Pitfall Play

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<<set $attack = false>> <<set$firstAttempt to true>> Welcome to PITFALL, $name. The only way you win... is to make it out alive. [[Fall]]

Health: $healthPoints <hr> <<if $retreat is true>> If I stay in the bush, I'm safe. But I also can't see a thing. I'd never escape. I have to get a better look. In movements that resemble a praying mantis more than a human, I slowly make my way out of the bush. I peek my head out and come face to face with vertical pupils, once again. But this time... <</if>> I freeze. No sudden movements. Electric green eyes study me warily as I study them. Its eyes feel like they’re piercing my soul. I swear I see intelligence in them and possibly... pain? No, //hunger//. I force myself to look away from those unnerving eyes. The dim light is better than I first thought. A scaly snout covered in green-purple iridescent scales puffs out warm breath. The only distinguishing mark is two bright blue slashes like an "X" across its right eye. The horned head raises up, revealing a long neck and... flaming hell. Are those wings? A dragon. A freaking dragon. Massive, bat-like wings spread out before me. It’s sitting on its haunches with little T-Rex arms folded close to its body. Its as big as a pick-up truck. I tamp down a strange urge to laugh. Crying hysterically is not a good look for your impending doom. I need to... [[Go back into hiding.|hid]] [[Look around some more. |obsArea]]

<<set $healthPoints = $healthPoints - 20>> Health: $healthPoints <<set $retreat = true>> <hr> With the speed of a drunken hamster, I dive back into the oversized plant. My sudden movement seems to have startled the beast. Its earth-shattering roar is accompanied by a stream of fire. Yes, fire. Think a blow torch times 100. By some miracle, the flames shoot over me as I cower with my arms protecting my head. But when they finally stop, I realize I didn't make it through completely unscathed. Note to self: next time, tuck your butt as well as your head. //*Sigh.*// Looks like I won't be sitting anytime soon. With painfully slow movements, I get to my hands and knees. Running from an apex predator. Brilliant. Maybe next time I should just roll over and expose my soft underbelly. <<set $fireAttack = true>> Decision time. I should... [[Assess the situation.|observe]] [[Stay hidden.|dieHid]]

<<set $healthPoints = 0>> Health: $healthPoints <<set $attack = true>> <hr> The best defense is a good offense. Right?? Show this oversized reptile who's boss! With every ounce of strength I have, I launch my hiking boot at its vulnerable eye. It didn't get even halfway there before a stream of fire incinerates my boot... and me. I would have marveled at the possibility that a dragon exists in the 21st century. But, unfortunately, I can’t. Because I’m dead. [[Try again??|Fall]]

Health: $healthPoints <hr> Slowly, so very slowly, I shift back into the plant, disappearing from the dragon’s sight. Then quickly precede to hyperventilate. A dragon. A DRAGON!!!! What the ever-living hell?! I was sure I was gonna die when I thought it was a crocodile. Death by flying lizard. Who’d have thought? //Think!!!// My best chance to survive is probably to stay hidden and wait for a rescue. If I leave my haven, the dragon will eat me. It hasn’t followed me into the plant. Maybe it’s allergic? All I know is that I’m safe in here. Then again, if I don’t leave, I can’t see if there’s a way to escape. I decide to... <<set $fromHiding = true>> [[Stay hidden.|dieHid]] [[Emerge from hiding and try to look around.|obsArea]]

Health: $healthPoints <hr> <<if $fromHiding is true>> I slowly crawl out of the plant and look around, feeling the dragon's eyes on me. <</if>> First thing I do is look up. I'm shocked to see a big open space too high above me. I figured I fell into a crevice but now I see I'm at the bottom of some kind of buried silo. //Why would.... Who...??// I repress all my questions and stuff them in a small box that will most likely manifest as an ulcer sometime in my very unlikely future. I scan the ground around me. Besides the plant that no doubt saved my life (oh, and the blood-thirsty dragon), there's not much in the pit. On the far wall from the dragon is a small waterfall. At least I won't die of thirst. Yay. Along the wall, a short distance away is a crate. My heart rate picks up. Is it too much to ask for a jetpack? Walking over painfully slowly, I open the crate and [[look inside.|crate]]

