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<<set $turns to 0, $transcript to [], $found to [] >> <<on 'keydown'>> <<which 27>><<trigger 'click' '#ui-dialog-close'>> <</on>><div id="header"> <div id="title" data-passage="title"></div> <div id="main-nav" data-passage="nav"></div> </div> <div id="container"> <div id="passages"></div> <div id="helperror" data-passage="message"></div> </div> <div id="footer" data-passage="nav-mobile"></div><center> <h1>The Roads Not Taken</h1> <p>Press [Space] to play.</p> <div id="spacebar"> <div id="smallbar"> <<link "SPACE" "Explanation">> <<run $(document).off('keyup.mystory')>> <</link>> </div> </div> </center> <<script>> $(document).on('keyup.mystory', function (ev) { if (ev.which == 32) { $(document).off('keyup.mystory'); Engine.play("Explanation"); } }); <</script>><div id="text"><center><h3>This game is meant to be played with a keyboard.</h3></center> <p>Enter a command in the textbox and press Enter (or click the Confirm button) to activate it.</p> <p>To see the list of game controls, type in //'Key'//.</p> <p>Every screen has things to interact with, which can be made more <span class="hint">obvious</span> by toggling the hint setting. Though most interactions will accept a traditional //'verb+noun'// command, it is not always required to work.</p> <p>When in doubt, type in //'C'// or //'Continue'// to move on to the next screen.</p> <p>A transcript of the commands used through a playthrough is recorded automatically. Type //'transcript'// to export it.</p> <p>Press Tab or Swift+Tab to enter/exit the text box.</p> <p>If too much text is loaded on the screen, you may need to scroll down. You can type //'scroll down'// to reach the bottom of the page, and //'scroll up'// to reach the top</p></div> <<BlockTextbox>><<if passage() isnot "Start">>The Roads Not Taken<</if>><<liveblock>><<if $menu>> <<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-question"></i>'>><<popup 'Rules' 'Rules'>><</link>> <<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-rectangle-list"></i>'>><<popup 'Credits' 'Credits'>><</link>> <<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-power-off"></i>'>><<script>>UI.restart();<</script>><</link>> <<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-bookmark"></i>'>><<script>>UI.saves();<</script>><</link>> <<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-gears"></i>'>><<script>>UI.settings();<</script>><</link>> <</if>><</liveblock>> <<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-bars"></i>'>><<set $menu = !$menu>><<update>><</link>><<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-question"></i>'>><<popup 'Rules' 'Rules'>><</link>> <<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-rectangle-list"></i>'>><<popup 'Credits' 'Credits'>><</link>> <<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-power-off"></i>'>><<script>>UI.restart();<</script>><</link>> <<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-bookmark"></i>'>><<script>>UI.saves();<</script>><</link>> <<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-gears"></i>'>><<script>>UI.settings();<</script>><</link>><h4>THE ROADS NOT TAKEN</h4> <p>This game was made possible thanks to resources below:</p> <ul> <li>[[Chapel's Macros|https://github.com/ChapelR]]</li> <li>[[Maliface's Macros|https://github.com/MalifaciousGames]]</li> <li>[[Sjoerd's Macros|https://github.com/SjoerdHekking]]</li> </ul> <p>Special Thanks to Jinx, Groggydog and TRBRY for testing and giving their advices for this game, Arlo, the Campfire Chat and the Gonch Gals for their support.</p><center><h3>This game is meant to be played with a keyboard.</h3></center> <p>Enter a command in the textbox and press Enter (or click the Confirm button) to activate it.</p> <p>To see the list of game controls, type in //'Key'//.</p> <p>Every screen has things to interact with, which can be made more <span class="hint">obvious</span> by toggling the hint setting. Though most interactions will accept a traditional //'verb+noun'// command, it is not always required to work.</p> <p>When in doubt, type in //'C'// or //'Continue'// to move on to the next screen.</p> <p>A transcript of the commands used through a playthrough is recorded automatically. Type //'transcript'// to export it.</p> <p>Press Tab or Swift+Tab to enter/exit the text box.</p><<run $("#textbox input").prop("placeholder", "Enter command here")>><span id="error"></span> <span id="help"></span><h3>Controls</h3> <ul> <li>//Settings//: to open the settings dialog box.</li> <li>//Saves//: to open the save dialog box.</li> <li>//Restart//: to restart the game (unsaved playthrough will be lost)</li> <li>//Back//: to cancel all actions and return to the previous screen.</li> <li>//Forward//: to redo all actions and move to the next screen (must have gone back first).</li> <li>//Transcript//: to download your current transcript.</li> </ul> <h3>Other</h3> <ul> <li>//Help// (not available everywhere)</li> <li>//Hint//: to get a list of possible action on this screen.</li> <li>//Rules//: to review the instruction page.</li> </ul><center>Are you stuck?</center> <p>> Toggle the hint setting to enable the visual effect!<p> <p>Try a cardinal direction.<p> <p>Try the following verbs in combination with the bolded/coloured words:<p> <p>think, listen, remember, smell, jump, stop, talk, look, take, sit, get up, move...</p><center><h1>E N D ?</h1></center> <p>You have reached the end of this path, but there are many other paths you have yet to take...<p> <center>Start Again?</center> <<BlockTextbox>> <h4>Thank you for playing!</h4> <h5>You can save your transcript by typing //transcript// in the textbox above, and send it to manonamora.games@gmail.com.</h5> <p>Score: $turns.</p>/*** TEXTBOX ***/ <<widget "BlockTextbox">> <<listen>> <i class="fa-solid fa-chevron-right"></i> <<textbox '_textbox' '' autofocus>> <<button "Confirm">><<ControlsOption>><<CountTurns>><</button>> <span id="load"></span> <<when 'keypress'>> <<if _event.code === 'Enter'>> <<ControlsOption>><<CountTurns>> <</if>> <</listen>> <</widget>> /*** COMMANDS FOR EACH PASSAGE ***/ <<widget "CmdExpl">> <<if State.length === State.size>><<goto "Intro">><</if>> <</widget>> <<widget "CmdIntro">> <<if !$found.includes("IntroLook")>> /*If first screen is not shown*/ <<if ["look", "look up", "c", "continue", "look around"].contains(_cmd)>> /*show first screen*/ <<set $found.push("IntroLook"), _used.push("look", "look up", "c", "continue")>> <<append "#intro" t8n>><<include "IntroLook">><</append>> <<replace "#help" t8n>><<include "IntroHelp">><</replace>> <<else>> <<set $transcript.push("Error Early")>> <<replace "#error" t8n>><p>You can’t do this right now.</p><</replace>> <</if>> <<elseif ["n", "north", "ne", "north east ", "nw", "northwest", "e", "w", "east", "west", "leave", "go to door", "go door"].contains(_cmd) && $found.includes("IntroLeave")>> /*EWnding*/ <<set $transcript.push(_cmd), $name to "Adley">> <<goto "IntroLeave">> <<elseif ["c", "continue", "name", "name ", "name "].contains(_cmd) && $found.includes("IntroLook")>> /*Name Bad -> Adley*/ <<set $transcript.push(_cmd), $name to "Adley">> <<goto "NameBad">> <<elseif $found.includes("IntroLook") && _textbox.split(" ").contains("name")>> /*Name approved*/ <<set $name to _textbox.slice(5), $transcript.push(_cmd), $transcript.push("Next Passage")>> <<goto "Name">> /*<<elseif $found.includes("IntroLook") && ["clear"].contains(_cmd)>> Clear Page of extra text <<set _used to ["look", "look up", "c", "continue"], $turns -->> <<replace "#intro" t8n>><<include "IntroLook">><</replace>><<run setup.scrollToTop("passages")>>*/ <<elseif _used.includes(_cmd)>> /*Already done the action */ <<set $transcript.push("Error Double")>> <<replace "#error" t8n>><p>You’ve already tried this command.</p><</replace>> <<elseif ["room", "look room", "look at room", "look around room", "look around"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Look around Room*/ <<set $found.push("IntroRoom"), _used.push("room", "look room", "look at room", "look around room", "look around")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "IntroRoom">><</append>> <<elseif ["ledger", "look ledger", "look at ledger"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Look at ledger*/ <<set $found.push("IntroLedger"), _used.push("ledger", "look ledger", "look at ledger")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "IntroLedger">><</append>> <<elseif ["take ledger", "touch ledger", "loot ledger", "reach ledger"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Take ledger*/ <<set $found.push("IntroTakeLedger"), _used.push("take ledger", "touch ledger", "loot ledger", "reach ledger")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "IntroTakeLedger">><</append>> <<elseif ["being", "scrawny being", "male", "look being", "look scrawny being", "look male", "look at being", "look at scrawny being", "look at male"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Look at Kodyn*/ <<set $found.push("IntroBeing"), _used.push("being", "scrawny being", "male", "look being", "look scrawny being", "look male", "look at being", "look at scrawny being", "look at male")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "IntroBeing">><</append>> <<elseif ["talk being", "talk scrawny being", "talk male", "talk to being", "talk to scrawny being", "talk to male", "talk kodyn", "kodyn", "talk to kodyn"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Look at Kodyn*/ <<set $found.push("IntroTalkKodyn"), _used.push("talk being", "talk scrawny being", "talk male", "talk to being", "talk to scrawny being", "talk to male", "talk kodyn", "kodyn", "talk to kodyn")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "IntroTalkKodyn">><</append>> <<elseif ["initiate", "look initiate", "look at initiate", "remember initiate", "initiates", "look initiates", "look at initiates", "remember initiates", "recall initiate", "recall initiates"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Look at Initiate*/ <<set $found.push("IntroInitiate"), _used.push("initiate", "look initiate", "look at initiate", "remember initiate", "initiates", "look initiates", "look at initiates", "remember initiates", "recall initiate", "recall initiates")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "IntroInitiate">><</append>> <<elseif ["talk initiate", "talk to initiate"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Talk to Initiate*/ <<set $found.push("IntroTalkInitiate"), _used.push("talk initiate", "talk to initiate", "talk initiates", "talk to initiates")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "IntroTalkInitiate">><</append>> <<elseif ["words", "remember words", "recall words", "word", "remember word", "recall word"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Remember words*/ <<set $found.push("IntroWord"), _used.push("words", "remember words", "recall words", "word", "remember word", "recall word")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "IntroWord">><</append>> <<else>> <<set $transcript.push("Error")>> <<replace "#error" t8n>><p>You can’t do that here.</p><</replace>> <</if>> <<set $transcript.push(_cmd)>> <</widget>> <<widget "CmdBadName">> <<if ["c", "continue"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $transcript.push(_cmd), $name to "Adley">> <<goto "Name">> <<else>> <<set $transcript.push("Error")>> <<replace "#error" t8n>><p>You can’t do that here.</p><</replace>> <</if>> <<set $transcript.push(_cmd)>> <</widget>> <<widget "CmdName">> <<if _used.includes(_cmd)>> /*Already done the action */ <<set $transcript.push("Error Double")>> <<replace "#error" t8n>><p>You’ve already tried this command.</p><</replace>> <<elseif ["c", "continue", "n", "north", "up"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Go Next Part*/ <<set $transcript.push(_cmd), $transcript.push("Next Passage")>> <<goto "Whistle">> <<elseif ["h", "help"].contains(_cmd)>> /*help line*/ <<set $found.push("NameHelp"), _used.push("h", "help")>> <<replace "#help" t8n>><<include "NameHelp">><</replace>> /*<<elseif ["clear"].contains(_cmd)>> Clear Page of extra text <<set _used to [], $turns -->> <<replace "#textbox" t8n>><</replace>><<run setup.scrollToTop("passages")>>*/ <<elseif ["being", "scrawny being", "male", "look being", "look scrawny being", "look male", "look at being", "look at scrawny being", "look at male", "kodyn", "look kodyn", "look at kodyn"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Look at Kodyn*/ <<set _used.push("being", "scrawny being", "male", "look being", "look scrawny being", "look male", "look at being", "look at scrawny being", "look at male")>> <<if $found.includes("IntroBeing")>> <<set $found.push("NameBeingVar")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "NameBeingVar">><</append>> <<else>> <<set $found.push("IntroBeing")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "IntroBeing">><</append>> <</if>> <<elseif ["talk being", "talk scrawny being", "talk male", "talk to being", "talk to scrawny being", "talk to male", "talk to kodyn", "talk kodyn"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Look at Kodyn*/ <<set $found.push("NameTalkKodyn"), _used.push("talk being", "talk scrawny being", "talk male", "talk to being", "talk to scrawny being", "talk to male", "talk to kodyn", "talk kodyn")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "NameTalkKodyn">><</append>> <<elseif ["talk initiate", "talk to initiate", "talk initiates", "talk to initiates"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Talk to Initiate*/ <<set $found.push("NameTalkInitiate"), _used.push("talk initiate", "talk to initiate", "talk initiates", "talk to initiates")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "NameTalkInitiate">><</append>> <<elseif ["room", "look room", "look at room", "look around room", "inspect room"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Look around Room*/ <<set $found.push("NameRoom"), _used.push("room", "look room", "look at room", "look around room", "inspect room")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "NameRoom">><</append>> <<elseif ["ritual", "think about ritual", "feel ritual", "remember ritual", "look ritual", "think ritual", "recall ritual"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Remeber Ritual*/ <<set $found.push("NameRitual"), _used.push("ritual", "think about ritual", "feel ritual", "remember ritual", "look ritual", "think ritual", "recall ritual")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "NameRitual">><</append>> <<elseif ["dark room", "look dark room", "look at dark room", "think about dark room", "think dark room", "remember dark room", "mystical room", "look mystical room", "look at mystical room", "think about mystical room", "think mystical room", "remember mystical room"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Remeber Dark Room*/ <<set $found.push("NameDarkRoom"), _used.push("dark room", "look dark room", "look at dark room", "think about dark room", "think dark room", "remember dark room", "mystical room", "look mystical room", "look at mystical room", "think about mystical room", "think mystical room", "remember mystical room")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "NameDarkRoom">><</append>> <<elseif ["words", "word", "remember words", "remember word", "think words", "think word", "think about words", "think about word", "recall word", "recall words"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("NameWords"), _used.push("words", "word", "remember words", "remember word", "think words", "think word", "think about words", "think about word", "recall word", "recall words")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "NameWords">><</append>> <<else>> <<set $transcript.push("Error")>> <<replace "#error" t8n>><p>You can’t do that here.