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<span class="title">Interpolation</span> <span class="author">a tarot-inspired storytelling game</span>

<<nobr>> <li>[[cards|Your Cards]]</li> <li>[[inventory]]</li> <li>[[about]]</li> <li><<link "credits">><<script>> Dialog.setup("Credits"); Dialog.wiki(Story.get("credits").processText()); Dialog.open(); <</script>><</link>></li> <</nobr>>

[img[images/cover1.png]] !!A tarot-inspired storytelling game !!!About the Game and Design (short version) Created for the 2023 Queerness and Games Jam, INTERPOLATION is an interactive and collaborative story-building experience between the player and the game creators. The title, meaning to insert something of one nature into something of another, refers to our collage-style approach in both design and gameplay. A team of ten artists and storytellers, we each inserted a bit of our mediums, styles, and perspectives into this game. We invite players to do the same—not only do your choices impact the narrative, but you will also encounter blank textboxes to fill in. To learn more, see the "about" tab at the bottom of this page. !!!suggestions for queering this game • play with a friend. take turns responding to prompts, respond to them together, or respond as two characters journeying together! • use the card meanings to come up with prompts for roleplaying games for either a solo journalling or group tabletop version. • interpret the cards and scenes differently—even against—our descriptions. • play to fail. sometimes failure is built into the game. • start over. play for the transformation you desire. !!!care warning Not all journeys will be happy ones. In particular, some journeys involve uncomfortable transformations, social rejections, mild swearing, and mentions of violence. We are working on a list of more specific content warnings, but please leave a comment if you want to know about something specific. And please take care of yourself while playing; pause as needed <3 <span class="next"><<button "Begin your journey." "2">><</button>></span>

<<set $start to false>> <<cacheaudio "theme" "audio/theme.mp3">> <<createplaylist "theme">> <<track "theme">> <<track "theme">> <<track "theme">> <<track "theme">> <<track "theme">> <<track "theme">> <<track "theme">> <<track "theme">> <<track "theme">> <<track "theme">> <<track "theme">> <<track "theme">> <<track "theme">> <</createplaylist>>

/* custom widgets go in here */ <<widget "are">><<switch $plural>><<case true>>are<<case false>>is<</switch>><</widget>> <<widget "were">><<switch $plural>><<case true>>were<<case false>>was<</switch>><</widget>> <<widget "s">><<switch $plural>><<case true>><<case false>>s<</switch>><</widget>> <<widget "es">><<switch $plural>><<case true>><<case false>>es<</switch>><</widget>> <<widget "re">><<switch $plural>><<case true>>re<<case false>>s<</switch>><</widget>> <<widget "ve">><<switch $plural>><<case true>>ve<<case false>>s<</switch>><</widget>>

!!First Card <<nobr>> <ul> <<if (ndef $first)>>You have not yet chosen your first card.<</if>> <<if $first>>$first <</if>> </ul> <</nobr>> !!Second Card <<nobr>> <ul> <<if (ndef $second)>>You have not yet chosen your second card.<</if>> <<if $second>>$second <</if>> </ul> <</nobr>> !!Third Card <<nobr>> <ul> <<if (ndef $third)>>You have not yet chosen your third card.<</if>> <<if $third>>$third <</if>> </ul> <</nobr>> <<button "Return" $return>><</button>> /* or <<link "Return" $return>><</link>> */

!!Character Inventory <<nobr>> <ul> <<if (ndef $object)>>You are not carrying anything on you.<</if>> <<if $object>>$object <</if>> </ul> <</nobr>> <<button "Return" $return>><</button>>

!!Credits for Interpolation [[Maya Chorney|https://inkmagelibrarium.itch.io/]]: Game Design, Writing (The Path of the Monster), and the Muse Card [[Madi Funk|https://lesflaya.itch.io/]]: The Monster Card [[jodediah holems|https://jakeyouh.itch.io]]: The Portal Card [[Kelton Hollister|https://squeltron.itch.io]]: The Map Card [[Khavo|https://khavo.itch.io/]]: The Weaver Card [[Phphpichy|https://phphphichy.itch.io/]]: The Magician Card [[Dani Pybus|https://www.instagram.com/danielle_pybus]]: Writing (The Path of the Web) [[Alexis Rounds|https://last-wednesday.itch.io/]]: Music, Sound, and the Sun and World Cards [[Storm|https://bullstorm6.itch.io/]]: The Tower Card [[Taylor Taniguchi|https://tailzz.itch.io/]]: Writing (The Path of the Portal) !!Credits for the Twine Template [[Template by a.w. morgan|https://awmorgan.itch.io/twine-sugarcube-template]] [[Sugarcube 2 Documentation|https://www.motoslave.net/sugarcube/2/docs]] [[OpenDyslexic Font by Abbie Gonzalez|https://opendyslexic.org]] [[Notify Macro by Chapel|https://github.com/ChapelR/custom-macros-for-sugarcube-2]] [[Live Update Macro by Cycy|https://github.com/cyrusfirheir/cycy-wrote-custom-macros]]

<<set $they to "They">><<set $plural to true>>\ Here's an example of how the 'Live Update' macro by Cycy works: *<<link "She/Her">><<set $they to "She">><<set $plural to false>><<update>><</link>> *<<link "He/Him">><<set $they to "He">><<set $plural to false>><<update>><</link>> *<<link "They/Them">><<set $they to "They">><<set $plural to true>><<update>><</link>> <<liveblock>> $they <<are>> super fun and love<<s>> cupcakes. <</liveblock>> You can also use it to update the dialog labels! Try it by opening the settings menu and toggling the dialog labels button :) <<liveblock>> *<<link "Choice with flirt label $flirt_label" "4">><</link>> *<<link "Choice with info label $info_label" "4">><</link>> <</liveblock>>

<<playlist "theme" play>> Welcome, Storyteller. Select a card to embark on your journey. [img[images/cardback.png][Monster]] [img[images/cardback.png][The Portal]] [img[images/cardback.png][The Web]]

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][Monster 2]] [[Reveal your choice.|Monster 2]]</span>

You are hiding in a cramped and musty space, your fear a palpable thing in the air. Outside, the others are searching for you. It won't be long before they find your hiding spot. You need to hurry—you need to get away. You must leave behind the world you thought you knew alongside the person you can no longer be. Moving in this strange new body will not be easy. Moving //undetected// will be an even more substantial feat. As you wait for the perfect moment to make your getaway, you take note of how the transformation has changed you, inside and out. What senses do you have? Are you humanoid, zoomorphic, or entirely otherworldly? How many limbs do you have? What new skin do you wear? How do others perceive you? Do you feel pain anywhere in your body? What does it feel like, physically, to be in this hiding spot in a new body? What emotions are you experiencing right now? <<textarea "$Monster" "Describe your transformation and how you feel right now." autofocus>> Beyond your hiding spot, the others' shouts crash into one another, merging into a single percussion track that reverberates in your chest. You can imagine them calling out your name—"Oh, $name, where are you?"—in an eerie singsong. Someone pauses near your hiding spot. You brace yourself for a fight, but they hurry away just as suddenly. You don't have time to question the reason. This is your chance. <span class="next"><<button "Escape." "Monster 4">><</button>></span>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][The Portal 2]] [[Reveal your choice.|The Portal 2]]</span>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][The Web 2]] [[Reveal your choice.|The Web 2]]</span>

