Taturate

(if:(history: where its name contains "Digital WORLD")'s length >= 1)[(text-style:"bold","double-underline","outline","condense","fidget")[''ENDING 6'']]\ \ (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,cyan)[Welcome to Taturate! ] This world is a green, lush, familiar world, looking a bit like one you recognise, but still odd. There are technological marvels, and flashing lights to be seen, and wonderful adventures to be had. But only if you can find the right path through. Here you are, waking up in a grassy, small clearing. You don’t know much about this world, or where you are, or even who you are. All you know is the above, and that you’re dressed in a soft, comfortable outfit, made of unknown material. You search your pockets and find a small stone key in your left back pocket. //Weird...// (b4r:"none","none","dotted")+(b4r-colour:white,white,orange)[You see two paths ahead:] - A short small path leading to a dry grass clearing with something in the middle, - And a rough, dark road that leads into the forest, constantly bustling with movement. (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,blue)[Where will you go?] The [[Rough Road]], or the [[Short Path's Clearing]] (if:(history: where its name contains "Digital WORLD")'s length >= 1)[(b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey)[//Congratulations, you found ending 6 of Taturate! Keep exploring, other routes lead to other places.//]]

You go through the rugged road. It leads you deeper and deeper into the forest, until the sky starts becoming invisible. Be careful, it sounds like there are things moving around the forest's trees and foliage. They're very big, fast, and don't seem very kind to things smaller than them. Screeches and crunches unpleasantly ring out, signifying death in the forest canopy. (b4r:"none","none","double")+(b4r-colour:white,white,yellow)[(text-colour:yellow)[Be careful!]] This doesn't seem like a good place to be, and there might only be one path through this forest. But you can't help feeling like there's something at the end of it... Where will you go? The deeper part of the [[Deep Forest]], or, Back to the [[Small Clearing]]?

You come to a dry grass clearing, and see a small stone pedestal to your right, and the pedestal looks like it has a small keyhole at the top, big enough to fit a finger into it. The small stone key would also fit, and looks like it's made of similar materials. The pedestal is glowing slightly, and the strange markings up and down the sides are pulsing. You listen closely and hear a buzzing from the top of the pedestal. //Interesting...// (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,blue)[What will you put into the pedestal keyhole?] Your [[Finger]], or the [[Small Key]]? (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,magenta)[Or will you go back to the] [[Small Clearing]] ?

You get a small jolt of electricity from the pedestal that sends an involuntary flinch through your whole body. Exciting, but also painful. At the same time, a small voice from inside your head, made of electric sparking, tells you this: (text-colour:blue)["The Transformer is not for organic material. Try again with a Confirmation Key."] //Odd...// (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,magenta)[Maybe try again?] [[Short Path's Clearing]]

You use the small key in the pedestal keyhole. It disappears suddenly with an unpleasant crunch. Interesting. But before you can think about it, the stone pedestal suddenly starts whirring, and glowing bright magenta. Oh dear! What's happening? The pedestal screeches before you feel a small, sharp pain in your right forearm; a strange metal contraption jumps out of the pedestal and latches onto your arm. Panicked, you try to get it off, but it just keeps wrapping around your arm until it looks like some sort of arm guard. It stops, the pain subsides, and you suddenly hear music coming from the sky above you. Interested, and confused, you look and see flashing lights in the sky. They dance and arc over clouds, looking organized yet excited. You look to the front-left, where they seem to be coming from, and see incredible dancing lights, coming from something large. It looks almost like a city, with more dancing lights, celebrating voices, music and dancing! Interesting, looks like a party! You see two paths that look like they lead toward the party! What fun! - One of them sounds like there's something moving around in the place it leads to, with lights and some kind of chattering. - The other looks normal and somewhat sad; quiet and echoey almost. (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,blue)[Where will you go?] The [[Chattering Left]] path, or the [[Quiet Right]] path?

You walk the left path, towards the strange chattering sound, and flashing lights. You approach the source of the strange sounds from the path, and clear away some foliage to see what it is. As you reveal the source, things start making less sense. A strange, spindly mechanical monster, - ten feet tall with a shiny, silver color, and four blue lights for eyes, - sways left and right, and seems like it's searching for something... while talking to itself... in the language you speak. Perfect enunciation, it almost seems like someone you know. But, it's a ten foot tall monster. Confused, and a little frightened, you step backwards, and hear the crack of a twig. The beast turns to see you, and locks you in its gaze. It speaks to you in a deep, menacing voice, and says: (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:blue)["Intruder! Identify yourself! I will open fire if you do not comply!"]] Suddenly, a set of what might be guns pop out from its sides and aim at you. This thing might make good in its threat... However, it does look a little fragile, and a well placed blow from a nearby stone on the ground might neutralize it... Either way, this isn't good. (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:blue)["Intruder! Identify yourself! Surrender now, or I will open fire!"] ](b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,blue)[What will you do?] [[Fight]] the metal monster with the nearby rocks, or, [[Talk]] peaceably and try to discuss who you are?

You go deeper into the deep forest. It's dark, and the sounds have suspiciously stopped. under the eerie quiet, you hear a babbling brook off to the left on a path. You also hear slight rustling in the distance to the right. The rustling doesn't sound very loud, or very big, and seems like a small creature stuck and hurt. And the Babbling brook is quiet and peaceful, with nothing else seeming to be present. (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,blue)[What will you investigate?] [[Babbling sound]] or [[Quiet rustling]]?

