Thine Tavern

"Well, then, that all depends on who yer employer is."\n\nYou tell him.\n\n"You serious? Seems like there's finally a serious job in this worthless town. Sets my old treasure-huntin' blood on fire."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["That tattoo on your arm...were you a pirate?"|ludo-pirate]]</li>\n<li>[["Do you know anyone else around here we could hire?"|ludo-hire]]</li>\n<li>[["Excellent. We'll keep in touch." (Exit)|ludo-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

<<if visited ("accipter-club")>>\nThe coach transports you up the hill to the Accipter Club.\n\n[[Continue|accipter-club]]\n<<else>>An elegant cherrywood coach bearing the Accipter Club signet stands at the first gate, ready to leave. Two burly dwarves stand at either side – you can't be too careful in a town like this.\n\nThe coach driver looks at you with icy contempt. "This isn't a place for you," he says crisply. "The Accipter Club is invitation only. Perhaps you would try the Shark's Head?"\n\nYour reply:\n<ul><li>[["Please excuse my dress, but I do have a letter of recommendation."|coach-reply][$coach_polite = "yes"]]</li>\n<li>[["Who the hell do you think I am? I've been invited."|coach-reply][$coach_rude = "yes"]]</li>\n<li>[[(Present letter, say nothing.)|coach-reply][$coach_silent = "yes"]]</li></ul>\n\n[[Return to the square|crossroads]]<<endif>>

"And what would you like me to do about that?"\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["As a duchess, you must have connections. Maybe some of them employ adventurers."|llatra-quest-connections]]</li>\n<li>[["I was wondering if you'd like to join the adventuring party yourself."|llatra-quest-self]]</li>\n</ul>

The crowd turns to look at you as the bartender grabs the smoking bottle from the top shelf. He takes a stone cup out of the bar, dusts it off, and starts to pour. A few seconds pass, then something indescribable oozes out of the mouth of the bottle and into the cup. He pushes it to you with a smirk and you immediately slam it down.\n\nYou wake up in the town square fountain an hour later with a splitting headache and, oddly, a delicious cinnamon taste on your tongue. <<once>>You check your pockets and found someone stole your coin purse. Dammit. At least you still have your letter of recommendation.<<endonce>> <<set $drinkorder = "yes">> \n\n[[Continue|crossroads]]

"Well, uh...would these be people outside of the academy? I don't do so well with strangers...But on the other hand, if I don't have to talk to them, and Master Falstaff agrees, I think it would be fine."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Do you know if there are other mages here who I can ask, as well?"|ruby-falstaff-mages]]</li>\n<li>[["Let me know." (Exit)|ruby-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

"That depends," she says. "What's in it for me?"\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Gold, and a lot of it."|chanceheart-quest-gold]]</li>\n<li>[["The diamond, if you're sneaky enough."|chanceheart-quest-diamond]]</li>\n<li>[["The opportunity to slay the legendary necromancer and rid the world of an ancient evil."|chanceheart-quest-slay]]</li>\n</ul>

<<if $coach_polite is "yes">>The driver takes the letter from you and inspects it carefully. He turns to you and says, "It appears this is in order. We'll let you in as is tonight, but please be aware of our dress code in the future."\n<<else if $coach_rude is "yes">>The driver looks flustered. "Ah, yes, of course. My apologies," he stammers. "Please, come inside."\n<<else if $coach_silent is "yes">>Raising an eyebrow, the driver takes the letter from you. After a minute of careful inspection, he opens the door. "Very well, sir, please come inside."<<endif>>\n\nYou climb aboard the coach, which departs up the hill. The gates seem to open without any living hand to push them – not surprising, considering how many mages have become a part of the Accipter Club over the years.\n\n[[Continue|accipter-club]]

