(set:$Distraction to 0) (set:$Adventurousness to 0) (set:$Tomato to 0) (set:$Awesomeness to 0) (set:$Curse to 0) (set:$Reward to 0) (set:$Oregano to 0)Man, you're hungry. You could really go for a grilled cheese sandwich right now. You know, warm, gooey cheese between two slices of crispy fried bread. Oh, yeah, baby!
You notice the message indicator on your phone is flashing.
[[You check your email quickly]]
[[You open the fridge]]
You open the fridge looking for curdled dairy products. All right, you have...
[[Processed Cheese Food Slices]]
[[Smoked Aged Cheddar]]
[[Stinky Blue Cheese]]
(set: $Distraction to $Distraction +1) Just a quick check and then you'll start some cheesy goodness!
Hmm, looks like nothing too pressing. A few newsletters and an email from your Aunt Ariel. You haven't heard from her in a while.
[[Open the email from Aunt Ariel]]
Aunt Ariel can wait - You need some dairy now! [[You open the fridge]]
(set: $Distraction to $Distraction +1) Aunt Ariel says hi. Your Cousin Cobb just got accepted to university, Uncle Webb's sciatica is improving...
You know, the usual. It's nice to know they're doing okay. You notice she added a YouTube link at the bottom. She says it's her new favorite cat video.
Enough of this - You're hungry! [[You open the fridge]]
[[Check out that cat video!]]
(set: $Distraction to $Distraction +1) You click on the link. It's an orange tabby drinking from the faucet - So adorable! Aren't cat videos the best?
You're still hungry, though.
[[You open the fridge]]
(set: $Adventurousness to $Adventurousness +1) Ew! Are you crazy? That's barely even food!
[[Try again.|You open the fridge]]
Mmm! Your favourite! This is **the** good stuff!
You always choose this. You're wondering if you should mix it up a bit.
[[You proceed as usual - Why mess with a good thing?]]
[[You know what? Some fresh tomatoes sound good!]]
(set: $Adventurousness to $Adventurousness +1) Ew! Hello! It's ''//"Stinky"//'' Blue Cheese. Its foulness lasts forever.
[[Try again.|You open the fridge]]
You take the hunk of cheddar and place it on the cutting board.
You cut it into slices (not too thick, not too thin) and place them between two pieces of fresh buttered bread as you preheat the pan.
[[Looks like you're ready to rock and roll!]]
Well, there's no tomatoes in the fridge, but there should be some growing on the balcony - Hooray for urban gardening! You grab your trusty purple [[spatula]] in case you need to shoo away any urban wildlife.
[[Field trip to the balcony!]]
Eh, too much effort. Who needs tomatoes? [[Looks like you're ready to rock and roll!]]
(set: $Adventurousness to $Adventurousness +1) You hustle outside, spatula in hand. Ah, the balcony! An oasis in your urban jungle. Your plants have several large, juicy red tomatoes. You spy a particularly toothsome candidate right in front of you!
You hear a soft sound over in the left corner, could that be a voice?
[[Nah, it must be the wind - Grab that tomato!]]
[[Hmm, what's in that left corner?]]
You pick that tomato! It's so plump and juicy - This is going to be delicious!
(if: $Curse is 0)[ [[Chop! Chop!]] (set: $Tomato to $Tomato +1) ]
(if: $Curse is 1)[ [[Wait, what's happening?]] ]
(set: $Adventurousness to $Adventurousness +1) (set: $Distraction to $Distraction +1)
You peer into the left corner. The tomato plant lurches to the side, heavy with [[fruit,|Tomatoes are fruit]] only remaining vertical because it's tied to a stake.
The sound is getting louder. It kinda //does// sound like a voice!
[[You move closer to the sound.]]
[[Maybe you're too hungry and you're hearing things. Grab the tomato and get cooking!|Nah, it must be the wind - Grab that tomato!]]
You lovingly wash the tomato under the faucet then you pull out your best ceramic knife and slice it into tasty, translucent slices.
[[Cheese Time!]]
You take the hunk of cheddar and place it on the cutting board.
You cut it into slices (not too thick, not too thin) and place them and the tomato slices between two pieces of fresh buttered bread as you preheat the pan.
