text: [Themes: fantasy, humor, RPG, fantasy, horror, romance]
  
  It's dark out and the moon hides behind the trees while the leaves scatter its light. A single fragmented beam cascades through the seam of heavy curtains. The light cuts through the darkness and washes the room in hues of cold, bright silver. You stare at the wavering light, mesmerized by its shivering. Is this what you have become? What are you now?
  
  [Author's Note: A seemingly empty home, in a seemingly dull town, with a seemingly vacant you. However, things are not always as they seem. Awaken in a strange place and inspect your surroundings. Discover who you were, are, and will be. Embark on a journey to reveal how you arrived in this manor, and who previously owned it. There are no good or bad endings because no story ever ends. You might however wish to turn back time. Will you like what you discover or will you wish you hadn't? Time will tell... (Trying some things out and took the systems advice to create a simple game and already regretting it as the paths are too linear. Anyway check out this slice of pie and see how you like the taste. It doesn't go very far, but I'm willing to continue with the advanced options.)]
  
  > Mortal
  You are mortal and the fear within you is only natural. This room is dark and the moonlight offers comfort, even if only for a moment. Curious as to how you arrived here, a mirror reflects the silver light in the far corner of the room. You could make out your surroundings if you open the curtains or you can inspect the mirror.
  
  > Mirror
  The old mirror appears cloudy in spots, its once brilliant frame is tarnished with the passing of time. You notice the detail of the wallpaper as you approach, a golden floral print, and its peeling. Mold grows like a speckled cancer along the base of the wall. You notice only now that the air is damp, but each breath lingers on. You look at your reflection in the mirror. You are....
  
  > Male
  Your features are strikingly masculine, defined jaw and short dark hair. Tall and trim, your body resembles that of a swimmers. In the mirror you can make out your smooth complexion and the youth within your hazel eyes. By all appearances you are in your early twenties, give or take. Taking a step back reveals your clothing is plain, a black shirt and worn jeans offer little warmth. You look around the room and spot a green jacket hanging over the base of the bed. As you zip the jacket you notice a tattoo on the outer side of your left hand. You can't remember much, but the tattoo is faded in the shape of spider, you feel comfort when you gaze upon it.
  
  You look around the room once more and see two doors. One of the doors is slightly ajar and the other is closed with a key still in its lock. Something draws you to the door with the key.Which do you inspect?
  
  > Ajar Door
  You open the door and step out into a long hallway. The hallway is wallpapered just as the room and cluttered with cloudy or shattered frames. It runs along in either direction illuminated only by patterned moon beams kaleidoscopically dancing along the corridor. The left way leads to a staircase and downward with a spiraling wooden banister. To the right the hall continues on for a greater length and many other doors. At the end on the right a large clock sits counting out the hours. Which way?
  
  > Left to Stairs
  The banister leads downward and you feel a bit unsettled. The top step moans when you lean forward to peer as far down as you can. The bottom is visible but it's dark and you spot something move at the bottom of the steps. A shiver runs down your spine. Do you descend down the stairs?
  
  > Right to the Clock
  The clock is ancient and imposing. It stands taller than you and you guess at nearly seven feet. The soft ticking helps to calm you. You inspect the face of the clock and notice the clock is broken. The second hand repeatedly strikes against the three and the other hands are stuck their as well. Strange and useless, all you can assume is the clock was broken long ago. As you turn to leave your eye catch the pendulum which has a spider engraved on it. The other doors are locked as you make your way back down the hall to the stairs.
  
  > Descend
  It took all your effort to make it down the steps without the terror overcoming you. With each step the house hissed and sighed leaving no mistake as to your whereabouts on the steps. You think that whatever you saw is waiting just at the base of the steps ready to strike. And you're right! As you reach the bottom of the stairs you jump and nearly scream as something brushes by you. A cat. The cat doesn't seem to be as startled as you are yet you nearly pass out from the experience. It seems to smile at you and then trots out the open door into the atrium. The double French doors sway a bit on broken hinges. To the left in an alcove you can see the entrance a study and to the right a continuation towards the parlor. You can either go left or right but you most certainly do not want to follow the cat! Or you could always use the front door?
  
  > The Door!
  You rush over to the door and swing it open. Its not locked and you're home free, but where is home? It doesn't matter you decide and you step out, only to step back in. You repeat this several dozen times to finally realize you wont be leaving that way. It's odd you feel as though this should bother you; however, it seems completely normal. Since you won't be leaving so easily now what?
  
  > Study
  The study is dust covered and pages are thrown about. Its as if the place had been searched, but who would expect to find anything here? The walls are lined with selves from ceiling to floor and have few books remaining. No doubt the pages on the floor once filled books the selves. There is an empty hearth with a mountain of soot nearly up the flume. A classic chess set sits on at a square table while a fainting sofa remains covered by sheets. You look around a bit more and decide to inspect what appears to be a bird cage in the corner of the room. You step up to the black cloaked pillar. Do you pull off the veil?
  
