(text-style: "bold")[RULES:] In this game, consistency is key. Sorse will lose his way if you decide to meander between the Dissident, Diplomat, and Rogue roles, so do your best to choose only Dissident, Diplomat, and Rogue choices respectively to earn points in those categories. If you choose inconsistently between two category choices, you can often lose points that you've earned from a prior choice. (text-style: "bold")[To pass speech checks and earn the best endings, it is ideal to have 0s in the categories that you aren't choosing, so choose carefully!]
Try multiple playthroughs to see how the story changes based on your choices!
(text-style: "bold")[NOTE:] The only time this point system does not apply is when you choose any option underneath the caption "optional." These are just choices to help you make better informed decisions in the future.
(set: $diplomat to 0)
(set: $dissident to 0)
(set: $rogue to 0)
[[RULES FOR PLAY?]]
(text-style: "bold")[$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points]
You are Sorse the Unwitting, a name given to you in a different story that would take far too long to divulge, and are seeking to rob the Holy Vault of the Seraphic Preservers. A pretty name for a bank of magical artifacts. In it, you hope to find the Saccularium, the Pendant of the Thief God, Sacculus, which is said to bring infinite luck and prosperity to its bearer.(mouseover-append: "bearer")[
Too bad for you some local lackeys have picked you up along the way. They take you to Castus, whom you unfortunately, as is typical of you, owe some coin. So now you owe him a job](mouseover-append: "job")[
"We need you to steal the Gem of Vorus," Castus drawls out, his voice as grating, disagreeable, and agglunitative to the air as tree-sap might be if it were stuck between one's toes just before one were forced to trudge barefoot on the sweltering dunes of the Deserts of Abragah.
You just blink.
(text-style: "italic")[{OPTIONAL:}
[[Why do you need me for that?]]
[[What is it?]]
[[How do you expect me to do that?]]
[[Why should I do that for you?]]]
[[What makes you think I won't just disappear again with your item in question?->Choice2.1]]]
"Because I know you think a man's power comes down to exactly how much money he has in life. Which also means I know a thief looking for their next big haul when I see one. So, I know you were planning to rob the Holy Vaults of the Seraphic Preservers, and I (text-style: "italic")[know] that you owe me a very substantial amount of money. And I'm here to collect."
[[Who are the Seraphic Preservers?]]
[[Go back->Init]]
"I am not hiring you to ask question," Castus snaps.
"I'm not doing it without answers," you parry.
Castus sighs.
"It is a highly protected artifcant in one of those vaults at the Seraphic Preservers Vault of New Opinabula. Did my boys hit your head that hard? You were just there this morning...hovering."
[[Who are the Seraphic Preservers?]]
"Look, look, look, I want it. You get it. That's all. End of contract."
[[Go back.->Init]]
"Same way I suppose you were going to get in to begin with."
Castus nodded to the ring hanging on a loose, thick metal chain around Sorse's neck.
"That's the seal of a vault owner at the Holy Vaults of the Seraphic Preservers in Opinabula. Which means you were going to make a withdrawal. Now you'll just be making the withdrawal I choose."
[[Who are the Seraphic Preservers?]]
[[Go back.->Init]]
"Because you owe me money. Simple as that."
"But why me though? Why can't you get another lackey do it?"
"Do you think I would be asking you if I had not exhausted every avenue of getting into that bank? They know my people, my guys. You're an outsider, and you owe me money. I'll consider this repayment for all debts."
[[Who are the Seraphic Preservers?]]
[[Go back.->Init]]
"Don't play dumb, Sorse, even you ought to know the Seraphic Preservers are those religious zealots over at the church whose 'sworn duty it is to preserve the magical artifacts found within the holy bank of Omibula.' And their guards, their 'Preservers,' are those nasty dogs who you will have to avoid."
[[Go back.->Init]]
"Easy," Castus mutters. "We're going to cast a spell on your hands."(mouseover-append: "hands")[
Before you can protest, a terribly unpleasant sensation forces your hands to lift as if by force to hover before your face.
Magic.](mouseover-append: "Magic")[
You tense apprehensively as blue wisps that twinkle incandescently in the air surround your hands with cool, throbbing energy. Your fingers twitch of their own accord in reaction to the magic in the [[air.->Choice2.2]]]
**The Holy Vault of the Seraphic Preservers**
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
The Holy Vault of Seraphic Preservers is a massive stone building with vaulted ceilings and daedel stained glass panes along every inch of it. Priests in sexless white garb, so bulky that it seems to make movement difficult for them, shuffle about their daily lives, unaware and uncaring that an interloping thief stands in their midst. A second floor, high up a set of a grandiose stairs, juts into the center of the main floor, and the stalls on the far side indicate that the Vault Seals ought to be exchanged for withdrawals there.(mouseover-append: "there")[
You waltz further into the revered Holy Vault of the Seraphic Preservers with blithe confidence. So confident are you, in fact, that you don't notice the mahogany skinned woman with strong shoulders, high cheek bones, and closely cropped hair, in silvery-polished armor, striding up to stand in your way until she is inches from your face.](mouseover-append: "face")[
"You there!" she calls. "Outsider! Reveal yourself. What are you doing here?"
[[Who are you, and why are you talking to me?]]
[[My name is Sorse. I believe my Vault Seal is in order.]]
[[Who you calling Outsider? I've got a pass, fair and square.]]]
"You touch the gem, it'll teleport immediately right into my recently manicured fingers. And just in case you get any second thoughts, that spell will get colder and colder until they freeze off, mate."(mouseover-append: "mate")[
Castus flicks his fingers to the men over your shoulders. "Such a pleasure to do business with you, Sorse."
"Looks to me like I don't have a choice," you murmur back.
"Now you're getting it," Castus says. "Now get him out of [[here->Chapter 2]]]
(set:$diplomat to $diplomat+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"A surprisingly candid answer," the woman replies.
"I'm always candid with gorgeous women," you reply, eyeing her over.
The woman crosses her arms and leans forward to more closely inspect the medallion seal hanging around your neck. You don't move, worried she might hear your heart beating loudly.(mouseover: "move.")[
"I am Hona," the woman declares, "and with my authority as a Seraphic Preserver, protector of the High Priests and their interests, I challenge the legitimacy of your Vault Seal. There are rumors of despicably misguided thieves about. Where did you get your seal?"]
[[Do you stop every Seal-holder? ]]
[[Lie, How dare you! Do you know who I am? ]]
[[ Look, princess, I don't have time to talk to the little messenger people. I am a busy man. So get out of my way. Please and thank you.]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
$Diplomat:Diplomat Points
$Dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"Do not speak in such a familiar way!" the woman replies haughtily, standing tall such that her sword bends out from her waist.
"Why not?" you ask. "We could be friends. I'd never mind being friends with someone as strikingly beautiful as you."
She doesn't seem fazed one way or another, and just says, "You are suspect, and I am a Seraphic Preserver."
Like you should care. You roll your eyes.
"Should I genuflect or save that for your precious High Priests?"
"Blasphemer!" the woman cries. "I am Hona, and it is my sworn duty to protect the High Priests and the Holy Artifacts stored here in their care. I hereby challenge the validity of your vault seal, sinner. Tell me -- where did you get it?"
[[Do you stop every Seal-holder?]]
[[Lie, How dare you! Do you know who I am?]]
[[ Look, princess, I don't have time to talk to the little messenger people. I am a busy man. So get out of my way. Please and thank you. ]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
(set: $rogue to $rogue-1)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"While I have heard of your admittedly admirable respect for others, it does not change the fact that you are, indeed, a thief, sir. I cannot allow you to absquatulate with holy artifacts, as I can only assume that this is, in fact, your purpose."
Before you can say much else, a booming, authoritative voice echoes through the chamber from the lofty second [[floor.->Lavernus1.0]]
(set:$dissident to $dissident+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"I know of you, thief, and your reputation of callous disregard for propriety and respect. I will not allow you to abscond with priceless artifacts from this bank in a naive pursuit of fortune with your blatant disregard for the piety therein. These artifacts are not to be defiled by your grubby little hands!"
You open your mouth to proceed to make a scene when a a voice, booming and authoritative, interrupts the methodical [[scene.->Lavernus1.0]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"Do not hope to distract me with your tongue and your wit, thief. Your reputation precedes you. I will not allow you to defile this bank of holy artifacts because of what I am sure is nothing more than hope for greed and a whim!"
Before you can tear into a moving performance of indignation at the guard's gall for interrupting your day, a booming, authoritative voice echoes through the hall from the second floor, interrupting your [[repartee.->Lavernus1.0]]
(set:$dissident to $dissident+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"Ah," the woman snaps, crossing her arms and looking you over. "Why am I surprised? The rebarbative thief, waltzing into this holy place to rifle through our sacred artifacts."
"You still haven't answered my question," you reply, masking your surprise.
"Then allow me to rectify that. I am Hona, and I am a Seraphic Preserver. It is my sacred duty to protect this bank and any artifacts in it. So tell me -- your Vault Seal, where did you get it?"
[[ Do you stop every Seal-holder?]]
[[ Lie, How dare you! Do you know who I am?]]
[[Look, princess, I don't have time to talk to the little messenger people. I am a busy man. So get out of my way. Please and thank you.]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"Hona!" the voice calls from above.
You look up to see a priest with a tall white hat, almost like a chef's hat, peering sternly down at the scene. His particular garb looks somehow more pristine than all the rest, and his gaze, even from this distance, is cold enough to freeze the icicles off a frost troll's toes.(mouseover-append: "toes")[
"Does the man have a Seal?" the priest asks her.
"Yes, High Priest Lavernus, but I--"
"Then let the man pass, Hona," High Priest Lavernus commands.
Hona looks like she might protest before bowing her head submissively.](mouseover-append: "submissively.")[
"As you wish, sire," she replies. Then, to you, "By your leave, (text-style: "italic")[sir.]"
"See ya, gorgeous," you mutter to her, quite pleased with yourself as she flips around to indignantly protest but ultimately thinking better of it.
Thoroughly beaten, she scurries off into the corner to glare at you from afar. You flatter yourself that she's admiring your handsome features, which can be seen from almost any [[angle.->Vault1.0]]]
You almost can't believe your luck, which is highly unusual for you. Before you know it, you are back in the giant Holy Vault, as large as a church and as secure as a throne room, with taller and meaner looking Seraphic Preservers here lining the walls.(mouseover-append: "walls.")[
You're beginning to grow bored of your insipid escort who twitters away about nothing and consider ditching the fool when you see it. The gem. It has to be. It twinkles into view from around a corner, and the thief in you experiences a flip of pleasure at being so close to the completion of a [[heist.->Vault1.1]]]
You clandestinely slip away from the man, who continues down another corridor, eyes on the iradescent sparkle of the greenish gem at the far end of the hall.(mouseover-append: "hall.")[
Expecting resistance but again meeting none, you close the gap between you and your target in five long strides. The gem is perched behind a thin layer of glass that looks ancient, propped up on a golden setting that looks more expensive than your wardrobe might cost for a year.](mouseover-append: "year.")[
Strange. It seems to swirl with some kind of dark, wisping smoke just beyond the sheen of the outer green shell, almost like dark energy is alive inside, and for a moment, just a moment, you hesitate.](mouseover-append: "hesitate.")[
But then reconsider. Glancing both ways furtively, you silently and deftly lift the glass casing with professional grace only a thief like you can possess and after that, in one swift motion, your cool hands make contact with the [[gem.->Event1.0]]]
(text-style: "rumble")[BOOM!] (mouseover-append: "BOOM!")[
You are thrown from your feet with magical energy that levels the building in a second. The next, swirling green energy explodes into the sky like a giant, malevolent trunk. Rocks and dust topple haphazardly down around your ears as the building's infrastructure finally fails, none too gently careening in separate pieces down towards the earth.
