$T[ ]
The trip takes longer than you expected. At least it feels much longer.
You’re 22 years old, fresh out of a Bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communication, whatever that’s supposed to mean, and you’re almost broke. An airplane ticket is out of the question. So you take the bus to London, where you catch the Eurostar to Paris; it’s crowded and not particularly comfortable; you have to wait a couple of hours in Paris before catching the international train from Gare de Lyon, where you settle in and
[[prepare for the long ride.]]
(set: $time to "21:45")
(set: $hour to 21)
(set: $minute to 45)
$T[ ]
Why did you decide to do this anyways?
It certainly wasn’t the money, though your bank account could appreciate every little bit it can get.
“You’ll see the world and become wiser!” your mum said.
“You’ll nail some hot Romanian chicks!” argued your friends.
"I'll finally have time to work on my book!" you said to yourself.
You bought into those arguments and now here you are, ready for an adventure.
The train takes several days as it chugs its way through the green fields of eastern France, the small villages in the mountains of Germany and the hills of Austria, filled with more wind turbines and farms than you thought possible.
You stop every now and then, get off at some station where you have a coffee and a sandwich while you chat to some random people, waiting for your next train relay. As you go farther East the locals speak less and less English and the polite germanic accents are replaced with friendly but confused slavic tones. You smile and nod, trying to remember some of the words. After all, this is what it’s all about, right?
[[Continue journey->get off.]]
(set: $day to "Friday")
(set: $time to "9:20")
(set: $hour to 9)
(set: $minute to 20)$T[ ]
The final train drops you off at Timisoara, a big city in western Romania. From there you take another bus to Lugoj; this one is far less crowded and you find yourself entertaining the idea to chat with the old lady sitting next to you.
[[Try to have a conversation]]
[[Remain silent]]$T[ ]
You decide to test your language skills and ask her a few basic questions. The few months of online lessons pay off and you understand most of what she’s saying. Romanian isn’t that hard it seems. You chat together for half an hour and then you [[get off
(set: $money to 0)
(set: $time to "12:30")
(set: $hour to 12)
(set: $minute to 30)$T[ ]
It's tempting, but in the end you decide to keep quiet. The old lady looks weird and talks to herself from time to time, so you'd really rather not get involved. The time flies by and before you know it it's time to
(set: $money to 0)
(set: $time to "12:10")
(set: $hour to 12)
(set: $minute to 10)$T[ ]
The final train drops you off at Timisoara, a big city in western Romania. From there you take another bus to Lugoj, but after that things get harder. You have to get to a village that’s so small it’s not even on the map. You spend the night at a cheap hotel then convince one of the locals to give you a ride in exchange for what little you have left in your wallet.
$I[You lost 80£]
He drives silently as you follow the river Timish deeper into the mountains. The road is steep and perilous and in progressively worse condition the further away you go. You begin to wonder if you haven't fallen victim to some scam, the big country man next to you driving towards a secluded location...
Before you have too much time to dwell on these thoughts, you [[arrive at the village.]]
(set: $day to "Saturday")
(set: $time to "15:50")
(set: $hour to 15)
(set: $minute to 50)$T[ ]
In any case, you arrive at //a village//.
$a['Am I at the right place?'] you ask the man, but he shruggs, takes a few paces around the car to stretch his legs, then gets back in and drives off.
You look around - there is a roadsign with a name, but it's broken, half of it missing and the edge charred as if struck by lightning. Even on the remaining part the paint is so old that you can’t really make out any of the letters. Still, this has to be it - there are no other villages nearby.
The village itself is very small - barely a few dozen stone houses at best. The mountain air is clean and fresh, filling your nostrils with the scent of old pines and green moss. Save for a few electric lamps barely illuminating the street, it doesn’t look very modern. Judging by the architectural style, it hasn't moved in the last few centuries.
$A[Old and authentic, no technological distractions... this could be good for writing and inspiration. I'm sure there are lots of legends and folklore to get out of the locals, if I ask them nicely...]
You head to a congregation of buildings that’s bound to be [[the village center.]]
(set: $time to "17:30")
(set: $hour to 17)
(set: $minute to 30)$T[ ]
There isn't much here and you feel somewhat lost.
$a[‘Excuse me, I’m looking for… “The Crooked Elm” hotel. It’s in this village…’] In your best Romanian you address a passerby, a man in his forties wearing a respectable however old-fashioned suit.
Along with your explanation you vaguely gesture around, hoping that you don’t sound too ridiculous. Given how few houses there are it’s somewhat embarrassing that you haven’t found the place yourself.
‘The residence is located outside of town’ he replies, surprising you with his flawless English and deep, suave voice. ‘Head down the main road this way - there is a small torrent that later joins into the river. Follow the path upstream, towards the mountains, and you shall find it in about an hour.’
$a[‘An hour!’] you exclaim, [[peering towards the mountainside.]]
(set: $time to "18:00")
(set: $hour to 18)
(set: $minute to 0)$T[ ]
You can make out the road the gentleman is talking about and even if you haven’t brought much luggage with you the thought of carrying your bags uphill for an hour disheartens you.
$a[‘Isn’t there some sort of transportation?’]
You turn around, but the man is gone. In fact there isn’t anyone else around - if you didn’t know any better, you would have said that the village was deserted.
The trees rustle in the wind. It’s only 6 p.m. but the village is on an eastern slope and with the sun blocked behind the tall ridges, the world is already sinking in velvet shadows. You sigh and [[head towards the hotel on foot.]]
(set: $hour to 19)
(set: $time to "19:00")$T[ ]
After what seems like an eternity of back pain and sweating along the old stony path, the trees thin out on the left and you see a tall ornate gate surrounded by a fence of metal bars.
(link:"Examine the gate")[<img src="https://ak2.picdn.net/shutterstock/videos/17134165/thumb/1.jpg" align="center">
It appeares to be hand forged and pretty solid, despite its state. There is a lock in the middle and two stone pillars on each side, decorated with stone gargoils. You try to push it but it won't open, the metal only rattling ominously. You get the feeling that the statues are staring at you dissaprovingly.]
(link:"Examine the fence")[It's old and rusty, but still pretty solid. The spaces between the bars are too thin for you to squeeze through. You briefly consider jumping over it, but the bars have spikes on top and you wouldn't risk getting injured on an old rusty edge so far away from a hospital.]
[[Look through the gate]]$T[ ]
Behind you can make out a large grey [manor]<m1| built into the hillside.(click: ?m1) [<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EwGBguo_3vk/UlNMr_mA-II/AAAAAAAAAy8/t9kuv5AVnT0/s1600/Haunted-House-halloween-16050692-1280-800.jpg" align="center" height="400" width="740">]
It’s several storeys high, a central part and two wings with several towers and balconies looming over the mournful garden. It’s hard to make out everything in the darkness, but you estimate it has at least two dozen guest rooms, perhaps more.
$A[Wow... the place must have been a real luxury resort back in the day, perhaps then the village was a popular tourist destination? A shame, now it reeks of disuse and decay... Could be a cool place to stay, but I doubt they get many visitors.
On the bright side, my job as a receptionist is probably going to be a whole lot of sitting around, waiting and doing nothing. Perhaps I could go back down to the village and find a pub, befriend the locals? Or maybe get back to that book I've always wanted to write?]
A thought for later. For now, you should just move in.
[[Look for a way to open the gate]]$T[ ]
There doesn't seem to be any button attached to the gate, only a small brass doorbell with a string attached to it. It appears highly unlikely that anyone would be able to hear it all the way from here to the mansion.
[[Shout]]
[[Ring the doorbell]]
[[Try to call the hotel through your phone]]$T[ ]
$a['Hellooooo? Anybody? I'm locked out here!!']
You yell a couple more times, but nothing happens. You pace in front of the gate as the minutes pass. A few of the windows are lit up, which calms you somewhat, but clearly they can't hear you from here.
[[Try to call the hotel through your phone]]
[[Ring the doorbell]] $T[ ]
You pull the string and the bell rings with a faint and hollow sound. Instinctively, you step back without knowing why. After a few seconds, the gate creaks open.
$A[What is this, a hidden mechanism, or some sort of an elaborate joke? Would they go to such lengths just to create the illusion of a haunted house? Maybe it's good for their business, but still... I'll have to come back and figure it out later.]
Your back aches too much right now and even if there were a few hidden wires somewhere, you probably wouldn't be able to see them in the darkness anyways. You [[take the path to the manor.]]
(set: $time to "19:30")
(set: $minute to 30)$T[ ]
You take out your phone and attempt to call the manager - you were given a number following your online job application - but your phone is out of range.
$A[Damn it!]
You were quite certain there was service back in the village, but you really don't feel like doing another 1 hour walk down. And then up again. //Ugh.//
[[Shout]]
[[Ring the doorbell]] $T[ ]
As you approach the main entrance, the front door creaks open and a silhouette of a man emerges from inside, carrying a metal candlestick.
$A[Yeah, definitely using the old building and the props as a means of attracting more visitors...]
Soon you're close enough to make out his features - he's middle aged, probably in his late fifties, with pale skin and oily black hair combed back.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/ionut.png" width="400" align="right">
'You must ve Alex. Ve vere vaiting for you. Come in'
He takes your luggage and disappears inside.
[[Follow him.]]$T[-ENTRANCE-]
You stumble inside a reception room with a dusty wooden desk and several hallways splitting in different directions. On the right side there is a large staircase leading somewhere up in the darkness. The whole place is scarcely illuminated by a handful of candles, most attached to the walls.
'Your room vill be ready in a moment.' The man drops your luggage on the floor and takes the staircase, which creaks under each of his heavy steps. You follow the glow of his candle as he moves up until he takes a turn and disappears somewhere on the upper floor.
[[Examine the desk]]
[[Examine the hallways]]
[[Patiently wait]] $T[-ENTRANCE-]
The desk is relatively large and made from a heavy, thick wood. It's furniture from another generation, when chairs and desks were built to last. You don't think you could ever move it even if you tried.
There's also a little stand on it with a sign that currently reads "CLOSED". Behind it is a stack of other signs - you flip through them: "OPEN", "BACK IN 10 MINUTES", "BEWARE OF DOG". The last one looks like it hasn't been used for a while.
$A[So this is going to be my new workplace...]
(link: "Circle to the other side")[You move from the place of a visitor to the receptionist's seat. A part of you feels like you're tresspassing, but you calm it down - after all this is your desk now.
There are a handful of drawers filled with paperwork that is too difficult to read in this light. You find the usual objects - pens, scissors, a guest register, a little whistle. Everything seems ordinary.
]
[[Examine the hallways]]
[[Patiently wait]]
$T[-ENTRANCE-]
You make a few steps into the hallways and the darkness quickly envelops you. Despite the candles the visibility is terrible and you get the feeling that the receptionist's desk is left somewhere far behind. With a slight unease you hurry to return to the relative illumination of the entrance.
[[Examine the desk]]
[[Patiently wait]] $T[-ENTRANCE-]
The minutes tick as you absent-mindedly fiddle with your phone, playing sudoku. There's still no service.
$Mi['Good evening'] comes a voice from behind. Startled, you turn around.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/mihai2.png" width="450" align="right">
A young gentleman with a black suit and a golden cane is staring at you under his eyebrows.
$Mi['I'm Mihai Petrescu, the owner of the Crooked Elm. Or rather, the owner is my father, Vasil Petrescu, who is now too old to manage the business.']
(display:"talk")[['Hello']]
(display:"talk")[['I'm Alex']]
(display:"talk")[['Nice to meet you']]
(set: $time to "20:00")
(set: $hour to 20)
(set: $minute to 15)$T[-ENTRANCE-]
The man looks at you with a blank stare.
$a['I'm-']
$Mi['I know who you are. I have your file, right here.']
Mihai produces a paper from one of his pockets.
$Mi['Twenty-two years old. Single. Somewhat educated.']
$a['I went to university for three years...']
$Mi['There's no shame. We have a library - you're free to use it, should you have the time. Speaking of which-']
Mihai takes out a metal key ring with four heavy keys.
$I[Keys added!]
$Mi['Here are your personal keys. One is for the gate outside,one for the front door, the library and for your room.']
You take the keys and hold them awkwardly in your hand. The key ring is way too large for your jeans' pockets.
$Mi['So, do you have any [[questions?]]']$T[-ENTRANCE-]
$Mi['I know who you are. I have your file, right here.']
Mihai produces a paper from one of his pockets.
$Mi['Twenty-two years old. Single. Somewhat educated.']
$a['I went to university for three years...']
$Mi['There's no shame. We have a library - you're free to use it, should you have the time. Speaking of which-']
Mihai takes out a metal key ring with four heavy keys.
$I[Keys added!]
$Mi['Here are your personal keys. One is for the gate outside,one for the front door, the library and for your room.']
You take the keys and hold them awkwardly in your hand. The key ring is way too large for your jeans' pockets.
$Mi['So, do you have any [[questions?]]']
$T[-ENTRANCE-]
The man looks at you with slight surprise.
$Mi['Yes, it is a nice evening. Now let us get to business.']
$a['I'm here for-']
$Mi['I know your purpose. I have your file, right here.']
Mihai produces a paper from one of his pockets.
$Mi['Twenty-two years old. Single. Somewhat educated.']
$a['I went to university for three years...']
$Mi['There's no shame. We have a library - you're free to use it, should you have the time. Speaking of which-']
Mihai takes out a metal key ring with four heavy keys.
$I[Keys added!]
$Mi['Here are your personal keys. One is for the gate outside,one for the front door, the library and for your room.']
You take the keys and hold them awkwardly in your hand. The key ring is way too large for your jeans' pockets.
$Mi['So, do you have any [[questions?]]']$T[-ENTRANCE-]
[Mihai taps a finger impatiently on the head of his cane.]<dia|
[(display:"talk") "Is there electricity here?"]<q1|
[(display:"talk")"Who was the guy who let me in?"]<q2|
(display:"talk")[[I have no more questions]]
(click: ?q1)[(replace: ?dia)[He looks at you bewildered.
$Mi['What? Of course there is electricity! Vat do you think ve are, savages?']
$a['But all the candles...']
$Mi['The power is out, ve're having it repaired. A storm cut the line that's running from the village and the spare generator is out of fuel'] ] (replace:?q1)[] ]
(click: ?q2)[(replace: ?dia)[$Mi['That was Ionut. He takes care of most things around here, including maintaining the manor, the garden, fixing and cleaning.']
You don't think Ionut is doing a particularly good job given the general disarray of the property, but you decide to keep that to yourself.
] (replace:?q2)[] ]$T[-ENTRANCE-]
$Mi['Very well, then. I'll show you to your room.']
Mihai heads to the staircase and starts climbing, waving you a hand to follow him. In the candlelight the many jeweled rings on his hand glitter mysteriously.
You grab your bags and one of the candles and [[climb up]].
$T[-FLOOR 1-]
The upper floor is covered by a soft red carpet that absorbs almost all noise. You try to tentatively stomp the floor, but it's almost inaudible. For a while you're lost in the silence, not hearing the familiar tapping of Mihai's cane. Silence and darkness...
Your eyes fall on a golden door right in front of you. One of many, in fact, as you realise looking both ways.
$A[I wonder what's the room like..]
$Mi['Over here, Mister Reid']
You see the light of the candle to the right, moving upwards still to the next floor.
[[Follow]]
[[Maybe take a quick glance inside the room...]]
$T[-FLOOR 2-]
The next floor is almost identical, save for the carpet being purple and the doors a dark green. You can make out a handful of portraits along the walls, but before you have time to look properly at any of them, [[Mihai continues upwards.]]$T[-FLOOR 1-]
You grab the doorhandle and prepare to twist it to the side, when you get the eerie sensation that you're beeing watched.
$A[What the hell...? Do they have security cameras in this place?]
Quickly looking left and right you try to locate the source of your anxiety, but the dark hallways offer little consolation. In the end you leave the door alone and [[follow->Follow]] your host.
$T[ATTIC]
The third floor is noticeably different, with sloped ceilings and a larger number of doors indicating smaller, cramped spaces.
$Mi['The garrets and storage rooms are on this floor.'] says Mihai. $Mi['As well as the staircases that lead to the towers. But Ionut will give you a proper tour around tomorrow. You must be terribly tired. This is your room.']
He leads you to a door located not far on the left, seemingly indistinct from the others apart from the small metal plaque indicating number 5. Mihai produces a single key from the inside of his vest and with a subtle //click// the door opens.
$A[That must be the master key that opens every door around here... makes sense. No need for *him* to carry a large batch of keys around.]
$Mi['Sleep well. Tomorrow is Sunday and we aren't expecting any visitors, so you'll have the day to yourself. Use it to get familiar with the place. Go to the village if you like, but don't spend the whole day there. Your work starts on Monday morning. Ionut will explain your duties.']
You nod and smile politely before going into [[your room]].
(set:$door=0)
(set: $time to "21:30")
(set: $hour to 21)
(set: $minute to 30)$T[YOUR ROOM]
Small and simple, your room has just the bare necessities - a bed, a wardrobe, a desk and a chair. A single window is looking out to what you expect is the backgarden. There is also a nightstand with a drawer and a lamp, candlestick and an inkwell on top.
$A[Power seems to go out pretty often...]
(link-repeat:"Look into the wardrobe")[(replace: ?act)[$wardrobe] ]
(link-repeat:"Look into the drawer")[(replace: ?act)[$drawer ] ]
[ (link:"Lock the door")[(replace: ?act)[$I[The door is now locked] ] (replace:?lock)[]] <br>]<lock|
[(link:"Unpack your stuff")[(replace: ?act)[$I[You store a handful of t-shirts, jeans and socks into the wardrobe.] ] (replace:?unpack)[] (set:$wardrobe="A few t-shirts, jeans and socks; some blankets, a spare pillow")] <br>]<unpack|
$I[ [ ]<act| ]
[[Sleep]]
(set: $time to "9:00") (set: $hour to 9) (set: $minute to 0)
(set: $day to "Sunday") $T[-YOUR ROOM-]
You wake up refreshed, your hard matress and simple cover providing surprisingly good sleep. Looking through the window in the daylight, you can see a large garden spanning behind the manor - alleys lined with elm trees, stone benches and statues, even a little fountain.
You get dressed, picking a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. The day is ahead of you, but perhaps first [[some breakfast]]?
(set: $hishills to true) (set: $legmount to true) (set: $antcat to true)<div id="box">(if: $dead is 0)[<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/avatar_male.png" width="150">](elseif:$av is 1)[<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/av_female2.png" width="150">](elseif:$av is 2)[<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/avf2.png" width="150">](elseif:$av is 3)[<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/avf3.png" width="150">](elseif:$av is 4)[<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/avf4.png" width="150">]<br>(if: $bracelet is 1)[ (if: $bcharges is 5)[<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/beads5.png" width="150">] (elseif: $bcharges is 4)[<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/beads4.png" width="150">] (elseif: $bcharges is 3)[<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/beads3.png" width="150">] (elseif: $bcharges is 2)[<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/beads2.png" width="150">] (elseif: $bcharges is 1)[<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/beads1.png" width="150">] (elseif: $bcharges is 0)[<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/beads0.png" width="150">]](if: (passage:)'s name contains "drunk")[(text-style: "blurrier")[ **1?:??**] ](else:)[<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/clock.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-1px;" width="40"> (text-style: "subscript")[             **$hour:(if:$minute >0 and $minute< 10)[0]$minute(if:$minute is 0)[0]**]] (text-style: "subscript")[<div style="line-height:30px;">            $day</div><div style="line-height:70px;"><img src="http://xfiction.org/images/brain.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:15px;" width="50">             (colour:#77cff7)[$sanity]</div><div style="line-height:30px;">(if:$lewd<20)[<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/heart.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-15px;" width="50">](else:)[<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/heart2.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-15px;" width="50">]             (colour:#fab0ff)[$lewd]</div><br>$I[You have $money £.](if: $secrets>0)[<br>You hold $M[$secrets Secret(if: $secrets>1)[s]]] (if: $dead>=1)[$R[Deaths:$dead] ](else:)[<br>]<br>(unless: (passage:)'s name is "Fiddle with the desk")[ (if: (passage:)'s name contains "invglow")[(text-style:"blur")[ [[YOU]] ] ](else:)[ (unless: (passage:)'s name is "Achievements" or "YOU" or "PATREON" or "DIE" or "DIE1" or "DIE2" or "DIE3" or "DIE4" or "DIE5" or "DIE6")[ [[YOU]] <br>$ach1[ [[Achievements]]<br> ] ] ] ]{(link:"Save game")[ (if:(save-game:"Slot A"))[Game saved!](else: )[ERROR] ]}
{(if: (saved-games:) contains "Slot A")[ (link: "Load game")[(load-game:"Slot A")] ]} <br>[[Settings]]<br> (unless: (passage:)'s name is "Achievements" or "YOU" or "PATREON")[ [[PATREON]] ](cloaked|<br>*v.0.1.51*
] </div> (set: _ti to 0) (set: $T to ((text-style:"outline")+(text-style:"expand"))) (set: $I to ((colour:#99FF99)+(text-style: "italic"))) (set: $A to (text-style: "italic")+(colour:#669999)) (set: $a to (colour:#669999)) (set: $in to ((colour:#FFFFCC)+(text-style: "italic"))) (set: $B to ((colour:#996699)+(text-style: "condense"))) (set: $B1 to ((colour:#808080)+(text-style: "condense"))) (set: $B2 to ((colour:#FF6666)+(text-style: "condense"))) (set: $B2sub to ((colour:#FF6666)+(text-style: "subscript"))) (set: $rev to (text-style: "mirror")) (set: $ups to (text-style: "upside-down")) (set: $R to ((colour:#CC0000)+(text-style: "italic"))) (set: $M to (colour:#9A009F))(set: $E to ((colour:#B2FF66)+(text-style: "italic"))) (set: $E2 to ((colour:#336600)+(text-style: "italic"))) (set: $Mi to (colour:#A9A900)) (set: $Mi2 to (colour:#666600)) (set: $din to "$T[-DINING HALL-]<br>") (set: $room to "$T[-YOUR ROOM-]<br>") (set: $kit to "$T[-KITCHEN-]<br>") (set: $gar to "$T[-GARDEN-]<br>") (set: $rec to "$T[-RECEPTION-]<br>") (set: $att to "$T[-ATTIC-]<br>") (set: $fl1 to "$T[-FLOOR 1-]<br>") (set: $fl2 to "$T[-FLOOR 2-]<br>") (set: $gar to "$T[-GARDEN-]<br>") (set: $vil to "$T[-VILLAGE-]<br>") (set: $ant to "$T[-ANTIQUE SHOP-]<br>") (set: $lib to "$T[-LIBRARY-]<br>") (set: $end to "$T[-???????-]<br>") (set: $dark to "$T[-DARKNESS-]<br>") (set: $base to "$T[-BASEMENT-]<br>") (set: $mount to "$T[-MOUNTAINS-]<br>") (set: $DD to (text-style: "none")) (set: $con to (text-style:"bold")) (set: $W to (colour:#FF9933)) (set: $L to (colour:#9966CC)) (set: $inn to "$T[-THE INN-]<br>") (set: $lav to "$T[-LAVIUS' SECRET LAIR-]<br>") (set: $sanity to 100) (set: $unav2 to (text-style:"bold")+(text-style:"blurrier")) (set: $unav1 to (colour:#ff9999)) (set: $tome_madness to 0) (set: $clarity to (colour:#77cff7)) [$T[-Transylvania-]]<fontbig|
Welcome to Transylvania! This Game is for 18+ Only and it features adult themes including sex and some amounts of gore.
**I AM A NEW PLAYER**
[[Begin the game->Start2]]
**I HAVE PLAYED BEFORE**
If you have already played the game, you can use the following links to jumpstart your progress. Please keep in mind that jumping ahead may omit some details or conversation options.
[[some breakfast<-Sunday - Prologue]]
[[Sleep1<-Monday - Main Gameplay begins here]]
(set:$hour to 14) (set:$minute to 00) (set:$day to "Wednesday") (set: $money to 0)
(set: $test to 1)
(if: $intro is 3)[(goto:"day1_short")]$T[-DINING HALL-]
After some searching you find the dining hall on the ground floor, near the reception. It's a spacious room lined with tall windows creating the illusion of a glass wall looking towards the garden. The light that stems in is a dirty grey, and while a little melancholic, you don't find it unpleasant.
You look at the antique chairs and tables, wondering if they're fully functional or just for decoration.
'Sit! Today - I cook. Vat do you vant?'
The servant's face peers through an opening in the opposite wall, complete with a metal counter and stacks of plates.
$A[That must be the kitchen...]
$a['I'll have eggs and bacon.'] you shout back.
'Coming vright up!'
Soon you hear a pleasant sizzling and then Ionut comes out, dropping a hot plate of bacon and eggs on your table. You notice that he walks a little funny, but your mind is busy elsewhere. $A[Perhaps his leg hurts?] It doesn't matter. You start munching and tell yourself that he doesn't look like a bad guy after all. Yesterday he looked a little creepy, insidious even, but right now you're willing to believe he's just the average Joe who happens to have a strong accent and oily hair. It's hardly his fault.
'It is gud, ja?'
$a['Ja, ja, sehr gut!'] you reply instinctively. The trip through Europe really scrambled your head with languages. Before you can correct your mistake however, he returns to the kitchen.
[[Finish your eggs.]]
(set: $hour to 9)
(set: $minute to 30)
(set: $tour to 0)
(set: $library_found to 0)$din
You push your empty plate aside and pat your belly. That was a good breakfast. As if sensing that you're done, the servant emerges again and comes to sit in front of you, placing two cups of coffee on the table.
'Nice to meet. I Ionut.' he grins at you.
'Hello, Ionut, I'm Alex' you reply.
There is an awkward pause.
'So, start tomorrow.'
'Yes. What do I have to do?'
'Several things. Virst: stay at reception.'
'The whole day?'
'From 6 to 10.'
'6 to 10?!' that's 18 hours!!
'No, only 4 hours', he corrects you - '6 in the avternoon.'
You look at Ionut, confused.
'Nobody come early. Guest come - they sleep; they go.'
$A[That explains why the pay is so low...but I'll have lots of free time, so that's not too bad.]
[[Do many people come here?]]
[[What else do I have to do?]]
$din
'Help move their luggage to room. Give key, of course. Keys behind desk.'
Ionut takes a sip from his coffee, as if thinking if he's forgetting anything. His skin, pale and thick, makes his face look like an unfinished clay sculpture.
$a['So... that's it?'] You still can't believe that your work day is only 4 hours.
'That's it. During day you free. If need help - I ask, you come. If Mister Petrescu need something - he tell you. Rest of time - up to you. Try not get lost in the forest.'
You drink your own coffee, letting the information sink in. It seems that you'll have some time on your hands.
[[So, can you give me a tour?]]
[[Thanks Ionut, that's all for now.]](if:$intro>1)[(goto:"short_tour")]$rec
'Yes. Come.'
You stand up and follow the servant.
'Ve are in the dining hall. If you vant breakvast - before 11. If you vant dinner - betveen 20 and 22. Else - stay hungry.'
Looking at Ionut, it's hard to tell if he's being serious or is attempting some kind of joke. In either case, he continues the tour.
'Ground floor - center - reception; left side - kitchen; right side - saloon, rooms for games.'
$a['Games?']
'Mostly cards and pool. Go if you vant. Avter that - library. Need key.'
$a['Yes, Mr. Petrescu gave me one yesterday.']
'Good.'
The two of you move [[up the stairs]].
(set: $library_found to 1)
$din
Ionut gives you a nod and finishes his coffee. While he drinks, you notice that the thumb on this right hand is abnormally large and a slightly different shade. Perhaps a birth defect?
He returns to the kitchen with his slightly waddling walk, leaving you alone with your thoughts. The day is still young and you have some options of what to do.
(if: $tour is 0)[ [Visit the library]<v1| ] (click: ?v1)[(replace: ?act2)[You don't know where the library is.]]
[[Go to the kitchen]]
[[Go to the reception->Reception]]
$R[[ ]<act2|]
(set: _ti to 5)$din
'Guests come and go. Not many, but they come. You'll see.'
You scratch your head at this definitively undefined answer.
[[What else do I have to do?]] $kit
Ionut is washing some dishes.
'Need something?' he asks without turning around.
(if: $tour is 0)[(display:"talk")[[So, can you give me a tour?]]<br> ]
(display:"bk")[[No, I'm good->Reception]]
(set: _ti to 10)
(if: $intro is 3)[(goto:"dinner_short")]$rec (set: $work1 to false)
You're back at the reception. It looks a little more welcoming during the day, though the desk is still pretty dusty.(if: $tour>0 and $hour<19)[<br><br>$A[Now that I know where things are, I can have a proper look around the place!]]
(if: $hour>19 and $hour<23 and $diner_1 is 0)[
$1ref[Your stomach growls with hunger. You haven't had anything in a while, so given the time it's perhaps a good moment to [[have dinner]].] ]
(if: $hour <15)[
Go and have a peek [[inside the kitchen.->Go to the kitchen]]
Have a walk [[in the garden.->Go to the garden]]
(if: $tour is 0)[ [Go to the library]<v1| ] (click: ?v1)[(replace: ?act2)[You don't know where the library is.]] (if: $tour is 1)[ (if: $lib2 is 0)[ [[Go to the library]] ] (if: $lib2 is 1)[ [[Enter the library<-Go to the library]] ] ]
(if: $bracelet is 0)[ [[Visit the village]] ] (set: $visited_vil to 0)
]
(if: $hour >= 15 and $bracelet is 0)[It's getting rather late, if you want to visit the village today, you should [[get going.->Visit the village]] ]
(if: $hour >= 15 and $bracelet is 1 and $hour<23)[
(if: $tour is 0)[ [Go to the library]<v1| ] (click: ?v1)[(replace: ?act2)[You don't know where the library is.]] (if: $tour is 1)[ (if: $lib2 is 0)[ [[Go to the library]] ] (if: $lib2 is 1)[ [[Enter the library<-Go to the library]] ] ]
[[Go to the kitchen]]
(if: $hour<20)[ [[Go to the garden]] ] (if: $hour>=20)[ [Go to the garden]<garden| (click: ?garden)[(replace: ?act2)[It's too dark to go to the garden now.] ] ]
]
(if: $hour<23 and $bracelet is 1 and $diner_1 is 1)[ [[Go back to your room]] ] (if: $hour>=23)[ $R[The day is over. You ought to [[Go back to your room]] ] ]
$R[[ ]<act2|]
(set: _ti to 5)$gar
The manor is surrounded by an expansive garden circled by the fence which you first saw last night. You walk along it for a while, but it keeps going as far as you can see, the terrain becoming rougher and even less well-kept the farther away from the mansion you go.
Eventually the low, sikly grass is replaced by ever taller thorns and bushes, making your advance difficult. When you're about to give up, you notice another [[gate]] in the fence.
(set: _ti to 20)$vil
You know that the village isn't much, but it's still your closest link to civilization, so you force yourself to do the hour walk downhill, trying not to think that you'll have to climb back again.
You arrive at the village winded, but the fresh mountain air helps you quickly cool down. The tall mountain trees cast the village into a deep shade and despite the burning summer sun in its zenith, the place feels veiled from its heat.
(if: $duh is 0)[(set: $hour to ($hour+1))]
$A[Like it was in another world...]
You explore the village roads, the fleeting faces of its inhabitants glancing at you through the windows as you go. You never meet anyone's gaze directly, but you can feel their eyes on the back of your head, following you around.
(set: $duh to 1)
You expected the village to be only a few simple households, but during your walk you discover there is an [[antique shop]], a small (if: $inn_visited is 0)[ [[inn]] ] (if: $inn_visited is 1)[[[inn->inn2]]] and a [[hunting cabin]].$ant
Hidden in between two massive stone houses, the antique shop is a sort of extension linking its neighbours, making you think of some sort of small critter that saw an empty space and decided to dwell there. Its narrow facade - with barely enough space for a small door and a single window - and irregular architecture were the reason you miss it the first few times, but you eventually notice the faded inscription infront "ANT QUE BOUTI UE".
You push the door of the boutique, bending a little to avoid hitting your head on the low doorframe. The inside of the shop is dusty and cramped with hundreds of small objects - you see furniture and decorations; jewlery, small figurines and toys; watches, mostly mechanical as far as you can tell; pens and quills; posters, stamps and postcards, a lot of ornate boxes and an immense sea of undefined and unknowable shapes.
The shop is illuminated by small electric bulbs that cover everything with a dirty, yellow light, as if it was a second-hand light used and reused throughout the centuries and too tired to shine like it used to. The boutique, though cramped and narrow, extends inward, like the belly of a giant whale which has swallowed thousands of objects over its life and now lies comatose, slowly digesting.
With the corner of your eye you sense something moving, and you [[turn towards it.]]
$T[-VILLAGE-]
[A large stone building near the center of the village, the inn is indistinct from the other houses save for the painting of a barrel of ale on its front door. There's light inside and when you approach you can see through the stained and dirty window a couple of smudged silhouettes inside. They appear to be drinking beer.]<in1|
[Enter the inn]<entin|
(click: ?entin)[(replace: ?in1)[You try to open the door, but it doesn't move. After a couple of tries a small trap door opens and a frowning face appears on the other side.
'Vhat do you vant?'
$a['Uhm, I just wanted to see the inn-']
'Inn's closed. Go avay.'
The trap door slams shut.] (replace: ?entin)[ ] ]
(set: $inn_visited to 1)
(if: $visited_vil is 0)[[[Back->Visit the village]]]
(if: $visited_vil is 1)[[[Back->the village]]]
(set: _ti to 20)$vil
A small wooden building in the outskirts of the village, the hunting cabin has a distinct look thanks to the various antlears and animal heads hanging from its walls.
You approach the window, but it's too dirty to peer inside.
[Knock on the door]<k1|
(click: ?k1)[(replace: ?ac)[You wait, but there's no answer. Perhaps nobody's home?]]
$I[[ ]<ac|]
(if: $visited_vil is 0)[[[Back->Visit the village]]]
(if: $visited_vil is 1)[[[Back->the village]]]
(set: _ti to 10)$ant
Seemingly out of nowhere, a young woman has appeared behind the counter, looking at you with a mischevious smile. At first glance she appears no older than yourself, probably in her early twenties. Her hair is dark and curly, with a tinge of violet, her skin - flawless and pale like marble, and her green eyes - is that a hint of yellow? - peer straight through you with a wild, feline stare.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$M['See something that you like?'] she purrs at you.
$a['I- uh-, wha-']
$M['You look like a man in need of an accessory.'] She decides looking you up and down. $M['Perhaps a watch?']
Without waiting for your reply, she transitions instantaneously from one side of the counter to the other, standing next to you, her fingers already picking different watches from the dusty shelves, giving them a soft brush before sliding them around your wrist, giving a short $M["tss, tss, not the right one"] and putting them back on the row again.
$a['I-, oh-, wait-']
$M['Not a watch then? I understand. Not really your thing. But you need something, oh yes, I can sense that you need something. Something to keep you safe, something to keep you //fresh//.']
$a['To keep me wha-']
$M['Oh, I know! I have the [[right thing for you!]]']
$ant
The woman disappears into the belly of the beast, her movements fast and perfectly silent. Within several heartbeats she returns, carrying something in her hand. Before you can react she wraps it around your wrist, tying it with a little knot.
You look down and notice that you now have new [bracelet]<br|.
(click: ?br)[It's made out of leather laces and decorated with small, dark beads. They're perfectly smooth and cold, with a shiny, reflective surface. $A[Perhaps obsidian?] In the center of the bracelet there are 5 larger, crimson beads, with the central piece being the largest. Strangely enough, they feel a little warm and you can't quite identify the material, though you suspect some sort of polished gemstone.]
(set: $bracelet to 1) (set: $bcharges to 5)
(display:"talk")[[Uhm, thanks]]
(display:"talk")[[Sorry, but I can't afford this]]
$ant
$M['Don't mention it.'] She smiles and wigs her tail.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$A[WHAT?!]
You blink a couple of times and look again. Of course, the shop owner has no tail, only a combination of light and shadows behind her that must've tricked your eye...
$a['So, uhm, what do I owe you?']
$M['Oh, it's a present.']
$a['I'm not sure I can-']
$M['Take it and leave.'] She steps closer, pushing you towards the door.
(display:"talk")[[I don't even know your name]]
(display:"talk")[[Wait, I wanted to shop more]]
$ant
$M['Oh, it's a present.'] she gives you a little wink.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$a['I'm sorry, but I really can't take-']
$M['Don't worry, you'll pay for it later.']
$a['But you just said it was a pre-']
$M['Oh, just take it and get out.'] With a conclusive tone, the young woman pushes you towards the door.
(display:"talk")[[Wait, I wanted to shop more]]
(display:"talk")[[I don't even know your name]]
$ant
$M['Too bad. Shop's closed.']
She pushes you out and slams the door. Deeply confused, you head back to [[the village]].
(set: $hour to ($hour+1))
(set: $Felicia to "the shop owner")
$ant
$M['You can call me Felicia']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
With that, she pushes you out and slams the door. Deeply confused, you head back to [[the village]].
(set: $hour to ($hour+1))
(set: $Felicia to "Felicia")$vil
You're back at the village. It is $hour:$minute. It would be a good idea to head back to the manor before dark, which is around 18:00.
(if: $hour < 18)[
[[Go to the hunting cabin->hunting cabin]]
(if: $inn_visited is 0)[[[Go to the inn->inn]]] (if: $inn_visited is 1)[[[Go to the inn->inn2]]]
[[Go to the antique shop]]
(display:"bk")[[Return to the manor]] ]
(if: $hour >= 18)[ $R[It's very late. You should [[Return to the manor]] ]
]
(set: $visited_vil to 1)
(set: _ti to 10)$vil
You return to the antique shop, but the lights are out and door is locked. You knock, but there's no answer.
[[Back->the village]]
(set: _ti to 20)(if: $bracelet is 1)[$mount
You leave the village behind, your head filled with more questions than answers. You wanted to stretch your feet a little and locate any potential points of interest that could distract you during your working holiday; instead, you stumbled upon a mysterious woman in an eerie shop and a village full of secretive inhabitants.
The more you think about it the fuzzier your memories become, to the point where you start questioning if it wasn't all just a dream. But then you look down on your wrist, the little bracelet dangling inconspicuously with its strange beads as if it was pretending to be a normal object.
//Pretending.//
A shiver runs down your spine.
The uphill climb is as tiring as it was yesterday and when you climb back up to the manor an hour later you're panting and sweating. Fortunately the cool mountain air quickly refreshes you and with confident steps you [[head to the front entrance.->Reception]] ]
(set: _ti to 60)$vil
You approach the door of the inn again, but the trap door opens before you even knock.
'I told you to go avay!' the man shouts, slaming it in your face.
(if: $visited_vil is 1)[[[Back->the village]]]
(set: _ti to 10)
(if: $visited_vil is 0)[[[Back->Visit the village]]]$T[-GARDEN-]
[Tall and rusty, it's similar to the first one, though definitely not the same. The path leading to it is barely distinguishable, overtaken with brambles bad weeds. Still some of them appear crushed or stomped recently, indicating that someone must still be coming this way from time to time. You try to push the doors open, but they're locked with a big padlock.]<garden|
[Look beyond the gate]<lb|
[[Turn back->Reception]]
(set: $hour to ($hour+1))
(click: ?lb)[(replace: ?garden)[The ground on the other side looks rough and barren, with nothing but dry, skeletal trees that extend their long-dead branches towards each other like the fingers of long-dead lovers. Between them there are a handful of tombstones covered in grey lichen.]
(replace: ?lb)[ ] ]
$T[-FLOOR 1-]
|fl1>['Virst vloor - guest rooms.'
You look at the long hallways. The manor is pretty big.
$A[I wonder if this place was ever full, even in its prime? Or perhaps it's simply the type of hotel that tries to appeal to customers that like having a big empty place mostly to themselves...]
]
[Only guest rooms, nothing else?]<on|
[Are there any guests at the hotel right now?]<ge|
Move on to the [[second floor]].
(click: ?on)[(replace: ?fl1)['Yes. Rooms. And stuff.'
You wait for a few moments but Ionut doesn't add anything else.] (replace: ?on)[ ] ]
(click: ?ge)[(replace: ?fl1)['Only two.'
You raise an inquiring eyebrow but the servant doesn't elaborate.] (replace: ?ge)[ ] ]
$T[-FLOOR 2-]
|fl2>['Seconf vloor. More rooms.'
'Uhm, okay...' Though you're starting to grow a liking to Ionut, you can't help but feel that he's a pretty inefficient guide. You turn around, exasperated, your gaze falling on the darkened canvases lining the walls.]
[Who are the people in the portraits?]<who|
[What's behind this room?]<what|
Both of you move on [[upstairs]].
(click: ?who)[(replace:?fl2)[Ionut glances at them, as if he'd just noticed the sombre works of art.
'Petrescu family.'
$a['All of them? There are a lot of paintings...']
'Big family.'
$a['And they look so similar!'] You try to read the little plaques under the portraits. $a['How many of them are named Vasil?'] you ask bewildered.
'Popular name', shrugs Ionut.] (replace: ?who)[ ] ]
(click: ?what)[(replace: ?fl2)[You point to the golden door which had attracted your attention on the night of your arrival. While seemingly identical to the others, you feel that there's something different about it, though you can't quite put your finger on it.
'Room with guest. Don't enter.'
By now you've learned that this is as much information as you can hope to acquire from Ionut, so you just remember the room's number - 24 - and don't press the matter.] (replace: ?what)[ ] ]
$T[-ATTIC-]
['You know attic. Your room here.' He points to the door with number 5 on it.
$a['Yes but what about all the other doors?'] you inquire, curious.
'Storage.'
You scratch your head. The floor is pretty big and surely not //all// of the rooms are dedicated to storage.
$a['What about the staircases at the end of the hallway?']
'Towers. **No go!**'
Something in the tone of the servant tells you that he means serious business. You are suddenly reminded that the nearly 2 meters tall, bulky guy is not one you'd want to get in the way of.
'That all. Got questions?']<att|
[What about my pay?]<pay|
[[No more questions]]
(click: ?pay)[(replace: ?att)['You get 20£ every day. That it'] (replace: ?pay)[ ] ]
$fl2
Having finished the tour of the manor, you head back to the [[Reception]].
(set: $tour to 1)
(set: $hour to ($hour+1))(unless: (history:)'s last is "YOU")[
(set: $minute to ($minute+_ti))
(if: $minute > 59)[ (set: $minute -= 60)
(set: $hour to ($hour+1))]
(if: $hour > 24)[ (set: $hour to ($hour-24))] ]
(if: $bcharges>5)[(set: $bcharges to 5)]
(if: $sanity>100)[(set: $sanity to 100)]
(set: $Bmod to (5-$bcharges)*3)
(set: $lewd to ($lust + $Bmod + $suit_mod))
You move past the game room, the dusty [pool table]<pool| failing to retain your interest.
(click: ?pool)[ $A[Are there ever enough people around to play pool? Ionut doesn't seem the type... perhaps Mihai invites friends from the village?]]
You reach a big door from dark, polished wood with a golden handle and an ornamental plaque in the shape of a book. It is [locked.]<lock|
(click: ?lock)[(replace: ?act3)[You take the metal keyring from the pocket of your jacket and try a long, yellow ring. The door unlocks with a heavy **clang**. [[Enter the library]] ]]
$I[ [ ]<act3| ]$T[YOUR ROOM]
Small and simple, your room has just the bare necessities - a bed, a wardrobe, a desk and a chair. A single window is looking out to the backgarden. There is also a nightstand with a drawer, a lamp and a candlestick on top.
(if: $hour<23)[
(link-repeat:"Look into the wardrobe")[(replace: ?act)[$wardrobe] ]
(link-repeat:"Look into the drawer")[(replace: ?act)[$drawer] ]
]
$I[ [ ]<act| ]
(if: $work1 is true)[(replace: ?act)[$I[You take out some paper and a pen from the drawer and set to writing...]]]
(if: $work1 is false and $hour<23)[ [Work on your book]<work| (click: ?work)[ (set:$hour to 23) (set: $work1 to true) (goto: "Go back to your room") ] ]
(if: $hour<23 and $intro<3)[ [[Leave your room->Reception]] ]
(if: $hour>=23)[
(if:$door<1)[(link:"Lock the door")[(replace: ?act)[$I[The door is now locked] ] (set: $door=1)] ]<Lock|
[[Sleep->Sleep1]] ]$lib
You step inside a place of twilight and silence. The library is filled with tall, thin bookshelves that extend upwards towards a ceiling that is unusually high. The narrow alleys are illuminated by the dissipated rays coming from hidden windows somewhere up above. Every now and then there are small tables with armchairs left for the comfort of the reader.
[[Take a look around]]
(if: $bracelet is 1 and $books_read<3)[ [[Try to find something about the bracelet]] ]
[[Back->Reception]]
(set: $lib2 to 1)
(set: _ti to 10)$lib
You wonder aimlessly around, exploring the mazelike innards of the room. The tomes don't seem to be organised in any particular fashion and even if they were, most of the titles are too faded and illegible. Without any indication or a specific topic of research, picking up a book is pure random.
You try a couple of times anyways to see what you'd find, but it's mostly filled with old history, names, places, and dynasties that don't mean anything to you.
(unless: $diary_found is 1)[You've almost given up hope on finding anything interesting, when a particular place catches your eye. It's a small table, much like the others, except for the fact that the surface is considerably less dusty and there is an ancient inkwell sitting on top of it.
As you approach and sit in the armchair, you notice that the shelves next to the table are filled with a peculiar collection - all the books have identical covers, and instead of titles they have only dates.
[[Pick up one of the books]] ]
[[Back->Enter the library]]
(set: _ti to 45)$lib
The mysterious bracelet on your wrist seems like a good topic of research. Perhaps you will be able to find something about the jewel, or the antique shop you got it from. $Felicia was way too young to be mentioned in a book, but in such a small village the antique shop is probably a family business, so you might find something about her ancestors...
You start going through the tomes, searching for any relevant topics that might shine a light on the subject. After a significant time of digging through the old volumes, you gather a few volumes.
(set: _ti to 30)
$hishills[ [[History of the hills]] ]
$antcat[ [[The antique cat]] ]
$legmount[ [[Legends from the Mountains]] ]
$lib
It appears to be some sort of history book, the yellow pages printed with the heavy, slightly smudged ink of the old printing press. You open the volume at page 25:
(set: $books_read += 1)
$B1[**Dating back to the slavic tribes before the middle ages, the inhabitatns of what is known today as the Romanian mountains have always followed a strict code of social and geopolitical hiarchy, separating the region into autonomous constituencies known as "hills". Every hill had its own ruler, a hereditary title, who held power over tha land and its people and in exchange vowed protection for his subjects.
Some believe that the modern expression "king of the hill" originated from these early societal structures. Througout the history of the region, different countries and kings have claimed the territories to be within their borders, but they have mostly respected the hills and their power.**]
It's not a bad read, but you progress slowly, often checking words with the romanian dictionary you downloaded on your phone. After a while you decide that there are better things you could do with your time.
(if: $hour<23 and $books_read<3)[Perhaps you could take a look at another book?
$antcat[ [[The antique cat]] ]
$legmount[ [[Legends from the Mountains]] ] ](if: $books_read is 3 and $hour<23)[ You've read everything you could find for now, perhaps you should [[head back.->Reception]] ] (if: $hour>=23)[ $R[It's too late to continue reading. You should [[head back.->Reception]] ] ]
(set: _ti to 30) (set: $hishills to false)$lib
It's a small book with black covers made from some soft tissue. On the front there is a faded picture of a cat standing on top of a pile of books. The colors are faded now but it's clear that they were once vibrant and gay. You're not quite sure why you picked it up, other than the fact that it had "antique" in the title. The language is somewhat difficult to read as your Romanian is far from perfect. You open the first page:
$B[There once was a cat, who found an old key
She meowed and she purred with eyes full of glee
for the key, that she knew, opened a box
a box full of books and trinkets and clocks]
//What is this? A children's nursery rhyme?//
You abandon the poem and [[flip to a new page]]
(set: _ti to 10)
$lib
A red volume with thin white paper, "Legends from the Mountains" is a collection of myths and old tales accompagnied with exquisite drawings in colour. You open a chapter at random:
$B2[//Transilvanian folklore has become known worldwide for its legends about **vampires**. One of the common misconceptions however, associated with this mythos, is the portrayal of the vampire as a solitary creature that inhabits some distant and forsaken place such as a castle or a ruin.
In truth, vampires are depicted in the old tales as social creatures that live in packs and abide by a strict hiarchy. Every pack is led by an Elder, a powerful being that has acquired knowledge and skills over centuries. He is followed by his son^^1^^ and then by a handful of lesser vampires who usually do not live in the same place but in surrounding villages or dwellings, which together form the **Elder Covenant**.
^^1^^//]$B2sub[ The Elder always has a single son to avoid infights for the heritige. While vampires are portrayed with a lifespan of centuries, they're not believed to be immortal, and thus the son eventually replaces his father and becomes the new Elder. Elders do not take other vampires for wives for the same reason - a potential claim for power - and thus resort to humans for the purpose of breeding.]
(set: _ti to 30) (set: $legmount to false) (set: $books_read += 1)
(if: $hour<23 and $books_read<3)[Perhaps you could take a look at another book?
$antcat[ [[The antique cat]] ]
$hishills[ [[History of the hills]] ] ]
(if: $books_read is 3 and $hour<23)[ You've read everything you could find for now, perhaps you should [[head back.->Reception]] ]
(if: $hour>=23)[ $R[It's too late to continue reading. You should [[head back.->Reception]] ] ]$lib
$B[She hid from $ups[the men] and their twisted ways
$rev[and found a new home in that cursed place]
a home in the shadows $ups[between two ancient stones]
guarded by $ups[spirits] and a key made of bones]
(set: $antcat to false) (set: _ti to 30)
You blink a couple of times, unable to concentrate on the text. The language is hard enough on its own, but it feels like the words themselves are pushing you away. The harder you stare the more they seem to move and dance on the page, giving you an increasing headache. Frusterated, you close the book.
(set: $books_read += 1) (if: $hour<23 and $books_read<3)[Perhaps you could take a look at another book?
$hishills[ [[History of the hills]] ]
$legmount[ [[Legends from the Mountains]] ] ] (if: $books_read is 3 and $hour<23)[ You've read everything you could find for now, perhaps you should [[head back.->Reception]] ] (if: $hour>=23)[ $R[It's too late to continue reading. You should [[head back.->Reception]] ] ]$room
Yawning from the long and exhausting day, you put the few pages of your manuscript in the drawer and blow out the candle.
The room plunges in silver darkness, the silhouettes outlined by the shine of the almost full moon outside. You lie on the hard matress, thinking about the mysterious events of the day. The bracelet is hanging comfortably around your wrist, its presence somehow comforting against the creaking of the old building and the howling of the wind in the dead branches outside. Before you know it, the darkness takes you...
(if: $door is 0)[Your sleep is deep but uneasy, like a cold fever that won't let you go. You turn without waking, the creaking of the wooden floor seemingly getting louder. You dream of a door opening and two dead blue eyes staring at you. //Did you lock the door?//] (if: $door is 1)[Your sleep is deep and almost tranquil. You hear the wooden floor creaking again and get a feeling someone is trying to open the door, but you're safe inside. Nothing can get to you. You grip the bracelet tighly towards your chest.]
The night passes and you [[wake up->chapter1]].
(set: $hour to 9) (set: $minute to 0) (set: $day to "Monday") (set: $din_vis to false)$room
You wake up full of energy and ready to take on the world! Despite the limited comodities, you had a good night's sleep and are looking forward to your first day of work.
