text: [Themes: fantasy, serious]
  
  You figure you'll have a better chance of surviving if you have your sword, so you dash across the room towards where it lies with the rest of your supplies. However, the assassin sees what you're trying to do and jumps at you. You move to the side barely in time and make it to the dresser, where you pick up your sword.
  
  You turn to face your attacker, who is recovering from his fall.
  
  You...
  
  > take a defensive stance
  Knowing assassins are the masters of dishonest fighting, you get into a defensive stance and wait for the man to attack you. You had been trained how to properly defend yourself back in Dialla, so you're feeling quite good about your chances, even if you don't know how the enemy fights.
  
  The assassin regains his footing and prepares to attack, but you're ready for whatever he can throw at you. When he stabs at you you move out of the way and try to counter his attack, but he's fast and is able to move out of the way as well. The two of you do this dance until you are both exhausted, each getting a few good hits in on the other.
  
  You're thinking you've reached a stalemate when the assassin suddenly jumps at you again, knife in the air. You muster up all of your energy and jump out of the way, and then you use your momentum to swing the hilt of your sword down on the assassin's head, knocking him out momentarily and making him fall to the floor. You kick the man's dagger away from his body and stand over him.
  
  You...
  
  > interrogate him
  "Who are you? Why are you trying to kill me?" You shout at the assassin. You've bested him, so now it's
  time to get some answers. He looks up at you, his face vaguely angry, and remains silent. "Answer me!" you demand.
  
  "Silence in life, silence in death," the assassin spits at you.
  
  "Who do you work for?"
  
  "Silence in life, silence in death."
  
  You sigh; the guy's not going to give you anything.
  
  You...
  
  > incapacitate him
  Despite your frustration, you see no need to kill the assassin. He looks up at you, and furiously says, "Silence in life, silence in death." When you hear this, you find it funny.
  
  "You're not dying today," you say. You kick him in the head, hard enough to make him pass out, but not hard enough to kill him.
  
  It's then that you hear a furious knocking on the door. You walk over and unlock it before opening it, revealing the barkeep and a few other workers standing in the hallway, all with worried looks on their faces.
  
  "What the devil is going on in there?!" the barkeep shouts. When he looks behind you and sees the man lying on the floor, the color drains out of his face.
  
  "He tried to kill me," you tell him, and he drags his eyes away from the body to inspect your face. He looks as though he is unsure whether to trust you or not. "All of you, go back to your rooms," he tells the people behind you. As they wonder off, you wonder how long they've all been standing out there. The barkeep comes into your room and closes the door.
  
  "What happened?" he asks.
  
  "I think he's an assassin, he came to my door and ambushed me," you reply.
  
  The barkeep rubs his face, obviously overwhelmed by what's happening. "He was a strange one, I wouldn't be that surprised if he was a shady character."
  
  "Unfortunately I couldn't get any information out of him. All he said was 'silence in life, silence in death.'" At these words, the barkeep froze.
  
  "He said that?" he asked, looking panicked.
  
  "Yes?"
  
  The barkeep sat on the edge of the bed, looking like he very much wanted all of this not to be happening. "That's the motto of the Niravian Crows."
  
  "What does that mean? What are the Niravian Crows?" You asked.
  
  "The assassins that cater to the crown."
  
  "Oh." You couldn't make sense of this. Why would the king of Niravia target you? There had been no recent disagreement between Vinia and Niravia, nothing that would prompt an attempt to take your life. "Why would they want to kill me?" you say allowed to no one in particular.
  
  "Well who are you? You someone important?" the barkeep asks. You're contemplating how to answer when he continues, "It doesn't matter. You need to get out of here, though."
  
  You look out the sole window in the room and see that the sky is getting brighter. "Is there any way I can travel to the border? Fast?" you ask.
  
  The barkeep thinks for a moment before responding, "There might be a merchant or someone with a cart, or a horse. That'd get you there quick."
  
  "I'll look for someone then. Thank you."
  
  "Don't mention it." The barkeep waves you off and stands up. "If you want, have some breakfast before you go. But I'd get out of here as soon as possible if I were you. Just make sure to tell me when you go so I can get someone to clean up the body." With that, he leaves.
  
