[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 search for jobs yourself

[Assistant]
"Well, if you want to look for a job, just come in and see me and we can look together." You say.
"Okay, maybe. First, I'm going to take these sheets and blankets and throw 'em in the wash though." Julie replies.

The pair of you head downstairs and part company as you head into your room and she goes into the basement. (It still feels odd to NOT go into the basement when heading to your room)

You lay down on your bed/couch, open up your laptop and prepare for the unfun task of looking for a job.

Ten minutes in and you've already gotten off track. You're playing some flash game, but your mind keeps occasionally thinking about Bobby. You start to get upset again and think about calling him.

You pick up the phone and think of how you really shouldn't do this, especially since you fully believe that he was being the asshole in this situation, but you can't just let it end the way it did. You don't know why, maybe its because he's the first guy you've ever seriously been with and you can't quite let go yet.

"Hey." Bobby says on the other end of the phone. You're sort of surprised that he picked up after only two rings.
"Bobby… I just want to say a few more things…" you say.
"Suzy I don't want to fight with you. So…"
"No, it's not that. Look I just want to say, I'm sorry I insulted your religion. I know how important it is to you."
"Well I appreciate that. Thank you."
"I just don't want things to end like that last conversation we had. Our time together was special to me and I don't want those memories to be completely soiled because we had a bad break up."
"I agree as well…I know I probably shouldn't say this, because it only makes this break up even harder, but I ALMOST came close to abandoning everything for you…it just…just…"
"I know. It was just too much."

Bobby on the other end of the phone is silent, but you think you hear sniffling. Of course this makes your eyes water too.

"I think… (sniffle) I think I'm always going to love you Suzy." Bobby says. "I have to go….bye." Bobby says and abruptly hangs up.

Now you're really upset. You knew you shouldn't have called. You almost think it was better when you parted thinking he was a complete asshole. He sounded so sad, you wonder if maybe, just MAYBE you could convince him if you went and saw him one more time.

You get the idea. You're going to do it, because what you had with Bobby is worth fighting for!

You leave your room and start shouting to Julie as you go down the basement stairs

"Hey Julie! I know you'll probably think this is a bad idea, but I want to go talk things out with Bobby one last time. He and I have so much history, so do you know if Donna has an extra set of keys to her… Aaaaaaaahhh!" you scream when you see Johnny standing over Julie's bloody body with a knife in hand.

Johnny doesn't even flinch, he just smiles at you like nothing is wrong.

"Bobby? …you have a boyfriend? Your sister didn't tell me that…oh well…" he says flatly.

Panic and fear fill every inch of your body and you instantly turn and run back upstairs.

You get to the top step and open the door just before you feel a sharp pain strike hard into your back. You manage to keep from falling backwards and instead fall forward so that you're half way on the basement steps and half on the ground floor.

Trying to fight through the pain, you attempt to stand back up and stumble in the process. Attempting to grab the knife in your back doesn't help either.

You manage to get partially down the hallway before Johnny catches up to you again. You are grabbed roughly and then thrown face first into the floor as he twists the knife in your back. You scream out for help, but there is none to be had.

"Stop screaming you fucking bitch! Why do you always scream!? I'm doing this for your own good! I can be your boyfriend! I can be a better boyfriend!" Johnny shouts as he attempts to strip off your clothes. The only consolation to your final fate is that you struggle so much that Johnny cuts your throat before he can rape you.

Not that it stops him from doing so after you're already dead of course.


[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 make a run for it

[Assistant] Without hesitation you bolt from the room into the kitchen; Bob fires at you but narrowly misses. Passing Charley Ford you race out the back door of the house and make it across the yard and into the town. Rapidly escaping Kansas City, your mind numbed by the fact that Jesse James is dead, you make your way to Tennessee. In time you learn the truth: Dick Liddil and Charley Ford killed Wood Hite in a gunfight and then surrendered to the law, now Bob Ford has murdered your friend. Swiftly you make your way to the other remaining survivor of the James Gang, Jesse's brother Frank who is still hiding in Tennessee.


[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 remind him his son could be alive

[Assistant]
Adamantly, you grip him by the shoulder and turn him to face you. Kneeling, you look him in the eyes, grasping his shoulders with sudden ferocity.

"Listen to me Acwellen! Your son may not be dead. Every hour men from the garrison at Hastings enter our camp. There are survivors. Do not give up hope so soon"

Acwellen sighs raggedly, and seems about to disagree, but instead nods fiercely.

"Yes. You're right. I cannot give up hope, my son... my son could still be out there"

His conviction appears slight, but at least you have gotten his attention away from the blaze of Hastings' buildings. Acwellen exhales shakily, opens his mouth to say something else, then closes it and remains silent, yet the words are plainly on his mind, trying to slip free like hounds on a leash. At last he speaks, grim and quiet, little more than a whisper.

"Can we win this battle?"

The question hangs there for an eternity, all the fear and anxiety of the English army expressed in the musings of one broken man.


[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 happy evenings rest

[Assistant]
You rest happily that evening with no infected in sensing range and you only got a minor headache as a response to your new advancement. Even the rations doled out at dinner time taste better and sit more comfortably in your stomach than normal.

The doc comes up to eat and you joke with him about your teams haul improving the food in the stadium getting a laugh out of him before happily spending the rest of the evening chatting with the rest of the scavengers.

You finally head to bed feeling happier than you have in a while, your control of the infected is growing practically by the hour and people are unwittingly accepting you as a friend, how could life get better?

That's when you sense the movement, its right at the edge of your sensing range while inside the stadium but it feels like a shambler to you, after a few moments it moves a little closer and you become sure. "Stupid thing is trying to stumble back to whatever whole I moved it from."  You think to yourself.

You barely concentrate as you send it the signal to leave again but find it not reacting at all, sighing you concentrate hard and try again, this time it simply stops and wavers on the spot for a moment. "Huh, did I overdo it earlier?" you think to yourself as you sense it suddenly waving at you, you don't know how you know it but it definitely waves at you to invite you to follow before turning and walking South again.

"Well that's odd."  You think as you watch it vanish along with your immediate plans. "Best bet is that they were right and the original harbinger is back, seems he wants to talk to me too." The morning will bring a new decision to make.


[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 don't move

[Assistant]
It's no good. You'd never manage to grab the pistol before Kelly. Even if you did, she'd probably manage to shoot you before you could shoot her. Fear and panic begins to well up inside you as you believe this is the beginning of the end.

Kelly picks up the pistol and smiles as she puts it in front of her pants. You look helplessly as she does this…and then that's when your eyes wander to your closet.

You don't remember shutting the closet door. In fact you never shut your closet door…

And it's opening right now.

Instinctively you try to flatten your body and disappear into the crevasse of your couch as much as possible. You then place your arms up to your face.

"What the hell are you doing? That's not gonna…" Kelly starts to say and then she hears a creak.

Johnny unloads several rounds into Kelly's body and head. She doesn't even have time to fully turn around. Pieces of her fly out from the exit wounds and she falls to the floor in a bloody mess still twitching a bit.

"Shit. Shit. Oh Shit. Oh fuck. Fuck. Please oh God. Please." You're muttering to yourself the whole time, barely aware of everything else.

Johnny walks over from the closet and kneels over to you.

"It's over Suzy. Calm down. It's over. She's dead. That bitch will never bully you again." Johnny says grabbing one of your hands.

You calm down and look at Johnny. In that moment you don't care about what he has done in the past or what he might do in the future. All you care about is that he was ultimately there for you when it counted.

You sit up and hug him, getting teary eyed in the process.

"Oh god, I thought…I thought maybe…"
"No, I was always there to protect you. I told you. I'll always be here. You're my perfect angel. You give my life…purpose." Johnny replies hugging you in return and patting you on the back.