...which starts at 6pm. In your enthusiasm you'd almost forgotten. Still, you'll probably find something useful to do during the day!
(set: $gen to 0)
[[Get out of your room]](set: $death to (a:
"You always helped your friends when they needed you and were always kind to your family as well as to strangersjust like your father had always taught you.",
"You remember when you were little, your mother always used to say that you were meant to succeed,that one day you would do great things and then you'd come back home to your parents and they'd tell you how proud they were.",
"You remember your first love - her name was Angela- she was a fragile blue-eyed creature that adored you",
"...but in the end you just had to let her go. Why did you have to let her go? You don't quite remember. Something happened between the two of you and then things were never quite the same.",
"Your first pet died when you were 16. It was only a goldfish but you were just starting to get attached to it. His name was Mr. Rogers.",
"Mr. Rogers was pretty cute, as far as goldfish go; or so you had thought at the time...",
" ",
" ",
" ",
" ")){(live: 2s)[
$DD[ (if: $test is 1)[(set: _app to $death's 1st) (append: ?fadeout1)[_app]] (if: $test is 2)[(set: _app to $death's $test) (append: ?fadeout1)[_app]]
(if: $test>= 2)[(print: $death's 2nd)] (if: $test >= 3)[(print: $death's 3rd)] (if: $test >= 4)[<br><br> (print: $death's 4th)] (if: $test >= 5)[(print: $death's 5th)] (if: $test >= 6)[(print: $death's 6th)] (if: $test >= 7)[(print: $death's 7th)] (if: $test >= 8)[(print: $death's 8th)] (if: $test >= 9)[(print: $death's 9th)] (if: $test >= 10)[(print: $death's 10th)] (if: $test >= 11)[(print: $death's 11th)] (if: $test >= 12)[(print: $death's 12th)] (if: $test >= 13)[(print: $death's 13th)] ]
(if: $test<14)[(set: $test +=1)]
(if: $test is 60)[(set: $DD to (text-colour: "#606060")) ]
(if: $test is 100)[(set: $DD to (text-colour: "#404040")) (set: $live to 20000)]
(if: $test is 140)[(set: $DD to (text-style: "blur")+(text-colour:"#202020"))]
(if: $test is 14)[(stop:)]
]}
[ ]<fadeout1|
$T[-YOU-]
(display: "self")
(unless: (history:) contains "questions?" or "orb of fire" or "some breakfast"or "wake up")[**INVENTORY:** $I[$noitems] ] (else:)[**INVENTORY:** $I[You have (link-repeat:"keys")[(replace: ?info1)[You have the keys to (print: $keys). ]](if: $pheromones>0)[ and (link-repeat:"pheromones")[(replace: ?info1)[(if: $flaskful>0)[The perfume flask is $flaskful% full.<br><br>
(link-repeat:"Apply 1 puff of pheromones")[(set: $flaskful to it - 10)(set: $phero to it +1)
(replace: ?info1)[You apply a single puff to your neck.<br><br>
$A[I can't smell anything... will this really be enough?]<br><br>
The flask remains $flaskful% full.]] <br>
(if: $lav_firstdeath >0)[(if: $flaskful>=30)[ (link-repeat:"Apply 3 puffs of pheromones")[(set: $flaskful to it - 30)(set: $phero to it +3)
(replace: ?info1)[You apply three puffs - one to your neck, one under the armpit, and one to your stomach. <br><br>
$A[There - that should do it. I hope...]<br><br>
The flask remains $flaskful% full.] ] ] <br>
(if: $flaskful>=90)[ (link-repeat:"Empty the entire bottle on yourself")[(set: $flaskful to it - 100)(set: $phero to it +10)
(replace: ?info1)[You've had enough of being trated as dog food! You remove the bottle cap and empty all of its contents on yourself. <br><br>
$A[If this doesn't do the trick, nothing will...]<br><br>
The flask remains $flaskful% full.]] ](cloaked|
](else:)[The flask is empty] ]]] ].<br>] (if: $flowers is 1)[$I[You have a handful of (link-repeat:"thistles")[(replace:?info1)[Thorny but pretty, these could make a lovely bouquet for the right lady.]] ] <br>](if: $diary_found is 1)[$I[You have a |dia>[diary].<br>] ] (if: $bracelet is 1)[ <br> (display: "bracelet.recap") ] ]
(if: $elise_present is 1)[
$I[You have a small green bottle.]]
$I[ [ ]<info1| ]
[Back]<b| (click: ?b)[(go-to: (history:)'s last)]
(set: $test to 1) {(live: 2.0s)[
(if: $test is 1)[ (append: ?fadeout1)[You always helped your friends when they needed you and were always kind to your family as well as to strangers just like your father had always taught you.] ]
(if: $test is 2)[(append: ?fadeout2)[|fontbig>[When you were little], your mother always used to say that you were meant to (colour:#CC0000)[succeed],that one day you would do great things and then you'd come back home to your parents and they'd tell you how proud they were.] ]
(if: $test is 3)[(append: ?fadeout2)[ <br><br>|fontbig>[Your first love] - her name was (colour:#FFCCFF)[Angela] - she was a fragile blue-eyed creature that adored you] ]
(if: $test is 4)[(append: ?fadeout2)[<br>...but in the end you just had to let her go. Why did you have to let her go? You don't quite remember. Something happened between the two of you and then things were never quite the same.] ]
(if: $test is 5)[(append: ?fadeout3)[You had |fontbig>[few friends], mostly boys from the hood whose parents weren't well off enough to send to summer camps or boarding schools, so you played together, exploring the backstreets.] ]
(if: $test is 6)[(append: ?fadeout3)[<br>It wasn't the most glorious childhood, but you have nontheless fond memories of it and it definitely taught you a lot about life.] ]
(if: $test is 7)[(append: ?fadeout3)[<br><br> |fontbig>[Your first pet] died when you were 16. It was only a (colour:#FFFFCC)[goldfish] but you were just starting to get attached to it. His name was Mr. Rogers.] ]
(if: $test is 8)[(append: ?fadeout3)[Mr. Rogers was pretty cute, as far as goldfish go; or so you had thought at the time...] ]
(if: $test is 9)[(replace: ?fadeout3)[<br><br> In [school]<fontbig| you were never the most brilliant of students, but you got by with (colour:#FF99FF)[decent grades] for which your parents left you mostly alone, judging you competent to take care of yourself in life. ] ]
(if: $test is 10)[(append: ?fadeout3)[<br> Before you know it the years flew by, until you decided to take that summer job at that hotel...] ]
(if: $test is 4)[(replace: ?fadeout1)[ ] ]
(if: $test is 7)[(replace: ?fadeout2)[ ] ]
(if: $test is 11)[(replace: ?fadeout3)[ ] ]
(if: $test<14)[(set: $test +=1)]
(if: $test is 13)[ (show:?next) ]
(if: $test is 13)[(stop:)]
]}
[ [Thinking back, you had a decent life, for what it was worth. ]<fadeout1| ]
[ [ ]<fadeout2| ]
[ ]<fadeout3| |next)[ [[..............]] ]
(set: $dead += 1)
(set: $Felicia_level to 1) (set: $backstory to "You lived a quiet suburban life and acquired your street smarts from boys and girls in the hood. Life never really surprised you much, until you decided to take that summer job.")
(set: $sanity -=50)$dark
Total and complete darkness.
It's cold.
The silence is deafening.
(if: $bcharges is 0)[This time there is no warmth from the bracelet. All the crimson beads are spent. The cold spreads through your body [[until there is nothing left]]. ]
(else:)[Suddenly a droplet of warmth appears, a lonely flame in a world of ice. It's close - very close. Your right hand begins to pulse. No, not the hand. It's your wrist. It's getting warmer, slowly but relentlessly. The flame is getting stronger, burning hotter. Then it explodes and evelops you in a fiery [[orb of fire]].
(if: $deathlist contains "lavius" and $dead<8)[ (set: $av to 2)]
(set: $test to 1) (set: $tower_key to 0) (set: $gen to 0) (set: $gas to 0) (set: $elise_seen to 0) (set: $ionut_seen to 0) (set: $e3 to 0) (set: $e5 to 0) (set: $money to 0) (set: $name to "Alexandra") (set: $seen_mihai to 0) (set: $28done to 0) (set: $flowers to 0) (set: $elise_conv to 0) (if: $elise_present is 1)[(set: $elise_present to 0)] (set: $din_vis to false) (set: $myst_visited to 0) (set: $zach to true) (set: $zach_friends to 0) (set: $lav_react to "null") (set: $lav_talked to 0) (set: $withzach to false) (set: $visited_lab_alone to 0) (set: $ionut_visited to false) (if: $pheromones>0)[ (set: $phero to 0) ](set: $lav_busy to 0) (set: $werefucked to 0) (set: $rested to 0)
(set: $bcharges to (it - 1)) ]
(if: $dead is 1)[ (set: $mirror to "young woman with $hair, $lips and $eyes. She is dressed in $suit which show the shape of her $breasts")
(set: $ach1 to true) (set: $breasts to "small breasts") (set: $hair to "short dark hair") (set: $eyes to "brown eyes") (set: $lips to "thin lips") (set: $lust to (it + 1))]
(elseif: $dead is 2)[ (set: $breasts to "cute little breasts") (set: $hair to "shoulder-length dark hair")(set: $eyes to "deep dark eyes")(set: $lips to "inviting lips") (set: $lust to (it + 1)) ]
(elseif: $dead is 3)[ (set: $breasts to "well-rounded breasts") (set: $hair to "shoulder-length dark hair")(set: $eyes to "deep dark eyes")(set: $lips to "full lips") (set: $lust to (it + 1)) ]
(elseif: $dead is 4)[ (set: $breasts to "well rounded, alluring breasts")(set: $hair to "long dark hair")(set: $eyes to "beautiful dark eyes") (set: $lips to "full, inviting lips") (set: $lust to (it + 2)) ]
(elseif: $dead <8)[ (set: $breasts to "soft round breasts") (set: $hair to "long dark hair with a red sheen")(set: $eyes to "mysterious dark eyes")(set: $lips to "full, seductive lips") (set: $lust to (it + 2))]
(elseif: $dead >8)[ (set: $breasts to "big round breasts") (set: $hair to "long dark-red hair")(set: $eyes to "mysterious dark eyes with purple sheen")(set: $lips to "shamelessly plump lips") (set: $lust to (it + 3))]$att
You leave your room and head instictively towards the staircase, when a cold breeze brushes an icy finger on your cheek. You look both ways - all the windows are closed - but after all this is a pretty old house...
Suddenly, you're feeling a little curious to explore the top floor. Both Mihai and Ionut were very brief about it, and you wonder if there aren't some hidden delights to find - perhaps an opening to the roof? Surely the view to the mountain will be breathtaking. And then there are the towers... you could always take a peek around.
(display:"10m")[[Explore the hallway->take a peek around]]
(display:"none")[[Go down the stairs]]$att
You walk farther down the attic hallway, bypassing all the small doors of the storage rooms on both sides. Licking your finger, you follow the breeze until the far end, where it splits perpendicularly in two.
On the right there is a short extension, a dozen feet at most, ending with a large window overlooking the front entrance of the hotel. On the left, the hallway continues into a spiral staircase, winding upwards into the darkness. Unfortunately, it's closed off with $in[metal bars and a padlock].
[ ]<event|
(display:"none")(link-repeat:"Try to force the lock")[(if: (history:) contains "enter the room")[(replace:?event)[$R[The lock rattles but doesn't open. You see a flash of a pitch black room and dark wings above, your heart skipping a beat. You shake your head. What was that?] ] ] (else:)[ (replace:?event)[$R[(either:"The lock is too solid to be opened without a key.","You struggle with the lock but nothing happens.","If only you had some thin sharp object to pick the lock with...and you knew how to pick locks.")] ] ] ]
(display:"key") (if: $tower_key is 1)[ [[Use one of Ionut's keys]] ](else:)[ (display:"unav")]
(display:"bk")[[Back]]
(set: _ti to 10)$fl2
You descend to the second floor, the velvet carpet muffling your footsteps. Even in the cold light of the morning the manor looks shadowy and unwelcoming, the dust hanging in the air like thick goo.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/elise4.png" width="450" align="right">
To your surprise, one of the doors on your right opens and a woman walks out in the hallway, walking towards you without a sound. She is tall and dark - her skin and short hair black as ebony. However what is most peculiar about her are her proportions - as she advances you can see the outline of her body: her head is small and thin, and her stick-like arms flail around her equally skeletal torso which, if it has breasts at all, hides them very well under a tight leather jacket. And still despite this slim and skinny upper section, under her waist her body bulges out into an entirely different shape: her ass - round and portruding - is almost a seperate entity altogether, occupying - you genuinly wonder - almost as much space as the rest of her.
(set: _ti to 10)
As she closes the distance you remark that she's wearing round green spectacles - not too big, but opaque enough to hide her eyes. Black eyes, no doubt. She raises a hand gloved in the same black leather and points a bony finger towards you:
$E['You must be the new maid. My room requires assistance.']
$a['Uhm, I'm not a handmaid...']
$E['Tsk, tsk, darling. Don't make a fuss. Names are irrelevant, what's important is the job. My room is number 28. Now be a darling and clean it up.']
(set: $elise_seen to 1) (set: $keysneeded to 1)
(display:"talk")[['Right away, M'am']]
(display:"talk")[['I'll add it to my schedule.']]$fl2
Serving the guests is your job after all, so you push down your objections. Besides, there's something in her commanding voice that compells you to obey her, though you're not sure exactly how you feel about that.
In any case, cleaning up shouldn't take too long and you can have breakfast afterwards. You gulp down your pride and stroll down the hallway. The woman's room is almost at the end, and as you approach you notice that the door is slightly ajar.
(display:"75m")[[Enter room 28->clean28.1]]
(display:"bk")[[Bail out and leave it for later]]$fl2
You decide to ignore the woman's request for now. The day has just begun and you'll have plenty of time to do it later. You'd much rather start easy, perhaps with a //breakfast//. The woman frowns, but remains silent.
Turning your back to the guest, you descend the staircase. But then again, aren't you supposed to be at her disposal? In a moment of doubt, you turn around. The hallway is empty.
$A[She's already gone, then it probably wasn't very important...]
You continue towards the [[ground floor]].$rec
(display:"post_cleaning")The reception desk is exactly as you left it yesterday - that is to say old and dusty. The sign currently reads $desksign.
(display:"ionut_gas")(display:"reception_time")(display:"reception_navigation")
(set: _ti to 5)
(set: $key28 to 1) (set: $keysneeded to 0)$din
With a hungry stomach, you enter the dining hall and are greeted with a strange sight. All the windows have been civered with heavy wooden shutters from the exterior, such that barely any sunlight enters the room at all. To compensate for this, candles have been lit on almost all of the tables, their faint flames doing little but pushing the darkness a coupleof feet away.
Sitting on a large ornate table not far from the entrance, you recognise the silhouette of a man with a golden cane.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/mihai2.png" width="450" align="right">
$Mi['Ah, Mr. Reid. Coming for some breakfast?']
$a['Yes, I was hungry... pardon my curiosity, Mr. Petrescu'] - you decide to lean on the side of caution when adressing your boss - $a['but what is all this?']
(set: _ti to 10)
$Mi['Just having breakfast with an old friend, no cause for worry. It's much more romantic this way, don't you find?'] Something in his tone implies that dissagreement is not really an option.
$a['Yes, of course, Mr. Petre-']
$Mi['Although it would be better with the grand chandelier'] - he points upwards towards a heavy ball of light bulbs and crystals - $Mi['but unfortunately the power is still down. Speaking of which, have you any intention of going down to the village today?']
(set: $din_vis to true)
(display:"talk")[['Probably']]
(display:"talk")[['I wasn't really planning...']]
$gar
The manor is surrounded by an expansive garden circled by the $in[fence] which you first saw the night of your arrival.
(if: $gen <3 and $gen>0)[Walking around the manor, you eventually find the basement that Mihai was talking about. In any case it looks like it. The entrance is a sort of wooden hatch half buried in the hardened soil. The doors look very heavy and solid despite their apparent age and are locked with a big metal padlock. Even with an axe you'd have a hard time breaking your way in without the key.
(click: ?enter)[ $R[You don't have the key] ]
(display:"key")(if: $gen >1)[ [[Enter the basement]] ](else: )[ [Enter the basement]<enter|
] ]
(display:"20m")[[Take a walk along the fence->fence]]
(if: $knowflowers is 1)[<br>(display:"20m")[[Pluck some flowers]]<br>]
(if: $rested is 0 and $dead>0)[(display:"60m")[[Rest in the garden for a while->restgarden]]<br> ]
(display:"bk")[[ground floor<-Back to the reception]]
(set: _ti to 10)$din
$Mi['Splendid. In that case, you wouldn't mind buying some fuel for the generator, I hope?']
You shift your weight from one foot to the other, looking embarassed.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/mihai2.png" width="450" align="right">
$a['I'm not sure how to say this Mr. Petrescu...']
$Mi['Yes?']
$a['I don't have any money left. I used the last to get a ride up to your hotel.']
$Mi['That's an issue that can be easily resolved. Here -'] Mihai takes out a small pouch from the inner pockets of his suit and produces a handful of coins which he leaves on the table in front of you. $Mi['This should be enough to cover your expenses plus some extra for doing me a favor.']
(set: $money += 200) (set: _ti to 10)
[[Take the coins]]$din
$Mi['I see. I shan't waste your time then.'] He looks absent-mindedly in the air for a moment. $Mi['Just one more thing though.']
$a['Yes?']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/mihai2.png" width="450" align="right">
$Mi['Try to find yourself some clothes, (if: $dead is 0)[Mr. Reid](else:)[Ms. Reid]. You represent **me** now.' ]
$a['Yes, of course.'] You shoot an awkward glance at your jeans and t-shirt, then at Mihai's fancy black suit. $a['But I'm afraid I don't have any money left...']
You look down, embarassed.
$Mi['That's an issue that can be easily resolved. Here -'] Mihai takes out a small pouch from the inner pockets of his suit and produces a handful of coins which he leaves on the table in front of you. $Mi['This should be enough to cover your expenses plus some extra for doing me a favor.']
(set: $money += 130) (set: _ti to 10)
You sit there for a few moments before realising that he's finished talking to you.
(set: _ti to 5)
(display:"30m")[[Have breakfast]]$din
$a['Thank you, Mr. Petescu! But you've given me so much more than-']
$Mi['Try to find yourself some clothes, (if: $dead is 0)[Mr. Reid](else:)[Ms. Reid]. You represent **me** now.' ]
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/mihai2.png" width="450" align="right">
$a['Yes, of course.'] You shoot an awkward glance at your jeans and t-shirt, then at Mihai's fancy black suit. $A[So that's why he's giving me so much...]
$Mi['When you come back with the fuel, don't forget to actually put it inside the generator. It's located in the basement. The entrance is outside the manor, through the garden. Ask Ionut for the key.']
(set: $gen to 1)
$a['Very well, Mr. Petrescu'] You sit there for a few moments before realising that he's finished talking to you.
(set: _ti to 15)
(display:"30m")[[Have breakfast]](if: $dead is 1)[(goto:"Have breakfast2")]$din
You take a table at the opposite side of the room, leaving Mihai at a safe distance. Ionut's head appears at the kitchen window, giving you a clumsy wink:
'Eggs and bakon, ja?'
(if: (history:) contains "enter the room")[For an instant your blood freezes and a deep sensation of dread overtakes you.(if:$ionut_level is 1)[You see Ionut's figure towering above you, holding a shovel. The dirt splashes on your tied body..]
The moment passes and you get a grip. Slowly, you reply with a nod and the servant ](else:)[You give him a nod and he ]disappears again, followed by the sound of sizzling.
A few minutes later, while you're eating in the semi-complete darkness of the dining hall, a new silhouette enters the room. You immediately identify the bizzare outline of the woman you met earlier. She takes a seat across the table from Mihai, occupying what appears to be the biggest armchair you've ever seen, with a seat large enough for two people to sit on side by side comfortably and a tall back covered in numerous fancy cushions. Her slim body and small round head look almost ridiculous in comparison, yet somehow she seems to fill the chair quite nicely with the rest of her body...
Looking at her you start getting a headache and you move your gaze away, rubbing your tired eyes. The room is so dark and the candles so faint that the shadows are starting to play tricks on you.. Bits of the conversation make their way to you, but it's too low and jumbled to make any sense.
$E2['My $ups[children] will....yes that's right....safe place...$rev[new host] very soon...']
$Mi2['I'll see what I can do.... will be $ups[arranged]....for $rev[your brood]..' ]
(set: _ti to 30)
(if: $dead is 0)[Quietly and without looking at your host, you finish eating.](elseif: $dead is 1)[$A[I wonder what this is all about...] ]
(display:"none")[[To the kitchen]]
(display:"bk")[[To the reception->ground floor]]
(set: $seen_mihai to 1)$kit (if: $gas is 1)[(goto:"empty_kitchen")]
(unless: $gas is 1)[Here at least the light from the windows hasn't been blocked and you're happy to be able to see properly. Ionut appears to be (if: $ionut_visited is false)[ cleaning the dishes.](else:)[ busy cooking something, no doubt meals for Mihai and the dark woman.] You notice that next to him on a stone kitchen counter he's left a heavy $I[keyring] filled with at least a dozen metal keys.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/ionut.png" width="400" align="right">
$a[Ionut seems to have a lot of keys... I wonder what places they lead to?]
'You vant someving?' he asks without interrupting his work.
(if: (history:) contains "enter the room")[(color:#99FFCC)[You feel somewhat uneasy around him and try to keep the conversation brief and to the point. The nagging images appear again... you grow wary of the servant, despite his presently kind appearance.
$A[My first hunches were correct... this guy is dangerous. Better not provoke him.] ] <br>](elseif: $dead is 1)[$a['Hey Ionut, do you notice anything different about me today?'] you ask tentatively.
The servant looks you up and down.
'I do not know you vell, Ms. Reid. But you look same as I remember' <br>](if: $ionut_visited is false and $dead>0)[(display: "ionut_lewd")] (set: $sorry to "'Nothing, sorry to bother you'")(if: $gen is 1)[ <br> <br> (display:"key")[['Mihai told me to get the key to the basement.'->getkey]] ]
(display:"bk")[[$sorry->ground floor]] ]
(set: _ti to 10)$gar
You walk along it for a while, but it keeps going as far as you can see, the terrain becoming rougher and even less well-kept the farther away from the mansion you go.
Eventually the low, sikly grass is replaced by ever taller thorns and bushes, making your advance difficult. When you're about to give up, you notice another $in[gate] in the fence.
(set: _ti to 20)
[[Approach the gate->gate1]]
[[Back->the garden]] $gar
Tall and rusty, it's similar to the first one, though definitely not the same. The path leading to it is barely distinguishable, overtaken with $in[brambles and bad weeds]. Still some of them appear crushed or stomped recently, indicating that someone must still be coming this way from time to time. You try to push the doors open, but they're locked with a big padlock.
$I[ []<obs2| ]
[Take a closer look at the weeds]<weed|
[Look beyond the gate]<lb|
[[Turn back->the garden]]
(set: _ti to 20)
{(live:1s)[
(click: ?weed)[ (replace: ?obs2)[Although wild and thorny, some of the thistles have vivid purple colours which give them a kind of savage beauty. You could [pick some]<pluck|. ] ]
(click: ?pluck)[(replace: ?obs2)[Using a swiss knife you have the habit of carrying with yourself, you cut some of the violet thistles. They'd make for a pretty bouquet, though a bit thorny.] (set: $flowers to 1) (set: _ti to 40) (set: $knowflowers to 1) ]
(click: ?lb)[(replace: ?obs2)[The ground on the other side looks rough and barren, with nothing but dry, skeletal trees that extend their long-dead branches towards each other like the fingers of long-dead lovers. Between them there are a handful of tombstones covered in grey lichen.] ]
]}$base
The doors of the hatch take some effort to lift but you eventually manage to open them, removing the vines that have already started to crawl on top.
(set: _ti to 10)
The inside of the basement is more akin to the opening of a dungeon, with a cold stony floor and pillars supporting the manor on top. There are matches left near the hatch and you use them to light a torch which illuminates well enough the space several feet around you.
There are pipes and valves covering most of the east wall and going into the ceiling, as well as a handful of crates, a workbench and some tools hanging near it, more torches and cobwebs wobbling by the cold draft; and of course, there is the [[generator]].
On the opposite side of the room there is another [door]<do| leading further down...
$I[ [ ]<insp| ]
(if: $gas is 0)[ |pipes)[ $special[Turn the gas down]<td| ] ]
[[Back->ground floor]]
(click: "pipes and valves")[ (replace: ?insp)[You approach closer to inspect them - there are brass pipes for the water as well as the gas which runs the stove in the kitchen. They're going straight up,so you should be right underneath it.] (show: ?pipes) ]
(click: ?td)[(set: $gas to 1) (replace: ?insp)[You turn the valves on the pipes, lowering the flow of gas to the kitchen. Cooking might become difficult...] (replace: ?pipes)[ ]]
(click: "workbench")[ (replace: ?insp)[It's a robust metal table covered in sawdust and dark stains. On the side there are a handful of cutting and measuring devices attached to it, as well as, for some reason, leather straps.] ]
(click: "tools")[ (replace: ?insp)[Saws and hammers, pliers, screwdrivers, files... as well as other, unknown instruments mostly with sharp edges and long, curved blades.] ]
(click: ?do)[ (replace: ?insp)[You approach to inspect it, but it's barred with a metal grill with a strange, triangle keylock. You're pretty sure you haven't seen any key that could open it.] ]
$att
Taking the key from your pocket, you unlock the big metal padlock with a //click!// that echoes through the narrow hallway. Up above the staircase twists around the central axis, growing darker with every step...
Should you really be doing this? Your heart starts pounding faster as you consider your options...(if: (history:) contains "enter the room")[and memories flood your mind.
A winding staircase.
A dark room.
A hidden terror and a flash of metal.
The cold embrace of the grave. The earth suffocating your lungs.
You shiver, gasping for air. Back. You have to go [[BACK->Back]]! ]
(else:)[
[Climb into the darkness]<climb|
[[Back]]
(click:?climb)[ (if:$dead<1)[ (goto:"reconsider") ] (else:)[(goto:"Climb into the darkness")] ] ]
(set: _ti to 5)$att
The attic is grey and a dusty, a cold draft running through the narrow hallway. It's too early to go back to your room right now.
From here, you can [go down the stairs]<godown| or [[take a peek around]].
(click: ?godown)[ (if: $elise_trial is 1)[ (goto:"ground floor") ]
(elseif: $elise_seen is 0 and $dead is 0)[ (goto:"Go down the stairs") ]
(elseif: $elise_seen is 0 and $dead is 1)[ (goto:"go down for breakfast") ]
(elseif: $elise_seen is 0 and $lav_firstdeath is 0)[ (goto:"Hurry down the stairs") ](elseif: $elise_seen is 0 and $lav_firstdeath > 0)[ (goto:"Gather your courage and go down") ]
(else:)[ (goto:"ground floor") ]
]$att
To hell with the rules! You're curious to see what's at the top of the tower(if:$dead is 0)[ and if it turns out to be just a bunch of dusty furniture, then at least the view will be worth it.](else:)[, the mysteries of the Crooked Elm awaiting to be uncovered. If you don't understand what's really going on, then there will be little chance of ever turning back...]
Besides, when you get back down you'll lock the gate behind you and sneak the key on Ionut's keyring. Nobody will ever know a thing...
You start climbing, using the screen of your phone as a source of light to guide your way. Even if there isn't any reception up here, at least it's good for something.
The staircase continues for quite some time, spiraling upwards for what seems like hundreds of steps. From time to time there are doors on the side, but you're really interested in getting to the top.
After what seems like an eternity, you reach the last step and a small platform leading to a single wooden door. Fortunately enough, there isn't any lock here, only a brass handle that looks like it hasn't been used in a while.
You draw a deep breath and [[enter the room]].$dark
The faint light of your screen illuminates a small halo around you in what seems like complete and total darkness. There aren't any silhouettes of objects around you - no furniture, no old stuff, nothing at all. You turn to all directions but as far as you can tell the room is empty. And completely dark.
It's a darkness that envelops you and sticks to your clothes, a rich and dense darkness which makes it hard to breathe and almost drowns you. Walking in a straight line you reach the wall - and indeed the windows - and examine them with increasing astonishment. They have been covered with some black and impenetrable material that makes it impossible to tell that it's actually day outside.
Raising your phone higher, you see the something big and round hanging from the ceiling above. It shifts uneasily, as if irritated by the light you're pointing towards it, it's enormous leathery wings curling to protect it's head...
'**Vat have you done!!!**'
You turn around to the enormous figure of Ionut charging towards you at full speed.
$A[**'Wait, I was ju-'**]
He swings at you in a blur and you feel something cold and heavy on the side of your head, followed by a metallic taste in your mouth and the world [[fading away....]]
$sc1[
$R[You have learned a new secret: The Tower]
(set: $secrets to (it +1)) (set: $sc1 to false )]
$end
The ground beneath you is cold and rough, the rocks painfully digging into your spine. Your entire body feels numb and heavy, as if an enormous weight is pushing you down.
With great effort you force your eyes open and stare at the grey sky above. And the walls of earth around you.
$A[**'Mhmhmhmhmhm!!!'**] You try to scream, but your mouth is gagged. Ionut, towering somewhere above you, continues his work with the shovel, slowly and methodically burying your body five feet into the barren soil.
Panic sets in and you begin to struggle, trying to get out, but your(if:$dead>0)[ weak, feminine] hands and feet are bound and the increasing weight of the earth on top of you is too much. The dirt piles up on your $breasts, eventually covering them completely.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/grave.png" width="900" align="center">
$A[**'MMMHHMMMMNNNN!!!!'**] you try to shout one last desperate time, but the next shovelfuls of dirt fall on your face, slowly blocking your vision and stifling the remainder of your efforts. The sensation of weight merges with a feeling of light-headedness as the sound of the shovel becomes more and more distant and your extremities slowly stop responding to your agonising mind, merging and dissolving with the ground around you.
The world fades to black once more, [this time for good...]<end1|
(set: $lastdeath to "ionut") (set: $deathlist to it + (a: "Ionut"))
(set: $ionut_level to 1)
(click:?end1)[(goto:"DIE")]
$sc2[
$R[You have learned a new secret: The Faithful Servant]
(set: $secrets to (it +1)) (set: $sc2 to false)]$base
A bulky metal device, the generator is full of brass cylinders, cogs and pistons, topped with wires connecting to tesla coils with glass protectors and bulky silver handles. In the center is a giant round shape, the home of the dynamo that makes the whole thing work.
It's a device from another era and you wonder how it even works anymore.(if: $gen is 3)[At present the fuel tank gauge shows that it's full.
$A[Zach did it! The generator is running!]](else:)[At present the fuel tank gauge shows that it's empty.
(if: $fuel is 0)[ [Fill the tank with fuel]<fill| ]
(if: $fuel is 1)[ [Fill the tank with fuel]<fill2| ]
(click: ?fill)[ $R[You don't have any fuel!] ] ]
[[Back->Enter the basement]]
(set: _ti to 10)$kit
The opportunity is too tempting to pass on it.
$a[With his collection of keys, I'll finally be able to properly look around..]
And besides, what's the harm? You're just curious and there's a whole day ahead of you with nothing better to do. After a little exploration you'll return the keys back.
(set: $tower_key to 1)
[[Continue->ground floor]]
(set: $keys to it + (a: "as well as unknown lodactions"))
(set: _ti to 10)$kit
The servant is probably going to be very angry if you steal his keys, and it's only your first day on the job. For now it's better to make a good impression and follow the rules. You can always fool around once you're more familiar with your environment.
(set: $keys_not_taken to 1)
[[Continue->ground floor]]
(set: _ti to 5)$fl2
The floor is quiet and empty. (if: $28done is 0)[You should probably go and [[clean the woman's room]](if: $lied_to_elise is 1)[before she notices your little morning manouver].](elseif: $elise_conv is 1)[As far as you know there aren't any guests staying here, apart from the woman in room 28.
(if: $elise_level is 0 and $ach2 is false)[Speaking of her, you still don't know anything about this mysterious individual, apart from her bossy character, and undisclosed relationship with $M[Mihai].
$A[I've talked to her already though, perhaps I shouldn't bother her anymore for today...]] ](else:)[As far as you know there aren't any guests staying here, apart from the woman in room 28.
(if: $elise_level is 0 and $ach2 is false)[Speaking of her, you still don't know anything about this mysterious individual, apart from her bossy character, and undisclosed relationship with $M[Mihai].
(if: $dead is 0)[ $A[Perhaps paying her a little visit will yield useful information about this place? I can always ask her what she knows about the locals...]](else:)[ $A[She doesn't seem related to my predicament, but might still know something useful.] ] ](elseif: $elise_level is 0 and $ach2 is true)[If you can even call her a "woman". Your mind shivers at a shadow of a memory.
$A[Whatever that thing is, it isn't human. But that was before. Now... now she doesn't know that I know. And if she can talk, she can be reasoned with. Perhaps it's worth a shot.] ](elseif: $elise_level <3)[You've already talked with her before, but you have a feeling that there's more information that can be squeezed out, if you only ask the right questions.]
[[Visit the guest in room 28->room 28]]
]
Climb to the [[attic->Back]].
Descend down to [[Floor 1]] or all the way to the [[reception->ground floor]].
(set: _ti to 5)$fl1
The corridors are silent, except for the muffled creaking of the wooden floor. But there is no one around. You scratch your head, feeling uneasy. For some reason you get the feeling that someone is watching you.
Move up the stairs to [[Floor 2]].
Go all the way up to the [[Attic->Back]].
Go down to the [[Reception->ground floor]].
(set: _ti to 5)$vil
Much the same as the day before, the village has few places of interest.
There is the [[hunting cabin->cabin2]], but you doubt that you'll find anyone today either as the place looked pretty abandoned. There's also the [[inn->inn3]] - though you remember the welcome you received last time. Perhaps it really was closed, but most likely the owner simply didn't like you.
$A[Maybe if I befriend one of the locals, they'll be willing to let me in.]
And of course, there's the [[antique shop->antique]]. You look at the bracelet on your wrist, somehow finding its presence comforting.
$A[Did $Felicia give me a lucky charm? She definitely seemed the type to believe in that kind of stuff.]
(if: $gen is 1)[Unfortunately, you can't think of any place where you'd be able to find fuel for the generator. Nor buy clothes that live up to the owner's style. You guess you'll have to ask around.]$kit
You put the keyring back on the counter. There. Nobody will ever know.
(set: $tower_key to 0)
(display:"bk")[[Back to reception->ground floor]]
(set: $keys to it - (a: "as well as unknown lodactions"))
(set: _ti to 5)$mount
You take the familiar path downhill following the little stream. Perhaps the mountain air is already having a positive effect or perhaps you're getting used to the road, but this time the trip is less exhausting.
The forest around you is beautiful in an eerie way, the tall trees casting a deep shade that has stifled most of the low vegetation between them, creating a surprisingly clear space on the ground, filled mostly with lots of dry pinecones and the occasional bush.
(set: _ti to 60)
Before you know it, you [[arrive at the village->Village2]]. $vil
A small wooden building in the outskirts of the village, the hunting cabin has a distinct look thanks to the various antlears and animal heads hanging from its walls.
You approach the window, but it's too dirty to peer inside.
[Knock on the door]<k1|
(click: ?k1)[(replace: ?ac)[You wait, but there's no answer. Perhaps nobody's home?]]
$I[[ ]<ac|]
[[Return to the village->Village2]]
(set: _ti to 10)$vil
You approach the door of the inn, knocking on the little wooden trap-door. It opens and the same angry face appears in the frame.
'You again. Go avay! We closed!' the man shouts, slaming it in your face.
(set: _ti to 10)
[[Back->Village2]] $ant
As soon as you push the door open, the little overhead bell anounces your arrival. You look towards the counter and meet the green eyes of the enigmatic woman.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$M['I see that you're still alive and well.']
$a['Yes, why wouldn't I be?'] you reply, perhaps a little more sternly than you intended.
$M[The mountains can be a dangerous place. One never knows.] She gives you a mischevious smile. $M[So, back to look around?]
$a['Uhm, actually...']
[['I'm looking for some clothes'->clothes]]
(if: $gen is 1)[ [['Do you know where I can find any fuel?'->fuel?]] ]$ant
$M['Clothes, you say...'] She looks you up and down judging your appearance. $M['Yes, you do look like you need some.']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$a['Hey! Is it that bad?']
$M['Well... yeah. Bleak, uninspiring, ordinary.']
$a['That bad, huh?']
$M['Come. We'll get you sorted.']
$a['You have clothes here?'] You look around, surprised. All you see are trinkets and knick-knacks.
$M['This is a respectable shop. We have everything... for the right customer. Come now.'] She waves hand and disappears towards the interior of the Antique Boutique. You hurry and [[follow her]].$ant
$M['Sorry, I have no idea. You'll have to ask some of the villagers, perhaps at the pub.']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$a['Alright, thanks for the advice. What about [[clothes]]?]$ant
You rush into the antique shop, running straight into the bemused green-eyed owner.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$a['What the hell is going on?! You.... this bracelet...!'] You try to pull the bracelet off your wrist but it's harder than steel.
$M['Calm down, princess. I only saved your life. You're welcome, by the way.'] She gives you a little smirk.
$a['Wait... you remember! Everyone else has forgotten! How many times have we talked?']
$M['Once, at least. It's hard to tell, even for me.']
$a['What do you mean, it's hard to tell?!']
$M['You're in the middle of a temporal loop, so everything is fuzzy. Once you exit it will become clearer to see.']
(set: _ti to 5)
(display:"talk")[['A temporal loop?']]
(display:"talk")[['So why am I a woman?'->why woman]]$ant
$M['Your life ended but was reset back. You're still in the loop because you haven't bypassed the time of your previous death.']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$a['So all that I have to do is not die?']
$M['Yes. But it might be harder than you think.']
$a['Why?']
$M['Reality has a way of adjusting... of course you're not important enough to be considered a fixed event...']
$a['Thanks, I guess. Good to know I'm insignificant.']
$M['But I'd still be careful if I were you.']
(unless: (history:) contains "why woman")[(display:"talk") [['So what does this have to do with me being a woman?'->why woman]]<br> ]
(else:)[(display:"talk") [[why<-'One thing I don't understand - why did you give me the charm in the first place?']] ]
(set: _ti to 5)$ant
$M['Don't you know that cats have nine memories?']
$a['Nine what?']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$M['We remember what it was, what should have happened, what was meant to be...']
$a['You're not a-']
$M['...what almost was, what could have been, what everyone forgot...']
$a['-this doesn't make any-']
$M['...what ought to happen, what should have never happened and what would never be.']
$a['This doesn't make any sense! And you're not a cat!']
$M['Aren't I?'] Felicia wiggles her tail again. You rub your eyes. Only shadows...
(display:"talk")[['I think I'm going insane...'->insane]]
(set: _ti to 5)$ant
$M['It's a side effect from the bracelet. You see, this charm isn't meant to be used on humans.']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$a['Not... on .... humans...?'] The whole thing is starting to become a little too much for you.
$M['Yes, it's mostly used by demons, particularly succubi. Since you were so different... the charm had to make adjustments to make you compatible.']
$a['But what if I didn't want to be **compatible**?']
(set: $why_woman to 1)
$M['Then you'd be dead. Like I said, you're welcome']
You remain silent for a while, trying to gather your thoughts. Even without a full grasp on the situation, your rational mind tells you that any option is better than being dead.
$a['So....']
(display:"talk")[['Are there any other side effects that I should know about?'->side effects]]
(display:"talk")[['I'm still a little confused about the transformation'->transformation]]
(set: _ti to 5)$ant
$M['Well, you're already a woman, buuuuut...']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$a['But what?']
$M['If you activate the loop again you'll probably get another dose of transformations. Hard to know exactly how many, but safe to say less drastic than the first time.']
$a['You... you're having fun, aren't you?']
$M['Yep.'] There's a movement of shadows behind her, as if a giant tail slowly wiggling.
(unless: (history:) contains "transformation")[(display:"talk") [['I'm still a little confused about the transformation'->transformation]] <br>]
(unless: (history:) contains "trans back")[(display:"talk") [['Can you turn me back?'->trans back]] ]
(set: _ti to 5)$ant
$M['Hmmm?']
$a['Well you say that the charm transformed me into a woman because I was... //incompatible//. Let's say I believe you. Why does nobody seem surprised that I'm suddenly a woman? Surely something like this doesn't happen every day!']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$M['You're getting the facts a little wrong here.']
$a['How so?']
$M['This isn't a simple spell for metamorphosis. This is one of the rarest demonic charms, made from succubi soulgems. It can protect its bearer by altering reality itself and resetting the timeline, up to 24 hours.']
$a['It- what?!']
$M['You see, it didn't transform you into a woman. It made it so you've always been a woman. Your entire lifeline has been adjusted.']
(unless: (history:) contains "side effects")[(display:"talk") [['Are there any other side effects I should know about?'->side effects]]<br> ]
(unless: (history:) contains "trans back")[(display:"talk") [['Can you turn me back?'->trans back]] ]
(set: _ti to 5)$ant
$M['Hmm...because I was bored? To see what would happen? Perhaps I suffered a sudden and irrational desire to save your life? Honestly, your pick is as good as mine.']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
You push back the urge to swear, knowing that she did save your life and, more importantly, is probably your only chance of turning back. Staying on her good side is essential right now.
(unless: (history:) contains "remember")[(display:"talk") [['But **you** remember that I was a man?'->remember]] ]
(set: _ti to 5)$ant
$M['You're not going insane, just becoming a little more perceptive. Probably another side effect from the transformation. Demons are known for their low tolerance to bullshit.']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$a['Okay, okay, hold on a little. Not only have I somehow travelled through time, not only have I switched gender, but you're telling me that demons are real and that you're.... a cat?'] It all sounded so steamy and angry in your head, but with your new girly voice you sound mostly puffy and a little histerical. The difference is alarming.
$M['Of course there are demons. And don't tell me you've never seen cats. All the rest are pretty much the same.']
$a['Of course I've seen cats! I used to own a cat! And who are the rest?']
$M['Oh, it's a long list - the usual suspects, you've read about them in old books - werewolves, vampires, banshees, creaky trunks...']
$a['Creaky trunks?! Are you fucking with- wait, vampires?']
$M['Yeah, like the owner of the hotel for example.']
$a['Mihai? Don't be redicilous he can't be a va-']
$M['Have you ever seen him during the day?']
$a['Yes!! He had breakfast this morning...' //..In a room sealed tight from any sunlight... oh shit...//]
$M['I see that you're starting to [[get it]].']
(set: _ti to 10)
$ant
$M['Not while you're inside the temporal loop. If I did it would just kill you.']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$a['And after that?']
She seems pensive for a while. $M['That would be boring, wouldn't it?']
$a['It's my life on the line here! I'm not your toy!' She gives you a charming but vicious smile.]
$A[Fuck, I'm exactly her toy....]
$M['We'll see when we get there, vvrright?']
$A[Damn this woman!]
$a['Alright I guess.']
(unless: (history:) contains "'A temporal loop?'")[(display:"talk") [['A temporal loop?'<-'What is this temporal loop?']] ]
(else:)[(display:"talk") [[why<-'But why did you give me such a powerful charm? You don't have a dozen laying around I suppose.']] ]
(set: _ti to 5)$ant
'So everything is an illusion?'
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$M['Humans are oh so easy to trick... all you need is a little nudge and you practically fool yourselves']
$a['So how can I stop being fooled?']
You slam your feminine hands on the counter, leaning in to stare $Felicia in the eyes. She holds your gaze, not blinking, her irises slowly stretching vertically... then you blink and she returns to normal.
$M['It's up to you really... though being a fool is a persistent habit. There are certain items that could help you, but I wouldn't advise it.']
(display:"talk")[['What items?']]
(set: _ti to 5)
(set: $Felicia_level to 2)$ant
$M['Illusion breakers - such as this ribbon -'] $Felicia pulls out a thin silver ribbon from one of the drawers underneath the counter $M['- can help you see the truth. But like I said, I'm strongly against it.']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
'Why?'
$M['Ignorance is bliss and, more importantly, ignorance is a shield. As long as they are veiled in illusion, the creatures around you pay little attention to a tiny human. If you start seeing them for what they truly are, they might feel threatened.']
'I'm tired of being a fool. I'll take my chances.'
$M['Are you sure? I'll say it one more time - bad idea, girl.']
(display:"talk")[['Give me the ribbon'->ribbon]]
(display:"talk")[['Okay, I guess you're right'->noribbon]]
(set: _ti to 10)$ant
(if: (history:)'s last is "ribbon2")[$M['Illusion breakers - such as this ribbon -'] $Felicia pulls out a thin silver ribbon from one of the drawers underneath the counter $M['- can help you see the truth. But like I said, I'm strongly against it.']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$a['Why?']
$M['Ignorance is bliss and, more importantly, ignorance is a shield. As long as they are veiled in illusion, the creatures around you pay little attention to a tiny human. If you start seeing them for what they truly are, they might feel threatened.']
$a['I'm tired of being a fool. I'll take my chances.']<br>] The green-eyed woman pounces next to you, gives you one last, measuring look, then shruggs and wraps the silver ribbon around your neck.
There is a tingling sensation that propagates from it through your entire body, like a shockwave of million small needles pricking your skin all the way to your fingertips. Your vision wobbles for a few seconds and then stabilizes, becoming somehow more crisp.
You turn your head to the left and gasp, taking a few steps back. $Felicia is giving you an unreadable smile, her feline, green and golden eyes shooting through you like an arrow. She is, undeniably, not human. Her ears, her real ears, are on top of her head, like some perverted japanese fantasy, complemented by a long and fluffy tail that she wiggles behind her.
She is, however, not the definition of cute one would expect from an antropomorhic feline. Your eyes are drawn to her facial features - cold, enigmatic and vicious, with a carnivorous smile filled with sharp fangs. Her fingers end with long, curved claws that she moves with an agile elegance which leaves no doubt she could rend you to pieces in seconds, if she wanted to.
$M['What, did you swallow your tongue, girl?']
$a['I- uh- you're really a cat..']
$M['And you're really slow, even for a human.'] She leaps to the other side of the counter again, landing perfectly without getting tangled in any of the merchandise despite the tight space.
$M['Go on then. Enjoy the truth.']
Something in the way she looks at you gives you a cold chill, so you hurry and [[leave the shop]].$ant
Trusting the cat's judgement seems slightly naive, but not trusting her is probably even worse. You've just stepped into this wild world of creatures and magic, a world in which - you remind yourself - you didn't last mora than a few days.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
Right now, for better or for worse, $Felicia is the only person - thing - willing to share information or give you advice. Disregarding that advice can be quite litterally a question of life and death.
$a['So, now that we have this settled...']
$M['Yes, darling?'] She flashes you a toothy smile.
$a['I'm afraid I need some clothes. Mihai said he wanted me to be representable... and I'm also a girl now.'] You gulp. $a['I don't have any girl clothes.']
$M['Not to worry!'] The green-eyed catwoman springs up. $M['We'll get you sorted right away! You will be so pwetty! [[Follow me!]]']
(set: _ti to 5)$vil
You stumble outside, half-expecting the town to be a hellish dungeon or a monster-infested den, but to your dissapointment it turns out to be neither of those. In fact you can't spot any differences from before.
You briefly consider lingering around to look for something unusual, but your curiosity gets the best of you and you set towards the manor at a [[brisk pace]]. $ant
The shop, long and narrow, truly stretches inwards like the entrails of a giant beast, twisting left and right with openings occasionally appearing to either side, the weak yellowish light from the bulbs in a constant loosing battle to the shadows sprouting everywhere.
As $Felicia leads you farther along rows of jars with strange thick substances inside and shelves filled with books of every shape and size, you wonder how the architecture of the boutique is even possible. From the outside it looked like a small construction nuzzled between two houses, but it just seems to continue winding somewhere else entirely.
Eventually you reach a section where numerous dresses and overcoats are left hanging, followed by other old garments of all varieties.
$M['Hold on for a minute, I'll fetch something for you'] Your green-eyed host disappears somewhere between them all.
You sit on an old box and wait for the [[woman to return.]]$ant
After a bit, your friend pops out, carrying with her two sets of costumes that she hangs on a nearby rack.
$M['They're your size, my eye never lies. Pick the one that suits your style.']
You approach to examine the clothes. The first set appears to be some sort of [butler uniform]<uni1|. $A[It would certainly fit a receptionist.] The second one is more neutral, like an old [gentleman's outfit]<uni2|.
$I[ [ ]<exam| ]
(click: ?uni1)[(replace: ?exam)[A white shirt underneath a black morning coat, accompanied by grey striped trousers, white golves and a black tie.] ](click: ?uni2)[(replace: ?exam)[A double-breasted deep blue overcoat with blue trousers a waistcoat of a lighter aquamarine shade. ] ]
[[Choose the butler uniform->uni1]]
[[Choose the gentleman's outfit->uni2]]
$ant
It seems to be the most appropriate option. While you're not exactly a butler, you're part of the staff and at the service of the owner and the guests. This garment is the most befitting of your social ranking.
[[Proceed]]
(set: $suit to "butler's uniform")$ant
If Mr. Petrescu wants you to look like a real gentleman and not embarass him in front of his (obviously important) guests, then this is surely the best option. Besides, the British practically invented the gentleman's style. Your blood demands it!
[[Proceed]]
(set: $suit to "gentleman's suit")$ant
Well, why the hell not? If Mihai wants you to look fashionable and not embarass him, why not go all the way? You'll look like one of those Romanian counts from the fairy tales. //"Vat business brings you to my humble abode, oh magnificent female stranger lost in ze dark forest?"// You chuckle to yourself.
[[Proceed]]
(set: $suit to "duke outfit")$ant
$Felicia brings out a mirror from somewhere and you take a look at yourself. You have to say you look rather good in your new $suit.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$A[Mihai ought to be happy with this - at least I won't embarass him in front of his guests.]
$a['Thank you, I like it. How much do I owe you?']
$M['For this one - 100']
$A[100! That's not too expensive for such good quality, and an antique no less.]
[[Pay and leave]]
(set: $hour to 22) (set: $money to it - 100) (set: $Felicia_level to 1)$vil
Stepping out of the Antique Boutique, you're greeted with a $in[night sky and a full moon overhead.]
$A[**What the hell?!**]
You take out your phone and check the time - it's $hour:$minute. Your jaw drops and you feel a deep unease and vertigo. How could this be? You remember distinctly entering the boutique not so long ago and it was still early! You didn't spend more than 30-40 minutes in there, maximum an hour, and yet somehow...
With a racing heart you run through the village and reach the stream. With no idea what's going on, getting back to the manor seems the [[best option]].$dark
The road is dark and barely distinguishable, even under the full moon. If you hadn't already walked it a number of times you'd be long lost. The forest, black and forbidding, is eerily quiet save for the wind blowing between the pines.
Then there is another sound - the distant howling of wolves, somewhere to the east. You're accutely aware just how dangerous this path can be at night. You should have never stayed this late at the village, but damn the time flew impossibly at the antique shop.
Suddenly you catch something with the corner of your eye, a blurry movement between the trees on the other side of the stream. Curiosity however is topped by the voice of caution and your pace quickens, not waiting to see what is lurking about.
As you turn a corner on the road, a few hundred feet farther upstream, you see a silhouette of a man blocking the way.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/wolf.png" width="900" align="center">
[[Approach the man]]
[[Turn back and run]]
(set: $Felicia_level to 1) (set: $deathlist to it + (a: "wolf")) (set: $bracelet to 1) $dark
With a cautious step you approach the figure, it's outline becoming more unnatural and bizzare to your silent horror. When it's barely a few feet away you can see that the thing is half-human half-wolf, wearing the torn remnants of clothes through which fur and claws portrude.
