*comment Choice of Rebels: Uprising written by Joel Havenstone, copyright 2017. *comment Using ChoiceScript (copyright 2010 by Dan Fabulich) under the terms of the ChoiceScript license: *comment http://www.choiceofgames.com/LICENSE-1.0.txt *title Choice of Rebels: Uprising *author Joel Havenstone *scene_list startup chirex $ savescene $ bandits $ bandits2 $ savescene2 $ strangers $ strangers2 $ savescene3 $ hounds $ ending $ death *create fname "" *create lname "startinglname" *create orig_lname "" *create epithet "" *create liebreaker false *create openhanded false *create eclect false *create slur "" *create shameveined false *create filthborn false *create childkiller false *create alias "" *create crest "" *create wisard "Theurge" *create wisardry "Theurgy" *create wisardric "Theurgic" *create aristo false *create helot false *create female true *create male false *create femalepref true *create malepref false *create acepref false *create aropref false *create kuria "kuria" *create milady "milady" *create he "she" *create him "her" *create his "her" *create hers "hers" *create woman "woman" *create girl "girl" *create sister "sister" *create daughter "daughter" *create ruth 50 *create skep 50 *create natl 50 *create ruthreal 50 *create skepreal 50 *create natlreal 50 *create cha 0 *create com 0 *create int 0 *create wealth 0 *create loot 0 *create followers 0 *create kids 0 *create nonkids 0 *create dead 0 *create kidsdead 0 *create sa_foll 0 *create sc_foll 0 *create needfood 0 *create foodstore 10 *create mules 0 *create sickmules 0 *create freemules 0 *create arms 0 *create blood 0 *create usedblood 0 *create theurgy 0 *create theu_spread 0 *create theuknown 0 *create religion 0 *create literate 0 *create moot "moot" *create a_moot "a moot" *create democ 0 *create oath "Xthonos" *create sweetoath "bleeding Angels" *create limb 0 *create addressc "" *create addressm "brother" *create addressf "sister" *create addressu "" *create sacrament 0 *create morale 20 *create cred_a 200 *create cred_h 200 *create cred_p 200 *create cred_m 200 *create cred_y 200 *create anarchy 0 *create violence 0 *create weapon "staff" *create intro_bad 0 *create introhlt false *create introrel false *create intronat false *create breden 1 *create bred_lover 0 *create bred_heart 5 *create bred_trust 1 *create bred_lead 1 *create bred_yell 0 *create bred_here true *create bfname "" *create simz_here false *create kal_here false *create el_here true *create zv_here true *create rad_here true *create insincere 0 *create arrog 0 *create hypocrite 0 *create radmar 1 *create r_rel 10 *create rad_lead 0 *create elery 1 *create e_rel 10 *create el_lead 0 *create elezvad 1 *create yebben 1 *create pin 1 *create alless 1 *create joana 1 *create poric 1 *create hawarden 0 *create calea 0 *create hector 0 *create hec_cred 0 *create xhe "she" *create xhis "her" *create xhim "her" *create xhers "hers" *create xkuria "kuria" *create xmilady "milady" *create xgirl "girl" *create xsister "sister" *create gandhi 0 *create rescuer 0 *create deputy "Zvad" *create dephis "his" *create dephe "he" *create notoriety 0 *create lingo "koine" *create zvad 0 *create zv_lead 1 *create nothief 0 *create week 0 *create temple 0 *create demerre 0 *create diakon 0 *create ismene 0 *create sarinatou 0 *create taxloot 0 *create alaine 0 *create sybla 0 *create traps 0 *create rad_mutiny false *create winterfail 0 *create protection 0 *create sigil "" *create szth 0 *create whend "Whend" *create whendery "Whendery" *create erretsin "Erretsin" *create errets "Errets" *create nere "Nere" *create nereal "Nereal" *create ciels 0 *create c_rel 10 *create bleys 0 *create bleysfam 0 *create nohunt false *create horion 0 *create hor_rel 20 *create horthe 0 *create hor_guard "none" *create delelle "de Lelle" *create zhe "he" *create zhis "his" *create zhim "him" *create zkuria "kurios" *create zmilady "milord" *create zgirl "boy" *create zsister "brother" *create zhers "his" *create kalt "" *create k_rel 0 *create kaltale false *create simon "" *create s_rel 0 *create s_sword 1 *create simzpref false *create simztale false *create s_lover 0 *create kalpref false *create campsite 0 *create plekspear false *create korszata 0 *create uthwen 0 *create etthena 0 *create bethune 0 *create simz_lead 0 *create kal_lead 0 *create helcamp 0 *create dadfeel 0 *create tagmasword false *create wonfight 0 *create cerlota 0 *create bandlead "" *create sworddonor 0 *create blooddonor 0 *create gamgee "" *create rollover1 0 *create rollover2 0 *create rollover3 0 *create rollover4 true *create rollover5 "" *create restart 0 *create d2n_num 0 *create np false *create display_numb "" *create thousands 0 *create hundreds 0 *create tens 0 *create single 0 *create np_display_numb "" *create savefname "" *create savelname "" *create saveorig_lname "" *create saveepithet "" *create saveliebreaker false *create saveopenhanded false *create saveeclect false *create saveslur "" *create saveshameveined false *create savefilthborn false *create savechildkiller false *create savealias "" *create savecrest "" *create savewisard "Theurge" *create savewisardry "Theurgy" *create savewisardric "Theurgic" *create savearisto false *create savehelot false *create savefemale true *create savemale false *create savefemalepref true *create savemalepref false *create saveacepref false *create savearopref false *create savekuria "kuria" *create savemilady "milady" *create savehe "she" *create savehim "her" *create savehis "her" *create savehers "hers" *create savewoman "woman" *create savegirl "girl" *create savesister "sister" *create savedaughter "daughter" *create saveruth 50 *create saveskep 50 *create savenatl 50 *create saveruthreal 50 *create saveskepreal 50 *create savenatlreal 50 *create savecha 1 *create savecom 1 *create saveint 1 *create savewealth 0 *create saveloot 0 *create savefollowers 0 *create savekids 0 *create savedead 0 *create savekidsdead 0 *create savenonkids 0 *create savesa_foll 0 *create savesc_foll 0 *create saveneedfood 0 *create savefoodstore 10 *create savemules 0 *create savesickmules 0 *create savefreemules 0 *create savearms 0 *create saveblood 0 *create saveusedblood 0 *create savetheurgy 0 *create savetheu_spread 0 *create savetheuknown 0 *create savereligion 0 *create saveliterate 0 *create savemoot "moot" *create savea_moot "a moot" *create savedemoc 0 *create saveoath "Xthonos" *create savesweetoath "bleeding Angels" *create savelimb 0 *create saveaddressc "" *create saveaddressm "brother" *create saveaddressf "sister" *create saveaddressu "" *create savesacrament 0 *create savemorale 20 *create savecred_a 200 *create savecred_h 200 *create savecred_p 200 *create savecred_m 200 *create savecred_y 200 *create saveanarchy 0 *create saveviolence 0 *create saveweapon "staff" *create saveintro_bad 0 *create saveintrohlt false *create saveintrorel false *create saveintronat false *create savebreden 1 *create savebred_here true *create savesimz_here false *create savekal_here false *create saveel_here true *create savezv_here true *create saverad_here true *create savebred_lover 0 *create savebred_heart 0 *create savebred_trust 1 *create savebred_lead 1 *create savebred_yell 0 *create savebfname "" *create saveinsincere 0 *create savearrog 0 *create savehypocrite 0 *create saveradmar 1 *create saver_rel 10 *create saverad_lead 0 *create saveelery 1 *create savee_rel 10 *create saveel_lead 0 *create saveelezvad 1 *create saveyebben 1 *create savepin 1 *create savealless 1 *create savejoana 1 *create saveporic 1 *create savehawarden 0 *create savecalea 0 *create savehector 0 *create savehec_cred 0 *create savexhe "she" *create savexhis "her" *create savexhim "her" *create savexhers "hers" *create savexkuria "kuria" *create savexmilady "milady" *create savexgirl "girl" *create savexsister "sister" *create savegandhi 0 *create saverescuer 0 *create savedeputy "Zvad" *create savedephis "his" *create savedephe "he" *create savenotoriety 0 *create savelingo "koine" *create savezvad 0 *create savezv_lead 1 *create savenothief 0 *create saveweek 0 *create savetemple 0 *create savedemerre 0 *create savediakon 0 *create saveismene 0 *create savesarinatou 0 *create savetaxloot 0 *create savealaine 0 *create savesybla 0 *create savetraps 0 *create saveprotection 0 *create saverad_mutiny false *create savewinterfail 0 *create savesigil "" *create saveszth 0 *create savewhend "Whend" *create savewhendery "Whendery" *create saveerretsin "Erretsin" *create saveerrets "Errets" *create savenere "Nere" *create savenereal "Nereal" *create saveciels 0 *create savec_rel 10 *create savebleys 0 *create savebleysfam 0 *create savenohunt false *create savehorion 0 *create savehor_rel 20 *create savehorthe 0 *create savehor_guard "none" *create savedelelle "de Lelle" *create savezhe "he" *create savezhis "his" *create savezhim "him" *create savezkuria "kurios" *create savezmilady "milord" *create savezhers "his" *create savezgirl "boy" *create savezsister "brother" *create savekalt "x" *create savek_rel 0 *create savekaltale false *create savesimon "x" *create saves_rel 0 *create saves_sword 1 *create savesimzpref false *create savesimztale false *create saves_lover 0 *create savekalpref false *create savecampsite 0 *create saveplekspear false *create savekorszata 0 *create saveuthwen 0 *create saveetthena 0 *create savebethune 0 *create savesimz_lead 0 *create savekal_lead 0 *create savedadfeel 0 *create savehelcamp 0 *create savetagmasword false *create savewonfight 0 *create savecerlota 0 *create savebandlead "" *create savesworddonor 0 *create saveblooddonor 0 *create savegamgee "" *create saverollover1 0 *create saverollover2 0 *create saverollover3 0 *create saverollover4 true *create saverollover5 "" *create save2fname "" *create save2lname "" *create save2orig_lname "" *create save2epithet "" *create save2liebreaker false *create save2openhanded false *create save2eclect false *create save2slur "" *create save2shameveined false *create save2filthborn false *create save2childkiller false *create save2alias "" *create save2crest "" *create save2wisard "Theurge" *create save2wisardry "Theurgy" *create save2wisardric "Theurgic" *create save2aristo false *create save2helot false *create save2female true *create save2male false *create save2femalepref true *create save2malepref false *create save2acepref false *create save2aropref false *create save2kuria "kuria" *create save2milady "milady" *create save2he "she" *create save2him "her" *create save2his "her" *create save2hers "hers" *create save2woman "woman" *create save2girl "girl" *create save2sister "sister" *create save2daughter "daughter" *create save2ruth 50 *create save2skep 50 *create save2natl 50 *create save2ruthreal 50 *create save2skepreal 50 *create save2natlreal 50 *create save2cha 1 *create save2com 1 *create save2int 1 *create save2wealth 0 *create save2loot 0 *create save2followers 0 *create save2kids 0 *create save2dead 0 *create save2kidsdead 0 *create save2nonkids 0 *create save2sa_foll 0 *create save2sc_foll 0 *create save2needfood 0 *create save2foodstore 10 *create save2mules 0 *create save2sickmules 0 *create save2freemules 0 *create save2arms 0 *create save2blood 0 *create save2usedblood 0 *create save2theurgy 0 *create save2theu_spread 0 *create save2theuknown 0 *create save2religion 0 *create save2literate 0 *create save2moot "moot" *create save2a_moot "a moot" *create save2democ 0 *create save2oath "Xthonos" *create save2sweetoath "bleeding Angels" *create save2limb 0 *create save2addressc "" *create save2addressm "brother" *create save2addressf "sister" *create save2addressu "" *create save2sacrament 0 *create save2morale 20 *create save2cred_a 200 *create save2cred_h 200 *create save2cred_p 200 *create save2cred_m 200 *create save2cred_y 200 *create save2anarchy 0 *create save2violence 0 *create save2weapon "staff" *create save2intro_bad 0 *create save2introhlt false *create save2introrel false *create save2intronat false *create save2breden 1 *create save2bred_here true *create save2simz_here false *create save2kal_here false *create save2el_here true *create save2zv_here true *create save2rad_here true *create save2bred_lover 0 *create save2bred_heart 0 *create save2bred_trust 1 *create save2bred_lead 1 *create save2bred_yell 0 *create save2bfname "" *create save2insincere 0 *create save2arrog 0 *create save2hypocrite 0 *create save2radmar 1 *create save2rad_lead 0 *create save2r_rel 10 *create save2elery 1 *create save2e_rel 10 *create save2el_lead 0 *create save2elezvad 1 *create save2yebben 1 *create save2pin 1 *create save2alless 1 *create save2joana 1 *create save2poric 1 *create save2hawarden 0 *create save2calea 0 *create save2hector 0 *create save2hec_cred 0 *create save2xhe "she" *create save2xhis "her" *create save2xhim "her" *create save2xhers "hers" *create save2xkuria "kuria" *create save2xmilady "milady" *create save2xgirl "girl" *create save2xsister "sister" *create save2gandhi 0 *create save2rescuer 0 *create save2deputy "Zvad" *create save2dephis "his" *create save2dephe "he" *create save2notoriety 0 *create save2lingo "koine" *create save2zvad 0 *create save2zv_lead 1 *create save2nothief 0 *create save2week 0 *create save2temple 0 *create save2demerre 0 *create save2diakon 0 *create save2ismene 0 *create save2sarinatou 0 *create save2taxloot 0 *create save2alaine 0 *create save2sybla 0 *create save2traps 0 *create save2protection 0 *create save2rad_mutiny false *create save2winterfail 0 *create save2sigil "" *create save2szth 0 *create save2whend "Whend" *create save2whendery "Whendery" *create save2erretsin "Erretsin" *create save2errets "Errets" *create save2nere "Nere" *create save2nereal "Nereal" *create save2ciels 0 *create save2c_rel 10 *create save2bleys 0 *create save2bleysfam 0 *create save2nohunt false *create save2horion 0 *create save2hor_rel 20 *create save2horthe 0 *create save2hor_guard "none" *create save2delelle "de Lelle" *create save2zhe "he" *create save2zhis "his" *create save2zhim "him" *create save2zkuria "kurios" *create save2zmilady "milord" *create save2zhers "his" *create save2zgirl "boy" *create save2zsister "brother" *create save2kalt "x" *create save2k_rel 0 *create save2kaltale false *create save2simztale false *create save2simon "x" *create save2s_rel 0 *create save2s_sword 1 *create save2simzpref false *create save2s_lover 0 *create save2kalpref false *create save2campsite 0 *create save2plekspear false *create save2korszata 0 *create save2uthwen 0 *create save2etthena 0 *create save2bethune 0 *create save2simz_lead 0 *create save2kal_lead 0 *create save2helcamp 0 *create save2dadfeel 0 *create save2tagmasword false *create save2wonfight 0 *create save2cerlota 0 *create save2bandlead "" *create save2sworddonor 0 *create save2blooddonor 0 *create save2gamgee "" *create save2rollover1 0 *create save2rollover2 0 *create save2rollover3 0 *create save2rollover4 true *create save2rollover5 "" *create save3fname "" *create save3lname "" *create save3orig_lname "" *create save3epithet "" *create save3liebreaker false *create save3openhanded false *create save3eclect false *create save3slur "" *create save3shameveined false *create save3filthborn false *create save3childkiller false *create save3alias "" *create save3crest "" *create save3wisard "Theurge" *create save3wisardry "Theurgy" *create save3wisardric "Theurgic" *create save3aristo false *create save3helot false *create save3female true *create save3male false *create save3femalepref true *create save3malepref false *create save3acepref false *create save3aropref false *create save3kuria "kuria" *create save3milady "milady" *create save3he "she" *create save3him "her" *create save3his "her" *create save3hers "hers" *create save3woman "woman" *create save3girl "girl" *create save3sister "sister" *create save3daughter "daughter" *create save3ruth 50 *create save3skep 50 *create save3natl 50 *create save3ruthreal 50 *create save3skepreal 50 *create save3natlreal 50 *create save3cha 1 *create save3com 1 *create save3int 1 *create save3wealth 0 *create save3loot 0 *create save3followers 0 *create save3kids 0 *create save3dead 0 *create save3kidsdead 0 *create save3nonkids 0 *create save3sa_foll 0 *create save3sc_foll 0 *create save3needfood 0 *create save3foodstore 10 *create save3mules 0 *create save3sickmules 0 *create save3freemules 0 *create save3arms 0 *create save3blood 0 *create save3usedblood 0 *create save3theurgy 0 *create save3theu_spread 0 *create save3theuknown 0 *create save3religion 0 *create save3literate 0 *create save3moot "moot" *create save3a_moot "a moot" *create save3democ 0 *create save3oath "Xthonos" *create save3sweetoath "bleeding Angels" *create save3limb 0 *create save3addressc "" *create save3addressm "brother" *create save3addressf "sister" *create save3addressu "" *create save3sacrament 0 *create save3morale 20 *create save3cred_a 200 *create save3cred_h 200 *create save3cred_p 200 *create save3cred_m 200 *create save3cred_y 200 *create save3anarchy 0 *create save3violence 0 *create save3weapon "staff" *create save3intro_bad 0 *create save3introhlt false *create save3introrel false *create save3intronat false *create save3breden 1 *create save3bred_here true *create save3simz_here false *create save3kal_here false *create save3el_here true *create save3zv_here true *create save3rad_here true *create save3bred_lover 0 *create save3bred_heart 0 *create save3bred_trust 1 *create save3bred_lead 1 *create save3bred_yell 0 *create save3bfname "" *create save3insincere 0 *create save3arrog 0 *create save3hypocrite 0 *create save3radmar 1 *create save3rad_lead 0 *create save3r_rel 10 *create save3elery 1 *create save3e_rel 10 *create save3el_lead 0 *create save3elezvad 1 *create save3yebben 1 *create save3pin 1 *create save3alless 1 *create save3joana 1 *create save3poric 1 *create save3hawarden 0 *create save3calea 0 *create save3hector 0 *create save3hec_cred 0 *create save3xhe "she" *create save3xhis "her" *create save3xhim "her" *create save3xhers "hers" *create save3xkuria "kuria" *create save3xmilady "milady" *create save3xgirl "girl" *create save3xsister "sister" *create save3gandhi 0 *create