sacrifice5 i]]

'You know what, I won't even destroy you for that comment! But now, I have business to attend to.' Grublin snaps his fingers and vanishes. The boy looks around in confusion. So very amusing. He's practically spinning in place; he wonders where his God has gone. It's only natural. [[Damn you, Grublin! Help us!->chicken help5]] [[Please, Grublin the Great! Help!->chicken help5]] [["[Pee On Sculpture]"->chicken pee5]]

The boy's words are ignored, mostly, but he hears a mocking cackle on the wind as he shouts them. That's when they hear it. [[What? Hear what?!->bone giants come chicken5]]

A wall of heat hits the boy hard and he immediately breaks out in a sweat. Not far away, he sees Fred above the treetops, spewing fire from his mouth, decimating the ancient forest. Beside him is Gruluk Slurp Machine, practically jumping with impatience. He has spotted the boy, and they lock eyes. Gruluk laughs and points for Fred to see. The heat is almost unbearable. His knees wobble. Where are his friends? Then the boy feels himself be picked up. It's Thörg! He's carrying him! Blugg is there too! Burned trees are being pulled out and swept aside around the boy. Then he smells their breath, like spoiled milk and rotting meat. Thörg tries to place himself between him and the giants. The boy looks up and sees the Bone Giant faces pressing in, blotting out the sky. <<linkreplace "This is the end.">>Hah! Just havin' a bit of fun, boy! [[Grublin?->bone giants come chicken5 b]]<</linkreplace>>

A wall of heat hits the boy hard and he immediately breaks out in a sweat. Not far away, he sees Fred above the treetops, spewing fire from his mouth, decimating the ancient forest. Beside him is Gruluk Slurp Machine, practically jumping with impatience. He has spotted the boy, and they lock eyes. Gruluk laughs and points for Fred to see. The heat is almost unbearable. He is weak from bloodloss. His knees wobble. Where are his friends? Then the boy feels himself be picked up. It's Thörg! He's carrying him! Blugg is there too! Burned trees are being pulled out and swept aside around them. Then he smells their breath, like spoiled milk and rotting meat. Thörg tries to place himself between the boy and the giants. The boy looks up and sees their huge faces pressing in, blotting out the sky. <<linkreplace "This is the end.">>Hah! Just havin' a bit of fun, boy! [[Grublin?->bone giants come boy5 c]]<</linkreplace>>

Standing around them are several figures who seem to be dressed in liquid light. Except for one, who is hairy, dirty, and apart from a loincloth, naked: Grublin. 'Care to explain this, Grublin?' says a woman in sunlight armour, thick golden braid hanging over a shoulder. Her hands rest on the pommel of a giant claymore driven into the earth in front of her. The blade is slick with Bone Giant blood. 'Why of course, Lady Froyo. This here is... uh, boy. Stable Boy. The round one is Blugg, and the large one is Thörg. They may have helped somewhat. More like assisted, I mean they -' 'I smell human blood on you,' interrupts a one handed man with a helmet shaped like a bear. 'Oh, yes. That was just... necessary. Don't worry, it tasted horrible, really. Won't happen again. Thanks for the help though, I think you can go no-' 'Not only have you called us late, you have consumed human blood! I always said your decadence would be your undoing! We shall find a new Sentinel.' [["[Defend Grublin]"->defend grublin3]] [["[Say Nothing]"->say nothing3]]

'You know what, I won't even destroy you for that comment! But now, I have business to attend to.' Grublin snaps his fingers and vanishes. The boy looks around in confusion. So very amusing. He's practically spinning in place; he wonders where his God has gone. It's only natural. [[Damn you, Grublin! Help us!->thörg help5]] [[Please, Grublin the Great! Help!->thörg help5]] [["[Pee On Sculpture]"->thörg pee5]]

The boy's words are ignored, mostly, but he hears a mocking cackle on the wind as he shouts them. That's when they hear it. [[What? Hear what?!->bone giants come thörg5]]

A wall of heat hits the boy hard and he immediately breaks out in a sweat. Not far away, he sees Fred above the treetops, spewing fire from his mouth, decimating the ancient forest. Beside him is Gruluk Slurp Machine, practically jumping with impatience. He has spotted the boy, and they lock eyes. Gruluk laughs and points for Fred to see. The heat is almost unbearable. He is weak from bloodloss. His knees wobble. Where are his friends? Then the boy feels himself be picked up. It's Thörg! He's carrying him! Blugg is there too! Burned trees are being pulled out and swept aside around them. Then he smells their breath, like spoiled milk and rotting meat. Thörg tries to place himself between him and the giants. The boy looks up and sees their huge faces pressing in, blotting out the sky. <<linkreplace "This is the end.">>Hah! Just havin' a bit of fun, boy! [[Grublin?->bone giants come thörg5 c]]<</linkreplace>>

Standing around the them are several figures who seem to be dressed in liquid light. Except for one, who is hairy, dirty, and apart from a loincloth, naked: Grublin. 'Care to explain what this is, Grublin?' says a woman in sunlight armour, thick golden braid hanging over a shoulder. Her hands rest on the pommel of a giant claymore driven into the earth in front of her. The blade is slick with Bone Giant blood. 'Why of course, Lady Froyo. This here is... uh, boy. Stable Boy. The round one's Blugg, and that tall man is Thörg. They may have helped somewhat. More like assisted, I mean they -' 'I smell human blood on you,' interrupts a one handed man with a helmet shaped like a bear. 'Oh, yes. That was just... necessary. Don't worry, it tasted horrible, really. Won't happen again. Thanks for the help though, I think you can go no-' 'Not just human blood,' says Tyr, One-Handed, peering down at Grublin, 'Divine blood. What is the meaning of this?' 'Wha -' Grublin looks at Thörg, then back at Tyr. They're almost identical. How did he not see it earlier? Tyr and Thörg look at each other, and their eyes widen with realisation. 'Poppa?' says Thörg. [["[Act Surprised]"->bone giants come thörg5 e]]

The boy gapes, looking like he can't breathe. 'OH MY GODS!' he shouts. 'Oh my,' says Lady Froyo, expression flat. 'Been making visits to the humans, have we, Tyr?' Tyr shrugs in embarassment, 'There may have been...' then he turns to Grublin and his eyes flare with rage. 'You... Sacrificed the blood of my SON?!' 'I - uh... I didn't know! How could I have known! It was so little... he's fine, and I needed my powers to call on you, the Bone -' 'SILENCE! We honor you with the position of Sentinel, and you have not only failed to call on us in time, you have consumed divine blood! I revoke your Sentinel powers!' [["[Defend Grublin]"->defend grublin]] [["[Say Nothing]"->say nothing]]

'But he had no choice!' says the boy. Everyone stare at him. 'It's our fault. We, I mean us humans, we stopped sacrificing to Grub - uh, the Sentinel, and he couldn't do, you know... do his finger snapping stuff anymore. If he hadn't taken Thörg's blood, Thörg would be dead now! And everyone else too!' Tyr is frowning at you. He glares at Grublin, then sighs. 'I will give you one more chance. If you fail me...' To the boy and Blugg, Tyr One-Handed says, 'And you, humans named Boy and Blugg, well done.' 'Tyr, come with us, I shall show you your true home.' 'Ooh! Are there blue sips?' Thörg asks. 'What's that?' 'Um... And vodka?' 'Oh, there's plenty of that,' chuckles Tyr. [[I did it!->Grublin last chance END]]

Grublin gapes, then he feels himself shrinking, muscles shriveling, his full beard growing scraggly again. In just a few moments, he's tiny again. He sits on the ground for a moment, not sure what to say or do. 'Well,' he finally says, taking out another pickle from his pocket and taking a bite, 'Was good while it lasted.' He stands up and walks off alone. 'Sentinel... not bad for a common forest troll...' He chuckles, then he is gone among the trees. But he sees them. The pompous god will compliment the stupid humans, and grant his estranged son the dubious honor of Sentinel. He knows it. Tyr says, 'Thörg, I offer you the job of Sentinel. Do you accept?' 'Oh, okay!' says Thörg. Tyr turns to the boy, 'And you, humans named Boy, Blugg, well done.' [[I did it!->Grublin leaves END]]

The boy raises his hands in the air like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. THE END

The boy raises his hands in the air like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. Blugg takes a swig from his flask. Then Grublin really does leave.

