The Network

You are trapped. (Click-replace: "trapped.")[trapped. Inky darkness surrounds [[you|concentric]].]

On the underside of your wrists are three concentric circles. (click-replace: "circles.") [circles. The center of the smallest and largest circles are raised and firmer than the rest of your [[skin]].]

"You have one on your [[neck]], too, you know?"

You feel the impression on your neck, too. Who are you? (click-replace: "Who are you?")[“Who am I? Clever of you to ask. I’m the network."] (click-replace: "network.")[network. Right now your body is frozen in stasis. You chose to connect.] (click-replace: "connect.")[connect. What is it you seek?] (click-replace: "seek?")[seek? Why are you here?] (click-replace: "Why are you here?")[You must have yearned for [[something|connect]] from life!]

"You must have yearned for something from life!” [[I want power!|power]] [[I want love!|love]] [[I want stoicism!|stoicism]] [[I want strength!|strength]] [[I want knowledge!|knowledge]] [[I want peace!|peace]] (set: $chalice to false) (set: $amethyst to false) (set: $broadsword to false) (set: $flame to false) (set: $scroll to false) (set: $orchid to false)

A broadsword with a gilded hilt decorated with botanical motifs appears in front of you. [[Take it|broadsword]] [[This isn't what I want|connect]]

An endless flame contained in a half spherical yellow geode appears in front of you. [[Take it|flame]] [[This isn't what I want|connect]]

A crystal chalice overflowing with iridescent tears appears before you. [[Take it|chalice]] [[This isn't what I want|connect]]

An amethyst carved into a vile containing poisonous vapors appears in front of you. [[Take it|amethyst]] [[This isn't what I want|connect]]

A gilded scroll of infinite wisdom appears in front of you. [[Take it|scroll]] [[This isn't what I want|connect]]

A delicate purple orchid about to bloom appears in front of you. [[Take it|orchid]] [[This isn't what I want|connect]]

Three doors appear, arranged in a semi-circle. (click-replace:"semi-circle.")[semi-circle. "Go on, now. Make a decision." The leftmost door is [[goldenrod->goldenrod]] with a frame meticulously carved with a botanical motif. The middle door is [[crimson->crimson]] veined marble, with indecipherable impressions of text along top molding. The right door is painted a deep [[indigo->indigo]], surrounded by an orante gilded frame. [[This isn't what I want!|connect]]]

You fall to your knees on soft, rich soil. (click-replace:"soil.")[soil. A cacophony of birds, snorts of animals, and the screech of monkeys share your presence.] (click-replace:"presence.")[presence. You feel a light drizzle of rain drop on your skin.](click-replace:"skin.")[skin. Dense forest brush surrounds you on all sides.](Click-replace:"sides.")[sides. Above the trees you can see a glimmering [[beam of golden light|hack]] that seems to be emanating from nearby.]

You fall to your knees to a rolling hillside, with fog resting in the valleys and endless gravestones haphazardly bursting from the soil and crabgrass. (click-replace:"crabgrass.")[crabgrass. A path worn to the dirt, lined with candle-lit lanterns invites you to follow it.](click-replace:"follow it.")[follow it. You walk down the path and see a familiar shape approaching.] (click-replace:"approaching.")[approaching. It’s your mother.](click-replace:"mother.")[mother. She smiles at you.](Click-replace:"She smiles at you.")[She smiles at you. "[[Kill her.|kill]]" Her eyes crease in [[happiness]] as she moves toward you.]

You land in a marble hallway lined with a indigo carpet with a gold trim. (click-replace:"gold trim.")[gold trim. The hall contains a multitude of statues.](click-replace:"statues.")[statues. You hear whispers in the hallway.](click-replace:"whispers in the hallway.")[whispers in the hallway. The whispers turn into audible statements as you progress.](click-replace:"you progress.")[you progress. “No life is individual."] (click-replace:"individual.")[individual. No spirit exists in solitude.](click-replace:"solitude.")[solitude. Our lives are made of the overlap and the connection to others.](click-replace:"connection to others.")[connection to others. True fulfillment only comes from [[broadening the Consciousness.|statue]]]

(if: $flame is true)[Moving forward, the flame lashes out whips of fire. The whips carve a path through the forest, allowing you a passage toward the mysterious [[light]].] (if: $broadsword is true)[You forge your way through the brush. The sharp blade of the broadsword makes quick work of the [[brush|light]].] (if: $orchid is true or $amethyst is true or $scroll is true or $chalice is true)[You try to move through the forest, but become very tired. You decide to sit and rest. The forest goes quiet as if joining you in slumber. You feel a presence, [[stalking you from side to side.|panther]]]

A deep, howling [[cackle]] fills the void.

