{
(print: "<script>$('html').removeClass(\)</script>")
(if: (passage:)'s tags's length > 0)[
(print: "<script>$('html').addClass('" + (passage:)'s tags.join(' ') + "'\)</script>")
]
}
Two armies meet at the field. Two armies will crash and crawl between puddles of blood. Two armies, one victor, no innocents.
But, for now, they just stopped moving, waiting for the clash to come.
One man stands at the front. At first, he looks like any other soldier. A closer look reveals a pair of hands tied together by a rope on his back.
The enemy cavalry stands right in front of him.
[["Better get out of here."]]
[[Look at the rope]]
{
(print: "<script>$('html').removeClass(\)</script>")
(if: (passage:)'s tags's length > 0)[
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}
The rope is really strong. The man needs a sharp blade and a pair of loyal hands.
The man looks around him. To his left, he sees a warrior priest, to his right, a mercenary.
[[Talk to the priest]]
[[Talk to the mercenary]]{
(print: "<script>$('html').removeClass(\)</script>")
(if: (passage:)'s tags's length > 0)[
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"Where are you going, dickhead? Stay there, don't be a pussy!"
The man holds the position.
There's no time to run away.
The man gets killed by a stampede.
[[Restart->The battle is starting]] The man looks the bald priest in the eyes.
"Man of god, please, untie me."
"I see you carry a burden; those ropes are destined to the sinners."
[["How can I repent?"->"How can I repent\?"]]
[["I'm not a sinner! I had no trial!"]]
The curly moustached mercenary is all ears to the man:
"I need your help to get rid of these ropes."
"Sure. It will cost you, though."
"I have no money on me."
"Looking at your condition, I imagined so. You will pay with a favour. You will deliver a message for me."
[["I will get trampled!"]]
[["What message?"]]
"Father, how can I repent?"
"Blood will cleanse the earth on the final day and the egg of the first night of the Nights will hatch. Do you really wish to start to purify yourself?”
[["Yes."]]
[["No."]]
"I'm not a sinner! I had no trial!"
“I don’t fall for such lies and refuse to hear dishonest people…”
[[“You are right.”]]
[[“Trust me!”]]
"Yes, father, I want to change."
"If so, it's time for you to choose a weapon."
The priest presents two cards, each with a painting of a weapon:
[[Halberd]]
[[Sword]]"Father, I don't think I'm ready to do such sacrifice."
"Just accept your fate in time."
The man knows now that the priest won't help him.
[[Talk to the mercenary->Short talk with the mercenary]]
"I own a debt of blood to the god of Order."
"Indeed. It's time for you to choose a weapon."
The priest presents two cards, each with a painting of a weapon:
[[Halberd]]
[[Sword]]"Please, trust me! I don't know any sins of mine!"
"Every man has a sin. It's only human, after all."
"Why?"
"Only a madman can question a firm truth with such honesty."
The priest looks him in the eyes:
"Are you a madman?"
Suddenly, the priest contorts and morphs into another form altogether. Where was the priest is now a red-haired individual. In a soft but firm voice, the one starts to talk:
"Only a madman can see me for who I am."
The man can't believe his eyes:
"Are you the devil? Are you trying to deviate me?"
The other starts to laugh:
"Oh, your god made you believe in the Path! In good and evil! Only he could deal in absolutes. There's more than one truth, you know?"
"Isn't that just chaos?"
"Oh, but chaos is the greatest form of happiness! You know, before people created gods for joy and life, now they worship death itself. It's just a shame."
The one composes himself:
"So, do you want to join chaos?"
[[Join the god]]
[[Reject the god]]
"I will get trampled!"
The mercenary looks stressed:
"The knights are coming full speed, and in your state, you will get trampled, indeed. So, what's it going to be? You will have to run either way! Just take the message and run!"
[["Give me the message!"]]
"What message?"
The mercenary says as he scribbles a note: "Take this note to the other side, give it to the brave general!"
The mercenary slips the note into a pocket. The ground starts shaking.
"Now, run!"
[[The soldier runs to the other side.]]
The man starts to run as soon the note lands in his pocket.
But who and where is the general?
(set: $value to 2)
Run to the:
[[Allied cavalry]]
[[Frontline - Left wing]]
[[Crossbowmen]]
[[Rear Headquarters]]"Just give me the message!"
The mercenary scribbles a note and slips it into the man's pocket, screaming:
"You're just //wasting time//. Deliver this to the brave general!"
The man starts to run. But who is the general? Where is he?