Standing around them are several figures who seem to be dressed in liquid light. Except for one, who is hairy, dirty, and naked apart from a grimy loincloth: Grublin. 'Care to explain what this is, Grublin?' says a woman in sunlight armour, thick golden braid hanging over a shoulder. Her hands rest on the pommel of a giant claymore driven into the earth in front of her. The blade is slick with Bone Giant blood. 'Why of course, Lady Froyo. This here is... uh, the one named Boy. The round one under him is Blugg, a stable master. And that huge young man is Thörg. They may have helped somewhat. More like assisted, I mean they -' 'Why did you call us so late?' interrupts a one handed man with a helmet shaped like a bear. 'Oh, yes. Well, the humans may have stopped sacrificing to me. Uh, through no fault of my own of course. Lost most of my powers. Won't happen again. Thanks for the help though, I think you can go no-' 'The humans are to be protected. And we will leave only when the Bone Giants are dealt with. Next time, we expect to be warned sooner, Grublin, or we shall find a new Sentinel.' <<if $thörgtyr>>Oh... OH! He'd almost forgotten. 'But... look who I've brought! This is Thörg,' Grublin gives his most winning smile, 'your son.' Everyone look back and forth between Thörg and Tyr. They are almost identical. [["[Act Surprised]"->bone giants come chicken5 e]]<</if>>\ <<if not $thörgtyr>>Tyr One-Handed turns away from Grublin and faces the boy. 'And you, human named Boy, well done.' [[I did it!->Last chance END]]<</if>>

The boy raises his hands in the air like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. THE END

'Oyeh? Good, good!' says Blugg. Grublin shoves the chicken into Thörg's arms, then clambers up to sit on the stable boy's shoulder, comfortably using the boy's head as an arm rest, surprised to find an actual use for it. 'All right, let's move.' They move deeper into the forest. [["[Take Chicken From Thörg]"->forest6 b][$boychicken to true]] [["[Let Thörg Keep Chicken]"->forest6 b][$thörgchicken to true]] [["[Give Chicken to Blugg]"->forest6 b][$bluggchicken to true]]

'Ah, you'll see, boy.' Grublin says with a toothy grin. Almost entirely hidden under the hanging branches of a large pine, encased in the trunk itself, is a blackened stone sculpture, oblong in shape. It seems as though the rock has sprouted from the earth itself. Roots have grown around it, forming what looks like two arms with cupped hands. Blugg gazes at it with heavy lidded eyes. Does he know? A strand of drool slowly descends from Blugg's open mouth. Of course he doesn't know. 'It looks like an egg!' laughs Thörg. 'Yes, another valuable insight, Thörg.' Grublin sighs. [["[Study Sculpture Closer]"->sacrifice6 study][$studysculpture to true]] [["[Hold Cupped Hands]"->sacrifice6 poke]]

The boy reaches towards the cupped hands, and with a jerk, they grab //his// hands! Other roots snake out to grip his ankles too, but they seem without purpose, unsure what to do other than simply hold him. <<if $boychicken>>Unable to move, the boy drops the chicken, which goes squawking into the forest. 'CHICKN!' Blugg shouts and follows.<</if>> Grublin is rolling on a bed of moss, laughing at the boy. 'Hah hah! Your stupid face when it grabbed you - "Oh no! The roots are going to eat me!" HAH!' Grublin snaps a finger and the roots return to their cupped hands position. [[Wow, how'd you do that?->sacrifice6 b]]

'I just snapped my fingers, wasn't that obvious? Pay attention, boy! Now, where's that chicken?' <<if $boychicken>>Blugg returns, holding a very angry chicken. [[So what now?->chicken blood6]]<</if>>\ <<if $bluggchicken>>[[You gave it to Blugg->blugg chicken6]]<</if>>\ <<if $thörgchicken>>[[Thörg's got it.->thörg chicken6]]<</if>>

'Get the chicken ready.' Grublin says. [[I don't really want to kill this chicken. Can't we use our own blood?->human blood6]] <<if $boychicken>>[[Got it right here!->chicken blood6]]<</if>>\ <<if $bluggchicken>>[[You gave it to Blugg.->blugg chicken6]]<</if>>\ <<if $thörgchicken>>[[Thörg's got it.->thörg chicken6]]<<if>>

'Excellent, let's begin. First, chop that thing's head off and hold it so the blood pours into the cupped roots, then repeat the words I say.' <<if $cleaver>>[[Oh, oh! With my cleaver? YES! FINALLY! It's Cleaver o'clock, baby!->chicken yes cleaver6]]<</if>>\ [[And how am I supposed to chop it?->chicken no cleaver6]]

'...Blugg?' 'Wazzit.' Blugg says, 'Chickn?' 'You... Blugg, I swear, if you lost that chicken.' Blugg stares at Grublin, looks at his own hands as if maybe they would be holding a chicken, finds them empty, then lifts them to show Grublin that they are, indeed, empty. He shrugs as if it's magic. 'I might kill you, Blugg. I'm seriously considering it.' [[What about our own blood, can we use that?->Human Blood6 a]]

Thörg looks up, a crease between his cliff-like eyebrows. 'No one's touching Tickles.' he says firmly. Grublin groans. 'Thörg, listen. That chicken is going to save the entire world! It - Tickles... will be remembered for EVER! The hero chicken!' 'No one is touching Tickles.' Thörg repeats, holding Tickles behind his back. [[Thörg, you may not know this but Tickles is a wild forest chicken. I know you want to keep him but we have to free him. He belongs in the forest, flying free. Uh, right Grublin?->thörg chicken6 b]] [[I don't really want to kill this chicken. Can't we use our own blood?->human blood6]]

'Human blood? Doesn't taste like chicken, but I suppose it'll do. Now, a few drops isn't enough. This God's been sleeping for centuries. It'll take a hearty meal to really wake him up. So... you know... you might bleed out. But what do I know, I'm not a medicine man.' The stable boy and his master stare at Grublin. 'Oh, right. Uh, Grublin blood is weak, very weak, yep. Won't do at all. So who wants to be the lucky man?' [[You're up, Blugg!->blugg blood6]] [[I offer my blood!->boy blood6]] [[Thörg, you're big and full of blood. Come here.->thörg blood6]] <<if not $studysculpture>>[["[Study Sculpture Closer]"->sacrifice study6 a]]<</if>>

'Human blood? Doesn't taste like chicken, but I suppose it'll do. Now, a few drops isn't enough. This God's been sleeping for centuries. It'll take a hearty meal to really wake him up. So... you know... you might bleed out. But what do I know, I'm not a medicine man. Chicken's still on the menu though.' The stable boy and his master stare at Grublin. 'Oh, right. Uh, Grublin blood is weak, very weak, yep. Won't do at all. So who wants to be the lucky man?' [[You're up Blugg!->blugg blood6]] [[I offer my blood!->boy blood6]] [[Thörg! You're large and full of blood. Come here. Tickles is staying with us, after all!->thörg blood6]]