It emmits a low growl and you peer up straight into two flaming yellow eyes and a giant drooling jaw...
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/ggwolf.png" width="900" align="center">
A scream and a few steps is all you manage before the monster leaps on top of you and pins you to the ground, its jaws sinking into the back of your neck. It's a small mercy that your spine breaks, stopping the agony, but leaving you a helpless observer of the ground beneath you and a growing puddle of blood accompanied by the spasms and jerks of your body as the beast feeds on your flesh. Slowly the world [[fades into darkness...->DIE1]]
(set: $weredead to 1) (set: $lastdeath to "wolf")$dark
You turn around and start running without looking back. There was something sinister and unnatural in the silhouette that you saw and you're not going to stick around to see up close what it was.
A howl tears through the night, long and piercing and, worst of all, right behind you. You switch into a sprint, running as fast as you can, but soon you can hear steps behind you, approaching fast.
With the blood pumping in your ears and the world spinning wild, you leave the clearing of the path and plunge into the [[darkness of the trees]].
$dark
You manage to gain some distance and can no longer hear the steps behind you, but carry on running anyways, the thorns and bushes catching on your newly acquired outfit and tearing it up with a hundred small cuts.
When you feel that you've lost your pursuer, whoever it was, you finally stop to catch your breath, leaning your back behind a big mossy boulder. Your lungs feel on fire and every breath is a pain in your chest, but at least you got away. The bad part is that the forest is utterly dark and you have no idea where you are.
Without much of a choice, you [[pick a direction at random]].
$dark
You walk a dozen feet, trying not to stumble over the invisible rocks and roots littering the ground.
You stop by a giant fallen trunk, crouching next to rough bark, when suddenly you hear a low growl and look up straight into two flaming yellow eyes and a giant drooling jaw...
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/ggwolf.png" width="900" align="center">
A scream and a few steps is all you manage before the monster leaps on top of you and pins you to the ground, its jaws sinking into the back of your neck. It's a small mercy that your spine breaks, stopping the agony, but leaving you a helpless observer of the ground beneath you and a growing puddle of blood accompanied by the spasms and jerks of your body as the beast feeds on your flesh. Slowly the world [[fades into darkness...->DIE1]]
(set: $weredead to 1) (set: $lastdeath to "wolf")$T[-è#@~ùµç-]
{(live: 0.2s)[
(set: _app to $rebirth's $test)
(replace: ?wind)[_app]
(if: $test<14)[(set: $test +=1)]
(if: $test is 10 and $dead is 1)[(goto: "reborn1")]
(if: $test is 10 and $dead >1)[(goto: "reborn")]
[ ]<wind|
]}
(set: $hour to 8) (set: $minute to 0)
(set: $rebirth to (a:
"You turn around and start running without looking back. There was something sinister and unnatural in the silhouette that you saw and you're not going to stick around to see up close what it was.
A howl tears through the night, long and piercing and, worst of all, right behind you. You switch into a sprint, running as fast as you can, but soon you can hear steps behind you, approaching fast.
With the blood pumping in your ears and the world spinning wild, you leave the clearing of the path and plunge into the darkness of the trees",
"The shop, long and narrow, truly stretches inwards like the entrails of a giant beast, twisting left and right with openings occasionally appearing to either side, the weak yellowish light from the bulbs in a constant loosing battle to the shadows sprouting everywhere.
As Felicia leads you farther along rows of jars with strange thick substances inside and shelves filled with books of every shape and size, you wonder how the architecture of the boutique is even possible. From the outside it looked like a small construction nuzzled between two houses, but it just seems to continue winding somewhere else entirely.
Eventually you reach a section where numerous dresses and overcoats are left hanging, followed by other old garments of all varieties.",
"You take the familiar path downhill following the little stream. Perhaps the mountain air is already having a positive effect or perhaps you're getting used to the road, but this time the trip is less exhausting.
The forest around you is beautiful in an eerie way, the tall trees casting a deep shade that has stifled most of the low vegetation between them, creating a surprisingly clear space on the ground, filled mostly with lots of dry pinecones and the occasional bush.",
"The doors of the hatch take some effort to lift but you eventually manage to open them, removing the vines that have already started to crawl on top.
The inside of the basement is more akin to the opening of a dungeon, with a cold stony floor and pillars supporting the manor on top. There are matches left near the hatch and you use them to light a torch which illuminates well enough the space several feet around you.
There are pipes and valves covering most of the east wall and going into the ceiling, as well as a handful of crates, a workbench and some tools hanging near it, more torches and cobwebs wobbling by the cold draft; and of course, there is the generator.
On the opposite side of the room there is another door leading further down...",
"With a hungry stomach, you enter the dining hall and are greeted with a strange sight. All the windows have been civered with heavy wooden shutters from the exterior, such that barely any sunlight enters the room at all. To compensate for this, candles have been lit on almost all of the tables, their faint flames doing little but pushing the darkness a coupleof feet away.
Sitting on a large ornate table not far from the entrance, you recognise the silhouette of a man with a golden cane.
'Ah, Mr. Reid. Coming for some breakfast?'
'Yes, I was hungry... pardon my curiosity, Mr. Petrescu' - you decide to lean on the side of caution when adressing your boss - 'but what is all this?'
'Just having breakfast with an old friend, no cause for worry. It's much more romantic this way, don't you find?' Something in his tone implies that dissagreement is not really an option.
'Yes, of course, Mr. Petre-'
'Although it would be better with the grand chandelier' - he points upwards towards a heavy ball of light bulbs and crystals - 'but unfortunately the power is still down. Speaking of which, have you any intention of going down to the village today?'",
"'Eggs and bakon, ja?'
You give him a nod and he disappears again, followed by the sound of sizzling.
A few minutes later, while you're eating in the semi-complete darkness of the dining hall, a new silhouette enters the room. You immediately identify the bizzare outline of the woman you met earlier. She takes a seat across the table from Mihai, occupuing what appears to be the biggest armchair you've ever seen, with a seat large enough for two people to sit on side by side comfortably and a tall back covered in numerous fancy cushions. Her slim body and small round head look almost ridiculous in comparison, yet somehow she seems to fill the chair quite nicely with the rest of her body...
Looking at her you start getting a headache and you move your gaze away, rubbing your tired eyes. The room is so dark and the candles so faint that the shadows are starting to play tricks on you.. Bits of the conversation make their way to you, but it's too low and jumbled to make any sense.",
" To your surprise, one of the doors on your right opens and a woman walks out in the hallway, walking towards you without a sound. She is tall and dark - her skin and short hair black as ebony. However what is most peculiar about her are her proportions - as she advances you can see the outline of her body: her head is small and thin, and her stick-like arms flail around her equally skeletal torso which, if it has breasts at all, hides them very well under a tight leather jacket. And still despite this slim and skinny upper section, under her waist her body bulges out into an entirely different shape: her ass - round and portruding - is almost a seperate entity altogether, occupying - you genuinly wonder - almost as much space as the rest of her. ",
"You leave your room and head instictively towards the staircase, when a cold breeze brushes an icy finger on your cheek. You look both ways - all the windows are closed - but after all this is a pretty old house...
Suddenly, you're feeling a little curious to explore the top floor. Both Mihai and Ionut were very brief about it, and you wonder if there aren't some hidden delights to find - perhaps an opening to the roof? Surely the view to the mountain will be breathtaking. And then there are the towers... you could always take a peek around. ",
"You wake up full of energy and ready to take on the world! Despite the limited comodities, you had a good night's sleep and are looking forward to your first day of work.
...which starts at 6pm. In your enthousiasm you'd almost forgotten. Still, you'll probably find something useful to do during the day! ",
" "))$room
You slowly wake up, your eyes opening to the familiar view of your room's ceiling. The dark mist in your mind slowly disperses and is replaced with mounting confusion.
(set: $A to ((color:#FFCCE5)+(text-style: "italic"))) (set: $a to (color:#FFCCE5))
$A[What was that....? A dream..? Hallucination? Drugs? How the hell am I alive? It was all so real...]
You rise in your bed and toss the covers aside. There is an immediate and profound sensation that something is off. Then apprehension strikes - your body is different. Smaller waist; leaner, hariless legs; you raise up your hands - they're similar, but deffinitely different - smaller, more delicate; your gaze falls down on a pair mounds bulging your pyjama.
You shoot out of bed and into the small bathroom attached to your chamber, where a strange new face is looking at you in the mirror.
Well, some of it is not new - your eyes are the same, dark brown, unchanged; your hair is almost the same, dark straight, though perhaps longer.
You concentrate on your features - they have shifted around in slight but important ways, crafting the face of a young, beautiful woman staring with an open jaw and wide, terrified eyes.
Stumped in shock, you fall a few steps back and [[sit on the bed]].
{(live: 0.1s)[
(set: $print to ((history:)'s (((history:)'s length) - $test )))
(display: $print)
(if: $test<((history:)'s length))[(set: $test +=1)]
(if: $test is (((history:)'s length)-1))[(goto: "reborn1")]
[ ]<wind|
]}
$T[CHAPTER 1: THE WOLF,
THE BAT AND THE SPIDER]
You've finished the introduction of Transylvania! From now on you will have more freedom to explore the world and make a variety of choices that lead to branching paths.
I recommend saving the game here in case you want to go back and do things differently.
[If you wish to continue with the story blind and without spoiling anything, [[wake up<-click here.]]
If you wish to know the basic mechanics of the game, [click here]<info|. ]<chap1| (click: ?info)[ $I[-the goal of each chapter is to finish the day successfully;
-there are different success states that can be optained;
-most actions cost you time and as such you may not be able to do everything you wish;
-some options are only available at specific times of day, such as **breakfast** and **dinner**;
-likewise the options in a given location (such as the inn or library) will change throughout the game, based on your past actions and other circumstances;
-your death is not the end of the game;
[[Continue->wake up]]
] (replace:?chap1)[ ] ]
(set: $bracelet to 1)$room
Thinking is hard and as you clutch your head with both hands your thoughts buzz inside like a swarm of angry wasps, too fast and dangerous to catch. Minutes pass until you manage to calm down your beating heart. Your gaze absent-mindedly falls on the bracelet on your hand and the (colour:"#FFCCCC")[four crimson beads] that decorate it.
$A[Alright, Alex.. what's going on? Did I take any drugs? Did someone slip me something?]
You let the confusion was over you for a few minutes, then your rational mind kicks in. $A[This is real.] You pinch your thigh and the pain reaches your brain, sobering it up.
$A[I'm Alex, I was a student, I grew up with my parents in England...]
A wave of new and confusing memories swirls around your head, but you chase them away.
$A[...and then I travelled to Romania for a summer job. I'm currently in a hotel in a village located high in the mountains above Timisoara]
You look down at the two small bumps on your chest currently covered by your pyjamas.
$A[...and apparently somehow, for some reason, I have become a girl]
You try to think very hard about the last thing you remember, but your recollection from last night is vague at best.
$A[Given the irrefutable weight of reality, I must allow the possibility that the supernatural exists and it has affected me in some way. In some very peculiar way indeed...]
The shock subsiding, you look down at your changed body again, with a pique of curiosity. Ignoring the circumstanes of the event, it is quite the extraordinary experience.
$A[What is it like, being a girl?] you wonder.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/heart.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-15px;" width="50">(display:"none")[[Give in to curiosity]]
(display:"none")[[Focus on more important matters]]
$R[Achievement unlocked - "What the hell was that?"]
(set: _ti to 30)$att
You leave your room and head instictively towards the staircase, when a cold breeze brushes an icy finger on your cheek. You look both ways - all the windows are closed... curiosity grips you -perhaps you could take a peek around?
$A[What the...] you rub your temples. You get the eerie sensation that this has happened before.
(display:"10m")[[Explore the hallway->take a peek around]]
(display:"none")[[Go down the stairs->go down for breakfast]]
(set: _ti to 5)
$fl2
You descend to the second floor, the velvet carpet muffling your footsteps. Even in the cold light of the morning the manor looks shadowy and unwelcoming, the dust hanging in the air like a thick goo.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/elise4.png" width="450" align="right">
To your surprise, one of the doors on your right opens and a woman walks out in the hallway, walking towards you without a sound. She is tall and dark - her skin and short hair black as ebony. However what is most peculiar about her are her proportions -
$A[**wait, Wait, WAIT! I remember her! I remember this!**]
(set: _ti to 10)
You blink fast, fighting with your headache and confusion. The black woman raises a hand gloved in black leather and points a bony finger towards you:
$E['You must be the new maid. My room requires assistance.']
$a['I'm not a handmai-']
$E['Aren't you?'] The woman circles around you in a silent and deadly sway of her hips. $E['You look exactly like a handmaid, girl. Now don't make a fuss, go and take care of my room. It's number 28.']
(set: $elise_seen to 1) (set: $keysneeded to 1)
(display:"talk")[['Right away, M'am'->rightaway2]]
(display:"talk")[['Of course, I'll do it in a bit'->in a bit]]
$fl2
$E['Tsk, tsk. Not in a bit. Now, servant.'] She pushes her bony fingers in your back with surprising strength, lunging you forward. $E['I'm having breakfast with the boy and I shall want to rest afterwards. Make sure it's spotless.']
Swallowing your pride you give her a small nod to which she returns a poisonous smile before letting you stroll down the hallway. Her room is almost at the end, and as you approach you notice that the door is slightly ajar.
(if: (history:) contains "clean28.1")[
$A[Okay... I remember. I was here. Need to concentrate... and find a way to check what's real.]
You close your eyes and stand there for a long moment, trying to pull out fragments from the mist in your head.
$A[Need to be rational. What do I remember? A silver room... silk everywhere... if it turns out to be true, I'll know that I'm not going crazy!]
(display:"75m") [[Enter room 28->clean28.2]] ]
(else:)[
(display:"75m") [[Enter room 28->clean28.1]] ]$din
With a hungry stomach, you enter the dining hall and are greeted with a strange sight. All the windows have been civered with heavy wooden shutters. Barely any sunlight enters the room.
Candles have been lit on almost all of the tables, their faint flames doing little but pushing the darkness a coupleof feet away.
Sitting on a large ornate table not far from the entrance, you recognise the silhouette of a man with a golden cane.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/mihai2.png" width="450" align="right">
$Mi['Ah, Ms. Reid. Coming for some breakfast?']
$a['Yes, I was hung- wait, "Ms."?'] You look at Mihai, who seems to roll with your new look without batting an eye.
$Mi['I do prefer to use formal etiquette, dear Miss, though once we grow to know each other I shall call you Alexandra if that is your wish.']
$a['A-Alexandra?']
$Mi['That is your birthname, is it not? It was written on your papers and I have quite excellent memory.']
You stare at him with an open jaw. $A[How is this possible?!]
$a['I-I prefer Alex.']
$Mi['In time, perhaps. For now, **Ms.Reid**, is there anything else I can help you with?']
(set: _ti to 20)
$a['Pardon my curiosity, Mr. Petrescu, but [[what is all this?]]']$din
$Mi['Just having breakfast with an old friend, no cause for worry. It's much more romantic this way, don't you find?'] Something in his tone implies that dissagreement is not really an option.
$a['Yes, of course, Mr. Petre-']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/mihai2.png" width="450" align="right">
$Mi['Although it would be better with the grand chandelier'] - he points upwards towards a heavy ball of light bulbs and crystals - $Mi['but unfortunately the power is still down. Speaking of which, have you any intention of going down to the village today?']
Combatting the waves of déjà vu, you try to get a grip of yourself. Whatever is going on... (if: $lastdeath is "wolf")[You get a flash of a moonlit forest and long, white fangs closing in. Your hand instinctively reaches towards your neck, covering the spot where they sunk int your flesh... the pools of blood, so dark and overflowing...]
$Mi['Everything alright, Mrs Reid?']
$a['Uh- Yes. I'm fine.'] You compose yourself.
$Mi['Good. So, have you any plans to visit the village today?']
(display:"talk")[['Yes, I'll go'->'Probably']]
(display:"talk")[['Actually, I had something else in mind for the day'->'I wasn't really planning...']]
(set: $din_vis to true) (set: _ti to 10)
$fl2
$E['Good girl. I like them docile']
$a['What?'] You turn around, but the woman is already walking away, her large butt swaying left and right as she goes.
$A[What the hell was that all about...] Trying to supress the mixed feelings bubbling inside you you gulp down your pride and stroll down the hallway. The woman's room is almost at the end, and as you approach you notice that the door is slightly ajar.
(if: (history:) contains "clean28.1")[
$A[Okay... I remember. I was here. Need to concentrate... and find a way to check what's real.] You close your eyes and stand there for a long moment, trying to pull out fragments from the mist in your head. $A[A silver room... silk everywhere... if it turns out to be true, I'll know that I'm not going crazy!]
(display:"75m") [[Enter room 28->clean28.2]] ]
(else:)[(display:"75m") [[Enter room 28->clean28.1]] ]
$T[-ROOM 28-]
The first thing that strikes you is the silk. The sheets on the bed, the curtains on the windows, the tablecloth, even the carpet is made from a silvery silky-smooth material that gives the place an overall light-greyish tone. It feels like stepping in some eerie dream.
There is a (link-repeat:"bed")[(replace: ?obs)[It looks mostly well-made, but you still give it a few brushes, straightening the sheets and puffing the pillow. There, that should do it. (if: $e5 is 1 and $e3 is 1)[
(display:"cleaning done") ]] (set: $e1 to 1)], queen-sized and surrounded by drapes of the same silvery cloth. It reminds you of exhibits you've seen at museums of the old royalty. There's also a (link-repeat:"small round table")[(replace: ?obs)[Small and made from black wood, the table holds a single vase filled with dry, long-dead flowers. (if: $e5 is 1 and $e3 is 1)[
(display:"cleaning done") ]] ], a (link-repeat:"wardrobe")[(unless: $e3 is 1)[(replace: ?obs)[Opening the wardrobe you experience the same eerie feeling and your view blurs. Once you refocus you see that it's filled with more $con[old sticks] and $con[deflated dolls]. Clean out the wardrobe.]](else:)[(replace: ?obs)[The wardrobe is already clean. (if: $e5 is 1 and $e3 is 1)[
(display:"cleaning done") ]] ] ] and a (link-repeat:"giant mirror")[(replace: ?obs)[You brush the surface with a cloth, making appear the image of a $mirror. (if: $e5 is 1 and $e3 is 1)[
(display:"cleaning done")]] ] .
[$A[What did she want me to clean again?]
Your head feels oddly heavy and unresponsive, as if swimming through thick, silvery mist.
Then you notice the obvious.
Of course.
How could you miss that?
The floor is littered with $in[**dead branches**] and $in[**ragged dolls**].You should probably [clean them up]<e5|. ]<ap|
$I[ [ ]<obs| ]
(if: $e5 is 1 and $e3 is 1)[
(display:"cleaning done")]
(click: ?e5)[(replace: ?obs)[In a slow, dream-like state you pick up the dead branches ($A[what am I doing?]) and the ragged dolls ($A[why are these here?]) in a big black bag ($A[how did it get here?]) and then bury them in the back garden ($A[when did I go there?]). In the end the room looks much cleaner.
(if: $e3 is 1)[(display:"cleaning done")]] (set: $e5 to 1)(replace:?ap)[] ]
(click: "Clean out the wardrobe")[(replace: ?obs)[You gather the sticks and dolls in a dark bag and bury it in the garden. You shake your head. The wardrobe is now clean. (set:$e3 to 1) (if: $e5 is 1)[(display:"cleaning done") ]] ]
(set: _ti to 75)(set: $28done to 1) (set: $sanity -=5)(set: $noitems to "You don't have anything of particular interest") (set: $e3 to 0) (set: $Felicia to "the shop owner") (set: $str to (text-style:"strike")) (set: $keys to (array: " the front gate", " the front door", " your room", " and the library")) (set: $pheromones to 0) (set: $flaskful to 0) (set: $phero to 0) (set: $key28 to 0) (set: $elise_conv_c1 to 0)(set: $1ref to (colour:#99FFCC)) (set: $bcharges to 5) (set: $explained to 0) (set: $elise_level to 0) (set: $elise_present to 0) (set: $diary_found to 0) (set: $hishills to true) (set: $antcat to true)(set: $legmount to true) (set: $diner_1 to 0) (set: $drawer to "Some candles, matches, quills and paper") (set: $wardrobe="Two blankets, a spare pillow, some bedsheets... and room for your clothes.") (set: $deathlist to (a: "none")) (set: $flashspider to 0) (set: $elise_level to 0) (set: $mihai_level to 0) (set: $ionut_level to 0) (set: $Felicia_level to 0) (set: $wolf_level to 0) (set: $inn_level to 0) (set: $myst_level to 0) (set: $beadsexpl to true) (set: $elise_servant to false) (set: $rando to (colour:#FFCC99)) (set: $myst_visited to 0) (set: $lavius_level to 0) (set: $av to 1) (set: $zach to true) (set: $zach_level to 0)(set: $zach_friends to 0) (set: $withzach to false) (set: $z to (colour:#FFCC99)) (set: $visited_lab_alone to 0) (set: $lust to 0) (set: $special to ((text-style:"bold")+(colour:#CC99FF))) (set: $ionut_visited to false) (set: $ionut_dishes to 0) (set: $secrets to 0) (set: $suit_mod to 0)(set: $shop2 to 0)(set: $work1 to false) (set: $lav_firstdeath to 0) (set: $desksign to "CLOSED") (set: $first_willing_sex to "none")(set:$phero_talk to 0)(set: $recharge_explained to 0)(set: $bow to false)(set: $lav_busy to 0)(set: $rested to 0) (set: $potion_explained to 0)(set: $elise_trial to 0)$mount
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/trail3.png" width="1400" style="position:absolute; float:left; margin-top:-100px;" >You approach through the woods, your heart pounding ever quicker. $A[How does it look without illusions? A big spooky castle? A large demain hidden from human eyes?]
The Crooked Elm looks pretty ordinary. Dissapointment crawls in your mind, but then you remember what the cat told you about Mihai. $A[Is he really a vampire? What kind? Is he Dracula or Edward? Will he notice that I can see him? Does he have giant black wings? Am I putting myself in danger?]
With these thoughts buzzing inside your head, you find yourself [[at the reception.]]$rec
$Mi[Ah, Ms. Reid. Back already? Have you taken care the generator?]
$a['I- Uh- Not yet-']
You glare at the owner, trying to spot anything unusual - long ears, fangs, wings, red eyes.... Mihai has none of those and seems to notice you staring.
$Mi[Can I help you, Miss?]
$a['Nothing! I'm sorry Mr. Petrescu, [[I'll be on my way]]']$fl2
You run two floors up, stopping to catch your breath.
$A[Well, that was embarassing! I hope he didn't notice anything weird... But is he really a vampire? He looks odd and all, but it's all too much to swallow... perhaps that darned cat is taking me for a fool and mocking me behind my back!]
You look up and freeze in horror as a giant, truck-sized eight-legged black nightmare glides along the corridor straight towards you. You fall back on the floor, your leggs wriggling and scrambling to push you towards the wall, as far away as possible from the thing.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/elise_spider.png" width="800" align="right">
The spider reaches you in seconds, its long stick-like legs gripping on the walls and ceiling as it moves and it's large, round butt draging behind it. It cocks its head to one side, peering towards you with 8 black pearls. You try to stifle a whimper looking at its long hairy jaws just an arm's reach from your face.
$E['What's the matter, girl? Did you bite your tongue?']
You scream hysterically and spring up on your feet, dashing at full speed away from the thing.
$E['Tsk, tsk, we can't have you running around like that...']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/figure_escape.png" width="500" align="left">
You feel something sticky grip at your leg and you tumble and fall, splashing face-down on the floor. With the corner of your eye you see 4 black legs halt on either side.
$E['A shame really, and she was kinda pretty. Tsk, tsk.']
There is a sharp pain on the side of your neck and [[everything goes dark.]]$dark
You slowly wake up on a silky bed underneath silky drapes. No! Your view shifts again and grows sharper, the veil fading away. You're on a giant spiderweb, intricate and complex, woven like a bed and drapes, and like blankets and sheets, like carpet and curtains. All around, the rooms is littered with bones of various shapes and sizes, all gnawed to a clean white. Beside them lay the corpses of smaller animals, sucked dry and shrivelled as if there remained nothing but a layer of skin covered by dry fur.
Your attention shifts back to yourself - laying on your back, body wrapped in a cocoon neck to toes, with only your head sticking out to breathe. You can't help but notice that your belly is bulging out abnormally, swollen to the size of a basketball. Your terror is multiplied as you feel a soft movement inside you and you start screaming again.
$E['Hush, my dear, no need to fret'] The teeth sink into your neck again and the darkness returns, this time deeper and final.. $E['A shame, you were pretty... but you will be such a wonderful mother, I promise... when my children eat their way through your flesh... now sleep..']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/sdeath.png" width="600" align="center">
You wriggle helplessly, but the toxin does its work quickly and the [world disappears]<worlddis|.
$R[Achievement unlocked - "Broodmother"]
$R[You have learned a new secret: The Spider]
(set: $secrets to (it +1))
(set: $ach2 to true)
(click:?worlddis)[(goto:"DIE")]
(set: $deathlist to it + (a: "spider"))
(set: $lastdeath to "spider")
(set: $bow to true)(if: $deathlist contains "lavius" and $lav_firstdeath is 0)[ (set: $sanity -=10) (goto:"first sex") ]$room
You slowly wake up, your eyes opening to the familiar view of your room's ceiling. The dark mist in your mind slowly disperses.
(set: $A to ((colour:#FF99CC)+(text-style: "italic"))) (set: $a to (colour:#FF99CC))
$A[ (either: "I really should be more careful...", "Here we go again...", "I hope I don't make a habit of this...", "Oh, fuck, not again...") ]
You rub your temples, trying to push away the headache. This time the confusion subsides faster, your fragmented memories slowly returning.
It's Monday morning again, the grey light of day seeping through the dirty window. You're Alexandra and you're a receptionist in a hotel near a small isolated mountain village in Romania.
You have just died, again. Whatever mistakes you made last time, you'll have to try and avoid. You sigh and get up.
(display: "bracelet.recap")
(if: $dead>4 and $ach3 is false)[$R[Achievement unlocked - "Serial Victim"]
(set: $ach3 to true)]
[[Recap what you know so far->recap]]
[[Examine yourself->mirror]]
[[Head out]]
$fl2
(if: (history:)'s last is "Floor 2")[It's about time you got it done anyways. Her room is almost at the end, and as you approach you notice that the door is slightly ajar.] (else:)[You walk down the dark hallway until you arrive in front of the wooden door.]
[Enter room 28]<ent28|
(click:?ent28)[
(if:$dead is 0)[(goto:"clean28.1")]
(elseif:$dead is 1)[(goto:"clean28.2")]
(elseif:$dead >1 and $deathlist contains "spider" and $flashspider is 0)[(goto:"room flashbacks")]
(elseif:$dead > 1 and $flashspider is 0)[(goto:"clean28.3")]
(elseif:$dead > 1 and $flashspider is 1)[(goto:"clean28.4")]
]
(set: _ti to 10)$mount
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/trail3.png" width="1400" style="position:absolute; float:left; margin-top:-1px;" >You don't know why neither Mihai nor anyone else seems to notice your tranformation, but whatever is happening, it appears to be connected to the bracelet that $Felicia gave you. You just hope that she at least would be able to provide some answer.
(set: _ti to 50)
It is a strange feeling, walking down the mountain trail all by yourself. Even when the sun is high up, there is a darkness between the trees that cannot be disperesed. (if: $lastdeath is "wolf")[Eerie images flash in your mind and send shivers down your spine. You can't quite recall what happened, but the trees are there and you can smell your own fear in the air.] You feel vulnerable walking alone, even more so than before.
$A[There are all sorts of things that could happen to a young girl walking alone through the woods...] your sweat feels cold, but your skin is strangely hot.
You hasten your pace, eventually descending to [[the village->explanations]].
$ant
The shop, long and narrow, truly stretches inwards like the entrails of a giant beast, twisting left and right with openings occasionally appearing to either side, the weak yellowish light from the bulbs in a constant loosing battle to the shadows sprouting everywhere.
You vaguely remember this part and move through the motions, following your friend deep into the belly of her shop.
Eventually you reach a section where numerous dresses and overcoats are left hanging, followed by other old garments of all varieties.
$M['Hold on for a minute sweetie, I'll fetch a few things for you'] She disappears somewhere between the rows.
You sit on an old box and wait for the [[woman to return]].
(set: _ti to 5)$ant
After a bit, your friend pops out, carrying with her two sets of costumes that she hangs on a nearby rack.
$M['They're your size, my eye never lies. Pick the one that suits your style.']
You approach to examine the clothes. The first set appears to be some sort of [butler uniform]<uni1|, suited for a woman. $A[It would certainly fit a receptionist.] The second one is more flirty, something you imagine would fit a [courtesan]<uni2|.
$I[ [ ]<exam| ]
[[Choose the butler uniform->uni11]]
[[Choose the courtesan's outfit->uni12]]
{(live:1s)[
(click: ?uni1)[(replace: ?exam)[A white shirt underneath a black morning coat, accompanied by grey striped trousers, white golves and a black tie.] ](click: ?uni2)[(replace: ?exam)[A long flowing red dress with a corset and lots of lace that somehow makes your small breasts look sweet and juicy. ] ]
]}
(set: _ti to 10)$ant
It seems to be the most appropriate option. While you're not exactly a butler, you're part of the staff and at the service of the owner and the guests. This garment is the most befitting of your social ranking.
You dress in silence, battling with the diverse and unfamiliar pieces of your new garment. When you're done, you do a little whirl in front of your host.
$M['Elegant, but professional. I like it. Doesn't do much to play your womanly charms, though']
You frown but do not respond.
[[Continue]]
(set: $suit to "butler's uniform")
(set: _ti to 15)$ant
You reluctantly pick the courtesan outfit, examining its revealing neck.
$M['Worried that you don't have enough to show?'] The owner chimes in, as if reading your thoughts. $M['Don't be. All breasts are beautiful, and men love to stare.']
$a['I... to be honest, I never imagined myself wearing something like this.']
$M['Sometimes life's pace is abrupt, my dear. You either keep up or you fall behind. Personally, I think this dress is the right choice for you.']
$a['The right choice?']
The shop owner gives you a whimsical look. $M['A woman's best weapon is her looks. It can avert conflict, open doors, loosen tongues... you should learn how to use your cards, or else you'd be out of the game.']
You consider this.
$A[I'm in a dangerous place, and I'll need every weapon I have. If charms can get me an edge, then so be it!]
You dress in silence, battling with the diverse and unfamiliar pieces of your new garment. When you're done, you do a little whirl in front of your host.
$M['Elegant and sexy. I like it. I'm sure in no time you'll be stealing a few hearts']
You give her a little nervous smile.
[[Continue]]
(set: $suit to "courtesan dress")
(set: _ti to 15)$ant
$A[Fuck this, I want to be a fancy princess! If Mihai thinks that jeans and shirts just doesn't cut, might as well go all-out, right?].
You dress in silence, battling with the diverse and unfamiliar pieces of your new garment. When you're done, you do a little whirl in front of your host.
$M['I have to say you look gorgeous, if slightly ridiculous. You'll have to learn how to walk in that dress.']
You nod and do another whirl. You look good. $A[Lift your chin up, girl! Confidence is sexy!]
(set: $suit to "noble dress")
(set: _ti to 15)$T[-ROOM 28-]
<img id="backg2" src="http://xfiction.org/images/sdeath.png" width="800" align="center">
The room is exactly as you remember it. The sheets on the bed, the curtains on the windows, the tablecloth, even the carpet is made from a silvery silky-smooth material that gives the place an overall light-greyish tone. It feels like stepping in some eerie dream.
You step uncertainly on the $str[silky web]silver carpet, glancing at the $str[bones]sticks littered around the room. The nausea mounts in your throat and hits you like a truck. You fall to your knees.
$A[What the hell...]
You see yourself, $str[cocooned]tied on the bed, a giant silhouette of a black $str[spider]woman behind you, $str[descending from the ceiling]coming out of the wardrobe. Your constrained figure moans, half-unconscious, as the $str[spider]woman pushes something inside her and $str[starts laying its eggs]pushes her fingers inside you.
Without you noticing your hand has darted down between your legs, your fingers rubbing vigorously the wetness between your folds.
It's something that you've never done before.
No.
You've done it hundreds of times.
The memories come rushing to your head. As a little girl, rubbing yourself under the sheets, hoping no one would see you; as a teenager, home alone, browsing the dark side of tmblr and fantasizing you'd run off with your own billionnaire sadist; as a liberal in college, finally ordering all those toys you'd always wanted and stockpiling on batteries for the lonely weekends at the dormatories.
[[Give in to the feeling]]
[[Get a grip]]
(set: $flashspider to 1) (set: _ti to 10)$T[-ROOM 28-]
It takes you a moment to recover, your mind coming to terms with the reality of the situation. In another life, you were killed in this room. And yet - you shiver to admit - this turned you on.
$A[What the hell is wrong with me?]
In any case, this isn't what you came here for. There is work to do. You get down to business, tiding up the room. When you're done, you head [[downstairs->ground floor]].
(set: _ti to 80) (set: $28done to 1)(set: $test to 1) {(live: 2.5s)[
(if: $test is 1)[ (append: ?fadeout1)[You always helped your friends when they needed you and were always kind to your family as well as to strangersjust like your father had always taught you.] ]
(if: $test is 2)[(append: ?fadeout2)[|fontbig>[When you were little], your mother always used to say that you were meant to (colour:#CC0000)[succeed],that one day you would do great things and then you'd come back home to your parents and they'd tell you how proud they were.] ]
(if: $test is 3)[(append: ?fadeout2)[ <br><br>|fontbig>[Your first love] - her name was (colour:#FFCCFF)[Angela] - she was a fragile blue-eyed creature that adored you] ]
(if: $test is 4)[(append: ?fadeout2)[<br>...but in the end you just had to let her go. Why did you have to let her go? You don't quite remember. Something happened between the two of you and then things were never quite the same.] ]
(if: $test is 5)[(append: ?fadeout3)[You had |fontbig>[few friends], mostly boys from the hood whose parents weren't well off enough to send to summer camps or boarding schools, so you played together, exploring the backstreets.] ]
(if: $test is 6)[(append: ?fadeout3)[<br>It wasn't the most glorious childhood, but you have nontheless fond memories of it and it definitely taught you a lot about life.] ]
(if: $test is 7)[(append: ?fadeout3)[<br><br> |fontbig>[Your first pet] died when you were 16. It was only a (colour:#FFFFCC)[goldfish] but you were just starting to get attached to it. His name was Mr. Rogers.] ]
(if: $test is 8)[(append: ?fadeout3)[Mr. Rogers was pretty cute, as far as goldfish go; or so you had thought at the time...] ]
(if: $test is 9)[(replace: ?fadeout3)[<br><br> In [school]<fontbig| you were never the most brilliant of students, but you got by with (colour:#FF99FF)[decent grades] for which your parents left you mostly alone, judging you competent to take care of yourself in life. ] ]
(if: $test is 10)[(append: ?fadeout3)[<br> Before you know it the years flew by, until you decided to take that summer job at that hotel...] ]
(if: $test is 4)[(replace: ?fadeout1)[ ] ]
(if: $test is 7)[(replace: ?fadeout2)[ ] ]
(if: $test is 11)[(replace: ?fadeout3)[ ] ]
(if: $test<14)[(set: $test +=1)]
(if: $test is 13)[ (show:?next) ]
(if: $test is 13)[(stop:)]
]}
[ [Thinking back, you had a decent life, for what it was worth. ]<fadeout1| ]
[ [ ]<fadeout2| ]
[ ]<fadeout3|
|next)[ ]
(set: $dead += 1) (set: $lastdeath to "ionut")(set: $test to 1) {(live: 2.0s)[
(if: $test is 1)[ (append: ?fadeout1)[You always helped your friends when they needed you, even if you were a little rebellious with your parents, something they occasionally complained about but always forgave.] ]
(if: $test is 2)[(append: ?fadeout2)[|fontbig>[When you were little], your mother always used to say that you were meant to (colour:#CC0000)[succeed],that one day you would do great things and find your place in the world, wherever it may be.] ]
(if: $test is 3)[(append: ?fadeout2)[ <br><br>|fontbig>[Your first love] - his name was (colour:#CCFFFF)[Marc] - was a shy guy who had always adored you] ]
(if: $test is 4)[(append: ?fadeout2)[<br>...but in the end you just had to let him go. Why did you have to let him go? You don't quite remember. Something happened between the two of you and then things were never quite the same.] ]
(if: $test is 5)[(append: ?fadeout3)[You had |fontbig>[a decent amount of friends], mostly boys and girls from the hood whose parents weren't well off enough to send to summer camps or boarding schools, so you played together, exploring the backstreets.] ]
(if: $test is 6)[(append: ?fadeout3)[<br>It wasn't the most glorious childhood, but you have nontheless fond memories of it and it definitely taught you a lot about life.] ]
(if: $test is 7)[(append: ?fadeout3)[<br><br> |fontbig>[Your first pet] died when you were 15. It was a (colour:#FFFFCC)[beautiful dog] that your parents had bought for you when you were little. His name was Anthony and you loved him like family.] ]
(if: $test is 8)[(append: ?fadeout3)[Anthony had meant the world to you and his death didn't go by easily. You slipped in a depression which lasted until the early years of college.] ]
(if: $test is 9)[(replace: ?fadeout3)[<br><br> In [school]<fontbig| you were never the most brilliant of students, but you got by with (colour:#FF99FF)[okay-ish grades] for which your parents left you mostly alone, judging you competent to take care of yourself in life. ] ]
(if: $test is 10)[(append: ?fadeout3)[<br> Before you know it the years flew by, until you decided to take that summer job at that hotel...] ]
(if: $test is 4)[(replace: ?fadeout1)[ ] ]
(if: $test is 7)[(replace: ?fadeout2)[ ] ]
(if: $test is 11)[(replace: ?fadeout3)[ ] ]
(if: $test<14)[(set: $test +=1)]
(if: $test is 13)[ (show:?next) ]
(if: $test is 13)[(stop:)]
]}
[ [Thinking back, your life was ordinary and unfullfiling. ]<fadeout1| ]
[ [ ]<fadeout2| ]
[ ]<fadeout3| |next)[ [[..............]] ]
(set: $dead += 1) (set: $backstory to "You had a quiet and peacful childhood, until your first love left you heartbroken. You didn't allow it to show, but you felt dead inside for years. Life never really surprised you much, until you decided to take that summer job.")$T[-ROOM 28-]<img id="backg1" src="http://xfiction.org/images/sdeath.png" width="800" align="center">
The insticnts kick in, instincts you're discovering, instincts you've always had. Your fingers rub faster as you watch flashback of the helpless figure wriggling as your belly gets inflated.
(text-colour:#FFCCCC)[Captured.]
(text-colour:#FF6666)[Used.]
(text-colour:#CC0000)[Killed.]
The orgasm shakes you and you give in to it, shaking uncontrollably as fantasies merge with reality into a [[dreadful bliss]].
(set: $elise_servant to true) (set: $lust to it +1) (set: _ti to 15)
(set: $sanity -=5)$T[-ROOM 28-]
$A[What the hell is wrong with me?! This isn't the time for this! Not to mention it's just-] Words fail you. You're not how exactly to describe that you're turned on by the place of your own death, but it's definitely not right.
Slightly disguested with yourself, you get to cleaning the room, trying to forget about your little accident. By now you know the ropes of it so well you can do it on auto-pilot.
When you're done with the room, you head [[downstairs->ground floor]].
(set: _ti to 80) (set: $28done to 1)$ant
$M['For you, it will be only-']
$a['100, right?'] You give her a wink. $a['I remember.']
(if: $dead is 1)[$M['You're learning fast.'] She gives you an odd half-smile. $M['Just don't get ahead of yourself. Your knowledge of prior events can be a double-edged sword. There is no guarantee things will go down the same way, so don't over rely on it. You might regret it.']
$a['I understand.']
You nod and [[hand her the coins.]] ](else:)[ $M['Excellent. Now if you could only not die this time, that would be great.]
Your eyes fall to the floor. It wasn't your fault really, but somehow you feel guilty, as if you'd let her down.
$M['Anyways now that you have an outfit we can head back.']
The two of you [[return to the entrance->antique boutique]].]
(set: $money -=100) (set: _ti to 10)$ant
The two of you walk in silence towards the front of the Antique Boutique.
$M['So, can I ask you an indiscreet question?']
$a['Uhm, yes?'] You blush. It's true that you've been a woman for your entire life, but it's also true that it has been just a day since you've been a woman for your entire life. And there are so many things that you're still uncertain about. $A[Oh god is she going to ask me about all of-]
$M['How did you die?']
$a['Huh?' You blink stupidly.]
[[Be honest with her]]
[[Mumble some excuse]]
(set: _ti to 5)$ant
You hesitate for a moment, but find no reason to hide the truth. As soon as you start talking, the memories seem to come back and fit into place, as if helped by the woman's presence.
(if: $lastdeath is "ionut")[ 'I'm not sure what happened exactly, but I stuck my nose where I shouldn't have. There was this tower, up in the attic..
$M['A tower?']
'Yes. The top was a room in pitch black darkness. All the windows were completely covered. I tried opening one but then the servant came after me.'
$M['And you didn't see anything else?']
$a['There was just this... figure; up at the ceiling. It seemed like it had giant wings, but I blacked out before taking a proper look.']
$M['And you died?']
You gulp. $a['Not quite. I woke up some time later, tied in a shallow grave. The servant buried me alive.'] A cold shiver runs through your spine.
$M['Better be careful where you poke your nose, girl. I'd stay away from that tower for now, if I were you.']
$a['I know.'] You shiver again. $A[Although dying and telling the tale... that's quite the experience. Can't say that I'm not fascinated.]
It seems that $Felicia has nothing more to ask you, so you head [[exit the shop.<-towards the exit.]]
] (if: $lastdeath is "wolf")[$a['It happened at night, while I was climbing the hill back to the manor. There was a strange silhouette on the road...']
You shiver at the memory, your voice faltering while you struggle to describe it.
(if: (history:) contains "Approach the man")[$a['I was careless and got close.... close enough to see that it wasn't human.']] (else:)[$a[I tried to run away but eventually it caught up with me.] ] $a[The last thing I remember was falling to the ground and fangs biting into my neck.]
You shiver again, a wave of cold propagating through your body. Talking about your own death is an uneasy topic.
$M['Sounds like you ran into a werewolf.']
$a['A werewolf? I suppose at this point I shouldn't be surprised, but still... is that common?']
$M['It's a full moon, so folks know not to wander about in the forest. You should too.']
$a['But I have to get back to the manor!']
$M['Then better do it before nightfall. Or take some protection. Or both.']
[['What protection?'->protec]] ]
(set: _ti to 8)
$ant
$a['Sorry but.... I don't really want to talk about it.']
$M['That bad, huh?']
(if: $lastdeath is "ionut")[$a['Just plain stupidity, that's all'] The though of the cold grave sends a shiver down your spine and you halt in awkward silence.](else:)[$a['Just an unfortunate encounter'] The though of the thing in the forest sends a shiver down your spine and you halt in awkward silence.]
$M['Fine, won't push it. But a little honesty with your friends might help you to prevent future incidents.']
You nod but don't say anything. It's true that she's helped you a lot, but you're not sure to what extend you can really trust the green-eyed woman.
Before you know it, the two of you reach the front of the Boutique and $Felicia takes her place behind the counter and begins polishing some watches. It seemes like there's nothing more to say, so you [[exit the shop.]] $ant
'I don't mean to sound arrogant, but I don't think any armour would really help...'
$M['It won't. You need something that would convince the werewolf not to attack you in the first place.']
$a['And what would that be?']
The green eyes woman darts to the side, rummaging through a cabinet full of flask of different shapes and sizes. In a few moments she emerges with a small perfume bottle filled with a grey translucid liquid.
$a['Uhm, I'll smell pretty?']
$M['Werewolf pheromones. One puff of this and you'll emit the scent of a werewolf yourself, granting you safe passage. They don't tend to attack one of their own, much less a female.']
$a['Oh, wow! That's amazing! Thank you so much!'] You reach for the bottle but $Felicia pulls it away.
$M['Not so fast little human. Do you know how hard these are to acquire? I've been generous with you, but everything has it's boundaries. This will cost you 100.']
(if: $money<100)[$a['100! But I don't have this much!']
$M['That's too bad for you.']
[['Please, I'll die!'->please]]
[['Fine, I can manage to return before nightfall anyways.'->can manage]] ](else:)[ $a['But that's all I have! And Mihai asked me to buy fuel for the generator.']
$M['Tough call for you.']
[['Alright, I'll pay'->Pay up]]
[['Isn't there anything else we could arrange?'->please]]
[['I can just return to the manor before nightfall'->can manage]]
]
(set: _ti to 8)$ant
You look imploringly at $Felicia for a long moment and she finally caves in.
$M['Fine, for your pretty eyes. I'll give you two options.']
$a['I'm listening.']
$M['Option number one - you pay me (if: $money>50)[50](else:)[what you have] and agree to owe me a favor.']
$A[That sounds pretty fair...]
$a['What's option number two?']
$Felicia grins widely. $M['I give you the flask for free.... but you'll owe me **three** favors.']
$A[Ouch! That sounds harsh... but I'll have enough money to buy fuel! And how bad can these favors really be?']
$M['So, what will it be?']
(set: _ti to 5)
[['I'll go for option number 1'->option 1]]
[['I'll go for option number 2'->option 2]]$ant
$M['Alright, suit yourself.']
She puts the bottle back in the cabinet and starts polishing some watches. It's a clear sign that she's grown tired of you, so you nod politely and [exit the shop.]]
(set: _ti to 2)$ant
Reluctantly you take out the rest of your coins and place them on the counter.
$M['Happy doing business with you. Hopefully this will keep you alive long enough to become a loyal customer!'] She grins a toothy smile.
$a['Yeah, yeah.'] You take the bottle and place it in one of your pockets.
$I[Werewolf pheromones added to inventory.]
(set: $pheromones to 1) (set: $flaskful to 100) (set: $money to it - 100) (set: _ti to 2)
(if: $dead>1)[ [That's all for now->antique boutique]] ](else:)[
['So how does this work anyways?'->how work]] ](if: $dead>1)[(goto:"antique boutique")]$ant
$M['It's very easy - just blow a puff from the bottle on yourself and try not to act suspicious.']
$a['Not to act suspicious?']
$M['Don't act like prey. Don't show fear. Be confident.' ]
$a['And one single puff is going to be enough? Are you sure?'] You eye the tiny bottle.
$M['Yes. It should last for several hours.']
(set: _ti to 5)
$a['Alright, thanks.']
(if: $money<30)[$A[But what am I going to tell Mihai? that I lost the money? Perhaps I got robbed? Or simply that I didn't find any fuel..?] ](elseif: $money<=50)[$A[I just hope that I have enough money left to buy fuel...] ](elseif: $money>=100)[$A[I should have plenty of money left for fuel, I just hope that oweing $Felicia won't come to bite me in the ass..] ]
With these thoughts in mind, you [exit the shop.]]
(set: $phero_explained to 1)$vil
Taking a deep breath, you stroll towards the village center. Everything is happening so fast that you need some time to gather your thoughts. Perhaps a [drink at the inn]<drink| would help bring some clarity to things? (if: $gen is 1)[It could also be a good opportunity to ask around for fuel.]
You could always [[head back to the manor.]]
(set: _ti to 5) (set: $explained to 1)
(click:?drink)[(if: $inn_level is 0)[(goto:"innc2")]
(else:)[(goto:"innc2")] ]
$ant
$M['So be it']
It seems the most reasonable. It's just one favor. You hand her the money and $Felicia gives you the flask which you carefully tuck in one of your pockets.
$I[Werewolf pheromones added to inventory.]
(set: $pheromones to 10) (if: $money>50)[(set: $money to it - 50)](else:)[(set: $money to 0)] (set: _ti to 3) (set: $flaskful to 100)
$a['I don't imagine you've already decided on a favor?']
$M['I haven't. But I have a few ideas'] She smiles devilishly. $M['I'll let you know when the time comes']
(if: $dead>1)[Alright, [I'll wait->antique boutique]] ](else:)[ ['So how do the pheromones work?'->how work]] ]$ant
$M['Splendid!'] The woman grins a wide, feline smile and the shadows behind her move, like a giant tail waving. $M['I knew you were a reasonable girl'] She hands you the parfume flask.
$I[Werewolf pheromones added to inventory.]
(set: $pheromones to 10) (set: _ti to 5) (set: $flaskful to 100)
$A[What did I just get myself into...]
You shift your weight from one foot to the other, feeling uneasy. $Felicia seems like your friend, but you can't help but wonder what kinds of things she's ready to ask of you.
$M['When the time comes, I shall call upon the favors owned. You'll know it. Any questions?']
(if: $dead>1)[ [No questions->antique boutique]] ](else:)[ ['So how do the pheromones work?'->how work]] ]$rec
The reception desk is massive and filled with many drawers and compartments.
The sign on top currently reads {(live:1s)[ $desksign]}, but you can [change it]<change|.
Behind the desk there is a large board on which hang the keys to the rooms. You can [take some.]<take|
$I[ [ ]<info6| ]
[Finish fiddling]<finish|
{(live: 1s)[
(click: ?change)[(replace: ?info6)[ [CLOSED]<cl| <br>
[OPEN]<open| <br>
[BACK IN 10 MINUTES]<back10|<br>
[BEWARE OF DOG]<beware|
] ]
(click: ?cl)[(replace: ?info6)[You change the sign to "CLOSED"] (set: $desksign to "CLOSED") ]
(click: ?open)[(replace: ?info6)[You change the sign to "OPEN"] (set: $desksign to "OPEN") ]
(click: ?back10)[(replace: ?info6)[You change the sign to "BACK IN 10 MINUTES"] (set: $desksign to "BACK IN 10 MINUTES") ]
(click: ?beware)[(replace: ?info6)[You change the sign to "BEWARE OF DOG"] (set: $desksign to "BEWARE OF DOG") ]
(click: ?take)[
(if: $keysneeded is 0)[(replace:?info6)[At the moment you don't need any keys] ]
(else:)[ (replace: ?info6)[ Take the key to [room 28]<r28|] ]
]
(click: ?r28)[(replace: ?info6)[You take the key from the board and add it to your keyring.] (set: $key28 to 1) (set: $keysneeded to 0) ]
]}
(click: ?finish)[(goto: (history:)'s last)]$fl2
You stroll down the corridor and approach the door to room 28. This time it's closed, as you left it.
[Enter the room]<ent1|
$I[ [ ]<in4| ]
(click: ?ent1)[ (if: $key28 is 0)[(replace: ?in4)[You press the handle but nothing happens. The door is locked. You could get the key from the desk at the [reception]<gf2| ] ]
(elseif: $elise_level is 0)[(goto:"r28l1") ]
(elseif: $elise_level is 1)[(goto:"r28l2") ]
(elseif: $elise_present is 3)[(goto:"r28l5") ]
(elseif: $elise_level >1 and $deathlist contains "spider" and $lav_firstdeath > 0)[(goto:"r28l4")]
(elseif: $elise_level > 1)[(goto:"r28l3") ]
]
(click:?gf2)[ (goto:"ground floor")]$T[-ROOM 28-]
She looks at you for a long moment, circling sideways. You can see her skeletal arms twitching, like blades ready for battle. At last, she halts.
