BattleThe xenos means the portal that leads to and from the arena. But why would you return to the Chasm?
YOU"So, Keykeross is planning to kill me in the next fight, but you are ready to effect my escape. All I must do is survive the arena, wait for your sign, then run. You cannot possibly mean into a literal mouth, so you must mean for me to leap into a portal of some kind. Do I have that right?"
BattleThe Harlequin sweeps into a low bow, like an actor who has performed before a true lover of high art. He seems satisfied with your answer.
BattleThe xenos lays a finger over the mute lips of his mask and vanishes, as if to convey that your conversation is a great secret known only to the two of you.
end of branch
YOU"What sign do you mean?"
Battle"Poor show! The spice of life is mystery, Too bland a spread would sour your appetite, The sign of mine, fear not, you'll clearly see."
YOU"So, Keykeross is planning to kill me in the next fight, but you are ready to effect my escape. All I must do is survive the arena, wait for your sign, then run. You cannot possibly mean into a literal mouth, so you must mean for me to leap into a portal of some kind. Do I have that right?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What sign do you mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"A mouth? What are you talking about?"
Battle"The greedy mouth that swallows brave and bold, And after few releases from its hold, The Vagabond this maw already knows, Why, to your fights it marks the start and close."
YOU"If I will be walking into a trap, why do you not simply extract me now?"
Battle"A lock that is not there cannot be picked, And time alone will forge the key to it." The Harlequin shrugs as if his pronouncement makes perfect sense.
YOU"So, Keykeross is planning to kill me in the next fight, but you are ready to effect my escape. All I must do is survive the arena, wait for your sign, then run. You cannot possibly mean into a literal mouth, so you must mean for me to leap into a portal of some kind. Do I have that right?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What sign do you mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"A mouth? What are you talking about?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If I will be walking into a trap, why do you not simply extract me now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you wish to help me, why don't you finally demonstrate these exceptional skills of yours and aid me in battle?"
BattleThe Harlequin laughs darkly as if you have uttered some naive inanity. "In vain you grant compassion to the mask, Though you and I play roles, desire has none. Your part on stage — to break through barricades, While mine's to chalk in darkness players' marks, And lead the company to its finale."
YOU"So, Keykeross is planning to kill me in the next fight, but you are ready to effect my escape. All I must do is survive the arena, wait for your sign, then run. You cannot possibly mean into a literal mouth, so you must mean for me to leap into a portal of some kind. Do I have that right?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What sign do you mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"A mouth? What are you talking about?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If I will be walking into a trap, why do you not simply extract me now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you wish to help me, why don't you finally demonstrate these exceptional skills of yours and aid me in battle?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Wait for a sign and run into some kind of 'mouth.' Understood."
BattleThe xenos lays a finger over the mute lips of his mask and vanishes, as if to convey that your conversation is a great secret known only to the two of you.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Wait for a sign and run into the portal. Understood."
BattleThe xenos lays a finger over the mute lips of his mask and vanishes, as if to convey that your conversation is a great secret known only to the two of you.continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look at the chronometer] "Your timing is impeccable. You may leave now."
BattleThe xenos lays a finger over the mute lips of his mask and vanishes, as if to convey that your conversation is a great secret known only to the two of you.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not know what I expected when I agreed to accept your help. You are talking in riddles. Again."
Battle"A wait, a sign, a mouth. Remember this."
BattleThe xenos lays a finger over the mute lips of his mask and vanishes, as if to convey that your conversation is a great secret known only to the two of you.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Wait for a sign and run into some kind of 'mouth.' Understood."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Wait for a sign and run into the portal. Understood."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look at the chronometer] "Your timing is impeccable. You may leave now."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not know what I expected when I agreed to accept your help. You are talking in riddles. Again."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you wish to help me, why don't you finally demonstrate these exceptional skills of yours and aid me in battle?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Wait for a sign and run into some kind of 'mouth.' Understood."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Wait for a sign and run into the portal. Understood."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look at the chronometer] "Your timing is impeccable. You may leave now."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not know what I expected when I agreed to accept your help. You are talking in riddles. Again."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"A mouth? What are you talking about?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If I will be walking into a trap, why do you not simply extract me now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you wish to help me, why don't you finally demonstrate these exceptional skills of yours and aid me in battle?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Wait for a sign and run into some kind of 'mouth.' Understood."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Wait for a sign and run into the portal. Understood."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look at the chronometer] "Your timing is impeccable. You may leave now."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not know what I expected when I agreed to accept your help. You are talking in riddles. Again."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 3 of 4
BattleThe xenos's clarification is as vague as the rest of what he says.
YOU"So, Keykeross is planning to kill me in the next fight, but you are ready to effect my escape. All I must do is survive the arena, wait for your sign, then run. You cannot possibly mean into a literal mouth, so you must mean for me to leap into a portal of some kind. Do I have that right?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What sign do you mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"A mouth? What are you talking about?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If I will be walking into a trap, why do you not simply extract me now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you wish to help me, why don't you finally demonstrate these exceptional skills of yours and aid me in battle?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Wait for a sign and run into some kind of 'mouth.' Understood."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Wait for a sign and run into the portal. Understood."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look at the chronometer] "Your timing is impeccable. You may leave now."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not know what I expected when I agreed to accept your help. You are talking in riddles. Again."continues where this line first appears above
Battle(sequence)
Marazhai"The portal. He means the portal to the arena."
end of branch
Yrliet"I think the Arebennian is referring to the portal that takes us to the arena. Is he planning to do something to it?"
end of branch
Ulfar"When the cursed jester says 'mouth,' he means the portal at the stadium. But where is the sense in that? It will just take us back to the Chasm!"
end of branch
Entry point 4 of 4
BattleThe already familiar baritone calls out to you from the shadows. "The key unlocks a door that then will lead, To one that only happenstance will free. Your chance I'll be, to me the bolts will cede, Your part comes next — to break the bonds and flee."
