(It's gone on long enough)

Whatever horrors you may find in these dark spaces, █████████ see them through. There are no premature endings. There ████████ There are only fresh perspectives and second chances. This is a love story.

[stop-the-play]

Stop the Play

Reality unwinding, decaying. Perception hovering just out of reach. A script missing its leads. A path in the woods (and at the end of that path is a cabin).

Stop the Play is a play-by-poll Slay the Princess AU where something fundamental is out of place, and nothing is quite aligned with what it should be. Some of the dissonance is apparent at first glance, and some will have to be unravelled through time.

Tags:

#stop the play—general tag #the show must go on—main story posts #run x act y—for keeping track of individual routes #not in the script—posts aside from main story posts #achievement get—achievements (to be posted at the end of each chapter)

[stop-the-play]

> (Explore) "You're right. I do know what I'm here for, and you're going to regret it."

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Oh, do you now? I'd been starting to wonder if you'd forgotten.

"That's okay. Do what you need to do. I've made my peace with it."

"Please don't do this. You know you don't have to do this, right? I don't want to hurt you."

"Am I, now? And how can you be so sure you won't regret it more?"

"I'd like to see you try. Do you really think there's anything you can do to me now?"

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Getting some real mixed signals here.

VOICE OF THE HERO: The more we talk to them, the more I feel like we just need to ignore them all. They're just trying to psych us out.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: I could have told you that from the beginning.

"Oooohhh, am I going to regret this? You've really got me on the edge of my seat. I just can't wait to see what you've got up your sleeve."

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: And you're all okay with letting this keep happening.

VOICE OF THE HERO: I mean, I guess the decider is at least...

Choices:

(Stop wasting time.) [Do something]

(Enough.) [Do something]

(Explore) "You're scared, aren't you? You just keep standing there taunting me because you're afraid of what might happen if you did something."

(You can't stall forever.) [Do something]

full house!

(Stop wasting time.) [Do something]

(Enough.) [Do something]

(Explore) "You're scared, aren't you? You're afraid of what might happen..."

(You can't stall forever.) [Do something]

Voting ended onOct 5, 2025

[stop-the-play]

> (Explore) "I'm not playing this game. What's your angle here?"

"Don't you get it? You can't opt out of something that was always going to happen. It's been over before it even began."

"I don't have an angle! Why would I want to manipulate you when we're already both here?"

"And what's yours? What is either of us going to gain if you keep heading down this path? You can either find out, or you can leave, if you still can. Leave and don't look back."

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Think. Think. What do we actually need to do? What keeps us from playing into its hands?

VOICE OF THE HERO: They're all saying different things. Do you think any of them are actually telling the truth?

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Both of you are getting too wrapped up in this. We know what we need to do.

"I don't recall you being here to ask questions, do you? You know why you were sent here. I know you do."

VOICE OF THE MEEK: And we're supposed to just ignore the fact that you and it are telling us to do the exact same thing?

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: If killing it is playing into its hands, it's because we hesitated too long and lost our chance to save ourselves.

VOICE OF THE HERO: Even if we can't save ourselves, we do still need to try. Maybe we can at least save the world.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: But that's just it! How do we even know whoever put us here is trustworthy? How do you know this isn't all just a sick joke and now we're face to face with the one who dropped us into the middle of the woods in the first place?

VOICE OF THE HERO: We don't. And we don't know that that's true, either. I'm not going to pretend to know what's going on or what the right thing to do is, but we're taking a risk either way.

VOICE OF THE HERO: And we can argue as long as we want about who we can trust and what any of this means, but I think by now it's clear none of them are going to give us any real answers. We've basically never left square one.

VOICE OF THE HERO: I know what I am and am not willing to risk.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: As do I.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: I... I don't know. I don't even know if it matters anymore.

Choices:

(Stop wasting time.) [Do something]

(Enough.) [Do something]

(Explore) "You're right. I do know what I'm here for, and you're going to regret it."

(You can't stall forever.) [Do something]

You are running out of options.

(Stop wasting time.) [Do something]

(Enough.) [Do something]

(Explore) "You're right... and you're going to regret it."

(You can't stall forever.) [Do something]

Voting ended onOct 3, 2025

[stop-the-play]

> (Explore) "You know I'm here to kill you, right? At least, I think. It was very unclear."

VOICE OF THE HERO: Mate, I was as clear as I could be. You're definitely here to kill it.

"Do it, then. At least then this will all be over."

"But you're not actually going to do it, right? You can be better than what you've been sent to do. I know you can."