<<if $met_llatra is "yes">>"Come back to bore me, have you?" she says as you sit on the couch across from her.\n<<else>>You sit on the couch across from her and try to catch her attention, but she seems to be forcefully ignoring you. Finally, she turns to you, and with in icy tone, asks "Do you know who I am?"\n\nYou shake your head, and she sighs. "I am Duchess Llatra of the Elven Principalities," she says, "and I don't see what business someone as shabbily dressed as you has here at the Accipter Club."<<endif>> <<set $met_llatra = "yes">>\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["I'm looking for adventurers to quest for the Eye of Loki."|llatra-quest]]</li>\n<li>[["What responsibilities do you have as duchess?"|llatra-responsibilities]]</li>\n<li>[["The Principalities are two weeks' travel away. What business do you have in Brackwater?"|llatra-purpose]]</li>\n<li>[["Well, sorry to bother you." (Exit)|llatra-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

"Are you sure? Last guy who drank this died."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["That guy sounds like a wimp. Pour it."|drink-smoking-bottle-2]]</li>\n<li>[["Eh, you're right, I'll have an ale."|drink-ale]]</li>\n</ul>

<center><h1>THINE TAVERNS</h1></center>\n\n<center>By Jeremy Geist</center>\n\n<center>[[Begin|prologue]]</center>\n\n<center>Note: This is a sample of game dialogue, not a full game. If you would like to play one of Jeremy's full games, please try "Monday to Friday".</center>\n\n

<<print either("You play well, but just as you're about to win, Chanceheart folds. Close one!", "Chanceheart completely demolishes you. It's almost like she's cheating...")>>\n\n"Want to play another hand?" she asks.\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Sure."|chanceheart-cards]]</li>\n<li>[["Before that, my employer is looking for people to acquire this diamond..."|chanceheart-quest]]</li>\n<li>[["No thanks. I'm going to get another drink." (Exit)|chanceheart-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

"I'm the one puttin' my life on the line here, so I'd say it's damn well my concern."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["It depends on who we hire."|ludo-skills]]</li>\n<li>[["I'd have to ask my employer."|ludo-employer]]</li>\n</ul>

"The Eye of Loki?!" His eyes sparkle. "I've been meaning to kill that damned necromancer for years! Are you saying you..." He suddenly recalls something, and his face changes from excited to crestfallen once more.\n\n"I would be happy to accept, except...ah...there's a few, ah...hiccups."\n\n<ul><li>[[What kind of hiccups?|armstrong-quest-2]]</li></ul>

Ludo barely acknowledges you leaving the table.\n\n[[Continue|sharks-head]]

"While it may gain some amount of good will with whatever human kingdoms are at risk, it simply isn't worth the favors I would have to call with the others. Elven politics are very cutthroat, but I suppose you wouldn't know about that."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["If you don't care about the human kingdoms, why are you here?"|llatra-purpose]]</li>\n<li>[["Very well, then. Sorry to bother you." (Exit)|llatra-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

"A ship from the elven homelands comes into port in a few days. I am there to escort them to a more civilized land. After all, you couldn't expect them to possibly remain in a place like this."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["What are their relations like with the Principalities?"|llatra-homeland]]</li>\n<li>[["Ah, I see." (Exit)|llatra-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

"You're permissive for a messenger. It's pretty interesting."She spins a card on the tip of her finger. "I'd have to weigh the risks."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Good to hear. How about we play some Thompson's Gambit?"|chanceheart-cards]]</li>\n<li>[["My employer will contact you with more details." (Exit)|chanceheart-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

"I don't understand what benefit that would have for the Principalities."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Surely you can see that if the necromancer were to build up his forces, he would become a threat to you."|llatra-connections-threat]]</li>\n<li>[["This isn't a particular danger for your reputation, and if the necromancer were to be killed it would make you look very good."|llatra-connections-politics]]</li>\n</ul>

"Then piss off."\n\n[[Continue|sharks-head]]

"Well...first off, my wife would be rightly worried about me. And also, it wouldn't be right to take up mercenary work now that the king's granted me all this."\n\n"That said, if you'd be willing to persuade the nobles that this quest is in their best interest, I would be more than happy to lend my sword to your service. After all, a dead necromancer means a peaceful kingdom."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Thank you! I need to talk to some other people about questing, as well." (Exit)|armstrong-exit]]</li>\n<li>[["What were you saying about your social status?|armstrong-social-status]]</li>\n<li>[["I like your armor."|armstrong-armor]]</li>\n</ul>\n\n

