Valley of the Dead

A lightweight sword made of the mythical substance known as Mytheril

{$checkDeath} (text-style:"tall")[The Castle of the Silver King] As you step into the castle of the Silver King, villagers, guards, and beggars bustle about, nearly knocking you over. The towering battlements cast long shadows, as the day is nearly through. Night is approaching, and you need a place to sleep.

$status You start to acend the wall as fast as you can. The figures screech and throw stones, but only ten hit you, decreasing your health. (set: $hp to $hp - 10) [[Head towards battlements->Tower]] [[Head towards nearest open window->Guard Room ]]

Extra block for backup.

Characters: (In order as the story introduces characters) Silver King (Secondary Protagonist) Knights of the Dead (Secondary Antagonist) You (Player, Main Protagonist) Guards (Extra Protagonist) Traitor Guards (Neutral or Antagonist) King of the Dead (Main Antagonist) Blacksmith (Extra Protagonist)

$status You died. Maybe you could click the Restart button... [[Restart->Intro]]

$status You steal some food and eat it, gaining health points. (set: $hp to $hp + 10) [[Put on armor]] [[Grab weapons]]

Caverns of the Dead: Mytheril Knights of the Dead King of the Dead Bones Strange Creatures Underground Rivers

$status You grab your cane and back up against the wall. A figure lunges at you. You swing your cane, but the wood just passes through the cloak like there was nothing there. Before you can scream or plead for mercy, you are gagged and bound in chains from hand to foot. Then the figure rases a gleaming stone knife, then punctures your heart. (set: $hp to 0) [[Continue->Death]]

$status You reach to grab a weapon... [[Continue->Put on some armor]]

$status You try to lift one of the battle axes off the hook, but it weighs too much. There isn't much you could do to stop it from clanking on the floor and squashing your feet. Your yelps of pain and the clanking of the axe have summoned the guards... unintentionally. [[Continue->Death]]

$status You bend down and grasp the sturdy, lightweight sword made of iron. (set: $weapon to "Iron Sword") [[Leave]]

$status You pick up a spear crafted out of nice solid wood with a tip made of iron. (set: $weapon to "Spear") [[Leave]]

$status You want to grab a weapon... [[Grab iron sword->Grab iron sword]] [[Grab battle axe]] [[Grab spear]]

$status You find yourself in a guard room full of weapons, armor, and food. [[Leave before you are caught->Leave]] [[Eat food]] [[Put on armor]] [[Grab weapons]]

(text-style:"tall")[The Castle of the Silver King] Deep within the gloomy forests of the (text-colour:grey)[Valley of the Dead], the Castle of the Silver King, or the Silver Castle, serves as a trading outpost and a well-known ''stronghold'' for (text-style:"blur")[weary] travelers, merchants, and more. The castle and the surrounding areas are owned by the Silver King, who is the only ruler ''brave'' enough to claim land in the (text-colour:grey)[Valley of the Dead]. Although recently, (text-style:"expand","tall","shudder")[(text-colour:grey)[(text-style:"shudder")[strange]]] dissapearances and (text-style:"shudder")[rumors] reveal that people are disappearing after being kidnapped by strange figures cloaked in robes so dark that light seems to vanish. Legends quote that the figures were defeated by the Silver Knights, a group of warriors that used Silver Mail and swords made of pure (bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#ffffff,0,#000000,1,#ffffff))[Mytheril]. (bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#ffffff,0,#000000,1,#ffffff))[Mytheril] is an extremely rare substance found within the Caverns of the Dead. However, as the name suggests, the caverns are said to be inhabited by The Knights of the Dead, a ghost army that steals souls to turn into one of their own. The Silver King has re-summoned five knights to vanquish these ghosts. Unfortunately, you are not one of them, but still decide to take on the quest on your own. You arrived late last night and are sleeping on the rough cold crabgrass outside the castle because the gates are closed.. [[Continue->Wake Up]] {  (set: $bronze to 100) (set: $hp to 100) (set: $maxHP to 100) (set: $armor to "Dirty Rags") (set: $weapon to "Beggar's Cane")  (set: $status to [Heath: $hp / $maxHP | Bronze coins: $bronze Armor: $armor | Weapon: $weapon] )  (set: $checkDeath to [(if: $hp <= 0)[(go-to:"Death")]] ) }

Extra block for backup.

