Juracan

<center><img src="Assets/Rainforest.jpg"></center> <script> var CostaRicaRainforest = document.createElement('audio'); CostaRicaRainforest.src="Assets/CostaRicaRainforest.wav"; CostaRicaRainforest.loop = true; CostaRicaRainforest.play(); </script> Your stomach rumbles with hunger as you trudge through the dense rainforest. In one hand, you hold a ''machete''. In the other, a ''torch''. You think of your mother’s cooking and how she always managed to make a feast out of the paltry scraps barely able to be called crops. Though there was an abundance of food in the rainforest around you, these crops belonged to the gods. Anyone who took even a single banana would be struck dead. Or so the legend goes. As a light mist falls from the heavens, you wish you were back in your tin-roofed home, but you left to give your family a fighting chance. Despite your familiarity with hunger and poverty, the unknown dangers of the rainforest fill you with a different kind of fear. You know of the venomous snakes and frogs that live in burrows along the ground. You know of the swooping hawks with razor-sharp talons that lurk in the tree canopy. Most fearsome are the territorial boars larger than men that attack if they feel that their habitat has been breached. The terrain isn't much safer. A wrong step will send you careening down the side of the mountain or sliding down an ancient magma tube. The familiar guideposts and stone braziers that marked the many different paths were now gone, leaving you to navigate alone. There's a reason the gods chose to call these treacherous mountains their home. You consider turning around as you proceed through the dense forest but push on when you think of your bedridden mother and starving sisters. Suddenly, you arrive at a forked path. With the misting rains pouring down, it's difficult to make out what lies in each direction. In the middle of the fork is the first brazier you’ve seen in quite a while. A petroglyph of a ''frog'' is carved on it. ''Which way do you go?'' [[Left.]] [[Right.]]

This side of the fork is immediately brighter than the previous path. The canopy overhead is sparser, letting golden sunlight stream in. Brightly colored macaws flit in and out of the trees, singing cheerfully. Small black monkeys with pink faces cling to their vines, looking on with curiosity. Ahead, an abandoned //bohio// sits on stilts, looming near the edge of a cliff that overloooks the mountains of the gods. Its round walls are constructed out of palm wood planks and the thatched roof is made of palm fronds. The hair on the back of your neck stands and you suddenly feel like you're being watched. Do you ''go inside'' or ''turn around''? Or do you ''check out the cliffside''? [[Go inside.]] [[Turn around.]] [[Check out the cliffside.]]

You choose to go ''straight''. A dim orange light flickers at the end of the tunnel, the smell of sulfur thick and suffocating. All encompassing heat causes you to sweat and become increasingly dehydrated. You feel as though you are walking inside of a wood-burning stove. The further you walk, the hotter it gets. Your skin sizzles and soon enough you are crawling on your hands and knees, unable to stay upright. You notice that you ''machete'' is melting. Do you continue or turn back? [[Continue.]] [[Turn back.]]

(REVISED PASSAGE) You head downward, crouching as the roof of the tunnel gets lower and lower. Beneath your feet, the ground is unstable, barely able to keep you from falling through. Suddenly, the mountain begins to shake, causing the passage you are in to drop rocks on your head and dust to fill the air. The ground opens out from under you and you drop into a chamber. Luckily for you, the fall was not steep so your bones are not broken. The edges of the cavern you are now in are filled with boiling water that smells of sulfur. Though you are inside the mountain, a billowing wind cuts through your thin clothes and down to your bones, causing you to shiver. In the center of the room is the remnants of an altar. It seems to have been destroyed and desecrated by someone, and you cannot tell to which god it pertains. You look closer at the stone debris, noting half of a carved ''moon'' glyph. A red painted X almost blocks it out but you are able to see it. //Atabey//, //Yocahu//'s mother, is associated with the moon. She is one of the Taino's most beloved gods, and seeing her altar desicrated confuses you. Who would do such a thing? Do you ''repair the altar'' or do you ''ignore it''? [[Repair the altar.]] [[Ignore it]]

Your skin is set aflame the moment you make contact with his hand. The green flames consume you, though they are not painful. In fact, you feel as if you've dived into the ocean. A pulse of cool energy washes over you and enters your bloodstream. The flames abate and you check yourself over to make sure you aren't injured. You notice that you no longer feel hungry and are bursting with energy. "You have come a long way, Yariel," the man says, standing above you. He was clad in a loincloth made of monstera leaves while his face and body is painted with swirls of yellow and white. You realize that he is a //cacique//, a shaman who has gone into isolation in order to commune with the gods. "You seek to save your family from starvation. If you let me, I can help you." Do you ''accept the //cacique//'s help'' or ''not''? [[Accept his help.]] [[Refuse his help.]]

