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Welcome to the town of Lynbrook. On the bank of the River Gosp, it's a bustling port town, ever expanding as its importance in the kingdom's economy becomes more apparent. That's why you find yourself here, adventurer, on this beautiful day. As you [[walk down the main street|Hello there!]] alongside the river, sunlight bouncing playfully off the flowing water, you cast your eyes about in search of anything that might lead you towards work.
"Excuse me," says a voice to your right. You turn to see a rather portly man, sporting a mop of messy brown hair and a chin bearing the stubble of a few days without a shave.
"Couldn't help but notice that you look a little lost, any way I can help you?"
"[[Any chance you could point me to the nearest pub?|Nearest pub]]""Why of course traveller! Just down that street there you'll find two of Lynbrook's finest establishments; The Fiddler's Gambit and The Pickled Thumb." The man points down a side street and you follow his gaze, picking out two swinging signs above doorways that could only be the pubs he mentioned, though you're too far away to tell which is which.
As you turn back to the man he smiles, a hand outstretched as if to [[shake yours|Handshake]] or [[receive some money in thanks|Change]].The man looks a little hurt as you shake his hand, his sweaty palm falling limply to his side as you turn and [[walk down the side street]].The man grins as you reach into your coin pouch and deposit a couple of copper pieces into his outstretched palm.
"Oh, thank you kindly," he says as you turn and [[walk down the side street]].The creak of the two wooden signs swinging in the wind grows ever-so-slightly louder as you approach. After a few yards further you can make out which is which. The one on the left is [[The Pickled Thumb]] and the one on the right is [[The Fiddler's Gambit]].You turn left, swinging open the heavy wooden door that leads into The Pickled Thumb. Its dark interior is lit with candles on tables and sconces hanging from the walls. Despite it only being mid-afternoon there is a decent number of people milling about and drinking. You walk up to the bar yourself and order a tankard of ale, noticing the glass jar containing a murky green liquid with a thumb suspended within it sat on a shelf behind the barman, then can [[stay at the bar]] or go [[sit in a booth in the corner]].You turn right, swinging open the heavy wooden door that leads into The Fiddler's Gambit. Its dark interior is lit with candles on tables and sconces hanging from the walls. Despite it only being mid-afternoon there is a decent number of people milling about and drinking. You walk up to the bar yourself and order a tankard of ale, noticing the fiddle mounted on the wall behind the barman, then can [[stay at the bar]] or go [[sit in a booth in the corner]].<<set $location to "bar">>
You sit for a while, nursing your ale and watching the other drinkers in the pub. You're about halfway through your drink when [[a man enters]].<<set $location to "corner">>
You sit for a while, nursing your ale and watching the other drinkers in the pub. You're about halfway through your drink when [[a man enters]].The man is tall, having to stoop slightly as he crosses the threshold, so as to not hit his head on the doorway. He wears a black shirt, black trousers, and black riding boots, with a black neckerchief covering the lower half of his face. He walks up to the barman and, though all the other patrons have quietened at his appearance, you still have to strain to [[hear what he is saying]].<<if $location is "bar">>
Though muffled by the neckerchief, you hear the man say, "Give me all the money you've got behind that counter."
The barman shakes his head, and gruffly replies, "No."
The man's hand goes to his side and you see a [[flash of steel]].
<<elseif $location is "corner">>
You cannot quite make out what is being said, only seeing the barman shake his head at the mysterious stranger's request, before the stranger [[draws a dagger]].
<<endif>>Before the stranger has a chance to harm the barman, you react to the threat:
[[Cast a spell]]
[[Draw your own dagger]]
[[Use your tankard]]
[[Try to seduce him]]You see the dagger and need to act fast.
[[Throw a fireball]]
[[Throw a dagger]]
[[Tackle him]]
[[Bring out your lute]]<<set $class to "wizard">>
You begin to mutter words in an arcane language under your breath, feeling the heat rise within yourself. As the stranger draws his sheathed dagger you finish your incantation, causing his clothes to catch on fire as his dagger is mere inches away from the barman's throat. He panics, trying to put out the flames, but in a matter of seconds they engulf him. His body falls to the floor and the flames gutter out as quickly as they began, leaving his blackened, charred body on the floor, contorted in pain.
All eyes turn to you, and moments later [[a man rushes in]], dressed in the colours of the city guard.<<set $class to "rogue">>
The stranger's fast, but you're faster. You draw your own dagger and plunge it into the man's side, catching his arm with your free hand as he lashes out to slash the barman's throat. You caught him between two of his ribs, puncturing a lung. He turns to look at you, the light fading from his eyes as he begins to cough up blood. You let him fall to the floor, then bend over to retrieve your dagger, wiping it on his shirt to clean the blood, and using the chance to rifle through his pockets and take the few coins he had on him.
As you stand you notice all eyes have turned to you, and moments later [[a man rushes in]], dressed in the colours of the city guard.<<set $class to "fighter">>
The man turns his body as he goes to pull his dagger from the sheath at his side, but when he turns back to slash at the barman he doesn't expect you to swing your tankard at his face. He stumbles back, blood pouring from his nostrils, but you grab the back of his face and slam it down onto the bar with a wet thud.
As the stranger's limp body falls to the floor, all eyes turn to you, and moments later [[a man rushes in]], dressed in the colours of the city guard.<<set $class to "wizard">>
The moment you see the flash of steel you begin to mutter in an arcane language, moving your hands to shape the ball of fire you start to manifest. As soon as it is ready you launch it at the stranger, engulfing him in flame and reducing him to a pile of dust on the floor of the bar. However, in the time it took to cast your incantation the stranger had slashed open the throat of the barman, who was gone from sight, leaving only a puddle of blood on the bar, having presumably collapsed to the floor on the other side.
All eyes turn from the smoking remains of the stranger to you, and moments later [[a man rushes in]], dressed in the colours of the city guard.<<set $class to "rogue">>
As soon as you see the glint of steel you grab a throwing dagger from your belt and fling it across the bar at the stranger. It hits him square in the back of the neck and he twitches slightly before dropping to the ground. However, from the other side of the bar your reactions weren't quick enough and the barman collapses as well, clutching a large gash across his throat.
All eyes turn from the stranger at the bar to you in your booth, and moments later [[a man rushes in]], dressed in the colours of the city guard.<<set $class to "fighter">>
The stranger slashes at the barman's throat with his dagger, blood spurting from the gash. You leap from your seat and tip over the table in front of you, charging the man and knocking him to the floor. Pinning him down, you punch him in the face again and again until he stops resisting, then grab his head and slam it down on the wooden floor one last time, for good measure.
Panting and covered in blood, you stand up and watch as all eyes turn to you. Moments later [[a man rushes in]], dressed in the colours of the city guard.<<if $location is "bar">>
As soon as he enters all of the other patrons avert their eyes, staring down into their pints of ale. He looks from the corpse on the ground to the barman, who nods his head over to you.
The man sidles over to you and says, "[[Is this your mess?]]"
<<elseif $location is "corner">>
As soon as he enters all of the other patrons avert their eyes, staring down into their pints of ale. He looks around at the carnage, and then stares up at you.
He sidles over to you and says, "[[Is this your mess?]]"
<<endif>><<if $class is "wizard">>
"Er, yes, I suppose, though I wasn't the one the one that started it," you respond.
"I don't care who started it, as long as it's finished now." The man stays quiet for a moment as he eyes you up, then continues. "Well whatever the case, you're lucky that we've been following this man due to his connection with other crimes. I'm Erik, Lynbrook's guard captain, and I assume you're Micah?"
"[[How do you know that?]]"
<<elseif $class is "rogue">>
"I'd say it's more his mess," you respond.
"Don't get clever with me now." The man stays quiet for a moment as he eyes you up, then continues. "Anyway, you're lucky that we've been following this man due to his connection with other crimes. I'm Erik, Lynbrook's guard captain, and I assume you're Sasha?"
"[[I could be, for the right amount]]"
<<elseif $class is "fighter">>
"Might be, might not," you respond.
"Don't take that tone with me." The man looks as though he's about to square up to you, but thinks better of it. "Well, you're lucky that we've been following this man due to his connection with other crimes. I'm Erik, Lynbrook's guard captain, and you must be Alex?"
"[[What's it to you?]]"
<<endif>><<if $location is "bar">>
"I'm the guard captain, it's my business to know things in this town. And what I know now is that you can handle yourself. I might have a job for you, if you'll [[follow me]]?"
<<elseif $location is "corner">>
"I'm the guard captain, it's my business to know things in this town. And what I know is that you're at least half capable. I might have a job for you, if you'll [[follow me]]?"
<<endif>><<if $location is "bar">>
"You've just killed a man in my town. Even if he was a fugitive, that's still murder. So it seems to me that the right amount is just enough to buy your freedom. I've got a job for you if you'd like to [[follow me]]?"
<<elseif $location is "corner">>
"Looks like you've got two deaths on your hands. It seems to me that the right amount is just enough to buy your freedom. With that in mind, I've got a job for you if you'd like to [[follow me]]?"
