<==>
One last moment of grief penetrated her as she looked back. Well wishes for her mission filling the dark purple dusk. It wasn't like she hadn't known this moment would come, but it came so much faster than she had expected. As alluring staying with her loved ones may have seemed, she couldn't linger. She had a mission. She had been selected fairly - as fairly as such could be. She reached into her pocket.
=><=
//One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.//
<==>
Five letters. Five hopes. Five messages she had to deliver. She didn't know where they belonged, but her heart would tell her. This is why she was selected. She could do it. She would know where they belonged. Clutching the letters she looked back one final time as she set out.
=><=
(display:"Initialize")
[[Next->Path]]<==>
It wasn't long until the pleasant path ended, was it? As everything familar vanished behind her in the cloth of darkness. In front of her the landscape ended softly in barbs and wires. Built from imported stone and domestic blood. A wall to protect her people from what lay beyond it. She didn't remember what it was exactly she was sheltered from, but it was long ago. All she knew was that no one who passed was allowed to return. Stories told of those who tried, some even still human. They all were denied. Couldn't take a chance. Not at those unkown darkness beyond. Not that she particularly knew what those were. But they must've been vicious to require the erection of such a monument.
Even when merely approaching this testament to engineering she could see the land transform in the onyx shadows of fences, barbes, and concrete. Dug into the earth like a scar in the landscape. The spikes ripping holes into the sky. Not even trees were allowed to approach the fence, at the threat of shooting. The leaves which used to fall from the trees abandoned this site long ago, flown into the warmer times she used to hear. At this sight, she could barely belive those even used to exist in the first place.
The seldom treaden trail encroached on a rusty guardshed. Judging from the footprints across it must've served masses, before they built this wall. Why they would've needed a guard then was beyond her. By the sounds of it, it looked still active. A soldier, with uniform green as his face, sat there arguing with no one in particular. She wasn't sure if what he was arguing about made sense or used to. Must've been words from before they built this wall. She wondered if they still talked like this beyond, or if they talked at all. His voice dispersed more agitatedly as she grew closer.
As her suspicion has hoped the wall crossed her path. Must've been the job of this way. Clutching her letters she looked at the direction her heart was pulling her. Across the wall, it was unmistakeable. She just wished her heat had decided differently. It was right, she knew that, but a different direction would've been so much easier. She wasn't even sure if she could continue, but she had to at least try. She couldn't give up on her duty anyways. So she had to either climb the wall or pass trough the guarded gate, hadn't she?.
=><=
(if:$alternative)[ [[Climb the wall->Climb]] ]
[[Approach the Guard->Talk Soldier]]<==>
The shadow's elongating in the setting sun embraced her with a soft chill. Sevencoloured leaves plastered her path. Carving step after step through her pale legs. Grass tickling her upon her neck. Five moons in her eyes, bright, white like the letters she was carrying, clutching with knuckles white as snow. Like a fallen grasping their lifeline deep in the well, where the water flares in sweet lavender. A bloom she could understand so well, as her bloom once was. Two flowers entangled with her inevitable duty. She couldn't help herself but regret being the one selcted for this burden. Better have a goal then stroll her life aimlessly, but it still would've been so much easier if someone else was to deliver these letters. If she only wasn't the most qualified to do it.
Her legs shivered from the responsibility in her steps.
She once again counted. Five letters. Five oaths of duty. Five reasons she was on this path. Only her hear knew where they belonged. Hopefully her heart knew what it was doing. Her lilac wrists reluctantly produced the precious pieces of paper from her pocket. Not that she didn't trust her heart, just so she could make sure her heart had the best chances she could get. One small look couldn't hurt, could it?
=><=
(link:"Letter from a Lover")[//A white letter with a sweet scent.//]
(link:"Letter from a Child")[//A letter written in crayons.//]
(link:"Letter from a Mentor")[//A letter written in dignified handwriting.//]
(link:"Letter from a Friend")[//A crumpled letter glowing with closeness.//]
(link:"Letter from a Parent")[//A damp letter in faithful print.//]
[[Next->Wall]][[Monster]] <==>
The closer she got to the green man growing in the rusty guardshed, guarding the gate that sealed this inpenetrable wall, the older he was. Moldy like the spinach she hadn't eaten when she used to be a child. She used to remember that a lot when she was younger. Not so much nowadays. Did the green guard grow up watching food spoil, too? Wasn't the most entertaining thing out there, but it was something she did, wasn't it?Must've done this before they grew this wall. How else would they be able to build all these barbs. They were pricking her thighs. Better now than never. Scars used to be her souvenir whenever she was on vacation, couldn't afford much else. Couldn't even afford vacations either, when those still existed, he said. Must've been terrible.
