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<<set $header = 0>>\ <div style="text-align: center;">\ <p class="double">\ <br>CRYPT SHYFTER LORDS OF MADNESS<br> by kung fu space barbarian<br> </p>\ [[Start|setup]] </div>\ <<nobr>> <<set $inventory= []>> <<set $quests= []>> <<set $gold= 50>> <</nobr>> <<set $header = 1>>\Everything is covered in blood.<br> [[Continue|start1]]The reek of death fills this cramped stone chamber. Three rotting corpses hang from chains. A fat man lies dead upon an altar. His belly has been slashed open and his guts lie in a heap on the floor. You hold his still-beating heart in your hand.<br> [[Continue|reekingcorpse]]Horror sets in around you. Your memory is addled, but you know some terrible deed was done this day. You drop the heart. It hits the stone floor with a wet splat. Beats once. Twice. Falls silent.<br> [[Examine the fat man|fatcorpse]] [[Examine the melted people|meltedpeople]] [[Leave the room|searchtheroom]]<<if visited("takescythe")>>\ The fat man is old and bears the ink of royalty upon his shoulder. What remains of his stringy hair is white and brittle. His dead eyes stare into the Infinite Abyss. His mouth hangs open in the shape of his final scream. The scythe you are now holding is probably what sliced him open from neck to belly.<br> [[Examine the melted people|meltedpeople]] [[Leave the room|searchtheroom]] <<else>>\ The fat man is old and bears the ink of royalty upon his shoulder. What remains of his stringy hair is white and brittle. His dead eyes stare into the Infinite Abyss. His mouth hangs open in the shape of his final scream. A large scythe lies on the floor- presumably the weapon which sliced the fat man open from neck to belly.<br> [[Take the scythe|takescythe]] [[Examine the melted people|meltedpeople]] [[Leave the room|searchtheroom]]<</if>><<if visited("takejewels")>>\ The bodies are chained to stone pillars around the room. They have been melted beyond recognition.<br> [[Examine the fat man|fatcorpse]] [[Leave the room|searchtheroom]] <<else>>\ The bodies are chained to stone pillars around the room. They have been melted beyond recognition, but each holds a jewel in their mouth: a diamond, an emerald, and a ruby.<br> [[Take the jewels|takejewels]] [[Examine the fat man|fatcorpse]] [[Leave the room|searchtheroom]]<</if>>You can see a set of stone stairs near the back of the room. A scarlet door stands before you. From beyond it you can hear voices. Shouting. And footsteps. Running. They're getting closer. What do you do?<br> [[Exit through the scarlet door|scarletdoor]] [[Exit down the stairs|downstairs]]You push open the scarlet door. At that moment a Barbarian, a Spellslinger, and a Shadow come dashing around the corner and skid to a halt in front of you.<br> [[Continue|shyfterreveal]]You sneak down the stone stairs as quietly as you can. As you walk through the torch-lit passageway you can hear banging on the door above. Then- BAM! The door smashes open.<br> [[Continue|voice]]You grab the scythe. It is heavy, but the blade is razor sharp.<br> [[Examine the fat man|fatcorpse]] [[Examine the melted people|meltedpeople]] [[Leave the room|searchtheroom]]The jewels dissolve into dust at your touch.<br> [[Examine the fat man|fatcorpse]] [[Examine the melted people|meltedpeople]] [[Leave the room|searchtheroom]]Samuel the Spellslinger: We're too late! The ritual is complete! What wickedness have you wrought upon this world, Shyfter?<br> [[The Lords of Madness have been released, and once I devour their essence, I will become all-powerful!|allpowerful]] [[I have made a terrible mistake. The Lords of Madness deceived me and now they walk free. I must undo this terrible mistake and destroy them- they will rip this world apart!|ripapartworld]]Clack the Barbarian: You fiend! We will stop you!<br> [[Morph into a bat and flee down the hallway|fllebat]] [[Morph into a dragon and battle the heroes|dragonmorph]] <<if visited("takescythe")>>\ [[Attack them with your scythe|scythatk]] <</if>>\Jinx the Shadow: What lies! A Shyfter seeking to atone for his misdeeds and working for the greater good?<br> [[Well, not exactly. I just can't rule the world if they do.|cantiftheydo]] [[You could have prevented this if you'd gotten here quicker, heroes. But it doesn't matter because I'm going to kill you anyway!|allpowerful]]The heroes seem to lower their weapons slightly as they exchange a look, trying to decide what to do with you.<br> [[Wait for them to make a move|decidison]] [[Morph into a bat and flee down the hallway|fllebat]] [[Morph into a dragon and devour the heroes|dragonmorph]] <<if visited("takescythe")>>\ [[Attack them with your scythe|scythatk]] <</if>>\You morph into a bat and flutter away. The Barbarian swings his greatsword in a wide arc, but the passageway is too small for his mighty swing and the sword clanks off the wall. The Spellslinger conjures a fireball and hurls it at you, but you dodge to the side and the fireball explodes against the ceiling, collapsing the passageway behind you. The heroes are trapped!<br> [[Continue|heroestrp]]You morph into a huge dragon covered in metal-plated armor. Your mighty shoulders and massive wings crack the walls and ceiling above you. The heroes stand their ground, but you can see the fear in their eyes.<br> [[Blast them with fire|fireblast]] [[Devour them|devourheroes]] [[Rip them to shreds with your razor sharp claws|ripemtoshreds]]You twirl the scythe over your head and slash down at the heroes. They leap to the side and drop into fighting stances. Who will you deal with first?<br> [[The Barbarian|barb]] [[The Shadow|shadow]] [[The Spellslinger|spellsing]]Muffled voice: The ritual has been completed! We're too late... but look! A hidden passageway! The Shyfter must have fled down this way! We can't let it escape!<br> [[Continue|pursuit]]You can hear the patter of feet echoing behind you. What will you do?<br> [[Keep running|keeprunning]] [[Stop and face whoever is following you|stopandwait]]You sprint down the passageway, outpacing your pursuers. A fireball smashes into the wall near you, knocking you off your feet and collapsing the passageway behind you. Whoever threw that at you is now trapped behind a pile of rubble. They won't trouble you anymore.<br> [[Continue|wonttrrr]]You spin around and see a magical light reflecting off the slimy stone walls. The light grows brighter and brighter until suddenly a Barbarian, a Spellslinger, and a Shadow step into view. They are lit by the glowing orb atop the Spellslinger's magic staff.<br> [[Continue|smmy]]Samuel the Spellslinger: Accursed Shyfter! We may have been too late to stop the ritual, but you will not escape us. What wickedness have you wrought upon this world? Speak!<br> [[The Lords of Madness have been released, and once I devour their essence, I will become all-powerful!|allpowerful]] [[I have made a terrible mistake. The Lords of Madness deceived me and now they walk free. I must undo this terrible mistake and destroy them- they will rip this world apart!|ripapartworld]]You head down the passageway and reach the exit in no time.<br> [[Continue|surface2]]You charge down the dark passageway, following the sound of water. A few moments later you arrive at the river's edge. A small raft has been tied nearby. What will you do?<br> [[Go back and head for the surface|headforsurface]] [[Untie the raft and float down the river|floatdown]] [[Attempt to swim across the river|swimacross]]Jinx the Shadow: It would seem... at least temporarily... that our goals are aligned. I hate to suggest it, but perhaps it would be in our best interests to team up with this Shyfter. Until the Lords of Madness have been dealt with, of course. At that point... well, at that point we kill the Shyfter.<br> [[Or I could just kill you now.|killyounow]] [[Hmm. An interesting proposition. An alliance would certainly make things much easier for me.|alliance]]You shift back into your normal form and sprint along the passageway. The tunnel splits ahead: to your left you can see the soft glow of moonlight- this passageway leads to the surface. To your right lies darkness, but you can hear the rushing babble of an underground river.<br> [[Head for the surface|surface]] [[Head towards the river|riverrun]]You scramble to your feet and charge onward. The tunnel splits ahead: to your left you can see the soft glow of moonlight- this passageway leads to the surface. To your right lies darkness, but you can hear the rushing babble of an underground river.<br> [[Head for the surface|surface]] [[Head towards the river|riverrun]]You cleave the Barbarian's head from his meaty shoulders. His lifeless body flops to the ground in a spurt of blood. Just then the Spellslinger unleashes a series of powerful spells in your direction. What do you do?<br> [[Morph into a bat and flee|fleebat]] [[Dodge the spells and chop the Spellslinger in half|chophalf]] [[Morph into a dragon and devour the Shadow and Spellslinger|drgonmorphis]]You cleave the Shadow's head from her shoulders. Her lifeless body flops to the ground in a spurt of blood. Just then the Spellslinger unleashes a series of powerful spells in your direction. What do you do?<br> [[Morph into a bat and flee|fleebat]] [[Dodge the spells and chop the Spellslinger in half|chophalf2]] [[Morph into a dragon and devour the Barbarian and Spellslinger|drgonmorphisbab]]You cleave the Spellslinger's head from his shoulders. His lifeless body flops to the ground in a spurt of blood. Just then the Barbarian charges at you with his greatsword raised over his head. What do you do?<br> [[Morph into a bat and flee|fleebat]] [[Dodge the attack and chop the Barbarian in half|chophalfbarba]] [[Morph into a dragon and devour the Shadow and Barbarian|drgonmorphis]]Clack the Barbarian: You fiend! We will destroy you!<br> [[Morph into a bat and flee down the hallway|fllebat]] [[Morph into a dragon and devour the heroes|dragonmorph]] <<if visited("takescythe")>>\ [[Attack them with your scythe|scythatk]] <</if>>\Clack the Barbarian: Listen not to the Shyfter! Lies coated in perfume are still lies!<br> [[Continue|brrr]]You open your mouth and unleash a torrent of flame from your gullet. The heroes attempt to flee, but you turn the cramped hallway into a fiery oven. Their screams are music to your ears. The smell of burning flesh and cooking meat make your eyes water, but it is a good smell- it signifies the death of heroes.<br> [[Continue|deadher]]You thrust your head forward and chomp at the Spellslinger. The poor bloke is too slow to react and you gobble him up in one bite. The Barbarian springs forward and smashes his greatsword against your metal hide, but you barely notice. As you scan the hallway you realize the Shadow has disappeared.<br> [[Eat the Barbarian|eatbarb]] [[Search for the Shadow|searchshad]]You slice through the heroes like a spiky death-tornado! Their agonized screams are music to your ears. Limbs fly to and fro as you paint the walls red with their blood. You morph back into your normal form once you've ensured the heroes have been utterly destroyed.<br> [[Continue down the passageway|continuesha]] [[Search the bodies for loot|lootcheck]]You head down the passageway and reach the exit in no time.<br> [[Continue|surface2]]You hop on the raft and begin floating down the dark river. Moonlight appears ahead- a small, shimmering light at first, but it grows larger as you float further along the river.