<<set $first to "The Monster">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/monster.png]]</span>//The Monster, also known as the Mirror, is an invitation to embrace your otherness. This figure asks you to find power in the strange within yourself and to live authentically even when others misunderstand or fear you. However, the Monster also cautions you against individualism and invites you to seek out community amongst fellow outsiders// What is your name, Dreamer? <<textbox "$name" "" autofocus>> <span class="next"><<button "Begin down the Path of the Monster." "Monster 3">><</button>></span> <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio> <<set $name = $name.trim()>> <<if $name eq "">> <<set $name = "Wanderer">> <<endif>>

<<set $first to "The Portal">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/portal.png]]</span>//The Portal may be a physical object or place, a being, or an idea. Regardless of how it manifests, the Portal is always an invitation to believe that other worlds are possible. It opens up space to build and access worlds beyond your own.// What is your name, Dreamer? <<textbox "$name" "" autofocus>> <<button "Begin down the Path of the Portal" "Portal 3">><</button>> <<set $name = $name.trim()>> <<if $name eq "">> <<set $name = "Wanderer">> <<endif>> <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

<<set $first to "The Weaver">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/weaver.png]]</span>//The Weaver, also known as the Web, asks you to examine the social networks in which you are embedded...Is community a place of comfort and safety for you, or is it one of harm and exclusion? The Weaver also strives to make a beautiful tapestry with the yarn they were given. This figure invites you to weave both your story and community anew by using the possibilities at hand.// <span class="next"><<button "Begin down the Path of the Weaver." "Web 3">><</button>></span> <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

Your name is $name. You live on the third floor of an apartment complex shaped like a grey cube. You have one window, located in your bedroom, which faces another apartment complex that’s a carbon-copy of your own. Your smoke detector beeps every two hours, and you’ve given up on getting your landlord to fix it. Above you lives an amateur tap dancer, and beneath you lives the drummer of a metal band that often hosts their practice sessions. You have a job, and you have friends, and this gives you a leg up on some others you know. You feel extremely bored with your situation, but also appreciate the privilege that comes with being bored in the first place. Your day begins as you roll out of bed and get ready for work. Before you leave your apartment, you bring something with you. What is it? //Your Lighter// You got this from the gas station a year ago. You recognize that fire is a powerful tool, and thoughts of destruction ease your boredom. The lighter is reliable and didn’t even break when you dropped it in a puddle that one time. You trust it. //Your Phone// The screen has a long crack down the middle—it’s been there for months now, and it’s only getting worse. Sometimes little particles of glass spill out from where the crack is widest, and it’s only a matter of time before a piece falls into your eyes or your food or maybe even your ears. The screen still works though, and it’s good to look at when you want to avoid eye contact. Sometimes you swear you feel it buzzing, even when you don’t get a notification. //A Pepperoni Stick// You’re hungry. <<listbox "$object" autoselect>> <<option "Lighter">> <<option "Phone">> <<option "Pepperoni Stick">> <</listbox>> <<button "Go outside." "Portal 4">><</button>>

You take the $object and leave the apartment building. You walk towards the bus station, ready to begin your commute. You take a look at what you’ve brought with you, and in a reflective mood you ponder why you chose the object you did. What does it mean? What kind of person are you? <<textarea "$portal1" "Begin telling your story here, Wanderer." autofocus>> <<button "Continue on your commute." "Portal 5">><</button>>

Suddenly, without much warning at all, a swirling vortex of furious light opens in front of you. You can hardly register what’s happening before it begins pulling you in with such aggression that you feel your body nearly pull apart like kneaded dough. You’re tossed through a dimension of swirling colours, tumbling down a tunnel for so long you fear it may never end. Just when you feel you might split in two, you’re thrown out the other side of this strange portal. It closes behind you and disappears, leaving you trapped in this new world. What sort of world is this place? Do you see nature, technology, civilization? How different is this world to that of our own? <<textarea "$portal2" "Describe what you see and feel." autofocus>> <<button "Explore more of this world." "Portal 6">><</button>>

Select a card to continue your journey down the Path of the Portal. [img[images/cardback.png][The Muse 2]] [img[images/cardback.png][The Monster 2]] [img[images/cardback.png][The Weaver 2]]

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][The Muse 2.2]] [[Reveal your choice.|The Muse 2.2]]</span>

<<set $second to "The Monster">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/monster.png]]</span>//The Monster, also known as the Mirror, is an invitation to embrace your otherness. This figure asks you to find power in the strange within yourself and to live authentically even when others misunderstand or fear you. However, the Monster also cautions you against individualism and invites you to seek out community amongst fellow outsiders.// You begin to explore this new world, taking in the sights and sounds, testing to see if any laws of physics differ in comparison to where you come from. The more time you spend in this place, the more a sense of anxiety begins to gnaw at you. You are an outsider here, surrounded by unfamiliarity. A creeping sense of doom begins to twist in your gut. You hear something. Maybe you’re just being paranoid? No…no, there is definitely something here. You turn around, and instantly you recognize this thing as a monster. It’s not like you’ve ever seen a monster in real life, but you can tell by looking at this thing that there’s nothing else it could possibly be. It seems threatening and angry, and you can tell it’s looking right at you. What does this monster look like? Is it tall, or short? How many eyes does it have? How many limbs? What is it covered in, and what does it remind you of? How does it make you feel? Are you afraid of dying? <<textarea "$portal3b" "Describe the monster's appearance and how you feel right now." autofocus>> <span class="next"><<button "Continue." "Portal 7b">><</button>></span> <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][The Weaver 2.2]] [[Reveal your choice.|The Weaver 2.2]]</span>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][The Monster 2.2]] [[Reveal your choice.|The Monster 2.2]]</span>