"And are you going to do it? Do you even know if you can? Do you know what you're up against here? Or have you been sent here to die?"

VOICE OF THE MEEK: I definitely don't like what that last one is implying.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: That's exactly how it wants you to react. Stop listening to those reflections. The only one that matters is the one we can kill.

"Oh... you really haven't figured out what's going on, have you? You barely even know your role in all this."

VOICE OF THE HERO: Our... role?

"So you're here to kill me. What's stopping you? Go ahead and try it."

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: I can't believe it has more sense than some of you.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Do you really not hear how suspicious that sounds? If it wants us to try killing it, that's the last thing we should be doing!

VOICE OF THE HERO: Much as I'd like to agree, we do have a job to do. It's more of a danger to leave it alive than it would be to play along.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: That's three against one, then. We're getting a move on, now.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: I don't think it should get a vote.

Choices:

(Stop wasting time.) [Do something]

(Enough.) [Do something]

(Explore) "I'm not playing around. I really am going to kill you."

(Explore) "I'm not playing this game. What's your angle here?"

Something wants you to make a choice soon.

(Stop wasting time.) [Do something]

(Enough.) [Do something]

(Explore) "I'm not playing around. I really am going to kill you."

(Explore) "I'm not playing this game. What's your angle here?"

Voting ended onOct 1, 2025

[stop-the-play]

> (Explore) "What kind of play am I about to watch?"

"It's over. There just isn't an ending you'll be satisfied with if you care about what happens to me. Just give up on me and get yourself out. That's the best you can do."

"Oh, I'm so glad you feel that way! Don't worry, you can stay here as long as you want. You don't have to leave."

"Good. Keep asking questions. Stall for time. There is something to be learned here, and if you just work at it long enough, you'll find it. You have to find it."

VOICE OF THE HERO: None of them even answered the question...

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: It almost sounds like you're getting invested.

VOICE OF THE HERO: Well, what else am I supposed to do? It's his choice to actually do anything.

The actor laughs.

"Watch? Oh, you're not here to watch anything. I have a very special role for you."

VOICE OF THE MEEK: I knew it. We have to get out of here, quickly, if we even still can—

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Now hold on. That's the worst possible way this could end. If you care about us being safe, we need to kill that thing.

VOICE OF THE HERO: Not to mention we are here to save the world.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Are we here to save the world? Or are we just here to do what we're told until it gets us killed?

VOICE OF THE HERO: Now hold on—

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: You're the one about to get us killed—

"But I think we've had enough preamble, haven't we? Let's cut to the chase."

VOICE OF THE HERO: Oh. I don't think I like the sound of that.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: I'd say it was nice knowing you, but every minute of this has been awful, and given we're all about to die I don't really feel like lying.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Just remember this is all your fault for not listening to me.

Choices:

(Explore) "You know I'm here to kill you, right? At least, I think. It was very unclear."

(Enough.) [Do something]

(Explore) "You know I'm here to kill you, right? Which I intend to do as soon as possible."

(Explore) "I'm not participating in this."

Let's cut to the chase.

(Explore) "You know I'm here to kill you, right? At least, I think..."

(Enough.) [Do something]

(Explore) "You know I'm here to kill you, right? Which I intend to do."

(Explore) "I'm not participating in this."

Voting ended onSep 28, 2025

[stop-the-play]

> (Explore) "What are those shapes in the mirrors behind you? What are they talking about?"

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Oh, good, you see them too.

VOICE OF THE HERO: Was that ever in question?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: It might have been. You know as much as the rest of us that what's going on here is weird, and there's no way to know the extent of it. We should never have come here.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Quit your fearmongering. You're making this a far bigger deal than it has to be.

"Are you sure you know what you're talking about? Maybe you've lost your mind. Maybe we've both lost our minds."

"I'm sure it's nothing to worry about! Nothing here can hurt us as long as we don't let it."

"That is the question, isn't it? What is going on? What does any of it all mean, if it means anything at all? Who are you supposed to trust?"

"Not them. That's for certain. If I were you, I wouldn't get distracted."

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Couldn't've put it better myself.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: But is that just—I don't know, what it wants us to think, and then what we actually need to do is—oh, but what would that even mean—

VOICE OF THE HERO: Don't get too in the weeds there, mate. I agree we need to keep our guard up, but that doesn't mean inventing threats that aren't even there.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: And if there are threats, we have an easy way to get rid of them.