[[Looks like you're ready to rock and roll!]]
You pop that baby in the pan. Soon the scent of toasty bread and gooey cheese fills your nostrils. (if: $Tomato is 1)[The tomato slices peek out between the bread, sparkling like rare jewels.]
Now ''//this//'' is living!
(if: $Reward is 0)[Your phone pings. Hmm, sounds like a Facebook notification.
[[Check Facebook!]] ]
[[Keep your eyes on the cheesy prize]]
Yeah, botanically tomatoes are considered [[fruit.|Hmm, what's in that left corner?]]
(set: $Distraction to $Distraction +1) You move closer and you spot the tiny...
[[Creature?]]
(set: $Distraction to $Distraction +1) (set: $Adventurousness to $Adventurousness +1)The first thing you see is a head of long, tomato-red hair. It belongs to what looks like a tiny human holding her head in her hands. She is wearing a gold dress and a tiny tiara set with a brilliant ruby. She is shaking as she sobs and mutters to herself. She is so upset that she doesn't appear to have heard you approach.
What do you do?
[[This is getting too weird, tiptoe back inside without any tomatoes]]
[[Clear your throat to get her attention]]
(set: $Distraction to $Distraction +1) Your best friend, Leanne, just tagged you in some pictures on Facebook.
[[Check out those pictures]]
[[Hadn't you better check on your sandwich?|Safe!]]
Ooh! That sandwich is looking good!
[[Flip that baby over!]]
You slip your purple plastic spatula under the sandwich and flip it over. The top is a perfect caramel brown and it smells even yummier than before!
[[Hooray!]]
You let the other side cook a couple of minutes. Then you use your spatula to remove the tasty creation from the pan and place it on a beautiful floral-patterned plate. You then slice the sandwich diagonally.
[[You admire your handiwork]]
The top is covered in a lacy, golden pattern of toasty goodness. You pull the halves apart and admire the pale, creamy cheddar as it oozes out ever so slowly. (if: $Tomato is 1)[The translucent tomatoes glisten.] (if: $Oregano is 1)[A few oregano leaves peek out.]
[[You grab a half and take a bite]]
(set: $Awesomeness to $Awesomeness +5) The warm cheddar tickles your tastebuds with its sharp, smoky flavour. (if: $Tomato is 1)[The tomatoes provide a fresh, acidic counterpoint to the creamy cheese.] (if: $Oregano is 1)[The oregano creates a sharp, earthy bite. Yum!]
(if: $Reward is 0)[ [[This is good eating!]] ]
(if: $Reward is 1)[[[This is good eating!|Best Ending]]]
Congratulations! You have successfully made and enjoyed a grilled cheese sandwich!
You have reached Ending 1 of 4 - Cheesy Goodness!
While your meal was tasty, you wonder if there is more to life than simply preparing tasty grilled cheese sandwiches.
Your Distraction Score is $Distraction
Your Adventurousness Score is $Adventurousness
Your Awesomeness Score is $Awesomeness
[[Would you like to try again and find out?|Start]]
(set: $Distraction to $Distraction +1) Wow, so many pictures from Steve's Halloween party! You flip through the pictures (I can't believe Helen dressed like Nellie McClung!)
(either: "[[You smell something burning!|Burnt!]]","[[Eek! hadn't you better check on your sandwich?|Safe!]]","[[Eek! hadn't you better check on your sandwich?|Safe!]]","[[Eek! hadn't you better check on your sandwich?|Safe!]]")
Oh, no! It smells like your sandwich is burning!
[[Check your sandwich!]]
Oof! Looks like you were just in time!
[[Flip that baby over!]]
You rush to action and slip your purple plastic spatula under the sandwich and flip it over.
[[Alas it is charred. Very charred.]]
You pick up the ex-sandwich and sadly place it in the garbage. You will always wonder what might have been.
You have reached Ending 4 of 4 - Charred Hopes.
Your Distraction Score is $Distraction
Your Adventurousness Score is $Adventurousness
Your Awesomeness Score is $Awesomeness
[[What would happen if you could turn back time?|Start]]
You sneak back inside without alerting the creature. Wow, that was really bizarre. You're still hungry, though.
