Summary

A Bitter Love is an interactive "Choose Your Own Adventure" game set in a medieval fantasy world, where the protagonist is tasked by Lady Clymestra to assassinate her husband's mistress, Ophelia, in exchange for a significant reward.

Abstract

In "A Bitter Love," players embark on a quest as part of the Medium Adventurers League, delving into a narrative reminiscent of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. The tale begins when a timid boy delivers a note from Lady Clymestra, who seeks vengeance on her cheating husband by eliminating his mistress, Ophelia. The player's journey leads them to a lavish mansion where they meet the enchantingly beautiful Lady Clymestra. She provides portraits of her husband, Hilton, and Ophelia, along with a map and a lucrative offer of 100 silver pieces and a sapphire ring for completing the assassination. The player is faced with a moral decision: to accept the quest and kill Ophelia, or to decline based on ethical concerns.

Opinions

The author presents a scenario that challenges the player's morality and conscience, emphasizing the complexity of taking a life, even when faced with infidelity.
The portrayal of Lady Clymestra as a strikingly beautiful and bold character contrasts with the perceived wrongdoing of her husband, suggesting that betrayal can occur even in seemingly perfect relationships.
The rich description of the mansion and its surroundings, along with the characters, immerses the reader in the game's world, reflecting the author's attention to detail and storytelling.
The high payment offered for the assassination hints at the potential danger and social implications of the mission, acknowledging the risks involved in taking the life of a noblewoman.
By providing the player with a clear choice and its potential consequences, the author invites readers to ponder the impact of their decisions within the narrative.

FICTION | GAME | MEDIUM ADVENTURERS LEAGUE ⚔️

A Bitter Love

Part 1 of Lady Clymestra’s quest

Lady Clymestra. A.I. image generated by author via Nightcafe

This is a Choose Your Own Adventure game, inspired by Dungeons & Dragons. To play, you will need dice and something to take notes on. To go to the beginning of the Medium Adventurers League, click here. Or head back to the Rebel Bar/ Warren headquarters.

A timid-looking boy approaches you and tugs your sleeve. “Excuse me, but my Mistress wanted me to hand you this.” He slips a note in your hand, and then flees back into the crowd.

The note says:

My husband is cheating on me with a whore. Find her, kill her, and I will reward you handsomely.

Signed, Lady Clymestra.

Heat simmers through your veins as you reread the note. Nothing stokes your anger as much as a cheating husband. Without further ado, you march with righteous fury to the address on the back of the note.

You are amazed when you see the house, or rather, the mansion. It’s the most beautiful building you have ever seen, with gleaming walls that look like pearls. The garden below is full of exquisite flowers and topiary animals.

But you’ll have more time to gawk at the scene later. You really could do with the money that Lady Clymestra has promised.

The servants show you up a marble staircase. The stairs wind up in a way that reminds you of a sea serpent, but you aren’t going to be cowed that easily.

At long last, you reach the lady’s meeting room. On a long black divan sits your employer. She’s gorgeous to the point of breathtaking. Her long hair is burnished silver, and her eyes are like dark emeralds.

Just why her husband would cheat on her, you have no idea.

She clears her throat and you blink out of your trance, embarrassed. She seems to take no notice, or maybe she’s used to visitors being awestruck by her beauty. Her voice is deeper and bolder than you expected. “My husband has been absconding with his mistress, Ophelia.”

Lady Clymestra looks grave but determined. She hands you two portraits. One is of a rather handsome young man with dark hair and brown eyes. The other portrait is of Ophelia. Brown hair tumbles in rivulets down her shoulders. She has a gaze that seems to speak even in silence.

Ophelia is certainly pretty, but you don’t see how she can rival Clymestra’s stunning glamour. But maybe there’s another reason for her husband’s treachery.

You ask, “What’s your husband’s name?” Clymestra hadn’t bothered to tell you.

The lady folds her arms over her chest. “Hilton. His name doesn’t matter. What I want is Ophelia, for you to end this hussy’s life.”

There’s something odd in the way she phrased that, but you dismiss it since you tend to read into things too much. “So, where do I go to find this — hussy?”

A thin smile ghosts across Clymestra’s lips. She hands you a map and you are astonished that this “hussy” lives in a mansion as well. For some reason, you assumed that Ophelia was a beautiful commoner, not a fellow rich lady. Not that her mate-poaching is any less despicable, though.

Lady Clymestra continues, “Kill this woman, and I will give you 100 silver pieces and a sapphire ring. Does that sound fair?”

Your jaw drops. That is the highest payment you have ever heard of for a quest. She wants you to kill a noblewoman, though, so Ophelia would have powerful friends and family who could hunt you down. So it’s fair to give you extra compensation just in case.

“Well?” Lady Clymestra asked. “Are you up for the task?”

This mission might be hard, but you can do it, right? No annoying tugs at your conscience?

You answer…

1. Yes, I will avenge Lady Clymestra and kill this hussy Ophelia!

2. No, murder just doesn’t sit well with me, even if the target is a husband-poacher.

If you liked this story, check out some of my other Choose Your Own Adventure chapters:

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