text: [Themes: Fantasy, princess, clown, witchcraft, monster, knight]
  
  > descend
  Ser Leonhart and Tuck follow you to the first storey landing. From here, you can continue down to ground floor or go west to the hallway.
  
  > Go south
  Ser Leonhart and Tuck follow you to the receiving room. There are rooms to the east and south, as well as a well-lit hallway through the open door to the west.
  
  > Go west
  Ser Leonhart and Tuck follow you down a long hallway lined with portraits. Ahead to the west is the foyer.
  
  > Go west
  Ser Leonhart and Tuck follow you to what remains of the foyer of the inner keep. To the north is a courtyard, to the west is a darkened hallway and to the south are the closed double doors to the bailey. Without a functioning staircase, only a lift remains to provide access to the balconies above. Tristain sits atop one of his suitcases, looking rather bored.
  
  "Your Highness, I have the potion," says Ser Leonhart. When he pulls the potion from his belt, the flyer falls onto the floor.
  
  Tristain picks it up and looks it over. His cheery expression lasts not long. "Ten million doubloons! He said the wedding was in my best interest, but... he is marrying me off for the money."
  
  "The royal dowry has long been a tradition for finding the next king when there are no male heirs," says Ser Leonhart. "Certainly Your Highness would know the law."
  
  "Yes... of course." Tristain smooths out the flyer with his fingers. "I am sorry. I shall be in my room." He gathers his gown and rushes down the hallway to the east.
  
  > examine the suitcase
  There are so many of them. You wonder if Tristain packs for both genders.
  
  > go west
  Ser Leonhart and Tuck follow you down the hallway. There is a bedroom to the north and a balcony to the west. You notice the memorandum is no longer nailed to the northern door.
  
  > go north
  You lead the knight and his squire into the young master's bedroom. Tristain is seated on the edge of his bed, bent low over the wrinkled flyer in one hand and the memo torn from his door in the other. A few tears fall onto the papers.
  
  "Your Highness... are you unwell?" asks Ser Leonhart.
  
  Tristain wipes his eyes, smearing mascara across his cheek. "You know, you try not to think badly of a parent. You might pray they are confused, or stubborn, or will come around. Or you might run away for a little while to create some distance, and hope that upon your return they will listen to you in earnest. But realising your parent may simply not be a good person... I know not how to describe the feeling. I suppose it was obvious in hindsight, especially with how often we fought, but the pill is bitter and difficult to swallow. Not to mention, the poor girl." He looks up. "I swear, I knew naught of his plan to drug her with love potion. I overheard him saying she managed an escape after stealing an invisibility potion, but I cannot remember the potion I switched it with. I can only pray it aided in her escape."
  
  "I'm afraid I have not the slightest idea what you are talking about," says Ser Leonhart, and Tristain rises to his feet.
  
  "No, I suppose not. My father made his choices, and choices have consequences. The door to the workshop will be sealed with a hex, but I can find the counter spell for you. Meet me in the library when you can." He hurries away to the south.
  
  > go south
  You return to the eastern hallway, which runs from the balcony to the west to the stairwell to the east. Ser Leonhart and Tuck remain close behind.
  
  > go to the west
  Ser Leonhart and Tuck follow you down the first storey hallway. There is a library to the north and a balcony to the west.
  
  > Go north
  You find Tristain in the library poring over old books. He calls Ser Leonhart and Tuck over to him.
  
  "I have found it! You must say 'Open or I shall use you for firewood,' and the door to the tower will open. I realise it is not the best way to secure a location, but witchcraft has its flaws."
  
  "I think you mean wizardry," says Ser Leonhart.
  
  "No, I mean witchcraft."
  
  Tuck has been having his own thoughts on the matter. He holds up a finger. "Milord, I have noticed the wizard is rather reliant on potions and, well, judging from what has been seen and heard so far, I think the wizard is not a wizard. I think the wizard is a witch."
  