<<endif>><<if $location is "bar">>
"I've got a small force of guards outside this establishment that were waiting to catch that man you've just killed, and they'll happily take you in in his stead. It's in your best interests to [[follow me]]."
<<elseif $location is "corner">>
"I've got a small force of guards outside this establishment that won't bat an eye if I tell them you're the one that killed this barman here, and you're likely to swing for that sort of offence. It's in your best interests to [[follow me]]."
<<endif>>The guard captain leads you through the city to its outer limits, following the flow of the river. Eventually you reach a large metal grate, hanging ajar, set into the riverbank.
"This is where our sewer system feeds into the river," Erik tells you. "And it also functions as our service entrance."
He walks into the opening and, lighting an oil lantern, beckons for you to [[join him]].<<if $class is "wizard">>
"All of the larger cities have these, and as Lynbrook expands those in charge have decided that we should keep up with the times," he says as he leads you through the dank tunnel. "However, one of our excavation parties turned up dead recently, and then the guard team we sent in to find what caused it disappeared as well."
"[[And I don't suppose you're expecting me to fix this mess?]]"
<<elseif $class is "rogue">>
"All of the larger cities have these, and as Lynbrook expands those in charge have decided that we should keep up with the times," he says as he leads you through the dank tunnel. "However, one of our excavation parties turned up dead recently, and then the guard team we sent in to find what caused it disappeared as well."
"[[And this is my problem how?]]"
<<elseif $class is "fighter">>
"All of the larger cities have these, and as Lynbrook expands those in charge have decided that we should keep up with the times," he says as he leads you through the dank tunnel. "However, one of our excavation parties turned up dead recently, and then the guard team we sent in to find what caused it disappeared as well."
"[[And what do you want me to do about it?]]"
<<endif>>"I saw the aftermath of what you did in the pub, you're clearly capable of handling yourself. I think you're perfect for this job, and if you get it done there's a hefty reward in it for you, as well as having your record cleared. Anyway, we're just coming up to [[where we found the dead workers]].""The way I look at it you're in trouble. So you can either take a trip to the gallows or you can do this job, where there's not only a chance you'll get out alive, but you stand to make a profit out of it if you do. Anyway, we're just coming up to [[where we found the dead workers]]." "I want you to find what's causing this and fix this problem. Or don't, and it'll save me the hassle of hiring an executioner. All I want is for people to stop dying in my town, and you might be able to help with that. Anyway, we're just coming up to [[where we found the dead workers]]."<<set $clue_count to 0>>
You follow the captain into a large open room. The roughly hewn stone floor is spattered with blood and charred as though by fire. Pickaxes and shovels are strewn all over the floor haphazardly, and a grate not unlike the one you entered in lies mangled in a corner. Even with the meagre light of Erik's lantern you can make out all of this as shafts of light from holes in the ceiling illuminate the details.
"We're currently working on three theories. An ogre used to live in the river near the grate before we chased it off so that might have come back. A roving band of minotaurs was also spotted by a trading caravan not far from here so there's a chance it could be that. Alternatively, we've heard a wizard was kicked out of the nearby college recently that may have taken up residence down here. [[Feel free to investigate|Investigate]], I'll be here if you need me."<<if $clue_count neq 4>>
[[Look at the sewer grate|Sewer grate]]
[[Investigate the blood spatter|Blood spatter]]
[[Look at the scorch marks|Scorch marks]]
[[Investigate the holes in the ceiling|Ceiling holes]]
<<elseif $clue_count is 4>>
[[Look at the sewer grate|Sewer grate]]
[[Investigate the blood spatter|Blood spatter]]
[[Look at the scorch marks|Scorch marks]]
[[Investigate the holes in the ceiling|Ceiling holes]]
[[Talk to Erik]]
<<endif>><<if visited("Sewer grate") is 1>>
<<set $clue_count to $clue_count + 1>>
You walk over to the mangled sewer grate. It's made of solid metal but something has ripped it from its hinges and crumpled it like paper - something powerful. Still, this doesn't help you. An ogre is definitely strong enough to do this, as are several minotaurs. A wizard could even use a spell to do this.
[[Look for more clues|Investigate]]
<<elseif visited("Sewer grate") neq 1>>
You walk over to the mangled sewer grate. It's made of solid metal but something has ripped it from its hinges and crumpled it like paper - something powerful. Still, this doesn't help you. An ogre is definitely strong enough to do this, as are several minotaurs. A wizard could even use a spell to do this.
[[Look for more clues|Investigate]]
<<endif>><<if visited("Blood spatter") is 1>>
<<set $clue_count to $clue_count + 1>>
There's a lot of blood, and it's spread out all over the room - there must have been a lot of workers. That means whatever killed them must have been able to overpower a lot of people. An ogre is strong enough to kill several men, and its hide is thick enough to ward of attacks from picks and shovels. Several minotaurs could easily deal with them as well, but a wizard-in-training probably couldn't without help.
[[Look for more clues|Investigate]]
<<elseif visited("Blood spatter") neq 1>>
There's a lot of blood, and it's spread out all over the room - there must have been a lot of workers. That means whatever killed them must have been able to overpower a lot of people. An ogre is strong enough to kill several men, and its hide is thick enough to ward of attacks from picks and shovels. Several minotaurs could easily deal with them as well, but a wizard-in-training probably couldn't without help.
[[Look for more clues|Investigate]]
<<endif>><<if visited("Scorch marks") is 1>>
<<set $clue_count to $clue_count + 1>>
The scorch marks could be a sign of the wizard - maybe he used a fireball spell to kill the workers. Although, you do know that ogres are afraid of fire, so maybe the workers had torches they used to defend themselves.
[[Look for more clues|Investigate]]
<<elseif visited("Scorch marks") neq 1>>
The scorch marks could be a sign of the wizard - maybe he used a fireball spell to kill the workers. Although, you do know that ogres are afraid of fire, so maybe the workers had torches they used to defend themselves.
[[Look for more clues|Investigate]]
<<endif>><<if visited("Ceiling holes") is 1>>
<<set $clue_count to $clue_count + 1>>
"What's with the holes in the roof?" you ask Erik.
"They've been opening up under the city for about a week or so now, mainly under churchyards. Bodies have been disappearing through them, and we think it might be to feed whatever it is down here - the ogre or the minotaurs. Though, come to think of it, a couple of the other guards reckon it might be that wizard using them for some sort of experiments."
[[Look for more clues|Investigate]]
<<elseif visited("Ceiling holes") neq 1>>
"What's with the holes in the roof?" you ask Erik.
"They've been opening up under the city for about a week or so now, mainly under churchyards. Bodies have been disappearing through them, and we think it might be to feed whatever it is down here - the ogre or the minotaurs. Though, come to think of it, a couple of the other guards reckon it might be that wizard using them for some sort of experiments."
[[Look for more clues|Investigate]]
<<endif>>"Right, you've had a good enough look at all the evidence. What do you reckon it is? An [[ogre]], a [[group of minotaurs]], or a [[wizard]]?""I think it's an ogre," you say confidently.
"Well, let's hope it's not a big one, else you're in trouble," Erik replies. "The only one way it could have gone is down [[that tunnel|Ogre tunnel]]."
Erik points to the doorway, from which the metal grate has been ripped from, and gestures for you to go."I think it's a group of minotaurs," you say confidently.
"Well, let's hope there's not too many, else you're in trouble," Erik replies. "The only one way they could have gone is down [[that tunnel|Minotaur tunnel]]."
Erik points to the doorway, from which the metal grate has been ripped from, and gestures for you to go."I think it's a wizard," you say confidently.
"Well, let's hope he's not too powerful, else you're in trouble," Erik replies. "The only one way he could have gone is down [[that tunnel|Wizard tunnel]]."
Erik points to the doorway, from which the metal grate has been ripped from, and gestures for you to go."I'll be waiting here for you," Erik calls as you enter the dank tunnel. "Though if you're not back by the time this torch gutters out I'll assume you're dead."
Buoyed by the confidence placed in you by the captain of the guard, you continue cautiously [[down the tunnel|Ogre tunnel 2]]."I'll be waiting here for you," Erik calls as you enter the dank tunnel. "Though if you're not back by the time this torch gutters out I'll assume you're dead."
Buoyed by the confidence placed in you by the captain of the guard, you continue cautiously [[down the tunnel|Minotaur tunnel 2]]."I'll be waiting here for you," Erik calls as you enter the dank tunnel. "Though if you're not back by the time this torch gutters out I'll assume you're dead."