</p><</replace>> <</if>> <<set $transcript.push(_cmd)>> <</widget>> <<widget "CmdWhistle">> <<if ["c", "continue", "leave room", "leave", "n", "north"].contains(_cmd)>> <<if $found.includes("WhistleComplain")>> /*Ending Complain */ <<set $transcript.push(_cmd), $transcript.push("Next Passage")>> <<goto "ENDComplain">> <<elseif $found.includes("WhistleUp") or $found.includes("WhistleTakeLedger")>> /*Story Next Passage */ <<set $transcript.push(_cmd), $transcript.push("Next Passage")>> <<goto "Corridor">> <<else>> <<set $transcript.push("Error")>> <<replace "#error" t8n>><p>Please try a different command before this one.</p><</replace>> <</if>> <<elseif $found.includes("WhistleComplain") or $found.includes("WhistleUp") or $found.includes("WhistleTakeLedger")>> <<set $transcript.push("Error")>> <<replace "#error" t8n>><p>Enter ‘c’ or ‘continue’, to get to the next screen.</p><</replace>> <<elseif ["complain", "speak out"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Complain -> Ending */ <<set $found.push("WhistleComplain"), _used.push("complain", "speak out", "grumble", "protest")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "WhistleComplain">><</append>> <<elseif $found.includes("WhistleSit2") && ["sit", "sit down", "sit on bench", "sit on chair", "stay sit", "stay seated", "no move", "still", "stay"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $transcript.push(_cmd), $transcript.push("Next Passage")>> <<goto "ENDSitting">> <<elseif $found.includes("WhistleSit") && ["sit", "sit down", "sit on bench", "sit on chair", "stay sit", "stay seated", "no move", "still", "stay"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("WhistleSit2")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "WhistleSit2">><</append>> <<elseif ["sit", "sit down", "sit on bench", "sit on chair", "stay sit", "stay seated", "no move", "still", "stay"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("WhistleSit"), _used.push("sit", "sit down", "sit on bench", "sit on chair", "stay sit", "stay seated", "no move", "still", "stay")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "WhistleSit">><</append>> <<elseif _used.includes(_cmd)>> /*Already done the action */ <<set $transcript.push("Error Double")>> <<replace "#error" t8n>><p>You’ve already tried this command.</p><</replace>> <<elseif ["up", "get up", "u", "n", "north", "e", "east", "s", "south", "w", "west", "nw", "north west", "ne", "nort east", "se", "south east", "sw", "south west", "move", "stand", "stand up"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Stand Up*/ <<set $found.push("WhistleUp"), _used.push("up", "get up", "u", "n", "north", "e", "east", "s", "south", "w", "west", "nw", "north west", "ne", "nort east", "se", "south east", "sw", "south west", "move", "stand", "stand up")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "NameRoom">><</append>> <<elseif ["h", "help"].contains(_cmd)>> /*help line */ <<set $found.push("WhistleHelp"), _used.push("h", "help")>> <<replace "#help" t8n>><<include "WhistleHelp">><</replace>> <<elseif ["being", "scrawny being", "male", "look being", "look scrawny being", "look male", "look at being", "look at scrawny being", "look at male", "kodyn", "look kodyn", "look at kodyn"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Look at Kodyn*/ <<set $found.push("WhistleKodyn"), _used.push("being", "scrawny being", "male", "look being", "look scrawny being", "look male", "look at being", "look at scrawny being", "look at male", "kodyn", "look kodyn", "look at kodyn")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "WhistleKodyn">><</append>> <<elseif ["ledger", "look ledger", "look at ledger"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Look at ledger*/ <<set $found.push("WhistleLedger"), _used.push("ledger", "look ledger", "look at ledger")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "WhistleLedger">><</append>> <<elseif ["take ledger", "touch ledger", "loot ledger"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Take ledger*/ <<set $found.push("WhistleTakeLedger"), _used.push("take ledger", "touch ledger", "loot ledger")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "WhistleTakeLedger">><</append>> /*<<elseif ["clear"].contains(_cmd)>> Clear Page <<set _used to [], $turns -->> <<replace "#help" t8n>><p>You can’t clear this passage.</p><</replace>><<run setup.scrollToTop("passages")>>*/ <<else>> <<set $transcript.push("Error")>> <<replace "#error" t8n>><p>You can’t do that here.</p><</replace>> <</if>> <<set $transcript.push(_cmd)>> <</widget>> <<widget "CmdCorridor">> /*Go to the next passage */ <<if ($found.includes("Corridor3No") or $found.includes("Corridor3See")) && ["c", "continue", "n", "north", "forward", "reach door", "go door", "go doors", "reach doors", "approach door", "approach doors"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $transcript.push(_cmd), $transcript.push("Next Passage")>> <<goto "Doors">> /* Check the sound */ <<elseif !$found.includes("Corridor3No") && $found.includes("Corridor3") && ["still", "stand", "no", "no movement", "z"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("Corridor3No")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "Corridor3No">><</append>> /* Dont check the sound */ <<elseif !$found.includes("Corridor3See") && $found.includes("Corridor3") && ["e", "east", "w", "west", "jump", "move", "look commotion"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("Corridor3See")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "Corridor3See">><</append>> /*try to go a different direction */ <<elseif (!$found.includes("Corridor2NS") or !$found.includes("Corridor2N2") or !$found.includes("Corridor2Stop")) && $found.includes("Corridor2N") && ["e", "east", "w", "west", "nw", "north west", "sw", "south west", "se", "south east"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("Corridor2NOther")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "Corridor2NOther">><</append>> /*Bump Natisse*/ <<elseif !$found.includes("Corridor3") && $found.includes("Corridor2N") && ["c", "continue", "n", "north"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("Corridor2N2", "Corridor3")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "Corridor2N2">><<include "Corridor3">><</append>> /*Bump Zouma */ <<elseif !$found.includes("Corridor3") && $found.includes("Corridor2N") && ["s", "south"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("Corridor2NS", "Corridor3")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "Corridor2NS">><<include "Corridor3">><</append>> /*Correct*/ <<elseif !$found.includes("Corridor3") && $found.includes("Corridor2N") && ["stop", "stand", "still", "stand still", "stay"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("Corridor2Stop", "Corridor3")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "Corridor2Stop">><<include "Corridor3">><</append>> <<elseif !$found.includes("Corridor2N") && ["c", "continue", "n", "north"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("Corridor2N")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "Corridor2N">><</append>> <<elseif _used.includes(_cmd)>> /*Already done the action */ <<set $transcript.push("Error Double")>> <<replace "#error" t8n>><p>You’ve already tried this command.</p><</replace>> <<elseif ["think", "remember", "worry", "you", "think about me", "think me", "think you", "think about you", "recall"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Remeber you*/ <<set $found.push("CorridorYou"), _used.push("think", "remember", "worry", "you", "think about me", "think me", "think you", "think about you", "recall")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "CorridorYou">><</append>> <<elseif ["natisse", "look natisse", "look at natisse", "see natisse", "examine natisse"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Look at Natisse*/ <<set $found.push("Natisse"), _used.push("natisse", "look natisse", "look at natisse", "see natisse", "examine natisse", "remember natisse")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "Natisse">><</append>> <<elseif ["talk natisse", "talk to natisse"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Talk to Natisse*/ <<set $found.push("CorridorNatisse"), _used.push("talk natisse", "talk to natisse")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "CorridorNatisse">><</append>> <<elseif ["zouma", "look zouma", "look at zouma", "see zouma", "examine zouma"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Look at Zouma*/ <<set $found.push("Zouma"), _used.push("zouma", "look zouma", "look at zouma", "see zouma", "examine zouma")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "Zouma">><</append>> <<elseif ["talk zouma", "talk to zouma"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Talk to Natisse*/ <<set $found.push("CorridorZouma"), _used.push("talk zouma", "talk to zouma")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "CorridorZouma">><</append>> <<elseif ["headstand", "do headstand", "try headstand"].contains(_cmd)>> /*Remeber you*/ <<set $found.push("CorridorHeadstand"), _used.push("headstand", "do headstand", "try headstand")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "CorridorHeadstand">><</append>> /*<<elseif ["clear"].contains(_cmd)>> Clear passage <<set _used to [], $turns -->> <<replace "#textbox" t8n>><</replace>>*/ <<else>> <<set $transcript.push("Error")>> <<replace "#error" t8n>><p>You can’t do that here.</p><</replace>> <</if>> <<set $transcript.push(_cmd)>> <</widget>> <<widget "CmdDoors">> <<if _used.includes(_cmd)>> /*Already done the action */ <<set $transcript.push("Error Double")>> <<replace "#error" t8n>><p>You’ve already tried this command.</p><</replace>> <<elseif ["c", "continue", "n", "north", "go forward", "go", "go inside"].contains(_cmd)>> <<if !$found.includes("Doors2")>> <<set $found.push("Doors2")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "Doors2">><</append>> <<elseif !$found.includes("Doors3")>> <<set $found.push("Doors3")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "Doors3">><</append>> <<elseif $found.includes("Doors3")>> <<set $transcript.push(_cmd), $transcript.push("Next Passage")>> <<goto "Enter">> <</if>> <<elseif ["s", "south"].contains(_cmd)>> <<if !$found.includes("Doors3")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "DoorsS">><</append>> <<set $found.push("DoorsS")>> <<else>> <<set $transcript.push("Error")>> <<replace "#error" t8n>><p>You can’t do that here.</p><</replace>> <</if>> <<elseif ["Tariaia", "look Tariaia", "look at Tariaia", "think Tariaia", "think of Tariaia", "think about Tariaia"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("DoorsTariaia"), _used.push("Tariaia", "look Tariaia", "look at Tariaia", "think Tariaia", "think of Tariaia", "think about Tariaia")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "DoorsTariaia">><</append>> <<elseif ["Gideron", "look Gideron", "look at Gideron", "think Gideron", "think of Gideron", "think about Gideron"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("DoorsGideron"), _used.push("Gideron", "look Gideron", "look at Gideron", "think Gideron", "think of Gideron", "think about Gideron")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "DoorsGideron">><</append>> <<elseif ["smell", "recall smell", "remember smell"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("DoorsSmell"), _used.push("smell")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "DoorsSmell">><</append>> <<elseif ["whistle", "listen whistle", "think whistle", "think of whistle", "think about whistle"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("DoorsWhistle"), _used.push("whistle", "listen whistle", "think whistle", "think of whistle", "think about whistle")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "DoorsWhistle">><</append>> <<elseif ["voice", "listen voice", "think voice", "think of voice", "think about voice"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("DoorsVoice"), _used.push("voice", "listen voice", "think voice", "think of voice", "think about voice")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "DoorsVoice">><</append>> /*voice -> TODO*/ <<else>> <<set $transcript.push("Error")>> <<replace "#error" t8n>><p>You can’t do that here.</p><</replace>> <</if>> <<set $transcript.push(_cmd)>> <</widget>> <<widget "CmdEnter">> <<if ["c", "continue", "go to altar", "go altar", "reach altar", "approach altar"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $transcript.push(_cmd), $transcript.push("Next Passage")>> <<goto "Altar">> <<elseif _used.includes(_cmd)>> /*Already done the action */ <<set $transcript.push("Error Double")>> <<replace "#error" t8n>><p>You’ve already tried this command.</p><</replace>> <<elseif ["h", "help"].contains(_cmd)>> /*help line*/ <<set $found.push("NameHelp"), _used.push("h", "help")>> <<replace "#help" t8n>><<include "NameHelp">><</replace>> <<elseif ["recall", "remember", "once", "recall once", "remember once"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("EnterRecall"), _used.push("recall", "remember", "once", "recall once", "remember once")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "EnterRecall">><</append>> <<elseif ["look", "look around", "look room", "look at room", "look around room"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("EnterLook"), _used.push("look", "look around", "look room", "look at room", "look around room")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "EnterLook">><</append>> <<elseif ["altar", "look altar", "look at altar"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("EnterAltar"), _used.push("altar", "look altar", "look at altar")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "EnterAltar">><</append>> <<elseif ["braziers", "look braziers", "look at braziers", "brazier", "look brazier", "look at brazier"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("EnterBrasiers"), _used.push("braziers", "look braziers", "look at braziers", "brazier", "look brazier", "look at brazier")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "EnterBrasiers">><</append>> <<elseif ["initiate", "look initiate", "look for initiate", "initiates", "look initiates", "look for initiates"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("EnterInitiate"), _used.push("initiate", "look initiate", "look for initiate", "initiates", "look initiates", "look for initiates")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "EnterInitiate">><</append>> <<elseif ["choice", "remember choice", "recall choice", "think choice", "think about choice"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("EnterChoice"), _used.push("choice", "remember choice", "recall choice", "think choice", "think about choice")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "EnterChoice">><</append>> <<else>> <<set $transcript.push("Error")>> <<replace "#error" t8n>><p>You can’t do that here.