OXANA looks at KET. OXANA'S eyes are swelling with tears.\n\nOXANA\n\nI don't know who I am Ket, I only have the identity bestowed upon me by father and my birth. I want to know who I am without those things, whether I am a worthwhile person without the luck.\n\nKET is silent for awhile.\n\n[[Continue|Understand]]

OXANA shakes her head trying to shrug off the honesty she had previously displayed, then looks back to KET with a grin.\n\nOXANA\n\nI just got me some wanderlust sis! I am vagabond at heart you know! I gotta roam-\n\nKET\n\nDon't lie to me Oxana! Don't deflect with one of your jokes. Not now. Why do you want to leave?\n\nOXANA OPTIONS:\n\n2. [[I need to know who I am.|WhoIsOxana]]\n\n3. [[I'm tired of privilege.|PrivilegeBlues]]

OXANA looks over KET's shoulder and looks surprised. KET glances back, OXANA uses the opportunity to dash off down the road. KET looks back at the sound of OXANA's feet scuffing against the gravel.\n\nKET\n\nDamnit Oxana!\n\nKET retrieves a SLING from her backpack with two heavy balls on each end. After winding up with a couple swings, she hurls it a OXANA with extreme accuracy. Just before it hits OXANA's leg RASKA jumps into the air and catches it in his goop. He drops to the ground and starts playing with it having thought the attack a game.\n\nOXANA\n\nCome on Raska!\n\nOXANA turns and scoops up RASKA before continuing her flight.\n\nGAIN ITEM: SLING\n\nKET watches OXANA disappear into the forest from the ridge they stood on. A GUARDSMAN runs up to her.\n\nGUARDSMAN\n\nLady Ket! You're back?! What is it?! Who has escaped?!\n\nKET considers for a second then turns to the GUARDSMAN with a stern face.\n\nKET\n\nIt was nothing, you must have misunderstood me.\n\nGUARDSMAN\n\nBut-\n\nKET turns and walks towards the castle before the GUARDSMAN can finish his sentence. The GUARDSMAN lifts his LANTERN and peers out into the darkness, then shrugs and follows KET.\n

OXANA drops to the floor and begins looking underneath her bed. She scoops out piles and piles of socks and other clothing. She then pulls out a mess of knotted rat tails.\n\nOXANA\n\n(Scolding)\n\nRaska! Gross!\n\nRASKA CHIRPS feigning innocence. OXANA sighs and continues her search until she pulls out a worn ornate BOX. After wiping off cobwebs she opens it to reveal a long carved DAGGER, it's handle is decorated with two coiling WYVERNS, the symbol of the Uriel family. OXANA takes it out and looks at it, testing the blade with her finger.\n\nOXANA\n\nFather would have a fit if I were to actually use the "Sacred Ceremonial Blade" for anything but admiring...\n\nOXANA looks at the backpack on her bed.\n\nOXANA\n\nSuppose he's going to have a fit regardless though...\n\nOXANA packs the DAGGER into her backpack and hoists it up onto her shoulders.\n\nGAINS ITEM: URIEL DAGGER <<set $HasDagger = "True">>\n\n[[Continue|Fall]]\n

KET pulls out the HAIRBRUSH from OXANA's mother from OXANA's backpack. KET looks at her angrily.\n\nKET\n\nDo you want to get yourself killed Oxana?!\n\nOXANA looks confused.\n\nOXANA\n\nJust wanted something of my mother's with me...\n\nKET\n\nOut there it's a liability! It's a Wakuul design! If someone were to see that they would know who you were related to, and would probably hold you for ransom or worse! Foolish girl!\n\nOXANA snatches the HAIRBRUSH and backpack from KET's hands.\n\n[[Continue|KetScold]]

