Crosshollow Foundations

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<<fadein 1s>>\ <h1>RETURN</h1> A thick fog had settled over the village where you once lived, weaving between demolished walls and casting the dead grass underfoot in a surreal light. The ashen landscape was riddled with the scars of destroyed buildings, some still sizzling as the embers made contact with blackened raindrops. The mix of rain and sweat made keeping a steady hold of your golden longbow a challenge. You had taken the route furthest from your former home, around the North side. In the gaps between houses you caught the occasional glimpse of the other archers in your unit. They weaved between the buildings and ducked inside open doors in their dark cloaks like harbingers of death.\ While they combed the town, you kept your focus on the treeline. Between the dense mist and the foliage, it was nearly impossible to see more than a few feet into the dense forest. The detachment was meant to rendezvous with you here- when you had pointed it out, your companions had shaken their heads and muttered their well-wishes. You knew why. The chance of their survival was slim to none. Still, you had to hold out hope.\ As you stepped on light feet across the scorched earth, you closed your eyes and let your mind wander. Gazing down from high above the forest you scoured it for any signs of life. A clearing, a path, the rustling of trees- anything. Near the edge of the treeline you spotted exactly what you were looking for, some kind of barely-perceptible movement, and in an instant opened your eyes. You ducked behind a collapsed thatch wall and drew an arrow from your quiver. You knew it was more likely a beast than a soldier, yet you held your breath in anticipation. Where you expected to see a creature on all fours, instead, a darkened figure with a humanlike build stumbled out of the underbrush. “Halt,” you called out. “Identify yourself.”\ The figure was clearly a person, but they didn’t respond immediately. The fog around them was thick, but as they stepped closer and you could make out their shape, your eyes widened. He was clad in the garments of your regiment, and one sleeve of his loose shirt was ripped off at the seam. The skin of his left arm had been swallowed by the inky black, glistening scar of abyssal corruption. The silvery sword clutched in his hand was coated with the black and deep blue of battle. Wrapped around his head, covering his eyes, was a long strip of torn fabric that fluttered in the wind.\ You cast your bow aside and vaulted over the wall, running through the rain to the edge of civilization. You threw your arms around him with such force he staggered backwards. “I thought you had died,” you muttered, your eyes filled with tears. “Dear lord… what happened to you? What happened to your detachment?”\ He was silent, content to be held by a friend who thought they’d never see him again. You stood together in the rain, reunited at last.\ [[Refocus.|Chapter1]] <<set $flash03 to true>>\ <</fadein>>\

<<fadein 1s>> <<fadeout 1s 3s>> <div class='chaptertitle'>-- CHAPTER 1 --</div> <</fadeout>>\ <</fadein>>\ <<timed 4s>>\ <<goto '01/01/01'>>\ <</timed>>\

<<fadein 1s>>\ <h1>Outskirts of Gunnison, Colorado</h1>\ <h2>May 1895</h2> When your mind wanders into the past like this, you can’t help but stew in it, reliving every memory until something pulls you back to the present. In this case, the voice of your companion, your tether, calling for you. It is not your true name, of course- as a human he is not capable of speaking any of your true names. Instead, he calls you <<textbox '$name' 'Watcher'>> <<link '(Suggestions)'>><<popup 'Names' 'NAMES'>><</link>>, one of many titles you have taken on over the years.\ Your companion, Tobias, is sitting on an overturned log by a small, crackling campfire, its warm light beating back against the darkness of the night. The flames cast an orange glow against his skin, freckled and tanned by countless days on the road in the blazing sun. A bit of curly auburn hair peeks out from below his straw Stetson hat. He stokes the flames with the charred tip of his wooden walking stick, humming the tune of an old folk song. Leaning up against the log beside him is a \ <<cycle '$job'>>\ <<option 'simple, foldable easel and a case of paints and brushes. ' 'painter'>>\ <<option 'simple wooden guitar. ' 'musician'>>\ <<option 'large leather journal. ' 'writer'>>\ <</cycle>>\ The two of you have been travelling together for a few months now, since your previous tether passed away. Without a body of your own, you were forced to choose quickly. Without a tether your mind would quickly fade. Tobias was more than happy to take you on- you’re both misfits in your own right.\ Tobias leaned back lazily on his makeshift seat, resting his weight on one arm and looking up at the stars. “Y’know, it would be nice to have some company out here,” he calls out. “Been on the road all day and hardly a peep outta you.” With a big smile he pats a spot on the log next to him, gesturing for you to join him.\ <<set $loreTethering to true>>\ <<set $loreTether to true>>\ [[You oblige him. (Manifest)|01/01/a01][$power -= 0.1]] [[You politely decline.|01/01/b01]] <</fadein>>\ <<notify 3s>>Lore unlocked: TOBIAS<</notify>>\ <<timed 4s>><<notify 3s>>Lore unlocked: TETHERING<</notify>><</timed>>\

You have been around humans long enough to know that they prefer speaking to a physical being over speaking to a disembodied voice in their heads. It’s a shame to use your energy like this, but perhaps when you were young you would have felt the same.\ It takes some effort to create a complex illusion, and for a moment the air around him shimmers and warps with waves of shifting colours like heat emanating from a fire. Your form takes shape like distortions in film, abstract shapes and colours sharpening into focus until ‘you’ are standing over Tobias.\ Your appearance, once, was set in stone. Since you became earthbound, you’ve enjoyed the freedom to pick and choose what form you prefer. This time, your body \ <<cycle '$form' autoselect>> <<option 'appears like a normal human' normal>> <<option 'seems to have a wispy, smokelike quality' ethereal>> <<option 'glows with radiant light' radiant>> <<option 'appears skeletal in form' skeletal>> <<option 'possesses a golden halo' halo>> <<option 'is surrounded by webs of shifting, wispy tendrils' tendrils>> <<option 'is far taller than the average human' towering>> <</cycle>> \ with \ <<cycle '$eyes' autoselect>> <<option 'a normal number of eyes in the expected locations' normal>> <<option 'a third eye in the center of the forehead' three>> <<option 'additional eyes on each cheek' four>> <<option 'eyes on the back of each hand' hand>> <<option 'eyes appearing in clusters across your skin' many>> <</cycle>> \ and \ <<cycle '$wings' autoselect>> <<option 'no wings, despite your affinity for them.' none>> <<option 'two feathered wings adorning your back.' two>> <<option 'two pairs of feathered wings adorning your back. ' four>> <<option 'three pairs of feathered wings adorning your back. ' six>> <<option 'a pair of moth-like wings folded up at your back. ' moth>> <<option 'hovers unnaturally above the ground. ' hover>> <</cycle>> \ Despite your long absence, you still prefer to wear the ornamentation of your people. \ <<cycle '$decor' autoselect>> <<option 'An eye is painted on either cheek and the center of your forehead, the symbol of your former position as a seer.' eyes>> <<option 'The veins on your skin are traced with thin lines of golden paint, a decoration popular for your gender and social class- at least, when you left. ' veins>> <<option 'Your body is covered by a large number of raised scars, some decoratively placed. Scars are worn with pride by your people, at least after the war. Humans, you understand, tend to find them unsightly. ' scars>> <<option 'Your arms are nearly covered by assorted golden bangles, cuffs, and pearlescent beads. Apparently humans find this garish, but you have quite different tastes.' jewelry>> <<option 'A golden sunburst headdress featuring elaborate beading rests atop your head. A string of pearls crosses your forehead with a simple piece of cloth hanging down to cover your eyes. ' crown>> <<option 'Two decorative horns curl up from your head, their bases decorated with golden ribbons and strings of pearls. This style was generally reserved for higher ranking military, though of course nobody will notice the insubordination.' horns>> <<option 'A large veil of translucent black fabric is draped over your face, obscuring it from view. The edges are trimmed with gold ribbon and tassels.' veil>>\ <</cycle>> \ On your body you wear \ <<cycle '$clothes' autoselect>> <<option 'a dark cloak with a hood that shrouds your face. A pair of black bloomers are cinched at your ankles with golden ribbon.' cloak>> <<option 'the traditional garb of your former office, a long robe with a high collar and bishop sleeves. A short decorative cape sits around the shoulders, and a grey velvet stole is clipped at the front with a large gold pin.' traditional>> <<option 'a simple white shirt with loose, cuffed sleeves and a wide collar, tucked into a pair of functional black breeches.' archer>> <<option 'a long, black dress with a high collar, delicate lace designs, and large padded sleeves. Human designs are quite odd, but this is one you enjoy.' dress>> <<option 'a sharp black frock coat with a high collar and cravat over a pair of breeches. It may be a bit old-fashioned, but you can’t stand modern men’s slouching overcoats.' frock>> <</cycle>>\ [[You sit by his side.|01/01/a02][$manifest to true]]

<<silently>>\ <<set $looks to 0.5>>\ <<if $form is 'ethereal' or $form is 'radiant' or $form is 'halo'>>\ <<set $looks += 0.1>> <<elseif $form is 'skeletal' or $form is 'tendrils' or $form is 'towering'>> <<set $looks -= 0.2>> <</if>> <<if $eyes is 'three'>> <<set $looks += 0.1>> <<elseif $eyes is 'four' or $eyes is 'hand'>> <<set $looks -= 0.1>> <<elseif $eyes is 'many'>> <<set $looks -= 0.2>> <</if>> <<if $wings is 'two' or $wings is 'four' or $wings is 'six'>> <<set $looks += 0.1>> <<elseif $wings is 'hover' or $wings is 'moth'>> <<set $looks -= 0.1>> <</if>> <<if $decor is 'eyes' or $decor is 'veins' or $decor is 'crown'>> <<set $looks += 0.1>> <<elseif $decor is 'scars' or $decor is 'horns'>> <<set $looks -= 0.1>> <</if>> <<updatemeter 'horror' $looks>> <</silently>>\ You step around the log, your form appearing to take a seat next to him. Of course, you can’t feel anything- this ‘body’ isn’t real, just visual trickery. Still, Tobias beams at you, a twinkle in his eye. “Good to see you as always, $name!” With a tilt of his hat, he leans forward onto his knees and gives you a sideways glance.\ <<if $looks gte 0.4>>\ “You sure are a sight for sore eyes. Been feeling like I’m all on my own out here.”\ [[“You are technically never on your own.”|01/01/aa01]] [[“This is a bit of a waste of energy.”|01/01/ab01]] <<elseif $looks lt 0.4>>\ “You know, its a bit unsettling sitting next to you when you look… y’know, like that. Not that I can afford to be too picky about my company.”\ [[“I could say the same for you.”|01/01/aa01]] [[“I do not see what is unsettling about it.”|01/01/aa01]] <</if>>\ <<set $loreAbilities to true>>\ <<notify 3s>>Lore unlocked: IMPRESSIONS<</notify>>\

You respond, though only as a disembodied voice. “Tobias, my power is not infinite. It is probably best to refrain from frivolous uses of it.” While a basic illusion is quite easy for someone of your power to create, a realizstic moving form takes far more energy.\ Tobias chuckles, though it’s clear from his body language that he’s a bit disappointed. “I wouldn’t exactly call a nice chat by the fireside frivolous, but to each his own.” To some extent, you understand how he feels- you were a corporeal being once too. Yet you’ve lived this way for so long, your only form an illusion, that it almost feels like normalcy. If anything, going back to being physical would be unsettling.\ <<if $job is 'musician'>>\ He leans over to grab his guitar and props it up on his lap, sliding the strap on it over his shoulder. He strums a tentative first chord, checking his tuning, and settles into the rhythm of an old folk song. For a moment both of you are silent as he plays by the firelight. It’s not quite dark yet, but the stars are already shining in the sky and the residual light on the horizon is fading. The peaks of the mountains, stretching endlessly to north and south alike, are silhouetted against the waning golden glow of sunset. Out here, far from the oil lamps or fancy electric lights of the big city, the sky seems that much brighter.\ “Do you ever miss your home, $name?”\ <<else>>\ He pulls a gold-plated folding knife from his pocket and props his walking stick up between his knees, setting to work idly whittling it into an unknown shape by the light of the fire. It’s not quite dark yet, but the stars are already shining in the sky and the residual light on the horizon is fading. The peaks of the mountains, stretching endlessly to north and south alike, are silhouetted against the waning golden glow of sunset. Out here, far from the oil lamps or fancy electric lights of the big city, the sky seems that much brighter.\ “Do you ever miss your home, $name?”\ <</if>>\ <<set $loreAbilities to true>>\ [[“My home was an awful place.”|01/01/aaa01]] [[“There are things I miss.”|01/01/aaa01]] [[“I think about it often.”|01/01/aaa03]] <<notify 3s>>Lore unlocked: IMPRESSIONS<</notify>>\

Tobias chuckles and goes to give you a playful shove, nearly losing his balance when his hand passes right through your shoulder. Readjusting, he mutters, “Keep forgetting you ain’t really there.” You can imagine that would be jarring for him, but it’s not something that even crosses your mind. You’ve lived this way for so long, your only form an illusion, that it almost feels like normalcy. If anything, going back to when you had a body would be unsettling.\ For a moment, the two of you sit in silence, staring into the warm fire. Its not quite dark yet, but the stars are already shining in the sky and the residual light on the horizon is fading. The peaks of the mountains, stretching endlessly to north and south alike, are silhouetted against the waning golden glow of sunset. Out here, far from the oil lamps or fancy electric lights of the big city, the sky seems that much brighter.\ “Do you ever miss your home, $name?”\ [[“My home was an awful place.”|01/01/aaa01]] [[“There are things I miss.”|01/01/aab01]] [[“I think about it often.”|01/01/aac01]]

Tobias shakes his head, taking a deep breath before exhaling sharply. “Y’know, you really need to learn to live a little. You’d think centuries on the road woulda softened you up a bit. Y’know what most folks would do if they could cheat death like that?”\ You shake your head, letting out an exasperated sigh. “I may not be vulnerable to bullets, but I am still at risk of... fading. And then where would you be?”\ He grins and goes to give you a playful shove, nearly losing his balance when his hand passes right through your shoulder. Readjusting, he mutters, “Keep forgetting you aint really there.” You can imagine that would be jarring for him, but it’s not something that even crosses your mind. You’ve lived this way for so long, your only form an illusion, that it almost feels like normalcy. If anything, going back to when you had a body would be unsettling.\ For a moment, the two of you sit in silence, staring into the warm fire. Its not quite dark yet, but the stars are already shining in the sky and the residual light on the horizon is fading. The peaks of the mountains, stretching endlessly to north and south alike, are silhouetted against the waning golden glow of sunset. Out here, far from the oil lamps or fancy electric lights of the big city, the sky seems that much brighter.\ “Do you ever miss your home, $name?”\ [[“My home was an awful place.”|01/01/aaa01]] [[“There are things I miss.”|01/01/aab01]] [[“I think about it often.”|01/01/aac01]]

<<if $manifest is true>>\ “My people worked the land and received nothing in return. The few who escaped poverty did so by risking their lives at war.” <<if $form isnot 'skeletal'>>You purse your lips, <<else>>You sigh, <</if>>muttering, “It was not a pleasant place to live.”\ <<else>>\ “My people worked the land and received nothing in return. The few who escaped poverty did so by risking their lives at war.”\ <</if>>\ Hearing that, Tobias smiles, a fond look in his eyes. “Yeah, sounds like my hometown too. Awful pace. Miss the hell out of it.” He grabs a couple sticks from the pile beside the fire and adds them in, stoking the coals with the tip of his walking stick. “Sometimes I wonder if I shoulda stayed around and been a miner like my daddy.”\ You’ve noticed over these months spent together how frequently he speaks about that- and how it’s never the same thought. One day he’s looking back on that coal town he called a home as the epitome of a simpler time, and the next praising life on the road. “I thought you were happy,” you tell him, although you’re not sure if you get even that.\ He laughs, patting the bag by his side. “Yeah, plenty happy. Broke as all hell, too. Not that I’d be much better off if I’d stuck around.”\ [[“Perhaps we can visit someday.”|01/01/aaa02]]

