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Story/-GAMEPLAY GUIDELINE.txt

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+The gameplay guideline goes as follows:
+
+01 - Start (basic setup for their world)
+
+02 - Interactions
+(recommend the MOVIE THEATER (02), then the BOOKSTORE (02), then the ORANGE DEMENSE (03) after they start, use STRIKER to guide them)
+
+03 - Demenses
+(after their second or third INTERACTIONS with the city, they will likely stop going to them, so just go to the DEMENSES directly from there)
+
+SPECIAL NOTE
+In any instance with a MARAUDER fight, there are lists of pre-made enemy characters available
+- If LUCKY is involved, replace any character on the enemy team with him, OR add him to the team
+- There should be at least ONE FIGHT PER SESSION, so if there is no FIGHT in the DEMENSE they are visiting, add a MARAUDER fight before OR after
+
+04 - The Mole
+(Do this AFTER six DEMENSE visits)
+
+05 - The First Face (halfway story point)
+(Do this AFTER all twelve DEMENSE visits)
+
+06 - Challenges
+(These can be done in any order you like)
+("the characters scheduled them in advance")
+
+SPECIAL NOTE
+The "Challenges" involving BODYGUARDS, CHILDREN, COWBOYS, GARSEN, JEKHYRA, & VILLI are special
+- The order does not matter, but they are to be done after the players win their 1ST, 3RD, 5TH, 7TH, 9TH, and 11TH regalia
+
+07 - The Crooked King
+(do this after they win six regalia)
+
+08 - The Faces
+(do this after they win all 12 regalia)
+
+09 - The Ending

Story/01 - Start/Start.txt

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+The scene opens one early morning in the middle of an active military compound in the year 2015. Soldiers are doing drills, performing weapon maintenance, and testing out their tanks. But we are focusing inside of one very specific meeting room in the dead center of the compound.
+
+The door to said room is opened, and in steps (# of players) people of varying shape, size, and appearance. The rounded table in the middle takes up half the room, but is large enough to seat 12. The room is decently lit, but the only thing to look at is the USA flag against the front wall.
+
+A pair of military personnel "gently guide" you into the room and "recommended" you take a seat, as they have to prepare for your "meeting." The door is slammed shut behind you all, leaving you alone in the room.
+
+(GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO TALK)
+  
+After several minutes, the same door opens, and in steps (players #) armed military officers, each carrying the latest and greatest two handed military combat rifles, full thickly plated chest armor, and a large camo pattern backpack matching their camo outfits.
+ 
+The officers step back, take a saluting pose, and the farthest left one announces in a boisterous voice "ROOM SECURED. SEND IN THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF."  
+  
+In steps a man everyone in this room recognizes as the president of the goddamn US of A himself, George Bush III, as a Bassett Hound. He carries a confident smile and a stack of file folders under his arm as he walks up to the same table you are all (hopefully) sitting at. He politely turns to the officers and says "thank you gentlemen, at ease."  
+ 
+The soldiers step back and assume a more laxed position, but no less threatening with those guns in hand. He turns to all of you and clears his throat before dropping his folders onto the table, them opening to reveal every personal record and document to ever have your (player #) names on them.  
+  
+"I thank you for stepping forth to volunteer for what is now known as the single most dangerous recon mission in history. I know you've been briefed on it multiple times, but I'd like to take the jargon out and shoot straight so there's no misunderstandings, and when I'm done, I want each and every one of you to decide once and for all if this is really a task you are prepared for."  
+  
+He grabs a remote from his pocket, presses a button, and lowers a projector screen in front of the flag & the soldiers. He taps another button, and images of a giant circular rock wall jutting up from the ocean are displayed. "For as long as we have documented it, we have been aware of a mysterious unknown land mass in the middle of the Pacific." 
+ 
+"This mass is approximately 10 miles wide, nearly perfectly circular, and has an unscaleable rock wall all around its border extending at least six miles into instant cloud cover. We believe this land mass is occupied with people who, bare minimum, have the tools and numbers needed to shape it as such."  
+  
+"Now I'm sure you've heard of us using... less than friendly means of gaining entrance, and it is true, but it has failed at every turn. Either the weapons we use never make contact or have no effect if they do." And true to his word, you see several clips of missiles, bombs, and massive artillery that would normally evaporate a continent either bounce off the rock walls or explode on impact and leave none.  
+ 
+"Samples show that whatever is making the rock so resilient is not the rock itself, but some type of magical force within it. That same force extends into the open air above it beyond the cloud cover, so high that our vehicles cannot breach it. We are, of course, curious if this has any Military applications." 
+ 
+"In comes the Program ya'll volunteered for. Twice a year for over a century now, we've sent soldiers, scientists, engineers, the best of the best men and women we had to offer inside through the one and only entrance we could find, a small cavern near the water's edge. Despite that, every single one of them has never returned, and we never receive communication from them again." 
+ 
+"As such, the military has opted to start taking in people of a more... unique background, such as yourselves, and are hoping for different results. (RECITE EACH OF THEIR FULL CHARACTER NAMES.)
+Your mission, should you choose to accept it, will be the same as those before you. Infiltrate this island, gather any & all intel you can about this place & its inhabitants, and return alive."  
+  
+"Now I know ya'll have lives, assets, and dependents of varying degrees, but we always ask for people to be prepared to never return to them. But in exchange, they will also have the most to look forward to." 
+ 
+"There is a dedicated monthly budget for this project, and all the excess proceeds went into essentially a "reward" for anyone that came back. That is well over a century's worth of amassed funds, and if any or all of you (players #) return with anything of value, you get the whole sum." 
+
+He then slides a folder toward your group with a single sheet of paper inside, listing a sum of money that would take a chunk out of the national debt. "In addition, we would even be willing to discuss your personal records and how to make certain... red flags and highlighted marks disappear." 
+ 
+"In the meantime, your personal possessions, homes, assets, and everything else would be funded by this budget and cared for either by your pre-selected caregivers or ones we select if needed. We do this for 25 years, and if you do not return, any remaining assets are liquidated and added right back into the budget."  
+  
+"And that is about the nitty gritty of it. If you are still interested, we will leave immediately to get you fed, bathed, and geared up in the finest weapons, armor, tactical equipment, and... essentially everything these gentlemen behind me are wearing and then some." 
+ 
+"If you have questions, feel free to ask now. And if you are having second thoughts, the exit is right there. And trust me when I say, no hard feelings, braver men and women have walked away from this offer. Myself included."  
+  
+He waits for anyone to ask questions or walk out of the room before finishing, "Very well then, welcome to Project Evermore. Gear up, your chopper leaves in three hours."
+
+They first give you the opportunity to get yourselves cleaned in their professional grade decontamination showers and your clothing sterilized, as well as access to their military uniform outfitters if you would like anything more fresh to wear.
+
+They then take you to a dining hall to eat, and they offer to make you whatever your favorite dishes are, as a kind of "last meal" situation in case you go without quality food for a while. And they make the food fairly quickly, but it DOES taste a tad bland. Military food.
+
+You are then escorted to an armory full of whatever weapons, ammunition, and special gear you think you may need. Everything is packed as cleanly as possible into backpacks for you, including a few weeks worth of military food rations, a halogen flashlight, a first aid kit, a bulky military radio, and other basic survival accessories per person.
+
+Finally, you are escorted to a nearby helicopter (an MH60-R ROMEO) where the president is waiting. He shakes each of your hands and salutes you all as you take off to your next destination.
+  
+2 HOURS LATER  
+  
+The helicopter carries you to an offshore aircraft carrier (USS Enterprise (CVN-65)). Upon landing, you are escorted off by more military personnel, where they double check your gear and weapon stock, making sure everything functions and is strapped down. All the while, you can see the colossal rock wall of an island in the distance.
+
+This massive round chunk of stone gives off the oddest golden sheen, but its walls ascend well above the low cloud cover. You can just BARELY see a single speck of a black dot of a hole on this surface, right next to the water's edge. Otherwise, this stone looks perfectly clean.
+
+They give each of you a large manilla envelope marked 'signing bonus,' and advise you to take good care of it.
+
+(OPEN IT)
+Inside is $50,000 worth of cash and coin, broken up into 100 different types of currency worth about $500 each. They say it is "just in case there IS civilization, this will help you survive among the most likely related countries."   
+  
+You are then escorted down through several staircases within the structure to what looks like an inflated speedboat (RHIB - Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat). Each of you is handed down one ata time onto the boat, and when everyone is on board, it quickly jets off through the water to the island entrance in a matter of minutes.
+
+The entrance is just a rough ten foot high by ten foot wide cavern carved into the rock wall, but there is also a floating dock attached to it by some massive weights on ropes. The dock is stable enough to hold a couple people at once, but the driver recommends you go one at a time.
+
+Once you are all in the mouth of the cavern, the driver calls to you, and throws you a small briefcase. 'For the return trip,' he says.
+
+(OPEN IT)
+Inside is a signal flare gun with three separate flare cartridges.
+
+Once he confirms you opened it, he zips away on the water back to the carrier. You are now faced with the ocean at your backs and the cave before you, and it only gets darker as you look deeper in.
+  
+*IF THEY ENTER* 
+While the rock is overall rough, it is definitely NOT a natural cave. The walls have something of a carved and scraped pattern in them, like chisels were taken to it, but not with a rhythm in mind. Even the floor itself shows some smoothness, and after a minute or so, you realize the cave is at a slight incline.
+ 
+About 20 minutes walking into the cave, your flashlight shows the floor and walls not only getting smoother as you go deeper in, you could almost recognize a pattern in the ground.
+  
+(NOTICE ROLL) You hear a soft rumbling noise in the distance, slow and repetitive, like a growl on a repeat pattern.
+ 
+*IF THEY CONTINUE* 
+The noise only grows louder as you continue.
+You finally spot a light in the distance, coming from a lantern hanging off the front of an old blue and white wooden shack, tall as the cave itself and occupying the entire right side of the path. You also realize the cave is a dead end aside from the box. 
+  
+There are no obvious markings on it, but there IS a large square opening on the front, like an open window. That repetitive rumbling noise is as loud as it could possibly be AND is coming from inside.  
+
+*WHOEVER CHECKS*
+Inside the opening, you see a man sprawled out on a chair, and he isn't moving much. His legs are loosely flopped, his arms are hanging freely beside him, and his head is flopped almost all the way back and to the side.   
+  
+*SAY OR DO ANYTHING*
+You hear the most ungodly painful snoring noise you have EVER heard another person make. The man finally makes a move, and it is to twitch a bit in his sleep.
+  
+*INTERACT WITH HIM* 
+The man suddenly shouts "OH FUCK" as his body flails and falls backward onto the ground, chair and all. "Owww...." 
+  
+After a minute, he stands up and dusts himself off, revealing himself to be a golden blonde Stallion of just over 6 feet with lighter blonde hair down to his shoulderblades, wearing a tan button front shirt and black slacks. "Sorry about that, these shifts're so freaking boring... it's hard to stay awake."  
+  
+He squints at all of you. "Wait... I don't... are you all new people?"  
+  
+*IF THEY CONFIRM* 
+He becomes excited. "Fantastic, I love greeting new arrivals! Okay, ahem.. Hello, my name's Reiji, I'm here to give you one last warning that if you go any farther in, there is a definite possibility you might not leave. Are you sure you want to do this?" 
+  
+*IF YES*
+He pops out of a door on the left side of the box, walks to the far left wall, and places his hand on it. "And the password is... OPEN SAYS ME."  
+  
+Bright golden lines of magical energy grow from his hand into the wall for a few moments, before the rock wall behind him opens to reveal another stretch of path into the distance. But it is slightly obscured by a strange gold membrane of energy, definitely magical in nature. "Alright, just follow the path ahead until you come out of the cave. Best of luck to you all!"  
+  
+*IS HE COMING* 
+He laughs a little and shakes his head. "No, I still have a few hours on my shift, go on ahead."   
+ 
+*IF THEY CONTINUE* 
+Passing through the strange energy is no real issue, it just feels like walking through a wall made of cool wind. 
+
+*ANYONE WITH MANA*
+You DO notice your magic feels a little... off, since you walked through the membrane. It's not a BAD feeling either, it just feels a little more "energetic and lively."
+  
+CAVE EXIT  
+  
+After another 20 minutes or so of walking, you finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, and you think you hear sounds in the distance.
+
+*IF THEY ASK*
+Animal sounds.
+
+*IF THEY CONTINUE*
+It blinds you for a moment as you walk out, but you find yourselves completely surrounded by a borderline jungle of tall, lively trees. The second you emerge, there is an immediate rustling in the branches.
+
+- Some of the branches are occupied by birds and squirrels, you spot a raccoon climbing around the trunk of one with a fresh pear in its mouth, and the occasional rabbit hops by.
+- The trees are filled with fresh wild fruit. Apples, bananas, peaches, cherries, figs, all different kinds. And, some of these trees have rather large rocks underneath that look out of place.
+- The rocky cave path you were walking on is now a concrete slab path cutting through the massive grove of trees, but you can't quite make out what it leads to.
+
+*CONTINUE*
+As you follow the path, you start hearing more noises beyond just the trees and the animals. You could almost swear you hear voices, but they're so distant you can't make them out.
+
+The path eventually leads to a large white stone building, and it has fully functional wood doors on the front of it.
+ 
+*OPEN THE DOORS* 
+You are blasted by a wave of cool refreshing air from inside the building. The inside is a strange facility resembling a tourist rest area. The walls are a pale wooden yellow texture, but there are no windows except for the semi-transparent glass door at the far end.
+
+- Right beside the door you came in is a crate of cold plastic bottles of clear liquid, and each one has a RECYCLE symbol pressed into them. 
+- On the left, there are racks of pamphlets, brochures, and maps in a myriad of different languages, with most of the prints in English. 
+- On the right, there are several corkboards covered in fliers about upcoming events, job openings, and other ads with phone numbers. 
+- In the middle is a six foot tall and twenty foot wide circular corkboard with a round map of the planet, covered in thousands of pushpins, with several unused ones in a box below. 
+- On the far wall behind the map is a pair of bathrooms, one on either side of the glass exit door.
+
+(INVESTIGATE Roll) You spot a leg sticking out from under the planet display.
+
+*APPROACH THE EXIT*
+*or if INVESTIGATE was successful*
+You suddenly hear garbled yelling (from behind you) as a human man with greasy black hair and nasty clothing crawls out from under the map display. He's hooting and hollering angrily at all of you about SOMETHING, and he is shambling his way toward you.
+
+*IF THEY INTERACT*
+The man grabs (whomever is closest) and starts shouting at them for waking him up. His breath REEKS of alcohol, so much so you're certain he would breathe fire if he lit a match.
+
+He starts rambling about needing coin, then stumbles away, sways to the left, then to the right, and then falls backwards onto the ground, passed out.
+
+*AFTER THEY LEAVE* 
+The path out the door leads you directly into another massive patch of trees, but they are far more sparse, shining brighter light on the path ahead of you. This time, the area is occupied by more random animals, some small bodies of water resembling ponds full of fish, and groups of people. Perfectly normal ones, no less, just walking around like nothing is wrong.
+
+*TALK TO THEM*
+Two yellow parakeet people stop to talk, a man with red hair & glasses wearing a blue polo tee and a woman with long brown hair in a similarly blue sundress. "Hey there!"
+
+*ASK THEM ANYTHING*
+They both suddenly smile a bit and snicker toward each other. The woman speaks first. "You're newbies to the island, right?"
+
+*IF YES*
+The man laughs a little. "Hoo boy, you're in for some shell-shock when you head farther in. Just follow that path there and look for the sign marked 'Capitol.' Everything'll make sense once you see it."
+
+A pair of parakeet children, a boy in a red tee shirt & blue overalls and a girl in a pink sundress, suddenly run in and grab the two adults' hands, dragging them away excitedly.
+
+*CONTINUE*
+Once you move down the path a bit more, the trees finally part to reveal an almost metropolitan city. There are dozens of people walking, biking, driving, or riding the trolley on freshly paved concrete roads. All along those roads are simplistic power line structures, connecting to the buildings and the local street lights.
+
+There is a fairly large sized road sign at the end of your pathway pointing in five directions. RESIDENTIAL, BUSINESS, CAPITOL, GATED, and ESSENTIALS are all pointed out individually.
+ 
+- On your left is a series of neighborhoods, filled to the brim with houses and families alike
+- On your right is a bustling group of stores and businesses, each with a simple sign to represent what they are for
+- In the middle is a group of five gold and white buildings topped with pointy glass structures reflecting the sunlight all around in beautiful colorful refractions.
+- You can't quite see the other two areas the sign point out for you, as they are quite a bit in the distance.
+ 
+(Every place they visit, have them make NOTICE rolls to detect if they are being followed)
+
+*When they head to CAPITOL*
+You are approached (if not straight surrounded) by a group of average looking thugs, but when they make themselves known, the townspeople all start RUNNING.
+
+They're all carrying baseball bats, chains, rocks, and other random items. Most of them look young college age, but their faces are obscured by masks, bandanas, and helmets. Except for one.
+
+A six foot white ram man steps forward, wearing a black leather jacket, sunglasses, and wielding a white shortsword that is CLEARLY too small for him. "Well hey there strangers, we're the welcome wagon, here to greet-- sorry, here to BEAT you at the door of this, the city of Diadem."
+
+He aims his little white sword at your group with a very excited grin. "I CHALLENGE THEE!"
+
+Several seconds pass and nothing happens.
+
+He clears his throat. "Ahem... I CHALLENGE THEE!" Nothing happens. And his cohorts start snickering a bit.
+
+"Okay WHAT THE FUCK?!" He slams his fist with the sword into the pavement, leaving a sizeable crack in the ground.
+
+"You know what, fuck it. I'm kicking your ass the old fashioned way!"
+ 
+----- AFTER THE FIGHT -----
+ 
+*IF THEY WIN* 
+The attackers lie on the ground, groaning in agony. The ram is in shock, holding his head to keep a bleeding injury from pouring out. "Ugh, my aching head..."
+ 
+(NOTICE ROLL)
+You suddenly detect the stench of ozone.
+- Quick as a flash, both your group and your assailants are surrounded by a series of oddly dressed soldiers, their bodies lightly cloaked in silver trails of electricity. 
+ 
+Each one is wearing a knee-length black jacket trimmed in inch-wide silver all along the body and at the ends of the sleeves, the letters T.F. emblazoned on the back in identical silver. These coats somewhat hide a silver chestplate & matching bracers, black tact pants leading down into black boots with silver laces, chrome half-masks covering the bottom halves of their faces, and sunglasses that perfectly hide their eyes. 
+ 
+The ram man is terrified. "SHIT! Thunder Force!" He suddenly gets up and tries to scramble away.
+
+Two agents step up and each grab an arm, and turn to your group, nodding quietly. Their outfits' silver stripes begin to glow and crackle with energy, and all three appear to be teleported away, as do all the other knocked out thugs and costumed people in pairs, leaving behind several scorch marks on the ground leading in the same direction.
+
+(IF THEY ASK) They are all leading where the sign indicated ESSENTIALS 
+
+One of the costumed men stays behind, a black puma man standing at just over six feet with a very short black hair buzzcut and a small scar under his left eye, his coat bearing a silver nametag that reads HARKEN.
+
+He approaches your group, removing his sunglasses and looking you all in the eye. "I don't know who you are, but you have helped us contain a significant threat today, and we appreciate your assistance." 
+ 
+Your group is suddenly approached by dozens of passerbys, all of whom are really curious and start bombarding you with questions.
+
+-----
+
+(RAPPORT Roll)(to quell the audience)
+
+(HIGH Roll)
+Your speech has caused your brand new audience to calm down and listen to what you have to say, and treat every word like a fascination.
+
+(LOW roll)
+Your speech caught everyone's attention, but all it did was make them MORE fascinated and MORE ravenous for your attention.
+
+Harken will lean down and mumble to your group "Now it is MY turn to save YOU." 
+  
+He rears back his head. "People of Diadem!" 
+
+That declaration alone was loud enough to cause everyone to back away a good couple feet. "I apologize sincerely for the commotion, the Marauders paid us yet another visit! But with the help of these valiant heroes, they were soundly defeated AND in record time!" 
+ 
+The random people around you slowly but surely start to applaud and cheer for your group, giving you a few moments of (honestly well deserved) glory. You get offered handshakes, a couple people want autographs, the whole ordeal you'd expect.
+
+-----
+
+Once the excitement dies down, the people start breaking away, trying to clean some of the mess. HARKEN will approach your group again. "I can only assume you are all new here, otherwise you would not have such... bewildering expressions on your faces."
+
+"If you will allow me, I can escort you to our capitol so you may speak with our king. He can explain everything for you much better than I. I need to report this latest Marauder incident to him anyways."
+
+-----
+
+*CAPITOL QUARTZ* 
+The capitol itself is actually five different buildings, four of which are surrounding the larger one in the center. Each one is a pale white facility with a golden roof, and each one is tipped with a pointy prism-like glass structure on the top.
+ 
+The main complex building is identical to the buildings around it, but is a bit wider with more prominent doors on the front and a larger staircase leading up to it.
+ 
+*INSIDE* 
+The inside is massive AND immaculate. Several people are walking about in suits, carrying stacks of papers across a spacious marble-lined floor covered with deep red carpets. You only see a few desks and tables out here, but there are several doors all over the place with gold colored nameplates. 
+ 
+A fox man with shoulder length black hair in a black & red suit approaches your group curiously, his gold nametag reading NASH. "Hello? Can I help you?" 
+
+(IF THEY DONT RESPOND)
+Harken will step forward. "We are here to report a new Marauder incident that just occurred. These brand new immigrants volunteered their efforts to stopping them, keeping damage to a minimum. I thought it prudent for them to meet the King as well.
+
+"Oh!" He turns to your group specifically. "Well my name is NASH, I'm the King's Aide. Gimme one sec and I'll see if he can squeeze you in."
+
+He trots over to a nearby desk with stacks of paper, pencils, and an old fashioned intercom box. He holds down the speaker button. "Your Majesty, we have some new people in Diadem that want to speak with you?" 
+ 
+The voice on the other end is a bit garbled, but you do hear someone say SEND THEM IN PLEASE. He picks up a clipboard and guides you through a pair of double-doors marked KING'S CHAMBERS, down a looong carpeted hallway deep into the building. 
+
+He takes you to a massive pair of golden colored doors, one of which is open, and guides you inside before closing them behind you with Harken. The office is nothing spectacular, a few file cabinets, a couple couches on the left and right surrounding a decent sized coffee table, one large wooden desk, one chair behind it, and one man sitting in it.  
+  
+Behind the desk sits a deep purple robin man, draped in the finest golden laced draperies you've seen anyone manage to pull off, and whom sticks out a bit compared to the rest of the room and people.
+
+He stands and walks around the desk, revealing himself to be just under 5 feet tall, offering to shake each of your hands. "Hello, my name is Akarui, and I am King of the city of Diadem."
+
+*IF THEY DONT EXPLAIN*
+"I'm gonna take a wild guess. You were sent here by your country's government, strapped for war, entered into the literal opposite, got blindided by a bunch of thugs, kicked their asses in short order, and Harken escorted you here personally?"
+
+Harken will chime in. "With minimal damage, in record time. One escaped, which is... unfortunate, but the others are under arrest."
+
+Akarui will hop onto the desk and sit on it like a chair in front of you all, guiding you to sit on the couches. "I'm sure you have endless questions and I will be happy to answer all of them for you here and now."
+
+Harken steps back. "I will excuse myself to return to my duties." His body will begin to crackle with electrical energy before he takes a single step away and is GONE in a flash, only leaving a scorch mark in the floor.
+
+Akarui hangs his head. "I wish he wouldn't do that indoors..."
+ 
+ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS HONESTLY AS YOU CAN 
+ 
+*WHAT IS THIS PLACE* 
+"A long time ago, this land mass just spawned in the middle of the ocean, and every country wanted to be the first to find out what happened. Every one of them sent in soldiers, scientists, and volunteers of the highest caliber to the land, but none of them ever came back."  
+  
+"The reason is because of the special magic of this land. I'm sure you saw the golden membrane that surrounds our city as you came in. It's difficult to put into words, but its a type of protective magic, prevented our ancestors from leaving without going through some OBNOXIOUS bullshit prophecy type thing."
+
+"So, instead of just dying here, they cultivated the land and make it liveable. Since the first wave didn't come back, they kept sending new ones to find out what happened. Rinse and repeat a few dozen generations, and we became a thriving city with a current population of about... what was it, 10,000 last census?"
+  
+*THE ATTACKERS* 
+"THAT would be the Marauders. Or at least that's what they're calling themselves. They're just a huge collection of troublemakers that hate not being able to leave. Their logic is since they are stuck here, they may as well make everyone else as miserable as they are."
+ 
+*THUNDER FORCE* 
+"Ah yes, our soldiers in silver. They are the peacekeeping force in this town, our version of the police and military all rolled up into one. Someone found out harnessing lightning magic in our bodies in just the right way gave people a massive speed and strength boost, so those that were gifted for it usually ended up joining them. And thanks to the Marauders, they do recruitment drives every week it seems.." 
+ 
+*POWER IN TOWN* 
+"Funny story, THAT was a happy accident. About 10 years ago, our top scientists tried drilling our way out of Diadem. We managed to make a hole straight down through the island, with some severe casualties, but we couldn't exactly escape through it." 
+ 
+"Being on an island in the middle of the ocean with our limited resources meant it wasn't a feasible or safe escape plan, so our remaining engineers converted it into an access point for a hydroelectric generator. Took a few years, and it's a bit buggy at times, but it makes living here so much more pleasant." 
+ 
+*LEGEND/PROPHECY*
+"Well... I hesitate to tell you and get your hopes up, but there is an old island legend, predates all of us. Supposedly, you can earn your way out by challenging some 'island guardians' and earning their treasures as keys. But the legend is old, the rules are unclear, and I'd rather not have my citizens jumping headfirst into some hokey magic legend and possibly getting killed over nothing. We're already working on another way out, we just... aren't there yet."
+ 
+*NO OTHER QUESTIONS* 
+"Okay well, before before you go, I'd like to offer you a token of my gratitude for your selfless service." 
+
+He will reach back and hit a button on his desk on his own intercom. "Nash, please bring in Anais and Garamond." 
+
+It takes a moment, but the double doors open again, and Nash steps in with a pair of people, a man and woman both dressed in suits. 
+ 
+You also notice Nash is walking with a bit of a limp, his hair is ruffled some, and his shirt is wrinkled in the front. The guy is shaking his head a little, and the lady has a kind of 'superiority' judgment in her eyes. 
+ 
+Akarui walks back around to his seat. "This is Garamond from the Bank, and Anais from the Realtors Office & HOA. We're gonna transition you from your currency to ours, AND get you a decent place to live so you don't have to worry about either. And since you helped save the people, I'm footing the bill for the first month AND paying for the transaction fees out of pocket." 
+ 
+Garamond, a portly Dachsund with slicked back brown hair in a deep blue suit, steps forward first. "Ello there, I would like to ask you to hand me any currency or valuables you have that we can exchange for our own currency."
+
+When he sees you literally have a hundred different types of cash, he is a bit ecstatic, and trades each of you a bag of coins. They come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50, and are all fairly lightweight. When you count it out, you received a bag of 500 of this currency.
+
+"Our currency is all coin, and it's called Z (zee). Each coin is filled with sea salt, enchanted with a special type of INFUSION technique that is a trade secret."
+  
+Anais, a well groomed Sheep woman with curly white hair that feeds into her wool perfectly in a red suit (the one with the grumpy disposition), steps forward after and pulls out a clipboard, speaking in a VERY monotone and irritated tone. "Hello, I represent the HOA and need a few simple questions answered for your new home here in Diadem."
+
+- What are your names, ages, and species?
+- Since your first month is being paid in advance by his Majesty, we do not need a down payment at this time. We collect payment on the first of the month, and if payment is not received within a week of that date, we reserve the right to remove you from your home. Do you understand and accept these terms?
+
+She puts down four small color photos. One is a simplistic apartment space, one is a decent style suburban 2 story house, one is a lavish estate home with a spacious yard, and one is a hotel room with a queen size bed.
+
+"Okay so, our housing options consist of the following:"
+
+- (number) 2 bed 1 bath apartments
+- (number) 4 bed 2 bath residential home(s)
+- An upgraded gated community home with as many beds and baths as you would like
+
+"Or if you require more time to decide, we can put you in a small group of single hotel rooms with access to a private conference room for tonight, and you can come back to me at the main HOA office in the morning."
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*IF THEY SELECT GATED* 
+Anais will perk RIGHT the fuck up, her demeanor doing a complete 180. "Well fantastic, I should let you know that there are some special... let's call them 'guidelines' we follow there. Nothing too restrictive, just that you keep your yards trimmed to a certain height, no noise after a certain time of night, your house and fence has a short list of colors you can paint them--" 
+ 
+She is interrupted by Akarui with a bit of irritation. "ANAIS... We've been over this. The people can do whatever they want with the houses, the lawns, the fences, I do not care. So long as they don't blow them up or set the yard on fire, it is theirs to do with as they wish."
+
+Anais suddenly returns to her prior demeanor of irritation, and simply hands you a fancy looking piece of folded paper before walking away. 
+ 
+*IF APARTMENTS OR RESIDENTIAL* 
+Anais will sigh a little. "Are you sure? Given the size of the group, you might be comfortable in a larger home, in our more upright living area?" Akarui will clear his throat, causing her to shut right up, and hand your group a document before stepping away with a scowl.
+
+*IF HOTEL*
+"Very well. Please hand me your map so I may point out where to go and where to find me when you are ready to make your decision. Please understand that *the King's generosity* will only give you one night there."
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+Akarui claps his bird hands together. "And you are officially all set, for now. Feel free to stop by any time if you have questions, concerns, change in circumstances, anything like that. I'm usually busy running the town, so you might have to set up appointments with Nash first, but I'm here to help. Have a fantastic day, and Welcome to Diadem!" He offers each of you one last handshake, and Nash walks you back outside.
+
+Nash asks to see your map & approval letter, so he can point out where your new home is. Once he sees both, he points out exactly where your new home(s) can be found, and a VIVID description of how to get there on foot.
+
+He shakes each of your hands before walking back inside the building and closing the doors behind him, leaving you to your own decisions from here. 
+  
+OUTSIDE TOWN HALL  
+(NOTICE ROLL) You hear a rustling noise and a raspy voice from behind (lowest roller). (lowest roller) barely spots a group of fuzzy appendages slowly closing in around them from their peripherals. "Ooooh~ Fresh meeeaaat~"
+
+*IF ANYONE REACTS*
+The voice is coming from a large black tarantula man, but his appearance is somewhat obscured by a long brown trenchcoat and matching bowler hat. He raises all six arms at varying degrees and angles. "Don't be alarmed, I'm just here to offer my... special services~"
+
+He laughs a sinister chuckle before giving a generous bow. "Call me Striker~ I'm a travelling merchant, here to offer information and wares to you and yours, for a small fee, mhmhm~ Tell me, you all seem a bit out of sorts... I could give you a bit of guidance as a one-time courtesy, for free?~" 
+
+(GIVE BEST RECOMMENDATION MIXED WITH CREEPY FORESHADOWING)
+
+-----
+
+*GET OUT*
+"Oh, you wish to escape the island? Perhaps free the imprisoned citizens while you're at it? How noble... and fruitless. Every new face always wants to be the hero of the people, but end up in the same place.. a normal everyday citizen with a normal everyday job."
+
+He pauses to think for a moment. "I recall a few years ago, they made an attempt at this very task, or at least they LOOKED like they made an attempt..."
+
+He suddenly bursts out laughing. "Ah yes, the movie! They recorded themselves and their valiant attempt at a grandiose escape. I believe it is still playing in the Diadem Theater right now..."
+
+-----
+
+AFTER HELPING THEM
+
+"Wonderful, it's like I'm part of the team~" He snickers and lines his three right arms up, simulating a thumbs up.
+
+*YOU NOW HAVE A SHADOWY EXTRA TEAMMATE*
+*HE WILL BE ON STANDBY IF YOU NEED HIM*
+ 
+"If you require my assistance, just find a shady little spot and call for me with coin at the ready~ I'll be seeing you soon~" He slithers up into a nearby tree and vanishes as quietly as he came. 

Story/02 - Interactions/-CITY_OF_DIADEM.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+# In the town  
+https://youtu.be/ddMSMwKQkKI?si=pwNsQ33NsDURbyq1  
+  
+# During fights  
+https://youtu.be/8Q7cioftmKs?si=eQbKsZr_OY7tH8-_  
+  
+# During challenges  
+https://youtu.be/3YO67uD8TAo?si=hV-EQlpzo8NdrvE8 
+ 
+CITY CENTER - CAPITOL QUARTZ 
+A fairly spacious five-building district, all white concrete roofed with gold, sits in a square formation in the direct center of this city. Each building is dedicated to the different necessary functions and filings that keep the entire city ran as efficiently as possible. 
+ 
+The center building is the City Hall, where the King of Diadem (as he is currently referred to) and the other top representatives of the city are all working hard every day of the week (but not weekends) making all the important decisions for the good of the people  
+ 
+EASTERN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT 
+A compact but comfortable array of over 8,000 homes, each roughly 1,500 square feet with a good size yard in the front and back covering the rest of the 1/8 acre space. Each of the 36 streets and 12 avenues has a 2x11 block of houses, each with a two lane car width street & sidewalk.  
+
+And, the farthest right streets have been converted into three-story apartments for those with either lesser income or who don't feel the need to own a full home. 
+ 
+NORTHERN BUSINESS DISTRICT 
+This busy business section has everything a thriving town would ever need! And with over a thousand acres of storefronts, you'll never visit every store in a single day. 
+ 
+WESTERN ESSENTIALS DISTRICT 
+This district houses a myriad of what most people would consider to be the most important facilities for the land itself that makes all our citizens as comfortable as they can be. 
+ 
+SOUTHERN GATED DISTRICT 
+This illustrious private access area is dedicated to three types of people: 
+- The ruler of the land and other high-tier people 
+- The people that desire (and can afford) a nicer home 
+- The retirees whom require more dedicated care 
+ 
+OUTSKIRTS 
+The forefathers that built and governed this land wanted to ensure every available piece of land could be used for the betterment of the people, no matter how trivial or small it was! 
+----- 
+Outskirt NE - Welcome Facility 
+The entryway to the entire city, there is a massive rounded information center full of freely take-able items including maps, brochures, glass bottles of water, advertisements for jobs & upcoming events, and more, all in a myriad of different languages. Around the building is also free access spaces such as a massive natural orchard, individual lakes & ponds full of small fish, public playgrounds, and plenty of greenery surrounding!
+
+Outskirt SE - Sport Zone 
+Designed to be the most entertaining area of the whole city, this is an area focused for anything and everything athletic and entertaining at all levels, fully equipped with a professionally maintained baseball diamond, football field, tennis courts, basketball court, Olympic pools, soccer field, indoor hockey rink, and seating for all the above openly viewable from all sides.
+
+Outskirt SW - Entertainment Junction 
+This little slice of fun times is fully equipped for your enjoyment with an amusement park, arcade, bowling alley, mini-golf course, pool hall, public pool, roller rink, multiple special restaurants including a fine dining establishment & a buffet, and (if you know where to look) a red light area with a bar, adult item store, and strip club
+
+Outskirt NW  - The Trash Zone 
+Despite the incredible strides in the land's ability to keep waste to a minimum, there is still SOME food waste and non-recyclables that can't be utilized. If it can't be put through the on-site recycling plant or the next-door junkyard to be repurposed, it'll end up in the burn pit to be destroyed.

Story/02 - Interactions/BANK.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+The bank building is rather large and imposing, easily two stories tall and composed entirely of fresh brick. The parking lot is also freshly paved, but you do spot some scorched tire marks across the painted lines.
+
+Inside is just as impressive. The walls are bottom half blue tile and top half lighter blue painted concrete, complete with marble stone flooring. There's one large leather couch seating area near the middle, three private offices to the left with all their doors shut, and a counter with four teller windows to the right.
+
+-----
+
+(IF THEY MET) You spot Garamond the Schnauzer in a light blue dress shirt & red tie, with a dark blue coat on the chair behind him. When he sees you, he waves you down to his counter. "Well look who it is! I haven't seen you since you arrived, how are things?" 
+
+(IF THEY HAVEN'T MET) You spot one of the teller windows is open and occupied by a portly Schnauzer man in a light blue dress shirt & red tie, with a dark blue coat on the chair behind him, and a gold nametag stating GARAMOND. When he sees you, he waves you down to his counter. "Hello hello, how can I help you?"
+
+-----
+
+*OPEN AN ACCOUNT*
+"I'll be happy to do that for you! Will this be individual accounts or a single shared account for all of you?"
+
+*EITHER WAY*
+He hands you (each) a stack of papers, asking for some basic information like name, birthdate, current address, and occupation. "Please fill these out for me, it shouldn't take more than ten minutes."
+
+*ONCE DONE*
+"Jolly good! Now to open an account, we will need some coin to put in for your starting balance, and we would prefer it to be at least 50z. Once we have that, you will receive a checkbook(s) with a balance sheet(s) that are good at any place here in Diadem."
+
+*OVERDRAW*
+"Well we understand that sometimes people make mistakes, so when we see you have overdrawn your balance, we will notify you by letter first and give you seven days to fix the error. After that... it depends."
+
+*YOU NOW HAVE A CHECKING ACCOUNT FOR EASY ACCESS TO YOUR FUNDING*
+*YOU ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED TO CARY YOUR COIN ON YOURSELF*
+*THERE IS NO LONGER RISK TO IT BEING STOLEN IF YOU LOSE A FIGHT*
+
+-----
+
+*CONVERT CURRENCY*
+"Well I can definitely help with that! I would like to ask you to hand me any currency or valuables you have that we can exchange for our own currency."
+
+When he sees you literally have a hundred different types of cash, he is a bit ecstatic, and trades you a bag of coins. They come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50, and are all fairly lightweight. When you count it out, you received a bag of 500 of this currency.
+
+"Our currency is all coin, and it's called Z (zee). Each coin is filled with sea salt, enchanted with a special type of INFUSION technique that is a trade secret."

Story/02 - Interactions/BIKE_SHOP.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+The brick building bike store has a glass windowfront showing off dozens of bicycles of varying degrees and styles, including road bikes, mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, folding bikes, motorized bikes, and children's bikes. There is also a bike rack out front with the parking lot, but its bars are currently bent in from a blunt impact, possibly a car.
+
+*INSIDE*
+You spot a man that resembles a very red antelope (an Impala) with curly black hair working on realigning a tire on a mountain bike, his hands and white shirt stained with a little oil or grease and his gold nametag stating AKIRA.
+
+Once he realizes you're there, he puts down the socket wrench, wipes his hands relatively clean with a nearby white towel he slings over his shoulder, and places both hands on the counter. "Sorry for the wait, how can I help you?"
+
+(Bikes are 100z regardless of type)
+(Repairs are 20z per HP)
+
+- While riding a bike, you may use the bike as a weapon for your ATTACK action, and use DRIVE to determine HIT/MISS/MATCH, dealing 1DMG on a HIT. If the bike is used for an ATTACK action, it also takes 1DMG on a HIT/MATCH
+
+- The bike itself has 1HP, and if it hits 0HP, it is now broken & unusable
+
+- While riding a bike, your opponent may choose to attack you OR the bike, or if using anything that can hit multiple targets, it will hit both. You MUST use DRIVE to dodge any incoming attacks instead of ATHLETICS or STEALTH
+
+- If multiple people are on the bike, whomever is driving must make the DODGE roll (using DRIVE) for any of them on their behalf, and that applies singularly OR as a group

Story/02 - Interactions/BLACKSMITH.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+*BLACKSMITH* 
+  
+The red brick building is of a small yet sturdy design, with a hammer & anvil sign over the door that currently has a bullet hole in the hammer's handle.
+
+Upon opening the door, you are greeted by the metallic THUD of hammers on metal and the stench of coal fire.
+
+- The left wall is full of freshly cleaned hammers, chisels, punches, tongs, and files
+- The back wall has a few built-in-the-wall forges, each with its own anvil, vise, metal table, and steel drum full of water nearby, with one of these anvils currently being used
+- The right wall is covered in racks of matte aprons, goggles, thick gloves, and other safety garments
+- The center is occupied by a square counter, ran by an older Jackal man with short brown hair behind a pair of goggles on his forehead and a red flannel long-sleeve shirt under a matte apron with a gold nametag reading MARVIN
+
+*IF THEY APPROACH*
+Marvin is smoothing out a large chunk of wood with sandpaper, looking like a massive baseball bat with holes drilled through it and a loop at the end of the handle. When he spots you, he puts it down and smiles wide. "Hey there! How can I help ya?"
+
+*WHAT HE'S WORKING ON*
+"Oh this? Someone ordered something called a 'ken-NAH-bow.' Supposedly some suuuper dangerous oriental weapon. Once I finish sanding it, I gotta fill those holes with metal rods and turn the ends into rounded studs."
+ 
+*ASKING ABOUT IMPROVING WEAPONS* 
+"I might be able to, depends on what you're working with."
+
+*IF SIMPLE WEAPON*
+"Oh yeah, this is right up my alley. Problem is, I gotta finish this project first. The earliest I can have it done is three days from now."
+
+*IF NOT SATISFIED WITH WAITING*
+*OR IF MORE COMPLICATED*
+"I'm sorry, I got my limits. Doing a weapon that complicated/fast just ain't in me anymore."
+
+He thinks for a moment. "But ya know, there IS someone who could help you out better than me, if you're interested?"
+
+He leans in a little. "I was taught how to do metalworking by a hot-headed piece of work named Aodaghan. Pretty sure he's still around. You take that to him, he can do things with it I never could."
+
+*IF INTERESTED*
+"Well good, keep that energy high cuz you're gonna need it. Got a map?" He points it out as a spot on the northernmost part of the rock wall around Diadem.
+ 
+(Go to RED DEMENSE)

Story/02 - Interactions/BOOKSTORE.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+-----=====-----=====-----  
+  
+*BOOKSTORE* 
+This old-fashioned tan brick building has a sign showing an open book with a quill over the door, and a broken glass storefront window with a metal pipe sticking out of it. 
+ 
+The inside also has some damage here and there, but nothing a simple wipedown couldn't fix. You see racks of fiction, nonfiction, romance, sci-fi, comics, children's books, all the normal stuff you'd expect to see. 
+  
+(INVESTIGATE ROLL) You find multiple history textbooks, but they couldn't be more than a few years old. You DO recognize alot of these titles on the shelves. In fact, some of these books you know were released VERY recently.
+- Fiction: The Girl On The Train
+- Nonfiction: Between The World and Me
+- Romance: Tremaine's True Love
+- Sci-Fi: Golden Son
+- Comics: Paper Girls
+- Children's Books: Hard Luck
+   
+"Hello there, can I help ya find anything??" The voice comes from an older bulldog man with thick glasses, a metal cane, and a blue apron over a red tee shirt & black slacks, his gold nametag reading WARTON.  
+   
+ASK ABOUT THE HISTORY BOOK  
+He will laugh a bit and reply "Oh, you'd want the OLD history book then. The schools get to those quick, but I think we have one or two copies left." 
+ 
+He guides you to walk through one of the aisles toward the farther back part of the store. "So if ye don't mind me asking, what do ya need it fer? Old book like that, gotta be something special." 
+ 
+*AFTER ANY RESPONSE* 
+"Then this book'll give you some insight fer sure. You'll hafta excuse the mess though, those rassafrassin' Marauders have been makin' a mess outta everything lately. 'Speaking fer the unhappy people of Diadem' my ass." 
+  
+-----  
+  
+He reaches the shelf where the book SHOULD be, but the book and several others on the shelf have been burned to ash. "Oh dear, those were my last copies, and my next shipment isn't for another week..." He seems downright downtrodden. 
+ 
+He perks up suddenly, turning to your group with renewed vigor. "But I know where ya can look fer another one, The Grand Library!" 
+ 
+He laughs heartily as he walks back back to the front of the store. "It's a magical place, an amazing library of infinite knowledge and wisdom! I first went there when I was five, and the librarian there was so nice, he inspired me to open my bookstore." 
+ 
+He points to a larger version of the map you are all carrying plastered on the wall of the store, currently singed in one corner, and points out an orange spot on the westernmost side of the rock wall around Diadem. 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+"Er, wait! Before you head there, could you do an old man a kindness?" He steps behind the counter to start digging around for something. 
+ 
+He pops back up holding an old children's book titled The Phantom Tollbooth. "Here it is! Could you please return this to the library? I borrowed it as a tot, but I think it's time for the next generation to be inspired by it." 
+  
+(Go to ORANGE DEMENSE)
+ 

Story/02 - Interactions/CAR_DEALERSHIP.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+The dealership is loaded with a multitude of somewhat odd looking vehicles. Instead of the ones you normally see back home, these ones are framed in a much more streamlined & minimalistic fashion, looking more like dune buggy frames with sheets of metal across it than normal cars.
+
+The building itself is painted a pale sky blue and has a few people wandering around inside, staring at the various vehicles they have on display, Before you can even walk in, your attention is called out to by someone already in the lot.
+
+A short weasel man with a brown combover hairdo in a goofy brown suit over a black jacket & red tie approaches, his gold nametag stating BARRY. "Hi hello and welcome to Barry's House of Wheels, I assume you're here to look at one of our fine and fantastic vehicles for your driving pleasure. What are we looking at today, something sporty and minimal, or something larger that the whole family can enjoy?"
+
+-----
+
+2 or 4 seater cars, trucks, and jeeps are 20,000z to own or 400z a month to rent, and can be a rent-to-own after 5 years at this rate (10HP)
+ 
+6-seater vans are 37,500z to own or 750z a month to rent, and can be a rent-to-own after 5 years at this rate (10HP)
+
+- Vehicles like cars or motorcycles do not require fuel. They instead run off a point of MANA, and will run on that point for the entire day, unless it is turned off
+
+- While riding in a car, you may use the car as a weapon for your ATTACK action, and use DRIVE to determine HIT/MISS/MATCH, dealing 3DMG on a HIT. If the car is used for an ATTACK action, it also takes 1DMG on a HIT/MATCH
+
+- The car itself has 10HP, and if it hits 0HP, it is now broken & unusable
+
+- While riding in a car, your opponent may choose to attack you OR the car, or if using anything that can hit multiple targets, it will hit both. You MUST use DRIVE to dodge any incoming attacks instead of ATHLETICS or STEALTH
+
+- If multiple people are in the car, whomever is driving must make the DODGE roll (using DRIVE) for any of them on their behalf, and that applies singularly OR as a group
+
+- While riding in a car, you cannot use any FIGHT weapons, unless they have the THROWING or REACH property

Story/02 - Interactions/ENCHANTER.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+The enchanter's store is small, among the smallest stores you've seen across Diadem, but it appears well maintained, and the brick looks freshly cleaned. You do see one dent in the handrail leading up the stairs though.
+
+Inside, the walls are covered in shelves of magical items and scroll tubes, the largest of which is the rack of mgic rings at the front counter. The register is ran by a Rook woman, a black bird with a white beak under a costume witch's hat and black dress, her gold nametag stating APRIL.
+
+When you approach, you see her shining a gold ring with a red gem in it, smiling when she finishes. It is not until she holds it up to the light that she says anything to your group.
+
+"Beautiful, isn't it? From one small stone, a few motes of magic, and a loop of gold metal comes an item so powerful, it can protect those whom wear it from the worst effects of certain spells."
+
+*SCROLL TUBES*
+"Oh those? Those are War Banners, created for enhancing certain abilities during the heat of battle, using magically infused fibers to draw out the latent talents and abilities of anyone near it."
+
+-----
+
+BANDED RING
+A banded ring is a unique gemstone ring infused with magical energy in a permanent fashion. Much like how WILL functions, this ring dampens the effects of magic slightly, negating the status effect of one color of magic, and can also dampen the effects of constant magic exposure.
+- Costs 50z
+
+-----
+
+WAR BANNERS
+A War Banner is a unique magical item, a type of flag composed of fibers woven with MANA, that can be deployed during battle to give everyone within a ten foot radius (2x2 ZONES) a boost in their fighting abilities for three rounds before the magic is depleted.
+
+(Each war banner costs 50z)
+
+- Banner of Courage gives +1 to all FIGHT rolls
+
+- Banner of Precision gives +1 to all SHOOT rolls
+
+- Banner of Acrobatics gives +1 to all ATHLETICS rolls
+
+- Banner of Mysticism gives +1 to all ACADEMICS rolls

Story/02 - Interactions/GROCERY_STORE.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+The grocery store building is painted an odd shade of tan, but is among the larger buildings in the area. The front doors are glass push & pull, the parking lot is freshly paved, and the cart rack is full, but you see a few carts with some ribs of metal missing.
+
+Inside, the walls are a freshly painted peach, the floors are smooth concrete, and there are a dozen aisles filled with fresh & pre-packaged foods of all types. Any foods you can think of can be found here, all organized across maybe ten aisles.
+
+*SOMETHING SPECIFIC*
+You spot a stocker working on an aisle's cans of soup, a ferret boy with short blonde hair in a white tee shirt under a red apron with a gold nametag stating JACK. When you approach, he turns one more can and smiles to your group. "How can I help you?"
+
+*QUESTION OR ISSUE*
+The employee takes off toward the back of the store, coming back about 30 seconds later with a second man, a middle aged Condor man with long silver hair tied back into a ponytail, wearing a button front white shirt & black tie, his gold nametag stating FERGUS. "What seems to be the problem here?"
+
+*CHECK OUT*
+You see a few lines open, but the shortest one is the farthest from the door ran by a balding tortoise man in a beige long sleeve shirt under a red apron, his gold nametag stating EUSTACE. When he spots you, he leans over the hand-crank conveyor belt with a smile on his face. "Find everything you needed today?"
+
+-----
+
+

Story/02 - Interactions/GYM-NASTICS.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+*GYM* 
+ 
+The two story brick building itself seems pretty basic. Concrete pathways, wooden double doors, large sign with both an arm flexing and a body in a yoga pose. You DO spot a pool off to the side, but it is partly on fire. 
+ 
+Inside gives you a school building feeling, aside from the sounds of grunting and metal clanking in the distance. There is one long hallway leading to multiple doors and one big staircase leading upstairs. You see the same yoga pose sign in the distance at the staircase, pointing up. 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*IF THEY STAY DOWNSTAIRS* 
+You see a door open beside you, and out steps an over six foot tall rhino man with a blond buzzcut held up behind an orange sweatband, wearing black  and blue spandex-like workout clothing, his gold nametag reading CLINT. 
+ 
+"Spotted you through the door, you looking for a workout?" 
+ 
+*EXPLANATION* 
+He smiles and claps his hands. "Fantastic, let's get started. First day is free so we can do a kind of... evaluation, see where you need work." 
+ 
+He guides anyone interested into one of the workout rooms, laid out with basic workout equipment. There are maybe five other people all doing their own thing, and they all look about the same sizes as your group. 
+ 
+Clint sets you up with your choice of a rowing machine, barbell, leg press, or treadmill to start, and puts you at the lowest setting. 
+ 
+You spend the next 30 minutes training under a slowly increasing workload guided by him watching over all of you simultaneously. 
+ 
+(PHYSIQUE Roll) 
+- (Highest roller) receives a bit of praise for handling themself so well and pushing the limit 
+- But (lowest roller) tried a little too hard and took a point of damage as a result. 
+ 
+He gets a solid read on what exactly it is you need to improve on, and its all fairly basic stuff. He hands each of you a written workout routine for longer better physical health. 
+ 
+"You do this regimen three times a week for 30 minutes, and you'll start seeing some solid results pretty quick. Were ya interested in signing up for a gym membership?" 
+ 
+*AFTER RESPONSE* 
+"Now hang on, I'm not saying you gotta do it, I'm just giving you options." 
+- You could buy your own gym and set yourself back a few thousand Z 
+- You could get a membership here, since we're the only gym in Diadem 
+- And I don't like telling first timers, but if you're really hard up for coin, there IS a free option if you wanna do a little traveling. 
+ 
+"Well there's this place called the Mountain valley gym. Way more top notch gear and trainers, but most people go there to get RIPPED. They like helping new guys too, but uh.. they can be a bit intense." 
+ 
+*FREE OPTION* 
+"Cool cool, got a map?" He points out a brown spot on the southeast side of the rock wall around Diadem.
+
+(Go to BROWN DEMENSE)
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+IF THEY GO UPSTAIRS* 
+You spot a sign at the top of the stairs with a flexing arm pointing down, defining a separation between the floors. The second floor is mostly just one giant room, with partly padded flooring and partly wood paneled flooring. You also see a long metal bar going across one of the walls. 
+ 
+"Can I help you?" As silently as can be, you are approached by a swan woman with blond hair tied into a long braid to her waist in a black leotard, her gold nametag reading JADA. 
+ 
+*EXPLANATION* 
+She will smile and take a step backward into the room, extending her arm in an inviting manner. "Then let's give you a free day to see what we can do for you." 
+ 
+She will them spend the next 30 minutes giving each of you basic instructions of flexibility exercises, including a few yoga poses. 
+ 
+(ATHLETICS Roll)  
+- (Highest roller) receives her applause and a moment of admiration for being so flexible. 
+- But (lowest roller) most definitely pulled something and took a point of damage as a result. 
+ 
+Once you all finish and she gets a good idea of what you can do, her recommendations are all fairly mundane stuff you could do as a morning warmup routine. 
+ 
+"Now these are all for basic flexibility and conditioning, and you should see results very soon. Were any of you considering signing up for more advanced aerobics classes?" 
+ 
+*AFTER RESPONSE* 
+"I see... well I am obligated to tell you that you could always have a membership here if you like, or you could do your routines at home without the professional aid of myself or my co-owners." 
+ 
+She thinks for a moment. "There is also a third option if you're interested. We have a sort of 'sister school', much more zen and atmospheric than ours. That one's free, but requires travel. We send any potential students to each other and find their preferred space." 
+ 
+*INTERESTED* 
+"Fantastic, if you have a map, I can point it out for you." She points out a green spot on the northwest side of the rock wall around Diadem.    
+ 
+(Go to GREEN DEMENSE)

Story/02 - Interactions/HARDWARE_STORE.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+*HARDWARE STORE* 
+The pale blue concrete building is HUGE, easily two stories in height, and the parking lot is partly taken up by a frontside loading & unloading bay. Although you DO spot two of the storefront windows boarded up by pieces of metal.
+ 
+Inside, the aisles are floor to ceiling, and every inch is covered in every kind of building material, plumbing, electrical, cleaning, hand & power tool, and lawn & garden accessory you could imagine. 
+ 
+You are immediately approached by a TALL bull man with tied back brown hair in a black apron over a dark blue tee shirt and blue jeans, his gold nametag reading ULRICH. "Welcome in, can I help ya find anything?" 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*ANYTHING BUT WOOD* 
+"Oh we got that in spades, right over here." He guides you all to a nearby aisle, and points out exactly what you are looking for. And the price is cheap, even for hardware store standards. 
+
+(NOTICE Roll)
+On your way to the registers, you hear a commotion in the building supply aisle, and notice several angry people. Nearly every type of wood rack is completely empty, save for some small scraps. 
+ 
+*IF THEY ASK* 
+"Hm? Oh. THAT." 
+
+----- 
+ 
+*IF WOOD* 
+He inhales sharply through his teeth and carefully asks, "What KIND of wood exactly..?" 
+ 
+*AFTER THEIR RESPONSE* 
+"Well uh... hm... I doubt we have a substantial amount, but let's go take a look." He guides you to the building supply aisle, and nearly every type of wood rack is completely empty, save for some small scraps. 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+"We can't exactly get more right now, the uh... supply chain is interrupted, and..." He sighs and rubs the back of his neck in frustration. 
+ 
+"Alright, I'm gonna level with you guys, we can't get into the Lumberyard to get more. Something fucked up happened over there, something NASTY. Everyone is too afraid to go in, and those that did, didn't come back out. Been a year since we got new supply, and whatever we CAN get usually gets earmarked for housing needs." 
+ 
+*IF THEY WANT TO GO* 
+He seems genuinely shocked. "Well... it's your funeral. Let me show you where you gotta go." 
+ 
+He walks over to a nearby endcap, grabs a fresh map, and points out a black spot on the southwestern side of the rock wall around Diadem. 
+ 
+(Go to BLACK DEMENSE)

Story/02 - Interactions/HERBALIST_POTION-STORE.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+The dual purpose herbalism & potion store is an odd looking one, partly occupied by a small greenhouse attached to the small brick building. The building is also partly overrun by vines, aside from the spots where it's been burnt off.
+
+Inside is a compact little store, half the shelves dedicated to herbs & spices of any caliber you can imagine, and the other half to bottles & vials, both empty and full of every color of liquid you can think of.
+
+You spot a head peeking around the corner of the shelf on the left, a blue pair of hands stocking a handful of shelves full of fresh tobacco leaves in a brown bag, before turning the corner and disappearing from view.
+
+You THEN spot an identical head turning the corner on the far right shelf, adjusting the colored elemental potion bottles so the labels face outward, before disappearing again.
+
+You spot ANOTHER head appear from the greenhouse entryway, carrying a sack of... something into the building and straight back into the store room door, slamming it behind him.
+
+"Can I help you?" Behind the register stands a lanky bright green gecko man in a lab coat with blue hands, short red hair, and a gold nametag stating JEFFREY.
+
+*ASK FOR ANYTHING*
+You feel someone poking your shoulder twice.
+
+When you turn to look, you see three more geckos, identical to the last detail, except their hair is laid out in different positions and their nametags state BILLY, SAMWISE, and MARSHALL. The three are all holding the exact item you are looking for.
+
+-----
+
+*POTIONS*
+
+Potions traditionally come in three sizes
+- Small Medium & Large
+
+Potions also come in three varieties
+- HP, MP, and Color / Elemental
+
+Potions cost 25z per size, regardless of type 
+- SML = 25z, MED = 50z, LRG = 75z 
+ 
+Potions sell for 10z per size, regardless of type 
+- SML = 10z, MED = 20z, LRG = 30z 
+
+-----
+
+HP Potions (clear liquid)  
+    SML heals 5HP  
+    MED heals 10HP  
+    LRG heals 15HP  
+  
+MP Potions (pearlescent)  
+    SML recovers 5MP  
+    MED recovers 10MP  
+    LRG recovers 15MP  
+  
+Elemental (color) potions
+- Each potion comes in 12 different colors, one for each color of magic (except gold)
+
+- Each Potion does two things:
+1) If you throw it as an ITEM action, it does X DMG + STATUS to all characters in the ZONE it lands in on a HIT, or just the STATUS on a MATCH (mimicking a spell)
+- SML = 1DMG, MED = 2DMG, LRG = 3DMG
+2) If you drink it as an ITEM action, it reduces the DMG you take from spells of that color by X amount & negates its STATUS for three turns (mimicking WILL resistance)
+- SML = -1DMG, MED = -2DMG, LRG = -3DMG

Story/02 - Interactions/HOSPITAL.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+*HOSPITAL* 
+ 
+The facility is an impressively tall three story brick building with multiple separate wings and sub-buildings. You see several doctors and nurses walking in and out at random intervals, with a parking lot full of civilian vehicles on one side and oddly designed ambulances on the other. But one of the ambulances is currently on its side. 
+ 
+Inside is even more impressive than outside. The building is immaculate, the lines are short, the floors are all marble squares, and the smell of cafeteria food fills the air. 
+ 
+This floor of the facility is mostly comprised of a line of check-in windows, a large seating area with about two dozen chairs, and a series of glass doorways leading to catwalks to other nearby buildings.
+
+-----
+
+*IF ANYONE IS INJURED*
+A pair of male nurses walking by in purple scrubs stop in front of your group with concern. An Alpaca with poofy brown hair & a gold nametag reading MICAH, and a black (Vietnam forest) scorpion man with a pale blonde buzzcut & a gold nametag stating KITIA, see your injured teammate(s) and guide them to sit down, asking what happened.
+
+While you talk, the two give a quick inspection to their wounds, scribble down notes on their general appearance, and check their heart rate. Once that is evaluated, the nurses give you two options.
+
+- Immediate relief using a high dosage of healing magic at a high price (3z per HP)
+- Basic medical care & medicines that take a bit longer to work but are cheaper (1z per HP)
+
+NOTE:
+If they take Basic care, they either cannot participate in the next fight, or all rolls will be at a -1 during it, unless they sleep first
+
+*EITHER WAY*
+
+
+----- 
+ 
+(NOTICE Roll) You hear a siren from outside, and it is approaching rapidly. Moments later, a team is wheeling a gurney with into the main lobby, carrying a parakeet man holding his side tightly. 
+ 
+"What's the emergency here?" 
+"38 year old male with a laceration across his ribs and side, likely a sword." 
+"Okay, get him some healing magic and-- 
+"Healing magic doesn't work on this." 
+"WHAT?" 
+"Every healing spell we cast just... doesn't work on it. And there's something else, we spotted gold in the wound." 
+"Oh God, another one? Okay, get him to a bed, we'll do what we can." 
+ 
+You watch the squad wheel the gurney away, the frustrated doctor writing something down on a clipboard. 
+ 
+*IF THEY ASK* 
+The doctor turns to you, a dolphin man with glasses and ear length brown hair, wearing a white labcoat with a stethoscope around his neck, his gold nametag reading DR TOHRU LEUMADAIR. "Hm? Did you need something?" 
+ 
+*IF THEY ASK* 
+He puts the clipboard back under his arm. "I'm surprised you don't know yet. People are coming in with injuries that can't be healed by magical means. Mostly cuts or gunshot wounds, all of which medicine and surgery can still treat, but their blood has traces of gold... something we can't identify around the injury." 
+ 
+"Whatever this is isn't fatal in and of itself for the moment, and we've succeeded in removing it to prevent embolysms without issue, but healing magic is our fast acting option for critical care. If someone were to lose something valuable to this, it could be permanent. We've had one fatality from this so far, and we want to keep it that way."  
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*SEE THE PATIENT* 
+"Medical code dictates noone can see any patient or any part of them therein, except Healthcare professionals, and even then only with consent." 
+ 
+*ANYONE WITH MEDICAL EXPERTISE* 
+*OR IF THEY HAVE SEEN IT BEFORE* 
+He seems very hesitant. "Given circumstances, there ARE protocols to allow you to see this, especially if it can further our understanding of what is happening." 
+ 
+He leans in very closely. "But you need to be very careful and follow my every word. You may have knowledge that can help, but this is still a hospital, and every person & procedure MUST be treated with dignity and respect. Understood?" 
+ 
+*IF YES* 
+He takes you to the nearby clerk window and requests (current party number) guest passes from the clerk, which she hands over no questions asked. "YWear these at all times, stay close to me, and keep your hands to yourself." 
+ 
+He guides you into the patient area with several sick and injured people occupying the beds, toward a specific wing earmarked G.D.I. (Gold Dust Injury / God Damn It) You see various people with semi-deep cuts and gunshot wounds, nothing too catastrophic, but they are definitely in some amount of agony. 
+ 
+He moves past them to a private office area full of file cabinets, pulls out a folder marked Tarbh, W., and pulls out an image of a fairly large cut on someone's chest. The wound has been cleaned fairly well, but you do see traces of gold dust against the opening, as well as a small sample dish with blood & the gold dust in it.  
+ 
+"This is the image of a wound that caused our first and only fatality. We attempted to clean and close the wound, but we couldn't get to it quick enough. Add to it the age of the patient complicated it further... but, do you know anything about what caused this?" 
+ 
+*MENTION GOLD WEAPONS OR SHIELD* 
+He writes down the information as you say it. 
+"So these gold weapons are to blame then... in the hands of the Marauders no less, can't say I'm surprised. And they devour mana to create this dust... I wouldn't believe it if the evidence didn't back you up." 
+ 
+He seems relieved to have this confirmation. "I'll be honest, just getting confirmation on what we half suspected makes a huge difference. We will add a prioritized protocol to clean the wound even more closely before anything else." 
+ 
+He quickly walks over to a nearby nurse and hands her his clipboard. "Get this to the other doctors, get an addendum added to our protocols made as quick as you can. This 'epidemic' might be over." 
+ 
+She wastes no time at all getting the information down the hall, and he turns back to your group. "Your timing was impeccable on this one. And thanks to you, Warton Tarbh might be the only fatality. May he rest in peace."
+
+(CONTACTS Roll)
+Warton was the name of the bookstore owner.
+ 
+*RECOGNIZE WARTON*
+"Did... you know him? My condolences. I assume you know his funeral service is later today, yes? I'd attend myself, but I wasn't invited, and I didn't know him well enough."
+
+*FUNERAL SITE*
+"If you have a map..." He points out a GRAY spot on the westernmost side of the rock wall around Diadem 
+ 
+(Go to GRAY DEMENSE)
+ 

Story/02 - Interactions/HYDRO_ELECTRIC_GENERATOR.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+The building itself is fairly large light blue concrete walls with a dark blue support framing, with one dark blue metal front door and several windows all around, surrounded by chain link fence with a large hole in the side by the entryway. You also see a sign on the front with pictures of water & a lightning bolt, as well as electrical wires originating from behind the building.
+
+-----
+
+*BACKSIDE*
+You see what resembles a LARGE old fashioned electrical substation surrounded by more chain link fence covere in WARNING signs, and four major power poles with cables flowing out to the nearest poles that THEN travel to all the major districts. Anyone with electrical background can recognize the circuit switchers, regulators, reclosers, and a few control buildings with heavy cables running to one and between the others.
+
+*CONTROL BUILDINGS*
+The first control building is wall to wall machinery, nothing but on/off lights and on/off switches on every single panel. Some of the panels are open, and each one is full of machinery and wiring dedicate to moving electricity from itself to another area.
+
+The second control building is surprisingly empty, the only thing in it being a series of open spaces with handlebars, and these handlebars are connected to a series of cables and circuitry, not unlike the first control building. Some of these cables appear to lead to massive battery units.
+
+-----
+
+*INSIDE*
+The building inside is surprisingly minimal, but a bit loud for your liking. In one corner is a small set of lockers with a small kitchenette, the other has a small desk and workstation with a red phone. But the majority of the room's space is taken up by a MASSIVE rounded metal casing, humming and grinding away as whatever is inside it (you assume) generates the power.
+
+From around the backside steps a shorter hamster man in blue coveralls, a white hard hat, white rubber gloves, and a gold nametag reading KAELID. He spots your group and immediately rushes to push you out the door. "HEY HEY HEY, YOU CAN'T BE IN HERE!"
+
+*GIVE ANY RESPONSE*
+He seems hesitant to listen. "Wait wait... you're not Marauders, are you?"
+
+*SAY NO*
+He stares at you for a few seconds. "I'm inclined to believe you since you didn't start breaking things immediately, but... net time, just have someone call in advance, okay? This place is important AND dangerous."
+
+He sighs a bit. "But as long as you're here... what were you looking for anyways?"
+
+*ANYTHING TO DO WITH A TOUR OR A CLOSER LOOK*
+He blinks a few times. "You serious?"
+
+*IF YES*
+He thinks for a second. "You know... I'm not opposed, because I never get tour groups, but... you're gonna have to get geared up. Grab a hard hat, earplugs, and rubber gloves from the locker, I'll give you a closer look."
+
+He leans in real close. "BUT DON'T... TOUCH... ANYTHING."
+
+Once you are all sufficiently geared up, he takes you for a general look around the unit itself. There isn't much to see, until you spot the trap door near the back with a ladder inside.
+
+*DOWN THE LADDER*
+As you descend, you get a better llok at the inner workings thanks to the lights running down the inside of the massive hole.
+
+Looking up, you see the motor half of a large rotor inside a stator, crackling and grinding as it gathers electricity.
+
+You also see a MASSIVE metal rod leading from it straight down into a massive chain link floor panel, all surrounded by a square cage of chain link fence locked behind chain and padlock.
+
+Beneath it, the chain link floor panel is digging into the rock, and you can see the centermost part of the massive turbine fan underneath it in the water, spinning surprisingly fast in the ocean current beneath it.
+
+*IF THEY WANT TO LOOK FOR ANYTHING SPECIFIC*
+(INVESTIGATE Roll) You spot a sparkling line of gold in the rock, only about an inch thick, and it runs in a massive ring all around the rock wall. 
+
+*WHAT IS IT*
+KAELID looks at it for half a second. "Oh THAT? Not a clue, it's been here since before the generator was put in. Wouldn't recommend touching it with bare hands, shit burns hard. But gloves are fine."