You keep an eye out for nefarious deeds.\n\n<<print either ("You notice the deck's gotten a little shorter just as she's about to play her hand. You immediately fold – saving a good amount of your money in the process.", "It doesn't look like she cheated, but she did win, so either she's very good at cheating or she's very good at Thompson's Gambit.")>>\n\n"Want to play another hand?" she asks.\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Sure."|chanceheart-cards]]</li>\n<li>[["Before that, my employer is looking for people to acquire this diamond..."|chanceheart-quest]]</li>\n<li>[["No thanks. I'm going to get another drink." (Exit)|chanceheart-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

"Ah..."A look of distant sadness plays across her face."My life story is as sad as it is hard. I was abandoned as an infant in a casino, and I was forced to gamble to survive. Soon I was forced to depart, chased out by an invading force, and barely managed to stow myself on a boat departing for Brackwater. Suffering from hunger, I had to decide whether to eat my cards or the shiphand I had killed to get onboard...and, well, I still have my cards."\n\nShe stares at you for a second, then breaks out into wild laughter. "YOU ACTUALLY BOUGHT THAT?!" she manages to work out between laughing fits. "You take things super seriously, that's amazing! You are fantastic. Now, how about that game?"\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Sure, let's play Thompson's Gambit."|chanceheart-cards]]</li>\n<li>[["I think I've been humiliated enough for one evening." (Exit)|chanceheart-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

<<if $drinkorder is "yes">>He shrugs. "Most able men around here end up working on a ship, one way or another. There's a few mercenaries here, though, and some of the more...ambitious criminal elements might be interested in what you have to offer."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Thanks. How about another drink?"|bartender-drink]]</li>\n<li>[["By the way, what should I call you?"|bartender-name]]</li>\n<li>[["All right. I'll start looking." (Exit)|bartender-exit]]</li>\n</ul>\n<<else>>"Maybe you should order something before you go around asking these kinds of questions."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["I'll have something to drink, then."|bartender-drink]]\n<li>[["Wow, that was rude." (Exit)|bartender-exit]]</li>\n</ul><<endif>>

Even though working for your employer has taken you away from your old days, you still remember most of your tricks. You decide to try a few on her and see if she's as much of a con artist as she thinks she is.\n\n<<print either("You manage to get a peek at her cards – nothing good – and try to press the advantage, but she magically gains a superior hand and cleans you out. What happened?", "As you reach for the cards, she lays a hand on your wrist and gives you a condescending glance. You decide to play it straight, and lose badly.")>>\n\n"Want to play another hand?" she asks.\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Sure."|chanceheart-cards]]</li>\n<li>[["Before that, my employer is looking for people to acquire this diamond..."|chanceheart-quest]]</li>\n<li>[["No thanks. I'm going to get another drink." (Exit)|chanceheart-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

Thine Taverns

"Oh, boy! I get to stab someone else for justice! Maybe if we kill enough necromancers, we'll finally have peace and prosperity!"\n\nShe does not seem impressed by your offer.\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["You can also steal the Eye of Loki, if you're sneaky enough."|chanceheart-quest-diamond]]</li>\n<li>[["In retrospect, that was a stupid thing to say. I'll be going now."|chanceheart-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

She seems unimpressed. "A pitiful human necromancer has no chance against our powerful mages. It would be as if I came to you and asked you to muster an army against a single bandit."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["It would look good for you, politically speaking."|llatra-connections-politics]]</li>\n<li>[["In that case, never mind." (Exit)|llatra-exit]]</li>\n</ul>\n