$status You sneak out the door, and see that there are two passages, one lit, and the other dark... [[Take lit passage]] [[Take dark passage]]

Spare

Eat food

Extra block for backup.

$status You play dead. Then, you see a glistening stone knife, the one that peirces your heat. [[Continue->Death]]

$status You put on some armor. ''CLANK!!!!'' ''BANG!!!!'' ''CLASH!!!!'' You drop the armor on the floor after the pollished metal slips out of your hands. Seconds later, you hear footsteps. As the door begins to turn, you... [[Grab a weapon]] [[Put on some armor]] [[Jump out the window->Death]]

$status Before you can do anything, some castle guards grab your arms and a big burly man grabs an axe... ''CHOP'' Your head rolls onto the floor... [[Continue->Death]]

Extra

$status You run for your life. As you make your way around the castle's walls, several dark figures surround you and back you up against the stone walls of the castle... [[Grab Cane]] [[Play Dead]] [[Climb]]

Extra block for backup.

$status You stumble around in the darkness. You then figure out by bumping your head on a brick wall and losing heath points that: This is a dead end. (set: $hp to $hp - 10)) [[Take lit passage]]

$status As you walk down the lit passage, you decide to keep to the wall. You pass several closed doors. Some people in the closed doors are shouting and laughing, while others were snoring. As you pass several more doors, you see two armed guards sleeping beside a door made of pure silver. //The Silver King's Chamber!// This is your chance to become a silver knight. [[Kill guards]] [[Tie up guards]]

$status You climb up the tower, but then lose your footing on a loose stone. You plunge down to the dirt walkway beneath you... [[Continue->Death]]

$status You wake up in the middle of the night to rustling in the forest. The battlements look down upon you as you fear for your life. Someone screams in the distance. Looks like the ghost knights are here... [[Run]] [[Play Dead]] [[Grab Cane]] (set: $hp to $maxHP)

Wake up outside castle

Extra block for backup.

$status You try to sneak past, but they wake up just in the nick of time. Both of them jump on you and slice at you with their swords... [[Continue->Death]]

$status Quietly, with some strong rope you fished out of your pocket, you tie up the guards. Suprisingly, they have not woken up yet. [[Open door]]

$status You open the door and see a grand bed with framing of silver and a matress full of the softest feathers. There, in the middle of the bed, you see the silver king, reading a book by candlelight. He slowly looks up at you. "Who art thou?" He questions. "I be a friend that wishes you no harm", you explain. The King looks at your rags. "How can a lowly beggar get past all of my guards?" He demands. "I am no beggar", you declare, "I am the one who will conquer the Knights of Death!" He just stares at you with a stern look on his face. [[Ask for all training and armor needed->Plans change]] [[Wait till he responds->Wait]]

$status "Guards!!!" he yells in a deafening voice. After some guards come in the room from the next door chamber, they seize you in shock and prepare to kill you. "HALT! Spare the beggar. Give the one a meal and a warm bed to sleep in. I will deal with him in the morning" He says. The guards just stand there awkwardly. "Y-y-you mean this filthy beggar gets a bed and food?" one guard says. "''SILENCE''" He commands. The guards release their grip and have you walk behind them. After walking down the hall and going down a set of stairs, they bring you into a cold, poorly lit chamber with jail doors on either side. "If we don't get to have meals and warm beds every night, Why should you, BEGGAR?" They say. [[Continue->Dungeon]]

$status "Very well" he approves. "You will be given all that you need to complete these tasks" he adds, "But first you must pass all my tests." [[Continue->Plans change]]