[[Then you head for the kitchen|You proceed as usual - Why mess with a good thing?]]
(set: $Distraction to $Distraction +1)(set: $Adventurousness to $Adventurousness +1)You clear your throat in as genteel a way as possible.
The creature gasps and looks up, startled. Her eyes are the soft green of a tomato leaf, watery with tears.
[["Who art thou?" she says.]]
(put: (prompt: "What's your name?") into $name)
"I'm $name," you reply. "Don't be afraid."
The creature gasps , as if in recognition. "Thou art The Wise One? Of course, you carry the Amythyst Sceptre as foretold in the ancient prophecies."
[["Amythyst Sceptre?"]]
You look down at the purple [[spatula|spatula3]] still in your hand. "I wouldn't call it a sceptre--"
"Zounds!" she replies, "I care not what you would call it. You are a mortal and your ways needs must be very different from those of faeries."
[[Uh, did she just say "faeries"?]]
"Faeries?" you ask.
"Aye, as a rule we eschew the world of mortals. Wise $name we stand athwart a great crisis. I have searched for you for many months, in many places much like this one, for it was foretold the chosen one would be found in a suspended garden."
[[You think for a few seconds. "Oh, right, the balcony."]]
"Wait," you say, "who are you?"
"I am Lycopenia, Captain of the Queen's Guard. Come with me, Wise $name, to Faeryland - We //must// hurry! I will give you more intelligence anon.
Intelligence? You think you're already pretty smart. (Oh, right, she's using it in the old-timey way to mean "information." Mrs. McCauley's Grade 10 English class proves helpful once more.)
"Will you join me, $name?"
[["Yes!"]]
[["No, thanks."]]
"Truly, you are most kind. Let us hope we are not too late!
[["Take my hand."]]
(set: $Adventurousness to $Adventurousness -1)"Oh, mighty $name. You must aid us! Thou art our only hope!"
[["Okay, fine, I'll help you, Lycopenia."|"Yes!"]]
[["I still think I'll pass."]]
(set: $Distraction to $Distraction +10) (set: $Awesomeness to $Awesomeness +20) (set: $Adventurousness to $Adventurousness +20) You take her tiny hand between two fingers. You feel a crackle of energy flash through your body as you dissolve into bright green light.
[[Your sight goes dark. The world falls silent.]]
You see nothing, you hear nothing, you feel nothing. It is as if you are merely a consciousness suspended in a void.
Strangely, this does not alarm you.
[[You are eerily relaxed as you observe the nothingness.]]
(set: $Awesomeness to $Awesomeness +1) With a sharp crack you become green light once more.
Out of the green blaze the world slowly dims until you start to make out things once more: You realize you're still holding your purple spatula in your hand, you see blue sky above you and grey flagstones under your feet. You are still holding Lycopenia's hand as she hovers on translucent lacy gold wings in the air next to you. (How did you not notice her wings, before?)
You also realize you are both now the same size.
[["Where are we?"]]
Lycopenia says, "we're in Faeryland, of course."
You release Lycopenia's hand as you observe your surroundings.
You are standing at the entrance of a magnificent temple which looms as high as the trees. It seems to be made out of a pale yellow stone, but it's also a little translucent somehow.
It reminds you of cheddar. Oh, yeah, your sandwich. You remember you still kind of hungry.
[[Wow, it's beautiful here!|"Ah, there you are, mortal. I feared thou might have lost thy way."]]
(set: $Adventurousness to $Adventurousness -10)Lycopenia's eyes burn with emerald flame. "Selfish mortal!"
She raises her hand, a miniature green fireball appears. "Faeries make fast friends, but fierce enemies.
"I curse thee, $name! Thou wilt rue thy churlish behaviour!"
[[She hurls the tiny fireball at your face.]]
(set: $Curse to $Curse +1) (set: $Awesomeness to $Awesomeness -10)You feel a crackle of energy flash through your body as you dissolve into bright green light. Your vision fills with green fire. Your hear only the deafening crackle of flames.
Then, just as suddenly, everything is the same is before. The balcony, the tomato plants, the spatula.