'Aye, Ah got great blood!' Blugg says. Grublin's expression says he's not convinced. 'Make a cut on the wrist, lots of blood there.' <<if $cleaver>>[["[Use cleaver] YES! FINALLY! It's Cleaver o'clock, baby! Uh, sorry Blugg."->blugg yes cleaver6]]<</if>>\ [[Uh, how do I cut him?->blugg no cleaver6]]

'Excellent, I'm sure someone will thank you, if you survive. Get on with it. Make a cut on the wrist, lots of blood there.' <<if $cleaver>>[["[Use cleaver] YES! FINALLY! It's Cleaver o'clock, baby!"->boy yes cleaver5]]<</if>>\ [[Uh, how do I cut myself?->boy no cleaver5]]

The boy steps closer to the statue. The carvings on ancient stone reveal a smiling face with sharp angular features. It's staring hungrily at the cupped hands before it. Long moss hangs from the head and forms a luxuriant beard below the mouth. At the base words are carved into the stone: BLOOD FOR THE SENTINEL WHOSE VOICE SHALL SOUND TO CALL ON THE GODS WHEN GIANTS ABOUND Looking into the cupped roots reveals tiny bones, ancient forgotten offerings. [[You're up Blugg!->blugg blood6]] [[I offer my blood!->boy blood6]] [[Thörg, you're big and full of blood. Come here.->thörg blood6]]

Grublin starts. 'Uh, well yes. Wild forest chicken, that's right. How about you give us Tickles, and we'll make sure he finds his family. You just go stand... over - over there,' he points deeper into the thick brush. Thörg hesitates, looks at Tickles, then back to Grublin. '...Okay then.' he mumbles, and hands over Tickles to the boy. 'All right now. Go stand over there while we free Tickles. He won't leave if he sees you, right? Because you're his friend.' 'Okay.' Thörg says glumly and shuffles further into the forest. He stops a short distance away, still visible between the low brush. 'Little farther now, Thörg.' Grublin calls. Thörg moves out of sight. 'All right, chop it! Chop it now!' hisses Grublin to the boy. <<if $cleaver>>[[Oh, oh! With my cleaver? YES! FINALLY! It's Cleaver o'clock, baby!->chicken yes cleaver6]]<</if>>\ [[How do I chop? I don't know how to chop!->chicken no cleaver6]]

The boy laughs somewhat maniacally and chops the chickens head off, finally silencing its incessant clucking. He then turns his blood spattered face to Grublin expectantly, not sure what to do. Grublin rolls his eyes and points at the shrine's cupped hands. Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. [["[Pour Blood Over Roots]"->chicken sacrifice5]]

Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. Grublin waddles over to Blugg and grabs his wrist. Before anyone can react, he plunges a sharp nail into it, causing a brief spurt of blood. 'Hold it over the roots and repeat what I say! Now!' 'Wazzit.' says Blugg thickly, wavering on his feet like a weak human. [["[Hold Blugg's wrist over the roots.]"->blugg sacrifice6]]

'and hear my puny voice.' 'An'ear mah pony's choice...' Blugg mumbles. 'Shut up Blugg!' [[and hear my puny voice.->blugg sacrifice6 b]]

'Thank you for your mercy,' 'Thankya fer our messy,' [[Thank you for your mercy,->blugg sacrifice6 c]]

'your strength and your muscles,' 'My sternk an mussles,' [[your strength and your muscles,->blugg sacrifice6 d]]

'that guard us from the giants.' 'tha giant gurd ina... gurd?' [[that guard us from the giants.->blugg sacrifice6 e]]

'We are in your debt,' 'Wer all ded,' [[We are in your debt,->blugg sacrifice6 f]]

'you sexy beast,' 'Ima sexy beast,' [[you sexy beast,->blugg sacrifice6 g]]

'Grublin, greatest of Gods.' 'Glub, grass on Gods.' [[Grublin, greatest of Gods. Wait what?->blugg sacrifice6 h]]

'Ohh... YES!' yells Grublin. The humans turn to look at him, to witness the glorious transformation. It's been so LONG! He'd almost forgotten the taste. Mmh, sacrificial blood. Grublin smacks his lips. He feels his bones shift, stretch, his muscles vibrate. Yeess... But, something's wrong. His thoughts... slippery. What's happening? He touches his chin, and ahhh, yes, the beard is back. He stretches his spine, hears it pop pop pop, vertabrae slotting into place. He hiccups. He tries to stand. Can't. Balance is off. No matter. 'FEASHT YOUR EYESH, MY LITTLESH! GRUBLIN THE GREETH - GREH... THE GREAT ISH... BACK! //Hic!//' Grublin lies on his side - why is he lying on his side? He looks at the tiny humans and flexes gloriously. They stare at him, utterly stunned by his brilliance, of course. He's hungry now. Where's that chicken? [[What's going on? Are you drunk? Why're you so big?->blugg sacrifice6 i]]

'SHUSH, BOY, I'M AWAY ON IMPORTANT BUSHINESH.' Grublin snaps his fingers and vanishes. He's in a tree. He falls through the branches. Blugg and the boy stare at him. He snaps his fingers again. He's up in another tree. Snaps fingers. Ah, there, good. Time for important business... The boy looks around in confusion. So very amusing. He's practically spinning in place; he wonders where his God has gone. It's only natural. Blugg seems completely unaware of his surroundings, and Thörg is petting the chicken. [[Damn you, Grublin! Help us!->blugg help6]] [[Please, Grublin the Great! Help!->blugg help6]] [["[Pee On Sculpture]"->blugg pee6]]

The boy's words are ignored, mostly; he hears a mocking cackle on the wind as he shouts them. That's when they hear it. [[What? Hear what?!->bone giants come blugg6]]

The boy approaches the ancient relic and drops his pants. Is he really going to...? The roots of the statue lash out and grab the boy, picking him up and flinging him away. The boy's frightened squawking is pleasing. That's when they hear it. [[What? Hear what?!->bone giants come blugg6]]

A wall of heat hits the boy hard and he immediately breaks out in a sweat. Not far away, he sees Fred above the treetops, spewing fire from his mouth, decimating the ancient forest. Beside him is Gruluk Slurp Machine, practically jumping with impatience. He has spotted the boy, and they lock eyes. Gruluk laughs and points for Fred to see. The heat is almost unbearable. His knees wobble. Where are his friends? Then the boy feels himself be picked up. It's Thörg! He's carrying him! Blugg is there too! Burned trees are being pulled out and swept aside around the boy. Then he smells their breath, like spoiled milk and rotting meat. Thörg tries to place himself between him and the giants. The boy looks up and sees the Bone Giant faces pressing in, blotting out the sky. <<linkreplace "This is the end.">>Hah! Jusht havin' a bit of fun, boy! [[Grublin?->bone giants come blugg6 b]]<</linkreplace>>

