Choose Your Own Adventure

When last we left off you had chosen to follow the narrow ledge. Lets catch up with the story now and see where this takes us:

- Follow the Narrow Ledge -

Looking down into the ravine you have a sudden stab of fear and nausea that presses you back against the cliff wall. You feel like you can't breathe at the thought of descending the switchbacks, you silently point to the narrow ledge at your feet, though not very wide, it seems like a more plausible path for your escape.

"Not that way," you whisper to Creason. He is standing next to you staring down at the trees below. He doesn't move for a moment and you think that perhaps he hasn't heard you until he suddenly moves and starts off at a quick pace along the wall.

"Perhaps you are right, bearer. The forest is quite dense, and it will take us too long to find the Captain going that way. The river it is."

Letting out a partial sigh of relief, you cling to the cliff wall as much as possible as the two of you work your way around the curve of the rock. The moon crosses the sky above you as you walk marking the time as it slides towards the horizon. As the sun begins to rise, the path descends gently eventually flattening into a grassland studded with trees that looked as though they were refusing to grow, stunted and twisted into tangled knots of themselves, but there is no sign of a river that the path was named for.

Creason has been silent for the climb, and you realize that he probably isn't much of a talker, or maybe he doesn't like you, and you suddenly start to mistrust your companion.

"Is this the right direction?" You ask, feeling nervous in the silence. "Shouldn't there be a river here? You said this was the river trail."

The river is long dead." Creason answers you, not stopping or slowing his pace. "This used to be the river bed," pointing to the ground beneath your feet.

Looking down you notice that the stones of this path are smooth and the path is at the bottom of a shallow dip in the land.

"What happened to it?"

"He did." Creason replies, as though you know who he is talking about.

"Oh…" you pause for a moment, you want to ask, but you're afraid of sounding naïve, but the curiosity gets the better of you. "Who is 'HE'?"

Creason stumbles a step. "You don't know?"

You shake your head. "This has all happened rather suddenly, I'm not sure I'm even awake."

"You are awake my friend. Wide awake." Spreading his arms out wide he tipped his head to the sky as if trying to catch the sky.

"Then why doesn't anything make sense here."

"It will. It will. Soon enough."

Letting out a sigh you trudge on towards the distant tree line. It seems that Creason has forgotten your first question so you venture to pose it again. "So tell me, who is this... HE, that I have to fight? Why is it so important that I win?"

"You speak of Deathbringer. This man… This thing, is ruler of all the world, although not the rightful one. He is an evil older than time itself. He has spent millennia killing the people of this world and sucking their souls to gain power. He has obtained the power to control, time and space, though not to a large extent yet. Mostly he can move himself about through not only this world, but others as well. Eventually, with more souls, and the live force of the land itself he will be able to manipulate the entire universe. A century ago Deathbringer used his power to capture Argharna Rendall and locked him away from us. Without Argharna Rendall we are without protection. However, before he was sealed away he used his will to create this," He stops short and points to the medallion resting on your chest. "The Ring of Thanaur. Some say it contains the soul of Argharna Rendall. Other's say the bearer is the reincarnation of Argharna Rendall."

"What do you think?" You ask, this is more information than Citrine provided before sending you here.

"Me, well, I thought it was a little of both. But now, after meeting you, I have yet to reform my opinion. I can't see one like you destroying such evil. You seem like such a weak thing. With no training, I doubt you'll survive. But you are the chosen that is why now is the time that you must destroy him for good."

Your feet suddenly feel very heavy and you don't want to continue. You put a hand to your head feeling very overwhelmed.

"Come now, Bearer, you can't quit now. Not to sound like I am preaching dooms-day, but the only way out of this now is death." He starts walking again leaving you where you stand. "Captain Faelphrestad has a camp just beyond these woods."

You know he's right, but in the pit of your stomach the fear is gnawing at you and the dagger on your hip seems like a good way out. Pulling the dagger from it's holster you hold it in your hands before you.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

Kill yourself

Continue on the path

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

- Accept Creason’s Help -

Creason stands over you watching you pack, but suddenly he turns and crouches next to you. “Come Bearer, the sisters are coming.”

