[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] Continue

[Assistant]
Azula sits at the desk as the teacher tries to teach the class. The girl tilts her head. On second thought, that woman teaches the class but not the princess. She learned these things on her own by staring at Father's maps. Who wouldn't? Tragically, this is also the only class that is remotely interesting.

Other firebending children go to military school or, at worst, a normal school. Alas, Azula has the double-edged sword called royalty. A fire nation princess must know the dullest of things. How does one brew tea? How to sit perfectly still while the men talk? Raising childing? To any other girl, this may be interesting, but Azula knows her destiny is far grander than being a Fire Lady or a princess of the court. She WILL be Fire Lord. Fire Lords don't need to know the steps of brewing tea. That's for her uncle and cousin.

While keeping her eyes on the teacher, she studies her interesting classmates, the only ones worth noting, from her peripheral vision. Mai acts like the perfect lady. Her parents expect nothing less. At least it gives me control over her. What noble family would want their daughter to not associate with the only princess of the Fire Nation? What bored daughter of a noble family wouldn't want to have exciting times with a firebending prodigy? And be closer to Zuzu. Ew. What does she see in him?

On the other hand, Ty Lee bounces her leg up and down even as she sits. She looks almost as bored as Azula right now. Is she even capable of being still? She wouldn't make a good infiltrator, but she could be our distraction. That Chi blocking will be handy as well. Still, does she feel out of place? Like me? Every girl here is a noble, but I am the princess while Ty Lee is technically a commoner. A commoner from a rich family, but a peasant nonetheless. When I become Fire Lord, I will elevate her family to nobility.

Azula nods. Is it unnecessarily nice? I believe so, but I will guarantee the loyalty of a family of Chi blockers. Why hasn't any Fire Lord possessed the intelligence to do that yet? Oh well, their loss will become my gain.

She waits diligently until class is over. Patience is a virtue of earthbenders, but even those savages can occasionally have a correct idea. They leave for lunch, which is another class. Here they learn to eat properly which is something Azula knows how to do. Mother made sure of that.

Azula and her two followers sit away from the other girls and eat their meals. Their etiquette instructor occasionally walks by, but they are otherwise left alone. Ty Lee rambles about a cute boy she saw on the street. On the street? Ew. Also, cute boy? Ew.

Her ears perk up. Always listening, she hears a very important word. Ozai. And, it's just Ozai, not the proper Prince Ozai. She focuses on that voice, and its conversation. It looks like two girls to their left. Aren't those the daughters of Uncle's… something. Is it Captains or Majors? Either way, their fathers are out on that overly long campaign. I would have won by now.

"And why isn't he in the battlefields? I thought he was a powerful bender, like General Iroh?" It's Crown Prince Iroh to you, stupid noble girl.

"Mom said they need a royal in court in case the general and Prince Lu Ten die in combat." You dare insult Father?

"That doesn't seem honorable for Ozai." You no good-
"It isn't."

"Azula?" Ty Lee sounds worried. "Your hands are on fire a little bit."

I should have more control than that. Azula ends her blue flames. "Mai, Ty Lee."

"Yeah?"

Mai simply nods.

"We have a mission to defend our nation's honor." She pauses for a moment before smirking. "I know exactly what we're going to do."

[User] You humiliate Them

[Assistant]
Three hours later, Azula watches those two girls rush into a washroom. Ty Lee accidentally spilled some of her paint on their dresses. How unfortunate. Then, a candle happened to be knocked over. Who could possibly have such precision? Since none of the teachers can bend, a great deal of screaming and panic erupted in the room. It provided ample time for Azula to slip away from watching eyes. She down the halls to the washroom door. If the girls were intelligent, then they may have heard the ruckus, but they wouldn't be at the receiving end of Azula's wrath if they were intelligent.

And this is why I train in combat beyond firebending.

She opens the door as the girls grumble, cleaning the pigment from their dresses. Oblivious, as expected. Firebending would be preferable, but blue fire would be a giveaway. Instead, she uses her foot. And Mother complains how I always wear pants. With the utmost precision and flexibility, thanks to lessons from Mai and Ty Lee, she kicked the back of one girl's head. As she crumples, she kicks the other one as well. You can't do that in a skirt, Mother. You also wanted me to wear dainty shoes, not these wonderful boots Father gave me.

Both girls seem semi-conscious. Azula takes out her brooch. And people wonder why I chose to have a sharp Royal Brooch.

One at a time, she gathers the girl's hair in her hand, lift it up, and fells the hair in a decisive swipe. Ha! You will never recover from losing your hair! It may grow back, but your honor shall be gone! No noble lady would have hair like a boy! Now, wallow in your upcoming misery and shame!

Azula sneaks back to the class just as the flames are put out. No one noticed her absence. Victory tastes sweet. No one may insult Father.

As planned, word spread quickly due to some strategically placed rumors. No one may insult Prince Ozai of the Fire Nation.

[User] You 8

[Assistant]
Four princes and princesses eat in a strangling silence. Each eyes their companions with mistrust. The tension seems to be destroying everyone's appetites, even Fathers.

Azula takes another bite of her meal, though it's not nearly spicy enough for her tastes. Why let good food go to waste? Why not enjoy the moment? This must be like the battlefields. She imagines herself standing at the walls of Ba Sing Se at the break of dawn. Her troops and the enemy's glare at the other, waiting for one to make the strike to start the battle for the Earth Kingdom's mighty, walled capital.

Instead of those dirty barbarians and patriots dressed in the finest armor, there's Mother and her son facing Father and herself. They even sit at opposite sides of the table. I know we're supposed to do things for the image, but this does seem slightly… ridiculous? We haven't shared a meal as a family for months. Always an excuse by somebody not to eat together. Too bad we don't throw flames at each other. Agni Kais are made for these situations. Have your duel of honor and let the winner be right. Then, suck up your pride and accept the consequences.

Poor Zuzu tries to melt into his chair. He'd make the worst of Fire Lords, especially during wartime. If he can't handle family drama, how could he handle the lives of our people? Stupid Mother. You twisted and pampered him until I'm manlier than him. And I'm not manly, at all. I'm a ferocious princess.

She realizes everyone's eyes are on her. I was smiling, wasn't I? Okay, time to make that seem intentional.

"I was reading about different types of warfare today." She keeps her voice conversational, casual. It seems more out of place for this diner than a waterbender inside a volcano. Huh, would a waterbender die faster than a firebender? What about earthbenders since the volcano is part earth?

"Azula." Is it possible for Mother to say her name without sounding so critical? "What kind of classes are you taking at the Girl's Academy? When I was there, they'd never teach su-"

"They don't." The timing of her interruption was perfect, as intended. This way, Zuzu could still follow the conversation. "I taught myself." She puffs out her chest.

"Good job." Father's voice is cold, but the tone, unlike the words, were intended for Mother. His glare seems too cold for such a powerful firebender.

Zuzu slinks further into his chair.

"I was trying to apply what I learned to Uncle's campaign in Ba Sing Se. The barbarians seem to be using a hybrid between conventional and attritional warfare." Attritional is a big word. Zuzu wouldn't know that one, would he? "While it's purely defensive, they rely on their tested methods of combat. Mostly reigning down stones and dirt on our soldier's heads from those walls." One day, she'll see for herself if the walls are higher than some mountains as the legends and soldier's tales say. "That would make it conventional warfare, but their goals lines up with a war of attrition. They aren't going for a decisive victory. They want to wear down Uncle and his soldiers until they give up."

"Uncle wouldn't give up." Zuzu finally speaks.

Azula shrugs. "He would if he ran out of tea. Speaking about our glorious Crown-Prince…" Was that too much sarcasm? "Uncle seems to be using conventional war for an attritional objective while also utilizing blockade warfare."

"Correct." Father nods in approval. Mother sits still, like a prim and proper noble. Ug.

"It's stupid."

Her bold statement caused everyone to look at her. Father raised his eyebrows. Mother glared daggers at her. Zuzu acted as if she just insulted his hero. Well, I did just insult his hero.

Now, it's time to defend my statement. "The city has the farmlands between the outer and inner walls. It should be self-sustaining until the outer walls are breached. It's more as if Uncle is blockading the world from Ba Sing Se, not Ba Sing Se from the world." She straightens her posture. "But, we already know this. That means the enemy is not desperate yet, thus conventional warfare. Eventually, Uncle and his forces will breach the outer wall. The enemy will then become desperate and gain two advantages, only one I believe Uncle anticipates."

Father appears amused. Mother seems angry at her daughter for insulting Uncle and for speaking about things a girl her age couldn't possibly understand. Yet, I understand anyway. Zuzu looks like he's paying attention to her, though he's unhappy with her critiques.

"They'll be fighting inside the walls. Home advantage, more so than what Uncle has been experiences. Also, the population won't be happy with our presence. Uncle doesn't have the will to use violent population control. The only way to not get crushed by a falling boulder is to either dodge or smash. We can't retreat, so he can't dodge. He doesn't have to will to smash the people."

In other words, Uncle is too nice to be a competent Fire Lord.

"Then, we have the problem Uncle won't expect. The Earth Kingdom is known for doing the same thing, patience and consistency. All that stuff. He'll expect them to use conventional war." She shakes her head. "Mother, if Water Tribe barbarians raided the palace and would possibly kill Zuzu, would you use honorable warfare or do anything possible to protect him?"

Mother's eyes opened a little. She expected me to not involve her in my analysis. "A mother would do anything to protect her son."