Standing around the boy and Blugg are several figures who seem to be dressed in liquid light. Except for one, who is hairy, dirty, and apart from a loincloth, naked: Grublin. 'Care to explain yourself, Grublin?' says a woman in sunlight armour, thick golden braid hanging over a shoulder. Her hands rest on the pommel of a giant claymore driven into the earth in front of her. The blade is slick with Bone Giant blood. 'Well, of coursh, Lady Froyo. Thish here ish... uh, that'sh "boy". The round one under him ish Blugg, a //hic!// shtable mashter, and the tall man ish Thörg. A They may have helped shomewhat. More like ashi, ash, ashishd, I mean they -' 'What's wrong with you?' Lady Froyo demands. 'Ah, yesh, //hic!// well. The fat one sacrificed hish blood to me. Sheemsh it'sh rather... hah hah, loaded. Hah hah!' 'Human blood!' shouts a one handed male with a helmet shaped like a bear. 'Come on, Tyr ol' buddy! It jusht kind of happened! Geesh. Tashted horrible anywaysh. Won't happen again, pinky promish!' 'Not only have you called us late, you have consumed human blood! I always said your decadence would be your undoing! We shall find a new Sentinel. I revoke your Sentinel powers!' Tyr One-Handed says. [["[Defend Grublin]"->grub still sentinel]] [["[Say Nothing]"->blugg sentinel]]

'Ah, you'll see, boy.' Grublin says with a toothy grin. Almost entirely hidden under the hanging branches of a large pine, encased in the trunk itself, is a blackened stone sculpture, oblong in shape. It seems as though the rock has sprouted from the earth itself. Roots have grown around it, forming what looks like two arms with cupped hands. 'It looks like an egg!' laughs Thörg. 'Yes, a valuable insight, Thörg.' Grublin sighs. [["[Study Sculpture Closer]"->sacrifice8 study][$studysculpture to true]] [["[Hold Cupped Hands]"->sacrifice8 poke]]

The boy reaches towards the cupped hands, and with a jerk, they grab //his// hands! Other roots snake out to grip his ankles too, but they seem without purpose, unsure what to do other than simply hold him. <<if $boychicken>>Unable to move, the boy drops the chicken, which goes squawking into the forest. 'Tickles!' Thörg shouts and follows.<</if>> Grublin is rolling on a bed of moss, laughing at the boy. 'Hah hah! Your stupid face when it grabbed you - "Oh no! The roots are going to eat me!" HAH!' Grublin snaps a finger and the roots return to their cupped hands position. [[Wow, how'd you do that?->sacrifice8 b]]

'I just snapped my fingers, wasn't that obvious? Pay attention, boy! Now, where's that chicken?' <<if $boychicken>>Thörg returns, holding a very angry chicken. [[So what now?->chicken blood8]]<</if>>\ <<if $thörgchicken>>[[Thörg's got it.->thörg chicken8]]<</if>>

'Excellent, let's begin. First, chop that thing's head off and hold it so the blood pours into the cupped roots, then repeat the words I say.' <<if $cleaver>>[["'Oh, oh! With my cleaver? YES! FINALLY! It's Cleaver o'clock, baby!'"->chicken yes cleaver8]]<</if>>\ [["'And how am I supposed to chop it?'"->chicken no cleaver8]]

Thörg looks up, a crease between his cliff-like eyebrows. 'No one's touching Tickles.' he says firmly. Grublin groans. 'Thörg, listen. That chicken is going to save the entire world! It - Tickles... will be remembered for EVER! The hero chicken!' 'No one is touching Tickles.' Thörg repeats, holding Tickles behind his back. [[Thörg, you may not know this but Tickles is a wild forest chicken. I know you want to keep him but we have to free him. He belongs in the forest, flying free. Uh, right Grublin?->thörg chicken8 b]] [[I don't really want to kill this chicken. Can't we use our own blood?->human blood8]]

'Get the chicken ready.' Grublin says. [[I don't really want to kill this chicken. Can't we use our own blood?->human blood8]] <<if $boychicken>>[[Got it right here!->chicken blood8]]<</if>>\ <<if $thörgchicken>>[["'Thörg's got it.->thörg chicken8]]<<if>>

'Human blood? Doesn't taste like chicken, but I suppose it'll do. Now, a few drops isn't enough. This God's been sleeping for centuries. It'll take a hearty meal to really wake him up. So... you know... you might bleed out. But what do I know, I'm not a medicine man. Chicken's still on the menu though.' The stable boy and Thörg stare at Grublin. 'Oh, right. Uh, Grublin blood is weak, very weak, yep. Won't do at all. So who wants to be the lucky man?' [[I offer my blood!->boy blood8]] [[Thörg! You're large and full of blood. Come here. Tickles is staying with us, after all!->thörg blood8]]

'Excellent, I'm sure someone will thank you, if you survive. Get on with it. Make a cut on the wrist, lots of blood there.' <<if $cleaver>>[["[Use cleaver] YES! FINALLY! It's Cleaver o'clock, baby!"->boy yes cleaver8]]<</if>>\ [[Uh, how do I cut myself?->boy no cleaver8]]

'Oh, okay!' Thörg says. Grublin says, 'Make a cut on the wrist, lots of blood there.' <<if $cleaver>>[["[Use cleaver] YES! FINALLY! It's Cleaver o'clock, baby!"->thörg yes cleaver8]]<</if>>\ [[Uh, how do I cut myself?->thörg no cleaver8]]

Grublin starts. 'Uh, well yes. Wild forest chicken, that's right. How about you give us Tickles, and we'll make sure he finds his family. You just go stand... over - over there,' he points deeper into the thick brush. Thörg hesitates, looks at Tickles, then back to Grublin. '...Okay then.' he mumbles, and hands over Tickles to the boy. 'All right now. Go stand over there while we free Tickles. He won't leave if he sees you, right? Because you're his friend.' 'Okay.' Thörg says glumly and shuffles further into the forest. He stops a short distance away, still visible between the low brush. 'Little farther now, Thörg.' Grublin calls. Thörg moves out of sight. 'All right, chop it! Chop it now!' hisses Grublin to the boy. <<if $cleaver>>[[Oh, oh! With my cleaver? YES! FINALLY! It's Cleaver o'clock, baby!->chicken yes cleaver8]]<</if>>\ [[How do I chop? I don't know how to chop!->chicken no cleaver8]]

The boy laughs somewhat maniacally and chops the chickens head off, finally silencing its incessant clucking. He then turns his blood spattered face to Grublin expectantly, not sure what to do. Grublin rolls his eyes and points at the shrine's cupped hands. Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. [["[Pour Blood Over Roots]"->chicken sacrifice8]]

Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. Grublin waddles over to Thörg and grabs his wrist. Before anyone can react, he plunges a sharp nail into it, causing a brief spurt of blood. 'Hold it over the roots and repeat what I say!' Thörg stares at the blood flowing from his wrist. [["[Poke Thörg]"->thörg sacrifice8]]

Suddenly they smell smoke and hear the crashing of falling trees. It seems Fred Firebreather has been found, and the Bone Giants are clearing the forest. Whoever came up with firebreathing Bone Giants is a goddamn motherless beef trumpet. Better hurry this up. Grublin waddles over to the boy and grabs his wrist. Before anyone can react, he plunges a sharp nail into it, causing a brief spurt of blood. 'No whining! Hold it over the roots and repeat what I say!' [["[Hold Wrist Over Roots]"->boy sacrifice8]]

'and hear my puny voice.' [[and hear my puny voice.->boy sacrifice8 b]]

'Thank you for your mercy,' [[Thank you for your mercy,->boy sacrifice8 c]]

'your strength and your muscles,' [[your strength and your muscles,->boy sacrifice8 d]]

'that guard us from the giants.' [[that guard us from the giants.->boy sacrifice8 e]]

'We are in your debt,' [[We are in your debt,->boy sacrifice8 f]]

'you sexy beast,' [[you sexy beast,->boy sacrifice8 g]]