<<set $second to "The Weaver">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/weaver.png]]</span>//The Weaver, also known as the Web, asks you to examine the social networks in which you are embedded...Is community a place of comfort and safety for you, or is it one of harm and exclusion? The Weaver also strives to make a beautiful tapestry with the yarn they were given. This figure invites you to weave both your story and community anew by using the possibilities at hand.// In this new world, you find traces of a civilization. Perhaps it’s writing, scribed on scraps of parchment or etched in stone, unable to be deciphered by you. Maybe it’s music that you hear—elegant and sharp melodies that flit through the air, growing louder as you track their source. Whatever it is, you use what you can find to track down a civilization of humanoid beings. Describe what these individuals look like. How similar are they to us, if at all? What does this community look like, and how does it compare to the community you've left behind in your original world? <<textarea "$portal3c" "Write down your observations of this community." autofocus>> <span class="next"><<button "Continue." "Portal 7c">><</button>></span> <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

<<set $second to "The Muse">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/muse.png]]</span>//The Muse, also known as the Fount, is the source from which you seek inspiration and creative energy. It may manifest as a space, an object, a person, or simply as an inexplicable sensation that overcomes you at random. The Muse calls on you to create. // What is this feeling? There is a buzzing hyperactivity erupting from your mind and spreading into your bones. You feel jittery, restless, and excited. Has the portal done something to you? Has it scrambled your senses or altered your mind? You realize with a start that what you’re feeling is the call of the muse! Creation! God, how long has it been since you felt anything at all like this? These new surroundings, so foreign to your normal life, give you a fresh perspective and newfound vitality. Struck by inspiration, you begin to create. It’s a busy process—you’re barely able to contain yourself as you pour your heart out. You channel your emotions, whatever they may be, into your work. What medium is your work, and what does it express? How does the strange otherworld you’ve described lend itself to act of creation? Do you use the $object you brought with you at any point in your process? <<textarea "$portal3a" "Describe what you create, and how." autofocus>> <span class="next"><<button "Continue." "Portal 7a">><</button>></span> <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

Select a final card to determine where your journey will take you. [img[images/cardback.png][The Tower 2]] [img[images/cardback.png][The Sun 2]] [img[images/cardback.png][The World 2]]

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][The Sun 2.2]] [[Reveal your choice.|The Sun 2.2]]</span>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][The World 2.2]] [[Reveal your choice.|The World 2.2]]</span>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][The Tower 2.2]] [[Reveal your choice.|The Tower 2.2]]</span>

Select a final card to determine where your journey will take you. [img[images/cardback.png][The Tower 2b1]] [img[images/cardback.png][The Magician 2.1]] [img[images/cardback.png][The Map 2.1]]

<<set $third to "The Sun">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/sun.jpeg]]</span>//The Sun bathes you in its radiant warmth, filling you with a deep sense of contentment, fulfillment, and happiness. Representing optimism, this is a "yes" card indicating success in all that you pursue. When inverted, however, the Sun can also represent pessimism or a warning against unrealistic expectations.// You had little purpose back home, or so you tell yourself. You had a job, and you had friends, but there was still a deep dissatisfaction with your situation. No, not just dissatisfaction. Boredom. Unrelenting, all-encompassing boredom. But here in this new world, the boredom goes away. Staring at your creation, you feel a sense of purpose for the first time in your life. Was that the intention of the portal? To whisk you away from your suffocating life to give you a breath of fresh air? In this place you’re free to create. No jobs, no ties, nothing but absolute freedom. Absolute freedom…but that’s all. Everything you once had is gone. Well, everything except for the $object you brought with you. But everything you were, whoever you were before this place, it no longer matters. This is a completely fresh start. How do you feel about that? You are left in this world with no clear way to escape, but also with a newfound sense of purpose and creativity. Are you content, or dissatisfied? Do you carve a life here, or do you try to find a way back home? <<textarea "$portal4b1" "Describe what becomes of you." autofocus>> The End. <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

<<set $third to "The World">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/world.jpeg]]</span>//The World represents the completion of one cycle and the beginning of another. It indicates accomplishment, travel, and success in your endeavours. However, when the World appears on your journey, it may also be a warning sign for delays, obstacles, a lack of closure, or a sense of emptiness.// Looking upon your creation, you feel a sense of pride and power course through you. <<nobr>> <<if $object is "Lighter">>The fire within you seems to grow stronger the more you look at your completed masterpiece.<</if>> <<if $object is "Phone">>Your creation connects to something within you, healing something long broken. You feel better—fuller.<</if>> <<if $object is "Pepperoni Stick">>Your hunger to create is not unpleasant—in fact, you experience it as a feeling of power.<</if>> <</nobr>> Suddenly, you see your creation shift and change in a manner it was never constructed to. It shimmers like light on water before settling. Then, with a great roar, you see the world around you begin to change. The particles of this space shift and rearrange, transforming themselves into a new environment. You recognize the shapes, the colours, and the feelings as your reality changes once again. It’s your creation, reflected back into the world. What you create has the ability to bend the world to its image. You smile, and begin to create once more. What is it that you create? A new civilization? A new planet? Or perhaps a new universe? <<if $object is "Pepperoni Stick">>Maybe even another pepperoni stick?<</if>> Or maybe you create a portal and return home? The choice of what you create, and what the results may be, are up to you. <<textarea "$portal4c1" "Describe what happens, and what becomes of you." autofocus>> The End. <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

Select a final card to determine where your journey will take you. [img[images/cardback.png][The Tower 2c]] [img[images/cardback.png][The Muse 2c]] [img[images/cardback.png][The Portal 2c]]

<<set $third to "The Magician">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/magician.png]]</span>//The Magician connects this realm with the next and is the ultimate manifester, using their resourcefulness and the force of their desire to create with unlimited potential. This figure encourages you to express mastery over your will, to utilize your resources cleverly, and to seek out magic even in the mundane. However, the Magician also cautions you against using your gifts to manipulate or harm others.// This monster messed with the wrong accidental inter-dimensional traveller. It looks threatening and dangerous, sure, but there’s no way you’re going down quietly. <<nobr>> <<if $object is "Lighter">>Your hands grasp your reliable lighter, and your daydreams of destruction return—but this time with a clear target standing right in front of you. You are going to light this asshole up. //Do// you light this asshole up? Or does something go wrong at the last minute, and you’re forced to improvise? <</if>> <<if $object is "Phone">>Your hands grasp, and nearly cut themselves on, the shattered screen of your phone. Holding it tightly almost gives you a sense of safety—it’s something familiar, anyways. Wait, did you just get a text? No, of course not. You’re imagining it again. But this monster in front of you is as real as can be. You have to act now. The shattered glass in your phone—that’s something. You can shatter it more and throw the glass shards at the creature. This way, you could blind it and give yourself time to either escape or finish it off. Does your plan with the phone work? Or does something go wrong at the last minute, and you’re forced to improvise? <</if>> <<if $object is "Pepperoni Stick">>You hear a terrifying rumble, and you think for a moment that it’s the roar of the monster—possibly the last thing you hear. But then you hear it again, and it’s not its roar, but the rumble of its stomach. You realize the monster is not focused on you, but what you have on you. Your pepperoni stick. It’s hungry, just like you are. You could use your pepperoni as a distraction to run, or to give you time to find the killing blow. Or perhaps you could use the pepperoni to tame this creature? Were you right? Was it more interested in the pepperoni than you? Or were you wrong, and now you have to improvise something within the next five seconds or you’re dead? <</if>> <</nobr>> Maybe violence isn’t the answer at all, and pacifism is the true way to go about this? Maybe you’ve got an even better idea? Either way, this monster is coming towards you pretty fast and all you’ve got on you is your $object. Better decide quickly. <<textarea "$portal4b2" "Describe what happens, and what becomes of you." autofocus>> The End. <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][The Tower 2c2]] [[Reveal your choice.|The Tower 2c2]]</span>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][The Muse 2c2]] [[Reveal your choice.|The Muse 2c2]]</span>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][The Portal 2c2]] [[Reveal your choice.|The Portal 2c2]]</span>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][The Tower 2b]] [[Reveal your choice.|The Tower 2b]]</span>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][The Magician 2]] [[Reveal your choice.|The Magician 2]]</span>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][The Map 2]] [[Reveal your choice.|The Map 2]]</span>

