Tales from the Founders

Hello and welcome to another installment of "Tales from the Founders" where the gracious Founders of Knosos regale us with tales of their adventures prior to the creation of the company we know today. An added twist to these Tales is that YOU can experience them as if you were the Founder, with a fully interactive simulation of the story where you can make choices of your own and perhaps even create a new ending. We and the Founders of Knosos hope you enjoy this foray into the lives of our Founders. [[Begin the Tale->Start]]

You open your eyes to find yourself on a small hilltop, there are large oak trees with vibrant green leaves dotting the hillside and what appears to be several large blocks of hewn stone embedded into the soil. [[Open your senses->Extrasensory]] [[Start off in a random direction->Go Forth]] [[Sit down->Sit]]

You open your mind to things beyond your usual senses, doing so bombards you with a number of sensations. Chief among them is the persistent vibration of the rift through which you traveled to this place. The gentle thrum of the tear in space-time is a reminder of your nature as an outsider to this place, you feel yourself vibrating and thrumming with the same rhythm albeit lesser than the rift. At the edges of your senses you also feel the thrumming of something else, with a similar though slightly different rhythm as your own and assuredly different to the rhythm of this place. This familiar sensation is coming from far to the South. [[Start off in a random direction->Go Forth]] [[Follow the feeling->Thrum 1]]

You take a seat in the grass, it is slightly damp with dew but the breeze atop this hill is pleasantly warm and smells faintly of raspberries. After a rest you consider your next action. [[Open your senses->Extrasensory]] [[Start off in a random direction->Go Forth]] [[Remain seated->Sitting]]

You decide that the best course of action in this unknown and wildly magical land is to simply pick a direction and start walking. You walk down the side of the hill upon which you had stood and walk through the treeline. There are no trails here but you take the path of least resistence through the undergrowth. The flora here is breathtakingly beautiful, unlike anything you have ever seen in your home, though you can draw similarities between many of the regions of your home and this place it is all just more densely packed in this place, with stark variation between the types of growth in very small areas. You go from boreal forests to humid, dry brush in the span of moments until you end up in a long stretch of temperate woodland. In the distance you hear a noise, it sounds like a child... [[Investigate the Noise -> Distant Noise]]

You instead decide to remain sitting for the time being, taking in this fantastic vista for a moment longer. In the distance you spot a flock of what is likely birds, turning large circles in the air. The motion is quite dazzling and you find yourself entranced by their aerial escapades. [[Open your senses->Extrasensory]] [[Start off in a random direction->Go Forth]] [[Sitting is nice, stay sitting->More Sitting]]

The hours fly by, as you sit in the grass. The birds have since flown away, taking wing towards distant horizons. You instead find yourself lying on your back staring up at the wispy clouds overhead. You spot several in the shapes of animals and objects, and at some point you feel like they may be changing to look more like the things you imagine. [[Open your senses->Extrasensory]] [[Start off in a random direction->Go Forth]] [[The sitting must go on->The Final Sitdown]]

As the bright blue sky turns to shades of purple and then blue before finally settling into a deep black starry night, the soft grasses that have held you in their loving blades cushion you as you lay down. Taken by the sheer serenity of this wondrous place you have spent several hours, you drift off to sleep, lulled by the scent of wildflowers and the sounds of nature. [[Doze off->Nap Time]]

Awaking groggily from your pleasant slumber you find yourself in much more cramped confines than when you fell to sleep. Your body is tightly bound in what feels like ribbon, but you soon realize that is not the case, it is in fact blades of grass. The tight coils of grass have bound your legs and arms against you, you are unable to see your surroundings through the blades of grass across your eyes. They begin to tighten further as you notice you are struggling to breathe and that the grass is attempting to pull you beneath the ground. [[Struggle against the grass->Struggle]] [[Give in to the pull->Give in to the Grass]]

Realizing that perhaps letting the sentient grass creature drag you underground is not the greatest plan you've ever had, you begin to pull yourself away from its clutches. You struggle against it for a time before you begin to hear ripping and tearing, you even think you hear tiny screams in the soil around you as you break the surface of your plant cocoon. Having pulled yourself from the grasp of a very patient grass creature you wipe yourself clean of dirt and chunks of grass. Standing atop the hill you assess what options remain. [[Open your senses->Extrasensory]] [[Start off in a random direction->Go Forth]]