A cybernetic panther appears. [[He leaps at you.|connect]]

As you reach the light, you see that is emerges from a hole in the earth directly parallel a spiral staircase made of rough hewn stone uncurling into the ground below. (click-replace:"below.")[below. The spiral staircase leads down into a massive cavern.](click-replace:"cavern.")[cavern. Phosphorescent creatures generate a soft glow of neon, illuminating the stalactites surrounding the staircase.] (click-replace:"staircase.")[staircase. The stairs unwind down into the cavern and touch the stone at the bottom.](Click-replace:"bottom.")[bottom. You hear [[water]] flowing and splashing against the rock walls of the cavern.]

A dock rests in a lagoon directly in front of you. (click-replace:"in front of you.")[in front of you. Attached to the dock is a small boat without an oar.] (click-replace:"without an oar.")[without an oar. At the center of the lagoon is a flat island with a [[small raised bowl|bowl]] generating the brilliant shimmering light.]

(if: $flame is true)[You place the endless flame into the depression. A being appears in front of you, made up of a coiled mass [[lightning]].] (if: $broadsword is true)[You insert the broadsword into the depression on the stone. A being appears in front of you, made up of a coiled mass of [[lightning]].]

"Okay good for you."(click-replace:"you.")[you. You did it. Congratulations.](click-replace:"Congratulations.")[Congratulations. Wow. Now,](click-replace:"Now,")[Now, you have the choice to become me. Become the Network.] (click-replace:"Network.")[Network. I know everything. But you may never return to your body, never connect with another human.] (click-replace:"human.")[human. [[What do you say|yellowchoice]]?]

[[This isn't what I want!|connect]] [[Become the network!|becomenetwork]]

The Network was abandoned for a better technology during the span of your journey. You are left creating for a world that no longer needs creation. [[This isn't what I wanted|connect]]

(if: $chalice is true)[You dip your hands in the chalice. You spritz your mother with the tears. Skin melts off your mother’s face revealing a metallic skeleton beneath. She falls to the floor sparking in fits. [[Leave the network and return to your body.|becomebody]]] (if: $amethyst is true)[You open the vial. A purple gas floats toward your mother. Her limbs fall from her body. She screams in agony as she perishes. [[Return to the body|becomebody]]] (if: $broadsword is true)[The sword refuses to follow your instructions, instead turning the hilt in the opposite direction, driving the sword through your [[stomach.|connect]]] (if: $flame is true)[The flame repels off your mother and back toward you, engulfing you and burning [[you.|connect]]] (if: $scroll is true)[As you uncurl the scroll, your mother wraps her arms around you in a tight [[hug.|happiness]]] (if: $orchid is true)[The orchid wilts and your mother wraps her arms around you in a tight [[hug.|happiness]]]

Your mother draws you in for a hug, squeezing you tighter and tighter. (click-replace:"tighter and tighter.")[tighter and tighter. You are asphyxiated by her [[embrace|connect]].]

You return to your body, knowing that you were willing to destroy those who loved you most dearly in order to gain personal success. [[This isn't what I wanted|connect]]

A gilded statue with three heads stands atop a marble pillar rests at the end of the hallway. (click-replace:"end of the hallway.")[end of the hallway. The [[statue|cerberus]] leans forward.]

(if: $scroll is true or $orchid is true) ["Don't run away!" (Click-replace:"run away!")[run away! We need you!] (Click-replace:"need you!")[need you! Give us your spirit and you will gain the life wisdom of humanity!] (Click-replace:"humanity!")[humanity! You have doubts?](click-replace:"doubts?")[doubts? You really think you are an individual?](click-replace:"individual")[[[individual|connect]]? Or shall we [[merge]]?]] (if: $chalice is true or $amethyst is true or $broadsword is true or $flame is true)["You do not have the knowledge we seek. You have no [[value|connect]] to us."]

Your body fills with an electric energy. (click-replace:"energy.")[You levitate and drift toward the statue. Your mind is filled with the life wisdom of all of humanity.](click-replace:"humanity.")[humanity. You find you are also cursed with its ignorance.] [[This isn't what I wanted!|connect]]

(set: $chalice to true) [[You obtain the chalice of tears|objectchosen1]]

(set: $amethyst to true) [[You obtain the amethyst.|objectchosen1]]

(set: $broadsword to true) [[You obtain the broadsword.|objectchosen1]]

(set: $flame to true) [[You obtain the endless flame.|objectchosen1]]

(set: $scroll to true) [[You obtain the scroll of wisdom.|objectchosen1]]

(set: $orchid to true) [[You obtain the orchid.|objectchosen1]]