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I've arrived at the wooden arch that marks the entrance to the forest. A pleasant breeze blows through, carrying the scent of flowers in bloom. Tiny motes of color speckle the landscape, petals trapped in the dense greenery underfoot and lining the sides of the trail.
It's hard to believe I'm here to save Hellside from a rampaging plague!
[[Rampaging?|Introduction 2]]<<if previous()=="Pond Overlook">>I make way downhill to the east, skidding occasionally on the loose gravel. The pleasant greenery that lined the trail before begins to lose ground to nastier plants on this side of the lake. Brambles replace shrubs, and the few flowers that poke out between them manage to sport an impressive set of thorns.
At apparently random points along the trail, small stone columns rise from the ground. Horizontal dividers carved into the columns at regular intervals break each column into distinct segments. A few painted runes adorn each section, worn with age, unlike any writing I recognize. It's possible these columns served a magical purpose at one point, but whatever magic used to be contained in them has completely faded.<<if not $thorny>><<set $thorny=1>>
At a narrow point in the path, I slip briefly and bumble towards the side of the road. As I regain my balance, a nearby bramble vine lashes out at my ankle! It hooks my sock briefly, tugging my leg off-balance again. I manage to shake my foot free, causing the vine to curl up and disappear into the center of its bush.
Looks like Barometz aren't the only carnivorous plants on Trebol. While I doubt there's any flora in this crater large enough to consider me prey, I'm not going to stray too far from the path on this side of the lake.<<endif>>
[[Head back uphill|Pond Overlook]]
[[Continue into the ruins|Thickest Brambles]]<<else>>I make my way back up towards the lake overlook, slipping here and there on unpacked gravel. The brambles start to clear up here, replaced by the plesant greenery that populates the rest of the crater. The stone columns are less numerous and less intricate here, marking the edge of the ruins.
[[Continue uphill|Pond Overlook]]
[[Head back into the ruins|Thickest Brambles]]<<endif>>Well, okay, not exactly rampaging at the moment. It WAS rampaging, though, and threatens to potentially rampage again if it's not completely eradicated. That's still pretty scary! That's why I knew I had to leap into action immediately!
Except, well, I had some issues securing transportation, and... I may have showed up a week late. After all the jobs involving ravenous, exploding magical siphons, heavy artillery and corpse reanimation were taken. I was very, very sad to hear that none of those jobs were available. Missed opportunities I definitely will regret for the rest of my life.
But the good news is that there was still work for me: handling five holdout Hellsiders who had sequestered themselves in a remote caldera. The original Topsider assigned to this region never returned, having returned to Topside without bothering to report back to headquarters. The only reason we know there are five is due to some magical scrying spell, and the only reason we know the Topsider returned safely to Topside is... uh... wait a second...
[[You don't actually know, do you?|Introduction 3]]Anyway, it turns out Commander Beleth still had work for me. Yay.
Don't get me wrong, I came to help. I guess I was just hoping for something that... how can I put it...
Something that I wouldn't screw up.
That's where you come in! With your help, I think I can manage this. Just find the five holdouts, convince them to return to the nearby city, then return to headquarters to celebrate our victory!
There doesn't actually have to be a celebration. Just help me not disappoint anyone.
Or die. Let's make that Priority #1. Don't let me die. Priority #2 can be the disappointment thing. I know Commander Beleth is trusting me on this one, but I'm going to have be firm on the "no dying" thing.
Enter the forest|Forest Entrance<<if visited("Initial Path")>>I've returned to the wooden arch that separates this crater from the outside world. A pleasant breeze blows through, carrying the scent of flowers in bloom. Tiny motes of color speckle the landscape, petals trapped in the dense greenery underfoot and lining the sides of the trail. On this side of the arch, the path leads downhill, through a shady path.
[[Head back downhill|Initial Path]]
[[Leave the forest|Exit]]<<else>>So, as I was saying: I've arrived at the wooden arch that marks the entrance to the forest. A pleasant breeze blows through, carrying the scent of flowers in bloom. Tiny motes of color speckle the landscape, petals trapped in the dense greenery underfoot and lining the sides of the trail. Past the arch, the path leads downhill, through a shady path.
[[Pass through the Arch|Initial Path]]
[[Leave the forest|Exit]]<<endif>><<if previous() == "Forest Entrance">>Continuing downhill, the trail grows firmer, making the footing more reliable. There's a subtle difference in the atmosphere here, but I can't put my finger on it; something about the buzz of insects in flight, and the various sounds of Trebol's plants catching the wind feels unfamiliar, despite my acclimation on the hike over.
Up ahead, the <<if not $water>>shrubs<<else>>@@.magic;<<revise secret "shrubs" end>>@@<<endif>> give way to larger trees, bending over the path and obscuring the sunlight. A bit of shade would be a welcome relief from the midday heat.<<revision secret>><<becomes>>
Oh, hey... there's a place where the shrubs have been damaged, extending away from the main trail to the west. It looks as if the branches still intertwine, but they actually part quite easily if I [[push them aside|Andre's Crate]]. Maybe animals regularly pass through this way?<<endrevision>>
[[Head downhill|Shady Bit]]
[[Return to the forest entrance|Forest Entrance]]<<elseif previous()=="Shady Bit">>Continuing uphill, the trees give way to bushes and <<if not $water>>shrubs<<else>>@@.magic;<<revise secret "shrubs" end>>@@<<endif>>, allowing the sunlight through to the trail once more. There's a subtle difference in the atmosphere here, but I can't put my finger on it; something about the buzz of insects in flight, and the various sounds of Trebol's plants catching the wind feels unfamiliar, despite my acclimation on the hike over.
Up ahead, the wooden arch stands at the peak of the trail, as if silently watching over the crater. <<revision secret>><<becomes>>
Oh, hey... there's a place where the shrubs have been damaged, extending away from the main trail to the west. It looks as if the branches still intertwine, but they actually part quite easily if I [[push them aside|Andre's Crate]]. Maybe animals regularly pass through this way?<<endrevision>>
[[Go back downhill|Shady Bit]]
[[Return to the forest entrance|Forest Entrance]]<<else>>I push my way back through the animal run in the shrubs to return to the main trail. Brushing off the branches and leaves that have come along for the ride, I re-orient myself: to the left, the path goes downhill, towards a shady section of the trail where the trees bend over the path. To my right, the wooden arch continues to stand guard over the crater.
[[Head downhill|Shady Bit]]
[[Return to the forest entrance|Forest Entrance]]<<endif>><<if $morte and $olaf and $phobo and $aurum and $wander>>Just to make sure, are you ready to leave? I'm confident we saved every single Hellsider in the area, but if there's anything else you want to do before we go, it has to be now.
[[Wait, there was something else...|Forest Entrance]]
[[Mission accomplished! Let's report back to headquarters.|Ending Good 1]]<<else>>Are you sure? It's a long hike back to headquarters. Once I leave, I probably won't be permitted to come back. And if there are any Hellsiders still in here, it maybe too late for them before anyone else arrives...
[[Turn around, we're not done yet.|Forest Entrance]]
[[No, we're ready to leave.|Ending Bad 1]]<<endif>><<if previous() eq "Initial Path">>The sunlight is briefly blinding as I leave the shadowy path.<<else>>I work my way back uphill to the cliff overlooking the pond.<</if>> The pond comes into full view, dazzling me with its clarity.
From here, I have a good view of the area. I'm standing on a cliff which extends slightly over the lake's southern edge. In every other direction away from the lake, the ground slopes uphill, until it reaches the stone barrier that encircles the area. North of the lake is a brilliant splotch of color; a field of flowers. To its west is an open path surrounded by pleasant woods, like what I passed through on the way here, with a single, massive tree growing near the path about halfway down. To the east, the forest look darker, thicker and thorn-ier. Far off the path, barely visible, the remnants of ancient stone buildings poke through the overgrowth. The two branches both slope downhill around the lake before meeting up at a crossroads between the lake's only beach and the flower field.
It looks like this area is mostly walking trails, without much viable camp ground. Assuming the Hellsiders aren't holed up in the thickest woods right next to the stone barrier, they should be easy to find, at least.
[[Take the western branch|West Branch]]
[[Take the eastern branch|East Branch]]
[[Head back uphill|Shady Bit]]<<if previous()=="Pond Overlook">>I head downhill to the west, where the trail is firmer. Although relatively steep, a few roots near the surface of the soil give the path down a staircase-like gradiation, allowing me to work my way down relatively easily.
As I get further from the lake overlook, the atmosphere grows more lively. The bushes here sprout bright orange flowers with slits in the petals, which whistle in the wind. A curious chirping sound occasionally eminates from the bushes near me, although whenever I try to investigate, the perpetrator disappears in a flurry of rustling.
<<if not $olaf>>Up ahead, a thin plume of smoke rises from a clearing, carrying with it a delicious scent.
<<endif>>[[Continue down towards the clearing|Olaf's Campfire]]
[[Head back uphill|Pond Overlook]]
<<else>>I continue uphill, away from the clearing. The steep incline soon leaves me breathing heavily, but at least some roots near the soil's surface gives my footing purchase.
This slope retains the lively atmosphere from further down the path. The bushes here sprout bright orange flowers with slits in the petals, which whistle in the wind. A curious chirping sound occasionally eminates from the bushes near me, although whenever I try to investigate, the perpetrator disappears in a flurry of rustling.
<<if not $olaf>>Behind me, a thin plume of smoke rises, teasing me with the smell of fresh-cooked meat.
<<endif>>[[Go back downhill|Olaf's Campfire]]
[[Return to the overlook|Pond Overlook]]<<endif>>
<<if not $olaf>><<if visited("Olaf Conversation Start")>><<set $desc = "Olaf">><<else>><<set $desc="a massive Hellsider">><<endif>>The ground levels out here, and the trails opens onto a clearing.
The area is dominated by the smell of roasted meat and burnt wood. An impromptu barbeque pit has been dug into the ground, with a chunk of delicious-looking meat roasting in it. Next to the pit sits <<revision actor>><<revise actor $desc end>>,<<gains>> covered with thick, matted black fur. Their massive lower jaw gives them something of a permanent smile, but the effect is spoiled by the barbs protruding from their joints and the hypnotic motion of their scorpion's tail. At the moment, they're<<endrevision>> happily chewing a chunk of meat larger than my head. Besides them sits a sack of herbs and spices, which they occasionally chuck into the pit, releasing an overwhelming blast of smoke which stings my eyes and chokes my throat.
On the opposite edge of the clearing sits the corpse from which the meat was taken. Whatever it was, it had a lot of <<insert "scales.">> And <<insert "teeth.">> And really nasty looking <<insert "claws.">> And spines, or spikes, or <<insert "something.">> And possibly... is that a <<insert "flame sac??">> Before it was <<insert "eviscerated.">>
Yikes.<<endinsert>><<endinsert>><<endinsert>><<endinsert>><<endinsert>><<endinsert>>
[[Examine the corpse|Beast Corpse]]
[[Take some garlic|Olaf's Garlic]]
[[Talk to Olaf|Olaf Conversation Start]]
<<if visited("Olaf Orders") and $puppet==1>>[[Sic the puppet on Olaf|Olaf Puppet Sic]]
<<endif>><<else>>The clearing is eerily quiet, now that it's no longer dominated by Olaf's hulking form, or the crunch-and-slurp of their messy eating. All that remains is the lingering scent of burnt garlic.
And the eviscerated monstrosity that still lays in a bloody heap by the clearing's edge. So much for leaving the woods better than you found them, Olaf.
<<endif>>
[[Head downhill|Melodingo Burrow]]
[[Head uphill|West Branch]]
I take the covered trail, heading away from the open light of the main trail and into the quiet dark of the surrounding forest. As I wend my way away from the lake, the air grows still, the canopy starts to choke out the sunlight, and the path begins to become a bit treacherous. The lack of light makes it difficult to judge my footing, forcing me to concentrate on staying upright.
Ahead, the path widens towards a circle of young trees. As I approach, I'm startled by a strict, thin voice suddenly calling out:
"Stay away! Come no further!"
I step back, unable to determine out where the voice is coming from. The ground in the center of the tree circle shifts; it's only as my eyes adjust to the relative darkness that I realize it's actually a long figure lying there, propped up on their arms. It's a Hellsider, staring at me with yellow, compound eyes. I can see from here that they're lithe, and mostly covered by a simple white garment which extends from their ankles to their neck. Their feet and hands are covered with a shimmering chitin, forming interlocking plates. Two elegant antennae, raised slightly off the ground, twitch infrequently. A motion near their chest makes me realize they have two smaller arms emerging from their sides, and that these hands are anxiously wringing.
[["''What's wrong?''"|Rouen Introduction 2]]
[["''I'm here to help!''"|Rouen Introduction 2]]I arrive at a four-way crossroads. To the north, the breeze carries the scent of flowers in bloom, and through the foliage I can spot glimpses of brilliant color. To the south, the glimmering surface of the lake beckons, while the east and west wind their way back around the lake and up, towards the exit. The dirt on the trail is here loose, causing me to kick random clods into the air as I walk.
<<if $wander>>It seems as if Nido is actually gone for good.
<<else>><<set $wander_tried_dart=0>><<set $wander_tried_dispel=0>><<set $wander_tried_garlic=0>><<set $nido_insulted=0>><<set $nido_memory=0>><<set $nido_spot=0>><<if not visited("Nido Departs?")>>There's a <<revise desc "Hellsider" end>> here, pacing around aimlessly. They're staring down at the ground, as if attempting to retrace their footsteps, but ultimately just walking around in circles. <<revision desc>><<becomes>>
<<display "Nido Description">><<endrevision>>
[[Talk to the Hellsider|Nido Introduction]]
<<elseif (lastVisited("Nido Departs?") gt 5) and (visited("Nido Introduction") is 1)>>There's.... hey, wait, it's <<revise desc "Nido" end>>! What are they doing back here? <<revision desc>><<becomes>>
<<display "Nido Description">><<endrevision>>
[[Confront Nido|Nido Introduction]]
<<elseif (lastVisited("Nido Departs?") gt 5)>>And... there's <<revise desc "Nido" end>> again. Oh dear.<<revision desc>><<becomes>>
<<display "Nido Description">><<endrevision>>
[[Confront Nido... again.|Nido Introduction]]
<<if $puppet==1>>[[Sic the Puppet on Nido|Nido Puppet Sic 1]]
<<endif>><<endif>><<endif>>
[[Head north, to the flower field|Flower Field]]
[[Go southwest, towards the tree|Outside Rouen]]
[[Go southeast, towards the ruins|Northern Ruins]]
[[Head south, down to the lake|Lake Barrier]]
The path continues through the forest, still uphill, leading right up to the edge of the crater. The wall, smooth and almost perfectly vertical, dominates the horizon, and manages to create a slightly clastrophobic feeling even in this open space. The area seems to be sheltered from the gentle breeze that nutures the rest of the enclosure, leaving the air heavy and slightly hazy<<if visited("Phobo Solution")>> with pollen<<endif>>. Before reaching the wall, the path dips downward into a small valley, maybe twenty meters across and fifty meters wide.
<<if $phobo>>With the Hellsider gone, the valley is quiet and still.
<<else>>The tranquility of the valley is shattered by the occasional muffled sob. A small avian <<revise desc "Hellsider" end>> is crouched in a small nook in the crater wall. They're shivering, and alternating between staring off to the side at nothing and crying into their wings. <<revision desc>><<becomes>>They're no more than 2 feet tall, with a spherical body that's just about as wide. A massive flower grows from the side of their head, mostly covering their feathered body from view. Their large, resplendent wings cover most of their face, leaving only a long, thin beak unobscured.
<<endrevision>>
[[Call out to the Hellsider|Phobo Call]]
<<if not visited("Phobo Retreat 1")>>[[Approach the Hellsider|Phobo Approach 1]]
<<elseif not visited("Phobo Conclusion")>>[[Approach the Hellsider|Phobo Not Yet]]
[[Examine the surrounding area|Phobo Examine]]
<<else>>[[Approach the Hellsider|Phobo Not Approach]]
<<if $puppet==1>>[[Sic the puppet on them|Phobo Puppet Sic 1]]
<<endif>><<endif>><<endif>>[[Leave the Valley|Gully]]At this part of the trail, the path flattens out a little bit, the thorns recede somewhat, and a bit more sunlight makes it through the canopy. Small stone columns line the trail here, as if holding back the encroaching thorns.
Off to the side of the trail is a cluster of larger, more imposing columns, marked with vertical clusters of runes. <<if not $aurum>><<if visited("Aurum Shake")>>Aurum moves rapidly between them, comparing the runes written on them to notes in journals scattered around the site. Their lips move soundlessly as they trace the various configurations of runes, while their ears twist this way and that, as if attuning themselves to an inaudible noise.<<else>>A small Hellsider with six long rabbit ears and yellowish fur moves rapidly between them, tracing their finger across the etched writing. Every so often, they snatch up one of the many books that they've scattered around the grounds, sketch a quick note, then return to their search. Their movement is sharp and efficient, giving them the appearance of snapping into place whenever they move.
In addition to the books, there's enough camping gear and unfamiliar tools lying around to outfit an entire scout troupe, but this Hellsider appears to be working alone. Could they have carried all this here themself?<<endif>><<else>>Several layers of criss-crossing footprints in the dirt are all that remain of Aurum's frantic studies.<<endif>>
<<if not $aurum>>[[Examine the stuff lying around|Aurum Examine Stuff]]
<<if visited("Aurum Shake")>>[[Talk to Aurum|Aurum Conversation]]
<<if visited("Aurum Needs Something") and $puppet==1>>[[Sic the Puppet on Aurum|Aurum Puppet Sic 1]]
<<endif>><<else>>[[Talk to the Hellsider|Aurum Introduction 1]]
<<endif>><<endif>>[[Go northwest, towards the crossroads|Northern Ruins]]
[[Head south|Southern Ruins]]The tunnel through the thorny underbrush is low and tight, forcing me to crawl on my hands and knees. Errant thorns prick at my clothes as the tunnel starts to slope downhill. After a few dozen feet, it opens onto a shadowy spot, completely obscured from the main path. The sunlight and sounds of wildlife are muted here, giving the area a slightly ominous feeling.
<<if not $dart>>Nestled in a bush towards the back sits a wooden crate emblazened with Arch Magni Andre's image. Wait, I recognize this from headquarters! We've found a <<revision crate>>crate full of medical supplies! It must be full of the darts loaded with the plague cure that he was handing out back at headquarters! I can't believe our luck!<<becomes>>crate that turned out to be full of smashed medical supplies. A layer of broken darts covers several sections of broken splints, torn bandages and cracked bottles that once held medicine.<<becomes>>disorganized crate full of totally ruined medical supplies. Darts, splints, bandages and empty bottles pack the crate from bottom to top.<<becomes>>ransacked crate of totally useless fragments of medical supplies. Most of the crate's contents have been scattered on the ground, confirming every single one has been damaged beyond repair.<<becomes>>completely worthless crate that turned out to be jam-packed with fragile, cheap, useless medical supplies. Nothing but fragments of wood, cloth and glass are left. It's hard to believe one crate could have held so much fricking disappointment!<<becomes>>terrible, awful crate with nothing in it but shattered junk that won't ever help anyone because it's nothing but garbage, garbage, garbage WAIT! There's a single unbroken plague cure dart tucked away at the bottom!!<<becomes>>a looted crate that once held a single undamaged plague cure dart. Mine now!<<set $dart=1>><<endrevision>><<else>>Nestled in a bush towards the back sits a thoroughly looted wooden crate emblazened with <<insert "Arch Magni Andre's image">> (Which, apparently, could very well be Arch Magni Andre himself. I've heard rumors saying he can, uh, "possess" any image of himself, or perhaps "become" depending on who you ask. I'd love to know if there are restrictions based on quality or distance between portraits, or how a painting can be alive in the first place! But it turns out "Arch Magni Andre" is just another topic that Hellsiders are frustratingly tight-lipped about...) <<endinsert>>.<<endif>>
<<revise crate "Open it, open it!" "Wait, what? Look more closely!" "No! There must be something we can use!" "Keep looking! Something must have survived!" "You can't lose hope! Keep going!" "Take the dart!!">>
[[Return to the main trail|Initial Path]]
<<if visited() < 2>>The massive Hellsider<<else>>Olaf<<endif>> grunts as I greet them, slowing down (without stopping) their eating. Their voice comes out as a wet crunchy rumble, undermining its friendly tone.
<<if visited() < 2>>"Harlo, Topsider. I am named Olaf. What brings yer to my fire?"<<else>>"So! Does this Topsider have something else ter ask of Olaf?"<<endif>>
<<if not visited("Meat Aside")>>
[["''That meat looks delicious. Can I have some?''"|Meat Aside]]<<endif>><<if not visited("Olaf Garlic Give")>>
[["''That's... (cough) quite the blend of seasonings.'"|Olaf Garlic Give]]<<endif>><<if not visited("Olaf Plague")>>
[["''There's a terrible plague that threatens Hellside! You need to get to Foxtrot immediately!''"|Olaf Plague]]<<else>>
[["''Let me help you!''"|Olaf Help]]<<endif>>
<<if not visited("Olaf Orders")>>[["''I'm on a mission from Commander Beleth to evacuate all Hellsiders from this region and have them return to Foxtrot ASAP.''"|Olaf Orders]]
<<endif>><<if visited("Olaf Plague")>>[[Give something to Olaf|Olaf Item]]
<<endif>>[["''I'll let you get back to your meal...''"|Olaf's Campfire]]<<if not visited("Olaf Garlic Give") and not $tried_once>>Before I know what's happening, I find myself being hoisted into the air by my arm, face-to-face with Olaf. "Didr I say yer could help yerself to //my// garlic, Topsider? Don't recall tha' I did. Mayrbe you oughtr keep yer mitts off'r my stuff."
With that, Olaf lowers me to the ground.
New rule: let's not do anything around Olaf without his permission.<<set $tried_once = 1>>
[[Good idea.|Olaf's Campfire]]<<elseif not visited("Olaf Garlic Give")>>As I reach for Olaf's garlic sack, their eyebrow shoots up. One eye goes wide, their pupil contracting as it fixes on me.
I withdraw my hand, and Olaf's eye returns to normal. Maybe in this case, asking permission is better than praying for forgiveness.
[[It's worth a try...|Olaf's Campfire]]<<elseif not $garlic_test and visited("Olaf Garlic Give")>>I reach over and cautiously take a handful of garlic from Olaf's sack. Olaf nods approvingly, then returns to his meal. I make a point of stuffing the garlic deep down, at the bottom of my sack, to contain at least some of the stench. <<set $garlic = 1>><<set $garlic_test=1>>
[[What doesn't kill you...|Olaf's Campfire]]<<elseif $garlic_test == 1>>With incredible speed, Olaf knocks me to the ground with a flick of his tail. Before I can so much as say, "oof", he's holding a single finger in my face. "One, Topsider. I said one harndful of garlic. Yar think I can't count ter one? Thar's the kind'r insult I don't take lightly, I gottr warn ya." He withdraws the extended digit.<<set $garlic_test=2>>
[[We have enough garlic anyway.|Olaf's Campfire]]<<else>>No, thank you, I think I've learned my lesson about messing with demons who are ten times my size and as irritable as they come. Let's just make due with the garlic I have, okay?
[[Okay.|Olaf's Campfire]]<</if>>I ask Olaf if they would be willing to share some of their meal with me.
"Oh ho, yer would like some meat?"
I nod. After several days of trail rations, some fresh-cooked meat would be //amazing//.
"Then yer may hunt yar own prey and slay it yerself. Then yer may sit at my fire, and we will share our victerries together."
[['"Okay, never mind then."'|Olaf Conversation Start]]
[['"Wait... are there more of those things around here??"'|More Monsters]]I explain, as best I can, that there's a plague which threatens all of Trebol, perhaps all of the Blackjack Isles, and that Olaf needs to return to Foxtrot immediately.
Olaf's eyes widen a bit, and they pause with another bite of meat halfway to their mouth. "Ah hurr, Topsider. Tha' is serious news. Sounds like it wouldr be best ifr I went to thur city."
<<insert "''Yes, exactly!''">>
Olaf starts to rise, but pauses halfway up, as a thought strikes them: "Urr, Topsider, for yer to come so far, it mustr be some plague. Tell Olaf, please, is this plague fatal?"
<<insert "''Yes, it is. Horrifying so, even.''">>
Olaf nods as I describe the final stages of the plague. "Ho, it's no surprise. Still, it's not terr scary if ther plague are not contagious..."
<<insert "''...extremely contagious. That's exactly the problem...''">>
Olaf finishes rising to their feet, and for the first time I realize just how massive they are. They stretch, tail extending to its full length, claws reaching up to the sky. They loom over me, and I suddenly understand what a lumberjack must feel like when a tree starts to tip the wrong direction.
"Ah, ah ha, Topsider, permit me anothurr question. When thurr is a FATAL and CONTAGIOUS plague rampaging... how //stupid// would Olaf harve ter be ter go ter a CITY?"
<<insert "''Ah, no, it's not...''">>
I try to stammer out an explanation, but Olaf cuts me off: "Der yer think I'mr that stupid?!"
<<insert "''No! No! It's just...''">>
"Is it this Topsider's goal ter //infect// Olaf?"
<<insert "''No! Wait! They've developed a cure...''">>
Olaf crouches down and leans in, getting as close to eye-to-eye as the two of us, standing, could ever physically manage. "Hurr. Topsider, help poor Olaf, are cures not fer those who are //already SICK?//"
<<insert "''W-... nuh...''">>
I can't quite manage to find my voice before Olaf stands up straight again and waves a claw at me.
"ENOUGH, Topsider. Olaf is not sick. Olaf will not ger be with sick ones without cure." With that, Olaf plops back down and resumes his meal. "
[["''...b-but you could be a carrier!''"|Olaf Carrier]]
[["''H-Hey, I'm trying to help you!''"|Olaf Help]]
[[(...better back off...)|Olaf Conversation Start]]<<endinsert>><<endinsert>><<endinsert>><<endinsert>><<endinsert>><<endinsert>><<endinsert>>I inform Olaf that I'm acting under Commander Beleth's orders. I'm not holding out hope that Olaf has much respect for authority, but maybe a Commander's power will impress them?
"Yer, Commander Beleth sentcha?"
<<insert "That's right, I tell him, so he'd better...">>
"Refresh my memory, Topsider, Commander Beleth... thur thar one that commands a legion of golrms, yeh?"
<<insert "Uh, that's right, so...">>
"And ther golrms, thurr loyal all through, mighty powerful and able ter serve as Beleth's senses... if I rermember right."
<<insert "R-right... so...">>
"We're talkin' thur Commander who hunterd down and battled an Angel ter save that plague docter, yer? Thar right? Thar Commander that ervry demon on Trebol is in debt ter? Who saved meybe all of ther Blackjack Isles?"
<<insert "That... that's the one...">>
"And yer story... is thar Commander Beleth is beggin' //Topsiders// fer help?"
<<insert "...">>
"Har, no, even better: thar Commander Beleth decided to beg YOU fer help?"
Olaf's eyes narrow briefly, glaring coldly at me. A moment later, they burst out laughing.
"Ger on then, Topsider, purl my tail, it's fuller starberry sparkly."
<<insert "...">>
Olaf shakes their head gruffly and returns to their meal.
[["(Okay, that's not going to work...)"|Olaf Conversation Start]]<<endinsert>><<endinsert>><<endinsert>><<endinsert>><<endinsert>><<endinsert>>
I ask if there are really more of those monsters lurking in this tiny forest.
Olaf responds by taking a huge bite out of the hunk of meat they're holding, letting the blood trickle down their chin as they grin at me.
//My mission has taken on a renewed sense of urgency.//
[['"A-as I was saying..."'|Olaf Conversation Start]]
"Ho! Niceter meet someone who likes their meat ta kick."
Olaf waves a massive bear paw at their herb sack.
"Goan, take er handful afore yer go. Altho' I surpect it'll lastyer longer than it will me." They grin as they reach into the sack, pluck out a clove of especially potent garlic, and pop it into their mouth in one motion. The sound of the //crunch// manages to be too pungent for me.
[["''Oh, okay... thanks?''"|Olaf Conversation Start]]I try to explain to Olaf that he might be carrying the disease without symptoms right now, but a violent crack of his tail silences interrupts me.
"Ifr Olaf is sick, Olaf will go gettr cure. Olaf will not go ter city ter get sick. Olaf will not take thurr chance that therr is not enough cure. Or... ", they pause, meaningfully, "...not enuff fer ones like me. Iszat clear?"
I open my mouth, but Olaf's glare makes it clear he's done listening. They lean in menacingly.
"If yer think Olaf is dirty carrier, then yer bring me therr cure. Clear?"
[["''...crystal clear.''"|Olaf Conversation Start]]Exasperated, I try to get it across to Olaf that I am trying to help them. This just seems to amuse Olaf:
"Ha oh! This Topsider is one to take care of Olaf. And we'ver only just met." Olaf's eyes narrow and his smile grows wider. "Yer very sweet, littr 'sider. Olaf accepts your help. Bring me thurr cure, if yerr wants to protect me so badly."
[["(Doesn't look like I have much choice...)"|Olaf Conversation Start]]As I approach, the Hellsider seems to relax.
"Ah! A Topsider. That is a relief. I am Rouen; please forgive my outburst." A weak smile forms across Rouen's pincered jaw. "In fact, I require your assistance. Please, if you would, approach briskly. I promise it will take no more than 10-15 minutes of your time."
With that, the Hellsider lies back down. Both pairs of arms return to a crossed position over their chest and belly, respectively.
[["''There's no time for that -- you have to return to Foxtrot immediately.''"|Rouen Is Sick][$ordered_to_return to 1]]
[["''What is your request?''"|Rouen Request]]
[["''What are you doing out here?''"|Rouen Is Sick]]Off the main path, the air is quiet and still. The chirping of the Melodingos doesn't seem to reach this secret grove, and even the ambient hum of the flora is muted here. There's just enough sunlight coming through to see where I'm stepping, and the circle of young trees just beyond.