  Ser Leonhart blinks. "You mean, we seek the Evil Witch Queklain? But... he is a man." Slowly, the knight drags himself to a conclusion, and his lips begin to tremble. He claps a hand over his mouth, but it does no good, for he soon doubles over in laughter. "Queklain, a witch! How ridiculous! Is he going to chase us on a broomstick? Does he wear a pointy hat?"
  
  "I believe wizards also wear pointy hats..." says Tuck, unsure of the purpose of his master's insults.
  
  [Press any key to continue.]Tristain, unable to restrain
  himself, marches over to the knight and slaps him across the face. "Your tongue is in need of discipline. There may be plenty of reasons to disparage him, but a feminine profession is not one of them."
  
  "But Your Highness..." says the knight.
  
  "Oh, for the gods' sakes, I'm not the princess. I'm Tristain, son of Queklain." Tristain pulls off his wig to reveal a head of greasy, short black hair. "Do what you came here to do, before I change my mind and warn my father of your presence."
  
  After a moment of stunned silence, Ser Leonhart draws his sword. "I understand now. You are also a witch, and you used your dark powers to bewitch me into believing you were the princess."
  
  Tristain raises his hands in surrender. "That was not the way of it. I merely—"
  
  "Enough! Tell me, where is the princess? Where are you keeping her?"
  
  "She is not in my care. I know not where she is," says Tristain. He backs slowly into a bookshelf.
  
  With fists clenched tightly by his side, Tuck steps in front of the knight's raised sword. He lifts his head high. "Let him be," he says. "H-he has wronged neither of us."
  
  Ser Leonhart halts before his squire. "Tuck? Have you taken leave of your senses?"
  
  "I-I no longer know what is sense, milord. All this time, I followed your lead as it is what squires do. But at once it occurred to me, how would I know if what you say is right? Because this feels far from right. I think... I shall be thinking more for myself from now on."
  
  "Your journey to knighthood, nay, to manhood is only beginning," says Ser Leonhart. He finds a pose demonstrating the most confidence. "A hero always does what is right. And that whoreson over there—" he points accusingly at Tristain "—is deceitful in words and in dress, and his wickedness has cost the true princess valuable time. Justice must be served."
  
  "Yes, he spoke falsehoods, but should we open our ears and listen, we may find reason in them. We must not pass judgement so quickly," Tuck pleads.
  
  The knight's eyes soften, and for a moment, you can see the classic struggle between empathy and belief within them. Alas, belief, for those who possess it, is known for being the stronger of the two. Ser Leonhart shakes his head to throw the obtrusive thoughts away. "Your words are a gentle breeze, unable to bring down the sturdy stone wall of tradition. It is with a heavy heart that I release you from my service and brand you a traitor to the crown. Prepare yourself!"
  
  He at once lunges at his former squire, who narrowly avoids the blade and ducks under the table. The sword lodges itself in the wood, and placing one foot against the side of the table, Ser Leonhart removes the weapon.
  
  Tuck, meanwhile, scrambles out the opposite side. Firmly practised in the art of retreat, he runs around the table in circles, and Ser Leonhart gives chase.
  
  > go north
  You head into an expansive library lit by an open window. On the southern wall beside the sole entrance hangs a great tapestry. The remaining walls are lined with shelves upon shelves of books. Tuck is doing his best to escape the Ser Leonhart's blade. Tristain watches, gripped by fear and unsure of what to do.
  
  > Shake bell
  You ring the bell, and a murder of crows descends through the open window. They attack Ser Leonhart and his shiny platemail, distracting him long enough for Tuck to throw himself at the knight's legs. They both somersault to the ground.
  
  Left alone by the crows, Tristain presses the pointed end of one of his heels against the knight's neck. "Drop your sword," he commands.
  
  Ser Leonhart's lips tighten, but he does as he is told. Tuck grabs the sword and takes a few steps backwards, pulling Tristain with him. They watch the knight carefully as he returns to his feet and chases the crows away with flailing arms.
  
  "Give me back my sword," says Ser Leonhart once the last of the crows has fled. "You are untrained and more apt to hurt yourself than I."
  
