You're the financier of The Fanged Sparrow, a ship on a voyage seeking a legendary amulet said to extend life.
You've used the last of your inherited fortune to fund the crew and the voyage.
You have been out at sea for six weeks, with no sign of the treasure promised on the map.
And your crew is getting angry.
[[You remember the old man who sold you the map]]
[[You focus on the present]]
The man narrowed his eyes even more.
"If you truly believe in this amulet you're more of a fool than I thought," said the man, and turned away.
[[You return to your room]]"That's cause you're a fool," the man said, and spit at your feet.
[[You return to your room]]The prayer was made by you, against the warning of the captain.
Or maybe you have no choice, it'll happen regardless, and you later find out that's because the god was manipulating you
You look over out at the sea, noose tight around your neck, preparing to fall, and wonder if you could have done done anything different.
And then you fall. Survive the shipwreck
[[get dragged into its kingdom]]
[[escape to a desert island]]Double-click this passage to edit it.if this is where the treasure is, it'll go after the kingdom part
your greed has left you with all the treasure you could ask for, and stuck on an island with no way to escape. And in the blackness, an [[eye opens]]. Double-click this passage to edit it.MAN pushes you down onto the crows nest. Below, you see your once faithful crew looking up at you. None look away. There are no tears.
MAN pulls the noose around your neck.
[[Accept your fate]]
[[Try and fight]]
You grab at MAN and pull as hard as you can.
Shock fills his eyes as he falls off of the crows nest.
A thud and splintering wood below as he hits the ground.
[[look down]]MAN lies dead below, blood trickling out of his ear.
The crowd is shocked.
Then shock turns into anger as they begin to climb the mast.
You free the your neck from the noose as you prepare to...
[[jump]]
[[hold your ground]]You hit the water feet first. You feel your ankle break immediately. Pain shoots up your leg as you spin around underwater, desparately seaching for the surface.
You gasp air, then are plunged beneath the waves again.
[[Surface]]They're up the mast in a moment.
[[surrender]]
[[fight]]You burst through the surface of the water, struggling to keep afloat.
The crew stands on the edge of the deck, watching you as the ship slowly slips away.
A man raises his rifle towards you.
FIGURE OUT HOW IF YOU WERE NICE TO THE OTHER GUY EARLIER HE SAVES YOU, DOESN'T IF NOT.
MAN#2 looks at you sadly, then pushes the gun down and turns his back.
Slowly, so does the rest of the crew.
[[stay afloat]]You struggle to float with your busted leg.
You wonder how long you'll last out here.
You wonder if you could have done anything different. It's no use. Your cries of surrender are ignored.
Your old crew looks at you, smiling. And then the attack.
As you fall, you wonder if you could have done anything different. You start kicking, your boot connecting solidly with skull.
You hear a man scream as he falls, and the same sickening thud as he hits the deck hard.
Soon, [[you are overwhelmed.]] They reach you grinning.
"You're almost too pretty to die" THIS IS THE WORST LINE OF DIALOGUE EVER, he grins toothless.
And then he sinks his blade into your abdomen and twists.
In your last moments, your stomach is full of fire.
You wonder if you could have done anything different. "What makes you think you'll succeed where so many others have failed?"
The man is older than time, or looks like it, at least. His skin looks made of the same parchment as the map that lies in front of him.
The walls of his vast shop are a deep red, crackling and fading. It gives the impression that the room exists on the inside of some great beast, sun shining through thick layers of flesh.
Shrunken heads are hung in a grid that covers the expanse of the wall behind him. Behind you, books and books and books and books.
The floor is a maze of piled trinkets and artifacts, shelves piled high with treasures from lands unknown and beyond.
You're right in the center, sat at a table across from him, looking down at an ancient map.
"Did you hear me?"
[[Nobody's needed it as badly as I have.]]
[[Nobody's had less to lose than I do.]]You're across from the captain of the voyage.
"The mission's a disaster, Marlowe," he says, "We've nay seen anything on this map of yours, and even the most gullible of men are starting to doubt that there really is some amulet that'll grant us eternal life. We'd best turn around now. The men are turning. And when they do, best believe they will turn on you, and not me.