However, Lycopenia is nowhere to be seen. Whoa, maybe you were so hungry you hallucinated all that? Oh, yeah, you //are// still hungry.
[[You go back inside.|You proceed as usual - Why mess with a good thing?]]
[[Wait, I did come out here for a tomato, didn't I? That one looks good.|Nah, it must be the wind - Grab that tomato!]]
The tomato erupts into a bright green blaze. In seconds, it is transformed into a pile of ash in your palm.
Did you just see that?
Nah, must be another hunger hallucination. You figure the tomato plants must have some sort of weird disease. That's why that tomato fell apart.
[[Too bad. Let's go make some grilled cheese!]]
You take the hunk of cheddar and place it on the cutting board.
You cut it into slices (not too thick, not too thin) and place them between two pieces of fresh buttered bread as you preheat the pan.
[[Looks like you're ready to rock and roll!|Cursed pan]]
You pop that baby in the pan. Soon the scent of toasty bread and gooey cheese fills your nostrils.
Now ''//this//'' is living!
[[Who needs tomatoes? This is going to be amazing!]]
The sandwich erupts into a bright green blaze, filling the pan with flames. You quickly cover it with the lid to smother fire and wait a few seconds.
[[You slowly lift up the lid and peer into the pan.]]
An involuntary sob chokes your throat as you see the carbonized slab, once so full of cheesy potential, reduced to an inedible, smoky ruin.
[[You cry like a baby.]]
"Lycopenia!" you cry, "How could you do this to me?"
[[You hear no reply, but as you sink down, sobbing, to the kitchen floor you could almost swear you hear distant faery laughter echoing in your ears.]]
You are now sitting and sobbing on your kitchen floor.
You have failed to make a grilled cheese sandwich. You remember that you are very, very, //''very''// hungry.
You are also kind of a jerk.
You have reached Ending 2 of 4 - Just Desserts.
Your Distraction Score is $Distraction
Your Adventurousness Score is $Adventurousness
Your Awesomeness Score is $Awesomeness
[[Would you like to try again?|Start]]
(set: $Adventurousness to $Adventurousness -1)"I beg thou, $name! Please help me to save my beloved homeland!"
[[Okay, if it means that much to you.|"Yes!"]]
[[No way, Jose!]]
"Hurry, we must enter temple. I pray we are not too late!"
[[The temple doors swing open]]
As you walk in, you feel a cool breeze as shafts of light around the perimeter of the ceiling illuminate the square stone room.
A few small chapels, partially shrouded in darkness, seem to be studded around the walls.
[[However, the main focus of the space seems to be an altar above a dais at the back of the room.]]
You gasp as you see her - Another faery, you surmise. She looks very like Lycopenia, only her hair is blue. She wears a silver dress and a tiara set with a sparking sapphire.
Her face is blank, unmoving, vacant. Her silver-grey eyes, while open, seem to see nothing.
She is suspended in a glowing, translucent orb, covered in fiery veins of green. However, you also notice some of the veins at the bottom are darker, and this dark energy seems to be rising up.
[["Who is she?" you ask.]]
Lycopenia's eyes glisten ever so slightly. "Lusitana, my sister. One of the most powerful mages in our realm.
"She seeks to protect our world, but not even her magic can keep our doom at bay for much longer."
Aye, wouldst thou know more detail, or would a summary suffice?
[["Just give me the quick facts, please]]
[["Please tell me the full story."|"Your doom?"]]
"Aye, in the early days of Faeryland, an enchantress named Morag the Hawk sought to use her gifts to control all of Faeryland.
"A team of mages, led by my ancestor, the Great Ludmilla thwarted Morag's schemes and defeated her. Unfortunately, they were too late.
[["Morag passed into the lands of death, but not before she cast one final curse."]]
"As her spirit fled, Morag used every remaining shred of her magic to create the Nessasphere. She hoped the sphere would then infuse darkness throughout Faeryland, eventually destroying it.
"Ludmilla and her mages sealed the Nessasphere with the Rainbow Shield and secreted it under this very temple. They ensured no faery could ever enter the sealed inner chamber, for fear some foolish mage might tamper with it.
[["For millennia, Faeryland was safe."]]