OXANA turns to the BLANKET pinned to the wall alongside her bed. It is covered with depictions of OXANA and her sister KET on all the adventures they intended to go on when they could. They had used Shadow-Badger fur thread in its creation, allowing the images to shift like they were in motion.\n\nOXANA runs her hand along the blanket lovingly.\n\nOXANA\n\nI wish this war had never happened Raska... I wish it had never taken my sister from me. We were going to do so much, but not anymore.\n\nOXANA carefully unpins the blanket from the wall, folds it, and packs it into her backpack.\n\nShe then hoists it onto her shoulders.\n\nGAINS ITEM: KET BLANKET <<set $HasBlanket = "True">>\n\n[[Continue|Fall]]\n

OXANA\n\nAlright Raska, you ready?\n\nRASKA CHIRPS excited by her tone though clueless to the meaning of it. OXANA picks up RASKA and walks over to the open window and looks over the edge. The neighboring caste tower casts a shadow below making the ground indistinguishable from the darkness.\n\nOXANA holds out RASKA carefully. RASKA MURMURS uncomfortable being dangled over such a height.\n\nOXANA\n\nSee you in a minute buddy.\n\nOXANA drops RASKA and he SQUEALS in surprise as he falls away into the darkness. She then gets up on the ledge and, after looking back at her room for a brief moment, leaps off.\n\nShe WHISTLES softly as she falls. RASKA can be heard CHIRPING angrily below. Eventually he comes into view. When he spots her he expands, puffing out in all directions. OXANA falls into him and is slowed down enough by the goop that is RASKA that she lands gently on the ground. RASKA shrinks and peels off of OXANA. He then bristles angrily emitting a faint agitated GROWL.\n\nOXANA\n\nSorry Raska, thanks though.\n\nRASKA makes the equivalent of a blob "HMPH".\n\nEXT URIEL WOODS: NIGHT\n\nOXANA and RASKA stand on a ridge overlooking a long road into the forest. From where they are standing they can see the whole of the valley spreading into the distance. They do not notice KET on the road in front of them.\n\nKET, 24, has dark hair like OXANA but it's cut short. Her elf ears are cropped and free of jewelry. KET's eyes are golden hazel and her face often wears a fierce expression. She is disciplined, stoic and devoted.\n\nKET\n\nSo you were just going to leave?\n\nOXANA jumps a bit at the unexpected voice. RASKA SHRIEKS and swims up OXANA's leg and chest.\n\nOXANA\n\nRaska! Calm down! Raska!\n\nRASKA ends perched on OXANA's head hunched up emitting HISSING sounds. OXANA looks over to where the voice came from. KET watches her from the road below, she looks angry.\n\nOXANA\n\nKet! You're- you're back!\n\nRASKA calms down a bit when he realizes who KET is, but still remains somewhat agitated.\n\nKET\n\nSo you were just going to leave?! In the middle of the night? No goodbye! Just gone?!\n\nOXANA\n\nWell I would have said goodbye, but it would have given away the whole escaping part of the plan.\n\nWith one swift motion KET leaps up the rock face separating them and lands next to OXANA.\n\nKET\n\nEscape? Escape from what? A life of privilege? Father treats you like you are the reason the moon rises and yet you wish to escape from it?\n\nOXANA\n\nYes!... yes.\n\nKET looks a little taken aback having grown accustomed to her little sister's snide rebuttals; a plainly honest one is rare indeed.\n\nKET\n\nWhy? Father loves you, I love you... Why Oxana?\n\nOXANA OPTIONS:\n\n1. [[Wanderlust (Snide Remark)|Wanderlust]]\n\n2. [[I need to know who I am.|WhoIsOxana]]\n\n3. [[I'm tired of privilege.|PrivilegeBlues]]\n

OXANA\n\nDon' call me foolish! You don't even know who I am! It's been years! I'm not a child anymore.\n\nOXANA turns to head down the road.\n\nKET\n\nYou won't make it far.\n\nKET turns and starts yelling to the guards atop the walls.\n\nKET\n\nGuardsmen! Your charge is escaping!\n\nOXANA looks at her sister enraged.\n\nOXANA\n\nShut up!\n\nKET just keeps calling to the guards. Some of the windows brighten as lights are ignited.\n\nOXANA looks around desperate.\n\nOXANA OPTIONS:\n\n1. [[Run for it.|Run]]\n\n2. [[Knock KET out.|Attack]]\n