[[Say Nothing]]
[[Patience, Captain. We'll arrive soon.]]
<audio src="https://ia801506.us.archive.org/25/items/Waves1_201901/waves%20%281%29.mp3" autoplay>"If you can afford this map you need for little."
You look down at the map. It's faded, but appears to show some kind of kingdom on an idland in the middle of the sea. Circling the island are words in a language you don't recognize.
But around the island - no, inside of it, you see some kind of dark shadow lurking. An ink smudge?
[[I won't take no for an answer]]"If you can afford this map you've got a lot to lose."
If only he knew.
You look down at the map. It's faded, but appears to show some kind of kingdom on an idland in the middle of the sea. Circling the island are words in a language you don't recognize.
But around the island - no, inside of it, you see some kind of dark shadow lurking. An ink smudge?
[[I won't take no for an answer]]"None do."
[[You snap back to reality]]You're across from the captain of the voyage.
"The mission's a disaster, Marlowe," he says, "We've nay seen anything on this map of yours, and even the most gullible of men are starting to doubt that there really is some amulet that'll grant us eternal life. We'd best head home now. The men are turning. And when they do, best believe they will turn on you, and not me.
[[Say Nothing]]
[[Patience, Captain. We'll arrive soon.]]"The amulet is guarded by something great and terrible. Something no riches are worth confronting for. Something that'll chew up you up and take your soul and spit out ground bones and hair into the deep."
[[I don't plan on getting eaten, old man]]"The voyage is going to hell, Marlowe. We're soon to run out of food, and what'll ye do then?"
[[You're the Captain.]]"There's nowhere to arrive to, Marlowe. This map's a crock of shit and you're the last to realize. We're soon to run out of food and what'll we do then, eh?"
[[You're the Captain.]]"You dragged us into this steaming shit boat, didn't ya Marlowe?" the captain says, eyelids drawn tight, guarding against the sun, disdain clear.
[["Aye, and you'll be thanking me when we get ahold of the treasure that awaits.]]
[[Aye, but I didn't know it would be like this]]
The trees are thick. You can barely make out anything beyond the faint flickering of fire.
[[Walk into the woods]]The woods are dark.
The light in the distance gets bigger.
You hear the [[crackling of a fire]]As you get closere, you realize that what's blocking the fire isn't trees, but people.
The fire forms a semicircle in a clearing in the woods. It dances across black cloaks.
The shadow of something tall stands in the middle, but you can't make it out.
[[You call out]]
[[You stand back and watch]]The figures wheel around in unison.
You feel a sharp pain in the back of your knee as you're kicked to the ground.
You feel your eyebrows burn as a hooded figure holds a torch up to your face.
You're dragged towards the [[monolith]]The figures kneel, and you see a stone obelisk, sillohuetted in the center of the semicircle.
A figure walks over and affixes a torch to the bottom of the obelisk.
The torch illuminates a stone slab beneath the great structure, with a bloody pulp on the bottom. You wonder what poor creature it once was...
Then you see the monolith, [[illuminated.]]A fowl sea beast is etched into the stone. A massive eye is all you can make out clearly. You are left with the impression of something powerful and vast. It eclipses most of the monolith, massive.
It reaches up towards a lone figure, clinging desparately to a piece of driftwood.
That figure, clinging to that piece of wreckage, howling desparately, eyes affixed below the surface of the water in terror, is you.
[[Run]]You spin around to see a robed figure directly behind you.
[[Attack]]
[[Avoid]]You're held up agains the monolith. Fully illuminated now:
A fowl sea beast is etched into the stone. A massive eye is all you can make out clearly. You are left with the impression of something powerful and vast. It eclipses most of the monolith, massive.
It reaches up towards a lone figure, clinging desparately to a piece of driftwood.
The lone figure, clinging to that piece of wreckage, howling desparately, eyes affixed below the surface of the water in terror, is you.
[[Fight back]]It's no use. You're pulled to what you realize is a cliff edge. Waves crash below.
They begin chanting.
Even in the darkness, you see a huge shadow moving beneath the water.
[[They push you]]You fall towards the black water towards that great beast.