<br> [[Continue|floatingtwo]]<<if visited("youfucked")>>\ You step into the water and morph into a shark- at least, you try to. Instead it feels like you’re going to poop in your pants and throw up at the same time. The amulet around your neck is preventing you from shapeshifting. You’ll have to swim across the old-fashioned way.<br> [[Continue|oldfashioned]] <<else>>\ You step into the water and morph into a shark. You glide silently through the water. Glowing green eyes peek out at you from the murky depths, but you’re a shark! Nothing dares to come near you. You arrive on the far side and revert back to your normal form.<br> [[Continue|farsideriver]]<</if>>You lunge at the Barbarian and bite his arm off, but just then you feel a sharp pain in your neck. The Shadow has appeared and is now stabbing you repeatedly just under your chin!<br> [[Grab the Shadow and crush her|crushtheshadow]] [[Finish eating the Barbarian|finishbarb]]You turn your back on the Barbarian and search for the Shadow. A glint of light catches your eye- firelight reflecting off a drawn dagger! You unleash a torrent of fire at the spot. The charred body of the Shadow flops to the floor and the knives clatter away.<br> [[Continue|barbtack]]You morph back into your normal form as the fire flickers out. The heroes have been reduced to lumps of charred meat and bone. What will you do next?<br> [[Continue down the passageway|continuesha]] [[Search the bodies for loot|searchforloot]]You come to a split in the tunnel. To your left you can see the soft glow of moonlight- this passageway leads to the surface. To your right lies darkness, but you can hear the rushing babble of an underground river.<br> [[Head for the surface|surface]] [[Head towards the river|riverrun]]You kick over the blackened corpses in search of loot. Their bodies crumble away into dust, leaving behind a single trinket: a magic amulet the Spellslinger wore around his neck. It appears to have been unaffected by the fire.<br> [[Take the amulet|takeamulet]] [[Leave the amulet and continue down the passageway|continuesha]]You pick up the amulet and place it around your neck. A strange magic tingles over your skin... something is wrong. Just then you hear a voice in your head. It is the ghostly voice of the Spellslinger.<br> [[Continue|youfucked]]Samuel the Spellslinger: A Shyfter's greed knows no bounds... if you are wearing this, then I am dead, and you are cursed. Try to remove it if you will, but your efforts will be in vain. This amulet will ensure that your shapeshifting abilities have been nullified. You have brought about your own downfall!<br> [[Continue|panic]]You can hear the ghostly laughter of the Spellslinger, Barbarian, and Shadow in your head. You panic. You grab the amulet and try to rip it off, but you only succeed in burning your hands. You try to morph into something- a bird, a goat, a rat, anything- but it is useless. Those rotten heroes have cursed you!<br> [[Continue|hha]]You attempt to calm yourself. You can deal with this curse later. For now you need to get out of this dungeon and figure out where the Lords of Madness have gone.<br> [[Continue down the passageway|continuesha]]You step out into the brisk night air. The sight of the moon causes something to stir in your mind... memories. Your head clears. You can suddenly remember the details of the last several hours, as well as the weeks and months leading up to it, with perfect clarity. How did everything go so wrong?<br> [[It all started when I found that dusty old book|oldbook]] [[It was the visions... the nightmares.|nightmares]] [[The fey spirit in the lake spoke of prophecy|prophecy]]The Grimoire of Madness! Of course. The book of black secrets, inked in blood and bound with human flesh. That ancient tome held forbidden lore and dark secrets that were soon revealed to you. Where did you find it, again?<br> [[In the savage jungles of the East|savegejungles]] [[In a hidden crypt beneath the sands of the Red Desert|hiddencrypt]] [[It was frozen in a block of ice near the top of Solstice Peak|blockofice]]Ahh, the nightmares... those foul visions that have haunted your dreams for as long as you can remember. And the voices! Those voices in your head, always urging you onward, always whispering... madness.<br> Madness.<br> [[Continue|madneeess]]Yes, the fey spirit. She lured you to the misty lake with her ghostly music, and once there you fell under her spell. Only now do you realize that she was a servant of the Lords of Madness. It was she who set you on this path... it was she who put the visions in your head.<br> [[Continue|madneeess]]The savage jungles were a dangerous place. It seemed as though the trees themselves sought your doom. You hacked your way through an army of bloodthirsty barbarians and their dinosaur mounts before finally arriving at an ancient stone temple.<br> [[Continue|sacredtemple]]Yes, the crypt of a long-dead brotherhood of holy knights. They fought for centuries to keep the book hidden from the world. They feared the danger that would be wrought upon the world if the book fell into the wrong hands.<br> [[Continue|wronghands]]Ah yes... Solstice Peak, the highest mountain in the Frozen Wastes, home to your former arch-nemesis, Skagg! The fool called himself the Frozen King, but he was nothing more than a fat, lazy Shyfter. The book was hidden within one of the frozen caverns beneath his fortress, but acquiring it was a simple matter for you.<br> [[Continue|frozenbook]]But the traps of the crypt were easily disarmed and you slipped into the darkest catacombs without a sound. There you found The Book, hidden beneath the Lord Commander’s grave. The skeletal remains of the knights rose and attacked you then. How did you deal with them?<br> [[I turned into a bear and smashed them to pieces|turnedintobear]] [[I blasted them apart with my machine gun arm|machinegunarm]] [[I zapped them to dust with my laser beam eye|laserbeameye]]You became a raging bear, blind with fury. You savagely tore apart the skeletons before you, but your bulk was too great! You smashed into the crumbling stone walls and pillars around the room as you mauled your enemies. Before long the columns supporting the dusty crypt crumbled and fell. You barely escaped the collapse of the tomb, but once you were free the tomb was sealed for good and the Grimoire was yours.<br> [[Continue|grimyours]]What a racket that made! The dark chamber echoed with the thunder of gunfire. The skeletons were blasted to shreds and the walls were torn apart by the spray of bullets. The columns supporting the dusty crypt crumbled and fell. You barely escaped the collapse of the tomb, but once you were free the tomb was sealed for good and the Grimoire was yours.<br> [[Continue|grimyours]]You zapped those skeletons into dust! You spun around, zapping everything in sight with your deadly laser beam eye, but you were too enthusiastic! The lasers cut through stone walls and ancient pillars. The columns supporting the dusty crypt crumbled and fell. You barely escaped the collapse of the tomb, but once you were free the tomb was sealed for good and the Grimoire was yours.<br> [[Continue|grimyours]]The words contained within that dark book spoke of true horrors... true madness. Yet you were compelled to read. Over and over and over again, you pored over the book, the words sinking deeper and deeper into your mind, driving you mad! And then... then came the visions.<br> [[Continue|madneeess]]You sink into the murky water, but the current is strong. You can see the light of a dozen glowing eyes peering at you from below, their eerie glow shimmering on the ripples of the waves. Slimy, grasping hands pull at your feet.<br> [[Continue|pulleddown]]Twisting stone stairs, slick with mud and slime, stretch into the darkness ahead of you. You follow the stone pathway into a chamber lit with flickering torchlight. The room smells like a zoo. Cages line the walls, each containing a bizarre creature within. This room seems to be a menagerie of magical monsters.<br> [[Proceed into the room|intomenag]] [[Examine the room from the shadows|examineroom]] [[Study the caged creatures from the shadows|cagedcret]]You step into the light. The magical creatures immediately go into a frenzy, throwing themselves at their cages and lashing out at you with claws and tentacles. There is a door at the far end of the room, as well as levers on the walls that can be pulled to release the animals.<br> [[Exit through the door|exitdoor]] [[Turn into a bird and fly through the hole in the ceiling|ceilingfly]] [[Start pulling levers|releasanimals]]A shaft of light illuminates the room from above. You can see a large hole in the ceiling through which moonlight pours. Other than the squawking, growling, grunting, and snarling of the animals in their cages, this room seems to be completely deserted. You notice several levers that can be pulled to release the beasts, as well as a metal door on the far side of the room.<br> [[Proceed into the room|intomenag]] [[Study the caged creatures from the shadows|cagedcret]]In one cage you can see ape-like creatures with reddish-orange fur and six muscly arms; something that looks like a T-Rex is gnawing on the bars of another cage; a third cage holds a shrieking bird the size of an elephant; and the last cage houses a slimy creature covered in tentacles and bulging eyes.<br> [[Proceed into the room|intomenag]] [[Examine the room from the shadows|examineroom]]You swim frantically toward the opposite shore, but the grasping hands and strong current force you farther and farther away. Tentacles slide out of the water. One wraps around your throat and pulls you under. You struggle to stay afloat, struggle to breathe, but it is useless. You sink to the bottom of the river.<br> Your journey ends here- but perhaps you can try again in a thousand years? After all, you are a Shyfter. But for now, you are dead.After a while the visions and the voices became impossible to resist. Slowly but surely, you began to obey. You let the darkness swallow your very soul, and before long you had gathered all the supplies you needed: the three virgins, the special jewels (diamond, emerald, ruby), the scythe, special ointments, torches, and finally the Emperor himself, marked by the Royal Crest upon his arm.<br> [[Continue|torycrest]]His bodyguards had been easy enough to dispose of, and once you had him in your clutches you brought him to the appointed place- the place from your visions. You performed the ritual, spoke the words, and carved open the Emperor’s chest. There was a flash of light and suddenly- your memories were gone. But now they’ve returned.<br> [[Continue|thememsreturn]]The Four Lords of Madness have escaped. They were the ones who sent you the visions. Visions of power and grandeur. Visions promising you wealth and glory and fame. But you were tricked. The Lords of Madness used you, and now they are gone, spread out across the realms and hiding... somewhere. What will you do?<br> [[I will find them and consume their power. I will become the most powerful creature in the world!|mostpowerful]] [[I must find them and banish them back to the Abyss! If they are allowed to roam free, they will tear this world apart!|tearitapart]]You take a deep breath of the cool night air. You don’t know where the demons escaped to, but you have to start somewhere. In the valley below you can see a small village bathed in moonlight. A possible starting point. Far off in the distance you can see the outline of Irongate, the walled fortress city. Anything could be hiding in Irongate. Where will you begin your journey?