“The land was harsh, but the people were resilient,” you respond<<if $manifest is true>>, folding your hands in front of you<</if>>. “There was a spirit to them I have rarely found here.”\ “Sound like good folks.<<if $looks lte 0.3>> Even if they look like... y’know...<</if>>” He trails off, casting his eyes up to one of the mountain peaks. “It’s nice being out here in the mountains. Reminds me of home. Actually, don’t think I ever asked you- you ever been to West Virginia?”\ “The last time I visited, it was just Virginia.” After a moment of thought, you add, “It was also over a century ago. I am sure many things have changed.”\ “You’d be surprised how slow things change out in the states.” You, of course, would not be surprised. You have been in this country since before it was a country.\ [[“Perhaps we can visit someday.”|01/01/aaa02]]

“It was my home for a very long time. Of course I miss it.” You pause. “It had its flaws, but so does everything.”\ Tobias nods along, clearly distracted by his own thoughts. “Can’t imagine leaving your home and knowing you’re never gonna get to go back. Must be a damn shame.”\ <<if $manifest is true>>\ You turn to see his face and it’s clear that his mind is elsewhere, no doubt thinking about his own home.\ <<else>>\ You can tell from his pensive gaze that his mind is elsewhere, no doubt thinking about his own home.\ <</if>>\ [[“Perhaps we can visit West Virginia someday.”|01/01/aaa02]]

Tobias brightens up immediately. “That ain’t a half bad idea. Been out West far too long, I’m itching to head back to the states.” Almost as soon as he says it, however, the reality of the situation seems to hit him and a frown crosses his lips. “Well shit, we’re gonna have to scrounge up quite a bit of change if we want to afford a train ticket anywhere, let alone all the way out East. Hell, I only got enough for a couple more weeks.”\ “With any luck there will be money to be made where we are going.”\ “Oh, yeah. Forgot to ask about that.” He rummages around in the bag on his side, pulling out a worn pamphlet and opening it up to reveal a map on the inside. “Which town was it you were looking at?”\ <<if $manifest is true>>\ You point<<if $form is 'skeletal'>> your skeletal finger<</if>> at a spot on the map just above Crested Butte, barely big enough to be labeled. “Gothic. I believe it is far enough away from any major towns.”\ He looks grim as you mention this factor. “So if we stay up here, how long do you think we can stay undetected by...?” He trails off, his voice tinged with the appropriate amount of concern. You’ve been intentionally vague about your concerns, but it’s obvious to him how genuine your worry is- and it’s clear that whatever worries you will worry him as well.\ <<else>>\ You say, “It may be hard to find on that map. Its name is Gothic.”\ “Has a nice ring to it,” he muttered, scouring the region around Gunnison for the small town’s name. “Ah... there, right?”\ “That is the mountain, Tobias.”\ Grumbling under his breath about why they would name the mountain the same damn thing as the town, he squints a bit harder. “Ah, up here. Right up past Crested Butte, right?”\ “That is the one.”\ “And if we stay up here, how long do you think we can stay undetected by...?” He trails off, his voice tinged with the appropriate amount of concern. You’ve been intentionally vague about your concerns, but it’s obvious to him how genuine your worry is- and it’s clear that whatever worries you will worry him as well.\ <</if>>\ [[“About a year at most.” (Cautious)|01/01/aaa03][$estimate to 'cautious']] [[“A year or more, with any luck.” (Liberal)|01/01/aaa03][$estimate to 'liberal']]

Folding the map back up and sliding it back into the bag, Tobias mutters, <<if $estimate is 'cautious'>>“That’s not as long as I’d hoped, but I guess we’re a bit starved for choice.”<<elseif $estimate is 'liberal'>>“That’s a good long while.”<</if>> He gets to his feet and tosses a thin log into the fire before <<if $manifest is true>>turning back towards you.<<else>>turning around to gaze into the darkened woods.<</if>> “Look, we’re friends, right $name? I’d say we’re friends. And I like the arrangement we’ve got going on.”\ <<if $manifest is true>>You blink, a bit confused by the sudden change of subject.<<else>>A bit confused by the sudden change of subject, you respond,<</if>> “Yes. I would agree, we are friends.”\ “Well, I feel like you haven’t been entirely honest to me. Now, I ain’t calling you a liar. But you’ve told me practically nothing about why you always need to move around.” He paused. “You know why I’m out here, seems only fair I should know the same for you.”\ “I have explained all there is to say,” you assure him, “An individual wishes to harm me. I move around so that he cannot find me. What else would you need to know?”\ “How about who? Why? What happens to me if he finds us?” He motions to his body emphatically, continuing, “Some of us are made of flesh, y’know.”\ [[“I would have told you if you were in danger.” (Insistent)|01/01/aaa04][$tone to 'annoyed']] [[“I promise that I would not put you in danger.” (Sympathetic)|01/01/aaa04][$tone to 'sympathetic']] <<set $loreOathbreaker to true>>\ <<notify 3s>>Lore unlocked: ???<</notify>>\

<<if $manifest is true>>You sigh, standing up to face him.<<if $clothes is 'cloak'>> Your cloak appears to billow in the subtle wind.<<elseif $clothes is 'dress'>> Your dress appears to billow in the subtle wind.<</if>><</if>> <<if $tone is 'annoyed'>>“I told you when we met that this was my problem and you had nothing to worry about.”<<else>>“I understand your concerns, but if I suspected you could be in any danger I would have already told you that.”<</if>>\ “Why? I don’t get what you’re so damn worried about if it ain’t getting killed, and unless you’ve neglected to tell me something, they’d have to get through me first.”\ [[“He knows better than to hurt you.” (Reassuring)|01/01/aaaa01]] [[“Have I given you any reason not to trust me?” (Exasperated)|01/01/aaab01][$tetherRelationship -= 0.05]]

<<if $manifest is true>>Tobias turns to look at you, a confused expression on his face.<<else>>A confused expression crosses Tobias’s face.<</if>> “Pardon, $name? What exactly is that supposed to mean?”\ “If you die, I find another tether and I am gone by morning,” you explain. “It does him no good to hurt you, and he learned that many centuries ago. While I assure you he does not mind collateral damage, you will be the safest person in the room if things go bad.”\ He purses his lips. Perhaps the implication of you moving on so quickly after his death is unpleasant, but the logic is sound. “Guess that’s fair.”\ <<if $manifest is true>>You turn away to face the fire, which has nearly consumed the embers fueling it. <</if>>“As long as we keep moving, he will not find us. That much I can assure you.”\ Turning back around, Tobias produces a banged up pack of cigarettes and an equally banged up brass lighter from his pocket. Taking a cigarette between his teeth, he continues in a half-coherent drawl, “Look, I don’t want to come off like I’m questionin’ you, you know? I get what you’re up to, $name. Never questioned your motivations. We get each other, I think.”\ [[“I would agree wholeheartedly.”|01/01/aaaa02]] [['“You may get me, but you are an enigma, Tobias.”'|01/01/aaaa02][$tone to 'joke']]

Tobias exhales sharply. “You ain’t given me one yet, $name,” he mutters, pulling a banged up pack of cigarettes and a matchbook from his pocket. “I just hope you’re not planning on it.”\ “I know what I am talking about, Tobias,” you respond, feeling yourself losing your patience with him. “I have been doing this for centuries. I know how to stay safe, and I know you do not have to worry about it.”\ Taking a cigarette between his teeth, he tells you in a half-coherent drawl, “Look, I don’t want to come off like I’m questionin’ you, you know? I get what you’re up to, $name. Never questioned your motivations. I just wish you would talk to me about this kind of crap.”\ [[“I suppose you might be right.”|01/01/aaaa02][$tetherRelationship += 0.02]] [[“And I would prefer not to. It is personal.”|01/01/aaaa02]]

He takes a drag off his cigarette and exhales a puff of smoke tinted orange by the campfire.<<if $tone is 'joke'>> “You’re a real hoot when you ain’t being all highfalutin, you know that?” <<else>> Shielding his face, he lets out a raspy cough. <</if>>He glances up at the sky, a deep blue field of stars hanging over the mountain peaks. “I’ve been thinking. I wanna to stick around here a while, $name.”\ “What do you mean?”\ “I’ve been on the road so long, y’know,” he explains. “I haven’t stayed in one place longer than a month or two for years now. Meeting you made me realize how lonely that kind of life is.”\ You aren’t sure how to respond. You’ve been on the road yourself for centuries now, never staying in one place too long for fear of your pursuer finding you.\ [[You can relate- it’s tough not being able to put down roots.|01/01/aaaaa01][$tetherRelationship += 0.05]] [[It’s not a big deal- you’ve certainly never complained.|01/01/aaaab01][$tetherRelationship -= 0.05]]

<<if $manifest is true>>You take a step towards him, placing a hand on his shoulder and giving him a reassuring smile. <<if $looks lte 0.3>>He instinctively shrinks away, a look of unease crossing his face. Given your appearance right now, it’s understandable. <<elseif $looks gte 0.7>><<set $tetherRelationship += 0.02>>He smiles back, any worries he had melted away by your supportive gesture. <</if>><</if>>You respond, “I know the feeling well, Tobias. I’ve been dealing with this a long time.”\ “So, what do you say we take a break and spend some time here,” he proposes. <<if $estimate is 'cautious'>>“We might be pushing it a bit, but I’m sure we’ll have the time to settle down a while. Meet people, make a bit of cash.”<<elseif $estimate is 'liberal'>>“We have plenty of time to settle down a while. Meet people, make a bit of cash.”<</if>>\ [[“Sounds like a plan.”|01/01/aaaaa02][$plan to 'stay']] [[“Maybe. We will just have to see.”|01/01/aaaaa02][$plan to 'leave']]

“Tobias, I have been everywhere from the Cape of Good Hope to the Yukon, and never longer than a few months.<<if $manifest is true>>” You place a hand on his shoulder as if to reassure him, but he shrugs it off just as quickly. <<else>> <</if>>“I promise that after a while, you get used to it. It is still a worthy life.”\ He scowls, narrowing his eyes. “Look, $name,” he mutters around his cigarette. The level of hostility catches you by surprise. “Maybe you’re content bein’ antisocial all the time, but some of us down here would like a bit of companionship every once in a while. Companionship from somebody who ain’t a Martian or whatever the hell.”\ <<if $manifest is true>>You shake your head in disbelief. <</if>>“I am just trying to be helpful, Tobias. I have been doing this for much longer than you, I know what I am talking about.”\ “Yeah, well.” Tobias shakes his head, walking back towards the log where he had been sitting. “I ain’t mad or anything, $name. Just a bit damn tired of getting talked down to.”\ [[“Well, I am sorry.”|01/01/aaaaba01][$tetherRelationship += 0.01]] [[“I will take your word for it.”|01/01/aaaaa02]] [[“I have not talked down to you once.”|01/01/aaaabb01][$tetherRelationship -= 0.02]]

After a moment’s pause he mutters, “I appreciate that.” He isn’t the type to broadcast how he’s feeling to the world, but after months of travelling with him, you can tell when he isn’t in the best mood. His eyes glaze over and his posture changes in an almost impreceptible way. You’re sure it would probably be best to leave him to his thoughts. In your newfound silence, you remember something that had slipped your mind as you daydreamed- you intended to take a look at the town you were visiting, do a bit of reconnaissance before you arrive for real.\ In a former life, you were a seer. Your mind could visualize far off lands, glimpses of the past, even hazy reflections of the future. Now that you are bound to a human, your abilities are dampened, your mind less sharp. Still, you can see a far distance from this corporeal form that anchors you.\ “Would you mind if I took my leave, Tobias? I was hoping to take a look up in Gothic before we start the journey up there.”\ He shrugs. “Doesn’t make much of a difference to me. Mind scouting out a nice saloon? I really need a damn drink. And it’s probably my best bet if I want to find a place to stay.”\ “I will be sure to check for you.” <<if $manifest is true>>You focus for a moment and your form shimmers and wavers, gaps forming across it like burnt holes in film. It fades away into shimmering night air as if he had never seen a thing.<</if>>\ Tobias inhales some smoke, holding it in his lungs a moment as he looks off at the mountains peeking over the canopy of firs. As he exhales, he glances off in a random direction and gives you a faint wave. He steps around to the log where he had been sitting and puts out his cigarette on its bark, flicking it into the fire. Taking a seat on the edge of the log, he grabs his walking stick and the gold folding knife from his pocket and starts to whittle away at the wood. He hums the tune of an old folk song into the cold night air as your vision drifts away.\ [[You leave him to his thoughts.|01/02/01]]\ <<unset $tone>>\ <<set $manifest to false>>\

Tobias grunts, barely acknowledging you. It’s clear that you have gotten on his nerves, regardless of your intentions. After travelling with him for a while and getting to know his eccentricities, however, you know that he rarely stays mad for long. Give him a bit of space and he'll surely be in a more pleasant mood by morning. In your newfound silence, you remember something that had slipped your mind as you daydreamed- you intended to take a look at the town you were visiting, do a bit of reconnaissance before you arrive for real.\ In a former life, you were a seer. Your mind could visualize far off lands, glimpses of the past, even hazy reflections of the future. Now that you are bound to a human, your abilities are dampened, your mind less sharp. Still, you can see a far distance from this corporeal form that anchors you. Perhaps in some measure to put distance between the two of you, you figure this is as good a time as ever to go on a scouting mission.\ <<if $manifest is true>>\ You focus for a moment and your form shimmers and wavers, gaps forming across it like burnt holes in film. It fades away into shimmering night air as if nobody had seen a thing. Tobias gives you a faint wave.\ <</if>>\ Tobias inhales some smoke, holding it in his lungs a moment as he looks off at the mountains peeking over the canopy of firs. He steps around to the log where he had been sitting and puts out his cigarette on its bark, flicking it into the fire. Taking a seat on the edge of the log, he grabs his walking stick and the gold folding knife from his pocket and starts to whittle away at the wood. He hums the tune of an old folk song into the cold night air as your vision drifts away.\ [[You leave him to his thoughts.|01/02/01]]\ <<unset $tone>>\ <<set $manifest to false>>\

As the conversation lulls, you remember something that had slipped your mind as you daydreamed- you intended to take a look at the town you were visiting, do a bit of reconnaissance before you arrive for real.\ In a former life, you were a seer. Your mind could visualize far off lands, glimpses of the past, even hazy reflections of the future. Now that you are bound to a human, your abilities are dampened, your mind less sharp. Still, you can see a far distance from this corporeal form that anchors you.\ “Would you mind if I took my leave, Tobias? I was hoping to take a look up in Gothic before we start the journey up there.”\ He shrugs. “Doesn’t make much of a difference to me. Mind scouting out a nice saloon? I really need a damn drink. And it’s probably my best bet if I want to find a place to stay.”\ “I will be sure to check for you.” <<if $manifest is true>>You focus for a moment and your form shimmers and wavers, gaps forming across it like burnt holes in film. It fades away into shimmering night air as if he had never seen a thing.<</if>>\ Tobias inhales some smoke, holding it in his lungs a moment as he looks off at the mountains peeking over the canopy of firs. As he exhales, he glances off in a random direction and gives you a faint wave. He steps around to the log where he had been sitting and puts out his cigarette on its bark, flicking it into the fire. Taking a seat on the edge of the log, he grabs his walking stick and the gold folding knife from his pocket and starts to whittle away at the wood. He hums the tune of an old folk song into the cold night air as your vision drifts away.\ [[You leave him to his thoughts.|01/02/01]]\ <<unset $tone>>\ <<set $manifest to false>>\ /* Start Scene 2 */

<<fadein 1s>>\ <h1>Gothic, Colorado</h1> For some of your kind, it would be impossible to leave one’s tether. Many would only be able to see what he sees and hear what he hears. You can not imagine how stifling this experience would be- to be stuck in a vessel with another being, to be forced to sit in quiet contemplation as they sleep. Luckily, in a past life, you honed the ability to perceive other places.\ As a court Seer, you were gifted the ability to view more than just glimpses of the past and future. When you concentrated, your mind could wander- you could see far off lands, secret meetings, the movements of soldiers. You could close your eyes and see what was happening hundreds of miles away. Nowadays, in your situation, you struggle to view more than about a 30 mile radius- admittedly still impressive.\ Not knowing where you are meant to look, however, is still a problem. Instead, you are forced to do things the old fashioned way- take to the sky and hope you can recognize the shapes from the map.\ [[You observe from above.|01/02/02]] <</fadein>>\

