Twine Test

You awake with your vision hazy, lost within a thick forest. You have a few unknown items in your pockets, and there is a path to the left, and one to the right. From the right path, you can hear voices faintly, from the left is a deadly silence. (live: 3s)[(stop:) [[Left]] [[Right]] [[Inventory]]] (set: $Inventory to (a: "Strange Coin", "Strange Key", "Small Knife") ) (set: $KnownInfo to (a: "Inventory"))

On the left was a winding, curved path, following it leads you back to the intial passage, but there is a small fork with the sound of heavy breathing (and chewing?) coming from just around a break in the forest (live: 3s)[(stop:) [[Small Break]] [[Inventory]] [[Intial Passage]]]

You took the right path, the forest breaks leaving stray branches, and leading you to a familiar sight, the sound of voices growing louder with each successive step. It seems like a village might be over there. (live: 3s)[(stop:)You can head to the [[Village]] or [[Intial Passage]] [[Inventory]] (if: $Inventory contains "Small Knife") [[Craft Handmade Spear]] with Branch]

(for: each _temp, ...$Inventory)[ You have _temp.]

In the small break there is a massive troll, devouring the remains of what looked to be what was once a human. (live: 3s)[(stop:)[[Inventory]] [[Attack with Knife]] Return to [[Intial Passage]]] (if: $Inventory contains "Handmade Spear") [[Throw Spear]]

You launch the spear like a missle, piercing the skull of the distracted troll and ending his life. You pull the spear free of his crown, and return it to your inventory. Finally having time to get a good look at the area, you notice that he had been eating soldiers, all armed to the teeth. One sat in the corner, curled up with his knees drawn to his chest, a stream of tears stained his cheeks. (live: 3s)[(stop:)[[Inventory]] [[Talk to him]] [[Loot the corpses]]]

The knife cannot pierce the flesh of the troll, he takes the knife from you and flings you off into the distance, returning to his meal. (set: $Inventory to $Inventory - (a: "Small Knife")) (live: 3s)[(stop:)[[Left]] [[Inventory]]]

You create a handmade spear from one of the low hanging branches using your pocket knife. Perhaps with a real weapon you can make your way to the left path, and explore there for a moment. (live: 3s)[(stop:)[[Intial Passage]] [[Inventory]] [[Right]] [[Left]]] (set:$Inventory to it + (a: "Handmade Spear"))

His eyes shift over to you as you call out to him, the trauma he had sustained was easy to see. For a moment, silence stirs within the air between you two before a deep breath climbs free of his lungs. "I-I'm going home rook, you can stay in this fucked up forest if you want to.." With that, he was gone, heading back. Seemed like there isn't much around here but the bodies of the devoured, some partially so. Between the bodies, there is probably enough to scrounge up some armor. (live: 3s)[(stop:)//Was I a soldier?// [[Inventory]] (set: $KnownInfo to it + (a:"You were a soldier")) [[Get Stuff and Mourn]] [[Right]]]

[[Inventory]] (if: $KnownInfo contains "You are a soldier") [[Get Stuff and Mourn]] (else:)[[Get Stuff]]

As you go to remove the helmet from one of the troops, you look at his face and a single tear runs down your face before you even realize what happened. Your chest churns, before you keep moving, taking the rest of the armor. (live: 3s)[(stop:)//I-I knew him from somewhere..// [[Inventory]] [[Right]] (set: $Inventory to it + (a:"Chainmail Armor"))]

You remove the scattered bits of armor off of the bodies, and put it on piece by piece (live: 3s)[(stop:) [[Inventory]] [[Right]] (set: $Inventory to it + (a:"Chainmail Armor"))]

Upon entering the blacksmith, you see he is busy at work in the back of the store, organizing equipment and the likes, you look around the shop, but there isn't an immense amount of stuff in here. [[Inventory]] (live: 3s)[(stop:)(if: $KnownInfo contains "You were a soldier") [You should [[Ask if he recognizes you]]] (else:)[(if: $Inventory contains "Chainmail Armor") [You should [[Ask if he recognizes you]]](else:)[You should [[Ask Him About the Village]]]]]