$E['All is good. Tsk. Leave.']
It's clear that she doesn't wish to speak with you right now. Despite her cold answer, you feel curious about the guest in room 28. With a quick glance behind her back, you notice an open book on the small table next to the window. Next to the book there is also $I[an empty vase for flowers.]
$A[It seems I interrupted her reading... but perhaps I can bring her a little gift or something to brighten her mood...?]
[['Sorry to have disturbed you'->Floor 2]]
(set: _ti to 5)
$T[-ROOM 28-]
$E['You have?'] She looks taken by surprise.
You get out the handful of fresh thistles you've picked from the garden and place them in the vase, taking away the crumbling remains of the previous batch. They look nice, just starting to open up their bright violet heads, sure to last for some time throughout their bloom.
$E['That's.... nice of you.']
$a['I thought you'd like them changed. Do you like them?']
She circles around you, moving in a strange sideways motion. $E['I do.']
(display:"talk")[[Strike a conversation->elise conv]]
(display:"bk")[[Leave the room]]
(set: $flowers to 0) (set: $elise_conv to 1) (set: _ti to 10)$T[-ROOM 28-]
$a['So, uh, what brings you to The Crooked Elm?']
She continues to circle around you, visibly awkward and unsure. Her large butt wobbles softly, almost behind her body.
$E['I've come to seek a home for my children. The Elder has promissed me help.']
$a['The Elder?'] You raise an eyebrow.
$E['Mihai's father']
$a['Ah.'] You pause, thinking. $a['So, he's going to pull some strings, get them a job? Perhaps here at the hotel?']
The dark woman blinks, perplexed. $E['Not a job. A home.']
$a['Yeah, I get it. Just like me!'] You laugh nervously. $a['That's the good thing about working at a hotel, right? You get a bed and a roof, even a breakfast...']
The woman blinks again and continues to circle around you. Feeling uneasy, you decide you've outstayed your welcome.
$a['Hope I haven't disturbed you too much. Good luck for your kids!'] You laugh again, nervously, and [[leave.->Floor 2]]
(set: $elise_level to 1)(set: _ti to 30)$T[-ROOM 28-]
The woman blinks again and continues to circle around you. Feeling uneasy, you decide you've outstayed your welcome.
$a['Hope I haven't disturbed you too much.'] You laugh nervously and [[leave.->Floor 2]]
(set: _ti to 5)$T[-ROOM 28-]
(if: $hour >11 )[You enter the familiar silvery room, the soft haze invading your mind. Just as the previous time, the dark woman emerges from the shadows.
$E['Tsk, what are you doing here?']
(if: $flowers is 0)[$A[Dammit, I forgot the flowers!]
(display:"talk")[['I'll be right back!'->brb elise]] ] (if: $flowers > 0)[$A[Alright, let's see if this will work a second time...]
'I've brought some flowers for you!' You give a wide smile and brush past the woman, taking out the old crumpled flowers from her vase and replacing them with a rather large bouquet of [[violet thistles.]]
]
] (else:)[You enter the familiar silvery room and your mind is immediately invaded by the strange haze that makes it difficult to think. Suddenly, you're much more alert.
$A[What is this room? What is this hotel?]
The silky smooth surfaces suddenly feel less comfortable and more like a trap. Something is weird. Something is wrong.
You don't feel like it would be a good idea to touch anything, so you decide to [[leave->Floor 2]] ]
(set: _ti to 10)Cycle 1: rational, sceptic, cynical, a bit melancholic$vil
You approach the old building, thinking of ways you could convince the man to let you inside. He didn't seem very friendly last time. You knock and wait for a moment before the trap door opens. The man squints at you for a moment, then his expression changes.
'Ah, a visitor! Please, Miss, come inside!'
The trap door closes and the door opens, a large hairy man gesturing you [[inside.]]
(set: _ti to 10)$mount
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/trail3.png" width="1400" style="position:absolute; float:left; margin-top:-100px;" >(if:$fuel is 0 and $gen is 1)[You feel a little overwhelmed by all the recent events, so you decide to head back to the manor ofr the time being. The fuel for the generator can wait. The village isn't going anywhere, you could always return later in the day, or even tomorrow... Mihai would probably understand. After all, he didn't give you a deadline or anything.<br> <br>]The climb up is a little harder in your new $suit, but after a while your body adjust and your movement becomes a little more fluid.
You still have roughly (print: (18-$hour)) hours unil your workday begins. This leaves you some time, but you better hurry.
Eventually you arrive back at [[The Crooked Elm.->ground floor]]
(set: _ti to 60)$T[-ROOM 28-]
Remembering your previous conversation with the mysterious guest, you run off to [[the garden]].
(set: _ti to 10)$mount
You swear under your breath as your $suit makes movements harder than you're used to. The path is luckily easy enough to see under the light of the full moon, but even so you're going to probably be late for your first shift.
$A[What am I going to tell Mihai? That I lost track of time? Hopefully no guests will have arrived in the meantime, and he'll just let it slide...]
Even so, you don't quite regret it. You had a good time with Lavius and even as you hurry uphill your mind drifts back to that moment when he kissed you. $A[I wonder if I had stayed...] He is without a doubt the most intriguing man that you've ever met. Your body reacts to your thoughts, kindling a fire in your lower belly.
About halfway through the climb, you spot an eerie silhouette standing in the shadows on the side of the road. Squinting to see better, you try to indentify the shape - upright but not quite human, with a large head and even larger jaw...
It cocks its head to the side, two flaming yellow eyes fixing on your position.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/wolf.png" width="900" align="center">
[[Continue calmly]]
[[Turn around and run away]]
(set: _ti to 30)$mount
(if: $phero is 0)[ (display:"no_phero")] (elseif: $phero is 1)[You gulp and continue your path towards the figure, distinguishing more of its definitely inhuman features the closer you get...
It turns its head towards you, pinning two hungry yellow eyes straight at its new target. A freezing chill runs down your spine and you feel the cold sweat on your forhead.
$A[This was a bad idea. A **very** bad idea!]
Somehow you manage to carry on, making one step after the other, until you're at the same level as the silhouette, standing a few paces away in the shadows. You look straight forward, not trusting your body to keep calm if you looked directly at the thing, which on the other hand is looking directly at you, as you can tell by the corner of your eye...
There is a sound like a low growl, and a dog sniffing the air...
(if: $lewd<20)[Then you make another step. And another one. The thing doesn't move to attack you and you decide not to turn back.
$A[Just keep going... keep going...]
After what seems like an eternity you've taken several turns up the trail and are drawing ever closer to the manor. You can't hear anything, but your heart is still beating fast in your chest.
](else:)[You can't help yourself and you turn your head, glancing at the monster. It's inhuman features are hard on the eye, but you nevertheless catch yourself staring at its big, muscular body...
[[Stray a little closer]]]
[[Continue forward]]] (elseif: $phero>1)[(display:"phero_overdose")]
$mount
You turn around and start running without looking back. There was something sinister and unnatural in the silhouette that you saw and you're not going to stick around to see up close what it was.
A howl tears through the night, long and piercing and, worst of all, right behind you. You switch into a sprint, running as fast as you can, but your $suit is uncomfortable for running and your feet get tangled in the extra garments you're not used to.
Panicking, you scramble to get up, your ankle gets caught in a root and you fall flat again, while the thing is [[fast approaching...]]$mount
(if: $phero is 0)[<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/ggwolf.png" width="900" align="center">The monster leaps on top of you, pinning you down, its claws digging down and shredding your new clothes. Your frail, feminine body trembles in terror as the teeth sink into the delicate flesh without hesitation. There is little mercy for you this time and you convulse in agony as the beast tears off chunk after chunk, your helpless limbs flailing in the swelling pools of blood and splattering crimson spots all over the remains of your $suit.
The force is finally sapped from your body and the pain fades into a dull background. The last thing you feel is your bracelet getting warmer, before [the darkness takes you]<worlddis|. (set: $weredead to 1) (set: $lastdeath to "wolf")(set: $deathlist to it + (a: "wolf"))] (elseif: $phero<5)[<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/ggwolf.png" width="900" align="center">The monster leaps on top of you, pinning you down, its claws digging down and shredding your new clothes.
There is a moment of hesitation, as the beast sniffs you, confused, its nuzzle digging into your neck and its warm, stinky breath caressing your skin. You start sobbing, tears of terror rolling down your cheeks, a dead giveaway that ultimately costs your life.
Your frail, feminine body trembles in terror as the teeth sink into the delicate flesh of your neck. There is little mercy for you this time and you convulse in agony as the beast tears off chunk after chunk, your helpless limbs flailing in the swelling pools of blood and splattering crimson spots all over the remains of your $suit.
The force is finally sapped from your body and the pain fades into a dull background. The last thing you feel is your bracelet getting warmer, before [the darkness takes you]<worlddis|.(set: $weredead to 1)(set: $deathlist to it + (a: "wolf")) (set: $lastdeath to "wolf") ] (elseif: $phero>=5)[ (display: "phero_overdose")
]
(click:?worlddis)[(goto:"DIE")]$mount
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/trail3.png" width="1400" style="position:absolute; float:left; margin-top:-100px;" >You continue as calmly and as deliberately as you can, never looking back or speeding up until you [[reach the manor.->ground floor]]
(set: _ti to 40)$mount
You take the familiar path downhill following the little stream. Perhaps the mountain air is already having a positive effect or perhaps you're getting used to your new $suit, but this time the trip is less bothersome.
The forest is starting to get dark and you wonder whether you'll make it back in time. You should hurry.
(set: _ti to 50)
Before you know it, you [[arrive at the village->village3]] $T[-ROOM 28-]
$E['Err, thank you.'] She looks taken by surprise.
$a['Don't mention it.'] You give an even wider smile. $a['What's your name, by the way?']
Visibly confused, the black woman circles around you. $E['I'm Elise.']
$a['Nice to meet you, Elise! I'm Alex- errr- andra.'] You finish your sentence in a confused tone.
$E['Are you unsure of your name?']
$a['Yes. Er- No! Maybe... I'm having a rough time...'] She observes you silently, inviting you to continue. $a['It's just that... being a woman... how do I put it- it's hard!']
Elise comes closer and places a sympathetic hand on your shoulder. $E['Yes. Tsk, tsk. It's not easy to be a woman. Even more so a mother. Do you have offspring?']
$a['What?! No!'] You take a few steps back, the thought of it hitting you with an anvil. $A[I couldn't, could I?! I mean... this whole thing... it's only temporary, right?!]
You take a few deep breaths and calm down, returning your gase to the guest. $a['And you, how many children do you have?']
$E['How do you know that, girl?']
$A[Oh, shit, our last conversation hasn't actually happened!]
$a['A wild guess...'] you mutter.
$E['You are a pretty girl'] - she changes the conversation - $E[-would you like to be a mmotherrr?']
Something in the last word sends a chill down your spine and you instinctively step back, away from the woman.
$a['I-errr-- really should be going now....']
You excuse yourself and [[leaving the room]].
(set: _ti to 30) (set: $elise_level to 2) (set: $elise_conv to 1) (set: $flowers to 0)$fl2
$A[Phew, that was a weird conversation!]
You back away slowly from her room, the silver mist dissipating from your head. $A[What a strange woman... though she did seem sympathetic, in a way. Maybe she isn't that bad after all?]
Without thinking, your legs take you back to the [ground floor]<gf1|.
(click:?gf1)[ (goto:"ground floor")](set: _ti to 5)$rec
You take your place behind the heavy wooden desk and sit on the old, creaky chair. It's not super comfortable and the cushion is torn in a few places, but it will have to do. (if: $gen is 3)[The lights are on this time and the atmosphere is more comfortable and inviting. The old manor is still spooky of course, but at least you can see what's going on around you.]
The sign on the desk currently reads $desksign.
[[Fiddle with the desk]]
[Patiently wait]<wait|
(click: ?wait)[
(if: $hour<21)[(goto: (either: "unevent","spooky", "memory","horny")) ]
(else:)[ (goto: "wolf arrival") ]
] $lib
The book is old, but well preserved. On the cover, instead of a title, is writen in big, gothic numbers "20-06-1763". You open a random page and find an odd, unrecognisable language:
$B1[Teemee teela dohlasomee la laladohtee: Mee laladohtee. Ray teesosotee dohlasomee la mee teelaso; sorayfa mee ray laladohtee mee fasolala. Dd sofa ray meemeelateetee mee fasotee, lasorayfa, tee meefafa ray teesosotee dohlasomee la soraytee mee sosotee ray meeteetee dohsotee tee meesoraysofa mee ray meeso teesosotee tee dohmeetee so 'mee' solalatee tee mee fasotee (teedoh); teesofa so dohfa lalatee tee meeteetee faladoh teesosotee. Soteemee ray dohlasomee meetee mee solalasotee so raysotee solalatee teesosotee, la tee solala mee sofa sotee!
meetee tee mee meemee ray teefa mee ray dohlasomee, tee doh so Lateeso fasoso teetee mee fasolala tee meesoraysofa. Ray lameetee so sotee sosolatee teela..]
What is really odd however is not the unfamiliar language, but the fact that however neatly, the book is clearly written by hand, the occasional ink dot punctuating the otherwise flawless caligraphy.
You place the book back and take another one, titled "05-03-1648", only to find the same mysterious language and identical almost perfect handwritting.
$A[It's rather unusual to find manuscripts these days... is this a family record? But then if it was some form of ancient Romanian, I would have been able to pick up at least a couple of words. Interesting.]
The dates stretch back a few hundred years at least, from what you can tell. The most recent title is "02-01-1945" and after that the records stop. There are, however, a number of untitled books waiting on the shelf.
[[Take an untitled book]]
(set: _ti to 20)$lib
The book is completely blank, its white grainy paper giving off a peculiar scent as you flip through the pages. It feels nice to the touch, as if inviting you to grab a quill and write down something on it.
You glance at the shelf - $A[There are a dozen more empty books, nobody would notice one missing..]
[[Take the book for yourself]]
(set: _ti to 10)$lib
You've always wanted a cool old book to write in. You could make it your diary, or try writing the manuscript for your book in it. If you remember correctly, there was an inkwell in your room.
$I[Blank diary added to inventory!]
[[Back->Enter the library]]
(set: $diary_found to 1)
(set: _ti to 10)$din
When you enter the dining hall the room is already prepared, white table cloths with candlesticks covering all tables, despite the apparent lack of guests.
$A[Ionut mentioned that there are only two guests at the moment, but this is still a little sad. Are they not hungry, or just busy elsewhere?]
On a table close to the window, Mihai is sitting alone, a glass of wine in his hand but no plate infront. When he sees you he beckons you forward, gesturing a chair across from him.
[[Accept the invitation]]
[[Politely refuse and eat alone]]
(set: _ti to 10)$din
You smirk and take the bait, sitting on the designated chair. There's nobody else around anyways, so you might as well talk to the eccentric owner.
$Mi[So, Mr Reid, how do you find my hotel? Is it everything that you had hoped for?] Mihai's deep voice bears only the slightest of foreign accents, resembling more the intonation of a 19th century earl. Even now his golden headed cane is with him, leaning casually on the side of his chair.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/mihai2.png" width="450" align="right">
You ponder your reply:
[[It's easy to see that this is a respectable establisment->respect]]
[[It's yet too early to hold an opinion, Mr. Petrescu->undecided]]
[[It looks good, but it's all just a façade for tourists->scam]]
(set: _ti to 10)$din
You shake your head politely, raising your hands in an improvised gesture of apology. The owner nods dryly and doesn't insist.
$A[What an eccentric guy..]
Drinking wine alone in an empty hall may seem classy, but you suspect its just part of the façade that Mihai puts up to make his hotel more attractive to tourists. No doubt he expects you tell tales of the haunted manor and mysterious owner when you get back home, hopefully fooling some of your freinds and relatives into checking out the place. Now that you think about it quite a few of the guys you know are guilible enough to at least hope there would be ghosts around the place, and no doubt the owner has arranged the occasional strange noise at night to keep the visitors coming...
All in all the place is quite inspiring for the right kind of person, if you forget for a moment that it's all just a front. With grim cynicism you dig into your dinner which Ionut has brought discretely on your table.
(set: _ti to 80)
[[Finish and leave]]$din
By the time you're done with your meal, Mihai has gone and none of the guests have bothered to show up. Slightly dissapointed, you hed to [[your room->Go back to your room]].
(set: $diner_1 to 1)$din
$a['There's clearly more to it than meets the eye'] - you smile at the owner knowingly - $a['such an ancient manor full of history and mysteries is clearly the sign of a dynasty that goes back many generations. I looked around a bit and I can't help but be very impressed.']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/mihai2.png" width="450" align="right">
$Mi['And what are your observations so far?']
You draw in a deep breath. $a['Your library is rich and the books in it are authentic, from what I can tell. Your family portraits are numerous and masterfully crafted, especially for the periods when they were drawn. This gives away your noble roots.']
Mihai nods but doesn't say anything.
$a['The building itself is more complex than is expected from a simple hotel, and I have no doubt that the towers that rise on top hold many family secrets. One even might wonder, Mr Petrescu, if your livelyhood truly comes from guest fees...']
$Mi['I shall let you draw your own conclusions, Mr. Reid.']
You're a little unsure where to go from here, but luckily for you at this time Ionut comes with a full plate of meat and vegetables that he leaves in front of you before quietly walking away.
You smile at the owner and [[concentrate on your food]].
(set: _ti to 20)
(set: $din_mihai to "respect")$din
$a['Hard to decide from merely a glance'] you reply, immitating your host's language mannerisms. $a['There's clearly more to it than meets the eye, but the question arises - is this truly an ancient manor full of history and mysteries or is this merely an effect that you've worked to achieve.']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/mihai2.png" width="450" align="right">
$Mi['And what are your observations so far?']
You draw in a deep breath. $a['Your library is rich and the books in it seem authentic, from what I can tell. Your family portraits are also unlikely to be forged or fake. So that is a point towards your noble roots.']
Mihai nods but doesn't say anything.
$a['On the other hand'], you continue, $a['the gate opens by some hidden mechanism that is clearly made to look spooky. Your servant Ionut is a little too odd for pure coincidence and the whole atmosphere of the place looks like it's *meant* to scare people.']
You look at the owner, inviting him to confirm or deny your subtle accusations.
$Mi['I shall let you draw your own conclusions, Mr. Reid.']
You're a little unsure where to go from here, but luckily for you at this time Ionut comes with a full plate of meat and vegetables that he leaves in front of you before quietly walking away.
You smile at the owner and [[concentrate on your food]].
(set: _ti to 20)
(set: $din_mihai to "undecided")$din
$a['Hard to decide from merely a glance'] you reply, immitating your host's language mannerisms, $a['but if I had to guess I'd say that the whole air of mystery and ancient history is merely an effect that you've worked to achieve in order to attract more visitors. I've looked around and observed, and this is my conclusion.']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/mihai2.png" width="450" align="right">
$Mi['And what are your observations so far?']
You draw in a deep breath. $a['Your library is rich but the books in it appear too ancient to be authentic, from what I can tell. Your family portraits are unlikely to be completely forged, but could have been tampered with to seem older. To be blunt, most of the decoration incide is too over the top spooky to be real.']
Mihai observes you calmly but doesn't say anything.
$a['On top of that'], you continue, $a['the gate opens by some hidden mechanism that is clearly made to look creepy. Your servant Ionut is a little too odd for pure coincidence and the whole atmosphere of the place looks like it's *meant* to scare people.']
You look at the owner, inviting him to confirm or deny your accusations.
$Mi['I shall let you draw your own conclusions, Mr. Reid.']
You're a little unsure where to go from here, but luckily for you at this time Ionut comes with a full plate of meat and vegetables that he leaves in front of you before quietly walking away.
You smile sardonically at the owner and [[concentrate on your food]].
(set: _ti to 20)
(set: $din_mihai to "scam")(set: $ach1 to false) (set: $ach2 to false)(set: $ach3 to false)(set: $ach4 to false)(set: $ach5 to false)(set: $ach6 to false)(set: $ach7 to false)(set: $ach8 to false)(set: $ach9 to false)(set: $ach10 to false)(set: $ach11 to false)(set: $ach12 to false)(set: $ach13 to false)(set: $ach14 to false)(set: $ach15 to false) (set: $sc1 to true)(set: $sc2 to true)(set: $sc3 to true)(set: $sc4 to true)(set: $sc5 to true)(set: $sc6 to true)(set: $sc7 to true)(set: $sc8 to true)(set: $sc9 to true)(set: $sc10 to true)(set: $outf1 to true)(set: $outf2 to true)(set: $outf3 to true)(set: $outf4 to true)(set: $outf5 to true)(set: $outf1_owned to false)(set: $outf2_owned to false)(set: $outf3_owned to false) $T[-ACHIEVEMENTS-]
$ach1["What the hell was that?" - you died once ]
$ach2["Broodmother" - you got caught in the spider's web]
$ach3["Serial Victim" - die five times]
[Back]<b| (click: ?b)[(go-to: (history:)'s last)]$din
The two of you spent the rest of the diner in silence, the only events punctuating your quiet munching is Ionut coming to occasionally refill Mihai's glass from a plump opaque bottle.
When you finish eating the servant comes to take away your empty plate and, giving a formal nod to your boss, you [[retire to your room->Go back to your room]].
(set: _ti to 40)
(set: $diner_1 to 1)$T[-ROOM 28-]
The room is exactly as you remember it! The sheets on the bed, the curtains on the windows, the tablecloth, even the carpet is made from a silvery silky-smooth material that gives the place an overall light-greyish tone. It feels like stepping in some eerie dream.
$A[**It's real! I'm not mad! It really happened!**]
You collapse on the floor, your heart pounding in your ears. $A[But what does this all mean? I need answers. But first, I have to take care of this mess.]
There is a (link-repeat:"bed")[(replace: ?obs)[It looks mostly well-made, but you still give it a few brushes, straightening the sheets and puffing the pillow. There, that should do it. (if: $e5 is 1 and $e3 is 1)[
(display:"cleaning done") ]] (set: $e1 to 1)], queen-sized and surrounded by drapes of the same silvery cloth. It reminds you of exhibits you've seen at museums of the old royalty. There's also a (link-repeat:"small round table")[(replace: ?obs)[Small and made from black wood, the table holds a single vase filled with dry, long-dead flowers. (if: $e5 is 1 and $e3 is 1)[
(display:"cleaning done") ]] ], a (link-repeat:"wardrobe")[(unless: $e3 is 1)[(replace: ?obs)[Opening the wardrobe you experience the same eerie feeling and your view blurs. Once you refocus you see that it's filled with more $con[old sticks] and $con[deflated dolls]. Clean out the wardrobe.]](else:)[(replace: ?obs)[The wardrobe is already clean. (if: $e5 is 1 and $e3 is 1)[
(display:"cleaning done") ]] ] ] and a (link-repeat:"giant mirror")[(replace: ?obs)[You brush the surface with a cloth, making appear the image of a $mirror. (if: $e5 is 1 and $e3 is 1)[
(display:"cleaning done") ]] ] .
[$A[What did she want me to clean again?]
Your head feels oddly heavy and unresponsive, as if swimming through thick, silvery mist.
Then you notice the obvious.
Of course.
How could you miss that?
The floor is littered with $in[**dead branches**] and $in[**ragged dolls**].You should probably [clean them up]<e5|. ]<ap|
$I[ [ ]<obs| ]
(if: $e5 is 1 and $e3 is 1)[(display:"cleaning done") ]
(click: ?e5)[(replace: ?obs)[In a slow, dream-like state you pick up the dead branches ($A[what am I doing?]) and the ragged dolls ($A[why are these here?]) in a big black bag ($A[how did it get here?]) and then bury them in the back garden ($A[when did I go there?]). In the end the room looks much cleaner.
(if: $e3 is 1)[(display:"cleaning done") ]] (set: $e5 to 1)(replace:?ap)[] ]
(click: "Clean out the wardrobe")[(replace: ?obs)[You gather the sticks and dolls in a dark bag and bury it in the garden. You shake your head. The wardrobe is now clean. (set:$e3 to 1) (if: $e5 is 1)[
(display:"cleaning done") ]] ]
(set: _ti to 75)(set: $28done to 1) (set: $sanity +=5)$T[-GAME OVER-]
It seems you were unfortunate. (link: "Load game?")[(load-game:"Slot A")]$room
$A[Yep, still a woman. Although...]
(if: $deathlist contains "lavius")[(display:"changes3") ](elseif: $dead<4)[(display:"changes1")] (else:)[(display:"changes2")]
$A[ (either: "Well, might as well be pretty..", "Wow, I could get used to this body...", "Damn, I'm hot!") ]
At the moment, you're wearing $suit.
Pick something else:
(link-repeat:"Jeans and a t-shirt")[(set: $suit to "jeans and a t-shirt") (set: $suit_mod to 0) (set: $suit to "jeans and t-shirt") (replace: ?info)[You get dressed in your jeans and t-shirt. Sometimes plain clothes are the best.]]
$outf1_owned[(link-repeat:"Butler's Uniform")[(set: $suit to "an elegant butler's uniform that hides your curves and gives you an air of professionalism") (set: $suit_mod to -4) (set: $suit to "butler's uniform") (replace: ?info)[You carefully dress into the butler's uniform, keeping the edges sharp and the folds flat. Time to get things done!]]]
$outf2_owned[(link-repeat:"Maid's Outfit")[(set: $suit to "a beautiful maid's outfit that outlines our body figure and provides a generous view of your $breasts")(set: $suit to "housemaid outfit") (set: $suit_mod to 4) (replace: ?info)[You get into the maid's outfit, admiring yourself in the mirror. You really look very cute. If you can manage not to get eaten this time, it would be a big plus.]]]
$outf3_owned[(link-repeat:"Devil's Gown")[(set: $suit to "a Devil's Gown that has the amazing ability to morph into the most effective garment for any situation")(set: $suit to "devil's gown") (set: $suit_mod to 8) (replace: ?info)[The Devil's Gown wraps around your hourglass figure. It is like liquid fire. It is elegant and sublime. It is the dress that will make any creature want to fuck your brains out. You lick your lips with unnatural hunger.]]]
$I[]<info|
[[Head out]]
(set: _ti to 10)$att
(if: $lav_firstdeath > 0)[You step out of your room with quiet trepidation of what the new day can bring.
(display:"ionut_start")
(display:"elise_start")](else:)[Stepping outside, you experience the familiar breeze and a gist of curiosity to [[take a peek around]].
[[Hurry down the stairs]]]
(set: _ti to 2)$T[-FLOOR 2-]
[You descend to the second floor, the velvet carpet muffling your footsteps. Even in the cold light of the morning the manor looks shadowy and unwelcoming, the dust hanging in the air like a thick goo.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/elise4.png" width="450" align="right">
Right on cue, one of the doors on your right opens and the black woman walks out in the hallway, approaching without a sound. Her ebony skin and peculiar proportions create a tingling sensation in your mind as the memories of your past encounters bubble up from your scrambled memory.
(set: _ti to 10)
(if: $lastdeath is "spider")[There is a terror that grips you as your mind rejects a vision of venomous jaws and long, black legs. The green-eyed woman addresses you:] (else:)[You blink fast, fighting with your headache and confusion. The black woman raises a hand gloved in black leather and points a bony finger towards you:]
$E['You must be the new maid. My room requires assistance.']
]<floor2|
(set: $elise_seen to 1) (set: $keysneeded to 1)
(if:$dead >1 and $deathlist contains "spider" and $flashspider is 0)[ [You feel an irresistible urge to accept.]<pacc| ](else:)[[Politely accept]<pacc|
[ [[Get it over with]] ]<gdone| ]
(if: $deathlist contains "spider" and $elise_level>=2)[ $special[Eagerly accept]<bowb| ]
(click: ?pacc)[ (replace:?floor2)[ $a['Of course, Madam, I'll do it right away!'] you reply. The black woman seems pleased.
$E['You're a pretty little thing, tsk. When did you arrive?']
$a['Eeeh-'] You do a few mental calculations. $a['A few days ago, Madam. I'm still new.']
$E['Tsk, tsk, I see. You have much to learn, then. Perhaps you should visit me in my chambers when you have the time. I'll be sure to be gentle with you, tsk.']
$a['As you wish, Madam.']
You give her a nod and head towards [[her room->clean the woman's room]]. ]
(replace:?pacc)[ ] (replace:?gdone)[ ] (replace:?bowb)[ ] ]
(click: ?bowb)[ (replace:?floor2)[ $a['Of course, Madam, whatever pleases you'] you reply, bowing deeply in front of the dark creature. She raises an eyebrow, an amused smile on her lips.
$E['You're a pretty little thing, tsk. When did you arrive?']
$a['Eeeh-'] You do a few mental calculations. $a['A few days ago, Madam. I'm still new.']
$E['Tsk, tsk, I see. And eager to learn?']
$a['Very much so, Madam.'] You hold your gaze on the round green glasses, sensing a strange hotness inside you. Somehow you only want to be given orders and to obey.
$E['Perhaps you should visit me in my chambers when you have the time. I'll be sure to be gentle with you, tsk.']
$a['It would be my pleasure, Madam.'] you reply softly without thinking. The creature gives you a lustful smile.
You give her another deep bow with a generous and prolonged view of your $breasts and head towards [[her room->clean the woman's room]]. ]
(replace:?pacc)[ ] (replace:?gdone)[ ] (replace:?bowb)[ ] (set: $lus +=1)(set: $elise_level +=1)]
(set: _ti to $ti)
(set: $breasts to "chest") (set: $hair to "short dark hair") (set: $eyes to "brown eyes") (set: $name to "Alex") (set: $mirror to "young man dressed in $suit") (set: $horny to 1) (set:$suit to "jeans and t-shirt") (set: $suit to "jeans and t-shirt")
(set: $backstory to "You lived a quiet suburban life and acquired your street smarts from boys and girls in the hood. Life never really surprised you much, until you decided to take that summer job.")$T[-ROOM 28-]
(if: $hour >11)[ You enter the familiar silvery room, the soft haze invading your mind.
$A[Why is everything so soft and silky?]
Your gaze falls on the small round table with the vase. The flowers have been dead for such a long time, that their brittle leaves are crumbling into dust.
(if: $flowers is 1)[$A[I may have just the thing...] ](else:)[$A[Perhaps someone should change those?] ]
From the corner of your eye you catch some movement and the dark woman emerges, almost out of nowhere.
$E['Tsk, what are you doing here?'] She cocks her head sideways, at an almost unnatural angle.
(display:"talk")[['I came to see if everything's alright.'->came to see]]
(if: $flowers is 1)[(display:"talk") [['I brought you some flowers.'->brought flowers]] ]
] (else:)[You enter the familiar silvery room, the soft haze invading your mind.
$A[Why is everything so soft and silky?]
At this time the woman doesn't appear to be home. Looking at the time, she's probably still having breakfast with Mihai.
Your gaze falls on the small round table with the vase. The flowers have been dead for such a long time, that their brittle leaves are crumbling into dust.
$A[Perhaps someone should change those?]
You don't feel like it would be a good idea to touch the guests's stuff, so after you linger for a while you decide to [[leave->Floor 2]] ]
(set:_ti to 5)$T[-ROOM 28-]
(if: $hour>11 and $elise_servant is true)[You enter the warm silvery haze of the room, a happy feeling burning in your tummy. Elise emerges from the shadows, a thin smile on her lips.
$E['So you came.... good.'] She gestures you inside and you [[accept her invitation->thistles3]].
](elseif: $hour >11 )[You enter the familiar silvery room, the soft haze invading your mind. Like each previous time, the dark woman emerges from the shadows.
$E['Tsk, what are you doing here?']
(if: $flowers is 0)[$A[Dammit, I forgot the flowers!]
(display:"talk")[['I'll be right back!'->brb elise]] ] (if: $flowers > 0)[$A[Alright, I know what I have to do!]
'I've brought some flowers for you!' You give a wide smile and brush past the woman, taking out the old crumpled flowers from her vase and replacing them with a rather large bouquet of [[violet thistles.->thistles3]]
]
] (else:)[You enter the familiar silvery room, giving your mind to the strange haze.
$A[It is so nice and peaceful in here...]
The silky smooth surfaces no longer bother you and you're temped to linger for a while, but you have other things to do, so you decide to [[leave->Floor 2]] ] (set: _ti to 10)$T[-ROOM 28-]
$E['Err, thank you.'] She looks taken by surprise.
$a['Don't mention it.'] You give an even wider smile....
$in[The conversation plays out much like the last time and you don't manage to learn anything new about Elise this time. ]
You excuse yourself and [[leave the room.]]
(set: _ti to 30) (set: $elise_conv to 1) (set: $flowers to 0)$T[-ROOM 28-]
(if: $hour >11 )[You enter the familiar silvery room, the soft haze invading your mind. Just as the previous time, the dark woman emerges from the shadows.
$E['Tsk, what are you doing here?']
(if: $flowers is 0)[$A[Dammit, I forgot the flowers!]
(display:"talk")[['I'll be right back!'->brb elise]] ] (if: $flowers > 0)[$A[Alright, let's see if this will work again...]
$a['I've brought some flowers for you!'] You give a wide smile and brush past the woman, taking out the old crumpled flowers from her vase and replacing them with a rather large bouquet of [[violet thistles.->thistles2]]
]
] (else:)[You enter the familiar silvery room and your mind is immediately invaded by the strange haze that makes it difficult to think. Suddenly, you're much more alert.
$A[Something feels off...]
The silky smooth surfaces suddenly feel less comfortable and more like a trap. Something is weird. Something is wrong.
You don't feel like it would be a good idea to touch anything, so you decide to [[leave->Floor 2]] ]
(set: _ti to 10)$T[-ROOM 28-]
(if: $elise_servant is true)[You carefully examine the creature that killed you. She appears human, now that you're not wearing the ribbon to dissipate her mist of illusion. It seems that somehow you are as interesting to her as she is to you. There is a dangerous lust in those green eyes, but there is something else as well...]
(else:)[$E['Thank you'] says Elise, visibly confused.
You take a step back to examine the creature that killed you. She appears human, now that you're not wearing the ribbon to dissipate her mist of illusion. $A[She's not malicious. She did what she had to do because she felt threatened, because I saw her true form.] ]
The black woman moves in her strange sideways manner, her green round spectacles fixated on your you.
$A[ [What an extraordinary woman...]<think2| ]
$elise_servant[<br> $E['So, maiden... what brings you to me?'] <br>]
(display:"talk")['I want to be your friend.']<friend|
(display:"talk")['You fascinate me.']<fascinate|
$elise_servant[(display:"talk")['I want to serve you.']<serve| ]
{(live:1s)[
(mouseover: ?friend)[(replace: ?think2)[ (either:"She must be so alone...","People probably hate her...","She even gave me a gift...","After all, why not?","If I could gain her trust...","Might be a good move...") ] ]
(mouseover: ?fascinate)[(replace: ?think2)[ (either:"Strong, independent, unique...","There is just something about her...","She might be a spider, but she's also a woman...","I wish I could be like her...","I can't stop thinking about her...","It's the truth, after all...") ] ]
(mouseover: ?serve)[(replace: ?think2)[ (either:"My body grows hot...","It might be wrong on so many levels, but fuck it...","I just want it...","My heart beats faster...","I'm sweating...","What is this feeling...") ] ]
]}
(click: ?friend)[(goto: "elise_friend")]
(click: ?fascinate)[(goto: "elise_fascinate")]
(click: ?serve)[(goto: "eliseserve")]
(if: $elise_level is 2)[(set: $elise_level to 3)]
(set: _ti to 10)$fl2
$A[Not much change this time... but who is that woman, really? I'm certain I could learn more!]
You back away slowly from her room, the silver mist dissipating from your head.
Without thinking, your legs take you back to the [ground floor]<gf1|.
(click:?gf1)[ (goto:"ground floor")](set: _ti to 5)$T[-ROOM 28-]
You enter the gentle silver haze that envelops your mind. You know what you have to do.
There is a (link-repeat:"bed")[(replace: ?obs)[There's something about this bed that you can't quite put your finger on. A part of you wants to lay on it sensually, srtetching out your arms up like a pin-up girl, and a part of you wants to scream and run very, very far away. (if: $e5 is 1)[
Your job seems done, you can [[return downstairs->ground floor]] ]] (set: $e1 to 1)], queen-sized and surrounded by drapes of the same silvery cloth. The (link-repeat:"giant mirror")[(replace: ?obs)[You brush the surface with a cloth, making appear the image of a $mirror. (if: $e5 is 1)[
Your job seems done, you can [[return downstairs->ground floor]] ]] ] stands innocently in a corner.
[
The floor is littered with **dead branches** and **ragged dolls**. You recall the same **things** filling the wardrobe. You should probably [clean them up]<e5|. ]<ap|
$I[ [ ]<obs| ]
(click: ?e5)[(replace: ?obs)[In a slow, dream-like state you pick up the dead branches ($A[what am I doing?]) and the ragged dolls ($A[why are these here?]) in a big black bag ($A[how did it get here?]) and then bury them in the back garden ($A[when did I go there?]). In the end the room looks much cleaner.
Your job seems done, you can [[return downstairs->ground floor]] ] (set: $e5 to 1)(replace:?ap)[] ]
(set: _ti to 80)(set: $28done to 1)
$din
You enter the twilight of the dining hall, glancing at the condemned windows.
$Mi['Ah, hello Ms. Reid. How are you feeling today?']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/mihai2.png" width="450" align="right">
$a['I'm well, thank you Mr. Petrescu.'] You yawn, trying to give off a casual look.
$Mi[Excellent, excellent.] He taps his fingers on the golden head of his cane. $Mi['Tell me, are you planning to visit the village today?']
['Yes, I'll go']<illgo|
[['Actually, I had something else in mind for the day'->'I wasn't really planning...']]
(set: $din_vis to true)
(click: ?illgo)[
(if: (history:) contains "'Probably'")[(goto: "Probably2") ]
(else:)[(goto: "'Probably'")]
]
(set: _ti to 10)$mount
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/trail3.png" width="1400" style="position:absolute; float:left; margin-top:-100px;" >(either: "It's a beautiful day in the mountains, the clear path by the stream cheerful and sunny despite the twilight between the trees. As long as you don't wander into the actual forest, all will be well.","The day is grey, light invisible raindrops falling from the sunless sky. Was it raining last time? You're not entirely sure, but you don't think so. This raises some interesting questions about the nature of time. Is it random? Or did you change something in the past that somehow affected the present? The answers are beyond your grasp.")
You make your way down, enjoying the silence of nature and the scent of pines. The moment is so peaceful you're almost ready to forget your troubles. After an hour of a brisk walk, you [[arrive.->village3]]
(set: _ti to 60)
$T[-THE INN-]
A little bewildered you cross the doorstep and hear the man closing the door behind you. The inn is a dimly lit building with low ceiling, the majority of it filled with old wooden tables on which eastern men are drinking beer.
All the looks are on you, some secret, others overt. $A[Is it the $suit? Perhaps it wasn't the right choice...]
You hurry to [[sit on a table in the corner->innhub]].
(set: _ti to 10)$rec (set: _unev to (either: 1,2,3))
(if: _unev is 1)[(if: $gen is 3)[The minutes pass. The gloomy hallway is silent. The electric lights flicker. You tap your fingers on the desk, waiting for something to happen.](else:)[The minutes pass. The dark hallway is silent. You tap your fingers on the desk, waiting for something to happen.]
(set: $ti to 10) ] (if: _unev is 2)[You take out a book and start reading. It's good that you brought a few to kill the time. The story is interesting and you get lost in it.
(set: $ti to 20) ](if: _unev is 3)[You lay back on your chair and watch the dust settle. Why is it always so dusty in here? Perhaps you should try cleaning up a little.
(set: $ti to 10) ]
[Patiently wait]<wait|
(set: _ti to $ti)
(click: ?wait)[
(if: $hour<21)[(goto: (either: "unevent","spooky", "memory","horny")) ]
(else:)[ (goto: "wolf arrival") ]
] $rec (set: _ev to (either: 1,2,3))
(if: _ev is 1)[As time passes, the silence deepens. Isn't there supposed to be people around? Ionut was in the kitchen the last time you saw him. You stretch your ear but there's no sound coming from there. Mihai isn't anywhere to be seen either.
The silence deepens again.
$A[Am I alone? No, that's absurd...]
(if: $gen <3)[A breeze passes and you shiver, the flames of the candles dancing. If only you had fixed the generator...](else:)[The lights flicker again. Are they supposed to do that? You're pretty sure they're not supposed to do that.]
(set: $ti to 10) ] (if: _ev is 2)[Tired from the long day, you sense your eyes starting to close.
$A[I can't fall asleep, not on my first day..]
You force yourself to stay awake but fall into a half-slumber, your mind lulled by the silence of the (if: $gen<3)[dark](else:)[bright] hallway.
Suddenly you feel a hand on your shoulder. You jump in your chair, turning around. No one is there. A dream? You rub your eyes, suddenly awake again.
(set: $ti to 20) ] (if: _ev is 3)[While you wait you become aware of a distant sound like wings flapping. You try to concentrate on it, but it's too faint to be sure that it's even there. After a time it's gone, or it probably never was in the first place.
(set: $ti to 10) ]
[Patiently wait]<wait|
(click: ?wait)[
(if: $hour<21)[(goto: (either: "unevent","spooky", "memory","horny")) ]
(else:)[ (goto: "wolf arrival") ]
]
(set: _ti to $ti)$rec
Your mind wanders off to the events of the day. A lot has happened and it's overwhelming to try to wrap your head around all of it at once. You remember...
(set: _ev to (either: 1,2,3))
(if: _ev is 1)[...that a lifetime ago, you woke up as Alex, your cynical eye assuming that the whole place was nothing but a scam, a cardboard decoration of a spooky mansion. $A[Boy was I wrong... ]
You're still far from knowing the truth of this place, but you have learned at least one thing: Nothing is at it seems.
(set: $ti to 10) ] (if: _ev is 2)[ (if:$gen is 1)[...that Mihai had asked you to fix the generator. Was that important? You're not sure. The dim candles barely illuminate the dark interior of The Crooked Elm. Perhaps with electricity back things would be different? Perhaps not. You can try to fix it tomorrow.] (else:)[...that Mihai had sent you to get better clothes. Were you that unpresentable? The thought stings a bit.
$A[Did he mean to tell me that I'm not pretty?] You pout at the air. ]
(set: $ti to 10) ] (if: _ev is 3)[... your conversations with $Felicia. When it comes down to it, she's probably the only person around here who genuinely wants to help you, the closest thing you've got to a friend. You aren't yet prepared to trust her completely though. Caution is a good thing.
(set: $ti to 10) ]
[Patiently wait]<wait|
(click: ?wait)[
(if: $hour<21)[(goto: (either: "unevent","spooky", "memory","horny")) ]
(else:)[ (goto: "wolf arrival") ]
]
(set: _ti to $ti)(if: $lewd<10)[ (goto: "horny_explore") ] (else:)[ (goto: "horny2") ]$rec
Your shift is almost over and you're beginning to think about your coming dinner when suddenly there is a sharp knock on the door. Before you can react the door opens and a hooded man steps in.
He looks to be in poor shape - his clothes, clearly too big for him, are rumpled and dirty as if he'd recently had a brawl in the mud with somone. Then the odor hits you - a strong, rich smell that invades the space around him, a smell of sweat and musk with a tinge of something feral behind it. $A[Wow... eh.. damn] It's not an entirely unpleasant smell either and you have to admit that concentrating on it does weird things to your head.
He takes off his hood, exposing his face - rough, unshaven, dark sunken eyes looking at you with an impenetrable stare. There's something weird about this face though, something familiar that you can't quite put your finger on.
While distant alarm bells keep ringing in your mind, the man approaches the desk.
$W['Room please.']
(if: $werefucked is 1)[ $I[You are pretty certain that the man is the same creature that you met earlier in the forest. Your face blushes, but he makes no indication of recognizing you.] ]
$a['Any preferences?']
$W['No.']
You reach behind the desk and grab a key at random, tossing him one with the number "(either:1,2)(either:1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9)" on it. He takes, sniffs it, then places it in his pocket.
$W['I'm hungry'] he growls in a low voice.
$a['Right this way, sir.'] you reply, pointing towards the dining room.
$A[Though at this hour Ionut probably isn't there... shit, do I have to cook for him? Probably...]
(set: _ti to 20)
(if: $gen<3)[ [[Lead the way]] ](else:)[ [[Lead the way->lead2]] ]$vil
(if: $hour>=17)[ $A[**Oh God look at the time! I was supposed to start work at 18! And it's almost dark!** ]
Those drinks at the inn took way longer than expected. If you don't hurry like the wind, you're going to be late for work!
Horrified, you [[start running uphill.]]
] (elseif: $hour>16)[ It's starting to get late, the sun almost hidden behind the tall mountain ridges. Soon it will be dark, and your workday will begin.
(if: $elise_present <3)[If you don't want to be late, you should [[go.->head back to the manor.]] ](elseif: $elise_present is 3)[(display:"30mg")[[Return quickly to The Crooked Elm]] ]
](elseif: $hour<17)[You stroll towards the village center. Everything is as you remember.
The [[antique boutique]] seems to be an epicenter for strange things and you wonder if $Felicia will offer you any new words of advice. Or perhaps you just want to see her?
(if:$lav_firstdeath is 0)[The [[hunting cabin->cabin]] has always been closed and you see no reason for that to have changed, but perhaps you'd like to go and take a look anyways.](else:)[ The [[hunting cabin->cabin]] is actually a $in[secret vampire lair]. Perhaps you'd like to go poke around? ]
Then again, perhaps a [drink at the inn]<drink| would help bring some clarity to things? (if: $gen >0 and $gen<3)[It could also be a good opportunity to ask around for fuel.]
(if: $elise_present <3)[You could always [[head back to the manor.]] ] (elseif: $elise_present is 3)[(display:"30mg")[[Return quickly to The Crooked Elm]] ] ]
(set: _ti to 5)
(click:?drink)[(if: $withzach is true)[$R[I can't go back to the inn now, Zachary is waiting for me!]]
(else:)[(goto:"innc2")] ](if: $shop2 is 0)[(goto:"secrets")](if: $lav_firstdeath is 1 and $recharge_explained is 0)[(goto:"first_recharge")]$ant
(if: (history:)'s last is "village3")[You enter the narrow space of the boutique, submerging into the ocean of trinkets and shadows. The green-eyed woman pops behind the counter as usual, that is to say out of nowhere.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$M['Good to see you again! Another day, another life?']
$a['Eeeeh-']
$M['Nevermind, we can discuss this later. What can I do you for?'] ] (else:)[ (either:"There is a silence in the shop. The woman taps her fingers on the counter.","The two of you stand in silence for a moment.","You look around the shop, thinking what to say.")<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">]
$beadsexpl[ **[[Ask about the crimson beads]]**<br> ](if: $elise_present is 1 and $potion_explained is 0)[<br>(display:"excl") [[Show her the green bottle]] <br>](elseif: $elise_present is 1 and $potion_explained is 1)[(display:"excl") [[Give her the green bottle->potion chose]] <br>]
[[Talk about your death]]
[[See what the Antique Boutique has to offer->shop]]
[[Exit the shop->village3]]
(if: $catnip is 1 )[<br>(display:"excl") [[Show her the flowers you picked]] <br>]
(set: _ti to 10)
$vil
A small wooden building in the outskirts of the village, the hunting cabin has a distinct look thanks to the various antlears and animal heads hanging from its walls.
You approach the window, but it's too dirty to peer inside.
(if: $deathlist contains "lavius")[$I[The inconspicuous building gives you chills knowing what's buried beneath it. Memories of the grim laboratory and your night with Lavius flood your mind, filling you with a mixture of repulsion and curiosity.]
$A[What horrors does he have hidden in there, I wonder...]
$I[Last time you barely managed to get a decent look around and you were pretty drunk... you sense an urge to investigate, despite knowing the dangers.]
(display: "excl")$special[[Circle around the cabin]<circle| ] <br>]
[Knock on the door]<k1|
(click: ?k1)[(replace: ?ac)[You wait, but there's no answer. Perhaps nobody's home?]]
$I[[ ]<ac|]
[[Back->village3]]
(click: ?circle)[ (if: $withzach is true)[(goto:"backcabin2")] (elseif: $visited_lab_alone is 1)[(replace: ?ac)[You'd rather not repeat the experience today.]]
(else:)[(goto:"backcabin")]
]
(set: _ti to 10)$inn
$L['Splendid! A fine lady knows she has to be treated well!']
You blush a little, shifting in your seat. $A[Is this how women are treated? Certainly doesn't feel bad...]
The man calls the waiter and orders two glasses of "Ivy '83", which doesn't mean anything to you.
$L['I'm Lavius, by the way.'] He extends his hand.
$a['Alexandra.'] You return the gesture, but instead of a handshake he takes your hand and leans in, giving it a quick kiss. It's a surprise, but not an unplesant one.
$L['So, Alexandra, what brings such a beautiful lady to a secluded village such as our own? Certainly it's not the sights.'] He laughs.
[[Work at the hotel]]
[[New experiences]]
(set: _ti to 10)$inn
$a['Very kind of you, but I can pay for my own drinks.']
$L['Oh, don't be like that! I insist!']
Not waiting for your next reply, the man calls the waiter and orders two glasses of "Ivy '83", which doesn't mean anything to you.
$L['I'm Lavius, by the way.'] He extends his hand.
$a['Alexandra.'] You reply a little grumpily, leaving his hand hang in the air. After a few moments he pulls it back.
$L['So, Alexandra, what brings such a beautiful lady to a secluded village such as our own? Certainly it's not the sights.'] He laughs.
[[Work at the hotel]]
[[New experiences]]
(set: _ti to 10)$inn
You see no reason to lie, so you tell Lavius about your job at The Crooked Elm, giving him a brief overview of how you wound up here. He listens to your story, sipping wine from his glass.
$L['So you work for Mihai? Interesting...'] There's a new note in his tone that you immediately pick up.
$a['You don't like Mihai?']
He flinches at the question, as if insulted that you even dare think something like that. $L['I just think a beauty such as yourself can do better than being stuck in that crooked old manor.']
You're spared from coming up with a reply since the waiter brings the bottle of wine and Lavius pours you a full glass of it.
[[Drink]]
(set: _ti to 10)$inn
$a['I've always wanted to travel the world and see new places'] you reply, giving him a mysterious smile. He doesn't need to know about your loser job at the hotel.
$L['A worthy enterprise! I immediately knew you were a woman of culture! Let's drink to that!']
At that moment the waiter brings the bottle of wine and Lavius pours you a full glass of it.
[[Drink]]
(set: _ti to 10)$inn
The wine has a strong and rich taste, a mixture of sour sweetness, a fruity aftertaste and something else, unrecognisable.
$L['Do you like it?']
$a['It's really good!'] The wine is indeed delicious and you finish the glass quickly. Lavius gives you a radiant smile.
$L['I am so happy that you like it! It's my favourite - have another one!] He pours again, filling your glass generously.
[[Drink->drink2]]
(set: _ti to 15)$inn
The second glass tastes somehow even better than the first one and before you know it Lavius is sitting next to you, chattering about the anecdotal misadventures of the village buffoons.
$L['You should have seen them, Alexandra, 3 grown men chasing a pig inside this very inn, and before they could catch it, it drank half their beers!']
You laugh together, banging your fists on the table. Lavius casually wraps a hand around your waist, pulling you closer. A happy warmth is spreading through your entire body - you haven't felt that good in ages.
$L['Ah, that bottle was simply amazing! We should order a second one, it's on me!'] He waves at the waiter and soon enough your glasses are full again.