  "Promise you will leave us in peace," says Tuck. "Your quarrel is with Queklain, and you are indebted to me for all of those times I saved you from death." You are not sure where the steady and confident voice came from, but you are glad Tuck discovered it when he did.
  
  Ser Leonhart considers his former squire's words. "Very well. Return my sword to me, and I swear on my honour and the wrath of the gods that I shall harm neither you nor the witch's child this foul day."
  
  Tristain puts a cautionary hand on the sword, but Tuck nods at him as if to say the knight is a man of his word. He clumsily tosses the sword at the knight's feet.
  
  "Goodbye, my defiant defector," says Ser Leonhart, "for I am off to slay the wizard—I mean witch. May the gods have mercy on your soul." Without another word, the knight retrieves his sword and departs to the south.
  
  Tuck spins round. "Are you unharmed?"
  
  Tristain immediately throws his arms around Tuck and plants a kiss on his lips, but when Tuck pulls away, the young lord covers his face with his hands in shame. "My apologies! I... I misread the situation. I only hoped to show you gratitude for saving my life, and you had said earlier that—oh, never mind. I truly am sorry."
  
  Tuck shakes his head to put the other at ease. "Please, fret not over this," he says, then he lowers his voice. "Sometimes I worry Cupido sings not for me. But..." He gathers his courage, the courage of a different sort than when facing an enemy on a battlefield. He holds out his hand. "Let us first be friends, if you would have me."
  
  "Of course!" cries Tristain. His eyes shine as he grips the other's hand. "A friend! Yes, as a matter of fact, I would like that very much." He pauses. "And how does one go about being your friend?"
  
  "Well," says Tuck, "I believe we ought to start by learning about one another."
  
  Coming to an agreement on the best way to proceed, they find a seat by the window and do precisely that.
  
  > Go north
  You proceed into an expansive library lit by an open window. On the southern wall beside the sole entrance hangs a great tapestry. The remaining walls are lined with shelves upon shelves of books. Tristain and Tuck are engaged in conversation by the window.
  
  You can see a handbell here.
  
  > look at Tuck
  Tuck is conversing with Tristain by the window.
  
  > Go upwards
  You make your way up the stairs to the second storey landing. You can continue up to the storey above or head west to the hallway.
  
  > go upward
  You climb the stairs to the third storey landing. You can head west to the hallway.
  
  > Go west
  You proceed down the third storey hallway. There is a stone gargoyle carved into the wall to the north and a balcony to the west.
  
  You can see a pepper shaker here.
  
  > Go west
  You leave the hallway and head onto the third storey balcony. Ahead of you rises a spiral staircase to the keep's highest tower. The main staircase descends to the balcony below. A call button can summon the lift.
  
  > Go west
  You head up the stairs to the top of the spiral staircase. To the north is an open door into the tower.
  
  > Go north
  You slip into Queklain's workshop within the keep's highest tower. Light seeps in through narrow slitted windows, spreading thin rectangles of light across the rough stone floor. On the far side of the room, a cauldron bubbles between shelves of ingredients, bottled potions and one particularly ratty broomstick.
  
  There, beside the cauldron, stands the evil witch himself. Robbit peers out from behind the witch's robes. In the centre of the room, Ser Leonhart is poised to attack.
  
  "Evil One!" shouts the knight. "My name is Ser Leonhart. Remember it well, for it is a name that will live on for centuries in the stories that tell of your demise. Step away from the cauldron, for we shall duel man to man."
  
  Queklain lets out a booming laugh. He reaches up and takes a bottle of potion off the shelf. "Are you here to challenge me? The great and powerful wizard Queklain? I accept your duel, but rather than fight man against man, might we try something a little more fun? Such as man against dragon..."
  
  He trails off as he remembers something. "Shoot. Which potion was switched with the dragon potion again?" He searches the shelf for a different bottle, but unable to find it, he turns back to the knight. "We shall duel, Ser Whatever, but you must give me a few minutes, and also a strand of your hair."
  
  Ser Leonhart raises his shield. "I will not fall prey to your tricks. Prepare to meet the heavy fist of justice!"
  