<br> [[The village|village]] [[Irongate|irongate]]You take a deep breath of the cool night air. You don’t know where the demons escaped to, but you have to start somewhere. In the valley below you can see a small village bathed in moonlight. A possible starting point. Far off in the distance you can see the outline of Irongate, the walled fortress city. Anything could be hiding in Irongate. Where will you begin your journey?<br> [[The village|village]] [[Irongate|irongate]]<<if visited("youfucked")>>\ Since you are unable to shapeshift, you are forced to take the long way down the mountain. You climb down slowly and make your way towards the small village. A crude wooden sign has been jammed in the mud just outside the gates. A single word has been carved into it: CORNWOOD.<br> [[Continue|no1]] <<else>>\ You morph into a bird and flutter down to the small village below. You land a short distance away and revert back to your normal form. A crude wooden sign has been jammed in the mud just outside the gates. A single word has been carved into it: CORNWOOD.<br> [[Continue|entercornh]]<</if>><<if visited("youfucked")>>\ Since you are unable to shapeshift, you are forced to take the long way down the mountain. You climb down slowly and make your way towards the walled city of Irongate.<br> [[Continue|no12]] <<else>>\ You morph into a bird and soar across the valley, landing just outside the walled city of Irongate.<br> [[Continue|enterirongagte]]<</if>>You push open the heavy metal door and step out into the brisk night air. The sight of the moon causes something to stir in your mind... memories. Your head clears. You can suddenly remember the details of the last several hours, as well as the weeks and months leading up to it, with perfect clarity. How did everything go so wrong?<br> [[It all started when I found that dusty old book|oldbook]] [[It was the visions... the nightmares.|nightmares]] [[The fey spirit in the lake spoke of prophecy|prophecy]]You morph into a bird and shoot up through the hole in the ceiling. You emerge into the crisp night air and circle around overhead. You find a nearby cliff to land and gather your thoughts.<br> [[Continue|clifflandmemories]]Which animals do you want to release?<br> [[The six-armed ape creatures|sixarmrelease]] [[The T-Rex|texrelease]] [[The shrieking bird|birdrelease]] [[The tentacle monster|tentaclemonster]] [[Release them all|releasethemall]] [[I changed my mind, I’m not pulling any levers|notpullinglevers]]Three ape-monsters come tumbling out of their cage, thumping their chests and raising their arms in celebration. Now that they’re free they don’t pay any attention to you. What will you do?<br> [[Exit through the door|exitdoor]] [[Talk to the ape creatures|talktoapes]] [[Start dancing|dancingapes]]You pull the lever but it snaps off in your hand. The T-Rex roars, but the cage remains closed. The other levers also seem to be stuck. Seeing no reason to stay, you exit through the metal door.<br> [[Continue|touths]]You yank a lever and the bird's cage swings open. The monstrous bird squawks and shoots out of the cage, directly at you. Before you can react, the bird grasps you in its giant talons and carries you straight up through the hole in the ceiling.<br> [[Continue|slfying]]You yank a lever and hear the cage door swing open. Suddenly a big tentacle slithers out and wraps itself around your leg.<br> [[Continue|tentt2]]You start yanking levers and the cages open one by one. The creatures flop out of their cages and immediately begin fighting each other. A big tentacle slithers out and wraps itself around your leg.<br> [[Continue|tentt]]You step away from the levers.<br> [[Exit through the door|exitdoor]] [[Turn into a bird and fly through the hole in the ceiling|ceilingfly]]The sight of the moon causes something to stir in your mind... memories. Your head clears. You can suddenly remember the details of the last several hours, as well as the weeks and months leading up to it, with perfect clarity. How did everything go so wrong?<br> [[It all started when I found that dusty old book|oldbook]] [[It was the visions... the nightmares.|nightmares]] [[The fey spirit in the lake spoke of prophecy|prophecy]]You begin speaking to the apes but they clearly don't understand your words. One of them turns around and farts at you. You roll your eyes and exit through the metal door.<br> [[Continue|touths]]The apes roar furiously. They clearly find your dancing offensive. They attack!<br> [[Flee through the door|fleemetaldoor]] [[Morph into an ape and fight them|fighttheapes]] [[Morph into a bird and fly up through the hole in the ceiling|flytohole]]You dodge out of the way of the apes and lunge for the door. You push your way through and slam the door shut behind you, locking it. You can feel the door shudder as the apes throw their bodies against it, but they can't get through. You're safe... for now.<br> [[Continue|touths]]You morph into a huge six-armed ape just in time. The other apes smash against you, but you’re twice their size and able to hold them back.<br> [[Rip their arms off|riptheirarms]] [[Throw them at the cages|throwatcages]]You morph into a bird and shoot up through the hole in the ceiling. The apes swipe at you with their massive claws, but you flit between them and make your escape. You emerge into the crisp night air and circle around overhead. You find a nearby cliff to land and gather your thoughts.<br> [[Continue|clifflandmemories]]You grapple the apes and rip their arms off one by one before tossing their bodies aside. The apes squeal and whimper as they bleed out all over the floor.<br> [[Continue|ext]]You hurl the apes at the cage containing the tentacle monster. Tentacles shoot out and wrap themselves around the apes, squeezing the life out of them. The creature in the cage begins to eat the skin off their bodies. You can hear the sound of breaking bones as the tentacle beast continues to squeeze.<br> [[Continue|ext]]You grab the Shadow in your mighty claws and crush the life out of her. Most of her bones break under your iron grip and her eyeballs pop out with a sickening squirt sound. The Barbarian bleeds out all over the ground and dies before he can cause any further problems.<br> [[Continue down the passageway|continuesha]] [[Search the bodies for loot|lootcheck]]You ignore the Shadow and try to enjoy the rest of your meal, but the Shadow is stabbing you in the neck! While you try to eat the Barbarian, she cuts your throat and you bleed out all over the hallway.<br> YOU ARE DEAD.You dig through the corpses and find a single trinket: a magic amulet worn by the Spellslinger.<br> [[Take the amulet|takeamulet]] [[Leave the amulet and continue down the passageway|continuesha]]You pried The Book from the stiff hands of a long-dead hero, and there amidst the scattered bodies of Skagg's victims, you began to read...<br> [[Continue|grimyours]]You slipped past the diabolical traps and avoided the magical curses until at last you discovered The Book. There, in the dark, dusty crypt, you began to read...<br> [[Continue|grimyours]]Just then you hear a savage shout from behind you. The Barbarian leaps forward and hacks away at your neck with his greatsword!<br> [[Eat the fool|eathtefol]] [[Rip him in half with your huge claws|ripimhinlf]]You grab the silly Barbarian in your massive hands and drop him into your mouth, gobbling him up in one bite! You burp, satisfied with your meal, and then revert back into your normal state.<br> [[Continue down the passageway|continuesha]] [[Search the bodies for loot|lootcheck]]You grab the silly Barbarian in your massive claws and rip him clean in half! Well, maybe clean isn't the right word... blood, guts, and bones splatter all over the tunnel walls and floor, but you know what I mean. Satisfied that the heroes have been dealt with, you morph back into your normal form.<br> [[Continue down the passageway|continuesha]] [[Search the bodies for loot|lootcheck]]At last you drift out of the tunnel and into the brisk night air. You hop off the raft and steady yourself on the edge of a rocky cliff.<br> [[Continue|rockcliff]]You morph into a bat and flutter down the hallway, just barely managing to dodge the spells flying at you. You are able lose your attackers by following a twisting series of passageways. Their shouting recedes into the distance until finally you can no longer hear them at all. You morph back into your normal form.<br> [[Continue|continuesha]]You dodge the spells and chop the Spellslinger in half with your scythe, but you don't stop there. The Shadow attempts to stab you with her rapier but your whirlwind attack is relentless. Limbs fly left and right as you hack the Shadow to pieces. The heroes lie in a pile of bloody chunks at your feet.<br> [[Continue down the passageway|continuesha]] [[Search the bodies for loot|lootcheck]]Your body melts and reforms in the shape of a huge glittering dragon. You grab the two remaining heroes in your massive claws. You bite their heads off like chunks of broccoli before devouring the rest. Yummy!<br> [[Continue|morhback]]You chop the Barbarian in half with your scythe, but you don't stop there. The Shadow attempts to vanish into the darkness but your whirlwind attack is relentless. Limbs fly left and right as you hack the Shadow to pieces. The heroes lie in a pile of bloody chunks at your feet.<br> [[Continue down the passageway|continuesha]] [[Search the bodies for loot|lootcheck]]Your body melts and reforms in the shape of a huge glittering dragon. You grab the Spellslinger in one claw and the Barbarian in the other. You bite their heads off like chunks of broccoli before devouring the rest. Yummy!<br> [[Continue|morhback]]You morph back into your normal form and follow the passageway ahead.<br> [[Continue|continuesha]]Would you like to disguise yourself before entering the village?<br> [[Yes|yes1]] [[No|no1]]What will you shapeshift into?<br> [[A farmer|farmer]] [[A soldier|soldier]] [[A tax collector|taxcollector]]Cornwood is a quiet farming town, but there is something eerie about this place. It is too quiet. Though it is past midnight, your sharp ears can’t pick up any sound- no peasants snoring, no livestock shifting restlessly in their pens, not even the chirp of crickets in the woods. The entire village is dead silent.<br> [[Continue|tooquiet]]Your body turns to goo and you assume the shape of a farmer. Satisfied with your disguise, you enter the village.<br> [[Continue|no1]]Your body turns to goo and you assume the shape of a soldier. Satisfied with your disguise, you enter the village.<br> [[Continue|no1]]Your body turns to goo and you assume the shape of a tax collector. Satisfied with your disguise, you enter the village.<br> [[Continue|no1]]The unsettling nature of this village reminds you why you’re here: to find the Lords of Madness. Could they have passed through this place?<br> [[Continue|pasedthru]]You step up to one of the statues and examine it closely. The stone has an interesting porous feel to it. Every last detail of the statue is breathtakingly lifelike. You examine a few other statues. Each one depicts a peasant running with a look of pure terror on their face. Odd that a town would set these up in the streets... your stomach suddenly lurches.<br> [[Continue|whatif]]You push open the wooden door of a nearby house and peer inside. A dim light catches your eye and you notice a few dying embers smoldering in the fireplace.<br> [[Continue|house2]]You wander away from the main section of the village and begin to explore the nearby farms. More statues are scattered around. Suddenly you hear a noise inside the closest barn. It sounds like there is someone moving in there. What do you do?