MitchSabbagh_WritingTest

The last morsel of herb-seasoned venison makes its way down your throat, leaving nothing but flecks of basil and oregano stuck on your tongue. Not even the best cooks in the nearby town of Burlack could make something that delectable. [[Let out a belch.]] [[Pat your stomach.]]

A half-elf mage with a battered face leaps out of the bush in front of you and charges towards you—raising her wooden staff over her head. "Ahhhhh, you git!" The mage swings her staff with the kind of force that belies her slight frame. [[Continue->Half-Elf Mage 2]]

You dodge the mage's attack by sidestepping her, resulting in her swatting some dandelions on the grassy ground. Her swing sends their spores flying all around her like butterflies taking flight out of nowhere. She swiftly moves around you to block the path leading out of the clearing and into the forest. "What were you thinking?" she says. [["Easy there! I'm just passing through."]] [["Who the hell are you?"]] [["A mage who acts like she lost her mind. Typical."]] [["I could use a fight to burn off all this energy."]]

With bloodshot eyes and raised eyebrows, the mage points a finger at your face. "Just throw up what you ate. //Now!//" Her screaming echoes around the clearing. [[Vomit your meal out.]] [["Wait. Don't tell me it's poisoned!"]] [["You shouldn't leave your food unattended like that."]] [["Not happening. I haven't had a proper meal in days."->"I could use a fight to burn off all this energy."]]

The mage stomps her foot before jabbing her forefinger onto her temple. "//You// are the one whose mind's lost! Didn't that lone chunk of meat strike you as suspicious?" [["It did, but my hunger won out."]] [["No."]] [["Who the hell are you?"]] [["It struck me as delicious. That's what my fists will also taste like."->"I could use a fight to burn off all this energy."]]

A sphere of light is emitted from the tip of the mage's staff, which she tightly grips. "You haven't got a clue, don't you?" she says as the burst of air her staff lets out causes waves to form on the ground's blades of grass. "//Last chance!//" [["Alright, alright! Give me an idea of what I got myself into."]] [["Lower that staff if you wish to keep things civil."]] [["Last chance to stop shouting at me."]] [[(DECEPTION SUCCESS) Draw her near with some theatrics and try to pin her down.]] [[(DECEPTION FAILURE) Draw her near with some theatrics and try to pin her down.]]

"It's not my food." The mage jabs a thumb at herself. "Well, it's the one I cooked." She shakes her head. "But not the one I would eat." [[Vomit your meal out.]] [["In any case, you have my apologies."]] [["You're wasting my time. We're done here."->"I could use a fight to burn off all this energy."]]

While maintaining eye contact with the mage, you open your mouth as widely as possible before inserting your forefinger into it. Upon touching your uvula, you begin prodding it. [[Continue->Vomit 2]]

The mage crosses her arms while glaring at you. "You'd already be dead had I gone down that route. I'm not patient enough to use slow poison." [[Vomit your meal out.]] [["You shouldn't leave your food unattended like that."]] [["I won't vomit it out. Besides, I haven't had a proper meal in days."->"I could use a fight to burn off all this energy."]]

The mage narrows her eyes and aims her staff at you. "I'm the one who'll have you gutted if you don't do as I say." [["Which is..."]] [["Gut me? With a measly staff? I'm quaking in my boots."]] [["I could use a fight to burn off all this energy."]]

The mage covers her face with her non-staff hand and sighs audibly. Clearly she's keeping herself from prematurely releasing the pent-up energy in her. "Vomit it out. //Please!//" [[Vomit your meal out.]] [["Wait. Don't tell me it's poisoned!"]] [["You shouldn't leave your food unattended like that."]] [["Not happening. I haven't had a proper meal in days."->"I could use a fight to burn off all this energy."]]

"Sadly, that's a feeling you'll embody again," the mage says with a raised eyebrow while patting her belly. "That chunk of meat is coming out whether you like it or not." [[Vomit your meal out.]] [["Wait. Don't tell me it's poisoned!"]] [["You shouldn't leave your food unattended like that."]] [["Not happening. I haven't had a proper meal in days."->"I could use a fight to burn off all this energy."]]

"What you ate," the mage says while pointing at your stomach. "Vomit it out. //Now!//" The hoarseness of her shouting suggests she's used to abusing other people's ears. [[Vomit your meal out.]] [["Wait. Don't tell me it's poisoned!"]] [["You shouldn't leave your food unattended like that."]] [["Not happening. I haven't had a proper meal in days."->"I could use a fight to burn off all this energy."]]