VOICE OF THE HERO: Right. Any time you're ready.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Maybe we should just sit back and watch the play. Maybe it'd be easier. Clear something up. Assuming we're not already acting in it.

Choices:

(Obsessed) [Do something]

(Explore) "You know I'm here to kill you, right? At least, I think. It was very unclear."

(Explore) "What kind of play am I here to watch?"

(Explore) "You know I'm here to kill you, right? Which I intend to do as soon as possible."

(Explore) "Hey—hey, you, in the mirror! Why won't anyone here give me a straight answer?"

Who can you trust? What can you do?

(Obsessed) [Do something]

(Explore) "You know I'm here to kill you, right? At least, I think..."

(Explore) "What kind of play am I here to watch?"

(Explore) "You know I'm here to kill you, right? Which I intend to do."

(Explore) "Hey—you in the mirror! Why won't anyone give me a straight answer?"

Voting ended onSep 26, 2025

[stop-the-play]

> (Explore) [Try to stand up]

> (Explore) "We don't have to argue. We're both trapped down here, aren't we? What if we tried to escape together?"

"Are you still so convinced there's a happy ending to all of this? There's no way out where both of us are satisfied. Shouldn't you know that by now?"

"Don't worry so much about escaping. It's fine if we just stay here together. We wouldn't have to risk not making it out."

VOICE OF THE HERO: There's another one.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: D'you think any of them actually knows the others are there?

VOICE OF THE HERO: I'm not sure. They don't sound like they do.

The actor leans towards you.

"Don't be silly! Why would you want to leave when the play's barely even started yet!"

VOICE OF THE HERO: Again with this "play." What's it even supposed to be?

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: A distraction. Something for us to worry about at the cost of doing our job. We can't afford to entertain it any more than you lot already have.

VOICE OF THE HERO: Yeah, you're... probably right. I can't imagine it'd be a good idea to hang around watching it with this... actor? right in front of us.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Hold on. It said "barely started," right?

VOICE OF THE HERO: I think so. Why?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: "Barely started" still means it has started.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: You're overthinking things. Who cares about word choice when both us and the world are in danger?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: I just meant—

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Every moment we spend sitting here is a moment that thing could decide to kill us, or end the world, or lock us in this basement and leave to do who knows what. We are not going to waste time letting it get into our head.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: But—

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: We have a blade. We have a target. Anything we could do aside from applying the one to the other is a waste of time. We need to move.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: But if—

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: I don't want to hear another word out of your snivelling little mouth—

VOICE OF THE HERO: Cool it. You're not the one in charge here.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: And you are?

VOICE OF THE HERO: No. But at least I'm aware of who is. And since he doesn't seem inclined on putting a stop to whatever weird thing you've got going on here, I'm stepping in.

VOICE OF THE HERO: Now, what was that about the play?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: ...It's nothing.

VOICE OF THE HERO: It's clearly something. You wouldn't have brought it up if it weren't.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: ...You wouldn't think it's important.

VOICE OF THE HERO: We're here anyway until he decides to do something. Might as well pass the time.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: See, that's the thing. Are you sure he is going to do something?

VOICE OF THE HERO: What do you mean?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: It said—or implied, at least—that this "play," whatever it is, already started. What do you think that means?

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Oh my god.

VOICE OF THE HERO: I don't want to hear it from you.

VOICE OF THE HERO: ...Wait, what does it mean?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: I don't know. That's the problem. I just... what if it's too late? What if it's been too late since we sat down? What if everything's just... I don't know, scripted from here on, and we don't get to "do something" because we're not supposed to do something? Haven't you noticed how quiet he's been? How can you really trust he's still in charge of his actions?

VOICE OF THE HERO: ...

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: None of that makes sense. He is.

VOICE OF THE HERO: I hope you're right, at least.

Choices:

(Obsessed) [Do something]

(Explore) "You know I'm here to kill you, right? At least, I think. It was very unclear."

(Explore) "What kind of play am I here to watch?"

(Explore) "You know I'm here to kill you, right? Which I intend to do as soon as possible."

(Explore) "What are those shapes in the mirrors behind you? What are they talking about?

Don't worry about leaving. Just sit back and watch.

(Obsessed) [Do something]

(Explore) "You know I'm here to kill you, right? At least, I think..."

(Explore) "What kind of play am I here to watch?"

(Explore) "You know I'm here to kill you, right? Which I intend to do."

(Explore) "What are those shapes in the mirrors behind you...?"