"I'm apprenticed to Master Falstaff at the academy. He's a brilliant mage, but...I don't...he's not a very good teacher. He left me here to go upstairs with some baroness and told me to meet other mages. But everyone here is really intimidating."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Can't you switch masters? He doesn't sound like a good fit."|ruby-falstaff-switch]]</li>\n<li>[["Are there other mages here?"|ruby-falstaff-mages]]</li>\n<li>[["You know, a good way to meet other mages is to go questing for the Eye of Loki."|ruby-quest]]</li>\n<li>[["Gee, that's too bad." (Exit)|ruby-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

"Most of the mages here are retired. I'd talk to them, but they're not really personable, and I think most of them are really drunk."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["You know, a good way to meet other mages is to go questing for the Eye of Loki."|ruby-quest]]</li>\n<li>[["Well, good luck." (Exit)|ruby-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

The coach proceeds back down the hill to the town square.\n\n[[Continue|crossroads]]

<<once>>As you walk into the Shark's Head, a mug of cheap ale comes flying at your head. You narrowly dodge it as it clangs into the wall, knocking a dartboard off its nail. "Good reflexes on ya!" shouts a(n extremely drunk from the sound of it) sailor in the back. "Ever thought about going to sea?"<<endonce>>\n\n The air inside the Shark's Head is thick, warm, and filled with smoke. The roar of a dozen simultaneous conversations, along with a few off-key songs, prevents you from hearing anything beyond about a foot away. The wooden chairs and tables are rickety and covered with rough carvings: Tributes to fun nights or lost brothers.\n\nThe bar, crowded even on slow days, is filled to bursting because of the weather. You notice, among the usual group of sailors and locals, a few more unsavory characters: Thieves? Pickpockets? Old men in black robes who give out dungeon maps? Who knows.\n\nThe [[bartender|bartender-start]] is futilely attempting to wipe out a mug between serving drinks.\n\n<<if $met_ludo is "yes">>[[Ludo|ludo-start]] <<else>>A [[mercenary|ludo-start]] covered in scars <<endif>> sits at one of the tables, nursing a drink.\n\nIn a far corner of the bar, <<if $met_chanceheart is "yes">>[[Chanceheart|chanceheart-start]]<<else>>a [[dwarf|chanceheart-start]] wearing a dark robe<<endif>> absentmindedly shuffles a deck of cards.\n\n[[Return to the square|crossroads]]\n\n\n\n

"I have enough gold." She looks disinterested. "And besides, there's plenty of ways to get gold that don't involve getting attacked by skeletons."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["There's also that huge diamond, if you're sneaky enough."|chanceheart-quest-diamond]]</li>\n<li>[["You'd be doing a service by getting rid of that necromancer."|chanceheart-quest-slay]]</li>\n<li>[["Oh, sorry to bother you then." (Exit)|chanceheart-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

"I solve the large problems that those under me in the duchy cannot. Additionally, my holdings happen to be where we welcomed the elves from the homelands historically, so those duties fall upon me as well."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["What are relations like with the elves of the homelands?"|llatra-homeland]]</li>\n<li>[["Ah. That is very interesting." (Exit)|llatra-exit]]</li>\n<ul>

"Magic isn't my thing, but if you need a sword there's none better. Fought my share of undead on the high seas, too."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["That tattoo on your arm...were you a pirate?"|ludo-pirate]]</li>\n<li>[["Do you know anyone else around here we could hire?"|ludo-hire]]</li>\n<li>[["Excellent. We'll keep in touch." (Exit)|ludo-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

"It happened after the end of the war. Now, I am not going to advocate for the 'glory of combat', but certainly I was having a better time fighting the forces of evil than lounging around places like this."\n\nHe glowers."I recieved a lot of attention for distinguished service, so suddenly I'm rubbing elbows with these puffed-up aristocrats. One of them ended up being an absolutely lovely woman – I married her – but most of them would die of fright if they were on the battlefield for thirty seconds. I miss slaying dragons with my comrades."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Dragons?"|armstrong-dragon]]</li>\n<li>[["You know, if you miss the adventuring life...(you twirl your hair coyly)...Perhaps you would like to...quest for the Eye of Loki?"|armstrong-quest]]</li>\n<li>[["I like your armor."|armstrong-armor]]</li>\n<li>[["Interesting, but I think I'd better be going." (Exit)|armstrong-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

