MerMinsta2-Publish-Draft

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-photo.gif" alt="olivia" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ [Status: ??]<status|\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [<h3>Previously...</h3> You were taking a stroll along the water, when you spotted a mermaid! Dazzled and compelled to catch it (if only to take it's picture) and took chase.]<story| </div> <div class="action">\ <hr /> [And then, you... ]<desc| </div>\ |next>[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item"><span class="menuButton">[[[...died.|Died]]]</span></span> <span class="flex-item"><span class="menuButton">[[[...turned into a Mermaid.|Mermaid]]]</span></span> <span class="flex-item"><span class="menuButton">[[[...ended up on a raft.|Alone]]]</span></span> </div>\ </footer>]\ {}

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-wrist.png" alt="follow your wrist" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ (display: "status")\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [You have been travelling for some time guided by the enchanted charm around your wrist. It’s an ersatz compass, so it’s been slow going but you feel confident you’ve finally figured out how to interpret its signals. You navigate the raft’s rudder without thinking, changing course when the charm wills you so.]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [It’s been two days since you left the mainland, your new acquaintance Olivia, and the strange orchard that started you on this watery path. You think back over the past few days, marvelling at your adventure, questioning your sanity, and reviewing every decision that led you to this raft… …on this quest… …for this… …mermaid… Continue...(1/3)]<desc| </div>\ |next)[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item"><span class="menuButton">[\ (link: "Wait it out.")[\ (replace: ?story)[You cross your legs and close your eyes. You take deep breaths and begin check in with your body; the wet tickle of the fog gathering on your arms, the moisture around your nose, the feel of the water rocking the raft.]\ (replace: ?desc)[Slowly opening your eyes, you remain surrounded by disorienting whiteness. This could take a while...]\ (replace: ?next)[\ <footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Keep Waiting|The Fog Sleep]]</span>\ </span> <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Jump the Raft|The Deep]]</span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>\ ]\ ]\ ]</span></span> <span class="flex-item"><span class="menuButton">[\ (link: "Focus on your charm bracelet.")[\ (replace: ?story)[It has gotten very heavy on your wrist. You hold it out in front of you like divening rod; concentratrating and sweating with effort you slowly rotate, feeling out where the charm wants to go…]\ (replace: ?desc)[SPLASH. The charm bracelet snaps, and leaps from your wrist, disappearing into the water. (set: $inv_player to it - (a: "a charm bracelet"))]\ (replace: ?next)[\ <footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Jump the raft|The Deep]]\ </span>\ </span> <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Wait for the fog to clear|The Fog Sleep]]\ </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>\ ]\ ]\ ]</span></span> <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">\ [[Jump off the raft|The Deep]]\ </span></span>\ </div>\ </footer>]\ { (click: "Continue...(1/3)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Half-bored, half-crazed, you welcome the distraction as your hungry stomach gurgles in protest. You reach into the small chest Olivia placed on your raft before you left and pull out a sliver of dried kelp.(print: " ")Continue...(2/3)]] (click: "Continue...(2/3)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ As you shove it carelessly into your mouth, you turn back towards the front of the raft to find a large mist rolling in. It appeared suddenly and overtakes your raft before you have a chance to orient yourself. (print: " ")Continue...(3/3)]] (click: "Continue...(3/3)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ You’re surrounded by a thick fog. The charm at your wrist feels like a heavy stone. You can hardly see your hand in front of your face. (print: " ")](show: ?next)]}

{(set: $olivia to (dm: "legs", 0, "here", 1), $player to (dm: "legs", 1, "wet", 0), $inv_olivia to (a:), $inv_player to (a: "some kelp rations"), $kelp_rations to 12, $charmBracelet to 0 )  }

<center> [<img src="images/cyoa-title-logo.png" alt="olivia" height="401" width="592"> A Twine Work-In-Progress Sequel to MermInsta Play the first game on Instagram: (link: "MermInsta, June 2019")[(goto-url: 'https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17955916654302372/')] By: Kay Slater]<Header| <span class="beginButton">[[Previously...|Merminsta]]</span></center>

{ (if: $player's legs is 0 + $oliva's here is 1)[(enchant] }

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-death-drowning.png" alt="olivia" height="401" width="291" />]<image| <div class="merStatus">\ (display: "status")\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [<h3>Previously...</h3> And then, you...died. Didn't you? The details are hazy, but you sit up with a start to find yourself floating on a raft in the middle of...the ocean? Where the hell are you? IS this hell? Heaven? Purgatory?.]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [There is a map, a crate filled with green apples, and a single oar beside you. Continue...(1/4)]<desc| </div>\ |next)[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item"><span class="menuButton">[[[And so you continue on...->Alone (Human)]]]</span></span> </div>\ </footer>]\ { (click: "Continue...(1/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Her name was Olivia and you know this because you freed her voice when you bargained with the Wizard! You're dizzy as the images continue to unravel in your brain.(print: " ")Continue...(2/4)](replace: ?status)[Status: You are on a raft.]] (click: "Continue...(2/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[You helped her only to discover that she was not actually a mermaid but a being doubly cursed with no memory of how she came to be trapped with a tail and no voice. You've set out with directions from the Wizard to find and bring back some purple seeds from a magical orchard across the sea which will ultimately be turned into a cure for Olivia.(print: " ")Continue...(3/4)]] (click: "Continue...(3/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[(replace: ?image)[<img src="images/cyoa-wrist.png" alt="olivia" height="401" width="291" />]He has promised to mix you an antidote with one caveat; you agree to not keep any of the seeds for yourself. There is a charm bracelet tied to your wrist that acts both as an enchanted compass as well as a symbol of your promise.(print: " ")Continue...(4/4)(set: $inv_player to it + (a: "a charm bracelet", "a waterproof chest", "a seed sack", "a camera phone"))(set: $charmBracelet to 1)]] (click: "Continue...(4/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[Whether this is hell or heaven, Olivia is counting on you.(show: ?next)]] }