(set: $value to 1)
Run to the:
[[Allied cavalry]]
[[Frontline - Left wing]]
[[Crossbowmen]]
[[Rear Headquarters]]A big cloud collects above the horses, leaving almost only the knights heads above, looking at the incoming clash. They are waiting for their queue in the battle. The man approaches one of the squires that was still helping his master:
(set: $value to $value + 3)
"Is the general in here?"
"The general hates riding. He's probably already in place at the front, with the advanced forces."
The man nods and runs to the [[left wing->Frontline - Left wing]]. //He's wasted enough time.//
Hundreds of men are gathered at the very front of the imminent battle. It was virtually impossible to distinguish anyone in the great collective. The man has to ask someone about the general:
"I'm looking for the general."
"He's right there."
The person points to a small figure a few feet from there.
[[Go to the general->The brave general]]The crossbowmen stand at the sides of the battlefield, waiting for a command. The man approaches one of them:
"Is the general here?"
"Why would the general be here, you idiot? He's probably at that advanced formation!"
(set: $value to $value + 3)
The man starts to run to the [[left wing->Frontline - Left wing]]. //He's wasted enough time.//Four seasoned men gather around a table. The man approaches one of the servants:
"Which one of them is the general?"
"They are all generals!"
The man decides to talk to the four:
"Sires, I have a message for one general."
A blond and clean-shaven general extends his hand, silently demanding the note. The man points him the written message in the pocket. With the note in his hands, the general glances over the words, eventually replying:
"It doesn't seem that's for any of us seated here. And it's unfortunate that I read it, it's a very intimate and personal message."
Another general, bald and with a long beard, stares at the tied hands:
"You are a prisoner of the god of Order. Why are you delivering notes?"
"It's just a last favour."
"Is it? Or is it an exchange of favours?"
The man tries to maintain calm. A third general, the oldest of them and sporting an open helmet, intervenes:
"Don't worry about us, we don't care about the god. Actually, we are his enemies."
The fourth general, clearly the son of a banto, corrects him:
"We are more competitors than enemies. Being a god is not for everyone, but is within our reach. Let me take your ropes."
The general cuts the man's ropes.
"You're free now. Don't stay, this will get ugly."
The man can neither believe his luck nor can he believe the crazy words spouted by the generals.
[[But the man is free now.->The man is free at last!]] The man moves next to the general:
"Sir, I have a note for you."
"Who sent you?"
"A mercenary, sir."
"A mercenary, you say... Give me the note."
The man points to his pocket. The general takes the note out of it. The reading makes the general increasingly angry and blushed. Suddenly, the general slaps the man in the face. The man notes the general's small hand as he rubs his face in pain. Then, the general folds the note and looks at the man:
(if: $value is 1)[
"You can go now. There's no need to return to the mercenary."
"What about these ropes?"
"That's not my problem."
[[Return to the mercenary]]
]\
(else-if: $value is 2)[
"Oh, it says here to let you loose. Someone here cut this man ropes!"
[[The man is free at last!]]
]\
(else-if: $value is 4)[
"There's no more time. Prepare yourself for battle or run."
"What about these ropes?"
"That's not my problem."
[[Return to the mercenary]]
]\
(else-if: $value is 5)[
"It says here to cut your ropes, but there's no more time. Prepare yourself for battle or run."
[[Battle]]
[[Run]]
]{
(print: "<script>$('html').removeClass(\)</script>")
(if: (passage:)'s tags's length > 0)[
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The man starts to run, knowing in his gut how hopeless it is.
The sky starts to get darker and darker. The time just slows down. Down. down.
Time stops.
Between the frozen figures a hooded silhouette emerges:
"//Time//'s up."
The man startles as he contemplates the talking head on the mysterious figure's hands.
"It's rude to look at someone like that. Especially because you're a nobody. A pawn in a game between superior beings, that's all. And you just made all the wrong decisions. If they were really your decisions..."
The man feels a cold embrace. He tries to move, but he's as immovable as the others on the field now. The decapitated head continues to talk:
"Now you're mine. For all eternity, and beyond. You'll know what that means soon enough."
His mind is blank of himself, filled with the hive mind of all ages. The man ceases to exist.
[[Restart->The battle is starting]]
{
(print: "<script>$('html').removeClass(\)</script>")
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The man is free at last.
As he runs, he knows what awaits him at the end of the line.
The small town where he grew up seems so much colder.
Friends, neighbours, even family, all scorn his return.
There's no honour in life.
As his life holds no value, he throws it away in the cold morning breeze.
