Shattered Moon Saga

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[Awaken, Shattered Moon. Rider is asleep. Somewhere in the night, She is calling. You have until dawn to find Her. Rider must never know. [[Look around.|CAMP-leaving]]]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[ You are on the shore. <center>North [[West|Foothills4]]               [[East|CAMP-steadystate]] [[South|Woods1]]</center>]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[ You are in the woods. <center>[[North|Woods4]] [[West|Foothills1]]               [[East|Woods8]] South</center>]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[ You are in the woods. <center>[[North|Woods5]] [[West|Woods7]]               [[East|Woods9]] South</center>]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[ You are in the foothills. <center>[[North|Foothills2]] [[West|Mountain1]]               [[East|Woods7]] South</center>]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[ You are in the woods. <center>[[North|Woods6]] [[West|Woods8]]               East South</center>]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[ You are in the woods. <center>[[North|Woods3]] [[West|Woods5]]               East [[South|Woods9]]</center>]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[ You are in the woods. <center>[[North|Shore1]] [[West|Woods2]]               East [[South|Woods6]]</center>]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[ You are on the shore. <center>North [[West|CAMP-steadystate]]               East [[South|Woods3]]</center>]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[As you move along the shore, the distant hulk of the mountain seems to beckon you. What is in there...? [[The cat sails on.|Water3]]]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[(if: $ferry is true)[(if: $shrew is true)[(if: (random: 1,3) is 1)[A boar stole your shrew! (set: $shrew to false)]](else:)[(if: (random: 1,3) is 1)[You caught a shrew! (set: $shrew to true)]]]You are on the steppe. <center>[[North|Plains3]] [[West|Plains5]]               [[East|Shore3]] [[South|Foothills5]]</center>]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[(if: $ferry is true)[(if: $shrew is true)[(if: (random: 1,3) is 1)[A boar stole your shrew! (set: $shrew to false)]](else:)[(if: (random: 1,2) is 1)[You caught a shrew! (set: $shrew to true)]]]You are on the steppe. <center>[[North|Plains2]] [[West|Plains4]]               [[East|Plains6]] [[South|Foothills6]]</center>]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[(if: $ferry is true)[(if: $shrew is true)[(if: (random: 1,3) is 1)[A boar stole your shrew! (set: $shrew to false)]](else:)[(if: (random: 1,2) is 1)[You caught a shrew! (set: $shrew to true)]]]You are on the steppe. <center>[[North|Plains1]] West               [[East|Plains5]] [[South|Foothills7]]</center>]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[(if: $ferry is true)[(if: $shrew is true)[(if: (random: 1,3) is 1)[A boar stole your shrew! (set: $shrew to false)]](else:)[You caught a shrew! (set: $shrew to true)]]You are on the steppe. <center>North West               [[East|Plains2]] [[South|Plains4]]</center>]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[(if: $ferry is true)[(if: $shrew is true)[(if: (random: 1,3) is 1)[A boar stole your shrew! (set: $shrew to false)]](else:)[(if: (random: 1,2) is 1)[You caught a shrew! (set: $shrew to true)]]]You are on the steppe. <center>North [[West|Plains1]]               [[East|Plains3]] [[South|Plains5]]</center>]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[(if: $ferry is true)[(if: $shrew is true)[(if: (random: 1,2) is 1)[A boar stole your shrew! (set: $shrew to false)]](else:)[(if: (random: 1,3) is 4)[You caught a shrew! (set: $shrew to true)]]]You are on the plains. <center>North [[West|Plains2]]               (if: $snackquest is true)[[[East|Shore4]]](else:)[[[East|Ferry]]] [[South|Plains6]]</center>]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[You have found an old dock. There is a rickety sailboat with a morose pallas cat drooped across the boom. [[Talk to the cat?|SnackQuest]]<center>North [[West|Plains3]]               East [[South|Shore3]]</center>]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[The cat munches his shrew as he steers the boat. There is no wind, and yet the sails are full. You can see the light on the island -- a soothing glow amid the shadows. You hear a bell. [[The cat sails on.|Water2]]]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[You are on the island. [[Follow the sound of the bell.|Island temple]]]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[You sail past camp -- if you peer, you can just make out the shadowy lump of Rider, still sleeping. [[The cat sails on.|Water4]]]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[(set: $time = ($time - 10))That climb took longer than you thought, and you are exhausted. It must have taken 10 minutes. How much time is left before dawn...? There is just enough starlight to make out the landscape. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/emwpvaa.png" /> Which direction would you like to descend, Shattered Moon? <center>[[North|Mountain4]] [[West|Mountain6]]               [[East|Mountain2]] [[South|CaveEntrance]]</center>](set: $timejump to false)