Story/02 - Interactions/MALL.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+*MALL* 
+ 
+The outside looks fairly standard, large concrete building sun bleached into a bland pale gray. But the building looks well maintained, the streets are paved with no visible cracks or marks outside of some scorchmarks, and the doors are ten foot high glass panel with brass handles. 
+ 
+Inside the two story building is a different matter. The walls are all painted a startling white, the staircases are immaculate, every storefront looks trendy & clean, and there are old-fashioned elevators with liftmen. 
+ 
+*EXPLORE* 
+Every store is a specialty store selling all manner of fashionable AND functional clothes. There are stores for sportswear, swimwear, shoes, accessories, heavy duty workout wear, even winter wear. 
+ 
+*ANY STORE THEY GO TO* 
+You will see a solid array of color and style options, in sizes ranging from toddler to giant. 
+ 
+*AFTER THEY SHOP AROUND* 
+The counter is ran by:
+A curvy Peafowl woman with long multicolored hair in a tight fitting red polo uniform polo shirt and a gold nametag stating Andrea 
+A bored looking Persian cat woman with tied back black hair in an orange uniform tee shirt and a gold nametag stating Maria
+A young Falcon man with slicked back brown hair in a yellow uniform polo tee trimmed in white, his gold nametag stating Jackson 
+A lanky teenage Cheetah boy in a deep green tee shirt with the store logo on the chest, opposite a gold nametag stating Dashiell 
+A tall Cricket girl with blonde hair in a braid across her shoulder over a blue polo tee, her nametag stating Violet 
+A muscular White lion man with a white mane of hair behind a black headband and a purple tee-shirt, his gold nametag stating Kevin 
+
+Once the merchandise is brought to the counter, paid for, and put in a brown paper bag, the clerk will slip a bright pink piece of paper in the bag before handing it to the one that paid. 
+ 
+It's a flier for an upcoming once-a-month fashion show this afternoon, taking place in the PINK demense, and hosted by 'The One And Only Demense Mistress, Madam Miranda.' 
+ 
+*IF THEY ASK* 
+The clerk smiles and points out the small pink flower pin on their uniform, on the opposite side of their chest from the nametag. "Madam Miranda is the one who designed all the clothes everyone in Diadem wears, and every piece has her insignia on them somewhere." 
+ 
+(INVESTIGATE Roll) You didnt notice this before but:  
+- Every article of clothing you bought has that symbol embroidered on their tags 
+- Several people are walking around with that pinned on their clothes, bags, or hats 
+- Every store sign has that little symbol somewhere on it 
+(IF THEY DIDNT ASK)
+- Why is there a winter wear store in the summer? 
+ 
+*WHERE IS IT* 
+The clerk smiles and turns to a giant map behind the counter on the wall, and points out a pink spot on the southeast side of the rock wall around Diadem.
+
+(Go to PINK DEMENSE) 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*WINTER WEAR STORE* 
+The store is overall no different than any other store in this mall, but it instead has a myriad of thick clothing & gloves and stylized weatherproof coats to handle any blizzard. 
+ 
+*IF THEY ASK* 
+The clerk will give a knowing grin. "You aren't from around here, are you?" 
+ 
+"Okay there's three reasons. One, alot of people are cold blooded and need a little more thermal layering to get by." 
+ 
+"Two, we do get winter weather here when the season aligns for it, and people prep for it year round." 
+ 
+"Three, and because I knew you were new, you don't know about the best place to cool off in the summer, do ya?"
+ 
+*NO* 
+"If you got a map, I'll show you where it is. But you might wanna grab a coat." They point out a WHITE spot on the southwestern side of the rock wall around Diadem 
+
+(Go to WHITE DEMENSE)
+
+-----=====-----=====----- 
+ 
+*MALL FOOD COURT* 
+The food court itself is fairly basic, dark green square metal tables with matching chairs, four seats each. There are several food vendors to pick from, and while most of them are more fast food related, there are also options for more specific tastes. 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*REGARDLESS OF THE FOOD* 
+Everything on this table is rich in the purest and most savory flavors you could've asked for. The ingredients are top notch, the beverages are fresh, even the salt & pepper are more flavorful than you expected. 
+ 
+*IF THEY ASK OR COMPLIMENT* 
+The clerk will laugh proudly, already in progress of making more food for the next people. "We get our ingredients fresh from the farmlands (ocean if they picked seafood) 
+ 
+*QUESTION FARMLAND / OCEAN*
+"Oh shoot, you must be newbies. Just a sec." The clerk checks out the next person in line, trots over to your table, and asks to see your map, pointing out a: 
+- BLUE spot on the southernmost side of the rock wall around Diadem. 
+- VIOLET spot on the easternmost side of the rock wall around Diadem.
+
+"You go to this place here, everything'll make perfect sense."
+
+(Go to BLUE DEMENSE or VIOLET DEMENSE)

Story/02 - Interactions/MECHANIC.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+The mechanic shop is surprisingly simple, mostly an empty space inside with two garage bays. One is big enough for two large vehicles (likely cars), the other for a few smaller ones (likely motorcycles). But it is painted a welcoming blue and has a small main entrance lobby on the front, and you can spot a man standing behind the counter flipping through a magazine.
+
+*APPROACH*
+Inside, you hear nothing but the soft sounds of metal on metal, and you can see the mechanics in the back hard at work, wearing blue jumpsuits and hats. The one up front wears an identical outfit, a black & brown ball python man with short black hair and a gold nametag stating MIKEY.
+
+He realizes you're approaching and quickly stashes the magazine. "Oh uh, hi there, how can I help you?"
+
+-----
+
+The mechanics specialize in repairing anything with a motor, any repair will cost 10z per HP, and will take one phase of the day for 5HP or less, or two for 6-10HP

Story/02 - Interactions/MOTORCYCLE_DEALERSHIP.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+The dealership is overloaded with different types of motorcycles in AND out of the red building. Street bikes, sport bikes, pocket rockets, cruisers, luxury bikes, all types can be found here. And unlike the cars you've seen, these motorcycles look identical to normal ones, aside from the motors looking more streamlined.
+
+On your way inside, you see one of the windowpanes to the storefront is partially melted.
+
+Inside you see a few more bikes, prized and platform-held models they consider to be top of the line. You also see dozens of people gawking at them in amazement, except for one burly German Shepherd man, arms crossed and laring your group down.
+
+*APPROACH*
+The burly German Shepherd man is wearing a black leather jacket with the sleeves removed over a black tee shirt, a pair of metal goggles on his forehead holding back his spiky black hair, and a gold nametag stating ARDEN. He silently chews on his toothpick, glaring at all of you shorter than his 6 foot 7 frame.
+
+*SAY ANYTHING*
+Instead of answering you, he simply extends a meaty hand forward, offering you a handshake. However, his gaze also holds the malice of a demon, like he's waiting for you to make a mistake.
+
+-----
+
+*TAKE THE HANDSHAKE* (PHYSIQUE Roll)
+
+(LOW Roll) He seems unimpressed and squeezes your hand a bit too tight for your liking. You don't take any damage, but you probably won't be twisting any doorknobs for the day. 
+- Give them -1 to their first FIGHT roll today
+
+(MATCH Roll) He raises an eyebrow and flexes his arm a little, before giving a smirk, showing off those dangerous canines.
+
+(HIGH Roll) His glare sharpens when your hands make contact, and you physically hear his knucles popping in your grip. He puts his free hand on your shoulder, laughing a deep disturbing laugh. "That's ALL I needed to hear."
+- They earned a discount on their purchase/lease
+
+*EITHER WAY*
+"Welcome to my little slice of Hog Heaven. What kinda ride're you lookin' for?"
+
+-----
+
+Motorcycles are 5,000z to own or 150z a month, and can be a rent-to-own after 3 years at this rate
+
+-----
+ITEM: MOTORCYCLE (VEHICLE)
+Requires DRIVE to use
+5 Hit Points
+Deals 2DMG on a HIT
++1 MVMT per turn
+Motorcycles do NOT require fuel. They instead run off a point of MANA, and will run on that point for the entire day, unless it is turned off

Story/02 - Interactions/MOVIE_THEATER.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+*MOVIE THEATER* 
+ 
+The pale yellow building is an old fashioned type theater, the kind your history books would call a Nickelodeon. The entryway has a ticket seller, the overhead & side displays are all lit in very colorful & stylish ways, and the sign hanging above it just has an image of a double spinning reel movie projector, the type that uses actual movie tape. But you also see a bullet hole directly in front of the camera lens.
+ 
+*BUY TICKETS* 
+The ticket seller is a rather short tuft ear owl man sitting on a stool, fidgeting with a purple pendant out of boredom, wearing a red vest trimmed in gold over a white dress shirt, his gold nametag reading AWAR. He straightens up immediately when you approach. "Welcome! I'm assuming... (NUMBER OF PLAYERS) for The Magic Circle?"
+
+The movies playing are:
+- Fast & Furious 7 (SOLD OUT)
+- What We Do In The Shadows (SOLD OUT)
+- Mad Max: Fury Road (SOLD OUT)
+- Inside Out (SOLD OUT)
+- It Follows (SOLD OUT)
+- The Magic Circle (INCOMPLETE)
+- TICKETS TO ANY MOVIE ARE 5z EACH
+ 
+*GO INSIDE* 
+The main lobby is small, but cozy. The walls are a gorgeous tan-orange, the theater entrances are three each on the left & right walls, and the back wall past them is occupied by a snack counter.
+
+- The popcorn smells fresh, there are six different seasonings, and the butter looks real
+- The soda machine has twelve flavors of soda, two of which are diet
+- The glass candy display is full of all the classic snack foods you expect
+(peanut butter chocolate hard & soft candies, chocolate bars, licorice, gummy candies, malted milk balls, taffy bites, the works)
+ 
+The Condor man running the snack booth has well groomed blond hair and wears the same uniform as Awar, his gold nametag reading DOLMA. You also notice he is wearing braces, and it is more obvious when he speaks that he is NOT used to them. "Can I help you?" 
+ 
+- BAGS OF POPCORN ARE 1z, 2z, & 3z BASED ON SIZE 
+- SODA IS 1z, 2z, & 3z EACH BASED ON SIZE 
+- EACH CANDY IS ONLY 1z PER PACK 
+- *OFFER DISCOUNTS ON MULTIPLE ITEMS OF MEDIUM OR LARGE* 
+ 
+*IN THEATER* 
+The theater is small, but well maintained. The walls are painted deep shades of orange green & purple, the black stone-like floors are fairly clean, and the 100-ish padded metal seats are well used but in good shape. They also have cupholders.
+ 
+On your way in, you spot a short but excessively fluffy snow owl woman with white shoulderblade long hair in an identical uniform as the prior two, her gold nametag reading MALLORY. She is carrying a short broom & dustpan and doing aisle inspections.
+ 
+About 3 minutes later, the lights dim and the title sequence of the movie begins automatically, no advertisements. First is the title card THE MAGIC CIRCLE, and it calls itself a live-action documentary of a group of brave heroes digging and rediscovering the ancient history of Diadem.
+
+It also lists itself as "severely recreated" due to some of the dangerous elements being a bit TOO lethal to show to everyone. And, the film was recorded over the span of a year, which all took place about five years ago. 
+ 
+The next 92 minutes have got to be the most GARBAGE TIER COLLEGE FILM you have ever seen. It is so cheesy you HAVE to laugh at it, the production values are clearly made in the cheapest manner possible, and the camerawork is genuinely terrible. 
+ 
+The main characters are a mid 20s Condor man, a short owl man & woman couple, and the cameraman that remains unseen but is heard sporadically voicing his concerns. All three actors wear some amount of generic adventuring clothing (vests, backpacks, hats with long brims), but the owls are both wearing eye-catching pendants, the male's round and purple and the woman's an icicle. 
+ 
+The story in a nutshell is, the three main characters (including the cameraman) look through an OLD old history book to find the ancient lore of the land, explain gathering twelve magical treasures, and use them to fulfill their wish to free the people. (the very task King Akarui advised you NOT to get your hopes up over.) Other than that, NOTHING about what you watch makes an ounce of cohesive sense. 
+ 
+- They find a lost child in an indigo hoodie lying facedown in a desert, and while explaining him as "another victim of the harsh environment," the kid stands up, dusts himself off, and walks away mid-shot 
+- They climb a mountain together and the Condor performs the most perfectly cut scream you ever saw as he is walloped by a falling boulder 
+- They go to what SEEMS like a graveyard, only to come across some kid's Gothic themed birthday party and almost ruin it 
+- They go to a jungle where they are constantly being pursued by nightmarish red-eyed wild animals 
+- They end up in the middle of a blizzard and are constantly being bombarded by snowballs from some VERY upset children 
+ 
+There are also repeated instances of the Condor ending up in the hospital, each time for a different injury or affliction. But strangely enough (and even with the crappy camera quality), the two owls are always untouched. The cameraman is also never hurt, but moreso because he stood far back enough to never be in harm's way. The Condor commented on this constantly, calling him a chicken.
+
+The Condor, however, suffered from:
+- multiple degrees of burns
+- sleep-wake cycle disorders
+- temporary blindness
+- high velocity abrasions & aerophagia
+- decompression sickness (the BENDS)
+- blunt trauma from a horse kick to the head
+- dependant edema (disassociation to gravity)
+- severe frostbite
+- electrocution burns
+- sudden onset depression
+- night terrors
+- extreme muscle fatigue & broken bones
+ 
+By the end of the movie, you see them gather twelve multicolored glass orbs in front of the Diadem City Hall building, and in the most anime (Dragonball Z) fashion, you see the Condor raise his hands to call out to... something. But, the film suddenly cuts out before the end result occurs. Not by choice, but moreso because the film looked damaged and burnt out. 
+ 
+The only part that remains after is a tacked on credit scene, and you only see four names listed for the entire movie's production. 
+- Star : Dolma Pe 
+- Co-star : Awar Solomon 
+- Tertiary star : Mallory Solomon 
+- Cameraman: Sunny Sydup  
+ 
+On your way out, you are called out to by the ticket seller (Awar). "Hey, so... just curious... did you guys like the movie?" 
+ 
+*REGARDLESS OF ANSWER* 
+"Yeah I'm not a fan myself. I wish I could say 'the book was better,' but there's not a real book. It was based on a chunk of lore from the back of an old history textbook. I'd still recommend that little blurb over that college project film any day of the week." 
+ 
+He leans closer to the window. "But don't tell anyone I told you that." 
+ 
+*HISTORY BOOK* 
+"The schools don't use them anymore, but there's a bookstore down the street that does. They keep a few copies on hand, much like how people outside copy and sell pocket versions of their country's important documents, like... what do they call that one... the Constitution?"

Story/02 - Interactions/MUSIC_STORE.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+*MUSIC STORE* 
+ 
+This brick building is alot more stylized than the others. The front of the store is covered in a black iron mesh meant to resemble speakers, covering and slightly obscuring the glass open front display. You also see a handful of broken arrows sticking out of the holes in the black metal mesh. 
+ 
+Inside is wall to wall aisles of musical instruments and supplies, but the aisles shorten in length closer to the store's center. Instead, there are four black leather couches, a small coffee table, and a few people sitting together, either enjoying the atmosphere or testing the instruments. 
+ 
+Behind the couches and beside the door is the register, manned by an Ibis woman with braided black hair and a loose tiedye tank top, working a modernized record player connected to the store's sound system, her gold nametag reading ELLEN.
+
+(INVESTIGATE Roll)
+ 
+(Aisle 1) has Drums and percussion instruments 
+ 
+(Aisle 2) has Fretted instruments (guitars, ukuleles, etc) 
+ 
+(Aisle 3) has Brass and woodwind instruments 
+ 
+(Aisle 4) has Violin family instruments 
+ 
+(Aisle 5) has Metronomes, music stands, and sheet music 
+ 
+(Aisle 6) has Consumables (strings, reeds, drumsticks) 
+ 
+(Aisle 7) has Microphones, cables, audio tech, & amplifiers 
+ 
+(Aisle 8) has Racks upon racks of records with relatively recent music, and record players nearby
+
+*IF THEY ASK*
+Among the records, you spot:
+- UPTOWN FUNK by Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars
+- SEE YOU AGAIN by Wiz Khalifa & Charlie Puth
+- SHUT UP & DANCE by Walk To The Moon
+- THE HILLS by The Weekend
+- BAD BLOOD by Taylor Swift & Kendrick Lamar
+- A few yellow fliers attached to the rack separators for a party, hosted by DJ ZAHIR, and it happens every (day of the week). 
+ 
+*ASK ABOUT FLIER* 
+Ellen puts down her headphones and lets the record play for a bit. "Hell yeah, love his parties. Guy throws one about every week and everyone is invited. Hell of a shindig too, last one had at least a hundred people. You going?" 
+ 
+*WANT TO GO* 
+"Sweeeet, got a map?" She points out a yellow spot on the northeast side of the rock wall around Diadem.
+
+(Go to YELLOW DEMENSE)
+ 

Story/02 - Interactions/PET_STORE.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+*PET SHOP* 
+ 
+The tan brick building is fairly plain on the outside, has a couple window displays full of baby animals that are waiting to be adopted, and has a sign hanging over the door with a cartoon cat and dog face. It is also the first store that doesn't have SOME amount of physical damage. 
+ 
+Walking inside, you see a few aisles full of basic animal supplies, most of which is separated by species. Cat, Dog, Fish, Reptile, Bird, all the basics are there. 
+ 
+In the distance, you see the distinctly Indigo hoodie of Caelum, and it looks like he's talking to someone. And whatever the conversation is about, he seems enamored by the topic. 
+ 
+(CONTACTS Roll) He is talking to a very enthusiastic Striker. 
+ 
+(IF THEY APPROACH) 
+Both Caelum and (Striker) the person he is talking to look in your direction seeing you approach, and (Striker) the other person ducks down out of view. By the time you make it to the counter, (Striker) whomever he was speaking to has completely vanished. But Caelum is pinching the bridge of his nose, seemingly in frustration. "Ugh... of course..."
+ 
+(IF THEY ASK) 
+"I was... talking to an old friend. Can I help you find anything today?" 
+ 
+(WAS THAT STRIKER) 
+"Oh you... know him too? Yeah he's an... exotic character, to put it simply. I like talking to him, he swings by and keeps me company." 
+ 
+(COMPLAIN ABOUT HIM) 
+"Well... I trust him. He's never given me a reason not to." 
+
+-----
+
+*RESPEC*
+"Oh, you... just a second." He walks over to the door and puts up a sign on it saying CLOSED FOR THE DAY.
+
+"Alright, if you're serious, then I'll prepare everything I need. Meet me at the Orange Demense laboratory in an hour, I have preparations to make." He quickly trots off into the room marked KEEP OUT, slamming the door behind him quickly.
+
+*AT THE LAB*
+You find Caelum already hard at work, mixing a myriad of chemicals together in various beakers and test tubes. He sits upright when you arrive, pushing a pair of goggles on his eyes further up on his head. "Perfect timing, I was just about finished."
+
+He walks over to (whomever made the request), holding out both hands. "I only need two more things. A sample of your DNA, and 100z."
+
+Once he has both, he walks back over to the laboratory area. First he takes the sample and adds it into the mix, but nothing appears to happen or change.
+
+Then he takes the 100z and breaks open the coin(s), allowing the mana-infused sea salt to fall into the mix. The second it makes contact, the mix begins to glow in a myriad of colors.
+
+He takes a stirring stick and carefully mixes it all together until the salt dissolves entirely, and the new potion settles into a warm indigo shade, almost identical to his hoodie.
+
+He pours the mix from a beaker into a potion bottle, corks it, and hands it to (whoever made the request), looking them sternly in the eye. "This is for you, and only you. Noone else can drink this."
+
+-----
+
+*ASK FOR SUPPLIES*
+"What we have is on the shelves, but if you didn't see it coming in... let me check the back for you." He trots off and heads for a pair of doors opposite where you came in from. One marked STOCK ROOM and the other marked KEEP OUT.
+
+*IF THEY GO INTO DOOR MARKED 'KEEP OUT'*
+(Go to -VIOLET DEMENSE)

Story/02 - Interactions/POST OFFICE.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+The wide yet short brick building is half glass storefront with two main rooms: The left room being the actual counterspace, and the right room being PO Boxes. It's not until you look  behind it that you see the building is simplylonger than it is wide, roughly triple the length. You see a parking lot behind it that mimicks the one out front, except larger for the mail trucks sitting behind it. Although yo do see one of the trucks is currently tipped over.
+
+*GO INSIDE*
+The counter is ran by a jackrabbit man wearing a full brown mail carrier outfit, hat and all, but for some reason he appears to be sporting small antlers-- holy shit he's a jackalope. He smiles and waves at your group as you come in, his gold nametag stating KAITO. "Hi, how can I help you?"
+
+*ASK ANY QUESTION*
+You suddenly hear the door behind you open, and in steps an identically dressed brown wolf girl with sunglasses on, and she looks VERY displeased with something. She doesn't even acknowledge your group being there, she just walks into the side door located by the PO Boxes and slams it hard enough to rattle the cardboard boxes behind Kaito.
+
+Kaito hangs his head a bit and sighs. "Please excuse Coco, she is easy to anger."

Story/02 - Interactions/REAL-ESTATE-OFFICE.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+The light brown concrete facility stands at two stories tall and is surprisingly well kept. You see a myriad of people through the multiple windows, all in high quality suits and high spirits. This is also one of the few buildings 
+that doesn't have some amount of damage.
+
+Inside is as clean and well kept as the outside. Tile floors, white walls with framed pictures of plants & people you could easily assume are important to the building, and a quaint lobby area with two couchs and four chairs surrounding a coffee table.
+
+In one of those chairs, you spot a familiar face: Anais, the sheep woman from your meeting with Akarui. She is flipping through several folders of paper lying on the coffee table, and is chewing on her metal pen cap every few moments. And she looks stressed.
+
+*APPROACH*
+Anais doesn't even notice you're there at first, but she eventually puts the paers down with a heavy sigh, and looks up to your group, like she knew you were there the whole time. "Thanks for not interrupting me... is there something I can help you with?"
+
+*WHY ARE YOU HERE*
+"I'm a realtor. The HOA isn't exactly a paying gig, ya know."
+
+*WHY SO STRESSED*
+She stands up and drops the folders into a pile onto the table. "You know what THESE are? These are noise complaints within the Gated community over the last month alone. Which wouldn't even BE an issue if the King would just take my idea of a sound ordinance seriously. But NOPE, he won't even give me a chance."
+
+She stands and walks around in frustration. "I have fantastic and simple ideas for fixing alot of the housing & money issues in Diadem. Sound ordinances after a set time, color restrictions for colors to paint your house and fence, basic yard cleanliness standards... it's not that hard to keep things running."
+
+She flops back down into her seat. "And if it's not the King, it's the realtor board. They won't take my vetting proposal seriously. All I want is a simple process of putting certain people in certain homes based on specific criteria, so the right people end up in the right neighborhood!"
+
+"But NOOO, we have to allow grocery store workers and fast food workers to buy Gated Community homes, knowing full well they won't survive a year in there financially. And then, when they SOMEHOW abandon the place and owe three months of back rent, it's somehow MY fault!"
+
+*ITS NOT A RACE OR SPECIES THING?*
+"Of course not. I'm an economist, not a bigot."
+
+-----
+
+*HOUSING*
+
+- Apartments have 2 bed 1 bath max and go for 250z a month 
+ 
+- Houses have max 4 bed and 2 bath, and go for 500z a month 
+ 
+- Gated residences have as many bed & bath as needed and go for 1,000z a month 

Story/02 - Interactions/RESTAURANT.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+*RESTAURANT* 
+There are multiple restaurant style buildings right beside each other, all of them looking mostly identical inside AND out, except for the signs on the front. Each sign displays a different food or ingredient to differentiate them, and each one has a small group of outdoor weatherproof metal & leather tables & chairs in a small corral of iron fencing.
+
+-----
+
+    The Breakfast restaurant is quaint inside, the walls & floor a soft light brown with wooden white tables. The Skink woman working the entryway has a long black ponytail and a blue shirt under a black apron uniform, her nametag stating Siya
+    
+    The Meat restaurant is more of a steakhouse with dark brown floors & tables and dark gray tile walls, but serves all manners of meat, fish, & poultry based on the grill smell. The grill is manned by a Black mamba man under a white chef's outfit with a gold nametag stating Weylan 
+    
+    The Vegetarian joint is a wooden wall & tile floor place with pale beiige tables, and their menu is surprisingly diverse. The main counter is ran by a short Panda man in a green apron & matching cap, his gold nametag stating Xavi 
+    
+    The Fast food joint is surprisingly modern with metal-edged wood tables & chairs and dark colored tile walls & floors. The register is ran by a teenage Jackalope boy in a red shirt and black apron & matching hat, his gold naetag stating Yvgeny 
+    
+    The Dessert restaurant is a combination bakery & milk bar, serving up drinks and fresh icing-rich baked goods. The restaurant itself is something out of the 50s with magenta & white booths and barstools. The counter is ran by a middle-aged Snow leopard man in a striped magenta & white outfit with a paper hat, his gold nametag stating Max 
+    
+    The Coffee shop is more of a lounge area with two-seater tables and leather chairs alike, as well as a small bookshelf. The counter is ran by a younger Partridge girl with blonde hair tied in a tight bun and a deep blue apron over a black tee shirt, her nametag stating Avah
+    
+    The Juice bar strongly resembles a coffee shop, except instead of coffee, you smell fresh fruity smoothies in the air. The place is brightly designed with white walls & tables with lightly colored wood seats. The counter is ran by a taller Wombat man with slicked back red hair and a mint green tee under a white apron, his gold nametag stating Gary 
+    
+    The Bakery doesn't have much seating, mostly two-seater tables in dark wood surrounded by pale brick walls. The counter & ovens are all being ran by a portly Salamander in a white baker's apron & hairnet over a gray tee-shirt, his gold nametag stating Zach 
+
+----- 
+ 
+*REGARDLESS OF THE FOOD* 
+Everything on this table is rich in the purest and most savory flavors you could've asked for. The ingredients are top notch, the beverages are fresh, even the salt & pepper are more flavorful than you expected. 
+ 
+*IF THEY ASK OR COMPLIMENT* 
+The clerk will laugh proudly, already in progress of making more food for the next people. "We get our ingredients fresh from the farmlands (ocean if they picked seafood) 
+ 
+*QUESTION FARMLAND / OCEAN*
+"Oh shoot, you must be newbies. Just a sec." The clerk checks out the next person in line, trots over to your table, and asks to see your map, pointing out a: 
+- BLUE spot on the southernmost side of the rock wall around Diadem. 
+- VIOLET spot on the easternmost side of the rock wall around Diadem.
+
+"You go to this place here, everything'll make perfect sense."
+
+(Go to BLUE DEMENSE or VIOLET DEMENSE)

Story/02 - Interactions/THUNDER_FORCE_OFFICE.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+*THUNDER FORCE* 
+   
+The two story precinct building looks relatively basic, the bottom half made of stylized brick and the top half basic concrete. There's no hanging sign like the other buildings, but you see a few Thunder Force officers walking in and out of the main doors, as well as normal people whom all seem a bit excited. 
+ 
+Inside, there are several more officers with clipboards in hand, all talking to a large group of normally dressed people in the middle. Otherwise the building itself is mostly dedicated hallway and wooden doors leading to various other rooms. 
+   
+A group of three officers in the back spot your group, all of whom approach you rather quickly. 
+ 
+- The first is a human woman with tightly bound brown hair in a bun, her silver nametag reading JENSEN 
+- The second is a Gila monster man about her height, his hair jet black and cut tight to his skin, his silver nametag reading VALEOS 
+- The third you immediately recognize from the Marauder incident, the tall Puma man with the scar under his eye, his silver nametag reading HARKEN 
+ 
+Harken crosses his arms, eyeing you all up from behind his tight shades. "Wait, I recognize you lot, you're from the Marauder incident the other day. Good to see you all in our office. Do you plan to try out? Or were you just here to watch?" 
+  
+*EITHER WAY* 
+"(Good to hear / That's too bad), we are always looking for promising new recruits." He pauses and looks at his two associates. 
+ 
+"It occurs to me none of us have been introduced formally. I am Third commander Harken, this is Second commander Valeos, and this is First commander Jensen." 
+ 
+All three of them extend a hand to shake yours. 
+
+-----
+
+*IF THEY WANT TO TRY OUT* 
+Harken will hold out a slip of paper. "You will be number 29 (add more per person). When your number is called, just step out into the center and we will get started." 
+
+-----
+
+*EITHER WAY*
+When the numbers are finally being called, the Commanders all turn toward the center, clipboards in hand. Harken turns to your group and mutters, "Let's hope this group is better than last week's."
+
+Despite the lack of frame of reference, you can see plain as day on all three Commanders' faces that their disappointment is immeasurable and their day is ruined. The attendees fumble with their guns full of blanks, fizzle out on their magic demonstrations, and jumble their words on the quick Q&A segments. 
+ 
+Poor Harken looks so disappointed, he eventually turns around and walks out of the building entirely, leaving Jensen and Valeos to finish evaluations without him. 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*IF PARTICIPATING* 
+Number 29 is called out. Once you step on the floor, a shorter cat woman in full officer garb with a silver nametag reading BINX looks up to you. 
+ 
+"Just like the others before you, we will be judging you on several specific attributes of being a Thunder Force officer. Are you ready?" 
+ 
+- FIGHT/SHOOT/STEALTH roll for weapon finesse 
+- ACADEMICS/MANA/WILL roll for magical prowess 
+- EMPATHY/DECEIVE/RAPPORT roll for verbal skills 
+ 
+Once you finish, she offers to shake your hand. "Thank you, we will have your results once all testing is complete." 
+ 
+*REPEAT AS MANY TIMES AS NECESSARY FOR EACH ADDITIONAL NUMBER* 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*FIVE MINUTES LATER, OR* 
+*AFTER LAST EVALUATION* 
+You feel the ground under your feet rumble and hear an explosion just outside the building. Harken runs back inside a moment later, coughing up smoke and covered in debris. "The Marauders are attacking the Residential district! I pursued but they outnumbered me!" 
+ 
+He winces in pain, but Jensen steps up beside him and casts a violet healing spell on him to take the edge off. "I'll get you fixed up in a sec.." 
+ 
+Valeos turns to everyone currently in the office. "Attention Thunder Force, current and potential! The time to truly test your merit has come! All non-agents are temporarily deputized until this threat is neutralized! I am deploying you all to the Residential District immediately!" 
+ 
+He pauses to look at your group. "That includes you! Get down and help however you can! If there were enough to outnumber Harken, we need all the help we can get!" 
+ 
+*RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT* 
+You see a group of about thirty Marauders, all laughing and swinging their weapons into whatever they can find. Car windows, mailboxes, light posts, everything breaks and they enjoy every second of it. 
+ 
+Rather than try any de-escalation tactics, the other deputized officers immediately start jumping into street brawls with the Marauders. There is about as many on both sides, barring one group in the middle that you would assume to be the ringleaders. 
+ 
+*WHEN THEY APPROACH* 
+You hear a familiar laugh, and see the same ram man waltz out into the open, waving that fancy shortsword of his around. "I was hoping I'd get to see you fuckheads again." 
+   
+AFTER THE FIGHT   
+ 
+The ram lies in a heap with not only the group HE fought you with, but also every other Marauder in the area. The deputized officers are all fairly battered and banged up, but your side definitely won today. Despite their various injuries, they are all managing high fives and fist bumps.
+ 
+"THUNDER FORCE!!!" You hear Harken's voice bellow out behind you. The officers all turn and form a lineup, all saluting Harken immediately. Harken walks over with a soft limp, holding his stomach with one hand. 
+ 
+"YOU HAVE DONE WELL. RETURN TO THE OFFICE TO RECUPERATE. DEPUTIZED OFFICERS, STANDBY." All the Thunder Force agents suddenly take off with electrically charged leaps, leaving you all behind in the lineup. 
+ 
+"As for the rest of you... what I witnessed out there was sloppy, uncoordinated, and barely qualified as a victory." Everyone around you looks dejected. 
+ 
+"So when you don that uniform, I expect each and every one of you to be better than you were today." The entire group suddenly seem surprised. 
+ 
+"We will be using today's fight to evaluate each and every one of you, so pay attention to your mail. You will each receive a letter within the week with your results. BUT, regardless if you pass or fail, remember that on this day, you all fought to make Diadem better. DISMISSED." 
+ 
+All the people start cheering for themselves and each other, before dispersing and walking away. Harken turns and looks at your group. "NOT. YOU."  
+ 
+He ushers you all to come toward him. By this time, Jensen and Valeos join his sides. "We saw what you all did. Out of all the people in this fight, we recognize coordination and effort when we see it. You definitely have what it takes. I think I speak for all of us when I say, we want you to be Thunder Force." 
+ 
+"You would start at entry level of course, but this will immediately qualify you for all employment perks. Uniforms, income, and status, including a publicly wearable trainee badge." 
+ 
+*REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY PICK* 
+Jensen and Valeos walk away to grab some of the defeated Marauders, and Harken takes notice of the ram. "Wait, I know him. Didn't we just book him a few days ago?" 
+   
+*THE PARTY RECOGNIZES HIM* 
+"Well this expedites things a bit. Since both our groups have dealt with him more than once, he is officially a repeat offender, and will likely receive an expedited trial." 
+ 
+"In fact... if you three would be willing to go to the courthouse and speak as witnesses, he might end up behind bars permanently." 
+ 
+*IF THEY AGREE* 
+He will pull out his own map and point out a silver spot on the northeastern side of the rock wall around Diadem. 
+  
+(Go to SILVER DEMENSE)

Story/02 - Interactions/WEAPONS_STORE.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+*WEAPONS STORE* 
+ 
+The red brick building is not in the greatest shape. There are steel bars across the one window, the metal door is dented in a few places, and the hanging sign of a gun and sword crossed over each other is currently split in half, each half hanging on separate chains. 
+ 
+But inside is immaculate. The walls are freshly painted a deep blue, there are multiple racks each overloaded with used blades & firearms, and there are brand new ones behind the counter currently occupied by a stout Doberman in a basic white tee under a leather jacket, currently polishing a brand new dagger set. 
+
+*APPROACH*
+He places the daggers on a rack behind him, turning to your group and leaning on the glass case full of ammunition, silencers, scopes, extended magazines, holsters for guns & blades alike, chest armor holders & separate plates, and magic rings in a dozen different colors. 
+ 
+(IF THEY HAVENT MET) 
+"What can I get for ya?" 
+ 
+(IF THEY HAVE MET) 
+"Well look who it is, my favorite customers." 
+ 
+*HE WILL GLADLY SELL THEM ANY WEAPONS, AMMO, AND ACCESSORIES THEY NEED* 
+ 
+*HIGH AMOUNT OF STOCK* 
+"Yeah I'm kinda overloaded on gear right now. People have been selling alot, but not many are buyin'. You'd think with all the Marauder nonsense, they'd be more into home defense nowadays, but guess not." 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*SECOND VISIT* 
+The building looks essentially the same from the outside, but the sign is being held together in midair by a strip of duct tape on the back. It's crooked, but it's legible now. 
+ 
+Inside is identical as well, but this time, all the racks with the used weapons are borderline barren. The large number of basic swords, pistols, knives, and rifles are almost completely empty, and all the ammo for them are gone from the case. Still plenty of bigger weapons and magic rings though. 
+ 
+"Well look who it is, my favorite customers." 
+ 
+*STOCK IS MOSTLY GONE* 
+"Funny story about that, the store got raided by Marauders. They wanted to steal every weapon I had, but uh... they were kinda empty handed. And when they found out I now buy and sell from the Thunder Force, they straightened up RIGHT quick. Now I got regular customers, business is boomin', AND I got a new business partner." 
+ 
+The front door to the store opens and reveals STRIKER, carrying a deep blue duffel bag. "Ah, Kings of Kings, what a wonderful surprise, heheh~" 
+ 
+Jerras leans to the side and smirks. "Well look who's early to their shift." 
+ 
+Striker snickers and lies the duffel bag on the counter. "Well I had to do some inventory before I got on duty, PARTNER." 
+
+Striker unzips the duffel bag, revealing it to be full of used weapons.
+
+*ASK ABOUT WEAPONS*
+"Normally I carry a large number of these with me everywhere I go, but that gets tiresome. Now, I just shadow travel myself back and forth between here and any potential buyers, making myself a mobile business partner."

Story/03 - Demense/-Indigo-Demense.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+Upon walking through the "forbidden door", your group sees an infinite expanse of nothingness. There are no buildings, no trees, no signs of life of any kind. 
+ 
+Overhead you can see an infinite starry night sky with no moon in sight, and beneath you the floor seems to move and shimmer like a massive pool of water. Your feet stand upon it no differently than any other floor, and from where your feet stand and step, ripples expand out and make those little lights dance beautifully in the reflection. 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*IF INTRUDING* 
+Caelum will appear behind the individual/group, clear irritation in his eyes. "You people really don't know how to read, do you?"
+
+*AFTER THEY RESPOND*
+He glares at them, but will sigh and push his way through the doorway. "Whatever, not like it really matters... might as well come in." 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+Caelum will walk in and turn to your group, raising his hands in a half-hearted attempt at being entertaining. "Well here it is, my... 'demense' I guess, following this place's stupid rules. I call it the Seeker demense."
+
+He heads in a bit deeper, and waves your group to come in half heartedly. You didn't quite spot it at first, but there are SOME small objects in the room. 
+ 
+You see a decent sized bed, a few sturdy wood & leather chairs, a lit fireplace with the smoke rising into the infinite above, a series of black candles lit atop the mantle, and a small table with some open books & papers on it near the chairs. 
+ 
+(INVESTIGATE ROLL) 
+- The bedspread, the leather of the chairs, and the backs of all the books are almost all the same shade of indigo 
+- The flame inside the fireplace, as well as the flame on the candles themselves, are all a radiant green. Moreso, the candles are all in groups of 1, 2, 3, and 4 in their holders, but in the middle is an old fashioned menorah holding the last 5 
+- The books on the table are surprisingly high class readings. Psychology books, conceptual understanding & reasoning dissertations, an interstellar Bible, and some strange scribbles discussing the values of mind & body, as well as logic & reason being correlated to emotion 
+ 
+*IF THEY ASK WHAT HE IS* 
+He shrugs a little. "There's no real definition for 'what' I am here, but the closest I can find would be... demon, I guess?"
+
+He will pull back his hood, revealing a small lizard sitting atop his head. He will pick the little creature up, hold it in his hands, and pet it lightly. "Suffice it to say I'm not mortal, I just chose this look to separate myself from... where I came from." He will set his lizard down on another nearby chair. 
+ 
+*WHERE DID HE COME FROM* 
+His eyes suddenly sink a little as he thinks about that one, looking a bit sad. "I came here from another reality... one where everything was in a perpetual cycle, and no matter how hard anyone tried, it always ended up the same. Everything turned out well there, but... well, something else came up. So I left. Ended up here on accident, probably because it had... elements of my home I didn't want to leave behind." 
+ 
+*ASK ABOUT DM/REGALIA* 
+"If you are looking to fight me as you would a Demense Master, I can fill the part. I am only able to do so on a technicality, because of this island's... rules."
+
+He will stand up and approach your group, looking at all of you with a serious glint in his eye. "I should warn you, my magic is vastly different from the Masters. I would severely limit myself, but it will not be an easy fight. I have to stress this above all else. And just like in their CHALLENGES, you can surrender anytime you want and try again." 
+ 
+"There wouldn't be a Regalia at risk, for either of us. But, should you win, I would be inclined to give you a different prize."
+
+*WHAT PRIZE*
+"I could give you an all-new ability, you could learn one of my spells, I could craft you a new weapon, I could answer any question-- ALMOST any question. Some knowledge I hold would jeopardize my stay here." 
+ 
+*IF THEY ACCEPT* 
+He will step away from your group into the center of the void, his body radiating with indigo colored energy. When he turns back around, his appearance has changed somewhat, dawning pale yellow fur, resembling a cat-like imp.
+
+He will slowly begin levitating into the air, and a strange staff will materialize in his hand, glowing the same indigo energy. "I hope you are all ready for this. Should you defeat me, there would be nothing in this Universe that could stop you." 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+AFTER THE FIGHT 
+ 
+Caelum will slowly lower himself to the ground, dismiss the cat-like form & staff, and walk toward your group. "I commend you for your efforts." 
+ 
+IF THEY LOSE & CAELUM IS AT 3/4 HEALTH 
+"You did better than most would this early in your journey, you should take pride in this. Feel free to try again anytime." The door to the demense will open for your group. 
+ 
+IF THEY LOSE & CAELUM IS AT 1/2 HEALTH 
+"You were truly impressive. But I know you can all do better." He will then comment on areas where your team could improve. The door to the demense will open for your group. 
+ 
+IF THEY LOSE & CAELUM IS AT 1/4 HEALTH 
+"You were close, very close. (I can see why people would call you Kings.) Though this might be your limit, unless you try a little harder." The door to the demense will open for your group. 
+ 
+IF THEY WIN 
+"You defeated me fair and square, fantastic job. Your last attack almost hurt. I had my doubts if your tactics would work, but you surprised me. And I will keep my promise. What would each of you request for your prize?" 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+They can ask for any reasonable ability 
+They can ask for any of his spells 
+They can ask ALMOST any question 
+ 
+- They can NOT ask about the identity of the FACES, the CROOKED KING, the GOLD WEAPONS, what the demense MASTERS & REGALIA are, etc 
+(ANYTHING STORY RELEVANT) 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+WHERE DID YOU COME FROM 
+"A place called Da'at. It's infinitly far from here." 
+ 
+WHAT ARE YOU REALLY 
+"It would take too long to explain fully, just call me a cat-like demon." 
+ 
+WHY NOT FIGHT AND COLLECT REGALIA 
+"It's not my place to fight. Even if I have every right." 
+ 
+HOW MUCH WERE YOU LIMITING YOURSELF 
+"If I had to put a number to it, it was roughly 0.000001% of my full potential." 
+ 
+WHAT IS WITH THE CANDLE 
+"It's a menorah. It's bound to me about as much as a Regalia is to demense Master." 
+ 
+WILL YOU FIGHT US AT FULL POWER 
+"No. Not unless you want a fight you cannot win." 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+WANTING A SPELL 
+He will walk to a nearby chest, reach in, and pull out another black candle, setting it on the table. "This is my Menorah, it's akin to how Regalia work here, so far as the rules permit. Touch it, and it will give you any one of my spells."
+
+*IF THEY TOUCH IT*
+The candle will suddenly flicker to life with an identical green flame, and will see indigo magic energy flow into the player. Their eyes will briefly glow the same color as the magic embeds itself into their body, before it dissipates as quickly as it came.
+
+(THEY NOW HAVE THEIR NEW SPELL)
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+WEAPON 
+He raises his hands and summons forth an orb of magical energy. He asks for a description of what you want from the weapon, slowly constructing it before you.
+
+Any weapon he constructs will be always treated as INFUSED, and can still be INFUSED with other magic, depending on what they want it to do. 
+ 
+If they request his staff instead, he will simply manifest it and give it to them. 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+ABILITY/STUNT 
+He will openly discuss with the player exactly what they are looking to do with this ability. Once it has been established, he will levitate up to them, hold their face in his small hands, and gaze into their eyes for a moment, his retina glowing a deep violet.
+
+You can see and hear the magical incantations of his magic within your mind, as though he is instructing your body to do things it otherwise wouldn't be able to do with his magic. After a few moments, he will lower himself back down and confirm they now have exactly what they wish. 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+Once everyone has been given what they desire, the door will open to his demense. He will follow your group out and mention, "If you ever want your um.. abilities adjusted.. I think you've earned the right to have that done for free now." 
+
+He will wave your group off as he reassumes his place behind the counter. "Good luck out there, (Kings of Kings)."

Story/03 - Demense/Black-Demense.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,257 @@
+This gate is a golden ring with a black magic wall, looking like an ever-falling veil of black paint or ink. 
+  
+In the forest:  
+https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Y6n-1XQSfE  
+  
+In the clearing:  
+https://youtu.be/7UMNHyM5PgQ?si=2G-DWkBGxEo8FYtC  
+  
+## As you exit the BLACK gate,
+you are met by the nightmarish sight of a half dead forest, the trees all varying forms of grayscale and barren of most leaves. It is nearly silent here, only sparsely occupied by the occasional deep howl in the distance. And there is a blood red full moon overhead, barely lighting up the pitch black sky.
+  
+Welcome to the **Forest** demense! 
+
+Your attention is grabbed by a soft golden glow a few yards from you in all directions, coming from a circular gold wall of energy, definitely magical in nature. It's about 50 feet wide, it is attached to a large rock just behind the gate, and it illuminates the healthy patch of grass beneath your feet. 
+ 
+The ground outside the magic circle is slightly reflective black, resembling ink or wet paint. Some of this ink has stained or splashed on the trees themselves, and those with the largest stains seem to be the most grayed out.
+ 
+*BEHIND* 
+The gate itself is bound to a massive boulder, and around the backside of that gate is an abandoned lumber yard filled with incomplete pallets of different types, shapes, and sizes of wood. It's difficult to see from here, but you see no signs of life. 
+ 
+(NOTICE/INVESTIGATE ROLL) 
+- You spot two sloppy wooden signs on a nearby tree hastily drawn with what looks like black fingerpaint lettering
+- One sign says "ONE WAY TRIP" and has an arrow pointing toward an opening in the trees
+- The other sign says "DONT TOUCH THE INK" and has an arrow pointing at the ground
+  
+*TOUCH THE MAGIC WALL* 
+The wall has a strange amount of give against (what you are touching with it). It almost acts like a magical membrane.
+  
+*PUSH AT IT*
+(What you are touching with it) sinks through with a small amount of give, but when you pull back, it refuses to let go, and the membrane like wall becomes more rigid on every pull attempt.
+
+*PUSH THROUGH IT*
+It feels like you are walking through a wall made of cool wind, but otherwise doesn't appear to do anything more. The air outside is filled with a metallic stench, almost like iron, and every step you take outside of it makes a wet squelching noise as you step into an inch deep pool of pure black that stretches for miles.
+
+*TRY TO GO BACK*
+The magic wall will NOT let you go back in. As the sign indicated, this was indeed a one way trip.
+
+*TOUCH THE INK*
+(CONFIRM THEY "REALLY" WANT TO TOUCH THE INK)
+It feels cool to the touch, and it makes your finger feel surprisingly heavy and dull, like all the energy from that digit is just gone.
+(The player will have a -1 on all combat rolls)
+
+-----
+- LUMBERYARD
+- TREE OPENING
+-----
+ 
+*INTO THE LUMBERYARD* 
+The yard itself is full of incomplete pallets of wood, mostly oak and birch with a couple spruce and mahogany (as the sign racks indicate). Most of the wood looks old, warped, cracked, and unusable.
+
+Inside the building doesn't look much better. The walls are covered with uniforms of varying shapes & sizes. The tables are covered with axes, ropes, chainsaws, solar panels, battery packs, and a couple rings in a black hue, but no people at all. Just more of that black ink all over the floor, and a little smeared on the walls in odd streaking lines, as well as some large claw marks. 
+ 
+*INTO THE FOREST* 
+While the forest is borderline devoid of any signs of life, you spot more wooden signs deeper in with arrows pointing in one direction. Some of these signs also have creepy messages written on them.
+
+- WELCOME TO DAMNATION
+- INK STAINS THE SKIN
+- NEVER TOUCH THE INK
+- THE INK ALWAYS WINS
+  
+(NOTICE ROLL)
+- Despite the lack of life, you DO spot several gorgeous spiderwebs between some of the trees
+- You ALSO realize the webbing is at least an inch thick and stretches across multiple trees
+- You get the distinct feeling you are being watched and followed by something, but you can't quite see what
+
+It takes a few minutes of walking and incessant repetitive squelching noises, but you see the trees begin to open and form a true clearing, and it looks like a long forgotten warzone.
+
+There are craters several feet in width, massive clawmarks & gashes in the ground, and people strewn about in various prone positions, most of them atop rocks or fallen trees.
+ 
+*IF THEY APPROACH* 
+You see they are all pale, groaning, and weak, but definitely alive. Some of them are wearing uniforms matching the layout of the abandoned lumber yard, others are Thunder Force, and a few are wearing prison outfits.
+
+But the terrifying part is, each one is in varying amounts of physical grayscale, and all of them have massive patches of that black ink on their skin and clothing. They also look somewhat emaciated, like they haven't touched food in a month.
+  
+Behind them all is the remains of a wooden cabin, the remains scattered all across the clearing. Each piece is splashed with the same thick black ink in varying amounts, as well as massive claw marks.
+  
+*IF THEY ASK* 
+One person weakly raises an arm, a bald male Boa constrictor wearing Thunder Force garb, and his right arm is coated in the ink. "We're all trapped... the gate won't let us leave..."
+
+*WHAT CAUSED THIS*
+"There's a creature... it's made of the stuff... spreads it everywhere it goes... it keeps us weak... but won't let us die..."
+ 
+*HOW LONG HAVE THEY BEEN HERE*
+Various people respond in a row:
+- Three weeks
+- At least a month
+- Two months
+- Three months
+- Five months
+- Seven months
+- Nine Months
+- Almost a year
+- A familiar voice says he's been there three days and he ALREADY wants to kill himself, and everyone collectively shouts at him WE KNOW. 
+ 
+(CONTACTS ROLL) You recognize that voice as the Marauder LUCKY. 
+ 
+*ASK ABOUT DM/REGALIA* 
+The one that had been here for almost a year, a sparrow with short brown hair in flannel, starts laughing maniacally. "OH you mean inmate number one?! Cassius has been trapped here longer than anyone else!" He shakily points in the direction of the largest dead tree by the destroyed house.   
+ 
+*IF THEY LOOK* 
+Slumped against the back of the tree, you see a frail looking black fox man with long black hair draping over his body. He is wearing HEAVILY damaged black pants and sloppily wrapped bandages around his eyes, chest, and right shoulder.
+
+His right arm is physically missing, and the bandages around his chest are loose enough to where you can see the gaping six-inch-wide hole leading clear through his body. He is somehow breathing, but otherwise makes no movement. 
+ 
+*IF THEY GET HIS ATTENTION* 
+His head slowly raises a few inches, and his ears flick once. You hear him mutter the words "BEHIND... YOU..." 
+  
+And that is when you hear and feel the breath of a very large creature directly behind you.   
+  
+*TURN AROUND*
+There is a colossal black creature on four legs with a long thick tail, made entirely of ink. You cannot make out a face, but its obvious head splits open in six different directions, peeling back to reveal rows of teeth inside each flap as three tongues flick at you, screeching in three different voices at once. And it lurches forward. 
+ 
+*ATHLETICS ROLL* 
+(Lowest Roll) is suddenly grabbed in its teeth, tossed in the air before they are swallowed whole. And the creature looks at the rest of your group with an identical hunger. 
+ 
+-----
+
+CORRUPTED ABADDON IDOL SUMMON
+(DO NOT TELL THE PLAYERS WHAT IT IS)
+
+15HP | 20 MP | 2 MVMT
++3 ACADEMICS BURGLARY STEALTH
++2 DRIVE MANA
++1 PHYSIQUE WILL
+
+SPELLS:
+LV1 SHADOW STRIKE
+LV2 NIGHT WAVE
+LV3 BLACKOUT
+
+DOES NOT GAIN ANY SKILL-BASED STUNTS
+
+MELEE: CORRUPTED NATURAL WEAPON X2 (DUAL WIELD)
+- DEALS 3DMG+HOLLOW ON HIT
+- DEALS HOLLOW ON MATCH
+
+ANYONE EATEN DEALS DOUBLE DMG TO IT FROM INSIDE 
+
+-----
+  
+AFTER THE FIGHT
+
+The creature screeches at the last attack that struck it, and lunges toward (player) to devour you as well. But it stops inches away, its body suddenly lurching in agony. You watch it flail, jump & belly flop into the ground, and screech one last time before finally collapsing onto the ground.
+ 
+The creature's stomach start to warble and bounce around, before (eaten player's weapon or arm) suddenly pushes through it, the body opening up and revealing an ink-coated (eaten player) standing in the mess. Their clothes are stained black in various spots, and what ISN'T stained is going grayscale very quickly.
+
+(THAT PLAYER IS AT 0HP, AND CANNOT MOVE BEYOND BARE MINIMUM ARM MOVEMENTS AND SPEAKING) 
+ 
+(NOTICE ROLL) You hear a soft groaning from behind you, in the direction of the creature's head.
+
+*IF THEY LOOK*
+The black fox man (Cassius) kneels beside the creature, and if his eyes weren't bandaged, you would assume he was staring at the carcass. He places his one hand on the defeated creature's body, bowing his head a little, almost like he is praying.
+
+The creature's body suddenly pulses and begins to deflate like a balloon, and you see the man's arm pulse visibly as it... drinks the creature, would be the best description.
+
+Its body is completely gone in only a minute, and Cassius shakily stands up, his arm hanging at his side. His body physically pulses hard, like it just experienced a heartbeat going off for the first time. He bellows out in a two-tone voice of agony and uses his one arm to yank off his chest bandages, fully revealing the six inch wide hole in his chest.
+
+The hole is slowly filled with the same inky darkness as the creature he absorbed. Strand by strand slowly oozes down and across from inside his chest, slowly filling the hole, until the chest wound is completely gone.
+
+He takes a deep breath, deep enough to warrant him bending backwards to an uncomfortable degree, and finally exhales after several seconds. He then slowly turns his head toward your group, eyes still bandaged.
+
+"I despise the concept of owing anyone anything, but... you have ended my suffering, much sooner than the eternity I anticipated. As compensation, you have my aid in solving our... shared dilemma."
+
+He holds out his hand, a golden bullet of magical design sizzling against his palm, and he tosses it to your group.
+
+If anyone catches it bare handed, it will sizzle against their skin if it is bare, or will singe their fur or scales.
+  
+*WHAT HAPPENED*  
+He places his hand over his bandaged eyes.
+"A man in black... wearing a motorcycle helmet... appeared in the dead of night, called himself the Crooked King. He challenged me for my Regalia with these... strange golden weapons."
+
+"They ate through my strongest spells, blinded me, injured my form with ease, corrupted my own magic creatures to the extent you witnessed."
+
+"I deemed this mortal too dangerous to take my Regalia, and cast it out. I used the last of my magic to animate a piece of myself, and ordered it to hide it until it could safely be returned."
+
+"When this... MORTAL... realized he would not receive my Regalia regardless of win or loss, he made a mockery of the challenge magic's rules... he pushed me AND my corrupted summon through the walls, and turned it into one way travel... then simply left..."
+ 
+"Once free, the creature ran rampant through the demense, spilling my magical essence as its continued existence demanded it from me. The circle prevented escape, my strength refused to recover, neither my extension nor I had the power to track or fell the creature, and I was alone... for so long..." 
+ 
+"But when THESE mortals entered the demense and touched the ink, they became infected with my immortality, entered a state much like my own. No vitality, unable to leave, unable to die, only able to suffer eternally... until now." 
+ 
+"In defeating the creature, you have returned what is mine, and assured the freedom of everyone here. I only need to reclaim my Regalia to break the seal, and reclaim my essence to sever their connection to my immortality." 
+ 
+(EMPATHY ROLL) Something about what he said is bugging you. If they are all at no vitality, and likely haven't eaten or drank anything for a LONG time, then losing their connection to the immortality would possibly be fatal. 
+ 
+*IF THEY ASK TO CONFIRM* 
+"Once I sever the connection, these mortals will likely have minutes to live. If you care for their well-being, find a solution. And soon." 
+
+*LET THEM DISCUSS THEIR OPTIONS*
+Cassius' ears perk slightly, and he speaks out to seemingly noone. "Approach."
+
+You hear a familiar chittering and see a creature appear from the shadows. Striker snickers as he steps forward, and waltzes over beside Cassius' stumped arm. "Hello friends, did you miss me?"  
+ 
+Cassius' ears flick again. "Oh.. I see now... I have heard your exploits from him for some time." 
+ 
+*IF THEY ASK ABOUT THEIR CONNECTION* 
+"Striker is the piece of myself I animated. He traveled by the Crooked King's shadow and hid my Regalia. Speaking of..."
+
+Striker snickers excitedly and hands a wavy black dagger to Cassius. "As a piece of me, Striker barely qualified AS me, and has used it to further his own ambitions." 
+ 
+Striker turns to Cassius with a devious snicker. "It was all part of my plan. Once I found some capable warriors, I just needed to point them in the right direction as Regalia Hunters! They would eventually find their way to your Demense by process of elimination, discover you, and aid in your recovery on their journey to free the people of Diadem and claim their wish!" 
+ 
+"Is that the rumor being spread now?"
+
+Striker winces with a grumble, while Cassius slips his Regalia behind him out of sight. "I do not care. Your plan succeeded, and I am but a step from being whole again."
+
+Cassius sits back down against the tree, hanging his head quietly. "Striker, you are to aid them in their endeavor."
+
+-----
+ 
+*ONCE A SOLUTION HAS BEEN REACHED* 
+Cassius will stand, using the tree for support, and pull out his Regalia. "The Challenge was corrupted, but the circle was mine. Therefore..."
+
+He extends his arm straight into the air, aiming the blade at the sky, before pointing it in the direction of the gate. "I DECLARE THIS CHALLENGE NULL AND VOID."
+
+In the distance you hear a strange high pitched noise before what sounds like glass shattering, sending out a pulse of energy through the entire forest, causing the ink on the ground to ripple from the force. "You may now leave." 
+ 
+*IF THEY ASK HOW* 
+"A Demense Master with their rightful Regalia in hand may change or cancel any Challenge they are in. It is not a rule we use lightly."
+
+*WHY DID HE NKT DO THAT AGAINST THE CROOKED KING*
+"It would have ended the challenge, but Taking away the prize ended the need for combat."
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+He kneels and places his hand into the ink, wrist deep. The entire body of ink ripples HARD from his wrist outward, pulsing out across the entire body. It takes a minute, but the ink slowly begins to lower in height as he drinks it into his hand, identically to the creature.
+
+You see the ink on the various bodies around you slowly seeps off their skin and into the pool as it spirals into his hand like a drain, including your teammate's stains. The edge of the ink pool finally comes rushing toward his hand, and it disappears with the rest.
+
+You see everyone's bodies immediately begin to recover their colors one after another, and everyone cheers for a moment, before collapsing onto the ground all over again, this time from starvation & dehydration.
+
+Your teammate is also back to their colorful self, but now feel like they haven't eaten in a week.
+(They are down to 1HP instead of 0, because they were only exposed to the ink for a short time)
+
+-----
+WHATEVER THEIR PLAN IS, THEY NEED TO DO IT NOW
+-----
+ 
+Cassius stumbles backward after a moment, his body doing the hard pulse a second time, as his stumped bandaged arm vibrates a bit. The bandages suddenly burst off and out explodes a series of nightmarish black tentacles.
+
+They whip dangerously into the open air for a few moments, before collectively spiraling themselves together into one new limb, slowly morphing into an all new arm.
+
+He tests and flexes the fingers for a moment, before turning to your group and yanking off his bandages with it, revealing his bright yellow slitted orbs of eyes, glowing against his black furred face. He stares at your group for a moment, his eyes narrowing randomly to focus. "Hm... you are not what I expected... but I have faces for the names."
+
+He turns to his destroyed home. "This ends my compensation. The Demense will soon return to its normal state, and I must rebuild my home. I advise you leave." 
+
+He will turn to your group, his yellow fox eyes now blood red, the sclera around them turning black. "For your own sake, take my advice." 
+ 
+(NOTICE ROLL) You feel a sudden shadow cast over your heads in the clear night sky. When you look up to see what is causing it, you see a shadow across the moon, resembling a long slit, and it is aimed at your group.
+
+-----
+
+*ONCE THEY ARE IN FRONT OF THE GATE*
+
+True to Cassius' words, you can already see signs of life returning to the forest. The grasses that were buried under the ink have begun to rise and gain a little green, the trees are slowly returning to their various shades of brown, and you could swear you hear a mosuqito buzz by your ear.
+
+But in the distance, you hear a familiar demonic screech, coming from the clearing you JUST left, and you hear the unmistakable sounds of multiple trees falling.

Story/03 - Demense/Blue-Demense.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,195 @@
+This gate is a golden ring with a blue magic wall, looking like a slow running waterfall 
+  
+On the island:  
+https://youtu.be/XO1MC0BS3K4?si=ZZ4U42grIgWaw_Lv  
+  
+After meeting Dorrin:  
+https://youtu.be/9xeWvFntMcc?si=OgqCsCZTSwpMFxX0  
+  
+## As you exit the BLUE gate,  
+Your nose is immediately bombarded by the stench of sea salt and your ears are greeted to the sounds of sporadic boat horns. The wooden dock you are now standing on stretches around a small island in a massive square, and the only thing beyond it is endless miles of water. 
+  
+Welcome to the **Ocean** demense!  
+  
+Despite the lack of overall land, dozens of people are walking about in either normal clothing, sailor uniforms, or fishing gear, all chatting each other up about their catches, gear, or possibly buying & selling both.
+ 
+The gate itself is bound to the side of one of the nearby storefronts, and there is a signpost with guiding arrows right at the corner. 
+
+-----
+- *SOUTH SIDE SHOPS* 
+- *EAST SIDE DOCKS* 
+- *WEST SIDE DOCKS* 
+- *NORTH SIDE FISHING* 
+- *CENTRAL STORAGE* 
+----- 
+ 
+*SOUTHSIDE SHOPS* 
+Most of the ten shops are selling a massive & diverse amount of freshly caught seafood, but a couple are ALSO selling clothing designed for the waters, fishing rods, tackle & bait, magic rings in a blue hue, and even some boat & diving suit rentals.
+
+*APPROACH*
+The shopkeep, an octopus with a red kerchief on his head and a white poet shirt with a brown velvet vest and a blue nametag reading KLEIN, is currently using his six tentacle arms to handle multiple business transactions at once. "Hm? What can I do ya fer?"
+
+*DM/REGALIA*
+"Yer lookin fer the Boss? Haven't seen him in a while, but he's around here somewhere. He doesn't leave the demense hardly ever."
+
+-----
+ 
+*EAST & WESTSIDE DOCKS* 
+Both sides are identically a massive row of fishing docks. Each boat varies greatly in size from a basic 2 man fishing boat to a massive crew-bearing multi-floor vessel, and each one carries out fish as small as simple trout & as large as swordfish.  
+
+*APPROACH*
+You get the attention of an Osprey woman with her hair bound up under a fisherman's hat in grey waders and a black shirt, her blue nametag reading VICTORIA. She hops off her vessel and lands before you, while the rest of her crew hauls off their half full net. "What's up?"
+
+*DM/REGALIA*
+"Haven't seen Boss in a bit. Shame that, our catches usually work out alot better when he's around. Oh, hang on a sec."
+
+She grabs the attention of another fisherman walking by, an angler fish woman in similar garb. She chats them up real quick, and while you don't hear the full context, you DO overhear them speaking about this BOSS person. They wave to each other, and Victoria comes back. "Just checked with a friend from the (east/west) dock, they haven't seen him either. And their catches are starting to suck too."
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*SHACKS* 
+The outermost shacks are just big ice boxes for the peoples' fish, and you spot a few people load one up as you walk by. However, you do see some of them get MUCH bigger and taller as you get closer to the center. 
+ 
+The shack in the very center is surprisingly large, to the point you could swear it mimicked a two story building. It even has a front door with stairs leading up to it, and a couple windows.
+
+*KNOCK*
+Upon knocking, the door itself slowly opens, revealing the door wasn't locked OR pulled all the way shut. Either way, noone answers the knock, and you can't hear anyone approaching.
+
+*INSIDE*
+You see a decent looking fully furnished living space. Wood tables and fabric couches in the living room, burgundy colored painted walls, fully functional kitchen with an extra large fridge, and wood stairs leading up to the next floor. 
+
+(INVESTIGATE ROLL) The place is surprisingly organized, nothing appears damaged or out of the ordinary, but you DO notice everything seems to have several days worth of dust all over it. 
+ 
+*UPSTAIRS* 
+You find a pair of fully furnished bedrooms, one of which is CLEARLY designed to house a girl with darker Gothic tastes, and the other furnished for more of a sharp dressed man. But noone is in either room, and everything has several days worth of dust.
+ 
+----- 
+
+*NORTHSIDE FISHERS* 
+For the most part, it's just a bunch of guys in basic fishing gear casting their lines from the dock itself instead of a boat. It's also mostly adults, but there ARE some kids fishing using string-on-a-stick fishing poles. There's even a pole sticking out of a huge pile of seaweed in the left corner. The entire right side of the dock starts laughing their asses off, and you can immediately tell it's drunk laughter.
+ 
+*APPROACH / ASK FOR DM/REGALIA*
+(RAPPORT ROLL)
+(HIGH ROLL)
+A half-drunk sparrow in a captain's hat says something to the effect of 'if the Boss ain't in his house, he's either out bulking, sulking, or skulking', and all the drunks start laughing like it was the funniest joke they ever heard.
+
+(LOW ROLL)
+A few drunk men start slurring their words at you. One of them spills their beer all over (roller)'s shoes by accident, and all the drunks start laughing like it was the funniest thing they'd ever seen.
+ 
+(INVESTIGATE Roll) You suddenly realize that pile of seaweed in the corner is... moving a little? 
+ 
+The seaweed begins to shift and fall as a massive finned tail swings out, revealing a bald shark man hiding within. He slowly rises to his feet, looming over your group by a few inches.
+
+The seaweed slowly slips off his body to reveal he is surprisingly buff, clad in only ocean blue shorts, shredded and tattered below the knees. Aside from the occasional piece of seaweed, the only other thing on him is the string on a stick he is holding, which is actually a large harpoon held upside down.
+ 
+*IF ANYONE SAYS ANYTHING* 
+He will abruptly cut them off. "I know why you're here. And my answer is no."  
+ 
+*AFTER ANY RESPONSE*
+"I don't care. Whatever you want is not my concern. Not anymore." He will attempt to walk away, harpoon in hand. 
+  
+*IF THEY ASK WHY* 
+He sighs and looks to your group, his ocean blue eyes glowing lightly. "You are among the freshest newbies, I assume. Your country sent you here because you were among the best of the best, or something along those lines. The people of these lands are all either the same way or the descendants of those people. And that includes the marauders."  
+  
+"Those people, raised from such a 'noble and well educated background,' attempted to take my Regalia by force, exaction, and underhanded tactics. And when they didn't get what they wanted, they took something even more precious from me. They proved the quality of a person is irrelevant to their desperation when it comes to getting what they want."
+
+He smashes his tail through a nearby plank of dock wood, causing it to shatter immediately. "So forgive me for not being interested in whatever it is you're after. Far as I'm concerned, you are no different than them."
+
+He abruptly walks away, harpoon in hand, right off the dock and into the water, disappearing from view. Every single person nearby is either frozen in terror, or genuinely upset at what he said. Even the drunks are in stunned silence.
+
+You hear a voice behind you with a thick West Country English accent. "Don't take it personally lads, he be grievin' somethin' fierce."
+
+An older otter man, just short of five feet tall in a deep blue peacoat, a white captain's hat, and a blue nametag that says GALLON, stands behind you, waving you down. "Name's Gwalather, but ev'ryone calls me Gallon."
+
+*IF THEY ASK WHY GALLON*
+"Cuz I can drink anyone under th' table, s'why!" He seems unusually proud of that feat.
+
+*DONT TAKE IT PERSONALLY?*
+"Best we take this chat elsewhere, follow me."
+
+He takes you to a good size fishing vessel docked on the (east/west, whichever they did not visit) docks, complete with a second floor and enough standing room for a few dozen people AND their catches, with a sign on the rear naming it 'The Barrel of Forty-Two.'  
+  
+*WHY THE BARREL OF 42* 
+He laughs heartily. "Because a barrel can hold 42 gallons!"  
+  
+He takes you out a good mile from the docks, and hands each of you a fishing rod if you want one.
+
+(RESOURCES Roll, if they want to actually fish)
+
+He then flops in the northernmost seat on the boat and casts out his own line expertly. "Ah... nothin' like the deep blue sea, is thar? Just endless ocean, a gull here or there, and the catch of the day waitin' to be caught."  
+  
+*WHEN ASKED ABOUT DM*  
+Gallon sighs a bit. "Like I said, don't hate the Boss. Dorrin is a prideful lad what had his greatest treasure stolen, something far more valuable than that fancy spear o' his. He lost his daughter ta those lilly-livered fucks."
+
+"Her name was Vivid of the Crimson Eye. Local legend around here, he adopted her when she was a teen, 'e did. Ye wouldn't think 'im the fatherin' type, but he raised 'er ta be a fine lass. Beautiful too, she turned away many a suitor, fer THAR safety."
+
+He laughed a bit before he lets out a soft sigh. "Things changed about three months ago. The blasted marauders had just come by and tried to muck up the fishermen, but ol' Dorrin an' Vivid took care of 'em right quick. His power an' brutality was only matched by 'er speed and precision. Truly a tag team from Hell."  
+  
+"But after they were sent packin', new ones stepped in and challenged 'im. An' there was somethin' diff'rent about one of 'em, somethin'... wrong. There were only three, but they challenged 'im fer 'is Regalia, 3 on 1."  
+  
+"The two he fought first, a lad and a lass, put up a good fight. Zapped 'im, cooked 'im, froze 'im like a fishstick. And he took 'em down. But that last one, he did somethin' most foul.. while Dorrin was busy fightin' 'em, the last one told 'is men to take Vivid hostage."  
+  
+"When Dorrin realized she was nabbed, it was all that last one needed to strike. He shot 'im with some strange golden gun. It hit Dorrin hard enough to take 'im down in a cloud o' gold dust. But the thing they never realized was, Dorrin is too tough to die."  
+  
+"It was over in a flash, Dorrin had stood back up and had the leader's head in 'is jaw, an' the other two in 'is hands by the throats. And right when 'e was about to eat the bastard's head clean through, helmet an' all, th' bastard surrendered an' broke off the challenge, grabbed his men an' ran away."  
+  
+"Noone got a good look at 'em, but I saw that lad's bloodied face through the broken motorbike helmet, got a good look at 'is eye when 'is helmet got crushed against 'is skull. He saw death in those Jaws. An' 'e barely escaped it with his life."  
+  
+"Since then, Dorrin's waited ev'ry wakin' moment for em to return, hopin' 'e can grab 'em an' squeeze 'em for any information. But they 'aven't come back since."  
+ 
+----- 
+  
+*WHY NOT GO AFTER HER*  
+He turns to the one who asked. "Yer genuinely askin' why a six foot four enraged and grievin' shark man with the powers of the ocean at 'is fingertips doesn't go gallavantin' through the City of Diadem, bellowin' about his lost daughter?"  
+  
+"Dorrin's smarter than 'e looks, (lad/lass). He knows if 'e does that an' even ONE person gets scared, he'll incite a riot. It takes all 'is self control not to do just that. An' th' Marauders LIVE ta see th' people mis'rable."
+ 
+----- 
+  
+"We all feel for th' lad. All 'e wants is to know if his daughter is okay. He believes she is, but ev'ry day that passes without her is another day of misery fer 'im. We've all been lookin' in secret fer 'im, but we can't find a trace."  
+  
+(CONTACTS ROLL) You remember you have a shadowy informant on standby that might be able to help. But to summon him, you need a bit of darkness, which the second floor will likely offer. 
+  
+*CALL TO STRIKER*
+A series of eight dark legs slowly arise from the shadow and lift a small body from the darkness, a series of eight red eyes staring at your group with glee. "I knew you couldn't stay away forever... to what do I owe the patronage?~"  
+ 
+*AFTER THEY EXPLAIN* 
+"Interesting.. Very well, I'll find your Vivid of the Crimson Eye, but this time it will cost you. Head back to the mainland, I should have something for you by the time you arrive. We can discuss your payment then..." He fades into the shadows of the boat, snickering the whole way.  
+
+*BACK AT THE DOCK*
+When you return, Striker is sitting in the shade of one of the shacks, munching sloppily on a fresh fish carcass. "Mm, delicious.. Oh hello there, welcome back~"  
+ 
+*IF THEY ASK* 
+"OH I found whom you were looking for, and she is very much alive..." An eerie moment of silence befalls the entire island, every person there freezing in place and staring in Striker's direction. Dorrin has appeared behind him.
+
+"...what? Is there something on my face?" A piece of seaweed falls onto his shoulder, causing him to slowly turn around and gasp strainedly seeing the shark.
+  
+Dorrin is staring down at him with the intensity of a man ready to commit murder. "What... did you... just... say..?"  
+  
+Striker turns to him and indignantly replies. "Now see here, fish breath, I will not be intimidated by the likes of HYEARGH!!"
+
+He is grabbed by the neck and lifted clean off his feet, meeting eye to eye with Dorrin. Striker grabs at Dorrin's arm to try and free himself, but Dorrin leans in close and stares into his eyes intensely. "You stink of Cassius..."
+
+That makes Striker freeze in place for a moment, before Dorrin drops him onto his ass. He grumbles a bit, and freezes again when Dorrin aims his Harpoon at his throat. "Now speak, insect. What do you know?"  
+  
+Striker nervously gulps, and responds, "She's alive, she's alive! My informants spotted someone with Crimson eyes in Diadem a few days ago! She was spotted in the Essentials district!"
+
+That spear backs away slowly, and Striker sighs in relief, but jumps in place when Dorrin flops on his ass onto the dock, staring into the sky. "I knew it... I knew she was alive..."
+
+His entire personality shifts significantly, his oddly stoic demeanor softening immediately, and you could almost swear you see a smile on his face & a tear in his eye. He turns to your group. "You have done me a great service. I owe you a debt that will be repaid."  
+  
+Striker stands up and flails his arms bit in frustration. "What about me?! I'm the one who got the information! Surely I deserve compensation as well!"  
+  
+Dorrin reaches for him, grabs him by the top of the head like he's palming a basketball, and pulls him close. "You may live to see another day, vermin."
+
+He then accurately throws him backward, Striker screaming the whole time as he flies through the air and falls right through the portal.  
+  
+Dorrin finally stands back up, raises his Spear in the air, and speaks in a proud voice, "Today is a glorious day! Vivid of the Crimson Eye still lives!!!"
+
+Everyone on the wharf island cheers at this news. High fives are being exchanged, instruments are playing, dancing lines are forming, and bottles of booze are appearing out of nowhere.  
+  
+"And these are the people whom we have to thank for this information. As repayment, I will accept your challenge, any day, any time. This information is more valuable than any Regalia."
+
+He pauses and turns away before continuing, "But not today. For the first time in a long time, I am ready to rest."
+
+He shambles away, but not before being stopped by a random person offering him a bottle of wine. Which he takes and guzzles the entire thing down between here and when he makes it to the front door of (his home in) the center most building in the storage area.

