(set: $inv to (a:))
You are Lost.
[[Wake Up]]
You wake up.
[[Look Around]]You're in the middle of a desert, sand dunes stretch across the horizon as far as the eyes can see. To the NORTH, there is nothing but sand, to the SOUTH, smoke curls up from the horizon, to the WEST, you hear the sound of engines roaring, to the EAST, you see a strange green glow.
(if: $inv contains "talisman")[Your head feels fine.]
(else:)[
Your head aches.]
(if: $inv contains "artefact")[It is early in the afternoon, the sun is beating down on you, you are still LOST.]
(else:)[
It is Mid-day, the sun is beating down on you, you are LOST.]
[[Go NORTH]]
[[Go SOUTH]]
[[Go WEST]]
[[Go EAST]]You head NORTH.
There is nothing here, only sand.
[[Go BACK]]
(if: $inv contains "artefact")[You head WEST.
There is nothing here, only steel tracks that lead to nowhere.
[[Go BACK]]]
(else:)[You head WEST. The distant hum of engins begins to change into a roar, the ground beneath you starts vibrating as the source grows closer. Finally, you reach a set of traintracks, shining steel in the golden sands, burning hot to the touch. To your right you see in the distance a plume of steam as the great beheomoth towards, the sound of engines roaring mixing with gunshots and clashing steel.
[[Hide]]](if: $inv contains "artefact")[You head EAST. The artefact in your hand glowing stronger with every step you take, shining like a beacon towards the strange emittance in front of you. The pain in your head is unbearable, but somehow you still walk, your sight leaves you, then your hearing, all youe sense shut down one by one, but you can still feel yourself slowly walking forwards. You no longer have any sense of direction, you close your eyes, then open them again, green light pouring from your pupils, you reach the centre, the artefact screams, and then nothing.
[[You are LOST.]]]
(else-if: $inv contains "artefact" and "talisman") [You head EAST. The sky begins to darken as you travel, the artefact, usually so bright, is now muted by the presence of the strange talisman on your neck. As evening turns to night you finally see it, glowing in the dark, a giant obelisk, obsidian in colour, floating in the sky. The light is almost overpowering, but strangely, you cannot feel nor hear anything. You walk like a phantom through the dunes. The warriors have returned, in strength, some great battle raging for the power of the desert. As you reach its center, you see for the first time your reflection in the sleek stone, your eyes glow faintly green, the left side of your face completely missing, green light glowing from the open wound. Suddenly, the talisman shines, a brilliant white light, burning through the green hue. Removing the necklace, you place it on the artefact, letting it slowly float until it joins the obelisk above, it swirls, then seals itself into the featureless stone, trapping the talisman inside. The white light burns through cracks in the statue, until the whole desert is burning with light.
[[You black out]]]
(else:)
[ As you head EAST, the pain on the side of your head grows, the throbbing green glow keeping pace with the pulsing headache in your brain. Your speed begins to slow to a crawl, until, just as you begin to reach the epicenter of the strange light, you black out.
[[Wake Up]]](if: $inv contains "artefact")[You head SOUTH.
The pillar of smoke seems darker, more threatening on the horizon as you make your way towards it. Coming into view you see what remains of a small village, burning in the fires of war. The beheomoth has fallen, reering of its tracks and crashing into the largest house. You see some familiar faces aswell, the warriors fighting off more figures with backs against the fallen traincar. You could intervene, but you have no weapons and still no clue what's going on.
[[Back to the desert]]]
(else-if: $gonesouth is "southeast")[
The village is deserted now, but where the girl was you spot a strange [[talisman on the ground.|Pick up the talisman]]]
(else-if: $gonesouth is "southwest")[
The village is still empty. [[Go BACK]]]
(else:)[You head SOUTH.
The pillar of smoke grows larger as a small village comes into view. Some form of rest-stop aside the western train tracks, it looks small, but comforting. You can't help but feel drawn to the place, but still feel cautious about trespassing. Getting closer, you can see a few locals going about their daily business at the market. Crouching behind one of the stalls, you see a small girl slowly walking towards your hiding spot.
[[Stay hidden]]
[[Try to talk to her]]]You head BACK.
