<div style="text-indent: 2em;">It's a nice day for travelling, which is good news for you. You've been on the road for a few days now, and anything to make your journey easier is welcome. The Queen has summoned you to the royal castle, a high honor for a noble of your rank. Your family owns some land, and holds a little power, but recognition from the royal family is not something you ever expected to receive in your lifetime. The letter was vague about what exactly they need you for, but a royal invitation isn't really something you can afford to turn down.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You're close to reaching your destination; on your left, the castle's imposing silhouette looms over the highlands around you. To the right, a large forest spans out for as far as you can see. You're no expert, but the sheer size of some of the trees leads you to believe these woods must be pretty old. Even with the sun shining high overhead, the canopy keeps most of the forest blanketed in shadows.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">As you approach a curve in the road, you pause. You're not sure what it is, but something seems to be beckoning you towards the trees. A deep, primal tugging in your gut wants to leave the path behind and explore the forest. But you don't want to be late to the castle. After all, that's the whole reason you came out this way. Looking farther down the road, you can see it wind up the tallest hill towards the castle gates.
What do you do?
Continue towards the [[Castle]]
Venture into the [[Forest]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You leave the forest behind and follow the road as it winds through the hills.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The castle is old, but has been well maintained. Every stone looks perfect, no moss, cracks, or weathering in sight. Soaring towers rise high above the walls, making it impossible for anyone to approach the castle unnoticed. You can see the silhouettes of guards as they patrol along the outer walls. They stop you at the gate, but you flash the invitation and they let you through. You cross over the moat on a narrow bridge, and you're finally in.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">An attendant waits by the front doors, and bows before leading you into the castle. You follow him through winding hallways lined with old tapestries, imposing portraits, and elaborate sculptures. It's all a little over the top, but that's the point. The royal family has spared no expense in showing off their wealth and power, and you aren't going to be the one to criticize them for it.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">As you make your way through the castle, the sounds of distant conversation and music float through the halls. The servant leads you through an impressive pair of oaken double-doors, and into the main hall. Tables crowd the room, each laden with an unbelievable amount of food and drink. Vegetables, fruits, fish, meats, cheeses, breads, soups, anything and everything you could ever want is present. Torch light dances along the walls as a small band plays a lively tune in one corner of the room. Clusters of people mingle around the tables, all hailing from some noble family or military position.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You catch snippets of dialogue as you float across the room in a daze. They're discussing everything from the weather, to the economy, to upcoming wars with enemies you've never even heard of before. Once you gather yourself, you scan the room for your hosts. It's not hard to pick them out from the crowd.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The King doesn't appear to be around at the moment, but that doesn't surprise you. The rumor mill hasn't been kind to him, and everyone seems to agree that the Queen is really the one pulling the strings. The King is more concerned with drinking, hunting, and women that aren't his wife than actually running the kingdom.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The Queen is watching the party progress from her throne at the far end of the room. She surveys the party like a hawk, keeping a close watch on who is talking to whom, and which guests are coming and going.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The Princess is picking at a plate of food as her husband, the Duke of Somerset, boasts loudly to anyone nearby who will listen. She looks bored out of her mind, and clearly wants to be anywhere else but here.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The Prince is in the middle of trying to sneak away from the party without the Queen noticing. He is holding a small plate of food in one hand, and has a couple books slung under his other arm.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Who will you talk with first?
Talk to [[The Queen]]
Talk to [[The Princess]]
Talk to [[The Prince]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Yeah! You have plenty of time to get to the castle. And besides, it's not like a few hours are going to make much of a difference. Confident in your decision to follow your gut, you head off the road and walk into the forest.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The murky darkness provides a nice break from the constant sunlight that comes with travelling on the open road. The grass is soft and damp underfoot, and you can hear birds singing and calling to one another in the branches overhead. The leaves are just starting to change color, sprinkling the green roof with flashes of red, yellow, and orange.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">As you continue deeper into the forest, other voices begin to join in the birds' chorus. It's difficult to make out, but there's something distinctly human about these new sounds. You're not sure if they're enticing or foreboding just yet, but if you had to guess, you would probably go with...
[[Enticing]]
[[Foreboding]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You're right! As you draw closer to the voices, you can easily hear the sounds of a full on party. You have no idea who would be throwing a party in the middle of the woods, but it sounds like they're having a great time. Follow the upbeat music and murmur of conversation, you work your way through the trees and underbrush.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Stepping out into a lush clearing, your jaw drops as you take in the festivities. Happy, high pitched voices fill the meadow as faeries of varying sizes dance through the air. Others chat between the tables heaped with food and drink. The twinkling chime of bells mixes with a folksy fiddle tune, but there's no band or instruments in sight. As you gawk at the edge of the clearing, someone clears their throat next to you.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Enjoying the view? Why don't you join in, everyone's welcome here. As long as you know how to have a good time that is." You turn, startled, towards the impish boy to your right. You didn't hear him approach, but he's standing only a few inches away, watching you with a devilish grin. If it wasn't for the tiny horns poking out of his curly hair, and the mischievous glint in his eyes, you would almost say he looks cherubic.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Come on friend, have a little fun! You look tired from your travels, and us forest folk know how to throw a party. It's time to kick back and relax. Besides," his gaze turns up toward the sky, "I think a storm's rolling in, and the magic protecting this clearing will make it the safest place around. And if you're up for a little adventure, stick around after the party and I'll come find you. I have a job for you that I think will pique your interest." he says with a wink.
What will you do?
Stay and join the [[Party]]
Head back and hope you avoid the [[Storm]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Really? Are you sure? Oh wait, that was a cackle. You definitely just heard someone cackle. OK, you're right. As you draw closer, the voices melt together into a rhythmic chant. The forest seems to grow even darker as you push your way through brambles and thickets. A bitter wind rattles the bare limbs of the dead trees as a light glimmers in the darkness. You can see three figures dancing around a fire just up ahead. The chanting is growing clearer, and you can start to make out what the voices are saying.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Double, double toil and trouble, Fire burn, and cauldron bubble." It's not super welcoming, but the wind is getting colder, and the promise of a fire is inviting. You step out into a small clearing, dead grass browning beneath your feet. A strong smell seeps out from the cauldron as the three women stop their chant to turn towards you. You know it's too early for night, but the sunlight has completely vanished. Shadows from the fire dance along the cloaked women. It's difficult to see them in the poor lighting, but they seem to be constantly shifting between gnarled old crones and elegant young women. You write it off as a trick of the shadows and ask them if you can take shelter around their fire. They address you one at a time as they stand around the cauldron.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"A stranger from a far off land, come to see us sisters three."
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"The castle walls will hold your prize, but careful of what else they hide."
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Death and danger wait for this stranger." They didn't really answer your question, but it doesn't matter because you're not sticking around to hear more. Their words echo in the back of your mind as you hurry back into the brush. What prize? You don't usually put any stock into the words of strange forest people, but you've never needed to before. You think you could find your way back to the castle from here, but maybe it's time to rethink this whole trip.
Go to the [[Castle]]
Go [[Home->Witches' Storm]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Of course you'll stay! Who would turn down their chance at a real faery party? As you step into the clearing, your senses are overwhelmed as the music grows louder, and the aroma from the tables grows stronger. You lose track of time as you eat, dance, sing, and party alongside all manner of faery folk. You see your new friend chugging some fizzy drink as sprites gather around him and begin to chant.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Puck! Puck! Puck! Puck!" You start to move towards him, but are distracted as you're pulled into a cluster of dancing pixies. The celebration lasts well into the night, and is easily the greatest party you've ever attended.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You don't remember falling asleep, but wake up on the ground as the sun rises slowly over the forest horizon. The party is gone, and has left the meadow remarkably clean. The only remnant from last night's festivities, aside from you, is Puck. He's sitting cross-legged on a rotting stump, and has been watching you sleep for who knows how long.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Ah, there you are! Did I not deliver, dear friend? Was that not the most fun you've ever had?" He looks at you expectantly, a wide grin plastered on his face. Your head is stilling spinning a little, and you manage to clumsily push yourself to your feet.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Don't worry though, the excitement isn't over just yet. Far from it! I have a very special job for you," he pulls a purple flower out of a small satchel tied to his waist, "In exchange for inviting you to the party, I need you to take this flower and find the young couple who also stayed in the woods last night. Just head that way into the forest, and follow the stream East. You'll know them when you see them. Then, sprinkle the juice from this flower onto the man's eyes, and that's it! It's so simple a donkey could do it."
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You're too tired to argue with the peppy sprite, and don't know what he'll do if you turn him down. Taking the flower, you mumble something incoherent and trudge off in the direction he pointed.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">It doesn't take long to reach the stream. Water bubbles over the stony bed, and you can see small fish rushing through the clear water. Using the sun as a guide, you turn East to follow the brook downstream, but pause. Beautiful singing wafts down from upstream, accompanied by the sweet scent of fresh flowers. The aches leftover from the party melt away as the song soothes you. It's like nothing you've ever heard before, and you want nothing more than to find its source. But Puck gave you a job to do, and you don't know how long the couple will stay near the water.
Finish the job and head [[East->Athenians]]
Follow the singing [[West->Titania's Hollow]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You stumble through some vague excuse about a prior engagement. The boy looks disappointed, but doesn't try to stop you.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Alright, suit yourself." He says with a shrug. As he walks off to join the party, you're confident you just dodged a bullet. After all, most stories of people wandering off with faeries don't end well, and this is a little too weird for you.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You leave the party behind as you try to find your way back to the road. It's much darker now though, and you can hear the distant rumble of thunder. You're turned around, and everything is starting to looks the same. Just as your starting to really panic, you see a break in the tree line. Stumbling out of the forest, you find yourself in an unfamiliar heath as storm clouds gather above you. Deciding you'd prefer what shelter the trees can provide, you turn to head back into the forest, but it's gone. You're surrounded on all sides by rolling hills and coarse scrub.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Before you can process this, the clouds open up as it begins to drizzle, and then pour with unbridled ferocity. Thoroughly drenched, you start sloshing off in a random direction, hoping it will lead you somewhere fast. You swear you can hear other voices mingling with the howling wind, but who else would be foolish enough to be wandering around out in this weather?
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Eventually, you catch a break as the rain lightens up a little. There's a decrepit shack at the base of hill nearby. It looks like it could fall apart at any moment, but it's the only shelter around. Praying that it will hold out through this storm, you shuffle over in your soaking clothes.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">But when you're a few feet away, three figures step out of the small building and begin heading off into the storm. The first is an older man dressed in extremely fine clothes. He could pass as a king given the right circumstances, and a crown. Following close behind him is a jester, and a vagabond clad in tattered rags. The first man turns as you approach.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Look at you, you poor wretch. Abandoned out here in the storm. Who could have done this to you? No, you don't need to answer, I already know. Children can be so cruel." He gives you a sympathetic look of understanding, but you have no idea what he's talking about. The vagabond behind him mutters something under his breath and begins to crawl away on all fours. The older man turns to see where he's going, then looks back at you.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"I'm sorry we can't stay my friend, but if you want to take shelter here please be out guest. It isn't much, but it should keep you dry." he says, and then starts to follow the crawling man deeper into the storm. You start to move towards the door, but the jester grabs your arm.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Hey, I don't know who you are, or what you're doing out here, but in case it wasn't obvious, we're on the run and the people looking for us aren't the forgiving type. I can't stop you, but unless you're stupider than you look, you won't stay here after we leave." Before you can ask any questions, the jester runs off to join the other two men. Somehow, he seemed like the most coherent of the group, and you don't see any reason for him to lie. But the rain is starting to pick back up, and you have no idea who those people were or where the nearest town is. And are you really someone who takes advice from a clown?