As you have spent so long with the grass and it has only shown you pleasant sights you decide to trust its guiding pull. This does not prove to be the brightest idea you have ever had as the faint strips of light passing through the blades of grass wink out. The cold of the earth around you seeps through the grasses and the last thing you feel before everything goes dark, is the tickle of roots on your skin. [[The End->Game Over]]

YOU HAVE PERISHED ON YOUR ADVENTURE THE JOURNEY OF THE FOUNDERS HOWEVER DID NOT END HERE [[TELL ANOTHER VERSION OF THIS TALE?->Start]]

Focusing your mind upon that aberrant rhythm you set out for the South, into the woods surrounding the hill you were standing upon. There are no paths in this place, even though many have attempted to tame these wilds none have succeeded, each attempt met with nature reclaiming the paths that were cleared. You march onwards, drawn by the vibrant and the stately beat of whatever this foreign presence may be. [[Continue to follow -> Thrum 2]]

The further into the wood you move, the more gnarled and wild the flora become. The trees grow thick and tall, roots splayed across the mossy underbrush, spiralling patterns you didn't think could occur naturally. Though this is your first trip into this place you know stories about it, this place are the very embodiment of change, of unrestrained wilderness and of incredibly potent magic. That is what drew you here after all, to seek to understand is why you travel and this place is full of unknown wonders. For a moment you consider expanding your senses once again, to take in the feeling of this place. Though it could be dangerous given its nature, many have gone into these woods and never returned. [[Focus your mind, follow the thrum. -> Thrum 3]] [[Open your mind, feel the Wilds. -> Thrum 3.5]]

You trek further into the wood, feeling the thrum grow stronger as you close in on its source. After hiking quite a distance and with the sun seeming to inch towards the horizon you come upon a clearing. Even if you could not sense the thrum of the thing which stands in the center you would be hard pressed to ignore it. In the very center of this clearing stands an obelisk of polished black marble, with a shimmer like pearl and flecks of blue-purple that look like stars set inside of it. It hums silently with a potent energy, like nothing you have felt before, its orderly rhythm out of place in this realm of rampant wilderness and chaotic emotion. [[Approach the Obelisk -> Approach it]] [[Keep your distance -> From afar]]

You decide to open your senses wide, to take in the feeling of this Wild Realm. As you do, the stately, controlled thrumming you were following fades. The familiar beat of the rift home begins to become faint, your mind opening further and further, sensing the wilderness around you. The flora and fauna beyond anything you have ever seen, together they create a symphony and it fills your senses. It could very soon overwhelm you... [[Force the feeling from your mind. -> Return to Thrum]] [[Lose yourself to it. -> Taken by the Music]]

You focus with all of your strength on pushing that wild music from your mind. It takes time but eventually it begins to fade again, the steady beat of your target and the familiar tug of the way home return to clarity and you heave a heavy sigh of relief. You feel the faintest trickle of blood from your ears and nose, but can easily clean that up before you continue. [[Continue to follow -> Thrum 3]]

You cannot force your senses shut, the wild symphony of this place has forced its way into your mind and there is no going back. You soon begin to feel numb, your body no longer your own. It has joined the chorus of this realm and you have become another melody on the winds. Your vision goes dark... When sensation returns, you see warm orange flames dancing before you. The sounds of flutes and drums surrounds you as you find yourself... dancing? Your movements are not your own but you can look around to see others dancing here too, some smile at you with grins too large for their faces. These creatures are not people like you, but the denizens of this realm, the fae. Others around this fire do look like humans, their clothing not quite right but human nonetheless. Several of them look haggard beyond belief, skin sunken and eyes red with exhaustion. One locks eyes with you, and that look seems to convey a deep sorrow. I hope you enjoy dancing... [[The End ->Game Over]]

You cautiously approach the closest side of this dark Obelisk and as you draw near the surface of it begins to glow with a light from within, illuminating a set of carved letters. At first, you cannot make out what they say but you feel the pillar's tone shift and its surface shimmer as the runic letters become a familiar set of characters you can indeed read. The letters read: ''"To banish night and bring its end, You'll find in me, your closest friend. I'll keep you warm and safe from fright, A guiding beacon through the night."'' The pulse of the Obelisk fades slightly, awaiting your reply. [["Fire." -> Riddle 2]] [["Blankets." -> Incorrect]] [["The Sun." -> Incorrect]]