Azula forces herself not to wince. A mother would do anything to protect her CHILDREN. "The barbarians will do the same. Urban guerilla warfare. It's be nasty, too nasty for Uncle or any of our commanders." She shakes her head. "Maybe Zhao. Definitely me or Father. When we need to push just month longer to conquer the city, Uncle will leave. After all, Lu Ten fights on the front lines."

Mother stands up and leaves without a word. Zuzu looks between mommy dearest and the rest of his family. Then, he follows her out of the room.

"Interesting assessment, Azula." Father takes a bite of his food. "Might I suggest another scroll to read?"

"Of course."

"It is one of my favorites. In my personal library, read the scroll named Lighting, Infiltration Tactics. You made find the ideology appealing as someone who looks beyond conventional warfare."

[User] You 9

[Assistant]
Mother coddles Zuzu after his embarrassment. Should've brought your swords, brother. Father never would take us to the Fire Lord in his throne room without showing us off. Well, showing me off. You just fell on your butt.

"Ursa, Zuko and Azula, you are dismissed." The old man's voice still carries some power. He used to be the greatest firebender in the nation before old age took its hold. Azula does her proper bow and leaves Father behind. Too bad I'm not a few years older, then I could challenge you to an Agni Kai, maybe even kill you. I always thought you were stronger than this, but you're just an old, frail man. A man who never bothering seeing me, ever. The wall of flames surrounding his throne aren't a display of power when one never has the courage to step outside of them.

Zuzu falls behind Mother, still sulking after his embarrassment. Mother wouldn't be able to hear anything she whispers to him. Changing her plans around slightly, she adds another member to her infiltration party.

Azula takes his hand. "Zuzu, follow me," she whispers. She drags him around a corner to a curtain. From what she saw during her time in the throne room, her first time ever, she decided that this would be the best spot for hearing what was meant to be a private conversation. Information is power.

Zuzu protests a little, but he quiets down when they poke their heads between the rich, lavender draperies. Father planned something, something huge. Lu Ten died as I predicted and Iroh gave up after breaching the outer wall and experiencing urban guerilla warfare as I predicted. Now, their Crown Prince is technically a deserter and without an heir. How come I'm the only one who seems to know exactly what's going on? Besides Father of course.

"You would not put on that performance without purpose. Ozai, what do you want?" Well, he's to the point at least.

In his most official sounding tone, Father says, "Lu Ten has fallen nobly in battle, and my brother has no more heirs nor a wife to sire more. With my brother's retreat and desertion following the death of my nephew, no one knows if or when he shall return. However, I am here, Father, and my children are alive. Let your humble servant ensure your bloodline will continue on the throne." He bows before the old man.

In one day, will Father pass both Lu Ten and Uncle for his place on the throne?

"Fool!" Father miscalculated. The flames around the throne rise to the ceiling from the old man's fury. She holds Zuzu's hand. If not, he'd flee in fear.
"You dare wish to punish Iroh further? He lost his son! My son has suffered enough, but your suffering has just begun for your arrogance."

Zuzu breaks free of her grasp and flees. If it wasn't for the fiery inferno blazing around the Fire Lord, they would've heard him. Next time, only allow Mai and Ty Lee for infiltration operations. They'd keep their heads on straight.

"Father, I only wish what is best for the Fire Nation."

"No, you wish only for power and do not understand the feeling of loss. Only you have not experienced the battlefield. Only you still have your family in the land of the living. In your arrogance and pride, you could not see the pains of others. Now, you will know the heartache of sacrifice. Iroh lost his son. You will lose yours, by your own hand."

If you knew anything about your son, Fire Lord, you'd know he has no love for the boy. Still, I did not expect you to ask something so impossible for any Fire Nation prince to accept.

"I accept your punishment." What! "It will be done tonight."
"Go."

Father leaves. Azula stands motionless, trying to process a scenario that she never imagined.

Zuzu is going to die? Of course, he'd make a horrible general and a worse Lire Lord, but…

[User] You defy Father and Save Zuzu

[Assistant]
She slinks into the shadows. No one can know that SHE knows. Information is power and in this… battle… I have only two weapons. Information and manipulation.

She sits against the walls and buries her head between her legs. Father has the physical and legal power. He has the backing of the Fire Lord, so doing anything to stop this would be treason. I'm not old enough to challenge him or the old man to an Agni Kai, nor would I survive such a suicidal tactic.

She clenches her fists. Who's the enemy? The main combatant on the enemy side is Father. Sorry, Father for my temporary misalignment of goals. The leader is the Fire Lord, thus the entire Fire Nation would be on the opposing side. That includes all the palace guards. Anyone who aligns to me would do so out of personal selfishness or loyalty. It's me versus everyone else.

She suppresses the urge to scream in rage. I cannot switch sides. I made a promise. "I'll always be on your side when we're in battle," she whispers to herself as if to reaffirm her commitment. Mai and Ty Lee would follow, but Mai's family is on some boring vacation. Ty Lee went to watch some circus in a miserable port town with her family. Fate has aligned with the Fire Lord. Who do I have?

I have Zuzu, but he's the problem, not an ally. Too bad he never bothered making friends with anyone. Uncle and Lu Ten would take his side, but they're too busy abandoning their nation or being dead. That means there's no one else… Mother. No, I am not involving her. I'll save Zuzu myself. All I have is information and manipulation.

She sneaks away to the one place Zuzu would go at a time like this. Azula would flee for the docks to secure passage to the barbarian lands or hide among her friends. Zuzu would… be Zuzu.

The princess enters his bedroom as he sits in bed, covers up to his chin. Beds are flammable, dum-dum.

He looks scared. He should be due to his imminent and approaching death, but her brother doesn't know that yet. He's just being a scared little boy.

I might as well be direct. She sits on the side of his bed and stares at him. "Father's going to kill you."

"What?" He backs away from her. Oh, right. I'm Father's beloved child just as he's Mother's. I ALWAYS lie. Ug.

"He'll sacrifice you. The Fire Lord wants him to experience the supposed pain of losing his son."

He shakes his head. "Dad would never do that." Denial? At a time like this?

"Father doesn't love you. He doesn't like you. Maybe some Earth peasants would." Zuzu's really good at being a lovable idiot. Maybe some peasants would take pity on some lost Fire Nation noble. Then again, Zuzu would somehow tell them he's a prince and get killed.

"Run away?"

She shrugs. "Mopping the decks often gets free passage on merchant ships."

His eyes move to the doorway. She sees the recognition on his face. I thought Father said he'd do it tonight. Salvage the situation, Azula. Maybe I could act like I was trying to kill him?

"Azula." Fate must be on Father's side. "What are you doing here?"

I'm saving your son, Mother. "Talking."

"Come with me." The tone and the tight grip on her arm don't allow for protests.

As she drags Azula out of the room, she hears Zuzu muttering, "Azula always lies."

That HURT. She doesn't struggle at all as she's practically dragged through the halls. I'm the only person in the bloody world that's trying to save Zuzu, but you've entrenched your ideas so far into his head that he refuses to believe me. You aren't good for him, Mother. You aren't good for anybody. Father's going to kill him, but you're the one who made him weak enough to kill. I wish you were gone. I wish you were dead.

Her eyes light up. Dead. Gone. She sees a new opportunity. It'd kill two birds… four birds with one stone. Father would be so proud if she could ever tell him. Too bad she can't and won't.

They stop in Mother's chambers. She stopped sleeping with father two years ago. Also, ew.

"What were you doing, Azula?" And she thinks I'm the baddy here.

"You once said you'd do anything if barbarians wanted to kill Zuzu."

Her eyes narrow. For once, Mother looks dangerous. Maybe I inherited a few things from her, besides beauty, after all. "Tell me the truth." Her grip on the girl's shoulder becomes painful. Maybe, it'll leave a bruise.
"Father's going to kill Zuzu tonight because the Fire Lord asked him to."

She doesn't believe me. "Tell me one reason why I should believe you."

"Four. Zuzu won't die. The Fire Lord will die. Father will get the throne, and you will be gone forever."

Her shoulders slouch. I don't always lie. I'm occasionally nice. More importantly, sometimes the truth hurts more than the lie.

"You have a plan, don't you?"

"Yeah." Azula smirks.

Later that night, the palace erupts into chaos. Azula stands watch in the shadows outside Zuzu's door. He sleeps, blissfully unaware of the subterfuge and murder that just occurred. No matter what happens, she will not let anyone into his room tonight. Well, except that one. A figure gracefully approaches his bedroom. Unaware of the hidden prodigy, Mother rushes into his room. She shakes him gently.

"Wha? Mother?" He rubs his eyes. None of the guards are aware of the woman in his room. Father happened to ensure no one was around his son's bedroom tonight. Too late, Father. We spilt blood before you could.

"Zuko, please, my love, listen to me. Everything I've done, I've done to protect you." She wraps his in a tight embrace. She loves you, brother. Now, she'll never see you again. "Remember this, Zuko. No matter how things may seem to change, never forget who you are."

Before he could say anything in reply, she leaves. To where, Azula doesn't know. All she knows is Mother will never return. She'll always live with blood on her hands instead of her son.

Azula smiles, a real one.

I saved you, Zuzu.