'Grublin, greatest of Gods.' [[Grublin, greatest of Gods. Wait what?->boy sacrifice8 h]]

'Ohh yes that hits the SPOT!' yells Grublin. It'd been so LONG! He'd forgotten how GOOD it tasted, mmh, sacrificial blood. Grublin smacks his lips. He feels his bones shift, stretch, his muscles vibrate. He touches his chin, and ahhh, yes, the beard is back. He stretches his spine, hears it pop pop pop, vertabrae slotting into place. 'FEAST YOUR EYES, MY CHILDREN! GRUBLIN THE GREAT IS BACK!' Grublin looks //down// at the boy and Thörg and they stare back up at him, utterly stunned by his brilliance, of course. [[Oh my Gods, you're even uglier than before.->boy sacrifice8 i]]

'You know what, I won't even destroy you for that comment! But now, I have business to attend to.' Grublin snaps his fingers and vanishes. The boy looks around in confusion. So very amusing. He's practically spinning in place; he wonders where his God has gone. It's only natural. [[Damn you, Grublin! Help us!->boy help8]] [[Please, Grublin the Great! Help!->boy help8]] [["[Pee On Sculpture]"->boy pee8]]

The boy's words are ignored, mostly, but he hears a mocking cackle on the wind as he shouts them. That's when they hear it. [[What? Hear what?->bone giants come boy8]]

A wall of heat hits the boy hard and he immediately breaks out in a sweat. Not far away, he sees Fred above the treetops, spewing fire from his mouth, decimating the ancient forest. Beside him are more Bone Giants, practically jumping with impatience. They have spotted the boy. They laugh and point for Fred to see. The heat is almost unbearable. He is weak from bloodloss. His knees wobble. Where are his friends? Then the boy feels himself be picked up. It's Thörg! He's carrying him! But where's Blugg? He can't remember. Burned trees are being pulled out and swept aside around them. Then he smells their breath, like spoiled milk and rotting meat. Thörg tries to place himself between him and the giants. The boy looks up and sees their huge faces pressing in, blotting out the sky. <<linkreplace "This is the end.">>Hah! Just havin' a bit of fun, boy! [[Grublin?->bone giants come boy8 c]]<</linkreplace>>

Standing around the boy and Thörg are several figures who seem to be dressed in liquid light. Except for one, who is hairy, dirty, and apart from a loincloth, naked: Grublin. 'Care to explain this, Grublin?' says a woman in sunlight armour, thick golden braid hanging over a shoulder. Her hands rest on the pommel of a giant claymore driven into the earth in front of her. The blade is slick with Bone Giant blood. 'Why of course, Lady Froyo. This here is... uh, boy. Stable Boy. The tall one is Thörg. They may have helped somewhat. More like assisted, I mean they -' 'I smell human blood on you,' interrupts a one handed man with a helmet shaped like a bear. 'Oh, yes. That was just... necessary. Don't worry, it tasted horrible, really. Won't happen again. Thanks for the help though, I think you can go no-' 'Not only have you called us late, you have consumed human blood! I always said your decadence would be your undoing! We shall find a new Sentinel.' Tyr One-Handed says. [["[Defend Grublin]"->defend grublin9]] [["[Say Nothing]"->say nothing9]]

'Ohh... YES!' yells Grublin. The human turns to look at him, to witness the glorious transformation. It's been so LONG! He'd almost forgotten the taste. Mmh, sacrificial blood. Grublin smacks his lips. He feels his bones shift, stretch, his muscles vibrate. Yeess... He touches his chin, and ahhh, the beard is back. He stretches his spine, hears it pop pop pop, vertabrae slotting into place. But, something's different. It doesn't stop. Such POWER! Flooding in, coursing through him. Thörg's blood? He's... Yes... How did he not see it earlier? His dad better not find out. This is a //big// no no. Time's short. Got to go. 'FEAST YOUR EYES, MY CHILDREN! GRUBLIN THE GREAT IS BACK' Grublin looks //down// at the humans, who stare back up at him, utterly stunned by his brilliance, of course. [[Oh my Gods, you're even uglier than before.->thörg sacrifice8 c]]

'You know what, I won't even destroy you for that comment! But now, I have business to attend to.' Grublin snaps his fingers and vanishes. The boy looks around in confusion. So very amusing. He's practically spinning in place; he wonders where his God has gone. It's only natural. [[Damn you, Grublin! Help us!->thörg help8]] [[Please, Grublin the Great! Help!->thörg help8]] [["[Pee On Sculpture]"->thörg pee8]]

The boy's words are ignored, mostly, but he hears a mocking cackle on the wind as he shouts them. That's when they hear it. [[What? Hear what?!->bone giants come thörg8]]

A wall of heat hits the boy hard and he immediately breaks out in a sweat. Not far away, he sees Fred above the treetops, spewing fire from his mouth, decimating the ancient forest. Beside him is Gruluk Slurp Machine, practically jumping with impatience. He has spotted the boy, and they lock eyes. Gruluk laughs and points for Fred to see. The heat is almost unbearable. He is weak from bloodloss. His knees wobble. Where are his friends? Then the boy feels himself be picked up. It's Thörg! He's carrying him! But where's Blugg? He can't remember. Burned trees are being pulled out and swept aside around them. Then he smells their breath, like spoiled milk and rotting meat. Thörg tries to place himself between him and the giants. The boy looks up and sees their huge faces pressing in, blotting out the sky. <<linkreplace "This is the end.">>Hah! Just havin' a bit of fun, boy! [[Grublin?->bone giants come thörg8 c]]<</linkreplace>>

Standing around the them are several figures who seem to be dressed in liquid light. Except for one, who is hairy, dirty, and apart from a loincloth, naked: Grublin. 'Care to explain what this is, Grublin?' says a woman in sunlight armour, thick golden braid hanging over a shoulder. Her hands rest on the pommel of a giant claymore driven into the earth in front of her. The blade is slick with Bone Giant blood. 'Why of course, Lady Froyo. This here is... uh, boy. Stable Boy. And that huge one is Thörg. They may have helped somewhat. More like assisted, I mean they -' 'I smell human blood on you,' interrupts a one handed man with a helmet shaped like a bear. 'Oh, yes. That was just... necessary. Don't worry, it tasted horrible, really. Won't happen again. Thanks for the help though, I think you can go no-' 'Not just human blood,' says Tyr, One-Handed, peering down at Grublin, 'Divine blood. What is the meaning of this?' 'Wha -' Grublin looks at Thörg, then back at Tyr. They're almost identical. How did he not see it earlier? Tyr and Thörg look at each other, and their eyes widen with realisation. 'Poppa?' says Thörg. [["[Act Surprised]"->bone giants come thörg8 e]]

'But he had no choice!' says the boy. Everyone stare at him. 'It's our fault. We, I mean us humans, we stopped sacrificing to Grub - uh, the Sentinel, and he couldn't do, you know... do his finger snapping stuff anymore. If he hadn't taken Thörg's blood, Thörg would be dead now! And everyone else too!' Tyr is frowning at you. He glares at Grublin. 'I will give you one more chance. If you fail me...' To the boy, Tyr One-Handed says, 'And you, human named Boy, well done.' 'Tyr, come with us, I shall show you your true home.' 'Ooh! Are there blue sips?' Thörg asks. 'What's that?' 'Um... And vodka?' 'Oh, there's plenty of that,' chuckles Tyr. [[I did it!->Grublin last chance END8]]

Grublin gapes, then he feels himself shrinking, muscles shriveling, his full beard growing scraggly again. In just a few moments, he's tiny again. He sits on the ground for a moment, not sure what to say or do. 'Well,' he finally says, taking out another pickle from his pocket and taking a bite, 'Was good while it lasted.' He stands up and walks off alone. 'Sentinel... not bad for a common forest troll...' He chuckles, then he is gone among the trees. But he sees them. The pompous god will compliment the stupid humans, and grant his estranged son the dubious honor of Sentinel. He knows it. Tyr says, 'Thörg, I offer you the job of Sentinel. Do you accept?' 'Oh, okay!' says Thörg. Tyr turns to the boy, 'And you, human named Boy, well done.' [[I did it!->Grublin leaves END8]]

The boy raises his hands in the air like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. THE END

The boy raises his hands in the air like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. Then Grublin really does leave.