[[Black]]
You barely see the knife before it stabs clean through your outstretched hand.
You will yourself through the pain and strike the attacker.
It crumples. You run through the woods, losing blood from your hand.
You feel a touch as the hooded figure almost grabs the back of your hair.
[[You burst through the trees]]You dive out of the way of the figure and begin running. You barely make it ten feet before you trip over a log.
You stretch out your arms to catch your fall, and immediately feel intense pain in your right wrist.
You're sure it's broken.
[[Look behind you]]Back in your room, you wrap a thick bandage around your hand.
You [[Go to sleep]]The hooded figure is almost on you now.
You run towards the town. Run as fast as your legs can carry you. Run until the air feels like acid in your lungs.
[[You burst through the trees]]You make it to the edge of town, screaming.
Windows begin to open and faces stick out.
You turn around, panting.
The road behind you is empty.
There is no light in the woods anymore.
[[Return to your cabin]]not winter
The cabin is small and bare. A thick wool blanket is layed across a large chest, another thrown on the floor: your bed.
On your desk is an unlit candle.
[[Light it]]On your desk is a [[map]] and a [[picture]]The map you bought from the old man.
Its faded parchment depicts an X in the middle of the sea.
The area beneath the X is darker than the rest... a shadow?
[[You look at the picture]]A little girl. Your daughter. The reason you're on this wretched voyage.
She's sick.
And what's on that map can help her.
[[You look at the map]]A little girl. Your daughter. The reason you're on this wretched voyage.
She's sick.
And what's on that map can help her.
[[you go to sleep]]The map you bought from the old man.
Its faded parchment depicts an X in the middle of the sea.
The area beneath the X is darker than the rest... a shadow?
[[you go to sleep]]You dream of [[her]]Your little girl.
[[You're playing in a meadow]]She's bringing you every flower in the field and asking you what it's called.
She's full of life.
You're warm.
[[You're talking to the doctor outside her room]]He's telling you that she's going to die, and that there's nothing you can do about it.
You feel as though your insides have gone to sleep.
[[You're telling her you're leaving]]She asks for how long, but you don't know.
You tell her it's so that she can be better.
She says she wants you here.
[[You tell her it'll be okay]]She smiles and rolls over, already asleep.
[[You wake up]]The captain is pounding on your door.
"Wake up Marlowe! Time to show off that naval intuition of yer's!"
[[Open the door]]`"Mornin' Sunshine."
The sun is blinding.
As your eyes adjust, you see the Captain grinning down at you.
[[What do you want?]]
[[How long was I asleep?]]"Fer you to tell us where we're headed!"
He grabs your arm and drags you out of your cabin and [[into his.]] "Long enough. You've got to tell us where we're headed."
He grabs your arm and drags you out of your cabin and [[into his.]] His cabin is ornate. You had figured that spending more money on the crew's quarters would keep them happy. You hope you were right.
"Unless that is, you finally want to tell us exactly where this treasure of yer's is."
[[And risk you killing me and taking it yourself?]]
[[In due time, Captain]]He laughs.
"An excellent point, that."
Stretched across the table is a [[large map of the region.]] "I've only got so much patience, Marlowe."
He leads to you to the large table in the center of his cabin.
Stretched across the table is a [[large map of the region.]] "Well, where to?"
In front of the small ship token lies a series of small Islands. A `channel cuts through the center of them.
To get to the X on your map, you'll have to get past them somehow.
Beyond the small islands is a larger one. The captain seees you eyeing it.
"We can stop there for food and to give the men rest, if that's the way we're headed."
You see that you'll either have to go through the islands, or around them.
[[Through the islands.]]
[[Around the islands.]]The captains face falls. The room grows quiet.
"Those channels are narrow. The rocks will smash this ship to smithereens. I'm nae taking my crew through that."
[[You're an excellent Captain, you'll get us through.]]
[[I'm paying you, and you'll do exactly what I tell you.]]A look of apprehension crosses the captain's face.
"We've nae got enough food for a journey that long."
