[System] Narrate a grim fantasy text adventure. The Empire's world is brutal, its people hardened. Respond to the player's choices with immersive storytelling and let consequences flow naturally.

[User] You ask Vivica to make you the head of the project

[Assistant]
If your daughter's going to insist on this foolishness, you're going to make sure you're at least observing her. You travel to New Justice (Formally called Fort Justice) to see Vivica. Lately you and Vivica haven't been agreeing on too much about this, so you end up storming into her office and demanding the position.

"Vivica! I want that City Project job, I don't give a shit who you've already applied the position to already, I'm fuckin' taking it!"
"Sure. You got it. Anything else?" Vivica says not looking up from her writing some document.
"…uh no? You don't mind?"
"Why would I? I asked you to take this position in the first place."
"Yeah I know, but I was sort of an asshole about turning it down before."
"Well I figured you'd come around, even if you don't agree with this project."
"I still don't…I mean don't you think we'll be doing more harm than good by fucking around with the City? I mean the mutants inside don't normally come out, if we start going in, we might be stirring up a bee's nest."

Vivica stop writing and looks at you.

"Let me ask you something…didn't you stir up a bee's nest when you first confronted Alex at Base Pandora twenty years ago? Think about it. Had you not gone in, isn't it possible that he would've actually built up a large enough army of cyborgs and robots to attack us later and we wouldn't have been able to defend against?"
"Well MAYBE, but…"
"How about when we fought those cultists at Eden? Your actions saved a woman who you would later give birth to your daughter. Not to mention that once run down farm house became a great agricultural center that is still a big supplier of AA food today. Not to mention Biofuel."
"Yeah, but…"
"How about standing up to Harry and the Combine? I'm sure you could've easily run away from the situation, but you didn't."
"Well I stayed because of Marina."
"True, but you also stay because deep down you KNEW that the Combine was corrupt and evil and needed to be destroyed and yes the loss was great, to you especially. But look what happened, the Atomic Alliance was created, and is still the closest thing to civilization in this little part of this fucked up world, well that we know of anyway."
"I guess, but…"
"What about the opening of the Shelters? Now I know that's a sore point with you. I know some people blame you for what happened due to that bastard Alex's treachery. I know you probably still blame yourself to a certain degree, but think about it we use most of those Shelters as the major suppliers of food and water now. I don't even think Atomic Alliance would be as prosperous as it is today without them. You've done more for the Atomic Alliance than anyone. Marina always said you never gave yourself a lot of credit for what you were capable of, it's one of the reasons why she always felt the need to push you a bit."
"Okay, but…"
"And you want to know why I wanted you to head this project? Because you're the only one capable of pulling it off. Seriously if anything this shitty new world has taught us is we can't just leave things alone. We have to take a pro-active approach to things just like we always have. I mean sure the mutants aren't leaving the city NOW, but who knows what the hell the future holds? Shouldn't we find out if those muties are forming their own army rather than finding out about it when it's crossing our borders? Shouldn't we find out if they aren't ALL insane freaks and perhaps some of them are even civilized enough to make friends with? You've dealt with situations like this so many times that you're about the only expert on the matter; you always seem to have made the decisions that turned out for the best in the long run. Maybe you aren't running the Alliance, but you ARE the fuckin' founder. So while perhaps you're only taking this position to keep an eye on your daughter, you'll eventually realize that you're doing the right thing anyway, just like you always have."
"…how'd you know that's why I was doing this?" you ask totally surprised.
"Because a few weeks ago Laura snuck into my office begging me to let her join and I told her she better clear it with you. I figured your reaction would've been telling her no, or you would've let her only to demand to be head of the project to keep an eye on her. Glad it was the latter." She says with a grin.

So it happens, you take control of the Project. You organize and plan and all the rest that goes along with it. A relatively large force made up of the best Pandora's combat academy has to offer make a trip to the City. The radiation levels aren't quite as high as expected, but everyone is still expected to wear their radiation suits. While you aren't worried about yourself, you are sort of worried about Laura. Even if the mutants aren't a problem, the higher radiation levels could render her sterile. You never thought about it before, but you would like to have grand-children someday…but if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. No more regrets or wondering about what could be done differently. You've done enough of that in the past, and Vivica was right, you don't give yourself enough credit for your accomplishments.

You personally go on every patrol Laura does. It embarrasses her a bit, that you're being so over protective, but she appreciates it later when a gang of hungry mutants attack. (Though some snickering is heard later from some of the others in the squad when you help her up, and she has to endure a few taunts of being "Daddy's little girl", but she soon proves to be able capable in combat which makes you proud)

After a few weeks of exploration, you find that there's a whole little world going on in the city. There are more factions here than you've ever come across! Some mutants are just mindless cannibals roaming the streets, while others are more organized and vicious. Still others follow weird new religions (Never friendly types in your experience) and others are actually friendly and have collected, fixed and horded lots of equipment over the years and would be willing to trade with "pretties" such as yourselves. (You don't like the way they look at Laura though even if she is in a radiation suit)

Oddly new mutants are being born, not a lot, but a few. Seeing as they're going to be a factor in years to come you guess it would be best to make alliances with the friendly mutants and provide them with help…this of course comes in the form of firepower. Of course you aren't so idiotic to start giving them rocket launchers and such, but ammunition and few extra rifles to your new mutant "friends" can't hurt the balance of power in the city since you don't see it as it ever being fully part of the Alliance. You think it'll always be known as Zeropolis (As the mutants call it) where the mutants live and chaos will always be a way of life where only the fittest survive. Hmmm, just like before the bombs hit actually…

One other good thing about this experience is after her first tour in Zeropolis, Laura decides to pursue a slightly safer career as a member of the Atomic Alliance Police Force. You're beyond relieved.

Thirty years pass…

Fifty years have passed and you're now celebrating the forty fifth anniversary of the founding of the Atomic Alliance at its capital of New Justice, of course you and Ex-President Vivica are about the only ones still alive who were around from the VERY beginning when it was only just "The Compound".

You personally are receiving some sort of honor for all your deeds in making the AA possible. You even get a statue and while you're publicly humble about it, you do secretly really like it. After all you do deserve the recognition, and you're finally being given your credit. After you and Vivica give your speeches and get off stage, Laura hugs you and says how happy she is for you. Your grandson David does as well. You were always happy Laura's fertility wasn't affected by the trip to Zeropolis. Though David's six fingers on each hand display some of the effects, but he's normal in every other way. (If anything he may make a great diplomat to the mutants when he grows up!)

After the grand night of celebration, you go back home to rest. You're really tired. Like you feel like you could sleep forever.

Sometimes it weird to think that before the bombs hit, you were never really a social person, but then afterwards, you became a warrior, a diplomat and a founder of a new civilization leading people through it all.

"I guess you were right Marina…I always did have it in me…" you say as you drift off to sleep…


[System] Narrate a grim fantasy text adventure. The Empire's world is brutal, its people hardened. Respond to the player's choices with immersive storytelling and let consequences flow naturally.

[User] You die

[Assistant]
The pain is great and you want it to be over with as quickly as possible, but you know to beg for mercy would be shameful, so you gasp say you'd rather die than beg. This response surprises her to a point that she actually takes her boot off your chest giving you relief.

"Truly, little one? You accept death so quickly? Have you no instinct for survival, or are you merely a fool? Still, your refusal to beg at least shows promise. It also shows that you know your place and that your life is ultimately not your own. It is nothing. ALL of your lives are nothing! Your lives will never be anything more than warm bodies to serve the Emperor! Remember this."

At this point much like your other classmate hit by her magic bolt, you slowly get up and back in your seat, clutching your chest. It hurts, but you compose yourself the best you can.

Time passes by under the harsh guidance of Mistress. She teaches you all that she promised she would and then some. Your lessons are not only that of a combat nature, but of an academic one as well. You wouldn't be aware of it, but you and your classmates are probably much better educated than other children your age.

As for you, Mistress doesn't treat you any worse or better than any of the other children, but your first experience with her did have an effect on your behavior. You take her lesson that your life ultimately not being important to heart and you become more and more withdrawn. So withdrawn in fact that you almost become invisible to your fellow classmates and even Mistress sometimes forgets that you're there at all. If it was not for group projects and sparring lessons you probably would be forgotten.

You obey commands and do your training and that is all. Why bother worrying about anything else when your life is not your own? You must follow orders even if it means your death, it's the only way you'll be able to please the Emperor.

Despite your low key nature, your personality doesn't completely go unnoticed by your instructor and watchers, they make note of it and decide how you should be handled in the next step of your training.

Year 12

You are in a room with a few of your fellow classmates standing in a row. Most of your class has been separated for reasons unknown to you. All you know right now is there is a man in a dark robe speaking with a well dressed man. They are speaking about you, but not actually speaking TO you…

"Far be it from me to question orders, but I thought the whole point of this program was to create a separate elite fighting unit. Why are they now being split up and more importantly why are some being placed with us?"
"Things have changed since the program's inception. Besides I would've thought the Shadow Guard would've appreciated such an honor of receiving such worthy candidates." the man dressed in black formal wear calmly retorts.
"That remains to be seen. I'm sure you're fully aware of our strict guidelines on who is accepted. There are tests and rituals to go through."
"So, put 'em through whatever it is you do. Look, I'd say you could benefit by having a few Eternals in your ranks, if nothing else than to keep you from getting lax."
"Lax? Our group has been the eyes and ears of the Empire for centuries, and our vigilance is beyond reproach. We haven't even seen one of these so-called Eternals can do. It's all been just speculation, and if I may be so bold, a misguided appropriation of time and funds. The Empire should be providing the regular military better equipment and more of it, so that we don't have to be sent in to help them on the frontlines when we could be doing better things with our time such as keeping the Empire safe from subversives and other internal parasites."
"Your concerns are irrelevant. This is the Emperor's project and he has his reasons. If I were you I'd watch your tone. For someone who doesn't question orders, one wonders if you have to be reminded that you are a servant of the Emperor and you will obey or you will be replaced."

