Eliminate Vers. 2 Draft

For this story, devised and illusioned by Jaelynn Sons with images and sounds by [[sources->Sources]], you will play as [[Varian->VARIAN]] Varian is sharper, more keen. He acts with purpose and moves the pieces when others aren't looking. His biggest weakness? He's emotionally immature due to a past loss. He can't fully let go. [[Angella->ANGELLA]] Angella is wiser, more ingenuis. She considers the options and places her bets in the best people. Her biggest weakness? Her persuasion is lacking for the time and people. Being a woman is looked down on. (Player choice will not change //subtle// story options).

Now, as Varian, choose to fight against: [[The Prince->PRINCE]] More snide and snark. ''Bite'' versus //bark//. [[The Princess->PRINCESS]] More clever and clinical. //Bark// versus ''bite''. (Player choice //will change// story options based on the Prince and Princess behavior).

ROUTE TBA. [[Return.->Player Choice]]

Your first goal is to ''Gain Esteem'' by getting closer to the Prince and his comrades. Make the right choices, learn about the story, and you'll be able to continue. [[Act One Start?->Act One, Scene One]] [[Return.->VARIAN]]

ROUTE TBA (in progress!). [[Return.->VARIAN]]

The people are in ruins, the clergy and nobles dancing among their pains, their damnation. As has been the case for centuries... The late Queen's death is an oppurtunity for more than one party privy to the evergoing changes amonst their society. Her only heir, a son, could ascend the throne soon if others don't act first... Varian plans to take advantage of this. Misusing his own titles to enter the palace, stringing along others in order to step on their backs and reach the throne. For the people below him, below the Prince, he'd do this. For his mother, long lost, he'd do this. And at the least, if nothing else, he'd take the Prince down with him in the end. <img src="Assets/Crown.png"> [[Continue->Act One, Scene One P2]]

<audio autoplay> <source src="Assets/Music.wav"></audio> <audio autoplay> <source src="Assets/Dance.wav"></audio> Amidst the laughing crowds of dancers, jewels adjourning their masked faces, Varian fits in neatly. Varian's mask is a cool metal, sheened into the deepest black hue, and at as his request, no jewels. It's the only thing that sets him apart. Across the elongated, golden and marble room, the Prince sits leisurely ahead of an empty table. There's boredom on his face, but amusement in his eyes. Young and priveleged, accustomed to being the center as well as the controller. Tonight is the first step in Varian changing himself from one of them who watches what happens to the common people. The nobles always claim to be great and grand and want to be friends. Varian watched his father swear the same, lame oaths. Varian wouldn't just swear them, he would be them. He would be better than the people he was surrounding himself with now. [[''Approach the table''->Approach 1]] [[''Grab someone and join the festivities''->Join]]

At the table, the Prince barely looks at Varian. With a deep bow, Varian says: [["''My condolences. May the Queen rest''."->Approach 2]] [["''Liege. Your coronation will be ever the affair''."->Approach 2]]

Varian's dances are brisk. He memorized all the moves as a boy, had to. His stature was smaller than most, but still enough that his Lady mother and Lord father deemed he know and perfect all dance, all etiquette, all swordplay. His mother had whispered that she started as nothing before Varian's father, and that's what people lesser than lords and royalty were, nothing. She wouldn't let Varian be nothing. So she'd trained him harder than anyone else, harder than any tutors or strategists or swordsman hired to help him perfect his swing. "//I was lucky when I met your father, though he's spoiled with age//," she'd tell Varian while pushing him and pushing him. "//Not everyone is lucky//." As a means to an end, Varian dances with the others of his standing or better. He plants fake amusement on his face and lets the night try and try to sweep him up in it. The Prince, seemingly, pays him little attention. But he feels someone's eyes watch him as he leaves... [[Continue->Act One, Scene Two]]

