The Upside World

Holding it up you brush the edges and it flaps. //This is fun.// You do it some more and realize there is something more to this flappy weirdness. On all of the flappiness are drawings, lots of drawings. In these drawings there are four kids in a group and they look like one another. A mere cloth of different color distinguishes one from the next. "They look like me." You focus your native-of-darkness eyes and pay closer attention to the drawings. They're jumping, running, climbing, having fun together. There's something else. They live underground. In tunnels. In wet dark places. But there's more. There's - a //surface//. =><= <img src="/elBad_images/t/book.jpg" alt="Comic" title="Comic"> <== "You there! What are you huddled over? Is it shiny?" Her screechy voice stabs at your ears like the screeches in a wave of startled bats. Never one to allow you a moment's peace, she's upon you instantly leaving you barely enough time to - =><= [[Hide comicbook]] or [[Show comicbook]]

Startled, you turn around and shove the comicbook behind you into the waistband of your pants to hide it. "Nothing! Just eating spiders," you say sheepishly in hopes that will be enough to prevent her from asking more questions. <img src="/elBad_images/t/hide.jpg" alt="Hide" title"Hide"> Gorff never takes a shine to you, always staring, always glaring; it's as if she holds something against you but never quite fesses up or is maybe expecting <i>you</i> to. [[Leave while you can]] [[Confront her]]

You look over your shoulder at her still trying to prevent her from seeing the comicbook. "Well, what are you hiding?" With her wrists bent and resting on her hips she stares you down hard. Somehow her head seems to get closer and closer. <img src="/elBad_images/t/stern.jpg" alt="Stern" title="Stern"> You turn your body toward her in a slow reveal. Her eyes narrow and the corners of her mouth sag into a seemingly bottomless frown. ==> <img src="/elBad_images/t/glower.jpg" alt="Glower" title="Glower"> <== She never takes a shine to you, always staring, always glaring; it's as if she holds something against you but never quite fesses up or is maybe waiting for <i>you</i> to. Gorff extends her arm and unfurls her long, thin fingers. The clawed tips move like scissors as she says, "Hand it over." [[Hand Gorff the comicbook]] [[Do not hand Gorff the comicbook]]

(set: $comicbook to 0) Gorff snatches it from your hands like it's a juicy worm. "What's this?" Her booming voice runs along the cave walls making you envious you can't escape to the deeper dark along with it. "It's nothing. Can I have it back?" [[What next?]]

(set: $comicbook to 1) You draw a breath, look her square in her sharp eyes and declare, "I have to poop," and quickly bound off into the darkness. Her momentary confusion or revulsion gives you enough time to go anywhere but here. [[Gotta go]]

(set: $comicbook to 1) These exchanges never end well for you. Instead of engaging in that long dreamt of confrontation you've repeatedly practiced in the shadows, you sieze the moment and strategically run away. [[Gotta go]]

You normally leave as soon as there is an opening to do so, but today you've met your limit. "What's it to you what I'm doing anyway?" Gorff twists her neck as she stares at you and stands taller than you've seen her in a long time. A flicker in her eyes begins to blaze. You regret opening your mouth, like you always do, and take a step back. [[What next?]]

Comicbook: $comicbook Flashlight: $flashlight Coins: $coins Handkerchief: $handkerchief (set: _obtainables to 0)

<img src="elBad_images/game/upsidedemo.jpg" style="width:100%" title="The Upside World"/></a> A group of cave explorers goes cave diving and part of their packing comes loose from their gear. The items tumble down deep into the cold, wet dark. Home. Lucky young troll that you are, you hear the clatter of alien sounds and scramble to check what goodies just sprinkled into your life. [[Goodies]]

<audio controls loop> <source src="/audio/121511__damonmensch__cricket-sound.mp3"> Your browser does not support the audio tag. </audio> ==><== <img src="/elBad_images/t/stars.jpg" alt="Stars" title="Stars"> <== You reach the end and squint your eyes from the moonlight. Your arm shields your sight from the brightness. As your eyes adjust you stare into the clear night sky at the glittering wonder of countless tiny lights scattered overhead. Your mouth hangs open at the sight. The fresh, clean air fills your lungs and makes you cough. Something brushes against your skin and you look to see a firefly land on your arm. You smile in awe at the fresh, new wonder resting from its flight. In a flick your tongue snatches it and your smile widens as you chew the crunchy treat. Unbeknownst to you the glowing squishy bits coat most of your teeth as you gaze out smiling gleefuly into the Upside World all around you and say, "I think I'm going to like it up here...." <h6>sound provided by <a href= "https://freesound.org" target="_blank">freesound.org</a></h6>

<audio controls> <source src="/audio/615300__andrastos87__cave_entrance_bats_rocks_doom.mp3"> Your browser does not support the audio tag. </audio> You scale the wet, slippery walls like the four handkerchief-wearing, skateboard-tricking, trash-talking brothers. Nothing can stop you now. The smooth, cold stone dries the higher you climb. Your wet palms and toes dry with each pull and push. Every hand and foothold becomes less familiar the higher up you go. A quick wipe of your sweaty forehead and a final glance below followed by a deep breath and a final heave-ho and... [[Ending]]

Somehow, you always find yourself in this situation. Time to consider your options -- but make it quick! [[Cave 1]] [[Cave 2]] [[Cave 3]] [[Get good use out of 'em]] [[Moving on]]