Voting ended onSep 24, 2025

[stop-the-play]

> (Explore) "I don't understand what's going on. What happened to me?"

You hear a sound like a mirror about to shatter, and brace yourself for impact in the instant before you realize that nothing is about to fly your way.

"I'm sorry. It's all my fault. Now we're both trapped down here, and it's all because of me."

VOICE OF THE HERO: What... is that thing?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: I don't know. It seems... friendlier? Than the other one?

VOICE OF THE HERO: I'm not entirely sure we've got the same definition of 'friendly.'

VOICE OF THE MEEK: No, I know that's not the right word. What would you say, then?

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Would you two stop arguing over things that don't even matter? This is just a distraction. Focus up.

"What do you mean? Nothing's happened to you. You chose to come down here, just as you're choosing to sit right there and ask me questions. If you're going to ask anyone that question, it ought to be yourself."

VOICE OF THE HERO: ...

VOICE OF THE MEEK: You aren't about to agree with it, are you?

VOICE OF THE HERO: I'm not going to take its side, if that's what you're worried about. But you do have to admit he's made some choices with similar consequences before.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: I cannot believe you right now.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: And I can't believe either of you. It's standing right there. We can end this right now. Just do something.

Choices:

(Obsessed) [Do something] (NOTE: THIS IS NOT AN (EXPLORE) OPTION. IT WILL END THE CHAPTER EARLY AND IN THE SAME WAY AS ANY OTHER CHAPTER-ENDING OPTION.)

(Explore) "You know I'm here to kill you, right? At least, I think. It was very unclear."

(Explore) "We don't have to argue. We're both trapped down here, aren't we? What if we tried to escape together?"

(Explore) "You know I'm here to kill you, right? Which I intend to do as soon as possible."

(Explore) "I'm not in the mood for this. Give me a straight answer: What is going on?"

(Explore) [Try to stand up]

You chose to be here, didn't you?

(Obsessed) [Do something]

(Explore) "You know I'm here to kill you, right? At least, I think..."

(Explore) "We don't have to argue... what if we tried to escape together?"

(Explore) "You know I'm here to kill you, right? Which I intend to do."

(Explore) "I'm not in the mood for this. What is going on?"

(Explore) [Try to stand up]

Voting ended onSep 19, 2025

[stop-the-play]

> (Explore) "What am I doing here? What just happened to me?"

All at once, the lights go on.

"Why else? You're here for the performance."

VOICE OF THE HERO: ...Performance?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Oh, I don't like how it said that. I don't like that one bit.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: It's a good thing you don't have to listen to it, then. Just get up and put that blade to use for once.

VOICE OF THE HERO: Yeah. Yeah, you're probably right. This must be what we're here to... take care of, yeah? Now seems like our best chance before it starts getting suspicious.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: I don't know. Doesn't something feel off to you?

VOICE OF THE HERO: No, it does. Which is all the more reason not to let it get any worse.

"Now. Shall we get started, then?"

Choices:

(Explore) "I don't understand what's going on. What is this place? What happened to me?"

(Explore) "Wait. Don't you want to know why I'm here?"

(Explore) "As soon as I can move again, I'm going to put this blade directly through your face."

(Explore) "If you think you can just string me along without explaining anything, you're dead wrong. I'm going to leave right now."

(Explore) [Try to stand up]

The play is about to begin.

(Explore) "I don't understand what's going on. What happened to me?"

(Explore) "Wait. Don't you want to know why I'm here?"

(Explore) "As soon as I can move again... blade directly through your face."

(Explore) "If you think you can just string me along... you're dead wrong."

(Explore) [Try to stand up]

Voting ended onSep 19, 2025

[stop-the-play]

> "Hello to you, too!" [Continue down the stairs]

The yawning darkness opts not to answer your greeting.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: What... hospitality.

VOICE OF THE HERO: Don't let it unnerve you. As long as it doesn't get into you're head, you're going to do just fine.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Stop hesitating. We need to finish this.

You continue making your way down the stairs, footing becoming more and more unsure as your sense of sight becomes less and less useful. Eventually, you find yourself navigating by touch alone, the only thing meeting your eyes being an expanse of pitch black. But the ground beneath your feet is stable, and you've long since fallen into a rhythm that won't allow you to trip on the edge of the steps. You are safe.

It's when you start seeing things within the darkness that you begin to feel less so.

Shapes, moving alongside you. They could almost be mistaken at first for the benign patterns of keeping your eyes shut for a length of time, but when you turn your head to look at them, they stay right where they would be were they real.