<<set $healthPoints = 0>> Health: $healthPoints <hr> Apparently, a diet of fear and hiding is not enough to sustain a person. Without food or water, I wither up and die in my big-ass plant. <<set $attack = true>> [[Try again??|Fall]]

<<set $healthPoints = $healthPoints + 15>> Health: $healthPoints <hr> The shield slides easily on to my arm. It's surprisingly light for its size. Feeling like the First Avenger, I strike my most dashing pose for my scaly audience. "What do you think?" Not even a whistle. Tough crowd. I consider putting the bucket on my head like a helmet for a brief moment, but the sound of running water and my moisture-free mouth give me a better idea. I make my way to the waterfall. Or what was probably a waterfall at some point but is now just a trickle. Residue lines tell me the water used to gather in a shallow channel and flow across the pit. It's dried up now. The remaining trickle disappears down some cracks at the base of the wall. As I fill the bucket, I send up a silent thanks to the medieval crate supplier who was so thoughtful in outfitting this getup. Cool, crisp water quenches my dry throat. Has water ever tasted so good? No. No, it hasn't. As I sigh with contentment, I hear clanking. My new roommate hisses viciously. That's not promising. I wonder if it’s finally noticed my tasty-morsel status. Crème Brûlée, anyone? My best course of action is to... <<set $shieldBucket = true>> [[See what's up with the dragon.|observeDragon]] [[Pick up the axe to defend myself.|AxeWithShield]]

<<set $healthPoints = $healthPoints + 10>> Health: $healthPoints <hr> I wrap the blanket around me. It's musty but warm. Ok, now to escape. The dragon hasn't advanced, but I can feel it watching me. I uncoil the rope. Forty feet long. Not nearly long enough to reach the top of this pit, even if I attached the end to something heavy. Maybe I could scale the wall? I walk over and run my hand along it, only to find cold metal under my fingers. Every curse word in my repertoire flies out of my mouth. Dirt would have worked. Even with stone, I could have used the axe to make footholds (maybe). But steel? There's no way. Before I can drown in my misery, I hear clanking. My new roommate hisses viciously. That's not promising. I wonder if it’s finally noticed my tasty-morsel status. Pig in a blanket, anyone? My best course of action is to... <<set $ropeBlanket = true>> [[See what's up with the dragon.|observeDragon]] [[Pick up the axe to defend myself.|Axe.]]

<<set $healthPoints = 0>> Health: $healthPoints <hr> The wooden handle of the axe is surprisingly smooth against my skin. And surprisingly heavy. I plant one foot on the side of the crate for leverage and heave. The weight of the axe causes me to stumble back. I hurl it over my right shoulder and find my balance. A heavy tension settles in the pit. I realize something. I just went from pathetic human to axe-wielding human. Amendment: a completely //exposed//, pathetic but axe-wielding human. The world slows as serrated teeth open revealing molten hot flames. They incinerate me. One extra crispy idiot, comin' up! And just like that, I die. <<set $attack = true>> [[Try again??|Fall]]

Health: $healthPoints <hr> <<if $noAxeHere is true>> Activate praying mantis walk. Ever so slowly with my hands up in the universal sign of "I'm not a threat," I make my way back to the crate where I have a better view of the dragon. <</if>> My biggest question is why it doesn't just fly out of here. Its wingspan could easily fit through the gaping top of this pit. Did I stumble into its lair? It shifts, and I hear clanking again. It's sitting back in the shadows a bit. Thankfully, I don't need service to use my phone's flashlight. A quick scan of the dragon shows me where the sound is coming from. It's chained to the wall. Ohhhh, so that's why it hasn't eaten me yet. It can't reach me! A thick steel manacle surrounds one of its hind legs. Time or struggling against the manacle (probably both) has rubbed away the tough scales, leaving that ankle raw and bloody. Is that bone I see? I cringe. That's definitely causing its pain. A sliver of sympathy pinches my heart. //Poor thing.// Poor thing! I mentally slap myself. That chain is the only reason I'm alive right now. What does this thing eat? Rainbows? Sweet dreams? Meat! It eats meat. Guessing by the antlers behind it, it only gets to eat every time a clumsy animal falls into the pit. Who was the last clumsy animal to fall in this pit? ME!! It can't get to water. It's hurt. And I'm the closet thing it has to a food source.<<if $fireAttack is true>> Plus, it's already attacked me. I know it's deadly. <</if>> There's no doubt the desperate, carnivorous beast is my most immediate threat right now. There's no hope for escape if it kills me. I meet its piercing gaze. "Are you just biding your time until you can eat me?" I whisper. No answer. I decide to... <<if $shieldBucket is true>>[[Try to win over the grumpy devil.|peaceWater]] [[Exploit its weaknesses. This dragon is going down!|planAttackShield]] <</if>> <<if $ropeBlanket is true>>[[Try to win over the grumpy devil.|peaceBlanket]] [[Exploit its weaknesses. This dragon is going down!|planAttackBlanket]] <</if>>