save3rescuer 0 *create save3deputy "Zvad" *create save3dephis "his" *create save3dephe "he" *create save3notoriety 0 *create save3lingo "koine" *create save3zvad 0 *create save3zv_lead 1 *create save3nothief 0 *create save3week 0 *create save3temple 0 *create save3demerre 0 *create save3diakon 0 *create save3ismene 0 *create save3sarinatou 0 *create save3taxloot 0 *create save3alaine 0 *create save3sybla 0 *create save3traps 0 *create save3protection 0 *create save3rad_mutiny false *create save3winterfail 0 *create save3sigil "" *create save3szth 0 *create save3whend "Whend" *create save3whendery "Whendery" *create save3erretsin "Erretsin" *create save3errets "Errets" *create save3nere "Nere" *create save3nereal "Nereal" *create save3ciels 0 *create save3c_rel 10 *create save3bleys 0 *create save3bleysfam 0 *create save3nohunt false *create save3horion 0 *create save3hor_rel 20 *create save3horthe 0 *create save3hor_guard "none" *create save3delelle "de Lelle" *create save3zhe "he" *create save3zhis "his" *create save3zhim "him" *create save3zkuria "kurios" *create save3zmilady "milord" *create save3zhers "his" *create save3zgirl "boy" *create save3zsister "brother" *create save3kalt "x" *create save3k_rel 0 *create save3kaltale false *create save3simztale false *create save3simon "x" *create save3s_rel 0 *create save3s_sword 1 *create save3simzpref false *create save3s_lover 0 *create save3kalpref false *create save3campsite 0 *create save3plekspear false *create save3korszata 0 *create save3uthwen 0 *create save3etthena 0 *create save3bethune 0 *create save3simz_lead 0 *create save3kal_lead 0 *create save3helcamp 0 *create save3dadfeel 0 *create save3tagmasword false *create save3wonfight 0 *create save3cerlota 0 *create save3bandlead "" *create save3sworddonor 0 *create save3blooddonor 0 *create save3gamgee "" *create save3rollover1 0 *create save3rollover2 0 *create save3rollover3 0 *create save3rollover4 true *create save3rollover5 "" *create PlaytestOptions false *achievement theurge visible 10 Self-Taught Theurge Begin to practice the arcane arts. Began to practice the art of Theurgy. *achievement clemency visible 10 Clemency Persuade a vengeful mob to spare their tormentors. Persuaded the helots to spare the Hegemonic authorities. *achievement laworder visible 10 Law and Order Successfully insist on giving enemy captives a trial. Presided over a trial of the captured Theurge, Ecclesiast, and Alastors. *achievement rescued visible 10 Jailbreak Escape from the dungeons of House Keriatou. Rescued from the dungeons of House Keriatou. *achievement smuggler visible 10 Cross-Border Trader Smuggle precious goods into Whendery. Smuggled notteco dye into Whendery. *achievement caravan visible 10 Caravan Raider Lead a successful raid on a trade caravan. Raided an Owlscap trade caravan. *achievement sacrilege visible 15 Thieves in the Temple Lead a successful raid on a temple of Xthonos. Raided a temple of Xthonos. *achievement market visible 15 Market Day Lead a successful raid on a market town. Raided a market town. *achievement demerre visible 15 House Invasion Lead a successful raid on a noble estate. Raided the de Merre estate. *achievement alastor visible 15 Alastors' Bane Lead a successful raid on an Alastor garrison. Raided an Alastor garrison. *achievement taxman visible 15 Nothing Is Certain Lead a successful raid on the winter tax procession. Raided the winter tax procession. *achievement sarinatou visible 20 The Discreet Woodwright Trick a pair of nobles into revealing a vital secret. Tricked the Sarinatou into revealing the Architelone's timing. *achievement horse visible 15 The Highwayman Ride away from Rim Square on an Alastor captain's stallion. Rode away from Rim Square on an Alastor captain's stallion. *achievement protect visible 25 Shame If Anything Happened Convince merchants to pay you for protection. Convinced the Syntechnia to pay you for protection. *achievement namesake visible 10 Namesake Have a child named for you. Had a child named for you. *achievement inharrow visible 15 The Maw See the inside of a Harrower. Crawled into the guts of a Harrower. *achievement wintercas visible 35 Lost Not A One Bring your band through the winter with no deaths. Brought the band through the winter with no deaths. *achievement robinhood visible 10 Robbed From the Rich Become the hero of a folk ballad. Became the hero of a folk ballad. *achievement dance visible 10 My Love O' The Greenwood Celebrate the coming of spring with a dance. Shared a dance with Breden. *achievement diakon visible 15 Sacrament Convince a Diakon to offer sacrament to your followers. Convinced a Diakon to offer sacrament to your followers. *achievement sybla visible 10 The Pointy End Train your outlaws in their captured weapons. Had Sybla train your outlaws. *achievement kalt visible 10 The Wolf in the Walls Attract a helot firebrand to your rebellion. Attracted a helot firebrand to your rebellion. *achievement simon visible 15 Noble Volunteer Welcome a young aristocrat to join your rebellion. Welcomed young de Firiac to join the rebellion. *achievement kidnap visible 20 Their Weight in Gold Kidnap a noble hostage. Kidnapped a noble hostage. *achievement whyszeric1 visible 15 Szeric? Truly? Cajole a traveler into sharing his secret. Coaxed Horion into sharing the reason for his journey. *achievement whyszeric2 visible 15 Your Mission Or Your Life Terrify a traveler into sharing his secret. Frightened Horion into sharing the reason for his journey. *achievement philosopher visible 15 Law or Nature Impress a noble with your grasp of philosophy. Impressed Horion with your grasp of philosophy. *achievement doorway visible 20 The Archimandrite's Riddle Guess the most dangerous doorway to Xaos. Guessed the most dangerous doorway to Xaos. *achievement eclect visible 25 Eclect Convince your followers that you are the Chosen of the Angels. Convinced your followers that you are the Chosen of the Angels. *achievement innervoice visible 25 The Inner Voice Convince your followers that they can hear the Angels. Convinced your followers that they can hear the Angels. *achievement kenosis visible 30 Kenosis Convince your followers to embrace skepticism. Convinced your followers to embrace skepticism. *achievement telos visible 20 Maker of Change Begin to understand the underlying principles of Theurgy. You think you have identified an underlying principle of Theurgy. *achievement healer visible 25 Healer Use your arcane power to save a life. Discovered how to use your arcane power to heal wounds. *achievement lovenote visible 10 Trysting Summon a young noble you love to a secret rendezvous. Summoned Hector Keriatou to a secret rendezvous. *achievement survivepoison visible 20 What Doesn't Kill You Survive being poisoned. Survived cousin Calea's poison ring. *achievement betrayal visible 20 Betrayal Betray one family member to another. Betrayed one cousin to the other. *achievement wedding visible 15 'Til Death Us Do Part Get married. You married Breden. *achievement supply visible 15 Cut the Line Cut off supplies to the Archon's army. Cut off supplies to the Archon's army. *achievement martyrmaker visible 30 Martyr-maker Inspire an outlaw to successful self-sacrifice. Brought down the Theurges by a suicide mission. *achievement captiverescue visible 25 Rescue Mission Rescue captives of the Archon's army. Rescued your followers from the Archon's camp. *achievement tothecamps visible 30 Missionaries of Revolt Send as many of your band as possible back to the Rim. Sent as many rebels as possible to infiltrate camps. *achievement evaded visible 25 Ghosts in the Woods Evade the army the Archon sends to deal with you. Successfully evaded the Archon's army. *achievement nonviolent visible 45 Non-Violent Resistance Refuse to inflict or command violence against your enemies. You have begun your rebellion without inflicting or demanding violence. *achievement winfight visible 45 Stand and Fight Defeat the army the Archon sends to deal with you. You actually managed to stand, fight, and survive. *achievement accountmade hidden 20 Make An Accounting Hidden You used a Kryptast code to escape from near-certain death. *achievement survivor hidden 10 Rescuer Hidden A victim of Hegemonic persecution survived because of your childhood choices. *achievement bleys hidden 30 Our Telone Hidden Brought a Telone to join your band. *achievement xaosland hidden 15 Young and Daft Hidden Heard Horion's tale of the Xaos-lands. *achievement abelard hidden 25 That Mysterious Masked Man Hidden You have a pretty good idea who your rescuer was. *achievement simzlie hidden 20 I Cannot Tell A Lie Hidden Caught de Firiac dissembling about the strangers. *achievement carles hidden 25 The Old Songs Hidden The jongler you saved as a child returns to encourage your band. *achievement theurgebane hidden 30 Theurge-Bane Hidden Wiped out all the enemy Theurges in one blow. *achievement intoxaos hidden 10 Into Xaos Hidden Entered the Xaos-lands. *set hypocrite -1 *set cha -1 *set com -1 *set int -1 *if choice_is_omnibus_app *comment skip description *goto purchased *check_purchase adfree *if choice_purchase_supported and not(choice_purchased_adfree) Lead the revolt against a bloodthirsty empire! You grew up under the iron fist of the Hegemony. Now is your chance to end their blood-fueled magic, as you forge a ragtag outlaw band into a rebel army. [i]Choice of Rebels: Uprising[/i] is a 637,000 word interactive fantasy novel by Joel Havenstone, where your choices control the story. It's entirely text-based—without graphics or sound effects—and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination. As an outlaw rebel in the wilderness, you must steal to survive your first brutal winter, or watch your people starve if you can't feed them. Win yeomen, helots, merchants, priests, and aristocrats over to the rebel cause...or turn them into your worst enemies. Will you defeat the army of the Hegemony’s Archon and the elite force of evil blood mages sent to destroy you, or will a personal betrayal put an end to your rebellion when it’s just barely begun? • Play as male or female, gay, straight, bi, or ace[n/] • Fight as a renegade aristocrat or defiant slave[n/] • Lead your outlaw band as a self-taught mage, a general, or a mystic priest [n/] • Reform the empire’s religion or start your own[n/] • Master the arcane magic of Theurgy and demolish the blood harvesters of the Hegemony[n/] • Find romance amongst your fellow young rebels[n/] • Root out spies and betrayers, and fend off a mutiny[n/] • Survive attacks from assassins, mages, and the mutant Plektoi hounds Will you gain a reputation as a compassionate idealist or ruthless insurgent? Can your rebels survive the winter and a vengeful army? How much will you sacrifice to rebel and save your homeland from an oppressive empire? *if choice_prerelease [i]You can play the first chapter of the game for free today. The rest of the game will be available on ${choice_release_date}.[/i] *choice #Sign up to be notified when the game is available. *subscribe {"now": true} *restart #Play the first chapter now for free. *goto purchased [i]You can play the first chapter of the game for free. Purchase the rest of the game below.[/i] *if choice_is_advertising_supported [i]Purchasing the rest of the game will also turn off in-game advertisements.[/i] *purchase_discount adfree 2017-11-16 $6.99 $4.99 purchased *page_break Play Now for Free *label purchased *comment PlaytestOptions shouldn't be enabled in the final game, only in the draft. *if choice_randomtest *set PlaytestOptions false *check_achievements *if (choice_achieved_intoxaos) *goto prolog *text_image authors_note.png center Author's Note Some readers of fantasy love to be dropped straight into unfamiliar settings and figure out what's going on from the map and clues in the context. They're explorers who relish the feeling of finding their way around an alien world—or maybe just the kind of people who enjoy tackling a jigsaw puzzle without looking at the picture. Others find a flood of unexplained or half-explained terms distracting and annoying. They prefer to start with a roadmap, glossary, and nutshell history, so they can then concentrate on the story. Which kind of reader are you? *choice #On with the story! Enjoy! If you find yourself wanting any explanations as you read, the "Show Stats" button will take you to the World Index, which includes background information and an alphabetical glossary of unfamiliar words. The Stats page also includes a link to Content Warnings. *page_break Choice of Rebels: Uprising *goto prolog #A little background first, if you please. The discovery four centuries ago of [b]Theurgy[/b]—magic fueled by other people's blood—allowed the small nation of Karagon to conquer its neighboring realms and unite them under a Karagond Hegemony. The [b]Thaumatarch[/b], mightiest of the Theurges, now holds unchecked authority over a vast domain. His mages systematically harvest the blood of [b]helots[/b], the Hegemony's lowest caste, using extraction machines called Harrowers. Through a secret process, they then refine it into "aetherial" blood, which can be used for Theurgy. Much of it goes to fuel the nine Great Border [b]Wards[/b] that seal off the Karagond Hegemony from its external enemies. Like all four provinces of the Hegemony, your home of [b]Shayard[/b] is governed by an [b]Archon[/b] chosen by the Thaumatarch. Archon Phrygia Leilatou comes from a particularly favored Shayardene noble family, which has stayed on top for more than two decades. The provincial nobility is kept in check by institutions of the Hegemony, such as the [b]Ecclesiasts[/b] (priests who judge wrongdoers and preach submission to authority), the [b]Alastors[/b] (armed and brutal law enforcement squads), and the [b]Kryptasts[/b] (an order of Hegemonic assassin-spies who infiltrate suspected hives of sedition.) The Hegemony's religion centers on the Karagond [b]Canon[/b], which spells out in great detail how people should behave. It was revealed by the Merciful [b]Angels[/b], who emanate from [b]Xthonos[/b], source of all order and purpose. [b]Xaos[/b], the Enemy of Xthonos, tries endlessly to consume Xthonos's orderly realm but cannot ultimately prevail. Anyone who speaks against the Hegemony or the Theurges is accused of serving Xaos—as you inevitably will be. [i]For more detail, click the "Show Stats" button above and choose "World Index." It provides background information about the world, as well as an alphabetical glossary of unfamiliar words.[/i] [i]Don't worry about remembering everything you read there; the World Index is available throughout the story.[/i] [i]The Stats page also includes a link to Content Warnings.[/i] *page_break Choice of Rebels: Uprising *goto prolog *if (PlaytestOptions) #[Playtest Chapter Two.] *label playtest2 To recap the story so far, then: Are you female or male, ace or non-ace? *choice #Female, ace. *set acepref true *set femalepref false *goto 2nextcut #Male, ace. *set acepref true *set femalepref false *gosub maleset *goto 2nextcut #Female, non-ace. *goto 2nextcut #Male, non-ace. *gosub maleset *goto 2nextcut *label 2nextcut Noble or helot? And if noble, what's your family crest? *choice #Helot. *set helot true *set kuria "Captain" *set milady "Captain" *set cred_a -100 *goto 2nextcut1 #Noble, and a heron. *set aristo true *set weapon "sword" *set cred_h -50 *set crest "heron" *goto 2nextcut1 #Noble, and a stag. *set aristo true *set weapon "sword" *set cred_h -50 *set crest "stag" *goto 2nextcut1 *label 2nextcut1 What are your key area of strength and weakness? *choice #Combat strong, Intellect weak. *set com 2 *set cha 1 *set int 0 *goto 2nextcut2 #Combat strong, Charisma weak. *set com 2 *set int 1 *set cha 0 *goto 2nextcut2 #Intellect strong, Combat weak. *set int 2 *set cha 1 *set com 0 *goto 2nextcut2 #Intellect strong, Charisma weak. *set int 2 *set com 1 *set cha 0 *goto 2nextcut2 #Charisma strong, Intellect weak. *set cha 2 *set com 1 *set int 0 *goto 2nextcut2 #Charisma strong, Combat weak. *set cha 2 *set int 1 *set com 0 *goto 2nextcut2 *label 2nextcut2 *if (int > 1) Did you experiment with Theurgy? *choice #No. *set theurgy 0 *goto somenextcut #Yes, but only once in the woods. *set theurgy 1 *goto somenextcut #Yes, and I used it to levitate Chirex. *set rollover1 1 *set theurgy 4.3 *set theuknown 10 *goto somenextcut #Yes, and I used it to disarm the Alastors. *set rollover1 1 *set theurgy 4.2 *set theuknown 10 *goto somenextcut *label somenextcut You would consider yourself… *choice #Very compassionate. *set ruthreal 25 *goto 2nextcut3 #Very ruthless. *set ruthreal 75 *goto 2nextcut3 #Very devout. *set skepreal 25 *goto 2nextcut3 #Very skeptical. *set skepreal 75 *goto 2nextcut3 #Very nationalist. *set natlreal 75 *goto 2nextcut3 #Very cosmopolitan. *set natlreal 25 *set whend "Wiend" *set whendery "Wiendrj" *set erretsin "Erezziano" *set errets "Erezza" *set nere "Nyr" *set nereal "Nyryal" *goto 2nextcut3 *label 2nextcut3 While you're also… *choice *if (ruthreal = 50) #Reasonably compassionate. *set ruthreal 40 *set introhlt true *goto 2nextcut4 *if (ruthreal = 50) #Reasonably ruthless. *set ruthreal 60 *set introhlt true *goto 2nextcut4 *if (skepreal = 50) #Reasonably devout. *set skepreal 40 *set introrel true *goto 2nextcut4 *if (skepreal = 50) #Reasonably skeptical. *set skepreal 60 *set introrel true *goto 2nextcut4 *if (natlreal = 50) #Reasonably nationalist. *set natlreal 60 *set intronat true *set intro_bad 1 *goto 2nextcut4 *if (natlreal = 50) #Reasonably cosmopolitan. *set natlreal 40 *set intronat true *set intro_bad 1 *goto 2nextcut4 *label 2nextcut4 And your name is: *choice *if helot and male #Starn Oakfell. *set fname "Starn" *set lname "Oakfell" *goto 2nextcut5 *if helot and female #Callen Oakfell. *set fname "Callen" *set lname "Oakfell" *goto 2nextcut5 *if aristo #Peryn Katenatou. *set fname "Peryn" *set lname "Katenatou" *goto 2nextcut5 #I'll enter it myself. Your first name is: *input_text fname And your family name is: *input_text lname *goto 2nextcut5 *label 2nextcut5 *set orig_lname lname Your rebellion began in your hometown