With a smug smile and wide eyes, the mage says, "Oh, I won't be doing the gutting. And it won't be your boots quaking, but rather the ground itself." The mage clenches her teeth. "Vomit what you ate //now!//" [[Vomit your meal out.]] [["Can you at least have my apologies?"->"In any case, you have my apologies."]] [["You're wasting my time. We're done here."->"I could use a fight to burn off all this energy."]]

The mage wrinkles up her nose and takes a step back to ensure her tunic doesn't get stained. As soon as you're done befouling the grassy clearing, the mage lets out a sigh of relief and wipes her forehead. "Thank the deities," she says. "There's still a chan—" [[Continue->Vomit 5]]

"Wh... What?" The mage shakes her head rapidly at the ghastly sight that is your luminescent stomach. "How come it's still in there?" She rummages inside her tunic and pulls out a leatherbound tome that she promptly opens. [[Continue->Vomit 8]]

The mage swiftly rifles through the tome's pages while uttering to herself, "Beacon, beacon, beacon—" She stops her page-flipping, at which point she smiles. "Ah, there we go! 'Upon being digested, the beacon will stay implanted and active in the host's body until said host expires—even if the foodstuff's expelled...'" [[Continue->Vomit 9]]

Suddenly, the mage starts to shake violently as her eyes turn red and glow like a fire broke out inside her head. She puts on a grin and says in an ominous voice, "(text-colour:red)[//Oh, I'd be happy to do that myself. //Flesym!// Just you wait till I get here! Better than having the mages cast you out because of your carelessness!//]" [[Continue->Vomit 13]]

The mage punches herself in the cheek, leaving another nasty bruise on her face and causing her eyes to lose their glow. She drops the grin and stares at the ground. "Food beacons..." She cocks her head back up to meet your eyes. [["Are you alright?"]] [["Who was that just now?"]] [["What's a food beacon?"]] [["Is this how you generally get along with people?"]] [["Right. I'll leave you to it and get my belly sorted out myself."]]

The mage grips her staff, which starts to glow like it came out of a blacksmith's forge. "How about I sort your whole self out?" ''END.'' //You enter combat with the mage.// [[Click here to restart story->Done Eating]]

"Quite." The mage says with clenched teeth and her head cocked to the side. "Just peachy!" She takes a deep breath to gather herself. "I'll be peachier once I become a //certified// mage after dealing with your mess." The mage lets out a sigh of exasperation. [["Who was that just now?"]] [["Certified mage? Are you telling me you aren't qualified to deal with this mess?"]] [["Right. I'll leave you to it and get my belly sorted out myself."]]

"That, uh..." The mage laughs nervously while waving at you. "That was nothing. The meal you had must be playing tricks on your mind." She shakes violently, allowing the grin and glowing red eyes to reappear on her face. "(text-colour:red)[//Oh, I bet you'll tell the mages that their minds are playing tricks on them when they claim they can't see the beast you captured. The one that actually got out of your cage—//]" [[Continue->Who 3]]

Before the mage can reply to your question, the grin and glowing red eyes grace her face once more. "(text-colour:red)[//Oh no. //On!// She can be// very //nice with some souls. Like that one time she broke //only// four of a highwayman's bones when he ambushed her a few days earlier. Were she her regular self, there wouldn't be anything left of that robber for her to display proudly on the road and send a message to any enterprising kleptomaniac.//]" [[Continue->Get along 3]]

The mage shakes her forefinger and head at you. "N... No, no, no!" She stops her finger-shaking and then proceeds to nod swiftly. "I, uh, I mean yes. Yes, I'm qualified to do this." Upon putting a stop to her nodding, the mage extends her arm towards you. "I know it's scary, but doooon't panic. I know a way out, p... promise!" [[Continue->Certified 3]]

The mage punches herself in the face to silence the voice within. She shakes her head and wipes the blood off her lips before saying, "Curse that thing! Wager it's on its way here right now." [["Start making sense, mage."]] [["Cage? You had it trapped before?"]] [[(WIZARD) "Are you sure whatever's troubling you is out there rather than inside of you?"]] [["Right. I'll leave you to it and get my belly sorted out myself."]]

The mage groans with closed eyes before reopening them and saying, "Fair enough." She clears her throat. "That chunk of meat that I roasted and you ate. It was meant for someone... some//thing// fierce." She looks at the clear sky. "And if my calculations are correct, it will be here very soon." [["Happy to help you however I can, Ms..."]] [["I'll only help you if I get paid for my efforts."]] [["Who are those aforementioned mages?"]] [["Right. I'll leave you to it and get my belly sorted out myself."]]

