Priestess OAD

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<<if $readyForKemhotepAtrium>>\ <<set $readyForKemhotepAtrium to false>>\ <<goto "AtriumKemhotep">>\ <</if>>\ <div class="textbox">\ <h1>Atrium</h1> <p>You stand in the atrium of the house. Light filters through the skylight above, casting patterns across the limestone floor. From here, you can access every room in the house. There is a doorway toward the courtyard of the temple complex.</p>\ <ul class="room-list"> <li><<action "Go to Bathroom" "Bathroom" 1 1>></li> <li><<action "Go to Bedroom" "Bedroom" 1 2>></li> <li><<action "Go to Father's Study" "FatherStudy" 1 3>></li> <li><<action "Go to Parents' room" "Parentsroom" 1 4>></li> <li><<action "Go to Brothers' room" "Brothers' room" 1 5>></li> <li><<action "Go to Kitchen" "Kitchen" 1 6>></li> <li><<action "Go to Cellar" "Cellar" 1 7>></li> <li><<action "Go to Roof" "Roof" 1 8>></li> <<if $TahiraTookBath>>\ <li><<action "Go to Complex" "Complex" 1 8>></li> <</if>>\ </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Atrium</h1> As you step from the shadowed passage of the cellar, a figure straightens from where he had been examining a loose floor tile near the parched, cracked threshold of the atrium. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<naction "Kemhotep" "KemhotepIntro" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ <<if $restorationLevel == 1>> The audience room is little more than a hollow shell, its walls crumbled inward and its floors buried under the dirt of ages. It is a melancholy sight, entirely unfit to receive the prayers of the poor or the petitions of the great. <<elseif $restorationLevel == 2>> The room has been swept of its sorrowful ruin. Temporary supports hold the cracked walls, and though it is bare and humble, you can at least walk across the floor without stumbling over the bones of the temple. <<elseif $restorationLevel == 3>> The roof has been repaired, and the intense heat of the day no longer beats down upon those who come to seek guidance. The space feels welcoming again, a refuge for the weary hearts of the city. <<elseif $restorationLevel >= 4>> It has become a grand and imposing space once more. Lavish decorations catch the eye, and the room commands absolute reverence from any citizen of the Black Land who comes to lay their hopes before the temple. <</if>> <<if $finishedInheritanceQuest and not $kemhotepAudienceIntroSeen>>\ <<silently>> <<set $kemhotepAudienceIntroSeen to true>> <</silently>>\ Before you can even take your place, a dry throat clears behind you. Kemhotep stands in the doorway, his posture rigid, fixing you with that familiar, unblinking stare. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"A word of caution, priestess. When you sit here, the desperate will come weeping to your feet with inquiries. I must remind you: fulfilling their requests is not compulsory.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Are we not a temple, Kemhotep? Is it not our duty to aid them?\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"You cannot pour water from a shattered jug. Easing their burdens will do you little good if this roof collapses upon you, or if you succumb to starvation. Before you care for others, you must put yourself back on your feet.\"" "left">>\ He gestures vaguely behind him, toward the complex proper. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"For earning additional deben, I strongly advise erecting a Juggling Chamber, as well as seeking work as a porter in the harbor. Ensure your own daily bread first. Only then should you entertain the grievances of others. This applies to men, as well as gods: enraged statues cannot provoke consequences of the flesh, only of the spirit.\"" "left">>\ With a stern nod, he turns on his heels and leaves you to your duties. <</if>> <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Return to Complex" "Complex" 2 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<if $finishedInheritanceQuest>> <<if $hygiene >= 50>> <<action "Hear the Pleas of the People" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>> <<else>> <li><div class="disabled-action"><em>You are entirely too filthy to sit before the people. Take a bath first.</em></div></li> <</if>> <</if>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ <p>The small bathroom is functional and clean, if a bit cramped. There's a simple basin for washing, a chamber pot for necessities, and a shelf with various hygiene supplies.</p>\ <<if $knowsTahira>>\ <<if not $metTahira>>\ <p>You can hear the rhythmic swish of a reed broom nearby. Tahira is somewhere in the house, maintaining the temple as your father instructed.</p>\ <<elseif setup.isWorkerBusy("Tahira")>>\ <p>Tahira is currently out performing the tasks you assigned her. You will have to bathe alone.</p>\ <<elseif $time < 360 or $time >= 1380>>\ <p>The house is silent. Tahira has retired to her quarters for the night, leaving you to your own devices.</p>\ <<else>>\ <p>Tahira is nearby, quietly sweeping the floors. She is ready to drop her chores and assist you with your bath if called upon.</p>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if $bathroomExamined>>\ <p>The air is faintly perfumed with natron and aromatic oils to mask less pleasant odors. There is a lamp in the corner. Against one wall stands a shallow limestone bathing tub, just large enough for a person to crouch in. In the corner sits the toilet: a simple wooden seat positioned over a removable clay vessel. A small pot of natron salts stands nearby, used to absorb moisture and odor. A modest wooden cabinet holds hygiene supplies: linen cloths, a small pot of perfumed oil, a jar of natron powder, and several combs made of wood and bone.</p>\ <</if>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <div style="margin: 1em 0;">\ <<if setup.hasEnoughResource("bathing_supplies", 1)>>\ <<if $knowsTahira and not $metTahira>>\ <<action "Call Tahira to draw your bath" "TahiraIntro" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<else>>\ <<if $knowsTahira and $metTahira and not setup.isWorkerBusy("Tahira") and $time >= 360 and $time < 1380>>\ <<action "Take a bath with Tahira's help" "TahiraBathHandler" 30 _hk>> <<set _hk++>>\ <</if>>\ <<action "Take a bath alone" "Bathroom" 30 _hk "takeBath">><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <div class="disabled-action"><em>Need bathing supplies for a full bath</em></div>\ <</if>>\ </div>\ <<if $bathroomExamined>>\ <<action "Hide Description" "Bathroom" 0 _hk "toggleBathroom">><<set _hk++>>\ <<else>>\ <<action "Examine Room" "Bathroom" 0 _hk "toggleBathroom">><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>>\ <<action "Leave bathroom" "Atrium" 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Bedroom</h1> <p>Your private sanctuary. It is a quiet, shaded room designed to offer respite from the blistering Egyptian sun and the crushing weight of your duties.</p>\ <<if $bedroomExamined>> <p>A sturdy wooden bed frame dominates the space, strung with taut palm fibers and covered in a folded linen sheet. A curved wooden headrest sits at the top, polished smooth from years of use. A small alabaster lamp rests on a side table, its wick ready to cast dancing shadows across the painted plaster walls. Though the temple falls into disrepair, this room remains a bastion of peace.</p> <</if>> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<if $hunger <= 10>> <div class="disabled-action" style="margin: 0.2em 0;"><em>[1] Your stomach is empty. You are too hungry to fall asleep.</em></div> <<elseif $thirst <= 10>> <div class="disabled-action" style="margin: 0.2em 0;"><em>[1] Your throat is parched. You are too thirsty to fall asleep.</em></div> <<else>> <<if $exhaustion < 100>> <<action "Sleep until fully rested" "Bedroom" "?" _hk "sleep">><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>> <<action "Sleep for 2 hours" "Bedroom" "?" _hk "sleepFor" 120>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Sleep until 7:00 AM" "Bedroom" "?" _hk "sleepUntil" 7>><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>> <<if $bedroomExamined>> <<action "Hide Description" "Bedroom" 0 _hk "toggleBedroom">><<set _hk++>>\ <<else>> <<action "Examine Room" "Bedroom" 0 _hk "toggleBedroom">><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>> <<if $TahiraTookBath>>\ <<action "Reconsider intimate preferences" "Reconsider sexual preferences" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>>\ <<action "Leave bedroom" "Atrium" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Brothers' Room</h1> <p>The room where your brothers once slept is eerily quiet. The beds are stripped bare, and the few personal belongings they left behind have been neatly packed away. The memory of their sudden illness and passing still haunts this space.</p> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Leave room" "Atrium" 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Cellar</h1>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<if not $hasVisitedCellar>>\ <p>The cellar is a simple underground chamber where resources can be stored safely. As you inspect the dusty walls, you notice one of the large stones near the back seems loose, its edges slightly misaligned with the rest of the foundation.</p>\ <div style="margin-top: 1.5em;">\ <<action "Push aside the loose stone" "CellarSecret" 5 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Leave Cellar" "Atrium" 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>\ <<else>>\ <p>The cellar is a simple underground chamber where resources can be stored safely, protected from the elements. Despite its humble appearance, this cellar serves as the primary storage for your temple's resources and valuables.</p>\ <div style="margin-top: 1.5em;">\ <<action "Leave Cellar" "Atrium" 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>\ <</if>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Cellar</h1> You push aside the heavy stone, revealing a hollow space behind it. After the medical bills, after selling nearly everything of value to pay the physicians who ultimately couldn't save him, this is what remains of your family's resources - a carefully prepared cache of essentials and valuables that managed to escape the creditors' notice.\ You peer inside and discover an impressive collection of supplies: food, drink, building materials, some assorted temple goods and even some valuables like copper ingots and golden earrings. <<run setup.unlockTempleStores()>>\ <<silently>>\ <<set $hasVisitedCellar to true>> \ <<set $readyForKemhotepAtrium to true>>\ <<set _mudbricks = random(10, 25)>>\ <<run setup.addResource("mudbrick", _mudbricks)>>\ <<set _bread = random(20, 30)>>\ <<run setup.addResource("bread", _bread)>>\ <<set _beer = random(20, 30)>>\ <<run setup.addResource("beer", _beer)>>\ <<set _linen = random(3, 5)>>\ <<run setup.addResource("linen", _linen)>>\ <<set _bathing_supplies = random(5, 7)>>\ <<run setup.addResource("bathing_supplies", _bathing_supplies)>>\ <<set _incense = random(6, 8)>>\ <<run setup.addResource("incense", _incense)>>\ <<set _copper = random(2, 3)>>\ <<run setup.addResource("copper_ingot", _copper)>>\ <<run setup.addResource("gold", 2)>>\ <</silently>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Step back into the main cellar" "Cellar" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Leave for the Atrium" "Atrium" 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<<print setup.getCharacterSummary()>> <div id="skills-display"> <span id="mind-stat">Mind: <<print $mind>></span><br> <div id="mind-skills"> <span id="wisdom-skill">Wisdom: <<print $wisdom>></span> <span id="ritual-arts-skill">Ritual Arts: <<print $ritualArts>></span> </div> <span id="body-stat">Body: <<print $body>></span><br> <div id="body-skills"> <span id="grace-skill">Grace: <<print $grace>></span> <span id="resilience-skill">Resilience: <<print $resilience>></span> </div> <span id="spirit-stat">Spirit: <<print $spirit>></span> <div id="spirit-skills"> <span id="allure-skill">Allure: <<print $allure>></span> <span id="faith-skill">Faith: <<print $faith>></span> </div> </div> <<link "Return" `(passage() !== "LowVigorEvent") ? previous() : "StartingPassage"`>><</link>>

