Fortnightly Writing Competition: Choose Your Own Adventure (Results)

[Frodo]

Ack, I've not had much time to write more.   
Can I get an extension?  Please? 


****************************************************************


The mob all peer over the side of the mountain, into the water far below.  But it's dark.  And the crashing waves makes it hard to see anything. 

Then… a flash of lightning lights up the area, just for a brief second. 


ENZIO:   *shouts*   THERE!   *points down below*   Right there!  I saw her! 

DARIO:   *looks where Enzio is pointing*   Where?  I don't see anything. 

ENZIO: Right there.  To the left of the rock.  I saw a dark shape.  It HAS to be her. 

FABRIZIO:  Says who?  It could have been anything?  A fish under the water.  A bit of seaweed.  More rocks.  Anything! 

ENZIO:  It was her, I tell you! 


Just then, another flash of lightning lights up.  Enzio and Fabrizio look down into the water.  Sure enough, there's a dark shape, about human size, floating in the water, hitting against the rocks. 

The mob, satisfied that the royal princess did indeed jump to her death, disband, and make their way home. 

The curse is broken.  The villagers are safe.


The End.

[Baron]

   You decide to try to get by the Sgruck and back down to the statue axon chute.  You fake left, and then right, but the Sgruck mirrors your movements exactly.  Then it begins to creep up the stairs towards you as if it is floating upon the ghostly black cloud that surrounds it.

   It is now or never.  You remember that the axon chute statue was on the right of the stairway, so you jump into the undergrowth to your left.  The slope is steep and the mud is slick, so you are immediately lying on your back and sliding blindly through the thick leaves.  Above your head you see plants being scythed out of the way by great monstrous claws, but the Sgruck can not quite match the force of gravity in this dream-world.  You collide with the statue at the bottom more by accident than by design, and instantly the dream-world vanishes into a void of blackness.

   And then just as suddenly you are seated in the cockpit of some kind of space craft.  You are surrounded by screens and buttons, and out the port-side window a giant gas planet looms large.  All is still but for the gentle beeping of instruments. 

   You unstrap yourself from the seat, noticing as you do that you are wearing a full space suit except for the helmet.  With the strap removed you float weightlessly above the floor.  You push yourself through the air towards the door at the back of the cockpit, and it opens automatically for you to pass through. 

   After a long tube you pass through another door into a kind of command centre filled with monitors and instruments.  As you float by you notice that one of the monitors shows an ace of spades symbol.  Several doors lead out from this room.  You explore each in turn, floating through a canteen and some sleeping quarters and an airlock and a cargo bay.  In one of the connecting tubes you find the jade talisman suspended mid-air, and are careful to avoid it for the time being.  The ship or space station or whatever it is appears to be completely deserted.

   You are coasting along through an exercise area when you notice black tendrils of smoke drifting out of a ventilation pipe in the ceiling.  You back away slowly, silently floating through the air towards the door.  There is the sound of claws scratching on metal, and the duct begins to deform.  A few more feet to go....

   Suddenly the Sgruck bursts out of the ventilation pipe and lands on the floor, apparently unaffected by the lack of gravity in space.  It turns towards you, shrieking, but you have already reached the door.  It closes automatically, and you quickly press an adjacent button with a locking symbol on it.  The Sgruck reaches the door moments later but is frustrated by the barrier.  It bangs and claws at it, but the material of the door holds firm.

   You do notice wisps of black smoke slipping past the door at the edges and resolve to leave before the Sgruck can use its nightmarish magic to bypass the door.  You decide that your best course of action is to rush back to the axon chute in the command centre. 

   It is at this precise moment that the glint of blonde hair in sunlight catches your eye outside a portal window.  Moving closer, you are amazed to see Katarina free floating in open space, unprotected by any kind of equipment.  Her hair waves every which way, and she is in fact wearing what look like teddy bear pyjamas.  She smiles girlishly at you before disappearing from view.

   You stare into the empty vacuum in disbelief.  Should you still rush back to the axon chute in the command centre, or should you proceed to the airlock and try to retrieve Katarina?

