(group: 'playing', 'stop')
(align:"=><=")[[[Start->The Ball Game]] ](group: 'playing', 'stop')
(track: 'incin', 'loop', true)
(track: 'incin', 'play')
(link-reveal:"Fire.")[
Fire has always been an abstract thing to you.(seq-link:"(text-colour:orange)[ Hot.]", "(text-colour:orange)[ Burning.]", "(text-colour:orange)[ Searing.]", "")
(link-reveal:"Just words.")[
[[Now you know fire more personally.->Collection]]
]]
(group: 'playing', 'stop')
They gather around you, your flowers, your teammates. You all know what is supposed to happen now.
(seq-link:"(text-colour:yellow)[A Passing,]","(text-colour:yellow)[A Replacement,]","(text-colour:yellow)[Play Ball.]")
(t8n:"dissolve")+(link-reveal:"They refused.")[
Ashes are scooped, your leaves pulled close.
[[To The Garden]]
](masteraudio: 'stopall')
(track: 'nature', 'loop', true)
(track: 'nature', 'play')
The garden has always felt alive to you, every flower feels it.
(t8n: "fade")+(link:"The whispering of the trees,")[The whispering of the trees,
(t8n: "fade")+(link:"The pulse underfoot,")[The pulse underfoot,
(t8n: "fade")+(link:"(text-colour:green)[The connection.]")[(text-colour:green)[The connection.]
They place you down and cover you up, their tears watering what remains of you.
(t8n:"blur")+(link:"fading")[
(t8n:"blur")+(link:"fading")[
(t8n:"blur")+(link:"fading")[
(text-colour:green)[[A Presence.->Merge]]
]]]]]](text-colour:green)[''An Invitation'']
It reaches into you and pulls you into itself.
(text-colour:green)+(t8n: "dissolve")+(link:"''(text-colour:green)[Growing]''")[(text-colour:green)[Growing.]
It stretches you out, expanding into every part of you.
(text-colour:green)+(t8n: "dissolve")+(link:"''Reaching''")[(text-colour:green)[Reaching.]
Reaching across the garden, through the grasses and the flowers and the trees. You feel the grass under your teammates' feet, the vegetable patch, the forest, you feel your old form take root in its new home as you
(text-colour:green)+(t8n: "dissolve")+(link:"''Bloom''")[(text-colour:green)[Bloom.]
An eruption of colours, smells, tastes. You are the grass, you are the flowers, you are the garden. It is you.
(text-colour:green)+(link-reveal:"You are the garden.")[
(text-colour:green)[[It is you.->Season 8]]
]]]](masteraudio: 'stopall')
(track: 'nature', 'loop', true)
(track: 'nature', 'play')
You're going to be the last flower that's burned up. They can't keep doing this to us. Your flowers will need to get stronger.
It's time to (t8n: "dissolve")+(link-reveal:"(text-colour:green)[grow.]")[
A new flower, for a special tea.
No ordinary ingredients will do...
(cycling-link: bind $ing1, "Honey from Inez,", "Nectar from Gloria,", "Spit from Hiroto,",)
(cycling-link: bind $ing2, "Blood lilies from Beck,", "Pink roses from Moses,", "Mushrooms from Chambers.",)
You put yourself into the flower, adding your belief, your love, your strength. The garden mixes every single aspect of itself into one perfect gift to its flowers.
[[Bloom.->Drink]]
](masteraudio: 'stopall')
''Season 16, Day 2''
They're late coming home.
(t8n: "dissolve")+(link:"(text-colour:red)[They're never late.]")[(text-colour:red)[They're never late.]
Moses Mason's tea has gone cold.
(t8n: "dissolve")+(link:"(text-colour:grey)[You know what this means.]")[(text-colour:grey)[You know what this means.]
Another flower incinerated. You were supposed to be the last, now they're gone.
(t8n: "dissolve")+(link:"(text-colour:green)[Not gone, just changed.]")[(text-colour:green)[Not gone, just changed.]
They carry back a block of concrete, its once vibrant vines turned crisp and black. Chambers lays a crumpled pink rose atop it.