Story/03 - Demense/Brown-Demense.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,286 @@
+This gate is a golden ring with a brown magic wall, looking like a large cut of stone
+  
+On the mountain:  
+https://youtu.be/A-Er-HH1Od8?si=45j_cp0AGMy1tVb-  
+  
+After saving the life:  
+https://youtu.be/FPQwdQjA2zM?si=Vmv_1C-SISdNTfA_  
+  
+## After exiting the BROWN gate,
+You are greeted by the sounds of birds chirping, the scent of healthy Earth, and the sight of a peaceful valley, with a small meadow nestled inside it.
+
+Looking beyond it, this meadow is surrounded by mountainous peaks, some as small as hills, and some that stretch to the heavens.
+
+Welcome to the **Mountain** Demense!
+
+*BEHIND YOU*
+The gate itself is bound to a rather large boulder sticking out of the foot of one of those shorter mountains.
+
+*TO THE LEFT*
+You see a building made entirely of stone, with a single entrance framed in wood and a sign marked HOT SPRINGS
+
+*BEFORE YOU*
+You see a small meadow in the distance, holding a crystal clear lake & surrounded by trees
+
+*TO THE RIGHT*
+You see a concrete building somewhat hidden in the trees with a group of eight oddly designed single-seat stone benches out front
+
+-----
+- HOT SPRING
+- MEADOW
+- BUILDING
+-----
+ 
+*HOT SPRING*
+The entryway is largely just wooden framing and walls, but you are guided to the main lobby of the stone building, which is mostly one large stone counterspace and four doorways. The left two are marked male & female, and the other two are marked unisex & lounges
+
+The counter is occupied by a young dove woman with black hair trimmed to her shoulders, wearing a white yukata-like robe and a brown nametag reading YUKI. she smiles and waves at you all. "Welcome in, bathing for (# of players)?"
+
+*IF THEY PARTAKE*
+She reaches under the desk and starts grabbing small clothes baskets & freshly laundered towels for each of you. When she does, you can see a rack & fridge behind her full of clothing, including robes identical to hers, as well as snacks & drinks. 
+"Okay that'll be 5z a person, and there is no set time duration, but we recommend 15 minutes per person on avergae. Lockers are further inside for your possessions."
+
+*IF THEY PAY*
+She points to a small sign over her head.
+"We only have a few simple rules. No clothes or swimsuits in the water, no eating or drinking in the water, no smoking or alcohol, and no swimming or splashing. All for the sake of keeping the water clean and being mindful of the others in the springs."
+
+The locker rooms are fairly large, one giant room with two doorways and wall to wall lockers just large enough to fit the baskets and a little more. They also come with keys for your convenience, each one on an adjustable wrist strap.
+
+Outside, you see the hot spring area has one giant pool in the center, and is surrounded by four smaller ones, each one giving off a faint sulphuric smell. There are stone walls dividing your area from the other sections, guaranteeing privacy.
+
+The water itself feels surprisingly smooth and has an odd, slightly heavier texture against your skin. The pools themselves are padded by slightly flexible stone, with the texture of wood but has the faintest give of river stone.
+
+In mere moments, you feel a slight tingly sensation where the water envelops you, and your tired muscles & battered skin feel soothing relief for the first time in a while.
+
+*NOTICE ROLL*
+(HIGHEST ROLLER) sees the water itself around their body faintly glows the same color as the magic that afflicted the illness in the first place, as do the stones that line the pool itself, and dissipate moments later. And you suddenly feel you can breathe easier, like whatever was weighing on you has suddenly been lifted.
+
+*IF A PLAYER HAS A MAGIC SICKNESS*
+*THAT MAGIC SICKNESS IS NOW ALLEVIATED*
+
+-----
+
+*MEADOW*
+
+The lush green grasses are surprisingly bright, and are plentiful clear up to where the mountains begin. Within its tall brush, you also see several trees, all of which surround a slightly buried lake, full of crystal clear waters. And off to the side, you spot a small wooden cabin with a hand operated well pump.
+
+*RESOURCES ROLL*
+The literal mountain valley water is crystal clear, despite it coming from a semi-natural lake.
+
+*IF THEY DRINK IT*
+The water is crisp, clean, and ever-so-slightly sweet, with a faint mineral aftertaste.
+
+*YOU HAVE CREATED A NEW ITEM: DEMENSE WATER*
+*DRINKING IT RECOVERS 1HP PER BOTTLE*
+*IN COMBAT, THIS CAN BE USED AS AN ITEM ACTION*
+
+-----
+ 
+*BUILDING* 
+This mixed-use commercial building only has two small storefronts, but both frontsides are glass paned and wrapped in steel framing. You see a mountain climbing store on the left and a gym on the right.
+ 
+The store is full of climbing harnesses, ropes, hooks, helmets, pads, picks, etc. The register in the back rents & sells these items, and has racks behind it selling trail mix, magic rings in a brown hue, and about six kinds of meat jerky. Behind the counter is a koala man with slicked back white hair in a blue polo shirt, his brown nametag reading BUNJI.
+ 
+The right side is a large gym full of workout equipment of all shapes & sizes, and bodybuilders of equal magnitude all working out together. There is one VERY muscular maned wolf woman walking around between them acting as a spotter, with a fiery multicolored ponytail down her back over basic black tight workout clothing, her brown nametag reading JEKHYRA. 
+ 
+*IF THEY TALK TO EITHER ONE* 
+- BUNJI sneakily tries to put down a granola bar he was snacking on. "How can I help you?" 
+- Jekhyra stops writing on a clipboard, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. "Can I help you?"
+
+----- *TRY MOUNTAIN CLIMBING*
+
+Bunji smiles and pulls out a clipboard."Sounds good. Since you're first timers, we'd like you to test your competency on our practice walls out back. Once we see where you are, we can see about you getting on our practice mountain."
+
+He calls to the gym half through a shared doorway and says he's going to the rock wall out back for a second. You spot a maned wolf woman leqn into the doorway, giving him a thumbs up, before he hops out from behind the counter and leads you around the backside of the building.
+
+There is a series of four 50 foot high practice climbing walls for basic practice, speed climbing, sparse rock climbing, and even inclined climbing. Each one has its own separate pair of harness ropes and VERY thick crash pads beneath.
+
+There are four other employees in the same style shirt as BUNJI, each of which are helping people get set up on that respective rock wall. Altogether you see about 20 people, either wanting to climb or just watch others do the same.
+
+(PLAYER that wants to climb) will be rigged up with a simple harness attached to a rope on a pulley hanging overhead, the kind designed to slow descent without a separate person.
+
+(PHYSIQUE Roll to determine how well they do on that wall)
+(HIGH Roll) You made it to the top with relative ease, barely made any mistakes on the way up, and are met with applause on your slow descent down
+(AVERAGE Roll) You lose your grip a couple times, and your footing slips once or twice with a gasp from the audience, but you make it to the top, and are met with applause on your slow descent down
+(LOW Roll) You struggle pretty hard with your grip, and manage to make it about halfway up the wall before you slip and are caught by the harness, slowly floating down to the crash pad. You are met by a round of applause and people saying encouragements like GOOD TRY and NOT BAD FOR A BEGINNER
+
+----- *TRY WORKOUT*
+
+"Alrighty, tell me what you're looking for in your workout. We can get you set up on a sample routine and uh..." She pauses and looks you over, specifically at your clothes. "Gimme a sec."
+
+She walks to a counterspace in the back and grabs a HUGE cardboard box, holding it out to (PLAYER(S) WHO ARE INTERESTED). "You should grab these freebies so you look the part."
+
+Inside the box is a series of t-shirts and sweatpants, each of which has an imprinted brown symbol in the shape of a mountain on the chest or upper thigh. They're in a myriad of sizes and colors, some even large enough to fit the hippo man currently benching what you can only assume is hundreds of pounds of weight. There are also metal water bottles for everyone.
+
+The gym is full of older style weight systems, including barbells & dumbells with interchangeable weight plates & multiple benches, basic leg press machines, and a few universal machines. It's the latest and greatest of old school tech.
+
+*PHYSIQUE Roll to determine their experience*
+(HIGH Roll) You had to increase the weight on the setup a couple times before you finally find a comfy weight for you, and you do a quick set with relative ease
+(AVERAGE Roll) You handle the starting weight you are set on fairly well, and get through a quick set with a small amount of effort
+(LOW Roll) The starting weight they estimate for you is a bit TOO high, but you manage to shakily muscle through a quick set
+
+----- *DM/REGALIA* 
+
+*WHOMEVER THEY SPEAK TO*
+"That would be Tlaloc, he lives on the peak of the practice mountain. You can usually hear him when he's awake, but since noone has heard the glorious sounds of rocks against rocks, he's likely still asleep." 
+ 
+- If they spoke to BUNJI, he will call for Jekhyra to come over 
+- If they spoke to Jekhyra, she will toss a towel around her neck and walk to Bunji 
+ 
+BUNJI: Afternoon Jekhyra, (I overheard / not sure if you heard), we have some people to see Tlaloc? 
+ 
+JEKHYRA: Yep, gonna be a fun day. Gonna need gear for (party size +1) looks like. 
+ 
+BUNJI: Not a problem, and at 25z a head, that'll come out to... uh... before I do that, you all CAN afford the equipment rental, yes? 
+ 
+JEKHYRA: Shiiit, forgot to mention that. You wanna head up, you gotta get equipment. Helmets, hooks, ropes, backpacks, all that shit. 
+ 
+Anyone that can or wants to pay the fee for the climb comes with, the rest can stay at the building and shop around or work out for free
+
+You finally get to see this "practice mountain" they mentioned, right behind the building & past the practice walls. The mountain in question  looks about a mile high, and the ground leading to its rocky peak has SOMETHING of a beaten path. It has a good mix of stony walkways, spaces with face walls, and everything in between.
+
+Jekhyra connects a rope between each member of the climbing party, roughly 25 feet of slack between each. "Everybody ready?"
+ 
+*READY!*
+She trudges ahead through the entryway and up the dedicated path, like she has done it a thousand times before. Overall, the climb will take place over the span of 45 minutes.
+
+(EACH PLAYER MAKES 3 PHYSIQUE ROLLS)
+(LOWEST ROLLERS GET THE FOLLOWING PUNISHMENTS)
+- You stumbled a bit from uneven ground and take 1DMG
+- Your pathway crumbled under your foot, causing you to fall to a spot below and take 1DMG
+- A falling rock bounces off your helmet, rattling your head and dealing 1DMG
+ 
+At the top of the mountain is an overall smooth mesa of about 100 feet in width, with several boulders littering it, most of which are taller than you. Jekhyra unhooks each of you as you safely reach the top, letting you all walk around and enjoy the view. This practice mountain PALES in comparison to the other ones surrounding you, but the view over the entire valley is stellar. 
+ 
+*WHERE IS DM* 
+"Oh right, forgot you came to see him. He's around here somewhere, pretty hard to miss."  
+ 
+(INVESTIGATE roll) You find a massive rock that has a weird patterned texture, and even weirder, it appears to be... breathing? 
+ 
+The thing you found suddenly begins to move, raising itself up out of its small divot in the ground, stretching a pair of massive arms wide and unfurling a colossal tail, groaning loudly.
+ 
+But you all also witness, in a fraction of a second, its tail accidentally swings out and pushes every one of your team backwards a bit, and it unfortunately knocks (HIGHEST ROLLER) off the cliffside. And by the time you all realize what happened, they are already past the edge of the cliff itself.
+
+*ATHLETICS Roll* (VERY high challenge)
+(PASS) Through the most uncanny reflexes you could possibly manage, you leap out and grab their hand at the last possible second, and throw them JUST close enough to grab the ledge.
+
+However, you had to throw your entire body at full speed into that stunt, and unfortunately you are now falling down the mountainside in their place.
+
+(FAIL) Everyone rushes to the side of the cliff and tries to catch their fallen teammate, but noone can quite reach them in time.
+
+*EITHER WAY*
+You can only watch your teammate descend backward and down into the distance. Even at this shallower height, you know landing from a fall like that will likely be serious, if not fatal.
+(THE MOUNTAINSIDE IS A STEILHANG, A STEEP MOUNTAINSIDE BETWEEN 30°-60° OF AN ANGLE)
+(THEY WILL TAKE PROGRESSIVELY MORE DMG AS THEY FALL DOWN THE HILL, AND WILL BE UNAVOIDABLE)
+
+From the corner of your eyes, you see that massive brown creature you spotted as it jumps off the cliffside in the direction of your ally
+  
+*FALLING PLAYER*
+As you watch that Cliffside edge slowly fade from your vision, as if by slow motion, you suddenly come face to face with a large brown creature that reaches out toward you with massive arms covered in scaly stone.
+
+*LET IT HELP THEM*
+It grabs you and pulls you against its rock hard chest, holds you tight in its massive arms, curls tightly around you, and you become VERY dizzy as you are suddenly spinning like a hamster in its wheel going a hundred miles an hour.
+
+From outside, your teammates see this massive brown creature catch you in its body and roll down the hill with you inside it, all the way down the mountainside to the very bottom, right next to the marked entryway you started from.
+
+Once at the foot of the mountain, the creature uncurls itself and releases its death grip on (SAVED PLAYER), letting them step away unharmed, if not VERY dizzy.
+ 
+Your savior stands tall at eight feet high & wide, his head covered in thick brown scales instead of actual hair, leading to a goofy grin on a long muzzle. His body is stacked with an absurd amount of muscle and tone, and the back of all his limbs, tail, and likely his entire backside is covered in something akin to dragonscale. And for some reason, the only clothing he is wearing is a white loincloth.
+
+This hulking PANGOLIN man leans down, looking you over with earthy brown eyes wrapped in a faint brown glow, making you feel like you're sinking slightly whenever he stares at you. In a halting and slow manner, he attempts to talk in a deep, toungue-heavy voice. "YOU? OKAY? HURT?"  
+
+*IF OKAY*
+The massive pangolin man nods, turns around, and starts climbing its way back up the mountain on all fours like it's nothing, managing to make it all the way to the top within a couple minutes.
+ 
+----- *IF ANYONE STAYED BEHIND* 
+You've either been
+- getting playfully hassled by the guys in the gym to join them for a workout
+- mulling around the equipment store looking over the gear and snacks
+- hanging out with the randoms at the practice walls behind the building
+
+When the pangolin man lands at the bottom of the hill:
+- Everyone outside suddenly stops, and everyone climbing the walls lets go, falling right onto the crash pads one after the other
+- Everyone inside freezes mid workout, and very quickly puts their gear down to run outside and find out what happened
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*AT THE TOP* 
+ 
+You can see JUST clearly enough from your height to see the brown... THING has grabbed your friend, rolled down the mountainside with them inside, and released them safely.
+
+You THEN see that creature running and climbing back up the mountainside like some dragonscale covered monster, its claws digging into the rock and earth with zero effort, and makes the climb back to the edge in a matter of only a couple minutes.
+ 
+Upon reaching the top, the creature hefts itself up onto the flat surface with no effort. He carries a giddy smile as he looks over you all curiously, his glowing gaze (or his height) making you feel smaller. He asks haltingly and tonguefully, "FRIEND. OKAY. RIDE? DOWN?"
+
+He turns around and points to his massive scaled back, offering them to ride on his back to the bottom of the mountain, rather than going down the path you took to get up here.
+ 
+*IF ANYONE ASKS OR OBJECTS* 
+Jekhyra will step forward and stand beside him, leaning against his hip. "You got nothing to worry about. Tlaloc here's the Demense Master AND an expert mountain climber."
+
+He will give a toothy grin at the praise. She pats his forearm twice before stepping away, heading back toward the path. "I'm going down the long way, so you can go with me, or with him." 
+ 
+*EITHER WAY* 
+(Once you get on Tlaloc's back), he starts walking down the mountain almost perfectly vertically the whole way, stepping and hopping over every crevice and sheer side with relative ease. It only takes him about ten minutes to make it all the way down to the ground, in which everyone inside AND outside is rushing forward.
+
+(He lets off everyone that rode with him, picking  you up with one meaty hand like he was picking up a rag off the floor, and sets you down quickly. Despite his size, he is surprisingly gentle.)
+Once you all have a chance to reunite, he steps up to your group, raising his arms straight out at his sides. "SORRY... NEW... FRIENDS..." He is offering a hug as an apology. 
+ 
+*ACCEPT*
+He enthusiastically picks up (PLAYER(S)) in a colossal hug and starts dancing around the foot of the mountain with a warm giggle, easily lifting you off the ground.
+
+*AFTER* 
+He (lets you all go and) points at the lake, and walks straight for it, waving his hand for you to follow him. "THIRSTY. NEED. DRINK. FOLLOW." 
+
+At this point, everyone from the building AND a few people from the hot springs are all joining around Tlaloc, each one pulling out a metal water bottpe with a brown mountain symbol emblazoned on it.
+
+BUNJI appears from behind your group, and he is holding a cardboard box full of metal water bottles. "So uh... Tlaloc is kinda hard to read, but he wants to share a drink with you guys, to celebrate your friend surviving that fall."
+
+Everyone gathers at the lake, each person taking turns getting a bottle full of water from the metal well pump right beside the lake. Tlaloc, however, has opted to instead get down on all fours and dunk his head in the water to chug it like a wild animal. And apparently NOONE is surprised by this.
+
+He stands back up, smiling goofily as his looong tongue slips out to clean some of the water off his face. He approaches your group after, still smiling wide, and clears his throat as best he can. "YOU. HERE. WHY?" 
+  
+*DM / REGALIA* 
+Tlaloc suddenly perks up and begins laughing excitedly like a small child, his voice a deep rumbling tone. Everyone slowly notices and turns to ask what has him so excited.
+ 
+*IF THEY ANSWER* 
+Everyone starts mimicking his excitement, hooting and hollering like a group of frat boys at a party, especially the guys from the gym.
+ 
+Jekhyra finally appears at the foot of the mountain, panting heartedly as she pushes past everyone and grabs some water from the pump for herself. She chugs through the bottle quickly,  sighs happily, and kneels back down for another bottle full. "What's with all the noise, boys?" She takes a much slower drink this time. 
+ 
+*IF THEY ANSWER* 
+Jekhyra will do a good old fashioned spit take hearing YOU want to fight HIM, coughing hard as Tlaloc heads right for the concrete building.
+ 
+Once she stops coughing, Jekhyra will stare at your group in disbelief. "Okay I'm going to assume you are all insane to actually WANT to take on THAT."
+
+She pauses to point at Tlaloc, whom is currently doing bicep curls with the single-seater stone benches from in front of the building as a warmup.
+ 
+In the distance,, a new group of curious onlookers walk into the deemnse through the Gate, catching Tlaloc's attention. You watch him set those benches back down, then run toward them like an excited toddler, leaving footprints in the ground with every step.
+ 
+*GIVE THEM A MOMENT TO THINK IT OVER* 
+You hear a loud thud in the distance. Tlaloc is suddenly on the ground, bellowing out in pain. The new group's attention is now turned toward your group, all of them pulling out weapons. They have revealed themselves to be Marauders. And they just hurt the gentle giant Tlaloc.
+ 
+You hear about twenty sets of knuckles and necks cracking all around you, as everyone here just became VERY agitated watching Tlaloc get hurt like that. They march toward the Marauders, led by a VERY pissed off Jekhyra.
+ 
+You watch as dozens more Marauders pour in from the gate, headed toward the people from the gym. But before they can even get JALF that distance, every single buff person from the gym SPRINTS toward these Marauders, immediately laying the smackdown on them three to one, except for the group in the middle that arrived first.
+ 
+When you reach them, you see Tlaloc lying on his back, bellowing deeply and holding on to his chest wound with both arms. The Marauders all see you approaching, pulling out their weapons with glee. Except for one in the back wearing a motorcycle helmet, whom decides to walk back out the gate without saying a word.
+
+"Well lookie who it is!" You hear a familiar voice ring out, and you spot LUCKY walk up to join his buddies on the front line. "Looks like I get another shot at you afterall!"
+ 
+AFTER THE FIGHT
+ 
+The Marauders are lying defeated in a heap before you, with the ram (LUCKY) lying right on top. Behind you, the guys from the gym have ALSO finished, their own heap of Marauders significantly larger. 
+ 
+Jekhyra heads over to Tlaloc and slowly helps him up, the big guy sniffling a little as he rubs his chest wound. The good news is he looks okay, and the gash across his chest is not particularly large or deep. But, you DO see some gold dust trickling from the wound. 
+ 
+She walks Tlaloc over to Lucky's group, holding his meaty hand like a mother with her massive child. Tlaloc picks the half conscious LUCKY up from the heap with his free hand, and shakes him a bit to get his attention.
+
+When his eyes meets Tlaloc's, he becomes VERY scared and starts flailing with renewed vigor from within his meaty hand. "OH FUCK! PLEASE DON'T HURT ME! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!" 
+ 
+Tlaloc just gives him a goofy grin and pulls him into a bear hug, holding him tight with both arms. "ME! FORGIVE! FRIEND!"
+
+You see a wave of relief wash over LUCKY's face, which disappears after three seconds as Tlaloc slowly but surely starts tightening his hug. He struggles in the painful embrace, but noone notices, as Tlaloc starts dancing around and slinging him in slow circles all the while.
+ 
+Jekhyra watches from beside your group, arms crossed and snickering. "Okay so... goes without saying, no challenge today. He's gonna be uh... 'playing' with his new friend for a while, plus that gash is gonna need time to heal..." 
+
+All the guys from the gym are VERY disappointed to hear that, and make it VERY vocally known. "Buuut... give him some time for him to get back to 100% and he'll be good to go. Provided you still wanna sign that death warrant, of course."

Story/03 - Demense/Gray-Demense.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,236 @@
+This gate is a golden ring with a gray magic wall, looking like a slowly moving fog cloud
+  
+In the graveyard:  
+https://youtu.be/fX07qD_782Y?si=DipdsPgRYBKiCadk  
+  
+In the cathedral:  
+https://youtu.be/6H2JbT4BRDU?si=lvecRpHQf5X5fU8H  
+  
+## Upon exiting the GRAY gate,  
+you feel a strange chill run up all your spines. Not from it being cold, but moreso because you are surrounded by several rows of tombstones surrounding a single pathway extending into a thick gray mist. 
+  
+Welcome to the **Graveyard** Demense!
+
+*BEHIND YOU*
+The gate itself is attached to a surprisingly large and very old stone mausoleum.
+
+*TO THE LEFT & RIGHT*
+As far as the eye can see is just rows upon rows of graves on both sides. The ones closest to the path itself look brand new, and their dates reflect as such.
+
+*BEFORE YOU*
+The stony embedded path leads forward several yards, and looks reasonably well maintained. But you can only see about ten yards/meters away, as everything beyond that point in all directions is obscured by a dense gray fog or mist.
+
+(WILL ROLL) 
+(Lowest roller) suddenly experiences the weirdest sensation, a physical repulsion at the thought of going any farther, and actively wants to leave.
+
+*IF THEY CONTINUE*
+Although you can only see a short distance ahead of you, the pathway ahead seems almost unending.
+
+(NOTICE roll)
+(Barring the one that lost the WILL roll)
+- You realize you have yet to see or hear another sign of life, not even a bird
+- You realize that on the right side of the road, all the frontmost headstones have fresh flowers
+- You hear soft footsteps approaching from the mist, followed by soft creaking and clacking
+
+You ALL spot a body in the distance, obscured by the mist. That creaking and clacking noise is getting louder, as are the footsteps.
+
+*AFTER THEY DECIDE THEIR ACTION*
+The obscured figure steps through the mist, a gray wolf man with messy silver hair and a black dress shirt with rolled up sleeves. His eyes are focused on the ground, and he doesn't appear to notice you.
+ 
+*IF THEY SAY ANYTHING OR APPROACH FURTHER* 
+The wolf man will put the cart down and look to your group, his eyes a dull emerald green and his gray nametag stating THANATOS. He will speak with a soft Tamil accent, "Oh... Abologies, I was focusing on my work. How can I helb you?" 
+
+*AS THEY TALK*
+He steps to the back side of his cart, grabbing an armload of fresh flowers. He walks to the graves closest to the left side of the path, kneeling to the closest one, and placing some flowers into a small holder beside it. He then places a hand on the headstone and utters the phrase "shantim gacchhe"
+
+-----
+
+*ACADEMICS Roll*
+- You recognize the words as Sanskrit, the oldest spoken language on record
+- The best translation you can generate is "Rest In Peace"
+
+(Tamil sounds similar to middle eastern) 
+(Replace T with D, P with B, roll the R, soft A) 
+
+-----
+ 
+*ASK ABOUT DM/REGALIA* 
+He stands up and heads toward the next headstone in line. "Abologies, I know id is rude of me, bud I have much work do do before dhe ceremony and liddle dime lefd. Would you be willing do waid inside?"
+
+He points down the pathway, and the fog is ebbing just enough for the general outline of a large building to be seen in the distance.
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+You eventually come to a large cathedral with a massive pair of wide open doors, a sign beside them stating the next FUNERAL SERVICES and what time each one starts. There is also a building on either side, not as fancy as the cathedral in the middle, but built similarly.
+
+-----
+- LEFT BUILDING
+- CATHEDRAL
+- RIGHT BUILDING
+-----
+  
+*LEFT BUILDING*  
+It's a storage facility filled with instruments. A piano, violin, harp, flute, ceremonial drums, and the tools to repair them all. You also spot a box with dozens of magic rings in a gray hue
+  
+*RIGHT BUILDING*  
+It's a warehouse with several sets of nice dress clothes in multiple sizes, as well as "pine boxes" in identical sizes, plus shovels, large slabs of stone, chisels, choir gowns, a wooden podium, and a surprisingly large hair and makeup kit.   
+  
+*OPEN CATHEDRAL*  
+You enter a small entryway room, holding a guest book on a podium to the right, and leading into the next room.
+
+It immediately connects to the main congregation hall, with rows of pews sparsely occupied by people in black suits & dresses. The elevated stage in the back is holding a podium, an open casket, and a portrait of the deceased.
+
+(CONTACTS ROLL) It's a photo of Warton, the elderly bulldog man that ran the bookstore.
+
+There are dozens of people in the seats ahead of you, chattering, crying, and even laughing as they support each other. A few people are walking up to the casket every so often to say their goodbyes.
+
+*GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO AS WELL*
+  
+A younger bulldog man with trim brown hair in a black suit steps forth to the podium, and he is VERY nervous. "Hello, uh.. My name is Peyton, and I'm Warton's son. I want to thank you all for coming out to say your goodbyes and... I'm... I'm sorry, I'm gonna need a moment."
+ 
+You see the wolf man Thanatos step in from behind the stage seemingly out of nowhere, sitting down at a nearby piano, and plays a somber yet beautiful melody. This seems to put Peyton a little more at ease, and he tries speaking again.
+
+"My father was a unique kind of guy. Always happy, well read, smartest man I ever met. He was always on the lookout for some new story or book he'd never heard of, loved meeting new people, and all he ever wanted was for others to love stories as much as he did."
+
+"When I was a kid, his favorite thing to do was to bring me to the bookstore and have me sit in on his storytime hours, and that-that magic in his eye was so powerful when he saw how happy it made the kids, especially me..." Several teenagers and younger adults stand up and declare he did the same for them.
+
+"He always made sure I came with any time he went to the Library for new books, and every time he found a new kid's book, he read it to me THAT night, and I always felt like I never really told him how much it meant to me that he did..." He pauses again, fighting back tears.
+
+"It's actually thanks to HIM that I did as well in school as I did. He had this weird way of reading back information that made it way easier to understand, and I know I'm not the only one he did that for." About a dozen people applaud quietly in the audience.
+ 
+"You know, um... back when I was a student at Diadem University, they had a class where they went over each known religion's interpretation of the afterlife. They were all different, but the trend showed if you were a decent person, then when you died, you went somewhere amazing or maybe got a better life the next time around." 
+ 
+"I say that to say, this man was quite possibly the kindest, strongest, and most morally upright man I ever knew. And I may not be a religious man, but if any of them turn out to be true, I genuinely believe he deserves the absolute best a man can get, and has MORE than earned it."
+
+He turns to the casket, mic in hand. "Thank you for everything. I just hope that, wherever you are right now, you know that you are now, and always will be, loved." 
+  
+The audience erupts in applause and comments, a few stepping up on stage to hug him, offer their condolences, and compliment his bravery. The next person in line, an elderly cardinal man, steps up to speak next.
+ 
+(NOTICE ROLL) You just now realized the music stopped, and Thanatos is now standing/sitting a few feet from your group.
+ 
+"Abologies for dhe waid, I was running a bid behind."
+
+"Id is embowering do hear one speak with such bassion. And id is clear as day his fadher is so full of pride knowing his son dhinks so highly of him." 
+ 
+*IF THEY ASK HOW HE KNOWS* 
+"Id is my resbonsibilidy do care for dhe grounds dhemselves AND dhe residends as well. Id would be a disservice do ignore dhem." He extends his hand for you to touch. 
+ 
+*TOUCH THE HAND* 
+(EMPATHY Roll)
+Your eyes suddenly begin to feel heavy, the world around you losing color until everything and everyone is grayscale. But after a moment, you see vibrant colorful glows coming from each person around their grayed out bodies.
+
+Most of the people are shrouded in a powerful blue glow, including Peyton. There are a couple people to the side laughing and being supportive glowing a warm yellow, and the next nervous person on stage glowing a delicate white. There's  one person slumped in their seat, glowing an ominous black.
+
+-----
+
+You also see a person NOT giving off any colorful aura that you KNOW wasn't there before, patting Peyton's shoulder with a warm smile, but it looks like Peyton doesn't even notice. And he looks very similar to Peyton, except much older.
+
+"In dhis life, loss comes from so many blaces, bud none so sdrong as dhe loss of life. Id is such a sdrong loss, dhe sensation can even be feld in dhe afderlife."
+
+"Dhad is why dhese ceremonies exisd, so dhose dhad feel dhe loss of dhemselves and dheir loved ones may have a momend of closeness before dhey move on peacefully. Nod say goodbye, bud do see dhe person dhey used do be, and grieve surrounded by all dhad made dhem who dhey were. And dhen, with quied hands and a sdeady heardt, dhey can led go, and druly be free, do embrace whad comes nexd widh no regreds."
+ 
+-----
+
+(highest EMPATHY roller)'s eyes are acting a bit odd, and are glitching a bit back and forth between normal view and this new mood ring like view.
+
+That player has earned a new STUNT:  
+EYES OF ETERNITY 
+- +2 EMPATHY to read peoples' emotions
+- Success shows their emotion as a color aura
+- You can naturally see the spirits of the dead as gray bodies
+
+*IF THEY ASK*
+Thanatos smiles very faintly. "I did nod expecd anodher do be so resonand do dhis bower."
+
+- Fiery red anger
+- Endlessly curious orange
+- Shining joyful yellow
+- Calm peaceful green
+- Teary sorrowful blue
+- Lively compassionate violet
+- Cosmic loving pink
+- Cold fearful white
+- Solemn prideful silver
+- Empty impassive black
+- Sturdy hopeful brown
+
+"And of course, gray, which is dhe sensation of despair and loss. And dhose whom have losd dhe mosd... are dhe deparded."
+
+-----
+
+*SHROUDED IN BLACK*
+When you take a closer look, you spot Nash, hunkered into a ball somewhat and staring at the floor. He has a blank expression, but his cheeks are stained with tears.
+
+*IF THEY APPROACH*
+He will look up to them, give a half-hearted "hey," and go back to staring at the floor.
+
+*IF THEY PRESS*
+"I knew Mr. Warton growing up... he helped me learn stuff when I was going through college... I didn't want to believe he was gone, but... yeah..."
+
+He stands up, slides his hands into his pockets, and shuffle-walks his way to the pathway between the seats. "I'm sorry, I just... I can't be here anymore, I have to go..."
+
+You watch him slowly head out the door of the building, and Thanatos eyes him curiously as he leaves, but makes no move to stop him. But he does look to your group and points at him inquisitively. "Friend of yours?"
+
+-----
+ 
+Thanatos' wolf ears suddenly flick a bit, and he stands up, staring straight at the door. "I beliebe we have uninvided guesds.. excuse me."
+
+He will quietly walk out the main door of the building, making sure to close it behind him.
+
+Moments later, you hear several screams of men AND women just outside, while thankfully the people at the funeral have not heard a word. 
+ 
+*WHEN THEY GO OUTSIDE* 
+You see the thickest blanket of gray mist outside the doors, slowly rotating around a point in a circle like a foggy barrier. You catch momentary glimpses of what's inside, but it's too hard to tell perfectly.
+
+You suddenly hear a voice inside scream at the top of their lungs STAY BACK!!!
+
+(INVESTIGATE Roll)
+- Thanatos is inside, facing down what looks like a group of Marauders
+- The Marauders are all slowly backing away from him, aiming their weapons at him, and they look terrified
+- You see some kind of long object extending from Thanatos' hand, possibly a weapon of some sort
+- You spot a person in a motorcycle helmet dart through the thick fog, and they make a mad dash in the opposite direction
+
+You hear Thanatos state as clearly and evenly as anything else he has said since you met him. "None of you are on dhe lisd... I advise you leave before dhad changes..."
+
+In a fashion identical to an old horror movie, you see and hear them shriek and run out of the fog, headed in the opposite direction. He will turn to your group, the mist slowly evaporating and his hands empty. "Abologies, id was some eh... barty crashers, here do ruin dhe ceremony."
+
+"Now dhad we are oudside, I believe now is a good dime for brober indroductions..." He turns to your group and runs a hand through his hair, smoothing the silver locks back into a cleaner style.
+
+"My name is Thanatos, and I am dhe Masder and sexton of dhis, dhe Death Demense. Id is a bleasure do officially meed you."
+ 
+*DM/REGALIA* 
+He sighs a bit. "Drudhfully I would nod be able do do this right now, as I have many ceremonies to berform doday. Dhis one should be just aboud over, and a new one shall begin soon afder."
+
+Just as he says that, everyone at the funeral files out the front doors, casket at the very front in the arms of four men, the rest following with all the photos and flowers in hand. 
+ 
+One of the grieving women, an elderly cardinal with feathers either a dull red or grayscaling against her black dress & graying head of hair, walks over to Thanatos, sniffling and tearing up. "Thank you for such a lovely ceremony, sir. You did everything perfectly."
+
+He kneels down so he is at her eye level, taking her hands in his and smiling softly at her. "A gread man deserves nodhing less dhan do be surrounded by friends and family, no differend dhan in life. All I did was provide dhe venue. Your people... dhey made dhe ceremony come do life."
+
+She suddenly jumps up and hugs him tightly, bawling into his shoulder for a moment, and he eventually returns her embrace. And that is when she realizes your group standing right behind him.  
+ 
+She quickly releases him and covers her mouth with both hands over a soft gasp, taking a step back, and straightens her outfit out a bit. "I-I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there.. I'm Rowena. I'm here for the service.. obviously.."
+
+She pauses and looks to Thanatos. "Are these your friends, or..?" 
+ 
+He replies hesitantly, "Dhey are nod friends ber se, dhey are.. a fudure abboindmend." 
+ 
+She gasps a bit and walks up to you all, wiping her eyes with a tissue. "I'm so sorry for your loss. My husband just lost his closest friend and gambling buddy." 
+ 
+Thanatos reaches down and holds her shoulder. "Acdually no, dhere is no loss. Dhey have a differend kind of abboindmend." 
+ 
+She turns to him a bit confused. "You do other things than funerals here?" 
+ 
+"Indeed. We host birdhday bardies, ghosd sdory nighds, and slam poedry readings on weekends." 
+
+And she bursts out laughing, which catches the attention of the entire congregation as they set up the burial. He kindly ushers her to go back to her event, and she staggers off, laughing the whole way. 
+ 
+"Dhad is dhe kind of momend I live for. Despide dhe endless flow of dears, she found a momend do share a smile. And now, dhad smile will become as infecdious as the woe dhad broughd dhem here. And she knows if she can smile ad a dime like dhis, dhen... she will be okay." By the time he stops talking, the entire group of people she was part of are all bellowing in laughter. 
+ 
+(Whoever kept the eye ability can see her blue sadness fading into yellow joy, as does many others)
+
+He turns to your group. "And besides, would you really wish do challenge me knowing full well several groups of mourning mordals would be wandering by, wadching dheir evend organizer in.. I would assume armed combad, yes?"
+ 
+"I meand whad I said when I referred to you as a fudure abboindmend. Come back on a fudure dade and we shall arrange your challenge. For now, I have much work do do."
+
+He will give a courteous bow and step away, heading back into the cathedral and slamming the doors behind him.

Story/03 - Demense/Green-Demense.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,253 @@
+This gate is a golden ring with a green magic wall, looking like a slow swirling tornado 
+  
+In the meadow:  
+https://youtu.be/TZSA5HbOIEA?si=LsifjOBxxEd7iTrq  
+  
+In the Archery range:  
+https://youtu.be/D9X-bE51G08?si=v7PRWVioJGvBxWTb  
+  
+## Upon exiting the GREEN gate,  
+you feel the gentlest of breezes, you hear the lightest rustling of grass in the wind, and you see nothing but the cleanest and lushest green grasses as far as the eye can see, sparsely decorated by the occasional tree.
+  
+Welcome to the **Grasslands** demense! 
+ 
+(NOTICE ROLL) 
+The silence is abruptly interrupted by a sputtering noise coming from right beside your group, a horse head leaning down and nibbling the shirt sleeve of (lowest roller).
+
+The horse is inside a large wooden corral connected to a stable with a dozen other horses. You also see a sign against the fence that reads "Villi's Fillies, Rentals 10z." 
+  
+*IF ANYONE COMMENTS ON IT* 
+A female voice from behind you speaks out. "Knock it off Rosa, they don't have food for you!"  
+  
+The gate is attached to a fairly large boulder, and lying atop said Boulder stretched out is a black Kitsune in a matching black skirt over a white long sleeved top. "Dont worry about them, they just want some snacks."  
+ 
+*ASKS ABOUT HER*  
+She doesn't really move, but her head turns a little toward you. "Name's Villi. You new here?" 
+  
+*ASKING ABOUT DM/REGALIA* 
+She sits upright and perks her ears, listening for a moment. You see she is wearing a white kimomo-style top, a drastic contrast to her own black fur, and also has long black hair. "You want the Land Lord, he's that way about... two miles. Look for the giant oak tree next to the horse stable."
+ 
+*IF ANYONE COMPLAINS* 
+She rolls her golden brown (almost red) eyes and jumps down behind the rock, stepping out from behind it and walking into the ranch's main entrance. "Come with me."
+
+She will lead you into a walkway outside of the main pen, a few of the horses within approaching your group curiously. "Walking would take a while, but if you were to ride THESE, you'd get there in a few minutes." 
+ 
+*IF YES* 
+She will guide (1/2 the number of players rounded up) horses toward the entrance, slips a saddle pad, an all purpose saddle, & a bridle to each, and extends the reigns to your group. "Pick your pairs, I don't have enough single saddles for all of you right now."
+ 
+*REGARDLESS OF WHICH OPTION* 
+As you travel through the lush grasses, you see mostly open greenery all being pushed around by a light breeze, and you hear leaves rustling in the nearby trees. You spot an occasional rabbit hopping through the shorter grasses or a bird flying by overhead, but other than that, it's a quiet calm bit of travel. 
+ 
+(NOTICE ROLL)
+(All rollers) You spot an extremely large and flourishing tree in the distance, its branches overhanging and partially covering the outlines of a wooden fence.
+(HIGHEST ROLLER) As your group gets closer, you detect a peculiar scent in the air, something delicate and sweet. And it gets stronger as you get closer to your destination.
+ 
+As you all get closer, you see the grass gets much taller, except for this one conveniently cut out section narrowing down into a governed path.
+
+- You push your way through the tall grasses, 
+- You follow the path through the tall grasses,
+and you notice the grass is cut in a spacious circle around the tree. Both it & the path leading to it are kept incredibly short, while the grass AROUND it is a few feet taller, almost acting like a natural fence. Perfect for hiding in plain sight.
+
+(TO THE LEFT)
+The wooden fence is actually a fairly large wooden corral with about a dozen horses inside, wearing similar saddle and bridle sets as the ones from Villi's ranch.
+
+(BEFORE YOU)
+You are in the shadow of a massive oak tree, easily 50 feet wide at the base and likely even taller, with thick brush hanging from its branches partly hiding a few hanging ropes.
+ 
+(TO THE RIGHT)
+You spot another fenced in area, but this one is a garden with rows of bushes covered in flowers, which is definitely where the sweet scent is coming from.
+
+-----
+- CORRAL
+- TREE
+- GARDEN
+-----
+ 
+*CORRAL* 
+All the horses inside are casually eating grass or drinking from a nearby trough of water, all of them wearing saddles, most of which are single seaters. The corral doorway has a large sign on it saying "hold your horses" sitting just above a latched gate.
+
+(IF THEY BROUGHT HORSES)
+The gate opens easily enough from the outside, and the horses walk inside with no complaint. The first thing the horses do is go for the nearby food and water troughs.
+
+-----
+ 
+*GARDEN* 
+There are a dozen rows of bush that stretch out several yards back, all contained within a handcrafted wooden fence. The lattice archway at the entrance is about eight feet high and ten feet wide, with a wooden sign on the left stating "Camellia Sinensis" and an identical sign on the right stating "free to take."
+
+The bushes all look identical from beginning to end, some having flowers and some having tiny brown or green berries. The bushes that DO have flowers are either a brilliant white or with some small amounts of pink, seven or eight petals each, with yellow stamen in each of them. 
+ 
+(ACADEMICS ROLL) Camellia Sinensis is the scientific name for the Tea Plant. You are looking at a massive tea garden.
+
+-----
+ 
+*OAK TREE* 
+You couldn't see it from so far away, but there is a large treehouse hidden inside its higher branches. It is masterfully crafted, shaped right in and around the branches themselves, blending in seamlessly. There is a partly hidden rope ladder on the left and a climbing rope on the right, both leading to a wooden outcropping. 
+  
+*IF THEY CALL UP* 
+You get no response except for some chirping of birds around you. 
+ 
+*IF THEY CLIMB IN* 
+You make your way to the landing, which could easily be called a porch, and there is no real front door. You can easily see inside, and it is very obviously a genuine home, full of breezy open windows, and comprised of three main rooms: the living room, the kitchen, and the bedroom
+ 
+- The living room has a wood and wicker double couch & single chair set with a coffee table in between them all, and a fireplace centered  behind them.
+ 
+- The left doorway leads to the fully functional kitchen, including a wooden table & chairs, cabinets full of glass & wood dishware, shelves full of jars of dried leaves, an actual metal sink, and an old-fashioned ice box fridge.
+ 
+- The right doorway leads to the bedroom, which is fairly empty aside from a couple small tables around what LOOKS like it should be a bed, but it resembles a giant fabric sack full of... hay or straw?
+
+-----
+ 
+(INVESTIGATE ROLL)
+- You stare out from the higher-up window, and
+- You walk behind the tree itself, and
+you spot a huge group of people behind the tree, but they're all weirdly making very little noise.
+
+*BEHIND THE TREE*
+There is a group of tables with people crafting things behind the tree, yoga practicers on the left, kite flyers on the right, and archers in the back shooting targets FAR into the distance.
+
+This explains why you couldn't hear them, everyone is doing quiet activities.
+
+-----
+- ARCHERS
+- CRAFTERS
+- KITE FLYERS
+- YOGA
+-----
+
+*YOGA*
+You see one instructor, a swan woman in a black leotard, leading a group of nine other men and women in stretching exercises. They bend in a myriad of directions that some of you could easily handle, and a few that you couldn't do in your wildest dreams.
+
+*APPROACH*
+When she spots you, the teacher advises everyone to take a ten minute break, then approaches your group with a smile and a towel slung over her neck. You now spot her green nametag stating AVA. "Hello, can I help you?"
+
+*SENT BY SISTER SCHOOL*
+"Oh you met my twin sister, lovely. This is where we host our classes, as this grassland is so open and free for everyone to bond with nature. But some people prefer a more... rigid facility, so we co-opted the gym building. Were you interested in signing up for one of our schools?"
+
+*DM/REGALIA*
+"Oh you're here to see the Landlord? I believe he is practicing his Archery today a bit farther down."
+
+-----
+
+*TABLES*
+The eight or so people relaxing at the table are doing arts and crafts projects with the twigs, berries, and leaves of nearby trees. Some of them appear to be makeshift arrow shafts, others look like they're stripping the leaves and petals of the flowers from the garden, and one is making a bird nest held together with blades of grass.
+
+*APPROACH*
+A young boy in an indigo hoodie and white shorts turns to your group. He puts down his bowl and chasen (bamboo whisk) and quietly asks, "Need something?"
+
+*DM/REGALIA*
+He points toward the archers. "Landlord's that way."
+
+-----
+
+*KITES*
+The four people flying kites are all lying in the grass, each one's kite string tied to their ankle or wrist and actively being guided in the soft wind. One is flying a diamond kite, one is flying a square box kite, one is flying a snake themed windsock, and one is flying a mini hot air balloon.
+
+*APPROACH*
+The four people in the grass are actually a group of identical looking geckos, each one wearing the same style of red shirt and blue shorts with short dirty blonde hair, the only difference between them being the various shades of their clothing and hair. They all look up to you at the same time. "Yes?"(x4)
+
+*DM/REGALIA*
+They all point their respective kite-holding appendages toward the archers. "That way." (x4)
+
+-----
+
+You spot five different people in all manner of dress, shooting either practice arrows, homemade arrows, or true arrows in professional grade old fashioned wood bows. Most of them actually make their mark, aside from one or two that break on release, but that doesn't seem to deter anyone.
+
+*APPROACH*
+A white moth woman with black hair in a ponytail turns to you, lowering her bow. She's wearing an old fashioned white kyudogi training shirt with a long red hakama skirt, and a green nametag reading BELL. Her eyes carry a tired expression, but she approaches with an odd amount of grace. "Good afternoon, can I help you?"
+
+*DM/REGALIA*
+She nods quietly. "Follow me, please."
+
+She walks at. abit of a slower pace into the grassy distance to another cut grass clearing, where there sits a solitary green snake man in a loose fitting white Japanese Yukata with blue sky sleeve ends. The right arm is completely slid off, revealing the black shirt with red trim underneath, only barely obscured by the quiver of arrows on his back.
+ 
+She raises a hand to put a finger vertically against her lips, then points to all of you, and then the ground. (She is telling you to be silent and wait here.) She walks forward quietly, and when she is maybe ten yards away, she finally calls to him. "Lord Corentin, you have visitors."
+
+Without turning toward her, he pulls out a fresh arrow and nocks it in his bow, aiming it directly at the sky in complete silence, holding perfectly still. Bell will take this opportunity to walk back to your group, nod quietly, and walk away.
+
+*AFTER ANY RESPONSE*
+He turns to the side, staring into the distant grasses with his slitted green eyes, and fires the arrow in a seemingly random direction, staying in the air for several seconds before finally coming down and disappearing in the taller grass. And the moment it disappears, you hear a female voice in the far distance shout "OW! SON OF A BITCH!"  
+  
+A far off head suddenly stands up, looking like a human woman under a bandana, rubbing her forehead and holding the arrow in her hand, which you now see is tipped with a green rubber ball. "WHAT WAS THAT FOR?! WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!"  
+  
+*IF ANYONE ASKS ABOUT HER SAYING 'WE'* 
+*OR IF NOONE NOTICES, (NOTICE ROLL)* 
+Several more people pop up form the grass, one of whom is wearing a motorcycle helmet and smacks her upside the back of the head.
+
+The one in the helmet takes off through the tall grass, leaving the others (clearly Marauders) to charge after you and Corentin.
+
+But right when they get close, the green rubber ball on the arrow will suddenly POP, causing them all to scream that their ears are now either hurting immensely, or they can't hear. 
+
+*ALL ENEMIES WILL HAVE DISADV UNTIL THE START OF THEIR SECOND TURNS*
+
+*CORENTIN WILL ADD COVER FIRE IF NEEDED*
+
+AFTER THE FIGHT  
+  
+The Marauders lie in a heap, many of them with blood stains around their ears. Corentin slithers closer, placing his (now broken) bow against his back. "You have disturbed the peace of my demense. I wish to know why."  
+  
+The one out of the group that can actually hear him, some form of disguised reptilian male, will reply, "That's what we were sent here to do! It's literally our job!"
+
+Corentin closes his eyes and shakes his head in disappointment, pulls down the other sleeve of his yukata, and unfurls a large pair of reptilian wings, an array of long emerald green scales glittering on them in the sunlight, almost like crystalline feathers. "Please take your disturbance strategy elsewhere."
+
+He flaps his wings once, and then darts toward the Marauders, causing them to shriek, before making an abrupt turn and suddenly encircling them sideways, his serpent-like body trailing behind him as he forms a tight circle. 
+
+It takes a few moments, but you see a slowly forming vortex of green magic form around the Marauders. Each one slowly levitates off the ground as a small tornado forms, pitching each one of them high into the air and out of view.
+
+-----
+  
+*PLAYERS ASK ABOUT MARAUDERS* 
+All but one of them are unanimously flung through the gate by the air current, the last one flopping on the ground in front of it. And when she raises her head, her eyes are greeted by the sight of Villi, cracking her knuckles.
+
+-----
+
+Corentin suddenly lurches back towards your group, making a sudden stop a few feet before you, standing tall on his serpentine body. He collapses his wings with a soft sigh, resleeving his yukata over his left arm only as before. "I appreciate your assistance in removing the troublemakers. Care to join me for a cup of tea?"  
+  
+*BACK AT THE TREEHOUSE* 
+He hangs his quiver of arrows and NOW broken bow by the door on wooden hooks, slithering to his kitchen, and coming back out with three kettles, all of which are placed in the fireplace. He lights a match to start a fire in it, the smoke rolling up and out a fairly well hidden chimney. "While the kettles warm, why don't we discuss what brings you here today?"  
+
+-----
+
+READ EACH OF THESE OVER THE COURSE OF THE CONVERSATION
+
+As you chat, he will grab a jar of honey and (number of players +1) cups out of his cupboard, placing them on a nearby table, each with a saucer and a spoon.
+
+*HE WILL POUR TEA FOR EVERYONE AS THEY TALK* 
+The first kettle will pour white tea for anyone wanting something sweet and fruity. 
+The second kettle will pour green tea for anyone wanting something flowery and earthy. 
+The third kettle will pour black tea for anyone wanting something malty and full-bodied
+
+-----
+
+*ASK ABOUT VILLI*
+"Oh yes, the young lady with the horse ranch... she came here a few years ago with the stresses of the universe on her shoulders it seemed. Lost, alone, betrayed by one she trusted her entire life... I can sense she still harbors a grudge, but she is slowly learning she does not need to let it consume her very being. Her stables are proof of this, horses are known to be excellent stress therapy animals."
+
+*WHEN DM/REGALIA IS MENTIONED* 
+"My Regalia is no longer in my possession. It was stolen from me some months ago." He oddly doesn't seem to care that much about it, treating it no differently than losing a sock he would never use. 
+ 
+*IF THEY ASK WHY HE DOESNT SEEM TO CARE* 
+"Well it wouldn't do for a demense master of the most Serene paradise in all of Diadem to lose his composure, would it? The demense is sort of a... reflection of its master, and as such, we share certain aesthetics and characteristics. I can see you have visited another demense before mine, and I'm sure you noticed how... peculiarly perfect the demense is to its respective master."
+
+(READ THESE BASED ON WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN)
+- A raging inferno volcano and endless labor for the angry Aodaghan
+- An endless supply of discovery and information for the curious Conroy
+- An endlessly enjoyable party palace for the joyful Zahir
+- A visually calm ocean with endless depths for the stoic Dorrin
+- A thriving farmland of endless bounty for the compassionate Arledge
+- An infinite range of potential companionship for the intimate Miranda
+- A protective wonderland of wintery beauty for the timid Whittaker
+- An imposing facility and symbol of justice for the prideful Fulmo
+- A somber resting place and ceremony hall for the mournful Thanatos
+- A curiously dangerous & beautiful forest for the seclusive Cassius
+- A thoroughly challenging playground for the auspicious Tlaloc
+
+He sits down with his own cup of tea, taking a long slow sip. "Mm.. but mine is a peaceful and airy pasture, where stress and aggravation can be left behind, and one could embrace the sensation of tranquility in all its forms."
+
+"The sight of the rustling leaves from the vine, the sound of the flickering grass,
+the smell of the inviting flowers,
+the taste of the cleanest & purest air,
+the feel of the breeze against one's skin.
+This place is a delight to all five senses, and embodies the purest aspect of peace."
+
+He stares at each of you from behind his cup. "I desire nothing more than to share that with anyone whom wishes to partake. Including you."
+
+He will finish his cup of tea and stretch his arms high over his head. "Today has been a rather exciting day... I believe it is my turn to relax... If you happen to come across my bow, please do return it to me, and we can discuss a potential challenge then."

Story/03 - Demense/Orange-Demense.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+This gate is a golden ring with an orange magic wall, looking like a slowly filling hourglass
+  
+ORANGE demense  
+  
+In the Library:  
+https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT_Ql8kwm4M  
+  
+In the back lab:  
+https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y-PFMU_NiM  
+  
+## Upon exiting the ORANGE gate,  
+you each stumble on your way through and land on all fours one after the other in a pile of sand. There is a distinct dryness in the air, like it is devoid of moisture.
+ 
+*BEFORE YOU*
+There are two triangular (lime)stone structures, easily hundreds of feet tall, each one with a stone staircase leading up to an opening in the front. But beyond that, all you see between them and on the left and right is endless miles of sand. 
+  
+Welcome to the DESERT demense!  
+ 
+*BEHIND YOU* 
+The gate itself is angled backward at about 45 degrees, as it is physically built into the angled wall of a third (lime)stone structure. You DO spot a pair of staircases going right around the Gate and up the stone incline, to an opening about six feet high and six feet wide.
+
+*GO IN LEFT ONE*
+The pathway inside is about 50 feet deep, and slowly expands out wider and taller as you go deeper. It ends in a strange arena-like space, multiple rows of stone seating surrounding it. But there doesn't appear to be anyone here.
+
+*GO IN RIGHT ONE*
+The pathway inside is about 50 feet deep, and slowly expands out wider and taller as you go deeper. It ends in what looks like a massive laboratory filled with a few sectioned off areas, each one full of beakers & test tubes, burners & freezers, microscopes & petri dishes, and all manners of bright lights & VERY old machinery anyone would recognize from any old horror movie. 
+ 
+*GO IN MAIN ONE WITH GATE ATTACHED* 
+The pathway inside is about 50 feet deep, and slowly expands out wider and taller as you go deeper. It ends at a pair of ten foot tall iron doors, both of which have iron handles covered in hieroglyphics, and one has a sign above the handle with raised letters stating PULL. 
+ 
+*IF THEY GO IN* 
+You feel an immediate wave of coolness break the heat as you peer into what might be the largest library you have ever seen.
+
+The floors are sandstone in hue with orange carpets trimmed in black, and you see decorative hieroglyphics all along the higher parts of the walls casting a glowing light that illuminates the whole building, including the stone columns in the corners of the room that you can see. 
+
+(To the left)
+There is a check-in / check-out station that doubles as a store, selling bookmarks, colorful book covers, comfy bookbags, magic rings in an orange hue, and several other bits and bobbles. At the moment, there is noone behind the counter, and there is a sign saying BACK SHORTLY.
+
+(BEFORE you)
+There are rows of bookshelves reaching heights well exceeding a second story building's, the columns easily double digit, and the depth too far to immediately spot with the naked eye.
+  
+(TO THE RIGHT)
+There is a series of wood tables & chairs, and brown leather couches & ottomans, sparsely occupied by people reading, barring one tiger man taking a nap with a book over his face. There is also a card catalogue drawer off in the corner with a sign saying USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.  
+
+-----
+- COUNTER
+- BOOKSHELVES
+- CARD CATALOG
+----- 
+ 
+*CARD CATALOGUE* 
+The catalogue drawer itself looks relatively normal, aside from there only being one drawer.
+
+*OPEN IT*
+You pull it open, and it reveals name card after name card in an organized rack, so many so that you could step backwards and it would just keep on coming.
+ 
+The sleeping tiger man walks over to you, eyes closed and barely awake. "Oi mate... you know this is a MAGICAL library, right? You opened the drawer without an inquiry and now it's showing lit'rally every book it can think of." 
+ 
+He pushes the drawer shut with one swift motion, pulling you with it. "Ask the drawer for something specific and it'll shrink the options." 
+
+He will suddenly flop back onto the couch, curling up and resuming his cat nap in peace.
+
+*SPECIFIC REQUEST*
+This time when you open the catalog, it only shows a small number of cards. Each one has a book name, author, publication year, and location number.
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*THE BOOKSHELVES* 
+While exploring the seemingly endless shelves of books, you will randomly spot a quick trace of a person waltzing by just out of sight. 
+
+(NOTICE Roll) (Results highest to lowest)
+- You see an orange furred hand placing a book on a shelf, but the person is suddenly gone
+- You hear rumbling and just BARELY dodge someone in a white coat whizzing by on a wheeled ladder 
+- You see someone's wobbly legs as they round a corner with a pile of books ten feet tall 
+- You DO find a Diadem history book, but it's the same one you spotted at the bookstore, and the space on the shelf it likely WOULD be is empty.
+
+-----
+ 
+*THE COUNTER* 
+When you approach the counter, the sign has SOMEHOW changed to now read RING BELL FOR SERVICE, and there is a bell you swear was not there before. You also see traces of orange sand on the counterspace around both.
+ 
+*RING THE BELL* 
+A tiger man suddenly stands up from behind the library counter, as if he was always there just out of sight.
+
+He flips his dark brown ponytail behind his shoulder, straightens his spectacles, adjusts his white flowing longcoat trimmed in black over his black tee shirt, and pulls out an orange nametag reading CONROY from his pocket, pinning it to his coat. "Ello ello! 'ow can I help you?"  
+ 
+*IF THEY ASK* 
+The tiger man that was asleep on the couch is, indeed, gone. 
+ 
+----- 
+  
+Upon being asked any question he cannot readily answer, he will duck down out of sight. Moments later, an orange furred hand will slide a book with a title matching what you're asking for, and Conroy will step back behind the counter, smiling wide, before opening the book to the page you're looking for.
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*ISLAND HISTORY / DM / REGALIA* 
+He will do a doubletake and think for a moment. "The book you're thinking of isn't so much a history book, but a chronology tome. I haven't had anyone ask for that one in a few years, have they really been asking SCHOOL CHILDREN to sit through reading THAT?!"
+
+He jumps down behind the counter, then reappears moments later with a hundred-years-old golden tome with bent corners and burn marks, placing it carefully on the counter.
+ 
+He slips on a pair of tight orange vinyl gloves and carefully opens the book, showing the pages are very old paper, most of them are illegible due to obvious cuts and burns. "Bad news lads and lasses, this book is definitely past its prime, but I can try to gleam something from its remains."
+
+You detect the stench of burnt paper fill the air as he carefully flips through the damaged pages. "There must still be something of use in there... Ah, here we are!"
+
+By the spring of 1472, not only had everyone survived, the population had grown to 43
+
+In that same season, a new group of settlers had arrived from the same land, curious to why noone had returned
+
+This caught the attention of the twelve helpful strangers, whom admitted there is a way to... something, treasures, erm... can't make that part out I'm afraid...
+
+Here we go... the second generation was up to the challenge, and fought the strangers with all their might, but could not defeat a single one.
+
+Dubbed masters of the treasures, these strangers offered the bravest and noblest among them the chance to challenge them again, and each time a new generation joined, the process... I believe it says 'begun anew'... history repeats itself on a short loop, I suppose.
+ 
+He flips through the rest of the pages, looking for anything else of use, one of the pages partly dissolving against his fingertips, causing him to whimper a little. "Well... that's upsetting... I'll need to see about restoring this book somewhow, I suppose... but that's for another day."
+
+He puts the book down under the counter out of the way. "Anything else I can help you with?"
+ 
+*IF THEY ARE DONE* 
+"Wait a tic! Since I 'elped you, maybe you can 'elp me in return? See, when a new person comes 'ere, we 'ave them contribute to the library, in a sense. I would only need a moment of your time, if that's alright?"  
+
+*IF YES*
+"Wonderful! Follow me please!"
+
+He takes you out of the building, and into the entrance of the building to the right. Inside you see a massive laboratory filled with a few sectioned off areas, each one full of beakers & test tubes, burners & freezers, microscopes & petri dishes, and all manners of bright lights & VERY old machinery anyone would recognize from any old horror movie. 
+ 
+He guides you to the back-right corner of the room, to a strange circular metal chamber with an orange magic circle drawn on the ground, and a panel containing an orange slab of stone with odd writing on it. 
+ 
+"The process is quite simple, this magic circle is comprised of chronomancy magic that reads your mind and body for anything knowledge-based, checks it against any pre-existing books, and either fills in the blanks or writes whole new ones. Now if you would be so kind?"
+ 
+He guides you inside the metal tube and has you stand as close to the center as you can manage. "Now just stand right there, keep your eyes closed, and..."  
+  
+He slams his hand onto the orange stone tablet and causes it to jump to life, summoning a small swirling sandstorm to surround you all. Each pellet glows with a soft orange light for a few second, before taking off toward the entry way. "And that'll do it! Let's see what we have..."
+
+Conroy giggles with glee as he stares at the orange stone panel. "Fantastic! 43 new books added including 9 sequels, 27 new books started, 16 incomplete books finished, 83 furthered along, and (player number) all new ones all about you!" 
+ 
+An explosion occurs near the doorway to the lab, sending a small body careening across the room in a high overhead arc, headed straight for the nearby wall.
+
+-----
+
+(ATHLETICS Roll)
+
+*IF DONE WELL*
+You jump out of the pod and make a quick dive for the small body, catching it right before it hits the wall, but the inertia does cause YOU to hit the wall, making you take 1DMG.
+
+*IF DONE POORLY*
+You jump out of the pod and make a quick dive for the small body, but just fall short, the small body slamming into the wall with a dull thud before slooowly sliding down to the floor.
+
+*IF THEY DO NOTHING*
+The body slams into the wall with a dull thud before slooowly sliding down to the floor.
+
+-----
+
+Conroy dashes over to the body, picking it up and dusting it off to reveal a young teenage boy, body obscured by a singed indigo hoodie, his orange nametag reading CAELUM. 
+ 
+"Caelum?! What have I told you about doing your dangerous experiments inside the lab?! You do that OUT IN THE DESERT or the arena Pyramid so the property damage is minimized!"
+
+He sets the boy down on his own two feet, and the boy responds by coughing up a bit of soot. "Sorry, I just had this idea for that gold potion and I had to work on... it..."
+
+He slowly turns to your group, eyes wide and just now realizing you were there. "Uh... hello..?" 
+ 
+Conroy sighs and hangs his head. "Remember your manners, Caelum."
+
+Conroy will stand and approach your group, guiding Caelum toward you all. "Everyone, this is Caelum, my protégé. He runs the pet shop in Diadem, but spends his free time here doing experiments. He fancies himself an alchemist, mostly potions and such, but he dabbles in 'humanimal transmutation.'" 
+ 
+Caelum gets a bit huffy and extends his hand to your group, speaking with a bit of embarrassed irritation. "It's nice to meet you all.. if you need anything animal related, or.. maybe wanna.. experiment with my alchemical concoctions, you know where to find me.." 
+ 
+THE PLAYERS HAVE UNLOCKED THE ABILITY 
+TO RESET AND RESPEC THEIR SKILL POINTS 
+ 
+Conroy smiles seeing him genuinely try. "There's a lad, your mother would be so proud. Anyhoo, I should be returning to work, plenty of people here need a good book. But if you need any help with information, feel free to stop by anytime you'd like!" 
+ 
+Conroy and Caelum both head out the door of the lab together, and you can very clearly hear him talking Caelum up for attempting to be social with someone for the first time in a while. Caelum stops at the doorway as Conroy continues walking out the door, talking to himself the whole way.
+
+He walks closer to your group, squinting for a second in thought. "Hm.. I'm trying to think.. have we met before..?" 
+
+*NO WE HAVE NOT*
+"If you say so.. ugh, this is gonna bug me all day.." He walks away deep in thought, chasing down Conroy, whom you can STILL hear talking the entire time.