[[Well then you'd best figure out how to ration it, //Captain.//]]
[[The food'll be slim, but when we touch shore beyond I'll buy you all a feast to be envied by your grandchildren.]]"Nobody's that good," says the Captain.
He looks at the ground, then [[exits the cabin]]He opens his mouth for a moment, furious, then closes it.
He [[exits the cabin]]The captain steps forward, inches from your face.
He opens his mouth to speak, closes it, and [[leaves the cabin]]"You'd best believe I'll be holdin ye to that."
He [[leaves the cabin]]"Well men," yells the captain, "Our financier has decided that we're going through that set of nasty looking islands there.
We won't be sleeping until we're through in one piece, understand?
I'll get ye through this, boys. And when we get to shore on the other side, dinner's on young Marlowe here."
[[You retreat to your bed]]You reach the islands in the morning.
At first the waves are gentle. You might not notice it were you not hyper aware of every movement of the vessel, knowing it may get you hung from the rigging.
The waves [[pick up.]]"Well men," the captain addresses the crew, "Our Financier has decided that we're to sail around those islands.
Rations are low as it is, and this'll only extend our journey.
Marlowe here has promised a feast when we reach land.
But if we're not going to make it that far... I think we know who to eat."
The crew cheers.
[[You retreat to your cabin]]You fold up the map and put it under your shirt. No chance trusting the lock on the door.
You kiss the picture of your daughter.
[[You try to sleep]]"We're hungry, Marlowe!"
You are awoken by a pounding at the door.
"We've no food, Marlowe!"
"You'll kill us, Marlowe!"
[[Leave me alone!]]
[[We'll get through it, boys.]]"Baby wants to sleep! Should we let it?"
"No!"
"No!"
"No!"
The pounding continues.
[[The nights go on]]"Mayhaps, but it really makes us feel better knowin' that you're more miserable than us."
[[The nights go on]]Every hour the knocking continues.
[[Until one night it stops]]You leave your cabin to see the crew gathered around on the side of the deck.
Like you, the crew has become guant. In the torchlight they look like ghosts.
[[You approach]]The crew exits the ship swiftly. They're quieter than usual.
They funnel off the ship and into town.
[[Follow them]]
[[Stay back]]
[[You reach the shore the next evening.]]The crew stands around a canvas wrapped body.
The Captain stands at its head, reading from the bible. He stops as he sees you.
The men all turn around to look.
You stand there, skin and bones.
They turn back to the body.
The captain finishes reading, and they push the body overboard.
[[You reach the shore the next evening.]]"Man overboard!"
"Man overboard!"
The cry echoes from person to person across the ship, indifferent to its origin.
The crew runs to the side of the ship to see an unconcious man, being thrown against rocks by the current.
[[You run over to the side]]
[[You dive overboard after him]]Without hesitation, the Captain dives in after him.
He struggles valiantly against the waves.
He grabs the man and starts swimming back towards the ship.
In front of the ship, he starts yelling:
"I'm trapped! I'm caught!"
[[Throw a rope]]
[[Stand back]]You hear yelling outside your cabin as the crew starts working to keep the boat steady.
The wood creaks as waves beat against it mercilessly.
[[You exit the cabin]]You've entered the ravine now. Jagged rocks slice through the water. You can't help but think of ragged flesh.
You walk through the crew but they pay no attention to you.
Waves crest the sides of the ship now, towering.
The entire crew ebbs and flows across the deck of the ship:
ascending and descending from the rigging, throwing buckets of seawater overboard, tying down lose objects.
"Duck!"
[[Duck]]You barely avoid the mast as it sails over your head.
Another unfortunate soul is not so lucky.
It strikes him square in the chest and he goes overboard.
You look around.
Nobody saw.
[[Man overboard!]]The captain stops you.
"Best ye stay back. We lost a man because of you. Don't think you'll be dining with us."
You open your mouth to defend yourself but the look in your eyes tells you it's wise not to.
"And if ye think we're paying for our own meal..."
[[Give him money]]
[[Refuse to pay]]They file off the shop.
The captain is last in line. He stops in front of you.
"If ye think we're paying for our own meal..."
[[Give him money]]
[[Refuse to pay]]"Thank ye very much, Marlowe. I'll be seein ya."