[User] You 10

[Assistant]
Azula stares at the smoldering corpse. Her offspring fuss around her body, fearful at their mother's sudden lack of response. The girl knows Mother would've yelled at her, called her a monster. Mother isn't here anymore. Ty Lee and Mai don't criticize her. Father would praise her for having the guts to take a life. He killed every man who faced him in an Agni Kai, all twelve of them. Zuzu... What would her brother do?

As if Agni wanted to answer her question, Zuzu suddenly sat beside her. Azula squints, since Zuzu's head lines up with the setting red sun, Agni's presence in their world. She notices her heartrate increases. Why? The realization dawns on her. Mother saw me as a monster after I killed that baby turtle-duck. Now, Zuzu sees this.

"Why'd you do it, Azula?" He sounds calm for the situation, far too calm than what she'd expect.

She shifts on the cold earth beneath her. "I wanted to see if they'll make it." She points to the seven turtle-ducklings.

"You know they're too young to live without their mother." There's pain in his voice. She always hears it whenever he speaks about Mother.

"What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger."

She rubs her shoulder. Father had increased Azula's training to more intense levels ever since his ascension to the throne. School drags by during the day. Firebending training comes at evening. She falls asleep every night reading scrolls about strategy and the human mind. Every morning, she practices her aim and agility. It hasn't killed me yet, and there were so many chances during the firebending. I'm not dead, just stronger.

Zuzu picks up the dead turtle-duck mother from the pond and places it at Azula feet. "What are you doing?" she hisses.

"We're Fire Nation. We don't let corpses rot or throw them to sea like the Water Tribe or burry them like the Earth Kingdom. This animal was Fire Nation."

She tilts her head. You always had a fondness for animals. Maybe you would've fit better as the son of a farmer. Once again, Azula burns the animal, but this time she doesn't stop until even the bones turned to ash.

His shoulders slouch. "I miss her too."

"I don't. There's a reason why no one talks about her. A good Fire Lord would never let personal loss cloud her judgment."

She clenches her fists. The remaining turtle-ducklings won't stop fussing. They continuously call out their high-pitched squeaks for a mother that will never come back to them. Their mother abandoned them. She wasn't strong enough to stay. She never loved most of them anyway. She gave all her love to just one child. She…

Azula shakes her head. I DON'T MISS, MOTHER!

Her palms open to make blue flame. It's time to end the noise.

He places his hand on her shoulder. "Azula, let me take care of them."

She douses her flames. "Fine."

"I have one question."

"Fire away."

"Do you feel bad for killing?"

"Not at all." She crosses her arms. "I'm a monster after all."

"Remember this, Azula. No matter how things may seem to change, never forget who you are." His words echo Mother's final words to her beloved son.
"I haven't forgotten who I am."

"You're my sister."

He stands up and walks away.

Azula never did tell him, but she kept track of Zuzu and his attempt at saving seven hopeless, motherless lives. All year, she checked… hoped… to find them dead. They never died. In one year's time, they all grew up. It was just in time for Zuzu to leave them too. Like Mother, it wasn't by choice.

[User] You 11

[Assistant]
Azula smiles in utter glee as Zuzu screams in agony. In front of nearly two-hundred generals and nobles, Father burns off part of his son's face.

Zuzu is going to live!

He didn't see any of this coming either. Unlike last time, there wasn't anything Azula could do. Uncle, who finally returned from his desertion almost a year ago, let her buffoon of an older brother into a war meeting. I been attending them for over a year, but I've always been smart enough to not speak a word. Her brother, on the other hand, almost immediately protested a general's strategy. To make it worse, he protested due to morality and not strategy.

Of course, the strategy was idiotic. Send a battalion of new recruits as a distraction to get killed? We already fully integrated women into our military because of a shortage of manpower. A war that lasts over a hundred years tends to whittle down a population, even to the winning side. Throwing away new blood instead of keeping them alive long enough to be veterans… Old men like to use old strategies.

Due to her brother's blatant lack of disrespect, he was challenged to an Agni Kai which he accepted without hesitation. With your newfound testosterone, you turn thirteen, so you accept the first honor duel that you're able to legally accept. You thought you'd fight against an old man.

He screams again.

That war meeting, like all war meetings, took place in Father's throne room. He would be the one to duel you.

"Prince Zuko." Father's voice seemed to calm and collected compared to the convulsion and shrieks of her brother. "You are banished from the Fire Nation from this day forward. Leave tomorrow or be executed. If you wish to return, you must capture the Avatar and bring him to me. Go."

Uncle rushes onto the dueling grounds faster than she ever seen the man move. He carries her brother away. At least my brother won't be alone.

When Zuzu saw that our father was the one he'd have to duel, he refused to fight. He fell on his knees and begged for mercy. It probably saved his life. If he fought, Father would kill him, but it would be far too aggressive to kill a begging child. I should've advised him to do that, but it looks like his idiocy pays off occasionally.

[User] You let Others Do the Saving

[Assistant]
I ended up saving his sorry butt once already. Uncle should do something about this. He's the one that got Zuzu in trouble after all. He should stop guzzling tea for a few minutes and save my brother's life.

She walks to the training grounds and practices her firebending. The blue seems deeper today. The fire feels hotter. She notices how her stands of hair fall out of place more commonly, but that doesn't bother her now. She lets her movements flow into the next with savage punching followed by wild kicking. Each time, blue flames come out and hit the target.

It hardly registers with her that it became dark outside. Firebenders draw their power from the sun, so they lose some of their power after the sun no longer gives its light. However, Azula's fire hasn't diminished, for each fireball has only increased her… confusion.

I don't feel anything!

Her heart aches for her brother. No one else loves her like he does. Mother never gave her love. Father loves her because of her perfection and results. Zuzu loves her because she is Azula.

I'm not sad!

Her hands twitch on their own accord. She feels an emotion for only the most pathetic, weak excuses for human life that ever set foot upon the living world. Zuzu must feel it all the time. She feels fear. Fear of being alone. Fear of loosing her kin.

I'm not afraid.

Her lips twist into a ferocious snarl that would make the most battle-hardened men squirm. Her blood boils as if her fire has roasted it. She feels fury, rage. No one will save Zuzu, so he will die. He will lie all night being tended by their uncle. In the morning, he will realize his mistake and try to secure passage out, but he will be moments too slow. Her father will ensure Uncle Iroh will be too slow, so he can kill Zuzu.

Fine. I'll admit I'm angry.

Grumbling all the way, the princess marches to her room. Opening her lowest dresser's drawer, she pulls out a small chest of coins. There never was much point to buying things when anyone would gift or give them to her instead. Putting more money in a bag than most peasants would see in twenty lifetimes, she slinks through the back passageways to the infirmary. Zuzu and I used to explore these. Father wouldn't want her to help the old idiot and her dum-dum, but Azula isn't a mindless servant. I'm not. I'm definitely not.

She creeps through the doorway and spies only two figures. One slouches in a chair. His breathing patterns suggest he fell asleep or meditates. Knowing him, the latter. The other lies in a bed with a bandage covering the entire left side of his face. Will Zuzu be half-blind?

"Have you come to gloat, my niece?" Uncle raises his head from his meditation. Azula forces herself not to shake her head. Why does everyone always assume the worst about me? Oh, right. I'm a monster. I always lie. Thanks for nothing, Mother. Thanks for never bothering to love me.

Instead of arguing, she hands her uncle the bag of coins without a word.

"What is this?" He squints, trying to read the symbols without adequate lighting.

She shrugs. "Since you probably wasted all your funds of tea, here's something to ensure you don't kill my brother immediately."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Despite popular opinion, I find breathing brothers as more useful than dead ones." She glances at Zuzu. "I may not see him for a long time. Tell him he better be able to bend at least pathetically bad instead of horrifically bad."

Azula takes one more look at her brother and memorizes the sight. She sears it into her memory. Will she even recognize him next time they meet? Probably not. He won't recognize her either. She will be wearing the regalia of Fire Lord as she welcomes back her brother from exile. Then, he will thank her for rescinding his banishment and pay respects to their recently deceased father.

She walks back to her bedroom and falls into her bed. When sleep overtakes her moments later, a small smile graces her lips.

[User] You 12

[Assistant]
Azula didn't bother to waive goodbye as the ship sailed away. Ty Lee would've been crying, but the airhead joined the circus. That's… that's for runaways and inconsequential people. Ty Lee could've been so much more if she stayed. Instead, her talents will be used to entertain the peasants of the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation like some uninteresting vagabond.

The princess clenches her fists. Of course, Father would "gift" Mai's parents with the governorship of a colony. Her parents jumped at the opportunity and were gone by the end of the week. She wonders if Mai stands on the stern and stares back. The distance is already too great. She can't see her anymore.

I don't feel lonely. I don't FEEL.

She sits in a palanquin. No princess could dream about walking like a normal human being… or a warrior. On either side, she and her bearers are flanked by her royal guards. The citizens back away from the procession as Azula peeks outside. Children stop playing. Mothers gather their toddlers close by. Men step between their families and her.

Only the footsteps of her procession break the silence.

It's not that she misses Ty Lee's eternally positive attitude or Mai's steadfast dedication. She doesn't miss bickering with Zuzu and annoying him in the most childish manners. She doesn't long for her sparring matches against her two friends nor plotting various ways to take the throne from Zuzu without killing him. She doesn't miss Mother. Not at all.

After arriving at the palace, she rushes to the training grounds. Everything burns that can be. The grass, the targets, anything. She throws fire at it all. I am not lonely. She focuses on a metal pole. With a continuous whirlwind of blue flame, she watches the gray metal become red with heat. I am not lonely! The pole tilts to the left as the heat destroys the foundation. I FEEL NOTHING!