of Rim Square, thanks in significant part to Breden, a young helot… *choice #…man. *set xhe "he" *set xhis "his" *set xhim "him" *set xhers "his" *set xkuria "kurios" *set xmilady "milord" *set xgirl "boy" *set xsister "brother" *if not(acepref) *set femalepref false *set malepref true *set zhe "she" *set zhis "her" *set zhim "her" *set zkuria "kuria" *set zmilady "milady" *set zgirl "girl" *set zhers "hers" *set zsister "sister" *goto 2nextcut6 #…woman. *goto 2nextcut6 *label 2nextcut6 Breden and I… *choice #…get along just fine. *set bred_trust 1 *goto 2nextcut7 #…get along just fine. But ${xhe} knows I suspect ${xhim} of being a traitor. *if aristo *set breden 2 *set bred_trust 10 *goto 2nextcut7 *if not(acepref) #…are lovers. *set bred_lover 4 *goto 2nextcut7 *if not(acepref) #…were lovers, until I told ${xhim} I suspected ${xhim} of being a traitor. *set bred_lover 4 *set bred_trust 10 *goto 2nextcut7 *if (acepref) #…have a romantic relationship. *set bred_heart 3 *goto 2nextcut7 *if (acepref) #…had a romantic relationship, until I told ${xhim} I suspected ${xhim} of being a traitor. *set bred_heart 3 *set bred_trust 10 *goto 2nextcut7 *if (aristo) #…loathe each other. *set breden 3 *set arrog 1 *set bred_heart 10 *set bred_trust 10 *goto 2nextcut7 #…have no relationship, since I refused to let ${xhim} join the band. *set breden 10 *set bred_heart 10 *set bred_trust 10 *set bred_here false *goto 2nextcut7 *label 2nextcut7 Your rebellion began on the day you challenged Theurge Chirex in Rim Square… *choice #…and saved the lives of the helots who had been meeting with Breden. *set followers 292 *goto 2nextcut8 #…and lost Elery, Pin, and the others, but still managed to rally the helots against Chirex. *set followers 279 *set el_here false *set elery 0 *set pin 0 *set yebben 0 *set alless 0 *goto 2nextcut8 #…and had to be rescued myself, by a mysterious masked noble, from the dungeons of House Keriatou. *set rescuer 1 *set elery 0 *set el_here false *set pin 0 *set yebben 0 *set alless 0 *set morale -20 *goto_scene savescene *label 2nextcut8 After defeating Chirex, you… *choice #Made a brutal example of the authorities and looted the town. *set anarchy +10 *set cred_a -20 *set cred_p -10 *set cred_m -10 *set ruth %+20 *set ruthreal %+20 *set cred_a -20 *set cred_m -20 *set anarchy +10 *set followers -25 *set dead +25 *set wealth +657 *if (int > 1) And did you pocket the Theurge's three blood phials? *choice #Yes. *set blood +3 *goto_scene savescene #No. *goto_scene savescene *goto_scene savescene *selectable_if (helot or (cha > 0)) #Gave the Alastors a fair trial and didn't loot the town. *set cred_a -5 *set anarchy +3 *set weapon "staff" *if (int > 1) And did you pocket the Theurge's four blood phials? *choice #Yes. *set blood +4 *goto_scene savescene #No. *goto_scene savescene *goto_scene savescene #Tried to preserve good order, but lost control of the band, who looted the town. *set anarchy +7 *set rollover4 true *set followers -25 *set dead +25 *set wealth +657 *if (int > 1) And did you pocket the Theurge's three blood phials? *choice #Yes. *set blood +3 *goto_scene savescene #No. *goto_scene savescene *goto_scene savescene *selectable_if (cha > 1) #Spared the lives of the captured authorities and left peaceably. *set ruth %-20 *set ruthreal %-20 *set cred_a +10 *set cred_p +10 *set cred_m +5 *set gandhi 2 *set weapon "staff" *goto_scene savescene *if (PlaytestOptions) #[Skip to the beginning of Chapter Three.] *label playtest3 *set zvad 1 To recap the story so far, then: are you female or male? *choice #Female, ace. *set acepref true *goto nextcut #Male, ace. *set acepref true *gosub maleset *goto nextcut #Female, non-ace. *goto nextcut #Male, non-ace. *gosub maleset *goto nextcut *label nextcut Noble or helot? And if noble, what do your followers call you? *choice #Helot. *set helot true *set kuria "Captain" *set milady "Captain" *set cred_a -100 *goto nextcut1 #Noble, and they call me ${kuria}. *set aristo true *set weapon "sword" *set cred_h -50 *goto nextcut1 #Noble, and they call me Captain. *set aristo true *set kuria "Captain" *set weapon "sword" *set cred_h -50 *goto nextcut1 *label nextcut1 What are your key area of strength and weakness? *choice #Combat strong, Intellect weak. *set com 2 *set cha 1 *set int 0 *goto nextcut2 #Combat strong, Charisma weak. *set com 2 *set int 1 *set cha 0 *goto nextcut2 #Intellect strong, Combat weak. *set int 2 *set cha 1 *set com 0 *goto nextcut2 #Intellect strong, Charisma weak. *set int 2 *set com 1 *set cha 0 *goto nextcut2 #Charisma strong, Intellect weak. *set cha 2 *set com 1 *set int 0 *goto nextcut2 #Charisma strong, Combat weak. *set cha 2 *set int 1 *set com 0 *goto nextcut2 *label nextcut2 *if (int > 1) and (theurgy = 0) Are you a practicing Theurge? *choice #Yes. *set theurgy 4 *goto nextcut2 #Yes, but I prefer the label Goete. *set theurgy 4 *set wisardry "Goety" *set wisard "Goete" *goto nextcut2 #Yes, but I prefer the label Wisard. *set theurgy 4 *set wisardry "Wisardry" *set wisard "Wisard" *goto nextcut2 #No, the whole "blood magic" thing is just too grimdark. After that first experiment, I've attempted nothing more. *set theurgy 1 *goto nextcut2 You would consider yourself… *choice #Very compassionate. *set ruthreal 25 *goto nextcut3 #Very ruthless. *set ruthreal 75 *goto nextcut3 #Very devout. *set skepreal 25 *goto nextcut3 #Very skeptical. *set skepreal 75 *goto nextcut3 #Very nationalist. *set natlreal 75 *goto nextcut3 #Very cosmopolitan. *set natlreal 25 *set whend "Wiend" *set whendery "Wiendrj" *set erretsin "Erezziano" *set errets "Erezza" *set nere "Nyr" *set nereal "Nyryal" *goto nextcut3 *label nextcut3 While you're also… *choice *if (ruthreal = 50) #Reasonably compassionate. *set ruthreal 40 *set introhlt true *goto nextcut4 *if (ruthreal = 50) #Reasonably ruthless. *set ruthreal 60 *set introhlt true *goto nextcut4 *if (skepreal = 50) #Reasonably devout. *set skepreal 40 *set introrel true *goto nextcut4 *if (skepreal = 50) #Reasonably skeptical. *set skepreal 60 *set introrel true *goto nextcut4 *if (natlreal = 50) #Reasonably nationalist. *set natlreal 60 *set intronat true *set intro_bad 1 *goto nextcut4 *if (natlreal = 50) #Reasonably cosmopolitan. *set natlreal 40 *set intronat true *set intro_bad 1 *goto nextcut4 *label nextcut4 And your name is: *choice *if helot and male #Starn Oakfell. *set fname "Starn" *set lname "Oakfell" *goto nextcut5 *if helot and female #Callen Oakfell. *set fname "Callen" *set lname "Oakfell" *goto nextcut5 *if aristo #Peryn Katenatou. *set fname "Peryn" *set lname "Katenatou" *goto nextcut5 #I'll enter it myself. Your first name is: *input_text fname And your family name is: *input_text lname *goto nextcut5 *label nextcut5 *set orig_lname lname Your rebellion began in your hometown of Rim Square, thanks in significant part to Breden, a young helot… *choice #…man. *set xhe "he" *set xhis "his" *set xhim "him" *set xhers "his" *set xkuria "kurios" *set xmilady "milord" *set xgirl "boy" *set xsister "brother" *if not(acepref) *set femalepref false *set malepref true *set zhe "she" *set zhis "her" *set zhim "her" *set zkuria "kuria" *set zmilady "milady" *set zgirl "girl" *set zhers "hers" *set zsister "sister" *goto nextcut6 #…woman. *goto nextcut6 *label nextcut6 Breden and I… *choice #…get along just fine. *if aristo *set breden 2 *set bred_trust 1 *goto nextcut7 #…get along just fine. But ${xhe} knows I suspect ${xhim} of being a traitor. *if aristo *set breden 2 *set bred_trust 10 *goto nextcut7 *if not(acepref) #…are lovers. *set bred_lover 4 *set bred_trust 2 *goto nextcut7 *if (acepref) #…have a romantic relationship. *set bred_heart 3 *goto nextcut7 *if (aristo) #…can't stand each other. *set breden 3 *set arrog 1 *set bred_heart 10 *set bred_trust 10 *goto nextcut7 #…have no relationship, since I refused to let ${xhim} join the band. *set breden 10 *set bred_heart 10 *set bred_trust 10 *goto nextcut7 *label nextcut7 *if helot (As an aside—were you influenced by the jongler Carles as a ${girl}? And if so, did you manage to create enough commotion in the wineroom that he was able to escape?) *choice #No. *goto nextcut8 #Yes. *set intronat true *set introrel false *set introhlt false *set intro_bad 0 *goto nextcut8 #I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm going to say yes because it sounds like there's an achievement in it. *set intronat true *set introrel false *set introhlt false *set intro_bad 0 How very perceptive of you. *goto nextcut8 *label nextcut8 Your rebellion began on the day you challenged Theurge Chirex in Rim Square… *choice #…and saved the lives of the helots who had been meeting with Breden. *set followers 235 *set morale 210 *goto nextcut9 #…and lost Elery, Pin, and the others, but still managed to rally the helots against Chirex. *set followers 220 *set elery 0 *set el_here false *set pin 0 *set yebben 0 *set alless 0 *goto nextcut9 #…and had to be rescued myself, by a mysterious masked noble from the dungeons of House Keriatou. *set rescuer 1 *set elery 0 *set el_here false *set pin 0 *set yebben 0 *set alless 0 *set followers 50 *goto nextcut9 *label nextcut9 *if helot or (bred_lover > 3) *set bfname fname *if aristo and (bred_lover < 4) *set bfname (kuria&" ")&fname Over your first winter as an outlaw, you… *set arms +16 *label banditrecap *hide_reuse *choice #Started smuggling over the Whendward Pass with Alaine Leybridge. *set alaine 2 And you also… *goto banditrecap #Slaughtered the nobles of House de Merre in their home by night. *set demerre 5 And you also… *goto banditrecap #Convinced Bleys the Telone and his family to join my band. We're on reasonably good terms now. *set bleys 12 And you also… *goto banditrecap #Paid a Diakon to carry out a Sacrament of Compassion. *set diakon 3 And you also… *goto banditrecap #Did lots of interesting things, but apparently none of the rest of it matters? Oh, lots of it matters, but we're rushing to get to Chapter Three. *goto nextcut10 *label nextcut10 Toward the end of the winter, you drew to your band *if demerre = 5 *set k_rel 1 *set anarchy 22 *set kal_here true a ferocious young helot named *if zhe = "he" Kalt Swineherd. *set kalt "Kalt" *if zhe = "she" Kala Swineherd. *set kalt "Kala" *label infatu When ${zhe} arrived, ${zhe} was clearly infatuated with me… *choice #But I'm not attracted to people of ${zhis} sex. Which brings us (at last) to the opening of Chapter Three… *page_break *goto_scene strangers #But I wasn't about to rush into anything. *if kalt != "" *set kalpref true *if simon != "" *set simzpref true *if zhe = "he" *set malepref true *if zhe = "she" *set femalepref true Which brings us at last to the opening of Chapter Three… *page_break *goto_scene strangers … *choice *if (zhe = "he") #A young male helot named Kalt Swineherd. *set kalt "Kalt" *set k_rel 1 *set kal_here true *goto infatu *if (zhe = "she") #A young female helot named Kala Swineherd. *set kalt "Kala" *set k_rel 1 *set kal_here true *goto infatu *if (zhe = "he") #A young male noble named Simon de Firiac. *set simon "Simon" *goto simkidwel *if (zhe = "she") #A young female noble named Suzane de Firiac. *set simon "Suzane" *goto simkidwel *label simkidwel *set simz_here true Did you kidnap ${zhim} or welcome ${zhim}? *choice #I welcomed ${simon}. *set s_rel 1 *goto infatu #I welcomed ${zhim}, but sold ${zhis} high-caliber sword to buy axes for the band. *set s_rel 1 *set s_sword 0 *goto infatu #I welcomed ${zhim}, but kept ${zhis} sword for myself. *set s_rel 1 *set s_sword 2 *goto infatu #I kidnapped ${zhim} and sold ${zhis} sword. *set s_rel 10 *set s_sword 0 *goto infatu #I kidnapped ${zhim} and kept ${zhis} sword for myself. *set s_rel 10 *set s_sword 2 *goto infatu *label prolog *temp hide false *temp distract false *temp olynna 0 *temp gellard 1 *text_image prologue.png center Prologue No one ever asks when your rebellion began. They assume the answer is obvious. They would be surprised to learn that it began eight years before any price was put on your head, before any priest damned you as a servant of Xaos, before your name was known to anyone outside the Shayard Rim. It began the first time you found yourself eye to eye with a man who intended your death. He could have killed you with relatively little consequence. All the power of the Karagond Hegemony stood behind him; you were just a provincial child. And even as a child, something in you understood. Under his unhurried, murderous stare, you grasped that in the end it would come down to yourself or the Hegemony. Not incidentally, it was also the first time you had been confronted with: *check_achievements *choice #The intensity of the Hegemony's violence to its lower castes. *set introhlt true *goto helotrunaway #The Hegemony's persecution of even the mildest of religious heresies. *set introrel true *goto heretic #The Hegemony's suppression of the folkways of other nations, including my own. *set intronat true *goto jongler *if (choice_achieved_intoxaos and PlaytestOptions) #[Skip to playtest Chapter Two.] *goto playtest2 *if (choice_achieved_intoxaos and PlaytestOptions) #[Skip to playtest Chapter Three.] *goto playtest3 *label heretic [b]The little temple of Xthonos[/b] in Rim Square pervades your earliest memories: the morning glow in the apse, the goldwood arches of the nave with their impenetrable Angels, the crisp dark lines of the temple's basalt heart. Long before you could understand any of the songs or speeches, you recall standing at your mother's knee, half-concealed in her long kyrtle, and gazing curiously upwards. The Angels frightened you the first time you understood what They were meant to be. How could something so alien represent Compassion? Each carved image was nothing but a helix covered in wings, rising to a smooth extremity whose hole evoked a gaping mouth. Though you were far too young to articulate why, just the thought of one of Them speaking Revelations brought your three-year-old self to tears. Your father hissed at you to stop wailing before someone asked the matter. Your mother calmed you down and brought you to Ecclesiast Olynna—who twinklingly confided in you that the Angels had terrified her too, once. "You'll see Their beauty in time, child. They're in no hurry." *choice #I warmed to the kindly, maternal priest and began to follow her around. *set olynna 1 *set skepreal -1 At first it was only once a week, after the Helsday services; your smiling mother would leave you sitting quietly near Ecclesiast Olynna, listening to the townsfolk's problems and questions. As the years passed and you grew less quiet, you would run happily after Olynna on her rounds of the noble estates and follow her back to the garden of her sparsely furnished quarters. She had a remarkable ability to immerse herself in a long letter or book of theology while keeping one ear on your chatter and tossing back the occasional affable response. *goto alltogethernow #She was on the same side as the scary Angels? I avoided her as much as I could. *set skepreal +1 *set olynna -1 You couldn't entirely escape your town's Ecclesiast. But you stayed silent when she was catechizing you and the other children, and to your mother's dismay, you fled the temple every Helsday as soon as the last hymn note faded. Even as the years passed and your fear of the Angels dwindled, you kept your distance from the insistently amiable priest. *goto alltogethernow #Even after losing my fear of Angels, all I felt toward Ecclesiast Olynna was detached curiosity. Though that first shock of terror soon faded, you never came to see the beauty that Olynna described—and looking at the other townsfolk in the Helsday services, you weren't sure that many others did, either. The Ecclesiast's shining face found few reflections besides your mother's; the warmth in their two voices did little to animate the flat recital of the Liturgy. Your mother was a mystery too close for grasping, so you focused on trying to understand the priest. *goto alltogethernow *label alltogethernow At some point, you *if skep = 50 also became aware that not all Ecclesiasts behaved like hiera Olynna. It was unusual for the weekly meditations at the Naos Xthonos to be open to helots as well as the nobles and free folk of the Outer Rim. Cramming the temple's outer gallery, the helotry had no line of sight to the aristocrats' balcony, but Helsday remained the only regular occasion when they and their masters came so close and shared the same purpose. Similarly, whenever Olynna came to bless aristocratic estates like the one where you grew up, she made a point of visiting both the high House and the helots who worked the lands. Most other Ecclesiasts confined their attentions to the free folk, while the lowly Diakon-priests tended to the religious instruction of the helot classes. *choice #Olynna always reserved a special blessing for me, as the sole heir of my noble family. *set aristo true *set cred_h -50 The slender, silver-haired Ecclesiast would crouch to your height, one hand on your shoulder, and gravely meet your gaze. "Angels keep you, *if olynna > 0 most beloved child, and teach you Their wisdom and compassion as you grow into your birthright." Once, when you were perhaps eight, your father caustically interjected: "Hiera Olynna…it's a humble enough birthright as it is. Too much compassion, and it'll be naught at all. Perhaps for once, you could pray down a measure of ruthlessness?" His tongue faltered as both Olynna and your mother turned mordant eyes on him, but he stumbled on regardless. "After a-all, the…the Angels have seen fit to grant it in abundance to, to the others you bless so often, Holiness. Our cousins the aristarchs, the Hegemonic Alastors, the Thaumatarch…" "I pray the same prayer for them that I do for your House, kurios," the Ecclesiast said sternly. "And to contrast compassion with strength is a most profound error." She allowed the tense silence to persist for a minute before bowing and exiting to attend your House's nine helots. *goto olynnaharrow #Olynna inquired about me and my fellow helots with what seemed like genuine concern. *set helot true *set cred_a -100 Passing down the row of