<<if not $morte>><<revise desc "Rouen" end>> lies here, so still that it's almost to convince myself that their form is nothing more than a shadow. Only the gentliest suggestion of breathing gives their position away.<<elseif $morte==1>>The cospe is empty. Furrows in the ground and a partially uprooted tree stand as testaments to the raging inferno of Rouen's gratitude.<<else>>The copse is empty. Somehow, it seems less tranquil without Rouen's recumbent form and gentle breathing. A certain aura the place once held has left with them, it seems.<<endif>>
<<revision desc>><<becomes>>Rouen's lanky form is mostly covered by a plain, white apron, simply-cut and yet bizarrely immaculate in this wild setting. Something about its texture and weight implies it is high-quality despite its lack of adornment. Their large, compound eyes are closed for the moment and their long, graceful antennae lie limp on the ground; it seems my presence doesn't bother them. Four arms, lined with tiny, sharp ridges, lie relaxed across their chest.
Rouen's stillness seems to radiate out from them, creating a bubble that I almost dare not disturb.
<<endrevision>><<if not $morte>>[[Give something to Rouen|Rouen Item Selection]]
[[Look in Rouen's pack|Rouen's Pack]]
<<if $puppet==1>>[[Sic the puppet on Rouen|Rouen Puppet Sic 1]]
<<endif>><<endif>>[[Leave the glade|Outside Rouen]]
<<if $ordered_to_return>>I tell Rouen that whatever they were doing here is irrelevant; there are orders to return to Foxtrot immediately.
Rouen smiles weakly. "Ah. If only I could, Topsider.<<else>>I ask Rouen what they're doing here, lying on their backs in a secluded grove in a secluded crater in a remote region of Bluegrass.
Rouen smiles weakly. "Nothing pleasant, I'm afraid.<<endif>> Approach, please, and observe." Rouen lifts their upper arms, allowing the loose sleeves of their garment to fall away, while their lower arms lift the hem of their robe, exposing their legs.
I feel a sudden weight in my stomach. I grab the collar of my garment with both hands and bring them to my face, feeling my own breath go shallow. I desperately want to turn away, to avoid seeing what I know Rouen wants to <<revise r1 "show me" end>>...<<revision r1>><<gains>>
Out of respect, I look. I cannot hold my gaze stready, but I can try. I can try to <<revise r2 "be brave" end>>...<<revision r2>><<gains>>
My suspicions are not wrong. Large swathes of Rouen's beautiful chitin have fallen out. Beneath each bald patch lies a patch of angry, festering scabs. The simple act of raising their arms causes a few more pieces of chitin to slip free and tumble into the dewy grass, revealing raw, reddened skin underneath. The damage looks worse further up their limbs; I can't imagine how extensive the <<revise r3 "rot" end>> is at their core.<<revision r3>><<gains>>
<<revise r4 "The plague is here." end>>
<<revision r4>><<gains>>I look back to Rouen's face and catch a look of pain flashing across their features, just for a moment, before they manage to restrain it. They let out an embarrassed cough while brushing their robe back into place and settling back down.
"Please, Topsider. Hear my request."
<<if not visited("Rouen Request")>>[["''...of course.''"|Rouen Request]]<<endif>>
<<if not visited("Rouen Can't Travel")>>[["''No, it's okay! They have the cure in Foxtrot!''"|Rouen Can't Travel]]<<endif>>
<<if visited("Rouen Request")>>[["''...I'll... I'll do it...''"|Rouen Thanks]]<<endif>>
<<endrevision>><<endrevision>><<endrevision>><<endrevision>>I ask Rouen what their request is.
"I am... my stars are fading, Topsider. It will not be long now. I have made my preparations. My boiling blood has gone still; the fire in my belly sleeps. The roar of my heart is quiet at last. I am ready to hibernate, Topsider, and thus I may finish my life with dignity.
Rouen closes their eyes, their brow furrowing.
"But oh, Topsider, I have forgotten a step! I did not prepare my resting place with anything to keep out my fellow Hellsiders. Were one to come across my body... were I, as my last act, my final twist, to poison..." Rouen grits their teeth, their limbs suddenly tense. Their anger drives out the peace of the grove, before they recompose themselves. "...it is unthinkable. My spirit would curdle with shame."
Rouen turns towards me.
"There is a field of flowers near here, Topsider. They are harmless (indeed, add a sprig of the Storyteller's Bells to your drinking water, you won't be disappointed), but they resemble the flowers that mark the site of the plague which has so devastated our fair countryside. My request is simple, Topsider. I require one (1) bundle of flowers. 1) Sprinkle them over me, as a warning to all who approach. That is all."
<<if not visited("Rouen Is Sick")>>[["''What are you talking about?''"|Rouen Is Sick]]<<endif>>
[["''Not that I won't, but... can't you do it yourself?''"|Rouen Can't Move]]
<<if visited("Rouen Is Sick")>>[["''Of course. Consider it done.''"|Rouen Thanks]]<<endif>>Rouen turns away.
"I... there is no other way. My kind... we spoil quickly. You could not make it there and back with a cure in time."
Rouen looks back over their shoulder.
"I hate for you to see me like this, Topsider. In my youth, this disease would have been nothing to me." There is a sudden change in Rouen's composition. Their eyes flash, and the hint of a smile appears at the corners of their mouth. There's a moment of hestitation -- of savoring -- before Rouen begins speaking again:
"When I was in training, I broke my leg climbing a mountain for an herb that only grows at its peak. Oh, I was in agony, yes; but still I climbed! Upward and upward! Did I even think of turning back? No! The pain drove me towards me to the heavens!"
They turn towards the sky, excitement rising in their voice.
"While completing my thesis, I burned my left subhand. Not just a finger, no no, the WHOLE hand! Roasted! It took me a YEAR to regenerate it. It took me a few minutes just to put it out! And yet as I beat out the flames with one hand, my other two kept working, as the judges watched in horror! Their //faces//! HA! But how can you prepare the tenderest meat without becoming the hardest steel??"
Raising four fists to the sky and grinning wildly, Rouen finishes:
"While hunting meat for my opening, I was careless, and approached a Flamingon I thought was sleeping. With one snap of its beak, it severed one of my arms at the shoulder, and during our struggle that followed it managed to drive a talon through the other, rendering it useless. Bloody, alone, insane with agony, what do you think I did, Topsider? Hm?? I dragged the entire carcass back with my subarms! Over hills! For miles!! I left a bloody trail, chef and meal combined!! And it was worth it!!"
"I was INVINCIBLE, Topsider! Nothing could quell me! NOTHING!"
[[(...take a step back...)|Rouen Can't Travel 2]]I ask Rouen why they can't perform what seems to be a simple task for themselves.
"My kind does not sleep as yours does; we voluntarily enter a period of hibernation, for 36 days, once a year. Once we begin the preparations to hibernate -- calming our muscles, stilling our hearts, releasing our minds -- any interruption will prevent us from trying again for at least three months.
"Hibernation is supposed to be done in a safe place, surrounded by family, ideally, although these days it often has to be friends. If it interrupted, our instincts assume the worst. The hibernation is... cancelled, let us say."
"I cannot rise without interrupting my preparations. Going without hibernation under normal circumstances is bad enough (You have undertaken all-nighters, presumably? Imagine, please, one that lasts for //three months//.), but in my condition..."
Rouen ends there, done with their explanation. I do not press further.
"I would like very much to meet my end with dignity. So please, Topsider: bring me the flowers, and sprinkle my resting area with them. That is all I require of you."
Rouen adds: "And it would mean everything to me."
<<if visited("Rouen Is Sick")>>[["''...consider it done.''"|Rouen Thanks]]
<<else>>[["''What are you talking about? Why are you saying this?''"|Rouen Is Sick]]<<endif>>
<<if not visited("Rouen Can't Travel")>>[["''Hibernation or not, we can cure you!''"|Rouen Can't Travel]]<<endif>>I agree to Rouen's request. Not that I'm giving up on them, but I don't see how I could possibly decline.
The hint of a smile appears the corners of Rouen's mouth. "Thank you, Topsider. Your appearance was serendipitous. Listen carefully, as I describe the flowers to you..."
I listen carefully as Rouen describes the flowers to me. A few times, I have to remind them to describe the flower's hues and shape, rather than its taste.
Satisfied, Rouen returns to their rest. "There is a little time before my hibernation overcomes me. Please, feel free to keep me company or be on your way as you will."
[[(There must be a way of talking Rouen out of this...)|Rouen's Cospe]]<<if lastVisited("Nido Explanation") == 1>>I suggest to Nido that might try repeating the word "Foxtrot" to themselves, in the hopes of keeping it fresh in their memory. It seems like their short-term memory is working; maybe that will be enough?
"That... could work, I suppose. It might, perhaps. Perhaps if I cling tightly to the word... hold fast..." Nido's face clenches in concentration. "To focus on the sound of it... to trill it, to myself... perhaps I will not let it slip. It won't escape."
Nido nods uncertainly to themselves. "Thank you, $friend. You have my gratitude. I hope we meet again. To cross paths. Just... not quite so soon. Indeed."
With that, Nido heads off.
[[(...guess I should check back here in a little while.)|Nido's Trail]]<<else>>I explain briefly that there's been a plague. Nido's mouth drops open.
"Oh! My goodness! A plague, you say? A cure, you say? Well! Then! We must be off! Immediately! I will take the shortest route! Trim every corner! Thank you, $friend! Thanks! Best of luck! And good fortune!"
With that, Nido heads off towards the exit. <<if visited("Nido Departs?") is 1>>
[[(Well, that was easy...)|Nido's Trail]]<<else>> Again.
[[...|Nido's Trail]]<<endif>><<endif>><<nobr>>
<<if visited("Nido Introduction") == 1>><<set $friend = "stranger">>
<<elseif visited("Nido Introduction") == 2>><<set $friend = "sir">>
<<elseif visited("Nido Introduction") == 3>><<set $friend = "fellow">>
<<elseif visited("Nido Introduction") == 4>><<set $friend = "chum">>
<<elseif visited("Nido Introduction") == 5>><<set $friend = "pal">>
<<else>><<set $friend = "friend">>
<<endif>>
<</nobr>>"Oh, hello! Hello! How unusual to see a Topsider in so remote a place! So far a trip! Please, call me Nido. It is my name, you see! Tell me, $friend, what brings you here? To this secluded site?"
[["''There's a cure for that terrible plague! You need to return to Foxtrot immediately!''"|Nido Departs?]]
[["''By order of Commander Beleth, you are to return to Foxtrot ASAP.''"|Nido Beleth]]
<<if visited("Nido Departs?") == 0>>
<<elseif visited("Nido Had This Conversation") == 0>>[["''...we've already had this conversation.''"|Nido Had This Conversation]]
<<elseif visited("Nido Messing") == 0>>[["''Are you messing with me?''"|Nido Messing]]
<<elseif visited("Nido Explanation") == 0>>[["''Aggh! Enough!''"|Nido Explanation]]
<<else>>[["''Let's try this again...''"|Nido Explanation]]
<<endif>>I explain that Commander Beleth has ordered all demons on Trebol to return to the nearest population center. Nido gasps at the news.
"Goodness! Gracious! Commander Beleth, you say? Direct orders, you say? I will depart immediately, of course. In a trice! But please tell me, good $friend, why? Whatever for?"
[["''To receive a vaccination against the plague that's been ravaging Trebol.''"|Nido Departs?]]I try to make it clear to Nido that we've had this conversation before, but they simply looked puzzled. Before I can get too far into it, they cut me off:
"We have? Did we? I doubt it, $friend. No, impossible. I would never forget a Topsider all the way out here. How unusual, after all! Such a trip! What a journey! Perhaps you've mistaken me for another Hellsider? Is it deja vu?
That seems more likely. Far more plausible."
"So then, $friend, what did you wish to tell me with such urgency? Such haste?"
[["''...there's a cure for the plague. You need to return to Foxtrot immediately.''"|Nido Departs?]]
[["''....Commander Beleth has ordered you to return to Foxtrot ASAP.''"|Nido Beleth Again]]I flat-out ask Nido if they're messing with me or what. Nido's eyebrows pop up, their face a picture of innocence.
"I'm... sorry? Pardon? I don't know what you mean. Not a clue! I'm not trying to, certainly. It is anything but intentional. I would absolutely hate to be impolite to one who's come so far. Such a long way from home!"
"A thousand apologizes if I've upset you. A trillion, if you like. Please, tell me, $friend, what do you refer to? Where is the confusion?"
[["''We've met before! Several times!''"|Nido Had This Conversation]]
[["''We've already had this conversation...''"|Nido Had This Conversation]]<<if lastVisited("Nido Introduction") == 1>><<if visited("Nido Explanation") == 1>>Okay, really, enough of this. After asking them not to interrupt, I explain, very clearly and slowly, the interactions I've had with Nido so far. At first, they appear to be indulging me, but as I go on, I sense a hint of doubt play across their features. When I finish, there's an awkward period of silence. And then Nido speaks:
"Well... hm... you certainly sound sincere, $friend. Honest, we do say. And you have come a long way, indeed. So far from home. It would be... quite a journey, for a mere joke. Such a trip, for a trick... no. No.
Nido begins wringing his hands anxiously.
"I must admit that these last few weeks have been a bit... hazy. Unfocused. I have noticed a tendency towards feeling as if a thought has just left my head. Or perhaps I should say 'escaped'. A feeling as if I have just woken from a dream. Or... just begun a new one."
Nido bites his lip.<<else>>I go through the entire explanation again, adding all the previous times I've been through this explanation. As my tale starts to get recursive, a look of anxiety crosses Nido's face.<<endif>>
"Perhaps I... when I... well, I will not waste your time, $friend. Time is valuable, indeed."
Nido makes an effort to sound light-hearted, but their expression remains concerned.
"Well, to the heart of the matter! The problem remains. You wish that I return to Foxtrot. And I wish to return as well. Because of the plague. And because of my condition. But without something to remind me... something to keep our conversation in my head, as it were... I don't see what can be done. An impasse. How troubling. How trying."<<else>>"Well, we must keep trying, I suppose. Trial and error, it seems. Maybe there's another solution to the problem? An alternative?"<<endif>>
[["''What if you just kept repeating 'Foxtrot' to yourself?''"|Nido Departs?]]
[["''What if I found something to remind you about the plague?''"|Nido Reminder]]
<<if not $nido_memory>>[["''What if you tried to figure out the cause of your memory problems?''"|Nido Memory]]
<<endif>><<if not $nido_insulted>>[["''What if I lead you out of the forest myself?''"|Nido Insulted]]
<<endif>><<if $nido_memory and not $nido_spot>>[["''Why do you keep returning to this spot in particular?''"|Nido This Spot]]
<<endif>>I explain that Commander Beleth has ordered all demons on Trebol to return to the nearest population center. Nido gasps at the news.
"Goodness! Gracious! Commander Beleth, you say? Direct orders, you say? I will depart immediately, of course. In a trice! But please tell me, good $friend, why? Whatever for?""
[["''...to receive a vaccination against the plague that's been ravaging Trebol.''"|Nido Departs?]]"Something to hold... something tangible. I see, I think. Do you have anything in mind? Any ideas?"
<<if $flowers==1>>[["''How about these flowers?''"|Nido Flowers]]
<<endif>><<if $compass==1>>[["''How about this compass?''"|Nido Compass]]
<<endif>><<if $dart==1 and not $wander_tried_dart>>[["''How about this cure dart?''"|Nido Dart]]
<<endif>><<if $dispel==1 and not $wander_tried_dispel>>[["''How about this magic nullification crystal?''"|Nido Dispel]]
<<endif>><<if $garlic==1 and not $wander_tried_garlic>>[["''How about this garlic?''"|Nido Garlic]]
<<endif>>[["''Er... no, I'm afraid not.''"|Nido Explanation]]<<set $nido_memory=1>>I ask Nido <<if visited() > 1>>(again) <<endif>>if determining the source of their memory problems wouldn't be the easiest way of solving the problem. Nido starts fidgeting distractedly as I bring up my idea, tugging their red headband this way and that.
"I... you..."
Nido smiles, but anxiously.
"...no... no. I don't think that would be fruitful. Pointless, I'm afraid. Whatever my problem is, it's quite clear that it's serious. No simple matter. I would much rather focus our efforts on returning to Foxtrot, where there are proper medical facilities. A hospital. So I can be cured, and not merely attempt triage. Reparative, not palliative."
[[(It doesn't seem like he's willing to discuss this...)|Nido Explanation]]I offer Nido the bundle of flowers. When I first retrieve them from my pack, they shrink back, aghast at what appears to be the plague-carrying varities, but I'm able to quickly explain that the flowers are actually harmless. Their face goes pale, but they nod slowly.
"If... I understand you correctly, $friend, you intend for me to carry these flowers, knowing I will mistake them for the plague flowers everytime my memory slips. A fright, each time. They will compel me, although healthy, to seek treatment. A pointless panacea."
One-by-one, Nido begins to tie the flowers to their staff, before moving onto adorn their wrists and ankles.
"There. Done. I must say, it is a distressing sight, even knowing they are counterfeit. A sham. When my memory goes... when I forget..."
Nido swallows, and their voice becomes somewhat strained.
"I must say, $friend, this is a dreadful plan you have concocted. Harrowing. There's certainly the temptation to abandon the plan. To desert it. But... no, if we hope to defeat this sinister plague, we must eliminate all the carriers, mustn't we? Every living demon on Trebol! For the good of the Blackjack Islands, I must endure this. I will endure."
Nido gives themselves one last grim look-over, before turning back to me, smiling wanly.
"This will something of a trial for me. An ordeal. I hope when next we meet, I will remember only the underlying compassion, and not the grisly details. The caring, not the scaring. Ha ha. Hm."
They nod, straighten up, and set off.<<set $wander=1>><<set $flowers=2>>
[[(...I wish there had been an easier way...)|Nido's Trail]]I pull the wooden sphere out of my pack, but before I can get a single word out, Nido shouts in delight,<<set $wander=2>><<set $compass=2>>
"Oh! Yes! A Guiding Light! Exactly! How perfect! A triumph!"
Before I know what's happening, Nido has plucked the sphere from my hands. A look of pure joy on their face, their three hands begin to trace three separate lines simultaneously, causing the sphere to first ignite in the same fiery hues I witnessed before, before quickly swirling into a magnificent rainbow blend. Nido's hands continue to work underneath the delightful display, the corona of the flames shifting with their manipulations. They let out a small gasp of delight with each colorful flare.
"Oh, and you even pre-configured it for me! Triggers and everything! How thoughtful! How attentive! Yes, yes, this solves the problem perfectly, for sure. An absolute answer!"
Satisfied, they release the sphere, which bobs out to hover just a few feet in front of Nido. The rainbow settles slightly, oscillating pleasantly between mellow shades of blue and green, with an occasional orange stripe encircling the sphere before disappearing again. Two of Nido's hands begin clapping excitedly.
"Oh, it has been too long! Much too long indeed! Oh, thank you for this, friend! My gratitude is yours!"
With their third hand, Nido gently touches my shoulder.
"I will restore my memory, friend. Have it fixed. And when I do, I promise you, I will remember this gift, and find a way to repay you for it. Reciprocate. Requite."
Nido smiles, and for once, it's not merely a polite smile, but a warm one.
"I shall see you soon. Not too soon, ha ha, but soon. Take care of yourself, friend. Be well."
With that, Nido starts heading towards the southwestern trail, the glowing sphere staying a few steps of ahead of them. With a final tri-wave, they disappear around the bend.
Success!
[[(...well, that went better than expected!)|Nido's Trail]]You have a strange feeling...<<set $water=1>>
Olaf: <<print $olaf>>
Rouen: <<print $morte>>
Phoebe: <<print $phoebe>>
Nido: <<print $wander>>
Aurum: <<print $aurum>>
Dart: <<print $dart>>
Dispel: <<print $dispel>>
Garlic: <<print $garlic>>
Flowers: <<print $flowers>>
Compass: <<print $compass>>
Puppet: <<print $puppet>>
Garlic Permission: <<print $garlic_permission>>
Magic Water: <<print $water>>
Lake Path: <<print $lake_path>>
[[Get All Items]]You waste some time.
[[Nido's Trail]]
[[Phobo's Wall]]<<set $nido_spot=1>>I ask Nido <<if visited() > 1>>(again) <<endif>>if there's anything specific about this spot that makes them keep returning to it. They raise their eyebrows, as if the thought had not occured to them. Before answering, they look around. First at paths leading to the flowers, around the lake and to the water's edges, then the sky, then the crossroads themselves. It's not clear when it happened, but by the end I notice their look of curiousity has been replaced by one of concern. When they speak, it's slow, and careful:
"Well... this spot has it all, doesn't it? Everything a wanderer could want. Open sky, then fresh scent of flowers, easy walking. A trifecta. That seems reason enough to me. Must be it."
They shrug.
"It may have to remain a mystery, really. Who knows?"
[[(...are they hiding something?)|Nido Explanation]]I call out to the Hellsider, asking if everything's okay.
"LEAVE ME ALOOOONE!!"
...I guess that's a no.
[["''What's wrong? I can help!''"|Phobo Help Offer]]
[["''Is this about the plague? There's a cure in Foxtrot!''"|Phobo Cure]]
[["''You are ORDERED to return to Foxtrot ASAP by Commander Beleth!''"|Phobo Orders]]
<<if visited("Phobo Approach 1")>>[["''Hey, do you know anything about why I just had a panic attack?''"|Phobo Panic Attack]]
<<endif>>
[[Try something else...|Phobo's Wall]]<<set $help=0>><<timedreplace 83>><<goto "Phobo Retreat 1">><<endtimedreplace>>I start to make my way over to the Hellsider. <<timedreplace 77>>//HELP ME//<<endtimedreplace>> The air grows thicker <<timedreplace 8>>and thicker <<endtimedreplace>>as I get closer to the wall. <<timedreplace 36>>Getting harder to breathe...<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 52>>Can't breathe... can't breathe...<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 62>>My lungs are on fire, I can't stand...<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 77>>//HELP ME//<<endtimedreplace>> The shrubs are thick, blocking my line of sight to the surrounding area. <<timedreplace 77>>//HELP ME//<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 20>>(Did something just move?)<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 44>>You saw that, didn't you?<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 54>>Don't lie to me!! What did you see??<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 77>>//HELP ME//<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 60>>It's going to ''kill me''!<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 77>>//HELP ME//<<endtimedreplace>> The trees seem to loom overhead. <<timedreplace 46>>Something's in the trees, ''it's right on top of me!!''<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 64>>//It's got me!//<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 66>>//It's got me!!//<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 68>>//It's got me!!//<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 77>>//HELP ME//<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 14>>I can't see the sky anymore. <<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 40>>I can't see the sky anymore!<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 59>>I can't see the sky!!<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 77>>//HELP ME//<<endtimedreplace>> The ground is soft here, slightly sandy, a little wet? <<timedreplace 26>>What am I stepping in??<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 50>>My feet are stuck, I'm //sinking//!!<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 77>>//HELP ME//<<endtimedreplace>> The Hellsider's sobs are growing louder... <<timedreplace 30>> They're deafing me...<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 56>> There's nothing but screaming anymore.<<endtimedreplace>><<timedreplace 77>>//HELP ME//<<endtimedreplace>>
<<timedreplace 66>>//HELP//<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 67>>//HELP//<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 68>>//HELP//<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 69>>//HELP//<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 70>>//HELP//<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 71>>//HELP//<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 72>>//HELP//<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 73>>//HELP//<<endtimedreplace>>
<<timedreplace 18>><<revise h1 'Get out of there!'>><<revision h1>><<becomes>>I can't hear you, the sobbing is too loud.<<endrevision>><<endtimedreplace>>
<<timedreplace 28>><<revise h2 'Get out of there!!'>><<revision h2>><<becomes>>I can't... I don't know which way to go...<<endrevision>><<endtimedreplace>>
<<timedreplace 46>><<revise h3 'Get out of there!!!'>><<revision h3>><<becomes>>Can't see... I've gotten turned around... there's no exit anymore...<<endrevision>><<endtimedreplace>>
<<timedreplace 56>><<revise h4 'GET OUT OF THERE!!!'>><<revision h4>><<becomes>>@@color:#F00;//NO ESCAPE//@@<<endrevision>><<endtimedreplace>>
<<timedreplace 68>>[[FOLLOW MY VOICE!|Phobo Retreat 1][$help to 1]]<<endtimedreplace>>//What the hell was that?//
Sorry, sorry, okay... just... just give me a minute.
Okay.
I honestly don't know what just happened there. I was just suddenly so afraid of, well, everything! I guess some sort of ambient magic in the area? Is that why that Hellsider isn't responding to me?
We're going to have to figure this out before we can do anything for them.
<<if $help>>(By the way, thanks for getting me out of there... I don't know how much longer I would have lasted...)<<else>>(By the way, were you just going to leave me in there??)<<endif>>
[[Reassess the situation|Phobo's Wall]]Okay, at least we've figured out that the problem is the pollen in the air. I don't think I can hold my breath long enough to reach the Hellsider, and even I could, I wouldn't be able to do anything when I reached them.
So, what's the plan?
<<if $flowers==1>>[[Cover yourself in the flowers!|Phobo Flowers]]
<<endif>><<if $compass==1>>[[Deploy the wooden sphere thingie!|Phobo Compass]]
<<endif>><<if $dart==1>>[[Inject yourself with the cure dart!|Phobo Dart]]
<<endif>><<if $dispel==1>>[[Crack open the dispel shard!|Phobo Approach Success Shard]]
<<endif>><<if $garlic==1>>[[Stuff the garlic in your nose!|Phobo Approach Success Garlic]]
<<endif>>[[...nope, no plan.|Phobo's Wall]]Double-click this passage to edit it.<<set $garlic=2>><<set $phobo=2>>This is the worst idea you've had yet, but I don't see any way around.
Taking one last gulp of fresh, clean air, I jam a clove of garlic into each nostril. My nose instantaneously becomes twin supernovae of pain, dissolving my flesh with putrefying fire. I am now aware of the location of every single nerve connecting my nasal passage to my brain, each one shrieking a chord of agony as the scent climbs directly upward to kick my brain in its softest region.
I thrust the explosion of pain where my head used to be forward, into the clearing. At the fringes of my perception, I'm dimly aware of the fear that overwhelmed me the last time I tried to cross, but there's simply no room for it in my universe of garlic.
It takes somewhere between ten seconds and forty billion years to finish crossing the clearing. As I approach, the tiny Hellsider looks at me with large, reddened eyes. The petals on her flower start to close, just a little.
[[Talk to them|Phobo Talk]]<<set $dispel=2>><<set $phobo=1>>Holding the crystal ahead of me like a torch against the darkness, I advance into the clearing once more. I can feel the crystal hum, slightly, as it inhales the magic from the air, dampening the effect of the fear spores. As I go further, though, it quickly becomes apparent that the passive leeching of the crystal won't be enough: by now, I recognize the deepening of the shadows and the discoloration of the sky for what they really are, but in a few moments it'll take hold all the same.
My legs starts to tremble, my heart begins pounding in my head, and before I'm fully aware of what I'm doing, I smash the crystal on the ground.
Instantly, the magic in the area is purged. The paranoia and doubt created by the fear spores evaporates, leaving me in a perfectly normal clearing, clear-headed and sure-footed. In its place is the bizarre feeling of the utter absence of magic. I've been in low-magic areas, before, but I've never experienced anything like a magic vacuum. It feels a bit like having your skin removed, a bit like reaching a new level of naked, a bit like having to recognize your heart for the raw and bloody organ it is, a bit like those dreams where you can't stop falling, and just a bit like you've forgotten how to oxygenate your blood.
It's unpleasant, is what I'm getting at.
Not sure how long the siphon will last and unwilling to waste the opportunity, I rush forward to where the tiny Hellsider seems to have been awoken out of their panic attack by the alien weirdness of the null magic zone. They look up at me with large, reddened eyes.
[[Talk to them|Phobo Talk]]I yell to the Hellsider that I'm here to help. They scream back in response,
"GO AWAY!! GET AWAY FROM MEEEE!!"
I try to explain why I'm here, but,
"GO AWAAAAAAY!!!"
[[(That's not helping...)|Phobo Call]]They're probably upset about the plague, right? I let them know that a cure is being mass-produced right now, and is freely available in Foxtrot!
The Hellsider continues to sob heavily, their stomach heaving with the effort. If anything, they seem more upset now.
[[(I thought the good news would help...)|Phobo Call]]Maybe some authority will work. I yell across the valley that I'm handing down orders from Commander Beleth to have all Hellsiders return to the nearest city. They respond by screaming,
"GET OUT! GET OUT!!"
I'm not terribly familiar with the social hierarchy of Hellsiders, but orders from a Commander are supposed to be an extremely big deal. I try again to emphasize that there's an island-wide quarantine established by Arch Magni Andre, and that...
"GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT!!!"
[[(Looks like I won't be forcing them to go anywhere without some backup...)|Phobo Call]]
I call out to the Hellsider, asking if they have any idea why I just had a hallucinatory panic attack. They wail in response,
"LEAVE!!!"
[[(Not that I expected that to work...)|Phobo Call]]I offer to personally lead Nido out of the crater, but as soon as the gist of my suggestion becomes clear, Nido's face goes slightly pale. They open their mouth to speak, then close it again. As if making up their mind, they say:
"That... would not work, I'm afraid. Wouldn't solve the problem. If you simply lead me outside the crater, what would stop me from returning here? How would that change things? And I could not ask you to walk me all the way back to Foxtrot. To lead me by the hand. That would take too much of your time. Too large an imposition."
Nido smiles, but the smile betrays a note of pain.
"I appreciate the offer, Topsider. Your idea is sincere, clearly. But, trite as this may seem to be you by now, I'm afraid I must refuse. Yes, I cannot accept."
[["''Alright, we'll figure out something else.''"|Nido Explanation]]
[["''What, so you'd rather remain lost?''"|Nido Stays Lost]]
[["''What if I finished up here, then we hiked back to Foxtrot together?''"|Nido Insulted 2]]Exasperated, I ask Nido if they'd rather stay lost than accept my offer. Nido's lips curls for a second.
"In three words, $friend: yes, exactly that. You have it."
