Gregor

//It is quite a nice evening. The sun is just about to set, and as you look out your window you see the grass wriggling in the breeze. You are sitting at your desk and have just finished another diary entry.// [[Read entry.|Reading diary]] [[Revel in the glory of a nice evening.|Enjoying the evening]] [[Go to bed.|Getting Ready for Bed]] //[[Want those tips now/again?|Quick Tips]]//

//Ela meows and hops out of bed, presumably to investigate. She can be such a nervous cat. You ignore the mystery and sink into a deep sleep. You've always had a robust dream-life, and tonight is no different. You dream about...// [[Goats.|Goat Dream - Field]] [[Gregor.|Gregor Dream - Field]]

//The diary entry is particularly long compared to most days. ''"Good day. Ate rabbit and carrot stew for lunch and supper. Saw three goats near the pumpkin patch. Went to market for cow's milk, but did not see Gregor. Will soon make Gregor love me."'' Underneath the writing is a bad drawing of a goat, and next to that a worse drawing of you and Gregor. Under goat it says "Goat #2" and under you and Gregor it says "$name + Gregor." You make a mental note to spend more time practicing your drawing. You close the diary and notice a muffled sound coming from outside the hut. // [[Check outside.|Outside Hut]] [[It's probably nothing, and you need your beauty sleep.|Getting Ready for Bed]]

//Your hut is not bad. Not bad at all. It's a great place to enjoy the evening, and boy, what a nice evening it is. There is just nothing like the sound of goats bleating in the distance and a nice, calm breeze. The wind makes your hair blow in a way you know Gregor would like. More importantly, it makes your hair blow in a way YOU like. The ''whole'' world isn't about Gregor, after all.// [[Go to bed.|Getting Ready for Bed]]

//You step outside the hut but don't see anything out of the ordinary. The noise is no longer there. It's chilly out, and you don't want to get sick.// [[Go get that sweet beauty sleep.|In Bed]]

//After putting on your wool pajamas and drinking the rest of the milk from supper, you bring the candle over from the desk and hop into (link-reveal:"bed.")[ It's a small cot, barely big enough, but damn it if isn't the most comfortable cot around. It really pays to have a bed-maker as a brother.] You snuggle up under the covers, and Ela hops in bed for a cuddle. She's a good cat, but between the two of you there is hardly enough milk (or bed, for that matter). But she's a good cat. She's a good cat... She's...// (link-reveal:"''Help! Please!''")[// Just as you've drifted off, a shout comes from far outside the hut. You can just barely make out the words. // [[Check outside.|Outside Hut]] [[Ignore it! Get that beauty sleep!|In Bed]]]

The sun is shining on your face. There is something(click-replace:"something")[(color:"red")[a large goat]] standing in the center of the field. (link:"Look at it.")[It is {(color:"red")[(live: 0.5s)[ (either: "bleating", "staring") ]]} at you.] [[Stare back.|Goat Dream - Staring at Goat]] [[Freak out.|Goat Dream - Freaking out at Goat]] [[Talk to the goat.|Goat Dream - Talking to Goat]]

You can see him standing in the middle of a beautiful field. He is good and sturdy and carrying an equally good and sturdy pumpkin. He has a scar across his left shoulder. [[Ask him about his scar.|Gregor Dream - Scar]] [[Ask him about the pumpkin.|Gregor Dream - Pumpkin]] [[Panic.|Morning - Ela Jumping on Chest]]

//You groggily get out of bed, your bones creaking just as much as its frame. You suddenly remember that strange yelling outside the hut last night.... Was that, too, just a dream? You peer out the window for clues, but a morning rain has washed away any footprints or other useful bits of information. Perhaps you should've investigated those strange sounds further. After all, you ''are'' always telling yourself how great it would be to go on a decent adventure. And adventure doesn't wait for us to sleep.... It continues without us. Then again, had you spent all night investigating, you wouldn't have had that wonderfully strange dream.// [[Continue...|Morning - In Hut]]

//You peer out the window and are pleased with the growth of your pumpkins. This has been a wonderful pumpkin-growing season. Plus, with that extra patch, your pumpkin stand is sure have an extra lucrative year at the local //(link-reveal:"//market.//")[// The market! Yes! You remember that you and Ela are out of milk. It looks like it's time to head to the milk stand to buy some more! Perhaps Gregor will be there.// [[Go to the market.|END OF CHAPTER 1]]]

You stare at the goat. The goat stares back. It's a nice goat. The grass feels nice on your feet. It's nice grass. The goat starts meowing. [[Freak Out. |Goat Dream - Freaking out at Goat]] [[Smile. |Goat Dream - Smiling at Goat]]

Your skin (color:"red")[{(live: 0.1s)[ (either: "sizzles", "s zzles", "si zles", "siz les", "siz es", "sizzl s", "sizzles") ]}] with his stare. He keeps meowing, that smug, smug goat. [[Freak out more.|Morning - Ela Meowing]]

YOU: Hello, Goat. What is your name? GOAT: Why do you think names are important? Why are you so proud of your name? You should be terrified of your name. You have no true free will, and your given name, which you cannot control, should remind you of this. What's in a name? YOU: My name is my name. GOAT: I will call you Marlo. YOU: My name is my //name.// GOAT: //(Pauses to chew something, probably grass)// (link:"Continue...")[I've been rude. Would you like refreshment? YOU: Only if you promise not to fill this room with smoke. GOAT: It is for your benefit. YOU: //(Takes refreshment and slurps audibly)// That is good. GOAT: //(Sniffs the air purposefully. His eyes promptly dart to the east.)// The Wumpus is approaching from the east. YOU: We had "bat"-ter get out of here. GOAT: That reference means nothing to me, Marlo. [[Continue...|Morning - Ela Licking Face]]]

