text: [Themes: fantasy, fantasy]
  
  With Jarven gone, you figure it'd be a good time to snoop around a little and get up from the table.
  
  You walk towards the chest at the end of the cot and try to open it, but it's locked. Upon further examination, you see a few things on the bedside table. There's a rolled up piece of paper, a few gold coins, a candle, and an empty cup.
  
  You're about to inspect these things further when you hear someone approaching the tent, so you quickly return to your seat at the table.
  
  When Jarven returns, he does so with a loud, "Food's ready!" and places a bowl of stew and a cup of something that might be water in front of you. It smells good, so you dig in right away.
  
  "So, Alexander," Jarven says, taking a seat across from you, "you really from Vinia?"
  
  You finish chewing your food before answering. "Yes," you tell him, "I live in Dialla."
  
  "Hm. Then why are you here?" He asks.
  
  "I told you before, the person driving the cart just kidnapped me one night. I don't even know where I am."
  
  Jarven laughs a big, bellowing belly laugh. "Well you're not in Vinia, I can tell you that much."
  
  You sigh, getting somewhat annoyed at the fact you're not getting a straight answer. "So then where am I?"
  
  "You're in Niravia."
  
  You're taken aback. "Niravia?" you ask. You feel slightly sick; Niravia is known for it depravity and poverty, and many of the knights back in Dialla have told you of the things they've experience in the country.
  
  "The one and only." Jarven chuckles when he sees the expression on your face. "Aw, come on, boy, it's not that bad. I'm sure it's not as nice as Vinia, but--"
  
  "How far are we from the border?" you cut him off.
  
  He has to think for a moment, but he finally tells you, "Twenty kilometers, about."
  
  You sigh in relief. That's not far enough too far. And Vinia is relatively small country, stretching maybe one hundred kilometers across. It's not an impossible distance to travel on foot, should you choose to do so.
  
  "I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you, boy," Jarven says. "The journey to the border isn't an easy one. You'd probably die."
  
  > Travel to the border
  "That's a risk I'm going to have to take," you tell Jarven. He sighs.
  
  "I guess I should have expected that, there's no reason for you to stay here with us. Have to say I was hoping you would, though, you look like you're a good fighter. Probably could've used you."
  
  "Thank you for everything you've done for me," you say as you finish up your stew. "I have no clue what would have happened if you and your men hadn't killed the person driving that cart I was in."
  
  "You'd probably be dead!" He laughs. You don't really know why he finds the prospect of your death so funny. Jarven then gets up and walks over to the chest at the end of his cot. "You haven't caused any trouble, so I'll give you some things to take with you. Hopefully they'll help." He then pulls a key out of his pocket and unlocks the chest. You get up and walk over, standing next to him.
  
  "Let's see..." he says to himself. "You'll need...a sword...and a canteen...and a map...and some money...and a knapsack...that should be enough." As he says each word, he pulls the corresponding item out of the chest. You're shocked by the man's generosity, but you don't question it. He stands up, holding the canteen, and turns to walk out of the tent. "I'll go grab you some food and fill this up with some water."
  
  You pick up the things Jarven had laid out for you and begin packing your knapsack. He returns with what he promised and gives the food and canteen to you.
  
  "All set?" he asks as you secure the sword to your belt. It's not as nice as the ones you have in Dialla, but it'll work if you need to defend yourself. You nod at him and he leads you out of the tent. He pulls a crumpled up piece of paper from his pocket and unfolds it, showing that it's a map.
  
  "The map you have is an exact replica of this one," he tells you. "This," he says as he points at a small triangular marking about a third of the way from the left edge of the page, "is this camp. You need to go west to reach Vinia's border. Depending on how you go, you might hit Sirra"--he points at a house marking in between the camp and the edge of the page--"where you can stay at the inn. It's kinda run down, but it's better than spending the night in the woods."
  
  "And how exactly do I reach Sirra?" you ask.
  
  "There's a path that goes straight to the border--I'll bring you there, don't worry--but it forks a little while down. If you go on the more northern route then you'll reach Sirra. The other one's a little faster, but there's no guarantee you'll find someplace to sleep. There're some houses along that way, though. Maybe someone will be feelin' hospitable."
  
  It's a lot to take in, and you hope you'll remember all the information.
  
  "Now then, let's get you to the road," Jarven says jovially, clapping you on the shoulder. He then takes you out of the camp, leading you back the way you had walked earlier. You emerge on a road, the cobblestones worn down by years of use. It was mostly just grass, really, but it was still a clear path that you could easily follow, and for that you were thankful. Jarven grabs your shoulders and turns you so you're facing one way on the path.
  
  "West," he says, and gives you a small push. You take the hint and begin walking. As you leave him behind, you hear Jarven shout, "Don't die out there, kid!" You don't intend on doing so, but at least it makes you laugh. You wave at him without turning around, your mind set on one thing: getting back to Vinia.
  
  You've only been walking for a couple of hours when the sun starts to set. You're starting to get hungry again and there's a dull ache in your feet; the rough terrain was doing you no favors.
  
  But you push forward for another fifteen minutes or so, at which point you can see the fork in the road Jarven had told you about. As you approach, you see what looks to be a sign indicating what lies in each direction, but as you get closer you see that the paint is too faded to make out.
  
  You take a swig of water from your canteen and think. The sun is setting quickly, as it always does this time of year, and the forest is quickly coming alive with foreign noises. You need to find someplace to stay for the night--the sooner the better.
  
  Do you go to the left or right?
  
  > Left
  You go with your gut and take the left path.
  
  Within half an hour, the forest is completely dark. The only light is that coming from the full moon overhead. As you walk, you look up at the sky and see it's littered with hundreds of stars, twinkling like small diamonds. You can't see as many stars in Dialla, what with all of the lights in the city. As beautiful as the sight is, you know you'll enjoy it more when you're safe.
  
  However, this does not happen. Having taken the left path, you have unintentionally avoided the town of Sirra, and are now stranded in the forest overnight. You grow uneasy as you push forward, the strange sounds of the forest growing louder and louder with every step you take.
  
  You think you're saved when you spot a small house along the road, and you eagerly knock on the door. An older woman opens it, and looks quite concerned by your situation, so she invites you in. She gives you a hot meal and drink, which you happily accept, but it will be your last meal. Unbeknownst to you, the woman was only interested in the supplied you carried and so put poison in your drink. The last thing you see before your vision fades is the fresh, hot meal before you.
  
  This is where you meet your end.