Johnny also sniffs your hair as he's hugging you at which point causes you to pull back a bit.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I just…" Johnny says.
"It's okay. I know. It was the moment." You say trying not to make it too uncomfortable.

With you and Johnny done embracing, you stand up and look over at your sister's body, which has stopped any sort of death twitch it might've briefly had.

You just stare at it silently. Johnny doesn't even speak, he instead watches you looking at your sister. After about a couple of minutes of this, he finally speaks.

"How do you feel?"
"Honestly? I feel nothing. I don't feel anger for what she did. I don't feel guilt or even happiness that she's dead. I just don't feel anything for her anymore. She's dead and that's it. Just like Peter upstairs. Just like my Mom, my Dad, my whole family at this point. They're all dead and I'm alive."
"Well, we don't know about your sister Donna." Johnny remarks.
"She's dead too. I know she is." You say and look at Johnny who looks away and focuses back on Kelly's body.

"Well anyway, it looks like we know where the shelter entrance is now. Why don't we check it out?"
"Well that was the whole goal of this ordeal I suppose." You say.

Johnny exits the room and you grab your pistol back from Kelly's body before leaving. Stepping out of your room you see the hatch in the floor wide open where the fluorescent glow of lighting coming from.

You take a look inside and see a long ladder down leading to another floor, which you imagine that's the main shelter. You can't believe how close it was to your room and how you never knew about it!

"How the hell did you brother do this with you hearing or knowing about it?" Johnny asks.
"I dunno. I mean he managed to routinely change the entrance all the damn time too. Ben had a gift I guess. Everyone does I suppose." you say and you and Johnny start climbing down the ladder and you close up the hatch.

Eventually you get to the bottom and you and Johnny open up a metal door, which is fortunately not locked.

And there it is, you're in the shelter proper. Before you is a dimly lit living area with various furniture and even a TV. Other rooms include a bathroom, kitchen area, a couple of bedrooms and A LOT of storage rooms. One such room is huge, as rows and rows of canned food and bottled water are found.

"Well looks like sustenance is plentiful. Doesn't even look like Kelly put a dent in the supplies." You say.

Another storage room contains a goodly amount of ammo and weapons of all kinds. Mostly rifles. Medical supplies are in another.

One thing that stands out is that Ben's shelter has solid steel walls. You have no idea how the hell he did this and you guess you never will. You do notice on several of the walls something has been repeatedly scratched out though not entirely successfully everywhere.

At one point you make out most of it.

Pr-p---- o- th- Gr--n- -er- Cor---at-o-

"Well, I guess spending thousands on one of those Ground Zero shelters would've been a waste of money for you Seems like you got a nice one for free." Johnny says looking around.
"Indeed. Now we need to talk about us Johnny."

Johnny turns to you and sees you're holding your pistol directly at him. He doesn't react with surprise or anger or anything. It's nothing.

And that's the "real" Johnny right there. The one you've always known even when you weren't quite sure.

"So…what is this Suzy?" Johnny asks.
"I don't know yet. I really don't. I wish I did. I wish I could make a decision. I wish I could be the killer my sister thought I was. This would be so much easier. On the other hand I also wish I could trust and just let go."

Johnny makes no move towards you. He just continues to stand there. You briefly wipe your eyes while still holding the pistol on him.

"Johnny, you've been here for me this whole crazy week. I don't think I would've survived if you hadn't been around…but I know you. I know what you are."
"I never thought that you wouldn't figure it out, you're an intelligent woman after all which is matched only by your beauty of course." Johnny replies.
"Stop. Just stop." You exclaim.

You tear up and sniffle for a moment and then address Johnny again.

"My uncle Ed was a serial killer. We all sort of wondered, but it wasn't until that fateful day when I decided to go snooping around where I shouldn't have that I learned the awful truth. He caught me finding where he was storing body parts, but in his own twisted honorable way due to being related, he said he'd spare my life if I helped him kill someone. Kept saying I was pure and good, and not like the rest of those whores he killed."

Johnny's eyebrows raise when you say this. Now he seems genuinely surprised.

"In a more fucked up twist, he was feuding with a group of cultists into human sacrifice. Wanted me to help kill them. I initially did out of fear, but then I met Bobby during this mission. I ended up betraying my uncle because I felt that connection to Bobby because we both came from fucked up families. I thought it was love, and maybe it was, but it didn't last obviously."

Johnny seems a bit overwhelmed by your new information.

"That's… some story Suzy. I have to admit, I never would have guessed…"
"That what? That I'm not perfect? I'm not good? I'm not so pure? That I'm a backstabbing whore like all the rest?" you snap.

"That…that wasn't what I was going to say at all. Suzy, do you really think I could ever see you in that light?"
"I…I don't know Johnny. You've never told me much about your past. I mean I can piece things together by what you have told me and how you've acted. And that's the problem I DON'T KNOW."
"Okay, Suzy, let's just get it completely out in the open. What exactly is it that you think I've done or what I am?"
"You're a serial killer. I mean I don't exactly know just how bad you are for certain and I can't know for certain, but I do know you're a killer. I've been studying you probably just as much as you've been studying me. I mean…Christ…I don't KNOW if you killed Donna. I don't KNOW if you killed Julie, but the more I think about it and how they just disappeared and the conclusion I come to isn't pleasant. There's also your own suspicious behavior, the incident with the soldier "falling" down the stairs, your rage when beating that guy's head in, claiming that you've done bad things, stealing a jeep and most likely killing the owners in process, and finally your obsession with me. I'm quite familiar with your kind enough that even if I can't prove some of this shit, I feel it in my heart that's what you are."
"Well…if I am so terrible, then I suppose you should kill me."
"Goddamn it Johnny, if it was THAT FUCKING EASY I WOULD! But YOU KNOW it isn't and I KNOW it isn't! Because I also know underneath the fucked up social chameleon predator, I KNOW there actually IS a human being capable of love. I believe you really love me Johnny. I do. I don't doubt it. The problem is, how can I fucking trust that it's going to last?"

Johnny has no answer. He just looks down.

"Well see there's my problem. How do I know that I'm not going to do something that's going to set you off? Make you see me as fallen angel or a flawed person that is fit only for destruction? And this goes both ways Johnny, how do YOU know that I might not strike first? Granted I'm not a killer, but I still manipulated events to cause the death of my uncle. Can YOU really trust me, if I'm scared of you?" you say.

Johnny at this point rubs his eyes and sniffles a bit. He's not exactly crying, but he's definitely having an emotional moment.

"Suzy. I cannot think of anything more that I can do, that would convince you that I'll love you forever and that I will always protect you. It's true I have done bad things…it's also true that I probably would be classified as a serial killer. I'm very sick Suzy. I have a lot of bad thoughts going on in my head most of the time and even though I can emulate emotions, they don't feel genuine. It's like I'm just a mask. But with you, it's different. I haven't felt this way towards anyone since…well my first love. I don't really want to get into that right now, but I want to say it was a much different situation."

Johnny falls to his knees.

"Almost everything I felt during my time with you this week was actually real to me. You made me feel like a normal person. Like I had at last found a purpose to my life. I love you Suzy. You can never fall off that pedestal. I know that this is difficult for you. I understand the alienation and mistrust you feel, perhaps in a different way, but I understand it. But I also know that you want to give us a chance, if you didn't, you wouldn't be struggling with this right now."

You continue to point the pistol at Johnny as more tears roll down your cheeks.

"Johnny…I know you've lied to me or been evasive about things this week. I've been nothing but truthful. If this has any chance of working. I need to know right now. (Exhale) Did you kill Donna and Julie?"
"I thought you said you didn't care what happened to them and that they abandoned you." Johnny says.
"And that may be the case because you FUCKING killed them! Now stop evading the fucking question and answer it!" you demand.