It didn't use to be like this, back when it wasn't like this. He didn't quite remember quite how it was or when it was. Was it even? She wasn't sure if he was just telling a a story, or if it would be happening someday. Seemed like a more peaceful day. Must be just a green man's story. He had much time to think about how things used to be. He didn't know how times were today, but they were different, she said. Must've been terrible.
His stumpy olive arms weren't much use anymore, but he had sworn his oath to this rusty shack. It didn't use to be just him. He remembered, once there was, but it all faded long ago. Just like what was beyond the wall. She needed to go there, she said. People used to come and go from all sides of the wall, back when there wasn't a wall, he said. It made her sad. She didn't drink much as he offered her a glass of barbed wire. There wasn't much else around, he said.
She didn't want to leave this moss colored man alone. Mostly because she didn't want to exile beyond the wall, but as his duty was to guard hers was to deliver her letters. Still grasping them tightly, like the barbed wire clung to the green guard. It was duty and such had to be fulfiled, even if she couldn't. Especially as she still didn't know where those letters belonged.
=><=
[[Wish the Olive Man goodbye and go though the Gate->Monster]]
[[Offer the Olive Man one of your Letters->Select Soldier]]
{(if:$hasLover)[
(link:"Letter from a Lover")[
(set:$hasLover to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 1)
(goto:"Give Soldier")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:$hasChild)[
(link:"Letter from a Child")[
(set:$hasChild to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 2)
(goto:"Give Soldier")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:$hasMentor)[
(link:"Letter from a Mentor")[
(set:$hasMentor to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 3)
(goto:"Give Soldier")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:$hasFriend)[
(link:"Letter from a Friend")[
(set:$hasFriend to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 4)
(goto:"Give Soldier")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:$hasParent)[
(link:"Letter from a Parent")[
(set:$hasParent to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 5)
(goto:"Give Soldier")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:false)[ [[Give Soldier]] ]
}<==>
It was darker beyond the wall, that was sure. And colder. She hadn't thought it would be this cool. Never used to get like this back home. Should've brought some brighter clothes. She was still plucking wirebarbs out of her hair. Could've made some pretty sharp accessories, but she wasn't sure if they liked that over here. Before now she didn't even know there was a side on this side of the wall. It wasn't as different, as she had expected or even hoped. It was dark, sure. Darker than she was used to. But there hadn't been the eldritch terrors that would warrant building such a wall. Maybe they used to live here. Lucky for that wall or they might've moved on to where she used to live. Hard to imagine, home. It's a foreign concept, really - if you think about it. Must've been nice to remember such a place.
It was a pleasant relief for the barbed wires to subside. As pleasant as it could, given her situation. Could it even be considered a good thing for the wall to end, or was its end just a chance for something worse to begin. She didn't know. She didn't know anything about these lands beyond what she could see in front of her. It wasn't much, merely mist and darkness. Even what used to be a path had turned into a mere absence of obstructions. Given the unknown she found herself in it was both terrific and terrifying that she even has this little. Wouldn't be the first time she lost the path. Where she came from, at the end of one path another used to begin. But here she didn't even know there were paths. Were there even beginnings? All she could see were ends - and she still had to find $numLetters ends for her letters. Not sure who would be deserving of such messages out here, but somewhere they had to be, didn't they? At least her heart said so.
Looming beyond her doubt, it must've been called the horizon once. It was darker here, if this place could even be called a here - or barely even a place. Couldn't be nowhere though, as there were what seemed like trees. Gived, they were black and bare, like grasping claws from the grave. It should probably have reminded her of a forest, but she couldn't anymore. It was too dark for forests. Not sure why she was here either. Should've been too dark for her aswell, but it grew even darker. As she pressed on and the black clawy woods engulfed her she saw shiver down her spine.