As you continue down, they resolve themselves further. Shapes not unlike your own body and yet just fuzzy enough you can't tell if they are your own body, stepping in time. Flashes of movement at the corners of your vision—a hand, a chain, a knife. Mirrors lining the walls of a corridor—are there walls, anymore? If you reached out, would your hand meet glass or wood or simply nothing at all?

Physical sensations begin to fade. First goes the pressure of your footfalls and the ache in your limbs of walking for far too long. Then goes your ability to feel the movement of your body. Then your ability to sense yourself as a body, and not merely as a presence, following something else as it descends through a hall of twisted reflections.

Futility and subversion. Wariness and obsession. Conflict and survival. Detachment and devotion. The unfamiliar and the all-too-familiar. And at the heart of it all, something that can only be described as—

VOICE OF THE HERO: —you hear me, please, this can't be happening a second time, I can't see you die a—

VOICE OF THE MEEK: HE'S BACK

VOICE OF THE HERO: He—he is. We're alive. He's alive.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Whatever happened back there, don't do it again. We need you alive.

VOICE OF THE HERO: We—I—You—You scared me, you know? For a while there I thought you'd just... vanished, again. Left us walking alone for who knows how long.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Please don't leave us alone in there again. You don't know how horrible it was, just walking in silence with no idea if we'd ever get to stop.

> [Approach the stage]

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Getting on with it, then? Good. At least now you're actually focused.

VOICE OF THE HERO: Can't say I have any real complaints, either. Though... could you maybe say something, at least? Just so I know you're there?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Are you there?

VOICE OF THE HERO: Don't say that.

You make your way to one of the aisles and begin descending to the stage, ignoring the protests of muscles worked far past their limits.

The air is still here, and silent. There are no distractions to be had anymore.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: So... now what?

VOICE OF THE HERO: You know, I'm not actually sure. I kind of assumed there'd... be something.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: There is something. There has to be. We just need to look harder.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: I think I have a guess as to where it might be...

> [Sit down]

VOICE OF THE HERO: Okay, time out. This is now an intervention.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Shouldn't those be... I don't know, planned?

VOICE OF THE HERO: We don't have time for that. Listen. You've been weird the whole time we've been in this basement, and I at least want you to start talking to us again so we know why.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: What's wrong with what he's doing now? It's better than wasting time trying to avoid his responsibilities and then dying on purpose.

VOICE OF THE HERO: It's wrong because he wasn't acting like this until a minute ago! Aren't you at least concerned as to why?

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Not particularly.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: I'm with the heroic one. Last time we saw him, he already wasn't... doing particularly well, but at least he was still talking. And, I mean, the last time he stopped talking, well...

> [Ignore them. Sit down.]

You make your way to the front and center seat, and sit down.

VOICE OF THE HERO: Mate. Please. At least just prove you're actually still alive in there.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: And making choices.

VOICE OF THE HERO: And making choices. Just do something that shows you're still with us.

> [Watch the play.]

VOICE OF THE HERO: ...Mate? You're scaring me again.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Please don't be dead please don't be dead please don't be dead—

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Hey. What are you doing? Move.

The curtains open.

"Good evening. Shall we begin?"

A void you hadn't been paying attention to refills. A rope you didn't know was there loosens. You have your voice once more.

Choices:

(Explore) "What am I doing here? What just happened to me?"

(Explore) "Who are you? What are you?"

(Explore) "Are you the one who put me here? Can you explain what's going on?"

(Explore) "As soon as I can move again, I'm going to put this blade directly through your face."

(Explore) [Try to stand up]

You're awake again. Welcome back.

(Explore) "What just happened to me?"

(Explore) "Who are you? What are you?"

(Explore) "Are you the one who put me here?"

(Explore) "As soon as I can move again... blade directly through your face."

(Explore) [Try to stand up]

Voting ended onSep 15, 2025

[stop-the-play]

You're on a path in the woods...

And at the end of that path is a cabin. And in the basement of that cabin is... you haven't quite figured that part out yet.

Fortunately, you are not alone:

VOICE OF THE HERO: The voice of reason. Your constant companion, your better half. A guiding hand to steady your blade. He's here to help you get the job done... whatever that job is.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: A gentler voice, whispering in your ear: Do you really need to do this? Isn't there a better way? Violence breeds violence breeds violence. Be careful how much you listen to this one.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Survival at all costs. Muscles coiled to strike first, stronger, cleaner. You would do well to heed his warnings, so long as they don't cause you to lose sight of your goal.