:: CharacterCreation <<set $hairColor = $hairColor or null>> Your hair color is: <div id="haircolorchoice"> <<include "HairColorSelector">> </div> <<print "Current hair color: " + ($hairColor === null ? "none" : $hairColor)>>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Thebes</h1> <<if setup.isNight()>>\ The streets of Thebes are cloaked in heavy shadows. The common folk have retreated to their roofs to sleep, leaving the winding mud-brick alleys to roaming packs of dogs and the occasional patrol carrying bronze-tipped spears and flickering torches. <<else>>\ You walk out into the restless streets of Thebes, the greatest city in the known world. The sun beats down upon the mud brick houses and the towering stone monuments of the New Kingdom. A cloud of dust is forever rising from the feet of merchants, craftsmen, and sweating porters. The hot desert wind brings the smell of the nearby Nile, the aroma of baking bread, and the heavy scent of burning incense from the temples. It is a city of immeasurable wealth and great poverty, where the rumble of chariots mingles with the cries of the hungry. <</if>>\ <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>> <li><<action "Go to the Temple of Amun" "Temple of Amun" 15 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <li><<action "Go to the Market" "Market" 15 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <li><<action "Go to the Temple of Isis" "Temple of Isis" 15 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <li><<action "Go to the Harbor" "Harbor" 20 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <li><<action "Go to the Well of the Water Guild" "Well of the Water Guild" 10 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <li><<action "Return to the Temple Complex" "Complex" 5 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <<if $restorationLevel is undefined>>\ <<set $restorationLevel to 1>>\ <</if>>\ <h1>The Temple Complex <<if $workerManagementUnlocked>> <<button "Temple Management">><<run window.openWorkerManagementDialog()>> <</button>> <</if>></h1> <<if not $visitedComplex>>\ As you step into the sprawling grounds of the temple complex, you find Kemhotep surveying the ruin. He turns at your approach. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"Ah, priestess. A daunting sight, is it not? Before you concern yourself with these stones, you must secure your standing. The Temple of Amun is about an hour away from here. You should go to the city and see about setting your papers in order.\"" "left">>\ <<set $startedInheritanceQuest to true>>\ <<set $visitedComplex to true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if $finishedInheritanceQuest and not $inheritanceAcknowledgementDone>>\ <p>Kemhotep approaches you as you enter, his expression lightened by a rare, approving nod. He notices the circlet that now adorns your head.</p>\ <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"It is official, then? Good. Now your true quarry begins, Priestess. The gods long for the worship they have long been denied.\"" "left">>\ <p>He gestures toward the inner sanctums with a weathered hand.</p>\ <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"Your first priority each dawn must be the daily rituals. For Osiris, and any others who return to this house. Only once the gods are satisfied should you turn your ear to the Audience Room to hear the pleas of the living. And should you ever find yourself with time to kill, I have cleared the rubble from the Meditation Chamber. It is a quiet place to find your center.\"" "left">>\ <<set $inheritanceAcknowledgementDone to true>> <<set $meditationChamberUnlocked to true>> <</if>>\ <<if $restorationLevel == 1>>\ The complex is barely functional, close to ruin. The wooden roof beams were the first to go - long since rotted away or stripped by scavengers for fuel - causing the ceilings to collapse inward in a heap of debris. While the massive stone walls and towering columns have survived far longer than the roofing, standing defiant against the desert sky, the ground is choked with fallen masonry. It will take a massive undertaking to make this place whole again.\ <<elseif $restorationLevel == 2>>\ The complex is slowly being cleared. The worst of the collapsed roofing and debris has been hauled away from the main thoroughfares, though many areas still lie entirely open to the sky. The walls have been stabilized, and the foundations feel less treacherous to walk upon.\ <<elseif $restorationLevel == 3>>\ The complex is regaining its former glory. Fresh wooden beams have been laid across the roofs of the main halls, casting deep, cooling shadows once more. The columns have been scrubbed of centuries of grime, and the painted reliefs are beginning to show their vibrant colors again.\ <<elseif $restorationLevel >= 4>>\ The complex stands pristine, a true house of the gods. The roofs are fully restored, perfectly sheltering the sacred inner rooms. Incense catches in the still air of the courtyards, and the entire structure commands the respect and awe of anyone who enters.\ <</if>>\ The open courtyard lies before you, a public-accessible space where festivals were once held, centered around a cracked sacred basin. Beyond it stands the great columned <<hover "Hypostyle Hall" "An area restricted strictly to priests">>. Further in is the <<hover "Audience Room" "A space for listening to people who come to the temple and for public worship">>, the Library and the Offering Hall where daily ritual meals were presented, as well as the alcoves reserved for the sanctuaries of the gods. <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Enter the Hypostyle Hall" "Hypostyle Hall" 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<action "Enter the Audience Room" "Audience Room" 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<action "Enter the Sanctuary of Osiris" "Sanctuary of Osiris" 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<action "Enter the Library" "Library" 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<if $meditationChamberUnlocked>>\ <<action "Go to the Meditation Chamber" "Meditation Chamber" 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <</if>>\ /* JUGGLING CHAMBER LOGIC */ <<set _jugglingChambers to setup.getBuildingsByType('juggling_chamber')>> <<if _jugglingChambers.length > 0>>\ <<action "Enter the Juggling Chamber" "Juggling Chamber" 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <</if>>\ /* DYNAMIC SANCTUARY LOGIC */ <<set _sanctuaries to setup.getBuildingsByType('sanctuary')>> <<set _emptyCount to 0>> <<for _i to 0; _i < _sanctuaries.length; _i++>> <<if _sanctuaries[_i].dedicatedGodId>> <<set _godName to State.variables.gods[_sanctuaries[_i].dedicatedGodId].name>> <<action `"Enter the Sanctuary of " + _godName` `"Sanctuary of " + _godName` 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<else>> <<set _emptyCount++>> <</if>> <</for>> /* If you have built more sanctuaries than you have gods living in them */ <<if _emptyCount > 0>> <<action "Enter Empty Sanctuary" "Empty Sanctuary" 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <</if>> <<action "Leave for the City" "City" 5 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<action "Return to your house's Atrium" "Atrium" 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h2>The Realm of Dreams</h2> <p>The edges of your consciousness fray, pulling you into a vivid vision gifted by the gods...</p>  <<action "Wake up" "Bedroom" 0 "1">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Father's Study</h1>\ Your father's scent still lingers here - a mix of incense and dried herbs that catches in your throat. Everything remains exactly as he left it: half-written scrolls, worn reference texts, the small bronze incense holder he always kept within reach. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Go back to the Atrium" "Atrium" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Father's Study</h1> <<run setup.addResource("letter_of_birthright", 1)>>\ You fold the second letter, which you had barely even noticed the first time - the proof of your birthright - and tuck it away. The khopesh is heavier than it looks, and then lighter than you expected, and then you stop noticing the weight entirely. It is a lot to take in. You are still not certain how you feel about the hidden reserve most of all; whether he simply accepted, at some point, that he was not going to recover, or whether he chose to go without so that you would not have to. You suppose you will never know which it was, and you suppose that is the kind of thing you will have to learn to leave unanswered. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Go back to the Atrium" "Atrium" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