He turns to leave, then:
"I'll try to put in a word on your behalf, but..."
He stops, opens his mouth to continue, then thinks better of it.
"I'll be seein ya."
[[Head into town]]The captain grabs your collar.
"Watch yerself, Marlowe. You're on thin ice."
[[I've been feeding you for weeks.]]
[[Give him money]]
[[Say nothing]]THUD!
The captain punches you in the stomach, then reaches into your shirt pocket and pulls out a coin purse.
"Thank ye for yer kindness."
He leaves.
[[Head into town]]The captain reaches into your chest pocket and pulls out a coin purse, then turns on his heels and steps onto the dock.
[[Head into town]]A small village town sits just inland.
It's wooden shacks line a single road through the center.
At this hour, it's mostly deserted.
You spy a tavern that's loud and bright, but guess that's where the crew has gone.
The only other thing open is a general store.
[[Enter the tavern]]
[[Enter the general store]]The sound stops the second you walk into the door.
Your crew doesn't even turn to look at you, the just stare forward in silence.
Any other tavern goers are too taken off guard by the sudden silence to say anything.
[[Order food]]
[[Leave the tavern]]The place is so dark you wonder if it was closed afterall. A voice cuts through the darkness to tell you otherwise.
"What do you want?" it asks.
[[A conversation]]
[[A hot meal]]
[[Just passing through.]]"Many come through this town but few care to stop and chat."
[[Why do so many come through town?]]"You'll have to go across the street for that. The only food here comes in tins."
[[I'll take whatever you have.]]
[[How about a conversation?]]"Many come through this town but few care to stop and chat."
[[Why do so many come through town?]]
You approach the desk and see the face behind the voice.
It's an old woman. Her face is hard to see in the dark.
She reaches behind her, touching each of the shelves until she feels what she was looking for.
She places a can in front of you.
[[You take it]]"Many come through this town but few care to stop and chat."
[[Why do so many come through town?]]
"There's something powerful in the water out there."
[[I know.]]
[[What is it?]][[Who are you?]]
[[Why is this place so dark?]]"You're after it, then?"
[[Yes]]
[[No]]"There's something in the water that lets us live beyind time."
[[Us?]]
[[Where is it?]]"Of course you are."
[[What makes you think that?]]"Something tells me that's not the truth."
[[What makes you think that?]]"Of course. We've been here a long time."
[[Where is it?]]"You won't find it. It's guarded. Guarded by something with power beyond understanding. You wouldn't even know where to begin.
Are you searching for it?"
[[Yes]]
[[No]]"Just keep in mind what you're looking for. The creature has a way of... distracting even the most strong willed of seekers."
[[What do you mean?]]You stand outside.
The light still shines bright in the tavern.
But you see another light.
The town is surrounded on three sides by thick woods.
And in the middle of those woods, a fire
[[Investigate the light]]
[[Enter the tavern]]
[[Return to the ship]]the ship is empty, but if there's nothing you want to do onshore, you think it best to get sleep.
[[Go to sleep]]
Head back and [[Investigate the light]]You awake to the rocking of the ship.
[[Look out your porthole]]As you walk towards the bar, the side of a sword presses flat against your chest.
"Best not, Marlowe," says the captain.
[[Leave the tavern]]You stand outside.
The only other thing in town that isn't shut tight is the general store.
[[Enter the general store]]
[[Return to the ship]]The island is nowhere to be seen.
They've left without your say so.
[[Look for the captain]]You exit the your cabin.
"Ahoy there, Marlowe!"
[[You're supposed to wait for my word to do //anything// on this ship.]]
[[Where are we going?]]"Aye, that was the case. But then you went and got one of us killed. The men and I have had a chat. We've decided it's best for you to relinquish control of this vessel to me, immediately. Whadaya say?"
[[Of course not! This is my ship. We have a mission.]]
[[I'll give up control if you swear on the Gods of the sea that we'll get where I need to go]]"Well Marlowe, nothing personal, but the crew and I have decided it's best if you relinquish control of this ship to me, immediately. You're a liability. Whadaya say?"