What will he become?
[[A rose bush->Rose]]
[[A bug hotel->Bug]]
]
]
]
(masteraudio: 'stopall')
(group: 'playing', 'stop')
(track: 'waves', 'loop', true)
(track: 'waves', 'play')
Something new in the garden. Where most are soft and open, these are hard and closed, their chitinous shells pushing off your gifts. Theirs is of sea and shell and strength. Their claws pierce and cut and tear while you soothe and grow and comfort. Every gift is rejected with cold indifference.
(t8n: "dissolve")+(link:"(text-colour:#ce1c5b)[They reject the garden.]")[(text-colour:#ce1c5b)[They reject the garden.]
Not of cruelty, of course. They simply long to be home.
(t8n: "dissolve")+(link:"(text-colour:green)[You suppose you would do the same.]")[(text-colour:green)[You suppose you would do the same.]
[[Compromise->Embrace Crabs]]
[[Leave them be->Leave Crabs]]
]]The sea is its own garden, in a way. You approach them once more, but instead of lilies and roses you offer coral and kelp.
(t8n: "dissolve")+(link:"(text-colour:#ce1c5b)[They accept.]")[(text-colour:#ce1c5b)[They accept.]
Their shells glow with luminous algae and their hair is braided with seaweed. They stop trampling your flowers.
(text-colour:lime)[You suppose to know someone you must become them, each sharing a little piece of yourself.]
[[Grow->Season 16 (Moses)]]
]You suppose some differences cannot be overcome. You part the grasses for them as they pass through, where others are marked with grasses and flowers and sprouts, you leave them be, and they leave you in turn.
[[Just passing through.->Season 16 (Moses)]](masteraudio: 'stopall')
The coin distorts the splort. It is slow, at first.
(t8n: "dissolve")+(link:"(text-colour:yellow)[Snack Packs.]")[(text-colour:yellow)[Snack Packs.]
(t8n: "dissolve")+(link:"(text-colour:yellow)[Investors.]")[(text-colour:yellow)[Investors.]
(t8n: "dissolve")+(link:"(text-colour:yellow)[Consumers.]")[(text-colour:yellow)[Consumers.]
(t8n: "dissolve")+(link:"(text-colour:yellow)[Live Bait.]")[(text-colour:yellow)[Live Bait.]
A steady descent into a cold husk of what Blaseball used to be. All the while she prunes your flowers.
(t8n: "dissolve")+(link:"(text-colour:green)[Moses]")[(text-colour:green)[Moses]
(if:(history: where its name contains "Rose")'s length >= 1)[Still growing.](if:(history: where its name contains "Bug")'s length >= 1)[Now a home for those without.]]
(t8n: "dissolve")+(link-reveal:"(text-colour:green)[Hiroto]")[
Your replacement, zir journey just beginning.]
(t8n: "dissolve")+(link-reveal:"(text-colour:green)[Vi]")[
One of many, but in a violet hue.]
(t8n: "dissolve")+(link-reveal:"(text-colour:red)[Chorby]")[
One who was with you so briefly, yet left such sadness.]
You've had enough. The garden must grow its thorns once more. Even metal will crumble against your vines and spines and rage.
(t8n:"dissolve")+(link:"(text-colour:green)[It's time.]")[=It's time.
(text-colour:green)[(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"dissolve")+(t8n-time:2s)[[Play Ball.->Credits]]]
]]]](masteraudio: 'stopall')
''A scream tears through the garden''
Something strange and new and pained and (link-reveal:"(text-colour:red)[Screaming.]")[
You share their pain and anger and confusion and feel your thorns grow and contort to match this new presence.
(t8n:"instant")+(link-reveal:"(text-colour:red)[Then nothing.]")[=
They are gone, taken off to some other team in some other place, but still leaving their mark upon you. Something is wrong. Your flowers return, muttering something about "live bait".
[[It sounds cruel.->Season 17 (revolt)]]]
A game by (text-colour:purple)[Ellie].