</p><</replace>> <</if>> <<set $transcript.push(_cmd)>> <</widget>> <<widget "CmdAltar">> <<if _test is true>> /*Choices/Escapes */ <<elseif ["nothing", "choose nothing", "i choose nothing"].contains(_cmd) && !$found.includes("Nothing")>> <<set $found.push("Nothing")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "Nothing">><</append>> <<elseif ["nothing", "choose nothing", "i choose nothing"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $transcript.push(_cmd), $transcript.push("Next Passage")>> <<goto "Nothing2">> <<elseif ["cultivation", "choose cultivation", "i choose cultivation"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $transcript.push(_cmd), $transcript.push("Next Passage")>> <<goto "Cultivation">> <<elseif ["maintenance", "choose maintenance", "i choose maintenance"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $transcript.push(_cmd), $transcript.push("Next Passage")>> <<goto "Maintenance">> <<elseif ["care", "choose care", "i choose care"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $transcript.push(_cmd), $transcript.push("Next Passage")>> <<goto "Care">> <<elseif ["transmission", "choose transmission", "i choose transmission"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $transcript.push(_cmd), $transcript.push("Next Passage")>> <<goto "Transmission">> <<elseif ["education", "choose education", "i choose education"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $transcript.push(_cmd), $transcript.push("Next Passage")>> <<goto "Education">> <<elseif ["s", "south", "e", "east", "w", "west", "se", "south east", "sw", "south west", "leave", "turnback", "go", "exit"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $transcript.push(_cmd), $transcript.push("Next Passage")>> <<goto "Escape">> /*Already Done*/ <<elseif _used.includes(_cmd)>> /*Already done the action */ <<set $transcript.push("Error Double")>> <<replace "#error" t8n>><p>You’ve already tried this command.</p><</replace>> <<elseif ["organisation", "choose organisation", "i choose organisation"].contains(_cmd) && !$found.includes("RefusedOrga")>> <<set $found.push("RefusedOrga")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "RefusedOrga">><</append>> <<elseif ["construction", "choose construction", "i choose construction"].contains(_cmd) && !$found.includes("RefusedConstruct")>> <<set $found.push("RefusedConstruct")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "RefusedConstruct">><</append>> <<elseif ["safety", "choose safety", "i choose safety"].contains(_cmd) && !$found.includes("RefusedSafety")>> <<set $found.push("RefusedSafety")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "RefusedSafety">><</append>> /*Interactions */ <<elseif ["altar", "look altar", "look at altar", "reach altar", "approach altar", "examine altar"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("AltarLookAltar"), _used.push("altar", "look altar", "look at altar", "reach altar", "approach altar", "examine altar")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "AltarLookAltar">><</append>> <<elseif ["paper", "look paper", "look at paper", "read paper"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("AltarLookPaper"), _used.push("paper", "look paper", "look at paper", "read paper")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "AltarLookPaper">><</append>> <<elseif ["list", "look list", "look at list", "read list"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $found.push("AltarLookList"), _used.push("list", "look list", "look at list", "read list")>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "AltarLookList">><</append>> /*Errors*/ <<elseif ["n", "north", "nw", "north west", "ne", "north east"].contains(_cmd)>> <<set $transcript.push("Error")>> <<replace "#error" t8n>><p>You can’t move in this direction.</p><</replace>> <<else>> <<set $transcript.push("Error")>> <<replace "#error" t8n>><p>You can’t do that here.</p><</replace>> <</if>> <<set $transcript.push(_cmd)>> <</widget>> /*** GENRAL COMMANDS ***/ <<widget "ControlsOption">> <<set $controls to true>> <<set _cmd to _textbox.toLowerCase()>> <<if ["", " ", " ", " "].contains(_cmd)>> <<replace "#error" t8n>><p>Please enter a command.</p><</replace>> <<elseif ["transcript"].contains(_cmd)>> <<export $transcript $turns $found>> <<elseif ["rule", "rules"].contains(_cmd)>> <<popup 'Rules' 'Rules'>> <<elseif ["hint", "hints"].contains(_cmd)>> <<popup 'Rules' 'Rules'>> <<elseif ["key", "keys"].contains(_cmd)>> <<popup 'Keys' 'Keys'>> <<elseif ["credit", "credits", "end credit", "thanks"].contains(_cmd)>> <<popup 'Credits' 'Credits'>> <<elseif ["i", "inventory", "inv", "open inventory"].contains(_cmd)>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "Inventory">><<set $found.push("Player")>><</append>> <<elseif ["x me", "me", "look me", "look at me", "inspect me", "examine me"].contains(_cmd)>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "Player">><<if !$found.includes("Player")>><<set $found.push("Player")>><</if>><</append>> <<elseif ["compound", "think compound", "think about compound", "remember compound", "recall compound", "consider compound"].contains(_cmd)>> <<append "#textbox" t8n>><<include "Compoud">><<set $found.push("Compoud")>><</append>> /*SETTINGS/MENUs*/ <<elseif ["setting", "settings"].contains(_cmd)>> <<run UI.settings()>> <<elseif ["save", "saves", "saving"].contains(_cmd)>> <<run UI.saves()>> <<elseif ["restart", "restarting"].contains(_cmd)>> <<run UI.restart()>> <<elseif ["back"].contains(_cmd)>> <<run Engine.backward()>> <<elseif ["forward"].contains(_cmd)>> <<run Engine.forward()>> <<elseif ["scroll up"].contains(_cmd)>> <<run setup.scrollToTop("text")>> <<elseif ["scroll down"].contains(_cmd)>> <<run setup.scrollToBottom("text")>> /*OTHER POPUPS*/ <<else>> <<set $controls to false>> <</if>> <</widget>> <<widget "CountTurns">> <<replace "#load">> <<fadeout 2s 1s>> Loaded.<</fadeout>><</replace>> <<if !$controls>> <<set $turns ++>> <<if passage() is "Explanation">><<CmdExpl>> <<elseif passage() is "Intro">><<CmdIntro>> <<elseif passage() is "NameBad">><<CmdBadName>> <<elseif passage() is "Name">><<CmdName>> <<elseif passage() is "Whistle">><<CmdWhistle>> <<elseif passage() is "Corridor">><<CmdCorridor>> <<elseif passage() is "Doors">><<CmdDoors>> <<elseif passage() is "Enter">><<CmdEnter>> <<elseif passage() is "Altar">><<CmdAltar>> <<else>> <<replace "#error">><p>IF THIS IS NOT THE END PAGE, THERE IS A BUG THERE. PLS CONTACT ME SO I CAN FIX IT!! IF THIS IS THE END PAGE, SORRY I WAS TOO TIRED TO FIX THIS.</p><</replace>> <</if>> <</if>> <</widget>><div id="text"><p>“... initiate?”</p> <span id="intro"></span></div> <<BlockTextbox>> <<set _used to [], $transcript.push("Passage: Intro", "Actions ->")>><hr> <p>''Help:'' To indicate your name and move to the next screen, type in the textbox: ''name //ChosenName//'', and press Enter or click Confirm.</p><p>''You looked up'' and saw a <span class="hint">scrawny being</span> holding a large <span class="hint">ledger</span> in his flimsy arms. You did not bother hiding your displeasure of seeing him, standing before you. Any other day, you would have crossed the street or turned back, just to avoid him altogether. But today, you knew you could not run away from his presence. He was only doing his job, after all.</p> <p>Before stopping inches away from you, the male had made his rounds around the <span class="hint">room</span>, talking to every <span class="hint">initiate</span> on his path, asking each of them the same questions, before writing their answers on the page of his heavy ledger. As you prided yourself on caring very little about anyone, you had not bothered listening to those dull enquires. Instead, you kept repeating the <span class="hint">words</span> you had memorised the night before.</p> <span id="textbox"></span> <p>“What is your name, initiate?” the male repeated, now becoming impatient.</p><p>''You tried to'' look around the room, but the scrawny being standing before you is blocking your view. You would need to wait for him to leave.</p><p>''The male was'' trying to balance the seemingly heavy ledger in his arm, waiting for you to answer his question. The book was very large, with a thick pink leather cover a bit worn on the corners. A string of leather, used to wrap the ledger close, was dangling on the side. Inside its cover, the tome had too many pages to count, each being almost as thin as a hair. Because of its frailty, you remember learning that this ledger only left the Archive once an aeon.</p><p>''Kodyn was his'' name. A sad little male with little going on with him. It was impossible not to notice his presence. Even if you were blind, or deaf, or had lost all your senses, you would fell him. His aura was… suffocating.</p> <p>Interacting with him always felt like a chore. Even looking at him made you feel depressed. You would give anything to spend as little time as possible around him. But this was not possible today. Kodyn was an Organiser. His presence was mandatory.</p><p>''When you entered'' the room earlier, you had found the space filled with other initiates. Some faces you recognised, having seen them around the Compound or interacted with them during your younger aeons; other, you could not recall ever meeting them before.</p> <p>Whoever they were did not matter; they all waited, like you. Waited to be registered. Waited to be let out of the room. Waited anxiously to shed their title of ‘initiate’.</p><p>//''I choose nothing…''//<br> These were the words you had been mumbling quietly until now. The words you had promised yourself you would shout when the time came. You had kept your choice secret — the others would not understand it, no matter how much you tried to explain it.</p><p>''There was absolutely'' no reason for you to have this ledger in your possession, nor had you any need for it. Still, you eyed the object with a strange passion, wanting to have what you were not supposed to, wanting to take what was not yours. You knew you should not attempt to nick it, but you could not help yourself. Your fingers tingled with anticipation as your hand crept closer. //He// deserved it.</p> <p>“And what do //you// think you are doing?” the annoyed being said, pulling the tome away.</p> <p>Caught in the act, but not wanting to explain yourself, for it would not end well for you, you hid your hands behind your back and looked away, pretending as if nothing had happened. The being only humphed disapprovingly in return.</p><p>''For some strange'' reason, you felt the want of talking to the male standing in front of you. You would not quite understand why this was happening. Were it not for today’s event, you would not be caught dead talking around that being. Yet, your orifice hung open.</p> <p>“So…,” your orifice moved. “How about that… err… weather?”</p> <p>The being gave you a look, before returning to his ledger.</p><p>''Rather than giving'' the being the requested answer, you found yourself wanting to talk to other initiates instead. You looked at your left, only to find your neighbour deep in discussion with someone else. You were tempted to tap on their back to get their attention – and maybe insert yourself into their conversation – but you decided against it. Unlike your interrogated, you did not want to appear rude.</p> <p>So you swayed to the right, hoping your other neighbour would not be occupied. Had the male not snapped his fingers at you to get you back on track, you would probably have managed to exchange a few words. </p><div id="text"><p>“//Well//?” the male barked, following your lack of response.</p> <p>You stared at the male and kept mum. You did not see the need to answer his question – his stupid and useless question. Why should you bother answering it when everyone knew everyone around here? The Compound was a tight-knit community. There was truly no need for this.</p> <p>“Initiate,” he tried again, frustrated. “What is your name?”</p> <p>And still, you would not utter a word. //He// clearly knew your name, as much as he pretended not to. Kodyn <<if !$found.includes("IntroBeing")>>, the being standing before you,<</if>> had spent every nightly meal at the same long table as your family for the past few aeons, much to your dismay.</p> <p>“Still a prick, I see,” he clicked his tongue. “When will you stop messing with my job, //Adley//?”</p> <p>You shrugged. He was the one to talk… Kodyn was as much of a prick as you were, but, unlike you, the male had long shed his initiate state.</p> <p>“If that’s how you want to play it,” he sighed, scribbling something on the page.</p></div> <<BlockTextbox>> <<set _used to [], $transcript.push("Passage: NameBad", "Actions ->")>><div id="text"><<if previous() isnot "NameBad">><p>“$name,” you replied, with a straight face.</p> <p>The <span class="hint">male</span> added your answer to the page, stared you down, scribbled some more. As he moved on to the next initiate, you sat there, confused. Unlike the others, he had not asked anything else but your name, nor did he utter another single word to you. Not even a ‘congratulation’ like the other adults who crossed your path had done all morning.</p><</if>> <p>With a hint of bitterness in your mouth, you watched the male continuing his task – though you did not linger, in fear that others would think you cared about him. Ultimately, you realised you should relish the short interaction you experienced instead, as others were clearly not as lucky.</p> <p>So, you looked away, gazing into the distance rather than anything in particular in the <span class="hint">room</span>, as you waited for the moment you would be allowed to leave your seat and undertake the <span class="hint">Ritual</span> in that mystical <span class="hint">dark room</span>. While other initiates fretted about the ordeal, you were as cool as a cucumber, repeating the same <span class="hint">words</span> as before.</p> <span id="textbox"></span></div> <<BlockTextbox>> <<set _used to [], $transcript.push("Passage: Name", "Actions ->")>><hr> <p>''Help:'' To continue to the next screen, type “//c//” or “//continue//”.</p><p>''The room was plain'' and simple, with cream painted walls and grey concrete floors – a common colour scheme around the Compound. Someone had pushed the wooden benches against the walls, and, in the corner, stacked the tables. This ‘waiting room’, currently filled with anxious initiates, was located on the ground floor of the building. It was usually used for meetings and small assemblies. You had come here a few times before, among those for the Organisers’ presentation of the Ritual.</p> <p>There was not really much else of interest in this room. The other initiates either had found a seat, letting their knees shake and twitch, or were pacing around the room, fidgeting with their hands. A handful were whispering to one another, asking what the other had planned to do during the ceremony.