Story arc #1: The Castle of Shadows

Into the Depths

A chapter of a ‘choose your own’ story

You might want to start this story at the beginning, here.

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Despite the risks, you don’t feel you have any choice — something killed the goblins, and may well have taken Jade captive. You might not be able to face this threat — whatever it is — but you can at least follow, and look for the opportunity to help her.

Carefully, you sit on the edge of the hole, staring down into the darkness. How deep is it? You don’t know.

All you know that it’s about a yard wide, dark, and close to vertical. You don’t think you will immediately fall to your death… but you certainly hope that the passage doesn’t descend too far.

You begin to climb down, managing to brace your back against the opposite side from time to time. Fortunately, the rock is very rough, and there are no shortage of footholds.

Soon, though, the light has almost gone. You have been climbing down at a steep angle for over two minutes, and still there is no indication of where the passage will end.

And then, suddenly, your foot hits something solid. Clutching your handholds, you reach around with one outstretched foot. Have you reached the bottom? At the very least, it is some kind of platform…

You release your grip and turn around cautiously. And now, to your surprise, you notice that a little light is coming from somewhere up ahead. There is light enough to see that the passage continues horizontally. A solid stone wall is to your right, and to the left — blackness, of a depth unknown.

You begin to walk.

After a few paces, there is a clinking noise at your feet, and you pause, looking down. In the dim light, you can see something metal glinting. You crouch, and reach out in front of you.

A key lies on the stony ground.

“Hmm…”

It’s hard to know what it might be for — can there really be doors down here? All the same, the goblins had to come from somewhere, and so did whatever monster or warrior it was that slew them. Perhaps they have locked Jade up? Either way, you should take it, and count your blessings.

You proceed along the raised walkway, keeping close to the safer right-hand side with its solid stone wall.

Soon, the source of the light is obvious. A lantern hangs further along the raised pathway, in front of a wooden doorway. As you get closer, you can see that it a double door set into a wall of solid stone, and it is partially open. To the left, there are further handholds leading out over the vast pit.

And you can hear voices from behind the door.

“I’ve had enough of this!” You are pretty sure that was Jade speaking. She sounds more annoyed than frightened, and there is no indication that she is currently pain.

She is still alive– that is a relief!

You then hear a grumbling voice in a language you don’t recognise, followed by the clanking of metal, and a scraping noise.

And then, a unfamiliar man’s voice:

“We need recruits,” he says firmly. “You will join us, or die…”

What will you do?

• Step through the double door (click here).
• Head out over the pit using the handholds to find a different way to approach (click here).

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