project 1

(set: $whyme to false) (set: $whythesword to false) (set: $whynotnow to false) "I am sorry. But you must make your choice. One day the sword will fall to you. Will you bear this burden?" [[Take the sword.->accept the burden]] [[Refuse the sword.->refuse the burden]] [["But... why?"->ask questions]]

"Why what?" [["Why me?"->why me]] [["Why this sword?"->why the sword]] [["Why not now?"->why not now]]

(set: $whyme to true) "I do not know. Perhaps the sword sees something in you I cannot." [["How does a sword see?"->why me follow up]] (if: $whythesword is false)[[["Why this sword?"->why the sword]]] (if: $whynotnow is false)[[["Why not now?"->why not now]]] [["Do I have a choice?"]]

(set: $whythesword to true) "This is always the sword. Its form may change over the years, but its duty stays the same." [["And what is that duty?"->why the sword follow up]] (if: $whyme is false)[[["Why me?"->why me]]] (if: $whynotnow is false)[[["Why not now?"->why not now]]] [["Do I have a choice?"]]

(set: $whynotnow to true) You catch the hint of a smile. "You are not ready. One day you will be." [["How do you know I'm not ready?"->why not now follow up]] (if: $whyme is false)[[["Why me?"->why me]]] (if: $whythesword is false)[[["Why this sword?"->why the sword]]] [["Do I have a choice?"]]

"You always have a choice. But you must make it. No more questions." [[Take the sword.->accept the burden]] [[Refuse the sword.->refuse the burden]] [["I cannot choose. I don't know."->tell him you cannot choose]]

(set: $accepted to true) "So be it." As the warrior turns to leave, you see something in his eyes. Guilt? [[Wish him well.]] [[Curse his name.]]

(set: $accepted to false) "So be it." As the warrior turns to leave, you see something in his eyes. Relief? [[Wish him well.]] [[Curse his name.]]

"The one thing you cannot choose is nothing." [[Take the sword.->accept the burden]] [[Refuse the sword.->refuse the burden]]

"I do not know. And yet it does." (if: $whythesword is false)[[["Why this sword?"->why the sword]]] (if: $whynotnow is false)[[["Why not now?"->why not now]]] [["Do I have a choice?"]]

"To defeat evil. To keep the realms safe. All else is meaningless." (if: $whyme is false)[[["Why me?"->why me]]] (if: $whynotnow is false)[[["Why not now?"->why not now]]] [["Do I have a choice?"]]

In an instant you are knocked off your feet. You didn't even see him move. You drop the question. (if: $whyme is false)[[["Why me?"->why me]]] (if: $whythesword is false)[[["Why this sword?"->why the sword]]] [["Do I have a choice?"]]

As strange as this encounter has been, you cannot forget the good he has done. As his shadow disappears over the hillside, you feel... [[Angry.->angry]] [[Afraid.->afraid]] [[Proud.->important]]

He may have saved the realm more times than you can count, but you see him for the coward he is. As his shadow disappears over the hillside, you feel... [[Angry.->angry]] [[Afraid.->afraid]] [[Proud.->important]]

Who is this "warrior", who dares to come to //your// house and insist he knows //your// destiny? But no matter. There are chores to be done. As the years pass... [[You forget all about it.->hear a rumor]] [[You can't stop thinking about it.->hear a rumor]] (set: $reaction to "angry")

This man was haunted by something. And if he is right about you, your peaceful days may soon be over. Put your mind at ease. There are chores to be done. As the years pass... [[You forget all about it.->hear a rumor]] [[You can't stop thinking about it.->hear a rumor]] (set: $reaction to "afraid")

Out of all the people of the realms, this great warrior has chosen //you// to inherit his legacy. But that must wait. There are chores to be done. As the years pass... [[You forget all about it.->hear a rumor]] [[You can't stop thinking about it.->hear a rumor]] (set: $reaction to "proud")

At the market one day, you hear someone talking about the warrior. "They say he finally lost a fight. Didn't even think he //could// lose." [["What did it in the end?"->ask about the hero]] [[Ignore the rumor mill. Go home.->go home, find the warrior]]

"I heard it was that sorcerer. The one he sealed away." "I heard it was a dragon. Or //two// dragons! Three?" "//I// heard it was just a really big bear!" [[No one knows anything. Go home.->go home, find the warrior]]

At your doorstep, just like that night all those years ago, the warrior lays battered and broken. "You know why I'm here." He looks much older now. [[Help him inside and give him water.->show kindness]] [["You again. I heard you're washed up now."->insult]]

His body feels frail and empty in your arms. He is not long for this world. But he appreciates your kindness. (if: $reaction is "angry")["You were angry the last time we met. (if: $accepted is true)[But you chose this life anyway."](if: $accepted is false)[I am afraid this will make you angry again."]] (if: $reaction is "proud")["You were so proud to be chosen(if: $accepted is true)[ that day. I hope you know what it is you chose."](if: $accepted is false)[ once.]] (if: $reaction is "afraid")["You were afraid of me back then. (if: $accepted is true)[But you chose this life anyway."](if: $accepted is false)[Or perhaps afraid of the sword."]] (if: $accepted is true)[[[Accept your destiny.->accept sword]]] (if: $accepted is true)[[[You were foolish. You cannot take the sword.->try to refuse sword]]] (if: $accepted is false)[[[You refused once already. Stand your ground.->try to refuse sword]]] (if: $accepted is false)[[[You were foolish. The sword was always your destiny.->accept sword]]]

