It is night.
You stand on the end of a pier.
The inky swell of waves sloshes all around you.
[[Continue]].It seems you have just arrived, but you cannot remember where from. A boat, maybe? Though you can't see one anywhere.
On your back is a small, green, rucksack.
Ahead, a streetlamp illuminates a narrow dirt path leading up a hill.
Follow the [[dirt path]]
or
Check the [[contents]] of your rucksack.As you climb up the path the streetlamps gradually become more spaced-out and trees begin to appear. Eventually, the streetlamps stop altogether.
You stand in the beam of the last lamp, and it is as if a curtain has been drawn around you. The only other light now comes from the weak silver lustre of a clouded full-moon, masked by the gathering woods.
[[Continue->continue 3]]
(set: $bag to (dataset: "torch"))(if: (history:) contains "will-o'-the-wisp")[It is too dark to see, but you can feel a torch in your rucksack.
Take out the torch and turn it [[on]].](else:)[Your bag contains:
-A torch.
-An [old sandwich.]<sandwich|
(click: ?sandwich)[(text-colour:#9c9c9c)[It has an interesting blue-green tinge to it.]]
-A compass.
-A purse.
-A piece of [paper]<GL|
(click: ?GL)[(text-colour:#9c9c9c)[It looks like it has been torn from an old textbook. Beside a black-and-white image of a strange marble-sized ball, is written: ''Good Luck'' - A x]]
-A [map.]<map|
(click: ?map)[(text-colour:#9c9c9c)[It is a map of the Island! You can't quite decipher the faded place-names, but two circles have been drawn on, one at the southern tip of the island, labelled 'Pier', the other at the northern tip of the island, marked with a star.](set: $got to 1)]
[[Close Bag->continue 2]]]You stray off the path, following the flicker of the strange flame and brushing low-hanging leaves from your face as you go.
As you draw nearer, the amber light gets brighter, taking on a tinge of yellow, and then begins to move, too fast to follow, away through the trees.
You are left alone in the dark.
The night air is cold, and whistles by quickly.
(if: $bag contains "torch")[Take out your torch and turn it [[on]]]
(else:)[Check the [[contents]] of your rucksack.]
For a second your torch beam catches a flash of orange in front of you and a gleam of bright eyes, but then it is gone.
[[Continue->The walk]]The tavern is spacious and warmly lit, with a fire burning in the corner of the room. People sit at low, wooden tables drinking and talking.
The chatter dies down as you enter, and you notice a young red-headed man at the nearest table, watching you.
By the fire, two old men sit chatting and laughing, they seem to be playing some kind of game with marbles.
At the bar, sits a beautiful narrow-faced young woman.
The bartender is pouring her a drink.
[[Go and sit at the bar->Woman]].
You follow the path, watching your feet step after step in the torch beam, for what seems like a long time, until the path suddenly opens out onto a clearing.
Nestled at its centre is a small wooden cottage, with moss growing along the walls and a doorway of trellised ivy.
There is a faint amber light glowing through one of its small, clouded windows.
[[Knock->the hermit 2]] on the door.
Carry on along the [[path->the dirt path]].
Through the silhouettes of trees to your right, you think you see a soft amber glow like a flame in the distance.
[Check your bag]<b| (click-replace: ?b)[(text-colour: #9c9c9c)[
You reach into your bag and feel a torch inside.
Take out your torch and continue on [[the dirt path]]
or]]
[[Follow the strange light->will-o'-the-wisp]]
Follow the [[dirt path]].Just ahead you can make out another path, this one a small, leaf-strewn footpath that seems to take you further into the woods.
Follow the [[path->the hermit]].
(link: "Turn back.")[(set: $run to 1)(goto: "the dirt path")]You knock.
All is quiet for a moment, then
(text-colour:#ae00ff)["Who is it?"] asks a voice from behind the door.
(link: "My name is Isamu.")[(set: $name to "Isamu")(goto: "conversation")]
(link: "My name is Ryou.")[(set: $name to "Ryou")(goto: "conversation")]
(link: "My name is Shin.")[(set: $name to "Shin")(goto: "conversation")]
(link: "I'm just a traveller, passing through.")[(set: $name to "A traveller")(goto: "conversation")]
(text-colour:#ae00ff)["$name? Interesting. You must be new around here, or else lying. They usually lie..."]