You walk further into the gloomy, weird woods, where the trees are getting even thicker, and the sky even darker. Finding your way around is becoming impossible, as the light from above is slowly suffocated by the canopy of tree leaves. At this point, you're entirely surrounded by trees and leaves, aside from the path you walked here from, and (text-colour:grey)[seeing in front of your face is quite the challenge.] (text-colour:grey)[Would it even be worth it to keep going? The vegetation is so dense that navigating through the trees looks impossible, without more light. ^^Even if this was safe, it doesn't seem worth it anymore, even if it does lead to the party, there has to be another way around.^^] (text-colour:grey)[^^It's so dark here, even your thoughts are becoming hard to see.^^] (text-colour:grey)[^^You're left with not a lot of options, except for: Turn back to the^^] ^^[[Quiet Right]]^^ (text-color:grey)[^^ path, or be lost to the dark.^^]

You walk through the gloomy, quiet path to find a small stump in the middle of the clearing. You look closer, and find that the tree was cut down recently, and no axe is found nearby. What could have done that? Was it the thing you heard chattering off to the side? //I'd better move along quickly,// you think to yourself. You proceed and find that the trees are getting thicker, and thicker, the area darker and darker. It doesn't seem dangerous, only the sky's alive lights remain of the previous excitement, but the path still feels... eerie, unsettling. (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,blue)[Where will you go?] Back toward where you used the [[Small Key]], or further into the [[Gloomy Woods]]?

You pick up a nearby rock, and get ready to throw it. But before you can, you hear a sudden clash of sparks and explosions sound out, and a series of bright blue flashes of red and white light blind you. You're stopped in your tracks, and a slightly overwhelming pain has overcome you. Your torso seems like it might be on fire. You look down, and notice that parts of you seem to be missing. Large holes in your torso, sides, legs, and arms fizz and sizzle an interesting light blue, and look burnt. //Interesting...// You fall down and quickly start passing out. You hear a muffled voice like the one of the beast, and it says in a defeated, sad kind of way: (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:blue)["Why do all the intruders resort to violence?" "I wanted to do this peacefully, but I can't resist the programming."]] (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:blue)["I wish that I could talk to someone, just once, without the firing sequence taking over.."]] Slowly, the world fades out, and everything dims to black. You lose feeling in your whole body, and slowly, you fall alseep. So this is what it feels like, to (text-colour:red)+(bg:yellow)[''Die.''] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,magenta)[Try again?] [[Chattering Left]] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,magenta)[Or start over?] In the [[Small Clearing]]

You try to explain who you are, to the giant machine monster with guns, doubting it would work. Shaking in fear, and putting your hands up, you say: (b4r:"none","dotted","none","none")+(b4r-colour:white,white,orange)["Hello, hi! I'm... well I don't know who I am, but I'm not an inturder! I just heard a party going on off in the distance, and was wondering if you knew how to get there?"] //...Really? I just asked a murder robot for directions?// It stops, and stares for a minute at you. Then it asks, in an odd tone: (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:blue)["...You want to get to the crystal complex?"]] //Interesting...// (b4r:"none","dotted","none","none")+(b4r-colour:white,white,orange)["Is that where those lights and the music are coming from?"] (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:blue)["Yes... that's the city."]] You both just stare at each other for a minute. Then it says: (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:blue)["...I can give you directions!"]] The monster smiles pleasantly and puts its weapons away, smiling from eye to eye. It slowly and casually approaches you, and tells you about a shortcut that leads right to the crystal, city, thingy. //...What just happened?// As you think to yourself, you see another path off to the right. //I know this thing is nice, apparently. But, is it trustworthy? Is it trying to lead me into a trap? Or just lead me somewhere outsiide the city? Or is it actually trying to help me? So many things to consider, so many things to think about.// (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,blue)[What will you do?] Go down the [[Other Path]], Or take the [[Shortcut]]?

Deciding not to trust the strange, metal contraption - ''that somehow speaks your language'', - you go off the right, and travel down a peaceful, if uneventful path. Heart still racing a little bit, you look around to see if there are any more surprises. So far so normal, just a regular path with nothing of interest yet. //Hold on, this is odd. Why are the trees different colors?// As you regain your composure, you see a split in the path; one side lined with dead, red trees, and the other lined with odd, blue trees. Very odd, you've never seen trees like these before, at least not that you can remember. - The red trees look a little dead, cracked, and splintery; but otherwise the path looks okay to walk through. - The blue trees are giving off a strange, unsettlingly satisfying scent, that makes you want to follow them. It ''is'' making you a little light-headed just staying here though. Oh well, don't want to analyse anything too long. (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,blue)[Which path will you walk?] The [[Blue Tree Path]] or, The [[Red Tree Path]]?