  As the knight readies his charge, Heroes 1 through 5 burst into the tower, each soaking wet and holding a random household object as a weapon (except for Hero 1, who still has his guitar). They shout things like "I'm here to rescue the princess!" and "No, I'm
  here to rescue the princess!" and "Oh look, I see Georgie! Hi Georgie!" and "Apologies we did not realise the cell door was open sooner!" Spotting Queklain, they close in for the attack. "Look, the evil wizard! We shall finish him!"
  
  As if things had not become confusing enough, an ogre chooses that moment to barge into the tower, carrying the goblin engineer over his shoulder. He is followed by a sweaty cyclops and a salty medusa.
  
  "Measter, we dinna fin the princess, but lek who a' fin runnin' awee! She sed some 'eroes burna the keep and—" Upon seeing the collection
  of
  heroes in front of him, the ogre stops mid-sentence and throws Rhoda to the ground. "Argh! I 'ate 'eroes!" The monsters pull out their weapons.
  
  For the briefest of moments, the room is still. Then, the floodgates open. Punches are thrown. Weapons clash. Circles are run. Cries for help are lost in the shouting and the noise. The cauldron is tipped over, spilling the half-brewed love potion all over the stone floor. Shelves come crashing down, smashing bottles of potion left and right. Somehow, the door is closed. The fates seem to enjoy spitting on you.
  
  Then again, perhaps not. You watch six bottles of blue potion, still intact, skitter across the floor and come to a stop in front of you. They are labelled Dragon, Clown, Ribbons, Elf, Flea and Pig. A seventh bottle, a pink counter potion, slides next to the other six, having freed itself from Ser Leonhart's belt in the chaos.
  
  You consider your options.
  
  > look at the Dragon
  A blue potion labelled Dragon.
  
  > examine the Clown
  A blue potion labelled Clown.
  
  > examine the Ribbons
  A blue potion labelled Ribbons.
  
  > examine elf
  A blue potion labelled Elf.
  
  > examine pig potion
  A blue potion labelled Pig.
  
  > drink the pink
  You remove the cork with your teeth and take a sip from the bottle. You are surrounded by a puff of smoke, and when it clears, you have returned to human form.
  
  "Finally," you blurt out in relief, but not so loudly as to draw attention to yourself. Fortunately, the heroes and monsters in the tower are too distracted by the brawl to notice.
  
  "Finally is right!" shouts a flea, and the two of them leap off your face into the open bottle of counter potion. There appears another puff of smoke, and you discover two gnomes in blue coats and pointy red hats standing in front of you.
  
  "Many thanks for your assistance," says one gnome.
  
  "Yes, thank you," says the other. And with that, they both run into the fray, immediately offering conflicting advice to the first hero they meet.
  
  As quietly as you can, you open the door and slip out onto the tower stairs (grabbing the remaining counter potion on the way, for Scruffle Wuffles).
  
  [Press any key to continue.]You detour into Tristain's room
  to borrow one of his more understated dresses (a rare find, to be sure), then proceed on to the library. Tuck and Tristain are resting beneath the open window.
  
  "Ahem." Even the slightest noise startles the boys out of their close conversation.
  
  "Who are you?" asks Tuck.
  
  Tristain (who had visited you during your previous capture and promised to help you escape) needs not ask. He springs to his feet and envelops you in a hug, warm and genuine in a way you are not used to. You return the kind gesture.
  
  "I'm so glad you are well! Oh, how I feared for your safety," says Tristain once he separates. "And for the record, you wear that dress better than I ever could."
  
  "Nonsense. You have the body for it," you reply.
  
  "Flattery will gain you everything," says Tristain, fanning himself.
  
  You smile. "We should be going. Neither of you will want to be here when Corporation Incorporated arrives with their army."
  
  "The debt collectors? Oh gods, our situation really is worse than father let on. If only..." His eyes are misty again. "No, it's best we parted ways."
  
  You take his hand in yours. "Let him worry you no more," you say. "He would never let your future be your own. It seems we have this much in common. In any event, I happen to be quill-friends with someone named Zifmia the Adventurer. You might know of her, and I hear she is always on the hunt for new talent."
  