$status You spend the night in the dungeon. The floor is cold and dark. Good thing in the morning, the king HIMSELF comes into the dungeon and takes you out. Then, he orders the guards themselves to be put in the dungeon. Then, he gives you silver armor, and sends an experienced knight to train you. (set: $armor to "Silver Mail") [[Continue->Training]]

$status The knight trains you every day, making you get up at five and go to bed at eleven. Every day, you are made to do five thousand push ups. The hard work is worth it, though, because after six months, you are given your first quest. [[Continue->Quest]]

$status After all that training, your trainer gives you a choice between three quests. You are also told that the harder the quest, the greater the reward. [[Easy Quest]] [[Medium Quest]] [[Hard Quest]]

$status You decide to take it easy. Turns out, one of the silver knights that the king has summoned is coming to the castle, and the whole place needs to be neat and tidy. [[Scrub floor]] [[Set table]] [[Wash dishes->Set table]]

$status You decide to take the medium quest. You are assigned to find three spies among the guards by the end of the day. You decide to take three routes. [[Set a trap]] [[Ask guards if they are traitors->Lose]] [[Find the guards that threw you in the dungeon->Easy Route]]

$status You decide to take the hardest quest, hoping that the reward will be greater. Your quest is to locate the Caverns of the Dead and take a big chunk of lightweight Mytheril for a sword. [[Get Mytheril]]

$status You grab a sponge and start scrubbing the floor. //Why do I have to do this?// you think. After channeling all your anger into the sponge, the marbled tile in the mess hall starts shining. Several guards and a knight stop to admire your work. [[Continue Scrubbing->Scrub]]

$status You grab a pile of plates, forks, spoons, and knives. Good thing you built up your mucles, and unlike before, you can now lift things. Bad thing your hands are wet. Half of the plates and silverware crash on the floor, most of them breaking upon inpact. The racket causes all the workers to stare at you. After some murmuring, some big men grab your supplies and throw you outside as night falls. After spending some time outside in the cold, you die. (set: $armor to "Dirty Rags") (set: $weapon to "Beggar's Cane") [[Restart->Intro]]

As more people stop to watch, you make the floor shinier and shinier. Soon, the king himself even comes down to watch. Seeing how shiny the floor is, he decides to make you a noble, as long as you continue to scrub the floor. The End

$status You ask the king to gather all the guards and publicly announce that several secret plans will be stored in the wooden chest within the north tower for today only. These plans, however, are fake. You said you will hide and wait until the traitor guards come and steal it. [[Continue->Trap]]

$status After spending several hours asking, you don't get anywhere. Aparrently, the king said that you aren't worthy of becoming a knight, and he demotes you to sevant, the status in which you will remain untill your death. [[Restart->Intro]]

$status You find the guards and take them to the king. "My royal guards?" he exclaimed, "No, it cannot be." [[Set a trap]] [[Ask guards->Lose]]

$status You set up the trap and wait for several hours, just as you are about to fall asleep, you hear wispers and shuffling of feet. You slide behind a wardrobe just as they tiptoe in. (text-style:"subscript","condense")[There's nobody here] they whisper. [[Continue->Capture]]

$status As they open the chest, you leap out and shut the door as you draw your sword. They stand there in shock as you quickly take their weapons and bound them. Then, You take them down the tower and place them in front of the king. [[Continue->Praise]]

$status "Ahhhhh..." the king exclaims, "My newest guards... I should have known!" He nods his head in disapointment then sends them to the dungeon. For your efforts, you recive a sword with a hilt of gold and a blade of silver. (set: $weapon to "Silver Blade") [[Harder Task->Hard Quest]] [[Easier Task->Easy Quest]]

$status You must travel to the Caverns of the Dead. [[Travel by day]] [[Travel by night]]

$status You wait till dusk before heading out. Good thing you brought your armor, because the first ghost you encountered tried to kill you, but it's blade broke upon hitting it. [[Continue->Caverns]]