[[Of course not! This is my ship. We have a mission.]]
[[I'll give up control if you swear on the Gods of the sea that we'll get where I need to go]]"Ah, the mission. Marlowe, the men and I talked. We decided you're a lunatic, and that we were stupid to believe there ever was a stone that would cure us of our human condition."
[[I need that stone]]"You need to go home and see a doctor, Marlowe. You're sick. A lunatic. There's no stone. There's no great beast guarding anything. You're either mad, or you've been fooled. Give it up."
[[Never!]]
[[Fine, I relinquish control]]"Marlowe, I think that there are many things the world needs before it needs //your// life extended beyond its natural conclusion."
[[It's for my daughter]]"I don't care if you were planning on giving the stone only to me, it aint' real. We're going home, and it'd be a hell of a lot nicer if you went along with it."
[[Never!]]
[[Fine, I relinquish control]]"Many come through this town but few care to stop and chat."
[[Why do so many come through town?]]"Many come through this town but few care to stop and chat."
[[Why do so many come through town?]]"Men!"
Two men grab your arms and wrench them behind your back. You cry out in pain.
They drag you down into the belly of the ship and lock you inside a storage room.
[[Search for a way out]]"A wise choice, Marlowe. You may return to yer cabin. You'll be undisturbed for the rest of the voyage, you have my word."
[[Return to your room]]You see a loose board in the side of the ship.
You see a metal strip with which you may be able to pry open the door.
[[Kick the board]]
[[Pry the door]]Three hard kicks and the board splinters.
You press your face against it and see the open sea. You can reach your arm out but that's it.
You collapse in a heap.
As you do, the map falls out of your pocket.
[[Pick up the map]]Hard as you try, the door won't budge.
[[Kick the board]]You have no way of knowing where you are.
All you have is that big X, that bizzare shadow, and those words.
[[The words...]]You collapse onto your bed.
Your head races with thoughts of your daughter.
Have you failed her?
[[You pull out the map]]You have no way of knowing where you are.
All you have is that big X, that bizzare shadow, and those words.
[[Those words...]]You've never given them much thought, but now they're all you can think about.
[[You read them]]Nothing happens.
You lean back against the wall, defeated.
And then the [[rain starts]]You've never given them much thought, but now they're all you can think about.
[[You read them aloud]]Nothing happens.
You lean back against the wall, defeated.
And then the [[the rain starts]]A single drop at first, then a few.
You wonder if they even notice outside.
Then [[picks up]]A single drop at first, then a few.
Only you pay it any mind.
Then [[it picks up]]Heavier and heavier, until suddenly it becomes torrential.
[[Step outside your cabin]]The sky has turned pitch black. It's the middle of the day.
You see lighting strike in the distance.
The [[wind picks up.]]"Looks like we got ourselves a storm, boys!" yells the Captain.
The ship begins to rock.
"She came outta nowhere but we'll make it through."
You see young man silently praying.
And then [[the waves begin]]Mild at first then quickly ferocious.
You are [[knocked off your feet]]"Steady 'er!" yells the Captain.
The thunder is getting closer and more frequent. The crew's faces change from annoyed to fearful.
The waves are beating over the sides now.
And then lighting [[strikes the mast.]]It splinters, and chaos errupts. It falls slowly, caught up in the rigging, but those frail ropes aren't enough to stop it smashing through the side of the hull and into the water.
A wave slams into the ship and throws the mast back, once more striking through the deck, this time splintering it down the middle.
Lighting again [[strikes the other mast]]And the wheel, and the bow.
Waves speed from opposite directions and smash into the ship at either side, splintering it at once.
The men's screams are silenced as the ship dissapears out from under you, and you're [[pulled beneath the waves]]You kick, hoping to find purchase or propell yourself towards air, but you're trapped in a tangle of wood and rope and bodies.
You kick and kick and kick, but you're only [[dragged further down]]You've lost track of the surface. You free yourself from the tangle of ropes and start swimming.
But it's dark, and you can't find the surface.
The ship goes down beneath you, and you can feel the weight of the ocean pulling you down with it.
Then a mighty current [[pushes you up]]You surface, alone in a sea of driftwood.
