===STORY_1_1===
{LOCATION Bleakport Outskirts}
{BACKGROUND sea.png}
{BGM story}
{AUDIOPITCH 0.4}
[]
You are on your way from Bleakport to the Lestorian Forest, where slimes can be found.
Recent pirate attacks around Bleakport caused increased demand for healing potions.
Collecting slime remains is an easy opportunity to make some coin.
With the Merchant Crossing getting closer, the smoke of the campfires can already be seen.
Merchant crossing is a Crossway that connects Bleakport, the Lestorian Forest, Eagleview Mountains and the Capitol of the Lestorian Kingdom, Clafton.
The crossing is famous for merchants to rest on their travels and trade goods with each other.
{BACKGROUND commercial_assets/Burning Trading Post.png}
While you are getting closer you realise something isnt right. The Smoke in the sky is way thicker then what you would expect from just a few campfires...
You reach the crossing where a #FF0000horrible scenery#FFFFFF awaits you.
Burning tents and lifeless bodies are lying on the floor. It looks like a Bandit attack! What a strange occurence.
Bandit groups haven't been active since the Lestorian military was established 50 years ago.
In the entire history of the Lestorian Kingdom, there are no wars on the records.
Which leads that the military is used more like a police force, discouraging large scale crimes.
The only active criminal group in the area would be the Pirates in the Bleakport area.
But even they know that they can only operate because the Lestorian military isn't leaving the mainland.
Continuing onward, you search the entire camp for any survivors. And finally, you find someone still breathing.
Rummaging through your bag, you quickly feed him a health potion, then proceed to clean his wounds with water and close them with bandages.
The health potion seemed to work quickly. The man's consciousness returns just a few minutes later.
[?,Sherman]
{LEFT Sherman}
{RIGHT You}
Th..Thanks.
[You]
No Problem. Rest for now.
[]
After around half an hour of letting the health potion work, the man finally seems to be in a somewhat stable state.
[You]
How are you feeling?
[?,Sherman]
Better, I guess.
[You]
Can you tell me what happened here?
[?,Sherman]
I... We... No, it happened way too fast.
[You]
Thats okay, You can tell me more as your memory clears up. Whats your name?
[Sherman]
#00FFD0Sherman. Professor of the Lestorian Science Corporation.#FFFFFF
[]
Sherman's response surprises you a bit. You did not expect anyone from the Science Corporation to leave the Capitol in the first place.
[You]
I'm [You]. Adventurer and Hunter.
[]
While you are deep in thoughts, suddenly Sherman starts to panic.
[Sherman]
The stone. did they...
Please! Can you check if you can find a red colored stone? It was in my bag.
[You]
Calm down. I'll see if I can find anything like that.
[]
You check every bag around the location where you found Sherman.
While searching you realise that whoever did this was not looking for money.
You don't find any red stone though and shake your head towards the scientist, frowning.
[Sherman]
Oh what shall I do? I can't return to the Kingdom without it!
[You]
First you need more rest. Once you are able to walk on your own again, we can think about a solution for your lost object.
{BACKGROUND commercial_assets/Forest Clearing Campsite.png}
[]
You set up a tent and a campfire a little outside of the main camp where the tragedy happened and helped Sherman over.
Without the corpses surrounding you, you relax a little bit.
[]
You keep an eye on Sherman as he recovers.
The next day you wake to find Sherman no longer lying down but is instead sitting on the grass.
{AUDIOPITCH 1.0}
{BACKGROUND commercial_assets/Forest Clearing Campsite_Day.png}
[Sherman]
Good Morning! You told me you are an Adventurer right?
[You]
Morning... Yes I am. Why?
[]
Sherman is full of energy. You can barely tell that he almost died the day before. It was as if the Health Potion made him into a new man.
[Sherman]
Ok, So you remember the #FFBF00Stone#FFFFFF I asked about yesterday, right? It's a source of #F2FF00Energy#FFFFFF we are currently investigating.
We may have lost the first stone. But we got a clue that another one lies deep inside the Lestorian Forest.
With that Stone, I could return to the kingdom with something to show. I obviously would pay you for it.
It should be in a cave somewhere in the middle of the Forest.
[]
Since you're doing Slime hunting anyways, might as well search for the Stone in the process. Searching for a cave while doing that doesnt sound like a big deal.
[You]
I am on my way to the Forest anyways. I can check any cave I come across and if I find any #FFBF00Red Stone#FFFFFF I will report back.
No promises though. My main goal is slime hunting, but I will see what I can do to help.
[Sherman]
Great! I still feel a little weak, so I will be staying in this camp for now.
Also I expect Lestorian Soldiers to show up soon to investigate the campsite. Guess I can help as a witness.
[You]
Have your memories returned?