The blue flame in her hands become something else entirely. It's still blue, but it cackles and arches. Surprised, she stops bending.

Her insides feel as though they were torn apart and sewn back together. That was power. That was… Recalling what she read in ancient, royal's only scrolls, she swings her arms in a circular motion and embraces the feeling of… Nothingness.

Electricity dances around her fingertips as Azula's mind and body tremble from the power. She points at the pole. The lightning soars through the air and strike the pole. A roll of thunder follows in its wake.

Feeling exhausted, Azula sits down on the scorched grass. She holds the position for a moment before lying down. The sun beams down on her, and it seems to be warming her. I feel so cold, so empty.

She doesn't know how long she lies there. Minutes? Hours? Either way, it ends when a figure steps between her and the sun.

"Azula, get up."

"Yes, Father." She stands though her legs wobble.

"You generated lightning." He doesn't sound impressed. "It is time for you to improve. You'd die on the battlefield because this helplessness."

She represses a wince. "Yes, Father."

Up until today, a Crown Prince over three hundred years ago was the youngest to generate lightning. He was twenty. Azula is twelve.

At least Zuzu would've been impressed. She readies into her combat forms, ignoring the pain and her headache. It's too bad perfection won't allow for praise or rest. Such is the life of a future Fire Lord. All she needs to do is try harder, think cannier, and never show weakness. Then, I will get Father's approval forever.

[User] You 13

[Assistant]
Azula feels sore in so many places. She never thought she could feel such aching pain everywhere. She wraps herself with a robe as she steps out from the tub. I don't feel dirty. It's just because I'm sore. Today was the most taxing training session she had with Father yet. It was alone, secluded. Not even the guards could witness what he decided to teach her today.

He called it a birthday present. It's the first present he ever gave her. Other nobles gave her gifts, trinkets and jewelry. They're piled in the corner of her room, all but a few unopened. None were as amazing as Zuzu's knife. Uncle gave her a doll, but she always was fascinated by the craftmanship of the barbarian's weapon.

He said I'm a woman now.

She stares in the mirror. It's not something she would do often. Her servants prettied her as fitting for a princess. Rubbing her hand down her pristine jawline, she wonders if this is why men… look at her differently now. All of them do. ALL.

Would Uncle give me a stare like them? Tales of his… exploits and even more numerous attempted exploits still echo in the palace halls even two years after his departure with Zuzu. Zuzu… You'd just see your sister, wouldn't you? I could've used one male underling I could count on. You'd do stupid things act like a blubbering savage, but you were an honest dum-dum.

She focuses back on the mirror.

Stumbling backwards, she shoots flames at HER out of pure reflex. She shouldn't be here! There's no screaming. Azula hit her target. There's no smell of burnt flesh of melodic cries of pain.

She looks at her target… and laughs. Except in the fake, mocking laugh she uses for manipulation, she hasn't laughed in months.

The princess looks around and listens. No one noticed this. Her bedroom and washroom doors are closed. She stands and walks to the mirror. Scorch marks cover the once pristine surface. She raises her hand and touches the figure on the other side of the reflection.

"I look like Mother." Her voice trembles, a clear sign of weakness. Father can't hear her, so he won't be disappointing. Right now, she is weak.

The jawline, the curve of her forehead, her lips. They're the same as Mother's. The realization hits her harder than any pain she receives during training. She has her nose, her eyebrows, her hair. Everything is the same.

"How could you?" She imagines Mother standing in place of her reflection. Azula's voice turn venomous. "You gave me your… beauty. You must've known I looked like you in your youth. Could you not love yourself?" She slams her fist against the glass. It shakes but doesn't break. "I am from you! You carried me, birthed me, and were supposed to love me. I am Azula. I am the perfect prodigy. You threw away your life to protect Zuzu but couldn't bother even a moment to… to do anything for me?"

Azula clenches her fists. If not, fire would burn the walls. "Father loves me! He sees I'm worth training. Zuzu loves me because he's Zuzu. Everyone else fears me, respects me. You couldn't even show fear? Why was it just disapproval? I tried everything. I saved your son, twice now!"

Her voice becomes strained. "Should I conquer Ba Sing Se and become a hero? Should I become a better bender? What can I DO? Tell me, and I'll do it. I can do anything."

She hears silence.

[User] You run Away

[Assistant]
Azula flees from her mother. She runs through the halls with all her might. Every step acts as more distance between her and Mother. People yell at her to stop running, but she pays them no heed. Don't they know Mother hates her? Now, she won't have to see that woman any longer.

"Mother!" Azula throws a blast of fire at another mirror. She turns and sees another and another. Spinning in a circle, she sees Mother everywhere. A small portion of her brain screams at her that she sees only her reflection. She only stepped into a changing room. That part of her brain gets crushed by bestial fear.

I must escape Mother!

Seeing one avenue of retreat, she blows out a window's glass with her blue fire. She leaps through the hole. For a moment, she flies free of her Mother's presence. Then, she falls, since she was high up in the palace.

Blue had always been Azula's color. It made her special, different from the reds and yellows of everyone else. She would've laughed at the irony of her death. She died in a pile of red, her blood. No matter how special she was, she still bled red just like everyone else.


[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 read File: Charles Antonguella

[Assistant] Charles Antonguella was a miner on Kerunga-IV, until he was kidnapped by Dark Eldar. He was forced to fight as a gladiator for the Dark Eldar, but found himself to have bested several Wyches. He became an esteemed fighter for the Dark Eldar, who reveled in his beauty and his abilities at killing enemies with his bare hands. Eventually, he escaped and fled off-world, where he became a mercenary. He eventually began working for Kyros as a bodyguard for the infamous Navigator Drake Amadeus.


[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 say "Naw, I'm good."

[Assistant]
"I'm sorry."  You say, "I'm not sure where, or even who I am.  I don't think I'm up to this sort of mission."

Fila stares at the dirt, clearly disappointed.

"Could you at least tell us where you saw them last?"  Merk asks

"I guess it couldn't hurt,"  you say. You explain how you came down the path from the top of the hill, and how you went in the exact opposite direction as them.  "Just keep going down the path and, I don't know, get some kind of tracker-person to pick up their trail. Am I saying that right?"

"I suppose that helps,"  Merk murmurs, "Thank you human.  I hope that the knowledge you have granted me is a fair substitute for your presence on this journey.  Come on Fila, let's go round up a search party."

You watch as they walk back into town, leaving you alone in the square.  All the things you felt after witnessing the kidnapping resurface, guilt, helplessness, the whole package.  For a moment you sit there, feeling sorry for yourself. Then you notice the Oalkwardners looking your way, suspicion in their eyes.  Maybe you'd better find somewhere else to stay, you're not quite sure you're welcome here. It wouldn't do to have another incident like you did with Merk.

So, you head out of the village the same way you came in.  Luckily, the most threatening thing you encounter on your way out are a few nervous glances as the rest of the village wakes up.  Soon, you've left the buildings behind and are back on the path through the forest. After you've gone a ways, you turn off the path and head out into the field surrounding the village.  Once you're far enough from the path that you're not likely to run into any unfriendly villagers, you toss your bag onto the ground and pull out your sleeping bag and pillow and spread them out on the ground.  Not that you need to go to bed yet, but just to give yourself something to do, if only for a few minutes. Guess this'll serve as a camp for the time being.

For a while you stare off into the distance, thinking of nothing in particular.  Your mind wanders, replaying the events of the day, contemplating your memory loss, trying to tease something from the thick fog that seems to engulf your thoughts every time you try to remember anything before you awoke in the forest.

After a while, a line of figures appear in the distance, coming from the village, following the trail into the woods.  You can just make out Merk and a few others, all carrying bags slung over their shoulders and spears in their hands. They don't notice you watching them, and carry on into the forest, following the information you gave them.  Hopefully they find what they're looking for.

The rest of the day is uneventful at best.  You busy yourself by building a fire, even though it's far too hot to need one, and exploring around your campsite.  It crosses your mind that maybe you should head back into the village and introduce yourself, show them that you're nothing to fear.  You go back and forth as to whether or not you should, but eventually sheer boredom convinces you to be brave and face the Oalkwardners.  So you stamp out the fire best you can and start towards the path into the village. You've almost reached it when a lone Oalkwardner comes dashing out of the forest and trips, falling right on its face

"Are you alright?"  You ask, rushing to the creature's side.

"They've been taken!"  It gasps, "Merk and the others... I was the only one... to escape.  Man that hurts..." It rolls onto its side, revealing a gaping hole, oozing a clear substance.

"What happened to you?"  Your heart pounds that the sight of the... well, you think it's blood.  "I... I think you need a doctor or something."

The creature doesn't respond.  It just lays there, taking in shallow breaths, coughing every once in a while.  You don't think, you just act, scooping up the body and taking off running towards the village.  It's lighter than you'd expect, but maybe that's just adrenaline.

"Help!"  You shout as you run through the village streets,  "A doctor! She need a doctor!" The Oalkwardners look at you terrified.

"A monster!"  One of them cries, seeing the creature in your arms.

"No!"  you shout,  "Don't those ears of yours work?  I'm trying to save-"

"Run it'll kill us all!"