<<set $third to "The Tower">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/tower.jpeg]]</span>//The Tower arrives alongside destruction and upheaval—it is a card of disaster. However, with this chaos also come opportunities for revelation and transformation. In this rendering of the card, the Tower shines as the sun sets, gathering energy to face the darkness of the night and bringing good omens. It reminds you of the strength you can access both within yourself and from your surroundings. The Tower asks if will you rebuild from its ashes.// <<if $object is "Lighter">>You realize with a bit of a sinister feeling that these individuals are beyond trusting. You’ve walked directly into their home as a stranger, and they’ve done little to treat you with caution—let alone tell you to leave. A sense of power falls into your hands as you speak to these people—a power you never could’ve had back in your original world. These individuals look so, //so// easy to control. Easy to destroy too, if you wanted. Your fantasies of destruction flare up inside you. You still have that lighter. Where does this desire come from? Has your insufferably boring life from the otherworld rotted away your senses? Perhaps the portal altered you in some way, and changed your chemistry? Or perhaps it’s from fear—fear that these people might do the same to you if you do not act first. What do you do with these desires? How do you fight them, if you fight them at all? What will happen to this world, and to you? <<else>> These people do not trust you. Not as you are, anyways. You are different from them, and they will not stand for it. If you want their hospitality, to eat their food and live among them, you must become one of them. You ask what this transformation will entail, and they do not give you a straight answer. It is painless, they explain, but of course they could easily be lying to you. You ask again what the transformation will entail, and they do not tell you. They simply gesture for you to follow them. Do you accept their terms and allow yourself to be transformed? You never liked this current form much anyway, did you? Or will you refuse and turn back on them, braving this unfamiliar world by yourself in isolation? What path will you choose? <</if>> <<textarea "$portal4c1" "Describe what happens, and what becomes of you." autofocus>> The End. <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

<<set $third to "The Portal">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/portal.png]]</span>//The Portal may be a physical object or place, a being, or an idea. Regardless of how it manifests, the Portal is always an invitation to believe that other worlds are possible. It opens up space to build and access worlds beyond your own.// This community has grown to accept you with open arms. How long that takes is up to you, but you have found yourself a community of like-minded beings that inspire you to grow and change positively, whatever that may entail. You enjoy the conversations, you enjoy the work, and your neighbours are not amateur tap dancers nor are they metalheads hosting band practice, like you were once subjected to long ago. In this place you find your purpose, whether it be in your work or in your relationships or in simply being. Your feelings of boredom have long gone, and what remains is contentment. <<textarea "$portal4c2" "Describe what your new life is like in this community." autofocus>> <<button "Continue" "The Portal 2c3">><</button>> <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

<<set $third to "The Muse">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/muse.png]]</span>//The Muse, also known as the Fount, is the source from which you seek inspiration and creative energy. It may manifest as a space, an object, a person, or simply as an inexplicable sensation that overcomes you at random. The Muse calls on you to create. // You find someone. You meet a lot of people, actually. But there is one person here that particularly snags your attention. Maybe it’s because you find them attractive, if you’re into that. Maybe they seem kind, or maybe you heard them making people laugh and you hoped you could make them laugh, too. Maybe they’re the only person here who seems willing to give you the time of day. Whatever the reason, it’s them who approaches you first. “$name... that’s your name, right?” You find yourself responding. The conversation lasts only minutes, but within that time you realize that this person seems to understand you better than anyone ever has, and you understand them just as well. Your collective hopes and fears seem to compliment each other so neatly that you fit together like a puzzle. Minutes, hours, and finally days pass in each other’s company, and it feels like no time has passed at all. Could your previous inter-dimensional warp have altered your perception of time? Or are you two just soulmates? Platonic, romantic, or something else entirely—that’s up to you. What becomes of this relationship? Do you two live happily ever after, or is this simply too good to be true? There must be a catch, right? <<textarea "$portal4c3" "Describe what happens, and what becomes of you." autofocus>> The End. <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

Suddenly, a snap of electricity materializes from the air, and a swirling vortex of light appears in front of you again. You realize that this is the same portal that brought you to this world. You could finally go home. But, is home truly where you want to be? Your friends back there must miss you, surely. But what of your newfound connections here? The portal is fading quickly, flickering in and out of existence. You only have moments to decide. [[LEAVE]] or [[STAY]]?

Just as it's about to disappear, you throw yourself into the portal. <<textarea "$portal4cc3" "Describe what happens, and what becomes of you." autofocus>> The End.

You do not move. Instead, you wait as the portal closes in on itself with a sense of finality. <<textarea "$portal4cc4" "Describe what happens, and what becomes of you." autofocus>> The End.