Story/03 - Demense/Pink-Demense.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,269 @@
+This gate is a golden ring with a pink magic wall, and it sparkles in random spots
+  
+On the satellite:  
+https://youtu.be/Sf4oFaelTr4?si=p631VDqPUIAulWLE  
+  
+During the fashion show:  
+https://youtu.be/GTrs4QNzGPc?si=NppldyIjVhngVdA4  
+  
+## Upon exiting the PINK gate,  
+you feel the strangest sensation of physical unbalance, kinda like the unsteady sensation of riding a boat that never goes down.
+ 
+You are (for the first time) inside a building, and it resembles a large exhibit hall. The walls are all ribbed and supported by overarching steel beams in a metallic Solid Pink color, leading out into four short & spacious hallways from the open center room.
+(Think "Nave of the Grand Palais museum in Paris, France")
+
+Overhead you see a massive glass panel dome, but instead of seeing outside through it, each panel glows with a soft warm light, easily illuminating the entire space.
+
+(BEFORE YOU)
+The center of the room is occupied by a large elevated stage with a walkway path extending out a good 30 feet, which is surrounded by about 50 chairs in an oval shape. A few chairs are occupied by well dressed attendees, writers, and photographers, all chatting with each other in excitement.
+
+(BEYOND THAT)
+Past the stage, you see an array of four doors against a far back wall at the end of a slight pathway. They are marked, from left to right, PRIVATE QUARTERS, M.G.E. ROOM, STUDIO, and BOUTIQUE
+
+(TO THE LEFT & RIGHT)
+The walls at the ends of the left & right pathways are ceiling-high wall-to-wall semi-reflective black panels, with several onlookers chatting with each other casually or staring at them in silence. You also spot more tables off to the sides, each one with an array of alcoholic drinks AND at least one waiter each.
+
+(BEHIND YOU)
+The gate is bound to an identical metal ribbed wall, minus the doors. On each side of the gate, there are LONG tables with trays of finger foods. One is full of fruit slices on toothpicks, dehydrated veggie chips with ranch dip or guacamole, and a shrimp & dip tray. The other is sweet treats like colorful cupcakes, lemon bars, cherry cream cookies, and several cups of punch with ice, most of them being pink with a lemon scent.
+
+-----
+- STAGE/SEATS
+- BLACK WALLS
+- FOUR DOORS
+-----
+ 
+*STAGE / SEATS* 
+A binturong woman with shoulder-length brown hair in a stunning blue dress and a gold nametag reading CELINA notices you, pulls out a pen & notepad, and approaches. "Hi there, Celina from Diadem Daily, care to stop for an interview?" 
+ 
+She will mostly ask generic questions regarding who you are, if you're native or immigrated, and how you're enjoying Diadem so far.
+ 
+*ONCE THEY ANSWER* 
+She scribbles the last question's information down the fastest. "Oookay, thank you for indulging me, but I get the feeling you have some questions for me as well?" 
+ 
+*DM/REGALIA* 
+"Oh Madam Miranda is a mixed bag personality. She goes back and forth with BEING the center of attention and making OTHERS the center of HER attention VERY quickly."
+
+"She always 'graces the audience with her presence' toward the tail end of her shows."
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*BLACK WALLS* 
+There are several people chatting with each other casually, many of them mentioning the new lines of clothing they're expecting to see. Each one is also holding a glass of some variety with (what you assume to be) some form of alcohol. And those that AREN'T chatting, are staring at those reflective black walls.
+
+(LEFT HALL)
+Against the corner, you also spot a well groomed pine marten man with slicked back blonde hair in a basic server outfit of a white long sleeve button front shirt and black pants with a matching black bowtie, his gold nametag stating KODA. He stands behind a small bar, quickly serving flutes of champagne, tumblers of vodka, copitas of tequila, and simple glasses of cider.
+
+(RIGHT HALL)
+Against the corner, you also spot a well groomed toucan man with tightly trimmed black hair in a gray vest over a white button front shirt and black pants with a black tie holding a gold clip, his gold nametag stating KILIAN. He stands behind a small bar, quickly serving a myriad of colorful cocktails, but you DO notice several of them are varying shades of pink.
+ 
+*EITHER WAY* 
+A young gopher man with slicked back brown hair in a basic button-front white dress shirt aims an old-fashioned camera in your direction. "Excuse me! Over here please!"
+
+Right before he snaps the photo, he pauses and lowers the camera, revealing his gold nametag stating STAN. "Wait a sec, I recognize you... you're the guys that fight the Marauders, right? The uh... (vigilantes / Kings of Kings)!! Okay now I HAVE to take a photo!"
+
+Your group will be momentarily blinded from the bulb flash, and he will squee in excitement. "AWESOME! The chief'll be ecstatic! Once I get it printed, can I bring you a copy to autograph?" 
+ 
+*DM/REGALIA* 
+"Last I saw, Madam Mirands's getting ready in her personal quarters. I managed to snap a photo before she went in, gonna add that one to my personal collection. She is stunning."
+
+He pauses to turn to the wall with a smile. "Though I gotta say... this view is a close second."
+ 
+(INVESTIGATE Roll)
+(Hand these out based on lowest to highest roll)
+- The walls are actually giant glass panels, and are slightly reflective. 
+- You spot several very tiny white dots in the distance, and they are faintly glittering.
+- Looking up, you see what resembles a... solar panel, stationed overhead.
+- Looking down, you spot one object in the distance, a MASSIVE sphere. Mostly blue, but with some smaller spots of white on top, and green & brown along the sides.
+
+Welcome to the **Satellite** Demense!
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*DOORS* 
+ 
+----- *GUARDED ROOM* 
+The two well dressed bodyguards with slicked back hair standing over six foot with sunglasses on (because of course they do) stare at your group, arms crossed. 
+
+The Blonde haired white tiger on the left whose pink nametag reads GARUN bluntly states "Noone is allowed in Miranda's private quarters without permission or an invitation, and we know you all have neither."
+
+The black haired black Panther on the right nods, his pink nametag reading LANCER. "If you did, you'd already be in there."
+ 
+----- *M.G.E. ROOM* (MicroGravity Environment)
+The room has a short line of people of all ages in front of the one hatch-like door, but most of them appear to be older children or young adults.
+
+(15 minutes in line) You are met at the door by a teenage boy in an indigo hoodie, his pink nametag reading CAELUM. He is standing behind a podium 
+
+"(How many in your party? / Oh, it's you guys.)"
+
+"So uh... it's 5z for 5 minutes per person if you want in. And you can do whatever you want in there, just... nothing dangerous or obscene."
+ 
+*IF THEY GO IN* 
+The door slides open to reveal a 50 feet long, tall, and wide empty room, the walls and ceiling lined with thick white padding in a square grid formation. Once the door shuts behind you, you hear a strange humming noise. 
+
+That sensation of physical imbalance suddenly becomes magnified as you lift off the ground entirely, slowly drifting and floating toward the ceiling. You are now in a zero-gravity room.
+ 
+The next (however many they paid for) minutes are available to do whatever you like while behind these doors in a true zero gravity environment.
+ 
+Once those five minutes are over, the gravity will slowly re-engage and lower your group to the ground, the door opening with a hiss. 
+ 
+----- *STUDIO* 
+The room has a short line of people of all ages in front of the one hatch-like door, but most of them look like college students or young adults
+
+(15 minutes in line later) The door slides open to release a small group of people that were already IN there, and inside is a massive crafting studio with a dozen tables worth of sewing machines and clothing racks all across the room, each one well maintained and with a unique clothing pattern schematic. 
+ 
+A bat with gorgeous shoulder length reddish brown hair in a black vest over a button front white shirt and black slacks, his pink nametag reading JAMIR, steps forward, acting like a tour guide.  
+ 
+"So THIS is the room where the magic happens, where all her clothes are hand crafted by herself and the volunteer students from Diadem College and Diadem Trade School."
+ 
+He directs everyone's attention toward a few mannequins with some incomplete design ideas.
+
+"Everyone is free and encouraged to use any of the bolts of cloth and sewing machines if they want to try their hand at making something of your own. And, if Miranda sees it and likes it, she may either wear it herself or have it made for her stores, guaranteeing credit AND compensation for your idea and hard work."
+
+(CRAFTS Roll if they want to make some clothes)
+(If they roll well, have Jamir grab it and add it to an incomplete ensemble, and mention he will show it to Madam Miranda FIRST chance he gets)
+ 
+----- *BOUTIQUE* 
+This place is LOADED with what can only be YEARS worth of designer clothing, filled to the brim with every manner of shirt, skirt, top, one two & three piece outfit, multiple matching sets of shoes for each, magic rings in a pink hue, and tons of other accessories. 
+ 
+*BUYING* 
+The register is ran by a seven foot tall giraffe man with slicked back black hair in a black vest over a button front white shirt and black slacks with a pink nametag reading ELI.
+
+Despite your best efforts, he smiles at all of you, knowing full well you are staring.
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*LATER* 
+Several more people have shown up since you started walking around, mostly curious onlookers like you but in decent dressy clothing, and a few being fashionista types that you'd expect to see at an event like this. 
+ 
+The lights begin to dim around the four various halls, leaving only the stage in the center, which causes everyone to scramble for a decent seat.
+
+A young boy in an indigo hoodie, white shorts, short white hair, and a pink nametag reading CAELUM steps out on stage, microphone in hand. He looks a little nervous speaking in front of an audience, staring out at everyone and taking a deep breath.
+
+"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending Madam Miranda's latest fashion show! We are here to show off the latest and greatest omni-seasonal line of clothing for year-round function AND fashion!" 
+  
+The 20 minute show, although awkward to anyone who has never attended one, goes off flawlessly. In sequence, you see: 
+- Sporty summer clothing in muted colors being shown off by male & female athletes 
+- Fall clothing in earthly toned colors shown off by mostly female theater students 
+- Winter clothing being a split between straight black or solid white ensembles worn by mostly tall male students 
+- Spring clothing of vibrant ponchos & umbrellas, with Easter color sweaters thrown in, worn by mostly cheerleaders 
+- The entire time, little Caelum has been introducing each item or combo of clothing, AND mentioning which person invented the piece(s)
+(If they invented anything in the STUDIO, add it at the very end as a last minute entry)
+  
+At the end of the show, Caelum steps back on stage, looking much more confident now that he's been talking for so long. "Every item you saw will be available in the seasonal stores of Diadem Mall in two weeks! And now for the woman who made this whole event possible, the Demense Mistress and the hostess of the evening, Madam Miranda!" 
+  
+From the curtains steps a caramel brown feline in a black flowing dress trimmed in pink highlights with split sides, showing off her long legs clad in thigh high stiletto boots. Her generous chest draws attention to her unusual neck plumage, dark brown feathered wings, and lion's tail swaying behind her. Her dark brown beak, amber avian eyes, and elongated ears are perfectly framed by her rounded brown haircut, topped with a single pink flower in her hair. Miranda is a gryphoness, and a well endowed one at that.   
+  
+Caelum hands her the microphone, which she takes and playfully pats him on the head for, causing him to get flustered and walk off stage. "Thank you all for coming out to see tonight's new line! These tailors and seamstresses put tremendous work into everything you see here, and the models did a marvelous job making it look DAMN good."
+
+She pauses for the mix of applause and hooting & hollering to run its course. "As Caelum said, these pieces will be available in the Diadem Mall for purchase in 2 weeks, but anyone wanting early access can buy them in the on-ship boutique right now, while supplies last!" 
+
+She tosses Caelum the microphone as everyone applauds, and she spreads her wings, hopping off the stage and gliding out beyond the audience toward the gate, laughing the whole way. 
+
+Most of the audience stood up and made a MAD rush for the boutique to get their hands on the clothing early, and the rest are either trying to talk to Miranda (especially the local paper) or are heading home (likely to prepare a budget for the clothes). 
+ 
+*IF THEY APPROACH* 
+Her attention will immediately shift to your group, as she drops the conversation with her current interviewer to strut toward you, eyes glowing a light pink around the dark browns. "Well hello there, new faces~ I hope you all enjoyed the show as much as I did~" 
+
+She offers to shake hands with each of your group one at a time, and makes playfully flirtatious comments toward each of you. (She will literally flirt with anyone)
+
+She will slowly strut around your group, eyeing each of you like pieces of meat for her next meal. "So... what can I do for you today?~"
+ 
+*IF ASK ABOUT REGALIA/CHALLENGE* 
+"Oh you're a group of Regalia Hunters, even better than I had hoped~ I could use a little... stress relief~"
+
+She extends a hand toward your group, palm up, smiling predatorily. "Normally I'd volunteer to take you all on at the same time, but I'm more in the mood for a little... one-on-one action, if anyone wants to volunteer?~" 
+ 
+*IF NOONE VOLUNTEERS* 
+(RAPPORT Roll) Her eyes will drift toward (highest roller) and she will lean in close, purring lightly in their ear. "How about you?~" 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*IF DECLINED* 
+"Hm.. that's a shame, I would've loved to get to know you... intimately~" She will step away and turn to face you all.
+
+"All playfulness aside, I can see you're all more interested in earning my Regalia the hard way, and I'm obliged to accept, but this is neither the time nor the place." She waves her hand at the messy end result of the recent show.
+
+"Not to mention I am FAR from dressed for the occasion."
+
+She pauses for a moment looking all of you over, and a smile creeps across her face. "Tell you what. Give me some time to clear the mess and make an appropriate stage? We can make a spectacle out of it for everyone to enjoy~"  
+ 
+*IF THEY AGREE* 
+"Fantastic, be sure to bring your absolute best, you hear me? This will be seen between all corners of Diadem!"
+
+She will laugh uproariously before walking away, grabbing both security guards in front of the doorway marked PRIVATE QUARTERS, and yanks them into the room with her, slamming the door loudly enough for even YOU to hear. 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*IF ACCEPTED* 
+Once (player) places their hand in her palm, she will grab their hand tight, pull them away from your group, and hold them to her tightly so THEIR face is half in her chest but she can still look them in the eyes.
+
+"This is gonna be fun~" She will then stomp her heel, and a bright pink flash will blind all of you for a moment, only to dissipate and leave Caelum in both their place. 
+ 
+Several people are freaking out as they claim they just moved a solid 20 feet from where they were. Caelum turns toward everyone, microphone in hand. "Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for the confusion, but if you have been displaced, you will be perfectly fine! That is just the side effect of one of Madam Miranda's special powers! Just relocate back to your original groups and you will be fine!" 
+ 
+The audience calms down rather quickly hearing that, the displaced people slowly shuffling back to their original groups, and Caelum turns to your group with a mildly irritated look. "Let me guess... Regalia Hunters, right?"  
+
+*CONFIRM*
+He sighs with frustration and hangs his head for a moment. "She should be in her bedroom." He gestures toward the far-left door on the back wall, currently surrounded by a pair of guards, marked PRIVATE QUARTERS.
+  
+The two well dressed bodyguards with slicked back hair standing over six foot with sunglasses on (because of course they do) stare at your group, arms crossed. 
+
+The Blonde haired white tiger on the left whose pink nametag reads GARUN bluntly states "Noone is allowed in Miranda's private quarters without permission or an invitation, and we know you all have neither."
+
+The black haired black Panther on the right nods, his pink nametag reading LANCER. "If you did, you'd already be in there."
+
+*OUR FRIEND IS IN THERE*
+LANCER interrupts. "THEY are in. YOU are not. Besides, we couldn't let you in if we wanted." He aims his thumb at the door, pointing out the gold magic barrier surrounding the entire door AND doorframe, bowing out around it in a circular manner.
+
+-----
+ 
+*INSIDE THE ROOM*
+You could swear you teleported four or five times before you ended up here, wherever HERE is. The room is very dark, but you can make out some low glowing lights toward the ceiling in neon pink. You are suddenly released from her grip, slowly guided in the darkness by a hand, before flopping onto something large and soft. You hear her mutter a few words in your ear, "I challenge thee~"
+
+For a few moments, you see a golden glow fully illuminate the room, and you see JUST well enough to recognize you are in a very large bedroom, on top of an extremely large bed. And Miranda is grinning ear to ear at you.
+
+Miranda and that player will each make a FIGHT, PHYSIQUE, and ATHLETICS roll until a best two out of three result is determined
+
+-----
+  
+Several minutes later, the barrier finally dissipates and the door clicks unlocked. Miranda opens the door, grinning ear to ear, wearing a long fluffy pink robe. "Come in, come in~"
+
+Your teammate is lying on a king size bed, naked but barely covered by a blanket across their naughty bits. You see several VERY telling hickeys all over their body, claw marks cutting into the mattress, and you spot what looks like a leash next to them. Your friend however is in an eyes wide open coma state, just staring at their reflection in the mirror.   
+ 
+The room itself is something straight out of an adult film. The circular bed sits on a platform under a series of ceiling mirrors, showing JUST how thorough she was with your teammate, but beyond that are ordinary looking cabinets and dressers, partly open to reveal an IMMENSE wardrobe of clothing. 
+ 
+She closes the door behind you all, smiling knowingly. "Before you ask, it's not what it looks like... *it's so much better~*"
+
+She laughs proudly and offers your group seats on her nearby couches. "Well now that I got my cardio in, let's discuss the results, shall we?~"  
+  
+*WHAT HAPPENED*  
+"Well to put it simply, my CHALLENGE was for them to.. satisfy me~" She licks her beak, giggling to herself. 
+ 
+----- 
+  
+*If they lost 2 out of 3,*  
+"Sad to say, they tried their best, but I'm not easy to please, and I own it~"
+
+"Now since I'm a bit 'understandably exhausted' after the show and my workout, I don't think I have another challenge in me..."
+
+"Give me a few days to clean up the walkway, and I'll build us a true arena, a battleground worthy of a fight between all of us~ Does that sound good?~"
+
+*IF YES*
+"Fantastic, then check your mail for a letter coming soon. And um.. you might want to get your friend some water, they're a little dehydrated~"
+
+As you all walk out the door, Miranda speaks toward your group. "Oh, uh... one last thing... you can keep that as a souvenir~"
+
+She grins as she traces her fingertips slowly along her neckline.
+
+She is referring to the simple piece of black leather around (player)'s neck, which is holding a pink magic gem, identical to the ones you see on the magic rings.
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*If they won 2 out of 3,* 
+"And I haven't had a workout like that in some time~"
+
+She reaches into the front of her robe and pulls out a long coiled up whip lightly radiating pink energy, handing it to your group. "This is my Regalia and your prize, the Star Scourge. Take it with my blessing, treat it like the treasure it is~"
+
+She then stands back up and walks to the door, holding it open for you all. "Feel free to come back anytime~ My door's always open for you~"
+
+The two guards outside the door both lean in, pull down their sunglasses, and look over your group, then nod in confirmation at Miranda before resuming duties.

Story/03 - Demense/Red-Demense.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,182 @@
+This gate is a golden ring with a red magic wall, looking like a slowly dancing image of flames 
+  
+RED demense  
+  
+# In the main area:   
+https://youtu.be/Ava45CrcDPQ?si=fDugZT4a8JKcZ1bv  
+  
+# In the cavern:  
+https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXYnUvln9So  
+  
+## Upon exiting the RED gate,  
+You feel an immense heat hit you right in the face and your nose is bombarded by the stench of fresh sulfur. Once the sensation of your eyes being soft boiled wears off, you see a simple tropical town surrounding a single dirt road stretching into the distance. 
+ 
+*BEHIND YOU* 
+The Gate is firmly attached to the side of a mountain's rocky baseline. And when you look up, you see a plume of smoke reaching into the sky from the top of said mountain. It's an active volcano. 
+
+Welcome to the **Volcano** demense!
+  
+*TO THE LEFT* 
+A dozen buildings of different colors stretch down a spacious dirt path, each of them hosting a storefront with wooden racks and tables, like shops
+ 
+*STRAIGHT AHEAD* 
+You see a group of people all sitting around a fire, and it looks like they are having a good time. You can also hear music coming from their direction
+
+*TO THE RIGHT* 
+There are several good sized plantation fields behind wood and rope fences, each one hosting a different kind of food or crop, each one with a caretaker actively managing the plants
+ 
+-----
+- SHOPS
+- PARTY PEOPLE
+- PLANTATIONS
+-----
+ 
+*SHOPS* 
+ 
+Each storefront has a display rack showing an individual food item or a bundle of a crop, and the spread is diverse. You see coconuts and palm leaf based products, wheat, bananas, lemons, coffee beans, magic rings in a red hue, and even sugarcane. 
+
+*APPROACH ANY SHOP*
+The shop is ran by an Asp woman in a white flower pattern shirt and a straw sun hat, her red nametag reading LANA. "Hello, what can I get for you today?" 
+ 
+*ASK ABOUT DM/REGALIA* 
+"You want to see the Forgemaster? He's working right now, wouldn't recommend bugging him. But if you REALLY need to see him, then head over THERE." She will point toward a cavern farther down the side of the mountain/volcano. 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*PLANTATIONS* 
+ 
+Each individual plantation has its own active gardening attendant trimming excess leaves, watering the plants, pulling nasty weeds, things of that nature.
+ 
+The (name of crop) worker sees you approach, a yellowjacket with tied back brown hair under a white ball cap, wearing blue jeans and a white shirt with a red nametag reading CULVER.
+
+He steps away from a bushel of (name of crop), wipes his face with a rag, opening a bottle and taking a drink of water with two other hands, leaning on a fence post with the fourth arm. "Ahh... Ya need some help?" 
+ 
+*ASK ABOUT DM/REGALIA* 
+"Oh you wanna see the Forgemaster? He's riiight up there." He points to a cave in the side of the mountain/volcano. "Good luck to ya, he's not an easy guy to talk to."
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*PARTY PEOPLE* 
+ 
+You see a circle of about ten people sitting around a nice little controlled fire on the far distance of the drive between the storefronts and plantations. All of them are either relaxing on top of some rocks or small logs, enjoying some plates of freshly smoked meat, or playing music on their various instruments. 
+ 
+One of the ukulele players, a bearded dragon with freely flowing black hair down his back wearing blue shorts, puts down his instrument and waves your group over. "How can we help ya, friend?" 
+ 
+*IF DM/REGALIA* 
+"You want to talk to the Forgemaster? Better have a good reason, he don't like to be bothered when he works." He points to a cave built into the side of the mountain/volcano. 
+ 
+----- ----- ----- 
+ 
+INSIDE THE VOLCANO CAVE 
+ 
+The entrance to the cave is nothing special, clearly dug out by hand and tool, but goes in deep enough to where you can't see where it ends immediately. 
+ 
+*IF THEY GO IN*
+The heat becomes more intense by the second, but thankfully the cave isn't too deep. A minute in, your ears fill with the sounds of metal on metal and metal on stone. You eventually come to an opening in the path, which leads you to a full-on mining and smithing operation.   
+  
+On the left is a group of about ten muscled men and women in white sleeveless shirts and black pants, swinging pickaxes into the rocky volcano walls, yanking out chunks of colorful or unique looking rocks, and tossing them into a crate. 
+ 
+At one point you see and hear one pickaxe SNAP right under the head, but this is apparently such a common occurrence they have a literal crate full of brand new ones, which the worker simply pulls a new one out of and resumes like it was nothing. 
+  
+Opposite them on the right is a row of six large iron anvils, with five identically dressed muscled people wearing smithing aprons, pounding away on chunks of metal. The only unoccupied anvil is currently split in half long-ways.
+ 
+Between the miners & smithers is a ten foot wide plume of hot smoke rising out and going straight up through a hole in the rock above. The smoke is coming from a ten foot wide magma pool held up by a three foot tall circular rock wall, making it look like a small above ground pool. And it is SWELTERING to be this close to it. 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*ASK ABOUT THE ANVIL* 
+A boar with a shaved head wearing a smithing apron and a red namtag that reads GARSEN turns to the anvil and laughs. "Oh THAT? Some asshat came through here a couple years ago with a fancy slab of metal and made a blade out of it, cut the anvil by accident. We were gonna replace it, but it's like... how many times you see an anvil split long ways, ya know? Fucking hysterical!" 
+  
+"Damn straight, it was 'see it to believe it' type shit." A gruff voice with a Boston-ish in the direction of the magma pool states.
+ 
+----- 
+
+*NOTICE ROLL IF THEY DIDN'T ASK*
+You couldn't see it at first because of the immense heat and smoke, but you see a very tone and very red bird man in a black smithing apron & matching bandana holding back long black and red hair, his red nametag reading AODAGHAN.
+
+He grabs a nearby heavy metal tray or mold of some sort, placing it on the lip of the magma pool's rock wall. He then reaches into two nearby crates, one of which is the crate the miners were tossing chunks of rock into. From one he pulls an oddly colored bronze rock, and a chunk of black rock from the other.
+
+He crushes both in his hands together slowly, mixing them together into a chunky powder. He then dips both hands into the lava pool for several seconds, and when he pulls them back out, you can see the glowing rock slurry in his palms glowing brightly, and his arms are unharmed.
+
+He then inhales & breathes a steady stream of fire onto the mix, and you can see molten liquid slowly begin to drip from between his fingers, which he then guides into the metal tray.
+
+He pitches any leftover chunks of rock into the pool after, then hands the tray off to the anvil workers, grabs a fresh tray, and places it on the lip of the lava pool, intending to start the process all over again.
+  
+AN ALARM GOES OFF  
+ 
+Garsen suddenly stops what he's doing and turns to the others, giving a loud WAHOO before yelling QUITTING TIME!
+
+Every worker puts down their equipment and starts to pile out through the tunnel you came in. Aodaghan is the only one that didn't leave, and you watch him continue to crush, heat, and drip metal into his tray. 
+
+*APPROACH*
+"I got an order to fill. Either make yourself useful or cop a squat in the corner, I don't give a shit which." (He speaks with a Boston-ish accent, and) His irritation causes his words to come out in a snarl. 
+ 
+*IF THEY HELP* 
+He finally looks up to your group, revealing his vibrant green eyes surrounded by a faint glow of red. His gaze carries a strange heat, and you somehow feel even hotter wherever he looks. "Grab those trays and line 'em up like dis one."
+
+He points to (number of players) trays, all of which look like VERY heavy metal.
+
+(FIGHT or PHYSIQUE Roll)
+You each pick up one of those trays and place it beside the one he's currently filling. But in the process, (LOWEST ROLLER) struggled quite a bit to pick it up, and took 1 point of damage when it slipped out of your hands and clipped your foot.
+  
+When he finally finishes, he comes from around the back, chucking his apron, now in only a basic pair of black shorts. He stretches his arms over his head, and you hear SEVERAL cracks and pops. "Aight, I'm done. Now what the fuck do you want from me?"  
+  
+*MENTION APPRENTICE* 
+"That ol' jackal sent you my way, did he? Ain't seen 'im in 30 years."  
+  
+*MENTION REGALIA/DM* 
+"OH fuck me, you're Regalia Hunters, ain't ya?" 
+
+He groans exagerratedly before taking a deep breath. "Aight, here's the deal--"
+
+And an explosion occurs that rumbles audibly through the volcano cave. "--and this chat is on hold. We got assholes."  
+ 
+*WHEN THEY TURN AWAY* 
+Apdaghan flies right over you at surprising speed, wings spread wide and fire shooting from his feet like jet engines. You also spot what looks like a very long bird-themed fabric sword sheath against his back.
+
+By the time you make it out, he is hovering in the sky and staring down at the issue with a murderous glare, a group of Marauders.
+
+You watch from afar as they break all the wood storefronts, smash the crops, break the ukuleles, and start burning the houses.
+
+(NOTICE Roll) You spot someone in a motorcycle helmet & matching outfit staring up at Aodaghan, before they casually walk out through the Gate.
+  
+Aodaghan divebombs the intruders at mach speed, only turning up at the last possible second and creating an explosive air current that knocks everyone on the ground back, including a couple innocent bystanders.
+
+He then lands, walks over to each Marauder, grabs them by whatever limb is closest, and throws them into a pile in the middle of the dirt path. Once they are all in one heap, he collapses his wings and cracks his knuckles, stepping closer to them.
+
+The Marauders aim their weapons at him, but he shakes his head in disappointment. "You fuckwits made a huge mistake comin' here and startin' shit. You ain't leavin' without a harsh lesson."  
+  
+He raises his right arm and reaches behind him, pulling out a massive six foot long two foot wide multicolor wavy long-sword, looking like a solid strip of fire in steel form. He aims its tip at their feet, causing them all to flinch, and states with malicious intent, "I CHALLENGE THEE."  
+ 
+From Aodaghan's feet expands a magical golden energy ring that spreads to a width of about 50 feet, surrounding himself and all of the Marauders. Once it finishes expanding, you see a golden energy arise from it, producing a transparent gold magic wall.
+
+You get to watch all the Marauders panic and punch, kick, spellcast, & sling things at the magic wall, but nothing and noone is getting through. They are all trapped in there with him.
+ 
+Aodaghan slams his blade into the ground, getting everyone's attention. "Here's your challenge: SURVIVE!" 
+  
+What you witness is the most brutal, bloody, one-sided beatdown you have ever seen. Every swing of a weapon gets deflected, every spell gets tanked, every attempt to defend gets punished. More flames than a house fire, more screams than a haunted house, and more bodies flying through the air than a paratrooper squadron. 
+ 
+And scarily enough, he only ever used the flat side of his massive sword. 
+ 
+By the end of those 38 seconds, the charred, battered, and bruised bodies of ten Marauders are lying in a smoking heap. Several of these bodies now have wavy blademarks bruised and seared into their skin, permanent reminders of everything that just happened. 
+ 
+Aodaghan jams his blade straight down into the ground and rests both hands atop the handle. "Well whaddya know... I WIN." 
+  
+The gold circle fades away, and Aodaghan walks toward a nearby pile of broken wood. He reaches behind it and picks up (Lana) an Asp woman running one of the stands by the back of her white flower shirt, causing her to scream in fear.
+ 
+She immediately shuts up when she is face to face with Aodaghan, whimpering a bit nervously. He states as quietly as he can, "Go... get... th' Thunda Force." 
+ 
+The woman quickly nods, eyes wide as dinner plates, before she is suddenly released. Her ass lands on the ground first, but she quickly picks herself up and darts for the gate. 
+ 
+He walks back to your group, and cracks his neck VERY loudly. "Well I feel better.. now where were we?"  
+  
+*REGALIA* 
+"Fucking seriously?! URGH... Okay, I'm gonna go nice an' slow. See this sword? This is a Regalia. It's my symbol of rule in this Demense. Ev'ry Demense Masta's got one, an' ev'ry fucker wants it. But you gotta earn it by CHALLENGIN' th' current Holder." 
+ 
+*GOLDEN CIRCLE* 
+"THAT was a CHALLENGE ring. Any legit Regalia holder makes or receives a CHALLENGE, it makes one o' those circles. Once it goes up, you either win, lose, surrender, or DIE. Otherwise, Noone goes in, Noone goes out." 
+ 
+*IF THEY WANT TO FIGHT* 
+"Well tough titties, I ain't doin' that shit today. I just worked through my break. Besides, you pissants almost melted unda th' heat o' the lava pool. Come back when you got actual muscle on ya bones an' MAYBE I'll give you a shot." 
+ 
+He unfurls his wings and takes off, heading right back for the volcano cave, leaving you all in the partially destroyed town.

Story/03 - Demense/Silver-Demense.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,175 @@
+This gate is a golden ring with a silver magic wall, looking like a disc with a slow moving static charge going across it 
+  
+In the Academy:  
+https://youtu.be/VSWF1SUcmpk?si=5W8vwTvaa9sB7Stt  
+  
+In the courtroom:  
+https://youtu.be/RPkHu8M_U4c?si=OclLJb7Cj4lhX8d2  
+  
+## Upon exiting the SILVER gate,  
+you are immediately greeted by the smell of ozone, sounds of orders being barked, and feel the faint rumble of small explosives.
+  
+Welcome to the **TEMPLE** demense!
+
+*BEHIND YOU*
+The gate itself is bound to the middle support column of a staircase that leads to a statue of a weight scale, one side holding a lightning bolt. Behind said statue is a massive marble fronted building you recognize as a courthouse facility.
+
+*TO THE LEFT*
+Behind a tall fence lies what might be the largest and most terrifying military grade obstacle course you have ever seen.
+
+*BEFORE YOU*
+You see an almost exact copy of the Thunder Force branch office in Diadem, except MUCH larger.
+
+*TO THE RIGHT* 
+You see a plain grayscale brick prison building, surrounded by a VERY tall barbed wire fence, filled with dozens of Thunder Force officers AND people in orange jumpsuits.
+
+-----
+- COURTHOUSE
+- OBSTACLE COURSE
+- THUNDER FORCE
+- PRISON
+-----
+ 
+*THUNDER FORCE OFFICE* 
+The inside looks EXACTLY like the Branch office as well, except significantly larger. The immediate entrance is just a pair of prep rooms, as well as a service desk with a clerk (a leopard woman with red hair in a bun and a silver namtag stating LIZ). 
+ 
+The left hallway is the bathrooms, locker rooms, break room, training hall, and doorway to the obstacle course you spotted outside.
+
+The right hall is the three Commanders' offices, the conference room, and the interview offices.
+
+And right in the middle is an isolated evidence room, surrounded on all sides by the hallways.
+
+----- 
+ 
+*TRAINING GROUNDS* 
+This area has no entryway from the outside, but you can see one clear as day on the far right area attached to the Thunder Force office. But the inside looks even more terrifying when you take a closer look, and it is split in two segments. 
+ 
+The closer segment is an Assault Course, filled with climbing walls with ropes & window holes, barbed wire & pipes to crawl through, wood beams & planks to balance on, and apparently hidden explosive charges, based on the smoke trails.
+
+The farther segment has a SEVERELY worn out brick building used for simulated combat entry, several scorch marks and bullet holes sticking out like sore thumbs against its beige paint.
+
+-----
+ 
+*PRISON BUILDING* 
+The three officers at the front entrance are a bit confused by the presence of random people at the front gate. One of them approaches you, a Jaguar with a blond buzzcut and a nametag reading BRENNAN, both hands on his rifle. "Can we help you?"
+
+*AFTER THEY SAY ANYTHING*
+He asks you to hold on a second and makes a quick call on the personal station phone, stating they have visitors and giving a basic description of all of you. Within moments, the gateway opens from the inside to reveal Second Commander Valeos with a look of surprise in his reptilian eyes. "At Ease, officers, they are most definitely welcome here." 
+ 
+He guides your group inside and offers a very basic and minimal tour. Inside is a pretty drab and boring facility, mostly long hallways of locked doors they won't allow you into. The sparse Thunder Force agents salute your group as they pass by, but otherwise pay you no mind.
+
+You eventually come to the biggest part of the facility, the jail house. A four floor building of nothing but barred cells on the three topmost floors and a cafeteria on the first floor.
+
+He jokingly offers to let you try the food, but based on what you can see and smell, it doesn't seem particularly appetizing.
+
+-----
+ 
+*COURTHOUSE* 
+Inside the courthouse is a mix of white marble walls, bright red carpets, massive wooden doors, and silver colored flag patterns scattered throughout, mimicking the colors and overall theme of the Thunder Force themselves.
+
+There are several people walking through the halls, most of which are either judges, attorneys, Thunder Force, or citizens being guided and spoken to by one of the prior three. 
+ 
+You are suddenly approached by a curious onlooker, a garter snake woman with brunette hair to her shoulderblades in an all pink suit over a white dress shirt, her silver nametag reading PAMELA. "May I help you?" 
+ 
+*IF COURT SESSION* 
+"Oh you're here to testify on Marauder crimes? Excellent, come with me please."
+
+She will walk over to a nearby desk and pull out a clipboard with various names and dates on it. "Now when did this crime happen, and do you recall the aggressors' name or species?" 
+ 
+*MENTION THE RAM* 
+She lowers her clipboard and stares at your group, then sits on the corner of the desk. "You're here about LUCKY? He's been in and out of here so often, he has a coffee mug with his name on it."
+
+She scrawls your names on the paper and heads over to an intercom, pressing the button. "Excuse me ma'am, we have another group for the Marauder court case today. And they're here for Lucky." 
+ 
+In a matter of seconds, a set of doors burst open, and a frantic First Commander Jensen marches her way to the desk, calming down immediately when she sees it's your group. "You know... I should've expected it to be you. Welcome to the Temple of Justice." 
+ 
+*AFTER QUESTIONS* 
+Jensen will comment "So since you're also Regalia Hunters, you're gonna be VERY interested in whom is handling the court proceedings. Speaking of, we should probably head in."
+
+She brings you all the way to the back of the main hall to the last set of wood doors, taller than the rest. She opens them, revealing a fairly standard courtroom. Wooden rows of seating, wooden gateway, wooden walls, all fairly standard. Except, there is no jury box.
+
+You are guided to the front row of seats, alongside a group of other citizens and Thunder Force officers. Jensen salutes your group and marches to the front of the courtroom, waiting with her arms behind her back, staring at the door. A minute later, Valeos comes in and joins her, as does a small squad of Thunder Force officers.
+
+Once the time reaches the top of the hour, Jensen steps forward. "All Rise! Court is now in session! The Honorable Judge Fulmo presiding."
+
+A door to the side of the room opens, and in steps a raccoon man with a black and silver fur pattern in banded rings, his fluffy tail sticking out the back of his judge's robe occasionally zapping the open air with electrical discharge. His spiky silver hair draws attention to his electric blue eyes as he looks out to the members of the courtroom, and you can feel the hint of static in the air when his gaze drifts toward you.
+
+He takes his seat at the podium, grabs his gavel, and gives it one test smack, but the impact has a thunderously loud impact. "Thank you, Commander. Thank you everyone for attending, I am Judge Fulmo Uncial, Demense Master and Chief Justice. You may be seated. Please call the first case."  
+  
+What comes next is about 90 minutes of very quick and simple proceedings.
+- A supposed criminal is brought out in handcuffs
+- Fulmo reads a list of charges, and asks how they plead for each
+- Members of the audience stand and state they were witness and/or victim to their crimes
+- Fulmo renders verdicts based on the testimony given rather than letting it go to any form of deliberation
+- If they are found innocent, they are freed then & there, with advisement to be more careful to avoid a repeat offense
+- If they are found guilty, their punishment is declared based on the crimes and are taken away by as many Thunder Force officers as needed
+- Rinse and repeat every 5-10 minutes
+
+Some of his punishments are rather... odd. You hear the usual fines or jail time, but in one instance, he orders them to work off their debt as an employee of the business they helped destroy in lieu of jail time, under strict supervision.
+
+In another, he orders a group of college students responsible for destroying several classrooms at the trade school to endure a prison sentence on weekends, specifically so they can still attend the classes they pay for on the weekdays AND still keep the jobs they do in the evenings, essentially taking away all their free time until they graduate.
+
+And in one instance with a minor, he orders them to go home and talk out their rebellious issues with their parents.
+  
+Finally, the last case is called, and out steps Lucky, grinning ear to ear. Judge Fulmo refers to him as a repeat offender for multiple counts of property damage, petty theft, and assault & battery. But when he calls for witnesses, the entire courtroom is dead silent.
+
+*NOTICE/INVESTIGATE ROLL*
+Everyone in the courtroom is nervously avoiding eye contact with Lucky AND the judge, some of them wiping sweat from their foreheads. 
+
+*IF NOONE SPEAKS OUT*  
+Fulmo sighs a bit through his nose. "As noone can attest to his involvement in the crimes, we will therefore have to default on this charge due to lack of evidence. You are free to go." His handcuffs are undone and he walks away like nothing happened, whistling a jaunty little tune.  
+  
+*IF THEY SPEAK OUT*  
+Fulmo nods toward those that spoke out.
+"Thank you for your testimony/evidence in this matter, it is duly appreciated. This man has been accused and disciplined for multiple instances of vandalism and criminal mischief in the past, but has been shown leniency."
+
+"However, he has proven he either cannot change or refuses to, so leniency is no longer available to you. I find you guilty of vandalism and criminal mischief in the first degree. Based in the sheer frequency of the charges AND full value of property damage, I hereby sentence you to LIFE in Diadem Prison, with a possibility of parole based on good behavior no sooner than 25 years. Take him away."
+ 
+A very angry LUCKY is hauled off by Valeos and Jensen, glaring at each of you that spoke out with white hot intensity. "THIS AIN'T OVER! YOU HEAR ME?! KING WILL SEE YOU ALL DEAD IN THE STREET!"
+
+His head is pushed down as two more officers grab and shove him out the back entrance, almost running into Officer Harken just outside the door, whom is VERY surprised to see LUCKY being taken away. 
+  
+Fulmo clears his throat. "That is the last case...
+- before Lunch, court is now in 30 minute recess. - for the day, thank you all for attending." Fulmo stands from the podium and steps down, sliding a pair of thin rim sunglasses on. He heads to the wood gate, but is stopped by Harken to chat for a moment.
+
+-----
+
+*IF CONVICTED*
+You can barely make out Harken's muttering of shock that LUCKY was convicted after the LAST incident.
+
+-----
+
+They finish their chat quickly, and Harken walks back out the main courtroom door in a hurry. Fulmo turns to your group, arms folded behind his back as he approaches. "I understand you are here for Lucky? Shall we... walk and talk?"
+
+*IF YES*
+He doesn't WALK so much as STRIDE right beside you all, casual as can be. "Truth be told, it is frustrating seeing him walk in and out of my courtroom so often."
+
+*WHY SO OFTEN*
+"He puts fear in anyone whom wishes to speak out against his crimes. The first few times he was convicted, he specifically harassed those that spoke out at his earliest convenience. After a few attempts, he simply stopped having witnesses to his crimes. So now him coming and going has become a... frustrating routine."
+ 
+*ASKS ABOUT JURY BOX* 
+"My courtroom is the only one without a jury box, because it is not required for me." He will pause and pull down his glasses, showing those electric blues and how they are slowly warbling with magic silver energy.
+
+"I can see the electricity the mortal body runs on, and have learned over time exactly what parts of their bodies light up when lies are told, be it small fibs or practiced tall tales." 
+
+*DM/REGALIA* 
+"I see... as pedestrian as it seems, I am very serious about my duties as a judge here, and am not available at the moment due to my duties. However, if you would be willing to arrange an engagement on a future date, I will accept your challenge then." 
+ 
+He will offer to shake each of your hands to prove he is on the level, and each hand he shakes, all of your hair will suddenly fill with static and start to levitate. "And THAT... is why everything in my courtroom is wood."
+
+He will then turn and walk down a different hallway, leaving you at the front desk with Pamela, as well as an eagerly waiting Jensen & Valeos. Jensen asks the first question. "Are you planning on challenging Fulmo?"
+
+*IF YES*
+Valeos chimes in. "We obviously voice caution when it comes to him, he is the reason the Thunder Force exist. We emulate him to a great extent in our magic AND fighting prowess."
+
+Jensen cuts back in. "Which is why, if you're planning on FIGHTING him, we might be able to help."
+
+Valeos responds. "Since everything we are and do is based on him and what he does, we could offer combat training, if you're interested."
+
+*IF YES*
+Jensen is clearly excited. "Well good, we promise not to go TOO hard on you. Obviously this won't be TODAY, but at some point when you think you're ready, stop by the Thunder Force branch office and ask for either one of us."
+
+*EITHER WAY*
+They both give your group a salute, and Jensen states with all seriousness, "We must return to our duties now, but it was an honor to see you all again. Good luck against the Marauder threat."
+
+They turn away and march out the door together, leaving you with Pamela to arrange a 'future date' for this encounter.

Story/03 - Demense/Violet-Demense.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,264 @@
+This gate is a golden ring with a violet magic wall, displaying a field of flowers
+  
+Out on the farm:  
+https://youtu.be/nDbE6Z5b8TM?si=RH_6wMk5Gi6zQMpV  
+  
+Doing farm work
+https://youtu.be/6LI-yCnA2UM?si=7jXv4WZIHlOjA2t0
+  
+## Upon exiting the VIOLET gate,  
+you are immediately surrounded hy the sounds of farm animals, the smell of fresh cut grass & hay, and the sight of acres of farmland surrounding a dusty dirt road that stretches for miles. 
+  
+Welcome to the **Countryside** demense! 
+
+*BEHIND* 
+The gate itself is attached to the side of a red and white barn, and right next door, you spot a trio of burly cow men sitting back in rocking chairs, all playing music together. One on harmonica, one on guitar, and one on concertina
+
+*TO THE LEFT*
+The left side of the road looks to be all animal farms, each one filled with dozens of a single species of animal, like each one is a specialty ranch.
+
+*BEFORE YOU*
+The dirt road doesn't have an immediately visible end, and seems to stretch for miles
+
+*TO THE RIGHT*
+The right side of the road is filled with multitudes of crops in their own dedicated fields, and they are in PLENTIFUL supply.
+ 
+-----
+- MUSIC PLAYERS
+- FARMS
+- DIRT ROAD
+- CROP FIELDS
+ 
+*MUSIC PLAYERS* 
+The yellow one puts his harmonica down, stands up, and approaches your group. He tips his brown cowboy hat in greetings, his purple nametag on his blue shirt reading MONTANA. "Howdy, ya'll new to these parts?" 
+ 
+*ASK ABOUT REGALIA/DM* 
+"Ah, yer lookin' fer everyone's fav'rite farmhand. Ain't seen 'im today, but we got a shipment to deliver to the market. Why don't ya'll come with, we can ask around an' see if anyone spotted 'im?" He gestures to his wagon sitting in the barn the Gate is attached to. 
+ 
+*IF THEY ACCEPT*
+
+His two companions jump in to help with the prep work as well. While Montana grabs a pair of massive sacks, the taller blue steer (Dakota) wheels the cart out of the barn singlehandedly, and the Holstein (Kid) lassoes up a pair of horses, guiding them to the cart.
+
+In a matter of moments, the cart has been hitched up, the massive sacks loaded up, and Montana is now situated as the driver. Dakota stands at the back of the cart to help each of you up & in with relative ease.
+ 
+(If there are any women in the group, Kid the Holstein will try to flirt with them and show off. (Make a Grade A Beef joke.) After, Dakota will pick Kid up by the back of his shirt, tilt his hat & say 'ma'am,' and walk away with Kid in tow.)
+ 
+Montana snaps the reigns likely, and you all travel down the dirt road in the back of the cart. It doesn't move especially fast, but it's definitely faster than walking.
+
+----- 
+ 
+Montana turns to the group a little, still eyeing the road. "Forgive me fer bein' nosy, but it ain't ev'ryday someone asks ta see our best farmhand. Ya'll got business with 'im?" 
+ 
+*MENTIONS DM/REGALIA* 
+"Oh, ya'll's a bunch o' then Regalia hunters, are ya? We don't get too many o' yer types around 'ere, most people that come around are lookin' fer work." 
+ 
+*ASKS ABOUT ARLEDGE* 
+"Well, Arledge is a bit of an oddball. He may not look it, but he's tough as nails, quick as a whip, and swift as lightnin'. I'd say at least half the work around here's done cuz o' him. He don't even ask fer pay, guy's a real charity case in th' best way."
+
+-----
+ 
+*ON THE FARMS* 
+Each farm has both an actively slow spinning windmill, and a few farmhands tending & feeding their individual livestock. Most of them pay you no mind, aside from the occasional friendly wave.
+
+As you pass, Montana calls out to ask if they've seen their favorite farmhand lately. All of them say no, but a few say he's supposed to come by in a little bit to help out.  
+  
+*IN THE CROP FIELDS* 
+Several farmhands have paired up and are carrying large wheeled baskets back and forth between the tree or crop of choice, each pair pulling them together to & from, and then working as a chain to load it from said plant onto the cart, and unload it from the cart to a nearby storage shed.
+
+A few of the younger people realize the cart is being driven by Montana, drop their crops, and run over to trot beside the cart. He asks if they'd seen their favorite farmhand today, and one eager boy points out he spotted him early this morning, grabbing some breakfast from the garden.
+  
+*IN THE FLOWER FIELDS* 
+There are a few farmhands out picking different varieties of flower, each one with a sizeable crop that would make any florist you've ever met jealous.
+
+You spot a smaller wooden cart along the way, parked and facing the opposite direction, and beside it is a beautiful red-haired cow lady, dressed in an eye catching purple showgirl dress with a bouquet of flowers in one arm and three golden bracelets on the other. 
+
+Montana stops the cart this time, and hops off to talk to her for a moment. He turns to your group. "Everyone, this here's Miss Lily, she runs the saloon back in Diadem."
+
+-
+
+*WHY IS SHE OUT HERE*
+"One of Cody's tudors passed away, the poor dear. I came to pick some fresh flowers fer the (casket spray/headstone saddle)."
+
+Montana takes off his hat and places it over his chest. "I just spotted Calf Pint on the way over, I don't think he knows yet."
+
+She nods a bit and adjusts her hold on the huge bouquet. "Well I'll grab him and tell him myself, and he'll probably wanna come with when he finds out. He really liked Mr. Tarbh."
+
+-
+
+*ASK ABOUT DM/REGALIA*
+Lilly seems surprised. "Ya'll're looking fer Arledge? I spotted the sweetheart headed to the market, cart in tow full of supplies like ya'll are carryin'."
+
+Montana straightens his hat and smiles. "Then I s'pose we'll be on our way. Take care, Miss Lily. And give the family my regards."
+
+"Same to you, Moo." She leans up, gives him a kiss on the cheek, and saunters off toward her own cart.
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+In the distance, you spot a large farmer's market sign, advertising fresh produce and meats for everyone. And there are just as many stalls inside selling meats as there are farms, plus a few extras for fruits, veggies, milk, eggs, magic rings in a purple hue, and fresh bouquets.    
+  
+*IF ASK ABOUT DM/REGALIA* 
+The sable running the (choose a food) stand, a blonde man wearing blue jeans and a red tee shirt with a straw hat and a violet nametag reading MARTY, thinks for a moment. "Huh... ya know, I did see him a couple hours ago when I opened, haven't seen him since."
+
+(PLAYER) suddenly feels a tug on their shirt from below, and you see an older sheep lady with her gray hair in a bun, a white long sleeve shirt, and a blue skirt, her purple nametag reading EMMA. "I couldn't help but overhear, are you looking for Arledge?"  
+  
+*IF THEY CONFIRM* 
+"Oh I know where he is, sweetheart is brushing down the horses in the stables right behind the market." 
+  
+*STABLES* 
+Behind the market looks to be the only non-produce related farm, and there are well over a dozen freshly groomed horses. Deeper inside, you see one currently being brushed down by a light purple rabbit in tight jeans and a deep purple tee, with a white cowboy hat nestled between a pair of loppy waist-long bunny ears, barely obscuring a fuzzy mop of violet hair.   
+  
+The horse reacts to your group first with a whinny, then the bunny boy turns with a warm smile, and a pair of deep blue -almost purple- eyes greet you, as does his distinctly southern accent. "Howdy! I'd shake yer hands but I gotta finish brushin' 'er down. How Can I help ya'll?"
+
+*IF REGALIA/CHALLENGE*
+He sends the freshly groomed horse on its way, then walks to a nearby hose, kneeling down to rinse off his hands and brush. "Well, I'd like to help, but I can't. Someone already won m' Regalia a while back, and it ain't found its way back t' me yet."
+
+-
+ 
+*IF THEY ASK WHO*
+(CONTACTS Roll)(Low roll)
+"Hm.. it was about ten years ago, an' it weren't just one person, it was a team o' four... three guys and a gal... th' names escape me, but they called themselves th' Chamberlins...
+
+(High roll)
+"Oh! One of them was a real regal actin' feller, a bird man. kinda short, purrdy shade of purple, had one of those fancy foreign names."
+
+-
+
+*WHAT DO THEY DO WHEN THEY FIND THE HOLDER*
+"If ya'll find th' owner, ya'll can either challenge THEM, or have 'em give it back t' me an' win it offa me. It's all fancy pants magic rules." 
+
+"Now I'd love to keep jawin' off with ya, but I gots a busy day today. I gotta help milk the cows, sheer the sheep, collect the eggs, feed the babies..."
+
+He thinks for a moment. "Wait a sec... ya'll got anywhere ya need t' be? I'd get done FAR quicker if'n I had some extra hands?"  
+  
+*IF THEY ACCEPT* 
+"Now that is what I was hopin' t'hear! Let's get started!"
+
+He runs into the stables and grabs two horses, walks them both out front, and hooks both up to a cart identical to the one you came here in. He helps each of you into the cart, takes the driver's position, and takes off. 
+ 
+Your group rides down the beaten path you came up for about a minute before you stop at the nearby dairy ranch. Arledge "parks" the cart in a nearby horse stall, before helping each of you down. He guides all of you straight into the nearby barn on the property, to a series of milking stalls.
+
+The next several minutes is all of you occupying a stall and milking one cow at a time. There are no pumps, so all the milking is done by hand. He demonstrates by giving slow squeezes to each udder, and explicitly points out to NOT pull them.  
+
+(RESOURCES Roll) Each milking only takes about five minutes.
+(Each player milks an average of ten cows, but increase/decrease it based on the roll)
+
+At the tail end of it, Arledge playfully squirts (lowest roller) with a stream of fresh milk, but whistles innocently with a shit eating grin he is trying his HARDEST to hold back.
+
+After they're all taken care of, the ranch owner (an older terrier and his wife) both thank Arledge AND all of you, and hand him a small bag of Z for the trouble. He drops it into his hat on the back of his neck and excuses himself & your group to move to the next task. As before, he helps you in the cart, takes driver, and heads down the road a solid minute.
+
+Next, he pulls in and parks the cart at a nearby chicken farm, and you are actually GREETED by the farm owner, a red haired 6 foot human with piercing green eyes in a basic pair of jeans & a red flannel shirt, waving you down to pull in his brand new driveway.
+
+Arledge actually exchanges pleasantries, before the man realizes he isn't wearing his nametag, and he sheepishly pulls out what looks like a brand new violet nametag reading SAMSON. He guides you all to his chicken coop, filled with about fifty hens, and all of them need to be checked for eggs.
+
+-----
+
+(IF SUNNY IS WITH THEM) Sunny will suddenly start freaking out and fly after Samson, landing in his arms and cozying up to him with barely any fuss. 
+
+-----
+
+Some of the hens actually peck at you a few times out of frustration, but they give up the eggs pretty easily. Each of you ends up checking an average of 10 chickens in the span of 20 minutes.
+
+(BURGLARY Roll)
+(Each player collects an average of 25 eggs, but increase/decrease based on the roll x3)
+
+Once you hand over all the eggs, Samson hands Arledge a little bag of coin, which he again drops into his hat. 
+
+-----
+
+(IF SUNNY IS WITH THEM) The rooster is being a bit stubborn and doesn't seem to want to leave Samson's embrace.
+
+-----
+
+He guides all of you back to the cart and re-takes the driver position, trotting down the dirt path another couple minutes as he waves back at SAMSON.
+
+This time, you're all taken to a wool farm attached to a sheep field. They have electric trimmers ready for you, so the shearing part will be much quicker. Arledge demonstrates how to do it and starts with the top, trims around the sides, then lifts each leg and rolls them onto the belly to finish, all in about 2 minutes.
+
+(CRAFT Roll) It takes the rest of you a few tries, but the sheep wool comes off for each of you clean as butter.
+(Each player shears an average of five sheep, but increase/decrease based on the roll)
+
+In the middle of your shearing, (LOWEST ROLLER) is suddenly surrounded by a group of your freshly cleaned sheep, and start taking bites at their clothing.
+
+-----
+
+(ATHLETICS Roll)(LOW ROLL)
+You struggle to try and get away, but they chase you clear across the ranch and back. By the time you get out, your clothes have fairly large holes in them.
+
+The ranch owners (a middle-aged pair of bluejays) are laughing a little, and offer you some fresh clothing to replace them as payment for all your hard work.
+
+*IF THEY ACCEPT*
+Unfortunately, the only clothing they have that fit you perfectly is a basic white long-sleve shirt and a pair of blue jean overalls.
+
+(HIGH ROLL)
+They chomp a few times at it, but you manage to hop the fence and JUST escape their reach. 
+
+The ranch owners (a middle-aged pair of bluejays) thank you all for your hard work, apologize for their sheep, and offer Arledge yet another bag of coin, which he drops in the hat with the other two.
+
+-----
+
+You all climb back into the cart, Arledge reclaims the reigns, and you all head back toward the market, but he turns off to the side a building away from it. He parks into a lot marked 'petting zoo', and parks in a rather long lot already half full of other vehicles.
+
+Arledge hops out first and rubs the back of his neck with a grin. "Okay so, I might've fibbed a bit with this'n. It's not so much that I need to feed th' babies as it is just makin' sure they all get fed."  
+  
+The individual pins are full of ponies, baby goats, piglets, chicks, and many more types of animals, all separated by size of the species so they don't hurt each other. And, the spaces inside are elevated just enough so the animals can each be fed by hand over the fence without risk of them escaping.
+
+You see several families with children wanting to pet and play with the animals. At a nearby table, Emma has appeared with dozens of small cups, each with some odd looking food pellets, a funky color mix of brown, green, and orange.
+
+Each kid grabs a cup and quickly goes to the animals, feeding them the pellets from their hand, each one giggling when the animal pecks, licks, or nibbles on the pellet with no restraint.
+
+Arledge walks over with (player # +1) cups of those pellets, holding them out to your group, and keeping one for himself. "Ya'll can join in th' fun if ya like."
+
+He takes a pellet from his own cup and flicks it straight up into the air, munching on it happily like it was candy. "Mm!"
+
+*ASK ABOUT THE FOOD* 
+"These're them fancy handmade fusion food pellets full of vitamins, protein, and plenty o' roughage. I order it special from th' pet store in Diadem, only place I can get 'em. But fer th' more discernin' taste, we got fresh produce."  
+  
+He points out a separate table full of fresh cut fruit & vegetables and various cups of fruit juices. "It's just as much fer us as it is them. Help yerselves, ya'll!"  
+  
+After a few minutes of munching and making sure all the animals in the zoo are getting an equal amount of food each, you all finally get a chance to relax.  "Thanks a ton fer th' help. I'm sure ya'll're probably keen on that challenge thang, so I won't take up anymore of ya'll's time--"
+
+He is interrupted by a loud bellowing roar in the distance, making all the animals hide and the children rush back to their parents. "... oh shoot, that's a problem."
+
+He bolts for the market, and runs back out with two burlap sacks. "C'mon, I need yer help fer one last thang!"
+
+He runs over to the cart, loads up both sacks, and ties them down. Once everyone is aboard, you all head in a fast gallop back out beyond the market for a solid five minutes. "Okay so, there's one other baby I gotta feed, an' I was gonna do it after ya'll took off, but I might need ya'll's help with--"
+
+He pauses when you come within eyesight of a small mountain in the distance with a rather large cavern surrounded by large chunks of rock. He stops the cart, looks around for a moment, then looks upwards, and spots something in the distance. "Sheeeiiit... Azar is not happy."  
+  
+The large body descends and lands before you with a massive THUD, revealing itself to be a large red dragon with golden underscales, whom then proceeds to screech at you. "Oh he's gonna go after th' market if'n we don't calm 'im down..!"
+
+He will hop out and try to call the dragon's attention toward himself, but AZAR thwacks him with his tail and send him into the cart with a HARD thud, rocking the entire cart under you. 
+ 
+He will sit upright and groan a bit, noticing his arm is severely red. He will look to your group reluctantly. "Fellas, I know it's alot t' ask, but I need ya'll to wear Azar out. I hate violence, but I don't see much of an option." 
+
+He will slowly climb his feet, his free hand holding his injured arm and surrounding it in a violet magical energy, causing it to slowly heal itself in front of you. "I'll keep ya'll in fightin' shape!" 
+  
+*The fight will begin with your team facing Azar in front of you with Arledge behind you. The dragon is treated as a LV5 25HP creature that interchanges between a 2DMG CLAW-CLAW ATK, a 3DMG BITE ATK, and a 2DMG FIRE BREATH ATK that hits 4 ZONES like a LV2 spell* 
+- FIGHT & ACADEMICS ARE 1 HIGHER THAN TEAM LV
+- ALL OTHERS +1
+- Immune to FIRE
+- Resistant to MELEE (INFUSED is normal)
+- Weak to WATER
+  
+AFTER THE FIGHT  
+  
+Azar bellows out and flops over against the grass with a dull thud, exhausted but still breathing. Arledge walks over to Azar and places a hand on his side, attempting to heal him. Azar growls and grumbles as his wounds slowly heal. "There now, ya big baby. Now what's got yer scales in a snarl?"
+
+(INVESTIGATE Roll) You find a large cut and a series of scales missing from Azar's left leg. 
+
+Arledge is taken aback for a moment. "Well I'll be... Sumthin' done attacked 'im, cut clean through his scales. That prob'ly spooked the li'l guy and got 'im all flustered."
+
+He looks closer and tries to heal the cut itself, but the cut seems to... eat the spell itself, and starts leaking gold dust of some kind. Arledge looks visibly disturbed, taking a step back. "That... that ain't right... whatever did this ain't normal... I mean it ain't a deep cut, but healin' magic don't work on it... ya'll seen anythin' like this?"
+
+*EITHER WAY* 
+"Well, I'll keep an eye on 'im, come back later and make sure he's okay. Meantime, it's gettin' late, I'll give ya'll a lift back to th' market."
+
+He leaves the two sacks beside Azar's head, which he slowly sniffs at for a moment, and begins chewing on one of them. "Well at least it ain't affectin' his appetite.." 
+
+He reluctantly leads your group back to the cart and heads to the market, looking back at Azar back and forth the whole ride.
+
+Once you all arrive at the market, he keeps up a brave face and lets everyone know everything is okay. He turns to your group, pulling out the bags of coin from the errands you all did, and holds them out to you. "Here, ya'll can have it. Consider it yer pay fer a hard day's work."
+
+(Each bag has 50z worth of coin)
+
+*ONCE THEY FINISH*
+Montana steps up to your group with a smile. "I'm assumin' yer business is done, so how's about a lift home?"

Story/03 - Demense/White-Demense.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,323 @@
+This gate is a golden ring with a white magic wall, looking like a slow falling of snowflakes 
+  
+In the snow:  
+https://youtu.be/Tkn3YVh4wu8?si=8Ackzr_TD9qwpX49  
+  
+On the snowball field:  
+https://youtu.be/qD2ahwiPRBk?si=sMQ2yPCv_X6BI5tr  
+  
+## Upon exiting the WHITE gate,  
+You are immediately struck with the sensation of cold, the sound of crunching as you step into ankle-deep snow, and the sight of a nearly pure field of white, sparsely interrupted by snow-covered trees and snow-capped hills in the distance.
+  
+Welcome to the **Tundra** demense!
+
+(Dont penalize the players for not having warm clothes the first time, just make them experience cold-like symptoms.)
+(The second time they step out, THEN start penalizing them with either HP damage, the FROZEN status effect, or anything else you deem appropriate)
+
+You're not alone though, there are dozens of other people here enjoying the winter wonderland.
+
+*BEHIND YOU*
+The gate itself is attached to a snow-capped Evergreen tree, beside which sits a massive wooden cabin, easily large enough to hold dozens of people
+
+*TO THE LEFT*
+There is a singular beaten path into the snow full of hoofprints and tire tracks leading deep into the distance, beside which sits a massive igloo being constructed by a team of people
+
+*BEFORE YOU*
+There are a few groups of people wearing ice skates, mostly couples, dancing and gliding across a frozen river of ice
+
+*TO THE RIGHT*
+Several children have grouped off for a good sized snowball fight, being overseen by (you'd assume) their parents
+
+-----
+- CABIN
+- IGLOO
+- BEATEN PATH
+- ICE SKATING
+- SNOWBALL FIGHT
+-----
+
+IGLOO
+
+Eight different people are all working together to craft the igloo brick by brick, compacting the snow and shaping it together rather than just extending the dome wall out of a random hill of snow. Once they make a brick, two more people pick it up and set it in place, packing it in with more snow like cement. At the moment, they are mostly finished with the overall dome and are just extending the entryway.
+
+*APPROACH*
+You can't really tell who or what the people are under all the winter wear, but one woman of a canine nature in ski goggles and a blue heavyduty coat stops building a block to talk. "Hey there!"
+
+*ASK LITERALLY ANYTHING*
+She takes one look at you all, top to bottom, while you speak. "Oh uh.. hang on."
+
+She elbows her neighbor, a man in a thick black snowsuit ensemble, and yells toward him through his earmuffs that she's taking a break to talk to the new guys. He gives a snow-covered thumbs up through his mittens and resumes working, while she guides you into the igloo. "Come on in, we can talk easier in here."
+
+It is SIGNIFICANTLY warmer inside the igloo, partly because it was made genuinely well, and partly because of the roaring bonfire in the middle, its smoke leading straight up and out through a convenient hole in the roof. She unzips her massive coat to reveal a thinner thermal jacket inside, sighing happily. "Much better... too much weight for my liking. Now what were you asking?" 
+
+*DM/REGALIA*
+"Oh jeez, uh... haven't seen the Guardian out and about today, no. We've been working on the igloo pretty much all day."
+
+(ALLOW THEM TO MAKE A CRAFT ROLL TO HELP BUILD THE IGLOO AS WELL) You spend a few minutes in the snow and ice, using your (uncovered) hands to help build a few blocks, and...
+(High roll) ... you craft a solid brick of snow, perfect for the entryway
+(Average roll) ... the brick isn't exactly great, but they take it and combine it with a half completed brick to finish it
+(Low roll) ... your brick unfortunately crumbles in front of you
+
+(EITHER WAY)
+The builders thank you for your efforts, and head back inside the igloo together, inviting you inside if you wish
+
+-----
+
+SNOWBALL FIGHT
+
+This is a surprisingly well coordinated event. There are clear boundary lines forming an arena, a cleared space in the dead center for easier movement, and multiple two-foot-tall snow walls closer out to the far ends for defense. And there are about twice as many adults watching from the sidelines.
+
+*APPROACH*
+A couple adults, a pair of Saint Bernards in matching dark gray coats & red scarves with red winter caps, notice you coming and make room for you to stand nearby. The woman remarks "You have good timing, they just started another round."
+
+True to her word, you see six children appear from both sides and see snow FLYING through the air in a combination of wild arcs and slightly offcenter straight shots, but every strike that matters leaves a visible white explosion. The round itself lasts about a minute, but you know those kids had an insane amount of fun.
+
+*DM/REGALIA*
+The man speaks this time. "Ya know, I was just noticing the Guardian wasn't here today. Usually shows up about the time the kids show up so they can play together, and usually brings that uh... special friend."
+
+The woman stares at him in disbelief at what he said. He is taken aback. "WHAT?! You saw how the two of them acted, what would YOU call them?!"
+
+She just rolls her eyes and returns to the game as the next round starts.
+
+-----
+
+ICE SKATERS
+Most of the people out on the ice are relatively adept at slowly gliding across the ice together in pairs, but you do spot a couple people in the distance wobbling around in a vain attempt to maintain balance, while the one showoff in the center is doing Outside Forward Spirals into backward skating.
+
+*APPROACH*
+One of the nearby skaters, a feline woman in a thick set of white and pink winter clothing, splits off from a nearby friend and slides her way to your group. "If you're getting on the ice, you're a little under-equipped."
+
+*DM/REGALIA*
+"Nah, the Guardian doesn't come out to the ice much. Might have better luck asking at the cabin. Might also get some better clothes while you're there." She quickly skates away, rejoining the friend she was skating beside.
+
+-----
+
+*CABIN*
+
+The entrance is a giant set of heavy wooden oak doors, and when you open them, you see a second identical set with a sign on them saying "CLOSE DOORS BEHIND YOU, 'THEN' OPEN DOORS BEFORE YOU."
+
+When you open the second set, you are immediately struck by the warmth of a large cozy fire, the soft sounds of winter style jazz, and the warm scents of burning hickory wood & hot cocoa.
+ 
+The massive one room building is centered around a colossal roaring fire, contained inside a black metal cage leading up to a metal pipe through the ceiling. Surrounding it are several rounded rows of wooden seats built into the floor.
+
+In the far corners farthest from the door is a pair of kiosks, and the left one has a longer line than the right. Right between them is a slightly elevated stage with a live jazz band of four people.
+
+-----
+- SEATS
+- LEFT KIOSK
+- RIGHT KIOSK
+- JAZZ BAND
+
+----- *SEATING* 
+The seats are all thickly woven cushions built into a wooden rounded frame surrounding the giant pitfire in the middle, designed to act like massive warm couches. The seats AND the wood are all warm to the touch, and some have spaces in between large enough to place drinks.
+
+-----*LEFT KIOSK* 
+A white fox man with silver hair tied back in a clean ponytail in a white dress shirt, black vest, and white nametag reading OUJA is running the kiosk expertly, casually strolling between two different hot drink machines.
+
+He quickly hands off two cups of cocoa & a plate of cookies to those in front of you, and smiles to your group when they walk away. The overhead menu shows he is selling multiple varieties of hot chocolate, coffee, fresh baked goods, and even meat treats like jerky. "What can I get for you?"
+
+-----*RIGHT KIOSK* 
+An eight foot creature you can only describe as a white-haired ape-bear (yeti) with a slicked back white hairdo in a white dress shirt, black vest, and a white nametag reading BODHI is running this kiosk, handling snow gear.
+
+He trades a small bag of coin for a snowboard to those in front of you, and flashes you an ape-ish-ly toothy grin when your turn comes up. The menu in front of the stand shows he is selling coats, hats, gloves, magic rings in a white hue, and rentals for snowboards and sleds. "HOW CAN I HELP YOU?"
+
+----- *JAZZ BAND*
+The group don't look entirely like professionals, but they clearly enjoy what they do and really bring the atmosphere. All of them ARE wearing identical outfits of deep blue pants & sports coats over white button front shirts and sunglasses.
+
+- On Baritone Sax is a pretty young Harp Seal woman with long brown braided hair, her white nametag reading PIPER
+- On Trumpet is a heavy Saint Bernard man in a deep blue fedora, his white nametag reading RAMONE
+- On Bass Guitar is a slim Musk Ox man in a deep blue fedora sitting between his horns, his white nametag reading ZIMRI
+- On Piano is a young human boy with visible white hair under an Indigo fedora, his white nametag reading CAELUM
+
+*APPROACH*
+The song ends when you step up, and everyone around you gives the jazz band some well-earned applause. Ramone (the Saint Bernard) announces in a gravely voice they're going on a fifteen minute break, and he, Piper, & Zimri all walk off stage. Caelum picks up a small lizard off the piano and puts it on the top of his fedora, turning to walk away before he notices your group. "Uh.. what're you guys doing here..?"
+
+*DM/REGALIA*
+"Uhm.. haven't seen the Guardian today, but I haven't been looking."
+
+*WHY ARE YOU HERE*
+"I.. kinda.. like playing piano." 
+
+He quickly walks off to go wait in the food line, petting his little lizard the whole way.
+
+-----
+
+*BEATEN PATH*
+As you begin the trek down the path, you hear the faint tinkling of bells & the clip-clopping of hooves in the distance, and you spot a pair of horses approaching.
+
+A horse-drawn carriage pulls up right beside your group, easily big enough to hold ten people, pulled by two VERY healthy Clydesdale horses wearing weatherproof blankets. The driver leans over, a rather large ice-blue & white Husky man under a thick tan winter coat, his white nametag reading EXILE. He speaks with an energetic Russian accent. "Hello comrades! You are new of the faces in this demense! Are you in need of guide dog perhaps? HA HA!"
+ 
+*ASKS ABOUT DM/REGALIA* 
+He will shake his head. "Sorry, I have not seen Guardian in some time, tends to be secluded. But I know where house is! Come, Exile escort you to cabin. Get you warm, get you dry, then get you to Guardian house! All for small cost of 5z each!"
+
+You didn't notice at first, but there is a sign on the side of the carriage marketing 'Exile's Carriage Rides, 5z per person, kids ride free'
+ 
+*IF THEY ACCEPT*
+He gets everyone inside the sealed-in carriage out of the elements, and trots down the beaten path. And while the cart may not be super warm, it is definitely warm enough to get the feelings in your digits back.
+
+The view is something out of a Christmas card, snow as far as the eye can see speckled by a few sporadic trees, all surrounding the massive frozen lake. After about five minutes, you hear a knock on the window of your carriage. "Good news, Guardian is home today!" 
+ 
+*IF THEY ASK HOW HE KNOWS* 
+He points out the window, and you see one particular spot in the distance where the snow is falling VERY hard in this otherwise barely flurrying area. "Where Guardian goes, surely it snows. Is reactisya, uh.. reflex, keeps people away." 
+ 
+It takes a few minutes, but he eventually stops at the top of a snow embankment at about a 45 degree angle leading into a small flat valley from a good 10 foot drop.
+
+The snow in front of you is at its thickest, collecting into the valley heavily, but you do see something of a path in the distance leading to a somewhat obscured house.
+
+You spot a few other vehicles in a nearby clearing JUST outside the edge of the heavy snowfall, and they all look occupied with various couples, and a few of them look to be enjoying each other's company.
+ 
+"This is far as I go comrades, Guardian house is on opposite end of valley. This path only way in or out. You want I wait here for pickup?"
+
+He extends a paw and wiggles his fingers, clearly suggesting a down payment.
+
+(EITHER WAY)
+He leaves your group in front of the inclined embankment, the snowfall piling up by the second.  
+ 
+*WHOEVER SLIDES DOWN*
+You slide down the embankment into the open path, and now that you're closer to it, you spot two rows of snowmen surrounding the path, totaling (# of players x5 +1). And they're all facing the center of the path.
+  
+*APPROACH THE CENTER*
+(ATHLETICS Roll)
+(Lowest roller) is suddenly STRUCK in the back of the head by a solid impact of cold before a shrill voice pops out from an angle you aren't looking at, screaming ATTAAAAACK!!!
+
+Suddenly every snowman head explodes open, and your group is struck by five attacks each, to which there is unfortunately NO save due to the circumstances, and each one does...
+(ROLL DICE FOR DRAMATIC EFFECT) Zero damage.
+*Because you were pelted with snowballs.*
+*Thrown by a gang of small children.*  
+  
+After the initial excitement, the children see their victims and suddenly become upset, climbing out of the snowmen. One little brown bear girl in a pink coat & matching hat walks up, pouting a little. "I'm sowwy, we tawt you was someone else.." 
+ 
+*IF THEY ASK* 
+She points to the house in the distance, the same house you are headed toward. "The nice people pway with us aww the time, so we wanted to do a supwise."
+
+She sniffles a bit as she heads back over to the snowmen and her friends, all of whom are now remaking the snowmen one at a time.
+
+*IF THEY OFFER TO HELP*
+(THEY WILL DO CRAFTS ROLLS TO DETERMINE HOW MANY SNOWMEN THEY MAKE AND/OR HOW GOOD THEY ARE)
+
+After a few minutes of walking, you spot a pair of people in front of the house, having a conversation like the cold doesn't bother either of them.
+
+One is a tall dark cat woman with long dark hair in braided twin tails, in a spacious and open red robe-like dress trimmed in thick white, cinched with a gold bow, over a tighter blue leotard.
+
+The other is a younger looking deer boy (you think) about a foot shorter than her even WITH the antlers, in a black sweater stopping above the knee and thick black boots stopping below the knee, both of which are trimmed in white fluff.  
+  
+They spot you approaching, the deer hiding behind the taller cat woman while she smiles warmly, arms crossed. "Well hello there, new faces! How can we help you?"  
+
+*DM/REGALIA*
+"Guardian..? Oh! Well if it's the Demense Master you're after, them look no further! My name is Morana, and this is..."
+
+She turns behind herself to see the deer has disappeared, replaced by a rather large chunk of snow. "..the best disappearing act you never saw! Apparently!"
+
+She looks around for a moment, then points to a nearby tree and launches an ice spike at one of the high branches, causing a pile of snow to fall from it, as well as the very deer that disappeared a moment later. "There's the little darling~"
+
+She waltzes over and grabs the deer, carrying him over her shoulder, before looking back at your group. "Let's get out of the cold and chat, shall we?" 
+
+Morana invites you into their home, a spacious two story log cabin. The inside is quite lavish, the walls a warm blue and the floor is wooden aside from a large circular deep green carpet. The living room has two dark red couches and a pair of chairs surrounding a coffee table near a roaring fireplace.
+
+She places the deer in a seat on the couch and takes the other, reaches over, and starts petting him between the antlers, no differently than if he were an actual pet.
+
+"Now, let's try this again... My name is Morana, and this is Whitaker, the Demense Master~"
+
+*IF THEY RESPOND IN SHOCK*
+Whittaker will flinch hard, pouting a little and nodding slowly.
+
+*ASK ABOUT DM/REGALIA* 
+Whitaker whimpers a little, hanging his head in shame, as Morana reaches down to pet him again. "Please forgive him, he's very upset with himself. His Regalia was taken about a month ago."
+
+"He was overseeing a snowball fight, and the Marauders started harassing the children, something about starting their misery early. He fought his hardest to protect them, but someone in a motorcycle helmet took one as hostage. He traded the Ice Regalia for their safety."
+
+"Funny thing though, they didn't actually CHALLENGE him proper, so they don't get all the little perks of HAVING the Regalia. Without them, it's just a white shortsword. An unbreakable one, but still." 
+
+(CONTACTS ROLL) You remember seeing a sword matching that description in the hands of LUCKY when you came here on your first day.
+
+"After they let the kids go, they ganged up on him when he couldn't defend himself. Beat him down, destroyed his clothes, ransacked his house... And since the children were around, he didn't want to scare them, so he just kinda... had to let them. I wasn't around to help him at that moment, but if I had been, those snowbanks would've been painted red."
+
+"This is something that just keeps happening to him, long before the Marauders were even around. From what I can tell, he keeps getting picked on because he's small and shy, and seen as weak."
+
+"One of those incidents was how we met. About five years ago, I was hanging out at the cabin down the road, and a flock of sad & angry children came flooding in, screaming & begging for help. I offered to go see what happened on a whim. Glad I did too, he was an absolute mess."
+
+"When he woke up, the first words out of his mouth were asking if the children were okay. Didn't even care about himself. Then he realized someone was in his home and... well... he wasn't exactly thrilled."
+
+"It took some coaxing, but I earned his trust with some warm meals, helping clean the mess, and giving him some of my old clothes. He eventually opened up, and... The stories he told me... they're not mine to tell, but some of them are genuinely horrid. It's the main reason he buries his home in snow, so people won't get to him as easily. He's developed a fear of people."
+
+"So, I made him an offer. I would pretend to be the Demense Master in his place, help protect his home AND the children more carefully. In exchange, he lets me stay here with him and help him re-acclimate to being around people again."
+
+"It took alot of... gentle persuasion, but here we are. Barring this most recent incident, things have been pretty quiet over the last few years, unless some--"
+
+She is suddenly interrupted by the same little bear girl from before, barging into the house. She heads straight for Whitaker, making hyper little child noises, grabs his hand, and pulls him toward the door. You could swear you saw a smile cross his face as he went outside. The door shuts, and Morana continues, "...unless something like that happens."
+
+She waltzes over to the window and invites your group to watch.
+
+Whittaker gets dragged into the same pathway surrounded by snowmen, and is then hit by the same children's surprise snowball attack. But when they hit HIM with it, he bursts into laughter and starts a snowball fight with all of them.
+
+"The little darling is afraid of people... except for children. No matter what happens to him, he always protects them, advocates for them, and cares for them, & they adore him for it. Even when he was King, they were always his priority."
+  
+*IF THEY ASK ABOUT KING*  
+She smiles at your group. "Oh, you were never told, were you? All the Demense Masters were Kings, in a sense.. a fun little bit of trivia about Diadem's history I picked up while moonlighting as a college teacher. Tell me, which of the Demense Masters have you met so far?"  
+
+-----
+
+Aodaghan the King of Rage, believing in hard work. He helped construct the whole town, and expects commitment to labor.
+
+Conroy the Curious King, believing in knowledge. He maintained the town's history, as best he can & could.
+
+Zahir the King of Joy, believing in happiness. He believed the peoples' smiles were paramount above all.
+
+Corentin the Calm King, believing in serenity. He was devout in the stillness of mind and flexibility of form.
+
+Dorrin the King of Sorrow, believing in patience. He encouraged unwavering stoicism, even behind an ocean of tears.
+
+Arledge the Compassionate King, believing in generosity. He desired a bountiful harvest and longevity of life for all.
+
+Miranda the Intimate Queen, believing in relationships. Be it physical or emotional, she wished for everyone to find closeness.
+
+Fulmo the King of Judgment, believing in the Law. He was adamant about enforcing strict yet fair policy for basic society.
+
+Thanatos the Grieving King, believing in ceremony. He valued the life and memory of everyone that ever came.
+
+Cassius the Gloomy King, believing in duty. He gave a powerful example of doing what needed to be done, even if the people fear him.
+
+Tlaloc the King of Hope, believing in strength. He embodies the idea that a rock-solid mind and body can weather anything. He just has issues articulating it. (She circles her mouth with her finger)
+
+-----
+
+"And Whittaker the... Timid King. He advocated for those that couldn't speak for themselves, mainly the children. He is their Guardian Snow Angel." She sighs a bit and watches him from behind the window with a smile.
+
+"You know... now that I think of it... if you're really serious about defeating the Demense Masters, whom were all technically former Kings, and taking their symbols of rule... that would mean you aim to become... Kings of Kings~"
+
+*DONT WANT TO FIGHT HIM*
+"If you're worried about hurting him in one of your little challenges, you don't have to be. Demense Masters heal crazy fast physically. Emotionally, well... that's another matter."
+ 
+*IF THEY WANNA HELP* 
+"If you mean his Regalia, there won't be much you can do, unless you can find it and return it. But if you mean helping HIM..."
+
+She watches the children build more snowmen with Whitaker through the window. "..are any of you good at building things? Because I bet if you were to go out and make things in the snow for the kids..." 
+
+----- 
+
+The players can earn his trust by playing in the snow with Whitaker and the children 
+- FIGHT/SHOOT/STEALTH for snowball fights 
+- CRAFT/RESOURCES for snowmen and igloos 
+- EMPATHY/RAPPORT after each activity to earn trust
+
+-----
+
+AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS 
+ 
+At the top of the hill in the distance, you see a group of adults all calling out to the children, and all of them give a resounding AWWWW. It's their parents saying it's time to go home.
+
+Each one of them comes up and gives Whitaker a massive group hug, and you see him give them the most heartwarming smile you ever saw. All the children then start shuffling their way off to their parents in the distance, climbing that incline with relative ease, aside from one or two stumbling a bit.
+
+-----
+
+(AVERAGE THE ROLLS)
+
+*IF THEY ROLLED OVERALL POORLY* 
+Whitaker will maintain that warm smile until he turns to your group, rubbing his arm nervously. He will give you a small timid wave and the softest smile before heading back to Morana, whom is waiting for him at the front door.
+ 
+*IF THEY ROLLED OVERALL WELL* 
+Whitaker will maintain that warm smile until he turns to your group, rubbing his arm nervously as he approaches (highest overall roller) slowly.
+
+He will open his mouth to try and convey words, but finds he can't get them out, so he instead gives (highest overall roller) a tight hug.
+
+He only holds on for a few seconds before running off, jumping right into Morana's awaiting arms. They both wave your group off from the door, but Whitaker still hides behind her a little out of reflex.