The sky is perfectly clear. The sun scorches your face.
[[You drift]]You don't know for how many days. You know that you're hungry and sunburnt. You know that you haven't seen a single survivor. You know that you're likely miles away from the site of the wreckage, and even further from possible rescue.
[[And then it pulls you under.]]Heavier and heavier, until suddenly it becomes torrential.
[[Look through the crack in the wall]]The sky has turned pitch black. It's the middle of the day.
You see lighting strike in the distance.
[[The wind picks up.]]You hear the Captain yell something on deck, but can't make it out over the wind.
The ship begins to rock.
Another yell, then the [[waves begin]].Mild at first then quickly ferocious.
You are [[thrown against the wall]]The wind is knocked out of you.
You barely have time to recover when you hear a deafening thunder clap.
Through the widening hole in the side of the ship, you see the mast crash into the water, meeting a wave that [[slams into the side of the ship]]Again you are thrown. You make it to your feet when the ship buckles.
You see the water rising up, and then the ship disapears from beneath you, and you are pulled [[pulled beneath the waves]]Swiftly and violently, something grabs you and pulls you beneath the surface.
You [[try and fight.]]But it's no use.
The pressure builds in your head and your lungs scream for air.
You are dragged deep into the unfathomable depths of the sea, and dragged further.
Then you stop.
[[The eye opens]]A towering eye, white against blackness, glowing by some unseen force. Monsterous.
[[You stand in awe.]]It speaks with a voice older than time:
"What business have you in my kingdom?"
You realize you can speak.
The force pulls you down again deeper and deeper.
The pressure is crushing.
Deeper and deeper until you are surrounded by stone, by relics hewn from the earth, by impossible mountains.
[[A kingdom of ruin and despair.]]The force pulls you down again deeper and deeper.
The pressure is crushing.
Deeper and deeper until you are surrounded by stone, by relics hewn from the earth, by impossible mountains.
[[A kingdom of ruin and despair.]]It is unending. Black and crimson. Stone and something even older.
You feel the presence of something vast and unknowable behind you.
You spin to [[look at it]]It speaks with a voice older than time that shakes your core. It is a voice of stone grinding deep within some terrible machine.
You realize you can speak.
[[I seek the treasure kept here]]
[[I need to save my daughter]]Double-click this passage to edit it.The force pulls you down again deeper and deeper.
The pressure is crushing.
Deeper and deeper until you are surrounded by stone, by relics hewn from the earth, by impossible mountains.
[[A kingdom of ruin.]]The beast seems larger than the earth.
You struggle to comprehend.
It is beautiful and terrible. Elegant and grotesque.
It is like a planet forged in magma and wrought from time itself.
[[You are pulled sideways]]Sideways and downwards, into some ancient temple circled with monoliths, a black orb floating impossibly in the center.
It is towering.
You are thrown towards the orb.
Inside it you see gold. Glistening through the darkness.
It would offer you a chance to start again. To go back to the time when you lacked for nothing. You could sail towards another continent and be a king there.
You could [[Reach for the treasure]]
But you think of your daughter, alone and frightened and sick.
You could [[beg for the amulet]] praying that it will understand what you came here for.The second you touch the orb, you are catipulted violently upwards.
The pressure seems to tear the skin away from your face, to compound your organs.
You are sure that you will die.
And then [[you surface.]]"My daughter is sick," you cry out, "I've come to save her."
Your voice seems so small next to that vast beast that you struggle to believe it even notices you.
Then the stone melts away, revealing a [[crimson amulet]]The sea is calm and crystallline.
You kick, and find that you can stand.
Ahead of you is a small island.
[[Go towards it]]It's real.
[[You reach for it.]]It is stuning and peaceful. Alone in a vast sea.
The sand feels alien between your toes.
[[You look ahead]]Before you sits a simple wooden chest, the only thing on this desolate island.
[[Open it]]Inside, the riches seen below and more.
Wealth that would carry you through ten lifetimes. Enough to buy you a new life.
You look out at the ocean. The second you touch the amulet, you are catipulted violently upwards.
The pressure seems to tear the skin away from your face, to compound your organs.