His urgent tone hurries you along and soon you have your cloak back around your shoulders. It’s easier to wear it than to carry it you determined. The two of you hurry out of the cave and back on to the path you had been following before.

“Do you know the way out?” You ask.

“I have a general idea,” Creason replies, but he looks in several directions before pointing a finger. “This way, I believe.”

“You believe?”

“You’re the one with the guide Bearer. Perhaps you should ask him.” He said, pointing to the raven that was swooping circles in the air before you.

“Harry,” you call, sticking out your arm, and your raven flies to you, perching on your wrist. He stares at you, his head tilted to the side. Taking a deep breath you throw out a hope that this bird can under stand you. “Get us out of here.”

“Caaw!” he screeches at you before launching off your arm and taking flight. You watch as he flies away, banking to the left and disappearing around a corner. It only takes a moment for you to realize that you should probably be following him.

The air is so heavy with heat you find it hard to breathe; your foot falls becoming heavier as you go. The silence is oppressing, broken only by the periodic call of Harry if you fall too far behind.

“The mouth isn’t very far from Here.” Creason assures you, punctuated by a caw from your raven as though he were agreeing.

After walking for what seemed like hours through the heat the entrance to the caverns appears before you as a gaping black hole in the red rocks. You are so glad to see it you start to run to the exit, each step bringing you closer to real air.

Thump thump thump thump, your footfalls echo behind you as you finally break free of the oppressiveness of the heat that you close your eyes as you step into the open breathing deeply of the fresh cool air. You’re about to take another step when Creason grabs the back of your shirt and pulls you back.

“You may be the Bearer, but you are not wise.” He growls.

You open you eyes and glare at him before you notice that he is looking at the ground before you, or the lack there of. In front of you there is a small ledge about the width of your shoulders and then a sheer drop off that is lined with dense pines thousands of feet below.

“We can go down that way if you wish.” Creason says, pointing at a series of narrow switchbacks that cut straight down the side of the cliff, “Or, we can use the river trail.” Pointing in another direction you see that the narrow ledge you’re standing on wraps around the side of the cliff face and out of sight.

You watch as Harry files in circles high in the air, not giving you any further direction.


WHAT DO YOU DO?

Take the Switchbacks down
Follow the Narrow Ledge


I've given this some extra time. You have until Midnight 11/12/2010 to vote for the next step.

Choose Your Own Adventure

- Help the Demon -
Your chest feels tight as you debate in your head what you are going to do, but you finally step forward reaching out with your empty hand you grasp the chain around the woman’s waist, yanking it free of her body. She kicks at you, the look of fear that had been on her face previously turned to anger.

Suddenly you feel as though you’re burning from the inside out you drop your dagger and start tearing at your clothes, trying to cool down. Dropping to your knees you start to scream, but through your screams you hear the gravelly voice of the demon.

“This is the end of your wicked ways.”

You look up. He’s shaking her like a rag doll. With a twitch of the demon’s wrist the shining sword fell from her hand skidding across the sand to disappear into the river of lava. With the threat gone the demon put his other hand to good use by grasping the woman’s side and twisting her into a contorted knot. You heard bones snapping, her eyes bulged, and her mouth gapped, and the demon cast the woman to a molten death just as her sword had done moments before.

As her body disappeared below the orange surface the burning within you suddenly ceases and you can breathe again. You’re light headed in the aftermath of the pain so you remain seated on the ground and watch as the demon squats down, gathering the chain in his hand before wrapping around his forearm, the broken ends melding into his skin, bonding with his flesh. The blisters on his skin began to fade away as he sat back on his heal and took a deep breath. Slowly he rose to his feet and approached you.

“My thanks, human.” He said, offering you a hand up. Though the blisters have disappeared he was still yellow and wore nothing but a loin cloth, and the chain around his arm. “One less witch in the world means one less threat.”

You can’t speak. Your throat is dry and you’re still unsure of what just happened.

“It’s better that we leave this place before her sister’s arrive. I can take on one, but I do not think that even with two of us we’ll be able to face nine.”