Buoyed by the confidence placed in you by the captain of the guard, you continue cautiously [[down the tunnel|Wizard tunnel 2]].Slowly, you walk down the tunnel. Without the light of Erik's torch it's difficult to see much further ahead of you, but your eyes slowly adjust to the darkness. Up ahead you see the tunnel makes a sharp turn to the left, and you start to think you can [[hear something|Laughing]].Slowly, you walk down the tunnel. Without the light of Erik's torch it's difficult to see much further ahead of you, but your eyes slowly adjust to the darkness. Up ahead you see the tunnel makes a sharp turn to the left, and you start to think you can [[hear something|Snorting]].Slowly, you walk down the tunnel. Without the light of Erik's torch it's difficult to see much further ahead of you, but your eyes slowly adjust to the darkness. Up ahead you see the tunnel makes a sharp turn to the left, and you start to think you can [[hear something|Clicking]].As you draw closer you begin to pick out what the noise is. There's a scampering sound, as if of small feet on the stone floor. And something else. It sounds like... laughing?
You press yourself up against the cold stone wall, and [[peer around the corner|Goblins]].<<if $class is "wizard">>
At the end of the tunnel there is an open space, more holes in the ceiling sending shafts of light down to illuminate the cause of the noise - minotaurs. Two of them, each the size of a tall man with the head of a bull and thickly muscled bodies, are gathered in the open area. They pace up and down the room, their hooved feet clopping on the stone floor, snorting and braying at one another. Each holds a nasty-looking rusted axe.
[[Create a poisonous cloud]]
[[Control one of the minotaurs]]
<<elseif $class is "rogue">>
At the end of the tunnel there is an open space, more holes in the ceiling sending shafts of light down to illuminate the cause of the noise - minotaurs. Two of them, each the size of a tall man with the head of a bull and thickly muscled bodies, are gathered in the open area. They pace up and down the room, their hooved feet clopping on the stone floor, snorting and braying at one another. Each holds a nasty-looking rusted axe.
[[Throw a bolo]]
[[Try to lure one of them]]
<<elseif $class is "fighter">>
At the end of the tunnel there is an open space, more holes in the ceiling sending shafts of light down to illuminate the cause of the noise - minotaurs. Two of them, each the size of a tall man with the head of a bull and thickly muscled bodies, are gathered in the open area. They pace up and down the room, their hooved feet clopping on the stone floor, snorting and braying at one another. Each holds a nasty-looking rusted axe.
[[Surprise them]]
[[Challenge them]]
<<endif>><<if $class is "wizard">>
At the end of the tunnel there is an open space, more holes in the ceiling sending shafts of light down to illuminate the cause of the noise - skeletons. Three of them, dressed in tattered rags that did nothing to cover the bleached bones of their bodies, paced up and down the room. Sometimes their mouths open as they pass one another, as though they are trying to communicate, but only a deathly rattle of clicks emerges. In their hands are old swords of rusty, pitted metal.
[[Fire a blast of wind]]
[[Control one of the skeletons]]
<<elseif $class is "rogue">>
At the end of the tunnel there is an open space, more holes in the ceiling sending shafts of light down to illuminate the cause of the noise - skeletons. Three of them, dressed in tattered rags that did nothing to cover the bleached bones of their bodies, paced up and down the room. Sometimes their mouths open as they pass one another, as though they are trying to communicate, but only a deathly rattle of clicks emerges. In their hands are old swords of rusty, pitted metal.
[[Throw a knife]]
[[Sneak around them]]
<<elseif $class is "fighter">>
At the end of the tunnel there is an open space, more holes in the ceiling sending shafts of light down to illuminate the cause of the noise - skeletons. Three of them, dressed in tattered rags that did nothing to cover the bleached bones of their bodies, paced up and down the room. Sometimes their mouths open as they pass one another, as though they are trying to communicate, but only a deathly rattle of clicks emerges. In their hands are old swords of rusty, pitted metal.
[[Draw your greatsword]]
[[Use your fists]]
<<endif>><<if $class is "wizard">>
At the end of the tunnel there is an open space, more holes in the ceiling sending shafts of light down to illuminate the cause of the noise - goblins. Three of them, around the size of a child, skin as green as moss and with long, hooked noses, are gathered in the open area. Two of them seem to be having a sword fight, their blades no longer than daggers, though they don't seem to be taking it seriously, as all three of them are laughing, the third one rolling on the floor letting out a raucous chuckle as the other two caper about.
[[Hurl a fireball]]
[[Control one of the goblins]]
<<elseif $class is "rogue">>
At the end of the tunnel there is an open space, more holes in the ceiling sending shafts of light down to illuminate the cause of the noise - goblins. Three of them, around the size of a child, skin as green as moss and with long, hooked noses, are gathered in the open area. Two of them seem to be having a sword fight, their blades no longer than daggers, though they don't seem to be taking it seriously, as all three of them are laughing, the third one rolling on the floor letting out a raucous chuckle as the other two caper about.
[[Fire an arrow]]
[[Try to sneak up on them]]
<<elseif $class is "fighter">>
At the end of the tunnel there is an open space, more holes in the ceiling sending shafts of light down to illuminate the cause of the noise - goblins. Three of them, around the size of a child, skin as green as moss and with long, hooked noses, are gathered in the open area. Two of them seem to be having a sword fight, their blades no longer than daggers, though they don't seem to be taking it seriously, as all three of them are laughing, the third one rolling on the floor letting out a raucous chuckle as the other two caper about.
[[Throw a rock]]
[[Charge them]]
<<endif>>As you draw closer you begin to pick out what the noise is. There's a clip-clop noise, like the sound a horse makes going down a cobbled street, and a snorting noise.
You press yourself up against the cold stone wall, and [[peer around the corner|Minotaurs]].As you draw closer you begin to pick out what the noise is. It's a strange clicking noise - something hard against the stone floor - but you can't tell what's making it.
You press yourself up against the cold stone wall, and [[peer around the corner|Skeletons]].Muttering the arcane words to your spell as quietly as you can so that you're not heard, you begin to form the flames in your hand. As the light in your palms grows you know it won't be long until the goblins notice you. You step round the corner and fling the burning orb down the tunnel, straight at one of the two fighting goblins. In a flash of light it disappears, reduced to nothing but a pile of ash. The other two stop laughing, then turn to [[look at you]].Through your studies you've come across a spell to control animals, and you think goblins might just be stupid enough for it to work on them. You close your eyes and begin to whisper the words. When you open them again, you are staring through the eyes of one of the two fighting goblins. You take the dagger and turn away from your sparring partner, jumping on the one lying on the floor. You stab it again and again in the stomach, feeling its warm blood cover you as it ceases to struggle.
Suddenly, you feel a sharp pain in the back of your neck and lose focus. You blink, and find yourself [[back in your own body]].You take the longbow that's been hanging from your back and remove an arrow from your quiver. You notch it and look round the corner, aiming it at the head of one of the goblins. You pull back, breathe in, and in that instant time seems to slow. You release as you breathe out and the arrow flies through the air, striking its target and catching the goblin in the side of the head. The other two turn to see where the arrow came from, and begin to [[run towards you]].They seem to be occupied, so you might be able to get up close and take one of them out before they even see that you're there. You pad down the tunnel, drawing a dagger as slow as you can to limit any noise. At the end of the tunnel you pounce, jumping out of the shadows and slashing out at the closest goblin. Blood sprays its sparring partner, whose eyes widen as you [[turn towards it]].You look around you for something to throw. The sewer still being under construction, there are plenty of loose rocks around you, and you find one that looks hefty enough to do some damage. You turn the corner and hurl it at one of them, barely stopping to aim. It hits one of them in the head with a 'thunk', knocking it to the ground. The other two stop laughing and turn to [[look down the tunnel]].Tactics are for cowards and weaklings who can't rely on their strength to swing the tide of battle. You run the length of the corridor, not unnoticed by the goblins, but by the time they see you burst from the shadows it's too late. You grab the two fighting goblins by their small heads and lift them up, bashing them together with a wet thud. Their sharp noses have crumpled and blood is pouring from them, but you don't stop. You keep bashing until they stop scrabbling at your large hands, trying to get you to let go. Dropping their lifeless bodies to the hard, stone floor, the last goblin [[looks up at you]] with fear in its eyes.You've not used this spell much before, so you take out your spellbook to refresh yourself of the incantation. The worn leather cover of the book feels good in your hand, like a hug from an old friend, and it calms you. You thumb to the right page and read aloud the arcane words you've penned there. A purple mist begins to emerge from the pages, slowly at first, but as it curls around the corner it speeds up, producing so much you worry you might suffocate even yourself with it. But then you reach the end of the spell and the fog sputters out, the last of it disappearing down the next corridor. You turn to look down it, and can only see the faint forms of the minotaurs in the purple mist, holes in the ceiling illuminating it from within and giving it an eerie glow. Hopefully this will at the very least [[weaken them]].Through your studies you've come across a spell to control animals, and you hope minotaurs might just be stupid enough for it to work on them. You close your eyes and begin to whisper the words. You feel your mind moving through the air on the winds of magic, reaching out towards one of the minotaurs, but no matter how hard you exert yourself you can barely reach into their consciousness. You're transported back into your own body, the prickling on your skin making you uncomfortably aware that these foes [[know you're here]].Minotaurs are strong - a lot stronger than you - but they're top heavy. With their hugely muscled torsos and small hooved feet they shouldn't be too stable. You take a bolo out of your knapsack - a length of fine chain with a weighted ball at each end - and turn the corner to line up the throw. You think you'll strike home, so throw it. It swooshes through the air, spinning quickly, but then hits its target - one of their legs. The momentum of the balls carries it round and round, entangling the legs and causing it to topple onto the hard stone floor with a crack. One down, now it's [[time to strike]].There's no way you can take down two minotaurs at once. You might be fast, but you can only dodge so many blows and with two of them it's twice as likely you'll catch a stray axeblow. But one at a time - that's the way to go. You wait until you can only see one of them on their patrol and whistle. It turns its head down the corridor, brays at its companion, then tromps towards you. You draw your dagger as it gets closer then wait until it just comes into view. Quick as a flash, you cut across the back of its leg and it drops to its knees. You cover its mouth to stifle any noise and then slice its throat, spilling its foul-smelling blood on the stone floor. One down, now the second should be [[easy pickings]].These minotaurs are patrolling for something, but they're probably expecting a co-ordinated guard squad, not a madman with a greatsword. You grin as you unsheathe the huge blade slung across your back. Throwing all caution to the wind, you charge down the corridor at the unsuspecting minotaur in front of the doorway. You swing your blade into its gut as you run and it digs in deep, the momentum carrying it through until it bites into the bone of its spine. You pull the blade free and it falls to its knees, clutching its spilled guts. The other minotaur turns to you and snarls. [[You laugh]].Minotaurs! Finally a proper challenge. Much better than some sneak-thief in a pub. You unsheathe the large greatsword slung across your back and let it drop to your side. You practically saunter down the corridor, your blade casting sparks off the stone floor as it drags along. Stepping into the lighter open room, the minotaurs take up a fighting stance and snarl at you, yellowed tombstone teeth bared.