You leave the bohio behind, tearing through the rainforest and back to the fork in a panic. In your rush, you fall down through an ancient magma tube. You slide down. Down, down, down. Your skin scrapes against the smooth stone as you're swallowed up by the darkness. You land hard, the air leaving your lungs with a wheeze. You struggle to catch your breath for a few moments, finally sucking in a good one. You tentatively take stock of your injuries, worried about seeing a horrible disfiguration. Miraculously, you're completely sound save for the nasty scrapes on your legs and arms. You force yourself up and dust yourself off, the dark cavern you find yourself in lit only by the shaft of light coming down from the hole you'd fallen through. Thankfully, you find your ''machete'', but your ''torch'' has been lost. There are two openings within the cavern. Do you go ''straight'' or ''down''? [[Straight.]] [[Down.]]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[//Juracan// by K. M. Zaskey] [[References]] [[Glossary]] [[Start]]

<center><img src="Assets/Cavern.jpg"></center> <audio autoplay> <source src="Assets/HorrorGhostandWhoosh.wav"></audio> As you enter into a cavern system, a surge of energy flows through you. You feel as if you've entered into a different world. You are officially within the gods' domain. There are four passages. ''Left'', ''Left Center'', ''Right Center'', ''Right''. Which way do you go? [[Left]] [[Left Center]] [[Right Center]] [[Right]]

You enter a large cave riddled with stalactites and stalagmites. The sound of dripping water fills the room, competing with the sounds of inhuman whispers. A small ornate stone altar sits in the center of the room, cast in a single beam of golden light. You take off your pack and place three moldy //yucas// in a pyramid on top alongside a clay cup of salt water and a single copper coin. The moment you placed the offerings on the altar, the beam of light dissipated. You are left alone in the dark cave, even the whispering has stopped. You begin your prayer to //Yocahu//, loud and full of conviction. The sound of dripping water stops altogether as you continue your prayer and your voice begins to get hoarse the longer you go on. When your voice is all but gone when //Yocahu// finally showed himself. He sits on the altar crosslegged with his hands neatly folded in his lap. He is a young man wearing an ornate headress decorated with fish bones, seashells, flowers, and leaves. In one hand he holds a scepter and in the other a ceremonial dagger. "Yariel," //Yocahu// booms. When he says your name, your thirst and hunger and quenched and a burst of energy fills you. "I know why you are here," he continues. "You are blessed, my son, as is your family. Go back to them and reap the rewards of my favor." //Yocahu// gives you a proud fatherly smile and waves his hand. For a moment, your sight leaves you and you panic. But when it returns you find that you are standing back inside your home. Your sisters and mother hug you, dressed in fine linens and looking completely healthy. You look around and find that your surroundings are no longer paltry and dull but beautiful and clean. It is all you've ever wanted for you family. You all live out the rest of your lives in peace with all the food you could want and all the money you could need. Would you like to ''start again''? [[Start]]

You enter the ''center left'' passage. The edges of the new cavern are filled with boiling water that smells of sulfur. Though you are inside the mountain, a billowing wind cuts through your thin clothes and down to your bones, causing you to shiver. In the center of the room is the remnants of an altar. It seems to have been destroyed and desecrated by someone, and you cannot tell to which god it pertains. You look closer at the stone debris, noting half of a carved ''moon'' glyph. A red painted X almost blocks it out but you are able to see it. //Atabey//, //Yocahu//'s mother, is associated with the moon. She is one of the Taino's most beloved gods, and seeing her altar desicrated confuses you. Who would do such a thing? Do you ''repair the altar'' or do you ''go back''? [[Repair the altar.]] [[Go back.]]

You enter the ''center right'' passage. The sound of running water fills your ears as you enter a new cavern. A large opening from the ceiling allows fresh water to flow into a shallow pool, creating a natural waterfall. In the shallow pool is a stone altar decorated with ''moon'' glyphs. You take a closer look at the altar, noticing a small silver //zemi// of the mother of gods, //Atabey//. You have come to pray to her son, //Yocahu//. Do you ''go back'' or do you ''pray to //Atabey//''? [[Go back.]] [[Pray to Atabey.]]