The stress of the impending end of the world compounded by nearly being crushed by a shaved bear seems to have driven the boy mad. It was just a matter of time, but... [[What? No, no! Look! I'm at the tavern, see? Let's do this.]]

I'm just, uh... I'm just a voice in your head. I wouldn't worry about it. <<timed 2s t8n>>THUMM thumm thummTHUMM, thumm, thumm [[This is scary, I'm going to run home now.]]<</timed>>

'and hear my puny voice.' [[and hear my puny voice.->chicken sacrifice8 b]]

'Thank you for your mercy,' [[Thank you for your mercy,->chicken sacrifice8 c]]

'your strength and your muscles,' [[your strength and your muscles,->chicken sacrifice8 d]]

'that guard us from the giants.' [[that guard us from the giants.->chicken sacrifice8 e]]

'We are in your debt,' [[We are in your debt,->chicken sacrifice8 f]]

'you sexy beast,' [[you sexy beast,->chicken sacrifice8 g]]

'Grublin, greatest of Gods.' [[Grublin, greatest of Gods. Wait what?->chicken sacrifice8 h]]

'Ohh yes that hits the SPOT!' yells Grublin. It'd been so LONG! He'd forgotten how GOOD it tasted, mmh, sacrificial blood. Grublin smacks his lips. He feels his bones shift, stretch, his muscles vibrate. He touches his chin, and ahhh, yes, the beard is back. He stretches his spine, hears it pop pop pop, vertabrae slotting into place. 'FEAST YOUR EYES, MY CHILDREN! GRUBLIN THE GREAT IS BACK!' Grublin looks //down// at the boy and Thörg and they stare back up at him, utterly stunned by his brilliance, of course. [[Oh my Gods, you're even uglier than before.->chicken sacrifice8 i]]

'You know what, I won't even destroy you for that comment! But now, I have business to attend to.' Grublin snaps his fingers and vanishes. The boy looks around in confusion. So very amusing. He's practically spinning in place; he wonders where his God has gone. It's only natural. [[Damn you, Grublin! Help us!->chicken help8]] [[Please, Grublin the Great! Help!->chicken help8]] [["[Pee On Sculpture]"->chicken pee8]]

The boy's words are ignored, mostly, but he hears a mocking cackle on the wind as he shouts them. That's when they hear it. [[What? Hear what?->bone giants come chicken8]]

A wall of heat hits the boy hard and he immediately breaks out in a sweat. Not far away, he sees Fred above the treetops, spewing fire from his mouth, decimating the ancient forest. Beside him are more Bone Giants, practically jumping with impatience. They have spotted the boy. They laugh and point for Fred to see. The heat is almost unbearable. He is weak from bloodloss. His knees wobble. Where are his friends? Then the boy feels himself be picked up. It's Thörg! He's carrying him! But where's Blugg? He can't remember. Burned trees are being pulled out and swept aside around them. Then he smells their breath, like spoiled milk and rotting meat. Thörg tries to place himself between him and the giants. The boy looks up and sees their huge faces pressing in, blotting out the sky. <<linkreplace "This is the end.">>Hah! Just havin' a bit of fun, boy! [[Grublin?->bone giants come chicken8 c]]<</linkreplace>>

Standing around the boy and Thörg are several figures who seem to be dressed in liquid light. Except for one, who is hairy, dirty, and naked apart from a grimy loincloth: Grublin. 'Care to explain what this is, Grublin?' says a woman in sunlight armour, thick golden braid hanging over a shoulder. Her hands rest on the pommel of a giant claymore driven into the earth in front of her. The blade is slick with Bone Giant blood. 'Why of course, Lady Froyo. This here is... uh, the one named Boy. And that huge young man is Thörg. They may have helped somewhat. More like assisted, I mean they -' 'Why did you call us so late?' interrupts a one handed man with a helmet shaped like a bear. 'Oh, yes. Well, the humans may have stopped sacrificing to me. Uh, through no fault of my own of course. Lost most of my powers. Won't happen again. Thanks for the help though, I think you can go no-' 'The humans are to be protected. And we will leave only when the Bone Giants are dealt with. Next time, we expect to be warned sooner, Grublin, or we shall find a new Sentinel.' Tyr One-Handed says. <<if $thörgtyr>>Oh... OH! He'd almost forgotten. 'But... look who I've brought! This is Thörg,' Grublin gives his most winning smile, 'your son.' Everyone look back and forth between Thörg and Tyr. They are almost identical. [["[Act Surprised]"->bone giants come chicken6 e]]<</if>>\ <<if not $thörgtyr>>Tyr One-Handed turns away from Grublin and faces the boy. 'And you, human named Boy, well done.' [[I did it!->Last chance6 END]]<</if>>

'But he had no choice!' says the boy. Everyone stare at him. 'It's our fault. We, I mean us humans, we stopped sacrificing to Grub - uh, the Sentinel, and he couldn't do, you know... do his finger snapping stuff anymore. If he hadn't taken our blood, we'd all be dead now!' Tyr is frowning at you. He glares at Grublin, then sighs. 'I will give you one more chance. If you fail me...' To the boy and Blugg, Tyr One-Handed says, 'And you, humans named Boy, Blugg, and Thörg, well done.' [[I did it!->Grublin last chance2 END]]

'I hereby revoke your Sentinel powers!' proclaims Tyr. Grublin gapes, then he feels himself shrinking, muscles shriveling, his full beard growing scraggly again. In just a few moments, he's tiny again. He sits on the ground for a moment, not sure what to say or do. 'Well,' he finally says, taking out another pickle from his pocket and taking a bite, 'Was good while it lasted.' He stands up and walks off alone. 'Sentinel... not bad for a common forest troll...' He chuckles, then he is gone among the trees. But he sees them. The pompous god will compliment the stupid humans, and grant Thörg the honor of Sentinel. He knows it. Tyr says, 'Human named Thörg, when we arrived just now, you were the only human to help us against the Bone Giants. Not that we needed it, of course. I even saw you punch one of them in the ankle. That was... brave. I offer you the position of Sentinel. Do you accept?' 'Oh, okay!' says Thörg. Tyr turns to the boy, 'And you, humans named Boy and Blugg, well done.' [[I did it!->Grublin leaves2 END]]

The boy raises his hands in the air like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. Blugg takes a swig from his flask. THE END

The boy raises his hands in the air like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. Blugg takes a swig from his flask. Then Grublin really does leave.

