text: [Themes: fantasy]
  
  The sky is ashen black. It is slightly raining. You enter the shady bar and scan the surroundings. The windows here are closed tight and darkness prevails, the only source of light being a lantern dangling from the roof. You find yourself an empty chair and sit. A shabby man approaches you and put a jar of ale on your table.
  
  "Long time since your last visit." the man, the innkeeper says.
  
  "Any work?" you ask.
  
  "I've heard Yako, the wizard, is searching for an employer. You should visit him once, although he has warned that it would be a perilous task." he replys while wiping the spoils on your table.
  
  You haven't been in action for quite a time so perhaps it's the best time to rebegin you adventerer life. You ask for the wizard whereabouts and set off immidiately.
  
  The wizard dwells in a small hut on the far west of the city. It is quite a journey and you reach it the next day. Exhausted, you rap on the door and wait. Birds fly overhead the wet trees. The hut is old and decrepit, unlike the rich wizard Melin's home. After a minute, a bearded old man emerges from the hut and calls you in. You tell him your intentions and he seems pretty pleased hearing that.
  
  "North of here, deep in the Black wood forest, is the castle of Count, the long forgotten vampire. I wish you to bring his ashes..."
  
  You interrupt him and stammer, "...what do you mean by ashes? Am I supposed to kill an undead vampire!"
  
  He smiles.
  
  "I'll reward you with 10,000 gold coins. And you won't go alone. My man will accompany you. Agree?"
  
  Ten thousand gold coins. With that, you could travel to your home Nevai and start a tavern. And it wouldn't be that bad if someone would be covering your side.
  
  And now I'm dealing with pale people, you think.
  
  "Where is my ally?" you ask, grinning. A broad smile cover's the wizard's face and he calls a name. The next moment, a man in padded armour enters the hut, his hand gripped on the pommel of a long lethal sword.
  
  "Meet Icus."
  
  The man bows you and the wizard before kneeling down.
  
  "Pretty neat, eh?"
  
  So, the next day you and Icus proceed into the Blackwood forests, praying that this wouldn't be your last adventure. The rain has left the ground wet and slippery. The coldness is exilirating, thanks to the greenery around you. You both advance in a brisk pace, cutting down vegetation that block your path. Eventually, you both arrive a gentle river. After satisfying your thirst, you scan the surroundings and spot a fragile boat in a distance.
  
  "Atleast we aren't alone." you remark.
  
  > ignore and continue (13)
  You both rummage through the forest, in the process hurting yourself with countless low lying branches and thorns. The way keeps changing, sometime it's raw and sometimes muddy.
  
  You both arrive a signboard which says: Right- JIMMY THE POTIONGUY, Left- UNCHARTED.[Themes: fan fiction, puzzle]
  
  It's your first night in the Bachelor's mansion, and 24 fabulous women are waiting to win your heart. You're a little nervous, but not TOO nervous... after all, besides the host, you're the only guy for miles around. (You lucky dog.)
  
  You sit down the head of a huge and formal mahogany dining table and stare at the gaggle of gorgeous girls. You're going to have to eliminate half of them tonight. You only have two hours... hardly enough time to get to know them all. You can, however, ask them each to answer one question at the table. What do you ask?
  
  [Author's Note: Sure, you love the single life, but every man has to settle down sometime. What better way to find your soulmate than to pick from dozens of beautiful, friendly and eager (if somewhat desperate) young women on national television? It's YOUR turn to be the Bachelor! Eliminate the losers, court your favorites and decide if you'll pop the big question.]
  
  > What are you looking for in a relationship?
  Great idea! Go right for the juicy stuff. You clear your throat and say, "Ladies, would you please tell me what you're looking for in a relationship?"
  
  After a lot of giggling and hair tossing, not to mention several winks thrown in your direction, you get answers out of all the girls. They each have their own unique wording, but they fall into four basic categories. Based on their answers, you need to eliminate at least one group. Which one do you eliminate?
  