If you decide to head to the axon chute on the screen in the command centre, turn to PAGE 46

If you decide to go to the airlock to try to retrieve Katarina, turn to PAGE 44   

[Baron]

        You might not get another chance as good as this, given that Katarina and the jade talisman are both within relative proximity.  Sgrucks be damned, you decide to push your way through the crowd towards Katarina.  In mere moments you are standing in the open space that she has cleared with her whimsical twirling.

   â€œKatarina,” you call gently, but she does not acknowledge your existence.  You call her name again, and then try to grab her outstretched arm as she twirls past.  She has surprising strength, however, and you are soon swept up into a kind of awkward dance with her.

   You look into her face, but her eyes are glazed as if she is entranced.  You call her name again, dragging your feet to bring the spinning at last to a stop.  “The dance is over now,” you say, trying to plausibly bridge your two realities.  “Oh no!” you gasp in mock surprise.  “You've lost your jade necklace!”

   Katarina's eyes suddenly focus on you before turning to look down at her chest.  She looks around, confused, but you hold her hand tightly in yours.  “We have to find it....” she says absently.

   â€œYes,” you agree, looking around.  There are already menacing growls coming from somewhere in the thick crowd.  “This way, I think.”  You lead her on a circuitous route that will bring you back to the jewelry stall, hopefully after the Sgruck has left to follow the trail of your scent.  But the crowd becomes thick, and the going difficult.  There is fierce howling now, although from where in the crowd you can not tell.  Katarina winces at the sound, and tries to pull away from you.

   â€œWe're almost there!” you tell her.

   â€œWho are you?!” she shouts back, succeeding in pulling her hand away.

   â€œThere's no time for that now,” you say, trying to keep your voice down.  “We were travelling together and I'm trying to save you, and you have to trust me right now.”

   But Katarina slides behind a man with a hand cart, separating you from her.

   â€œI don't even know you,” she says accusingly.  “Where have you brought me?  What are those terrible noises?”

   â€œThey're just nightmares,” you say, extending your hand in desperation.  You are not twenty paces from the jewelry stand.  “Come on.  Please!  I'll explain it all to you in two minutes.”

   Katarina stares deeply into your eyes, and her expression seems to soften slightly.  She seems just on the verge of taking your hand again, when suddenly the Sgruck bellows  from somewhere right nearby.  Katarina panics and flees into the crowd.  You have only moments to decide what to do.

If you decide to pursue Katarina, turn to PAGE 5

If you decide to make a final dash for the jade talisman, turn to PAGE 64

[Baron]

        You decide that there is no option but run back up the stone steps for the jade talisman.  The Sgruck bounds after you, baying triumphantly.  At the top of the stairs you turn and fling the stone dagger at it, striking it right in the mouth.  It howls in pain for a moment before melting into a cloud of black vapour.

   Your heart is pounding harder than the rain upon your head.  You turn and to your great surprise you see Katarina back upon the stone lintel above the altar.  She is staring at you with half-vacant eyes, head tilted to the side. 

   â€œKatarina!” you call.  “Jump down to me.  We have to get you out of here!”

   But Katarina just continues to stare.  “What is the fluid that runs up hills?” she asks cryptically.

   Your brow furrows at the riddle, not knowing what to make of it.  Only too late do you notice the tendrils of black vapour creeping up the stairs and snaking around your legs.  Instinctively you dash for the talisman, but a clawed hand shoots out of the black cloud and seizes your leg.  A disembodied mouth appears from the fog, teeth open wide for the kill.

   In desperation you toss a broken piece of stone statue into the gaping maw and then attempt a frenzied crawl towards the pedestal with the talisman.  You are jerked backwards and feel an intense pain in your leg, but then you are surging forwards again and seize the talisman with a last ditched effort.

   All goes dark as you float through the weightless void.

Turn to PAGE 34

[Sinitrena]

Okay, let's keep this open over the weekend. Finish your stories by the end of the 24th February! This is the last extension.

[Baron]

   Blackness.  Then suddenly you are standing in a busy market.  Men and women wearing colourful costumes push by you on all sides, each with their face hidden behind a kind of veil.  An exotic kind of music fills the air, and there is the smell of perfume and cooking food.