You nod and take his hand. He easily pulls you to your feet and opens his mouth as if he were about to say something but it just hangs open as he stares at your chest.

“It is you!” It says after a moment. Placing a hand on each of your shoulders he inclines his head towards you. “You have come, bearer of Thanaur!”

You recognize the name Thanaur from Citrine. The pendant against your chest seems to thrum with the acknowledgement of it.

“You…you know me?” You’re breathless, surprised, and a little afraid.

“Know you?” It came out almost as a laugh. “Know you? I have been waiting my entire life to find you.” He stared down at you; a sort of smile parted his lips showing his sharp teeth, his eyes glowing red in the shadows of his face “But what unfortunate luck you have to pass through the caverns of misery to come upon me.”

“Who are you?” the fear was wearing off, being replaced by curiosity. Looking up you see him now, not for the gruesome creature that was killing someone, but as someone that could possibly help you… or kill you. Your raven, Harry, cawed from his place on the floor before hopping on to the creatures shoulder.

“I am called Creason.”

You give your name in return and briefly explain to him that you don’t know what is going on and that you are to find a Captain Faelphrestad.

“Faelphrestad…” Creason growls, clenching his hands into fists. His stance shouting his loathing of the name.

“I was told…” You start to say.

“I’m sure Citrine means well.” Creason cut in, his voice cold and angry. “I will… take you to him.”

Turning away from Creason, you need to think about what is before you, you begin to gather your items from where you had dropped them, giving yourself a moment.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

Accept Creason’s Help
Continue On Your Own

Choose Your Own Adventure

- Find the Screamer –

You were about to sit down when you hear the cry again.

“This is ridiculous!” You say to yourself, but instead of sitting down you roll your eyes and throw your arms in the air. Looking back at the seat for just a moment, you free your dagger and start running towards the screams. You’re not sure what you’re going to do when you find them, but you had always been taught to help others in need, and the screams definitely sounded in need.

The air is so heavy with heat you find it hard to breathe; your foot falls becoming heavier as you go. You’re spurred on by the tortured sounds that bounce around through the caverns, leading you into dead ends and deep pits. After many wrong turns you find the source of the sounds. You slide to a stop in the loose sand, placing a hand against the sudden cramp in your side, gulping for breath. Before you a battle waged, and it looked like it was going to be to the death. Straightening up you watch the melee before you, dagger in hand, unsure of what to do.

A woman struggled with a creature that was human in form, but its skin was a putrid yellow color and had small horns protruded out of it blistered skull. It was larger than the female by far and seemed to be dominating the struggle.

She spotted you, your eyes meeting for a moment before she cried out, “Help me!” and a wail of pain and fear followed her words. The two combatants dance precariously close to the edge of the molten river, its banks barely containing the flow from filling the room.

The woman, her brown hair pulled back from her face in a long pony tail, was wearing a tattered dress, the skirts singed and torn, either from this battle or from another, held a shining sword in her hand. The demon, for that was the only word you could use to describe the other, had her wrist held in his clawed hand lifting it above her head, trying to free the hilt from her grip but being unsuccessful at it.

“Do not deceive, Lonkeet, you shall die for what you have done!” The demon’s voice was rough and made your skin crawl as he rasped his words. “Death is too good for one like you.”

“Oh! Pease …” her words were cut off as the demon wrapped his free hand around her neck, bearing his teeth in a frightening grin.

“Human!” He called out. “Remove the chain from this her waist.” It takes you a moment to realize that it is talking to you. When you fail to move he barks at you, “Remove it now!”

Jumping into action, you take two steps closer before you look at the woman’s face, turning purple in the grasp of the demon, a tear slid down her cheek as she watched you with frightened eyes. You stop moving.

“NOW!” He shouted again. He turned one eye to you, it glowed red in the shadows of his face, “If you do not you will die as well!”

WHAT DO YOU DO?

Help the Demon
Rescue the Girl

Vote Now.

Choose Your Own Adventure

- Trap Door –

Reaching out you take hold of the rusty iron ring on the floor you pull and the trap door slowly coms open. It’s heavier than you expected it to be, but you pull until it falls open under its own weight. You have to jump back so it doesn’t smash your toes. Looking into the pit you can only see the first four steps before they’re engulfed in darkness.