"You don't believe me?" The mage spreads her arms wide. "Why don't you wait and see who comes knocking?" Another bout of spontaneous shaking grips the mage, resulting in the glowing red eyes and grin reemerging on her face. "//(text-colour:red)[Knock-knock.]//" [["Not now, fiend."]] [["Why are you tormenting her?"]] [["Who's there?"]] [["This is too much. I'm leaving."]]

The mage nods. "That I did. Now //it// has //me// trapped." She pokes the top of her braided head. "Not just in a wild goose chase, but also within its field of long-range mockery. I knew the cage I used for the test was a bit brittle, but the sturdiest ones were already taken." [["Start making sense, mage."]] [["How come the beast's able to talk through you?"]] [[(WIZARD) "Are you sure whatever's troubling you is out there rather than inside of you?"]] [["Right. I'll leave you to it and get my belly sorted out myself."]]

The mage punches herself once more to get rid of the voice within. She shakes her head and says, "No, that's how I get along with people who keep me from silencing that fiend!" [["Are you alright?"]] [["Who was that just now?"]] [["What's a food beacon?"]] [["Right. I'll leave you to it and get my belly sorted out myself."]]

The mage says, "I don't need apologies! I need a bloody miracle to sort out this mess. And your guts." [[Continue->Apologies 2]]

The mage lowers her staff, with the sphere of light vanishing as a result. "Will you now listen to me—" Before the mage could finish her sentence, she starts to shake violently. Her eyes turn red and glow as if a fire broke out inside her head. She puts on a grin before saying in a quiet and ominous voice, "//(text-colour:red)[Of course she may stop shouting, Your Highness. Though I fear she may speak more... loudly once I get here. Better than having the mages cast her out because of her carelessness.]//" [[Continue->Vomit 13]]

You clutch your stomach and begin retching, though you're doing so to make it look like you're sick. [[Continue->Distract 2]]

"Gladly." The light on the mage's staff dissipates as she lowers her tool of destruction, with the blades of grass subsequently standing erect. The mage clicks her tongue in disapproval and says, "You signed your death warrant by eating that chunk of meat. Look at your guts." [[Continue->Gimme idea 3]]

"Can't have you run away," says the mage as the sphere of light on her staff expands. "Besides, I already have another escapee to fret about. Vomit your meal out!" [[Vomit your meal out.]] [["Last chance to stop shouting at me."]] [[(DECEPTION SUCCESS) Draw her near with some theatrics and try to pin her down.]] [[(DECEPTION FAILURE) Draw her near with some theatrics and try to pin her down.]]

You notice the mage's shadow moving rather erratically, prompting you to pull your head back up. She shakes violently as her eyes turn red and glow like a fire broke out inside her head. With a grin and an ominous voice, she says, "(text-colour:red)[//Pull the meat out of their carcass if you want to save your career. //Reerac!// Or would you have //me// do it? Just you wait till I get here! Better than having the mages cast you out because of your carelessness!//]" [[Continue->Vomit 13]]

"Not to mention help with—" Suddenly, the mage starts to shake violently as her eyes turn red and glow like a fire broke out inside her head. She puts on a grin and says in an ominous voice, "(text-colour:red)[//Killing me? Ha! You couldn't even swat that fly in meditation class. //Ssalc!// Try swatting a hulking behemoth once I get here! Better than having the mages cast you out because of your carelessness!//]" [[Continue->Vomit 13]]

The mage swiftly punches her face. "Don't humour it! It's trying to buy itself time." Her speech is cut short by the brisk return of the red eyes and grin. "//(text-colour:red)[I'm the one she depends on so heavily to prove herself to those who get to say if she's worthy of magic.]//" She points at herself. "(text-colour:red)[//I'm the one she vents her frustration onto when she's reminded of those she couldn't save in her girlhood. //Doohlrig!////]" [[Continue->Whos there 5]]

The possessed mage crosses her arms and turns her grin upside down. "//(text-colour:red)[Hmph! You're no fun. Fine, go back to talking to this paragon of temperance while I'm tearing my way through travelling merchants. Out of the way, you customer-swindling ghouls!]//" [[Continue->Not now 2]]

"//(text-colour:red)[You're meant to say, 'Who's there?' Let me in so I may regale you with tales of unfettered bloodletting!]//" [["Not now, fiend."]] [["Who's there?"]] [["This is too much. I'm leaving."]]