The Oalkwardners scatter in all directions, screaming.  But there's no time to worry about them, you keep going, still calling for a doctor.  A minute of this and the alarm sounds once more, cutting through the air. Still you search, frantically, for someone to help you.  Then, you round a corner and come face to face with a wall of spears. The Watchmen of Arrorn have come to stop you, thinking you're a monster.

Before they can attack, you kneel and lay the Oalkwardner in your arms at their feet.

"I didn't do this."  You say, "You have to help her, she's going to die!"

"Why should we believe you, monster?"  One of the watchmen asks, "For all we know, you're responsible for all the disappearances."

"Why would I come here if I was the one who did this?"  You ask, "What, do you think I'm stupid?"

"I don't know,"  the watchman says,  "I don't make a habit of dealing with monsters."

"Enough of this!"  A voice from behind the line of Watchmen startles everyone.  "Clear a path, you idiots! This is no monster, but an acquaintance of Merk!  He spoke to this creature just this morning and determined it was no threat!" The Watchmen part to reveal an especially wrinkly Oalkwardner.

"I found her on the path!" you say, "She's from the search party that went out after Merk's kid, but I think something went wrong!"

The wrinkly Oalkwardner takes one look at the wounded creature at your feet and gasps.  "Never, in all my years as an elder... I can treat her, but we must get to my office quickly.  Come on, I need you to carry her, it'll be quicker that way!"

You scoop her up and follow without a word.  The elder's office is on the edge of the town square, (Which, thank goodness, is pretty close).  It's bigger than some of the other buildings in the town, so you can just squeeze inside.

"Set her down here!"  he says, sweeping the contents off a table in the middle of the room in one motion.  You obey, and the elder gets to work without another word, it's as if he's forgotten you're even there.  For a while you stand there awkwardly, watching as the Elder stitches up the wound. What if he needs you for something?  He probably won't but even still, you'd better stay put.

Surprisingly, the operation takes only a half hour.  After the Elder finishes bandaging the wound, he looks up at you.

"Thank you, human."  He says, "We are in your debt.  You may leave if you wish, but-"

The injured Oalkwardner moans on the table, cutting him off.  "They're gone... Dead, all of them." Her eyes are open, and they're staring straight at the elder.

"What happened?"  You demand, perhaps a little too swiftly.

"Don't pressure her, she just woke up," The elder says.

"No, I'm okay,"  she says, wincing, "But they're not."

"If you feel you have the energy to talk, please go on,"  The elder says, "I would like to know more about this myself."

"We were tracking... the kidnapers."  She says, "But... they found us. A whole hoard of them.  There was some kind of talk of a base... said they were gonna... overthrow the king... but no time... to pay attention..."  Her ears droop, "And... they killed... I was... only one..." Her eyes roll back in her head and she passes out.

"My word!"  The elder says, rushing to her side and taking her right ear in his hand, "She'll be alright once she gets some rest, but you should probably head outside for now.  We must make preparations for a funeral for those who were lost. Do you have anywhere to go?"

"I set up camp just outside the village," you say, "I'll be alright, just tend to her."

[User] The funeral

[Assistant]
After word gets around about how you helped save that Oalkwardner girl, the villagers seem to trust you enough to allow you to roam the city without sounding any alarms.  Over the next few days, you help with preparations for the funeral, in part because there's nothing better to do, but also because you feel a little bad about not helping Merk with his search.  Who knows?  Maybe you would've been the difference between his life and death.

When the day of the funeral rolls around, the entire town gathers in the square.  It's the most extravagant display you've ever seen in your short time at the village, with tons of food for all and more flowers than you've ever seen in one place before.  It must've cost a fortune in... whatever these guys use as currency.  Merk must've done quite a lot to help the community, because there sure are a lot of drooping ears.  (Which, you've learned, is the Oalkwardner's equivalent to crying).

You stand at the edge of the crowd, still not quite feeling like a part of the community, as the Elder gives a speech.

"We are gathered here today to commemorate the life of Merk, Gertra, and Silia, three of the greatest-"

A pounding in the distance interrupts the speech.  The whole crowd turns towards the source of the noise just in time to see a whole procession of Oalkwardners dressed in the brightest reds and yellows, all riding creatures like ponies, but with little spines running down their back instead of manes. They beat on little drums, all in sync.

The Oalkwardner at the front of the pack raises her arm and raises her voice.

"Presenting, the great Yelgar, Grand Protector of Realgna and the surrounding country!"

The Drummers beat their drums faster and faster now, parting to allow a carriage to pass through, drawn by three lizard-like creatures, the size of bulls.  The crowd parts for the carriage, and it stops right in front of the stage.

The door on the side of the vessel opens, and out hops a rather tall Oalkwardner wearing a red cape and strange, red bracelets spiraling around the entirety of his forearms, like snakes.

"People of the village of Arrorn!"  He says, "I have come with grave news.  It truly is a shame to interrupt such a lavish funeral, but there are more important matters at hand.  It has come to my attention that there is a base of Rebels in the area, planning to overthrow the kingdom and estate a blasphemous 'new order.'  These are the very same rebels that killed these three!"  He gestures at the paintings of the three fallen Oalkwardners, set on easels on the stage.  "We must act now, lest our glorious empire be overthrown.  Outside this village is the seventy-third division of the King's army, sent to protect this village and take out the Rebel scum in our midst!  It is for this reason, that the King and I felt the need to impose martial law on this village and the surrounding area!  We will also be tripling the tax to sustain our troops.  And we'll be taking all this lovely food you've set out for the funeral.  Desperate times, desperate measures and all that."

A cry of protest comes from deep within the crowd.  "You're already taking three quarters of everything we have!"  A female Oalkwardner pushes her way to the front of the crowd to confront the Yelgar.  "We can barely survive as it is!  And that food for the funeral is the last of our reserves, we only took it out in the first place because Merk and the others did so much for us in their lives!"

Yelgar stares her straight in the face.  "I understand your concern."  He says, "But as I said, desperate times, desperate measures.  Guards, restrain her!"  Two of the horsemen hop off their steeds and grab the girl by the arms, forcing her to her knees.  Yelgar raises his hand, and slaps her across the face, and the crowd gasps.

"Do not question the authority of the Crown."  Yelgar says, still deathly calm, "Or you might wind up like them too,"  he nods towards the paintings.

"Who gives a crap about the Crown?  We're all gonna die anyway under your 'martial law', so may as well go out fighting!"  The girl glares at Yelgar, as the whole crowd seems to hold its breath.

"I see how it is," Yelgar says, clearly disappointed.  "Then let this be an example to anyone else who thinks of dissenting."  He reaches beneath his cloak and pulls out a wooden knife, raising it above his head to strike at the girl, now trembling in the guards grip.

"C-come on,"  the girl says, voice faltering,  "They can't stop all of us!  I say we finish what those rebels started!"

Still, no one moves.  The whole thing reminds you, once again, of the girl in the forest the night you woke up.  The guilt of leaving her behind wells up within you, are you really gonna let it happen again?

[User] You heck no you're not letting that happen again! Attack Yelgar!

[Assistant]
"Hey, stop!"  You cry, before you can think of anything cleverer to say.

Everyone turns towards you, shocked.  Even Yelgar raises an eyebrow. Before anyone has the chance to grab you, you rush towards Yelgar, and his eyes go wide.

"What are you?"  He cries, dropping the knife to the ground with a clatter.

You don't answer, just slam your foot into his face, full force.  He goes flying into the side of the carriage and crumples to the ground, dead.  Holy smokes, did you actually just do that?  How the heck did you do that?  But there's no time to think about it now, a few of the other guards are just realizing what's happened and are charging you.

"He killed the Grand Protector!" one of them shouts,  "Stop him before he does any more damage!"

You should probably run, but something stops you.  So, you tense up, and get ready for battle. Soon as the first horseman gets close, you swing at him with everything you've got.  He goes flying off his steed, tripping up one of the others.

Then it's rinse and repeat for the whole fight.  You find, to your surprise, that you're extremely strong compared to the Oalkwardners.  With every swing, you take out another guard, and a few from the crowd cheer. But now more of the guards are waking up to what's happening, and they begin to encircle you.  There's no way you can beat them all, no matter how strong you happen to be in comparison. Before you have time to react, you're surrounded. They all point their spears your way, slowly closing the circle now that they know they've got you cornered.

Frantically, you look around for any sort of weakness in their wall of spears.  But you can't seem to see... wait, there! One of the guards is a little further forward than the others, and smaller too.  If you attack him, then maybe you can stay out of reach of those spears.

It's a split second realization, and you act on it, charging the guard and tackling the pony out from under him.  (That way, you stay out of reach his spear too). You don't stop to look at the damage you've caused; they'll be after you in seconds!  So, you dash towards the edge of the village. Even though it's only been a few days, you've already got a rudimentary knowledge of this village's layout, which is much more than the guards have, (seeing as they've only been here for an hour, tops.

You quickly manage to lose your pursuers in the twists and turns of the city, but that doesn't mean you're stopping.  You don't slow down till you've made it out of the city, and left the buildings far behind. This is a different path than you've taken before, so it's a good thing you've already got most of your stuff with you.  No chance you'll be able to swing by your little campsite on the way out. So that means you'll have to do without the sleeping bag and pillow you left there this morning. Hope you like sleeping in the dirt.