You take the monster's shortcut, - told you the thing that ''somehow speaks your language'', - and make your way down a nice trail leading toward the crystal, city, complex, thing. The party, you move to the party. It's a pleasant walk down a nice firm trail, well trodden by heavy tracks of some kind. Actually, very nice, well trodden, and beautiful! All of it is strangely beautiful, Flowers line the edges of the path, and everything looks so wonderful! It smells lovely too, fresh cut grass and flowers fill the air, along with leafy smells from the trees nearby, and all around, just a wonderful walk through a garden. You see something interesting in a little forested spot, behind the trees. //What are these, rocks? Too shape-y to be rocks, what are these?// //Ruins! That's what they... Why are there ruins here?// You search small broken stones for any clue as to why they're arranged like this; like a fallen house of stone was taken away and broken, nothing left but some cracked bricks and round stones, hewn from other sturdy rocks. But before you can get further, a pleasant voice springs up behind you. (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:blue)["Hello there, traveler."]] You spin around to find another strange metal monster, beast thingy, but not like the other one. This one is calm, polite, and very proper! An antelope-shaped monster made of silvery metal, with six eyes instead of four, and a lack of weaponry. It has a polite and very calm demeanor, the voice is soothing, and comes from a sturdy, reliable machine, with antlers that look a little more like antennas for a satellite than antlers. It calmly walks toward you and looks at your armband. Unlike the last one, this one’s eyes are (text-colour:green)[green]… (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:blue)["I take it you’re new to Taturate?"]] (b4r:"none","dotted","none","none")+(b4r-colour:white,white,orange)[“...Yes, I am. What are these ruins?”] (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:blue)["Those are all that’s left of the first factory. A once peaceful, beautiful place, where people like you and I got along."]] (b4r:"none","dotted","none","none")+(b4r-colour:white,white,orange)[“...Factory?”] The antelope explains that the forests here were once shared by the machines and the humans, they existed together, worked together, had all things common between them. They all worked in harmony, and had a job to do. The people would make and repair the machines, do heavy lifting on occasion, and fine craftsmanship to make them more interesting. But since the divide, the people found their own technology, and separated from the machines, finding themselves better than everything else. The humans started treating them more like animals, prey, and predators than the co-workers they once were. Since then, everything’s just been… different, lonely. Both people and machines have started resorting to old behaviors, hunting and fighting things that aren’t them. Forests aren’t safe anymore, the animals and nature have adapted to defend themselves; the humans have become isolated and hostile, and the machines followed suit. All but a few have been spared. It seems you and the antelope are included, as well as a few unknown stragglers. Seems like things haven’t always been like this. Maybe one day the people will get along again. Another important thing you learn in this; it seems you’re one of only a few who actually speak both the language of the machines, and the people’s languages. Most people just hear the machine speech as clicks, beeps, whirring, screeching, and grinding; while all the machines hear from us is usually squeaks, grunts, strange chanting, etc. However, that armband you found earlier lets you speak, hear, and understand both, as they really are. At the same time. You can communicate with both, you are the lost hope of the (text-colour:green)[Green Eyes.] You can set things right, as they were, as they should have always been. You walk away from the conversation a little different, as you part ways. More filled with purpose, excitement, hope. You walk so far along the path, starry-eyes and all that you don’t even realize where you are until you’re almost there. You see it, the entrance... guards stand by the strange wall that encircles [[The Crystal City Borders]].

You slowly regain yourself, and a strange voice says, (text-colour:navy)[(text-style:"blur","tall","buoy")["This wasn't what we had in mind, but it's okay...]] (text-colour:navy)[(text-style:"blur","tall","buoy")["We'll bring you back...]] (text-colour:navy)[(text-style:"blur","tall","buoy")["Open your eyes, and see:]] (text-colour:navy)[(text-style:"blur","tall","buoy")[the]] (text-style:"tall","buoy")+(text-colour:purple)[''[Small Clearing]''] (text-colour:navy)[(text-style:"blur","tall","buoy")[awaits."]] Will you enter? [[Yes,]] or [[No.]]

You slowly wake up, and reveal to your eyes, the [[Small Clearing]].

You stay in limbo, never waking up, never knowing the truth, and never doing what you were always meant to do. I suppose that's one way to play this game of (text-colour:lime)[ours]... Go back to the [[Digital WORLD]]? Or, continue forever here, in ''limbo''?

You move towards the sound of the babbling brook. Turns out it is a babbling brook! How pleasent, you think to yourself. You hear something else rustling off to the side, but it seems like it was the previous source, and it moved. Good thing you didn't investigate that! You notice that the brook might lead somewhere, but whether or not that's to a monster, fish, or freezing, you're unsure. Fearing getting wet, you notice another, separate path that leads further into the forest. It seems safe, but who knows. (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,blue)[Where will you go?] [[Into the babbling brook]], or [[Further into the forest]].

You investigate the small rustling sound. It's a trap, and a small beast of metal and strange whirring sounds, shaped like a rabbit with horns, jumps out and snatches you by the neck. The pain is incredibly intense, and you can feel it moving down through your entire body. You struggle, but for nothing. Slowly you feel yourself getting light-headed, and your strength starts to leave you. Once you feel completely drained of your strength, the beast hopps off, and goes somewhere else, seeming to look for something else to do, whatever it just did to you, to. Struggling to crawl to safety, you notice there's very little blood coming out of you; it must have been stolen by the strange mechanical leech-rabbit, thing. Slowly, the world fades out, and everything dims to black. You lose feeling in your whole body, and slowly, you fall alseep. So this is what it feels like, to (text-colour:red)+(bg:yellow)[''Die.''] We've got a long road ahead of us, but we believe in you... (text-colour:green)[Find us, we know you will.] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,magenta)[Try again?] [[Deep Forest]] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,magenta)[Or start over?] In the [[Small Clearing]]

You move further down the road, and the gravity of the mistake sets in fast. A strangely mobile and terrifyingly heavy set of running steps runs toward you at high speed from the darkness. Suddenly, a set of small lights turn on, and the machine monster moves toward you with blinding speed. Before you can react, it's upon you, tearing you apart. Before you can even blink, half of you is seemingly missing. The monster is gone, and moving fast in the other direction. You can't move, or do anything. You're stuck, and losing consciousness. Slowly, the world fades out, and everything dims to black. You lose feeling in your whole body, and slowly, you fall asleep. So this is what it feels like, to (text-colour:red)+(bg:yellow)[''Die.''] You're making your way through. Don't give up... (text-colour:green)[find us, we know you will.] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,magenta)[Try again?] [[Babbling sound]] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,magenta)[Or start over?] In the [[Small Clearing]]

You move into the babbling brook. A little cold, but actually quite pleasent! No fish or signs of mosnters yet, all appears to be good! Although, there is a strange amount of movement in the trees ahead. It's a set of fast, heavy footsteps, running toward you. Panicking, you wonder if you should stay or leave. But before you can make up your mind, a set of small lights turn on, and the machine monster moves toward you with blinding speed. And it stops. Revealing itself before the brook's edge, a stange metal hyeena monster stands staring at you, with vicious intent. You look at each other for a little while, and neither of you move an inch. Suddenly, it's joined by a few more of, whatever it is, and none of them, even one, are moving further than the brook's edge. They seem to be scared of the water, it must have some kind of reaction with their motors and sensors. //Well, this is a prediciment. But, we're safe! Sort of...// (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,blue)[The standoff continues, and you consider the options ahead...] [[Run quickly out of the brook]], or [[Walk slowly through the brook]].