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-bottle.png" alt="magic" height="401" width="291" />]<image| <div class="merStatus">\ (display: "status")\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [<h3>Previously...</h3> Ironically, your hopes for catching a mermaid turned to reality when you literally caught a case of turning into one yourself.]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [Your new fin and ability to breathe underwater was a spectacular experience. You spent days exploring the depths, finding new delights under each sea shell. But as the days turned to weeks, you longed for someone to share it with. And as beautiful as the marine life was (when you weren't avoiding garbage mimicry and exotic predators), they sure were...boring companions. Continue...(1/4)]<desc| </div>\ |next)[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item"><span class="menuButton">[[[And you follow after Olivia...->Mermaids]]]</span></span> </div>\ </footer>]\ { (click: "Continue...(1/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Eat. Eat. Eat. Poop. Eat. Zzzz. Lay Eggs. Fight. Eat.(print: " ") The rhythm and currents of the water became a monotonous repetition broken only by the frequent interruptions and silent scolding by your new “friend” Olivia.(print: " ")Continue...(2/4)]] (click: "Continue...(2/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[(replace: ?image)[<img src="images/cyoa-olivia-meh.png" alt="the compass charm" height="401" width="291" />]The mermaid you were so desperate to catch was not exactly thrilled by your decision to join her. While she never spoke, she seemed to take great pleasure in silently mocking you as you learned about life underwater.(print: " ")Continue...(3/4)]] (click: "Continue...(3/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[Olivia was obviously deeply depressed and bitter. She bullied you regularly, and using her knowledge of the depths to both mock you and as leverage to keep you in her debt. It was exhausting, but it quickly became routine. Without her, you likely would have starved.(print: " ")Continue...(4/4)]] (click: "Continue...(4/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[You’re unsure of how long you endured your new watery life as you slowly lose your solar sense of time; but one day, you’re woken from a nap shaken violently by Olivia. She waved something rectangular in your face and when your eyes focused, you recognized it for some kind of keycard. You saw that she had also slung some kind of sack across her torso. She was delirious with excitement and pulled you towards the open waters without a word.(show: ?next)\ {(set: $inv_player to it + (a: "a broken camera phone"), $inv_olivia to it + (a:"a plastic keycard", "a messenger-style bag"), $player's legs to 0, $player's wet to 1) }]] }

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-wizard-meh.png" alt="the Wizard" height="401" width="291" />]<image| <div class="merStatus">\ (display: "status")\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [<h3>Previously...</h3> Your casual walk took a strange, serious turn as you ended up puzzling your way across a small island, complete with magical orchards, trapped wizards, and the mystery of the silent, but surly mermaid.]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [You freed a wizard who he had been unable to harvest or consume his own magical fruit. He explained to you how he had once hoarded his magical bounty from the indigenous magical users whose land he had unknowingly claimed and was ultimately punished until such time as he learned how to share and give back to the land and it’s creatures. Continue...(1/3)]<desc| </div>\ |next)[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item"><span class="menuButton">[(link: "You agreed to his quest.")[\ (replace: ?desc)[(replace: ?image)[<img src="images/cyoa-wrist.png" alt="the compass charm" height="401" width="291" />]Agreeing, he provided you with a charmed bracelet to act as a compass and sent you on your way. You told Olivia about the plan and she tearfully promised to sing with her newly restored voice every day to orient you back to her when you’ve succeeded in your quest. She helped you by bringing you a soggy, but servicable raft, some supplies in a waterproof chest, and helped navigate you into the open waters. Her voice followed you long after you lost sight of the shore.(set: $inv_player to it + (a: "a whistle on a leather cord", "a waterproof chest", "a camera phone", "a charm bracelet"))(set: $charmBracelet to 1)]\ (replace: ?next)[\ <footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item"><span class="menuButton">[[And so you follow your wrist as it leads you out and away.|Alone (Human)]]</span></span></div>\ </footer>\ ]\ ]\ ]</span></span> <span class="flex-item"><span class="menuButton">[(link: "You didn't trust the wizard.")[\ (replace: ?desc)[(replace: ?image)[<img src="images/cyoa-olivia-above-ok.png" alt="olivia" height="401" width="291" />]Unsure of the wizard’s goals, you decided to decline his offer and returned to Olivia. You told Olivia about your doubts and convinced her that, together, you could find a cure without the nasty wizard. She salvaged an old, sunken raft, some supplies, and together you set off.(set: $inv_player to it + (a: "a whistle on a leather cord", "a waterproof chest", "a camera phone"))(set: $inv_olivia to it + (a: "a messenger-style bag"))]\ (replace: ?next)[\ <footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item"><span class="menuButton">[[And so you and Olivia travel into open water...|Together (Human)]]</span></span></div>\ </footer>\ ]\ (replace: ?status)[Status: You are on a raft, steered by a mermaid.]]]</span></span> </div>\ </footer>]\ { (click: "Continue...(1/3)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ After several years of struggle, he cleverly laid out a puzzle requiring a traveller to harvest and serve the fruit to him (or else be turned into a metal statue) to trick and break his curse. Once freed, he swore to you that he was now a reformed master of both Obedience and Generosity having watched your methods.(print: " ")Continue...(2/3)]] (click: "Continue...(2/3)")[(replace: ?desc)[(replace: ?image)[<img src="images/cyoa-olivia-above-happy.png" alt="olivia" height="401" width="291" />]While you questioned this, he did ultimately offer you the ability to restore the mermaid’s voice. Using a charmed whistle, you summoned and gave her the cure. You eventually befriended her, and learned her name is Olivia. She had no memories of any Wizard but remembered an orchard clearly, and tasked you to help restore her memory and her legs.(print: " ")Continue...(3/3)]] (click: "Continue...(3/3)")[(replace: ?desc)[(replace: ?image)[<img src="images/cyoa-wizard-sideye.png" alt="olivia" height="401" width="291" />]You returned to the Wizard. He didn’t exactly confirm whether or not it was his orchard that cursed her, but he did state that he could produce a cure with the correct ingredients. You were tasked to travel to another place, inaccessible to him, and to retrieve the seeds from another orchard with purple apples.(print: " ")You were told to return with the seeds and to take none for yourself.](show: ?next)] }

