Your name is Lucas Taylor. Two years ago at the age of 20 you left home seeking work with a band of elven mercenaries that had stopped by your podunk little home. You had only aspired to work as a choreboy for a paltry sum of gold to feed your poor family. Saying goodbye to your mother, father, and your younger brother Wesley, you set sail with the band, leaving the home you had known your whole life.
The world is known simply as "Twilight" to most, but that is not the true name. Anyone with knowledge of the world before is long gone, except perhaps for the three original mages, beings of unparalleled power that reside over Twilight. In this world there is no sun, moon, or stars, these are concepts that elude the common people. There is merely the Twilight, an impossibly vast sea of dark blue, dotted on occasion with floating "islands" where the last bits of life left in the world survive.
Work aboard the ship was rigorous but simple, however one night only weeks after you joined, the ship was assaulted by "pirates" known as Wilden. Many of your mercenary friends lost their lives in the attack, and a hired hand such as yourself could do little to stop these savage creatures. But you could not simply let it come to pass, not to the people that graciously hired you. Firmly placing between your shaking hands the greatsword of a fallen comrade, you would charge into the fray, without a day of combat training under your belt.
Perhaps it was fate working in your favor, or perhaps the element of surprise was with you, but as you charged one of the Wilden and took a wild swing, flesh and bone would rend as you strike true, leaving him a bloody heap. Your muscles had already begun to ache as you took another swing at the next of the assailants in your path, but this one was ready, and had easily deflected your amateur blow. You would fall backwards, unbalanced by your own swing, but thankfully your friends were there to help you, perhaps even rallied by the courageous efforts of a lone chore boy.
In the end, you managed to fight off the invaders, and your band would claim the Wilden ship for their own. Many were injured or killed during the raid, however, and the band's able-bodied warriors were now dwindling in number. It was on this day you began your combat training, there was no need for one with such courage to be stuck with trivial labor, now more than ever you truly felt needed.
For the next two years you would train with the mercenaries, and it was here that you would learn to fight like a true warrior. Though lacking in elegance, you soon discovered your "rough and tumble" style of combat. Clad in heavy scale armor and wielding the greatsword that had granted you your very first kill, you quickly became a welcome addition to the band's fighting force. You would more than earn your keep, and though you were still very young, especially by elven standards, you were readily accepted as "one of the guys" by your new found friends.
However, you had your own responsibilities. The ship had made it's way nearer to your home once again, and with the money you had collected, you knew it was time to return home to your family. You would be sorely missed, but your friends would understand. The night before your departure was spent merrily with much song and ale, it was an occasion you would not soon forget. Bidding your comrades farewell was difficult, but you knew what you had to do. You returned home after two long years, having left a poor boy and having returned a hardened man.
Alas, for your family the past two years were met with tragedy. Only a month after your departure, your little brother had been taken in his sleep by foreigners to the island, along with dozens of other children. Your mother had fallen deathly ill from grief and would pass not long after. Your father, now left with nothing, would become a drunkard and find himself in trouble with the law. Seeing no reason to live any more, he would hang himself in prison.
Your old home is now in ruins, long since abandoned. Everything you had known was long gone. You thought to yourself, "If only I had been here, if only I had never left.", placing this burden on your shoulders to carry, you felt as if it was you that had taken your family's life. With tear-stained eyes you remember collapsing in your old room. In your heart, you knew that some part of you lost the will to live that day. On that day, the last remnants of your childhood was truly whisked away, into the twilight...
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Welcome to the Twilight. A world originally created by board 8 user Anagram. A shattered, utterly broken world controlled by Rael, Aluxial, and Omna, the three "original mages" who's power borders on omnipotent. In the scope of things the average man is an ant, but even in a broken world there is adventure to be had, a greater calling to answer to. For the first chapter you are in control of Lucas Taylor, a man with nothing but the clothes on his back and a sword at his side. Will you become a hero for justice in this world, or merely fight to survive?
For game information follow this link, if you are a first time reader to one of my style of CYOAs you may want to get aquainted with it: http://pastebin.com/mVr8HdwG
Updates will happen on a strictly "when I have the time" basis, and may be delayed for quality checks because I'm pretty OCD about my writing these days. When the options to vote upon are presented, voting will be left open until I declare that I have begun writing for the currently winning option. Combat decisions will be handled a tad differently, those updates will be much more rapid in nature to prevent being stuck in the same fight for days on end.
Important: This is not one of those CYOAs where the author is afraid to kill the main character for making foolish decisions. It is entirely possible for an abrupt chapter end should the main character perish!