You decide that perhaps approaching the large ominous pillar in the middle of the clearing might be somewhat dangerous and you decide to observe it from a respectable distance for the time being. Circling the obelisk as you try to take in any details you can, you notice that each side appears to have some form of carvings on each side, though the material of the pillar makes these incredibly hard to read you gather that the general shape of the carvings appear to be letters rather than pictograms. It could be entirely possible to read these carvings if you approached the obelisk. [[Approach -> Approach it]] [[Remain at a distance -> Stay away]]

Not trusting the decidedly creepy obelisk you keep your distance, staring it down in the hopes that it will relent under your studious gaze. Unfortunately, after at least a few solidly questioning looks it does not appear willing to divulge it secrets to you from here. After a time, this stare-off appears to be going in the obelisks favour, though the legitimacy of its victory could be called into question due to its lack of any discernable eyes. As you prepare to begin Round 2 of your "interrogation" a small bird flutters into the clearing to peck around the base of the pillar, perhaps for grubs or worms. As it nears one side of the obelisk you notice the carving on that side glow faintly, growing stronger as the bird hops around nearer to it. The pillar reacts to proximity! [[Approach at last -> Approach it]]

Giving your answer to the obelisk, it sits silent for a moment as if considering. Then, the light from within grows pulses a verdant green, its stately beat trilling happily. You move around to the next side of the obelisk and a similar series of runes appear before shimmering to ones you can read. This set reads: ''"The Sun gives me life but I may never face it. Your eternal companion, but you'll never embrace it."'' Again, the pillar awaits your response. [["The Moon." -> Incorrect]] [["Shadow." -> Riddle 3]] [["Silence." -> Incorrect]]

Giving your answer to the obelisk, it sits silent for a moment as if considering. Then, the light from within grows brighter turning from from faint white to an angry red, its once stately beat becoming frantic before that light engulfs you. When the light fades you find yourself in an expanse of dark grey mist, the ground made of the same dark marble as the obelisk. This field of dark rock seems to extend as far as you can tell, roiling mist obscuring your vision after a while. Stumbling around in this dark place your foot hits something and as you bend to look you see the stark white of bone, yellowed slightly by age. You cannot tell how long it has been here, but you hope you meet a different fate. [[The End ->Game Over]]

Giving your answer to the obelisk, it sits silent for a moment as if considering. Then, the light from within grows pulses a verdant green again, it's excited trill more excited. You move around to the next side of the obelisk and a similar series of runes appear before shimmering to ones you can read. These read: ''"We look down upon you, with unblinking gaze. And you look up at us, slack-jawed and amazed. You name us, and chart us, to guide you by sea. Forever your Watchers, in silence we'll be."'' [["The Moon." -> Incorrect]] [["Stars." -> Riddle 4]] [["Sharks." -> Incorrect]]

Giving your answer to the obelisk, it sits silent for a moment as if considering. Then, the light from within grows pulses a verdant green once more, the excited sound reaching a crescendo. The runes once again appear on the final side, shimmering into something intelligible. ''"Made from the stars, Infused with stout will, Having faced trial and trauma, They stand their ground still. The road is quite long, For themselves they must fend. But should they hold fast, They shall find wonders without end."'' This silence is deepest, the Obelisk waits in anticipation. [["A Mountain." -> Incorrect]] [["Courage." -> Incorrect]] [["Me." -> Obelisk Reward]]

After giving your answer you await the green glow, but it doesn't come as fast as before. For a moment you fear that you were wrong, but soon your worries are abated as that green glow wells from within the pillar. Though this time it is brighter and begins to change to blue, then a deep purple before settling on a mix of a deep sapphire blue and indigo. The rhythm of the obelisk changes as well, from its constant stately beat to something almost triumphant, celebrating your success. The rhythm fades back to normal and a faint click comes from the obelisk. A drawer on the side of it has popped open, and as you move to investigate you notice a small cloth wrapped object is nestled within. [[Remove the object -> Farewell Obelisk]] [[Thank the Obelisk -> Thanks Buddy]]