He mutters on to himself for a while, then there is a great sliding of locks, heavy locks, all down the length of the door. It cracks open just a fraction, and the face of a haggard old man appears.
(text-colour:#ae00ff)["Come closer"] he says.
You approach the door.
He stares at you for a long time, considering you carefully, before finally saying, (text-colour:#ae00ff)["Ok. Come in."]
[[Enter the house->continue 4]]
(if: $been is 1)[(if: (history:) contains "sculptures")[(text-colour:#828282)[Look at the sculptures.]](else:)[(if: $state is 3)[Look at the [[sculptures]].]]
(if: (history:) contains "paintings")[(text-colour:#828282)[Look at the paintings.]](else:)[Look at the [[paintings]].]
Look at the [[shelves]].
Look at the [[books]] on the desk.](else:)[He leaves you alone and you look around at the strange room, a maze of clutter and curios.
In the corner of the room, a few framed [[paintings]] stand propped against a wall.
The desk is covered in small wooden [[sculptures]] that stand amongst a mess of [[books]] and papers and lampshades.
The walls are lined with [[shelves]] of books, so many they have been wedged-in on top of each other, some so old they are falling apart.]
(if: $state is 1)[(text-colour:#ae00ff)["Lost? Oh, that's easy to do around these parts."]
He tuts quietly, shifting some papers from the desk.
(text-colour:#ae00ff)[You think you can see right by the moonlight and then they go putting a second one up there. Before you know it, you've walked in two circles and they're all laughing behind their paws."]
He looks momentarily to the window, then says,
(text-colour:#ae00ff)["I'll go find you a map."]
[[Continue->Hermit's house]]](else-if: $state is 2)[(text-colour:#ae00ff)["Tired, tired, everybody's tired running around after these damn Canidae games."]
He tuts quietly, shifting some papers from the desk.
(text-colour:#ae00ff)["It's a struggle enough to sleep at night with one moon up there, but when they add a second one, it's like sleeping with headlights through your window I tell you."]
He looks momentarily to the window, then says,
(text-colour:#ae00ff)["I'll go find you a map."]
[[Continue->Hermit's house]]](else-if: $state is 3)[(text-colour:#ae00ff)["Oh I don't doubt you were, they like to play with the new ones at night. More often than not, you'll find you've walked yourself in one of their big circles and they're all laughing at you behind their paws."]
He looks momentarily to the window, then says,
(text-colour:#ae00ff)["I'll go find you something to drink."]
[[Continue->Hermit's house]]]The old man is dressed in a state of disarray, and he leads you hurriedly into the sitting-room, looking over his shoulder every now and then as he does so.
(text-colour:#ae00ff)["What do you want then?"] He asks.
(link: "I got lost and I don't know where I am.")[(set: $state to 1)(goto: "Conversation continued")]
(link: "I'm very tired, do you know if there is somewhere nearby I can stay for the night?")[(set: $state to 2) (goto: "Conversation continued")]
(link: "I've been walking for a long time and I'm quite thirsty, do you have anything I could drink?")[(set: $state to 3)(goto: "Conversation continued")](set: $been to 1)There are some sculptures of a young woman in a kimono that is billowing loose. She has fluffy-looking feet.
A few of the statues appear to be of creatures with several tails, but they have been smashed, and pieces lie scattered across the desk and the patterned rug.
[[Continue->Hermit's house]](set: $been to 1)One painting shows two moons reflected in a dark lake, surrounded by trees.
Another is of a narrow-faced young woman looking into a pool of water.
Her reflection is a blur of fuzzy orange-brown.
[[Continue->Hermit's house]]You go to a section where the books are almost falling out of the shelves. The first few spines you see read:
''Canidae''
''The Complete Guide to Foxes''
''The Story of a Wild Vixen''
''Nine Tales''
[Japanese folklore]<f2|(click: ?f2)[(text-colour:#9c9c9c)[
It is a large hardback book and the spine is worn. Do you want to pick it up?] [[Yes->pick up]] [[No]]]You turn left out of the front door and (if: (history:) contains "pick-up2")[run](else:)[begin to walk] along a path you had not noticed before.