What any shadows an silhouettes from the trees was cast upon her was pure black. But not this. It was even darker, as if its mere presence sucked the light from the world. It stared directly into her eyes. She got blind from fear. Not that seeing would've helped in this absolute darkness. Not seeing migh've even been a blessing, so she couldn't have seen it seeing her. But it was already too late. She could feel it. Must've been the terror they locked behind the wall. Would've expected it to be bigger tho, but bigger it grew. She saw it coming closer towards her. Not that there was a doubt in her that an abomination like that wouldn't come for her, wasn't there. This couldn't be it, could it? She had to protect her letters, it was her duty. Her oath could no be broken like that. She had to do something. Running seemed like the obvious choice. Not sure where though. There was just wood in any direction but the creature. Maybe it made this path. Maybe she should confront it.
=><=
(if:$alternative)[ [[Run from the Creature->Run]] ]
[[Confront the Creature->Talk Monster]][[Woman]] <==>
<==>
It wasn't that she wasn't afraid of the creature, was she? Maybe she just feared getting lost in the sinister woods more than the abomination in front of her - Better in front of her than sneaking up from behind, was it? She should probably make sure there realy was none trailing her. Hesistantly she turned around, eyes barely open, in search for yet another creature. There was none, wasn't there? She was sure, she didn't remember. All she did remember was turning her back to the creature. Now she was sure. It must've been behind her. Those creatures always did that.
It was as if she could feel it breathe down her spine. It was warmer than her. Must've been nice. Her thistle eye was cold from the dark. She was smaller than it thought. She disagreed, she used to be exactly as tall as she thought. But that was a long time ago, wasn't it? The creature used to be a long time ago, too. Not sure if she believed it. It seemed forthright. More than she ever could've hoped to be. She still couldn't look it into the eye. She didn't know which ese to choose, it had more eyes than teeth. Black as the ocean. Deep as its indigo eyes. It was almost close to her orchid shade for her to touch. What gentleness must've lied behind the azure darkness one day, her sorrow almost broke.
It made no sound, just a whistle of the night. It didn't want to startle what might've been a person or so. Person or not, it used to be that too. She hadn't forgotten, thistles fell out. It remembered there was no forest here long ago, she said. It didn't like that time, people came by more often. Most of them were lost now. The forest was just too thick. That's why the path was here, separating all the lefts from the rights. Why they didn't follow the path was beyond her, because she was following the path. It didn't understand, those flowers were not native to it. Sharply it saw her lilacs grasping the letters. She couldn't write them, they were hers. Cobalt shapes extruded from it's eye. She remembered there being more eyes - she had two, didn't she? Her duty felt so heavy on what used to be her chest. The trees had a responsibility too, it said. She didn't understand its duty. It was the forest, but hers made as little sense as him. It didn't offer any tea, as it was just a forest. She would've found that rude one day, but she had forgotten why that was.
More pressingly the icy winds of azure nights strangled her throat. Her heart wasn't fulfilled like a forest. She envied it - all alone. Breaking down, she gave her violets - not all, just a look.
=><=
[[Wish the Indigo Creature goodbye and follow the Path through the Woods->Woman]]
[[Offer the Indigo Creature one of your Letters->Select Monster]]{(if:$hasLover)[
(link:"Letter from a Lover")[
(set:$hasLover to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 1)
(goto:"Give Monster")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:$hasChild)[
(link:"Letter from a Child")[
(set:$hasChild to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 2)
(goto:"Give Monster")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:$hasMentor)[
(link:"Letter from a Mentor")[
(set:$hasMentor to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 3)
(goto:"Give Monster")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:$hasFriend)[
(link:"Letter from a Friend")[
(set:$hasFriend to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 4)
(goto:"Give Monster")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:$hasParent)[
(link:"Letter from a Parent")[
(set:$hasParent to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 5)
(goto:"Give Monster")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:false)[ [[Give Monster]] ]
}<==>
She didn't fall, as the trees broke. It wasn't like her to fall out of woods. It was the wind, so deep and wide. Streched out in front of her. How she exactly saw it, she didn't remember. Like the deep gashes in her knees from barbed wires and trees was the land. What happened here must've been a tragedy. As if the land itself fell down this bottomless ravine. She could see it all the way down there. It must be sad. She would be if she had plunged down the judicious chasm. It didn't help with its onerous eyelessness. It didn't even answer as she screamed at it. Her hair blew away in the sharp wind like lavender angels at night.