“Oh, great, you say more dark.” You look over your shoulder back to the doorway, thinking for a moment that it isn’t too late to turn around, but then you decide that you may as well. “Well, here I go…” you say quietly. And then louder, towards the door back into the rest of the store, you shout. “I’m going now!” There is no response.

Balling your hands into fists, so you can smack anyone waiting at the bottom of the stairs for you, you take the stairs down. It’s dark as you descend, even the light from the open door above you doesn’t penetrate past the fourth stair. Above you the floor creeks and the trap door slams down on top of you.

“HEY! What do you think you’re doing?” charging up the stairs back to the door you beat on it with your fists. “Open this back up! Open it I say!!” But there is no answer. You pound on it a few more times before you reach in your pocket for your cell phone. You flip it open and the screen glows brightly in the darkness for a moment and then it blinks out. “What the....” You’re angry now and somehow you are going to get out of this basement.

There’s only one way to go now. Down. Putting your hand against the wall, you feel your way down the rest of the stairs until your feet are on solid ground. The basement must be used for storage because it has the same smell as the store above you, musty paper and years of dust. Inching forward your eyes adjust to the dark and you can make out shapes around you and there is a dim light emanating somewhere to your left. Putting your hands out before you, you walk blindly towards the light, hoping it’s a way out.

As you progress, the smell of the air changes from the musty old sent to that of burnt paper and chard wood that only grows stronger as you go. Finally your hands reach the solid wall before you; it’s warm to the touch and through a crack in the wall light dances and flickers just beyond. Placing your fingers into the crack the wall shifts and you push it out of your way revealing the cavern beyond.

The red rocks around you dance as if made of flame; heat radiated from every surface and before taking three steps inside you are already sweating. To your ears the sound of fire bubbles and pops soft and then loud. You can’t believe your eyes, is this really in that crazy woman’s basement. Glancing behind you, all you see is a solid wall of red stone, the entrance you had come through completely vanished.

Shaking your head you move forward, taking in the cave around you. It is bright as day here, the unnatural light coming from nowhere and everywhere at once. The stalagmites and stalactites reaching for each other like hands grabbing for something just out of reach. There is only one path through the cavern and your feet follow it willingly, thinking that if one person has already traveled this way, perhaps they found a way out, and that’s where you wanted to go. Out.

After walking for a while he heat had forces you to remove the cloak you had been given. Slinging it through your baldric you drape the cloak over the dagger at your side so the heated metal couldn’t burn your flesh. The heat wears on you making you lethargic, the crackling of the fire was lulling you to sleep.

“AHHHHHH!!” You hear a scream, high pitched and terrified. The wailing only lasted a moment, but it stopped you dead in your tracks.

Was there someone else down here? You wonder to yourself.

Closing your eyes for a moment, you strain your ears to see if you can hear the screams again, but you are met with nothing but silence and the soothing sound of fire. Beneath your closed eyelids you can feel the energy draining from you, you’re so tired.

It couldn’t hurt to rest here for a moment. You think, and cast your eyes about to find a spot to sit, or at least lean for a little while. Not far from where you’re standing a rock juts from the wall, flat and welcoming, perfect for you to just sit down for a moment. Only a moment…

WHAT DO YOU DO?

Rest a while
Find the Screamer
Continue on your Way

Vote Now ---->

Choose Your Own Adventure

- Raven, Crystal Skull, Cloak –

The pickings were sparse and you looked at many items individually and passed over many others. You touch several, just to leave your mark in the dust. You pick up stones, and daggers. You ask for suggestions and receive no answers. The eclectic items before you seem endless in quantity now that you can see what you’re looking at.

You pick up an item wrapped in brown paper, the size of a baseball; the aged paper disintegrates at your touch. Brushing it away you reveal within a perfect miniature skull, made of the finest crystal you have ever seen. As you stare at it you think you can see a light shimmer within its depths, but you just think it’s the candle light reflecting through it.