[["''...oh. Okay.''"|Nido Explanation]]<<set $nido_insulted=1>>Despite their apparent reservations about the idea, I offer to take Nido back to Foxtrot after I finish up with everyone else here. But Nido appears increasingly flustered as I speak. When I finish, Nido takes a breath in and starts glancing around, avoiding my gaze for a second. They take a moment -- to compose themselves? -- then responds:
"Topsider... $friend. Your earnestness is endearing. Your commitment is a credit to you."
There is a sudden flash of steel in Nido's eyes.
"But I will go alone, or not at all. I would rather stay lost. I will not be lead back like an imbecile. Some idiot! By the neck, it would be. By the throat. //The throat.//"
Their eyes soften again.
"There... let us call this a miscommunication. Differences of culture. There is as much that I do not know of your kind that you do not know of mind, I'm sure. Just so. It may seem a trivial reason to you, but it is important to me. Very much so. Will you forgive me for this, Topsider? Please, $friend?"
[[''Yes, of course.'' (So much for the easy solution...)|Nido Explanation]]
[[''I'm sorry!'' (Wow, I didn't expect that.)|Nido Explanation]]I try to offer Rouen my garlic, but with them just lying there, I end up just awkwardly waving it over their face. Other than a barely-perceptible twitch of Rouen's nostril, I get no reaction. Looks like this hibernation thing is more serious than I thought.
[[(So much for that...)|Rouen Garlic 2]]Off the main path, the air is quiet and still. The chirping of the Melodingos doesn't seem to reach this secret grove, and even the ambient hum of the flora is muted here. There's just enough sunlight coming through to see where I'm stepping, and the circle of young trees just beyond.
<<revise desc "Rouen" end>> lies here, so still that it's almost to convince myself that their form is nothing more than a shadow. Only the gentliest suggestion of breathing gives their position away.
<<revision desc>><<becomes>>Rouen's lanky form is mostly covered by a plain, white apron, simply-cut and yet bizarrely immaculate in this wild setting. Something about its texture and weight implies it is high-quality despite its lack of adornment. Their large, compound eyes are closed for the moment and their long, graceful antennae lie limp on the ground; it seems my presence doesn't bother them. Four arms, lined with tiny, sharp ridges, lie relaxed across their chest.
<<endrevision>><<revise leave "Leave the glade">><<revision leave>><<becomes>>As I turn to leave, something wraps around my ankle and yanks, pulling my foot out from under me. I hit the mercifully mossy ground with a thud and turn to see Rouen, otherwise still recumbent and totally relaxed, using one arm to hold me in place with a grip like steel. Their other arm gently extends towards me, palm up, waiting.
[[Give Rouen the garlic|Rouen Garlic 3]]
<<revise no "Use a chef's knife to cut off your trapped leg!">><<revision no>><<becomes>>What?? No, just give them the damn garlic!<<endrevision>><<endrevision>>With my ankle still awkwardly pinned to the ground, I manage to twist around enough to place the garlic in Rouen's waiting hand. Satisfied, they release their grip, leaving me to massage away the ache while Rouen delicately passes the garlic from hand to hand.
They bring the garlic closer to their nose, and begin mumbling.
"...mm.... hh... rdcd 'n swce..."
Rouen lays the garlic next to them on the grass, then readopts their peaceful position. Only for a few seconds, though, before they pick up the garlic and bring it to their face again.
"...nn... appzr wld ovrpwr... nh..."
They lay the garlic back down, this time on their chest. Their arms return to rest, but one of their lower arms immediately swings up to pluck off a clove of the garlic. It slips into a slit in Rouen's robe, where there's a *crunch*, before the hand re-emerges, now empty.
"...cnrblnc... spcy... nd t' absrb... bkd 'NTO... nnnnhn..."
They inhale deeply, exhale, and sink back into relaxation. Their mouth goes still once more.
[[...try leaving again?|Rouen Garlic 4]]I turn and begin to walk away, but in one motion Rouen is on their feet, garlic gripped tightly in one hand, the other clutching their head.
"THAT TASTE! THAT AROMA! BRUTISH BUT COMPLEX! IT'S MADDENING!"
Rouen's lips curl into a frustrated sneer. He shakes the garlic, looking ready to explode. I find myself taking a step backwards in fear reflexively. As soon as I move, Rouen's eyes snap to me, and narrow.
"YOU."
I consider sprinting for the exit, but before I can so much as turn Rouen has crossed the distance between us, hand at my throat.
"DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU'VE DONE, TOPSIDER??"
Their other hand comes up, forcing the garlic inches from my face.
"YOU'VE SAVED ME, TOPSIDER!! YOU'VE STOLEN ME FROM DEATH!!"
Rouen throws the three hands that aren't pinning me in place up into the air.
"DAMN YOUR RELENTLESS BENEVOLENCE! YOUR BLUNDERING GENEROSITY! YOUR BRAINLESS PERSISTANCE!! I DAMN YOU THRICE!! DAMN YOU!!"
They thrust their hand back into my face: "AND DAMN YOUR GARLIC!"
Rouen slumps. I take the opportunity to see if perhaps they've also relaxed his grip, but, nope, even with both my hands I can't make them budge a finger!
"You have no idea, Topsider. No idea. No idea of the DEPTHS of my appreciation for your horrible kindness."
Rouen's eyes shoot back up, filled with venom. He starts to move towards me, driving me backwards with each step he takes.
[[Keep trying to breath!|Rouen Garlic 4b]]
Actually, could you give me a minute? I just got the wind knocked out of me by a vengeful demon chef. <<set $garlic = 2>><<set $morte = 1>>
<<timedreplace 6>>In, out, in, out.<<endtimedreplace>>
<<timedreplace 12>>Okay, I'm good.<<endtimedreplace>>
<<timedreplace 14>>[[Stand up|Rouen's Cospe]]<<endtimedreplace>>I show Rouen the salvaged cure dart, explaining what it is. Rouen's eyes widen at the sight.
"That--! You found..."
But they stop there, their eyes dimming again.
"...that... is very noble of you, Topsider. But..."
Rouen looks away.
"...it is not for me. Find someone more deserving. I have made my decision."
[["''You need it! Take it!''"|Rouen Needs It]]
[["''What, are you afraid?''"|Rouen Afraid]]
[[Just stab them with it|Rouen Poke]]This seems like a //terrible// idea, but okay, I'll do it. With Rouen lost in his misery, I go ahead and jab the dart into their shoulder. Rouen looks at me, mouth pulled back taut, pincers extended. They glare down at the dart, still stuck in their shoulder, then fix it on me.
Rouen seizes my wrist with a grip like iron. "How //dare// you, Topsider? Did I not make my refusal clear?"
Their grip tightens. With my other hand, I try to pry it off, but cannot even manage to work my fingers between their hand and my flesh. "I did not WANT your cure. You have insulted me. You have denied me my //death//."
Rouen sits up, leaning in towards me. "Are you not //afraid//, Topsider? Afraid of what I might..."
<<display "Rouen Realizes">>This is ridiculous. I try to explain to Rouen that they need the cure, but they cut me off:
"I do not need someone to tell me what I need. I know what I need. Your offer is kind, but misguided. Please do as I requested, then leave me be."
[["''Are you afraid ?''"|Rouen Afraid]]
[[Just poke them with it.|Rouen Poke]]I ask Rouen if they're afraid of being cured. Their mood darkens instantaneously. Before I can react, one arm snaps out, seizing my wrist, while they hiss,
"Me? //Afraid?// I fear NOTHING. I am the one who is DYING, but it's YOU who..."
<<display "Rouen Realizes">>As I approach, the Hellsider addresses me without turning around. Their speech is quick and sharp, plucking each consonant as if they don't have time for vowels.
"Hey, how's it going, Zero?"
[["''Uh, fine, how's it going with you?''"|Aurum Fine]]
[["''Sorry, 'Zero'?''"|Aurum Zero]]
Aurum's mouth drops open. It takes them a moment to answer:
"What.... are you serious?"
They hold up their hands in disbelief.
"What kind of stupid question is that? What kind of treasure? What KIND of treasure? How do you even..."
His hands actually start shaking a little bit, before he blurts out:
"ANY kind of treasure, obviously! ALL treasure! It's TREASURE! It's valuable! Why would you only want one kind?! Argh! I want it ALL!"
Aurum turns back to their search, ignoring me again. In what they probably consider to be a whisper, they mumble to themselves.
"What KIND of treasure... of all the... just like a... tssch."
[[(...)|Aurum Conversation]]I ask Aurum why they're treasure hunting here. This place seems to be pretty popular for camping -- there can't be much treasure still lying around, can there?
Aurum smiles.
"Normally I wouldn't share this with anyone, but, well, it's not like you're much of a threat. Lucky you!"
"See, I was supposed to just be scouting the region, but I stumbled onto something. There's some kind of treasure around here, and whatever it is, it's amazing. //Really// amazing. I'm talking the kind of find that could bring me up a rank. And oh man, is it close! Must've been unearthed recently. Normally I'd be able to beeline right to it. BAM!"
Aurum grits their teeth and flicks a dangling ear.
"But there's this white noise, and it's just everywhere. It's driving me nuts! Filling the whole damn crater! Can't get away from it, and I can't tune it out. How frickin' unlucky is that? I can still hear my prize underneath, but I can't home in at all. Can't get around it, can't figure out where it's coming from. I've been hoping to attinuate to it, but every day is no better than the last. What the hell!"
[["''White noise? I don't hear anything...''"|Aurum Don't Hear It]]I tell Aurum that I haven't heard this 'white noise' they've described.
"Of course YOU don't hear it, dummy! You've only got two ears! I'm impressed you can pick up SOUND with those things."
Aurum places their chin in the hand as they gaze at me, as if considering me for the first time.
"It must be sad, going through life practically deaf like you. I can't even imagine. What is this crater like to you? What's it like talking to someone you consider a friend and only hearing their voice? I know you've got music or whatever, but let me tell you: music is a PALE imitation of the real thing. It really doesn't compare."
Aurum grins their cocky grin, which means it's time for Aurum's favorite conversation topic: Aurum.
"Oh, me? Yeah, my hearing is top-notch. But I've been training it, too! I've always been pretty good at hearing <<revise value "Value" end>><<revision value>><<becomes>> (how do I put this.. it's like a hum, but resonant? like you want to hear it really fill the space. you have to listen for the echo too, though, to really get a good read.)<<endrevision>>, but I also have developed a special technique just for hearing <<revise secrets "Secrets" end>><<revision secrets>><<becomes>> (you can tell because there'll be an undertone that's JUST the wrong color... like it's been stretched and compressed back, so it's slightly misaligned from the main tone. does that make sense?)<<endrevision>>. As a treasure hunter? Pretty clutch skills, let me tell you."
"But like I was saying, there's some kind of... ambient something that's got me running in circles. I mean, it's not like I won't figure it out sooner or later, just annoying for now. In the meantime, I'm stuck LOOKING for treasure, with my EYES, like some kind of... some kind of..."
Aurum snaps their fingers irritatedly.
"What do you call someone like you?"
I... neutrally ask what the mean by that. Aurum responds by miming a pair of glasses.
"You know, someone who has to depend on their vision all the time!"
[["''An... opticist?''"|Aurum Wrong Term]]
[["''An... optimal?''"|Aurum Wrong Term]]
[["''An... optional?''"|Aurum Wrong Term]]
[["''A... visonary?''"|Aurum Wrong Term]]
[["''A... visor?''"|Aurum Wrong Term]]
[["''A... visitor?''"|Aurum Wrong Term]]
Caught off-guard, I awkwardly tell the Hellsider that I'm fine.
"Yeah, I'm pretty good. I mean, been having a little trouble, but nothing a Zero would need to worry themselves with. So you just here to listen in, or what?"
[["''Okay, what's with the 'Zero'?''"|Aurum Zero]]
[["''I have no idea what you're talking about.''"|Aurum Not A Treasure Hunter]]I ask Aurum why they're calling me "Zero". Still tracing their finger along the glyphs of the ruins, they respond,
"Yeah, you know, rank Zero. I mean, it would explain the lack of gear and the fact that you're totally jumping right now. It's fine, by the way, I forgive you. Total Zero move, you know? But I'll take it as a compliment. If you want to listen in, hey, just goes to show you recognize a pro when you hear one."
[["''Sorry... 'Rank'? 'Gear'? 'Jumping'? What?''"|Aurum Explains]]
[["''No, I'm not here to 'listen in', I'm here to...''"|Aurum Not A Treasure Hunter]]I tell the Hellsider I don't understand what they're saying and this, at least, makes the Hellsider turn around. They look me up and down with a look of undiguised disgust.
"Are you serious?? You're out here on a Class 3 and you don't even know the lingo?? How the hell did you manage that?"
They pinch the tip of one dangling ear irritatedly.
"I mean, my first quest was a Class 6, yeah, but I knew what the hell I was doing. Remind me to tell you about it sometime. Here I thought maybe I'd found someone else with spunk, like me. Nope! Guess not!"
They sigh dramatically, and turn back around.
"Look, kid, if you want my advice: this whole thing was a massive blunder, and you're lucky that Zeroes can't get dinged. Maybe you should just rethink this whole treasure hunter thing."
[["''I'm not a treasure hunter, though. I'm here to help with the plague.''"|Aurum Not A Treasure Hunter]]Putting as much emphasis on the word PLAGUE as possible, I try one more time to tell the Hellsider that I am here to help with the PLAGUE.
"Oh, what, seriously? //THAT'S// why you're here?"
They fix their gaze on me. Their ears start twitching in a slightly hypnotic way, rippling in a subtle wave motion, back and forth. After an entirely awkward pause, they seem to come to a decision.
"Okay, so... yeah, you're not lying, champ. I guess. You just don't sound..."
They make a frustrated waving motion in the air, referring to my... my everything, I guess.
"You don't sound like anything! Sorry, pal." They shrug. "Yeah, yeah, I heard about the whole plague thing, but I don't got it and treasure doesn't get sick, so I really don't see how it's relevant."
They turn back away.
"So yeah, this has been fun. Don't touch my stuff. Bye."
They go back to investigating the ruins. One of their ears suddenly sticks up, and with an "Oh!", they turn back around. With a curious stiffness and a suddenly neutral expression, they march over to me, stare up, and extend their tiny paw towards my hand.
[[...shake it, I guess?|Aurum Shake]]I try to explain that I'm not a treasure hunter. Genuinely surprised by my answer, the Hellsider snorts with amusement.
"Ha! Yeah, sure." They whip around to face me. "A know-nothing Topsider who's never even BEEN to Hellside before just DECIDES one day that they're going to make the trip and IMMEDIATELY visit a caldera in the most remote region of Trebol and then go STRAIGHT to the nearest ruin site? That's your story? Seriously?"
I open my mouth to ask how they knew any of that, but before I manage to string two words together they interrupt:
"Look, Zero, it's cool, I've been in your shoes. Kudos to you for swiping upwards. I know a lot of losers who've been stuck on the same rung for YEARS because they spend all their time going after each other. Duh! How stupid can you be?? If you're stuck somewhere, you go after someone who's ALREADY GOTTEN OUT. Obviously!"
Aurum roughly massages their forehead in one direction, as if trying to physically push out the thought of losers, before continuing:
"You just got yourself in a little too deep, okay? Aimed too high, nearly got yourself burned. It happens! Taking risks comes with the territory, but in this case... okay, listen, not to freak you out, but you want to know MY rank?" They grin a grin that extends halfway around their head.
[["''...yes, I do. Please, tell me your rank.''"|Aurum's Rank]]
[["''No, really. I'm not a treasure hunter. I'm here to help with the plague.''"|Aurum Really Not A Treasure Hunter]]
[["''There's no time for this. There is a PLAGUE, you need to LEAVE.''"|Aurum Plague]](For reasons unclear to me,) I ask about their "Rank". Their grin grows larger (which I absolutely did not think was possible) as they announce:
"I'm a rank NINE."
They wait for a moment to see I'm going to, I don't know, faint away from shock? Fall to knees for forgiveness? Ask for an autograph? I'm not sure. When none of that happens, the Hellsider tries to play it cool by examining their knuckles, while continuing on,
"So yeah, I could have your license revoked like THAT. Snap. Boom. End of story. But hey, I'm a nice guy, I'm not going to do that to you. I mean... if you can think of some way to make this little infraction up to me?"
They look upward, looking smug at the entirely imaginary leverage they have on me.
Okay, really, enough of this:
[["''Except, as I explained, I am NOT a treasure hunter. I'm here to help with the PLAGUE.''"|Aurum Really Not A Treasure Hunter]]I try again to explain that I'm not a Treasure Hunter.
They smirk.
"Okay then, buddy. If you're not a Treasure Hunter, then why the heck are you here?"
[["''...because, as I said, there's a PLAGUE going around!!''"|Aurum Plague]]I take their tiny paw in my hand. They shake mechanically, moving up and down in a short, specific interval.
"Hello. My name is Aurum Urm. Please call me Aurum. I am a treasure hunter. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
And with THAT, they march back to the ruin, the bizarre stiffness evaporating as they return to their work.
[[(I really let that conversation get away from me...)|Aurum's Ruins]]Aurum spares me a glance over their shoulder, before returning to their work.
<<if not visited("Aurum Needs Something")>>"Hey, what's up? No no, it's fine. I'm mean, I'm kind of in the middle of something really important, but whatever, I can spare an ear for a little lost Topsider. Whaddya wanna know?"<<else>>"Hey! Any luck? Find anything?"<<endif>>
<<if not visited("Aurum What Kind")>>[["''What kind of treasure are you looking for?''"|Aurum What Kind]]
<<endif>><<if visited("Aurum What Kind") and not visited("Aurum Why Here")>>[["''So why are you here, specifically?''"|Aurum Why Here]]
<<endif>><<if not visited("Aurum First Trip")>>[["''How did you know this was my first trip to Hellside?''"|Aurum First Trip]]
<<endif>><<if visited("Aurum's Rank") and not visited("Aurum Rank Palaver")>>[["''So, a Rank Nine, huh?''"|Aurum Rank Palaver]]
<<endif>><<if visited("Aurum Why Here") and visited("Lake Barrier") and not visited("Aurum Lake Path")>>[["''You haven't found a way down to the lake, have you?''"|Aurum Lake Path]]
<<endif>><<if not visited("Aurum Cure")>>[["''Aurum, look, there's a cure in Foxtrot, you need to go.''"|Aurum Cure]]
<<endif>><<if not visited("Aurum Always Listening")>>[["''Were you listening when I said there's a PLAGUE devastating the island?''"|Aurum Always Listening]]
<<endif>><<if visited("Aurum Always Listening") and visited("Aurum Cure") and not visited("Aurum Needs Something")>>[["''I have orders from Commander Beleth to demand you return to Foxtrot.''"|Aurum Beleth?!]]
<<endif>><<if visited("Aurum Needs Something")>>[["''I've got something for you!''"|Aurum Offer Item]]
<<endif>>[["''Bye, good luck with your search!''"|Aurum's Ruins]]
Aurum turns around slowly. When they speak, they take the time to pronounce each syllable.
They point at themself. "I used..."
They point at their ears. "...my ears..."
They make a cupping motion with both hands. "...to hear..."
They point one hand at me. "...you."
With that, they roll their eyes so hard it turns their body around.
[[(...I guess that's the best answer I'm going to get...)|Aurum Conversation]]I ask Aurum to go into the details of what his Rank entails. Wait, what?
Aw, come on, why did you tell me to do that??
"Ah, yeah, Rank Nine is when you start to get to be a pretty big deal. Before that, everyone at the same Rank has pretty much the same responsibilities, yeah? But at Rank Nine, you start to wield some power! So, like, there's a lot of administrative stuff to do, obviously, but I'm sure you can tell just by listening to me that that's stuff not for me. But obviously someone's got to keep tabs on members, keep the catalogs up to date, make deals with our suppliers..."
<<revise part1 "I don't care about any of this. Not even a little." end>><<revision part1>><<becomes>>
"...so right away, I tell 'em straight to their faces, I'm going to be handling the scouting and the troubleshooting. Basically means I get to be in the field all day, every day. It's great! I mean, having to keep tabs on a bunch of greenfeet? Not ideal, but at least I'm out there. I try to stick to the high-class stuff anyway. Which //I// get to assign, by the way. Yeah, there's guidelines, and I've never been more than one or two classes off the original assessment..."
<<revise part2 "There's no end in sight. What have you done?" end>><<revision part2>><<becomes>>
"...but can you believe it? I get there, and there's NOTHING done. NOTHING. No warding, no initial spec, no mapping, NOTHING. Like the kind of thing I'd have done in an hour. I mean, like the kind of stuff YOU'D have done in a day, tops. I'm like, is this a test or something? Maybe I'm supposed to lose my cool and bust all these jerks down a Rank just so some Rank Ten leadfoot can whap me with an Abuse of Power warning and get me out of the field. But what if I'm SUPPOSED to bust them down to show the guild I understand my responsibilities?? Ugh, politics, right? But listen, you're not going to believe my plan..."
<<revise part3 "Get me out of this. You got me into this. Figure something out." end>><<revision part3>><<becomes>>
"...WHAM! HA!! Out comes MY spec and suddenly all anyone wants to know about is how these leeches missed the secondary site. You shouldda seen the faces! I think Beardy's about to go for my ears when Bahpoor tells me I can step down, and that Beardy should 'consider' an 'extended' trip to our management center. Ah man, did I tell you Bahpoor was awesome, or what? Oh, I haven't even told you about Bahpoor! Let me tell you this story quick..."
<<revise part4 "...demons need to breathe, right? Next time there's a pause for breath, I'm just going to //sprint.//" end>><<revision part4>><<becomes>>
"Right, so I come in the next day, and my card is just gone from the board. And I'm freaking out, because No Ears said he wasn't going to drop me more than two Ranks, so I should still be on the Reg board. I mean, yeah, what I did was serious. But the thought of being on the New Board again... I don't know if I can describe it. Just the thought of all those... well, anyway, I kinda flipped out right there. So I sprint over to No Ears's door and, well, I kicked it open, and it's frickin' BAHPOOR, in his office, as if I hadn't screwed myself over ENOUGH. Except No Ears is absolutely red in the face, and Bahpoor just says, just like this, deep voice, "...proves my point. The kid has spunk." And then he turns to me and says, "...your future will be interesting," and boom, he's gone. Yeah, turns out the reason I'm not on the Reg board is because I'm on the VET BOARD. I got moved UP!! It's like, FINALLY, FINALLY, my talent is being noticed! Also, the guy got out of the hospital like three days later, so WHATEVER, not my fault his warding was GARBAGE. And if you liked that, the NEXT time I met Bahpoor..."
<<revise part5 "...leave me. Save yourself." end>><<revision part5>><<becomes>>
[[Come back when it's over.|Aurum Rank 2]]<<endrevision>><<endrevision>><<endrevision>><<endrevision>><<endrevision>>
Aurum shoots me a pitying look over their shoulder.
"Wow, fella, I knew you weren't a treasure hunter, but that's just sad." They turn away from the ruins for a moment to explain: "There's this city on Cardios, right? It's called Vaxine. You know what they do there?"
Aurum manages to hold back for a millisecond before bursting out, "They //mass-produce// cures there! Do you get it now? How is that treasure?? Come on, I know you're not even a Rank Zero, but, like... think before you say something, you know?"
[["''...it has nothing to do with treasure. You need the cure in case you're a carrier.''"|Aurum Not About Treasure?]]I ask Aurum if they were listening to the part about the plague. This makes them whip around.
"I'm //always// listening! DUH!"
They turn back to their work.
"Wow, so rude."
[[(...I guess I could have phrased that better...)|Aurum Conversation]]"Uuuugh." Aurum lets their head roll back, groaning as loudly as their little lungs will let them.
"Is that how //you// live //your// life? You do what other people tell you to? You think that's how I got here? Just trust others to decide what's best and follow their orders? Pffft."
Aurum turns around, to make the point more clearly:
"PFFFFFFFFFFTT."
They turn back.
"You're really starting to bore me, kiddo. Maybe it's time you found somewhere else to be."
[[(...I'm pretty sure I'm older than them...)|Aurum Conversation]]
This is desperate. What are the odds that Aurum isn't already aware of the island-wide quarantine and simply ignoring orders? Oh well, appeal to authority it is.
As I invoke Beleth's orders, Aurum whips around again, and I'm briefly afraid my insistence has earned me a pint-sized pummeling. But Aurum's eyes are opened wide in awe, all six ears pointing out from their head like a crown.
"You KNOW Commander Beleth?!"
Aurum sprints over to me, stopping uncomfortably close.
"How? How?? You got orders from them? No way! Aggh!" Aurum starts stamping the ground with one foot, "That's so cool! They're so cool! I saw one of their battlepuppets in action once, oh man, it was so cool! I couldn't believe it! It was the coolest thing ever!!"
Aurum grabs the hem of my shirt and starts tugging with surprising strength for someone half my size. As I struggle to stay upright, they shout, "How do I get orders from them?? What did you do??"
[["''Sorry, Topsiders only. But if you follow my orders, wouldn't that be almost as good?''"|Aurum Topsider Orders]]
[["''So, I take it you're a fan, then?''"|Aurum Beleth Fan]]Time to wrap this up: I ask if they'll be willing to follow my orders now.
Aurum gasps, then shouts back, "Oh! Yeah! Foxtrot! Got it! I'm on it!"
They go about cramming the various tools and supplies lying about into various packs, moving like a whirlwind, ears trailing behind. "Ha! Yeah! Orders! I'm there! Yes!"
Aurum snaps a salute off in my direction, then starts running down the path toward the exit. Except only a few feet away, they stop and shout, "No!" and turn back. They're halfway back to the ruin when they shout, "Wait!" and turn back toward the exit. "Stop!", back toward the ruins. "I need to!, back towards the exit. "I can't!", back to the ruins. "But!" "I just!" "I have to!" "Orders!!"
"ARRRRGH!" they scream, and throw their pack down on the ground. They stare down at it, defeated, before their ears perk up and orient towards me. Aurum looks up suddenly, and dashes over to me.
"Topsider!! Topsider, you gotta help me, you gotta!!"
[["''What...''"|Aurum Conflicted]]I can't help it. I ask the already-giddy Aurum if they're a fan.
Aurum has now been completely overtaken by pure joy -- their smugness completely outshone by their excitement.
"Of course I'm a fan! Because they're the BEST! They can make hundreds of puppets and they all kick ass! Commander Beleth could kick one hundred asses all at once!! How crazy is that?!"
Aurum throws their hands wide.
"That's the best part! Once I'm the best treasure hunter, ever, I'm going to find all this awesome treasure like supermagic swords and armor and I'm going to be a Commander too! Think about it! There's TONS of ancient magic artifacts out there, and I'm going to get to it first!! Then I can join the Commanders and //everyone// will know how great I am! I've got it all figured out!!"
"I can't believe this... I had no idea they were handling this! But of course they are, because who better to boss around an ENTIRE ISLAND than Commander Beleth?! No one! YEAH!!"
[["''So... you're going to follow their orders, right?''"|Aurum Topsider Orders]]This close. We were //this// close. I ask what the matter is.
Aurum gestures violently towards the exit.
"I gotta go!! Commander Beleth said I have to go back to Foxtrot!"
They swing their arms back towards the ruins.
"But I can't abandon my site! I'm a Rank Nine!! This is a Class 3!! I can't!!"
Aurum swings their arms back towards the exit.
"But I have orders!! I need to evacuate now!!"
Back towards the ruins.
"But I'd be abandoning a Class 3 site!! I'm a RANK NINE!! I can't abandon it!! I gotta bring back SOMETHING!! ANYTHING!! SOMETHING!!"
They throw their arms in the air, waving them wildly.
"Topsider!! Topsider, DO SOMETHING!!"
[["''Well, surely orders from a Commander outweigh...''"|Aurum Outweigh]]
[["''What if I help you find the 'something' you need?''"|Aurum Needs Something]]Surely, orders from a Commander handed down from a island's Governor must outweigh his clan or guild or club, or whatever it is, right?
"NO!! No, they DON't!"
Aurum is practically shrieking now. Each hand grabs an ear and begins twisting the tip in painful, yanking motions.
"I'm a Rank Nine, I have responsibility, I can't leave, too many missing, overrides personal safety, can't abandon! Can't abandon!! Empty-handed, empty-handed, empty-hand, Aurum empty hands!!!"
Aurum looks up at me, eyes watering.
"What am I going to dooooo??"
[["''What if I helped you find something so you wouldn't leave empty-handed?''"|Aurum Needs Something]]Not seeing any other option, I offer to help Aurum with their predicament. If //I// find some treasure, that would count, right?
"AH! YES! THAT'S IT!"
Aurum starts bouncing in place.
"Okay, okay, okay, I got this, yeah. Okay."
They take a deep breath, although it would probably be more effective if they weren't still bouncing.
"Yeah, okay, so... I'm sure it's okay if I just finish up here... I mean, it's not like the plague spreads instantly, I'm sure an hour or something is no big deal... no one has to know..."
Aurum makes a box shape with their hands. "Okay, orders. Yes." They make another box shape to the side of it. "Guild, yes." They start to move their hands between the boxes. "Commander Beleth? Check. Guild? Check. Plague? Yes. Treasure? Yes."
They point at me.
"Alright! You're my witness! I'm just taking my time to wrap up this site before I head back. And while you're being my witness, if you, I don't know, trip over anything, bring it to me so I can evaluate it."
With that, Aurum rushes back to their pack and hastily dumps the contents back out, resuming their work where they left off, but with an extra edge of haste on top of the haste they had before.
[[(...I guess... I just got deputized?)|Aurum Conversation]]<<set $dart=1>>
<<set $dispel=1>>
<<set $garlic=1>>
<<set $flowers=1>>
<<set $compass=1>>
<<set $puppet=1>>
[[Debug Room]]"...so I think that about covers it. Anything else you wanted to know?"
[["''NO! I mean... no, that answers my question.''"|Aurum Conversation]]Aurum stares at me for a moment.
"...no... no, that can't be right."
They let out a heave, disappointed by my answer.