Her angels were nice once, she heared. She didn't see anyone but the silhouette of the turquoise woman on the other side of the canyon. Her icy teal eyes were warm. She had used to miss that warmth. It reminded her of when her grapes flew away. She had forgotten where they went. The cyan woman didn't know either. Her swan had climbed down aswell. They used to play cards together she asserted.
It wasn't her turn, but it all felt such a ceaseless thing to say. A rock broke and plunged the ravine. He smiled. She had forgotten how that felt like. She didn't want to either. She bit her. That felt better. Her aquamarine face disappeared. It was a cold brise in her face, warmer than the wind. She hadn't come this way to see the verdigris songs. She wanted to, didn't she? Her heart cried in conflict. It poured from her like the hibiscus. Oh how unalleged it had felt, her locket squealed.
=><=
(if:$alternative)[ [[Jump across the Ravine and continue the Path->Leave Woman]] ]
[[Follow the Turquoise Woman->Talk Woman]][[River]]<==>
Not ever had she seen Amethysts grow in such Aquamarine trees. Even the birds asked for adjustment. Flew them - flew them. Sweet sips of nothing she drank limply. It sounded a lot more thenly than she remembered. The ravine between them didn't even whisper too rudely. Made her less cold. Despite all her attempts the Turqouise Woman had no past, she reminisced. She liked that. Her past, she used to say, was timeless.
The past was like this ravine, streched out right in from of her. It was deep and sharp. Things that fell in made noises, she used to say. It was a sweet rhythm, every two or three or so. Moreover a candle wouldn't burn down there, just as it did in the past. Once broken she couldn't be mended. Piece by piece the candles agreed, didn't they? It wasn't a necessitiy. The grass on the other side just hadn't seen where she was coming from. She hadn't either, had she? Her past just hadn't ever stopped like that. Like a chasm in the earth upon she could build her house. She had forgotten the Turquoise Lady had invited her into her castle. She couldn't see it, but she could hear it. It reminded her of when she had sung to her once before. Judiciously, as she presumed. Just not as broken apart as the world in this ravine. Her hearth hoped for another story. She was only telling the truth though, or what she remembered of it.
Unlikely, though she felt her letters flare up. She hadn't forgotten them, even though the had wished she had. Would've been so much easier to just stay with the Turquoise Lady for a while more. But as the wind has to blow she had to deliver away her letters, lilac in mind.
=><=
[[Let the Turquoise Lady carry you across the Ravine->River]]
[[Offer the Turquoise Lady one of your Letters->Select Woman]]{(if:$hasLover)[
(link:"Letter from a Lover")[
(set:$hasLover to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 1)
(set:$love to true)
(goto:"Give Woman")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:$hasChild)[
(link:"Letter from a Child")[
(set:$hasChild to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 2)
(goto:"Give Woman")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:$hasMentor)[
(link:"Letter from a Mentor")[
(set:$hasMentor to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 3)
(goto:"Give Woman")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:$hasFriend)[
(link:"Letter from a Friend")[
(set:$hasFriend to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 4)
(goto:"Give Woman")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:$hasParent)[
(link:"Letter from a Parent")[
(set:$hasParent to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 5)
(goto:"Give Woman")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:false)[ [[Give Woman]] ]
}<==>
She couldn't believe of what existed in this place. It used to be just legends, until she saw it. And seeing meant believing to her. She used to believe things she couldn't see, but now she was seeing things she couldn't believe. The river would most likely have agreed aswell and it made her byzantine chest freeze over. It wasn't even cold anymore. Just frigid and stiff like her entire life was just an Amethyst shattered with guilt. A concept aslmost to foreign for her to affect her, but she just didn't like wet toes. Who would. Just looking at the garnet depths of the river in front of her disgusted her slightly. Not that she had anything against such colors, but she just wasn't a good swimmer like waterlilies. They prefered different colors aswell, she heard.
