When you open them again the cell is bright. You notice your tray has been taken, and your chains have been undone. As your eyes adjust to this light, you realize how filthy the room is, caked with dirt mud, and grime.
(click-append:"grime. ")[You are just as filthy.]
You call out for the guards thinking that this must be some kind of mistake. They wouldn't just let you out. After a few minutes with no answer, you crawl over to the wall. You use its bumpy stone design to pull yourself onto your feet. Your legs are shaky, you haven't used them much. Gripping onto the door frame you cross the threshold of the doorway, and are now standing in a bright hallway.
You aren't in the dungeon, it is wartime. The cells are filled, and they put you in an unused room on the ground level.
You can [[go left|room two]] or you can [[go right|room three]] but you're not sure. You try to listen for any warnings, smell the sign of death, but there isn't anything. It's quiete.
You turn left and go down the hallway. The door at the end of it is made of a dark wood, with intricate carvings of feathers. Right above the metal door handle is a fat little robin engraved next to the keyhole.
The door is locked.
When you turn back around you see the girl who fed you earlier standing just down the wall humming to herself. [[Go Over to Her|ed]]
[[Go Back|room one]] You make your way down the hallway and enter the room on the other side. The walls are lined with wooden racks and pegboards. Hundreds of iron keys hang in neat rows. The air is filled with the metallic scent of iron and a faint hint of oil.
At the center of the room stands a large, heavy oak table, and on it, lies some rolled-up parchment, and two keys. One key is slender and delicate and made of a pale silvery metal. Near the handle is a small, perfectly smooth robin's egg set into the key.
The other key is thicker and more robust, the metal is darker, almost like an aged bronze. The handle is intricate, with a carved nest, woven twigs, and branches forming a rounded shape.
[[Pick egg key|room two2]]
[[Pick nest key|room two3]]
You step through the doorway, and the air immediately shifts, thick with the scent of herbs and incense, as if the very air itself hums with ancient magic. The room is dimly lit by soft glowing orbs that hover near the ceiling, casting a warm, ethereal light that dances off the walls.
You hear someone say to come in, you jump back a little, then a man rises from a chair.
The healer steps forward slowly, he is tall and lean, wrapped in flowing robes of deep blue and silver, frayed at the edges, bearing the wear of many years spent in quiet service. His face is deeply lined, etched with years of wisdom, laughter, and sorrow. Thin silver hair, streaked with white, is gathered into a loose braid that drapes over one shoulder, a few strands escaping to frame a weathered face.
"I've heard about you. I was hoping you'd come to see me," he says. You are confused, but maybe he'll help you.
He asks to play a game, he pours two cups of tea. He places them on a table in front of the chairs. He sets down two dice one a royal purple and one a glistening green.
"Pick a die, roll it, depending on what you get, you either drink the tea with me, or I'll help you escape." He smirks as he says this, and your heart sinks to your stomach.
[[Pick the purple die|room five]]
[[Pick the green die|death 1]]
[[Run away|girl]]You pick up the purple die and bounce it in your hand a few times. You let it go and watch as it rolls across the table, waiting for it to stop.
//6//
You got a six. When you look up at the healer he grins.
"Alright, I am a man of my word." He opens the window and motions outside.
"Go with them, they'll get you out of here. But I'm not done with you, expect to see me again one day, and repay this favor."
He grabs your hand and helps you climb out of the window. You thank him and begin your journey to safety.
//You escaped//You feel weak, dirty, and muddled. You hear the door unlock and swing open slowly. You can barely keep your head up and your eyes open. You hear footsteps approach, a wooden tray set on the ground next you. As the footsteps retreat you look over and [[catch a glimpse of her|end]]
You wearily reach your skinny arm to the tray and pull it closer to you.
(click-append:"pull it closer to you.")[You notice a small pot of gruel topped with boiled vegetables, undercooked and bland. Next to the pot lies a few slivers of dried beef, they're tough and barely edible. In the corner of the tray, there is a bit of stale bread, a hard cheese rind, and a small glass of slightly murky water.]