You enter the ''rightmost'' passage. The walls are carved with various glyphs of different animals overlapping one another. The ceiling is painted with images of //caciques//, shamans, worshipping the four main gods: //Atabey//, mother of the gods, //Yocahu//, king of the gods, //Guabancex//, goddess of hurricanes, and //Maqetauri//, god of the dead. Along the walls are different altars dedicated to each god, with various //zemi//, figurines, decorating them. A small, long abandoned //bohio// sits in the furthest corner surrounded by unrecognizable debris. Blood stains trail the entrance to the hut, leaving a chill in your bones. This is a ''dead end''. [[Go back.]]

You ''continue'' on, ignoring the severe dryness in your throat and the scorching agony consuming your nerve endings. You reach the bright orange light but as soon as you walk through, you are plunged into darkness. The darkness is not frightening, however, but welcoming. A cooling sensation overtakes you, soothing your skin and your throat. You no longer feel parched, though you don't feel rejuvinated either. The darkness lifts and you find yourself standing in a foggy cavern lit by glowing orange crystals high above. An expansive stone city looms ahead, more glowing crystals lighting a path toward it. You arrive at an open gate and walk inside the old city, noting how much the architecture reminds you of the cities the //conquistadors// constructed in the 16th century. Your hometown was one such old city, though far more run-down and dull. This city was full of color, hanging plants, lit lanterns, and delicious smells. Even still, as you took in what seemed to be a well-kept town, you didn't see a single person as you made your way down the cobblestone road. As you turn a corner, you notice a dog unlike any you've seen before. It is black and sleek with its ears cropped into triangles and a curled tail. This dog, however, has bat wings neatly folded on its back and bright gold eyes that gleam with intelligence. Not to mention its size and stature. The god is muscular and tall, taller than you and it was sitting. //Follow//, you heard something say inside your mind. With a shock, you realize the dog has spoken to you inside your own mind. You stare at it in amazement as it stands and turns to face away from you. Its head looks back over its shoulder at you. //Follow//, it repeats. Do you ''follow'' the massive dog or do you ''ignore it''? [[Follow.]] [[Ignore it.]]

You ''turn back'' to where you'd fallen through. You can go down or you can pray. Do you ''go down'' or do you ''pray''? [[Down.]] [[Pray.]]

You choose to ''pray''. You close your eyes, get on your hands and knees and offer a prayer up to the king of the gods, //Yocahu//. In the quiet of the tunnel you were in, your voice bounces and echoes all around you. As you pray, your voice begins to be drowned out by otherwordly whispers. Suddenly, a hand is on your back, making you jump and look up. A //vejigante// stands above you, its face hidden behind an ornate wood mask. Long gold fingernails extend from its hands like talons and their exposed chest reveals them to be male. He wears a loincloth made of leaves and scraps of fabric while gold paint decorates his tanned chest and arms. "You have called for my master," the //vejigante// whispered. "I will take you to him." Do you ''trust the vejigante'' or ''not''? [[Trust the vejigante.]] [[Don't trust the vejigante.]]

You return to the previous passages. ''Left'', ''Left Center'', ''Right Center''. Which way do you go? [[Left]] [[Left Center]] [[Right Center]]

A stone wall as high as your knees skirts the edge of the cliff. There are small gaps every few feet that allow water to stream through, creating teeny cascades that rush over the edge and down into a chasm below. As you survey the area behind the //bohio//, you notice a clay pot half buried beneath it. Do you ''open it'' or ''leave it alone''? [[Open it.]] [[Leave it alone.]]

The //bohio// is high enough on its stitls that you are able to crouch beneath it comfortably. The sweet scent of rotting bananas envelops you as you reach the pot. You stick your ''torch'' into the ground, careful that the flames do not catch on the palm hut above you and use your ''machete'' to dig out the basket. Once it is freed from the ground, you reach a shaky hand to pot's lid and lift it. A glowing gold figure sits in the pot, perfectly preserved. You inspect the figure, finding that it is a //zemi// for the god //Yocahu//, the very god you've come to the mountains to seek a blessing from. The figure, you notice, is well-crafted and very old. You believe it would fetch a nice price from the right buyer, which in turn would save your family from starvation and poverty. Do you ''take the //zemi//'' or do you ''leave it''? [[Take the zemi.]] [[Leave it.]]