The blazing frost of the river in front of her engulfed her silhuette in sweet crimson, she hadn't even noticed it. It was wonderous what sights she didn't see on this journey, wasn't it? It perfectly mirrored the sweet milk pouring from her thighs. There just was no ruin parked on her thighs, like there was at the side of the stream. Might not even be a ruin anymore, wasn't it? It might just be a broken house - or what remained of it. She couldn't see through the windows, they had all been broken down, if windows even existed when it was built. All she could see was a figure shedding scarlet light upon the water. He wasn't crying. He couldn't be. She thoght that was beautiful. He wore his hat down to his knees.
=><=
(if:$alternative)[ [[Swim across the Crimson River->Swim]] ]
[[Approach the Scarlet Swan->Talk Ferry]][[Child]] <==>
Her Violet reflection in the Crimson Stream looked at the Scarlet Swan. His hat was what was most peculiar about him. Made him look particularly ambiguous. He didn't enjoy that thought, as the ruby ice in his eyes flared up. She had seen a swan once. He didn't believe her. All swans used to beautiful, he said. He was more beautiful than an other, he said. Anything but him therefore couldn't be a swan, he concluded. She wasn't sure if he was right, but as a swan he must know.
Swans were white, he said, white like the frozen waters in the river. She hadn't seen a Crimson River being white like a swan. Despite his pride his glow emitted warmth, like the crown he deserved. She feared his rosed would stain her, but she still listened. He has always been the only swan that existed. That made him sad. He used to see other swans when looking into the mirror, but they thoguht he was ugly. They were lying. That's why he had to turn the River Crimson. The king of the river just had to be he most beautiful, he despaired.
It reminded her of when they used to build rivers like that. Twelve or more stones had to be caressed for that. They did more jabber between their eyes than work. Lying to themselves once or twice. It made her feel trapped like a spider in a web, she said. He didn't believe her. He didn't like spiders. So they couldn't exist, he asserted. She couldn't help but agree to his authority. It must've been his authority all along. Like the frost held authority over water he needed to cling to his own majestic importance. A rose frozen on the bottom of the sky. She couldn't let herself get entangled in thorns again. Her duty was still unfulfilled.
=><=
[[Take the Scarlet Swan's Ferry across the Crimson River->Child]]
[[Offer the Scarlet Swan one of your Letters->Select Ferry]]{(if:$hasLover)[
(link:"Letter from a Lover")[
(set:$hasLover to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 1)
(goto:"Give Ferry")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:$hasChild)[
(link:"Letter from a Child")[
(set:$hasChild to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 2)
(goto:"Give Ferry")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:$hasMentor)[
(link:"Letter from a Mentor")[
(set:$hasMentor to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 3)
(goto:"Give Ferry")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:$hasFriend)[
(link:"Letter from a Friend")[
(set:$hasFriend to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 4)
(goto:"Give Ferry")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:$hasParent)[
(link:"Letter from a Parent")[
(set:$hasParent to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 5)
(goto:"Give Ferry")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:false)[ [[Give Ferry]] ]
}<==>
Her head felt drenched as she crawled onto the sharp land beneath where her feet used to be. It surprised to find her wrist still as lilac as she used to remember it. Still clutching letters as she always had. Unastonishingly her body fell upon agonizing snow. She hadn't seen anything like it. Like glowing triangles hovering through the air, illuminated by be golden dawn. She hadn't even forgotten how bringht it felt. Must've been horrible to await it and miss it. She had stopped believing in it for a while, it was a lie after all. A lie that made the past feel all the more real. Something she apathetically wanted to forget. Not that she remembered anyways.
She didn't remember where she had lost them, but her left shoe was bare. Being blinded by the flaxen glow her plum looked even more swollen. Not that she could feel it anyways, as it suddenly fell a few feet. The dich she found herself in wasn't deep. She could barely stand. She barely even wanted to. He looked her into the Thistles. She must've been just a child, barely dandelions of age. With feet as empty has hers. She looked upon the figure lying in the Daffodil colored trenches. He hadn't seen such hues before.
=><=
(if:$alternative)[ [[Stand up and climb over the Daffodil Trenches->Leave him]] ]
[[Talk to the Dandelion Child->Talk Child]][[Acceptance]] <==>
She didn't speak much language. It was more growing noises. He used to make those too. It reminded him of when the angels still walked though here. They were beautiful with their masks. Her Orchids flowed more so though. She hopped down into the trenches and bowed over the Violet Woman. He could smell the duty on her face, a smell she vividly remembered. Her thistle fell the little Dandelion leaning over her. She wasn't that little of a Dandelion anymore now that she had came closer - uncomfortably so. She offered her the snow in her face. She used to think that was a polite gesture. She wondered if the Dandelion Child had some duty like her. Despite how important her duty was to her he didn't have any duty in particular. She admired her for such dutyfulness. She envied his dutyfreeness. He was free like the snow.