The Prince has a small smile on his face as he looks on at Varian, still bowed. //"Rise."// Varian stands, stiff, but portrays the elegance he was raised to. //"And go,"// the Prince says the words so lightly that Varian can tell he finds fun in it. In his mother's passing, in his soon-to-be rise to King. Holding back his sneer, Varian leaves the table without a word. Into the fray he goes. [[Continue->Act One, Scene Two]]

The ball went by without a hitch. The Prince played a few foul moves on people who he clearly didn't particularly like at intervals, but everything else went smoothly. Varian had heard of the Queen's sons antics, but hadn't ever seen them. He knew they'd only worsen with the King's crown on his head. Varian now stands amongst clergy and nobles near the horse stalls. Today is a joust in the Prince's honour. He'd declared a knight from every noble house would participate. Across the way are the stands. Mixes of people were beginning to sit. Of course, no one of common status was allowed a seat by Prince's regard. His mother had never been the most kind to those below her, but she'd engrained something more sinister into her son. A few of the clergy are seated near where the Prince would be. His closest relatives, his favorite allies. All Varian's would-be enemies. Down from them are the nobles, whispering amongst themselves. Some looking bored and tired, as Varian felt but wouldn't show. He'd been taught better while these others had grown too accustomed to court life to remember not to play their cards on their faces. [[''Take a seat in the stands''->The Joust]] [[''Join in the joust''->Join In]]

The joust had turned out to be a more lame affair than Varian assumed the Prince had wanted it to be, though the Prince didn't show himself till the end. Varian watches as a knight from some house whose name he couldn't pronounce lets the Prince take him down. The Prince is treated to standing applause by everyone, Varian included. But he looks even less amused. He can at least tell that it's a joke to the other knight. [[''Stop clapping before anyone else''->Act One, Scene Three 1]] [[''Do nothing''->Act One, Scene Three 1]]

<audio autoplay> <source src="Assets/HorseWhine.wav"></audio> The joust had been easy enough to enter and easy enough to win. The Prince had missed out on watching but showed up in time to enter himself into the final round against Varian. The Prince wears intricate armor and no helmet. He's too much of an easy target. Varian swiftly takes him off his horse once, twice and a final time. The last ends with the Prince laughing from his spot on the ground, others joining in with him without earnest. Varian sits on his horse, looking down at him. "//Well done//," the Prince muses, "//let's try it again sometime, when I actually know how!//" Then, the crowd erupted in laughter. Varian feigned a smile. [[Continue->Act One, Scene Three 2]]

The night of the joust, after everyone had cleaned up, Varian is invited to a private dinner with the Prince. Outside the study, Varian adjusts his sleeves. There was supposed to be a grand feast tonight. People would wonder and whisper about the Prince and Varian's absence after today's jousts. It would help Varian's goal. [[''Enter the study''->Enter 2]]

The Prince sent Varian an invite to a private dinner after the joust. Instead of joining in the larger festivites, they would dine in the Prince's study. Outside the study, Varian knocks once and waits. A servant opens the door and bows deep. [[''Enter the study''->Enter]]

Varian enters and spots the Prince by the windows and shelves of the study. He doesn't turn at Varian's entrance. "//Dinner is set, Lord Varian//," the servant quips before excusing himself and closing the doors upon his exit. [[''Sit at the table''->Seated]]

The Prince turns as Varian sat down. A few trays of meat are laid out, some stew in two bowls, and a tray of sweet cakes just ahead of Varian's chair. Not too much of a lavish dinner. "//Try the cakes//," the Prince adds while walking to the table. He sits to the side of Varian. There is something Varian can't pinpoint in his voice. [[''Try the cakes''->Cakes]]

The cakes proved to be poisonous. It begins to set in not even a minute after Varian's bite. "//A shame//," the Prince muses, "//I thought I would've liked you//." The room dimmed until it was naught but black. [[''You did the wrong thing somewhere.'' Try again from scene one?->Act One, Scene One]] [[''You did the wrong thing somewhere.'' Try again from scene two?->Act One, Scene Two]]