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-olivia-meh.png" alt="olivia" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ (display: "status")\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [Story begins]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [Talk to Olivia. Ask about key. Learn about islands. Blow whistle. Go to fog. Continue...(1/4)]<desc| </div>\ |next)[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item"><span class="menuButton">[[The Gate Continues]]</span></span> </div>\ </footer>]\ { (click: "Continue...(1/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action contines. Continue...(2/4)]] (click: "Continue...(2/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues2. Continue...(3/4)]] (click: "Continue...(3/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues3. Continue...(4/4)]] (click: "Continue...(4/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues3.(show: ?next)]] }

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-olivia-meh.png" alt="olivia" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ (display: "status")\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [The first few hours on the raft are fuelled by adrenaline and hope. After a while, an awkward silence fills the space between you and Olivia as you both wait for the other to suggest a plan. Olivia continues to push the raft “away” from the mainland but as that fades from view, the reality of navigating without a compass, landmark, or even a destination starts to sink in as endless water surrounds you on all sides.]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [Time crawls by, and you attempt to fill the silence with weak small talk about the weather, water, and hopes of finding land soon. Olivia makes the occasional gruff, one-word response but mostly continues to swim on silently.]<desc| </div>\ |next>[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item"><span class="menuButton">[\ (link: "Wait for Olivia to say something.")[\ (replace: ?desc)[Time continues to pass, and as darkness falls, you stubbornly refuse to be the first to bring up the lack of plan. After all, you were the one that restored her voice and set us off on this quest. As someone familiar with these waters, the least she could do is offer a suggestion on where to start. You lay back grumpily, close your eyes, and eventually the raft rocks you to sleep.\ ]\ (replace: ?next)[\ <footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">(link: "Win by sleeping.")[\ (replace: ?story)[You wake up to blinding whiteness. You quickly blink away sleep, catching yourself abruptly as you remember you’re on a raft. Your blood pumps in your ears as you steady yourself on all fours and look around the raft. Olivia is resting peacefully off the side of the raft, head resting on her arms.\ ]\ (replace: ?desc)[You shake her awake. She blinks slowly and then looks around. “Oh. It’s the fog,” she says plainly. Without another word, she dives down under the raft. Continue...(1/2)\ ]\ ]\ </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>\ ]\ ]\ ]</span></span> <span class="flex-item"><span class="menuButton">[\ (link: "Ask Olivia what she thinks you should do next.")[\ (replace: ?story)[Olivia replies impatiently, “I am taking us to the islands.”]\ (replace: ?desc)[You wait for her to continue, and once she notices, she blushes, frowns and looks away sharply. “Oh, uh, I’ve been there before and it’s messed up and weird. I figured it was a good place to start…” she trails off.]\ (replace: ?next)[\ <footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Encourage Olivia to keep talking.|Olivia Thanks]]\ </span>\ </span> <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">\ (link: "Sit back and enjoy the ride.")[\ (replace: ?story)[Not wanting to embarrass Olivia, you turn around and trust that she knows where she is going. She is seems to be done with talking anyways.\ ]\ (replace: ?desc)[After a while, you begin to doze, fighting off sleep on and off until the sky starts to darken. ]\ (replace: ?next)[ <footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Wait.|The Fog Sleep]]\ </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>\ ] ]\ </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>\ ]\ ]\ ]</span></span> <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">\ [[Jump off the raft.|The Deep]]\ </span></span>\ </div>\ </footer>]\ { (click: "Continue...(1/2)")[ (replace: ?desc)[ You’re quickly surrounded by a thick fog. Olivia is no where to be seen. (print: " ")Time passes.] (replace: ?next)[ <footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Jump the raft.|The Deep]]\ </span>\ </span> <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Continue to wait for the fog to clear.|The Fog Sleep]]\ </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>\ ] ] }