After so many centuries, the exhilaration of observing the world from a bird’s eye view has largely worn off- but in a place like this, the beauty overwhelms even you. The Elk Mountains seem to carry on into infinity, their snow-capped peaks rising high enough to graze the heavens. Where they connect in gentle valleys, the slopes are peppered with douglas firs and stands of aspens. In the dark of night it’s hard to make out the thin dirt roads that criss-cross the landscape, but the distinct webs of structures below make it clear where you’re meant to be looking.\ You can easily make out the orderly streets of Crested Butte despite the darkness. Even now a few stray oil lamps dotting the town appear like tiny, distant stars below you. Up North from there, you follow the East River as it winds through the valley until you can make out the form of another town.\ A few squared off roads, heavily trod by human and horse alike, are dotted with small wooden structures. It’s clear as you draw nearer that this town is cobbled together- the buildings’ walls are all made from local wood with simple peaked roofs of corrugated metal, only decorated by the occasional false front facade. It’s far from the pristine brick and siding buildings of the big city.\ You take a moment to reframe your vision. Now that you know where you’re looking, it’s easy to take in the sights around you.\ [[You look around at the town of Gothic.|01/02/03]] <<set $loreGothic to true>>\ <<notify 3s>>Lore unlocked: GOTHIC, COLORADO<</notify>>\

The town is bathed in moonlight, granting its wooden buildings and the firs that line the nearby slopes a surreal cast. The dirt roads are rugged, the highest peaks a solid two feet above the lowest valleys, dotted with buildings at irregular distances and heights. A few of them appear abandoned, although in their condition it’s hard to tell the difference. A strong breeze passes through the streets, rattling shutters and filling the air with the sound of rustling pine needles.\ You see a man stumbling down the street from what must be a local saloon. Its facade is a bland one- a simple wooden front rising above the roof with the misleading words “TOWN HALL” painted in white on the front. The small windows to either side of the door are lit by lamplight, casting silhouettes of the folks milling about inside.\ Shifting your vision to look down upon the interior, you can see that there are few revelers at this time. One of the tables scattered around the room is surrounded by men in casual dress playing Texas hold ’em, and a couple of men are standing at the bar, engaging in a hushed conversation over bottles of beer. You leave them to their drinking and return to the street.\ [[You notice the most impressive building here.|01/02/04]]

Near the end of this road, one building stands out among the rest. While still a small construction made from the same wood as the rest of the town, each of its walls is graced with tall windows, surely far more expensive than they would be elsewhere. Much longer than it is wide, a set of wooden steps leads up to a modest door in the center of the front wall, which at the moment lies open. Above it is the feature that distinguishes it from the rest of the town- a wooden steeple rises above the roof, its walls open to allow its ringing bell to be heard. A cross fashioned from rusted iron stands proud, casting an elongated shadow in the moonlight.\ Churches have always fascinated you. Ever since you arrived here you’ve been drawn to their presence, at least on an aesthetic basis- as a youth lost in an unfamiliar world, you found comfort in the arcane symbology and the lavish embellishments that so reminded you of home. Where you are from, gold and silver were not merely accents to be worn when one was trying to look their best. It graced every parapet in the cities, filled the streets with brilliant light, and took on far more basal of a meaning than a spiritual one.\ On the road, you’ve seen many buildings like this. Small, ramshackle, not adorned with the expensive gems and marble of the architecture that inspired them. It isn’t nearly as impressive, yet you still find these buildings charming in their own right. Like a hand sewn dress imitating a Worth gown- simple, but sincere in its desire to reach above itself.\ As you observe, a man steps out of the front door. He’s tall and thin, clad in a dark inverness cloak whose short cape accentuates his wide shoulders. A wide flat-brimmed black hat covers most of his face from your perspective, but you can see a glimpse of pale skin and sharp features below it. Judging by the white collar turned backwards under his shirt and his location this late at night, you judge that he must be a priest. In his right hand, he is holding an oil lamp- in his left, an envelope.\ [[You are curious what he is doing at this hour.|01/02/a01]] [[You decide to leave him be.|01/02/b01][$suspicion to 'low']]

You are not one to invade the privacy of others, despite your inherently voyeuristic abilities. It is a matter of respect.\ With nothing left to observe here, you decide to quietly return to your campsite. Like a blink of an eye you refocus your vision back to the dying embers of the fire, the last remnants of smoke rising into the starry night sky. Tobias lies awake in his bedroll staring at the endless mountains just beyond the fir trees. You decide not to disturb him for the night.\ [[You allow yourself to rest.|Chapter2]]

Curiosity gets the better of you, and you find yourself sticking around to watch what this man is up to. He closes the door behind him, glancing around as if suspicious that he is being observed. For a moment, he looks up in the direction from which you are observing- his eyes, a deep green, seem to be entranced by the stars as his lips silently move. After a brief instant, he snaps out of his stupor and descends the steps, setting off down the road.\ The priest’s steps are hurried, his shoulders hunched beneath his cloak. As he walks he makes a sudden turn, disappearing down a well-trod path between two buildings.\ [[You move to get a better view.|01/02/a02]] [[Why are you still watching?|01/02/b01][$suspicion to 'low']]

Past this motley row of buildings is another road, less populated than the first and with a few paths leading off to isolated homes outside of town. As you shift your vision over to get a better view, you see the man emerging from between two wooden constructions, glancing around to check that the road is empty before continuing on.\ His cloak billowing out behind him in the cold mountain air, the man makes a beeline towards a path outside of town. It’s a short walk up a small hill onto an outcrop of stone, where a larger home is perched right on the edge. While it’s not quite on the level of an upscale house in the city, it’s clearly more lavish than many of the other buildings here- a bay window on its left side, almost mimicking a tower, overlooks the town and its windows and doors are decorated with wood-carved filigrees painted white.\ When the priest approaches this building, he stops for a moment to glance around, as if worried he is being observed. He steps up onto the wooden slatted porch, where a number of clay pots with assorted plants are arranged in front of the bay window. He sets down his oil lamp beside them and carefully lifts up a pot containing periwinkle, star-shaped flowers. Sliding the envelope under it, he places it back where it was and rises to his feet.\ [[Strange indeed.|01/02/a03]] <<set $sawEdwin to true>>\

As he steps off the porch, the man’s movements seems to lose their conspiratorial nature. He stands taller than before, his strides confident. Instead of heading back to the church, he sets off towards another building further beyond on the path- a modest, small building, little more than a cabin. Based on his mannerisms as he enters, this appears to be his house.\ As the door closes behind him, you contemplate for a moment. You aren’t quite sure what to make of the encounter.\ [[It could be anything, no way of knowing.|01/02/a04][$suspicion to 'low']] [[Surely it is nothing.|01/02/a04][$suspicion to 'none']] [[The way he was acting, it seems like something strange is afoot.|01/02/a04][$suspicion to 'high']]

<<if $suspicion is 'low'>>\ If there is anything you know as a godlike being with abilities beyond human comprehension, it’s that even you can never really know for sure. Of course, it’s possible that he could be up to something interesting or nefarious, but it’s equally possible he just didn’t want an important document to be blown away by the wind. Right? You are the kind to give people the benefit of the doubt.\ <<elseif $suspicion is 'none'>>\ One thing you have learned over so many years on Earth is that assuming nefarious intent is rarely a good position. You try to always give people the benefit of the doubt. Despite any strange behaviour on the way to do so, there are simply too many valid reasons to leave a letter on a person’s porch for this to not be above board.\ <<else>>\ You are nothing if not fascinated by the everyday strangeness of the world, and this is no exception. What number of reasons could a person have to leave a covert message for another? What could possibly be its contents? The salacious details would no doubt intrigue you. If only you could interact with the physical world and check for yourself, but alas.\ <</if>>\ Nevertheless, with nothing left to observe here, you decide to quietly return to your campsite. Like a blink of an eye you refocus your vision back to the dying embers of the fire, the last remnants of smoke rising into the starry night sky. Tobias lies awake in his bedroll staring at the endless mountains just beyond the fir trees. You decide not to disturb him for the night.\ [[You allow yourself to rest.|Chapter2]]

<<fadein 1s>> <<fadeout 1s 3s>> <div class='chaptertitle'>-- CHAPTER 2 --</div> <</fadeout>>\ <</fadein>>\ <<timed 4.5s>>\ <<goto '02/01/01'>>\ <</timed>>\

The easiest way to travel up the mountain, at least for those without their own horse, is to hitch a ride. As with many such remote towns, there is a mud-wagon that makes the trip several times a day carrying mail. It isn’t cheap by any means, but it’s more affordable than any alternative. Not to mention it is far preferable to attempting to make the journey on foot- although of course Tobias did float the idea. He fancies himself the last true mountain man despite all evidence to the contrary.\ Having lived in this country so long, you remember the golden age of the stagecoach- riding in a lavish car with few other passengers, protected from the elements, on long journeys across the frontier lands. This, on the other hand, you would be hard pressed to call “lavish.” A boxy wooden coach that is clearly showing its age, it is open on both sides with only canvas covers to protect from the elements. Two benches inside face toward each other, allowing quite a few passengers to squeeze into its cramped interior, although Tobias is only joined by one other man on this journey.\ Over time, your abilities tend to ‘bleed’ over to your tether. After a few years they may be able to create illusions of their own, view what is happening behind a locked door, or even glimpse chaotic, fuzzy visions of the past. Like clockwork, regardless of whether they carefully study techniques or never even try, your tethers learn to communicate with you wordlessly after about six months. Tobias is far from reaching that milestone. To speak with you, he must speak out loud. That tends to complicate any conversations you may want to have in public spaces- say, on an hours-long ride in a dusty coach.\ Of course, you are used to this type of situation, and you have ways to pass the time.\ [[You have centuries worth of stories you still haven’t told him!|02/01/02][$tetherRelationship -= 0.01]] [[You can always take in the scenery.|02/01/03]]

With a couple of hours to waste, you decide to tell Tobias about the time you and a previous tether met Al-Khwarizmi at the House of Wisdom in Baghdad. Oh, and that time you and another tether from the 1600s commandeered a British vessel with only a flintlock pistol and a single shot.\ After a couple of only slightly embellished tales, Tobias, who has been whittling away at his walking stick, seems to get a bit exasperated with your rambling. Perhaps you aren’t quite as good at storytelling are you had thought. You decide to give him a bit of space and quiet down for the last few hours, lost in fond memories.\ [[You spend the rest of the trip up to Crested Butte in silence.|02/01/03]]

You focus your energy outside of the coach, leaving Tobias to his whittling. The road you’re travelling on is rocky and precarious, making for a less than comfortable ride- at the very least, however, it’s faster than slogging through mud. The four horses lashed to the front of the coach make good progress over the terrain. For many miles the road snakes along next to a river through dry cracked land, with sparse woodland occasionally taking over the normal desert brush. On one side of you the land rises into large, golden rock faces- on the other, a steep slope is dotted with tall fir trees.\ As elevation steadily climbs, the road becomes less rocky and the terrain seems to spread out to either side of you. The river winds through rolling hills, the mountains out in the distance seeming almost longer than they are tall. You pass the occasional wooden building up here, accompanied by herds of cattle being tended to by men on horseback. Even in this remote, deserted landscape, humans have made their mark.\ As the road takes a turn through the hills, you can finally see the stunning sight you took in from the air the other day. The emerald mountains rise up before you, and soon around you. Their peaks are framed against the blue-gray sky, clouds floating lazily past. Soon, to either side of you is a behemoth of a wall, with even larger mountains looming ahead.\ Finally, after hours on the road, you find yourself in your first stop- the bustling mining town of Crested Butte.\ [[The two of you rest.|02/01/04]]

Despite (or perhaps because of) sitting in place for hours during the trip up the mountain, Tobias seems about as exhausted as the horses. There’s a fifteen minute break between arriving in town and heading back off on the road to Gothic, and he is determined to get a drink before hitting the road again. Given that Crested Butte is on the larger size for a mining town, there are sure to be many saloons to choose from.\ [[You suggest that he buys a bottle and leaves quickly.|02/01/a01][$drinking to true]] [[You insist that he can wait until you reach Gothic.|02/01/b01]]

Though he grumbles a bit, Tobias agrees to wait it out. He leans against the wall of the small post office smoking a cigarette while the coach’s driver tends to the horses and a worker unloads about three quarters of the coach’s cargo.\ After three cigarettes and a lot of further grumbling, the wagon is finally ready to leave again. Absent its second passenger, Tobias climbs back up into the wagon alone, spreading his bags out on the other seat.\ [[Finally on the way to Gothic.|02/01/a02]]

Although Tobias briefly teases you under his breath for being neurotic about the time, he agrees that it would be a good idea to get something for the road. While the coach’s driver tends to the horses and a postal worker unloads about three quarters of the coach’s cargo, he makes a beeline for the closest saloon on the street.\ Given that you’ve arrived while the sun is high in the sky, this saloon is open but not well attended- the only patrons are a few men in nice suits sitting around a table smoking over wine. They give Tobias’s scruffy appearance a bit of a look before returning to their important-sounding conversation.\ After spending a mercifully small amount of his current savings on a bottle of beer, he heads back out just in time to start the last leg of the journey, this time alone in the wagon.\ [[Finally on the way to Gothic.|02/01/a02]]

The distance between Crested Butte and Gothic is short, only one more hour. In the relative privacy of the now-empty coach, <<if $drinking is true>>and now with a bit of alcohol in his system, <</if>>Tobias is a bit more comfortable chatting.\ He tells you about his home back in West Virginia- about his younger sister and her fiery attitude, about his father’s fondness for the bottle. Most of all, he talks about the coal mines.\ “I got a job up there for a couple months in ’92, and lemme tell you, $name, it was hell.” <<if $drinking is true>>He takes another long swig of his beer,<<else>>He flicks the butt of his cigarette out of the wagon’s open side,<</if>> leaning back and propping his feet up on the seat across from him. “Long hours, barely any time off working. They pay you in ’cash’ you can only spend at the damn company’s stores. Coulda sworn this country was supposed to be a democracy, huh? Doesn’t sound like a democracy to me.”\ After announcing this, he leans over to his left as if to get closer to your percieved location. You aren’t sure when he’ll get used to the idea that you aren’t physically next to him. “You know what the worst part is, though?”\ “What is the worst part,” you ask, humouring him.\ “It’s the damn depths. I tell you, man ain’t meant to be down that deep in the Earth. The walls are always just a foot or maybe two off, and you can rarely stand up straight.” A grim expression crosses the man’s normally jovial face. “And you think you’ve seen darkness before- well, when the light snuffs out down in them tunnels, you realize you were dead wrong. Ain’t nothing up here can compare to the blackness down in the mines. It swallows you. Makes you think you’ve never seen light before.”\ [[“I know what you mean.”|02/01/a03][$tone to 'sympathetic']] [[“That sounds pretty bad.”|02/01/a03]]

<<if $tone is 'sympathetic'>>\ You worked in the mines in your home village as a youth, and you know well what he’s talking about. It’s something beyond claustrophobia, something a bit more sinister. Like the miles of rock above you knows that you’re here, and it’s plotting how to get you out.\ <<else>>\ You worked in the mines yourself as a youth, so you can sympathise a bit with the claustrophobia- although you aren’t quite sure about the rest of it. He’s got a poetic way of seeing the world for sure.\ <</if>>\ Almost as if he hadn’t brought the mood down at all, Tobias brightens back up in an instant. “So I definitely ain't looking to get a job in the mines. Maybe it ain’t the same out here in gold country, but it’s really not my cup of tea.”\ He continues to talk about nothing in particular, although you aren’t paying much attention. You’re too enraptured by the landscape passing by.\ [[You wait out the rest of the ride.|02/01/a04]]

Finally, after the five hour journey, the horses bring you over a rickety wooden bridge and into the town of Gothic. Nestled between a gentle, tree-dotted rise to the North-East and the sheer rock face of Gothic Mountain to the West, the town is incredibly picturesque. A couple hundred buildings are lined up on orderly streets here, with more dotted across the valley on poorly-defined paths. The streets at this time, now late afternoon on a Saturday, are bustling. A gruff-looking man on horseback in a sack coat is positioned outside of a general store, having a heated conversation with an older man as customers push past into the store. A few ladies in walking-length skirts and printed cotton blouses with modestly padded sleeves walk past, idly chatting.\ The driver brings the horses to a stop outside a small building, the local post office. A worker steps out to help unload the cargo as Tobias climbs out of the wagon with a bounce in his step. He tips his hat politely to the driver and turns to face the mountain that towers over you. “Gosh. It’s beautiful.” You’re not sure if he’s talking to you or himself.\ [[“So what is the plan now?”|02/01/a05]] <<unset $tone>>\