Within, the Prince sits at the head of a large, engraved table. Knights, crowns and flames line the edge of the artworks. The tale of the current royal family. The Prince turns at Varian's arrival, and smiles a sick smile. He has something planned. Varian sits opposite of him. A servant comes in and sets a drink ahead of Varian and the Prince, each filled to the brim. He also sets a tart tray down with mini cakes adorning it before he exits. "//Eat, relax,//" the Prince waves a hand, "//enjoy//." [[''Eat off the tart tray''->Cake 01]]

The mini cake tastes dusty and more like oils than the fine ingredients they seemed made of. "//Poison,//" Varian spats. "//Yes.//" The Prince nods his head and makes his face contort to almost be apologetic. "//Here,//" he adds, rummaging in a pocket before throwing a vial down to Varian. "//A thanks for today, embarassing me instead of treating me lightly//." Varian looks from the clear vase of drug and back to the Prince. [[''Take the cure''->"Cure"]] [[''Take the Prince's drink''->Drink 01]]

The vial itself proves to be poisonous. It enhances the poisonous cakes filth within a minute. "//A shame//," the Prince muses, "//I thought I would've liked you//." The room dimmed until it was naught but black. ''You did the wrong thing somewhere.'' [[Try again from scene three?->Act One, Scene Three 2]]

The Prince laughs as Varian rushes him and takes his drink, gulping it down. "//Smart//." He nods approval. "//I like you, Varian. My advisors don't, yet, but I do. I think I can have some fun with you.//" Varian sets the empty glass down, face honing cool rage. //"Lets do this again tomorrow, shall we?"// [[End of Part One->Part Two]]

Your new goal is to earn allies and start to deal your cards. Make the right choices, avoid ''Suspicion'' and you'll be able to move forward. Remember this: in order to ''Keep'' allies and bring them with you into act three, you'll have to prove yourself. Lack thereof proving yourself may result in having to turn back time. [[Act Two Start?->Act Two, Scene One]]

The Prince keeps Varian close in the following days. He'd laughed drunk over Varian's shoulder, whispered to Varian at a banquet about how he planned to humiliate a man at an affairs meeting later in the month, and now treats Varian as a friend and cohort. This keeps Varian safe from suspicions, for now. But also set him apart from allies who were grow more weary and less happy with the Prince. More nobles start to flood the palace and grounds, each more scrutinizing than the last. The Prince takes some in with open arms. Others have knives in their backs before their arrival day ends. <img src="Assets/Lock.png"> [[Continue->Act Two, Scene One 2]]

Today, the Prince, Varian and the clergy and few, honored nobles all sit and feast over a play as a thanks from the Prince to all of them. The Prince plays a game of chess against his cousin toward the back of the room, away from the table of other guests. The people snubbed of invites he calls boring and below his sights, even as they kneel and kiss his knuckles. His advisors almost hadn't made it to the play after trying to clean up the entire debacle. Varian sits at the end of the table. A reprieve from the Prince these days. At his side, the Prince's closest relatives whisper amongst each other. Ahead of him, the few nobles who were invited whisper to themselves as well. [[''Approach the Prince's family''->Family Route 1]] [[''Approach the nobles''->Nobles Route 1]]

The royals, the clergy, all quiet at Varian's approach. [[''Ask about the coronation''->Family RA 1]] [[''Chat about Varian''->Family RB 1]]

Varian knows the nobles invited tonight are recommended to the Prince by his top general. Keeping them in line was the main priority. They have the most land, the largest numbers backing their banners. They were prime targets for an alliance. [[Continue->Nobles Route 2]]