    You push your way through the throng, constantly looking around.  A fat man tries to sell you a carpet.  You are about to shove it away when you notice the ace of spades woven into it.  “Maybe later,” you mutter, taking a mental note of where the carpet seller's stand is located within the larger market.

   You move on, passing merchants hawking musical instruments, exotic birds, funny platform shoes and ornamental weapons.  You pause at a stand selling jewelry, scanning the merchant's wares for the jade talisman, but it doesn't seem to be here.

   â€œSomething catches your eye, good sir?” the merchant asks.

   â€œNo.  These are all cheap trinkets,” you say.  “I'm looking for something special, made of gold and jade.”

   â€œAh!  A discerning buyer!  I might have just what you are after.”  The merchant flourishes his hand, and then reaches into his sleeve to pull out a gaudy looking brooch.  “Perhaps you find this pleasing?”

   â€œNo,” you say flatly.

   â€œPerhaps this then?” the merchant asks, producing a bejewelled lamp.

   You shake your head, turning to look over the crowd for some sign of Katarina.  The merchant grabs your arm forcefully, begging you not to leave until you have seen his finest wares.  You try to ignore him, but suddenly the jade talisman is thrust just inches from your face.

   â€œLet me go!” you tell the man, but his grip only tightens.

   â€œSir must try it on, yes?” the man says, leaning close to you.

   You dare not touch the talisman, so instead you try to push the man away by the face.  Only your hand goes right through the veil, revealing nothing but emptiness inside.  Suddenly the clothes just fall into a heap on the ground, while the talisman falls onto a display hook at the front of the merchant stand.  You look around, wondering if anyone in the crowd noticed what just transpired, but everyone seems to be going about their business as usual.  You turn back to the pile of clothes and are horrified to see tendrils of black vapour beginning to emanate from them.

   Quickly you push your way back into the crowd towards the carpet sellers.  In your haste you knock the veil off an old lady, who also collapses as a pile of empty clothes.

   â€œOh shit,” you mutter aloud as this pile too begins to give off black tendrils of smoke.

   You carefully squeeze your way through the throng towards the carpet seller once more when you suddenly see Katarina.  Her blonde hair is twirling as she dances to the exotic music in the centre of the square.  Staring at her, you notice that there seems to be no relationship between her movements and the rhythm of the song.

   You have only moments to make a decision.  Do you shove your way through the last of the crowd to get to the axon chute at the carpet seller's, or do you grab Katarina now and try to dodge past the coming Sgruck to get back to the jade talisman?

If you decide to return to the axon chute at the carpet stand, turn to PAGE 60

If you decide to grab Katarina and go for the talisman, turn to PAGE 27

[Baron]

   You decide to race back to the airlock and attempt to retrieve Katarina from space.  You fly through the tubes connecting the pods like a bullet, being sure to lock all the doors behind you as you proceed.  You pass the jade talisman, floating in the middle of the tube on your way to the cargo bay.  From there, you turn left, and shoot through the last tube to the airlock. 

   Thankfully there is a helmet waiting for you there.  You fix it securely onto your suit, mash at the buttons on your chest until a reassuring draught of air starts to blow on your face, and then punch at the button on the wall.  The far door blows open and there is a great whoosh of air sweeping you out into space.  At the last moment you manage to grab onto the lip of outer airlock door, and by that point the surge of air has subsided.  You pull yourself around the door frame and emerge into the open vastness of space.

   You are amazed at the sheer scale of the universe.  The gas giant planet looms massively above you.  A carpet of stars stretches below you out into infinity.  And the molecule-like space station of pods and tubes stretches a surprising distance behind you.  You try to get your bearings in order to determine where it was that you saw Katarina, but the complexity of the station has you puzzled.  You resolve to float through the interlacing pods in an attempt to find her.

   At the extremity of the space station the vastness of space seems to tie your stomach in a knot, but once inside the web of pods and tubes of the space station you feel somewhat sheltered.  Occasionally you get close enough to a tube or pod to bounce gently off of it, and peering through the windows you find that you recognize a few pods.  You find the exercise area where you first encountered the Sgruck, but it is empty.  You suddenly wonder whether you would be able to notice the tell-tale sign of the black vapour cloud against the infinite blackness of space....