  You...
  
  > have breakfast
  You figure you should have some food before heading out--you don't really know when your next chance to have good food is--so you gather up your things and head downstairs. There are a few people passed out around the room, but for the most part the place is empty. You think it looks different during the day, the open windows bringing in the early morning light, making the room look larger and more open. Some of the staff are cleaning off tables and preparing for the day, and the barkeep is behind the bar, cleaning dishes.
  
  You go up to the bar and take a seat. "What's for breakfast?" you ask.
  
  "Eggs and bread," he replies.
  
  "I'll have that, then." The barkeep walks back to the kitchen and emerges a few minutes later with your food. Upon smelling the delicious food you realize how much the fight with the assassin took out of you, so you dig in.
  
  "Listen," the barkeep whispers, leaning in, "there's a farmer waiting for you by the edge of the town. He's got a large cart that you can ride in. He's not going all the way to the border, but he'll get you there faster than if you were just walking."
  
  You nod. "Okay. Thank you."
  
  "Don't mention it," he says. "He wants to leave soon, though, so hurry up and eat."
  
  "Wait," you say, "Could you tell me more about the Niravian Crows?"
  
  The barkeep sighs. "There's not much more to say about them. They're assassins, hired by the crown. They do whatever they're told, even if it means they'll die." He looks at you for a moment, thinking. "You don't have assassins in Vinia?"
  
  "We don't really have a need for them," you say.
  
  The barkeep chuckles. "I doubt that, but if you say so." You're about to ask what he means when he says, "You should head out now, don't want that farmer to leave without you."
  
  "Oh, alright. Thank you for everything, really." You finish up the last of your food and stand, picking up your bag and slinging it over your shoulder. You don't know how you've gotten so lucky, really, first with Jarven and his bandits and now with the barkeep. You thought Niravia was some depraved place, but the people you've encountered have been kind, generally.
  
  You wave a final goodbye to the barkeep before leaving the inn.
  
  > Head out
  You leave the inn and are thrown back into the world that is Niravia. Sirra looks much different in the daylight. There are mothers and children running around the streets, some merchants set up along the sidewalk trying to sell their wares. People walk to their work, chatting with each other jovially. The sun, although just having risen, illuminates the streets. Despite the fact the town looks nothing like Dialla, it reminds you of your beloved city. The energy of the town lifts your spirits and encourages you to move toward the edge of the town.
  
  As the buildings get more and more spaced out and the people become more sparse you see a man leaning against a cart with two bulls hitched to it. When you get closer, the man calls out, "Are you the kid I'm supposed to be drivin'?"
  
  "Yessir," you tell him. The man is older, with a weathered look about him.
  
  "Alright, hop in front," he tells you, climbing onto the seat on the front of the cart. He grabs the reigns in his hands and waits until you're settled next to him to leave. The bulls aren't fast creatures, but you know they're faster than you. Plus, you won't get tired from walking.
  
  "I'm only following the main road for so long," the farmer tells you. While the path leading to Sirra had been shrouded in trees, the path was now winding through farmlands, flat and spreading for as far as the eye could see. You occasionally spot workers in some of the fields. "I'm going north, to Terrid--it's a small town on the way to the capital--so you're gonna have to walk the little bit back to the border. It's not too far, though. You can make it before sunset."
  
  "Okay."
  
  The farmer looks at you. "So tell me about yourself, boy. Got any reason for going to Vinia? Or maybe just visitin'?"
  
  "I live in Dialla," you tell him. "I'm training to be a soldier. Some...unfortunate circumstances lead me to Niravia."
  
  The farmer laughed. "I can tell ya don't wanna talk about it, it's alright, boy. But a soldier? That's excitin'!"
  
  "It is," you give a small laugh yourself, "we're trained in defending ourselves and the people, and we get to patrol the city. I've met many colorful characters."
  
  "I've always wanted to go to Dialla," the farmer confesses. "My wife went when she was little, once--said it was amazing. I've never even seen the sea."
  
  "Doesn't Niravia touch the sea? In the south?"
  
  "Yeah, but everyone says the beach there is rocky and ugly, nothin' compared to Dialla, I'm sure."
  