A woman, Varian believed her to be the Prince's great-aunt, starts a spewl on his greatness, his preparedness and his handsome looks. "//How quickly he'll find a wife//," she ends with. "//Even though he's a twat//?" Another laughs. Someone else sends a scowl their way, as if they say too much. "//Remember when he chased those boys into the swamps and one drowned//?" They add on. The Prince's great-aunt shushes them instantly. The others stiffen. [[''Chat about Varian''->Family RAA 1]] [[''Leave and approach the Prince''->Family RAB 1]]

The Prince's family quickly switches off the subject, more interested in themselves than a noble that everyone barely knew before his arrival. Varian tries to remedy the situation as the Prince starts to turn his attention to them. [[''Chat about common people''->Family RBA 1]] [[''Dismiss yourself''->Family RBA 1]]

After sometime, the royals are laughing at Varian's side. He has them fooled almost too easily despite the information one had indulged. Varian knew the Prince as a deliquent and most certainly spoiled, but he is also deranged. How many people he'd led to their deaths and how it could be a debate whether he did it on purpose or not almost shocked Varian. If he hadn't took up studying the Prince and the royals before coming. The Prince eyes them closely. [[''Chat about the common people''->Family RAAB 1]] [[''Dismiss yourself''->Family RAB 1]]

The Prince is toppling his cousin in their game as Varian approaches. He pats the seat next to him. "//Watch//," he commands as Varian sits. "//I'm going to destroy him//." Varian sits with the Prince the rest of the night. [[Continue->Act Two, Scene Two 01]]

The Prince is quick to dismiss his game and come to Varian's would-be aid. Planting a hand on Varian's chest, the Prince quips, "//Forgive him for intruding on you, he's tired//." He turns a heavy gaze on Varian. "//Go and rest//." The royals look on in hilarity, but with tight lips to keep themselves from laughing. Varian nods agreement. [[''Dismiss yourself''->Act Two, Scene Two 01]]

Before you begin the day, it's time to test your ''allies''. You've heard whispers, but what do they mean? [[''TEST ALLIES''->Allies 0]]

Varian spends the rest of the night comfortably at the back of the room. A few nobles shift their gazes to him as the night wears on, but none approach. [[Continue->Act Two, Scene Two 01]]

Varian enters their circle, where they continue to speak ever-hushed without batting an eye at him. [[''Ask about the coronation''->Ally +1]] [[''Chat about joust''->Ally +2]] [[''Chat about yourself''->Leave And]]

A large nobleman claps a hand on Varian's shoulder. There's something about him that seems oddly familiar. "//To tell you like it is, not everyone's too happy about who's ascending//." The large noble waves a hand around the few invited. "//Except for the dumbest of us, who couldn't make it tonight because they couldn't think about anything other than what he'd have done to them if they caught his eye wrong//." He spits into his cup. The others watch Varian and the man. "//A conversation for another time, hm//," the man finishes and ushers a new topic. [[Continue->Act Two, Scene Two 02]]

A few of the nobles erupt with laughter. The Prince and royals look over, most of their faces with sneers, before turning their heads back away. "//Well done//." "//You aced it//." They each talk over one another to congratulate him. [[Continue->Act Two, Scene Two 03]]

Most of the nobles stay in their whispered conversations. One sighs at Varian. [[''Leave and approach the Prince''->Family RAB 1]] [[''Dismiss yourself''->Act Two, Scene Two 01]]

Before you begin the day, it's time to test your ''allies''. You've heard whispers, but what do they mean? [[''TEST ALLIES''->Test 02]]

Before you begin the day, it's time to test your ''allies''. You've heard whispers, but what do they mean? [[''TEST ALLIES''->Test 03]]

You have no allies. You cannot continue the story without someone at your back. [[''Retry?''->Act Two, Scene One]]

You have just enough allies to survive. [[Continue->1 Ally: Act Two, Scene Two]] [[Retry?->Act Two, Scene One]]

The Prince holds a banquet for everyone the following night. It's the last feast before his coronation. There's a jester at every table, maids rushing back and forth with frothing and overflowing drinks, and at the center, the Prince and his family. Varian sits at the table to the right of the royalty. Higher nobles line the stands with him, some drunk and some tired. A few still as sharp eyed as cats. [[Continue->1 Ally: ATST 2]]