By the time you shake your head to regain your bearings, a long sword is pointed downwards at your jugular, it's owner a certain mahogany skinned, armor-clad guard.](mouseover-append: "guard.")[
"I (text-style: "italic")[knew] it, you lunatic!" Hona shrieks. "Did you touch the Anathema of Vorus?"](mouseover-append: "Vorus")[
[[I don't know! It was green and swirly and shiny and --]]
[[I think I must have!]]
[[I didn't touch anything!]]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)(text-style: "rumble")[
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"Answer me, thief!" she shrieks over the howling wind that is rising from the setting that is now easily twenty paces away behind her. Hona inches the sword tip more forcefully towards your vulnerable neck at your hesitation.
"Did you or did you not remove the Anathema of Vorus from it's setting?" she asks frantically. Without waiting for an answer, she growls in frustration, glancing behind her. "Do you know what you've done?!"
Hona's hazel eyes are creased with fear that doesn't fit in with the austere guard act she'd played before.
[[If it was so special, then maybe you shouldn't have had it out for all to see!]]
[[I had no way of knowing this would happen! I'm sorry, I thought I was just doing a job!]]
[[Your inability to protect your own treasures does not fall on me!]]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)(text-style: "rumble")[
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"You admit it so freely!" she shrieks to the sky in rage over the howling wind that now rises from the setting that is now easily twenty paces away behind her. "Do you know what you've done?! Do you know what the Anathema of Vorus will do?!"
Hona's hazel eyes are creased with fear that doesn't fit in with the austere guard act she'd played before.
[[Why was it just sitting out in the open if it's so dangerous?!]]
[[I've been tricked! I was just repaying a debt!]]
[[Your incompetent security measures are what got us here, nothing I did!]]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+1)(text-style: "rumble")[
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"You lie, thief!" she shrieks over the howling wind that now rises from the setting that is now easily twenty paces away behind her. "You are the only Seal holder in the Vault and now the Anathema of Vorus has been released! Do you know what you've done?!"
Hona's hazel eyes are creased with fear that doesn't fit in with the austere guard act she'd played before.
[[Maybe you should have considered -- I don't know -- destroying it instead of leaving it out in the open next time!]]
[[I was simply repaying the debts I owed! I had no way of knowing this would happen, I'm sorry!]]
[[Like any of this is my fault!]]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)(text-style: "rumble")[
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
A gust of wind throws Hona forward, and her sword nicks the side of your neck as it clashes rudely against the rubble beneath them. The weight of her armor comes upon you so forcefully that the wind is driven from your lungs.
"We have to get out of here!" she shouts in your ear, but you can barely hear her.
Given her indelicate repositioning of herself on top of you, your eyes are driven to the now blackened sky. A sinister pillar of light, bright as the dawn and as evil as the darkest night, swirls upwards from the place where the ring had been so quickly that the wind whips in your ears. Your eyes widen.
"Can't argue with that!" you mutter to nobody that can hear you as she tugs at your hand to pull you through the now shattered remains of the Holy Vault of Seraphic Preservers.
As their exodus became increasingly urgent, you remember yourself and slide your hand out of hers. She flips around to face you and you shout,
[[ I'm here for something! I can't go with you!]]
[[ Don't drag me around like a child! I can take care of myself!]]
[[ I hate to break up your pity party, but I've got a job to finish!]]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
(set: $rogue to $rogue-1)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"What did you (text-style: "italic")[think] was going to happen?" she accuses. "A tea party? These are holy magical artifacts. This is no ordinary bank!"
"Well, I know that (text-style: "italic")[now!]" you reply.
A gust of wind throws Hona forward, and her sword nicks the side of your neck as it clashes rudely against the rubble beneath you both. The weight of her armor comes upon you so forcefully that the wind is driven from your lungs.
"We have to get out of here!" she shouts in your ear, but you can barely hear her.
Given her indelicate repositioning of herself on top of you, your eyes are driven to the now blackened sky. A sinister pillar of light, bright as the dawn and as evil as the darkest night, swirls upwards from the place where the gem had been so quickly that the wind whips in your ears. Your eyes widen in fright as her fingers latch onto yours to yank you along with her away from the Pillar of Magic.
As your exodus becomes increasingly imperative, you remember yourself and slide your hand out of hers. She flips around to face you and you shout,
[[I'm here for something! I can't go with you! ]]
[[Don't drag me around like a child! I can take care of myself! ]]
[[I hate to break up your pity party, but I've got a job to finish! ]]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+1)
(set: $rogue to $rogue-1)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She squeezes the hilt of her sword in what appears to be unbridled rage.
"I (text-style: "italic")[tried] to stop you!"
A gust of wind throws Hona forward, and her sword nicks the side of your neck as it clashes rudely against the rubble beneath you both. The weight of her armor comes upon you so forcefully that the wind is driven from your lungs.
"We have to get out of here!" she shouts in your ear, but you can barely hear her.
Given her indelicate repositioning of herself on top of you, your eyes are driven to the now blackened sky. A sinister pillar of light, bright as the dawn and as evil as the darkest night, swirls upwards from the place where the ring had been so quickly that the wind whips in your ears. Your eyes widen as she unceremoniously drags you along behind her so quickly you barely notice the now shattered remains of the bank that is clearly no longer a bank.
Suddenly, you remember yourself and slide your hand out of hers. She flips around to face you and you shout,
[[I'm here for something! I can't go with you!]]
[[Don't drag me around like a child! I can take care of myself!]]
[[I hate to break up your pity party, but I've got a job to finish!]]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+2)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-1)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"For what?" she shrieks, pointing behind you. "Death?! (text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar you'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you both is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two of you are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where you and Hona stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"What do we do?" you asked her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts bracingly.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ...take her hand with hardened determination. ]]
[[ ...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[ ...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+1)
(text-style: "rumble")[
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"Fine then, strong man, maybe you want to take a look at what's happening behind you! There's no time!" With a forceful point, Hona shrieks, (text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar you'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you two is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two of you are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where you stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"How did this happen?" you asked her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[...take her hand with hardened determination. ]]
[[...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+2)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-1)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"What job?!" Hona shouts, pointing behind you. "(text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar youd'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you both is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and along with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where they stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"There goes that then," you mutter disconsolately more to yourself than her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[...take her hand with hardened determination.]]
[[...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers.]]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat-1)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Diplomat Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
A gust of wind throws Hona forward, and her sword nicks the side of your neck as it clashes rudely against the rubble beneath you both. The weight of her armor comes upon you so forcefully that the wind is driven from your lungs.
"We have to get out of here!" she shouts in your ear, but you can barely hear her.
Given her indelicate repositioning of herself on top of you, your eyes are driven to the now blackened sky. A sinister pillar of light, bright as the dawn and as evil as the darkest night, swirls upwards from the place where the gem had been so quickly that the wind whips in your ears. Your eyes widen.
"Lead the way..." you mutter numbly to nobody that can hear you as she tugs at your hand to pull you through the now shattered remains of the Holy Vault of Seraphic Preservers.
But as your exodus becomes increasingly urgent, you remember yourself and slide your hand out of hers. She flips around to face you and you shout,
[[ I'm here for something! I can't go with you! ]]
[[ Don't drag me around like a child! I can take care of myself! ]]
[[ I hate to break up your pity party, but I've got a job to finish! ]]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
(text-style: "rumble")[
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"What did you (text-style: "italic")[think] was going to happen?" she accuses. "A tea party? These are holy magical artifacts. This is no ordinary bank!"
"Well, I know that (text-style: "italic")[now!]" you reply quickly.
"And now all the world will repay your debt in kind!" she shouts at him.
A gust of wind emanating from the place where the setting had been throws Hona forward, and her sword nicks the side of your neck as it clashes rudely against the rubble beneath you both. The weight of her armor comes upon you so forcefully that the wind is driven from your lungs.
"We have to get out of here!" she shouts in your ear, but you can barely hear her.
Given her indelicate repositioning of herself on top of you, your eyes are driven to the now blackened sky. A sinister pillar of light, bright as the dawn and as evil as the darkest night, swirls upwards from the place where the setting had been so quickly that the wind whips in your ears. Your eyes widen in fright as her fingers latch onto you to yank you along with her away from the Pillar of Magic.
As your exodus becomes increasingly imperative, you remember yourself and slide your hand out of hers. She flips around to face you and you shout,
[[I'm here for something! I can't go with you! ]]
[[Don't drag me around like a child! I can take care of myself! ]]]
[[I hate to break up your pity party, but I've got a job to finish! ]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+1)
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat-1)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Diplomat Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She squeezes the hilt of her sword in what appears to be unbridled rage.
"I (text-style: "italic")[tried] to stop you!"
A gust of wind throws Hona forward, and her sword nicks the side of your neck as it clashes rudely against the rubble beneath you both. The weight of her armor comes upon you so forcefully that the wind is driven from your lungs.
"We have to get out of here!" she shouts in your ear, but you can barely hear her.
Given her indelicate repositioning of herself on top of you, your eyes are driven to the now blackened sky. A sinister pillar of light, bright as the dawn and as evil as the darkest night, swirls upwards from the place where the ring had been so quickly that the wind whips in your ears. Your eyes widen as she unceremoniously drags you along behind her so quickly you barely notice the now shattered remains of the bank that is clearly no longer a bank.
Suddenly, you remember yourself and slide your hand out of hers. She flips around to face you and you shout,
[[ I'm here for something! I can't go with you! ]]
[[ Don't drag me around like a child! I can take care of myself! ]]
[[ I hate to break up your pity party, but I've got a job to finish! ]]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-1)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
A gust of wind throws Hona forward, and her sword nicks the side of your neck as it clashes rudely against the rubble beneath you both. The weight of her armor comes upon you so forcefully that the wind is driven from your lungs.
"We have to get out of here!" she shouts in your ear, but you can barely hear her.
Given her indelicate repositioning of herself on top of you, your eyes are driven to the now blackened sky. A sinister pillar of light, bright as the dawn and as evil as the darkest night, swirls upwards from the place where the gem had been so quickly that the wind whips in your ears. Your eyes widen.
"Whatever you say..." you mutter numbly to nobody that can hear you as she tugs at his hand to pull you through the now shattered remains of the Holy Vault of Seraphic Preservers.