  "Not many places can compare to Dialla, I'm afraid," you say. "You should visit sometime, we love having guests in the city."
  
  The farmer smiled. "Maybe in the winter, when I don't have to care for the farm. I'd have to find someone to watch the animals, though. I won't ask my neighbor, that's for sure. He's a prick."
  
  You laugh. "I'm sure you'll be able to find someone."
  
  The rest of your ride with the farmer continues in the same fashion, simply talking about whatever crossed your minds. When you reach the small fork in the path, the farmer brings the cart to a stop.
  
  "Well, this is where we part ways," he says. "Go ahead and take a few vegetables for your travels. Wouldn't want ya to starve, would we?" he chuckles.
  
  "I couldn't--"
  
  "Go ahead, boy. You can repay me when I come to Dialla. What's your name? I'll ask for ya at the guards' barracks."
  
  "Just ask for Alexander," you tell him, going around to the back of the cart where the farmer's wares are. All of the fruits and vegetables look delicious, but you don't want to take too much, so you just grab a nice green apple and a ripe tomato.
  
  "Alright, Alexander, you'll be seein' me in the future!" the farmer yells as he takes off down the north road. You wave before continuing on the main road. The sun is high in the sky, so you figure it must be around noon.
  
  You walk down the seemingly endless path, the sun beating down on you with every step you take. Not long into the journey you become hungry and stop for some food, sitting on the side of the path as you munch contently on the food you received from the farmer. When you've finished, you stand up and continue on your way.
  
  You feel like you've been walking for years--your feet ache and your mind is weary with doubt--before you see your goal: the border. The border of Vinia is marked very clearly by a ten meter high stone wall. All the fatigue you had suddenly left your body and you began running for the gate at the end of the road, giddy as a child running to play.
  
  When you reach the large gates, the three guards stationed there look concerned at your happiness.
  
  "Can we help you?" one of them asks. He's the shortest of the three.
  
  "Yes," you say, catching your breath, "I would like to pass through to Vinia, please." Upon hearing you speak, the guards seem to lighten up a little.
  
  "You're from Dialla, aren't you?" one of them--the youngest--asks. You smile and nod, knowing they must have picked up on the slight accent all native Diallans have. You're shocked by how happy you are to be around your own countrymen again.
  
  "Open the gate!" the last guard--a woman--shouts, and a moment later the large gate leading into Vinia is lifted, granting you access back to your beloved land.
  
  "Lucky for you, there's a group of guards heading back to Dialla tonight. I'm sure they'd be happy to take you along," the short one tells you, pointing you towards the barracks located along the stone wall. There's a large carriage next to it, the horses not yet hitched. You sigh in relief.
  
  "Thank you," you tell the guards.
  
  The guards lead you to the barracks, where you are given a fresh meal and new clothes before being loaded on the carriage back to Dialla. You chat with the other soldiers on the ride before letting yourself drift off to sleep, dreaming of the beautiful land you have been returned to. Before you know it, you are back in Dialla.
  
  > Fast forward
  You have been back in Dialla for about a week, and your parents have not let you out of their sight since your return. With your help, they plan to take action in some form against Niravia.
  
  What do you do?
  
  > send spies to investigate
  You decide to be cautious and utilize the spies you have at your disposal.
  
  You dispatch multiple agents to Niravia--some working in the royal palace, some living in the capital city--and wait for their feedback. It only takes a few weeks for a report to be sent to you. It claims that spies have found documents sent by the King of Niravia ordering the kidnapping and subsequent public execution of you.
  
  You and your parents barely have time to process this information when it is discovered that one of your spies has been discovered and Niravia's army marches towards the border. Now knowing that the Niravian crown planned on assassinating you to deplete your country's morale, your soldiers and citizens are filled with a passionate desire to crush this threat. All who can help in any way they are able to, so your army is well supplied and strong when it meets Niravia's.
  
  Vinia easily prospers over Niravia. The battles are violent, but the Vinian army spares as many lives as possible--it's simply their nature. When the royal family is captured, however, the king is executed and the rest of the family banished. You personally take control of Niravia and all of its assets, and with the guidance of your parents you help make the country prosperous and peaceful, although it still has its rustic charm.
  
  The end.