  > lift the Veil
  You draw back the fabric and is falls away to reveal something unexpected. Your eyes must be seeing things because this is no cage. Instead before you an ornate podium with a large leather bound book. The books resting place is straight from a classic fantasy tale. Wax burning candles at various heights, creepy carvings of enslaved thralls, and a huge leather book. You wonder why this book is here and who it belongs too. Will you inspect the book?
  
  > inspect the Tome
  You're thankful for the full moon tonight otherwise you might not be able to make out all the intricacies of the mysterious book. Upon touching the book you draw your hand back suddenly, its warm-- like kindling. The leather is grooved and riveted leaving a strange texture to the touch. You turn it to look at the spine and the initials "S.B." are embroidered in gold. You wonder who S.B. is, but you don't think they'll mind if you look inside. As you move to open the book you notice the once plain cover has changed. Now a golden spider emblem catches your eye. The spiders legs sprout towards the fore edge of the b ook and grasp around to the other side, preventing it from being opened. What now?
  
  > examine the Spider
  The spider at the center of the book appears to be watching you. You swear to yourself that the subtle humming is just in your imagination. Unlike the broach this spider has all its legs and the jewel is white. You place both hands on the book and hang your head in frustration. The book begins to burn beneath your fingertips and you quickly remove your hands from it. Apart from the rapidly fading redness the pain is gone and your hands remain undamaged. Curious...
  
  > burn Baby Burn!
  A wild thought enters your mind. You place a palm directly over the spider and press down hard. The pain is extreme like dipping your hand in frozen water and then suddenly into boiling water. You let out a scream but muffle it into agonizing whimpers unable to retract your broken hand if someone found you now you'd be helpless. It feels as if your bones are splitting and your hand is shattered into a million pieces.The world is coming to a dark closing. And then a click. The pain is gone like nothing ever happened and the book is open! The spider has now vanished and this strange book is now yours to read. A lot of effort for one book you think as you lift the heavy cover open.
  
  > Point of No Return
  This is it you can't go back now. You turn the first page and... nothing. An empty book, a magical pain causing, empty book. You feel betrayed that such a well guarded book would hold no secrets. You try to lift the book once more and realize that now you can. In fact it's unnaturally weightless. You drop the book and floats towards the ground. You grab it before it meets the floor and decide you leave the study. Where now?
  
  > The Atrium
  The only other place you can seem to enter is the Atrium. The place you never wanted to go. Its walls are covered with dead vines and thorns. The floor is blanketed in weeds and brambles. You step out and see the cat cleaning on the edge of a broken fountain. You walk a bit closer trying to dodge the tangled mess at your feet and thankful you wore jeans. The cat seems to smile at you as you draw nearer. The water of the fountain is murky and brown. This house is really neglected and you feel a bit dumber at this sudden epiphany. The cat nudges at the pocket with the broach in it. So you take it out to show the only other living being your spoils. The cat hisses and spits when it sees the spider and darts off back into the house. Carelessly you drop the trinket into the fountain. Do you retrieve it?
  
  > Not your TREASURE!
  Safely you set your book on the side of the fountain. You reach into it and dig around trying not to think of what turned this water foul. You fumble around a bit and you think you brush the tip. A slight pinch of pain surges up your arm! Quickly, you draw back your hand. Forget that, you think as you notice blood dripping from your finger. Reaching down to grab the book a few drops of blood land on book. In a fury of dark hues and smoke the book spirals and spins up into the air. You draw back and away in fear. It stops at chest level and springs open. Its pages are now glowing with words so strange and still familiar. You want to touch it. You need to touch it. Why are you thinking these thou... touch....book.
  
  > touch it!
  You reach out towards the pages of the book. A giddiness fills your body. You feel a complete contrast from the pain in the study. This high brings you to the next level as your fingertips draw nearer. Your body is dissolving before your sliding into an eternal sea of pleasure. The world around you begins to change. The manor fades into a glowing white light. The weeds and fountain slowly twinkle out in explosions of color. Your head is being pounded with waves of emotion. In the split second before your hand touches the page you recall your name. A name that you would never forget, that you didn't forget, that was stolen. S.B..... Sam Bishop.
  
  > Awakenings
  As the world slowly comes back into focus, you are no longer in the manor. You're on a sidewalk in the middle of the day people are walking by as if nothing happened. Did you really dream all of this? The sound catches up with you and the usual hustle and bustle of the scene around you. Can I ignore what happened? Shop bells are ringing and clouds rolling overhead. Someone knocks into you as you collect your thoughts. You apologizes, he just keeps walking and so you start walking. Until you see that cat at the end of the line of shops. That familiar black cat, with a broach in its mouth. The cat smiles at you this time you're sure of it! A smile comes across your own face as you race off towards the cat, who knows where he'll lead you! To his owner? To your future? Or to your end?
  
  Escaped the Manor