The possessed mage holds a hand to her slightly pointy ear. "//(text-colour:red)[Hear that, squirt? Even the most understanding of souls can't bear being in your presence. And with that, I take my leave.]//" [[Continue->Too much 2]]

The mage punches herself to silence the voice within. She shakes her head before gripping her staff, which starts to glow like it came out of a blacksmith's forge. "Then I hope you'll understand that I must take... drastic measures." ''END.'' //You enter combat with the mage.// [[Click here to restart story->Done Eating]]

She aims her staff at you, causing an indigo blob of dark magic to form on the weapon's uppermost tip and rapidly grow till its size mirrors that of a boulder. The gusts of wind produced by the spell send ripples across the grassy clearing. "(text-colour:red)[//And I'm the one who shall keep you here while I make short work of the people of Burlack she// greatly //cares about.//]" [[(ATHLETICS SUCCESS) Dodge the blob of magic.]] [[(ATHLETICS FAILURE) Dodge the blob of magic.]] [[(DECEPTION SUCCESS) "Burlack's already been evacuated. Thank the mage for that."]] [[(DECEPTION FAILURE) "Burlack's already been evacuated. Thank the mage for that."]] [["Leave them out of this. It's me you're really after."]] [["So you're afraid of a nobody like me. Coward."]] [[Stay silent.->Whos there 7]]

The boulder-sized blob gets cast your way before you have a chance to react. It strikes you like a frigid squall in the middle of a thunderstorm. Your eyesight fades, followed by the slow paralysation of your body. Only the possessed mage's mad cackling can be heard on the other side of the blob you're immersed in before you pass out. [[Continue->Whos there 9]]

Hours elapse while you lie motionless inside the blob of magic. You can feel it contracting and losing its potency. You also start hearing the screaming and crying of townsfolk in the distance. Just when you thought there was no hope of escaping, the blob bursts—releasing you from its clutches. [[Continue->Whos there 10]]

The grin and red glow in the mage's eyes vanish of their own volition. "I'd appreciate if you could quit entertaining that demon," she says. [["What's the meaning of all this, anyway?"->"Start making sense, mage."]] [["I'd appreciate if you could invest in sturdier cages."]] [["Right. I'll leave you to it and get my belly sorted out myself."]]

"Oh, I hope the higher-ups will have mercy on me." The mage darts past you and towards the trail connecting the clearing to Burlack. ''END.'' //Poppy joins your party.// [[Click here to restart story->Done Eating]]

"What happened?" The mage points back and forth at the piles of goo she and you are standing on. "We got paralysed by that demon thanks to you!" She eyes the billowing smoke coming out of the settlement. "It bought itself time to wend its way to Burlack." [["Lead the way."]] [["I didn't do anything!"]] [["Save the town by your lonesome."->"Not a chance. You're the one behind this whole mess."]]

The mage glares and points her staff at you. "//You// are the one who gave it time to paralyse us. Now it's killing townsfolk. Take some responsibility!" [["Lead the way."]] [["Save the town by your lonesome."->"Not a chance. You're the one behind this whole mess."]]

"Unbelievable! Fine, I'll do the saving myself. Pray we don't meet aga—" The mage's speech is interrupted by a roar that could only come out of a beast's mouth—followed by the appearance of an oak-sized humanoid covered in red crystal shards atop the tower. [[Continue->Pay extra 4]]

"Yes, yes, point taken." The mage pokes the top of her braided head. "But let's focus on the beast out there //and// its voice inside of me, shall we?" [["Start making sense, mage."]] [["Right. I'll leave you to it and get my belly sorted out myself."]]

The mage eyes your glowing abdomen. "That. Basically, you enchant food with a sleeping spell while thinking of whatever you wish to have drawn to the edible trap. But if another being eats the enchanted food, then the original target will still be drawn to it and eager to devour its bodily container and any creature nearby." She looks up to meet your eyes. "In this case, you, me, and everyone in Burlack." [["Are you alright?"]] [["Who was that just now?"]] [["Right. I'll leave you to it and get my belly sorted out myself."]]

The mage sighs. "I wanted to cast a spell on it when it tried to break out of its cage, but I got my 'a's and 'e's wrong in the heat of the moment. So instead, I loudly vocalised a spell that allows its target to speak through the spellcaster." She raps her knuckles against her temple. "And don't get me started on the amount of willpower I need to keep it from accessing my memories." [[Continue->Spell 3]]

The mage shakes her head. "Oh, uh, n... nothing that concerns you. I'd be more worried about keeping folks in Burlack out of harm's way if I were you." [["Happy to help you however I can, Ms..."]] [["I'll only help you if I get paid for my efforts."]] [[(INTIMIDATION SUCCESS) "You're dragging me into this, so those mages do concern me. Don't test me."]] [[(INTIMIDATION FAILURE) "You're dragging me into this, so those mages do concern me. Don't test me."]] [["Those townsfolk must mean a lot to you."]] [["Don't you think we should tell them to evacuate Burlack?"]] [["Right. I'll leave you to it and get my belly sorted out myself."]]