<br> [[Enter the barn|enterbarn]] [[Investigate the statues|statuecheck]] [[Search the houses|searchhouses]] [[Explore the cornfields|cornfieldsexplore]]The cornfields are filled with statues of people fleeing in terror. As you walk through the spooky statue garden you begin to notice a path through them. The grass and crops have been flattened and pushed to the side, as if a large snake passed through this way.<br> [[Continue|largesnakebirthdaycake]]What if these aren’t statues? What if these are, in fact, the villagers? Could the Lords of Madness have turned the villagers to stone?<br> [[Search the houses|searchhouses]] [[Investigate the nearby farms|farmvest]] [[Explore the cornfields|cornfieldsexplore]]As you creep through the silent village you notice several elaborately carved statues. The craftsmanship is simply stunning. The artist captured the expressions of horror on each of their faces in exquisite detail.<br> [[Investigate the statues|statuecheck]] [[Search the houses|searchhouses]] [[Investigate the nearby farms|farmvest]] [[Explore the cornfields|cornfieldsexplore]]A table nearby has been set with three plates. The plates still have food on them. The chairs have been pushed back, almost as though the family eating here had simply gotten up and gone for a walk mid-meal. The rest of the houses are similarly empty. Clearly, the villagers left their homes in a hurry.<br> [[Investigate the statues|statuecheck]] [[Investigate the nearby farms|farmvest]] [[Explore the cornfields|cornfieldsexplore]]You enter the barn as quietly as you can. The shuffling sound stops. You look around, scanning the hayloft and empty animal pens. You notice a small foot poking out behind a pile of hay.<br> [[Call out to whoever is there|callouther]] [[Blast the hay to shreds with your machine gun arm|blasttoshredmachinegu]]Sod: W-Who’s there?<br> [[I’m looking for some bad people. Can you tell me where everyone is?|whereiseveryone]] [[I’ve come here to kill everyone!|killeveryone]]You aim your machine gun arm at the pile of hay and begin blasting away. The sound of gunfire is deafening in the wooden barn. The hay is ripped to shreds while the wall behind is riddled with bullets and splattered with blood. Whoever was hiding there was blasted into jelly by your weapon. Tufts of hay flutter lazily to the ground like bloody golden snow.<br> [[Continue|dedguy]]You continue to explore the barn but you don't find anyone else hiding in here.<br> [[Explore the cornfields|cornfieldsexplore]]<<if visited("farmer")>>\ A little girl with big eyes and a dirty nose crawls out from behind the pile of hay. She looks you up and down, recognizes the clothes you wear as that of a farmer, and steps forward.<br> [[Continue|sodtalks]] <<elseif visited("soldier")>>\ A little girl with big eyes and a dirty nose crawls out from behind the pile of hay. She looks you up and down, recognizes the clothes you wear as that of a soldier, and takes a step back as if to hide again.<br> [[Continue|sodtalkssoldier]] <<elseif visited("taxcollector")>>\ A little girl with big eyes and a dirty nose crawls out from behind the pile of hay. She looks you up and down, recognizes the clothes you wear as that of a government official, and takes a step back as if to hide again.<br> [[Continue|sodtalkgovt]] <<else>>\ A little girl with big eyes and a dirty nose crawls out from behind the pile of hay. She looks you up and down, recognizes the cyborg bits of you as those of a Shyfter, and takes a step back as if to hide again.<br> [[Continue|sodtalksShyfter]]<</if>>You hear a little girl scream and the person behind the hay scrambles to their feet. You aim your machine gun arm at the pile of hay and begin blasting away. The sound of gunfire is deafening in the wooden barn. The hay is ripped to shreds while the wall behind is riddled with bullets and splattered with blood. Whoever was hiding there was blasted into jelly by your weapon. Tufts of hay flutter lazily to the ground like bloody golden snow.<br> [[Continue|dedguy]]Sod: I ain’t never seen you around here. Were you hired by the Lee family? Papa said they hire helpers for the summer. Hate to break it to ya, but I don’t think you’ll be finding much work here anymore...<br> [[Yes, I work for the Lee family. Can you tell me where they are?|wherethelee]] [[Where is your papa?|whersyourpapa2]] [[What’s your name?|whatsyourname2]]Sod: You’re one of them military folks. My papa told me to stay away from you. You take away kids when they’re bad.<br> [[Were you bad?|wereyoubad]] [[I’m not here to take you away.|notheretotake]] [[Where is your papa?|whersyourpapa]] [[What’s your name?|whatsyourname]]Sod: A-are you from the government? Papa says you're a bunch of crooks and thieves. He says you don't even have the decency to stab hardworking folks in the back, you just stab them right in the front and take all their money.<br> [[I’m not here to take your money.|notheretotake]] [[Where is your papa?|whersyourpapa]] [[What’s your name?|whatsyourname]]Sod: Y-you're a... a Shyfter! P-Papa told me about you. You're one of the bad ones. Are you working with the snake lady? Did you come here to kill me?<br> [[Snake lady?|howturnedstone]] [[Where is your papa?|whersyourpapa]] [[What’s your name?|whatsyourname]]The little girl shakes her head but she doesn’t look at you. Tears begin welling up in her eyes.<br> [[I’m not here to take you away.|notheretotake]] [[Where is your papa?|whersyourpapa]] [[What’s your name?|whatsyourname]]The little girl's lip trembles but she doesn't speak.<br> [[Where is your papa?|whersyourpapa]] [[What’s your name?|whatsyourname]]Sod: Outside... he got turned into a statue, just like everyone else...<br> [[Everyone in the village was turned to stone?|everyoneinvillage]] [[How did he get turned into a statue?|howturnedstone]]Sod: S-Sod... well, that’s what my papa called me. My real name is Vigralda but that’s too hard to say and it sounds ugly.<br> [[Where is your papa?|whersyourpapa]]Sod: The Lee family got turned to stone, just like the rest of them.<br> [[Everyone in the village was turned to stone?|everyoneinvillage]] [[How did they get turned into stone?|howturnedstone]]Sod: Outside... he got turned into a statue, just like everyone else...<br> [[Everyone in the village was turned to stone?|everyoneinvillage]] [[How did he get turned into a statue?|howturnedstone]]Sod: S-Sod... well, that’s what my papa called me. My real name is Vigralda but that’s too hard to say and it sounds ugly.<br> [[Where is your papa?|whersyourpapa2]]Sod: That’s right. The snake lady came here in the middle of the night. There was lots of shouting, and suddenly it seemed like the whole village was awake. Men were running outside to see what all the ruckus was and the snake lady turned them into statues. Then the women ran with the kids. I think some got away, but most of them got turned into stone too.<br> [[Continue|stodtur]]Sod: The snake lady came here in the middle of the night. There was lots of shouting, and suddenly it seemed like the whole village was awake. Men were running outside to see what all the ruckus was and the snake lady turned them into statues. Then the women ran with the kids. I think some got away, but most of them got turned into stone too.<br> [[Continue|stodtur]]Sod: My papa went out to help but that bad snake lady turned him into a statue, too. I ran in here to hide so she wouldn’t find me. I don’t want to be a statue...<br> [[I won’t let her turn you into a statue.|wontletherrunr]] [[Do you know where the snake lady went?|snakelyeywent]]The little girl looks at you with big eyes.<br> [[Do you know where the snake lady went?|snakelyeywent]]The little girl points her dirty hand in the direction of the cornfields.<br> [[Thanks. I’ll find the snake lady and figure out how save these people.|savethepeople]] [[Excellent. I’m going to destroy her!|destroyher]]Sod goes and hides in another pile of hay. You exit the barn and head to the cornfields.<br> [[Continue|cornfieldsexplore]]Sod goes and hides in another pile of hay. You exit the barn and head to the cornfields.<br> [[Continue|cornfieldsexplore]]A name pops into your mind, quickly followed by an image:<br> Lithia. The serpent woman.<br> [[Continue|serp]]She was one of the Four Lords of Madness. She preferred to be called The Lady of Madness, actually. From the waist up she was an exquisitely beautiful woman, with dark skin and darker eyes. Her silky black hair flowed down her back to nearly her butt- at least, where her butt would have been if she was human.<br> [[Continue|houmm]]Lithia isn't human, of course. She's a serpent woman. The bottom half of her body is that of a huge snake, ending in a poisonous tail like a scorpion's stinger. You can remember the way she moved when you released her. It was... unsettling.<br> [[Continue|downthepath]]You follow Lithia's trail to a cave on the edge of the woods. Two stone bears stand guard outside. You can see firelight glowing within.<br> [[Enter the cave|enterlitia]] [[Call for Lithia to come out|comeout]]You enter the cave. A soft hissing sound drifts out to your ears. The firelight is suddenly blotted out by a dark shape, and moments later Lithia herself appears before you.<br> [[Continue|lithieexit]]You shout into the cave, calling on the Lady of Madness to show herself. A soft hissing sound drifts out to your ears. The firelight is blotted out by a dark shape, and moments later Lithia herself appears at the entrance to the cave. There is a look of lust and hunger in her eyes as she seeks you out.<br> [[Continue|lithieexit]]<<if visited("farmer")>>\ Lithia’s eyes light up when she sees you- another farmer to add to her collection! Her pupils melt away and a black magic enters her eyes, but her magic has no effect on you. The darkness fades from her face as she looks at you, puzzled. You morph back into your normal shape. Recognition dawns on her face.<br> [[Continue|lltalks]] <<elseif visited("soldier")>>\ Lithia’s eyes light up when she sees you- a foolish soldier to add to her collection! Her pupils melt away and a black magic enters her eyes, but her magic has no effect on you. The darkness fades from her face as she looks at you, puzzled. You morph back into your normal shape. Recognition dawns on her face.<br> [[Continue|lltalks]] <<elseif visited("taxcollector")>>\ Lithia’s eyes light up when she sees you- a government official to add to her collection! Her pupils melt away and a black magic enters her eyes, but her magic has no effect on you. The darkness fades from her face as she looks at you, puzzled. You morph back into your normal shape. Recognition dawns on her face.<br> [[Continue|lltalks]] <<else>>\ Lithia’s eyes light up when she sees you- another fool to add to her collection! Her pupils melt away and a black magic enters her eyes, but her magic has no effect on you. The darkness fades from her face as she looks at you, puzzled. Sudden recognition dawns on her face.<br> [[Continue|lltalks]]<</if>><<if visited("tearitapart")>>\ Lithia: Oh, it’s you... I thought it was one of those silly peasants. You’re the one who released us. What do you want?<br> [[What have you done to the people here?|whathaveyoudon]] [[Where are the other Lords of Madness?|wheretheotheres]] [[Your madness ends here, enchantress! I will send you back into the Abyss!|backtotheabyss]] <<else>>\ Lithia: Oh, it’s you... I thought it was one of those silly peasants. You’re the one who released us. What do you want?