· 8 years ago · Jul 07, 2018, 01:26 PM
1*title Red Rose Assassin
2
3*author Zenovarse
4
5*scene_list
6 startup
7 prologue
8 chapter_1
9 ending
10
11
12
13*comment achievements
14*achievement drunk visible 10 Drunk!
15 Become drunk
16 Yooou'rree druuuunnnnk zzzz zzz...
17*achievement cheat visible 10 Cheat!
18 Access the cheat menu
19 Tricker cheater hacker gamer!
20
21
22*comment general
23*create date "Unknown"
24*create location "Unknown"
25*create forename "Annonymous"
26*create surname ""
27*create alias_forename ""
28*create alias_surname ""
29*create gender "Unknown"
30*create age 16
31*create birth "Unknown"
32*create ethnicity "Celpeian"
33
34
35
36*comment attribute
37*create strength 20
38*create agility 20
39*create intelligence 20
40*create determination 20
41
42
43
44*comment skill
45*create stealth 10
46*create charm 10
47*create perception 10
48*create persuasion 10
49*create combat 10
50*create weapons 10
51*create learning 10
52
53
54*comment personality
55*create good 50
56*create liberty 50
57*create extravagant 50
58
59
60
61*comment relationship
62*create dannie 20
63*create linden 20
64*create boss 20
65*create king 20
66*create prince 20
67*create rebels 20
68*create council 20
69*create people 20
70*create god 20
71
72
73*comment inventory
74*create wealth 0
75*create weapon "Hand"
76*create garment "Clothes"
77
78
79
80*comment status
81*create health 100
82*create status ""
83
84
85*comment booleans
86*create has_alias false
87*create has_bible false
88*create has_dagger1 false
89*create has_antitoxin false
90*create has_locket true
91
92*create knows_dannie false
93*create knows_boss false
94*create knows_linden false
95*create knows_king false
96*create knows_prince false
97*create knows_rebels false
98*create knows_council false
99
100*create speaks_celpeian false
101*create speaks_incanhi false
102*create speaks_uluugrutan false
103*create speaks_tansleyan false
104
105*create literate true
106
107*create can_lockpick true
108*create can_poetry false
109*create can_cook false
110
111*create developer false
112*create alias false
113
114*comment misc
115*create she "she"
116*create her "her"
117*create hers "hers"
118*create girl "girl"
119*create lady "gentleman"
120*create miss "miss"
121*create drunkness 0
122
123
124
125
126
127*label stats
128[b]General[/b]
129*line_break
130Date: ${date}
131*line_break
132Location: ${location}
133*line_break
134Name: ${forename} ${surname}
135*line_break
136*if has_alias
137 Alias: ${alias_forename} ${alias_surname}
138 *line_break
139Gender: ${gender}
140*line_break
141Age: ${age}
142*line_break
143Birth: ${birth}
144
145
146[b]Attributes[/b]
147*stat_chart
148 percent Strength
149 percent Agility
150 percent Intelligence
151 percent Determination
152
153
154[b]Personalities[/b]
155*stat_chart
156 opposed_pair Good
157 Good
158 Evil
159 opposed_pair Liberty
160 Liberty
161 Faith
162 opposed_pair Extravagant
163 Extravagant
164 Humble
165
166
167[b]Skills[/b]
168*stat_chart
169 percent Stealth
170 percent Charm
171 percent Perception
172 percent Persuasion
173 percent Combat
174 percent Weapons
175 percent Learning
176
177*temp skills ""
178*temp comma false
179*if can_lockpick
180 *if comma
181 *set skills &", "
182 *set skills &"Lockpick"
183 *set comma true
184*if can_poetry
185 *if comma
186 *set skills &", "
187 *set skills &"Poetry"
188 *set comma true
189*if can_cook
190 *if comma
191 *set skills &", "
192 *set skills &"Cookery"
193 *set comma true
194
195Skill(s): ${skills}.
196
197
198[b]Relationships[/b]
199*stat_chart God
200 percent god God
201*if knows_dannie
202 *stat_chart
203 percent dannie Dannie Cotter
204*if knows_linden
205 *stat_chart
206 percent linden Linden Layre
207*if knows_boss
208 *stat_chart
209 percent boss Boss of the Criminal's Den
210
211
212[b]Inventory[/b]
213
214Wealth: ${wealth} denars
215*line_break
216Weapon: ${weapon}
217*line_break
218Garments: ${garment}
219*line_break
220*temp backpack ""
221*temp comma false
222*if has_bible
223 *if comma
224 *set backpack &", "
225 *set backpack &"Bible"
226 *set comma true
227*if has_locket
228 *if comma
229 *set backpack &", "
230 *set backpack &"Locket"
231 *set comma true
232*if has_dagger1
233 *if comma
234 *set backpack &", "
235 *set backpack &"Dagger1"
236 *set comma true
237*if has_antitoxin
238 *if comma
239 *set backpack &", "
240 *set backpack &"Antitoxin"
241 *set comma true
242Backpack: ${backpack}.
243
244
245[b]Status[/b]
246*stat_chart
247 percent Health
248${status}
249
250*label language
251*temp languages ""
252*temp comma false
253
254Literacy
255*if literate
256 Can read and write
257 *goto speaks
258*else
259 Cannot read nor write
260 *goto speaks
261*label speaks
262*line_break
263*if ethnicity = "Celpeian"
264 *set speaks_celpeian true
265*if ethnicity = "Incanhi"
266 *set speaks_incanhi true
267*if ethnicity = "Uluugrutan"
268 *set speaks_uluugrutan true
269*if ethnicity = "Tansleyan"
270 *set speaks_tansleyan true
271*if speaks_celpeian
272 *if comma
273 *set languages &", "
274 *set languages &"Celpeian"
275 *set comma true
276*if speaks_incanhi
277 *if comma
278 *set languages &", "
279 *set languages &"Incanhi"
280 *set comma true
281*if speaks_uluugrutan
282 *if comma
283 *set languages &", "
284 *set languages &"Uluugrutan"
285 *set comma true
286*if speaks_tansleyan
287 *if comma
288 *set languages &", "
289 *set languages &"Tansleyan"
290 *set comma true
291Language(s): ${languages}.