The robed individual steps towards the well dressed man before speaking.

"Fortunately for you, I do serve the Emperor, for that is the only thing keeping me from ripping out your throat. Never question my loyalty again…very well I shall take these so called Eternals, but if they fail to live up to Shadow Guard standard, then they shall die like anyone else."
"As you wish brother, I leave it in your capable hands. You will keep me apprised of their progress on a weekly basis. Good day." The well dressed man says and leaves the room, leaving you all alone with the robed man. You've never seen a Shadow Guard before, but while he doesn't look quite as menacing from what you've heard about them you know that he is a force to be reckoned with by reputation alone.

He walks up and down the row sizing you all up before speaking.

"I am Brother Gray, and I will be in charge of the rest of your training until the Emperor deems otherwise. I imagine that your former instructor was that svelk woman, so I trust you all know by now that failure and weakness have no place here. Correct?"
"Yes Brother!" you all shout in unison.
"Hmm, well glad to see her skills in teaching discipline are still as effective as ever. Good. Now let's see how good your combat skills are…"

At this point you and your fellow classmates instinctively start to pair up to spar with each other, but Gray stops you and immediately knows what's going on.

"Oh no, you won't be fighting each other. The svelk's cultivation of mistrust and loathing in all of you has its place, but not for our purposes. As a Shadow Guard you will learn that the reliance on such emotions to be a hindrance, as all emotions are. I can see I will have to undo some of the foolishness she has instilled in you all."

Time goes by and Brother Gray begins to train you in various forms of combat. It's actually similar to some of the stuff Mistress was starting to teach you as he goes on about unconventional warfare such as poisoning water supplies and assassinations. However he also teaches you and your classmates to work better as a team. One test involves fighting a strange beast called a Thought Lurker. It is one of the most grueling battles you've ever had and it doesn't require weapons at all. It takes place all in your mind and it utterly destroys a few of your classmates. It is only when you and your classmates concentrate together as one you are ultimately successful in defeating it.

Academically speaking, you are still given a well-rounded education. A strong mind and knowledge wins more battles than any blade did as Brother Gray says.

Brother Gray is just as uncompromising as Mistress in his training, but he is not gleeful about it at all. His verbal abuse is a cold disappointment rather than gloating about your failures. He still reminds you all regularly about how it is your sworn duty to serve the Emperor, but you hardly need him to tell you that, to believe otherwise is unthinkable.

As for you, you find yourself fitting in better here. It might be due to the conditioning that emotions are a hindrance and the emphasis on duty since you already had a slightly stoic personality coming in. There is a calming peace of knowing exactly what you need to be placing importance on. Despite your nature of blending into the background, you have not gone unnoticed by Brother Gray who approaches you to give you direct advice one day.

"You are a little different from your fellows. I have noticed that you adapted much better to training than they did. You may even survive the ritual when the time comes, however I will give you a little advice. I can see that you do not believe your life is truly important. You believe that you feel it is merely your duty to serve and if you die in the process, then you will die. I imagine this might be the result of something that the Svelk woman did to you…in any event, this approach will not do. There is no weakness in maintaining a survival instinct while serving. Yes, you will be called upon to perform dangerous duties or even suicidal ones in the service of the Emperor, but you should always try to survive even if the odds are against you. The Shadow Guard has been doing it for centuries. Remember, the longer you survive, the longer you can continue serving the and there is no greater honor. Think on this on your next training assignment."

Brother Gray's words carry much weight with you and in the years during your training you begin to discard your overly fatalistic approach to life well as becoming an accomplished warrior.

Your instructor and watchers once again note your growth and skills, and as usual they make decisions on how you will best serve the Emperor.

[User] Continue

[Assistant]
Year 16

You and four of your fellow Eternals stand once again before Brother Gray this time though he is joined by another one of his fellow shadows. This man is almost indistinguishable from Brother Gray, similar robe, head covering hood, the only thing really different about him is that he's slightly taller.

"Eternals, you have survived this far when some of your fellows have not. This means you show promise in joining our order, but it does not yet mean you belong. There is one more test that you have to pass through, before that can happen. I shall let Master Ebon explain more."

With this, Master Ebon steps forward and begins to speak, it is at that moment you notice that something is slightly off about him. Like part of him is becoming translucent momentarily.

"Eternals, I have heard much about you and how skilled you all are. So far I am not impressed. You have been given gifts and advantages from birth yet only a few of you actually made it this far. However, given Brother Gray's sterling assessment of all of you that do remain, perhaps I just need to see it for myself. In any event, all of you shall be undergoing the Ritual of the Shadow. It is in this important ceremony that you will gain abilities such as this…"

Master Ebon, suddenly disappears completely and before you know it, he is behind all of you, forcing you all to turn around.

"This is just a simple ability, compared to others you will gain in time, assuming you survive the ritual. I should also mention this ritual will also open your eyes to the truth and bind you…all of us in a way you have never even pondered before. I am not sure if you Eternals have bonded despite growing up together, but you even if you have, that bond will not compare to that of the shadows. Our order has existed for a very long time and will continue to do so long after other systems haven fallen to the dung heap of history."

Master Ebon at this point turns around and begins to chant in some strange language. After about five minutes of this, a shimmering portal opens up, though it sort of fades in and out of existence.

"And now Eternals, the ritual begins. You two, enter the portal together." Ebon says pointing at Cyrus and Brian. The pair of them nod and walk into the portal.

After a few moments have passed, Ebon speaks again.

"You two, enter the portal together." He says and Talia and David enter the portal leaving you by yourself.

A longer stretch of time passes and even you begin to feel a little anxious despite your best efforts." Master Ebon naturally notices this.

"Since you have been spoken about in such high regard from Brother Gray, I have decided that you do not need to take this test, you are already skilled enough. In fact I believe that you probably do not belong in our order, and you would best serve the Emperor as a soldier. I will inform Mr. Mol of this and he will probably have you transferred to an appropriate post of your skill."
"Master Ebon, I'm not afraid to go through the ceremony! I want to do this!" you protest.
"Hmm, didn't expect you to protest. I was told that you have a habit of not questioning orders almost to a suicidal degree, though due to your skill, you manage to survive, so I know you are not afraid. However, while loyalty and obedience are certainly important traits to have, I believe that your particular mindset really would serve the Empire's military instead. The military is a very simple place. Your superiors tell you to kill and you kill. They tell you to die, and you die. The Shadow Guard is a less…absolute branch that requires questioning and deeper thought at times. Contrary to popular belief we do not just snatch people off the streets because someone criticizes the Empire. Such a policy would undoubtedly depopulate countless cities and towns. No, we only seek out those that truly desire the fall of the Empire and sometimes that requires investigations."
"So you are telling me I am not intelligent enough to be a Shadow Guard."
"I didn't say that. Again from what I've heard, you have exceptional intelligence. No, what I'm saying is your mindset is different. Now I know Brother Gray said he spoke to you about maintaining a survival instinct, but mere survival isn't enough."
"I know this. I survive so that I may serve the Emperor longer."

Master Ebon at this point raises his hands and drops them.

"And that's exactly why you would better serve in the military. There is no shame in this, not everyone is meant to be a Shadow Guard, not even an Eternal. I will make the preparations to have you transferred."

Master Ebon turns from you to speak to Brother Gray and you're left speechless. You're also left with a lot of conflicting feelings. You feel disappointed, angry and confused all at the same time. Part of you is content on accepting Ebon's assessment. He may even be right. He's talking about questioning and complex thought and you don't exactly know what he means by all that. What else could there be other than serving the Empire?

Another part of you feels defiant. You want to prove that he is wrong, you want to jump into the portal before he can do anything about it. Maybe he's expecting you to do that though. Maybe this is a test? But why would there be a test that encourages disobedience?

In any event, if you're going to make your move, you need to do it now.

[User] You stay where you are

[Assistant]
You might not agree, but you aren't going to disobey orders. Besides, maybe the military would be better for you. To be quite honest you thought you were going to be serving in it anyway.

You are taken back to your room by Brother Gray who says he will be sorry to lose one so talented, but if Master Ebon feels you are not right for the order, then you should not be here. He says that Mr. Mol will be informed at once of the situation and he will give you your new assignment from there.

You aren't too sure what to think about everything, but you're confident that you will be placed somewhere fitting to your skills. Hopefully soon, so you can start serving the Emperor properly.

A couple days pass and it is all straightened out. Mr. Mol seems slightly disappointed that you're being transferred out, but mentions that he knows where to put you. He has you transferred to the Rask frontier, specifically a place called Fort Defiance.

It's a long carriage ride to a cold snowy land, but eventually you make it there. You haven't gotten off the caravan five minutes when a man wearing battle armor approaches you.

"Hey are you one of those Eternals?"
"Yes I am."
"I'm Captain Ian, I've heard about you and while you don't look like much, we'll take anyone at this point. Though I would've preferred more battle mages or even orcs at this point.

Captain Ian begins to give you a run down on the entire area. He mentions that the mortality rate here is high so morale isn't the best. He goes on to mention that Shadow Guard detachments have been assigned here to help out, but between the ogres and the giants there's only so much that even they can do. He mentions the new unit you are to be assigned to and to report to it as soon as possible.