The village shines brightly under the glow of the Harvest Moon. Music is playing and folks are merry. There are gourds galore, and the air is cool and crisp. Your friends are dancing and laughing around the campfire while you sit on a log and watch them. Other villagers gather for a pumpkin growing contest in the barn. A delicious feast has just been shared and everyone is full and content. For whatever reason, you feel different. Despite being very much a part of the community, having worked hard all year to celebrate a bountiful harvest, you feel like an outsider tonight. You feel <<textbox "$feeling" "" autofocus>>. The night feels heavy and uncertain. Describe this feeling in greater detail. Where do you feel it in your body? What thoughts are coming up? <<textarea "$web1" "Begin telling your story here, Dreamer." autofocus>> <span class="next"><<button "Continue." "Web 4">><</button>></span>

Perhaps you no longer have a place in this community… ...You decide to leave the campfire and find another harvest activity that might bring you a greater sense of belonging. Where are you going? Select a card to find out. [img[images/cardback.png][webMap]] [img[images/cardback.png][webMuse]] [img[images/cardback.png][webWorld]]

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][webMuse2]] [[Reveal your choice.|webMuse2]]</span>

<<set $second to "The Muse">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/muse.png]]</span>//The Muse, also known as the Fount, is the source from which you seek inspiration and creative energy. It may manifest as a space, an object, a person, or simply as an inexplicable sensation that overcomes you at random. The Muse calls on you to create. // You decide to pay tribute to Harvest God for this most bounteous season. Enoch, as they are sometimes called, is a hulking mass of straw and vegetation in the shape of a scarecrow, and the overseer of the Harvest Festival. They are tall and slim, towering over anyone who speaks to them. You have never asked them for a wish before, but perhaps you could ask for something small to make yourself feel better. You catch their eye, and it fills you with a sense of <<textbox "$feeling" "" autofocus>>. <<textarea "$webMuse" "Describe the feeling in greater detail here." autofocus>> They smile at you knowingly as you approach. What do you desire?... <span class="next"><<button "Continue." "webMuse3">><</button>></span> <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][webMap2]] [[Reveal your choice.|webMap2]]</span>

<<set $second to "The Map">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/map.png]]</span>//The Map is a subjective representation of a physical or social space that asks you to re-examine what you think you know, to question what seems natural or "common sense". It is your guide to the earth, the stars, and beyond—if you so choose. Look closely, and you will see the map and sky are one; look too closely, and you may fail to see the rest of the world around you. The sagacious snail encourages you to slow down and notice all three realms, its rainbow trail bridging map, earth, and sky. Follow the snail’s guidance and you’ll notice its neighbors frolicking through the forest and constellations dancing around the full moon above. What new places might you discover if you drop your map along the way?// You find yourself standing at the entrance of The Great Corn Maze. It stretches out for miles and miles and miles… You are well aware of the possibility of getting lost, but you feel compelled to enter the maze. Perhaps you need to get lost to find what you’re searching for… Wait…what is it that you’re searching for, again? <<textarea "$web2a" "Describe it here." autofocus>> Both fearful of the uncertainty and hopeful of finding what you desire, you take the first step and pass the threshold. At first, you seem to be walking forever down a dark and twisting path. Time is ticking by and you are still walking. Has it been hours? Days? Weeks? Right when you start to think you may never find your way back out of this maze, you notice a glowing light in the near distance. Exhausted, you stumble towards it to discover… <span class="next"><<button "Continue." "webMap3">><</button>></span> <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][webWorld2]] [[Reveal your choice.|webWorld2]]</span>

<<set $second to "The World">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/world.jpeg]]</span>//The World represents the completion of one cycle and the beginning of another. It indicates accomplishment, travel, and success in your endeavours. However, when the World appears on your journey, it may also be a warning sign for delays, obstacles, a lack of closure, or a sense of emptiness.// You decide to go to the barn to participate in the pumpkin growing competition. On your way there, you stop at home to collect the largest pumpkin in your garden. It’s hefty enough that you need to transport it by wagon, but unfortunately not big enough to win you first place. Once in the barn, you sneak behind the stage curtain and see what is surely the largest pumpkin of the competition. It truly is a thing of beauty. Knowing you will lose to such a magnificent specimen makes you feel <<textbox "$feeling" "" autofocus>>. <<textarea "$webWorld" "Describe this feeling in greater detail here." autofocus>> What should you do? <span class="next"><<button "Continue." "webWorld3">><</button>></span> <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

…Three different path options. Select a final card to determine where your journey will take you. [img[images/cardback.png][webMapPortal1]] [img[images/cardback.png][webMapWeb]] [img[images/cardback.png][webMapMonster]]

<<set $third to "The Portal">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/portal.png]]</span>//The Portal may be a physical object or place, a being, or an idea. Regardless of how it manifests, the Portal is always an invitation to believe that other worlds are possible. It opens up space to build and access worlds beyond your own.// You choose the path to your left. You start walking and a ball of nervousness begins to grow in the pit of your stomach. Your instinct is to turn around, but upon looking back, you are shocked to see a tornado of corn kernels forming at the entrance of the pathway. It quickly grows bigger and more menacing, and begins to travel towards you. You start running as corn kernels are pelted at you with lightning speed. The tornado grows bigger and comes closer with every passing second. It almost seems as though it’s chasing you to push you towards something else… You’re running as fast as you possibly can, following the many twists and turns of The Great Maze. You’re breathing heavily and your heart is thumping in your chest. Oh no! You stumble on a cob of corn and drop your <<textbox "$object" "most prized possession" autofocus>>! But there’s no time to go back… <span class="next"><<button "Continue." "webMapPortal2">><</button>></span> <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

A montage of memories of your $object flash before your eyes in a millisecond. Describe these memories. What object did you drop? What does it mean to you? What part did it play in your past? <<textarea "$web3a" "Describe the object and your relationship to it." autofocus>> All of a sudden, you find yourself on the ground. There is nothing but darkness around you and the cold, damp earth. Your body is throbbing in pain, but you sit up and stretch your arms out in front of you. There is just dirt and rocks. You have fallen into a hole with no hope of being found. The End. <span class="next"><<button "Unless?" "webMapText">><</button>></span>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][webMapWeb2]] [[Reveal your choice.|webMapWeb2]]</span>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][webMapMonster2]] [[Reveal your choice.|webMapMonster2]]</span>

<<set $third to "The Weaver">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/weaver.png]]</span>//The Weaver asks you to examine the social webs in which you are embedded: is community a place of comfort and safety for you, or is it one of harm and exclusion? The Weaver also does their best to make a beautiful tapestry with the yarn they were given. This figure invites you to weave your story anew by using the possibilities at hand.// You choose the middle path. You begin walking and your anxiety slowly fades away. You’re still worried you may get lost, but for whatever reason you feel as though you’ll be okay. While walking, you pay close attention to your senses. What do you see in the corn maze? What do you smell? Is it cold? Is it quiet? <<textarea "$web3b" "Describe it here." autofocus>> Upon turning a corner, you notice something that seems out of place. There is a trail of lavender flowers at your feet. You feel compelled to follow it. It takes you on a winding journey with many turns, but you eventually begin to hear the distant chattering of people and you see the golden glimmering of a campfire ahead of you. You exit the maze and are greeted by your friends. “There you are! We wondered where you went off to! Come sit with us, we’re just about to tell stories around the fire,” one of them says to you while reaching for your hand. Hm. This path took you right back to where you started. The End. <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

Is this truly the end? And if it is, how does that make you feel? <<textarea "$unless" "Describe what happens, and what becomes of you." autofocus>>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][webMapPortal]] [[Reveal your choice.|webMapPortal]]</span>

But you are wrong. You turn the corner to see the most terrifying creature you could ever imagine. What is the monster in the maze for you? What does it look like? What does it represent? What is the object of your fear and uncertainty? <<textarea "$web3c" "Describe it." autofocus>> In one big gulp, the creature swallows you whole. The End. <span class="next"><<button "Unless?" "webMapText">><</button>></span>

Select a final card to make a decision. [img[images/cardback.png][webMuseMagician]] [img[images/cardback.png][webMuseSun]] [img[images/cardback.png][webMuseTower]]

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][webMuseMagician2]] [[Reveal your choice.|webMuseMagician2]]</span>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][webMuseSun2]] [[Reveal your choice.|webMuseSun2]]</span>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][webMuseTower2]] [[Reveal your choice.|webMuseTower2]]</span>

The road to redemption is long and hard. Friendships must be mended and confidence restored — this is a chance to reinvent yourself. What will you do differently this time? <<textarea "$webMuseTowe2r" "Describe it here." autofocus>> The End.