You wait for him to step off to the side of the road, far enough away from anyone else to speak to you in peace. <<if $drinking is true>>“I reckon I’ll stop in a general store or two and see if I can’t restock a couple supplies. While I’m at it, I’ll be sure to ask about anybody looking for lodgers.”<<else>>“I reckon I’ll drop by one of the local saloons, ask around if there’s anybody looking for lodgers.”<</if>>\ <<if $drinking isnot true>>\ “Is it not a little bit early to be drinking?”\ He purses his lips “Perhaps. Or perhaps I’ve been on the road for weeks and I want a damn drink. Considered that?”\ [[“I am sure you can wait a little bit longer.”|02/01/a06]] [[“Fair enough. Treat yourself.”|02/02/01]] <<else>>\ “That sounds like a decent enough plan.”\ He fidgets with his hat a moment, looking a bit nervous. “God, I hope somebody out here has a room for rent.”\ [[“I am sure you have nothing to worry about.”|02/03/01]] <</if>>

Tobias frowns. “Why do you always have to be the voice of reason, $name? Can’t we ever just get drunk at mid-day like irresponsible youths?”\ “You will get a lot more done if you do not get drunk,” you argue. “This is just a reminder- you do not have a place to sleep tonight. Nor much food left.” In addition, although you’re loathe to point this out, you aren’t exactly capable of getting intoxicated. It isn’t particularly fun being sober while the only person you can talk to is blackout drunk.\ “You sound like my mother,” he snorts. “Fine, yeah, I can wait. I guess it’ll be easier to find a place to stay if the people who own homes are actually, you know... at the saloon.”\ “Perhaps you can find a general store and restock a bit? I am sure they will be in the know if any locals have places to stay.”\ He nods and purses his lips. “God, I hope they do.”\ [[“I am sure you have nothing to worry about.”|02/03/01]] /* Start scene 2 */

<<fadein 1s>>\ <h1>The Town Hall</h1> After a bit of direction from you, Tobias steps through the front doors of one of the local saloons- one with the title of “Town Hall” confusingly emblazoned on its front facade. Inside, it isn’t quite well-attended, given that it’s still late afternoon. A middle aged man with a handlebar mustache wearing a somewhat out-of-date frock coat is standing behind the bar, his eyes glazed over with seeming boredom. The only patrons here are a gruff older man sitting at a table in the corner and a group of five men wearing nicer looking attire sipping whiskey around a wooden table. Their discussion seens to be serious in nature as a few of them are poring over a series of documents laid across the table.\ Tobias approaches the bar, tipping his hat in a gesture of greeting to the unimpressed fellow. “Sir, with all due respect, this appears to be an honest-to-god saloon,” he remarks.\ “Indeed.” The man’s uninterested gaze doesn’t waver.\ Gesturing behind him, Tobias continues, “So what exactly is the purpose of that sign? It seems a bit misleading to me.”\ It takes a moment for the question to register before the man seems to get the idea. “Oh. Yes.” He nods to the other men in the room, still engaged in their serious conversation. “The local bigwigs- you know, developers, mine owners, the like- have been holding meetings here since the camp was started. Bit of a tradition.”\ “Ah... fascinating. I’ll take a glass of your cheapest whiskey, by the way.”\ [[He asks the man about lodging.|02/02/a01]] [[He asks the man about jobs.|02/02/b01]] [[He asks the man about the town.|02/02/c01]] <</fadein>>

The bartender gives him a knowing look and pours out a glass of golden liquid. After paying, Tobias grabs it with a smile and gulps down some of the bitter drink. A grimace crosses his face. While you can’t taste it, you get the feeling that alcohol out here in the mountains isn’t the highest quality.\ Tobias leans forward, muttering to the bartender, “A lot of people come through here, huh? Would you happen to know of anybody looking for boarders?”\ He takes a beat, a bit of unease in his eye. “Well, this is a tad grim, but a few local miners passed away recently. Can’t say for sure who, but somebody around here has an empty room for sure.”\ “You’re right, that is... quite grim,” Tobias affirms. “What a tragic turn of events.”\ “Well,” the bartender responds, “it’s unfortunate, but it’s just a fact of life. Happens every couple months around here. Of course, they know what they’re getting into when they sign up.”\ You know Tobias well enough to know how he’d feel about this line of logic. He scowls, grabbing his glass and downing the rest of his whiskey. “Don’t get too used to tragedy, it ain’t healthy.”\ [[He asks the man about jobs.|02/02/b02]] [[He asks the man about the town.|02/02/c02]]

The bartender gives him a knowing look and pours out a glass of golden liquid. After paying, Tobias grabs the glass and gulps down some of the bitter drink. A grimace crosses his face. While you can’t taste it, you get the feeling that alcohol out here in the mountains isn’t the highest quality.\ Tobias leans forward, muttering to the bartender, “I’m not exactly in the best place in terms of finance, if you get what I’m saying. Know of anybody looking for a couple stiffs for hire?”\ The bartender shrugs at the question. “You’re in a mining camp, fellow. The silver mines are always looking for fresh meat.”\ “Something that isn’t mining,” Tobias clarifies. “You know, physical labour... above ground.”\ “Well,” the bartender responds, “if you’re lucky you might be able to find some folks looking for quick labour. If I recall correctly, the local church is in need of some fixing up. Not much else goes on around here apart from the mines. And lord knows those aren’t going to last much longer, what with the silver market.”\ Tobias frowns before grabbing his glass and downing the rest of his whiskey. “Guess I’ll just have to get lucky, then.”\ [[He asks the man about lodging.|02/02/a02]] [[He asks the man about the town.|02/02/c02]] <<set $gig to 'church'>>\

The bartender gives him a knowing look and pours out a glass of golden liquid. After paying, Tobias grabs the glass and gulps down some of the bitter drink. A grimace crosses his face. While you can’t taste it, you get the feeling that alcohol out here in the mountains isn’t the highest quality.\ Tobias leans forward and asks the bartender, “So, pal, have you lived here long? What’s the story with this town?\ The bartender shrugs at this question. “I imagine it’s quite the same as every other mining camp in the Rockies. Folks found some placers up here, prospectors set up shop, and everybody and his mother started making claims.”\ “Pretty recent, right?” Tobias wonders. “Having been out to Breckenridge and the like, can’t imagine this place dates back too many decades.”\ “Well,” the bartender responds, “I came here around the early 80s. Let me tell you, this was a far better town to run a saloon in back then. And there was far more competition.”\ Tobias shakes his head. “On its last legs, I guess. Hard to swallow for a place as beautiful as this.”\ [[He asks the man about lodging.|02/02/a02]] [[He asks the man about jobs.|02/02/b02]]

“You seem like you have your finger on the pulse around here,” Tobias remarks. “Happen to know of anybody looking for boarders?”\ The bartender takes a beat, seeming to think about the question for a moment. “Not that I’m aware of, though a couple miners were killed in an accident recently. So there’s probably a few rooms available.”\ Tobias frowns. “Mining accident? What a tragedy.”\ “Well,” the man reasons, “they know what they’re getting themselves into. Happens every few months around here.”\ You’re pretty sure you know what Tobias would think of this line of logic. A bit of annoyance in his eyes, but clearly attempting to keep his composure, he turns around and leans back against the bar and lets out a long sigh.\ <<if $gig is 'church'>>\ “Well, guess I oughta stick around ’till more folks show up,” he mutters to himself. “Would be nice to find a place to stay tonight.”\ [[You concur.|02/04/01a]] <<else>>\ “Apart from the mines, know of anybody looking for working stiffs?”\ The bartender shrugs. “If you’re lucky you might be able to find some folks looking for quick labour. If I recall correctly, the local church is in need of some fixing up. Not much else goes on around here apart from the mines. And lord knows those aren’t going to last much longer, what with the silver market.”\ Tobias nods along, releasing a long sigh. “Well, guess I oughta stick around ’till more folks show up. Would be nice to find a place to stay tonight.”\ [[You concur.|02/04/01a]] <<set $gig to 'church'>>\ <</if>>\

“So,” Tobias proposes, “if a person were hypothetically down on their luck around here, what kind of work would you reccomend them for?”\ The bartender chuckles at the question. “Pal, you’re in a mining camp. The silver mines are always looking for fresh meat.”\ Tobias furrows his brow, a frown crossing his face. “Something that isn’t underground. You know, physical labour. On the surface.”\ “Well, you might be able to find somebody looking for quick work, but if you ain’t willing to work in the mines you’re really cutting your options by a lot.”\ Tobias grimaces and turns away, leaning back against the bar. “Well, guess I oughta stick around ’till more folks show up. Would be nice to find a place to stay tonight.”\ [[You concur.|02/04/01a]]

“This place is clearly a bit run down,” Tobias remarks. “The town, I mean, not your... lovely establishment. What’s the story?”\ The bartender seems unimpressed, but gives him a nonchalant answer regardless. “I imagine it’s quite the same as every other mining camp in the Rockies. Folks found some placers up here, prospectors set up shop, and everybody and his mother started making claims.”\ Tobias pushed his glass back across the bar. “Gold?”\ “On a lucky day,” the man chuckles. “Mostly wire silver up here. Let me tell you, when they strike gold, the bigwigs are all up here drinking for hours. Means they can actually afford it.”\ Tobias turns around, leaning back against the bar. \ <<if $gig is 'church'>>\ “Well, guess I oughta stick around ’till more folks show up. Would be nice to find a place to stay tonight.”\ [[You concur.|02/04/01a]] <<else>>\ “Apart from the mines, know of anybody looking for working stiffS?”\ The bartender shrugs. “If you’re lucky you might be able to find some folks looking for quick labour. If I recall correctly, the local church is in need of some fixing up. Not much else goes on around here apart from the mines. And lord knows those aren’t going to last much longer, what with the silver market.”\ Tobias nods along, releasing a long sigh. “Well, guess I oughta stick around ’till more folks show up. Would be nice to find a place to stay tonight.”\ [[You concur.|02/04/01a]] <<set $gig to 'church'>>\ <</if>>\ /* Start scene 3 */

<<fadein 1s>>\ <h1>Coleman & Sons General Store</h1> It’s easy to identify which building is the local mercantile- not just the painted sign over the front facade advertising “provisions,” “dry goods,” and “notions,” but by the number of people inside and milling about outside. Folks of all description are speaking about the week’s happenings or looking at the various modest displays.\ As Tobias steps inside, a bell over the door rings to alert the grocer to his presence- not that the man standing behind the counter seems to notice. He’s engaged in conversation with a woman in a navy walking suit. Her hand is holding onto her daughter’s arm, who appears none too happy about being brought on this shopping trip.\ While your companion approaches the counter ready to restock his provisions, you spot a notice board by the door. Pieces of paper of all sorts are tacked to the wooden board, everything from handwritten notes to official-looking documents. If anybody is looking for boarders or workers they would surely be advertising it here.\ [[You split off to check the notice board.|02/03/a01][$tone to 'stayed']] [[You stick with Tobias.|02/03/b01]] <</fadein>>\ <<set $seenAda to true>>\

<<if $tone is 'stayed'>>\ You let Tobias know that you’re going to check the board while he does his shopping, and he nods as imperceptibly as he can manage. As he walks over to the counter you can hear him strike up a pleasant conversation with the grocer and the woman, although your focus remains on this notice board.\ <<else>>\ It takes painfully long for Tobias to finish his purchase of a meager amount of supplies, not helped by his habit of making lengthy conversation with every vendor he encounters. You’re sure if he spent all of that time working you wouldn’t need to worry about money so much. Then again, it's something you’ve grown to appreciate about him- constantly sharing his enthusiasm with the folks around him, never sulking even when times are tight. In the meantime, while he chats with the grocer, you figure it wouldn’t hurt to take a glance at that notice board.\ <</if>>\ A few folks are gathered around the board already to read the latest news. Nicely typed pieces of correspondence notifying the public about elections or the closure of local mines and shoddy advertisements for local businesses make up the majority of the papers here. A few, however, are personal ads- handwritten requests for whatever services need doing or events need attending.\ [[You read the first ad.|02/03/aa01]] [[You read the second ad.|02/03/ab01]] [[You read the third ad.|02/03/ac01]]

This piece of paper is slightly more decorated than the others, featuring a few stamped patterns around the border akin to the ads for local establishments. In big, poorly written block letters it reads “Sherman Dance Hall looking for musical talent.” Below, you can glean some of the details from the scratchy scrawl of the ad. They are looking for people who are talented with an instrument to provide entertainment for their guests- part of the agreement is room and board.\ <<if $job is 'musician'>>\ What luck- this seems right up Tobias’s alley. Of course, you can always check the other ads in case he would prefer something else.\ <<set $seenAd1 to true>>\ <<else>>\ If only Tobias was a musician, this would be a great option. Unfortunately, it isn’t on the table. You can still check the other ads, however.\ <</if>>\ [[You read the second ad.|02/03/ab01]] [[You read the third ad.|02/03/ac01]] <<if $seenAd1 is true or $seenAd2 is true>>\ [[Let Tobias know about the options.|02/03/aa02]] <</if>>\

A piece of paper that looks quite new is tacked over other advertisements. In neat handwriting it reads, “Ascension Episcopal Church in need of handy-man for extensive repairs and ongoing maintenance. Room available if needed. Speak to Rev. E. Harris for details.”\ You assume this must be the church near the end of the main row. <<if $suspicion is 'high'>>You suspect that this Harris fellow may be up to no good, but who are you to turn down accommodations?<<else>>This sounds like a perfect opportunity for Tobias. You aren’t sure if he’s a religious man, but you know he is partial to physical labour.<</if>>\ <<set $seenAd2 to true>>\ [[You read the first ad.|02/03/aa01]] [[You read the third ad.|02/03/ac01]] <<if $seenAd1 is true or $seenAd2 is true>>\ [[Let Tobias know about the options.|02/03/aa02]] <</if>>\

One of the typed notices catches your eye for an addition made in thick handwritten ink below the normal text. While the normal notice appears to be a standard appeal for staff in a local mine, under it the words “Fit young men needed urgently for hard-rock mining, experienced men encouraged to contact Mr. J. E. Lovett.”\ You know how Tobias feels about mining, but if this is his only option you still would urge him to take it. Still, you had best consider other options first.\ [[You read the first ad.|02/03/aa01]] [[You read the second ad.|02/03/ab01]] <<if $seenAd1 is true or $seenAd2 is true>>\ [[Let Tobias know about the options.|02/03/aa02]] <</if>>\

<<if $tone is 'stayed'>>\ Tobias, it appears, has been chatting with the grocer and the lady who was standing at the counter while you were checking the notices. He has a paper bag in one hand and tips his hat to the grocer with his other, turning back to make his leave.\ <<else>>\ By the time you finish reading the notices, you glance over to see Tobias tip his hat to the grocer and turn away. He has a paper bag in his hand with the supplies he’s purchased.\ <</if>>\ <<if $seenAd1 is true and $seenAd2 is true>>\ As he walks towards the door you remark, “We are in luck. I found a couple of good opportunities for you.” He nods slightly as he steps out, seemingly encouraging you to elaborate.\ “Well,” you continue, “there is a local dance hall looking for a musician to play. Although the establishments in the area might be a bit less reputable, I believe you would still fit in well there.”\ Having stepped just out of earshot around the corner of the building, Tobias chuckles. “You callin’ me shady? Well, I guess you ain’t wrong.” He grabs the last cigarette from the pack in his pocket and lights it with a match. “Anything else?”\ “There is a local church looking for assistance with building repairs. Although I am unsure how long term this arrangement would be, you would be more than capable.”\ After taking a puff off his cigarette, Tobias nods. “If there’s anything I’m good at, it’s hitting things with a hammer.”\ <<elseif $seenAd1 is true and $seenAd2 isnot true>>\ As he walks towards the door you remark, “We are in luck. I found a good opportunity for you.” He nods slightly as he steps out, seemingly encouraging you to elaborate.\ “Well,” you continue, “there is a local dance hall looking for a musician to play. Although the establishments in the area might be a bit less reputable, I believe you would still fit in well there.”\ Having stepped just out of earshot around the corner of the building, Tobias chuckles. “You callin’ me shady? Well, I guess you ain’t wrong.” He grabs the last cigarette from the pack in his pocket and lights it with a match.\ <<elseif $seenAd2 is true and $seenAd1 isnot true>>\ As he walks towards the door you remark, “We are in luck. I found a good opportunity for you.” He nods slightly as he steps out, seemingly encouraging you to elaborate.\ “There is a local church looking for assistance with building repairs. Although I am unsure how long term this arrangement would be, you would be more than capable.”\ After stepping just out of earshot around the corner of the building, Tobias chuckles. “If there’s anything I’m good at, it’s hitting things with a hammer.” He grabs the last cigarette from the pack in his pocket and lights it with a match.\ <</if>>\ [[He takes a beat, considering what you’ve told him.|02/03/aa03]]