You are sure that you will die.
And then you [[surface.]]You're floating in a port outside your city.
A small fishing boat rocks peacefully only yards away.
[[Call to it]]It brings you to the dock.
You reach into your pocket and grasp the amulet.
And you think about the long and happy life that you've won for your daughter.
You go home. The water is icey, numbing you immediately. The shock of the cold takes the air out of your lungs.
For a moment you don't know where you are.
[[You surface]]The rope disappears over the edge.
After a moment, the captain appears [[over the edge of the ship.]]"Marlowe-" yells a crew member, "ah, goddammit."
He runs over and throws a rope overboard.
After a moment, the captain appears [[over the edge of the ship.]]You kick off the ground hard and break through the surf.
The unconcious man is about 10 feet away.
You're not sure you can make it.
[[Call for help]]
[[Push forward]]Nothing.
You call louder.
Nothing.
Then you hear a splash behind you.
It's the captain.
He pushes forward towards the unconcious man.
He ties him to the rope then yells something to the crew that you can't hear over the water hitting the rocks.
They begin pulling him back.
[[Grab the rope]]
[[Tread Water]]You struggle against the waves, caught in the same current that throws the man against the rocks again and again.
But then your foot finds puchase on a rock and you push off, grabbing the man, then pushing off again.
[[Yell for a rope]]"Dammit Marlowe!" the captain kicks you in the chest and you let go of the rope.
"Wait yer damned turn."
He hangs onto the side of the ship and ties the rope around the waist of the floating man.
The men pull him up.
"Now, Marlowe."
[[Swim over to him]]"Dammit Marlowe!" the captain yells as he passes you.
He turns around and swims towards you.
"This'll be the last time I save ye, be sure of it."
He pulls you [[back onboard]]The surgeon pushes the Captain aside and begins pounding on the man's chest.
Water trickles out.
The surgeon's strikes become increasingly desparate until he collapses onto the corpse.
You [[return to your cabin.]]The captain grabs you and does the same.
The crew pulls you [[back onboard]]A rope hits the water next to you.
You grab it and tie it around the waist of the man. Then you hold with all your might and they pull you [[back onboard]]You reach the shore [[the next evening]]The surgeon pushes the Captain aside and begins pounding on the man's chest.
Water trickles out.
The surgeon's strikes become increasingly desparate until he collapses onto the corpse.
[[You return to your cabin.]]The crew exits the ship swiftly. They're quieter than usual.
They funnel into town.
[[You follow them ]]
[[You stay back]]
The captain stops you.
"Best ye stay back. We lost a man today. Don't think you'll be dining with us."
You open your mouth to question but the captain cuts you off.
"Aye Marlowe, you were valiant. Doesn't make ye one of us. And we were in that ravine because of ye in the first place."
He pauses, then:
"Ah, we're grateful, Marlowe. Really. But if ye think we're paying for our own meal..."
[[Give him money]]
[[Refuse to pay]]Breakfast is silent.
The men aren't getting nearly enough food, and they know to blame you.
[[Offer your rations]]
[[Keep your head down]]The crewmen surroudning you nod in respect, but few notice.
You pass through the day silently.
[[You go to sleep]]You pass through the day silently.
[[You go to sleep]]Dragged Deep
by Davis Cavanagh
[[Start]]They file off the shop.
The captain is last in line. He stops in front of you.
"Ye did well today Marlowe. But if ye think we're paying for our own meal..."
[[Give him money]]
[[Refuse to pay]]
But you see another light.
The town is surrounded on three sides by thick woods.
And in the middle of those woods, a campfire.
[[Investigate the light]]She cuts you off before you can speak.
"You have to leave, my shop is closed."
[[Leave]]You awake coughing on the deck of the ship.
A crew member you don't recognize is leaning over you.
"Ah, yer awake!"
[[What happened?]]
[[How long was I out?]]"Dug ye outta the water. You'd fallen. Lucky t've missed the rocks."
[[There was something under the water...]]"Not long. Yer lucky we were nearby."
[[There was something under the water...]]"Not likely. Ye better get some rest."
[[Go to sleep]]