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-fog.png" alt="the_fog" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ (display: "status")\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [(if: (history:)'s last is "The Gate")[(set: $player's legs to 1)Your clumsy attempt to help Olivia along backfires as your half-frozen, amateur swimming wrenches your arm free of Olivia's frigid claw. She slowly whips her head towards you, eyes wide with surprize and fear, but doesn't stop. You beat your tail about to catch up to her, but each movement seems to whip you deeper down and finally, the cold, dark water engulphs your senses. The deep blue turns to black. Continue...(1/2)](else:)[The fog follows you into sleep.] You are alone. Through the haze, amorphous pastel shapes (text-style: "fade-in-out")[fade in and out.]]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [(if: (history: )'s last is "Orange Dreams")[You crawl back from forest until the pine bed once again becomes a cloud-sea of white.](else-if: (history: )'s last is "Blue Dreams")[You swim up and out of the flash-flood and return to the cloud-covered fog of your dreams.](else-if: (history: )'s last is "Purple Dreams")[You walk away from the huge spheres and again find yourself in a haze of white.](else:)[]When you concentrate on any of these forms, shapes become more defined and the colours split, darken, and fill in like a time-lapsed colouring book. You spy (color: #79F2EF)[something blue floating high above you]<blue|, (color: #84506c)[some vaguely purple spheres that dot the landscape]<purple|, and (color: #db4f26)[something orange seems to peak and crumble in the distance]<orange|.]<desc| <hr />\ </div>\ |next>[<footer class="footer">\ <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item"><span class="menuButton">\ [[Focus on the blue shapes.->Blue Dreams]]\ </span></span> <span class="flex-item"><span class="menuButton">\ [[Focus on the purple spheres.->Purple Dreams]]\ </span></span> <span class="flex-item"><span class="menuButton">\ [[Focus on the orange shards.->Orange Dreams]]\ </span></span> </div>\ </footer>]\ { (if: (history:) contains "Orange Dreams")[(replace: ?orange)[a hazy, orange forest in the distance]] (if: (history:) contains "Blue Dreams")[(replace: ?blue)[pregnant blue clouds moping above]] (if: (history:) contains "Purple Dreams")[(replace: ?purple)[the large, fruit-like orbs that dot the landscape]] (click: "Continue...(1/2)")[And then, after a time, the black is burned back by a blinding white. You awaken on a raft surrounded by white fog. Your legs are back.] }

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-olivia-meh.png" alt="olivia" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ [Status: ??]<status|\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [Story begins]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [Should be signs of spirit people. Island is very inhabited. Live actions? Add a forest path. You need the seeing stone to find the Lake. Sunken vehicle. Sink stone is on this island. Action begins. Continue...(1/4)]<desc| <hr />\ </div>\ |next)[<footer class="footer">\ <ul class="flex-container">\ <li class="flex-item">[[Eventually to the Lake->Lake]]</li> </ul>\ </footer>]\ { (click: "Continue...(1/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action contines. Continue...(2/4)]] (click: "Continue...(2/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues2. Continue...(3/4)]] (click: "Continue...(3/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues3. Continue...(4/4)]] (click: "Continue...(4/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues3.(show: ?next)]] }

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-olivia-meh.png" alt="olivia" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ [Status: ??]<status|\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [Story begins]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [From beach, you can hear olivia yelling (she's at a cross road under the bridges. An island seemingly busy, but no people. Signs of industry/commercial trade, but no beings. Funny status changes from stealing from vendors. Player needs to find the doughnut stone. The Witch can be found on this island by using the sinking stone at the waterfall attraction. Action begins. Continue...(1/4)]<desc| <hr />\ </div>\ |next)[<footer class="footer">\ <ul class="flex-container">\ <li class="flex-item">[[Time on Raft Done->The Channels]]</li> </ul>\ </footer>]\ { (click: "Continue...(1/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action contines. Continue...(2/4)]] (click: "Continue...(2/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues2. Continue...(3/4)]] (click: "Continue...(3/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues3. Continue...(4/4)]] (click: "Continue...(4/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues3.(show: ?next)]] }

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-death-drowning.png" alt="olivia" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ [Status: ??]<status|\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [Story begins]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [UNFINISHED PASSAGE: Continue...(1/4)]<desc| <hr />\ </div>\ |next)[<footer class="footer">\ <ul class="flex-container">\ <li class="flex-item">[[Underwater Channels|Underwater Channels]]</li> </ul>\ </footer>]\ { (click: "Continue...(1/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action contines. Continue...(2/4)]] (click: "Continue...(2/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues2. Continue...(3/4)]] (click: "Continue...(3/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues3. Continue...(4/4)]] (click: "Continue...(4/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues3.(show: ?next)]] [This is a very boring island. It's mostly just an archway/gate. With the stone, there is a control gate here. You can chat with the mercreatures here to turn off the waterfall attraction. You can access the island's channels, similar to island two, there is commerce here, but no signs of people without stone. **Option to give Olivia a stone too. Action begins.] }

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-death-drowning.png" alt="unfinished" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ [Status: ??]<status|\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [UNFINISHED PASSAGE. Story begins]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [Action begins. Continue...(1/4)]<desc| <hr />\ </div>\ |next>[<footer class="footer">\ <ul class="flex-container">\ <li class="flex-item">Eventual Passage Link</li> </ul>\ </footer>]\ { (click: "Continue...(1/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action contines. Continue...(2/4)]] (click: "Continue...(2/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues2. Continue...(3/4)]] (click: "Continue...(3/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues3. Continue...(4/4)]] (click: "Continue...(4/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues3.(show: ?next)]] }

Double-click this passage to edit it.