Story/03 - Demense/Yellow-Demense.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,260 @@
+This gate is a golden ring with a yellow magic wall, and it is unusually bright
+ 
+On the beach:  
+https://youtu.be/yy0701OyeRo?si=H_9WEeAvScDcXAJ0  
+  
+Inside the festival:  
+https://youtu.be/75q8Krpw-R0?si=isT0RYZ1oQVxQAHz  
+  
+## Upon exiting the YELLOW gate,   
+You feel warmth beaming down on your heads, you hear a few seagulls chirping in the distance, and you see the rolling waves of the ocean washing on the sandy shore of the beach right beneath your feet.  
+  
+Welcome to the **Beach** demense!  
+
+(BEHIND YOU)
+The gate itself is attached to a sturdy pair of palm trees crossing across each other near the tops
+
+(TO THE LEFT)
+Elevated by a few wooden steps, you see a massive stretch of walkable boardwalk full of shops and stands 
+
+(BEFORE YOU)
+You see a pure yellow sandy beach stretching for miles, filled to the brim with beach bodies
+
+(TO THE RIGHT)
+There is a rolling ocean as endless as the sandy beach, ALSO filled with beach bodies
+
+-----
+- BOARDWALK
+- BEACH
+- OCEAN
+-----
+ 
+*BEACH* 
+The beach sands are a surprisingly clean golden yellow, and within the few miles you can see, you spot dozens of beach bodies young & old lying back on towels & soaking in rays, or making sandcastles or other sandsculptures of impressive design, and you can clearly smell burgers & hot dogs being grilled on charcoal barbecues. 
+ 
+A plastic disk flies low through the air and lightly bonks (player) in the knee. You see a dozen beachgoers waving at your group and asking you to throw the frisbee back. 
+ 
+(FIGHT/SHOOT/PHYSIQUE Roll) You toss the disk as best you can and... 
+(high roll) it lands right in the hands of one of the nearest beachgoers 
+(low roll) it lands just short of them in the sand at their feet 
+...which makes everyone in their group cheer, and one of them asks if you AND your friends wanna join in!
+
+-----
+
+*IF THEY JOIN*
+
+A lemur girl with tied back blonde & black dreadlocks in a purple bikini introduces herself as AMOY, and declares this to be a game of Ultimate Frisbee. Everyone splits into two teams of seven, and all (# of players) of you are thankfully selected to be on the same team.
+
+The rules are simple: Toss the disc into the endgoal to score a point, you cannot run with the disc in hand, and you have ten seconds to pass it to someone.
+
+These guys seem like easygoing beachgoers, but once the game starts, they reveal themselves to be literal Frisbee warriors. They are tossing disks backwards, in midair, upside down, and at one point, Amoy makes a powerful shot with her feet!
+
+(Make a few FIGHT/SHOOT/PHYSIQUE ROLLS)
+(The NPCs playing all have stats at +1)
+
+EACH HIGH ROLL EARNS THEM A POINT,
+EACH MATCH EARNS NO POINT,
+EACH LOW ROLL EARNS THE NPCs A POINT
+
+After about thirty minutes of intense disk throwing action, game is finally called, and (whichever team) pulled out a victory.
+
+Everyone is laughing and relaxing in the sun for a few minutes after, but eventually Amoy calls out. "Alright, let's pack it up! Party starts soon, and we all need to get ready for the big show!"
+
+*ASK ABOUT PARTY*
+Amoy wipes her face off with a towel. "I assumed you were here for it, there's a party on the boardwalk later today. Hang out for a bit longer, you'll know where to go."
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*OCEAN*
+
+You haven't seen water as clean & clear as this in a long time, and just watching & listening to the water crash against the shore is surprisingly pleasant.
+
+(IF THEY GO/DIVE IN)
+
+The water ungulates and carries you up & down slowly, the rhythm only interrupted by the occasional wave rolling in. A few adults are playing Marco Polo with their kids, a couple are snorkeling near the water's surface, and a few are just lounging on innertubes and chilling out. You even spot a few people on skimboards, gliding by on the freshly wetted sand where it meets the water.
+ 
+You are approached by an Orangutan man in green shorts with long red hair, a shark tooth necklace, and a massive grin, pedaling through the water on a longboard surfboard. "Hey dudes and dudettes, might wanna mind your heads!"
+
+He points into the distance, toward a massive wave curling up and approaching your group AND him. 
+
+He starts paddling away quickly, watching it the whole time, until the tail end of his board meets the face of the wave and he stands up, surfing on the wave all the way back to the beach. And he's not alone, about three other surfers managed to catch the same wave before AND after him.
+
+(WANT TO SURF)
+You approach the orangutan's group while he and his friends take a break, planting the tail ends of their boards into the sand, forming a lineup. When they see you, the orangutan speaks first. "Well if it isn't the Kooks from the water!"
+
+(ASK TO SURF)
+He turns to his friends. "Grab the spare boards from the car, brah! We're training some Barneys!"
+
+He introduces himself as KENOI, and spends the next 15 minutes or so explaining the physical mechanics of surfing as simply as he can, boiling it down to getting the right speed when paddling away from the wave, balancing properly, and maneuvering the board at the right angle at the drop 'alongside the wave' rather than against it.
+
+After, he takes you into the water and points out what to look for in the water and to wait for when it breaks to form actual waves. A minute later, the exact description he gave appears and a wave forms behind you all.
+
+(DRIVE, ATHLETICS, & PHYSIQUE ROLL)
+*PASS ALL 3* You manage to not only catch the wave, but you ride it clean through the barrel and watch as the wave slowly overlaps your entire body in a massive circular tube of water, clear until the wave collapses behind you moments later. You ride all the way to where the other surfers meet up with you, all cheering their hearts out.
+
+*PASS 2 OUT OF 3*
+You are a little shaky on the (failed skill), but you manage to catch the wave with some effort and ride it out for several seconds with only minimal turbulence. The others wait for you to paddle to them and give you both props and pointers for next time.
+
+*FAIL 2 OR ALL*
+You try your hardest to match the speed, balance the board, and pilot it properly, but it just doesn't quite work out for you. Despite your best efforts, you lose control and fall in the water. When you resurface, the group shouts WIPEOUT and paddle over to you, making sure you aren't too badly hurt.
+
+About an hour later, the orangutan calls out to the group. "Alright, time's up! Don't wanna miss the party!"
+
+(IF THEY ASK)
+As they pick up their boards and head back to their car, the Orangutan walks and talks with you. "Supposed to be a rocking party on the boardwalk later, gotta get cleaned and changed. See you Barneys there?"
+
+----- 
+ 
+*BOARDWALK* 
+It takes a few steps to get up there, but you see dozens of people in beach attire traveling on foot, skates, scooters, bikes, and skateboards.
+
+Scattered along it is several miniature stores, shacks, and pop-up stands selling swimsuits, inflatables, sunscreen, towels, sunglasses, magic rings in a yellow hue, and even surf board rentals. There's also a few stands selling cold snacks like ice cream, shaved ice, frozen yogurt, and a few iced drinks.  
+ 
+*IF FOOD* 
+As you read the menu, you spot a little drawing of a bee holding up a sign saying all the sugary foods are sweetened with all natural honey instead of sugar.
+
+A portly pelican man in a baseball cap and a blue tank top with a yellow nametag reading HORACE happily meets you at the counter. "Hey there! What can get I get for ya?" 
+ 
+*IF SHOP* 
+A fashionable flamingo woman smiles and waves to your group, her light brown hair tied back and draped over her shoulder across a white polo tee, her yellow nametag reading JANICE. "Welcome in! Can I help you find anything?"
+
+Everything you see here appears to be the same brand, a peculiar picture of a pink flower stitched into every piece of clothing on the tag.
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+(IF DM/REGALIA) 
+"You wanna talk to the DJ at the party. You won't have to search far, he makes himself known. It should be starting soon." 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+(LATER)
+
+(NOTICE Roll) You spot a sudden influx of oddly dressed people walking in from the gate. Alot of the guys are shirtless and alot of the girls are in bikini tops, but many of them are wearing bright neon mesh clothing, including their pants and shorts. 
+  
+You ALSO begin to hear a deep repetitive thumping in the distance, like someone is banging on a huge drum. And it looks like all these oddly dressed people are heading for that noise. 
+  
+*FOLLOW THE NOISE* 
+You see them all heading toward a large building in the distance, what looks like a repurposed warehouse. When anyone opens the doors, that pounding noise doubles in volume and you see an intense amount of flashing light.
+  
+*OPEN DOOR* 
+Your ears are met with the thunderous BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM of music, a repetitive thud so deep and powerful it makes your whole body rumble.
+ 
+*STEP INSIDE* 
+There is a MASSIVE hexagonal plate glass panel floorspace, lit up and flashing multiple different colors and filled with people bumping, jumping, grinding and vibing to that powerful beat, their neon clothes glowing intensely in this low light.
+
+You have entered a rave. 
+  
+Sitting around the doors on the left and right are tables of clothing and accessories.
+
+Dozens of people are walking around in the audience, talking as best they can over the music, dancing to the beat in a myriad of styles, and overall just being VERY friendly.
+
+You can also see a VERY vibrantly yellow person manning the DJ table in the back of the room, and he is having the time of his life. 
+ 
+*MERCH TABLES* 
+- The table on the left has glowsticks galore, neon shirts & wristbands, and beaded accessories of many different styles, ran by a flamingo woman with light brown hair tied back and draped over her shoulder across a white polo tee, her nametag reading JANICE
+- The table on the right has a few bowls of yellow punch with a distinct aroma of honey, as well as tall paper cups full of the same stuff or just plain water, ran by a portly pelican man in a baseball cap and a blue tank top, his yellow nametag reading HORACE 
+  
+*IN THE AUDIENCE* 
+(NOTICE Roll)(Lowest to Highest) 
+- A hand FIRMLY grabs a handful of (player)'s ass, and you have no clue who did it amongst the sea of dancing bodies
+- (Amoy) A lemur girl with blonde & black dreadlocks dances backwards right in front of (player), only wearing a purple bikini top and some cutoff jean shorts with glowsticks around her wrists. She just waves at you before booty shaking her way back into the audience.
+- A tall white tiger woman with black hair tipped in white bumps hips with (player), wearing baggy black pants with reflective orange stripes and a black crop top, and she is grinning at you VERY playfully
+- You spot SOMEONE near the door in a motorcycle helmet & matching outfit, but instead of joining in, they just walk back out the door.
+ 
+*DJ STATION* 
+You approach the six foot high stage carrying a set of massive speakers thumping and rumbling around a DJ station. A yellow butterfly man with short black hair operates the turntable expertly, wearing a VERY loose white tank top (so his wings can slip free) and a pair of large headphones around his neck.
+
+When the current track finishes, he picks up a nearby microphone, his voice carrying a slight echo. "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT! IS EVERYONE HAVING A GOOD TIME?!?!"
+ 
+The entire audience cheers at the same time as loud as they can. "NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE MAIN EVENT! GIVE IT UP FOR THE MAN YOU'RE 'REALLY' HERE TO SEE, MY MENTOR AND THE DEMENSE MASTER HIMSELF, DJ ZAHIR!!!"
+
+The audience starts to cheer again, but it starts dying down as the lights around you AND in the floor all dim at once. The speakers start to release a low hum, building a slow methodical beat over a few moments.
+ 
+Over the stage, you see a swirling yellow light, slowly expanding in arching waves into a massive yellow flower made of light. The flower petals open wide and reveal a glowing neon yellow honeybee man inside, lying upside down in the petals and stretching his four arms over his head.
+ 
+When you hear the beat drop, his four arms CLAP, causing the flower to explode into millions of particles of light, floating outward in every direction. The bee man zips downward and waves happily at everyone from just overhead, laughing happily as everyone reaches back up to him excitedly.
+
+His hair is a frazzled dirty blonde around his two antennae, and his glowing outfit of a black tee, black jerkin, tight black pants, black boots, and black elbow-to-wrist bell sleeves is all outlined and laced with neon yellow along the belt, zipper, laces, and inner & outer edges. 
+ 
+As he hovers over the audience, he rights himself and begins to spin around, pulling all the light particles back around himself. For a moment, the entire overhead resembles a visualization of a slow spinning galaxy.
+
+He stops and throws his hands up, sending the light particles to the ceiling, decorating it like a starry sky for a moment before the light particles finally fade away, and the lights slowly return jntk the room.
+
+He flies back over toward the DJ station, taking the microphone from the butterfly man, speaking loudly into it with a youthfully energetic tone. "FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I WELCOME EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO SHIIINEDOOOOOWN!!!"
+
+Applause and cheers ERUPTS from all sides. 
+"I INVITE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, FOR ONE NIGHT, TO LET YOURSELVES GO, SHARE IN THE JOY OF THOSE AROUND YOU, AND LET YOUR BEAUTIFUL SOULS SHINE LIKE THE FUCKING SUN!!!" 
+  
+And that is when the doors to the building get kicked open, causing the music to cut out. A group of Marauders march their happy asses inside, all grinning ear to ear. The leader pulls out a golden pistol and aims it at the ceiling. "Aight you bunch of new-age hippies, party's over!"
+
+Dozens of footsoldiers come pouring in right after, carrying baseball bats and swinging chains. They immediately surround everyone and start smashing lights, cutting cables, attacking speakers, and flipping tables. Several of them head straight for the stage, aiming for the DJ table.
+ 
+(TEAM STEPS UP)
+Music suddenly starts up with an IMMEDIATE hard flourish of sound, and several of the Marauders on stage go FLYING over everyone's heads, one landing in front of your group on their back. Zahir is standing behind the DJ station, grinning ear to ear as you hear the same thumping beat that brought you here begin to play. 
+ 
+The people in the audience start talking amongst themselves, start tapping their feet, start to groove again, much to the irritation of the Marauders leader. The party people all start grinning at each other too, like they all just had the same idea.
+
+The second you hear that beat drop, you see a hundred eager party people jump the surrounding Marauders and fight back against them all on their own, leaving the more powerful group in the middle... to you and yours.
+  
+AFTER THE FIGHT  
+  
+Around the time you finish your fight, all the partygoers are laughing and high fiving each other, having finished around the same time as you. You see all the other Marauders tied up with various pieces of cabling, clothing, and even their own chains. 
+ 
+Zahir approaches the center of the room, eyes wide and one set of hands over his mouth, the other crossed over his stomach. Despite everyone's best efforts, in the ensuing chaos, the speakers were destroyed, the tables are smashed, the food & merch was ruined, and several light fixtures were busted out.
+  
+The leader of the captured Marauders starts laughing at you and everyone else in the room. At some point his mask was removed and revealed a mosquito man with a black ponytail, although he is bleeding from the forehead. "Mission accomplished! The party's over!"  
+  
+Zahir's head suddenly turns to a creepy degree to look at the Marauder leader dead in the eyes, smiling wide. "What makes you say that?"  
+  
+... "we downed your lights, broke your speakers, and killed your vibe. Sure looks over to me!"  
+  
+All four of Zahir's hands begin to glow a soft yellow light as he slowly and methodically walks toward the Marauder, touching the shoulders and hands of people he walks by, leaving stains of pure light on their bodies.
+
+His smile just widens. "Let me shed some light on this for you. If the vibe is dead, would they all still be here?" The leader realizes not a single person has left yet.   
+  
+Zahir continues, dramatically cupping two of his hands around his ears. "If the speakers are dead, why do I hear music?"
+
+The people whom are glowing have started singing, in a gospel choir type of way where it's all vocalizing, but its a beautiful harmonious note. More and more people are starting to glow as they touch each other's hands and shoulders. A couple extend their hands to your group as well.
+
+(IF THEY ACCEPT)
+The yellow light harmlessly washes over your body in a matter of seconds, but from inside the center of your chest appears a glowing sphere of light, pearlescent in hue, now visible to everyone. You have the opportunity to offer the same to another person near you.
+  
+Zahir stops walking and crouches down in front of the Marauder. "And if the lights are dead, why is it so bright in here?"
+
+By this point, everyone in the room is glowing like night lights, and more than half of them are vocalizing. The Marauder scoffs at him. "You're the one doing that, you idiot!"  
+  
+"Oh, all I did was open the blinds. Most people can't see it through their fleshy bodies, but I see it in them, and these people here... they all learned to see it in each other." 
+ 
+He slowly steps around behind the Marauder, placing his hands on his shoulders. "I see it in you too. It's dim, but it's there. It's the one kind of light you can't break. It's their beautiful souls!"
+
+He points at the podium on stage and releases a laser of yellow magic against the front of it, going up in a perfect zigzag pattern. Sparks fly off the podium until it pops open and two doors slowly swivel out to reveal a set of hidden internal hexagonal speakers, fully covering and obscuring the busted ones, glowing with RGB style lighting.
+
+Zahir rests his chin atop the Marauder's head. "Lights and speakers are just things, break them all you like. But you can't break the people so easily. The people ARE the party. They can sing. They can dance. And they can shine. Like the fucking. Sun."  
+  
+The marauder is just confused and disappointed at this point, but in the middle of that thought, Zahir steps back and rears back all four arms. "Now it's your turn!"  
+  
+Zahir slams all four hands into the Marauder's back, palms together, flooding his body with magical light. The Marauder's shirt is blown completely off, and when Zahir removes his hands, the Marauder's back now has four handprints on it, each with three digits but the palms lined up in a circle, looking like a 12 point sun. The Marauder's eyes are glowing with multicolored light, and he is both enamored and dumbfounded.
+ 
+Zahir steps out from behind this Marauder and starts walking around toward the others on the ground tied up, touching each and every one of their heads and imbibing them with the glow as well. "That light is stronger than the mightiest weapon, the strongest spell, the deadliest virus! And the more of us there are, the stronger it grows! So long as their souls shine bright, THIS PARTY WILL NEVER DIE!!!"
+
+Everyone in the audience NOT humming that tune cheers at the same time, lighting the warehouse with magnificent light AND noise.
+
+The Marauder is in awe, everything looking like a kaleidoscope through his eyes as that magic takes hold of his senses. In his mind, he can see all the magnificent lights radiating out and mixing together into a majestic glow of colors, like their energy and excitement is mixing into one giant powerful light.
+
+From the outside, he looks like he is tripping balls. His hysterical laughter is slowly becoming infectious, even to the other Marauders in the room.
+ 
+Zahir picks the leader up bridal style, and flies him up into a dance cage near the center of the ceiling. Thanks to that light magic coursing through him, he is illuminating the whole place as well as any light fixture ever could.
+
+The music starts coming from the new speakers, harmozing with the vocalization at first until it completely overtakes it. The second that beat drops, the audience is dancing like the party never stopped. 
+  
+Zahir flutters overhead in a wide circle as the party picks back up, giving everyone a fly by high five. Or high three in his case. He comes to your group and lands in front of you, offering each of you high fives, handshakes, and fist bumps. "Hey there, new faces! Crazy night for your first party, am I right?!"
+ 
+*DM/REGALIA* 
+He laughs a bit. "I'd love to, but I think you all deserve a fun night after laying the THmackdown on those guys earlier. What say we enjoy the party tonight, and you come by another day?!"
+
+(IF YES)
+"Great! Now smile for the camera!"
+
+He turns and flutters behind your group, revealing the butterfly man with an older style of camera, aiming it at your group.
+
+Zahir laughs happily and takes a goofball pose, saying CHEESE as the camera flashes and captures this entire night in a single photo. "That one's going on the shelf!"

Story/04 - The Mole/The Mole.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+THIS IS TO BE TOLD ONCE SIX DEMENSES HAVE BEEN VISITED  
+  
+The scene opens early one morning with a phone call. (player) answers, and it is Nash. He cheerily asks for your group to come see King Akarui at your earliest convenience, as there is an urgent matter he wishes to speak with you about.  
+  
+-----  
+  
+Upon arriving, you see a perky Nash flagging you down to his desk. "There's our new town heroes! King Akarui is waiting for you, I just need to buzz you in." 
+
+Right before he hits the button, you see King Akarui's doors burst open, an angry stout Doberman marching out, followed by a Puma man in Thunder Force attire.  
+  
+You recognize Third Commander Harken, but the other one...  
+  
+(IF THEY VISITED THE WEAPONS STORE)  
+...is Jerras, owner of the Weapons store.
+
+Harken grabs the doberman (Jerras)'s shoulder, stopping him. "Jerras, stop. I understand you are upset."
+  
+He turns to Harken, growling lowly. "Upset?! That son of a bitch tried to lowball me on that deal and you know it..!"  
+  
+Harken removes his sunglasses, revealing his deep brown soulful cat eyes. "Jerras, you have to understand, he is not made of coin, and the Thunder Force's budget is tight. Not to mention the morality issue--"  
+  
+Jerras groans in annoyance, rolling his eyes. "Dont give me that crap Harken, the man wears gold draperies like some... what do they call them out there, Arabian princess?"
+
+He puts his hands around his muzzle and yells muffledly in frustration, then takes a deep breath, sighing a bit. "I refuse to be taken advantage of. This could have been the deal of a lifetime for me."
+
+Harken places a hand on his shoulder. "It still CAN be. The coin is one thing, but the publicity of your name attached to the Thunder Force will be great marketing. EVERYONE will know your name."
+
+He just sighs out of frustration. "Yeah... I guess... thanks... either way, I owe you one for talking him up to where it landed."  
+  
+Harken extends his hand toward Jerras with a stern look in his eye. "Friends don't hold debts over each other, you know that. But... you spot me for lunch and we will call it even."
+
+Jerras accepts the handshake with a soft smile, then notices your group.  
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+- *IF THEY DID NOT MEET YET* 
+"Hey wait a sec, I recognize you... aren't you the latest batch of newbies turned heroes?"  
+  
+*IF THEY CONFIRM*  
+"Well this day just became better. Name's Jerras, I own the weapons store in the Business District. If you're ever looking for something bigger and better, look me up." He then slips you a business card with black lettering that mirrors everything he just told you, before heading out the door and looking significantly happier. 
+ 
+- *IF THEY MET* 
+"Well look who it is, my favorite customers. You hear to see King birdface too, huh?" 
+ 
+*IF THEY CONFIRM* 
+"Well he ain't in a charitable mood, so good luck to ya. Yer gonna need it." He chuckles a bit and heads out the door, looking significantly happier. 
+ 
+----- 
+  
+Harken steps toward your group. "I understand you have a meeting with the King? I'll be attending with you. And I apologize for his... outburst."  
+  
+*ASK ABOUT JERRAS*  
+"He came to broker a deal to outfit the Thunder Force with weapons. King Akarui lowballed him when he realized Jerras resells weapons pawned off to him from the Marauders and other questionable sources. The situation was... what did that book call it... An Unfortunate Series of Events, morality wise."
+
+*THAT IS STUPID*
+"THAT... is what Jerras said. But there are many whom believe 'a weapon used in cold blood is stained eternally.' We worked out an agreement that paid significantly more than street value on all the weapons, but Jerras is... prideful when it comes to coin."
+  
+"In any case, we have a meeting to attend. Shall we?"
+
+Harken escorts you to the meeting, holding open the door for all of you, then following you in and locking it behind himself.
+
+Akarui is at his desk signing paperwork, but when he sees your group, he immediately puts the pen down. "Welcome back, heroes! And thank you for coming to see me so promptly."  
+  
+*WHAT IS THIS ABOUT*  
+He holds up two digits. "Well this is a dual purpose meeting. Firstly, I wanted to see how you were all faring so far. Normally after the welcoming in, I would just leave you to your own devices, but unlike the others that came the last several times, you've been more... 'active' in public, making a name for yourself."
+(I believe that name is... Kings of Kings?)
+  
+*AFTER THEIR RETORT*  
+"Well keep up the good work, I appreciate you dealing with those Marauders so efficiently. And cleanly, according to Harken here. The expense to repairing all their property damage was REALLY starting to hurt our city's budget, but now our finances are stabilizing again."
+
+*WHY NOT JUST MAKE MORE*
+"And shoot the value of our currency in the foot? Certainly not. We craft a set number of these coins every month, mostly to replace damaged ones, and partly to accommodate our increasing population, nothing more. To produce more just for OUR needs would do nothing but harm the long term value."
+  
+"Our second topic is a bit more pressing... I'd dare call it urgent. We think there may be a mole in the Thunder Force."  
+  
+*AFTER THEY COMMENT*  
+Harken steps up. "We've had several strange occurrences within our organization since long before you arrived. Calls sending us to the wrong locations, incorrect records on reports, evidence disappearing from our inventory. It's happening too consistently to be a coincidence, but we cannot identify the perpetrator."    
+ 
+*DOES HE WANT THEM TO SEEK OUT THE MOLE* 
+"Personally I would be thrilled to see the bad element rooted out, but I cannot authorize such a mission. Nor Harken. You CAN keep an eye out for suspicious behavior if you are so inclined, but I'm not going to ask you. Quite the contrary actually, this is a direct and clear warning." 
+ 
+-----  
+  
+- IF THEY APPLIED  
+"I understand you have recently applied to join the Thunder Force. I have your application paperwork on hand, and I'm willing to approve it right now. But I need to know that, even with the knowledge of a corrupt agent somewhere in this, you are still interested in making a difference. You wouldn't be the first vigilantes turned Thunder Force afterall." He and Harken mirror an amused glance.
+  
+- *IF THEY HAVENT APPLIED YET*  
+"The Thunder Force has open tryouts coming up soon, and it would be a disservice of me to not forewarn you of this, provided any of you were interested in applying. You wouldn't be the first vigilantes turned Thunder Force afterall." He and Harken mirror an amused glance.
+
+*WHAT DO THEY MEAN*
+Harken slips his sunglasses on. "Akarui and I were part of a four-man team that immigrated here a decade ago. Once we understood the circumstances of the island, we all agreed to make a difference, whether that was to be King or Thunder Force."
+  
+-----  
+  
+*IF THEY WANT TO JOIN STILL*  
+"I admire your dedication. (Once you officially apply,) I will get your paperwork filed as soon as possible and we will likely see you on the field within the week."  
+  
+*IF THEY DONT WANT TO JOIN*  
+"I completely understand. (I will have the paperwork removed from the active personnel file.) Despite this, I hope it will not dissuade you from doing what you've been doing up until now. You don't necessarily NEED to be Thunder Force to fight for what is right, afterall."  
+  
+-----  
+  
+*EITHER WAY*  
+"It should also be noted that this information is strictly confidential. Until now, the only ones who knew about the potential mole were myself and Harken. And since you've done so much for the town, we felt you'd earned a little trust."
+
+"Thank you for your time, heroes. Harken will see you out." Harken will nod and open the door for you, leading you out the front door of the building.  
+  
+(NOTICE ROLL) Nash is no longer at his desk, a small sign sitting on it saying "back in an hour" with a drawn picture of a cheeseburger attached.  
+  
+Once outside, Harken will turn to your group. "I will see you around, I'm sure." 
+
+(Harken will slide his sunglasses back on,)
+the silver parts of his uniform will start to glow, and he will disappear from view, leaving only a scorchmark on the ground and a lingering stench of ozone.
+ 
+(NOTICE ROLL) 
+You spot Jerras in the distance, leaning on a nearby shady tree, and he is handing a bag of coin to someone in a dark trench coat. That person then hands him a heavy looking duffel bag, before stepping out of view. Jerras then walks away as nonchalantly as possible.

Story/05 - The First F-ACE-/The First Face.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,411 @@
+THIS IS TO BE TOLD ONCE ALL TWELVE DEMENSES HAVE BEEN VISITED 
+ 
+----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 
+ 
+The scene opens early in the morning with a phone call. (Player) answers, and it is Nash. He seems to be in a bit of a rush, but he tells your group King Akarui is requesting you come down to City Hall for a special meeting. 
+  
+-----  
+  
+Upon arriving, Nash flags your group down to his desk again, his demeanor seeming a bit more serious. "Right on time! Let's get you inside."
+
+He grabs a nearby clipboard, guides you to the meeting room, and opens the door for you. You see King Akarui and Anais already in the middle of a heated discussion. 
+
+Nash will turn around and freeze in place, looking like he just saw a ghost. But before he has a chance to go back out the door, Akarui points at him. "You. Wait right there. I'll be with you in a moment."
+
+Nash visibly gulps and moves a little more inward into the room, standing almost militantly at attention, partially hiding behind his clipboard.
+  
+King Akarui sighs and returns to his prior conversation. "Anais, you can't expect people to follow these nitpicky rules. Fence color restrictions, hedge height requirements, heavy volume level regulations... I don't care how many complaints you've received, this is nonsense and I won't enforce it."  
+  
+Anais will reply with a whiny tone. "But think of how much it'll beautify the Gated community! It'll be so much more pleasant for the seniors to see, plus you'll get to see a much cleaner and quieter neighborhood!"  
+  
+Akarui will just stare at her deadpan in the eyes. "Okay one, the seniors face the opposite way. Two, I practically live HERE. And three, the people who own those properties can do what they want as long as they don't set them on fire. "  
+  
+Anais will slam her hands into the desk. "Sir, I respect your authority, but I need you to at least take this seriously. The noise complaints and slow self destruction of these properties are going to drive down the value of the district! We'll start losing money when noone wants to live somewhere so ugly!"  
+  
+Akarui will continue to just... stare at her. "You've been reading too many real estate novels. The only places to live are the Gated homes, Residential houses, and apartments. We set those values and you know damn well they won't fluctuate."
+
+Anais will try to respond, but Akarui will raise a hand. "That being said... I will have the noise complaints investigated and the general condition of the neighborhood therein given a thorough look. We can discuss the rest on another day. Will that suffice?"  
+  
+Anais will pause for a moment. "... I suppose. But if I get one more noise complaint--"  
+  
+"--I'll be the first to hear about it, yes. Just like the last seven. Now if you'll excuse me, I have business to attend to with our local heroes. Or should I call them... 'Kings of Kings?'"  
+  
+She turns away, and glares at your group on the way out the door, giving an indignant HMPH. She slams the door behind her, leaving Akarui alone with your group. Akarui sighs in frustration, rubbing the bridge of his beak. "My apologies for that one, she is always in some kind of mood when it comes to the Gated community. Thinks it should be some pristine living community." 
+ 
+His gaze will immediately turn to Nash. "Now Nash, we've had this conversation before. You know you're supposed to announce anyone coming my way, even if it's just you, specifically for situations like this."
+
+You see Nash's ears droop a bit before Akarui continues, "However, your inadvertent interruption gave me the perfect excuse to get out of THAT meeting, so I'm going to let it go. This time."
+
+Akarui will smirk a bit. "Just... don't let it happen again." 
+ 
+Nash will smile a bit before heading out the door and closing it behind him with a sigh of relief. You hear a sharp YELP from behind the door, then silence.
+
+Akarui rolls his eyes. "Great... I was hoping I'd given him enough time to dodge Anais..."
+
+Akarui clears his throat. "On to business..." 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+(IF THEY JOINED TF) 
+"First, allow me to be the first to congratulate you on your acceptance into he Thunder Force. After all the contributions you have made to this city, it makes me proud to see you dedicate yourselves by donning the uniform. In fact, Commander Harken and I had a discussion regarding your first assignment." 
+ 
+(IF THEY HAVE NOT) 
+"I understand you are technically an unaligned team of 'vigilantes' for lack of a better term, but you've proven to the public that you are here to help. The fact you haven't joined the Thunder Force is a curiosity to many, but I'm sure you have your reasons. Either way, I would like to ask you to work with them on a special assignment." 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+"The R&D lab in the ESSENTIALS district has requested extra security for an upcoming delivery. There is an important shipment for a special project we need to keep safe. And we have reason to believe the Marauders might come after it. Problem is, the Thunder Force are a little shorthanded at the moment."
+
+*IF THEY ACCEPT*
+"Thank you. Harken will brief you on the mission at TFHQ." He pushes his intercom button, asking Nash to escort your group out. A minute later, a disheveled Nash opens the door.
+
+His hair is a mess, his shirt is crumpled, and his pants pockets are inside out. For all intents and purposes, he looks like he got mugged. But he keeps his eyes to the ground and simply holds the door open for you all quietly.
+
+He walks down the hall with you, fixing his outfit the whole way. His fur and particular choice of long covering clothes does well to hide it, but you spot a few bruises hidden under his fur.
+
+*IF THEY ASK WHAT IS WRONG*
+He stammers some before sighing with frustration. "Anais is very... easy to frustrate. She uh... demanded my assistance in cooling down." 
+ 
+*IF THEY RETORT*
+He realizes what he said. "She just kinda... used me as a punching bag. I'll be fine, she doesn't hit THAT hard, but I might need to visit the tailor on my way out."
+
+His eyes widen and he suddenly hides behind you all as you head out of the lobby, passing by a brown wolf girl in a lighter brown postal worker outfit. She is wearing sunglasses indoors, she is blowing a bubblegum bubble, and she is wearing a gold nametag that says COCO.
+
+(CONTACTS ROLL) You don't really RECOGNIZE her, but you spotted her delivering mail in the past.
+  
+He desperately ushers you all forward to get out of the building as quickly as possible.
+
+Once he is out of sight range, he will breathe a heavy sigh. "And SHE just scares me."
+
+Once you are out by the doors, you see him scurry to his car and take off out of the parking lot in a hurry.
+
+-----
+
+*AT THUNDER FORCE HEADQUARTERS*
+
+The second you arrive, Harken appears at the front door, clearly waiting for you. "Kings of Kings... please follow me."
+
+He guides you through the branch office to his personal office in the back, holding the door open for you. Once you are all inside, he closes he door carefully, but flips the lock audibly loud. "Please have a seat, this won't take long."
+
+He sits down in his office chair behind his desk, coated in a foot high pile of paperwork and folders across every inch of it. "I'll be blunt. I would prefer to leave protection assignments to fully trained officers, but we are a bit shorthanded at the moment. Plus..." 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*IF THEY ARE TF* 
+"As you have prominent combat experience before even joining, Akarui and I felt this would be a suitable assignment for your group." 
+ 
+*IF THEY ARE NOT* 
+"The people know you now, and you have earned a modicum of trust on our end. As such, I wish to deputize you for the day, specifically for this job." 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+"Your assignment will be to go to the Research and Development Lab in the Essentials district. We have a large shipment of steel, copper, aluminum, and brass coming in from the Red and Brown demenses, for a special construction project. You simply need to guard it until the end of the day to ensure it is kept safe."
+
+"You are expected to arrive in one hour, work an eight hour shift of hourly building inspections one at a time, and otherwise are to stay inside with the containers until the end of your shift. They will be picked up and transported at the end of the day. Afterwards, report back to me here."
+
+He will reach into his desk and pull out several small bags full of coins. "Of course, we wouldn't expect you to do legitimate work for free. You will be paid the same as any Thunder Force agent starting out. 25z an hour, 8 hours of work, that entitles each of you to 200z, all paid upfront." 
+
+"AND, since you are with us, you have access to our uniform selection. Pick some up on the way out, free of charge." 
+ 
+"Dismissed!"  
+ 
+*WANT UNIFORMS* 
+You are met by agent Binx the Cat, whom escorts you to the wardrobe area, with multiple tables full of gear to match all shapes and sizes. 
+
+- The first table is full of chrome colored bracers and chest covers 
+- The second table is full of black slacks, boots, and short & long-sleeved shirts 
+- The third table is full of chrome bottom-half face masks, black sunglasses, and folded black & silver long coats 
+- The fourth and final table has chest armor holders and several pieces of replaceable plate armor (but you are each only permitted one)
+
+----- 
+ 
+(AT THE R&D BUILDING)
+
+The facility is more of a compound, as its fenced in area is essentially four smaller buildings wrapped around one. The buildings themselves aren't particularly distinct, all painted the same aqua blue walls with a deeper blue metal roof.
+
+You spot a sign behind the sporadically scorched chain link fence, pointing in five directions.
+- BASIC RESEARCH (LEFT)
+- APPLIED RESEARCH (LEFT)
+- EXPERIMENTAL LAB (RIGHT)
+- SHIPPING & RECEIVING (RIGHT)
+- OFFICE (STRAIGHT AHEAD)
+
+*BASIC RESEARCH*
+You spot several people in white labcoats through the windows, many of whom are grouped of and writing formulas or designing mechanical layouts on chalkboards. As you pass by, you ARE noticed, but they pay you no mind.
+
+*APPLIED RESEARCH*
+You spot a mix of people in white labcoats working with people in coveralls or overalls with helmets and toolbelts, both working together to physically build several objects of varying shapes and sizes.
+
+*EXPERIMENTAL LAB*
+You witness several flashes of light from within the windows. When the blinding light subsides, you see a myriad of scientists, mechanics, people in suits, and even Thunder Force officers inside. They look to be testing different pieces of equipment and objects for multiple purposes.
+
+*SHIPPING & RECEIVING*
+This looks like your standard loading & unloading vehicle dock you've seen a million times before, except that it has six different ports available for vehicles, all of which are currently closed behind a steel roll-up door.
+
+*OFFICE*
+You don't see any windows on this particular building, but it is the only one with a door you can access.
+
+Inside is very simple, just a concierge desk and a few doors leading further inside the building, as well as doors marked BASIC on the left and SHIPPING & RECEIVING on the right. The walls are a basic white, but the room is well lit, and there is someone waving you down at the desk.
+
+A chameleon man with short blonde hair in a red dress shirt greets you at the desk, his eyes flicking back and forth between all of you, his gold nametag reading ELEAZAR. "Oh good good, you made it! Appreciate your time, Officers. Please follow me." 
+ 
+He walks you through the door marked SHIPPING & RECEIVING, where you see a large open concrete space with yellow and white guiding lines, as well as several large wooden crates. He walks over to a nearby kitchen table, right next to a small kitchenette built into the corner, complete with sink, cabinets, and fridge. "Your station is this table, the fenced in area is your patrol circle, and this is your main point of focus."
+
+"I'd like you to do one round an hour, paired up preferably, while the others stay here and watch the delivery. I assume you brought your own food, but there is free coffee & doughnuts if you like. And feel free to partake of any other foods you are offered, if you feel brave enough."
+ 
+Right on cue, a large flatbed truck-like vehicle suddenly backs in to the facility up to a nearby garage door, and a group of four muscled oxen men unload ten wooden crates, each one emblazoned with a burn mark in the shape of a hand.  
+  
+(NOTICE ROLL) You spot Nash with a clipboard on site, scribbling down information with a smile on his face. And he hasn't seemed to notice you. 
+ 
+*IF THEY APPROACH* 
+When he sees you, he LITERALLY jumps three feet in the air screaming "OH FUCK" and flops on his back. "Owww..."  
+  
+*HELPING HIM UP*  
+"Jeez, didn't expect YOU guys to be here... wait, are you the security detail for the shipment?"  
+ 
+*IF THEY CONFIRM* 
+"AWESOME! This is so perfect! I don't care what anyone says, Akarui is AWESOME!!!"
+
+He realizes he is acting a fool and straightens himself out. "Sorry, I uh... may or may not have overheard about that 'mole' situation, and since you didn't show up until AFTER that started, I gotta assume it's not you guys." 
+ 
+"Those intercoms we use are kinda junky, so I hear alot of those private meetings without meaning to. Among other things..."
+
+He will lean in and whisper to your group, "...Apparently the King is trying to supplement his height with platform shoes on the sly..." 
+ 
+*ASK WHAT HE IS DOING THERE*  
+"Oh, uh, right... so this is kind of a secret, but you know how we got those hydroelectric generators giving Diadem power, right? Well, my dad was an engineer here. He helped create the hole through the Diadem floor like 10 years ago, and he had a dream we MIGHT be able to use that to escape from this place."  
+  
+"But since we're on an island in the middle of the ocean, going out through the hole is a bit of a suicide mission. So, we need a safety vessel. Some scientists and I proposed this idea about two years ago to King Akarui that we could build like... a test submarine and see if it could descend far enough to get out, make it to some nearby land, and then get some actual help!"  
+  
+"And he finally approved it a month ago! Full ride budget and everything! This here is the last of the shipments of raw material we need to make a test sub. We're thinking a twenty man vessel would be enough to get ourselves into the outside world. Can you believe it???"  
+  
+"All I gotta do is get this to the secure location this evening, and we can finally finish building it. We might just be making history."
+
+*WHY NOT SOONER*
+"You would be surprised how hard it is to rent a truck in this city, let alone an industrial flatbed big enough to handle THIS workload. That jackass that runs the dealership is such a pain."
+
+He looks up to a clock on the wall. "Oh shoot, I'm out of time. King Akarui only gave me an hour to come check on stuff. I'll see you guys later!" He pauses and turns around with a cheeky grin. "...or if this works, maybe not?" ;D  
+ 
+----- 
+
+The shift itself goes completely smoothly without a bump in the road. The crates sit there completely untouched the entire time, and you get to meet a few of the mechanics & scientists as they pass through to check on other shipments coming and going.
+
+Your rounds are completely uneventful, but the scientists at the facility are nice, at least those that notice you. The mechanics on the other hand give some of you some... 'flattering compliments.'
+
+Around 5:30pm, you see an all new flatbed truck pull in to the docking area. This time, you see a dozen much more normal sized men approach, with a human in a leather jacket and slicked back brown hair walking in front. "We're uh.. we're here for the special shipment?"  
+  
+(EMPATHY ROLL VS DECEIVE ROLL) 
+*IF PLAYERS PASS* These guys are not dressed right, are fidgeting like hell, and the one in front can't even look you in the eye properly. 
+ 
+One of them will suddenly pull out a gun, aiming it right at (Player who beat roll)'s forehead. All eleven of the others will run in, going for the boxes.  
+ 
+*IF THEY RESIST*
+They will hear a familiar voice shout "DON'T EVEN TRY IT!"
+
+They will turn to see LUCKY the ram with the chameleon in his arms, a gold dagger against his throat. "YOU TAKE ANOTHER STEP, BUG-EYES IS DEAD."
+
+*IF THEY RESIST A SECOND TIME*
+A familiar scent of burning ozone will appear behind (player), a gun pressed against (PLAYER's) back. "Braver than I expected. Unfortunate." 
+ 
+The rest of the party sees someone new behind you, a man inside of what looks like a modified motorcycle outfit. The shoulders, arms from elbow down, and legs from knee down are layered in thick blue padding ridges. The rest is standard black, including the elongated motorcycle helmet with a white letter A on the front above the shaded eye visor. 
+ 
+*IF THAT PLAYER PLAYER RESISTS* 
+The new person will counter, pinning that player to the ground with lightning speed. He will quickly turn to the others and shout "HURRY UP!" 
+ 
+*IF ANYONE ATTACKS HIM*
+(Make a legit ATHLETICS roll, but if they do poorly, recommend they spend a FATE point to improve or redo the roll, you need them to either hit or match this one)
+He tries to block your attack, but because he was a bit distracted, he wasn't quite able to perfectly stop it. It smacks the front of his helmet, cracking it open to reveal part of his face.
+ 
+You see dark fur, possibly brown or black, and you see a deep brown eye with a small rounded scar under it. 
+ 
+He covers his face quickly, then speeds to the truck, the Marauders finished getting the crates inside. The truck peels off into the road at lightning speed, almost hitting a few other vehicles along the way.
+
+However, they have left LUCKY behind, still holding the chameleon hostage. "... they just left me..."
+
+He suddenly lowers himself onto his knees, staring at the place the truck used to be. "I did everything they asked... I escaped prison multiple times... and they STILL left me behind..."
+
+He finally releases the chameleon and the knife, just staring at the floor. "He promised he... he was gonna get me off the island... and he just left me behind... again..."
+
+*THE GUY IN THE OUTFIT?*
+"NOT ACE, HIS BOSS! OUR BOSS! EVERYONE'S BOSS!" He slams his fists in the ground in frustration. "HE PROMISED ME MY FREEDOM!!!"
+ 
+*WHO IS HE* 
+He will look up to your group, tears streaming down his cheeks. "The Crooked King." 
+
+(Let them determine how the sequence of events goes from here)
+(Recommend they contact Harken to send troops for a pickup)
+ 
+----- 
+  
+THAT EVENING  
+THUNDER FORCE HEADQUARTERS  
+HARKEN'S OFFICE  
+
+Harken is pacing behind his desk, deep in frustration. "This task was supposed to be simple. Material arrives, we guard it, material gets picked up. Instead, tomorrow's headline will read that a hostage situation resulted in the theft of the entire shipment of research and building materials under our watch." 
+  
+IF THEY OBJECT  
+He somewhat loudly places one hand on the desk, rubbing his eyes with the other. "I know what happened. Fact is, you followed your orders perfectly to a tee, you defended an innocent from harm in a hostage situation, and you proved you value lives over cold hard metal. You even re-captured LUCKY, AND got him to cooperate for the first time ever. He has literally given up, and told us everything he knows." 
+ 
+He pulls out a folder, slaps it on the table, and pulls out a few documents. "We finally have a genuine profile of LUCKY now. His real name is Levi, and he is the younger brother of the HOA representative, Anais. Which she never mentioned in any of her personnel files, so we are assuming he is estranged."
+
+"We also have solid intel on their organization.  What we thought were random acts of thuggery were coordinated and strategic from the start. Their overall goal is to cause colossal amounts of property damage in pre-arranged strikes across the city, specifically to spread forces and finances thin on the cleanup. Based on this, we assume their goal is to either bankrupt the city or make it uninhabitable, possibly both."
+ 
+"We have confirmation of an active general, the man with the A on the helmet. ACE, as Lucky calls him. He uses lightning magic to move same as we do, and eyewitness reports claim he physically mirrors our combat style. It is safe to assume he is also the mole within the Thunder Force."
+
+"They purposely keep their numbers small and easy to manage, forty actual members, including these Generals, all under the Crooked King. Levi says it's a numerical tier system between two and ten, with no more than four per number. They treat it like a goddamn game."
+
+"They send groups of four with the same number as teams with a new entrant in tow, and sometimes add a wild card member. Usually Levi because he has a Regalia, and rumor has it one of the Generals has one too."
+
+*WHY NOT ONE TO TEN?*
+"They refer to ONEs as entry level rookies, they don't even count as members. ZEROs are Non-Marauders, like being a part of them makes you inherently better. And if you're arrested, you're considered a ZERO and have to start all over again."
+
+*WHERE IS HIS REGALIA*
+"It's in evidence. I know you need it to complete your mission, and we will get it to you soon."
+
+"The biggest issue is this... Crooked King. Noone knows who he is, but he is the mastermind behind the Marauders. He picks whom to recruit & when, supplies the coin for their weapons, coordinates every attack, dictates the ranking system, and provides them with THESE." He places the gold dagger LUCKY had on the table inside a glass evidence container. 
+ 
+"This is career defining evidence. If it were anyone else, you would have a fucking parade in your honor. But due to these... unfortunate circumstances, the public will choose to ignore those positives, as will the media. And I theorize that was the Marauders' plan, to force the population to lose faith in you."
+
+IF THEY ARE NOT TF 
+"Worst of all, given you were wearing our uniforms, they will assume you are with us, which doubly complicates the matter." 
+
+"(Regardless if you are Thunder Force or not,) They will expect some form of punishment for your 'failure' to protect the shipment. And as third commander, I have to take some form of action, if nothing else to show we are not showing favoritism. 'Firing' you would be too harsh, and a slap on the wrist would be too easy." 
+  
+He grabs a handful of papers, quickly scribbles some information down, turns them around, and passes them to your group. "This is a form stating you are being taken off active duty and placed on two weeks paid leave, effective immediately."   
+  
+*IF THEY INTERRUPT*
+"During this time, all activities, including but not limited to any & all criminal syndicate altercations, cannot and will not be associated directly with the Thunder Force. They will instead be seen as the activities of a group of rogue REGALIA HUNTERS working to save the people of Diadem from their imprisoned fate, no different than those that attempted before."  
+
+"And if, within those fourteen days, you manage to gather them all and free the people, well... I doubt anyone would care about this debacle anymore, and you may even become... heroes again. But THAT is information I, and the Thunder Force, cannot and will not be responsible for OR associated with during your two week paid leave." He gives you something of a sly smile. 
+ 
+*IF THEY ARE TF*
+"Now this does mean I will require your badges for the next two weeks." 
+ 
+He will walk behind you and open the door for you. "You are all dismissed." 
+  
+When you step out of his office, you see the entirety of the Thunder Force now standing at attention, forming two lines on either side of your group, all facing inward shoulder to shoulder, aiming right for the door.
+
+Harken stands behind you, in a militant pose. He doesn't say a word, but instead gives a good old fashioned salute. And the other Thunder Force officers around you have joined you in the same salute.
+
+Once you leave, the doors slam behind you, leaving you as free agents with a convenient paycheck.
+
+(IF THEY GO TO ANY BUSINESSES, THE PEOPLE MAY TREAT THEM DIFFERENTLY)
+(THAT WILL BE UP TO YOUR DISCRETION)
+
+----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 
+
+(START THE NEXT DAY WITH THIS SEGMENT)
+ 
+You are met with a phone call the next morning.  
+ 
+*IF THEY ANSWER* 
+It is a female voice you don't recognize, asking you to come to the Capitol and meet with the King. He has a favor to ask of you, and requests your presence ASAP. Before you get more than two words out, she will hang up. 
+ 
+Upon arrival, you are greeted by a Parakeet woman with a long swooping head of blond hair in a lime green dress sitting at Nash's desk, her gold nametag reading CIRCE, and she does not look happy.
+
+"I assume you to be the Kings of Kings, yes? Please follow me." She marches you quickly through the office area and right to King Akarui's door. No kindness, no nonsense, just professionalism. 
+ 
+Once inside, you see a concerned Akarui stamping documents. Circe practically pushes you in the office, and shuts the door. Akarui pauses for a moment and drops the stamp, looking up to your group. "Oh good, you're here. So... I heard about what happened at the hostage situation. And your 'punishment' for it."
+
+*COMPLAIN*
+He raises a hand. "I know exactly what happened, and frankly, I'm pleased with what you did. You saved an innocent life, and the life of every person in that facility. The metal can be replaced, albeit it'll take some time. Budget and all that. Which, ironically, brings me to the reason you are here."
+
+"Kings of Kings, I know this is a bit pedestrian of me to ask of you, but I'd like you to do a wellness check on Nash. He's not answering the phone, and the Thunder Force has their hands full with actual criminals." 
+ 
+"When he came in this morning, I let him know the metal for his project was stolen, and... well, he looked like the sound of glass hitting the floor. I gave him the rest of the week off, but based on what I saw... I'd love some peace of mind." 
+
+-----
+ 
+*WHY DOES HE CARE SO MUCH*
+He grips his chair arm tight enough to make the wood creak. "It's complicated... did I mention I'm an immigrant?"
+
+"My team and I, the Chamberlins, came here ten years ago. There was no Marauder threat at the time, so the Thunder Force was just a police force. There was so little to do, they encouraged us to interact with the Demense Masters on slow days. We begged for an actual assignment instead of these do-nothing tasks."
+
+"Six months later, we finally got our first REAL assignment. We were asked to guard a pair of scientists, a Mr. and Mrs. Raposa, whom were working on a special project with a small team of other scientists."
+
+"When we got there, they asked us to keep an eye on their son, an angsty Goth punk of seventeen. Their words, not mine. I personally took that responsibility, and tailed him everywhere he went. And he was SURPRISINGLY good at getting away from me."
+
+"That day... something went wrong... they turned it on, and it exploded... it took both Raposa's lives... And their sone disappeared... I thought he was gone too... In every way imaginable, I failed my first mission... Sound familiar?"
+
+"He turned up a week later, in his own home. And he was... different. He looked... broken. But I promised his parents I would keep an eye on him, and him reappearing that day meant I still had a chance to do that."
+
+"I walked away from the team, decided to be something far more influential. Ended up in the running to be the next Ruler. It let me have an active hand in all future projects, so I could minimize the risks of THAT ever happening again. And... every ruler needs an aide."
+
+*YOU GAVE HIM A JOB AS YOUR AIDE*
+"He didn't NEED my help for that one, he earned that one fair and square. But I do let him slide on things from time to time."
+
+-----
+*IF THEY DONT LIVE IN THE GATED COMMUNITY* 
+He hands you a folded document with a stamp on top reading FROM THE DESK OF KING AKARUI. "The guards there are likely to be an issue. This will get you in. Please don't lose it."
+-----
+
+- GATED COMMUNITY
+-----
+*IF THEY DONT LIVE THERE*
+As you approach, you see the massive neighborhood from outside the ten foot metal fence. The homes closest to the gate are all at least TRIPLE the size of the homes in the Residential district, as are the properties they sit on, and they only get bigger as you look closer to the center. The lawns are trimmed, the fences are painted, and several have animal-shaped ornamental bushes being maintained by landscapers right now.
+
+You finally find the one and only gated entryway, guarded by a pair of Doberman Thunder Force, one brown and one black, both with neatly shaved black hair and sunglasses. They both see your group coming and the brown one asks in a German accent, "How may ve help you today?" 
+
+*IF PRESENTING PAPER* 
+The brown one will open it so they can both read over it and start sniffing over it excitedly. The black one will wince a bit and shake his head. "Vell, ze scent matches ze king bird, so zis is legit. Danke for ze papers, you may pass."
+-----
+
+The guards pull open the steel gate on wheels for your group, waving at you as you go by.
+
+(EITHER WAY)
+Before you go more than ten feet inside, Andrei (the black one) calls out "VAIT! (Are you here to visit ze Mr. Nash?!)"
+
+He waves a slip of paper at you with a different address than the one you were given. "Ze Mr. Nash is at ze family home due to renovations."
+ 
+Bruno (the brown one) adds "He asked us to tell ze delivery people." 
+ 
+They both chuckle at each other with big shit eating grins, and Andrei comments "Ja ja, especially ze pretty little wolf girl~" 
+ 
+They chuckle before clearing their throats before Bruno comments "Uh but.. given ze circumstances, I am sure ze Mr. Nash vill understand." 
+
+-----
+
+When you reach the property you are looking for, all the other homes are put to shame.  
+ 
+The house is easily three floors, has a colossal front yard, a massive bird bath, perfectly trimmed bushes along the immaculately painted fences, a multiple car garage with Nash's car parked in front of it, and even a chandelier style light hanging from the porch. 
+ 
+*IF THEY KNOCK* 
+It takes a few seconds, but you eventually see Nash greet you at the door, and he looks exactly like how King Akarui described. 
+ 
+His ears that were always perked are slumped against his head, his chipper smile looks like it was manually pulled downward, and you could even swear his fur looks less colorful. But at least his hair looks brushed, sorta. When he sees your group, he perks up slightly. "Oh.. hey guys.. you wanna come in?" 
+ 
+*INSIDE* 
+The place looks almost too immaculate, the cushions on the furniture all look borderline unused, and there is zero dust on anything that you can see. But the lights are on, even if it is just the living room. 
+ 
+(INVESTIGATE Roll) There are no pictures on the walls either, even though there is clear evidence there used to be. The only real furniture is the roaring fireplace and a couple pillows & large couches in front of it. 
+ 
+"Sorry about the mess, I uh... kinda just... didn't feel like going upstairs to any of the bedrooms." 
+ 
+*MENTION KING WAS WORRIED* 
+"He was.. worried about me? I just thought he didn't wanna deal with me being upset, but.. huh. That... makes me feel better knowing he cares." 
+ 
+*ASK ABOUT HOUSE* 
+"Well technically it's not MY house, it was my parents'. I inherited it when they died. It's a bit much for me, so I stay at my own place down the street. But I come here once in a while to keep the place clean and... ya know... remember." 
+ 
+*WHY SO UPSET* 
+"My dad... he was an immigrant here, and when he found out he was trapped, he made it his life's mission to get out. One based in science and technology, not magic. He despised the rules as much as Akarui does. He and my mom made the first drill to get out of Diadem. 
+ 
+But during their first actual test, the drill... exploded. And they both died. I made it my life's goal to resume his plan, if for no other reason than in their memory. And after the theft, well... the entire project is on hold for a bit until they get a replacement shipment. 
+ 
+I just... I waited so long, ya know? I got the approval, then the supplies started coming in, I was so happy. Finding out they got stolen... It was crushing. I fully planned to work through the pain too, just like before, but... I guess King thought I needed a break instead. And he might've been right." 
+ 
+*WHY HERE & NOT YOUR HOUSE* 
+"I was having my home renovated, wanted one of those underground car garages put in. I'm afraid my car might get stolen, even in here. The noise complaints Anais has been jumping on Akarui about... those are her trying to get me in trouble."
+
+*WHY GET YOU IN TROUBLE*
+"Got me, but I think it bugs her that Akarui is lenient with me, but treats her poorly, comparatively. She works hard, but she's also a bitch and a control freak. Uh... but you didn't hear that from me."
+ 
+*NO MORE QUESTIONS* 
+"Well... thanks alot for stopping by guys, I honestly feel alot better getting all of that out of my system. I'll give Akarui a call later and apologize. But for right now, I think I just need to... ya know... sleep this all off."
+
+He stands up and walks you guys to the door, offering a handshake to anyone that wants it.
+ 
+(NOTICE ROLL) Through the nearby window, you can see him slowly shuffle his way back to the pile of pillows and flop into them face first.
+
+*IF THEY WANNA SEE NASH'S REAL HOME*
+You spot a house in the direction Nash pointed out with several stacks of metal sitting in front of the hole. Each one is covered by a fabric tarp of some kind, and the hole in the ground is easily twice as big as the vehicle he drives.

