Numberless crowds(click-replace: "Numberless crowds")[Three figures with plastic masks] watch as you make your choices.
You can see:
A void.(click-replace: "A void.")[A trash can.]
The river Lethe.(click-replace: "The river Lethe.")[A cup of water.]
A locked door.(click-replace: "A locked door.")[The janitor's closet.]
A well.(click-replace: "A well.")[A bucket.]
A line.(click-replace: "A line.")[Some chalk.]
A guillotine.(click-replace: "A guillotine.")[A butter knife.]
A tomb.(click-replace: "A tomb.")[A shoe box.]
You are carrying:
(if: $thing is 1)[ (link-goto: "The thing that tells you not to throw the thing away.
", "Thing")]\
(if: $rue is 1)[ (link-goto: "Ruing the day you went ahead and threw the thing away
", "Rue")]\
(if: $thwarted is 1)[ (link-goto: "Thwarted dreams
", "Dreams")]\
(if: $visions is 1)[ (link-goto: "Visions of success
", "Visions")]\
(if: $thoughts is 1)[ (link-goto: "The thought that says you shouldn't ever amputate a thought
", "Thought")]\
(if: $knowledge is 1)[ (link-goto: "The knowledge of what can be attained
", "Knowledge")]\
(if: $life is 1)[ (link-goto: "Your life
", "Life")]\
(if: $gloom is 1)[ (link-goto: "Your gloom
", "Gloom")]\
(if: $mind is 1)[ (link-goto: "Your mind
", "Mind")]\
(if: $key is 1)[ (link-goto: "The key
", "Key")](set: $removandum to 'the thing that tells you not to throw the thing away')(set: $trait to 'rebellion')(set: $thing to 0)(set: $rue to 1)\
(display: "Removal Choices")(set: $removandum to 'your dreams')(set: $trait to 'despair')(set: $thwarted to 0)\
(display: "Removal Choices")(set: $removandum to 'your visions')(set: $trait to 'despair')(set: $visions to 0)\
(display: "Removal Choices")(set: $removandum to 'the knowledge of what can be attained')(set: $trait to 'purity')(set: $knowledge to 0)\
(display: "Removal Choices")(set: $removandum to 'your life')(set: $trait to 'purity')(set: $life to 0)(set: $visions to 1)(set: $thwarted to 1)(set: $knowledge to 1)(set: $gloom to 1)(set: $mind to 1)\
(display: "Removal Choices")(set: $trait to 'purity')(set: $removandum to 'your gloom')(set: $gloom to 0)\
(display: "Removal Choices")(set: $removandum to 'your mind')(set: $trait to 'despair')(set: $mind to 0)\
(display: "Removal Choices")(set: $removandum to 'the key')(set: $trait to 'ending')(set: $key to 0)(set: $trash to 0)(set: $lethe to 0)(set: $well to 0)(set: $line to 0)(set: $guillotine to 0)(set: $tomb to 0)\
(display: "Removal Choices")(set: $removandum to 'ruing the day you went ahead and threw the thing away')(set: $trait to 'purity')(set: $rue to 0)\
(display: "Removal Choices")(set: $removandum to 'the thought that says you shouldn\'t ever amputate a thought')(set: $trait to 'rebellion')(set: $thoughts to 0)\
(display: "Removal Choices")Where will you put $removandum?
(if: $trash is 1)[[[A void.->Trash]]](else:)[A void.]
(if: $lethe is 1)[[[The river Lethe.->Lethe]]](else:)[The river Lethe.]
(if: $door is 1)[[[A locked door.->Door]]](else:)[A locked door.]
(if: $well is 1)[[[A well.->Well]]](else:)[A well.]
(if: $line is 1)[[[A line.->Line]]](else:)[A line.]
(if: $guillotine is 1)[[[A guillotine.->Guillotine]]](else:)[A guillotine.]
(if: $tomb is 1)[[[A tomb.->Tomb]]](else:)[A tomb.]