Go in the [[Shelter]]
Follow the jester's [[Advice->Lear's Storm]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You head downstream until you come across a sleeping couple. They're laying a fair distance apart, but you're pretty sure these has to be the right people. I mean, how many other people spent the night out here in the forest?
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You follow Puck's instructions and dab the flower on the man's eyes. There's a brief sparkle as the juice lands on his skin, but nothing else really happens. You're not sure if it worked, but you finished the job and that's all you needed to do.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Looking up, you can see that you're near the edge of the forest, and the curve in the road where your journey began is only a short distance away. Emerging from the trees, you stand on the crossroad once more. It's probably time to head up to the castle now. Unless you want to go back home of course. You've had a long, and interesting journey, and spending a night in your own bed sounds wonderful.
Get back on track and go to the [[Castle]]
Call your adventure here and head back [[Home]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Puck never said when he needed the job done, and following your gut lead you into this forest in the first place. You turn around, and head upstream. The smell of flowers permeates this part of the forest, and you can start to pick out distinct voices in the soft choir. There's a small hill just ahead, and you can hear the lullaby coming from the other side. The ground is completely blanketed in wildflowers, which help to mask your approach as you clamber up the hill. There's an overhang at the top that overlooks a lush hollow below.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The stream creates a gentle waterfall at the back of the hollow, filling a small pool below. A hammock of moss and vines stretches over the water, and almost looks as if it had grown there naturally. A rainbow of exotic flowers clings to the shore of the pool, and coat the ground beneath the hammock. Dew drops bob on flower petals, and hang from the gossamer veil of cobwebs draped around the hammock. A group of sprites stand guard farther off, their backs turned away from you as they guard the hollow and sing the lullaby you heard earlier.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Sleeping inside the hammock, cushioned by a soft down of dandelion fluff, is the most beautiful woman you've ever seen. Her flowing white hair glistens with an iridescent sheen, and her skin glows like moonlight. Tremendous power radiates out from her, but you aren't afraid. You know she could destroy you with a single flick of her hand, but only if you gave her reason to. Just being in her presence feels like home, and you find it impossible to look away.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">As you shift forward, trying to get closer, you feel the ledge beneath your hands give out. The flower Puck gave you flies from your hand as you grab wildly for the hillside. You fall forward into the chilly pool below, and burst from the water as the pixies standing around shriek and run off. Sputtering, you pull yourself out of the water and flop down onto a bed of flowers.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Oh my, are you alright? That was quite the fall." A voice breaks you out of your shock as the woman you saw sleeping stands over you. A pair of glossy butterfly wings sprout from her back, their glassy surface reflecting the faint glow from her body. She extends a hand to help you to your feet, but doesn't let go when you try to pull away.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Oh no, please don't go. I've never encountered a creature as beautiful as you before. The stars themselves dim in your presence, and even the most talented of my painters could never do you justice. There's nothing on this earth, or beyond it, that could come close to matching you. Aphrodite herself would grow envious after laying eyes on you. But I've lost myself." She releases your hand, and straightens into a regal posture.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"I am Titania, Queen of the Faeries. And this is but one of my many refuges on this earth. I can take you to them all, if you would like. We will travel the world, all while my faery servants attend to your every whim. You'll want for nothing, and spend your days by my side as we see all the wonders this world holds."
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You introduce yourself, but get the impression that she isn't really listening. She's too busy staring longing at you to notice. You turn to leave, but she grabs you again.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Please! Stay. Whatever it takes to convince you to stay here with me is yours. Do you want food? You need only ask and my servants will scour nature's deepest recesses for the freshest ingredients. Is gold your desire? I'll have my gnomes and dwarves drain the mines and shower you with riches. I just can't bear it if you leave."
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You're not sure if this is some kind of trick, or a result of the magic flower Puck gave you, but the choice stands nonetheless. You could spend eternity with the Queen of Faeries, and be treated like royalty, or return to the task at hand, and eventually the world outside of this forest. So what'll it be?
Stay with [[Titania->We Started from the Bottom]]
Refuse her offer and [[Leave->Leave Titania]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You watch the three men vanish into the storm as the rain begins to fall with a renewed intensity. Shaking your head, you duck into the hovel. You can't believe you almost listened to those guys. A crazy old noble, a jester, and a vagrant. Yeah, that's who you want as a life coach.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Inside the small dwelling, you find some old hay scattered around the floor. It's not a nice warm bed inside the castle, but it beats standing around in the freezing rain like those other idiots. You curl up, trying to keep warm, and eventually drift off to sleep.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You jolt awake as someone yells and violently shakes you. You blink as your eyes adjust to the sunlight. The storm is over, but you're no longer alone. Two guards dressed in unfamiliar colors stand over you, glaring down as they watch you sit up and brush the dirt off your clothes.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Did you see anyone else pass through here?" one of the guards asks. You describe the three men you encountered the night before, and explain that you have no idea who they were. As you try to leave the hut to point them in the right direction, the other guard slams you back to the ground.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"A likely story. You expect us to believe you didn't recognize the King? You're carrying an invitation to the royal palace. We know you helped him escape, so drop the act. If you just tell us where he is, we might let you leave this shack alive." The first guard sneers.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You try to explain that you never made it to the castle, but they don't seem to believe your story about the faery party in the disappearing forest. They grow tired, and once they realize that you either don't know anything, or won't tell them, they run you through with their swords and drop you back on the dirt to die. You watch them leave as you bleed out in the decrepit hovel.
<span style="color: red;"> BAD END</span> - Wrong Place, Wrong Time<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You decide it's better to be safe than sorry. Even if these guys don't seem like the most reliable bunch, there must be some reason they're out here, right?
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The rain begins to fall with a renewed intensity as you try to follow them across the scrubland. But pretty soon you're completely disoriented in the raging tempest and lose track of them.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The voices you heard mixing with the wind before pick back up as you blindly stumble around. You can't tell if you're walking in a straight line, or wandering in circles. The sky has been completely consumed by the rain, and even the ground beneath you seems to shift. What was once mud and dirt has mixed with something grittier. You're walking on sand, and as you continue forward, you only feel more of it.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">As you take a moment to walk along the border between the sand and mud, you see lights hovering farther off over the sand. You can't tell from this distance, but they look like windows. Did you find your way back to the castle? The promise of shelter is appealing, but the storm grows even worse as you walk out over the sand. Maybe it would be better to turn back and see what you can find on the other half of the divide.
Follow the [[Lights->The Hut]]
Go back to the [[Dirt->The Cliff]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Why wouldn't you accept her offer? Leaving society and the outside world behind is a small price to pay for the chance to spend eternity with a literal goddess. Not to mention, you'll have an entire army of faeries to wait on you hand and foot.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Titania wraps you in a tight embrace as you agree, and sprites emerge from the forest carrying plates heaped with fruits and vegetable, fresh changes of clothes delicately spun by spiders and silkworms, and bowls overflowing with gems and gold. You and Titania spend your days in leisure, travelling wherever you please, and indulging in everything life has to offer.
<span style="color: green;"> GOOD END</span> - We Started from the Bottom<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Titania continues to beg you to stay as you walk away. This whole scenario has made you uncomfortable, and you're sure there's some kind of catch or repercussion waiting for you around the next corner. Before you can get far, a powerful gust of wind knocks you back, and you feel another surge of power manifest in front of you. A man radiating energy similar to Titania's glowers down at you. His light blue skin is covered with a cloak of leaves, and a crown woven from tiny branches sits between the antlers sprouting out of the top of his head.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">He is accompanied by the familiar figure of Puck, but your relief at seeing a friendly face is quickly shattered as the sprite jabs an accusatory finger at you.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"That's them! That's the thief from the party! The one who stole the flower you gave me before I had a chance to use it. I'd recognize that shifty face anywhere." Puck's outburst causes your heart to drop as you realize what's going on. Titania begins to protest, but the man waves a hand through the air, and two faeries rush to catch the queen as she collapses, deep in sleep once more.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"So," the man address you, "You're the one that's been causing me so much trouble. Do you even realize what you've done? Or know who I am? You stand in the presence of Oberon, King of the Faeries. And it is my dearest Puck that you have so brutishly accosted. Your actions will not go unpunished." Oberon's hands begin to glow with a green light as he gathers power.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You need to stop Oberon, and you need to do it fast. Maybe you could just tell him the truth and hope he understands. Lying to a nature god can't be a good idea, right? Then again, you could try and turn the blame back on Puck. Surely this isn't the first time the sprite has messed up, and hopefully you can use that to your advantage.
Tell Oberon the [[Truth->What Fools These Mortals Bee]]
Try to out-Puck Puck and [[Lie->Spared]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You decide it's best to tell Oberon the truth. After all, lying would probably just get you into more trouble. You explain the deal you made with Puck, and how he was more than willing to part with the flower and his responsibilities. Oberon considers your words, and lowers his hands.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Very well. That does sound more plausible than the only human at the party sneaking up on you without you noticing." You expect Puck to curse you, or throw a tantrum, but instead he flashes you a devilish grin.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Yes, that may be true. But, I didn't tell you to come here to the Faery Queen's secret hollow. In fact, I believe I told you to go the exact opposite direction. Now how do you explain that?" Looks like Puck took a page from your book and turned the truth back on you. Oberon thinks for a moment, and then nods.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"An equally valid point. It would seem that even though you may not have stolen the flower, you are still at fault for the mess you have caused here. Well then, since coming here was apparently so very important to you, I think it's only fitting that you stay in this hollow a while longer."
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Before you can say anything more, Oberon blasts you with a green bolt of magic, and you feel your body begin to change. The forest distorts around you as your body shrinks. You sprout antennae, wings, and a stinger. A soft down of yellow and black fuzz coats your skin as the transformation is complete. Oberon turns to Puck, and the two faeries vanish in a puff of smoke, leaving you behind as a bumblebee trapped in Titania's garden.
<span style="color: red;"> BAD END</span> - What Fools These Mortals Bee<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Before Oberon can blast you with his nature magic, you tell him the story of how you stumbled onto the party by mistake, and that Puck invited you to join in. Like any good lie, you use the truth to back up your story. You explain that Puck gave you the flower, but must have given you the wrong direction on purpose to get you in trouble. Puck, his face now flush with rage, denies the story as he spits insults at you. Oberon seems to consider your story, then lowers his hands.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Begone troublesome spirit. Now is not the time for elaborate tricks against mortals. I banish you!" Puck disappears with a crack, leaving you alone with Oberon. The faery king strokes his short beard as he regards you.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Well, I suppose I must apologize for any harm my servant has caused you. His antics can be entertaining at times, but he needs to learn restraint. Here," Oberon stoops down and plucks the purple flower off the ground where it fell, "Take this. Go downstream and finish the job he gave you. Then leave this forest, and never meddle in the affairs of the faery folk again. I will not be this forgiving a second time." Oberon gives you a hard stare, then vanishes in a puff of smoke.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Letting out a sigh of relief, you pocket the flower and leave the hollow behind.
