Grace of Heart

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What stands before you is Grace's House. <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/c559b519-494a-11ea-bff8-536bc0fb7282.gif"/> [[Enter Unanounced|Parlor]]

You have entered the parlor. <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/27f04728-4a01-11ea-930c-c3b2f0e29fce.gif"/> [[Climb the Stairs|Upstairs]] (link: "Try the Door")[ (if: $Key is 1)[ [[Head Onwards|Downstairs]] ](else:)[ The door is locked. ]]

You have climbed to the second floor. <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/20e3f261-4a18-11ea-ad2a-efa48c16db2d.gif"> [[Check the Bathroom|Bathroom]] [[Search the Bedroom|Bedroom]] [[Climb Down|Parlor]]

This must be the kitchen. <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/ee1f2bb5-4b88-11ea-89a9-a5835f0887b0.gif"/> [[Examine the Typewriter|Typewriter]] (link: "Look in the Freezer")[ (if: $freezer is 1)[ [[Go Inside|Freezer]] ](else:)[ [[There is a Lock|Lock]] ]] [[Return to the Parlor|Parlor]]

Welcome to the bathroom. <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/f0f78897-4a92-11ea-8060-3da4be588474.gif"> [[Read the Newspaper|Article]] [[Return to Hallway|Upstairs]] (if: $toilet is 1)[ [[Check the Toilet|Toilet]] ]

This is her Bedroom. <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/81f5c59e-4aa2-11ea-a6fa-f76101d4555b.gif"/> [[Access the Computer|Password]] [[Search the Desk|Desk]] [[Leave|Upstairs]]

**'Local Abduction Survey'** <div id="note"> <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/bacb5f30-4a98-11ea-86ab-3da4be588474.gif"/> Blake, Indiana is the world capital of alien abductions, bearing a rate of 43% of its population reporting some sort of contact with ETs. Though we have yet to confirm even a fraction of these claims, if you live in our town you likely know someone that swears by their experiences. In order to better understand this anomoly, our reporters have ventured to every major cluster site of encounters as a means to collect information from citizens. Rafeal Giovanni has lived in Blake his entire life, inheriting the farm house where 3 out of 5 sightings take place from his Italian immigrant parents. Giovanni is no stranger to alien affairs himself, as many of his animals have disappeared without warning over the course of his farming career. "Everybody has their own pet theory with such affairs," Giovanni said, "and I suppose that I'm no different." "I don't think that the aliens are stealing my animals to eat them or perform sinister experiments on them. I think that they were once the livestock of their own planet that rebelled against their oppressors, and they travel around the galaxy trying to free other subjugated species." "There isn't much evidence to my ideas, but I love my charges and hope that they're somehow afforded a better life than the ones allowed to them down here. I'm a vegetarian myself, and I do my best to keep all of the animals happy, but I know the power imbalance is still there. If there ever comes a revolution, I have no illusions that I will be spared their wrath." (More on Page 5). </div> [[Done|Bathroom]]

Password Screen. <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/4dbd8680-4ac1-11ea-b926-519c860331a4.gif"> |PASS>[] [[Run|Bedroom]] (link: "Attack")[ (set: $pass to (prompt: "PASSWORD:", "ALL CAPS")) (if: $pass is "SODA")[ (replace: ?PASS)[[[You win!|Soda]]] ](elseif: $pass is "TELEDROME")[ (replace: ?PASS)[[[ERROR|Teledrome]]] ](elseif: $pass is "ALEX")[ (replace: ?PASS)[[[ERROR|Alex]]] ](elseif: $pass is "CORTAZONE")[ (replace: ?PASS)[[[ERROR|Cortisone]]] ](else:) [ (replace: ?PASS)[MAGELLAN kills you!] ] ]

There's a post-it note in the the desk. <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/30c1a711-4ac3-11ea-ae02-519c860331a4.gif"> [[Done|Bedroom]] (set: $toilet to 1)

There is something in the toilet bowl. <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/cd99ae23-4ac6-11ea-897b-519c860331a4.gif"/> [[Leave|Bathroom]]

The computer prints out a key. <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/974f6259-4acb-11ea-bf94-519c860331a4.gif"/> [[Done|Bedroom]] (set: $Key to 1)

You are not supposed to be here. <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/2a356b3d-4ad9-11ea-813a-3939c1feefd1.gif"/> |TA>[] |TB>[] |TC>[] [[Leave|Bedroom]] {(live: 60s)[ (replace: ?TA)[Do not trust her.] (stop:)] (live: 120s)[ (replace: ?TB)[The one you call ALEX.] (stop:)] (live: 180s)[ (replace: ?TC)[The book is a grimoire.] (stop:)]}