  > say "I'm looking for someone to take care of me and protect me and cherish me."
  Sure, you don't want to have the burden of taking responsibility for a fragile girl. The girls who want protecting are sent packing, as are a few others who don't set off any sparks in your heart. Now it's time for some First Night Fun. Chris, the host, asks you where you'd like to entertain the remaining 12 ladies. You answer:
  
  > say "In the giant hot tub, of course."
  Oh, it's time for sexy fun! You slip into your trunks and are joined by 12 bikini-clad women.
  
  After about an hour of frolicking, of of the friendlier girls, Laura, a vivacious redhead, slips her arm around your waist and starts nuzzling her nose in the crook of your neck. What do you do?
  
  > move away so that none of the ladies get jealous on the first night.
  What a smart move. Why limit your options on the first night? They'll be plenty of time to smooch Laura and any of the others on future dates. You end the night in everyone's good favor and look forward to Round Two.
  
  > Round Two
  The next three days are filled with crazy group dates, during which you have the opportunity to woo four girls at a time. You're having an amazing time, but you know that soon you will have to say goodbye to half of the remaining group. What do you do to whittle down your options?
  
  > put the moves on every girl and get rid of anyone who doesn't let you get to second base.
  It may not be the most romantic plan, but it sure is a fun one. You get the most... um, enthusiastic, responses from Sara, an otherwise shy blonde with a really athletic build, Georgie, a really funny brunette with spiky bangs and a huge smile, and Rachel, a demure, dark-skinned beauty.
  
  That night at the rose ceremony, you keep those three along with three others who have grabbed your interest.
  
  You're down to six, and it's time for Round Three.
  
  > Round Three
  Now that it's Round Three, you get to spend some more private time with the ladies you've kept around. On the first night after the rose ceremony, that debutante, Jessica, comes to you with tears in her eyes. She says the other girls are gossipping behind her back and that she overheard them saying that you don't like her at all and are only keeping her around out of pity. By the end of her spiel, she is practically hysterical. She is clinging to you and sobbing giant tears out of the huge, blue eyes.
  
  What do you do?
  
  > vow to get rid of her at the next rose ceremony. You don't need any Fatal Attractions.
  Smart move. This girl's definitely got a few screws loose.
  
  The next few days are spent canoodling with several of the fabulolus women and opening up your heart, spilling some of your secrets, and hearing some of theirs in return.
  
  At the next rose ceremony, you say goodbye to Jessica, Miami and Ruthie.
  
  It's time to film the Final Episode and to decide who you're realling falling in love with!
  
  > Final Episode
  You're down to three ladies, and you have to choose: Will it be Laura, Gemma or Sara? You've figured out the pros and cons for each.
  
  Laura is the sexiest and also the smartest, but you're not sure if she is really into you, or if this is all a game to her.
  
  Gemma is a sweetheart, if not the brightest girl, and she is 100% heads over heels for you. But does she really love you, or just the fantasy of a perfect man sweeping her off her feet?
  
  Sara is a little quiet and mysterious, and you feel you haven't quite cracked her shell yet. But you feel irresistibly drawn to her, and keep thinking of the sparks that have flown when you have gotten her, on rare occasions, to open up. You are really unsure of how she feels about you, however, and picking her would be a real risk.
  
  Who do you choose as your final girl, who you will have the opportunity to propose to if you desire?
  
  > Laura
  You've chosen Laura, and now you have a big decision to make. Will you propose marriage to her, or will you just ask her to be your girl?
  
  > Propose
  The big moment has finally come. The cameras are rolling and you think of the millions of people who will be watching you in your big moment. You see your new soul mate Laura standing there in a beautiful flowing gown with flowers in her hair, and you know in your heart you've made the right choice. You get down on one knee and pop the big question.
  
  > say "Laura, will you marry me?"
  Laura gives you a coquettish smile. "Yes, of course!" she exclaims. You are elated, until you realize she is more enraptured by the diamond engagment ring than your beaming face. Have you mistaken Laura's lust for victory for true love? A sinking feeling overtakes you, and you realize you would play the game completely differently if only you had another chance...