NPC"And so I've thought about it... I've decided I can trust you. It's very dangerous, trusting another person with yourself. But somehow, I know you won't take advantage of my vulnerability." Closing her eyes, she says something in a language you do not understand and a radiant smile comes to her lips.
YOU"What did you just say?"
NPC"Hamae sar, lae kar, raum ka. It means 'I am yours, I vow, behold, Exalted One.' It is a vow people say over water on Efreet when they meet their heart. They make the vows once in their lives and it is forever — for what is reflected in the water's surface is reflected in the eye of the Exalted One." Jae shyly looks away.
YOU"How about some amasec?"
NPCAs she passes you the bottle, Jae's fingers close over yours. "Let us praise the Exalted One as we drink, He who sees into the depths of our hearts and sends us that which we never thought to dream of, but which we need more than anything."
YOU"How about some amasec?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"And how will this evening end?"
NPCJae sweeps her hand along the curve of her shoulder, sending a shower of hot droplets toward you. "This evening will never end, shereen. Night, amasec, water, and passion will be ours forever."
YOU"How about some amasec?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"And how will this evening end?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems you have dealt with the worries that were troubling you."
NPC"I have risen from the ashes of my past, shereen. I thought a lot about who I used to be and who I've become, and I realised that Jae Heydari is more than just a name. It is the life I've dreamt of since I was a child, the life I've managed to carve out of the cosmos for myself. It used to be a mask, but now... it is simply me. And I have nothing to be ashamed of."
NPC"And it is thanks to you, shereen. You did not cast me aside, and I have stopped asking myself if I am worthy of you. I am worthy, and I know it." Her voice is calm and resolute, full of unshakeable self-assurance and, at the same time, tremulous tenderness. It washes over you in a gentle caress.
YOU"How about some amasec?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"And how will this evening end?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems you have dealt with the worries that were troubling you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So who are you now? A princess, a crime baron, a deserter?"
NPC"I'm going to be who I want to be, shereen. After all, I can always devise another interesting destiny for myself — military leader, scholar, pirate, wise ruler... I'll find something that will surprise you..." Jae looks at you with mischievous interest.
YOU"How about some amasec?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"And how will this evening end?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems you have dealt with the worries that were troubling you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So who are you now? A princess, a crime baron, a deserter?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think lies ahead for us?"
NPCJae performs a whimsical flourish with her hands as if she is on stage. "On Efreet they say that if you want to know the future, you must turn your gaze to the past, for the Exalted One wove time in a loop. I heard a story... a wonderful story about an adventurer and thief — she stole happiness from the universe, and alone she enjoyed the sweetness of that ripe fruit. But can anyone be happy alone? They cannot. And so the thief shared her trophy with a Rogue Trader, whose beautiful face matched their beautiful heart."
NPCHer velvety voice lulls you into a trance. "And together they feasted on their stolen happiness — they built castles, they conquered worlds, they loved one another... Oh, how they loved one another. They burned and were reborn in that love. And then... I don't remember how the story ends." Jae smiles. "What ending awaited them, do you think?"
YOU"Riches, glory, and long life."
NPCHer eyes closed, Jae replies with pleasure, "Riches and glory. A beautiful ending. It's what I've always dreamt of." Opening her eyes, Jae looks at you meaningfully. "It's who I've always dreamt of."
YOU"How about some amasec?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"And how will this evening end?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems you have dealt with the worries that were troubling you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So who are you now? A princess, a crime baron, a deserter?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think lies ahead for us?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Beckon Jae with your finger] "Come here."
NPCFlames kindle in her huge, dark eyes. They are the flames of bonfires roaring in the night, the torches of a hunting cavalcade, the raging inferno of a promethium fire. The flames draw close to you, their burning tongues latching onto you, coiling around your body. The name of this riotous blaze is Jae Heydari.
end of branch
YOU"Let's just sit here like this. I need this."
NPC"So do I, shereen. Let's just sit here." Jae moves back, her hair soaked and heavy, falling in thick locks across her chest. She begins to sing in a low, lilting voice. You do not know what the song is about, but it stirs up images in your mind's eye: of tired wanderers returning home after a long journey, and of a roaring fire warming cold and weary hands.
end of branch
YOU"They loved one another forever, till death and even beyond."
NPC"Ah, shereen, that only happens in stories. But I suppose we are in one, aren't we?" Drops of water track down Jae's cheeks like tears, but they cannot be tears, for she is beaming at you.
YOU"How about some amasec?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"And how will this evening end?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems you have dealt with the worries that were troubling you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So who are you now? A princess, a crime baron, a deserter?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think lies ahead for us?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Beckon Jae with your finger] "Come here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's just sit here like this. I need this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Their love stood the test of time and gave them many fine children who grew up to be happy people of great consequence."
NPC"I can imagine what absolute terrors they would be." Jae laughs happily and then purrs in pleasure: "Oh, these stories, shereen, they're hard to believe, aren't they?"
YOU"How about some amasec?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"And how will this evening end?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems you have dealt with the worries that were troubling you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So who are you now? A princess, a crime baron, a deserter?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think lies ahead for us?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Beckon Jae with your finger] "Come here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's just sit here like this. I need this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You tell me, shereen."