You hold it up, showing the woman, who had finally identified herself as Citrine, as she trails behind you.

“A wise choice.” She nods, but that’s as much information you get out of her on anything you have picked up. Her approval neither helping nor hindering your exploration of the store.

Shrugging, you place the crystal skull in your pocket, it bulges and you can feel its weight settle against your leg as you move along to the clothing rack that you hadn’t noticed before. There were several items hanging here, shirts, pants, jackets, cloaks. There are hat’s hanging by strings and bags holding boots made of soft leather’s that folded easily into piles of indistinguishable brown that you had to open to check the contents. Finally you choose a gray cloak, the color of smoke that has a wide hood and room to spare.

“Ah!” Citrine says behind you, making you just, this is the only voluntary word that has come from her in a while. “The cloak of Gaabor. This,” she says, taking a handful of cloak and holding it up to you. “THIS is a wise choice.”

You’re still just playing along because this really is just a joke and one of your friends has put this strange woman up to this. Since she hasn’t spoken about any of the other items you have chosen you figure this is a clue as to what she wants from you and you unfurl the material and settle it onto your shoulders.

“One last item…” She says as she touches your arm. “What will you choose to help you on your way?”

“Where am I even going?” You ask. If you had some idea of what she’d be leading you into you could better limit your choices. Do you need boots? Do you need spears? Do you need magic items? She hasn't been of any help at all, and the next words that come from her lips don’t help you either.

“Only you can tell where you are going. That is not for me to know.” She smiles though and with her hand that she hasn’t removed from her arm she gently directs you to the back corner of the store where there are several taxidermied animals, cats, rats, rabbits, birds, bats… all in waiting positions, their glass eyes looking down at you expectantly. It’s gross, but fascinating; your eye catches on a glossy raven that is on a pedestal next to you, its black feathers almost blue in the candle light. Reaching out, you touch it gently, running your finger down its long black feathered wing. You think you feel it twitch beneath your touch, and then the bird stretches and spreads its wings, shaking of the years of dust. Letting out a loud “Caaaw” it hops from its perch to your arm that is still outstretched before you.

Citrine smiles, “It is done. Your path is set, the time has arrived.” She turns and leads you through the doorway behind the counter; the room is bare except for two doors on the far wall, and a trap door in the center of the floor. “Here is where your journey begins. I can guide you no further.” She leans into you, gently kissing you on the cheek. “May Argharna Rendall guide you safely to your victory.” Placing both hands over her heart she bows to you and backs out of the room, leaving you alone.

Taking a deep breath you step forward and choose your path.

WHAT DO YOU CHOOSE?

Door on the Right
Door on the Left
Trap Door

You know the voting drill by now...
... but at the same time leave a comment, I'm curious to know who's reading :)

Choose Your Own Adventure

Part 4 - Accept the Quest -

“I’ll do it.” You hear yourself say and you’re surprised those are the words that came out. “I’ll go.” Hesitantly you reach out and take the cloth wrapped bundle from the woman and let the wrappings fall open in your hands.

Inside the layers of old cloth laid a battered silver pendant on a thick chain. The pendant itself was a ring, inscribed with symbols you have never seen before and it was attached to the chain by two hands of death, the skeletal fingers encircling the ring, one grasping each side, holding it in place.

“What is it?” You ask.

“The Ring of Thanaur.” She says with a hint of impatience, as if you should already know this. “Did they teach you nothing in your training!”
“What training?!” You ask in confusion.

She stares at you with her unsettling young eyes for a moment before she shakes her head and continues. “There is no time for this.” Turning back to the counter she takes the baldric, lifing it over your head and settling it on your shoulders. She then slides the long dagger into the sword loop and stuffs a flintlock pistol into your waist band. You will defeat Deathbringer and set us free.” Reaching out she touches your hand. “With the combined strength of the chosen and this ring you shall know the deceiver when it is time.”

“Huh?” You feel totally lost, but you realize that you are not going to get any useful information out of this woman so you decide to play along. Rolling your eyes you finally just respond, “Okay, whatever you say.”
Nodding curtly to you she tells you to put on the necklace. You obey and slip the long chain over your head, the pendant comes to rest in the center of your chest and you feel a shock run through your body as it settles into place.

