#AtoZChallenge - Talk to the Turtle

Well, yesterday's voting yielded a 50/50 split, so I called in the official tie breaker, who said, "Not that it matters..."


I don't think our turtle is *quite* that old..

For those who are here for the first time, this is an interactive fiction adventure. I will write a scene every day, and my visitors will vote for where they want the story to go next, by leaving a comment on the post. You can start from the beginning here.

T:
Erring on the side of wisdom and safety, Sir Andrew turned left into the beautiful room whose sole occupant was an ancient Turtle. The Turtle languidly turned his head to look at Andy when he walked in the room and said, "A human boy? I haven't seen a human boy in many years..."
"I am Sir Andrew, of the furry creatures. I'm trying to find our Queen so we can end this battle!"
"Ah, this is about a Queen, is it? I've been in so many battles I've lost track," the Turtle said. "Why are you talking to me, then? I am not your Queen." The Turtle laughed in a dry way that reminded Sir Andrew of the sound of grasses brushing against one another.
"No, you aren't my Queen. But you look wise, and you're not dressed for fighting, so I thought I would ask if you knew anything."
"I know many things, child. But I do not know where to find your Queen."
"I guess it was worth a try. You really don't know anything?"
"I have heard a small Dog in these halls, who I would assume to be your Queen, but I don't get out much so cannot tell you where she is being held."
"She's close, then! That's wonderful!" Sir Andrew clapped his hands excitedly. Then he paused, and asked, "How did you get that big scar on your back?" He gestured to a deep slash across the Turtle's shell.
"The Great Battle of the Sandbox. That was all the way back last Summer. I still find grains of sand in the cracks in my skin."
"That sounds terrible!" Sir Andrew said. He had heard of the battle, though his senses of time and history were not very keen, and he couldn't be certain how long ago Last Summer was.

Sir Andrew knows the Queen is nearby, but is enjoying talking to the Turtle. What should be his next move?

Stay with the Turtle to Understand more about history.

Make his way Up somewhere - the Queen must be on a higher floor.

Perhaps they are keeping the Queen down somewhere? Find a way to get to the Underfloors.

Alrighty! Y'all have til early Monday morning to vote on the next chapter! Let me know in the comments below where you think the story should go :)
Have a great weekend!
Voting has closed on this post! Please click here to move to the next post in the story :)
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#AtoZChallenge - Sniff around the table!

Phew! Thanks to everyone who voted at the last minute last night! Let's see what's on that table, shall we?

For those who are here for the first time, this is an interactive fiction adventure. I will write a scene every day, and my visitors will vote for where they want the story to go next, by leaving a comment on the post. You can start from the beginning here.

S:
Sir Andrew realized that the earlier mysterious mention of food had actually made him a bit hungry, so he walked over to the small table in the room, in hopes of finding something to snack on. Unfortunately, there wasn't anything edible. He did notice some bits of wing and insect legs that showed that something reptilian had had a morsel there, but there weren't any bits that would be exciting for a human to eat. But! Hanging on the corner of the table was a long rope!
It was coiled and the layers of rope seemed to be coated with plastic that held it in its shape, but Andy found that it was easy to pull the rope out straight. He slung the coil over his shoulder and headed toward one of the doors across the room.
On the other side of the door, Andy discovered himself in a slim servants' hallway. He followed the hallway until it split at a T. To the left he could see a richly appointed room occupied by an ancient and battle-scarred turtle. To his right was a balcony occupied by a turkey who lazed against the railing, presumably watching the battle outside.

What should Andy do?

Talk to the Turtle.

Walk over and see what the Turkey is all about
or Turn around! Hide! Don't get caught.

Awwww yeah... Turkeys and Turtles.. What'll it be, folks? Vote in the comments and let me know!
Happy Friday!
Voting has closed on this post! Please click here to move to the next post in the story :)
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If you like what you see, sign up for my email list! New subscribers get a FREE copy of a choose-your-own-adventure style ebook novella called Percy's Armageddon: Pick Your Plot Prequel!