INT OXANA'S BEDROOM: NIGHT\n\nOXANA's bedroom glitters in the moon light, dozens of gleaming stones hang from the ceiling swaying gently in the breeze.\n\nOXANA, 17, has long dark hair and brilliant blue eyes. She is olive skinned with piercings all the way along the top of her elven ears. She is mischievous, snide and naive.OXANA is hastily packing a leather backpack with clothes, food and supplies. RASKA, a small red blob creature, CROAKS worryingly and rubs against her leg.\n\nOXANA\n\nStop it Raska! You'll wake up father if you keep this up.\n\nRASKA WHIMPERS and deflates a little. OXANA looks down feeling guilty.\n\nOXANA\n\nI'm sorry Raska, it's okay, you're coming too.\n\nRASKA remains deflated, unconvinced. OXANA pulls a large rat from one of the side pockets in her backpack. She holds it in front of RASKA by its tail. The rat dangles lifelessly.\n\nOXANA\n\nSee? I packed food for you and everything.\n\nRASKA perks up a bit and CROAKS questioningly.\n\nOXANA\n\nOh Right! Sorry,\n\nWith her other hand OXANA gestures at the rat and it springs to life confused. RASKA COOS happily as he forms into eager wriggling fingers. OXANA drops the rat into RASKA's mass of fingers. As it falls, the fingers turn into teeth that viciously tear the rat apart. After chewing, RASKA forms into a giant perky lipped mouth and swallows. He then settles back into his usual blob form, bits of the rat float around inside him.\n\nOXANA\n\nThere, see? I'd never leave you.\n\nRASKA burps up the rat's tail and makes satisfied MURMURS. OXANA smiles and looks into her backpack.\n\nOXANA\n\nAlright a little more room, I guess I could pack something more... sentimental...\n\nOXANA looks around the room.\n\nOXANA OPTIONS:\n\n1. [[A hairbrush from OXANA's mother|Hairbrush]]\n\n2. [[A dagger from OXANA's father|Dagger]]\n\n3. [[A blanket made by OXANA and her sister KET|Blanket]]\n

OXANA picks up a ROCK and moves quietly closer to KET. She lifts the ROCK to strike but then hesitates. OXANA looks at the ROCK, grimaces and sets it down. She sneaks off and then returns with a large BRANCH. OXANA swings the BRANCH to hit KET on the back of the head, but at the last second KET turns and blocks the blow.\n\nKET\n\nRea! You would attack your own sister!\n\nOXANA\n\nYou didn't give me much choice!\n\nKET snatches the BRANCH and tosses it aside, then grabs OXANA by the collar and starts dragging her towards the castle.\n\nRASKA leaps toward KET and transforms into a crude glass bottle. He hits her square in the back of her head knocking KET unconscious. RASKA shatters into droplets that swim back to him when he hits the ground, once again a blob.\n\nOXANA\n\n(Scolding)\n\nRaska!\n\nRASKA rolls over and MURMURS unsure of why he's being scolded. OXANA checks KET's pulse and turns her over so she isn't face down in the dirt. Soon VOICES of alarm can be heard from above.\n\nOXANA\n\nWell... seeya sis. Hopefully you won't wake up with too much of a headache...\n\nAfter one last glance back OXANA and RASKA sprint down the road.

KET\n\nI... understand Oxana.\n\nOXANA looks at KET with disbelief.\n\nOXANA\n\nYou do?\n\nKET looks out at the landscape before them.\n\nKET\n\nWhy do you think I joined the King's Forces in Hygorh? I needed to find the same things you do.\n\nOXANA\n\nI thought it was to spite father?\n\nKET grins slightly.\n\nKET\n\nAlright, a little, but mostly for the same reasons as you.\n\nOXANA smiles broadly, excited to share a joke with her sister again.\n\nOXANA\n\nWell I suppose, if I'm being honest, there's a little bit of spite for father in my motivations too.\n\nThe two share a CHUCKLE but then KET grows serious again.\n\nKET looks back at OXANA with a solid stare.\n\nKET\n\nThis world is dangerous Oxana, you can't just wander into it unprepared.\n\nOXANA\n\nI came prepared! I'm not an infant!\n\nKET looks skeptical.\n\nKET\n\nShow me.\n\nOXANA glares at her sister but then takes off her backpack and hands it to KET and crosses her arms.\n\nOXANA\n\nSee for yourself.\n\n<<if $HasHairbrush is "True">>[[Continue|HairbrushEnd]]<<endif>><<if $HasDagger is "True">>[[Continue|DaggerEnd]]<<endif>><<if $HasBlanket is "True">>[[Continue|BlanketEnd]]<<endif>>