You make a run for it, staying in the water for a second to make some splashes, and run out of the brook. Before you can eve check if it worked, you're completely surrounded by the beasts. You suddenly find yourself being torn apart like paper, and being shared between the monsters. You can't even fight back, or run; they're so fast, it's over before you can even think. The monsters are gone, and moving fast in the other direction. You can't move, or do anything. You're stuck, in a few places, and losing consciousness. Slowly, the world fades out, and everything dims to black. You lose feeling in your whole body, and slowly, you fall asleep. So this is what it feels like, to (text-colour:red)+(bg:yellow)[''Die.''] Never give up, you're making progress... keep going, (text-colour:green)[find us, we know you will.] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,magenta)[Try again?] [[Into the babbling brook]] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,magenta)[Or start over?] In the [[Small Clearing]]

You walk through the brook, slowly, and make your way towards the water's source. It's weird, but the monsters are following you, slowly, and carefully. Still staring at you, they follow your pace closely. This is weird, and feels a little scary, but also oddly powerful. It's hard to explain, but right now's really the time for that. You make your way up further, and notice the brook is coming to an end. Finding some rocks, and noticing the monsters getting a little restless - or rather, desperate for your life, and ready to jump in and get you - you consider the options you have. - The monsters look a little fragile; a well-placed hit could destroy them, and if you're fast, you could get them all before they jump. - Although, they do flinch at every other sound in the forest; maybe you could distract them with a rock thrown to the side. (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,blue)[What will you do?] [[Throw a rock to the side]], or [[Throw a rock at them]]?

You quickly, and foolishly throw a rock at the strange monsters, and they jump at you before you can say, do, or even think anything else. One of them seems to be dead, but the others are making quick work of you. They scream in pain from the water, with disturbingly grating cries, but that doesn't stop them from spreading you all along the brook's bank. They leave quickly, and you see the water changing color; it's unsettlingly satisfying to watch. Slowly, the world fades out, and everything dims to black. You lose feeling in your whole body, and slowly, you fall asleep. So this is what it feels like, to (text-colour:red)+(bg:yellow)[''Die.''] You're getting closer, don't give up... keep going, (text-colour:green)[find us, we know you will.]l. (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,magenta)[Try again?] [[Walk slowly through the brook]] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,magenta)[Or start over?] In the [[Small Clearing]]

You throw a rock to the side, carefully so that they don't see. It works, and a small crack sound rings out in the canopy. The monsters practically jump at the sound, and quickly go to investigate, deeming it better prey than you. //Finally, they're gone!// You run out of the brook, and try the best you can to avoid all the strange sounds going on, and weird roadblocks ahead. Strange trails lead in different directions, but you need to hurry! No time for sightseeing, not here! You make it deeper through the forest, or out of, or something. It's getting hard to tell exactly where you are. You finally hear something uncomfortable enough to make your heart drop. The monsters weren't distracted for long, and are now closing in fast. You can feel that you're almost there, just a couple leaps further… Two paths are ahead: one dark and thick, like the trees are gathering; and the other making a whooshing sound, like there could be a cave nearby it. (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,blue)[Which path will you walk?] the [[Whooshy Path]], or the [[Dark Path]]?

Hoping to find a cave, or something of safety, you run toward the whooshing sound. Unfortunately, the ground gives way from underneath you, and you fall fast and hard, into a deep, dark pit. Ah, that's what it was. A pit. Not a cave, but a deep, sad pit, in the ground. The beasts encircle it, but don't seem keen on getting down to meet you. After some time, they leave, and something worse follows... Hoping to get out, you start digging, only to find the walls collapsing quickly. Maybe something will work to your favor this time? Well, maybe not. A strange, metal snake the size of a school bus engulfs you whole. Squirming inside, you find that the needles and sharp objects inside are making it tough to escape. Suddenly, you feel one inject a little bit of something painful into you. Quickly, you start losing consciousness, and lose entirely the sense of who, when, or where you are, and why you're even there. Not that there was much to lose in those categories in the first place. Rapidly, the snake's insides fade out, and everything dims to black. You lose feeling in your whole body, and quickly, you fall asleep. So this is what it feels like, to (text-colour:red)+(bg:yellow)[''Die.''] Don't give up, the finish line is ahead. I can feel it. (text-colour:green)[Find us, we know you will.] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,magenta)[Try again?] [[Throw a rock to the side]] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,magenta)[Or start over?] In the [[Small Clearing]]

Walking down the dark path, - actually, running - down the dark path; - you've skipped being cautious now - the only thing left is to get out of this awful, terrifying forest! Your speed drops as you encounter the dense thicket of trees. They're serving a bit of a struggle to get through, but it's worse for your pursuers! They slam into the trees at full speed and explode, in a wonderful show of blue and white sparks, smoke, and metal bits. Huzzah! Finally some peace… But it doesn’t last long, something else is following you through the trees, or, rather, reaching over the canopy very slowly. Not even wanting to know what it is, you keep running. You keep going, almost there! Just a little further! You find yourself escaping the dense, thick woods, and coming to another branching path, oh great! Alright, just a few more! Won't be too long now until you get, wherever you're going. - Wanting to hide from whatever just ''reached'' over the canopy, you consider diving into a nearby cave you see. //Where was that an hour ago?// - However, also wanting to get out of here fast as possible, you see a path that just leads straight forward, and through to something. It almost seems like the cave is the better option... although, nothing in this forest has been pleasent or trustowrthy yet. Why should it start now? (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,blue)[Where will you go?] [[Speedily Forward]] or [[Into the Cave]]

