You take a right. Your little brother is right-handed, so you have a good feeling about it. You laugh at yourself for being randomly superstitious.\n\nYou start to see little trails of slime. Gross. Some sticks to your new boots. You were annoyed enough that they got scuffed up when you were slaying the guards.\n\nThen you see the culprit. A big green pulsating blob moving slowly toward you. You think for a second that it looks kind of tasty, like a big bowl of jello... but you snap out of it. You have to either fight this thing or get out of here. You lift your sword as you're deciding what to do.\n\n[[Fight it.|fight-blob]]\n\n[[No thanks, I'll try my luck with the other hallway..|hallway]] \n\n<<set $blob_hitpoints = 14>>\n<<set $blob_distance = 4>>\n<<set $my_hitpoints = 20>>
You wipe your brow and pick your sword up off the ground. After a fierce battle, you've subdued the castle guards and hellhounds that were sent after you. \n\nYou look around and see a girl in ornate green dress, poised and composed in spite of a few scratches here and there. Looks like you had help after all. Your parents said it was too dangerous. Maybe they were right. Or maybe they should have been the ones to help.\n\n[[You approach her.|hello]]
<<set $picked = prompt("Door 1, 2, or 3?")>>"Very well. I will now open a door with a dragon."\n<<nobr>>\n<<if $picked is $brother_door>>\n\t<<if $picked is 1>>\n\t\t<<set $revealed = either(2, 3)>>\n\t<<elseif $picked is 2>>\n\t\t<<set $revealed = either(1, 3)>>\n\t<<else>>\n\t\t<<set $revealed = either(1, 2)>>\n\t<<endif>>\n<<else>>\n\t<<if $picked is 1 and $brother_door is 2>>\n\t\t<<set $revealed = 3>>\n\t<<elseif $picked is 1 and $brother_door is 3>>\n\t\t<<set $revealed = 2>>\n\t<<elseif $picked is 2 and $brother_door is 1>>\n\t\t<<set $revealed = 3>>\n\t<<elseif $picked is 2 and $brother_door is 3>>\n\t\t<<set $revealed = 1>>\n\t<<elseif $picked is 3 and $brother_door is 1>>\n\t\t<<set $revealed = 2>>\n\t<<elseif $picked is 3 and $brother_door is 2>>\n\t\t<<set $revealed = 1>>\n\t<<endif>>\n<<endif>>\n<<endnobr>>\nThe king opens door <<print $revealed>>, revealing a huffing, gigantic red dragon that looks ready to attack... eep.\n\nYou can switch to the other door, or stay with your first choice, door <<print $picked>>.\n\n[["Will you switch or stay?"|switch-or-stay]]
The drawbridge opens slowly as you struggle to turn the crank. But you don't give up. "I should be getting settled into my new life here, not breaking a sweat. Ugh," you say to yourself under your breath.\n\nWith the gate open and the bridge finally down, you walk into the castle casually, but at the same time totally ready for any goons King Doku has waiting for you.\n\nThe hallway transitions from stone to an ornate gilded wallpaper as you walk along the red carpet. Candelabras line the walls, but the candles are all burning low, and the wax is dripping off onto the ground. \n\nThe hallway comes to a fork. You can't see around either corner. Now you feel less sure of yourself.\n\n[[Take a left.|left]]\n\n[[Take a right.|right]]
<<if $blob_hitpoints > 0>>\n<<if $blob_distance > 0>>The blob is <<print $blob_distance>> feet away and slowly creeping towards you.\n<<else>>The blob is starting to engulf your feet. Better finish it off quick!<<endif>>\n\nYou've got <<print $my_hitpoints>> health. \n\nThe blob has <<print $blob_hitpoints>> health.\n\n[[Slash it with your sword.|attack-blob]]\n\n[[Run!|hallway]]\n<<else>>\nYou defeated the blob! YES. You pump your fist in the air and hop over the remnant goo that the blob left behind.\n\n[[You enter the king's chamber.|chamber]]\n<<endif>>
Ardelia
Maybe the other hallway will be friendlier? It would be cool to go hang out with Jasmina later, I don't want this to be too difficult or anything...\n\n[[Go left.|left]]\n\n[[Go right.|right]]