THE THING IN THE BASEMENT: An unknown, and a dangerous one. Play with fire, and it's only your own fault when you get burned. You're here to make sure it doesn't exist tomorrow. Never forget that.

[DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT]: Shapes unspooling into forms just outside the borders of your awareness. Nothingness in potentia. More than you could ever be, and yet somehow also less. Don't get too comfortable with them.

And, of course, starring:

YOU: Center stage. The lead actor. It's all counting on you, hero. Be ready to play your role when the time comes.

[stop-the-play]

(This, too, has gone on long enough.)

Stagnation grinds back into motion. Time begins to reassert itself in the order of things. Change is not yet dead.

Which is to say, we're coming out of hiatus five days from now!

I've posted about it on my main account as well, but in the interest of having it here: The next installment of Stop the Play will go up on Tuesday, September 9th. There will be a few changes to make things easier on me (no more waiting to see how the poll is going to shake out and then staying up late to work on art!), which should help give us smooth sailing to the end of the run barring any legitimate emergency circumstances.

Moving forward, the schedule will change from daily to thrice a week, on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays at 4pm UTC/noon EDT. This will allow me more time to work on each post, as well as give me the luxury of days off and make keeping to the schedule much less daunting.

I'll post a recap of the chapters we've been through so far sometime in the next couple of days. Aside from that, I'll be working on the backgrounds for the next installment, and we'll see each other on Tuesday!

[stop-the-play]

> [Take the blade]

You take the blade from the table. It would be difficult to You take the blade from the table. It would be difficult to You take the blade from the table. It would—

VOICE OF THE HERO: Aaaand we're done here.

Thanks.

VOICE OF THE HERO: Don't mention it.

As soon as the blade is in your hand, the doors swing open, as though inviting you to the basement below.

> [Enter the basement]

You step through the doors and onto an elegant, carpeted stairway, crafted from the same dark wood as the rest of the cabin. What dim light managed to reach the first floor is even fainter now, fading away as the stairs turn out of sight.

It smells like... nothing. There is no scent you can discern, not even that of the wood surrounding you. If If If If If—

VOICE OF THE HERO: If there is something alive down there, we're well able to deal with it.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: If whatever's down there is alive, we might be able to reason with it.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: It doesn't matter what's down there. We still have to do the same thing either way.

As if on cue, you hear... a noise.

"IsYourllo?eethere?notherchoesagain?Please,low.down!fraid,makelitselfone. home!"

VOICE OF THE MEEK: ...What? What was that?

VOICE OF THE HERO: I guess that... really doesn't explain anything.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: We didn't need an explanation. What we need is to keep going.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Or.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Not this again.

VOICE OF THE HERO: Look, we all agreed we need to be doing this.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Some of us agreed under duress.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: You don't have to do this, you know that? You've still got a chance to back out. We can go away from the scary noise and live the rest of our life without being ripped to shreds.

VOICE OF THE HERO: What? No, you can't!

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: How long is 'the rest of our life' supposed to be? The. World. Ends. We saw it happen.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: No, we didn't! We saw him die! And you don't even know for a fact why that happened!

VOICE OF THE MEEK: You don't have to do everything they say. You still have a choice.

Choices:

(Meek) Oh, thank goodness. I really don't want to do this. [Turn around and leave]

It's going to be fine. Noises can't hurt us. [Continue down the stairs]

"Hello to you, too!" [Continue down the stairs]

Okay. To the point of no return we go. [Continue down the stairs]

[Silently continue down the stairs]

You still have a choice.

(Meek) Oh, thank goodness... [Turn around and leave]

It's going to be fine... [Continue down the stairs]

"Hello to you, too!" [Continue down the stairs]

To the point of no return we go. [Continue down the stairs]

[Silently continue down the stairs]

Voting ended onJan 2, 2025

The anti-gerrymandering rule is not in effect here. Whichever single option wins will win regardless.

[stop-the-play]

> (Explore) If there were a mirror, where would it be?

VOICE OF THE HERO: And why wouldn't we be able to see it?

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: I don't know. Maybe it's because if you could see it, you'd want to waste time looking at it.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Well, we're about to spend a lot more time arguing about whether there is or isn't a mirror and whether it is or isn't important. Besides, I can see it, and I want to know what's in it.

VOICE OF THE HERO: Okay, so where is this 'mirror,' then?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: It's right next to the doorway. Opposite side from the table, I mean.