:: HairColorSelector [hidden] <<set _options = ["Crimson", "Blonde", "Brown", "Black"]>> <<if $hairColor == null>> <<for _i range 0, _options.length>> <<if _i > 0>> | <</if>> <<link _options[_i]>> <<set $hairColor = _options[_i]>> <<replace "#hairColorSelector">> <<include "HairColorSelector">> <</replace>> <</link>> <</for>> <<else>> <<link $hairColor>> <<set $hairColor = null>> <<replace "#hairColorSelector">> <<include "HairColorSelector">> <</replace>> <</link>> <</if>>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Hypostyle Hall</h1> <<if $restorationLevel == 1>> You look upon the hypostyle hall and your heart grows heavy, for it is a graveyard of shattered stone. The wooden roof beams have long since rotted or been stolen for fuel by the poor, leaving the great columns bare to the scorching sun. Dust and fallen masonry choke the pathways, and the silence of ruin lies over the house of the gods. <<elseif $restorationLevel == 2>> The worst of the debris has been hauled away by sweating laborers, and the towering columns are stabilized. Yet the sky still glares down upon the open space, and the greatness of the past is only a whisper among the stones. <<elseif $restorationLevel == 3>> Fresh cedar beams have been laid across the massive pillars, casting deep and cooling shadows over the stone floor once more. The painted reliefs are being cleansed of centuries of grime, and the hall is slowly awakening from its long slumber. <<elseif $restorationLevel >= 4>> The hall stands pristine and breathtaking, a true forest of stone where the gods might walk. The massive roof holds back the sun, and the vibrant colors of the pillars shine in the dim light. You feel the awe of the divine as you stand in the cool shadows, knowing that mortal hands have brought this glory back to life. <</if>> <h2>Where would you like to go?</h2> <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>> <li><<action "Return to Complex" "Complex" 2 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ It is the 6th year of Ramesses the Third's rule, an year which history would much later refer to as 1180BC. The Kingdom on Nile, Egypt, prospers under his reign. Trade flows freely, the borders expand, and the gods watch over the kingdom with steady hands. But <<naction "you" "you" 0 1>> have not prospered. </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Atrium</h1> <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"Rest assured, for the people have not forgotten that this temple once stood proud; and what it stood for. Many of the people will rever you as a priestess despite not being formally ordained. Regardless, you might find it more challenging to ensure your daily sustenance than to restore the complex.\"" "left">>\ As if your father's death wasn't enough, for the first time in your life, starvation is now a real danger. How joyful. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"That is certainly encouraging, Kemhotep. But I am rather confident in my abilities to... not starve to death.\" You sigh. " "right">>\ <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"Such confidence, priestess, is the bare minimum for personhood; hunger was merely an available comparison through which I could advise you to take care of yourself before attempting to help others.\"" "left">>\ Kemhotep gives you an intense stare. His eyes linger unblinking for a few seconds more than would be polite. For being one of your employees, he sure does talk back a lot. But never in vain, as you know his character, and the years have left you unphased by his instinct for scolding you. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Ask for advice" "KemhotepAdvice" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Atrium</h1> Despite his sometimes unpleasant authorative tone, Kemhotep surely knows a thing or two about priestly duties by virtue of being the temple's accountant for decades. It couldn't hurt to ask him for advice. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You are right about not setting myself on fire for the heat of others. My father has taught me the procedures which are required of a priestess, but the logistics elude me. Perhaps you could point me in the right direction for my first day of service?\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"Do not overstep your bounds just yet. Until your station is formally recognized by the wider clergy, you lack the authority to perform sacred rites or grant audience. You should put your papers in order as soon as possible.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"No matter; that can wait a moment or two. Have you taken your morning bath yet, priestess? Tahira is surely waiting for you.\"" "left">> \ <<silently>> <<set $knowsTahira to true>> <<set $askedTahira to false>> <<set $askedBathing to false>> <<set $askedInvite to false>> <</silently>> <<include "KemhotepQuestions">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Atrium</h1> <<set $askedBathing to true>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"What makes the morning bath so pressing? I am capable of washing myself when the need arises.\"" "right">> <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"A priestess must be pure before approaching the gods, or the people. It's a honor for Tahira to assist you. Additionally, there is underlying pragmatism: it is usually easiest to take a bath in the morning to have one less mundane chore to worry about later in the day.\"" "left">> <<include "KemhotepQuestions">> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Kemhotep</h1>\ <div style="margin: 1.5em 0; padding-top: 1em; border-top: 1px solid #444;"> <<set _hk to 1>> /* Fetch Kemhotep's relationship score safely */ <<set _kemRel to (setup.getWorkerByName("Kemhotep").relationship || 0)>> /* 1. SLEEP CHECK (22:00 - 06:00) */ <<if $hour >= 22 or $hour < 6>> <div class="disabled-action"><em>The door to Kemhotep's quarters is closed; the old priest has retired for the night.</em></div> <br> <<action "Leave him to his rest" "Atrium" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> /* 2. BUSY CHECK (Worker Tasks) */ <<elseif setup.isWorkerBusy("Kemhotep")>> <div class="disabled-action"><em>Kemhotep is currently occupied with the duties you assigned him.</em></div> <br> <<action "Return to the Atrium" "Atrium" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> /* 3. AVAILABLE */ <<else>> /* Action 1: Twenty Squares */ <<action "Play a game of <span title='Twenty Squares, also known as Aseb, is an ancient Egyptian race game which would later evolve into backgammon. Played by two people using five pieces each and four-sided dice, players race to move all pieces across a 20-square board.'>Twenty Squares</span>" "KemhotepTwentySquares" 60 _hk>><<set _hk++>> /* Action 2: Sequential Chat Routing */ <<if not $kemhotepStage1Seen>> <<action "Chat with Kemhotep" "KemhotepStage1" 15 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<elseif _kemRel >= 10 and not $kemhotepStage2Seen>> <<action "Chat with Kemhotep" "KemhotepStage2" 15 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<else>> /* Fallback generic chat for when between milestones or fully maxed out */ <<action "Chat with Kemhotep" "KemhotepGenericChat" 15 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <</if>> <br> <<action "Return to the Atrium" "Atrium" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <</if>> </div> </div>

<<run setup.hireWorker("Kemhotep", "CRAFTSMAN", 8, "𓀂", {}, ["beer", "bread"])>>\ <div class="textbox">\ <h1>Atrium</h1> His linen kilt, though meticulously clean, is frayed at the hem, a mirror to the temple's own state. His face, etched with the <<hover "years of service " "Kemhotep has been the temple's accountant years before your birth; to you, he is more of a family member than a servant">> to your father – and his father before him – turns towards you. There's no deference in his gaze, only a familiar, assessing look that has often, in your younger years, felt like a gentle reprimand. Today, it feels like one of the few steady things left in this world. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"It seems the house mourns with us, $characterName.\" He gestures vaguely at the crumbling paint on a nearby pillar, the depiction of Osiris now unrecognisable. "left">> \ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The Great Net feels its strands tearing, and mourns with us indeed. But I feel so utterly lost, Kemhotep, as if I was in shifting sands. I would not know where to begin restoring this temple.\"" "right">> \ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Continue" "Kemhotep2" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Atrium</h1> <<set $askedInvite to true>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Perhaps you would care to bathe with me yourself, Kemhotep? We could share the basin. It would save us both time.\"" "right">>\ Kemhotep does not blink. His expression remains as dry and unyielding as the desert sands, but you notice a slight tightening of his jaw.\ <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"My duties lie with the temple's accounts, not its bathhouse. Do try to temper these impulses, priestess; the gods are watching. I suggest you seek out Tahira for such activities. \"" "left">>\ Still no sense of humor. There will be other occassions to make a pass at the personal accountant who is thirty years your senior. <<include "KemhotepQuestions">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Atrium</h1> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I believe I have taken enough of your time for now, Kemhotep. I shall see to my duties... and my bath.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"May the gods guide your steps, $characterName. Do not linger too long; the temple will not rebuild itself.\"" "left">>\ Kemhotep offers a brief, formal bow before turning his attention back to a cracked floor tile. You leave him to his quiet contemplation.\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return" "Atrium" 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<<set _hk to 1>>\ <<if not $askedTahira>>\ <<action "\"Tahira?\"" "KemhotepTahira" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>>\ <<if not $askedBathing>>\ <<action "\"Is there a particular urgency to bathing?\"" "KemhotepBathing" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>>\ <<if not $askedInvite>>\ <<action "\"Would you like to take a bath with me instead?\"" "KemhotepInvite" 0 _hk "+2D">><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>>\ <<if $askedTahira or $askedBathing or $askedInvite>>\ <<action "Leave" "KemhotepLeave" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Atrium</h1> <<set $askedTahira to true>> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Tahira? That name is unfamiliar to me.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"Your father, in his foresight, secured her services as a servant for the next ten years. This happened shortly before his passing. He paid her family in full before running out of money. She is bound to this house, regardless of our current financial standing.\"" "left">> Ten years in advance. Your father spent the last of his funds not on treatment, but to ensure you wouldn't be left entirely without help. A bittersweet, albeit slightly excessive, inheritance. <<include "KemhotepQuestions">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Kitchen</h1>\ <p>The kitchen is a simple area equipped with a clay oven, stone grinding tools, and various clay pots. Without a dedicated cook or the bustling family that once filled the house, the hearth remains cold and silent.