<<set $switch_or_stay = prompt("switch or stay?")>>\n<<nobr>>\n<<if $switch_or_stay is "switch">>\n\t<<if $revealed is 1 and $picked is 2>>\n\t\t<<set $picked = 3>>\n\t<<else if $revealed is 1 and $picked is 3>>\n\t\t<<set $picked = 2>>\n\t<<else if $revealed is 2 and $picked is 1>>\n\t\t<<set $picked = 3>>\n\t<<else if $revealed is 2 and $picked is 3>>\n\t\t<<set $picked = 1>>\n\t<<else if $revealed is 3 and $picked is 1>>\n\t\t<<set $picked = 2>>\n\t<<else if $revealed is 3 and $picked is 2>>\n\t\t<<set $picked = 1>>\n\t<<endif>>\nYou switch to door <<print $picked>>. \n<<else>>\nYou decide to stick with your first choice, door <<print $picked>>\n<<endif>>\n<<endnobr>>\n\n<<if $brother_door is $picked>>\nThe door opens, revealing your little brother, sitting there, cute as ever. Once he sees you, he gets up and starts running as fast as he can towards you. He wraps his arms around your knees and you hoist him into your arms.\n\nBefore the king can pull any more tricks you grab an explosive smoketab from your dress. Its loud bang echoes several times in the chamber and creates a huge cloud of smoke.\n\n[[You run out of the castle.|epilogue]]\n<<else>>\nBehind door <<print $picked>> is a snarling dragon. Before the door is even halfway open, the dragon breathes a huge ball of fire. \n\n<<if $armlet is 1>>Your amulet absorbs a bunch of the heat and somehow doesn't even melt at all. You only get a little singed by the flames and lose 5 health.<<set $my_hitpoints = $my_hitpoints - 5>><<else if $feather is 1>><<set $feather = 0>>With the help of your feather, you are able to nimbly dodge the flame almost completely. The only thing that the flame contacts is your feather, burning it up completely. At least you're safe for now.<<else>>You try to dodge it but it singes your clothes and some of your body. You pat out the flames in your hair and battledress but you the burns really hurt. You lose 10 health points. <<set $my_hitpoints = $my_hitpoints - 10>><<endif>>\n\n[[Ugh.|continue]]\n<<endif>>
"While you were rescuing your little brother I wove this garland out of poltvalia flowers. Tons grow down by the river. I figured you'd need some sort of victory celebration." She handed the basket over to you.\n\nYou almost start to cry. No one had ever done something so nice for you before you lived in Ardelia.\n\nYou give her a big hug and don't let go for a bit. Then you start laughing suddenly. Jasmina joins in.\n\nYou walk back home together, brother in tow, laughing and looking forward to humiliating your next foe.
"Bye Jasmina. I won't forget that you helped me like that. Let's hang out sometime. Assuming I don't get slain trying to rescue my brother," you say sarcastically.\n\n"Don't mention it <<print $name>>. Come by my family's encampment by the river next chance you get." She walks down the hill towards the water, waving goodbye.\n\n"By the way. If King Doku tries to trick you with some weird puzzle, remember to always switch!" Jasmina yelled. You wondered how you were supposed to make sense of that... maybe it will make sense later?\n\n[[Search the fallen guard.|search]]\n\n[[Turn the crank of the drawbridge.|drawbridge]]
The king laughs heartily. "You're so naive, <<print $name>>. I took him because the Doku line needs an heir. Ardelia will be lost if the Doku family lose the throne."\n\n"I beg to differ," you mutter. It seems like the less power the Doku have, the better off everyone else in Ardelia will be.\n\n[[The king stands.|chamber3]]
You may rescue your brother. But the fates will decide whether you will be successful.\n\nHe gestures to his left as a curtain is raised. There are three doors numbered 1, 2, 3.\n\n"Your brother is behind one of the doors. Behind the other two are my eldest dragons waiting for their next meal. First, pick a door. Second, I will open a door with a dragon behind it. Then, you'll get to stay with your first choice, or switch to the other closed door. If you choose the correct door, you can take your brother home with you."\n\n[[You think for a second about which door to pick...|choose-door]]
Smoke is pouring out of the gate as you step over the fallen guards and make your way back home to your mom and dad.\n\nYour little brother seems oblivious to what happened. "You're lucky you're so young. That could have been scary if you knew what was really at stake..."\n\nYou look up and see Jasmina coming over the hill. She's wearing a plain robe and is carrying a basket.\n\n"<<print $name>>! You made it," she said coolly.\n\n"Yep, barely. That guy tried to freaking burn me alive. So not cool," I said.\n\n[[Jasmina tilted the basket towards you.|epilogue2]]
<<nobr>>\n<<if $blob_distance > 0>>\n<<set $blob_distance = $blob_distance - 1>>\n<<else>>\n<<set $blob_hit_strength = either(1, 2, 3)>>\nThe blob is upon you and the goo is burning your toes! You take <<print $blob_hit_strength>> damage.\n<<set $my_hitpoints = $my_hitpoints - $blob_hit_strength>>\n<<endif>>\n<<endnobr>>\n\n<<nobr>>\n<<set $hit_strength = either(1, 2, 3, 4)>>\nYou wind up and swing your sword to slash the blob. You deal <<print $hit_strength>> damage to it!\n<<set $blob_hitpoints = $blob_hitpoints - $hit_strength>>\n<<endnobr>>\n\n[[Ok.|previous()]]