</p><p>''The Ritual, this'' rite of passage for every youngin in the Compound, the Community’s cornerstone, was the aeon’s event, during which an initiate would shed their innocence and childishness behind to become an adult. Through the Ritual, they got to choose their path. The one they would follow for the rest of their lives.</p> <p>The simple ceremony – or so you have been told – determined what contribution and initiate would make from what point onward, what they would give back to the Community that raised them, what tasks they would do until the day they would leave this place.</p> <p>Every initiate in this room, you included, had either been looking forward or been dreading – or both! – this event for clicks! And even aeons, for some! With you, it had haunted every single of your dreams, as well as your thoughts, ever since you received your robes. You wasted many hours on the Organisers’ presentation of the ceremony, and still you had not been sure what you would do when the time came. That is, until a few days ago.</p><p>''The mystical dark'' room was not really that mystical, but the Auditorium dressed up for the occasion. It was only dubbed so because of the transformation the court received every aeon ahead of the ceremony.</p> <p>Usually a light and welcoming environment, with its wide windows, cascading greeneries, and tranquil pond, the Auditorium was a place of calm and rest, where many being came to recharge or put on a show for others.</p> <p>But once an aeon, the court was fenced off, so the Organisers could ready it for the Ritual. Covering every inch of brightness with sooty cloth, they let darkness swallow the pleasant space whole.</p><p>''Yet again, you'' found yourself looking towards Kodyn, now barking at another initiate. You wondered if you had missed something when you last glanced at him, but he was still the scrawny being you always tried to avoid. </p><p>''Feeling the strange'' want to talk to the male who took your name, you stared at Kodyn for a while. For some unknown reason, your mind would not let go of the idea of sparking a conversation with the being you despised the most in the Compound. And so, you sat there, with your jaw hanging, thinking of what you could say to him. Your thoughts pulling blanks, and seeing the male walking away, you soon gave up on this idiotic want.</p><p>''//I choose nothing…//''</p> <p>You continued on mumbling the words, repeating them even though they had been engraved in your mind by now. These were the words you would say later. When your time came.</p><p>''Free from the'' male’s suffocating presence, you relished in this newfound liberation. Though it would be limited, for Kodyn’s round of the room was almost over, you were happy to have some little time where you could interact with the other initiates in the room.</p> <p>You glanced to your right, and find your neighbour busy with Kodyn’s interrogation. The little being looked uncomfortable and trying to rush for their turn to be over. Unlucky for them, Kodyn had many questions. You were tempted to meddle with the situation, but your fear of the Organiser raining on your ceremonial parade.</p> <p>So, you turned to the left, where you saw two initiates <<if $found.includes("IntroTalkInitiate")>>still <</if>>in deep conversation. Wanting to be part of something that was not a grilling, you tapped on the closest initiate’s back to get their attention. Unfortunately, you did not get the reaction you expected – or any reaction, for that matter. </p> <p>Still, you did not let that shake you – believing instead that these initiates were just reacting anxiously because of what was to come, rather because they thought of you as lesser or unworthy. You tried again, with more insistence. Yet again, this was done in vain, as the duo moved further away from you.</p><div id="text"><p>And then…</p> <p>A high-pitched sound scrapped the inside of your ears. Groaning, you, and every other initiate in the room, turned toward the origin of the sound, only to find <span class="hint">Kodyn</span><<if !$found.includes("IntroBeing")>>, the male who asked for your name earlier,<</if>> with a whistle falling from his lips. Out of all the ways to seek your attention, the being had found the most horrid one.</p> <p>With his screeching voice, he shouted every name he had added in the ledger. As previously instructed during the many – many – presentations, the summoned initiates were coming forward and were forming a line before the male. It was obvious they were swallowing the complaints they had about him and his poor manners – voicing those dissatisfactions were not worth getting in trouble. Not today.</p> <p>“$name!”</p> <span id="textbox"></span> </div> <<BlockTextbox>> <<set _used to [], $transcript.push("Passage: Whistle", "Actions ->")>><hr> <p>''Help:'' To leave your seat, enter any compass direction or ‘up’.</p><p>''You were certain'' the male had opted for the whistle and the screeching tone for his voice to mess with your hearing. He had to have something against you! His actions had made it all the more clear. In that moment, his position as an Organiser did not matter, nor was yours as a simple initiate; his manners were too abject to be tolerated. And since you were still bitter from your previous interaction with the male, you could not hold your tongue any longer!</p> <p>Under the horrified eyes of your peers, you laid out all your repressed feelings, right there and then. All the little things over the aeons that irked you, all his rude stares and comments, all the disgust you had toward the male, all the resentment from his actions (or lack thereof)… nothing was too low or too much for you. You did not care about hurt feelings or lousy conduct. You had had enough with this being!</p><p>''The male had called'' your name, yet you stayed seated. Because of weak knees or hurt feelings, you could not say, but the reason did not matter. Not to you, not to Kodyn, not to the other initiates. There was no excuse for your behaviour. You were not just rudely delaying the ceremony with your act – or, more accurately, lack thereof, you were also gambling with the future of your fellow initiates. </p> </p>“$name!” Kodyn repeated. “Get in line. Now!”</p><p>''While your nerves'' could have excused your flakiness when your name was first called, your choice to avoid it a second time was becoming an issue. Delaying unnecessarily and unreasonably the Ritual, risking the wrath of the Elders, and your fellow initiates, having an insolent behaviour towards an adult… you kept raking up maluses for no good reason. It was not surprising to see every being in the room seething and grumbling their frustration with you – the most vocal ones were the anxious initiates, who had followed the instructions and got in line when told, even as their nerves were failing them…</p> <p>“$name!” Kodyn screamed. “This is your last warning!”</p><p>''Following the other'' initiates before you, you left your seat and found your place at the back of the line. Kodyn clicked his tongue and continued down his list, barking the name of the beings still sitting.</p> <p>When the male was done, and content with the organised chain of anxious youngin waiting to be churned through the Ritual, he blew his whistle once more, and led the line out of the room.</p><<if !$found.includes("NameBeingVar") or !$found.includes("IntroBeing")>><p>''Kodyn was a scrawny'' little male, with little going on with him. It was not because the being was a bore that you disliked him, but his whole being was to blame. From his dreadful appearance, to his suffocating presence, or even his abhorrent manners, you could not stand being in such close proximity to him. You could not understand why //he// had been the Organiser chosen for today…</p><</if>> <p>''Yet again, you'' found yourself looking towards Kodyn, whose insufferable and impatient face was staring at you, waiting for you to take your place at the back of the line.</p><p>''The heavy ledger was'' still in the male’s grasp, though now closed and tucked in under his limb. <<if !$found.includes("IntroLedger")>>The tome was very large, with a thick pink leather cover a bit worn on the corners. A string of leather was wrapped around the ledger to hold it close. Though you could not see it as well anymore, it held many thin pages – too many to count. You also recollect learning that this ledger only left the Archive once an aeon. <<else>>Instead of dangling on the side, the string of leather was now wrapped around the tome, to hold it close. As it rarely left the Archive, you found yourself fascinated by the sight.<</if>></p><p><<if $found.includes("IntroTakeLedger")>>''Having tried once'' already to put your hands on the ledger – and failing miserably – you wondered if you would get lucky this time around. The tome might not be close to your extremities, considering the half-room between Kodyn and yourself, nor was it out in the open, instead tucked under its carer’s limb.<<else>>''There was much'' to consider before you could jump into the action and put your hands on the coveted ledger. There was a full half-room between Kodyn and yourself to cross. And the tome was tucked under its carer’s limb, making it difficult to remove.<</if>></p> <p>And yet, you brushed these issues away with quite the ease. It was not some minor setbacks that could deter you from your goal. You would get your hands on that tome no matter what!</p> <p>“Hey, $name!” an initiate in line uttered, seeing you moving towards the door. “What do you think you’re doing here?”</p> <p>You stopped and looked at him, confused by his intervention. </p> <p>“You were only called now… Don’t try to cut the line!” </p> <p>Unbothered, you took another step towards Kodyn. Or, you tried to, as your denigrator pulled your arm back.</p> <p>“Back of the line, $name. Don’t be rude!”</p> <p>You grimaced at your nagger, ready to spew out some harsh words in return. But the frustrated face of the other initiates around you forced your psyche to abandon your plan. Taking that ledger was not worth getting on the bad side of your cohort. So you jerked your limb free and found your place at the back of the line. Kodyn clicked his tongue, unbothered, and continued down his list, barking the name of the beings still sitting.</p> <p>When the male was done, and content with the organised chain of anxious youngins waiting to be churned through the Ritual, he blew his whistle once more, and led the line out of the room.</p><p>''Instead of following'' the command, you found yourself wanting to spark a conversation with your fellow initiates. There was still some time before the Ritual was supposed to start, anyway.</p> <p>You glanced at the beings still waiting to be called, hoping to find a friendly face, but only encountered anxious initiates uncomfortable with your actions. Your waving and greetings did nothing to warm them up, nor did your tries to exchange a few words, which ended up being pretty one-sided. And turning to the standing beings did not lead to different results. All kept mum and avoided your gaze.</p> <p>Among the silence, one initiate ended up pleading with you to get in line, as no one wanted to be involved with your shenanigans.</p><div id="text"><p>Heels clomped against the concrete floor. Sleeves rustled as arms swung back and forth. Whispers echoed in the daedalian corridors. Marching at the rigid pace set by Kodyn, the line of initiates made their way towards the mystical dark room.</p> <p>The air was both heavy with anxiety and electric from excitement. Before sundown, every initiate would have selected their path, and moved on to the next stage of their life. They would finally become productive members of the Community. They would have matured into adults. <span class="hint">You</span> might mature into an adult.</p> <span id="textbox"></span></div> <<BlockTextbox>> <<set _used to [], $transcript.push("Passage: Corridor", "Actions ->")>><p>''Though you continued'' to rehearse for your performance during the Ritual, still quietly repeating ‘//I choose nothing//’, you were now questioning your choice. Your family wanted you to follow in their footsteps, by joining ‘Maintenance’ – where one took care and disposed of the waste created by the Community. This branch was an integral part of the Compound, even if you often disagreed with the face. Coming back with sullied uniforms, the stench of your peers often lingered in your home as a result. And even after promising they would understand whatever path you would choose, your family continued to hammer on the safe choice that ‘Maintenance’ was.</p> <p>As such, you did not believe they would accept this path – the ‘//I choose nothing//’ path. Nor were you certain the Elders would accept it. There were rare cases where the Elders refused an initiate. However, those were often a matter of the initiate’s well-being. It was unthinkable to accept a frail initiate into a more physically demanding branch.</p> <p>And your choice was an odd one, after all – one you were not certain you grasped fully yourself. //I choose nothing//. You had no idea what would happen next. No one before you had said those words during the Ritual, as far as the public records were concerned.</p><p>''Still following the'' scrawny being, the regimental line continued down the empty corridors. Normally bursting with life, and filled with noise, the halls were eerily quiet, and vacant of beings – save for the initiates marching towards their fate.</p> <p>Were it any other day, you would avoid the deserted spots around the Compound, just for your safety. But this was the day of the Ritual, the long-awaited tire of passage for every initiate and their family. And you were not alone…</p> <p>Two enormous doors were slowly appearing in your field of vision. The ones behind which dwelt the Auditorium, behind which the Community filled its dark benches, behind which adults and youngin waited to quietly cheer on the anxious initiates that would soon be passing through. The doors before which the line was starting to stop.</p><p>''Following your fellow'' initiates, you slowed your pace until you reached a complete halt. You were not about to make a fool out of yourself by bumping carelessly into other beings. Not today.</p><p>''Instead of slowing'' your pace to a complete halt, like your fellow initiates were executing without a second thought, you thoughtlessly continued on, unceremoniously bumping into the being in front of you. The force then trickled up the line, as the female ahead – Natisse, she was called – collided with the being before her, who did the same against the being above and so on and so forth… </p> <p>You realised the mess you created when grumbling sounds and complaints erupted in the corridor. Oh, the shame you felt when Natisse turned around and furrowed her brows at you. Her face looked ready to chew you out, with her eyes piercing through your being, but her mouth stayed mum.</p> <p>The situation, which you caused, distressed you greatly. So much so you could not move a single muscle in your body. So you stood there, as still as you could, mumbling some apologetic words to the livid initiate.