You (if: (history:) contains "pick-up2")[run](else:)[walk] for a long time.
Finally, the path connects to a wide, gravel lane. By the side of this lane stands a small stone building.
The sign outside reads ''Boathouse Inn''.
[[Go inside]]The first page is blank, on it are the words: ''This is the property of Hayate Hayashi''.
(text-colour:#ae00ff)["What are you doing?!"]
The old man has returned, and he is carrying a (if: $state <=2)[map](else-if: $state is 3)[mug] which he promptly drops to the floor.
(text-colour:#ae00ff)["Put it down! Put that down!"] He cries. His eyes are wide with fear.
[[Continue->pick-up2]]
On the table, open, is a book containing a large illustration of a white fox. It appears to have several tails.
There are a few other books around it:
''Taming Foxes''
''Transmogrification''
[Japanese Folklore]<f2|(click: ?f2)[(text-colour:#9c9c9c)[
It is a large book and the spine is worn. Do you want to pick it up?] [[Yes->pick up]] [[No]]]The old man re-enters the room, holding a (if: $state <=2)[map](else-if: $state is 3)[mug], which he offers to you.
You [[take]] it.
To be continued...You walk on.
For a long time, you see only the leaf-strewn floor ahead and the silhouettes of skeletal trees towering above you.
Then, finally, the path connects to a wide, gravel lane. By the side of this lane stands a large, pitch-rooved, building. Light pours out from its vaulted windows, and outside hangs a sign for ''The Star Tavern''.
[[Go Inside->The Star Tavern]]You put down your bag and sit at the bar. The young woman turns to face you, smiling. Her close-set eyes are a bright, crystalline green.
She signals to the bartender and he begins pouring another drink.
(text-colour: #ff0066)["You must be new around town"] says the woman. Her voice is light and feathery. (text-colour: #ff0066)["I don't recognise your face."]
She slides the fresh-poured drink over to you.
(text-colour: #ff0066)["Here, have a drink on me. What's your name, stranger?"]
(link: "Rin.")[(set: $name to "Rin")(goto: "another")]
(link: "Yuuki.")[(set: $name to "Yuuki")(goto: "another")]
(link: "Osamu.")[(set: $name to "Osamu")(goto: "another")]
(link: "I'm just a traveller, passing through.")[(set: $name to "traveller")(goto: "another")](text-colour: #ff0066)["I'm Mio."] She offers you her small hand to shake.
(text-colour: #ff0066)[ "What brings you to our little island then, $name?"]
(link: "I don't really remember.")[(set: $path to 1)(goto: "yet another")]
(if: $got is 1)[(link: "I'm looking for something, actually. Do you think you might be able to help?")[(set: $path to 2)(goto: "yet another")]](if: $path is 1)[(text-colour:#ff0066)["Don't remember? As funny as it might sound, that isn't all that surprising around here."]
She looks down at her drink.
(text-colour:#ff0066)["If that's the case, I would avoid the village if you can, and keep your belongings close, not in that bag."]
She looks at you seriously and for a moment, her eyes almost look amber. You blink, and they are green again.
(text-colour:#ff0066)["There are some...unsavoury types around here"] she says.
[[Remove items from bag->bag]]](else-if: $path is 2)[You remove the map from your bag and show it to Mio.
(text-colour:#ff0066)["Ah, you're looking for the Yako Temple."]
She glances around the room quickly, then leans in and points to an eastern spot on the map.
(text-colour:#ff0066)["This is the den...I mean the tavern"] she says. (text-colour:#ff0066)["If you take this path"] she traces a line alongside a marked river (text-colour:#ff0066)["it'll take you straight there. Be careful though. There are some...unsavoury types around here, and they might not take well to how detailed your map is."]
[[Continue->ginger trouble]]](text-colour:#ff0066)["If you're looking for something to do whilst you're here"] Mio says, smiling sweetly, (text-colour:#ff0066)["I'd recommend Yako Temple. Just head north and you'll find it, but stick to the marked routes."]