You have a grand amount of allies. Well done. [[Continue->2 Ally: Act Two, Scene Two]]

Varian steps up as a a dozen large roasts come out from the kitchens. Varian approaches the Prince's table while the others have their eyes on their next coming course. [[''Attempt to poison the Prince's cousin''->1 Ally: Success 1]] [[''Attempt to poison the Prince''->1 Ally: Fail 1]] [[''Attempt nothing and feign moving seats''''->1 Ally. Cont.]]

Varian steps up as a a dozen large roasts come out from the kitchens. Varian approaches the Prince's table while the others have their eyes on their next coming course. [[''Attempt to poison the Prince's cousin''->2 Ally: Success 1]] [[''Attempt to poison the Prince''->2 Ally: Fail 1]] [[''Attempt nothing and feign moving seats''''->2 Ally. Cont.]]

The move to drop the poison on his cousin's plate Varian covers by feigning a fall onto the Prince's great-aunt. The royals eye Varian with strange looks as dinner is served. [[Continue->Act Two, Scene Two Successful END 1]]

You cannot poison the Prince. [[Try again?->1 Ally: Act Two, Scene Two]]

Because of this choice, you've lost allies. [[Continue->Act Two, Scene Three - 0]]

You cannot poison the Prince. By making this choice, you've lost allies. [[Try again?->1 Ally: Act Two, Scene Two]]

Because of this choice, you've lost allies. [[Continue->Act Two, Scene Three - 1]]

The move to drop the poison on the Prince's cousin's plate Varian covers by feinging a fall onto the Prince's great-aunt. The Prince pays no heed, and dinner is served. [[Continue->Act Two, Scene Two Successful END 2]]

A large assembly is gathered the next day. Various generals and aids sit at the Prince's feet. The Prince himself is too hard to read, even for Varian's skill. A few came to Varian's door through the night, but he'd neglected to answer. The Prince comes to Varian as Varian steps towards the stands of nobles. "//A gift//," he whispers as he jabs a thin and veiled knife into Varian's ribs, "//for the traitor//." The room dimmed until it was naught but black. [[''You did something wrong somewhere. Try again?''->1 Ally: Act Two, Scene Two]]

A large assembly gathers the next day. Various generals and aids sit at the Prince's feet. The Prince himself is too hard to read, even for Varian's skills. No one came for Varian in the night, but the Prince still gives him a prickly look. [[Continue->Ally Meeting]]

There's a note under the door to Varian's borrowed chambers as he enters. All it reads is "''BEWARE''". Halfway through the night, a royal is dead. The clergy is panicked, and the Prince is mad. [[Continue->Act Two, Scene Three - 1]]

There's a note under the door to Varian's borrowed chambers as he enters. All it reads is "''CONGRATS''". Halfway through the night, a royal is dead. The clergy is panicked, and the Prince is mad. [[Continue->Act Two, Scene Three - 2]]

A large assembly gathers the next day. Various generals and aids sit at the Prince's feet. The Prince himself is too hard to read, even for Varian's skill. No one came for Varian in the night, and the Prince gives him a solemn, steady nod. [[Continue->Ally Meeting 2]]

Before you can pass the stage, it's time to test your ''allies''. You've heard whispers, but what do they mean? [[''TEST ALLIES''->Test 02.2]]

Before you can pass the stage, it's time to test your ''allies''. You've heard whispers, but what do they mean? [[''TEST ALLIES''->Test 02.3]]

You have enough allies... for now. [[Continue->Act Three Start 01]]

You have a prime amount of successful connections with allies. [[Continue->Act Three Start 02]]

Your new goal is to earn allies and //''defeat''// the Prince before he can be crowned. Beware, someone //beyond// the royals is against you... and you cannot go back, only restart. [[Act Three Start?->Act Three, Vers. One]]

