<span class="title">(K)night Under The Mountain</span>
<<link [[play|start]]>><</link>>The sun hangs low as the treasure hunters descend into the Caldera of the Somnambulist. Their trek will take the better part of the evening, and by night—they will have found <<link [[him]]>><</link>>.<div id="interface">
<div id="passages"></div>
<div id="menu" data-init-passage="Menu"></div>
</div><<link '<span class="sc-icon sc-cog" title="settings" tabindex="0"></span>'>><<run UI.settings()>><</link>>
<<link '<span class="sc-icon sc-power" title="power" tabindex="0"></span>'>><<run UI.restart()>><</link>><<widget "scicon">><span @class="'sc-icon sc-' + $args.raw" alt="' + $args.raw + '"></span><</widget>>The slumbering knight under a mountain interred.
<<timed .8s t8n>>Companions three they may be, <<link [[but the truth of the story|choice.1]]>><</link>> is just as malleable to each of them as the magma that flows through the mountain's veins.<</timed>><span class="max">MAXIMIAN</span> - <<link [['"The knight exists, and he will wake to save our kingdom."'|max.1]]>><</link>>
<span class="cyr">CYRIACUS</span> - <<link [['"The knight is a fantasy—and his treasure fiction."'|cyr.1]]>><</link>>
<span class="stef">ISTEFANOS</span> - <<link [['"The knight is not one person; he exists for us to save ourselves."'|stef.1]]>><</link>><span class="max">MAXIMIAN</span> - <<link [['"Myths don\'t just spring from vapours, but have in them truth."'|cave]]>><</link>>
<<link [['"We, the people, should follow his story to save our kingdom."'|cave]]>><</link>> - <span class="stefR">ISTEFANOS</span><span class="cyr">CYRIACUS</span> - <<link [['"Though admirable, that sings as false as the so-called treasure."'|cave]]>><</link>>
<<link [['"It\'s wrong to take from him the honour to defend our kingdom."'|cave]]>><</link>> - <span class="maxR">MAXIMIAN</span><span class="stef">ISTEFANOS</span> - <<link [['"But we should try to help ourselves in honour of his legacy."'|cave]]>><</link>>
<<link [['"Only an idealistic fool trusts such tales."'|cave]]>><</link>> - <span class="cyrR">CYRIACUS</span>The weary triad rests in the mouth of a hungry cave, gathered around a fire. Their destination looms at the peak of a mountain inverted, <<link [[a story]]>><</link>> long well told.Still—in the hearts of some more than others, [[the knight's tale persists|choice.2]].<span class="max">MAXIMIAN</span> - <<link [['"It\'s said the knight was once a fair king who inspired hope in the kingdom."'|max.2]]>><</link>>
<span class="cyr">CYRIACUS</span> - <<link [['"It\'s a fable formed from desperation. Even if this knight did exist, he wouldn\'t aid us."'|cyr.2]]>><</link>>
<span class="stef">ISTEFANOS</span> - <<link [['"It\'s a metaphor—the people shall bear the knight\'s arms, and this hibernation of decay will soon cease."'|stef.2]]>><</link>><span class="stef">ISTEFANOS</span> - <<link [['"Hope is something our people must conjure and rise themselves."'|finale]]>><</link>>
<<link [['"Kings are never just—fair kings don\'t sleep from their people."'|finale]]>><</link>> - <span class="cyrR">CYRIACUS</span><span class="max">MAXIMIAN</span> - <<link [['"The story is proof of his existence, to guide our kingdom with his wisdom."'|finale]]>><</link>>
<<link [['"His treasure exists and that alone should inspire us to break our fetters."'|finale]]>><</link>> - <span class="stefR">ISTEFANOS</span><span class="cyr">CYRIACUS</span> - <<link [['"His phantom arms are a hopeless endeavour for the kingdom."'|finale]]>><</link>>
<<link [['"It\'s destiny that true justice can only come at his hands."'|finale]]>><</link>> - <span class="maxR">MAXIMIAN</span>Night has fallen, stars alight. The Caldera of the Somnambulist is warm with anticipation as the katabasis reaches its conclusion.
<<timed .8s t8n>>Three go in; <<link [[four]]>><</link>> may come out.<</timed>><<timed .5s t8n>>Inside...<</timed>>
<<timed 2s t8n>>There lies a sarcophagus sculpted in the effigy of the knight.<</timed>>
<<timed 3.5s t8n>><<link [[Though helmeted, his marble eyes clearly weep.|choice.3]]>><</link>><</timed>><span class="max">MAXIMIAN</span> - <<link [['"We must wake him."'|end]]>><<set $noble to true>><</link>>
<span class="cyr">CYRIACUS</span> - <<link [['"We should leave this empty place."'|end]]>><<set $cynic to true>><</link>>
<span class="stef">ISTEFANOS</span> - <<link [['"We must take his treasure to wield."'|end]]>><<set $wishful to true>><</link>><<if $noble is true>>
<<timed .5s t8n>>With much struggle, they push open the cover.<</timed>>
<<timed 1.5s t8n>>A thud echoes across the caldera.<</timed>>
<<timed 2.5s t8n>>An aged hand emerges and grasps the side of the coffin.<</timed>>
<<timed 3.5s t8n>>Sunset ends; the (k)night rises.<</timed>>
<<timed 4.5s t8n>><div style="text-align: right;"><<link 'Climb again?'>><<run Engine.restart()>><</link>></div><</timed>>
<<elseif $cynic is true>>
<<timed .5s t8n>>The effigy depicts a knight—but he could be //any// knight.<</timed>>
<<timed 1.5s t8n>>He isn't worth it, this supposed sleeping saviour.<</timed>>
<<timed 2.5s t8n>>They leave the caldera and the coffin closed, letting the story remain just that.<</timed>>
<<timed 3.5s t8n>><div style="text-align: right;"><<link 'Climb again?'>><<run Engine.restart()>><</link>></div><</timed>>
<<elseif $wishful is true>>
<<timed .5s t8n>>With much reverence they take the seven swords resting atop the effigy's chest.<</timed>>
<<timed 1.5s t8n>>In their anabasis, thankfulness settles over them.<</timed>>
<<timed 2.5s t8n>>Perhaps the knight //was// flesh; perhaps he is this gift of steel—and hope.<</timed>>
<<timed 3.5s t8n>><div style="text-align: right;"><<link 'Climb again?'>><<run Engine.restart()>><</link>></div><</timed>>
<</if>>