text: [Themes: Fantasy, female protagonist]
  
  > Look around
  The afternoon sky is completely curtained with cloud, leaving only a cool white glow visible above the northern mountains where the sun should be. A small willow tree drops yellow leaflets along the top of the low stone wall bordering the graveyard, whispering softly in the breeze as it does. Several gravestones stand among the tousled green grass, but no one has tended them for some time, and they are overgrown.
  
  If you can still hear me, speak to me.
  
  > talk to him
  You turn your thoughts inward.
  
  [1] I can hear you.
  
  > 1
  Good. Now, we need you to leave this dream. Walk south out of the graveyard.
  
  > go south
  The willow tree whispers a soft goodbye as you pass the graveyard's boundary.
  
  An overgrown path leads down from the grassy graveyard, and you follow it. As you walk, the afternoon shifts from warm to cool, and the pale sun sets on your right. The sunset is shimmering and frail, but the clouds part to reveal a skyful of brilliantly shining stars. Like a ramp supported on nothingness, the path leads up from the earth and into the sky, and you follow it into the night.
  
  Eventually, the path fades away, and only the a star-filled blackness surrounds you. You pause to reorient.
  
  You drift at the center of a sphere of glowing silver stars. Although you can recognize the constellations of the spring night sky, they are arranged in no resemblance to their normal positioning. Between the stars, there is only blackness.
  
  > examine Stars
  Which do you mean, the Heron, the Bull, the Badger, the Cat, the Hound, the Pelican, the Alligator, the Rat, or the Mantis?
  
  > examine Pelican
  Ten glowing silver stars form the Pelican constellation.
  
  > examine the mantis
  Eight glowing silver stars form the Mantis constellation.
  
  > ask the man about the mantis
  [Use TALK TO to interact with characters.]
  
  > talk to the man
  You turn your thoughts inward.
  
  [1] "How do I wake up from this?"
  
  > 1
  Waking is very close. We need to find my star --
  
  "Our star."
  
  Our star. I can sense it nearby. Try going toward the Mantis.
  
  > go Mantis
  You approach the Mantis constellation. It flashes brilliantly, and you are briefly disoriented by the light.
  
  A soft, slightly chittering voice intones, "Mantis: 'Sarvath said, "There shall be justice among people. Ferran, be their judge, and move their hearts so they know justice when they see it." And Ferran obeyed.'"
  
  Again, you are drifting in the night sky. The constellations have rearranged themselves around you, leaving you again at the center of the celestial sphere.
  
  You drift at the center of a sphere of glowing silver stars. Although you can recognize the constellations of the spring night sky, they are arranged in no resemblance to their normal positioning. Between the stars, there is only blackness.
  
  The Alligator.
  
  > go alligator
  You approach the Alligator constellation. It flashes brilliantly, and you are briefly disoriented by the light.
  
  A harsh, gravelly voice intones, "Alligator: 'And Sarvath said, "Let people be tenacious in pursuing virtue, for it will be a difficult task many times. Ferran, teach them tenacity, that they may endure." And Ferran obeyed.'"
  
  Again, you are drifting in the night sky. The constellations have rearranged themselves around you, leaving you again at the center of the celestial sphere.
  
  You drift at the center of a sphere of glowing silver stars. Although you can recognize the constellations of the spring night sky, they are arranged in no resemblance to their normal positioning. Between the stars, there is only blackness.
  
  I sense our star past the Rat now.
  
  > go rat
  You approach the Rat constellation. It flashes brilliantly, and you are briefly disoriented by the light.
  
  A small, sharp voice calls, "Rat: 'And Sarvath said, "Let people be resourceful, that they can turn the world to their advantage without relying on the gods. Ferran, teach them resourcefulness, that they may prosper." And Ferran obeyed.'"
  
  Again, you are drifting in the night sky. The constellations have rearranged themselves around you, leaving you again at the center of the celestial sphere.
  
  You drift at the center of a sphere of glowing silver stars. Although you can recognize the constellations of the spring night sky, they are arranged in no resemblance to their normal positioning. Between the stars, there is only blackness.
  
  Go toward the Hound.
  
  > go hound
  You approach the Hound constellation. It flashes brilliantly, and you are briefly disoriented by the light.
  