Find the [[Couple->Athenians]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You try your best to look sympathetic in your brief moment of freedom. And it works! A few tears well up in her eyes, and the woman rushes between you and the wizard.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Father, how could you! You don't know who this spirit is, or where it came from. There's no need to hurt something so beautiful. Please, set it free and see what it wants." She pleads. It isn't exactly the defense you were expecting, but you'll take what you can get at this point. The older man looks between the two of you, a mixture of frustration and exasperation growing on his face.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Miranda, stop being difficult! Gods help me... Fine." The pearl stops glowing as he throws his hands in the air and turns to walk away. The woman shoots you a triumphant grin before she hurries back to pick up the books she dropped.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"But I do need you to leave. I'll make sure you end up where you need to go, and when you need to be there." the old man says as he turns back to face you. The woman starts to protest, but her voice is drowned out as a bright light encases you, and the hut vanishes.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Your stomach drops as everything spins around you. Bright flashes of color dominate your vision, and you have to close your eyes to keep from puking. After what feels like hours, you land on solid ground with a thump. You're laying in the middle of the road a little ways outside the castle. You can't be certain, but it looks exactly the same as when you arrived yesterday. Or is it today now? No matter.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You stand up, brush yourself off, and head towards the [[Castle]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">As soon as feeling returns to your mouth, you start berating the wizard with your pleas. You offer to work for him on the island if he lets you live. The woman looks concerned as you try to bargain with the wizard, but he jumps on your offer with surprising haste. It's almost like he knew you were going to say that...
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Deal! We already have one servant, but I'm sure the two of you will get along. And if not, don't make it a problem for me or I'll have to rethink our little agreement." he says. With a wave of his hand, you feel the power gripping your body fade and movement returns to your limbs. The woman looks dissatisfied with the arrangement, but leans down to pick up her books as the wizard begins to lead you out of the hut.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Now, if you're going to be working for us there are some things you should know. I am Prospero, and that's my daughter, Miranda. Good. Now that you've met, never speak to her again. Come along, there's much I need to show you." He drags you outside and proceeds to explain the ins and outs of 'his island' as he repeatedly calls it. Most of it goes over your head. You were never one for magic, monsters, or sorcery, but luckily that's not what he needs from you.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Your work seems simple enough, but that doesn't make it any easier. Prospero introduces you to his other servant, a half-man half-monster named Caliban, who you'll be working alongside. Caliban's appearance is rivaled only by his stench, and it doesn't take you long to realize why Prospero was so eager for help. Caliban is lazy, stubborn, and has a nasty temper. Prospero leaves you with your new mentor and returns to his hut to finish whatever he was working on before you interrupted.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"This is where you'll gather firewood. You will wash their clothes in this stream and dry them on those rocks." Caliban directs you around the island, explaining your duties in as few words as possible. You ask him if he means 'we' instead of 'you', and he laughs.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">As Caliban leads you around the island, you catch glimpses of someone following you. It's Miranda. She's watching you with the same curious expression as when she first saw you in the hut. Over the course of the day, she continues to shadow you and Caliban from a distance as you go through the day's chores. While you're partway through washing the laundry, Caliban jabs a finger in your side.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Hey. You. What powers do you have? Show me." he demands. You try to explain that you don't know any magic, and that you just ended up here by walking through the storm. His eyes go wide.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"You can teleport? We can use that to free ourselves. Listen," he scans the forest around you, "If we can just get into the hut and destroy those books, we can overthrow Prospero and take this island back. Together, we can get my- I mean our, island back. Then we won't have to work any longer." Caliban shakes with glee before stopping to vigorously scratch his back with a stick.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">As great as that plan sounds, you're pretty sure you would get a chance to talk with Miranda if you break away from Caliban. On the other hand, the blunt fishman might be able to cause a distraction, allowing you to disable Prospero's magic. The plan needs work, but with time who knows what the two of you can accomplish?
Spend time with [[Caliban->Usurp Prospero]]
Spend time with [[Miranda->Lovable Innocence]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You heed Prospero's warning and keep your distance from Miranda. She always seems to disappear when Caliban is around, which works out perfectly for you. Taking advantage of your time alone, you and Caliban begin hatching your master plan.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Over the next few weeks, you spend most of your waking hours with the half-monster. It's not easy sleeping in a cave and working all day, but you know it'll be worth it in the end. You and you're new fishy friend spend every moment you have together workshopping your plan. Once you get used to his brutish nature and overpowering odor, Caliban is a decent companion. You might even consider him a friend.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Once all the details have been hammered out, you set a date. You'll have to act at night when Prospero is sleeping, and hope the cover of darkness will give you an extra edge on the old wizard.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Finally, your chosen night arrives and the two of you set to work. Caliban starts piling wood up in a secluded clearing as you search for good fire-starting rocks. Once Caliban has the bonfire built, you'll light it and rush up to Prospero's house. While he's distracted with the fire, you and Caliban can destroy his books, rendering him defenseless.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The plan starts without a hitch. You manage to produce a few decent sparks from a couple stones, and hurry towards the forest. Caliban's waiting when you arrive, the firewood already in place. You light it up, and watch as the flames begin to grow. The two of you hurry up the mountain towards the hut, and duck behind some boulders as you wait for Prospero to leave.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You don't have to wait long. You hear the wizard hurry down the road, cursing under his breath as the flickering glow in the forest builds. You nod to Caliban, and the two of you clamber out from behind the rocks and burst into the hut.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Before you have the chance to grab anything, an all too familiar grip tightens around your body, and you see Caliban freeze as well.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Did you really think I would fall for your idiotic charade? Fools. You forget yourselves, forgot the chances I have given you. This island is mine, and an extension of my own body. The trees are my ears, the wind my eyes. Nothing happens on this island without my knowledge. Nothing." He sighs, and you hear him move up behind your frozen body.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"I had such high hopes for you. But no matter; another has come to take your place. My plan will go on. You, however, will not. I never should have given you that second chance. I won't make a mistake of giving you a third." You feel a wave of energy pass over your body as your skin hardens and your limbs twist. Your form is dragged out of the hut, and trapped inside an old, withered oak tree in a distant corner of the forest.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">From there, you watch time on the island pass by. Caliban, constantly plagued with pains and aches, continuing to serve Prospero; Miranda, and some handsome prince, fall in love and are married. Eventually, they all leave the island, but you are left behind, trapped forever inside a dying tree.
<span style="color: red;"> BAD END</span> - The Ariel Treetment<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You decide to leave Caliban to his musings and tell him you forgot to chop firewood earlier and really need to go do that before it gets dark. Caliban grumbles something about ungrateful humans as you hurry away.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Once you're back in the grove where you gather firewood, you start running through the motions and wait for Miranda to show. It doesn't take long. You see her silhouette flit between the trees as she tries to watch you in secret.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">As you start carrying the wood back to the pile, you lose track of where you last saw Miranda and can't find her again.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Are you watching me?" a voice asks behind you. You jump, nearly dropping the firewood you were carrying as Miranda lifts her own bundle off the pile. The two of you walk together through the forest as you bring the wood to the hut. An awkward silence permeates the air between you at first, but eventually Miranda speaks up.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"My father told me that you are not a spirit. Is that true?" You nod your head.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Where did you come from?" Miranda asked, "If you don't mind me asking." she added hastily. You tell her stories of your home, and the kingdom in general. The tales are bittersweet, and you can't help but tear up a few times as you reminisce on your past life. She listens carefully, studying every change in your demeanor intently.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Finally, you reach the hut and stack the wood on the pile outside. Miranda starts to head inside, but turns to face you before she goes.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"That was fun. If you need help again tomorrow, just let me know." She gives you a warm smile, and disappears into the squat house.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Over the next few weeks, the two of you carry out the various chores around the island and swap stories. All she's ever known is the island, so she clings to every one of your stories, no matter how ordinary or boring it may seem to you. She tells you that her father is trying to teach her magic, science, and everything else he knows. The two of you trade off, you telling stories about your past on one day, and she teaching you about math, science, and magic the next. She's an amazingly fast learner, and eventually you start to pick up a few of the things she's talking about. But it seems like right when you think you understand something, she has already moved on to some other, much more complicated, topic.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">One day, as the two of you are following your normal firewood route through the trees, Miranda mentions the newest development in her magic training: teleportation. She only mentions it in passing, but you're sure the importance of this development isn't lost on her.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">This is your first real shot at freedom in months, and you know Miranda will be willing to help if you asked. It's been so long since you've slept in a real bed, or taken a bath that wasn't in a stream. Although, part of you doesn't want to leave. Your daily talks with Miranda have turned this prison into a paradise, and you honestly can't imagine what life would be like without them. Without her. Maybe you two could make a life here, if you can get Prospero on your side that is.
Ask Miranda to help you get [[Home->Teleported]]
Ask Miranda to [[Marry You->Marry Miranda]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You say something vague about her talent for magic, but don't bring the spell up again. It's clear to you that nothing would be the same without Miranda by your side. You want to spend the rest of your life together on this island, and you hope she feels the same.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The next day, as you're chopping more firewood and trying to drum up the courage to ask Miranda about your future together, she marches up to you with a look of determination.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"I'm not sure how this works where you're from, but I do know that I love the time we spend together more than anything else on this island, and I never want it to end." She takes something out of her pocket and hands it to you. It's a small ring fashioned out of coral and inlaid with pearl.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Sure, it may e moving a little fast, but there aren't exactly any better options on the island. You take the delicate ring, and slip it onto your finger. Miranda throws her arms around you as the two of you shake with giddy excitement.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Well it's about time." Prospero's voice interrupts your happy moment from just outside the grove. You and Miranda freeze as the wizard approaches, a triumphant smirk on his face.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"I was starting to think this whole set up had been a waste of time. But, my patience paid off. Come now, both of you, leave the firewood for Caliban. There's much you'll need to learn."
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">After a small ceremony, Prospero begins teaching you the arts of magic and science alongside Miranda. The two of you spend your days learning and exploring the island. One day, you'll inherit the island from Prospero, but until then, you're just happy to be together.