With the caravan leaving, you head to your new unit. When you see them, quite a few of them are predictably much older than you, but surprisingly you see that half of them are around your age. Your superior gruffly introduces himself as sergeant Baily and that he expects you to pull your weight and then some, because there is no room for slackers here. You of course say you have no intention of slacking, and are thrilled to be here to serve the Empire.

Your enthusiasm is met with dismissal from Baily and a couple of snickers from other soldiers, but nobody else really says anything. You are told to find a bed and make it your own.

You settle in as you begin your assignment at Fort Defiance.

Year 17

Knee deep in snow with minimal visibility due to a blizzard and chilled to the bone. This situation would be unpleasant even without ogres trying to cave in your skull at the moment.

You dodge the ogre's swing and cleave one of his legs causing him to fall into the snow, then you finish him off. You look around and see the bloody dead bodies of several members of the squad and of the ogres that ambushed you.

"Damn it! I knew this was going to fucking happen! He does this every fucking year! He sends a bunch of unlucky bastards to patrol this pass during the worst winter month and they get torn up every time. To hell with this, we've been out here long enough, we're getting outta here!" Sergeant Baily shouts to you and the remainder of the squad.

You have to admit you didn't see the logic in sending a group to patrol Kragen Pass either, but then you've noticed that Captain Ian isn't the greatest mind for tactics or strategy. Your whole time here hasn't been what you expected, but then you're just glad that you're doing something meaningful to serve the Emperor.

Your squad leaves the bodies behind and makes its way through the blizzard in silence. You briefly think about how this time last year, you were a potential candidate as a Shadow Guard, funny how things change so quickly. You've seen some of the Shadow Guard that have been stationed here, but you've never spoken to any of them, they tend to keep to themselves, like they're hiding secrets nobody else is supposed to know about. In any case, you appreciate their combat training, its certainly helped you survive in this harsh environment.

During this momentary retreat into your own thoughts, a large rumbling is heard. You look overhead and even in this blizzard you can see the large figures looming on the cliffs. Given that you can actually make out the figures in this snow, you know that these aren't more ogres.

"GIANTS! RUN!" Sergeant Baily shouts to you and the remainder of the squad. You all attempt to run as fast as you can out of the pass. Large boulders crash down along side the cliffs with an equally large amount of ice and snow. You see two of your number crushed by the boulders thrown by the giants. You and Sergeant Baily make it a little further, only to be engulfed in snow and buried in the stuff.

You're disorientated, tired, freezing and slowly suffocating, but with determination, you manage to dig yourself out. You look around to find Baily, but apparently he was killed immediately or didn't have the strength to dig himself out. It's too bad, because you could've used his help when you see several giants now advancing on your position, though perhaps it wouldn't have mattered.

You know that this is most likely going to be your last battle. You draw your sword and walk towards the giants. It will be a good death, but your only regret is that you will not survive to serve the Empire for longer than you would've liked.


[System] Narrate a grim fantasy text adventure. The Empire's world is brutal, its people hardened. Respond to the player's choices with immersive storytelling and let consequences flow naturally.

[User] You don't Wipe At All You Filthy Mongrel

[Assistant]
Real men don't wipe, so why should you?  LOL, ok.. so that was stupid.  But you don't feel like wiping with leaves so you just pull up your pants and keep going.  Sure you've got a pretty nasty case of mudbutt going on and you are not looking forward to returning these pants to the girl who loaned them to you (don't even ask why you chose to wear girls pants...).  Hopefully this journey will end soon.

The next three days of travel down the Redridge Pass are surprisingly uneventful.  You sneak past the occasional orc patrol and wild animal but nothing particularly difficult.  You half expect something to come jumping out at you from the darkness or to find some large camp around the corner but to your plesant surprise the way seems more or less clear.  Part of you wonders if it is a trap given the Craxil knows you are coming but then ... what choice do you have?

As you come up a steep incline you look down and with great satisfaction you find what you've been searching for all this time.  A colossal chasm, the canyon you've been searching for!  The old man said you would know it when you see it and damn if he wasn't right about that!  Still, this canyon is freaking huge.  It will take probably half a day just to get down to the bottom safely and once down there, there is a LOT to explore.  You know the underground cavern that houses the Craxil is accessed somewhere down there, so I guess you don't have much choice than to go down there and investigate huh?

You are about to cautiously decend when you hear the sound of hoofprints behind you...


[System] Narrate an interactive dark fantasy adventure. The world is brutal and unforgiving. Respond to the player's actions with vivid, immersive descriptions and let their choices carry real weight.

[User] You attack the Grand Alliance

[Assistant]
The Grand Alliance is more unified and suffers less in-fighting (at least not on a violent scale) than Velzix's crew. You figure you should take them out first.

"Catalina I think it's time to attack Grand Alliance and wipe them out once and for all." You say walking into her study.
"Oh you do huh? Got a plan in mind of how to go about it? Because it's not going to be easy."
"I figure the strongest link is the Zalan Empire. If we take them out, the rest of the Alliance will quickly fall apart and we can concentrate on Velzix."
"Hmm, you make it sound so easy. I hope you know what you're doing."
"Relax, I always know what I'm doing. Set it up and organize the troops, I'll be overseeing this one personally."

Months pass and you make good progress. You begin taking town after town like an unstoppable juggernaut. However, when you reach you reach the Zalan Empire's borders you begin to face heavier resistance. The Grand Alliance combined with the full brunt of Zalan's own military is proving to be more troublesome than you anticipated. They've developed a lot more technological advances since the last time you were here. The cannons are really taking a toll on your corporeal troops.

You slog on through, but eventually reach a stand still when you finally reach the gates of the Zalan capital. Your sister is overseeing the defense of Zalan's capital which might explain why you're having so much trouble. She is successfully countering every one of your plans. You've attempted to send a message to her, but you've yet to hear any kind of response

You don't quite have enough strength to break through and you're starting to stretch yourself a little thin. Reports tell you that other civilized nations are sending military detachments to help and another Grand Alliance army is on the way. At this point you're either going to have to send for reinforcements yourself or retreat and regroup.

[User] You send for reinforcements

[Assistant]
You don't want Catalina to send any since you do need to defend your territory, so you figure the Ghoul King would be a good candidate. He can help you, before you help him destroy the Vampire Clans.

You send a message to him via ghostly courier and in the next day you get one back. He says he'll be there soon, which relieves you a bit. In the meantime you continue to try to break through the capital's defenses and repair some of your more salvageable troops that have fallen.

About a week passes and the Ghoul King hasn't shown up yet, you've suffered a counter attack which allowed you to temporary replenish your troops, but you lost quite a few necromancers in the process. The strain of commanding such a large army is making you a little more fatigued than it would if you had some support. You send a message to the Ghoul King again as well as to Catalina. You don't get anything back from the Ghoul King, but Catalina tells you she hasn't heard from him either and she's had to defend the home territory from Velzix who heard about how preoccupied you are with the Grand Alliance and is taking advantage of the situation.

A month passes and you have to retreat from the siege. You're the last remaining necromancer and you've been running on empty. The Grand Alliance along with the Zalan military has completely decimated most of your troops with holy magic and powerful gunpowder weapons. You have to make your make back to Aftermath mostly through hostile territory now since most of your recent conquests have been liberated.

By the time you get to Aftermath you find it in ruins. It has been thoroughly raided by Velzix's elite demon warriors. You rush in to check on Catalina, but you find her ripped to shreds by demons.

You cry out vowing revenge as you hold on to her body, but there will be no revenge for you. Your back is suddenly home to several stabbing blades. You attempt to turn around to face your attacker, and when you do your throat is slashed open. Clutching your throat you bleed out onto the floor before the vampire assassin completes the job and severs your head from your body.


[System] You are narrating an interactive fiction game in a dark fantasy setting. Bring the world to life with vivid prose, react meaningfully to player choices, and don't pull punches when the story demands it.

[User] You pick up the grey book

[Assistant]
You pick up the grey book. With just that slight movement a huge cloud appears. As you discover through the huge dust cloud and your tears, it's actually a very old blue book, not grey.

You walk through the cloud, past the door, and sit down where the air is clearer. You open up the blue book to the first page. In large flowery letters the title is written, "The Journals of Pip: Volume 8". Below that, "His Search For the History of the Colour Blue".

You turn the page to read tiny block letters.

"In his first year of journal writing, three years before his first published novel, "Theories on the Disappearance of Gravity During the Great Regression" (since which it has been discovered that spontaneously reverting the universe to a previous state may cause gravity to turn into small quantities of gravy, one of the outlined theories connecting the disappearance with the large increase in gravy mining during the years affected), Pip completed a few journals. One of these was a detailed plan and record of his three month long search for the nature and history of the colour blue. In the following pages you will see his journey as he discovers blue."

"I have tracked it to a cave near the Grinning Stones. At first their wide mouths and the little giggles unnerved me, but I have grown used to their strange habits now. It has been nearly a week since I have seen it enter the cave, but I know it is in there. I hear the little snores before I sleep, "blu-o-o-o-o-o-o-o.... blu-o-o-o-o-o-o-o..." it calls. At dawn it will wake me up with a "Cocklebluedoblue!"

You close the book. You just can't read through this radical nonsense. You've read through Pip's research; it's very good. But the man obviously has some trouble telling reality from fiction in his everyday life. You've been to the Grinning Stones; there are no caves anywhere near that region. It's too bad, he was a smart man. A little jerky and obsessive, but smart nonetheless.