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[(if: $failure is true)[You are on the mountain. <center>North [[West|Mountain7]]               [[East|Mountain1]] South [[Summit the mountain|MountainPeak]]](else:)[You are at the mouth of a cave. <center>North [[West|Mountain7]]               [[East|Mountain1]] South [[Summit the mountain|MountainClimbing]] [[Enter the cave|Cave]]</center>]]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[You come upon a small, overgrown shrine, with a grimy old bell gently rocking in the evening breeze. It gives off a soft glow, and its peals sooth your weary heart. There is a scroll, unfurled, at the foot of the shrine. [[Stoop to read it.|Folktale]]]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[At long last, the cat steers in toward the island, where there is a rickety dock, overgrown with brambles. He licks the last of the shrew from his paws and leaps ashore to tie up the boat. "That was delicious," he says. "I haven't been this full in weeks." Somewhere deep in the island, a bell tolls. "I will wait for you here," the cat says, perching on the ferry's rail. [[Go ashore.|Island dock]]]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[ You are in the foothills. <center>[[North|Plains4]] West               [[East|Foothills6]] [[South|Mountain5]]</center>]

(set: $time to 300)There is a deep rumbling from within the mountain that shakes you to your core. The wall crumbles in on itself, pictographs collapsing into dust, revealing a deep, dark passage. You made it, Shattered Moon. She is waiting. [[The only way is forward.|FreeHer]]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[(if: $puzzle is true)[The fire still burns. Care to try again, Shattered Moon?](else:)[ When you enter the cave, an ancient campfire sparks suddenly to life. Can you be brave, Shattered Moon?] [[Be brave.|Puzzle]] [[Leave the cave.|CaveEntrance]]](set: $timejump to false)

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[ You are on the mountain. <center>[[North|Mountain6]] West               [[East|CaveEntrance]] South [[Summit the mountain|MountainClimbing]]</center>]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[You are on the mountain. <center>[[North|Mountain5]] West               East [[South|Mountain7]] [[Summit the mountain|MountainClimbing]]</center>]

(set: $time = 121)(set: $shrew to false)(set: $ferry to false)(set: $snackquest to false)(set: $puzzle to false)(set: $failure to false)(set: $dock to false)(set: $timejump to false) ==> (text-style: "fade-in-out")[<big>[[Begin...|CAMP-start]]</big>]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[You have made camp on the southern shore of a lake. The shore stretches east and west. To the south, a lurking woods. Which way do you go, Shattered Moon? <center>North [[West|Shore2]]               [[East|Shore1]] [[South|Woods2]]</center>]

(if: $timejump is false)[(if: $time is not 0)[(if: $time is 105)[It is dark tonight. ](if: $time is 93)[Do you miss the moonlight? ](if: $time is 52)[I wonder if stars get lonely. ](if: $time is 30)[Time is running low... ](if: $time is 15)[Dawn approaches! ](if: $time is 10)[Hurry, Shattered Moon! ](if: $time is 5)[Make haste! ]You have $time minutes until sunrise. ]]