[[Drop it.->Drop]](set: $strength to 1)(set: $remover to 'into the void')(display: "Evaluation")(set: $trash to 0)(set: $strength to 2)(set: $remover to 'into the river Lethe')(display: "Evaluation")(set: $lethe to 0)(set: $strength to 4)(set: $remover to 'into the door')(set: $door to 0)\
You unlock the door, and [[step forward->Finale]].(set: $strength to 2)(set: $remover to 'down the well')(display: "Evaluation")(set: $well to 0)(set: $strength to 1)(set: $remover to 'across the line')(display: "Evaluation")(set: $line to 0)(set: $strength to 3)(set: $remover to 'under the guillotine, and slice')(display: "Evaluation")(set: $guillotine to 0)(set: $strength to 2)(set: $remover to 'the tomb')(display: "Evaluation")(set: $tomb to 0)You place $removandum $remover.(if: $trait is 'rebellion')[(set: $rebellion to $rebellion + $strength)](else-if: $trait is 'despair')[(set: $despair to $despair + $strength)](else-if: $trait is 'purity')[(set: $purity to $purity + $strength)]
The figure with the (if: $trait is 'rebellion')[coyote mask](else-if: $trait is 'despair')[eyepatch and staff](else-if: $trait is 'purity')[crook and flail] (if: $strength is 0)[frowns, and shakes their head. The others watch silently.](else-if: $strength is 1)[steps closer.](else-if: $strength is 2)[nods, and takes two steps closer.](else-if: $strength is 3)[smiles, and leaps forward.]
[[Return->Origin]]
(set: $counter to $counter + 1)(if: $counter is 3)[(set: $life to 1)[
The fifth step will be revealed after discarding your life.]](else-if: $counter is 9)[(set: $key to 1)(set: $door to 1)](set: $strength to 0)(set: $remover to 'on the floor')
(if: $removandum is 'the key')[You set the key on the floor, and peel off the ceremonial costume.
"I'm out of here."
[[The End]].](else:)[(display: "Evaluation")](if: $rebellion <= $despair)[(if: $purity <= $despair)[You enter the room, and the figure in the eye patch and staff follows.
"You have chosen the path of despair. Your life is one of hopelessness, a paean to entropy."
They continue. "This means that your official duties will be cleaning the toilets." You are handed a toilet brush. "Welcome to the Janitor's Guild."](else:)[You enter the room, and the figure with the crook and flail follows.
"You have chosen the path of self-abnegation, of mindlessness, of the negation of self, of purity."
They continue. "Your official duties will be answering the phone and administering cleaning checks." You are handed a flip phone with a cracked hinge. "Welcome to the Janitor's Guild."]](else:)[(if: $purity < $rebellion)[You enter the room, and the figure with the coyote mask follows.
"You have chosen the path of rebellion. You have constantly fought with all your strength against those who would tell you what to do. Your path is obstinance and anger."
They continue. "You will be responsible for plumbing and trash removal. Never let them forget the debt they owe us." You are handed a wrench. "Welcome to the Janitor's Guild."](else:)[You enter the room, and the figure with the crook and flail follows.
"You have chosen the path of self-abnegation, of mindlessness, of the negation of self, of purity."
They continue. "Your official duties will be answering the phone and administering cleaning checks." You are handed a flip phone with a cracked hinge. "Welcome to the Janitor's Guild."]]
[[The End]](set: $thing to 1)(set: $rue to 0)(set: $thwarted to 0)(set: $visions to 0)(set: $thoughts to 1)(set: $knowledge to 0)(set: $life to 0)(set: $gloom to 0)(set: $mind to 0)(set: $key to 0)(set: $removandum to 'thing')(set: $rebellion to 0)(set: $despair to 0)(set: $purity to 0)(set: $strength to 0)(set: $trait to 'despair')(set: $remover to 'the void')(set: $counter to 0)(set: $trash to 1)(set: $lethe to 1)(set: $door to 0)(set: $well to 1)(set: $line to 1)(set: $guillotine to 1)(set:$tomb to 1)You are invited to [[step forward->Origin]].Throw away the thing that tells you
Not to throw the thing away
You'll forget to rue the day
You went ahead and threw the thing away
Nine secret steps
To the key to the door that you'll
Throw in the well and let go
Of all your thwarted dreams
And visions of success
Amputate the thought that says
You shouldn't ever amputate a thought
You'll be overwrought until
You go ahead and amputate the thought
Nine secret steps
To unlock the potential
To forgo the knowledge
Of what can be attained as long
As nothing's ever gained
I can't tell you what's in secret step five
You will know when you're no longer alive
Inhume your gloom within a tomb
Confine your mind behind a line
There's only doom outside your room
Confine your mind behind a line
Nine secret steps
To the key to the door that you'll
Throw in the well and let go
Of all your thwarted dreams
Let go of all your thwarted dreams
Let go of all your thwarted dreams
Of all your thwarted dreams
-They Might Be Giants