lots of changes nearly done

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

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+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

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+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

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+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!"