The boy gapes, looking like he can't breathe. 'OH MY GODS!' he shouts. 'Oh my,' says Lady Froyo, expression flat. 'Been making visits to the humans, have we, Tyr?' Tyr shrugs in embarassment, 'There may have been...' then he turns to Grublin. 'I thank you, Sentinel, for bringing my son to me, and for keeping him safe. You shall remain Sentinel.' To the boy and Blugg, Tyr One-Handed says, 'And you, humans named Boy and Blugg, well done.' 'Thörg, come with us, I shall show you your true home.' 'Ooh! Okay! Are there blue sips?' Thörg asks. 'What's that?' 'Um... And vodka?' 'Oh, there's plenty of that,' chuckles Tyr. [[I did it!->Grublin saves Thörg2 END]]

The boy raises his hands in the air like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. THE END

Divine powers course into Blugg. He takes a sip from his flask. 'HOH HAH HAH! he laughs. Good luck with that, thinks Grublin, and leaves.

'But he had no choice!' says the boy. Everyone stare at him. 'It's our fault. We, I mean us humans, we stopped sacrificing to Grub - uh, the Sentinel, and he couldn't do, you know... do his finger snapping stuff anymore. If he hadn't taken our blood, we'd all be dead now!' Tyr is frowning at you. He glares at Grublin, then sighs. 'I will give you one more chance. If you fail me...' To the boy and Thörg, Tyr One-Handed says, 'And you, humans named Boy and Thörg, well done.' [[I did it!->Grublin last chance3 END]]

'I hereby revoke your Sentinel powers!' proclaims Tyr. Grublin gapes, then he feels himself shrinking, muscles shriveling, his full beard growing scraggly again. In just a few moments, he's tiny again. He sits on the ground for a moment, not sure what to say or do. 'Well,' he finally says, taking out another pickle from his pocket and taking a bite, 'Was good while it lasted.' He stands up and walks off alone. 'Sentinel... not bad for a common forest troll...' He chuckles, then he is gone among the trees. But he sees them. The pompous god will compliment the stupid humans, and grant Thörg the honor of Sentinel. He knows it. Tyr says, 'Human named Thörg, when we arrived just now, you were the only human to help us against the Bone Giants. Not that we needed it, of course. I even saw you punch one of them in the ankle. That was... brave. I offer you the position of Sentinel. Do you accept?' 'Oh, okay!' says Thörg. Tyr turns to the boy, 'And you, human named Boy, well done.' [[I did it!->Grublin leaves3 END]]

The boy raises his hands in the air like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. THE END

The boy raises his hands in the air like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. Then Grublin really does leave.

The boy gapes, looking like he can't breathe. 'OH MY GODS!' he shouts. 'Oh my,' says Lady Froyo, expression flat. 'Been making visits to the humans, have we, Tyr?' Tyr shrugs in embarassment, 'There may have been...' then he turns to Grublin. 'I thank you, Sentinel, for bringing my son to me, and for keeping him safe. You shall remain Sentinel.' To the boy, Tyr One-Handed says, 'And you, human named Boy, well done.' 'Thörg, come with us, I shall show you your true home.' 'Ooh! Okay! Are there blue sips?' Thörg asks. 'What's that?' 'Um... And vodka?' 'Oh, there's plenty of that,' chuckles Tyr. [[I did it!->Grublin saves Thörg6 END]]

The boy raises his hands in the air like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. THE END

'But he had no choice!' says the boy. Everyone stare at him. 'It's our fault. We, I mean us humans, we stopped sacrificing to Grub - uh, the Sentinel, and he couldn't do, you know... do his finger snapping stuff anymore. If he hadn't taken our blood, we'd all be dead now!' Tyr is frowning at you. He glares at Grublin, then sighs. 'I will give you one more chance. If you fail me...' To the boy and Blugg, Tyr One-Handed says, 'And you, humans named Boy, Blugg, and Thörg, well done.' [[I did it!->Grub sent END]]

Grublin gapes, then he feels himself shrinking, muscles shriveling, his full beard growing scraggly. In just a few moments, he's tiny again. He sits on the ground for a moment, not sure what to say or do. 'Well,' he finally says, taking out another pickle from his pocket and taking a bite, 'Was good while it lasted.' He stands up and walks off alone. 'Sentinel... not bad for a common forest troll...' He chuckles, then he is gone among the trees. But he sees them. Lady Froyo eyes Blugg and says, 'Human named Blugg, you have shown considerable ability, helping the former Sentinel call upon us. You have also given your blood. For this sacrifice, we offer you the position of Sentinel. Do you accept?' 'Senninel, eh? Aye, less ave a go!' Blugg says. Good luck with that, Grublin thinks. The Goddess turns to the boy and Thörg, 'And you, humans named Boy and Thörg, well done.' [[I did it!->Blugg Sentinel2 END]]

The boy raises his hands in the air like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. Blugg takes a swig from his flask. THE END

The boy raises his hands in the air like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. Blugg takes a swig from his flask. Then Grublin really does leave.

Grublin gapes, then he feels himself shrinking, muscles shriveling, his full beard growing scraggly. In just a few moments, he's tiny again. He sits on the ground for a moment, not sure what to say or do. 'Well,' he finally says, taking out another pickle from his pocket and taking a bite, 'Was good while it lasted.' He stands up and walks off alone. 'Sentinel... not bad for a common forest troll...' He chuckles, then he is gone among the trees. But he sees them. Lady Froyo eyes a newly awoken Blugg and says, 'Human named Blugg, you have shown considerable ability, helping the former Sentinel call upon us. You have also given your blood. For this sacrifice, we offer you the position of Sentinel. Do you accept?' 'Senninel, eh? Aye, less ave a go!' Blugg says. Good luck with that, Grublin thinks. The Goddess turns her attention away from Blugg, 'And you, human named Boy, well done.' [[I did it!->Blugg Sentinel3 END]]

'But he had no choice!' says the boy. Everyone stare at him. 'It's our fault. We, I mean us humans, we stopped sacrificing to Grub - uh, the Sentinel, and he couldn't do, you know... do his finger snapping stuff anymore. If he hadn't taken our blood, we'd all be dead now!' Tyr is frowning at you. He glares at Grublin, then sighs. 'I will give you one more chance. If you fail me...' To the boy and Blugg, Tyr One-Handed says, 'And you, humans named Boy and Blugg, well done.' [[I did it!->Grub still sentinel2 END]]

The boy raises his hands in the air like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. Blugg takes a swig from his flask. Then Grublin really does leave.

The boy raises his hands in the air like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. Blugg snores on. THE END

Right... Time for [[Plan B->BLUGG TIME]] then.

'Ah, you'll see, boy.' Grublin says with a toothy grin. Almost entirely hidden under the hanging branches of a large pine, encased in the trunk itself, is a blackened stone sculpture, oblong in shape. It seems as though the rock has sprouted from the earth itself. Roots have grown around it, forming what looks like two arms with cupped hands. 'It looks like an egg!' laughs Thörg. 'Thanks for your valuable insight, Thörg.' Grublin sighs. [["[Study Sculpture Closer]"->sacrifice10 study][$studysculpture to true]] [["[Hold Cupped Hands]"->sacrifice10 poke]]

The boy reaches towards the cupped hands, and with a jerk, they grab //his// hands! Other roots snake out to grip his ankles too, but they seem without purpose, unsure what to do other than simply hold him. Grublin is rolling on a bed of moss, laughing at the boy. 'Hah hah! Your stupid face when it grabbed you - "Oh no! The roots are going to eat me!" HAH!' Grublin snaps a finger and the roots return to their cupped hands position. [[Wow, how'd you do that?->sacrifice10 b]]

'I just snapped my fingers, wasn't that obvious? Pay attention, boy! Now, let's prepare the sacrifice. Since you so boldly ran straight here across the field instead of going to the stable like I suggested, we don't have a chicken to sacrifice.' [[What about our own blood? Can we use that?->human blood10]]