“Three additional items you may choose to help you on your way.”

You turn back to the shop behind you, the candles seem to glow brighter and you can now see the merchandise before you, the trails in the dust from your trip through are a harsh scar on the dusty relics set out before you. The coatings of dust and cobwebs seem as though they have never been disturbed by mice or men.

WHAT DO YOU CHOOSE?

* Red Stone, Cloak, Burlap Sack
* Raven, Crystal Skull, Cloak
* Signet Ring, Floppy Hat, Sealed Scroll Case

Vote in the comments or to the right --->

Choose Your Own Adventure

Part 3 - Move Forward –

You approach the counter, looking at your finger it seems that the bleeding has stopped but the cut has left a white and deep looking gash across the tip of your right forefinger.

“Excuse me,” you call out. “Hellooo?”

The curtained doorway rustles a little as the woman reemerges. In her hands she holds a black leather baldric and a wrapped item. She places her burden down in front of her and starts talking with a voice that expected you to be listening.

“A Thousand years we have been watching for the sign. For a thousand years we have waited for the one to come to lead us… and I get you walking in my shop.” The way she said you sounded rather derogatory, but she continued speaking without looking up. “Why Argharna Rendall would choose you I cannot tell.”

“Hey,” You break in, “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Can you take a step back and start from the beginning?”

"No time. No time to go back to the beginning. You are the chosen one of Argharna, lifting the dagger sitting on the counter she holds it out to you. He has chosen you to fulfill the call of the Palanúr. You are to be the legendary hero that returns us to our rightful homeland.”

“I think you have the wrong person.” You say, this woman really must be crazy. This is the most absurd thing you have heard. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“Of course you don’t” she replies, “But you have the mark.” Reaching out she grabs your hand and pulls it into the light of the candle on the counter. You see that the cut on your finger has turned to a florescent green that illuminated in the light; it swirled and twisted around your right index finger creating intricate patterns that curled across your skin and spread onto your hand as you watched.

“Gaaaah!!” You cry out as you pull your hand away from her and take a step back. Holding your right hand in front of your face you watch the luminous spirals cover your hand and creep up your wrist. “What have you done to me?!” You screech out in fear, “What is this?”

“It is the mark of Palanúr, you are the one. We must act quickly for the end has already begun.” She stepped around the counter; taking the wrapped bundle into her arms she thrust it towards you waiting for you to take it from her. “You will need this for your journey.”

“Journey?” You question off handedly, you can’t tear your eyes away from your arm even though the patterns have crawled under your sleeve and you can no longer watch it spread.

“Yes, you must go. You will meet Captain Faelphrestad and he will escort you to your destination.

“I can’t….” You stammer and take another step back from her, bumping into a table causing its contents to rattle. “This is crazy.”

“Crazy it may be,” she says stepping closer to you with her arm extended still waiting for you to take the item. “But you will fulfill this quest.”

“I…” You start, but you pause, unsure of your answer.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

Accept the Quest
Decline the Quest

Vote in the comments or to the right --->

Choose Your Own Adventure

Part 3 - Find what cut you –

With your bloody finger in your mouth you use your other hand to rifle through your pants-pocket and pull out your mini LED flashlight. Squeezing it between your fingers it’s mini-bulb is near blinding in the gloom of the store. You can clearly see the path your fingers took along the table top and the spot of blood on the shiny silver blade laid out on the table before you. It is the only item there.

It appears to be a long dagger, about the length of your forearm. The blade is polished steel with the etching of a human skull near the hilt. The hilt itself is made of dark wood, roughly carved into the bust of a wolf with it’s muzzle and teeth greatly exaggerated.

“Huh,” You think out loud to yourself, “It looks like a werewolf.” Reaching out you touch the nose of the malformed animal before you.

“It is.” The sound of a voice over your shoulder startles you, causing you to drop your light and plunge the store back into darkness. You turn, placing you face to face with an old woman. At least you thought she was old. As your eyes readjusted to the dark you could see that though her hair was silver her face held very little wrinkles and her eyes were youthful and clear. The table screeched as you press yourself against it trying to make space between yourself and the woman.