292
293*choice
294 #Wiki
295 *goto wiki
296 *if (developer) #Cheat Menu
297 *goto cheat
298
299*label wiki
300*choice
301 #Locations
302 *goto locations
303 #Persons
304 *goto persons
305 #Factions
306 *goto factions
307 #Go back
308 *goto stats
309*label locations
310*choice
311 #Village of Culum
312 Its a good place
313 *goto locations
314*label persons
315*label factions
316*goto stats
317
318*label cheat
319Don't use the return to game button in this menu, simply use the "Go back" buttons.
320*achieve cheat
321*choice
322 #Increase a stat
323 *label increase_stats
324 *choice
325 #STRENGTH
326 *label increase_str
327 *choice
328 #+30
329 *set strength +30
330 *goto increase_str
331 #+10
332 *set strength +10
333 *goto increase_str
334 #+5
335 *set strength +5
336 *goto increase_str
337 #+2
338 *set strength +2
339 *goto increase_str
340 #+1
341 *set strength +1
342 *goto increase_str
343 #Go back
344 *goto increase_stats
345 #AGILITY
346 *label increase_agi
347 *choice
348 #+30
349 *set agility +30
350 *goto increase_agi
351 #+10
352 *set agility +10
353 *goto increase_agi
354 #+5
355 *set agility +5
356 *goto increase_agi
357 #+2
358 *set agility +2
359 *goto increase_agi
360 #+1
361 *set agility +1
362 *goto increase_agi
363 #Go back
364 *goto increase_stats
365 #INTELLIGENCE
366 *label increase_int
367 *choice
368 #+30
369 *set intelligence +30
370 *goto increase_int
371 #+10
372 *set intelligence +10
373 *goto increase_int
374 #+5
375 *set intelligence +5
376 *goto increase_int
377 #+2
378 *set intelligence +2
379 *goto increase_int
380 #+1
381 *set intelligence +1
382 *goto increase_int
383 #Go back
384 *goto increase_stats
385 #DETERMINATION
386 *label increase_det
387 *choice
388 #+30
389 *set determination +30
390 *goto increase_det
391 #+10
392 *set determination +30
393 *goto increase_det
394 #+5
395 *set determination +30
396 *goto increase_det
397 #+2
398 *set determination +30
399 *goto increase_det
400 #+1
401 *set determination +30
402 *goto increase_det
403 #Go back
404 *goto increase_stats
405 #Go back
406 *goto cheat
407 #Decrease a stat
408 *label decrease_stats
409 *choice
410 #STRENGTH
411 *label decrease_str
412 *choice
413 #-30
414 *set strength -30
415 *goto decrease_str
416 #-10
417 *set strength -10
418 *goto decrease_str
419 #-5
420 *set strength -5
421 *goto decrease_str
422 #-2
423 *set strength -2
424 *goto decrease_str
425 #-1
426 *set strength -1
427 *goto decrease_str
428 #Go back
429 *goto decrease_stats
430 #AGILITY
431 *label decrease_agi
432 *choice
433 #-30
434 *set agility -30
435 *goto decrease_agi
436 #-10
437 *set agility -10
438 *goto decrease_agi
439 #-5
440 *set agility -5
441 *goto decrease_agi
442 #-2
443 *set agility -2
444 *goto decrease_agi
445 #-1
446 *set agility -1
447 *goto decrease_agi
448 #Go back
449 *goto decrease_stats
450 #INTELLIGENCE
451 *label decrease_int
452 *choice
453 #-30
454 *set intelligence -30
455 *goto decrease_int
456 #-10
457 *set intelligence -10
458 *goto decrease_int
459 #-5
460 *set intelligence -5
461 *goto decrease_int
462 #-2
463 *set intelligence -2
464 *goto decrease_int
465 #-1
466 *set intelligence -1
467 *goto decrease_int
468 #Go back
469 *goto decrease_stats
470 #DETERMINATION
471 *label decrease_det
472 *choice
473 #-30
474 *set determination -30
475 *goto decrease_det
476 #-10
477 *set determination -30
478 *goto decrease_det
479 #-5
480 *set determination -30
481 *goto decrease_det
482 #-2
483 *set determination -30
484 *goto decrease_det
485 #-1
486 *set determination -30
487 *goto decrease_det
488 #Go back
489 *goto decrease_stats
490 #Go back
491 *goto cheat
492 #Go to chapter
493 *choice
494 #Prologue
495 *redirect_scene prologue
496 #Chapter 1
497 *redirect_scene chapter_1
498 #Learn a skill
499 *goto stats
500 #Make stuff appear and disappear in my inventory
501 *goto stats
502 #Go back
503 *goto stats
504
505
506
507
508
509Developer mode?
510*choice
511 #Developer mode
512 *set developer true
513 *goto page1
514 #No
515 *set developer false
516 *goto page1
517
518
519
520*label page1
521
522It was a bleak midautumn's day. The damp air refurbished the color of the sky into a brownish color. Condensed droplets tuned a lullaby in the air, and formed small puddles in the streets where horse drawn cartridges would sometimes pass and cause a splash. The streets would be otherwise quiet, and only a few pedestrians walked on along the shallow pavements. The weather has always been like this in the Celpeian Empire. This stuffy air can be quite choking, especially for you, for you originated from the northern parts the realm where the coldness will always keep the air dry. But this land, foreign to your origins, will soon become all that you know.
523
524It was your first memory, dated back when you were very young. You still remember that you were sitting alone in the rain, at the bottom of the broad and long stone stairs before St.Harrow's Cathedral. Your parents told you to wait there. You vaguely remember their countenance as they spoke to you - full of grieve and regrets, not the face of a typical parent before their children.
525
526But surely you do remember your life before this. How was it like before this day?
527
528*choice
529 *if (developer) #(Developer) Use default values for all variables and skip to chapter 1
530 *set forename "Vrynscyth"
531 *set surname "Valerie"
532 *set Gender "Female"
533 *set age 17
534 *set birth "Aristocratic"
535 *set ethnicity "Celpeian"
536 *ending
537 #I remember I was born with riches beyond description with flocks of servants surrounding my birth.
538 *set birth "Aristocratic"
539 *goto page2
540 #Impoverished and famished I was at birth, that I could not remeber one day without starving to bed.
541 *set birth "Plebeian"
542 *goto page2
543 #I don't actually remember what my life was like before this day. I was small and my memories do not last so long.
544 *goto page2
545
546
547
548*label page2
549
550They told me to not leave until someone comes to pick me up, not by them, but by a friend of theirs. They stuck a scruffy note and a gold piece in my hand. They left me a trace of memory of their backs as they faded away.