  A rich, powerful voice intones, "Hound: 'And Sarvath said, "Let people be loyal, even as you are, so that they will not turn against one another. Ferran, teach them loyalty, for there is no truer mark of virtue." And Ferran obeyed.'"
  
  Again, you are drifting in the night sky. The constellations have rearranged themselves around you, leaving you again at the center of the celestial sphere.
  
  You drift at the center of a sphere of glowing silver stars. Although you can recognize the constellations of the spring night sky, they are arranged in no resemblance to their normal positioning. Between the stars, there is only blackness.
  
  I sense our star past the Heron now.
  
  > go heron
  You approach the Heron constellation. It flashes brilliantly, and you are briefly disoriented by the light.
  
  A cracked, croaking voice intones, "Heron: 'And Sarvath said, "Let people be insightful, so that they can understand themselves and their flaws. Ferran, teach them insight, for this will mark the way for them." And Ferran obeyed.'"
  
  Again, you are drifting in the night sky. The constellations have rearranged themselves around you, leaving you again at the center of the celestial sphere.
  
  You drift at the center of a sphere of glowing silver stars. Although you can recognize the constellations of the spring night sky, they are arranged in no resemblance to their normal positioning. Between the stars, there is only blackness.
  
  The Badger.
  
  > go badger
  You approach the Badger constellation. It flashes brilliantly, and you are briefly disoriented by the light.
  
  A low, quick voice snarls, "Badger: 'And Sarvath said, "Let people be responsible, so that they can see how their actions affect one another. Ferran, teach them responsibility, that they will not drive one another from virtue." And Ferran obeyed.'"
  
  Again, you are drifting in the night sky. The constellations have rearranged themselves around you, leaving you again at the center of the celestial sphere.
  
  You drift at the center of a sphere of glowing silver stars. Although you can recognize the constellations of the spring night sky, they are arranged in no resemblance to their normal positioning. Between the stars, there is only blackness.
  
  I sense our star past the Pelican now.
  
  > go pelican
  You approach the Pelican constellation. It flashes brilliantly, and you are briefly disoriented by the light.
  
  A clear, strong voice calls, "Pelican: 'And when Sarvath went into the desert, Ferran gazed after him, and he said, 'This, I perceive, is virtue: the King has laid down his blood, that the world would prosper.' And Ferran taught that self-sacrifice was virtue as well."
  
  Again, you are drifting in the night sky. The constellations have rearranged themselves around you, leaving you again at the center of the celestial sphere.
  
  You drift at the center of a sphere of glowing silver stars. Although you can recognize the constellations of the spring night sky, they are arranged in no resemblance to their normal positioning. Between the stars, there is only blackness.
  
  The Bull.
  
  > go bull
  You approach the Bull constellation. It flashes brilliantly, and you are briefly disoriented by the light.
  
  A deep, melodic voice intones, "Bull: 'And there came a day when Ferran went into the desert, and Sarvath asked him, "How fares Adisha? She has not come to me." And in the face of the question, Ferran was silent and could not answer, for he had gone at Adisha's command to companion her, and he feared that his King was betrayed.
  
  'Then, Sarvath said to him, "You have been loyal to my Queen and obeyed her commands, and I could ask no more in this regard. But your silence is against virtue. Bind your word to your deed, that you will be honest in the future, and teach people honesty as well." And Ferran obeyed.'"
  
  Again, you are drifting in the night sky. The constellations have rearranged themselves around you, leaving you again at the center of the celestial sphere.
  
  You drift at the center of a sphere of glowing silver stars. Although you can recognize the constellations of the spring night sky, they are arranged in no resemblance to their normal positioning. Between the stars, there is only blackness.
  
  The Cat is next.
  
  > go cat
  You approach the Cat constellation. It flashes brilliantly, and you are briefly disoriented by the light.
  
  A soft, purring voice intones, "Cat: 'Then Ferran looked back at Sarvath, and Ferran said, "You have chosen my path through the maze, but what of your people? When the paths of virtue conflict, your people will be destroyed if they cannot choose or reject these paths at will. Therefore, let dignity be the crowning virtue of a man, that he may choose or reject according to it." And Sarvath consented.'"
  