You walk into the Inn, from pure instinct you bury your digits within your pocket, drawing free the strange coin. You glance at it for a second, before your attention is strewn to the acruing collective gazes coming from the villagers within the inn. (live: 3s)[(stop:)(if: $Inventory contains "Chainmail Armor") [The gaze quickly shifts from interested, to a beaming glare as they notice the armor on your body. The inkeeper shouts from across the room "Get out. We don't serve you all here."] (else:) [The inkeeper notices you and speaks up. "We don't have any room here tonight, I'm sorry."] [[Inventory]]]

(if: $Inventory contains "Chainmail Armor") [The villager you approaches glances over at you, before returning to their current activity like they didn't see you. Seems like they don't want to talk to you.] (else:) [The villager sees you, and lets out a defeated sigh. "What do you want..." It was clear this village seemed almost dead. You decided it best to leave them be.] (live: 3s)[(stop:) [[Inventory]]]

As you call out to him, asking your question, you can see his face twist into rage the instant you come into view. "Why wouldn't I recognize ya'? The guard's armor is known everywhere, serving the tyrant king." His digits clasped tightly together, wadding into a fist, slamming down onto the counter before you. (set: $KnownInfo to it + (a:"King is a Tyrant")) (live: 3s)[(stop:)[[Inventory]] [[Ask what the king has done]] Return to [[Village]]]

The smith's brow's furrow, his face flushing a deep crimson hue, his blood boiled as he was overtaken with rage, and his voice more than reflected that. "What HASN'T he done??? Our taxes have been raised through the ceilin's, the soldiers have been 'seizing' my wares for the war effort, claimin' they'll repay me after, a new curfew been set, forcin' folk into their homes? You are lucky you even made it here alive. I've heard some of the villagers were planning to attack the reinforcements the king called back from the war." His tone died slowly, as he came to realize you truly were confused. "Why don't ya' know this stuff?" (live: 3s)[(stop:) [[Inventory]] [[Tell him about your amnesia]]]

You enter a small town, around you a few different building with hanging signs in a fairly close proximity to one another. About the village children run around playing, the adults are hard at work. (if: $Inventory contains "Chainmail Armor") [As you pass through, the adults you see you scowl as you come into view.] Still, your memory is hazy, perhaps someone here will have some clues as to who you are? (live: 3s)[(stop:)[[Inventory]] [[Inn]] [[Talk to a Villager]] [[Blacksmith]] [[Tavern]]]

Upon hearing your short story, a deep breath creeps free of the blacksmiths lungs, you can hear him mumble to himself quietly as he raising his hand to clasp his chin. "So the village did go through with the attack..." He stands in silence for a moment before glancing back to you. "Jud-" (live: 5s)[(stop:)Just as he was about to speak, in through the door bursted two soldier, blades drawn in hand, ready to strike as they bellowed to the blacksmith. "You owe the King hundreds of gold credits, you've been told time and time again to pay them, your time is up! Surrender now or be taken to trial by force." The two guards shift their gaze over to you, one raising his hand and point you out.] (live: 10s)[(stop:)(if: $Inventory contains "Chainmail Armor") ["You there, guard! Help us apprehend him!"] (else:)["You there, citizen! Help us apprehend him or you'll be coming with us!"] As the guards shout to you, from behind the counter the blacksmith draws his blade, tossing you one as well before rushing forward to the two gaurds ready to attack. [[Inventory]] [[Help the guards]] [[Help the blacksmith]] (set: $Inventory to it + (a:"Blacksmith's Sword"))]

"Haven't seen ya' around before, you must be new. Welcome to Stathmore." His tone was noticably low, a great sense of sorrow visible in his weary gaze. "Town ain't the best right now, but ya' shoulda seen it back in the day. Up until the King lost 'is mind and decided to make life hell for us it was beautiful 'ere." His accent was thick, but for the most part he was understandable. (live: 3s)[(stop:) [[Inventory]] [[Tell him about your amnesia]] (set: $KnownInfo to it + (a:"The King is a Tyrant"))]