The mage smiles and jabs a thumb at herself. "Holsom. Poppy Holsom. Now let's not dawdle! There's a demon to slay." She takes a few steps towards the trail leading out of the clearing and into the forest's heart. "I suggest we hide in some trees somewhere far from here to draw our friend away from Burlack." [["Let's go with your 'hide in the trees' plan."]] [["Why not in the meadows far from here and town? Fewer places for it to hide."]] [[(DRUID) "I think we should face the beast somewhere claustrophobic."]] [["Care to tell me what the beast looks like and how it behaves?"]] [["On second thought, I'd rather not get myself involved."]]

"Brilliant!" Poppy beckons you over and points a finger at the path leading out of the clearing and into the forest's center. "I came across some tall aspens on the way here. They should suffice." ''END.'' //Poppy joins your party.// [[Click here to restart story->Done Eating]]

Poppy says, "And more grazing livestock in the demon's path. I've no wish to cause dairy and meat shortages around those parts." [[(PERSUASION SUCCESS) "We can't afford to have it sneak up on us. I'll pay you if you follow my plan."]] [[(PERSUASION FAILURE) "We can't afford to have it sneak up on us. I'll pay you if you follow my plan."]] [["Let's go with your 'hide in the trees' plan."]] [[(DRUID) "I think we should face the beast somewhere claustrophobic."]] [["On second thought, I'd rather not get myself involved."]]

"You muppet!" Poppy shakes her fist at you. "I'd sort you out if I didn't have a monster to hunt down." She takes a deep breath and lowers her fist-shaking arm before rushing past you to protect the townsfolk herself. As soon as she vanishes into the grove standing between the clearing and Burlack, you start feeling groggy—causing you to lie down on the ground and take a nap. The meat you ate must've made you sleepy. [[Continue->Pay extra 3]]

Poppy looks over her shoulder while stroking her chin. "I know there's that cave nearby that's hard to get out of." She turns to face you again. "Yes, that could work." [["Cave it is, then."]] [["Let's go with your 'hide in the trees' plan."]] [["On second thought, I'd rather not get myself involved."]]

"Wonderful!" Poppy beckons you over. "Let's not tarry." ''END.'' //Poppy joins your party.// [[Click here to restart story->Done Eating]]

Poppy cocks her head to the side. "Pay me, you say? Well, it //is// nice to earn some coins." She holds out her hand. "Shake on it?" [[Continue->Sneak up 2]]

You nod and clasp her hand. Once you're done shaking it, you feel a prick on your palm that causes you to wince. Poppy lets go of your hand, allowing you to inspect it and notice a cross on it. "Sorry," Poppy says, "but I can't just take your word for it." [["To be fair, I too would've done the same thing."]] [["What did you just do?"]] [["You think I won't pay you?"]] [[Rush towards her.]]

Poppy smiles. "Glad we understand one another." She points at the trail leading out of the clearing and towards the meadows. "Now walk in front of me." ''END.'' //Poppy joins your party.// [[Click here to restart story->Done Eating]]

"Oh, I just cast a hex on you. A teleportation spell that'll send you somewhere cosy. One broken promise and..." Poppy snaps her fingers. "Poof!" [["To be fair, I too would've done the same thing."]] [[Rush towards her.]]

"Wrong move." Poppy snaps her fingers, causing you to get teleported to a dark cell inside a damp dungeon. A cell you share with a reanimated elven corpse that notices you while feasting on a rat's carcass. It steps away from its meal and starts shambling towards you. ''END.'' //You enter combat with the elven corpse.// [[Click here to restart story->Done Eating]]

"I think you'll pay dearly if you go back on your promise," Poppy says. "Consider that hex my way of holding you to your word." [["To be fair, I too would've done the same thing."]] [[Rush towards her.]]

The red eyes and grin grace the mage's face in a flash. "(text-colour:red)[//I know you once kissed a goose in your girlhood when your peers pulled a prank on yo—//]" [[Continue->Spell 4]]

Another punch to the face courtesy of the mage's unpossessed self. "These words were never uttered." [["Start making sense, mage."]] [["Right. I'll leave you to it and get my belly sorted out myself."]]