<span style="color: green;"> GOOD END</span> - Beauty's in the Eye of the Storm<div style="text-indent: 2em;">It's time to go home. As much as you love the time you've spent with Miranda, you're still a prisoner on this island. The next day as you and Miranda sit on the riverbank, you ask if she thinks she could pull off the teleportation spell. She deflates a little when you ask her, but nods after a few seconds.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"I had a feeling you would ask about that. If you want, I think I can get you back home tomorrow night. Meet me at the firewood grove at midnight, and bring anything you don't want to leave behind." She stands and starts to head back to the mountain, "I'm sorry, but I need to go get ready." She gives you a short smile, then hurries off into the trees.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You weren't traveling with much before you arrived on the island, so you step into the grove at midnight with little more than the clothes on your back. Miranda is standing in the moonlight, waiting patiently with one of Prospero's books under her arm.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Hurry, we need to act before my father finds out." She flips through the book, then sets it on the ground when she finds the right page. Lifting her arms towards the sky, Miranda starts making frantic gestures with her hands. You can feel the air thicken as power builds around you two. The stars glow with a brighter intensity than before, and the wind whips through the small grove. Your ears start to ring as Miranda slowly steps towards you. You can see tears in her eyes, and you begin to cry as well. She tries to say something, but the sound is drowned out by the wind. Instead, she rushes over and wraps you in a quick embrace before shoving you backwards.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You feel your stomach drop as you wait to hit the ground, but it isn't there. You tumble backwards through empty space, head over heels as the world melts away around you.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You jolt upright in bed as sweat rolls down your back. You're back home. In your bed, your room, and your pajamas. You look around in frantic confusion as early morning sunlight streams through your window. Was it all a dream? It felt so real. And yet, too strange to be reality. As you start to prepare for the day, you can still retain your memories of Miranda and the rest of the island. Was she really just a dream?
<span style="color: green;"> GOOD END</span> - Such Stuff as Dreams are Made On<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You weave your way through the other partygoers towards the Queen. Her gaze locks onto you as you cut across the room, sending a chill down your spine. You're not sure what it is about her, but you feel uncomfortable as she watches you approach.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Welcome, we're so glad you could make it." she skips over all of the usual formalities you need to go through when addressing royalty. You hesitate, unsure of what to do next.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Oh come now, surely you can handle a simple conversation. I'm not going to bite your head off," she flashes you a warm smile, but the glint in her eye suggests that that may exactly be what she's about to do.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"I apologize for the vagueness in my letter, but the business I require from you is not something to be taken lightly, and would be dangerous if it found its way into the wrong hands. We can't discuss it here either, not with all these people around," she looks out over the room full of people with a mixture of disdain and disappointment, "Once the party is over, meet me in my private office. You can ask a servant for directions if you need to." She waves you away and you blend back into the party.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You spend the rest of the day feasting and socializing with the various nobility that trickle through. A servant escorts you to one of the guestrooms when you're ready to leave. Before you have time to settle down, there is a terse knocking at the door. An older butler is waiting outside your room, and offers to escort you to the Queen. He doesn't wait for an answer, and you hurry out of the room behind him.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">He leads you to a more secluded wing of the castle, and into a small chamber. Bookshelves line the walls, and the Queen sits behind an ornately carved desk. She smiles as you sit across from her.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Well then, let's cut to the chase. As you are almost certainly aware, my husband, the King, has proven himself useless to the kingdom, and incapable of ruling. While I have held things together for the most part behind the scenes, there are some matters that he insists on handling himself. The issue there, of course, is that he has absolutely no idea how to handle the more delicate aspects of ruling, and is unwillingly to listen to reason." She snaps a quill in her hand, and then tosses it to one side. You assume that 'reason' is a tactical substitute for 'my advice'.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"You have probably overhead mutterings about an upcoming war with a foreign power. The King, in all of his boundless wisdom, has decided that the best use of our armies would be sending them off on some meaningless crusade to secure a hold for us in the East." The Queen has remained composed throughout the conversation, but the rage bubbling just under the surface is starting to boil over. You nod along as she talks, but say you have no idea how you can help with this. Your family doesn't posses a large army, and you have no experience in foreign diplomacy. The Queen shakes her head and smiles.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"You don't need to concern yourself with that. I am more than capable of handling those matters. What I need from you is much more important. And will be much more rewarding should you prove yourself useful. I need you to kill my husband."
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Kill the King? Is she crazy? You're hardly an assassin, and even with her on your side it won't be easy. However, having the Queen indebted to you could prove useful in the future. And with her in complete power, you could secure a comfortable place for yourself in the royal court.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The decision is yours.
[[Accept->Accept Queen]] the Queen's offer
[[Refuse->Refuse Queen]] the Queen<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You follow the Prince as he leaves the main hall behind. Moving through the winding passages, you try to keep enough distance between the two of you to keep from appearing suspicious. He seems too absorbed in his own thoughts to notice you anyway.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Eventually, he ducks into a small room in a remote wing of the castle. You step in behind him, and he jumps as he fumbles with the papers he had been hiding inside the books. The room is a small, private study of sorts. The walls are lined with shelves bursting with books, and a heap of papers are scattered across the top of the desk at the back of the room. It looks disorganized to you, but you get the feeling that it all makes sense to whoever left it like this.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Who are you? What do you want? Go away!" he takes a moment to compose himself, and you use the opportunity to ask him about the papers he just stuffed in his pockets.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"What? Oh, these? They're nothing." You press him harder and he relents.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Fine! Fine. But you have to promise not to tell anyone else about this, alright? I'm not even sure I fully believe this yet, so take everything with a grain of salt." He produces a handful of documents, letters, and notes relating to the King and his deceased brother who was king before him.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"I've always been suspicious of my step-father, the King, and think he may be response for the death of my father. Look, he talks about coming into new wealth in these letters. And here, he was keeping a list of different plants native to the area. I know none of it is concrete evidence, but it seems too perfect to just be a coincidence, right? I'm sure he's hiding something in his private office that could link him to my father's death; there's just never been a good opportunity to look. Until now." He stares at you with a surprising intensity and excitement.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"The party is keeping everyone distracted, and the King is probably off with one of his mistresses. This is the perfect chance for me to sneak in and see what I can find. And now that you're here, you could help. With both of us searching, we can finish in half the time, and you might catch something I would have overlooked on my own. I know this is asking a lot, but I promise to return the favor if you agree to help me."
[[Accept->Accept Prince]] the Prince's offer
[[Refuse->Refuse Prince]] the Prince's offer<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You drop into the empty seat next to the Princess, as her husband continues to rattle on about some great battle he won on her left. She glances over at you with mild disinterest, and flinches as the Duke bursts into deep laughter over some joke he told and slaps her cheerfully on the back. She shoots him a venomous look, then excuses herself from the table. She beckons you to follow her as she walks away.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">She leads you outside the main hall, and stops just a little ways from the doors. She looks down the corridor to make sure no one is around to hear, and leans in close to you.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Alright, listen. I know you're here to meet with the Queen and jump through whatever hoops she tells you to, but I've got a proposition for you that I think you'll find more beneficial. We shouldn't talk about this here though. Follow me." She straightens back up and starts walking away before you can say anything. Not wanting to get left behind, you hurry after her.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">She leads you to a remote wing of the castle. You can no longer hear the music or voices carrying from the great hall, and aside from the occasional servant, the corridors are empty. Finally, the Princess stops in front of a door and you follow her into the room beyond.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You weren't sure what to expect, but find yourself in what appears to be a comfortable study or office. A couple bookshelves house a small collection of books, but most of the walls are taken up by maps of varying sizes. Some show the whole kingdom, others only focus on a specific county or city. Some were made with incredible detail, while others are not as artistically inspired. A few of the largest in the collection cover what looks to be the entirety of the known world.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"We should be able to talk freely here. Please, sit." Your attention breaks away from the maps as the Princess heads towards a regal desk at the back of the room. You walk over and sit across from her, unsure of what to expect. You open your mouth to ask why she wanted to meet you, but she cuts you off before you can speak.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"I'm sure you're wondering why I asked you here. Then again, you were also sitting near my husband at dinner, so maybe you've already caught on. I'm in a bit of a tricky situation you see. I want my husband dead, but can't risk killing him myself. I would be the first suspect, and anyone who's ever spent time around the Duke wouldn't be surprised if I killed him. In case you didn't pick up on it earlier, he's a pompous idiot who refuses to take my advice, even when it's clear to anyone with half a brain that I'm right and any other ideas are just a waste of time and effort. That's where you come in." She opens one of the drawers in her desk and pulls out a flask.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"I need you to poison the Duke at a time when I couldn't possibly have killed him. This toxin is incredibly fast acting, so it shouldn't be too difficult to pull off." She lays the flask on the desk and shrugs.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Then again, you'll still need to make sure no one suspects you either. I don't care how you do it, just remember that should you get caught, I know nothing about this. Got it?" She waits for you to respond, but interrupts you again as soon as you start to answer.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Alright then, now that we have that settled, let's talk about what's in it for you. As it stands right now, my husband and I don't have any children yet, so we're lacking an heir. Don't get any big ideas though. Assuming he dies and everything goes according to plan, I'll be next in line to inherit the title of Duchess, which is just one step closer to the crown. The only other obstacle in my way is my brother, the Prince, but he's a problem for another day. Should you manage to kill my husband and not get captured, I can offer you a permanent position in my court as an advisor or whatever other meaningless titles you want. And who knows, maybe one day you'll get to be a royal advisor if I ever take the throne." The devious grin spreading across her face tells you that she's already planning ahead to turn that 'maybe' into a 'definitely'.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">She may be a little overbearing, but you have to admit that the Princess' ambitions are admirable. She knows exactly what she wants, and has the plan to make it happen. You're not sure if this is really something you want to get involved in though. The allure of power is strong, but an assassination isn't easy to pull off.
[[Accept->Accept Princess]] the Princess' offer
[[Refuse->Refuse Princess]] the Princess' offer<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You agree to the Queen's plan, how could you not? Power, wealth, the Queen's trust, what more could you want? The Queen nods, looking pleased with your answer.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Thank you. When you return to your room, you will find a knife in your bedside table and directions to the royal bedchamber. Take them. Tonight, I will leave the room after the King falls asleep. A servant will knock on your door three times as a signal for when it is safe for you to leave. I will distract the guards while you sneak in and kill the King. After that, all you need to do is divert the blame from yourself and escape. Should you be caught, I know nothing of this meeting and will provide you with no help. Good. Now that you understand..." she gestures to the door.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You leave her behind and make your way back to your room. It's already late, and the castle is quiet. You slip into your room, and open the bedside drawer. Sure enough, you find a slip of parchment and a thin knife inside. As you hold the dagger in your hand, the gravity of the situation begins to set in.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Sure, the King isn't a great person, but does he really deserve to die? And will you actually be able to pull this off? It sounds like the Queen is making it easy for you, and you're not sure how she would handle you going back on your word. But regicide is no laughing matter.
[[Do It]]
[[Back Out]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You refuse the Queen's offer. This is treason! And besides, you're not confident in your chances of pulling off a royal assassination. Something dangerous glints in the Queen's eyes, but it passes quickly and she sighs.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Very well. I understand. It is a lot to ask of someone, and not every person off the street has the courage to go through with something like this. Just remember, this conversation doesn't leave this room." You promise not to tell anyone about this interaction and leave. That wasn't what you had been expecting, but could have gone worse.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You slump into bed, intent on forging meaningful connections with some of the other nobility and paving a better future for your family. Unfortunately, you are awoken in the night as guards burst into your room and arrest you for the murder of the King. The Queen has found a letter addressed to you from the foreign nation the King was planning to invade. It's a request for the assassination of the King, and details his death exactly. Your signature is at the bottom of the contract, and accepts the job in return for evacuation and a place in their court.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The forgery is flawless, and there's nothing you can do as a devious grin spreads across the Queen's face. She order the guards to execute you immediately. Her gaze stays locked onto your own as they force you to your knees, and plunge a sword into your back.