"Over the ages, the mages grew complacent. The stories of Morag faded into legend. They became children's stories.
"Then the unthinkable happened. Ludmilla's Shield began to crack.
[["The curse began to seep into our world."]]
"Lusitana realized what was happening and tried to stop it. She created her own sphere to absorb Morag's dark curse. However, it required all of her spirit. While she lives, Faeryland is safe.
"However, when the Nessasphere o'ertakes her own, she will die. Should my sister fail, Faeryland will surely fall forever.
[["However, Ludmilla knew her magic might fail one day and created the prophecies so we might have some means of salvation."]]
"In the prophecies, Ludmilla speaks of the Wise One, a mortal who wields the Amythyst Sceptre.
"You are the Wise One. You, $name, are our saviour."
You ponder this for a moment.
[["But, Lycopenia, I know nothing about magic."]]
Lycopenia sighs, "Thou hast the Sceptre. As a mortal, you may pass into the seal's chamber. As thou are not wholly devoid of reason. I believe thou might be successful."
Lycopenia raises one hand, a trap door opens at the bottom of the dais.
"Art thou ready, mortal, to enter the chamber?"
[[Yes, I am]]
[[No, I'm scared.]]
Your spatula is a beautiful culinary tool. Your brother, Robin, gave it to you last Christmas. He said he felt like you were "meant" to have it. (He's a good fellow, but he's kind of weird sometimes.)
The spatula is made from what appears to be deep purple transparent plastic. Its long handle is an octagonal prism, there are long flat facets cut along it to make it sparkle. Stuck at one of the end of the handle is a piece shaped like a tiny purple gem. The other end of the handle spreads out into the broad, flat food-lifting part, something like a flat shovel with a few slits in it. (What is that food-lifting part called, anyway?)
It sparkles like a jewel when the light from the kitchen window hits it just right.
[[Now, where were we?|You know what? Some fresh tomatoes sound good!]]
"Thou art brave, $name. I wish you success. Take this, it was Ludmilla's, perhaps it will bring you good fortune."
[[She plucks a ruby from her tiara and hands it to you.]]
Lycopenia glares at you. "Mortal, it is too late to be coward. Thou needs must proceed.
By the look in her eye, maybe it's best not to argue.
[[Yes, I am]]
The stone feels slightly warm in your hand. The ruby is a deep, clear crimson. Bright as a ripe tomato. Though you don't really want to think about food right now, do you? It just makes you hungrier.
[[Walk down the stairs into the chamber]]
You descend into a small stone chamber, probably only about five feet long by five feet wide. You shiver a little as you notice the chill. You can see a light source, but, considering what else you've seen today that's probably not really important to figure out.
You see a wooden door at the far end. A sphere, very like the one you saw above, is carved into it.
[[You walk towards the door.]]
You see a quick flash of sapphire light and a faery appears before you.
She has blue hair and wears a tiara set with a sapphire. She is also kind of translucent.
[[Could it be Lusitana?]]
"I am Lusitana. Thank you, $name for aiding my sister and I in our mission. I needs must speak with thee. My strength continues to ebb and creating this spectral form taxes me even further.
"However, I needs must speak with thee.
"Also, take this. 'Tis another of my kinswoman, Ludmilla's gems."
Lusitana, plucks the sapphire from her tiara, waves her hand. And suddenly appears, suspended in the air in front of you.
[[You take the sapphire.]]
You pluck the sapphire from the air, it feels cool in your palm.
"Thank you."
Lusitana's form begins to fade. "Good luck, $name. And hurry!"
[[You open the far door]]
You enter another illuminated chamber, about the same size as the previous one.
At the far end, you see a small altar. You walk towards it to get a better look.
[[The door swings shut behind you]]
You turn around and run to the door you just entered. It appears to be sealed shut. You run your fingers over its surface trying to find anything to help you open it.
[[Looks like you're stuck here]]
You turn around to inspect the room. The stone walls and ceiling are smooth and unmarked. No sign of any doors.
You walk closer to the altar to get a better look at it. It's a creamy white luminescent stone, something like alabaster. It reminds you of cheddar. (Argh, you're hungry!)