You clear the tray in just a few seconds, it hurts going in. You can't remember when they gave you something other than watery broth. Your stomach cramps and aches, you're still so tired. You roll over on the cold stone floor and curl up wrapping your arms around your abdomen. [[You close your eyes.|room one]]
You feel the smooth, green die in the palm of your hand. You toss it gently and watch as it rolls across the table, waiting for it to stop.
//3//
You got a three. You look over at him and he frowns.
"I thought you'd have better luck, have some tea with me." He slides one of the cups over to you.
You pick it up hesitantly, he takes large sips, gulping them down. You take small sips, and he begins telling a story.
You can't focus on what he is saying, something doesn't feel right.
Your limbs begin to feel heavy, as though weighed down by an unforeseen force. A subtle coldness creeps through your veins, starting at your fingertips and spreading inward. Your vision blurs and a strange numbness crawls up your spine, making it hard to focus, and harder to breathe. You try to speak, but your tongue feels sluggish.
"Hush now, it'll all be over soon," he smiles.
//You Failed- Poisoned//You pick up the egg key and run to the other door in the hallway. You lift the key, place it in the lock, and turn. It clicks quietly, you lift the door handle and slowly crack open the door.
As you look around you notice rows of shelves filled with leather-bound books and parchment scrolls. Soft, faded tapestries hang on the walls depicting the history of the kingdom. A crackling fire burns in a marble hearth. It gives off a warmth you haven't felt in a long time.
You make your way closer to the fire, prepared to linger as long as you can. Suddenly you trip over something. You hit the ground, hard. Frustrated you fling yourself up, and find a book at your feet. It is small, lined in a dark blue velvet. The title is faded and the pages are worn. You pick it up. You [[read it.|book]]
You hear the floorboards creak, and turn your head swiftly. In the corner of the room stands a dark door. You have no idea what's behind it. But it's the only way to go.
[[Go through door|room four]] You open the book and flip through a couple of pages. You stop on a page with bright golden lettering that spells the title "The Garden of Freedom."
You scan the page.
//"The garden shimmered under the twilight. Under the moonlight, the usual green foliage seemed oddly absent. Instead, the leaves held a dusky hue, their veins tinged with a deep plumlike shade. Along the pathway, small violet flowers peeked out, their petals glowing faintly in the fading light. Even the air felt different, as though the scent of lilacs and amethyst had replaced the fresh, earthy fragrance of greenery."//
Once you finish the passage [[you look up|room two2]]
You pick up the nest key and run to the other door in the hallway. You lift the key, place it in the lock, you try to turn it, but it won't go. You try a few more times, but it won't work. Suddenly you hear metal footsteps approach.
"Halt" someone shouts. When you turn you see a couple of knights. They grab you and take you back to your cell.
//You were caught//She is tall and thin and smells lightly of vanilla and musk. Her dress is clean and her hair rests underneath her headress in a pious bun. She mutters a prayer for you as she shuts the door. You walk over to her, she is humming something that feels so familiar to you. You ask for her name but she just keeps humming. You ask if she helped you earlier, if she knows a way out. She interrupts you and sings.
(click-append:"sings")[(text-style:"sway")[, "I'm round and red,
a feathered friend
A worm I find, a feast to send.
In leafy green, a cozy place,
I build a home, a special space.
A tiny sphere, a fragile art,
I sit upon, my part to play"
(text-style:"fade-in-out")[She stops singing and walks away]]]
You run back out through the doors you cam from, and find yourself back in that hallway. You open an window and slip yourself out of it. As you run, you look back to find the servant girl chasing after you. She just sprints after you quietly, you slow your pace and she catches up to you.
↶↷You feel weak, dirty, and muddled. You hear the door unlock and swing open slowly. You can barely keep your head up and your eyes open. You hear footsteps approach, a wooden tray set on the ground next you. As the footsteps retreat you look over and catch a glimpse of her
You wearily reach your skinny arm to the tray and pull it closer to you.
You clear the tray in just a few seconds, it hurts going in. You can't remember when they gave you something other than watery broth. Your stomach cramps and aches, you're still so tired. You roll over on the cold stone floor and curl up wrapping your arms around your abdomen. You close your eyes.