You decide against opening the basket and turn back to face the cliffside. You notice stone stairs carved into the side of the cliff, leading down into the chasm. They are covered in moss and glistening with water droplets. A stone brazier sits on the topmost step. You see that there used to be a glyph on it but it has long eroded away. You look back at the bohio, the feeling of being watched returning. Do you ''go down the stairs'', ''go inside the //bohio//'', or ''leave the area''? [[Go down.]] [[Go inside.]] [[Leave the area.]]

You place the //zemi// back in its pot and bury it again, this time so no one can find it. You crawl out from under the //bohi//o with your ''torch'' and ''machete''. You face the cliffside again and notice stone stairs carved into its side, leading down into the chasm. They are covered in moss and glistening with water droplets. A stone brazier sits on the topmost step. You see that there used to be a glyph on it but it has long eroded away. You look back at the bohio, the feeling of being watched returning. Do you ''go down the stairs'', ''go inside the //bohio//'', or ''leave the area''? [[Go down.]] [[Go inside.]] [[Leave the area.]]

You place the //zemi// in your pocket and bury the pot back in the ground. You grab your ''torch'' but in your haste leave your ''machete'' behind. You face the cliffside again and notice stone stairs carved into its side, leading down into the chasm. They are covered in moss and glistening with water droplets. A stone brazier sits on the topmost step. You see that there used to be a glyph on it but it has long eroded away. You circle back around to the front of the //bohio// finding that the golden light is now gone. The birds no longer sing and the monkeys stare at you with dissapointment instead of curiosity. The feeling of being watched is intensified, though instead of coming from the //bohio//, you feel as if it is coming from the heavens. The //zemi// feels cold and heavy in your pocket and a strange green light catches your eye. You notice green flames flickering through the slats of the hut, making it seem like someone is inside. Do you ''go inside the bohio'', ''go down the stairs'' or ''leave the area''? [[Go inside.]] [[Go down.]] [[Leave the area.]]

You drop down into a shallow pool of tepid spring water. Tiny, glittering fish nudge your ankles with curiosity. You kneel down, examining the fish further. They are all black save for the white bellies and fins. You also notice that they have no eyes. A splash behind you causes you to drop your ''torch'' in surprise, extinguishing the flames. You are left in complete darkness, your eyes struggling to find any kind of light. Panic eats away at you as you lift your ''machete'' protectively in front of you. However, it provides little solace since you can't acutally see any potential threats. Slowly, a dim purple light begins to emanate from the pool. The teeny black fish from before glow purple while the creeping vines on the cliff walls glow green. The smooth stones within the pool also glow, casting a blue light onto a large creature sitting in the center of the pool. You step away from it, gripping your ''machete'' with white-knuckled intensity. "Do not be afraid, Yariel," gurgled a deep, rumbling voice. "I will not hurt you." Do you trust the creature or do you attack it? [[Trust the creature.]] [[Attack.]]

You make the trecherous climb back up and return to the bohio overlooking the cliff. Do you ''go inside'' or do you ''leave the area''? [[Go inside.]] [[Leave the area.]]

You lower your machete, taking a step closer to the creature. On further examination you find that the creature is a merman of sorts. He has a long, black shark-like tail with purple bioluminescent spots dotting the length of it. His hands are webbed and his nails sharp. His eyes are two white milky orbs that glowed in the limited light and on his forehead was a rod with a glowing purple tip. "I am Tiburon," the merman said with a smile, showing off rows of sharp white teeth. "And I know of your quest, Yariel." He extends one of his webbed hands toward you as if to give you something, but you hesitate. Do you ''accept Tiburon's gift'' or do you ''refuse it''? [[Accept his gift.]] [[Refuse.]]