<<if $seenAd1 is true and $seenAd2 is true>>\ <<set _decision to random(1)>>\ <<if _decision is 0>>\ Tobias mutters, “I think this dance hall thing sounds like a good idea.” He gestures with his head to the guitar on his back. “Shady or not, if I get to use this I’ll be in luck.”\ [[You agree, it sounds like a good option.|02/03/aab01][$tone to 'agree']] [[You’re not so sure, but it’s his choice.|02/03/aab01][$tone to 'disagree']] <<set $gig to 'dance hall'>>\ <<elseif _decision is 1>>\ Tobias shakes his head. “Look, I love my craft, but I’m also a decent man. I ain’t too keen on working for a sketchy place in a town like this.” He takes a drag off his cigarette before gesturing with it to an imaginary person in front of him. “Now, a church on the other hand. Exact opposite of shady.”\ [[You agree, it seems like it will lead to less trouble.|02/03/aaa01][$tone to 'agree']] [[You’ve worked with shady people plenty in the past, but it’s his choice.|02/03/aaa01][$tone to 'disagree']] <<if $suspicion is 'high'>>\ [[You aren’t so sure about it being less shady, but it’s his choice.|02/03/aaa01][$tone to 'suspicious']] <</if>>\ <<set $gig to 'church'>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif $seenAd1 is true>>\ Tobias mutters, “I think this dance hall thing sounds like a good idea.” He gestures with his head to the guitar on his back. “Shady or not, if I get to use this I’ll be in luck.”\ You’ve worked with plenty of shady people in the past- hell, you’ve shared a life with a whole lot of shady people. If this is the best job he can get, more power to him.\ [[This is clearly a good turn of events.|02/03/aab01][$tone to 'agree']] [[It may not be your first choice, but it is the only choice.|02/03/aaa01][$tone to 'disagree']] <<set $gig to 'dance hall'>>\ <<elseif $seenAd2 is true>>\ Tobias mutters, “I wouldn’t consider myself a godly man, but if there’s a building in need of fixing and a room for me to sleep in I’m more than willing to start.”\ <<if $suspicion is 'high'>>\ While you are still hesitant about whatever might be going on surrounding that church, you know this is probably the best option for him.\ <<else>>\ Given your personal inclinations, this sounds like a perfect opportunity. He gets a job and a room, and you get to spend a while hanging out around that lovely little church.\ <</if>>\ [[This is clearly a good turn of events.|02/03/aaa01][$tone to 'agree']] [[It may not be your first choice, but it is the only choice.|02/03/aaa01][$tone to 'disagree']] <<set $gig to 'church'>>\ <</if>>\

<<if $tone is 'agree'>>\ “I can not imagine a better opportunity for you,” you tell him. “It is still difficult to make money as a musician, correct? It has been a long time since I last tethered with one.”\ Tobias laughs, taking a drag off his cigarette. “Yeah, it’s still pretty damn hard. This should be good for me.”\ <<else>>\ “If that is your choice, I suppose I can live with it.”\ <</if>>\ You wait for a moment. “So... should we head over there right now?”\ He stubs out his cigarette on the side of the building and flicks it into the dry ground at his feet. “Not sure if they’d even be open right now. And if they are, well... I’d rather get a drink first and head over there later.” Fair enough. Leaning down to grab his bag and slinging it over his shoulder, he sets off to find a place to get some refreshments.\ [[You stay with him, as always.|02/04/01b]]

<<if $tone is 'agree'>>\ “This sounds like a wonderful opportunity,” you enthuse. “You know me. I am partial to religious institutions.”\ <<elseif $tone is 'disagree'>>\ “If that is your choice, I suppose I can live with it.”\ <<elseif $tone is 'suspicious'>>\ “Ultimately, it is your decision,” you tell him, “although I can’t help being slightly unsure about this place.”\ <</if>>\ Tobias takes a drag off his cigarette and furrows his brow. “Y’know, I never thought about it like this- does you being here mean God ain’t real? Or... does it mean he definitely is?”\ “I do not believe my existence says much about any religion,” you mutter. “My people had a very different kind of belief.”\ He stubs out his cigarette on the side of the building and flicks it into the dry ground at his feet. “On second thought, let’s leave the religious talk to church. I think it’s high time I get some whiskey in my system.” Fair enough. Leaning down to grab his bag and slinging it over his shoulder, he sets off to find a place to get some refreshments.\ [[You stay with him, as always.|02/04/01b]]

You can tell Tobias to check out that board later. For now, you decide to stick around with your companion.\ The older man tending the counter, whom you assume to be the elder Coleman due to his advanced balding, is counting out the woman’s coins and nodding along as she speaks. “I just can not believe he would go in to work today of all days,” she tells him, indignant. The girl at her side tugs on her skirt, which she ignores as she continues her indignant conversation. “Tell me, am I being unreasonable?” The man murmurs his distracted approval of her point of view before letting her know she miscounted her change by a dime. “Oh my, just a moment,” she responds, digging about in her coin purse in search of the right denomination.\ As Tobias approaches, he reaches into the pocket of his trousers and produces a coin, sliding it over to the man. “Don’t worry about it, ma’am,” he announces to her as he lifts his hat in polite greeting.\ The woman turns towards him, and for the first time you get a good look at her. It’s quite clear that she’s ill. Her face hovers between thin and gaunt, with high cheekbones and blue eyes ringed by dark circles. The smooth colour of her ashen skin is only interrupted by a flush and freckles scattered across her nose and upper cheeks. You’ve seen enough people with phthisis- or consumption, as you believe they call it nowadays- to guess at her affliction. Still, she has an almost ethereal beauty about her. “That won’t be necessary, sir,” she assures him, “I’ve plenty to afford it.”\ “No bother whatsoever,” he insists. She gives him a warm smile as the grocer sorts the coins out into the cash register.\ [[What a gentleman.|02/03/b02]] [[He does this literally every time he sees a pretty girl.|02/03/b02]]

At her side, the woman’s daughter kicks the counter with the hard tip of her buckled shoe, a grumpy look on her face. Judging by her height and the fact that her curly, mousy brown hair is left mostly unstyled around her shoulders, you can assume she’s around 9 or 10. Not quite old enough for a lady's dress, but old enough for a frilly fascimile of one- a powder blue gingham dress that ends with sleeves of a size that wouldn’t look out of place on an adult but look almost comical on a child, and a large sailor collar fringed with white lace. Paired with the sour expression on her face, the prim and proper dress looks particularly silly.\ “Mama,” she groans, continuing her idle kicking of the wood counter, “I wanna go to the creek... if I don’t hurry Ollie’s gonna have to go to supper.”\ With her daughter bothering her, the woman sighs. “Lottie, stop that,” she instructs. The girl plants her feet squarely on the ground, although she continues to glower at her mother. The woman continues to admonish her, “I told you that you couldn’t go play down there anymore. You’re going to ruin your dress again. <<if $job is 'writer'>>You can go home and play with your dolls<<else>>Besides, you have your needlework to finish<</if>>.”\ Lottie mutters, “<<if $job is 'writer'>>I’m too old to play with dolls<<else>>I don’t feel like sewing<</if>>,” and continues to stew in her annoyance as her mother is busy packing her groceries into a paper bag.\ [[Poor kid.|02/03/b03]]

Tobias crouches down to be more on her level and gives her a friendly smile. “<<if $job is 'writer'>>Y’know, I don’t think you’re ever too old to play with dolls. Plenty of adults keep playing with dolls their whole life, and then they publish their stories and get a whole lotta money.<<else>>Y’know, it might seem all boring now, but there are plenty of ladies out there who get real famous from making dresses.<</if>>”\ “<<if $job is 'writer'>>That’s not the same thing,<<else>>I don’t care about famousness,<</if>>” she tells him, “<<if $job is 'writer'>>and I don’t care about making a bunch of money. <</if>>I just wanna go play in the creek.”\ He chuckles, getting up from his crouched position as the woman gets her bags ready to leave. “You’ve got a regular Huckleberry Finn right here,” he jokes to her mother.\ The woman smiles, putting her hand on her daughter's shoulder to guide her towards the door. “Well I’d prefer she act like a bit more of an Elinor Dashwood.” As she goes to walk past, she pauses and turns to give him a polite wave. “Hope you have a nice evening, sir.”\ The two take their leave, and Tobias approaches the counter to speak with the grocer.\ [[You leave him to it.|02/03/a01]] /* Start scene 4 */

After ordering another drink, Tobias goes to retreat to an empty table. As he turns around, you both notice the man sitting alone in the corner of the establishment beckoning you over. Curious, Tobias steps around a few tables and approaches the man. He has a long and unkempt beard and is clad in fringed buckskins with a roughly crafted leather hat atop his head. He looks like a man out of time, from an era before men chained the mountains to their will. To add to his peculiar aesthetic, on the rickety table before him is a chess board, with a game against himself seemingly already in progress. At a glance, it looks like white is nearly in check.\ As Tobias approaches, the man gives him a smile that’s barely perceptible under his facial hair. “You look like an intelligent young man,” he says, “care for a quick game?”\ Your companion chuckles as he takes a seat across from the older man, letting the bag slung over his shoulder fall next to him. “Ain’t a very typical game for gambling.” As he rests his arm on the table its unstable construction causes it to wobble and a few pieces, including the black king, topple over and roll across the board.\ “Now, who said anything about gambling?” The man grabs the king with two worn fingers and places it gently back in its position. “Can’t find too many folks willing to play a good game of chess out here. Wouldn’t want to scare one off by takin’ his change.” He gives Tobias a wide smile and a wink, revealing several gold fillings.\ [[Tobias starts putting the white pieces back in position.|02/04/02]]

<<fadein 1s>>\ After a short stroll down the main drag, Tobias walks through the open door of the confusingly named “Town Hall” saloon and enters a rowdy scene. Several tables are filled by miners gambling their wages away, with just as many leaning against the bar and chatting over bottles of alcohol. A lone man far too old to be working in the mines sits at a rickety table in the corner, far from the other revelers.\ Tobias approaches the bar, coming up between two groups of men sharing a rowdy conversation. They’re all clad in clothes stained and ragged from the long hours working underground, their sparse facial hair betraying their youth. As one of them notices Tobias he nudges his buddy next to him, who grabs a hat off the countertop and starts passing it down the line.\ The man next to your companion holds out the ratty old felt hat expectantly to Tobias, announcing in a thick Southern accent, “For the widows!” Sure enough a meager amount of coins have been collected in its recess.\ By this point, the men on either side of Tobias have taken notice. He takes a beat before responding and the other man beside him interjects, “Didn’t you hear?”\ Before Tobias even has the chance to respond, the first man starts explaining, “There was another accident down at the Virginia mine- not my shift, thank the Lord.” The other men chime in with a few amens. “Something to do with the hoist. Whole skip fell, with the boys in it.”\ “That’s a damn shame,” he mutters, a grave look on his face.\ [[Tobias donates a bit of his change.|02/04/a01b][$communityRelationship += 0.1]] [[As sad as it is, you don’t have the money to spare.|02/04/b01b][$communityRelationship -= 0.1]] <</fadein>>\ <<unset $tone>>\ <<unset $seenAd1>>\ <<unset $seenAd2>>\

Tobias scrounges a couple cents from his pocket and tosses it in with their collection. It’s a meager sum in total, barely enough for a few days of food. You can only imagine this reflects their wages quite well.\ After a round of thanks the miners, content that they’ve gotten their dues, seem to lose interest in the stranger. As they all return to their original conversations, Tobias hails to the bartender with a wave. He’s a middle aged man with a handlebar mustache and a somewhat out-of-style frock coat, which looks quite stuffy among the more casual attire of his patrons. Tobias tips his hat to the man and announces, “I’ll take a glass of your cheapest whiskey.”\ The bartender gives him a knowing look and pours out a glass of golden liquid. Tobias grabs it and turns away from the bar, looking to leave the raucous bar for the relative calm of one of the rickety tables. To your surprise, you both notice the man sitting alone in the corner of the establishment beckoning you over. Curious, Tobias steps around a few tables and approaches him.\ The man has a long and unkempt beard and is clad in fringed buckskins with a roughly crafted leather hat atop his head. He looks like a man out of time, from an era before men chained the mountains to their will. To add to his peculiar aesthetic, on the rickety table before him is a chess board, with a game against himself seemingly already in progress. At a glance, it looks like white is nearly in check.\ As Tobias approaches, the man gives him a smile that’s barely perceptible under his facial hair. “You look like an intelligent young man,” he says, “care for a quick game?”\ Your companion chuckles as he takes a seat across from the older man, letting the bag slung over his shoulder fall next to him. “Ain’t a very typical game for gambling.” As he rests his arm on the table its unstable construction causes it to wobble causing a few pieces, including black king, to topple over and roll across the board.\ “Now, who said anything about gambling?” The man grabs the king with two worn fingers and places it gently back in its position. “Can’t find too many folks willing to play a good game of chess out here. Wouldn’t want to scare one off by takin’ his change.” He gives Tobias a wide smile and a wink, revealing several gold fillings.\ [[Tobias starts putting the white pieces back in position.|02/04/02]]

Tobias shakes his head. “Sorry, I’m low enough on cash as is. Need to keep ahold of what I do get.”\ The man he was talking to gives him a dour look, clearly offended by his unwillingness to contribute. “As if the rest of us ain’t,” he mutters. After a moment of silence the miners all get back to their conversations as if Tobias had never arrived.\ With the townsfolk sufficiently annoyed at him, Tobias hails to bartender with a wave. He’s a middle aged man with a handlebar mustache and a somewhat out-of-style frock coat, which looks quite stuffy among the more casual attire of his patrons. Tobias tips his hat to the man and announces, “I’ll take a glass of your cheapest whiskey.”\ The bartender gives him a knowing look and pours out a glass of golden liquid. Tobias grabs it and turns away from the bar, looking to leave the raucous bar for the relative calm of one of the rickety tables. To your surprise, you both notice the man sitting alone in the corner of the establishment beckoning you over. Curious, Tobias steps around a few tables and approaches him.\ The man has a long and unkempt beard and is clad in fringed buckskins with a roughly crafted leather hat atop his head. He looks like a man out of time, from an era before men chained the mountains to their will. To add to his peculiar aesthetic, on the rickety table before him is a chess board, with a game against himself seemingly already in progress. At a glance, it looks like white is nearly in check.\ As Tobias approaches, the man gives him a smile that’s barely perceptible under his facial hair. “You look like an intelligent young man,” he says, “care for a quick game?”\ Your companion chuckles as he takes a seat across from the older man, letting the bag slung over his shoulder fall next to him. “Ain’t a very typical game for gambling.” As he rests his arm on the table its unstable construction causes it to wobble causing a few pieces, including black king, to topple over and roll across the board.\ “Now, who said anything about gambling?” The man grabs the king with two worn fingers and places it gently back in its position. “Can’t find too many folks willing to play a good game of chess out here. Wouldn’t want to scare one off by takin’ his change.” He gives Tobias a wide smile and a wink, revealing several gold fillings.\ [[Tobias starts putting the white pieces back in position.|02/04/02]]