"Anyway... I've done a basic sweep of the entire area, and haven't (ugh) //seen// it yet. I mean, this place is tiny, and not exactly hard to get around. Which only makes the whole thing more maddening! Here I am, top-notch treasure hunter, wide-open site, mind-blowing treasure SOMEWHERE, and what can I do about it? NOTHING!"
Aurum's shoulders, ears... Aurum's everything droops.
"I don't want to talk about this anymore."
And with that, it's back to work.
[[(...white noise coming from every direction...?)|Aurum Conversation]]Since Aurum's mentioned several times that they've been exploring the area, I ask if they've uncovered a route down to the lake.
"Oh! Yeah!"
Aurum grins at me, excited for the opportunity to once again brag about their skills.
"Yeah, you wouldn't have noticed, would you? But that path that's blocked by the stone wall? There's a gap just off the right side of the path. Hard to //see// for sure."
Aurum smugly touches one ear.
"But not exactly hard to hear. Picked it up during my initial sweep. The gap's pretty small, but I think you'll be able to squeeze through."
[[(I... got an answer to my question?? I had forgotten how that feels...)|Aurum Conversation]]
<<set $lake_path=1>><<if previous() == "Puppet Examine" or previous() == "Puppet Forensics" or previous() == "Puppet You Sure">>I climb my way back out of the dusty ditch, leaving the puppet safely hidden away for now. I can come fetch it whenever I decide it's necessary.<<else>>I suck in my chest and squeeze between the trunks of the trees as best I can. After fighting my way past several rows this way, I emerge onto a grassy clearing. Cutting directly across the open area is a bizarre ditch, maybe twice as deep as I am tall, that runs for a few dozen meters in either direction. The walls of the ditch are mostly vertical, but not far from I've emerged, I notice a ramp leading downwards. It looks like I shouldn't have much problem descending, and probably only a little getting back up.<<endif>>
<<if visited("Puppet Examine")>><<if $puppet==1>>Peering into the ditch, I can see Beleth's puppet where I left it, still waiting and hidden. It looks like it hasn't deteriorated any further since I last checked.
<<else>>The ditch is empty, Beleth's puppet having been called away.
<<endif>><<else>>[[Descend into the ditch!|Puppet Ditch Bottom]]
<<endif>>[[Retreat back to the main path|Shady Bit]]I make way down the ramp to the bottom of the ditch. Dirt scatters with every step I take and where I steady myself against the wall, suggesting the ditch was made recently.
As I near the bottom, I suddenly become aware, loosely covered by a layer of dirt, a figure lying not far from where the ramp ends. Sticking out from its chest is a short column, almost impossibly black. Somehow, the column is pristine, despite the general haze of dust that covers everything else. Underneath the dirt, it looks as if the figure was wrapped in bandages from head to toe. Just below where the column has been driven in, some pink peeks through, in the shape of a heart...
Oh! This is one of <<revise desc "Beleth's puppets" end>>! What the hell happened here?
<<revision desc>><<becomes>>I make my way closer to the puppet. The poor thing is completely inert, neither glowing nor moving at all. There's no glow from the tiny nub, its "head", at the top of its body, where I would expect to see the puppet's eyes. As I start to clear the dirt off of its wide, stocky body, I realize most of the bandages are damaged. Focused on the face and chest, but scattered everywhere across the body, deep gouges have been made in the material, in particular near the end of its arms, where massive hands like clubs lay resting. Whatever did this damage, it was thorough.
<<endrevision>>[[Take the column out|Puppet Column Take]]I gently nudge the column with one finger. When that fails to cause any reaction, I give it a few experimental tugs, and find it to be relatively loosely lodged in the bandages covering the puppet. With one sharp yank, I'm able to get the few buried inches free.
Now that I'm holding it, I can see it's not entirely black -- thin, ethereal blue lines trace an orbit around the column near its base. Due to the deep blackness of the rest of the column, the lines almost appear to be inside it, rather than on its surface.
As I examine it, I realize there's a slight but growing numbness in my fingers. After a moment's panic, I realize I've experienced this feeling before, in certain magic-warded zones. Popping a digit into my mouth confirms my guess; this thing is passively draining the magic from the area. But I thought...
[[Thought what?|Puppet Column Examine]]Wait, wait wait wait, this thing isn't just some common ward. This thing is //distilled// magic. There's plenty of ways of baking magic into a physical object, but this... this is //raw magic//! That's hard enough with most kinds of magic, but with a nullification spell?!
This is serious stuff. I can't even tell you how few magicians could pull something like this off. Just... passively absorbing magic is crazy enough, but cracking this open would obliterate all the magic in... a ten-yard radius? Twenty? Fifty? Okay, I have no idea. Estimating the effects of Archmage-level magic is a little outside my wheelhouse.
I gingerly drop the crystal in my sack, noting the onset of numbness in the side it hangs on.
And that's when the puppet rises up and advances on me.
[[Run for it!|Puppet Run]]
[[Stand your ground!|Puppet Stand]]
[[Use the crystal!!|Puppet Null]]I turn and make a break for the ramp leading out of the ditch. Two steps up, my foot hits a loose patch of soil, causing me to trip and fall sideways back into the ditch. I hit my side hard, sending an ache through my ribs and knocking the wind out of me. I roll onto my back, ignoring the fire in my chest, and manage to struggle to my feet right as the puppet catches up to me...
...and stands there. Oh... right, Beleth's puppets were ordered to obey us, weren't they? I... I forgot...
[[Examine the Puppet|Puppet Examine]]Ha ha, right, yes. Because Beleth's puppets were ordered to obey any Topsider volunteers for this mission, weren't they? Good, glad to see you're paying attention.
(...I slip the Null Magic Crystal back in my pack...)
[[Examine the Puppet|Puppet Examine]]Are you kidding me? I just got through telling you how insanely rare this thing is, and you want me to crack it open against the first homicidal magically-animated golem that tries to kill me? What if I'm attacked by an even more terrifying golem later today? Won't //you// feel stupid, then.
In any event, the puppet was just walking up to me. It seems you forgot that Beleth's puppets were ordered to obey us for this mission. Try to pay attention next time.
(...I put the Null Magic crystal back in my pack...)
[[Examine the puppet|Puppet Examine]]Geez... this thing is in bad shape. There's at least a dozen places where the bandages have suffered a deep tear, a black material with thin red cracks peeking through beneath. The single, pink eye taking up most of the puppet's "head" is slightly cracked, and shifts unsteadily back and forth. The fingers on the end of each club-like hand twitch and jerk, unable to return to rest.
It does seem to be waiting for orders, at least. And I'm pretty sure any of the Hellsiders I've met would actually listen to me if I sic'd this thing on them. But to be honest, I don't know if I trust this thing to work even once, and I'd rather not be the one responsible for ruining one of Commander Beleth's puppets.
Okay, gameplan: if there's a Hellsider I really, absolutely cannot convince to evacuate on my own, I'll send the puppet after them. As a last resort. Getting everyone to safety and curing carriers takes precedence over preserving this puppet, but ideally I'll be able to manage on my own, then report back to Commander Beleth with this thing's location while it's still operational. Sound good?
[[Sounds good.|Puppet Ditch Edge]]
[[Assess the puppet more closely.|Puppet You Sure]]<<set $puppet=1>><<set $dispel=1>><<if previous() == "Northern Ruins">>I push my way past the dead brambles, revealing a path just beyond which wends it way into the thicker part of the forest. A few tiles still set in the ground suggest this was once a common thoroughfare. The trail ends at a small clearing, completely encircled by the thorny vines, bringing this path towards the ruined stone buildings I saw earlier to a premature end.
<<endif>>There's a squat column here, covered with ruins. Etched in the top appears to be a rough map of the area. I recognize the entrance to the south, where I arrived, and a few circle indicating the structures found on the east side of the lake, following the right fork from the overlook. Curiously, there are a number of square markings indicating buildings out in the thickest part of the foliage, where there couldn't be anything more than a foundation now.
<<if not visited("Map Quiz 7")>>Tiny motes of light trace the outline of the map's contours, enticing me to touch it.
[[Touch the Map|Map Quiz 1]]<<elseif visited("Map Quiz 7") and (not $compass or $compass==0)>>A curious wooden sphere sits atop the now-inert map.
[[Take the Sphere|Compass Get]]<<endif>>
[[Leave the area|Northern Ruins]]I place my palm on the map. In response, the lines of the map flare briefly, then settle into a soft glow. All at once, my sense of smell is overwhelmed by the pungent bouquet of wildflowers: a dozen varieties, all at once, flooding the air with their scent. I look around, but the local flora is as dull here as it was a minute ago. The aroma comes from nowhere, and upon further reflection, has some of the qualities of a memory...
The map seems to be waiting for me...
[[Touch the north region|Map Quiz 2]]
[[Touch the east region|Wrong Answer]]
[[Touch the south region|Wrong Answer]]
[[Touch the west region|Wrong Answer]]
[[Touch the lake|Wrong Answer]]I touch the northern portion of the map, near the wildflower field I saw earlier. The field lights up in green for a moment, and as it fades, so too does the smell of wildflowers.
Now I hear something -- chirping and ruffling, the sounds of fauna in the nearby bushes. Again, a quick glance around reveals that nothing has changed: the foliage is entirely still, without even a breeze to disturb it.
The map seems to be waiting for me...
[[Touch the north region|Wrong Answer]]
[[Touch the east region|Wrong Answer]]
[[Touch the south region|Wrong Answer]]
[[Touch the west region|Map Quiz 3]]
[[Touch the lake|Wrong Answer]]As I reach out to touch the map, a spark leaps from the region I'm about to touch and travels up my arm, causing it to jerk back involuntarily. A stinging pain shoots from the tip of my finger to my shoulder and back again several times before it subsides, leaving only an unpleasant tingle as a reminder of my failure.
Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to get better acquianted with the area before we try that again.
Please.
[[Take a step back|Map Column]]I touch the western portion of the map, where I saw those Smelodingos playing earlier. A series of subtle lines, detailing the exact location of their nest, briefly lights up as I do so.
This time, when it fades, I feel something jab into my ankle. I look down and see nothing, but another pinpoint of pain, higher up, joins the first. Reflexively, I reach down and pull up the leg of my pants to check, but there's nothing there -- even as a few more phantom points prick my other leg. I take a step backwards, but my clothing has snagged on... no, that's simply another aspect of the illusion. The initial sensations of pain start to fade, but for every one that does so, two more jab at my limbs, a few now attacking my shoulders. None are particularly painful, but the overall effect is starting to become distressing.
The map seems to be waiting for me...
[[Touch the north region|Wrong Answer]]
[[Touch the east region|Map Quiz 4]]
[[Touch the south region|Wrong Answer]]
[[Touch the west region|Wrong Answer]]
[[Touch the lake|Wrong Answer]]Uncertain of where I should be touching exactly, I hastily poke the eastern portion of the map. This seems to be good enough -- thin lines weaving throughout the entire region light up for a moment, and the prickling sensations abruptly fade.
I suddenly feel as if I am looking uphill at something, even as the ground below me remains flat. I fight back a feeling of nausea as my brain struggles to reconcile what I'm seeing with the impression of seeing two shadowy figures, a few feet apart, just up a slope, kneeling at the ground and working hastily. Each seems to be... coaxing a plant into growing?
Other shadowy figures pass by me, heading up the slope, between the two kneeling workers, fading as they pass beyond. With the workers attending to the soil and the travellers heading away from me, I can't get a good look at anyone's faces. But when I do catch a glimpse -- when, for example, one traveller stops to check on the child they're leading away by the end -- the expression is clear. Anxiety. Uncertainity. Fear.
Time is moving more swiftly now... the workers have each grown a tree taller than themselves. The travellers come more frequently, each group carrying more than the last. But now they thin out again, the last to leave. The workers finish their job, bending the tops of trees towards each other, to form a splendid arch.
The map seems to be waiting for me...
[[Touch the north region|Wrong Answer]]
[[Touch the east region|Wrong Answer]]
[[Touch the south region|Map Quiz 5]]
[[Touch the west region|Wrong Answer]]
[[Touch the lake|Wrong Answer]]I fumble about to relocate the map through my confused vision. I managed to grasp the edge of the stone column, which gives me enough focus to concentrate on the contours of the map behind the illusion. I jab at the southern region, right where the wooden arch is located. The vision fades, and I'm back amongst the briars and the ruins.
My Watersense suddenly tingles. My fingers tense on their own, questing down into the depths of the clear, cool water. My mind begins to slip... I'm floating downward, sinking towards the middle... my Watersense expands outwards, finding the shape of the body, teasing out the currents... it's still here, and quiet. Nothing stirs. The water is safe, calm, and gentle.
Satisfied, I let my mind relax, and begin to reel it back towards my body.
[[Withdraw|Map Quiz 6]]My relaxation is interrupted by a lurch in my belly. My mind slips from my grasp, and begins plunging back down into the water, deeper and deeper. It sinks past the center without so much as slowing. I reach out, trying to pull my mind back up, but the water is too cold, too dark down here to regain my grip.
I feel myself plummeting now, gaining speed. My heart is pounding, ears burning, tongue dry. The reflex I rely on to withdraw is gone; my instincts fail me. The more frantically I try to recover, the faster I drown. Like an infant, I can only watch as I slip away. Deeper. Deeper.
It's too far now. There's nothing I can do.
<<timedreplace 30>>My mind settles at the bottom of the lake. No light pierces this deep, despite the purity of the water. There is only the stillness. And the darkness.<<endtimedreplace>>
<<timedreplace 50>>My body waits near the water's edge, slumped.<<endtimedreplace>><<timedreplace 60>> Useless.<<endtimedreplace>>
<<timedreplace 80>>I hunt through the memories of my muscles, looking for something to save me. I... was doing something. Map. Senses. Illusion. Lake. Arms. Movement. Move arms. Move, arms. <<endtimedreplace>><<timedreplace 90>>//MOVE!!//<<endtimedreplace>>
<<timedreplace 92>><<revise no "Move your arms!">><<revision no>><<becomes>>Nothing.<<endrevision>><<endtimedreplace>>
<<timedreplace 115>>My mind is...<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 130>>...is...<<endtimedreplace>> <<timedreplace 140>>not alone.<<endtimedreplace>>
<<timedreplace 142>>[[?y?|Map Quiz 7]]
[[??l?|Map Quiz 7]]
[[??n|Map Quiz 7]]<<endtimedreplace>><<timedreplace 147>><<goto "Map Quiz 7">><<endtimedreplace>>
I gulp desperately for air. My legs wobble, unable to carry my weight, forcing me to bend double over the stone column to support myself. My hand seems to have found the lake on the map by itself, the light just now fading away. I manage to compose myself, steady myself with my arms, and push up and away from the column, back onto my feet. There's a lingering pain in my head, having come up from the icy depths too rapidly.
There was... something... ow. My head hurts.
I... can't remember what I was going to say.
I take a moment to rub my eyes and shake out my limbs, and when I look back at the column, I notice a small wooden sphere, decorated with delicate metal wires tracing swirling patterns. It sits unassumingly on top of the map, as if it had always been there. The column itself has gone inert. Looks like I passed its challenge.
[[Take the sphere!|Compass Get]]
[[Leave it.|Map Column]]
I reach out and take the waiting wooden sphere. Which bursts into flame.
I drop the flaming sphere to the ground and clutched my injured hand, only to realize (a) that my hand is fine, and (b) that I have somehow failed to drop the sphere to the ground; it remains hovering in the air where I released it. I give the sphere an experimental poke, and confirm the "flame" is cool, merely the appearance of burning. As I poke it, the sphere starts to bob and float away from me, back up the trail.
Not willing to let my prize go so easily, I manage (after a few unsuccessful lunges, the sphere playfully dancing away from me) to snag it in one hand. After a moment, the "flame" disappears, and the weight of the sphere returns.
I drop the strange artifact in my pack and close it up tight. Maybe someone else will know what this is...
[[Head out|Map Column]]
<<set $compass=1>>Evacuation it is!
I enter the briefing room to find a projector playing a recording of Commander Beleth's briefing. Their mission is simple enough: head out into the countryside, find errant Hellsiders, and convince them to return to the nearest city to receive the cure. Since it's not like anyone could have missed the devastating plague or the Governor's orders, these will be the Hellsiders who are intentionally defying the quarantine. So I'm sure they'll be absolutely thrilled to have a random Topsider march up and order them around.
To be fair, if we need help, all we have to do is find one of Commander Beleth's magically-animated puppets and have it follow us around. It can even protect us from the smaller, less deadly wildlife we'll inevitably encounter!
So, is this the one?
<<revise yes "I've always wondered what would happen if I wandered off into the wilderness, alone, in search of demons who don't follow orders so I can order them to follow orders! Let's do it!">><<revision yes>><<becomes>>Ha ha, no. Let's try another one.<<endrevision>>
[[Maybe we can avoid having to fight with demons...|Briefing Choice]]
Clean-Up it is!
I make my way past haphazardly-piled stacks of party hats to find a seat. A recording of Commander Biff lays out the mission for us:
The bodies of the victims still carry the plague, so we have to make sure they're disposed of. But rather than ask us to carry the bodies to the nearest incineration facility (that would be ridiculous), we're going to put Commander Biff's magic party hats on them, which will reanimate them, so they can march //themselves// into the cremator. An elegant solution, to be sure.
Oh! And the self-immolation mind control won't kick in immediately, so we may have to fight the zombies we create until the override kicks in. Corpse-seeking compass included; provide your own blunt instrument of self-defense.
So, have we found our mission?
<<revise yes "Oh boy! Let's make a game out of who can perform the most resurrections on plague-ridden corpses! +1 point for each unholy abberation of life created, -1 for each zombie bite!">><<revision yes>><<becomes>>Hey, is there a mission that doesn't involve amateur necromancy? Because I had an idea: let's take a mission that doesn't involve amateur necromancy.<<endrevision>>
[[Let's find one with fewer undead...|Briefing Choice]]
Purification it is!
Commander Buer's choral voices explains the mission as such: there's a kind of magical plant, Barometz, which absorb all the negative magics from an area, which includes the contamination from the plague. All we have to do is transport the Barometz from Screaming Island to Bluegrass, plant them there, and we're done.
Oh, one wrinkle: Barometz are mobile, aggressive carnivores. The only hope we have of transporting them safely involves feeding them Mandrakes, which will put them to sleep for 12 hours, but which also emit an ear drum-piercing shriek (hence "Screaming" Island!) when uprooted. They put the "horrific" in "sophorrific"! So we'll need to harvest enough Mandrakes to keep the Barometz unconscious for the length of the journey. Or else they'll wake up and kill us enroute!
So, shall we sign up?
<<revise yes "What goes better with trying to plan transportation logistics in a magical realm where distance is malleable than the chance to be deafened and then eaten? I'm in!">><<revision yes>><<becomes>>Look, I've come to terms with the idea of being eaten in the woods by a monster. But by a monster //plant//? Sorry, that's a dealbreaker.<<endrevision>>
[[I've never been a big fan of gardening, I'm afraid.|Briefing Choice]]
Curing it is!
A recording of... a... no, a recording of a painting of... uh... wait, it's actually him! No... I... uhhh...
There's a rectangular thing on the wall and Arch Magni Andre (a living painting), Head Governor of Trebol Island, is on it. And he's saying stuff, and it might be stuff he's said before (sorry, best I can do):
The cure developed by Doctor Median has an airborne form, so Andre has come up with a simple and elegant solution to distribution: round up all the demons on Trebol into population centers, then launch explosive grenades packed with the cure at them. Choke the city in enough healing smoke to blot out the sun, and voila, 100% healthy population achieved!
Assuming Commander Beleth's recruits succeed in herding all the demons into the cities, that is. For the ones that resist, the cure also has a liquid form, which can be loaded into a needle. Or, say, a blowdart. Speaking of which, there's a crate full of blowdarts and blowguns right outside, for those who would rather fire weaponry at individual demons in the woods rather than at clusters in cities.
So, have I found my choice?
<<revise yes "Ah, finally, a chance to put all those hours practicing with my grenade launcher at the grenade launcher range to good use. Or maybe I should start with stalking demons in the woods, weapon in hand, and then come back to the part where I handle high explosives afterwards?">><<revision yes>><<becomes>>Yeah, hey, can... can we find a mission where I don't have to be proficient in multiple kinds of weaponry? Please?<<endrevision>>
[[There's got to be an option that doesn't involve munitions...|Briefing Choice]]
No! Wait!
Okay, sorry, I think we got off on the wrong foot there. I really don't mean to be a pain in the butt about this. It's not that I don't want to help. It's not that I'm <<revise fear "afraid" end>><<revision fear>><<becomes>> (Okay, it's exactly that I'm afraid. But for me, it's a reasonable amount of fear.)<<endrevision>>. I just want a mission that...
I want a mission that I won't screw up.
I want to look back on this and remember it as a time I really helped, not as one more thing I screwed up. I guess I was assuming there would be something easy for me to do. Something I could work hard at, but not have to worry about getting wrong. But from what I just heard... I'm kind of in over my head.
But I don't want to give up! With your help, I think I can do this. If you're willing to guide me, I'm serious about giving this my all. I just don't want to not disappoint anyone; that's all I'm asking.
[[Okay.|Give up 2]]
[[That's understandable...|Give up 2]]Okay! Great! Let's do this! Four opportunities, four adventures, four chances to prove my worth! I'm game for any of them! In fact, you pick for me! Any mission! Go for it!
@@.beleth;[[Vassal Beleth: Hellside Roundup!|Region Assigment]]@@
@@.biff;<<revise biff "Marquis Biff: Body Removal!">>@@<<revision biff>><<becomes>>Any of the missions that don't involve necromancy!<<endrevision>>
@@.buer;<<revise buer "Count Buer: Body Removal!">>@@<<revision buer>><<becomes>>Any of the four, just not one with carnivorous plants!<<endrevision>>
@@.andre;<<revise andre "Arch Magni Andre: Cure the Island!">>@@<<revision andre>><<becomes>>It's up to you, just so long as I don't need to handle munitions!<<endrevision>>Yes! Commander Beleth's mission! Let's do this!
I mean, maybe one of the other missions would let me avoid having to harass angry, possibly plague-ridden demons alone in the wilderness, so perhaps one last look at...
@@.beleth;[[VASSAL BELETH: HELLSIDE ROUNDUP|Region Assignment 2]]@@
Sorry, yes, you're right, you're right. This one just involves talking, right? All I have to do is snag one of Commander Beleth's puppets, take a quick jaunt into the countryside (I hear it's beautiful around here, visually and aurally), and wag my finger at anyone who's ignoring the <<revise word "evacuation" end>> order. <<revision word>><<becomes>>(Wait, we're demanding everyone returns to the nearest city, so... is that an unevacuation order? An invacuation order? Whatever.)<<endrevision>>
Good choice. Well-chosen. You're doing really well so far!
By this point, most of the other volunteers have already filing out of the briefing area, leaving just me and a few scattered Topsiders who are taking their time packing up party hats or determining which grenade launcher has the right amount of <<revise heft "heft" end>> for them. <<revision heft>><<becomes>>(I assume they're judging them by heft, since that's the only criteria I'd be able to use. "Ah, yes, this one is a //heavy// grenade launcher. This one is good choice for anyone who needs a grenade launcher that weighs a lot.")<<endrevision>>
The receptionist outside of Commander Beleth's gives me a painfully bright smile as I approach. "Hello!", they say as we approach. "What can I do for you?"
[["''I'd like to volunteer for Commander Beleth's mission, please!''"|Region Assignment 3]]I proudly explain that I'm ready, willing and able to assist Commander Beleth in his mission to round up the population for Trebol for treatment.
The receiption beams at me. "Great!", they say. "We're all out of regions to assign, so we're no longer accepting volunteers. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
[["''Wait, what? What do you mean??''"|Region Assignment 4]]As tempting as it would be to use this as an excuse to give up, I ask what they mean by no longer accepting volunteers.
"We've been assigning volunteers to regions of Trebol, to guarantee the entire island is covered. We're limiting the number of volunteers we accept to ensure all four missions are properly covered. I mean, what's the point of gathering everyone into the cities if we don't have enough volunteers launching explosives at them, right?"
I throw an anxious glance at the other three reception windows. To my relief and concern, they're all closed, the last of the other volunteers having already departed. I turn back to my receptionist just in time to catch them attempting to close their window.
"Is there something else I can help you with?" They ask, their cheeriness becoming slightly more uncomfortable.
[["''Can't you assign me to the same region as someone else?''"|Region Assignment 5 Same]]
[["''I've come so far! You can't turn me away!''"|Region Assignment 5 So Far]]
[["''If you won't assign me a region, can I just travel on my own?''"|Region Assignment 5 Alone]]
I ask if I couldn't be given a region that someone else is already covering (perhaps somewhere close, pleasant walking conditions, light on danger?), since the other missions are... wouldn't be a good fit for my skills?
The receptionist smiles warmly. "Oh! Well, yes, that is a good idea! A very good idea! When you put it that way, the answer is still no, because," they pause to reach out and delicately touch one of my hands with theirs, "as I just explained to you, we're limiting the number of volunteers to ensure a even distribution across the four missions."
They sit back, satisfied. "So, if that'll be everything..."
[["''Wait...''"|Region Assignment 6]]
[["''But...''"|Region Assignment 6]]
[["''I...''"|Region Assignment 6]]I try to explain that coming all the way to Hellside is kind of a big deal for me. They can't just tell me to leave now, right?
The receiption smiles warmly. "Oh! Well, yes, if you put it that way, there must be something I can do for you..." They look around a bit at the papers on their desk, before their eyes light up. "I know!", they exclaim, "I can tell you that next time, you should arrive sooner, while there are still jobs to do!" Their chest swells, clearly proud of this solution.
"So, if that'll be everything..."
[["''Wait...''"|Region Assignment 6]]
[["''But...''"|Region Assignment 6]]
[["''I...''"|Region Assignment 6]]I ask if there's any reason I need to be assigned a region, officially. Couldn't I just head out and help on my own?
The reception perks up in their seat. "Oh! Well, if you put it that way, I certainly don't see why not!" A moment later, their lips twist to side, a look of serious thought crossing their face. "Although, of course, you'd be misrepresenting yourself as officially sanctioned by a Commander acting on orders from Arch Magni Andre, which, if you were caught..." They look back at me, and cheerily ask, "You should take the time to learn more about the Hellside prison system before you try it. Other than that, knock yourself out!"
They give me a warm smile, and ask, "So, if that'll be everything..."
[["''Wait...''"|Region Assignment 6]]
[["''But...''"|Region Assignment 6]]
[["''I...''"|Region Assignment 6]]Before I can get more than one word out, the receptionist interrupts, "Look, sweetie, I would love to help. But there's nothing I can do!" They gesture to an inbox on their desk with a single piece of paper in it. "I simply don't have any more regions to assign, and without the proper paperwork, I can't..." As they talk, their eyes drift to the inbox, and finally notice the piece of paper sitting at the bottom.
"Oh! Wait, what's this??" They take a genuine, excited breath inwards, "Maybe I DO have paperwork I can assign you! But what could this be? I know I personally handed out everything..." They scoop up the piece of paper and begin scanning it, excitedly.
"Oh! Yes! Perfect! This is perfect for you!" They grab a pen and hurriedly scratch out something at the bottom of the page, before turning it around and sliding both the pen and paper across the counter to me.
Except for a crossed-out signature at the bottom, the page is completely covered with tiny, intricate lettering. It looks to me like the written version of Prattle, but the letters are too small for me to read comfortably in Common, much less a language I don't know how to say "Hello" in. The lettering is colorful, with mostly bluish-green lettering speckled with the occasional flare of red appearing in the margins or towards the ends of paragraphs. More recent additions?
"The team assigned to this region never finished their job, so the region needs to be reassigned. How lucky it came up just now! All you need to do is sign at the bottom, and you'll be all set! Go ahead, sign!"
[[Go ahead and sign|Region Assigment 8]]
[["''I have a few questions first...''"|Region Assignment 7]]
Nervously, I scrawl my name at the bottom of the paper. The instant I finish, the receptionist snatches both the paper and pen back from me. "Wonderful! A perfect match, I'm sure." They clap their hands excitedly.
<<if visited("Region Assignment 7")>>"Now then! Let's get to those questions! Ask me anything and everything you want to know. <<else>>"So! I'm sure you have questions before you go off on your big adventure. <<endif>>We wouldn't want to send you off unprepared, would we? Go on, I'm all yours!"
[["''Where is the region, exactly?''"|Region Where]]
[["''What kind of wildlife should I expect to encounter?''"|Region Wildlife]]
[["''Why would a Hellsider choose to ignore orders to be treated?''"|Region Orders]]
[["''How can I recognize Commander Beleth's puppets?''"|Region Puppets]]
[["''How many have been killed by the plague?''"|Region Deathcount]]
[["''Do you know why the last team didn't complete their mission?''"|Region Previous Team]]
[["''Is there a chance I could die?''"|Region Might Die]]
[["''Are you just pretending to be nice to me?''"|Region Fake Nice]]
[["''No, I think I know everything I need to know.''"|Region NEXT]]
I ask if the receptionist would be willing to answer a few questions for me.
"Oh, of course! Naturally you'd have questions, wouldn't you? I'd be happy to answer them! After you sign, right here, see?" They tap the bottom of the form insistently.
I try to explain that I would appreciate being able to ask my questions BEFORE signing, but they cut me off:
"How delightful you Topsiders are! One minute you're begging for an assignment, and now that there's a perfectly good one right in front of you, you don't know what to do with it!" The receptionist giggles to themself. "Now, I'll make it easy for you. You can sign now, and I promise to answer all your questions..." the receiption pinches the piece of paper and dangles it back over the inbox. "...or we can simply find someone else to give this one too!"
Disappointment sinks into my gut. The receptionist must have caught the change in my expression, and for the first time since we've started talking, their smile fades, replaced by a look of sincere pity.
"Oh! Oh, I don't mean it like that, dear. I'm so sorry! I don't mean to have wasted your trip. Of course you're here to help."
They brighten back up. "And you could help by making this a vacation! Tourism is very important to Hellside, you know. Why not see what our islands have to offer a Topsider with a little cash to burn?" They nod, pleased with this resolution. "I mean, one of our islands not currently recovering from the horrors of the Itchy Itchy plague, of course!"