You walk slowly through the strange, pleasant smelling blue trees. They're strange and soft, wonderful. The leaves seem to be moving, but the wind seems to have died down. //The air is getting oddly thin around here, maybe I should turn back... ... Hey, body? I said turn back. ... Hey, legs! I don't want to be here anymore! What's happening? My body has stopped responding to me! It's walking without me, deeper into the woods! Wait! This is a dangerous place to be! We can't... stay... // (text-colour:blue)[hmm... that tree looks like it could use a hug... Yes, see? Isn't that better? Just a nice hug between two trees. Wait, I'm not a tree, am I? Wait, (text-style:"italic","smear")[yes I am!] ](text-colour:cyan)+(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.5037,#1919e6,1,#000000))[Branches are encircling me, and giving me a nice blanket! Ahh, the leaves are quite warm,] (text-style:"emboss")[(text-colour:cyan)+(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.5037,#1919e6,1,#000000))[maybe I'll just take a quick nap. (bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#7f19e6,0.4889,#197fe6,1,#7f19e6))[A quick nap, and I'll get right back to... ]]] ''(text-colour:blue)+(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#197fe6,0.4889,#1919e6,1,#197fe6))[(text-style:"italic","outline")[Being a tree...]]'' Slowly, the world fades out, and everything dims to black. You lose feeling in your whole body, and slowly, you fall alseep. So this is what it feels like, to (text-colour:red)+(bg:yellow)[''Die.''] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,magenta)[Try again?] [[Other Path]] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,magenta)[Or start over?] In the [[Small Clearing]]

As you walk the path of red trees, you notice that the air is returning to normal, and the blue path now seems like an awful idea. //Strange... it must have been those blue trees.// Hah! What could possibly be next? This has all been so weird lately! Nothing's made a lick of sense since you woke up in that weird, weirdly small clearing. //Why was it so small anyway?// Ah, whatever, you have bigger things to worry about! Like what is that sound? Music! strange quiet music coming from right to the left. //Wait, why does it sound like that?// It sounds like something from the right is echoing to the left, and the thing on the left is repeating it back! It’s a little disorienting to listen to, and the echoes are making things a little confusing. Suddenly, a voice, clear as day, takes the place of the music, doing the same strange echoing-thing. (b4r:"none","none","none","dotted")+(b4r-colour:white,white,white,navy)["Hello, Alpha? Do you read me?"] It says, urgently. (b4r:"none","none","none","dotted")+(b4r-colour:white,white,white,navy)["I read you Beta, what is it?"] Another responds. It's becoming even harder to tell which one's which, the echoes making it much more difficult than it should be. //Why is it echoey in a forest!?// (b4r:"none","none","none","dotted")+(b4r-colour:white,white,white,navy)["I've got something." "Something good?"] //Wasn't that the one who needed to tell the other something?// (b4r:"none","none","none","dotted")+(b4r-colour:white,white,white,navy)[“Something medium-big, not too big.” “Well what is it?”] //There better not be something else here too.// (b4r:"none","none","none","dotted")+(b4r-colour:white,white,white,navy)["Small, person-sized, organic in nature, but I'm reading something off about it." "Could be a mimic. Investigate with caution; see if you can tune in."] //Are they talking about me, or am I not alone in this forest, ''again!?''// (b4r:"none","none","none","dotted")+(b4r-colour:white,white,white,navy)[“Wait... Alpha, I’m picking up something: not just chatter.” “Well tune in! We can’t just let it go! We need to find out if it’s a problem!”] //Oh dear, better be on the lookout too. Ah! No weapons nearby, great!// //I’m going to die aren’t I…// (b4r:"none","none","none","dotted")+(b4r-colour:white,white,white,navy)[“Tuning… Tuned! Listening- wait.” (text-colour:grey)[^^"wait."^^] "What?" (text-colour:grey)[^^"What?"^^] "Did you hear-" (text-colour:grey)[^^"Did you hear-"^^]] //...Why are there more echoes?// (b4r:"none","none","none","dotted")+(b4r-colour:white,white,white,navy)["Feedback?" (text-colour:grey)[^^"Feedback?"^^] "Yeah." (text-colour:grey)[^^"Yeah."^^] "It's a spy, get into combat mode!" (text-colour:grey)[^^"It's a spy, get into combat mode!"^^] "On it." (text-colour:grey)[^^"On it."^^]] The sounds stop with a crack, the dizzying headache of echoes stops. But now, there's shouting in the trees. [[Continue.]]