Despite his unrefined appearance, the man’s fingers are nimble and quick, moving all his pieces to their places in seconds while giving them barely a glance. As Tobias does the same at a slower pace, the man leans back in his chair and remarks, “I didn’t catch your name, kid.”\ “It’s Tobias,” he responds. His side of the board is finally set up as well and he takes a sip of his whiskey, meeting the older man’s gaze. “And you?”\ “The name’s Eugene,” the man tell him, holding out his hand to shake over the board. Despite the somewhat awkward positioning Tobias accepts his hearty handshake. “Your turn, kid.”\ Tobias barely hesitates a second before moving the king’s pawn out two spaces. A solid first move, if an uninteresting one. You figure he’s trying to set up the king’s gambit- however, Eugene doesn’t play along. Just as quickly he moves the queen bishop’s pawn out one space, leaning back to await the younger man’s next move.\ [[You’ve played enough chess to tell that he knows what he’s doing.|02/04/03]]

Just under a century ago you lived in Britain, tethered with a young man named August Wyndham. He was a master in his own right, although at the time no such formal titles existed. He would spend hours sitting in the window nook in his cramped, book-filled apartment, and you would dictate your moves to him as you played. You rarely won, but whenever he played a tense match against the masters at the local chess clubs, you took note of their body language. There were many cocky smiles, and each time they made a move their confidence was visible in the relaxed yet poised way they held themselves. This Eugene man clearly fit the bill- he oozed a sort of playful confidence, his smile seeming to say, “I don’t need to take this seriously to win.”\ The two start moving their pawns into the center, each move quick but calculated, at least for a casual game. After a couple of turns the man takes advantage of his pawns’ positions and moves his queen’s bishop out into the center, a potential threat to a couple of pieces. Tobias purses his lips. This is the first opportunity to establish his strategy for the game after a relatively straightforward opening.\ [[He offers an exchange.|02/04/04a]] [[He leaves the bishop alone.|02/04/04b]]

After a moment’s contemplation, Tobias moves his own bishop out into its path. If the fellow takes his piece, his bishop will be captured quickly by Tobias’s queen. While he could leave the piece be, he would also be giving up some control over the center and his pieces would be threatened as he tried to develop them. Best to get it out of the way now.\ Eugene responds with a toothy smile and reaches over to grab the white piece, placing it by the side of the board- the first capture of the game. With a finger he pushes the base of his own bishop diagonally to take its place. “Bishop for bishop,” he muses, “a fair exchange.”\ Tobias grabs his queen with two fingers and pins the black bishop against his pawn with another, switching them out and placing the black piece on the wooden surface of the table. “Hope you ain’t trying to say there was a better move.” Tobias shakes his head and chuckles under his breath. “Been a while since I played, you're gonna have to go easy on me.”\ “I ain’t trying to criticize your playing, kid.” The man moves another pawn, solidifying his control of the center while giving Tobias an opportunity to develop his pieces. “Just be careful. Trade one for one too many times and you'll end up out a whole lot of pieces.”\ “And so will you,” Tobias points out. After moving his knight in the previous turn, he castles with his kingside rook, leaving his king protected by a line of pawns on the right side of the board.\ After a few moves of pawns and knights, Eugene captures a pawn and has his own pawn taken in turn. “You know what they say, kid,” he mutters, holding the white pawn between his knuckles. “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth leaves the whole damn world blind and toothless. And leaves both of us short a couple pawns.”\ [[“I think I’m doing just fine on pawns so far.”|02/04/05]]

After a moment’s contemplation, Tobias decides to focus on moving out his pawns and let the bishop stay. This leaves him in a tougher position, having to be careful as he develops his pieces, but he isn’t quite comfortable sacrificing a bishop this early.\ To his surprise, Eugene flashes him a toothy smile and grabs the pawn in his bishop’s path, placing it by the side of the board- the first capture of the game. With a finger he pushes the base of his own bishop diagonally to take its place.\ For a moment, Tobias ponders the move with a confused expression on his face. He responds by taking the bishop with his queen, the obvious next move, but still stares in bewildered silence at the old man. You understand his confusion- you’ve played plenty of games of chess, and you can’t see any reason to make that move. A bishop for a pawn is a terribly unequal trade, and having his piece out in the center of the board would have been a distinct advantage.\ Eugene gets back into the swing of things seemingly unperturbed, moving a pawn and developing his own queen. The younger man, after moving his knight in the previous turn, castles with his kingside rook. With both queens in play and Tobias's king safely hidden behind a line of pawns, the two return to vying for control of the center.\ After a couple of moves, Eugene captures one of Tobias’s pawns. “You ain’t being too proactive, kid,” he points out as he holds the captured piece between his knuckles. “You should be putting me on the defensive, not the other way round.”\ “Really seems like I’ve got a leg up on you here,” Tobias points out with a grin as he captures the man's pawn, placing it on the table alongside his bishop.\ [[“Defensive or not, I seem to be just fine.”|02/04/05]]

While the men ponder their moves, Eugene starts to strike up a conversation. “It seems apparent you ain’t from around here, huh,” he points out. “So what brings you to the mountains? Looking to get work in the mines?”\ “Not exactly,” Tobias chuckles. “I’m just your average travelling $job, looking for inspiration in this damn beautiful world of ours.” The smile fades from his face a bit as Eugene moves his knight in place to take either Tobias’s rook or queen. The decision to take the knight with his bishop is an obvious one, but still not ideal. “I might ask you the same question,” Tobias says, turning the questioning back on him. “You stick out like a sore thumb around all these young mining stiffs. What’s your reason for being up in the mountains?”\ With a hearty laugh the man responds, “Well, son, you’re right, I’m not quite in my prime anymore.” He plucks the last white bishop off the board and pushes his own bishop into its place. “There are only two kinds of folks up here in the mountains. There’s the folks who’ve got something to run from, and there’s the folks who’ve got nowhere to run.”\ “Makes sense,” Tobias nods as he moves his rook two spaces over, just behind his other rook- setting up to be prepared for any future attack on his third most important pieces. He takes a swig of his whiskey before turning the queries back on the old man. “And which one are you?”\ “I’ve got a nice little cabin up in the mountains and plenty of wild game to hunt. I don’t exactly have it good up here, but Lord knows I’d have it worse everywhere else.”\ [[Something feels off.|02/04/06]]

As the two continue, you suddenly find it hard to focus on the intricacies of their logic. You’re watching them play right before your eyes, but the meaning is just out of your grasp and getting further by the minute. For a brief moment you wonder if the din of the saloon has distracted you, and then with a start you realize it- the room is quiet. Even as your companion moves his lips you can barely hear a muted voice, as if you're listening to him through five feet of water. Around you the muffled voices of the miners and the clinking of glass has coalesced into a deep, wavering drone.\ Through the haze, however, you hear Eugene’s voice ring out clearly. “Which one are you?” You sit for a moment, waiting to hear a response, but nothing comes. You go to look up from the board- were you looking at it from this angle before? No, no you weren’t. The moment the realization hits you, a ringing starts up in your ears and you can feel a small pain somewhere in your being, like a headache unbound by physical space.\ Disoriented, you look up. Eugene is sitting across the table from you. He's got a lit cigar in one hand, staring back at you intently. Between you, sitting atop an ornate wooden table, the chess board is empty but for six pieces- two kings, two rooks, and two pawns. The cross crowns atop the white and black kings now reflect a gold and silver gleam, respectively. Around the two of you the world has melted away into a black void.\ “I believe I asked you a question,” the man persists. “What’s your story?”\ [[“Where are we?”|02/04/a01][$seenThoughtscape to true]] [[“How did you know about me?”|02/04/b01][$seenThoughtscape to true]] [[“Why do you want to know?”|02/04/c01][$seenThoughtscape to true]] <<if $looks gte 0.7>>\ <<set $eugeneRelationship += 0.1>>\ <<elseif $looks lte 0.3>>\ <<set $eugeneRelationship -= 0.1>>\ <</if>>\

Eugene gives you a crooked grin from beneath his gray whiskers. “You telling me you’ve never been in a thoughtscape?”\ “Normally not against my will.” You shift in your chair and at once become aware of a now-alien feeling- solid wood against your body, a body with limbs and clothes in physical space. Looking down, you can see the \ <<if $clothes is 'cloak'>>\ dark fabric of your cloak resting across your lap and spilling over the sides of an ornate wooden chair. \ <<elseif $clothes is 'traditional'>>\ shimmering fabric of your robe concealing your lower body, the gray velvet stole around your neck soft to the touch. \ <<elseif $clothes is 'archer'>>\ rugged black fabric of your breeches sitting against two real, physical legs. \ <<elseif $clothes is 'dress'>>\ black silk of your dress resting across your lap and spilling over the sides of an ornate wooden chair. \ <<elseif $clothes is 'frock'>>\ dark grey fabric of your breeches sitting against two real, physical legs. \ <</if>>\ You are more than aware that this is an illusion, a mere confluence of sensory tricks designed to make you feel as if you’re sitting in this darkened void across the table from him. The detail of the sensations are impressive, though, even if the scale is quite minimal.\ The older man presses the cigar to his lips and inhales before blowing out a perfect ring of smoke. “So,” he mutters, leaning forward and clasping his hands together with his elbows planted on the mahogany surface of the table. You didn’t notice to cigar disappear, but he’s no longer holding it. “Which one are you?”\ [[You answer him honestly.|02/04/a02]] [[You give him a mundane response.|02/04/b02]] [[You question why he wants to know.|02/04/c01]] <<set $loreThoughtscapes to true>>\ <<notify 3s>>Lore unlocked: THOUGHTSCAPES<</notify>>\

Eugene gives you a crooked grin from beneath his gray whiskers. “I could sense you a mile away. You’re damn powerful. Your whole aura’s like a fog horn.” You know what’s going on here- he’s brought you into a thoughtscape. Rudimentary as it looks, you are well aware of the practice and discipline required to create this sort of multi-layered illusion.\ “You could not possibly have identified my companion by sense alone,” you counter. You are confident in this fact- in centuries of being on Earth, the identity of your tether has been kept secret from even the most experienced and knowledgeable individuals- even you would be unable to determine which human housed a divine soul if you were to encounter one.\ “Sense a sudden power in the air, and the next day a lone stranger arrives in a dying town where visitors are rare.” Eugene presses the cigar to his lips and inhales before blowing out a perfect ring of smoke. “It ain’t too hard to make an educated guess.”\ You lean back in your imaginary chair. “I suppose that is fair enough.” The feeling of the solid wood of the chair against your back has become alien after so long without feeling the sensation of touch. For a moment, although you know it’s an illusion, it feels real enough to trick you. The detail is impressive, even if the scale is quite minimal.\ “So,” he mutters, leaning forward and clasping his hands together with his elbows planted on the mahogany surface of the table. You didn’t notice the cigar disappear, but he’s no longer holding it. “You never answered my question. Which one are you?”\ [[You answer him honestly.|02/04/a02]] [[You give him a mundane response.|02/04/b02]] [[You question why he wants to know.|02/04/c01]] <<set $loreThoughtscapes to true>>\ <<notify 3s>>Lore unlocked: THOUGHTSCAPES<</notify>>\

Eugene gives you a crooked grin from beneath his gray whiskers. “Never encountered one of your kind before. Heard of you, sure, but not many divines choose to hang out far up here in the mountains of Colorado.” Rudimentary as it looks, you are well aware of the practice and discipline required to create this sort of multi-layered illusion.\ “‘Divine,’ is it?” The term isn’t one you’re familiar with, although that kind of flowery language is part and parcel with the type of spiritualists and occultists who research this type of thing.\ He looks you over again and observes, “You sure <<if $looks gt 0.3>>do<<else>>don't<</if>> look the part.” He presses the cigar to his lips and inhales before blowing out a perfect ring of smoke. “So,” he mutters, leaning forward and clasping his hands together with his elbows planted on the mahogany surface of the table. You didn’t notice to cigar disappear, but he’s no longer holding it. “You didn’t quite answer my question. Which one are you?”\ [[You answer him honestly.|02/04/a02]] [[You give him a mundane response.|02/04/b02]] [[You question why he wants to know.|02/04/c01][$eugeneRelationship -=0.05]] <<set $loreThoughtscapes to true>>\ <<notify 3s>>Lore unlocked: THOUGHTSCAPES<</notify>>\

Despite his eccentricities, this man seems trustworthy enough. Besides, there’s no real reason to obfuscate when he is already well aware of your existence. “I suppose your paradigm is accurate. I have many things to run from.”\ “That’s what I thought.” He reaches over to grab the black pawn on the chess board in front of you and moves it one space forward, though with such an empty board it is moving towards nothing in particular. “What scares something as powerful as you? If I understand correct, you ain’t able to die.”\ You look at him for a moment, reaching for the words to convey a very complicated reality. You grab the white rook from the board, its ivory surface smooth and cold against your skin. Moving it one space forward, it falls in line with the silver-crowned black king and is only separated from it by the Eugene's own rook. You don’t quite see the point of it- this is an obvious draw. However, you still go through the motions of a game. “There are things worse than death out there,” you mutter to him. “If you as a human can make me feel like I'm holding a chess piece, what do you think a being like me is capable of?”\ He falls silent, seemingly analyzing your blank expression. <<if $looks lte 0.3>>Surely the confluence of your current appearance and the mention of being capable of causing great suffering is not reassuring.<<else>>Admittedly, mentioning your ability to cause great suffering to humans without much effort is not the best way to make friends. Sometimes you forget that your existence itself can be quite challenging to the minds of mortal beings.<</if>>\ After a prolonged silence, he mutters, “If you were lookin’ to freak me out, you ain’t done awful well. Consider my interest piqued.”\ [[“So I am a curiosity to you?” (Offended)|02/04/a03][$eugeneRelationship -= 0.05]] [[“I’m sure there will be plenty of time for questioning in the future.” (Friendly)|02/04/b03][$eugeneRelationship += 0.05]] <<set $eugeneRelationship += 0.3>>\ <<set $toldEugene to true>>\

You shrug at the man. “My companion said it well enough. We are merely travelers passing through.”\ <<if $looks gte 0.7>>\ Eugene shrugs. He reaches over to grab the black pawn on the chess board in front of you and moves it one space forward, though with such an empty board it is moving towards nothing in particular. “I suppose that’s a fair enough reason.”\ “In that case, I suppose I am wondering why you have brought me here.” You grab the white rook from the board, its ivory surface smooth and cold against your skin. Moving it one space forward, it falls in line with the silver-crowned black king and is only separated from it by the Eugene's own rook. You don’t quite see the point of it- this is an obvious draw. However, you still go through the motions of a game.\ “Simple intellectual curiosity,” he responds. He moves his king diagonally, ready to take your rook once you take his. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet a being like yourself, and I’m damn curious.” [[“So I am a curiosity to you?” (Mildly Offended)|02/04/a03][$eugeneRelationship -= 0.05]] [[“I’m sure there will be plenty of time for questioning in the future.” (Friendly)|02/04/b03][$eugeneRelationship += 0.05]] <<else>>\ Eugene gives you a suspicious look. He reaches over to grab the black pawn on the chess board in front of you and moves it one space forward, though with such an empty board it is moving towards nothing in particular. “I have a hunch that ain’t the whole truth.”\ “Do I not seem trustworthy to you?” <<if $looks lte 0.3>>You immediately realize the irony of asking him this given your current appearance. Certainly your threatening form isn’t doing you any favours in winning trust.<<else>>You rarely have to speak with people who are not your tethers, so you sometimes struggle with understanding how others perceive you. You have ideas of what is considered ‘scary’ or ‘bad,’ but the complexities are sometimes lost on you, and being dishonest can be difficult.<</if>>\ “Far be it from me to expect you to share everything about your past.” Eugene gives you a placid look, clearly unbothered by your lack of honesty. “Your business is your business. But I assure you my interest is intellectual curiosity only.”\ You grab the white rook from the board, its ivory surface smooth and cold against your skin. Moving it one space forward, it falls in line with the silver-crowned black king and is only separated from it by the Eugene's own rook. In response he moves his king diagonally, ready to take your rook once you take his.\ [[“So I am a curiosity to you?” (Mildly Offended)|02/04/a03][$eugeneRelationship -= 0.05]] [[“I’m sure there will be plenty of time for questioning in the future.” (Friendly)|02/04/b03][$eugeneRelationship += 0.05]] <</if>>\