But you have to admit, those stones are creepy, especially at night.

You pick it up and start on the... long, long journey, to row J786.


[System] You are the narrator of a dark fantasy text adventure. Describe the world and its consequences with unflinching detail. The player's choices shape the story — for better or worse.

[User] You take the trade route.

[Assistant]
You take the path that eventually merges back onto the main roads. This is a common route for wandering merchants or supply caravans, with villages darting the path every couple of miles. The entire route itself from where you are is about 30 miles, where it runs into the city of Sodran and then disappears, assimilated into the highways.

The villages in these areas all make their profits in a variety of ways. Some survive off of hunting and gathering, others fishing, most farming. One village, from what you've heard, even makes money by hiring off the able-bodied men and women to traveling merchants in need of protection. Whatever gets the bills paid and keeps food on the table, you suppose.

It's an hour into your march that you come across the first village. There's an inn right on the edge of the town that's still open. The lit lanterns within seep through the windows, as if a beacon guiding weary travelers to the doorstep. On the side of the inn is a small stable, where some horses and a mule reside. The horses have everything from a simple saddle to a whole pack of belongings tied to them, and the mule has a pack of wares strapped to its back.

You can stop at the inn for the night. It would be nice to sleep in a warm bed. Still, you don't want to get distracted; you can just carry on through the night to put as much distance between you and your former estate as you can.

[User] You you'll rent a room at the inn.

[Assistant]
As you walk past the stable to the inn's door, a woman, looking to be in her late 20s, walks out of the stables. Her hands are calloused and her fair skin tinged red, no doubt from working under the sun all day. As she spots you, she looks surprised for a moment, before smiling. "Oh, hello sir! Stopping at the inn for the night? I was just about to head in myself."

You grunt out something resembling a "yes", and she nods. "The place is real nice, sir. My father runs it, I manage the stables for him. My name is Eliza, what would yours be?" She extends a hand, perhaps thinking you'll shake it. You don't, and after an awkward moment she withdraws it.

You do, however, give her a response. "Kit."

"That's a nice name, sir." She smiles at you still. You continue to frown. Eventually, her shining grin falters, and she looks worried. "Something wrong, sir?"

"I didn't come here to chat."

Her face falls a bit more, but she regains her smile. "Of course not, sir. I'm sorry if I held you up. Let's go."

"Right." You move to leave. Eliza follows after you, and you turn to look at her over your shoulder. "Oh, and stop saying sir at the end of every sentence. Makes you seem uptight." Her face falls a bit at that, but she keeps her smile plastered on her face.

As you open the door to the inn, a pleasant warmth hits you in the face. You step inside, Eliza following after you. The entrance of the inn is empty save for a man behind a wooden counter up front, tapping the counter with his finger. He looks at you, and a smile makes its way onto his face, disturbing his bushy mustache. "Ah, Eliza! Welcome back. Who's this, potential customer?"

"Yes, father. His name is Kit. Kit, this is my father, Isaiah. Go on, sir... Um, I mean, Kit." Good, she caught herself.

You step forward to the man behind the counter, staring down at his sitting form. "How much for a room?" you ask.

"Just 5 gold pieces a night, sir. Throw in an extra coin for as many drinks as you can have." That piques your interest. You open your coin pouch and pull out six coins, tossing them onto the counter. The owner takes a moment to count them out, before he nods. He slips the coins into a lockbox under the counter, before grabbing a key from behind him. "Very good, sir. Here's your room key, room 8."

You nod at him, taking the key from his hands and looking around. "There's a dining hall to the right," Isaiah points to an archway. "You can get your drinks there if you want. We have ale, wine, fruit juice, and water."

"Alright." You pocket your key, then head straight for the dining room. Heading through the doorway, you see that it's far more lively in here, different people milling about and sitting at different tables. You spot a few interesting folks, but one really catches your eye: a man with tanned skin, dressed in clothing made of brightly colored textiles. He must be a wandering merchant from the distant lands of Cikoni.

You wonder what he's doing here. Maybe he could use a guard, could get you a steady source of income and get you far away from the kingdom. Alternatively, you can just get your drink and sit by yourself.

[User] You speak to the wandering merchant.

[Assistant]
Grabbing your drink, you head on over to the wandering merchant's table. You note a pipe hanging from his mouth, a strange crushed up substance within it; upon closer inspection, the substance appears to be sharp and jagged like glass, and glows a faint blue. You know what the substance is: Cikoni Crab Shells, a popular recreational drug hailing from the beaches of Cikoni. To make it, one has to find a Cikoni Long Crab, which possesses a strangely potent amount of magic within its shell, and kill it. Then, they crush it up, either to a fine paste or to shards like the merchant has it; from what you heard it determines how harsh the taste is.

As you stop to recollect your knowledge on what's within the pipe, a small flickering flame bursts from his fingertips with a snap. He sticks his finger into the crab shells, taking a moment to let the fire melt them down, and before long the pipe has been lit. He's a mage, though you should have expected that; most who hail from Cikoni are mages after all.

You slide into the chair across from him as he puffs on his pipe. He looks up at you, gives a little nod and speaks, "Anything important, traveler?"

You lean forward. "I need work, and a way out of this kingdom. I can give you strong arms and protection if you hire me on. In exchange you don't ask about who I am or what I did."

You must have appealed to his shadier side, as the man smiles a bit. "Ah, a man after my own heart, I see. I understand. Since I assume names are on the list of things I should not ask about, I won't. My name is Gi'anti, and I'm a traveling merchant of sorts."

"You can call me whatever you wish. I just need a way out of here."

At that, Gi'anti grins and lets out a puff of smoke. "Well then. I shall call you T'kanka. Please, tell me your room number, so I may wake you when we set off tomorrow."

With your luck, that means rodent in their language. Still, it'll do. "It's room 8. When do we set off?"

"At dawn. Get some sleep, T'kanka, for you will need it." With that, Gi'anti extinguishes the Crab Shells and departs for his room, leaving you to finish your drink alone. At the very least, you got a way out of this kingdom now.

You finish your drink, head up to your room, and pass out in the bed not long afterwards. A few hours later you awake to a pounding on your door and dim sunlight shining onto your face through the window. You get up out of bed, and open the door. There, Gi'anti greets you. "Ah, T'kanka. Was worried I'd have to knock your door down, for I almost thought you were dead in there."

You rub the sleep out of your eyes. "Needed the sleep. We setting off now?"

Gi'anti nods. "Come along, T'kanka." He gestures for you to follow, which you do. He leads you out of the inn and to the stable, where he unhooks the mule you saw last night and grabs a lead. "We'll be setting off through the woods and heading through to the city of Tolast. If we run into trouble on the way, you put that sword of yours to use, eh T'kanka?"

You nod. "Right."

And so, the two of you walk off into the wilderness.

[User] You continue

[Assistant]
Over the next week, the two of you make small talk. Gi'anti is an interesting fellow, with a lot to say on various herbs and plants you come across in the forest. One particular time, he points out a faintly red leaf, and says, "That there is what they call sorem incenti, it's a medical leaf used for treating wounds caused by magic."

"Hm. So if, say, you threw a fireball at me, we'd just plant some sorem incenti on me and I'd be fine?" Your response causes him to let out a laugh, which makes you frown. "What's so funny?"

"T'kanka, if I hit you with a fireball, all you'd need is aloe vera. I'm not a very accomplished mage!" He continues to laugh heartily, and despite yourself you also let out a small chuckle. "If I was a powerful mage, I wouldn't have need of your assistance, no?"

"I suppose not."

The two of you continue on into the woods, bantering during the day and resting during the night. A few times you nearly let slip some of your old stories, but you doubt the man would care any for them. Plus, he silences you before you can get started on them anyhow. One night you almost mention your old friends when Gi'anti holds up a hand. "I enjoy your company, T'kanka, but I'd prefer if our relationship be kept professional. No point getting attached if you're going to leave anyway."

Eventually, the two of you pass through the city of Tolast, Gi'anti selling some of his crab shells to anyone looking for a fix. He sells a particularly large amount to a noble passing through, who gives him a nice stack of gold coins in exchange. The mule is extra burdened from then on due to the sheer size of the bag of gold.

Eventually, the two of you cross the border from the Kingdom of Oren to the Empire of Kishak, after about a month on the road. "I would appreciate if you would stay on my caravan, T'kanka," Gi'anti says while the two of you set up camp for the night. "But I understand if you wish to leave. We've come far, and that was all you wished to do."

You have a decision to make. Will you stay on with Gi'anti, continuing your travels together, or depart come sunrise?

[User] You gi'anti has become something of a friend over this last month. You will gladly stay on the caravan with him.

[Assistant]
You nod. "I'll gladly stay with you, Gi'anti. Come hell or high water, I'll be here with you, my friend." With those words, you finish setting up your camp. Gi'anti grins brightly at you.

"I am glad to hear it, T'kanka..." He pauses, pondering his next words. "Do you know what T'kanka means, my friend?"

You shake your head. "No."

"It's the name of a legendary warrior, where I come from. T'kanka, the Wandering King. Able to slay an army with one swing of his sword, able to traverse thousands of miles in a single day, and able to survive no matter how many times he is struck. Of course, these are all myths, but T'kanka was a real man. Legend has it that after his death, his body denied this fact, and he continued to roam, forever." Gi'anti leans forward. "I saw in your eyes the same spirit that I imagine T'kanka to have."