The mage clicks her tongue before saying, "Okay, okay. I'm taking a crucial test at the Mages' Guild of Cantmora, a test that involves beasts. My superiors only give passing grades to those who keep their respective monsters contained in their private quarters for three straight days." The mage hangs her head. "Well, my fiend broke containment. Now it's looking to make things go from bad to worse." [["Happy to help you however I can, Ms..."]] [["I'll only help you if I get paid for my efforts."]] [["Those townsfolk must mean a lot to you."]] [["Right. I'll leave you to it and get my belly sorted out myself."]]

The mage wipes a tear off her cheek. "They do. I already lost many of them before, so I thought that by becoming a powerful mage, I'd... I'd be able to better help everyone. Especially my grandmother. Took me in when my parents left this world, and now it's my turn to care for her. To //protect// her." [["Happy to help you however I can, Ms..."]] [["I'll only help you if I get paid for my efforts."]] [["Right. I'll leave you to it and get my belly sorted out myself."]]

"That'll take too much time. And that's if they don't laugh it off and say that monsters never roam these parts," says the mage. [["Happy to help you however I can, Ms..."]] [["I'll only help you if I get paid for my efforts."]] [[(INTIMIDATION SUCCESS) "You're dragging me into this, so those mages do concern me. Don't test me."]] [[(INTIMIDATION FAILURE) "You're dragging me into this, so those mages do concern me. Don't test me."]] [["Those townsfolk must mean a lot to you."]] [["Right. I'll leave you to it and get my belly sorted out myself."]]

Poppy cocks her head down and strokes her chin. "Let's see. Tall as a great tree, heavy as a dozen goblins, likes to stick to the shadows, and can't resist roasted meats." She raises her head to meet your eyes. "In other words, it's like my dinner lady. Only feeding time never ends for it." [["Let's go with your 'hide in the trees' plan."]] [[(DRUID) "I think we should face the beast somewhere claustrophobic."]] [["Why not in the meadows far from here and town? Fewer places for it to hide."]] [["On second thought, I'd rather not get myself involved."]]

The mage puts on a slack-jawed face. "Seriously? I was saving money for a new staff— Fine, fine! Just help me take care of this mess." She draws a finger across her throat. "And should I fall in battle, tell the mages and everyone in Burlack that Poppy Holsom fought with courage. Please don't charge me extra for notifying them." She takes a few steps towards the trail leading out of the clearing and into the forest's heart. "I suggest we hide in some trees somewhere far from here to draw our friend away from Burlack." [["Let's go with your 'hide in the trees' plan."]] [["Why not in the meadows far from here and town? Fewer places for it to hide."]] [[(DRUID) "I think we should face the beast somewhere claustrophobic."]] [["Care to tell me what the beast looks like and how it behaves?"]] [["Pay extra or you're on your own."]] [["On second thought, I'd rather not get myself involved."]]

"Fine!" Poppy walks past you. "I'll do the dirty work myself." As soon as she vanishes into the grove standing between the clearing and Burlack, you start feeling groggy—causing you to lie down on the ground and take a nap. The meat you ate must've made you sleepy. [[Continue->Pay extra 3]]

A few hours elapse and you wake up to a chorus of screaming townsfolk—followed by the sight of black smoke billowing out of Burlack's observation tower. Then, a roar that could only come out of a beast's mouth—followed by the appearance of an oak-sized humanoid covered in red crystal shards atop the tower. [[Continue->Pay extra 4]]

"Oh bother." The mage lowers her staff, causing the sphere of light to dissipate. Her shadow on the grassy ground draws closer with every step she takes towards you, giving you a chance to grab her by the ankles and pin her down. You wrest the staff from her hand and chuck it to the side before striking her in the ribs and throat. The crunching of bones punctuates one of your punches to her trunk. [[Continue->Distract 4]]

The mage lets out a gasp as you turn her around so that she's lying on her stomach. You grab her wrists and spread her arms wide to keep her from getting back up. "L... Look closely at your guts," she says in a raspy voice. [[Continue->Calm down 2]]

"I'd..." The mage coughs up some blood. "I'd love t... to, but my ribs and throat are aching." She points a finger at her satchel on the small of her back. "Green f... flask. Give it to me." [[Grab the flask from her satchel.]] [["You're in no position to give me orders."]] [["Time to finish you off."]]

You turn the mage around to have her lie on her back. She widens her eyes in shock as you grab her by the neck. You snap it in one fell swoop before she can say "no." All of a sudden, you start feeling groggy—causing you to pass out next to the dead mage. The meat you ate and efforts you made to restrain the mage must've rendered you sleepy. [[Continue->Pay extra 3]]

"That a... again and more l... loudly," says the mage before letting out a grunt of disapproval. "There, I s... said it. Let me go!" [["Not until you level with me"->"You've lost me there. How about you level with me?"]] [["Time to finish you off."]]