#AtoZChallenge - Go Round the Corner

Yipes! Latest post EVER! But, it's partly late because I got to spend a couple hours with a 3 week old and her mama whom I haven't seen in a while, so.. sorry not sorry.
Super short and not much story progress so I can just get this posted. :P Here you go!

For those who are here for the first time, this is an interactive fiction adventure. I will write a scene every day, and my visitors will vote for where they want the story to go next, by leaving a comment on the post. You can start from the beginning here.

R:
Sir Andrew poked his head around the corner, to see what was there. He found he had a good mental map of the castle somehow, so knew there was a small room nearby. But he couldn't know *who* was nearby. He was relieved to find the small room empty, but for a small table at one end and a window at the other. Across the room were two doors that went through to a hallway.

What should Andy do?

Sneak a peek out the window.

Sniff around the table to see what's there.

or Stealthily proceed through to See what's through the doors.

OK go ahead and vote! I promise to write a bit more for you tomorrow!
Voting has closed on this post! Please click here to move to the next post in the story :)
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If you like what you see, sign up for my email list! New subscribers get a FREE copy of a choose-your-own-adventure style ebook novella called Percy's Armageddon: Pick Your Plot Prequel!

#AtoZChallenge - "Quit the Battle, Brave Knight!"

Hi, everyone! I'm back! Still not done with that application, but a good deal closer :)
Wasn't that a fun aside with Dan? That's why I enjoy writing with him so much- he keeps me on my toes! Hopefully we'll have another full-length adventure for y'all sometime soon.

For those who are here for the first time, this is an interactive fiction adventure. I will write a scene every day, and my visitors will vote for where they want the story to go next, by leaving a comment on the post. You can start from the beginning here.

Q:
"Quit the battle, brave knight. Food awaits!" The words echoed through the hallway where Sir Andrew was industriously handling his two captors.
"This is no time for food! Or for quitting!" he shouted to the heavens, "We are trying to rescue the Queen!" He huffed as he lifted a heavy lid onto a conspicuously pink laundry basket that sat in a corner of the castle foyer, sealing one of his serpentine foes inside. He had tied the other snake into knots around an umbrella he'd found in the corner, and dusted his hands as he surveyed his work.
"Now, where do I find my Queen?"

Where do you think he should go?

Run further up the stairs toward the top of the tower.

Go 'Round the corner to see what other places might be useful.

or Try to Rouse some more support in the castle by finding the other prisoners.

Bombs away! You know the drill - tell me in the comments below what you think our brave Knight should do next, and I'll write the next scene when I get up in the morning! :)
Voting has closed on this post! Please click here to move to the next post in the story :)
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If you like what you see, sign up for my email list! New subscribers get a FREE copy of a choose-your-own-adventure style ebook novella called Percy's Armageddon: Pick Your Plot Prequel!

#AtoZChallenge - Pull Him Off-Balance

Hey y'all! My super-awesome co-author Dan is filling in for me for a couple days while I finish writing my application to grad school. I leave you in good hands. Have fun!
See you Wednesday,
~AJ

For those who are here for the first time, this is an interactive fiction adventure. I will write a scene every day, and my visitors will vote for where they want the story to go next, by leaving a comment on the post. You can start from the beginning here.

P:
In a moment of refreshing clarity and precision, Andy's mom gauged her attacker's speed and angled her body slightly away from him to conceal her secret weapon, the umbrella. She loosened her grip on it, allowing it to slide through her hand until she could feel the band around the top of it. Then she held it fast, waiting like a viper for her moment to strike.

He ran forward, pulling a wicked-looking knife out of his pocket as he did. A grin began to steal across his face, only to disappear into an expression of astonishment as Andy's mom struck, swinging her umbrella out from behind her with lightning speed and a swordmaster's accuracy. She caught his heel with the hooked handle and pulled with all her might as she twisted it, causing his knees to buckle as his body suddenly shifted direction.

He fell, hard, onto the flagstones and she could hear his "Wufff" as the breath was knocked out of his lungs. The knife clattered off into the grass some distance away. Lying supine on the ground, he shook his head as if to clear it, but it was plain his vision was still swimming.