[Sherman]
Well, I definitely remember a few things but I still need to sort myself out. I can't really tell you more than what I've said yesterday.
[You]
Guess I have to take that answer for now. I am on my way to the Forest then. Bye.
===STORY_1_2===
{LOCATION Lestorian Forest}
{BACKGROUND sea.png}
{BGM story}
[?,Greg]
Did you defeat the Monsters?
[]
The voice is coming from the tops of the trees. A man peeks down from a tree canopy and makes eye contact.
You confirm there are no more monsters in sight.
[You]
I can't see any more at least.
[?,Greg]
That's great. Give me a short moment, I'll be right down.
[]
A large, scruffy man with a beard starts climbing down the tree. When he reaches the ground he faces towards you and grins slightly.
{LEFT Greg}
{RIGHT You}
[Greg]
Hello, my name is Greg. Thanks for the rescue.
[You]
Rescue? I am just hunting slimes. Anyway, [You]. Glad I could help.
[Greg]
You for sure did! I was wandering around and let my guard down. Got caught with a bunch of slimes sneaking up on me.
Luckily those guys can't climb trees. But damn they are really good at just waiting around.
Was sitting for over a whole day in this tree!
[You]
Did you have any plan in case no one would have found you?
[Greg]
Nah, got enough food and water on me. Could have stayed there for like a week.
Last time this happened, I was able to leave after 3 days.
[You]
Last time?! ... Anyway, why are you even in the Forest if you are not hunting Slimes?
[Greg]
Ever heard of the Enchanted Trees deep inside this Forest?
I dont have any proof that those really exist but since I heard about them I just can't stop thinking about finding one.
It's said that they look on first glance like normal Cedar Trees, but their wood is hard as Steel.
Legends say that a sword crafted from this wood is sharper then any normal sword made with steel, and and way lighter. Perfect for fighters like you!
[You]
Sounds like a great material. But if it's hard as steel, how would you cut it down?
[Greg]
...
{PAUSE}
... well ...
{PAUSE}
Never thought about that part.
This could indeed become a problem.
Maybe I'll leave the forest for now and think up a plan before I explore again.
{PAUSE}
Hey, If you're looking for me, I will be at #00FFD0Merchant Crossing#FFFFFF. Offering my skills as a #ADADADBlacksmith#FFFFFF to Merchants.
[You]
About Merchant Crossing...
[]
You explain to Greg what happened at the crossing.
[Greg]
That's not good. You said you built a #00FFD0small camp#FFFFFF nearby? Guess I will go there for now then.
If you need any weapons or armour, you can find me there.
See you later.
===STORY_1_3===
{LOCATION Stone Wall}
{BACKGROUND sea.png}
{BGM story}
{AUDIOPITCH 0.4}
[]
You see a crack in the Stone Wall.
The closer you get to the crack the colder the air feels.
A shiver runs down your spine. This doesn't feel like any ordinary cave.
Its big enough that you can enter without any problem.
After a few steps inside, a glimmering red light lightens up the cave.
You follow the path until you hit an open space.
{BACKGROUND cave.png}
The walls are slick. No rough rocks or stalagmites are spiking out of the walls. The entire room has an unnatural feeling to it.
In the middle of the room is some kind of #F2FF00Pillar#FFFFFF which is the same height as your Torso.
{LEFT Red Stone}
{RIGHT You}
On Top of that Pillar lies a red-coloured #FFBF00Stone Cube#FFFFFF.
The Stone Cube seems to be emitting light.
Behind the Cube is a Wall engraved with runes.
You have never seen anything like these runes before and obviously can't read them.
[You]
This could be the #FFBF00Stone#FFFFFF Sherman was looking for!
[]
You get closer to the pillar and grab the Cube. It's surprisingly lightweight and gives with little restraint.
Then...
{LEFT}
{RIGHT}
*click*
{BACKGROUND cave_dark.png}
{AUDIOPITCH 0.05}
Darkness.
The Stone Cube is still glowing in your hand, but the glow is now very faint.
It's now too dark to even see your own feet.
The sudden unexpected darkness casts fear on you.
You turn around quickly and search for the way back.
Returning seems to be no problem, until...
{PAUSE}
Halfway back you suddenly feel a movement.
{BGM foresty_boss}
{AUDIOPITCH 1.0}
An #C72500Earthquake#FFFFFF!
It's not a strong one but presents a threat remaining inside a cavern.
Realizing you might be in extreme danger, you start running, doing your best with the little light source you have from the #FFBF00Stone Cube#FFFFFF.
{PAUSE}
...
{PAUSE}
{BACKGROUND sea.png}
Finally. Sunlight. You managed to escape the cave uninjured.
{PAUSE}
Together with the #FFBF00Stone Cube#FFFFFF you leave the Forest behind.