Johnny looks at you. In fact it's the most cold-blooded stare you've ever seen from him. It's like when Uncle Ed looked at you in his van.

"Would you believe me, if I said no?" he asks.
"ANSWER!" you demand.
"Very well. No, I didn't." Johnny says looking straight at you.

[User] You accept the answer

[Assistant]
And with those words that you hear from Johnny, everything in your mind just sort of shuts off.

It doesn't matter. None of it does. You see that now.

"Okay." You say and put your pistol away.

Johnny looks a bit uncertain, almost as if he was expecting you to shoot him.

"Okay?" he asks.
"Yeah, okay. If you're telling me you didn't kill them, then you didn't kill them. In fact I don't want to know about your past either. It's just not important. You were there for me this week when nobody else was, that's the important thing and that's what I should place my faith in."

Johnny slowly gets up off his knees. He doesn't approach you right away; instead he just continues to stand at a distance.

"I apologize for my earlier outburst Johnny. I just, well it's been a stressful week. You understand." You say.
"Yeah….yeah I get it. Don't worry about it. I'm fine." Johnny says.
"Good. Good. Well, let's move on to other matters shall we?"
"Yeah." Johnny says.

Suddenly Johnny rushes at you and grabs you tightly. While one arm is firmly around your waist, one hand moves up to your neck and you feel a gentle squeeze as he looks into your eyes. It's the look of a predator that has finally caught his prey.

"Well? What are you waiting for lover? I trust you." you say not resisting.

Johnny's hand moves from your neck and to your face, where upon he strokes your cheek gently.

"You have the face of a perfect angel." he whispers and then he moves in to kiss you.

As your lips touch, he begins to take your clothes off in a hasty fashion. He's definitely getting aggressive, but oddly you're not quite feeling his "enthusiasm" yet…

By the time you get pushed over towards the bed and are basically in your bra and panties, he still isn't quite "ready."

"Do you need some help?" you ask.
"No, I'll be fine..." He says as he tries to get it up.

While you take off the remainder of your clothes Johnny's still having difficulties.

"Look I can help you out, I don't mind going down on…"
"Shhh! No! I don't want you debasing yourself like a whore! I just need to focus!" Johnny snaps.
"Okay. Okay." You say and back off.

You lie down on the bed and try not to stare in an effort to not look judgmental. This is really awkward though.

Johnny starts swearing, as his buddy is not doing what he wants it to do. Swearing turns to shouting and then finally a complete breakdown.

"Shit! I wanted this to be so perfect. I wanted to be everything for you, not some fucking impotent eunuch!" he says sniffling a bit.

"Hey, calm down. It's okay. You're trying too hard, you just need to relax." You say moving over to caress him a bit.
"I know. (sniffle) This just has never happened before." Johnny replies.
"Well, you probably aren't used to…uh situations like this. I mean would it help if I pretended I was dead or something?"
"What? No. That doesn't work. Your body is too warm and submerging you in cold water would be really uncomfortable for you." Johnny says.

As you continue to try to make Johnny feel more at ease, he slowly speaks.

"Suzy…there is something I can think of…but…you're not going to want to do it…"
"Does it involve pain?" you ask.
"No."
"Then go ahead and say it."
"Could…could you pretend that we're related?" Johnny asks.

Why are you not surprised?

"Ah. I see. So you want me to role play as your mother?" you ask going for the obvious serial killer obsession.
"Hah, no. You're a bit too young for that, I don't think I could maintain the illusion, but… um maybe you could be my sister?"

Wow, a murderous boyfriend who fucked his sister in the past, it's like being with Bobby all over again…and there's something vaguely comforting about that. You always did prefer something familiar to something new.

You smile and caress Johnny's face.

"Of course brother dear." You say and passionately kiss Johnny.

From there things get a lot better. Johnny actually is a pretty sensual lover when he gets going. You guess he must've loved his sister just like you once loved Bobby a lot.

Johnny falls asleep shortly afterwards professing his usual love for you. After being awake a little longer yourself thinking about what the future might hold, you go to sleep.

[User] Next day...

[Assistant]
SATURDAY

You wake up to the faint sounds of rustling. You look up from your bed and see Johnny getting dressed.

"Where are you going?" you ask groggily.
"I was going to get the stuff I brought in from the jeep and left up stairs on Thursday night. I know we've got more than enough stuff down here now, but I still thought you'd want your clothes which we don't have any of down here."
"Oh. Okay, I'll come with you." You say.
"No, stay here and relax, I got it."
"It's okay really, I don't mind. Besides, I still left things in my room that I'd like to get."
"You sure you want to do that with your sister's body still in there?"
"Oh yeah that's right. Well I'll just help you with the bags from upstairs then."
"Okay. Always enjoy your company anyway and don't worry, I fully intend on cleaning up all the bodies upstairs, not just your sister's. I mean know we're going to be down here for a while, but you never want bodies just lying around to rot in your area. Never mind the smell, but there are also vermin and health hazards to consider." Johnny says.

Well he'd probably know better than most…

You and Johnny finish getting dressed and exit the shelter. From the basement you then head to the ground floor where you see your bags lying on the floor near the front door.

"You said you brought these in on Thursday night?" you ask.
"Yeah, after you fell asleep."
"I suppose it's a silly question since you never seem to be scared of anything, but you weren't concerned about those rabid things possibly wandering around at night?"
"Oh I definitely was prepared in case of an attack, but the strange thing is, its dead silent in your neighborhood. Or at least it seems like it is. I didn't see anything wandering around out there. Rabid or otherwise. If I had to guess, the National Guard exterminated everything in this area and moved on."
"Hm, well from what I've seen they're getting their ass kicked elsewhere. I just hope that…"

Before you or Johnny can say anything else a bright flash shines through one of the uncovered windows along with the sound of a large explosion in the distance. You can't help but take a quick glance out the window.

And there you see it in the far distance, the dissipating remnants of a mushroom cloud rising up in the sky.

"…they finally went and did it." You say.
"…I have to say, I'm not entirely surprised. Johnny replies looking with you.
"From the direction I saw the cloud, I'd say it probably hit Security City and that's fairly far away. I know impact should've at least shattered the windows of the house had it been closer or bigger so it probably wasn't even a large one. Still, we probably should still get down in that shelter." You say.

Johnny agrees and the pair of you grab all the bags and quickly head back down to the shelter.

"Well, I guess it's a good thing we decided to come back here instead of trying to leave town." You say.
"Yeah, I imagine things are going to be quite chaotic for a long time to come. It's better that you're safe down here." Johnny says.
"We're both safe down here." you say, but Johnny's pacing suggests that he's a bit preoccupied.

"Okay, what's wrong?" you ask.
"Well, with this new event come to light, its already established that the situation just got a lot worse and isn't going to be ending anytime soon. Now we've probably got a decades worth of supplies, possibly a little more since I don't eat much anyway, but the fact remains, we're going to need more supplies eventually and that means going up to the surface and dealing with it." Johnny replies.
"Yeah, I know. I didn't really want to think about it, but you're right of course. I think I saw some survival manuals in one of the rooms down here, guess I better read up on them."
"While I certainly wouldn't stop you from getting yourself acquainted with such things, my thoughts are, why do you need to leave here and risk your life at all? I'll be the one going up there."
"Well we are sort of a team now right? I mean don't you want me to help you?"

Johnny's hands touch your shoulders as he stares into your eyes. His hands gently run down from your shoulders to your arms until he's holding both of your hands.