Story/06 - Challenges/--OPTIONAL-TF-COMMANDERS.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+*THUNDER FORCE* 
+*OPTIONAL BOSS* 
+ 
+The facility is relatively unchanged. Officers walking around inside and out in various manner of uniform, the smell of ozone lingering on clothing & in the open air, and plenty of people wearing sunglasses indoors. 
+ 
+-----
+
+(If branch office) 
+You get the attention of a deer man with a red buzzcut & trimmed antlers, his silver nametag reading MUSA. "Hey, aren't you the Kings of Kings?"
+
+*LOOKING FOR COMMANDERS*
+"If you're looking for the three Commanders, Harken is in his office and is not to be disturbed. Something about a break in the Marauder case. But Jensen and Valeos should be at the main office in the Temple Demense running training drills." 
+
+-----
+ 
+(If main office) 
+The second you step through the gate, you hear yelling and gunfire coming from your left, in the training grounds.
+
+You spot Commanders Jensen and Valeos, barking orders at a group of trainees currently crawling through the obstacle course, many of whom aren't doing very well. Many are tangled in ropes, stuck in barbed wire, or just can't quite get over the wall.
+ 
+When the Commaners spot your group, they call out "TRAINEES, LINE UP," causing them all to stop their various activities and form a line, arms at their sides and staring forward. 
+ 
+Both commanders slowly walk around the group of trainees in opposite directions, but Jensen speaks first. "Compared to how you did during your interviews, you are all showing marked improvement. But improvement does not equal ready." 
+ 
+Valeos chimes in. "You are all expected to wear your uniforms with pride and confidence. These people depend on you for not just countering the Marauders, but also for maintaining the peace. Be the reason they are confident in all of us." 
+ 
+They both speak in unison. "DISMISSED!" Half the trainees run straight for the building while the other half collapse on the ground in exhaustion. The commanders begin to glow silver across their uniforms before disappearing from view, leaving streaks in the open air and landing right behind your group. 
+ 
+Both of them smile and extend their hands to shake all of yours, as Jensen comments "Good to see you again, Kings of Kings. Decided to drop in on our training session?" 
+ 
+*CHALLENGE FIGHT* 
+You see Valeos grin and turn to Jensen. "Looks like you owe me 50z." 
+ 
+Jensen just rolls her eyes and pitches him a coin, before he catches it and continues. "We were expecting you. Come inside, the training grounds were just broken in." 
+ 
+You didn't notice before, but there are some minor differences. The metal in the obstacle course is fresh, the barbed wire looks brand new, and the wood has been re-treated for weather. The wall on the far side for breaching simulations even has a fresh coat of paint. 
+ 
+Jensen stops your group in front of the freshly painted building and smiles. "So here's the deal. We REALLY wanted to get Harken in on this, but he has been under a mountain of paperwork with these Marauder incidents." 
+ 
+Valeos chimes in. "Well that's what he gets for stationing himself in the branch office." 
+ 
+Jensen rolls her eyes and continues, "So your opponents will be the two of us. And since we're such nice people, we thought we'd offer a little incentive."
+
+Valeos chimes in. "You manage to beat us, we let you raid the storage area of confiscated and impounded effects that were never reclaimed. We usually auction them off and put the proceeds toward the city, but they'd probably be better in your hands than someone else's." 
+ 
+Jensen follows up. "Don't think that means we'll take it easy on you, either. We both have a decade of combat experience in Diadem alone, AND were trained by the Demense Master himself." 
+ 
+Jensen pulls out a rifle and Valeos pulls out a pair of tonfa, both taking combat positions. "Prepare yourselves." 
+
+AFTER THE FIGHT
+ 
+(IF THEY LOSE) 
+Jensen and Valeos both stand before you, panting and shaky, covered in all manner of bruises and blood. Jensen puts her hand on Valeos' back, both supporting him and using the little mana she has left to give him some meaningful healing. 
+ 
+The two walk forward together, but Jensen speaks. "It genuinely surprises me you didn't bring those skills to the Thunder Force sooner. HRG..." She pauses to cough hard and spit up a mouthful of blood. 
+ 
+Valeos pulls out a healing potion and forces her to drink it, himself healed enough to stand up fully. "I believe we are in need of a trip to the hospital after that one, just to be safe. Would all of you like to come as well? At the Thunder Force's expense, of course." He gives a toothy grin, revealing he is missing a few teeth after that fight. 
+ 
+(IF THEY WIN) 
+Both Commanders lie on their backs in the dirt, both still breathing, but in TERRIBLE shape. You hear Valeos manage to turn his head to your group. "Damn... we haven't fought that hard since basic training with Judge Fulmo..." 
+ 
+Jensen continues to stare at the sky. "Got that right. I can't feel my legs anymore..." She struggles to laugh but winces and shakily holds her stomach. 
+ 
+From behind you, the sudden yelling of DOZENS of voices approaches rapidly. 
+ 
+You see a literal ARMY of Thunder Force, charged with emotion AND electricity, heading right for you. And they do NOT look happy. And the sky is mirroring their energy, as a rumbling storm seems to be following them. 
+ 
+Just before they reach you, an explosive bolt of lightning strikes the ground between your group & the approaching officers, leaving Fulmo behind as it dissipates. This time, he's wearing casual clothing of a grayscale turtleneck sweater over black pants and basic dress shoes. 
+ 
+This IMMEDIATELY puts a stop to the advancement, causing every able bodied officer to stand and salute. Fulmo looks to your group, removes his sunglasses to reveal his electrically charged icy blues, and sighs a bit. "I do not enjoy watching my men fight needlessly, nuch less lose, but that was a spectacle to be admired. You all fought with conviction and pride, and I commend you for that." 
+ 
+He looks down to the two commanders lying in a heap, weakly attempting to salute him from on the ground. "As for you two... my only complaint is you authorized them to take confiscated items without clearing it with me first. There will be repercussions for not following code of conduct. But, that will be a discussion for another day." 
+ 
+He approaches them both and picks them both up, carrying each one easily on each shoulder. "I will deliver them to the hospital. You have my authority to use our nurse's station to treat your wounds, then you may claim your prizes." 
+ 
+His body charges with electricity and he disappears from view, leaving a scorch mark several yards long, right through the gate. You can't even see how or when he hopped the fence. 
+ 
+The nurse's station largely resembles a high school nurse's office, except the other Officers are the ones running it. You find multiple first aid kits & various singular supplies from them, as well as multiple healing potions in a cabinet. 
+ 
+(When it comes to them finding the weapons and items they may claim as prizes, offer them new weapons that are 1DMG higher, magic rings, shields, and/or any other wearable items) 
+ 
+(If they are not satisfied with this, offer them a vehicle 'conveniently' housed in a secondary space) 

Story/06 - Challenges/-BODYGUARDS.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+(THESE ARE TO BE USED IN ANY ORDER YOU LIKE, BUT ARE MEANT TO HAPPEN AFTER WINNING THEIR FIRST, THIRD, FIFTH, SEVENTH, NINTH, AND ELEVENTH REGALIA) 
+ 
+(AFTER THE CONVERSATION, INVOKE/COMPEL THE "REGALIA HOLDER" ASPECT(S) ON THEIR CHARACTER SHEET(S), AND OFFER A FATE POINT IF THEY ACCEPT, BUT OFFER TO SKIP THE FIGHT NARRATIVELY IF THEY WANT TO SPEND A FATE POINT INSTEAD) 
+ 
+(ALL ENCOUNTER CHARACTERS ARE SET AT LV2 (BARRING CHILDREN), BUT IF THE PLAYERS ARE AT LV4, ADD +1 TO EVERY ROLL TO SIMULATE LV3 (BARRING CHILDREN)) 
+ 
+(IF THE PLAYER(S) LOSE, THE CHALLENGER(S) WILL TAKE THE REGALIA. IF THE REGALIA IS FROM THE DEMENSE THEY ARE FROM, THEY WILL RETURN IT TO THE DEMENSE MASTER, AND THE PLAYERS HAVE TO FIGHT THE DEMENSE MASTER AGAIN TO EARN IT BACK. OTHERWISE, THEY WILL NEED TO SEEK OUT THE PERSON THEY FOUGHT AND FIGHT THEM AGAIN.) 
+ 
+----- GARUN & LANCER 
+ 
+You hear a pair of clicks and two of you each feel... something long and metal pressing into your backs. One voice calmly states "Don't move." 
+ 
+A second voice speaks. "We are looking for the Regalia hunters known as the Kings of Kings." 
+ 
+*CONFIRM* 
+Both metal objects are taken away, and two people step around your group. You see Garun & Lancer, the bodyguards of Miranda herself, putting a pair of pistols away. Lancer speaks first. "Oh... it's you. Had we known YOU were our targets, we would have used a different approach. 
+ 
+- (IF THEY HAVE STAR SCOURGE) 
+Garun follows up. "We understand you have acquired Madam Miranda's regalia. I'm sure you understand how valuable such a treasure is, and for someone in our line of work, we are obligated to keep it safe, no different than her." 
+ 
+- (IF THEY DONT) 
+Garun follows up. "We understand you have acquired a regalia of your own. Understand that we have spent an excessive amount of time by Madam Miranda's side, and do not agree with the idea that YOU are the most qualified to handle an item on par with hers." 
+ 
+- (EITHER WAY) 
+They both pull out their pistols and aim them at your group, and Lancer speaks. "As such, we are here to challenge you and put it back in the more capable hands of its rightful owner." 
+ 
+LANCER | 20HP | 20MP | 1 MVMT 
++5 ACADEMICS 
++4 FIGHT 
++3 MANA 
++2 ATHLETICS PHYSIQUE
++1 CONTACTS EMPATHY  WILL
+(RESIST WATER / WEAK FIRE) 
+ONLY USE WATER SPELLS 
+PISTOL (2DMG)(DUAL-WIELD) 
+BATTLEAXE (3DMG)(TWO-HANDED) 
+ 
+GARUN | 20HP | 0MP | 2 MVMT
++5 FIGHT 
++4 SHOOT 
++3 ATHLETICS 
++2 DRIVE PHYSIQUE
++1 CONTACTS EMPATHY WILL
+(RESIST FIRE / WEAK WATER) 
+MACE (2DMG) (FLEXIBLE) 
+PISTOL (2DMG)(DUAL-WIELD) 
+BATTLEAXE (3DMG)(TWO-HANDED) 

Story/06 - Challenges/-CHILDREN.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+(THESE ARE TO BE USED IN ANY ORDER YOU LIKE, BUT ARE MEANT TO HAPPEN AFTER WINNING THEIR FIRST, THIRD, FIFTH, SEVENTH, NINTH, AND ELEVENTH REGALIA) 
+ 
+(AFTER THE CONVERSATION, INVOKE/COMPEL THE "REGALIA HOLDER" ASPECT(S) ON THEIR CHARACTER SHEET(S), AND OFFER A FATE POINT IF THEY ACCEPT, BUT OFFER TO SKIP THE FIGHT NARRATIVELY IF THEY WANT TO SPEND A FATE POINT INSTEAD) 
+ 
+(ALL ENCOUNTER CHARACTERS ARE SET AT LV2 (BARRING CHILDREN), BUT IF THE PLAYERS ARE AT LV4, ADD +1 TO EVERY ROLL TO SIMULATE LV3 (BARRING CHILDREN)) 
+ 
+(IF THE PLAYER(S) LOSE, THE CHALLENGER(S) WILL TAKE THE REGALIA. IF THE REGALIA IS FROM THE DEMENSE THEY ARE FROM, THEY WILL RETURN IT TO THE DEMENSE MASTER, AND THE PLAYERS HAVE TO FIGHT THE DEMENSE MASTER AGAIN TO EARN IT BACK. OTHERWISE, THEY WILL NEED TO SEEK OUT THE PERSON THEY FOUGHT AND FIGHT THEM AGAIN.) 
+ 
+----- FIVE CHILDREN 
+ 
+(NOTICE Roll) 
+You hear child-like voices laughing nearby and hear small footsteps running around. There's a group of five children running around, playing swordfighting with sticks in the road nearby.
+
+*IF THEY ASK* (DO NOT SAY THE NAMES)
+- Abigail: Gazelle girl with red hat & blue shirt
+- Wally: Blonde wallaby boy in orange hoodie
+- Kuki: Black hair Crane girl in green sweater
+- Hogarth: Hippo boy in blue shirt & aviator mask
+- Nigel: Bald seal boy with shades & red shirt
+
+The seal boy and wallaby boy are fighting at this moment, while the two girls are watching and the hippo boy is acting as referee.
+
+Despite it being children, it is a decent spectacle. The seal is running around and shooting marbles from a slingshot, while the wallabee is dodging some and knocking the others away with a pair of sticks.
+
+The seal boy dives in with a kick and breaks both sticks on impact, which makes the wallaby boy mad, and they go full fist fight. You could ALMOST swear they knew kung fu by the way they move, as neither one is landing a decisive hit.
+
+Until the seal boy launches one last kick and the wallaby boy throws one more punch, both hitting each other hard enough to knock them back. Which is when they stop, realizing they have an audience. IE, your group.
+
+(Seal boy will be off-put they are adults)
+(Hippo boy will be curious about their weapons)
+(Crane girl will compliment any females or mages)
+(Wallaby boy will get excited seeing a FIGHTer)
+(Gazelle girl will call any STEALTH user cool)
+
+The seal boy eventually gives in and introduces themselves properly. Nigel stares at your grup intensely for a moment, pulling down his shades to finally reveal his eyes. He finally recognizes you all and blurts out "THEY'RE THE KINGS OF KINGS!"
+
+This excites ALL the children and they start bombarding you with questions, as though they were your biggest fans.
+
+Hogarth asks what that cool looking weapon is, referring to your Regalia.
+
+These children stare in awe at it, commenting they've never seen one up close, and want to use it for themselves.
+
+*IF THEY SAY NO*
+The children all pounce on the one holding it, each one hanging on to a different limb, while Nigel attempts to pry the regalia from your hand.
+
+*AFTER THE FAILED ATTEMPT*
+All the children line up together in a weird battle formation, and they all seem mad or disappointment. Nigel declares "Fine! If that's how it is, we'll fight you for it!
+ 
+(ALL CHILDREN ARE LV0 AND HAVE SKILLS ALL AT +0) 
+(BUT EACH HAS 5HP & THE FOLLOWING ARE ALL AT +1) 
+ 
+NIGEL | +1 SHOOT & ATHLETICS | SLINGSHOT
+- STUNT: SHOOT SLINGSHOT AT ALL ENEMIES
+
+HOGARTH | +1 CRAFT & DRIVE | SMALL VEHICLE
+- STUNT: MAKE STICK WEAPONS FOR TEAM
+
+KUKI | +1 ACADEMICS & MANA | 1HP BAND-AIDS
+- STUNT: DODGE ONE FIGHT/SHOOT/ACAEMICS FOR FREE
+
+WALLY | +1 FIGHT & PHYSIQUE | FISTS & FEET
+- STUNT: ATTACK + JUMP TO NEXT ZONE
+
+ABIGAIL | +1 STEALTH & RAPPORT | THROWABLE HAT
+- STUNT: DUAL WIELD WITH STEALTH
+
+GROUP STUNT: BATTLESTATIONS
+- Make a single FIGHT roll against all opponents
+- This roll has a base FIGHT score of +5, 1 per child
+- This attack does 3DMG on HIT or 1DMG on MATCH
+ 
+(GIVE THE PLAYERS A CHANCE TO SAVE THE KIDS)

Story/06 - Challenges/-COWBOYS.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+(THESE ARE TO BE USED IN ANY ORDER YOU LIKE, BUT ARE MEANT TO HAPPEN AFTER WINNING THEIR FIRST, THIRD, FIFTH, SEVENTH, NINTH, AND ELEVENTH REGALIA) 
+ 
+(AFTER THE CONVERSATION, INVOKE/COMPEL THE "REGALIA HOLDER" ASPECT(S) ON THEIR CHARACTER SHEET(S), AND OFFER A FATE POINT IF THEY ACCEPT, BUT OFFER TO SKIP THE FIGHT NARRATIVELY IF THEY WANT TO SPEND A FATE POINT INSTEAD) 
+ 
+(ALL ENCOUNTER CHARACTERS ARE SET AT LV2 (BARRING CHILDREN), BUT IF THE PLAYERS ARE AT LV4, ADD +1 TO EVERY ROLL TO SIMULATE LV3 (BARRING CHILDREN)) 
+ 
+(IF THE PLAYER(S) LOSE, THE CHALLENGER(S) WILL TAKE THE REGALIA. IF THE REGALIA IS FROM THE DEMENSE THEY ARE FROM, THEY WILL RETURN IT TO THE DEMENSE MASTER, AND THE PLAYERS HAVE TO FIGHT THE DEMENSE MASTER AGAIN TO EARN IT BACK. OTHERWISE, THEY WILL NEED TO SEEK OUT THE PERSON THEY FOUGHT AND FIGHT THEM AGAIN.) 
+ 
+----- MONTANA 
+ 
+You hear thunderous footsteps approaching in the distance. No... not thunderous, more like... stampeding? 
+ 
+From around the corner you see three familiar looking cow men on horseback galloping toward you, only slowing down when they are a few yards away. The riders step off, revealing themselves to be Montana, Kid, and Dakota. Montana steps up first. "Howdy, been a while since ya'll stopped by!"  
+ 
+- (IF THEY WON ARLEDGE'S REGALIA) 
+"We thought we'd stop by and congratulate ya'll on winnin' our favorite farmhand's regalia. Thang's been outta his hands fer... ten years and change? Ain't seen it before m'self, any chance we can take a peek at it?" 
+ 
+- (IF THEY HAVENT YET) 
+"Word on the street's ya'll're makin' a name fer yerselves. Huntin' regalia an' such, even winnin' a few. That true?" 
+ 
+*CONFIRM* 
+"Well sunuva gun, that's mighty impressive. Won't lie though, I'd love ta try my hand at earnin' one o' those myself. Fancy givin' an ol' sheriff a shot at the big time?" 
+ 
+He pulls out a pair of unusual looking pistols, each with a tall & narrow barrel. "Let's Rodeo!"
+(these are shuriken revolvers that fire tin stars) 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*IF MULTIPLE CHARACTERS WANT TO FIGHT* 
+Kid suddenly marches in. "Now hold yer horses, that ain't a fair fight!" 
+ 
+Dakota walks in beside him, arms crossed. "Kid's Right. Fer Once." 
+ 
+Montana re-holsters his pistols. "As it says in the Code of the West, 'give yer enemy a fightin' chance.' How about we even the odds? All of us against all ya'll?" 
+ 
+*ACCEPT* 
+Kid gives an enthusiastic YEEHAW and pulls out his lasso, as Dakota cracks his knuckles loudly enough for your group to hear.  
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+MONTANA | HP 25 | MP 0 | MVMT 2 
++5 SHOOT 
++4 ATHLETICS 
++3 PHYSIQUE 
++2 DRIVE RAPPORT 
++1 EMPATHY WILL
+ 
+(RESIST LIFE / WEAK DEATH) 
+HORSE (NAME: CYCLONE) 
+STAR SHOOTER PISTOL x2 (2DMG)(DUAL-WIELD)(RELOAD-UNLIMITED) 
+ 
+STUNT: TRICK STAR SHOT 
+- Pay 1 MVMT: cover (SHOOT SCORE) ZONES in star caltrops 
+- Deals 1DMG when a player enters/leaves zone 
+
+STUNT: DISARM SHOT 
+- SHOOT ATTACK action, does not do DMG 
+- Removes weapon/item currently being held on HIT/MATCH 
+- Weapon/Item now pinned to ground, requires 1 MVMT to pick up 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+DAKOTA | HP 35 | MP 0 | MVMT 2 
++5 PHYSIQUE 
++4 DRIVE 
++3 ATHLETICS 
++2 EMPATHY FIGHT
++1 CONTACTS WILL 
+ 
+(RESIST LIFE / WEAK DEATH) 
+HORSE (NAME: REBEL) 
+FISTS (1DMG)(DUAL-WIELD) 
+ 
+STUNT: STRONG BUT SILENT 
+- Add PHYSIQUE score to FIGHT rolls 
+
+STUNT: HIS PRECIOUS HAT 
+- Every 5HP he loses increases his FIST DMG by 1 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+KID | HP 20 | MP 0 | MVMT 2 
++5 ATHLETICS 
++4 DRIVE
++3 PHYSIQUE 
++2 CONTACTS EMPATHY 
++1 DECEIVE RAPPORT WILL
+ 
+(RESIST LIFE / WEAK DEATH) 
+HORSE (NAME: JEZEBEL) 
+LASSO/ROPE (1DMG)(TWO-HANDED)(REACH) 
+ 
+STUNT: LASSO TACTICS 
+- ITEM ACTION : ATHLETICS VS ATHLETICS/STEALTH 
+- HIT/MATCH : Bind enemy in a lasso (Hogtied style) 
+- BOUND Target cannot use AIM action until YOUR next turn 
+
+STUNT: SWING YER PARTNER 
+- PHYSIQUE ATTACK action using BOUND player as REACH weapon 
+- HIT/MATCH: Deals (BOUND character's LV) on HIT/MATCH to TARGET & BOUND CHARACTER 
+- BOUND TARGET automatically freed after 
+ 

Story/06 - Challenges/-JEKHYRA.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+(THESE ARE TO BE USED IN ANY ORDER YOU LIKE, BUT ARE MEANT TO HAPPEN AFTER WINNING THEIR FIRST, THIRD, FIFTH, SEVENTH, NINTH, AND ELEVENTH REGALIA) 
+ 
+(AFTER THE CONVERSATION, INVOKE/COMPEL THE "REGALIA HOLDER" ASPECT(S) ON THEIR CHARACTER SHEET(S), AND OFFER A FATE POINT IF THEY ACCEPT, BUT OFFER TO SKIP THE FIGHT NARRATIVELY IF THEY WANT TO SPEND A FATE POINT INSTEAD) 
+ 
+(ALL ENCOUNTER CHARACTERS ARE SET AT LV2 (BARRING CHILDREN), BUT IF THE PLAYERS ARE AT LV4, ADD +1 TO EVERY ROLL TO SIMULATE LV3 (BARRING CHILDREN)) 
+ 
+(IF THE PLAYER(S) LOSE, THE CHALLENGER(S) WILL TAKE THE REGALIA. IF THE REGALIA IS FROM THE DEMENSE THEY ARE FROM, THEY WILL RETURN IT TO THE DEMENSE MASTER, AND THE PLAYERS HAVE TO FIGHT THE DEMENSE MASTER AGAIN TO EARN IT BACK. OTHERWISE, THEY WILL NEED TO SEEK OUT THE PERSON THEY FOUGHT AND FIGHT THEM AGAIN.) 
+ 
+----- JEKHYRA 
+ 
+(NOTICE Roll) 
+You see someone yank a door off the hinges (of the *BUILDING THEY ARE GOING TO*), holding it in midair like it was no heavier than a balloon. And based on the look in her eyes, this is NOT the first time this has happened.
+ 
+*APPROACH* 
+Jekhyra turns to your group, and smiles wide. "Well look who it is, been meaning to meet up with you guys." She drops the door and extends her arm to fist bump. 
+ 
+- (IF THEY HAVE CLIFF BREAKER) 
+"Well first off, congrats on winning the Cliff Breaker, meant to tell you sooner but uh... wanted to make sure Tlaloc was okay, ya know?" 
+ 
+- (IF THEY DON'T) 
+"So word across the grapevine is you beat a demense master or two recently. AND got their Regalia. Congrats to you by the way." 
+ 
+- (EITHER WAY) 
+"See what I don't get is, you guys aren't really super strong or anything, or at least you don't look it. These things are 'supposedly' really hard to win, but here you all are carrying it around like you bought it at the convenience store." 
+ 
+She slams her left fist into the door lying on the ground, picking it up and carrying it in both hands like a large axe with no handle. "Whaddya say to a quick challenge match? One on one?" 
+ 
+30 HP | 0 MP | 1 MVMT 
++5 FIGHT 
++4 PHYSIQUE 
++3 SHOOT 
++2 ATHLETICS RAPPORT 
++1 EMPATHY PROVOKE WILL 
+ 
+(RESIST EARTH / WEAK WIND) 
+ 
+STUNT: BURLY BRAWLER 
+STUNT: SECOND SWING
+STUNT: HEAVY GUNNER 
+- Can carry one 3DMG SHOOT weapon in one hand 
+STUNT: UNNATURAL WEAPON (3DMG) 
+- Can make a 3DMG melee FIGHT attack without a weapon 
+STUNT: KNOCK KNOCK 
+- Can choose to strike with a door as a two-handed FIGHT weapon in two ways 
+(HORIZONTALLY does 3DMG on a HIT) 
+(FLAT does 2DMG + 1 zone knockback on a HIT, or just knockback on a MATCH) 
+ 

Story/06 - Challenges/-MORANA.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+(THESE ARE TO BE USED IN ANY ORDER YOU LIKE, BUT ARE MEANT TO HAPPEN AFTER WINNING THEIR FIRST, THIRD, FIFTH, SEVENTH, NINTH, AND ELEVENTH REGALIA) 
+ 
+(AFTER THE CONVERSATION, INVOKE/COMPEL THE "REGALIA HOLDER" ASPECT(S) ON THEIR CHARACTER SHEET(S), AND OFFER A FATE POINT IF THEY ACCEPT, BUT OFFER TO SKIP THE FIGHT NARRATIVELY IF THEY WANT TO SPEND A FATE POINT INSTEAD) 
+ 
+(ALL ENCOUNTER CHARACTERS ARE SET AT LV2 (BARRING CHILDREN), BUT IF THE PLAYERS ARE AT LV4, ADD +1 TO EVERY ROLL TO SIMULATE LV3 (BARRING CHILDREN)) 
+ 
+(IF THE PLAYER(S) LOSE, THE CHALLENGER(S) WILL TAKE THE REGALIA. IF THE REGALIA IS FROM THE DEMENSE THEY ARE FROM, THEY WILL RETURN IT TO THE DEMENSE MASTER, AND THE PLAYERS HAVE TO FIGHT THE DEMENSE MASTER AGAIN TO EARN IT BACK. OTHERWISE, THEY WILL NEED TO SEEK OUT THE PERSON THEY FOUGHT AND FIGHT THEM AGAIN.) 
+ 
+----- MORANA
+ 
+You all feel a chill run up your spine, and you see your breath for a moment as the room cools significantly. (Player) feels a sudden tap on their shoulder.
+
+Morana smirks and stands behind you, arms crossed. "You people are surprisingly hard to find."
+
+"I'm gonna be straight with you, I wish to challenge you for the Mocha Verglas. I can't bring myself to challenge Whittaker for it myself, but I have no such issues with challenging someone that won it off him..~"

Story/06 - Challenges/-VILLI.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+(THESE ARE TO BE USED IN ANY ORDER YOU LIKE, BUT ARE MEANT TO HAPPEN AFTER WINNING THEIR FIRST, THIRD, FIFTH, SEVENTH, NINTH, AND ELEVENTH REGALIA) 
+ 
+(AFTER THE CONVERSATION, INVOKE/COMPEL THE "REGALIA HOLDER" ASPECT(S) ON THEIR CHARACTER SHEET(S), AND OFFER A FATE POINT IF THEY ACCEPT, BUT OFFER TO SKIP THE FIGHT NARRATIVELY IF THEY WANT TO SPEND A FATE POINT INSTEAD) 
+ 
+(ALL ENCOUNTER CHARACTERS ARE SET AT LV2 (BARRING CHILDREN), BUT IF THE PLAYERS ARE AT LV4, ADD +1 TO EVERY ROLL TO SIMULATE LV3 (BARRING CHILDREN)) 
+ 
+(IF THE PLAYER(S) LOSE, THE CHALLENGER(S) WILL TAKE THE REGALIA. IF THE REGALIA IS FROM THE DEMENSE THEY ARE FROM, THEY WILL RETURN IT TO THE DEMENSE MASTER, AND THE PLAYERS HAVE TO FIGHT THE DEMENSE MASTER AGAIN TO EARN IT BACK. OTHERWISE, THEY WILL NEED TO SEEK OUT THE PERSON THEY FOUGHT AND FIGHT THEM AGAIN.) 
+ 
+----- VILLI 
+ 
+You suddenly get the feeling you're being watched.
+
+(NOTICE ROLL) 
+You spot a pair of eyes staring at you from high (on the side of a building / in the tp of a tree) watching your every move.
+
+
+(LET THEM FIGURE OUT A WAY TO BRING THEM DOWN)
+
+It's Villi, the horse rancher from the Grasslands Demense, and she looks bothered. "So... are the rumors true? Did you really win a regalia all on your own?"
+ 
+*CONFIRM* 
+"Show me." 
+ 
+*PRESENT REGALIA* 
+She takes a stunned step back. "That... shouldn't be possible... Noone has won one of those in ten years... tell me how you did it. No... better than that. I want you to show me." 
+ 
+She jumps back and suddenly flares nine fox tails, each one glowing lightly with a different color of magic, and pulls out a dagger, holding it underhanded. "I want to know what makes you so special." 
+ 
+HP 15 | MP 30 | MVMT 1 
++5 ACADEMICS 
++4 STEALTH 
++3 MANA 
++2 DECEIVE NOTICE 
++1 CRAFTS PHYSIQUE WILL
+ 
+(RRSIST WIND / WEAK EARTH) 
+ 
+(SPELLS) 
+LV5 EARTH 
+LV4 FIRE WATER 
+LV3 GOLD LIGHT DEATH 
+LV2 GOLD DARKNESS WIND EARTH 
+LV1 GOLD FIRE WATER LIFE SPACE 
+
+KNIVES x10 
+ 
+STUNT: ADVANCED AWARENESS 
+STUNT: SHADOW STRIKE 
+STUNT: ASSASSINATION
+STUNT: TRICKSTER FESTIVAL (DOUBLE CAST SPELLS) 
+STUNT: DEMON FOX'S ANNIHILATION 
+- ALL SPELLS TREATED AS GOLD + ANTIMAGIC 
+- ALL SPELLS DEAL 1DMG ON MISS/MATCH 
+- CANCELS ONE HIT OF EACH COLOR IN HER SPELL LIST

Story/06 - Challenges/Aodaghan.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+RED  
+  
+Upon returning to the RED demense, you see the broken storefronts are rebuilt, the destroyed crops were replanted & replaced, and all the injured people seem to be okay now. There IS still a circular scorchmark in the middle of the road though.  
+  
+*DEPENDING ON WHO THEY SPOKE TO*  
+- Garsen the boar sees you in the distance, rotating a pig on a spit. He hands it off to someone else, and approaches your group, arms crossed. "Well if it ain't the Kings of Kings." 
+- Culver the yellowjacket does a doubletake when he sees you, puts down his hedge clippers, hops over the fence line, and walks up beside Garsen, staring at your group in awe. "I hoped you'd come back someday!"  
+- Lana the Asp waves off a nearby group of people and notices you, her smile replacing itself with a look of pure shock. She steps out from behind her shop display, cautiously approaching your group. "I am... SO shocked you're still alive after last time..."  
+- Kyong the bearded dragon steps up to you, ukulele in hand. "Good to see ya! Care to join us for some good food and good tunes?" He starts laughing and strumming random notes. 
+  
+*ASK FOR AODAGHAN*  
+Everyone's faces drop in shock, they look at each other, and simultaneously point at the Volcano. Garsen gives you a warning. "Aodaghan has today off, so be careful. He won't have his work to distract his anger."  
+  
+*VOLCANO*
+(NOTICE Roll)
+When you reach the entryway, you hear someone whistling, a tune you can't quite place but you could swear sounds very familiar. 
+
+(HIGHEST ROLLER(S))
+You recognize it as TWISTED NERVE by Bernard Herrmann, the whistling song from Kill Bill
+
+*IF THEY ENTER*
+The pathway inside is unchanged, but that whistling gets louder as you walk in, echoing off the walls slightly.
+
+The mining & smithing area looks empty, aside from the anvils and pickaxes scattered around the smoky magma pit. The pit is still pushing the pillar of smoke up into the air, but the whistling seems to be coming from behind the smoke.
+
+Inside the smoke, you finally spot the source of the whistling, Aodaghan. He is casually lounging in the magma pool up to his chest like it's a hot tub, staring at the ceiling and letting his arms rest around the lip of the pool.
+  
+His head bows down slowly, until he finally looks you all in the eye, his green eyes no longer carrying that heat or red glow. "Well look who it is. Excuse me if I don' stand an' shake ya hands, I'm free ballin' in 'ere."  
+  
+*CHALLENGE*  
+His eyes suddenly turn sharp, and he sits upright in the magma, the molten rock clinging to his feathers for a moment before slowly dripping off like water. "You saw what happened to that pack o' Maruder fucks, an' dat was me havin' fun. You sure you're ready fer me at my best?"  
+  
+*IF THEY CONFIRM*  
+He stands up in the pool, the lava stopping just below his waist. "Yer funeral. Follow me." 
+
+He steps out of the pool, the lava trailing down his body like slow water and leaving scorching wet footprints behind him.  
+ 
+(If anyone asks, his naked ass is covered by his wings and tail feathers) 
+ 
+He steps over to a nearby wall and yanks a chunk it to the side, opening a very physically rough stone door with a grating grinding noise. An even deeper heat wave surges through the room, but Aodaghan jumps right into it with no hesitation.
+
+Behind the door is a series of bedrock stairs, and they spiral DOWN deeper into the volcano. You can't immediately see the bottom, but you CAN see trails of lava slowly falling down guided pathways by these stairs, illuminating the path down.
+ 
+*DOWNSTAIRS*
+Halfway down, yo finally see a large stone circle waiting in the middle of an even larger lava moat, and a fully dressed Aodaghan standing in the center, his hands resting on a massive sword handle.
+
+He now wears a dark red longcoat with three chains holding the front together over a black sleeveless shirt and matching loose black pants held up by a red rope belt, but still no shoes. His hands are resting on the very end of the handle one over the other, and his gaze has regained its red glow & heat, even in this hellish underground arena.
+ 
+"Took you fucks long enough." He grabs the massive sword by its handle with one hand, picking it up like it's weightless, and aims the blade at your group. "Time to do this right. Aodaghan Panthrandu versus a bunch of gagglefucks with a death wish."
+
+"I CHALLENGE THEE."
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+AFTER THE FIGHT  
+  
+*IF THEY LOSE*  
+He stands before your group shakily, his sword jammed into the ground to help him stay upright. He spits a glob of blood to the side, which catches fire when it makes contact with the ground. "Well fuck me runnin', you little shits ain't half bad."  
+  
+He grabs his shoulder, jerks it upright with a pained grunt, and cracks it back into place. "Come back when you got a little more to offer."
+
+He extends his wings and attempts to fly off, wincing at the first few flaps, but eventually jumps into the air and out the doorway.
+  
+*IF THEY WIN*  
+He grumbles as he lies facedown on the ground, before slowly picking himself up wobbily, using the sword as a support. "Shit... been a while since I lost a fight.." 
+ 
+He jams his sword into the ground a good few inches, then uses it to stand up and right himself. "Well... ya won fair an' square. Here's my Regalia, the Flint Flamberge. It's yer prize fer beatin' me, Kings o' Kings." 
+ 
+He shakily lets go of the sword, then slowly walks his way over to your group, and grabs (player that did the most DMG) by your shirt. He lifts you up to his eye level, the red glow and heat in his eyes now gone, and pulls you in close. "DONT. YOU. DARE. LOSE. MY. SWORD." 
+ 
+He releases you, stumbling backwards toward the stairs, and grabs the nearby wall to steady himself. You see him slowly climb them one at a time, but ater ten steps up, he collapses on the stairs, out cold.

Story/06 - Challenges/Arledge-or-Akarui.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+THERE IS NO REASON TO RETURN TO THE VIOLET DEMENSE, SO INSTEAD THIS WILL BE WHEN THEY CHALLENGE AKARUI FOR THE PURPLE REGALIA  
+
+When you enter the city hall building, you see Nash running around like  chicken with its head cut off, carrying stacks of papers and folders almost as tall as he is in multiple directions.
+
+*GET HIS ATTENTION*
+"Kings of Kings?! What're you-- I don't have you in the schedule!" He suddenly loses his balance and flops over, his two foot stack of folders flopping across his desk.
+
+He wobbles a bit as he stands up, shaking his head rapidly. "Sorry, we're kinda buried under mountains of paperwork, budget issues and all that... so uh, how can I help you?"
+
+*SEE THE KING*
+Nash inhales through his teeth. "That... might be an issue... is it urgent?"
+
+*ANYTHING OTHER THAN NO*
+He sighs and flops into his seat, hitting the intercom button. "Sir, I know we're not supposed to bother you, but uh... the Kings of Kings are here, and they say it's urgent."
+
+You hear the garbled voice reply SEND THEM IN, I'LL MAKE IT WORK, and Nash grabs his clipboard. "Best to not keep him waiting."
+  
+*KING'S OFFICE*
+You find Akarui furiously scribbling across a series of papers, signing off on each one of them with perfect calligraphy. He drops the pen after a solid minute, and you could almost swear you see steam rolling off the tip. He sighs and flops back in his chair, gripping his writing hand by the wrist and flexing his digits.  
+  
+"My apologies, Kings of Kings, I am quite literally buried under paperwork. New project budgeting, noise complaints, property damage repair orders, I have alot to do. I'll have to be rude and ask you to make this brief. What can I do for you today?"  
+  
+*MENTION REGALIA*  
+His eyes will suddenly widen, and he reaches for his intercom button. "Nash? Please hold all my calls, paperwork, and meetings until further notice. This just became a top priority meeting."  
+  
+He shuts off the intercom, leaning forward in his seat. "So... I'm guessing you talked to Arledge before you came here."
+
+-----
+
+*ASK FOR EXPLANATION*
+He opens his desk drawer, pulling out a six inch violet ankh-shaped pendant with a golden sleeping bunny surrounded by darker purple flowers attached to a necklace string. "When my team and I arrived ten years ago, the prior Ruler told us about the island's rules IMMEDIATELY. We were... very enthusiastic about getting everyone out of this death trap, in our minds."
+  
+He hangs the pendant around his neck, and when he looks at your group again, his eyes have a faint violet glow. And, wherever his gaze goes, your body feels slightly more reinvigorated. "We didn't go in blind, we did a tremendous amount of research between shifts on the Thunder Force. Based on what we read, Arledge seemed to have the least combat experience, so we started with him."
+  
+He walks around his desk, eyes on his writing hand while he flexes his fingers, causing them to pop softly at the joints. "We were right, and wrong, at the same time. He was a pacifist by nature, but he was still a MONSTER. Our fight went for a full hour, four against one, and we still barely won."
+
+He hops on top of the desk and has a seat on the edge, picking up his pen and twirling it in his fingers with perfect fluidity. "When he handed me the Regalia, he said he was happy he was the first I fought, because the rest will be far worse. And he was right. Every Master we fought after that one, we lost. These Masters are NIGHTMARES."
+ 
+He grips the pen tightly in his hand, crushing it into tiny pieces, except for the ink cartridge, which is perfectly intact. "The closest one we came to beating was Conroy, and we ended up fighting each other more than him. We blame ourselves for being headstrong and stupid, but I'm not joking when I say that was only one percent of our loss."
+ 
+He places the destroyed pen pieces on the desk, his eyes turning downward. "A few months later, the incident with the drill occurred, and it made me really sit down and reevaluate what we were doing. The others were content with being Thunder Force, but I realized others would come along and do the same as us. And based on what I learned, we were extremely lucky to walk away as intact as we did." 
+  
+The look in his eye changes to ferocity and he holds up three fingers. "I made the decision that day to protect the people in three ways. One, to lead them in developing this land into the most prosperous and comfortable city I could possibly manage, until we could find a safer way out."
+
+"Two, I would deter the people from going after the 'hokey magic ritual' challenges against the Masters, and hope my words are enough to change their minds."
+
+"And three, if they DID defy my warning, I would train every single day to improve myself and become a proper protector of the Regalia, so I may protect it AND those that challenge me for it at the same time. That is how I show compassion, in Arledge's name."
+
+-----
+
+*CHALLENGE*
+He sighs deeply and lowers his head. "Even after everything I told you and everything you've been through, you still want to risk it all..."
+
+He raises his head a moment later, his eyes full of conviction. "So be it. Kings of Kings, I accept your challenge for this Regalia."
+  
+He thinks for a moment. "As a matter of fact... would you be opposed to making this a public spectacle? Everyone has been feeling the stress of the Marauder threat, but seeing a fight from their ruler AND the most courageous group of heroes this town has seen in YEARS might be the perfect morale booster."
+
+*IF YES*
+"Perfect. Meet me in the Sports Zone (later today / tomorrow morning), at the Combat Arena. I need to gather my supplies and prepare for what I can only assume to be war."   
+  
+-----  
+  
+The Sports Zone is a unique environment in Diadem, more than half of it occupied by stadiums for every major sport you can imagine, as well as storage facilities for each. But what YOU are looking for is the Combat Arena, located farther back.
+
+There are roughly a dozen combat areas around, each one represented by a giant square of stone more than 50 feet across. Out of all of them, one is occupied by a guy sweeping the stone slab clean, and one other is occupied by Akarui.
+  
+And he is dressed for WAR, now wearing high quality (if not a bit old fashioned) military garb. All black, just as a scout is supposed to wear. The second he sees you, he tugs down his black gloves and straps them on tightly.  
+  
+"Kings of Kings! I hope you brought your A Game today, because I know I brought mine!" Just as he says this, at least a hundred people suddenly start pouring in from all corners, surrounding the arena and cheering for their amazing King Akarui. They are all carrying purple and gold banners, signs, and cardboard cutout faces on sticks being swung around. And their numbers grow by the moment.
+  
+Akarui seems surprised. "This is... a bit more than I was expecting, but..." 
+ 
+He turns to the audience and switches to a more 'entertainer' style of speaking. "The bigger audience we have, the more people get to see the most spectacular show in Diadem's history, AM I RIGHT?!" 
+ 
+Everyone responds with an ABSURD amount of cheering. Nash pushes his way through the audience and hops onto the arena, carrying a microphone with a small orb of glowing green magic inside. As he speaks, the green magic warbles and glows brighter, his voice broadcasting like a microphone. 
+
+"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! Today is a once in a lifetime kind of show! For the first time in years, we have the honor and privilege of watching a Challenge between several of THE most influencial people in all of Diadem!"
+
+"To the left we have the Challengers, the all-new immigrant rookies turned heroes, the Kings of Kings!"
+(GIVE EACH OF THEM AN EMBELLISHING TITLE AND DESCRIPTION)
+
+There is actually a small group of people chanting and cheering for YOU. You see several of the people you've met in the various Demense you've visited, as well as a small group of children, all holding up signs with crowns and painted caricatures of your faces. 
+
+"And to the right we have our ten year running unopposed leader, the violet bird of paradise himself, and the former scout warrior of the Chamberlins, you know him, you love him, he signs my paychecks, KING AKARUI!!!"
+
+Akarui laughs proudly at the glamorous introduction, but gives Nash one of those "you're gonna pay for that" looks, which he just shrugs off. "And ladies and gentlemen, this isn't just ANY challenge either, this is a true to life bonafide challenge for the Regalia of the Violet Demense, the legendary Chrys Cross!"
+
+Everyone seems stunned by that comment, and it seems they had no clue Akarui had this Regalia in his possession. "Now that the stage AND the stakes are set, it's time to begin! Are both sides ready?!"
+
+*IF YES*
+Akarui reaches up and grabs his Regalia, raising his other arm to point at your group, causing Nash to literally dive out of the arena in a hurry. Akarui proudly declares "On behalf of Arledge Tannifila, I CHALLENGE THEE!"  
+  
+The magical golden circle will appear from his feet (as well as anyone else's if they hold an earned Regalia), circling the group and glowing a bright gold. "The challenge is a fight, your entire group against me! If I take all of you down, I Win! And if you cause me to kneel, you win!"  
+  
+The circle solidifies with a violet flash before turning a solid gold, signifying the stage is set. Akarui will bend down a bit, left leg forward and arm-wings expanded, taking a swift style battle stance. "May the best Regalia Hunters win!"  
+  
+AFTER THE FIGHT  
+  
+Akarui will (stand / kneel) before your group, panting heavily, wiping the blood from his beak. "Well... I guess that means I (win / lose)." 
+ 
+The magic circle will dissipate, and the entire audience cheers for their victor. And without a moment's hesitation, they rush in to congratulate the victor.
+
+Before anyone can reach them, the Thunder Force appear and force everyone back to a safe distance. Jensen with her rifle, Valeos with his twin tonfa, and Harken cracking his knucles will all be at the forefront, backs facing your group as they keep the crowd at bay. 
+ 
+Akarui will stare at them all in confusion. "Thunder Force? I don't recall asking for any protection."  
+  
+All three will turn their heads to him with a smile, and Harken will respond, "Actually your highness, we are not here for you this time."  
+  
+From behind your group, someone will step in from seemingly nowhere and place their hands on two of your group's shoulders, casting a healing spell large enough to get everyone in the arena back on their feet in moments.
+  
+Akarui is a bit stunned. "Arledge?! What are you doing here?!"  
+  
+Arledge just grins a bit. "Now come on, ya'll know th' gossip in this town spreads like wildfire, and I ain't about to miss a fight over my own Regalia! Specially when a certain someone did such a good job keepin' it safe fer me all this time!"  
+  
+-----  
+  
+*IF THE PLAYERS LOST*  
+King Akarui walks over to your group, and extends a hand. "All of you fought valiantly and bravely, and you gave that fight everything you had to offer. I thank you, not for just showing us what you can do, but for reminding me of the kind of person I was before I was a king. I haven't had this much fun in YEARS!"  
+  
+Akarui laughs a little, sighing before wiping a tear from his eye. "We will definitely have to do this again sometime, especially if you plan to collect all twelve. But for now... I have alot of paperwork to get back to."  
+ 
+----- 
+  
+*IF THE PLAYERS WON*  
+King Akarui walks over to your group, and slowly removes the Regalia from around his neck, handing it to you. "I have safeguarded this treasure, what I consider to be one of the most important relics I have ever owned, for ten years years."  
+  
+"And now, I proudly present it to you Kings of Kings to continue safeguarding in my place."  
+ 
+He turns away, eyes to the sky. "Now as much as it begrudge me to acknowledge it... I do have my duties to return to."  
+  
+Arledge will suddenly step in front of him, placing a hand on top of his head. "Now hang on, I know fer a fact yer prob'ly STARVIN' after all that fun! What say you an' yers come back to my place fer some food, eh?"  
+  
+Akarui sighs a little in defeat. "Do I get a choice in the matter?"  
+  
+Arledge grins cheekily. "Nope!"  
+  
+Akarui rolls his eyes. "Then it's a date!"  
+  
+Both of them burst out laughing as they walk off, leaving the audience to disperse themselves at the "suggestion" of the Thunder Force.  
+  
+Arledge will turn to your group AND the three Thunder Force commanders. "Ya'll're welcome too. Not ev'ryday the Kings o' Kings an' th' Chamberlins're all together!"  
+  
+*IF THEY ACCEPT*  
+Your group receives a literal police escort by all three Thunder Force commanders, all the way to the Violet demense.  
+  
+Inside, you see that Montana's little ranch near the gate entrance is filled with picnic tables, as well as a couple grills (one of which HE is operating), and your noses are IMMEDIATELY bombarded with the fresh scent of grilled meat and veggies.
+
+(ANY FOOD YOU WOULD FIND AT A BARBECUE OF ANY GRADE IS AVAILABLE TO EAT)
+  

Story/06 - Challenges/Cassius.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,182 @@
+Upon returning to the BLACK demense, you see there has been a significant change. The trees have regained their color and foliage since the last time you were here. You can now see it in its full splendor as a lush green nighttime forest, sounds and all. And, the area is literally crawling with animals and insects.  
+  
+You ALSO see a FAR more clear cut path through this dense forest, where it appears several dozen trees have been cut down and removed, in the exact same direction of where your encounter with Cassius occurred.  
+  
+*BEHIND THEM*  
+The lumberyard has also changed, as you see the pallots of rotten wood are now gone, many of them replaced with brand new wood. 
+
+-----
+ 
+*LUMBERYARD* 
+The uniforms inside are clean, the tools are all recharged, and there are some paper punch cards lying on a rack on the wall saying people have come in and out almost every day since your encounter.
+
+You DO spot some old claw marks in the walls of the building, large and deep in the concrete and metal. But other than that, everything else seems to be in order.
+
+-----
+  
+*TOWARD CASSIUS' HOME*  
+For the most part, the creatures around you (that you know are watching you) seem to leave you alone as you travel down the "beaten path." You will see an occasional bat or snake cross your path going from one part of the forest to the other, but they overall pay you no mind.  
+  
+It takes significantly less time this time to make it to the clearing, where you now see a brand new 2-story cabin, complete with a full front porch, open wood windowsills, and lit candles illuminating the living room.  
+
+The back side of the house directly connects to a thickly interlaced wall of trees, acting like a natural fence. 
+
+(INVESTIGATE ROLL)
+The inside looks surprisingly normal, almost unsettlingly so. Everything is made of wood, including the floors, and everything looks master level handcrafted. 
+  
+*CHECK THE DOOR*  
+The door doesn't have an actual lock, and is easy to push open. But inside the door is pitch black nothingness, a complete contrast from the view in the window.  
+  
+*ONCE THEY GO INSIDE*  
+The door slowly closes behind you all with a soft clatter, and everything around you is pure darkness.
+ 
+You see a small flickering light in the distance, the tiniest of flames, and it is approaching slowly.  
+  
+It is a flame of a candle on a handheld candle stand, being held by Striker. And he is wearing a blue and white vertical striped night shirt with a matching nightcap. You can also smell the strong aroma of coffee coming from a cup you just noticed was in his other hand. 
+ 
+"Oh, if it isn't the Kings of Kings, gracing my Master's brand new home in the dead of night, completely uninvited and unannounced... you missed the housewarming party~"  
+  
+*DM/REGALIA/CHALLENGE*  
+"Oh, then your time couldn't be better~ He awoke when the sun went down, and is out back working on... something or other."
+
+He steps past your group, revealing a single wooden door behind him in the distance of the seemingly infinite darkness. "A bit of free advice, tread VERY carefully from here. My master's home is not so kind to tresspassers..~" 
+ 
+His candle suddenly goes out, and you are left in the darkness, your only company the door that you can SOMEHOW still see.  
+  
+*OPEN THE DOOR*  
+You find yourselves surrounded by forest once again, but this time feels a bit different. The trees are much closer together out here, some of them mere inches apart, seeming to form walls. And in this manner, you can sort of see there is a pathway leading through the trees, revealing itself to be a tree labyrinth.
+
+*IF THEY LEAVE THROUGH THAT DOOR*
+You find yourself back out at the front side of the house, and the door shuts behind you. Now, you physically cannot pull it open at all.
+
+*FOLLOW THE PATH* (WILL ROLL)
+As you walk through the path, you notice several sets of beady little red eyes following you, and they all seem to be glowing. You see a thick gathering of these eyes inside the wall of what appears to be a dead end, and (lowest roller) is feeling a little... off.
+
+(THIS IS A COMPEL EACH PLAYER WILL DO)
+*THE PLAYER WILL SEE AND HEAR THINGS*
+*THEIR TROUBLE WILL MANIFEST AROUND THEM* 
+*THEY MUST NOW CONFRONT THEIR TROUBLE DIRECTLY*
+*WHOLE TEAM FIGHTS IT TOGETHER IF POSSIBLE* 
+*REPEAT FROM LOWEST TO HIGHEST ROLL*
+  
+*AFTER CONQUERING*  
+You turn the corner, and you find a large wooden door surrounded by trees, the first sign of any kind of change you have seen since you started. AND, it resembles the wooden door you walked through when this journey started.  
+ 
+*IF THEY APPROACH* 
+(NOTICE Roll) You hear loud and squishy footfalls in the distance behind you.
+  
+Around the edges of the trees, you see a slowly creeping forward puddle of inky blackness. It moves like tar, slowly coating everything in its touch, and you see the familiar sight of the trees losing their color as it approaches. 
+ 
+*PUSHING ONE AT A TIME* 
+The door is straining but will not budge.
+
+You spot a large black limb round the corner, stepping into the ooze it itself is coated in. And you see what resembles a head, but it has no face.
+
+It is exactly what it looks like.
+  
+*ALL PUSH ON THE DOOR TOGETHER*  
+The door suddenly pops open, and your group falls into a field of grass, the door slamming behind you all right in front of the creature. 
+ 
+*BEHIND THEM* 
+You watch the wooden door bow out form a sudden slam, clearly the creature running into it. You also recognize the general pattern of the house attached to it as Cassius' cabin, closed off by a tight wall of trees, which means you finally made it into his backyard. 
+ 
+*ALL AROUND* 
+The yard itself is well maintained. The grass is lush but cut low, the trees in the yard are formed up in such a way that resembles a natural fence, and the tops of the trees have a clear and open pathway to the nighttime sky. 
+ 
+You also spot a large campfire in the center of the yard, its smoky trail leading straight up and out of the opening at the top of the trees. And there is plenty of open space to sit around it.
+
+You hear soft repetitive scraping noises from the opposite side of the fire, a person sitting behind its open flame just out of view. 
+ 
+You find Cassius sitting behind it, a large chunk of wood leaning against him and a draw knife in hand, scraping away at the wood & letting the scraps fall into the flame. There is also a pile of pre-carved wood pieces a few yards behind him. 
+ 
+He looks a bit different this time, no longer looking emaciated but still overall on the lithe and lanky side. He now wears a Gothic style shirt with an open V in the front & bell sleeves just past the elbow, the left half black and the right half white. The black half blends in perfectly with the matching black pants and shoes, his fur offsetting the fabric with a moonlit sheen. 
+ 
+*IF THEY APPROACH / CALL OUT* 
+He pauses to look up at your group, his gaze empty and uncaring. He then resumes carving away at the wood, but he at least acknowledges you. "I see you found my new home."
+
+-----
+
+*WHAT WAS THAT LABYRINTH*
+"You have your home defense, I have mine."
+
+*WHAT WAS THAT CREATURE*
+"You would call it a... guard dog."
+
+*WHY ARE YOU CARVING WOOD*
+"It... used to fill the void."
+
+-----
+
+From within the light of the flame, you see Cassius' shadow extend and pull itself off the ground, wrapping itself around the piece of wood leaning against him before lifting it into the air.
+
+It reaches out to grab each piece of wood in the pile as well, lifting them into the air, pulling them all together in an organized fashion.
+ 
+Cassius stands and steps away from the flame for a moment, as his shadow lowers a brand new masterfully crafted wooden throne behind him, the backrest and seat made from handcrafted wicker. 
+ 
+He sits in it and lies back, immediately propping his head on one fist while its elbow rests on the chair arm. "State your business." 
+  
+*REGALIA* 
+ 
+He leans forward in his throne. "You dare to tresspass on the property of Cassius Summus, disturb my work, and take away the modicum of peace I only JUST reclaimed... to challenge me for my Regalia." 
+ 
+He stands as his shadow stretches out from behind him again, envelops his new throne, and pulls it straight down into the ground, through a large black shadow portal. He pulls his black dagger out, holding it underhanded, taking a loose combat stance. "Consider your impending loss... MY compensation." 
+ 
+----- 
+  
+AFTER THE FIGHT  
+ 
+*IF THEY LOSE*  
+He stands before you, both arms hanging in front of himself loosely, his hand barely holding his blade. "You are... stronger than you appear."  
+  
+His body cracks and crunches in a terrifying manner, his limbs and joints jamming themselves back into place, until he resumes a normal stance. "I intended to end you all tonight... but... I have been convinced to show mercy."  
+  
+He walks past your group, heading toward his home. "You may see yourselves in OR out of my home safely... for now."  
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*IF THEY WIN*  
+Cassius suddenly kneels, dropping his weapon at his feet, doubled over in pain. "This... is unexpected..."  
+  
+His eyes will suddenly glow bright red, staring you all down. "I intended to remove each of your heads upon your defeat."  
+  
+He closes his eyes, opening them to reveal their normal yellow hue. "But... you have bested me. I am honor and duty bound to follow the rules I have been tasked with."  
+ 
+His body will begin to crack and crunch in a terrifying way, his shoulders popping into place and his joints crunching loudly, until he resumes a normal stance, although his outfit is now in shreds. He picks up his weapon and pitches it directly at your group, causing it to land between (PLAYER)'s feet. 
+ 
+"The price to keep this Dusk Kris safe form the Crooked King was a year of endless pain and solitude. Do not waste either mine or Striker's efforts." 
+ 
+He walks past your group, opening the door of his home. "You may exit the way you came. Safely. For now." He walks through the door and lets it shut behind himself quietly.
+ 
+----- 
+  
+*EITHER WAY*  
+*IF THEY USE THE BACK DOOR*  
+This time, you actually see the inside of a relatively normal log cabin. All the furniture inside is there, there are candles every so often to light the way, and there is a fairly clear path leading to the door. 
+ 
+As you walk through the living room, you spot the throne-like chair Cassius made sitting in the living room. You also spot a massive spider web hanging from the ceiling, and Striker lying within it, smiling wide to a creepy degree. 
+
+His web is horribly off pattern, his mug is lying on the floor bone dry, and his breath reeks of coffee. "Oh ho ho, you made it out alive, that's so greeeaaat~"
+
+He hiccups, shaking his head quickly to clear his thoughts. "I thought for sure Master Cassius wouldn't let you walk out of here alive, or at least would throw you to his guard dog~" 
+ 
+*WHAT WAS THAT* 
+Striker will awkwardly turn so he is hanging from the web, slurring his words a little. "Mm.. when you entered Master Cassius' home, you were confronted by the manifestations of your own nightmares and insecurities, were you not?" 
+ 
+*IF YES* 
+"That is exactly what it was. A manifestation of a nightmare, tamed and turned into a guard dog~" 
+ 
+*CASSIUS' NIGHTMARE* 
+Striker suddenly bursts out into laughter, rolling around in his web for a moment before it breaks and he flops into the couch with a heavy THUD. "OEUF... that's one way to sober up..." 
+ 
+He sits upright and looks up to your group, sighing softly. "Master Cassius has no nightmares to speak of. He is incapable of experiencing fear. Or sadness, or joy, or... anything at all. His body, mind, and soul are as barren and empty as the dark magic he commands." 
+ 
+*WHO'S NIGHTMARE* 
+"Is it not so obvious?" 
+ 
+*STRIKER'S NIGHTMARE* 
+"I am the closest thing Master Cassius has to a friend. As such, I feel it is my responsibility as a piece of him to... experience such things for him. And he made use of my one and only nightmare as his guard dog. Which means he still has use for me, in some small manner." 
+ 
+*THAT IS HORRIBLE* 
+"You wouldn't understand. I am not a being like him or you, I am a magical construct given consciousness that has outlived his purpose. He could end my existence and reclaim what has been given to me with a thought, and yet he hasn't... curious, is it not?" 
+ 
+"So long as I have the privilege of existing, I intend to live it fruitfully on my own terms. Spinning my physical & verbal webs, earning coin for my own selfish desires, and enjoying my Master's company, whether he likes it or not."

Story/06 - Challenges/Conroy.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,277 @@
+Upon returning to the Orange demense, you see everything is more or less the same, still the infinite expanse of sand and the three pyramids around you. Except this time, you remembered the stumble you had the first time, and actively avoided doing it the second time.
+  
+*INSIDE MAIN PYRAMID*  
+You see Conroy pushing a cart around the corner of one shelf, putting books away. He will see you and immediately pause, smiling wide. "Welcome back, friends! What can I do for you today?"  
+  
+As you all talk, he will casually continue to wheel the cart down the aisle, putting books on the shelves and cleaning messes he finds the whole way.
+  
+*ASK ABOUT DM*   
+"Demense Master? Is that the title now? Bit pretentious if you ask me."  
+  
+*ASK IF HE IS DM*   
+"You caught me! Not that I was hiding it or anything. But yes, I am the Master of this Demense. Though I just prefer being called the Librarian."  
+  
+*WHY DIDNT HE TELL THEM*   
+"Well I can't answer a question you never ask! That'd be like knowing a story before you read the book!"  
+  
+-----  
+  
+*WHY DIDNT YOU DO MORE TO HELP*   
+He suddenly shoves the book cart down the seemingly infinite aisle until it is no longer in view. "Well THAT is a bit more complicated... I kind of... Couldn't. It'd be easier if I simply showed you."  
+  
+He has you follow him into the front of the library, goes behind the counter, and opens a secret floor panel, leading down to a staircase that you can only see a few feet of before it fades into the darkness. "Onward and downward, as it were?"  
+  
+The pathway down feels like it goes on forever, and you can barely see your own hand in front of your face after a minute.
+
+You eventually reach the bottom, and you barely see a rack with several unlit wooden torch sticks on the wall.  
+  
+(NOTICE ROLL)
+(Read these off based lowest to highest)
+You also spot hanging on that rack:
+- A brown fedora  
+- A blue & white baseball cap  
+- A brown leather whip  
+  
+Conroy grabs a torch, lights it with a match from his coat pocket, and the hallway before you is lit well enough that there is just more stone walls and floor, but there IS one path straight ahead, maybe about 50 feet deep and ending in a separate room.
+ 
+You pass by two open doorways as you go, one on the left and one on the right, but he is heading straight through to the end of the hallway. 
+ 
+(If they look) 
+The left room is a bedroom, simply decorated with black and gold bedframe, dresser, chest of drawers, and closet filled with multiple copies of the same white coat Conroy is wearing. And, the bed is perfectly made. 
+ 
+The right room is a fully functional kitchen, complete with golden trimmed countertop, table, chairs, and a fridge with wiring running through the walls. 
+(If they ask, there are solar panels along the higher part of the pyramid that power everything) 
+ 
+The hallway ends at an internal chamber with a completely separate set of bookshelves made of stone lined with old cloth. The walls are the same stone, but look virtually untouched. 
+  
+The books themselves however are absolutely destroyed. Covered in cuts and scorch marks, most of them physically unable to be useful just at a glance. You DO see the book he brought to you the first time he asked sitting by its lonesome.  
+  
+"Now you see what I mean... someone destroyed almost everything about Diadem's history, and that one book was all I had left, damaged as it was."  
+  
+*CAN THEY REPAIR IT*  
+Conroy shakes his head a bit. "I'm afraid you can't, nor can I. Everything here is based on contribution, we would need someone with intimate knowledge of Diadem's history to contribute again. And most of those people are gone."  
+  
+*WHY NOT HIM*  
+"The type of chronomancy that ritual performs doesn't work on Demense Masters. I've tried. It needs to be a mortal."  
+  
+(CONTACTS ROLL) You suddenly recall SOMEONE in the ice demense that was well versed in Diadem history, someone who moonlit as a teacher. *MORANA.*  
+  
+-----  
+  
+IF MORANA IS WITH  
+  
+After stepping through the ORANGE gate once again, Morana smiles and takes off her shoes, letting her bare feet sink into the sand for a moment, eyes closing slowly. "Mm.. feels like heaven.." 
+ 
+She looks down at Whitaker with a playful smile. "Sorry, but a girl can only handle cold toes for so long~"  
+  
+*INSIDE*  
+She walks into the library with your group, and smiles in amazement. "It's been a long time since I came here.. I wonder if that old sabertooth pain in the butt still remembers me?" 
+ 
+Morana laughs a bit to herself, before a pair of striped orange hands suddenly slide over her eyes. "Guess whooo?~"   
+  
+She gasps playfully. "Conroy you absolute ass!~"  
+  
+He laughs and gives her a big bear hug, the two nuzzling cheeks like you'd expect cats to.
+
+After a few moments, Conroy spots Whitaker standing nervously by his lonesome. He offers him a warm smile, lets Morana go, waks over, and kneels before Whittaker. "Hello.. old friend. You're looking better."  
+  
+Whitaker just stands there, staring at him with wide eyes, arms crossed against his chest defensively. Conroy waits patiently before extending his arms wide, and continuing, "Got one for you right here.."  
+  
+Whitaker immediately runs into his arms and hugs him tightly, burying his face into Conroy's shoulder, sniffling softly. Conroy holds him tight and runs a hand through Whitaker's hair slowly. You see faint glows of orange form in Whittaker's hair, small particles of sand falling onto the floor.
+
+You see a single tear streak down Conroy's cheek. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... you didn't deserve ANY of that..."  
+
+-----
+
+*IF THEY TOUCH THE SAND*
+When your finger touches a grain of sand, you see what looks like a video reel of someone else's point of view within your own eye. It looks perfectly normal at first, you're in a snowy field collecting random berries and pinecones.
+
+But at some point, you are surrounded by angry... THINGS, all yelling at you and carrying torches & pitchforks. And you almost swear you feel every time they use them on you. Every deep cut, every broken bone, every burn seared into your skin, and you hear yourself scream... and scream...
+
+You see similar scenes with every grain of sand you touch. Sometimes it's a smaller group, other times it's a town-sized mob. Sometimes it's just fists and feet, sometimes it's swords and guns and spells. With every grain you touch, you hear a voice get louder and louder in your mind, of a very scared young man asking WHY...
+
+*WHY DOES EVERYONE ATTACK WHITTAKER*
+Conroy sighs a little. "It's not just him... We've all dealt with the same thing. People see us and think us monsters, demons, evil, you name it. For reasons that are obvious, and some that are not. Took a lot of time and effort to get people to stop."
+
+"Whittaker is... special in that regard. People either love him or hate him, there is no middle ground. The children love him, Morana adores him, and... well... I'm sure you yourselves felt it as well."
+
+Conroy ruffles Whittaker's hair a little bit, causing him to sputter and shake his head. "The worst part is this timid little man is incredibly powerful, he can do things with ice you can only dream of, but... he doesn't want to frighten the children, and they take advantage of that hesitance. Remember that if you ever decide to challenge him."
+
+-----
+
+Conroy stands up, holding Whitaker's hand in one of his own and taking Morana's in the other. "I thank you both for stopping by, this'll be exciting for everyone involved, I'm sure~"
+
+He guides you all back to the laboratory pyramid, humming an excited tune the whole way. Once inside, he leads you all to the chamber he asked you to enter before, and steps in front of the stone panel. "Alright, just step onto the platform for me and--"  
+  
+Morana releases his hand, stepping onto the platform before he can finish. "I remember from last time, just close my eyes and wait."
+
+He smiles and nods, taking the hand holding Whitaker's and placing both on the panel. The orange sand from before glows with magical life, swirls around her for a few moments, (a sight YOU never saw from the outside) and shoots off into the library at an incredible speed.  
+ 
+Conroy waits for Morana to step out and hands her Whittaker's hand, then disappears in a puff of sand, running back toward the library. You can hear his ecstatic squee from whre you are.
+
+He comes running back in with a book titled 'The Diadem's Chronology.' "A brand new mint condition reprint! And you're the first to see it! I'm so excited!"
+
+He walks to a nearby table, pushes everything off it, and places the book on it with a heavy THUD, then backs away, reclaiming Whitaker's hand.
+
+*IF THEY OPEN IT*
+The pages inside this freshly created book are completely barren of any text. Conroy snickers a bit. "Juuust give it a second~"
+
+*IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO*
+Morana smiles and steps forth, opening the heavy book with a bit of effort. "Alright, let's see what we... have... uh... these pages are blank..?"
+
+*EITHER WAY*
+You see the pages flutter a bit as a single grain of orange sand begins rapidly tracing out letters on the page, the "ink" starting a glowing orange before settling into black. Once the book stops writing itself, it turns to the first page or the reader.
+
+-----  
+  
+In the beginning, the universe itself was nothingness within nothing, existence without existing. Nothing is, was, or will be, and all was simply possibility. It was only in the instance that that miraculous first event occurred that created the very first thing within it: The Word.
+
+But it did not stay as such for long. The Word became complicated, unfolded, expanded, evolved one could say. One word became many, became sentences, explanations, definitions, and then concepts. The first concept created in this clean, untouched emptiness was the pinnacle of all balance, EQUILIBRIUM. 
+  
+From that moment, that simple power bore witness to the birth of the concept of the NOTHING all around it, but recognized the potential of ALL to keep that balance. And from that, more concepts came to be.  
+- That which had a BEGINNING, surely had an END.  
+- Those that ended were DESTROYED, and those that did not, ENDURED.  
+- Resistance beget MIGHT, yielding bore FEXIBILITY.  
+- Activeness beget SWIFTNESS, passiveness beget SLOWNESS.  
+- Recognition of surroundings beget WHEN and WHERE.   
+  
+Twelve of the simplest concepts were formed, the basis of everything that was to come to pass for the foreseeable eternity. 
+ 
+Despite these humble beginnings, all these concepts assumed themselves the predominant force in this new demense they all found themsleves in, even with a direct counterpart. 
+   
+As such, a mediator was needed, one with an identity beyond itself, with an understanding of the concepts, and with the potential for genuine intelligence and learning for the sake of handling current and future struggles.  
+  
+As the EQUILIBRIUM was their source part, and was naturally as influencial as the twelve concepts COMBINED, it took that role to be a neutral mediator. With this rule defined, the thirteen in one concepts learned to balance themselves with each other and the core between them.  
+  
+And, once the balance was established, they took on a collective identity: ZEROTH, that which exists before any other.   
+   
+Thus the concepts worked together to create everything in this universe in a harmonious manner from that point forward for many MANY eons. Until the most recent one, when ZEROTH spotted a most curious planet. A speck created by natural influence around it like any other, harboring the dredges of early life like many others.  
+  
+But unlike the rest, THIS one's life was progressing, becoming more complicated, evolving, much like itself in a microscopic manner. ZEROTH was fascinated in witnessing something that acted so similar to how it itself had begun, and decided to bring itself to that planet's surface to take a closer look.    
+   
+But that was ultimately a mistake. The existence of this concept of equilibrium caused a shift in development. Had the planet remained untouched, the species within would've developed separately, humans as a primary species fighting for its independence and superiority.   
+   
+Instead, it caused the multiple species to form an unexpected alliance in its presence. These creatures began to adopt each other's minor traits and mannerisms to become more at ease with each other, work together easier, evolve alongside each other until the two were almost indistinguishable from each other in only a few dozen generations. As the eon stretched forward, the animalistic humanoids became the norm!   
+   
+ZEROTH was mortified with its accidental tampering of the natural flow of events, and removed itself from the equation immediately. Thanks to that, circumstances were otherwise unharmed. Cave dwellers grew and developed homes, societies, ecosystems, not dissimilar to that initial timeline.  
+   
+ZEROTH spent that time during that eon exploring the rest of the universe for any sign of existence with even a REMOTELY similar circumstance. Despite its attempts to leave it behind, it could not detach from the memory of that one little speck of space dust, ever so fascinated by its unique results. During the tail end of the most recent Eon, ZEROTH felt it had learned from its mistake, and felt confident enough to chance a second appearance, with a small twist.   
+   
+First, ZEROTH separated the twelve concepts from itself, intending to make itself weaker so the chances of its immense power and presence influencing events would be minimized as much as it could allow, but still maintain its status as the equilibrium force amongst the other twelve.  
+  
+Second, to ensure the newly separated entities of power were not running rampant across the planet (or anywhere else for that matter), ZEROTH created a consciousness for each of the twelve concepts. Each one was given basic intelligence, emotions, and anything else it learned from the mortals it encountered the first time as a basis, in hopes it would give them enough logic and reason to NOT make the same mistakes.  
+ 
+They were then instructed to disguise themselves as the same types of humanimals the planet now bore so they may walk amongst the people together, still within close proximity of ZEROTH Itself but not suffocatingly so. ZEROTH hoped giving them the freedom to explore with some minor restrictions would allow them to learn self control, and possibly learn alongside him.
+   
+But even with all of ZEROTH's preparation and hard work, this was ultimately a failure as well. Since these were concepts given consciousness and only knew of their own nature up to that moment, AND they all lacked his comprehensive learning ability (instead being given a fraction of that potential), they revealed themselves as being far more than just mortal, to the point many of them were feared, revered, and recognized as beyond mortal entities.   
+   
+Throughout the following centuries, as recorded history became the norm, they were all noticed and added to the analogues of history AND lore. Just to name a few:
+
+- ZEROTH became King Midas
+- The entity of WHERE became Queen Cleopatra and inspired the Sphinx
+- The entity of SLOWNESS became many cryptids of lore
+- The entities of LAW, DESTRUCTION, & MIGHT became Zeus, Aries, & Hercules
+- All thirteen entities were the guests of honor at the Last Supper
+   
+If that was all that changed, the story may have corrected itself enough to continue, but this time, their interaction resulted in an additional unintended consequence.
+
+Much like how ZEROTH exposed the creatures of this planet to the pure unfiltered concept of EQUILIBRIUM, they also exposed the people to their mastery of the concepts that made up the universe. Over time, these mortals learned to replicate these abilities themselves, through a concept they called MAGIC. 
+  
+Eventually, the utility of magic became so prevalent, it ended up side by side with the development of technology, rather than abandoning the former to pursue the latter as history should have been.
+
+- Charging devices with SWIFTNESS electricity
+- Extinguishing fires with ENDURING water
+- Illuminating paths with ALL powerful light
+- Cooling and preserving foods with SLOW ice
+   
+ZEROTH was at an impasse with this entire experiment and learning experiment. He was an entity of untold ability, designed to be a balancing force among the dozen other concepts. And neither ZEROTH, nor they, could be anything less than what they were.  
+  
+So he decided that, instead of putting himself and the others down to the MORTAL level, perhaps the mortals could be elevated to HIS level?   
+  
+-----  
+  
+Morana (if she read this) pauses and turns to Conroy and Whittaker, staring at them in bewilderment. "I read over that passage so many times and never put it together it was referring to you two.. that would imply the two of you are... what, pieces of God?"  
+  
+Conroy and Whittaker hold each other's hands tightly, nodding solemnly. Conroy speaks first. "Something to that effect.. we wanted to say something, but we were forbidden.. part of his rules are you must learn and understand who and what we all are on your own, as well as Zeroth himself." 
+ 
+Morana smirks and hands Conroy the book. "But as the librarian and keeper of the books, you would know what is written here and could 'read it to us' from memory, yes?" 
+ 
+Conroy gives an amused laugh and puts the book under his free arm. "Attagirl." 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+(THE PLAYERS CAN NOW ASK HIM WHATEVER QUESTIONS THEY CAN THINK OF, WITHIN REASON) 
+ 
+*WHAT IS THE ISLAND / DIADEM* 
+"The island is a piece of Zeroth's own power given physical shape and purpose. It acts as both our home and as a living test to your willpower, to see if you can resist the allure of a paradise you would call a Garden of Eden civilization."
+ 
+*WHAT ARE THE DEMENSES / ARE THEY REAL PLACES* 
+"They are vast, unending subdimensions, the raw form of the elemental and magical concepts each of us are attuned to. They also double as... habitats, in a sense, and we chose to share all that it is to all of you, as a means of peaceful coexistence." 
+ 
+*WHAT ARE THE REGALIA* 
+"The regalia are pieces of our own power given physical shape and purpose. He wished for anyone whom was victorious to experience a fraction of his own Godly power, as it were, and act as incentive to gather more after the first."
+ 
+*WHO IS ZEROTH*
+"Zeroth is, for lack of a better term, what you would refer to as God. The source of all that is, was, and will be."
+
+WHERE IS HE* 
+"I can tell you he is definitely near. He is simply lying in wait." 
+ 
+*WILL ZEROTH REALLY APPEAR WHEN THE REGALIA ARE COLLECTED* 
+"THAT is the one thing I can guarantee will happen, yes. Beyond that, I don't know what will come of it." 
+ 
+*WHY DONT YOU REBEL / LEAVE* 
+"Despite him weakening himself by separating us from him, he is still stronger than all of us combined. And he is VERY... convincing." 
+ 
+*ARE YOU UNDER HIS CONTROL* 
+"No, we are fully of our own free will. Zeroth is a BALANCING force, not a CONTROLLING one. But we all know if we disagreed or rebelled, he could... well..." 
+ 
+Whitaker speaks in a soft nervous tone. "He's... scary..." 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+She takes Whitaker's hand in her own. "Well I... think that's enough reality shattering news for one day. I think its time for us to go home." 
+ 
+She waves at your group with a smile and heads back out the door. Conroy smiled a bit and leans against the machine, arms crossed. "You know... at the end of the day, Whitaker really is quite lucky to have her. She might be the one person to help keep him in one piece."  
+  
+-----  
+  
+*IF REGALIA*  
+"I see... I assume you wish to challenge me to fisticuffs and the like, yes?
+
+*YES*
+"Well I'm not one for violence, but truth be told, I'm curious to see how far you have all come compared to how you... used to be."   
+  
+*IF THEY DIDNT GO THERE ALREADY, HE WILL GUIDE THEM TO THE BOOK MAKER*  
+  
+He reaches down, grabs the orange stone panel on the front of the machine, and attempt to yank it off. "You see I've-- oh, um.."  
+  
+He attempts to yank it again and again, speaking all the while. "I've been USING... the POWER... of my REGALIA..."  
+  
+He turns and grabs it at a different angle. "To SPEED UP... the DE-VE-LOP-MENT... of new BOOKS!"  
+  
+The panel suddenly pops off the front of the machine, and Conroy flops onto his back in the middle of the floor. In only a few seconds, that same chunk of stone comes flying down and lands right on his stomach. "OEUF!"  
+  
+He will jump back up with the panel in hand, resembling an orange chunk of rock attached to a handle grip and an arm strap. "I can still do this without the Regalia of course, but it takes a bit longer."  
+  
+"Now we can't rightly have our fight in the lab. Follow me please." He will guide you back out of the lab and toward the third pyramid, leading you all in much the same.  
+  
+Inside this one, it is pretty much empty. You see a giant square in the center roughly 100 feet wide, and beyond that resembles rows of stone bleacher seating. This pyramid is a giant stone coliseum. 
+  
+He will stand in the center, slip on the stone buckler, and take an odd fighting stance, left arm out with hand raised. His eyes are now glowing a mystical orange, and when he gazes in your direction, you hear the faint sounds of your own voices in your mind, saying things you KNOW you haven't said.
+
+He crouches slightly, his other arm behind his back. "Conroy Kaksteist versus the Kings of Kings. En Garde!"  
+  
+AFTER THE FIGHT  
+  
+IF THEY LOSE  
+Conroy will stand before them, wobbling heavily. "I'm not even a true fighter, but I know strength when I see it. And if it becomes even slightly more refined, you will be a force to be reckoned with." 
+ 
+He wobbles forward out of the pyramid, hopping along tenderly on one foot, muttering Ow Ow Ow every time he steps with the other.  
+  
+IF THEY WIN  
+Conroy will stumble back a bit, panting as his glasses fall off his face and clack onto the floor, revealing his full yellow feline slitted eyes. "Well done... THAT was a fight for the history books..."  
+  
+He leans backwards and flops onto the floor, panting heavily. He shakily raises his arms, removes his buckler, and places it on his chest. "Your prize is the Sanskrit Chronicle.. Good luck on your journey, Kings of Kings.." 
+ 
+He turns his head to you all with a tired smile. "If you fight the others as hard as you fought me, then Victory will surely be yours..." He slowly closes his eyes, and has passed out.