"Well come on lads," you say. "[[Who's first]]?"Without skin and muscle holding them together, skeletons are fragile. A blast of something might make them collapse - a blast of wind perhaps? You close your eyes and begin to chant. A whistling sound fills your ears as air begins to rush through the holes in the ceiling of the open chamber, but it quickly builds to a whooshing noise as the air rushes around the contained space. Even through the sound of the wind you think you can hear the clattering of bones, and allow your chanting to subside. Time to [[see the damage you've done]].Through your studies you've come across a spell to control animals, and you think skeletons might just be stupid enough for it to work on them. You close your eyes and begin to whisper the words. You feel your mind moving through the air on the winds of magic, reaching out towards one of the skeletons, but no matter how hard you exert yourself you can barely reach into their consciousness. There seems to be something stopping you, as though somebody else is controlling them...
Fine, you'll have to [[do this the hard way]].Skeletons. They're held together by dark magic, but you've heard that the head is the weakness. Remove that and they should fall apart. You take out a dagger and aim it at one of their heads, flinging it with precision. It catches it right in the back of the skull and knocks it clean off shoulders. But the body stumbles around, blind, searching for the head.
"Zombies," you practically spit out the word. "They're the ones you remove the head from. Right, [[let's get this over and done with]]."Skeletons don't have eyes, so maybe, just maybe, if you're quiet you can make it past them without them noticing. You begin to sneak down the corridor, watching every step so you don't even brush a loose pebble. You reach the end of the corridor and carefully step out into their field of view, holding your breath. In that moment you find skeletons can still see somehow, as they all [[turn to you and make a horrifying, chittering roar]].Skeletons, pfft. You might as well be chopping wood. You draw your greatsword and walk down the tunnel, almost disappointed. At the end they turn to you and go to charge. You sigh, and swing your sword into the first one that reaches you, splintering its aged rib-cage and sending the rest of its dusty bones skittering across the floor. One down, [[two to go]].Skeletons, pfft. You go to reach for your greatsword, but rethink as your fingers touch the haft. You pull your hand away and clench your fists, smiling.
"Let's make this interesting," you say, running down the corridor. You reach then first skeleton before you're noticed and grab it by the skull, jamming two fingers in its eyeholes and keeping its mouth shut with your thumb as it tries to bite at you. A punch to its rib-cage knocks the body to floor, the other bones skattering, but you still hold the skull, and take up a stance ready to [[fight the other two]].The two goblins charge you. They are small and few, so it's not particularly frightening, but you still need to react fast.
[[Another fireball]]
[[Conjure a weapon]]One goblin left - this should be easy. You walk down the corridor, muttering an incantation under your breath, twirling the magical energies in between your fingers. You step out into the room and go to unleash it...
"Stop! Please, please don't hurt me!" The last goblin drops its blade and shrieks at you, cowering.
[[Kill it]]
[[Let it live]]<<set $attack to "arrow">>
You notch another arrow and have it loosed before they're even halfway down the corridor, catching the closest of them right in its eye. The last goblin sees this and falters in its run, enough time for you to adjust your next shot and get him in its foot. You notch another arrow as you stand and walk towards it, aiming at its head.
"Stop! Please, please don't kill me!" The last goblin clutches its wounded foot and cowers away from you.
[[Kill it]]
[[Let it live]]<<set $attack to "dagger">>
That goblin doesn't stand a chance. You throw your dagger at it, catching it in the throat. It keels over, clutching at the blade in its last moments. You stand, pull the dagger free and walk over to the last goblin.
"Stop! Please, please don't hurt me!" The last goblin shrieks at you, cowering.
[[Kill it]]
[[Let it live]]<<set $goblin to "dead">>
You take another two heavy-looking rocks from around you and walk down the tunnel to meet the goblins. They charge you, shrieking, and the first one jumps at it gets close to you. But you're ready, and bring the two rocks together around its head, crushing its skull. The last goblin falters in its charge and stumbles as it tries to backtrack. As you stand over it, it looks as though it wants to speak, but you smash a rock down on its head before it can.
Dropping the bloodied rocks, you [[carry on through the sewer]].<<set $goblin to "dead">>
Panic in its eyes, the goblin looks ready to speak, but doesn't get the chance as you stamp your foot down on its head. You shake off the blood from your boot and [[carry on through the sewer]].Turning the corner, you see the minotaurs are in a frenzy, looking around to see the cause of the poisonous cloud. You see one of them pass in front of the entrance to the tunnel, hand outstretched to steady itself against the wall. As its hand slips in the entrance it turns, hoping to find some fresh air down there. Thinking on your feet, you bring up a force wall, its hand making contact with the bluish translucent wall. It is determined to reach fresh air, and you watch as it beats against the wall with its meaty fists, the impacts slowly getting weaker as it succumbs to the poison. You wait until it collapses and the gas to disappear up the holes in the ceiling to drop the wall. After making sure the minotaurs are dead, you [[carry on through the sewer|COTTS minotaur]].You peek down the corridor and see the minotaurs braying at one another, as though frenzied. One points down the corridor and then begins to charge. You need to think fast.
[[Bring down the walls]]
[[Grease the floor]]<<set $minotaur to "alive">>
They'll both know something's up now so you have to act fast. You run down the corridor and the other minotaur is waiting to meet you head on.
[[Under]]
[[Over]]<<set $minotaur to "dead">>
The other minotaur will know something's up now. You run down the corridor and it's waiting to meet you head on.
[[Under]]
[[Over]]The minotaur charges you and brings its axe down to try and cleave open your head. You bring your blade up to meet it with a resounding clash. It keeps coming but you parry every slash. After a few more hits it has driven you back against a wall, but at the last second you turn around it, smashing the pommel of your sword into the side of its head. It stumbles back against the wall, and in one great slash you take its head clean off.
You return your sword to its sheathe, and [[carry on through the sewer|COTTS minotaur]].They charge you at the same time and, though its hard work, you manage to parry their axe swings. One comes so close it almost slices your cheek. But strong though they are, they're also clumsy. Seizing an opportunity, you redirect one of their slashes, and one of the axe swings goes into the chest of the other minotaur with the sickening crunch of breaking bone. It goes limp as the light fades from its eyes, and you take the moment for the other minotaur to free its axe to plunge your sword straight through its chest, killing it.
You free your blade, return it to its sheathe, then [[carry on through the sewer|COTTS minotaur]]. You turn the corner and cautiously walk down the tunnel. Stepping out into the room, the holes in the ceiling illuminate about three skeletons worth of scattered bones. Looks like your job here is done, time to [[carry on through the sewer|COTTS skeletons]]. You walk down the corridor, steeling yourself to take on three skeletons. You know you need to prepare a spell, but which one?
[[Acid]]
[[Ice]]You run at the first of the two complete skeletons and jump, delivering a two-footed kick at its chest and knocking its ribcage clear out of its body, letting the limbs collapse around it. The third is upon you before you can pick yourself up off the floor so you kick out at its legs, knocking it down too, its bones skittering across the floor as well. You deal with the last one quickly, stamping on its brittle skull and watching as the other bones collapse, lifeless.