NPCClosing her eyes, Jae speaks gravely as though casting a spell: "In the end, they died, because everyone dies. But until that time, the Exalted One granted them the mercy of never once regretting the love that bound them together. And with that mercy they were satisfied."
YOU"How about some amasec?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"And how will this evening end?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems you have dealt with the worries that were troubling you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So who are you now? A princess, a crime baron, a deserter?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think lies ahead for us?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Beckon Jae with your finger] "Come here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's just sit here like this. I need this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Beckon Jae with your finger] "Come here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's just sit here like this. I need this."continues where this line first appears above
NPCCasting a pensive look at you, Jae responds without smiling, "I am your beloved. Today that is enough for me. But tomorrow... we'll see."
NPC(sequence)
NPC"Do you remember what you said in Commorragh? That you didn't care where I came from because I would die with as much honour as anyone else? I think that was when I realised the power I had over my own life."
NPC"And that I have never been able to shape myself to fit a particular mould... That is also true. I have always shaped the mould to fit me."
end of branch
NPC"Do you remember what you said in Commorragh? That I never changed myself to suit other people's expectations? I think that is when I realised the power I had over my own life."
end of branch
NPC"Do you remember what you said when you learned the truth about my past? You said I hadn't changed in your eyes. I think that is when I realised the power I had over my own life."
end of branch
NPC"And then you ordered Mercy to stop seeing me as a little girl who needed him... You might be the first person who's ever done that for me. Who hasn't tried to change me on the pretext of loving me, who doesn't expect me to conform to the idea of me they've built in their head."
end of branch
YOU"What do you think lies ahead for us?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Beckon Jae with your finger] "Come here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's just sit here like this. I need this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So who are you now? A princess, a crime baron, a deserter?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think lies ahead for us?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Beckon Jae with your finger] "Come here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's just sit here like this. I need this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems you have dealt with the worries that were troubling you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So who are you now? A princess, a crime baron, a deserter?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think lies ahead for us?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Beckon Jae with your finger] "Come here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's just sit here like this. I need this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"And how will this evening end?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems you have dealt with the worries that were troubling you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So who are you now? A princess, a crime baron, a deserter?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think lies ahead for us?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Beckon Jae with your finger] "Come here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's just sit here like this. I need this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Hamae sar, lae kar, raum ka."
NPCPressing her whole body close to you and closing her eyes, Jae gives you a lingering kiss and whispers, "It doesn't really happen like that. It's all one long dream, but I refuse to let myself wake up — after this, I have no need for real life."
YOU"How about some amasec?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"And how will this evening end?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems you have dealt with the worries that were troubling you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So who are you now? A princess, a crime baron, a deserter?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think lies ahead for us?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Beckon Jae with your finger] "Come here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's just sit here like this. I need this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"When this mess is over, we shall have a wedding on Dargonus. A magnificent occasion worthy of us."
NPC"As you wish." Jae smiles softly. "I will be your wife or your concubine. I do not need a wedding. All I need is you."
YOU"How about some amasec?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"And how will this evening end?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems you have dealt with the worries that were troubling you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So who are you now? A princess, a crime baron, a deserter?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think lies ahead for us?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Beckon Jae with your finger] "Come here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's just sit here like this. I need this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are a treasure. Thanks be to the Exalted One for sending you to me."
NPCPressing her whole body close to you and closing her eyes, Jae gives you a lingering kiss and whispers, "It doesn't really happen like that. It's all one long dream, but I refuse to let myself wake up — after this, I have no need for real life."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 2 of 4
NPC(no text)
end of branch
Entry point 3 of 4
NPC(no text)
end of branch
Entry point 4 of 4
NPC"Shereen, I've been waiting for you." Jae is reclining in the bathtub with such an air of nonchalance that one would think you were the one intruding in her private bathroom. The bottle next to the bath gleams red in the glow of the candles. "Hurry up. The water is hot, like the fire in a longing heart."
YOU"I must see to it that the locks to my quarters are changed."
NPC"Do you think that will help, shereen?" Jae smiles playfully.
YOU"I must see to it that the locks to my quarters are changed."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What exactly is going on here?"
NPC"Oh, we're just having a drink together for the first time. Our second first time, to be precise. You've now seen a whole new side of me, so I'm annulling our previous first time."
YOU"I must see to it that the locks to my quarters are changed."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What exactly is going on here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Join Jae]
NPCThe water is scalding, but only at first. The heat drives the weariness from your body and the worries and thoughts of yesterday from your head. You feel a touch under the water. Jae, smiling alluringly, twists a lock of hair around her finger. "Isn't it divine? Why didn't we do this sooner?"
YOU"How about some amasec?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"And how will this evening end?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It seems you have dealt with the worries that were troubling you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So who are you now? A princess, a crime baron, a deserter?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you think lies ahead for us?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Beckon Jae with your finger] "Come here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's just sit here like this. I need this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am not in the mood for a bath."
NPCClosing her eyes in disappointment, Jae replies, "Fine, I won't drag you in, my unromantic shereen. I'll just soak here for another while and then I'll make myself scarce. But if you want me out of this fabulous tub any sooner than that, you'll have to put an autopistol to my head."
end of branch
YOU[Join Jae]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am not in the mood for a bath."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What exactly is going on here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Join Jae]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am not in the mood for a bath."continues where this line first appears above