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-olivia-meh.png" alt="olivia" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ (display: "status")\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [SUEDO: if gate is history - (You wake up on drift wood again. This time not surprized as surly silent Olivia approaches. She tries to communicate to come with her. You're not sure what's happening or whether or not you're still sleeping, but it looks like you're doing this all again.) You wake up on drift wood. You see the mermaid, Olivia! But she's silent and goes back and forth between annoyed and concerned. You try talking, she doesn't respond. Then you realize it. You have a fin. ]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [SUEDO: if gate is history - the fin, although no longer a completely new sensation, is still foreign and akward. It takes you a bit to get your barings and a frustrated Oliva starts grabbing at you to pul you along.) You look at your fin. You freak out a little. Oliva is frustrated and scared. She goes to grab at your arm. choose to let her or pull away. Continue...(1/X)]<desc| </div>\ |next)[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Remain still.|The Gate Continues]]\ </span>\ </span> <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Swim beside her.|The Fog]]\ </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>]\ { (click: "Continue...(1/X)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ You let her take your wrist. She starts pantomiming. She puffs out her cheeks, she points deep and goes under water emphasis. You see a dark, deep blackness. She grabs her wrist tight and stares at you. She then releases it and shakes her head violently. Then she moves to take your arm again.(print: " ")Continue...(2/X)]] (click: "Continue...(2/X)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ And she starts dragging you along towards the black water. The water turns from freezing to painfully cold as you traverse the deep darkness. It hurts at first, but then you start to feel relief followed by understanding that you can no longer feel Olivia's hand on your arm.(print: " ")Continue...(3/X)]] (click: "Continue...(3/X)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ You continue to drift forward, tethered by the mermaid swimming with considerable effort. SUEDO - help her/swim, let her work (REPLACE)(show: ?next)]] }

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-olivia-meh.png" alt="olivia" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ [Status: ??]<status|\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [Story begins]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [Action begins. Find charm bracelet. Continue...(1/4)]<desc| <hr />\ </div>\ |next)[<footer class="footer">\ <ul class="flex-container">\ <li class="flex-item">[[Time on Raft Done->The Witch]]</li> </ul>\ </footer>]\ { (click: "Continue...(1/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action contines. Continue...(2/4)]] (click: "Continue...(2/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues2. Continue...(3/4)]] (click: "Continue...(3/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues3. Continue...(4/4)]] (click: "Continue...(4/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues3.(show: ?next)]] }

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-olivia-meh.png" alt="olivia" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ [Status: ??]<status|\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [Story begins]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [She can see if you've eaten the seeds. Action begins. Continue...(1/4)]<desc| <hr />\ </div>\ |next)[<footer class="footer">\ <ul class="flex-container">\ <li class="flex-item">[[Time on Raft Done->The Witch]]</li> </ul>\ </footer>]\ { (click: "Continue...(1/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action contines. Continue...(2/4)]] (click: "Continue...(2/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues2. Continue...(3/4)]] (click: "Continue...(3/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues3. Continue...(4/4)]] (click: "Continue...(4/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues3.(show: ?next)]] }

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-olivia-meh.png" alt="olivia" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ [Status: ??]<status|\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [Story begins]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [You can get the fruit. You can eat the fruit (injesting seeds). You can painstakingly. Action begins. Continue...(1/4)]<desc| <hr />\ </div>\ |next)[<footer class="footer">\ <ul class="flex-container">\ <li class="flex-item">[[Time on Raft Done->The Vinyard]]</li> </ul>\ </footer>]\ { (click: "Continue...(1/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action contines. Continue...(2/4)]] (click: "Continue...(2/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues2. Continue...(3/4)]] (click: "Continue...(3/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues3. Continue...(4/4)]] (click: "Continue...(4/4)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Action continues3.(show: ?next)]] }

Double-click this passage to edit it.

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-inventory.png" alt="inventory" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ [Inventory]<status|\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [Your inventory contains:]<story| </div> <div class="action">\ <hr /> [\ (if: $inv_player's length > 0)[(print: $inv_player.join(", ")).] (else:)[nothing.] ]<desc| </div>\ |next>[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item"><span class="menuButton">(link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last) </span></span> </div>\ </footer>]

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-fog.png" alt="the fog" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ [Status: You are swimming in freezing water.]<status|\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [(set: $player's wet to 1)You jump into the water. It’s freezing. You hold onto the corner of the raft shivering and struggle to catch your breath.]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [After a few moments, you hold your breath and stick your head back under the water. The water is clear for a few feet in all directions, but you cannot see beyond that. It's...very deep here. And extremely cold.(]<desc| </div>\ |next>[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Dive down.|Drowning]]\ </span>\ </span> <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Nope. Back onto the raft & wait.|The Fog Sleep]]\ </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>]

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-death-drowning.png" alt="death by drowning" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ [Status: You are dead.]<status|\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [You let go of the raft and swim down in a random direction. The water doesn’t seem to get any darker or lighter, and after a dozen seconds, bubbles escape your mouth. You swim back, following the path of the ascending air only to lose the trail as it outpaces you. You release another trail of bubbles. And another…]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [Until there are no more bubbles. <div style="float: right;"><h2>The End.</h2>]<desc|</div> </div>\ |next)[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">Start Over(click:"Start Over")[(reload:)]\ </span>\ </span> <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Try that again.|The Deep]]\ </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>]

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-fog.png" alt="the fog" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ (display: "status")\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [You’ve had just about enough of this fog. Your eyes ache from the never ending white and nothing to focus on.]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [You attempt to maneuver the raft around, even trying to go back the way you came, but after several endless minutes of guesswork, you admit defeat. You give your eyes a much needed rest, and lay back until the fog clears.]<desc| </div>\ |next>[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[You fall asleep.|The Fog]]\ </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>]