[Drink]<drink|
[[Continue conversation without drinking->cont1]]
(set: _ti to 20) (set: $inn_level to 1) (set: $lav_talked to 1)
(click: ?drink)[ (if: $bcharges>1 and 4elise_level<3)[ (goto:"notready")] (else:)[ (goto:"drunk 1")] ]$inn
There's no way you can pass on that delicious wine, and you're not even the one paying! You raise the glass to your lips and take another generous gulp. You feel very warm now.
$L['Aren't we having am amazing time? I'm so glad that I met you here tonight!'] His hand has a solid grip of your waist now. $L['Tell me, Alexandra, have you ever dreamt of doing something crazy, something wild? To seize life to its fullest, to drink from the fountain of youth, to pluck the apple of Eden?']
You turn your head to see Lavius looking at you intently, a strange brilliance in his velvet eyes. You open your mouth to reply but he leans in and kisses you, his arm pulling your feminine body into his embrace.
[[Give in to the kiss->kiss drunk]]
[[Pull away->Pull drunk]]
(set: _ti to 30) (set: $myst_level to 1)$inn
$a['I'd really rather not'] you smile politely, pushing the refilled glass away.
$L['Ah, don't be like that, love. I insist!']
Something in his voice strings an unpleasant cord in your mind and you wince. $a['No.'] You reply with a stern voice.
$L['Is that a way to repay my generosity? I feel offended.'] Lavius makes an exaggerated grimace.
$a['Sorry, but no.']
$L['Fine!'] He rises to his feet. $L['If you don't want to drink with me, I shan't insist!']
Lavius walks away demonstratively. You're left [[alone->innhub]].
(set: $lav_react to "deny")
(set: _ti to 10)$ant
'There's something strange that I've noticed about the bracelet' you say, lifting your wrist for the shop owner to see.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
'When you gave it to me, I can quite distinctly remember there being **5 crimson beads** on top of it. However the following day there were **only 4**. And now there are **$bcharges**.'
You raise en eyebrow towards the woman.
$M['Quite so. A keen observation - like I told you, this is a demonic bracelet. It holds the power to protect its bearer from death. That power, however, is not unlimited. The crimson beads on top of it show you the number of times it can be used.']
'So this means...'
$M['Exactly. If there are only dark beads left, when you die - you die.'(if: $bcharges is 0)[Sadly, this appears to be the case.'] (elseif: $bcharges is 1)[But you have at least 1 left. That is good.'] (elseif: $bcharges>1)[But for now you should be fine.'] ]
'Is there- is there any way to recharge it?' You swallow hard.
$M['Of course there is! Don't be silly - who'd go through all the trouble of making a demonic bracelet - a rare, powerful and not to mention expensive artefact - if you couldn't even recharge it!' ]
'Oh, thank God!' You breathe a sigh of relief. 'So how do I recharge it?'
$M['You need to devour the *energia vitalis* of a willing victim.']
'I- WHAT?!'
$M['You need to have consensual sex with someone and take the energy from their orgasm.'] You blink stupidly. $M['You know how succubi feed, right?'] You nod. $M['Well there you have it. Shouldn't really be a problem. Any questions?']
[['So... eeeh.... it's not gonna kill anyone?'->kill anyone]]
(set: _ti to 15)
(set: $Felicia_level to 3)$ant
$M['No, they'll be just fine. A little exhausted, perhaps, but that's about it.']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
You still feel a little uneasy about the topic. 'Can't I just masturbate or something?'
$M['The energy can't come from **you**, silly, that wouldn't make any sense!'] Her eyes tingle with amusement.
'But I- I mean - there isn't anyone-'
$M['Oh, I'm sure a pretty girl such as yourself will surely have no trouble recharging her bracelet. It doesn't have to be a man, mind you, though you do need your victim to climax.']
'Oh! Wait, if it doesn't have to be a man, then does that mean-'
$M['Nope, forget about it.']
'But I might **literally die!!**'
The woman gives you a steel look, all the whimsical joy evaporating from her eyes. For a moment you see her irises stetch vertically, sha shadows gathering around her...
$M['If it's such an issue I can always tie you up and drop you naked in the inn's basement. You'd be fully recharged in no time'] she remarks coldly. You swallow.
$A[That sounds...] you don't want to think about how that sounds. Your body is both hot and covered in cold sweat.
'It's fine. I'll manage.'
$M['Good.']
The topic seems [[over->antique boutique]].
(set: $beadsexpl to false) (set: _ti to 15)$ant
You can see $Felicia's eyes burning with curiosity.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$a['I suppose you'd like to know'] you sigh. She nods.
$M['What happened this time?']
(if: $lastdeath is "wolf" and (history:) contains "protection")[ (display:"eaten2") ](elseif: $lastdeath is "wolf")[(display:"eaten1")] (elseif: $lastdeath is "ionut")[ (display:"buried alive") ] (elseif: $lastdeath is "spider")[ (display:"spider") ] (elseif: $lastdeath is "lavius")[ (display:"lavius") ] (elseif: $lastdeath is "wolfguest")[ (display:"wolfguest") ](elseif: $lastdeath is "trapped")[ (display:"trapped.d") ]
(set: _ti to 30)
[[Continue->antique boutique]]
$inn
You give yourself in to a long, passionate kiss, the sweetness of the wine filling your mouth and bubbling in your head. Lavius pulls you closer, his hand on the back of your head as the kiss stretches on. Your lips finally part, giving you the opportunity to breathe again.
$A[Wow..! That was.... just..!']
$L['Ah, you truly are amazing my dear Alexandra.'] He caresses your hair, holding you still close to him. $L['What do you say we finish this bottle here and then go someplace more... private?']
'Lavius, we need to speak.' says a man behind you. You jump in your seat, startled.
$L['Cant you see I'm busy? Go away'] Lavius hisses at him, his beautiful face distorting with dissaproval.
'It's **urgent**. You need to come. Now.'
You can't really see very well the man who's speaking, but Lavius doesn't seem to like him at all.
$L['I'll be right back, my darling, don't go anywhere.'] He kisses you again and gets up from the table, following the other man.
Things are going a little faster than anticipated, but perhaps it's for the best.
$A[I just have to get this over with, it's not like I really want it...]
While you wait for Lavius to return, you are [[left alone->alone drunk]].
(set: $lav_react to "kiss") (set: _ti to 10) (set: $lust to (it + 1))$inn
$a['I-I'm sorry, but I can't.'] You gently but firmly push him away, regaining your composure. $A[I've only just met this man... however charming he may be... and he's very charming indeed... ]
A fleeting sadness passes in Lavius's eyes.
$L['Forgive me my lady, I assumed too much! Surely, undoubtedly, a woman such as yourself- you must have someone. It is my fault - and I take all the responsibility!'] He finishes his declaration with solemn dignity, a mixture of regret and apology.
$A[What am I doing?! If I push him away I might actually die... I need o recharge the bracelet at any cost.]
[[Correct his false assumption->correct him drunk]]
[[Pretend you have someone->pretend drunk]]
(set: $lav_react to "pull")
(set: _ti to 10)$inn
(if: $lav_react is "kiss")[There's still wine in your glasses left to drink, and the bottle has probably a serving each left in it too. You have no idea what time it is, but you probably ought to be starting work soon. You better make this quick... ](else:)[The prospect of a hidden, mysterious wine reserved only for the elite sounds very alluring and your curiosity is burning. On the other hand, you have no idea what time it is, but you probably ought to be starting work soon. But still, you could perhaps stay a little while more... ]
You mind is distracted and it's hard to focus. You know you have other, more important things to be doing, but a new part of yourself is enjoying the moment and wants to keep going. Can this really be a bad thing?
$A[ [What should I do?]<think| ]
[Wait for him]<wait|
[Leave]<leave|
{(live: 1s)[
(mouseover:?wait)[(replace: ?think)[(either: "He looks like a real gentleman..", "He's so classy..","I really want to stay..", "I want to kiss him again..", "He probably has a big house..","I need to find a way to recharge the bracelet...","If I don't do this things might get bad...","I really don't have much of a choice if I want to live...") ]]
(mouseover:?leave)[(replace: ?think)[(either: "I should be going..", "I'll be late for work..","This is going a bit too fast..", "He'll understand..", "I can see him later..", "I'm getting side tracked here..") ]]
]}
(click: ?leave)[(goto: "leave inn drunk")]
(click: ?wait)[ (if: $lav_react is "kiss")[ (goto:"wait drunk")]
(if: $lav_react is "pull")[ (goto:"spiced drunk")]
]
(set: _ti to 10)$inn
It's a bit sad not to say goodbye, but you're sure he'll understand. You could probably make it up to him another time. $A[That could be fun...]
In any case, he said that he's paying for everything, so nothing's really stopping you from leaving right now. You get up, swaying gently as you walk. That wine really got to your head. Hopefully you'll sober up quickly.
The men throw you a few glances as you mak your way to the door, but none of tme interrupt you. $A[ Is that because they saw me kissing with Lavius?]
You straigten up, pat down your $suit and [[step outside-->village3]].
(set: $hour to 17)
(set: $minute to 25)(if: $deathlist contains "wolfguest")[(goto:"Ionut windows")]$din
With the windows sealed off and all the candles out, the dining hall is in pitch black darkness. You make a few steps forward and hit your toe on the foot of a table.
$a['Ouch!! Damn it. Let me just...']
You make your way through the blackness, cussing and complaining, until you reach one of the boarded windows, peeling off the blockage. A ray of moonlight penetrates the room, illuminating the chairs and tables and falling on the guest's terrified face.
$W['NOOOOORRGHHHHH!']
The man convulses, clunching his stomach with both hands, his expressions contorting in agony. His limbs begin to grow, thick black fur sprouting from his skin, his jaw morphing and extending forward.
$W['AAAAHHHHHOOOOOWWWLLLL!!!']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/ggwolf.png" width="900" align="center">
The monster leaps on top of you, pinning you down, its claws digging down and shredding your new clothes. Your frail, feminine body trembles in terror as the teeth sink into the delicate flesh without hesitation. There is little mercy for you this time and you convulse in agony as the beast tears off chunk after chunk, your helpless limbs flailing in the swelling pools of blood and splattering crimson spots all over the remains of your $suit.
The force is finally sapped from your body and the pain fades into a dull background. The last thing you feel is your bracelet getting warmer, before [the darkness takes you]<worlddis|.
$sc3[
$R[You have learned a new secret: The Guest]
(set: $secrets to (it +1)) (set: $sc3 to false)]
(click:?worlddis)[(goto:"DIE")]
(set: $lastdeath to "wolfguest")
(set: $deathlist to it + (a: "wolfguest"))$T[-ROOM 28-]<img id="backg2" src="http://xfiction.org/images/sdeath.png" width="800" align="center">
You enter the familiar room with trepidation, almost as if approaching something sacred. Your heart pounds faster as the silvery mist penetrates your mind, dulling your senses and rendering you blind to reality...
$A[ [There's something incredibly hot about this...]<thi| ]
Your eyes fall on the [bed]<bed|, an image of a [tied figure]<figure| flashing in your head.
[[Lie on the bed]]
[[Get on with cleaning->Get a grip]]
{(live:1s)[
(mouseover: ?bed)[ (replace: ?thi)[(either:"Just for a moment...","I know I shouldn't...","It looks so tempting...","Why does this turn me on so much?","There's no harm in it...")] ]
(mouseover: ?figure)[ (replace: ?thi)[(either:"That was me...","An inflated belly...","Arms tied together...","Legs stretched...", "Completely immobilised...","Waiting for the end...")] ]
]}
(set: $28done to 1) (set: _ti to 10)$lib
You step inside a place of twilight and silence. The library is filled with tall, thin bookshelves that extend upwards towards a ceiling that is unusually high. The narrow alleys are illuminated by the dissipated rays coming from hidden windows somewhere up above. Every now and then there are small tables with armchairs left for the comfort of the reader.
(unless: $tome_madness is 1)[As you're walking, you get the impression that hear a faint voice calling your name, though it's so barely audible it might as well be just in your imagination.
(display:"excl")[[Try to find the voice]] ]
(if: $dead>0)[<br> [[Find a table with a quill]]<br> ]
(display:"bk")[[Back->ground floor]]$lib
You find a comfy corner between the shelves - there is a round table with a big armchair next to it, as well as an inkwell and a gaslamp. Sinking into the leather cushions, you take out the strange empty book that you found.
$A[What should I make of this? A personal diary? Or just a story?]
You're still shaken by the unusual events that befell you, but writing them down on paper seems like an appealing way to deal with them. And something tells you that you'll end up with quite the extraordinary story to tell.
//This feature will come in a later build//
[[Back->ground floor]]
[ [[Begin writing->write1]] ](hidden|
(set:_ti to 5)$lib
$A[Where do I even start? I suppose that I'll need to introduce the hero of the story-]
[ [Alexandra]<alex|
[Sarah]<sarah|
[The Girl With No Name]<noname| ]<intro|
(click: ?alex)[(set: $hero to "Alexandra") (replace: ?intro)[ $A[-which is myself of course. No need to be shy. I will record the truth as it happens, the memoirs of a lost girl.]
You chuckle to yourself nervously. $A[I am a lost girl, aren't I? I wonder where this path will lead me.]
Now, for the [[setting]]. ] ]
(click: ?sarah)[(set: $hero to "Sarah") (replace: ?intro)[ $A[-which is an ordinary girl. No one in particular, same as me. She just ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time. ]
You chuckle to yourself nervously. $A[I am a lost girl, aren't I? I wonder where this path will lead me.]
Now, for the [[setting]]. ] ]
(click: ?noname)[(set: $hero to "The Girl With No Name") (replace: ?intro)[ $A[-she is nobody, same as me. Her name is not important, it is dispensible, it is destined to change and to be eventually forgotten.]
You chuckle to yourself nervously. $A[I am a lost girl, aren't I? I wonder where this path will lead me.]
Now, for the [[setting]]. ] ]Double-click this passage to edit it.$T[-ROOM 28-]<img id="backg2" src="http://xfiction.org/images/sdeath.png" width="800" align="center">
You lie face down on the sliky whiteness, arms together clutching the pillow and legs slightly spread apart. Your body grows hotter and you sense a deep need in your belly, an itch that you can't quite skracth.
The moisture between your legs grows.
Slowly you slide a hand down under your garments and inside your pants. It's warm and wet. It feels good.
You imagine the creature appearing from behind you, its sting plunging between your folds. Laying its eggs inside you. Inflating your belly.
Your fingers accelerate, rubbing your little bud and occasionally reaching inside you.
You have been blessed, you were able to experience being taken by the creature, and yet live to remember it.
You rub yourself faster still.
In fact, nothing is stopping you from doing it again. You could just make yourself a present. Lie on the bed. Spread your legs. Present your snatch, wet and willing, to the creature when it comes. It will gladly comply. And if worst comes to worst, the bracelet would bring you back...
It would be so simple. All you have to do is stay...
Your flower twitches and an orgasm washes over you, mixing with the silvery mist into a pure cocktail of desire.
Eventually, you come to your senses and get up from the bed. Shaking yourself out of it, you (unless: $elise_present is 3)[clean the room and ]head [[downstairs.->ground floor]]
(set: $elise_servant to true)(unless: $elise_present is 3)[(set: _ti to 80)] (set: $28done to 1) (set: $lust +=1) (set: $sanity -=5)$din
Mihai goes through the familiar explanations, telling you to get better suited clothes and to try to find some fuel for the generator.
He takes out a small pouch from the inner pockets of his suit and produces a handful of coins which he leaves on the table in front of you. $Mi['This should be enough to cover your expenses plus some extra for doing me a favor.']
As usual, he is offering you $I[£200] for your expenses.
[[Take the money]]
(set: _ti to 10)$din
$a['Thank you, Mr. Petescu!'] you say gratefully, taking the coins in your pocket. After a few silent moments, you retire to your table.
The servant appears shortly, asking if you'd like to eat the usual. (if: (history:) contains "enter the room")[For an instant your blood freezes and a deep sensation of dread overtakes you.(if:$ionut_level is 1)[You see Ionut's figure towering above you, holding a shovel. The dirt splashes on your tied body..]
The moment passes and you get a grip. Slowly, you reply with a nod and the servant ](else:)[You give him a nod and he ]disappears again, followed by the sound of sizzling.
(if: $elise_level <2)[ A few minutes later, while you're eating in the semi-complete darkness of the dining hall, a new silhouette enters the room. You immediately identify the bizzare outline of the woman you met earlier. She takes a seat across the table from Mihai, occupying what appears to be the biggest armchair you've ever seen, with a seat large enough for two people to sit on side by side comfortably and a tall back covered in numerous fancy cushions. Her slim body and small round head look almost ridiculous in comparison, yet somehow she seems to fill the chair quite nicely with the rest of her body...
Looking at her you start getting a headache and you move your gaze away, rubbing your tired eyes. The room is so dark and the candles so faint that the shadows are starting to play tricks on you.. Bits of the conversation make their way to you, but it's too low and jumbled to make any sense.
$E2['My $ups[children] will....yes that's right....safe place...$rev[new host] very soon...']
$Mi2['I'll see what I can do.... will be $ups[arranged]....for $rev[your brood]..' ]
$A[I wonder what this is all about...] ] (elseif: $elise_level is 2)[Sometime during your breakfast Elise comes in, sitting on Mihai's table. The two of them make a pretty odd couple, and on closer observation, a tension is visible between them.
$A[I can't quite make out what they're saying, but it seems... it seems that Elise wants something from him...] She leans on the table, pinning Mihai with her black gaze and speaking in a low susurrus. The host places a hand on his golden cane, making an indescernable gesture. $A[Did he refuse? Or ask her to wait? In either case, she doesn't look too happy...]
Looking at her you start getting a headache and you move your gaze away, rubbing your tired eyes. The room is so dark and the candles so faint that the shadows are starting to play tricks on you.. Bits of the conversation make their way to you, but it's too low and jumbled to make any sense.] (elseif: $elise_level is 3)[During your breakfast you see Elise arriving in the dining hall and carefully making her way to Mihai's table.
She looks human enough at first glance, but the signs are there, if you know what to look for. The way she occupies space, carefully manouvering between the tables and chairs; the slight headache you get when trying to counter her limbs; the big chair she finally sits in, somehow filling it all despite her body appearing small and thin.
The arachnid woman converses with Mihai, and even though you don't know the details of it, you can imagine the broad strokes. A home for her offspring. A host she can lay her eggs into.
Your blood chills while at the same time a certain part of your body grows hotter. You struggle to continue eating calmly.
$A[Why does she need Mihai, though? Surely she's more than capable of just snatching someone... Something is afoot here.]
Your headache increses the more you look at her, so finally you pull your gaze away and concentrate on your meal. You can deal with that later.]
[[To the kitchen]]
[[To the reception->ground floor]]
(set: $seen_mihai to 1)
(set: $gen to 1) (set: $money += 200) (set: _ti to 45)
Double-click this passage to edit it.$T[-ROOM 28-]
$a['I just wanted to say - I mean, I know we don't really know each other'] you remind yourself quickly - $a['but I wanted to say that if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here.']
$E['I am confused, tsk.']
$a['Well, us women have to stick together, right?'] You give her a wide smile. $a['It's a big scary world out there, men always wanting something. And, and it's not easy being a woman! You have to be strong, and independent, and you have to take care of your children and find them a nice home, you know?']
$E['I-I know.'] She seems speechless for a long moment. $E['It is good of you to offer companionship, young girl. You may not be aware of this, but there are many who regret having crossed my path, tsk tsk...']
You stare into the black woman's green eyes. The unhuman creature seems pensive.
$E['But I find myself strangely fond of you. And you are a pretty little thing.] Her eyes sway from your $breasts to your $hair and $eyes. $E['I shall consider your offer.']
She approaches one of the drawers and fishes something out of it.
$E['Here, take this, tsk. A small gift. I have a strange feeling it might serve you.']
You politely take the small green bottle and slip it into one of your pockets before excusing yourself and [[leaving the room.->leave2]]
(set: _ti to 30) (set: $elise_present to 1) (set: $elise_level to it +1) (set: $elise_conv to 1) (set: $flowers to 0) (set: $elise_choice to "friend")$fl2
$A[I don't know where this is going to lead me, but somehow it felt right.]
You walk away slowly from her room, the silver mist dissipating from your head.
Without thinking, your legs take you back to the [ground floor]<gf1|.
(click:?gf1)[ (goto:"ground floor")]$T[-ROOM 28-]
$a['I just wanted to say - I mean, I know we don't really know each other'] you remind yourself quickly - $a['but I wanted to say that I think that you're truly an extraordinary woman.']
$E['What do you know about me, tsk?']
$a['Well, I've heard some things from Mihai'] You lie quickly, giving her a knowing smile. $a['I have heard how strong you are, what you have had to deal with... and I-I really respect you a lot. Doing everything to take care of your children... '] you trail of. $a['Children really are important to us women, are they not?']
$E['They are, tsk.'] She seems to think for a long moment. $E['I thank you for your words, young girl. You may not be aware of this, but there are many who regret having crossed my path, tsk tsk...']
You stare into the black woman's green eyes. The unhuman creature continues.
$E['But I find myself strangely fond of you. And you are a pretty little thing.] Her eyes sway from your $breasts to your $hair and $eyes. $E['I shall consider your offer.']
She approaches one of the drawers and fishes something out of it.
$E['Here, take this, tsk. A small gift. I have a strange feeling it might serve you.']
You politely take the small green bottle and slip it into one of your pockets before excusing yourself and [[leaving the room.->leave2]]
(set: _ti to 30) (set: $elise_present to 1) (set: $elise_level to it +1) (set: $elise_conv to 1) (set: $flowers to 0) (set: $elise_choice to "admirer")$T[-ROOM 28-]
$E['Is that right? Tsk']
Her overwhelming presence surrounds you as she brings her face to yours. You get down on your knees and remove your shirt, giving her a good unobstructed view of your naked $breasts.
She rubs one of your nipples with her hand, making it stiff.
Your heart punds faster. She leans closer still, gently kissing your neck. You feel a light prick and an injection of euphoria. The world turns on its head.
$E['Now open wide, girl']
Somehow her clothes melt away and you see a long thick (text-style:"blurrier")[DoviIposiCtiorK] between her legs. Your lips part away as the creature gets on top of you and pushes the apendage in your mouth.
$A[I want to be obedient. I want to submit. I want to please her.]
You diligently suck her organ, refusing to think and refusing to care about the realities of the situation. You want to be a good girl for your mistress.
After a while a burst of fluid fills your mouth and you eagerly gulp it down, feeling it splash inside your tummy. The creature backs away and after a few moments the world stops turning. Elise is back to her normal appearance, her lips curing into a smile of approval.
$E['I'm pleased with you, servant. This has been most refreshing. As a gesture of my goodwill I will not swell your belly with my children.](unless:$elise_present>2)[$E[And I will give you this.']
She approaches one of the drawers and fishes something out of it.
$E['Here, take this, tsk. A small gift. I have a strange feeling it might serve you.']
You politely take the small green bottle and slip it into one of your pockets.]
$a['Thank you, Mistress.']
$E['Now leave and keep this to yourself.']
You nod, get dressed, and head to the [[ground floor]].
(set: _ti to 30) (unless:$elise_present>2)[(set: $elise_present to 1)] (set: $elise_level +=1) (set: $elise_conv to 1) (set: $flowers to 0) (set: $lust +=2) (set: $bcharges to it +1) (set: $elise_choice to "servant")$room
$A[Okay, let's see what I managed to do last time...
(display: "felicia.recap")
(display: "elise.recap")
(display: "ionut.recap")
(display: "inn.recap")
[[Examine yourself->mirror]]
[[Head out]]
(set: _ti to 10)
]
You take up a summer job as a receptionist at The Crooked Elm hotel, which is also an ancient manor. When you arrive you meet with Mihai, the son of the owner and effectively your boss (also a vampire), and Ionut, the domestic servant (and also basically a mix between Igor and Frankenstein's monster).
When you go down to the nearby village, you enter an antique shop and meet the owner, Felicia. She gives you an enchanted bracelet. On your way back to the hotel you get ambushed by a werewolf and die.
After your death the real game begins. You wake up as a woman (side effect of the bracelet) and start realizing you're in some shit. The goal of the game is to complete the day without dying (which is not easy to do). Each time you die your bracelet loses life charges and if you reach 0 it's game over. You can recharge it by draining sexual energy from victims (it's a succubus bracelet.)$inn
$a['Ah, no, it- it's not that..']
$L['Truly?'] His eyes light up again. $L['But then- Was I unpleasant? Unfitting? Too forward, perhaps?']
You look as his face changes from a range of emotions and finally stils in an expression of polite confusion.
$a['No! You're very charming - it's just a bit too fast...'] You attempt to explain yourself.
$L['Ah, not to worry!'] he lights up again - $L['if time is what you require, time is what you shall have. Allow me to offer a small present - a token of my good intentions.] He hushes his voice, leaning closer to your ear and speaking in a low, conspiratorial tone. $L['There is a secret drink you can order, a special wine reserved only for the rich and noble families....such as my own. Share a drink with me, you won't regret it! Such wine you have never tasted before and shall never taste again! What do you say?']
'Lavius, we need to speak.' says a man behind you. You jump in your seat, startled.
$L['Cant you see I'm busy? Go away'] Lavius hisses at him, his beautiful face distorting with dissaproval.
'It's **urgent**. You need to come. Now.'
You can't really see very well the man who's speaking, but Lavius doesn't seem to like him at all.
$L['I'll be right back, my darling, don't go anywhere.'] He gives you another radiant smile and gets up from the table, following the other man. You are [[left alone->alone drunk]].
(set: _ti to 10)$inn
$a['I'm sorry Lavius, I should have told you earlier!'] You run along with the lie. You can find another way to recharge the bracelet... probably...
$L['I sincerely apologise my dear Alexandra. In fact - let me make it up to you!] He hushes his voice, leaning closer to your ear and speaking in a low, conspiratorial tone. $L['There is a secret drink you can order, a special wine reserved only for the rich and noble families....such as my own. Share a drink with me, you won't regret it! Such wine you have never tasted before and shall never taste again! What do you say?']
'Lavius, we need to speak.' says a man behind you. You jump in your seat, startled.
$L['Cant you see I'm busy? Go away'] Lavius hisses at him, his beautiful face distorting with dissaproval.
'It's **urgent**. You need to come. Now.'
You can't really see very well the man who's speaking, but Lavius doesn't seem to like him at all.
$L['I'll be right back, my darling, don't go anywhere.'] He gives you another radiant smile and gets up from the table, following the other man. You are [[left alone->alone drunk]].
(set: _ti to 10)$inn
You sit patiently on the table, waiting for Lavius to get back. You feel hot and sweaty, your mind in a happy haze from the wine. While you wait for your generous friend to return you sip nonchalantly from the expensive wine he bought for you. $A['Damn, this is a nice life!']
After a few minutes, he returns.
$L['I'm terribly sorry for the interruption my dear, my *friend* over there needed my immediate council on a private matter. But I shan't bother you with such trifles. Now, where were we?']
Lavius leans in and kisses you again, filling your mouth with the taste of wine, lavender and something else, unrecognisable. When he draws away, you can't help but get a feeling of void.
$L['Let's finish the wine, shall we?']
[[Drink->drunk 2]]
(set: $lavius_level to 1)
(set: _ti to 20)$vil
The two of you finish the rest of the wine between more jokes and kisses. When the bottle is empty he takes your hand and leads you outside.
You have to admit that you're not paying too much attention where you're going, but after a while you leave the village and walk a short way towards the forest, after which the familiar silhouette of the $in[hunting cabin] appears among the trees. $L['We're almost there my love.']
You look around surprised. There are no other buildings in sight.
'Lavius, I didn't take you for a hunter!'
$L['A hunter? I am also that I suppose.'] - he adresses you a strange grin. $L['But the place where we're going is not inside the cabin, but *beneath* it. Come, darling.']
Wrapping a hand around your shoulders Lavius leads you around the cabin. The backside is just a dull wooden wall with no distinguishable markings. Your companion approaches the left corner and grabs one small twig sticking from the planks and gently twists it around. A portion of the wall caves in and slides away, opening to a flight of stone stairs descending somewhere into the darkness. Reaching a hand inside, he flips something with a loud *click!* and a row of lamps lights up, illuminating the passage with a yellow glow.
$A[Electricity!] Something inside your mind stirs, but you're too drunk to pay much attention to it.
$L['Welcome to my lair, love'] says lavius, taking you by the hand and [[leading you down.->drunk 3]]$T[-LAVIUS' SECRET LAIR-]
After a couple dozen steps the staircase ends with a heavy wooden door that Lavius pushes open. You step into a long hallway with a handful of doors to each side. There are more of the lamps spraying dirty yellow light around. Copper pipes run the length of the ceiling, punctuated with valves and pressure gauges.
$L['Welcome to my secret laboratory!']
'It won't be secret for long if you invite every girl to visit' you chuckle.
$L['Perhaps, perhaps not'] he replies with a mischevious smile.
'And what's to stop from just anyone barging in anyways?' you ask, strolling down the hallway.
$L['First of all, nobody knows where it is. And even if somehow they did, how would they get out once they're in? Nobody knows that the password is Lastra Mora']
$sc4[
$R[You have learned a new secret: The Password]
(set: $secrets to (it +1)) (set: $sc4 to false)]
'Good of you tell me.' You approach one of the doors - it has a small round window through which you can see a variety of chemical instruments and concoctions. 'What is all this, anyways?'
$L['Ah, my dear, it is nothing that fits the tastes of a lady such as yourself. Come.'] He takes your hand again and leads you down the hallway through several doors and down another flight of stairs. At the end of your short walk you end up in a small, dim lit room with a king-sized bed in the middle.
'So is this your-'
Not letting you finish, Lavius kisses you again, passionately, his lips stealing the breath from your lungs. It's a long kiss, a demanding kiss that takes everything you've got and gives nothing back. Your body grows even hotter, lust flaring between your legs. He pushes you [[onto the bed.->drunk 4]]$lav
You land flat on your back, the satin sheets cushioning your fall. He is on top of you, kissing your lips, kissing your neck, kissing your breasts, his hands tearing apart your clothes as he descends lower in a flury of desire.
'What are you-'
He silences you with another brute kiss, completely shredding your $suit to pieces. Your naked body glistens in the darkness, beads of sweat covering your skin. Lavius runs his hands along it, feeling every curve. Reaching your arms, he places them in an outstretched position above your head and you soon feel the soft touch of leather wrapping around your wrists.
$A[Oooh, kinky!]
A fleeting hesitation crosses your mind. Should you really be doing this? You've barely just met.
[[Let him tie you up->let drunk]]
[[Object->object drunk]]
(set: $lastdeath to "lavius")$lav
You giggle and relax your body, letting him tie first your hands and then your legs, pulling them apart. You feel completely defenceless and exposed, your flower twitching as he stares hungrily at it. $A[Maybe this is exactly what I wanted...]
He bends down and kisses it, leaving a trail of saliva along your slit. You feel that you can't resist him anymore. $A[Just take me already!]
Slowly, Lavius undresses in front of you. In the darkness you can't see much, but his body is clearly lean and muscular. When he's done he approaches you, sitting on the bed in front of you and wrapping his strong arms under your legs.
You feel a finger run along your wet slit.
A shiver runs through your body.
Finally he comes, sliding inside your dripping cunt with ease. A moan escapes your throat.
$L['Ah, my dear Alexandra, what a wonderful, beautiful, **naive** girl you are.']
$A[What?] You can barely lift your head in your bound position, but you see the man looking at you with insatiable hunger, his lips stretching in a wide smile. You can't think, not really, everything feels so good, his long slow thrust sending you into an oblivious bliss. A part of your mind starts panicking when his smile stretches wider, long canine teeth stretching outwords from its edges.
He shoves it all the way in, collapsing on top of you.
$A[Yes!! oh my gawd yes, yes, YES!! Deeper!!]
His teeth sink into the side of your neck, punctuating your artery.
Your head spins.
He starts sucking. There is no pain.
The thrusts continue, filling your aching pussy over and over again.
Your body twitches as you feel yourself grow weaker.
He fucks you harder and faster. Indiscerniblescreams escape your mouth.
The crescendo comes, one last final stroke that plunges into your depths and stays there, his seed spilling into your womb as his teeth drain the life out of your neck. You twitch again, your flower clenching tightly around him into one last, powerful orgasm, before everything fades into darkness.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/laviusd.png" width="750" align="center">
On your wrist, the bracelet grows hot, dark beads flaring into crimson.
Everything goes black.
$sc7[$R[You have learned a new secret: The Vampire]
(set: $secrets to (it +1))(set: $sc7 to false)]
(set: $bcharges to it + 3) (set: $lust to (it + 3))
(if: $bcharges>5)[(set: $bcharges to 5)]
(click: "goes black.")[(goto:"DIE")]
(set: $deathlist to it + (a: "lavius"))$lav
'Hey, don't...'
You try to pull your hand away but his grip is too strong. The leather tightens around your wrist, pulling our arms up.
'Let me-' He silences you with another kiss, gently caressing your hair as he does. You relax again, giving in to his seduction.He binds your legs as well, pulling them apart. You feel completely defenceless and exposed, your flower twitching as he stares hungrily at it. $A[Maybe this is exactly what I wanted...]
He bends down and kisses it, leaving a trail of saliva along your slit. You feel that you can't resist him anymore. $A[Just take me already!]
Slowly, Lavius undresses in front of you. In the darkness you can't see much, but his body is clearly lean and muscular. When he's done he approaches you, sitting on the bed in front of you and wrapping his strong arms under your legs.
You feel a finger run along your wet slit.
A shiver runs through your body.
Finally he comes, sliding inside your dripping cunt with ease. A moan escapes your throat.
$L['Ah, my dear Alexandra, what a wonderful, beautiful, **naive** girl you are.']
$A[What?] You can barely lift your head in your bound position, but you see the man looking at you with insatiable hunger, his lips stretching in a wide smile. You can't think, not really, everything feels so good, his long slow thrust sending you into an oblivious bliss. A part of your mind starts panicking when his smile stretches wider, long canine teeth stretching outwords from its edges.
He shoves it all the way in, collapsing on top of you.
$A[Yes!! oh my gawd yes, yes, YES!! Deeper!!]
His teeth sink into the side of your neck, punctuating your artery.
Your head spins.
He starts sucking. There is no pain.
The thrusts continue, filling your aching pussy over and over again.
Your body twitches as you feel yourself grow weaker.
He fucks you harder and faster. Indiscerniblescreams escape your mouth.
The crescendo comes, one last final stroke that plunges into your depths and stays there, his seed spilling into your womb as his teeth drain the life out of your neck. You twitch again, your flower clenching tightly around him into one last, powerful orgasm, before everything fades into darkness.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/laviusd.png" width="750" align="center">
On your wrist, the bracelet grows hot, dark beads flaring into crimson.
Everything goes black.
$sc7[$R[You have learned a new secret: The Vampire]
(set: $secrets to (it +1))(set: $sc7 to false)]
(set: $bcharges to it + 3) (set: $lust to (it + 3))
(if: $bcharges>5)[(set: $bcharges to 5)]
(click: "goes black.")[(goto:"DIE")]
(set: $deathlist to it + (a: "lavius"))$a['I'm not sure what happened exactly, but I stuck my nose where I shouldn't have. There was this tower, up in the attic..]
$M['A tower?']
$a['Yes. The top was a room in pitch black darkness. All the windows were completely covered. I tried opening one but then the servant came after me.']
$M['And you didn't see anything else?']
$a['There was just this... figure; up at the ceiling. It seemed like it had giant wings, but I blacked out before taking a proper look.']
$M['And you died?']
You gulp. $a['Not quite. I woke up some time later, tied in a shallow grave. The servant buried me alive.'] A cold shiver runs through your spine.
$M['Better be careful where you poke your nose, girl. I'd stay away from that tower for now, if I were you.']
You give her a small nod.'It happened at night, while I was climbing the hill back to the manor. There was a strange silhouette on the road...' You shiver at the memory, your voice faltering while you struggle to describe it. (if: (history:) contains "Approach the man")[I was careless and got close.... close enough to see that it wasn't human.] (else:)[I tried to run away but eventually it caught up with me.] The last thing I remember was falling to the ground and fangs biting into my neck.
You shiver again, a wave of cold propagating through your body. Talking about your own death is an uneasy topic.
$M['Sounds like you ran into a werewolf.']
'A werewolf? I suppose at this point I shouldn't be surprised, but still... is that common?'
$M['It's a full moon, so folks know not to wander about in the forest. You should too.']
'But I have to get back to the manor!'
$M['Then better do it before nightfall. Or take some protection. Or both.']
[['What protection?'->phero2]]You look down at your feet in embarassment. 'It was the wolf again.'
(if: $pheromones>0)[$M['What? I told you what to do!']
'I know, it's just... I messed up, okay?'
$M['Stupid humans.. okay, one more time, and pay attention!'] She throws you a vicious stare. $M['Apply one puff and **one puff only** to yourself before going through the forest. Do **not** run from a werewolf. They can smell the fear. For this to work you need to convince him that you're a werewolf yourself. Act confidently. Got it?']
'I think I got it', [[you nod.->antique boutique]]
](else:)[$M['And little Ms. Know-it-all thought she could handle things perfectly on her own. Pfeh!'] exclaims Felicia, jokingly lifting her chin.
You sigh, knowing that she's right.
$A[I better get those pheromones soon..]
]$a['You killed me is what bloody happened!'] you lash out at $Felicia.
$M['Oh? And I suppose I never gave you a warning beforehand?']
$a['You said it might not be a good idea, not that I was going to die!']
$M['Do you need me to tell you not to jump from the roof also?']
There's an awkward pause.
$M['So what happened exactly?']
$a['You gave me a silver ribbon... then I began to see the truth of this place. I saw that you are a cat'] - $Felicia gives you a devilish smile - $a['and then I returned to the manor. Mihai looked normal, but when I was walking around I ran into a giant spider. I think it was the woma- one of the guests. When she saw my panic she dragged me into her lair and then-']
You leave the last part out.
$a['And here I am again.']
$M['Interesting. And this woman, this creature, did she seems evil to you before?']
$a['I don't know... perhaps, a little, but then again...']
$M['Not everything is at it seems, little human. Perhaps you got on her wrong side. Remember: she doesn't know about what happened. It **hasn't happened**. You are the eye of the storm, only you remember your past lives.']
$a['And you.']
$M['And me.'] She smiles.$M['But only partially. In any case, wield that information wisely. Perhaps that woman can be a powerful ally, in another lifetime.']
You nod.$a['I was stupid, that's what happened!']
$M['What did you do?']
$a['I met this strange man at the inn... he seemed charming at first, handsome, witty, funny - a true gentleman. Buthe turned out to be a monster.']
$M['A charming monster? Let me guess, you've met Lavius.']
$a['You know him?!']
$M['He's a bit of a prick if you ask me, but he does have some rather fascinating research going on in that secret lab of his. He's mostly harmless, unless you get in his way.']
$a['**MOSTLY. HARMLESS.** He tied me to a bed and sucked my blood out!! How the is that MOSTLY HARMLESS?!?!']
$M['I'll admit he has his weaknesses, mostly for young naive girls that wonder into our village. That doesn't happen particularly often, so he has to jump on the fresh opportunity, lest it escapes him.']
$a['So I'm a fresh opportunity now?']
$M['For a bored vampire - pretty much, yeah.']
$a['Didn't you say Mihai was a vampire? How many exactly are there?']
$M['Oh, there are a bunch of them around. I'd be more careful if I were you.']
$a['A bunch of them...'] you sigh. $a['Anything else I should know?']
$M['Just try to decline his invitations, however polite they may be. But if you do somehow end up in his lab again, try to look around. Who knows, you might find something interesting.']
Resigned, you nod.You cup your breasts in front of the mirror, squeezing them gently. The first time around your chest was almost as flat as board, but now you have a pair of $a[cute little B cups] that nicely fill your palms. Or rather, you've always had them...
Your face is also prettier, rounder and more feminine, with $a[soft inviting lips] and elegant eyelashes.
Somehow, your feminity has definitely been further enhanced. Where your body used to be average and almost masculine, now stands a $a[seductive hourglass figure] with a thin waist and $a[well rounded, alluring breasts].
Coupled with that is a fair face with white skin and $a[full lips], which are a little more than inviting...
You are different. Before, the changes were gradual, barely pereceptible from cycle to cycle. A little larger breasts, a little fuller lips..
Now, you are different. There's no doubt about it. You blink at the mirror.
Your hair is longer, and your face is more feminine for sure. Where your body used to be average and almost masculine, now stands a seductive hourglass figure with a thin waist and well rounded, alluring breasts, the kind of girl that you used to stare at the street, many lifetimes ago.
You also **feel** different. You are no longer staring back at a pretty face, you **are** the pretty face. You've finally slipped in the skin and feel almost at home in your new body.$inn
In the end your curiosity prevails and you follow Lavius' request to stay around while he finishes whatever business he has with his friend.
When he returns you see him carrying an odd-shaped purple bottle, from which he pours you a generous glass.
$L['Let's call it a welcoming present for your arrival to our humble village. May it be just the beginning of many fine adventures for a fine lady!']
You blush a little, lifting the glass to your lips and taking a long sip. It's a strong, sweet wine with a fruity aftertaste that leaves you wanting for more. Within the minute you've downed the whole glass and Lavius serves you another.
The haze in your head quickly thickens and the laughter, smiles and glasses seamlessly mix into one great (text-style:"blurrier")[BLUR]<blur|.
(click: ?blur)[(goto:"wakeup drunk")]$fl2
You know that you can't get out of cleaning her room, but you have other things on your mind right now and you don't plan to waste any time.
$a['Right away, Ma'am'] you nod politely before heading to her room.
The familiar confusion of the silvery room sets in but you don't pay it any mind, taking care of business as quickly as you can before [[heading downstairs->ground floor]]
(set: _ti to 80) (set: $28done to 1) $lav
You wake up lying flat on your back on a bed of satin sheets. He is on top of you, kissing your lips, kissing your neck, kissing your breasts, his hands tearing apart your clothes as he descends lower in a fluty of desire.
'What are you-'
He silences you with a brute kiss, completely shredding your $suit to pieces. Your naked body glistens in the darkness, beads of sweat covering your skin. Lavius runs his hands along it, feeling every curve. Reaching your arms, he places them in an outstretched position above your head and you soon feel the soft touch of leather wrapping around your wrists.
$A[What's going on?!]
You begin to struggle but then a part of your mind seems hesitant. $A[Do I really not want this? My body is so hot, it would be so easy to just let him...]
[[Let him tie you up->let drunk]]
[[Object->object drunk]]
(set: $lastdeath to "lavius") (set: $lavius_level to 1)$ant
$a['You once mentioned a magical item that could help me?']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$M['I also advised strongly against using it. You're not ready. It could cost your life.']
$a['I appreciate your warning...']
[['... and heed your advice. Better safe than sorry.'->antique boutique]]
[['...but follow my own rules. What is this item?'->ribbon]]
(unless: (history:)'s last is "fading away....")[ (if: $ionut_level is 1)[ (set: $ionut_level to 2)] ] (if: $deathlist contains "lavius" and $lav_firstdeath is 1)[(set: $lav_firstdeath to 2)]
(if: $dead is 0)[(goto:"DIE1")]
(elseif: $dead>0 and $death_animation is 2)[(set: $dead += 1)
(if:$dead is 1)[(set: $Felicia_level to 1) (set: $backstory to "You lived a quiet suburban life and acquired your street smarts from boys and girls in the hood. Life never really surprised you much, until you decided to take that summer job.")
(set: $sanity -=50)] (else:)[(set: $backstory to(either: "You had a quiet and peacful childhood, until your first love left you heartbroken. You didn't allow it to show, but you felt dead inside for years. Life never really surprised you much, until you decided to take that summer job.","You left your quiet suburban life and ran away with a juggler from a visiting circus. Life was hard, but also intriguing, until you ran out of money and decided to take that summer job.","You were a weird kid from the start, interested in magic and the occult, looking for something more in life. You were starting to get bored, until you decided to take that summer job.","You had a hard childhood, being an introvert with no friends. Everyone called you the weird girl and stayed away. Your parents helped with your education, until they ran out of money and you decided to take that summer job.","You were a normal person with a normal life. Nothing really interesting happened to you, until you decided to take that summer job."))]
(goto:"..............") ]
(elseif: $dead is 1)[(goto:"DIE2")]
(elseif: $dead <6)[(goto:(either:"DIE3","DIE4","DIE5"))]
(else:)[(goto:"DIE6")]
(set: $test to 1) {(live: 2.0s)[
(if: $test is 1)[ (append: ?fadeout1)[You were obsessed with |fontbig>[street magic], coin flips and card tricks that you performed on the passerbys while your agile friends slipped tiny hands in the pockets of the distracted.] ]
(if: $test is 2)[(append: ?fadeout2)[|fontbig>[When you were little], your mother always used to say that you were (colour:#CC0000)[a crazy little thing],that one day life would sweep you away from her and take you somewhere far, far away.] ]
(if: $test is 3)[(append: ?fadeout2)[ <br><br>|fontbig>[Your first love] - his name was (colour:#CCFFFF)[Zachary] - was a juggler from the circus that seduced you with his skills and charms] ]
(if: $test is 4)[(append: ?fadeout2)[<br>eventually you left with him, abandoning your home town and conventional education for life on the road and stary nights with your new lover..] ]
(if: $test is 5)[(append: ?fadeout3)[You had |fontbig>[many friends], outcasts such as yourself, lost souls that gathered around your troupe like moths to a flame.] ]
(if: $test is 6)[(append: ?fadeout3)[<br>It was one of the best times of your life and you would give anything for it to last forever..] ]
(if: $test is 7)[(append: ?fadeout3)[<br><br> |fontbig>[Your first pet] was (colour:#FFFFCC)[an old python] that Zachary bought for you on your 18th birthday. You named him slimy and loved it with all your heart until it died 3 years later.] ]
(if: $test is 8)[(append: ?fadeout3)[As you grew older things between you and Zachary soured. You were no longer his little girl and the witty and skillful juggler sudenly turned into a cliché comedian with secondhand tricks. You slipped in a depression and later left the circus, returning to your home town after many years.] ]
(if: $test is 9)[(replace: ?fadeout3)[<br><br> You tried to finish your [education]<fontbig| but you were never really any good at it and (colour:#FF99FF)[got in trouble with the teachers.] After high school your parents encouraged you to explore alternative venues in life, which led you to a brochure about a summerjob abroad. ] ]
(if: $test is 10)[(append: ?fadeout3)[<br> With no other options at hand, you decided to take it...] ]
(if: $test is 4)[(replace: ?fadeout1)[ ] ]
(if: $test is 7)[(replace: ?fadeout2)[ ] ]
(if: $test is 11)[(replace: ?fadeout3)[ ] ]
(if: $test<14)[(set: $test +=1)]
(if: $test is 13)[ (show:?next) ]
(if: $test is 13)[(stop:)]
]}
[ [Thinking back, you had an odd life, which never made much sense to you. ]<fadeout1| ]
[ [ ]<fadeout2| ]
[ ]<fadeout3| |next)[ [[..............]] ]
(set: $dead += 1) (set: $backstory to "You left your quiet suburban life and ran away with a juggler from a visiting circus. Life was hard, but also intriguing, until you ran out of money and decided to take that summer job.")(set: $test to 1) {(live: 2.0s)[
(if: $test is 1)[ (append: ?fadeout1)[You were always attracted to the mysterious and the occult,constatnly digging your nose in all the old books from grandma's attic.] ]
(if: $test is 2)[(append: ?fadeout2)[|fontbig>[When you were little], had a tendency to attract weirdness in your life. You (colour:#CC0000)[ drove your mom crazy] with the pictures you drew, mishapen creatures that spoke in unknown languages and always foreshadowed events in the family's life.] ]
(if: $test is 3)[(append: ?fadeout2)[ <br><br>|fontbig>[Your first love] - her name was (colour:#e216e2)[Chelsea] - was a shy girl who had always stared at you from afar] ]
(if: $test is 4)[(append: ?fadeout2)[<br>In the end your weirdness drew you together - tarot cards, fortune telling, walks after dark around the outskirts of town. You kissed at night, when no one could see you, and her kisses were sweeter than cherry cream.] ]
(if: $test is 5)[(append: ?fadeout3)[You had |fontbig>[some friends], most boys and girls stayed away from you and Chelsea, but those who liked you turned out to be true.] ]
(if: $test is 6)[(append: ?fadeout3)[<br>After high school |fontbig>[she broke your heart], running away with another girl. You slipped in a depression which lasted until the early years of college.] ]
(if: $test is 7)[(append: ?fadeout3)[<br><br> |fontbig>[Your first pet] was a (colour:#a51906)[black tarantula] that you got from a shop to keep you company after she departed. Your parents were horrified.] ]
(if: $test is 8)[(append: ?fadeout3)[Chelsea had meant the world to you and her betrayal left a gaping void that you couldn't fill. ] ]
(if: $test is 9)[(replace: ?fadeout3)[<br><br> In [college]<fontbig| you were never the most brilliant of students, but you got by with (colour:#FF99FF)[good grades] for which your parents left you mostly alone, judging you competent to take care of yourself in life. ] ]
(if: $test is 10)[(append: ?fadeout3)[<br> Before you know it the years flew by, until you decided to take that summer job at that hotel...] ]
(if: $test is 4)[(replace: ?fadeout1)[ ] ]
(if: $test is 7)[(replace: ?fadeout2)[ ] ]
(if: $test is 11)[(replace: ?fadeout3)[ ] ]
(if: $test<14)[(set: $test +=1)]
(if: $test is 13)[ (show:?next) ]
(if: $test is 13)[(stop:)]
]}
[ [Thinking back, you had a |fontbig>[strange life], however brief it was. ]<fadeout1| ]
[ [ ]<fadeout2| ]
[ ]<fadeout3| |next)[ [[..............]] ]
(set: $dead += 1) (set: $backstory to "You were a weird kid from the start, interested in magic and the occult, looking for something more in life. You were starting to get bored, until you decided to take that summer job.")(set: $test to 1) {(live: 2.0s)[
(if: $test is 1)[ (append: ?fadeout1)[You were uninteresting and antisocial most of the time, staying away from anything new that might put you out of your comfort zone.] ]
(if: $test is 2)[(append: ?fadeout2)[|fontbig>[When you were little], your mother always used to say that you (colour:#CC0000)[should go out more], that if you stayed home all the time you would never amount to anything muchin your life.] ]
(if: $test is 3)[(append: ?fadeout2)[ <br><br>|fontbig>[Your first love] - his name was (colour:#CCFFFF)[Kevin] - never even noticed your existence. ] ]
(if: $test is 4)[(append: ?fadeout2)[<br>Throughout most of high school you just stared at him, too shy to say or do anything. You were part of the background, an invisible observer. Kevin never even knew you were interested in him.] ]
(if: $test is 5)[(append: ?fadeout3)[You had |fontbig>[almost no friends], except for Lynda, the other class introvert that tagged with you due to misfortune and circumstance. You were both always left out so you ended up forming an awkward type of friendship.] ]
(if: $test is 6)[(append: ?fadeout3)[<br>It was a miserable childhood and you have almost no fond memories of it. Sometimesyou wish you could just forget it all ever happened.] ]
(if: $test is 7)[(append: ?fadeout3)[<br><br> |fontbig>[Your first pet] died when you were 18. It was a (colour:#FFFFCC)[stray dog] that you picked from a shelter, despite knowing that he didn't have much time left. You named him Roger and cared for him like family.] ]
(if: $test is 8)[(append: ?fadeout3)[Roger had meant the world to you and his death didn't go by easily. You slipped in a depression which lasted until the early years of college.] ]
(if: $test is 9)[(replace: ?fadeout3)[<br><br> In [school]<fontbig| you were never the most brilliant of students, but you got by with (colour:#FF99FF)[okay-ish grades] for which your parents left you mostly alone, judging you competent to take care of yourself in life. ] ]
(if: $test is 10)[(append: ?fadeout3)[<br> Before you know it the years flew by, until you decided to do something different and take that summer job at that hotel...] ]
(if: $test is 4)[(replace: ?fadeout1)[ ] ]
(if: $test is 7)[(replace: ?fadeout2)[ ] ]
(if: $test is 11)[(replace: ?fadeout3)[ ] ]
(if: $test<14)[(set: $test +=1)]
(if: $test is 13)[ (show:?next) ]
(if: $test is 13)[(stop:)]
]}
[ [Thinking back, you had a dull life, for what it was worth. ]<fadeout1| ]
[ [ ]<fadeout2| ]
[ ]<fadeout3| |next)[ [[..............]] ]
(set: $dead += 1) (set: $backstory to "You had a hard childhood, being an introvert with no friends. Everyone called you the weird girl and stayed away. Your parents helped with your education, until they ran out of money and you decided to take that summer job.")(set: $test to 1) {(live: 2.0s)[
(if: $test is 1)[ (append: ?fadeout1)[You always helped your friends when they needed you, even if you were a little rebellious with your parents, something they occasionally complained about but always forgave.] ]
(if: $test is 2)[(append: ?fadeout2)[|fontbig>[When you were little], your mother always used to say that you were meant to (colour:#CC0000)[succeed],that one day you would do great things and find your place in the world, wherever it may be.] ]
(if: $test is 3)[(append: ?fadeout2)[ <br><br>|fontbig>[Your first love] - his name was (colour:#CCFFFF)[Marc] - was a shy guy who had always adored you] ]
(if: $test is 4)[(append: ?fadeout2)[<br>...but in the end you just had to let him go. Why did you have to let him go? You don't quite remember. Something happened between the two of you and then things were never quite the same.] ]
(if: $test is 5)[(append: ?fadeout3)[You had |fontbig>[a decent amount of friends], mostly boys and girls from the hood whose parents weren't well off enough to send to summer camps or boarding schools, so you played together, exploring the backstreets.] ]
(if: $test is 6)[(append: ?fadeout3)[<br>It wasn't the most glorious childhood, but you have nontheless fond memories of it and it definitely taught you a lot about life.] ]
(if: $test is 7)[(append: ?fadeout3)[<br><br> |fontbig>[Your first pet] died when you were 15. It was a (colour:#FFFFCC)[beautiful dog] that your parents had bought for you when you were little. His name was Anthony and you loved him like family.] ]
(if: $test is 8)[(append: ?fadeout3)[Anthony had meant the world to you and his death didn't go by easily. You slipped in a depression which lasted until the early years of college.] ]
(if: $test is 9)[(replace: ?fadeout3)[<br><br> In [school]<fontbig| you were never the most brilliant of students, but you got by with (colour:#FF99FF)[okay-ish grades] for which your parents left you mostly alone, judging you competent to take care of yourself in life. ] ]
(if: $test is 10)[(append: ?fadeout3)[<br> Before you know it the years flew by, until you decided to take that summer job at that hotel...] ]
(if: $test is 4)[(replace: ?fadeout1)[ ] ]
(if: $test is 7)[(replace: ?fadeout2)[ ] ]
(if: $test is 11)[(replace: ?fadeout3)[ ] ]
(if: $test<14)[(set: $test +=1)]
(if: $test is 13)[ (show:?next) ]
(if: $test is 13)[(stop:)]
]}
[ [Thinking back, your life was a wild ride. ]<fadeout1| ]
[ [ ]<fadeout2| ]
[ ]<fadeout3| |next)[ [[..............]] ]
(set: $dead += 1) (set: $backstory to "You were a normal person with a normal life. Nothing really interesting happened to you, until you decided to take that summer job.")$gar
You sit on a bench and admire the dry, sickly grass that covers the grounds. It's not exactly pretty, but there is an odd charm to it, a beauty in the death and decay that hang in the air.