"Suzy, you were too good for this world when it wasn't completely fucked up, you're definitely too good for it now. As dangerous as it was in this past week, it's going to be ten times worse now. It's going to be chaos, anarchy and people killing each other for survival as well as pleasure. In short, it's going to be a world that someone like me would thrive in. I actually belong out there."

Johnny then lets go your hands and raises his arms upward and looks up and around making motions with his hands pointing to the shelter in general.

"And this, all this, is your world. This is all you have ever needed Suzy. Some place to feel safe. Some place locked away from the outside world. I mean you're the honest one here, can you tell me sincerely that you really want to go out there scrounging around for supplies and having to deal with people wanting to rape you or kill you, or hell even eat you? Wouldn't you rather someone else deal with it?"

Johnny focuses his attention back to you. You look at him and you don't even answer because your face is probably giving him his answer already. He's absolutely right.

You don't want to deal with reality. You never have. In fact you got along pretty well without having to for a very long time and whenever you have had to deal with it, it's always been a stressful mess. He's also right in that he's far more suited to dealing with the shitstorm that the surface is going to be.

And maybe that's just one more reason why you didn't kill Johnny. You knew he'd be willing to take care of you no matter what. It's all you've ever wanted, for someone to just love and take care of you while you didn't have to worry about a thing.

You move forward and put your arms back around Johnny and look into his eyes.

"Just don't killed okay?" you say.
"Never. I'll always be around to protect and take care of you Suzy. My love for you will always keep me going forever and ever and ever and ever."

The way Johnny is looking at you while he strokes your hair each time for emphasis when he says "and ever" would probably be creepy to most, but you know its just his way of confirming his love you.

You're so lucky.

[User] Continue

[Assistant]
Sheltered Princess

The Future…

It's been about a month; Johnny should be home again soon. Just have to keep an ear open for that certain knock and his voice.

You wonder what things he will have brought home this time. You're still pretty much good with the necessities. Maybe he will have found some new movies or books to bring you this time.

At first when he started going out, you worried about him even though he assured you he would be fine. Of course as time went on, you ceased worrying altogether.

Still, after the first few years, Johnny was getting restless. Sure he was going out, but never for long periods of time.

Then one day he went out and didn't return for a full week. For the first time in a long while you worried so much when he did that. This caused an argument when he finally returned. You were so angry.

You even accused him of cheating on you, but deep down you knew that wasn't and would never be the case.

To Johnny's credit he was honest about what the problem was. He apologized realizing he should've at least told you before disappearing like that. He tried, he really tried and he thought that "you" would be enough, but he wasn't like you. He couldn't stay cooped up down in a shelter for long stretches of time. Even though he was in the presence of an "angel" he always felt like a trapped animal. Sometimes being around you made him feel and realize just how inferior he was to you.

He explained how the surface was better than he could've ever imagined. No law, no order, and freedom to do whatever he wanted to whomever he wanted. The pull was too great and was getting greater.

You were upset and rightfully so. After all he had professed that he would always be there for you, and now who would take care of you if he left?

Johnny however insisted that he wasn't going to break your heart. He assured you once again that he would still be there to take care of you; he just needed time to himself. He explained that he just needed to "wander" because deep down that's who he'd always be. He also explained it would be safer for you if he did wander as he didn't want to one day unleash his…urges out on you by accident.

What could you do? How could you compete? He was a slave to his nature. It was like Bobby all over again.

That first time, you practically kicked him out and he left without struggle or even raising his voice, he just told you that he would keep his promise and that you would see that he would not fail you.

Naturally you didn't believe him at the time you were too upset. That entire month was a pretty bad one for you. You spent most of your time crying and wondering if you'd been a delusional fool for sticking your head in the sand and ignoring reality as usual. You even started reading those survival books that you hadn't actually gotten to reading yet and rationing your food and water a little more since you were potentially facing an uncertain future.

But then when that month had passed and Johnny did indeed return like he always had in the past.

At first you were reluctant to even let him back in, but then you realized that he had kept his promise just like he always has to you. The reunion was a happy one and over the years you've gotten accustomed to this arrangement. In fact it's nice to be by yourself too. You'd actually forgotten what that was like during the years Johnny was around all the time.

You hear a familiar pattern knock on the shelter door followed by Johnny's faint voice coming from the other side. After taking the usual safety precautions, you excitedly rush to open it with your pistol drawn.

"I'm home, my perfect angel." Johnny says smiling and holding a couple of bags no doubt stuffed with goodies.
"Well don't just stand there, come in! I missed you." You say and welcome Johnny back home like you always do.

Johnny tells you a few things about the outside world like he always does, but in general you never care that much. As far as you're concerned, what he does out there you don't want to hear too much about and it doesn't matter anyway. All that matters is his time with you.

You happily accept all the gifts and supplies he has brought for you and later on you and he embrace as lovers do.

The pair of you enjoy your time together, until its time for Johnny to wander again. But you never despair about it, because you know he'll always come back.

And one day, you know he'll come back forever.

It's not perfect, but then nothing in this new world is.


[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 memories (Igor)

[Assistant]
The Assistant: Igor

You've never really had much contact with Igor, other than knowing he's Victor's assistant. For awhile you thought he and Vic had something ELSE going on, (Much like Vlad and Renfield) but that's not the case. Igor's just a loyal henchman.

You always wondered why he is though. Despite general public perception, he's not stupid. In fact, he's been the one that's given Vic most of his "successful" experiment ideas. Vic wouldn't even be around if it hadn't been for Igor. Vic doesn't seem to appreciate any of his help though and doesn't treat him very well. He treats his experiments better than he treats Igor. You can only guess Igor is a masochist, or has some severe self-esteem problems.

Probably both.


[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] You quickly alert and direct your own Archers to the Elves

[Assistant]
You turn to your archers, but it's clear the Elves targeted them first. Most are dead, and the few remaining drop to their knees and begin firing, but the elves are uphill, naturally better archers and have the wind in their favor. It's clear the elves have carefully chosen this ambush site.

You feel an arrow thud into your chest. It shatters on your plate armor, but the force is enough to break a few ribs and you groan loudly. You raise your shield, and another arrow thuds into it.

"Orcs! Regroup, and keep those shields up!" Karn screams.

You huddle together, and as a group begin rushing uphill rapidly towards the Elves. The Elves fire a few more arrows at you both, but quickly turn heel and run. You reach the summit of the hill and watch as the Elves disappear into a small woods down the hill.

"Come on, Orcs! We follow them and make sure the worms can feast on Elf Flesh tonight!" Karn yells.


[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 don't drink it

[Assistant] You decide not to drink it. You know that you need to get moving soon, to escape before nightfall, but hold on to the fact their still might be something useful nearby.

[User] You drag yourself outside

[Assistant] You drag yourself outside. The village is packed with dead Orcs, Men and War Dogs, interspersed with the golden armored Elves who your allies managed to strike down. You continue dragging yourself forward, passing the dead. Vultures land around you and begin pecking at the corpses. One lands in front of you and pecking at your face.

[User] You grab the Vulture

[Assistant] You grab the Vulture, tearing the vulture's head off its neck and tossing it aside. You begin dragging yourself forward once more.

[User] Four Hours Later...

[Assistant]
You move your hands forward and find something to drag yourself another few inches forward. Thankfully, the leaves grant you some shade from the hot sun, but the pain's beginning to become unbearable. Then, as if the Gods have all agreed to fuck up your life, you hear wolves.

"Fuck you!" You scream, as three wolves begin prowling towards you.

[User] You fling your knife at one

[Assistant] You throw your knife, impaling one of the wolves' in the head, killing it instantly. It falls backwards, and you feel pride briefly, before another one of the wolves leaps at you, landing on your chest. It bites down on your chest, tearing through flesh at you let out a scream.