<<set $healthPoints = $healthPoints-30>> Health: $healthPoints <hr> Ugh, why's this thing so heavy? I grit my teeth and heave the axe out of the crate. That's what I get for skipping the gym. Something's not right. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the dragon tense. And just like that: I am threat. Brilliant. I barely have enough time to drop the axe and duck behind my shield before fire blasts me. I never truly understood the meaning of the word **HOT** before now. The shield takes the brunt of it, but it can't cover everything. "Fudge on a stick!" That hurt. The smell of burning hair and the tingling of my face tell me I no longer have eyebrows. Awesome. Considering my dating luck lately, maybe it's an improvement. <<set$fireAttack = true>> <<set $noAxeHere = false>> As I lay there feeling sorry for myself, there's nothing else to do but catch my breath and [[look at the dragon.|observeDragon]]

Health: $healthPoints <hr> "Fred, is it ok if I call you that? I've never met a mean Fred!" I say cheerfully. "Oh. Uh, I guess Freddy Krueger. Ok, //not// Fred." Casting around, I land on the blue "X" across his eye. "How about X? X sounds... nice??" I trail off. Nervous sweat drips down my back. "So X, please don't kill me. I'm a friend." I hold my hands up to show him I mean no harm. I don't speak dragon, but I can tell he doesn't believe me. How can I get him to believe me? We stare at each other for a while. The only sound in the pit is the trickle of the pathetic little waterf-- wait. That's it. "You thirsty, X?" He watches as I slowly back towards the waterfall. "How long has it been? Days? Weeks? Since you've soothed that dry, firy throat with cool, fresh spring water?" I refill the bucket with water. "Only a really wonderful //friend// would give you water." Very, very slowly, I slide the bucket of water towards him. "And we'd never eat or cook a friend that gave us water. Would we, X?" I've pushed the bucket close enough that X could take a bite of me if he wanted. But he's never taken his eyes off the bucket full of water. As soon as it's in range, his snout plunges into the bucket. He drinks it all in seconds. I go back and refill it for him a few times. The fourth time, I sneak over to his chains to examine them. It’s welded to the steel wall. The weakest link is where it’s attached. While being not-yet-dead is awesome and all, I didn’t sign up for life as a dragon cupbearer. I might be able to free X with the axe, but have I convinced him that I’m a friend? Will he just fry me the minute I pick it up? I say... Frack it. [[I’ll get the axe and try.|AxeToHelp]] Take the win. [[Peaceful coexistence with a dragon|peaceDie]] is good enough!