<span style="color: red;"> BAD END</span> - All Milk and No Gall<div style="text-indent: 2em;">For the first time, the Princess lets you get through an entire sentence as you refuse her offer. She sighs, mutters something about how useless everyone else is under her breath, and waves you away dismissively.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You step out into the hallway as evening sunlight pours in through the windows. You should still have time to return to the party and see what the Queen wanted from you, or you could always call it quits here and leave the politics behind.
Go back to the party and speak with the [[Queen->The Queen]]
Call it quits and [[Leave->Early Exit]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The Princess claps her hands together in excitement as you accept her offer. She hands you the flask of poison, and you tuck it away in your pocket.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Wonderful! I just knew you would understand. Now, you just need to wait until tonight when I'll cause a scene at the feast to secure my alibi. Considering how freely the Duke was drinking, we should only need to wait a few hours for him to retire to our bedchamber. I've positioned a servant outside our room with instructions to alert us as soon as he arrives. So, since we have some time to kill..." Time flies by as the two of you continue to talk, although most of the conversation consists of you listening to her complain about her husband, her parents for arranging the marriage in the first place, and the Prince who, despite being next in line for the throne, would rather just lock himself up inside his private study and read books all day. By the time the servant knocks on the door hours later, the two of you are laughing over inside jokes, which also mostly revolve around the Duke's death.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The Princess bids you a good night as you go your separate ways. You float to the Duke's room in a giddy daze, a little drunk from the promise of power and the excitement over plans yet to be enacted. You sober up though as you open the door to the Duke's bedchamber and remove the flask from your pocket. It's one thing to talk about plans of murder and deception, but another to actually carry them out. Doubt starts to creep into the back of your mind as you stand over the sleeping Duke. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.
Go through with it and [[Poison Him]]
Decide it's not worth it and [[Back Out]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You return to your room, gather your things, and leave the castle behind. Your visit may have been cut short, but at least you didn't get roped into any crazy power grab or assassination scheme. Sure, you may have left a few things unresolved, but at least you're alive with your morality intact. You return home with little news from your time at the castle.
<span style="color: green;"> GOOD END</span> - Playing it Safe<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The Prince lets out a sigh of relief when you agree to help him.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Thank you! You don't know how nice it feels to have someone believe you." You're not sure you fully believe him quite yet, but his theory has piqued your interest at the very least. He leads you out of the private study and down another dark corridor. You sneak into the King's private office, the Prince gently closing the door behind you in case there are any guards nearby.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The room is similar to the Prince's study, only on a much larger, and grander, scale. Lavishly ornamented bookshelves hold the most important ledgers in the kingdom, an assortment of jeweled knickknacks, and some various astrology tools. You're not sure how much the King actually uses the books or the tools, but they're impressive nonetheless. Plushy chairs are spaced around the room, spread out so that you don't need to walk far to sit down. A masterfully carved desk stands in the center of the room, nearly twice the size of the one in the Prince's study.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Just start wherever. I'm not really sure what we're looking for, but I assume we'll know it when we see it." the Prince says as he starts pulling books off of a shelf.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The two of you spend a good couple of hours combing through the King's office, but even with both of you working it's slow going, and there's so much to go through.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"I'm really glad you're here you know," the Prince says as he rifles through the desk, "This isn't easy for me. I'm not sure if I really want us to find anything. Don't get me wrong, I want to get justice for my father if it's needed, but a scandal like this could ruin my family. I don't know how people will take it, and I doubt my step-father is going to willingly give up the crown if it comes to that." He moves across the room and starts leafing through a stack of documents crammed into a bookshelf.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"But on the other hand, if he is guilty, and I didn't even try to investigate, what kind of son am I? Is it not my duty to expose him for the fraud he is, no matter the cost? I guess what I'm trying to say is that I appreciate your help, and hope I haven't bored you too much."
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The two of you keep searching, and talk about things that aren't related to an existential crisis. You can't find anything out of the ordinary, and it's getting late. The two of you should probably head back to the party before people start to wonder where you ran off to. The Prince stops you before you leave the office.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"I know we didn't find anything, and I don't want to waste any more of your time, but I want to return and keep searching again tomorrow night. I understand if you don't want to help anymore, but I could really use your help. We're close to finding something, I can feel it."
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">He leaves before you can answer, which you're grateful for. A servant escorts you to a guestroom, and you consider your options as you prepare for bed. You don't know how lucrative continuing this wild goose chase will be, and you're not sure how much you should get involved in this matter. You have no reason to suspect the King, but if there was any evidence, it's probably well hidden. There are plenty more places to hide things in that office, and it seems important for the Prince to find closure.
Come back later and [[Continue the Search]]
Take your chance to leave and go [[Home->Early Exit]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The Prince deflates a little when you refuse to help him.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Right, of course. I understand. The whole thing does sound pretty ridiculous, I know. I'm sorry if I freaked you out or anything like that. And for wasting your time I guess. Unless there's anything else you need from me, you should probably go see why my mother invited you here." He turns away from you and starts rummaging through the papers on his desk.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">There's still time for you to head back to the party and see what business the Queen invited you here for in the first place. Or, you could always leave while you're ahead. You're not sure what the Prince is going to do if he does find the proof he's looking for, but you don't want to stick around when things blow up.
Return to the party and talk to [[The Queen->The Queen 2]]
Play it safe and [[Return Home->Early Exit]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You return to the main hall, and weave your way through the other partygoers towards the Queen. Her gaze locks onto you as you cut across the room, sending a chill down your spine. You're not sure what it is about her, but you feel uncomfortable as she watches you approach.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Welcome, we're so glad you could make it." she skips over all of the usual formalities you need to go through when addressing royalty. You hesitate, unsure of what to do next.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Oh come now, surely you can handle a simple conversation. I'm not going to bite your head off," she flashes you a warm smile, but the glint in her eye suggests that that may exactly be what she's about to do.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"I apologize for the vagueness in my letter, but the business I require from you is not something to be taken lightly, and would be dangerous if it found its way into the wrong hands. We can't discuss it here either, not with all these people around," she looks out over the room full of people with a mixture of disdain and disappointment, "Once the party is over, meet me in my private office. You can ask a servant for directions if you need to." She waves you away and you blend back into the party.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You spend the rest of the day feasting and socializing with the various nobility that trickle through. A servant escorts you to one of the guestrooms when you're ready to leave. Before you have time to settle down, there is a terse knocking at the door. An older butler is waiting outside your room, and offers to escort you to the Queen. He doesn't wait for an answer, and you hurry out of the room behind him.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">He leads you to a more secluded wing of the castle, and into a small chamber. Bookshelves line the walls, and the Queen sits behind an ornately carved desk. She smiles as you sit across from her.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Well then, let's cut to the chase. As you are almost certainly aware, my husband, the King, has proven himself useless to the kingdom, and incapable of ruling. While I have held things together for the most part behind the scenes, there are some matters that he insists on handling himself. The issue there, of course, is that he has absolutely no idea how to handle the more delicate aspects of ruling, and is unwillingly to listen to reason." She snaps a quill in her hand, and then tosses it to one side. You assume that 'reason' is a tactical way of saying 'my advice'.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"You have probably overhead mutterings about an upcoming war with a foreign power. The King, in all of his boundless wisdom, has decided that the best use of our armies would be sending them off on some meaningless crusade to secure a hold for us in the East." The Queen has remained composed throughout the conversation, but the rage bubbling just under the surface is starting to boil over. You nod along as she talks, but say you have no idea how you can help with this. Your family doesn't posses a large army, and you have no experience in foreign diplomacy. The Queen shakes her head and smiles.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"You don't need to concern yourself with that. I am more than capable of handling those matters. What I need from you is much more important. And will be much more rewarding should you prove yourself useful. When you return to your room, you will find a knife in your bedside table and directions to the royal bedchamber. Take them. Tonight, I will leave the room after the King falls asleep. I will have a servant knock on your door three times as a signal. I will distract the guards while you sneak in and kill the King. After that, all you need to do is divert the blame from yourself and escape."
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Kill the King? Is she crazy? You're hardly an assassin, and even with her on your side it won't be easy. However, having the Queen indebted to you could prove useful in the future. And with her in complete power, you could secure a comfortable place for yourself in the royal court.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The decision is yours.
[[Accept->Accept Queen 2]] the Queen's offer
[[Refuse->Refuse Queen]] the Queen<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You agree to the Queen's plan, how could you not? Power, wealth, the Queen's trust, what more could you want? The Queen nods, looking pleased with your answer.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Thank you. When you return to your room, you will find a knife in your bedside table and directions to the royal bedchamber. Take them. Tonight, I will leave the room after the King falls asleep. A servant will knock on your door three times as a signal for when it is safe for you to leave. I will distract the guards while you sneak in and kill the King. After that, all you need to do is divert the blame from yourself and escape. Should you be caught, I know nothing of this meeting and will provide you with no help. Good. Now that you understand..." she gestures to the door.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You leave her behind and make your way back to your room. It's already late, and the castle is quiet. You slip into your room, and open the bedside drawer. Sure enough, you find a slip of parchment and a thin knife inside. As you hold the dagger in your hand, the gravity of the situation begins to set in.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Sure, the King isn't a great person, but does he really deserve to die? And will you actually be able to pull this off? It sounds like the Queen is making it easy for you, and you're not sure how she would handle you going back on your word. But regicide is no laughing matter.
[[Do It 2]]
[[Back Out]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You shove down the doubts creeping into the back of your mind and refocus on the task at hand. The Queen is counting on you, and this is your chance to finally make something of yourself. You sit on the foot of the bed, waiting for the signal. After a few hours, someone knock three times on the door, and hurries away.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You creep out of your room into the empty hallway. Moonlight streams in through the windows, bathing the stone in a silvery glow. You follow the direction through the castle, taking care to make as little sound as possible. Sure enough, when you reach the royal bedchambers the guards are slumped against the wall, fast asleep. A few empty flasks lay around their feet, and the door was left ajar. The Queen delivered on her part, now it's time for you to do the same.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You step over the sleeping guards and slip into the bedroom. A thick rug covers the floor in front of the four-poster canopy bed. Rich curtains of silk hang around the mattress, and you can see the sleeping King within. Pulling the curtains away, you stand over him as his chest rises and falls. It would be peaceful, if he didn't reek of alcohol. You plunge the knife into his chest in a single, swift movement. He startles awake with a short cry, but is cut short as you bring the knife down on his throat. You continue to stab the King until he stops moving, his eyes now blank as he stares up at nothing. It's a mess, but the job is done.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Now you need to dispose of the weapon, and find a way to clear yourself of guilt. The easiest option would be to blame the guards. Just smear a little blood on them, there's more than enough to go around, and leave the dagger in one of their hands. Or, you could leave the dagger in the Queen's bedside table. When she returns to raise the alarm, she will unwittingly secure her own defeat. With her out of the way, there's no one left to connect you to the crime.