</p><p>''The corridor is much'' too narrow for you to step out of line in this direction.</p><p>''Instead of slowing'' down, you turn on your heels, as if you were trying to retrace your steps. Unsurprisingly, the initiate standing behind you – Zouma was his name – was not too happy to see you bump into him so thoughtlessly. Though you did not expect him to shove you back into place with a disapproving grumble – instead of hashing it out… with his fist.</p> <p>Thankful for his peaceful conduct, which in hindsight made sense, considering the day of the aeon, you mumbled some apologetic words and tried your best to stand still.</p><p>''This forced stillness''<<if $found.includes("Corridor2N2") or $found.includes("Corridor2S")>>, and the initiates’ frustration with you,<</if>> was short-lived however, as you soon find yourself hearing some strange noise ahead, among others you recognised Kodyn’s voice. Curious to learn about the commotion happening by the door, you worried that you were too far to see anything.</p><p>''However, you brushed'' the feeling aside as swiftly as it arrived. As strong as your dislike for the being leading you to your fate, Kodyn was still an Organiser at the end of the day, trained to ensure everything happened the way it should. If commotion there was up ahead, then commotion was supposed to happen.</p> <p>‘Curiosity killed the cat’, or so the ancient civilisations said. You frankly had no idea what a ‘cat’ was, but you assumed they had meant that asking too many questions would lead to troubles – you were not about to get into some today!</p><p>''Caring not to bother'' <<if $found.includes("Corridor2N2")>>Natisse<<else>>the initiate<</if>> standing before you, you <<if _cmd isnot "jump">>stepped aside<<else>>jumped with all your might<</if>>, with the hopes to catch a glimpse of movement up ahead. You are disappointed to find only exchanges between Kodyn and another adult being by the doors. The male was handing the heavy ledger to a female in ceremonial robes of sun-coloured cloth. She thanked him, knocked three times on the door, waited for it to open, and disappeared inside. The door shut close behind her, with a ominous ‘thump’.</p><p>''Though you would'' never admit it, Natisse was the one who got away. You had loved – and were still loving – the female with all the fibres of your being. You had even proclaimed your love to her the moment you laid your eyes on her – you knew then you were going to spend the rest of your life around her – but neither she, not the other beings present at the time, took your declaration seriously. Granted, you were only a few aeons at the time – who could take the babbling of a tiny youngin without a laugh?</p> <p>Still, your love never wavered. You had followed her everywhere she went like a pup, done whatever she had asked of you without a second thought, and dreamt of her every single night.</p> <p>For a while, Natisse had returned your feelings, and your world had become whole. Your then-elusive glances continued even after her eyes met yours. You held hands when you stood close to her. You sat together during meals, and promenaded during your free time. You even kissed in the dark and quiet corners of the Compound. Every day around her, you felt as if you were walking on a cloud, instead of scrambling around for kernels of affections.</p> <p>Until last click, when everything crumbled…</p><p>''Zouma was what'' the Community considered an attractive male. No matter your personal view on it, he had all the features looked for. With his strong frame and cultivated muscles, the being had found the attention of many for his potential. He could carry heavy loads for long distances, was impervious to extreme weathers and conditions, and could break things with his bare hands – he was also known to talk more with his fists than his mouth.</p> <p>While most Branches had sought his favours, only seemed to have got anything further than a grunt from the male: the Cultivators.</p><p>''Though the corridor'' had fallen silent, as initiates were waiting for Kodyn to direct them to the next step of the Ritual, you itched to talk to someone, the female standing before you specifically. You did not know what you wanted to talk about particularly, nor whether Natisse actually reciprocated your want. You only cared about passing the time doing something that was not standing in silence.</p> <p>To get her attention, you tapped her shoulder. It should not be too surprising to find she did not react – or tried to hide it. She had been avoiding you the past days for a reason…</p> <p>Still, the cold shoulder would not stop you from trying again. You had nothing but time, after all. Natisse only sighed, already frustrated with your antics.</p> <p>So you tapped the female’s shoulder one last time,to which she deigned finally to give you a response. Facing you, she snapped, ordering you to cut it out with a threatening stare, before turning her back to you.</p><p>''Even with the'' overwhelming quietness of the corridor, as the initiates hushedly fretted about the next stage of the Ritual, you suddenly felt the need to talk to someone – //anyone// – about something – //anything//. A distraction would surely help you forget about your own anxiety…</p> <p>So it felt like a no-brainer to you to turn to Zouma, the male standing behind you. Unfortunately, your smiling greeting was not returned with the same friendliness. The male sent a dark glare, scary enough to send chills through your whole body. Fearing retaliation, you promptly turned back and kept mum.</p><p>''Tough everyone in'' line stood as one should – with their feet grounded firmly, and their head up high – you strangely decided to take a different approach. Folding your body in half, you placed your hands on the cold cemented floor, and shifted your body weight towards your arms as you pushed your lower half towards the ceiling.</p> <p>''Even with giving'' it your all, it took quite a few tries to end with your feet against the wall, as you were not particularly flexible or acrobatic. Still, when you heard a //thump// from your feet planting themselves on the wall, you were pretty happy with yourself. It was, after all, quite the feat!</p> <p>Expecting some sort of response from your fellow initiates, you were saddened to find your stunt having only garnered some grunts from Zouma, the male standing behind you in line, and rolling eyes from Natisse, the female in front of you.</p> <p>Embarrassed, you let your feet fall back to the ground, and stood up, like everyone else.</p><div id="text"><p>Kodyn’s <span class="hint">whistle</span> resonated once more, followed by the sound of the massive doors creaking as they fully opened. A wispy draft escaped from the room, filling the corridor with the <span class="hint">smell</span> of burning incense and pine. Whispers arose among the initiates, audibly giddy with excitement, as they were getting ever so closer to their goal.</p> <p>“Initiate, <span class="hint">Tariaia</span>,” a shaky <span class="hint">voice</span> echoed from the dark room.</p> <p>At the call of her name, the first being in line broke ranks, and quietly entered the room. Without being commended to do so, the initiates behind her took a step forward.</p> <span id="textbox"></span> </div> <<BlockTextbox>> <<set _used to [], $transcript.push("Passage: Doors", "Actions ->")>><p>''This time, you'' were glad you were not standing close enough to the male to feel the noise ring so painfully in your ears. You pitied, however, the ears of the initiates besides him.</p><p>''You recognised the'' smell, from your attendance to the Ritual in past aeons – as a spectator, then. Its peppery scent tickled your nostrils, like it used to when you were younger. This time, however, your eyes did not water.</p><p>''You had seen the'' female around the Compound before, even shared part of your education path with her. Being a frail and quiet being, you had not interacted much with her during your childhood. You could remember her spending more time nosing around the Archive than creating bonds with youngins her age. If you were asked to wager on her future, you would most likely bet on her becoming an ‘Organiser’ or maybe an ‘Educator’.</p><p>''You followed suit'' and moved one step forward. The sound of whispers among the initiates became louder, no matter how much shushing Kodyn did.</p> <p>“Initiate <span class="hint">Gideron</span>,” the shaky <span class="hint">voice</span> echoed again.</p> <p>Another initiate left the line, and stomped inside the room. The ones behind him took another step forward.</p><p>''You did not particularly'' like the soon-to-be adult, so you had avoided his presence whenever possible. He irked you to no end with his better-than-thou attitude. Gideron was the type of being who attached status to the path an individual had chosen – though this practice was frowned upon, it was nonetheless common among the Community. Coming from a family of ‘Maintainers’ was unfortunately not as prestigious as coming from one of ‘Organisers’ – somehow, to them, physical labour was seen as lesser. And youngins with this mentality can be so cruel…</p><p>''Again, you took a'' step forward. And another step after the third-in-line initiate disappeared inside the room. And another one after the being behind them passed the dark doors. And another. And another. And another. And another…</p> <p>You slowly moved along the corridor, step by step. Until there were no initiate left before you. Until you stood by the massive dark doors, waiting to be called.</p> <p>“Initiate $name!”</p> <p>Though the words echoed from the darkness, your eyes automatically tried to find the Kodyn’s. You did not know why you did so, considering what you felt about him, but the sight of the scrawny male, still standing by the door with his ceremonial robes and his whistle on his lips, was strangely comforting. He gave you a curt nod, wishing you would hurry already and enter the Auditorium.</p><p>''The corridor is'' much too narrow for you to step in this direction.</p><p><<if !$found.includes("DoorsS")>>''Instead of following'' your fellow initiates forward, you took a step back and unceremoniously bumped into Zouma<<if !$founds.includes("Zouma")>>, the being standing behind you<</if>>. With a frowning face and unnerving guttural sounds, the male towered over you, eyeing you with a stern glare. It made you feel small and ashamed. Hunching, you took a few step forwards.<<else>>''Yet again, you did'' not take a step forward when the rest of the line did. Your back met Zouma’s body once more, as he was advancing to take his spot, the one you denied him. He moved his head close to yours and voiced his growing frustration with frightening grumbles. You decided it was best to take a step forward, after all…<</if>></p> <<if !$found.includes("Doors2") or !$founds.includes("DoorsS")>><p>“Initiate <span class="hint">Gideron</span>,” the shaky <span class="hint">voice</span> echoed again.</p> <p>Another initiate left the line, and stomped inside the room. The ones behind him took another step forward.</p> <<else>> <<include "Doors3">><<set $found.push("Doors3")>> <</if>><p>''The shakiness of'' the spoken words and the tone of the echo sounded strangely familiar to you. You were certain you had heard this voice before, but you could not remember where or when…</p> <p>Granted, this would surprise no one. The Elders were part of the Community, even if their true identity was only known by the Head Organiser – and it was a very well kept secret. Every aeon, a handful of beings from the oldest generations were selected to become the Elders of that aeon, and supervise the proceeding of the Ritual. It was a mighty honour to be chosen.</p><div id="text"><p>With some apprehension still, you complied with the call, and delved into the pungent darkness. The now overwhelming scent was bringing tears to your eyes.</p> <p>In the penumbra, you carefully put one foot in front of the other, letting your sandals scrape the floor as you dragged yourself further. You were terrified to stumble and make a fool of yourself in front of the whole Community. Though it was much too dark to see anything, even the tip of your fingers, you could tell they were all there, within these walls. You did not need any light to feel their presence in the room – every one of them had to be in attendance for this momentous occasion. The entire population of the Compound had showed up. Packed in this one room. Seated up above, in the tribunes of the Auditorium. All watching your every move.</p> <p>You had done the same, <span class="hint">once</span>.</p> <span id="textbox"></span> </div> <<BlockTextbox>> <<set _used to [], $transcript.push("Passage: Enter", "Actions ->")>><hr> <p>''Help:'' There is always something to look at..</p><p>''You recalled previous'' aeons, when your family brought you to the Auditorium and experience the Ritual for the balcony. From your seat, you could clearly <span class="hint">see</span> the whole set: the braziers burning bright by the altar, the Elders in those silvery robes, and the farandole of fidgeting initiates about to become integrated members of the Community. You envied them, once.</p><p>''Although the Auditorium'' was sombre, leaving you little to gaze upon, your eyes were attracted to the only source of light ahead: two massive <span class="hint">braziers</span>, burning with sapphire flames. Between them, barely visible in the dim cerulean glow, stood an <span class="hint">altar</span>. The ceremonial altar. Your hands shoot a little.</p> <p>Though you could not see the figures clearly, you believe to have caught a hazy glimpse of the Elders perched in a box somewhere above the altar. As they had done with previous <span class="hint">initiates</span>, and the cohorts before yours, they stood ready to add your name and choice in their heavy ledger. A drop of sweat ran down your neck. Ultimately, they help your future in their hands.</p> <p>Your heart pounding like crazy, you tried to look elsewhere, towards the tribunes and balconies, where the rest of the Community was seated. Your eyes shifted from one side of the room to the other, frantically searching for your family, and hoping that spotting their faces in the darkness would help you calm down.</p> <p>…in vain.</p><p>''Even when squinting'', the altar is much too far to see anything more than a block of dark stone. Your memory is strangely too hazy to recall more than what you can see. You would need to get closer to fawn over its details.</p><p>''Surrounding the altar'' stood two braziers, burning blue. Though there was not much to see with the distance separating yourself from them, you felt as if their cold and mysterious flames were pulling you in. Cerulean dancing sparks took your attention, making it quite hard for you to take back control of your eyes.</p><p>''Though you entered the'' room shortly after <span class="hint">Natisse</span>, the female standing in line before you, you found it strange not to feel her presence here. The Auditorium was the biggest room in the Compound, so large that it would have been unlikely – impossible almost – for someone to cross it all in the little time between her entrance and yours. And this was without accounting for the time required to interact with the Elders either.