[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 attack the guard on the wall and dodge the three below

[Assistant]
You turn and sprint toward the mind coming your way and leap out of the darkness at him. His gun goes off too but again you are not hit as you snap his neck. You stand and begin to run when you hear the shot and feel the impact in your back. You stumble and look behind. The guards below should be too far to see you in the darkness but you realize you had jumped into torchlight when you killed the guard and lit up your actions for everyone to see.

The next shot is followed by a burst from an automatic weapon and you die just as quickly as the guard you had punched.


[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] You go with the group to raid the farmhouse

[Assistant]
You let Matthias take over guard duty. Whatever you can do to speed things up, you will. Roger brings the rest of the group closer to the farmhouse.

"There's a strong possibility that someone's still alive in there, and they're surrounded by tall grass. Here's what we'll do. We split up, and approach the house from all sides. If you see someone in the window, fire at them. If you here gunshots from someone else, rush the house. The first person to get in the house needs to clear the ground floor, and we'll move from there. Clear?"

Everyone nods, and the plan commences. You get set on a straight path to the front door of the farmhouse, while the others spread out. The entire walk over, you listen intently for gunshots, or any sign of disturbance. It never comes, and suddenly you're at the front door. Remembering your instructions, you draw your gun and search the ground floor.

As it turns out, the house is abandoned. Searching the place top to bottom yields no humans. The fate of the owner is revealed when you check the basement: a lone corpse, hanging from a noose.

"He had such a good setup," comments Roger. "Wonder why he did it." But, of course, there's no time to wonder. Everyone spreads out to search the house again, this time for food. You continue in the basement.

The basement is actually quite empty, making you wonder if someone else cleaned the place out first. Just as you are about to give up, you see a message scrawled on a drywall. It looks like it could have been written with blood.

THEY TOOK EVERYTHING. I'M SORRY. IT'S NOT WORTH IT ANYMORE. THE WORLD IS ENDING, AND NOBODY WILL BE SAVED. BETTER TO DIE WITH DIGNITY THAN BE TORN APART BY THE ROTTERS.

You disagree, but respect the man's choice, and leave the basement. When you come back up, you see that the others were luckier.

On your way back, you look over the findings: several small wooden crates packed with cans, and some nonperishables. Not bad, and it's more than you'll need for five for a day.

"Any trouble?" Roger asks Matthias as you load the food up. "Yes, actually," Matthias responds. "One guy. But, he wasn't a problem. I'm fine."


[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] You rat on the Talons

[Assistant]
Well, ratting on the Crimson Talons probably isn't the worst thing you've done…

You go back to the militia barracks where you're immediately stopped by some of its members who ask what you want. When you tell them that you want to speak to the officer in charge because you have information on the Crimson Talons, they tell you to wait while someone goes and gets Captain Branik, who apparently was the one interrogating you earlier.

Doesn't take long before you see this captain, who gives you a mildly smug look.

"Well, look who's back. Thought you didn't know anything." Branik says.
"I just remembered some details that slipped my mind." You retort.
"Hmm, well out with it then, and if your information is any good then we will have come to an understanding."

You give out what you know of the Crimson Talons, but specifically their headquarters location. He says something about how he can't believe they've been there the whole time. You also mention the secret sewer tunnel that leads from outside the city. Branik seems especially pleased by this information and mentions he'll send people through there as well when they move in to attack the place.

"This of course is all going to take a little time to put together and confirm, so in the meantime I'd like you to stay in the city. You know, just in case you're lying and this isn't some sort of set up." Branik says.
"What? What would I possibly gain by setting you up for anything? YOU told me to help you!" you say.
"Yes, but you didn't do it right away and even managed to disappear from the militia's watchful eye for awhile. I can't know if you haven't already tipped off your Crimson Talon buddies or something more sinister. So to put those concerns to rest, I just need you to stay within the city so that I may easily get a hold of you until this is all over. Be thankful I'm not just throwing you in a cell."

No good deed…

It's the best deal you're going to get at this point and really you have no idea now if the captain is even going to hold on to his end. Meanwhile you're probably still going to be having these militia assholes following you all over the city, which you can't even leave now!

You just leave shaking your head at the entire situation.

You honestly don't know what to do with yourself. You suppose you could live on your savings until all this shit blows over, but again you have no idea when that will be and if that asshole captain is even going to give you a break.

You still have to find a new place to live and you suppose squatting in your family's old inn is out now seeing as it's more trouble than it's worth.

Lacking any better ideas, you decide to go to the Church of Joachim that Virgil suggested. At least it will be free.

There are actually more than a few in the city, but you figure Virgil was talking about the one closest to the Welcome Mat so that's the one you seek out. It's probably the biggest one anyway due to more poor folks in the area sponging off the charity that the church provides.

When you get there you find that it's feeding the beggars day. Great now you have to put up with that smell along with whatever religious shit that's going to be preached at you.

You see Virgil serving up bowls of swill and approach him since you figure he knows where the flop room for the poor is.

"Hey Virgil." You say while trying not to get in the way of the hungry beggars who are eagerly taking their food and leaving.
"Hello. Surprised, but glad to see you. I'm a little busy at the moment, but what can I do for you?" Virgil responds.
"You said I could stay here awhile? Having sort of a problem finding a place to live at the moment."
"Oh sure. We have space so you can stay as long as you like, but erm…"
"But erm, what?"
"Well I know you're not exactly poor beggar or destitute mother with children and Brother Thadius is sort of a stickler for the rules."
"So what are you saying?"
"Well, maybe if you could donate to…"
"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!" you exclaim at which point Virgil tells you to keep your voice down.

"Virgil, you TOLD me that you wanted to make amends to me or whatever and you also TOLD me that I could stay here for free!" you say.
"Actually I never said it was free…(Sigh) but I suppose it is true, I might have given you a false impression. For that I am sorry. However, you could still stay here for free, but it would still require something of you." Virgil says.

You at first think Virgil is going to tell you to get him a bottle of alcohol or maybe ask you to steal something. You're just counting on religious hypocrisy to rear its head, so it's a bit surprising when he asks you:

"If you could help me serve these bowls of soup, that I think would be enough to allow you to stay here for free."
"Wha…are you…(Sigh) fuck it. Fine."

You spend the next few hours serving swill to dirty, smelly beggars, bums, and the destitute. You can't believe it's come to this.

About the only think that breaks up the monotony is you have to throw out a Yellow Devil junkie who gets a little aggressive with the others. Normally you don't get excessively hostile to the point of violence unless its necessary, but you're in a foul mood due to current events. Just as you're about to really kick his ass until Virgil stops you.

"Hey, hey, easy! He's had enough; look he's going now. And I think you've had enough too. Thanks for your help; you can find a space on the floor in the sleeping area in the back of the church." Virgil says.

You don't say anything and just head to where Virgil said to go. When you enter the room, it isn't quite as bad as you thought it would be. Apparently most of the beggar types actually prefer sleeping in their own personal areas on the streets rather than a relatively clean church. Go figure.

What you do see more of is "regular poor folk." Families who have obviously suffered some hardship causing them to be homeless for whatever reason. You imagine their faith in Joachim keeps them going that things will get better. The fools.

You find a corner to be in, make a pillow with your bag and try to get some rest despite the sounds of children and people nearby. You can regroup tomorrow, you always do.

Next day…

You head to the university seeing as you don't have anything better planned at the moment.

Of course as soon as you start heading that way, militia is on your ass already. This is ridiculous. It's like they suddenly have some sixth sense of your whereabouts. You try to lose them a couple times and while you do succeed, it once again has taken you out of your way to your destination. Eventually you manage to get a carriage and ride to the university. From there you get to work.

All is going relatively well, though you do catch sight of more than a few wandering militia. You aren't sure if they're there specifically for you or just the usual.