<<if $drinkorder is "yes">>You push your empty cup away and go back into the crowd.\n<<else>>The bartender looks at you quizically as you leave.<<endif>><<set $drinkorder = "no">>\n\n[[Continue|sharks-head]]

She gives a friendly wave as you leave. "Let me know if you have any more gold weighing you down!"\n\n[[Continue|sharks-head]]

<<if $met_ludo is "yes">>"Whaddaya want?" Ludo asks.\n\n<ul>\n<li> [["Could you tell me about being a pirate?"|ludo-pirate]]</li>\n<li> [["Who else could I hire around here?"|ludo-hire]]</li>\n<li> [["Never mind." (Exit)|ludo-exit]]</li>\n</ul>\n<<else>>As you get closer, you notice the mercenary has a skull-and-hourglass tattoo on his shoulder: The trademark of the pirate bands that plague this coast. A red X has been carved over it, which might explain all the scars.\n\nHe glares at you as you sit down, but you muster up the courage: This errand is a desperate one. You ask him his name.\n\n"Whether I tell you that," he growls, "depends on whether you've got a job for me."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Ever heard of the Eye of Loki?"|ludo-intro-quest]]</li>\n<li>[["I just wanted to make friendly conversation."|ludo-intro-exit]]</li>\n</ul><<endif>>

You squeeze into a spot in front of the bar. After a few minutes, the bartender turns his attention to you. He's wearing a greasy white shirt and his hair is starting to get a bald spot from stress.\n\n"What can I do for ya?" he asks.\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["I'll have something to drink."|bartender-drink]]</li>\n<li>[["Do you know how to find adventurers around here?"|bartender-adventurers]]</li>\n<li>[["What do people call you?"|bartender-name]]</li>\n<li>[["Never mind." (Exit)|bartender-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

<<if visited() <= "2">>"YES!!" He brings his fist down upon the table, which splinters and cracks. Everyone turns around to look at the source of the noise as he grins sheepishly.<<endif>>\n<<if visited() is "3">>"YES!!" He brings his fist down upon the table, which splits in two. You quietly follow him as he moves to the other side of the room.<<endif>>\n<<if visited() > "3">>"YES!!" He brings his fist down, but pauses right before it hits the table. Maybe he does learn, after all.<<endif>>\n\n"Slaying the iron dragon of the Windshear Cliffs, with the help of my fellow godly heroes was one of my proudest achievements. Sadly, most people here would rather discuss the political and economic ramifications of my achievements than listen to my tale."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["You mentioned something about your newfound social status. Could you tell me about that?"|armstrong-social-status]]</li>\n<li>[["Would you be interested in questing for the Eye of Loki?"|armstrong-quest]]</li>\n<li>[["Interesting, but I think I'd better be going." (Exit)|armstrong-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

"My specialty is practical divination." She starts becoming a little more confident. "A lot of students like the flashier stuff, like fireballs or raising the dead, but even having a few seconds of precognition can be useful in both daily life and combat. The thaumaturgical mechanics are really fascinating, it folds together both traditional methods – astrology is frequently helpful – and more of a metaphysical approach to determining 'past' and 'future' that..."\n\nShe goes on for ten minutes without taking a breath, but you don't really understand any of it. Eventually, she notices that your eyes have glazed over.\n\n"Oh, sorry! I tend to go on. I bored you. I definitely bored you." She starts walking away from you. "I'M SORRY!" she screams, already several yards in the distance.\n\n[[Continue|accipter-club]]

A cold grin plays across his face."I'll play yer game. Name's Ludo."<<set $met_ludo = "yes">>\n\n"So, how exactly do you plan on getting rid of that necromancer?"\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Depends on who we hire."|ludo-skills]]</li>\n<li>[["I'd have to ask my employer."|ludo-employer]]</li>\n<li>[["That doesn't concern you."|ludo-concern]]</li>\n</ul>