Make it simple and blame the [[Guards->Blame Guards]]
Cover your tracks and blame the [[Queen->Blame Queen]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You decide not to go through with the plan. There are plenty of profession assassins in the world, and she can hire one of them if she really needs to. The next day passes without incident. You discuss business with the other nobles, and make a few connections that should help your family in the future. You attend the feast later that evening, and have a pleasant time socializing.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">That night as you prepare for bed, you feel relieved with your decision. Killing is never the right option. And even if this trip didn't turn out exactly how you imagined, it wasn't a total waste.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Then you hear the door close behind you. You turn to see a man in a black cloak standing in the middle of your room. He grins, and pulls a jagged knife from his belt. You barely have time to process what's happening as he rushes across the room and buries the blade into your chest.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Should've kept your promise." his gruff voice whispers in your ear before you fall to the ground. He whistles as he strolls out of the room, leaving you to bleed out on the floor.
<span style="color: red;"> BAD END</span> - All Milk and No Gall<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You shove down the doubts creeping into the back of your mind and refocus on the task at hand. The Queen is counting on you, and this is your chance to finally make something of yourself. You sit on the foot of the bed, waiting for the signal. After a few hours, someone knock three times on the door, and hurries away.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You creep out of your room into the empty hallway. Moonlight streams in through the windows, bathing the stone in a silvery glow. You follow the direction through the castle, taking care to make as little sound as possible. Sure enough, when you reach the royal bedchambers the guards are slumped against the wall, fast asleep. A few empty flasks lay around their feet, and the door was left ajar. The Queen delivered on her part, now it's time for you to do the same.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You step over the sleeping guards and slip into the bedroom. A thick rug covers the floor in front of the four-poster canopy bed. Rich curtains of silk hang around the mattress, and you can see the sleeping King within. Pulling the curtains away, you stand over him as his chest rises and falls. It would be peaceful, if he didn't reek of alcohol. You plunge the knife into his chest in a single, swift movement. He startles awake with a short cry, but is cut short as you bring the knife down on his throat. You continue to stab the King until he stops moving, his eyes now blank as he stares up at nothing. It's a mess, but the job is done.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Now you need to dispose of the weapon, and find a way to clear yourself of guilt. The easiest option would be to blame the guards. Just smear a little blood on them, there's more than enough to go around, and leave the dagger in one of their hands. Or, you could leave the dagger in the Queen's bedside table. When she returns to raise the alarm, she will unwittingly secure her own defeat. With her out of the way, there's no one left to connect you to the crime. Or, you could use your knowledge of the Prince's plot to frame him for the murder. That way, not only do have you removed the King from the equation, but the Prince as well. There will be no one to stand in the Queen's path.
Make it simple and blame the [[Guards->Blame Guards]]
Cover your tracks and blame the [[Queen->Blame Queen]]
Frame the [[Prince->Blame Prince]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You decide to keep things simple and blame the guards. After all, they're the only other people around and are passed out drunk. You exit the bedchamber, but stop when you see three figures waiting for you in the hallway.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">It's the Queen and the two guards. They are definitely not sleeping, nor drunk. A devious grin spreads across the Queen's face as you put everything together. The guards had only been acting, and the whole thing had been an elaborate set up. The Queen lets out a satisfied sigh as you stand, bewildered, in the hallway. You're covered in blood, and still have the murder weapon in hand.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Well, that was easier than I expected. I truly thank you, you've been a wonderful help. But, we can't leave any loose ends, now can we? Guards! Arrest them!" The guards step forward, knocking the knife out of your hand and shoving you to the ground. The Queen's demeanor changes as she lets out a piercing shriek, and begins sobbing uncontrollably. The noise attracts the attention of everyone in the castle, and they gather just in time to watch the guards plunge a sword through your stomach and kick your lifeless body to the side.
<span style="color: red;"> BAD END</span> - Giving it Your Macbest<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You decide it's safest not to leave any loose ends. You move over to the Queen's side of the bed, but just as you're about to plant the dagger in her nightstand, you hear the door open behind you.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Turning around, you see the Queen enter the room. For the first time since you met her, her composure slips, and she looks genuinely surprised when she sees you hovering over her night table with the murder weapon. The moment passes though, and to your surprise, her shock is quickly replaced with a look of respect.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Well, this is most surprising. It seems I have underestimated you. And to think, I had my guards go to all that trouble pretending to fall asleep so you could take the fall when you tried to leave. I thought it was taking you awhile, but I never expected this. You really were the perfect choice for this job. You know exactly what you want, and have no reservations in regards to what you have to do, or who you have to betray, to achieve those goals." She thinks for a moment, looking you over as she muses.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"As luck would have it, I have recently lost my King, and am in need of another co-ruler. Since you have so admirably proven yourself, I am willing to offer you the greatest reward I can." She walks over to the King's limp body, and slides one of the many rings off of his cold fingers.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"As long as you remember who's really in charge, I extend an offer to rule by my side. Together, we can lead this kingdom into greatness, surpassing the expectations of even the most optimistic of fools." She extends the ring towards you expectantly.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">While she may not be fully offering you the kingdom, this is easily the highest power you could ever hope to achieve. Then again, you know all too well what happened to the last person to rule beside her. But maybe you can make things work out. After all, as long as you defer to her, you'll be safe, right?
[[Accept->Marry Queen]] the Queen's proposal
[[Reject->Reject Queen]] the Queen's offer<div style="text-indent: 2em;">A golden opportunity has been dropped in your lap, and you'd be crazy not to utilize it. You sneak back into the Prince's private office where the two of you met earlier, and hide the dagger in his desk. You gather up all the evidence he showed you and lay the documents over the weapon. You write up a few letters with even more incriminating plans detailing the murder and add them to the pile for good measure.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">In the morning, you are awoken by alarms bells as people rush around the castle in a panic. You make your way to the royal chambers, where you see guards hauling the Prince away.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"I'm impressed," the Queen says as she walks up behind you, "Not only did you manage to remove my husband from the equation, but you also prevented my son from laying claim to the throne. No harm will come to him of course, I'm not evil. But this whole ordeal should mar his reputation enough to ensure he won't be able to rally a campaign against me. You have done well, and for that you have my gratitude. I do hope you plan on sticking around, I could use an advisor with your, creativity, in my court."
<span style="color: green;"> GOOD END</span> - Two Birds with One Stone<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You take the ring, and the Queen nods in approval as you slip it onto your finger.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Very good. It's so nice being around someone who knows when to lead, and when to follow. Now then, we should probably get you cleaned up before someone sees you." The Queen leads you out of the bedchamber, taking the knife from your hands and giving it to one of the guards outside. She whispers something in the man's ear, and he rushes off.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">In the morning, you are awoken by alarms bells as people rush around the castle in a panic. You make your way to the royal chambers, where you see guards hauling one of the other nobles away. The man is flustered, and emphatically denying his involvement in the murder. The Queen walks up behind you, placing a hand on your shoulder as she squeezes just hard enough to make you flinch. The noble is hauled off to the dungeon, and executed the next day without a trial.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Not long after the old King's funeral, a gorgeous wedding is held in the castle as you take the throne alongside the Queen. You receive some warry looks from the Prince, but if he suspects anything, it's never mentioned. You may not be the true ruler of the kingdom, but the Queen lets you handle the minor issues that the crown handles. Besides, she has a way with people, and always seems to get what she wants; one way, or another. There's always that nagging voice in the back of your head that reminds you about how you rose to power, but as long as you don't show weakness, you should be fine. Right?
<span style="color: green;"> GOOD END</span> - All's Well That Ends Well (Or is it?)<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You push her hand away, knowing she would only make an offer this good if she felt threatened or was planning to backstab you. You don't want to rule as her puppet, and you literally just finished murdering her husband. The odds aren't really stacked in your favor.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">She shrugs, her nonchalance throwing you off a little. She pockets the ring and walks over into the corner of the room near the door. Before you can do anything, a look of horror spreads over the Queen's face as she lets out a terrible shriek. Guards flood into the room, finding the Queen cowering in the corner as you stand over the King's dead body covered in blood and holding a knife. Oops.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The Queen orders the guards to arrest you, and by the time your brain has caught up to your body, they've dragged you off to the dungeon. There's no trial, but that isn't very surprising. The day of your execution, the Queen visits your cell.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"I suppose should thank you for a job well done. While I admire your independence and ingenuity, it's equally important to know when to stop and follow orders. It's a shame you didn't take me up on my offer, but then again, I'm not sure you were really the right fit after all. To work so hard for your chance at power, only to carelessly throw it away like a spoiled child; how very disappointing." Her smirk and mocking tone don't make you feel any better as she walks away, leaving you to die.
<span style="color: red;"> BAD END</span> - Giving it Your Macbest<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You spend the majority of the next day hanging out with the Prince. The two of you read poetry in his study, take a leisurely walk through the royal gardens, and practice archery in the courtyard.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Once the sun goes down, you return to the King's private office. The Prince hasn't arrived yet, so you decide to start without him. Most of the books look like they haven't been touched in decades, so you decide the desk would be a good place to look. The Prince checked it out while the two of you were here before, but it can't hurt to try again. And besides, it seems like a better place to hide something than the stacks of paper lying out in the open.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">While fumbling through some documents in one of the lower drawers, you accidently stumble onto a secret compartment when you push the back of the drawer just a little too hard. You see a thin, snapped wire hanging loose on the inside of the secret panel. There must have been a way to open it without tearing the string, but it's too late for that now. You feel around inside, and pull out two pieces of parchment. One is a recipe for a powerful poison, and the other is a detailed schedule of the previous king's daily routine. You can't believe it, you actually found proof that the Prince was right.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The sound of approaching footsteps breaks you from your stupor. You stand up, excited to share your find with the Prince, when you remember what he said before about being conflicted over the search. This news could ruin his family, but he also has a right to know. You're torn between telling the Prince the truth, and hiding it from him for his own good. As he steps into the room, you make your decision.
Tell the Prince the [[Truth->Tell Him]]
Hide the evidence and [[Lie->Don't Tell Him]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You walk over to the Prince as he enters the room. He asks if you found anything before he got here, and you hand him the documents. His reaction is mixed, as expected. At first he's excited that you actually found the evidence he needed, but then quickly grows somber as he realizes the position this puts him in. After a few minutes of silence, you see a burning anger flare up behind his eyes.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"We need to confront the King at once. We need to catch him off guard, act before he has time to find out that we know his secret." The Prince pulls out a small vial, and coats his rapier in a strange liquid. He laces a second sword in the poison, and offers the weapon to you.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Here, this is just in case we run into any trouble. Are you ready? We need to move quickly."