The sun rises pink above the horizon. Somewhere across the plains, Rider calls your name, but he is lost to you now. You can never return. [[Goodye.|Credits]]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[(if: $failure is true)[The sound of your approaching hooves wakes Rider. As he rises, you slip into camp, burning with shame. Rider breaks down camp. You set out onto the steppe together, still lost. [[End.|Credits]](set: $timejump to true)](else:)[ Rider is still sleeping. You must be quiet, Shattered Moon. <center>North [[West|Shore2]]               [[East|Shore1]] [[South|Woods2]] [[Wake Rider and abandon your quest.|AbandonQuest]]</center>]]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[(if: $ferry is false)[The cat mopes morosely. "I haven't eaten in weeks," it says. "The boars have driven all of the shrews out of their hidey-holes on the steppe, and there are none left for me to catch. If you can catch me a shrew, I will take you across the water on my ferry."(set: $ferry to true)](else:)[(if: $shrew is true)[The cat sniffs at you suspiciously for a moment, and then its whiskers perk up. "You have brought me a shrew! Oh, thank you, thank you! I will take you to the island!" [[Give him the shrew and board the ferry.|Water1]]](else:)[The cat sniffs at you, then shakes his head sadly. "I knew you couldn't catch me a shrew," he says. "Those awful boars have taken them all for themselves. Thanks for trying, I suppose..."]] <center>North [[West|Plains3]]               East [[South|Shore3]]</center>]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[(text-style: "bold")[When the people had chosen eleven animals for eleven years, there was only one year left and two animals vying for it: Camel and Rat. Because the people could not decide, Camel and Rat made a bet. Whoever saw the first rays of the morning sun would become the first animal of the zodiac. Camel stared east, determined to win. Rat climbed up on Camel’s hump and stared west, into the mountains. When the sun finally rose, its rays first touched the tips of the mountains, where Rat spotted them right away. “The sun has risen!” Rat crowed. Irate, Camel shook Rat from his hump and tried to stomp her to death, but she was too quick for him and hid in a pile of ashes. That is why Rat has a year in the zodiac, and why Camel always tramples and rolls on ashes, hoping to kill his enemy the Rat.] <center>[[Finished reading?|TempleReturn]]</center>]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[What an odd story. You are glad that Rat escaped. You are not fond of camels. The bell rings more harshly now. It is time to go. [[Return to the dock|ReturnDock]]]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[The cat is napping on the bow of his ferry. He wakes at the sound of your approaching hooves. "Find what you needed?" he purrs. You do not know, so you do not answer. He invites you aboard, and shoves off from the shore. [[You set sail|Water5]]]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[The rocking of the ferry lulls you into a daze as you watch the shore drift past. The night is still, and yet the sails are full. You are tired, and your eyelids droop. How long until dawn...? [[The cat sails on.|ReturnFerry]](set: $timejump to true)]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[(set: $snackquest to true)(set: $shrew to false)(set: $ferry to false)(set: $time = $time - 10)(set: $dock to true)The cat shakes you awake. You have arrived back at the dock. "Hurry, Shattered Moon," he says. "You have $time minutes until dawn." You nod and thank him, though you don't remember telling him your name. [[You head south, toward the mountain.|Shore3]](set: $timejump to false)]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[(set: $failure to true)You chose wrong, Shattered Moon. She cannot save you now. Return to Rider before dawn, and you may one day have another chance at freedom. You have $time minutes left. [[Go now.|CaveEntrance]]](set: $timejump to false)

You descend into the darkness, but feel a glow building within your chest. Your hooves seem to sing as they clatter against the stones, and your mane flows proudly in an unfelt wind. There is a warm light at the bottom of the passage. You rush into it and it engulfs you, overwhelming your sight. As you succumb, you hear Her voice. "Thank you, Shattered Moon," She says. "You have set me free. Now I shall return the favor." [[Sleep.|SleepFlight]]

In your sleep, you sail above the clouds. In your sleep, you see the golden glow of the rising sun. In your sleep, Rider rises to meet you. Together, you drift into the stars, no longer cursed to roam the steppe. She is free. Rider is free. You are free. The full moon disappears into the bright light of day. [[End.|Credits]]

<center style="padding:1em; border: 1px solid white;">Story by Morgan Wegner Inspiration from Adrienne Ankuda</center> <center>(text-style: "fade-in-out")[<big border-width: 3px; border-color: #d3e4e8;>[[Play again?|init]]</big>]</center>

(if: $dock is true)[(set: $dock to false)<img src="https://i.imgur.com/MlmpO8B.png" />]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[This is taking forever...(set: $timejump to true) [[Keep climbing.|MountainPeak]]]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[You are a horse, Shattered Moon. You cannot climb a tree. [[Stop messing around.|Woods5]]]

(set: $timejump to true)Rider wakes bleerily, and grumbles something you do not understand. As he breaks down camp, you reflect on your failure. Maybe She will give you another chance some day. Or maybe you and Rider will roam the steppe forever... Goodbye, Shattered Moon. [[Goodbye.|Credits]]

(if: $time is 0)[[["Your time is up, Shattered Moon."|OutOfTime]]](else:)[You are on the shore. You hear a distant bell. Wasn't there a dock here...? <center>North [[West|Plains3]]               East [[South|Shore3]]</center>]

(set: $time = $time - 1)(if: $time < 0)[(set: $time = 0)]