'Now, let's prepare the sacrifice. Since you so boldly ran straight here across the field instead of going to the stable like I suggested, we don't have a chicken to sacrifice.' Grublin says. [[What about our own blood? Can we use that?->human blood10]]

'Human blood? Doesn't taste like chicken, but I suppose it'll do. Now, a few drops isn't enough. This God's been sleeping for centuries. It'll take a hearty meal to really wake him up. So... you know... you might bleed out. But what do I know, I'm not a medicine man.' The stable boy and Thörg stare at Grublin. 'Oh, right. Uh, Grublin blood is weak, very weak, yep. Won't do at all. So who wants to be the lucky man?' [[I offer my blood!->boy blood8]] [[Thörg! You're large and full of blood. Come here!->thörg blood8]]

'Ah, you'll see, boy.' Grublin says with a toothy grin. Almost entirely hidden under the hanging branches of a large pine, encased in the trunk itself, is a blackened stone sculpture, oblong in shape. It seems as though the rock has sprouted from the earth itself. Roots have grown around it, forming what looks like two arms with cupped hands. 'It looks like an egg!' laughs Thörg. 'Thanks for your valuable insight, Thörg.' Grublin sighs. [["[Hold Cupped Hands]"->sacrifice7 poke]] [["[Study Sculpture Closer]"->sacrifice7 study]]

The boy reaches towards the cupped hands, and with a jerk, they grab //his// hands! Other roots snake out to grip his ankles too, but they seem without purpose, unsure what to do other than simply hold him. Grublin is rolling on a bed of moss, laughing at the boy. 'Hah hah! Your stupid face when it grabbed you - "Oh no! The roots are going to eat me!" HAH!' Grublin snaps a finger and the roots return to their cupped hands position. [[Wow, how'd you do that?->sacrifice7 b]]

'Now, since you so boldly ran straight here across the field instead of going to the stable like I suggested, we don't have a chicken to sacrifice.' Grublin says. [[What about our own blood? Can we use that?->human blood7]]

'Human blood? Doesn't taste like chicken, but I suppose it'll do. Now, a few drops isn't enough. This God's been sleeping for centuries. It'll take a hearty meal to really wake him up. So... you know... you might bleed out. But what do I know, I'm not a medicine man.' The stable boy stares at Grublin. 'Oh, right. Uh, Grublin blood is weak, very weak, yep. Won't do at all. So are you ready to bleed? I mean, save the world?' [[I offer my blood!->boy blood3]]

The boy steps closer to the statue. The carvings on ancient stone reveal a smiling face with sharp angular features. It's staring hungrily at the cupped hands before it. Long moss hangs from the head and forms a luxuriant beard below the mouth. At the base words are carved into the stone: BLOOD FOR THE SENTINEL WHOSE VOICE SHALL SOUND TO CALL ON THE GODS WHEN GIANTS ABOUND Looking into the cupped roots reveals tiny bones, ancient forgotten offerings. [["[What about our own blood, can we use that?]"->human blood7]]

'I hereby revoke your Sentinel powers!' proclaims Tyr. Grublin gapes, then he feels himself shrinking, muscles shriveling, his full beard growing scraggly again. In just a few moments, he's tiny again. He sits on the ground for a moment, not sure what to say or do. 'Well,' he finally says, taking out another pickle from his pocket and taking a bite, 'Was good while it lasted.' He stands up and walks off alone. 'Sentinel... not bad for a common forest troll...' He chuckles, then he is gone among the trees. But he sees them. Lady Froyo leans towards Tyr and whispers, but it's loud enough for everyone to hear, even Grublin. 'Who's going to be Sentinel now? This thin-limbed human? I suppose he did give his blood.' she raises an eyebrow at the boy. Tyr peers down at the boy with an uncertain expression. 'He is rather... unimpressive. But it takes so //long// to find a new one. I really can't be bothered. Could you do it?' Lady Froyo purses her lips, shakes her head. Tyr clears his throat and addresses the boy. 'You! Want to be Sentinel?' From a bush nearby they hear Grublin shout, 'HIM?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?' Everyone ignore the outburst. [[Sure!->Boy Sentinel]] [[Hm, nah->No Sentinel]]

The boy raises his hands in the air like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. THE END

'Good, good,' says Tyr, and waves his hand towards the boy. Divine powers glow around the boy's form. 'I DID IT!' says the boy, and his voice booms powerfully, surprising him. He raises his hands in the air in victory, like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. Grublin leaves.

'But...' Tyr shakes his head in confusion. 'Bloody damn!' he says, throwing up both arms in exasperation. 'We'll find survivors in the village.' Lady Froyo says. 'Yes, but then I'll have to //talk// to them, and... //ugh//!' They begin walking off towards the village. The boy hears the fading voice of Tyr, 'I know we protect the humans and all, but do you not you think they are just kind of... dirty?' 'Dirty? Do you mean they smell bad? Or...' The boy stands alone. 'I saved the world!' he says finally, raising his arms in the air like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. Then Grublin leaves.

Standing around the boy are several figures who seem to be dressed in liquid light. Except for one, who is hairy, dirty, and naked apart from a grimy loincloth: Grublin. 'Care to explain what this is, Grublin?' says a woman in sunlight armour, thick golden braid hanging over a shoulder. Her hands rest on the pommel of a giant claymore driven into the earth in front of her. The blade is slick with Bone Giant blood. 'Why of course, Lady Froyo. This here is... uh, Stable Boy. He may have helped somewhat. More like assisted, I mean he -' 'Why did you call us so late?' interrupts a one handed man with a helmet shaped like a bear. 'Oh, yes. Well, the humans may have stopped sacrificing to me. Uh, through no fault of my own of course. Lost most of my powers. Won't happen again. Thanks for the help though, I think you can go no-' 'The humans are to be protected, we will leave only when the Bone Giants are dealt with. Next time, we expect to be warned sooner, Grublin, or we shall find a new Sentinel.' Tyr One-Handed turns away from Grublin and faces the boy. 'And you, human named Stable Boy, well done.' [[I did it!->chimpanzee END]]

The boy raises his hands in the air like a chimpanzee with a sweet fruit. THE END

'I hereby revoke your Sentinel powers!' proclaims Tyr. Grublin gapes, then he feels himself shrinking, muscles shriveling, his full beard returning to scraggly patches. In just a few moments, he's tiny again. He sits on the ground for a moment, not sure what to do. 'Well,' he finally says, taking out another pickle from his pocket and taking a bite, 'Was good while it lasted.' He stands up and walks off alone. 'Sentinel... not bad for a common forest troll...' He chuckles, then he is gone among the trees. But he sees them. Lady Froyo leans towards Tyr and whispers, but it's loud enough for everyone to hear, even Grublin. 'Who's going to be Sentinel now? This thin-limbed human? I suppose he did give his blood.' she raises an eyebrow at the boy. Tyr peers down at the boy with an uncertain expression. 'He is rather... unimpressive. But it takes so //long// to find a new one. I really can't be bothered. And that fat one is barely alive. Could you find one?' Lady Froyo purses her lips, shakes her head. Tyr clears his throat and addresses the boy. 'You! Want to be Sentinel?' From a bush nearby they hear Grublin shout, 'HIM?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?' Everyone ignore the outburst. [[Sure!->Boy Sentinel]] [[Hm, nah->No Sentinel]]

'EH? Oh! Oh shi!' Blugg tries to look at the sword but can't quite turn his head all the way. The sword wobbles as he turns in place. Well, thank the Gods he has a sword! [[What do I do, what do I do?!->warn blugg2]]