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You can understand where this sudden violence is coming from, but it may not be the right answer. You're pretty sure it's not safe for either of you to stay in the castle much longer, unless you can take the King out of the picture. What will you do?
Take the sword and confront the [[King->Confront King]]
Calm the Prince down and convince him to [[Escape->Calm Prince]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You quickly stuff the documents into your pocket as the Prince enters the room. He asks if you found anything before he got here, and you say you found nothing. The two of you search for a few more hours, but still can't find anything incriminating.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Well, thanks for the help, and sorry about wasting your time." He says before the two of you return to your rooms. You don't see him the next day, so you spend your time making connections with the other nobles staying at the castle. You make some useful connections that should help your family in the future. That evening, you pack up your things, including the evidence you found, and head out alongside the other guests.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">A little ways from the castle, a man in a dark cloak blocks the road ahead of you. He's the only other person around at this point, but it's dark so you start to turn back, only to see two more men blocking the way you came from as well. Trapped, you start to panic as the first man approaches from the road in front of you.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"You didn't really expect to just walk out of here knowing what you know, did you? I'm sure you understand that we can't let you leave with those documents." He grins, and pulls out a short sword. The other men raise their weapons, and you start to recognize them as members of the King's royal guard. Your stomach drops as the men rush you.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The fight is quick, it's three versus one and they came prepared. They throw your body, belongings, and the documents from the King's desk in a ditch on the side of the road and set the heap on fire.
<span style="color: red;"> BAD END</span> - Men Must Not Walk So Late<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You take the sword from him and nod. The two of you rush to the royal chambers, but the King isn't there. The Queen is in bed alone. She tells you that the King was feeling restless, so he went to the castle's library to unwind. She doesn't seem fazed by your weapons, and makes no move to stop the two of you as you run off down the hall. The Prince leads, the sounds of your footsteps echoing down the empty corridors as you run towards the library.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"It's just up ahead, past this next corner! Be prepared, we have no idea how he's going to react." the Prince calls back over his shoulder. There's a small platoon of guards stationed outside the library, and they draw their weapons as the two of you approach. The Prince looks to you and nods before jumping into the fray. Not long after the fighting begins, the King bursts from the library, sword in hand. He starts yelling about this terrible betrayal, and all the horrible ways he's going to torture you once you're captured.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You manage to finish off the last few guards as the King and Prince duel farther down the hallway. Before you can jump in to help, the Kings wounds the Prince, who uses this opportunity to land the killing blow. The King collapses, but so does the Prince as the gash along his arm begins to turn to green. You rush to his side as he breathes heavily, gripping his arm as sweat courses down his forehead.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"I'm sorry I dragged you into this. I never meant for it to go this far. Don't bother with that, I'm pretty sure it's the same poison he used on my father." the Prince says through labored breaths. You try desperately to tend to his wound, but he's clearly too far gone.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Listen, I have one last favor to ask of you. I need you to you spread the truth about what happened here. Don't let my story fade into the oblivion of history. You can't let them twist the details either. Make sure everyone knows exactly why we had to do this. Thank you for everything. You've done so much for me, I only wish I could pay you back for your help. I hope you won't hold it against me." he manages a weak laugh as he slumps deeper into your arms.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">More guards rush into the hallway, and the last thing you remember clearly is them wrenching the Prince's lifeless body from your hands.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">With the King and Prince both dead, the Queen rose to power and took over the throne. She offered you a decent position amongst her new court. Whether this was out of pity, or thanks, you don't know. It doesn't really matter to you though. It amounts to little more than a fancy title, but you are paid well enough and have enough free time to write about the truth behind the double murder. You won't let the Prince's final request go unfulfilled.
<span style="color: green;"> GOOD END</span> - Good Night, Sweet Prince<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You refuse to take the sword from the Prince. At first, he looks hurt, but when you explain the danger you're both in, and tell him your idea about fleeing the castle together, he stops to think.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Maybe you're right. I got a little carried away there, and I apologize for that." He wipes the poison off the rapiers, and tucks them back in his belt.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Thank you for keeping a level head and stopping me from making a rash decision. If we're going to leave, we should do so as quickly as possible. Grab whatever you need from your room, and meet me at the front gate." The two of you exit the office, share a quick embrace, and then rush off to your rooms.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You escape the castle under the cover of darkness, and flee into the forest. You run through the wilderness together, enjoying the rush of wind through your hair and the earthy scent of the woods around you. Once you're thoroughly tired out, the two of you make a small camp and sit around the fire while you catch your breath.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"I can't say I fully understand why, but thanks for sticking with me. You had every chance to leave me behind to fail on my own, but you didn't. If it wasn't for you, I don't know if I ever would have found those documents. Or what I would have done about them once I did." He goes quiet for a moment as he stares into the fire. You can tell something is on his mind, and after a few moments he musters up the courage to continue.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"I know we only met yesterday, but we did just leave our lives behind to run off into the forest together, and that's not something you do with just anyone." he reaches into his pocket and brings out a gold ring. It's not overly elaborate, but still looks pretty expensive.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"I don't think anyone has ever put this much on the line for me before, and I'm not sure how many other chances we're going to have while we're on the run."
Take the ring and [[Accept->Marry Prince]]
Turn down the ring and [[Refuse->Reject Prince]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;"> You leave the weird sisters behind as you try to find your way back to the road. It's much darker now though, and you can hear the distant rumble of thunder. You're turned around, and everything is starting to looks the same. Just as your starting to really panic, you see a break in the tree line. Stumbling out of the forest, you find yourself in an unfamiliar heath as storm clouds gather above you. Deciding you'd prefer what shelter the trees can provide, you turn to head back into the forest, but it's gone. You're surrounded on all sides by rolling hills and coarse scrub.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Before you can process this, the clouds open up as it begins to drizzle, and then pour with unbridled ferocity. Thoroughly drenched, you start sloshing off in a random direction, hoping it will lead you somewhere fast. You swear you can hear other voices mingling with the howling wind, but who else would be foolish enough to be wandering around out in this weather?
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Eventually, you catch a break as the rain lightens up a little. There's a decrepit shack at the base of hill nearby. It looks like it could fall apart at any moment, but it's the only shelter around. Praying that it will hold out through this storm, you shuffle over in your soaking clothes.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">But when you're a few feet away, three figures step out of the small building and begin heading off into the storm. The first is an older man dressed in extremely fine clothes. He could pass as a king given the right circumstances, and a crown. Following close behind him is a jester, and a vagabond clad in tattered rags. The first man turns as you approach.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Look at you, you poor wretch. Abandoned out here in the storm. Who could have done this to you? No, you don't need to answer, I already know. Children can be so cruel." He gives you a sympathetic look of understanding, but you have no idea what he's talking about. The vagabond behind him mutters something under his breath and begins to crawl away on all fours. The older man turns to see where he's going, then looks back at you.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"I'm sorry we can't stay my friend, but if you want to take shelter here please be out guest. It isn't much, but it should keep you dry." he says, and then starts to follow the crawling man deeper into the storm. You start to move towards the door, but the jester grabs your arm.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Hey, I don't know who you are, or what you're doing out here, but in case it wasn't obvious, we're on the run and the people looking for us aren't the forgiving type. I can't stop you, but unless you're stupider than you look, you won't stay here after we leave." Before you can ask any questions, the jester runs off to join the other two men. Somehow, he seemed like the most coherent of the group, and you don't see any reason for him to lie. But the rain is starting to pick back up, and you have no idea who those people were or where the nearest town is. And are you really someone who takes advice from a clown?
Go in the [[Shelter]]
Follow the jester's [[Advice->Lear's Storm]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You decide it's worth braving the worst part of the storm if it means you'll reach shelter. Gathering what resolve you have left, you push on into the fray. It's as if the storm has come alive, and its sole purpose is to keep you away from those lights.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Just when it feels like your legs are going to give out, the wind dies down and the rain starts to lighten. You stumble out of the quickly dissipating storm and find yourself on a small mountain overlooking an island.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">White, sandy beaches encompass a lush green forest below. The ocean spans the horizon on all sides, stretching out as far as you can see in every direction. Faint music can be heard mingling with the calls of birds and monkeys, and the whole island exudes a powerful magic.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The lights you saw during the storm had come from the windows of the strange house you now find yourself in front of. It looks like the structure has grown out of the island, the moss covered walls merging with the mountainside behind it. Multicolored smoke pours from the chimney as unpleasant smells waft out of the open windows.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Hopefully whoever lives here will be able to tell you how you got on this island, or better yet, how to leave. You push open the front door and step inside the hut. Inside, you're overwhelmed by the cluttered shelves, desks, and tables brimming with stuff. Aging books made from various materials, jars with things floating in murky liquids, and peculiar scientific instruments fill every available space in the hut. The back wall is almost entirely taken up by an impressive fireplace, which explains the pungent haze hanging in the air. Before you can take it all in, a chill runs through your body as you're frozen in place.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"If you hadn't just waltzed into my home like a newborn duckling I might have congratulated you for making it onto this island without me noticing." an older man stands up from his seat at a table. You hadn't noticed him amongst all the clutter, but now that you see him it's hard to look away. His clothes are refined, but not overly luxurious. He grips a sturdy walking stick in one hand, a single pink pearl imbedded on the pommel.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"I don't know who sent you, but you can't be up to anything good. It'll be best just to turn you to stone and be done with this. I have too much to prepare for, and can't waste any time on you." You struggle against the force binding you in place, but to no avail. Whatever magic he's used to restrain you is too strong.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The pearl begins to glow as he raises his staff towards you. As you brace for his attack, a short gasp to your left catches your attention. A woman, younger than the man by a fair degree, stares at you in fascination as the books she was carrying drop to the floor. A pang of fear flashes in her eyes when she sees the older man preparing to blast you with magic. The noise momentarily distracts the old wizard, and you can feel the spell holding you begin to loosen. You could use this opportunity to bargain with him, and hope he'll agree to spare your life in exchange for service. Or, you could try to appeal to the woman and hope she'll argue on your behalf.
Offer to [[Work]]
Appeal to his [[Daughter->Miranda's Kindness]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You know there isn't an ocean near the castle, and don't want to risk wandering deeper into the storm. It'll be safer just heading back the way you came over solid ground, and hopefully out of this storm. You turn away from the distant lights, and trudge towards the mud and brush of the heath.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You still can't see in the rain, but as long as you head away from the lights you'll be fine. You quickly find yourself climbing up over a hill, and know you made the right decision. You've had enough magic and strangeness for one day. You don't remember any of the hills being this steep though, and you should've reach the top by now, right?
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">As this question is passing through your thoughts, you feel the ground drop out from underneath you as you walk right off the edge of a cliff. The wind tears at your face, ripping the breath from your lungs as you plummet out of the storm. The ground below is hurtling towards you with incredible speed, and fear overrides whatever final thoughts would have raced through your mind before you splatter on the ground below.