<br> [[What have you done to the people here?|whathaveyoudon2]] [[Where are the other Lords of Madness?|wheretheotheres2]] [[You have great power, enchantress. I have come to claim it for myself.|claimmyself]]<</if>>Lithia: I am sowing madness across this world, Shyfter. This is our purpose. The natural state of all things is chaos. We are setting things right.<br> [[Where are the other Lords of Madness?|wheretheotheres]] [[Your madness ends here, enchantress! I will send you back into the Abyss!|backtotheabyss]]Lithia: They have scattered across the lands like leaves swept up by a gust of wind. They have work to do...<br> [[What have you done to the people here?|whathaveyoudon]] [[Your madness ends here, enchantress! I will send you back into the Abyss!|backtotheabyss]]<<if visited("youfucked")>>\ Lithia: None can stand against the Lords of Madness! Die!<br> [[Continue|youerdead]] <<else>>\ Lithia: None can stand against the Lords of Madness! Die!<br> [[Morph into a dragon and fight her|fightherdragon]] [[Shoot rockets at her|shootrockets]] [[Melt her body with your laser beam eyes|lasermeltslady]]<</if>><<if visited("youfucked")>>\ Lithia: None can stand against the Lords of Madness! Die!<br> [[Continue|youerdead]] <<else>>\ Lithia: None can stand against the Lords of Madness! Die!<br> [[Morph into a dragon and fight her|fightherdragon]] [[Shoot rockets at her|shootrockets]] [[Melt her body with your laser beam eyes|lasermeltslady]]<</if>>Lithia: I am sowing madness across this world, Shyfter. This is our purpose. The natural state of all things is chaos. We are setting things right.<br> [[Where are the other Lords of Madness?|wheretheotheres]] [[You have great power, enchantress. I have come to claim it for myself.|claimmyself]]Lithia: They have scattered across the lands like leaves swept up by a gust of wind. They have work to do...<br> [[What have you done to the people here?|whathaveyoudon]] [[You have great power, enchantress. I have come to claim it for myself.|claimmyself]]The Lady of Madness rises up higher than you would have believed possible. Her lips pull back, revealing rows of needle-sharp fangs poking through cracked, blackened gums. Her eyes turn to obsidian and her hair swirls around her head like a nest of snakes. You attempt to morph into a suitable fighting beast, but the cursed amulet only laughs at you.<br> [[Continue|dididid]]<<if visited("tearitapart")>>\ You morph into a huge red dragon and battle the snake woman. Your claws are razor sharp and you're easily able to rip her soft body to shreds. Lord of Madness or not, Lithia is no match for you.<br> [[Check her for loot|yakilther2]] [[Investigate the cave|investigatecave2]] [[Cast a spell to send her corpse back to the Abyss|corpsetoabyss]] <<else>>\ You morph into a huge red dragon and battle the snake woman. Your claws are razor sharp and you're easily able to rip her soft body to shreds. Lord of Madness or not, Lithia is no match for you.<br> [[Check her for loot|yakilther]] [[Investigate the cave|investigatecave]] [[Cast a spell to consume her essence|consumerheress]]<</if>><<if visited("tearitapart")>>\ You drop to your hands and knees as a rocket launcher forms on your back like a turtle shell. You fire off two rockets, which smash into Lithia's chest, sending bits and pieces of her scattering in all directions. Her disembodied head shrieks in pain and anger before falling silent.<br> [[Check her for loot|yakilther2]] [[Investigate the cave|investigatecave2]] [[Cast a spell to send her corpse back to the Abyss|corpsetoabyss]] <<else>>\ You drop to your hands and knees as a rocket launcher forms on your back like a turtle shell. You fire off two rockets, which smash into Lithia's chest, sending bits and pieces of her scattering in all directions. Her disembodied head shrieks in pain and anger before falling silent.<br> [[Check her for loot|yakilther]] [[Investigate the cave|investigatecave]] [[Cast a spell to consume her essence|consumerheress]]<</if>><<if visited("tearitapart")>>\ You start blasting lasers at Lithia from your cyborg eye. She tries to dodge and shoot you with arrows, but your metal armor protects you. Lord of Madness or not, Lithia is no match for you. Her charred body flops to the ground after you fry her head off her neck.<br> [[Check her for loot|yakilther2]] [[Investigate the cave|investigatecave2]] [[Cast a spell to send her corpse back to the Abyss|corpsetoabyss]] <<else>>\ You start blasting lasers at Lithia from your cyborg eye. She tries to dodge and shoot you with arrows, but your metal armor protects you. Lord of Madness or not, Lithia is no match for you. Her charred body flops to the ground after you fry her head off her neck.<br> [[Check her for loot|yakilther]] [[Investigate the cave|investigatecave]] [[Cast a spell to consume her essence|consumerheress]]<</if>>You cannot hope to fight the Lords of Madness without your full powers. These creatures may even be beyond your ability to deal with at full power. But completely powerless? You are nothing. The battle is over quickly. You will not decorate this land as a statue, but you are most certainly dead. Perhaps you can try again in a thousand years...Would you like to disguise yourself before entering the city?<br> [[Yes|yes12]] [[No|no12]]What will you shapeshift into?<br> [[A merchant|merchant1]] [[A soldier|soldier1]] [[A tax collector|taxcollector1]]Despite the late hour, the city is filled with crowds of people. There is a feeling of panic in the air. You stride boldly into the city and are greeted by a chorus of screams.<br> [[Continue|screams]]Your body turns to goo and you assume the shape of a merchant. Satisfied with your disguise, you enter the city.<br> [[Continue|intoirongate]]Your body turns to goo and you assume the shape of a soldier. Satisfied with your disguise, you enter the city.<br> [[Continue|intoirongate]]Your body turns to goo and you assume the shape of a tax collector. Satisfied with your disguise, you enter the city.<br> [[Continue|intoirongate]]Despite the late hour, the city is filled with crowds of people. There is a feeling of panic in the air. You catch a few snippets of conversation as you pass by.<br> [[Continue|snippets]]Scared Man: It's nearly mid-day, and yet the sky is black as night! What madness has come over this land?<br> [[Continue|scarededed]]Scared Lady: I heard talk of demons! Someone said they've been released by a Shyfter, and now they mean to turn our world into one of their nightmare realms!<br> [[Continue|keepwalking]]You continue walking until you arrive at the center of town. What will you do?<br> [[Talk to a group of bards|groupofbards]] [[Visit the tavern|tavernvisits]] [[Start killing people|startthekills]]<<if visited("thebardsreact")>>\ You already talked to the bards.<br> [[Visit the tavern|tavernvisits]] [[Start killing people|startthekills]] <<else>>\ You approach a group of bards dressed in colorful outfits. They are lounging around a circus cart, chatting idly and watching the growing crowd of concerned people. One of them is juggling flaming torches and another is lazily strumming his lyre.<br> [[Continue|thebardsreact]]<</if>>The bar is filled with people. Most of them are getting drunk and talking about the strange fact that the sun hasn't risen even though it should be mid-day. One of the drunks near the door is raving to anyone who will listen. He grabs you by the shoulders and begins shouting in your face.<br> [[Continue|coogan]]How do you want to begin your killing spree?<br> [[Mow people down with your machine gun arm|mowdown]] [[Morph into a T-Rex and eat people|eattresx]] <<if visited("takescythe")>>\ [[Chop people apart with your scythe|sythethop]] <</if>>\<<if visited("youfucked")>>\ You try to turn your arm into a machine gun but then you remember the curse blocking you from using your powers. Just then a battalion of Iron Knights rounds the corner and surrounds you.<br> [[Continue|loser]] <<else>>\ Your arm morphs into a machine gun and you begin mowing down peasants left and right. A battalion of Iron Knights charges around the corner but you slaughter them. The sound of bullets pinging off metal armor echoes in the night.<br> [[Continue|mowdownlightsn]]<</if>><<if visited("youfucked")>>\ You try to morph into a T-Rex but then you remember the curse blocking you from using your powers. Just then a battalion of Iron Knights rounds the corner and surrounds you.<br> [[Continue|loser]] <<else>>\ You morph into a huge T-Rex and go on a rampage through the city, ripping people in half with your razor-sharp teeth and devouring peasants left and right. A battalion of Iron Knights attempts to block you, but their spears only clink off your metal hide as you chew them up and spit out their crunchy metal armor.<br> [[Continue|eatingthepeoople]]<</if>>You begin hacking peasants apart with your scythe, turning the streets into bloody carnage!<br> [[Continue|xvxvxt]]<<if visited("merchant1")>>\ The bards roll their eyes as you approach.<br> [[Continue|ughmerch]] <<elseif visited("soldier1")>>\ The bards immediately cease their chatter and playing as you approach.<br> [[Continue|uhohbards]] <<else>>\ The bards immediately cease their chatter and playing as you approach.<br> [[Continue|uhohbardsteax]]<</if>>Tybalt: Oh, bugger off, merchant! We have no need of your wares. Wander on and bother someone else.<br> [[I'm not here to sell you anything.|notheretosell]] [[What's going on with the sky?|whatsthesky]] [[Watch your tongue, bard, or I'll rip it from your mouth!|ripyourtongue]]Tybalt: Uh... good evening, my soldierly compatriot. I can assure you everything we have set up here is completely legal. We have all our documents in order for your inspection.<br> [[Show me your papers.|notheretoselffl]] [[What's going on with the sky?|whatsthesky]] [[Watch your tongue, bard, or I'll rip it from your mouth!|ripyourtonguegg]]Tybalt: Uh... good evening, O Taker of Taxes. I can assure you everything we have set up here is completely legal. We have all our documents in order for your inspection.<br> [[Show me your papers.|notheretoselffl]] [[What's going on with the sky?|whatsthesky]] [[Watch your tongue, bard, or I'll rip it from your mouth!|ripyourtonguegg]]Tybalt: Well, that's a relief! If you aren't here to sell, then what do you want? Speak quickly, for we have a show today and we must prepare.<br> [[What happened to the sky?|whatsthesky]] [[Have you heard of the Lords of Madness?|lordsofmd]] [[Goodbye.|backtotown]]Tybalt: Do I look like one of the gods to you? How the deuce would any of us mortals know a thing like that?<br> [[Have you heard of the Lords of Madness?|lordsofmd]] [[Goodbye.|backtotown]]One of the bards struts up to you and pokes you in the chest with his finger, pushing you back a step.<br> [[Continue|valexl]]Vaxel: I've had an extremely tiring day, merchant, and my nerves are frayed beyond measure. My companion asked you to be on your way, but apparently you're too daft to understand his meaning. So let me make myself crystal clear: Bugger. Off.<br> [[Leave the bards alone|leavembe]] [[Break his finger|breakhisfinger]]You apologize and leave the bards alone. What will you do next?<br> [[Visit the tavern|tavernvisits]] [[Start killing people|startthekills]]You grab the bard’s finger and snap it. The bard shrieks in pain and shock as he drops to the ground, cradling his injured hand. The other bards leap to their feet and draw rapiers as they begin to surround you. The murmuring crowd falls silent as all eyes turn to you.