**'Email from Mom'** <div id="email"> <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/34586db0-4b5a-11ea-8462-5d11fe44a6d9.gif"/> Dear Grace, Have you seen the latest episode of Millionaire Milton yet? Your sister was really excited to get the part of the limo mechanic, and I know that it would mean the world to her if you saw her performance. Do you have a TV out there in the wilderness? As far as I know, the show isn't on any streaming services, but maybe someone has already put it on YouTube. You need to support your little sister, there's no point in being resentful about trivial things anymore. You are both grown women now, sacrificing yourselves to preserve the family name. I know you think you've given more, after the ritual. I know that it must hurt to see your own face, your own skin, inhabited by another person. Amy has given just as much, if not more, that's not physical. Were it not for her, you couldn't live by yourself and work on your art projects or whatever. Anyhow, I expect you to email me back soon, and text your sister to congratulate her. Love, Annabeth Kaufman </div> [[Done|Bedroom]]

The computer prints out a mushroom. <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/02a91f45-4b5d-11ea-8596-0716f7f60496.gif"/> [[Done|Bedroom]] (set: $mushroom to 1)

**'Typewritten Note'** <div id="note"> <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/2540da9e-4bad-11ea-b7bb-076057ac228c.gif"/> |ran>[] </div> [[Done|Downstairs]] (link:"Take Out")[ (set: $RAN to (random: 1,3)) (if: $RAN is 1)[ (replace: ?ran)["Did the devil make the world while God was sleeping?" He said, rubbing the broadsword against his blackened and scabbing back. This creature could never have been a man, right? Perhaps I could trust my own senses if I were ignorant of my own faith, far too much like this whelp for my liking.] ](elseif: $RAN is 2)[ (replace: ?ran)[Thousands upon thousands of maggots sloghed off of her ruby carapice. Every single one of her children wiggled their horrible white arms in order to gain some sustenance from my rotting corpse. It's laughable, is it not? Even as the abominations she birthed dig deep into my spinal cord, she looks just as beautiful now as she did the first night we made love. In another life, I don't know, it could be possible for us to transcend our mutual natures for the sake of love.] ](elseif: $RAN is 3)[ (replace: ?ran)[*Leave Puzzle Hint Here*: Okay, so I know that Grace is a big fan of the Beatles, so it's feasible that she would use them to remember a code to something in her real house. I'm gonna make the door puzzle so that each button corresponds to a song off the White Album, and I think that will work with the sync. I mean, I have no idea how to do any of this magic shit, but it's all trial and error --Alex] ]]

You are inside the meat freezer. <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/d3a0aea6-4c74-11ea-8af4-892c08138e18.gif"/> [[Head Down|BasementA]] [[Return to The Kitchen|Downstairs]] |meata>[] |meatb>[] |meatc>[] |meatd>[] (if: $meat is 1)[ (replace: ?meata)[[[Check Carcass One|Carcass One]]] (replace: ?meatb)[[[Check Carcass Two|Carcass Two]]] (replace: ?meatc)[[[Check Carcass Three|Carcass Three]]] (replace: ?meatd)[[[Check Carcass Four|Carcass Four]]] ]

What a strange lock. <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/0568e594-4c6c-11ea-979f-1f08d9f70726.gif"/> |ans>[] [[Leave|Downstairs]] (link-repeat: "Press Right Button")[(set: $right += 1)] (link-repeat: "Press Middle Button")[(set: $mid += 1)] (link-repeat: "Press Left Button")[(set: $left += 1)] (link: "Pull the Door")[ (if: $mid is 7 and $right is 12 and $left is 13)[ (replace: ?ans)[[[The Door is Open|Freezer]]] (set: $freezer to 1) ] (else:)[ (replace: ?ans)[The door is shut tight] (set: $right to 0) (set: $mid to 0) (set: $left to 0) ]]

There's a note here. <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/4759c682-4cfe-11ea-8ef7-cd01d52b33a1.gif"/> The note reads: "Cannibal." [[Done|Freezer]]

There's a note here. <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/4759c682-4cfe-11ea-8ef7-cd01d52b33a1.gif"/> The note reads: "Adulterer." [[Done|Freezer]]

There's a note here. <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/4759c682-4cfe-11ea-8ef7-cd01d52b33a1.gif"/> The note reads: "Forger." [[Done|Freezer]]

There's a note here. <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/4759c682-4cfe-11ea-8ef7-cd01d52b33a1.gif"/> The note reads: "Assassin." [[Done|Freezer]]

You are in her psuedo-basement. <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/8b9048dc-4d30-11ea-9747-076a24167d09.gif"/> [[Head Up|Freezer]] (link: "Pull the First Noose")[(set: $noosea to 1)] (link: "Pull the Second Noose")[(set: $nooseb to 1)] (link: "Pull the Third Noose")[(set: $noosec to 1)] (link: "Pull the Fourth Noose")[(set: $noosed to 1)] (link: "Check the Trapdoor")[ (if: $noosea is 1 and $nooseb is 0 and $noosec is 1 and $noosed is 1)[ [[Head Down|BasementB]] ](else:)[ [[Look Closer|Trapdoor]] ]]