Select a final card to make a decision. [img[images/cardback.png][webWorldPortal]] [img[images/cardback.png][webWorldWeb]] [img[images/cardback.png][webWorldMonster]]

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][webWorldPortal2]] [[Reveal your choice.|webWorldPortal2]]</span>

<<set $third to "The Portal">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/portal.png]]</span>//The Portal may be a physical object or place, a being, or an idea. Regardless of how it manifests, the Portal is always an invitation to believe that other worlds are possible. It opens up space to build and access worlds beyond your own.// It is moments before the unveiling of the competing pumpkins. You make an impulsive decision and smash the winning pumpkin before the curtain is pulled. You gather the broken pieces and pumpkin guts and put them into a garbage bag. You quickly sneak out to the back of the building and bury any and all evidence in the garbage bin. Part of you feels guilty, but another part of you is electrified. The adrenaline is rushing through your body. Your heart is racing. You can’t stop thinking about how powerful you felt while smashing the pumpkin. Tap into these physical and mental details. <<textarea "$webWorldPortal" "Describe them here." autofocus>> <span class="next"><<button "Continue." "webWorldPortal3">><</button>></span> <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][webWorldMonster2]] [[Reveal your choice.|webWorldMonster2]]</span>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][webWorldWeb2]] [[Reveal your choice.|webWorldWeb2]]</span>

<<set $third to "The Monster">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/monster.png]]</span>//The Monster, also known as the Mirror, is an invitation to embrace your otherness. This figure asks you to find power in the strange within yourself and to live authentically even when others misunderstand or fear you. However, the Monster also cautions you against individualism and invites you to seek out community amongst fellow outsiders.// It is moments before the unveiling of the competing pumpkins. You are standing near the entrance of the barn and notice an elder from your community walk in. Sylvia, this elder, is partially ostracized for her unconventional ways. She uses magic when humans are cautioned against it, and lives in a cabin alone with twelve cats. Despite your preconceived ideas about her, you decide to say hello. Your greeting quickly turns into a warm conversation, and you explain to her that you are competing in the competition. You tell her that you’ve already seen the other pumpkins, and know you’ll only be winning second place. Sylvia can sense your disappointment, and she wants to cheer you up. People don’t usually talk to her. She offers you an elixir that could make your pumpkin double in size. After a bit of hesitation you accept, and the two of you sneak behind the curtain and anoint the pumpkin together. You take off quickly before the curtain is drawn. You are announced the winner, and everyone cheers for you and your pumpkin. You smile smugly. But what is the cost of your victory? How do you feel about it? <<textarea "$webWorldWeb" "Describe it here." autofocus>> The End. <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

<<set $third to "The Weaver">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/weaver.png]]</span>//The Weaver, also known as the Web, asks you to examine the social networks in which you are embedded...Is community a place of comfort and safety for you, or is it one of harm and exclusion? The Weaver also strives to make a beautiful tapestry with the yarn they were given. This figure invites you to weave both your story and community anew by using the possibilities at hand.// It is moments before the unveiling of the competing pumpkins. You’re filled with excitement. It would be really nice to win, but you’re mostly just happy to be celebrating a bountiful harvest season. The curtain is drawn, and everyone cheers and claps as the winner and runner ups are announced. You shake hands with the other competitors and congratulate each other for a successful growing season. How do you feel in this moment? <<textarea "$webWorldWeb" "Describe it here." autofocus>> Traditionally, the competing pumpkins would all be devoured by the four pigs who take on the role of judges, but this does not feel fair to you. You decide to gather the other competitors and suggest the cooking of a grand pumpkin stew to share with the whole community. Everyone loves this idea. It takes the pigs some convincing, but eventually a grand pumpkin stew is shared, and it becomes a Harvest Festival custom for years to come. The End. <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

You are now standing across from the judging table. The judges are a group of four massive pigs and they are drooling over all of the oversized pumpkins, knowing that they will soon get to devour them all. You watch them examine your pumpkin in awe, and you can tell that they are very pleased with you. Not surprisingly, you won the competition. But at what cost? Word has gotten out that you smashed the winning pumpkin, and your community has turned on you. You are ejected from the village. The End. <span class="next"><<button "Unless?" "webMapText">><</button>></span>

With the path before you temporarily open, you make your getaway. The others are not far, but luckily for you, their attention is directed elsewhere. You briefly wonder what—or who—is distracting them from their search. You don't have time to ponder on it. You must leave before they return to their hunt. But where will you go? Select a card to decide. [img[images/cardback.png][MonsterMap]] [img[images/cardback.png][MonsterPortal]] [img[images/cardback.png][MonsterWeb]]

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][MonsterMap2]] [[Reveal your choice.|MonsterMap2]]</span>

<<set $second to "The Map">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/map.png]]</span>//The Map is a subjective representation of a physical or social space that asks you to re-examine what you think you know, to question what seems natural or "common sense". It is your guide to the earth, the stars, and beyond—if you so choose. Look closely, and you will see the map and sky are one; look too closely, and you may fail to see the rest of the world around you. The sagacious snail encourages you to slow down and notice all three realms, its rainbow trail bridging map, earth, and sky. Follow the snail’s guidance and you’ll notice its neighbors frolicking through the forest and constellations dancing around the full moon above. What new places might you discover if you drop your map along the way?// You hurry into the nearby woods. The villagers make a point of staying far away from here after nightfall. //You've// always made a point of staying away from here after nightfall. There are monsters in these woods, after all. Haha. You continue moving deeper and deeper into the forest. It does not seem like such a violent place. The trees are gentle, sentient giants. The moonlight falls on your cheeks like kisses from a moth. You soon become lost, but is that such a bad thing? With the distance between you and the village growing, so does your sense of safety. You begin to contemplate. Now that you know what it's like to actually //be// a monster, to be the thing that others fear without cause, you find yourself questioning the ancient stories handed down through the generations. All those stories about monsters and beasts...who first created them? Why does everyone in your village—your former village, you remind yourself—unquestioningly swallow them down like sweets or cough syrup? Why did you? Where do your thoughts go? What fairy tales lose their credibility now that others look at you and see nothing but the Big Bad Wolf, the Evil Witch, the Thing That Goes Bump in the Night? <<textarea "$MonsterMap" "Describe a story you are now questioning, and why." autofocus>> <span class="next"><<button "Continue on your journey." "MonsterMap3">><</button>></span> <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