But as your exodus becomes increasingly imperative, you remember yourself and slide your hand out of hers. She flips around to face you and you shout,
[[I'm here for something! I can't go with you! ]]
[[Don't drag me around like a child! I can take care of myself! ]]
[[I hate to break up your pity party, but I've got a job to finish! ]]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-1)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"And now all the world will repay your debt in kind!" she shouts at him. "This is no ordinary bank! These are dangerous magical artifacts! You'd know any of this if you were a genuine Seal holder!"
A gust of wind emanating from the place where the setting had been throws Hona forward, and her sword nicks the side of your neck as it clashes rudely against the rubble beneath you both. The weight of her armor comes upon you so forcefully that the wind is driven from your lungs.
"We have to get out of here!" she shouts in your ear, but you can barely hear her.
Given her indelicate repositioning of herself on top of you, your eyes are driven to the now blackened sky. A sinister pillar of light, bright as the dawn and as evil as the darkest night, swirls upwards from the place where the setting had been so quickly that the wind whips in your ears. Your eyes widen in fright as her fingers latch onto yours to yank you along with her away from the Pillar of Magic.
As your exodus becomes increasingly imperative, you remember yourself and slide your hand out of hers. She flips around to face you and you shout,
[[I'm here for something! I can't go with you! ]]
[[Don't drag me around like a child! I can take care of myself! ]]
[[I hate to break up your pity party, but I've got a job to finish! ]]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+1)(text-style: "rumble")[
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"So the magical pillar of destruction just happened to start when you arrived, did it?" she mocks, gesticulating skeptically with her arms.
A gust of wind throws Hona forward as she opens her mouth in a rage to reply, and her sword nicks the side of your neck as it clashes rudely against the rubble beneath you both. The weight of her armor comes upon you so forcefully that the wind is driven from your lungs.
"Just forget it -- we have to get out of here!" she shouts in abandon in his ear, but you can barely hear her.
Given her indelicate repositioning of herself on top of you, your eyes are driven to the now blackened sky. A sinister pillar of light, bright as the dawn and as evil as the darkest night, swirls upwards from the place where the gem had been so quickly that the wind whips in your ears. Your eyes widen as she unceremoniously drags you along behind her so quickly you barely notice the now shattered remains of the bank that is clearly no longer a bank.
Suddenly, though, you remember yourself and slide your hand stubbornly out of hers. She flips around to face you and you shout,
[[I'm here for something! I can't go with you! ]]
[[Don't drag me around like a child! I can take care of myself! ]]
[[I hate to break up your pity party, but I've got a job to finish! ]]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
You both stop to rest well outside of the town, but even with all the miles and all the the hours of riding behind you, the pillar of magic can still be seen high over the canopy of the trees. Dark, black clouds congregate around the pillar now, and crashes of lightning begin to interrupt the eerie stillness of the rest of the world.(mouseover-append: "world.")[
"The animus may be eradicated, but the animus returns," Hona quotes. You turn to her to see her standing with crossed arms, her expression disapproving but not as outraged as before.](mouseover-append: "before.")[
"What's that?" you ask.
Somehow, the two of you are still breathless.](mouseover-append: "breathless.")[
"The nature of evil," Hona replies petulantly. "Now I can see on your face that you are confused about what just happened. I, of course, may know more, as it is my sworn duty to ward off evils such as this from the world. Ask me your petty questions so that we might be on our way to solving this problem."](mouseover-append: "problem.")[
(text-style: "italic")[{Optional:}
[[What was that pillar of magic?]]
[[What is the Anathema of Vorus?]]
[[What is going to happen?]]]
[["Why should I help you? I'm just a thief, and I'd really just like to get out of here.]]]
"That was the escape of the Anathema of Vorus," Hona replies simply.
"What's that?"
"The scourage of Vorus, the World-Eater. You've torn the veil that sealed Vorus in the Umbraligna -- the Shadowwood. The Underworld."
"And how did I do that?"
"By removing the Gem of Vorus from its setting, you've removed the protective wards the Faithful put in place to keep Vorus trapped.
[[And who exactly is Vorus?]]
"The animus of Vorus, the all-consuming rage of Vorus for man's perversion of his nature."
"Magic?"
Hona rolls her eyes and tightens her crossed arms in what seems to be frustration.
"Sure," Hona replies sternly. "In laymen's terms, 'magic.'"
"And it will consume the town?"
"Yes," Hona replies gravely, tilting her head up to see the very tip of the developing lightning storm that had now very likely consumed the town. "And beyond that, the entire world."
[[The world? I didn't sign up for this.]]
"Soon, the whole world will be turned to ashes as Vorus solidifies into the corporeal world. All will perish, not just that town."
[[BACK ->Chapter 3]]
"Long ago in a time before space and history, Vorus was the god of justice. In the Old Religions, the gods possessed only the powers that their worshippers wished them to have. So it was that Vorus, god of justice, was quickly perverted by man and twisted into a malevolent god of hateful retribution and vengeance against enemies. Unable to contain his wrath, the worshippers watched as Vorus punished the world for its hubris against the gods.
So, a coalition of heroes, called the Faithful who followed the Old Religion and worshipped Vorus as he ought to have been worshipped, trapped Vorus into the Gem of Vorus with their faith, drawing him inwards and praying that justice would be served best if Vorus was taken away."
"How did they trap him?"
"Nobody knows," Hona answers. "But the point remains that the Anathema of Vorus has been released, the veil sealing him in the Umbraligna torn, and we must once again replace the gem to its setting and regain a coalition of the faithful, lest the world be consumed by ashes."
[[BACK ->Chapter 3]]
"Few of us sign up for our calling, thief," Hona replies with equal graveness. "It would seem now as if you have little choice in the matter."
[[BACK->Chapter 3]]
"You got us into this mess, didn't you?" she snaps. "Or do you admit that you are an enemy of the Seraphic Preservers and complicit in the vile deeds of the Old God Vorus?"
You don't miss a threat when you hear one, especially when she draws her sword from its sheath to hold it casually in her hand.
Reluctantly, and with no small measure of guilt, you glance back at the billowing cloud of lightning.
"I did," you admit finally. "And I didn't mean for this to happen. I wasn't even there to steal that."
"What were you trying to steal?"
"What does it matter?" you reply. "It's gone now. All destroyed."
"Perhaps," Hona replies crisply, "but the world doesn't have to [[be."->Hona Explains]]
"You were cursed, I suppose," she muses. "Which means I'd wager there was a spell cast on you, and in turn, the gem. Where did it go?"
"To Castus," you reply.
Her lip curls at the name, revulsion obvious by her arched back and narrowing of her eyes.
"Sniveling rat," she hisses. "Should have known he'd be involved. He and his have been after our Vault for years. Something about 'preserving their family honor,' if I remember right."
She sighs as her eyes fall darkly upon the magical storm brewing on the horizon.
"Look, the way I see it we have no choice. We have to go back to Castus and steal back the gem."
[[Hold on, this is a lot of planning without a lot of asking whether or not I want to even be part of this.]]
[[What's all this we stuff? I don't remember volunteering to go with you, or fixing your problem.]]
[[I'm ready to go whenever you are.]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"I don't remember asking," Hona dismisses promptly. "You don't get it, do you? Vorus will consume all the world. Including you. Neither of us have a choice. And I can't do this alone."
Guiltily, you glance back at the brewing storm again and then nod silently.
"Okay..." Hona says, sheathing her sword, taking your silence as acquiesence. "Okay, so let's go get the Anathema of Vorus back from Castus."
[[Let's pay Castus a visit.->Eilanis Return]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"Did you fall and hit your head or something? That pillar of doom is going to spiral out of control and consume the entire world! Not just those priests, or that town. We have to do something to undo the mess (text-style: "italic")[you] made or everything everywhere will be lost!"
You cross your arms.
"Well," you say, "when you put it that way--"
"So what'll it be?" she interrupts, clearly still annoyed to have to work with you. "Ready to go pay your old pal a visit?"
[[Let's pay Castus a visit.->Eilanis Return]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"Good," Hona replies, giving you a hint of a smile. "It's nice to know there's honor, even among thieves."
"I'm glad I can inspire faith in you," you tell her.
"You do. Now -- let's hurry back to Castus before he absconds with the Anathema of Vorus to a place beyond our reach."
[[Let's pay Castus a visit.->Eilanis Return]]
You thank the few lucky stars you have left that Castus has a compound outside of the raging pillar of magic in the not so distant horizon, but anxious when you realize you have to move towards the storm to make away with your treasure. You regret those thanks even more when you and Hona are bagged in a strikingly similar fashion to the previous capture.
Your head dressings (slightly damp, musty muslin bags) are removed simultaneously as you're both shoved to your knees, prostrate before a pacing Castus. But he looks sickly now, his eyes sunken and his skin, once an olive shade, pale in an unearthly way. He holds the gem in his hand, which reverberates with visible magical power, and Hona notices first.
"The gem!" she cries. "Castus, you bastard, do you know what you've done?!"
A fist, just like all the other times before, comes out of nowhere to smack the outcry, but it looks a lot worse from this angle as dark splotches of blood paint the air from her lip.
[[Come on, Castus, hitting a woman? That's not very chivalrous of you.]]
[[Let's just dispense with the dramatics, huh? Why do I have the pleasure of kneeling on your floor twice in the same day after I've done as you asked?]]
[[That's just not necessary...]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"I do not need, nor care for, your opinions, thief," Castus drawls. "Your opinions are below me now."
"Are they?" you ask. "And why is that? Because you have what I stole for you? I wonder then, why you took the time to bind and gag us other than to gloat, which I can only assume must come from a high regard of my opinion."
"Ah, ah, ah..." Castus scolds, and then he snaps his bony fingers over his shoulder.
In unnatural fashion, you see the lackeys, whose skin now looks pallid and their eyes dimwitted, raise their limbs clumsily to bend to his will. An unnatural greenish sheen surrounds them almost imperceptibly as they snap their arms up to strike Hona a second time. To her vast credit, only a small "oof" escapes her lips at present, and she glances at you afterwards, her eyes obviously pinch up with worry and pain.
You turn back to look at Castus indignantly.
"You see," he goes on to explain, "you've done well. And now I am powerful -- more powerful than you can ever hope to be. I alone hold the power that once held Vorus, the World-Eater, and I offer you a chance to swear fealty to me in my journey to battle the Deathless One."
"And how do you want me to do that?" you retort. "Kiss your ring? Do your errands? I've already done both. (text-style: "italic")[Today.]"
"Simple," he says. Then, pointing an unattractively long and bony finger at Hona he orders crisply,(mouseover-prepend: "crisply,")[
(text-style: "shudder")["Kill her."]
You...]
[[...shrug uncomfortably, but resignedly -- after all, it's her hokey religion anyway that got you all into this mess, and he does have the Gem of Vorus. ]]
[[...offer up a variety of well thought out and overall very agreeable protests to this line of thought -- after all, you're a thief, not a murderer. ]]
[[...cry out in feigned self-righteousness -- perhaps if you're loud and whiny enough he will eventually let the whole thing go? ]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"Necessary though it may not be, entertaining it is, so do it again I shall." Then, to his lackeys, "Again."