   But such thoughts are instantly washed from your mind as you turn to see Katarina twirling by above you, still in her teddy pyjamas, blonde hair dancing like a solar corona.  In a great stroke of luck she is heading in your direction.  You calculate your jump carefully, not intending to intercept her but to parallel her course.  Soon you are gliding side-by-side through the geometric womb of the space station.

   â€œHa ha!” Katarina laughs, thrilling at the sensation of twirling through space.  “Who are you?”

   You laugh as well, and tell her your name.  “Come here often?” you ask, winking.

   She laughs some more, thoroughly enjoying the moment.  “Have you ever done anything so incredible?”

   â€œOnly once, around Saturn,” you reply.

   Katarina bursts out laughing so loud that she actually sprays condensation onto the outside of your helmet.  You wonder for a moment at the physics of that, but decide not to question the parameters of the dream-world.

   â€œOh!” she says, suddenly serious.

   You turn to follow her gaze and realize that you are leaving the confines of the station and heading directly towards the glowing gas-giant!  You contemplate in horror Newton's first law of motion, and suddenly wish you had squandered your education on 18th century French poetry instead.

   But you quickly realize that Katarina was not suddenly aware of the physics of space.  What you had assumed was just a dark cloud on the planet's surface resolves itself into a flailing nightmarish creature at much greater proximity.  It snarls at you and waves its claws at you angrily.

   â€œI don't like it!” Katarina says, burrowing her head into your shoulder.  “Make it go away!”

   You look left and right, trying to think of options.  There is nothing to grab onto, nothing to push against.  There is nothing out here at all except you and Katarina, the gravity defying Sgruck, a space suit, and a pair of teddy pyjamas.

   Wait!  The space suit!  The air-tank seems to be attached to a backpack that comes off!  You remove the pack as quickly as you can, positioning it between you and the Sgruck.  It shrieks a bloodthirsty cry of triumph, and then shoots a clawed appendage out towards you.  A vicious claw punctures the tank, suddenly sending you and Katarina spiralling back towards the space station.

   â€œHold on!” you shout, trying to control your direction.  You see a well-lit blur spinning wildly ahead of you and realize it must be the open airlock cabin.  Sensors start flashing red inside your helmet, warning you of impending oxygen loss, but you are almost there....

   In a terrific stroke of luck you manage to shoot back into the airlock just as your air runs out!  A few mashed buttons later and the airlock is closed and pressurized once more.  You remove your helmet and take a grateful breath of recycled station air.

   â€œPhew!  That was close!” you say, noticing that Katarina is still hugging you.

   She looks up at you and you wink back.  You feel her body relax, and a hint of a smile returns to the corners of her mouth.

   You open the inner airlock door, expecting to see a Sgruck lurking to ambush you, but the tube back up to the cargo bay is silent and empty.

   â€œWhat is this place?” Katarina asks.   

   â€œIt's all just a dream,” you tell her truthfully.  “We need to find your jade necklace.  Will you help me find it?”

   Katarina looks down at her chest, noticing that the talisman is not where it should be.  “Yes,” she says.  “Where can we find it?”

   â€œHopefully just up ahead.”

   You clasp hands and shoot together through the long tube towards the cargo bay.  You bang your head awkwardly colliding with the far doors.  Katarina smirks, but manages to contain her laughter.

   You rub your aching head.  “I forgot I locked it,” you mutter.  Before unlocking the door you peer carefully through the tiny windows to see if there is any danger on the other side.  It seems safe.

   You cautiously enter the cargo bay.  There are two exits from this pod.  The first goes back to the canteen and has the jade talisman floating in the connecting tube.  The second leads back to the command centre.

   â€œHere goes nothing,” you say, opening the door to the first tube.  There is the jade talisman, floating tantalizingly in the middle of the tube.  But at the far end of the tube there is a cloud of black vapour that suddenly resolves itself into the fearsome outline of a Sgruck.  It bellows a challenge to you.  Do you accept?

   This is it.  Or is it?  Do you dare race the Sgruck for the talisman floating innocuously between you?  Or do you lock the door and bolt with Katarina for the axon chute back in the command centre, trusting that it will reunite you with the talisman in some other dream world?