“And why exactly do you want to know?” You drum your nails on the surface of the table, your<<if $eyes is 'three'>> three<<elseif $eyes is 'four'>> four<<elseif $eyes is 'many'>> many<</if>> eyes narrowed at him. “A stranger brings me into a thoughtscape without so much as asking my permission and I am supposed to tell them my life’s story?”\ Eugene shrugs. “Look, I ain’t meaning no offense.” He reaches over to grab the black pawn on the chess board in front of you and moves it one space forward, though with such an empty board it is moving towards nothing in particular. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet a being like yourself. I hope you can excuse my curiosity.”\ You grab the white rook from the board, its ivory surface smooth and cold against your skin. Moving it one space forward, it falls in line with the silver-crowned black king and is only separated from it by the Eugene's own rook. In response he moves his king diagonally, ready to take your rook once you take his.\ [[“So I am a curiosity to you?” (Mildly Offended)|02/04/a03][$eugeneRelationship -= 0.05]] [[“I’m sure there will be plenty of time for questioning in the future.” (Friendly)|02/04/b03][$eugeneRelationship += 0.05]]

“Can you really blame me? You’re a one-in-a-billion kind of person.” He chuckles, his cigar once again clutched between two fingers. After taking a puff, he erupts into a sudden coughing fit, bracing his forearm against the mahogany table. The smoke that had emerged from his mouth flickers out of existence, and for a brief moment you can hear Tobias's voice continuing his conversation. As he recovers, leaning back in his chair and once again ditching the cigar, he mutters, “The ol’ lungs ain’t what they used to be.”\ Rolling your eyes, you retort, “I am a living... sort of... being. I do not exist to satisfy your curiosity.” You take his rook, and your hand almost brushes against his as he takes no time capturing your rook with his king. With only two pawns on the board, the game is effectively impossible to win, yet you move your own gold-crowned king closer to his pawn in hopes of taking it.\ “Look, I think you’ve got the wrong idea.” He moves his king a space closer to your pawn. “I’m a little out of practice with the arcane arts, but I’m still enough of a hobbyist to be fascinated by you. All I ask is we have a conversation. Would you do that much for an old man?”\ [[“Perhaps. But for now, may I please get back to my companion?”|02/04/a04]]

“That would be a damn honor, my friend.” He chuckles, his cigar once again clutched between two fingers. After taking a puff, he erupts into a sudden coughing fit, bracing his forearm against the mahogany table. The smoke that had emerged from his mouth flickers out of existence and for a brief moment you can hear Tobias's voice continuing his conversation. As he recovers, leaning back in his chair and once again ditching the cigar, he mutters, “The ol’ lungs ain’t what they used to be.”\ You shake your head. Although you don't blame him for it, being treated with this sort of reverence is always an oddly dehumanizing experience. You may not techically be a human, but you have had far more experience being one than any person you have met thus far. “I appreciate your interest in my life,” you mutter, perhaps disingenuously. You take his rook, and your hand almost brushes against his as he takes no time capturing your rook with his king. With only two pawns on the board, the game is effectively impossible to win, yet you move your own gold-crowned king closer to his pawn in hopes of taking it.\ He moves his king a space closer to your pawn. “I'm a little out of practice with the arcane arts, but I’m sure we’d have plenty in common to chat about. Perhaps you’ve even met my mentor back in the day. That man’s met his fair share of odd folks, if any of his stories are to be believed.”\ [[“Perhaps. But for now, may I please get back to my companion?”|02/04/a04]]

“And what about our game?” He gestures grandly to the chess board in front of you. “A shame to leave it unfinished.”\ You give him a blank stare<<if $eyes is 'three'>> with all three of your eyes.<<elseif $eyes is 'four'>> with all four of your eyes.<<elseif $eyes is 'many'>> with all of your visible eyes.<<else>>.<</if>> “It is a draw.”\ Before your eyes, the pawns both disappear. There is no flash or puff of smoke, they simply cease to exist. “Sure seems like it,” Eugene affirms with a sly smile. The black king, topped in silver, slides across the board, stopping just short of the white king. The void around you seems to shimmer like the air above a fire, a sign of the illusion dropping. “But that’s only if they keep on moving. What kind of life is that?”\ In an instant, the constructed world around you disappears. For a brief moment your vision is filled with pure void- deeper than the blackest night, a lack of any visual input that makes you feel like you’ve never seen light before. Then, you’re watching over Tobias again, the din of the saloon filling your ears.\ [[He looks a bit drunk.|02/04/a05]]

Tobias, his spaced out expression making it clear he isn’t all there, remarks on the state of the board- the same as how it was in Eugene’s thoughtscape. “Mean I guess it ain’t winning, but that’s a rare enough draw I ain’t particularly sad about it.” His glass is more full than it was before. In the time you were pulled away from him he must have gotten a few more drinks. Something you try to avoid, but alas.\ “Well, I appreciate you indulging an old man like myself,” Eugene thanks him with a wide, toothy smile. “Mighty rare to find a good chess player up in these damn mountains.”\ “We should probably leave,” you whisper to Tobias, who immediately repeats your sentiment out loud. He stands up from the table quickly, his uncoordinated body almost letting him lose balance. You make a mental note not to leave him unsupervised in a drinking establishment.\ Eugene nods sagely as he begins to pick the chess pieces up from the sides of the table. “Well, you and your friend are welcome in my cabin any time you feel like it.”\ Tobias nods back before suddently furrowing his brow and frowning. “My what now?”\ [[“I will tell you later. In the morning.”|02/04/a06]]

Easily accepting your reassurance, Tobias waves to the old man and stumbles out the door into the warm spring evening. You haven’t quite found a place to stay for tonight, but you have a feeling that Tobias will not mind spending another night beneath the stars.\ It isn’t quite late but the roads are abandoned. Unlike cities with their streetlamps and busy avenues, life out in the mountains ends early. Outside of the saloons the world simply falls quiet. This isn’t the first night you’ve spent watching a drunk Tobias make his way down a barren road just before sunset in an unfamiliar town, and you’re sure it won’t be the last.\ He quickly veers off the road and makes his way down towards the creek by the edge of town. It’s a smaller tributary of the East River, shrouded by brush and trees. Even intoxicated, Tobias has an eye for places to sleep in the great outdoors.\ Hopefully, by the time night falls again, he won’t be needing to sleep out here. Hopefully you've gone far enough to avoid your problems for a good long while. Hopefully a lot of things. But out here, hope doesn’t seem to be in short supply.\ [[With any luck, tomorrow will be a good day.|DemoEnd]]

<<fadein 1s>> <<fadeout 1s 3s>> <div class='chaptertitle'>-- CHAPTER 3 --</div> <</fadeout>>\ <</fadein>>\ <<timed 4.5s>>\ <<goto '03/01/01'>>\ <</timed>>\

<<set $power to 1>> <<set $tetherRelationship to 0.9>> <<set $eugeneRelationship to 0.6>> <<set $adaRelationship to 0.6>> <<set $edwinRelationship to 0.5>> <<set $jamesRelationship to 0.5>> <<set $communityRelationship to 0.5>> <<set $form to 'normal'>> <<set $eyes to 'normal'>> <<set $wings to 'none'>> <<set $decor to 'eyes'>> <<set $clothes to 'cloak'>> <<set $looks to 0.6>> <<newmeter 'power' 1>> <<colors '#DEC051' '#DEC051' '#122c41'>> <<sizing '100%' '2em'>> <</newmeter>> <<newmeter 'horror' '$looks'>> <<colors '#DEC051' '#DEC051' '#122c41'>> <<sizing '100%' '2em'>> <</newmeter>> <<newmeter 'tetherRelationship' 0.9>> <<colors '#DEC051' '#DEC051' '#122c41'>> <<sizing '100%' '2em'>> <</newmeter>> <<newmeter 'eugeneRelationship' 0.6>> <<colors '#DEC051' '#DEC051' '#122c41'>> <<sizing '100%' '2em'>> <</newmeter>> <<newmeter 'adaRelationship' 0.6>> <<colors '#DEC051' '#DEC051' '#122c41'>> <<sizing '100%' '2em'>> <</newmeter>> <<newmeter 'edwinRelationship' 0.5>> <<colors '#DEC051' '#DEC051' '#122c41'>> <<sizing '100%' '2em'>> <</newmeter>> <<newmeter 'jamesRelationship' 0.5>> <<colors '#DEC051' '#DEC051' '#122c41'>> <<sizing '100%' '2em'>> <</newmeter>>

<div class='icon-tray'>\ <div class='icon'>\ <<link [img[images/mind-icon.png]]>><<popup 'Stats' 'IDENTITY' 'popup'>><</link>> </div>\ <div class='icon'>\ <<link [img[images/world-icon.png]]>><<popup 'Lore' 'LORE' 'popup'>><</link>> </div>\ <div class='icon'>\ <<link [img[images/past-icon.png]]>><<popup 'Flashbacks' 'MEMORIES' 'popup'>><</link>> </div>\ </div>\

<div class='center'>\ [img[images/title.png]] <<button 'ABOUT'>><<popup 'About' 'ABOUT' 'popup'>><</button>> <<button 'START'>><<goto 'Flash03Copy'>><</button>> <<button 'LOAD'>><<run UI.saves()>><</button>> <<button 'SETTINGS'>><<run UI.settings()>><</button>> </div>

Crosshollow Foundations is a work-in-progress interactive fiction story written by Jasper S. If you’re interested in learning more, you can head over to [[my blog|'https://townofcrosshollow.tumblr.com/']]. If you want to find out when updates come out and play my other games, check out my [[itch.io page|'https://crosshollow.itch.io/']]. If you want to let me know what you think, make suggestions, or report bugs/typos, you can send me a message on my Tumblr or send an email to crosshollowherald@gmail.com. The current demo (Version 1.0.0) includes all of chapters 1 and 2. As with any demo, everything in here is subject to change. A big thank you to all of my beta readers for helping me test the game, giving me feedback and suggestions, and overall being cool as hell: <ul> <li>nyehilism</li> <li>ToastySkeleton</li> <li>Tea</li> <li>Lee Yohan</li> <li>wywrds</li> <li>arsonist-rat</li> </ul>

You've reached the end of the demo! Thank you for playing, and I hope you’ve enjoyed the first few chapters of Foundations. If you’re interested in learning more about the game and keeping up with my progress, you can head over to [[my blog|'https://townofcrosshollow.tumblr.com/']]. If you want to find out when updates come out and play my other games, check out my [[itch.io page|'https://crosshollow.itch.io/']]. If you want to let me know what you think, make suggestions, or report bugs/typos, you can send me a message on my Tumblr or send an email to crosshollowherald@gmail.com. A big thank you to all of my beta readers for helping me test the game, giving me feedback and suggestions, and overall being cool as hell: <ul> <li>nyehilism</li> <li>ToastySkeleton</li> <li>Tea</li> <li>Lee Yohan</li> <li>wywrds</li> <li>arsonist-rat</li> </ul>

In your culture, names were not static or based on family ties- they were a string of words including titles, imagery, attributes, and accomplishments which grew over one's lifespan. Over the years on Earth you may have used shortened translations of your original name, adopted a human name from a certain time and place, or used the names of various mythological figures. Here are some ideas: <ul> <li>Watcher</li> <li>Aurelius</li> <li>Lightbringer</li> <li>Pythia</li> <li>Wanderer</li> <li>Marquise</li> <li>Celeste</li> <li>Earendel</li> <li>Dawn</li> <li>Vesper</li> </ul>

<div class='center'>You require power to maintain your tether to this world. Use your abilities wisely.</div> <<showmeter 'power' $power>> <<liveblock>>\ <div class='center'>Your appearance is \ <<if $looks gte 0.7>>angelic, and humans are comforted by your presence.\ <<elseif $looks lte 0.3>>horrifying, and humans are intimidated by your presence.\ <<else>>neutral- your positive and negative traits balance out.\ <</if>> </div> <</liveblock>> <<showmeter 'horror' $looks>> Your body, when you manifest, \ <<cycle "$form" autoselect>> <<option "appears like a normal human" normal>> <<option "seems to have a wispy, smokelike quality" ethereal>> <<option "glows with radiant light" radiant>> <<option "appears skeletal in form" skeletal>> <<option "posesses a golden halo" halo>> <<option "is surrounded by webs of shifting, wispy tendrils" tendrils>> <<option "is far taller than the average human" towering>> <</cycle>> \ with \ <<cycle "$eyes" autoselect>> <<option "a normal number of eyes in the expected locations" normal>> <<option "a third eye in the center of the forehead" three>> <<option "additional eyes on each cheek" four>> <<option "eyes on the back of each hand" hand>> <<option "eyes appearing in clusters across your skin" many>> <</cycle>> \ and \ <<cycle "$wings" autoselect>> <<option "no wings, despite your affinity for them." none>> <<option "two feathered wings adorning your back." two>> <<option "two pairs of feathered wings adorning your back." four>> <<option "three pairs of feathered wings adorning your back." six>> <<option "a pair of moth-like wings folded up at your back." moth>> <<option "hovers unnaturally above the ground." hover>> <</cycle>> \ Despite your long absence, you still prefer to wear the ornamentation of your people. \ <<cycle "$decor" autoselect>> <<option "An eye is painted on either cheek and the center of your forehead, the symbol of your former position as a seer." eyes>> <<option "The veins on your skin are traced with thin lines of golden paint, a decoration popular for your gender and social class- at least, when you left." veins>> <<option "Your body is covered by a large number of raised scars, some decoratively placed. Scars are worn with pride by your people, at least after the war. Humans, you understand, tend to find them unsightly." scars>> <<option "Your arms are nearly covered by assorted golden bangles, cuffs, and pearlescent beads. Apparently humans find this garish, but you have quite different tastes." jewelry>> <<option "A golden sunburst headdress featuring elaborate beading rests atop your head. A string of pearls crosses your forehead with a simple piece of cloth hanging down to cover your eyes." crown>> <<option "Two decorative horns curl up from your head, their bases decorated with golden ribbons and strings of pearls. This style was generally reserved for higher ranking military, though of course nobody will notice the insubordination." horns>> <<option "A large veil of translucent black fabric is draped over your face, obscuring it from view. The edges are trimmed with gold ribbon and tassels." veil>>\ <</cycle>> \ On your body you wear \ <<cycle "$clothes" autoselect>> <<option "a dark cloak with a hood that shrouds your face. A pair of black bloomers are cinched at your ankles with golden ribbon." cloak>> <<option "the traditional garb of your former office, a long robe with a high collar and bishop sleeves. A short decorative cape sits around the shoulders, and a grey velvet stole is clipped at the front with a large gold pin." traditional>> <<option "a simple white shirt with loose, cuffed sleeves and a wide collar, tucked into a pair of functional black breeches." archer>> <<option "a long, black dress with a high collar, delicate lace designs, and large padded sleeves. Human designs are quite odd, but this is one you enjoy." dress>> <<option "a sharp black frock coat with a high collar and cravat over a pair of breeches. It may be a bit old-fashioned, but you can't stand modern men's slouching overcoats." frock>> <</cycle>> <<link 'Change your appearance to this'>> <<set $looks to 0.5>> <<if $form is 'ethereal' or $form is 'radiant' or $form is 'halo'>> <<set $looks += 0.1>> <<elseif $form is 'skeletal' or $form is 'tendrils' or $form is 'towering'>> <<set $looks -= 0.2>> <</if>> <<if $eyes is 'three'>> <<set $looks += 0.1>> <<elseif $eyes is 'four' or $eyes is 'hand'>> <<set $looks -= 0.1>> <<elseif $eyes is 'many'>> <<set $looks -= 0.2>> <</if>> <<if $wings is 'two' or $wings is 'four' or $wings is 'six'>> <<set $looks += 0.1>> <<elseif $wings is 'hover' or $wings is 'moth'>> <<set $looks -= 0.1>> <</if>> <<if $decor is 'eyes' or $decor is 'veins' or $decor is 'crown'>> <<set $looks += 0.1>> <<elseif $decor is 'scars' or $decor is 'horns'>> <<set $looks -= 0.1>> <</if>> <<updatemeter 'horror' $looks>> <<update>> <</link>>