helot children, the slender, silver-haired Ecclesiast *if olynna > 0 always smiled as she saw you beaming up at her. Then she would crouch to your height and recite a grave blessing: "Angels keep you, child, and grant you both compassion and courage to pursue the calling They have given you." Once, when you were perhaps eight, your father contemptuously muttered: "Or the Angels could bring us a goat for once, instead of compassion." He'd expected to pass unheard or ignored, but as a few of his plow-mates chuckled, Olynna fixed them with an unexpectedly mordant stare. "You spoke, my son?" "Well, only to say, Holiness…" Your father spluttered, taken aback that the gentle priest had called him out. "Compassion's all very well, but who do we have to be compassionate to? Our masters don't need it from us, and from them…well, in truth I'd just welcome a bit of extra meat or cloth. I don't care what they're feeling when they give it." "To mistake compassion for a mere feeling is a common but profound error, my son," the Ecclesiast said sternly. "And I could name some who are in need of more compassion from you." After a minute's tense silence, she continued down the row. *goto olynnaharrow *label olynnaharrow *page_break At every Harrowing, Ecclesiast Olynna would open the ceremony with a solemn demeanor, reading passages from the Mourning Psalter as well as the Victory Liturgy. She would walk out into the crowd to each helot whose name was called, clasping their hands to lead them up to the sacrificial platform. And before the implacable Hegemonic Theurges gave the helots to the machine, she would pray in a voice resonant with grief: "Angels give them strength for the terrible glory that awaits them. Angels honor their sacrifice and comfort their families. Angels, bless these humble warriors who by laying down their lives preserve us from Xaos!" Nor did Olynna leave it to the Merciful Angels to comfort the families. After each Harrowing, she made sure that the victims' kin received additional food, cooking gear, and clothing. Her charity was particularly visible when the winter rains were approaching, with carpenters hired to bring the survivors' shacks to a state of extraordinarily good repair. The carpentry stopped just short of providing doors—helots were forbidden anything that could be barred against intruders—but the Ecclesiast saw to it that new, thick blankets were nailed up in the entryways. Of all the ways that Rim Square's priest put the tithes of the nobility to use, this kindness to the *if aristo despised helotry was the most consistent and controversial. Even as a child… *if aristo *choice #I wondered whether there weren't more appropriate ways to use that silver. *set ruthreal +1 You could overhear your father grumbling about it after most Harrowings. *label dadagree "What a pathetic waste. That tithe could truly make the difference between life and death for some of the poorer yeomanry. Instead, she throws it away to helots who are just a season or two away from being Harrowed themselves." Your mother often protested sharply at his hard-heartedness, but that would only drive him into a fury. "This is exactly the sort of 'kindness' to the helotry that will spoil them, wife. And it's bloody dangerous! It's as if she's apologizing for the Harrowing. What does she expect will happen once they begin to take that idea seriously?" *goto codexreading #It seemed natural to me that the helots should be helped in their grief. *set ruthreal -1 You knew your mother had been moved by Ecclesiast Olynna's compassion. "We owe it to the families to comfort them," she said quietly to you, the first time you attended a sacrifice. "Their deaths keep us safe; we should keep their loved ones as best we can." Years later, after the Harrowing where Joana Orchard from your estate lost her children, your ashen-faced mother added her own gifts to Olynna's. It maddened your father when he found out. "Owe it to them?" he repeated, growing shrill. "Whatever they're 'owed,' they'll get in Elysia. Reminding them of [i]that[/i] is the bloody Ecclesiast's job! Not handing out sweetmeats and weeping at Harrowings!" *goto codexreading #I thought it was scandalous. Why such softness toward the dirty little beasts? *set ruthreal +3 It was one of the few points on which you found yourself regularly agreeing with your father over your mother. He would grumble about it after most Harrowings: *goto dadagree *if helot *fake_choice #I admired the Ecclesiast for her unusual generosity. *set ruthreal -1 "The hiera is a good egg, and no mistake," your mother used to say when she heard of Olynna's post-Harrowing gifts. "All the other priests I've known, they just acted like there was nothing to mourn about. Like we should be cheering to be Harrowed." Once your father sourly asked, "So now we should be cheering, just because she's given out a few mourning gifts?" "It's a kindness," your mother shrugged, her smile sagging into its usual weariness. "And #I thought it was pretty poor consolation for death by Harrowing. *set ruthreal +1 You remember hearing your father mutter, "Since they're going to slaughter us, might as well do it honestly. Don't pretend that stopping up the drafts in our homes will make it better." "It's a kindness," your mother protested. "And #I found Hiera Olynna's petty charity unbearable—worse than if she'd done nothing at all. *set ruthreal +3 It was *if olynna > 0 an uneasy feeling toward a woman for whom you'd usually have nothing but devotion. It was also one of the few times you found yourself flatly arguing against your mother. "I just hate it," you protested after one Harrowing, struggling to find words for your anger. "They all treat us like animals. She talks like we're different, but…" "But all she does is stop up the drafts in the stables, and calm the herd after the slaughter." Father's voice held a note of satisfaction beneath the bitterness. "Don't turn your nose up at a kindness," your mother scolded you both. "Blessed Angels know there's little enough of that to go round." "We'll just see how long they let her keep it up," your father growled. "It's not an Ecclesiast's job to hand out sweetmeats and weep at Harrowings." He leaned in toward your mother, breaking into a thin, unreturned smile. "I'll wager with you, wife. Your friend the priest: you think the nobles will have her removed, or will they wait till the Hegemony gets round to it?" *goto codexreading *label codexreading *page_break The tension between the aristocracy of Rim Square and their Ecclesiast finally came to a head when you were eleven years old. The whole town was dutifully assembled in the temple for the Barningday celebration. *if aristo Drooped half-asleep in your family's bench, *if helot Weary and sore-legged from too long standing, you were jolted back to attention when Olynna interrupted herself in mid-sentence. "The lectionary for today is…" After a pause, she closed the sacred Codex. "Let us reflect further on last week's reading." A disapproving susurrus rose from all across the balcony. Your father hissed, "Too far, too far!" his expression somewhere between *if aristo rage *if helot fear and glee. Afterward, noble after noble stalked out of the Naos without saying a word to the resigned-looking Ecclesiast. The only one who stopped to address her was Lord Stilos Keriatou, *if helot your master and *if aristo your father's cousin and the aristarch of the district. *if helot It was the first time you had ever seen the noble descend by the main stair, bringing him so close to the two hundred helots he owned. *if aristo Hovering just behind him and your father in the queue, you could hear every word. "We were intrigued that you chose not to read the Kapirine lectionary, hiera." "It is an easily misunderstood text, kurios," Olynna replied evenly. "Indeed." The flinty aristocrat appeared to be trying to pin the priest to the Naos wall with his eyes alone. "It has been misunderstood most gravely, by any number of heretics." *choice #I piped up: "What does Ever-Blessed Kapirus say, hiera?" From my studies, I knew the sacred Codex included a psalm by that name. *set skepreal -1 *goto spearstraight #"How has it been misunderstood, hiera?" The heresy was more interesting to me than the text. *set skepreal +1 *label spearstraight At your interruption, Lord Keriatou's spine went spear-straight and his lips disappeared into a barely visible line. Before either he or your appalled-looking father could do anything, however, Ecclesiast Olynna strode to your side. "For a child to seek instruction in such matters is a holy duty, kurios." A trace of a smile crossed her cheeks. *if olynna < 0 You leaned slightly away from her, still uncomfortable in her presence but keen for an answer. "To know one's place is a holy duty, hiera," the aristarch countered frostily, never turning his eyes to you. "One which lamentably eludes the *if aristo youth *if helot helots in your charge." "The Psalm of Kapirus is well known as a hymn to Compassion, child. The closing passage touches on its limits: how we might be led astray by our compassion for animals, criminals, enemies, and such." Olynna *if olynna > 0 ruffled your hair and cast a weary gaze back to the aristarch. "It can also be misread to suggest that those who serve, and in particular helots, are not proper objects of compassion." "That is, indeed, a dismayingly natural reading of the passage." Kurios Stilos' shrug was deceptively mild. "Some have felt that Kapirus simply reads better without its final stanza. Indeed, some have suggested that the stanza was a falsehood added to the original Revelation." *choice #"But that would be heresy!" I exclaimed proudly. I knew that much. Everyone knew that one of the worst heresies was to suggest that the Codex had been rewritten or changed. The aristarch's face darkened—and to your surprise, so did Ecclesiast Olynna's. *if olynna > 0 You had expected her to praise your attentiveness, as she so often had in her garden. "It would indeed," she said softly. "Which is why, my lord, you will not hear it from me." *label staredirect Lord Keriatou was staring directly at you now, face knitted into an imperious scowl. "Sweet Angels, will no one control this child?" he barked. *if helot "To whom does…" "Pleading your mercy, kurios," your father whispered thickly, *if olynna > 0 snatching you away from Olynna and *if aristo Your father, wilting under his cousin's glare, *if olynna > 0 snatched you away from Olynna and out *if olynna <= 0 half-carried you out of the Naos and onto the street. *goto dadgrab *if (aristo) #"We [i]should[/i] have compassion for helots, hiera?" *goto ofcoursech *if (helot) #"Does the Codex speak of compassion for helots, hiera?" It was a dangerous question, but I couldn't resist. *label ofcoursech "Of course, child," Olynna said firmly, speaking past you to the gallery of standing helots. "On page after page, we learn of our duty to show compassion to every human. And there is nothing in Codex or Canon which supports the exclusion of the helotry from humanity. *if aristo Their *if helot Your vocation is a distinct and a difficult one…but one which calls for greater compassion, not lesser." *goto staredirect #I didn't dare to interrupt again. Olynna sighed. "A heresy, kurios, which you will not hear from me." "Will we hear you refute it?" the aristarch demanded. "Silence on such matters is scarcely less heretical." As the priest was beginning a rejoinder, your father's hands closed roughly on your shoulders. "You have been too kind, Holiness, to so indulge a pert child," *if helot he muttered, *if aristo he snarled, bowing swiftly both to her and to his cousin. Lord Keriatou nodded coldly, never looking at you, and your father hauled you out of the Naos. *label dadgrab *if helot manhandling you out of the Naos. He didn't stop until you were halfway back to your home, at which point he gave you two mighty cuffs to the head. "What are you thinking, damn it? If he finds out you're one of his, what do you think he'll do?" "I don't… he didn't…" Your skull was ringing as you successfully fought back tears. "Skin us both, that's what!" your father bellowed, clenching your shoulder in one hand while he looked around for a stick. "Xthonos damn it, we *if aristo "Xthonos' Eyes, child, what are you thinking?" His voice grew shriller with every word. "I just wanted to understand," you protested. "You don't need to understand! Damn it all, what does it matter?" When you arrived home, he hurled you to the floor and slammed the massive door behind you. "We just lost your mother. I won't l…won't let you get us killed by your foolishness!" *goto helsdayschool #I kept silent. *set intro_bad 1 "You're quite correct, aristarch," Ecclesiast Olynna retorted, her own eyes narrowing. "The text has been used to argue that servants—and in particular helots—are not proper objects of compassion. And that is indeed a most grave heresy, not in keeping with the Revelation of the Angels." Lord Keriatou's face darkened in shock. "I am much in your debt, Holiness, for educating me on this matter." Choked at first, his voice gradually regained its smooth bite. "I had not been aware that there had been recent revisions to the Index of Prohibited Beliefs. I really must send to Aekos and request a new copy…before any more of the laity are led into error." Olynna glowered back at him for a moment before saying tartly, "You misunderstand me, kurios. Few heresies are of sufficient magnitude to attain to the Index. But to read the Kapirus passage thus would fly in the face of other Canonical writings, which…" Keriatou interrupted with a brusque, cursory bow. "We are speaking of a 'most grave heresy,' Holiness. The hierarchy will surely wish to be made aware of the extent to which this…misunderstanding has seized the minds of the nobility." He strode out of the temple, then glanced back. "And while your concern for your flock's dignity might prevent you from using so harsh a word as 'heresy' to your superiors, rest assured, I shall confess my own error to the Archimandrite most fully and frankly." *page_break *if olynna > 0 Dismay churned in your gut; you only half-understood what was going on, but you knew that it was not good for your beloved Ecclesiast. Then your father's hand gripped your elbow, steering you away from the conversation. *if olynna > 0 *comment endif "Keep walking," he hissed, and when you were a safe distance from the Naos, he gave you a cuff behind your ear. "That's for eavesdropping. *if helot They catch you listening, they'll skin you. Just like they're going to skin *if olynna > 0 your precious *if olynna <= 0 that Ecclesiast." *if aristo They'll be seeking more heretics to hang alongside *if olynna > 0 your precious *if olynna <= 0 the Ecclesiast. Mustn't give them any reason to choose you." There was an ashen satisfaction in his voice; he had finally won his argument with your mother, six months too late. "What's going to happen to hiera Olynna?" you asked hoarsely. *if olynna > 0 You had visited the temple almost daily in the weeks after your mother's death. The thought of losing the priest's consoling presence was unbearable. *if olynna <= 0 Though you'd never been close to the affable priest, your mother had been; and you felt a surprising shock of pain at the prospect of losing Olynna's memories of their friendship. *if helot "Don't ask questions," your father snapped. "And you just keep your distance from her." *if aristo "Be silent," your father snapped. "We'll see soon enough how the aristarch responds. Meanwhile, go nowhere near her unless you must." *goto helsdayschool *label helsdayschool *page_break Three weeks later, in a willow grove near the river, Ecclesiast Olynna gave her last lesson to you *if helot and the other children from your helot camp. *if aristo and the other noble children of Rim Square. *if intro_bad = 0 Under your kyrtle, the last ghostly bruises from your father's thrashing were finally beginning to fade. The priest had regained her usual good cheer after her clash with kurios Keriatou; *if olynna > 0 but that day her smile as she catechized you *if olynna > 0 only made you feel worse. *if olynna = 0 held that curious, near-unique glow once more. *if olynna < 0 was even more grating than usual. "What is our highest duty and calling?" "Compassion," chorused *if helot eighty *if aristo twenty voices around the clearing. Olynna nodded warmly. "By this, we serve both our fellows and the Angels." The question burst from you, incongruous even in your own ears: "What about Xthonos?" "Almighty-Xthonos-is-the-Source-of-All." A four-year-old restarted her catechism in confusion, then glanced at the other children and burst into tears. "You know it so well, *if aristo Calyse!" *if helot Yetta!" Olynna deftly calmed the youngster, then turned thoughtful eyes on you. "But I don't think that was the intent of the question." "It doesn't matter to Xthonos, does it, hiera?" Other than your cheeks growing hot, you managed to ignore the gasps and laughter around you. "[i]It[/i] knows no compassion. It doesn't care about what we do." "The Angels do," Olynna said gently, hushing the other children with a gesture. "The blessed emanations of Xthonos. And we are under Their care." "But…" You searched for the right words. "Everything emanates from Xthonos. It doesn't know the Angels, any more than It knows us. It's perfect. And It doesn't have compassion. So why should compassion matter so much for the Angels, or for us?" *if olynna > 0 One of the things you loved most about the Ecclesiast was the way *if olynna <= 0 You had to give credit to the Ecclesiast; where other adults grew defensive or tried to pretend such thoughts were a joke, she always took *if olynna > 0 your questions with full seriousness. She paused now, forehead creased as she contemplated the sun-dappled river beyond the shelter of the willow. *fake_choice #Despite my inner turmoil, I waited silently for her to speak. When she began her answer, the Ecclesiast sounded sad and worn down. #Aware of all the dubious eyes on me, I blurted, "I don't…I'm not a heretic." *set skep -2 *set skepreal -2 The children around you began laughing, until Olynna silenced them with a stern glance. "There's no shame in asking about the holy mysteries, children. And if you end in the right place, there's no heresy in the journey." Her reassurance filled you with inexplicable, vertiginous anger and set the truly unforgivable words dancing at the base of your throat: [i]Damn Them. Damn the Angels, damn Xthonos. They didn't help my mother.