If you decide to race the Sgruck for the talisman, turn to PAGE 56

If you decide to lock the door and bolt for the axon chute on the command centre monitor, turn to PAGE 13

[Baron]

        Suddenly you are in the midst of a great medieval battle.  All around you is the din of metal clanging on metal, of voices shouting and screaming in agony or triumph.  Faceless warriors behind helmets and masks slash viciously at similarly clad warriors.  You cannot fathom how they can tell who is on who's side, but perhaps for them it doesn't matter?

   You are drawn from your thoughts by an axe narrowly missing your face.  You roll to the ground, instinctively sweeping your leg out to trip up the warrior attacking you.  He stumbles back and is soon smote by yet another warrior.  He falls to the ground, motionless, and you begin to sigh in relief.

   And then the black tendrils of smoke begin to pour out of the eye slots of his helmet.

   You are instantly on your feet again, running.  One warrior swings a sword at you, but you are able to dodge just in time.  Another waves a mace, but you are able to dive through his legs.  An arrow smites a warrior to your left, and more black smoke begins to billow out.  You grab his shield, using it to frantically push your way through the fray.  More and more warriors fall, and the black smoke seems to choke the air.  There is no sign of the ace of spades or the jade talisman.

   And then a half-fallen warrior manages to slice your leg with his sword.  You try to stumble onwards, but the cut is deep and your leg will not respond to your will.  Another pair of warriors locked in mortal embrace careen out of control and knock you over.  There is the sound of baying, as if a pack of a thousand wolves just caught the scent of prey.

   You crawl beneath the feet of the dancing warriors, sometimes trampled and sometimes stabbed.   The black clouds form a layer of fog that entirely covers the ground now, and from the fog begin to rise the metallic spikes.

   In just moments you are seized by great clawed hands and your body is quickly torn to pieces.

You are dead

[Baron]

    You decide that it is now or never.  Grasping Katarina by the hand, you shout “hurry!” and push off down the tube towards the talisman.  Katarina is less enthusiastic about flying towards the monstrous Sgruck, however, and her hesitation acts like an anchor, swinging you into the wall of the tube.  She in turn looses her footing, and now you are both careening out of control, bouncing off the walls of the tube towards the Sgruck!  Through the chaos you catch a glimpse of the Sgruck swallowing the jade talisman as it advances down the tube.  Katarina screams in complete terror, and soon great globules of floating blood go bouncing down tube.

You are both dead

[Baron]

    You decide the safest course is to head back to the command centre and try another axon chute.  You fly through the tubes of the space station head-first like a super hero, never flinching at the doors that always open for you at the last possible second.  That is, until the second last door opens to reveal a frightful creature clad in black smoke and wearing two menacing grins.

   At the last second you stretch out lengthwise to collide with the frame of the door, quickly manipulating the button at the edge to close and lock the door.  Immediately tendrils of black smoke begin to seep in from along the edges of the door.

   You push off to fly in the opposite direction once more, trying to conceptualize how the pods of the station are linked in order to find a route around.  You pass through a medical bay, a plant-growing room, and a lounge. 

   You are about to lose your cool when you notice the giant monitor on the lounge wall and an idea strikes you.  You stop yourself and rush over to the monitor, mashing at buttons to try to change the feed.  A variety of programmes, each more bizarre than the last flash by.  You are aware that black tendrils of smoke have begun leaking from the lounge's ventialtion and that you have only moments before another Sgruck bursts into the room.

   And then suddenly the ace of spades symbol comes up on the screen.  You release the breath that you hadn't realized you were holding and press your hand against the screen.
   
Turn to PAGE 43

[Baron]

        You decide that you must persevere in this dream scenario despite the dangers.  You approach the first door, feeling the nob for heat and listening for the nightmarish sounds of the Sgruck on the other side.  Suddenly the door lurches in its frame and there is a hideous, bloodthirsty baying from the other side.  You sense that you have only moments before the creature bursts through the door.

   The second door you try also barely contains a Sgruck, but the third is quiet, although the knob is hot to the touch.  Steeling yourself, you jerk the door open.  Flames lick up the stairwell, but at least there is no monster.  However, great scratch marks criss-cross the inside of the doorway.