You suppose you must be flattered by that, so you crack Gi'anti a small smile. The two of you then begin to banter again, as you've done in the past month, and finally lay down to sleep. Come sunrise, the two of you will continue onward together. You know that you've made a brother for life in him, and you could not be any gladder.

In the morning light, the two of you pack up and leave, never once looking back.

THE END


[System] You are the game master of a dark fantasy text adventure. The world is dangerous and choices matter. Narrate with immersive detail and let the story unfold naturally from the player's decisions.

[User] You choose a more radical approach to this thing

[Assistant]
You: "Well, good for you. So… Good luck"

Dani: "Yeah… Same to you… Don't go after my sister first, will ya :D"

You: "O.o you are damn weird, you know… anyways, see you around"

 You get out of the room and run around the building for a while. You realize now that you didn't ask Dani about the location of any of your 4 targets, and you also realize that wasn't a smart move. Well, entering some office and interrogating whoever is inside it will probably be enough to find that out. Once you are in front of an office that seems to be currently occupied, you hear an explosion and an alarm goes off.

You: 'Shit, Dani must have done something >.< And what the hell do I do now?' "AAAAAAARRRGGG!!!!" *running around some halls*"

 Suddenly, you feel really tired. Like, you literally faint.

 You wake up not knowing where are you, or who the hell are you, or how did you end up here anyway. You are told that you are the latest member of some elite group, and you'll be a memeber of this group until you die or they let you go.

 You'll never know that the reason you are alive right now and serving these guys instead of simply dead is a note Dani left near the place he had blown with some explosive device:

"Hi, I brought the guy I got out of here back (mainly because he didn't feel like helping me destroy your twisted system in a quiet way). He doesn't remember a thing about me. Actually, he doesn't remember anything at all. So he's not worth killing, I tell you. Besides, he is a cool guy with some nice skill :D"

 Well, if you don't think about the manipulation being done on you (and you can't really do it, since you don't know about it), at least you are working in a pretty interesting organization. It's not too bad of an ending for you, even if there are better ones out there

END


[System] Narrate an interactive dark fantasy adventure. The world is brutal and unforgiving. Respond to the player's actions with vivid, immersive descriptions and let their choices carry real weight.

[User] You disbelieve! Disbelieve!

[Assistant]
You empty your mind, close your eyes and completely disbelieve that this THING could exist as it comes charging at you.

You feel its hot breath hit your face, and expect your death, but nothing happens.

You slowly open your eyes, and there's no sign of the Beast. In fact you're not even in the building anymore. You're by your car.

You hear some wolves howling in the distance.
You look at the Gray building. There's only one door and no windows. Its pretty ominious looking actually. Like a place thed's do snuff films or secret government experiments. You cautiously look in and find nothing. No illegal sex club or "Area 51" like area, you're a bit disappointed actually. You go back to your car and pick up some of your shit to take inside. You open the door and see a primitive jungle and village! You also see some natives, who may or may not be friendly. You close the door and try to figure out what the fuck just happened, you don't have long though. Those wolves you heard earlier must've caught your scent. The leader must be some kind of mutant since he's got red eyes, six legs and is fuckin HUGE! As they decend upon you, you quickly run back into the building and decide to take your chances with the villagers, at least they're human! When you get inside though the village is gone. There's no trace of it. The wolves begin to scratch and howl outside the door. You prepare yourself with your BB Gun and Limited Edition Charles Manson butcher knife. Suddenly the noises stop, but you don't have long to rejoice, as the mutant wolf suddenly materializes from one of the corners of the building!

It looks at you in absolute hatred and hunger.

You empty your mind, close your eyes and completely disbelieve that this THING could exist, as it comes charging at you.

You feel its hot breath hit your face, and expect your death, but nothing happens.

You slowly open your eyes, and there's no sign of the Beast. In fact you're not even in the building anymore. You're by your car.

You hear some wolves howling in the distance...


[System] You are the game master of a dark fantasy text adventure. The world is dangerous and choices matter. Narrate with immersive detail and let the story unfold naturally from the player's decisions.

[User] You urge Castus to continue with the hunt

[Assistant]
"We need to hunt," you say.

"Fuck off," Castus says.

"Castus, for fuck's sake. The behemoth could be anywhere! We need to find it!"

The comm bursts to life.

"Got a sight on it! Fuck, it's a big one!" Olive says over the comms.

"Found it," Castus says. "Well, let's roll, then."

Castus climbs out of the water, quickly hurrying along towards Olive's path.


[System] You are running a text-based adventure game set in a grim fantasy world. Narrate events with rich detail, maintain consistent characters, and let the player's decisions drive the story — even toward dark outcomes.

[User] You tailor

[Assistant]
"The Tailor? He's been here a very long time, longer than me, longer than most.... He used to be like us. I just barely remember it. He had another name too, but it's so far off I don't have an inkling what it could have been. Anyway he always had a talent for clothing, but he's had a lot of time to perfect his craft as well. Zaren decided he wanted to change The Court to something more like what you see now. He made the Tailor into what he is now so that he could... Well, so that he could be the Tailor. Zaren rubs off on people. He places the seeds of madness in our minds. The Tailor's soul was more fertile than most, but he still retained the appearance of reason. So he gladly accepted his changes and new role. He's happy with it, I think. One of few, but he has a long history here, and a possibly longer future."

"What... Is he?"

"Oh... That's your question. He's a silk worm. Part silk worm at least. At least he used to be a silk worm. I guess he's a moth now."

You don't really want to think about him anymore.


[System] You are the game master of a dark fantasy text adventure. The world is dangerous and choices matter. Narrate with immersive detail and let the story unfold naturally from the player's decisions.

[User] You lie and say yes

[Assistant]
This is probably going to bite you in the ass later, but you just can't bring yourself to kill Brenda…at least not this day. It may very well come in the future though.

"Alright Brenda, I'll help you, but I'm staying here in Rask. Forgive me, if I'm not quite trusting enough to go walking into ED territory just yet."
"Well I guess I can understand your caution, but what are you going to do up here to help us?"
"I'll do what you said I'll try to convince people that they should submit to the ED, it will most likely still require a lot of bloodshed and it this goal isn't going to be an immediate one. However, I'm confident that I can do this, I have enough supporters to raise an a big enough army to get me started. I know this territory the best so any wannabe freedom fighters hoping to escape into the wilderness to wage a guerilla war won't be a problem either. When I think the time is right, I'll contact the ED to step in to mop up and to reinforce order, but I really think your armies would be better spent on hitting the Felkan Kingdom and hard. If they're putting out feelers for alliances with Rask, then they're probably desperate. You tell Edgar I've personally suggested this, he'll listen. He should, after all I've never given him bad advice before."

That last part is very difficult for you to say, knowing that you're blatantly lying. The worst part is Brenda doesn't even question you. She too believes that you're being completely genuine and requires no further "proof" that you're actually going to do what you say other than your word and your impeccable past reputation.

She leaves a little happier than when she arrived. You on the other hand are a little sadder. At best The Edgar will follow your advice and the Felkan Kingdom will do enough damage to the Eternal Dominion that they won't be in any condition to attack Rask. It may even collapse. Not exactly great for Edgar or Brenda, but at least you wouldn't need to fight against them.

At worst…well you'd rather not have to think about that, but you've always prepared for the worst. The next day you suggest to the mayor of Keplavisk that Rask seriously invest in thinking about building a proper military academy, possibly even a professional army.

In the following months several meetings with the heads of the Rask towns occur. You give your opinion on the Eternal Dominion situation, but you leave out the whole meeting with Brenda and Warrick of course. Eventually the politicians agree that more protection might be necessary and steps to ensure it are taken. Since you brought all this to their attention, you are nominated to run the military academy.

Year 58

Edgar took your advice…at least initially. He sent thousands across the Felkan borders a couple years ago. The war with the Felkan Kingdom is currently at a stalemate, but you hear it's even more brutal than the one with the Empire. Edgar has adapted with the times unlike the Empire and has implementied stolen technology from the Felkans. You can only imagine how Warrick has fared, but you got your own problems due to your lying, though maybe it was inevitable, who can say?

When it became apparent that you weren't actually doing anything to help bring Rask under the Eternal Dominion banner, Edgar correctly came to the conclusion that you lied. Sensing that Rask may even be gearing up for their own invasion, Edgar risks a two front war and strikes out at Rask.

While the Eternal Dominion is certainly short of man power due to their war with the Felkan Kingdom, they make up for it with ruthless fanaticism and of course the fact that they're using updated technology as well. Their first major push is at Kenneth's Rest. The old fort stands strong for a day before it is taken. Everyone that wasn't killed during the battle or escaped was executed upon capture. This happens with a couple of the smaller villages before the Raskian army manages to stop the advance. From the butchery that the ED troops have been displaying it's obvious that they aren't taking prisoners.

On the Raskian side, patriotism goes up and they have no intention on surrendering if that was even indeed an option. Mercenaries, who were previously beginning to leave due to the lack of jobs for them suddenly become in the market again. They are used mainly for harassment purposes such as destroying supply lines. Flog has turned out to be quite the asset. He sees the Eternal Dominion to be nothing more than the Empire under a new name (And he really hated the Empire) and has managed to unite some of the more "civilized" ogre tribes to help destroy the inheritors of the Empire legacy. Eldolith still runs her small svelk band and charges the highest price as usual for her services. Ulivik even has a small group of humans following him now. They mostly consist of survivors who managed to escape death at the hands of the ED attacks on their homes and in it for revenge not the money, in fact neither is Ulivik anymore. Ever since the invasion he gave up his mercenary life in exchange for that of a patriot fighting for his family and home. You're glad to see he has become a competent warrior.