...it doesn't seem like I have a choice...
[[Sign the paperwork|Region Assigment 8]]I ask if the receiptionist could tell me more about the region I'm going to be travelling to.
The receptionist smiles brightly. "Oh, you're going to love it! It's on the Northeast tip of Trebol island. You'll get to pass through Foxtrot on the way. Your route will take you right past Lake Simile. I have to admit, I'm jealous!! The whole Bluegrass region is lovely, just lovely. You're going to love it!"
"So then, what else can I tell you?"
[["''What should I know about Foxtrot?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''How long a journey will it be?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''What kind of wildlife should I expect to encounter?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Why would a Hellsider ignore orders to be treated?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''How can I recognize Commander Beleth's puppets?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''How many have been killed by the plague?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Do you know why the last team didn't complete their mission?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Is there a chance I could die?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Are you just pretending to be nice to me?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''No, that was my only question.''"|Region NEXT]]"Oh, goodness, yes, you're in for a treat. You're probably familiar with bweehorses already, but that region is particularly known for melodingos. They're as cute as they come, and my goodness, the songs they sing to get travellers to throw a little food their way! You know, we had one as a pet growing up, they're just delightful. My siblings and I would try to teach it new songs all the time, and I think it loved the attention. I know everyone just wants to talk about smelodingos, and yes, it's very interesting, smells you can hear, but in my opinion they're just nowhere as cute!"
The receptionist sighs and shakes their head.
"Let's see, what else can I tell you? You might not see many ambeeants, that close to the water... I can't imagine you'd be stupid enough to disturb a drone hive... hmm... pitch Wasps derive sustenace from suffering... no, I think that pretty much covers the non-hostile wildlife you'll encounter."
"Do you have any other questions?"
[["''Where is the region, exactly?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Could you tell me about the non-hostile wildlife?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Sorry, what was that about pitch wasps?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Why would a Hellsider ignore orders to be treated?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''How can I recognize Commander Beleth's puppets?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''How many have been killed by the plague?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Do you know why the last team didn't complete their mission?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Is there a chance I could die?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Are you just pretending to be nice to me?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''No, that was my only question.''"|Region NEXT]]I ask why a Hellsider would ignore orders to seek treatment for the plague, given both the personal risk and the dangers of infecting others during the incubation period.
The receiptionist simply shrugs, merrily. "I'm afraid I couldn't tell you that, dear! Demons are as diverse as Topsiders, really. Some might not understand the seriousness of the matter, or believe themselves to be immune for whatever reason." They sigh, and give me a weary smile. "I'm afraid you're not exactly seeing us on our best behavior. This calamity has really overturned our pleasant little island."
"So, was there anything else?"
[["''Where is the region, exactly?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''What kind of wildlife should I expect to encounter?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''How could a demon not understand how serious this is?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Are there really demons who are immune to the plague?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''How can I recognize Commander Beleth's puppets?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''How many have been killed by the plague?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Do you know why the last team didn't complete their mission?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Is there a chance I could die?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Are you just pretending to be nice to me?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''No, that was my only question.''"|Region NEXT]]I ask how I can be certain that something I encounter is one of Beleth's puppets, and not some other magically-animated construct, before I march up and start ordering it around.
The receptionist nods. "I wouldn't worry about that." They point to a poster hanging just to the left of the counter. "See these examples? They'll give you a good idea of what to look for. Thick, linen wrappings, one or more pink 'eyes', a cross or heart motif -- that covers most of the scout puppets that are out there right now."
The receptionist waves their hand dismissively. "And really, it's not like the island is crawling with hostile golems at the moment. You're probably safe just going up and giving an order as a test."
"So, was that all?"
[["''Where is the region, exactly?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''What kind of wildlife should I expect to encounter?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Why would a Hellsider ignore orders to be treated?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Are there demons who would refuse Commander Beleth's orders?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Sorry, did you say 'at the moment'?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''How many have been killed by the plague?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Do you know why the last team didn't complete their mission?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Is there a chance I could die?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Are you just pretending to be nice to me?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''No, that was my only question.''"|Region NEXT]]I ask if they have a tally of the infected and the dead.
The receiptionist bites their lip. They open their mouth to speak, then reconsider.
"Too many," they eventually say. "And too quickly."
"Was there anything else?"
[["''Where is the region, exactly?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''What kind of wildlife should I expect to encounter?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Why would a Hellsider choose to ignore orders to be treated?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''How can I recognize Commander Beleth's puppets?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Do you know why the last team didn't complete their mission?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Is there a chance I could die?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Are you just pretending to be nice to me?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''No, that was my only question.''"|Region NEXT]]I ask if they know why the previous team didn't complete their mission.
The receptionist nods, and pushes the region assignment form back across the counter to me. "Of course we know, silly! Look, it says so right here." They tap a cherry red paragraph toward the bottom of the paper. "See?" They trace their finger along the first sentence, reading as they go, "Team failed to report back to headquarters." With that, they take the form back.
"So, what else can I help you with?"
[["''Where is the region, exactly?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''What kind of wildlife should I expect to encounter?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Why would a Hellsider choose to ignore orders to be treated?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''How can I recognize Commander Beleth's puppets?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''How many have been killed by the plague?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Wait, what does the rest of that paragraph say?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Is there a chance I could die?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Are you just pretending to be nice to me?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''No, that was my only question.''"|Region NEXT]]I ask if, you know, I might die.
The receptionist half-suppresses a giggle. "Well, of course you MIGHT die, silly. It comes with being mortal, doesn't it?"
"Was that your only question?"
[["''Where is the region, exactly?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''What kind of wildlife should I expect to encounter?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Why would a Hellsider choose to ignore orders to be treated?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''How can I recognize Commander Beleth's puppets?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''How many have been killed by the plague?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Do you know why the last team didn't complete their mission?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''No, I mean, is there a good chance this mission will kill me?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Are you just pretending to be nice to me?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''No, that was my only question.''"|Region NEXT]]I ask if the receptionist's relentlessly cheery attitude is just for show.
Their face suddenly hardens. "I am not fake," they declare, each word slightly louder than the last.
Just as suddenly, their cheery expression returns. "But do you have any questions about the MISSION, dear?"
[["''Where is the region, exactly?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''What kind of wildlife should I expect to encounter?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Why would a Hellsider choose to ignore orders to be treated?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''How can I recognize Commander Beleth's puppets?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''How many have been killed by the plague?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Do you know why the last team didn't complete their mission?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''Is there a chance I could die?''"|Region NEXT]]
[["''No, that was my only question.''"|Region NEXT]]"NEXT!!" screams the receptionist.
Startled, I whip around to see who's crept up behind me, but the room has completely emptied out during our conversation. Even the stragglers by the crates have departed, leaving me as the last-of-the-last.
I turn back to the receptionist, only to find they've closed their window. I half-heartedly knock on it just in case, but predictably there's no answer from the other side.
I notice that, before their disappearance, the receptionist did manage to leave a map for me on the counter. It looks like it's pretty good quality -- not the kind to <<revise map "fade mid-trip or deteriorate without warning">><<revision map>><<gains>>fade mid-trip or deteriorate without warning (Hellside's wilderness enjoys a tenuous relationship with spatial relationships. While the general layout of landmarks and cities remains fixed, the exact distances that separate them, and all the little spaces in-between, are ever-shifting. A path might not lead to the same place twice; crude attempts to "force" one to, such as leaving a trail of string behind you, are the surest way to find out just how lost one can be.
It's possible, with magic and some care, to make a map between various destinations in Hellside, but even then a map may lose its accuracy over time, become less legible with every trip, or even fall apart entirely if the mapmaker added too much detail and thus attempted to pin down Hellside's landscape too aggressively. A good map will remain accurate while you use it, and have the courtesy to fall to pieces instead of subtly degrading until it can only get you lost.)<<endrevision>>.
So. I guess... that's that. Shall we?
[[Take the map and head out|Begin Adventure Take]]
[[Leave the map behind and head out|Begin Adventure Don't]]Alright. Got my map. Got my supplies. Got my phone, just in case. Let's do this!
The area I've been assigned to looks interesting. It's a crater a few miles across, with a lake in the very center. The bowl of the crater is made of stone, with the lip rising above the surrounding territory; in other words, there's a <<revise stone "natural stone wall" end>> surrounding the whole thing. <<revision stone>><<becomes>>(Apparently this kind of implausible geography is even more common on Hellside than Topsider.)<<endrevision>>
It's a hike uphill to the entrance of crater, where there's a break carved in the wall, after which the path goes back downhill, reaches a cliff above the lake, then splits into two around it before meeting again on the other side. The crater looks pretty heavily wooded, too. Hopefully that means fewer places for Hellsiders to camp out.
And the trip doesn't look too bad. Long, perhaps, but pleasant. It's maybe a four-day hike from here, depending on the weather and the condition of these trails. Looks like I'll get a good view of Lake Simile, even. Nice!
...I won't make you stay with me for the hike. I can handle that part myself. Just grab a puppet, then enjoy a nice walk in the woods. Easy. I wonder if I can have the puppet carry my pack for me? Seems a little inappropriate to use someone else's magical golem that way, but I can't imagine it would mind...
Why don't you just come back in a few days and we'll pick up from the entrance to the crater, okay?
[[Sounds good to me!|Hike 1]]
[[Take care of yourself.|Hike 1]]Oh, I see. You're going to be giving me //that// kind of help.
Great.
[[Take the goddamn map|Begin Adventure Take]]I wander over to the remains of whatever provided Olaf's current meal. Olaf shoots me a meaningful glance as I approach, but then shrugs and looks away. I guess I don't look like the type to just plunge into some raw viscera and start eating.
When this thing was alive, it must have screamed "apex predator" with every fiber of its being. It's hard to find anything (that used to be on the outside) that isn't plated, bladed, venomous, or some combination of the three. I briefly wonder how this species wasn't mentioned in a single one of the travel guides I read on the way here, but then I realize the obvious: travel guides are written by people who survive their travels. I wouldn't be surprised if more than one writer only managed to get as far as, "How majest-" before this thing closed the distance and closed the book, so to speak.
And then it met Olaf. And Olaf was hungry.
Again: yikes.
[[Back away|Olaf's Campfire]]
<<if $flowers==1>>[[Spread the plague flowers over it|Olaf Pranked]]<<endif>>
What should I give them?
<<if $garlic==1>>[[Give them back their garlic|Olaf Garlic]]
<<endif>><<if $flowers==1>>[[Give them the plague flowers|Olaf Flowers]]
<<endif>><<if $compass==1>>[[Give them the wooden sphere|Olaf Compass]]
<<endif>><<if $dart==1>>[[Give them the cure dart|Olaf Cure]]
<<endif>><<if $dispel==1>>[[Give them the magic nullification crystal|Olaf Null]]
<<endif>>[[Actually, nothing.|Olaf Conversation Start]]I offer Olaf the garlic I took from their garlic sack. Olaf gives me a look of confusion, tinted with just a hint of concern.
"Topsider..." they start, then stop. Their forehead furrows.
"...Topsider... you are... verry bad at presents," they eventually manage.
Worth a try, I guess.
[[(Not really...)|Olaf Conversation Start]]I start to offer Olaf the faux plague flowers, but I find myself stopping with my hand halfway out of my sack.
There are rumors about demons having some sort of innate reluctance to hurt Topsiders. If I were to simply throw what appears to be plague-bearing flowers in Olaf's face, though, right within tail-snapping, teeth-gouging, claw-shredding range, I have every reason to believe that relucance wouldn't be enough to save me.
I put the flowers back in my sack, carefully.
[[(...but maybe...)|Olaf Conversation Start]]I offer the wooden sphere to Olaf, careful not to ignite it. They don't seem interested, though.
"Hurr, Olaf isr good friends with these woods. No need fera guidin' light, thankya."
[[(..."guiding light"?...)|Olaf Conversation Start]]I pull out the sole cure dart I was able to salvage and show it to Olaf. They grin a toothy grin at the sight.
"Har! Yer a Topsider of yer word, it seems." Olaf rubs their massive chin for a moment. "Hrrrm... well, Olaf cannart go back oner deal. Yer win this time, little Topsider. Olaf will go."
With terrifying deftness for their size, Olaf reaches over and plucks the medicinal dart from my fingers. They consider it for a moment, then, as I watch on in horror, pop the entire thing in their mouth and crunch it noisily.
"Ahhh, Olaf feels bettr aready! My thanks ter yer, my thanks ter yer. Olaf will enjoy ther look on thurr faces when theyr find out Olaf is aready cured!"
Olaf stands, brushes themselves off (which merely serves to spread the blood and gristle trapped in their fur around), and lumbers off towards the exit.
...success! (although I'm positive that's not how you're supposed to administer the cure...)<<set $olaf=1>>
[[(Seems like a waste, really...)|Olaf's Campfire]]Reluctantly, I offer the magic nullification crystal to Olaf. Thankfully, they don't seem interested enough to even pause their meal.
I'm guessing Olaf has other ways of dealing with hostile magic. I'm guessing they involve stomach-turning levels of physical violence.
[[(That's fine, there's probably a better use for this thing anyway.)|Olaf Conversation Start]]Before I can let my sense of self-preservation catch up, I sprinkle the flowers over the corpse of Olaf's meal. I then call out to them, saying there's something they really should see before they continue eating. As they approach the corpse, I make a point of backing away, quickly.
Olaf finally lumbers close enough to the corpse to get a good look at it. As soon as they spout the flowers growing on it, they drop the hunk of meat they're holding. Their entire body locks up, statue-still, and for a moment the only sound in the field is that of the campfire crackling, the sound of the meat bouncing twice, wetly, before coming to a rest.
And then the screaming starts. Olaf begins clawing at their tongue in-between attempts to make themselves sick. Just as I start to wonder whether or not this was a good idea, they freeze up again.
Olaf, trembling (something I had assumed Olaf was not capable of), reaches down and delicately plucks a flower off the corpse. They examine it. Their eyes widen.
They turn towards me, expression terrifyingly blank. They open their mouth to speak, but no sound comes out. Even with no skill in lip-reading, though, I can tell what they just said.
"You."
I have about a 100 foot lead. I can probably make it a few steps before Olaf catches up with me. What's your opinion?
[[Die where you stand|Olaf Pranked 2]]
[[Die a few feet away|Olaf Pranked 2]]
As it turns out, I vastly underestimated Olaf's speed. Before I can so much as inhale, they're on top of me, their claws around me, arms like tree trunks hefting me into the air, bringing me up to their face, bringing me up past their face, throwing me into the air (hey, nice view from up here), catching me, laughing hysterically, wait what, throwing me into the air again, okay this is getting to be a really stupid way to die, and wait are those tears? Even from up here, I can (oof, these catches could be a little more gentle) see those tears.
Yes, Olaf is laughing so hard that they're crying. They continue to hold me up off the ground by my sides, but it's such a welcome improving from being chucked around that I can only feel relief. They regain some control, and manage to get out, "YOU! YOU, WITH" before losing it again. They rally, and this time manage a complete, "NEVER, NEVER, NO ONE..." before breaking down again.
Finally, they manage to bark you, "YOU! //PRANK//! ME!", releasing one hand (the other still manages to hold me in the air, effortlessly) to slap their knee. As their hand comes back, they flash me a huge smile. It's enough to convince me that I'm //not// about to die, but at the same time, still has far, far too many teeth to be properly reassuring.
"Littre Topsider is more'n just words! Nevr Olaf would have guessed this! Har! No one kern say yer don't harve guts!" With that Olaf puts me down, with only a few feet to go between my feet and the ground. I land on my butt unceremoniously, while Olaf fights off another round of guffaws.
They wave a massive claw at me. "Yes, yesr, you'vre made yer point. Olaf fights, and Olaf runs, but thurr plague is always stronger and faster, yur? So." Olaf pauses to wipe the tears from their eyes. "Strange times, Topsider. A runt orders Olaf, and Olaf listens. I'rl remember this one fer a long time, fersure."
Olaf takes a few moments to gather up his few posessions. As he stoops to pick up the last of the cooked meat for the journey, he pauses, then tears off a chunk and hurls it to me. I just manage to catch it, barely; I think I can throw these travel clothes away when this is all over.
"Take care, littre one. Anrd good luck."<<set $olaf=2>><<set $flowers=2>>
With that, Olaf stomps out his barbeque pit (//why// would you stick your foot into a pit for //roasting meat//, agghh) and tromps off towards the exit.
Success!
And I got some meat out of it!!
[[Eat the meat|Olaf Gave Meat Yes]]
[[Don't eat the meat|Olaf Gave Meat No]]You better damn believe I'm going to eat this goddamn delicious meat.
//Why is campfire meat so good//
Okay, that was amazing. Let's go help someone else! Maybe one of these demons is hiding some dessert?
[[Wipe your face and let's get back to it.|Olaf's Campfire]]What's that? I can't hear you over //how delicious this meat is//.
Okay, that was incredible. Let's go help someone else! Maybe there's a demon around here who's got some dessert stashed away...
[[Wipe your face and we'll go find out.|Olaf's Campfire]]Rouen stops. Their eyes widen, and their mouth freezes mid-sentence. Their grip shifts -- the crude, immobilizing clutch is replaced by a delicate, but still firm hold that puts a slight pressure on the underside of my wrist. Rouen's eyes lower to the side, their lips moving slightly as if working something out.
They pull my hand to their face. Their mouth quivers slightly, inhaling in a curious way. They look back up at me, considering something. They mumble, almost to themself, "Apologies, but... I must be sure."
There is a motion of his head that is too fast for me to take in. I find myself jerking my hand back reflexively, but Rouen has already released me, causing me to fall backwards onto my butt. A tiny mote of heat makes me look at my hand; a pinprick of blood blossoms on my fourth finger.
I almost find it in myself to be indignant about this when I catch Rouen's gaze. Gone is any trace of hostility -- they now regard me with wonder.
"You... you actually ARE afraid. Not just of me. But of coming here, of doing this, of helping us. You are afraid of your mistakes, of the unknown, of death."
"But you came anyway. Your fear sits hunched on your heart, choking the warmth from each pulse, but still you came. How... how is that //possible//?"
Rouen returns to rest, and stares upward, lost in thought.
[[...|Rouen Realizes 2]]There's a long silence. I remain sitting; it seems like Rouen could use some time.
Without taking their eyes of the sky, Rouen begins speaking again, carefully, slowly:
"I am, as well. I am afraid too. I am afraid."
They close their eyes.
"I have never been afraid before -- I burnt my fear long ago. But now I find myself afraid of life, and my fire is gone. I thought this must be how things end. My passion died, and so why not..."
[[(...)|Rouen Realizes 3]]What should I give Rouen?
<<if $garlic==1>>[[Give Rouen the garlic|Rouen Garlic]]
<<endif>><<if $dart==1>>[[Give Rouen the cure|Rouen Cure]]
<<endif>><<if $dispel==1>>[[Give Rouen the null magic crystal|Rouen Dispel]]
<<endif>><<if $compass==1>>[[Give Rouen the compass|Rouen Compass]]
<<endif>><<if $flowers==1>>[[Sprinkle the flowers over Rouen|Rouen Flowers]]
<<endif>>[[Actually, nothing yet...|Rouen's Cospe]]I show Rouen the null magic crystal, explaining what I've figured out about it. They sigh, and explain:
"I'm guessing you've heard that this plague is magical in its origins, yes? And so you've found something which absorbs magic, in the hopes of curing me."
Rouen smiles, but without warmth. "I appreciate the sentiment. But this is not what I asked of you. All I require are the flowers to mark my resting place. Please, save your efforts for the others."
Before I can insist, Rouen continues:
"Besides, simply absorbing the magic won't work. They tried that already. If it were that easy, they wouldn't have had to manufacture a specific cure. There are plenty of ways to dampen or absorb magic, some of which..."
There's a glint in Rouen's eyes, and suddenly their smile seems genuine: "Have you ever carved up a Barometz while it's alert, and ravenous? It's necessary to ensure the freshness of their organs, you see. Some of my favorite ingredients would be impossible to use if it weren't for the Barometz's powers of absorption."
Rouen rolls their eyes at a bit of internal pedantry, and their smile grows wider. "Well, not 'impossible'. Just fatal to either the chef, or the client." They flash me a grin. "Or both! Some ingredients are really //quite// volatile."
They sigh, the smile fading, the spark in their eyes vanishing once again. "I suppose those days are behind me, now. The flowers, please, Topsider. I would like to conclude this business."
[[(...it's like Rouen is a different person when talking about cooking...)|Rouen's Cospe]]I hold out the strange wooden sphere I recovered from the ruins to Aurum. They open one eye, slightly, in response.
"...yes? What is that?"
I... don't actually know.
"...what does it do?"
It... um... bursts into flames sometimes?
"...flames... you can cook with?"
...no... no, they're not actually hot...
Rouen stares at me for a moment longer, then closes their eyelid without another word.
[[(...if it's not about cooking, they're not interested...)|Rouen's Cospe]]What? No! I'm not going to do that! If I follow Rouen's request, they're just going to go into hibernation!
I'm not going to give up that easily. Let's look for another solution...
[[(It's going to be hard to restore Rouen's inspiration...)|Rouen's Cospe]]I offer Nido the single dart I have contains the plague cure, explaining what's inside to them.
"Ahh, yes. Right. Except no. Wrong. Perhaps you expect me to use the dart to trigger my memory of the plague and compel me to Foxtrot. To keep the thought of disease and cure in my addled mind. But I fear there's no reason to suspect I won't simply forget the purpose of the dart as quickly as I forget the purpose of my travels, leaving me with a point without a point. A missile missing meaning, ha ha."
"I'm afraid not, $friend. Sorry. Save this trickle of salvation for another. Someone in need."
[[(Fair enough...)|Nido Reminder]]
<<set $wander_tried_dart=1>>I offer Nido the magic nullification crystal, but they refuse to even touch it.
"Ah, no. No. I couldn't, I'm afraid. Out of the question. It is far too valuable! No mere trinket. You do realize what you have there, don't you? Are you aware?"
I confirm that I understand the function of the crystal, if not the details of its construction.
"Well, then, you understand my refusal. You must. Perhaps you are trying to pay me tribute, $friend, but I must refuse. Touching, but you mustn't."
[[(I'm not sure what they mean, but they seem too certain to argue.)|Nido Reminder]]
<<set $wander_tried_dispel=1>>I offer Rouen the pungent bundle of garlic.
"Ah, yes, I see! I see! This garlic could... could..." Nido pauses. "With this garlic, I'd... I wouldn't..." They stop, and try again. "If I had this with me, I'd be sure to... I'd... definitely..."
They politely hand the garlic back.
"I'm sorry, $friend, I'm have no idea what you were suggesting with this. None at all. Is this, perhaps, some sort of trick? Or a jest? Perhaps we should consider another approach, in any case. Some other possession, I think."
[[(I'll be honest, I don't know where you were going with that either...)|Nido Reminder]]
<<set $wander_tried_garlic=1>><<if not visited("Phobo Talk")>>I say hello to the tiny Hellsider, and try to explain that I don't mean any harm. They simply continue to stare at me, so I try to explain the importance of my mission here. They respond with the same stare, punctuated now by the occasional hiccup.
And then the words come, incoherent but insistent. They're trying to tell me something, but their sentences repeat, collide, come stuck and unstuck and intersect so badly that I can barely pick out words, much less any kind of meaning.<<else>>The little Hellsider is still babbling. I better try something else...<<endif>>
[["''There's a cure now, so there's no need to be afraid.''"|Phobo Final Cure]]
[["''Why are you here? What's going on?''"|Phobo Final Why]]
[["''You've been ordered to return to Foxtrot until the plague is wiped out.''"|Phobo Final Orders]]
<<if visited("Phobo Final Orders") and visited("Phobo Final Cure") and visited("Phobo Final Why")>>[[Say nothing.|Phobo Final Nothing]]<<endif>>
<<if visited("Phobo Approach Success Garlic")>>"No, no, no, no no, I did, I didn't want, they said, they said, and I, no, no, I didn't want, but they made, don't make me, no no no…"
[[(...the direct approach isn't working...)|Phobo Talk]]<<else>>"I... but... they said..." The tiny Hellsider clutches their chest and begin breathing slightly more rapidly. "I didn't want, I already..." They clench their eyes shut and bow their head. "I already, I can't... not more, I already... not more..."
They shudder suddenly, but only for a moment, before a total stillness comes over them. They stand up erect all at once, their body rigid, their expression alert.
"Foxtrot. Orders." They say to no one in particular.
They take a deep breath of air, and with that, they're off, sprinting across the valley and out of sight. I guess that worked?
[[(...It didn't feel right though, did it?...)|Phobo's Wall]]<<endif>>"They, they can't, they knew, they all knew, but they, they can't, and I didn't... I didn't... I should've, should've, but I didn't know! I didn't know!!"
[[(...that didn't help like I thought it would...)|Phobo Talk]]"I, they, they got, all of them, they were, and they, they said, and I wouldn't, but they, they, all of them, they told me, they said..."
[[(...this isn't working...)|Phobo Talk]]I leave the Hellsider to their babbling, giving them a moment to try to regain their coherence. Instead, they simply stop talking altogether and go back to their crying, but it's a softer, less desperate cry this time.
I can't take this anymore. I'm making the next choice:
[[Hug them|Phobo Hug]]I kneel down and take the tiny Hellsider in my arms. They weigh almost nothing, there being barely anything to them aside from fluffy feathers. Even in this gentle embrace, I can feel the gallop of their heartbeat, shaking their entire body.
Initially, their crying re-intensifies, but they quickly bury their face in my chest (only poking me with their beak a few times), and after the swell of this final outburst, the crying slows, softens, and finally subsides entirely.
A few minutes pass that way, the valley finally silent and calm. The Hellsider opens their eyes, but simply stares downward, occasionally sniffling. Then, their eyes snap up to mine.
"Thank you," they say, their voice soft and melodious.
And with that, they hop out of my arms. They take a big breath, and, without so much as a glance back at me, they sprint off, crossing the valley in a heartbeat and disappearing from sight.
Success!
[[(A happy ending, at least!)|Phobo's Wall]]I tell Aurum I have something for them. They walk over expectantly. "Oh yeah? Is it treasure??"
<<if $flowers==1>><<if not visited("Aurum Flowers")>>[["''Here are some flowers for you...''"|Aurum Flowers]]
<<else>>[["''Here are some flowers for you...''"|Aurum Flowers Again]]
<<endif>><<endif>><<if $compass==1>>[["''I excavated this wooden sphere thingie!''"|Aurum Compass]]
<<endif>><<if $dart==1>>[["''How about this cure dart?''"|Aurum Dart]]
<<endif>><<if $dispel==1>>[["''I found this crystal...''"|Aurum Dispel]]
<<endif>><<if $garlic==1>>[["''How about some garlic?''"|Aurum Garlic]]
<<endif>>[["''Er... no, I'm afraid not.''"|Aurum Conversation]]I offer Aurum the bundle of flower I've gathered. They take it from me, slowly and carefully. They consider it carefully. When they return my gaze, their face shows confusion and perhaps a touch of concern.
"Topsider... are you asking me out on a date?"
[["''Yes.''"|Aurum Date Yes]]
[["''No.''"|Aurum Date No]]I show Aurum the curious sphere I recovered from the ruins. Their eyes open a bit, and when they speak, it's with a tone of admiration.
"Hey, no way, you got that from here?" I confirm that I did, and give them the brief version of how I did so. "Dang. Nice scoop, kid. I'm legit impressed. I mean, yeah, you got this white noise thing tilting the playing field WAY in your favor, but even so I shouldn't have missed this. This would be a feather in your cap back at the clubhouse for sure."
[["''So... everything's settled, then?''"|Aurum Compass Further]]I offer Aurum the cure dart. Their brow furrows. They look at me, and carefully enunciating each word, they say:
"Treasure. Treasure is rare. Treasure is old. Treasure is powerful. Does that make sense to you? Treasure has to be //valuable//."
Aurum holds their palms up, pinching their fingers in apparent frustration.
"They are mass-producing this, and //giving it away//. It is not treasure."
They heave, and return to their work.
[[(...I guess that should've been clear...)|Aurum Conversation]]I fetch the magic nullification crystal from my pack and present it gingerly to Aurum, trying to ignore the unpleasant feeling it spreads into my fingers. I ask them if this will suffice.
Aurum's head suddenly whips around, all six ears radiating from their head. In stark contrast to the rushed pace of their work, they suddenly stand stock-still, simply staring at the object in my hand. Their expression is intense but unclear.
I ask again if this would count as treasure.
Aurum continues to stare, unresponsive. As far as I can tell, they're standing still, and yet there's a nervous energy underneath that gives them the impression that they're almost vibrating.
I clarify that I didn't find the crystal in the ruins, but further towards the entrance, if that's a problem. And while I know it's rare, I don't know if it's old enough or, uh, culturally-significant enough to count.
Aurum's expression remains unchanged, except for a slight trickle of blood running down their chin, oh my god their biting their lip so hard they've pierced the skin, what the hell?
I ask if everything's okay, if maybe I should just take my crystal and go…
As I move to put the crystal back in my pack, Aurum finally explains:
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
I have no idea what to make of Aurum's impromptu demonstration of volume control and lung capacity, but at this point, I'm ready to bolt. The moment I take a step backwards, though, Aurum manages to put together:
"THAT! HOW! WHERE! YOU?! WHAT! NO! HOW!? HERE?? HOW?!?"
They rush up to me and put both hands up in the air, begging:
"Give it give it give it giveitgiveitgiveit NOW!"
[[Give It|Aurum Give It]]
[[Don't Give It|Aurum Don't Give It]]I offer Aurum the potent bundle of garlic. They glance at it, then at me.
"Okay. Okay. Maybe your definition of treasure is a bit... loose. Just, typically... try and follow me here, okay? Typically, treasure isn't edible. That means you can't eat it. And not just typically, okay? Also specifically. That? What you're offering me? Isn't treasure. It might be the most opposite treasure I've ever seen. It's anti-treasure. Sorry."
"Maybe try li... //looking// for something shiny? That'd be a start, at least."
Aurum gives me a patronizing smile, then returns to work.