"Some... Something meant f... for the devil himself," says the mage while squirming. You press your knee harder on her back to keep her steady. [["You've lost me there. How about you level with me?"]] [["Sorry, you'll have to say that again and more loudly."]] [["Time to finish you off."]]

"S... Says the one..." The mage sneezes on account of the blades of grass tickling her nose. "...who doesn't know what they got themselves into. Look, the... the flask is just a healing tonic." [[Grab the flask from her satchel.]] [["Time to finish you off."]]

You open the satchel and slip your hand in it. Your fingers touch something glassy and you grasp it before pulling it out. Indeed, in your hand lies a half-full green flask. It's cool to the touch and bears a label showing a stickman. [[Continue->Satchel 2]]

Suddenly, the mage starts to shake violently as her eyes turn red and glow like a fire broke out inside her head. She puts on a grin and says in an ominous voice, "(text-colour:red)[//This here lass has failed to keep her caged beast in check. //Kcehc!// Just you wait till I get here, squirt! Better than having the mages cast you out because of your carelessness!//]" [[Continue->Vomit 13]]

You look down at your abdomen. Something green starts glowing inside your stomach—causing it to growl as if a beast were trying to claw its way out of its bodily cage. Whatever you ate just now must've caused the phenomenon. [[Continue->Calm down 3]]

"Get off m... me," the mage says with a cheek pressed against some blades of grass, "and I'll tell you ever... everything." Her voice sounds faint, a testament to how strongly you struck her by surprise. [["How about you tell me everything now?"->"You've lost me there. How about you level with me?"]] [["What the devil did I just eat?"]] [["Time to finish you off."]]

As soon as you give a loud belch, sparrows fly out of the bushes surrounding the clearing you're standing on. The birds' sudden departure shakes the shrubbery's leaves as if a storm were brewing on this sunny day. [[Continue->Done Eating 3]]

You take its cork off and bring the flask to the mage's lips, who proceeds to quickly empty it by sucking on the flask's mouth. "Ah, better!" she says upon draining the bottle of its contents. You step away from the mage, who promptly gets up and wipes the dirt off her tunic before picking up her staff. "Right, now to level with you—" [[Continue->Satchel 4]]

Her smile vanishes upon reading the passage she was looking for, with the mage dropping the book on the puddle of vomit you created earlier. She bites her lips and hangs her head in shame before picking up the mucky tome and slipping it inside her tunic. She says, "Do, uh, do you mind if I open your stomach? Surgically, of course." [[Continue->Vomit 11]]

Before she can finish her sentence, something green starts glowing inside your stomach—causing it to growl as if a beast were trying to claw its way out of its bodily cage. Whatever you ate just now must've caused the phenomenon. [[Continue->Vomit 6]]

Something odd starts swelling upward within your digestive tract, like a worm trying to find its way to the surface. You puff your cheeks out and bend over. As soon as your meal reaches the top of your throat, you start retching. Jets of green and yellow slime shoot out of your mouth and nostrils. You feel as if you're about to vomit your guts out as well. [[Continue->Vomit 4]]

Suddenly, the mage shakes erratically again—allowing her grin and glowing red eyes to appear once more. "(text-colour:red)[//Ha! The only way out of this is through// me. //Then you can start worrying about those stuffy mages whose opinion you pin your hopes on. Ah, if only you kept a closer eye on my cage—//]" [[Continue->Certified 4]]

It points its finger at you and growls before leaping towards the clearing. Instead of landing on the ground in an earth-shaking fashion, the creature slowly floats and touches down onto the clearing with clenched fists. "(text-colour:red)[//Come to me, my prey. //Yerp!////]" it says. ''END.'' //You enter combat with the beast.// [[Click here to restart story->Done Eating]]

The mage lies in front of you, sitting on a puddle of indigo goo and catching her breath. She too lay paralysed for hours. She too notices the distant wailing of people. "No. //No!//" she says while getting up. The mage points a finger at billowing smoke coming out of Burlack's observation tower. "Look what you've done! We must move. //Now!//" [["Lead the way."]] [["What happened?"]] [["I didn't do anything!"]] [["Not a chance. You're the one behind this whole mess."]]