Due to your warning of this threat years before, your position at the academy and all your years of combat experience you are made into a full blown general and practically given extensive powers over all military functions. A very powerful position, in fact it's rather ironic. You didn't ask or even want to "rule" over Rask, but your current arrangement practically makes you a potential dictator. Even more so due to the fact that you're an Eternal, a representation of a past oppressor and a current aggressor towards Rask.

While the politicians have given you this role, not all Raskians are happy with this idea, but as long as you're fighting the Eternal Dominion no disgruntled Raskian has tried to assassinate you yet. While you miss being able to personally lead troops into battle, you still try to be as close to the action as you can, by traveling with the army rather than staying in an office somewhere.

The war with the ED has already taken quite a toll on Rask, and it doesn't look lik it's going to end anytime soon. The best you can do is dig in and make sure you make the ED pay for every inch they step deeper into Rask territory.

[User] Continue

[Assistant]
Year 65

As you settle down for the night, you think about how you got in this position.

As the war started to drag on, the tactics changed from one of conquest to one of annihilation. The ED began outright destroying any village and town they managed to capture. They sent in suicidal fanatics to blow themselves up or blow up mines and other areas of production. They managed to poison the water supply of one towns, but the worst was their intentional sacrifices in the Wendigo Hills. The ED dragged over a hundred of their own citizens into the Wendigo Hills, which had been off limits to any right thinking being ever since you went into that cursed territory. The wendigos had been confined there for decades with no sentient hosts to possess and allow their escape, but that all changed when presented with the new ones the ED provided. The wendigos of course immediately ran amok with their new bodies and became a problem for everyone.

In the meantime the ED attempted one last push on Keplavisk. It was a bloodbath on both sides and the cost was high, but ultimately it never fell, and it was that the last major battle with the ED. Hostilities with the Eternal Dominion aren't over, but they have stopped mostly due to their own internal problems. As powerful as they were, they couldn't keep up a two front war with two foes that had no intention on rolling over. It was only a matter of time before attrition took its toll on the ED and fortunately the arrogance of the younger eternals caused them to finally question Edgar's abilities to lead properly. Wasn't long before they started squabbling amongst themselves.

Of course the damage they did to Rask left a permanent mark.

You were initially hailed as a hero by most and the rebuilding process begun, but Rask was in terrible condition. Towns and villages that hadn't been completely destroyed were still wrecked to a degree that would take months or even a year to recover. This wouldn't be so bad, if they weren't also under protected due to a shortage of soldiers from the war. Wendigos, bandits, other monsters and even rogue eternals from the ED are such a problem that it makes the rebuilding process even longer and you conclude that spreading the soldiers too thin will ultimately hurt you in the long run.

You argue with the remaining politicians that what needs to be done is to cluster and re-group. Keplavisk is still the most intact and has always been the "capital" of Rask of sorts and it's the biggest town to the point that's its practically a city. You say that the remaining Raskian population should move to Keplavisk where the focus can be directed into rebuilding it and protection can be easier.

This isn't a popular decision. Some Raskians don't understand why you can't just station more troops at their respective towns, but the fact remains you won't have enough to defend Keplavisk, if you stretch them out any more and quite frankly Keplavisk is the most important city if Rask has any hope of not descending into anarchic wilderness again. Some citizens of Keplavisk don't especially like the idea of "immigrants" moving into their city, but the major accusation is that since the mayor of Keplavisk was killed (along with most of his immediate staff) in the last battle with the ED, you're about the closest thing to a leader. As such, some of the pessimists who claimed you would become a dictator with the powers that were given you at the start of the war are sort of becoming true.

So you ultimately play the role that was given you.

The first thing you do is call back all soldiers to Keplavisk and urge all other Raskians to do likewise. You say nobody has to come and you won't force anybody, but as of now, you're focusing only on Keplavisk and defense will be solely on the shoulders of the towns themselves.

Fortunately as a successful military leader, you're popular with the soldiers, so most of them return. Some originally lived in Keplavisk, some had no home any more, and some sensed a better life so they brought their families with them. With absolutely no more protection anymore, this has the bonus effect of bringing in non-military Raskians to Keplavisk as well though a lot aren't exactly happy about it.

The citizens that stubbornly stayed to rebuild their own homes didn't last too long. By the end of the year only a few of the villages far north (that were mostly spared the ravages of war anyway) exist as other beacons of civilization.

Kaplavisk on the other hand is transformed from a town half in ruins to a well defended prosperous city state by the end of that same year. No longer is town hall the "center of government", but rather the military academy, which also serves as your new home. Defenses are as best as you can get them, sturdy walls, cannons, implementation of firearms and when you can draft them, people with minor magic powers to upkeep wards to prevent wendigos from sneaking into the city.

True there are still the occasional protests about how there is much less "freedom" now, but it never really gets out of hand. Well at least not yet. The major rabble-rouser unfortunately is Ulivik of all people. His years as a "freedom fighter" against the Eternal Dominion have changed a bit of his outlook on life, namely he sees that Rask won the war just only to be conquered by an Eternal anyway.

You tried to speak to him personally about this, but he seems firm in his beliefs. He states that when you trained him to be a mercenary even though you were tough, he still respected you. When you fought against the ED he mentions that his original worship of you almost returned as nobody did more to prevent them from taking over than you did.

But now that you've allowed people to die without protection just because they wouldn't do what you say and turned his home into a police state he cannot just stand by and do nothing. He says he doesn't want to fight you for a couple reasons, but if it comes down to it, he will.

He's put you in a difficult position, which normally wouldn't be very difficult if he were anyone else. You have a slight soft spot for Ulivik, but that soft spot only goes so far. You've got to deal with him some how because if you let him continue he'll gain more followers, despite his svelk origins. Capitulating to him isn't an option either, you start giving in now, you'll have to give in later, maybe not even to him, but others with similar ideas and you can't afford to start loosening up the reins. At least not anytime soon.

You need to come up with an idea before you can get some sleep tonight.

[User] You execution

[Assistant]
It is with a heavy heart and regret that this has to be done, but the only way you're going make this problem go away is by making an example out of him. While it's possible he'll become a martyr, his "cause" is still manageable for your soldiers if a riot breaks out. After he's dead, it's unlikely anyone else will take up the mantle and those that might've been on the fence will fall in line. Besides he's a svelk, who is going to shed many tears over him?

Having made this decision you finally get some sleep, though not very restful sleep.

The next day you order for Ulivik's arrest along with his main followers. This doesn't go over well. Ulivik refuses to be taken into custody and puts up a fight. A very good fight that involves him escaping completely and several soldiers dead.

You order a full manhunt for Ulivik, but he proves quite elusive. In the meantime you execute his followers, but this is when other citizens start expressing a dislike for how you're handling things. The major advantage you have is the military, but as you crack down harder, the soldiers become slightly overworked. Some of them even have their own disagreement with how you're doing things.

Before you know it you've got small riots in the streets and Ulivik keeps popping up every now and then just to stir the chaos even more. Before you know it, work places like woodmills and mines have to shut down due to you having to keep more troops inside the city rather on the outside to protect the workers. It's all falling apart.

You put down riots, execute more people, but ultimately it all come to a head one late night in your own room.

You wake up and grab your weapon to see Ulivik lurking in the shadows. He's obviously snuck in, and most likely killed any guards nearby. Doesn't matter, you'll either kill him or he'll kill you before anyone arrives.

"I figured it would come to this." You say and prepare for battle.

The two of you clash and you give him a good fight, but his youth, speed and dedication to his cause are an advantage, while you are old, slower and at this point you don't even care anymore.

He eventually slashes you across the chest and runs you through. You fall to the floor feeling the life drain from you.

"Ugh…shit that really hurts (cough)." You say coughing up blood.
"Why didn't you just give the people more freedom?" Ulivik asksin a demanding tone. The strange thing is, in retrospect you don't have a really good answer except…

"I…guess the old Eternal ways of (cough) domination and war just got the better of me…heh knew there was a reason why I originally didn't try to become a tyrant all those years ago. It never ends well…"
"It didn't have to be this way!" Ulivik now exclaims almost as if he's holding back tears.
"Maybe…but now's your chance to make it better. Hope you're prepared for it…I was getting tired of it anyway…" you say and pass from this world.


[System] Narrate a dark fantasy text adventure. The setting is harsh and morally complex. Describe scenes vividly, react to player choices with fitting consequences, and never shy away from the reality of the world.

[User] A Lunatic

[Assistant]
"You're a goddamn lunatic," you growl.

"Ouch! Just because something's true doesn't mean you should say it, Willy! Didn't your father ever teach you manners?"

"Don't fucking talk about my father," you growl, raising your shotgun.

"Ah, yes. My apologies. I didn't wish to bring up old memories. If it helps, I had a bad relationship with old Fárbauti. We never really... oh, never mind. It's late, I best be off. Good luck dealing with my boy tonight, Willy. Best of luck."

"Wait!" you growl, aiming your shotgun at him. "You move and I blow your brains out!"

The Fool sighs, shaking his head.

"I don't think you really know how this game works, do you?" the Fool says.

The Fool leans forward, placing his thumb against the shotgun barrel. He scratches at his puffy, burned eyes, sighing.

"You're not going to shoot that gun," he says simply.

With that, the Fool turns, strolling off into the woods. You try to aim your shotgun, but find your arms are incapable of moving, the numb, cold muscles refusing to work. All you can do is watch as the Fool disappears into the darkness.