Andy's mom stepped forward, placed the heel of a shoe against one of his splayed arms and, taking hold of the hook-handle of her umbrella, positioned the pointed end firmly against the would-be assailant's Adam's apple. In the most authoritative Slovak she could muster, she declared, "Yield," and the man stopped struggling.

Moments later friendly agents spilled out of the castle gate and saw, to their surprise, Andy's mom standing like a victorious Sir George over the vanquished dragon. The special agent in charge was among them, and he immediately strode past her to assist Mrs. Klímová  -- her eyes beaming in admiration -- out of the vehicle a second time. As he did, to Andy's mom he said, "Pack your things."

Caught off-guard she responded, "Sorry, what was that, sir?"

"Pack your things, agent, he said, flashing her a look of approval, as he led Mrs. Klímová by the hand. "You're headed to Crimea in the morning to begin field operative training."

Andy's mom smiled at the memory, scooping sliced peppers into a simmering pan. Those were interesting days.

She checked the oven. Dinner would be ready soon. She walked to the kitchen doorway, where she could hear the faint sounds of plastic smashing against plastic over and over from Andy's room. Knowing that it would take him a while to respond when so engrossed, she called out.

What should Andy's mom say?

"Quick, Andy, wash your hands and set the table!"

"Quiet down those monsters and get ready for dinner!"

"Quit the battle, brave knight. Food awaits!"

Voting has closed on this post! Please click here to move to the next post in the story :)

Hey there, I hope you enjoyed my slight detour for the last few days. AJ will be back at the helm tomorrow. It's been my abundant pleasure to write for you. I wish you all the best of luck in your adventures to come!
~Dan
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If you like what you see, sign up for my email list! New subscribers get a FREE copy of a choose-your-own-adventure style ebook novella called Percy's Armageddon: Pick Your Plot Prequel!

#AtoZChallenge - Obscure Her Path

Hey y'all! My super-awesome co-author Dan is filling in for me for a couple days while I finish writing my application to grad school. I leave you in good hands. Have fun!
See you Wednesday,
~AJ

For those who are here for the first time, this is an interactive fiction adventure. I will write a scene every day, and my visitors will vote for where they want the story to go next, by leaving a comment on the post. You can start from the beginning here.

O:
The trailing car was catching up a lot faster than Andy's mom hoped. Plainly they knew their way around Bratislava better than she did. She made a mental note to get out of her office more.

Finding an opportunity, she slowed down near an intersection flanked by tall buildings and whipped into a left turn, then left again before her pursuers could catch sight of her.  Retracing their route back to Bratislava Castle a block over, she tried to breathe calmly to slow her heart rate. She could barely hear for its heavy pounding. With her head on a swivel, she watched for any sign that her ploy had been discovered.

"Did we lose them?" Mrs. Klímová asked, reverting to Slovak in a near-whisper.

"I think so. Let's get you back to the castle," Andy's mom replied in kind, checking her mirrors. The rain showed no sign of letting up and the dark was thorough, so she didn't dare turn off her lights as an added precaution. Nevertheless, they arrived at Castle Bratislava without any sign of pursuit.

She parked the car, stepped out, and hurried around to assist Mrs. Klímová.

"Aren't you something, miss." Mrs. Klímová chuckled as she handed Andy's mom her umbrella back.  "I don't believe I've ever been so ably protected!"

Andy's mom was about to make some demur comment about not being a field agent, when Mrs. Klímová's sharp intake of breath alerted her and she turned to see another trenchcoated man, who had apparently been left behind as a sentry, sprinting toward them across the castle walkway!

What should Andy's mom do?

Put up a hue and cry to alert someone.

Punch the assailant in the face.

Pull him off-balance with the umbrella.

Voting has closed on this post! Please click here to move to the next post in the story :)


Bonus: photo of ACTUAL Bratislava Castle, by user LMih on Wikipedia.

Have a wonderful Monday!
~Dan

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If you like what you see, sign up for my email list! New subscribers get a FREE copy of a choose-your-own-adventure style ebook novella called Percy's Armageddon: Pick Your Plot Prequel!