[\ Status: [You are alone on a raft.]<what|\ (if: $player's wet is 1)[\ You are soaked and freezing.]\ (else:)[] (unless: (passage:)'s tags contains "previously")[\ (unless: (passage: )'s tags contains "dream")[\ (if: $inv_player's length > 0)[\ Check [[inventory]]. ]\ ]\ ]\ (else:)[]\ ]<status|\ { (if: (passage:)'s tags contains all of ("olivia", "raft"))[(replace: ?what)[You are on a raft being steered by Oliva.]] (else-if: (passage:)'s tags contains all of ("olivia", "mermaid"))[(replace: ?what)[You are a mermaid. Olivia is with you.]] (else-if: (passage:)'s tags contains "mermaid")[(replace: ?what)[You are a mermaid.]] (else-if: (passage:)'s tags contains "fog")[(replace: ?what)[You are lost in a fog.]] }

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-blue-dream.png.png" alt="the blue dream" height="401" width="291" />]<Mainimage| <div class="merStatus">\ (display: "status")\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [As you focus your eyes on the blue blobs, they ripple and flow into fluffy clouds that seem to be pouring sheets of comically blue rain. The rain flows around you, rising quickly, and you’re overtaken by the tide in an instant.]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [You float gently along, passing indifferent schools of fish, sluggish lengths of seaweed, and the fuzz-covered remains of discarded, human junk. You spot a large treasure chest amongst the debris. Above you, the water is a lighter shade of blue.]<desc| </div>\ |next>[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Swim up towards the light.|The Fog]]\ </span>\ </span> <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">\ (link:"Swim down and examine the chest.")[\ (replace: ?desc)[You swim down to the treasure chest and examine it. The lock is rusted and open, but still hooked into the ornate latch that releases the lid. |latch)[The chest's catch imitates a face. Upon further examination, you notice that within the delicate etching that at first look like glands, gills and scales are actually smaller sets of eyes, blinking shut. As you scrutinize the details, you swear you catch a pair of eyes wink at you. (replace: ?Mainimage)[<img src="images/cyoa-latch.png" alt="olivia" height="401" width="291" />]] The lid pops up and down along with the current but never fully opens to reveal the contents.] (replace: ?next)[\ <footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">\ [[Swim up towards the light|The Fog]]\ </span>\ </span> <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">\ (link:"Open latch.")[\ (replace: ?desc)[You remove the lock, release the latch, and open the chest. The lid flies out of your hands as a column of bubbles shoots out from inside the chest. The stream of bubbles grows wider and wider until it overtakes you and other debris surrounding the chest. You are pulled up violently and flail about. Your fingers find purchase on a rough piece of wood that acts like a hand glider as you rush upwards.. Continue...(1/2)] (replace: ?next)[] ] </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer> ] ] </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>]\ { (click: "Continue...(1/2)")[ (replace: ?desc)[You are overwhelmed by the seething mass and close your eyes as you’re carried upwards. ] (replace: ?next)[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[This will take you somewhere cool eventually. PLAY AGAIN SOON!]\ </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>]] (click: "latch")[(show: ?latch)] }

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-grape.png" alt="grapes?" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ (display: "status")\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [The purple spheres seem to grow as they sharpen until you’re in a field of giant, glossy globes. As you approach one, you can see that they are covered in a translucent skin that covers a cloudy suspension. They are not unlike grapes…but they are huge.]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [They are very cold to the touch, and give slightly when you push at them. ]<desc| </div>\ |next>[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Step away from the Spheres|The Fog]]\ </span>\ </span> <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">\ (link:"Attempt to penetrate the sphere.")[\ (replace: ?desc)[You feel the popping of membranes beneath the surface as you attempt to push through the waxy flesh of the gigantic sphere. Rather than splitting, it just continues to cave in upon itself until you are mostly enclosed the concave space.] (replace: ?next)[\ <footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">\ [[Go back|The Fog]]\ </span>\ </span> <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">\ (link:"Press On.")[\ (replace: ?desc)[YYou continue to push at it until you’re surrounded on all sides by the bruised fruit. You feel something on your shoulder and look up to see that the cavern is starting to ooze down upon your shoulders. It’s like being slowly suffocated by a waterbed. Continue...(1/2)] (replace: ?next)[] ] </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer> ] ] </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>]\ { (click: "Continue...(1/2)")[ (replace: ?desc)[You push up at the melting ceiling and finally piece the slick shell. It oozes down your arm and then releases a wet sucking sound as you are slurped up into the gelatinous contents of the sphere. The gooey pulp forces your eyes shut as you’re through by your wrist.] (replace: ?next)[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[This will take you somewhere cool eventually. PLAY AGAIN SOON!]\ </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>]] }