You dust yourself off and [[carry on through the sewer|COTTS skeletons]]. Still crouching, you sweep the legs from under the closest one to you as it charges, sending its bones skittering across the floor as it hits the ground. You have time to stand before the second one is upon you, and you deliver a side kick to its ribcage, knocking it out of its body. The third one you roundhouse kick to the skull, which flies through the air and shatters against a wall, leaving the body to collapse.
You dust yourself off and [[carry on through the sewer|COTTS skeletons]].The next skeleton that charges you doesn't fare much better, with you slicing the top off its skull in one quick swipe. Its jaw falls from the skull, and then the rest of the bones clatter to the ground. The next one is upon you in an instant, but you catch it with the backswing, using the flat of your blade to knock it from its skull from its spine, which shatters against a wall.
The skeletons defeated, you sheathe your blade and [[carry on through the sewer|COTTS skeletons]].One charges you, sword raised, but you hold up the skull ready to meet it. The blade lodges in the old bone, and a twist of your hand pulls it free from the skeletons grasp, already dislodging some of its finger bones. You pull the sword free and smash it through the ribcage, scattering the remaining bones. Then you charge the last skeleton, Grabbing the side of its skull and pounding the one you hold into it, shattering them both on impact.
You laugh, happy with your achievement, then [[carry on through the sewer|COTTS skeletons]].<<set $attack to "fireball">>
You stride down the corridor, confident in your ability to handle two more goblins. You create two more fireballs - one in each hand - illuminating you to the goblins as they charge towards you. One of them looks like it's about to jump at you, but it doesn't get a chance to before it is incinerated like its friend. You go to hurl the second fireball...
"Stop! Please, please don't hurt me!" The last goblin drops its blade and cowers away from you.
[[Kill it]]
[[Let it live]]<<set $attack to "weapon">>
Seeing the daggers they hold, you get an idea. It would be unfair to fight them wholly with magic, so you mutter a different incantation. You feel something weighty appear in your hand, and look down to see an ethereal blade, casting an eerie purple light around itself. One of the goblins jumps at you, but the blade slashes out quickly, as though it moves with a mind of its own. The two halves of the goblin hit the floor with a wet thud, and you go to strike down at the last goblin...
"Stop! Please, please don't hurt me!" The last goblin drops its blade and shrieks at you, cowering.
[[Kill it]]
[[Let it live]]<<if $attack is "fireball">>
<<set $goblin to "dead">>
You ignore its pleading and unleash the fireball at the helpless goblin, reducing it to a small pile of ash on a charred stone in a dank dungeon. You dust yourself off and [[carry on through the sewer]].
<<elseif $attack is "weapon">>
<<set $goblin to "dead">>
You ignore its pleading and carry on with your swing, splitting the helpless goblin into two. You allow the spell to dissipate and [[carry on through the sewer]].
<<elseif $attack is "arrow">>
<<set $goblin to "dead">>
You ignore its pleading and release the arrow, piercing the helpless goblin's chest. It coughs up blood, but then stops moving. You retrieve your spent arrows, wiping the blood off on the dead goblins, then [[carry on through the sewer]].
<<elseif $attack is "dagger">>
<<set $goblin to "dead">>
You ignore its pleading and throw the dagger, which embeds itself in the helpless goblin's forehead. It goes cross-eyed for a moment as it looks at the dagger, before toppling over, dead. You retrieve the dagger, wiping the blood off on the dead goblin, then [[carry on through the sewer]].
<<endif>><<if $class is "wizard">>
<<set $goblin to "alive">>
You allow your spell to dissipate as you look down at the goblin.
"Is it just you three in here?" You ask it.
"N-no, we just followed the ogre in here," it replies in a nasal voice. "It keeps away the likes of you lot and lets us eat what it doesn't finish."
"Well I'm in a gracious mood today, so you best run before I change my mind."
You watch the goblin scamper down the corridor you just came through, then [[carry on through the sewer]].
<<elseif $class is "rogue">>
<<set $goblin to "alive">>
You lower your weapon as you look down at the goblin.
"Is it just you three in here?" You ask it.
"N-no, we just followed the ogre in here," it replies in a nasal voice. "It keeps away the likes of you lot and lets us eat what it doesn't finish."
"Well I'm in a gracious mood today, so you best run before I change my mind."
You watch the goblin scamper down the corridor you just came through, then [[carry on through the sewer]].
<<endif>><<if $goblin is "alive">>
You continue to make your way through the empty sewer, ever vigilant, as you know that any of the twists and turns could reveal the ogre you know you must face at the end. Still, [[you forge onwards]], steeling yourself for the fight to come.
<<elseif $goblin is "dead">>
You continue to make your way through the empty sewer, ever vigilant, as you have no idea what could be lurking in the shadows. Still, [[you forge onwards]], steeling yourself for the fight to come.
<<endif>>You continue to make your way through the empty sewer, ever vigilant, as you know that any of the twists and turns could reveal yet more minotaurs. Still, [[you forge onwards|YFO minotaur]], steeling yourself for the fight to come.You step out into the corridor and focus hard - you've not known this spell long and it's going to tax you. As they charge you throw out your arms, tugging on the winds of magic against the walls around you. You taste blood and try not to let it distract you as you pull harder. As they're almost upon you the walls give way, rock and dirt spilling over the charging minotaurs. There's a few panicked brays from under the rubble, but that quickly subsides.
You wipe the blood that started pouring from your nose from the exertion and clamber over the piles of stone, which is slow going as you've not left yourself much space, but once you're through you can [[carry on through the sewer|COTTS minotaur]].Creating grease was one of the first spells you learned, and its never come in handy. Now, though, it might just do the trick. You summon a large slick along the length of the corridor and step out of the way. You hear panicked brayings as the minotaurs lose grip, and then one speeds past you straight into the wall. Moments after the second follows, its horns piercing the back of the first one. That one coughs up blood and slumps to the floor, so you grab its fallen axe and swing it down at the neck of the second minotaur, which is struggling to free itself from its companion's back. The struggling stops, however, when you cleave its head from its body. Walking carefully over the grease, you make it out of the tunnel and can [[carry on through the sewer|COTTS minotaur]].The man still has one hand on the bar, and you place yours over it, ready to work your charm. Instinctively, he slashes out at you first. Blood pours from your throat and you fall to the floor. Despite your rapidly fading vision, you still make out the man kill the bartender and take the gold from behind the counter. Then you fade to black.
[[Try again?|Lynbrook]]You take off the lute strung across your back and begin to play a rousing ditty. Sadly, the man ignores you, kills the bartender, and takes the gold as you watch on helplessly. Bards seem to hold little sway here.
[[Try again?|Lynbrook]]<<if $minotaur is "alive">>
You let your momentum carry you as you drop to the floor, skidding between its legs. With your dagger out you slash at its ankles and it drops to the floor as you pass through. You turn on the spot and slash its throat from behind. Then you do the same to the other one, which is easy enough as the impact of the fall knocked it unconscious.
You then wipe the blood from your daggers onto the minotaurs' fur and [[carry on through the sewer|COTTS minotaur]].
<<elseif $minotaur is "dead">>
You let your momentum carry you as you drop to the floor, skidding between its legs. With your dagger out you slash at its ankles and it drops to the floor as you pass through. You turn on the spot and slash its throat from behind.
You then wipe the blood from your daggers onto the minotaur's fur and [[carry on through the sewer|COTTS minotaur]].
<<endif>><<if $minotaur is "alive">>
As the minotaur lowers itself to charge you jump over it, turning in the air to land on its back. You plunge both daggers into the base of its neck - it roars for an instant but then falls to the ground, dead. Then you cut the throat of the other one, which is easy enough as the impact of the fall knocked it unconscious.
You then wipe the blood from your daggers onto the minotaurs' fur and [[carry on through the sewer|COTTS minotaur]].
<<elseif $minotaur is "dead">>
As the minotaur lowers itself to charge you jump over it, turning in the air to land on its back. You plunge both daggers into the base of its neck - it roars for an instant but then falls to the ground, dead.
You then wipe the blood from your daggers onto the minotaur's fur and [[carry on through the sewer|COTTS minotaur]].
<<endif>>You continue to make your way through the empty sewer, ever vigilant, as you know that any of the twists and turns could reveal yet more skeletons. Still, [[you forge onwards|YFO skeletons]], steeling yourself for the fight to come.Muttering the arcane words, your hands take on a sickly purple glow. As you step into the room the skeletons are prepared and go to charge, but you too are prepared. One goes to strike and you throw out your hand, a stream of acid emerging. It corrodes its blade before it reaches you, and then passes on through to corrode its skull and most of its ribcage, sending the other bones tumbling to the floor. You take out the next one's legs, letting it fall and spraying another handful at the skull of the last before finishing off the legless one.
All the skeletons defeated, you let the magic fade and [[carry on through the sewer|COTTS skeletons]].Muttering the arcane words, your hands take on a cold blue glow. As you step into the room the skeletons are prepared and go to charge, but you too are prepared. One goes to strike and you throw out your hand, a blast of cold air emerging. It freezes the skeleton in place and it falls, brittle bones shattering. You take out the next one's legs, which crumble under its weight. The third one is hit with another quick blast of ice, the remnants littering the floor like hail after a storm.