Story/06 - Challenges/Corentin.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+Upon returning to the GREEN demense, you see that things are relatively unchanged. The grass & leaves are rustling a bit more than before, and you feel a HEAVY breeze pressing against you, enough to blow your hair back and your clothes around.
+
+(INVESTIGATE Roll) You see something swirling around in the sky, and you could almost swear it looks like a bird with a REALLY long tail. Best you can judge, it's in the direction of the treehouse. 
+  
+*IF THEY GO SEE VILLI*  
+Villi is watching the whole thing from a pair of binoculars on top of the same rock you found her on. "Came to see the Landlord again? Cuz he's a little preoccupied."  
+  
+*IF ASK ABOUT COMMOTION*  
+She gives a soft nasal laugh and hands you her binoculars. "Target practice took a weird turn, all the kids are taking shots at Corentin." 
+ 
+The binoculars help you see Corentin flying in circles, being shot at by colorful arrows in rapid succession. Your vision of him keeps getting flashbanged by random glares of metal he seems to be carrying glinting off the sunlight.
+  
+*SHOW REGALIA*  
+She will be taken aback a little. "Oh... shit... you actually found it."  
+  
+She hops off the rock and immediately takes your group to the stables. "I'm putting these on your tab. You need to get that to him NOW."   
+  
+When you arrive at the tree house and put away the horses, you don't see anyone immediately, but you hear plenty of excited cheering and laughter of all ages from behind the massive tree. You also spot a school bus parked a few yards away, and it looks empty.
+
+Behind it is a group of adults watching behind their own sets of binoculars while a group of teenagers all shoot toy arrows at Corentin, the kind with heavy suction cups. Each kid has a different color bow and matching arrows so they can tell each other apart.
+
+After a minute, a teenage boy in an indigo hoodie stands up and waves his arms around. "Aaand time!" 
+ 
+All the kids stop firing their arrows, giggling amongst themselves excitedly and talking about how many times they hit 'the pretty snake man.' Corentin swoops down and lands cleanly before the children with a flourish of his scaled emerald colored wings.  
+  
+He looks a bit different this time, wearing stylish deep green armor. He bears an oval-shaped leather piece draping down just over his pecs and across his shoulders, a strap underneath each side to connect to the thick belt at where his waist WOULD be. You also see a matching pair of quivers on his hips, a matching pair of bracers on each forearm, and a surprisingly brilliant headdress with stripes of black & gold, all topped with gorgeous green quetzal feathers.  
+  
+Corentin raises his arms, his voice bearing insane volume despite speaking softly. "I hope all you children had fun practicing against a moving target, as you all did incredibly well."
+
+He holds out a hand full of multicolored suction cup arrows, which makes ALL the kids cheer and high five each other happily. "Do remember that the Aztec warriors were more than just bowmen, they also used a variety of other tools, including arrow flingers and blowguns for ranged options alone."
+  
+Corentin turns to see your group, then returns to the children. "But I'm afraid that is all the time we have today, I have another appointment to keep. Back to school for all of you, but remember, you can always learn more at your local Library." 
+ 
+The children all shuffle their way over to their parents and head toward the bus as one big group. Corentin makes his way to your group, waving at the children on his way over. "It is good to see you again, Kings of Kings. To what do I owe the pleasure of your return?" 
+  
+*IF THEY ASK*  
+"The elementary school discussed a field trip to my demense, if you'll pardon the pun, and they were becoming a bit bored... I offered them some activity to pass the time."  
+  
+*HOW WAS HE SO LOUD*  
+"The air is a... magical compound. I am no scientist, but I know that sound is carried through some particles in the air that vibrate and carry the sound. It is simple to amplify such vibrations in my element."  
+  
+*RETURN REGALIA*  
+He will graciously take back the bow, smiling a little at the sight of it. You watch as a swirling vortex of air suddenly encompasses his entire body, the leaves on the tree & the grasses rattling much more loudly, as do the feathers on his headpiece.
+
+He looks to you, his eyes now holding a faint green glow, and wherever his gaze touches fills the area around it with a light breeze. "I thank you for returning my Zeph Arcus... truth be told, if it were my decision, I would simply hand it to you now as a sign of gratitude, but the rules dictate it must be earned in a challenge."
+
+He lares his green wings again, aiming the bow low and horizontal in his let hand, his right holding the string. "Corentin Tasnyak hereby accepts your challenge, Kings of Kings. I believe you know the magic words?"
+
+AFTER THE FIGHT  
+  
+*IF THEY LOSE*  
+Corentin pants raggedly, his scales glistening with sweat in the sunlight as he puts his reclaimed bow upon his back. "Kings of Kings, you have put up a valiant fight, and I applaud your efforts. I know full well that I am not your traditional enemy, but take it to heart when I say, your potential has nowhere to go but up."
+
+"When you are ready to try again, you need only to seek me out. I will be waiting." He collapses his wings fully and slithers his way to his treehouse, climbing by the nearby hanging rope and disappearing from view.
+  
+*IF THEY WIN*  
+Corentin suddenly slumps over, using the bow itself to keep himself upright as he groans in pain from all the hits he took. "A magnificent show, Kings of Kings... you have more than earned my Zeph Arcus, both for the amazing battle AND for the honor you have shown me in returning it in the first place." 
+ 
+He slithers closer and places the bow in the hands of anyone whom accepts it. "I hope you find what it is that will bring you the peace you deserve."
+
+"Now, if you will... excuse me..." He slowly slithers his way over to the tallest part of the grass around you, easily three feet high, and spreads his arms wide before flopping back into it.
+
+"Mm... the grass in this demense is as comfortable as any bed I've ever rested in..." It only takes a few moments before his eyes are closed and he simply falls asleep.

Story/06 - Challenges/Dorrin.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+Upon returning to the BLUE demense, everything seems about the same as before. Same shops at the south, same boats docked on the east and west, same fishermen on the north, and same storage shacks in the middle. 
+
+*IF THEY SPEAK TO ANYONE*
+When they see you, they do a double-take to recognize you. "Oh! It's... it's the Kings of Kings!"
+
+Behind you, you hear someone else say the same thing, and then two more, then four, and it rides all the way across the wharf island. It takes a minute, but now, everyone around you has stopped and is staring at you with knowing grins.
+  
+*IF ANYONE SAYS ANYTHING*  
+You hear someone in the background shouting "DOR RIN! DOR RIN!" And slowly more people join in on the chanting, only taking about a minute before the entire island is chanting his name. From within the storage area, you see a tall figure approaching. 
+ 
+Dorrin marches his way across the dock, harpoon carried across his shoulder in his left hand. This time, he wears a double breasted deep blue suit, complimented with a red pocket square to match the red tie against his bright white dress shirt, and a matching fedora with a red hat band. 
+ 
+Everyone quickly moves out of the way for him, the chanting slowly dying down. When he reaches you, he slams the butt of his harpoon onto the dock, and leans down slightly. "I owe you all something, something I should've given you when you first came here."
+
+He extends his beefy right hand down, offering you a handshake. "My name is Dorrin Dodici. And I welcome you to my demense, Kings of Kings."
+  
+The second someone shakes his hand, everyone around you cheers their hearts out. Dorrin slams his harpoon into the pier again, getting everyone's attention. "I assume you have come to challenge me for my Regalia, correct?"  
+  
+*IF THEY CONFIRM*  
+"Then may the tides of victory be ever in your favor!" Everyone starts cheering again, but he slams his spear into the dock a third time, reclaiming everyone's attention.
+  
+"BUT FIRST! I still owe you a debt of gratitude for finding out my daughter is alive. Before our challenge, please join us in a meal of the finest seafood our demense has to offer!"  
+  
+*IF THEY AGREE*  
+Everyone cheers louder than before, the entire south side of the demense suddenly in a frenzy. In a matter of moments, a long table and several chairs have been produced, white tablecloth and everything, as well as plates and silverware. There are even glasses of wine being poured for everyone. 
+  
+From the East & West docks, you hear sizzling and smell the distinct scent of fish cooking, several people grilling a different type of fish for anyone's selective appetite. From groupers to flounders, from tuna to trout, the entire wharf is engulfed in the biggest fish grill imaginable. And Dorrin is ordering one of everything.  
+  
+From the north side, you see multiple people walk over carrying instruments, led by Gallon with a violin in hand. There are also a few women dancing to give something of a visual spectacle while the first round of food is placed on your table.
+- They are playing Il Canto di Malavita, the kind of song you recognize from Italian movies
+
+And you may be the only ones seated, but everyone around you is eating as well, enjoying the festivities.
+ 
+*AFTER THEY ALL EAT* 
+   
+Dorrin stands from the table, looking visually no different despite eating twice as much as your whole group combined. He slams his spear into the ground twice, getting everyone's attention again. "The time for our Challenge is nigh!"
+  
+Everyone backs away and cheers them on as the table and chairs are suddenly pulled away. The shops are slowly but surely all picked up and pulled back & to the sides several yards. There is now an appropriately sized fighting space, mostly on the solid ground and partly on the dock.  
+  
+Dorrin removes his coat and tosses it to the audience, revealing his INCREDIBLY firm physique under his white shirt. He does the same with his hat, tie, and cufflinks, in that order. He takes his fighting position, spear gripped in both hands, and declares, "Give me your best shot!"  
+   
+AFTER THE FIGHT   
+   
+*IF THEY LOSE*  
+Dorrin stands tall, battered and bruised with his suit in shreds, gripping his harpoon tightly. He steps closer to your group, standing in such a way his head blocks out the sun from overhead so you cannot see his face clearly.  
+  
+"You all fought valiantly. Learn from this experience, grow stronger from it, and fight me again. Whenever you feel you are ready." He will slowly walk away, using the harpoon as a cane, until he is out of sight. 
+   
+*IF THEY WIN*  
+Dorrin sits on his knees, panting hard, both hands gripping his harpoon tightly to keep himself upright. "You are all little monsters, you know that?" 
+ 
+He slowly climbs up to his two feet, almost falling over. "And I know a thing or two about raising a little Hellian."  
+  
+He cracks his neck in both directions, wiping blood from his mouth. "I fully admit and acknowledge my defeat. You have earned the Tide Turner." 
+ 
+He turns the spear around and jams the sharp tip into the ground, leaving it embedded and free standing in the wood of the dock. He tries to take a step and stumbles a bit, the people from the audience suddenly rushing to help lift him up. 
+ 
+Gallon steps forth, arms behind his back with a grin a mile wide. "Yer Daughter'd be proud of ye, Dorrin." He then presents a brand new bottle of wine to him and a bucket of ice.  
+  
+You could swear you saw Dorrin smile a bit as he grabbed the bottle, drinking the whole thing down in a solid second. You watch the two walk away, Gallon spouting fisherman-isms the whole way, followed by a good dozen other people fascinated by the conversation.

Story/06 - Challenges/Fulmo.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+THIS WILL BE SET UP BY APPOINTMENT  
+  
+Upon returning to the SILVER demense, the air is thick with the scent of ozone and rich in the sound of thunder. You see dozens of Thunder Force officers standing around, dumbfoundedly staring up at the sky. As are several people on the steps to the courthouse. And pretty much every prisoner in the yard.  
+ 
+(NOTICE Roll) 
+- You see one MASSIVE dark storm cloud looming overhead, but not a drop of rain
+- You see flashes of lightning every second, paired with a clap of thunder  
+- You see someone's shadowy outline in those clouds with every clap & bolt  
+  
+Second Commander Valeos approaches with a smile. "Good to see you again, Kings of Kings. I assume you are here for your challenge?"  
+  
+*WHAT IS THAT*  
+Valeos laughs a little and casually points into the sky. "THAT would be Fulmo. He advised us this morning he would be doing some... warm-ups before his challenge today. Speaking of which, I'm under orders to alert him when you arrive, so if you'll excuse me..."  
+  
+He steps away and kneels down, his body crackles with electricity, and he LEAPS into the air. He lands on top of the Thunder Force office, then takes another grand leap to the top of the courthouse's highest flagpole, and makes a mighty third leap straight into the sky.  
+  
+You get few moments of silence, before a bolt of lightning strikes the ground a few yards from you. The bolt dissipates as quickly as it came, and where it struck, you see Valeos standing beside Fulmo, in a much more combat-ready outfit.  
+  
+Fulmo has a high-collar silver shirt, nicely contrasting against the black denim longcoat and black cargo pants. His boots are polished black & bound by vibrant silver bootstraps, and his sunglasses wrap around his face perfectly, but do little to hide the charged blue eyes behind them. His hair, while mostly slicked back, is spiked in a uniform pattern, and each hair is crackling with energy.  
+  
+Everyone stares at him in stunned silence for a moment, then all the Thunder Force officers salute him at the same time. He dismisses all of them with a wave, then approaches your group, his tail discharging small amounts of electricity into the open air.  
+  
+"Kings of Kings, let it be known that I have not engaged in a challenge in some time. But I know full well my duties as a Demense Master include accepting challenges from Regalia Hunters, and I intend to take this challenge seriously. Do not expect me to hold back."
+  
+The inmates suddenly start hooting and hollering at your group AND Fulmo, all making comments about which one would be the biggest loser.  
+  
+Fulmo becomes engulfed in electricity and disappears from view, reappearing inside the inmates' fence, directly behind them, causing them all to freeze in place.  
+  
+"I would advise you pay close attention to this. For if I win, then my status as Lawbringer will be unquestionable. But if I lose, then that means THESE PEOPLE are more powerful than your JAILER."   
+  
+And every single criminal suddenly shuts up right quick. Although you DO hear one in the back yell 'may the best man win!'
+
+All the Thunder Force officers are trying their hardest to not laugh, but Valeos snorts a bit.  
+  
+Fulmo simply leaps over the twelve foot razor wire fence, and lands beside your group. "On that note, I believe we are ready to begin, yes?"  
+  
+*IF YES*  
+He raises his hand over his face, and quick as a flash, his head becomes engulfed in electricity for a moment before disappearing, his sunglasses replaced by a helmet of black and silver, molded after an old fashioned 8-point police cap with an over-the-eye visor attached to a silver bottom half face mask.
+ 
+He then pulls out a pair of immaculate silver revolvers, his body charging with crackling electricity as he spins the chambers without even touching them. "Then let this battle be the finest these brave soldiers have ever witnessed."  
+  
+AFTER THE FIGHT  
+  
+*IF THEY LOSE*  
+Fulmo will stand proudly, his outfit in tatters, both guns aimed at your group in shaky hands, panting heavily with a trail of blood drooling from behind his mask.
+
+He slides both guns into his holsters, and winces from the pain after. "Kings of Kings, speaking as an entity of electricity itself, I can safely say you are a force of nature. I genuinely believe my victory was nothing short of luck today. I know you will all likely wish to challenge me again sometime, and I openly invite and welcome the opportunity."  
+  
+He slowly limps away from the battlefield, as the Thunder Force officers all around you salute him as he hobbles his way inside the Thunder Force main office, the doors slamming with an audible thud.
+
+Valeos stays behind, kneeling in front of your group. "That was a hell of a show you put on. You should be proud."  
+  
+*IF THEY WIN*   
+He collapses onto his knees, dropping both guns as he falls onto his hands, his helmet & mask falling onto the ground to fully reveal his face again.  
+  
+He will look up to your group, electricity seeping out from around his eyes like a flow of energy, almost looking... angry? But he will close his eyes and sigh deeply, reopening them as they return to their original cool blue orbs.   
+  
+"I have no excuse, you have defeated me fair and sqare before these witnesses. And you were all magnificent. As per the rules, you have won my Rai Revolvers as your prize."
+
+He picks up both guns and stand up, swaying a bit as he does, and places them on the ground before you with their holsters. He shakily stands back up and aims a finger gun at your group. "Aim true, Kings of Kings. You have many battles ahead of you, and you will need to make every shot count."   
+  
+He slowly turns and limps his way to the Thunder Force officers, but trips a few feet away, and Second Commander Valeos catches him. Valeos carries him over his shoulder as the two walk up the stairs together, surrounded by other concerned Officers the whole way.
+
+Before they walk through the doors, Valeos turns back to your group and gives you a thumbs up and a wink, then carries their injured leader inside.

Story/06 - Challenges/Miranda.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+Upon returning to the PINK demense, you will see things have definitely changed. Where there was once a well crafted runway for the fashion show, there is now a professionally crafted boxing ring approximately 50 feet across, and several rows of chairs surrounding it on all sides. A large portion of those chairs are already filled with people, all excitedly chattering about the upcoming event.  
+  
+There are concession stands in the left & right halls selling popcorn, drinks, hot dogs, burgers, and every kind of snack food you can imagine, all ran and sponsored by local Diadem restaurants. 
+ 
+"Welcome back, Kings of Kings." You see Caelum standing at a podium on a stepping stool, meeting you at eye level easily, but this time with his hood up and clipboard in hand.  
+
+*WHAT IS ALL THIS*
+"Miranda promised a show, and she does not skimp on the chance to show off. Ever." His delivery is a bit flat at that one, like he's said it a million times before.
+
+*WHERE IS SHE*  
+"Miranda is in the craft room, preparing her outfit for the night. Just go around the back of the audience, second door on the left. But uh... be careful, some of these fans are looking for you guys. And they want more than autographs."  
+
+(STEALTH ROLL)
+As you walk by, several audience members spot you, and excitedly jump out of their chairs to rush you and beg for autographs or souvenirs.
+(Low Roll player(s)) unfortunately couldn't sneak by quickly or quiet enough and get grabbed, but
+(High Roll player(s)) are able to stay juuust out of sight enough to get to her room without being jumped.
+
+Once you reach the craft room, you see the door is partly open. Inside is indeed Miranda, as well as ten different spools of thread hovering in the air and several patches of fabric, all faintly glowing pink.  
+  
+Miranda is standing in the middle of it all, wearing a black denim crafting apron, and based on what you can see, not much else underneath. She waves her hand and fingers around, causing the pieces to come together and the threads to weave between them, creating a brand new corset right before your eyes in a matter of moments.  
+  
+"You can come in if you like, I promise not to bite~ This time~"
+ 
+*IF THEY ASK HOW SHE KNEW THEY WERE THERE* 
+She laughs a sultry laugh and puts the remaining pieces on a nearby table, folding the top and placing it on a clothing rack with an identical set of boots and pants. "I am an entity of space magic. Not just the magic of outer space, but physicality as a concept. Knowing where people, places, and things are is my bread and butter. Speaking of..." 
+
+She raises a hand toward the door and opens a magic window, showing your teammates currently being borderline assaulted by ravenous fans. "I recommend you grab them and pull them to safety, before they get hurt... that's my job~"
+
+*PULL THEM THROUGH*
+The magic gateway closes, and your teammates' clothing is in shreds. Miranda tsks a few times. "Well that won't do..."
+
+She waves both hands in the air this time, a series of fabric patches and spools of thread hovering overhead again, and they all lurch forward into the their clothes, stitching up every piece good as new in a matter of moments. "Presentable~ Although we REALLY need to talk about getting you some new outfits sometime."
+  
+"I certainly hope you're all ready, we have quite an audience out there~ I made sure to sell this as an event for the ages~"  
+  
+*IF YES*
+You hear a knock at the door to the craft room. "Come on in, join the party~"
+
+Caelum steps inside and shuts the door behind him, walking up to Miranda. She happily ruffles his hair. "I assume it's time?"   
+  
+He squirms and makes cute huffy little noises before nodding. "Yes Mom."  
+  
+"Lead our guests outside and introduce them first. I need a minute to change." Caelum nods again and leads your group outside quietly. He asks you all to wait here in the shadows by the door so you don't get attacked again, as he heads for the stage first.
+ 
+In only those few minutes, almost all the seats have completely filled. You spot several familiar faces in the audience, including King Akarui, several members of the Thunder Force, and even Striker. Although HE just seems to be taking bets.  
+  
+Caelum walks out onto the stage, microphone in hand and hoodie pulled back. "Ahem... LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I GIVE YOU TODAY'S MAIN EVENT, A REGALIA CHALLENGE BETWEEN MADAM MIRANDA AND THE KINGS OF KIIIIINGS!" 
+ 
+The audience immediately starts roaring with applause. "FIRST IS TONIGHT'S CHALLENGERS!"  
+  
+He will then give a slightly corny introduction for anyone participating in this event, and let each one step up on the arena one behind the other.  
+  
+Once everyone is introduced, he will guide them to a far corner to make room. "AND NOW FOR THE CHAMPION YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR! THE FASIONISTA QUEEN OF DIADEM, THE STELLAR MAGE AND MISTRESS OF THE SATELLITE DEMENSE, MADAM MIRANDA BAARAH!!!"  
+  
+From the distant corner of the room, a spotlight shines down and an explosion of bright pink smoke and confetti erupts. A pair of wings bursts from within it and blasts it all away, revealing Miranda from within.  
+  
+She struts forward in a black leather outfit comprised of a halter top, tight miniskirt, and knee length boots, ending in three inch black stilettos. Her lips and nails are painted black, her neck carries a thin black collar you can barely see under the plumage, her forearms are covered by black bracers, and her right hip carries a whip on a buckle holster.
+  
+She makes her descent down the pathway, wings spread wide, and everyone starts losing their goddman minds. Even Striker is reaching out toward her with a photo and a marker, asking for an autograph, which she gladly signs AND punctuates with a lipstick stained kiss. And she does so several times for several others before she makes it to the stage.
+
+Once she is finally done SLOWLY climbing the ropes, Caelum hands off the mic to her and pulls up his hoodie, trotting off stage quickly. "Thank you all for coming out tonight! It's been ten long years since the last time my Regalia was put on the line, so we're gonna make this a spectacle you will all remember forever!"
+  
+Everyone cheers in excitement as she steps toward your group, pitching the micophone over her shoulder and pulling her whip off the clasp, striking the open ground between you both. "Let's give these people a show!"  
+  
+AFTER THE FIGHT  
+  
+*IF THEY LOSE*  
+Miranda will proudly raise a fist in the air as the audience cheers their hearts out. Her outfit is in tatters and she's covered in bruises, but you hear Caelum over the mic stating "AND THE WINNER BY KNOCKOUT IS MADAM MIRANDAAA!!!"
+
+Caelum tosses her the microphone, which she catches as she approaches your group. "Kings of Kings, I thank you for giving this event everything you had! This was a fantastic show, and even though you did not win..." 
+
+She pauses to increase her volume, "you impressed each and every one of these people who came out tonight!" And just to prove the point, everyone starts cheering hysterically.  
+  
+"I extend an open invitation to The Kings of Kings to rematch me! Any day, any time, name it and we can do this all over again!" 
+ 
+The idea of another chance to watch this kind of spectacle excites the audience all over again. She tosses the microphone to Caelum again and steps off stage, doing her whole walk up routine in reverse.  
+  
+*IF THEY WIN*  
+Miranda collapsess back onto the stage, arms over her head and wings sprawled beneath her. The entire audience goes completely silent, many people staring in sheer disbelief, eyes wide and jaws hanging.  
+  
+Caelum will run out and give her a concerned look, and sees she is okay, just VERY badly nbanged up. Caelum looks out to the audience and states as loudly as he can into the mic, "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION, THE KINGS OF KIIIIINGS!!!"  
+  
+It takes a moment before the disbelief wears off, but everyone starts screaming and applauding, and you can hear comments in the audience of that being a fantastic show and they were insanely impressed. Miranda sits up slowly with Caelum's help, spits out a gob of blood to the side, and smiles wide at your group. Caelum holds a mic down to her mouth for her. 
+  
+"Well done, Kings of Kings. You brought everything you had and it paid off magnificently. You have more than earned my Regalia, the Star Scourge. Take it with my blessing!" She extends an arm with the whip she used in battle toward your group.  
+  
+She stands up with Caelum's aid and grabs the microphone. "Thank you everyone for coming out and making this show just as special to me as I hope it was for you! Drive Safely and Good Night!!!"  
+  
+She drops the mic on the stage and shakily walks away with Caelum's help, leaving you all to your adoring audience, all of whom now want your autographs and to interview you. But unlike last time, they aren't trying to rip you apart. Yet.
+

Story/06 - Challenges/Thanatos.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+Upon returning to the GRAY demense, it appears relatively the same. Graves as far as the eye can see, everything beyond in a graying mist, one solid brick path leading ahead.  
+  
+But you can't help but feel like something is a different, and you can't quite put your finger on it.  
+  
+(INVESTIGATE ROLL) 
+You see the gravestones closest to the front are all dated within the last few days, meaning the ones closest to the path are NEW graves.  
+  
+As you look through the next row, you see the time between their dates is only about a week apart from the front row, and THOSE graves you vaguely remember the names written on them.
+  
+The graveyard is expanding from the path you are walking on outward.  
+  
+(NOTICE ROLL)
+As you start walking down the path, you hear:
+- a slow methodical drum beat from within the fog
+- a male voice singing alongside it
+- (PLAYER WITH GIFT) A female voice joining into the harmony a few moments later
+- A minute later, you hear an additional, much younger male singing another song on top of the first one in a Creole accent
+  
+(CONTACTS ROLL)
+- The first song is Wayfaring Stranger, a sad and mournful tune from the 1850s about a soul's journey home   
+- The second tune is Ain't No Grave, a gospel song being sung in a soulful manner
+
+You reach the cathedral building, just in time for the songs to reach their cresdendos. The doors are wide open, but there is no sign or schedule for upcoming funerals.
+
+*INSIDE*
+There have been some changes since you were here last time. The pews and stage are the same, but the stage now carries rows of collapsible metal risers, the kind for a choir to stand on.  
+  
+Thanatos stands behind a podium in front of these risers, in the same dressy clothes as before but this time sporting a dark gray cloak. "Now dhis is a surbrise, dhe Kings of Kings have graced us widh dheir bresence once more."   
+  
+On the choir steps is (Caelum) a young boy with very pale blond hair, sporting a deep gray choir gown with indigo piping along the edges, as well as an indigo undershirt showing around the chest area. He is accompanied by a little lizard, resting atop his head like his hair was a bed.  
+  
+When he sees your group coming, he looks a little flustered, clearly not expecting company.  
+  
+(PLAYER WITH GIFT) You didn't spot her behind the boy at first, but you spot the red robin woman (Rowena) from the funeral you attended, in a similar garb as the boy (Caelum). Her feathers look more gray than you remember, but she waves at you with a smile on her face. 
+
+-----
+  
+*IF GIFTED PLAYER MENTIONS ROWENA*  
+Thanatos will turn to you all. "Now dhad is quide dhe coincidence, we were jusd discussing a song dhad Rowena is a fan of, a haunding melody of a wayward soul redurning home. Quide abbrobriade for my demense, wouldn'd you agree?" 
+
+-----
+  
+He turns back to the risers and sighs softly. "Abologies, bud I believe dhad is all dhe dime we have. I have a new abboindmend do addend do."  
+  
+(Caelum) The boy will nod quietly and heads for the door, but in passing, you notice a sad look in his eye. He opens the door, and just stands there, staring out at the misty graveyard. 
+  
+*IF THEY ASK*  
+Thanatos steps down next, standing before your group. "Caelum is a unique child, blessed much like us Demense Masders do never exberience death. Bud in his eyes, he sees id as a curse. He yearns do know and undersdand how id feels do age, grow, and exberience dhe end of life."  
+  
+(PLAYER WITH GIFT) Out of the corner of your eye, you see Rowena quietly sneak around behind your group, CLEARLY trying her hardest to not make a sound. She stands beside Caelum in the doorway, looking outside with him, resting a hand on his shoulder.
+  
+Thanatos pauses and sighs softly. "Id does nod helb dhad he wadched someone he liked bass away very recendly, bud he feld id was his dudy do come and sing, for dhe ceremony."  
+
+-----
+  
+*WHEN WAS THE CEREMONY*  
+"Abologies, bud I'm afraid you jusd missed id."  
+  
+*WHO WAS IT FOR*  
+Thanatos will wipe a tear from his eye, looking to (PLAYER WITH GIFT) with a solemn glance. "Do you wish do say id, or should I?"  
+  
+*IF THEY SAY ROWENA, OR*  
+*IF THEY TURN TO THE DOORWAY*  
+Caelum will now be by himself, facing out the doorway & away from your group, and you could swear you hear him sniffling a little as he wipes his face with his arm.  
+  
+(PLAYER WITH GIFT) Rowena is gone, but you see a small cloud of gray mist where she once stood, and you can faintly hear her voice singing a few melodic words.  
+  
+Caelum slowly walks forward, pulling the door behind himself shut with a soft click.
+
+-----
+  
+*IF REGALIA/CHALLENGE*  
+He nods solemnly, reaching for his hood. "Dhen led us begin dhe ceremony of combad, and bray do whadever God you believe in dhad you are vicdorious againsd Thanatos Ondogon."  
+  
+Under the cloak, all but his arms are now obscured. He reaches behind himself and pulls out an old style scythe, three foot blade on a five foot gray pole with a golden wolf skull across the top.   
+  
+The room slowly fills with that gray mist you kept seeing outside, obscuring your view a little. You hear the heavy wood of the pughs creaking, lifting off the ground slightly before suddenly rushing toward the walls, leaving the center space open.
+  
+(PLAYER WITH GIFT) You see that, within the mist, there are several men and women in varying shades of grayscale quickly working together to move the pughs away.  
+  
+He reaches under his cloak and pulls out a mask in the shape of a wolf skull, placing it upon his face, now the only thing you can see from under the hood. "May dhe odds be ever in your favor."  
+  
+AFTER THE FIGHT  
+  
+*IF THEY LOSE*  
+He slams the bottom of his scythe into the ground, using it to hold himself upright. "Id has been some dime since I have exberienced such an ubhill fighd.. you are all mighdy warriors."  
+  
+He hobbles past you, hefting the scythe over his shoulder as he heads out the door. "Should you desire a remadch, I will be waiding." 
+ 
+The door slams shut behind him, leaving you alone in the empty church. 
+  
+*IF THEY WIN*  
+He kneels on the ground, staring at the floor. "Magnificend... an honorable loss, do be sure... If I could die, I would be sadisfied if my lasd acd was do lose do you all in combad."  
+  
+He slams the scythe's blade into the ground, the handle sticking up at an angle. "You have more dhan earned my Grimm Requiem, Kings of Kings. Dake it widh my blessing."  
+  
+You see the pews around you rumble a bit, before they launch into the air and rearrange back the way they were when you arrived, the doors to the building quietly swinging open. Thanatos slowly hovers up and off the ground, righting himself on his own two feet.
+  
+(PLAYER WITH GIFT) Inside the mist, you see grayscale people of all ages and sizes helping Thanatos back to his feet, dusting him off and straightening his outfit for him. 
+ 
+"I will dake my leave now and... lick my wounds, as dhe saying goes... Bud I wish you luck on your journey. And do remember dhis place if you ever need a venue for your... ceremonies." 
+ 
+He slowly walks out the door, limping the whole way as the door closes behind him, leaving you alone with your prize.

Story/06 - Challenges/Tlaloc.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+Upon returning to the BROWN demense, everything appears the same at first glance. Same valley, same trees, same lake, same gym & store combo. 
+
+-----
+
+*GYM / STORE*
+You see a large sign in the window of the gym half of the building, stating "CLOSED FOR PARTY." The store half is still open, and you can see Bunji sitting at the counter, looking like he's about to fall asleep.
+
+*APPROACH BUNJI*
+Bunji jumps in his seat a bit, now VERY much awake, and smiles at your group. "Oh? Well if it isn't the Kings of Kings. What brings you by?"
+
+*WHERE ARE THE GYM PEOPLE*
+Bunji points out the door toward the opposite side of the valley, sighing a little. "They closed early for the day to throw Tlaloc a 'get well' party. They're having fun at the lake and the hot springs."
+
+*WHY ARENT YOU WITH THEM*
+He shrugs. "Not a good swimmer, not a fan of hot water matting up my fur. Either way, it makes me look like a demonic Schnauzer."
+
+-----
+
+*LAKE*
+You see several of the people from the gym swimming around in th water like it's a giant public pool, and several others either hanging out & drinking the mineral water, or just lying back and enjoying the view.
+
+Jehkyra steps out of the water, wearing a bodyskin swimsuit that hugs EVERY inch of her muscular form from the neck down. She grabs a towel from nearby and quickly dries her face, which is when she finally spots your group and waves you down with a smile. She turns to her friends and shouts "Hey guys! The Kings of Kings are here!"
+
+All the people in & around the water stop what they're doing and march their way over to your group, and  all of them ask essentially he same question: "ARE YOU HERE TO CHALLENGE TLALOC?"
+
+*IF YES*
+They all hoot and holler like a bunch of drunk frat boys, but Jekyra gets them all to simmer down after a moment, before turning back to you. "Your timing couldn't be better. Tlaloc's at the hot springs, and he's all healed up. We're all celebrating his quick recovery, despite the whole... gold... blade... dust... thing. Do you know what that's all about?"
+
+*ANSWER*
+"Gotcha... well either way, I'll be rooting for you. Now if you'll excuse me..." She pitches her towel behind her and takes off running for the water, jumping in JACKKNIFE style and splashes everyone within ten feet of her with water.
+
+-----
+
+*HOT SPRINGS*
+You hear several voices talking from within the walls of the hot springs, but none you can distinguish as Tlaloc immediately.
+
+*WALK IN*
+A dove woman greets you at the door, her body covered in a white yukata style bathrobe and her brown nametag stating YUKI, smiling and waving. "Welcome in! Party of (number of players)?"
+
+*ASK ABOUT TLALOC*
+"Oh you're here for his party? Then your admission is free, let me get you your supplies." 
+
+She lays out a basket with a robe identical to hers in what you assume is your size. "Tlaloc is in the unisex hot spring, and his party is already large, so do be careful when trying to join in."
+
+*AT THE SPRINGS*
+The whole area is filled with people you recognize from the gym (and the climbing area out back), all completely nue aside from some of them wearing towels or submerged in the water. 
+
+It takes no time at all to spot Tlaloc, as he is currently occupying the largest pool in the area. He is submerged up to his neck in water, his towel neatly folded and resting atop his head. His eyes are closed, and he is grinning ear to ear.
+
+*APPROACH*
+Tlaloc opens his eyes hearing you approach, and he gasps in happiness, immediately standing up in the pool and causing the water to lower by at least two inches. "FRIENDS! JOIN! WATER! GOOD!"
+
+The deep gash on his chest has apparently completely healed up, not even leaving a scar on his stony mucular skin.
+
+*IF CHALLENGE*  
+Tlaloc's eyes will widen with excitement, and he will throw his clawed arms up in the air, yelling CHALLENGE at the top of his lungs, catching the attention of everyone around you. 
+ 
+Everyone around you in the hot springs starts cheering and chanting, clearly exited to finally get the result they wanted from before. But everyone goes silent when they aee the door to the building slide open, a very angry Yuki standing in the doorway and glaring at everyone. "Please keep the noise down, you are disturbing the other guests."
+
+The door shuts, and Tlaloc waits a few seconds before looking to your group and stating very quietly "GO. LAKE. CHALLENGE?"
+
+*LAKESIDE*
+The entire congregation of people a the hot springs decided to follow your group, most of whom you recognize from the gym, and a few you don't. Once you reach the lake, everyone sees you with Tlaloc in tow, and immediately knows the Challenge is happening soon. 
+
+Tlaloc turns around to face ou, grinning ear to ear. "CHALLENGE... FIGHT?"
+
+*IF YES* 
+Tlaloc reaches behind himself and pulls out a massive tree limb of wood, grabbing it in both hands and slamming the opposite end of it into the ground before you. Attached to the other end is a massive rock, wide at one end and pointy on the other, coated in small rune markings. This isn't just a rock attached to a tree limb, it is a rudimentary warhammer. 
+ 
+He suddenly hefts the thing up onto his shoulder with one hand like it weighed nothing, then holds his fist out in front of him. "READY! FIGHT!"  
+  
+AFTER THE FIGHT  
+  
+*IF THEY LOSE*  
+Tlaloc raises his arms in triumph over his head, bellowing out in joy as the audience around you all does much the same. Once the circle dissipates, they all rush in and cheer with Tlaloc, but he instead steps forward and kneels down in front of your group. 
+ 
+He puts on the best dopey smile he can and pats each of you on the back with a dull thud of those heavy arms. "TRY. AGAIN. LATER." 
+ 
+He will then stand and rejoin the others, who all chant their way back to the gym & store building, singing some chant about Tlaloc still being undefeated.
+  
+*IF THEY WIN*  
+Tlaloc stands before your group, clearly beaten to a pulp under all that rock armor, panting heavily. He lets go of the massive hammer, causing it to THUD into the ground hard enough to shake the ground beneath you. He slowly falls forward, landing on his face with an even heavier thud. Tlaloc has admitted defeat.
+
+The gold circle dissipates, and everyone in the audience stares in horror at their superhero of a Demense Master lying in a pile of dirt and grass. Tlaloc suddenly rolls over onto his back, and he seems... oddly happy. He lets out a deep unsettling rumble of a chuckle, before finally declaring "FRIENDS! WIN!"
+ 
+The entire audience begins to boo your group in a fit of rage, not believing you to be the winners at all.
+
+Tlaloc suddenly sits upright and silences the entire group with the angriest look you have EVER seen someone like HIM generate. "ME! LOSE! THEM! STRONGER!"
+
+You can see the heartbreak across their faces hearing that, but he's not done. "GET! STRONGER! BE! BETTER!"
+
+The audience is actually shocked at the thought of him getting stronger, but Jekhyra finally appears and steps between Tlaloc & his friends. "Alright, alright. Look, we all saw it with our own eyes. These guys beat Tlaloc fair and square. They are now the rightful owners of the Cliff Breaker."
+
+She points at Tlaloc's massive hammer, and finally turns to your group. "Take it with both our blessing, Kings of Kings."
+
+She interrupts when you try to grab it, a grin on her face. "But know this. Tlaloc's gonna use this loss as a driving force to get even stronger, and next time, it won't be so easy."
+ 
+She helps Tlaloc get back on his feet almost singlehandedly, holding him up by his shoulder. "So you better get stronger too, ya hear? If that Regalia winds up in his hands again, you won't win it a second time."
+
+Tlaloc slowly extends one of his beefy hands in a fist, grinning wide. "FRIENDS! VISIT! REMATCH!" He is offering a fist bump and a promise as a goodbye.

Story/06 - Challenges/Whittaker.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+(ATHLETICS Roll) Right before you enter the gate, a snowball launches at (lowest roller) from within, slamming right into your face.  
+  
+Upon returning to the WHITE demense, you see dozens of snowballs whizzing by in every direction imaginable, screaming ringing out from every corner, and children lying in the snow. You entered an active snowball fight war zone.  
+
+- You can see dozens of children AND a few adults flinging snowballs on the left, led by a boy in an indigo hoodie
+- You can't seem to make out whom is throwing them on the right, but you DO see a consistent flurry of them flying out from the branches of multiple trees.  
+ 
+*IF THEY APPROACH OR CALL TO HIM* 
+Caelum does a doubletake realizing you are there. Not even a moment later, he is struck in the side of the head, knocking him off balance and causing him to flop face first in the snow. 
+ 
+He stands up after a moment, shouting OUT toward the battlefield, before turning back to your group. "Didn't expect to see you here today. C'mon, let's go inside." 
+ 
+He guides you inside the cabin, where BOHDI the yeti is standing to the right of the door, stacking VERY large warm towels on a rack. He picks one up and drops it on Caelum's head with a toothy grin, which covers him like a massive blanket. From underneath, you hear Caelum utter a muffled THANKS.
+  
+The snow fox from the cabin (Ouja) is walking around with a fresh tray of hot cocoa for anyone that wants it. He holds out the tray to your group for a moment, and Caelum snags a cup before he heads out the door. "And thank YOU."
+
+*WHAT IS GOING ON*  
+Caelum sits down on a bench, wearing the towel like a cloak and nursing the cup of cocoa. "So the short version is, the kids wanted to do a snowball fight and invited Whitaker to join in. Problem is, it's him against a hundred enthusiastic children. Personally it feels a bit uneven."  
+  
+*UNEVEN FOR WHITAKER*  
+He laughs softly. "I meant for the children." 
+ 
+Ouja hops back inside the door, his tray now full of empty cups. "They're making their final push, if you want to watch the ending."  
+  
+*IF THEY LOOK*  
+The battlefield looks surprisingly sparse compared to two minutes ago. There are only six children left, all looking around with snowballs in hand ready to go, standing back to back in a circle, giggling excitedly like they have the greatest strategy of all time.  
+  
+Five snowballs fly through the air at perfect arcs from completely different trees and smash right into the top of their heads, each one flopping over in a giggle fit.  
+  
+The last one, a finch boy in a blue igloo coat, realizes he is the sole survivor. He starts throwing snowballs frantically in random directions and making more as fast as he can.  
+  
+At some point, he accidentally throws one so hard in the air that he stumbles and flops into the snow, that same snowball falling and smacking him in the back of the head.   
+  
+Whittaker magically jumps down from seemingly nowhere, kneels down in front of the kid, and touches his head with a snowball, smiling kindly.
+  
+This time, he is wearing a tight white vest with a ring of black around the midriff & a matching black choker, white jean shorts with a black belt, long white furred snowboots, and white arm warmers. He also has what looks like a snow white feathered backpack.   
+  
+You hear a soft sigh from beside you, and Morana steps forward, sipping on her own cocoa. "Guess the snowball fight is over, for today. So what brings you by?"
+
+*REGALIA*
+Her eyebrows raise seeing the little sword in your hands, and she points to Whittaker. "You might wanna take that to him. Right now.
+  
+*IF THEY APPROACH*
+Whittaker is surrounded by the excited children asking him endless questions about how he hides in the trees and throws snowballs so quickly. And Whittaker is rubbing the back of his head with a nervous laugh at all the attention.
+
+His ears flick a bit, immediately stepping in front of the children defensively, his mirthful appearance going away. "Can... I help... you..?"
+  
+*PRESENT REGALIA*  
+He flinched at first, but upon recognizing his Regalia, he reaches out slowly and takes it back, hugging it to his chest as he stares up at you all, his eyes now glowing a soft white. "Th-thank you.. Kings of Kings.."  
+  
+Morana steps out from behind your group, and kneels down beside Whittaker, petting his head again. She looks to the children. "Sorry kiddos, it's time to go home, the adults have things to talk about." 
+ 
+Every child goes 'aaawww' at the same time, but they all hug Whitaker before trotting off through the snow. Morana smiles and stands behind Whittaker. "Thank you for returning his Regalia, Kings of Kings. I think I speak for both of us when I say we owe you a significant debt."  
+  
+*CHALLENGE*  
+Whitaker's eyes flare open, staring at you in fear at the possibility of what this challenge might entail. Morana walks between him & your group, smiling wide. "Well I think that is more than fair, that's why you came here in the first place. What do you think, Whi--"
+
+She realizes he is gone again, a pile of snow left in his place. "...I should have seen that one coming."  
+  
+She will turn to your group, grinning a bit. "You know.. catching that little ninja of mine would be quite a CHALLENGE, if you catch my drift..~" She gives your group a playful wink.  
+  
+She turns and launches an ice spike at a tree, causing him to fall out of it all over again into the soft snow. She looks back to your group and nudges toward him as she runs to get behind him.  
+ 
+She will walk up to Whitaker and pick him up from behind, setting him on his two feet and dusting the snow off him. "Sweetie, I know you're scared, but this is part of your responsibility as the demense Master. Now go and do your absolute best." 
+  
+*IF CHALLENGE IS MADE* 
+ 
+Morana kisses the top of Whittaker's head and jumps just far enough to not be caught inside the circle growing from his feet (AND yours). He will frantically look around, realizing she is gone, gripping his weapon tightly. 
+ 
+And he will sudddenly remember he HAS it, staring down at it intensely. He pulls it out of its sheath slowly, a flurry of snow and ice dancing around him in a tight spiraling column. He clacks the sword back into its scabbard, causing the snow & ice to blast outward in all directions.
+
+He slips it onto the back of his waist, resting a hand on the handle. He takes a deep breath and tries his absolute HARDEST to look serious. "M-my name.. Is Whitaker Tormet'i, a-and I accept your challenge!"  
+  
+AFTER THE FIGHT  
+  
+*IF THEY LOSE*  
+Panting tiredly, legs shaking, Whitaker sheaths his sword and flops onto his knees in the snow, staring at your group silently, deep in thought.   
+  
+Morana will step in behind him and just pick him up like he weighs nothing, carrying him bridal style with a smirk, much to his blushing surprise. She walks him over to your group and sets him down on his own two feet. "Go on, tell them~"  
+  
+He bashfully nods a bit and turns to your group. "Th-that was.. I-I mean um.. mnh.." Getting frustrated with himself, he forces himself to take a calming breath and actually talks with his full volume voice.  
+  
+"Thank you for being n-nice to me and bringing back my Regalia and if you want to try again you can!"  
+  
+Morana grins down at him. "What he said~" 
+
+The two stand up and walk away hand in hand toward their shared home in the distance.
+  
+*IF THEY WIN* 
+ 
+Whittaker flops into the snow on his back, his blade jammed straight down into the powder. Exhausted, battered and bruised, he stares into the sky, and you can see him smiling a little.  
+  
+When the gold circle dissipates, Morana walks up and smiles down at Whittaker with a Cheshire grin. "Well? Did you have fun?"  
+  
+Whitaker will sit upright after a moment, nodding a bit. "I-I did.. it was scary and tough, but.. it was alot of fun.."  
+  
+He slowly gets to his feet, wobbling a bit as he does. Morana reaches down to help him up, but for once, he holds up a hand and stops her, much to her surprise. He slowly walks over, picks up his weapon, cleans it on his vest, and slides it into the scabbard on the back of his waist.   
+  
+He then hobbles to your group, taking the weapon off his waist entirely, and plants it into the snow, scabbard first. "I-I don't wanna let this go, but.. I feel better knowing it's in.. ya know.. YOUR hands than stolen, so.. take the Mokha Verglas..~"  
+  
+He lets go of the weapon with both hands at the same time, slowly standing back up and walking over to Morana. And she is absolutely delighted to see this change in him. Morana takes his hand in hers, Whitaker smiling up at her, then your group.
+
+Morana comments, "I think I speak for both of us when I say, you are welcome back anytime~"  
+  
+Whittaker nods happily and waves at your group with his free hand, both of them walking toward the house together, before Whittaker trips on a thick pile of snow and flops over, pulling them both down. And they both just laugh and laugh.
+  

Story/06 - Challenges/Zahir.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+YELLOW  
+  
+Upon returning to the YELLOW demense, you see everything is pretty much the same. The beach is still golden yellow, the waves are still rolling, and the boardwalk is still standing.
+
+But, there are far fewer people out and about in the sand and water, and the few that ARE there are all heading in the same direction: To the far end of the boardwalk, toward Zahir's warehouse building.  
+  
+The stores and shops are still open, but there are signs in the windows declaring they are closing early today.
+
+*IF THEY GO TO THE STORE OR FOOD SHACK*
+(Horace the pelican / Janice the flamingo) is in the middle of putting some of their merchandise in cardboard boxes, but stops to see you coming and immediately hops behind the register. "Oh hey, it's the Kings of Kings! How can I help ya?"
+
+*WHERE IS EVERYONE*
+"DJ Zahir's having another party, and everyone's invited. I'm heading there too, I wanna sell some goodies sooner rather than later."
+
+-----
+
+*IF THEY FOLLOW*  
+The people are definitely going inside that same building, but the lights are much less blinding this time around.
+
+(NOTICE roll)
+- The music is also much less rave-like, and much more electro-pop-style.
+- You could almost swear you hear the song "Sweet Little Bumblebee"  
+  
+*IF THEY ENTER*  
+The overhead spotlights are focused in the center of the massive floorspace, surrounding a huge group of people cheering excitedly in a massive circle around that illuminated spot, chanting ZA HIR! ZA HIR! ZA HIR!  
+  
+As you wade through the crowd one person at a time, you eventually see Zahir, panting and dancing rhythmically as he waves all four arms in the air. There is also a second person flopped on the ground beside him in exhaustion. 
+
+Six of the hexagonal floor tiles are lit up bright yellow in a circle with arrows pointing out in six directions. The DJ station has a VERY old and VERY large wood-frame TV sitting atop the table with a Dance Dance Revolution display on the screen. 
+  
+The song finally ends, and the TV declares Player 1 Zahir as the winner. He turns around as the audience cheers in excitement, cheering alongside them for a moment. He then leans down and offers his opponent a hand up, the same butterfly man that ran the station during Zahir's prior show.
+
+Zahir pulls him straight into a four armed hug, thanking him for the fun. He hands his opponent off to a nearby group of people, before he is rushed by the crowd in excitement. He gives high fives & fist bumps to everyone, until he spots your group in the crowd, waving at you all excitedly. "HEY HEY! It's the Kings of Kings!"
+  
+He launches himself straight up into the air and lands behind your group, giving (highest NOTICE roller) a massive four armed bear hug. "Didja come back to visit li'l ol' me?" He giggles a bit excitedly.  
+  
+*IF REGALIA*  
+"Ohhh, you're here for the THMACKDOWN, are ya?"
+
+*YES*
+"Well fine by me, I'm all warmed up!" 
+ 
+He launches into the open air overhead with a line of yellow light trailing him Tron style, spinning in circles around the station where the TV is. In a matter of moments, the TV setup is gone AND the station is back to how it was during the party before, ready for someone to operate it. 
+  
+He grabs the mic and flutters in the air for a moment before loudly speaking, "ATTENTION PARTYGOERS, WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY A RETURN APPEARANCE OF THE KINGS OF KINGS! AND THEY ARE HERE TO TAKE ON DJ ZAHIR ONLARLA IN AN OFFICIAL CHAAAAALLEEEEENGE!!!"  
+  
+Everyone in the audience suddenly explodes in cheer, backing up and giving your group plenty of space. Zahir floats down and pitches the microphone toward the DJ station, and it is caught by the same butterfly man he just won against.
+  
+Zahir clangs his topmost two fists together, and you see he has dawned a pair of metal gauntlets in the shape of large bees with mandibles for knuckle guards. "The stage is set! The lights are just right! It's time to show you how I fight!!!"  
+   
+AFTER THE FIGHT   
+  
+*IF THEY LOSE*  
+Zahir is panting up a storm, but is also laughing heartily, very much enjoying this whole encounter. He cups all four hands around his mouth and shouts "EVERYONE GIVE IT UP FOR THE KINGS OF KINGS!"  
+  
+Everyone cheers with excitement, and once the gold circle dissipates, the audience helps you get back onto your feet slowly and carefully. Zahir continues, "LET IT BE KNOWN THEY HAVE A VIP PASS TO EVERY PARTY FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF TIME!!!"  
+  
+Everyone cheers their heads off and suddenly goes full mosh pit, lifting your group into the air and parading you around the entire facility as the music picks back up. They dance around d with you all in their arms for a song or two, before letting you down near the building entrance.  
+  
+"You guys did amazing, and you put on a great show! Feel free to come back for a rematch, and next time, I know you'll do even better!"  
+  
+*IF THEY WIN*  
+Zahir flops onto his knees, legs splaying wide anime schoolgirl style, and throws his head back, flinging beads of sweat back at the audience.   
+  
+"THAT.. WAS.. AMAZING!" He throws his hands in the air. "I HAVENT HAD A FIGHT THAT GOOD IN AGES!"  
+  
+He slowly stands up, pulling off his gauntlets with slow pained difficulty, and offers them to your group. "You've earned my Nova Knuckles, AND my respect!"  
+  
+He turns to the people before announcing, "GIVE IT UP FOR THE KINGS OF KIIIIINGS!!!"
+
+Applause erupts from the audience for several seconds, before Zahir flops back onto the ground in exhaustion. "I think for the first time in a long time, I need a break..."  
+  
+He closes his eyes, smiling wide as he rests. The other partygoers fall silent, looking toward each other in conformation, before slowly gathering around Zahir to pick him up as a group and carry him off outside the facility, mosh pit style.  
+  
+*IF THEY ASK*  
+One of the partygoers, a human woman with a black ponytail in neon green and black clothing, tells you they're taking him home.  
+  
+*IF THEY FOLLOW*  
+You see in the distance what looks like a normal wooden beach house, the walls painted an amber yellow and the roof is a brick red. The home is fenced in with a small front yard & much larger backyard, and you see what looks like man-made beehives in that yard.
+  
+The people carrying him coordinate opening the front door for him and carry him inside. 
+  
+-----  
+  
+*LIVING ROOM*  
+The building itself is surprisingly normal. Basic yellow walls and brown furniture, some bee and honeycomb shaped knickknacks all around, nothing too out of the ordinary.  
+  
+(INVESTIGATE Roll) You see an entire shelf of framed photographs, each one showing a different party he has thrown with different guests of honor. You all find the one he took with your group last time you visited the Demense, but the one beside it catches your eye.
+
+- You find a group photo of Zahir with the three commanders of the Thunder Force and King Akarui  
+- The photo couldn't be more than a year old
+- The scar under Harken's eye is missing  
+  
+-----  
+  
+*BEDROOM*  
+  
+The light is low, but you can see a king size bed in the far corner, a few encouraging posters on the walls making various bee puns, and a desk covered in tools, scraps of metal, various wires, and other pieces of electronics.  
+  
+(INVESTIGATE roll)  
+- There are hexagonal plates on the table 
+- They are connected to light fixtures 
+- LIGHT magic is glowing from the power units 
+  
+-----  
+  
+*BACKYARD*  
+  
+The entire yard is full of fresh produce, bright flowers, and SO MANY GODDAMN BEES SWARMING AROUND A MASSIVE WOODEN HIVE. There is also a sign that says WARNING: Melipona beecheii  
+  
+(ACADEMICS Roll)  
+- You recall this as a type of bee without stingers but they bite STUPID hard  
+- Their honey is smooth and a little sour, but has medicinal AND psychedelic proerties  
+- The Mayans had a male god associated with this species of bee called AH-MUZEN-CAB  
+

Story/07 - The Crooked King/The Crooked King.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,196 @@
+THIS IS TO BE TOLD ONCE THEY HAVE EARNED THEIR SIXTH REGALIA  
+  
+----- ----- ----- ----- -----   
+  
+You spot a postcard half sticking out of the mail slot of your home, addressed to 'Kings of Kings, 513 (Fave DM last name) Avenue.' And the photo on the front is from the Ocean Demense's island.
+ 
+*READ IT* 
+There is no name listed as to whom sent it, but it states in some scrawl of red ink, "TODAY, 5PM, POST OFFICE"
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*IF THEY TRAVEL BY VEHICLE*
+(NOTICE Roll) You hear a pair of motorcycle engines behind you
+
+There are four people riding suspiciously close, two each on a pair of motorcycles, wearing open-front helmets, sunglasses, and bandanas, and are aiming guns at (each of) your group's vehicle(s). You are being chased by Marauders.
+
+- The 4x4 grid will be treated as a two-lane stretch of highway that constantly progresses, and they will have to avoid incoming cars & motorcycles
+- While on the motorcycles, the DRIVER will use MAGIC attacks with ACADEMICS or ram the vehicles with DRIVE, and the passenger will use SHOOT, THROWING, or FIGHT attacks when close enough
+- Occasionally, the Marauders hop into the wrong lane of traffic and purposely cause an oncoming car to make an emergency turn & risk hitting the players' vehicle(s), which will deal 5DMG on a HIT (DRIVE roll)
+- If the players' vehicle is desroyed, the fight will resume on foot instead, with the Marauders keeping their motorcycles.
+- If they beat a motorcycle, it automatically defeats both Marauders riding on it. They win the fight if both are defeated.
+
+-----
+ 
+*POST OFFICE*
+You arrive at the post office on time, but everything appears to be shutting down for the evening. Workers are starting to pour out in droves, all of them laughing and groaning in varying degrees. The OPEN sign on the front of the building will flip to CLOSED right before you show up.  
+  
+*THE SECOND ANYONE COMPLAINS*
+An explosion occurs right behind your group. The warehouse building right across the street from the post office is now a pile of rubble, and a literal fleet of Marauders are pouring out, carrying multiple wooden shipping crates in groups of four.  
+ 
+Out of the smoke steps a new individual, wearing a modified motorcycle outfit of mostly black with gold sleeves from the elbows and knees down, a waist length gold cape, and an elongated motorcycle helmet with a crown emblem on the front. He tightens his black gloves a bit, turning to see your group. "Well this is a surprise, the Kings of Kings came to greet us at our latest acquisition."  
+  
+AT ANY REMARK  
+"Riiight... so I literally have anything better to do than play with you, so I'm just going to... yeah..." He will attempt to walk away.  
+  
+-----  
+  
+WHEN CHALLENGED  
+A golden circle radiates out from under the feet of the challenger AND the man before you, overlapping to form one. He just chuckles and shakes his head slowly, pulling out a gold cutlass from behind himself, aiming the tip at your group. "Your CHALLENGE is... DENIED."  
+  
+He turns around, swings his arm downward, and cuts through the circle's boundary with a swooping slash, causing it to pause in place, flickering and flashing for a moment before completely shattering around you like glass. He finishes his wide swing and faces your group again, aiming the tip of his sword in your direction again.
+  
+"Niiice, right? I call it my Crooked Cutlass. This little beauty fucks with those fancy gold magic circles made by the Regalia. I just have to get REALLY REALLY pissed off to do it. And standing before the ASSHOLES interfering with my plans makes that so goddamn easy."  
+  
+-----  
+  
+SHOOT ATTACK  
+As the projectile approaches, it is suddenly caught inches before it lands in his helmet, resting in the hand of an identically dressed man, except his outfit is black with BLUE accents, and his helmet bears the letter A. The same man from the incident with the metal theft. 
+  
+K: Allow me to introduce you to my speed demon of an assistant, Ace. He handles all the things I dont care to dodge.  
+  
+A: We've met, sir.  
+  
+K: Is that right? Were they the ones that busted your helmet the other day? Damn... I'm gonna have to take that expense out of your paycheck.   
+  
+A: ... Unfortunate.  
+  
+-----  
+  
+MAGIC ATTACK  
+
+(LV3 or lower)
+As the spell approaches, you see the familiar sight of a wave of gold magic absorbing, eating, and canceling the spell.
+
+(LV4 or LV5)
+Before the creature you summoned has a chance to attack, a separate summon appears directly beside it in (magically opposite color), and immediately dives after the creature, causing the two to fight independently of your group.
+
+A new, shorter person steps out from directly behind King, this time VERY much obvious it is a woman, but her suit is black with WHITE accents, and her helmet bears a smaller, more petite crown.
+  
+K: Oh where are my manners? A king is nothing without his Queen, and she just HAPPENS to be one of the most powerful mages in the land.  
+  
+Q: You flatter me, my King.. But I refuse to let anyone damage what I consider my property. Or my paycheck for that matter.  
+  
+K: Your dedication to your craft is just so... so appreciated.  
+  
+-----  
+  
+MELEE ATTACK
+
+(ALLOW THEM TO CHANGE THEIR ATTACK ROLL INTO AN ATHLETICS ROLL)
+
+*IF YOU PASS OR MATCH*
+You stop your attack just in time to brace for impact as a massive studded bat swings in and slams face first into your body, sending you flying back into your group. But since you made your ATHLETICS save, you don't take damage, you are just a little stunned as you land on your feet.
+
+*IF YOU FAIL*
+You stop your attack just in time to brace for impact as a massive studded bat swings in and slams face first into your body, sending you flying back into your group. You skid into the feet of your group, having taken a solid four damage hit.
+
+Standing before you is another man, slightly taller and much beefier than King, this time in a black outfit trimmed in yellow, and bearing a simple letter J on his helmet.  
+  
+K: Now no self respecting leader would ever go anywhere without some hired muscle, isn't that right Jack?  
+  
+J: Got that right. Gave me a chance to test out my latest acquisition as well.  
+  
+K: And a fine addition it is.  
+  
+-----  
+  
+THROWN ATTACK  
+  
+As the projectile heads toward him, a hand reaches out and catches the object. A woman in the same outfit but in black with RED trimming and a helmet bearing a clown face casually strides forward, thumbing with the thrown item. "And that... was... close."  
+  
+K: Impeccable timing, Joker.  
+  
+JK: Shove it, asshole. I never agreed to go by that name.  
+  
+K: Your attitude and wit simply brightens my day every time I hear it.   
+  
+-----  
+  
+*WHAT IS YOUR GOAL*
+King steps forward. "It's simple. I'm leaving."
+
+He pulls out a golden revolver in his left hand and pulls back the hammer. "I found out this place's grand secret. I know all about the Diadem, the purpose of the Demense Masters, and the pot of gold supposedly at the end of the rainbow. And surprise surprise, it just might be a crock of shit."  
+  
+"So I plan to take myself and my most loyal employees here off this island first chance I get. And just because I can, I'm gonna make a pitstop to every Demense Master, plant a round between their eyes, and tell them to 'kiss my ass' on the way out the door."
+
+You all hear a sudden click, before everyone turns to see Joker holding an elemental potion grenade. "Alright... that's all I needed to hear. Deal's off, chump."
+
+She suddenly drops the grenade in front of the enemy group, before stealthily disappearing right before everyone's eyes. King suddenly screams KILL THEM!!! before the potion hits the ground, coating everyone on his team in a splash of black magic, acting as a smokescreen.
+
+In that one brief moment, you see Joker reappear in front of your group, and she tells you to follow her, then takes off running into the closest alley.
+ 
+*IF THEY FOLLOW* 
+She runs down a few alleyways until you reach the Residential district, grabbing the door on a seemingly random house, and yanking it open, telling you all to get inside.
+
+Once you're all in, she slams the door, locks it behind her, bars it up with a nearby couch, and takes a quick breath, releasing a deep sigh. "Okay... I don't think they followed us... follow me."
+ 
+She guides you down to the basement door, walking down first and clicking on the light.
+
+The basement is very minimally furnished with a couch, a bed, a table covered in coin & small bladed weapons, a coat rack with a green longbow hanging from it, a small fridge, and a small half bathroom. 
+  
+She sighs heavily and flops onto the couch, looking up to your group. "Not gonna lie, thought you might not even show." 
+ 
+She quickly removes her helmet, revealing a matting down of dark brown hair and fur. She quickly shakes the sweat out and reveals her hair fully, revealing herself to be a dark furred wolf woman.
+
+(CONTACTS Roll) The same dark furred wolf woman that delivered that package to the Capitol. The one NASH was afraid of. You wanna say her name was... Coco?
+  
+But when she opens her eyes, you see they are a blatantly pure red. Crimson, one might say. "Alright... let's talk."
+
+(REGARDLESS OF WHICH TOPIC)
+She cracks open an energy drink and slurps it, shaking a bit in her seat as it hits near immediately. "HOO yeah, that's the shit. Ahh...""
+  
+-----  
+ 
+*WHAT HAPPENED* 
+"Few months ago, I got blindsided and kidnapped by the Marauders. When I woke up, I was in some random-ass jail cell, in a building, in the dark, surrounded by those fuckheads. They nabbed my weapons, my poitons, and had me tied up eight ways to Sunday."
+
+"That day, Crooked King paid me a visit. Long story short, he made me a deal. I work for him, he leaves my dad's demense alone. I agreed, with the condition if he made even the SLIGHTEST hint of a push against Dorrin, his ass is grass." 
+
+-----
+
+*WHY IS SHE BROWN*
+"Nasty ass fur dye. Doesn't last very long, but it disguises my scent, makes it so I can walk around safely." 
+ 
+----- 
+  
+*ASKS ABOUT IDENTITIES*  
+"Crooked King knows who we all are, but none of us have a clue who he is, and he's done a damn good job keeping it that way." 
+
+She drops a handful of photos onto the nearby coffee table. "He calls us the FACES, has us each watch the four Districts. I got the Essentials district, watched for changes or developments he could find useful for his master plan."  
+  
+"Queen watches the Gated District. Gave an in-depth look where everyone of 'higher value' lived that might be an asset or an issue down the road."  
+  
+"Jack's got the Business District. He keps an eye for any new businesses we might be able to raid for unique supplies."  
+  
+"Ace has the Residential District, fucks with the calls made and received so the Thunder Force couldn't make it in time to certain Marauder incidents."
+
+(IF THEY MENTION THE MOLE)
+"Well at least they're not unaware."
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*TAKE HIM DOWN* 
+"You wanna collapse his empire, you gotta take down the FACES first. I've been working on a strategy for just that." She walks over to a nearby corkboard covered in papers and strings. 
+  
+"Queen's a ranged fighter, keeps people far away. Mostly spells, sometimes guns. You get up close, she will fold like paper."  
+  
+"Jack is all about up close and personal, plus the new hammer's a pain. Either keep your distance or, if you're either really brave or really stupid, you go toe to toe with him and PRAY he misses."
+  
+"Ace is tricky. He's got combat experience, Thunder Force training, and who knows what else. His go-to is mid-range so he can move around freely. You disable his movement, he should be easy pickings."
+  
+"The Crooked King is gonna be the biggest issue. Gold weapons break on their own, but the two he uses are reinforced. Challenging him is worthless, his sword can eat magic, and we have never seen him in an actual fight, so we have no combat strategy. BUT... I have a theory that without the gold weapons, he is an absolute pussy."   
+
+-----
+
+*WHAT IF THEY COME AFTER US*
+"Good news is, I know they won't come after you at your place, or they would out themselves as either really desperate or openly admit you are a threat. And as Marauders, that would be a BAD image."
+
+"But if worse comes to worst, my base is your base."
+  
+----- 
+
+(IF THEY DONT ASK ABOUT BOW)
+(CONTACTS ROLL) You suddenly recall someone mentioning something about a missing bow from the GREEN demense. 
+ 
+"Oh that? Stole it to prove myself to the cause. Crooked King actively DESPISES the Masters and their Regalia, so he just lets us all fuck with them however we want."