[/i] Oblivious to your struggle, the Ecclesiast returned a sad gaze to the river. #I muttered rebelliously, "And why do we think the Angels are so compassionate, anyway?" *set skep +2 *set skepreal +2 The children around you shrieked in shock. Olynna raised her eyebrows sharply, her face half-stern, half-sad, and entirely knowing. "Child. If my lessons teach you nothing else…you must learn which questions are unworthy of you. And which unwise." "People die, hiera," you persisted. *if olynna > 0 Olynna's sadness affected you deeply, but you fought back with anger. "The Angels don't stop it." The Ecclesiast's lips folded in sympathy, and rather than rebuking you further, she nodded. "Many would say that the world proves your point, my dear. We only see compassion among humans—and not always among them. So perhaps compassion is just an incidental part of Xthonos's Order, applicable only in a handful of cases. An exception, frequently dispensed with by both nature and humanity." She paused, then broke into a warm, confiding smile. "But others say that it is not mere chance that humans, nature's apex, are called to compassion as our highest virtue. Though the Angels are but one emanation of Xthonos, They are perhaps the truest reflection of Its perfection. Whatever the Ineffable One may be, It is more than compassionate, not less." "Heresy," a voice barked from the far side of the willows. *page_break You all spun around to see a small, bearded man wearing an Ecclesiast's surplice stalk triumphantly into the clearing. His clipped speech and lighter skin marked him as a northerner from the Shayard Reach. *if intro_bad = 1 "And a third heresy, at that." Ecclesiast Olynna's face darkened with shock, then something else, as ten Alastors also emerged from the woods. "You misunderstand me, brother. And how do you reckon three?" Her eyes danced inadvertently to the Hegemonic law enforcers' iron-shod clubs. The unfamiliar priest lifted one finger. He also trembled slightly, but not with fear. "Public contempt for the lectionary." He raised a second. "False and public attribution of religious error to an aristarch." A third: "And the teaching of false doctrines to impressionable *if aristo children. *if helot helots. We have many witnesses to the first two, and my own to the third." You had seen mortal terror many times on the faces of the helots chosen for Harrowing; you had never seen it before on the face of the woman who stood beside them. *if intro_bad != 1 "Teaching false doctrines to impressionable children…compounding your contempt for the lectionary." Ecclesiast Olynna's face darkened with shock, then something else, as ten Alastors also emerged from the woods. "Brother, you misunderstand…." Her eyes danced inadvertently to the Hegemonic law enforcers' iron-shod clubs. "You'd do well to keep your mouth shut, woman." The unfamiliar priest was also trembling slightly, but not with fear. "Utter a third sacrilege, and death comes without appeal." Olynna's mouth opened, then closed as her throat worked convulsively. "Who are you?" "My name is Zebed," the northerner replied curtly. "His Glory the Archimandrite sent me to replace you and root out the heresy that has found purchase in the faithful of the Outer Rim." "Wait!" The protest came unbidden to your lips. "Hiera Olynna's talking about compassion. What's wrong with that?" At your challenge, Ecclesiast Zebed whirled to face you. His protruding eyes turned bleakly speculative. "Who *if helot owns *if aristo are you… *choice #…boy?" *gosub maleset *goto zebedshrug #…girl?" *goto zebedshrug *label zebedshrug Under Zebed's inspection, you felt your throat grow parched and tight. You had seen people look at *if helot other helots that way; never before had anyone so plainly weighed up your own life. Even if you had wanted to, you couldn't have uttered a word. Then, just as the priest's gaze flickered back toward the Alastors, Ecclesiast Olynna cut in: *if helot "$!{he} belongs to the aristarch, Holiness. They all do." *if aristo "$!{he}'s the aristarch's cousin, Holiness." Her voice was resigned but firm. "You'll find that kurios Keriatou is quite *if helot possessive *if aristo protective when it comes to his *if helot property. *if aristo kin. There will be easier targets." A hint of uncertainty touched Zebed's face. After a few moments, he stepped back from you and forced a minute smile. "Child, your confusion is on your teacher's head, not your own. And your question has given me the theme for my first Helsday sermon. I thank you." When you didn't respond, he sighed and started back toward Rim Square. Just before leaving the grove, he called back over his shoulder, "Beat the heretic." For an awful instant, as they drew their clubs from their belts, you thought he had set the Alastors on you. Then they surrounded Ecclesiast Olynna… *fake_choice #…and I was running toward them, trying to stop them with my small fists. As the iron-tipped clubs began to fall, an Alastor offhandedly swung his toward you. It split your scalp and knocked you to the ground. By the time you could see clearly and move again, there was nothing you could do to help. #…and I was frozen, unable to move. Only when Olynna screamed, "Run!"—and then kept screaming—did your muscles come back to life. #…and I fled, escaping the clearing. In that moment, you could think of nothing but your need to be far away from the brutality of the Alastors. When you ran back into your home, your horror was instantly visible to your father. "What's happened, ${girl}?" *fake_choice #"They're killing hiera Olynna!" Your father's mouth twisted bitterly. *if helot "Course they are." He resumed brusquely whetting his knife. "There's only one damn lesson you ever needed to learn from her, ${girl}: *if aristo "It was only a matter of time." He looked around sharply at your aghast house-servants, then returned his gaze to you. "Take this last lesson from her, child: this is no world for compassion." You fought the urge to strike him. #"What do you care?" Your father caught you easily and struck you across the face. *if aristo "That's quite enough insolence *if helot "No more cheek from you. I said, what's happened?" "They're beating hiera Olynna." You broke away from him and stood panting in the doorway. #I was still too deep in shock to say anything. As so often, your silence sparked his fury. He seized both your shoulders and shook you until you felt dizzy and sick. "Find your tongue, ${girl}!" "Hiera Olynna," you managed to stammer. "The new priest…he's…" Remembering Zebed's calculating eyes, you faltered. *if aristo "Doubtless a man of more representative views and practices." *if helot "Hopefully the normal sort of priest. Who'll leave us well alone if we stay quiet." Your father paused, studied your face. "Did you give him any reason to remember you?" *fake_choice #"Of course not." "Well and good." Your father visibly relaxed at your lie. "You didn't cry out?" *if olynna <= 0 "Why should I?" you asked, rough-throated. "She was never any friend to me." *if olynna > 0 "Would it have helped?" you asked, thick-voiced. "She's gone now." He looked at you for a few moments more, then shrugged and turned away. "Angels help those who help themselves. No need for an Ecclesiast to tell us that, and no other reason to spend time in their company." #"He was too busy beating the Ecclesiast." Your father looked uncomfortable for a moment. "And you didn't cry out?" *if olynna <= 0 "Why should I?" you asked, rough-throated. "She was never any friend to me." *if olynna > 0 "Would it have helped?" you asked, thick-voiced. "She's gone now." He stared at you for a few moments more, with something that seemed like sadness in his eyes. "Don't give more thought to it, ${girl}. Just remember: if it can happen to an Ecclesiast, it can *if helot sure as Taratur happen to you. Keep your nose down and do your work, or they'll break you before they Harrow you." *if aristo happen to you. The Hegemonic forces are no respecters of persons." #"We talked." Your father gaped, incredulous. "You…talked?" "I asked him what she'd done wrong." You hovered in the doorway, ready to sprint away. "He thanked me. Said I'd inspired his sermon." To your surprise, instead of chasing you down for a thrashing, your father leaned unsteadily against a wall. "Oh, ${daughter}. She's killed you. That damned Ecclesiast, and your mother…" "Mother's nothing to do with it," you protested, feeling tears burn behind your eyes. "Who else gave you the idea that you could question a priest?" He lurched to his feet again, his face now savage. "Damn it, child…between them, they've *if helot killed you, killed me…." *if aristo ruined you, ruined our House…." Before he could reach you, you fled. *page_break On Helsday, every soul in Rim Square was crammed into the Naos. *if intro_bad > 0 Everyone had seen Ecclesiast Olynna's battered form cast onto a pyre and burned—the traditional penalty for a heretical priest. *if intro_bad = 0 Ecclesiast Olynna had survived her brutal beating, but half the town had seen the Alastors drag her onto a cart and set off for Shayard City, where she would face the Archimandrite's tribunal. *achieve survivor Everyone knew that Ecclesiast Zebed had already found one young noblewoman guilty of sharing in Olynna's heresy, and had her summarily killed by the Alastors. So the first hymn was sung with unusual enthusiasm, and ended in abrupt and utter silence. Not even a breath was audible in the hall as the new priest took his gilded niche. "What is compassion?" Zebed inquired. His voice rolled out across the temple, rich and resonant despite his clipped Reach accent. "The Codex tells us most clearly: the Blessed Angels will judge us by our compassion. But the text of Kapirus, which we read this morning, warns us equally clearly against [i]false compassion[/i], the softness which tempts us away from the Order of Xthonos, setting us on the easy, gentle path that leads to Xaos. We misunderstand this matter at peril of our souls." He looked down grimly to the helotry in *if aristo their *if helot your crowded gallery. "The bounds of Order are neither easy nor gentle. The weak or corrupt always seek to escape Its strictures, to imagine a world other than the one we are given. But our world is a battlefield, and each one of us a soldier either for Xthonos or Xaos. Is it compassion to teach a soldier to weep, when they must be steadfast? Is it compassion to sap their strength and blur their vision, when the road to Elysia is both narrow and steep? "No, my children. The true course of compassion is simple." *if aristo Turning his face to the balcony, Zebed found your eyes and smiled benevolently. "To obey, and to teach others to obey. Compassion is obedience. That is all." *goto legend *label jongler [b]For the first eleven years[/b] of your life, as reliably as winter itself, Carles the jongler returned to Rim Square when the first cold squalls blew in from the east. Boulder-chested and lion-throated, the big coastman could be heard singing a half-mile off in the prevailing winds. By the time he loped over the bridge, a small crowd would usually have gathered to welcome him, joining his seasonal ballad: [i]My days began, my days shall end,[/i] *line_break [i]Beside the sparkling sea[/i] *line_break [i]But when the winter storms descend[/i] *line_break [i]The walls to whip, the roof to rend,[/i] *line_break [i]And grass and gorse are swift to bend,[/i] *line_break [i]I'm off to find a tree[/i] *line_break [i]Love, I'm off to find a tree[/i] [i]Up to the Rim, to a woody vale[/i] *line_break [i]With oaks enough to break the gale,[/i] *line_break [i]And keep the rain from out my ale![/i] *line_break [i]I'll find myself a tree.[/i] For a week or two, Carles would take up residence in the agora's smoky wineroom, and every evening the tradesfolk and yeomanry would pour in. He'd swap a song for a beer, a tale for a roast pullet or a stoup of mulled Errets red. Then when he'd drunk and dined and pocketed a few more silver drachems, the jongler would stride out to a balcony facing the square. A hundred helots would be huddled there, around bonfires big enough to defy the rain—and while they couldn't pay Carles with the free folk's coin, they roared and whooped and cheered him to the clouds. *choice #I was one of the only helots who regularly managed to sneak inside to listen. *set helot true *set cred_a -100 Your father had always refused to join the crowds in the agora. "It's a nonsense," he'd growl. "Why stand out in the rain just to hear that fish-smelling popinjay sing songs that we'll be hearing from everyone else for the rest of the year?" But your mother had taken you from an early age, and you had been so delighted by the tales and ballads that you couldn't confine yourself to the sodden courtyard. Early on the third night, with a wink and a nod from your mother, you had dashed through the back door and into the broad, smoky room where the free folk paid Carles to sing. Soon, Iarla Wester's wineroom kept no secrets from you. You knew every window you could slip through, the three ways in through the cellar, the five niches in the inner room where a child could perch unnoticed (seven, if Iarla had set up the large tables for her guests). Whenever a bard or jongler passed through Rim Square, you would find your way in, unnoticed in the crush. When it was Carles, you never missed a night. *goto wineroom #I was the only child of the aristocracy in the wineroom. *set aristo true *set cred_h -50 As the season grew wetter and colder, Carles would move on to the comfortable estates of the great noble families—but only to those who could afford his keep. Your father, who owned only nine helots and little more land than the footprint of your home, growled that such entertainments were a waste in any case. "If the other Houses hold wealth so much in scorn that they'll spend it on fripperies, they'll not keep it long." All you knew was that every winter your young cousins from House Keriatou overflowed with new stories and songs, which they would share with a smug pity that set your face aflame. It had been your mother who had gently suggested a solution. "You know, Carles sings in the agora before he gets to any noble—and from what I've heard, he doesn't keep very much back." She had given you a drachem and a wink. "Why don't you take this down to Iarla's wineroom this evening and see what you hear?" Iarla Wester had given you a wink very much like your mother's, and a mug of watered wine. She had then taken you to a child-sized niche that overlooked both the chair where Carles sang for his patrons and the balcony from which he serenaded the helotry. That winter, you already knew twelve of the fifteen songs and tales your cousins tried to tell you—and you'd managed to keep where you heard them a secret. *goto wineroom *label wineroom *page_break You first spoke to Carles in your eleventh year, not long after your mother's death. The avid, rowdy audience barely noticed you as you edged toward the middle of the wineroom. After his sixth song, Carles offered elaborate bows to every corner, then pleaded road-weariness with a cracked voice and accepted a hot honeyed beer from Iarla. You pressed toward him in the chaos, determined to make your request. "Am I wrong, or we've some new listeners this year?" you heard him murmur. Iarla glanced to a far corner of the wineroom. "New garrison commander. From your bit of Shayard, jongler. No doubt hoping you'll give him some sea shanties." There was a tension behind the amusement in her voice. Carles's weathered face folded sourly. "I'll see if I can entertain him." *choice #I tugged at his arm and asked if he could sing Samena's Song in memory of my mother. *set gellard 0 Carles blinked down at you. *if helot "Aren't you supposed to be out in the agora, child?" he asked, not unkindly. *label outagora Even in the dim taperlight, your helot garb was unmistakable at this distance. "It's no matter to me…but there are folk who'd not be happy to see you in here, and they pay my way." "I'm just going back," you promised, desperate to be heard. "But, kurios… *if aristo "What is it, child?" he inquired. *label norequests "Before you ask, I only sing…" "…For a bottle?" you cut in, hoisting your father's Aveche goldwine into the taperlight. The singer leaned in, lips pursed in appreciative shock. "Well now. Winekeep, I didn't think to find anyone in here with a better cellar than you. Surely that's a bit of an embarrassment?" Before Iarla could retort, you pressed on. "Goodman, if you would… my mother so loved your music and tales. She said you helped us remember what it meant to be Shayardene." Throat constricting, you hurried on. "The Lay of Samena, especially the way you sang it…she said it was the finest she'd heard." "The way I sang it, eh?" Carles slurped pensively at his beer. "With bits of the Old Tongue worked in," you whispered. Most minstrels performed in the Karagond [i]Koine[/i], the common language of trade, temple, and civilization. Carles was one of the few who publicly sang in old Shayarin, the denigrated tongue still spoken by yeomen outside the main towns, by friends in private, and by mothers to their children. "Would you…in her memory?" "Hmmmmm." A conspiratorial gleam entered Carles's eyes, which he seemed to be deliberately averting from the disapproving stare of Iarla Wester. "That's a song to build up to, child, not one for the first night. But I promise you, at the end of the week, you'll have it. *if helot Sneak in here again on *if aristo On Pyreday." *if aristo He gave a small bow to you. "Until then, hold onto that bottle." *if helot He patted your shoulder consolingly. "Now be off, before Iarla