You see something shining on the rocks nearby. "Hm. These could be handy." ==><== <img src="/elBad_images/t/coins.jpg" alt="Coins" title="Coins"> <== (if: $coins is not 1)[ (Link: "Pick up coins")[ (set: $coins to 1) [[Get good use out of 'em]] ] (else:) [ (set: $cions to 0 ) ] ] [[Cave 2]] [[Cave 3]]

<audio controls> <source src="/audio/519402__tetenoise__flies-on-shit-2.wav"> Your browser does not support the audio tag. </audio> Nothing helpful here. It's just where I poo. [[Cave 1]] [[Cave 2]]

There is something unusual on the ground. You barely see the form that does not belong in these depths. ==><== <img src="/elBad_images/t/light.jpg" alt="Flashlight" title="Flashlight"> <== (if: $flashlight is not 1)[ (Link: "Pick up flashlight")[ (set: $flashlight to 1) You pick it up and turn it over in your hands. There is a click and a blinding light comes on. Without hesitation you undo that thing you just did and beautiful darkness returns; aside from the blotchy forms you can't blink out of your sight. "Might just have a use for this." [[Moving on]] ] ] [[Cave 1]] [[Cave 3]]

<audio controls> <source src="/audio/659964__beussa__cavewaterdrops.mp3"> Your browser does not support the audio tag. </audio> You barely get away from that nasty troll when you notice all too late that you've run into another. From not far enough away a gravelly voice the speaker wrongly thinks sounds sweet calls out - "Ooh, where are you off to in a hurry?" You like to think of Klagg as Gorff if Gorff was mostly bearable and sharp as a river rock. "Nowhere special," you say. "My, is that a new wart?" "Oh! You noticed." Klagg puts her hands together joyfully tugging at a piece of colored cloth you haven't seen before (//another goodie perhaps?//) and shrugs her shoulders high. She spins and turns to face a smooth collection of stillwater and focuses on her reflection in the dark pool. She's always distracted but then it doesn't take much. You take the opportunity and flee to - [[Cave 1]] [[Cave 2]] [[Cave 3]]

<audio controls> <source src="/audio/615300__andrastos87__cave_entrance_bats_rocks_doom.mp3"> Your browser does not support the audio tag. </audio> (set: $comicbook to 0) That impossible troll just ruined all of your joy //again!// At times like these it's best to quietly blend in with the void and disappear. So you do what you do best. Exactly that. [[Cave 1]] [[Cave 2]] [[Cave 3]]

Gorff sees you and starts howling at you //again.// Your only chance is to distract her with something shiny and get away before she gets a hold of you! <audio controls> <source src="/audio/coins.mp3"> Your browser does not support the audio tag. </audio> (if: $comicbook is 1) [ (Link: "Toss coins") [ She scrambles for the shiny, little objects as they dance in wild spins between the stalagmites across the stony cave floor. Forgetting you exist at all, she pounces at them like that time she found the nest of crunchy beetles. (set: $comicbook to 1) And that's perfectly fine. //Now run for it!// [[Scaling the dark]] ] ] (else:) [ (Link: "Toss coins") [ Gorff drops the comicbook, which you happily retrieve. She scrambles for the shiny, little objects as they dance in wild spins between the stalagmites across the stony cave floor. Forgetting you exist at all, she pounces at them like that time she found the nest of crunchy beetles. (set: $comicbook to 1) And that's perfectly fine. //Now run for it!// [[Scaling the dark]] ] ]

<audio controls loop> <source src="/audio/26921__roscoetoon__ewater_drip-echo.mp3"> Your browser does not support the audio tag. </audio> You've run into Klagg, that wonderfully dim creature. And turn on the flashlight. She sees the flashes and turns around chasing the flashes along the damp walls. Klagg drops a loose, colored cloth in her excitement. For the first time you see what it is. ==><== <img src="/elBad_images/t/handkerchief.jpg" alt="Handkerchief" title="Handkerchief"> <== //It's just like....// As Klagg continues searching for the flashes you pick up the cloth and see it is a handkerchief like from the comicbook. (Link: "Take hankderchief") [ (set: $handkerchief to 1) You snatch it up in your fist and know what you have to do. [[Scaling the dark]] ]

A few different sounds dance their way along the rocks in clangs, slaps, and thuds. It's a tad dark in the lonely cave but you feel your way and your nose takes in short bursts of the cool air tracking the recently introduced smells. It isn't long before you come across something that does not belong in the cold, damp dark and you find... A thing. "What is it?" you quietly ask. A chain of quick, careful sniffs tells you it smells of, well, it smells weird. You lick it. //Yuck// It tastes awful. "Let's never do that again," you say as you wipe your tongue clean of the taste with your foot and make a mental note not to lick anything that smells weird again, is flimsy, or flappy. Yes, it's flappy. (Link: "Take comicbook") [ (set: $comicbook to 1) [[Story time]] ] or [[Leave it]]

<audio controls> <source src="/audio/462180__garuda1982__snoring-child-3-years-old-field-recording.wav"> Your browser does not support the audio tag. </audio> Waaay too much excitement for one day. After carefully and thoughtfully picking your nose you decide to call it a day or night or whatever it is - //you decide to sleep//. So you do. The end. <h6>sound provided by <a href= "https://freesound.org" target="_blank">freesound.org</a></h6>