In unnatural fashion, you see the lackeys, whose skin now looks pallid and their eyes dimwitted, raise their limbs clumsily to bend to his will. An unnatural greenish sheen surrounds them almost imperceptibly as they snap their arms up to strike her. To her vast credit, only a small "oof" escapes her lips at present, and she glances at you afterwards, her eyes obviously pinch up with worry and pain.
You turn back to look at Castus indignantly.
"You see," he goes on to explain, "you've done well. And now I am powerful -- more powerful than you can ever hope to be. I alone hold the power that once held Vorus, the World-Eater, and I offer you a chance to swear fealty to me in my journey to battle the Deathless One."
"And how do you want me to do that?" you retort. "Kiss your ring? Do your errands? I've already done both. (text-style: "italic")[Today.]"
"Simple," he says. Then, pointing an unattractively long and bony finger at Hona he orders crisply,(mouseover-prepend: "crisply,")[
(text-style: "shudder")["Kill her."]
You...]
[[....shrug uncomfortably, but resignedly -- after all, it's her hokey religion anyway that got you all into this mess, and he does have the Gem of Vorus.]]
[[....offer up a variety of well thought out and overall very agreeable protests to this line of thought -- after all, you're a thief, not a murderer.]]
[[....cry out in feigned self-righteousness -- perhaps if you're loud and whiny enough he will eventually let the whole thing go?]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"You amuse me, that's why," Castus replied simply, "and that is all you need to know."
You seethe at his maddening self-aggrandization, but offer up no reply.
"Your indignation only harms your cause, you know," Castus mutters, as if pleased with himself, and then he waves his hand.
In unnatural fashion, you see the lackeys, whose skin now looks pallid and their eyes dimwitted, raise their limbs clumsily to bend to his will. An unnatural greenish sheen surrounds them almost imperceptibly as they snap their arms up to strike Hona a second time. To her vast credit, only a small "oof" escapes her lips at present, and she glances at you afterwards, her eyes obviously pinched up with worry and pain.
You turn back to look at Castus indignantly.
"You see," he goes on to explain, "you've done well. And now I am powerful -- more powerful than you can ever hope to be. I alone hold the power that once held Vorus, the World-Eater, and I offer you a chance to swear fealty to me in my journey to overtake the Deathless One."
"And how do you want me to do that?" you retort. "Kiss your ring? Do your errands? I've already done both. (text-style: "italic")[Today.]"
"Simple," he says. Then, pointing an unattractively long and bony finger at Hona he orders crisply,(mouseover-prepend: "crisply,")[
(text-style: "shudder")["Kill her."]
You...]
[[...*shrug uncomfortably, but resignedly -- after all, it's her hokey religion anyway that got you all into this mess, and he does have the Gem of Vorus.]]
[[...offer up a variety of well thought out and overall very agreeable protests to this line of thought -- after all, you're a thief, not a murderer.]]
[[...cry out in feigned self-righteousness -- perhaps if you're loud and whiny enough he will eventually let the whole thing go?]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+2)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
Hona turns to you, mouth agape, indignation so much bettering her than surprise or fear, that you cannot determine if she is either very brave or very dimwitted.
"Excellent choice," Castus commends, smirking. "I do remember my friends."
Then, dismissively, he turns away.
"Now, do be on your way. I will leave the servants to help you clean up the last loose end."
You are both "escorted" out of the room by your elbows by the shallow husks of people in his service, dragging and struggling [[loudly.->Criminal Intro]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+2)
(set: $rogue to $rogue-1)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
Hona, breathlessly, glances over at you, spitting blood before her kneeling position towards Castu, before you, too, are struck.
"You never did know when to (text-style: "italic")[shut up], did you?" Castus seethed. Again, to his lackeys, he mutters, "Fine. If you won't swear to me, I'll make you see reason. Kill them both."
You are both "escorted" out of the room by your elbows by the shallow husks of people in his service, dragging and struggling [[loudly.->Criminal Intro]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
Hona looks at you dejectedly, fear clouding her eyes for just long enough for it to get to you as well.
"Ugh, do you ever shut up, Sorse? It's always an argument with you. In fact,"
Castus turns his back on the two, waving his hand.
"Kill them both," he orders.
You are both "escorted" out of the room by your elbows by the shallow husks of people in his service, dragging and struggling [[loudly.->Criminal Intro]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
{(if:$rogue is 9)[
Eventually, you are released, and you both whirl around, hands still bound to see your manhandler, whose eyes are still sunken and lifeless, a husk of the lackey they once represented. Cautiously, you reach into your boot to withdraw a knife. A good thief is always prepared!
With the same cautious precision, but with the tenuous knowledge that your captor is as dumb as a doorknob to nowhere, you silently turn to Hona and cut her restraints clandestinely before handing her the knife to cut yours. With the two of you having been freed by a thief's trusty knife, Hona yells,
"Now!" and you both rush the lackey, who offers up little resistance. The two of you are free!](else-if:$diplomat is 9)[
Eventually, you are released, and you both whirl around, hands still bound to see your manhandler, whose eyes are still sunken and lifeless, a husk of the lackey they once represented. You attempt for several moments to communicate with the person by waving your hands before their face, concerned, before Hona rushes the husk of a person, knocking the lackey from his feet entirely.
"Come on!" she says, looking up at you for help, and the two of you restrain the lackey, who offers little resistance.
"Now let's see about a knife!" she whispers as the two of them sit on their captor.
With bound hands, she searches.
"Ah ha!" she cries, and from the back pockets of the man she finds a thin, rusting knife, which she uses to cut her own restraints before offering to free you from yours.
"Now let's get out of here!" she whispers, and the two of you creep towards the door.](else-if: $dissident is 9)[
Eventually, you are released, and you both whirl around, hands still bound to see your manhandler, whose eyes are still sunken and lifeless, a husk of the lackey they once represented. Fed up of today and all the schemes that had come along with waking up this morning, you rush forward, shoulder first, into the lackey, crying out in rage.
The lackey topples easily, and you use your fists, bound together as they were, as a weight with which to beat your captor. Too soon is the man unconcious and the ground, and, breathlessly, you offer up a wry smile to Hona, who just stares.
"What?" you ask, shrugging, and you search the man's pockets for a knife.
After finding one, you cut your ties before going back for hers.
"Let's go," you tell her, and the two of you creep carefully towards the door.](else:)[
Eventually, you are released, and you both whirl around, hands still bound to see your manhandler, whose eyes are still sunken and lifeless, a husk of the lackey they once represented. You are thrown to the ground -- again -- and you and Hona land next to each other. You meet eyes.
"Rush him on three?" she whispers.
You shrug as best you can in your binds.
"Good enough," she says, and on her count you throw yourself at the lackey, who offers little resistance.
You sit on him while Hona rifles through his pockets, from which she procures a knife. With this knife she cuts your binds, and the two of you make your way out towards the door.]}
Hona whispers to you, "Which way should we go?"
"Why are you asking me?"
"You're the thief!" she cries indignantly.
She has a point. You look left. Right.
Then, cautiously, you sneak into the hallway. You hear more guards talking amongst themselves. You turn back to Hona, who is following, albeit in clumsy, louder-than-they-ought-to-be steps.
"Maybe we should head back into the cell?" she suggests. "See if the lackey's got anything on him."
[[Go right down the hallway where you know Castus to be.]]
[[Go left down the hallway where you hear voices behind a closed door.]]
[[Go back to the cell to check the unconscious guard. He might have something useful on him.]]
"Are we ready to fight Castus?" Hona whispers from over your shoulder.
"Fight him?" you reply. "I was just going to steal from him."
"If he's corrupted by the gem, we may have to kill him."
You ignore this and continue down towards the hallway. Cautiously, you press on the door's edges to reveal the room beyond. It's a long space, wide open, and it smells somehow dingy. Like stale paper, or an old library that hasn't been aired out in a good long while. Castus is at the far end of the hallway, pacing, muttering to himself. The same pulsating energy reverberates around him in waves and the two of you observe him for a moment from the far end of the room.
You glance back at a quickly bruising Hona, who is glaring at Castus, obviously enraged just at the sight of him.
"Let's kill the bastard," she whispers from over your shoulder.
"Don't you want to know why he wants the gem first?" you ask her.
Hona scoffs.
"As if he needs a reason."
But you're not so sure.
[[Insist you try to talk to him.]]
[[Concede and rush forward to attack. After all, she's probably right, and Castus likely won't see you coming if you're quiet.]]
[[Opt to sneak into the room to hear what he's saying before deciding to make a move.]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
You and Hona quarrel in furious whispers between each other, each in louder succession telling the other to shush as you both struggle to eavesdrop on the voices through the door. You convinced her, barely, not to rush in to fight everybody all at once, but she is clearly unhappy about it.
Eventually, you both silence the other and lean in to listen.
"Castus better not use any of that magic on any of us," you hear a woman say.
A man answers her.
"Why would he?" the man replies. "We're loyal to Vorus, just like he is, and we've helped him acquire the gem. Turning people into mindless husks is reserved for those pious louts over at the bank."
"Well," you hear the woman comment, "I just know that Castus would do anything to free Vorus to restore the honor of his family. His intensity scares me sometimes."
"Better not let the boss hear you say that," the man replies. "Now, we better get him his food and drink or he'll get cranky."
You turn back to look at Hona, but she looks animated whereas you feel perplexed.
"What is it?" you ask her.
"We'll poison the bastard," she whispers. "Then we'll see who's faith is pure."
Having no better ideas between you, you reluctantly, with her guiding you along, you sneak anxiously through the house unseen, though not for lack of bumbling around by Hona, until you finally reach the [[kitchen.->Kitchen]]
You find nothing but the discarded knife that was left behind. Beyond that, the cell smells like despair, broken dreams, and urine. A mouse scurries along the back wall as you glance back at Hona.
"Well, that was a great idea," you say.
Then you go back to the [[hall.->Criminal Introv2]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"Are you (text-style: "italic")[crazy]?" Hona snaps, but you pay her no heed.
"You stay here," you say, "I'll tell him you're dead. We'll see what he reveals."
Standing tall, you stride into the room, resisting all normal impulses to be surreptitious about it. It feels almost strange to walk in to face such a dangerous sociopath man-to-man.
"Castus," you say as a way of announcing yourself, "your deed is done."
Castus whirls to face you, and you're pleased that the mousy man doesn't have a face for betting on cards. He is obviously surprised that you're here.
"I thought you might choose wisely," Castus drawls out with a wicked grin. "But I wasn't sure. Tell me -- did she beg for her miserable life?"
You brush your hands together, as if satisfied.
"She begged like a whore in church might pray for forgiveness, Castus," you say, and you can just see Hona squirming as she eavesdrops in the hallway. "But enough about that. I think it's time I had some answers about all this. You know, since you got me into it."
Castus sneers, and you're glad he cannot sense your anxiety.