KET pulls out the BLANKET they had made together as children. She sets down OXANA's backpack and unfolds the blanket, laying it out on a nearby ROCK. KET kneels, running her hands over the cloth. She smiles as it reacts to her touch, animating their heroic figures fighting dragons, goblins and all manner of other monsters.\n\nOXANA walks over and looks at it over KET's shoulder.\n\nOXANA\n\nWe wanted to do so much K, we were going to be the heroes of Uriel, remember? You found your cause in joining the King's Forces, now it's my turn. Let me go.\n\nKET's hand eventually settles on the central image depicting OXANA's mother\n\nKET\n\nAlright.\n\nOXANA\n\n(Surprised)\n\nReally?\n\nKET\n\nYea.\n\nKET folds up the blanket and puts it back in OXANA's backpack. Then she retrieves a short BLADE from her own and hands it to OXANA.\n\nGAINS ITEM: KET'S BLADE\n\nKET\n\nGo Oxana. Find yourself or whatever it is you need to do.\n\nOXANA clutches the BLADE close to herself as if treasuring it.\n\nOXANA\n\nThank you Ket.\n\nKET nods then pulls OXANA into a close hug before moving off in the direction of the castle. OXANA watches her go silent then looks down to RASKA.\n\nOXANA\n\nYou ready buddy?\n\nRASKA CHIRPS happily and the two set off down the road.\n

Oxana Excerpt

KET pulls out their father's DAGGER from OXANA's backpack. She looks at OXANA angrily.\n\nKET\n\nDo you want to get yourself killed Oxana?!\n\nOXANA looks confused, she thought the dagger to be the most practical of her sentimental choices.\n\nOXANA\n\nWell uh, quite the opposite. I figured having a dagger would aid me in not being killed...\n\nKET\n\nNot a dagger decorated with the Uriel Emblem! If you were to pull this on someone they would know who you were related to, and would probably hold you for ransom or worse! Foolish girl!\n\nOXANA snatches the DAGGER and backpack from KET's hands.\n\n[[Continue|KetScold]]

Ross Moreno

OXANA\n\nKet, I've been given everything in life. I don't want to live like that anymore. I want to be my own me. I need to do this.\n\nKET is silent for awhile.\n\n[[Continue|Understand]]

OXANA walks over to what looks like her night stand with a cloth draped over it. It is covered with writings and bits of crumpled paper.OXANA sweeps off the clutter and removes the cloth to reveal a TRUNK set sideways as her makeshift nightstand.\n\nThe name YUEL is carved in the top admist the twisting curling designs of the Wakuul family.\n\nShe pulls the TRUNK over and opens it. Inside are layers of folded clothing and various other trinkets. OXANA pulls out each one and sets it aside carefully before moving onto the next. Eventually she finds what she is looking for partway down. She pulls out an ornate pearl HAIRBRUSH formed out of carved spirals.\n\nOXANA\n\nI can't see it being of much use where I'm going but... it would be comforting to have something of mother's with me.\n\nOXANA carefully returns everything she withdrew from the TRUNK and, after closing it, returns it to its original position as her night stand. She then drapes the cloth over and spreads some of the crumpled paper from the floor over the top.\n\nOXANA packs the HAIRBRUSH into her backpack and hoists it up onto her shoulders.\n\nGAINS ITEM: WAKUUL HAIRBRUSH <<set $HasHairbrush = "True">>\n\n[[Continue|Fall]]