You are standing on a dirt path beside a rushing river. To the south, the path leads to the gate of a small village that you recognize as your home. To the north, the path leads to the mouth of a dark cavern.
You are standing at the cavern entrance. Just to the south is a brightly lit dirt path leading out of the cave. You cannot see more than a few feet ahead of you into the cave but you notice a set of footprints leading into the cave that seem to be made by high-heeled pumps. You notice a gleaming sword partially buried in the dirt.
As you return to the village, you are reminded why you never ventured past the gates before this day: you're a coward. Your short adventure was enough excitement to last a lifetime and you spend the rest of your mundane days at home in peace.
As you return to the village, you are reminded why you never ventured past the gates before this day: you're a coward. Your days are peaceful, but the sword gathering rust in the corner of your home taunts you with visions of unfulfilled potential. You live the rest of your days bitter and angry.
You return to the village, sword swinging at your hip and golden crown perched proudly atop your head. These accoutrements imbue you with a regal confidence and your fellow villagers agree that you should rule over them. You spend the rest of your days in luxury but are haunted by the loneliness of leadership. You never find true happiness.
As water fills your lungs, you remember that you never learned how to swim. Mercifully, you lose consciousness before a shoal of piranhas devours your flesh.
Your vision is consumed by pitch darkness.
As your eyes adjust to the darkness, you notice a thin wire a few feet in front of your face. Beyond the wire, the cave continues to the north.
As you procede, your torso catches a wire bolted at one end to the western cave wall and on the opposite end to an angry cache of dynamite. As the explosives ignite, you catch a strobed glimpse of a beautiful young woman wearing a golden crown, jeweled pumps and a mysterious smirk. Your final thought as your skull is struck by falling rubble is that those shoes seem quite impractical for spelunking.
Your sword catches a wire bolted at one end to the western cave wall and on the opposite end to an angry cache of dynamite. As the explosives ignite, you catch a strobed glimpse of a young woman wearing a golden crown, jeweled pumps and a mysterious smirk. Your final thought as your skull is struck by falling rubble is that those shoes seem quite impractical for spelunking.
The path opens up to a small clearing, approximately thirty meters in diameter. At the back of the clearing, a young woman is crouched in an athletic stance. She is wearing a golden crown, an expensive looking dress and jeweled pumps. Her right hand hovers steadily at her hip where a small dagger hangs from a leather sheath. Her unblinking eyes are fixated on you.
As you drop to a prone position, the woman dashes forward brandishing the dagger. You are helpless to defend yourself as she plunges the cold metal between your shoulder blades. As your vision clouds, you can't help but admire the craftsmanship of her shoes which are even more magnificent up close. Could Joe Shoemaker down the street have produced footwear this fine? You doubt it.
You clumsily swing your sword through the empty air. In a split second, the woman dashes forward brandishing the dagger. You are helpless to defend yourself as she expertly plunges the cold metal deep into your belly. You drop slowly to the ground and as your vision clouds you can't help but admire the craftsmanship of her shoes which are even more magnificent up close. Could Joe Shoemaker down the street have produced footwear this fine? You doubt it.
Suddenly, the woman sprints toward you, brandishing the dagger.
You are helpless to defend yourself as the woman expertly plunges the cold metal deep into your belly. You drop slowly to the ground and as your vision clouds you can't help but admire the craftsmanship of her shoes which are even more magnificent up close. Could Joe Shoemaker down the street have produced footwear this fine? You doubt it.
Suddenly, the woman sprints toward you, brandishing the dagger.
You squeeze your eyes shut and swing your sword in a wild arc.
As you open your eyes, you look down to see the woman lying unmoving at your feet in a pool of ichor. The dress and shoes are ruined, but her golden crown is unstained.
As you open your eyes, you look down to see the woman lying unmoving at your feet in a pool of ichor. Her dress and shoes are ruined.
As you walk forward, your torso catches a wire bolted at one end to the western cave wall and on the opposite end to an angry cache of dynamite. Are you shaky from your recent near-death experience? Perhaps you were never meant for adventure. Your final thought as your skull is struck by falling rubble is one of relief.
Your sword catches a wire bolted at one end to the western cave wall and on the opposite end to an angry cache of dynamite. Are you shaky from your recent near-death experience? Perhaps you were never meant for adventure. Your final thought as your skull is struck by falling rubble is one of relief.
Your vision is consumed by pitch darkness.
You notice a thin wire a few feet in front of your face. Beyond the wire, the cave continues to the north.
You are standing at the cavern entrance. Just to the south is a brightly lit dirt path leading out of the cave. You cannot see more than a few feet ahead of you into the cave but you notice a set of footprints leading into the cave that seem to be made by high-heeled pumps.