"Fine," he says, seeming perversely pleased that he has you under his wing now, "what do you want to know?"
(text-style: "italic")[OPTIONAL:
[[Why did you take the gem from the bank?]]
[[What do you plan to do with it?]]
[[Why did you want me to kill Hona?]]]
Surprised by this, you just blink.
"Well then," you say, "What would you have me do now?"
"Be on your way, of course," Castus dismisses with the wave of his hand. "And good [[day."->Return to Hona]]
(set:$dissident to $dissident+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
{(if: $dissident is 10)[You sprint towards Castus, catching him off guard, and shove him hard to the ground. The gem flies into the air, and you catch it as Castus cries out in rage. Turning on your heel, you sprint just as fast back out the door. You run right by Hona, who jogs to catch up with you. "Did it work?" she asks you. You hold up the gem, hear her make an approving sound, and the two of you press on [[together.->Return to temple]]](else:)[Castus turns dishearteningly fast at your approach, an ill timed scheme altogether, and an orb of greenish magic surrounds you now. You're lifted into the air as a terrible pain begins throbbing your chest, and it comes on so quickly that you don't even have time to scream.
"Fool!" Castus cries. "I offered you a chance and you squandered it. Now you'll pay."
In a moment, the worst moment of your life, which is also subsequently the last, you hear the terrible squelching sound of your ribs collapsing grotesquely in on your organs, exploding your heart and lungs in a gory mess of red hot searing pain and agony the likes of which you've never before known. One might suppose this is why you are, indeed, called Sorse the Unwitting. Pity.
(text-style: "bold")[GAME OVER. You have died.]
[[Start over?->Init]]]}
(set:$rogue to $rogue+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
You sneak into the room on the balls of your feed, the padding of your shoes well bred for silence and speed. Adeptly, you position yourself behind a box off to the side of the room, and you make your way along the far side of it as close as you dare to listen to Castus' unnerving ramblings. Even from here, you feel the magical energy pulsating, and, anxious to be exposed to such maddening power, you pause to listen in hopes of hearing something valuable.
"We will free you, Vorus," Castus whispers to himself.
His fervent nature has always been passionate, but here it seems particularly agitated.
"We'll free you from your keepers, the Seraphic Preservers, and make justice be done for their unjust imprisonment of you for millenia to feed their lust to live forever. And all the world once again shall belong to you, no matter whether you take me or not. But I am your servant, your willing servant, as my father and my father before him. And before him, his sister, and her father, and her father's mother. We will restore, as is our duty."
{(if:$rogue is 10)[
He rambled on like this for some time, and you furrow your brow. You have no time for games. With impressive skill, you lean forward from around the box behind which you've been hiding and see the gem resting on the table while Castus prays. Snatching it, you scurry out of the room, grab Hona's hand, and whisper, "Time to go!" as you hear Castus cry out in rage behind you from down the hall. As you flip around the nearest corner, you hear Castus' cries in the hall.
"Sorse!" he shouts.
"Time to [[go!"->Return to temple]] you say to her, and your feet fly as you round another corner.](else:)[
Back in the hall, you turn to Hona and explain all that he [[said.->Return to Hona]]]}
"I needed to free the god Vorus. Have you heard of him?"
"No," you lie, your heart skipping a beat, "I have not."
Castus scoffs.
"Few have, at least anymore. Vorus was the god of justice and retribution, the god of new beginnings. They call him the Deathless One."
"He (text-style: "italic")[was]?" you ask. "How can he be Deathless and exist in the past tense?"
"The church, those zealots. The Seraphic Preservers. Have you ever noticed how their priests never change -- or age?"
Being not particularly religious, you answer that you haven't, of course.
"They've trapped Vorus, the Deathless One. Trapped Vorus and they're keeping him in that place, feeding on him to gain his powers and live forever."
Sorse was astonished. This is a far different tale than the one Hona has spun, but no less impassioned. And, you find, very inconveniently too, that you might believe him. You have a way about lies.
But you can't believe both him and Hona. One must be lying -- right?
[[BACK.->Insist you try to talk to him.]]
"I plan to hold it until Vorus is released from his seal, at which point I will cast away this useless artifact and submit myself in the service of the Deathless One, Vorus."
"...and...why would you do that?"
"My family is part of a long line of ancient worshippers of Vorus. Nothing as sinister as it sounds, of course, though I'm sure that zealot you just disposed of likely thought differently."
"Will that magic disperse?" you ask, attempting, and, you think, failing to hide your anxiety, for Castus glances at you at your remark.
"The magical explosion was an unfortunate casualty of the seal being torn," Castus remarks. "I am unhappy that it caused the death of so many, but I cannot regret my decision if Vorus will be freed."
"And once he's freed? Then what? Vorus rules the world?"
"Vorus will transcend, as he must, this mortal plane and take his rightful place in the heavens."
"So he won't consume the world or anything?" you ask.
"No," Castus scoffs defensively, "of course not. Why would you suspect such drivel?"
"Just wondering," you lie, shrugging.
[[BACK.->Insist you try to talk to him.]]
"She was an enemy of my lord Vorus, and as such I could not allow her to thwart my plans to free and serve him," Castus replied simply.
Nothing sinsister about it. He says it so matter of factly that again, you question Hona's story, unsure of what to think.
"It is regrettable that she ought to be disposed of, but I consider all those cultists who might be complicit in the perverse binding of a righteous god to be culpable of the highest crimes a person can make."
"Wow, Castus," you say sarcastically, "I never took you to be the religious type."
"It is a well kept secret," Castus admits with a rueful smile. "But, in fact, the crime lord is just a facade. I am, we all are, in fact, loyal members of the old religions. We only commit crimes now to acquire the resources we need to fulfill our goal. Which you were complicit in finishing. So I suppose I should thank you."
[[BACK.->Insist you try to talk to him.]]
You return to Hona. You tell her what you've heard, feeling thoughtful and, more than that suspicious. Hona seems indignant, but your desire to remain quiet does not quell her urge to cry out in frustration. You drag her down back to your cell, where you find the husk still unconscious on the floor.
"He knows about Vorus and yet wants to paint the Preservers as the evil doers?" she whispers, surprised.
"Is that surprising?"(mouseover-append: "surprising")[
"To me, it is. We always just assumed he wanted to infiltrate our ranks out of greed or an interest in our artifacts, not anything having to do with power or cults."
"He seemed to be telling the truth," you comment casually.
"Look," Hona says, "regardless of what you feel, Castus stole the gem, and that cloud is not going to disperse until we return it to the seal."](mouseover-append: "seal")[
"Sealing Vorus," you say.
"...right," Hona says, eyeing you suspiciously. "Which is a good thing."
"According to you," you say.
"We can think about it later, but right now, Castus is out of control. We have to stop him. And I have an idea."
"Let's hear it."
"We'll put him to sleep with poison."
Having no better ideas between you, you reluctantly and her guiding you along, you sneak anxiously through the house unseen, though not for lack of bumbling around by Hona, until you finally reach the [[kitchen.->Kitchen]]]
You reach the kitchen in short order, impersonating a servant. All too quickly, Hona finds the ingredients, whispering something to you about alchemy training in what sounded like essentially guard school, to sprinkle on top of the dishes to be served to Castus. Then, you disappear back into the hallway again. Lingering for many hours outside of his room, you hear Castus eating silently. As the hours pass by, you find that the room's noises are quickly diminished, and then investigate. Castus is fast asleep!
"Quick!" Hona calls. "Grab the gem!"
You sneak in, hesitating at first. Castus is sitting at a table on the far end of the room, his face in his food, flecks of it spattered over the plate and onto the table. It appears as if your venture was a success. The gem has tumbled out of his hand and rolled onto the center. Excitedly, your heart pounds as you tiptoe forward. When Castus does not immediately lash out, you swipe the gem from the table, feeling its pulsating energy coursing through the tip of your fingers sickeningly, tiptoe as fast as you can back out through the door, grab Hona's hand, and sprint down the hallway.
All too quickly, you are outside again, this time on foot, and the two of you run as fast as you can until your breath leaves your [[lungs.->Return to temple]]
Again, you look left. Right. Left. Deserted. You hear the guards talking amongst themselves down the hall. Where should you go?
[[Go right down the hallway where you know Castus to be.]]
[[Go left down the hallway where you hear voices behind a closed door.]]
[[Go back to the cell to check the unconscious guard. He might have something useful on him.]]
You manage to steal two horses from a nearby farm and make your way in silence as the two of you briskly travel towards the now doubled in size magical storm. You can just barely see the blown off ceiling of the bank that is no longer a bank.
Hona says, "The stones are blessed," looking where you're looking. "No god can turn them."
Finally, you approach the wall of magic, a swirling storm of gray ash and dust. You sweat as your two horses anxiously whinny at the proximity of the noise, but the two of you look at each [[other.->Final Trial1]]
{(if:$rogue is 10)[
"Well, it was nice knowing you," you tell her, and you turn your horse to move past her when she stops you with her hand.
"Sorse," she says to you, eyeing you with those sad, beautiful eyes. "I can't do this by myself."
Her voice is very grave, and sad. She doesn't even sound as mad as she normally does that you're joking, and you sit taller on your horse, feeling bad for even suggesting it.
"I can't do this alone," she says.
"Sure you can," you say doubtfully, but your heart isn't in it.
"The seal of any magic of this type requires a sacrifice," she tells you. "A sacrifice of blood, one I will make. But one you must perform. After all you've done wrong today, you can make it up, make up for all the lives that have been lost, by doing this one service for me. For the Seraphic Preservers."
[[But you can't do that.]]
[[I should do it instead.]]
[[If that's all I have to do...]]](else-if:$dissident is 10)[
"I've done all I need to do to fulfill my end of the bargain," you tell her. "Now I'm done. I call it quits when faced with giant walls of ash and dust."
"Sorse," she says to you, "I can't do this by myself."
Her voice is very grave, and sad. She doesn't even sound as mad as she normally does that you've checked out, and you sit taller on your horse.
"I can't do this alone," she says.
"Yes you can," you argue, but your heart isn't in it.
"The seal of any magic of this type requires a sacrifice," she tells you. "A sacrifice of blood, one I will make. But one you must perform. After all you've done wrong today, you can make it up, make up for all the lives that have been lost, by doing this one service for me. For the Seraphic Preservers."
[[Why didn't you tell me there would be a sacrifice?]]
[[Isn't there another way?]]
[[Well, if that's all...]]](else-if:$diplomat is 10)[
"I'm ready to go when you are," you say, but she holds out her hand.
You look at her face. She looks frightened and pale.
"What is it?" you ask her.
"Sorse," she says to you, "I have to tell you the truth."
Her voice is very grave, and sad. She doesn't even sound as mad as she normally does that you've checked out, and you sit taller on your horse, waiting patiently.
"The seal of any magic of this type requires a sacrifice," she tells you. "A sacrifice of blood, one I will make, but one you must perform. After all you've done to help me today, I'm...I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, but I thought you might not help. Could I ask you to help me with this one, last thing?"