“He has chosen you.” She says, nodding towards the item on the table. “Argharna belongs to you now.”

“What?” you ask sounding more than a little confused.

She gives you a look of impatience like you should know what she is talking about. She waits a moment as if waiting for you to say something else and when you just shrug at her she tisks at you.

“Come along.” She says as picks up the dagger from the table. Turning on her heals she moves quickly away from you back towards the counter, disappearing into a curtained doorway, leaving you behind.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

* Follow her
* Stay put
* Turn and leave

Vote in the comments or to the right --->

Choose Your Own Adventure:

Part 2 – Go In –

After a few moments hesitation you opt to go in to the store and check it out. The door sticks a little so you push your shoulder against the rough and weathered wood, and it scrapes open under your added weight. A bell rang out at your entry, as the door pushed it aside, the chimes tinkling creating a familiar sound, that rings again as you push the door closed behind you.
The store is exceedingly dark after coming in from the day light outside. It’s warm and musty in here and smells overwhelmingly like dirt and old books. As your eyes adjust to the dim light you realize that instead of electric lights the interior is lit by large flickering candles, their wax dripping from the sconce on to the floor below, the hot liquid creating patterns as the puddles coagulated beneath my feet.
You’re eyes travel around the room and you catch glimpses of items that are placed nearest to flickering candlelight. The book shelves that you can see are disheveled and papers poked out willy-nilly between books that were as wide as you and seemed to be decaying before your eyes. You shake your head at the state of the store and again wonder where on earth it came from. Stepping further into the store, the light that had come in through the windows faded and you are left in the candlelit darkness. It was as if the sun didn’t penetrate the large plate glass window.
Even with the light of the candles you have to squint through the darkness to maneuver yourself around the tables placed haphazardly between you and the figure at the back of the store.
The light seems to decrease as you move further in, it is dark enough that you can barely see where you are going, but you decide to press forward and see why you were beckoned inside. Trailing your hand along the table tops to help you keep the balance, you can feel the dust collect as you push it along with your fingertips. Your fingers track over small objects, their textures varying beneath your fingers, some rough, smooth, sharp, while others feel cold to the touch. You feel a prick on your finger and you quickly draw it to your mouth placing the offended appendage to your tongue to soothe the hurt, the irony taste of blood coating your mouth and whispering to you that this may have been a bad idea.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

* Turn around and leave
* Continue Forward
* Find what cut you
* Cuss loudly

Vote in the comments or to the right --->

Choose Your Own Adventure:

The passing strangers on the crowded street bustle by you as you stand staring at the shop window. Printed in block letters across the glass is the name: THURSDAY’S & OTHER SUNDRY THINGS.
“How strange.” You think to yourself, “This wasn’t here yesterday.” In fact, You KNOW it wasn’t here yesterday. Not the shop, not the window, and definitely NOT the building. You look around you at the passers-by and no one else seems to notice this oddity on the street.
Cupping your hands around your eyes you peer into the windows, the inside of the store is dark but it is littered with skulls and pansies, the walls are lined with books and jars and behind the counter at the back of the room sits a shadow. You can’t make out from this view if it is a man or a woman. The shadow must have spotted you because a part detached from the whole, an arm, you assume, and motions you to come in.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

* Go in
* Say out
* Break the window

WAIT!! BEFORE YOU CHOOSE...

This is a new feature I have been playing with lately, as I have been missing playing Dungeons & Dragons (oddly enough) I have been pondering the world of choose your own adventures. I used to love reading these. I’d steal the books from my brother Keith because he had this awesome box set he kept by his bed. (I loved the one about the unicorn.)

Anyway – I wanted to write one and either:

A) let other people pick up where I left off
or
B) hold a poll and see what the majority wants to do and I’ll write the entire thing.

So first off I’m holding a poll to see which option you think sounds more entertaining and to see which option to choose.

Please Vote in the “Comments” below. (or on the right --->)
Starting next week I’ll have tallied the votes and we’ll see how this story continues.