Your new goal is to keep your allies and //''defeat''// the Prince before he can be crowned. Beware, you cannot go back, only restart. [[Act Three Start?->Act Three, Vers. Two]]

//Three nights before the coronation...// Varian is taken. The cell he gets thrown in is dusty and crammed. Boxes of assorted and expired fruits, vegetables and breads are thrown in. Rats scurry from one corner to the next. Varian tries to run through the scenarios. There is only one that makes sense, with how careful he'd been, how meticulous. Varian has been betrayed. <img src="Assets/Sword.png"> [[Continue->Act 3 Vers 1 02]]

//Three nights before the coronation...// Varian recieves another note under his door. This one has been crumpled and showcases a makeshift plan. Varian tries to run through the scenarios. There is only one that makes sense, with how careful he'd been... his allies were planning to move. All he could do was keep up with them. And so it begins. <img src="Assets/Sword.png"> [[Continue->Act 3 Vers 2 02]]

After a day in his cell, he is dragged out. Ahead of the Prince, his family and the nobles from the dinner and play, Varian is forced to his knees. "//You're accused of would-be treason//," the Prince begins, "//how do you plead//?" [[''"Not guilty."''->Act 3 Vers 1 03]]

"//Do you deny murdering my cousin//?" the prince's face is light. Hard to read again. Varian plays cool and casual grace. [[''"I deny nothing, but it wasn't treason."''->Act 3 Vers 04]]

A nobleman comes forward. "//Did you even care about the people//?" "Yes." "//Where did you come from//?" [[''Answer honestly''->Correct 1]] [[''Lie''->Lie 1]]

"//Why did you come here//?" the Prince asks, raising a hand to the nobles to shush them as they begin to murmur. "//Why try to take my life, my families lives//?" he goes on. Varian snorts. [["''To dismantle the monarchy after the Queen's death, as something that had to be done. You're no better than me.''."->Correct 2]] [["''To join the festivites and win you over, Prince. I wanted more recognition''."->Lie 2]]

"//And why my cousin//? //He was beloved and you took his life//." [[''"He was just a means to an end. Everything was."''->Correct 3]] [[''"To harm you."''->Lie 3]]

"//And why my cousin//? //He was beloved and you took his life//." [[''"He was just a means to an end. This all is. It's not for a crown as I'm sure your advisors would have you think."''->Correct 3]] [[''"To harm you because I wanted to."''->Lied]]

"//Was there anyone plotting with you//?" the Prince's great-aunt steps forward to ask. [["''I plotted alone. I would do it again. I'd do as I have to for the people who don't want you to rule. Because they can't, I thought I'd try.''"->Correct 4]] [["''Yes, plenty. And they will plot without me and move without me and take your crown off your head without me.''"->Lie 4]]

"//Was there anyone plotting with you//?" the Prince's great-aunt steps forward to ask. [["''I plotted alone. I would do it again, I'd do what I'd have to. Someone has to.''"->Correct 4]] [["''Yes, plenty. And they will plot without me and move without me.''"->Lied]]

"//What was your goal? Your real goal//." The Prince asks with amused eyes. He thinks he's won already. He thinks his crown is already on his head. [["''To give the country back to its people. To take what you would steal and sour just as your family has for generations.''"->Correct 5]]'' [["''To end your life the same way you've ended many.''"->Lie 5]]

"//What was your goal? Your real goal//." The Prince asks with amused eyes. He thinks he's won already. He thinks his crown is already on his head. [["''To give the country back to its people. To take what your family has been ruining and hopefully save it.''"->Correct 5]]'' [["To end your life the same way you've ended many. Making it look like an accident."->Lied]]''

"//Who are your enemies//?" the noble from before asks. The Prince cuts him a glare. Varian sits for a moment. [[''"Everyone but the common people, the people who don't want this monarchy anymore."''->Successful Questioning]] [[''"Everyone except myself."''->Successful Questioning]]