Health: $healthPoints <hr> "Fred, is it ok if I call you that? I've never met a mean Fred!" I say cheerfully. "Oh. Uh, I guess Freddy Krueger. Ok, //not// Fred." Casting around, I land on the blue "X" across his eye. "How about X? X sounds... nice??" I trail off. Nervous sweat drips down my back. "So X, please don't kill me. I'm a friend." I hold up my hands up to show him I mean no harm. I don't speak dragon, but I can tell he doesn't believe me. How can I get him to believe me? My eyes go to the manacle around his back ankle. It's agony for him, every little move he makes. I look down at the blanket in my hands. Hashtag lightbulb. "I want to help you, X. See this blanket?" I hold it up for him to see. "I'm going to use it to bandage your wound." He blinks at me. I'm about to die.... No! Positive thoughts. I think he'll only attack if he feels threatened. So I'll just need to be as non-threatening was humanly possible. "Twinkle, twinkle little star..." I start singing, admittedly off-key but hopefully in a soothing voice. I make my way to the waterfall. Or what was probably a waterfall at some point but is now just a trickle. I press the blanket into the flow and wait until the whole thing’s damp and cool. "How I wonder what you are.” I slowly round about the dragon towards his back leg. "Up above the world so high..." I'm close enough to see how raw the wound is. It goes all the way around his ankle. "Like a diamond in the sky..." I gently rest my hand above the wound, so I don't startle him. "Twinkle, twinkle little star..." I gently wrap the blanket around the ankle, between the wound and the manacle. He flinches at the cold but then stops just as suddenly. "How I wonder what you are." I secure it with the rope. I'm still alive. X is staring at me. I don't know who's more flabbergasted. Me or the dragon. I’m pretty much freakin' MacGyver over here, but... this blanket bandaid won’t last forever. I might be able to free X with the axe, but have I convinced him that I’m a friend? Will he just fry me the minute I pick it up? I say... Frack it. [[I’ll get the axe and try.|AxeToHelp]] Take the win. [[Peaceful coexistence with a dragon|peaceDie]] is good enough!

Health: $healthPoints <hr> Winter is coming. You, vile creature, will rue the day you were born. I eat dragon meat for breakfast. Actually, scratch that last one. I might have to do that in the near future.... I gag a little. Ok, my trash talk needs work, but my plan is golden... maybe. If I can pull it off.... No, this will work. The weakest point is its leg. Tough scales cover everywhere, except where the manacle has rubbed them all off. The scales on his underbelly and chest also look a little softer. Its forearms are little and useless. So if I take out one of its hind legs, it will topple over and expose its underside. Plus, I have my shield to protect me. The tricky thing is the moment I grab the axe, I know it will blast me. So I need to wait until it can't see me take it. This thing has to fall asleep sometime. Right? The thought of sinking the axe into flesh makes me queasy, but I steel my nerves. It's either me or the dragon. I will survive. Whatever it takes. <<if $healthPoints gt 26>> After what seems like hours, night falls, and those glowing [[green eyes finally close.|attackShieldLive]] <<elseif $healthPoints lte 25>> After what seems like hours, night falls, and those glowing [[green eyes finally close.|attackShieldDie]] <</if>>

Health: $healthPoints <hr> I strongly suspect that as soon as the dragon sees me pick up the axe, it will blast me with fire. And I will die. But what if it //can't// see me? I look down at the blanket in my hand. I'm a genius. "Oh you've done it now," I giddily whisper to the horned devil. "I’m about to serve you up a steaming bowl of whoop-ass. See how you like them apples!" Ok, clearly my trash talk reflects my hungry belly. But this idea is genius... or insane. If I can't pull it off... screw that. Fortune favors the bold. I'll wait until the beast falls asleep. Then I'll gently lay the blanket over its face and tie it with the rope so its secure. Yes, it's a huge gamble, but I'd bet money those hard scales aren't sensitive. It won't feel a thing. Then I'll use the axe to do the dirty work. The weakest point is his leg. Tough scales cover everywhere, except where the manacle has rubbed them all off. The scales on his underbelly and chest also look a little more vulnerable. Its forearms are little and useless. So if I take out one of its hind legs, it will topple over and expose its underside. It will still try to blast me, but between the pain and not being able to see, I have a chance. It's my only chance. The thought of sinking the axe into flesh makes me queasy, but I steel my nerves. It's either me or the dragon. I will survive. Whatever it takes. <<if $healthPoints gt 50>> After what seems like hours, night falls, and those glowing [[green eyes finally close.|attackBlanketLive]] <<elseif $healthPoints lte 50>> After what seems like hours, night falls, and those glowing [[green eyes finally close.|attackBlanketDie]] <</if>>

Health: $healthPoints <hr> The moonlight is shining enough for me to see. Barely, but yay for small mercies. The dragon has been breathing rhythmically for 15 minutes. No more stalling. It's time to make my move. With the axe in my hands and the shield on my arm, I creep slowly towards the sleeping beast's chained leg. I widen my stance and raise the axe above my head. I've got only one shot at this. If I miss and hit the scales, it's all over. I bring the axe down with all my strength... And swing true. The sharp blade slices through the vulnerable ankle, severing the leg. The dragon roars in agony. Fire comes my way, but my shield blocks most of it. Its tail comes at me next, but I'm quick enough to dodge it. The dragon tries to stand. With a battle cry, I bring the axe down on the beast's chest. The softer scales give. The beast stills. I hold my breath, waiting for the next attack. It never comes. I did it. Holy lizard balls. I slayed the dragon. [[Victory lap.]]