has to ask you how you found your way in." You flitted obediently back into the crowd, around a corner into a lightless niche, and up into the rafters where casks were stored. The view was poor from up there, but no one could see you either; after all you'd dared, you didn't want to risk Carles changing his mind. *goto kattakack #I looked over to see who they were talking about. Although the room was packed almost shoulder to shoulder, a small, careful emptiness surrounded Gellard. The new Alastor garrison captain had arrived in Rim Square three weeks before, and no one yet knew what to make of him. Like most of the Hegemony's law enforcers, he was from another part of the province he policed; his coastman's drawl and high cheekbones marked him out immediately from the folk of the Rim. His predecessor, from the prosperous Southriding, had been enthusiastic both in identifying minor infractions of the Karagond Canon and in escalating the "fines" that violators needed to pay to be let off. Gellard's price was as yet untested. "Don't stare at him too hard, child," came the jongler's amused voice. "He'll think we were talking about him." You spun back, feeling your face grow hot. "I…I'd not meant to…" "Oh, it's not eavesdropping. If we'd been speaking secrets, you'd not have heard them." Carles inspected you more closely. *if aristo *goto norequests *else "Shouldn't you be out in the agora, child?" *goto outagora #I stayed silent and kept listening. Carles drank deeply, then lowered his flagon to reveal a hard glint in his eyes. "Seeing our friend there reminds me. Have you heard the news of Lord de Bors?" Iarla leaned across the rail. "No. You're the first traveler from the Westriding in weeks." "Ah. Well, he's dead, with his two heirs." The conversations around you dropped to a shocked mumble, and a dozen more people turned to listen. "Accused of conspiring against the Hegemony by the local Alastor captain. Apparently they'd been at daggers drawn for years." A fascinated rumble rose anew around the jongler. Everyone in the wineroom had experienced threats and extortion from the Hegemony's law enforcers, but for a clash between Alastors and aristocrats to end in death was extraordinary. *choice #"So he was proved a traitor?" I piped up. *set distract true *goto carles_shrug *if (aristo) #"Why would anyone here care about some Westriding House?" *goto whobors *if (helot) #"Who is this House de Bors?" I'd barely heard of any House beyond the Outer Rim. *label whobors Carles glanced at you with a raised eyebrow. "The de Bors were one of the grand Houses, child. Archons of Shayard, a century ago. Heroes of the last great Halassur War. Now fallen almost beyond recovery. *goto ennobleal #I listened in fascinated silence. "What was his treachery?" a tanner asked bluntly. *goto carles_shrug *label carles_shrug Carles *if distract glanced at you with surprise, then shrugged. "Well, he believed he was just asserting the centuries-old liberties of the nobility of Shayard. Clearly, he was wrong. *label ennobleal The Archon's deciding whether to ennoble the Alastor captain and give her House de Bors's lands and helots." That brought whistles and nervous looks across the room. You dared a glance that way yourself and saw Gellard, Rim Square's newly arrived Alastor commander. Although the conversation couldn't possibly be audible across the rowdy wineroom, the Hegemonic captain was looking flatly at Carles, who returned the stare with a slight smile. One of the yeomen at Iarla's rail ventured, "Quite the conspiracy, for that kind of reward to come out of it." The jongler inclined his head to her. "A great House demands a great revenge, if a slow one. The Karagonds hadn't forgotten his father's softness in the Rising three decades back." After an instant's shocked silence, the other drinkers returned with loud vehemence to whatever they had been discussing before. Not understanding what had frightened them, you hovered there blankly until Carles *if distract turned his attention back to you. *page_break "You're a pert one, aren't you?" *if not(distract) broke eye contact with Gellard and noticed you. *page_break "What's the matter, child?" Carles inspected you more closely. *if aristo *goto norequests *else "Shouldn't you be out in the agora?" *goto outagora *label kattakack *page_break When Carles picked up his lyre again, you'd hoped he would sing some other old song of Shayard—something, anything that your mother had loved. Instead, he began with, "Sisters, brothers…you're accustomed to my bringing with me the music of the coast. But tonight is a wild night, fit for stranger tales. Let me bring you instead the treasures of far lands." Carles opened with a ballad of the horse-nomads of Nereal, singing of their ride into "the endless cold horizon, where only the storm is king." He followed it with a tale of intrigue from the crags of Errets, where noble Houses played political games of gripping intricacy. Then he brought out a three-stringed [i]hyetr[/i] for a mourning song from the neighboring province of Whendery—and although the Whendish peaks were visible from Rim Square on a clear day, the music was like nothing you had heard before. The hyetr's plangent notes pierced you deeper than any Shayardene dirge. When he finished, Carles cleared his throat in the stillness. "The words," he said huskily, "roughly mean, 'So much is forgotten. So much lost. We are always forgetting. But you: to you, we will cling while there is light in our eyes.'" Then he played it all a second time, for the rapt helot audience in the agora. As you *if aristo walked home, *if helot crept away, you felt… *fake_choice #…still vaguely disappointed. You'd rather have heard the songs of home. *set natlreal +2 The jongler's music was undeniably beautiful, but at the end of the day, you preferred the songs that reminded you of home and hearth. You don't know what your mother would have made of these strange works. #…cheerful from a good night's entertainment. #…exhilarated, as if half the world had just opened up before you. *set natlreal -2 You had never met anyone from the other provinces of the Karagond Hegemony. How could you have imagined the richness of their songs and stories? The music and words danced in your imagination all through a largely sleepless night. The next evening, the wineroom was packed fuller than you had ever seen it. There were even a few *if aristo other aristocrats, who would usually *if helot wait for Carles's performance until they could enjoy it in the privacy of their own estates. *if aristo consider visiting a public wineroom rather beneath their dignity. Now they sat in an alcove that Iarla had hastily set aside for them, where they could enjoy the house's best vintages without being buffeted by the commoners. *if aristo *fake_choice #I kept to the shadows, not wanting my cousins to guess that I regularly visited Iarla's. #Being caught hiding would be the greatest humiliation of all. I just stayed quiet and kept my eyes low. #I walked freely about the wineroom, not caring whether they saw me or not. Carles strode in to eager, ear-straining applause. When the noise receded, he strummed his lyre with a crooked grin. "We've quite an appetite for foreign tales, I can see. So tonight, I offer you a story from far Halassur." A murmur of surprise verging on alarm rippled round the wineroom. The Halassurq Empire had spent most of the past three centuries at war with the Hegemony. Though peace had prevailed for over a decade, they were still best known as child-killers whose religion was a blasphemy against Almighty Xthonos. Sharing tales from the eastern continent smacked of treason in a way that the songs of other Karagond provinces never would. Dozens of people glanced nervously at Gellard, *if gellard = 0 the recently arrived captain of Rim Square's Alastor garrison. The Hegemony's chief law enforcer wore a *if gellard = 1 whose bleak expression *if gellard = 0 which boded nothing good. *choice #I was still eager to hear a story from Outside the Wards. *set natlreal -1 *goto undeterred #It sounded interesting enough. *goto undeterred #It seemed like foolish baiting of the authorities to me. Your throat was tight with worry. If this went badly, your *if natlreal >= 50 main source of old Shayardene songs and stories would be cut off *if natlreal < 50 window on the world outside Rim Square would close forever. *goto undeterred #I had no interest in the heathen Halassurqs or their tales. *set natlreal +1 *goto undeterred *label undeterred Undeterred by the Alastor, Carles launched into his narrative. Half-sung, half-spoken in verse, it told of the struggles of the clever and noble Oton against the cruel but hapless villain Katta-kack. Within minutes, its wit and wordplay had half the audience chuckling and most of the rest smiling despite themselves. Katta-kack was arrogant, with vast resources at his disposal, but he was slow-minded—no match for Oton's jests or resourcefulness. Every time his armed functionaries arrived to execute the mocking hero, Oton would figure out how their instructions had some flaw or missing detail, and reinterpret them accordingly. Afraid to deviate from the letter of their orders, the soldiers and priests would end up serving Oton rather than Katta-kack. By the end of the tale, Oton had used his enemy's servants to build himself a mighty kingdom and left his old antagonist in penury. As laughter and cheers surged around the room, Gellard's voice rose above the din: "And what do they mean by it?" *page_break The applause stuttered swiftly into silence. "I'm sorry, kurios." Carles raised his voice and his eyebrows. "I couldn't hear your question." "This Katta-kack." The broad-shouldered Alastor commander stood, brushing the crumbs of his dinner from his lap to the floor. "Do the Halassurq truly make mock of their own authorities in this way? Is sedition taken so lightly beyond the Wards?" "They didn't seem to think of Katta-kack as a figure of authority, Captain." Carles offered a polite smile. "More a figure of fun." "Ah." Gellard nodded. *if gellard = 0 Like Carles, he spoke with a coastman's drawl; Alastors were usually drawn from distant areas of the province they policed. "So in Halassur, only fools and half-wits are given command of soldiers. Only they have mountains of gold. Only they can reduce priests to terrified obedience of their every word." "While that would explain the Halassurq performance against the Hegemonic Army, kurios…" Carles paused, allowing a few muffled snickers to escape from around the room. "I doubt they'd have taken such a meaning from the tale." "Did they see it as a tale about Halassur at all, then?" The crowd parted soundlessly as the Alastor strode toward Carles. "Perhaps they think there is another 'empire' whose ruler has these traits." He stopped only a few feet from the jongler, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Surely not, kurios." There was a tautness in Carles's stance, but he remained seated and his voice was smooth. Gellard sighed, shaking his head. "See, there's the danger in foreign tales. You never know when the weaselly bastards have smuggled in a jest or a sedition at your expense." He bared white teeth in approximation of a smile. "From tomorrow, you'll sing safer songs. Closer to home. Won't you, goodman Carles?" "A sea shanty, perhaps, kurios." "Indeed. The helots may want to hear one now." The Hegemonic guardsman bowed curtly to Iarla and left her establishment. *page_break The next morning, your father walked unshaven and hollow-eyed *if aristo onto the breakfast terrace of your estate. *if helot into the field where the helots of House Keriatou were queuing for food. He swayed slightly, as if he were drunk, or simply hadn't slept in a month. Grieving your mother, you'd heard people murmur. More likely, he was just so used to lying awake thinking of ways to win arguments or wear her down that he hadn't yet figured out how to stop. He *if aristo seated himself and stared at you. *if helot lurched up to you in the breakfast line. "Heard there was trouble at the wineroom last night. Were you there?" There was no point in lying to him. "Yes." "Always told her that jongler was a fool," your father snarled, half to himself, "worse than a waste of time. Sing too much about the way things used to be, and of course you'll end up in some kind of sedition. That Carles'll be lucky if it's just this new Alastor cracking his skull for him. They might decide to keep him for the Theurges and serve him up *if helot alongside us to the Harrower." You didn't want to think about the Karagond magi and their machine. "Gellard warned him. He'll be careful in what he sings tonight." He narrowed his eyes dangerously. "That's as may be. But you're not going anywhere near there to find out." It was Pyreday, the last day of the week. There was no chance that you were going to miss Carles singing Samena's Song for your mother. *fake_choice #And I told my father so. His face went ashy, then darkened again. "You impudent whelp!" *if aristo The crockery rattled on the long table as he sprang to his feet. *if helot The other helots around you jumped back to a safe distance. "Defy me to my face? You…you dare?" "He's going to sing mother's song," you told him, hands raised to protect your head. "He promised." "Damn it, we just lost your mother. I won't l…won't let you get us killed by your foolishness!" Your father sprang for you, but in his fatigued state you were too quick for him; his blow glanced off your head without knocking you down, and he wasn't able to get a grip on your kyrtle. His curses echoed in your ears long after you'd fled. *page_break #But I told my father I'd stay away. "Good," he said, eyeing you suspiciously for a moment before returning his attention to breakfast. #So I just grunted noncommittally. Your father *if aristo lunged across the table and cuffed you sharply on the head. "None of that, damn it. You'll heed me on this." "I heard you," you yelled back, scampering out of his reach. "Good." His face was tight with something that looked like rage. "We just lost your mother. I won't l…won't let you get us killed by your foolishness." When you said nothing, he eyed you suspiciously for a moment longer, then returned his attention to breakfast. *page_break There were far fewer people in Iarla Wester's wineroom that evening, and no *if helot aristocrats. *if aristo nobles besides yourself. Gellard and his six Alastors had the center of the room to themselves. Tonight their armor shimmered in the fire, save across their chests where the Hegemony's black omphalos symbol drank up the light. They ignored the wine mugs set beside them, and their grim silence kept other people's conversation to a whisper. When Carles brought out his lyre and began to play, not a breath was audible in the room. An instant later, the crowd seemed to relax and smile as one; it was an inoffensive ballad, "To Shayard in the Spring." The tune was rollicking, the words a paean to the beauties of your home (and its hearty food). Half the room started to sing zestily along. Only Carles knew all the verses, but people hummed through the ones they'd not heard. Then he launched into a verse that he alone in the room seemed to know: [i]We'll hear no foreign joke or tale,[/i] *line_break [i]We know they're weasel bastards all[/i] *line_break [i]Who slander every goodman's name;[/i] *line_break [i]So kick them back to whence they came,[/i] *line_break [i]And drink to Shayard in the spring![/i] One by one, the people who followed Carles into the chorus saw Gellard's face and fell silent. *choice #I kept singing. "To Shayard in its loveliness, to Shayard in the spring!" Your piping voice nicely complemented the jongler's tuneful bellow. Gellard glanced for an instant in your direction, but said nothing. *if aristo *set intro_bad 1 *goto samena #I dropped my voice to a whisper, but finished the song. "To Shayard in its loveliness, to Shayard in the spring!" Only the folk within your arm's reach could hear the final words; Gellard didn't spare so much as a glance in your direction. *set intro_bad 1 *goto samena #I shut up. *set intro_bad 1 *goto samena *label samena Carles barely paused at the end of the ballad before starting the Lay of Oster, first King of Shayard. There were verses you'd never heard before in this one, too—about conniving foreigners who sought to overrun the new kingdom, but were humiliatingly trounced by the Shayardenes. Carles even dared a mention of the long-forbidden royal standard, the Gryphon and Great-Eel. By the end, Gellard looked like a storm pent up in mail. The whole room was deathly still for a few moments while Carles retuned his lyre. Then he plucked a minor chord; your heart pounded as you realized he was singing in Shayarin. [i]Cradle-tongue, hearth-tongue[/i] *line_break [i]Water at the end of the long-drought day[/i] *line_break [i]Lover-tongue, tale-tongue[/i] *line_break [i]In which I learned to hear, to smell, to see[/i] [i]Daily I toil, building with foreign bricks[/i] *line_break [i]But for my home, stones from the silver river[/i] And Carles flowed into the Lay of Samena, Shayard's great conqueror queen. Though it was bestrewn with words too archaic to understand, you listened rapt and aching. How your mother would have savored a Lay sung entirely in the Old Tongue! At the song's climax, the glorious battle of Calebre, you could actually see her again for an instant, the fierce and faraway look that would come across her face: [i]Now sound the horn,[/i] *line_break [i]Wake iron and let your banners fly[/i] *line_break [i]Before the armies of the dawn;[/i] *line_break [i]Four hundred strong[/i] *line_break [i]Behind a daughter of Shayard,[/i] *line_break [i]Riding where none before have gone…[/i] Metal chimed dissonant on metal as Gellard rose from his seat. At once Carles stopped singing. The vision vanished wrenchingly from your mind, and you cried out in protest, "That's my mother's song!" The Alastor captain turned his head to look at you, teeth bared once again. "And who are you… *choice #…boy?" *gosub maleset *goto carles_save #…girl?" *goto carles_save *label carles_save All moisture fled your throat. Gellard had not yet drawn his sword, but his stare promised death—and you knew that not a single cowed soul in Iarla's wineroom would stand between him and you. *if helot and (intro_bad > 0) Any second, he would recognize you as a helot, and you would die. *if helot and (intro_bad = 0) Then his eyes widened. "A helot?" he spat. When he'd glanced at you the first time, the shadows had evidently concealed you, but now he'd seen your garb properly. "You've got a [i]helot[/i] singing your treasons? Take ${him}!" He stabbed one finger squarely in your direction. All six Alastors charged, half of them drawing their iron-shod clubs. The audience around you rushed shrieking toward the exits, and you dove into the thicket of their knees. Your will to live took over, drawing on your terror, ${girl}ish agility, and years of exploration. You could see a guard rushing toward the main door to the agora, so before you reached the end of the hall you ducked sharply left under a counter, dashed between two pillars, around the bar rail where none but Iarla could see you, and then down through the gap in the floorboards used to haul up the barrels from the cellar. In the chaos of the wineroom, no one followed—no one even saw where you'd gone. You wriggled between the poorly joined doors on the back steps and dashed for the trees. And you weren't the only escapee. "[i]Where's the jongler[/i]?" Gellard's baffled roar followed you. *page_break *achieve survivor The rain pelted you all the way home, even after the screams died away. As soon as you stumbled through the doorway, your father stepped out invisibly and caught your arm. "Stupid, stupid ${girl}," he hissed. You knew he could hear your terror in your breath. "What happened?" "They're coming for me," you whispered. "They're going to kill me. Us. They won't even wait for the Harrowing." Your father pulled you into the lightless shack. "Tell me." The words spilled out of you. You tried to make out some detail of your father's expression as you spoke, but there was nothing for your eyes to adjust to; the winter squall outside had blotted out every star. After a long silence, he finally rasped, "They'll come in the morning. They'll come to us all. And I'll tell them that you couldn't possibly be the one they're looking for." You heard his knife snick free, felt it begin to hack off your hair in the ugly, unfamiliar cut you would be wearing for the next three years. "Because I thrashed you within an inch of your life today. So bad you couldn't even walk to the ditch to pass your bloody piss, let alone to the wineroom. And they'll come to look. And they'll see it's true. They won't even recognize your face, for the bruises." *fake_choice #I broke away and fled. Your father was ready and caught you easily, ignoring your wails and pleas. #I fought back, spat at him, screamed. He was so much stronger than you. With a snarl of "Swiving Taratur!" he wiped your spittle from his face, cuffed you to the ground, pinned you beneath one knee. #My throat closed, but I managed to wheeze, "Do it." Trembling, with closed eyes and gritted teeth, you turned your face to him. You thought he was crying as he raised his hand. "Don't you ever defy me again." *goto legend Then Carles drawled, "There's just no pleasing you, Alastor. I can't sing of the beauties of the world. I can't sing of the glories of Shayard. Even after yesterday, when you had me pay you all the silver I'll make in a season." The Hegemony's law enforcer looked away sharply, and you could breathe again. "Jongler, you're guilty of…" "Guilty?" A guffaw burst from the depths of Carles's chest. He laid his lyre down and gripped the stool with both hands. "You're the one who was just about to kill a child for wanting ${his} mother's favorite song, you butcher. I'll not be guilty of watching that." Gellard opened his mouth as if to retort, then shrugged and exchanged an almost amused glance with his guards. "You're afraid, Gellard," Carles roared as they drew their weapons and encircled him. "Afraid people will start to look beyond their walls. Afraid that they'll remember their heritage…the birthright you sold to the filthy Karagonds, you bloody gullshit coward!" Then people began shrieking and diving for the exits, and Iarla Wester was grabbing you, dragging you away. "Get out, ${girl}. Run." *page_break The rain pelted you all the way home, even after the screams died away. As soon as you stumbled through the doorway, your father stepped from the shadows and caught your arm. "Stupid, stupid ${girl}," he hissed, eyes vainly scouring the blackness behind you. "What did I tell you would happen?" "I don't understand," you *if helot whispered. *if aristo whispered, the susurrus echoing down the marble hallway. "They're Shayardene. Why would they hate the songs so much?" "They're not Shayardene." Your father's voice was harsh in your ear. *if helot "They're whatever they need to be to get ahead with the Karagonds. They're no kin to us. And you'd best lose your mother's daft notions about our common Shayard blood before you get us both killed." *if aristo "They are scum, who make themselves into whatever brings them the most gain. And the world, ${daughter}, is ruled by such scum. Not by just kings, or bold queens—whatever your mother told you." His thrashing was half-hearted, as if he knew you were already battered enough. In the morning, whispers door to door confirmed that Carles was dead, and Iarla, as well as four helots who had been waiting outside to hear the jongler play. The agora wineroom became property of the Alastors of Rim Square. *if aristo You waited with some dread for the Alastor captain to come looking for you, but he never did; perhaps he'd found out that you were the aristarchs' close cousin, or perhaps Carles's accusation of child-butchery had struck a nerve. Gellard left three years later, well-fattened on the wealth of the Outer Rim. *goto legend *label helotrunaway *set intro_bad 1 [b]As a child, you loved[/b] escaping your town to explore the wooded hills of the Rim. You would scurry past the vineyards and orchards, over the mossy boulders of the mill-stream, traversing broad slopes of oak and pine. There was no clear line where the wilderness began. The trees would grow denser and darker, the undergrowth more thorny and persistent. The trails would turn into animal traces, and then into nothing at all. In such moments, facing the impenetrable forest, you would realize that your last glimpse of a house or temple or road through the trees had been an hour ago…and suddenly, the fifty miles separating you from the Xaos-lands would feel much shorter than the two miles back to your home. You would sprint back, shrieking and whooping to fend off the beasts of the wild. You were eleven years old when you ran into the dying helot. The collision knocked the breath out of you, so you couldn't scream—not when you realized the man was covered in blood, nor even when he grabbed your shoulders and sobbed something incomprehensible into your ear. His drab kyrtle, cowl, and leggings hung around his body in shreds. He looked as if he had been savaged by a bear. As you struggled to recover your wind, you recognized the helot. He was owned by a minor aristocratic estate on the same end of town where your family lived. He had always seemed sweet-natured and friendly. You didn't remember ever hearing anyone say his name, or whether he was a field hand, a house drudge, a quarry worker, or something else. But he recognized you too, and unclenched his fingers. Jaw sagging open, he managed to get out two hoarse words: "[i]They're coming.[/i]" You had no idea what he was talking about. You gasped out on instinct: *choice #"I can hide you." *set hide true The helot shook his head, eyes wide and fear-crazed, and mumbled, "Hounds." "There's a stream! It'll wash away your scent," you persisted with a child's confidence. "And a mile uphill, there's a cave under the bank." All you knew was that you had to keep this man from being hurt more. Scrambling back up the slope, you beckoned him to follow. By the time you reached the water, you could make out the howls from downwind. You'd heard aristocrats' packs baying after a stag, but even from a distance these sounded different: a deep-throated, gravelly roar, as much lion as wolf. The first twinge of panic seized your guts. The helot whimpered wordlessly, leaped off the bank, and began thrashing upstream. The water was chest-deep to you, hip-deep to him, and he quickly outpaced you despite his injuries. Intent on fleeing, he didn't respond when you cried out for him to wait. "When you see the chimney rock…go to the right bank," you finally yelled over the clamor of the stream. "The cave's…hard to see…but there's a long, dry ledge inside." He soon vanished around a rocky outcrop ahead of you. You gave up and dragged yourself back onto the bank. Soaked and shivering, you climbed an elm and listened to the howls grow louder. *goto hounds #"Keep running—I'll distract whoever's chasing you." *set distract true The helot shook his head, eyes wide and fear-crazed. "No, child…just run…." "Go!" Up to that afternoon, your sense of invulnerability had survived unshaken. "Leave the trail, go straight up there. Keep going when the brush gets thick. No one can ride after you there. You'll lose them in the wild." With another incoherent sob, the man scrambled away up the hill. Very faintly, from downwind, you began to hear the hounds baying. You climbed to the top of a huge, conspicuous boulder and waited for the hunters to arrive. As the howls grew louder, you felt the hairs rising along the nape of your neck. You'd heard aristocrats' packs pursuing a stag before, but these sounded different: a deep-throated, gravelly roar, as much lion as wolf. *goto hounds #"Get away from me!" *set intro_bad 0 His wide, fear-crazed eyes were more than you could bear. All you wanted was for him to be as far away from you as possible. "Get away get away get away!" You writhed away from his outstretched hands and fled wailing down the hill. You forced yourself to stop crying when you heard the hounds nearby. Skidding to a stop, you held your breath and listened to figure out which direction the baying was coming from. The hairs slowly rose along the nape of your neck. You'd heard aristocrats' packs go after a stag before, but these howls were different: a deep-throated, gravelly roar, as much lion as wolf. You began running in the opposite direction, but the howls grew steadily louder. As you realized that they were coming for you, a blind, buzzing panic rose up in your head. You reeled into the nearest pine and scrambled up to the highest branch that would bear your weight. *goto hounds *label hounds *page_break When the two hounds finally broke from the trees, your mouth sprang open in a shocked, voiceless scream. They were Plektoi—the Twisted. Reshaped by Theurgic sorcery, the onrushing dogs were nearly the size of horses. Their snouts were unnaturally stretched, their hairless necks and shoulders thick with added muscle; you could imagine them seizing a man's waist between their jaws and worrying him as a normal hound might do a rabbit. A row of bone spikes emerged between their eyes and ran down their spines to the root of their poised, prehensile tails. You felt your *if distract rocky outcrop *if distract = false tree shudder with each footfall as they bounded toward you. Your late grandmother had told you that the bones of a Twisted One were as weighty as iron. Her tales had given you screaming nightmares, until she managed to reassure you that in this remote corner of the Hegemony you'd never see Plektoi—not hound, horse, nor human. Now all you could see was the ravenous black of their eyes. *page_break The hounds thundered to the base of your perch; the muscles in their massive limbs bunched to jump. You squeezed your eyes shut and shrieked, sure you were about to die. For a long moment, nothing happened. Then you heard a voice from above you, calm and impossible: "Look at me, child." Whimpering, you screwed your eyes open and saw a man hovering in the air. You had seen Theurges before, of course, every time they came to Rim Square for a Harrowing. You had seen them kill to fuel their Angel-granted powers. You almost hoped this one would kill you now, to spare you the horror of the Plektoi's jaws. But you forced yourself to look down and saw that the nightmare dogs remained crouched in place, tails lashing the air. The flying Theurge spoke crisply, with pride. "Trained to perfection, are they not? They attack only at my word. So, child: where is the helot whose blood they smell on you?" *choice #"He ran that way!" I frantically pointed up the valley where the helot fled. *set intro_bad +10 *goto theurge #"He ran that way!" I waved my finger toward a different hill. *goto theurge #"I don't know." I shook my head wildly, hoping my terror looked enough like confusion. "I don't…somewhere up there, kurios." *set intro_bad +3 "No more use than that, are you?" *label theurge The hovering Theurge stared up into the forest, then glanced back to his hounds with a hint of uncertainty. His olive skin, curly hair, and fine, beardless features marked him out as a citizen of Karagon, the heart of the Hegemony; he wouldn't be familiar with the landscape out here in the Shayard Rim. "You knew him?" The words flooded out of you. "No, kurios—I mean, I'd seen him before, but I didn't even know his name. I don't know why you're chasing him. I was exploring. He just ran into me. He got [i]blood[/i] all over me…." Without taking his eyes off you, the Theurge thrust a fist into his long black coat. He pulled a bright red phial from a bandolier, smoothly displacing an empty one which clattered from his hand to the rocks. His tongue darted out to moisten his lips, and you suddenly found yourself more afraid of his shining eyes than the Plektoi's empty ones. "And to whom do you belong when you're not exploring, child?" You blurted out the truth: *choice #"My family is noble! We're cousins to the aristarchs of the district!" *set aristo true *set cred_h -50 *goto next #"I belong to the aristarchs of the district, kurios. I'm just a helot." *set helot true *set cred_a -100 *goto next *label next The Theurge gestured *if (intro_bad < 3) or (intro_bad > 4) in the direction you had given him *if (intro_bad = 3) or (intro_bad = 4) back down the trail and snapped, "Hunt!" to his monstrosities. They sprang away from your perch with a gravelly, shattering howl. "House Keriatou should know that their faithful service to the Hegemony in Acron has not gone unrecognized." The Karagond mage's voice was cool, with a faint note of regret. "We are naturally solicitous of their *if helot property. *if aristo cousins. Do mention me to them." Without waiting for an answer, he skimmed off over the trees, following the baying of the Plektoi. You clung to the *if distract boulder *if distract = false tree for what felt like hours. Finally your paralysis lifted and you limped back into town, sticking to the late afternoon shadows. You especially avoided the columned porticoes of the great noble estates. *if aristo Your own home was fairly humble for aristocracy—your father owned barely more than the land the house stood on—but the carved doorframes and bright colors set you apart from the mere merchants further down the hill. *if helot Like most of the helots in town, you lived in a stone hut with crude mud plasterwork. The door was a ragged curtain of gray cloth; helots are permitted nothing that can be barred to intruders. When you saw your father just outside the doorway, you were so distraught that you actually ran straight to him, sobbing, arms outstretched. He looked up in customary irritation, a caustic remark forming on his lips. Then he saw the bloodstains on your clothes and the expression on your face. A look of near-panic appeared in his own eyes, he half-turned toward you…and for a moment, you thought your father was going to run to you. He didn't. But he allowed you to throw your arms around him, and even rested his hand stiffly on your head as he said, "There, there… *choice #…son." *gosub maleset *goto whathappened #…daughter." *goto whathappened *label whathappened His voice was hoarse. *if aristo "What…whatever has happened, child?" *if helot "What…what by Xthonos's Eyes happened to you, ${girl}?" You mumbled through your tears: *fake_choice #"Plektoi." #"Theurgy." *if aristo and (intro_bad > 0) #"I let a helot die." *if helot #"I let a man die." *if aristo and (intro_bad > 9) #"A runaway helot." *if aristo and (intro_bad = 0) #"A helot…he bled on me…." Your father immediately clapped a hand over your mouth and dragged you into the house. "What are you thinking, *if aristo saying such things on the street?" *if helot talking like that in the broad daylight?" he gaped, *if aristo shutting the door with a barely controlled slam. "Do you want every House to hear?" *if helot jerking the curtain closed behind you. "What if a bloody Alastor had been passing?" His unaccustomed tenderness was wholly gone. "I'm sorry!" you cried. As you choked out your account of the afternoon, you saw your father's face harden in ways you didn't understand. *if (intro_bad > 9) and aristo *set intro_bad +10 "But I turned him in, Father. As we're meant to do." "You think that satisfied the Theurge, you little fool?" His voice was still low, his lips taut. Of course it hadn't. Only the name of your Keriatou cousins had saved you. "Why didn't it?" you whispered, dizzy with dread. The Theurges were meant to be the most-blessed servants of the Merciful Angels, granted unimaginable powers to uphold the righteous Order of the cosmos. "You should never have been in a place where they could catch you fouled by some runaway, damn it all. Never have been caught out there in the wild in the first place." Staring into your father's eyes, you recognized the familiar logic. *choice #And I protested, as often before his beatings: "But I didn't do anything wrong." "You let a runaway helot get his blood on you." Your father's mouth twisted in disgust. "Never *goto forgetcanon #Guilt swept hotly over me. "I should have helped the helot. Mother would have wanted…" *set intro_bad -5 *set ruthreal -4 "Don't you quote your mother at me." Your father leaned in close and caught your face between his hands. "And don't you go soft on the helots. Never *goto forgetcanon #"It's so unfair," I breathed. "Say that again, and they'll toss you into a Harrower alongside those filthy helots." Your father seized your face between his hands. "Never *goto forgetcanon #Anger and hatred almost overwhelmed me. "If I were stronger…" [i]Strong enough to kill a Theurge[/i], some corner of my mind whispered. *set ruthreal +2 "Stronger's nothing to do with it." Fortunately, your father didn't catch your meaning. "If you were wiser, you'd not so often go haring off into the wild alone. Or if you were faster, you might not have let some filthy helot bleed on you. Never *goto forgetcanon *if (hide) or (distract) "Little *if aristo fool," *if helot ass," he said when you were done, voice tight and furious. "You tried *goto noquestions *else "So the Plektoi ran after him…and I hadn't done anything to help him…" you finally trailed off, and he exploded. "What? Are you mad—wanting *goto noquestions *label noquestions to [i]help[/i] that man?" *choice #"He needed my help! Mother said…always help those in need…." *set ruthreal -2 "Don't you quote your mother at me." *goto closecaught #"I didn't know who was chasing him…." "You don't need to know. Ever." *goto closecaught #"If I'd been stronger…" I muttered. [i]Strong enough to kill a Theurge[/i], some corner of my mind whispered. *set ruthreal +2 "What?" *goto closecaught *label closecaught Your father leaned in close and caught your face between his hands. "$!