$status You decide to travel by day, which is a better idea because ghosts are afraid of light. Luckily, the caverns are close by. [[Continue->Caverns]]

$status It doesn't take long to find the mouth of the cave. After lighting a lantern, you enter. Creatures scatter into cracks and corners as you try to avoid stepping on bones and broken swords. A chill runs down your spine. You know you are being watched. [[Continue->Great Hall]]

$status After several minutes of weaving around bones, crossing underground streams and hacking away at stalactites and stalagmites, you come upon the Great Hall. As you enter the tall, wide, long portion of the cavern, you see something that almost sucks the life out of you. The cavern is mysteriously lit with green light, and touching the back wall is a throne where a cloaked figure rests. Out of the shadows, about fifty ghost knights materialized out of nowhere. They all hover over to the Ghost king and flank him. Then, they all draw their weapons. [[Run Away]] [[Fight]]

$status You turn around and run. While trying to cross an underground stream, you slip and crash your head against some sharp rocks. Good thing you had your helmet. But then your helmet slips off. After getting pulled under by a wave then hitting your head against a rock again, you fall unconsious and drown. [[Restart->Intro]]

$status You draw your sword. But then you remember something. //Your armor can protect you, but the sword will not kill the ghost unless it is made of mytheril.// You shealth your sword then charge into the hoard of ghosts. They hack at you, but their weapons just glance off your armor and break. You shove the ghost king's throne aside and discover a door. But then, you feel some pain. You realize something. //The ghost king uses weapons made by the mortal men, the weapons that can peirce your armor!// [[Swing sword]] [[Run ]]

$status With a heave, you spin around and swing your sword. Direct hit! The ghost king's dagger clatters onto the floor several yards away. The king spins around and chases after it. [[Run ]]

$status You run, with the ghost king chasing after you. "//You cannot win//" the king says in a dark cold voice, "//You cannot win//" he repeats. You keep running. [[Continue->Mytheril]]

$status As you keep running deeper and deeper into the caverns, you start seeing some glowing white chunks of (bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#ffffff,0,#000000,1,#ffffff))[Mytheril] embedded in the wall. The deeper you get, the larger the chunks grow. Soon, you find a reasonalbly sized chunk of Mytheril. After picking it up, you hold it to your chest as you turn around... [[Continue->End Choice]]

$status You turned just in the nick of time. The king, which was pursuing you, floats into the chunk you are holding. He shrieks as he rockets backward and onto the floor. [[Throw the chunk at him->Win]] [[Run to castle]]

The mytheril flashes green as it hits the king's side. He flashes green as parts of his body fade away. Once he is gone, the robes on all his ghosts fall off, revealing the spirits of innocent people who were corrupted. They start reinhabiting the bones littered all over the floor. After the whole transaction is over, hundreds of beggars, phesants, servants, guards, merchants and more are restored to their bodies. After thanking you many times, they all escort you to the castle. After dubing you the heir to the throne and the royal cupbearer, you live a long, happy, ghostless life.

$status Cluching the large chunk of Mytheril, you run back to the castle as fast as you can. Once you get inside the gates, you give the peice to the royal blacksmith. The Silver King, upon your arrival, admires your courage and the Mytheril you retreived. [[Continue->Sword Finished]]

$status Two days later, your sword is finished. As the Silver King wishes you good luck, you journey back to the cave. After crossing the river and weaving around the bones, you finaly come face to face with the Ghost King. [[Continue->Slash]]

$status "//You Again!//" ,he whispers, "//You cannot win!//" You draw your sword and slash. The king blocks with his dagger then tries to strike, but you deflect with your sword just in the nick of time. You strike again, but he blocks again with his dagger. //Knock out his dagger!// you think. You swipe as hard as you can, and although he blocked , his dagger once again clattered on the floor. He then starts to flee. After chasing him down and cornering him, you make your final strike. [[Continue->Win]]