551
552I cannot recall precisely how long I had waited for, but I knew that dusk approached when the sky had turned from a lighter shade of azure to an inkier shade of blue. Many people went past me into the cathedral: pastors, vicars, chaplains, clerics. I heard guidances of the priests, prayers of faithful men, chants of devotion, pleads of sinners, acoustics of requiems, they accompanied me momentarily as I waited, and they all left me waiting after they were gone.
553
554My parents and whomever is the friend they spoke about still showed no signs of appearing in. The sermon services the church offered ended long ago. Only a few of the truly faithful ones still stayed. Eventually, the sky became sufficiently dark that everything around me had a shade of blue, and I could see no one else in the vicinity. Even so, my eyesight still allowed me to see quite clearly a haggard porter came by, who locked church doors and the gates to the cemetery. He eventually left as well, and I became the only person still sitting on the stairs in the rain.
555
556I noticed a dropped Bible in the grass stuck in a small pile of muddy dirt before someone's grave. It's book written in my language, still open on the book of Job, that which read "And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand." The writings were still clear even after the rain came down and soaked the pages together. It did make me wonder why someone would bury half of a Bible into a foreign graveyard. I took the book under my clothes, and claimed it's ownership.
557
558Wherefore did you do so? Are you a faithful follower of the LORD?
559
560*choice
561 #Absolutely. I am very faithful to the LORD.
562 *set liberty -10
563 *set has_bible true
564 *goto page3
565 #No. But a bible is quite expensive, and I don't want to let it go to waste.
566 *set has_bible true
567 *goto page3
568 #I don't believe in God, I believe in my own freedom, and I should certainly not bow to anyone.
569 *set liberty +10
570 *goto page3
571
572
573
574*label page3
575
576Then came a middle aged man, face covered in wrinkles that witnessed his vicissitudes. He had a red rose in his hand, half withered and strown by the rain, and half unbosomed to begin with. He knelt before the tombstones on which the Bible was dropped, which had the name "Elena Davies" engraved upon it's wordy face, and planted the unbosomed flower upon the same small pile of dirt he built next to the headstone. As unmoving as everything around him he stood there, staring emptily at the flower before him for no less than five minutes before he finally averted his eyes. When he did, he noticed me, the only other person who was still here. He walked over to me, and lowered his upper torso as in a bow to speak to me in a very gentlemanly manner.
577"You should put the book back where it was. It was meant to be there. It did cost me three hundred denars. Bury it there, if you will."
578
579*choice
580 #Why do you want me to bury a Bible? That is disrespectful to God.
581 *set liberty -10
582 "She needs it more than we do, for she is with God now." He sighed, puffing out a breath into the air.
583 *choice
584 #Bury the Bible
585 *goto bury
586 #No matter what, it is disrespectful to God to do such a thing, and I will not do it.
587 If you don't want to bury the bible, then give the Bible to me. It is my property after all.
588 *choice
589 #Give him the Bible
590 He took the Bible. "Thank you".
591 *goto page4
592 #No way
593 *goto keepBible
594 #No. I found it, so I'm going to keep it.
595 *goto keepBible
596 #Do as told. Bury the Bible.
597 *goto bury
598
599
600*label keepBible
601*set has_bible true
602*set linden -10
603"Alright, fine. I have no evidences to say it was mine so I cannot push this case. Keep it if you so will. I'll just buy another one someday." He said to you softly. He did insist to get back his property, so you now have a bible.
604*goto page4
605
606
607*label bury
608
609*set liberty %+30
610*set god -10
611*set has_bible false
612Albeit curious of the reason why he would ask you to do such a thing, you dug up the dirt and buried the book in a wet muddy pile of dirt besides the grave of the person called "Elena Davies".
613*goto page4
614
615
616
617*label page4
618
619*set knows_linden true
620He looked at you up and down, examining your nature. "It should be scary for a young ${girl} like you to be visiting a graveyard alone at this hour. Where have your parents gone?"
621
622You looked into his eyes for a while, and then shook your head awkwardly, accompanied by shivers of coldness or nervousness that you got from the cold rainy weather.
623
624He saw that you didn't respond with words. "What's that note you have? Can I see it?"
625
626He was observant and attentive to ask about the note. If he hadn't, then all the story that would consequently happen would never have happened, and you would be perhaps taken hostage by stray dogs, dismembered overnight. You handed him the note, in which the piece of gold was encapsulated. He took both of this. You read his expressions which was unclear as he read the note, and you couldn't tell what he was thinking as he saw its contents. He then gestured you to follow him. Perhaps because you were relived to finally see someone, you got up with my numbed legs and followed.
627
628As you walked, you talked.
629
630"Sir, pardon me if we have met before, but I cannot recall your identity. My parents never told me whom I'd be expecting."
631
632"I don't believe we've met. My name is Linden Layre. I and your father are colleagues."
633
634"By my father never had work colleagues." I looked at him suspiciously.
635
636"This was from a while back, before you were born, so you might not know. He asked me to take care of you for a while as he runs some business here."
637
638Suspicious of him lying about knowing your father, you asked him "What is my name?"
639
640*temp toomanyquestions false
641*temp gavename false
642
643*label ask_name
644For the purpose of game integrity, what actually is your name?
645*choice
646 #My name is...
647 *set gavename true
648 *goto give_name
649 #Why should I tell you?
650 *if toomanyquestions
651 Alright that's too many questions. Don't tell me. I don't want to know anymore. I'll just give you a default name.
652 *goto ask_gender
653 So that the game may continue as designed.
654 *set toomanyquestions true
655 *choice
656 #You are "The man who has access to everything"? Can't you get my name from whoever it is working for the government that keeps a record of everyone's name?
657 Yes, but wouldn't it be way easier if you just tell me?
658 *goto ask_name
659 #My name is...
660 Well?
661 *goto give_name
662 #I... I'm not sure. Who am I? Why am I here? What am I doing?
663 *if toomanyquestions
664 Alright that's too many questions. Don't tell me. I don't want to know anymore.
665 *goto ask_gender
666 Ok. I don't know who you are, and that’s why I'm waiting for you to tell me. You are asking a lot of questions instead of answering mine. Will you tell me your name or not?