[[(So much for winning points with Aurum...)|Aurum Conversation]]Yes, I say, I'm asking them out on a date.
Wait, what? //WHAT?// Why the hell did you have me say that? What possible reason could you have??
Aurum's face screws up. There's an awkward moment, followed by about four or five more awkward moments. Finally, they thrust the flowers back into my arms without a word and go back to work.
Our mission to humiliate me is going so smoothly.
Oh, was that not our mission? Something to do with a plague? That is sounding familiar, now that I think about it. Let's get that squared away before you offer any more "help" with my love life, okay?
[[(...I put "help" in quotation marks because I was using it ironically. Just so we're clear.)|Aurum Conversation]] No, I say, that's not why.
"Oh." Aurum says. "Then… what's with the flowers?"
I... I honestly don't know. I guess these wildflowers aren't exactly treasure, are they? I guess there have never been any wildflowers that could be considered treasure.
The touch of concern on Aurum's face blossoms into a full-blown expression of pity. They gently hand the flowers back and return to their work without another word.
[[(...I guess that could have gone worse...)|Aurum Conversation]]<<set $aurum=1>><<set $compass=2>>I take the tiny paw in my hand once more.
"It has been very good to meet you. I have had a lovely time. I hope we have the chance to speak again."
And with that, they're off, clanging their way up the trail and out of sight.
[[(...well, they weren't very happy about it... but at least it worked?)|Aurum's Ruins]]I've probably got a powerful bargaining chip here. On the other hand, Aurum is terrifying me, which is why I rationally choose to hurl the crystal at Aurum's head. Aurum catches it out of the air and rushes it back to their tools.
<<display "Aurum Examines crystal">>Stunned by Aurum's [strike]insanity[strike] enthusiasm, I hold the crystal up, out of their reach. I manage to relish having the upper hand, physically and figuratively, for about two seconds before Aurum leaps at me. They manage to land on my chest and scramble upwards, easily snagging the crystal before hopping back down.
I briefly consider protesting, but I'm not convinced it would be worth the struggle to explain to Aurum what they just did wrong. Instead, I let them scurry back to their tools with the crystal in-hand.
<<display "Aurum Examines crystal">>Within seconds, Aurum has jammed a strange lens in one eye, some kind of plug in one ear, and is holding what appears to be a tuning fork. They squat in the dirt, passing the fork up and down the crystal, occasionally tapping it to the side of their lens, or holding it up to their plugged ear and letting it vibrate. They twist the crystal this way and that, examining something unseen.
After working their way from the top of the crystal to its base and back, Aurum drops the tuning fork to one side. They pluck out their earplug and let it fall in the dirt next to the fork. The lens seems to fall out on its own, but without removing their eyes from the crystal, Aurum manages to snag it out of the air, almost automatically.
Aurum unceremoniously plops onto their butt, ears sagging. Their nose wrinkles, and their brow creases in the center. It's tempting to leave them to their own little bubble, but I feel it necessary to ask what the problem is.
"The problem?" Aurum looks up, eyes moist. "The problem is that it's PERFECT. It's PERFECT!" They look back down at it, eyes filled with awe. "The arcanery! The leywork! Flawless!" They lightly move a single finger around the crystal and down, tracing a spiral across its surface. "Every layer interlocking with every other! It's impossible to even design a spell like this. It's unheard of!"
There's a flash of anger. "And I MISSED IT. I let some bumbling greenfoot saunter right in and scoop me." Their voice harshens, each word a stab at the air. "Less than a green foot! Less than a Zero!! A NOTHING." The hand holding the lens suddenly clenches. There's a muffled snap from their fist, but Aurum doesn't seem to notice. When they look back up, the anger is gone, replaced by pure sorrow.
"How?? How did you do it? Tell me!!"
[["''Raw natural talent, my friend.''"|Aurum Natural Talent]]
[["''Luck, pure and simple.''"|Aurum Luck]]
[["''It was all skill!''"|Aurum Skill]]
[["''A combination of things, really...''"|Aurum Combination]]I explain that my finding the crystal was the result of my born affinity with water, pure and simple.
Aurum's eyes unfocus slightly. Their gaze drops. Staring at nothing, they weakly croak, "So that's it? Doesn't matter... doesn't matter how good you are, how hard you work... there's stuff you're just born with or you aren't?? So I might never get any better because of who I //am//???" Tears begin to bead in the corners of their eyes.
Cripes. I think we need to say something.
[["''Well, no, obviously I got lucky, too...''"|Aurum Combination]]I explain that my finding the crystal was just luck, nothing more.
Aurum's eyes unfocus slightly. Their gaze drops. Staring at nothing, they weakly croak, "So that's it? Doesn't matter... doesn't matter how good you are, how hard you work... it's just random? It's all random? Everything is random??" Tears begin to bead in the corners of their eyes.
Cripes. I think we need to say something.
[["''Well, no, my watersense was important too...''"|Aurum Combination]]I explain, calm and cool, that my incredible skills allowed me to hahahahaha ha ha ha ha, phew, nope, there's no way I'm going to be able to do this one with a straight face. Pick something else.
Me, skilled at something. You're funny.
[["''Raw natural talent, my friend.''"|Aurum Natural Talent]]
[["''Luck, pure and simple.''"|Aurum Luck]]
[["''A combination of things, really...''"|Aurum Combination]]I explain that it was a combination of things -- my affinity with water, the curious way the magic of the lake has spread into the roots of the trees, and the circumstances of the crystal's hiding place.
Aurum starts nodding to themselves, putting things together.
"Right, so... it's not that I wouldn't have found it, sure... it was just a perfect chord for you, in this case. The right place, the right treasure, the right time. Yeah, sure. That makes sense. If it hadn't been for that white noise, I wouldda..."
Aurum suddenly slaps their forehead. "AHH! AHH! AHH!" What, I ask, not ready for another full-blown screaming fit quite so soon.
"White noise! Everywhere!" They point at me. "You said it yourself! The magic from the lake! It's in the trees! The bushes! The grass! Everything!!" They throw their arms wide. "It's frickin' Trebol! What does magic do on Trebol??"
They grab an ear in each hand and start pulling. "It //sings!// Everything sings! It's all the same magic! It's all the same song!"
Without releasing their ears, Aurum starts bouncing in place, grinning manically. "That's just, that's perfect, that's perfect! Oh man!" One hand releases an ear so Aurum can work through some invisible math on their fingers. "Reclassify the site, seal the claim... pull a favor or two to get my old crew back together..."
[[Try and keep up.]]
[[Tune out.]]Hey!
Thanks for joining me on this! I really appreciate you coming along. I usually don’t have the stomach for this kind of thing, but when I heard just how bad the disease outbreak was, well, I had to volunteer, right? I have to admit, I’m still kind of scared, heading into a quarantine area with a rampaging disease, but there’s got to be something I can do to help!
[[Sorry, 'rampaging?'|Opening 2]] ...okay, so “rampaging” isn’t the right word. I guess the right word would be “rampaged”, past tense. And yes, they’ve found a cure, so it wouldn’t be a problem even if I did catch it. And //yes//, if you want to get //really// pedantic, Topsiders like me are immune to the disease, so... it's not like it would have been dangerous anyway.
It’s still a scary //idea//, okay?
Anyway. As soon as I heard about how they needed Topsiders to help clean up the aftermath of the outbreak, I immediately packed my stuff and headed to Hillside!
[[Sorry, 'immediately?'|Opening 3]] Okay, not exactly "immediately". I mean, I had to buy a few things to make sure I was ready, you know? And sleep on the idea for a night or two. And... I may have made a mistake when I was booking my travel arrangements. A mistake or two. A really stupid mistake or two.
So, yes, I’m officially part of the very last wave of volunteers to arrive. The slowest of the slowpokes. Fine. I still made it though, right? For me, this is still a big, exciting leap. Let’s focus on that.
Okay?
[[...okay.|Opening 4]]Okay!
So I’ve arrived at Foxtrot, one of Trebol’s major cities. Despite Foxtrot’s rural surroundings, they still have more performance halls, music theaters and discotheques than any city I've ever visited. Which isn't exactly surprising, thanks to the <<revise music "musical affinity" end>> of Trebol. <<revision music>><<becomes>>(There's something about the island that... bends everything towards music, as irresistibly as gravity. Speech becomes slightly lyrical. Walking becomes rhythmic. The vegetation makes music. The animals make music. The animals form //bands//.
It takes a certain degree of willpower not to hum, snap your fingers or tap your feet to a beat that seems to always be just beyond your conscious hearing.)<<endrevision>>
I've located one such theater that's been converted into a makeshift headquarters. There's not a lot of performing going on right now in the wake of the crisis anyway; a number of other theaters I passed along the way had been converted to serve as adjunct hospitals and storehouses to deal with Trebol's thoroughly disrupted supply chain. Clusters of Topsider volunteers mill about the headquarters' entrance, going over their assignments.
[[Go in|Briefing Choice]]I find myself in the lobby of Foxtrot's Topsider Volunteer headquarters. The walls are mostly covered with maps, schedules and charts regarding the coordination of the relief effort, although the occasional colorful swatch peeks through from behind them, hinting at the lively performances the theater usually hosts.
Emptied crates, a thoroughly-dirtied floor and random bits of refuse in every corner of the room speaks to the frenzy of activity this place has seen over the last weeks, but at the moment it's mostly quiet except for the chatter of the receptionists and the distant sound of briefings in progress.
A standing sign in the center of the room provides directions to four briefing rooms, one for each of the four different missions available to Topsiders. Three of the missions are being led by <<revise commanders "Hellside Commanders" end>><<revision commanders>><<becomes>> (All I know about Commanders is that they're among the most powerful demons in Hellside, responsible for protecting the populace from "threats". What threats? If you get a Hellsider to answer that for you, let me know. No really, let me know, the guide who ferried us here wouldn't tell me and I'd like to know before I traipse out into the wilderness.)<<endrevision>>, while the fourth is organized by the <<revise governor "Governor of Trebol" end>> himself<<revision governor>><<becomes>> (As crazy as random Topsiders getting to work directly with Commanders is, taking orders directly from the Governor of an entire island is even more implausible. It just goes to show how serious this situation is.)<<endrevision>>.
Which briefing room should I visit?
<<if not visited("Beleth Briefing")>>
@@.beleth;[[Vassal Beleth: Hellside Roundup!|Beleth Briefing]]@@<<endif>><<if not visited("Biff Briefing")>>
@@.biff;[[Marquis Biff: Body Removal!|Biff Briefing]]@@<<endif>><<if not visited("Buer Briefing")>>
@@.buer;[[Count Buer: Soil Purification!|Buer Briefing]]@@<<endif>><<if not visited("Andre Briefing")>>
@@.andre;[[Arch Magni Andre: Cure the Island!|Andre Briefing]]@@<<endif>><<if visited("Beleth Briefing") and visited("Biff Briefing") and visited("Buer Briefing") and visited("Andre Briefing")>>
[[Chicken out and go home, I guess!|Give up]]<<endif>>Oh, I also would prefer not to die.
Actually, let's put that one first:
1) No dying,
2) Don't disappoint anyone.
Just help me with those two things, okay? Please?
[[Let's look at those missions again...|Briefing Choice 2]]<<set $check = 0>>...
...hey, welcome back!
The hike was, exactly as I expected, long but pleasant. It really is lovely, here; every forest has its ambient sounds, but only on Trebol do they have their own ambient soundtrack. And nothing tried to eat me! Always a plus in my book.
I've just arrived at the entrance to the crater. There's a simple wooden arch built into the cavity of intertwining branches. A cool breeze blows from just beyond, refreshing after the rocky, dry trail leading up here. Before I head in, let's assess the situation.
[[Check your food/water levels|Check Food]]
[[Check the condition of your map|Check Map]]
[[Check the status of your puppet|Check Puppet]]
[[Check the battery level of your phone|Check Phone]]
<<set $check = $check + 1>>Doing great! The trail rations I bought are boring but filling, so I was able to take quite a supply. And staying topped up on potable water is never a problem for me. Really, all the lakes and streams around here make it easy.
...I'd kill for a real meal, though.
<<if $check is not 4>>What else?
<<endif>><<if not visited("Check Food")>>[[Check your food/water levels|Check Food]]<<else>>Food/Water Status: A-OK!<<endif>>
<<if not visited("Check Map")>>[[Check the condition of your map|Check Map]]<<else>>Map Status: Slightly frayed.<<endif>>
<<if not visited("Check Puppet")>>[[Check the status of your puppet|Check Puppet]]<<else>>Puppet Status: Don't got one. <<if $check is 4>>(Sorry.)<<endif>><<endif>>
<<if not visited("Check Phone")>>[[Check the battery level of your phone|Check Phone]]<<else>>Phone Status: No signal.<<endif>>
<<if $check is 4>>[[Two out of four ain't bad!|Ain't Bad]]
[[Not a great start...|Not Great]]<<endif>><<set $check = $check + 1>>Puppet. Yeah, about that...
...see, I saw a bunch right outside Foxtrot, and I thought, well, if it's so easy to find them //now//, maybe I can enjoy the countryside a bit before getting attached to a creepy magical construct. So I put off approaching them, and, well...
<<if $check is not 4>>What else?
<<endif>><<if not visited("Check Food")>>[[Check your food/water levels|Check Food]]<<else>>Food/Water Status: A-OK!<<endif>>
<<if not visited("Check Map")>>[[Check the condition of your map|Check Map]]<<else>>Map Status: Slightly frayed.<<endif>>
<<if not visited("Check Puppet")>>[[Check the status of your puppet|Check Puppet]]<<else>>Puppet Status: Don't got one. <<if $check is 4>>(Sorry.)<<endif>><<endif>>
<<if not visited("Check Phone")>>[[Check the battery level of your phone|Check Phone]]<<else>>Phone Status: No signal.<<endif>>
<<if $check is 4>>[[Two out of four ain't bad!|Ain't Bad]]
[[Not a great start...|Not Great]]<<endif>><<set $check = $check + 1>>Let me turn it back on... yup, full battery. As tempting as it's been to hear someone else's voice on the journey, I decided that I wanted to be absolutely certain I could call for help if anything went wrong. I've got the numbers for various emergency services, a wilderness survival guide loaded on this thing, no signal, information on the local flora and fauna pulled up...
Wait, what? No, come on, the signal's just being slow. Any second now it'll...
...
......nope. Well. Shoot.
<<if $check is not 4>>What else?
<<endif>><<if not visited("Check Food")>>[[Check your food/water levels|Check Food]]<<else>>Food/Water Status: A-OK!<<endif>>
<<if not visited("Check Map")>>[[Check the condition of your map|Check Map]]<<else>>Map Status: Slightly frayed.<<endif>>
<<if not visited("Check Puppet")>>[[Check the status of your puppet|Check Puppet]]<<else>>Puppet Status: Don't got one. <<if $check is 4>>(Sorry.)<<endif>><<endif>>
<<if not visited("Check Phone")>>[[Check the battery level of your phone|Check Phone]]<<else>>Phone Status: No signal. (Full battery, though...)<<endif>>
<<if $check is 4>>[[Two out of four ain't bad!|Ain't Bad]]
[[Not a great start...|Not Great]]<<endif>><<set $check = $check + 1>>The map's doing pretty well. Like I said, this thing is pretty high-quality. There's a touch of fraying around the edges, but this thing has plenty of trips left in it.
<<if $check is not 4>>What else?
<<endif>><<if not visited("Check Food")>>[[Check your food/water levels|Check Food]]<<else>>Food/Water Status: A-OK!<<endif>>
<<if not visited("Check Map")>>[[Check the condition of your map|Check Map]]<<else>>Map Status: Slightly frayed.<<endif>>
<<if not visited("Check Puppet")>>[[Check the status of your puppet|Check Puppet]]<<else>>Puppet Status: Don't got one. <<if $check is 4>>(Sorry.)<<endif>><<endif>>
<<if not visited("Check Phone")>>[[Check the battery level of your phone|Check Phone]]<<else>>Phone Status: No signal.<<endif>>
<<if $check is 4>>[[Two out of four ain't bad!|Ain't Bad]]
[[Not a great start...|Not Great]]<<endif>>That's the spirit! Come on, let's get this thing started!
[[Let's go!|Forest Entrance]]...well... we'll make the most of it, I'm sure. Come on, let's get this thing started!
[[Let's go!|Forest Entrance]]I try to follow along with what Aurum is saying, but it quickly devolves into utter gibberish. I can pick up the occasional word here or there, but they've clearly retreated into their own world.
<<display "Aurum Packs Up">>By now, I know Aurum well enough to recognize when the conversation has progressed past one-sided to entirely internal. Nothing to do but ride it out.
<<display "Aurum Packs Up">>Still talking rapidly to themself, Aurum begins moving in a blur, cramming journals and tools back into packs seemingly at random, yet managing to make everything fit perfectly.
When they come to one pack, they slow down, delicately remove a few sheets of thick fabric from it, and lay them on the ground. With a care bordering on love, they place the crystal in the center of the first sheet, then work through a series of complicated folds and tucks to completely enwrap the magical artifact. A second sheet is layed over the first and loosely worked around, followed a long, thin piece, which is looped through spaces left in the second layer. Aurum tenderly scoops up the finished bundle and straps it to their chest tightly.
The next few minutes are dedicated to Aurum attaching the dozen or so packs to themself, resulting in a creature that's more backpack than flesh. Ready to go, Aurum practically hops over to me, face bright with relief.
"Hey, thanks, thanks thanks thanks for your help, really. When I get back to the guild, I'm going to name you my apprentice."
[["''Wow, that's quite an honor!''"|Aurum Apprentice]]
[["''Uh, okay. Thanks?''"|Aurum Apprentice]]As I express my thanks, Aurum continues,
"That way I still get credit for this find. And we're gonna backdate it to yesterday to make the whole thing legit. You're cool with that, right?"
A sudden hint of panic appears in Aurum's eyes.
"Right??"
[["''Wait, what?''"|Aurum Apprentice 2]]
[["''No, that sounds unethical.''"|Aurum Apprentice 2]]
[["''Depends. What's in it for me?''"|Aurum Apprentice 2]]Of course!, I say enthusiastically, defusing the situation.
"Great! Great. Hey, swing by the guild sometime. You'll see, this thing is gonna be the //centerpiece// of a collection. There's gonna be a tiny little plaque for it and everything." Aurum thrusts a finger at me, grinning. "With your name on it!"
Oh geez, I actually felt really honored when they said that. I'm //starting to buy into this//.
"So hey, I gotta run, as you know. Bye!"
With that, Aurum shoots out. But just as they're about to round a corner and disappear, one ear shoots up again. "Oh!" They whip around with the same curiously neutral expression as before, robotically making their way back down the path towards me. Again, exactly as before, they stop at my feet, look up, and offer a tiny paw.
[[Take the paw again|Aurum Apprentice 3]]I can tell Aurum is disappointed, but if there's an angle to this that forces them to seek refuge from the plague, I'll take it.
"I mean... I mean...", they roll the sphere around in their hands. With one finger, they trace the lines on the sphere, observing the occasional flare of magic. "I mean, yeah... yeah, the construction's pretty interesting, and ain't exactly a common way of layering enchantments, so... yeah, technically..."
They give the sphere a twist, and it re-ignites, bobbing out of their hands as it does so. Instead of twisting and weaving away, as it did for me, it hovers placidly in front of Aurum, its colors shifting to a pleasant cyan. As they observe it, Aurum seizes an ear with both hands and massages it nervously from root to tip.
"Okay, yeah... okay, yeah. I did say... dammit. Ugh! Dammit! Man!" Aurum's massaging grows less gentle, until it starts to look terribly painful. "Why! Why this?!"
They release their ear, which looks slightly crooked to me as it returns to its resting state. Maybe I'm imagining it. Or... maybe it's temporary. I hope it's temporary. "Maybe I can... figure out some kind of spin for this on the way back..."
Their shoulder slump, and they go to work gathering up their possessions, ever motion radiating their grudge. They slam their journals into their pack, force each tool back into place in its case and slam it shut. "Man! Man! Of all the lame junk... I can't believe I gotta present this rookie garbage...", they shout to themselves as they strap everything to their small body, nearly covering it completely. They stomp over to the sphere, shoot it a look of disgust, seize it out of the air and stuff it into their sack in one motion.
Without looking at me, they mutter, "Yeah, thanks, bye," and head for the exit, muttering to themselves, "It's gonna be 'fool this' and 'fool that' all over again, I just know it..."
Just as they're about to round a corner and disappear, one ear shoots up again. "Oh!" They whip around with the same curiously neutral expression as before, robotically making their way back down the path towards me. Again, exactly as before, they stop at my feet, look up, and offer a tiny paw.
[[Take the paw again|Aurum Compass 2]]I take the tiny paw in my hand once more.
"It has been very good to meet you. I have had a lovely time. I hope we have the chance to speak again."
And with that, they're off, clanging their way up the trail and out of sight.
Success!
[[(...a plaque with my name on it...?)|Aurum Apprentice 4]]<<set $aurum=2>><<set $dispel=2>>At this part of the trail, the path flattens out a little bit, the thorns recede somewhat, and a bit more sunlight makes it through the canopy. Small stone columns line the trail here, and awww man, I //just// realized that Aurum doesn't actually //know what my name is//.
...so much for that plaque, I guess....
[[(...it's still a success...)|Aurum's Ruins]]Nope! Not falling for that twice. Nice try!
[[...|Aurum Conversation]]I ask Aurum if this fulfills my end of our bargain or not.
"What do you mean by that? Listen, if you're done showing off, I think I'm onto to something with this translation..."
What about our agreement to return to Foxtrot once they had a treasure, I ask.
They stare at me for a second, before a look of horror overtakes them. "Aw, what? No! You want me go back there with nothing but a Guiding Light and close my quest? I can't do that! Do you have any idea how terrible that will make me look?"
[["''Does that... whatever it is... count as treasure or not?''"|Aurum Compass More]]
[["''Are you going to go back on your word?''"|Aurum Compass More]]I make my way downhill, following the path towards the edge of the lake, water glimmering just ahead. After a short drop-off, I'm dismayed to encounter a bizarre sheet of stone cutting across the path, resembling the edge of the crater in miniature. The brambles that cover the western portion of the crater have made their way here, cutting in front of the barricade.
<<if visited("Aurum Lake Path")>><<if visited("Secret Path")>>[[Use the secret path|Water's Edge]]
<<else>>[[Search for Aurum's path|Secret Path]]<<endif>>
<<else>>It doesn't look like I'll be able to get through here. The stone sheet extends in both directions to where the foliage is too thick to travel, and the brambles prevent me from getting anywhere close to it. I better find someone who knows the area better...
<<endif>>[[Return to the crossroads|Nido's Trail]]I make my way down to the water's edge. The gravel of the trail turns to sand, soft and pleasant underfoot. The water laps gently at the shore, nudged by a refreshing breeze that plays across its surface. The temptation to go for a swim is almost overwhelming; for now, I need to focus on helping the Hellsiders still at risk here and return to headquarters as quickly as possible.
<<if not visited("Use your Watersense")>>As thirsty as I am, I should really take the time to use my <<revise watersense "Watersense" end>> first. A few minutes making sure the water is actually potable is obviously worth it.
<<revision watersense>><<becomes>>Oh, right! I never told you about my Watersense. It's kind of my talent, and how I make my living. I can learn everything there is to know about a small body of water by touching it. What sources feeds it, what minerals and pollutants are present, what lives in it, that sort of thing. Useful things to know if you're surveying grounds for a new farm, or smithy, or fishery. I can tell you whether a particular well's water will make your wine taste earthy or your bread sour. It's good freelance work -- plenty of jobs, opportunities to travel, decent pay -- but not exactly challenging.
As for how my Watersense works, it's hard to describe. Even I don't fully understand it; I've always just had an instinct for it. It may be easier just to show you.
<<endrevision>>[[Use your Watersense]]
[[Drink the water|Not yet]]
<<else>><<if not visited("Drink the water")>>[[Drink the water]]
<<endif>><<endif>>[[Return to the crossroads|Nido's Trail]]Trusting Aurum's advice, I move a few feet off the trail to my right and attempt to approach the stone wall. As I get closer, I manage to spot the gap they described: a break in the sheet that manages to look continuous when viewed from the path. I manage to force my way through the brambles (suffering only a few painful pokes) and squeeze through the narrow gap (only needing to suck in my chest a little).
Beyond, there's a sandy path down to the water's edge. The gorgeous, tantalizing water.
[[Let's hit the beach!|Water's Edge]]
[[Screw around in the brambles some more|No More Brambles]]Don't take this the wrong way, but you are //the worst//.
[[Go to the beach|Water's Edge]]I kneel down by the water's edge and dip my hands into the lake. My fingers tense involuntarily, but the rest of my body begins to go limp. My mind relaxes, extending down into my fingers, through them, and into the cool, clear water beyond.
My fingers twitch slightly, picking up the delicate subtleties of the water. I slowly release my grip on my mind, letting it gravitate towards the lake's center. I feel the tension of that pull, and follow it. As I slip deeper and deeper into the water, I begin to feel the gentle eddies of the currents down here, created by the interplay of hot and cold. My mind extends outward, feeling the walls of the lake. My grip becomes lighter, looser, until there is only the suggestion of contact between fingertip and mind.
I find the calm spot, at the center. The warmth from the sun above. The edges, holding me safe.
I can begin.
[[Analyze]]I //just// told you I had the magical ability to tell if water is potable or not. I'm not going to journey through the land of demons and monsters and then die to //algae//.
The Watersense thing will just take a minute, I promise.
[[Try again|Water's Edge]]<<set $water=1>>Gladly!
I take a big gulp of the water. With my canteen's supply having gone a bit stale over the last two days, it's really great to have a source of fresh @@.magic;water@@ right here to @@.magic;whoa@@ whoa whoa what is @@.magic;happening@@. What.
Oh, @@.magic;weird@@.
[[What?|Side-effect]]Generating Geohydrological Report... <<timedreplace 63>>complete.<<endtimedreplace>>
<table><tr><th><<timedreplace 2>>Base Measurements<<endtimedreplace>></th></tr>
<tr><td><<timedreplace 3>>Type: <<endtimedreplace>><<timedreplace 27>>Crater [Maar]<<endtimedreplace>> </td>
<td><<timedreplace 7>>Volume: <<endtimedreplace>><<timedreplace 33>>3.22 Gl<<endtimedreplace>></td></tr>
<tr><td><<timedreplace 4>>Surface Area: <<endtimedreplace>><<timedreplace 30>>25 ha<<endtimedreplace>></td>
<td><<timedreplace 8>>Average Temperature: <<endtimedreplace>><<timedreplace 39>>25.8 °C<<endtimedreplace>></td></tr>
<tr><td><<timedreplace 5>>Max depth: <<endtimedreplace>><<timedreplace 60>>[error]<<endtimedreplace>></td>
<td><<timedreplace 9>>Acidity: <<endtimedreplace>><<timedreplace 42>>5.2 pH<<endtimedreplace>></td></tr>
<tr><td><<timedreplace 6>>Shore length: <<endtimedreplace>><<timedreplace 36>>2.7 km<<endtimedreplace>></td>
<td><<timedreplace 10>>Purity: <<endtimedreplace>><<timedreplace 45>>87%<<endtimedreplace>></td></tr></table><table><tr><th><<timedreplace 11>>Magic Levels<<endtimedreplace>></th></tr>
<tr><td><<timedreplace 12>>Fire: <<endtimedreplace>><<timedreplace 39>>27 t/oz [very high]<<endtimedreplace>></td><td><<timedreplace 15>>Earth: <<endtimedreplace>><<timedreplace 37>>14 t/oz [above average]<<endtimedreplace>></td></tr>
<tr><td><<timedreplace 13>>Water: <<endtimedreplace>><<timedreplace 33>>117 t/oz [above average]<<endtimedreplace>></td><td><<timedreplace 16>>Air: <<timedreplace 42>>3 t/oz [low]<<endtimedreplace>><<endtimedreplace>></td></tr>
<tr><td><<timedreplace 14>>Spirit: <<endtimedreplace>><<timedreplace 45>>2 t/oz [low]<<endtimedreplace>></td></tr></table><table><tr><th colspan=2><<timedreplace 17>>Notable Inhabiting Species<<endtimedreplace>></th></tr>
<tr><th><<timedreplace 18>>Macrobiological <<endtimedreplace>></th><th><<timedreplace 19>>Microbiological<<endtimedreplace>></th></tr>
<tr><td><<timedreplace 29>>NONE<<endtimedreplace>></td><td><<timedreplace 33>>Unknown algae-like population [risk: low]<<endtimedreplace>></td></tr>
<tr><td></td><td><<timedreplace 41>>Unknown phytoplankton-like population [risk: minimal]<<endtimedreplace>>
</td></tr></table><table><tr><th><<timedreplace 20>>--Hazardous Mineral Levels--<<endtimedreplace>></th></tr>
<tr><td><<timedreplace 21>>Lead: <<endtimedreplace>><<timedreplace 39>>0.003 mg/L [risk: none]<<endtimedreplace>></td></tr>
<tr><td><<timedreplace 22>>Mercury: <<endtimedreplace>><<timedreplace 43>>0.02 mg/L [risk: moderate]<<endtimedreplace>></td></tr>
<tr><td><<timedreplace 23>>Nitrogen: <<endtimedreplace>><<timedreplace 47>>0.93 mg/L [risk: moderate]<<endtimedreplace>></td></tr>
<tr><td><<timedreplace 24>>Phosphorus: <<endtimedreplace>><<timedreplace 51>>0.0078 mg/L [risk: minimal]<<endtimedreplace>></td></tr></table><<timedreplace 63>>[[Withdraw|Return]]<<endtimedreplace>>I gently tug on my mind, and begin the process of reeling it back. I recede from the water, and ease into rehabitating my body once again.
Well, that was interesting! I'm surprised by how much Fire magic there was present. If it wasn't so remote, I'm sure some blacksmith would have already discovered...
Uh, sorry, forgot what I was doing there.
[[Is the water potable or not?|Quick answer]]
[[No, go on!|Water Palaver]]Yes, right.
Yeah, this water's fine to drink. I can drink it straight, most folks would do well to run it through a filter or drop a bleach tab in, just to be safe. Mercury content's a little high; I wouldn't prepare baby formula with this stuff, but to quench my thirst? No problem.