<<set $healthPoints to 0>> Health: <<print $healthPoints>> <hr> The moonlight is shining enough for me to see. Barely, but yay for small mercies. The dragon has been breathing rhythmically for 15 minutes. No more stalling. It's time to make my move. With the axe in my hands and the shield on my arm, I creep slowly towards the sleeping beast's chained leg. I widen my stance and raise the axe above my head. I've got only one shot at this. If I miss and hit the scales, it's all over. I bring the axe down with all my strength... And swing true. The sharp blade slices through the vulnerable ankle, severing the leg. The dragon roars in agony. Fire comes my way, but my shield blocks most of it. Its tail comes at me next. I try to duck, but my injuries slow me down. If only I had avoided the dragon fire earlier.... The tail slams into me, knocking me across the ground. The shield and axe fly out of reach. I stare up into the eyes of my death. I tried to slay the dragon. But it slays me. <<set $attack to true>> [[Try again??|Fall]]

<<set $healthPoints = 0>> Health: $healthPoints <hr> Dread it. Run from it. Destiny still arrives. YESSSSSS!!! I pump my fists! I'm victorious. Gloriously victorious. <<if $ropeBlanket is true>> I slowly walk over to the dragon's head and pull the blanket and rope off it. Its lifeless eyes stare at me. Creepy. But nothing will dampen my spirits! I wrap myself in that musty blanket and go to sleep without a care in the world.... <<elseif $ropeBlanket is false>> I make my way back to the crate, pull out that musty blanket, and go to sleep without a care in the world.... <</if>> DAY 1 (after dragon) I wake up to the smell of rotting dragon. It's so bad I choke on the stench of it. I roll over to retch, but nothing comes out. I guess you have to have food in you stomach to throw it up. Speaking of food, how do I get some? I look over to the rotting dragon. Something tells me if I try to eat it, I'll die. Looks like I'll just have to wait until a creature falls in here, but I still have no fire to cook it.... DAY 5 //I wonder if that plant is poisonous....// I take a bite. The moment it hits my tongue my mouth goes numb. So... that's a yes on the poisonous. I promptly spit it out. Or attempt to via rapidly petrifying lips. //Maybe I can get some nutrients from sucking on that rock....// DAY 15 Must. Eat. Time to try dragon sushi. DAY 16 Spend the whole day violently vomiting up raw dragon meat. DAY 35 Finally wither up and die of starvation. Looks like I won the battle and lost the war. <<set $attack = true>> //Sorry $name, you lost. Wanna [[try again?|Fall]]//

Health: $healthPoints <hr> The moonlight is shining enough for me to see. Barely, but yay for small mercies. The dragon has been breathing rhythmically for 15 minutes. No more stalling. It's time to make my move. With the stealth of a mongoose, I creep over to the dragon and gently lay the blanket over its face and horns where it rests on the ground. Nothing. Ok, now this part gets tricky, I thread the rope between the ground and its head, securing the blanket at the base of its horns. I freeze. It still sleeps. Time to go back for the axe. With the axe in my hands, I creep slowly towards the sleeping beast's chained leg. I widen my stance and raise the axe above my head. I've got only one shot at this. If I miss and hit the scales, it's all over. I bring the axe down with all my strength... And swing true. The sharp blade slices through the vulnerable ankle, severing the leg. The dragon roars in agony. Fire comes my way, but it can't see and misses. Its tail comes at me next, but I'm quick enough to dodge it. The dragon tries to stand. With a battle cry, I bring the axe down on the beast's chest. The softer scales give. The beast stills. I hold my breath, waiting for the next attack. It never comes. I did it. Holy lizard balls. I slayed the dragon. [[Victory lap.]]