667 *set toomanyquestions true
668 *goto ask_name
669 #Give a false name
670 *set gavename true
671 *goto alias
672
673*label give_name
674*choice
675 #Vrynscyth Valerie
676 *set forename "Vryscyth"
677 *set surname "Valerie"
678 *goto ask_gender
679 #It's none of those. Let me tell you my name myself!
680 What's your first name?
681 *input_text forename
682 What's your last name?
683 *input_text surname
684 *goto ask_gender
685
686*label alias
687*set has_alias true
688Ok then. What do you want your fake name to be?
689*choice
690 #Vrynscyth Valerie
691 *set alias_forename "Vryscyth"
692 *set alias_surname "Valerie"
693 *if (alias_surname = surname)
694 *if (alias_forename = forename)
695 I don't think you fully comprehend the purpose of an alias, which is that it is meant differ from your real name.
696 *goto alias
697 *goto ask_realname
698 #It's none of those. Let me tell you my name myself!
699 What's your fake first name
700 *input_text alias_forename
701 What's your fake last name
702 *input_text surname
703 *if (alias_surname = surname)
704 *if (alias_forename = forename)
705 I don't think you fully comprehend the purpose of an alias, which is that it is meant differ from your real name.
706 *goto alias
707 *goto ask_realname
708
709*label ask_realname
710In that case, what's your real name?
711*choice
712 #I didn't tell you my real name just now. What makes you think I would change my mind?
713 I don't know? I'll just call you "Annonymous" then.
714 *goto ask_gender
715 #It is..
716 *goto give_name
717
718*label ask_gender
719*if gavename
720 *line_break
721 Well from that name it is not hard to guess your gender, which is...
722 *choice
723 #Which is...?
724 I actually have no idea what your gender is. Please tell me.
725 *choice
726 #Male
727 *set gender "Male"
728 *goto page5
729 #Female
730 *set gender "Female"
731 *goto page5
732 #Unspecified
733 *set gender "Unspecified"
734 *goto page5
735 #Tick the "Others" option.
736 *set gender "Others! Not even unspecified?"
737 *goto page5
738 #No. Go away.
739 You're so boring.
740 *goto page5
741
742 #Male
743 *set gender "Male"
744 *goto page5
745 #Female
746 *set gender "Female"
747 *goto page5
748 #Is it really easy to guess that I'm male from that name?
749 Well... I have no idea actually. But now you said you're male so...
750 *set gender "Male"
751 *goto page5
752 #It's not really a girl's name but ok.
753 Well... I have no idea actually. But now you said you're female so...
754 *set gender "Female"
755 *goto page5
756 #Unspecified
757 *set gender "Unspecified"
758 *goto page5
759 #Tick the "Others" option.
760 *set gender "Others! Not even unspecified?"
761 *goto page5
762
763You don't want to give me your name. That's fine. Will you tell me your gender then? I presume not?
764*choice
765 #Male
766 *set gender "Male"
767 *goto page5
768 #Female
769 *set gender "Female"
770 *goto page5
771 #Unspecified
772 *set gender "Unspecified"
773 *goto page5
774 #Tick the "Others" option.
775 *set gender "Others! Not even unspecified?"
776 *goto page5
777 #No. Go away.
778 You're so boring.
779 *goto page5
780
781
782*label page5
783
784*if gender = "male"
785 *set she "he"
786 *set her "his"
787 *set hers "his"
788 *set girl "boy"
789 *set lady "gentleman"
790 *set miss "mr"
791"You are ${forename#1} ${surname}." Linden replied, and you are surprised that he knows your real name. "But I must confess I don't know too much about you. You are from the far northern parts of the realm, why did you come here?"
792
793"Me and my parents are here on a vacation. He thought he'd take me and my mother out for a holiday here, and thus we came. But there had been a change of plans since we arrived. We didn't go see any places other than the cathedral, and they told me to wait for you and after than, they just disappeared. It's strange isn't it?"
794
795"It is quite strange, yes". Linden nodded his head and frowned as if he was thinking quite deeply, but also to appreciate my quickly recovered confidence speaking.
796
797After that, we just talked about the north where I was from. He did have more knowledge in where I lived then I did. Almost as if he lived their also.
798*goto page6
799
800
801*label page6
802
803You had thought you walked miles from all the twists and bends he led you turning, and all the narrow alleyways that you had to walk through, but it was not a great deal of time before you reached a terribly conditioned dwelling. It's size is not awful, but it's doors had been rusted. It didn't seem like a place habited by human beings, yet that was the home of this friend of your parents'
804
805The immediate moment you walked through those doors, a gush of decaying wind swept past me. Your nervousness and fears multiplied by some factors as you started to doubt the environment of this place. You then noticed the interiors of this seemingly insignificant slum house. It was a massive den of deprivation, filled with grimness and ghastly people with purple black faces. There was an underweight boy in the corner just sitting there. He had eye bags and yellow red veins like the crawling roots of a radish popping out from his eyes. He looked desperate, like murderous criminals before imprisonment awaiting a pronounced hanging, deathly and numb to death, despite his fears, he clearly lacked the intents in a criminal. He looked like he was lost without purpose. He breathed as troubled disease waiters his agonal stage, gasping before all respiration is cut off, except he lacked the struggles to survive. Evidently, he's fears do not originate from his health and condition as they obviously should have, but rather, it looked like he couldn't care. Not that he didn't want to, he just couldn't muster the energy to care. He looked like they don't mind losing his lives, not out of audacity, but out of grief, having nothing to love in this world.
806
807You murmured to Linden "Who is this person?" in a silent voice that almost sounded like a whimpering, but he did not reply to you. Instead, he loudly proclaimed to the boy in the corner in the most authoritative manner.
808
809"Where's your boss?"
810
811There was no reply, so Linden raised his voice slightly, and repeated.
812
813"Where is your boss?"
814
815The boy suddenly looked up in a very shocked manner, in a way that looked like someone smacked him awake from some nightmares. His face became clouded with fear and a mixture of some other feelings.
816
817"The boss..." He started considering the words deeply, and mumbled them out.
818
819"Yes. Where is he?" Linden becomes slightly impatient in his reply.
820
821"He's just with some guy across that door." He pointed at a door, and spoke slowly and with a slightly cracking voice. “He’s been in there for a while. You can expect him to come out any time now."
822
823"I'm just going to wait here then." Linden said, as he fanned off the smoke before him. "Go do some work instead of just sitting there. Stop being so slovenly, or else your boss will be angry with you."