Here you will find basic definitions of Spanish and //Taino// words along with brief explanations on //Taino// lore. //Juracan//: //Taino// word for hurricane //Taino//: are an Arawak people who were indigenous to the Caribbean and Florida. //Machete//: a large knife almost as big as a short sword. //Coqui//: a small, brown frog native to Puerto Rico. Its distinctive cry of "//coqui//, //coqui//" is heard within the game. //Bohio//: a hut, sometimes on stilts, made from a collection of palm wood planks with a palm frond roof. Sometimes they are circular, sometimes they are square. //Zemi//: icons and fetishes most often carved from rock. //Yuca//: cassava root. //Guayaba//: guava. //Amapola//: hibiscus flower. //Cacique//: Taino priests that commune with the gods and nature; shaman //Vejigante//: a spiritual entity that can look like a man or a woman wearing an ornate wood mask. Some //vejigantes// are benevolent, while are others are decidely not. //Atabey//: the mother goddess from which all beings were borne. She is the goddess of the moon, fertility, freshwater, music, and beauty. Her sacred animal is the frog, namely the //coqui//. She has two aspects that have split from each other: nutring and maternal vs violent and terrible (see //Guabancex//). //Guabancex//: the goddess of storms and volcanoes. She has a violent temper and can be very unpredictable. //Guabancex// is accompanied by twin enteties, //Truenos// (thunder) and //Vientos// (wind). All three together make hurricanes. //Yocahu//: //Atabey//'s son, he is the god of saltwater, agriculture, and of the cassava root. He created the other gods, the animals, and the first person. He is the king of the //Taino// pantheon. //Maqetauri//: god of //Coyabay//, the land of the dead. He resides over the dead alongside his partner, a dog-headed god named //Opiyelguabiran// or, //Opiye// for short. [[Start]]

You extend your hand and Tiburon takes it with his other, pressing something hard and smooth into your palm. His hands aren't cold and slimy but strong and warm. Reassurance shoots up your arm and your fear melts away. "This will ease your troubles, Yariel," he said in his rumbly register. "Bury it near any body of water and your fishing pole will never be empty." You pull your hand back to examine the smooth stone Tiburon had placed in it. A glyph of a shark is etched upon the surface. Tears sting your eyes as you think of the new future you can provide your family. Though this wasn't the god you intended to meet, you did manage a to secure a blessing. You thank Tiburon for his kindness and return home, fishing in streams and lakes as you go. Upon your return, you find that your mother has died in her bed. Your sisters are on the brink of death but you feed them fish and they quickly get better. Though your sisters never fully recover, you are able to provide them with a comfortable life and live somewhat happily. Would you like to ''start again''? [[Start]]

You refuse the creature's gift, still holding up your ''machete'' defensively. "I am only trying to help you," the creature rasped, giving you a glance of extremely sharp teeth. "Besides, you are in no position to refuse. Your mother ails and your sisters starve. Think of them before making a rash decision." Your hands shake as you assess your options. Do you ''accept his gift'' or do you ''attack''? [[Accept his gift.]] [[Attack.]]

Without any more hesitation, you plunge the blade of your machete into the creature's heart. It slumps over, and the gift falls from it's webbed hand and onto your foot. You bend down to pick it up. It is a smooth stone with a glyph of a shark carved onto it. You look at the creature, noting its apperance for the first time. It is a merman of sorts. He has a long, black shark-like tail with purple bioluminescent spots dotting the length of it. His hands are webbed and his nails sharp. His eyes are two white milky orbs that glowed in the limited light and on his forehead was a rod with a glowing purple tip. His glow slowly dulled as black blood leaked out of his chest wound and into the pool. Everything's soft glow went out one by one, like candles being blown out. You were alone in darkness once again. You tried to navigate your way out of the pool and back to the stairs but you couldn't see. With a cry, you gave up and waited for day to come but it never did. After a few days, you die of starvation and dehydration. Would you like to ''start again''? [[Start]]

You accept the //cacique//'s offer of help with a weak nod. The man smiles sadly as he turns to rifle through the many clay pots littering the //bohio//. He then opens a small hatch in the floor, revealing a half buried clay pot. He retrieves a glittering item from the pot and closes the hatch. He then produces a wrapped parcel from another pot and extends the two items toward you. "Bury this //zemi// in your family's field along with the //yuca// root. The //zemi// will protect the fields from being destroyed by animals and natural disasters while also making the soil soft and fertile." You take the items, examining the //zemi// closely. It is a small gold carving of the god //Yucahu//, king of the gods and of //yuca//. You look back up to thank the //cacique//, but he has vanished, leaving you alone in the newly darkened //bohio//. Tears sting your eyes as you think of the new future you can provide for your family. Though you had intended to meet Yocahu himself and beg for a blessing, this seemed a worthy consolation. You leave the //bohio// behind, journeying back to the scraggly farm you called home. Upon your return, you find that your mother has died in her bed and your sisters are on the brink of death. You plant the //zemi// and the //yuca// root, but your sisters are too weak to wait for them to grow. They succumb to starvation and you are left alone on the farm. Though you survive through to the //yuca// harvest, what has sprouted is only enough to keep you alive. You live alone for the rest of your days, straddling the line between life and death. Would you like to ''start again''? [[Start]]

You refuse the //cacique//'s help. You tell him about your plan to ask the king of the gods, //Yocahu//, for a blessing directly. You go on to tell the //cacique// about your dying mother and sisters. You have very limited time to save them, and only //Yocahu// can provide you with the miracle you seek. The cacique seems to understand and nods sadly, handing you a map. "This will help you find the entrance to //Yocahu//'s domain." You examine the map, noting that rather than going ''left'' at the fork as you had, you should've gone ''right''. You thank the //cacique// and leave the //bohio//, following the map closely. You arrive back at the fork and head ''right''. [[Right.]]