Battle"To you, the Merchant Vagabond, I bring The gift of providence, but will you look?"
YOU"You have helped me more than once already. I am listening."
Battle"Both opening and warning is my boon, Your fate hangs by a thread drawn breaking tight, But with a show of patience opportune, The Merchant certain death will turn to flight."
Battle"You stride not into battle but a snare, Of guile and strife a neatly woven net, Lust's mistress lifts her sword into the air And baying for your blood her pack does set. So dance a ring around oblivion, Await a sign from night's own melody. Catch sight of it, and then, make haste, begone! One yawning mouth, one leap, to set you free."
YOU"So, Keykeross is planning to kill me in the next fight, but you are ready to effect my escape. All I must do is survive the arena, wait for your sign, then run. You cannot possibly mean into a literal mouth, so you must mean for me to leap into a portal of some kind. Do I have that right?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What sign do you mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"A mouth? What are you talking about?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If I will be walking into a trap, why do you not simply extract me now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you wish to help me, why don't you finally demonstrate these exceptional skills of yours and aid me in battle?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Wait for a sign and run into some kind of 'mouth.' Understood."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Wait for a sign and run into the portal. Understood."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look at the chronometer] "Your timing is impeccable. You may leave now."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not know what I expected when I agreed to accept your help. You are talking in riddles. Again."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I shall deign to spare you one whole minute of my extremely valuable time. Do not waste it."
Battle"'Tis wise indeed to count each moment past, To nothingness they stream like grains of sand, They steal your hours and days until at last They turn to dust in reaper's wasted hand."
Battle"You stride not into battle but a snare, Of guile and strife a neatly woven net, Lust's mistress lifts her sword into the air And baying for your blood her pack does set. So dance a ring around oblivion, Await a sign from night's own melody. Catch sight of it, and then, make haste, begone! One yawning mouth, one leap, to set you free."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"One more word about roles, dances, or keys, and I will shoot you myself. Begone!"
Battle"Well, as you wish, this gift is not for all." The Harlequin vanishes in a cloud of blue smoke, leaving you with nothing but the feeling of unease before the coming battle.
end of branch
Battle(sequence)
BattleSudden pain grips your skull and your vision clouds over. But as soon as you resurface, a dramatic scene appears before you — the streets of the Dark City are teeming with hundreds of colours, from grimy grey shades to extravagantly bold hues. At first they blend together in your vision, but soon you are able to distinguish their sources. People, xenos, animals, you... and, of course, the Harlequin standing in front of you.
BattleThe xenos's colours are like those of a broken kaleidoscope — your eyes water at the mere attempt to pick any one thing out, and your head is splitting more than ever. Yet despite this, you are subconsciously aware that the dark lilac cloud surrounding the slender figure poses unspeakable danger. And that the bright sparkles of silver indicate that this danger — at least, for now — is directed at you. When you avert your gaze and slowly exhale, the vision falls away as if it was never there.
BattleThe Harlequin observes you with interest, his silence speaking volumes.
end of branch
Cassia"[Name], your colours! What... what have you done to him/her, xenos?" Cassia lifts her chin and the third eye on her forehead flutters threateningly behind the eyelid.
BattleThe xenos, tilting his head to the side, looks at Cassia with curiosity. "So many things can three eyes glimpse at once: Sha'eil's veiled paths and caverns of the soul, But with a thousand sights you could not see The wrecks of fate beneath reality! Past's creaking waltz will twirl you round in halls of intertwining serendipity, But not just yet — the dance calls for a pair, Your partner is, for now, tied up with me."
Cassia"I... do not understand..."
Battle"Oh nectar sweet — your name is ignorance! Make sure to savour every drop before Your glass is drained by insight in a blink."
end of branch
CassiaCassia clutches her head at the sight of the Harlequin and scarlet blood starts trickling down her cheeks. "Your colours, xenos, are fractured and wrong, as if refracted through a distorted prism! What should be familiar is dispersed. And the bedazzling shades won't stop twisting madly..."
BattleThe xenos, tilting his head to the side, looks at Cassia with curiosity. "So many things can three eyes glimpse at once: Sha'eil's veiled paths and caverns of the soul, But with a thousand sights you could not see The wrecks of fate beneath reality! Past's creaking waltz will twirl you round in halls of intertwining serendipity, But not just yet — the dance calls for a pair, Your partner is, for now, tied up with me."
Cassia"I... do not understand..."
Battle"Oh nectar sweet — your name is ignorance! Make sure to savour every drop before Your glass is drained by insight in a blink."
end of branch
BattleAt the sight of Marazhai, the Harlequin lets out a nasty chuckle: "The trapper caught in snares of his own make! The plotting of your play was up to snuff, But Nazrakhei rewrote the denouement Decided in the darkness of the wings. Amidst the sombre spires and hunter's game, 'Tis wise to stop and once more check your knives— For that which glittered in your hand before You may now find a-twinkling in your back."
MarazhaiMarazhai is squirming with rage he does not dare to unleash on the Harlequin here and now. He hisses through clenched teeth, "All who have taken part in my downfall will be exterminated..."
Battle"...and sooner than you thought, my Merchant thief! Just like a drop of ink you fell upon The page before this play's dramatic end, Wherein your own kin's blood you will see shed. Perform the lines required and vengeance will Descend upon the stage and play its part. And then away from spires on Merchant's trail, Across the worlds a parlous road you'll tread, And death you will find there, or else a path To remedy your second enemy."
MarazhaiMarazhai digests the Harlequin's words in silence. At last, a shadow of the usual smirk flashes on his face. "I... I hear you, Arebennian."