Speaking of camping, the field surrounding the village is dotted with Oalkwardners in the same red and yellow cloaks of the other guards, setting up tents among other things.  Luckily, they don't notice you, and you soon find yourself in the forest once again. It's only then that you allow yourself to slow to a walk. You feel a little sad about leaving Arrorn, even if you never felt like you truly belonged there.  There's no way you'll ever be able to return, at least, not for a while.

[User] You wandering in the woods

[Assistant]
For the next few days, you continue on the path, surviving on nothing but the supplies left in your bag.  You're almost out of Cheez-Its, so you'll have to find another village soon or you might starve.  No one comes after you, probably because you took out their leader.  No-one to give orders.  Still, you move quickly as you can, just in case they are still after you.

On the third night, you veer off the path a little to find a nice place to sleep.  You've given up on finding something even remotely comfortable, (as your aching back won't let you forget).  What you're really looking for is something concealed, so if anyone tries to find you, they'll just walk right past without noticing.  Tonight, you're lucky.  There's a shallow divot in the ground, just big enough for you to spend the night in.  All you've gotta do is cover it with leaves and sticks, and you're set.

The sun hasn't even finished setting by the time you finish, so you sit on a nearby rock and pull out your last bag of Cheez-Its and stare at it.  If you eat them now, you'll go to bed hungry, but be hungry in the morning,  but if you wait, you're not sure you'll even be able to sleep due to the hunger pains.

The snapping of a twig behind you breaks you out of your thoughts.  You turn around, just as something, you're not sure what, slams right into you!  It sends you toppling off the rock and into the dirt on your back.  Before you even have the chance to comprehend what's happening, you find yourself staring into the eyes of a raggedy Oalkwardner, standing on your chest and pointing a spear at your throat.

"I wouldn't try to escape, if I were you."  The Oalkwardner says, "You may be strong, monster, but I'm certainly quick enough to drive this spear right through you before you have the chance to take a single swing at me."

"What the heck is this?"  You ask, a quaver in your voice.  "Where did you come from?"

"The King sent me after you."  The Oalkwardner says, "They call me Kralmer, I'm one of the greatest bounty hunter's this side of the water-pit."

"So you're a filthy mercenary!  You kill people for what... money?"

Kralmer spits out of the side of his mouth.  "I'm not doing this for money!  The king's holding my family, said he'd only let them go if I took you to him.  It's nothing personal, I assure you."

"Well, that sucks,"  You say, "But isn't there another way, aside from, you know, killing me?"

"I wish,"  He sighs,  "But the king says bounty hunting is illegal.  That's why he took my family.  I was gonna be executed, but he said he'd grant us a pardon if I brought you to him.  Filthy rat won't follow his own rules.  Anyway, really sorry about this.  I heard what you did back in Arrorn.  Heck, I'd join you if I could.  But I've got my family to think of.  I'll try to make your death swift."  With that, he raises his spear to deliver a killing blow.

"Wait!"  You cry.

"What?"  Kralmer says, sounding impatient,  "Look, I don't like this any more than you do, so may as well get it over with."

[User] You say "Don't I at least deserve a fair fight?"

[Assistant]
Kralmer pauses for a moment and thinks.  Your heart pounds as you watch him, hoping against hope that he's honorable.

He sighs and says,  "Why do ya gotta make things so complicated?"  And he leaps into the air, landing about ten feet away from you.  "I guess you have a point.  This way, I at least don't have to feel so bad.  Stand up now, I guess we'd better do this."

You stand up, feeling just a little bit relieved.  But the danger's not over yet.  You've still gotta fight him.

"Monster,"  Kralmer says,  "Just promise me this."

"What?

"Show me no mercy.  On the off chance you beat me, I'd rather not have to face my family to tell them... I've failed."

"Well... okay."

Kralmer readies himself.  "Now... are you ready?"

"I suppose I am."  Your palms are slick with sweat.

"Right then.  Now fight!"

Before the words have even left his lips, he's already flying through the air towards you, faster than you could've imagined possible.  There's no time to put up any sort of defense before he smashes right into your head, his spear penetrating straight through your right eye.  The pain is so great, you hardly notice as you fall to the ground, or Kralmer's whispered apology as the world fades around you.

Well, that ended quicker than expected...


[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 ignore her and go home

[Assistant]
Your sister is hopeless. You feel anger towards your sister, you can see that she doesn't appreciate all the sacrifices Mom makes for her. You hope she does move out, that'll leave you and Mom more time to spend together.

You head home and wait for Mom to arrive. When she steps in, you hug her as she comes in the door, she hugs you back.

She tells you to do some chores, but you don't mind, in fact you're happy to do them. You and Mom talk a little more than you normally do at dinner, now that your sister is out of the way and not around to cause trouble everything is good, and you feel wanted for the first time in your life.

You talk into the night with her, until she tells you its time to go to bed.

[User] You go to bed

[Assistant]
You do what Mom says and go to bed. You wonder if you should've pursued another path, with her, but you quickly dismiss such thoughts. You realize that if Mom wanted anything else from you, she would've told you. For now, she wants you to be a good and obedient son, just like you've always been. No strange thoughts, just total subservience to her. Submission of your will to her, emotions just make things more complicated. You make it a promise to yourself to do just that.

Another day breaks, and once again you feel nothing...


[System] Run a text-based dark fantasy adventure game. Describe the world with gritty realism, respond to player actions with narrative consequences, and maintain the tone of a world where survival is never guaranteed.

[User] You confront Butch

[Assistant]
Exposing your sister's cheating cad of a boyfriend was the right direction, but you definitely went the WRONG way about it.

Butch and his friends laugh at your attempt to convince him to confess to your sister or you'll do it.

They beat you and humilate you, then run off laughing. In a cruel twist you get sent to the principal's office again where he's less flexible. He assumes you're a trouble maker and suspends you effective immediately. You don't get a chance to talk to your sister, she and Butch take off early for some party. When your Mom gets home, your sister's run away event and your suspension put your Mom back in her usual hard ass mood. She screams at you and says your sister isn't her daughter anymore, can go to hell and stay there because she isn't welcome here anymore.

You've failed. Your attempts have been futile. You might as well not tried at all. You were the only one who really cared. You just thought that maybe if you had a more stable home life, you could feel like a normal person, but that goal is lost. You go to bed.

Another day arrives and you feel nothing...


[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] Continue

[Assistant]
Welcome to Magus: Betrayal!

You are known as Uriel, master elementalist and accomplished magician of the Acadamy of Alzur.
The Spark, the talent to manipulate the essence of the elements in everything, has enabled you to live a youth far away from the spears of the soldiers, or the toils of the peasants.
A findling you are, born to unknown parents and found on the steps of the Academy, but this is not a fate unusual, for the times are harsh for those without the privilige of noble heritage, and few can spare the resources to feed yet another crying mouth.
If the Magi of the Academy had not found the Spark in you, they would have turned you over to one of the servants to grow up as one of them, a practice that comes closest to local charity, and ensures that the servants are loyal to the Academy.
But this fate was spared to you.
From earliest childhood you learned the arts of the scribe, the arts of the rune and the arts of the Elements.
Your life has been one of scholarship, and learning, and even though your thoughts sometimes turned towards the parents you never had, you soon accepted that the Academy was your family, never knowing anything different.

However, a restlessness in your soul worried your teachers. You were sharper than most of your classmates, and thus began to find the lectures boring, often huddling alone in your study with an ancient tome borrowed from the library with the librarian's grudging permission, learning on your own faster than your teachers could hope to achieve.

Finally, the master magicians admitted defeat. They no longer could teach you anything, and thus it came as a relief to them, that you were chosen, with two other magicians, to fortify the guard of an Alzuran emissary on the dangerous, bandit-infested road to Khofte, a coastal city in the far south.

The council of magicians apparently thought that a bit of adventure would help to dull your restlessness and sharpen your practical skills.

To begin with, you must choose to specialize in one of the five elements: Fire, Air, Water, Ice and Earth.
You may still manipulate the other four, but you can only hope to access the powerful effects with the element of your specialization.
Furthermore, specializing in one element also slightly affects your character. Ice elementalists are known for the cool and logical mind, while Earth magicians tend to be protective of their charges.

Choose your Specialization.

[User] You choose to specialize in Fire, the element of Passion, Heat and Destruction.

[Assistant]
You quickly, and with passion, learned everything you can from your chosen element, regarding little else.

You especially have disregarded the lessons of Water and of Ice, having nothing but contempt for those who have to think through every situation when, obviously, there is need for speed.

You possess a greater physical prowess than most of your classmates, and since your inborn arrogance left your without many friends but quite some enemies, you had to use your quickness and strength to avoid being the target of constant ridicule - noone dared to ridicule you after a while.
Instead, you became something of a loner. You simply know you are a better magician than the others, and you are willing to prove it.

The specialization of Fire enables you to aquire a deadly arsenal of combat spells, far superior to that of other magicians. You are also able to command the element of elements, the Flames themselves, to do your bidding. Also, you are somewhat resistant to their heat.

Make a note somewhere that you have specialized in Fire.

[User] You are ready to begin your journey!

[Assistant]
It is early summer in the world of Thyr, and the smell of spring has not yet left the air.

The emmissary's trek consists of two coaches, one for the magicians, of which there are two more on board, and one for the emissary and his bodyguard himself. Furthermore, there are two dozens warriors on horse accompanying the trek, some of which are scouting ahead.

It has been two days since you left the Academy of Alzur, and by now you have left the city's military influence, as can be witnessed by the steady growing worse of the road.