824
825He sat you down on a stool and you waited in this closed room filled with the smell of illnesses. You wanted to barge out the door the moment you could find the chance to, but even if you ran out, where would you possibly go? you had no idea where your parents went, so what good will it do in escaping what might be the only shelter from the rain that existed where you could enter?
826
827Having no other choices, you sat there and waited silently.
828*goto page7
829
830
831*label page7
832
833*set knows_boss true
834The man he was talking about soon came out from the door. He was not as big as you thought he would be, and looked kinder than the boy and Linden made him seem. He raised a brow seeing me sitting on a stool inside the den he runs. Nervously, you waved and smiled at him, but he didn't reply this gesture, he simply turned to Linden and they conversed. The full content of their conversations you couldn't have eavesdropped but their contents you could guess.
835
836After minutes of discussions, the boss greeted you perfunctorily, and introduced you to who he was. He told you that he and Linden are friends and fellow philanthropist colleagues who helps people who are down and give them free stuff. He said he'll allow you to join his big family of many children tomorrow.
837
838Linden left you here alone after he dropped you here. Evidently, he wasn't a friend of your parents, that you had realised the moment you walked into this slum of sickness. He must have obtained your information from the writings on the note. It then became clear your situation: You were abandoned by your parents, and they left a note and a coin in the hope that you might be picked up by some kind person and they might raise you be. It was not lucky to be brought into this grim den. Although, even if that was the case, what could you possibly do? You just stood stoically besides the boss. You didn't have to privilege to cry at that moment, if you did, would this boss find you annoying and throw you out into the rain again? You just tried to be completely obedient to perhaps find yourself some favors in my benefactor or kidnapper's eyes.
839
840After he left, the boss led you through that door to a room in the smoggy slum with other kids of your age. They were mostly all sleeping by now, and the ones who were still awoke didn't bother to look at me. The boss led you before a triple bunk bed with just one girl on the bottom deck. He gestured you to climb up, and so you did. He then left the room. Although starving to bed, although in excruciating despair, it was late and the night was dark, so you easily fell fast asleep.
841
842*goto page8
843
844
845
846*label page8
847
848*set date "Morning - 13 September 1429"
849*set location "Criminal's Den - Praven, capital of the Kingdom of Celpeia"
850*set garment "Gray dress and lace ankle-boots"
851*set wealth 0
852
853When you finally awoke, you noticed that the pillows were wet from tears from weeping that you didn't realise were produced in your sleep, so you quickly flipped the pillow upside down, hoping it won't be noticed by others. You were the last one to wake up. There were some people putting on their clothes in their blankets, but you never took yours off. The boss came in and herded you all before a table, where you were each given a cob rye bread and water. You had not touched a grain since yesterday morning in the cathedral, so you were quite keen. Some of the other people gave you strange looks, but you avoided their sightings.
854
855*if birth = "Aristocratic"
856 "This is ${forename} ${surname}. $!{she}'ll be joining our big family from today onwards." The boss proclaimed, and everyone looked at me and him. He then pointed his hand at me. "$!{miss} Valerie here, is a lady from a noble family from the north!"
857*if birth = "Plebeian"
858 "This is ${forename} ${surname}. $!{she}'ll be joining our big family from today onwards." The boss proclaimed, and everyone looked at me and him. He then pointed his hand at me. "$!{miss} Valerie here, is a girl from the north!"
859
860Everyone's mouths became wide and round. Have they never seen a northern girl before? If so, then Evidently they must be quite shallow in their sights and experience.
861
862"We expect everyone to be treated as equals in our family, no matter who they are. So everyone be nice to our new member, and let's give ${her} a warm welcome."
863
864The other kids started "Woohooing" and shouting. The girl who's bed was beneath mine greeted you, and you forced myself to smile back.
865
866Finally, the boss declared. "$!{forename} is now a part of us. Let us celebrate an addition to our growing family through this breakfast."
867
868And of course, no one was reluctant to eat.
869*goto page9
870
871
872*label page9
873
874The morning should have meant the beginning of a day of playful games or studying the importance of agriculture, but since you were disbanded by your parents before the St Harrow's Cathedral, you had lost all those privileges. With this newfound home and family which operates on crimes and malfeasances, it can be expected that the dawn consists of a series of assignments which are to be completely by dusk.
875
876Kindly, the boss did not ask anything of you, and in gratitude of their acceptance of you and giving you a place to sleep thereof, you simply worked around the house, made it tidier to better fit your standards and to satisfy what you had considered necessities to achieve a sustainable lifestyle. Unpertaining to your usual slovenly self, you completed these work with commendable efforts and adequate skills. You were able to have wiped all the surfaces with wet and dry cloth, scrubbed all of the floors, organized the placements of the furnished
877
878When the other kids came back to the den, they brought numerous articles of pocket-books, jewels and trinkets. None of which in particular held great values, but combined, they do sum to an amount. They were likely not manufacturers of valuable commodities, so it was not difficult to guess what work they had been doing: routing uncareful ladies, pickpocketing drowsy elders, finagling kind gentlemen, robbing from street beggars, and whatever other devious means that could not be named to obtain these pricey assets.
879
880The boss was quite visibly pleased, as he commended them each individually for the quantity and quality of harvests they each brought in. After collecting up the product of the kids' work today, and after recounting and re-evaluate their net value, his mood became light.
881
882Normally, people would feel uncomfortable with the though that they are living with robbers. Would you?
883
884*choice
885 #Yes, of course I would be uncomfortable. I am sitting right next to a few dozens of villains, criminals, thugs, and theives - the most repulsive people of peoplekind.
886 *set good %+10
887 Well, what can you do? Better stick up and live with it.
888 *goto page10
889 #No, not at all. They are my new family now. Would you feel uncomfortable around your family?
890 *set boss %+20
891 Good. Feeling comfortable at your home for the next few "God knows how long" would make your life so much easier.
892 *goto page10
893
894
895
896*label page10
897
898After some jovial celebrations, the boss said to me: "You see how many valuables were brought back here so that we may celebrate a day of hard work through eating, $!{forename}? They were not brought back without hard work. A wise man once said 'if you want to eat, you've got to earn a bob'. Following his life philosophy, all of my family works very hard everyday. Thus it is you see the result of our work in both the jewels and our happiness. Do you not think agree that one must work hard to be happy?"
899
900"I do, sir."