"//Why did you come here//?" the Prince asks, raising a hand to the nobles to shush them as they begin to murmur. [["''To dismantle the monarchy after the Queen's death''."->Correct 2]] [["''To join the festivites''."->Lied]]

The Prince makes a swift motion with his hand. From behind Varian, a sword plunges through his chest. You've lied too much... [[Try again?->Act Three, Vers. One]]

The nobles in the room share a look. One nods, and another begins to walk out. The Prince stands. "//Where are you going//?" There's a knock on the door. The noble who began out rips it open to reveal other nobles, from lesser houses with fewer lands and borish titles. Each one is suited in armour. The few knights in the room gather around the Prince, whose allies tighten around them. Varian is all but forgotten at the Prince's feet. [[Continue->SQ 2]]

"//Who are your enemies//?" the noble from before asks. The Prince cuts him a glare. Varian sits for a moment. [[''"Everyone but the common people who don't want this rule anymore."''->Successful Questioning]] [[''"Everyone except myself."''->Lied]]

Varian speaks from the ground before noble and royal swords clash. [[''"I challenge you."''->SQ 3]] [[''"Let the people learn to govern themselves."''->SQ 3]]

The Prince laughs a cruel and sickly sound. He shoves off one of his guards and takes the mans steel sword. Some of the nobleman come into the room. Varian shoves off the floor, still in chains. A noble comes to his side and uncuffs him. Another comes to him with a longsword. [["''What will it be, Prince?''"->SQ 4]]

A guard tries to speak to the Prince, but it's too late. The Prince advances with fierce delight. [[''"You've always let your pleasure get in the way of your sense!"''->SQ 5]]

<audio autoplay> <source src="Assets/Clash.wav"></audio> Nobles fight back the guards who try to aid the Prince. Some clergy come to the doors with cries. The royals who have not been cut down behind the Prince's back try to hide in a corner or run from the room entirely. Varian focuses on the Prince. [[''Parry''->Win Route]] [[''Attack''->Win Route]]

<audio autoplay> <source src="Assets/Parry.wav"></audio> The Prince struggles with his sword. Untrained. [[''Parry''->Win Route Cont.]] [[''Attack''->Lose]]

Varian sees the delight leaving the Prince, who falters in his steps. Raising his longsword a final time, Varian: [[''Cuts the Prince down...''->Ending Complete]] [[''Slash under his legs...''->Half Ending]]

Despite his awkwardness with a blade, the Prince completes a slick move and slashes over Varian's stomach, toppling him. "//Much better.. than poison//." Swords and screams clash and Varian falls onto his front, a wide-eyed Prince stares at his corpse. ''You've lost.'' [[Try again?->Successful Questioning]]

Varian would help aid in burying the Prince's body. //For months, he oversaw the planning for a new path, a better path. The people ruling the people, fairness and grandness in one. Some wanted to elect Varian for his efforts, but in time, as the dust of the ruined monarchy was wiped off, Varian dissappeared with no traces to be found. It was almost as if he hadn't existed, except for a lone woman's gravestone that read "Beloved Mother"... The people flourished as he'd wished.// [[The end.->Player Choice]]

The Prince was brought to the same cell Varian had been freed from. //For months, nobles and common people worked together to build something new, something better than what they had. For months after that, there was some peace... but with the Prince still lurking, crippled and weak in the undergrounds of the palace-turned-monastery, true peace could not be found. Some years after Varian helped the people to build themselves up, the Prince would work to tear them back down. Varian and the Prince would see themselves on opposite sides again, a true battlefield between them.// [[The end... ?->Player Choice]]

The first thing Varian has to do is take on the surviving royals. Killing one hadn't been enough. The plan is simple. Invite them all to the drawing room, case them in and then handle it the way deemed fit. [[''Go to the drawing room''->Drawing room 1]]