You decide to ''follow'' the dog, unable to disobey its commanding tone. Somehow the two of you arrive at a great stone palace at the center of the expansive city in no time at all. A large glyph carved into the stone gate gave you pause. It looked like the bat dog you were following, though the glyph depicted a crown on its head. You freeze, examining the real bat dog standing above you. According to ancient //Taino// legend, when someone dies they are met by //Opiel// and guided to //Maqetauri//, king of //Coabey//, the underworld, to be judged on their worth. If they pass their test, they are granted enternal rest in //Coabey//, if not, they are denied entrance and are cursed to roam the world as tormented spirits for eternity. You realize with a start that this bat dog is //Opiel//, //Maquetauri//'s guard dog and companion. You are dead. //Do not be afraid, boy//, Opiel says inside your mind. The large stone gate rises with a rumble and the two of you enter the death god's domain. The sweet scent of //guayaba// berries envelop you, calming you somewhat. It was a scent that you always attributed to good times, since //guayaba// berries were scarce in your region. Opiel escorts you through a beautiful garden full of //guayaba// trees, //amapolas//, and flitting fruit bats. Once inside the palace, you arrive at an enormous throne room. The rotunda above is so high up, you can't even see it. //Wait here//, Opiel says. //I will fetch my master//. Do you ''wait'' or do you ''run''? [[Wait.]] [[Run.]]

You decide to ''ignore the bat dog''. You turn away into a different alley, following the road down toward a foggy coast. You arrive at the shore to find a mass grave where the ocean should be. Agonized screaming fills the air along with the acrid scent of burning flesh. You shudder at the sight and turn to run, but before you can, an hand clamps onto your ankle and drags you into the grave. You spend the rest of eternity in the mass grave, always climbing but never making it back to the top. Would you like to ''start again''? [[Start]]

You decide to ''wait''. It doesn't take long for //Opiel// to return. He is followed by a giant of a man wearing glittering gold //conquistador// armor. A flowing mane of dark hair cascades down his back and his narrow dark eyes are deep and intense. "So this is our new charge," //Maqetauri// booms. "Yariel." You barely make it to the man's knees he is so massive. You swallow hard and try to steady your shaky body. //He was consumed by magma, Master//, //Opiel// offers. //While on a quest to save his family//. "A noble quest indeed," Maqetauri says, stomping over to his throne and sitting. "Tell me, Yariel, about your quest and what you hoped to achieve." Tears sting your eyes as you recount the details of your quest. How your mother is bedridden. How your sisters starve. How you tried looking for //Yocahu//'s domain in order to beg him for a blessing. //Maqetauri// listens to your tale without interupting, stroking his beard thoughtfully. When you are finished, he closes his eyes and hums. You say a brief, silent prayer to Yocahu, asking for his favor as //Maquetauri// appraises your worth. Usually your prayers fill you with a sense of peace, but not now. You are far too anxious about your fate to relax. As the death god continues to hum and ponder, your mind wonders what kind of tormented spirit you'll be transformed into. In your village, it wasn't unheard of to leave offerings for cannibalistic, ever hungry spirits in the forest surrounding it. Would you join those ranks? Maqetauri chuckles then opens his eyes. "You are a funny one, Yariel, praying to my father to spare you." You blush, unable to hide your shame. "As for my verdict, you are worthy. More worthy than most that have come to my court. And for that, I lay before you a choice. Would you like to live in my city, always cared for and protected, or, will you live here in my palace as a son and trained as a hero?" Do you choose to ''live in //Coyabey//'' or ''live in the palace''? [[Live in Coyabey.]] [[Live in the palace.]]