On your way through one of the many student-gathering areas, you suddenly hear someone call out your name. You turn around and get a surprise.

"Yvette?" you answer.
"Glad to see you remembered me. How have you been?" Yvette asks.
"Um, I'm okay. And yourself? You probably graduated and are some sort of powerful wizard by now."
"On the graduation part yes, on the powerful wizard bit, well that's debatable. I'm sort of teaching and doing independent research on possible new spell components. It's a really good thing that the wizard college has such a generous benefactor on the Klyton Council. Otherwise, I'm not sure what I'd be doing with my life."
"You're a wizard, surely there's no limit to what you could do."
"I suppose in some ways, but I guess I just like what I get to do now…is something wrong? You seem a bit distracted."
"No, nothing's wrong. I'm just surprised to see you, let alone you even talking to me. Last time I remember you were pretty pissed at me."
"Oh. That. Yeah, I always meant to apologize to you about that, but I couldn't find you. I asked Dr. Gossey, but she said she didn't know much about you outside the times you helped her. I only knew your first name, but I didn't know what your area of study was. I must have went through a lot student lists, but never could track you down. I even tried some divination magic, but nothing turned up. Though I never was very good at that. Still, it almost seemed like you never even went here."
"Heh, yeah…wow didn't realize you looked for me. I'm really flattered."
"Well I gave up after about a year. I figured you probably graduated by then…so what are you doing here then? Are you teaching now too? What was your study anyway?"

Yvette is flooding you with questions that you weren't really prepared to answer with well thought out lies. She's being pretty friendly though and given how things have been going, it's nice a change. You sort of wonder about the fact that she looked for you for a year. Obviously, she had more in mind than just to apologize.

If you'd known that, you would have made more of an effort to seek her out too, rather than just fucking a whore that looked only vaguely like her a few times.

Well, hopefully better late than never…

"Okay, I'm just going to come out and ask. Were you interested in me back then?" you ask.
"Um…well…" Yvette stutters.
"I'll take that as a yes."
"Well wait no. I mean yeah, but…oh I'm not very good at this."
"Calm yourself then just speak your mind."
"Okay. Well, I didn't NOT like you. I mean I liked all of our time together up until Kelium died. Between that and worrying about my report, your kiss sort of caught me off guard. After my report was a success, I had time to think about your advance and while I would have preferred something less aggressive, I can't say that I entirely disliked it. Actually it might have even helped my report."
"How's that?"
"Yes, at the time I was so pissed at you that I ended up telling my superiors the story we agreed upon as well as adding that it was all your fault that things didn't go as planned. Since I was so mad at you, it came off as believable hence a successful report. I was actually going to thank you for that too."

You laugh a bit.

"Well glad it helped I guess. Though I suppose my question is and again this might be a long shot, but are you still interested in me?" you ask.
"I dunno. I mean it was years ago. We still don't know much about each other. I suppose the answer is the same as it was back then, I wouldn't be opposed to seeing you. I'm currently unattached. I have a bit of trouble meeting people that aren't also magic users and the few I do seem to get scared that I have magic powers." Yvette answers.
"What about other wizards?"
"Hah, yeah…well after going out with a few magic users in the past, that has not gone very well. I'll just leave it at that."

You're doing okay so far, but here's where the problem is going to come in, your real life.

If you pursue this relationship, you are going to have to change your life severely because you are entirely sure that Yvette is definitely not going to be good with your roguish ways.

Oddly, this isn't completely unappealing to you. Granted you've had an okay day here at the university, but how long before the militia gets more savvy and starts watching your movements here a lot more? You still can't walk to most places without them around and again you still don't know if they're going to hold up their end and leave you alone after they bust up the Crimson Talons.

When you really think back to what you've managed to accomplish as a rogue you aren't sure if it's worth it anymore. All you've been doing is going through the motions because you don't know any other way.

But if you really put your mind to it, you're a resourceful guy; you probably COULD do something different if you wanted to.

In any case, you still need to know how you're going to deal with Yvette. You could just tell her the truth about your life, which would prevent a possible shitstorm later, of course it could fuck up things now. Especially since you've basically been lying to her up until this point.

Of course if you've been lying to her all this time, you could just continue doing it and hope for the best. You could still try to change your life, but just not reveal your past.

[User] You lie to Yvette

[Assistant]
This relationship, if there is even going to be one is on shaky ground already. You can't imagine the truth really helping you out here.

"Yvette, I think before we go any further I should reveal something first because it's only fair that you know." You say.
"Uh oh." Yvette responds.

You explain that not long after your job with Dr. Gossey, you had to drop out of college because your parents suffered hardship back home and you had to help them out. After burying them both, you tell her there was nothing for you left in that one horse town, so with what money you had from selling the property you returned here. You tell her that you've actually only just recently returned hoping you could maybe find work here at the university and re-attend classes in the meantime on a work-study type program, but you haven't had much luck.

You go on to say, you're sort of giving up on the whole college thing and just trying to find ANY job since your savings are running low.

It's a bullshit tearjerker story that you threw together at the last minute.

Naturally Yvette still being the trusting soul you figured she would be, she swallows every line of it.

"Oh I had no idea! And I had treated you so terrible before all that happened!" Yvette exclaims.
"Don't worry about it. It's not like you could have known. Shit happens."
"I suppose, but still. I guess that's explains why I couldn't find you."
"Well I'm here now, if you're still interested of course. I mean I'd completely understand if you weren't."
"Gee, I mean it would look pretty shallow of me if I said I wasn't…not that I'm saying that. It's just it seems like you have a lot of other things you need to take care of before entertaining the idea of us going out together."
"Heh, trust me, you've been the single light during this dismal period, so you can bet I'm going to make the effort to spend time with you. I think I might have a lead on a job actually though, so if you could, maybe wait for me a little while longer? We could just meet up here and spend time until I get my shit together. Would that be acceptable?"
"I suppose that would be nice. Yes, okay. You can usually find me in the magic college dorms or the college itself. Probably best if you go to the college since the dorms have some security that could be problematic if you aren't a wizard type or with one."
"Okay, great. Gotta go now, but before I do, may I have your permission this time?"
"Permission for what?"
"To kiss you of course."
"Oh. Um, well okay, but just on the cheek this time!"

You move in and give Yvette a quick peck on the cheek causing her to smile a bit which you return before you take your leave.

You make your way back to the church as quick as you can, you don't even bother worrying about the squad of militia following you around. It's time to call in that big favor Virgil says he owes you, you just hope he can deliver without some stupid stipulation this time.

You find Virgil speaking with a couple of the poor folk about the light of Joachim or whatever.

"Virgil! I need your help let's talk."
"Huh? But I'm in the middle of spreading the word of Joachim."
"Yeah, well you got all the fucking time in the world to do that. These folks aren't going to get any less desperate within the hour so just talk to me now and be done with it."

Virgil sensing that you're going to be as obnoxious as you can be until he speaks with you excuses himself and goes to see you.