You reach into the drawer and take the object from within. It is thin and sleek and wrapped in a fine silken cloth of a deep green colour. Once the object is removed the drawer retracts back into the pillar and it begins to rumble. A feeling of gratitude flows from the Obelisk into your mind, alongside curiosity, fulfillment and joy. You feel these things wash over you as you watch the pillar begin to ripple and change. It seems to shrink and grow in the clearing before, with one final display, collapsing into itself and vanishing, leaving a small divot in the ground where it once stood. The object in your hand still pulses with that same controlled and stately rhythm, unwrapping the cloth you find a small shard of stone, the same material as the Obelisk. It thrums with that same energy, though its true nature is unknown to you, it will be a joy to unearth its secrets. [[The End -> Obelisk Path Complete]]

You take a short step back from the pillar and give it a short bow, giving thanks to the standing stone. It's light pulses in what you assume is gratitude and a similar feeling washes across you, you have made a friend this day. [[Remove the object -> Farewell Obelisk]]

CONGRATULATIONS! You have successfully navigated the path tread by one of our Founders and discovered what lay at its end. Please note that while some of these events are written with artistic license the core of it is true. Indeed, we even have a replica of the Obelisk Sliver on display in the Exhibition Hall until the conclusion of Founder's Month. This is but one of the adventures our Founders have undertaken and yet more secrets lie in this place, this is simply the end of one branch. Addendum: //''NOVACULATA''//

Following the sound of the cry you come upon a small hollow in the trees, a small area of grass where a single lone oak tree stands tall in the center. High up in the branches of this tree you see a small humanoid, a child grasping at the branches with a white-knuckled grip. Every now and again the child shrieks out in fear for someone to come and help. [[Go Up to the Tree? -> Approach Tree]] [[Look Around for Danger -> Assess]]

You walk from your position in the brush towards the tree, immediately the childs eyes lock on to yours and grow wide. They begin to yell, though you do not understand the language you do understand the tone, pure fear. They shout and gesture and wave for you to go, but you now hear another noise, a low growling rumble from around you. You turn your back to the child and the tree and find three creatures stalking towards you from the bushes. The creatures are large, almost cat like in appearance if not for the extra pair of legs and the large tentacles which sprout from their shoulders. The dark green eyes of these beasts twinkle in the dim light of the woods as they spread out around you, offering you no way to escape from their clutches. You turn to the tree, to perhaps clamber up as the child did but there are no branches you can easily reach and the trunk of this tree is much too smooth to find a grip. The creatures stalk closer, saliva dripping from their gnashing teeth. You dare not look as they pounce, the child screams... [[The End ->Game Over]]

You take a moment to gather your nerve, if this child is afraid of something you will most certainly help but first you need to know what has them so frightened. You turn your gaze downward, to the base of the ancient oak tree. At the very edge of this small clearing you see them. Tiny pinprick eyes in the foliage, gazing out hungrily at the child in the tree. They occassionally disappear only to reappear in a different part of the underbrush. You notice three pairs of these eyes in total. What do you do? [[Try to Spook the Creatures -> Spooky Scary]] [[Fire at the Creatures -> Shoot Bang]] [[Talk Them Down -> Yeah ok]]

In all of your wilderness training you have learned one thing, big scary creatures can be spooked away by even bigger, scarier creatures. So, you summon up all of your courage and take a deep breath in before releasing the scariest and largest sound you are capable of making. A moment of silence passes, then another, and another. The child in the tree looks to where the sound came from, confused. You almost feel as if the three lurking sets of eyes do the same, equally confused but undeterred. [[Take Aim -> Shoot Bang]] [[Talk to Them -> Yeah ok]]

From the bag at your hip you pull a small weapon, if it could even be classified as such. The flare gun you brought was intended to be for lighting large caves or for signalling the evac team should you not make your return deadline. But it would serve well to deter a few dangerous creatures, probably. You take aim at the place where you last saw the eyes floating behind the leaves and fire. Bright red light floods the area as the flare bursts forth, the child yelps and covers their eyes almost slipping from the tree in which they sit. You also hear the startled cries of the three creatures hiding nearby, one more pained than the others (perhaps your aim has improved more than you thought). The sounds of rustling leaves and startled beasts fading into the distance tells you that your plan has indeed succeeded. [[Approach the Tree -> Safe-tree]]