</p> <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Eat and drink until full" "Kitchen" 10 _hk "autoFeast">><<set _hk++>> <<action "Leave kitchen" "Atrium" 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <div class="warning-message"> <h2 style="color: #e57373;">Exhaustion takes hold...</h2> <p>Your vision blurs and your limbs feel heavy as lead. You are pushing your mortal vessel beyond its limits. If you do not rest and tend to your needs immediately, you will collapse.</p> <div class="return-link" style="margin-top: 20px;"> <<link "Push through it" $returnPassage>><</link>> </div> </div> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Market</h1> The market plaza is a chaotic sprawl of canvas awnings and packed earth. It smells of roasting garlic, sun-baked dust, and the sharp tang of spilled beer. The drone of a hundred overlapping arguments creates a wall of sound, broken only by the occasional braying of a pack animal. Here, the holy quiet of the temple is replaced by the relentless, haggling machinery of daily survival. Some of the merchants here are willing to trade with you. <<button "Barter with Ahmose">> <<run window.openBarterDialog("ahmose")>> <</button>> <br> <<action "Return to the City" "City" 15 1>> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <img src="img/Caption.png"> <<link "Equipment">><<run window.openEquipmentDialog()>><</link>> | <<link "Character">><<run window.openCharacterDialog()>><</link>> <div class="time-display"><<print formatTime($time, $day)>></div>  <div class="status-container"> <<if setup.getStatusBarHTML>> <<print setup.getStatusBarHTML()>> <<script>> setTimeout(function() { if (typeof setup.initStatusTooltips === 'function') { setup.initStatusTooltips(); } }, 50); <</script>> <<else>> <div class="status-bar">No active statuses</div> <</if>> </div> <div class="needs-header">Needs:</div>  <div class="stat-row"> <span class="stat-label">Vigor</span> <div class="stat-bar"> <div class="meter" id="vigor-meter" style="width: <<print $vigor>>%; background-color: <<print getVigorColor($vigor)>>;"></div> </div> <span class="stat-value"><<print Math.round($vigor)>>%</span> </div>  <div class="stat-row"> <span class="stat-label">Hygiene</span> <div class="stat-bar"> <div class="meter" id="hygiene-meter" style="width: <<print $hygiene>>%; background-color: <<print getHygieneColor($hygiene)>>;"></div> </div> <span class="stat-value"><<print Math.round($hygiene)>>%</span> </div>  <div class="stat-row"> <span class="stat-label">Thirst</span> <div class="stat-bar"> <div class="meter" id="thirst-meter" style="width: <<print $thirst>>%; background-color: <<print getThirstColor($thirst)>>;"></div> </div> <span class="stat-value"><<print Math.round($thirst)>>%</span> </div>  <div class="stat-row"> <span class="stat-label">Exhaustion</span> <div class="stat-bar"> <div class="meter" id="exhaustion-meter" style="width: <<print $exhaustion>>%; background-color: <<print getExhaustionColor($exhaustion)>>;"></div> </div> <span class="stat-value"><<print Math.round($exhaustion)>>%</span> </div>  <div class="stat-row"> <span class="stat-label">Hunger</span> <div class="stat-bar"> <div class="meter" id="hunger-meter" style="width: <<print $hunger>>%; background-color: <<print getHungerColor($hunger)>>;"></div> </div> <span class="stat-value"><<print Math.round($hunger)>>%</span> </div>  <<if $temperance is undefined>><<set $temperance to 0>><</if>> <div class="alignment-section"> <div class="alignment-labels"> <span class="label-decadence">Decadence</span> <span class="label-temperance">Temperance</span> </div> <div class="alignment-bar-container" @title="setup.getTemperanceText($temperance)"> <div class="alignment-bar-bg"></div> <div class="alignment-center-mark"></div> <div class="alignment-marker" @style="'left: ' + setup.getTemperancePercentage($temperance) + '%;'">𓋹</div> </div> </div> <style> /* Basic styles for stat bars */ .stat-row { display: flex; align-items: center; margin-bottom: 6px; } .stat-label { width: 70px; text-align: right; padding-right: 10px; color: #aaa; } .stat-bar { flex: 1; height: 16px; background-color: #333; border-radius: 3px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; } .meter { height: 100%; transition: width 0.3s ease; } .stat-value { width: 40px; text-align: right; padding-left: 10px; color: #aaa; font-size: 12px; } .time-display { margin-bottom: 10px; color: #bbb; font-style: italic; } .needs-header { margin: 10px 0 5px 0; font-weight: bold; color: #ccc; } /* Status container styles */ .status-container { margin: 10px 0; min-height: 30px; } </style> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Parents' Room</h1> <p>Your parents' quarters remain untouched since their passing. The scent of your mother's preferred lotus perfume has faded into the dry air, replaced by the lingering smell of dust and old linen. It stands as a silent monument to the family you've lost.</p> <<action "Leave room" "Atrium" 1 "1">> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Sanctuary of Osiris</h1>\ <<run setup.initGodsSystem()>>\ The air here is heavy with the scent of aged cedar and lingering myrrh. The statue of Osiris, Lord of the Underworld and Judge of the Dead, stands solemnly in the gloom, holding the crook and flail. Osiris' daily ritual requires you to bathe the idol under incense smoke using ritual oils, while his offering is a simple sacrifice of beer and bread. <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>> /* 1. THE SACRED RITUAL */ <<if not $gods.osiris.needsMetToday.ritual>> <<if setup.hasEnoughResource("incense", 1) and setup.hasEnoughResource("ritual_oils", 1)>> <li><<action "Perform the Sacred Ritual" "OsirisRitual" 120 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <<else>> <li><div class="disabled-action"><em>(Requires 1 Incense and 1 Ritual Oils to perform the Sacred Ritual)</em></div></li> <</if>> <<else>> <li><div class="disabled-action" style="color: #a8cc8c;"><em>The Sacred Ritual has already been performed today.</em></div></li> <</if>> /* 2. THE DAILY OFFERING */ <<if not $gods.osiris.needsMetToday.offering>> <<if setup.hasEnoughResource("beer", 1) and setup.hasEnoughResource("bread", 1)>> <li><<action "Present the Daily Offering" "OsirisOffering" 5 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <<else>> <li><div class="disabled-action"><em>(Requires 1 Beer and 1 Bread to present the Daily Offering)</em></div></li> <</if>> <<else>> <li><div class="disabled-action" style="color: #a8cc8c;"><em>The Daily Offering has already been presented today.</em></div></li> <</if>> <br> <li><<action "Return to the Complex" "Complex" 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<<nobr>> <div class="textbox"> <div class="time-display"><<print formatTime($time, $day)>></div> <div class="status-container"> <<if setup.getStatusBarHTML>> <<print setup.getStatusBarHTML()>> <<script>> setTimeout(function() { if (typeof setup.initStatusTooltips === 'function') { setup.initStatusTooltips(); } }, 50); <</script>> <<else>> <div class="status-bar">No active statuses</div> <</if>> </div> <div class="needs-header">Needs:</div> <div class="stat-row"> <span class="stat-label">Vigor</span> <div class="stat-bar"> <div class="meter" id="vigor-meter" @style="'width: ' + $vigor + '%; background-color: ' + window.getVigorColor($vigor) + ';'"></div> </div> <span class="stat-value"><<print Math.round($vigor)>>%</span> </div> <div class="stat-row"> <span class="stat-label">Hygiene</span> <div class="stat-bar"> <div class="meter" id="hygiene-meter" @style="'width: ' + $hygiene + '%; background-color: ' + window.getHygieneColor($hygiene) + ';'"></div> </div> <span class="stat-value"><<print Math.round($hygiene)>>%</span> </div> <div class="stat-row"> <span class="stat-label">Thirst</span> <div class="stat-bar"> <div class="meter" id="thirst-meter" @style="'width: ' + $thirst + '%; background-color: ' + window.getThirstColor($thirst) + ';'"></div> </div> <span class="stat-value"><<print Math.round($thirst)>>%</span> </div> <div class="stat-row"> <span class="stat-label">Exhaustion</span> <div class="stat-bar"> <div class="meter" id="exhaustion-meter" @style="'width: ' + $exhaustion + '%; background-color: ' + window.getExhaustionColor($exhaustion) + ';'"></div> </div> <span class="stat-value"><<print Math.round($exhaustion)>>%</span> </div> <div class="stat-row"> <span class="stat-label">Hunger</span> <div class="stat-bar"> <div class="meter" id="hunger-meter" @style="'width: ' + $hunger + '%; background-color: ' + window.getHungerColor($hunger) + ';'"></div> </div> <span class="stat-value"><<print Math.round($hunger)>>%</span> </div> <<if $temperance is undefined>><<set $temperance to 0>><</if>> <div class="alignment-section"> <div class="alignment-labels"> <span class="label-decadence">Decadence</span> <span class="label-temperance">Temperance</span> </div> <div class="alignment-bar-container" @title="setup.getTemperanceText($temperance)"> <div class="alignment-bar-bg"></div> <div class="alignment-center-mark"></div> <div class="alignment-marker" @style="'left: ' + setup.getTemperancePercentage($temperance) + '%;'">𓋹</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="sidebar-nav"> <<if $hasEquipmentUnlocked>> <<button "Character">><<run window.openEquipmentDialog('character')>> <</button>><</if>> </div> <</nobr>> <style> .stat-row { display: flex; align-items: center; margin-bottom: 6px; } .stat-label { width: 70px; text-align: right; padding-right: 10px; color: #aaa; font-size: 0.85em; } .stat-bar { flex: 1; height: 14px; background-color: #111; border: 1px solid #444; border-radius: 2px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; } .meter { height: 100%; transition: width 0.4s ease, background-color 0.4s ease; } .stat-value { width: 40px; text-align: right; padding-left: 10px; color: #aaa; font-size: 11px; } .time-display { margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; color: #c19a6b; font-style: italic; text-align: center; border-top: 1px solid #333; padding-top: 10px; } .needs-header { margin: 15px 0 8px 0; font-weight: bold; color: #e6d2b5; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 0.8em; letter-spacing: 1px; } .status-container { margin: 10px 0; min-height: 30px; } .alignment-section { margin-top: 20px; padding-top: 10px; border-top: 1px solid #333; } .alignment-labels { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; font-size: 0.7em; text-transform: uppercase; margin-bottom: 4px; color: #888; } .sidebar-nav { margin-top: 20px; } </style>