You decide to ''run''. You leave the throne room, retracing your steps back out to the city. You go down an alley, following it toward a foggy coast. You arrive at the shore to find a mass grave where the ocean should be. Agonized screaming fills the air along with the acrid scent of burning flesh. You shudder at the sight and turn to run, but before you can, an hand clamps onto your ankle and drags you into the grave. You spend the rest of eternity in the mass grave, always climbing but never making it back to the top. Would you like to ''start again''? [[Start]]

You decide to ''live in'' ''//Coyabey//''. Your new home was spacious enough to fit your mother and sisters the moment they passed into the afterlife. When they did, you all spent your eternities together forever, laughing, eating and living in comfort. Would you like to ''start again''? [[Start]]

You decide to ''live in the palace''. //Maqetauri// made good on his promise to treat you as his own son. You lived like a prince, and because of your devotion he showed your living family mercy. Your mother recovered from her illness and your sisters did not die of starvation. They married into wealthy families and spent their days in comfort. You trained alongside //Maqetauri//'s other sons and daughters, becoming proficient with a blade. Your spirit grew stronger and you lived out eternity helping mortals fight off evil spirits in the living world. Would you like to ''start again''? [[Start]]

You decide to ''trust the vejigante''. He extends a hand out to help you up from the craggy ground. The eyeholes of his mask flicker with white light as he appraises you. "You are only a boy yet you have the courage of a good man," the //vejigante // says. "I will take you to my master and I am sure he will grant you his favor." The //vejigante// turns away from you and faces a blank wall. He places both hands on it and whispers and ancient //Taino// word you do not catch. The wall opens a new passage that was not there before. He walks in with no hesitation. Do you ''follow'' or do you head ''down'' the other passage that is open to you? [[Follow]] [[Down.]]

You decide ''not to trust the //vejigante//''. The //vejigante// immediately dissipates into red vapor and is gone, leaving behind the scent of saltwater. Once again, you are left alone with two options. Do you go ''straight'' or ''down''? [[Straight.]] [[Down.]]

You decide to ''follow the //vejigante//''. You enter a large cave riddled with stalactites and stalagmites. The sound of dripping water fills the room, drowning out the inhuman whispers you'd become accustomed to. A small ornate stone altar sits in the center of the room, cast in a single beam of golden light. Three mold //yucas// sit in a pyramid on top alongside a clay cup of salt water and a single copper coin. They were the offerings you'd brought along with you but had lost when you'd fallen down the magma tube. You were surprised that they had somehow made their way here. The //vejigante// gestured for you to kneel before the altar and so you did. He dissappeared shortly after, the beam of light dissipating as well. You are left alone in the dark cave, even the whispering has stopped. You begin your prayer to //Yocahu// again, much louder and full of conviction. The soudn of dripping water stops altogether as you continue your prayer and your voice begins to get hoarse the longer you go on. When your voice was all but gone was when //Yocahu// finally showed himself. He sits on the altar crosslegged with his hands neatly folded in his lap. He is a young man wearing an ornate headress decorated with fish bones, seashells, flowers, and leaves. In one hand he holds a scepter and in the other a ceremonial dagger. "Yariel," //Yocahu// booms. When he says your name, your thirst and hunger and quenched and a burst of energy fills you. "I know why you are here," he continues. "You are blessed, my son, as is your family. Go back to them and reap the rewards of my favor." //Yocahu// gives you a proud fatherly smile and waves his hand. For a moment, your sight leaves you and you panic. But when it returns you find that you are standing back inside your home. Your sisters and mother hug you, dressed in fine linens and looking completely healthy. You look around and find that your surroundings are no longer paltry and dull but beautiful and clean. It is all you've ever wanted for you family. You all live out the rest of your lives in peace with all the food you could want and all the money you could need. Would you like to ''start again''? [[Start]]

(REVISED PASSAGE) You decide to ''pray to Atabey''. You whisper an ancient prayer you learned from your grandmother when you were six years old. "Oh Light of the Moon, Mother of Water, Goddess //Coqui//, hear my prayer. Pity your servant and grant me your everlasting grace, for I am beneath your notice. I ask for your guidance, Mother, for I am lost." For a moment after you finish, the cavern is still and silent. Then, your prayer is echoed back to you by several different whispery voices. Some are female, others male, but the most striking voices are those that sounded completely inhuman. In the whispery darkness of //Atabey//'s cavern, a woman shaped light appears before you. Mother //Atabey//. "Yariel," whispers the light in a harmony of feminine voices. "I know what you seek but I cannot give it to you." Your eyes prick with tears of anger. "But I have come so far, Mother //Atabey//." "I am sorry, my child," she says. "Please, Mother //Atabey//, please ask your son to bless my family," you beg. Mother //Atabey//'s heavenly form dims and dissappears, leaving you alone in darkness once more. The tears that formed spill down your cheeks and you choke out rough sobs. What will you do now? Do you ''go back'' or do you ''go home''? [[Go back.]] [[Go home.]]