All the skeletons defeated, you let the magic fade and [[carry on through the sewer|COTTS skeletons]].<<if $class is "wizard">>
Eventually, you come to the end of a corridor. Yet more holes in the ceiling illuminate the open area - a large circular room, deeper than the one you met the goblins in, with something of a walkway around the edges. You look over the ledge of the walkway and see a dark shape at the bottom. It moves slowly, trying to avoid the shafts of light, but its muscular body and grey skin gives it away as an ogre. Bones litter the floor around it and crunch under its feet. This is what you have to deal with, and as there's no time like the present, you have to act now.
[[Weaken it first]]
[[All out attack]]
<<elseif $class is "rogue">>
Eventually, you come to the end of a corridor. Yet more holes in the ceiling illuminate the open area - a large circular room, deeper than the one you met the goblins in, with something of a walkway around the edges. You look over the ledge of the walkway and see a dark shape at the bottom. It moves slowly, trying to avoid the shafts of light, but its muscular body and grey skin gives it away as an ogre. Bones litter the floor around it and crunch under its feet. This is what you have to deal with, and as there's no time like the present, you have to act now.
[[Fire an arrow|FAA ogre]]
[[Use your daggers]]
<<elseif $class is "fighter">>
Eventually, you come to the end of a corridor. Yet more holes in the ceiling illuminate the open area - a large circular room, deeper than the one you met the goblins in, with something of a walkway around the edges. You look over the ledge of the walkway and see a dark shape at the bottom. It moves slowly, trying to avoid the shafts of light, but its muscular body and grey skin gives it away as an ogre. Bones litter the floor around it and crunch under its feet. You draw your greatsword and decide to act.
[[Cause a rockslide]]
[[Jump down there]]
<<endif>>You bring out your spellbook and flick through the pages to find something useful. You pause on a certain page and throw out your hand towards the ogre. Saying aloud the magical words, your hand starts to take on a sickly green colour. Your hand feels cold and clammy, secreting a strange bubbling liquid, and then a ray of light in the same green hue shoots out towards the ogre. You shake off the disgusting liquid and watch as the ogre also turns green and begins to shake. It lets out a low grumbling noise and then begins to vomit all over the floor, more bones and foul liquid spewing from its mouth. It looks weakened, what now?
[[Get closer]]
[[Stay up top]]There's no way you can take an ogre up close, so you need to do this now. You channel all of your power into a spell, and four bolts of magical energy burst from your hands and slam into the ogre. It's knocked from its feet and hits a wall, falling still, and flesh beginning to catch fire. As it does, the room begins to stink with the smell of burning flesh, and you decide to [[get out of here]].You pull out your bow and notch an arrow, carefully aiming. You loose, but it glances off the ogre's thick skin, leaving nothing but a gash in its side. The ogre looks up at you.
[[Jump on it]]
[[Fire a flaming arrow]]You decide to take the ogre by surprise. Drawing your daggers, you jump from the ledge and land on its back. You stab down deep into the flesh of its neck. You keep slashing and stabbing, but it doesn't seem to care, reaching up to throw you off.
[[Go with it]]
[[Fight back]]You look around at the ledge that you're on and think you see a weakness in the stone. Taking your sword, you strike down at the ground and it begins to crumble. You ride the rockslide down as it crushes the ogre, only just keeping your footing. As it comes to a stop you look around you. A couple of grey fingers twitch beneath the rubble. Just below you, you see an eye move to look up at you. You take your sword and drive it down into the eye. Job done, you decide to [[get out of here]].<<set $decapitation to either("success", "failure")>>
<<if $decapitation is "success">>
You jump from the ledge, your greatsword raised above your head. Time seems to slow as you fall and you angle your strike. The ogre looks up at the last second as your blade slices through its neck, its head tumbling to floor and its body following an instant later. You get up, kick its body, laugh, then decide to [[get out of here]].
<<elseif $decapitation is "failure">>
You go to jump from the ledge but slip at the last second. You fall to the ground and your blade tumbles from your grasp. The ogre turns and looks at you, then roars.
[[Go for your sword]]
[[Fisticuffs]]
<<endif>>You jump from the ledge, casting another spell to slow your fall. The weakened ogre swings around to hit you, but you quickly cast another spell. Electricity courses through your body and crackles around you, and as the ogre makes contact it jumps across and zaps the ogre. You're still flung across the room, but the ogre is left convulsing on the floor. You pick yourself up off the floor. It's time to finish it off.
[[Fireball]]
[[Keep this spell going]]The ogre looks up at you, anger in its eyes. It hurls a rock and you jump out of the way just in time. You get to your feet and let off a spell out of instinct - four bolts of magical energy burst from your hands and slam into the ogre. It's knocked from its feet and hits a wall, falling still, and flesh beginning to catch fire. As it does, the room begins to stink with the smell of burning flesh, and you decide to [[get out of here]].You barely need to speak the words now, you know the fireball spell so well. Your hand bursts into flame and you see fear in the eyes of the ogre. You let the flame grow larger and larger, and when the heat becomes too much for you, you throw it at the ogre. It lets out a pained roar as its body is engulfed in flames. The room begins to stink with the smell of burning flesh, and you decide to [[get out of here]].You focus on the electricity still buzzing around you and chant louder for that spell. The ogre convulses more as blue lightning surrounds its body. It roars in pain as its eyes pop like squashed grapes. The room begins to stink with the smell of burning flesh, and you decide to [[get out of here]].<<if $class is "wizard">>
You make your way back through the sewer to the room where Erik is awaiting you.
"Ah, Micah, was wondering how you were getting on. I assume it's done?"
You nod. "It's done."
"Great, I guess that means our business here is concluded. [[Although, we might have more work for someone with your skills]]..."
<<elseif $class is "rogue">>
You make your way back through the sewer to the room where Erik is awaiting you.
"Ah, Sasha, was wondering how you were getting on. I assume it's done?"
You nod. "It's done."
"Great, I guess that means our business here is concluded. [[Although, we might have more work for someone with your skills]]..."
<<elseif $class is "fighter">>
You make your way back through the sewer to the room where Erik is awaiting you.
"Ah, Alex, was wondering how you were getting on. I assume it's done?"
You nod. "It's done."
"Great, I guess that means our business here is concluded. [[Although, we might have more work for someone with your skills]]..."
<<endif>>THE END
...for now...The ogre starts to hurl rocks and bones from its pit at you, so you decide the best option is to join it down there. You jump from the ledge and land on its back. Drawing your dagger, you stab down into the flesh of its neck. You keep slashing and stabbing, but it doesn't seem to care, reaching up to throw you off.
[[Let it]]
[[Fight back]]The ogre begins to hurl the rocks and bones that litter the floor of its pit, and you have to keep jumping and rolling to dodge them. It tires, and you take the opportunity to get out another arrow. You pull out some fabric from your bag, wrap it round the end, then light a match on your boot, setting the fabric alight. You notch your arrow and aim at the gash you opened up. It flies through the air and sinks deep into the ogre's side, the fire spreading through it. It flails around, but soon falls still. As it does, the room begins to stink with the smell of burning flesh, and you decide to [[get out of here]].The ogre grabs you and hurls you at the wall. You turn in the air and hit the wall feet first. You kick out and jump towards the ogre. With a flash of steel you dig your dagger into the gash you opened up with your arrow, your momentum opening it wider. Foul blood and organs spill out as it falls to the ground, dead. Your task complete, you decide to [[get out of here]].You slash out at its hand before it reaches you and it draws back in pain. You plunge your daggers into its eyes and hold tight as it flails around. Eventually it stops moving and falls to its knees, dead. Your task complete, you decide it's time to [[get out of here]].The ogre grabs you and hurls you at the wall. You turn in the air and hit the wall feet first. You kick out and jump towards the ogre. With a flash of steel you slash out at its neck, your momentum giving you added force. Foul blood and pours out as it falls to the ground, dead. Your task complete, you decide to [[get out of here]].<<if $class is "wizard">>
Eventually, you come to the end of a corridor. Yet more holes in the ceiling illuminate the open area - a large circular room, deeper than the one you met the minotaurs in, with something of a walkway around the edges. You look over the ledge of the walkway and see a dark shape at the bottom. The shafts of light illuminate it as being a minotaur, larger than the others you've seen, with black fur and a broken horn. Bones litter the floor around it and crunch under its hooves. This is what you have to deal with, and as there's no time like the present, you have to act now.
[[Weaken it first|WIF minotaur]]
[[All out attack|AOA minotaur]]
<<elseif $class is "rogue">>
Eventually, you come to the end of a corridor. Yet more holes in the ceiling illuminate the open area - a large circular room, deeper than the one you met the minotaurs in, with something of a walkway around the edges. You look over the ledge of the walkway and see a dark shape at the bottom. The shafts of light illuminate it as being a minotaur, larger than the others you've seen, with black fur and a broken horn. Bones litter the floor around it and crunch under its hooves. This is what you have to deal with, and as there's no time like the present, you have to act now.