[[Aren't you afraid?]]
[[You should have said something!]]
[[If this is all a way of getting me to kiss you, there are easier ways, beautiful.]]](else:)[
"Sorse," she says to you with a stern look. "You've been nothing but inconsistent since I picked you up, so I might as well just tell you now."
"Tell me what?" you ask her.
"The seal of any magic of this type requires a sacrifice," she tells you. "A sacrifice of blood, one I will make, but one you must perform. After all you've done today, I need you to do this. And then it'll all be over."
[[A sacrificial blood ritual? Sure, sign me up.]]
[[If it'll finally get you out of my hair.]]
[[If that's really the only way, I cannot object.]]]}
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"I can, and I must," she mutters.
You reach out to take her hand. She smiles at you sadly, her beautiful hair whipping into her face.
"Don't mourn for me," she tells you. "All will be well in the world again soon because of you and I, and I can think of no greater joy in the world than that."
You share a moment together in companionable silence before a particularly nasty gust of wind brings you both back to reality.
"Right," Hona says, "Here. I'll need you to do it."
She hands you the knife she took from the guard.
Then, she says,
"Let's go."
The two of you push forward into the wall of ash and [[dust.->Last Choice]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"Why?" she scoffs, revealing more than a little bitterness. "Because of your newfound devotion to the Seraphic Preservers?"
You reach out and take her hand firmly, squeezing it.
"Because I don't want you to," you tell her. "I got you into this. I should be the one to get you out."
"No, Sorse," she says, "this is my sacrifice. Don't take that from me."
You marvel at her as she pulls away from your fingers. She hands you the knife she took from the guard.
"Follow me and do exactly as I say. We'll get through this [[yet."->Last Choice]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It is," she reassured, looking saddened by your reply. "Now follow me, and do it quickly. When I give you the signal, you will have to stab me -- with this."
She hands you the knife she took from the guard.
"Do not hesitate," she orders. "Just follow me and you'll get through this the way you always wanted."
She left you no time to reply. Kicking her horse, Hona bolt eyes open into the wall of dust and you clumsily struggle to follow after [[her->Last Choice]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"And give you another chance to complain and scamper off like a rabbit?" she scoffs indignantly. "Not on my watch, Sorse. I had to keep it a secret because I knew you'd react the way you are right now!"
She glares at you and you glare back accusatorially. You feel cheated. Hona was beautiful, strong, not necessarily fun, but easy to poke at. Entertaining to follow. You could have made a friend out of her. She put up with your antics, and you like it.
"Look," she huffs, "just follow my lead and do exactly as I say. You'll get through this and then you won't have to worry about me anymore. Oh..."
She hands you the knife she took from the guard.
"And here. You'll need this to do it, I suppose."
Without another word, and you regretful that you've angered her, she urges her horse forward into the storm with you following closely [[behind.->Last Choice]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"No, I'm afraid there isn't," she tells you. "This is the way it is. This is what I signed on for. Your involvement was, by your own admission, totally accidental."
You watch her silently, ruefully, as you realize you'll likely be losing a friend today. Avoiding your eyes, she reaches into her back pocket and hands you the knife she took from the guard.
"Take this, and do with it as I direct you. You cannot afford to hesitate. Do you understand?"
You nod.
"Good," she says, her voice hard. "Then let's go."
And with that, you gallop fiercely into the wall of ash and [[dust.->Last Choice]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"This is no laughing matter!" she snaps at you angrily.
You relent. She's right, and you feel like a rude bastard. It isn't like you volunteered.
"You're right, I'm sorry," you apologize sincerely. "I'm not very good with all this serious stuff. Makes me itch. But, uh...I don't mean anything by it."
She glances at you sidelong and nods, her acceptance of the apology, and then she takes up the reigns.
"Ready?" she asks.
You nod.
"Good. Now just do as I say when I say it, and you'll be fine. Oh..."
She hands you the knife she took from the guard.
"Just make it quick, when it comes," she requests.
You nod.
And the two of you press on into the [[darkness.->Last Choice]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
You realize the impertinence of your question as the words leave your mouth and immediately regret them as a shade of fear sweeps over Hona's contoured face.
"Of course I am afraid," Hona admits, "but this is my duty."
She rifles through her clothes and hands you the knife she took from the guard.
"You must do it with this. Make it quick. Do not hesitate, and you'll be just fine."
You nod solemnly. She nods.
"Good," she says, "let's go."
She urges her horse onwards, and you follow her silently into the [[abyss.->Last Choice]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"And give you another chance to complain and scamper off like a rabbit?" she scoffs indignantly. "Not on my watch, Sorse. I had to keep it a secret because I knew you'd react the way you are right now!"
She glares at you and you glare back accusatorially. You feel cheated. Hona was beautiful, strong, not necessarily fun, but easy to poke at. Entertaining to follow. You could have made a friend out of her. She put up with your antics, and you like it.
"Look," she huffs, "just follow my lead and do exactly as I say. You'll get through this and then you won't have to worry about me anymore. Oh..."
She hands you the knife she took from the guard.
"And here. You'll need this to do it, I suppose."
Without another word, and you regretful that you've angered her, she urges her horse forward into the storm with you following closely [[behind.->Last Choice]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She actually laughs a little, and you feel there's a small victory in that, at least.
"Not on your life, Sorse," she jokes.
You smile at her, and the two of you nod at each other, feeling better between you.
"Here," she says, her smile fading as she reaches behind her to draw out a knife. "Take this. You'll need it for...you know."
You nod solemnly, tucking it away.
"Ready?" you ask her.
"Yup," she says, and the two of you begin your race to the setting through the wall of ash and [[dust.->Last Choice]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"This is no laughing matter!" she snaps at you angrily.
She's right, of course, and you apologize. She, dismisively, brushes you off, mumbles something about following her lead, and hands you the knife she took from the guard earlier from her back pocket.
"Just make it quick, when it comes," she requests.
You nod.
And the two of you press on into the [[darkness.->Last Choice]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She reaches forward and slaps you as hard as she seems to be able to directly in the face, which nearly drives you off your horse. Then, she tosses something shiny to you, a knife, and orders you to kill her when the moment is right.
Leaving you time at all to even react, she's off, and you, furiously, follow her, if for nothing else than to repay her slap with something in [[kind.->Last Choice]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She looks sad and angry at your indifference, but you can't be bothered to bring yourself to look like you care. She withdraws a knife from her pocket, hands it to you, and orders you to make it quick when it comes.
She leaves you no time to reply. Kicking her horse, Hona bolt eyes open into the wall of dust and you clumsily struggle to follow after [[her->Last Choice]]
You press on for what feels like an eternity, feeling flecks of dust pattering your face insistently. The force of it is painful, and breathing becomes a labor. You manage to squint through the roaring chaos to see Hona's shadow pressing forward. Your horses have long since slowed to a walking pace, and your horse's unease is evident. You try to urge it on, but it finally tosses you, wounding your leg immediately, and it gallops away into what you know will be its untimely grave.
You try to call Hona's name, but her shadow has now gone. Feeling hopeless and frightened, you wonder how you woke up this morning, completely unaware that you'd not only not have your Saccularium but die in a storm of fire and ash. Funny how things worked out like that.
You can't breathe. You can't see. The flecks now actively cut you, and you feel warmth as miniscule lesions on your face begin to draw blood.
When the world stops. The ash pauses in midair, the roaring of the wind is silence, even your own body is frozen in action. You see Hona, a few paces off, and you realize as the ash clears that you are inside the walls of the church. The setting is so close, only a few paces off.
"Sorse," a voice calls.
It is everywhere and nowhere, omnipotent and awesome. For the first time in your life, you become a believer in gods.
(text-style: "shudder")["There isn't much time. My worshipper Castus speaks truthfully. You are making a mistake. Hona does not need to be sacrificed, though she does not know this. She means well and has been deceived by the very church that she serves loyally. I seek to bring balance to the world, not leave it in darkness. Do not return my gem to the seal! If you just wait a few moments longer, I know that "]
With that, the world fades back into time and you have to decide.
[[Replace the gem to the setting, capturing Vorus.]]
[[Protect Vorus and wait for Vorus to be freed.]]
This is all a trick. A ploy. But Hona has never led you astray and you aren't about to doubt her now. You struggle forward towards the pedestal, moving slowly on your knees. You collide with it, so thick is the dust that you can't see it, and you force the little, pulsating gem onto the setting blindly.
You feel Hona's hands behind you.
"Now!" she cries out.
You hesitate, tears in your eyes. The very thing she told you not to do. You don't want to.
"Do it!" she shrieks.
Feeling panicked, and sorry, and tired, and unsure, you thrust the knife into her side as she falls into you. You feel her womanliness as she does so, clinging to you in pain, before her knees give out. You wait there with her, holding her up, as she weakly thrusts her arm towards the gem. The contact is made and immediately the storm stops. As if halting in its tracks, the magic disperses, the ash falls to the ground in its place, the wind stops howling, and you can see the sun again for the first time all day. As the dust settles, something hard hits your head, and you pick it up in awe.
Right out of the sky. The Saccularium!
"That's nice," Hona admits weakly, pointing to the sun, and you forget about the Pendant all over again.
Her head falls back. You hold her as she bleeds out all over the pedestal, wishing you could help and being powerless to do so.
{(if:$rogue is 11)[
"Did you get your prize?" she asks.
Blood trails out of her mouth, and you feel so sorry it is hard to speak.
"Yes," you say, "Pendant of Luck. Saccularium."
It feels like a cheap prize.
"You need it more than I do," you tell her, and you put it around her neck as she falls limp, dying.
Just then, you hear a tinkling of a bell and that of a clumsy wooden cart.
"What's this?" cries an old man. "I could have sworn there was an entire town here just the other day." Then, to Sorse, "You there! What happened?"
You cry out for the man's help and it turns out, by chance, that the man is an herbalist. Before long, Hona's clothing has been removed and the man is patching over her stab wound. He makes her drink an elixir and she falls into a deep sleep.
After her condition is stable, the old man turns to you,
"It was lucky for her I was walking by," he says. "I swear, I wasn't even going to come by this way this morning."
That's when you realize. You glance at the Saccularium around her neck and smile.
"So it works after all," you mutter, and the three of you hobble away from the wreckage of the bank, you all the while explaining to the old man the events of your eventful day.
THE END.](else-if:$dissident is 11)[
You watch her coldly, and it's the least you can do to hold her hand as her life passes before her eyes. Once she is gone, you lay her before the pedestal to arrange her hands before walking away. You're a busy man, and this god business has kept you long enough.
You make your way into the horizon with the Saccularium in your hand, not quite pleased but no longer denied what is rightfully yours.
THE END.](else-if:$diplomat is 11)[
"Stay with me, okay?" you tell her, and you reach down to the ash, dust, and sand below your feet and press it into her wound.
She cries out and you nod to her. Any complaint means she's still alive.
"I don't want you to die," you tell her.
Then, carefully, you drape the necklace over her shoulders.
"We need a miracle," you whisper to her.