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(continued in next post)
Edit: Whoops! I linked to an outdated pastebin. Fixed!
You wake up on a cold wooden floor. This is... your home. Or rather, it used to be. Your family is either dead or gone, and the only other comrades you once had have probably already left you behind.
Even still, you stand. For two years you have trained and experienced the harshness of life outside this island, fighting all sorts of unsavory creatures... your old life may be gone, but you can still claim a new one.
On your person right now:
Magic Greatsword +2: A magically enhanced greatsword. No special properties.
Black Iron Scale Armor +1: Scale armor that grants resistance to fire and necrotic (undeath)
Bracers of Mighty Striking (tier 1): Armbands that increase the strength of basic melee attacks. (Your fighting style is rough but effective - you only need to improve your basic attacks)
Safewing Amulet +1: An amulet that protects you from some attacks, as well as reducing the damage you take from falling small distances.
1 platinum coin and 60 gold coins (for a total of 160g).
Also amongst your belongings you have a backpack full of various mundane tools and supplies. Your mercenary friends were nothing if not thorough in providing it's people with the gear they'll need for most situations.
As your mind clears itself, you think of a few things to do while you contemplate your first big step into this new life that has been thrust upon you...
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A: Explore your old house more thoroughly, you never know what you might find. B: Head to the pub, if there's anything interesting happening in town, it's there. C: Head to the port, see if you can secure the first ship off of the island, if there even is a ship at the port.
You think to yourself, "There's no point in staying here now.", and decide to head to the port. You've got a bit of coin and could probably secure a ride elsewhere even if you have to work onboard. This return home was somewhat nostalgic, but without your family it isn't worth it. This town's behind you now, the only thing left is painful memories.
As you approach the port, you can see that there is indeed a ship docked here. It's not like one you've seen before, this ship is... fairly small, but obviously designed to endure fire. You imagine two or three people could probably maintain it, and it's probably a short-ranged vessel, not one for long voyages.
This is strange to you, given how out of the way and unimportant this island is. Nevertheless you aren't going to jinx your luck, and as you approach the ship, a woman clad in a black uniform that looks as if it was designed for some sort of military stops you.
"Do you have business here? I told the old man running the place and the workers here to steer clear..." she looks you over rather nonchalantly as she speaks, "Actually you don't look like some dock worker, who are you?"
You introduce yourself, and explain that indeed you are not a dock worker, and that you're looking to secure a way off the island. "Since yours is the only one docked, I figure-" you are interrupted mid-sentence as she holds one hand up. You only now notice her hands are far from normal, replaced by what looks like some kind of mechanical prosthetic, probably magical in nature. You've never seen anything like this before but you resist the urge to gawk.
"I get it," she says rather deadpan, "You want out of this dump as much as I do, right? Probably got dropped off looking for work only to find none? Well there certainly isn't work here, not in this rock." You are almost offended by her remarks about your home but find yourself in too much of a need for her assistance to really care. She continues, "Tell you what, you help me out and me and my friends will let you hitch a ride. Sound good?"
You can hardly believe your good luck, perhaps this is what they call fate? She takes the grin spreading across your face as an answer before you even get a chance to open your mouth. She motions for another woman in a similar uniform who was previously out of sight. The two communicate back and forth to each other in a tongue you do not recognize. Once they finish, the woman that you had spoken to first nods to you and wanders off, leaving you to speak with the newcomer.
"Uh-uhm..." she stammers, appearing a little flustered as she looks you over, "S-sorry, my common isn't so of the good?" Ah, now you get it, and come to think of it both of these women certainly LOOK foreign. This girl has similar mechanical arms like the other, though she is considerably smaller. Her hair is cut short and orderly, and is a rather unnatural platinum/silver color. She has to look up to make eye contact, you're easily a good foot taller than her.
"W-we are making with the, uh, the investigations here. The locals, th-they don't know much what we are looking for?" she ends her sentence as if it were a question, and her accent along with her broken common makes conversing with her a bit of a chore. She continues, "There is a c-cult? Of bad guys. Ass-ass-ins? They d-do not live here, but they are making this a hideout that they don't use much in the past."
So a cult of assassins used to hide out someplace here on the island? Though you've never heard of such a thing before, you re-iterate this to her and she nods happily, perhaps thankful that you understood her.
"Alright. So you want me to help you find this hideout and beat the crap out of any assassins that might possibly be there, is this a good guess?" You cross your arms as you declare your eagerness to the girl, who seems surprised.