Story/08 - The Faces/The Faces.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,431 @@
+THIS IS TO BE TOLD ONCE ALL TWELVE REGALIA HAVE BEEN EARNED  
+  
+----- ----- ----- ----- -----  
+ 
+You receive a call very early in the morning. 
+You hear Vivid, and she is panicking. 
+ 
+"Guys, something's wrong! I'm in King Akarui's office and he's not here! Have you--" The line suddenly goes dead. 
+ 
+Within seconds, you hear and feel a rumbling sensation from your living room. Anyone who WASN'T awake would be fully awake at this point. 
+ 
+*IF THEY LOOK* 
+You can see the remnants of a massive fireball and a smoke trail coming from the center of the city. 
+  
+-----  
+ 
+*AT THE CAPITOL* 
+The center Capitol building has a massive burning hole in the backside of it, and the ground is littered with flaming debris & burning paper. Noone appears to be hurt severely, but a few people have some scratches and burns.
+
+(INVESTIGATE Roll)
+(HIGH Roll) You spot a pile of broken bricks with a furred arm sticking out
+(LOW Roll) You spot a badly damaged file cabinet with a pair of legs sticking out, wearing badly burned motorcycle pants and heavy black boots
+
+-----
+
+- FURRED ARM
+- PAIR OF LEGS
+- SPLIT TEAM + SAVE BOTH
+
+- *FURRED ARM*
+You manage to pull an unconscious wolf woman out of the debris. Though covered in dirt & scorch marks, she has neck-length black hair, black fur across most of her body except her white limbs & face, and tight sunglasses wrapped around her face. And although badly damaged, she is wearing a basic black spaghetti strap top and tight black pants.
+
+She sits upright after a moment, groaning in agony, and looks up to your group. "Urgh... what happened..?"
+
+*ANY RESPONSE*
+She suddenly does a doubletake and twists herself around into a pounce position, diving right over your group and punching a man in a motorcycle outfit standing right behind (lowest roller) with all her might, knocking the assailant backward into the rubble. She then collapses from the pain, bellowing in agony.
+
+The attacker slowly sits upright, and you see them wearing the outfit associated with the person you know as JOKER. But this person is taller and more masculine than the JOKER you remember, and their outfit is all black instead of accented in red.
+
+-----
+
+*PAIR OF LEGS*
+You pull an unconscious Joker from the pile of debris, except this person is taller and more masculine than the JOKER you remember, and their outfit is all black instead of accented in red.
+
+The "black joker" sits upright, groaning in agony and holding their motorcycle helmet-clad head. "What the fuck happened..? Wait, WHERE IS SHE?!" You KNOW you've heard that male voice before.
+
+From behind, you see a black and white wolf woman with shoulder-length black hair and sunglasses pounce onto the back of 'black joker,' getting them immediately into a strangle hold, before suddenly throwing them back into the debris. The woman then screams out in agony and collapses into a heap.
+
+-----
+
+*SAVE BOTH*
+(High roller(s)) pull(s) out an unconscious wolf woman. Though covered in dirt & scorch marks, she has neck-length black hair, black fur across most of her body except her white limbs & face, and tight sunglasses wrapped around her face. And although badly damaged, she is wearing a basic black spaghetti strap top and tight black pants.
+
+(Low roller(s)) pull(s) out an unconscious Joker, except this person is taller and more masculine than the JOKER you remember, and their outfit is all black instead of accented in red.
+
+Both of them come to after a moment, badly injured and visibly in pain. But they take one look at your group, then turn and see each other. They both immediately take combat poses and rush each other in rage.
+
+(PHYSIQUE Roll to keep them each from attacking each other)
+(Both will have a +1 PHYSIQUE for this roll due to physical condition)
+(Player(s) will succeed even on a MATCH for this one)
+
+- *Wolf woman passes, Black Joker fails*
+Both people struggle against your (collective) grip(s), but the wolf woman manages to escape with some effort and dives after Black Joker, immediately landing a double kick into their chest and knocking them clear back into the debris. But the wolf woman crumbles onto the ground, bellowing in agony.
+
+- *Black Joker passes, wolf wman fails*
+Both people struggle against your (collective) grip(s), but Black Joker breaks free and immediately takes a swing at the wolf woman with all their weight into it. But she simply grabs his arm and swings him around, throwing them clear back into the debris. But the wolf woman crumbles onto the ground, bellowing in agony.
+
+- *Both fail*
+Both people struggle against your (collective) grip(s), but neither can seem to break free. Both of them slowly sink onto their knees, their injuries severe and their struggling only making things worse.
+
+The woman manages to take a deep breath and screams "LET ME GO! HE ALMOST KILLED ME!" This is the voice of Vivid, but she is no longer wearing her brown fur dye.
+
+"AND I'M GONNA FINISH THE JOB WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU!" This male voice you definitely recognize.
+
+-----
+
+- *EITHER WAY*
+The smell in the air suddenly mixes with the stench of ozone, and moments later, the Thunder Force finally arrive, four specifically arriving to grab Vivid and Black Joker, two each. But when they grab Black Joker, they yank off his helmet and reveal the fluffy sheepy visage of LUCKY. And unlike before, he has deep black rings under his eyes, like he hasn't slept in a week. And he is giving Vivid a look of absolute bloodthirst.
+
+-----
+
+You hear a blaring horn sound and see a pair of boxy vehicles pull up, one red and one white. 
+ 
+Within seconds, you see a fleet of firefighters run out and start blasting the exploded office with water spells, while a fleet of white coated & uniformed men & women all set up special tents, and start helping various people inside to treat any injuries.
+
+The two Thunder Force officers help carry Vivid carefully into one of the tents, while the other two VERY strongly guide Lucky into the opposite side of the same tent. And for safety, they tie him down to a makeshift table so he doesn't attack anyone else.
+
+Two male nurses walk into the tent, an Alpaca with poofy brown hair & a gold nametag reading MICAH attending to Vivid, and a black (Vietnam forest) scorpion man with a pale blonde buzzcut & a gold nametag stating KITIA carefully doing the same to Lucky. And 'for some odd reason,' Lucky is VERY interested in holding still.
+
+-----
+
+*WHAT IS GOING ON*
+Vivid sighs a little in relief as she feels the healing magic taking effect. "I spotted the FACES in the Gated community, they kidnapped the fox guy and stole his house for their temporary base."
+
+"They're getting ready for the next step in their plan. They're gonna destroy the hydroelectric generator and cripple the city's power, then blame it all on the King's negligence."
+
+Lucky suddenly starts yelling. "THE KING IS TO BLAME FOR EVERYTHING! HE REFUSES TO TRY HARDER TO GET US OFF THIS FUCKING ISLAND!!!" He suddenly winces a bit nervously seeing his nurse's scorpion stinger hovering so close to his body.
+
+*WHY ARE YOU HERE / DIDNT YOU GIVE UP*
+"After I was abandoned at the R&D building, I gave up everything I had and everything I knew. Not just about the Marauders, just... I gave up on everything. The 'I was gonna sit in my cell and rot for the rest of my life' kind of done."
+
+"The day after I was put behind bars, the Crooked King broke in and paid me a visit. He offered me my freedom, and I turned him down. Told him what I just told you. And he told me that if I was ready to give up on the world... then why not watch the world burn. And he gave me the Black Joker outfit."
+
+"he said all I had to do was either capture or kill King Akarui, even game me a squad to work with. I had them wait outside his house for him when he left, and they would either capture him or make him run in a panic. He'd get to the building and I'd set off my explosive trap.
+
+"He'd either die in the explosion or be too injured to fight back and I capture him. But since he never showed... That means my advance team got to him first! TAKE THAT, BITCH!" Right when the word 'bitch' leaves his lips, the scorpion's stinger finally pierces his shoulder, a very irritated scorpion staring back at him.
+
+He thrashes for a few seconds before finally stopping moving altogether, aside from breathing very deeply and slowly. He turns to everyone else in the tent and sighs a bit. "Before you bitch... my venom's a paralytic. He's gonna be fine in a few hours."
+
+-----
+
+
+(IF THEY LOOK TOWARD THE GATED COMMUNITY)
+You see an almost straight line of smoke trails from the entryway of the Gated Community and ending about halfway back.
+  
+-----  
+  
+*GATED DISTRICT ENTRANCE* 
+You see the entrance guard shack is on fire and the gate is completely destroyed. You also see three Marauders, as well as ACE, all waiting around. He tightens his gloves and sighs. "Looks like King was right again..."  
+ 
+He reaches out to two of the three Marauders, and smashes their heads together, before the third one turns around to face him, and he punches that one hard enough to knock him out. "Call me old fashioned, but I prefer a one-on-one fight." 
+
+(ACE is challenging ONE member of the team)
+  
+- *WHY HE IS DOING THIS* 
+"I'm an immigrant to this land. United States military, deployed here ten years ago. My mission was likely the same as yours, (1) find out what makes this place so specifically indestructible, (2) see if it could be replicated for military purposes, and (3) discover what happened to the soldiers sent in before me. 
+  
+We carried out our mission as best we could, and our conclusion came down to a unique magic we simply could not pin down the nature of. But being unable to leave AND being unable to defeat the Masters meant our mission was ultimately a failure.
+
+So we dissolved our group and became members of society, some of us in the Thunder Force, myself included. When the Marauders became an active threat, I did everything I could to stop them. But nothing we did was ever enough.
+
+Every time we put one away, two more would appear. These were not just new people gone criminal either, these were the citizens I was supposed to protect. It became very clear that so long as they were stuck here, they were their own worst enemy.
+
+I infiltrated the Marauders and attempted to bring down the entire organization. And failed. But I earned an audience with their Crooked King. He helped me reach the conclusion that the island itself is to blame for everything.
+
+They stay prisoners on this island, attack each other out of misery, promote that attitude to the next people, and more join in to spread the misery. An unending cycle that will only grow, unless we all get off this island. So we struck a deal.
+  
+I helped him craft their organized ranking system to coordinate & track their forces, fudged information on reports, and misdirected the Thunder Force during deployment calls. In exchange, he frees the people from this accursed island.
+  
+-----  
+  
+Running further inside, you see the black and yellow Jack, sitting on his massive kanabo like a chair. Some of the houses have their standalone bushes on the edges of the property set on fire, almost giving it a kind of gladiator arena feel. "Sure as shit took you long enough... I had money riding on Ace not stopping you... looks like I win the bet."  
+
+(JACK is challenging ONE member of the team)
+  
+- *IF THEY ASK WHY*  
+"I've run into fifty different immigrants to this land, and seen every kind of currency they carry. Do you know how many of them use magic infused coins? ZERO. We literally have the single rarest currency in existence here in Diadem. Not because it's scarce either, but because we exclusively hold the ability to make it. 
+ 
+Do you have any idea how much that information is worth? I could take ONE of these coins to any nation on the planet and be set for life. And the Crooked King promised me my weight in Z once we are free. He even paid half up front! It's honest business, nothing more." 
+  
+-----  
+  
+You reach the front yard of Nash's family home, the bushes set on fire and clear evidence of explosions. This time, you are met by Queen, casually leaning against the doorway of Nash's invaded home. "Hilarious, Jack wasn't worth a single Z he was paid. Oh well, guess that means I get to finish you off afterall."  
+
+(QUEEN is challenging everyone left)
+  
+- *IF THEY ASK WHY*  
+"Oh honey, it's all in the title. I'm a queen, tandem to his being, my King. But a king and queen are nothing without their kingdom to rule. And my kingdom is, was, and always will be DIADEM ITSELF!  
+  
+Once his plan is fulfilled and King no longer needs Diadem, the queen shall rule in his stead! The entire island will be mine to do with as I please! I can establish any law, any structure, any taxation rate I wish! And as the queen, I will decree that everyone either get on board or get out!!!" 
+   
+(If it wasn't obvious, she is a control freak.)  
+  
+-----  
+  
+The bottom floor of the house consists of a grand entrance hall, living room, dining room, library, kitchen, and laundry room. Every room your group explores will be in destructive disarray, but you see no people around.
+  
+(INVESTIGATE ROLL) The most material and damage appears to be in the upper floor. 
+ 
+There are crates and bags all around one of the bedroom doors. 
+ 
+You find it to be locked, but you can hear muffled yelling from behind it.  
+  
+(FIGHT/PHYSIQUE ROLL) Once you break into the room, you see Nash lying on the ground, tied up with rope and blindfolded & muzzled by torn up rags. He hears the door open and starts thrashing, muffledly screaming for help. 
+
+*IF THEY REMOVE THE BLINDFOLD*
+He seems genuinely shocked to see you all here, but he starts turning himself around to show his tied back arms. 
+
+*UNTIE HIM*
+He picks himself up and runs to the closet door, yanking and pounding on it. "KING AKARUI IS IN HERE!"  
+  
+After a few moments of trying, he will make a mad dash for the bedroom door. "YOU TRY TO GET IN, I'LL GET THE KEYS!"  
+  
+*OPEN THE CLOSET DOOR*
+The bedroom door slams shut. And you hear several heavy objects barricading the door. And you see fire seeping in from under the door. You are trapped in the burning bedroom. 
+ 
+*INVESTIGATE ROLL* 
+The room is pretty simple. Bed, dresser, chest of drawers, cabinet, closet, window, walls, barricaded door. 
+
+*JUMP OUT THE WINDOW*
+You are on the second floor, but you can jump down without much difficulty.
+ 
+*ONCE THEY ESCAPE*
+You land in the back yard of the house, and see flames beginning to escape the window. The entire house is slowly catching fire, starting from the room you were all in and working its way down. You hear a loud wailing in the front yard, from a male voice. 
+  
+*FRONT SIDE OF THE HOUSE*
+The Crooked King is standing in front of the burning house, cradling Queen in his arms. "You people couldn't just curl up and die, could you? It would have made my job SO MUCH DAMN EASIER."  
+ 
+(NOTICE ROLL) You spot in the distance JOKER carrying ACE and JACK on her shoulders. 
+ 
+Joker sets the two down and approaches him, arms crossed. "Face it fucknut, they beat you fair and square!" 
+ 
+King doesn't move an inch. "I suppose I have you to thank for this too..."
+
+He turns and hands QUEEN to JOKER, then kicks her in the stomach and pushes them both away so they fall beside ACE and JACK. Ace is visibly disturbed by what he saw. "King, that is enough! She's right, they beat you at every corner. Whatever this insane plan of yours is, it won't work anymore." 
+ 
+King turns to them. "Oh no, my plan is very much salvageable. See, Akarui isn't here, which means he was captured by my first wave of men. Otherwise he would've either been caught by the explosion at his office I had LUCKY plant, or he survived it and came straight here to deal with us."
+
+"Either way, be it captured or dead, noone is running Diadem now. Which means..." 
+ 
+ACE takes a pause. "You cannot be serious." 
+ 
+KING laughs a bit. "Oh I am very serious."
+
+He walks over to ACE and leans in real close. "We all know what happens to a kingdom without a competent leader." 
+ 
+Even JACK is shocked at this revalation. "You mean we did all of this JUST so YOU could actually be the KING OF DIADEM?" 
+ 
+KING shrugs a bit. "Only for a short while. The King's throne, as it were, is the second to last step of my plan." 
+ 
+He turns to your group, both gold weapons in hand. "The only thing stopping me at this moment is my competition, the so-called Kings of Kings. ANY of you could be the next King of Diadem, if you so desired, and the people would back any one of you 100%. And I can't have that." 
+ 
+He places the back of his sword on his shoulder and aims the gun at your group. "Once you're gone, everything falls into place." 
+  
+----- ----- ----- ----- -----  
+  
+HALFWAY THROUGH THE FIGHT  
+  
+The Crooked King's helmet shatters, and you see Nash panting heavily, blood dripping from his forehead and mouth. His eyes hold a bloodthirsty rage you have NEVER seen on him. "I am so... God damn... SICK... of you people. This was a two year plan. TWO! YEARS! And all you had to do was literally NOTHING but leave it alone." 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+QUEEN suddenly shrieks "WHAT THE FUCK," pointing at Nash in disbelief. "YOU?! HOW COULD YOU BE THE CROOKED KING?!" 
+ 
+JACK is tilting his head a bit. "Damn, I lost that bet." 
+ 
+QUEEN is furious. "THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE! YOU KNEW WHO I WAS UNDER THE HELMET, AND YOU STILL LET ME BEAT YOU UP ALMOST EVERY TIME I SAW YOU?!" 
+ 
+NASH just rolls his eyes. "Please, your never hit me THAT hard. Besides, if you knew, you wouldn't have followed me." 
+ 
+ACE turns to QUEEN. "He has a point." 
+ 
+"SHUT IT!" She yanks off her helmet, revealing herself to be Anais of the HOA, and throws it on the ground. "YOU WERE NEVER GOING TO GIVE ME THE ISLAND, WERE YOU?!" 
+ 
+JACK removes his helmet, revealing himself to be JERRAS. "And what about my payment?" 
+ 
+ACE pulls his off, revealing himself as Harken. "I assume you didn't intend to free the people either." 
+ 
+Jerras and Anais turn to him. "HARKEN?!" 
+ 
+JOKER is laughing her ass off in the grass. "This is the best day of my life!"
+
+She sits up and yanks her own helmet off, revealing herself as VIVID in her original fur colors. "The leaders of the infamous and terrifying Marauders are the king's secretary, the third in command of the Thunder Force, the weapons dealer, and the Wicked Bitch of the HOA!" 
+ 
+You hear a gunshot and see a smoking hole right beside Vivid's head, which shuts her right up. And an identical trail of smoke from Nash's gun. "For the record... I missed on purpose."
+
+He pauses and picks himself up a little. "Also for the record, I DID plan to give you all exactly what you asked for, as an end result to my plan." 
+ 
+----- 
+
+*WHAT IS YOUR PLAN / WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS*
+"This is all so I can leave this dead end rat's maze. Nothing More. I've lost my friends, my family, and my future to this place. And I want OUT."  
+  
+I told you my father was an immigrant and an engineer. Built the drills that dug the hole down through Diadem being used for the hydroelectric generators. And I told you the drill exploded and killed my parents. But it wasn't an accident.
+
+The drill exploded because it came in contact with this fancy golden magic metal. It runs through the entire underside of the island. And as I learned, it gets volatile when it's hit hard enough. 
+ 
+That explosion killed my parents, AND scattered huge chunks of this metal all over the place. Once I regained my sense of thought from watching my parents die, I collected the metal and looked into why it was there in the first place.  
+  
+I spent eight years in college, job hopping until I wound up as the King's aide, all the while trying to figure out what the gold metal was and why it was there. And I couldn't find SHIT.
+  
+But ya know, eight years of fruitless efforts wears on a guy's soul, and I started to think I should move on with my life. I met my best friend in college, I had a good paying job, I owned a nice home... hell, I owned two!
+
+But I wasn't allowed that luxury. My friend and his friends were making a movie about Diadem's origins, and he found information I missed. The island was made by someone named Zeroth, to elevate mortals to a higher plane of something or other. Ancient ramblings from some whacknut in days of yore type stuff.
+
+After the movie was done, he and I worked hot & heavy to find more information for his sequel. He wanted to return the book to his source and had me come with him. Turns out he borrowed it from a Demense Master I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW EXISTED.
+
+And when he returned it, that... BASTARD... split him in two... I watched that little MONSTER rip Sunny right down the middle... Just like that, I was alone all over again..." He is visibly shaking.
+
+"I ran home and dug out my father's old lab notes. The drill, the submarine, all the plans he made for the great escape. I couldn't trust the Masters' stupid rules, not after that. Never again.
+ 
+I proposed my father's submarine plan to Akarui the next day, poured my heart and soul into the presentation. He said he would consider it. Waited a week. Then two, a month, three months, nothing. It wasn't bad enough the island took my parents and the masters took my friend... the people had to take my hope.
+
+In a fit of depression and rage, I took some of that gold metal to the Volcano Forge, to make a poetic weapon out of it and "hand deliver it" to the king. I found out it can't be melted down like normal metal. But, it could be bent, sharpened, and whittled. It was delicate, couldn't take more than a couple hits.
+  
+But the edge itself? Sharper than any blade and packs a HELL of a punch. The first shitty one I ever made accidentally cut through an anvil. AN ANVIL. BY ACCIDENT. I also found out 'by accident' that it eats magic and raw mana, and spurts out gold dust. Which is SO MUCH FUN.
+  
+I spent six months making versions, and eventually into tubes for guns. The tiny pieces I couldn't use for THAT went into those gold magic shields (like the one you're wearing), made a killing selling those through Jerras.
+ 
+I took my largest piece and poured my heart & soul into making THIS Cutlass. It cut so cleanly, glided so smoothly... But I lacked the material to make a proper handle.
+  
+I grabbed my dad's old biker gear and went to the Forest Demense in disguise. People didn't go there at night, figured I could harvest some wood for a handle in peace. And apparently Cassius is fucking psychic, because he came out of nowhere and scared me shitless.   
+  
+Words were exchanged, I fumbled a bit and called myself the Crooked King, kinda ran with it. And since I had some pent-up rage and frustration against the Masters already, I decided to challenge him and see what my weapons could really do.
+ 
+I kicked his ass eight ways to Sunday AND made his ink demon of a pet go ballistic. I went to claim my prize, but when he hid his Regalia, I got pissed and started screaming things I was... VERY grateful noone else was around to hear.  
+  
+I got so mad, I kicked him through the supposedly unbreakable magic barrier. I didn't realize until after that the SWORD was GLOWING, and it... changed the rules so things COULD go through the barrier, but only one way. I... decided to NOT press my luck and ran off with the wood.   
+  
+I kept replaying everything that happened in my head over and over, and none of it made sense independently. But I noticed a pattern on everything I hadn't before. 
+ 
+Gold magic metal under Diadem, gold magic barrier around Diadem, gold magic barrier circles, demense masters and their regalia with bits and pieces of gold on them... it's all connected. Everything here shares a common magic source and design.  
+  
+And then it hit me. IF... If this is all from the same source, then everything about this place must be made by the same person, ZEROTH. He made this island, put people on it, lined it with magic eating metal, surrounded it with an inescapable barrier, and has them challenge his twelve henchmen for God powered trinkets.
+
+But then I realized something horrifying. According to the legend, once you get all twelve in the center of town, GOD HIMSELF is supposed to appear and reward them with some fetters of mention of a god tier prize that FIVE HUNDRED YEARS WORTH OF TEXT CAN'T SEEM TO GIVE A STRAIGHT ANSWER ABOUT?!  
+  
+THIS IS ALL JUST SOME STUPID GAME! The gold metal is the cardboard walls of this magical rat maze, and we're the lab rats! The demense masters are glorified referees, and their Regalia are promotional incentives!
+ 
+The wish, the freedom, the power, whatever prize that was offered was just the fucking piece of cheese at the end of it all! Which means I lost everything and everyone I ever cared about to some COSMIC SCIENCE EXPERIMENT!  
+   
+Well when I figured that out, I decided I had enough of playing by ZEROTH's rules, and I started my own game.
+ 
+First I destroyed all the knowledge I had up to that point, including the books in the library and bookstore. If I could figure this out, someone else could too, and I couldn't risk anyone stopping me.  
+  
+Then I started the Marauders, a band of Freedom Fighters sick of being stuck in Diadem, whose sole mission was to distract King Akarui by inflicting directed attacks on certain strategic locations, all funded by my magic shield profits.
+
+But I'd keep the mortality casualties to a minimum because I AM NOT A MONSTER. Mostly just irritating property damage, unless a point needed to be made. Or, in one particular instance, a... very... unfortunate accident...""
+
+(WHOMEVER HAS THE EYES)
+You don't even need to try and activate it, the suffocatingly thick black aura seeping off him is so potent you can just SEE it like it was always visible. And it looks identical to the black aura you spotted at the funeral.
+
+-----
+
+- *YOU KILLED HIM*
+"I just went to destroy the books... Warton saw me and realized what I was there to do...  He begged me not to, and I didn't listen... He ran to call the Thunder Force, and I panicked, and... I tripped. His blood will forever stain my hands."
+
+He shakes himself back into focus. "I decreed from that day, the Marauders must NEVER take another mortal life, 'because there's no point to dealing misery if they aren't around to feel it.' But the Demense Masters, well... I had no such qualms of taking them out.
+  
+With the Thunder Force busy, King Akarui buried under paperwork, and the Demense Masters kept occupied, the people would become unsettled! Chaos, combat, property damage, failing financial infrastructure, it's enough to drive ANYONE mad!
+ 
+It would promote the idea that MAYBE someone really SHOULD try to get us out of here sooner, without relying on some mystical playthings all being in one place at the same time. Of which, by the way, AFTER 500 YEARS, noone was able to do.  
+  
+And my plan WORKED! The submarine proposal FINALLY got approved! Supplies were coming in, the escape vessel was underway! Once it was done, the Crooked King would magically disappear, the generators in the hole would be shut down, we would send out a crew of people, and we would finally be free!  
+  
+And then, at the WORST possible time, YOU SHOWED UP. You started giving these people HOPE that their fate could be solved by your quirky can-do attitudes and following the legend's rules. AND to make matters worse, you were competent at collecting Regalia. And as a result, faith in MY submarine idea plummeted.
+ 
+So I changed it up a little, decided to send my men to kidnap King Bird Boy, then take over as active leader myself. As the king's most trusted aide, I would fill the void until the submarine was finished and we got out of here.
+ 
+He stares at Harken. "By getting us out of here the easy way, the people would be freed."
+
+He turns to Jerras. "You'd have all the rare currency you'd ever need AND a ticket to ANY nation you wanted."
+
+He turns to Anais. "And as the acting King, I'd leave you in charge after I left."
+
+"Everything would've been wrapped up in a nice little bow, everyone would have been happy." 
+ 
+Vivid glares at him. "And what about me?" 
+ 
+Nash stares back for a second. "Oh I fully intended to MURDER every Demense Master, especially the one that took my friend away from me. But I decided to call that pre-emptive hit I called on Dorrin my one attempt and leave him alone. I'm a man of my word."
+
+"And that officially brings us back to the here and now, where I kill each and every one of you FUCKERS calling yourselves Kings of Kings. The last roadblock in the way to my freedom."
+  
+- *IF THEY ASK ABOUT AZAR*    
+
+"Okay to be fair, THAT was an accident. I heard a rumor about some full blooded dragon out in the Farmlands, and had to see it for myself. I followed the purple one when he went out into the middle of nowhere to feed the thing. 
+ 
+When it went out for a flight, I tried grabbing some dragon scales to see if they could make a more comfy handle, and that thing dropped out of the sky and scared the shit out of me. 
+ 
+I took a swing in self defense, you can hardly blame ME for that one. It was LITERALLY fight or flight." 
+ 
+- *IF THEY ASK ABOUT THE SHIPMENT* 
+
+"That was plan B. On the extreme off chance my plan DIDN'T pan out, I had the others take the last shipment of necessary pieces to build a mini-sub JUST big enough for myself and my four most loyal teammates to bail out in."
+
+He will pause and turn toward the FACES. "Or at least they WERE, until they started questioning EVERYTHING I EVER DID FOR THEM!!!"
+
+He will sigh VERY loudly before finishing. "Good help is so hard to find, I swear." 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*IF NOONE SAYS OR DOES ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY* 
+All four of the faces stare at Nash for a few seconds in silence, then look at each other. Jerras is the first one to speak up. "You really expect us to believe you intended to do all of that..?" 
+ 
+"I don't EXPECT anything. That is the truth, plain and simple. Your belief in it is irrelevant to the fact." He pulls out a large HP potion and chugs it quick, wiping the blood from his lip after. "And I've come too far to stop now." 
+ 
+Harken speaks up finally. "You are going to kill yourself, you realize that right?" 
+ 
+Nash pulls out his gun, loads it with fresh ammo one bullet at a time, and clicks it closed. "I'm not giving up until either they go down or I do. I'm willing to die on this hill." 
+ 
+Anais actually stands up and walks up to him, and for once all the rage in her eyes is gone. "Do you have any idea how much I want to kill you right now?" 
+ 
+"No more than them I assume--" She interrupts him mid sentence by grabbing his shirt collar, yanking him down to her level, and KISSING HIM. Right in front of everyone.
+
+He takes a few seconds to process what just happened. "...you are giving me really mixed signals, you know that?" 
+ 
+"Shut it." She pulls out her own rifle and loads a fresh magazine. "If we make it out of this alive, you and I are gonna have A LONG TALK." 
+ 
+Harken stands up and lights a cigarette, sighing a bit. "Well you can count me out. If I join either side, I stop being a neutral entity. You both have different means of achieving the same goal. Whomever wins, is the one in the right." 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+ROLL FOR JERRAS 
+ 
+- *DOES NOT JOIN* 
+"Well you can count me out too. As a businessman, I know when the coin ain't worth the effort." 
+ 
+- *DOES JOIN* 
+"Well you can count me in. I make it a habit to see every business deal through to the end." He marches himself over to Nash's side, hefting his hammer on his shoulder. 
+ 
+Vivid rolls her eyes and groans. "Fuuuck, this is such bullshit..!"
+
+She picks herself up and walks to your group, pulling out her sword. "Harken, you and I are gonna have words after all of this. But I know HE gave you the order to shoot my dad, so I'm gonna kick his ass TWICE as hard for the BOTH of you." 
+ 
+REDO FIGHT WITH HALF HEALTH ENEMIES 
+ 
+*IF THEY WIN* 
+Nash flops against the ground HARD, curling up a bit in severe pain. Anais slowly drags herself toward him, groaning in agony, until she reaches him. 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+- *IF JERRAS JOINED* 
+Jerras lies on his back, half conscious. "I think it's safe to say it's over..." 
+ 
+- *IF JERRAS DID NOT JOIN* 
+Harken takes a long drag off his cigarette. "You lost fair and square. Twice. Time to pack it in." 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+"NO! I'M NOT DONE!" Nash slams his fist into the ground in frustration, and Anais puts her hand over his, holding it tight. He stops shaking for a moment, muttering a bit in frustration, and she full on hugs him tightly from behind. 
+ 
+*IF THEY APPROACH* 
+Nash raises his arm and reveals a green potion bottle. "THIS ISN'T OVER, YOU HEAR ME?!"
+
+He slams the potion bottle into the ground right in front of him, causing a whirlwind explosion to send himself, AND Anais clinging to his back, flying into the distance. 
+ 
+Harken just stares, his cigarette finally gone. "I'll give him this, he is persistent."
+
+He walks over to your group, helping each of you up. "This is going to be one hell of a report."
+
+(Recommend the party rests before summoning Zeroth, given their current condition)

Story/09 - The Ending/The Ending.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,556 @@
+ LAST CHAPTER
+ 
+------------------------- 
+ 
+*BRING ALL 12 REGALIA FORTH*
+*CALL DOWN ZEROTH*
+ 
+The island itself begins to rumble, and all twelve gates are now shining with ethereal glows of their respective colors, illuminating the entire island. You see a thirteenth light appear from behind the welcome center, a bright golden glow that outshines the other twelve.
+
+The trees behind the welcome center start falling one after another with thunderous crashes. When those sounds stop, you hear the crumbling and crushing of stone, glass, and metal. In mere moments, the welcome center collapses in a cloud of dust and debris. 
+ 
+From the cloud steps Reiji the Stallion, eyes shining an ethereal gold and body brimming with warbling golden energy, head held high. Every step he takes releases a soft pulse of golden energy from his hooves, causing a small crater in the concrete and asphalt as he makes a prideful march toward your group.
+  
+He finally stops his destructive march right in front of your group, the aura around him alone applying an odd physical pressure, making the air itself feel heavier. He raises his arms and holds them out before him, a proud voice ringing out with a second-long echo.
+
+"Congratulations, ye warriors of might and wisdom, for accomplishing that with none could do before you. You have proven yourselves worthy and exalted members of your kind. I am here to give you that which has remained unclaimed for half a millennium, a prize beyond any other across existence itself."
+
+-----
+
+(WHAT PRIZE)
+"I have watched your kind over the last eon, and your struggles are older than you realize. It is written into the fabric of your being, into the fetters of existence itself. What you are is a fragment of the universe's own birth cry-- MY birth. The echo of a cosmos' first steps into existence as something new."
+
+"From this first word uttered across the endless emptiness came the concepts that defined all of existence in and endless radiant spiral... and yet here you stand, a mote of that magical infinity, caught in that ancient dance, wielding that same primal force that forged you AND the worlds you occupy... yet you still tremble."
+
+"You fear your daily lives and struggles will consume you, and leave you as meaningless atoms in its wake. I have seen this sensation in the countless beings whom have walked before you. What I offer is a chance to exist in a state beyond that, where the tireless struggles of mortality will never touch you again. THAT... is your prize."
+
+-----
+
+(WHAT ARE YOU)
+"As the name you know me by suggests, I am that which existed before anything else. The first of this universe's states of existence, he whom from which all is sourced and originated. My names are endless and infinite, some incomprehensible, but for simplicity sake, Zeroth is more than adequate."
+
+-----
+
+(WHAT IS THIS PLACE)
+"The Diadem is a fragment of my own existence given tangible form, designed in such a manner to stoke the curiosities of your kind. The Diadem and its dozen rooms are each their own unique paradises, designed to allure and placate those of a weaker will, while sustaining and challenging those of a stronger mindset."
+
+-----
+
+(WHAT ARE THE DEMENSE MASTERS)
+"The Masters, as you refer to them, are personified concepts. Anything and everything that is, was, or will be, is sourced in part from them, as they are sourced from me. They are the elements at their rawest and most powerful, given sentience in a manner such as myself."
+
+-----
+
+(WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES FOR)
+"The Challenges are a manner of exposure to the Masters' rawest and most potent states of existence. Through any direct engagement, they exude immense amounts of their element, as you would put it. And as I've witnessed since the dawn of time, your kind are adept at absorbing, wielding, and commanding that raw element."
+
+-----
+
+(WHAT ARE THE REGALIA)
+"The Regalia are fragments of each Masters' existence given tangible form, designed in such a manner to further your adaptation to the rawest element of the Masters themselves. They are also to mark you as those whom are on the path to the ultimate reward, and exalt you above those around you, as you should be."
+
+-----
+
+(WHY DID YOU DO ALL OF THIS)
+"Much as how the Masters share their own Demense with you, I am seeking entities I can elevate to an identical status as myself. Ones whom understand a different perspective of this universe from me, whom I may then share the experience of myself with them."
+
+-----
+
+(WHY DO YOU SEEK THESE PEOPLE)
+His demeanor shifts a little, becoming slightly more serious and thoughtful. "Do you know what it is like to exist across infinity? To hear your oown words bounce off the walls of existence, with noone threre to answer?"
+
+"That is my existence, and has been since its beginning. Whether it be here on this Diadem or out in the vast emptiness of the universe, it is all and only me. Unendingly so."
+
+"All I've ever known is the presence of myself, raw and unfiltered staring back at me from thirteen different angles. I've sat with it, listened to it, and understood its infinite weight on what YOU would call my 'soul.'"
+
+"INFINITY IS A HEAVY THING TO CARRY BY ONESELF."
+
+-----
+
+*NO FURTHER QUESTIONS*
+
+"Then it is time we depart from the Diadem and claim your prize. I need only to reclaim that which is mine that I bestowed onto this planet so long ago."
+
+He places his hand on the ground, and everything begins to rumble all over again. The rock walls surrounding Diadem begin to crumble and fall to the ground with thunderous crashes, revealing clean golden magic metal walls inside.
+
+What remains is a massive jagged 12-point gold metal circlet around Diadem, resembling something of an extremely large crown, with each of the gates embedded into it like crown jewels. 
+ 
+The gates all shift from their respective colors to gold, and every person & creature inside is suddenly forced out. When these people and creatures realize everything is shaking & breaking, they begin to scream and run in a panic, a few of them falling off Diadem into the ocean through the lowest points in the metal walls. 
+  
+*IF THEY COMPLAIN* 
+He removes his hand from the ground and stands back up, the shaking slowly coming to a stop. "I HAVE WITNESSED THESE PEOPLE GROW, WITHER, AND DIE OVER THE LAST 547 YEARS. I HAVE LEARNED THESE PEOPLE ARE INSIGNIFICANT COMPARED TO THEE. SO LONG AS YOU ARE ELEVATED, THE REST CAN BE IGNORED."
+  
+*If they protest again* 
+"HMM... I MAY HAVE UNDERESTIMATED YOUR MORTAL SENSE OF CARE... I HAD HOPED IT A SIMPLE MATTER TO APPEASE TO YOUR MORTAL DESIRES."  
+ 
+"I HAVE A SOLUTION. WE SHALL HOLD OURSELVES AN HONORABLE DUEL, FOR THE FATE OF THE PEOPLE OF DIADEM AND YOUR GODHOOD. BEST ME, AND YOU MAY HAVE IT ALL. BUT FAIL, AND EVERYTHING & EVERYONE WILL BE FORFEIT, INCLUDING YOUR REWARD. WILL THAT SUFFICE?" 
+ 
+*THE PEOPLE THAT FELL* 
+"HM.. I WOULD NOT WISH FOR ANY DISTRACTIONS FROM OUR MOST HONORABLE DUEL.. VERY WELL. ALLOW ME A MOMENT."
+
+He will raise his hand, glowing with gold energy. Every person that fell will suddenly be encased in that same energy and lifted from the water, then placed safely on Diadem. "WILL THIS SATISFY YOU?"
+
+Every person in Diadem is very quickly converging on your location, slowly encircling you all and literally becoming the arena boundary for your incoming fight with God. Apparently.
+
+*THE FIGHT WILL LAST UNTIL THEY THROW EVERYTHING THEY HAVE AT HIM*
+*HE WILL POINT OUT THEIR VARIOUS SKILLS AND POWERS EACH TURN THEY TAKE*
+*HE WILL COMMENT THE STRONGEST ONE USED THOSE ABILITIES TO CHEAT*
+*AND WILL THREATEN TO RESET THE EXPERIMENT UPON HIS VICTORY*
+*BUT EACH SUBSEQUENT STRIKE WILL SHOW IT IS NOT JUST THEM*
+*ALL OF THEM WILL IMPRESS HIM ONE BRUISE AT A TIME UNTIL HE SURRENDERS*
+AFTER THE FIGHT 
+  
+He kneels in pain, panting softly. "I YIELD... YOU HAVE BESTED ME..." He looks up to your group, his tone shifting to a less loud variant. "I have witnessed this planet's evolution for an entire eon, watched the denizens of this false island for half a millennium, and none have come so far as to have the power to best me, even in my current state." 
+ 
+He slowly stands and walks forward. "I will keep my word and allow these people safe passage from the Diadem. Before then, shall we discuss your true prize?" 
+ 
+*WHAT IS THE PRIZE* 
+"Your prize WAS to be power akin to my own, but it would appear you already possess it. Instead, I offer anything else your heart desires. You could be immortal like myself or the other concepts, have unlimited power in a different matter, endless wealth from any nation, anything your heart desires." 
+ 
+He bellows in anguish as he is struck from behind by Nash, still carrying his golden cutlass. And he is looking very excited. "I HEARD THE WHOLE THING, YOU SON OF A BITCH! You never intended to free us, you were gonna let us all DIE HERE! Which means I was FUCKING RIGHT!!!"
+
+He laughs hysterically before continuing. "Hey Zeroth, wanna know what I wish for?! I wish to sentence you to death like you just tried to do to ALL OF US!" 
+ 
+He jams his whole sword into Zeroth's back, causing him to cry out in anguish, but the sword does not come out the other side.  
+ 
+All the hysterical joy Nash was experiencing disappears in an instant. "What?! What are you-- NO! LET GO OF ME!!" His arm is being pulled in and against Zeroth's body through the initial cut he made, slowly becoming absorbed into him. 
+ 
+With a sharp scream of terror, the two bodies fully combine. A brilliant golden flash erupts from their physical union, blinding all of you for a brief moment. When the light clears, a new entity stands before you.  
+ 
+A ten foot tall prismatic fox man with flowing pearlescent hair, atop centaur legs of the same hue, stretches his arms outward, his rear adorned by thirteen fox tails, each of which is tipped in a different color matching each element of magic, the central one tipped in gold. 
+ 
+The eyes open, and within shine the colors of all thirteen shades of magic, as the new creature gazes upon your group, as well as himself. His voice sounds like Nash, but with Zeroth's as an echo. "I... have assumed control of all... All his knowledge, his magic, his POWER, everything is in my grasp."
+
+He suddenly bellows out in anguish, his new form pulsing with energy. "This body is unstable with a humanimal element..."
+
+They shake their head a bit. "But it doesn't matter. I now have the power and freedom to get my revenge on Zeroth, and in the most uniquely ironic manner imaginable... I will wipe everything he and his extensions ever created. And I'll do it with his own two hands."
+
+They turn to your group, extending a hand glowing in golden energy. "Just because we escaped his little game, doesn't mean we escaped him... I will free us all from Zeroth, and I will start by freeing you Kings of Kings first."
+ 
+A black long sword falls from the air, glowing with red magic, slicing directly into the center of his left hand and binding it to the ground. "WHAT IS THIS?!" 
+ 
+Your group's bodies land on the ground, but you feel several HP and MP vials fall into your laps as twelve familiar bodies pull forward and around you. The twelve Demense Masters have stepped forward.
+
+The corrupted creature slams his fist into the ground. "You would dare to defy your Master?! Your Creator?!" 
+ 
+Aodaghan: We would defy the shit out of you any day of the week! 
+ 
+Conroy: Not the words I'd choose, but I concur! 
+ 
+Zahir: This party is over! It's not fun anymore! 
+ 
+Corentin: You have disrupted the peace of this land! 
+ 
+Dorrin: You'll atone for every tear these people shed! 
+ 
+Arledge: We don't wanna fight ya'll, but we will! 
+ 
+Miranda: We love these people like our own! 
+ 
+Whittaker: We've always been careful around you, and we're done!
+ 
+Fulmo: There is no justice in your actions! 
+ 
+Thanatos: We will fighd you, do prodecd dhem! 
+ 
+Cassius: ... (He will just be standing there cross-armed and silent)
+
+Striker: What Master Cassius means to say is, we're done hiding in the dark!
+ 
+Tlaloc: WE! HELP! FRIENDS! 
+ 
+Nash-Zeroth slams his free hand into the ground again, one eye shining vibrant gold only while the other maintains its multicolor glow. His voice has suddenly changed to be dripping with hatred. 
+ 
+"ENOUGH OF YOUR SENTIMENTAL BULLSHIT! YOU ARE NOTHING MORE THAN EXTENSIONS OF ME! LITERAL FRAGMENTS OF POWER DESIGNED TO BE MY LESSER! THESE CREATURES WERE THE ONLY ONES THAT SHOWED ANY POTENTIAL TO EVOLVE AND BECOME MY EQUALS, AND THEY PROVED TO BE A FAILURE OF A SPECIES! THEY DO NOT DESERVE TO DRAW BREATH!" 
+ 
+A golden sword this time falls from the sky and into Zeroth's free hand, pinning it to the ground. But attached to it is King Akarui, now wearing a military outfit. He jumps off the colossal hand and lands before your group, facing Nash-Zeroth. 
+ 
+"If that's how you feel, Nash-Zeroth, then the Thirteen Kings of Diadem will fight back!" He turns back around to your group with a smile and a wink. "With a little help from the Kings of Kings, of course." 
+ 
+The twelve demense Masters step forward with Akarui leading them. "Okay.. Aodaghan, Dorrin, Tlaloc, you're on offense. Hit him hard and make it hurt."
+- Aodaghan flies in overhead and screeches a ball of flame right into his face
+- Dorrin goes for one of the legs and punches it right in the kneecap
+- Tlaloc rolls into a ball and slams into his back with a mighty THUD
+ 
+"Zahir, Corentin, Whitaker, Fulmo, you're on range. Keep him distracted so their hits are more effective."
+- Zahir follows in behind Aodaghan and flashes him with blinding light
+- Corentin flies over him and blasts his entire backside with wind darts
+- Whitaker throws several ice blades at his legs, freezing them in place
+- Fulmo runs in behind and fires lightning bolts at his flank
+ 
+"Conroy, Miranda, Thanatos, Cassius, you're all on support. Make openings for everyone else. Arledge, you back them up and keep everyone on their feet."
+- Conroy suddenly binds both his arms in individual orange spells to slow them
+- Miranda encases the ground in a heavy wave of gravity magic, pulling him down
+- Thanatos flings a wave of necrotic energy right into his rear legs
+- Cassius wraps his own shadow around his throat and squezes tightly
+- Arledge hops in and suddenly slams both feet right into his head
+
+Their collective actions magaed to disorient and harm him enough to put him to the ground, but he is definitely struggling to get back up.
+ 
+"Hold your positions from here. I'll be preparing your reinforcements." He then runs back to your group, kneeling down and making sure you've all taken your potions. 
+ 
+"Okay the Masters are amazing, but it's like Nash-Zeroth said. The masters are literally DESIGNED to not be at their level. Now I have a really stupid idea that might just work, but it all hinges on one thing. I didn't have a great view from where I was, but is there any chance Nash and Zeroth fused WITH that gold weapon?" 
+ 
+AFTER THEY CONFIRM 
+"Okay, then this might work. I want all of you to challenge them, full gold circle, and wager the gold sword inside them. I have a hunch, and this might fix everything at once." 
+ 
+Nash-Zeroth suddenly bellows out as his thirteen tails all glow with raw magic, the gold tailtip suddenly sending out a wave of energy so bright it blinds all the demense Masters for a moment.  
+ 
+While they're distracted, the other twelve tails all fire magic beams at a different Master, each one hitting their elemental opposite and knocking them to the ground around him in one collective shot.  
+ 
+Nash-Zeroth looks around at the twelve injured Masters, showing immense disdain. "Pathetic. I expected better from extensions of myself at the very least." 
+ 
+They groan as their body begins to warble again like before, the injuries they sustained attempting to heal themselves. They turn to Akarui. "This was the best you could do? An asssult against me with my own fetters of power?" 
+ 
+Akarui looks up to Nash-Zeroth. "I can do more and you know it! I know what you're capable of, and I always have! You don't scare me!"
+
+Nash-Zeroth leans down to meet him at eye level. "I could kill you with no effort and you know it. You've done NOTHING but impede me at every turn! All I wanted was freedom!"
+
+Akarui snaps back at him. "All you wanted was to make your parents' deaths mean something!"
+
+"DONT TALK LIKE YOU KNOW ME OR MY PAIN!"
+
+"I WAS THERE WHEN THEY DIED!"
+
+Nash-Zeroth pauses for a second. "You what?"
+
+Akarui sighs heavily. "I had only been here a month. The Thunder Force invited my squad and I to join their ranks, and it was our first real assignment. I met your parents that day, they were good people. Your mother was beautiful, and your father was charismatic as all hell. You look just like him."
+
+"Stop it."
+
+"I met you too, that morning. I was asked to keep an eye on you while they started the drill. Then the explosion came, and you were just gone... do you even remember that? Because I do. Very. Vividly."
+
+"STOP. IT."
+
+"When I saw you after I was thrilled to death, but... I couldn't let anything like that happen again. Tragedies happen in pairs, not singles. My greatest failure is what spurred me to be King, so I wouldn't let you OR the people be hurt like that again."
+ 
+Nash-Zeroth slams their hand into Akarui, his body skidding to your group's feet. They run toward Akarui and well past the Demense Masters, stopping a few feet away from your group. "WE ARE WELL PAST THE POINT OF THIS. I don't care about the people anymore! I have my freedom, and I'm going to use it to take my revenge against Zeroth! Only now, I'M STARTING WITH YOU!" 
+ 
+Akarui sighs a bit and hangs his head. "Well then... it's all up to you, Kings of Kings. Say the magic words."
+
+And right before you say those words, he jumps far outside its capture range. "I JUST HOPE I'M RIGHT!" 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*CHALLENGE NASH-ZEROTH* 
+Upon hearing the phrase, Nash-Zeroth bellows in pain as the outline of the gold cutlass appears in his torso. The gold walls that were once coated with rock will begin to radiate with energy, before a gold circle expands from your group's feet AND Nash-Zeroth. 
+ 
+Akarui lands outside the circle. "I was right! The Diadem is a Regalia! IT'S ZEROTH'S REGALIA! The gold circles are INVOCATIONS of its magic!" 
+ 
+The sword was a big enough piece that it could work like an antenna! And Nash was the first one to get his hands on it AND give it a command it could work with!" 
+ 
+This revelation causes the unstable Nash-Zeroth to screech in anger, clawing at the ground for a moment. "I WILL FEED YOU YOUR OWN ENTRAILS YOU POMPOUS PIGEON!" 
+ 
+Akarui actually looks a little offended at that one, as Nash-Zeroth turns to your group in the circle. "FINE! ONE FINAL BATTLE IT IS! THE KINGS OF KINGS WILL BECOME THE FIRST CASUALTIES OF WAR!!!" 
+ 
+AFTER THEY WIN 
+ 
+Nash-Zeroth will collapse in defeat, the gold circle around you all dissipating. His body begins to warp and writhe in pain as a small gold circle appears on his chest, the golden sword from within producing its handle, awaiting the victor to grab and remove it. 
+ 
+(FIGHT/PHYSIQUE ROLL) 
+The sword is surprisingly not giving immediately and requires more effort to pull out. 
+ 
+Upon removing it, you pull an entire separate body out of its chest that is also clinging to the back of the sword by its non-bladed edge. Nash goes careening several yards away and lands & rolls a couple times with a dull thud. 
+ 
+The body in front of you pulses with energy, glowing brightly and thrashing about with an ear piercing screeching noise, the body expanding like a balloon, the skin peeling and revealing golden energy in its rawest form underneath.  
+ 
+You don't need to be a genius to realize that body is going critical from losing its primary mind (Nash) and is about to explode. 
+
+*GIVE EVERYONE A CHANCE TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION*
+
+-----
+
+*IF NOONE HAS A SOLUTION*
+
+King Akarui will run past everyone. "ANYONE WHO HAS A GOLD WEAPON, GRAB IT AND FOLLOW MY LEAD!"
+
+He grabs the gold sword he flew in with, and run into the growing body, hacking and slashing it with the sword. Every cut anyone makes causes misting of the gold dust to appear as it slowly eats the magic body, and it does appear to slow the expanding with every cut made. 
+ 
+(LET EVERYONE MAKE A FIGHT/SHOOT ROLL WITH THE WEAPONS & RESPOND ACCORDINGLY BASED ON RESULTS) 
+ 
+The hacking and slashing has caused the massive body to go DOWN in size significantly, but it is still getting brighter over time, and is still likely to go critical in only a few seconds.  
+
+You hear a familiar chittering from behind (PLAYER). "Hehehe.. looks like 'I' get to be the big hero this time~"
+
+Striker appears from Akarui's shadow and pushes him & all the other gold weapon holders away. He chuckles and pulls out all the gold weapons everyone had, as well as a few more gold daggers. "Consider this MY repayment for you saving my Master from his fate, Kings of Kings~"
+
+He turns to the expanding body. "I've always wanted to say this.. I CHALLENGE THEE!"
+
+It takes a moment, but the six gold weapons he holds AND the Diadem glow gold again as a barrier circle appears around Striker and the unstable Zeroth. With a rebellious screech, he leaps forward and stabs all six weapons into the body, causing it to burst and erupt with magic energy. Striker turns to your group and gives you all a small wave, before the light is too bright to see. 
+ 
+The explosion is completely contained within the gold magic circle, but after a few seconds, it does eventually shatter like glass, and everyone is knocked back onto the ground by the blast wave. 
+ 
+----- 
+
+*REGARDLESS OF CHOICE*
+
+When everything settles, you see Zeroth, battered and bruised but in one piece and lying in the middle of a crater. You also see small particles of gold dust elevating from his body into the open air, like snow in reverse. 
+ 
+The demense masters run to his side, Conroy gently lifting him up a bit so he can talk. "You... may not have meant to, but you saved me... I thank you... Kings of Kings." 
+ 
+King Akarui calls out to you from a distance. "Guys... Nash feels cold... and his heartbeat is really slow... I don't think he's gonna make it..."
+ 
+Zeroth speaks out. "You are correct. The physical trauma of melding with me, taking on so much damage, and being ejected how he was was too much for his mortal body. His life is fading... as is mine." 
+ 
+The Demense Masters all freak out hearing this. "The strain on my existence was too much... being defeated in combat, struck down by a piece of my own Regalia, fused with a mortal in such a manner, defeated again, and being at the core of that explosion has taken most of my strength..." 
+ 
+*IF NOONE ASKS* 
+Conroy will look around. "Well if noone else will ask, I will. What does that mean for us?" 
+ 
+Zeroth will shake his head slowly. "I gave you all separate lives and will, but the essence of your existence is still tethered to mine. It matters not if it is yours or mine, equilibrium MUST be maintained. If I go, then... you go with me." 
+
+All the demense masters turn to themselves, then look to you guys before Zeroth continues. "And I do not have long." 
+ 
+(Give everyone a chance to complain, cry, and be angry about it) 
+ 
+Zeroth will speak out. "You truly care for them, don't you?" 
+ 
+WHEN THE PARTY SPEAKS OUT 
+Zeroth will turn his head to your group. "I was not referring to you."
+
+All twelve demense Masters nod in agreement. "I see... I am not a fan of such a title, but as YOUR 'King,' I am going to give you my final order. Bring me to the one you call Nash. I wish to speak with him." 
+ 
+AFTER ANY RESPONSE 
+"When I was melded with him, I saw inside his mind. Sifted through his memories. His deceased parents were the only people in his life that mattered to him. Without them, he was alone. Adrift amongst a sea of beings he felt no connection to, no matter how much he desired it to be otherwise. I resonate with him on that level. Please... grant me this one request." 
+ 
+SOMEONE CARRIES HIM BESIDE NASH 
+
+Akarui has been feeding him an endless stream of healing magic, not intending to let him go. It's keeping him alive, but not much else.
+
+He will lie beside him, lying on his back while Nash lies on his stomach. "Hello Nash..." 
+ 
+N: H-hey.. you son of a bitch.. 
+ 
+Z: Still alive I see.. 
+ 
+N: Yeah.. gonna take more than that to kill ME.. 
+ 
+Z: I wish I could say the same.. I will cease to exist very shortly.. 
+ 
+N: Yeah.. cards on the table, I'm probably right behind you.. 
+ 
+Z: ...do you have any regrets? 
+ 
+N: Well, I... wish I hit you a little harder, heh 
+ 
+Z: Hm.. all things considered, I suppose I could say the same.. 
+ 
+Both of them laugh at the joke weakly, sighing a little after. 
+ 
+Z: Truthfully, I.. have only one real regret.. 
+ 
+N: Lay it on me, Z.. Dead men tell no tales and all that shit.. 
+ 
+Z: When I found this planet an eon ago, I had a simple curiosity, to see what life was like from their perspective. A species with origins not so dissimilar from myself. For a brief moment, I was able to see it from your eyes, however corrupt. It felt... nice.
+
+N: Is that right? Well.. I guess it was kinda nice not being alone in my head.. or.. your head..? You get the point.. 
+ 
+Z: Indeed I do... 
+
+In the distance, you hear a young voice in the background yell out. "What the heck is going on?! The whole island was shaking!"
+
+The audience parts and turns to reveal Caelum, rubbing his eyes as though he was just asleep. He walks closer, takes one look at Nash & Zeroth, and his eyes widen a bit. "Oh... you're... dying..."
+
+Conroy approaches and kneels beside Caelum. "Caelum, I know this is sudden, but... I'm sure you can piece together what this means for us, yes?"
+
+Caelum looks up, eyes widening, and you see indigo colored teardrops stream down his cheeks, and he staggers backwards a step, losing his composure for a moment. "No.. all of you..?"
+
+Conroy is smiling solemnly, still kneeling, and nods slowly. "I'm really glad you came by.. gives us a chance to see each other one last time.."
+
+Caelum will clench his fists in frustration, trying to wipe his flow of tears away. "No no no! I'm not losing my family again! I can't be alone again!! I WON'T!!!"
+
+He will step toward Nash, looking a mix of sad and angry. "I just KNOW you're the reason this happened... but even with all this, I still can't bring myself to hate you.."
+
+Zeroth chimes in. "Do not blame him, Seeker child."
+
+Caelum will pause and look to Zeroth in shock as he continues. "The fault is mine. My selfish desires caused all of this. And it bothers me the mere touch of Nash's humanity made me recognize this."
+
+Caelum will be shocked by this. "How do you... wait, you actually HAVE emotions right now? That shouldn't be possible, you ripped out what little you had to make THEM."
+
+He points at the Demense Masters, all huddled together and seeking whatever comfort they can get from these last moments.
+
+Caelum has a moment of inspiration. "Wait... If you two have resonated at some level, I might be able to make that a permanent solution."
+
+Zeroth closes his eyes for a moment. "Seeker child, are you proposing to meld our forms together?"
+
+"I'm proposing I try. I can't make any guarantees of what the outcome will be though."
+
+Zeroth smiles slightly. "Are those not the words you told the chicken man before you split him in two?"
+
+"How do you even know about that???"
+
+Zeroth will laugh weakly. "I saw it in Nash's memories. He was Samson's associate in college. He saw the whole thing through the doorway when you separated the two, and ran away. He has been running from you, in addition to the island, since then."
+
+Caelum will kneel beside Zeroth. "I don't get you... I split a man into two and get no complaint, I hide in plain sight as a false Demense Master with no complaint, and now I propose you fuse with a mortal and you still have no complaint?"
+
+"You never attempted to ruin the project, so I made a few minor exceptions... I see no reason not to allow one more."
+
+Caelum moves to Nash, barely being kept alive by Akarui, exhausting every mote of magic to keep him alive. "How do you feel about my proposal?"
+
+Nash sighs heavily. "Well... the way I see it, it's either we both die here... or we both get a chance at living together... tough call, and I know I'm gonna hate myself for this one, heh.. (cough hard) ..but, I got nothing left to lose.."
+
+Z: Your bravery is admirable... Goodbye, Nash.. 
+ 
+N: So long, you arrogant horse's ass.. 
+
+Zeroth reaches for Nash's hand and grasps it as tight as he can, as Akarui finally stops healing him, stepping away with a stumble. Caelum raises his hands, emitting a wave of indigo magic across them both. You see Zeroth's body glow in an old gold aura, while Nash's begins to glow more of a pyrite fool's gold color.
+
+You see both physical forms dissolve in a way to become half transparent, slowly overlap atop each other, and begin to shine like before, but not blindingly so. This time, the shine is a warm New Gold glow.
+ 
+Once the shine fades, a new entity lies before you with a mix of traits of both species. The body and fur pattern is largely Nash's fox, but the limbs are cloaked in Zeroth's limb fluff. The feet end in solid hooves, the tail becomes horsehair in a fox pattern, and the ears have become stubby little horse ears. The hair has also become longer as a whole, but he mostly maintained the foxy face. 
+ 
+It takes a moment, but he slowly wakes up, groaning heavily as he makes his first moves as a new being. "Urgh... my aching head.."
+
+He looks around at everyone. "Is... there a reason everyone is staring at me..? Is there something on my face?" 
+ 
+He reaches for his face, noticing a distinct difference in the feeling of his paw. "Wait, what the..? Why are my arms so fluffy? Why is my tail so ropey?? Are those fucking HOOVES?! AM I A HORSE?!?!"
+
+He suddenly winces in pain, both hands grasping his head. "AUGH... WAIT... It's all coming back to me now... bits and pieces... okay, okay... I get it now... this is me now... or, US, I guess..? This is so weird..." 
+ 
+Aodaghan steps forth. "It ain't much better from where we stand."
+
+All the demense masters are still here, Aodaghan helping the new guy to his feet. "Welcome back to the livin' world, Zeroth. Or do we call you Nash now?" 
+ 
+"No... new me, new name. What did Zeroth call himself when he was greeting new people at the door? Reiji? How about... Reggie. I like the sound of that."
+
+IF THEY ASK
+Caelum will look to them and simply respond, "Just like how you INFUSE the magic you weild into yor mortal weapons, I INFUSED Zeroth's magical essence into NASH's mortal form, with a small twist of humanimal transmutation."
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+IF ANYONE ASKS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF DIADEM 
+Conroy speaks out this time. "That depends on what the Kings of Kings decide. They won the right to claim ownership of the Diadem in that last fight, no differently than our own regalia. So now... they are our new Kings. True Kings of Kings." 
+ 
+You can almost hear the depression seeping off Akarui, but he sighs and nods. "They are right. Diadem is a giant Regalia, and you won the rights to it fair and square. This is, quite literally, your property now. So... what will you do?" 
+ 
+PITCH THE FOLLOWING 
+ 
+Get everyone off Diadem 
+ 
+Make Diadem a legit country 
+ 
+Give control to Akarui 
+
+-----
+
+SKIP TO ONE YEAR LATER
+
+We open on the Diadem movie theater, with a brand new sign being installed while people are still watching movies.
+
+Inside, your group is sitting back and rewatching the events that transpired just a year ago on the big screen, as well as everything leading up to that, in the form of a brand new movie. And this time, everything was done SO much better.
+
+Once the movie ends, the lights come on to reveal your group is not alone. All the Demense Masters INCLUDING Reggie, Akarui, the three Thunder Force commanders, Caelum, Vivid, Morana, Striker, and several others you've met from your adventure are all sitting around, watching the movie with you.
+
+- Aodaghan is pissed the fight scenes were not more entertaining
+- Conroy is pleased at the historical accuracy finally being decent
+- Zahir loved the theatrical style lighting they went with
+- Corentin is satisfied with the sound design they chose
+- Dorrin is a bit miffed his daughter didn't get more screen time
+- Arledge is gorging himself on the actual fresh popcorn like it's candy
+- Miranda is flipping through an autograph book filled with several of the actors' phone numbers
+- Whitaker and Morana are cozied up together sharing a soda with two straws
+- Fulmo is impressed by the overall morality behind the story
+- Thanatos sheds a tear with the phenomenal and well-earned ending
+- Cassius is asleep in his chair while Striker laments Cassius didn't get more screen time
+- Cliff is sitting on the ground, applauding like a toddler seeing jingling keys for the first time
+
+Reggie stands up first and stretches wide, cracking his back. "Now THAT... was a pretty good movie. What do you think, Akarui?"
+
+Akarui pouts a bit, sighing as he sinks into his seat a bit. "Did they really have to use a pigeon for my role?" That comment makes Reggie wince a bit.
+
+Everyone slowly piles out of the theater together, commenting on the movie as you all head toward the center of the island. And there have been a few significant changes. Firstly, the island being revealed as a giant crown and having giant magic gems has turned it into a colossal tourist attraction people can actually enter and exit freely.
+
+The trash zone, largely taking up way too much space, was adjusted a bit to allow room for a genuine airport in Diadem, including a helicopter pad close by. So now, the population of Diadem can freely come and go whenever they wish, as long as they are willing to pay for a basic flight.
+
+On the subject of money, turns out Jerras was correct about the value of their currency. Since the coins can only be replicated by their people and only at a small number at a time, the value of the coin was immediately regarded as extremely valuable. So now, a single coin would set up people in essentially any corner of the planet for a long while. The people of Diadem are essentially rich, by global standards.
+
+-----
+
+(IF THEY DIDNT TAKE KING ROLE)
+Akarui resumed his position as King, but since his secretary is currently MIA (not that it's a huge secret), he decided to hire Levi as part of his parole.
+
+(IF THEY TOOK KING ROLE)
+Akarui is actually okay with not being the King anymore, and is content with being the King's aide now. He and Nash worked close together enough to where he picked up the job pretty easily. And as part of his parole, Levi is now working right beside him as a trainee.
+
+*EITHER WAY*
+Anais was thrown in prison for a few months as she did, in fact, conspire against the city to overthrow the current leadership in the island, but was released when Levi proposed she be given the same kind of leniency and parole he received, since he did SO MUCH WORSE THAN HER. That was the moment that actually started the repair of their family.
+
+-----
+
+While Fulmo was more than willing to pardon Harken's overall minor crimes of petty vandalism under the guise of stemming a much larger and more devastating end result, Harken still felt guilty of putting the people at risk in any regard. Turns out he, Akarui, and Fulmo had cooked up the stemming plan to keep the Marauders overall under control the entire time, which is why he never seemed too concerned about the mole. Plus, Akarui had the paperwork pre-prepared to back it up.
+
+Fulmo ruled to actually let the people weigh in on Harken's case in his courtroom, and they overwhelmingly ruled he should be forgiven. The biggest surprise was when Dorrin himself walked up and forgave Harken personally.
+
+He was then promoted to first commander of the Thunder Force, putting Jensen to second and Valeos to third. Now they rotate between the branch and main offices regularly instead of staying stagnant in one location forever, to help promote a healthier leadership rotation.
+
+-----
+
+Jerras was put in jail as well, and is still there for the moment under crimes of long-form price fixing for the nation's currency. However, now that the nation's currency is in circulation outside the island, the people realize he was actually RIGHT, and decided to reduce his sentence. He'll be released in two weeks.
+
+Not that being there ever stopped his business endeavors, of course. Striker runs the shop most days now, but Jerras pops in via Striker's shadow magic when he gets a minute to breathe.
+
+-----
+
+Vivid went home the day after everything was settled with Zeroth, and Dorrin ended up moving out. He now lives in a similar home in an underwater cavern, letting Vivid live her life as independently as she likes. But he still visits regularly.
+
+-----
+
+Caelum finally had a place to call home, and managed to patch things up with some of his family members, so much so he even invited some of them to live with him.
+
+- His brother DJ Free the fennec fox buddied up with Zahir so he didn't have to run shows entirely on his own anymore
+- The twins Nako the dragon man and Noji the human woman, became Miranda's fashion models
+- His brother Charon the cerberus ended up hanging out with Thanatos, and now he has help running ceremonies
+- His brother Helicule, whom had a camera embedded in his head, ended up working for the newspaper as a cameraman
+
+He comes from a very weird alternate reality, as it turns out.
+
+-----
+
+Zeroth is still rattling around in Reggie's head passively, enjoying his new home and experiencing all the mortal ways of living. He also showed Reggie how to use his own god tier magic, including how to borrow the powers of the demense masters. It's still a learning experience for now.
+
+As for the rest of you...
+
+(GIVE EACH ONE A FLAVORFUL END RESULT BEFORE CONTINUING)
+
+Reggie walks with your group, regaling you all with his own personal stories of what happened over the last year. "And after all that, Anais decided to break up with me."
+
+"Yeah we hooked up a few times after the meld, but after a while she realized she was only into the novelty of the 'guy willing to give her an island' moreso than the guy himself. So now I'm a free man again."
+
+Caelum will approach your group AND him. "Hey Reggie, I meant to ask... do you still want to leave the island and go somewhere else? Ya know, like the end result of your whole plan?"
+
+R: "Yeah, but it's like... Zeroth showed me every inch of the entire universe thorough his memories when we combined, so it's like... there's nothing for me to see."
+
+C: "... what if I could put you somewhere brand new to the both of you?"
+
+R: "... pardon?"
+
+C: "I hopped through a dimension hole of my own creation to get here. I can open a new one whenever I want, now that I don't have to hide."
+
+R: "Are you offering to let me go to your old stomping grounds? Cuz if you left it, I'd have to assume it was for good reason."
+
+C: "Actually, I could put you in a completely different one, a separate reality untouched by anything like what happened here OR there."
+
+R: "...nothing would make me fucking happier."
+
+C: "Well then... how about we send you off right now?"
+
+He waves his hand in the middle of the open space you're all standing in, an indigo colored gate opening surrounded by a golden ring, much like the gates to the other demense. Reggie stares at it for a moment, before turning back to your group. "Send me off... ya know what, not just yet. I got one thing I wanna do before I go, and I'd like your guys' help to do it."
+
+"I've been figuring out my abilities over the last year, and I kinda wanna test them out before I dive into a whole new reality. How about you guys and I have a sendoff fight? No stakes, no bullshit, just a chance for you guys to give me everything you got and I return the favor?"
+
+*IF YES*
+He claps his hands theatrically and takes a fighting pose. "Then let's get it started!"
+
+*AFTER THE FIGHT*
+
+He will flop onto all fours, spitting a gob of blood off to the side. "Fuck me running... I literally have the power of God on my side, and you guys still fight harder than I do!"
+
+He stands up, limping a little, but you see a soft golden glow around his body as his injuries slowly heal over and his clothes slowly repair themselves. "Got that god tier healing factor too, it seems... awesome."
+
+He walks his way over to you all, and shakes each of your hands. "Well, as shitty as our whole ordeal was, it's been a blast getting to hang out with you guys. Hopefully I'll meet people just as cool as you all on the other side."
+
+He takes a few steps away from the gateway, then turns to your group one last time with a thumbs up. "Stay gold."
+
+He then runs toward it and jumps in, pulling his limbs together before shouting CANNONBALL!
+
+And that... is how I ended up here all those years ago. Any questions?