(b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey,purple)["Hands up, reveal yourself! We will open fire if you don't comply!"] A voice to the far right says. //Not again!// (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey,purple)["We know you're out there spy; don't make us mow this place down!"] A voice from the left says. (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey,purple)["Wait, I'm here too!"] The other protests. (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey,purple)["Just, duck!"] The left voice responds. //Hmm, they don't seem very good at this.// (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey,purple)["Anyway, if you don't turn off your transmitter, and come to us, with your hands up, we will open fire!"] //Wait, transmitter? But how, wait why would it-// //Agh, doesn’t matter, these goons are going to shoot me!// (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey,purple)[“You’ve got three seconds before we blow this place up.] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey,purple)[“Three.”] You feel yourself jump up and shout in the adrenaline. (b4r:"none","dotted","none","none")+(b4r-colour:white,white,orange)[“Wait wait wait! Don’t shoot! I’m a regular, lost person, not a spy! I’m unarmed, and un-dangerous! Just let me go, and I promise I’ll be on my way!”] …A moment of surprised silence takes this forest section. (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey,purple)[“What?”] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey,purple)[“Did you- wait.”] The voices seem to be discussing something. They seem surprised to have heard a person’s voice, and haven’t yet found out you’re the ‘spy’ they heard. (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey,purple)[“Say that again? You’re not a spy?”] (b4r:"none","dotted","none","none")+(b4r-colour:white,white,orange)[“...That’s right! Just a person, just wandering around and lost!”] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey,purple)[“...Sounds fake.”] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey,purple)[“They don’t have voices! That’s a person! We almost mowed down this whole forest because of a person!?”] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey,purple)[“Well how did they tap the signal!?”] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey,purple)[“Doesn’t matter, just- ] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey,purple)[“Hey, you out there! Come to me! I’ll keep you safe!] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey,purple)[“Andrew, you meet me over here!"] (align:"=><=")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=======")[''//What in the world is [[happening]]!?//'']

After a brief near-death experience, you follow the voice and realize that they're people too, just like you; albeit equipped with some heavy firearms and equipment. It's much easier to hear them now, with the static and echoing over with. The dynamic duo is Andrew and Kaitlin, and they realize that you're human too. It seems to be a little discomforting for them though. Well, either way, after some discussion you realize that what you were doing was technically a wiretap. Not intentional of course; the armband you have is letting you read signals through the air: including the music, lights, and sounds you’ve been hearing in the sky. But more importantly, it seems to also let you read people’s conversations over voice channels, and best of all; mechanical speech. It was odd to hear them talk about the spies, metal monsters with wiretapping capabilities. Small, human-shaped, but by no means human. They say they don’t have voices, and you ask about the robot you saw earlier, who talked to you. They say they’ve never heard one of those speak before: they usually just beep, screech, and make unsettling grinding noises to communicate with each other. //Interesting…// After some thought, you realize this armband might be more than you anticipated, and it might actually serve as a bridge between the language barrier, that's all too prevalent, between people like you, and the monster machines. Who actually seem quite friendly! After this pleasant chat, you move on your way and continue on through the weird, dead forest. //Honestly, it’s hard to call a dead red forest weird anymore, what with the things I’ve seen so far.// You think to yourself. As you think, and keep walking, you find yourself coming to a bright spot in the woods. Actually, it feels more like a way [[Out of the woods]] than anything.

You start exiting the forest, and coming to a spot in a large field. It takes a bit for your eyes to adjust to the light, but once you do, You see it, the entrance... guards stand by the strange wall that encircles [[The Crystal City Borders]].

Diving into a nearby cave, you curl up in a ball and wait until the strange monstrosity passes you by. Only it doesn't pass you by, it finds you. A large, metal hand, bigger than anything you’ve ever seen before, reaches into the cave and snatches you surprisingly quickly. You’re stuck in its grasp, subject to whatever this thing wants of you. //Oh what is it, just eating me? Crushing me? Filling my bones with powder and lighting a fuse? What is it!?// As you reach the light, and come out of the cave, the monster flings you upward as hard as it can. You soar through the air like a rocket out of a cannon, and slowly you start losing feeling in your face. All the insides of you are starting to come racing into your feet, making them feel like you’re going to pop. Rather uncomfortable, and definitely more scared than ever before so far, you slowly pass out. //Well that’s great.// Slowly, the world fades out, and everything dims to black. You lose feeling in your whole body, and slowly, you fall asleep. So this is what it feels like, to (text-colour:red)+(bg:yellow)[''Die.''] You’re so close, don’t give up; just one step ahead... keep going, (text-colour:green)[find us, we know you will.] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,magenta)[Try again?] [[Dark Path]] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,magenta)[Or start over?] In the [[Small Clearing]]

You run down the straight path. It feels so wrong, and the speed and power the thing above you exhibits is downright terrifying; this is absolutely the worst way you could have gone. However, you don't think about it. You just keep running, and running, the thing above you catching up. You see the light! Which light, death or sunlight!? Doesn't matter! Just keep going! (text-colour:lime)[You're finding us, we knew you would!] The blinding light engulfs you, and you feel very strange... //What is this feeling? Peace, sunlight! It's life! Ah finally, sweet life!// That rough road was a nightmare! You find yourself in a field, a nice beautiful clearing! The sun is shining, there are animals that aren't dead, delightfully squeaking and chirping! //Oh sweet relief!// (align:"=><=")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXXXXXX===")[''(text-colour:yellow)+(bg:navy)[---------- YOU MADE IT THROUGH! ----------]''] (align:"=><=")[The roughest path of all!] You finally feel the sun on your face, and your entire being feels full of light! Finally, out of the darkness, finally out of the deathly forest! "I am the captain of my soul!" You cheerfully cry out with glee! But what's this? A shadow? How could it be!? The thing reaching over you has stopped. You turn around, and see it. A giant metal monster's face, one you can't even find words to describe, finds itself blinded by the sun behind you. It would have killed you in seconds, but it can't seem to find you at the moment. It retreats into the forest, leaving you with peace at least! Oh finally, now I can go forward with slow steps in peace! //...Where am I going anyway? What's over here?// A [[Grey Clearing]]? Interesting, well don't mind if I do!