{daughter}, *if aristo if you see someone *if helot running, you assume they did something bad. *if aristo running—especially a helot—you assume that they broke the law. You should know that by now." "What if they didn't? What if *if ruthreal > 50 it's the person chasing them who's bad?" You fought back sobs and stuck out your chin defiantly. Your father stared at you, aghast, then lashed out with an open hand. "I don't want to ever hear such Xaos from your lips again. *if aristo No helot is ever innocent in such matters." He looked around again, white-eyed, as if someone might be listening. "Never *goto forgetcanon *if helot *goto canonbreaker they need your help?" *if aristo His lips twisted incredulously. "We're talking about a helot! And even if it had been a noble or tradesman, your first duty is self-defense. Never *label forgetcanon forget—if they have broken Canon, their lawlessness can taint you. You know Xaos spreads *if helot Your father spat on the dirt floor. "That's what your 'help' is worth, ${girl}. Angels protect those that protect themselves—you've got to keep yourself safe, first. *label canonbreaker If you try to help someone who broke Canon, you're in danger. Like they say, you can catch Xaos like a disease." You'd heard that your whole life, but for the first time something in you rebelled against the idea. "How do you catch it?" "By asking questions!" your father snarled, shaking you. *if aristo "Now I don't want to hear another word. Clean yourself, burn those clothes, and go to your room. *if helot "Now shut your mouth. Go to the hearth and rub soot into those clothes until you can't see the blood. You won't leave this house until I say so." *page_break Your father's command was unnecessary; by evening, you had a raging fever, muscle tremors, and couldn't keep any food down. For three days you shivered *if aristo on your bed, *if helot in the straw in your corner, *if intro_bad > 0 thinking numbly about your *if intro_bad < 10 failure to protect the helot from *if (intro_bad > 9) and (intro_bad < 20) betrayal of the helot to *if (intro_bad > 19) near-death at the hands of the Karagond mage. *if intro_bad = 0 remembering the helot's pleading eyes and the gravelly howl of the Plektoi. On the fourth day, you regained some appetite, and your father nodded grimly. "I've *if aristo made some discreet inquiries, and it appears your escapade has gone without notice. The Theurge and the Plektoi have departed, and so *if helot asked around, and no one knows about your little problem. That Theurge and his dogs are gone, and…well, it's time for you to be seen again. Before anyone starts wondering why you fell ill." "What happened to the *if aristo helot?" *if helot man?" you asked weakly. Your father's face instantly darkened with rage. "What did I tell you about questions?" Fighting not to cry, you raised your hands to protect your head. "The…the Theurge told me to tell *if aristo our Keriatou cousins." *if helot our masters." You'd had nightmares about how you would fulfill his order. "What if he told them he met me? What if they come asking, and I don't know how to answer them?" "Xthonos damn it, it's only been months since we lost your mother," your father barked. "I won't lo…won't listen to any more foolishness from you. You won't say a thing. Especially not to *if aristo anyone from House *if helot the bloody Keriatou!" You gave in to tears, wordlessly nodding and bowing your head. But when you left the house… *choice #…I began my own discreet inquiries around town. A strangled hush had descended on Rim Square. The midday trading in the agora galleries, normally raucous, was conducted in mumbles and as briefly as possible. You remember the town being this subdued only once before, when you were six years old and a nephew of the aristarch had abruptly vanished. Back then, the same whisper had found its way onto everyone's lips: [i]Kryptast[/i]. No two stories agreed on what the Keriatou boy had done to draw down judgment from one of the Hegemonic assassin-spies, or what guise the Kryptast had used to infiltrate the aristarchs' household. But for weeks, everyone—especially the nobles—had looked and spoken as if they might be the next ones to disappear in the middle of the night. The new whisper was [i]Plektoi[/i], and the helots looked drawn, flinching at unexpected noises. You learned that the hounds had burst without warning into the hunted helot's shack and fed on his parents and wife while he managed to flee. No one had seen the man's body, but nor did he ever reappear, and it was impossible to imagine him evading the hunt. *if (intro_bad > 1) and not(hide) Some spoke grimly about a torn arm, brought back by the Theurge and given to the helot's owners: "That's all they left of him." When you finally worked up the courage to ask the reason for such an appalling punishment, most of the rumors centered around his noble owner's daughter. The smith claimed that the helot had tried to seduce her; a yeoman farmer suggested that the man was secretly trying to teach himself archery, and had accidentally injured the girl. You overheard a young aristocrat grumbling that as long as helots were permitted to learn reading, it should be no surprise that some of them should come across heretical texts and begin spreading them to their family and friends. But the helot's crime remained in the realm of rumor. None of the local Hegemonic authorities ever justified the Plektoi's hunt, or even acknowledged that it had taken place. *goto legend *if aristo #…I tried to find out what my Keriatou relatives knew. As a close relative, you could pass freely through the high gates of the aristarch's estate. But your young cousins Hector and Calea were in a mood such that they preferred mocking your poverty to enjoying your company, and you wouldn't have dared to raise the question with Lord Stilos himself. The head veneur, as you'd hoped, was more forthcoming. When you asked her why no one had ridden out hunting for a week or two, she looked around furtively and leaned down to murmur, "You haven't heard the whispers, young ${kuria}? Plektoi dog-beasts in the wilderness. Need to wait for a good rain, now. Horse and hound alike will panic and bolt at the scent of a Plektos, if it's too strong." It took you a minute before you could get the words out. "What brought them here?" "Some heresy among House Tarakatou's helotry." The huntmaster traced an Angelic helix over her heart. "Heard kurios Keriatou say that if it had reached his ears before the Ecclesiast's, he'd have seen it ended with no need for a Theurge and his hounds to fly in. It's a shame our new priest isn't yet telling the master everything he hears. Now everyone's just pretending it never happened." "How…how many died?" "Only four helots. Three in the camp and one up in the wild." She dropped her voice to an even lower whisper. "But they say House Tarakatou might get a Kryptast now—if they haven't already—to find out where their helots got these ideas." You pictured young Ganelon Tarakatou, a bookish boy your age with a disarmingly bashful smile. You tried to imagine him or his older sister vanishing in the middle of the night, another victim of the Hegemony's assassin-spies. "The hounds—they're gone now?" "For the time being, young ${kuria}." The veneur straightened, looking grim. "For now." *goto legend *if helot #…I tried to find out what my Keriatou masters knew. Most of the free retainers of House Keriatou wouldn't sully themselves by chatting with a helot, but a couple of the young stable hands took every opportunity to jeer at you. You worked to put yourself in their path until the morning that one did his best to howl like a faraway hound. You turned to them, trying to keep your voice calm. "You're dogs now?" "You're dog bait, helot. Don't you know that yet?" The bigger of them swaggered toward you. "Four of you scum got eaten by Plektoi last week." They wouldn't dare to damage the aristarch's property unless you threw the first punch. You'd never been afraid of them…and it wasn't as if their howl sounded anything like the real thing. It still took you three tries before you could steady your trembling jaw enough to sneer back, "Likely story. What would Plektoi be doing all the way out here?" The smaller one piped up, "Chewing through filthy heretics. And we heard it from the huntmaster, who had it from the aristarch hims—" "Shut your mouths." The marshal of House Keriatou emerged from the stables with a thunderous expression. "Both of you little fools. If you've no better use for your time than tormenting the helotry, I'll find you one." The young bullies vanished immediately. Turning to regard you, the marshal seemed to scent something of the terror you'd been concealing. "Calm yourself, ${girl}. You're safe." "Th…the Plektoi are gone?" "Off to the Norther Rim, they say. They only had business with the helots of House Tarakatou. No mention of anyone in the Keriatou camp." He gave a sour chuckle. "I heard milord Stilos said he'd have strong words for anyone who tried to have [i]his[/i] helots eaten on a baseless rumor." You swallowed hard, not sure whether you dared feel relief. "The boys said…it was heresy?" The big man scowled, clearly approaching the limits of his patience. "They don't know that, and nor do I. True, this new priest Zebed has to be the one who called them in. But no one's given any reason for it. And I don't expect anyone to. That's not how these things happen." *goto legend #…I headed back up to the woods, to see if I could find any trace of the helot. Your mother always told you to face your fears directly—"And the bigger the fear, the more important it is that you put it in its place." Walking back up the trail into the wilderness of the Rim was the most terrifying thing you had done in your life. More than once, you had to stop because your legs were shaking too violently to continue. When you reached the clearing where the Theurge found you, your nostrils caught a faint, metallic musk—the scent of the Plektoi—and you lurched to your knees, spattering the pine needles with vomit. The tang of bile drowned out the monsters' smell as you lay curled on the ground. Your pulse slowed again, and murmuring, "Face it…face it," you regained your feet. Although you didn't have much woodcraft, the scars the Plektoi left in the earth would have been obvious to a blind man. *if (intro_bad = 0) Their trail followed the false heading you had given the Theurge—further and further away from the point where you had actually met the helot and fled with his blood on you. When you reached the edge of the densely forested wilderness, you paused in awe. It looked like it had been hit by a storm; the plainly frustrated Plektoi had uprooted or broken dozens of trees and flattened the thorny underbrush in broad circles as they'd tried to find a scent. Finally they'd run back downhill in a nearly straight path. Even when their clawprints reached the footpath—which you knew the helot used in his flight—they deviated only momentarily before resuming their beeline toward your town. Feeling a sudden exhilaration, you climbed back up to the place where you ran into the helot. You tried to find some trace of his passage, but if he left any blood or footprints, you weren't able to find them. In the end, you just climbed to a bare hilltop and looked out over the wilderness. "I'm sorry I was scared to help you," you said in a low voice. "I don't know why they were chasing you. My father says…" You swallowed against a knot in your throat, thinking about the helot's terrible wounds. *achieve survivor *label soliloquy "It doesn't matter." *fake_choice #"I don't think you deserved it." #"They're monsters—the Theurge as much as the hounds." #"I'll never let them do that to me." *goto legend *if intro_bad < 3 At first, the clawprints followed the false heading you had given the Theurge. After a half-mile or so, they veered back in the actual direction the helot had fled. "No…." you groaned miserably. Clearly they had been close enough to catch some scent from the helot. *if hide The hounds' trail ran up the stream valley to the pools below the chimney rock…and continued uphill. Your throat was suddenly thick with two equally overpowering emotions: hope that the helot had found your hiding place, and dread that you had been followed here by the Karagond authorities. You desperately scanned the skies and forests around you, imagining Hegemonic mages, soldiers, and monsters every time a branch twitched in the wind. But when nobody emerged, you finally swam to the overhang that concealed a deceptively deep cave. Ducking under the lip of stone, you bobbed in the murky pool on the far side, letting your eyes adjust to the darkness. "Hello?" you whispered cautiously toward the ledge. "It's me…the one who helped you hide?" *page_break You had seen plenty of dead men and women before—most starkly, at every *if aristo Harrowing you chose to attend—and *if not(aristo) Harrowing—and as you made out the unmoving silhouette on the cave ledge, you felt your hope trail away again. Splashing closer, you saw the blood darkening the rocky shelf, and the dull, dry eyes opened toward the light. At least the helot's face was no longer taut with fear; in the half-light, you thought he merely looked sad. *if intro_bad < 20 "I'm sorry I couldn't save you," you told him at last, feeling your cheeks grow newly wet. "The Plektoi didn't get you. But I'm so sorry." *label shiverknot For a long time, you stood there shivering. "I don't know why they were chasing you. My father says…" You swallowed against a knot in your throat. *goto soliloquy *if (distract) or (intro_bad > 1) The hounds' trail ran up into dense, thorny underbrush—and straight through it. Whatever gap in the thorns the helot had found had become an avenue of uprooted trees and flattened brush, as if a whirlwind had passed through. Your knees started to tremble again. Several hundred yards later, the destruction ended abruptly. The Plektoi had clearly forged through to this point, then turned and ripped a new path heading back toward your town. You heard the sound of a waterfall, and realized you were approaching the brink of a cliff. Peering over, you felt a sob burst from your lungs. It was a long drop to the rocks below, and the long grass clinging to the rockface clearly could not support a man's weight. There was a shadow at the bottom which might have been a log…but you knew it wasn't. *if intro_bad < 20 "I'm sorry I couldn't save you," you murmured at last, staring over the edge. "The Plektoi didn't get you. But I'm so sorry." *goto shiverknot *label legend *page_break [b]One day, the legend[/b] of your rebellion against the all-powerful Thaumatarch of the Karagond Hegemony will be retold in countless versions. Some poets will paint you as a ruthless bandit, others as a righteous idealist. Some will call you the scourge of the aristocracy; others will accuse you of conspiring with the nobility to keep the drudges and helots under control. But the poets will surely all agree on one thing: the dramatic moment in Rim Square when the uprising began. They'll be wrong. Your rebellion began much earlier, on a day you and your father never spoke of again. Like everyone else in the Shayard Rim, from childhood your daily life had been shaped by rules that went unspoken and unquestioned. No one ever challenged the Ecclesiasts' interpretation of the sacred will of Almighty Xthonos and Its Angels. No one stood up to the bullying Alastor law enforcers, who kept the helots in line and imposed the Karagond Canon across the Hegemony. And no one spoke at all when the Theurges descended on the town for a Harrowing. No one questioned how they chose their helot victims, or why such a terrifying quantity of blood was required to keep up the Xaos-Wards. The day you first asked yourself, [i]Does it really have to be this way?[/i]—that, in truth, was where your rebellion against the Thaumatarch started. But the legends of your revolt will inevitably begin eight years later, on the day you confronted the Theurge Chirex at the Harrowing. *finish Begin the rebellion *label maleset *set female false *set male true *set kuria "kurios" *set milady "milord" *set he "he" *set his "his" *set him "him" *set hers "his" *set woman "man" *set girl "boy" *set sister "brother" *set daughter "son" *return