"What'll it be?"\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Ale."|drink-ale]]</li>\n<li>[["Your finest mead, good sir."|drink-mead]]</li>\n<li>[["I'll have whatever's in that smoking bottle on the top shelf."|drink-smoking-bottle]]</li>\n<li>[["Before I get super drunk, do you know how to find adventurers around here?"|bartender-adventurers]]</li>\n<li>[["Actually, never mind."|bartender-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

"Oh, I know about that! That necromancer is infamous in my academy; he nearly destroyed it with an undead army fifty years ago. I bet whoever recovered the Eye and killed the necromancer would get a bunch of awards from the headmaster."\n\nShe pauses."Uh, I don't really think what I've been studying is good for adventuring, though."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["What have you been studying?|ruby-studies]]</li>\n<li>[["You should doubt yourself less. I bet you'd be great in an adventuring party!"|ruby-quest-2]]</li>\n<li>[["Oh, too bad." (Exit)|ruby-exit]]</li></ul>

"Those elves always expect us to bow and pay them tribute, just because they were there before us. My obligation as duchess forces me to play along for now, but soon they won't be so lucky."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Perhaps sending some adventurers to aid in claiming the Eye of Loki would help you."|llatra-connections-politics]]</li>\n<li>[["Best of luck." (Exit)|llatra-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

"This?" he rubs the armor with a gloved finger. "This is just my ceremonial armor. Solid enough, I suppose, but I can barely move in it. Might as well just send a chunk of iron to fight."\n\n"I wanted to bring my actual armor, but it's covered in stains and stinks of dragon blood. You can't wash that off, you know. Also, it's acidic, so it's a good thing I was wearing the armor."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Dragon?"|armstrong-dragon]]</li>\n<li>[["You mentioned something about your newfound social status. Could you tell me about that?"|armstrong-social-status]]</li>\n<li>[["Would you be interested in questing for the Eye of Loki?"|armstrong-quest]]</li>\n<li>[["Interesting, but I think I'd better be going." (Exit)|armstrong-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

<<if visited ("drink-smoking-bottle-2")>>You reach for your coin purse and remember someone stole it. "Sorry, I don't have anything..." you say. "Don't worry," she says, "you can owe me. I'm pretty good on collecting debts."<<endif>>\n\nChanceheart calls over a random barfly to shuffle the cards. "Otherwise, you'd complain when I won," she smirks.The barfly deals seven cards to each of you. <<print either("You've got five Deaths, a Triple Cup, and a Rotunda – a killer hand!", "You have six random cards and what appears to be a coupon.", "You have a Priest, three Crowns, a Naughty Farmer, a Sapphire, and either a Wild Card or a chewed-up Jester.")>>\n\n<ul>\n<li>[[Play it straight|chanceheart-cards-straight]]</li>\n<li>[[Cheat|chanceheart-cards-cheat]]</li>\n<li>[[Try to catch her cheating|chanceheart-cards-catch]]</li>\n</ul>\n

"The academy is strict about their apprenticeship program. And besides, Falstaff is the only one who actually works in my specialty."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["What's your specialty?"|ruby-studies]]</li>\n<li>[["Oh, I didn't know. Well, this is a natural end to the conversation." (Exit)|ruby-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

You enter a large room, bedecked with plush couches and tables bearing exotic fruit and dainty pastries. The heat of several fires from elsewhere in the mansion helps chase away the cold and damp, but you don't feel entirely comfortable in such a high-class place.\n\nA number of Brackwater's wealthy and powerful are deep in conversation with foreign dignitaries and mighty heroes. You recognize some of them from dinners you went to with your employer.\n\n<<once>>A butler offers you a glass of brandy from a tray of several, which you swiftly accept.<<endonce>>\n\n<<if $met_armstrong is "yes">>[[Armstrong|armstrong-start]]<<else>>A [[paladin|armstrong-start]] wearing shining ceremonial armor<<endif>> stares glumly into his wine in the corner.\n\n<<if $met_llatra is "yes">>[[Duchess Llatra|llatra-start]]<<else>>An [[elf|llatra-start]] wearing a delicate silk gown<<endif>> lounges on one of the couches, talking to her companions.\n\n<<if $met_ruby is "yes">>[[Ruby|ruby-start]] <<else>>A young [[mage|ruby-start]] – wearing student robes –<<endif>>nervously mills around the hall.\n\n[[Return to the square|coach-return]]