<<set setup.currentTrack = "">> <<set setup.marketTrackToggle = 1>> <<set $mindBase = 0>> <<set $bodyBase = 0>> <<set $spiritBase = 0>> <<set $mind = 0 >> <<set $body = 0 >> <<set $spirit = 0 >> <<set $renown to 0>> $wisdom-skill = 0 $ritual-arts-skill = 0 $grace-skill = 0 $resilience-skill = 0 $allure-skill = 0 $faith-skill = 0 <<set $time = 360>> <<set $day = 1>> <<set $library to { disputeOwned: false, disputeRead: false, sinuheOwned: false, sinuheRead: false, ptahhotepOwned: false, ptahhotepRead: false, poetryOwned: false, poetryRead: false, satireOwned: false, satireRead: false }>> <<set $characterName to "">> <<set $hairColor to null>> <<set $hairTexture to null>> <<set $hairLength to null>> <<set $eyeColor to null>> <<set $eyeType to null>> <<set $bodyFrame to null>> <<set $skinColor to null>> <<set $height to null>> <<set $faceType to null>> <<set $backgroundVisible to true>> <<set $readyForKemhotepAtrium to false>>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Before you tend to me, tell me of yourself, Tahira. Where do you come from?\"" "right">>\ Tahira sets the heating stones down in the full tub. She visibly hesitates and clasps her hands together in front of her linen dress. She is clearly not used to being spoken to with curiosity. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"I... I am of Libyan blood, High Priestess, though I was born here in the city. My family has little. My father breaks his back as a stonecutter in the deep limestone quarries, and my mother scrubs linens at the riverbanks from dawn until dusk.\"" "left">>\ She bows her head a little lower, her voice barely above a whisper. \ <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"I have three younger siblings to feed. When your honorable father offered to purchase my service ten years in advance, it was a blessing from the gods. We would have starved otherwise.\"" "left">>\ <<include "TahiraQuestions">> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ Tahira quietly enters the bathroom, her eyes downcast as she carries the fresh linens and a basin of warm, perfumed water. She moves with practiced efficiency, pouring the water into the limestone tub and preparing the natron salts. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"The water is ready, Mistress,\" she whispers, keeping her gaze carefully fixed on the floor." "left">> You step into the basin, and she sets to work. Her touch is incredibly light, almost hesitant, as she lathers the oils into your skin. Despite her fragility, her hands are diligent, making sure every trace of the day's grime is washed away. She remains entirely silent, the picture of a perfectly obedient servant, only moving when instructed and ensuring your comfort is her absolute priority. </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Tahira</h1>\ <div style="margin: 1.5em 0; padding-top: 1em; border-top: 1px solid #444;"> <<set _hk to 1>> /* Fetch Tahira's relationship score safely */ <<set _tahiraRel to (setup.getWorkerByName("Tahira").relationship || 0)>> /* 1. SLEEP CHECK (22:00 - 06:00) */ <<if $hour >= 22 or $hour < 6>> <div class="disabled-action"><em>It is late; Tahira has retired to her quarters to sleep.</em></div> <br> <<action "Return to the Atrium" "Atrium" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> /* 2. BUSY CHECK (Worker Tasks) */ <<elseif setup.isWorkerBusy("Tahira")>> <div class="disabled-action"><em>Tahira is currently busy with assigned work elsewhere in the city.</em></div> <br> <<action "Leave her to her work" "Atrium" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> /* 3. AVAILABLE */ <<else>> /* Bathing Interaction */ <<if setup.hasEnoughResource("bathing_supplies", 1)>> <<action "Ask her to draw a bath" "TahiraBathHandler" 30 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<else>> <div class="disabled-action"><em>(You need bathing supplies to take a bath with Tahira's help)</em></div> <</if>> /* Gaming Interaction */ <<action "Play a game of <span title='Twenty Squares, also known as Aseb, is an ancient Egyptian race game which would later evolve into backgammon. Played by two people using five pieces each and four-sided dice, players race to move all pieces across a 20-square board.'>Twenty Squares</span>" "TahiraTwentySquares" 60 _hk>><<set _hk++>> /* Sequential Chat Routing */ <<if not $tahiraStage1Seen>> <<action "Chat with Tahira" "TahiraStage1" 15 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<elseif _tahiraRel >= 10 and not $tahiraStage2Seen>> <<action "Chat with Tahira" "TahiraStage2" 15 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<else>> /* Fallback generic chat for when between milestones or fully maxed out */ <<action "Chat with Tahira" "TahiraGenericChat" 15 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <</if>> <br> <<action "Return to the Atrium" "Atrium" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <</if>> </div> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ <<set $fetishDom to true>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"If men are brutes, Tahira, why should I be the prey? I imagine the weight of my authority made physical. To take a creature of violence and muscle and break his pride until he weeps for my permission to breathe. It would be... safe. The ultimate control over the chaos they bring.\"" "right">>\ Tahira's breath catches. She looks at your pale hands and then instinctively drops her gaze to the water. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"It sounds cruel, Mistress... but I understand the logic. Like taming a lion so it cannot bite you. Whoever you choose to conquer will surely forget his own name before the end.\"" "left">>\ <<include "TahiraFetishHub">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ <<set $fetishFeet to true>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Men are creatures of the dust, Tahira. Why should I let them touch my face or my heart? The thought of a man, arrogant and loud in the daylight, crawling on his belly just to press his mouth to the arch of my foot... It requires nothing of me. It is the ultimate, untouchable distance.\"" "right">>\ Tahira’s gaze instinctively drops to your soft, delicate feet. Her eyes trace their curves, clean and completely removed from the filth of the streets. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"It is a cold thought, Mistress... but I look at your skin, and I suppose a man would be lucky just to kiss the dust you walk upon. It keeps you safe from their heavy hands.\"" "left">>\ <<include "TahiraFetishHub">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ <<set $fetishSub to true>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Every word I speak dictates the fate of temple silver or a petitioner's life. I am so terribly tired of choosing, Tahira. The thought of being thrown into the dark, of having my will completely silenced... to be nothing but flesh for someone else to govern. The relief of that helplessness must be absolute.\"" "right">>\ Tahira blinks in profound shock. The idea that someone of your staggering authority would *want* to be subjugated seems to collapse her mind for a moment. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"To... to surrender? Mistress, you are the highest authority I know. The thought of you helpless like a slave... it is scandalous. I cannot imagine any mortal man worthy of holding your leash.\"" "left">>\ <<include "TahiraFetishHub">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ <<set $fetishWatersports to true>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"We bathe in blessed water and pretend we are made of gold. But we are animals beneath the linen, Tahira. I imagine the sheer, profane shock of ultimate degradation... of the hot, sudden claim of bodily waters. It strips away all the holy lies. There is no pretense left in such a messy, absolute marking.\"" "right">>\ A fresh wave of pink dusts Tahira's cheeks as she struggles to process the confession. She bites her lower lip, staring at the bathwater as if it has suddenly turned dangerous. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"Honestly, Mistress, this is the first time I hear of taking pleasure in these acts. But the Nile gives life with her waters, so perhaps it is only natural for a Priestess to find divine pleasure in... such things.\"" "left">>\ <<include "TahiraFetishHub">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ <<silently>> <<set $askedTahiraIntimacy to true>> /* Initialize flags ONLY if they don't exist yet, so we don't wipe the player's choices! */ <<if $fetishFeet is undefined>><<set $fetishFeet to false>><</if>> <<if $fetishWatersports is undefined>><<set $fetishWatersports to false>><</if>> <<if $fetishSub is undefined>><<set $fetishSub to false>><</if>> <<if $fetishDom is undefined>><<set $fetishDom to false>><</if>> <<if $prefRomance is undefined>><<set $prefRomance to false>><</if>> <<if $prefCasual is undefined>><<set $prefCasual to false>><</if>> <</silently>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The steam hides us, Tahira. No one is listening. Tell me the truth. You are untouched, but you have eyes. Which of the men in the market makes your blood stir? Maybe a guard, with eyes like a hungry hawk?\"" "right">>\ Tahira looks at the water, her face darkening with a simple, honest heat. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"The guards are loud and smell of beer, Mistress. I have no taste for them. If I wonder at all, I think of someone quiet. A man whose hands are strong but do not bruise.\"" "left">>\ She pauses, looking up at you. The expression in her blue eyes shifts from shyness to genuine disbelief. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"But you, High Priestess... you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Your skin is like pure velvet. Surely some noble or high official has... I mean, I assume you knew everything of pleasure.\"" "left">>\ The smile you have been taught to wear now feels thin and brittle. You look at your hands, soft and untested. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I know the scrolls, Tahira. I have read the House of Life's texts on anatomy and the sacred unions. But it is all just ink on papyrus. In truth, I am as empty of experience as you are.\"" "right">>\ You feel a sharp, cold knot of anxiety in your stomach. Despite your fears, you know that you are clever enough to govern the temple well, but the prospect of managing a man's hunger feels alien and dangerous. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I am a High Priestess. I am supposed to be a vessel of joy for the people, yet the thought of it - the heat, the salt, the sheer mess of a man - it intimidates me. It feels like a debt I am forced to pay. But even in my dread, I find myself curious about certain things.