You decide to ''repair the altar''. Carefully you construct a new altar from the debris left behind. It is ramshackle and ugly, but it works. A feminine laugh fills the room, causing you to jump. You turn around and see a young woman wearing black rags for clothes. Her hair is a messy rat's nest and her face is pale. Her eyes glow red in the dimness. "You have repaired my altar," she says, amused. "Thank you, boy." She flashes you a perfect white smile, stepping closer toward you. She opens her arms, gesturing to her sad state. "I am //Atabey//, mother of the gods. See how the unbelievers have desicrated my domain. I will reward you your kindness and devotion. Tell me what you seek." You tell //Atabey// about your mother and your sisters. About the starvation and poverty that you face. //Atabey// listens carefully, a sympathetic look on her face. You then tell her about the blessing you seek from Yocahu. "Worthy you are of that blessing, boy. Worry not, for I will intercede on your behalf and ask my son to bless you. But first, I need a sacrifice to show your devotion." You empty your pack of the offering you brought to lay on //Yocahu//'s altar: three moldy yuca, a clay cup of salt water, and a single copper coin. //Atabey// nods with pride. "You have done well. To complete the blessing, however, a piece of your soul must be given. All you must do is blow into this vessel, and I will collect the soul fragment." You study the clay vessel that is shaped like a sideways s. Without anymore hesitation, you blow into it, feeling your head go fuzzy and your limbs go numb as you did. Atabey takes the vessel from you, grinning wildly. She tips the vessel against her lips and drinks your glowing pink soul fragment as if it were wine. Her appearance changes and her black rags turn into a flowing black gown. Her skin brightens and tightens, and her teeth sharpen. The wind in the room picks up, whipping her hair wildly. Two figures coalesce from the darkness, //vejigantes// dressed in ornate wood masks and traditional armor. Seeing her standing next to her two new companions, it was hard to miss who she resembled. This was not //Atabey//, mother of the gods, as you had mistaken. No. This is //Guabancex//, goddess of hurricanes and volcanoes. "Thank you for freeing me, boy," she cackles. "I'll be sure to favor you and your family as I ravage the islands with disaster after disaster." //Guabancex// and her two //vejigantes// leave the chamber in a rush of wind, dissappearing into a clap of thunder and lighting. You leave the cave and back out into the rainforest to find the trees bowing to the newly howling wind. You run to a clearing on a cliff that allows you to see the bay. A whirling hurricane sits on the coast, churning and frothing, slowly collecting water. You have unleashed evil on not just your family, but the world as you knew it. Would you like to ''start again''? [[Start]]

You decide to go home. On your journey home, you are attacked by a jaguar and wounded. Though you are able to continue your trek, you are severely wounded and are made that much weaker and slower. You make it back to your home but it is completely different from how you left it. No longer is it a tin-roofed wooden hut but a house made of stone. The farm surrounding the home is green and lush, overflowing with crops and livestock. Your sisters run out to you, their faces no longer gaunt with starvation, and pull you into an embrace. You laugh and cry with relief. They are alright. Somehow, they are alright. You are carried into the house, surprised by how clean and fresh it is. Your mother stands above the wood-burning stove, cooking rice and beans. It smells delicious. "Yariel," your mother exclaims, running to you. "My son, what happened?" "You...are...saved," you rasp out, reaching a hand up to touch her cheek. Everything is how it should be, whole and healthy, and you know then that your pleading to //Atabey// worked. She influenced //Yocahu// to bless your family, and he did. The warmth of your mother's embrace lulled you into a sleepy state, and you closed your eyes. "Yariel," your mother cried, a tone of hysteria staining her voice. "Yariel!" You drift off into darkness, completely at peace, and never wake up again. Would you like to ''start again''? [[Start]]

You decide to ignore the desicrated altar. You look around at your new surroundings, noting the giant hole above you. The shaft leads to the passage you just dropped out of. You notice another passage leading out of the cavern you are now in. You turn back to look at the desicrated altar. Do you ''repair the altar'' or do you ''go back'' out of the cavern? [[Repair the altar.]] [[Go back.]]