[[Look Around]]Ducking under a nearby dune, you quietly wait for the train's arrival. As it approaches, you begin to make out passengers on the roof, two men and one woman bearing steel, and five or so figures dressed in robes. Shots ring out again and one of the figures drops, his body falling right beside your hiding spot as the iron giant rushes by.
[[Stay in hiding]]
[[Help him]](set: $inv to $inv + (a: "artefact"))
forsaking your cover, you cautiously move towards the fallen figure, hoping for information or at least, company. His eyes move wildly, unfocused and scattered, before pinpointing your form. 'مساعدة!' he cries haggardly, shambling towards you. 'ما الخطأ؟'You ask. You realise that you can't understand what the man is saying, nor what you said back. He grabs your arm, wild eyes locking with yours. 'خد هذا،' he emplores you, placing the glowing artefact into your hands. 'خذها ببساطة.' He points towards the EAST before turning away, shambling along the train tracks. He never turns back.
[[Go BACK]]Staying hidden behind the dunes, you watch as the man begins to rise. His body looks battered, not only from the fall, and as he staggers upwards it looks like he is falling apart in front you. 'مساعدة,مساعدة!' He cries, before slumping down again, his left arm, undamaged, rising up in plea, while his right hand clings to some strange glowing artefact. Eventually, his body cannot withstand the strain, and, pulsing with that eerie green, begins to scatter like ash amongst the dunes. All that remains is the artefact.
[[Pick up the artefact]](set: $inv to $inv + (a: "artefact"))
Prying the strange object from what remains of the figure's hand, you examine it closely. It's similar in shape to a piece of parchment, but is covered in strange, braille-like markings. It is metal, but the markings are clearly made of a different kind the rest. at the centre is a square-shaped silver piece, from which the glow emanates.
[[Go BACK]](if: (passage:)'s name is "inventory")[<!--Do nothing-->]
(else-if: (passage:)'s tags contains "donotshowinventory")[<!--Do nothing-->]
(else:)[Check [[inventory]].]
<h2>Inventory</h2>
(if: $inv's length > 0)[Your inventory contains a: (print: $inv.join(", ")).]
(else:)[You have nothing.]
(click: "artefact")[(display: "artefact")]
(click: "talisman")[(display: "talisman")]
(link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last) A strange glowing piece of metal you found near the train tracks, it seems to thrum in time with your splitting headache.Staying hidden, you watch as the girl passes you by. Looking closely, you notice how furtive the townspeople are acting, glancing constantly to the east, as if some unseen volcano would erupt at any moment. Suddenly, you hear shouts from beyond the village, then screams, the market is soon deserted, and you find yourself alone. Dropped on the ground you spot a strange talisman of some sort.
[[Pick up the talisman]](set: $inv to $inv + (a: "talisman")) (set: $gonesouth to "southwest")
On closer look, you seem to recognise the symbols on the talisman, from the spirals you can tell it's religious, but inlaid underneath it is another symbol, unfamiliar to you. You place it around your neck, and the headache you had seems to fade away.
[[Go BACK]]As you begin to turn away, you swear you could see the woman stare right at you, she begins to speak, but the battle overtakes her once again. Seizing the moment, you run back to safety. As you run back to safety you spot a strange [[talisman on the ground.|Pick up the talisman]]]
[[Look Around]]A necklace of some kind, overlaid with multiple symbols, some you recognise, some you don't.[[You wake up]]Rubble covers the ground.
Across the dunes, men and women awake from a haunted slumber, green metals burning from their skin. The warriors are at work, tending to the sleepers.
Your name is Asim.
You see the the rubble of the ancient Stone, the great protector of your people, destroyed.
You see smoke from your hometown, Marok.
You remember running in the night, fleeing from horrifying figures of green.
You remember falling.
You look around, to see your homeland, saved and you are no longer [[Lost]]Thanks for playing.
serialsymphony.tumblr.com(set: $gonesouth to "false")(set: $gonesouth to "southeast")
Coming out from the stall, you slowly make your way towards her, raising your hands to show you're not a threat. As soon as she sees you, she drops the goods she was carrying and screams, running away. 'انتظر!' You call after her, but the words sound wrong in your mouth. Quickly, you run back to the safety of the dunes.
[[Look Around]]