   Setting aside your fear you charge up the stairs.  The stench of flame consuming hair fills your nostrils, but you succeed in emerging comparatively unscathed onto the second floor.  “Katarina!” you yell, but there is no response.  You do notice a painting of a ship at the far end of the hall, and from the frame dangles the jade talisman.

   You go from room to room, desperately searching as the flames lick walls and ceilings.  The heat is unbearable, but you are acutely aware that this will be your last chance to find Katarina.  You open the door to the last room, discovering it to be empty.  Shit!

   And then you see the ghostly figure of a girl walking through the snow outside, wrapped in what looks like a bed-sheet.  To your frustration the window will not open.  You are about to kick through the glass when a burning joist falls from above, narrowly missing you but blocking your path to the window. 

   You dash back to the burning stairwell, which is now entirely consumed by flame.  You take one step into the inferno before considering what happened back in the ruined city.  Instead, you walk backwards, retracing your steps into the room with the fallen joist.

   â€œI know you are lost, and I'm here to find you,” you say, without turning around, not daring to hope that your reverse thinking has worked.

   â€œWho are you?” Katarina's voice asks back.

   You turn to see her, wrapped in a bed-sheet but nothing else.  Her hair is dishevelled and there is a stunned look to her eyes, but she is otherwise completely unscathed by the fire all around her.

   â€œThere is no time to explain,” you say, grasping her by the hand.  “We just need to get to the jade talisman, ok?”

   She nods absently, allowing you to pull her into the hallway.  But where there was once glowing flame there is now a chilling blackness.  A grotesque creature is blocking your path to the talisman at the end of the hallway, baring large metallic teeth and snarling menacingly.

   You quickly drag Katarina into the room across the hall, slamming the door behind you.  There are only moments before the creature bursts through the door.  Do you try somehow to outflank it to get to the jade talisman?  Or do you try to jump from the window with Katarina and make a run for the axon chute back at the sign-post?

If you decide to go for the talisman despite the Sgruck, turn to PAGE 19

If you decide to go for the sign-post axon chute, turn to PAGE 22

[Baron]

        Your experience on the space station was harrowing enough.  You cannot imagine trying to escape from a pack of Sgruck stuck out in the open.  After one last longing glance at Katarina, you begin to push your way through the crowd once more.  Behind you is the fearsome roar of a Sgruck, but no one else seems to notice it.  The crowd is packed too tightly together now and you can barely move.  The beast will be upon you in moments.

   In desperation you being ripping the veils off of the people blocking your path.  Instantly they fall into heaps of clothes, each off-gassing the fearsome tendrils of smoke that herald the coming of another Sgruck.  Dozens fall, then scores.  You are almost there.

   The original Sgruck emerges from the crowd right behind you, bellowing fiercely.  But it seems momentarily distracted by the great clouds of other Sgruck wafting up from the fallen clothing.  You seize your chance and make a last push towards the carpet stand, diving to put your hand onto the carpet.  Instantly you are in the safety of the black void once more.

Turn to PAGE 58

[cat]

Continuing A to B
Please start reading the story here: https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=56878.msg636601694#msg636601694

Spoiler

You stand up and offer your seat to the old lady, who happily accepts and sits down. As you turn around, you look into a somewhat familiar face, although you can't put a name on it. It's a man, about your age, and also seems to ponder who you are. Suddenly it occurs to you who you are looking at. It's a colleague back from high school. No wonder you didn't recognise him immediately, you haven't met him since you graduated. He also wasn't one of your closer friends and you belonged to different cliques. At the same time, he recognises you, too. Seems like you have changed quite a bit as well...
You start some small-talk about current whereabouts, who else from the class you have contact with, what happened to the other colleagues and so on. A blast from the past on a Monday morning train. When your station is announced over the loudspeaker, you quickly exchange contact information. Then you say goodbye and make your way to the exit.

Go to Hammersmith

[close]

[cat]

My "story" should be finished. I hope I wired up everything correctly. Please let me know if I missed something.

[Frodo]

The girl closes her eyes for a moment, trying to make sense of the last 24 hours.  Why are these people hunting her?  She's a Royal Princess, after all.  Everyone loves her… don't they?  Her parents died when she was very young, and she's been raised by her Royal Advisor, who acted as Steward to the throne until Anastasia‘s 18th birthday, when she will inherit the throne.  Despite having no parents, she's led a privileged life until now. 