You take a deep breath, you've talked down many foes before this will be no different. You take a confident step forward into the clearing and face the creatures and begin to rattle off one of your more famous speeches, citing many of your previous achievements and daring adventures. Right as you are reaching the section of your speech about how conflict is pointless and a great waste of time the creatures seem to grow bored, you think you may even hear one begin to doze off... Shortly after the third personal anecdote about the journey you took through the lands of a forgotten king and how his cooking had been divine you hear the rustling of leaves as the supremely bored beasts begin to wander away, seemingly deterred by your verbosity. [[Turn to the Tree -> Safe-tree]]

With the threat of dangerous beasts abated for the time being you turn your attention towards the child in the tree. They still seem a bit shaken, but the colour is returning to the face as the fear dies down. The childs features are quite elegant and not too dissimilar to your own except for the rather long ears, like an elf from a fantasy tale. But you instead know that this means the child is native to this realm, one of the fair folk, a faerie. You raise your arms up to the child to show you mean no harm, and gesture for them to come down. It takes a moment and several hesitant looks from them before they scamper down the tree and allow you to pick them up. You attempt to ask them some questions but you do not speak their tongue, and the child most certainly does not speak yours. The only word they seem to understand is "home" as when you mention taking them back their eyes light up and they begin to point off into the woods. [[Take the Child Home -> Homeward Bound]]

The journey is not all that long, the plant life once again shifts from the temperate woodland to a more overgrown and alien landscape which you cannot match to anywhere in your home. In the distance you see movement, and a number of small structures which resemble tents and small wooden homes. A number of individuals and milling about, doing chores and work of various types. Several spot you as you approach and begin to murmur in the language you do not understand. The child once again points where to go, this time towards one of the structures near the center of this small village. The people around stare at you, some look afraid, others curious but all of them at a loss for what to do about you, as the child clings to you tightly. You arrive at the structure to child has been leading you to, and when you reach the entryway they hop from your arms and push into the home, pulling you along behind them. [[Enter the Home -> Safe and Sound]]

You enter the abode, it is quaint, if small. The interior is well decorated with a number of trinkets and objects which seem to be of great import to the ones who live here. Clothing and various other amenities are strewn throughout the space, alongside some food on a small table at which another person sits, this one seems adult with similar features to the child and much longer ears. Your assumption that this must be the childs family is soon confirmed as the child runs to them and embraces them. They share a moment before the adult looks to you, perplexed and asks the child something in their language. As you stand there awkwardly waiting the child launches into a long response, the adult nods patiently, their face shifting between worry and relief as the child gestures wildly. As the child reaches the end of their tale, the adult nods and stands, looking at you. They move to stand directly in front of you and ask you something in their language, your look of confusion must have been quite obvious as they smile gently and lift their hand to make a gesture in the air. Suddenly the child, who was still talking, fades into English saying something about how "They seem a bit stupid, they don't know how to speak." The parent laughs at this and replies softly to the child, "Not stupid, simply from far, far away." They gesture for you to take a seat and you spend a while discussing what had happened. [[A Few Hours Later -> End of Path]]

Now that the two of your could understand one another, you recount your story, of coming upon the child as you wandered this place, of the beasts in the bush and of how you warded them away and brought the child home. They thank you profusely for saving their child, who is sternly warned to never venture that far from home again. They stand suddenly and move to a set of drawers, which they rifle through until they find a small, delicately wrapped box. The outside is cover in gold filigree and swirling designs of flames. They hand the box to you, saying it is payment for bringing their child home, as much as you may try to deny this gift they insist, saying. "You saved my child, brought my life's flame back to me. This will perhaps one day do the same for you." You open the lid of the box and within a small pile of delicate silks sits, a spoon... [[The End -> Rescue Path Complete]]

CONGRATULATIONS! You have successfully navigated the path tread by one of our Founders and discovered what lay at its end. Please note that while some of these events are written with artistic license the core of it is true. The Silvered Spoon replica will be on display in the Exhibition Hall until the conclusion of Founder's Month. This is but one of the adventures our Founders have undertaken and yet more secrets lie in this place, this is simply the end of one branch. Addendum: //''ARGENTEUS''//