There is not a mirror to the left of the doorway. There's the table, the blade sitting on the table, and the double doors leading to the basement. There is nothing else in here.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: There's a mirror. At least I can see a mirror, and I think I'd rather interpret that to mean there is a mirror than the alternative.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: That at least is a good point. If we can't trust our senses this early, it'll be much harder to get out of here alive.

VOICE OF THE HERO: So... what? We go to check it out? Fumble around for something we can't see?

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: As long as you can be quick about it.

> [Approach the mirror]

You walk up to the wall next to the doors. It's a wall. There isn't much to see here.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: And here it is.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: You really can't see it?

VOICE OF THE HERO: No. Can you?

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Why would I waste time by lying to you for fun? There's a mirror.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: But it's kind of... oh, why did I bring this up in the first place...

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Yeah, why did you?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Because it was there and he didn't mention it, okay? You can't say you didn't also think that was strange.

VOICE OF THE HERO: All right, let's not fight. The mirror's kind of what?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: It's... kind of... dirty.

VOICE OF THE HERO: What?

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: It's dirty. Can't see a reflection in it.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: I can't tell if it's smudged or dusty or just fogged up, but I think you need to... wipe it clean.

VOICE OF THE HERO: And this isn't a trick to make us look like an idiot?

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Do you think I also want to look like an idiot?

VOICE OF THE HERO: ...I guess not. All right then. Let's get this all over with.

> [Wipe the mirror clean]

You reach forward and rub your hand against the cabin wall, fully aware of how ridiculous you look.

VOICE OF THE HERO: We did get it, right? Because it felt like we just rubbed our hand over wooden planks.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Yeah, funny, that...

VOICE OF THE HERO: Please don't tell me this all really was some kind of joke.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Be a big waste of time for something with barely any payoff. The mirror just... vanished.

VOICE OF THE HERO: What.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: It just disappeared! As soon as your hand would have made contact, it... went away.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: At least we can stop wasting time and actually do what we came here for.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: I feel so much worse now, though. I hate this. I never should have brought it up.

VOICE OF THE HERO: It's fine. No real harm done, right? Let's just grab our blade and see what we're dealing with.

Oh, that definitely won't come up again.

[Take the blade]

[Enter the basement]

Voting ended onDec 29, 2024

[stop-the-play]

> I want you to know the only reason I'm doing this is because I apparently die if I don't. [Continue to the cabin]

VOICE OF THE HERO: That's okay. As long as the world is saved, it doesn't really matter why.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: As long as we live, it doesn't matter what his motivations are.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: And as long as we're killed for exercising free will, the only way we can live is to go to the cabin.

You make your way up the short path to the cabin. You'll find You make your way up the short path to the cabin. You'll find You make your way up the short path to the cabin. You'll find

The only thing you know for certain is this: You're on a path in the woods. And at the end of that path is a cabin. And in the basement of that cabin is a You make your way up the short path to the cabin. You'll find the You're here to The only thing you know for certain is—

VOICE OF THE HERO: I'm going to cut you off here, mate.

> [Proceed into the cabin]

The interior of the cabin is dim yet polished, the dark wood of the walls gleaming with care. Something about the space makes you feel almost drawn to the wood-panelled doors at the far wall. The only furniture of note is a wooden table with an almost hypnotic pattern of lines carved into its surface, a pristine blade sitting invitingly at its center.

The blade is your implement. You'll need it if you want to do this right.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Look, big man, I don't tell you how to internally monologue, but are you sure there isn't anything else here worth paying mind to?

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Does it matter if he left something out? We don't need anything besides the blade.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: It matters to me...!

VOICE OF THE HERO: What are you two talking about? He got everything, didn't he? The table, the blade, the doorway...

VOICE OF THE HERO: (teasingly) ...Wait. Is it the windows?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: I don't know if I'd say 'windows'—that's not important. I'm talking about the mirror.

VOICE OF THE HERO: ...What mirror?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: You're joking, right? There's a mirror. Right there.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: And he can't see it. Is this really worth wasting so much time on?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: It is if not all of us can see it! I mean, I know I can see it. You... you see it, right?

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Does it matter?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: ...You see it. I think.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: But if our 'hero' can't... big man. Help me out here. Do you or do you not see a mirror?

You do not see a mirror. There is no mirror.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: See? It isn't important.

Choices:

(Explore) If there were a mirror, where would it be?

(Explore) [Take the blade]

[Enter the basement]

There is no mirror.

(Explore) If there were a mirror, where would it be?