[[Fire an arrow|FAA minotaur]]
[[Use your daggers|UYD minotaur]]
<<elseif $class is "fighter">>
Eventually, you come to the end of a corridor. Yet more holes in the ceiling illuminate the open area - a large circular room, deeper than the one you met the minotaurs in, with something of a walkway around the edges. You look over the ledge of the walkway and see a dark shape at the bottom. The shafts of light illuminate it as being a minotaur, larger than the others you've seen, with black fur and a broken horn. Bones litter the floor around it and crunch under its hooves. You draw your greatsword and decide to act.
[[Cause a rockslide|CAR minotaur]]
[[Jump down there|JDT minotaur]]
<<endif>><<if $class is "wizard">>
Eventually, you come to the end of a corridor. Yet more holes in the ceiling illuminate the open area - a large circular room, deeper than the one you met the skeletons in, with something of a walkway around the edges. You look over the ledge of the walkway and see a dark shape at the bottom. The shafts of light illuminate a man dressed in black robes, dark energy flowing around his hands. Bones litter the floor around him, and some move as though under his control. This is what you have to deal with, and as there's no time like the present, you have to act now.
[[Dark magic is wrong]]
[[He can be saved]]
<<elseif $class is "rogue">>
Eventually, you come to the end of a corridor. Yet more holes in the ceiling illuminate the open area - a large circular room, deeper than the one you met the skeletons in, with something of a walkway around the edges. You look over the ledge of the walkway and see a dark shape at the bottom. The shafts of light illuminate a man dressed in black robes, dark energy flowing around his hands. Bones litter the floor around him, and some move as though under his control. This is what you have to deal with, and as there's no time like the present, you have to act now.
[[Fire an arrow|FAA wizard]]
[[Use your daggers|UYD wizard]]
<<elseif $class is "fighter">>
Eventually, you come to the end of a corridor. Yet more holes in the ceiling illuminate the open area - a large circular room, deeper than the one you met the skeletons in, with something of a walkway around the edges. You look over the ledge of the walkway and see a dark shape at the bottom. The shafts of light illuminate a man dressed in black robes, dark energy flowing around his hands. Bones litter the floor around him, and some move as though under his control. You draw your greatsword and decide to act.
[[Cause a rockslide|CAR wizard]]
[[Jump down there|JDT wizard]]
<<endif>>The ogre goes to slam its fists into you but you roll out of the way. Your fingers brush your sword hilt as you feel its hand around your leg. You have an instant to grab it before you're pulled up into the air, but you just manage it. As it swings you above its head time seems to slow. You see your moment to strike as it brings you down to hit the floor. You bend double and slash out at its wrist, cutting all the way through. It lets out a roar of pain and clutches its arm as you hit the ground No time to waste, you pick yourself up and run at it, thrusting your sword up at its throat. You jump to drive it all the way through, and the ogre spits out foul blood before falling to the floor - almost crushing you in the process. You wipe off your blade and, ogre now dead, decide to [[get out of here]].You roll out of the way as the ogre goes to slam its fists down on you. You get to your feet and dodge this way and that to avoid its punches. Moving in close you strike its belly, but its thick skin means you do more damage to yourself. You look around for your sword but can't see it, and the ogre takes that moment to knock you off your feet. You feel its hand around your leg and have to think fast, grabbing the closest thing to hand - a bone. It brings you up to its face and laughs through black teeth. You smash the bone around its head, breaking it, but that makes it laugh more - until you drive the broken end into its eye. It roars in pain and drops to knees in front of you, so you punch the end of the bone even deeper. As it falls forward you see its come out the back of its head. Job done, you find your sword and decide to [[get out of here]].You bring out your spellbook and flick through the pages to find something useful. You pause on a certain page and throw out your hand towards the minotaur. Saying aloud the magical words, your hand starts to take on a sickly green colour. Your hand feels cold and clammy, secreting a strange bubbling liquid, and then a ray of light in the same green hue shoots out towards the minotaur. You shake off the disgusting liquid and watch as the minotaur also turns green and begins to shake, some off its hair falling out. It lets out a low grumbling noise and then begins to vomit all over the floor, more bones and foul liquid spewing from its mouth. It looks weakened, what now?
[[Get closer|GC minotaur]]
[[Stay up top|SUT minotaur]]There's no way you can take this minotaur up close, so you need to do this now. You channel all of your power into a spell, and four bolts of magical energy burst from your hands and arc through the air into the minotaur. It's knocked from its feet and hits a wall, falling still, and flesh beginning to catch fire. As it does, the room begins to stink with the smell of burning flesh and hair, and you decide to [[get out of here]].You pull out your bow and notch an arrow, carefully aiming. You loose, but the minotaur looks up and moves faster than you expected, the arrow catching it in the shoulder. It looks up at you and bellows, raising its axe.
[[Jump on it|JOI minotaur]]
[[Throw some ball-bearings]]You decide to take the minotaur by surprise. Drawing your daggers, you jump from the ledge and land on its back. You stab down deep into the flesh of its neck and it falls to its knees. As its strength fails it, it makes a few more swipes with its axe before it falls to the floor and stops moving. Your job done, you decide to [[get out of here]].You look around at the ledge that you're on and think you see a weakness in the stone. Taking your sword, you strike down at the ground and it begins to crumble. You ride the rockslide down as it crushes the minotaur, only just keeping your footing. As it comes to a stop you look around you. A couple of fingers twitch beneath the rubble. Just below you, you see a horn sticking out of the rubble, and beneath it an eye moves to look up at you. You take your sword and drive it down into the eye. Job done, you decide to [[get out of here]].<<set $decapitation to either("success", "failure")>>
<<if $decapitation is "success">>
You jump from the ledge, your greatsword raised above your head. Time seems to slow as you fall and you angle your strike. The minotaur looks up at the last second as your blade slices through its neck, its head tumbling to floor and its body following an instant later. You get up, kick its body, laugh, then decide to [[get out of here]].
<<elseif $decapitation is "failure">>
You go to jump from the ledge but slip at the last second. You fall to the ground and your blade tumbles from your grasp. The minotaur turns and looks at you, then bellows.
[[Go for your sword|GFYS minotaur]]
[[Fisticuffs|Fisticuffs minotaur]]
<<endif>>You jump from the ledge, casting another spell to slow your fall. The weakened minotaur bellows and swings around to hit you with its rusty axe, but you quickly cast another spell. Electricity courses through your body and crackles around you, and just before the axe makes contact you see it arc across the blade and zaps the minotaur. It's flung across the room and starts convulsing on the floor. It's time to finish it off.
[[Fireball|Fireball minotaur]]
[[Keep this spell going|KTSG minotaur]]The minotaur looks up at you, anger in its eyes. It hurls rocks at you and you step back from the ledge to give yourself time to cast your next spell. You channel all your power into a spell and four bolts of magical energy burst from your hands and arc through the air into the minotaur. It's knocked from its feet and hits a wall, falling still, and flesh beginning to catch fire. As it does, the room begins to stink with the smell of burning flesh and hair, and you decide to [[get out of here]].You barely need to speak the words now, you know the fireball spell so well. Your hand bursts into flame and you see anger in the eyes of the minotaur. You let the flame grow larger and larger, and when the heat becomes too much for you, you throw it at your target. It lets out a pained bray as its body is engulfed in flames. The room begins to stink with the smell of burning flesh and hair, and you decide to [[get out of here]].You focus on the electricity still buzzing around you and chant louder for that spell. The minotaur convulses more as blue lightning surrounds its body. It brays in pain as its eyes pop like squashed grapes. The room begins to stink with the smell of burning flesh and hair, and you decide to [[get out of here]].The minotaur starts to hurl rocks and bones from its pit at you, so you decide the best option is to join it down there. You jump from the ledge, drawing your daggers in the air. Landing on its back, you plunge your daggers into the base of its neck. It falls to its knees and makes a few swipes at you with its axe before its strength fails and it falls to the floor and stops moving. Your job done, you decide to [[get out of here]].The minotaur begins to hurl rocks and bones up at you and you dodge out of the way. Reaching into a pouch on your belt you pull out a handful of ball-bearings and throw them at the minotaur. With its muscular top half and small hooved legs it slips and fall quickly, and you take that moment to jump down in the pit and cut its throat. Job done, you decide to [[get out of here]].The minotaur goes to swing at you with its axe into you but you roll to the right. Your fingers brush your sword hilt as you feel its hand around your leg. You have an instant to grab it before it drags you back, but you just manage it. As it swings down at you with its axe you throw your sword up to block it. It backs up and you jump to your feet to make it a fairer fight. You go back and forth, each striking and blocking and parrying in turn. But it is clumsy and you're a better fighter, so you see a moment and seize it, thrusting your sword into its gut. It drops its axe and drops to its knees, and you laugh before cutting off its head. You kick the head a little, and then decide to [[get out of here]].You roll to the left as the minotaur swings at you with its axe. You get to your feet and dodge its strikes, moving in close as soon as you can to punch its belly. It either doesn't feel it or doesn't care, still striking at you. You look for your sword and can't see it, and the minotaur takes that moment to push you up against a wall. It brays at you as it goes to swing its axe at your head, but you dodge and use its momentum to slam its head into the wall. It stumbles back and you see you've damaged its horn, which you grab and snap off. It looks at you, fear in its eyes, as you stab it in the throat. It spits up blood and falls to the floor. You go find your sword and cut its head off just to be sure. Kicking it, you laugh, then decide to [[get out of here]].If there's one thing you've learnt in your studies of magic, it's that dark magic corrupts. This wizard can't be saved - you have to kill him. You start to conjure another fireball, doing it as fast as you can so as not to alert him. When it's big enough you hurl it at the wizard. He turns at the last second and holds up a hand, stopping the fireball in the air. He clenches his hand into a fist and the fireball fizzles out. He laughs and throws out his other hand, a stream of dark energy bursting out of it like a whip.