A cold breeze touches your cheek. The mountain pines rustle in the distance. Despite the morbid scenery, this is a moment of respite, a moment that allows you to gather your thoughts and reflect on the situation.
Time wraps you like a soft cocoon and you lose tracks of the minutes passing.
Slowly, some (colour:#77cff7)[**clarity**] returns.
(click: ?enter)[ $R[You don't have the key] ]
(display:"key")(if: $gen >1)[ [[Enter the basement]] ](else: )[ [Enter the basement]<enter|
]
(display:"20m")[[Take a walk along the fence->fence]]
(if: $knowflowers is 1)[<br>(display:"20m")[[Pluck some flowers]]<br>]
(display:"bk")[[ground floor<-Back to the reception]]
(set: _ti to 60) (set: $sanity +=10) (set: $rested to 1)$inn
(if: $hour>=17)[$A[When did it become so late?! I need to hurry or Mihai is going to kill me!]
You gather your stuff and hurry outside. Time is ticking and you can't waste any more at the inn. You head to the [[village center->village3]].](else:)[You sit alone, submerging in the background noise of low chatter, glass clings and occasional laughter. It's nice to be out of the spotlight.
You take a menu from the table and glance at the contents - mostly drinks, mixed with a few simple meals. It's meant for a local clientele.
(if: $inn_level is 0)[(display:"lavius1")](else:)[ (if: $lav_busy is 1)[A quick look around gives you the essence of your surroundings - on the opposite side of the room, $L[Lavius] is talking in a low voice with the mysterious man. They seem busy and considering you just bailed on Lavius, you decide not to bother them for the time being.
On the bar there is a $in[lonely man] drinking beer, head down and back to the rest of the room.] (else:)[A quick look around gives you the essence of your surroundings - on the opposite side of the room, $L[Lavius] is sitting on a round table, a glass of wine in his hand. He might be throwing glances at you, but it's hard to tell. (if: $lavius_level is 0 and $bcharges<2)[(color:#99FFCC)[You gather your courage. You **have to** do it. You're pretty sure he's the type to take women home, and you can be convincing enough. It's your only option to survive.] ]
A couple of tables behind him, a $in[mysterious man with a hood] is drinking whiskey with a few other shady individuals.
Most of the tables are filled with groups of three to five, drinking together and paying seemingly little attention to you, though you can feel the stares on the back of your head as soon as you turn away. On the bar there is a $in[lonely man] drinking beer, head down and back to the rest of the room.
$I[ [ ]<thi| ] ]
(if: $lav_busy is 0)[[Go to Lavius]<lav|
[Approach the mysterious individual]<myst| ]
$zach[ [Sit next to the lonely man]<lone| <br>][[Leave the inn]]
]
(set: _ti to 15)
(click: ?lav)[
(if: $lavius_level is 0)[ (goto:"lav1") ]
(else:)[ (goto: "lav2")]
]
(click: ?myst)[
(if: $myst_visited is 1)[(replace:?thi)[Your cheeks burn. One encounter with the man seems quite enough for today.] ]
(elseif: $myst_level is 0)[ (goto:"myst1") ]
(elseif: $myst_level is 1)[ (goto:"myst2") ]
(elseif: $myst_level > 1)[ (goto:"myst3") ]
]
(click: ?lone)[
(if: $zach_friends is 1)[(goto:"shake hands")]
(else:)[(goto:"lone1")]
] ]
$L['I wouldn't bother with the beer if I were you, it's clearly not suited for a fine lady such as yourself.']
You lower the menu down to discover a strange man sitting across the table from you, a glass of wine in his hand. Dressed in finer clothes than the masses surrounding you and with multiple jeweled rings and glittering bracelets, he's clearly some kind of noble or at least wealthy. $A[When did he get there? I didn't even hear him sit down.]
$L['There is, on the other hand, quite a fine selection of wines that I do recommend you trying.']
$a['I- I don't know anything about wine..']
$L['Not a problem, one simply has to start somewhere as I always say. Might I offer you a drink?']
[[Accept]]
[[Decline]]
(set: _ti to 10)$inn
You carefully get your stuff and head to the exit trying not to attract much attention. Your efforts are successful and you [[leave without any trouble->village3]].
(set: _ti to 5)$inn
(if: $lav_talked is 1)[You approach Lavius cautiously, wondering how to pick up the conversation.
He lifts his head, a fleeting shadow passing over his face, then he lights up again. $L['Ah, my dear Alexandra! Come, join me for a drink!'] ](else:)[You approach Lavius cautiously, wondering how to engage in conversation. It turns out that this isn't an issue at all.
As soon as he sees you coming closer, he gestures for you to sit next to him and raises a bottle of wine.]
[Accept his invitation]<drink|
[[Politely decline]]
(set: _ti to 5)
(click: ?drink)[ (if: $bcharges>1)[ (goto:"notready")] (else:)[ (goto:"Accept his invitation")] ]$inn
You nod and sit, picking up a glass that he fills generously. The wine is delicious and it quickly envelopps your head in a warm, happy haze.
$L['I have always admired women with $eyes.'] He says, though it's quite clear that he'd rather look at your $breasts.
You laugh at that and let it slide, playing along with the cheesy jokes that fly out of his mouth. You have little choice but to do this, although a part of you seems to be enjoying it as well.
(if: $lav_talked is 0)[The two of you exchange pleasantries and you tell him about yourself and your work at the hotel.
]
When the bottle is done, he [[offers to buy another->drunk 1]].
(set: _ti to 10)$inn
You smile and shake your head, [[returning to your place->innhub]].
(set: _ti to 2)$inn
The man in the hood barely moves as you approach his table.
$rando['What do you want, doll?']
$a['I- eeh-, I just wanted to-']
$rando['Scram off, will ya?']
Wide-eyed with shock at the man's rudeness, you quickly turn your back.
(display:"bk")[[Return to your table->innhub]].
(set: _ti to 5)$inn
The stranger barely registers your presence as you approach his table. You stand there for a few moments, until he finally turns towards you.
You eye the man up and down. In a previous life, he was the one that interrupted your conversation with Lavius. What's more interesting is that your companion deemed the matter important enough to rsik you walking away.
$A[Luckily for Lavius I was naive enough to stick around... that bastard...]
You consider asking the man about that, but you're not too certain he'd be willing to discuss it with you. On the other hand, if you're simply looking for a quick "recharge", he seems like an easy option...
$rando['What do you want, doll?'] the man asks with a smirk.
[['I want to know what is your relationship with Lavius.'->about lavius0]]
(display:"h10")(if: $lewd>9)[[[Why, I wanted some company-> want company]] ](else:)[(display:"unav")]
(display:"bk")[[Run away]]
(set: _ti to 10)$inn
(if:(history:)'s last is "Take it")[You jerk away from his hands and straighten your $suit. He seems a little disapointed, but then gives you a sly grin.
$rando['I'll see you around, doll']
In the end, you didn't learn anything new about Lavius, but at least avoided public humiliation.](elseif:(history:)'s last is "myst3" or "myst2")[At the last moment, you have a change of heart and turn around with embarrassment, much to the amused remarks of the men. ](else:)[Your face grows red with anger and you grind your teeth, but say nothing. The hooded man looks scary and his friends aren't any friendlier. (if: (history:)'s last is "Resist intimidation")[You jerk away from his hands and straighten your $suit. He gives you a sly grin.]]
Defeated, you [[head back to your table->innhub]].
(set: _ti to 5)$inn
$a['Hey, that's no way to talk to a-'] you begin, but a round of rude, loud laughter interrupts you.
$rando['To a *lady*? Please, doll, save the pretense for Lavius. I know a **dirty wench** when I see one.']
The man reaches and crudely fumbles your $breasts. You freeze in shock as his massive hands squueze and grope your tender flesh. Without skipping a beat he moves lower, boldly reaching under your garments as his fingers sink into places you'd rather not think about.
An electric shock breaks your frozen terror as a wave of pleasure propagates from the sensitive spot that his index is so vulgarly rubbing.
[Take it]<take|
[[Run away]]
(set: _ti to 10)
(click:?take)[ (if: $deathlist contains "lavius")[ (goto: "Take it")] (else:)[ (goto:"notready2")] ]
(set: $myst_visited to 1)$inn
Ever so slowly, you move your legs further apart, allowing the man free access to your moistening slit. His fingers continue to run along it, probing deeper and deeper between your folds.
$rando['There's a good slut, told you guys, I'm never wrong.'] The men next to him snigger and that somehow makes you both embarassed and aroused. Soon you're wet enough for his finger to easily slide all the way inside you.
$rando['I think she's ready boys!']
Your heart is pounding and you realize that things are about to take a major turn right here right now. You have a final moment left to act..
[[Run away]]
[[Let him do what he wants]]
(set: _ti to 5)
$inn
Somehow you feel compelled to approach the man again, despite how things turned out for you last time. (if: $lewd<15)[$A[Or is it because of that?]
You shake your head slightly, chasing away the uncomfortable thought. The bracelet pulsates slowly as you make your way over to the hooded man's table.](elseif: $lewd<20)[$A[Though it wasn't bad at all...]
You sense a hotness inside you and a growing need to be taken and used. The bracelet warms up on your wrist, pushing you towards the group of men. You gulp and move forward, pushing your breasts together with your elbows.](else:)[$A[Despite? Who am I kidding, I enjoyed every bit of it...]
The bracelet warms up in approval, reminding you about all the pleasures you crave. You lower your cleavage shamelessly and walk up to the men.]
$rando[(either:"'Hey boys, look what's coming our way!'","'Oh, a little doll walks our way!'","Well I'll be damned, look what's coming all on its own!")] The men around chuckle and exchange dirty looks. $rando['How can I help you, darling?']
(if: $lewd<15)[You stand in front of him, a wave of arousal already spreading through your body. The bracelet is warmer still and you feel a kind of hunger bulding inside your belly. $A[Okay, need to focus! If I ask the right questions, maybe I'll get some info out of him this time... or something...] ](elseif: $lewd<20)[Your body grows hot in anticipation. You know where this is going but you can't help yourself. $A[I'll try to get some information at least... maybe...]](else:)[You feel like a little bitch in heat coming up to the men. Tha bracelet burns hot, hungry for new charges.
$A[It's all the bracelet, I want to be filled, eer, I meant it wants to be refilled...]]
[[Can you tell me anything about Lavius?->about lavius]]
(display:"h10")(if: $lewd>9)[[[Why, I wanted some company-> want company]] ](else:)[(display:"unav") ]
(display:"h20")(if: $lewd>19)[$special[Abandon all pretense] ]<abandon|(else:)[(display:"unav") ]
(display:"bk")[[Run away]]
(click:?abandon)[(goto:"no pretense")]
(set: _ti to 10)$inn
The men look you up and adown, amused.
$rando['Have you fallen in love, doll? The man's right there, go talk to him! Or do ye need a pimp?']
The men laugh loudly, hitting the table with their tankards.
$a['I just wanted to know more about him, that's all.'] you say with an innocent voice.
$rando['Well that's a shame, because we're busy. If you want Lavius to notice you just get your tits out and your hole wet, he'll be sure to notice, ahahahah! Now run along doll, before we decide to have a little taste ourselves!']
The man slaps you on the ass, pushing you away from the table. Defeated, you [[return to your table->innhub]].
(set: _ti to 10)
$inn
$a['Eeer, I was feeling kinda lonely sitting all by myself...']
$rando['Well you've come to the right place then!'] The men laugh again and the hooded figure extends a hand, pulling you into his lap.
You fall down in a slight surprise, your small figure nesting comfortably on the large man's knees. Up close you are able to peer under the hood, seeing a broad, weathered face with a short stubby beard and a wide smile revealing a pair of golden teeth. He places a large hand on your hip, a casual gesture that nevertheless ensures that you won't be going anywhere unless he lets you.
$A['So what brings you to these parts, doll?']
[Traveling the world]<r1|
[Got a new job at the hotel]<r3|
(click: ?r1)[(set: $reply1 to 1) (goto:"company2")]
(click: ?r3)[(set: $reply1 to 3) (goto:"company2")]
(set: _ti to 10)$inn
(if: $reply1 is 1)[$a['I wanted to travel around, see the world...']
$rando['And did you find what you were loooking for?'] the man asks sarcastically, a hand fondling your breasts. You blush but don't resist. $rando['I'd say that you have']](else:)[$a['I was looking for something to do, got a newjob at the hotel...']
$rando['And do you enjoy sitting at a desk all day? Or are you performing other *favors* for the guests?'] the man asks sarcastically. $rando['I'd say a girllike you needs some action to keep things fresh. In fact']]- the hooded man continues - $rando['I'd say that I know exactly what it is you need, little **slut**.']
His hand reaches underneath your garments and pulls your panties down. A silent gasp escpaes your lips as you feel a finger brush along your slit. Your eyes circle around, meeting the amuzed gazes of the other men. Something tells you they know exactly what's going on but you're unable to break eye contact even as the fingers dig deeper and your breathing becomes hot and steamy.
The humiliation of being touched in front of all these men drives you crazy and you feel your flower grow wet and hungry from the older man's caresses.
(if:$reply1 is 1)[$rando['You call it travelling the world, I say you wanted to check which dick fills your holes best and decided to try them all!]](else:)[$rando['For your next job I recommend applying to something that better suits your talents, why not be our private maid? We'll be sure to keep you busy...']]
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/lewd1.png" width="750" align="center">
The men around you laugh. You sense a fumbling underneath you and then a hard crock presses against your entrance. You instinctively wiggle and slide yourself on top of it with a soft moan. The men laugh again.
The group leader wraps his arms around your body, holding you tight as he begins thrusting inside you. Your $breasts bounce up and down with every motion. Your breaths come in short. Some of the other customers in the inn are also turning their heads now, but only for a second. This only makes you wetter.
After a minute or two of this the pace accelerates and then he grows still in an instant, his throbbing cock emptying a warm puddle inside your belly.
Another bead on the bracelet blossoms in crimson. (set: $bcharges +=1)
$rando[Thanks for the stress relief, doll. I'd love to keep you for a second round, but unfortunately us men have business to take care of. Feel free to drop by later if you miss your holes drilled.]
There is another round of laughter as you straighten your skirt and go [[back to your table->innhub]].
(set: _ti to 30) (set: $lust +=1) (set: $myst_visited to 1) (set: $myst_level +=1)
(if: $first_willing_sex is "none")[(set: $first_willing_sex to "myst_man")]
$inn
(if: $myst_visited is 1)[Approaching the counter, you take a closer look at the lonesome figure - a man in his early thirties with a bushy beard and dark, sunken eyes. He's wearing plain clothes and doesn't seem to pay much attention to the rest of the clientele.
$a['Hello'] you say, taking a seat on the empty stool beside him.
The man looks at you with a mixture of pity and disgust. $z['I saw what you did with those men.... I'm sorry but I'm not interested in speaking with your kind.']
The man turns his back, leaving you no choice but to [[return to your table->innhub]]. (set: _ti to 10) ](else:)[(if: (history:)'s last is "innhub")[Approaching the counter, you take a closer look at the lonesome figure - a man in his early thirties with a bushy beard and dark, sunken eyes. He's wearing plain clothes and doesn't seem to pay much attention to the rest of the clientele.
$a['Hello'] you say, taking a seat on the empty stool beside him. He grunts something barely audible in return. You order a beer and begin to drink it, bu after 10 minutes of waiting the man continues his lonely sulking without any visible intention to speak to you.] (else:)[You carry on drinking your beer in silence. Perhaps a change in tactic is required to get through to the man.]
[[Try to charm him]]
(if: (history:)'s last is "innhub")[ [Buy him a drink]<buydrink|](else:)[ [Buy him another drink]<buydrink| ]
[[Leave->innhub]]
$R[ [ ]<info| ]
(set:_ti to 10)
(click: ?buydrink)[ (if: $money<10)[(replace:?info)[You don't have enough money]]
(else:)[(set: $money -= 10) [(goto:"lone2")] ]
] ]$inn
You lean closer, pressing your $breasts against his shoulder.
$a['So, what is a big, handsome boy like yourself doing all alone?'] You are surprised by your own sultry voice but there's something exciting in playing the role.
$z['Fuck off, doll']
[[Be more seductive]]
[[Back away->lone1]]
(set: _ti to 10)$inn
$a['Come on, don't be like that! I'm sure you could enjoy a woman's company...']
You gently wrap your hand around his arm, tracing slim fingers down his sleeve. $a['I can be pretty persuasive, you know...']
$z['I told you to get lost!'] The man growls at you, pushing you away with force. You stagger a few steps back before regaining your balance.
It seems that you blew your chances with the man, at least for now. You [[return to your table->innhub]].
(set: _ti to 10)
(set: $zach to false)$inn
Finishing your beverege with a few long gulps, you signal the bartender for two new ones, sliding one of them towards your silent companion.
$a['You look like you could use a cold one.'] You say with a mild, neutral expression. The man shrugs barely percetibly but accepts the offer and the two of you drink in silence for a while.
[['I'm new here.... could you show me around?'->imnew]]
[['People aren't very friendly around here'->notfriendly]]
(set: _ti to 10)$inn
The man frowns and takes a long sip from his beverege before replying.
$z['Sorry sweetheart....I'm not a guide. Run off to someone else for that.']
He turns your back slightly towards you, letting you know that the [[conversation is over for now->lone1]].
(set: _ti to 5)$inn
He shoots you a sharp look, but then his face grows softer.
$z['It's true, they aren't.... especially to outsiders.']
[['I've always had trouble fitting in.'->nofit]]
[['Are you an outsider too?'->outsider]]
(set: _ti to 5)$inn
The man raises an eyebrow.
$z['A pretty girl like you...?']
$a['I wasn't always pretty...'] $A[Neither always a girl...] You pause for a moment, thinking. $a['I know what it's like to be different. Didn't want you drinking alone.']
$z['Listen, darling, if you're somehow trying to hit on me...'] The man trails off. $z['You're wasting your time. You're not my type, if you catch my drift.']
$a['I wasn't hitting on you!'] you quickly blurt out. $a['Is it bad to try and make a friend?']
He takes a few more sips, giving you a measuring look.
$z['I'm Zachary']
$a['Alexandra']
You [[shake hands]].
(set: _ti to 10)
$inn
As you ask the question you notice his face change slightly, becoming harder, a tinge of pain in his eyes.
$z['No, doll, I'm from around here, born and raised in this village... not that it's enough for **them**.']
You try to say more but he turns your back slightly towards you, letting you know that the [[conversation is over for now->lone1]].
(set: _ti to 5)$inn
(if: (history:)'s last is "nofit")[With the ice broken the conversation with Zachary becomes much smoother and the two of you talk for a while, cautiously opening up to one another. You learn that he works as a carpenter in a shop at the outskirts of the village. He grew up with few friends most of which left him in adolescence, since people like him were frowned upon in the small community.
When the conversation winds down, you ponder your next question.](elseif:(history:)'s last is "innhub")[You approach Zachary again and he quietly gestures to the empty chair beside him. It seems that the lonely man has grown a liking to your company.](else:)[(display:(either:"zach1","zach2","zach3"))]
[['What do you think about Lavius?'->whatlavius]]
[['What do you think about the hooded man?'->whathooded]]
[['What do you think about the owner of the antique shop?'->whatant]]
[['What do you think about the Crooked Elm?'->whatelm]]
(if: (history:) contains "opensecret")[ $special[(display:"excl") [[I have a business opportunity for you->ask zach]] ] <br>]
[[Leave Zachary for now->innhub]]
(set: _ti to 5)
(set: $zach_friends to 1) (set: $zach_level to 1)$inn
$z['That sleezeball?'] Zachary spits on the floor. $z['Don't like him one single bit, but he's rich and the Elder likes him.']
$a['He seemed quite charming at first...'](if: $deathlist contains "lavius")[ $A[Until he tied me on that bed and drained my blood...] ]
$z['He's a ladies man alright'] your companion frowns $z['at least until he's had his way with them, then he discards them like trash, or worse. Stay away from him doll. Nothing good would come of talking to him.']
(if: $hour<17)[ [[Ask about someone else->shake hands]] ](else:)[$A[Oh my god look at the time!! I'm gonna be late for work!] ]
[[Say goodbye]]
(set: _ti to 10)$inn
$z['That vagabond and his band of good for nothings...'] Zachary spits on the floor. (if: $myst_visited is 1)[$z['Can't say I was pleased seeing you in their company. But what can a man do? It's your life, doll. If you want to be treated like a whore at least you know where to go.'] ](else:)[$z['Stay away from them if you don't want to end up dumped in some back alley.']]
You give him a small nod.
(if: $hour<17)[ [[Ask about someone else->shake hands]] ](else:)[$A[Oh my god look at the time!! I'm gonna be late for work!] ]
[[Say goodbye]]
(set: _ti to 10)$inn
$z['The owner of the Antique Boutique? Never met him.']
$a['But you live in the same village! You've never gone into the shop, never crossed Felicia randomly walking around?!'] you exclaim, surprised. $A[And it is a pretty small village!]
$z['Felicia, hm? Interesting.']
$a['You didn't even know her name?!']
$z['I see that you're still new to this place, doll.'] Zach sighs. $z['No, I didn't know her name. The shop has always been closed for me and I know better than to poke my nose where I'm not supposed to.']
You stare at him, digesting the information.
(if: $hour<17)[ [[Ask about someone else->shake hands]] ](else:)[$A[Oh my god look at the time!! I'm gonna be late for work!] ]
[[Say goodbye]]
(set: _ti to 10)
$sc5[
$R[You have learned a new secret: The invisible presence]
(set: $secrets to (it +1)) (set: $sc5 to false)]$inn
$z['The Manor.... it was once the hope of this village, but now it has fallen into dissaray. The old man is too weak to take care of things as he used to and his son lacks the wit and experience.']
$a['Sounds like you knew Mihai's father?']
$rando['Everybody knows the Elder, doll, not that you'd understand...']
You give Zachary a quizzical look but he doesn't seem inclined to elaborate.
(if: $hour<17)[ [[Ask about someone else->shake hands]] ](else:)[$A[Oh my god look at the time!! I'm gonna be late for work!] ]
[[Say goodbye]]
(set: _ti to 10)$inn
$a['Listen, I have to go for now, buut.... I'll see you around, OK?']
Zachary gives you a silent nod. It tells you everything you need to know. A lonely man drinking his beer. He doesn't have a family to go back to nor friends to come calling. When you need him, he'll be here.
(if: $hour>=17)[You gather your stuff and hurry outside. Time is ticking and you can't waste any more at the inn. You head to the [[village center->village3]].
](else:)[Leaving him behind you head back to [[your old table->innhub]].]
(set: _ti to 5)Silence instills between the two of you for a moment as each drinks his beer, pondering life.
You open your mouth; Zach raises an eyebrow; you close it again. FInally, the question comes:Zach quitly finishes his beer.
'You want another one?' you offer, hoping to keep the conversation going.
$rando['Don't worry doll, next round's on me.'] He beckons the bartender who refills your glasses. The inn's background chit-chat increases, providing a blanket cover for a private exchange of words.You study the man's features closer as he drinks - a face weathered and rough, a man of the land and the woods, with big bulky arms and hands hardened from sweat and splinters. A carpenter's hands, no doubt.
$A[It's strange, but somehow I feel compelled to trust Zachary, there is an air of rough honesty to him that's impossible to fake...]
You catch yourself staring and quickly return to your drink.$vil
The back of the cabin is plain and dull, just as you remember it. A decent way from the village, the forest has taken most of the surroundings and it's hard to tell anyone even comes here anymore, save for the small trail that circles around the building and continues, barely visible, among the trees.
$A[Is it really a good idea to be here? A girl walking around alone... if Lavius finds me snooping, can I even make it back to the village?]
(if: $bcharges >0)[The bracelet emits a reassuring warmth on your wrist. It still has $bcharges crimson bead(if: $bcharges>1)[s] left on it.
$A[Even if things go terribly wrong, I should be fine...]
You get a little excited thinking about all the ways things could go wrong. Perhaps it's the adrenaline rush, perhaps it's the memories of your first night with Lavius.... or perhaps you're starting to aquire a taste for these things. ](else:)[Galncing at your bracelet you remark that there are no crimson beads left on it.
$A[If things go wrong... this is the end of the line.]
You gulp and try to pretend that you aren't a little aroused thinking about all the ways things could go wrong. Perhaps it's the adrenaline rush, perhaps it's the memories of your first night with Lavius.... or perhaps you're starting to aquire a taste for these things.]
[[Go back while you can->bvillage]]
[[Open the secret door->opensecret]]
(set: _ti to 10)-reactions to start of work depending on circumstances (late/on time, interactions, etc)
-Meeting with wolf on way back, thoughts of lavius kiss occur even if you walked away
-replace live macros with link-repeat whenever possible
-add more butt to descriptions
-fill death comments from Felicia
-create quests for pheromones
-breakfast 3rd variation
-FLOOR 1 (another guest?)
-Basement door
-recap for first death, more exploration/detective mechanics
-sex scenes self-progress database
-solo self-exploration/transformation database
-Ionut recap fix
-Elise room link repeat and visual interface$vil
It's either your nerves or common sense, but you get cold feet and decide to get away from the cabin as quickly as possible. It's a wonderful summer day and the shade of the mountain forest is too refreshing to risk your untimely death.
You walk around for a bit to calm down and then [[head back to the village->village3]].
(set: _ti to 30)$vil
Curiosity pushes you and you reach for the barely noticeable twig sticking out of the left corner of the wall and twist it downwards. A portion of the wall slides open, revealing the hidden staircase.
The tunnel is dark and foreboding, but the switch on the wall is easy enough to spot. As soon as you press it the electric lights flicker on, making the entrance easy to navigate though no less sinister.
$A[So far so good...]
With a pounding heart, you [[press on]].
$sc6[
$R[You have learned a new secret: The Hidden Entrance]
(set: $secrets to (it +1)) (set: $sc6 to false)]
(set: _ti to 5)$vil
The back of the cabin is plain and dull, just as you remember it. A decent way from the village, the forest has taken most of the surroundings and it's hard to tell anyone even comes here anymore, save for the small trail that circles around the building and continues, barely visible, among the trees. $z[Zachary] is leaning on the side of a tree, arms crossed.
$z['Alright, we're here. Now what?']
(if: $bcharges >0)[The bracelet emits a reassuring warmth on your wrist. It still has $bcharges crimson bead(if: $bcharges>1)[s] left on it.
$A[Even if things go terribly wrong, I should be fine...]
You get a little excited thinking about all the ways things could go wrong. Perhaps it's the adrenaline rush, perhaps it's the memories of your first night with Lavius.... or perhaps you're starting to aquire a taste for these things. ](else:)[Galncing at your bracelet you remark that there are no crimson beads left on it.
$A[If things go wrong... this is the end of the line.]
You gulp and try to pretend that you aren't a little aroused thinking about all the ways things could go wrong. Perhaps it's the adrenaline rush, perhaps it's the memories of your first night with Lavius.... or perhaps you're starting to aquire a taste for these things.]
You shake your head and pull yourself together. $A[I'm with Zach now, everything should be fine.] You reach for the barely noticeable twig sticking out of the left corner of the wall and twist it downwards. A portion of the wall slides open, revealing the hidden staircase.
$z['Woow!']
The tunnel is dark and foreboding, but the switch on the wall is easy enough to spot. As soon as you press it the electric lights flicker on, making the entrance easy to navigate though no less sinister.
$z['I've always wondered where the little bastard disappears. I guess he relies on keeping it secret rather than any conventional security. How did you find this place anyway?']
$a['I-- eh, I happened to be walking around in the forest when he went in.'] you lie to Zach. The guy seems nice but you're not ready to share your secret with him.
$z['Talk about beginner's luck... many people have been looking for his hideout for years. Now some girl shows up and stumbles upon the entrance. Fate really is cruel.']
$A[My fate was cruel too..] you think to yourself.
$z['Alright, let's get going, doll. Lavius ain't gonna drink forver!']
[[Enter the lair]]
(set: _ti to 15)$lav
After a brief descent you reach the wooden door at the bottom of the staircase. It's not locked, but heavy enough that you have to lean on it with both hands to push it. Your feminine body and slender arms aren't as strong as you're used to.
The inside opens into a long hallway bathing in dirty yellow light from the electric bulbs. The walls are covered in copper pipes and valves with several large doors on either side. The air is heavy and humid, leaving a metal taste in your mouth.
$A[Last time I didn't notice how large this place actually is...]
There is a low humming coming from the closest door on the left. Through the round glass window in the door you can see that the room is filled with machinery.
[[Enter the first room on the left->left room]]
[Keep exploring]<explore|
(click: ?explore)[$R[This option is not available in this game version.]]
(set: _ti to 10) (set: $visited_lab_alone to 1)$lav
Fate is on your side and the door is also unlocked, allowing you to easily get into the room.
$A[I guess he was counting on nobody actually finding this place... I was expecting tougher security measures.]
Amidst the piles of machinery and unknown contraptions, there is one which immediately grasps your attention. The source of the humming is a large metal cylinder with various buttons and levers, with wires branching outto the other devices and out of the room. It is unmistakingly an electrical generator. A few feet away from it there is a group of metal barrels with flammable stickers on them.
$A[Bingo!]
[[Take a barrel]]
(set: _ti to 10) $lav
You try to pick up one of the barrels but after stumbling with it for a few feet yo drop it back on the floor.
$A[Aargh!! The damned thing is too heavy!]
The weight of the barrel combined with a weaker body than you're used to makes it impossible to carry the barrel around, not to mention to get it up the stairs.
$I[It seems like you'll need to find another solution, or somebody stronger to help you.]
[[Give up for now]]
(set: _ti to 5)$lav
With a deep sigh you leave the barrel on the ground. You were so close!
$A[Time to get out of here before Lavius decides to visit his lair...]
Returning to the main hallway, you hear a faint noise coming from the depths of the laboratory, like voices calling out, though it's hard to make out over the electric buzz of the old yellow bulbs. A cold shiver runs through your spine and you feel the goosebumps crawling on your skin.
$A[Stay calm, Alexandra, you can do this!]
Unfortunately for you, the big exit door is now **closed**. $A[What the hell?!] You reach out to pull it open, only to discover that there is no handle on the inside. You run your hands along the smooth surface, searching in vain for buttons or hidden mechanisms. There aren't any.
Just when panic starts to invade your brain and your heart is pounding in your chest, you notice a small digital screen with a smallkeyboard on the side of the door.
(text-style: "mark")+(colour:#9bfe00)[PASSWORD?]
[[Enter the password->password]]
(set: _ti to 10)$lav
(set: $pass to (prompt: "PASSWORD?", ""))
(if: $pass is "Lastra Mora" and $withzach is true)[(goto: "escape2")]
(elseif: $pass is "Lastra Mora")[(goto: "escape")]
(else:)[(goto:"trapped")]$lav
The device beeps a couple of times and the door slowly creaks open accompanied by the sound of hidden pneumatics.
$A[Phew! For a moment I was quite worried...]
The way back up is no less sinister as the first time but after a short while you reach the fake wall and with the push of a button it slides away, revealing the clear sky.
You breathe a sigh of relief.
$A[I could have been trapped in there! Thank god I remembered the password.]
With a fast stride you head [[back to the village->village3]].
(set: _ti to 10)$lav
(text-style: "mark")+(colour:#9bfe00)[ACCESS DENIED!]
You're trapped!
//This content is not yet available. A sequence of mysterious and erotic events leads to your unfortunate [[demise->DIE]].//
(set: $lastdeath to "trapped")
(set: $deathlist to it + (a:"trapped"))$inn
You lean in closer, talking in a hushed, consipratorial voice.
$a['There is something I need ... eeh..*help* with. Would you be interested?']
Zach gives you a long, measuring look and takes another sip from his beer. $z['I'm guessing you need more than simply showing you the sights...?']
A cheeky smile appears on your lips. $a['I want to rob Lavius.']
There is a surprised look on your new friend's face, followed by a wide grin. $z['You've got some guts, girl, I'll give you that. And I have to admit I don't like Lavius one bit, but still... this is a dangerous thing you're proposing. And it can get us both in a lot of trouble, or worse.']
'I'm not saying I'm asking you to do it for free...'
$z['Oh? And how much are you offering, exactly?']
'How much do you want?'
$z['It's true that I'm no friend of that vile slime and robbing him would definitely put a smile on my face... but a risk's a risk. At least a 100, doll.']
(if: $money>=100)[You look at him, weighing your options. 100 is a lot, but your chances of success without his help are pretty slim...
$a['Alright, it's a deal.']
You extend your hand and [[he shakes it]]. (set: $money-=100) ](else:)[You look at him for a long moment, then you sigh.
$a['I'm sorry but I don't have that much.']
He shakes his head. $z['I'm sorry doll, I'm quite fond of ya but I'm not quite ready to go risking my neck for the sake of friendship alone.']
You sigh again and [[return to your table->innhub]]. ]
(set: _ti to 20)$inn
You ignore the question and walk up to the leader confidently, lewdly swaying your hips. You bend over the table, reaching for a mug on the opposite end. You take a small sip and wink ath the man who was drinking from it. The leader, right behind you, gives off a small chuckle as he examines the view offered by your lack of underwear.
(display: (either:"scene1","scene2"))
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/lewd2.png" width="750" align="center">
$rando['Well, since you're asking so nicely...'] the man behind you laughs and licks his finger, sticking it inside your exposed entrance. You sense the hotness in your belly flare up.
He continues to prod you for a while, until your face grows red and you begin to moan softly. Then he unzips his pants and pulls you back in his lap, where you collapse on top of his alredy erect member.
The need overtakes you again and you begin bouncing up and down on your own, much to the men's amusement. The leader reaches and pulls your breasts out, allowing them to jiggle freely as you ride his cock.
$A[Why does this feel so damn good?] you ask yourself as you feel his cock stiffen inside you and you push back to get it as deep as possible inside you while he delivers his load.
Another bead on the bracelet blossoms in crimson. (set: $bcharges +=1)
$rando[Thanks for the stress relief, doll. I'd love to keep you for a second round, but unfortunately us men have business to take care of. Feel free to drop by later if you miss your holes drilled.]
There is another round of laughter as you straighten your skirt and go [[back to your table->innhub]].
(set: _ti to 30) (set: $lust +=1) (set: $myst_visited to 1) (set: $myst_level +=1)(if: $ionut_level is 2)[Alright, (colour:#B3B3B3)[the servant] isn't as much of a psychopath as I thought last time. As long as I don't go anywhere forbidden he seems to be harmless. Maybe if I talk to him I could learn more?](elseif: $ionut_level is 1)[Oh my god, (colour:#B3B3B3)[Ionut] is a psychopath! And that thing up in the tower.... I should be more careful where I poke my nose in the future... ](elseif: $ionut_level is 0)[I don't really know much about the servant, (colour:#B3B3B3)[Ionut]. He tends to stay out of sight and say little of himself or anything else.
I don't know enough about The Crooked Elm either. The place is huge and it seems to be hiding more than one secret. **Perhaps I should look around some more this time?**](else:)[](if: $elise_level >2)[ Over the last few days, or should I say the last day over several times, I have developed a deep fascination for the creature that I came to know as $E[Elise]. (if: $elise_servant is true)[Despite an unfortunate early encounter, we became friends and eventually, **something more**. Whether this is induced by the bracelet or not, I can't hide the way I feel about her...] ](if: $deathlist contains "spider")[(if: $elise_level is 0)[It turns out that the $E[mysterious woman] on the **second floor** is a FREAKING SPIDER! How crazy is this place? To be fair, when I met her as a human she came across as odd but reasonable, so perhaps there is some chance for negotiation.... perhaps I should find a way to talk to her?](elseif: $elise_level is 1)[I spoke with the $E[spider creature] without getting eaten. She can definitely be reasoned with. Perhaps in our next conversation I'll learn more?](elseif: $elise_level is 2)[I talked to $E[Elise] again and managed to get to know her better. Despite being a giant spider she can also be surprisingly sweet. She even offered me a $E[little gift]!] ](else:)[ (if: $elise_level is 2 and (history:) contains "thistles2")[I've had a few conversations with $E[Elise] but they don't seem to be going anywhere. I've got a hunch there is more to her, but I have no idea how to dig it out...](elseif: $elise_level is 0)[I don't know anything about the $E[mysterious woman] that rents a room on **the second floor**. She seems to be having some sort of intense conversation with Mihai during breakfast, but other than that, she's nowhere to be seen. If I want to know more perhaps I should be the one to go to her?](elseif: $elise_level is 1)[I talked to the $E[mysterious woman] and it was a pretty awkward conversation... I guess it could have been worse? It's worth a shot to try again, perhaps I'll learn something new...](elseif: $elise_level is 2)[I learned that the mysterious woman on the second floor is called $E[Elise] and she even gave me a little $E[gift]. She still seems odd but can definitely be sweet in her own way. I wonder if I can learn more about her?](else:)[$R[Elise history error. If you're seeing this text, something has gone wrong.]] ]$rando['Nice tits, darling!'] says the man in front of you.
(either: "You blush and look down at the table.","You hold his gaze and give him a wink.") The other men cheer. $A[(either:"Damn, this is even hotter than last time...","Why are embarassing situations so arousing?")]
$a['How can you tell just by looking?'] you reply boldly.
$rando['Are those lips only good for smiling?'] says the man in front of you.
(either: "You blush and look down at the table.","You hold his gaze and give him a wink.") The other men cheer. $A[Why are embarassing situations so arousing?]
$a['They can be good for all sorts of things'] you reply boldly.$inn
It's hard to say what draws you to this man, even after what he did to you last time. The excuse you tell yourself is that you need to dig out more information. The way your heart rate increases when you look at those beautiful cruel lips suggests that this is not the whole story.
You casually walk past him and take a seat on a nearby table, making sure he can get a good view of your $breasts. You look away and start counting to 10 in your head.
$A[Seven, eight, nine...]
Right on cue, the exquisitely dressed figure of a man sits next to you. A bejeweled hand extends a wine glass towards you.
$L['Will the beautiful lady care for a drink? The beer really is dreadful in this place.']
You smile and take the glass from his hand. Your gazes lock for a moment, a static sparkling in the air as you see yourself undressed in his eyes. $A[Damn this cursed creature!] you think, trying to resist his charms.
$L['So what brings you to our humble village?'] he asks, taking a small sip from his wine.
[[Follow with the usual smalltalk]]
//Try to get more information out of him (option not yet available) //
(set: _ti to 15)$inn
$z['So, what's the plan?']
You lean closer and whisper in his ear: $a['You know the old hunting cabin? It's actually Lavius' secret lair. We can go in and out while he's busy drinking. Go and wait for me behind the back, I'll slip out shortly afterwards.']
$z['Alright, I'll meet you there.']
The two of you return to your normal posture and chit chat aloud about the beer and the village, trying to disperse any suspicion in case anyone was paying attention to your little exchange.
After a while, Zachary finishes his drink and leaves the inn. Nobody seems to care much about that. You stay behind for another 10 minutes, scanning your surroundings. $L[Lavius] is still at his table, drinking wine and chatting to some girl. The opportunity is ripe. Quietly, [[you leave the inn.->village3]]
(set: _ti to 30) (set: $withzach to true) (set: $zach_level to 2)$lav
After a brief descent you reach the wooden door at the bottom of the staircase. It's quite heavy, but this time $z[Zachary] pushes it and it easily opens.
The inside opens into a long hallway bathing in dirty yellow light from the electric bulbs. The walls are covered in copper pipes and valves with several large doors on either side. The air is heavy and humid, leaving a metal taste in your mouth.
$z['Strangely enough, this is exactly what I expected from Lavius. So, what are we actually here for? Some secret experiment? Are we going to steal his blueprints?']
$a['A-actually I just need the fuel from the generator...'] you suddenly realise how stupid this must sound to Zachary. He just shrugs.
$z['Whatever you want doll, you're paying. So where can we find this?']
$a['Right here!'] you point to the room on the left.
$z['Did you also happen to see where he keeps his generator while you were strolling through the forest?'] Zach laughs, but nevertheless moves to open the designated door.
[[The two of you enter the room->left room2]]
(set: _ti to 10)$lav
Inside there are a bunch of weird machines, though the electrical generator is easy to identify by its low humming and nest of cables going out to the rest of the contraptions. A few feet away from it are the metal barrels with flammable stickers on them.
$a['There, get one of those! They're too heavy for me.']
Zachary puts his back into it and lifts one of the barrels. Though he puffs and complains a little, it seems that the woodcutter is strong enough to carry it around without much trouble.
$z['I really hope you don't need anything else...']
$a['No, that's everything, let's go!']
The two of you leave the room and [[head for the exit.]]
(set: _ti to 15)
$lav
$A[Time to get out of here before Lavius decides to visit his lair...]
Returning to the main hallway, you hear a faint noise coming from the depths of the laboratory, like voices calling out, though it's hard to make out over the electric buzz of the old yellow bulbs. A cold shiver runs through your spine and you feel the goosebumps crawling on your skin.
$A[Stay calm, Alexandra, you can do this!]
Unfortunately for you, the big exit door is now **closed**. $A[Damn, just like last time...]
$z['What the hell, Alexandra, we're trapped!'] Zachary drops the barrel on the ground and leans on the door, trying to push it open. It doesn't move and there is no handle on the inside. He runs his hands along the smooth surface, searching in vain for buttons or hidden mechanisms. There aren't any.
Trying to remain calm, you move towards the green digital screen with a small keyboard on the side of the door.
(text-style: "mark")+(colour:#9bfe00)[PASSWORD?]
[[Enter the password->password]]
(set: _ti to 10)$lav
The device beeps a couple of times and the door slowly creaks open accompanied by the sound of hidden pneumatics.
$A[Phew! For a moment I was quite worried...]
$z['You have some questions to answer doll, as soon as we get out of here.'] Zach picks up the barrel again and you walk up the stairs together. When you exit the cabin and the hidden door slides shut behind you, both of you breathe a deep sigh of relief.
$z['So what now?']
$a['I just need you to leave the barrel...... at The Crooked Elm.'] You certainly won't be able to bring the barrel uphill yourself, but judging by his expression, Zachary isn't too happy about it either.
$z['This thing is heavy, you know!'] You give him a pleading look. $z['Fine, fine. I'll bring the stupid barrel to the hotel. You paid me well and I always keep my end of the bargain.']
$a['Could you fill the generator in the basement? It would be a life saver!']
He sighs again, then nods.
$a['Great! Thank you so much!'] you jump with glee.
$z['Hope this was worth it doll.... take care, I'll see ya around. Don't get yourself into a mess, OK?'] With the barrel on his back, Zachary heads uphill through the woods. $A[He probably knows some shortcut that would get him to the hotel faster...]
Feeling very optimistic, you [[return to the village->village3]].
(set: _ti to 20) (set: $gen to 3)
$din
You show the guest to the dining room at the end of the hallway. While the windows are all barred shut, the two electric chandeliers provide more than enough light for the room. The guests growls something and takes a seat.
'What would you like for dinner?' asks Ionut, popping seemingly out of nowhere.
$W['Got any good meat? Extra rare.']
'Why, most certainly. It will be right away.' With a bow, the servant disappears into the kitchen.
You realise you're not needed anymore and head back, when you almost bump into your patron, $Mi[Mihai]. He smiles graciously and ignores your clumsiness.
$Mi['My dear, your shift is nearly over. I don't expect we'll be having any further guests for the evening. Would you care to join me for dinner?']
//Accept//
[[Politely decline->decline2]]
(set: _ti to 15)Double-click this passage to edit it.$din
$a['Thank you, Mr. Petrescu. But I've had such a long day that I'd really rather just go to bed.'] you give him an apologetic smile.
$Mi['Ah, you're too young to be tired, Mr. Reid. But very well, perhaps you can join me tomorrow.']
You smile again, and [[head out of the dining room.]]
(set: _ti to 10)$rec
As you walk up to your room, realisation slowly down on you.
$A[I- I think I did it! I survived!] You can't help but skip and jump along the way, rushing up the wooden stairways. $A[Nothing killed me! I didn't fall into Lavius' trap, fixed generator, managed to stay out of trouble, and survived the werewolf!] Filled with euphoria, you [[rush all the way up to your room.]]
(set: _ti to 10)$att
$A[I survived!!!]
You look left and right. The floor is calm. Nothing is coming to get you. (if: $bcharges >0)[The bracelet emits a reassuring warmth on your wrist. It still has $bcharges crimson bead(if: $bcharges>1)[s] left on it.
$A[This means that if I go to bed now, tomorrow Felicia will be able to turn me back!] You can't believe that you've made it. All you need to do now is go to bed and it will all be over...
Your hand on the doorknob, you stop and pause for a moment. It will all be over. Did you truly do everything you wanted to do? Did you learn all there is to learn? With the bracelet, you have the unique opportunity not to fear death, and you aren't completely out of charges yet...
Hesitation sets in. Are you truly ready to break the cycle and return to normal?
$A[ [ ]<thi| ]
[Enter your room]<room|
[Take a walk down the hallway]<walk|
](else:)[And just in time, too. On your wrists, the bracelet has no charges left on it.]
(click: ?room)[(goto:"room2")]
(click: ?walk)[(goto:"walk2")]
{ (live:1s)[
(mouseover: ?room)[ (replace:?thi)[ (either:"It would be so good for this all to be over...","I probably shouldn't risk it..","Better safe than sorry...","Alex, why are you even thinking about this?!") ] ]
(mouseover: ?walk)[ (replace:?thi)[ (either:"I'll never get a second chance for something like this...","Do I really want the adventure to end..?","My ordinary life wasn't that good...","To leave behind all these possibilites...") ] ]
]}$room
You push the door open and get in your room. There's no more room for shenanigens. It has been a truly, truly long day.
You lie on the bed and despite the previous euphoria, exhaustion soon overtakes you. Your eyes begin to close as you [[fall asleep->Next Patch]].$dark
Congratulations, you have successfully completed Chapter 1!
Content ends here for now, but don't forget to check regularly for updates=)'I made it safely back to the Manor this time,' you say with a bit of pride in your voice. At least this time it wasn't your fault. 'Then a guest arrived, and he turned into a werewolf and jumped me!'
$M['How did he turn into a werewolf if you were inside the Crooked Elm?']
'I-I opened one of the windows and the moonlight hit his face...'
$M['Not the brightest, are you?'] Felicia looks at you with a glimmer of pity.
'How was I supposed to know?!'
Felicia looks slightly amused, but doesn't say anything.
'It was the same man from the forest.'
$M['What makes you think that?']
'How many werewolves are there in this village...?'
She chuckles. $M['I suppose it must have been the same indeed. Better not do that next time.']
You look down at your feet. 'I got stuck underground at Lavius' lair.'
$M['Oh? That sounds like you were trying to take things into your own hands for a change.']
'For a change?'
$M['Well, so far things have been happening **to** you. All I'm saying is that this time you took initiative. Good on you.']
She gives you a little pat on the head.
'Eeer...'
$M['That place definitely seems worthwile to explore. Perhaps you should let Lavius take you down again and snoop around some more?']
'But he'll kill me for sure!'
$M['So? That's what the beads are for. Figure it out.']$att
Slowly, you let go of the door handle. You feel like you've made a decision, though you're not quite sure what it is yet.
Walking down the hallway, you pass several doors and stop next to a large window door leading on to a balcony. The full moon basks the manor and surrounding forest in a showerof silver rays and the black dead branches creak in the gusts of wind.
Here from the attic, the fall is surprisingly high, you remark as you stand up on the railing. The cobblestones on the ground below are hard and thick. You seem to have made up your mind.