\"" "right">>\ The air in the bath is thick and heavy. You have admitted your inexperience; regardless, this would be the perfect moment to ''establish your tastes'' for the future. <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>>\ /* These options will disappear once the player clicks either of them */ <<if not $prefRomance and not $prefCasual>>\ <li><<action "\"For me, the act requires deep emotional devotion and tender connection.\"" "TahiraIntimacyRomance" 0 _hk "+10T">><<set _hk++>></li>\ <li><<action "\"I prefer intense, primal release. Pure adrenaline without the burden of feelings.\"" "TahiraIntimacyCasual" 0 _hk "+10D">><<set _hk++>></li>\ <</if>>\ </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ <<silently>>\ <<set $metTahira to true>>\ /* Hires her: Name, Class, Wage (5), Icon, Skills, Wages, Efficiency (0.75) */ <<set $tahiraId to setup.hireWorker("Tahira", "SERVANT", 0, "𓁐", {}, ["bread", "beer"], 0.25)>> /* Dialogue Flags */ <<set $askedTahiraLover to false>> <<set $askedTahiraService to false>> <<set $askedTahiraRespect to false>> <<set $askedTahiraIntimacy to false>> <</silently>> You call out for Tahira, and within moments, soft, hurried footsteps echo from the hall. A young woman steps into the room, keeping her head bowed respectfully. She carries a rectangular tray of burning hot stones with uncanny strength; the heating bricks must weigh at least as much as she does. Her appearance is strikingly foreign; pale skin that seems untouched by the harsh Egyptian sun, framed by flaxen blonde hair that falls softly against her shoulders. When she briefly glances up to acknowledge you, you notice her eyes are a vivid, watery blue. She possesses a lithe, almost fragile figure, wrapped in a simple linen servant's dress. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"You called, High Priestess? Shall I prepare the bath for you?\"" "left">>\ Her voice is soft, carrying a deeply submissive cadence. It is clear your father trained her well in the little time he had left. She seems eager to please, completely deferential to your authority. <<action "\"Tell me a little about yourself first.\"" "TahiraBackstory" 0 "1">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"This was a pleasant conversation, Tahira, but now I would like you to prepare the water.\"" "right">> Tahira immediately nods, turning her attention to the limestone tub. She quickly gets to work pouring aromatics into the water, after which she fetches a box with different types of soaps and oils. The water is warm; it must have taken her at least an hour of hard work to prepare it using the hot stones. You take off your clothes and enter the basin. Having her tend to your bath is a relaxing, if deeply intimate, experience. Her hands are gentle as she scrubs your back. She does not speak, given that she is not spoken to. Her touch is incredibly light, almost hesitant, as she washes your skin. Despite her fragility, her hands are diligent, making sure every trace of grime is washed away. After drying you off, she takes great care in rubbing your body with scented oil. You should probably seek out Kemhotep. He should be somewhere in the Temple Complex. <<action "Return to the Atrium" "Atrium" 0 "1">> <<set $TahiraTookBath to true>>\ <<run setup.unlockWorkerManagement()>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ <<set $askedTahiraLover to true>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"A girl of your beauty... tell me, have you ever taken a lover? Have you laid with anyone before coming to this house?\"" "right">>\ A deep, furious blush spreads across Tahira's pale cheeks, reaching all the way to the tips of her ears. She shakes her head rapidly, her blue eyes wide with embarrassment. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"N-no, Mistress! Never. My mother kept me close to the washing basins, away from the men of the city. I am entirely untouched. I was told... I was told my purity was required to serve in the house of a Priestess.\"" "left">>\ Her absolute innocence is almost palpable. It adds a certain weight to the reality that she is now your servant. <<include "TahiraQuestions">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ <<set $askedTahiraRespect to true>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You come from a family of hard labor. I respect that. You need not fear me, Tahira; you will find me to be quite undemanding.\"" "right">>\ A faint flicker of relief washes over Tahira's delicate features, though she quickly suppresses it to maintain her deferential posture. \ <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"You are deeply merciful, High Priestess. But please, do not hesitate to order me to do as you see fit. I am sworn in service of your house..\"" "left">>\ <<include "TahiraQuestions">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ <<set $askedTahiraService to true>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"How do you find your service here, Tahira? Does the work suit you?\"" "right">> <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"It is a profound honor, Mistress,\" she answers immediately, her tone laced with genuine reverence. \"The work is clean, the roof is sound, and I am not exposed to the brutality of the sun or the cruelty of the streets. My only worry is to to ensure your comfort and the upkeep of the house.\"" "left">>\ <<include "TahiraQuestions">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ <<if setup.isNight()>>\ The massive white walls of Amun stand stark against the dark sky. The continuous hum of human industry that chokes the forecourt by day has vanished, replaced by the sharp crackle of brazier fires and the measured tread of armed temple guards. The side gates where the cedar shipments arrive are barred shut, and the accountant's small desk sits abandoned in the shadows. The few priests who remain move with quiet, nocturnal purpose. <<else>>\ The temple of Amun does not announce itself so much as accumulate. First the walls, massive and white, higher than anything has a right to be. Then the sound: not silence, as you might expect of a holy place, but a low, continuous hum of human industry, the scrape of sandals on stone, the distant chant of a choir rehearsing something imperfectly, the bark of an overseer directing the unloading of a cedar shipment through a side gate. Two dozen people are ahead of you in the forecourt alone. Priests in white linen move among them with the unhurried efficiency of men who have processed supplicants all their lives and find them neither interesting nor troubling. <<if $finishedInheritanceQuest>>\ Sitting at a small desk near the side gates is the Temple Accountant. He maintains the inventory of the temple's daily needs and is willing to sell excess supplies to ordained priests and priestesses. <<button "Barter with Temple Accountant">> <<run window.openBarterDialog("temple_accountant")>> <</button>> <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if $temperance >= 15 and not $gods.thoth.active and $amenhotepThothHintAsked and not setup.isNight() and not $thothQuestActive and not $thothQuestDelivered and not setup.hasEnoughResource("thothidol", 1)>>\ Amenhotep told you to ask around. Perhaps the acolyte who guides you through your visits could help. <</if>>\ <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>> /* 1. Quest is active, but the errand hasn't been given yet */ <<if $startedInheritanceQuest and not $startedInheritanceErrand>>\ <li><<action "Enter the inner cloister" "Inner Cloister" 2 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <</if>>\ /* 2. Errand is resolved, returning to report to Amenhotep */ <<if $wenenneferResolved and not $finishedInheritanceQuest>>\ <li><<action "Enter the inner cloister" "WenenneferReturn" 2 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <</if>>\ /* 3. Post-quest audience with Amenhotep (Daytime only) */ <<if $finishedInheritanceQuest and not setup.isNight()>>\ <li><<action "Request an audience with Amenhotep" "AmenhotepAudience" 15 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <</if>>\ /* 4. Thoth Quest Initiation */ <<if $temperance >= 15 and not $gods.thoth.active and $amenhotepThothHintAsked and not setup.isNight() and not $thothQuestActive and not $thothQuestDelivered and not setup.hasEnoughResource("thothidol", 1)>>\ <li><<action "Look for the acolyte" "ThothQuestStart" 5 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <</if>>\ /* 5. Thoth Quest Delivery */ <<if $thothQuestDelivered and not setup.isNight()>>\ <li><<action "Seek out Nesamun for your reward" "ThothQuestReward" 10 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <</if>>\ <li><<action "Return to City Navigation" "City" 2 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<<if $finishedInheritanceQuest and not $tisetIntroSeen>>\ <<silently>> <<set $tisetIntroSeen to true>> <</silently>>\ <div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis</h1> You seek the sanctuary of Isis, where the scent of myrrh and lotus hangs heavy in the shadowed air. It is a place of deep mystery, where the magic of the Great Mother draws those who seek healing or love. The priestesses move silently on soft sandals, their eyes holding secrets older than the pyramids, and the quiet chanting brings a strange peace to the troubled heart. A priestess of Isis has been following you with her gaze ever since you walked through the arches of the temple. Her long, flowing curls of red hair frame a delicate, freckled face, and her striking emerald eyes seem to map out every detail of your posture. She approaches with a confident, swaying gait, the crimson fabric of her dress clinging to her form, revealing ample cleavage and a toned midriff. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Sister Priestess $characterName! I am Tiset. I happened to be awaiting an audience at the Temple of Amun and I witnessed your ordination. You were inducted into the Osiris priesthood, correct?\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Yes. In fact, the first - and last - member of our clergy since my father left for the Field of Reeds.\"" "right">>\ Tiset’s emerald eyes soften for a moment. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"The Temple of Isis has watched the slow death of your house with great sadness, sister. Your father was a remarkable man.\"" "left">>\ She lets the silence sit for a breath, as though tasting the weight of old grief in the air. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"There was a time when the love between Isis and Osiris reflected in their houses.\"" "left">>\ Tiset leans a fraction closer. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Pardon my forwardness… I know it is a heavy thing to ask of one so newly anointed, but I wonder if you would honor the friendship that once existed between our houses. I have a favor to ask - one that could serve us both.