  Tristain's face shines like the sun. He turns proudly to Tuck. "Ah, allow me to introduce the real Princess Joy."
  
  Tuck leaps to one knee, but you shake your head and help him rise to his feet. "I hear Princess Joy died tragically somewhere on the mountain," you say. "A shame the king no longer has anyone to marry off. Mayhap all those screaming for democracy can finally have their way. In the meantime, I shall have to come up with a new name."
  
  "Oh, but that is the fun part," says Tristain. He clears his throat. "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage, Miss Ima Runaway!"
  
  You giggle. "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage, Miss Tilda Swineton!" Tristain's eyes widen as he realizes the meaning behind your pun, and you discreetly put a finger to your lips.
  
  "Golly," says Tuck. "Hmmm... Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage, Miss Notta Princess!"
  
  Tristain blinks. "That was... a decent first attempt," he lies. Tuck shoves the other in a playful manner, and in no time they are wrestling.
  
  You give them their space and move to the window. The sky has cleared, and the sun dips into the west. Traces of pink and purple radiate from behind the keep's outer curtain. You spent a lifetime staring at sunsets over castle walls, but after tonight, walls hold you no longer. Somewhere out there, the world waits to embrace you, and for the first time in your life, you think of the future and smile.
  
  > Drink dragon
  You remove the cork with your teeth and take a sip from the bottle. New smells come into focus. You feel your olfactory senses becoming sharper. If you had this potion hours ago, you might have actually passed for a wizard sniffer.
  
  > Smell
  (the Flea potion)
  You sniff the potion.
  
  > Drink clown
  You remove the cork with your teeth and take a sip from the bottle, but nothing happens. The flavour is both sweet and tangy. You think this must be a bottle of ordinary blueberry juice.
  
  > Drink ribbon
  You remove the cork with your teeth and take a sip from the bottle. Your feet lift off the floor, and you float up towards the ceiling.
  
  "Look!" shouts Hero 2. "Pigs fly! I'm the leader! Heroes, let's—"
  His
  first command as leader is lost as the cyclops lands on top of him.
  
  Flying is initially difficult, but you eventually manage to paddle your way back to the floor where the potions are waiting.
  
  > Drink elf
  You remove the cork with your teeth and take a sip from the bottle. The world seems to slow around you. You feel as though your actions would proceed much more quickly.
  
  > drink the Flea
  (the Flea potion)
  You remove the cork with your teeth and take a sip from the bottle. A wave of honesty passes over you. If you were asked a question, you could not avoid telling the truth (though as an ordinary pig, nobody would understand you).
  
  > drink pig
  (the Pig potion)
  You remove the cork with your teeth and take a sip from the bottle. Your body fades from view.
  
  > drink the pink
  You remove the cork with your teeth and take a sip from the bottle. Your invisibility leaves you.
  
  > continue
  You take a sip from the bottle. You feel as though you can lie again.
  
  > Keep going
  You take a sip from the bottle. The world speeds up around you.
  
  > continue
  You take a sip from the bottle. Gravity pulls you back to the floor as you lose your ability to fly.
  
  > Continue
  You take a sip from the bottle. Your heightened sense of smell fades away.
  
  > keep going
  You take a sip from the bottle. You are surrounded by a puff of smoke, and when it clears, you have returned to human form.
  
  "Finally," you blurt out in relief, but not so loudly as to draw attention to yourself. Fortunately, the heroes and monsters in the tower are too distracted by the brawl to notice.
  
  "Finally is right!" shouts a flea, and the two of them leap off your face into the open bottle of counter potion. There appears another puff of smoke, and you discover two gnomes in blue coats and pointy red hats standing in front of you.
  
  "Many thanks for your assistance," says one gnome.
  
  "Yes, thank you," says the other. And with that, they both run into the fray, immediately offering conflicting advice to the first hero they meet.
  
  As quietly as you can, you open the door and slip out onto the tower stairs (grabbing the remaining counter potion on the way, for Scruffle Wuffles).
  
  [Press any key to continue.]