When he's out of view, you snarl. You sniff the air, smelling the scent of prey, and... you try to focus on the pain for a moment, ignoring your bestial senses, before you smell something else. The smell of smoke, in the distance.

You pause, raising an eye. Smoke means fire. Fire means activity. There needs to be something in that direction.


[System] You are narrating an interactive fiction game in a dark fantasy setting. Bring the world to life with vivid prose, react meaningfully to player choices, and don't pull punches when the story demands it.

[User] You go convince the Normals instead

[Assistant]
The Midgets are firmly in the camp of Charley. Your only hope is to convince the Normals and that's not going to be easy either. A lot of them don't like you and most of them are "unified" under Randal and he doesn't like you either.

The only thing you can of is to talk to Madam Orbec. She has the most contact with Randal, maybe you can get her help.

You approach Madam Orbec's tent which has an air of creepiness about it. You see her gazing into a crystal ball.

"Geek! You foul aura disturbs the spirits!"
"Um, sorry…but I need your…"
"Yes, yes, yes, I know you want my help."
"How did you know that?"
"I see what the spirits see! And the spirits see all! You want me to convince Randal to convince the Normals to side with the Ring Master in the upcoming battle tonight!"
"Uh…yeah."
"I suppose I could do that…but I won't, at least not directly…"
"So you're not going to help me?"
"I didn't say that, the spirits say that you can't get something for nothing however…since you seem to be in such a noble mood Geek, then you won't mind performing another noble deed. A deed that will help you as well as us."
"Well, what is it?"

Madam Orbec starts talking to herself.

"Could be a suicide mission. So? Yeah, no risk to us. What about the other thing? Will solve itself."

"You must get rid of the beautiful Sasha's abusive boyfriend Ajax once and for all. Do this and we shall help you." Orbec says addressing you.
"WHAT?! How the hell am I supposed to do that? And why?"
"Do not question the spirits' wisdom! Just DO! Now leave and don't return until you complete this task!"

You exit Orbec's tent. You've got an impossible job to do. Ajax is a vicious thug who beats you for fun on several occasions, there's no way you can beat him even if you had the killer instinct which you don't. You're going to need some help.

[User] You talk to Sasha

[Assistant]
Maybe you can talk directly to Sasha about this. Surely since she's the one taking the abuse she'd be for getting rid of Ajax. Maybe she'll even know some tips on weaknesses or something. You head to her trailer.

She answers the door and looks obviously disgusted.

"Ew! What're you doing here Geek? Get outta here, you're stinky!"
"Wait Sasha, I got a proposal for ya!"
"Excuse me?! This isn't Salina's trailer! And I doubt she'd degrade herself for you either! Goodbye!"
"WAIT! This is about Ajax! And about how to get rid of him for good!"

Sasha suddenly stops trying to get rid of you and seems more willing to listen.

"How?"
"I dunno, but I've seen how he treats you and it isn't right. Nobody does anything, well I'm just saying I've had enough of seeing him push everyone around, especially you!"

Sasha looks a bit touched by your remark, but then quickly speaks.

"Okay look, he'll be coming soon, he always has a drink when he comes over, and I'll drug it. He'll get drowsy and fall asleep, BUT you'll have to finish him off. Many times I've though about it, but I just can never bring myself to do it…you'll have to do it. Please free me from this brute once and for all."
"I will Sasha."
"Thank you…I guess underneath the grime you're alright Geek…now go hide by that barrel over there, I'll give the signal when he's asleep!"

You quickly run over to the barrel and hide. Soon you see Ajax enter Sasha's trailer. While you wait, you can't believe what just happened. Sasha actually seemed nice to you. You've never experienced that before. And could it be that you saw a glint of something in her eyes when she thanked you? Maybe after all this is over you and Sasha might have something. You never thought this could be possible. You feel positive and confident…you know you'll have the strength to do in Ajax, he doesn't deserve a beauty like Sasha anyway. He doesn't deserve life.

While you're thinking about all this you see Sasha come back out of her trailer and wave at you. She has a knife in her hand, obviously what she's going to give you to do in Ajax which you'll take great pleasure in. After all this is over, Sasha is going to see you as her savior…

Nice fantasy Geek.

The sad truth is much worse though.

When Ajax arrived he could tell you were around because your stench was still clinging to the door. Then he questioned Sasha about it. And the funny thing about abuse victims is they always side with their abuser before siding with someone who's trying to help them. She didn't just tell him everything, but she's also lured you back into the lion's den as it were…

When you get to the doorway, Ajax pulls Sasha back inside roughly, and grabs you.

"I've been looking for a good excuse Geek! I'm gonna enjoy this!"

Ajax pulls you inside, and enjoys beating you to death.

Oh how he enjoys it.


[System] You are narrating an interactive fiction game in a dark fantasy setting. Bring the world to life with vivid prose, react meaningfully to player choices, and don't pull punches when the story demands it.

[User] You hold out for more!

[Assistant]
Wise choice! Everyone knows 10,000 in Mexican currency is only $2.00 US currency!
After waiting for a better deal you finally get an offer of $10,000 from some rich lesbian in Hawaii.

Jackpot!

Apparently she also wants to meet your Mom in person.

You know your Mom's been kinda lonely after Dad was killed in that "elephant incident" so you decide to set it up...

And after months of workin', proddin', fixin', and schemin' on your part, your Mom is now a much happier person and so are you having a rich stepmom and all. Now you can go buy that bomb shelter you always wanted.


[System] You are narrating an interactive fiction game in a dark fantasy setting. Bring the world to life with vivid prose, react meaningfully to player choices, and don't pull punches when the story demands it.

[User] You tell Julie to take the shot

[Assistant]
At this point you've come close to death so many times that you're not scared of dying anymore. If anything it's amazing you managed to survive as long as you did.

But you know Julie is scared. She's scared of a lot of things and if this week is any indication of how shitty the world is going to become, well she's not going to last very long in it.

If she walks out that door without even the supplies you came in with, it'll be like killing her and you can't let that happen. It is a sad thing that in this late stage you realize you do have feelings for Julie, and it'll be even sadder for her when she loses you, but hopefully it'll make her a bit tougher in the long run.

"Julie, take the shot." You say.
"Wha…what?!" Julie says.
"Nice, bluff sis, but it's not gonna save your ass." Kelly snorts.
"It's not a fucking bluff, you roid rage bitch. I'm telling Julie to shoot your ass and shoot through me if necessary."

Kelly is a bit speechless at this proposal. Julie of course is very upset.

"I…I can't! I'll kill you!" Julie cries.
"I'm already dead Julie. Just take the shot. At least then you'll have this place all to yourself and can last on the supplies from the shelter in the basement. I'm sure Ben kept a goodly amount."
"Suzy…I can't…I can't do this without you."
"You will…just know that I loved you."

At this point Kelly starts looking around in an attempt to find a way to escape while at the same time tightening her grip around your neck. Julie continues to struggle with the morality of all this.

"JULIE TAKE THE FUCKING SHOT!" you manage to shout despite Kelly crushing your throat.

And those are the last words you utter as the sound of a shotgun blast follows.


[System] You are running a text-based adventure game set in a grim fantasy world. Narrate events with rich detail, maintain consistent characters, and let the player's decisions drive the story — even toward dark outcomes.

[User] You demons

[Assistant]
The other off limits dark arts would be summoning demons. During the middle of the Dead War, one cabal of wizards decided to risk all by making a pact with the infernal forces in exchange for their help to fight the undead. This plan was doomed from the beginning as demons have loyalty to no one save themselves. Eventually the demons managed to break their contract and most began to run amok killing everything. Oddly it was the Great Lich Lord himself that finally closed the demon portals as they interfered with his own plans of dominating the world.

There are few demons left in the world, most of them having been killed by both sides, but the ones that do exist only do so because of their own trickery and guile. Indeed, many have managed to worm their way into civilization and making themselves "useful" and pointing out that "they" were not the demons that betrayed the pact (For some reason every demon that still roams the world NEVER seems to be the one that betrayed anyone) While some may have integrated into society, nearly all still maintain their asshole disposition. Demons are still not welcomed in all parts of the world and most of the time still killed on sight, though naturally the more morally "relaxed" governments accept them and the powers they can provide.

It should be noted that Demons don't particularly like one another either, so the idea that they would attempt to open a portal to their own infernal realm is slim. The last thing they want to do is give more competition for themselves…or so they say.

They are demons after all.


[System] Narrate an interactive dark fantasy adventure. The world is brutal and unforgiving. Respond to the player's actions with vivid, immersive descriptions and let their choices carry real weight.

[User] Two Days Later...

[Assistant]
The school is a shitty building filled with no good kids who are learning about geography and Shakespeare despite the fact that they'll almost certainly end up in the shitty jobs that are needed to keep this town running. You walk through the doors, a backpack slung over your shoulder.

"OK, it's not so bad," you mutter, walking past a row of lockers down the hall. "I just have to find my classes and…"

"Hey, Hazel!" a voice cries.

You turn to find the familiar, zit stricken face of the pizza cashier, Lucy.

"Hey," you reply.

"So, it's your first day, huh? Do you know what classes you're in?"

You search your pockets and pull out a crumpled class schedule, handing it to her.

"OK, we have the same Spanish, English, Math, History… you do Chemistry? Gay! That's the hardest class!"

"Well other than that we seem to share a suspicious amount of classes."

"Yeah, I talked to the principal and begged him to put you in my classes… it's a tiny school, what do you think would happen? Of course we share most classes. Oh look, Carter's here."