</p> <p>Come to think of it, you had not heard her voice either, nor the reaction of the crowd to her decision. From having been a spectator to those events, you could clearly recall the whistles, and the claps, and the roaring cheers following the Elders’ acceptance. Yet, the Auditorium was eerily silent.</p><p>''You continued forward'', trying to breathe deeply, in hopes it would calm your nerves. But inhaling the fumes of the lingering incense that intensely only had the reverse effect. You became more anxious with every new step.</p> <p>As the peppery air grated on the inside of your throat, and you tried your best to swallow the oncoming fits, you worried about finally going through the Ritual. About moving on to the next stage of your life. About being stuck in the wrong path. About making the wrong choice. About making a <span class="hint">choice</span>.</p> <p>“Initiate $name,” a croaky voice declared. “Come closer.”</p> <p>Your throat tightened.</p><p>''Even though you were'' worried about making the correct choice, you could not back out of the agreement you had made with yourself the night before. I choose nothing. You knew what you would say to the Elders, even if you weren’t quite certain where this would take you.</p> <p>You worried it would not take you anywhere. You worried the Elders would refuse your words right away. You worried your family would not understand. Still, you knew, deep in the fibre of your being, this was the correct choice. The only choice. Your choice.</p><div id="text"><p>As instructed, you moved ever so closer to the altar, your mind filled with questions and worries. But you could not even hear yourself talk, with your pulse beating like a drum in your ears and your breaths shortening to the point of panting. Any attempt to calm down were done in vain. And so, you fought hard against the urge to run away, which was getting stronger with every step. </p> <p>“It is time, initiate $name,” the croaky voice startled you, “to make your choice.”</p> <p>Your lips trembled as you took your final steps towards the <span class="hint">altar</span>. In a short moment, you would be placing your hand on the flimsy <span class="hint">paper</span> that was laying on top of the cold stone, and utter the words to seal your fate. Even if you had been looking forward to this moment for aeons, you were now dreading it. Your choice would dictate every step of your live. Until your final day on this plane.</p> <p>“What is your choice, initiate $name?”</p> <p>Your hands were shaking.</p> <span id="textbox"></span> </div> <<BlockTextbox>> <span id="help"></span> <<set _used to [], $transcript.push("Passage: Altar", "Actions ->")>><p>''Standing between the'' burning <span class="hint">braziers</span>, the dark pillar was the most intricate piece you had ever encountered around the Compound – having explored almost all rooms within its walls, you had seen a lot of remarkable things, thought more were unremarkable. This piece, however, was special.</p> <p>Being fundamental to the rite of passage that was the Ritual, the altar was one of the last remnants of a past civilisation, one who succumbed in its prime to the greed and apathy of its citizens. Very few survived this lost time, clinging onto a few still-standing pieces. It was speculated that the altar was the reason the Community was still there, aeons after said civilisation fell and the world burned.</p> <p>And so the altar stood strong, from the block of granite it burst out from. The pillar had been sculpted by careful hands, as it flaunted its elaborate figures, delicate curves, and other detailed designs. It was a beautiful piece. An important piece. And integral piece.</p> <p>On top of which laid a simple and flimsy piece of <span class="hint">paper</span>.</p><p>''A closer glimpse'' was the only thing you needed to recognise the paper. For it was the <span class="hint">List</span>.</p> <p>You had been taught about the List ahead of the Ritual. You were even given a copy of said list, supposedly to study – though you had already made up your mind by then. The List named all branches where an initiate could request to be posted, making them a productive member of the Community.</p> <p>The list very rarely changed from aeon to aeon, as the Community’s needs usually stayed the same. And while the Elders had to power to refuse an initiate’s choice, this also happened very rarely. Most aeons, initiates would spread themselves evenly across the board, and meet those needs without having the Elders stepping in. Most initiate had an affinity for a certain branch, and those who didn’t, had families pressuring them to favour one over the other – yours had pleaded for you to choose ‘Maintenance’ above all. </p><p>''Having read through'' the List hundreds of times by now, you could recite it from memory if you were asked to. The List was not lengthy to begin with…</p> <center>~ Branch List ~</center> <ul> <li>''<span class="hint">Organisation</span>''<br> You would deal with anything needing a semblance of organisation, from forecasting the Compound’s needs to scheduling the Community plannings. Organisers were needed everywhere, and ensured that everything happened as it should.</li> <li>''<span class="hint">Cultivation</span>''<br> A core Branch providing nutrients and materials for the Compound, which were used in meals for the Community, as well as in other non-comestible items. Cultivation was physically demanding, but only during part of each aeon: when it was time to ready the land, and during harvesting clicks.</li> <li>''<span class="hint">Maintenance</span>''<br> From waste management, to ensuring a hygienic environment, to general repairs, anything the Compound would need to stay in tip-top shape would be in the wheelhouse of Maintainers.</li> <li>''<span class="hint">Care</span>''<br> This Branch was a special one, as it had two main sub-branches: Caring and Healing. The first handled new beings brought into this world, as well as older beings leaving it. The second focused on the wide ranges of illnesses that needed relief – Healing was the most thought-after branch by initiates.</li> <li>''<span class="hint">Transmission</span>''<br> Whether communication was required to reach the whole Community, to send reports between branches, or just sharing personal words between beings, the Transmission facilitates any broadcasting and mailing need inside the Compound.</li> <li>''<span class="hint">Education</span>''<br> For the Compound to run orderly, and for the Community to understand one another, beings needed to all have a certain amount of knowledge and skills. Educators made sure that every youngins learned the base, as well as trained beings on more specialised knowledge. </li> <li>''<span class="hint">Construction</span>''<br> As the Community grew, so did the Compound. It required additional space, as well as things to fill in this new space. The Branch was also providing the necessary produced materials to other branches.</li> <li>''<span class="hint">Safety</span>''<br> It was as important to protect the Community from outside threats as it was from incidents inside the walled Compound. Accidents could always happen, and containing the scene of the unfortunate circumstances could mean life or death to the involved beings.</li> </ul> <p>While the List seemed limited, as there were only few Branches in the Compound, this choice was not meant to be a finality – not completely. Depending on their affinities or skills, beings had the possibility to specialise further in the chosen Branch further into their adulthood.</p><p>''“I, initiate $name,'' choose Organisation.”</p> <p>As your words echoed in the silent room, you wondered if–</p> <p>“Denied,” an Elder responded swiftly.</p> <p>The speed to which you received your answer ended up hurting more than the refusal itself. You were not the brightest of initiate this aeon, or the most organised, but worse beings than you had entered this Branch before. And yet, the Elders had needed very little time to make a verdict on your case. It was quite humiliating.</p> <p>“Initiate $name,” the Elder continued, “make your decision.” </p><p>''It was a bit… of'' a long shot, with you being quite average. Whether in strength or general abilities, you did not shine much in the required skills needed to make things. However, beings knew you never turned down a challenge and always tried your best with each task given – that had to count for something, right?</p> <p>“I, initiate $name,” you said with a shaky voice, “choose Construction.”</p> <p>As was always with monumental decisions, the silence after the request was the worst. You remembered having scoffed when you had seen initiates shaking with dread when the Elders took their time. Now that you were in their shoes, you regretted having looked down on them. This was the worst thing you’d ever experienced.</p> <p>And, then, you thought you heard a faint chuckle and a muffled laugh above the altar.</p> <p>“Initiate $name,” an Elder finally uttered. “Please make another choice.”</p><p>''“I, initiate $name,'' choose…” your lips were trembling, “… Safety.”</p> <p>A gasp in the balconies up above escaped someone, before familiar voices cried out your name. You had known this choice would be controversial with your family, as Safety Officers had never been the kindest towards the Maintainers during the demonstration – a few members came back with more than bruises. It was no wonder they felt betrayed.</p> <p>“Initiate $name,” an Elder started, “Sa–”</p> <p>Even if their size was negligible compared to the rest of the Community in attendance, your family managed to drown the Auditorium with shouts of refusals. Not believing you could make such a choice, they pleaded with the Elders to deny your request, on the grounds of your stupidity and low reflexes. You tried to rebut their arguments, but your voice was nowhere loud enough to be heard. </p> <p>“Settle down,” the Elder commanded the room. When silence took its rightful place, they continued: “Initiate $name, make another decision.”</p><<if tags().includes("room")>> <p>Thought there might not be any available mirror in the room to look at yourself, you have gazed upon your reflection many times before – the last one being shortly before you entered this room, even – enough to be able to describe yourself from memory alone.</p> <<elseif tags().includes("hall")>> <p>There was definitely no mirror in the corridor of you to look at your reflection, even the polished wall panels or the spotless windows were not up to par. But you had done so enough in the past to know the look of your husk.</p> <<elseif tags().includes("inside")>> <p>There was no point in trying to find a reflective surface to look at yourself. It was much too dark for that – you could barely see the tip of your extremities as it was. Instead, you recalled this morning, where you stood before the mirror in your room, adjusting your ceremonial robes.</p> <</if>> <<if !$found.includes("Player")>> <p>You were a being with features, of a certain height and build, and with the ‘normal’ amount of limbs, and orifices, and dangling bits, and uprights gams. There was nothing out of the ordinary about you. Quite the contrary, you were plain and average in any way. It was really far-fetched to think you could be some sort of ‘chosen one’ – no, if there were one in the Community, that would be Jaelah. You, frankly, were pretty unremarkable.</p> <p>As for your attire – since it was considered quite rude to amble around the Compound in the nude – you were fitted with a long, glistening, aquamarine robe with a hood, made from a fabric you found very itchy. There was also a stole you were instructed to wear on top of the robe. Its colour changed every aeon, yours had been dyed in a dark night shade. The outfit was finished with some sandals to protect your soles from the cold and grainy floor.</p> <<else>> <p>You had not changed since the last time you thought about your appearance. You were still an ordinary being with features, of an average height and build, and with the required amount of bits and pieces. An unremarkable youngin in an aquamarine and dark night ceremonial robe.</p> <</if>><p>In the middle of a green plain, the Compound stood as a large and tall complex of buildings connected by skyways and tunnels. These buildings surrounded a green pathway, which surrounded a smaller building. That last structure welcomed beings in the Auditorium, the Food Hall, the Education rooms, or other hangout spaces.</p> <p>The other buildings, each an intricate piece of architecture, both outside and in, with rooms connected to maze-like corridors, served multiple purposes. They each housed family units – you lived in the building X*R0DJ5 with yours – as well as part of a Branch or two. While some beings were lucky to find their housing in the same building as their place of work, most had to cross the Compound to contribute to the Community.</p> <p>Outside of the Compound buildings was a ring of greenery, which included the Gardens of the Cultivation Branch, and a thick and sturdy wall, enclosing the all. You never ventured behind it. Nobody really had.</p><p>Your ceremonial outfit has no pockets. You carry nothing but yourself.</p><p>“I…” </p> <p>You choked. Invisible hands had taken a hold of you, wrapped tightly around your throat, denying you from finishing this sentence. You felt as if your heart was bursting out of your chest, and showed no sign of stopping. Your knees wobbled.</p> <p>Maybe… just maybe… there was a good reason for why not initiate ever chose this path…</p> <p>“Initiate $name, what is your decision?” the voice chided.</p><p>“I…” you tried to push the syllables out of your mouth, “… initiate $name…” the task felt like a chore, but you continued, “… choose…” your jaw was shaking, “n… noth-thing.”</p> <p>As shock had taken over the crowd, a single gasp broke the silence, soon opening the doors to outraged reactions. Cries of despair and screams of disapproval filled the once calm room. Among the uproar, you noticed the voice of your family howling, as you shattered their hearts with your words. None were accepting of your choice. You wanted to hide.</p> <p>“Quiet!” An Elder commanded the room.</p> <p>As quickly as noise had taken over the Auditorium, as swiftly it was replaced with silence. Though full of rage towards you, every spectator was hanging on the Elder’s lips, waiting for their verdict. There was still a chance your choice could be refused.</p> <p>“Initiate $name,” the Elder spoke again. “Do you understand what this choice entails?”</p> <center> <div id="spacebar"> <div id="smallbar"> <<link "SPACE" "Nothing3">> <<run $(document).off('keyup.mystory')>> <</link>> </div> </div> </center> <<script>> $(document).on('keyup.mystory', function (ev) { if (ev.which == 32) { $(document).off('keyup.mystory'); Engine.play("Nothing3"); } }); <</script>><p>Now hearing the question aloud, you wondered if you truly understood the consequences of your action. <<if !