You check the guard you slayed with style, to see if he has anything useful. Or cool-looking...\n<<if either("armlet", "feather") is "armlet">><<set $armlet = 1>>\nYou find an armlet. It seems to fit! You slide it on. Looks like that could help protect you from physical attacks.\n<<else>><<set $feather = 1>>\nYou find a feather. You put it in your hair and you suddenly feel light on your feet. It complements your headband perfectly.\n<<endif>>\n\n[[Turn the crank to the drawbridge.|drawbridge]]
<<set $name = prompt("Thanks for the help. My name is ...")>>"... <<print $name>>. I'm trying to get my little brother back. The Doku family kidnapped him and are keeping him captive in the castle. Over my dead body," you said, climbing over a rock approaching the gate of the castle.\n\n"Nice to meet you <<print $name>>. You seem pretty cool. That was badass how you took them on alone. I need every friend I can get when dealing with the Doku family," Jasmina said. You were new to this part of Ardelia and hadn't had to deal with the pesky Doku family before, but now you live practically on top of each other. Great. It was gonna be real fun protecting your family for the next bajillion years you planned to live here.\n\n[[You head towards the gate.|gate]]
<<set $bat_hit_strength = either(1, 2)>>\nThe bat swoops and attacks! You take <<print $bat_hit_strength>> damage.\n<<set $my_hitpoints = $my_hitpoints - $bat_hit_strength>>\n<<set $hit_strength = either(2, 3, 4)>>\nYou wind up and swing your sword to slash the bat. You deal <<print $hit_strength>> damage to it!\n<<set $bat_hitpoints = $bat_hitpoints - $hit_strength>>\n[[Ok.|previous()]]
<<if $bat_hitpoints > 0>>\n\nYou've got <<print $my_hitpoints>> health. \n\nThe bat has <<print $bat_hitpoints>> health.\n\n[[Slash it with your sword.|attack-bat]]\n\n[[Run!|hallway]]\n<<else>>\nYou defeated the bat! YES. You pump your fist in the air as the bat disintegrates in a burst of flame.\n\n[[You enter the king's chamber.|chamber]]\n<<endif>>
<<set $brother_door = either(1, 2, 3)>>\nHuge red and gold tapestries hang from the ceiling. Your steps are echoing as your heels click on the shiny stone floor. There are inlays of brass with flowery seals. Must be why the Doku family is so important - they have fancy seals.\n\nThe king is just sitting there as if nothing is wrong. He's wearing his huge robe and looking at you with casual contempt and a sneer on his face. You thought maybe terrorizing other families brought him joy. Maybe not?\n\nHe's also a lot smaller than you thought he'd be ... guess he's not really a big deal without his monsters to protect him.\n\n"Why did you kidnap my brother, you twerp?" you yell.\n\n[[Your voice echoes.|chamber2]]
<<if $my_hitpoints > 0>>You get up and face the King. You have <<print $my_hitpoints>> health.\n\n"Mwahahaha... You thought you were clever, huh, <<print $name>>?"\n\n"I hope you get eaten by spiders," you say.\n\nThe King smirks. I'll give you another try after shuffling the dragons and your brother around.\n<<set $brother_door = either(1, 2, 3)>>\n[["Ready?"|chamber3]]\n\n<<else>>\nYou try to muster some strength to get up, but your vision starts to blur as you collapse. The next thing you remember is waking up by a river in a remote part of Ardelia.\n\nYour brother is raised by King Doku and becomes the captive heir to a tyrranical regime. Your family tries to plead for his return. The Doku royalty deny it and claim your family is crazy.\n<<endif>>
Tyler Hoyt
"I'm Jasmina. I saw you trying to get to the gates of the castle and thought I'd lend a hand. These jerks have stolen from me too. What's your name?" she said brushing her hair out of her face.\n\n[["Thanks for the help. My name is ..."|name]]
You decide to try your luck with the left hallway. Good as any, you think.\n\nIt darkens as you proceed down the hallway. Guess there aren't as many candles here...\n\nYou snap to attention suddenly as a huge bat flies by your head. You look around and see its bright white teeth bared as it flies towards you.\n\nThis isn't one of those cute baby bats. You lift your sword.\n\n[[Fight it.|fight-bat]]\n\n[[No thanks, I'll try my luck with the other hallway..|hallway]] \n\n<<set $bat_hitpoints = 10>>\n<<set $my_hitpoints = 20>>