Your descent is quick and silent. Your body breaks on impact, leaving a crimson splash on the black and silver canvas of the night. Darkness [[takes you->DIE]].(if: $felicia_level<2)[The $M[owner of the antique boutique] was the one who gave me the bracelet that seems to be somehow connected to all of this. I should make it a priority to talk to her as soon as possible.] (elseif: $felicia_level<3)[I spoke to $M[Felicia] and she explained the basis of the time loop and the bracelet, but I'm still not entirely clear on everything. I should definitely find the time to ask her a few more questions about the beads.](else:)[The $M[owner of the antique boutique] explained how the bracelet and beads work, and what I have to do to break the cycle. She's not my top priority at the moment, but she definitely seems to know a lot, so perhaps there's more I could learn from her.] (if: $deathlist contains "spider")[<br>Oh, and let's not forget - she's actually a cat! I'm still not entirely sure what to make of that...](elseif: $felicia_level>1)[<br><br>Oh, and she also offered me a **ribbon**. I'm not entirely sure if it's a good idea to take it, but perhaps it will help me learn something new. ](if: $inn_level is 0)[I've never visited the **inn** at the village, perhaps I should go and take a look?](elseif: $myst_level is 0)[ I visited the **inn** briefly, but did not get much information out of the people there. There were at least 3 people there that looked interesting, and with so much going on, one of them is bound to know something useful. Perhaps I should spend some more time there.](elseif: $myst_level is 1 and $lavius_level is 0)[Things got pretty heated with Lavius, but I pulled out at the last moment. He seemed nice enough, and maybe I could learn even more if I went with him. ](if: $lavius_level>0)[I had some drinks at the inn with Lavius and went home with him. Turns out he's a **vampire** and a massive **douchebag**! The good thing is that the ...eeeh... *events* from that recharged the bracelet, but I will think twice before going with him again!](if: (history:) contains "opensecret")[
$in[I managed to poke around Lavius' secret lair and even found some **fuel**, but it's definitely too heavy for me to carry alone. I'll need to think of something, or ask someone to help.] ]$inn
$a['Oh, I just wanted to travel a bit, nothing special. I'm pretty sure your story is much more interesting to tell.'] you lean forward, your $lips curving into a mysterious and seductive smile. $a['What does a gentleman do in his spare time, I wonder?']
You take a few small sips from the wine. It's as sweet and delicious as last time and the warmth quickly spreads through your body.
$L['Mostly look for good company, it's so dreadfully rare these days I'm afraid. Although'] - he gives you a confident look - $L['things seem to be looking up right now. I'm Lavius, by the way.']
A hand is extended towards you and you take it.
$a['Alexandra.']
He gently pulls your hand closer and leans to kiss it. $a['You didn't answer my question.'] you insist. $a['What does a man do... all the time... so alone...?'] you pull down your cleavage casually, giving him an even better view of your $breasts.
$L['You could say I'm something of a man of science, particularly interested in biology. Perhaps you'd want to take a tour of my secret laboratory? I promise not to bite...'] he gives you a lusty look and licks his lips. **STORY:** You're $name, a 22 year old student travelling abroad. $backstory
**APPEARANCE:** You have $hair and $eyes. (if: $dead is 1)[Your face is prettier, rounder and more feminine, with $a[$lips] and elegant eyelashes and you have a pair of $a[$breasts] that nicely fill your palms.] (elseif: $dead<6 and $dead>0)[You have a beautiful face with $a[$lips] and a $a[seductive hourglass figure] with a thin waist and $a[$breasts].](else:)[]
**CLOTHES:** At the moment you're wearing $suit.
**MIND:** (if: $lewd<10)[You feel fine.](elseif: $lewd <15)[You feel a little uneasy, a strange hotness in your body pushing you towards things you wouldn't normally do.](elseif: $lewd <20)[You feel hot and $a[aroused], a purple haze clouding your mind and making it $a[hard] to concentrate.](elseif: $lewd<25)[Your body burns with shameless lewdness. You can't think anymore, you need something, anything, here and now!](else:)[You can't picture yourself anything but being $a[fucked]. Your nipples are erect, your body burns. You're ready to do anything.]
(set: $lav_firstdeath to 1)
(color:#99FFCC)[(if: $lav_firstdeath is 0)[The servant's oddly shaped body moves in slightly unnatural ways as he works and you try your best not to stare.] (else:)[(if: $lewd<30)[(if: $lewd<15)[The servant's oddly shaped body moves in slightly unnatural ways as he works and you try your best not to stare.](elseif: $lewd<25)[The servant certainly isn't and never was a handsome man, but for some strange reason you find yourself staring his oddly-shaped body with a little more than just plain curiosity.](elseif:$lewd<30)[You look at the servant as if you're seeing him for the first time. His odd and unnatural body seems to hide strong, muscular arms. You had never noticed before how ribbed his torso actually is, underneath that butler's uniform. You find yourself unconsciously licking your lips.]
](else:)[You find it quite difficult to control the burning sensation below your belly. The mishapen body of the servant suddenly appears to you as a hideous but powerful beast that feeds on a steady stream of fair maidens provided by the scared villagers. You lick your lips as you picture the servant on top of you, tearing your clothes apart with those long and muscular arms. ]
(display:"h15")(if: $lewd>14)[ [[Offer to help him with the dishes]] ](else:)[(display:"unav") ]
(display:"h30")(if: $lewd>29)[ [[Offer to help Ionut with the dishes...and something more]] ](else:)[(display:"unav") ] ] ] $kit
$a['Don't worry, I got this!'] you blurt out, rushing to replace Ionut at the sink. He gives you an odd stare as you snatch the wet dishes from his hands and get to work.
Some time passes while you work together, him giving you the dirty dishes and taking away the clean ones, while you slave away at the sink. A couple of times he brushes past you and you feel his large, strong body against your petite figure. You rub the dishes harder.
Occasionally, you catch Ionut staring at your... wrists while you do the dirty work.
After a while, the work seems done. Ionut thanks you, vigorously shaking your soapy hands. You smile at him, a little frustrated. $A[Was I expecting more?]
[[Return to the reception->ground floor]]
(set: _ti to 40) (set: $ionut_visited to true) (set: $lust to (it + 1))
(set: $ionut_dishes to 1)$kit
$a['You look like you need some help, big guy.'] you say mischeviously, slipping under his arms and in front of him as you take the dishes from his hands. You feel his large, strong body pressed against your petite figurine as he hands you the dirty dishes and takes away the clean ones.
Ionut certainly seems to be enjoying himself, but you decide not to take any chances this time. Your nipples are so hard and aroused that every movement makes them rub against the fabric of your shirt. You lean forward even more, pushing your backside towards him. To make sure the signal isn't misinterpreted, you carefully reach around with your soapy fingers and push your jeans down under your buttcheeks, then you get back to washing.
It seems the servant has finally taken the hint and you feel him get his cock out of his pants and start rubbing between your legs. You spread them apart obligingly, helping him get to the sweet spot. His member is rough and mishapen like the rest of his body, but you don't really care.
You let the servant wrap his muscular hands around your hourglass figure and rock you violently back and forth like an animal. You drop a plate and it breaks, but neither of you care. Your $breasts jiggle with every motion. Your soft moans turn into loud screams escaping your $lips as he fills you up. The bracelet glows hot on your wrist.
[[Return to the reception->ground floor]]
(set: _ti to 40) (set: $ionut_visited to true) (set: $lust to (it + 2))
(set: $bcharges to (it + 1))$ant
You enter the small antique shop. The woman behind the counter throws you a meaningful glance.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$M['Again?']
'Yes', you nod. It's a little embarassing how much trouble you tend to get into.
$M['I'm sorry, but this can't go on.']
'What do you mean?'
The cat woman sighs. $M['Listen, you were here before, and let's not fool ourselves - you will be here again. I can't keep selling you stuff over and over again with money that just vanishes out of existence.']
'But you get your stuff back!' you protest. 'The world is reset, everything is back to normal...'
$M['That's a simplistic view that is ultimately false... for reasons I don't have the time to get into. If reality truly was undone, you wouldn't remember anything and neither would I. As it turns out, that isn't the case - reality is cyclical, time is a hoax, and I want my due.']
'But I can't pay you for last time!' you wail. 'The stuff is yours again, and besides I'd run out of money immediately.'
$M['Then we'll find another solution - you'll pay me with something else - something I shall carry with me no matter how time turns and reality twists, for I shall remember it..... I want **secrets**.']
'Secrets?' you raise an eyebrow.
$M['Yes. They're the best currency worth keeping. And in return, I shall make my small arrangements to make sure that you keep whatever you buy from me as well...']
[['All right, that sounds fair...'->antique boutique]]
(set: _ti to 30) (set: $shop2 to 1)(if: $shop2 is 0)[(goto:"buy2")]$ant
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">(if: (history:)'s last is"antique boutique")[$M['So, what can I do you for?'] the cat-eyed woman wiggles her shadow tail.](elseif: (history:)'s last is "phero2")[ $M['Alright, suit yourself.']
She puts the bottle back in the cabinet and starts polishing some watches. You look around at the other wares. ](else:)[The cat woman quietly observes you as you look around.]
$R[]<msg|
(link-repeat: "I'd like to get some new clothes")[(if: $outf1 is false and $outf2 is false and $outf3 is false)[(replace:?msg)[You have all the clothes you need for now. ] ] (else:)[(goto:"clothes2")] ]
(if: $pheromones is 0)[(if: $lav_firstdeath>0)[<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/excl.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-15px;" width="25">          ] (link-repeat: "About those pheromones...")[(goto:"phero2") ]
] (unless: $deathlist contains "spider")[ [[You mentioned a ribbon?->ribbon2]] ]
[[Back->antique boutique]]$ant
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">$M['Hmm, let's see what would fit you...']
Felicia disappears into the depths of the shop and silently plops into existence moments later, carrying a few things.
$outf1[(if: $lewd<25)[(display:"heart") -*Butler's Uniform* (link-repeat: "*Examine*")[(replace: ?desc)[A nice and professional uniform, ideal for making a good impression to Mihai]] (link-repeat:"BUY:")[(if: $secrets<2)[(replace:?desc)[ $R[Not enough secrets!] ]] (else:)[(set: $secrets to (it-2)) (set: $outf1 to false) (set: $outf1_owned to true) (goto:"buy_outf1") (replace:?desc)[] (replace:?evb)[(display:"buy_outf1")] ] ] $M[2 Secrets] ]
] $outf2[(display:"h10")(if: $lewd>9)[-*Maid's outfit* (link-repeat: "*Examine*")[(replace: ?desc)[Though somewhat revealing around the chest, this elegant outfit would turn any girl into a beautiful hand maid. ]] (link-repeat:"BUY:")[(if: $secrets<2)[(replace:?desc)[ $R[Not enough secrets!] ]] (else:)[(set: $secrets to (it-2))(set: $outf2 to false) (set: $outf2_owned to true)(goto:"buy_outf2") ] ] $M[2 Secrets] ](else:)[(display:"unav") ]
]$outf3[(display:"h20")(if: $lewd>19)[-*Devil's Gown* (link-repeat: "*Examine*")[(replace: ?desc)[The peculiar piece of clothing seems to shift in front of your very eyes, making it hard to focus. ]] (link-repeat:"BUY:")[(if: $secrets<5)[(replace:?desc)[ $R[Not enough secrets!] ]] (else:)[(set: $secrets to (it-5)) (set: $outf3 to false)(set: $outf3_owned to true)(goto:"buy_outf3") ] ] $M[5 Secrets] ](else:)[(display:"unav") ]
]
(display:"bk")(link: "I'm done with clothes")[(goto:"shop")]
$I[]<desc| []<evb|
$ant
$a['It happened at night, while I was climbing the hill back to the manor. There was a strange silhouette on the road...'] You shiver at the memory, your voice faltering while you struggle to describe it. (if: (history:) contains "Approach the man")[$a['I was careless and got close.... close enough to see that it wasn't human.']] (else:)[$a[I tried to run away but eventually it caught up with me.] ] $a[The last thing I remember was falling to the ground and fangs biting into my neck.]
You shiver again, a wave of cold propagating through your body. Talking about your own death is an uneasy topic.
$M['Sounds like you ran into a werewolf.']
$a['A werewolf? I suppose at this point I shouldn't be surprised, but still... is that common?']
$M['It's a full moon, so folks know not to wander about in the forest. You should too.']
$a['But I have to get back to the manor!']
$M['Then better do it before nightfall. Or take some protection. Or both.']
[['What protection?'->phero2]]
(set: _ti to 10)$ant(if: $lav_firstdeath is 0 and $phero_talk is 0)[
$a['I don't mean to sound arrogant, but I don't think any armour would really help...']
$M['It won't. You need something that would convince the werewolf not to attack you in the first place.']
$a['And what would that be?']
$M['Werewolf pheromones. One tiny drop and you'll emit the scent of a werewolf yourself, granting you safe passage. They don't tend to attack one of their own, much less a female.']
$a['Oh, wow! That's amazing! Exactly the thing I need!']
$M['The only problem is that I don't have them at hand, and it's a difficult item to acquire.']
You give her a puzzled look. Somehow you're used to the idea that the Antique Boutique has everything.
$a['But you can find them, right?']
$M['There's nothing that I **can't** find, little human.'] Smirks the owner. $M['But I will need some time. Come ask me later.']
You [[nod->antique boutique]].
(set:$phero_talk to 1)](elseif: $lav_firstdeath is 0 and $phero_talk is 1)[$a['Hey, I was just wondering if you have those pheromones yet?']
$M['Patience is a virtue, girl. I'm working on it.']
The owner seems slightly annoyed by your question. Or is the fact that she's missing an item?
$a['I'm just feeling really passionate about not being eaten alive today, you know. No big deal...']
$M['Careful now... I like you, so let's keep it that way.']
You [[nod->antique boutique]].
](else:)[$a['Hey, I was just wondering if you have those pheromones yet?']
$M['Glad you asked. As a matter of fact, I do!']
The green eyes woman darts to the side, rummaging through a cabinet full of flask of different shapes and sizes. In a few moments she emerges with a small perfume bottle filled with a grey translucid liquid.
$M['Here it is, freshly acquired. Werewolf pheromones. One puff of this and you'll emit the scent of a werewolf yourself, granting you safe passage. They don't tend to attack one of their own, much less a female.']
$a['Oh, wow! That's amazing! Thank you so much!'] You reach for the bottle but $Felicia pulls it away.
$M['Not so fast little human. Do you know how hard these are to acquire? I've been generous with you, but everything has it's boundaries. This will cost you **5 secrets**.']
(if: $secrets<5)[$a['5! But I don't know that many!']
$M['That's too bad for you.']
[['Please, I'll die!'->please2]]
[['Fine, I can manage to return before nightfall anyways.'->shop]] ](else:)[ $a['You really ask a lot, cat. I payed with my life and you're playing games.'] You give her a stern look full of blame.
$M['Tough call for you, girl. These are bloody hard to come by. You should be thanking me I'm even considering selling one to you.']
[['Alright, I'll pay'->Pay2]]
[['Isn't there anything else we could arrange?'->please2]]
[['I can just return to the manor before nightfall'->shop]]
] ]
(set: _ti to 10)$ant
You look imploringly at $Felicia for a long moment and she finally caves in.
$M['Fine, for your pretty eyes. I'll give you two options.'] she twirls her hair absent-mindedly.
'I'm listening.'
$M['Option number one - I'll give you the pheromones, but you'll promise to steal a particular secret for me.']
'A particular secret?'
$M['It's something Lavius has. It is very well guarded and difficult to uncover. I don't expect you'll make it out without using a charge.']
You gulp. 'What's option number two?'
$Felicia grins widely. $M['I give you the flask for free.... but you'll settle one of my debts']
'Settle one of your debts?' you raise an eyebrow suspiciously. $A[Something tells me I won't like this at all...]
$M['It should be an easy matter for you'] the cat woman laughs. ['and I won't need it right away. So you can take the flask now and deal wth it later. I'll let you know what you have to do.']
There is a hungry and mischievous glimmer in her eyes, like she's almost begging you to accept the bargain. Something tells you that learning 5 secrets will be safer to do... but you also need those pheromones badly.
She leaves you a few moments to consider.
$M['So, what will it be?']
$R[]<msg|
[[Promise to settle the debt->settle debt]]
(link-repeat:"Steal a Secret")[(replace:?msg)[This option isn't yet available]]
[['On second thought, perhaps not...'->shop]]
(set: _ti to 15)$ant
Reluctantly you start talking and tell Felicia about all the things you've learned about the eer.. "people" around you. She listens with interest, but doesn't comment. When you're done talking, the cat woman hands you the flask.
$M['Happy doing business with you. Hopefully this will keep you alive long enough to become a loyal customer!'] She grins a toothy smile.
$a['Yeah, yeah.'] You take the bottle and place it in one of your pockets.
$I[Werewolf pheromones added to inventory.]
(set: $pheromones to 1) (set: $flaskful to 100) (set: $secrets to (it-5)) (set: _ti to 5)
[['So how does this work?'->how work2]] $ant
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">You turn the butler's uniform in your hands. The fabric is light and flexible but durable. You can tell the work of a master craftsman. It's very similar to the one Ionut is wearing. $A[I'll look very professional in this outfit... certainly what Mihai wanted.]
$M['Why don't you try it on?']
You listen to the owner's advice and change into the uniform. It suits you really well, though it somewhat diminishes the effect of your $breasts.
Felicia smiles mysteriously. You know what you owe her, so you lean in and whisper $M[2 secrets] in her ear. She nods and smiles, her face showing no emotion. $A[Did she already know this?] you can't really tell.
You turn your gaze to the [[other wares->shop]].
(set: $suit to "an elegant butler's uniform that hides your curves and gives you an air of professionalism")
(set: $suit_mod to -4)$ant
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">You examine the maid's outfit - it's a mostly black and white pair of a short skirt and a revealing top that gives your $breasts ample opportunity to be noticed. It's not the sort of outfit you would approve back in the day, but now you find yourself inexplicably drawn to it.
$M['Why are you staring, try it on!'] the cat woman prods you.
You shily get out of your current clothes and into the maid's outfit, making a little swirl on your toes. Felicia watches you with a glee in her golden eyes.
$M['You look delicious, my dear.'] she purrs with satisfaction.
You know what you owe her, so you lean in and whisper $M[2 secrets] in her ear. She nods and smiles, her face showing no emotion. $A[Did she already know this?] you can't really tell. Her fingers brush on your back as you step away.
You turn your gaze to the [[other wares->shop]].
(set: $suit to "a beautiful maid's outfit that outlines our body figure and provides a generous view of your $breasts")
(set: $suit_mod to 4)$ant
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">$a['What is this?'] you ask in awe, as the material flows like a waterfall in your hands, changing colour and texture.
$M['The Devil's Gown is an item of master seduction - it takes the appearance of whatever would influence the person you're with. There's also a slight essence of confusion, making everyone ignore the fact that the dress is changing. It's one of the most excusite items I have. Try it on.']
Still in admiration, you carefully let the Devil's Gown flow over you. It swirls around, then settles in the form of an elegant black evening dress that's soft to the touch and absorbs the light in its folds. You notice that there is also a pair of cat ears over the top of your head.
$M['Why hello there'] purrs Felicia, licking her lips.
$A['Do you purposely try to make me feel like a cat toy?'] you object, blushing.
$M['Oh, I'm doing a pretty good job at restraining myself, darling. Now, about those secrets...']
You know what you owe her, so you lean in and whisper $M[5 secrets] in her ear. She nods and smiles, her face showing no emotion. $A[Did she already know this?] you can't really tell. Her fingers brush on your back as you step away.
You turn your gaze to the [[other wares->shop]].
(set: $suit to "a Devil's Gown that has the amazing ability to morph into the most effective garment for any situation")
(set: $suit_mod to 8)$ant
$M['It's very easy - just blow a puff from the bottle on yourself and try not to act suspicious.']
$a['Not to act suspicious?']
$M['Don't act like prey. Don't show fear. Be confident.' ]
$a['And one single puff is going to be enough? Are you sure?'] You eye the tiny bottle.
$M['Yes. It should last for several hours.']
(set: _ti to 5)
$a['Alright, thanks.']
You examine the flask one more time, then [[put it away in your pocket->shop]].
(set: $phero_explained to 1)Double-click this passage to edit it.$mount
It's not really a conscious decision, but your feet take you closer and closer towards the silhouette until you can clearly see one another.
The creature looks like some sort of feral man, hunched and mutated, with a hairy body and long, sharp claws on his hands. He cocks his head to the side as it eyes you up and down. You can hear him sniff the air intently, his body tensing and ready for action.
You're close enough that the smell hits you, a bestial smell of sweat and mucus that is both repulsive and attractive in its repulsiveness. Your body responds to it with a growing hotness an a light-headed feeling that borders on euphoria.
The creature takes a step towards you and your eyes fall down to its giant erection. $A[This is bad!! If I don't do something, that thing is probably going to tear my clothes to shreads and take me, I mean rape me...]
In the few heartbeats you have to react, you take the only logical way out by dropping to your knees and offering the beast your open $lips. It doesn't wait for an invitation and sticks its member inside your mouth, grasping your hair with its abnormally large hands.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/wwbj.png" width="900" align="center">
You start sucking and the bracelet emmits a warm, pleasant glow as if to reward your efforts. You try to ignore the desire to take your clothes off right here right now and instead continue servicing the creature.
In a short while it begins growling and grasps you tighter, a long warm load emptying in your throat. The bracelet glows hot on your wrist as it absorbs the energy.
The creature finally pulls its enormous member out of your mouth, giving you room to breathe. The fresh mountain air feels pleasant on your burning body. You look up to the hideous creature with an overt longing in your $eyes. It looks away and runs off into the darkness of the woods, leaving you wet and frustrated.
After a while you get up on your feet and [[continue on your way to The Crooked Elm->ground floor]].
(set: $bcharges to (it +1)) (set: _ti to 70) (set: $werefucked to 1)
(set: $lust to (it + 2))You gulp and continue your path towards the figure, distinguishing more of its definitely inhuman features the closer you get...
It turns its head towards you, pinning two hungry yellow eyes straight at its new target. A freezing chill runs down your spine and you feel the cold sweat on your forhead.
$A[This was a bad idea. A **very** bad idea!]
It lunges towards you and by the time you turn around it's too late to run.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/ggwolf.png" width="900" align="center">
Claws sink into your shoulders and the weight pushes you down, the ground suddenly digging painfully into your jaw. Your frail, feminine body trembles in terror as the teeth sink into the delicate flesh without hesitation. There is little mercy for you this time and you convulse in agony as the beast tears off chunk after chunk, your helpless limbs flailing in the swelling pools of blood and splattering crimson spots all over the remains of your $suit.
The force is finally sapped from your body and the pain fades into a dull background. The last thing you feel is your bracelet getting warmer, before [the darkness takes you]<worlddis|. (set: $weredead to 1) (set: $deathlist to it + (a: "wolf"))(set: $lastdeath to "wolf") (click:?worlddis)[(goto:"DIE")]$mount
You gulp and continue your path towards the figure, distinguishing more of its definitely inhuman features the closer you get...
It turns its head towards you, pinning two hungry yellow eyes straight at its new target.
The creature looks like some sort of feral man, hunched and mutated, with a hairy body and long, sharp claws on his hands. He cocks his head to the side as it eyes you up and down. You can hear him sniff the air intently, his body tensing and ready for action.
You're close enough that the smell hits you, a bestial smell of sweat and mucus that is both repulsive and attractive in its repulsiveness. Your body responds to it with a growing hotness an a light-headed feeling that borders on euphoria.
The creature takes a step towards you and your eyes fall down to its giant erection.
$A[Damn it, I used too much pheromones!]
Your error is clear now, but it's too late to fix it. The intentions of the beast are clear and you doubt you can outrun or dissuade it. On one hand, attempting to flee can at least save you some face and if you don't manage to escape, you'll know that at least you've tried. On the other hand, if you cooperate perhaps things will go down a lot smoother for you...
[[Go down willingly]]
[[Save your honor and try to flee]]
(set: _ti to 15) (set: $werefucked to 1)$ant
$M['I'm pretty sure I had something around here somewhere...'] Felicia mutters to herself, darting to different shelves and cabinets. $M['Come by tomorrow and I'll have something for you. Till then, try to be responsible, OK?']
You nod grimly to the shop owner, thinking to yourself that it isn't really your fault that you happen to be a werewolf snack. In any case, you'll swing by tomorrow to see what she's on about.
You [[exit the shop.]]
(set: _ti to 5)
$room
It hardly seems the most appropriate moment, but a mysterious phenomenon requires investigation. You slowly unbutton the top of your pyjama and take it off.
$A[Woah...]
You stare mesmerised at your breasts. They're small and cute, reminding you of an Asian girl that was once in your class. Your nipples are dark and... sensitive, you observe, touching them lightly with the tip of your index finger. The sensation is warm and somehow electric, different from anything you've known so far.
You trace a hand on your flat belly, admiring the softness of the skin.
$A[So this is what it's like to be a girl...]
Your gaze falls down, following the train of thought. You can tell that something you've grown used to is missing, though there is a new, alien sensation in its place.
Tentatively, you dip a hand in your panties and run your fingers underneath yourself. There is an explosion of new sensations and you quickly draw away.
$A[Well that was... something..] you think to yourself, blushing despite being alone.
Utimately, you decide to postpone further exploration of your newfound condition. Time is ticking and your efforts are doubtless better spent looking for answers.
[[Focus on more important matters]]
(set: _ti to 20)(set: $lust to it +1)$room
$A[Answers.... I'm not going to find them here. I need to be calm and carry on as usual and they'll come to me.]
In what seems like the best temporary solution, you put on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt and [[head out.]]
(set: _ti to 10)$din
You take a table at the opposite side of the room, leaving Mihai at a safe distance. Ionut's head appears at the kitchen window, giving you a clumsy wink:
'Eggs and bakon, ja?'
(if: (history:) contains "enter the room")[For an instant your blood freezes and a deep sensation of dread overtakes you.(if:$ionut_level is 1)[$special[You see Ionut's figure towering above you, holding a shovel. The dirt splashes on your tied body..] ]
The moment passes and you get a grip. Slowly, you reply with a nod and the servant ](else:)[You give him a nod and he ]disappears again, followed by the sound of sizzling.
While Ionut is cooking, you try to assess your situation.
$A[No one seems to be noticing anything wrong with me... and those memories that keep flashing... am I in another life? An alternative universe? A quantuum leap to another dimension?]
You have so many questions and so few answers. You munch your food in the candle-lit penumbra of the dining hall, when the strange woman comes in and sits at Migai's table. You lend an ear to their conversation, though you aren't able to hear much, and your mind is distracted with other matters:
$E2['My $ups[children] will....yes that's right....safe place...$rev[new host] very soon...']
$Mi2['I'll see what I can do.... will be $ups[arranged]....for $rev[your brood]..' ]
(set: _ti to 30)
$A[I wonder what this is all about...]
[[To the kitchen]]
[[To the reception->ground floor]]
(set: $seen_mihai to 1)Double-click this passage to edit it.$T[]
As a student, [[you->YOU]] have decided to take a gap year to see the world and get a better sense of what you want in life.
After some searching you stumble upon an add in the paper that offers the job of a receptionist at a hotel in a small mountain Village in Romania.
You pack your bags and head on a long trip, eventually crossing over Europe and arriving at your destination.
Getting off the bus, you look around. The village itself is very small - barely a few dozen stone houses at best. The mountain air is clean and fresh, filling your nostrils with the scent of old pines and green moss. Save for a few electric lamps barely illuminating the street, it doesn’t look very modern. Judging by the architectural style, it hasn't moved in the last few centuries.
Unable to locate the hotel, you talk to a strange man who sends you upwards a mountain trail, going along the river. The path is steep and it's getting dark, but after an hour of walking, you eventually arrive.
The hotel is an ancient manor several storeys high, a central part and two wings with several towers and balconies looming over the mournful garden. It’s hard to make out everything in the darkness, but you estimate it has at least two dozen guest rooms, perhaps more.
$A[Wow... the place must have been a real luxury resort back in the day, perhaps then the village was a popular tourist destination? A shame, now it reeks of disuse and decay... Could be a cool place to stay, but I doubt they get many visitors.
On the bright side, my job as a receptionist is probably going to be a whole lot of sitting around, waiting and doing nothing. Perhaps I could go back down to the village and find a pub, befriend the locals? Or maybe get back to that book I've always wanted to write?]
There is a fence around it, with a gate that is locked. You shout out but nobody answers.
[[Ring the doorbell]]
(set: $day to "Saturday")
(set: $hour to 19)
(set: $minute to 0) [$T[-Transylvania-]]<fontbig|
Welcome to Transylvanian Transformations! This Game is for 18+ Only and it features adult themes including sex and some amounts of gore.
[[Begin the game->Start]]
[[Short intro]]
If you have already played the game, you can use the following links to jumpstart your progress. Please keep in mind that jumping ahead may omit some details or conversation options.
[[some breakfast<-Start of Sunday; Prologue]]
[[Sleep1<-Start of Monday; Gameplay options begin here]]
(set:$hour to 14) (set:$minute to 00) (set:$day to "Wednesday") (set: $money to 0)
(set: $test to 1)
|cloacked)[
Mariaartoxica Felisciano]
//For testing purposes://
[[BEGIN]]
[[first death->enter the room]]
[[death wolf->best option]]
[[room flashbacks]]
[[innc2]]
[[antique boutique]]
[[brisk pace<-spider death]]
(set: $noitems to "You don't have anything of particualar interest")
(set: $live to 2000) (set: $fade1 to (text-style: "none")) (set: $dead to 0) (set: $tower_key to 0) (set: $Felicia to "Felicia") (set: $test to 1)(goto: "Begin")(if: $dead is 0)[(goto:"spooky")]$rec
(if: $horny is 1)[In your boredom you find your hands unconsciously wandering to your breasts, feeling the soft flesh that is familiar yet new.
$A[Being a girl definitely doesn't feel bad...]
You continue for a while. It feels good and you have nothing better to do. When you feel your body get hotter however, you decide it would be a good idea to stop.
(set: $ti to 10)] (if: $horny is 2)[You catch yourself fondling your $breasts again. You ought to stop, but it feels so damn good. You gently twist one of your nipples and feel a delightful shiver run through your body.
$A[Get a grip girl, you're here to work..]
(set: $ti to 10) ] (if: $horny >2)[Is it just you or is it hot in here? You take a look around the hallway. The place is empty. There are no sounds. You could easily just reach down with a hand and just...
$A[No, no! Bad idea!]
You try to shake off the thoughts and get a grip.
(set: $ti to 15) ]
[Patiently wait]<wait|
(click: ?wait)[
(if: $hour<21)[(goto: (either: "unevent","spooky", "memory","horny")) ]
(else:)[ (goto: "wolf arrival") ]
]
(set: _ti to $ti) (set: $horny to it +1)(if: $dead is 0)[(goto:"spooky")]$rec
(if: $horny is 1)[In your boredom you find your hands unconsciously wandering to your breasts, feeling the soft flesh that is familiar yet new.
$A[Being a girl definitely doesn't feel bad...]
You continue for a while. It feels good and you have nothing better to do. Curious by nature, you can't let the opportunity slip. Sometimes you've wondered what it would be to be a girl and now you get to experience it first hand.
When you feel your body get hotter however, you decide it would be a good idea to stop Enough is enough and it's starting to get awkward.
(set: $ti to 10)] (if: $horny is 2)[You catch yourself fondling your $breasts again. You can get used to this new body. It actually feels quite nice.
$A[Boredom truly is the mother of curiosity...]
(set: $ti to 10) ] (if: $horny >2)[You're certainly starting to get more than a little distracted by your new body. If only there was something to do!
You yawn and rest your head on the desk.
There's no one around.
You wonder how it would feel //down there//....
$A[No! This is ridiculous!]
You shake yourself awake again.
(set: $ti to 15) ]
[Patiently wait]<wait|
(click: ?wait)[
(if: $hour<21)[(goto: (either: "unevent","spooky", "memory","horny")) ]
(else:)[ (goto: "wolf arrival") ]
]
(set: _ti to $ti) (set: $horny to it +1)$T[-PATREON-]
Thank you for supporting the game! You are absolutely amazing.
As a thank you, please find below a list of navigation links that can help you explore the game's content more easily. Of course, beware of spoilers ;)
I would also like to stress that everything here $R[**is accessible through normal gameplay**.] This is about convenience, not getting more.
(link-repeat:"Reveal fast travel links")[(replace: ?spoilers)[
**Quick Start**
The first death: [[Meet the wolf->best option]]
End of day: [[The guest comes->wolf arrival]] *(use ****ONLY AFTER**** first death)*
**Navigation**
Go to the [[Tower->Use one of Ionut's keys]]
Accept Felicia's [[ribbon]]
Teleport to the [[Inn->innhub]]
Teleport to the [[reception->ground floor]]
Teleport to the [[antique boutique]]
**Characters**
Speak to [[Lavius->Accept]]
Speak to [[the guest in room 28]]
Replay the [[Spider Elise dialogue->Proceed downstairs]] ]]
(link-repeat:"Reveal game tips")[(replace: ?spoilers)[You can access the tower on the top floor by taking Ionut's keys. Think of a way to distract him.
You can pick flowers in the garden and give them to someone to unlock more dialogue options.
Do not try to avoid death, try to gather as much informaiton as possible.] ]
(link-repeat:"Tweak stats")[(replace: ?spoilers)[
$R[You have to make a game choice before stat changes will become visible.
Please note: modifying stats here may mess with the natural progression of the story.]
**SANITY**
(link-repeat:"Increase sanity by 10")[(set: $sanity to it + 10)]
(link-repeat:"Derease sanity by 10")[(set: $sanity to it - 10)]
**LUST**
(link-repeat:"Increase lust by 5")[(set: $lust to it + 5)]
(link-repeat:"Derease lust by 5")[(set: $lust to it - 5)]
**SECRETS**
(link-repeat:"Learn 5 new secrets")[(set: $secrets to it + 5)]
**MONEY**
(link-repeat:"Become rich")[(set: $money to it + 500)]
]]
[ ]<spoilers|
[Back]<b| (click: ?b)[(go-to: (history:)'s last)]
$inn
Your hand hovers around the glass. You feel uncertain.
$A[What am I doing here, with this man?]
The drinks are nice. He seems friendly. But things are moving too fast, way too fast for you.
$A[What if he wants me to come to his place...?]
You blush uncomfortably. You are **not** ready for this yet. The memory of being a man is still fresh in your mind, and you feel a strong unease at the situation.
Perhaps $L[Lavius] has the best intentions, but right now you [[can't keep this up->cont1]].
(set: _ti to 5)Content for the game currently ends here.
Special thanks to all the patreon supporters! 93 People supported the project last month. $R[They voted, and made the following art possible:]
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/spider_lewd3.png" width="600">
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/wwbj.png" width="600" >
Additionally, **Jessica Jones** was chosen at random from Tier 2, and her contribution was a catnip related easter egg that was added in the game.
If you would like to support this project, help add more great art to the game and vote what it will be, you can join me on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/XFiction">Patreon!</a>
Thank you for playing and feel free to leave any feedback or comments either on the game's page or directly on my Discord. If you find any bugs let me know so I can fix them.
$inn
Part of you is curious to see what's going to happen. You close your eyes and grit your teeth.
But you just can't do it. This is too much.
You jerk away from his hands and straighten your $suit. Enough is enouh. He gives you a sly grin.
Defeated, you [[head back to your table->innhub]].
(set: _ti to 5)
$att
The darkness is waiting for you. Your curiosity burns.
However...
$A[Ionut did warn me not to go there, and it's only my first day...]
It would really suck if you got fired on your first day. Now that you've learned the key trick, you're pretty confident you could get back here tomorrow.
As long as it's $I[not your first day], you should probably be OK. You can come back later.
But for now, it's probably best to go [[Back]].
(set: _ti to 5)You look at the bracelet on your wrist - it has (colour:"#FFCCCC")[(if: $bcharges is 0)[no crimson beads left on it.](elseif:$bcharges is 1)[a single crimson bead left on it.](else:)[$bcharges crimson beads on it.] ]
(if: $Felicia_level<3)[ (if: $bcharges<2)[You're not entirely sure what that means, but you're worried about the beads dissapearing. It might be a sign of something bad. You get a trickle of cold sweat down your back. Perhaps you should talk to the the owner of the Antique Boutique.] (elseif: $bcharges<5)[You're not entirely certain if this bears any significance. Perhaps you should look into it.] ](if: $Felicia_level>2)[ (if: $bcharges<1)[This is terrible! A cold sweat covers your back. If you don't find a way to recharge the bracelet, you'll die, this time for good!](elseif: $bcharges<2)[$R[This isn't good at all!] You still have a tiny breathing room, but if you don't find a way to recharge the bracelet soon, you can die for good! ](elseif: $bcharges<4)[You're starting to get a little worried, but push it to the back of your mind. For now you have enough charges left.](else:)[You have plenty of charges left for now. That's good.] ]$room
You slowly wake up, your eyes opening to the familiar view of your room's ceiling. The dark mist in your mind slowly disperses.
And then you remember. The dark wings. The Crooked smile. Teeth sinking into your neck, and the fire of desire burning in your belly.
You blush and lift the covers of the bed to hide your face in shame.
Somehting pops into your mind and you lift your wrist. The bracelet is there, and it has (colour:"#FFCCCC")[$bcharges crimson beads on it.] You breathe a deep sigh of relief.
The haze in your mind is less now and you can think a little more clearly.
But that's not the only change. While you have regained some clarity, there's also something else. You feel like a door has been opened, a door that you can't close back. You $A[liked] what happened. Despite the circumstances and despite your untimely demise, on a deep, visceral level you $A[needed] that.
And now, another day begins. Somehow you know that the world is going to be different now. You want it to be. You wonder where all of this is going to lead you.
[[Recap what you know so far->recap]]
[[Examine yourself->mirror]]
[[Head out]]
(if: $dead>4 and $ach3 is false)[$R[Achievement unlocked - "Serial Victim"]
(set: $ach3 to true)]
(set: $lav_firstdeath to 1)
$din
(display:"mihai.breakfast")The servant appears shortly, asking if you'd like to eat the usual. (if: (history:) contains "enter the room")[(color:#99FFCC)[For an instant your blood freezes and a deep sensation of dread overtakes you.(if:$ionut_level is 1)[ You see Ionut's figure towering above you, holding a shovel. The dirt splashes on your tied body..]
The moment passes and you get a grip. Slowly, you reply with a nod and the servant disappears again, followed by the sound of sizzling.]](else:)[You give him a nod and he disappears again, followed by the sound of sizzling.]
(if: $lav_firstdeath is 0)[(display:"bracelet.think")](elseif: $lav_firstdeath is 1)[(display:"bracelet.think2")]
Before you know it, you're [[done with your eggs]].
(set: $seen_mihai to 1) (set: $din_vis to true)
(set: $gen to 1) (set: $money += 200) (set: _ti to 45)
(if:$felicia_level<3)[ (if: $bcharges<2)[While you chew, your mind returns to the ever diminishing crimson beads on the bracelet. You don't fully understand how they work, but you're almost certain that this is not a good sign.
You play absent-mindedly with the trinket. There is a faint, but perceptible warmth coming from the red beads. The black ones however feel dead and inert.
$A[I wonder what happens when they all turn black?]
Some gut feeling tells you that this won't be good.](elseif: $bcharges<4)[While you chew, your mind returns to the bracelet. You're pretty certain that it used to have more beads on it. The memory is a bit hazy though, so you can't be certain.
You play absent-mindedly with the trinket. There is a faint, but perceptible warmth coming from the red beads. The black ones however feel dead and inert.
$A[I wonder what this means...?]](else:)[While you chew, your mind returns to the bracelet. You're pretty certain that it used to have a different number of crimson beads on it. The memory is a bit hazy though, so you can't be certain.
You play absent-mindedly with the trinket. There is a faint, but perceptible warmth coming from the red beads.
$A[I wonder what this means...?] ] ](if:$felicia_level>2)[(if: $bcharges<1)[While you chew, your mind returns to the bracelet, on which there are now only dark beads left. $R[You feel Panic slowly creeping into your mind.] You have no more free passes left. If you die, you die.
$A[I really have to recharge the bracelet this time, whatever it takes!]
You swallow hard. Whatever it takes. The words echo in your head.](elseif: $bcharges<2)[While you chew, your mind returns to the bracelet, on which there is a single crimson bead left. You feel anxiety creeping into your mind. You have very little leeway left. One more chance. That's it.
$A[I really have to recharge the bracelet soon, even if it costs me. The way things are going, I won't last for long...]
You swallow hard and re-assess your options.](elseif: $bcharges<4)[While you eat, you play absent-mindedly with the trinket. There is a faint, but perceptible warmth coming from the red beads. The black ones however feel dead and inert. The crimson beads are not as many as you'd like them to be, but you still have enough left not to be panicking.
$A[There's still time, but I should start thinking about recharging the bracelet, just in case.]
But that can wait. For now, you can focus on uncovering the mysteries of the Crooked Elm.](else:)[While you eat, you play absent-mindedly with the trinket. There is a faint, but perceptible warmth coming from the red beads. There are enough of them to feel comfortable for now. Recharging is not a pressing matter.
While you chew your food, you ponder what to do with your day. There are still many mysteries left to uncover.] ]$E2['My $ups[children] will....yes that's right....safe place...$rev[new host] very soon...']
$Mi2['I'll see what I can do.... will be $ups[arranged]....for $rev[your brood]..' ]
(if: $deathlist contains "spider")[You shiver from the woman's voice. Woman. Ha-ha. You know better, now. Your hand instinctively moves to your abdomen, shivering at remnants of the memory. You don't remember everything, not in detail, but you remember enough.](else:)[You feel like you have to find more about the guests. Somehow you're certain that she's hiding something.]$din
Your breakfast is done, and you're almost ready to go. In the corner of the room, Mihai is having the familiar conversation with the guest from room 28. (display:"elise.think")
There's still a little bit of time left, so you try to plan out your day. Learning from your past mistakes will be key if you are to get out of this alive. (display:"woman.think")
$A[I have to get going now...]
[[To the kitchen]]
[[To the reception->ground floor]]
(set: _ti to 30)(if:$lewd<10)[Your head is still relatively clear. You're thankful for that. Despite the changes to your body, your mind still seems to be in the right place.
Not that being a woman is altogether too bad. In the grand sceheme of things, it's much preferable to being dead. Even if you remain in this body, it's not going to be the end of the world.
But you'd still rather change back if you can. This feels uncomfortable, foreign. It's not you.](elseif:$lewd<15)[Thinking is a little bit difficult. There is a haze clouding your mind and you just can't shake it off. You're certain it's related to the changes.
There's also the matter of your body. It seems to have a mind of its own, and urges of its own. They feel like intrusive thoughts in your head, messing with you.
You wonder how life would be if you don't manage to change yourself back. Surely it won't be too bad, being a woman. And you're pretty. In many ways you might have an easier life. Maybe you'll find a rich husband to take care of you.
You shake your head. These are exactly the kind of thoughts you want to chase away but can't. Maybe it will get better with time. It's hard to tell.](else:)[Thinking is becoming progressively hard with each death. It's the damn changes and you know it, but there's nothing you can do about it.
Your body has a voice of it's own, and it's whispering in your ear what it wants you to do. Sweet, delicious, unspeakable things. And the worst part is that saying "no" is a little harder every time.
You wonder how long you'd be able to resist these urges.]You have been equiped with a handful of violet thistles. You may proceed to [[room 28]].
(set: $flowers to 1)(if: $gas is 1 and $ionut_seen is 0)[ (color:#99FFCC)[<br><br>You see Ionut rushing through the entrance with a large spoon in hand.
'Vat is going on? No gas, no cook!'
$a['I don't know, haven't touched anything...'] you shrug.
'Vat a mess..!'
He rushes outside, probably towards the basement.
$a[He probably won't take long... but in the meantime the kitchen is empty. What if he forgot something there?] (set: $ionut_seen to 1)] ]<br><br>(if: (history:)'s last contains "clean28" or "Get a grip")[$1ref[ (if:$dead is 0)[ As you head back to the reception, you try to shake your thoughts from the black woman's room.
$A[Great, I feel like a servant now...] ](elseif:$dead is 1)[You had no choice, this time. The woman obviously enjoys bossing others around... (if: (history:) contains "rightaway2")[and you somehow enjoyed it a little.
$A[Alex, you realize this isn't the time to be roleplaying?] you scold yourself with a smirk.](else:)[perhaps a little too much for your taste. But who knows - you will see her around for some time, perhaps she'll grow on you?] ](elseif:$dead >1 and (history:) contains "clean28.4")[You make your way down to the reception, still breathing a little heavily. (if: $elise_servant is true)[This is becoming an addiction. You can't stop thinking back to what happened that night, and no amount of shame can mask how arousing the whole ordeal is to you right now. Perhaps you're going insane. You start worrying about the side effects of the bracelet. It's a fleeting thought. Your mind wanders to the silky bed again.](else:)[You continue resisting the strange urges, but it's starting to become an issue. You worry about the side effects of the bracelet. How long will you be able to keep your sanity if this goes on? You have to do something.] ](elseif:$dead >1 and (history:) contains "room flashbacks")[You stagger your way down to the reception, your body both hot and numb from the shock.
$A[What in the world is wrong with me?]
(if: $elise_servant is true)[There is something disturbingly arousing about your gruesome demise. Your mind wanders to the concept of *la petite mort*. Isn't it strange how love and death are interlinked, how desire leads to peril and peril leads to desire? Perhaps it's the adrenaline, the primal rush, the desire to overcome death with life, and life means reproduction...
Your intellectual mind carries on with that train of thought for a while. It's a nice distraction from the truth of the situation.](else:)[You did not expect to have this reaction, and it was unsettling hard to get your thoughts under control.
$A[This new body seems to have a mind of its own sometimes.]
Your mind wanders to the concept of *la petite mort*. It's odd how love and death are connected. It could certainly explain your reaction, or at least that's what you think. You don't remember everything really well, but right now you'd like to think that it's a perfectly normal reaciton.] ](else:)[ (either:"It takes you longer than usual to regain concentration. There's something about that room that messes with your mind. You make a note to try to find out what.","Your head is hazy again after dealing with room 28. It's strangely peaceful, but also worrying. You're not sure how you feel about it.","Just like the last time, you are left feeling ill at ease after dealing with the woman's room. There's definitely something there that messes with your perceptions, you're sure of it.") ]
]<br><br>](elseif: $elise_seen is 1 and $28done is 0 and $seen_mihai is 1)[$A[I probably should hurry and take care of that guest's room before doing anything else... (if: $lied_to_elise is 1)[and I hope she hasn't noticed yet that I lied about taking care of her room earlier.]]<br><br>](if: $hour<11)[The early morning rays barely penetrate the dirt and soot layered on the windows of the reception.](elseif: $hour<14)[It's noon and despite the sun high in the sky, the reception hall still manages to somehow look dark and gloomy.](elseif: $hour<18)[The afternoon sun pierces through the dirty windows, giving the reception hall a little bit more light than usual.](else:)[The sun has fallen behind the mountain ridges and only the faint yellow light of the lamps is illuminating the old reception hall.]<br><br>(if: $hour>14 and $dead is 0)[The day is starting to roll by and you promised Mihai that you'd make yourself presentable for your first day of work! The village isn't that close, so if you want to make it in time, you have to [[get going->travel]]. ](elseif: $hour<11 and $seen_mihai is 0)[It's still before 11 o'clock, so you can [have breakfast.]<breakfast|]
(elseif: $hour<18)[Ascend to [[Floor 1]], [[Floor 2]] or directly to the [[Attic->Back]]
$din_vis[Go and have a peek [[inside the kitchen.->To the kitchen]] ]
Have a walk [[in the garden.->the garden]]
Visit the [[library]].
(if: $tower_key is 0 and $Felicia_level is 0)[(display:"60m")[[Visit the village->travel]] ] (elseif: $tower_key is 1 and $Felicia_level is 0)[ [Visit the village]<visitvil|
(click: ?visitvil)[ $R[Leaving the manor with Ionut's keys seems like a bad idea] ]]
(elseif: $Felicia_level is 1 and $explained is 0)[ (color:#99FFCC)[There's only one person who could know something about your condition. The bracelet clings to your wrist, an unnatural warmth emanating from it. You need to [[go look for answers]].] ]
(elseif: $elise_present is 3)[(display:"30mg")[[Travel quickly to the village]] ](elseif: $Felicia_level>1 and $hour<16)[(display:"60m")[[Visit the village->visvil2]] ]
(elseif: $explained is 1 and $hour <16)[Time is pressing and you need to start work at 18, but you can probably still afford a trip to the village...barely.
(display:"60m")[[Visit the village->visvil2]] ] (elseif: $hour>=16)[It is now too late to travel to the village and back.]
] (elseif: $hour>=18)[It's time. Whatever you haven't done already you'll just have to leave for later. Your first work day is about to [[BEGIN]]!]
(click: ?breakfast)[
(if:$dead is 0)[ (goto:"Go to the dining hall")]
(elseif:$dead is 1)[ (goto:"breakfast1")]
(elseif:$dead is 2)[ (goto:"breakfast2")]
(elseif:$dead > 2)[ (goto:"breakfast3")]
]
(if:$deathlist contains "Ionut")[You peer towards the [[end of the hallway->take a peek around]], a winged shadow emerging in your mind. In another lifetime, your curiosity led to even more questions, as well as your untimely demise...
(if: $lewd<20)[... a demise that you would prefer to avoid in the future. You make a note to thread carefully when exploring forbidden sections.](else:)[...a demise that you know in your heart you will meet again. It's a disturbing thought, though in truth you are more disturbed by your calm acceptance of the fact.]
Despite how things ended last time, you feel an odd fascination towards the servant, and a desire to know more about him.
$A[He seems to be loyal to his master... but he is still a man. I wonder if his loyalty could be bought somehow?]](else:)[You peer towards the [[end of the hallway->take a peek around]], the light draft in the air taking your thoughts to the forbidden tower.
$A[I wonder what secrets lie in there? Surely it's something Felicia would love hearing about...]
Now that you have (colour:"#FFCCCC")[$bcharges crimson beads] again, you feel a little emboldened to resume your exploration of the mysteries of the Crooked Elm. After all, what's the worst that could happen? ](if: $elise_trial is 1)[Of course, first you have to go through your morning encounter with Elise. You stretch a bit, your feet as nimble as before.
$A[I wonder if this time she will be a spider or a woman?]
[[Proceed downstairs->proceed downstairs2]]
](elseif: $elise_present is 3 and $lastdeath is "spider")[Of course, first you have to survive your morning encounter with Elise.
$A[Come on, Alex, you're a clever girl, you can do this...]
Given how things turned out last time, you decide to be extra careful with choosing your words. Being spider breakfast is not how you'd like your day to start.
[[Proceed downstairs]] ](elseif: $elise_present is 3)[Of course, first you have to go through your morning encounter with Elise. You stretch a bit, your feet as nimble as before.
$A[I wonder if she will be able to tell that something is up?]
Your outwards appearance hasn't changed in any way, and so far you have no reason to suspect that the spider woman is in on your peculiar skills... but something tells you that this time might be different. You decide to stay sharp.
[[Proceed downstairs]] ](elseif:$deathlist contains "spider")[Of course, before you can get anywhere, you must first deal with the creature waiting for you downstairs. (if: $lewd<20)[The thought sends a shiver down your spine.
$A[It will be okay, Alex, she doesn't know that you know, just act natural...] ](else:)[The thought is a little scary, but the shivers you get are not entirely unpleasant. You almost look forward to the encounter.