Just then, you hear a voice, booming, authoritative, old -- familiar somehow.
The priest who scolded Hona!
"Hona," he says, "thank you for fulfilling your duty and making the ultimate sacrifice. For this, we repay your piety with the gift of life. Spend it well."
All at once, she sits up, her eyes clear and lucid, her wound sealed. Both of you glance back to thank the vision of the priest, but he has already gone.
Laughing, the two of you cling to each other in relief. Eventually, you stand, and Hona pulls back.
"It was awfully lucky he came to do that when he did," she says.
You smile, eyeing the Saccularium around her neck, feeling glad you did that.
"I'm beginning to think luck had nothing to do with it," you say.
And the two of you make your way out of the wreckage of the bank, side by side.
THE END.](else:)[
She dies too slowly, but it is a quiet death. She's in obvious pain, and you stay with her, hopeless, holding the Saccularium in your hand with clenched fingers. It feels like a cheap prize now, and you want to cast it from you. You don't feel very lucky.
When she does pass away, you cross her arms over her chest, weeping, while you gather rubble to cover her body from animals that might pick at it. Once this is done, the sun is low on the horizon, and you feel wretched.
But you have the Saccularium, at least. Eyeing it sadly, you wonder if maybe you'd done something different that day if Hona would still be alive.
THE END.]}
You wait a few moments until you feel a pair of hands, Hona's hands.
"Come on!" you see her lips move, but you can't hear her over the cacophony of the storm.
But, too late. It doesn't matter anyway because the dust suddenly stops in mid air, hovering all the while, and miraculously begins to recede inwards towards the direction where you know the setting to be. You and Hona, linking hands as the force as the force tugs you angrily forward, tumble a few times before making rudely and harsh contact with the pedestal.
The two of you grip each other in abandon as the ash and dust assaults your breathing space, your exposed skin, your very being, the likes of which you both have never felt before. You begin to feel the tiny particles piercing your skin and clothing, and you tuck Hona into your chest, eyes clenched, burying your face in her hair. You hear her screaming out in fear and pain, before...
It's over. In a moment, a fraction of a second, the wind stops. The force stops. The world stops. Silence prevail thereafter, but you are too afraid to open your eyes and uncurl from Hona's safe figure until you feel wartmh on your face.
Peeking your eyes open, and unpeeling from her figure as she unravel from your arms, you look up to the sky when you hear Hona whisper,
"Sorse."
You look down and see a man, ancient looking, wizened, large in frame, floating several inches above the ground. He smiles at you both, but, to you, he just says,
"The Saccularium."
You feel a weight on your lap. As if having materialized out of thin air, there it is in your lap, weighty and real and all yours for the taking. By the time you look up, the man -- Vorus "the World Eater," you realize -- is gone.
You glance at Hona.
{(if:$rogue is 11)[
"Well, that wasn't so bad, was it, gorgeous?" you joke, and you and Hona meet eyes both rest your backs against the pedestal breathlessy, laughing with relief. But hers seems forced and coming from a little far away.
"What do I do now?" she asks the sky.
"Could always stick with me, if you like. No god-killing, no mob friends -- well, usually. Just petty thievery."
You hold up the pendant and laugh.
"More thievery now, I suppose," you realize gleefully.
She laughs and looks at you.
"Thank you," she says, holding out her left hand into the air for you to take. You take it. The two of you hold hands for a while. She continues, "No, I mean it, thank you. And...I'm sorry. I had no idea the Preservers were...worshipping a false god and trapping another one."
"Well, sometimes, these things just happen, you know," you answer.
She laughs again.
"Is that so?"
"Obviously you've never heard of me," you say, finally scrambling to your feet. You reach down to take her hand and she stands beside you. "If you stick around, you'll learn. They call me Sorse the Unwitting, and trouble just follows me everywhere..."
And together, you hobble out of the wreckage of the bank, side by side, the Saccularium hung around your neck.
THE END.](else-if:$dissident is 11)[
"Well, that was an ordeal," you say to her grumpily, but she just rolls her eyes.
You stand up and reach out to yank her up with you.
"Can you blame me for everything?" she asks exasperatedly.
"I'll tell you one thing," you drawl out, "I am never stepping foot into another vault of magical artifacts ever again."
She nods, exhaling heavily.
"Me too," she agrees. Then, she unclasps that bulky silver armor she's been wearing this whole time and lets it fall to the ground around her feet. "And I think I'm done with the Preservers thing," she say. "And maybe with religious god-trapping for a while."
"So you're learning," you quip.
She looks over at you, holds out her hand. You shake it.
"So I am," she says, "and it's been nice knowing you, I suppose. Couldn't have done it without you. I know you prefer being alone, so I'll just be on my way. Good day."
And then, crisply, she turns on her heels and saunters away from the wreckage of the bank. You look down at your own prize. The Saccularium at last.
THE END.](else-if:$diplomat is 11)[
"You alright?" you ask her. She nods. "You sure?" you press.
"Yes, yes, I'm fine," she says, waving you off good naturedly.
"More than fine," you say, holding up your prize.
"So you are," she replies and then looks to the sky. "What do I do now? No god for me to worship, no order. You and your mob friend were right all along."
"Well..." you murmur, thinking. You look up at the horizon. "Whatever you want, I guess. You could always stick with me."
She seems very glad to hear it, and you stand before turning around to help her up.
"But I warn you," you say, "they don't call me Sorse the Unwitting for just anything. Believe it or not, today is a pretty typical weekday."
Hona rolls her eyes, smirking.
"I'm sure I'll get to hear all about it," and the two of you walk out of the wreckage of the bank and into the horizon together.
THE END.](else:)[
"Sorse," she says to you with a stern look. "How did you know nothing bad would happen?"
"I'm a thief," you say, "bad things follow me everywhere. But then again..." You look down at the Saccularium. "Not anymore, I suppose."
You look at her.
"What will you do?" you ask her.
"Go find the other priests, warn them away or find out the truth," she says.
Then, standing, she reaches out to help you up.
"If I see you in the future, I shall resist accosting you again."
"Please do," you say, "though I find the chances of a repeat incident extremely remote, especially now that I've got luck on my side."
"So that's what you were after?" she asks, crossing her arms. "Luck?"
"Why not?" you ask. "Would have done us some good today, don't you think?"
"You speak true," she says, and then, shaking your hand, turns away. "Good day, Sorse. And good luck."
With that you are left alone with your prize. The Saccularium at last.
THE END.]}
In this game, consistency is key. Sorse will lose his way if you decide to meander between the Dissident, Diplomat, and Rogue roles, so do your best to choose only Dissident, Diplomat, and Rogue choices respectively to earn points in those categories. If you choose inconsistently between two category choices, you can often lose points that you've earned from a prior choice. The final points that you've earned are committed at the end of each "round." (text-style: "bold")[To pass speech checks and earn the best endings, it is ideal to have 0s in the categories that you aren't choosing, so choose carefully!]
Try multiple playthroughs to see how the story changes based on your choices!
(text-style: "bold")[NOTE:] The only time this point system does not apply is when you choose any option underneath the caption "optional." These are just choices to help you make better informed decisions in the future.
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-1)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"While I have heard of your admittedly admirable respect for others, it does not change the fact that you are, indeed, a thief, sir. I cannot allow you to absquatulate with holy artifacts, as I can only assume that this is, in fact, your purpose."
Before you can say much else, a booming, authoritative voice echoes through the chamber from the lofty second [[floor.->Lavernus1.0]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-1)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"Do not hope to distract me with your tongue and your wit, thief. Your reputation precedes you. I will not allow you to defile this bank of holy artifacts because of what I am sure is nothing more than hope for greed and a whim!"
Before you can tear into a moving performance of indignation at the guard's gall for interrupting your day, a booming, authoritative voice echoes through the hall from the second floor, interrupting your [[repartee.->Lavernus1.0]]
(set:$dissident to $dissident+1)
(set:$diplomat to $diplomat-1)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Diplomat Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"I know of you, thief, and your reputation of callous disregard for propriety and respect. I will not allow you to abscond with priceless artifacts from this bank in a naive pursuit of fortune with your blatant disregard for the piety therein. These artifacts are not to be defiled by your grubby little hands!"
You open your mouth to proceed to make a scene when a a voice, booming and authoritative, interrupts the methodical [[scene.->Lavernus1.0]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"While I have heard of your admittedly admirable respect for others, it does not change the fact that you are, indeed, a thief, sir. I cannot allow you to absquatulate with holy artifacts, as I can only assume that this is, in fact, your purpose."
Before you can say much else, a booming, authoritative voice echoes through the chamber from the lofty second [[floor.->Lavernus1.0]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
(set:$diplomat to $diplomat-1)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Diplomat Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"Do not hope to distract me with your tongue and your wit, thief. Your reputation precedes you. I will not allow you to defile this bank of holy artifacts because of what I am sure is nothing more than hope for greed and a whim!"
Before you can tear into a moving performance of indignation at the guard's gall for interrupting your day, a booming, authoritative voice echoes through the hall from the second floor, interrupting your [[repartee.->Lavernus1.0]]
(set:$dissident to $dissident+1)
(set:$rogue to $rogue-1)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"I know of you, thief, and your reputation of callous disregard for propriety and respect. I will not allow you to abscond with priceless artifacts from this bank in a naive pursuit of fortune with your blatant disregard for the piety therein. These artifacts are not to be defiled by your grubby little hands!"
You open your mouth to proceed to make a scene when a a voice, booming and authoritative, interrupts the methodical [[scene.->Lavernus1.0]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+2)
(set: $rogue to $rogue-2)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"For what?" she shrieks, pointing behind you. "Death?! (text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar you'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you both is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two of you are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where you and Hona stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"What do we do?" you asked her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts bracingly.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ...take her hand with a carefree laugh.]]
[[...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them.]]
[[ ...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers.]]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+2)
(set: $rogue to $rogue-2)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"Fine then, strong man, maybe you want to take a look at what's happening behind you! There's no time!" With a forceful point, Hona shrieks, (text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar you'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you two is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two of you are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where you stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"How did this happen?" you asked her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ...take her hand with a carefree laugh. ]]
[[...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[ ...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)(text-style: "rumble")[
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"What job?!" Hona shouts, pointing behind you. "(text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar youd'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you both is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and along with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where they stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"There goes that then," you mutter disconsolately more to yourself than her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ...take her hand with a carefree laugh.]]
[[ ...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[ ...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers.]]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+2)
(set: $rogue to $rogue-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+2)
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Diplomat Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+2)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+2)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
(set: $rogue to $rogue-1)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"For what?" she shrieks, pointing behind you. "Death?! (text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar you'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you both is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two of you are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where you and Hona stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"What do we do?" you asked her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts bracingly.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ...take her hand with hardened determination. ]]
[[ ...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[ ...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+2)
(set: $rogue to $rogue-1)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"Fine then, strong man, maybe you want to take a look at what's happening behind you! There's no time!" With a forceful point, Hona shrieks, (text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar you'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you two is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two of you are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where you stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"How did this happen?" you asked her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ...take her hand with hardened determination. ]]
[[ ...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[ ...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)(text-style: "rumble")[
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"What job?!" Hona shouts, pointing behind you. "(text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar youd'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you both is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and along with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where they stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"There goes that then," you mutter disconsolately more to yourself than her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ...take her hand with hardened determination.]]