You know close to nothing about Fahan Brownhand's - the emissary of Alzur - orders, or about the man himself, save that he is known to be a devious mind and a quick judge of character, abilities well received within a politician.

Also you know that your trek is carrying valuable gifts in jewels and gold for Khalar, the citystate you are destined to reach within the week.

Your two magician-companions are no strangers to you. Opposite of you is sitting J'Arel Whitefang, a young man emitting an aura of arrogance that is barely to bear in the confines of the coach. He is, as you know, a capable Fire elementalist.

Currently on top of the coach, unable to bear the presence of J'Arel any longer, is Lucius Tarchild, an Air mage of some renown. Unfortunately, Lucius is somewhat senior to you, and thus he has the right of first choice, as he explained to you with a wink.
Already weary by the long trip so far, you did not argue.

[User] You wish to pass the time and speak with J'Arel.

[Assistant]
J'Arel looks up from some thought in surprise, as you cough to catch his attention. His cruel eyes narrow themselves, and he pierces you with his look.

"What is it that you want?"

[User] You say "Do you know anything about the road ahead?"

[Assistant]
His eyes narrow even further as you ask him about the road ahead. Then he snorts, and shakes his head, while saying:

"Only as much as you, I suppose. The road will be getting a lot worse the next days, and when we reach the outskirts of Thalun Forest in two days, who knows what will await us in these ancient, dark and magical woods..." His voice is getting dark and foreboding, and then he suddenly breaks into laughter.

"Peasants' superstition. Likely some bandits roam the Woods, and that's the reason why lone travellers sometimes are never seen again."

He grins, and forms a magical gesture with his left palm, upon which a blueish flame appears there, a ball of pure energy powerful enough to burn through a tree when hurled with enough force.

"However, we are no lone travellers", he adds, his malicious grin broadening. Then, he claps his hands together, and the flame vanishes.

"I doubt that some ragged band of bandits is going to choose us as our target anyway," he says, sounding disappointed. "Those soldiers look like excellent fighters, and I am certain the bandits will see this as well."

[User] You continue...

[Assistant]
Suddenly, the coach shudders to a halt. Voices call out, but your first reaction of worrying is soothed as you recognize them as your scouts' voices.

The captain of the scouts, a burly man in leather armor, approaches the second coach, which is occupied by Master Brownhand, the emissary of Alzura. The captain dismounts his gelding, and appears to speak agitatedly with someone inside the coach - which is all you can make out. Unfortunately, they are too far away to understand a word.

[User] You will do nothing but wait.

[Assistant]
The captain of the scouts is arguing agitated with someone inside the other coach, but you cannot make out the words, nor interpret the gestures. Probably nothing important.

You lean back against the hard wooden seat of the coach, wishing for something to break the monotony of the trip. Already you wonder when you will arrive at your destination. Or at least return to the comfort of the Academy.

Suddenly the door is opened by Lucius, who had been riding the top of the coach.

[User] You continue...

[Assistant]
Lucius is a tall, slender man. There is always the sly grin on his face, and his hair looks like he has been in a tornado.

Right now, looking at J'Arel and you, his grin nearly splits his face, causing J'Arel to scowl back.

"Well, look who's here. Not suffocated yet, I hope", Lucius grins. J'Arel only snorts with disdain, throwing you a meaningful look as if the journey would have been quite pleasant without your companionship inside the coach.

Before you can think of how to answer that challenge, Lucius continues as if not noticing the tension between the two of you: "Looks like we got ourselves some trouble coming. The captain of the scouts just raced his horse nearly to death coming here, then barely pauses to take a breath before arguing with old Farhan. Seems like they want us to make camp here, instead of driving on, but Farhan doesn't sound too happy about that."

Lucius gives the countryside an appraising glance.

"Can't say I blame them. It's a good position here, with the hills in front and the plains at the back. At least if anyone's sneaking up on us, they're doing so from only one direction."

J'Arel interrupts: "Phah, let them come, so we can finally have some use. I don't see why..."

Lucius holds up a hand to silence J'Arel, cocking his head to one side and closing his eyes, as if listening intently.

As you strain to hear anything untowards yourself, you notice it... the silence is unnatural. Where the journey was accompanied by the rustling of leaves and grass, the chirping and buzzing of insects and the caws of birds, there is now silence... even the horses of the guards seem to hold their breath.

Then suddenly the first volley of arrows hit the group. Lucius curses and hurls himself into the relative but crowded safety of the coach, but a few of the guards do not have as much luck.
The air is filled with the rearing of horses and the screams of the wounded. The captain of the scouts turns to face the enemy, but gives only a gurgle, as you can see the black arrow protruding from his neck.

Blood runs out of his mouth, and for a horrifying second, he seems to stare at you with the paincrazed eyes of the already dead, before falling from his horse only to be gored by the panicking beast.

When you catch yourself again, you see that J'Arel and Lucius are already preparing spells, even if they cannot yet see who is attacking you.

[User] You will wait until it becomes clear who is attacking you and wherefrom.

[Assistant]
You decide to stay in the relative safety of the coach.

J'Arel, suddenly engulfed in an aura of sizzling flames, jumps out of the coach and hurls a ball of fire in the general direction of the assault.

Lucius leaves the coach on through the other door, and immediatley the carriage is rocked by gusts of wind, which also cause the arrows to stray.

One arrow, however, flies straight at J'Arel's head - but it bursts into flame upon touching his aura.

Someone bellows a command over the screams of the guards, and those that survived the initial deadly onslaught charge off into the direction where the volleys came from.

You are considering your options, when suddenly a lightning strike that turns you blind and deaf turns J'Arel into a cinder, but not before you hear his piercing death scream and see, in minuite detail how the fire mage's skin peels off under the tremendous energy of the lightning.

Shocked, you decide to join the combat as quickly as possible, before the next strike perhaps hits the coach.

[User] You continue...

[Assistant]
Desperately, you attempt to get your bearing.

From the twoscore warriors that accompanied the emissary's treck, only one dozen survived the initial deadly volley of black arrows.
However, the guards are rallied and charge the enemy, apparently a group of about half a hundredship ragged looking beings you immediatley recognize as large goblins, led by a couple of their shamans. While a single goblin is no match for a human warrior, the shamans double the goblins' threat, and they make up in numbers what they lack in size.

Lucius is using his powers over the wind to make arrows useless, and most goblins have thrown their bows away and now wield evil looking barbed knives.

One guard, trying to charge through the goblins to strike down a shaman, is dragged from his horse, and both the guard and the poor beast soon disappear und the goblin's small twisted bodies.

[User] You are an adept of Fire.

[Assistant]
The flame of the Spark is strong within you today, and your fingers itch with the desire to channel your magic.

This is it... this is how it feels to have an adventure! If not for the seriousness of the situation, you would laugh with delight.

[User] You will use your powers over Fire to rain destruction down the goblins!

[Assistant]
You climb up the coach to get a better overview of the battle, trusting Lucius to do what he's best at, and turn away any stray arrows from you.

You close your eyes, drawing deep from the burning energies within you provided by the Spark.
When you open them again, they seem to be ablaze.

In your hands, a powerful ball of flame forms, and you hurl it directly where the goblins' throng is thickest, where it explodes with a deafening noise.

About twenty goblins remain on the ground, charred.

Another ball of flame takes out a dozen more of the wicked creatures, and this is sufficent to break their morale, and they turn to flee.

The soldiers cheer, and strike down the fleeing goblins as they run back to the hills from where they came.

Suddenly, Lucius screams in pain. With another ball of flame formed in your hand, intended to speed the goblin's flight, you turn to see that Farhan Brownhand, emissary of Alzur, has stabbed Lucius in the back with an evil looking sword that protrudes from the Air adept's chest.

He grins wickedly at you and makes a gesture with his offhand. Instinctively you hurl your fireball into his general direction, and throw yourself from the coach.

Just in time, as it explodes under you, smouldering splinters burying themselves into your robes and into your flesh.

Shaking, you stand up, turning to Farhan and the spitted Lucius, and prepare another spell...

[User] You continue...

[Assistant]
You stare disbelieving at Master Brownhand, and before you can launch a spell at him, he uses your hesitation to weave a quick strand of fire at you.

You barely dodge the small bolt of fire that jumps from his fingers and flies past you.

Seeing he missed you, he curses and prepares another spell. You have to act quick.

[User] You attempt to sever or unravel the spell's weave when Farhan casts it, thus countering it.

[Assistant]
You concentrate, and your mental eyes follow the Farhan's weaving. He uses Fire, and mixes Earth in it, but when he leashes it out, you already took hold of one of the strands of magic with your mental touch, and the spell already unravels itself as it is cast.

When it reaches you, it is nothing more than a gust of warm wind that ruffles your hair.

Infuriated, sensing what you have done, Farhan pulls the black blade out of Lucius' body, and, brandishing it, charges you.

Out of the corners of your eyes you see that the guards are approaching the obviously crazed emissary.

[User] You flee towards the guards, hoping that they will overpower the Magus.

[Assistant]
Seeing Farhan approaching you with the evil-looking dark blade in his hand that is still glistening with Lucius' blood, you jump down from the top of the coach and hurry towards the surviving guards, knowing that you do not stand a chance against the master Magus alone.

Farhan laughs, and you hear behind your back the incantations as he prepares another spell.

He is only a precious few steps behind you, but the remaining guards, led by a scarred and blackbearded bear of a man, already charge at Farhan with swords drawn.