Her gaze fell upon the lilac wrist she was clenching. $numLetters letters. She had seen those before. He reminded her of someone, didn't she? Like a flowerpot on a tortoise's back, close to toppling with every step but growing further nonetheless. The seetest honey was at the bottom of the jar after all, wasn't it?
Large chunks fell from her face as she stood up in the snow. It wasn't like her to lie down, she had almost forgotten why she was laying there in the first place. She had come so far. She hadn't seen the dawn in days, like the snow still wached her walking the trenches. She didn't remember digging those trenches, must've been sleeping there for a while. The trenches were there before they were dug, he said. It reminded her of when she was building herself. It surely couldn't have been to end up in these trenches. His face lemoned and she surely wouldn't. He had been digging these trenches since she lived there. Her wrist was still lilac from the letters.
=><=
[[Walk the Daffodil Trenches into the Dawn->Acceptance]]
[[Offer the Dandelion Child one of your Letters->Select Child]]{(if:$hasLover)[
(link:"Letter from a Lover")[
(set:$hasLover to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 1)
(goto:"Give Child")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:$hasChild)[
(link:"Letter from a Child")[
(set:$hasChild to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 2)
(goto:"Give Child")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:$hasMentor)[
(link:"Letter from a Mentor")[
(set:$hasMentor to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 3)
(goto:"Give Child")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:$hasFriend)[
(link:"Letter from a Friend")[
(set:$hasFriend to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 4)
(goto:"Give Child")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:$hasParent)[
(link:"Letter from a Parent")[
(set:$hasParent to false)
(set:$numLetters to it - 1)
(set:$given to 5)
(goto:"Give Child")
]
<br><br>
]
(if:false)[ [[Give Child]] ]
}{
(if:$numLetters is 5)[(display:"No Delivery")]
(elseif:$numLetters is 0)[(display:"All Delivered")]
(elseif:$numLetters is 1)[(display:"Single Left")]
(else:)[
(if:$numLetters is 4 and $love and false)[(display:"Love")]
(else:)[(display:"Default End")]
]
(if:false)[ [[No Delivery]][[All Delivered]][[Single Left]][[Love]][[Default End]][[Credits]] ]
}
=><=
(link:"Credits")[(goto:"Credits")]{
(set:$hasLover to true)
(set:$hasChild to true)
(set:$hasMentor to true)
(set:$hasFriend to true)
(set:$hasParent to true)
(set:$gave1 to false)
(set:$gave2 to false)
(set:$gave3 to false)
(set:$gave4 to false)
(set:$gave5 to false)
(set:$numLetters to 5)
(set:$alternative to false)
(set:$love to false)
}<==>
{
(set:$gave1 to true)
(if:$given is 1)[It had been long since he last remembered. Might've been when they were still building this wall - might've been before they even came up with that idea. He hadn't always been against building this wall. He once thought it would protect those he loved from those he feared. He hadn't realized they would just locked him away all the same. But he wasn't always shackled here. It must've been when they were still growing this wall. He saw a Cornflower sing their tale. He didn't agree with them back then. It must've been for their own good, he had thought. What a fool he had been.]
(if:$given is 2)[It had been long since he last felt pride in his duty. It was a duty that had to been done. And since he was the only one left to do it he couldn't afford to rest. He barely even knew if they still needed his service. Maybe they had just forgotten about him and built another wall, he used to think. He didn't do it for their appreciation. He didn't even do it for his pride. But seeing even a child value his service made more than up for his sacrifices.]
(if:$given is 3)[It had been long since he last remembered the time before working this post. He had forgotten who had been here first, him or the post. But one thing he couldn't forget was his training. It sure may not have been the beyt education under the trees, but he sure had given his best. He never really was sure that others noticed.]
(if:$given is 4)[It had been long since he had last seen the other walls. Sometimes he even had forgotten they existed at all. The opposite side in particular he missed seeing. When the wall still hadn't grown this large he still could look across and talk. It may just have been his eyesight growing greyer, but it sure had been a while.]