$found.includes("Natisse")>> You had thought it strange – having gone through the list of Branches during training, and scoured the archives – how limiting your options were, and how no record had shown any initiate faltering from the path. It was not as if you wanted to shake down the system, but you were only curious. Or maybe, you were just afraid of choosing.<<else>>You had been agonising ever since that last conversation with Natisse. Knowing nothing could compare to what she made you feel, you were certain you had anything left to live for. She had been the only being in the Compound to accept you fully, none of your peers’ feelings towards you had ever come close. With her gone… Nothing mattered.<</if>></p> <p>“Y-yes,” you mumbled.</p> <p>The Elder sighed.</p> <p>“So it is said,” they uttered with disappointment and sadness, “so shall it be done.”</p> <p>Far ahead, a faint light appeared, and grew. It formed an opening, from which a certain brightness escaped. Used to the darkness of the Auditorium, it blinded you. Then, two large beings entered, moving swiftly towards you. On their cardinal suit, you recognised the Branch insignia: Safety. </p> <p>You frantically moved your eyes, looking for an escape – Safety officer never entered the Auditorium during the Ritual. Before you could take a step anywhere, they grabbed onto your arms and held you tightly. You wanted to scream. They dragged you out of the room.</p> <p>“W-what…” you tried to say. “W-where are…”</p> <p>“Initiate $name,” you could hear the Elder say with bitterness, “has chosen death.”</p> <center> <div id="spacebar"> <div id="smallbar"> <<link "SPACE" "END">> <<run $(document).off('keyup.mystory')>> <</link>> </div> </div> </center> <<script>> $(document).on('keyup.mystory', function (ev) { if (ev.which == 32) { $(document).off('keyup.mystory'); Engine.play("END"); } }); <</script>><p>“I, initiate $name,” you proclaimed proudly, “choose Cultivation.”</p> <p>A deafening silence fills the room. You had been quite certain of your choice, even before you uttered the words, but this lack of response made you doubt. What if you were not strong enough for the task? What if they had no faith in you? You had heard of cases where the Elders had rejected an initiate’s choice, and even one where no option had been validated – the shame it brought on the Community.</p> <p>You did not notice right away the braziers turning green, as a bright light up ahead distracted you. The schism on the wall grew enough to create an opening, to lead you out of the Auditorium. You tentatively took a step forward.</p> <p>“Initiate $name, Cultivation,” the Elders confirmed. “As it is said, so shall it be.”</p> <center> <div id="spacebar"> <div id="smallbar"> <<link "SPACE" "Cultivation2">> <<run $(document).off('keyup.mystory')>> <</link>> </div> </div> </center> <<script>> $(document).on('keyup.mystory', function (ev) { if (ev.which == 32) { $(document).off('keyup.mystory'); Engine.play("Cultivation2"); } }); <</script>><p>You wiped the sweat off your brow and rested a moment on your trusty hoe. The sun was blazing up above, tiring everyone in the Gardens. Your body was so burnt, you stood out in a crowd of your peers. There was still a long day ahead, but your joints were already aching. Day after day, it was getting harder for you to complete your tasks.</p> <p>You glanced around the Gardens. Though the work was hard, and your pain was great, you rejoiced in the knowledge that this aeon’s harvest was plentiful. The weather had not been kind to forecast this bounty. They had even expended at least two-fold since you first showed up for training, twenty aeons ago. You shook your head. It had already been that long since that fateful day…</p> <p>A youngin ran toward you, offering you a drink. You patted its head in thanks, and looked at it with warmth. Though you had struggled with the decision you had made that day, for the ache and the pain had not been kind to you, it had been one you never questioned.</p> <p>As you watched the youngin walk away, you had to catch yourself. It was not going to be a youngin for much longer, for the Ritual was already around the corner. Soon, it would wear the robes you once carried, go down the corridors you once walked, enter the Auditorium you once feared, utter the words you once did. </p> <p>Under the scorching sun, a chill took over your bones. Had your choice been worth it? </p> <center> <div id="spacebar"> <div id="smallbar"> <<link "SPACE" "END">> <<run $(document).off('keyup.mystory')>> <</link>> </div> </div> </center> <<script>> $(document).on('keyup.mystory', function (ev) { if (ev.which == 32) { $(document).off('keyup.mystory'); Engine.play("END"); } }); <</script>><p>“I, initiate $name,” you mumbled, “choose Maintenance.”</p> <p>As if it was a response, a lonely cough awkwardly echoed from the balcony. You lowered your head in shame. You had had little expectations with your choice, as initiates taking this path rarely got a standing ovation, but still hoped for the usual congratulatory clapping. More than the disappointment of being ignored by the Community, it was also the embarrassment from your family deciding to break the silence with their proud howls.</p> <p>“Initiate $name, Maintenance,” the Elder monotonously said. “As it is said…” and did not bother ending his sentence.</p> <p>You hunched awkwardly behind the altar, waiting for someone to tell you where to do or what to do, waiting for something to happen. You only wanted the humiliation of those reactions to be over as quickly as possible.</p> <p>So when the braziers turned green, and the wall far ahead opened up, you almost ran towards the exit. The light may have been blinding, but the shame was too grand.</p> <center> <div id="spacebar"> <div id="smallbar"> <<link "SPACE" "Maintenance2">> <<run $(document).off('keyup.mystory')>> <</link>> </div> </div> </center> <<script>> $(document).on('keyup.mystory', function (ev) { if (ev.which == 32) { $(document).off('keyup.mystory'); Engine.play("Maintenance2"); } }); <</script>><p>Your life changed very little after this fateful day. Though you moved out of the family unit, you still lived in the same sector, close enough to see them constantly. You engaged with the same beings as you always had, and faced the same problems you always did. Your environment and clothes still smelled quite putrid, and no matter how much you cleaned, it always felt like the scent never quite left. It was still enough to bother you.</p> <p>The work you were given was hard, which you had expected after seeing your family for aeons coming home drained and in pain, and it was surely not prestigious. You had to give it your all, every single day, from sun up to sun down – and sometimes even more when issues would pop up unexpectedly. You did not get much out of it – there were very little thanks from the Community for the effort you made – but it was honest and important work to be done. Without beings like you, the whole Compound would be drowning in filth.</p> <p>Over the aeons, the more pungent smell started to bother you less and less, until you could not smell anything anymore – a common ill for beings working in Maintenance. Yet, every time you passed by the Kitchens or the Garden in bloom, you wondered if you would have also lost this sense had you chosen a different path…</p> <center> <div id="spacebar"> <div id="smallbar"> <<link "SPACE" "END">> <<run $(document).off('keyup.mystory')>> <</link>> </div> </div> </center> <<script>> $(document).on('keyup.mystory', function (ev) { if (ev.which == 32) { $(document).off('keyup.mystory'); Engine.play("END"); } }); <</script>><p>Instead of using your words, you let your feet to the talking, and stepped away from the altar. This was far from the mandated response you had been taught to give, and left the Community bewildered. They still expected you to voice your choice, to say something. </p> <p>You would not even give them this satisfaction, taking yet another step. And another. And another. Stunned by your bizarre act, no one – not even the Elders ! – dared doing anything to stop you. The shock was too grand!</p> <p>It was only when you exited the Auditorium, passing by a flabbergasted Kodyn and his similarly shocked line of initiate, did the eruption of cries and shouts occurred. Having recovered their senses, the furious crowd demanded your arrest for you had made a mockery of the Ritual. You wondered if your family thought the same…</p> <p>Through the roaring racket, the Elders struggled with controlling forming mob. Yet, none of this moved you. </p> <p>You continued walking – almost running away, now – from the dark room, through the daedalien maze of corridors. You did not stop to take a breath or even tried to think of your action, as you had put some distance between the Auditorium and yourself, or left the building, or passed the gardens of the Compound. Even after crossing the sturdy outside wall – something no one but Safety was allowed to do – you would not stop. Even after the complex left your field of vision, you pressed forward.</p> <p>Dawn fell, but you still walked. Through the obscure night, you still walked. When the sun rose, you still walked. You could have stopped at anytime, you knew you could, but you were afraid.</p> <p>Afraid that when you’d stop, you would collapse and never find the strength to get up again. Afraid you would have to think about your actions and face the consequences. Afraid to realise you would never again feel safe. Afraid to admit you had done the unthinkable. Afraid to accept you were lost to the Community forever.</p> <p>As good as dead.</p> <p>If only you had taken another road…</p> <center> <div id="spacebar"> <div id="smallbar"> <<link "SPACE" "END">> <<run $(document).off('keyup.mystory')>> <</link>> </div> </div> </center> <<script>> $(document).on('keyup.mystory', function (ev) { if (ev.which == 32) { $(document).off('keyup.mystory'); Engine.play("END"); } }); <</script>><p>Even after having made your decision, you had little faith it would be accepted. This Branch was highly sought after, and only the brightest of initiates were accepted. With your background… well, it was quite the reach.</p> <p>“I, initiate $name,” you said tentatively, “choose Care.”</p> <p>You jumped a little when the crowd responded so loudly to your words. You had not expected the reaction to be so violently positive, even with the Community regarding the Carer rank highly. Your ears drowned in the torrential applause falling from the balconies, but you did not want it to stop. You wanted to feel as competent and deserving as the adults cheering above thought you were.</p> <p>“Quiet!” one Elder shouted. “We do not–”</p> <p>But the claps continued, relentless. Not only were they interrupting the Elders’ decision on your status, they would not let them speak their mind.</p> <p>“There are things to consider–”</p> <p>The Elders’ reluctance towards your case was understandable, and you had had an inkling it would have been a long shot. And while you did not have ill will towards the Elders, the crowd was of another mind. Whether the Elders took too long to approve your decision, or the crowd was not of mind to listen to those concerns, the benevolent applause that showered you moments ago slowly turned to heckles towards the Elders.</p> <p>“Initiate $name,” the Elders tried to say through the noise. “Care–”</p> <p>With the crowd’s rowdiness, you did not manage to catch those last words. Though it looked as if the Elders had relented into accepting your choice – the return to clapping had made the feeling that much stronger – you still waited for the braziers to turn green before you shed all your doubts. </p> <p>So when the wall opened up ahead, you strutted out of the room, full of confidence, and looked forward to your bright future.</p> <center> <div id="spacebar"> <div id="smallbar"> <<link "SPACE" "Care2">> <<run $(document).off('keyup.mystory')>> <</link>> </div> </div> </center> <<script>> $(document).on('keyup.mystory', function (ev) { if (ev.which == 32) { $(document).off('keyup.mystory'); Engine.play("Care2"); } }); <</script>><p>Though you and your fellow initiations were initially welcomed among the Carer ranks, your path soon diverged. Reality caught up with you and your – lack of – skills. Your worries about making this decision had been warranted: you did not belong, and everyone reminded you of that fact. </p> <p>You had hoped this was due to your family background, whose affiliation with the Maintenance Branch was not very well looked upon – this would have been an easier cross to bear. Unfortunately, this was all because of you, and you alone. You were… not as competent as you believed.</p> <p>So, while you would see your fellows move up to more specialised positions or be given more responsibilities, you continued to stagnate behind, as a simple carer. While they got to think on their feet during emergencies or give diagnoses, you were only barked detailed orders to follow – you were that useless. Not once were you given a choice!</p> <p>Even then, your position inside the Care unit was uncertain. Over the aeons, you found yourself bounced around between groups. Never were you able to find your footing and grow. Nowhere did you manage to find your place. You had tried to voice those concerns, but beings either did not care, would not try to understand, or simply could not grasp the worries you felt.</p> <p>And when you received the notice to become a glorified nurser for immobile beings, unable to even administer any care beyond wiping someone clean, you truly felt like you had reached rock bottom. You swore up and down, at yourself, for having made the idiotic decision aeons ago to take this path… </p> <center> <div id="spacebar"> <div id="smallbar"> <<link "SPACE" "END">> <<run $(document).off('keyup.mystory')>> <</link>> </div> </div> </center> <<script>> $(document).on('keyup.mystory', function (ev) { if (ev.which == 32) { $(document).off('keyup.mystory'); Engine.play("END"); } }); <</script>><p>“I, initiate $name, choose…” You took a deep breath, to calm yourself “… Transmission.”</p> <p>Silence.</p> <p>A long an unnerving silence. A silence that shook you to your core. A silence that said everything.</p> <p>Still, you hoped someone in the crowd would do… something. You wanted to know if the Community agreed with your choice, or refused it completely – they were usually quite vocal about it and would not wait for the Elder’s decision to voice it. You would rather have something, even if it meant being embarrassed by their negative words. This silence… It was as if the crowd could feel you had not said those words with conviction, as if they knew you had chosen this Branch at random, as if they could tell you did not know what you were doing.</p> <p>“Are you sure?” an Elder finally asked, sceptical.</p> <p>“Y-yes,” you responded, shaking. “Why w-wouldn’t I b-be?”</p> <p>The Elder ignored you, whispering instead to the others, and discussing your seemingly controversial choice in hushed tones. From the few broken sentences you could catch, none of the Elders seemed ecstatic about dealing with you.