He pours you an ale in a wooden cup and gives it to you. It's nothing to write home about, but it's not as bad as you expected.<<set $drinkorder = "yes">>\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["I'd like another drink."|bartender-drink]]</li>\n<li>[["Do you know how to find adventurers around here?"|bartender-adventurers]]</li>\n<li>[["That's enough for me." (Exit)|bartender-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

Ruby stares at you suspiciously as you leave, then goes back to wandering around.\n\n[[Continue|accipter-club]]

<<if $met_ruby is "yes">> You catch up with Ruby again. "Y-yes? What is it?"\n<<else>> You try to flag down the mage, but she's walking quickly and mostly looking at the floor. You finally manage to place a hand on her shoulder and she wheels around.\n\n"Master Falstaff?!" She spins around and, realizing you aren't Falstaff, looks a little scared. At this distance, you notice her robes are a size too big for her and her glasses are covered with dust. "H-hi...I'm, uh...a mage in training..." She starts mumbling. "im ruby."<<set $met_ruby = "yes">><<endif>>\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Who's this Falstaff person?"|ruby-falstaff]]</li>\n<li>[["What are you studying?"|ruby-studies]]</li>\n<li>[["Would you be interested in questing for the Eye of Loki?"|ruby-quest]]</li>\n<li>[[(Exit.)|ruby-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

The town square lies deserted. The wind causes a large fountain in the center to spray its water wildly in every direction.\n\n<<if $square is "yes">>You can go to [[the Shark's Head|sharks-head]] or you can take the coach up the hill to [[the Accipter Club|coach]].\n\n<<else>>You notice two places with the lights still on. The first is a raucuous tavern down a dark alley from the square. There's no sign, but the head of a huge shark pokes out from the stones above the door. You figure it's called [[the Shark's Head|sharks-head][$square = "yes"]].\n\nEven from this distance, you can hear the sounds of a loud sea shanty, as well as the shouting and laughing of a group of sailors just returned to port. It's a rough place, but you've been used to rougher.\n\nIn the opposite direction, you see a large mansion on a hill overlooking the city. Multiple gates, painted green and gold, separate the elegant house from the rest of the town. A hawk's-head emblem on the front of the mansion proves that it has been donated to the Accipter Club.\n\nThe club is a secretive, invitation-only group with stations in most large cities. Only the most wealthy, powerful, and heroic are invited there; fortunately, that includes your employer, who gave you a letter of recommendation. It doesn't mean full membership, but you should at least be able to get inside.\n\nThere's a [[coach][$square = "yes"]] waiting at the bottom of the hill.<<endif>>

"Saw the tattoo, did ya? Used to sail with Rackham's Pirates, till we came to a misunderstanding about treasure distribution. Tried to steal my retirement fund." He chuckles grimly. "Had to kill five of my old crewmates, and the gold and jewels got washed off my sloop during a storm. Ah, well."\n\nHe looks at you seriously."But you're lucky. Next time you see someone with a tattoo like this?" He points to his arm for emphasis. "Walk the other way. Don't ask questions like that."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Hate to keep asking questions, but do you know anyone else I can hire around here?"|ludo-hire]]</li>\n<li>[["Thanks for the advice." (Exit)|ludo-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

"Best not to ask too many unnecessary questions around here. Got it?"\n\nHe turns away from you and you decide that this is a good time to walk off.<<set $drinkorder = "no">>\n\n[[Continue|sharks-head]]

"Goodbye." She waves you away.\n\n[[Continue|accipter-club]]