<div class='lore'>\ <div class='lore-menu'>\ <div class='lore-item'>\ PEOPLE </div>\ <<if $loreTether is true>>\ <div class='lore-item'>\ <<link Tobias>>\ <<replace '#lore-display'>>\ <<include 'LoreTether'>>\ <</replace>>\ <</link>> </div>\ <</if>>\ <<if $loreOathbreaker is true and $oathbreakerName isnot true>>\ <div class='lore-item'>\ <<link '???'>>\ <<replace '#lore-display'>>\ <<include 'LoreOathbreaker'>>\ <</replace>>\ <</link>> </div>\ <<elseif $loreOathbreaker is true and $oathbreakerName is true>>\ <div class='lore-item'>\ <<link 'Oathbreaker'>>\ <<replace '#lore-display'>>\ <<include 'LoreOathbreaker'>>\ <</replace>>\ <</link>> </div>\ <</if>>\ <div class='lore-item'>\ PLACES </div>\ <<if $loreGothic is true>>\ <div class='lore-item'>\ <<link 'Gothic, Colorado'>>\ <<replace '#lore-display'>>\ <<include 'LoreGothic'>>\ <</replace>>\ <</link>> </div>\ <</if>>\ <div class='lore-item'>\ PHENOMENA </div>\ <<if $loreTethering is true>>\ <div class='lore-item'>\ <<link 'Tethering'>>\ <<replace '#lore-display'>>\ <<include 'LoreTethering'>>\ <</replace>>\ <</link>> </div>\ <</if>>\ <<if $loreAbilities is true>>\ <div class='lore-item'>\ <<link 'Impressions'>>\ <<replace '#lore-display'>>\ <<include 'LoreAbilities'>>\ <</replace>>\ <</link>> </div>\ <</if>>\ <<if $loreThoughtscapes is true>>\ <div class='lore-item'>\ <<link 'Thoughtscapes'>>\ <<replace '#lore-display'>>\ <<include 'LoreThoughtscapes'>>\ <</replace>>\ <</link>> </div>\ <</if>>\ </div>\ <div id='lore-display'> </div> </div>

<div class='center'>\ <<if $flash01 is true>>\ <<link 'YOUTH'>>\ <<replace '#flashback'>>\ <<include 'Flash01'>>\ <</replace>>\ <</link>>\ <<else>>\ YOUTH\ <</if>>\ •\ <<if $flash02 is true>>\ <<link 'STRIFE'>>\ <<replace '#flashback'>>\ <<include 'Flash02'>>\ <</replace>>\ <</link>>\ <<else>>\ STRIFE\ <</if>>\ •\ <<if $flash03 is true>>\ <<link 'RETURN'>>\ <<replace '#flashback'>>\ <<include 'Flash03'>>\ <</replace>>\ <</link>>\ <<else>>\ RETURN\ <</if>>\ •\ <<if $flash04 is true>>\ <<link 'ACCOLADES'>>\ <<replace '#flashback'>>\ <<include 'Flash04'>>\ <</replace>>\ <</link>>\ <<else>>\ ACCOLADES\ <</if>>\ •\ <<if $flash05 is true>>\ <<link 'RITUAL'>>\ <<replace '#flashback'>>\ <<include 'Flash05'>>\ <</replace>>\ <</link>>\ <<else>>\ RITUAL\ <</if>>\ •\ <<if $flash06 is true>>\ <<link 'BETRAYAL'>>\ <<replace '#flashback'>>\ <<include 'Flash06'>>\ <</replace>>\ <</link>>\ <<else>>\ BETRAYAL\ <</if>>\ •\ <<if $flash07 is true>>\ <<link 'CAPTURE'>>\ <<replace '#flashback'>>\ <<include 'Flash07'>>\ <</replace>>\ <</link>>\ <<else>>\ CAPTURE\ <</if>>\ •\ <<if $flash08 is true>>\ <<link 'EXILE'>>\ <<replace '#flashback'>>\ <<include 'Flash08'>>\ <</replace>>\ <</link>>\ <<else>>\ EXILE\ <</if>>\ </div> <div id='flashback'> </div>

This is a scene where a young Oathbreaker brings a young Watcher on a hunt, tracking an animal. Oathbreaker is tracking and Watcher has a bow. The animal he was tracking turns out to be an abyssal beast, and the two barely escape. We also establish through their conversation that their town is full of refugees.

This is where the main character's memories will be displayed. The player can encounter parts of the story where they remember moments from their past, and flashbacks in the form of 300-1,000 word stories will be incorporated into the game.\ This menu allows you to go back and read those memory scenes, as well as showing them in order, making it a bit easier to contextualize them. It may take multiple playthroughs to unlock all of the memories here, as some of them will only be available from certain scenes.\

A thick fog had settled over the village where you once lived, weaving between demolished walls and casting the dead grass underfoot in a surreal light. The ashen landscape was riddled with the scars of destroyed buildings, some still sizzling as the embers made contact with blackened raindrops. The mix of rain and sweat made keeping a steady hold of your golden longbow a challenge. You had taken the route furthest from you former home, around the North side. In the gaps between houses you caught the occasional glimpse of the other archers in your unit. They weaved between the buildings and ducked inside open doors in their dark cloaks like harbingers of death.\ While they combed the town, you kept your focus on the treeline. Between the dense mist and the foliage, it was nearly impossible to see more than a few feet into the dense forest. The detachment was meant to rendezvous with you here- when you had pointed it out, your companions had shaken their heads and muttered their well-wishes. You knew why. The chance of their survival was slim to none. Still, you had to hold out hope.\ As you stepped on light feet across the scorched earth, you closed your eyes and let your mind wander. Gazing down from high above the forest you scoured it for any signs of life. A clearing, a path, the rustling of trees- anything. Near the edge of the treeline you spotted exactly what you were looking for, some kind of barely-perceptible movement, and in an instant opened your eyes. You ducked behind a collapsed thatch wall and drew an arrow from your quiver. You knew it was more likely a beast than a soldier, yet you held your breath as a darkened figure stumbled out of the underbrush. “Halt,” you called out. “Identify yourself.”\ The figure was clearly human, but they didn’t respond immediately. The fog around the figure was thick, but as they stepped closer and you could make out their shape, your eyes widened. He was clad in the garments of your regiment, and one sleeve of his loose shirt was ripped off at the seam. The skin of his left arm had been swallowed by the inky black, glistening scar of abyssal corruption. The silvery sword clutched in his hand was coated with the black and deep blue of battle. Wrapped around his head, covering his eyes, was a long strip of torn fabric that fluttered in the wind.\ You cast your bow aside and vaulted over the wall, running through the rain to the edge of civilization. You threw your arms around him with such force he staggered backwards. “I thought you had died,” you muttered, your eyes filled with tears. “Dear lord… what happened to you? What happened to your detachment?”\ He was silent, content to be held by a friend who thought they’d never see him again. You stood together in the rain, reunited at last.\

This is a scene where Watcher and Oathbreaker stand side by side in a line of other warriors before an audience. A booming voice announces what their position is, and they are adorned with the traditional garb of their office. Oathbreaker isn’t happy.

After being guided into the right spot by your mentor, you felt as they tugged the bow at the back of your head and let the blindfold fall around your neck. The enormous cavern before you came into focus, its walls extending up into the darkness. At your feet was a feature you had only heard of in hushed whispers- a nearly perfectly circular natural rock pool, at least 100 feet wide in diameter. Two people draped in dark robes kneeled a few feet away to either side of you, seeming to tend to the waters in some unseen way.\ Despite seemingly no connection to the outside world, waves rippled through it and lapped up around your ankles. What you expected to be water at your feet was instead a viscous, shimmering liquid. As it touched your skin, you felt a shock of cold run through your body. In the light of the torches set up around the cavern, the pool shimmered with a golden sheen. As it receded from around your feet, you saw that your skin was coated with fine glittering particles and a film of gold.\ You remembered your instructions and looked back up from the pool, keeping your eyes fixed ahead of you as your mentor kneeled down by your side. They collected some of the pool's contents in a small golden bowl before straightening up. Their face betrayed a bit of nerves despite the calm veneer they always tried to put forth.\ The robed figures tending to the pool began to chant, their voices echoing off the walls of the cavern as if one hundred voices were joining them in chorus. You didn't understand this language even then, but now your mind can't even comprehend its form. You watched your mentor dip a long finger into the golden liquid out of the corner of your eye. As you kept your gaze fixed forward you felt a stinging cold on your cheek as they traced curves and lines in the pattern of a golden eye on your face.\ After repeating the same shape on the other side, moving far enough in front of you for your to see their look of gentle concern, they moved to your forehead. Two curved lines, a circle, and a radiating starburst of lines around the top edge. You couldn't see your face, but you knew what it looked like- this ceremonial form was worn by your predecessor, and the predecessor before them. It was the marker of the position you were about to claim.\ As they stepped out of the way, you nodded to your mentor. They held out their hand, gesturing towards the pool, and you took the first few steps forward into the opaque pool. The floor beneath it seemed to slope gently, without any risk of losing your footing. Around you the chanting seemed to get more intense, resonating in your bones- although in your memories it forms a haze, a series of sounds beyond your comprehension.\ You walked deeper in, your skin numbed by the blistering cold, until you were wading up to your chest. You could feel as your feet touched a sudden drop in the floor, a pit in the center of the pool that dropped down who knows how far. After a deep breath in and out, you allow yourself to step over the edge and your head to slip beneath the golden surface.\ Beneath the waves, with the numbing cold so all-encompassing, it almost felt like floating weightlessly in the void of space. Opening your eyes, instead of seeing shimmering gold around you, you found yourself surrounded by inky blackness. You could see your body clearly, but the surface and the rocky floor disappeared into the dark waters. You stared out into the abyss for moments as your body became increasingly desperate for air. Your vision was filled with bursts of colour, spreading like paint dripped into water, filling your mind with images.\ You saw a face with golden eyes, black tendrils wrapped around your body, a being carved in stone with feathered wings extending from its back. You saw dark eyes staring at you from a sea of gold and white, a glowing red and blue sign with glyphs you could not decipher, and armies carved of marble and obsidian. You saw mountains extending into the heavens over a sea of golden sand. You saw a village of unfamiliar structures surrounded by thick woods, shrouded in night yet brighter than the day. You saw your own death, so incomprehensible to your mind that you couldn't fathom what events led up to it before it faded.\ You breached the surface, spluttering and gasping for air, struggling to tread in the thick liquid you were submerged in. From the shore, your mentor watched you with that same look of concern. You paddled to the edge until you could get to your feet, crawling back onto the rocky shore and coughing up inky black fluid from your lungs. Your mentor kneeled down over you and you heard them muttering, "This isn't a good sign," before you blacked out again.\

The Watcher, as advisor to the king, is asked to divine whether any threats will befall him in the future. They see that Oathbreaker will attempt to assassinate the king. They are conflicted but decide not to rat on Oathbreaker yet.

The Watcher waits for Oathbreaker before the attempted assassination and tries to talk him out of it. He refuses, and so they alert the king’s guards, who take him away.

Both characters stand before the king, one in chains and the other as an advisor being questioned. The king demands to know why Watcher didn’t see this coming, and they say it simply wasn’t in the cards. Oathbreaker, angry at being turned over, reveals that they did know and simply didn’t inform him. In anger the king orders that both will be killed for treason. /* Lore - People */

<h1>Tobias</h1> Tobias is your most recent tether, a companion whose mind is permanently linked to your own. The two of you met a few months back after the unfortunate death of your previous tether. He agreed to your offer quickly- having been on the road for years, he was eager for company.\ He fancies himself a $job, travelling around the country <<if $job is "musician">>with his trusty guitar and bringing music wherever he goes.<<elseif $job is "painter">>in search of beautiful sights to paint.<<else>>in search of inspiration for his prose.<</if>> Most would call him a tramp. Given your need to be on the road often, you have a certain fondness for fellow drifters, and the two of you became fast friends.\ You haven't spoken much about your respective histories. You know he is from West Virginia and has been on the road since he was a youth, but not much else about his past.\ <div class=center>Relationship</div> <<showmeter 'tetherRelationship' $tetherRelationship>>\

<<if $oathbreakerName is true>><h1>Oathbreaker</h1><<else>><h1>???</h1><</if>> <<if $oathbreakerName is true>>\ This is a placeholder for the description of Oathbreaker that replaces the original description when you reveal his name.\ <<else>>\ You have spent centuries of your life on the run from this person- somebody you know all too well. Another being from your homeland, he has a grudge against you and he isn’t afraid to go to drastic measures to take his revenge.\ You prefer not to think about what caused him to hold such a grudge against you. It is an unpleasant memory.\ <</if>>\

<h1>Eugene Wilson</h1> Eugene is an older man living on the outskirts of Gothic, Colorado. After coming here in the early 1880s, he built a cabin up in the woods and makes a meager living off of hunting game in the area.\ <<if $seenThoughtscape is true>>\ In his youth he studied under a prominent spiritualist, who taught him the basics of creating impressions. After decades of practice, his skill at manipulating the mind could rival your own in your younger years.\ <</if>>\

<h1>Edwin Harris</h1> Edwin is the priest-in-charge of the Ascension Episcopal Church, appointed as such by the bishop of the Diocese of Western Colorado about a year ago. He has a charismatic way about him that you can’t quite place.\

<h1>Ada Lovett</h1>

<h1>James Lovett</h1>

<h1>Loretta Lovett</h1> /* Lore - Places */

<h1>Gothic, Colorado</h1> Settled in 1879 after the discovery of rich veins of wire silver in the area, Gothic is a scenic mining town positioned high in the West Elk Mountains. At its peak in the 1880s, hundreds of residents flocked to the remote town, finding employment in the local sawmill or any number of mining operations.\ Although its structures are modest, the town boasts a post office, dance hall, saloon, and a small church. The miners in the area maintain a strong sense of community, although this type of rough living isn't for everyone.\ After the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act a couple years back, every mining town in this region of Colorado has been hit hard by the crash in silver prices. Gothic is no exception. With the low price of silver and diminishing returns from the mines, a general anxiety about the future looms heavily over the residents.\ /* Lore - Powers */

<h1>Tethering</h1> All minds must be associated with a body at any given time. Without one, the mind is quickly lost- what happens after that is unknowable. However, the body associated with a mind does not technically need to be its own.\ Tethering is the practice of a mind permanently associating with another, distinct body for the purpose of retaining its place in the physical world. It is believed that no human is capable of achieving this, as their minds are not powerful enough to maintain the connection.\ Although it is rare, entities with great power can occasionally use humans as tethers to create a connection to Earth. Depending on their intentions and abilities, they may be able to control the body they are tethered to, or they may simply use it as an anchor. Over time, the tethered individual can even gain similar abilities as the being inhabiting them.\ Once the tether dies, the mind tethered to it will be lost- unless it is able to find a new tether. This is the only known way for a tether to be broken once it is formed.\

<h1>Impressions</h1> Although generally lacking among humans, the ability to modify how individuals perceive the world was a staple amongst your people. The mind is a powerful thing, after all, and with enough of that power you can seem to bend the world around you.\ Of course, you aren't able to alter the world around you- only the mind. Imagine the eyes as a projector displaying the contents of a slide upon a screen. You place a pane of glass between them, and on it you can paint whatever you like. To the person observing the screen, it looks no different- but the image they see is a composite.\ It is important to remember, however, that these are merely illusions. You can create the perception of sight, but no object is being seen. You can create the perception of touch, but no movement can be compelled by your mind alone. It is advanced smoke and mirrors, but smoke and mirrors nonetheless.\

<h1>Thoughtscapes</h1> When one is particularly skilled at creating impressions, it can become possible to combine several illusory sensory experiences together to create a cohesive false environment. Among practitioners of this occult art, they are known as ‘thoughtscapes.’\ The difficulty involved in creating a thoughtscape is twofold. Minute details need to be designed in order to create a realistic experience- everything from temperature to the texture of materials must be taken into account. Maintaining this level of detail for long periods of time can be extremely draining, adding another layer of challenge.\ While ‘inside’ of a thoughtscape, time generally passes as normal. However, this is not always the case- some powerful individuals can speed up the perception of time, making a perceived minute far shorter than a real-life minute. On the other hand, it is relatively easy to make the perception of time slower than the true speed of the world around, allowing time around you to seem to pass much faster.\