The top of the altar is carved with the image of another sphere, with carved veins running across it. Two small, round indentations are placed horizontally across from each other around its perimeter.
What do you do?
[[Stick your fingers in each indentation]]
[[Look at the indentations more closely]]
[[Sing the "Soft Kitty" song]]
You take a deep breath and stick each of your index fingers into the holes... You stay there a few seconds. Maybe this takes a while.
[[Wait for it...]]
You peer at the indentations. You notice they look like rounded polygons. Almost like...
[[Jewels!]]
You sing "Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur
Happy kitty, sleepy kitty, purr, purr, purr"
While the song relaxes you slightly, it does not seem be otherwise helpful.
[[What else can you try?|Looks like you're stuck here]]
An electric jolt sizzle through your body. You jerk your hands away.
Ouch! It reminds you of that time your grade nine lab partner, Gordon, snuck up behind you and clipped two wires to your retainer and jolted you with a nine-volt battery. Just like that - only, much, much worse. (Also, everyone called you "Sparky" for the rest of the year.)
You blow on your fingers. Fortunately there doesn't seem to be any permanent damage.
[[Care to try something else?|Looks like you're stuck here]]
Of course! You place the ruby in on indentation. Then you drop the sapphire in the other - You want to minimize direct contact, you don't want to get zapped, or worse!
[[You hear a click...]]
The image of the sphere shatters and the stone melts like warm Velveeta, leaving a hole. There is a glow coming from within it. It grows brighter as a sphere rises above it and hovers in front of you.
The Nessasphere!
It is covered with a rainbow of shimmering veins - the Rainbow Shield - but more than half are now black along one side. You notice the dark half contains a small, round crack. The darkness seems to be spreading from there.
[[Now, what?]]
You look at the Nessasphere. What the blazes are you supposed to do now?
[[Try to poke your finger in the crack]]
[[Sing "Soft Kitty"]]
[[Search your pockets]]
You sing "Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur
Happy kitty, sleepy kitty, purr, purr, purr"
While the song relaxes you slightly, it does not seem be otherwise helpful.
[[What else can you try?|Now, what?]]
You look at the crack. It almost seems to hum with some sort of malevolent energy. The hum grows louder as your finger approaches it.
You jerk your hand away. Maybe touching evil with your bare hand isn't a good idea.
[[What else could you do?|Now, what?]]
You put down the spatula to rummage through your pockets...
[[Wait a minute...]]
The [[spatula|spatula2]] - Er, Amythyst Sceptre - of course!
The red and blue jewels opened the altar, blue and red make purple, so...
Take the spatula and...
[[Shove the wide flat part into the crack]]
[[Just give that crack a good whack with the spatula-uh-Sceptre]]
[[Put the end of the handle into the crack]]
You try shoving the wide, flat part of the Sceptre into the crack.
A small spark of purple zings into it, then disappears. The Nessasphere appears unchanged.
[[Try another tactic|Wait a minute...]]
You recall your college softball days, grab the sceptre like a bat and wind up to give the Nessasphere a good thrashing.
Bang! You make contact and the Sceptre bounces off. The sound echoes throughout the chamber as a tiny purple spark glows, then fades.
[[Try another tactic?|Wait a minute...]]
You look at the end of the spatula's handle. It looks like a little jewel - Could that be the key?
[[Only one way to find out...]]
You touch the jewel to the crack gingerly. Who knows what'll happen?
The spatula begins to glow purple, as if lit from within.
A purple spark shoots from the handle into the crack.
The spark begins to spread along the cracks, making fiery purple trails.
[[The Nessasphere begins to hum]]
The purple glow engulfs the Nessasphere and it glows so brightly you can no longer look at it.
The humming becomes unbearably, deafeningly loud.
The spatula begins to shake more and more violently...
[[What's happening?]]
Suddenly, it all stops.
You take a deep breath, you are still in the chamber, holding the Sceptre, but the Nessasphere has changed. The Rainbow Shield is once again whole, its surface unblemished and shimmering multi-coloured veins run through it with no signs of darkness.
[[You did it!]]
The door swings open once more.
Still holding the sceptre, you walk through the chambers, up the stairs and into the temple once more.