<br> [[Morph into a T-Rex and start eating people|eatppltrex]] [[Duel the bards with one of their own rapiers|duelem]] [[Shoot them with your machine gun arm|machinegunbards]]You morph into a huge T-Rex and devour the bards. The bloodrage takes hold of your mind and you go on a rampage through the city, ripping people in half with your razor-sharp teeth and devouring peasants left and right. A battalion of Iron Knights attempts to block you, but their spears only clink off your metal hide as you chew them up and spit out their crunchy metal armor.<br> [[Continue|eatingthepeoople]]You yank Vaxel's rapier out of his scabbard and duel the other bards. You draw quite a crowd- they cheer, hoot, and holler as you expertly parry the sloppy attacks of the bards and knock them all unconscious. You toss the rapier to the side as the gathered crowd cheers.<br> [[Visit the tavern|tavernvisits]] [[Start killing people|startthekills]]Your arm morphs into a machine gun and you blast the bards to bloody shreds. The bloodrage takes hold of your mind and you begin mowing down peasants left and right. A battalion of Iron Knights charges around the corner but you slaughter them. The sound of bullets pinging off metal armor echoes in the night.<br> [[Continue|mowdownlightsn]]The barbarian charges at you with his greatsword raised over his head! What do you do?<br> [[Morph into a bat and flee down the hallway|fllebat]] [[Morph into a dragon and battle the heroes|dragonmorph]] <<if visited("takescythe")>>\ [[Attack them with your scythe|scythatk]] <</if>>\Seeing nothing else worth doing in this strange menagerie, you smash your way through the metal door before morphing back into your normal shape.<br> [[Continue|touths]]You step out into the brisk night air. The sight of the moon causes something to stir in your mind... memories. Your head clears. You can suddenly remember the details of the last several hours, as well as the weeks and months leading up to it, with perfect clarity. How did everything go so wrong?<br> [[It all started when I found that dusty old book|oldbook]] [[It was the visions... the nightmares.|nightmares]] [[The fey spirit in the lake spoke of prophecy|prophecy]]The sight of the moon causes something to stir in your mind... memories. Your head clears. You can suddenly remember the details of the last several hours, as well as the weeks and months leading up to it, with perfect clarity. How did everything go so wrong?<br> [[It all started when I found that dusty old book|oldbook]] [[It was the visions... the nightmares|nightmares]] [[The fey spirit in the lake spoke of prophecy|prophecy]]Vaxel: Have you come to regale us with tales and legends? Go away, we've no time for your stories.<br> [[Leave the bards alone|leavembe]] [[Break his finger|breakhisfinger]]What will you do next?<br> [[Talk to a group of bards|groupofbards]] [[Visit the tavern|tavernvisits]] [[Start killing people|startthekills]]The giant tentacle yanks you into the fray and the monsters descend on you. Shapeshifting won't save you here- the ravenous monsters devour you.<br> YOU ARE DEAD.The giant tentacle yanks you into the cage. You dangle helplessly as thousands of staring eyes paralyze your body and mind. The last thing you see are dozens of tiny mouths opening, each one filled with needle sharp teeth.<br> YOU ARE DEAD.You emerge into the crisp night air as the bird zooms around overhead. Gathering your wits, you turn your arm into a chainsaw and slice the bird's legs off, freeing yourself. You plummet a few feet before crashing into a nearby cliff. Blood showers down from above and you watch as the giant bird crashes into the trees far below.<br> [[Continue|clifflandmemories]]<<if visited("kiltwo")>>\ Nothing more to be found here.<br> [[Investigate the cave|investigatecave]] [[Cast a spell to consume her essence|consumerheress]] <<else>>\ You dig through Lithia's remains but find nothing of value. You do, however, notice a strange symbol carved into her arm. It hasn't healed yet, indicating that it was carved very recently.<br> [[Continue|kiltwo]]<</if>>The cave is lit by flickering firelight. Something has been written on the wall. You grab a nearby torch and hold it up to the writing. A single word has been scrawled across the stone in blood: MOONBRIGHT.<br> [[Check Lithia's corpse for loot|yakilther]] [[Cast a spell to consume her essence|consumerheress]]You begin preparing the ritual to banish Lithia's body back into the Abyss. You pour salt in a circle around her remains and set a few torches before reciting the Words of Banishment. The symbol on Lithia's arm grows bright, and the name of the village appears in your mind once more: Moonbright.<br> [[Continue|tomon]]You begin preparing the ritual to consume Lithia's essence. You pour salt in a circle around her remains and set a few torches before reciting the Words of Consumption. The symbol on Lithia's arm grows bright, and the name of the village appears in your mind once more: Moonbright.<br> [[Continue|tomong]]<<if visited("kiltwo2")>>\ Nothing more to be found here.<br> [[Investigate the cave|investigatecave2]] [[Cast a spell to send her corpse back to the Abyss|corpsetoabyss]] <<else>>\ You dig through Lithia's remains but find nothing of value. You do, however, notice a strange symbol carved into her arm- it hasn't healed yet, indicating that it was carved very recently.<br> [[Continue|kiltwo2]]<</if>>The cave is lit by flickering firelight. Something has been written on the wall. You grab a nearby torch and hold it up to the writing. A single word has been scrawled across the stone in blood: MOONBRIGHT.<br> [[Check Lithia's corpse for loot|yakilther2]] [[Cast a spell to send her corpse back to the Abyss|corpsetoabyss]]The symbol burns with arcane fire and suddenly Lithia's body is completely consumed by it. You shield your eyes to keep yourself from going blind. When the light dies down once more, Lithia is gone. You leave the cave and begin your journey to Moonbright.<br> [[Continue|llgone]]The road to Moonbright is dark and overgrown with weeds. The twisting path leads through a forest as silent as the grave.<br> [[Continue|gnarledpath]]The symbol is that of a glowing moon. You recognize the symbol as the sigil of a nearby village:<br> Moonbright.<br> [[Investigate the cave|investigatecave]] [[Cast a spell to consume her essence|consumerheress]]The symbol is that of a glowing moon. You recognize the symbol as the sigil of a nearby village:<br> Moonbright.<br> [[Investigate the cave|investigatecave2]] [[Cast a spell to send her corpse back to the Abyss|corpsetoabyss]]Scared Man: SHYFTER!!<br> [[Continue|runningg]]The citizens of Irongate begin running in all directions. What do you do?<br> [[Start killing people|startthekills]] [[Sneak down a dark alley and hide|hideinalley]]You sneak down one of the dark alleys and smash into someone. You stagger backwards and see a tiger-faced woman standing before you. It is Yaz, the Duchess of Madness!<br> [[I've been looking for you.|lookingforyaz]] [[Ready to die, Yaz?|dieyaz]]You try to fight them off, but several new battalions have come to deal with the Shyfter threat and you're hopelessly outnumbered. One of the Knights, a grizzled old General named Rawhide, recognizes the cursed amulet around your neck as the one belonging to Samuel the Spellslinger. They laugh at your misfortune and arrest you.<br> [[Continue|arrest]]Panic ensues as peasants flee for cover. You stand in the middle of the now-empty street with your fangs dripping blood. Your body turns to goo and you morph back into your normal form.<br> [[Continue|cliapping]]You are taken to a secret, magical prison hidden beneath the city and kept in stasis. You will never be released, and you will never die, thus nullifying your ability to re-form after a thousand years. You'll spend the rest of eternity in this magical jail cell.<br> You lose.Panic ensues as peasants flee for cover. You stand in the middle of the now-empty street with your smoking gun arm raised above your head.<br> [[Continue|cliapping]]The bard hands you a stack of official looking documents. You recognize the seal of Irongate on one of them, but the documents mean nothing to you. You hand them back to the bard with a menacing look.<br> [[What's going on with the sky?|whatsthesky]] [[Watch your tongue, bard, or I'll rip it from your mouth!|ripyourtonguegg]]One of the bards struts up to you and pokes you in the chest with his finger, pushing you back a step.<br> [[Continue|valexls]]Vaxel: I don't care if you're the general of the Iron Knights- nobody talks to us like that! I've had an extremely tiring day, and my nerves are frayed beyond measure. If you've no further business with us, then let me make myself crystal clear: Bugger. Off.<br> [[Leave the bards alone|leavembe]] [[Break his finger|breakhisfinger]]Just then you hear soft clapping. You spin around and see a tiger-faced woman strolling towards you- it is Yaz, the Duchess of Madness!<br> [[I've been looking for you.|lookingforyaz]] [[Ready to die, Yaz?|dieyaz]]<<if visited("tearitapart")>>\ Yaz: Well, you found me. That was certainly quite a show! This city is just filled with madness tonight! You keep this up and maybe one day you'll become as powerful as us.<br> [[Your madness ends here. I've come to send you back into the Abyss!|sendyoubak]] <<else>>\ Yaz: Well, you found me. That was certainly quite a show! This city is just filled with madness tonight! You keep this up and maybe one day you'll become as powerful as us.<br> [[I will consume your essence and become more powerful than all of you!|seatesscane]]<</if>><<if visited("tearitapart")>>\ Yaz: Oh, have you come to kill me, Shyfter? That's a pity. I was just admiring your work. It was very spirited. A true form of... madness.<br> [[Your madness ends here. I've come to send you back into the Abyss!|sendyoubak]] <<else>>\ Yaz: Oh, have you come to kill me, Shyfter? That's a pity. I was just admiring your work. It was very spirited. A true form of... madness.<br> [[Your madness ends here. I will consume your essence and become more powerful than all of you!|seatesscane]]<</if>><<if visited("youfucked")>>\ Yaz: None can stand against the Lords of Madness! Die!<br> [[Continue|youerdead3]] <<else>>\ Yaz: None can stand against the Lords of Madness! Die!<br> [[Morph into a dragon and fight her|fightherdragon4]] [[Shoot rockets at her|shootrockets4]] [[Melt her body with your laser beam eyes|lasermeltslady4]]<</if>><<if visited("youfucked")>>\ Yaz: None can stand against the Lords of Madness! Die!<br> [[Continue|youerdead3]] <<else>>\ Yaz: None can stand against the Lords of Madness! Die!<br> [[Morph into a dragon and fight her|fightherdragon4]] [[Shoot rockets at her|shootrockets4]] [[Melt her body with your laser beam eyes|lasermeltslady4]]<</if>>Panic ensues as peasants flee for cover. You stand in the middle of the now-empty street with your bloody scythe raised above your head.<br> [[Continue|cliapping]]The Duchess of Madness suddenly grows bigger than you would have believed possible. Her lips pull back, revealing rows of needle-sharp fangs poking through cracked, blackened gums. Her eyes turn to obsidian and her hair swirls around her head like a nest of snakes. You attempt to morph into a suitable fighting beast, but the cursed amulet only laughs at you.<br> [[Continue|dididid]]<<if visited("tearitapart")>>\ You morph into a huge red dragon and battle the tiger woman. Your claws are razor sharp and you're easily able to rip her soft body to shreds. Lord of Madness or not, Yaz is no match for you.