[[Well, good.|Water's Edge]]Oh, really? Well... sure, if you're interested, I guess.
So like I was saying, I'm surprised at how high the Fire levels are. Even for a maar lake, you don't normally see anything close to these concentration levels. It turns out water doesn't do a great job of retaining Fire magic! Who could have guessed? Before I could make any sort of official report, I'd have to figure out where that magic was coming from.
Actually, speaking of which, I'm surprised the Air levels are so low. Trebol's affinity for music made me assume that Air magic saturates everything, but this lake is low even compared to the average Topside lake. Spirit is way down there, too -- no wonder barely anything actually lives in it.
Acidity's high, but that's not surprising, given how this thing must have been formed. Nitrogen levels are high too; not sure where it's coming from exactly, but I don't think it would take much to create a fungal bloom scenario. Not that there's anyone living off this stuff, but it wouldn't be good for any animals that depend on it.
Earth's above average, and the purity is low for this kind of lake. I think I felt some roots poking through the lake's walls. Seems like there's some erosion occuring, and some runoff from when it rains.
With a little filtration, this place could be a really valuable resource for blacksmiths, or anyone working with Incense-based magic. Possibly a distillery as well, although you'd have to work with a blend or inject some Spirit magic directly.
I think that's everything!
[[...I think you've forgotten something...|Quick answer]]So... a side-effect of my Watersense is that drinking from a water source gives me a connection to it. Normally, I'd have a lingering sense of the @@.magic;pond@@; a feeling of where it is, of the space it occupies. It's like proprioception, but for whatever I just drank from. Usually doesn't last too long.
Right now, though... I'm not only aware of the @@.magic;lake@@, but the vegetation as well. The roots, the trunks, the branches... normally my sense stops as soon as something else absorbs the @@.magic;water@@, but not here. Here... I can feel the whole crater. It's... dizzying.
And... there are dark pockets. Places where there should be vegetation, but aren't. Hidden places.
I think I can find @@.magic;secret paths@@ now. I just have to get close enough...
Let's go exploring!!
[[Okay!|Water's Edge]]
Are you sure? I don't expect that thing to work more than once, and it would be nice if I could convince Olaf to leave on my own... they just want to know they won't get sick if they go to the city, right? Or...
[[Use it. Let's prove it we're acting on Beleth's orders.|Olaf Puppet Sic 2]]
[[You're right, let's not be hasty...|Olaf's Campfire]]<<set $puppet=2>><<set $olaf=3>>Yeah, okay. It's not like I'm going to be able to explain the concept of an incubation period to Olaf. Let's call in the puppet.
After a quick trip to the ditch, I return to Olaf's campfire with the puppet in tow. Olaf glances over their shoulder at us, then does a double-take at the puppet. A wad of half-chewed meat dribbles out of their mouth, ending up tangled in their chest fur.
When they speak, it's slowly, and more softly than I've heard from Olaf before:
"Yerrrr... hur, you weren't kiddin', Topsider. Beleth sent yer? Really?" Olaf eyes the puppet up and down. "Hurr... well..." Olaf groans. "Erh, can't be helpedr, then." They stand, and begin gathering their belongings.
Without warning, Olaf suddenly spits on the ground. "Feh! Beggin' Topsiders fer helpr! Whatr'r we come ter? Whatr'r they thinkin'? Involvin'r them, just askin'r fer themr ter poke thur noses in'ter this mess!" Olaf's tail lashes the air, with a deafing crack.
They stomp over to the puppet and jab it in the chest. "Arright, yer blastid cerntraption, lead th' way." As the puppet starts to march off, Olaf spins towards me and jabs a bloody claw at my face. "Andr YER! When yer done here, yer and yer Topsider friends oughtter go home, if'n yer know what's good fer yer."
With that, Olaf stomps off, following in the puppet's wake like a thunderstorm.
[[(Was... that a threat, or a warning?)|Olaf's Campfire]]Rouen's pack lies close to where the path starts to widen, so I can easily go over to take a look inside and see //whoa// that's a lot of knives. It's not just the number, it's the variety. I don't think I've seen so many sinister edges and hooks in one place before...
...I realize Rouen is glaring at me, a mixture of disbelief and outrage on their face. I step away from the pack gingerly. I guess on Hellside, it's rude to look through someone's personal belongings.
Oh no wait, that's rude //everywhere//.
[[Whoops.|Rouen's Cospe]]Rouen reopen their eyes, and shift their gaze towards me.
"I did not realize it was possible to live in fear, ice in your veins, but live anyway. I thought everyone..."
They suddenly prop themselves up on one elbow.
"...it's not just me, is it? I am not the only one who has lost... who has suffered. Who will suffer. They find themselves wandering a world they no longer recognize, a life they no longer recognize, a heart they..."
They pause, considering some new possibility. When they speak again, it's slowly, with a certain tenderness.
"...a heart they no longer recognize... but while worlds, lives and hearts change..." Rouen smiles widely, a smile I don't recognize from them; neither pitiful nor sharp, but genuinely warm. "...but not stomachs! Ha, yes."
Rouen rises, body and legs unfolding. I scramble to my feet, but when Rouen stretches up, they're easily twice my height.
"I see it now. The supply chains, disrupted. The cities, overwhelmed. The people, panicked. And hungry. Well then, //that's// something I can do something about. I will go to them, and I will feed them. What simplier comfort is there?"
Roeun walks, shedding fragments of chitin as they move. They initially grimace with each movement, but it's not long before their face is relaxed and smiling again.
"Perhaps among the afraid, I will find myself rekindled there. Or perhaps I won't. For now, I will simply live by your example, Topsider, and let the future bring what it may."
They clap a hand on my shoulder with surprising strength. I barely manage to regain my posture when a second joins it on my other shoulder, followed by a third and a fourth that falls just barely short of knocking me to my knees. Rouen leans down to bring their face near mine.
"Thank you, Topsider. Please, when you have a chance, seek me out. When all this is over, I would like to catch up with you."
<<if not visited("Rouen Poke")>>Before I can respond, Rouen delicately plucks the cure dart out of my hand, pokes themself in the arm with it, then return the drained dart to me, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. <<endif>>With that, Rouen heads back up the path, in long, loping strides that carry them out of sight.
[[(Success!)|Rouen Realizes 4]]What a fascinating person.
Possibly the nicest person I've ever met who's stolen a little of my blood. <<set $morte=2>><<set $dart=2>>
[[(...to each their own?)|Rouen's Cospe]]Are you sure? I don't expect that thing to work more than once, and it would be nice if I could convince Rouen to leave on my own... they just need to be reminded of their passion for cooking, right? Or...
[[Use it. I'm not letting Rouen's self-pity kill them.|Rouen Puppet Sic 2]]
[[You're right, there's got to be another way...|Rouen's Cospe]]<<set $puppet=2>><<set $morte=3>>You're right. They need the cure as soon as possible, and Rouen could slip into hibernation any minute now. We can't let them die just because they're depressed.
After a quick trip to the ditch, I return to Rouen's resting place with the puppet in tow. Rouen glances at me, then at the puppet, confused, then back at me. A look of recognition crosses their face.
Followed by a look of hatred.
"So."
They stand, body unfolding. Their double-jointed limbs extend, filling the intimate space. A gentle rain of chitin makes me wince, tiny spots of blood showing up on their otherwise immaculate apron. They loom over me, easily twice my height, and suddenly I find my eyes drawn to the variety and //scariness// of spikes that adorn their arms and feet...
Rouen suddenly thrusts their face inches from mine, and I find my breath caught in my throat. When they speak, every word stabs.
"I should have //known//."
Their arm jerks, as if to end me.
Instead, they snatch up their pack from the ground near me, never breaking eye contact. I hear a word they don't speak. And with that, they turn to the puppet, and land a heavy hand on its shoulder. Supporting their weight, the puppet trudges off with Rouen in tow.
...it... was for their own good.
[[(..."coward"...)|Rouen's Cospe]]Are you sure? I don't expect that thing to work more than once, and it would be nice if I could convince Aurum to leave on my own... I just need to search the nearby ruins for any kind of treasure, right? Or...
[[Use it. Aurum's love of treasure doesn't mean they can disobey a quarantine.|Aurum Puppet Sic 2]]
[[You're right, let's not be hasty...|Aurum's Ruins]]<<set $puppet=2>><<set $aurum=3>>Yeah, okay. Aurum's little guild or club or whatever doesn't have the authority to ignore a Commander's orders. Let's call in the puppet.
After a quick trip to the ditch, I return to Aurum's ruins with the puppet in tow. Aurum spots me approaching with the puppet, and immediately goes into hyper-active:
"OH MAN! OH MAN! Is that real?? Is that seriously real??"
They dash over, and begin sprinting around the puppet in circle.
"No way! No WAY! This thing is legit! I can't believe it! This is incredible! Ha ha, wow! You're the best, Topsider! Did you bring it here to help us search, or..."
Aurum looks over me, and catches the expression on my face. Realization dawns, causing every muscle to lock up simultaneously.
"No! NO! You're strongarming me?!" Aurum seizes an ear in each hand and begins tugging in distress. "You're strongarming me! YOU! AGGGGHH!"
Aurum dashes away, and for a second, I'm afraid they're simply going to run for it. Instead, though, they run back to the main stone column they were investigating earlier, and begin to franctically look it over again.
"I'm so close! It's right here!! You gotta give me time! Five minutes! Just five more minutes!!"
Embarrassed for Aurum, I order the Puppet over to them. The puppet lumbers over, and with a smooth motion, manages to scoop Aurum firmly but gently. It hauls Aurum over their shoulder.
"NOOOO!!", Aurum wails. "They're gonna bust my rank! They'll jump my claim! They'll call me 'fool'! They're going to call me 'fool'!! You can't do this to me, Topsider! You caaaan't!"
As the Puppet tromps off towards the exit, Aurum takes a deep breath, and shouts at the top of their lungs:
"//YOU SUCK, TOPSIDER!!//"
With that, the Puppet rounds a corner and disappears amongst the brambles beyond.
[[(...)|Aurum Puppet Sic 3]]Well... that was unfortunate. There goes my career as a Hellside Treasure Hunter, I suppose.
I awkwardly gather Aurum's possessions into the various packs scattered around as best I can (leaving only a few things that I can't figure out how to fit behind) and strap them to my back. I figure I can try to get them back to Aurum when I return to base camp.
...this stuff is heavier than I thought it was going to be...
[[(...should've made the Puppet carry this stuff too, I guess...)|Aurum's Ruins]]Are you sure? I don't expect that thing to work more than once, and it would be nice if I could convince Nido to leave on my own... I just need something that reminds them of the plague, right? Or...
[[Use it. Nido's mind is too addled to leave them by themself.|Nido Puppet Sic 2]]
[[You're right, let's not be hasty...|Nido's Trail]]<<set $puppet=2>><<set $wander=3>>Yeah, okay. Nido's too out of it to let them to just wander around, much less have them make the hike back to town alone. Let's call in the puppet.
After a quick trip to the ditch, I return to Nido's trail with the puppet in tow. Nido waves as I approach, and after our now-standardized introduction, I explain to a plainly delighted Nido my plan.
"Aha, yes! Well done! What a perfect solution an animated construct is! An ambulatory artifact! Such a brilliant solution. Shining, even!"
Nido looks the puppet up and down appraisingly. "Hm hm hm. Hm hm hm. I'm not familiar with the designer, I'm embarrassed to say. It's not my tribe, to be certain. But if you trust it, so do I. Associative trust, ha ha."
Nido takes the puppet's hand, gripping one of its massive fingers with their hand. "Now then, this fellow is programmed to bring me back no matter what, right? To force the matter, if need be? We can't let one of my little lapses spoil your idea. No, let's be certain."
I confirm this, to Nido's obvious relief.
"Well, off I go! Away with me! It's been a pleasure, Topsider. A delight!"
And with that, the two of them head off in the direction of the exit.
[[(Well, that wrapped up neatly.)|Nido Puppet Sic 3]]
Just as I'm about to finish patting myself on the back, I hear Nido scream from just around a bend in the path. I rush around the corner to find them desperately struggling against the puppet, who's dragging them away.
"Topsider! $friend! Stop it! Stop it now!! Hurry! Hurry, please!!"
Flustered, I try to order the puppet to stop, but it continues to lumber towards the exit, hauling Nido with one massive arm. Nido continues to plead:
"Please, please, stop it, stop it, I need to, I need to..."
I finally yell loudly enough over Nido's struggles for the puppet to hear me. It halts in its tracks, Nido still half-draped over its arm. I rush over to check on them.
"Thank goodness... thank goodness, Topsider. If I had gone any farther... if... I..."
Nido's face screws up in concentration.
"If I had... there was something..."
Nido's face clears up. Their gaze becomes slightly less focused.
"I think... there was... something..." They inhale, hold their breath for a moment, then let out the air as a long, sad sigh.
"Something... I was supposed... to remember."
They turn to me, head cocked to one side. I find myself at a loss for words. I think I can predict what's going to come next, but it doesn't make it any less painful.
[[(...)|Nido Puppet Sic 4]]"Oh, hello! Hello! How unusual to see a Topsider in so remote a place! So far a trip! Please, call me... hm. Um, hm. Tell me, stranger, what brings you here? To this secluded site?"
I stare back at Nido sadly.
"Oh, pardon me. Excuse me. I can't actually talk now, I'm afraid. No time to chat. I believe this fellow... was taking me somewhere? Some destination?" Nido shrugs. "The details are a bit blurry, I'm afraid. Smugged, it seems. Well, I'm sure I'll remember along the way. No doubt about it!"
Numbly, I nod to the puppet, which begins to lead Nido towards the exit once again. As he wanders away, Nido calls out,
"Good-bye, stranger! Best of luck to you!"
And with that, they depart.
[[(...I couldn't have guessed...)|Nido's Trail]]<<if visited("Nido Introduction")>>Nido<<else>>The Hellsider<<endif>>, tall and slight, wears magnificent robe that covers them from shoudler to ankle. Atop a dark blue background, bright gold-threaded patterns intertwine. What initially appears to be a simple series of triangles reveals, upon closer inspection, to be made up of smaller triangles combining in complex configurations. And yet even these subtle details turn out to be made up of comprised of even smaller, more intricate triangles. It's not clear how far down the details go: I suspect even a magnifying glass and an absent sense of personal space wouldn't suffice. It's possibly the most refined garment I've ever seen being worn, never mind while hiking in the woods. I briefly try to estimate how much a robe like that would cost, but when the most obvious unit of measurement turns out to be "my annual income", I abandon that train of thought.
Across <<if visited("Nido Introduction")>>Nido's<<else>>the Hellsider's<<endif>> head, they've tied a simple garishly-red headband, somewhat spoiling the effect of their robe. Their features are wrinkled but gentle, giving them the look of a kindly grandfather. They hold two of their arms behind the back, while the third cups their chin, making them appear lost in thought. They move about on three taloned feet with an unusual gait. Yes, by covering myself in these flowers, I could make myself look like a plague carrier! That would make //me// scary, and thus render me immune to the fear pollen.
Is that what you were thinking? Because I wish I knew what you were thinking when you suggested this.
[[(Let's try something else...)|Phobo's Wall]] Huh, worth a shot, actually.
I take the curious wooden sphere out of my pack and try to turn it back on. Which consists of several frustrating minutes of shaking, rubbing and squeezing it, with no effect. This thing was perfectly happy to go into "Explode And Float Away" mode when I first found it, why is it being shy now?
Finally, while running a finger randomly along the various lines etched into its surface, it flares out and leaps out of my hands. It starts to bob its way towards the exit, but I manage to corral it back towards the valley.
...but nothing happens. The magics don't seem to interact, as much as I was hoping for the flame to burn the pollen out of the air or... something. I really have no idea.
I retrieve the sphere (which entails several even more frustrating minutes of chasing it around the valley), which mercifully extinguishes itself. I stuff it back in my pack for the time being.
[[(...well, that was a waste of time.)|Phobo's Wall]]Aha, we //could// waste the only source of cure we've found, which would Nope! No, we're not doing that.
[[(You were just testing me, right?)|Phobo's Wall]]Absolutely not. Until I have some clue about what caused that panic attack, I'm not risking another one. I'm not sure how I managed to stumble my way out the first time; I won't risk getting stuck down there on a whim.
Let's have a look around, first.
[[Okay.|Phobo's Wall]]<<set $phobo_check=1>>Alright, there has to be an explanation for this magic. Or maybe there doesn't, because... it's magic. But it's worth looking around, at least!
What should we examine first?
<<display "Phobo Examine List">><<if not visited("Check the bushes")>>[[Check the bushes]]
<<endif>><<if not visited("Check the Hellsider")>>[[Check the Hellsider]]
<<endif>><<if not visited("Check the sky")>>[[Check the sky]]
<<endif>><<if not visited("Check the ground")>>[[Check the ground]]
<<endif>><<if not visited("Check the air")>>[[Check the air]]
<<endif>><<if $phobo_check == 5>>[[Come to a conclusion|Phobo Conclusion]]<<endif>>
These look like the same bushes you can find all throughout the crater. They've... got green leaves, come up to about my chest and are... bushy.
...I don't know a lot about plants. Sorry!
What's next?
<<display "Phobo Examine List">><<set $phobo_check += 1>>The Hellsider is still crying in her nook, massive flower seeming to open a bit wider with each sob. They definitely didn't cast anything as I approached, so it has to be something with the environment. It's possible they passively warded the area, but there's absolutely no signs of warding, nor did I see any magic trigger when I approached. Water is really my forte, but I'm confident enough that this isn't some Spirit-based psychic illusion curse or something something.
Hmm.
What else is there?
<<display "Phobo Examine List">><<set $phobo_check += 1>>Still there. Definitely just hallucinated that thing about it going away.
So we've learned that I'm clastrophobic, but not much else.
Something else, maybe?
<<display "Phobo Examine List">><<set $phobo_check += 1>>Hm. Soil's pretty firm around here. Plenty of pebbles all along the path. Water must pool in this valley when it rains, before flowing down to the lake. That explains the trail. If there's something in the water, it might have a chance to soak into the soil...
Maybe I should examine the soil a little more closely...
[[Look at the soil]]
[[Smell the soil]]
[[Taste the soil]]It's a bit hazy, actually. Now that I think about it, the air is a bit thicker here. And a feeling like choking WAS one of the first hallucinations to hit me. But it's not like there's any heavy industry nearby or anything, so... I'm not sure what that means.
Anything else?
<<display "Phobo Examine List">><<set $phobo_check += 1>>Okay. I think I have all the evidence I need. I know what caused the hallucinations... and I'm pretty sure you've figured it out too.
So, what was it?
[[Heat stroke!|Phobo Wrong]]
[[Fear pheromones!|Phobo Right]]
[[Contaminated groundwater!|Phobo Wrong]]
[[A cursed song!|Phobo Wrong]]
[[You're going insane!|Phobo Wrong]]I scoop up a big clump of dirt and examine it closely.
Wait a second... upon closer inspection, I suddenly realize that this dirt looks //exactly like dirt//.
No, sorry, this one is my fault. I got all excited about playing detective, but without any of my tools I can't do any kind of actual soil analysis. All I can tell you is, yeah, this soil gets wet sometimes. Not much of a help.
Well, what else can we examine?
<<display "Phobo Examine List">><<set $phobo_check += 1>>I scoop up a big clump of dirt and give it a big whiff.
Hmm... that could be the smell of hard metals... like //mercury//.
...although it could also be the smell of absolutely anything. I don't really know what dirt is supposed to smell like. This was pointless.
(Mercury would be bad, though.)
Well, what else can we examine?
<<display "Phobo Examine List">><<set $phobo_check += 1>>I put some soil in my mouth and ppbblbbblbblt, ughghh. Bluhh. Bluck.
Agggggggggh.
We're done with the soil now.
<<display "Phobo Examine List">><<set $phobo_check += 1>>Let's say it together: Fear pherowhat? What?
No, come on, it was fear pheromones. The air is turning opaque with them. The Hellsider's flower must be pumping them into the atmosphere faster than they can disperse, thanks to this valley. Magical in nature, but definitely some kind of natural defense. The only question is whether it's a reflex or a choice.
Anyway, now that we know what the problem is, we can start working on a solution!
[[(I'm sure fear pheromones would've been your second guess.)|Phobo's Wall]]Fear pheromones? Fear pheromones! Exactly!
I mean, it's so obvious. The air is turning opaque with them. The Hellsider's flower must be pumping them into the atmosphere faster than they can disperse, thanks to this valley. Magical in nature, but definitely some kind of natural defense. The only question is whether it's a reflex or a choice.
Great! So now that we know what the problem is, we can start working on a solution!
[[(...man, that was way better than what I was going to say...)|Phobo's Wall]]Are you sure? I don't expect that thing to work more than once, and it would be nice if I could convince this Hellsider to leave on my own... I just need something to counteract their magic, right? Or...
[[Use it. You can't get close enough to do anything otherwise.|Phobo Puppet Sic 2]]
[[You're right, let's not be hasty...|Phobo's Wall]]<<set $puppet=2>><<set $phobo=3>>Yeah, okay. I can't just leave them here, crying. Time to call in the puppet.
After a quick trip to the ditch, I return to this spot along the crater wall with the puppet in tow. I order the puppet to cross the valley, then step back to leave it to its work.
The puppet lumbers through the hazy valley without a problem, stopping in front of the sobbing Hellsider. It reaches down to gently touch their back -- which initially sets off a series of startled screams, before they break down crying again. The puppet gives them a moment or two, then reaches down with the other hand to effortly scoop them up.
The Hellsider initially protests, jabbing at the puppet's wrappings with their beak and scratching at their side with the talons on their feet. But as the puppet begins to lope its way back across the valley, they seem to calm down, clinging to the puppet with both wings.
[[Calm the Hellsider|Phobo Puppet Sic 3]]As they stride by, I try to think of something reassuring to say, but opt to hold my breath<<timedreplace 10>> (I can't breathe... no, stop, I'm just holding my breath. Not very well, apparently. Gotta stay focused...)<<endtimedreplace>> as the Hellside's flower discharges another blast of pheromones. The puppet passes, carrying the tiny Hellsider, cradled in its arms<<timedreplace 25>> (It could crush them... it could crush ME, it's going to come back, no, no, focus...)<<endtimedreplace>>, down the trail and out of sight. After a few more minutes, the sounds of crying <<timedreplace 40>>(It's deafening... that's not right, I can't even hear them anymore.)<<endtimedreplace>> fade into the background noise of the crater.
Well. That worked. <<timedreplace 75>>(Or did it?!? ...yes, it did.)<<endtimedreplace>>
[[(...I wish I could have comforted them, though...)|Phobo's Wall]]<<if previous() == "Puppet Ditch Edge">>I squeeze my way back through the trees, returning to the shaded area of the initial trail. <<endif>>The foliage is thick here, obscuring my view of the sky. The little <<insert "sunlight">> (I still haven't gotten used to Hellside's sky... to be honest, the sun here freaks me out. It's split up into four pieces at the moment, which is making the shadows act really weird...)<<endinsert>> that manages to pierce the canopy seems to dance as it pass through the leaves of the trees covering the path. On either side, the densely-packed <<if not $water>>tree trunks<<else>>@@.magic;<<revise secret "tree trunks" end>>@@<<endif>> obscure my view of anything off the path.
A cool breeze leads downhill, where the sparkling surface of the lake is just becoming visible. In the other direction, the wooden arch continues to stand guard over the only exit.<<revision secret>><<becomes>>
Ah, wait... there's a strange gap in my Watersense off the trail to the east here. There's a void in my sensation, beyond the simple absence of water. I might just be able to [[squeeze through the trees|Puppet Ditch Edge]] to reach it...<<endrevision>>
[[Approach the lakeside cliff|Pond Overlook]]
[[Head uphill|Initial Path]]
I've arrived at the southern edge of the ruins which dot this part of the trail. There's what appears to be a small shrine here -- a flat stone with various circular indentations in the top, encircled by six of the same small columns that are scattered across the trail. The plants between the shrine and the cliff have been cleared, giving me a clear view to the water, but the brambles have grown past the surrounding columns and taken root at the base of the stone.
These stone monuments seem to have aged particularly badly, compared to the others on the trail. The stone is chipped all along the edges, and the runes on each one have faded almost entirely.
[[Head further into the ruins|Aurum's Ruins]]
[[Head back uphill|Thickest Brambles]]The shade from the massive tree extends to cover this part of the trail, even with the <<insert "sun">>(s)<<endinsert>> almost directly overhead. I'm about halfway between the tree's trunk and the crossroads between the lake and the flower field. Further uphill, the sounds of animal activity can be heard, making this spot feel muted and quiet by contrast.
A few of the trees have been damaged around here, but what's not clear is by what. Several have broken spots on their trunks, as if an animal was trying to claw off the bark. More suspiciously, a sapling maybe eight feet tall has been uprooted and lain across a sidepath that leads off the main trail, into a covered grove. It bars the path, but ineffectively -- I wouldn't have any trouble stepping over it.
<<if not visited("Rouen Introduction")>>[[Take the sidepath|Rouen Introduction]]
<<else>>[[Return to Rouen's grove|Rouen's Cospe]]
<<endif>>[[Head down to the crossroads|Nido's Trail]]
[[Head up towards the tree's trunk|Tree's Trunk]]
This part of the trail connects the heart of the ruins to the crossroads near the lake. The trail is rather steep here, making it impossible to see any part of the lake from where I stand. On both sides, <<if not $water>>thick brambles<<else>>@@.magic;<<revise secret "thick brambles" end>>@@<<endif>> rise up from the ground, preventing me from going even a little bit off the trail. <<if not $thorny>><<set $thorny=1>>
At a narrow point in the path, I slip briefly and bumble towards the side of the road. As I regain my balance, a nearby bramble vine lashes out at my ankle! It hooks my sock briefly, tugging my leg off-balance again. I manage to shake my foot free, causing the vine to curl up and disappear into the center of its bush.
Looks like Barometz aren't the only carnivorous plants on Trebol. While I doubt there's any flora in this crater large enough to consider me prey, I'm not going to stray too far from the path on this side of the lake.<<endif>>
<<revision secret>><<becomes>>Wait... there's a section of brambles that are different from the rest. They're not showing up with my Watersense. I approach cautiously and try to provoke them into lashing out at me again, but nothing happens. Seems like this patch is dead, but has been preserved to create the appearance of an impassable wall. I should be able to [[force my way through|Map Column]]!
<<endrevision>>[[Head down to the crossroads|Nido's Trail]]
[[Head into the heart of the ruins|Aurum's Ruins]]
The sky here is obscured by the singular, massive tree that looms just to the north. Roots as thick as my arm burst through the ground here and there, threatening to trip any careless travellers. I find myself having to weave this and that just to avoid having to vault the larger ones.
<<if visited() == 4>><<set $met_dingo=1>><<set $dingo=0>>A particularly noisy chirp makes me realize there's a Melodingo standing by the side of the trail! It barks at me playfully as I turn towards it, wagging its clef-shaped tail. Fluffy and fat, it dances in place eagerly before chirping out a short but elaborate little tune. I think it wants me to <<revise feed "feed" end>> it!
<<revision feed>><<becomes>><<set $fed_dingo=1>>I dig some of the better nuts and berries out of my trail mix and throw them to the Melodingo. It gives me an appreciative bark, spins in place a few times, then quickly gobbles up my offering. With one last muffled chirp, the Melodingo disappears into the underbrush.
<<endrevision>><<endif>><<if $fed_dingo>>I look for that friendly Melodingo, but don't see them here. Darn. I was hoping for another performance.
<<endif>>[[Head north, downhill to the massive tree|Tree's Trunk]]
[[Head south, uphill to the clearing|Olaf's Campfire]]This is the closest point on the trail to the mighty tree that looms over this part of the forest, casting it in shade. The roots of the tree cross the trail at multiple points, creating magnificent arches, some so tall that I barely have to stoop to pass under them. Here, so close to its trunk, leaves rain down gently, blanketing the path. The break from the sunlight and the leaf-cushioned ground make this part of the trail especially pleasant. If the greenery on the other side of the trail didn't block the view of the lake, it would just about perfect.
I briefly contemplate trying to get closer to the tree, but even if I were to fight my way through the bushes, it's pretty clear that its huge, winding <<if not $water>>roots<<else>>@@.magic;<<revise secret "roots" end>>@@<<endif>> would quickly make getting much closer impossible. Too bad.<<revision secret>><<becomes>>
Oh, oh hey -- there's actually a path through the roots. If I'm willing to do a little [[scrambling and climbing|Melodingo Hole]], it looks like I can make it at least thirty feet off the trail. <<endrevision>>
[[Go downhill, following the trail to the north|Outside Rouen]]
[[Go uphill, climbing the trail to the south|Melodingo Burrow]]
Heading north and uphill from the crossroads, I'm immediately struck by a glorious, wonderful scent. Whenever the breeze picks up, I'm treated to <<revise music "a symphony of scents" end>><<revision music>><<becomes>> ("A //symphony// of //scents//"? I think my time on Trebol is starting to get to me...)<<becomes>><<endrevision>>. I feel refreshed just breathing the air here; suddenly, the ache in my feet doesn't seem half as bad as it did a minute ago.
As I crest the top of the hill, I'm treated to a magnificent sight. Flowers as far as I can see in every direction, even larger than it appeared from the lake's overlook. I've never seen so many variety co-mingling: every square meter is its own rainbow, a dozen varieties of form and color wherever the eye happens to fall.
Drones move from patch to patch, selecting this flower or that by their own secret criteria. As long as I don't bother them, I should be able to stay here and enjoy this slice of paradise as long as I want.
<<if visited("Rouen Thanks") and not $flowers>><<revise pick "Pick Rouen's flowers">>
<<revision pick>><<becomes>>Not unhappy to have an excuse to do a little romping, I march into the flower field in search of the the flowers that Rouen described for me. It's a bit tricky, with so many species of flower all clumped together, but it's pleasant work, at least.
After about ten minutes of hunting, I have a bouquet of a few dozen flowers. That should do it.