[[Continue->ginger trouble]]Only two will fit in your pockets:
(link: "The compass.")[(text-colour:#9c9c9c)[ Put compass in pocket.](set: $pocket to it+1)(if: $pocket is 2)[(goto: "interruption")]]
(link: "The map.")[(text-colour:#9c9c9c)[ Put map in pocket.](set: $pocket to it+1)(set: $map to 1)(if: $pocket is 2)[(goto: "interruption")]]
(link: "The purse.")[(text-colour:#9c9c9c)[ Put purse in pocket.](set: $pocket to it+1)(if: $pocket is 2)[(goto: "interruption")]]
(link: "The piece of paper.")[(text-colour:#9c9c9c)[ Put paper in pocket.](set: $pocket to it+1)(if: $pocket is 2)[(goto: "interruption")]]
(text-colour: #ff0000)["Giving away some inside information, are we?"]
The young red-head who saw you enter the tavern is now slouched against the bar beside you. He is slender and elegant-looking, but obviously very drunk. He winks at you.
(text-colour: #ff0066)["Go and pester someone else, Hideo"] says Mio.
(text-colour: #ff0000)["Oh, but that's no fun."]
He hiccups, and you smell something sharp and spicy.
(text-colour: #ff0000)["What name are you using tonight? Mia, Mina, Misdemeanour?"]
Rum, that's the smell.
(text-colour: #ff0066)["Clear off."]
(text-colour: #ff0000)["Ok, ok."] Hideo raises his hands innocently. (text-colour: #ff0000)["But just so your new friend here knows,"] he says, (text-colour: #ff0000)["the quickest way to Yako Temple is the coastal path, the streets can be...awfully confusing."]
As he walks away you think you see something attached to the back of him, furry, like a tail, but then it is gone.
[[Continue->to be continued]]
(text-colour: #ff0066)["I'm sorry about him"] says Mio. ["He's a real buzzkill."]
She downs the last of her drink and reaches for her coat.
(text-colour: #ff0066)["I think I'll be off now. It was nice to meet you, $name. Stay safe."]
As Mio walks away, the room begins to fade away around you, and then your vision goes black.
To be continued...(if: $state <=2)[As you unfold the map, you notice markings everywhere, orange and red scribbles and a few green ones. The old man points to one of the green marks and traces a route east, glancing to the window as he does so.
(text-colour:#ae00ff)["Nice path this, lovely path, a good green path,"] he says. (text-colour:#ae00ff)["It should take you to the Boathouse Inn"]
He suddenly snatches up the map and folds it up small.
(text-colour:#ae00ff)["You must go now."] He says, ushering you out.(text-colour:#ae00ff)["They'll be sniffing after you."]
[[Continue->Boathouse Inn]]](else-if: $state is 3)[The tea in the mug is green and smells quite unpleasant, but you thank him and sip it anyway.
(text-colour:#ae00ff)["There's a good path, a safe path, to a place called the Boathouse Inn"] says the old man. (text-colour:#ae00ff)["Left out of my door and just follow the path on round, it will set you true."]
He looks agitated as he tells you this, and keeps glancing at the window whilst muttering to himself. You hear only snatches, something that sounds like,
(text-colour:#ae00ff)["They'll know, they'll know."]
Quite suddenly, he turns to you and takes your mug.
(text-colour:#ae00ff)["You must go now."] He says.
He looks to the door and urges you swiftly out.
[[Continue->Boathouse Inn]] ](text-colour:#ae00ff)["You're one of them!"] The old man screams at you. (text-colour:#ae00ff)["You're one of them and you are stealing from me like they always do. Well, you can't have my secrets. Get out!"]
He reaches for the nearest item and throws it at you, beginning to howl.
(text-colour:#ae00ff)["YOU FOX YOU FOX YOU FOX YOU FOX"] he yells this over and over, a mindless, unbroken barking, picking up new objects to throw at you all the while.
You duck them and manage to push past him to the door.
[[Continue->Boathouse Inn]]