<br> [[Check her for loot|yakilther24]] [[Cast a spell to send her corpse back to the Abyss|corpsetoabyss4]] <<else>>\ You morph into a huge red dragon and battle the tiger woman. Your claws are razor sharp and you're easily able to rip her soft body to shreds. Lord of Madness or not, Yaz is no match for you.<br> [[Check her for loot|yakilther4]] [[Cast a spell to consume her essence|consumerheress4]]<</if>><<if visited("tearitapart")>>\ You drop to your hands and knees as a rocket launcher forms on your back like a turtle shell. You fire off two rockets, which smash into Yaz's chest, sending bits and pieces of her scattering in all directions. Her disembodied head shrieks in pain and anger before falling silent.<br> [[Check her for loot|yakilther24]] [[Cast a spell to send her corpse back to the Abyss|corpsetoabyss4]] <<else>>\ You drop to your hands and knees as a rocket launcher forms on your back like a turtle shell. You fire off two rockets, which smash into Yaz's chest, sending bits and pieces of her scattering in all directions. Her disembodied head shrieks in pain and anger before falling silent.<br> [[Check her for loot|yakilther4]] [[Cast a spell to consume her essence|consumerheress4]]<</if>><<if visited("tearitapart")>>\ You start blasting lasers at Yaz from your cyborg eye. She tries to dodge and shoot you with arrows, but your metal armor protects you. Lord of Madness or not, Yaz is no match for you. Her charred body flops to the ground after you fry her head off her neck.<br> [[Check her for loot|yakilther24]] [[Cast a spell to send her corpse back to the Abyss|corpsetoabyss4]] <<else>>\ You start blasting lasers at Yaz from your cyborg eye. She tries to dodge and shoot you with arrows, but your metal armor protects you. Lord of Madness or not, Yaz is no match for you. Her charred body flops to the ground after you fry her head off her neck.<br> [[Check her for loot|yakilther4]] [[Cast a spell to consume her essence|consumerheress4]]<</if>><<if visited("kiltwo24")>>\ Nothing more to be found here.<br> [[Cast a spell to send her corpse back to the Abyss|corpsetoabyss4]] <<else>>\ You dig through Yaz's remains but find nothing of value. You do, however, notice a strange symbol carved into her arm- it hasn't healed yet, indicating that it was carved very recently.<br> [[Continue|kiltwo24]]<</if>>You begin preparing the ritual to banish Yaz's body back into the Abyss. You pour salt in a circle around her remains and set a few torches before reciting the Words of Banishment. The symbol on Yaz's arm grows bright, and the name of the village appears in your mind once more: Moonbright.<br> [[Continue|tomon4]]<<if visited("kiltwo4")>>\ Nothing more to be found here.<br> [[Cast a spell to consume her essence|consumerheress]] <<else>>\ You dig through Yaz's remains but find nothing of value. You do, however, notice a strange symbol carved into her arm- it hasn't healed yet, indicating that it was carved very recently.<br> [[Continue|kiltwo4]]<</if>>You begin preparing the ritual to consume Yaz's essence. You pour salt in a circle around her remains and set a few torches before reciting the Words of Consumption. The symbol on Yaz's arm grows bright, and the name of the village appears in your mind once more: Moonbright.<br> [[Continue|tomongz]]The symbol is that of a glowing moon. You recognize the symbol as the sigil of a nearby village:<br> Moonbright.<br> [[Cast a spell to consume her essence|consumerheress4]]The symbol burns with arcane fire and suddenly Yaz's body is completely consumed by it. You shield your eyes to keep yourself from going blind. When the light dies down once more, Yaz is gone.<br> [[Continue|llgone]]The symbol is that of a glowing moon. You recognize the symbol as the sigil of a nearby village:<br> Moonbright.<br> [[Cast a spell to send her corpse back to the Abyss|corpsetoabyss4]]The symbol burns with arcane fire and suddenly Lithia's body is completely consumed by it. You feel a sudden surge of power. When the light fades away, Lithia's body is gone... and you feel much stronger. You leave the cave and begin your journey to Moonbright.<br> [[Continue|llgone]]The symbol burns with arcane fire and suddenly Yaz's body is completely consumed by it. You feel a sudden surge of power. When the light fades away, Yaz's body is gone... and you feel much stronger.<br> [[Continue|llgone]]Coogan: It's madness! Madness, I tell you! First witches turning kids into scarecrows, then undead and Dreadnaughts, and now the Lords of Madness themselves! They've gone to Moonbright! That village is cursed! I had to get out- I HAD TO GET OUT!<br> [[Pull yourself together, man!|pulltogether]] [[Moonbright?|moonbright]] [[Get your hands off me or I'll kill ya.|killyeah]]Coogan: You don't understand! There is an evil presence in Moonbright! I had to leave- to warn others! The village is cursed! Evil is drawn to it like a beacon! The Lords of Madness have gone to Moonbright!<br> [[I will go to Moonbright and destroy them.|destroythem]] [[Moonbright?|moonbright]] [[Get your hands off me or I'll kill ya.|killyeah]]Coogan: It's my village... a small farming village. I lived there all my life, but I had to get out! It's cursed! CURSED I TELL YOU! The Lords of Madness have gone to Moonbright!<br> [[I will go to Moonbright and destroy them.|destroythem]] [[Get your hands off me or I'll kill ya.|killyeah]]The drunk lets go of you and staggers backwards, crashing to the floor. He begins raving about how the madness has taken hold of everyone.<br> [[Go to Moonbright|gotomoon]] [[Start killing people|startthekills]]A look of terror enters the drunk's face, but he lets go of you and steps back. You exit the bar and head for Moonbright.<br> [[Continue|llgone]]You exit the bar and head for Moonbright.<br> [[Continue|llgone]]Bloody goat heads have been nailed to the trees, which grow thinner and more gnarled as you get closer to the cursed village. Just then you pass over a ridge and see the thatched huts of Moonbright silhouetted against the light of an enormous moon.<br> [[Continue|arrived]]<<if visited("youfucked")>>\ A soft wind begins to blow through the trees. It sounds like whispers of pain and quiet screams in the night.<br> [[Enter the village|entermoon]] <<else>>\ A soft wind begins to blow through the trees. It sounds like whispers of pain and quiet screams in the night.<br> [[Disguise yourself|disguse]] [[Enter the village|entermoon]]<</if>>What will you shapeshift into?<br> [[A farmer|merchant15]] [[A soldier|soldier15]] [[A cat|taxcollector15]]The village seems to have been completely deserted. Shuttered windows creak in the wind. You can see the black spire of an old cathedral poking above the rooftops of the other buildings.<br> [[Continue|toathedral]]You shapeshift into a farmer and enter the village.<br> [[Continue|entermoon]]You shapeshift into a soldier and enter the village.<br> [[Continue|entermoon]]You shapeshift into a cat and enter the village.<br> [[Continue|entermoon]]You head for the cathedral but stop dead in your tracks when you reach the center of town. Dozens of charred corpses have been piled in a broken wagon. Three bodies dangle from nooses hung in the center of the street. The bodies swing slowly in the wind as flies and maggots eat away at their flesh.<br> [[Investigate the charred bodies|charredbodies]] [[Investigate the hanging corpses|hangingcorpse]] [[Enter the cathedral|cathdreal]]These people were burned recently. Nothing remains of them but blackened bones and a few chunks of flesh. You notice a glint of silver buried deep within the pile of bodies.<br> [[Reach in and pull it out|reachin]] [[Investigate the hanging corpses|hangingcorpse]] [[Enter the cathedral|cathdreal]]You step up to the corpses dangling in the wind. They've been stripped of their clothes, and it appears that most of the flesh has been flayed from their skin. One of them is missing fingers and toes, and another has been severely burned under the arms and legs. These people were tortured horribly before they died.<br> [[Continue|moves]]You approach the cathedral doors, but they are locked. Just then you hear a low snarl. You spin around and see three jet black wolves with fiery red eyes stalking toward you.<br> [[Fight the wolves|fightwolves]] [[Morph into a spider and enter the cathedral through a crack in the door|chrack]]You reach into the reeking pile of death. You shove your arm in up to your shoulder, blindly reaching for the object. Suddenly your fingers touch something solid and cold. You grab the object and pull it out.<br> [[Continue|silver]]Your hand is covered in blood and chunks of flesh, but you are also holding a silver ring in your hand. Curious.<br> [[Investigate the hanging corpses|hangingcorpse]] [[Enter the cathedral|cathdreal]]As you take a closer look, the hair on the back of your neck begins to prickle. Suddenly your heart leaps to your throat and you spring backwards.<br> [[Continue|mooove]]For a second- the tiniest fraction of an instant- you thought you saw one of the corpses look at you. But... that can't be. Your mind must surely be playing tricks on you. Right?<br> [[Check the corpses again|checkcorpse]] [[Enter the cathedral|cathdreal]]You step closer to the hanging bodies once more. Now you are sure of it- all three corpses are looking at you, their blank eyes staring into your soul. One of the corpses opens its mouth and it vomits out hundreds of tiny, wriggling worms.<br> [[Continue|speakincor]]Corpse: We know your heart, Shyfter... we see your soul. You cannot hide from us...<br> [[Who are you?|whocorpse]] [[What happened to the people here?|peoplehap]] [[I seek information.|infoseeker]]Corpse: In life this body belonged to a farmer... but in death it belongs to us. We are the Lords of Madness. This town belongs to us...<br> [[I have come to destroy you!|cometodestroy]] [[Your reign of evil ends tonight!|cometodestroy]]Corpse: We used them... their tasks have been completed. They are no longer needed, and so they were disposed of...<br> [[Who are you?|whocorpse]] [[I seek information.|infoseeker]]Corpse: Do you always ask corpses for information? What's the matter, Shyfter? Love life getting too complicated? Need some advice on how to lose weight?<br> [[I am searching for the Lords of Madness.|search4]] [[What happened to this village?|villagheh]]All three of the corpses laugh at you. Their laughter turns to sudden screams as the corpses burst into flame. The fire burns away the bodies completely, leaving nothing behind but piles of ash.<br> [[Enter the cathedral|cathdreal]]All three of the corpses laugh at you. Their laughter turns to sudden screams as the corpses burst into flame. The fire burns away the bodies completely, leaving nothing behind but piles of ash.<br> [[Enter the cathedral|cathdreal]]All three of the corpses laugh at you. Their laughter turns to sudden screams as the corpses burst into flame. The fire burns away the bodies completely, leaving nothing behind but piles of ash.<br> [[Enter the cathedral|cathdreal]]<<if visited("youfucked")>>\ You try to morph into a wolf but just then you remember the amulet around your neck. You can hear the laughter of that cursed Spellslinger in your head. Your distraction gives the wolves all the time they need. They spring forward and attack.<br> [[Continue|dietowolves]] <<else>>\ You morph into a huge wolf and battle the demonic dogs around you. Their power is great, but yours is greater still. You tear them to pieces- with each slash of your metal claws their bodies burst into dust and shadow. With the wolves destroyed, you morph into a spider and enter the cathedral through a crack in the door.