  Again, you are drifting in the night sky. The constellations have rearranged themselves around you, leaving you again at the center of the celestial sphere.
  
  You drift among a field of glowing silver stars. Between the stars, there is only blackness.
  
  You can see your star here.
  
  > go your star
  You reach out with the intention of entering your star, but as soon as you touch the star, tingling energy flows up your arm. Startled, you break contact immediately.
  
  > look at the star
  (your star)
  The star shines brilliantly before you, close enough to touch.
  
  > Touch star
  (your star)
  You reach out with the intention of touching your star, but as soon as you touch the star, tingling energy flows up your arm. Startled, you break contact immediately.
  
  > get the star
  (your star)
  You cup your hands gently around the star. "I claim you," you say to the star.
  
  Tingles of energy flow through your hands and up your arms as you make contact. The star dims for a moment before bursting into searing brilliance. Your entire body is flooded with light.
  
  You awaken, and this time, you know you are awake. You feel rested, refreshed, and as well as you have ever felt, aside from the too-hot bedclothes. You push the blankets away immediately and sit up.
  
  Temple of Ferran, Infirmary
  Wool and linen blankets cover the simple linen bed where you are sitting. A set of shelves on the far wall supports a water jug, several packets of herbs and bandages, and a miniature pottery alligator. There is a door to your left and a chair to your right.
  
  Hachachi rises immediately from the chair as you move. High Caerwyn stands in the doorway, watching you, but she steps immediately inside and closes the door.
  
  "Can you hear me?" High Caerwyn asks.
  
  [1] "Yes, I can hear you."
  
  > 1
  "I'm very glad of it. There was a terrible accident. We've been very worried about you."
  
  [1] Call her out on the lie.
  [2] Let the lie pass.
  
  > 1
  "No," you say flatly. "There was no accident. I was there, remember?" Hachachi takes a step back as you look at him, and you follow up on your advantage by climbing out of bed. "You poisoned me on dreamwine with heartkenning. You wanted to learn my destiny."
  
  [1] "How long have I been here?"
  [2] "Where is my trade
  [3] "I want my clothes. And then I am going to leave."
  [4] "I know my destiny, now."
  
  > 2
  High Caerwyn says, "You've been ill for a long time. He left you in our care."
  
  Liar.
  
  "And where is he now?" you demand.
  
  High Caerwyn says, "If you remain calm, I will send a messenger to see if he can be found."
  
  [1] "How long have I been here?"
  [2] "I want my clothes. And then I am going to leave."
  [3] "I know my destiny, now."
  
  > 3
  "And what is your destiny?" High Caerwyn asks.
  
  "It is my destiny," you coldly inform her. "I am walking out that door, with my clothing... and, by the stars you serve, I expect you both to stay out of my way!"
  
  And that is exactly what happens -- you storm into the hallway, with High Caerwyn and Hachachi on your heels. Before you can corner an acolyte and demand your possessions, Caerwyn sends Hachachi to find them, and then you bar them both out of another greeting chamber (the Rat, this time) while you get dressed and verify that all your possessions are still intact. After sliding your zircon earrings back into place, you open the door once more.
  The delay has given the high priestess time to regroup, but you ignore her entirely, and she stops just short of laying hands upon you or commanding Hachachi to do so. You take advantage of the hesitation before the changes her mind. It is only a short walk to the temple courtyard, and from there, you are free.
  
  That was a wild risk to take. They might have helped you, in the long term -- or imprisoned you in the short term.
  
  "If you really thought so, you would have spoken up before now," you whisper back to the ghost. "They worship the stars. If my path is in the stars, they have no choice about it."
  
  Are you always this touchy with the clergy?
  
  "Only when they poison me." But the tide of fury slowly ebbs as you face your situation. You are now in the largest city you have ever seen, with no friends, no map, only the vaguest possible idea of where your father might be, and a nameless ghost riding along in your mind.
  
  You go south because the bridges off the Spires are south. There's nothing here but temples and government, and you're sick of temples for the time being.
  
  Thank you for playing Phoenix's Landing!
  
  This is the end of the IntroComp sequence for this game. To provide feedback, commentary, and suggestions (all of which are welcome!), please write to Carolyn VanEseltine at mossdogmusic@gmail.com.
  
  Have a wonderful day!