Quest Fantasy

You pull your heavy woollen cape closer. The sun is setting, and it's already getting cold. You've been sitting on this log for what seems like hours, but has only been however long it takes for a spider to make a web. You poke a hole in the web just so you'll have something to look at when the spider comes out for repairs, but then, finally, you hear leaves rustling in the copse behind you. A wiry old man with skin like ostrich leather under a faded, purple cap comes out of the undergrowth and halts next to your log, leaning on his staff and staring at the cold, grey structure looming over you both. --- [[Oh, it's you.|Quest]]

'Are you ready for tonight?' You grumble. All this for a bunch of parchment. 'All right, one last time. You open the gate with the key. Do you have it?' You dig the metal object out of your pocket. 'Good. Once inside the keep, you find the door with a holly wreath. Give the sleeping draught to the dwarf with the eye patch you will find inside. He will give you the musical score, which you will then take up to the castle. The scullery maid who will let you in is called Grietje. Take the back stairs to the music room and replace the score on the stand with the one in your possession. But be careful! The goblin guarding the instruments has a very sensitive ear. Then report back to me. Got it?' --- [[Of course. Give the sleeping draft to the dwarf. Replace the musical score. Got it.|Objective1]] [[Can I see my sister now?|No action]]

You wait forever for the door to open, but eventually, a dwarf with an eyepatch and a sour expression opens the door. He pulls a wad of cotton from one ear. Finally! Give me that. He shoves a few bits of parchment at your chest and grabs the bottle you were holding, then slams the door in your face. --- [[Set off towards the castle.|Objective2]]

The door opens immediately, and without question, you are drawn inside and given a flagon of sweet mead. --- [[Feast till the morning and forget all about your sister.|Fail]]

Before you've even reached the edge of the forest, your sister comes running at you, arms spread. She jumps into your arms and hugs you tightly, taking the parchment off you in the process. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Once they play that tune, the castle will be mine! --- [[Try again?|Intro]]

Nothing happens. You open one eye before you take another silent step forward. The goblin snores loudly now, bent over his lute. You tiptoe to the piano, and, careful not to rustle the parchment, replace the music with the score in your doublet. --- [[Return quietly to the forest with the original musical score.|Succeed]]

You're sure the prince won't actually feed your sister to the giant spider. In fact, he always seemed to have a soft spot for her. --- [[Return to the forest with a plan.|Fail]]

Under cover of darkness, you can easily find the patch of ivy that hides the gate. The lock clicks smoothly, but the gate creaks like a choir of banshees when you push it. You hold your breath, expecting guards to arrest you, or worse, at the spot. For some reason, though, nothing happens. You leave the gate open behind you, not wanting to risk more noise, and follow the wall until you reach the small but cosy-looking huts near the main gate. From behind a door sporting an ivy wreath, lute music sounds, livening up the display of gourds and candles outside even more. --- [[Knock on the door of the happy hut.|Objective1F]] [[Knock on the door of the abandoned hut with the withered holly wreath instead.|Objective1C]]

The scent of herbs lingers in the air around the kitchen garden, but you have no time to enjoy it. You knock on the kitchen door. A buxom blonde opens the door and narrows her eyes at you. --- [[Greetje?|Objective2F]] [[Grietje?|Objective2C]]

The blonde steps aside and beckons you into the castle. She puts her finger to her lips as she takes your hand and leads you through the kitchen and up some very narrow stairs. You both stop at a small landing, where she carefully creates a peep hole between two heavy, velvet curtains. Soft music echoes off the grey stone of the corridor before you. Grietje holds up two fingers, then pecks you on the cheek and squeezes past you, back down the stairs. --- [[Take a deep breath, slip into the corridor, and open the second door on your right. Only the goblin left, now.|Objective3]]

The door slams in your face. That's the second time tonight. But this one is final. --- [[Return to the forest.|Fail]]

The music stops. A low rumble reaches your ears. Suddenly, it stops. But then it starts up again, slightly louder and more menacing than before. --- [[Squeeze your eyes shut, hold your breath and enter the room.|Objective3C]] [[Hell's Belles. No way! I am not getting eaten by a goblin. I'll find another way to free my sister.|Objective3F]]

Your sister comes running at you, arms spread. She jumps into your arms and hugs you before two strong men pull you apart. One of them drags your sister off, while the other restrains you. Relax. You may see her again. Or not. --- [[Try again?|Intro]]

Ah... First the score, then your pretty sister. [[Glare at him. Consider hurting him but then ask to repeat his mission.|Quest]]