<<set $flowers=1>>
<<endrevision>><<endif>>[[Return to the crossroads|Nido's Trail]]<<if previous() == "Gully">>I squeeze my way back through the gully, emerging back onto the main trail.
<<endif>>At this point in the trail, the brambles are at their thickest. Elsewhere on this side of the lake, the foliage lining the trail is merely sinister; here, they're outright menacing. Barbed branches extend outward from either side, quavering slightly in the breeze (I hope) in search of something to snag. The <<if not $water>>towering brambles<<else>>@@.magic;<<revise secret "towering brambles" end>>@@<<endif>> and the weaving path make it impossible to see anything of the trail more than a dozen feet ahead, providing the impression that the thorns go on forever.
<<revision secret>><<becomes>>No, hold on... there's one section where the brambles don't come all the way to the ground. It's obscured by the way the trail bends, but it looks like there's a gully here that [[I could crawl through|Gully]]. None of the questing branches extend down into it, so maybe the bushes wouldn't notice me?
<<endrevision>>[[Enter the ruins|Southern Ruins]]
[[Work your way uphill|East Branch]] <<if previous() == "Thickest Brambles">>I lie down on my belly and crawl through the rain ditch. The gully is mercifully dry, and I emerge on the other side a bit dusty but relatively unscathed by the thorns.
<<endif>>The foliage is surprisingly pleasant here, in contrast with the positively hostile flora surrounding it. The air is still and a bit stuffy, but at least nothing is trying to sting me for the moment. The trail continues upward, away from the wall of brambles. It appears to run all the way to the edge of the crater.
<<if not visited("Phobo's Wall")>>Wait... do I hear crying?
<<elseif not $phobo>>The Hellsider's tiny cries can still be heard in the distance...
<<endif>>[[Continue to the wall|Phobo's Wall]]
[[Retreat through the gully|Thickest Brambles]]I haul myself over one of the barricading roots, then slip between two that are aligned horizontally. By repeatedly working my way over and under the roots as they cross my path, I'm able to get much closer to the tree trunk without hitting any dead ends.
I emerge from the other side of the root maze onto... a dead end. Drats. My Watersense isn't as potent on this side of the lake, so I wasn't able to see this far into the roots. It's pleasant enough, but it seems my efforts were pointless.
<<if visited()==1>>There are a fairly large holes in the ground here, now that I look more closely. They're just about a foot wide each, and oh!! This one has a Melodingo in it! It chirps as we make eye contact, and squeezes back a little farther into its burrow. What do you think -- maybe I can try to <<revise lure "lure it out" end>> with some food?<<revision lure>><<becomes>>
I take some of the trail mix from my bag and scatter it near the entrance, then step back. Time passes. I wait some more. I throw a little more food at the entrance, to make sure it saw my offering.
Finally, the Melodingo emerges, immediately laps up the scattered nuts and berries into its pudgy cheeks, then disappears back down the hole. When I look in it again, it's empty.
Still worth it.<<endrevision>><<else>>There are fairly large holes in the ground here, marking the entrances to various Melodingo burrows. I don't see any at the moment, though.<<endif>>
[[Work your way back|Tree's Trunk]]And just as quickly, the moment is gone. Rouen's arms drift back to their resting positions, and their eyes grow pale.
"And now... this sickness... my sous..." Rouen pauses. When they speak, it's barely audible. "I have lost too much, I fear."
Rouen takes a deep breath, and they manage to regain a little of their voice. "Forgive me. I speak far too passionately about a season which has passed, and you are far too polite for putting up with it. As I am now... my will has evaporated. Maybe I could make it back to town... as you have heard, I have endured far worse than this vile corruption, after all."
Rouen's eyes close.
"But I will not try."
<<if not visited("Rouen Is Sick")>>[["''I don't understand... what are you saying?''"|Rouen Is Sick]]<<else>>
<<if visited("Rouen Request")>>[["''...I'll... go get those flowers.''"|Rouen Thanks]]<<else>>[["''...what is your request?''"|Rouen Request]]<<endif>><<endif>>There's about half-a-dozen packs and three times as many books lying around. The packs are a mystery; most of their contents are concealed inside pouches and cloth wraps. What's visible are tools I can't begin to guess the purpose of.
The books, open to and laying directly on the trail, are little better. Most are opened to pages absolutely covered with chicken scratch-handwriting, with frantic circles and arrows apparently highlighting connections betweens passages. In a few places, I recognize runes like the ones that line the columns around here, but the scribbles that I assume are notes next to them are completely illegible. Good lord, there are two books lying side-by-side that have an arrow traveling from one //to the other//. For a moment, I question <<if visited("Aurum Shake")>>Aurum<<else>>the Hellsider<<endif>>'s sanity. Or at least their literacy.
Then I notice one book that has a map of the crater sketched in it. And it's gorgeous! Sketched using a variety of colored pencils, I immediately recognize all the major features of the crater. This map is //fantastic//. I actually want to hang it on my wall.
Could the same person who wrote all the other journals really be responsible for this?
[[(...it doesn't seem possible...)|Aurum's Ruins]]
Okay!
Like before, you don't have to hang around while I hike back. It should be pretty uneventful. Why don't you catch up with me a few days from now, after I've had time to report in and receive my debriefing from HQ?
[[Sounds good.|Ending 2]]
[[Stay hydrated!|Ending 2]]
Okay...
Like before, you don't have to hang around while I hike back. It should be pretty uneventful. Why don't you catch up with me a few days from now, after I've had time to report in and receive my debriefing from HQ?
[[Sounds good.|Ending 2]]
[[Stay hydrated!|Ending 2]]<<set $didnotmeet=0>><<display "Calculate Final Score">><<addclass "body" $style>><<display "Ending Intro">>[[Recap the Debriefing]]<<if $score > 99>>Oh, hey, you're back! Perfect timing! I //just// got done with my debriefing, and we got nothing but praise! I just got through talking to one of Arch Magni Andre's assistants and a supervising medical associate, and you should have //seen// the smiles on their face. This whole trip went so well, and this was such an amazing finish to the whole thing. Here, let me tell you how it went:
<<elseif $score > 78>>Oh, hey, welcome back. Great timing, in fact, I //just// got done with my debriefing, and it went extremely well. I got debriefed by one of Arch Magni Andre's assistants and a supervising medical associate, and they had a lot of good things to say about our work. This whole trip was an overall success in my box, and this was a nice conclusion to the whole thing. Here, I'll tell you what they said:
<<elseif $score > 59>>Ah, you're back. Nice timing. I //just// got done with my debriefing. One of Arch Magni Andre's assistants debriefed me, along with a supervising medical associate, and they were able to follow-up with me on how everything went. This trip had its ups and downs, and it was nice to have a few loose ends wrapped up, if nothing else. Here, I'll give you a breakdown:
<<else>>Oh.... hey. You're back. So, I just got through a debriefing and... well, I bet you can guess how it went. One of the receiptionists ran it, and there was a medical associate there too to let me know just how badly... anyway. Look, this trip...
Let me just get this over with:
<<endif>><<if not visited("Olaf Conversation Start")>><<set $didnotmeet += 1>><<elseif not $olaf>>Commander Beleth certainly wasn't happy to hear that Olaf was allowed to stay behind. I tried to explain that arguing with someone ten times your size and extravagently carnivorous is difficult, but they didn't seem to care. All I did, in their eyes, was confirm that physical strength gives you permission to disobey an official quarantine. If only I could have given them the cure...
<<elseif $olaf==1>>Olaf made it back safely, although they initially refused to be vaccinated since they had already "eatern" the cure. It took some doing to convince them to sit down for two minutes and actually get a proper injection. At least I got them back to town, although I wish I hadn't had to give them my only cure dart. They didn't even need it! (...but what if they thought they did?)
<<elseif $olaf==2>>Apparently, when Olaf arrived back in town, they told everyone who would listen about how tricked them into thinking they had the plague, which absolutely everyone found hilarious. Or everyone laughed at, proving demons still have a sense of self-preservation. Apparently they even agreed to provide some muscle towards the clean-up effort, which is pretty generous even if Olaf has muscle to spare. I was certainly happy to hear that!
<<else>>Olaf certainly made a scene when they arrived, demanding to speak to "whoever's in charge" and breaking the furniture. Things seemed to go okay after someone managed to explain why they were employing Topsiders, at least. Which wasn't //too// hard after someone else had managed to sedate them. I didn't like having to muscle them off their campground, but what other choice did I have? Was I really supposed to give him a dose of the cure?
<<endif>><<if not visited("Rouen Thanks")>><<set $didnotmeet += 1>><<elseif not $morte>>I was chewed out for leaving Rouen behind. I tried to defend myself by saying Rouen didn't want to be cured, and that I respected that decision. Rather than get into an argument about the sanctity of life versus the dignity of death, they asked how it was acceptable to leave a plague-infected body hidden in the woods. To... to which I didn't have an answer. But was it my job to reignite their love of cooking?
<<elseif $morte==1>>I was relieved to hear Rouen made it back, although apparently the first thing they did upon their return was break into the hospital's pharmacy and consume half their supply of headache medication, then collapse. They're still bedbound now, and will be for some time, but they'll recover. Not that I don't still feel guilty about letting them make the hike while sick...
I learned that, before the plague, they operated a very popular restaurant in Vinyl, and plan to reopen it as soon as they're back on their feet. Rouen also left a message for me: to apologize for their outburst (defense mechanism), to assure me that I was still invited to the reopening, and that a receptionist had been kind enough to give them my address. They... they didn't say anything in particular about whether the whole "drag me back down to Hell" thing still stood. Probably not, right?
<<elseif $morte==2>>I was happy to hear Rouen made it back just fine! They told me that immediately after receiving a check-up and a clean bill of health, they insisted on volunteering in one of the relief kitchens. Or, more specifically, that they seized one of the relief kitchens by force, but they're doing too good a job for anyone to complain. I learned that they used to operate a very popular restaurant in Vinyl, and that when the quarantine is lifted, they may convert it into a soup kitchen. They've got my address, and they've promised to send me a letter when they know!
<<else>>I was relieved to hear Rouen made it back, although apparently the first thing they did upon their return was break into the hospital's pharmacy and consume half their supply of headache medication, then collapse. They're still bedbound now, and will be for some time, but they'll recover. Not that I don't still feel guilty about letting them make the hike while sick...
I learned that, before the plague, they operated a very popular restaurant in Vinyl. But now... apparently they haven't said a word about it since returning. And they haven't been eating. I tried going down to the hospital to apologize, but they refused to see me. I guess I don't blame them...
<<endif>><<if not visited("Aurum Shake")>><<set $didnotmeet += 1>><<elseif not $aurum>>It didn't go over well that I let Aurum continue their treasure hunt rather than return to town. While their organization is recognized by the local government, their regulations obviously don't supercede orders issued by a Commander, much less an Island Governor. The official line during my debriefing was that letting Aurum's guild snub their nose at Arch Magni Andre's orders "has embarrassed everyone involved." Ouch.
I honestly tried to find them some treasure -- was I supposed to find something rarer than a magical flame orb whatever thingie?
<<elseif $aurum==1>>Aurum made it back without a problem, although their official check-up involved a lot of grumbling. Even when the doctor explained that returning when they did may have saved their life, they seemed to be of the opinion that coming back with "this piece of junk" would still be their second option. Oh well.
<<elseif $aurum==2>>Aurum made it back, and in record time. Their doctor noted that they were now "completely cured, although medical science can nothing for their inability to sit still for two damn minutes." While unable to meet with me in Foxtrot (they're too busy being detained, after hassling doctors for permission to leave the quarantine), they did leave a message behind with the receiptionist. According to Aurum, my //unofficial// status as assistant means that Aurum will be //forced// to take credit for my find, but they'd love to make it up to me next time I visit Hindsight, with a tour of the guild and dinner<<if visited("Aurum Date Yes")>>, with drinks afterwards<<endif>>. It might be fun to see what Aurum's like in a non-ancient ruins setting, actually...
<<else>>Aurum did make it back, in the end. I thought I should go apologize for forcing them off their digsite or treasureclaim or huntgrounds or whatever, but at the moment they're being detained for attempting to break quarantine immediately after being treated. I feel like I owe Aurum something (I'm sure they feel I owe them treasure), but not enough to go exploring Hellside's prison system. Sorry, Aurum.
<<endif>><<if not visited("Nido Introduction")>><<set $didnotmeet += 1>><<elseif not $wander>>The medical associate attending my debriefing gave me hell for not getting Nido to come back with me. I tried to explain that I couldn't convince them to come willing, and forcing them in their state seemed wrong, but the associate just shouted that letting someone suffering from an obvious medical condition wander about in the wilderness was inexcusable. I don't know what I was supposed to do -- give them something to remind them of the plague, I guess?
The associate just scowled at me and asked me how I felt about the loss of valuable medical data. You mean the loss of //an innocent life//, the debriefer corrected. Sure, the associate conceded.
<<elseif $wander==1>>I definitely felt better after learning Nido made it back alright, although "visibly shaken" by their "plague-ridden" journey. It didn't help that the flowers got them shot by half a dozen cure darts and a cure smoke grenade upon their return. They're recovering now, and the doctors say they may be able to do something about their memory problems, although they haven't shown any improvement yet. I asked if they had mentioned wanting to see me, but... but of course, they didn't remember who had suggested the flower thing in the first place. I guess, given how the trip back must have been, that's for the best...
<<elseif $wander==2>>I got some great news next: Nido made it back without a problem! That "Guiding Light" thing did the trick perfectly. I was a bit embarrassed to learn that Nido talked the doctors' ears off about the "genial Topsider" who helped them. And even better -- the medical associate wouldn't go into details, but apparently Nido's easy journey was important to the recovery of their memory. They're expected to make a full recovery! It'll involve going back to the crater once the quarantine is lifted (not sure I understand why), which gives me the perfect excuse to go with them and actually enjoy camping out on Hellside. I think I'm going to do it!
<<else>>So, the good news is that Nido did make it back with the puppet's help, and they've been vaccinated against the plague. The bad news is that their mind... well, apparently... whatever went wrong has only gotten worse. The doctors say that... if there's any change, they'll notify me.
I... just didn't have anything to remind them of the plague, so how was I supposed to get them to Foxtrot otherwise?
<<endif>><<if not visited("Phobo's Wall")>><<set $didnotmeet += 1>><<elseif not $phobo>>After describing the crying Hellsider I saw nestled into the crater's wall, the debriefer demanded to know how I could abandon them. I tried to explain that I couldn't get anywhere near them, but they didn't accept that excuse. Apparently, not being able to counteract a field of magical fear pheromones reflects poorly on me, and Topsiders in general. I got annoyed and told them to just send someone else to save them, but at this the debriefer just glared angrily at me before moving onto the next subject...
<<elseif $phobo==1>>That crying Hellsider did arrive at Foxtrot, and the doctors were able to confirm they were healthy. At this, the medical associate mumbled something about "never taking root", but the recruiter shut them up before they could say anything more. Apparently my "drastic measures" weren't ideal, but what else could I have done? At least the associate confirmed that anyone smelling those fear pheromones would have been just as helpless...
<<elseif $phobo==2>>That hummingbird Hellsider made it to Foxtrot, and received a clean bill of health from the doctors. The medical associate was excited to tell me something about how they'd still be able to "take root", although the recruiter changed the subject before I could learn what that meant: that //Phoebe// was incredibly grateful for my nasal self-sacrifice and would make sure that their friends knew about me, which the recruiter proclaimed like I had won the lottery. I'm not sure what it all means, but... I'm glad they turned out to be okay!
<<else>>That crying Hellsider did end up in Foxtrot, although after being delievered here by the puppet, they did keep trying to wander back off. The doctors were able to confirm that they were perfectly healthy, thankfully. At this, the medical associate mumbled something about "never taking root", but the recruiter shut them up before they could say anything more. Apparently my "drastic measures" weren't ideal, but what else could I have done? At least the associate confirmed that it wouldn't have been able for anyone to get past all that magic in the area...
<<endif>><<if not $puppet>><<if not $didnotmeet==5>>Oh, there was one more thing --<<else>>The only thing I was able to contribute was this:<<endif>> Commander Beleth asked if I had found any puppets in the area, since one of theirs went missing around there, and it's unusual for a puppet to just fall off their radar. I wish I had had something to report...
<<elseif $puppet==1>>Oh, there was one more thing -- Commander Beleth sent their personal thanks for preserving their puppet! Apparently it had fallen off of their radar, which is unusual enough to demand their attention. I mentioned its location in my report, so they should be able to recover it and determine what happened. A feather in my cap, to be sure!
<<else>>Ah, one final thing... while it ended up working well enough, the puppet itself didn't actually make it back to town. Apparently Commander Beleth was dismayed to learn it had "died" just outside town limits, taking with it the mystery of whatever had happened to it. I mean, saving a life obviously outweighs saving a construct, but it seems like a shame I couldn't find another way...
<<endif>><<if $score > 99>>So, that's it!
I'm just... I can't tell you how happy I am. I needed this. I needed this adventure. I'm actually proud of myself! It was scary, it was hard, I had no idea if I could do it, and //I did it anyway//. I didn't know I had it in me! This changes everything, it really does. I'm... I'm excited about the future!
And I couldn't have done it without you. Thank you. Thank you so much. You made this possible. You're my inspiration.
I'm sorry we have to part ways now, and at the same time, I'm excited to tackle some new challenge all by myself, now that I know I can. I hope we meet again soon! I'll be in touch for sure!
Thank you!! And goodbye!
[[Goodbye!|Final Screen]]<<elseif $score > 78>>And that's that!
I'm really impressed by how well that went. I mean, I think I actually made a real difference. I accomplished things! I helped people! I know that may sound silly but... it's a big step for me! I actually feel like I want to try something big like this again! Not right away, maybe... but someday for sure!
Oh, obviously... obviously I couldn't have done it without you. I'm not saying you weren't the driving force here. But maybe someday, I'll come across something I can try to handle on my own. So really, thank you for your help. I appreciate all you did for me.
I'm afraid we have to part ways now. If I need your help in the future, would it be okay if I got in touch?
Thanks again! And bye!
[[Goodbye!|Final Screen]]<<elseif $score > 59>>And that was it.
So... really, in the end, it went okay, I think. Not perfect, obviously, but I did actually manage to help people, you know? I was expecting this whole thing to just be one unmitigated disaster, so it was nice having some things go well.
And you definitely helped with that. So, thanks. I might not have even gotten started without you.
Listen, I have to get going. This was fun, but... realistically, it was probably a one-time thing. I think I got my fill, you know? You were great, and I hope you get to have more great adventures in the future. I'm just going to go stick to what I'm good at.
Good luck!
[[You too!|Final Screen]]<<else>>That's enough, I think. That covers it. No need to dwell, really.
So... in the end... well, I tried, which was more than I expected of myself. I was just a volunteer anyway, so I'm not sure what they expected. In the end, this trip was still... it was a mistake. It was a mistake. I was wrong to think I could help with anything this large.
But now I //know// that, whereas before I just assumed! So... I'm sorry for wasting your time, but thanks for playing along. I'll let you get back to your life, and I'll go back to mine.
Bye.
[[Bye.|Final Screen]]<<endif>><<nobr>><<set $score=0>>
<<if $olaf==1>><<set $score+=15>><<endif>><<if $olaf==2>><<set $score+=18>><<endif>>
<<if $morte==1>><<set $score+=15>><<endif>><<if $morte==2>><<set $score+=18>><<endif>>
<<if $aurum==1>><<set $score+=15>><<endif>><<if $aurum==2>><<set $score+=18>><<endif>>
<<if $wander==1>><<set $score+=15>><<endif>><<if $wander==2>><<set $score+=18>><<endif>>
<<if $phobo==1>><<set $score+=15>><<endif>><<if $phobo==2>><<set $score+=18>><<endif>>
<<if $puppet==1>><<set $score+=10>><<endif>><<if $puppet==2>><<set $score+=12>><<endif>>
<<if $score > 99>><<set $style = "beleth">><<set $ending = "perfect">>
<<elseif $score > 78>><<set $style = "watersense">><<set $ending = "great">>\<<elseif $score > 59>><<set $style = "dark">><<set $ending = "good">>
<<else>><<set $style = "brief">><<set $ending = "bad">><<endif>><</nobr>><<if $didnotmeet==5>>The receptionist barely acknowledged me when I said I hadn't even found any Hellsiders. They all but told me to shut up when I tried to explain why. //I// know it wasn't because I'm lazy, but... but I'm sure they assumed...
Anyway, mostly the debriefing was about the seriousness of the situation... how one infected person can cause an entirely new outbreak... about the waste of resources I had caused and was going to cause... just... stuff like that.
<<elseif $didnotmeet>>I was somewhat surprised to learn I didn't even meet all the Hellsiders in my assigned region. I... I guess I didn't bother searching that hard, but how did I miss someone entirely? I tried to play it off as a simple mistake, but they really didn't look happy with me about it. And... I guess that makes sense.
<<endif>><<addclass "body" $style>>You have scored a total of <<print $score>> out of 100 points.
GAME OVER<<addclass "body" $style>><<display "Ending Olaf">><<display "Ending Rouen">><<display "Ending Aurum">><<display "Ending Nido">><<display "Ending Phoebe">><<display "Ending Puppet">><<display "Did Not Meet">><<if $score > 99>>[[Wow!|Final thoughts]]<<elseif $score > 78>>[[Great!|Final thoughts]]<<elseif $score > 59>>[[Okay.|Final thoughts]]<<else>>[[...|Final thoughts]]<<endif>><<addclass "body" $style>><<display "Final Ending">>That's a great suggestion, really very useful, but you'd be just amazed at how effective Rouen's chokehold is. It's really something!
As they continue to force me backwards, Rouen continues: "You've won, Topsider. I will return to Foxtrot now. Each step will be agony. And with each step, I will think of YOU. And with each step, my gratitude will grow. Grow, and //fester//."
My back slams roughly into a tree, but Rouen continues to move closer, increasing the pressure on my collarbone.
"I will rebuild my restaurant. I will stoke the flames once more."
Rouen's face is quite close now. I take a moment to appreciate the length of their pincers, as a welcome distraction from my lack of air.
"You WILL come to my restaurant. You WILL dine. You WILL be served the most exquisite meal of your life. I will repay you, bite by scrumptious bite: a //wonderland// of flavors. You will taste my very best -- and my very best is //the// very best. So. I humbly offer you my invitation."
Rouen leans in. Their breath is hot, and comes in short, rapid bursts, like a weapon being discharged.
"And you WILL accept, if I have to //HUNT YOU// AND //DRAG YOU// BACK DOWN TO HELL //MYSELF//!!"
Just as the darkness as the edge of my vision starts to get really interesting, Rouen releases me. I slump onto the ground, really taking my time to enjoy the big, ragged gulps of air they have down here while Rouen continues to scream at me.
"YOU'RE A WONDERFUL PERSON!! AND YOUR CHARITY IS AN //INSPIRATION!!//"
Rouen then turns towards the center of the mainland, and bellows louder than ever,
"I HEAR YOU, O STOVE, O HEARTH!! NO REST FOR MORTE!! NO PEACE!! CONSUME ME ONCE MORE!!!"
With that, Rouen storms back up the path, stopping briefly to headbutt a tree, partially uprooting it, before disappearing out of the glade.
...so... success? I guess?
[[Leave the grove|Rouen Garlic 5]]
Are you sure? I'd be happy to, but the odds of me coming to any definite conclusions are zilch. It's only if you're curious.
[[Yeah, let's investigate!|Puppet Forensics]]
[[Nah, let's just stick to your plan.|Puppet Ditch Edge]]Alright... what are you curious about?
<<revise q0 "How bad is the damage?" end>><<revision q0>><<becomes>>
I really can't answer that with any authority. I don't even know much about biological wounds, much less golem wounds. They look deep, and jagged, but it's not like it's bleeding out. Do puppets have the equivalent of major organs? Can you sever a construct's femoral leyline? I just don't know.
<<endrevision>>
<<revise q1 "Does the damage look feral, or did something sentient do this?" end>><<revision q1>><<becomes>>
It's hard to say... on the one hand, the ferocity of the tears and the way they're scattered all over the puppet's body certainly suggests a frenzied opponent. I'd be ready to assume this thing was attacked by some random Hellside wildlife defending its territory, but how does that explain the null magic crystal? Why leave it half-alive?
<<endrevision>>
<<revise q2 "Was the puppet the attacker or the defender?" end>><<revision q2>><<becomes>>
I'm willing to assume that any construct of Commander Beleth was in the right, and probably defending itself. That doesn't tell us who struck first... the damage is most extensive to the puppet's hands, but that alone doesn't say much. Maybe the puppet started by seizing its target, who retaliated by slashing its hands. Maybe the puppet was caught off-guard and was forced to throw its hands up to defend its face. I don't think we can reach a definitive answer on this one.
<<endrevision>>
<<revise q3 "What do we know about the attacker?" end>><<revision q3>><<becomes>>
I've managed to take a few laps around the puppet, and noticed only the front is damaged. That suggests the attacker wasn't a registered Topsider volunteer, or they would've been able to get behind it as I just did. Or maybe they were, and got caught doing something they shouldn't have. Can't tell you anything more than that.
<<endrevision>>
<<revise q4 "Was this puppet made to fight?" end>><<revision q4>><<becomes>>
This thing doesn't look like it's optimized for battle... but its arms feel like solid steel, but it moves them as if they weighed nothing. It's fast, silent and definitely capable of doing serious damage to anything it could hit. I'm guessing it's not built for battle, but unless it wasn't programmed to protect itself, it would be anything but harmless.
...yet there's not a speck of blood anywhere... that can only mean that its enemy was too fast for even a glancing blow, yet strong enough to rip right through the thick cloth that covers it...
<<endrevision>>
<<revise q5 "Why was the crystal jammed into it?" end>><<revision q5>><<becomes>>
I really have no idea. Why trash it so thoroughly, then render it inert with a priceless magical artifact, then leave it in a ditch?? None of that makes sense! If they wanted to kill it, they could have done so easily once the crystal drained it. If they wanted to capture it, they had time to move it by now, judging by the layer of dirt that was covering it when I arrived. I really have no idea.
<<endrevision>>
<<revise q6 "Why wasn't Commander Beleth alerted to the puppet's deactivation?" end>><<revision q6>><<becomes>>
Ah, now we've arrived at the deepest areas of my ignorance. I know //literally// nothing about the connection between Commander Beleth and their puppets, and I'd bet there isn't a Hellsider alive who would educate me. So get ready for absolutely baseless assertions. Guesses from the aether. Complete bullshit. Just warning you.
I'm guessing that Commander Beleth isn't "dialed into" all their puppets simultaneously, and in the aftermath of the crisis, their attention would be even more divided than normal. The null magic crystal might be part of it, although //I// don't know that making a puppet fall off their "radar" would be any less noticable than simply destroying it... and more importantly, how many people other than Beleth //would// know that? Who could know enough about the mechanics of Belelth's puppetry to know the crystal would work AND have access to the crystal AND have the motivation to use it?
Like I said. Welcome to the lowest tier of ignorance.
<<endrevision>>
[[That satisfies my curiousity.|Puppet Ditch Edge]]Welcome!
Before you begin, there's a few things I wanted to let you know:
First, this game was written for one of [[Floraverse|http://www.floraverse.com]]'s creative prompts. Floraverse is an open world project, with everything created being published under the [[Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License|http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/]] (including this story!). Basically, that means you can do whatever you like with the characters and world, as long as you're willing to likewise share your creations.
The prompt that inspired this game follows immediately after the "Itchy, Itchy" story arc written by the creators of Floraverse. This game is self-contained; however, I'd suggest you at least view the [[prompt|http://floraverse.com/comic/itchy-itchy-arc/interlude-itchy-itchy/304-itchy-itchy-prompt/]], then go back to the [[first entry in Itchy, Itchy|http://floraverse.com/comic/itchy-itchy-arc/interlude-itchy-itchy/297-itchy-itchy-part-1/]] if you're curious about what lead to this.
But very basically: there's been a plague on an island, and you help a character with the clean-up efforts. Complicating matters slightly is that the island is on Hellside, populated by demons, who are friendly //enough// towards "Topsiders" but not on the very best of terms. Really, though, demons are just like you and me, except possessed of some forbidden knowledge (and one of them is a painting).
I hope you enjoy it!
[[Acknowledgements]]
[[Let's begin!|Opening 0]]
Terrifying large chunks of this story were written while riding the subway to and from work. What wasn't written on the train was written during lunch breaks, in the last minutes before sleep, and on an airplane. When I didn't have access to my editor, I wrote in TextEdit and pasted the results in later. When I had an idea, I tapped it into my phone to keep it in my head.
I've always liked to write, but my attempts at writing almost always went the same way: I'd have one really good session, then never return to it. I always let diversions get between me and the story until I didn't care anymore.
But I've spent three months on this, and it's thanks to the creators of [[Floraverse|http://www.floraverse.com]], who jammed the seed of the idea that spawned this so deep into my skull that I had to write it. Over these last three months I found myself repeatedly delighted and horrified to realize that the scope of my story kept expanding and expanding, as new ideas wormed their way in. I have no ideas how many hours I've sunk into this, and I enjoyed almost every single one of them. Even as it is, I feel like I want to keep working on it. And that's incredible. This story may be goofy, and I'm sure it has its glaring flaws, but I'm damn proud of it. So thank you, Floraverse. Thank you so much.
Also thanks to [[Twine|http://twinery.org/]], the language this interaction fiction is written in. Twine is really incredible in its ease of use; literally anyone can use it. You write what you want to say, and you put double-square-brackets to link to other passages. That's it. Then when you're done, you upload your file to [[philome.la|http://philome.la]], and boom, online-playable game. Twine made this possible.
And my thanks to "L" on [[Glorious Trainwrecks|http://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/5462]], whose replacement scripts let me get fancy. There are definitely entire chunks of the story written to support some idea I had using their scripts. I don't see myself ever writing a Twine story without these scripts because they're just that great.
[[Let's begin the story!|Opening 0]]
!HELLSIDER ROUND-UP
You have scored a total of 0 points out of a possible 100.
[[GAME START|Opening 1]]Double-click this passage to edit it.