(if:$given is 5)[It had been long since he had left for this post. He never felt like they truly understood why he had to do this. He barely understood it himself anymore. He just had to set himself free, he guessed. They must've been trying to protecting just like he was trying back then.]
}
=><=
[[Next->Monster]]<==>
{
(set:$gave2 to true)
(if:$given is 1)[It hadn't always felt like this. Like an endless vine climbing an empty tower. It stood proud, but it was small. Did a falling tree scream when no one was watching? It had screamed for answers once. But it all felt bluntless. Why should a tree fall when it was stending so tall. It was merely an admission of guilt. ]
(if:$given is 2)[It hadn't always felt like this. It didn't know if it had been intended like this, but it brave helped its cause. It was only natural to fear the dark after all. It regretted that it often hurt those that it was trying to protect. It was just doing its job, wasn't it?]
(if:$given is 3)[It hadn't always felt like this. It had believed in alternatives. But there was only one world, one chance. It couldn't risk it, it heard. If it had a second chance it might've tried it all differently. How else could it learn. How else was progress possible. But there was none.]
(if:$given is 4)[It hadn't always felt like this. It hadn't always been the only tree in the forest, but with every night it grew darker. Only the moon could shade like this. It couldn't regret it too much. It just was part of the business. If business just wasn't so far now.]
(if:$given is 5)[It hadn't always felt like this. Even the tallest tree had roots, but even the greatest bug had to shed its wings. The tree had to go when it grew a forest. Green leaves on white paper are no painting, but so much more.]
}
=><=
[[Next->Woman]] <==>
{
(set:$gave3 to true)
(if:$given is 1)[The wind hadn't whispered like that a while. A sweet song she hadn't sung before. It was familiar to her just from far away. As wide as the wolves could see. Wings of ashes on eyes of fire. She had heard of many that found their demise in those premises. But who would dare forfeit their chances with eternity.]
(if:$given is 2)[The wind hadn't whispered like that a while. It had always sorrowed her to hear the tales of those needing help. She wished she wasn't as powerless to provide them with any. All she could do is teach them to help each other.]
(if:$given is 3)[The wind hadn't whispered like that a while. Even the sweetest song had been sung for a first time once. She had listened to the same song for far too long. So singing had always been her favourite job. But before she had given it her all she lamented the monotony.]
(if:$given is 4)[The wind hadn't whispered like that a while. She was used to her silent existance. Only when she had to break out she felt her shell. It was choking her. But she didn't mind. Only the hedgehog did not like to be poked. And she wouldn't be either.]
(if:$given is 5)[The wind hadn't whispered like that a while. Even for her it was difficult to grasp. She was barely graspable in the first place. But as the sky married the ground in the horizon she would keep going. Some songs had claimed endlessness, but for once she was the one to truly prove it - until the blissful end.]
}
=><=
[[Next->River]] <==>
{
(set:$gave4 to true)
(if:$given is 1)[Not even his own assertion was enough to convince him. He barely even remembered what a swan was. He hadn't seen seen one in so long. Must've been longer than himself. The fire belived his statement eagerly.]
(if:$given is 2)[Not even his own assertion was enough to convince him. For once it did not matter to him whether he was wrong or right as usual. Sometimes even the best of swans made mistakes. He just hoped admitting that wasn't one.]
(if:$given is 3)[Not even his own assertion was enough to convince him. He had long since asked himself how he was so exactly sure about everything. It was not like he really knew it. The only thing he knew was confidence in what he knew.]
(if:$given is 4)[Not even his own assertion was enough to convince him. It wasn not his first time he had screamed across the river. Not even the fishes screamed back at him. He was used to giving up on them, but only the blindest fish picked the most beautiful flower.]
(if:$given is 5)[Not even his own assertion was enough to convince him. He had warned himself once. It was the first time he didn't believe himself. He didn't believe he would ever believe in himself.]
}
=><=
[[Next->Child]] <==>
{
(set:$gave5 to true)
(if:$given is 1)[He was familiar with it all, but she never imagined it would ever apply to him. Why should it be different from any other path? A princess of many words had never been his idol, but she himself could sometime lose themself in the depths. It was like a skin for his fear. Projectable like the clouds. A portable change for whenever she needed to fly.]