"You know, you're taking advantage of my kindness." Virgil says.
"Yeah, just like you took advantage of mine when you were begging me for coin during your drunk days. Look, I'm just going to ask for a simple favor, one that will actually get you out of your hair in the long run. Can you get me a job?" you say.
"A job? What do you mean?"
"A job man! A job! Like you go there, you do some shit and then you go back home and eventually they pay you for all the shit you did. You repeat until dead or fired."
"YOU want a REAL job? Are you sober?"
"Completely."
"Wow. You continue to surprise me. Maybe Joachim's light really has…"
"Oh no! Don't start with the religious shit. I just know you have people coming in and out of this church all the time and not ALL of them are the charity cases. Some of them are just here to pray or attend services or whatever it is you lot do."
"True, but what are you getting at?"
"Well I know you religious types have tend to have tight knit communities. Surely you know someone who might be able to give me a job."
"Hmm, maybe. But is there anything in particular you're looking for?"
"Obviously something befitting of my talents!"
"Sorry, but I think thievery is off the table."
"Hey I used to sell stolen items too."
"Hmm, wait a minute. You uh, used to pick locks right?"
"Sure did and if I may say so myself, I was pretty damn good at it."
"Okay, I do know someone. He's an older man by the name of Ned and is a locksmith by trade. I think he's looking for an assistant."
"Huh. Guess that would be a good fit."
"Yeah…too good in fact. You aren't going to use this as some way of breaking the law are you?"
"If I was, do you think I'd tell you? You're funny. But if it puts your mind at ease, then no I'm not. I can't leave the city, the militia watches me all the fucking time, and I'm living in a damn church. Obviously my life style has NOT been successful. Time to change it up, especially since I might have a second chance with this girl I like. Yes, I said it. I'm doing this for a girl."

Virgil smirks a bit.

"What's with the grin?" you ask.
"Joachim works in mysterious ways. Maybe you don't see it or choose not to, but his influence is there. Little steps to righteousness and perhaps in more time you…" Virgil says before you interrupt.
"Will you get out of here and just go get me that job! And don't tell him the truth just say I'm an engineer down on my luck or something."
"You want me to lie?!"
"I want you to fulfill your damn promise without a bunch of bullshit tacked on to it! Now you do what you gotta do, you can always ask Joachim for forgiveness afterwards."
"(Sigh) Very well. I just hope you're being truthful in all this."

With the plan set in motion things turn around fairly quickly. In a few days you get the job as an assistant to the locksmith. Turns out he's a good old guy. Tends to talk a lot about his dead wife and his runaway daughter who he hasn't seen in decades, but you suppose you understand he has a great sense of loss and wants to vent to someone. You're just glad he doesn't ask too much about your life or get too religious on you.

The pay is…adequate. It's at least enough to get yourself a new cheap place and keep you in the basics. In the meantime the militia is still following you around. They're probably wondering what the hell you're up to.

In the next month, you go see Yvette who is expecting you since you wrote a letter ahead of time. You meet and catch up on what the pair of you have been doing over the past few years, or rather in your case LYING about what you've been up to. You still try to keep the lying to a minimum but keeping the topics either light or focusing on her activity instead which is easy since she really likes talking about her spell stuff. (Which to be honest you don't completely grasp all of it)

Within the next few months big news in Klyton hits when its announced that the Crimson Talons have been officially taken down. Captain Branik gets an award from the council and exclaims how brave his people were as they stormed the Talon hideout. Apparently they didn't take any of them alive though you get the impression that if any did surrender the militia wouldn't have been the type to just accept it anyway.

You don't get any official word from anyone saying that you're off the hook let alone any thanks that you were the one that gave the information of their hideout. You do notice that the militia doesn't follow you around like it once did, so you take that as a sign that you must be off probation so to speak.

Still, though you've managed to "be good" for a few months now and things are going good with Yvette and your new job isn't even all that bad even if it's a little boring at times.

There really isn't any need for you to go back to your old ways. Maybe it's time to give this new life a longer try.

[User] You time passes...

[Assistant]
Year 27

"Is it too expensive?" Yvette asks.
"Well we could afford it, but I shudder to think what the ongoing property tax is going to be like." You say.
"I suppose…but it's so nice!"
"Maybe, but it's also a security hazard. I mean the locks on these doors are just pathetic. There are windows everywhere, which would allow for any thief to break into. There isn't even any fencing around this place. We'd have to spend more money just to secure this place better."
"You are really paranoid sometimes. You always think someone is going to break in someplace. This is a good neighborhood and ever since the Talons were eliminated the crime rate has gone down anyway."
"That's no reason to be off guard. I'm just saying that as a locksmith I have some experience in these matters."
"Or maybe you're a thief!" Yvette laughs and teasingly pokes you.
"Yeah you got me." You joke back, finding her comment humorous in a completely different way than she does.

You then embrace Yvette and kiss her during the bit of playfulness. She then places your hand on her stomach. It's not visibly noticeable yet, but your son or daughter is in there.

You never thought you'd be in this position, on the verge of marriage with a baby on the way. So much has changed that it's hard to believe, but everything is good or at least everything save for one thing.

You still have yet to meet Yvette's father. (Yvette's mother unfortunately died while giving birth to her) You've managed to avoid it for a long time. Part of that was because it wasn't like Yvette was in a hurry for you to meet him either. She'd mention him in passing at times, but she always gave the impression that he was a rather distant and cold man who only paid for Yvette's college out of the barest sense of parental duty.

Still, the man is her father and the fact you got her pregnant BEFORE you married her is something you're going to have to deal with because Yvette just couldn't bear to keep a grandchild from him a secret.

You know that while he isn't on the council, he does something important in the government, which is something you generally try to avoid. However, it's better to get this over with.

"I think I should go meet your father." You say.
"Oh. Now?" Yvette asks.
"The sooner the better."
"I suppose you're right. It's just; it was a nice day before you brought that up. Are you okay going alone? I just met with daddy again a few days ago and he was as unpleasant with me as ever."
"Does he yell and threaten you? I mean you're a powerful wizard, I would think that would be a deterrent."
"You always keep saying that and I'm not. But anyway, as I said he never does any of that and short of him hitting me which he would never do, it's not like I'm going to cast a lightning bolt at my father for being a jerk. He just was very disapproving. I mean I suppose I get it…but…"
"Yvette, look don't beat yourself over it. I want you to stay in positive spirits okay?"
"Okay. But anyway, he should be home right now. Takes most of his work home with him. I don't think he gets along with a lot of people there either."

Parting ways with your beloved, you head to Yvette's father's home which actually isn't too far away from where you were looking at potential houses.

When you arrive it isn't a mansion, but certainly nice place befitting of someone who works high up in the government.

You knock on the door and half expect a servant of some sort to answer, but instead an older man with dark circles under his eyes, thinning white hair and what is probably a permanent scowl answers the door. His eyes look you up and down and he even makes a little snort sound as if he's clearly unimpressed by you.

"Uh Mr. Franklins?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm…"
"I know who you are. You're the lowly sneak thief rat who somehow managed to fool my trusting daughter into going out with you. And not only that, but you got her pregnant with your criminal seed before you even had the decency to marry her."
"I…"

Before you can even answer this, the old man manages to catch you with a left to your jaw. You fall on your ass and hold the side of your face. The old man packs quite the punch.

"Okay. I probably deserved that." You say.
"Pfft. YOU deserve much more than that, however what's done is done. When you're done befouling my porch with your presence, you can come inside and befoul that too." Mr. Franklins remarks.

You pick yourself up off the floor and follow Yvette's father into his house. He sits down in a comfortable chair and just as you're about to do likewise, he tells you to stop.

"No. You don't get to fucking sit down. You stand there and listen to what I have to say, because I'm not going to repeat myself. Now, before I begin, don't bother trying to lie to me. As I said, I know who the hell you are. Who you REALLY are. Just because my daughter only recently told me about you, doesn't mean I wasn't keeping an eye on you before. I did my research. I'm a little foggy for a few things on your past, but that doesn't matter. I know that you are…or I suppose WERE a thief of little importance in this city, which you aren't even a citizen of. It seems the only reason why you stopped is due to pressure from the militia and meeting my daughter again. The first reason I'd dismiss as simple cowardice since you ratted on the Crimson Talons in order to catch a break in the first place. However, the second reason, well that one takes a little more examination."
"If you knew all this why not warn your daughter ahead of time?"
"Pfft. Like she'd listen to me. Besides, by the time I did find out about all this, you and her were together for at least a year, and I knew she was in love. It was in her eyes. Never seen her so happy when she was with you. I know it now more than ever just from how she spoke of you to me. Attempting to break you up at that point would have crushed her and now would be unthinkable. And all of that's on me for not paying attention sooner and having you removed from her life."
"I guess thanks for not having me killed?"
"Who said anything about killing you? I said removed. I could have just had the militia kick you out of the city and had you exiled. I'm not a fucking murderer."