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-orange-dream.png" alt="orange-dream" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ (display: "status")\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [As you focus your eyes on the orange shards, they seem to grow upwards into sharp peaks with dark trunks rising up to support them. You are almost entirely surrounded by a forest of autumn coloured conifers and the air is dry. It feels suffocating and you are immediately coated in sweat.]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [You crouch down below the dehydrated pine barrier and look out across endless columns rising out at random from a quilt made of needles. A few rows away, a small tendril of smoke rises like ink suspended in water.]<desc| </div>\ |next>[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Step back out of the forest|The Fog]]\ </span>\ </span> <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">\ (link:"Crawl to the line of smoke")[\ (replace: ?desc)[You crawl over the spongy landscape, the occasional pine needles sticking into your skin, and arrive at the curling wisp of smoke. You can’t smell anything burning, and when you dig back the brush, there is no heat or source of smoke. The smoke still rises, and you continue to brush away pine needles. A hole begins to form.] (replace: ?next)[\ <footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">\ [[Step back out of the forest.|The Fog]]\ </span>\ </span> <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">\ (link:"Dig.")[\ (replace: ?desc)[You scoop away handfuls of needles and never seem to break ground. You balance precariously above the hole as you lean down to reach at the plant matter. The rising smoke continues in a small line that tickles your nose and makes your eyes water. Continue...(1/2)] (replace: ?next)[] ] </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer> ] ] </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>]\ { (click: "Continue...(1/2)")[ (replace: ?desc)[Blinking away tears, you realize too late that you have cleared away the final membrane of pine needles and now cleared, the tiny thread of smoke becomes a geyser of grey. Your balance is broken and you tumble headfirst into the opening in the ground, surrounded by smoke and dizzying gravity.] (replace: ?next)[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[This will take you somewhere cool eventually. PLAY AGAIN SOON!]\ </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>]] }

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-olivia-meh.png" alt="olivia" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ (display: "status")\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [Time passes. You can mainly tell by the fact that your body starts to hurt all over as the temperature rises. The dark blue beneath you starts to lighten and shorty thereafter, the sea bottom becomes visible once again.]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [Olivia lets go of your arm and shakes out her hands. She leaves you to make your own clumsy way now that you're past the worst of it. Luckily, you don't have very far to go. Continue...(1/X)]<desc| </div>\ |next)[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Follow Olivia through the tunnel|Island Three]]\ </span>\ </span> <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Explore the wall on your own.|Random Shark]]\ </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>]\ { (click: "Continue...(1/X)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Not far from the dark, bottomless water, is a towering wall. It is made up of rocks, organic minerals, debris, and fuzzy rust, forming a barrier that sinks down into the silt and up out of the glassy water's edge.(print: " ")Continue...(2/X)]] (click: "Continue...(2/X)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Olivia seems undaunted by the large blockade and travels down along it's edge. She seems to be looking for something. You trail along behind her.(print: " ")Continue...(3/X)]] (click: "Continue...(3/X)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ Eventually, she finds what she is looking for. A black cube is barely visible at the end of barnacle covered pipe, and she pulls something from her bag. A red light comes on, illuminating a section of the quilted rock, and the water around you starts to vibrate.(print: " ")Continue...(4/X)]] (click: "Continue...(4/X)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ You both move towards the shifting rock and you can now see an exposed, unnaturally carved tunnel leading through the wall. Olivia seems to have triggered something that opened an ominously slow moving gate, and the way stands open.(show: ?next)]] }

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-death-drowning.png" alt="death by drowning" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ [Status: You are dead.]<status|\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [You decide to not follow Olivia through the creepy looking cavern. You can only be dragged so far before you start questioning the motives of a mute, grumpy mermaid, whom you've only really just met.]<story| </div>\ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [You swim up the wall and breach the water. The barrier continues several metres above sea level, so you perch yourself on some submerged rocks and look out across the horizon. You delay starting back across the creepy deep water, which suits the salt water crocodile laying in wait just fine. Freezing water. Bottomless depths. Creepy walls. Monsters laying in wait. Seems logical. You do the math as you're devoured and think; "AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" <div style="float: right;"><h2>The End.</h2>]<desc|</div> </div>\ |next>[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">Start Over\ </span>\ </span> <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Try that again.|The Gate Continues]]\ </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>]\ {(click:"Start Over")[(reload:)]}

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-olivia-meh.png" alt="olivia" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ (display: "status")\ </div> </div> <div class="merStory">\ [Olivia refuses to make eye contact, but continues, “…I…look..it’s a good ide-…,” she starts and stops. She takes a breath and continues, “I want to thank you for helping me, but…” “I want to say…to tell you…UGH…why…ugh…thank you.” She pauses and struggles to find the right words. She tries again, “But, WHY…”]<story| </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [“…why are you helping me?”]<desc| </div>\ |next>[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">\ (link:"Answer: Because it felt right.")[\ (replace: "?story")[\ Olivia looks at you with suspicious, searching wide eyes. You shrug and tell her that it’s the truth and that while you don’t have a better explanation, you’re glad that you did. She raises an eyebrow at that, then flushes again before turning away to hide a small smile. ]\ (replace: "?desc")[\ Olivia doubles her efforts and you feel the raft pick up some speed. ] (replace: ?next)[\ <footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">\ [[Ask Olivia about the islands.|Destination]] </span>\ </span> <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">\ (link: "Hold on & enjoy the ride.")[\ (replace: ?story)[Not wanting to embarrass Olivia, you turn around and trust that she knows where she is going. She is seems to be done with talking anyways.\ ]\ (replace: ?desc)[After a while, you begin to doze, fighting off sleep on and off until the sky starts to darken. ]\ (replace: ?next)[ <footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Wait.|The Fog Sleep]]\ </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>\ ]\ ]\ </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer> ]\ ]\ </span>\ </span> <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">\ (link:"Answer: You’re still asking yourself the same question.")[\ (replace: "?story")[\ “Oh. Well,” Olivia mumbles, “…I’m glad you did.” ]\ (replace: "?desc")[\ She goes quiet again, and you continue on in silence. ] (replace: ?next)[\ <footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">\ (link: "Sit back and enjoy the ride.")[\ (replace: ?story)[Not wanting to embarrass Olivia, you turn around and trust that she knows where she is going. She is seems to be done with talking anyways.\ ]\ (replace: ?desc)[After a while, you begin to doze, fighting off sleep on and off until the sky starts to darken. ]\ (replace: ?next)[ <footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Wait.|The Fog Sleep]]\ </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>\ ]\ ]\ </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer> ]\ ]\ </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>]