Health: $healthPoints <hr> The moonlight is shining enough for me to see. Barely, but yay for small mercies. The dragon has been breathing rhythmically for 15 minutes. No more stalling. It's time to make my move. With the stealth of a mongoose, I creep over to the dragon and gently lay the blanket over its face and horns where it rests on the ground. Nothing. Ok, now this part gets tricky, I thread the rope between the ground and its head, securing the blanket at the base of its horns. I freeze. It still sleeps. Time to go back for the axe. With the axe in my hands, I creep slowly towards the sleeping beast's chained leg. I widen my stance and raise the axe above my head. I've got only one shot at this. If I miss and hit the scales, it's all over. I bring the axe down with all my strength... And swing true. The sharp blade slices through the vulnerable ankle, severing the leg. The dragon roars in agony. Fire comes my way, but it can't see and misses. It's tail comes at me next. I try to duck, but my injuries slow me down. If only I'd avoided the dragon fire earlier.... The tail slams into me, knocking me across the ground. The axe flies out of reach. I stare up into the eyes of my death. I tried to slay the dragon. But it slays me. <<set $attack = true>> [[Try again??|Fall]]

<<set $healthPoints = $healthPoints + 20>> Health: $healthPoints <hr> X shoots into the air, gaining height. He looks like he's speeding away from the pit as fast as he can. Huh. It's ok; he's just taking a big lap. His figure gets smaller and smaller. I can't see him anymore, but I'm sure he'll circle back. Any minute now. I watch the sky for 5 minutes. 15 minutes. 30 minutes. Nuthin. Son of a.... "You're welcome!!!" I scream. "You feckless reptile!!" Unformed visions of rescue evaporate into thin air. I kick the chains and scream against the injustice of it all. I sink down to the ground. Well, at least one of us is free.... And bonus: I don't have to worry about being eaten alive by a dragon. Now I can just slowly starve to death in peace. Is it getting dark already? The hair on my neck stands on end. [[I look up.]]

<<set $healthPoints = $healthPoints + 100>> Health: $healthPoints <hr> X descends gracefully back into the pit that had held him captive for who knows how long. I laugh. I can't help myself. "Miss me?" I ask, my voice still filled with laughter. "I'm glad to see you, too, but the rescuers won't see you if you're down here with me." X tilts his head. "I mean I know it's a long shot, but no one knows where I am. It's my best chance outta here." He snorts. I swear if dragons could roll their eyes, that's the kind of look he's giving me right now. Then he blows my mind; He bows his head and lowers his body. My jaw hits the floor. He can't mean.... "Are you saying I should get on?" He stays bowed. You don't have to ask me twice. I climb up on his warm, scaly back. I wrap my arms around the base of his neck and grip with my thighs. X cranes his neck around, seemingly asking if I'm ready. "I, $name, first of my name, breaker of chains, friend of dragons--or I guess just dragon, singular. For now anyways.... Maybe there's mor--" X snorts again. "Oh right," I clear my throat. "Let's do this!" He launches out of the pit, above the trees, into the clear blue sky. I'm flying. On a dragon. I let out another whoop followed by laughter. I just wanted out of the pit, but this is amazing. We could go anywhere. We could do anything. "X! How do you feel about visiting Iceland?" I yell, euphoria flooding every cell of my body. Will the world accept our friendship? That's a worry for another day. For now, I win. We win. <<set $attack = true>> //Wanna see what would have happened if you took another path?? [[Find out.|Fall]]// <hr> <hr> Many of us are in deep, dark pits, fighting dragons. The world will tell you that you only have two choices: fight or flight. The problem is that neither of those options gets you out of whatever your deep, dark pit is. For us, it's not good enough to just survive. We want you to fly. Our goal is to embolden the next generation of dragon riders, IRL. Skeptical? Come see what we're about. [[FLY.|http://www.wickedsaints.studio/about]]

Health: $healthPoints <hr> Well. That's disappointing. Inside the supply crate is an empty bucket, a shield made out of some indeterminate substance, a coil of rope, a deadly looking axe, and a blanket. Oh, good. Now I can take that nap. "Why do they always forget the sat phone?" I growl. Leaning over the crate, I hang my head. Frustration swells, but I lock it in another box for the therapist who will frequent my next life to unpack. I can only carry a few things at a time. But what first? I need to protect myself. I need to hydrate. I need to escape. I decide to grab the... [[Shield and bucket.|shieldBuc]] [[Rope and blanket.|ropeBlanket]] [[Axe.]]