[[Restart->The battle is starting]]{
(print: "<script>$('html').removeClass(\)</script>")
(if: (passage:)'s tags's length > 0)[
(print: "<script>$('html').addClass('" + (passage:)'s tags.join(' ') + "'\)</script>")
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"Oh yes, the weapon of wise men. Good luck. Either way, you are going to die. But how a man dies defines him, really."
The priest drops the chosen card. On the ground, a halberd appears.
The man picks up the weapon.
It's indeed a good weapon to keep enemies at bay. But the slaughter around him eventually encircles him.
It suffocates him.
It pierces him.
[[Restart->The battle is starting]]
{
(print: "<script>$('html').removeClass(\)</script>")
(if: (passage:)'s tags's length > 0)[
(print: "<script>$('html').addClass('" + (passage:)'s tags.join(' ') + "'\)</script>")
]
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"Oh yes, the weapon of buffoons. Good luck. Either way, you are going to die. But how a man dies defines him, really."
The priest drops the chosen card. On the ground, a sword appears.
The man picks up the weapon.
With this metallic extension of his arm, the man charges the incoming troops, but the sword is too short and no match for the enemies' pikes.
At first, he dodges the spears' lunges, occasionally using the sword to block the attacks. Now, the pressure is too high. Then, a steel tip strikes his chest.
It tastes like death.
[[Restart->The battle is starting]]The curly moustached mercenary refuses to talk to the man:
"Mind the battle ahead!"
The man has to decide quickly what to do next:
[[Uh, a medallion in the shape of an egg in the ground...->Easter egg]]
[["Run, you fool!"->The voice of reason]]
{
(print: "<script>$('html').removeClass(\)</script>")
(if: (passage:)'s tags's length > 0)[
(print: "<script>$('html').addClass('" + (passage:)'s tags.join(' ') + "'\)</script>")
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The man picks up the medallion. Suddenly, the ground shakes in front of him. A gigantic egg erupts from the earth, squashing entire units.
The eggshell cracks in half, revealing an enormous hairy baby-like creature with horns. His cry kills several soldiers nearby. The rest of the soldiers become deaf.
The man approaches the egg. Two individuals sit on the creature's shoulders, opposite to each other. A red haired one screams at a very calm hooded figure with a head in his hands.
The world becomes darkness.
[[Restart->The battle is starting]] {
(print: "<script>$('html').removeClass(\)</script>")
(if: (passage:)'s tags's length > 0)[
(print: "<script>$('html').addClass('" + (passage:)'s tags.join(' ') + "'\)</script>")
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The man hears a voice. Where does it come from? It resonates everywhere. And nowhere. Whatever it is, the man decides to run.
Reality starts to crumble apart.
Cell by cell.
Pixel by pixel.
In the end, just a voice:
"Wake up! How many times I told you not to pick up the damn egg!?"
A familiar face. He had seen it so many times, but couldn't always remember to whom it belonged. The face contorted as the mouth rambled:
"You have to avoid that bug, it causes some serious malfunction to the machine."
The eyes calmed down a bit:
"Ok, let's restart. Just remember about the egg."
[[Restart->The battle is starting]]
The mercenary is nowhere to be seen.
[[Run]]Without his hands free, it's just suicidal to fight.
[[Run]]{
(print: "<script>$('html').removeClass(\)</script>")
(if: (passage:)'s tags's length > 0)[
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"I guess I have no other choice."
The god crosses his arms:
"You always have more than one choice. You just narrow the options to your comfort. A free man has to be free of comfort too. But I guess you're not a free man."
"I guess not too. Lead the way, oh powerful one."
The god smirks:
"Is freedom of speech a complete freedom? Either way, speak as you like, and follow me."
The man and the god start to walk between the tension of war, above the future carnage.
[[Restart->The battle is starting]] {
(print: "<script>$('html').removeClass(\)</script>")
(if: (passage:)'s tags's length > 0)[
(print: "<script>$('html').addClass('" + (passage:)'s tags.join(' ') + "'\)</script>")
]
}
"I choose to walk alone. I choose to find my own truth."
The god chuckled:
"Well said. Go find your own path."
A strong wind starts to blow. Suddenly, the armies disappear, leaving only the plains.
"You may do it in peace now."
But the man is restless:
"Where are the people?"
The god ponders and answers:
"Don't worry about that. Just know that reality is not always what it seems."
As the god vanishes in plain sight, the man starts to walk.
To where? He doesn't really know...
[[Restart->The battle is starting]]