The goat smiles back :) [[What a nice goat.|Morning - Ela Licking Face]]

//Everything turns white, and all you feel is a strange scratchy feeling on your face. It feels like someone is rubbing moist sandpaper on your skin, but you're too tired to care. Your eyes adjust, and you see Ela looming over you, licking your forehead. Good morning, silly cat.// [[Continue...|Waking Up]]

Everything goes black. In the distance you hear a faint "meow." It's getting (link-reveal:"louder")[(link-reveal:" and louder")[(link-reveal:" and louder")[(link-reveal:" and louder")[(link-reveal:" and louder")[(link-reveal:" and louder")[(link-reveal:" and louder")[(link-reveal:" and louder")[(link-reveal:" and louder")[(link-reveal:" and louder")[(link-reveal:" and louder")[(link-reveal:" and louder")[ and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder. //Your snap your eyes open and see Ela meowing playfully at you. Good morning, silly cat.// [[Continue...|Waking Up]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

YOU: Hi, Gregor. GREGOR: //(Looks up at you and smiles)// Hi, $name. YOU: Boy, I never noticed that scar before. GREGOR: That's because I //just// got it. (link:"Whoa...")[YOU: How? GREGOR: Don't you see that monster? MONSTER: Meow. [[Freak out. |Morning - Ela Meowing]] [[Calmly talk to the monster. |Gregor Dream - Talking to Monster]] ]

YOU: Hi, Gregor. GREGOR: Ask me about my pumpkin. YOU: What's with the pumpkin? GREGOR: It's a pumpkin. YOU: This is a boring dream. GREGOR: Would you rather talk to the pumpkin? [[No.|About to Wake Up]] [[Yes.|Gregor Dream - Talking to Pumpkin]]

Thank you for playing my game! (link-reveal:"What should I call you? A first name is just fine....")[ (set:$name to (prompt:"What is your name?"))(goto:"Ready?")]

Awesome! Hi, $name. Do you feel [[ready to play,|Hut]] or do you want to know some [[quick tips|Quick Tips]] about playing interactive fiction?

This kind of interactive fiction (a.k.a text-adventures/choice-of games/choose-your-own adventures) is super easy, but hopefully super fun! It's just like reading a normal story, but ''YOU'' get to influence how the story plays out. Sometimes you'll decide the actions of characters, and sometimes you'll decide things the characters have to deal with throughout their narratives. You can do this by clickin' on these here blue links.... Some will reveal more information, (link-reveal:"like this.")[ Look at all this new information.] Some will take you to other passages, [[like this.]] Some will do other weird things, (link-reveal:"like this.")[ Look at all this{(live: 0.1s)[ (either: "weird", "//awesome//", "''cool''", "FUN") ]} stuff.] Some things look weird but are (color:"red")[not clickable.] (link:"Continue..")[There is no back button. You might find yourself making choices you regret, but since the game is rather short, you can try playing multiple times. Some installments will have many different storylines and endings, so curious players may enjoy trying out different decisions on different playthroughs. That's about it! Have fun :) [[Start Game!|Hut]]]

Look at this new passage. [[Back.|Quick Tips]]

YOU: Hello, monster. MONSTER: Meow. YOU: How did Gregor get that scar? MONSTER: Meow. YOU: Did you bite him? MONSTER: Meow. YOU: Come on, give me something. We get it, you grew up in these dangerous fields. You aren't bad, you're a product of society. You don't know any other way. MONSTER: Meow. YOU: You gotta give us something. Who are you working with? MONSTER: Meow. YOU: We know you aren't working alone. We //know// that. You're not protecting anyone from anything. But if you help us we can see what we can do. MONSTER: (link:"Meow.")[Lawyer.] YOU: A lawyer! Really. You know only guilty people use lawyers. MONSTER: (link:"Meow.")[You talk like someone who watches a lot of cop shows for someone who is supposed to be a character in a story set in what seems to be a fairy-tale-esque village.] YOU: [[Meow.|Morning - Ela Meowing]]

Your heartbeat is the only thing you can focus on.... It's beating harder and harder, creating a very noticeable sensation in your chest. It starts to hurt, and that scares you, which makes your heart beat even harder. Now it almost feels like it's beating from outside your body, even scratching your skin. It's starting to feel less regular, like something shifting in you—or on you. You can't tell.... (link:"Continue...")[//You open your eyes and see that Ela is jumping up and down on your chest. You flinch, and your heart races, until you realize how safe you are. Ela seems pleased that you are finally awake, purrs contentedly, and hops off the bed.// [[Continue...|Waking Up]]]

''YOU HAVE REACHED THE END OF THIS INSTALLMENT.'' Thank you so much for playing. If this is your first playthrough, I suggest going back and checking out some other endings. Liked the story? Curious about that strange yelling? Want to know what happens next? Come back in two weeks for the next chapter in (link:"this")[your] story! Thanks for playing, $name! Devon Guinn :) [[Start over.|Hut]]

''END OF CHAPTER 1'' (transition:"dissolve")[[[Continue...|Stay Tuned!]]]

//Everything fades and you are back in your bed. It is morning.// [[Continue...|Waking Up]]

PUMPKIN: Hello. YOU: Whoa. [[Wake Up.|Waking Up]]