But that was before her trusted Royal Advisor told her about the curse - that when the first-born daughter of royal blood reaches her 18th birthday and inherits the throne, a curse would be unleashed, bring death and disease to Greece.  Then he betrayed her, and dragged her out to the mob. 

She doesn't believe in the curse, of course, but this is a small town, and superstition gives way to paranoia and fear.   

She jumps, as a crash of thunder beats down.  Then a flash of lightning lights up the dark sky, revealing the edge of the moors, giving way to a sharp drop.  She can hear the crash of waves far below her.  There's nowhere for her to run.


Minutes later, the angry mob reach the edge of the mountain. 

They look at each other, completely baffled.  THERE'S NO SIGN OF ANASTASIA! 


FABRIZIO:  *looks around*   Where did she go?   

LORENZO:   *shrugs*   How should I know?  I'm not a mind reader. 

FABRIZIO:  She can't have escaped…

LORENZO:  Well, where is she then?  She's not here… she MUST have escaped.

MATTIA:  Wait… what's this?   


Mattia sees something in the muddy ground.  He picks it up. 


MATTIA:  It's her royal signet ring. 

DARIO: She must have dropped it.  But where IS she? 

ENZIO: *peeks over the edge*   You don't suppose she… do you think she jumped?   

DARIO:  It's a long way down. 

FABRIZIO:  She would never survive those rocks at the bottom. 

DARIO:  Well, where IS she then? 



A brief silence falls over the mob, as they ponder over where Anastasia could be. 



Did she jump over the edge, into the deep water below?
Go HERE


Is she hiding somewhere nearby?
Go HERE

[Sinitrena]

My "story" should be finished. I hope I wired up everything correctly. Please let me know if I missed something.

You did wire everything correctly, and so did WHAM.  I checked the stories of you two. Baron, Frodo, you still seem to work on your entries? You have slightly more than a day left.

Let me just say that all of your work is impressive. I'm looking forward to reading all finished entries

[Frodo]

Rivermouth…

The bustling town of Rivermouth, as the name may suggest, sits on the edge of a river.  A sandy beach is overlooked by high cliffs and mountains.

Ana stands on the edge of the cliff, enjoying the sea breeze blowing through her hair.


ANA:   *softly*   Osiris, you heard my prayer.  You saved me.  And for that, I thank you.  I just… never imagined you could send me through time. 


She looks down at the waves below, crashing against the rocks. Being near the sea like this always makes her feel calm, and helps her forget how lonely she is.

She came to Rivermouth on her 18th birthday.  That was 2 years ago now.  But she still feels like an outsider. Being shy, she finds it hard to make friends. Her sheltered upbringing doesn't help matters. But her difficulty in talking to people, especially strangers, comes across as arrogance and coldness, so most people tend to shun her. Besides, she finds the company of animals MUCH more pleasant than the company of people.

She hears a bark from behind her, and before she can react, a dog trots up, and sits down beside her. She looks at the dog.



ANA: *to the dog* Well, hello there.


Ana smiles and squats down, so she can pet the dog.


ANA: And what's your name? *still petting the dog*


A voice replies.


VOICE: Bandit.

ANA: Bandit? That's a good name.


Ana looks around, and sees the dog's owner walking towards her.


MAN: I call him Bandit, cos he's a little rogue, and likes to get his nose into everything, and ‘borrow' things, just like a bandit. *chuckles* Hi, I'm Ben. Me and Bandit just moved here last week.

ANA: I'm Ana.

BEN: It's a beautiful view from this cliff top, overlooking the water.

ANA: *nods* I come up here for a walk every day. I find it relaxing, hearing the waves below.

BEN: *looks at her* That's an interesting accent you have. If you don't mind… where are you from?

ANA: Greece. My parents are from Greece. But I left there long ago.

BEN: I'm still trying to find my way around Rivermouth. Is there any other local landmarks you can recommend? Preferably with some wildlife?