$A[I wonder how things would go down this time...] ] ](else:)[Of course, before you can get anywhere, you must first deal with the woman downstairs. (if: $lewd<20)[You're not entirely sure if you're looking forward to that or not.](else:)[She can definitely feel a bit bossy, but right now that doesn't actually seem too bad...] ]
(unless: $elise_present is 3)[ [[Gather your courage and go down]] ]$T[-FLOOR 2-]
[You go down, preparing for what is to come.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/elise4.png" width="450" align="right">
Right on cue, the black woman walks out in the hallway, gliding in total silence towards you. Her ebony skin and peculiar proportions create a tingling sensation in your mind as the memories of your past encounters bubble up from your scrambled memory.
(set: $ti to 10)
(if: $deathlist contains "spider")[There is a terror that grips you as your mind rejects a vision of venomous jaws and long, black legs. The green-eyed woman addresses you:] (else:)[You blink fast, fighting with your headache and confusion. The black woman raises a hand gloved in black leather and points a bony finger towards you:]
$E['You must be the new maid. My room requires assistance.']
]<floor2|
(set: $elise_seen to 1) (set: $keysneeded to 1)
$bow[ [(display:"excl")]<bowb| $special[Bow before her]<bowb| <br>]
[Politely accept]<pacc|
[ [[Get it over with]] ]<gdone|
(click: ?pacc)[ (set: $sanity to it -1 )(replace:?floor2)[ $a['Of course, Madam, I'll do it right away!'] you reply. The black woman seems pleased.
$E['You're a pretty little thing, tsk. When did you arrive?']
$a['A few days ago, Madam. I'm still new.']
$E['Tsk, tsk, I see. You have much to learn, then. Perhaps you should visit me in my chambers when you have the time. I'll be sure to be gentle with you, tsk.']
$a['As you wish, Madam.']
$in[You feel much more comfortable in the body of a woman. Doing tasks such as cleaning and serving seem more natural to you. Somehow this feels right.]
You give her a nod and head towards [[her room->clean the woman's room]]. ]
(replace:?pacc)[ ] (replace:?gdone)[ ] (replace:?bowb)[ ] ]
(click: ?bowb)[ (replace:?floor2)[ $a['Of course, Madam, whatever pleases you'] you reply, bowing deeply in front of the dark creature. She raises an eyebrow, an amused smile on her lips.
$E['You're a pretty little thing, tsk. When did you arrive?']
$a['Eeeh-'] You do a few mental calculations. $a['A few days ago, Madam. I'm still new.']
$E['Tsk, tsk, I see. And eager to learn?']
$a['Very much so, Madam.'] You hold your gaze on the round green glasses, sensing a strange hotness inside you. Somehow you only want to be given orders and to obey.
$E['Perhaps you should visit me in my chambers when you have the time. I'll be sure to be gentle with you, tsk.']
$a['It would be my pleasure, Madam.'] you reply softly without thinking. The creature gives you a lustful smile.
$in[You feel much more comfortable in the body of a woman. Doing tasks such as cleaning and serving seem more natural to you. Somehow this feels right.]
You give her another deep bow with a generous and prolonged view of your $breasts and head towards [[her room->clean the woman's room]]. ]
(replace:?pacc)[ ] (replace:?gdone)[ ] (replace:?bowb)[ ] (set: $lust +=2) (set: $elise_level +=1)]
(if: $lav_firstdeath is 0)[You enter the twilight of the dining hall, glancing at the condemned windows.
$Mi['Ah, hello Ms. Reid....']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/mihai2.png" width="450" align="right">
This time you don't pay much attention to the conversation with Mihai. Such things seem somehow unimportant in the face of your current predicament. You absent mindedly take the coins and promise to try to get the generator working. ](elseif: $lav_firstdeath is 1)[You enter the twilight of the dining hall, glancing at the condemned windows.
$Mi['Ah, hello Ms. Reid....']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/mihai2.png" width="450" align="right">
This time you don't pay much attention to the conversation with Mihai. Such things seem somehow unimportant in the face of your current predicament. You absent mindedly take the coins and promise to try to get the generator working.]
(if: $bcharges<1)[While you chew, your mind returns to the bracelet, on which there are now only dark beads left. $R[You feel Panic slowly creeping into your mind.] You have no more free passes left. If you die, you die.
$A[Why am I waiting so long to recharge the bracelet? I know what needs to be done, I should get it over with as soon as possible...]
](elseif: $bcharges<2)[While you chew, your mind returns to the bracelet, on which there is a single crimson bead left. You feel anxiety creeping into your mind. You have very little leeway left. One more chance. That's it.
$A[I really have to recharge the bracelet soon, even if it costs me. The way things are going, I won't last for long...]
You swallow hard and re-assess your options.](elseif: $bcharges<4)[While you eat, you play absent-mindedly with the trinket. There is a faint, but perceptible warmth coming from the red beads. The black ones however feel dead and inert. The crimson beads are not as many as you'd like them to be, but you still have enough left not to be panicking.
$A[There's still time, but I should start thinking about recharging the bracelet, just in case.]
But that can wait. For now, you can focus on uncovering the mysteries of the Crooked Elm.](else:)[While you eat, you play absent-mindedly with the trinket. There is a faint, but perceptible warmth coming from the red beads. There are enough of them to feel comfortable for now. Recharging is not a pressing matter.
While you chew your food, you ponder what to do with your day. There are still many mysteries left to uncover.]$ant
You enter the small antique shop. The woman behind the counter throws you a mischevious look.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/felicia.png" width="450" align="right">
$M['I see that you've found a way to recharge your bracelet.']
'Yes', you nod and blush. 'It wasn't that bad, honestly. Except, you know, for the dying part.'
$M['You managed to die **and** recharge at the same time? That must have been an interesting story.']
'I'm sure you'd love the details.'
The cat woman grins.
$M['You're a clever girl. Next time try to find a way to recharge without putting your neck on the line.']
'I doubt that jerk will let me just walk away...'
$M['So find other victims! Work those lady charms morrrre.']
You give her an odd look. $A[The damned cat is having fun!]
'Okay, I will try,' you sigh.
$M['The **inn** is always an easy source of horny men. It's not classy and I personally think you can do better, but if your imagination fails you it can always be a safe bet.']
You hold back the desire to say something snarky.
[['All right, I'll try to be smarter next time...'->antique boutique]]
(set: $recharge_explained to 1)
(set: _ti to 30)$inn
The man looks half amused by the quesiton, but then gives you a stern look.
$rando['None of your business, sweetheart. Now why don't you bugger off and let the **men** do their business.'] His companions give you equally sour looks, one of them toying with a dagger.
[[Run away]]
[[Resist intimidation]]$inn
He stands up and grabs you by the wrist, jerking you to follow as the two of you head towards the far end of the hall. There, he shoves you inside a small storage room filled with boxes and barrels. You're forcefully pushed against the wall, where you meekly place your hands, and wait passively as he slides down your panties, rubs your wet hole a few more times and then has his way with you unceremoniously.
When he reaches climax you sense a warmth around your wrist, one of the bracelet's black pearls blossoming into crimson. The hooded man groans, filling you with a different kind of warmth.
After he's done the two of you come out together, walking the walk of shame back to his table to the sniggering looks of his friends. With a deep blush, you walk back to [[your table->innhub]].
(set: $myst_level to 2) (set: _ti to 20) (set: $bcharges to it + 1) (set: $lust +=1) (set: $myst_visited to 1)
(if: $first_willing_sex is "none")[(set: $first_willing_sex to "myst_man")]$ant
$a['All right, I'll settle your debt...'] you sigh, sensing trouble brewing.
$M['Purrfect! I knew you'd be a good girl and agree.'] she grins. $M['Here, you can have the pheromones for now. Hopefully it will help you to stay alive in the meantime.' ]
$a['Yeah, yeah.'] You take the bottle and place it in one of your pockets.
$I[Werewolf pheromones added to inventory.]
(set: $pheromones to 1) (set: $flaskful to 100) (set: _ti to 5) (set: $debt to 1)
[['So how does this work?'->how work2]] $mount
You know there's only one way things could end.
$A[Might as well do it the easy way..]
(if: $first_willing_sex is "none")[You get down on the ground and assume the doggy position on all fours. Considering how things went down with Lavius, you were hoping that your next encounter would at least be both more consensual and less life threatening. But whatever you tell yourself there is no denying that your heart is pounding hard and you feel more than a little excited as the beast gets on top of you. ](else:)[You get down on the ground and assume the doggy position on all fours. It's alarming how quickly you're getting used to this. No matter how many times you tell yourself that you have no choice, there is no denying that your heart is pounding hard and you feel more than a little excited as the beast gets on top of you.]
The werewolf's giant member is poking at your garments but still has no easy access to its target. The beast begins to growl in frustration.
$A[Damn it, damn it, damn it...!]
By now your body is also in heat, wet and ready for what is to come. You curse all the gods and reach back to [[pull down your panties]].
(set: _ti to 15)
(set: $lust to (it + 2))$mount
You may have gotten yourself in this situation, but you're not going to give in to the beast just like that!
$A[I still smell like a werewolf, so the beast probably won't eat me this time. Perhaps I can get around it...]
You quicken your pace and try to brush past the beast. However as soon as it sees you running away, it leps after you, easily pinning you to the ground.
$A[Damnit!!]
At least you tried. It's little consolation, but it's all you have. Despite your body's burning heat, you still tried to resist. You didn't want this. As the beast's erect member pokes under your garments, you [[prepare for the worst.]]
(set: _ti to 15)
(set: $sanity to (it + 5))<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/excl.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-15px;" width="25">          $din
With the windows sealed off and all the candles out, the dining hall is in pitch black darkness. You remember this and are ready to not repeat the same mistake again.
$A[I'm not opening any windows this time around!]
You lead the guest through the darkness, sitting him at a table in the corner. Just as you struggle with his luggage, you hear a voice behind you.
'Mrs Reid, vat are you doing, ve can't see anyfing here!'
You turn around with a horrified look on your face, just to see Ionut opening one of the windows.
'It really is shit vitout light in here...' the server mumbles under his breath.
A ray of moonlight penetrates the room, illuminating the chairs and tables and falling on the guest's frowning face.
$W['NOOOOORRGHHHHH!']
The man convulses, clunching his stomach with both hands, his expressions contorting in agony. His limbs begin to grow, thick black fur sprouting from his skin, his jaw morphing and extending forward.
$W['AAAAHHHHHOOOOOWWWLLLL!!!']
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/ggwolf.png" width="900" align="center">
The monster leaps on top of you, pinning you down, its claws digging down and shredding your new clothes.
History repeats itself.
Your frail, feminine body trembles in terror as the teeth sink into the delicate flesh without hesitation. There is little mercy for you this time and you convulse in agony as the beast tears off chunk after chunk, your helpless limbs flailing in the swelling pools of blood and splattering crimson spots all over the remains of your $suit.
The force is finally sapped from your body and the pain fades into a dull background. The last thing you feel is your bracelet getting warmer, before [the darkness takes you]<worlddis|.
(click:?worlddis)[(goto:"DIE")]
(set: $lastdeath to "wolfguest")
(set: $deathlist to it + (a: "wolfguest"))$inn
You know the part to play and you execute it splendidly. Words and wine flow generously and soon enough $L[Lavius] has his arm around your shoulder, leaning in for a kiss.
(if: $lewd<20)[You don't really want to, but backing off now would be suspicious. Reluctantly, you let yourself fall into his embrace. ](elseif: $lewd<30)[Your heart is pounding fast and you give in to his kiss with ease. Part of you realises that you should definitely get a grip, but damn, you're enjoying this too much.](else:)[In your current state, you almost forget why you're doing it in the first place. It doesn't matter. Your lips open and accept his, your body craves so much more.]
After a long session of making out, the charming vampire is interrupted by a voice from behind.
'Lavius, we need to speak.'
$L['Cant you see I'm busy? Go away'] Lavius hisses at him, his beautiful face distorting with dissaproval.
'It's **urgent**. You need to come. Now.'
You know that the man behind is the mysterious individual that was sitting at the table in the corner. (if: $myst_visited is 1)[You try not to stare at the man, your cheeks flaring from your recent encounter. What's even more embarrassing is that he doesn't even acknowledge your presence, focusing entirely on his conversation with Lavius.
$A[It's like I'm just some pretty object on the table...]](elseif: $myst_level is 1)[](elseif: $myst_level > 1)[You try not to stare at the man, your cheeks flaring from your past encounters. He doesn't recognise you in this timeline, but your brain is quick to remind you in detail what he did yo you. You turn your face away, blushing.]
$L['I'll be right back, my darling, don't go anywhere.'] Lavius kisses you again and gets up from the table, following the other man.
If you want to back off from your plan, now's the time.
[[Wait for Lavius to take you to his lair]]
[[Abort mission]]
(set: _ti to 40)$inn
You sit patiently on the table, waiting for Lavius to get back. You feel hot and sweaty, your mind in a happy haze from the wine.
$A[Keep it straight, Alex, you're doing this for a reason...]
After a few minutes, he returns.
$L['I'm terribly sorry for the interruption my dear, my *friend* over there needed my immediate council on a private matter. But I shan't bother you with such trifles. Now, where were we?']
Lavius leans in and kisses you again, filling your mouth with the taste of wine, lavender and something else, unrecognisable. When he draws away, you can't help but get a feeling of void.
$L['Let's finish the wine at my place, shall we?']
You know exactly where this is going, but gather your courage and [[follow him out]].
(set: _ti to 20)$inn
Catching a serious case of cold feet, you decide to bail while Lavius is busy talking to the other man.
$A[Perhaps I'm not ready just yet to be eaten alive again...]
You doubt he'll be happy with you, but that's something you can sort out later. For now, you sneak out of the inn and go back to the [[village->village3]].
(set: _ti to 10) (set: $lav_busy to 1)$T[-LAVIUS' SECRET LAIR-]
You make your way out the inn and to the hunting cabin, sharing more sweet nothings and kisses along the way.
When Lavius reveals his secret lair you gush with a surprised voice, counting on the wine to cover your bad acting. The two of you go down the staircase and through the heavy wooden.
You step into a long hallway with a handful of doors to each side. There are more of the lamps spraying dirty yellow light around. Copper pipes run the length of the ceiling, punctuated with valves and pressure gauges.
$L['Welcome to my secret laboratory!']
$A[It won't be so secret for long ....] you think, but just chuckle politely.
$a['And what's to stop from just anyone barging in anyways?'] you ask, strolling down the hallway.
$L['First of all, nobody knows where it is. And even if somehow they did, how would they get out once they're in? Nobody knows that the password is $I[**Lastra Mora**]']
If there's any chance you were about to walk out of here alive, it's gone now. You decide to roll with it and make the best out of the situation.
[[Flirt with him]]
(set: _ti to 20)$T[-LAVIUS' SECRET LAIR-]
$a['You didn't take me all this way just to brag about some basement,I hope?']
$L['Of course not, my dear Alexandra! Right this way...']
He takes your hand and leads you to his private chamber, where he pushes you on the giant, king-sized bed. You land flat on your back, the satin sheets cushioning your fall. He is on top of you, kissing your $lips, kissing your neck, kissing your $breasts, his hands tearing apart your clothes as he descends lower in a flury of desire.
Lavius ompletely shreddes your $suit to pieces. Your naked body glistens in the darkness, beads of sweat covering your skin. The vampire runs his hands along it, feeling every curve. Reaching your arms, he places them in an outstretched position above your head and you soon feel the soft touch of leather wrapping around your wrists.
You let him tie you up. After all, resistance is futile. You feel completely defenceless and exposed, your flower twitching as he stares hungrily at it. $A[Maybe this is exactly what I wanted...]
He bends down and kisses it, leaving a trail of saliva along your slit. You are ready.
You feel a finger run along your wet slit.
A shiver runs through your body.
Finally he comes, sliding inside your dripping cunt with ease. A moan escapes your throat.
$L['Ah, my dear Alexandra, what a wonderful, beautiful, **naive** girl you are.']
Getting on top of you, his teeth sink into the side of your neck, punctuating your artery. Then you feel him penetrate you, starting to pump a rhythm as the blood is drained out of your body.
Your head spins. There is no pain.
The thrusts continue, filling your aching pussy over and over again.
Your body twitches as you feel yourself grow weaker.
He fucks you harder and faster. Indescernable screams escape your mouth.
The crescendo comes, one last final stroke that plunges into your depths and stays there, his seed spilling into your womb as his teeth drain the life out of your neck. You twitch again, your flower clenching tightly around him into one last, powerful orgasm, before everything fades into darkness.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/laviusd.png" width="750" align="center">
On your wrist, the bracelet grows hot, dark beads flaring into crimson.
Everything goes black.
(set: $bcharges to it + 3) (set: $lust to (it + 3))
(if: $bcharges>5)[(set: $bcharges to 5)]
(click: "goes black.")[(goto:"DIE")]
(set: $deathlist to it + (a: "lavius"))$mount
You are exposed and ready. This isn't how you planned things to go, but now it's too late...
The beast enters you with a growl, stretching you wide with a single thrusts. He's too big, way too big for you, and you immediately realize that your human body could never safely handle anything of this size.
You are surprised to find out that you're wrong. Your flesh stretches and adapts with unnatural ease, letting the werewolf's giant phallus plunge deep inside you.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/scene1.png" width="1000" align="center">
$A[It's this damn bracelet....]
You somehow know that it's the bracelet's fault. Your body has changed, and it's not just in outward appearance. You have become more adaptable, more resilient.... and [[more sensitive]].
(set: _ti to 15)$mount
(if: (history:)'s last is "prepare for the worst.")[<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/scene2.png" width="1000" align="center">](else:)[<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/scene1.png" width="1000" align="center">]
However much you try to take control, your body craves it. It needs it. Your $breasts are bouncing with every thrust of the beast, moans escaping your $lips despite your best efforts.
$A[How did things come to this...?]
You let the beast do its thing, until it finally tenses up. Its member inflates inside you, locking into place and you feel a series of spurts shoot deep insde your (if: (history:)'s last is "prepare for the worst.")[guts](else:)[womb]. The bracelet glows hot on your wrist, a new bead blossoming crimson as your body absorbs the life energy.
The werewolf keeps you in place for a few more minutes, until his knot finally deflates and he plops free from you.
With a dizzy head, you slowly recover from the experience. When you finally manage to get up, your legs shaking, the beast is nowhere to be seen.
Slowly, you [[continue on your way to The Crooked Elm->ground floor]].
(set: $bcharges to (it +1))
(set: _ti to 15)$mount
You were ready for what you expected, but you weren't ready for this.
In its lust and rage, the werewolf pushes its member into your back entrance, howling with pleasure.
$a['Aaargh!!']
Your ass stretches wide with a single thrust. He's too big, way too big for you, and you immediately realize that your human body could never safely handle anything of this size.
You are surprised to find out that you're wrong. Your flesh stretches and adapts with unnatural ease, letting the werewolf's giant phallus plunge deep inside you.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/scene2.png" width="1000" align="center">
$A[It's this damn bracelet....]
You somehow know that it's the bracelet's fault. Your body has changed, and it's not just in outward appearance. You have become more adaptable, more resilient.... and [[more sensitive]].
(set: _ti to 15)<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/heart_10.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-15px;" width="50">          <img src="http://xfiction.org/images/heart_20.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-15px;" width="50">          <img src="http://xfiction.org/images/heart_15.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-15px;" width="50">          <img src="http://xfiction.org/images/heart_30.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-15px;" width="50">          <img src="http://xfiction.org/images/back.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-5px; margin-left:10px;" width="30">          $unav[text in line 1]
$unav1[text in line 2]
$unav2[text in line 3]
$unav1[ $unav2[Text in line 4] ]$unav1[$unav2[(either:"n̸̘̣̉͐̃͂Ꮈຖ໓s̵͖͎͖̰̪͆Ŝᶠֆʄʝǟf̴̨̤̣͍̳̣̆̒͜千n̸̘̣̉͐̃͂ᎸŜᶠֆʄʝǟf̴̨̤̣͍̳̣̆̒͜s̵͖͎͖̰̪͆Ꮈຖ໓n̸̘̣̉͐̃͂千","h҉s̵͖͎͖̰̪͆Ŝᶠֆժʂƒʝąղƒd̶s̶f̶j̶a̶♐︎🙰","♐︎ʝǟ♎︎⬧︎千n̸̘̣̉͐̃͂Ꮈ◆︎ຖ໓n̸̘̣̉͐̃͂🙰Ŝᶠֆʄʝǟf̴̨̤̣͍̳̣̆̒͜千n̸̘̣̉͐̃͂ᎸŜᶠֆʄʝǟ𝔫𝓕𝔡ｓυⒿђf̴̨̤̣͍̳̣̆̒͜s̵͖͎͖̰̪͆Ꮈn̸̘̣̉͐̃͂千","đsᵘנĦⓝʝǟf̴̨̤̣͍̳̣̆̒͜s̵͖͎͖̰̪͆Ꮈf̶j̶a̶♐︎🙰n̸̘̣̉͐̃͂Ꮈຖ໓s̵͖͎͖̰̪͆ŜᎸŜᶠֆʄʝǟ","ηＦĐ𝐬ỮʲᕼŇn̸̘̣̉͐̃͂🙰Ŝᶠֆʄʝǟǟf̴̨̤̣͍̳̣̆̒͜s̵͖͎͖̰̪͆Ꮈຖ໓n̸̘̣̉͐̃͂♎︎⬧︎千n̸̘̣̉͐̃͂Ꮈ◆︎f̶j̶a̶♐︎🙰")]]<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/10m.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-20px;" width="50">          <img src="http://xfiction.org/images/none.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-15px;" width="50">          <img src="http://xfiction.org/images/75m.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-20px;" width="50">          <img src="http://xfiction.org/images/15m.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-20px;" width="50">          <img src="http://xfiction.org/images/20m.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-20px;" width="50">          <img src="http://xfiction.org/images/30m.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-20px;" width="50">          <img src="http://xfiction.org/images/5m.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-20px;" width="50">          <img src="http://xfiction.org/images/45m.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-20px;" width="50">          <img src="http://xfiction.org/images/60m.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-20px;" width="50">          <img src="http://xfiction.org/images/90m.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-20px;" width="50">          $gar
You head to the far end of the garden, where you last saw a large patch of thistles growing by the cemetary gate.
Using a swiss knife you have the habit of carrying with yourself, you cut some of the violet thistles. They'd make for a pretty bouquet, though a bit thorny.
(if: (random: 1, 100) <= 15)[While working on the thistles, you notice a familiar plant growing just behind a large boulder. A closer examination reveals that your assumptions are correct - it's $I[catnip]!
You're not quite sure why, but you decide to get some. You never know when it can come in handy.
(set: $catnip to 1)]
(display:"bk")[[Return to the front->the garden]]
(set: $flowers to 1) (set: _ti to 20)<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/key.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-5px; margin-left:10px" width="35">          $fl2
You decide to ignore the woman's request for now, turning away from her room. The day has just begun and you'll have plenty of time to do it later. You'd much rather start easy, perhaps with a $in[breakfast].
$a[I hope she doesn't notice the delay.... it will probably be a good idea to make sure I clean her room before she gets back, I don't want to piss off a guest on my first day...]
You sneak back towards the staircase and, after checking that she's gone, [[go down to the reception->ground floor]].
(set: $lied_to_elise to 1)
(set: _ti to 5)$kit
$A['Since we're out of power, Mihai told me to fetch some fuel for the generator in the basement.']
'I see.'
Ionut takes the keyring and hands you one of the keys.
'Bring vack when you done.'
(display:"bk")[['Thanks, that's all for now'->ground floor]] (set: $gen to 2) (set: $keys to ((a:"the basement")+$keys))$kit
(if: $tower_key is 0)[There's no one in the kitchen, though a number of pots and pans are on the stove, evidently in the middle of preparation. Ionut must have left in a hurry, as the tap is left running and his $in[keyring] is left on the counter.
(set: _ti to 5)
(display:"key")[[Take Ionut's keys]]
(display:"bk")[[Mind your own business]] ] (if: $tower_key is 1)[There's no one in the kitchen, though a number of pots and pans are on the stove, evidently in the middle of preparation.
(display:"key")[[Return Ionut's keys]]
(display:"bk")[[Back->ground floor]] ]
(set: _ti to 10)(if: (passage:)'s name is "clean28.1")[Your job seems done, but your head spins. Something doesn't feel quite right. You know that more than an hour has passed, but your memory feels hazy. ](elseif: (passage:)'s name is "clean28.2")[Your job seems done for now. The room still feels very confusing to be in, but getting part of your memories back has helped you to regain some (colour:#77cff7)[**clarity**]. ]
(display:"bk") [[Return downstairs->ground floor]]
$ant
'Hey, there's something I've been meaning to ask you...' you trail off with uncertainty. Now that you mention it, you're not entirely sure if it's wise to put all your cards on the table. But then again, the owner of the antique boutique has saved your life on multiple occasions.
$M['What is it, dear?'] the woman purrs with veiled curiosity.
'What can you tell me about this?'
You pull out the tiny green bottle, handing it to the shop owner. She flicks it through her fingers with an expression of faint surprise on her face.
$M['I won't ask where you got this from... but I need to know if it was given or taken.']
(display:"talk")[['What difference does it make?']]
(display:"talk")[['It was given to me.']]
(set: _ti to 5)$ant
'Why does it matter?'
The cat gives you a stern look. $M['This is a really rare and powerful item. If you stole it from somebody, I need to prepare for the consequences.']
'I didn't steal it, it was a gift!'
$M['A gift?'] She raises an eyebrow. $M['Someone just casually... gave it to you?']
'Well, it was just something from a friend.'
Felicia's eyes narrow, piercing through you.
$M['You're not lying... I see that perhaps a new player has entered the game. Things are becoming very interesting.']
'The game? What do you mean?'
$M['No matter. The important thing is that you didn't steal the bottle. So, what do you want to do with it?']
(display:"talk")[['Eeeh, what **can** I do with it?'->potion options]]
(set: _ti to 5)$ant
$M['A gift?'] She raises an eyebrow. $M['Someone just casually... gave it to you?']
'Well, it was just something from a friend.'
Felicia's eyes narrow, piercing through you.
$M['You're not lying... I see that perhaps a new player has entered the game. Things are becoming very interesting.']
'The game? What do you mean?'
$M['No matter. The important thing is that you didn't steal the bottle. So, what do you want to do with it?']
(display:"talk")[['Eeeh, what **can** I do with it?'->potion options]]
(set: _ti to 5)<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/dialogue.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-10px;" width="45">          $ant
$M['You can't just drink it, that's for sure. But I can use it to make various potions that may prove beneficial.']
You peer into the poisonous green bottle. If it is what you think it is, you could just pour it into someone's glass...
'What can you make of it?' you ask the owner.
$M['The easy option would be to use it as an enhancer in a standard speed potion. It's an extremely potent agent and will effectively supercharge the effects of the potion. If I add a little extra, it might even last through your death...']
'Oh wow! So I will permanently become very nimble?'
$M['effectively, yes. You will be quicker, more enduring, and with improved reactions in certain situations.']
'Certainly sounds useful. But you mentioned this was the "easy" option. What else can you make out of it?'
$M['There are a few things, but I'm currently missing the ingredients. I'll try to look around and we'll talk then.']
(display:"talk") [['Okay, so right now my options are...'->potion chose]]
(set: _ti to 10)$ant
Felicia holds the green bottle in her hand.
$M['Right now, I can either use this to make an enhanced potion of quickness, or you can keep it for later.
However, to make the potion of quickness, I will need additional ingredients, and they won't come for free. I think **2 secrets** should cover it.
What do you chose?']
[ ]<msg|
(display:"excl")[Make a potion of quickness]<quick| $M[*(2 secrets)*]
(display:"bk")[[Decide later->antique boutique]]
(set: $potion_explained to 1)
(click:?quick)[(if: $secrets>1)[(set: $secrets to it - 2) (goto:"quickness") ] (else:)[(replace:?msg)[$R[You don't have enough secrets!]] ] ]$ant
You feel like the cat is driving a hard bargain, but drinking the potion might just be worth it. Reluctantly, you hand it over and whiper two of your secrets to her.
Her expression remains neutral as ever, not giving away anything.
$A[Did she already know this? What games is she playing?]
You are left with more questions than answers, as usual. The owner smiles mysteriously and leaves you to wait, dissapearing somewhere in the depths of her shop.
There is an eerie sensation of time stratching and condensing, like a bubble gum being chewed by a lazy panther. You have no idea where that mental image came from, but for some reason it sticks in your head. The minutes stretch, thick like honey, and the hours flow, quick like a mountain stream.
After 5 minutes, according to the mechanical clock on the wall, the antique boutique regurgitates its owner back to the reception.
$M['This is for you,'] the cat says, handing you a vial of a yellow-ish looking decoction. $M['Drink it quickly before the effect wears off.']
[[Drink the decoction]]
(set: $elise_present to 3)
(set: _ti to 30)[$T[-Transylvania-]]<fontbig|
Before we proceed, let's take a moment to tailor the experience to your personal preferences.
**STEP 1/2 - INTRODUCTION LENGTH**
What kind of narrative experience do you prefer?
1. **Total Immersion** *(default)*
You will experience the full introduction and the backstory leading up to your peculiar predicament. You will meet every character in the introduction.
[Select 1]<sel1|
2. **Shortened intro**
You will experience a short introduction, followed by the complete backstory leading up to your peculiar predicament. You will skip the introduction of minor events and characters and you will meet them during gameplay.
[Select 2]<sel2|
3. **Get me into the action**
You will experience a short introduction and a condensed version of the backstory. You will meet only the most central characters in the intro sequence (the rest you will meet directly during gameplay).
[Select 3]<sel3|
(click:?sel1)[(set: $intro to 1) (goto:"start3") ]
(click:?sel2)[(set: $intro to 2) (goto:"start3") ]
(click:?sel3)[(set: $intro to 3) (goto:"start3") ] [$T[-Transylvania-]]<fontbig|
You're almost done! The below settings are already set to default, but you can tweak them now if you wish.
Settings can also be changed later in the game.
**STEP 2/2 - Settings**
**ANIMATIONS**:
**A) Full length animations** *(default)*
Text animations in the game will always be displayed.
(link-repeat:"Select")[(set: $death_animation to 1)(replace:?info)[$I[Text animations set to full] ] ]
**B) Short animations**
Text animations will only be displayed the first time you encounter them and will be skiped from then on.
(link-repeat:"Select")[(set: $death_animation to 2)(replace:?info)[$I[Text animations set to short] ] ]
[ ]<info|
[Continue]<cont|
(click:?cont)[(if:$intro is 1)[(goto:"Start")]
(else:)[(goto:"Short intro")]]
You follow the servant around as he gives you a tour of all the rooms and locations around the hotel.
You converse in bits of small talk, but he doesn't seem very talkative.
The only incident that happens is in the attic, where your room is located. As you try to explore further down the hallway, the servant abruptly pulls you back.
$in[In the attic there is a staircase leading up to a tower. However **you are forbidden from entering.**]
After two long hours, [[the tour is finally over.->Reception]]
$I[*This section has been shortened due to your introduction preferences.*]
(set: $library_found to 1)(set: $tour to 1)
(set: $hour to ($hour+2))$din
You have breakfast, chatting with the odd servant. After you're done, he gives you a tour of the hotel, showing you the different rooms and locations.
The only incident that happens is in the attic, where your room is located. As you try to explore further down the hallway, the servant abruptly pulls you back.
$in[In the attic there is a staircase leading up to a tower. However **you are forbidden from entering.**]
Once you're familiar with all the locations around The Crooked Elm, you decide to have a stroll down to the village.
[[Visit the village]]
$I[*This section has been drastically shortened due to your introduction preferences.*]
(set: $library_found to 1)(set: $tour to 1)
(set: $hour to ($hour+5))$rec
Once you're back at the hotel, you spend some more time looking around and reading old books at the library.
Eventually night falls and the peculiar owner invites you to have dinner with him.
[[Have dinner with Mihai->have dinner]]
$I[*This section has been drastically shortened due to your introduction preferences.*]
(set: $hour to 20)<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/30mg.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-20px;" width="50">          $mount
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/trail3.png" width="1400" style="position:absolute; float:left; margin-top:-100px;" >You head down the mountain path, hopping lightly on your feet as never before. Every rock feels familiar, every turn greets you like an old friend. Instead of tripping on the tree roots as usual, you jump lightly off of them, the distance flying under your feet.
In no time at all, you [[make it down to the village->village3]].
(set: _ti to 30)$mount
You take the familiar path uphill following the little stream. Perhaps the mountain air is already having a positive effect or perhaps you're getting used to your new $suit, but this time the trip is less bothersome.
The forest is starting to get dark and you wonder whether you'll make it back in time. You should hurry.
Before you know it, you [[arrive at the hotel->ground floor]]
(set: _ti to 30)$ant
As you gulp down the contents of the vial, you vaguely remember a talk you once had with your mom about not taking drugs from strangers. At the time you thought that you would be very lucky if a stranger decided to give you drugs for free.
But that was all in another lifetime, and even as you think about it the memory fizzles out and fades. Was it even yours to begin with?
As the last drops of the decoction slide down your throat, you notice the woman staring at you with a glimmer in her yellow eyes.
$M['Good girl,'] she praises you, giving you a little pat on the head.
[[Accept the compliment]]
[[Protest]]
(set: _ti to 10)$ant
You let the cat pet you, akwardly accepting her approval.
$A[I suppose she's happy that I managed to get this all by myself.... and it really wasn't that easy, I had to work for it! I suppose that I am doing well...]
The effects of the potion start kicking in, and you feel a light-headed sensation, and a warm wave spreading through your muscles. Your movements become easier and quicker, as if a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.
$A[Wow this feels great!]
You flash Felicia a little smile and she gives you another encouraging pat.
[[Continue->antique boutique]]
(set: _ti to 10)$ant
You akwardly pull away, interrupting her pats.
'I'm not some pet you know!'
$M['Oh, does it feel dimeaning to have your head patted?']
You look into a pair of cold yellow eyes.
'No! I means yes... I don't know....'
$M['It's okay, I know that humans are easily confused.'] Her smile flashes again and you breathe a sigh of relief. For a moment you thought that she was mad at you, and you just realized how bad this would be for your situation.
The effects of the potion start kicking in, and you feel a light-headed sensation, and a warm wave spreading through your muscles. Your movements become easier and quicker, as if a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.
$a[Wow this feels great!]
You flash Felicia a little smile and she gives you an encouraging nod.
[[Continue->antique boutique]]
(set: _ti to 10)$T[-ROOM 28-]
(if: $hour >11 )[You enter the familiar silvery room, the soft haze invading your mind. With deadly grace, the dark woman emerges from the shadows.
$E['Hello, my dear. what brings you to me?']
(if: $elise_relationship is "lie")[$a['What can a succubus want?'] you smile at her mischeviously.
$E['I see how it is, tsk. Then say it, girl! Don't be shy.']
(display:"talk")[['I want to serve you.'->eliseserve]]
](elseif: $elise_relationship is "honest")[$a['I just wanted to talk to you for a while.']
$E['Really, tsk? And what does the cat have to say about that?']
$a['She's not my boss, you know! I can do whatever I want!']
$E['Then what **is** it that you want, girl? Why are you here?']
(display:"talk")[['I want to serve you.'->eliseserve]]
(display:"talk")[['Nothing, I'll see you later.'->Floor 2]]]
](else:)[You enter the familiar silvery room, giving your mind to the strange haze.
$A[It is so nice and peaceful in here...]
The silky smooth surfaces no longer bother you and you're temped to linger for a while, but you have other things to do, so you decide to [[leave->Floor 2]] ] (set: _ti to 10)$T[-FLOOR 2-]
(if: $lastdeath is "spider")[You go down, trying to conceal your anxiery. Elise isn't there.
$A[Here we go again...]
You fake your best nonchalant expression, strolling down the hallway.](else:)[You go down, waiting for Elise to appear as usual.
She doesn't.
You peer down the hallway, towards the direction of her room. There is only darkness and silence.]
$E['Who are you exsssactly?'] whispers a voice behind your ear.
[[Turn around]]
(set: _ti to 5)
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/spider_hanging.png" width="800">$fl2
You twist slowly, coming face to face with the head of a giant spider, it's many eyes black gleaming at you like gemstones. Her fangs hang relaxed and you sense more curiosity than danger, but your past enounters have thought you to be weary.
$A[If I'm honest and tell her everything perhaps she will be kind to me... but that also means revealing my secrets. I could try to weasel my way out of this and keep my aces up my sleeves... but is it worth the risk?]
You stare at the jaws of death, keeping your best poker face.
(display:"talk")[['Hello, Elise.']]
(display:"talk")[['I'm the new maid.']]
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/spider_hanging.png" width="800">
(set: _ti to 5)$fl2
The spider's fangs twitch and she leans in even closer to your face.
$E['How do you know my name, girrl? Think carefully and anssswer the truthh.']
(display:"talk") [['Mihai told me you were a guest here']]
(display:"talk") [['You told me, in another life.']]
(set: _ti to 5)$fl2
The spider cocks it's head to the side. Her fangs twitch and she leans in even closer to your face.
$E['You can ssee me, tsk. Why can you see me? What are you?']
(display:"talk")[['I'm just an ordinary girl.']]
(display:"talk")[['I'm a succubus.']]
(display:"talk")[['What do you mean "see you"?']]
(set: _ti to 5)$fl2
The spider's gaze narrows on you.
$E['**He** told you that name?']
You sense your wiggle room growing narrower.
$a['Yeah, he eeh- gave me a rundown of the guests when I arrived for my job.']
$E['You lie, little human!'] hisses Elise. $E['I know Mihai, he would never speak my name to someone like you. Who sent you?']
$a['Nobody!'] you cry out. $a['I came here for this job and-']
The spider's fangs dart in a flash, and you feel a burning sensation in your neck. The world grows blurry and yourbody feels weak. You try to run but your limbs fold like spaghetti and you collapse on the floor.
The last thing you remember is being wrapped in something soft and dragged off down the hallway as you slowly [[lose consciousness]].
(set: _ti to 10)$fl2
Elise twists her head in confusion.
$E['Exssplain...']
$a['It's kinda complicated, and I'm not sure I understand everything myself.']
You take a deep breath and start recounting how you arrived here at first and the strange events that lead to your current situation. You tell her about the bracelet and about Felicia, but try to leave out some of the details regarding the secrets you've found. You still don't know exactly what her relationship is with the other characters in the village and you'd rather not open any unnecessary weak spots.
Then comes the tricky part, your relationship with Elise.
(if: $elise_choice is "freind")[$a['We were friends, then. Two women trying to survive in the world. You told me about your children and how you were looking for a home for them. I offered my help, and as a token of your gratitude you gave me a little green bottle.']](elseif: $elise_choice is "servant")[$a['We... we were something like lovers, then.']
$E['Loverss? I find this hard to believe, tsk.']
Thinking about a particular moment makes your face flush red with embarrassment, but you somehow force the words out: $a['Not lovers exactly, more like... I was your servant... and after we did... *some things*... you gave me a little green bottle as a reward.']
The tension hangs in the air.
$E['Ahahaha!']
$a['What?!']
$E['You're a cute little thing, tsk. I see why I would do to that.']
You feel a wave of relief washing over you.](elseif: $elise_choice is "admirer")[$a['And then... it's a little hard to put into words, but the more I came to know about you, the more fascinated I grew... and you seemed to like me for some reason, so you decided to give me a present, which was a small green bottle..'] you trail off, aware of the absurdity of your story.
The spider remains still for a moment, then erups in laughter.
$E['Ahahaha!']
$a['What?!']
$E['You're a cute little thing, tsk. I see why I would do to that.']
You feel a wave of relief washing over you. You won't be breakfast today.]
$E['What did you do with the bottle, tsk?']
(display:"talk")[['I made a potion out of it and drank it... and here I am.'->made a potion]]
(set: _ti to 10) (set: $elise_relationship to "honest")$fl2
$E['I see. IIt seems that a certain cat is playing her games again, tsk tsk. I wonder if it's some simple mischief out of boredom, or she's plotting something big. I'll have to take measures, tsk.']
Elise paces around. You aren't usually very good at reading's spider expressions, but if you had to guess you'd say that she looks concerned.
(display:"talk") [['I'm sure she's just bored.']]
(display:"talk") [['She's probably up to something.']]
(set: _ti to 5)$dark
The worst thing is that you know what's going to happen. Somehow, you are still present. Not truly awake, but not deep in the endless darkness like last time. This time, you can still think, slowly and hazily. You can still feel your body, with vague and muffled sensations, as if it's a distant memory, something that happened a long time ago, far away.
You feel Elise's presence too, in the darkness of your mind's eye. The long thin legs dangling around you, her imposing body looming somewhere above.
Your movement ceases and you know you have arrived at your final destination. You feel a small opening being torn at the back of your cocoon, and the spidery presence abruptly draws closer.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/spider_lewd1.png" width="800" align="center">
You brace yourself [[for what is to come]].
(set: $deathlist to it + (a: "spider"))
(set: $lastdeath to "spider")
$fl2
$a['I don't think she's really up to something,'] you offer tentatively. $a['If anything, I think she's... alone. Everyone else is taking themselves way too seriously around here, always the secrecy... believe me when I say, for an outsider here, one wrong step and you're dead.']
$E['Tsk. Do you think we can just let humans like you learn everything about us?']
You try to thread carefully with your next words.
$a['She isn't like you, Elise. You are big and strong, and you are cunning... you can take care of anyone that tries to get in your way.']
Elise seems flattered by your words.
$E['I guess you are right... when you are something as soft and squishy as a human or a cat, I guess we can be gracious and allow some minor mischief...']
You seem to have pacified Elise, at least for now.
$E['Thank you for being honest with me, girl. Now I understand why you were able to see me. But perhaps it would be better for everyone if I made a few changes.']
Your vision tilts and a familiar silvery fog washes over your mind. You blink fast, trying to shake off the wave of confusion. Suddenly, a female silhouette is standing in front of you, her green spectacles reflecting a light that doesn't exist.
$E['This is better, isn't it my dear?']
(display:"talk")[['Is there anything else I can do for you?'->tasks after potion]]
(set: _ti to 10)$fl2
$a['She seems nice at first, but often acts in strange and unpredictable ways. And she loves gathering secrets, about everything and everyone. I'm sure this isn't just a weird hobby - she's definitely plotting something.']
Elise considers this.
$E['Thank you for your warning, tsk. I may have underestimated her as a player. Perhaps I should take measures.']
Her words seem ominous and for a moment you wonder about the extent of the consequences of this conversation. $A[I guess what's done is done...]
$E['Thank you for being honest with me, girl. Now I understand why you were able to see me. But perhaps it would be better for everyone if I made a few changes.']
Your vision tilts and a familiar silvery fog washes over your mind. You blink fast, trying to shake off the wave of confusion. Suddenly, a female silhouette is standing in front of you, her green spectacles reflecting a light that doesn't exist.
$E['This is better, isn't it my dear?']
(display:"talk")[['Is there anything else I can do for you?'->tasks after potion]]
(set: _ti to 10)$fl2
$E['My room still requires cleaning. Get to it, girl!']
$a['Of course, right away Ma'am!']
(display:"30mg")[[Quickly clean Elise's room->clean28.5]]
(set: $elise_trial to 1)$T[-ROOM 28-]
You've done many times before, so it takes you no time at all.
The floor is littered with **dead branches** and **ragged dolls**, which you swiftly gather and take care of. You recall the same **things** filling the wardrobe, so you clean them up as well. You straighten the bed sheets and tidy the table.
The room is spottless before you know it.
Just as you're about to leave, your eyes fall on the [bed]<bed| again, an image of a [tied figure]<figure| flashing in your head.
[ ]<thi|
(display:"heart")[[Lie on the bed]]
(display:"bk")[[ground floor<-Finish up and leave]]
(set: _ti to 30) (set: $28done to 1)
{(live:1s)[
(mouseover: ?bed)[ (replace: ?thi)[(either:"Just for a moment...","I know I shouldn't...","It looks so tempting...","Why does this turn me on so much?","There's no harm in it...")] ]
(mouseover: ?figure)[ (replace: ?thi)[(either:"That was me...","An inflated belly...","Arms tied together...","Legs stretched...", "Completely immobilised...","Waiting for the end...")] ]
]}<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/heart.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-15px;" width="50">          $fl2
The spider's gaze narrows on you.
$E['**Ordinary** girl?']
You sense your wiggle room growing narrower.
$a['Yeah, I grew up in England and then I arrived here for my job...']
$E['You lie, girl!'] hisses Elise. $E['I see how you flinch! I see where your gaze falls! You can sssee me, and no human can sssee me! Who sent you?']
$a['Nobody!'] you cry out. $a['I came here for this job and-']
The spider's fangs dart in a flash, and you feel a burning sensation in your neck. The world grows blurry and yourbody feels weak. You try to run but your limbs fold like spaghetti and you collapse on the floor.
The last thing you remember is being wrapped in something soft and dragged off down the hallway as you slowly [[lose consciousness]].
(set: _ti to 10)$fl2
$E['A succubusss? What is a succubuss doing here? Where are your horns?']
$a['They, eeh- they haven't grown yet. I'm still very young. And I came here for this job, and to see Mihai...']
$E['Mihai? What is your business with him?']
$a['Can't a girl have her little secrets?']
You stare back at the giant spider. The last bit about Mihai was a lie, but you already know that the owner of The Crooked Elm has a number of strange connections. Your bluff might just hold up.
$E['I understand now, tsk.'] Elise seems to relax. $E['But perhaps it would be better for everyone if I made a few adjustmentss.']
Your vision tilts and a familiar silvery fog washes over your mind. You blink fast, trying to shake off the wave of confusion. Suddenly, a female silhouette is standing in front of you, her green spectacles reflecting a light that doesn't exist.
$E['This is better, isn't it my dear?']
(display:"talk")[['Is there anything else I can do for you?'->tasks after potion]]
(set: _ti to 10) (set: $elise_relationship to "lie")$fl2
The spider's gaze narrows on you. You sense your wiggle room growing narrower.
$a['I mean obviously I can *see* you, you are a dark-skinned woman with green spectacles...']
$E['You lie, girl!'] hisses Elise. $E['I see how you flinch! I see where your gaze falls! You can sssee me, and no human can sssee me! Who sent you?']
$a['Nobody!'] you cry out. $a['I came here for this job and-']
The spider's fangs dart in a flash, and you feel a burning sensation in your neck. The world grows blurry and yourbody feels weak. You try to run but your limbs fold like spaghetti and you collapse on the floor.
The last thing you remember is being wrapped in something soft and dragged off down the hallway as you slowly [[lose consciousness]].
(set: _ti to 10)$fl2
You go down, preparing for what is to come.
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/elise4.png" width="450" align="right">
Surprisingly, you don't run into the 8-legged creature this time, but rather into her more pleasant, humanoid form.
$E['Surprised, my dear?']
$a['Eeer-']
The woman flashes you a deadly smile. (if: $elise_relationship is "honest")[$E['It's okay, I understand your confusion, tsk. Since you told me that there were some temporal shenanigens afoot, I took my own precautions to stay in the loop.']
$a['So, you...']
$E['That's correct, tsk. I remember. But it will be our little secret. Right, girl?']
You nod.](elseif: $elise_relationship is "lie")[ [$E['It's okay, I understand your confusion, tsk. Since you told me that you were a succubus, I took my own precautions keep things between us smooth.']
$a['So, you...']
$E['That's correct, tsk. I remember a little from last time. But it will be our little secret. Right, girl?']
You nod.] ]
$E['Good. Now go and take care of my room.']
(display:"30mg")[[Quickly clean Elise's room->clean28.5]]
(set: _ti to 10)
$dark
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/spider_lewd2.png" width="800" align="center">
The ovipositor prods your body and for a moment it seems to hesitate where to go, but then it settles on your back entrance. The thin tube-like organ presses down and easily overcomes the resistance of your relaxed muscles, sliding inside you.
You realize that part of you is anticipating the action. Whether it is the spider venom or your perverted mind, you're almost looking forward to it.
It's comforting to know that it doesn't matter. It's not your fault that you're enjoying it, and it doesn't change anything. Whether you want it or not, [[it's going to happen]].$dark
<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/spider_lewd3.png" width="800" align="center">
A hard, round object presses against you. Despite knowing what it will do to you, you realize how much you want it inside. The end begins to stretch you open and despite your relaxed body it struggles to get in.
As the pressure slowly increases you sense your hole growing wider. In your half-awake state you dream of wolves under the full moon and nights of lust and passion.
When the round object is halfway through, there is a brief moment of equilibrium, a stilness as you lie stretched and waiting. Then the tipping point comes and it sinks a milimeter further, after which your body takes over and greedily sucks it all the way in.
There is a sudden and intense wave of pleasure, along with sensation of fullness in your gut.
[[Then comes the next one]].$dark
{(live:1s)[
(display:(either:"x","y"))
]}
The process repeats over and over, until you lose count, drifting into a haze of death and desire.
Eventually the darkness takes you, [[this time for good->DIE]]<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/spider_lewd2.png" width="800" align="center"><img src="http://xfiction.org/images/spider_lewd3.png" width="800" align="center">$lib
You take a stroll along the dusty shelves, trying to follow the source of the voice. Sometimes it's undeniably getting stronger, but just when you think you have it, it starts fading again.
After a long game of cat and mouse, you eventually reach a strange place at the back of the library, where the tomes look especially old. One of them in particular draws your attention - you're either going crazy or it's the source of the voice.
As soon as your fingers touch the ancient covers you feel a strange electric sensation run through you. This is not an ordinary book.
You turn the front page - it's covered with odd symbols and diagrams that are moving and shifting in front of your very eyes. Just looking at them gives you a headache.
$A[Reading this is going to be a complete nightmare! But who knows what secrets may be hidden inside...]
(display:"brain")[[Try to read the tome]]
(display:"bk")[[Leave the book alone->library]] $lib
You turn the pages and are immediately engrossed into a world of ancient stories of secrets and madness. The words seem to come alive on the page andbefore you know it an hour has passed and your mind is filled with tales of horrors you have never heard before.
With a trembling hand, you close the tome.
$A[They're right to say that knowledge has a price...]
For all that you've learned, you feel that your grip on reality is a little looser. The shadows in the corner of your eye seem to be watching you, waiting for a moment of carelessness to strike at your back.
You feel like you've lost a portion of your $clarity[sanity], but you've learned a few $M[secrets].
You leave the library in a hurry, [[returning to the reception->ground floor]].
(set: _ti to 60) (set: $secrets +=3) (set: $sanity -=30) (set: $tome_madness to 1)<img src="http://xfiction.org/images/brain.png" style="position: absolute; float:left; margin-top:-5px;" width="50">          $ant
You don't know why, but you feel like showing Felicia some of the flowers you found in the garden of The Crooked Elm.
As soon as you pull them out, her eyes widen and she pounces on them, snatching them from your hand and running off somewhere inside the Antique Boutique.
$a['Hello...?']
There is an eerie sensation of time stratching and condensing, like a bubble gum being chewed by a lazy panther. You have no idea where that mental image came from, but for some reason it sticks in your head. The minutes stretch, thick like honey, and the hours flow, quick like a mountain stream.
After 5 minutes, according to the mechanical clock on the wall, the antique boutique regurgitates its owner back to the reception.
$M['Let's forget this ever happened.']
Felicia straightens her clothes and returns behind the counter.
[[Continue->antique boutique]]
(set: $catnip to 0) (set: _ti to 5)**Settings**
**ANIMATIONS**:
**A) Full length animations** *(default)*
Text animations in the game will always be displayed.
(link-repeat:"Select")[(set: $death_animation to 1)(replace:?info)[$I[Text animations set to full] ] ]
**B) Short animations**
Text animations will only be displayed the first time you encounter them and will be skiped from then on.
(link-repeat:"Select")[(set: $death_animation to 2)(replace:?info)[$I[Text animations set to short] ] ]
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