<div class="merImage">\ [<img src="images/cyoa-olivia-meh.png" alt="olivia" height="401" width="291" />] <div class="merStatus">\ (display: "status")\ </div>\ </div> <div class="merStory">\ [“They are about a 2 day swim from the mainland and they are strange,” she says, “I have never made it all the way to the island exacty - or at least I don’t remember getting there.”]<story|\ </div> \ <div class="action">\ <hr /> [She frowns as her eyes go distant in thought, “I have never made it past the underwater barrier. And above water, there is a persistent fog that rolls in when I get too close.” She pauses, and is silent for a while as she concentrates on navigating the raft. Then she says roughly, under her breath “I’m hoping it’s different with you here.” She goes silent again.]<desc|\ </div>\ |next>[<footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">\ (link-repeat:"Ask about the barrier.")[\ (replace: "?story")[\ “I’ve counted 3 islands from a distance. They are surrounded below by unnatural depths across which few ocean creatures travel and above by an unnatural fog to form an amphibious defence. If you pass through the chilly depths of deep, dark water, you come up against a massive wall of debris as if there was an invisible wall causing it all to stick together rather than fall into the deep divide.” She shakes her head with frustration. ]\ (replace: "?desc")[\ “I barely believed it when I saw it the first time, which is why I also know you cannot scale it. I spent a few frustrating and freezing days looking for a way through. Finally I found,” she pauses to make air quotes, “the gate.” Continue...(1/2, the gate) ]\ ]\ </span>\ </span> <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">\ (link-repeat:"Ask about the fog.")[\ (replace: "?story")[\ “What else is there to say? It’s fog,” she says testily. “I’ve gotten close enough to the islands to count them, but there’s barely time enough for that. It feels like it rolls in even if you’re just concentrating on them. I’ve only tried a few times to cross it above water, but it never works and then I have to dive into directionless deep water that surrounds the island,” she shivers, “and that’s worse.” ]\ (replace: "?desc")[“Just be ready. Fog sucks.” She goes silent but looks thoughtful. Continue...(1/4, the fog)\ ]\ ]\ </span>\ </span> <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">\ (link:"Let Olivia concentrate on driving.")[\ (replace: ?story)[Not wanting to embarrass Olivia, you turn around and trust that she knows where she is going. She is seems to be done with talking anyways.\ ]\ (replace: ?desc)[After a while, you begin to doze, fighting off sleep on and off until the sky starts to darken. ]\ (replace: ?next)[ <footer class="footer">\ <hr /> <div class="flex-container">\ <span class="flex-item">\ <span class="menuButton">[[Wait.|The Fog Sleep]]\ </span>\ </span> </div>\ </footer>\ ]\ ]\ </span>\ </span>\ <span class="flex-item">\ [<span class="menuButton">\ (link:"Ask about the whistle.")[\ (replace: "?story")[\ Olivia shivers and grimaces. "You know that thing...C O M P E L S me, right? I am a literal slave to it. ]\ (replace: "?desc")[\ Ah. You recall using it on the mainland and had assumed Olivia's bad attitude was simply due to her inability to speak. You shrink in on yourself, and shove the whistle under your shirt. It remains around your neck, but Olivia's shoulders seem to ease. ] ]\ </span>](whistle| </span> </div>\ </footer>]\ { (click: "Continue...(1/2, the gate)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ “It’s a wonder I found it as it’s deep enough, that the light is all but gone and the rusted gate is camouflaged in barnacles and sediment. I cannot open it, but the way is clear to the other side, perfectly carved out of the coral.” Again, she pouts as she says, “I don’t know HOW I am going to get you down there, but that’s where we are going.”(print: " ")She puts her head down, and again you feel the raft pick up speed.]] (click: "Continue...(1/4, the fog)")[(replace: ?desc)[\ She navigates the raft in silence for a short while, and you settle back on the raft.(print: " ")Olivia eventually clears her throat and says “If we get separated…,” she doesn’t finish and when you turn to face her you find her staring at you, the whites of her eyes showing.(print: " ")Continue...(2/4, the fog) ]] (click: "Continue...(2/4, the fog)")[(replace: ?story)[You assure Olivia that you’ll find her again, even if you’re separated. You try to laugh off her stress by assuring her that no fog lasts forever.](replace: ?desc)[\ “This is no ordinary fog,” Olivia corrects you, “it doesn’t come and go naturally. It comes into being to stop you from progressing. Any time I have even thought about approaching the islands, it boils across the water with a ferocious speed.”(print: " ")Continue...(3/4, the fog)]] (click: "Continue...(3/4, the fog)")[(replace: ?story)[You’re thoughtful for a while. Finally, you acknowledge Olivia’s experience and tell her that instead of thinking about approaching the islands, you’ll instead focus on her and your shared goals. You remember the whistle around your neck and you hold it up as if to say, ‘and you’ll find me with this’.](replace: ?desc)[\ Olivia sticks out her tongue at the whistle, and a laugh sticks in your throat when you realize the gesture was not meant to be silly.(show: ?whistle)]] }