"A-are you sure you wanting to get involved? Is dangerous for c-civilians but we are the undermanned? So, we would like the help, yes."
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A: Bunch of assassins? They hide in the dark and can't put up a real fight, sounds like a plan!
B: ...Then again perhaps we're getting ahead of ourselves here. Maybe you could ask if there was anything else you could do to hitch a ride?
"Bunch of assassins? I think I can handle that!" you crack your knuckles to emphasize your point. The girl can't help but grin, seeming to enjoy your enthusiasm. As she attempts to speak she stammers a little as she struggles with her common. "Y-you are a the brave, yes? Well, we are appreciating the help. We normally not supposed to hire the outside help, but I have feeling you are capable?"
As usual her common is a bit of a chore to interpret in your mind but you think you get the jist of what what she is saying. For the next several minutes she explains to you where you are heading and what exactly it is you are doing. You are almost a little bit disappointed when she tells you all you're really going to be doing is investigating an old abandoned villa far off on the outskirts of the island, away from town. Apparently, some one with a lot of money chose this quiet little island to build his dream house on, but mysteriously disappeared one night, long before people came to settle here.
"Is should n-not have any trouble, but you should be ready anyway? Could be wrong, may have agents staying to monitor this island..." she pauses for a moment, her face now showing signs of concern, "...these people kidnap many children, they are never to be seen again. Two years ago, they take many children from this island."
You freeze, a realization coming to you... could these assassins be the ones that took your brother during your two year absence? Now you've a vested interest, you feel as if you must get to the bottom of this. You thank the girl, and turn to head off. As you do, she speaks up once more, "By the way, my name is Ika, it was... good talking with you? You seem like a brave person, if everyone was so brave..." she trails off as you look back to her.
"Thanks Ika." you offer her a reassuring grin, "Name's Lucas Taylor. I'll catch you later!"
You make your way out of town. The remainder of this small island outside of your hometown is primarily empty grassland. Were it not for the fact this island was located off in the middle of nowhere in the vast Twilight, the land could be quite valuable. You think you understand now a few things. Firstly, why some rich foreigner would build his villa off someplace peaceful like this... and also why some shady assassins would choose this place to hide.
You travel on foot for many hours, and were there a sun it would likely have set by now. Outside the city, travel is difficult without a light, given that the skies are perpetually dark, and leaving the well lit settlement is a bit of a task for the common man. Thankfully amongst your various are several "sunrods", torches given to you by your mercenary friends that burn for hours on end.
As you continue towards your destination you spot the glare of a few torches off in the distance. It could be related to your search, or it could be something else entirely. You could investigate this, or continue along, heading towards your destination.
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A: Investigate the light source B: Continue to the abandoned villa
Important: This is not one of those CYOAs where the author is afraid to kill the main character for making foolish decisions. It is entirely possible for an abrupt chapter end should the main character perish!
So no sidestepping horizontal slashes then.
Oh, and I vote A
-- (Maniac64 at work) All the proteins, vitamins, and carbs of your grandma's best turkey dinner, plus 15% alcohol.
You decide to investigate the light source. After all, it could be related to what you were investigating anyway. As you approach, you can easily confirm that it is several mundane torches, and they are moving at a very deliberate marching pace. Not so subtle, so probably not trained assassins... Still, you figure it's worth looking into and follow not far behind.
You aren't the greatest at stealth, but thankfully circumstance favors you in that these people, four of them by your estimation, seem to be distracted by idle chat and the rather brisk pace they're keeping. Not long after, they come to a stop at a small cottage. You're close enough to where you can both hear and see them...
It's now that you realize these are armed men. Three smaller men, one wielding a crossbow and two others with clubs, plus one man roughly your height but considerably thicker and fatter, sporting a larger club with a few metal spikes crudely hammered in.
You snuff your sunrod as you creep up a bit closer. You're testing the limits of your already limited stealth ability here, it's likely you'll be spotted if you try to sneak any closer, but you are close enough to make out exactly what they are saying now.
"Find the whore! Drag her out and beat her senseless!" the large man barks at the others, who begin to surround the cottage. "But don't kill her. I want to have some fun with her first!" the large man states, followed by a sickening cackle. These most definitely AREN'T assassins, or they're the worst assassins ever heard of at least. The three smaller men have begun to circle the cottage, and the ringleader is at the door, smashing at it with his fist. A moment later, you hear the unmistakable shriek of a terrified woman...
Well, you certainly can't just walk away from this. What to do...