901
902"I'm very glad that you agree. But only hard work alone does not always grant you it's results. You must also know how the work is to be performed, how to do it efficiently, and how best to quickly come to fruition. In every trade, there exists skills and tools you may use to aid your work. Would you like to learn them?"
903
904"I do, sir, but I haven't got anything to repay your kindness."
905
906"It is very good to hear your eagerness! As you know. I am a philanthropist, I will charge you nothing. But every person is different, and we respect that individuality. It is thus you should know your strengths and weaknesses. Let's engage in an aptitude test."
907
908"What kind of an aptitude test do you mean, sir?"
909
910"Well. I'll just ask you a few questions about yourself, and you will try to answer them to the best of your ability. Is that alright?"
911
912"Yes sir surely."
913
914*temp not_strength true
915*temp not_agility true
916*temp not_intelligence true
917*temp not_determination true
918What would you say is your strongest trait?
919*label attribute1
920*choice
921 #I am physically and mentally strong. In fact, there are few people I know who can match my STRENGTH.
922 *set strength +20
923 *set not_strength false
924 *goto attribute2
925 #My AGILITY has been sharpened through all these years, and I am dexterous as a cat.
926 *set agility +20
927 *set not_agility false
928 *goto attribute2
929 #Whether you call me cunning or ingenuity but my INTELLIGENCE has always been my greatest advantage.
930 *set intelligence +20
931 *set not_intelligence false
932 *goto attribute2
933 #Anything I want to accomplish, anything I want to achieve, I put all my DETERMINATION into it.
934 *set determination +20
935 *set not_determination false
936 *goto attribute2
937
938*label attribute2
939Hmm, that's interesting. What's your second strongest trait then?
940*choice
941 *selectable_if (not_strength) #My STRENGTH should come second place. I try to maintain a strong body.
942 *set strength +10
943 *set not_strength false
944 *goto attribute3
945 *selectable_if (not_agility) #I am more dexterous than most so... AGILITY maybe?
946 *set agility +10
947 *set not_agility false
948 *goto attribute3
949 *selectable_if (not_intelligence) #Someone of my calibre should have a high INTELLIGENCE surely.
950 *set intelligence +10
951 *set not_intelligence false
952 *goto attribute3
953 *selectable_if (not_strength) #To achieve anything, you must have DETERMINATION. That's why I still keep mine.
954 *set determination +10
955 *set not_determination false
956 *goto attribute3
957
958*label attribute3
959*temp picked false
960*comment The picked variable is initialized here because of the recursive nature of the skill picking block.
961Everybody has a weakness. What's yours?
962*choice
963 *selectable_if (not_strength) #I'm slighty fragile, my STRENGTH is my weakness.
964 *set strength -10
965 *set not_strength false
966 *goto skills
967 *selectable_if (not_agility) #I am too slow by nature. My AGILITY is not all that impressive.
968 *set agility -10
969 *set not_agility false
970 *goto skills
971 *selectable_if (not_intelligence) #Some of my peers had high INTELLIGENCE, not me though.
972 *set intelligence -10
973 *set not_intelligence false
974 *goto skills
975 *selectable_if (not_strength) #I'm already dissuaded of my purpose from your question. I don't have much DETERMINATION now do I?
976 *set determination -10
977 *set not_determination false
978 *goto skills
979 #Please. I have no weakness?
980 Hmm... Not very humble are we?
981 *set perception -5
982 *set learning -5
983 *set extravagant +20
984 *goto skills
985
986
987*label skills
988Tell me two of your proudest skills then please.
989*choice
990 *disable_reuse #I am STEALTHY as Erebus
991 *set stealth +20
992 *if picked
993 *goto page11
994 *set picked true
995 *goto skills
996 *disable_reuse #I am CHARMING as Aphrodite
997 *set charm +20
998 *if picked
999 *goto page11
1000 *set picked true
1001 *goto skills
1002 *disable_reuse #I am PERCEPTIVE as Odin
1003 *set perception +20
1004 *if picked
1005 *goto page11
1006 *set picked true
1007 *goto skills
1008 *disable_reuse #I am PERSUASIVE as Peitho
1009 *set persuasion +20
1010 *if picked
1011 *goto page11
1012 *set picked true
1013 *goto skills
1014 *disable_reuse #I am COMBAT honed as Ares
1015 *set combat +20
1016 *if picked
1017 *goto page11
1018 *set picked true
1019 *goto skills
1020 *disable_reuse #I am WEAPON proficient as Hephaestus
1021 *set weapons +20
1022 *if picked
1023 *goto page11
1024 *set picked true
1025 *goto skills
1026 *disable_reuse #I am a good LEARNER... I'm googling up the names of the gods listed above and learning their deeds right now...
1027 *set learning +20
1028 *if picked
1029 *goto page11
1030 *set picked true
1031 *goto skills
1032
1033
1034
1035*label page11
1036
1037"It is very good to learn so much about you, $!{forename}. You should be ready to learn about our work now." The boss smiled at you, a smile better than grieving look you last saw on your parents.
1038
1039The boss was very pleased with your attributes and skillset. He told you that you had a bright future. He even asked the girl who was under your bed last night to befriend you and guide you through what they did. At first, she was shy and reluctant to do so, but after a multitude of praises on how she had indeed a pair of nimble hands and ten swift fingers like the limbs of a crab, she succumbed to the boss's flatteries and agreed to help you through the first few stages integrating into your new family. After the curfew bell rang three times, you and your new family dined, the other kids went back to working their goods, and my tutor took me aside.
1040
1041The meal was more or less satisfying, comprising of commonplace food that most people of this city would eat. How do you feel about it though?
1042*choice
1043 *if (birth = "Aristocratic") #These plebeians are scant in their food. How could they eat such foul foods?
1044 *set extravagant %+20
1045 For you, of course these food were terrible. To think that you would have to survive on it for the subsequent timeline...
1046 *goto page12
1047 *if (birth = "Aristocratic") #Despite being a ${girl} coming from a overwhelmingly rich family, these homemade food aren't too bad either.
1048 *set extravagant %-20
1049 How humble as a ${lady} of an aristocratic family! Respect for you.
1050 *goto page12
1051 *if (birth = "plebeians") #I am glad to have any food at all since I was born into a poor family. How could I ask for more?
1052 *set extravagant %-20
1053 What a sad truth.
1054 *goto page12
1055 *if (birth = "plebeians") #I had to cook better foods for my family.