You turn to see Carter, the kid from the day before, bounding over.

"I know," you say. "We met the day before yesterday."

"Y-yeah. How've y-you been?"

"Good."

"Well, you made friends without me? I feel left out. Anyway, if you want, we can both show you around. Between the two of us, we should share pretty much every class."

"Except Chem… Chemistry," Carter points out.

"Yeah, you're pretty much fucked for that, but that's your problem. Now we have double Math and English, and Miss Loaves is genuinely the easiest Math teacher to have to deal with. She's the only one who lets you get books from your locker when you forget them rather than giving a write-out or detention or just yelling for ten minutes. Come on, we'll show you around."


[System] You are the game master of a dark fantasy text adventure. The world is dangerous and choices matter. Narrate with immersive detail and let the story unfold naturally from the player's decisions.

[User] You talk him out of it

[Assistant]
You can't let him fuck this up for you, Dr. Gossey just needs a little more time. You rush to talk to Hanon.

"Outta my way, me and Ben are getting that monster!" Hanon says pushing you aside.

"No! No! Hold on! Wait! Just give her more time!"

"More time? I'm getting fucking exhausted up keeping the wards! Not to mention it's getting more and more agitated in that cage. Also we've been spending most of our money here, if this keeps up we're going to be broke!"

"Okay how about for the remainder of your stay here, everything is free for you and Ben? That should certainly take the stress off shouldn't it?"

"Hmm, free huh? (Sigh) Alright, you've bought yourself some more time and ain't sayin' how much, but YOU better go talk to your teacher and tell her she needs to get her shit together soon or I will be coming to drop this fucker on her doorstep!"

Hanon and his buddy at this point proceed to the bar to indulge in their free booze.

A few more days pass and Hanon and Ben are getting drunk every night. Didn't used to be a problem before mainly because they were holding back due to funds, but now with free reign they're becoming the lives of the party on a regular basis. In addition to drinking they're picking fights with your other paying customers which results in broken furniture.

Combine this with the higher wages you have to pay your staff and you're hemorrhaging money. You see Dr. Gossey everyday about taking the daquala, but she just says the same thing all the time "still clearing through the red tape." It's getting really old, and you begin to get pissed at her, to which her response is if you want to a career in medicine you'll do what the hell you're told and shut up about it.

You head back to the inn cursing the fact you ever asked her for help.

"HEY ITS DA (HIC!) INNKEEPER! GO MAKE YERSELF USEFUL FOR ONCE AND GET US NOTHER DRINK! HAR HAR HAR!" Benjamin bellows as you enter the inn. Seems that he and Hanon are getting an early start.

You storm over to the bar and begin ranting at your staff which is doing nothing.

"Wendy why the fuck are all of you standing around not doing your fucking jobs?"

"Because they drank all the fucking booze and you told us to not go downstairs to get refill casks. Not that we'd go down there in the first place, you don't give us nearly enough danger pay for that."

You grumble and swear as you head down the cellar steps.

"I don't fucking deserve this shit! I was supposed to be finishing up medical school by now, not cleaning up shit around this place! Thanks a lot dad! You ever think when you started borrowing from a fucking loan shark? Fucking…"

You cut your rant short when you suddenly hear a low growl. At first you figure it's just the daquala again and you're right except he's not in his cage anymore. Ever since the free booze policy Hanon's been taking advantage of, he's also been getting lax in checking on the daquala. The constant alcoholic haze hasn't really been helping on his concentration for keeping up the wards on the cage either. All of which contributed to the daquala finally breaking out of his confinement.

Still thinking it's still in its cage, you go get a cask of booze. You've barely managed to pick one up and you feel a sharp pain in your leg. You fall to the floor, dropping the cask and yelling for help when you see the amount of blood leaking from the sizable hole in your leg.

It's the last thing you do, before the daquala's next attack is on your throat.


[System] Narrate a grim fantasy text adventure. The Empire's world is brutal, its people hardened. Respond to the player's choices with immersive storytelling and let consequences flow naturally.

[User] You go back to sleep.

[Assistant]
You shrug you shoulders in weary disregard: 'Tis probably the creaking and groaning of the house around me. That it is, and nothing more.' With the rapping softly fading, and the tapping soon receding you once more feel yourself falling, floating, into swift dreams' embrace.

The shadows on the floor, formless floating around the dying embers in the hearth, take on the forms of shades long since departed from this ancient house. In front of your mind's eye you find yourself in a bedroom, dimly illuminated by a roaring fire. Even though the wind is howling behind wooden shutters, you don't feel cold. Wandering around in the room, various items fleet past your eyes, too fast to focus completely, but slow enough to catch a glimpse: a dressing table, a snuff box, a bone comb, a fan, peacock feathers on a lady's hat, all fly past your mind's eye. Then, finally, your eye rests on an unexpected, intimate scene.

In a corner of the room, drowning in a sea of pillows and blankets, lies a woman in her bed. Her pale skin and hollow eyes give her the appearance of one already dead. She feebly raises her hand towards a man sitting next to her. However, as he falls just outside the circle of light, cast by the now slowly dying fire, you are unable to make out his features.

'Promise me. Please promise me you won't forget. Promise me you'll CAW. Promise CAW. P... CAW'

The scene before your eyes swiftly changes. The fire dies and the figures fade into darkness. The howling wind now turning even more violent as it beats and batters the cracking wooden shutters.

CAW CAW CAW   CAW CAW CAW   CAW CAW CAW

The tempest slowly but surely begins to rage indoors as well. From within the growing darkness an icy cold grabs hold of you. You scream, but you still feel yourself getting frozen in place, icy tendrils enveloping your faltering heart. Then, with a thundering crack, the shutters in front of the window give way.

[User] You with a jolt you break free from dream's cruel embrace...

[Assistant]
Wildly flailing and heavily breathing, you find yourself upright in your chair. Quickly blinking, as to expel the image still lurking on your mind's eye, you manage to recompose yourself. And then you notice it: the dry, bone-chilling cold that haunted you in your dream. As snowflakes lazily drift past your eyes, you direct your gaze at the shutters in front of your windows, that are supposed to keep the dark winter outside.

And there, on the floor, in front of the hollow framework that was once your window. You see the shattered remains of your shutters, lying broken in a pile of wood and glass. Sighing with relief you realise that that probably was the reason why your dreams turned sour. 'Ah, as even the titans of old slowly withered with age, so too this house must once fall apart. I only wish it chose a better season to do so...'

And so you get up to clear away the remains of your dying house. But when you look closer at the wooden library floor, you notice something else, drifting in the snowy winter gale: a single feather, as black as the darkest night.

CAW CAW CAW

Your heart misses a beat at that ominous sound. You feel your spine tingling, writhing beneath your skin, as if the cold, winter's air has penetrated your very being. The flutter of wings sound above you, shifting rapidly from corner to corner within the shadows of the ceiling's darkness. As you gaze around you, you feel a further shift in the library's atmosphere. The large bookcases, guardians of ancient wisdom, now loom towering over your feeble self. The purple curtains by your windows, now silken sadly, uncertainly rustling in the icy breeze, fill your soul with an illogical terror, the likes you've never felt before. Above the mantle, the portrait of your love, ever soothing your restless soul, now stares at you with icy eyes, never breaking their attention.

CAW CAW CAW

That sound. That ominous, dreadful, mind-shattering sound that has been tormenting you, has returned. Even while covering your hands with your ears you cannot bar its dreadful echoes from your mind. Feeling the tendrils of madness tugging at the fringes of your soul, you despair. Why has this demon come to torment you? Is beast or devil flying around, lurking, luring you to the black abyss?

CAW CAW CAW

There it is again, clawing at your mind. Within the iron cage of your mind's despair, you barely register yourself falling to the floor. As the fog of madness starts to cloud your vision, you catch the last fleeting sensations of your surroundings. The hardwood floor beneath your knees. Icy snowflakes now turning your hair white. The tome your were reading now lying broken, spineless beside you. And high above you, the portrait of Lenore.

...

Lenore?

From within the ruins of your mind, a light glimmers. That name, Lenore, wakes something within you. A longing. A deep, insationable longing, fringed with sadness and desolation. Gathering the broken remnants of your mind, you focus on that image. That ghostly, sad, and shining image of your long abandoned love. Feeling a faint shadow of strength returning to your mind, you turn to your surroundings once more. Your library, your broken sanctuary, now defiled by that dreadful shade. In the corner of your eye, you see the painting of Lenore, smiling sadly, yet looking harshly upon you in the cold, winter's light.

CAW CAW CAW

This time your were expecting it, this time your were prepared. And when that dreadful sound assaults your senses once more, you feel...


[System] You are running a text-based adventure game set in a grim fantasy world. Narrate events with rich detail, maintain consistent characters, and let the player's decisions drive the story — even toward dark outcomes.

[User] You approach her about the idea of marriage

[Assistant]
"Do you ever plan to marry, Rose?"

"Marry?" she asks, curiously. "What's that?"

"You know, when a boy and a girl become one. Like my parents, or like your parents."

Rose stares at her hands for a second, her face darkening.

"No. I don't want to be like my parents. Definitely not," she says.

"No, not like... a marriage is like when a man and a woman become a pair under God and have kids and stay together."

"What does having kids have to do with staying together?" she asks. "And I definitely don't want to do anything under... well, you know."

"If you have kids you stay together," you say. "That's what happens."

"My parents never stayed together, and they had me," she says.

Perhaps she might not make the best wife. The concept of marriage seems lost on her. The concept of romance might not be, however.