Health: $healthPoints <hr> Picturing X flying free gives me an idea. Who needs a flare gun when you have a dragon? I set the dragon free. Someone sees the dragon (how could you miss a freaking dragon??) Everyone and their mom comes out to search the area for said dragon. They find me! I mean sure, X could eat me as soon as free I him.... <<if $shieldBucket is true>> X has stopped drinking and is staring at me by his chains.<</if>> "We're going to have to trust each other." I yank on the chain, trying to pull it from the wall. <<if $shieldBucket is true>> He hisses a bit when the manacle rubs his wound but doesn't eat me. <</if>> "See?? It's stuck. I need the axe to free you." I pantomime using the axe to cut his chains. X just stares at me. I can tell he's taking it all in. I just don't know if he understands me. "Once you're free, all I ask is that you circle the area a bit," I motion with my hands. X tilts his head. "Just a few laps around. That's it." His eerily intelligent eyes blink at me. Good as I'm gonna get, I guess. I'll take that as a "yes." "Ok, I have to get the axe, but I won't hurt you." I make my way back toward the axe. I pause before picking it up. This is the moment of truth. Will he see me as a threat? Or will he know I'm trying to help him? I slowly lift the axe from the crate and lower the blade to the ground, edge away from X. So far, so good. "Ok, I'm going to try to break the chains. Remember, X," I look him in the eyes, "fly close to the pit for a bit. Just until you're seen." I drag the axe over to where the chain is attached to the wall. I lift it--still no fiery death--then swing down on the chain with all my might. //Oww.// That jarred me more than the chains. I try again and again. And... CRACK! The chain drops from the wall. I did it. I let out a whoop of pure victory. X pulls his leg, testing if he's really free. He gives me one more look then launches himself [[into the sky.]]

<<set $healthPoints = 50>> Health: $healthPoints <hr> //"Ughhhh...."// Who's that moaning? Oh, wait. That's me. <<if $attack is true>> Wait a hot minute.... Why do I feel deja vu? I strain to think. I couldn't have been here before. That would be... crazy. <<else>> The last thing I remember was hiking on the steep side of the mountain, off the beaten path. I slipped. I slid. Then I was free falling. Did I tell a single soul I was going on a hike today? Nope. //I. Am. An. Idiot.// I move my fingers and toes. By some miracle, nothing seems to be broken. Yet everything hurts. It feels like I'm suspended in some type of plant. I haven't looked around yet, but I can tell by the smell I'm someplace damp and dark. Can dark smell? Yes. Yes, it can. My eyelids feel impossibly heavy, but I force them open. A wave of nausea hits me. I flip over just in time to spew my morning protein shake all over the big-ass plant that saved my life. After a few more heaves and failed attempts to stand, I crawl out of my savior plant. Hot air hits the top of my bowed head, blasting my hair. Great. I fell into a volcano. Awesome. <</if>> Breathing sounds cause me to pause. Oh, wait. That's... definitely not me. I look towards the sound. Glowing reptilian eyes meet mine. I... <> <<set $shieldBucket = false>> <<set $ropeBlanket = false>> <<set $fromHiding = false>> <<set $noAxeHere = true>> <<set $fireAttack = false>> <<set $retreat = false>> <> [[Freeze.|observe]] [[Jump back in the bush.|retreat]] [[Throw my shoe at the giant glowing eyeball.|attack]]

<<set $healthPoints to 0>> Health: <<print $healthPoints>> <hr> So it looks like X and I aren't going to destroy each other. Yay. Maybe now we can braid each other's hair and sing kumbaya... while we slowly starve to death in this pit. Immediate threat: handled like a boss. Long-term game... needs improvement. I don't get out. No rescue ever comes. My death is not filled with fire and gore, so that should count for something, right?? I die, none the less. Right next to my friendly neighborhood dragon. <<set $attack = true>> [[Try again??|Fall]]

What should we call you?? <<textbox "$name" "">> When you're ready, [[click|Welcome]].