"None of us last forever. Pray your successor will be kinder to you at your end than you at mine." (if: $reaction is "angry")[You were angry the last time we met. (if: $accepted is true)[But you chose this life anyway."](if: $accepted is false)[I am afraid this will make you angry again."]] (if: $reaction is "proud")[You were so proud to be chosen(if: $accepted is true)[ that day. I hope you know what it is you chose."](if: $accepted is false)[ once.]] (if: $reaction is "afraid")[You were afraid of me back then. (if: $accepted is true)[But you chose this life anyway."](if: $accepted is false)[Or perhaps afraid of the sword."]] (if: $accepted is true)[[[Accept your destiny.->accept sword]]] (if: $accepted is true)[[[You were foolish. You cannot take the sword.->try to refuse sword]]] (if: $accepted is false)[[[You refused once already. Stand your ground.->try to refuse sword]]] (if: $accepted is false)[[[You were foolish. The sword was always your destiny.->accept sword]]]

"It was always meant to be this way." There is no one here besides you. And the sword. //Your// sword. [[Bear it.->warrior montage]]

"I offered you a choice, all those years ago." He coughs up something he shouldn't. (if: $accepted is true)["You cannot take back a promise like this."] (if: $accepted is false)["I was wrong to offer. The sword had already chosen."] [[There is no choice. There never was.->accept sword]]

The rest of your life is a blur. A violent, glorious, heroic blur. But what is it truly like? Behind the stories? [[Exhilarating.->cool as hell]] [[Terrifying.->scary and dangerous]] [[Tedious.->a bother]]

You're finally living the life you dreamed of. It's hard and dangerous, but you feel more alive than you thought possible. Fistfight a bear. Slay a dragon. Imprison the dark sorcerer. (Again.) [[Until one day...->until one day]] (click-replace: "Fistfight a bear.")[You win easily!] (click-replace: "Slay a dragon.")[The town is saved once again!] (click-replace: "Imprison the dark sorcerer. (Again.)")[When he comes back you'll be waiting for him!]

You almost die. Twice. You haven't known a moment's peace since the day you picked up the sword. Survive a bear attack. Flee from dragons. Endure another curse from the sorcerer. [[Until one day...->until one day]] (click-replace: "Survive a bear attack.")[Its roars haunt your dreams.] (click-replace: "Flee from dragons.")[You barely make it out alive.] (click-replace: "Endure another curse from the sorcerer.")[You don't even know whay he hates you so much.]

Every day there is something new to deal with. Why did this damned sword have to choose you? Chase a bear away. Deal with another dragon. The sorcerer is back. Again. [[Until one day...->until one day]] (click-replace: "Chase a bear away.")[Off it goes.] (click-replace: "Deal with another dragon.")[At least it's a new color.] (click-replace: "The sorcerer is back. Again.")[It's the third time this month.]

You stop at a small town to rest and you can feel it. There is someone here who will one day inherit the sword. How do you know it's her? [[She clearly has skill.->she has sword skill]] [[She looks restless.->she looks restless]] [[You don't. Somehow, the sword tells you.->you can see her destiny]]

Her form is rough, but in time she will be a master swordswoman. How do you break the news? [[Tell her of her glorious future->hype her up]] [[Apologize. This will not be easy.->apologise]] [[Give her the choice you once had..->make a choice]]

She has the spirit of a traveler, and a deep need for adventure. How do you break the news? [[Tell her of her glorious future->hype her up]] [[Apologize. This will not be easy.->apologise]] [[Give her the choice you once had..->make a choice]]

Like so many times in your life, you find yourself trusting the sword's judgement. How do you break the news? [[Tell her of her glorious future->hype her up]] [[Apologize. This will not be easy.->apologise]] [[Give her the choice you once had..->make a choice]]

(if: $reaction is "angry")[She is angry, like you once were.](if: $reaction is "proud")[She is proud, like you once were.](if: $reaction is "afraid")[She is afraid, like you once were.] (if: ($whyme is true) and ($whythesword is true) and ($whynotnow is true))[Like you, she asks a lot of questions.] You know now that she does not need to accept the sword. It will be hers. [[Give her as much time as you can.->try to live]]

When it is her turn, she is incredible. All the hero you ever were and more. And after her? [[Eventually it ends.->optimistic ending]] [[It never ends.->nihilistic ending]]

Each time the sword is passed on, it changes. Grows weaker, more brittle. Maybe she will be the one to finally break this cycle. You don't get to know that. Until then, someone must bear this burden.

It cannot. When one warrior falls, another will always take their place. There is no choice. There never was.