[[Magical armour]]
[[Counter it]]"Stop!" Your voice echoes around the chamber as you shout to the wizard below. "This isn't right, but if you stop now we can work something out. I don't want to fight you."
He turns around and looks up at you. His eyes are covered by a hood, and all you can see of his face is a manic smile. He laughs and throws out a hand, a stream of dark energy bursting out of it like a whip.
[[Magical armour]]
[[Counter it]]You pull out your bow and notch an arrow, carefully aiming. You loose, but the wizard looks up and throws up his hand, the arrow stopping in mid-air. He looks up at you and laughs, raising his hands. They swirl with dark purple energy, and as he does so the bones start to form into more skeletons around him.
[[All at once]]
[[One at a time]]You look around at the ledge that you're on and think you see a weakness in the stone. Taking your sword, you strike down at the ground and it begins to crumble. The wizard hears the crack of stone and turns, holding up his hands. The rockslide slows to a halt, a mysterious dark purple energy surrounding the stones. You try to keep your footing as you watch the wizard's arms start to shake. You ready your sword just in case, but it's unneeded as the wizard's strength fails him. The rocks fall and crush him, leaving no sign of him under the rubble. Job done, you decide to [[get out of here]].Taking your sword, you think you can end this quickly. You jump, sword raised as if to cut him in half. But clearly you weren't quiet enough, and he turns and throws his hand out, freezing you in mid-air. He laughs, then throws you up against a wall. You recover, standing with your sword as he begins to chant, raising his hands. They swirl with dark purple energy, and as he does so the bones start to form into more skeletons around him.
[[Skeletons first|SF fighter]]
[[Focus on the wizard|FOTW fighter]] You draw two daggers as silently as possible, wait for the perfect time to strike, and then jump at him. But clearly you weren't quiet enough, and he turns and throws his hand out, freezing you in mid-air. He laughs, then throws you up against a wall. You recover, crouching with your daggers as he begins to chant, raising his hands. They swirl with dark purple energy, and as he does so the bones start to form into more skeletons around him.
[[Skeletons first]]
[[Focus on the wizard]]Out of instinct you mutter the words to a spell. Just in time, blue electricity begins to course around your body, and as the magical whip makes contact with you it travels down, zapping the wizard. It knocks him back against a wall, winding him. Now's your chance.
[[Get up close]]
[[Keep your distance]]This wizard stopped your spell, but two can play at that game. You begin a spell, and just as his magical whip begins to wrap around you it starts to fade, dissipating into mist. In his surprise you manage to shoot off a quick fireball, knocking him back against a wall, winding him. Now's your chance.
[[Get up close]]
[[Keep your distance]] You snap your fingers, and in the blink of an eye you're across the room, teleported face to face with the necromancer. You know how magic is earned, how scholars unlock its secrets through hard work and practice. But your tutors prepared you for this - they taught you how to take it away. You place your hand on his forehead and focus. He goes to fight you but his muscles lock into place as you begin to chant. Your fingers tingle as your voice gets louder and you feel him struggle even more, but to no avail. His skin goes pale, his eyes roll back into his head, and you can feel his magical energy being drawn into you. Completing the spell, you let him fall to the floor and begin to back away.
He struggles to his feet and throws a hand out, but nothing happens. He tries again, but still nothing. "Wait," he mutters as you click your fingers again, blinking up to the ledge. "Wait! What have you done? What have you done to my powers?"
Now devoid of magic, the former wizard should be powerless. This is a far more fitting punishment than death, and as his screams echo around the sewer, you decide to [[get out of here]].You have to think on your feet for something he won't expect, and an idea strikes you. Beginning to mutter arcane words, you watch as the wizard catches his breath and goes to push himself away from the wall, but he can't. He looks at his hands and sees the dirt of the walls has surrounded them. He pulls, but to no avail. Then he tries his feet, but by now they've been covered too. He pulls with all his might but can't escape as the dirt covers his legs and then his torso. Seconds later it reaches his face, pulling him back into the wall as it smothers him. The last thing you see before you end your spell is his eyes, full of fear, disappearing behind the wall of dirt. With that done, you decide to [[get out of here]].As two skeletons begins to form out of the bones on the ground you decide that this will make great target practice. You notch three arrows and jump out over the pit. Time seems to slow as you line your shot up perfectly and loose. The two side arrows catch the skeletons' skulls, taking each of them in an eye socket, and knocking them from their bodies. But the middle one goes straight down, down through the mouth of the wizard as you looks up at you, slack-jawed, hitting with such force that it clatters against the floor mere seconds before he tumbles to the ground himself. You land on the ledge on the other side of the pit, admire your handiwork, then decide to [[get out of here]].With the necromancer focused on his spell, you jump down into the pit and two-footed kick one of the skeletons in the skull. You land with a clatter and break him from his chanting. He throws out a hand and a dark stream of magic emerges, like a whip to wrap around you. with your quick reflexes you grab it in the air, and though it burns your hand you hold tight. You run with it, yanking it through the other skeleton and scattering his bones to the floor.
Now for the necromancer. You pull the magical whip, forcing him towards you, and as soon as he's close enough you wrap it round his neck, choking him. He drops the spell, gasping for breath, but it's too late. You've already plunged a dagger into his spine, and you twist and then pull free, dropping him on the ground, bleeding out. He won't last much longer down here, so it's time for you to [[get out of here]].The wizard keeps laughing as the skeletons charge you. From your crouching position you kick out and sweep the legs of the first skeleton, dropping it to the floor and sending its bones scattering. With a little distance between you and the next one you stand up, make as though you'll move to the right, then at the last second you go left, running along the wall then jumping off to deliver a kick to its skull. This flies across the room, catching the unsuspecting wizard in the side of the head and knocking him to the floor, unconscious. The thought of clearing your name comes to the forefront of your mind, and you saunter over and casually slit his throat. Wiping the blood from your dagger on his cloak, you decide to [[get out of here]].If you kill the wizard, the skeletons won't have anyone to control them. With this in mind, you focus on him. You slip between the two skeletons, daggers ready, and start slashing out at the wizard. He throws up his hands, conjuring wards of dark purple energy, but you can tell he can't do this forever. Blood starts to drip from his nose and the skeletons don't approach, too fearful that they may accidentally strike their master. As he tires you manage to get in a few quick slashes. Wisps of dark purple energy escape through the cuts and his skin becomes paler. Finally, you see a gap in his defences and strike, plunging your knife deep into his ribs. He cries out, and behind you hear the clatter of bones as the magic holding the skeletons together dissipates. Now weakened, you force him back against a wall, pushing the knife in deeper and twisting the blade. His eyes flare purple then fade as the life leaves his body. You let his body drop to the floor and, panting from the exertion, decide to [[get out of here]].The wizard keeps laughing as the skeletons charge you. You slice through the ribcage of the first one, shattering the bones. On the backswing, you do the same to the second, spraying bone shards in the direction of the wizard, some slicing into his face. Now it's your time to laugh. You loom over him as you walk slowly towards him. You strike down and he throws up a hand, a shield of dark purple energy blocking your strike. You go again and again - on the third strike the magical barrier shatters and your sword goes straight through, lodging itself in his head. He goes cross-eyed to look at the blade before you kick him off and he falls to the floor, dead. Job done, you decide to [[get out of here]].You've killed skeletons already today, why even bother with these? They go to strike at you but you parry their blades and walk between them, straight to the wizard. He stops laughing as your hand closes around his throat and you lift him from his feet. Struggling to breath, he claws at your hand to try and free himself, but you hold tight. You drop your blade, the metal clanging on the stone floor, and reach back. Making contact with one of the skeletons' skulls, you grab it and pull it free, then smash it into the head of the wizard. He stops struggling as much and you hear bones clatter to the ground around you as you squeeze tighter. Veins bulging, the wizard finally gives in, and you drop his dead body to the ground. Then, you collect your sword and decide to [[get out of here]].