<<if $met_chanceheart is "yes">>Chanceheart smiles as you sit down. "Didn't learn your lesson the first time, huh? How about another game?"\n<<else>> You see a couple of veterans try to stifle their laughter as you sit down across from the dwarf at the otherwise empty tables.\n\n"Ignore them," she says breezily. "Wanna see a card trick?" She shuffles the cards a few more times, then spreads them out in a circle on the table. You look at them, unimpressed.\n\nSuddenly, she smacks the underside of the table with her boot, causing all the cards to stand up neatly in an elaborate house of cards. Your jaw must have dropped a considerable distance, as she has an obnoxious smirk on her face as she collects the cards and starts shuffling them again.\n\n"I'm Chanceheart," she says. "How about a game to pass the time?"<<endif>><<set $met_chanceheart = "yes">>\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Let's play some Thompson's Gambit."|chanceheart-cards]]</li>\n<li>[["You seem like quite the card shark. Been doing this long?"|chanceheart-history]]</li>\n<li>[["Do you do any adventuring? There's this huge diamond..."|chanceheart-quest]]</li>\n<li>[["No thanks." (Exit)|chanceheart-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

Flickering torches dimly light the cobblestones of the street as you walk through the seaside town of Brackwater. A howling wind has picked up, and, despite the thick coat you wear, it's cold enough to make you shiver. Everyone in town seems to have retreated indoors for the evening.\n\nYou have been sent here to find people willing to quest for the legendary Eye of Loki, a priceless diamond said to exist in the lair of a fiendish necromancer somewhere to the north. Most people who are qualified and able for this harrowing task can be found in the taverns, inns, and resting places of Brackwater.\n\n[[Continue|crossroads]]\n\n

"Dunno. Most people around here are blowhards who take worthless cleanup jobs. Bartender might tell ya something."\n\nHe takes a sip of his drink. "That dwarf in the corner there's got the skills, but she's a real scoundrel. Probably'd rob yer crew as soon as she'd adventure with 'em."\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Could you tell me about being a pirate?"|ludo-pirate]]</li>\n<li>[["Thanks." (Exit)|ludo-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

Jeremy Geist

<<if $met_armstrong is "yes">> Armstrong looks back up as you come near. "What do you want to talk about?"\n<<else>> As you approach the paladin, he looks up at you, disinterested. "I suppose you'll be wanting to make some political alliance with me, then?"\n\nAn awkward few seconds pass and his face lightens a little. "I'm sorry," he says. "I hate these stuffy gatherings, but my wife made me come. Said I had to associate with people of my newfound social status."\n\n"I'm Armstrong, by the way. General in the Northern Army." He offers you his hand.<<set $met_armstrong = "yes">><<endif>>\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["Newfound social status? What happened?"|armstrong-social-status]]</li>\n<li>[["Would you be interested in questing for the Eye of Loki?"|armstrong-quest]]</li>\n<li>[["That's nice armor you're wearing."|armstrong-armor]]</li>\n<li>[[(Exit conversation.)|armstrong-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

"Ooh, look at sir fancy here!" he replies. "Would you perhaps enjoy a cheese platter or charcuterie plate with your fine beverage?"\n\nYou notice that, despite the sarcasm, he is pouring you his finest mead.<<set $drinkorder = "yes">>\n\n<ul>\n<li>[["I'd like another drink."|bartender-drink]]</li>\n<li>[["Do you know how to find adventurers around here?"|bartender-adventurers]]</li>\n<li>[["That's enough for me." (Exit)|bartender-exit]]</li>\n</ul>

"Is this some kind of sick joke? A noble of my caliber expected to throw myself into danger in some dank tomb...fighting skeletons like some common thief? Ridiculous. You had better leave my sight before I get angry!"\n\nYou decide not to push your luck and leave.\n\n[[Continue|accipter-club]]

Armstrong seems a little saddened; you're the first person to engage with him at his level all night.\n\n"Farewell, then." He goes back to pining at his reflection in the wine.\n\n[[Continue|accipter-club]]