text: [Themes: fantasy, RPG, fantasy, serious]
  
  Sat on the cold, stone floor of the Blood Temple, you stare at the marbles in front of you. Three marbles, three lives. All must be sacrificed for you to continue living.
  
  One marble, lilac in colour, reminds you of flowers that bloom in early spring. Another is a deep turquoise, resemblent of the sea and its wonders. The last is ruby red, beautiful but fierce.
  
  [Author's Note: Short, serious and dark. Much more story than game, you can't really lose and there aren't that many choices. The main choices are the order that you do things in, and the endings. You can't lose, so if you want a challenge this game isn't for you! There are three possible endings, none of them are a 'true' ending, and people may consider different endings to be the 'best'.]
  
  > Lilac Marble
  You stare into the lilac-coloured marble. You are transported into another's life.
  
  'Come on, hurry up!' you cry, seeing through the eyes of a little girl, dressed in an old lilac dress. You have no control over your actions or words. As you run through the centre of a small hamlet, some other children follow behind you.
  
  A red-faced, chubby boy dressed in some tattered blue clothing starts to fall behind.
  
  'Wait for me, Vyrpa!' he shouts.
  
  You just laugh, shouting back, 'maybe you should hurry up, slowpoke!'
  
  So the boy just carries on running.
  
  Early the next day, the same boy knocks on your door. You run straight past him, calling, 'catch me if you can, slowpoke!'
  
  The boy sighed, and runs after you.
  
  He never catches up with you, but you wait for him by some trees. The boy looks somewhat upset, which makes you feel bad, too.
  
  'Sorry for being mean, Pim,' you say to him.
  
  Pim hugs you. 'Don't be sorry, Vyrpa. I am a slowpoke. I'll never be as fast as you!'
  
  You laugh. 'Maybe not – after all, I am the fastest in the world!' You strike a pose, making Pim laugh.
  
  But then your expression turns deadly serious. 'Don't think bad things about yourself. You're wonderful. Keep on running, and one day, you'll be the fastest person ever!'
  
  > Another Life
  You snap out of your vision. The lilac-coloured marble rolls away from you. You catch it before it escapes; you may need it later.
  
  > Turquoise Marble
  You stare into the turquoise-coloured marble. You are transported into another's life.
  
  You, seeing through the eyes of a beautiful young woman, stand on the edge of a cliff.
  
  'Jump, you'll be happy then,' speaks a voice from the deepest, darkest corners of your mind.
  
  You have no control over your actions or speech.
  
  Your turquoise eyes glimmer in the light of the setting sun. All you ever wanted was peace. But fear takes over and your body begins to shake.
  
  'Just do it!' snaps the voice. 'You'll never be happy if you don't!'
  
  'But... there are so many people who love me,' you reply, quivering.
  
  'Love you? They don't love you, they never did!' the voice taunts.
  
  You stare at the rocks below – is this really what you want? You feel useless, as if possessed, as you edge closer towards the steep drop into the ocean.
  
  A man appears behind you. He shouts for you to stop.
  
  You spin around, your face cast in an unnatural shadow.
  
  'Please, Derra!' the man pleads. 'Don't do this! I love you, I..'
  
  'SHUT UP!' you interrupt. 'You don't love me! You just want me to be miserable, you want me to suffer.' You stare longingly at the rocks below. 'An instant death,' you mutter. 'You want to keep it from me...' Tears are streaming down both faces.
  
  > The Last Life
  You snap out of your vision. The turquoise-coloured marble rolls away from you. You catch it before it escapes; you may need it later.
  
  > Ruby Marble
  You stare into the ruby-coloured marble.You are transported into another's life.
  
  Twenty-five men lie wounded on a dirty floor. Sounds of battle echo from outside of the small cabin. You see through the eyes of a nurse, your ruby hair flowing gracefully behind you as you run frantically, working alone to heal the wounded soldiers. You have no control over your actions or speech.
  
  "Nurse Mennia", groans a man in a blue uniform. You run to treat the man, whose arm has been sliced off. You bandage his bloody stump, give him some alcohol to numb the pain, then move along.
  
  You rush to the other side of the room, to treat a soldier dressed in green. Though the men in the cabin fight on different sides, you don't care. You treat whoever needs treating, and save as many lives as possible.
  
  The soldier's heart has been pierced, and you know that there's nothing you can do for him. You dig a sword deep into his flesh, granting him a quick death, and then move along.
  
  You don't dwell on the lives of those you can't save – you can make up for their lives by saving others.
  
  After a while, new soldiers are brought in. One, you recognise.
  
  Your brother.
  
  > Choice
  You must choose. You were promised the right to live in exchange for the life of one of these people.
  
  Vyrpa, the little girl with the lilac dress.
  
  Derra, the beautiful woman with the turquoise eyes.
  
  Mennia, the kind nurse with the ruby hair.
  
  You could kill them all. Or you could could sacrifice yourself for them. Make your choice.
  
  > sacrifice Vyrpa
  You take the lilac-coloured marble in your hands, and crush it. Lilac dust fills your closed fist.
  
  Derra walks away from the cliff with her love. You watch them marry, have children, grow old together, and have long, happy lives.
  
  Mennia loses her brother, but she lives on. She saves many lives, and becomes a highly valued member of the community.
  
  Pim doesn't see Vyrpa for a few days after their race. It was two whole weeks later when her body was found, and her murderer – an old beggar man with no motive – was apprehended.
  
  Pim soon became the fastest runner in the whole world. But he knew that Vyrpa would have always been faster.
  
  > Betrayal
  Your father enters the room. You run to him. His expression is deadly serious.
  
  "You promised," you tell him. "She's dead now! I can live!"
  
  Your father says nothing, but touches you on the forehead.
  
  You are confused at first, but then you understand.
  
  You fall to the floor, your vision fading. Tears stream down your face. Tears of anger, resentment, betrayal.
  
  "Why?" you beg through your sobs.
  
  Your father smiles. "This was a test. You failed. I require a Child of Darkness, and to walk the Dark Path you must revel in the ability to kill - when given the opportunity, you must seize it willingly - you didn't. You only did what you had to to survive. You aren't even strong-willed enough to walk the Path of Light; you are mediocre - you are of no use to me."
  
  You brace yourself.
  
  A flash, then nothing.