You move to the strange, grey clearing. There are split routes ahead, one leading to what seems like a factory. It seems like it's making noise, wonder what's being made inside... Will you proceed to the [[Factory]]? (if:(history: where its name contains "Speedily Forward")'s length >= 1)[(b4r:"none","none","none","groove")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey,navy)[You also see a route to a cave, with a small spark of light inside. Seems ancient, like there might be some secrets there. Move to the [[Secret Cave]]?]] (if:(history: where its name contains "Shortcut")'s length >= 1)[(b4r:"none","none","none","groove")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey,green)[There's also a meadow-ey rout to the side, that looks like it could lead to a town of some kind. It's not super clear why, but it seems like they could use some help. Move to the [[Meadow Route]]?]]

You arrive at… something. A giant wall encircles what you think might be the party, it’s very tall and looks impenetrable, very foreboding for a party… Here the party sounds are stronger than ever, you hear upbeat music and movie stars discussing something. It's hard to tell, because it's a lot of commotion. But, the hard, strange wall encircling the party is very intimidating. There are also several guards outside, stationed in patrol and watch. It’s a little hard to actually hear anything over the constant music, although you can make out them asking you who you are. But before you can answer, something strange happens. A large explosion happens within the walls that splits the air, and makes you shake a little bit. Worried, the guards run inside, as a small opening appears in the wall and stays open. //Well, that’s interesting, shouldn’t they be worried about you?// Oh well, might as well enter and see what’s happening inside, [[The Crystal City]] (if:(history: where its name contains "Shortcut")'s length >= 1)[(b4r:"none","none","none","groove")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey,green)[However, something also draws your attention off to the side. It looks like there's something on the other side of the city. There's an unguarded path around it that looks like it could be (text-colour:green)[promising]. Take the Side Route to the [[Grey Clearing]]?]]

(b4r:"none","none","none","groove")+(b4r-colour:white,white,green,green)[The side rout takes you outside the city, and around the guards, who you can't seem to find anymore.] //Odd...// The path leads to a strange, factory looking thing, with sounds coming from it. Instructions, that's what they are. (b4r:"none","none","none","dotted")+(b4r-colour:white,white,green,purple)["Three units left, insert piece, stop." "Slightly turn radial turntable thirty degrees clockwise."] (b4r:"none","none","none","dotted")+(b4r-colour:white,white,green,purple)["Monster three, made. Status, Foreboding."] //Huh, interesting.// Past that, a small villiage looks like it's about ten miles away. Sore and tired already however, getting there seems like a somewhat daunting task, especially with no shoes, and rough terrain ahead. A familiar voice comes up next to you. (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:blue)["Hello there, traveler."]] It's the antelope again. (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:blue)["It's a far way to Brookstove from here."]] (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:blue)["...Need a lift?"]] (b4r:"none","dotted","none","none")+(b4r-colour:white,white,orange)["...Oh yes, I do. But, what will we do?"] (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:blue)["Bring them the truth, reunite the world. One step at a time."]] You and the antelope set off for [[Brookstove]].

(text-style:"bold","double-underline","outline","condense","fidget")[''ENDING 1''] You and the antelope move to the town. A long journey awaits, but you feel that there's some really good work you can do here. They're afraid of the machines, but they seem open to new ideas once they see you communicating with them, and the antelope thingy. (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,cyan)[Welcome to Taturate,] (text-colour:lime)[Time to change the world!] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey)[//Congratulations, you found ending 1 of Taturate! Keep exploring, other routes lead to other places.//]

You enter the... party? Honestly it's a little hard to tell, as explosions and yelling fill your ears from the city. You step through the boundary, and the entrance closes abruptly, leaving you inside the city... Where things don't look good. People dressed in fine blue and red clothes fighting each other on opposite sides of a divide. Some of them are carrying weapons, and seem very angry. Actually, they all seem very angry. It’s a small warzone here, and nothing looks very happy or nice. The music and lights aren’t stopping, so that tells you there’s something nice here, but where could it be? Someone comes up to you and introduces the city, asking who you are, what side you fight for, and why you can see and hear the music and lights, without an earpiece. Apparently, it seems it isn’t exactly normal to be able to see these things without a small gizmo in your ear feeding you parts of it. Odd that you can see it all at once… No matter, there are bigger things here: this war seems bad, and it doesn’t seem like it’s going to end nicely. The guards and civilians need to know which side you’ll join. - The Blades, a savage group of warmakers that seem to be the most aggressive, Or, - The Bludgeons, a peacemaking clan that seems to not want to be here, in this fight. Although it's all so overwhelming. - You almost consider running the other way and trying to avoid the war. Some back alleys look like they could protect you. [[Blades]], [[Bludgeons]], or [[Alleys]]?

(text-style:"bold","double-underline","outline","condense","fidget")[''ENDING 2''] You move to the factory, it's where Leviathans are made. Monsters of incredible size, speed, and power, able to take down entire cities with ease. They're also very clever. They convince you to destroy the city, what with all the riots and war going on inside, it just seems easier to destroy it all before anyone gets severely tortured or injured. Suddenly, without realizing it, you're moving to the city, on the back of a Leviathan. It’s making quick work of the strange city, and making sure there are no survivors. You realize that you’re not the one doing this, there’s a small cable embedded in the back of your neck, and your body isn’t responding to you anymore. Once the monsters deem your usefulness expired, they throw you off, and leave you to survey the damage. Poor city, (text-colour:red)+(bg:white)[maybe there was hope…] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey)[//Congratulations, you found ending 2 of Taturate! Keep exploring, other routes lead to other places.//]