</p> <p>So you glanced around the room, looking for a thread or crumble of support from the crowd seating in the balconies. As before, they stayed mum. Even your family refused to lend you their strength. You were crushed. </p> <p>“Initiate $name,” the Elder reluctantly continued, “Transmission.”</p> <p>Without an another word – you had expected maybe some encouragement or advice from the Elders – you had gone through the Ritual, and became an adult. Standing by the braziers, whose now emerald flames continued to crackle, you were at a loss. Then, ahead, the wall opened up, inviting you to clear the room and free the space for the next initiate. </p> <p>Dragging your feet towards the exit, you glanced back towards the still quiet crowd. This had to be a bad omen…</p> <center> <div id="spacebar"> <div id="smallbar"> <<link "SPACE" "Transmission2">> <<run $(document).off('keyup.mystory')>> <</link>> </div> </div> </center> <<script>> $(document).on('keyup.mystory', function (ev) { if (ev.which == 32) { $(document).off('keyup.mystory'); Engine.play("Transmission2"); } }); <</script>><p>The Elders had been correct to be concerned, as your track record within the Transmission Branch became infamous for its mediocrity – and that would be an affront to the word. You were consistently reprimanded for making mistakes, which were abundant.</p> <p>From pressing the wrong button to delivering a note to the wrong being, your actions had caused a great deal of harm to the Community. Due to these miscommunications, you had broken <<= random(100, 500)>> family units and increased the Compound’s loss by <<= random(5, 50)>> points. It had been a wonder nothing grave had happened to you.</p> <p>As those mistakes continued, for the reprimands did very little to change, the Branch tried to find a better position for you, something you could handle. You were taken from the delivery schedule, from your board switch desk, from the storing room, from office duties, to simply stamping on a note. And yet, even with a simple repetitive task that required no thoughts, you managed to be a complete failure.</p> <p>Becoming the embarrassment of the Transmission Branch, who tried to hide you and your mistakes the best they could, was one thing, but it did not stop there. As gossip spread, you were often made the butt of the Community’s jokes. </p> <p>When you became the topic of discussion, only your choices and actions were ever mentioned. No one ever acknowledged the Elders’ part in the matter, how they still agreed for you to take on this disastrous path. No one ever questioned the system that put you on this path…</p> <p>Every day, you wished you had said something different.</p> <center> <div id="spacebar"> <div id="smallbar"> <<link "SPACE" "END">> <<run $(document).off('keyup.mystory')>> <</link>> </div> </div> </center> <<script>> $(document).on('keyup.mystory', function (ev) { if (ev.which == 32) { $(document).off('keyup.mystory'); Engine.play("END"); } }); <</script>><p>Ignoring the male standing before you, you rose from your seat and strode towards the door. There was still some time before the Ritual was set to start. You assumed no one would care if you went to get some fresh air to help your nerves – even if it meant bending the rules a little. Well, no one besides the scrawny being shouting your name, trying to get you back in line with threats. You rolled your eyes and exited the room.</p> <p>In the corridor, free of the male who ultimately stayed behind, you relished the little freedom you awarded yourself. It was not every day you could have some time alone. There was always someone around…</p> <p>Walking away from the room, you did not pay much attention to your surrounding. Since everyone was supposed to be busy with the Ritual, you had assumed no one would be in this part of the Compound. No one… but the two beings whose path you were crossing.</p> <p>“Hey, you!” one of them said. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be waiting with the other initiates?”</p> <p>The sound shook you with surprise, and made you jump a little. Before lowering your head, as was custom, you caught a glimpse of your interrogator. The beings were wearing the typical cardinal suits of the Safety Branch. The insignia shone bright. You trembled in fear. </p> <p>“Where are going, initiate?” the other officer barked.</p> <p>“I… err… was trying to get some–”</p> <p>“Getting some air, huh?” it interrupted, before laughing. “Getting a bit too… anxious?”</p> <p>“Well… err… y-yes?”</p> <p>“Not very convincing,” the officer smirked, putting their arm around your shoulders. “Don’t you think so, Aesha?”</p> <p>“There’s always one trying to break the rules,” the first officer nodded. “Damn, Gareth… You had to be right again…” it tried to look for something. “We got one this aeon, like clockwork. Every damn time…”</p> <p>Before you could retort, or claim innocence, you felt a push in your back. The officer named Aesha scribbled something, before grabbing your arm and pulling you further into the Compound. With every step away from the room, you resisted. You did not want to miss the Ritual!</p> <p>Your efforts were in vain, as the officers were much stronger than you were, and continued to drag you away with little difficulty. Even shoving you in an empty room further down the road was a breeze, you fell quickly on the floor. You heard the door slamming behind you, before the locking mechanism engaged.</p> <p>“No!”</p> <p>You threw yourself at the door, beating it with your fists in protest. You begged the officer to let you out, to be understanding, to bring you back, to let you go through the Ritual. This was just a simple mistake!</p> <p>“Pay up, Aesha,” you heard through the door. “A bet’s a bet.”</p> <center> <div id="spacebar"> <div id="smallbar"> <<link "SPACE" "END">> <<run $(document).off('keyup.mystory')>> <</link>> </div> </div> </center> <<script>> $(document).on('keyup.mystory', function (ev) { if (ev.which == 32) { $(document).off('keyup.mystory'); Engine.play("END"); } }); <</script>><p>Your limbs shook slightly, as you stood before the altar. You had dreamt about this moment for clicks, about saying those words. You had worked and studied hard up until this point… but you still worried it had not been enough. There were so many deserving initiates going through the Ritual this year, so many who could be chosen above you. Still, you were not yet ready to back down.</p> <p>“I, initiate $name,” you uttered as clear as you could, “… choose Education.”</p> <p>There was but just one gasp.</p> <p>What followed was the most excruciating experience you had ever gone through. The longest silence you’d ever hear. One that crept in your thoughts and made you remember every single thing you had done or said, made you believed you had made every wrong choice, made you doubt you could even be an Educator in the first place. Who were you, child of Maintainers, to think you could achieve this feat?</p> <p>The silence was killing you inside.</p> <p>And then, a whisper from above the altar.</p> <p>“Initiate $name,” the Elders announced together, an unusual event, “Education.”</p> <p>The flames in the braziers grew two-fold, and turned green as they calmed down. Ahead, an opening separated the walls, welcoming you into this new chapter. You had passed the Ritual.</p> <p>“Sweet youngin,” one Elder added, before you took a step. “It takes a special being to be an Educator. You have not chosen the easiest path. But, what you will be doing will make a great difference for the Community. We are certain you will achieve great things…”</p> <center> <div id="spacebar"> <div id="smallbar"> <<link "SPACE" "Education2">> <<run $(document).off('keyup.mystory')>> <</link>> </div> </div> </center> <<script>> $(document).on('keyup.mystory', function (ev) { if (ev.which == 32) { $(document).off('keyup.mystory'); Engine.play("Education2"); } }); <</script>><p>Maybe it had been the words of encouragement you received during the Ritual, or maybe it had been something in you all along, but the Elder’s words had never rung truer. Ever since the second you entered the Education room, you had been an exceptional being. </p> <p>You were surprisingly a natural at educating, and had required very little training before the Branch gave you your first assignment. It swiftly became clear you became a favourite among youngins, especially the tiny ones. You were patient and caring with them, no matter the circumstances, and they responded with stars in their eyes when you broadcast your voice into their malleable minds.</p> <p>However, the impact had been greater than anyone anticipated. The youngins would leave your class eager to learn more – a love which would never falter, even after they left your care. They scored higher than any generation before them – even yours! With every new aeon, with every new flock of youngins you welcomed in your classroom, both those scores and this wish to learn increased. And the whole Community was enriching thanks to you.</p> <p>Still, many believed you played tricks on the youngins’ minds, for they had become so calm in the face of adversity, so enthusiastic about learning, so willing to better themselves. The little ones hung onto your every word, and followed you everywhere they could. Some Educators sought your advice, wanting to follow in your footsteps – for better or for worse. Others did their best to sabotage you and your work. Others tried to spy on you, hoping to find some wicked evidence of your subterfuges. The answer was but simple: you were passionate about what you were doing, what you were teaching, and the youngins picked up on it.</p> <p>Overtime, your status changed: you were not just a successful Educator, you had achieved what was thought to be impossible. You were the Pillar of the Community. You had changed the landscape of education in the Community for ever. Beings pointed at you, starstruck. They looked at you with reverence. They created art about your achievements. Slowly, none dared to approach you. Even your family unit lost their confidence to be around you.</p> <p>Your successes had been the greatest ever recorded in the history of the Community, but, in the process, you had lost your beingness. In this path, you walked alone.</p> <center> <div id="spacebar"> <div id="smallbar"> <<link "SPACE" "END">> <<run $(document).off('keyup.mystory')>> <</link>> </div> </div> </center> <<script>> $(document).on('keyup.mystory', function (ev) { if (ev.which == 32) { $(document).off('keyup.mystory'); Engine.play("END"); } }); <</script>><p>It was only after you noticed the two beings in cardinal uniforms in the room did you see the path you had taken. Your action might have felt justified, as Kodyn had been an insufferable male who prayed upon helpless being to satisfy his thirst for control, but this had neither been the time, nor the place.</p> <p>With the scrawny male pointing in your direction, the two beings in uniform marched towards you, before grabbing you firmly by the arms. Under the embarrassed eyes of your fellow initiates, they unceremoniously dragged you out of the room. Fearing the worst, you resisted. You could not miss the Ritual because of a little mistake!</p> <p>Your efforts were in vain, as the officers were much stronger than you were, and continued to drag you away with little difficulty. Even shoving you in an empty room further some blocks down the corridor was a breeze, you fell quickly on the floor. You heard the door slamming behind you, before the locking mechanism engaged.</p> <p>“No!”</p> <p>You threw yourself at the door, beating it with your fists in protest. You begged the officer to let you out, to be understanding, to bring you back, to let you go through the Ritual. This was not fair!</p> <center> <div id="spacebar"> <div id="smallbar"> <<link "SPACE" "END">> <<run $(document).off('keyup.mystory')>> <</link>> </div> </div> </center> <<script>> $(document).on('keyup.mystory', function (ev) { if (ev.which == 32) { $(document).off('keyup.mystory'); Engine.play("END"); } }); <</script>><p>The male saw red with your insubordination, but you refused to respond to his call or move a muscle. You would not subscribe, like your fellow initiates, to the disrespectful tone the male had chosen for his command. He never tried to address anyone with respect, but no one ever dared to object to his actions. Until now…</p> <p>“Fine…” Kodyn shrugged. “If that’s how you want to play it.”</p> <p>He reopened the large tome in his arms, clicked his tongue, and resumed the shouting of the names on his list, as if nothing had happened. As if you were still not sitting in the room. As if you never existed. </p> <p>When the Organiser believed to be done, he looked at the organised chain of anxious youngins waiting to be churned through the Ritual and grinned. Still, he would not glance your way, unlike the other initiates who were uncomfortable with your defiance. Instead, he blew his whistle once more, and led the line out of the room.</p> <center> <div id="spacebar"> <div id="smallbar"> <<link "SPACE" "ENDSitting2">> <<run $(document).off('keyup.mystory')>> <</link>> </div> </div> </center> <<script>> $(document).on('keyup.mystory', function (ev) { if (ev.which == 32) { $(document).off('keyup.mystory'); Engine.play("ENDSitting2"); } }); <</script>><p>Even after the last initiate crossed the door, you would not leave your seat. You had chosen to take a stand against the male’s tyrannical rule, and you would not move until your actions had been acknowledged. Someone had to come get you, you believed. Someone had to notice you were not present in line. Someone had to realise you would not enter the dark room and go through the Ritual. Someone had to…</p> <p>So, you stayed seated.</p> <p>The wait, however, felt endless. Seconds turned into minutes, and yet no one appeared. The truth of the situation was staring right back at you, but you chose to ignore it. You were not too worried, not yet. There was still time before the Ritual would start. And you still believed someone would come back for you. You still hoped you had not been forgotten. </p> <p>Nonetheless, you had been left behind. </p> <p>As the minutes turned into hours – or so you judged from your grumbling stomach – you grew bored of waiting. Still not seeing a soul after all this time, you threw aside your principles and left your seat. Maybe the Ritual had not yet ended…</p> <p>You made your way towards the door, wobbling on your sleepy limbs. When you reached it, you tried to push it open, but it would not give. You took a few steps back and threw yourself at the door, but it remained closed. You tried again. And again. And again. Until you were numb.</p> <p>You fell to the ground, sobbing.</p> <p>You had been locked inside.</p> <center> <div id="spacebar"> <div id="smallbar"> <<link "SPACE" "END">> <<run $(document).off('keyup.mystory')>> <</link>> </div> </div> </center> <<script>> $(document).on('keyup.mystory', function (ev) { if (ev.which == 32) { $(document).off('keyup.mystory'); Engine.play("END"); } }); <</script>>