(Explore) [Take the blade]

[Enter the basement]

Voting ended onDec 26, 2024

[stop-the-play]

> (Explore) No, no, he might have a point. How do we know that whoever put us here is actually trustworthy?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: See, he agrees with me! We aren't just going to agree to the first goal that someone puts in our head!

VOICE OF THE HERO: Then what's the alternative? What are we supposed to believe, if we aren't going to trust the monologue? We already know he dies if we try to abandon this.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Unless you want to bring about the end of the world?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Obviously I don't. I just don't think we should be jumping to conclusions this early. We don't even know what's in the cabin, much less whether we actually need to 'destroy it.'

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Then why don't we stop wasting time and go find out?

VOICE OF THE HERO: Yeah. Seems like that's the one thing we can all agree on, right?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Maybe it is.

Choices:

(Explore) Do I really have to destroy something? Is there not an alternative?

(Explore) So I go to the cabin, see what's there, and then 'destroy it?' I guess that sounds straightforward enough.

Back to the stage. [Continue to the cabin]

(Explore) Doesn't something about this feel wrong to you?

Yeah. Okay. Let's go save the world. [Continue to the cabin]

Ugh, fine. But I've got a bad feeling about this. [Continue to the cabin]

I want you to know the only reason I'm doing this is because I apparently die if I don't. [Continue to the cabin]

[Silently continue to the cabin]

You can't make me do anything. [Turn around and leave]

Maybe it is...

(Explore) Do I really have to destroy something...?

(Explore) So I go to the cabin... sounds straightforward enough.

Back to the stage. [Continue to the cabin]

(Explore) Doesn't this feel wrong to you?

Okay. Let's save the world. [Continue to the cabin]

Ugh, fine. [Continue to the cabin]

I'm only doing this because I'll die if I don't. [Continue to the cabin]

[Silently continue to the cabin]

You can't make me. [Turn around and leave]

Voting ended onDec 21, 2024

[stop-the-play]

> (Explore) You keep talking about 'saving the world,' but... what are we even saving it from? How is this thing in the basement supposed to end everything?

VOICE OF THE HERO: I don't know. You're the one with the monologue, so if anyone knows, it'd be you.

VOICE OF THE MEEK: If it really is going to end everything.

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Does it matter how it's going to end the world? The important thing is that it's going to. It's dangerous, and we need to stop it.

VOICE OF THE HERO: He's right. There's plenty of ways the world could end if something wanted to end it. Does it really matter what we're saving the world from?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Of course it matters! Maybe whatever's in the basement can be reasoned with! Or, or, maybe this 'end of the world' isn't actually what it's being made out to be! We don't know either way!

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: In what way could the 'end of the world' not be the end of the world?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Well... maybe... I don't know... maybe it's not the end of the world so much as the dawn of a different world! Or maybe it's a figurative 'end of the world' for someone, and maybe that someone isn't actually a great person! Could be a bunch of things! We don't know!

VOICE OF THE HERO: Do you actually believe any of that, or are you just grasping for excuses not to go back to the cabin?

VOICE OF THE MEEK: Well—I mean—I—

VOICE OF THE OBSESSED: Clearly he has no idea what he's talking about. Let's just ignore him and get a move on.

Choices:

(Explore) No, no, he might have a point. How do we know that whoever put us here is actually trustworthy?

(Explore) Do I really have to destroy something? Is there not an alternative?

(Explore) So I go to the cabin, see what's there, and then 'destroy it?' I guess that sounds straightforward enough.

Back to the stage. [Continue to the cabin]

(Explore) Doesn't something about this feel wrong to you?

Yeah. Okay. Let's go save the world. [Continue to the cabin]

Ugh, fine. But I've got a bad feeling about this. [Continue to the cabin]

I want you to know the only reason I'm doing this is because I apparently die if I don't. [Continue to the cabin]

[Silently continue to the cabin]

You can't make me do anything. [Turn around and leave]

It's fine, I'm sure it's not that sketchy :)

(Explore) No, no, he's got a point...

(Explore) Do I really have to destroy something...?

(Explore) So I go to the cabin... sounds straightforward enough.

Back to the stage. [Continue to the cabin]

(Explore) Doesn't something feel wrong to you?

Yeah. Okay. Let's go. [Continue to the cabin]

Ugh, fine. [Continue to the cabin]

I'm only doing this because I apparently die otherwise. [Continue to the cabin]

[Silently continue to the cabin]

You can't make me. [Turn around and leave]

Voting ended onDec 17, 2024