ANA: I… uh…


Ben seems like a nice young man.  And she DESPERATELY needs a friend?  But can she risk talking to her and showing him around Rivermouth?  Should she risk him finding out her secret?  If he knew the truth about her, that would surely be the end for her.  Then again, it's been so long since she's been able to trust anyone. 



Does she make an excuse, and leave?
Go HERE


Does she offer to give Ben a tour of Rivermouth? 
Go HERE

[Baron]

        Katarina is gone.  You doubt you will find her quickly in this thick crowd, and the Sgruck are closing in.  With a heavy heart you decide that your only option for survival is to dash for the jade talisman, only twenty paces away.

        There is the furious baying of predatory creatures all around you, but you can see nothing but the churning crowd that hems you in and the ghostly ringlets of black smoke wafting along the ground.  You try to push your way towards the jewellery stand, but you are blocked by bodies standing shoulder to shoulder.

        "Peace be with you, friend," a veiled man tells you, grasping your arm firmly.

        "Peace!" mutter others, also trying to latch on to you.  In desperation you grab at the first man's veil, causing is clothes to collapse into an empty pile and the foul smoke to erupt from them.  Only this time you grab the pile of empty clothes, quickly throwing them over your own.  Your plan is to camouflage yourself for the last couple steps.

         As you expected, the crowd suddenly pays you no mind.  There is fearsome growling all around you, but even the Sgruck seem to be thrown off by your ruse!  Only ten paces to the jewellery stand remain.  Now only five!

         You are but two paces from the talisman when a great armed claw bursts out of belly of your clothing, flailing towards you.  Another bursts out of the shoulder, and a third from your hip.  There is an intensely malicious snarl from your right leg, and then your only sensation is sharp, stabbing pain.  You reel, careening off of people in the crowd.  Blood is spattering over their colourful costumes; your blood!  You fall towards the jewellery stand with its dangling talisman, arm outstretched.

         Suddenly all goes black.  You are not sure whether you managed to touch the talisman or not, but in the stillness of the void you are suddenly at peace.

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[Baron]

        Deciding that the odds are not in your favour in this world, you dash back to the sign-post.  Blood pounds hard in your ears, or is that the pounding of clawed feet in pursuit?  You dare not look over your shoulder as you sprint the last few paces and touch the sign-post.

        Instantly you are in the black stillness of the void once more.  With any luck the next dream will find Katarina and the jade talisman in close proximity to one another.  You cross your fingers, as suddenly a new world resolves itself around you.

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[Baron]

    You dare not race the Sgruck, and so quickly close and lock the door to the tube.  “Come on, this way!” you shout to Katarina, tugging her towards the other tube.

   â€œWhat are those things?!?” she asks, not needing much coaxing to flee.

   â€œSgruck,” you reply.  She looks at you as if you just swore at her.  “They're called Sgruck,” you explain as you both shoot down the tube.  “If we can find and touch the ace of spades we'll get away from them.”

   â€œHow?”

   â€œYou'll see.”

   The far door opens automatically as it is unlocked, and you are briefly seized with panic as your momentum carries you through the doorway into unknown peril.  Fortunately there is no Sgruck in the command pod yet.

   â€œThat screen?” Katarina asks, immediately identifying the correct monitor.

   â€œYes.  That symbol stands for an axon chute, kind of a portal between worlds.  When we touch it we'll be sucked into a new reality.”

   â€œAnd there will be no Sgruck in that new place?”

   â€œNot exactly,” you say, pausing in front of the monitor.  “They'll come looking for us, but we'll have a head start.  When we get to the new world we have to quickly find another ace of spades or the jade talisman.”

   â€œJade talisman?”

   â€œYour necklace.  That's how we get away from the Sgruck forever.  We hold hands and touch the jade talisman.”  You notice black smoke leaking into the command centre pod.

   â€œOkay.  The ace of spades or the jade necklace,” Katarina repeats to herself.

   â€œI prefer to think of it as a jade talisman.”

   She shakes her head at you incredulously. 

   â€œReady?” you ask.  She nods.

   You grasp her hand firmly and you both touch the monitor together.  All goes black.

   â€œWhere are we?” asks a disembodied voice in the blackness.

   â€œWait for it,” you reply.

   â€œWait for what?”

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