I have a kofi where you can tip me, if you enjoyed: (link-repeat:"Kofi")[(open-url: "https://ko-fi.com/elhayes")].
Huge thanks to the Blaseball wiki and everyone over on the Flower's discord for all their help with lore, and for helping to create these characters in the first place.
This game would not have been possible without The Game Band, developers of Blaseball. If you haven't yet taken part in the cultural event of Blaseball then you can do so here: (link-repeat:"Blaseball")[(open-url: "https://www.blaseball.com/")].
(link-repeat:"Back to Itch")[(open-url: "https://creepy-ellie.itch.io/thelotusgarden/")].
Forest sounds: https://freesound.org/people/klankbeeld/
Sea sounds: https://freesound.org/people/belloisec/
Music created using (link-repeat:"Bosca Ceoil")[(open-url: "https://terrycavanagh.itch.io/bosca-ceoil")] by Terry Cavanagh. (masteraudio: 'stopall')
A time of peace.
[[New arrivals->Crabs]](masteraudio: 'stopall')
(track: 'nature', 'loop', true)
(track: 'nature', 'play')
They crowd excitedly around your gift, breathing in the smell, so familiar to each of them, yet somehow different. (if:$ing2 is "Blood lilies from Beck,")[A faint rusty smell, a reminder of what was lost.](else-if:$ing2 is "Pink roses from Moses,")[A fresh, hopeful smell, a smile at the future.](else:)[An old and friendly smell, a deeper sadness.]
You feel at peace as they begin to drink. (if:$ing1 is "Honey from Inez,")[They smile at the sweet taste, Inez buzzes with pride.](else-if:$ing1 is "Nectar from Gloria,")[A slight spice as it goes down, Inez looks a little worried.](else:)[A light foam forms on the top, Nic makes coffee art from it.]
(t8n: "dissolve")+(link:"(text-colour:green)[They change.]")[(text-colour:green)[They change.]
(t8n: "dissolve")+(link:"(text-colour:green)[They grow.]")[(text-colour:green)[They grow.]
(t8n: "dissolve")+(link:"(text-colour:green)[They bloom.]")[(text-colour:green)[They bloom.]
They can feel you now, they know just how connected the garden really is, and now you can be with them. Your grass pulsing through their blood, reaching out to connect with them.
You are the flowers.
[[Seasons pass...->Peace]]
]
]
](masteraudio: 'stopall')
(track: 'nature', 'loop', true)
(track: 'nature', 'play')
You take in the concrete, letting it grow through you, taking root deep in the ground as it erupts into a sprawling rose bush. Its leaves are a pale grey-green and rough to the touch, while its flowers are a mix of shock pink and twisted rebar roses.
Chambers likes to visit after games, making sure it grows up well.
[[A Scream->Chorby]](masteraudio: 'stopall')
(track: 'bug', 'loop', true)
(track: 'bug', 'play')
You take in the concrete, letting it grow through you,
taking root deep in the ground as it forms into a beautiful bug hotel. Concrete and vines mix and intertwine to form a perfect home for those that need it.
Salih likes to visit after games, playing music for whoever will listen. Chambers dotes on the bugs.
[[A scream->Chorby]]incin: ./audio/incin.mp3, ./audio/incin.ogg
nature: ./audio/nature.mp3, ./audio/nature.ogg
bug: ./audio/bug.mp3, ./audio/bug.ogg
waves: ./audio/waves.mp3, ./audio/waves.ogg(group: 'playing', 'stop')
''Season 6, Day 31''
(t8n: "dissolve")+(link:"Eclipse weather.")[(text-colour:navy)[Eclipse weather.]
You welcome it, in a way. When it's like this Beck is at her most free, unburdened from the shackles of the sun above, you watch her flit this way and that, swinging her bat energetically, a far cry from the sleepy vampire that lay under you yesterday.
(t8n: "dissolve")+(link:"(text-colour:cyan)[A crackle.]")[(text-colour:cyan)[A crackle.]
Of course, there are costs to such lovely weather.
(t8n-depart:"instant")[[Brace.->The Hit]]]]