You spot Lycopenia on the dais, cradling her seated sister who is now free from her protective sphere. You are relieved to notice she is breathing.
Lusitana opens her eyes, and smiles weakly. "$name, you have my thanks and that of all of Faeryland. You are indeed our savior!"
"Aye," adds her sister, "and for that, thou shalt be rewarded."
[[The sisters raise their hands]]
Your spatula is a beautiful culinary tool. Your brother, Robin, gave it to you last Christmas. He said he felt like you were "meant" to have it. (He's a good fellow, but he's kind of weird sometimes.)
The spatula is made from what appears to be deep purple transparent plastic. Its long handle is an octagonal prism, there are long flat facets cut along it to make it sparkle. Stuck at one of the end of the handle is a piece shaped like a tiny purple gem. The other end of the handle spreads out into the broad, flat food-lifting part, something like a flat shovel with a few slits in it. (What is that food-lifting part called, anyway?)
It sparkles like a jewel when the light from the kitchen window hits it just right.
[[Now, where were we?|Wait a minute...]]
A crackle of energy emerges from each faery's palm, Lycopenia's green, Lusitana's silver, as they focus on the Sceptre. It begins to glow purple once more.
"Farewell, $name," says Lycopenia. "You have our thanks and a much-deserved reward."
[[The purple glow spreads down your arm and into your body]]
(set: $Reward to $Reward +1) You feel a crackle of energy flash through your body as you dissolve into bright purple light.
[[You fall once more into the void]]
Purple fills your vision and begins to fade as the world seems to fall into place around you.
You are standing on your balcony with your tomato plants holding your Sceptre, or is it a spatula? Just you. No faeries.
Could any of that have really happened?
[[You shout, "Lycopenia? Are you still there?"]]
(set: $Tomato to $Tomato +1) (set: $Oregano to $Oregano +1) (set: $Awesomeness to $Awesomeness +10)You listen but you hear no reply. Maybe it was a daydream or something, after all you're still...
Hungry! You've forgotten until this moment how hungry you are!
You head over to the plants to pick a tomato. You notice a small, purple oregano plant. You don't remember planting it, maybe the wind spread some seeds onto your balcony. You take a few leaves, this could be tasty!
You may not be able to figure out if faeries are real, but you certainly can make yourself a grilled cheese sandwich - Oh, with tomatoes, of course!
[[You pick a tasty-looking tomato and head back inside|Chop! Chop!]]
Congratulations! You have rescued Faeryland and successfully made and enjoyed a grilled cheese sandwich!
This grilled cheese sandwich is a symphony of exquisite flavours. (Maybe it's the oregano?) Dare you say it's almost ''//magically//'' delicious?
You whisper, "Lycopenia, Lusitana, thank you!"
You hear no reply, but it seems like you can hear faint, faery laughter in the distance.
You take another bite of your sandwich.
You have reached Ending 3 of 4 - Delicious Victory!
Life is pretty good right now. Way to go, you!
Your Distraction Score is $Distraction
Your Adventurousness Score is $Adventurousness
Your Awesomeness Score is $Awesomeness
[[Would you care to explore other possibilities?|Start]]
Your spatula is a beautiful culinary tool. Your brother, Robin, gave it to you last Christmas. He said he felt like you were "meant" to have it. (He's a good fellow, but he's kind of weird sometimes.)
The spatula is made from what appears to be deep purple transparent plastic. Its long handle is an octagonal prism, there are long flat facets cut along it to make it sparkle. Stuck at one of the end of the handle is a piece shaped like a tiny purple gem. The other end of the handle spreads out into the broad, flat food-lifting part, something like a flat shovel with a few slits in it. (What is that food-lifting part called, anyway?)
It sparkles like a jewel when the light from the kitchen window hits it just right.
[[Now, where were we?|"Amythyst Sceptre?"]]
Lycopenia takes a deep breath. "Below the altar is the Nessashpere, it contains a dark magic, it was contained by the Rainbow Shield. However, now the Shield has cracked and evil seeps into our world.
"My sister's magic holds it at bay, but she will soon be overcome. You needs must enter the chamber below and mend the Shield."
[["But, Lycopenia, I know nothing about magic."]]