[[ ...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[ ...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)(text-style: "rumble")[
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"For what?" she shrieks, pointing behind you. "Death?! (text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar you'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you both is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two of you are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where you and Hona stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"What do we do?" you asked her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts bracingly.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ....take her hand with hardened determination. ]]
[[ ....stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[ ....hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+2)
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat-1)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Diplomat Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"Fine then, strong man, maybe you want to take a look at what's happening behind you! There's no time!" With a forceful point, Hona shrieks, (text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar you'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you two is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two of you are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where you stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"How did this happen?" you asked her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ...take her hand with hardened determination. ]]
[[ ...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[ ...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+2)
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat-1)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Diplomat Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"What job?!" Hona shouts, pointing behind you. "(text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar youd'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you both is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and along with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where they stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"There goes that then," you mutter disconsolately more to yourself than her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ....take her hand with hardened determination. ]]
[[ ....stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[ ....hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+2)
(set: $ssident to $dissident-1)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"What job?!" Hona shouts, pointing behind you. "(text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar youd'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you both is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and along with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where they stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"There goes that then," you mutter disconsolately more to yourself than her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[....take her hand with hardened determination. ]]
[[....stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[....hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+2)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-1)(text-style: "rumble")[
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"For what?" she shrieks, pointing behind you. "Death?! (text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar you'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you both is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two of you are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where you and Hona stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"What do we do?" you asked her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts bracingly.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ...take her hand with hardened determination. ]]
[[ ...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[ ...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+1)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Diplomat Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"Fine then, strong man, maybe you want to take a look at what's happening behind you! There's no time!" With a forceful point, Hona shrieks, (text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar you'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you two is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two of you are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where you stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"How did this happen?" you asked her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ...take her hand with hardened determination. ]]
[[ ...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[ ...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+2)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-1)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"What job?!" Hona shouts, pointing behind you. "(text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar youd'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you both is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and along with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where they stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"There goes that then," you mutter disconsolately more to yourself than her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ...take her hand with hardened determination. ]]
[[ ...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[ ...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)(text-style: "rumble")[
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"For what?" she shrieks, pointing behind you. "Death?! (text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar you'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you both is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two of you are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where you and Hona stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"What do we do?" you asked her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts bracingly.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ...take her hand with hardened determination. ]]
[[ ...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[ ...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat-2)
(set: $dissident to $dissident+2)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Diplomat Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"Fine then, strong man, maybe you want to take a look at what's happening behind you! There's no time!" With a forceful point, Hona shrieks, (text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar you'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you two is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two of you are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where you stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"How did this happen?" you asked her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ...take her hand with hardened determination. ]]
[[ ...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[ ...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+2)
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat-2)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Diplomat Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"What job?!" Hona shouts, pointing behind you. "(text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar youd'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you both is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and along with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where they stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"There goes that then," you mutter disconsolately more to yourself than her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ...take her hand with hardened determination. ]]
[[ ...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[ ...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+3)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+3)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)(text-style: "rumble")[
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"For what?" she shrieks, pointing behind you. "Death?! (text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar you'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you both is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two of you are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where you and Hona stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"What do we do?" you asked her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts bracingly.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[...take her hand with hardened determination. ]]
[[...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+2)
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat-1)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"Fine then, strong man, maybe you want to take a look at what's happening behind you! There's no time!" With a forceful point, Hona shrieks, (text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar you'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you two is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two of you are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where you stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"How did this happen?" you asked her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ...take her hand with a carefree laugh. ]]
[[ ...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[ ...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+2)
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat-1)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Diplomat Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"What job?!" Hona shouts, pointing behind you. "(text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar youd'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you both is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and along with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where they stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"There goes that then," you mutter disconsolately more to yourself than her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ...take her hand with a carefree laugh.]]
[[ ...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them.]]
[[ ...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers.]]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+2)
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Diplomat Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+3)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+3)
(set: $rogue to $rogue-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+3)
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Diplomat Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+3)
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Diplomat Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+3)
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat -2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Diplomat Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+3)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+3)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+3)
(set: $rogue to $rogue-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+3)
(set: $rogue to $rogue-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+3)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+3)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+3)
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Diplomat Points]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+3)
(set: $rogue to $rogue-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+3)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+3)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+3)
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Diplomat Points]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+2)
(set: $rogue to $rogue-1)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"For what?" she shrieks, pointing behind you. "Death?! (text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar you'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you both is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two of you are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where you and Hona stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"What do we do?" you asked her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts bracingly.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ...take her hand with hardened determination. ]]
[[ ...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[ ...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+2)
(set: rogue to $rogue-1)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"Fine then, strong man, maybe you want to take a look at what's happening behind you! There's no time!" With a forceful point, Hona shrieks, (text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar you'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you two is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two of you are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where you stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"How did this happen?" you asked her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ...take her hand with hardened determination. ]]
[[ ...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[ ...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)(text-style: "rumble")[
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"What job?!" Hona shouts, pointing behind you. "(text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar youd'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you both is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and along with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where they stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"There goes that then," you mutter disconsolately more to yourself than her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ...take her hand with hardened determination. ]]
[[ ...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[ ...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+2)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-1)(text-style: "rumble")[
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"For what?" she shrieks, pointing behind you. "Death?! (text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar you'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you both is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two of you are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where you and Hona stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"What do we do?" you asked her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts bracingly.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ....take her hand with hardened determination. ]]
[[ ....stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[ ....hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+1)(text-style: "rumble")[
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"Fine then, strong man, maybe you want to take a look at what's happening behind you! There's no time!" With a forceful point, Hona shrieks, (text-style: "shudder")[LOOK]!"
You turn around to see the rubble of the back wall of the entryway you'd just been accosted in listlessly disintegrating into dust in the air. The ashes that remain levitate towards the pillar you'd seen earlier, that had increased alarmingly in breadth and magnitude exponentially. The entire vault behind you two is now overtaken, and the bizarre pillar creeps ever closer to where the two of you are standing.
The bank is lost, you realize, and with it -- the Saccularium.
In fact, you now see, many are lost. Bodies litter the area where you stand, and blood is everywhere.
Feeling slightly faint, you look back to her numbly.
"How did this happen?" you asked her.
"Come with me now and I'll get you through this so we can figure this out!" she shouts.
Hona holds out her hand. You...
[[ ...take her hand with hardened determination. ]]
[[ ...stand looking around in shock and horror as the pillar of destruction drew closer to them. ]]
[[ ...hesitantly accept her outstretched fingers. ]]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+3)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+3)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+3)
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Diplomat Points]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+3)
(set: $rogue to $rogue-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+3)
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Diplomat Points]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+3)
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Diplomat Points]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+3)
(set: $rogue to $rogue-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+3)
(set: $rogue to $rogue-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+3)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+3)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+3)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She nods to you bracingly and the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as they can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
She makes a frustrated sounding noise and grabs your limp hand from your side.
"If you got us into this mess, you're going to get us out!" she snaps, and she drags you so fast you nearly lose your balance in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Get up, man," she orders. "We have to get through this."
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+3)
(set: $dissident to $dissident-2)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Dissident Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
"It'll be okay," she tells you, squeezing your fingers in a strangely comforting way. "We can do this. You can trust me."
Believing her, the two of you sprint in the opposite direction of the pillar of magic spiraling out of control into the sky. The outside is cacophony and visual chaos. Babies crying, women screaming, people shifting around like mice in the helplessness of their situation as the pillar of ashes inches ever forward to encroach upon their hapless existence. Hona pays the emotional carnage no heed. She unties one of the horses outside, a white stallion that shifts in fear and discomfort at all the noise, most likely, and hops on in one fluid motion. She turns the horse in a circle and reaches out her hand.
"Hop on," she says.
You take her hand, pulling yourself up with an attempt at her grace and failing, and the two of you ride as hard and as fast as you can in any direction that isn't in that of the pillar of [[magic.->Chapter 3]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+2)
(set: $rogue to $rogue-1)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
Hona turns to you, mouth agape, indignation so much bettering her than surprise or fear, that you cannot determine if she is either very brave or very dimwitted.
"Excellent choice," Castus commends, smirking. "I do remember my friends."
Then, dismissively, he turns away.
"Now, do be on your way. I will leave the servants to help you clean up the last loose end."
You are both "escorted" out of the room by your elbows by the shallow husks of people in his service, dragging and struggling [[loudly.->Criminal Intro]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
Hona, breathlessly, glances over at you, spitting blood before her kneeling position towards Castu, before you, too, are struck.
"You never did know when to (text-style: "italic")[shut up], did you?" Castus seethed. Again, to his lackeys, he mutters, "Fine. If you won't swear to me, I'll make you see reason. Kill them both."
You are both "escorted" out of the room by your elbows by the shallow husks of people in his service, dragging and struggling [[loudly.->Criminal Intro]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
Hona looks at you dejectedly, fear clouding her eyes for just long enough for it to get to you as well.
"Ugh, do you ever shut up, Sorse? It's always an argument with you. In fact,"
Castus turns his back on the two, waving his hand.
"Kill them both," he orders.
You are both "escorted" out of the room by your elbows by the shallow husks of people in his service, dragging and struggling [[loudly.->Criminal Intro]]
(set: $dissident to $dissident+2)
(set: $rogue to $rogue-1)
(text-style: "italic")[You've lost Rogue Points.]
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
Hona turns to you, mouth agape, indignation so much bettering her than surprise or fear, that you cannot determine if she is either very brave or very dimwitted.
"Excellent choice," Castus commends, smirking. "I do remember my friends."
Then, dismissively, he turns away.
"Now, do be on your way. I will leave the servants to help you clean up the last loose end."
You are both "escorted" out of the room by your elbows by the shallow husks of people in his service, dragging and struggling [[loudly.->Criminal Intro]]
(set: $diplomat to $diplomat+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
Hona, breathlessly, glances over at you, spitting blood before her kneeling position towards Castu, before you, too, are struck.
"You never did know when to (text-style: "italic")[shut up], did you?" Castus seethed. Again, to his lackeys, he mutters, "Fine. If you won't swear to me, I'll make you see reason. Kill them both."
You are both "escorted" out of the room by your elbows by the shallow husks of people in his service, dragging and struggling [[loudly.->Criminal Intro]]
(set: $rogue to $rogue+1)
$diplomat:Diplomat Points
$dissident:Dissident Points
$rogue:Rogue Points
Hona looks at you dejectedly, fear clouding her eyes for just long enough for it to get to you as well.
"Ugh, do you ever shut up, Sorse? It's always an argument with you. In fact,"
Castus turns his back on the two, waving his hand.
"Kill them both," he orders.
You are both "escorted" out of the room by your elbows by the shallow husks of people in his service, dragging and struggling [[loudly.->Criminal Intro]]