Here is a trapdoor, perhaps to another sublevel. <div id="note"> <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/9ac3980c-4d32-11ea-a0e7-653039666457.gif"/> Pull all the guilty down to hell, the innocent will rise. The first sinner to meet demise, she made her way with meat. The second one lived in deceit, from quill her lies did flood. The third of them was deft with blood, and never missed her mark. The one misjudged kept up the lark, but in the end she fell. </div> [[Done|BasementA]] (set: $meat to 1) (set: $noosea to 0) (set: $nooseb to 0) (set: $noosec to 0) (set: $noosed to 0)

You are in her belly, there is no turning back. <img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/c5e277a6-4e09-11ea-86e1-a3f813854979.gif"/> [[Run Away|Ending One]] [[Offer Yourself|Ending Two A]] (if: $mushroom is 1)[[[Use the Mushroom|Ending Three]]]

<img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/3f932921-4eae-11ea-a4a9-51069fd0bf53.gif"/> A tendril stabs you before you can even take a step. You see your blood gush out from the huge, sucking wound, yet you feel nothing. Perhaps there was some sort of numbing agent in the talon that has cut you off from bodily sensation. Your body bleeds out and enters rigor mortis, and you are here all the same. Like delicate and hungry fingers, the veins spread from the moist and pulsating floor through your drying blood and into your body. Now you are another organ in the house, another part of her, and this brings you some comfort for the time being. The rain is beating against your windows, again and again, each drop like an arrow scraping against your terrible hide. Game Over.

What will you offer to her? (link: "My Arms")[ Your arms are not enough, what else? (link: "My Legs")[ Your legs are not enough, what else? (link: "My Tongue")[ Your tongue is not enough, what else? (link: "My Eyes")[ Your eyes are not enough, what else? (link: "My Head")[ Your head is not enough, what else? (link: "My Soul")[ You have nothing more to offer, so you can be born anew. [[Accept Her Gift|Ending Two B]] ] ] ] ] ] ]

<img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/bd335b30-4eba-11ea-8759-67ef28e0ad12.gif"> For a few moments, there is nothing, not even the absense of existence. Then it all comes flooding back to you, and you know that you're real, even though you can't see or hear or move your limbs. A pleasant warmth flows through you, and you slowly regain feeling in all of your digits, as if they had just fallen asleep. You can hear the pulsating of the house around you, but it no longer seems like a stomach, it is much more like a womb. You can barely see through the bloody remains of your former eyes, but you can make out enough detail to know that you are changing. Your fingers have elongated and the bones soon fuse together into wicked claws. Your skin is no longer human, much more slick and slimy like an anphibian, and this is corroborated by your growing eyes and wider mouth. You still have 'hair,' but it is not made of keratin, they are more like extraneous limbs tied into your scalp. It takes you a few moments to gain control of your breathing, but you do, and you look over your new body. It is unmistakable that you have become some sort of beastly thing, much like your friends who have journeyed before you, but it is not what you expected. Despite everything, you still feel like yourself, and the most pressing thing on your mind isn't some monstrous compulsion, but how you will continue your life in this state. You now know the word of power for beasts: Cartilage.

<img src="https://piskel-imgstore-b.appspot.com/img/60538170-4f72-11ea-9b41-970eec03b66b.gif"/> After a moment of hesitation, you take a bite from the long mushroom you have kept in your pocket. There is an immediate, searing pain in your stomach that causes you to double over. In spite of this, it seems that the house has lost interest in you, so you've at least traded out one pressing danger for another. Something is twisting around and around in your internal cavity, tearing through flesh and reconnecting your organs into new configurations. You try to scream and scream, but the parasitic fungus has already assimilated your voice box. Then, as soon as it appeared, the pain is gone. You raise up on your knees, and you observe your seemingly jaundiced flesh. Thick and yellow veins spiral along your body, the humid air of the cavern irritating your more sensitive skin. It occurs to you that the composition of your body is no longer "meat," but you aren't entirely sure what else it could be. More than anything, you feel terribly naked here, more than ever before, like you are missing a layer of skin. You will some sort of covering to wrap up your body and, to your surprise, thin strips of bandage and clothes materialize upon you. Despite everything, you still feel as if you're essentially human, but you have a strange craving that you cannot describe. Perhaps calling on the same force that insured your decency, you project outward the desire that is alien to your mammalian instincts. Small caps pop up from the angry flesh that makes up the floor and grow into proper cordyceps. You are overwhelmed by the satisfying feeling of feeding on something from the inside. You reason that, maybe, you might stay within Grace's house for a little longer, just until your hunger is sated. You now know the word of power for parasites: Dopamine.