Varian doesn't expect the Prince to be among his family in the room. Yet there he is, cushioned on the embroidered couch, lazily slouching and looking bored. A woman with puffy eyes, probably the Prince's cousin's mother, sits beside him, trying to dote, but he shoves her off. [[''Take down the trap''->Failed]] [[''Enter the room''->Drawing room 2]]

Varian should've thought before about the Prince being able to see him dismantling the trap through the cracked door. The Prince noticing him before Varian noticed he did made Varian lose time, while the Prince had all he needed to alert his guards. "//Why, Varian//?" [[Continue->SQ 4]]

The Prince sets his sights on Varian with mild eyes. He seems too tired, drugged. A move an ally must've made without giving Varian any notice. "//Lord Varian//!" the Prince proclaims. "//I should give you the largest lands we have when I ascend//. //Your family has far too little as is now//." Varian projects modesty. "It's too much for me." It's then that the nobles begin to case in the room. With Varian inside. [[Continue->DR 3]]

The royals and their surrounding pool of clergy members rush for the doors as the tar pours in underneath them. "//The nobles plan to burn us all//!" The Prince has barely stood himself up, too much of whatever's in his system weighs him down. This was not the plan. Varian looks at the only window in the room, too high for him or anyone. [[Continue->DR 4]]

It's not long before Varian hears a match light. [[''Call through the door''->Failed 2]] [[''Do nothing''->DR Final]]

The Prince is the only one with enough care and focus on Varian to notice what he's trying. "//You knew, I presume//." His words mix in with the crowds of flames that burst up into the room. The Prince shoves a blade up into Varian's ribs through his back. "//It's better than flame//." [[''...''->Bad Ending]]

Varian watches as the royals and the clergy begin to collaspe. He and the Prine fall last. He swore he hears the window break... [[''...''->Good Ending]]

The Prince would go on to use the members of his family and his clergy to save his own life. //For years, he would reign with tyranny and blood. One of his own generals, one of his most loyal, someone who'd ask history to forget his name, would stab him in the back on the eve of his first and only heirs birth. Trying to save the babe from a wicked father who would make him wicked as well. The Prince is recalled blaming his "sweet friend Varian" for his fate in his last moments of life...// The end. [[Try again?->Player Choice]]

The nobles would come to save Varian before he could fall to the smoke and flames inside the drawing room. //To save the people, the royals and clergy and the Prince himself, in case any would survive the night, had to witness the possibility of Varian falling with them. A few would survive, the Prince not amongst them. Their loyalty to Varian would be all that kept them in line as the years passed. Varian would come to lead in the new age, for a short time, before he abdicates and finds himself where he started, just without a nobles title to use. A better man than his father. And a better world for someone who had been like his mother. Peace thrives for as far into the future as Varian lives.// [[The end.->Player Choice]]

Images (all made transparent by Jaelynn): 1. Crown. Karen Watson. Retrieved from https://thegraphicsfairy.com/vintage-crown-pearls-image/ 2. Lock and Key. Karen Watson. Retrieved from https://thegraphicsfairy.com/vintage-lock-key-norton-review-android-tablet-giveaway/ 3. Swords Crossing. Leslie (?). Retrieved from http://www.grafficalmuse.com/?tag=clip-art Sounds: 1. Ball Music. jcveliz. Retrieved from https://freesound.org/people/jcveliz/sounds/92002/ 2. Ball Dancing (cut by Jaelynn). morganveilleux. Retrieved from https://freesound.org/people/morganveilleux/sounds/389986/ 3. Horse Whinny. InspectorJ. Retrieved from https://freesound.org/people/InspectorJ/sounds/419231/ 4. Sword Clash. JohnBuhr. Retrieved from https://freesound.org/people/JohnBuhr/sounds/326807/ 5. Sword Clash Two. 32cheeseman32. Retrieved from https://freesound.org/people/32cheeseman32/sounds/180828/