Yvette's father grabs a bottle of wine near his table and pours himself a glass, taking a drink before he continues to lecture you.

"Now here it is. Contrary to popular belief, I love my daughter. It may not seem like I do, but it's true. I just want her to be happy and apparently you make her happy. My point is, I believe you love her too because despite your lies about your past, you haven't gone back to any criminal activity and I'm guessing now that you're trying to put down roots you probably won't be going back to your old life because YOU know that you struck gold when you met my daughter and you'll do ANYTHING not to fuck that up."
"True."
"Hm, which is about one of the few redeeming qualities about you that I can tell so far. (Sigh) Look, I'm not a complete hard ass, but even with your good intentions I still can't shake the feeling you're going to fail my daughter spectacularly in some way in the future. Human nature is flexible only to a point and at some point you are probably going to snap. Maybe you won't, I don't know. But I'm going to give you an out right now."

Mr. Franklins suddenly gets up and goes to a drawer, grabs a bag and tosses it to you. You open it up and find diamonds. Flawless diamonds. There has to be hundreds of them here. This is a fortune that you couldn't even begin to imagine. There is also an odd shaped key and a piece of paper.

"That is more riches than you need for your lifetime assuming you're not being a complete idiot with it. That key and deed are to a place in Jicol which is on an island not far from Hessla. You can probably take a ship to there. Granted I haven't been to the place in years, so I don't know what condition it's in, but with those diamonds I'd wager you could fix the place up. Take them both and never return to Klyton."
"But…"
"Yvette? She'll cry over you for a long time, but she'll carry on if only for the sake of your child. She'll probably blame me and I'll give her reason to. Better that I disappoint her than you. And your child? It will be taken care of, that you can be sure of. Even if my daughter refuses my help to support it, I can pull strings to still help her."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I suppose I'll have to hope that you prove me wrong."

[User] You take the loot

[Assistant]
You love Yvette, but ultimately you guess you love yourself just a little bit more.

You think about the sort of life you would have if you did marry Yvette. You'd be an average working class slob with a family. While maybe there is some appeal to that over your old life, this offer is really making you rethink that maybe you were just settling for what seemed easier at the time when things were low.

If you married Yvette you'd also have to keep up your lies to her about your past along with worrying about whether or not you're going to piss off her father enough for him to expose you. Can you really live a satisfying life with something like that hanging over your head?

When it comes down to it you suppose you've always wanted the easy life and this about as easy as it's ever going to get for you.

"Fine, I'll take your offer." You say.
"I knew you would." Franklins says a bit smugly and hands you the key.

You look at your newly acquired pay off, before putting it away. You're already having mixed feelings about your decision.

You have mixed feelings about your decision all the way to Hessla where upon your main concern is finding safe passage to Jicol since you don't want to linger very long here with the fortune you have on your person.

Of course you think about going right back to Klyton several times, but by the time you do get a boat ride to Jicol you realize you're at the point of no return.

"Just do it." You say to yourself as you board the ship.

The ride to Jicol is uneventful even though you half expect to get attacked by pirates or something similar along the way. A small part of you even hopes you do because you sort of think you'd deserve it.

Eventually you disembark at Jicol and based on the directions that Yvette's father provided you take your next steps in finding your new home along with familiarizing yourself with the city, which seems a lot less "orderly" than Klyton though definitely more so than Hessla. Despite your rather dour mood, you still keep on your guard.

You soon find the place you were looking for and it's very average looking. Certainly better and bigger than any place you've ever lived (including your parents old home) but it's no mansion. Just as well, you probably wouldn't know what to do with a place that size.

You try your key in the door and enter.

You aren't sure how long Yvette's father has let this place go unused, but the first thing you notice is the severe dust everywhere. After checking everything it isn't too bad, except for maybe some fixes on the roof and the qweepa nest you notice in the basement. (And they aren't friendly like Elana was.)

Still even with those problems you'll have more than enough money to do whatever you want in the forseeable future and that really is the problem you suppose. What DO you do? You don't need to work and you don't even particularly want to go back to pursuing your criminal career again either. You've been out of practice for a couple years now and why potentially mess up what you have?

You can't just sit around moping and beating yourself up about your decision either. The whole point of making this decision was so you didn't HAVE to worry about Yvette and your unborn child anymore.

You decide the best way to do this is with whores.

After about a month you're slowly becoming more accustomed to living like a wealthy degenerate. You do nothing but eat, drink and fuck whores whenever you can, which is pretty much all the time.

Sometimes you still think about Yvette, but eventually those thoughts of her disappear altogether not wishing to dwell on how you most likely broke her heart and what "could have been" if you stayed. You justify your actions that it was better this way for her and you.

By the time you're thirty you've gotten fat. Not just average fat either, but like grossly fat. You're a big fat bastard.

You're also a pimp. Given how much time you spend with whores and how relatively fun you are, you eventually managed to convince a few to work for you, rather than one of the many brothels in the city. After all, your home is a lot nicer thanks to all the work you had done to it and you're well off enough to allow them to keep more of their money.

This works out for you since it provides a steady income (Negating your fears of going completely broke because you were spending so much) and finally gave you something to do with your free time. You still sometimes think of your parents and your sister and how they might be doing. You hope they're all doing well.

Despite being limited to just one sex position that won't result in a whore's death it's all in all a good life.

Probably won't be a very long one given your weight and indulgences, but then you probably beat the odds already.

Your days as a rogue are over.


[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 order your troops to do it and help Warrick

[Assistant]
You can't let Warrick die, not with how much he's helped you. You'd almost be at a loss on how to tell Brenda if it happened.

"Kill the dragon!" you shout at your troops and run over Warrick's bloody body.

Ignoring everything else, you quickly turn Warrick over who isn't even conscious. He's still alive, because you can see his heart still beating from the open wound in his chest.

"Hang on, you're not dying today!" you say and begin to focus on healing Warrick's fatla wounds.

In the meantime your soldiers are doing a fairly good job at combating the dragon, which is distracted with them. Had this been the only obstacle, you probably would've been able to save Warrick's life. Unfortunately there are enemies in this jungle other than wounded dragons.

Several Iznac who retreated from the fort earlier were lurking nearby and taking advantage of your soldier's preoccupation with the dragon and your preoccupation with healing Warrick one of them throws a spear right into your back. The force is such that the head of it actually protrudes a bit from your abdomen.

Losing complete concentration you yell out in pain and your own body slumps over Warrick's. You struggle to crawl to a safer location and attempt to heal yourself, but the ambushing Iznac manage to cut you down before you are able.


[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 say yes

[Assistant]
"Yeah. They were just here pestering people about Pokemon or something." You respond with an uncomfortable frown, you feel an annoying feeling around you that they and this man have created.

"Oh!...Do you know where they've gone to?"

"Don't know."

"..." A disdainful look towards you, he clearly doesn't take a trentcoat wearing man's words. He and you have unintentionally started a stare battle against each others...And you're slowly losing.

But then suddenly, he bows his head to you. "Please pardon me." With that said, he runs ahead of you and leaves the diner. You've not ever met anyone weirder than that these days. What the hell was that? That was completely out of nowhere.

With nothing else to ruin your day, you hit the street outside.