1056 *set can_cook true
1057 *set extravagant %+20
1058 If you know how to cook, you know how to turn anything into foodstuff. Guess you won't be starving.
1059 *goto page12
1060 #I am getting food for free, so at least I am thankful regardless of preference.
1061 *set good %+20
1062 *goto page12
1063 #Meh... Normal I guess? No specific preference.
1064 *goto page12
1065
1066
1067*label page12
1068
1069Despite just having lost everything you had up till now, you were not easily dissuaded to make a new living for yourself. Regardless of your dignity, righteousness, and morality, you didn't feel too humiliated to quickly learn their trade. They were, of course, also very open to any discourses that can provide the family - the boss, more potential profit, something that you had suspected to be the purpose of taking you in for free. For this mutual benefit, you felt compelled to not beguile yourself before the watchmen of the city, and in order to not be caught, you had to diligently study the art of earning money fast without risking myself in the process.
1070
1071Your mentor wasn't neglecting her duty either. She gave you a dagger and took for herself another, and you looked at her in suspicion. Though maybe not as much shock after all that had happened.
1072
1073"Why should we need this? What are we doing?"
1074
1075"Nothing particularly dangerous per se. If we're going outside after the curfew bell, then we have to always carry something in case anything happened."
1076
1077"We're going outside after curfew bell? Will we not be seen by the night watch?"
1078
1079She laughed at my seemingly ignorant question. "We'll just have to not be seen then don't we. Don't you want to learn our trade? Come on."
1080
1081She closed the door behind us as you two headed into the alleyways. you never took a good notice of the streets of the capital. You had thought they'd be well maintained and befitting of where the King of Kingdom of Celpeia would walk on, but was rather unkept. All streets like this one we walked on were all dirty if they are not cleaned a few times a day with the amount of vandalism occurring each day. The street would be otherwise empty without the rubbish each residents dumped out. Even some of the buildings on the sidewalk became cracked after the rain from yesterday, exposing their hollow crumbling insides.
1082
1083As you walked further, seeing absolutely no watchmen and patrols you expected to appear, you soon realised that you certainly were not alone. In fact, you were part of a grand capital nightlife.
1084
1085It wouldn't be so surprising to find a street two blocks within the den I was led into where illegitimate trades took place. There were three men in the street, all viciously villainous by sight. One of the men gave another a box the size of a common drawer. The receiver opened it, and reacted by returning a punch straight into the giver's face. The third man didn't intervene until the giver was already lying in the floor, by which he immediately join the action by stomping repeatedly onto the giver's stomach.
1086
1087Then my teacher nudged me. "Rule number one, when you're walking around these parts at night, you keep your head down, and you ignore everything. Curiosity killed the cat."
1088
1089I instantly complied by not looking at any of the subsequent beatings.
1090
1091We walked past them, and came before a door.
1092
1093"Hmm... Let's see. This is a good spot. Let's see how well you fare against this door." Elena said with a finger up before her face and a tilted head. "Before we embark on more risky businesses, such as... Well. You know."
1094
1095"I'm not too sure what you want me to do."
1096
1097"Nothing hard. Let me think... Hmm... See that door with the massive padlock on it? That means nobody is in there. So, if you can manage get to the other side of that door and back, I'll give you this glossy soft coin." She took out a golden ten denars coin, a pretty special one, with king Rinatus's head engraved up the front side and a rose flower at the back. Ten denars isn't a lot of money per se, but considering my dire situation, I probably should need it severely. I went over to the door and examined. The lock was bulky and heavy, and I probably can't open the lock without any specialist's tool.
1098
1099How proficient are you at lock picking?
1100
1101*choice
1102 #I have the skills of a master thief. Doors and locks are indifferent to me from a empty frame.
1103 *set can_lockpick true
1104 *set good -10
1105 Well then you're in a position to use those skills that you have. Unfortunately, you do not currently have the lock picking toolset that you usually need, so this door will prove more challenging. As a master lock picker, can you find an alternative way to get through to the other side?
1106 *goto page13
1107 #No. But I did manage to get back home in thirty minute that one time I was locked out of my home.
1108 Knowing how to pick a lock should come quite handy in the current situation. It seems like you'll have to find an alternative method.
1109 *goto page13
1110
1111
1112*label page13
1113
1114Immediately you thought of Santa's signature move, but with the small chimney this dwelling has and the apparent difficulty of climbing back out. You changed your idea. You then then remembered how you could shove a branch a foot long through the letterbox slit on the doors, slide it's tip over on the handle, and just press down. But with this door, there is a massive padlock on the door, and there is practically no way that could work.
1115
1116You dwindled on the outside of that door for fifteen minutes, and after you drained yourself of ideas, you thought brute force would be the best way to get past the door. You jammed my dagger into the creaks of the door, and started to hammer it in. When it was three centimetres deep into the creak, you turned it left and right to create an even wider gap between the door and the frame. At this point, a few splinters on the door started breaking off, and you found hope and motivation to continue. Eventually, You started prying the door against the frame, and the wooden part of the door sank back in, and it's entirety ripped like a piece of paper. The door frame was broken, so the task became much easier. After a few kicks and shoulder rams, the interior frame broke down and you opened the door via brute force. You beamed an victorious smile at Elena, ignoring what a serious crime you had just committed.
1117
1118"Very well done. A dagger can be used in multitudinous ways. That certainly was one of the ways you could deal some damage to the edge of blade." Elena's lips had lifted corners, and she started lecturing you as instructed by the boss in some details. The explanation of how she would personally had gone about the door problem is precise enough for her to become a professional teacher if she so wishes.
1119*goto page14
1120
1121
1122*label page14
1123
1124"I see that you do have the talents a thief may need. However, we are not thieves as you might be suspecting. We are above that. For that reason, every single one of us is equipped with a full arsenal of skills of all sorts. That door that you had just broke certainly is a part of the skills that some of us acquire before actually doing work. However, even if you do have so much talents in door opening, there are a few other skills which you may need to become successful in our trade." She glanced around like a meerkat, shuffled herself towards me, and shoved ten denars into my hands discreetly. You nodded and placed the not so hefty ten denars securely into your pocket.
1125
1126"Another one of these skills, a rather important one, probably the most useful for life, would be making quick money. Right now, you have ten denars. Before tomorrow, I would like to see you with a hundred. Do anything you so wish, but I will follow you around to observe you."
1127
1128A very simple way to get those twenty denars is to burglar the house that you had just broke in. Would you burglar it?