(if:$given is 2)[He was familiar with it all, but she never imagined it would ever apply to her. As the snow would reign upon him there was no doubt in her. There probably should've been, but why waste her worries on doubts like these? There were only so many chances he could give himself. She had to hatch her flowers before the storm.]
(if:$given is 3)[She was familiar with it all, but he never imagined it would ever apply to her. Not every step he took was just. That was merely a sign of futher things laying ahead. It made him sendimental to hear about something called past, but as he would be known to say, a past could only be built one step at a time. Some of these steps were missteps - of that she was sure. But some steps would lead her to climb out of these trenches.]
(if:$given is 4)[He was familiar with it all, but he never imagined it would ever apply to her. He felt herself walking deeper yet again. Steps he couldn't have done. Again, it wasn't up to her intentions where her feet would take him. He shouldn't sink his broken teeth too deep into it, but as the first truth lay there in front of her she coudln't resist trying a bite.]
(if:$given is 5)[He was familiar with it all, but he never imagined it would ever apply to him. She hadn't heard those voices in such times. They were not familiar, but yet so close. It had always been his dream. The responsibility had always been too much for her. Birds weren't built for flying, they were built for flying for their freedom.]
}
=><=
[[Next->Acceptance]] A mauve sigh grew across her lips as she saw the heart shaped skyline in the horizon. She immediately knew, this had to be her destination. She hadn't known cities like these existed out here. She barely even believed people lived here. Did they even believed it themselves? Whatever they did believe, her letters would sooth their comfort.Her lilac wrists trembled. For the first time she was free. She had forgotten how it felt like. Sometimes it was necessary to be shackled to taste freedom again, wasn't it?<==>
For a few moments she almost allowed herself to feel a sigh of relief. Just one more letter to deliver. Until she realized the final one was hers all along.
=><=
{(if:$hasLover)[(set:$linkText to "Letter from a Lover")]
(if:$hasChild)[(set:$linkText to "Letter from a Child")]
(if:$hasMentor)[(set:$linkText to "Letter from a Mentor")]
(if:$hasFriend)[(set:$linkText to "Letter from a Friend")]
(if:$hasParent)[(set:$linkText to "Letter from a Parent")]
(link:$linkText)[
<br>
<==>
(if:not $gave1)[It had been long since she last remembered.]
(if:not $gave2)[She hadn't always felt like this.]
(if:not $gave3)[The wind hadn't whispered like that a while.]
(if:not $gave4)[Not even her own assertion was enough to convince her.]
(if:not $gave5)[She was familiar with it all, but she never imagined it would ever apply to her.]
(if:$hasLover)[She didn't know if she would ever see her again. Her duty had brought them apart, but as it had been her duty to deliver these letters she proclaimed it her duty to find her again.]
(if:$hasChild)[She must've been a monster to leave them. It was not like she had a choice. But still. She had to stop (font:"Courier New")[the System] before it could rip another family apart.]
(if:$hasMentor)[She had to stop and wonder, what would've been if she wasn't taught the importance of her duty. Could she even have come this far or would she have given up long ago.]
(if:$hasFriend)[There was nothing more reassuring than a warm smile from someone she used to know. She couldn't say if it had been written with a smile or with tears. Did it even matter? She knew which she chose. And even if it was impossible she had to at least try returning.]
(if:$hasParent)[She didn't know if they had realized what they had instilled in her. There was just something rewarding about fulfilling her duty. Did the people here have letters too?]
]}Double-click this passage to edit it.She could barely move her lilac wrist. $numLetters still left. She didn't know if she could keep going. She used to belive she was capable to fulfil this duty all by herself. The dandelion child took her wrist. She felt a warmth that had been gone longer than she remembered. It wasn't just her duty after all. She hared it with everyone.=><=
''Concept, Story, Writing, Coding''
ProfPille
''Playtesting''
Martina Martes
This game was made for the Extra Credits Game Jam #4
This game has mutliple endings, can you find them all?
[[Back to the Beginning->Title]]###(text-color:"#B660CD")[A Lilac Letter Parable]
=><=
by ProfPille
[[Start->Introduction]]
↶↷A Lilac Letter Parable
by ProfPille
Start