Select a card to discover where your journey takes you. [img[images/cardback.png][MonsterPortalSun]] [img[images/cardback.png][MonsterPortalMap]] [img[images/cardback.png][MonsterPortalMagician]]

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][MonsterPortal2]] [[Reveal your choice.|MonsterPortal2]]</span>

<<set $second to "The Portal">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/portal.png]]</span>//The Portal may be a physical object or place, a being, or an idea. Regardless of how it manifests, the Portal is always an invitation to believe that other worlds are possible. It opens up space to build and access worlds beyond your own.// You move as quickly as possible down the road leading out of town. It's the closest route of escape, and the other villagers seem distracted enough to give you a headstart. It's at least a few hours before you decide that it's safe enough to slow down. With your adrenaline subsiding, your mind is free to turn elsewhere. You begin thinking about the transformation again...and the subsequent betrayal. When you transformed without warning, your community turned against you. They didn't wait for an explanation. You approached someone you trusted only to be confronted by their loud warning shouts that there was "A Monster in town! A Monster" What betrayal hurt the most? Why? <<textarea "$MonsterPortal" "Describe it here." autofocus>> On the flip side, how has this experience shifted your perspective? What new worlds might be possible now that you've left behind your old life? <span class="next"><<button "Explore." "MonsterPortal3">><</button>></span> <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][MonsterMapMonster2]] [[Reveal your choice.|MonsterMapMonster2]]</span>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][MonsterMapWeb2]] [[Reveal your choice.|MonsterMapWeb2]]</span>

Select a card to continue your journey down the Path of the Monster. [img[images/cardback.png][MonsterMapWeb]] [img[images/cardback.png][MonsterMapTower]] [img[images/cardback.png][MonsterMapMonster]]

!!!About the Game and Design (a fuller version) Created for the 2023 Queerness and Games Jam, INTERPOLATION is an interactive and collaborative story-building experience between the player and the game creators. The title, meaning to insert something of one nature into something of another, refers to our collage-style approach in both design and gameplay. A team of ten artists and storytellers, we each inserted a bit of our mediums, styles, and perspectives into this game. We invite players to do the same—not only do your choices impact the narrative, but you will also encounter blank textboxes to fill in. To learn more, see the "about" tab at the bottom of this page. Tarot cards, written scenes, prompts, and music are your guides as you embark on your journey. There are three paths, lots of card and prompt combinations, and as many storylines as you can imagine to explore. Written by three different storytellers, each path offers a new perspective on magic, transformation, and various queer themes. If you journey down each of the three paths, you may notice varying moods, approaches to the same card, or stylistic choices. You have the opportunity to further influence these paths and take control of your story by filling out intentional gaps in the narrative. Of the nine tarot cards in this game, five were conceptualized in response to this year's QGCon symposium. These include the Portal, the Weaver, the Monster, the Map, and the Muse. Five visual artists used, modified, and added to keywords from the game designer's notes to create their own original designs. Three more visual artists reinterpreted four cards from the traditional Major Arcana, offering unique perspectives on these archetypal designs: the Sun and the World, the Tower, and the Magician. One of these artists also created our soundtrack, a looping song that deepens the story's atmosphere while not limiting your journey's //vibes// to a particular emotion. !!!suggestions for queering this game • play with a friend. take turns responding to prompts, respond to them together, or respond as two characters journeying together! • use the card meanings to come up with prompts for roleplaying games for either a solo journalling or group tabletop version. • interpret the cards and scenes differently—even against—our descriptions. • play to fail. sometimes failure is built into the game. • start over. play for the transformation you desire. !!!care warning Not all journeys will be happy ones. In particular, some journeys involve uncomfortable transformations, social rejections, mild swearing, and mentions of violence. We are working on a list of more specific content warnings, but please leave a comment if you want to know about something specific. And please take care of yourself while playing; pause as needed <3

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][MonsterMapTower2]] [[Reveal your choice.|MonsterMapTower2]]</span>

<<set $third to "The Weaver">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/weaver.png]]</span>//The Weaver, also known as the Web, asks you to examine the social networks in which you are embedded...Is community a place of comfort and safety for you, or is it one of harm and exclusion? The Weaver also strives to make a beautiful tapestry with the yarn they were given. This figure invites you to weave both your story and community anew by using the possibilities at hand.// You keep moving. As you slow down and venture deeper into the forest, you begin to take greater notice of the other beings surrounding you. There are night animals and insects, plants that glow brilliant purples and blues in the dark, leaves that rustle as though in conversation with one another and the wind. A small nocturnal creature approaches and nuzzles you before wandering off. You watch as they pause and turn back. Your awareness and understanding of the other beings in the woods is heightened. You know that this creature wants you to follow them, and so you do. They lead you to a clearing. With a start, you witness other monsters begin to emerge from the shadows. Some of them look like you, and some don't. One of them—the one most closely resembling you, in fact—comes closer. "Welcome, $name. We've been waiting for you," says a kind voice. Somehow, you recognize it. Who is this being? Where do you know them from? How do you move forward? Do you find community with the other creatures in the woods? <<textarea "$MonsterMapWeb" "Describe what happens, and what becomes of you." autofocus>> The End. <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

<<set $third to "The Tower">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/tower.jpeg]]</span>//The Tower arrives alongside destruction and upheaval—it is a card of disaster. However, with this chaos also come opportunities for revelation and transformation. In this rendering of the card, the Tower shines as the sun sets, gathering energy to face the darkness of the night and bringing good omens. It reminds you of the strength you can access both within yourself and from your surroundings. The Tower asks if will you rebuild from its ashes.// You keep moving. At first, you cry. You scream in agony, sob, grieve. How could your community just turn on you in an instant, just like that, because of a change you had no control over? You turn your misery inwards. What's //wrong// with you? But eventually, something else shifts. Rage. Rage—as you venture deeper into the forest, this is what becomes of your distress and fear. These emotions turn into something sharper, a blade forged in the realization that bigotry and betrayal cut sharper than any monstrous transformation ever could. You begin to shrug off the burden of fear and ancient prejudice and, as you do so, begin to feel more comfortable in your new body. Whether you know why you transformed or not, one thing becomes clear to you: you are free. It sickens you, a little bit, to realize that you might have been like the other villagers if it hadn't been //you// who changed. What if this had happened to your best friend instead? Would you have found in them an enemy, like they did in you tonight? Or have you always been an outsider, but just a less...obvious one? <<textarea "$MonsterMapTower" "Describe how this transformation also changes your perspective, and what becomes of you." autofocus>> The End. <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