(text-style:"bold","double-underline","outline","condense","fidget")[''ENDING 4''] You move to the secret cave, a giant rock falls on the entrance and locks you in. You try all you can to get out, but to no avail. You do however see some ancient documents laid out on paper, a substance you thought wasn't used anymore. The text is hard to read, but it's clear it says something about the "Endings" of the world... //Plural?// You read some more, and notice some things... //(text-colour:black)+(bg:white)[Shortcut... peace... Brookstove... One end... Beware... Blades... Luficier... experiments, Thrid... Silver hand... Slice the containment... Digital world... Loop... Second... Four... Beware Factory... Leviathans... Mind control... Loss of...]// Maybe this information will be helpful for something. I couldn't tell you what, this cave has no exits. Slowly, your oxygen runs out, the world fades out, and everything dims to black. You start losing your strength, and fall down. It's an odd way to end all this, but you've come so far, and this isn't the worst way to go out. The cave fades out, and everything dims to black. You lose feeling in your whole body, and slowly, you fall asleep. So this is what it feels like, to (text-colour:red)+(bg:yellow)[''Die.''] Although, for the first time in a while, you finally feel... (text-colour:yellow)+(bg:navy)[At peace!] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey)[//Congratulations, you found ending 4 of Taturate! Keep exploring, other routes lead to other places.//]

You decide to join the red team, Blades, the gand with the most violence and weapons. It seems like the good bet, they'll probably win the war, they seem like the only ones who want to. Athough, it's not great. Their leader is introduced, Luficier, a French fancy-man struts in and smiles deviously. //Luficier, why does that sound familair...// //Lu, Lufy.// //No that's not it...// //Lu... Lu- CIFER!// //I figured it out, It's Lucifer!// //Hah! That's-// //...Oh dear...// To spare some details, you object to his plan of taking over the world, forcing all to subject themselves to his rule of tyrany. And it doesn't go well... [[Not at all...]]

(text-style:"bold","double-underline","outline","condense","fidget")[''ENDING 5''] Unfortunately, this way was the best option, but only because it's so short. You join the blue team, proud of your decision, it was absolutely the right one. But the other team has a plan. They use a monster you've never seen before. It's undefeatable, unstoppable, and you’ve made it your biggest target. It doesn’t speak, it only kills, and you’re just barely not strong enough to combat it. Well, this was a quick way to die. However, you truly feel alright about it. At least you tried, at least you fought for what was right. As you watch your bones be thrown in random directions, and lie stuck on the ground, Slowly, the world fades out, and everything dims to black. You lose feeling in your whole body, and slowly, you fall asleep. So this is what it feels like, to (text-colour:red)+(bg:yellow)[''Die.''] However, there’s also a bit more to it… For the first time in a while, you feel truly… (text-colour:black)+(bg:(gradient: 0, 0.0025,#e5e619,0.5,#ffffff,0.9926,#e5e619))[Happy!] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey)[//Congratulations, you found ending 5 of Taturate! Keep exploring, other routes lead to other places.//]

Deciding not to join the war, you run down an alleyway, away from it all. Your heart is racing, explosions and music make a confusing mix of chaos in your mind. Someone with red clothes points a gun at your head and tells you to "Join or Die." But before you can negotiate, they fall over and seem dead. Someone behind them with a knife stands victorious... An older man with a metal hand looks at you and smiles. (text-colour:black)+(bg:white)["Welcome to the city kid, what's your-"] Before he finishes, he suddenly looks like he recognises you. His hand jitters and glows, his eyes flash blue and white. He looks at your armband in awe, and then at your eyes with surprised excitement. (text-colour:black)+(bg:white)["I… I see you…"] Wondering what’s going on, you ask, and he simply says: (text-colour:black)+(bg:white)["I don’t know who you are, or why you’re here. But I know what you were sent to do…"] He gives you the knife with an unmatched trust and respect. (text-colour:black)+(bg:white)["Take this, cut the barrier, and free our world."] The war is starting back up, he runs to protect someone else, looking thoughtfully back towards you. [[Continue..?]]

You run from the war, knife in hand, and wonder... But then, a strange voice suddenly comes in your head. (text-colour:navy)[(text-style:"blur","buoy")["Don't do this..."]] (text-colour:navy)[(text-style:"blur","tall","buoy")["We have more for you to do..."]] Yep, that's not good. You run to the border now, trying to ignore the weird voice inside your brain. The war is getting even more hectic, you're just barely escaping. Suddenly you see it, the border to the city. (text-colour:navy)[(text-style:"blur","buoy")["Don't do this..."]] //I'm not crazy, I'm not crazy...// You use the knife to try and cut the barrier, it's a struggle, and things don't seem to be getting better. (text-colour:navy)[(text-style:"blur", "tall","buoy")["You'll unleash an apocalypse"]] The knife buzzes, and you suddenly notice that it’s glowing blue. It’s now attached to your armband, and it’s giving it power. The job is getting easier. You suddenly break through, and a bright flash of light overwhelms you… [[Continue…]]

Welcome dear friend... to the [[Digital WORLD]]...

(text-style:"bold","double-underline","outline","condense","fidget")[''ENDING 3''] You wake up, all of yor body is in excruciating pain... (text-colour:yellow)+(bg:red)[Congratulations.] Luficier says. (text-colour:yellow)+(bg:red)[Welcome to Taturate... My machine.] You look, and see that you're now just like the robots you spent so much time talking with. You can't move, you can't speak, and can barely hear or see. You're now a remote controlled toy, sent to destroy the world. You can't stop, your only option is to watch the world burn, inside a tin can. (text-colour:yellow)+(bg:grey)[This is probably the worst way to go...] (b4r:"none","none","dashed")+(b4r-colour:white,white,grey)[//Congratulations, you found ending 3 of Taturate! Keep exploring, other routes lead to other places.//]