<br> [[Continue|incatherdal]]<</if>><<if visited("youfucked")>>\ You try to morph into a spider but just then you remember the amulet around your neck. You can hear the laughter of that cursed Spellslinger in your head. Your distraction gives the wolves all the time they need. They spring forward and attack.<br> [[Continue|dietowolves]] <<else>>\ You morph into a spider and scuttle through one of the cracks in the door. The wolves hurl their bodies against the door, but they are unable to smash it down. You can hear them snarling and howling outside, but you're safe in here... for now.<br> [[Continue|incatherdal]]<</if>>These wolves are not natural creatures. You are no match for them. Just before the wolves rip out your throat, recognition splashes across your mind- these wolves are the Lords of Madness...<br> YOU ARE DEAD.The stench of death overpowers you. The cathedral walls have been smeared with blood. Corpses hang from chains. Decapitated heads have been skewered on spikes lining the aisles. A swarm of flies feasts on the flesh and blood of the dead.<br> [[Continue|inside]]You can see an altar up ahead. It appears to have been pushed to the side- you can see a dark passageway beneath. There is also a light on in a room near the back of the cathedral.<br> [[Go down the stairs|downstairsb]] [[Enter the back room|backroom]]You cross the bloody cobblestones and push open the door.<br> [[Continue|insanity]]You walk down a set of twisting stone stairs into the darkness. You feel your way down by keeping a hand on the wall. The wall is slimy. You touch something sticky and jerk your hand away. You fall- but you've already reached the final stair. You hit the stone floor with a muffled thud.<br> [[Continue|thud]]A line of golden light stretches out up ahead- light through a doorway. You stand and brush yourself off, then push through the door.<br> [[Continue|insanity]]You are standing in a large bedroom. The furniture is exquisite, and everything is coated in gold. This bedroom must belong to the wealthiest man in the whole world.<br> [[Look under the bed|checkbed]] [[Search the closet|searchvloser]] [[Search through the dresser|dresserdraw]]You lift the ornate silks and peek under the bed. A bloody hand reaches out and grabs at your face. You spring back and realize that you aren't holding expensive silk between your fingers. You're holding human flesh.<br> [[Continue|omg]]The closet door swings open without a sound. An overwhelming smell of death greets you, and it's all you can do to keep from puking. The shelves in the closet are lined with cracked skulls and bloody arms. The floor is covered in guts, feces, and vomit. A rotten corpse falls to the ground at your feet, splashing you with blood and slime.<br> [[Continue|omg]]You begin pulling open drawers. Fine silk clothes, neatly folded, have been stacked within. You reach for the knob to the bottom drawer and are horrified to see that it has changed from a golden orb to a bloody human eyeball.<br> [[Open the drawer anyway|openanyway]] [[Search the closet|searchvloser]] [[Look under the bed|checkbed]]You grasp the bloody eyeball and it pops in your hand. White goo runs through your fingers, and suddenly your head begins to spin. The dresser is no longer a beautiful piece of furniture coated in gold... it is a pile of bloody corpses.<br> [[Continue|omg]]You spin around and find yourself standing in a torture chamber. Racks of spikes line the walls. Dozens of bodies have been impaled on the spikes. Flies and maggots fill the room, which is drenched in blood and dismembered body parts.<br> [[Continue|zomg]]The formerly cozy-looking bed is now a bed of nails. A corpse has been skewered on it. Slimy tentacles and grasping hands reach out of the gaping closet door. How you ever mistook this room for a bedroom is beyond your comprehension. This place is a living nightmare.<br> [[Get out of here|gtfo]] [[Demand the Lords of Madness show themselves|shoutlorm]]The door- your only exit- begins to melt into a pile of slime. A gigantic slug is slurping its way out of the bile.<br> [[Continue|thelords]]The door- your only exit- begins to melt into a pile of slime. A gigantic slug is slurping its way out of the bile.<br> [[Continue|thelords]]<<if visited("tomon4")>>\ The slug forms itself into Tarn, the King of Madness. Spinning around, you see that Lithia, the Lady of Madness, and Bol, the Prince of Madness, have also slurped out of the piles of bloody corpses to stand before you.<br> [[Continue|version1]] <<elseif visited("tomongz")>>\ The slug forms itself into Tarn, the King of Madness. Spinning around, you see that Lithia, the Lady of Madness, and Bol, the Prince of Madness, have also slurped out of the piles of bloody corpses to stand before you.<br> [[Continue|version1]] <<elseif visited("tomon")>>\ The slug forms itself into Tarn, the King of Madness. Spinning around, you see that Yaz, the Duchess of Madness, and Bol, the Prince of Madness, have also slurped out of the piles of bloody corpses to stand before you.<br> [[Continue|version2]] <<elseif visited("tomong")>>\ The slug forms itself into Tarn, the King of Madness. Spinning around, you see that Yaz, the Duchess of Madness, and Bol, the Prince of Madness, have also slurped out of the piles of bloody corpses to stand before you.<br> [[Continue|version2]] <<else>>\ The slug forms itself into Tarn, the King of Madness. Spinning around, you see that Yaz, the Duchess of Madness, Lithia, the Lady of Madness, and Bol, the Prince of Madness, have also slurped out of the piles of bloody corpses to stand before you.<br> [[Continue|version3]]<</if>>Tarn: You have freed us, Shyfter, and for that we thank you. Our work is nearly complete. There is a Demon Gate here in Moonbright... somewhere. The world is thinner here- you can always find a Demon Gate in a place like that. It is... easier... for evil to slip in that way. We intend to open the Demon Gate.<br> [[I have come to destroy you.|destroythelords]] [[What will happen when the Demon Gate is opened?|opened]]Tarn: You have freed us, Shyfter, and for that we thank you. Our work is nearly complete. There is a Demon Gate here in Moonbright... somewhere. The world is thinner here- you can always find a Demon Gate in a place like that. It is... easier... for evil to slip in that way. We intend to open the Demon Gate.<br> [[I have come to destroy you.|destroythelords2]] [[What will happen when the Demon Gate is opened?|opened2]]Tarn: You have freed us, Shyfter, and for that we thank you. Our work is nearly complete. There is a Demon Gate here in Moonbright... somewhere. The world is thinner here- you can always find a Demon Gate in a place like that. It is... easier... for evil to slip in that way. We intend to open the Demon Gate.<br> [[I have come to destroy you.|destroythelords3]] [[What will happen when the Demon Gate is opened?|opened3]]The Three Lords of Madness attack you. Their bodies shift into nightmarish forms of pure evil. You fight them as a dragon, a tiger, a phoenix, and a giant scorpion with rockets on your back.<br> [[Continue|totheend]]Bol: In a word? Madness. In more than a word: the forces of Darkness will be unleashed upon this world! Madness and chaos will rule once more.<br> [[Not happening. I will destroy you all!|destroythelords]] [[Hmmm... I like the sound of that. I helped you once. Let me help you again.|helpya]]The Three Lords of Madness attack you. Their bodies shift into nightmarish forms of pure evil. You fight them as a dragon, a tiger, a phoenix, and a giant scorpion with rockets on your back.<br> [[Continue|totheend]]Bol: In a word? Madness. In more than a word: the forces of Darkness will be unleashed upon this world! Madness and chaos will rule once more.<br> [[Not happening. I will destroy you all!|destroythelords2]] [[Hmmm... I like the sound of that. I helped you once. Let me help you again.|helpya2]]The Four Lords of Madness attack you. Their bodies shift into nightmarish forms of pure evil. You fight them as a dragon, a tiger, a phoenix, and a giant scorpion with rockets on your back.<br> [[Continue|totheend]]Bol: In a word? Madness. In more than a word: the forces of Darkness will be unleashed upon this world! Madness and chaos will rule once more.<br> [[Not happening. I will destroy you all!|destroythelords3]] [[Hmmm... I like the sound of that. I helped you once. Let me help you again.|helpya3]]The Lords of Madness laugh. Their echoing laughter turns into a chorus of nightmares. The sound digs into your brain like a rusty nail.<br> [[Continue|laughing]]The Lords of Madness laugh. Their echoing laughter turns into a chorus of nightmares. The sound digs into your brain like a rusty nail.<br> [[Continue|laughing2]]The Lords of Madness laugh. Their echoing laughter turns into a chorus of nightmares. The sound digs into your brain like a rusty nail.<br> [[Continue|laughing3]]Lithia: Your usefulness has run out, Shyfter. We are the Lords of Madness, and we do not share power!<br> [[Then I will destroy you!|destroythelords]] [[Fine- then die!|destroythelords]]Yaz: Your usefulness has run out, Shyfter. We are the Lords of Madness, and we do not share power!<br> [[Then I will destroy you!|destroythelords2]] [[Fine- then die!|destroythelords2]]Yaz: Your usefulness has run out, Shyfter. We are the Lords of Madness, and we do not share power!<br> [[Then I will destroy you!|destroythelords3]] [[Fine- then die!|destroythelords3]]<<if visited("tearitapart")>>\ One by one the Lords of Madness fall to your power. One by one you banish them back into the Dark Abyss. Finally you grab hold of Tarn's face and melt it with your flamethrower wrist. You cast his shriveled husk into the Abyss and breathe deeply.<br> [[Continue|defeatedthem]] <<else>>\ One by one the Lords of Madness fall to your power. One by one you consume their essence, growing stronger and stronger with each one you destroy. Finally you grab hold of Tarn's face and suck the essence from his body. You cast his shriveled husk aside and breathe deeply.<br> [[Continue|essencecollector]]<</if>>The nightmarish world fades around you. You find yourself standing in an old wooden chapel- no bodies, no blood, no death. The work of the Lords of Madness has been undone... but now you have that power. The power to shape things the way you see fit... the power to turn this world to madness.<br> [[The end.|theend]]The nightmarish world fades around you. You find yourself standing in an old wooden chapel- no bodies, no blood, no death. The work of the Lords of Madness has been undone... but you can never be a hero. You are a Shyfter. You have power... such unimaginable power! And power is just SO good. Isn't it?<br> [[The end.|theend]]Thanks for playing!You dodge the spells and chop the Spellslinger in half with your scythe, but you don't stop there. The Barbarian attempts to rush you with his greatsword but your whirlwind attack is relentless. Limbs fly left and right as you hack the Barbarian to pieces. The heroes lie in a pile of bloody chunks at your feet.<br> [[Continue down the passageway|continuesha]] [[Search the bodies for loot|lootcheck]]<<if $header == 1>>\ <div class="myDiv">\ <span class='no'>\ <div style="text-align: center;">\ <<link "Back">><<run Engine.backward()>><</link>> | <<link "Save">><<script>>UI.saves()<</script>><</link>> | [[Restart][state.restart()]] </div>\ </span>\ </div> <</if>>\<<run UI.restart()>>\ [[Restart][state.restart()]]