1129
1130*choice
1131 #I had already broken in. If I don't steal it's contents, someone else surely would. Besides, there is a great sum of money in there, so of course I would burglar the house.
1132 *set wealth +43
1133 Indeed. But that's the first sentence of the most dangerous criminals.
1134
1135 You rummaged through the house with less experience then a burglar but more proficiency than any other common people. It didn't take long before you found a jar hidden in a pile of haystack used as a bed. Elena was outside scouting for any incoming intruders or owners of this dwelling, and conveniently, there wasn't. In total, you found thirty denars worth of small goods you could carry from the jars and some other valuables container, and you skedaddled away quick enough for no one to notice.
1136 *goto page15
1137 #Breaking the door down is not a minor crime, but to steal from it is a another story.
1138 *set wealth +10
1139 What? You broke into a house but your morals and dignity retrained you from entering? Okay. It good that you have that goodness inside you.
1140 *goto page15
1141
1142
1143*label page15
1144
1145*temp time 0
1146Now how should you continue the task to gain 100 denars? You have only till sunrise, and it will approach fast if you stand here thinking about what you should do instead of getting right down to it. You better think fast, and come up with some way of getting the denars.
1147
1148*choice
1149 *disable_reuse *selectable_if ((agility >= 30) or (stealth >= 30)) #I don't have much of a choice now. Even though there are few rich pedestrians on the streets at this time, I should still try to do some pickpocketing. (Requires Agility 30 or Stealth 30)
1150 *set time +1
1151 *if (perception >= 30)
1152 *set wealth +31
1153 There were only a few pedestrians as you expected, but your high perception allowed you to find a few walkers to steal from. Even so, pickpocketing was very difficult. In the end, you manage to steal a sum of thirty one denars.
1154 *goto check
1155 *else
1156 *set wealth +23
1157 You couldn't find many a pedestrians this late at night. That coupled with your low perception makes this task very challenging. Despite the difficulty however, you did manage to come up with a sum of twenty three denars.
1158
1159 *disable_reuse *selectable_if ((intelligence >= 30) and (good <= 60)) #Formulate an evil plan to make a lot of money fast. (Requires Intelligence 30 and Evil 40)
1160 *set time +3
1161
1162 *disable_reuse *selectable_if (strength >= 30) #I am strong and I have a weapon. I should do some armed robbery. (Requires Weapon & Strength 30)
1163*set time +1
1164*if(persuasion >= 30)
1165 *set wealth +30
1166 Your persuasive skills made you much more intimidating for the innocent poor passer-by’s and allowed you to persuade them to give you money without any bloodshed. This allowed you to rob a great amount of money amounting to thirty denars.
1167 *goto check
1168*elseif (extravagance >= 30)
1169 *set wealth +30
1170 *set health -12
1171 You were not able to persuade one of your victims to just give you the money. He called you names and insulted you. You were not humble enough to simply let it go, so you got into a fight with him, during which he had thrown you punch that did a bit of damage to your shoulders, you beat him up by putting him to the ground and taking his money. I hope the watchman doesn’t arrive anytime soon. You got 30 denars from robbing.
1172 *goto check
1173*else
1174 *set wealth +17
1175 Very unlucky. A person you tried to rob started fighting back, and because of how humble you are, you would not attack him with the weapon, so he got away. Hopefully he won’t fetch the watchmen. You got 17 denars.
1176 *goto check
1177 *disable_reuse *selectable_if ((charm >= 10) and (persuasion >= 30)) #I try to persuade Elena to give me some more money. (Requires Charm 30 and Persuasion 30)
1178
1179 *disable_reuse *selectable_if (has_bible) #Sell that bible I had earlier (Requires Bible)
1180*set time +1
1181*set wealth +45
1182You took some time to find a person looking to buy a Bible in the middle of the night and you succeeded. You even managed to sell it at a regular price at 45 denars.
1183*goto check
1184
1185 *disable_reuse *selectable_if (wealth >= 30) #Go to the biggest casino in the city. (Requires Wealth 30)
1186 *set time +2
1187 *goto casino
1188 *disable_reuse *selectable_if ((determination >= 30) and (perception >=30)) #Roam about the streets for a long time, searching for money that other people might have dropped. (Requires Determination 30 and Perception 30)
1189*set time +2
1190*set wealth +12
1191*set perception %+20
1192You found 12 denars in total in vicinity through quite some patience and spotting techniques. It doesn’t seem like it made much money though if you look at yourself, but you did improve your spotting/perception skill through that somewhat painful exercise.
1193
1194*label check
1195
1196*if(wealth >= 100)
1197 "Very well done, $!{forename}. You have proved yourself very able. When this test was applied to "
1198*elseif (time >=6)
1199 "How unfortunate, $!{forename}. The day broke, and you have not made 100 denars. It seems that you still need to learn some skills and better train your abilities."
1200*else
1201 *goto page15
1202
1203
1204*label casino
1205*set wealth -5
1206Elena became highly confused as to what you were doing when you told her your next destination was the casino, which was only natural. The casino is, after all, the place where more money are lost then anyone could ever earn. Unless if you know some undetectable sleight of hand tricks or some mathematically calculated profitable gamble, it would be more likely you would lose all your money then anything. Even so, Elena followed you as she said she would, and you took her to the biggest casino in the Kingdom.
1207
1208The casino is where the upper population of the city migrates to when night falls, and the traffic around it was busy. There seemed to be an endless stream of casino regulars and amateur gamblers alike. Two men in black suits stood guard in front of the main entrance of the casino, verifying that everyone entering has money and taking a portion thereof.
1209
1210Despite seeming incredibly suspicious, the two men seemed to allow anyone in who paid five denars the entrance fee to enter. You and Elena managed to get in to the casino quite effortlessly.
1211
1212The environment on the inside was easy to predict, with arbiters scamming gamblers, the house taking money from both. You could almost see strings being pulled here. Earning money here requires skills of all types and luck above all. It would be nice if God is on your side right now, since he should help you if anything luck related appears and you want to succeed in those.
1213
1214You are now in the casino. What would you like to do?
1215
1216*choice
1217 #Play the luck based even or odd dice rolling game.
1218 #Play a game of poker that tests your intelligence, perception, persuasion. The better you are in those three fields, the more likely you will get a adequate pay.
1219 #Cheat a small game of
1220
1221*goto check
1222
1223*ending