Suddenly, you hear a sizzle, and it is only instinct that saves your life. You throw yourself on the ground in midrun, just as the first guards pass you in the other direction, and, accompanied by a loud crackle, a searing pain blazes across your back, just before one of the guards in front of you emits a loud scream, and something bright hits him in the chest.

As you quickly jump to your feet again, bloodied and dirty, with a singed back, you hear another sizzle, a crackle, and then a double scream, as two guards that are running at Farhan are hit by more lightning.

You turn around, and the four remaining guards are about to swing their swords at the emissary, when suddenly, out of the shadow of the coach, Farhan's bodyguard, a bulky man that moves with the gracefulness of a cat, launches himself at the group of guards.

Farhan turns to flee towards the hills, as his bodyguard snaps the neck of a guard with his bare hands. You shudder involuntarily as you hear the sickening sound.

Before you can react, the burly man is spitted on the sword of the black bearded soldier, and Farhan, weaving a last spell, disappears in a clap of thunder.

[User] You continue...

[Assistant]
Farhan Brownhand, the emissary of Alzur, is gone and his bodyguard is dead.

Only three guards - and yourself - survived his treachery and the goblin attack. All agree that Master Brownhand had been probably in league with the goblins, but why he would attack the trek himself, noone knows.

The situation looks grim, reports Kor, the scarred and blackbearded bear of a man who led the charge against the emissary. He is a seasoned veteran, and you can see in his eyes the disgust for this treachery.

The horses drawing the coach are all either dead or have fled. Night is coming soon, and the road through the hills is known to be a dangerous way even in daylight. Bandits and bands goblins roam the area, as you were forced to experience yourself.

The plains are not much better. Any camp made on the way would be like a beacon to anyone searching for them, and neither Kor nor you have no doubts that Farhan will likely return - with or without help - to finish what the goblins had begun.

As a Magus, even a rather inexperienced one, the duty of leadership is on you, but Kor is ready with advice.

Basically, you have only few options. You might attempt to travel back to the Acadamy and report of Farhan's treachery.
Or, you might attempt to find him before he finds you. Teleport weaves, as Farhan has used to escape, are tricky: They are dangerous to pull off, because inexperienced adepts attempting to move their essence to somewhere else usually unravel themselves and get no second try. Also, the further away the destination is, the more difficult the spell becomes, and you know that even a master magician like Farhan Brownhand must have been tired after the spells he crafted during the battle.
Your guess is, that he fled to somewhere in the hills, and Kor agrees with you on this, for in the plains, there is nowhere to hide for several miles around, not even a light wood or a small village.

The only thing you know for certain is, that it would be wise to leave this place as soon as possible, as long as the enemy Magus is still weakened from his spellcasting.

[User] You will turn back and attempt to make your way to the Academy to report Master Brownhand's treachery.

[Assistant]
The guards pack their gear with some relief about the decision, and, lightly packed, you abandon the coaches in the coming twilight.

Happy to leave the scene of the slaughter, an invisible tension leaves the men you did not notice before.

Noone is happy to have Master Brownhand now in his back, but all of you are glad that he's not right in front of you.

The guards march at a good speed, and you, not really used to such sports, wondered whatever must have ridden you to ever complain about riding inside a coach.

Soon, night falls, and the clear sky would be a beautiful sight were you in a mood for it. However, the moon is young, and there is not much light to see by.

Kor asks if you are capable of lighting a globe, and wearily, you agree.

Concentrating briefly, although much, much longer than you would usually need, you create a shining sphere between your hands and command it to float over your group.

Kor reaches out to you as you stagger, your mental exhaustion nearly complete, but you catch yourself, and although your dignity as a Magus takes quite a scratch by stumbling because of such a simple spell, you are too tired to rightly care.

Soon, the guards go off the road, and you just fall over on the ground when you hear that everyone agrees that now, you are far enough away from the place of the ambush to rest a while.

You are already asleep before you hit the ground and do not notice that someone wraps a blanket around you.

[User] You continue...

[Assistant]
The smell of fried bacon and spiced tea wakens you, and, although bleary-eyed because of a rest that was too short by far, you stand up to face a barely rising sun.

You are greeted by the guards, and handed a wooden mug of the hot water as well as a small plate of food, and then, it is already time to break camp. You agree to to travel with all haste back towards the Academy.

The day passes uneventful, although you find yourself in a very bad shape. You wonder why you could have ever complained about riding inside a coach, stuffy as it might have been. The guards march a fast tempo, and you are barely able to keep up, even though your packing is somewhat lighter than that of the others.

The next day, your back feels like a wooden plank... even despite the blankets that are part of your travel gear, sleeping on the ground is never going to be your preferred method of rest, and you already long for the comforts of life at the Academy.

Kor reports that you are likely to reach Alzur by midevening the next day, and you are happy to hear so.

The next two days pass uneventfully also, although tension grew because everyone was expecting Farhan to return, or another goblin attack. Suspicions rose when you noticed the increased military patrols around, but they ignored a group of travellers and your desire to reach the council of the Academy was too great to become entangled with the military.

Finally, after a journey you are glad to forget about, the sight of the walls of Alzur is very welcome to you.

But something is wrong. The gates, usually open all day and night, are barred, and the military presence has been more than doubled.

Kor apparently recognizes one of the guards and approaches him. The guard obviously expresses surprise and worry at seeing you return so early, but before you can question him what happened, you are immediatley led to the quickly roused council... it is past nightfall, after all.

[User] You continue...

[Assistant]
You are lead into the heart of the city, and something definitely feels wrong here. The atmosphere is tense unlike the teeming, bustling city you left only five days ago.

The huge ironwrought gates of the Academy are opened for you, and your group enters. Without even given the chance to refresh yourself, much to your dismay, you are led before the council's chambers and bidden entry.

The chambers themselves are somewhat in disarray, as if there had been a meeting recently and yet no time for the personell to clean, and three of the five High Magi look like indeed they have been roused from sleep. They stare at you, some with unhidden contempt, until finally Tharain Ironweave, highest of the Magi, steps forward and explains the situation to you.

There had been an assassination attempt on the wedding night of princess Jessamin of Khalar, the very city your treck was initially heading. This was exactly two days before.
And, apparently, evidences point towards Master Farhan Brownhand, Alzur's very own emissary sent there, as the assassin.

You begin to remark that this is not possible, your treck barely left Alzur's lands, but the High Magus interrupts you, that they knew this very well.

Yet attempts to explain that to the Khalifat of Khalar met only disbelief, understandingly so. They want some sort of proof.

You briefly relay to the council what happened to you on your treck, the attack of the goblins and Farhan's treachery, and are met by stoic silence.

"Do you, then, have any proof that could convince the Khalifat to take back their declaration of war?", you are asked.

Numbly, you shake your head.

"Then", Thalain sighs and suddenly appears much older than he is, "this war cannot be turned away..."

Wishing your first adventure would have turned out to be more successful, you retire into your room, but the longing for comfort leaves a bitter aftertaste when you think that Farhan Brownhand, the traitorous emissary of Alzur, escaped your grasp...


[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 unleash a blast of psychic energy

[Assistant]
You fire a bolt of energy, smashing into Kyros chest. Kyros howls in pain, as his chest explodes. The rest of his body begins to glow, before it begins to be absolved by the purple glow emanating from him, turning into light. A portal begins to form, absorbing Kyros. Seconds later, you see a clawed red hand emerge from the portal, holding a sword of red hot burning steel.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" you yell.

"You fool! Daemons are pouring through to this realm, and I'm not leading them because my energy was focused on... Fuck!" Meliodas cries.

You watch as holes begin to be torn in the fabric of reality, as more Warp portals begin to open, powered by the last sacrificial pulse of Kyros' energy. A horned cyclops with a rust and bile-encrusted blade steps through, letting out a wet growl. A strange, horse-like creature with a long tongue eagerly jumps through another portal. You watch as an endless horde of daemons begin to appear, coming through the portals, straight into your reality.

They overwhelm you in less than a minute, claws and swords cutting you apart. The rest of the ship lasts longer, taking three hours before the horrible daemons have wiped out the fortunate, and captured the less fortunate to give them... a much less enjoyable fate. Soon, the Gloriana-class Roar of the Vortex is little more than a daemon-filled hellhole. Your last gift to the world is a horrible, daemon-filled vessel drifting through existence. So ends the legacy of Karth.


[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 run back down the mountain

[Assistant]
You're having difficulty concentrating, but you decide that it would be better to distance yourself from the creature rather than trapping yourself in a cave.

You attempt to head down the mountain, but you really are feel very sick and dizzy, in fact you're beginning to feel worse. The ground underneath you doesn't even feel like jelly now, you're actually sinking into it like quicksand!

"What the fu…" you say before a sudden powerful wave of nausea that hits you causes you to vomit immediately.

You try to stop the sinking, but it's futile and soon you've sank all the way it. Oddly you can still breathe; but the terrain has turned to worms and maggots. You can feel them crawling all over you, in your ears and every other orifice of your body.

You begin to laugh insanely (while the maggots crawl all in it) since your mind has become severely warped at this point and madness has overtaken you as you sink further through the maggot mountain.

You're unsure of how long this goes on for since you've lost your mind, but whatever was going on eventually stops and everything returns to normal. Unfortunately that doesn't really help you since you're still in the mountain which has returned to solid rock where you are now completely embedded in. You die instantly, putting an end to your madness.