<span style="color: red;"> BAD END</span> - Cliffs of Doh-ver<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You take the ring, and embrace the Prince. The two of you stay up for hours talking over your plans for the future as the fire dwindles. Eventually, exhaustion gets the better of you and you both fall asleep as you as your heads hit the soft grass.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The next morning, the two of you work together to clean up the camp, and head off deeper into the woods. Maybe you'll run into a town eventually, or just live out your life in the forest, hunting for your food and using what you can from the land. But none of that really matters at the moment. The two of you have escaped the danger of the castle, and are free to pursue love in the forest. As long as you're together, you're happy.
<span style="color: green;"> GOOD END</span> - Ending at the Beginning<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The Prince looks a little embarrassed as he stuffs the ring back in his pocket.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"No, you're right. That may have been moving a little fast. Sorry if I made things awkward." The two of you stay awake a little longer and talk, but you're both pretty tired and fall asleep as you as your heads hit the soft grass.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The next morning, the two of you work together to clean up the camp, and head off deeper into the woods. Maybe you'll run into a town eventually, or just live out your life in the forest, hunting for your food and using what you can from the land. Whatever path you choose, you're lucky to have each other's backs.
<span style="color: green;"> GOOD END</span> - Cupid's Arrow Missed<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You leave the forest and castle behind and follow the road back home. You hope that everything worked out for the couple in the end, and that you weren't tricked into causing them any trouble. Hopefully whatever business they needed you for at the castle wasn't important, or at least not anything urgent. Maybe one day you'll travel back out to the castle, but you have enough stories for one trip. Although, you're not sure if anyone will actually believe you.
<span style="color: green;"> GOOD END</span> - Playing Cupid<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Why not? If you can manage to impress the Princess by winning her the duchy as well as a secure line to the throne, maybe she'll be willing to offer you a greater reward. But you're getting ahead of yourself. You need to find a foolproof way of framing the Prince for the murder first, then you can worry about your just desserts.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The simplest option would be to plant the flask in the Prince's bedchamber. There's still a little poison left in here, and it's really the only evidence that would connect someone to the crime. Then again, the Prince doesn't really strike you as the type of person to leave flasks of poison lying around. You may need something more complex, or concrete. Like a paper trail. You remember the Princess complaining about the Prince's habit of staying cooped up in his private study, and maybe you could turn that to your advantage. All you would need to do is forge some incriminating letters or documents, and wait for the pieces to fall into place.
[[Plant Flask]]
[[Frame Prince->Forge Documents]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Simple is the way to go, and the less people you involve, the less you have to worry about. You tuck the Duke's body back into bed, taking care to leave the sheets undisturbed. You hurry back to your room, and toss the flask out the window. It plummets into the moat below, and vanishes beneath the water. Perfect. Now all you have to do is wait.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The next morning, you are awoken by the sound of alarm bells as people rush around the castle in panic. You make your way to the Duke's room, and find a small crowd gathered in the hall. You see a doctor leaving the room, shaking his head slowly. The Princess is also there, tears streaming down her face as she sobs into a handkerchief.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">In order to nip the rumor mill in the bud, you step forward and tell the doctor you remember the Duke complaining about not feeling well the night before. The Princess jumps in, adding that he has been suffering from a recurring illness lately, but that it never seemed this serious. She breaks down again as the crowd around you begins to disperse. An illness related death is not as nearly exciting or interesting as murder, and everyone seems to buy your cover story. The Princess shoots you a quick wink from behind her handkerchief as the doctor ushers everyone away.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">After the funeral is arranged, and the Duke's body is prepared for the return trip home, a servant arrives at your room to escort you to the Princess' private quarters. You step inside the small room where the Princess is waiting patiently behind the desk. She beckons you over as you close the door. It has only been a few days since the Duke's death, so she is still dressed in black as she pretends to mourn for her husband.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Well done. I wasn't sure you were capable of pulling this off, but here we are. As promised, I am willing to offer you a position as a close advisor. We'll need to give everything time to blow over before I can start appointing people to power, but rest assured, I will stay true to my word. Thank you, and I look forward to continue to work together in the near future."
<span style="color: green;"> GOOD END</span> - The Goneril Effect<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You shake off the doubt and steel your resolve. You told the Princess you would go through with the plan, and you don't want to go back on your word. Careful not to wake the Duke, you pour the poison into his ear as he sleeps. After a few moments, he begins to writhe on the bed, gasping for air as his body contorts, then falls still.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Now to cover your tracks. Maybe you could try to pass if off as sickness and hope the Princess will corroborate your story. You could fix the sheets that were disturbed during the struggle and try to make it look like he died in his sleep. But if you really wanted to impress the Princess, you could try to frame the murder on the Prince. That way the Princess will be set to inherit the throne without needing to waste time executing other plans. It won't be easy though.
Keep it simple and stick with the [[Sickness->Fake Sickness]]
Try to show off and [[Frame the Prince->Frame Prince]]<div style="text-indent: 2em;">This way, you can dispose of the evidence and blame the Prince all at once. Smart. Leaving the Duke behind, you head off towards the Prince's bedchambers. If you can just sneak inside, hide the flask somewhere it's sure to be found, and make it back to your room before anyone finds the Duke, you're home free.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You can't help smiling as you round the corner to the Prince's room. Your expression drops when you see the two guards stationed outside his room. Of course his room is guarded. The Princess must have dismissed her own guards before you arrived, and you just never thought about it. They walk over to you and begin interrogating you about why you were coming to the Prince's bedchamber this late at night. You try to lie about just being lost in the dark castle, but they search you anyways and find the flask. They ask you about its contents, and you say it's just a drink you saved from the feast earlier. They look skeptical, but hand the flask back and tell you to get back to your room. Then the alarm bells starting ringing.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The two guards grab you, and haul you off in the direction of the commotion. You're brought to the Duke's room, where a small crowd has gathered in the hallway. A doctor exits the room and says the Duke has been poisoned in the night. The Princess has tears streaming down her face as she sobs into a handkerchief. The guards hand the flask over to the doctor, who confirms that it's poison.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You're dragged to the dungeon immediately. Later the next day, you're dragged in front of the court to face trial. You try your best to explain the truth of the matter and hope coming clean will at least buy you some leniency. But true to her word, the Princess denies all involvement in the plot. After all, she has an alibi, and you were apprehended with the murder weapon. Your attempts to drag her down with you seem like the final desperation of a criminal facing execution, which is exactly what you are. The King declares you guilty of murder, and orders your immediate execution. The last thing you see is the Princess' malicious smirk as she watches a guard bring his sword down on your neck.
<span style="color: red;"> BAD END</span> - Claudius Wannabe<div style="text-indent: 2em;">A plan this risky needs a more sophisticated and well thought out solution than just planting the murder weapon. Leaving the Duke's body behind, you head to the Prince's private study. It's not too far from the Princess' quarters where you met before, and there's no one else around to slow you down. You slip inside the room, and look around. The walls are lined with shelves bursting with books, and a heap of papers are scattered across the top of the desk at the back of the room. It looks disorganized to you, but you get the feeling that it all makes sense to whoever left it like this.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You make your way to the desk, gather some blank pieces of paper and a quill, and start writing. You need to move quickly, but can't rush the fakes because they need to hold up as authentic when the time comes. As you rifle through the desk, you find a few documents suggesting the King's involvement in the poisoning of the previous king, the Prince's true father. You can use this.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Stacking all of the pages together, your fakes as well as the real ones fate handed to you, you hide them away in a short cabinet by the door. For good measure, you bury the flask underneath the documents and leave the drawer open a crack. It's nothing too obvious, but will hopefully catch someone's attention. You hurry back to your room, and slip into bed.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The next morning, you are awoken by the sound of alarm bells as people rush around the castle in panic. You make your way to the Duke's room, and find a small crowd gathered in the hall. You see a doctor leaving the room, shaking his head slowly. The Princess is also there, tears streaming down her face as she sobs into a handkerchief. You move up behind her, and whisper in her ear as she pretends to cry. You suggest sending guards to investigate the Prince's private study, and tell her exactly where they should look. She nods, and the two of you break away as the doctor disperses the crowd.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The rest of the day is chaos as the Prince's involvement in the Duke's murder and the plot against the King come to light. At first, he denies everything. But eventually he relents, and admits that the letters about the King are actually his. He still refutes the forged documents you left, but no one is buying it anymore.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The Prince is forever disgraced, and the King banishes him from the kingdom. The Prince won't be harmed, but will be sent away on a ship to a neighboring ally to live out his life in comfortable seclusion. Later that evening, a servant arrives at your room to escort you to the Princess' private quarters. You step inside the small room where the Princess is waiting patiently behind the desk. She beckons you over as you close the door. It has only been a few days since the Duke's death, so she is still dressed in black as she pretends to mourn for her husband.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Well, color me impressed. Here I am, thinking you won't even be able to pull of the murder correctly, but instead you manage to not only secure me power over the duchy, but a guaranteed inheritance to the throne as well. I have to admit, you've proven your worth and shown me exactly what you're capable of." She leans back in her chair, looking you over with a newfound interest.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"As it would so happen, a recent position has opened up in Somerset, and I'm looking for someone to rule by my side. I'll need someone worthy of the crown of course, when that day comes, but I think you have potential. As long as you leave the decision making up to me, of course." A wide grin spreads over her face as she slides a gold ring across the desk.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">This is it, the ultimate prize. Not only will you get partial control over Somerset, but as long as you keep her impressed, you could rule the kingdom together one day. Of course, there's always the risk of you ending up like the late Duke, so maybe a smaller role as a close advisor would be safer. You need to decide quickly.
[[Accept->Marry Princess]] the Princess' proposal
[[Reject->Reject Princess]] the Princess' proposal<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Why else would you have gone to all that trouble? You take the ring, and the Princess beams. It's a little haunting with her dressed all in black, but you'll take what you can get.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">The wedding comes a few months after the Duke's funeral for posterity's sake, but is magnificent nonetheless. The crown spares no expense as the castle is lavishly decorated for the celebration. Flowers, ribbons, lace, and veils of silk cover every inch of the old castle, every detail according exactly to the Princess' design of course. The wedding is amazing, but will be nothing compared to your coronation ceremony when the two of you inherit the throne.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Sure, you may not be fully in power, but it's better than having no power at all. As long as you defer to the Princess and keep her happy, you can enjoy the finer things that come with a luxurious life in the royal family. Just make sure to watch your back.
<span style="color: green;"> GOOD END</span> - All's Well That Ends Well (Or is it?)<div style="text-indent: 2em;">She's shocked at first, but shrugs and pockets the ring.
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">"Fine then, it's your loss. Excuse me for assuming you went to all that trouble for a shot at the throne. It's your decision though, and my previous offer still stands. I could use an advisor with your skill and ingenuity, and you seem to be the perfect person for the job. Once the funeral is over and the issues of power are taken care of, I'll send for you from the duchy with an official offer. I look forward to working with you in the future."
<div style="text-indent: 2em;">Returning home, you are pleased to know that at the very least, you made an important connection for the future. Ultimate power may not be your cup of tea, but you'll enjoy a comfortable life working alongside the Princess. And one day, you may return to the castle as the new royal advisor. Assuming you're still alive, of course.
<span style="color: green;"> GOOD END</span> - A (Mostly) Bright Future