The mage sighs and points at your abdomen. You look down. Something green starts glowing inside your stomach—causing it to growl as if a beast were trying to claw its way out of its bodily cage. Whatever you ate just now must've caused the phenomenon. [[Continue->Last chance 2]]

You pat your bloated belly, resisting the urge to let out a belch and disturb the local fauna. Seeing as you went several days without food, you could certainly use some quiet time. Perhaps taking a nap in the clearing you're standing on will do you lots of good. [[Continue->Done Eating 3]]

Poppy shakes her head. "Earning money won't matter if I'm then forced to hand it over to my superiors should anyone's property get damaged by that beastly escapee." [["Let's go with your 'hide in the trees' plan."]] [[(DRUID) "I think we should face the beast somewhere claustrophobic."]] [["On second thought, I'd rather not get myself involved."]]

The mage points at herself. "Except //I// am the one being literally tested, so those mages are solely my concern. You ought to be more worried about the fiend making its way to the beacon." [["Happy to help you however I can, Ms..."]] [["I'll only help you if I get paid for my efforts."]] [["Those townsfolk must mean a lot to you."]] [["Right. I'll leave you to it and get my belly sorted out myself."]]

You clutch your stomach and begin retching, though you're doing so to make it look like you're sick. [[Continue->Distract fail 2]]

"Oh bother." The mage lowers her staff, causing the sphere of light to dissipate. Her shadow on the grassy ground draws closer with every step she takes towards you, giving you a chance to grab her by the ankles. But before you can do that, she brings her staff down onto your skull—causing you to wince and clutch the top of your head on account of the searing pain. "Take a look at your guts instead of playing dumb with me," she says. [[Continue->Distract fail 3]]

You get on your feet and look down. Something green starts glowing inside your stomach—causing it to growl as if a beast were trying to claw its way out of its bodily cage. Whatever you ate just now must've caused the phenomenon. [[Continue->Distract fail 4]]

You notice the mage's shadow moving rather erratically, prompting you to pull your head back up. She shakes violently as her eyes turn red and glow like a fire broke out inside her head. With a grin and an ominous voice, she says, "(text-colour:red)[//And I'd just walk away and swallow my pride if I were you, you sorry excuse for a mage. //Egam!// Just you wait till I get here. Better than having the mages cast you out because of your carelessness!//]" [[Continue->Vomit 13]]

The possessed mage casts the blob of magic your way, but you swiftly lie prone on the ground—causing the blob to miss you by a hair and instead strike a crow flying across the clearing. The bird softly lands on a muddy puddle, with the red eyes and grin on the mage's face subsequently disappearing—letting you know that she has regained full control of her body. "That was close!" she says. "Don't you ever entertain it like that again." [["What's the meaning of all this, anyway?"->"Start making sense, mage."]] [["And don't you ever settle for brittle cages when keeping monsters captive."->"I'd appreciate if you could invest in sturdier cages."]] [["Right. I'll leave you to it and get my belly sorted out myself."]]

The possessed mage casts the blob of magic your way. You try to dodge it by leaping out of harm's way, but the blob expands at the last second—resulting in it striking you like a frigid squall in the middle of a thunderstorm. Your eyesight fades, followed by the slow paralysation of your body. Only the possessed mage's mad cackling can be heard on the other side of the blob you're immersed in before you pass out. [[Continue->Whos there 9]]

"//(text-colour:red)[Really? And yet...]//" The possessed mage screws her eyes shut for a moment before reopening them. "(text-colour:red)[//Hmm, if there's a memory of it, she's blocking it well. //Llew!// Guess I'm better off saving my physical strength... for you.//]" The red eyes and grin vanish, causing the mage to wobble on the spot before righting herself. "Goodness, that was close!" she says. "Don't you ever entertain it like that again." [["What's the meaning of all this, anyway?"->"Start making sense, mage."]] [["And don't you ever settle for brittle cages when keeping monsters captive."->"I'd appreciate if you could invest in sturdier cages."]] [["Right. I'll leave you to it and get my belly sorted out myself."]]

"//(text-colour:red)[Really? And yet...]//" The possessed mage screws her eyes shut for a moment before reopening them and snarling at you. "//(text-colour:red)[Liar! Had she done that, I would have detected a memory of such an endeavour.]//" [[Continue->Whos there 7]]

"//(text-colour:red)[Oh, I'll still be coming for you,]//" the possessed mage says. "//(text-colour:red)[It's just that I need the main course to stay put while I avail myself of the appetisers.]//" [[Continue->Whos there 7]]

"(text-colour:red)[//All the more reason for me to have you stay put so you don't get cold feet. //Teef!////]" The boulder-sized blob gets cast your way before you have a chance to react. It strikes you like a frigid squall in the middle of a thunderstorm. Your eyesight fades, followed by the slow paralysation of your body. Only the possessed mage's mad cackling can be heard on the other side of the blob you're immersed in before you pass out. [[Continue->Whos there 9]]