You catch the blade the blacksmith threw to you, and while the blacksmith rushes the guards, you run it through his legs, stopping him instantly. The guards give you a simple nod in response before the one on the left steps forward speaking to you. (if: $Inventory contains "Chainmail Armor") ["Thanks for the help. Hey, you're that rookie that got sent outo to the war aren't you? King called you back? Things been getting real tough back here, so it makes sense. Name's Aurthur by the way, nice to meet ya'. Let's head back to the capital, put this treasonous bastard on trial."](else:)["Good job citizen. My name is Aurthur. Follow us back to the capital, the King will likely reward you for the assistance."] The smith grits his teeth as his hands are tied together by the second guard, leading you out the shop and to their carriage. (live: 3s)[(stop:)[[Inventory]] [[Prisoner Carriage]]]

As the blacksmith rushes forward, you the blade he threw you and run it right through the guard on the left, as he strikes down the one on the right, ending both their lives. The blacksmith glances over to you, his face far more serious than before as he begins to speak to you. "Thank you, I really appreciate it. I really didn't want it to come to this, but the guards are abusing their power. I should've listened. Go to the Tavern, tell them Blu sent you. They'll ask you 'Where do your loyalties lie?' and when they do, tell them 'With the people of Stathmore'. Good luck out there, I'm gonna clean up this mess." (live: 3s)[(stop:)[[Tavern]] [[Inventory]] (set: $KnownInfo to it + (a:"Inn Code"))]

As you board the carriage, bound for the capital, the second guard looks back at you, her smile a bit warm. "I'm Aldith, since Aurthur didn't want to introduce me. Nice to meet you. Sorry to put you in such a do or die position, but another war is coming. This one on our homefront. We can't afford to lose either of these, so we need to sort out loyalties as fast as possible. Thanks for the help. Just sit tight, we'll be to the capital in a few days." From the back of the carriage, you can hear the quiet grumble of the defeated smith, his tone brimming with scorn. "I should've killed you when you walked into the door.." Instantly, Aurthur struck the small cell in the back of the carriage in which the smith was locked within, shaking it lightly before he turned to you. "Don't let him get to you rook, you got called back to help take down scum like him." (live: 3s)[(stop:)//They know me..// [[Inventory]] [[End]]]

(if: $KnownInfo contains "Inn Code")[You walk into the tavern, and give the code phrase to the woman behind the counter. Instantly a wide grin stretches across her face as you are let behind the counter. "Head downstairs, there is a meeting going on down there right now, make sure to take your armor off before you go down. They'll give you some new gear."(live: 3s)[(stop:)[[Basement]]]](else:)[You walk into the tavern, to see a group of people drinking at the counter, the woman behind it glancing to you as you ask her information about the town. She shakes her head before you can even fully get your question out, speaking over you. "I don't pay any attention to the town, I just serve drinks sir." It's abundantly clear she's hiding something, but you don't have the means to figure out what. Best to head elsewhere.] (live: 3s)[(stop:)[[Inventory]]]

You step into the basement, and scope out the plethora of people sitting down there after having just removed your armor. Not a single soul even turns to glance at you, each and every one of them enthralled as the person who appears to be the leader spoke. It wasn't a speech, no. Closer to a cry for revolution, a cry for change, he looked to each person in the room, including you as he went on, with a gaze of familiarity and love, like each person present was his very own child. He looked up there in age, likely somewhere in his late 40s, but he was in top notch shape for his age. You came in during the middle of his tirade, but you could tell where it had started, and where it was going. "We are at WAR!!! Attacking their reinforcements was only the beginning! Next we will move on to the suppliers, and bring down their army! We are the people! WE make this nation, and thus we have to protect it. All of you are here because you care about this country and it's inhabitants, and thus we must fight for it!" (live: 3s)[(stop:)[[Inventory]] [[End]]]

''Forking Paths'' [[Intial Passage]]

Thank you for playing! This is the end of the first portion of the story, ending just before where the war would begin. If this by some means get any attention, I will add on to the story, and try to give it a better level of depth.