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A: CHARGE! Let's take these thugs out, there's no time to lose! B: Let's take it slow and continue to sneak towards the mob.
You charge headlong into the fray, the nearest thug being one of the smaller men wielding a club. He doesn't even notice as you drive the hilt of your greatsword so hard into his skull that it caves and he drops to the ground bloody and beaten. The ringleader and his two other men turn towards you and appear shocked. "WHERE THE HELL DID HE COME FROM? DID THAT WHORE HIRE A BODYGUARD!? KILL HIM DAMMIT!!"
From what you've gathered, the smaller men all look pretty weak and will probably be taken down with one good hit. The ringleader looks a bit sturdier and more dangerous, however...
You see a woman inside the cottage duck down, watching the fight intently, likely the woman these thugs were after.
There's no avoiding a fight now, but you've tipped the odds a little bit closer to your favor, though it's still three versus one. The closest target to you is the ringleader, though you could easily make the dash and charge at one of the smaller men. The smaller man with the club likewise looks like he's about to charge at you, while the crossbowman is taking aim...
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Who is your next priority target?
A: Ringleader (you can expend Power Strike, Takedown Strike, neither, or both if you hit.) B: Crossbow thug C: Club thug
Knowing the crossbowman would be a problem, you make a dash towards him before he has the time to take a shot. With a clean slash of your greatsword, a crimson mist sprays from his sternum and he goes down without a word.
As you turn, the smaller man with the club has reached you, however he swings wildly and misses you completely (natural 1)! The ringleader makes no effort to join his lackey, instead taking his greatclub and smashing in the door! You hear the woman inside shriek, it looks like the ringleader is going to take a hostage!
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A: Ignore the lackey ontop of you, stop his boss! B: It's unsafe to disengage haphazardly, kill the lackey first.
There's no time to waste, if the ringleader gets a hostage this will only get worse! You push past the lackey making haste towards his boss, but as you do, his club meets your side, causing you to wince in pain. The injury isn't too severe though, and you cut past and charge directly at the ringleader! You've cut him off, if he tries to bolt you'll probably have a free opportunity to hit him while his guard is dropped.
Knowing this, he growls and delivers a mighty swing with his greatclub, but you manage to parry it aside, just barely.
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A: Attack! He's clearly scum and needs to be brought down (Can Trigger PS, TDS) B: Try to talk him down, he's seen you drop two of his lackies without any real effort after all.
You slice into the man with your hefty blade, putting enough power into it to rend a normal man nearly apart! Bloodied, he staggers backwards, barking orders at his remaining lackey. The smaller man charges at you and attacks with his club but misses once more. However, now you're surrounded on two sides. The ringleader smashes his greatclub into your arm, and you can feel it nearly cave in from the impact, thankfully your armor manages to absorb much of the blow.
As the larger man begins to cackle madly, believing to have put you down, you retort with a menacing glare and bring your sword up once more, this time cleaving a terrible gash across his neck even as he attempts to avoid it. It's too late for him, that was the end. He hobbles once and then falls.
You turn towards the remaining lackey, who tosses his club down, "HEY MAN! I GIVE UP!" he whimpers as he raises his hands forward apologetically.
--
I bring order and chaos, I am life and death, creator and destroyer, just like the rest of humanity. My bunnyslug: http://img.imgcake.com/nio/catapngzu.png
"Fine. But you're answering a few questions." You look the man fiercely in the eyes and he nods and drops to his feet, bowing for forgiveness. Cowardly, but maybe he can shed some light on this. "What are you doing here, it's obviously no good, but I want to know exactly why you and your friends decided to bust into somebody's house out here in the middle of nowhere."
The man looks at you dumbfounded as he speaks, "Y-you mean you're not a bodyguard? What are you then?"
You shrug, "Just some passerby." He doesn't seem to buy it but he is in no position to argue.
"Okay, we work for Mr. Legato, y-you... ahh!" suddenly the thug gets a snide look on his face, "You screwed up! Mr. Legato isn't going to be so nice when he gets his hands on you for interfering with our business!"
He changes his tune quickly enough when you squat down to eye level with him, looking less than amused. "AH-umm!" he stammers, "This bi-- this lovely young woman that lives here is Mr. Legato's slu-- um, consort...? Until she ran away, that is."
Now you're starting to see the bigger picture. This 'Legato' person seems to be a shady sort, no doubt he has other men... It would be unwise to let this man who had seen your face live, you now realize, but is it right to kill him?
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A: Take no chances, kill the man. B: Tell him to get lost, that's enough bloodshed.