<<set $third to "The Monster">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/monster.png]]</span>//The Monster, also known as the Mirror, is an invitation to embrace your otherness. This figure asks you to find power in the strange within yourself and to live authentically even when others misunderstand or fear you. However, the Monster also cautions you against individualism and invites you to seek out community amongst fellow outsiders// You continue moving. As you wander deeper into the woods, you take note of the strange little beings everywhere. The wildlife becomes more unusual the further into the forest you go. You admire the glowing insects, the many-horned beasts, the graceful monsters. They radiate a kind power, a gentle confidence. Eventually, you come to a stream and pause to drink. The water offers you a revelation—perhaps through a reflection, a conversation, or some other magic. With a start, you realize that you are as strange and beautiful as every other being in these woods. This thought makes you laugh in delight, and the fear and anger slowly begin to melt away. It will take you some time to heal, and you suspect that you will never quite be the same, but something shifts within and you feel freer. It is time to name yourself anew, $name. <<textbox "$name" "" autofocus>> <span class="next"><<button "Continue." "MonsterMapMonster3">><</button>></span> <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio> <<set $name = $name.trim()>> <<if $name eq "">> <<set $name = "Wanderer">> <<endif>>

You rename yourself $name and begin to explore the process of simply //being// in your new body. And so a kind power and a gentle confidence begin to brew inside you, also. What new possibilities are available to you in this form? How might you find a new community, a truer one? <<textarea "$MonsterMapMonster" "Describe what happens, and what becomes of you." autofocus>> The End.

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][MonsterPortalSun2]] [[Reveal your choice.|MonsterPortalSun2]]</span>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][MonsterPortalMap2]] [[Reveal your choice.|MonsterPortalMap2]]</span>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][MonsterPortalMagician2]] [[Reveal your choice.|MonsterPortalMagician2]]</span>

<<set $third to "The Sun">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/sun.jpeg]]</span>//The Sun bathes you in its radiant warmth, filling you with a deep sense of contentment, fulfillment, and happiness. Representing optimism, this is a "yes" card indicating success in all that you pursue. When inverted, however, the Sun can also represent pessimism or a warning against unrealistic expectations.// As the sun rises, you arrive in a city. Feeling hungry and faint, you try to sneak a loaf of bread from an open bakery window. A hairy hand shoots out and snatches your wrist. You yelp. "Oops, sorry!" says the vaguely human-shaped being now leaning over the window ledge. A being who, according to your childhood fairy tale education, seems to be... A werewolf! She smiles down at you and shapeshifts into a human. "Not from around here, are ya?" She lets go of your hand and waves you inside. You hesitantly oblige, enthralled at the prospect of meeting another monster. "My name's Dot. What's yours?" She notices your hesitation. "If you don't tell me your name," she sighs, "You'll just stay a stranger to me." You gulp. "$name." "Lovely! Anyway, since you're clearly new to town, let me tell you about our rules." You tense, ready for punishment. Dot seems to notice this. "Relax!" she says with a toothy grin. "Our main rule is that we take care of each other. No one ever steals or sneaks because no one needs to. You won't go hungry here." Your stomach growls. She raises an eyebrow. "Well, not from now on, anyway," she says, sliding a decadent pastry your way. You bite into it. It's fresh from the oven and fills your body with a deep sense of relaxation. "Mmmmm." "That'll be my special touch," Dot says, wiggling her fingers. "Fur?" you ask before you can help it. She laughs. "No, my sunny disposition! But seriously, I practice hospitality magic. So, why don't you tell me about yourself, friend?" <<textarea "$MonsterPortalSun" "Describe what happens, and what becomes of you." autofocus>> The End. <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

<<set $third to "The Map">><span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/map.png]]</span>//The Map is a subjective representation of a physical or social space that asks you to re-examine what you think you know, to question what seems natural or "common sense". It is your guide to the earth, the stars, and beyond—if you so choose. Look closely, and you will see the map and sky are one; look too closely, and you may fail to see the rest of the world around you. The sagacious snail encourages you to slow down and notice all three realms, its rainbow trail bridging map, earth, and sky. Follow the snail’s guidance and you’ll notice its neighbors frolicking through the forest and constellations dancing around the full moon above. What new places might you discover if you drop your map along the way?// Exhaustion begins to overtake you. You decide to rest for a couple of hours before the sun rises. You find what seems to be a decent hiding spot near the road and conceal yourself as best you can before falling into a deep sleep. You dream of villagers with pitchforks (perhaps literal ones, perhaps not) and screams and... "$name?!" exclaims a familiar voice. You jump awake. For a moment, you forget where you are, //what// you are, and last night's events. And then you see //their// face. It's a friend—a former friend, that is—from the village, perhaps your lover or queerplatonic partner, perhaps your grandparent, perhaps an adopted child. You recoil the way they did last night as they shouted "Monster!" "$name?" they say more cautiously this time. "It's okay. You're safe. We've been looking for you all night. We were all so worried about you." They tear up. You eye them, suspicious. "Who?" "The whole town." "Didn't seem too worried when you were all hunting me down last night!" Their mouth drops open. "$name," they say carefully, "I know that's what it seemed like to you, and I'm sorry. You must've felt so alone. But that's not what happened. Remember that old story about the Curse?" The Curse—an evil spell that clouds your judgment and makes you turn on everyone and everything. You grunt in acknowledgment, still wary. "It's not what we thought it was. It's not something that can be cast on another person. It's something that you do to yourself. Not on purpose, but..." They slowly extend a hand. Suddenly, you begin to think back on last night's events from a new perspective. Who was it that first shouted "Monster!", anyway? Was it your own reflection? Were your friends actually hunting you, or were they simply trying to find you before something bad happened? Can you trust your friend? Can you trust your mind? <<textarea "$PortalMap" "Describe what happens, and what becomes of you." autofocus>> The End. <audio controls autoplay> <source src="audio/card.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> </audio>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">[img[images/cardback.png][MonsterWeb2]] [[Reveal your choice.|MonsterWeb2]]</span>

The village shines brightly under the glow of the Harvest Moon. Music is playing and folks are merry. There are gourds galore, and the air is cool and crisp. Your friends are now sitting around the campfire. They greet you. “There you are! We wondered where you went off to! Come sit with us, we’re just about to tell stories around the fire,” one of them says to you while reaching for your hand. Hm. You are right back to where you started. The End.