\"" "left">>\ Her gaze holds yours without flinching. She tries to make it look playful, but underneath the facade, you see the quiet desperation of one who has run out of easier options. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "\"Speak your request, sister. I will hear it.\"" "TisetRequest" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "\"Maybe another time.\"" "TisetRefusal" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>\ <<elseif $tisetDeliveryArranged and not $tisetDeliveryThanksSeen>>\ <<silently>> <<set $tisetDeliveryThanksSeen to true>> <</silently>>\ <div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis</h1> The moment you step beneath the carved arches of the Temple of Isis, Tiset’s emerald eyes find you. She rises from where she had been arranging offerings and crosses the cool stone floor with quick, joyous steps. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"You did it! By the tears of Isis, you actually did it!\" " "left">>\ She throws her arms around you without hesitation, pressing her warm, soft body against yours. Her red curls smell of lotus and smoke. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"A porter just came by, asking me to confirm the deliveries. The blue lotus and the shemshehet… they are ours again. You've no idea how much this means.\"" "left">>\ Tiset pulls back just enough to look at you, her freckled cheeks flushed with genuine delight. She reaches into the folds of her dress and produces a slender pipe carved from rich cherry wood, polished until it gleams like dark blood. <<run setup.addResource("cherry_pipe", 1)>>\ <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Here. A small token. For someone who's worthy of sharing the sacred smoke. Will you partake with me, sister? Just a little shemshehet to celebrate. The gods smile on those who share their gifts.\"" "left">>\ Her smile is warm, inviting, full of that free and easy affection she wears like perfume. The temple around you feels quieter, heavier with possibility. ''If you accept her proposal, it will not be a fleeting interaction.'' <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<if $fetishFutanari>>\ <<action "\"I will smoke with you.\"" "TisetSmokeFuta" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<elseif $fetishGirls>>\ <<action "\"I will smoke with you.\"" "TisetSmokeGirls" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<else>>\ <<action "\"I will smoke with you.\"" "TisetSmokeNormal" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>>\ <<action "\"Not today, Tiset. Perhaps another time.\"" "TisetSmokeRefusal" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>\ <<else>>\ <div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis</h1> You seek the sanctuary of Isis, where the scent of myrrh and lotus hangs heavy in the shadowed air. It is a place of deep mystery, where the magic of the Great Mother draws those who seek healing or love. The priestesses move silently on soft sandals, their eyes holding secrets older than the pyramids, and the quiet chanting brings a strange peace to the troubled heart. <ul class="room-list">\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ /* NEW: Allows the player to return to the quest offer if they refused earlier */ <<if $tisetIntroSeen and not $tisetQuestAccepted>>\ <li><<action "Approach Tiset about her favor" "TisetReturnOffer" 2 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li>\ <</if>>\ <<if $nebamunStep1Complete and not $tisetFatherNameKnown>>\ <li><<action "Look for Tiset to ask for her father's name" "TisetFatherName" 10 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li>\ <</if>>\ /* Thoth Quest Delivery Action */ <<if $thothQuestActive>>\ <li><<action "Seek out Tiset and give her Nesamun's gift" "TisetThothQuest" 5 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li>\ <</if>>\ /* Set Quest Initiation */ <<if $amenhotepSetHintAsked and not $gods.set.active and not setup.hasEnoughResource("setidol", 1)>>\ <li><<action "Seek out Tiset to ask about an idol of Set" "SetQuestStart" 10 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li>\ <</if>>\ <<if $isisMerchantUnlocked>>\ <li><a class="action-link" style="cursor:pointer;" onclick="window.openBarterDialog('isis_accountant')">[<<print _hk>>] Barter with the Temple Accountant</a><<set _hk++>></li>\ <</if>>\ <li><<action "Return to City Navigation" "City" 2 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li>\ </ul>\ </div>\ <</if>>

<div id="temple-test-container"></div> <<script>> console.log("Passage Script: Checking for setup.renderTempleInterface..."); function attemptRender(retriesLeft) { if (typeof setup.renderTempleInterface === 'function') { console.log("Passage Script: Function found, calling now for #temple-test-container..."); try { setup.renderTempleInterface('#temple-test-container'); console.log("Passage Script: Function call finished."); } catch (e) { console.error("Passage Script: Error occurred DURING renderTempleInterface call:", e); const container = document.getElementById('temple-test-container'); if(container) $(container).text('Error during rendering: ' + e.message); } } else if (retriesLeft > 0) { console.log(`Passage Script: Function not found, retrying in 50ms (${retriesLeft} retries left)...`); setTimeout(() => attemptRender(retriesLeft - 1), 50); // Wait 50ms before retrying } else { console.error("Passage Script ERROR: setup.renderTempleInterface function NOT FOUND after multiple retries!"); const container = document.getElementById('temple-test-container'); if (container) { container.style.color = 'red'; container.style.fontWeight = 'bold'; container.textContent = 'Error: setup.renderTempleInterface function NOT FOUND!'; } } } // Start checking, retry up to 20 times (1 second total wait time) attemptRender(20); <</script>>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Two Sandals Tavern</h1> You step into the dim and noisy warmth of the Two Sandals Tavern. The air is thick with the sour smell of harbor wine, roasted lotus seeds, and the sweat of seamen. Here, the rich and the poor alike seek to drown their sorrows in brightly colored goblets. <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Return to the Harbor Market." "HarborMarket" 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <<run setup.applyDeathPenalty()>> <<if $mindBase <= 0 and $bodyBase <= 0 and $spiritBase <= 0>> <div class="death-message"> <div style="text-align:center; margin:20px 0;"> <span class="final-death" style="color: red; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.5em;">FINAL DEATH</span> <p>All of your fundamental qualities have been nullified, reducing you to a husk. Death opens its doors for you for the last time; it will never spit you back out again. Pray your amulets are proper and your prayers were well said, so that the jackal will not find your heart sinful and condemn you to eternal suffering!</p> </div> </div> <<else>> <div class="death-message"> <<if $timesDied is 1>> <p>Darkness surrounds you. Then, a voice... familiar yet distant.</p> <p>"Not yet, child. Your journey is not complete."</p> <p>You gasp for air as consciousness returns. Death has claimed a piece of you, but not all.</p> <<elseif $timesDied is 2>> <p>The darkness is familiar now. The same voice speaks, but with concern.</p> <p>"Again you falter. Each return diminishes you. Take care with this mortal vessel."</p> <p>You return to life, but feel even more of yourself left behind in that dark place.</p> <<elseif $timesDied is 3>> <p>The darkness welcomes you like an old friend. The voice sounds weary.</p> <p>"How many times will you walk this path? Each death takes more than the last."</p> <p>You return to the world of the living, but feel hollow. Parts of you remain in death's realm.</p> <<else>> <p>You have died <<print $timesDied>> times. Each resurrection weakens the connection...</p> <p>The darkness is now a familiar companion, the boundary between life and death growing thin.</p> <</if>> <p style="color: #e57373; font-style: italic; margin-top: 15px; border-left: 2px solid #e57373; padding-left: 10px;"> <<if $statTaken is "Mind">> Your thoughts are clouded and memories slip through your grasp like sand. (Mind reduced by 1) <<elseif $statTaken is "Body">> Your limbs feel incredibly heavy and a deep, physical weakness settles into your bones. (Body reduced by 1) <<elseif $statTaken is "Spirit">> The divine connection feels fainter, a cold emptiness lingering in your chest. (Spirit reduced by 1) <</if>> </p> <div class="return-link" style="margin-top: 20px;"> <<link "Wake up" $returnPassage>><</link>> </div> </div> <</if>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ The scent of warm stone drifts through the open shutters, carrying the distant bray of donkeys and the chatter of merchants preparing for the day's work. It is your first morning truly alone. No father's guidance, no mother's voice, only duty. Your parents, however, have left a spiritual inheritance of their... <<action "...encyclopedic knowledge." "grats" 0 1 "updateStatAndRecalculate" "mind" 1>>\ <<action "...physical virtues." "grats" 0 2 "updateStatAndRecalculate" "body" 1>>\ <<action "...sharp intution." "grats" 0 3 "updateStatAndRecalculate" "spirit" 1>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <<run calculateSkills()>>\ <<set $hasCharacterUnlocked to true>> \ <<set $hasEquipmentUnlocked to true>>\ The walls of the house feel oddly unfamiliar, despite the twenty-three years you have spent within them. You make your way to your father's study, where his scent has outlived him: incense and dried herbs. The morning sun catches the dust and sets it drifting. Everything is exactly as he left it, which is the hardest part. "When the time comes," your father had said with his last breath, barely above a whisper, "look in the cedar box. The one with the ankh carved on its lid." You know it well. It sits on the highest shelf. Standing on tiptoe, you lift it down. The ankh catches the light as you trace it, just as he used to. Your hands are steadier than you expect. Inside, beneath a handful of dried lotus petals that crumble at your touch, you find two things. The first is a khopesh - your grandfather's, by the look of it, the bronze worn soft with age but the edge still true. A woman alone has need of one, your father had always said. You understand now that he meant it practically. The second is a sealed papyrus. You break the <<naction "seal" "last words" 5 1>>. <<run setup.addResource("bronze_khopesh", 1)>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <div class="ancient-scroll"> <div class="scroll-edge-top"></div>\ <div class="scroll-edge-bottom"></div>\ <div class="papyrus-fibers"></div>\ <div class="ancient-text"> <<print $characterName>>, my daughter, <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ If you are reading this, then I am with your mother, and with your brothers, and I find I am not sorry for it. I only regret leaving you alone with this quarry. You were always the strongest of us. I am not certain I ever told you that plainly enough. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ Beneath the great amphora in the cellar, the one scarred at the rim, a loose stone hides a small reserve. It is what little I have managed to put away on my final day so that I could buy you some time to get accomodated to your new duties. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ Your first order of business is your ordainment. Present the other letter in this box to the Temple of Amun. It establishes your lineage and your claim. The ceremony will be a formality, and they will make it feel like a favor. Do not let them, for you have earned it.<div class="ancient-break"></div>\ The temple itself is in a sorry state, and I will not pretend otherwise. I made poor decisions, and you will inherit their consequences alongside everything else. The Amun priesthood holds land that was ours. Getting it back will take patience and cunning in equal measure. Do not go to them in anger. Anger is a luxury for people who have already won. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ Your grandfather's khopesh is in the box beside this letter. He carried it his whole life and never once had to use it, which he always said was the mark of a man who carried it correctly. You are alone now. Carry it correctly. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ There is one last thing I must say, and I will say it without ceremony because it would be dishonest. There are requests that come to a priestess that would never come to a priest. Men will seek the temple in many kinds of hunger, and not all of it is spiritual. Some will come with maladies that yield only to a woman's touch, and some will simply desire the warmth of a body to cure their loneliness or longing or sorrow. A priestess is the bride of the god, and some men take that as an open invitation to present themselves as supplicants of the flesh. How you answer is your choice alone, and I will not decide it for you from beyond the grave. Whatever you choose, be firm in your path and eager to serve, for the gods witness the difference even when men do not. </div>\ </div>\ The words "many kinds of hunger" linger in your mind. You are not surprised at all, but the thought of possibly having to indulge... <<action "...sends a slight warmth between your thighs." "FatherStudyD" 0 "1" "+3D">>\ <<action "...makes you sigh; intimacy should not be easily dispensed." "FatherStudyD" 0 "2" "+3T">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <p style="margin:0; padding:0; line-height:1.4;">\ Your name is: <input type="text" id="characterName" value="" oninput="window.updateCharacterName(this.value)"/> <<button "Generate Egyptian Name">> <<run generatePCName()>> <</button>> Your black hair, styled in straight locks cascading down to your shoulders, frames amber-hued eyes of a distinct almond shape. A lithe figure with olive skin and a tall stature complements your <<hover "elegant" "graceful, well-balanced features with aristocratic refinement">> facial features, giving you an unmistakable allure. You are a priestess, as were your ancestors before you, stretching back at least twenty generations. Or so your father always told you. He had been preparing you your whole life, teaching you speechcraft, healing arts, spells and rituals. The formal initiation required a sponsoring priest of standing, a ceremony. It was not something a dying man could perform from a sickbed. And so it waited. The fevers came first for your mother, then for your brothers, then for your father, and the physicians prescribed many remedies, at considerable cost. To pay them, your father borrowed against the only thing of value he had left. Parcels of the temple estate, some of them older than living memory, passed into the hands of the Amun priesthood in exchange for silver that dissolved as quickly as it came. He believed he would recover. He did not recover. It was only yesterday they buried him, the last of your family to go. His ushabtis and scarabs were plentiful; his place in the Field of Reeds well assured. You try to console yourself with the thought. He leaves behind the weight of his inheritance: a temple stripped of half its lands, debts owed to powerful men, and a title you were raised for but never formally given. \ <div id="readyCheck"> </div>\ </p>\ </div> <<silently>> <<script>> // Check if we are testing or published var folder = (setup.isTesting ? (setup.localPath + "img/") : "assets/"); // List all your possible backgrounds here var backgroundsToPreload = [ "Thebes.jpg", "Temple.jpg", "Market.jpg", "Harbor.jpg", "AmunTemple.jpg", "House.jpg", "Bathroom.jpg" ]; // Silently fetch them all while the player reads the title screen backgroundsToPreload.forEach(function(bgFile) { var img = new Image(); img.src = folder + bgFile; }); <</script>> <</silently>>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Amun</h1> A young acolyte receives you at the outer gate before you have time to wonder whether you should announce yourself. He is perhaps nineteen, shaven-headed, and possessed of the particular blankness of expression that institutions produce in the young. You show him your letter of birthright. <<dialogue "Acolyte" "img/AmunAcolyte.jpg" "\"Priestess of Osiris.\" He reads this from your papers without surprise, as if he has handled stranger requests this morning. \"You must be here for the High Priest. Please follow me.\"" "left">>\ You <<naction "follow" "Inner Cloister Cont" 0 1>> him. He does not ask if you have been here before. </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ <<run setup.removeResource("letter_of_birthright", 1)>>\ The avenue of ram-headed statues is longer than you remember. You walked it once as a child, holding your father's hand, and it did not seem so long then. Perhaps you were less aware of what waited at the end of it. Walking through the winding corridors of the temple, you arrive in one of the many audience rooms. The high priest in front of you is perhaps fifty, well-fed in the way of men who have never had cause to consider whether they will eat today. He reminds you of better days. You recall his name from somewhere: <<hover "Amenhotep" "a common priestly name meaning 'Amun is satisfied'">>. He is reading something when you enter and sets it aside with the air of a man who has been interrupted by nothing. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"Sit,\" he says, and the word is warm, not commanding. \"You have come a long way this morning.\"" "left">>\ The acolyte bows and returns to his duties, leaving you alone. You sit down. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"My most respectful greetings, High Priest. I am $characterName, daughter of Senusret. You may be aware of my father's recent passing; I am here concerning the rights I have inherited from him.\" You hand him the letter." "right">>\ He takes his time. You get the sense that he already knows everything written inside. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"Your father was a good man,\" he says finally. \"I knew him a little. Not well. He never asked for help when he should have, which is a virtue in some men and a misfortune in others.\" He sets the papers on the table between you. \"I was sorry to hear of his passing.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"The matter of the land,\" he continues, in the same tone one might use to mention that rain is expected, \"is straightforward enough. The law is clear that temple estates belong to their gods. It is also clear that your father entered into a formal arrangement, in the presence of witnesses, pledging the revenues of those parcels as security against the loan advanced to him.\" He pauses. \"The loan which was never repaid.\"" "left">>\ He slides a <<naction "document" "Inner Cloister Cont2" 0 1>> toward you. The writing is very fine. </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"What this asks you to acknowledge,\" he says, \"is simply that the arrangement was legal. That the land transferred in accordance with its terms. It protects you, in fact, from any future dispute over the legitimacy of your claim to what remains.\"" "left">>\ <div class="ancient-scroll"> <div class="scroll-edge-top"></div>\ <div class="scroll-edge-bottom"></div>\ <div class="papyrus-fibers"></div>\ Let it be known and recorded in the presence of Amun, Lord of Thrones, and before the witnesses whose seals appear below, that this instrument is set down in the sixth year of the reign of Ramesses, third of his name, Son of Ra, in the city of Thebes, in the temple of Amun. Whereas the priest <<hover "Nakhtaris" "your father's official priestly name, which you have never heard used in a legal context before">> of the temple of Osiris, Foremost of the Westerners, did in the fourth year of the current reign enter into a lawful arrangement with the estate of Amun, pledging the revenues and administrative custody of the following parcels of land in perpetuity as security against a loan of <<hover "3,200 deben" "a standard unit of account used across Egypt to make bartering easier; a loaf of bread might be worth two deben, a jar of beer three, a modest house several hundred. Not a physical coin or weight, simply an agreed measure of value that everyone recognizes">> advanced by the estate of Amun in good faith; And whereas the said loan was not repaid within the agreed term, nor was any partial repayment made, nor was any formal dispute lodged with the administrative court within the period prescribed by law; The undersigned, being the lawful heir of Nakhtaris and successor to his priestly office, does hereby affirm: That the arrangement described above was entered into freely and without duress. That the transfer of administrative custody over the parcels listed hereunder was completed lawfully and in accordance with its terms. That the estate of Amun holds permanent administrative authority over said parcels, including sole authority to determine the terms and valuation of any future transaction concerning them, said authority to remain in effect until such time as all obligations arising from the original arrangement have been satisfied in full, as assessed by the estate of Amun. That the undersigned makes no claim, present or future, against the legality of this transfer, and waives the right to bring such claim before any court, civil or priestly, in the city of Thebes or elsewhere in the kingdom. The parcels are as follows: The urban plot lying within the <<hover "temenos" "the sacred enclosure wall defining the boundaries of a temple's territory">> wall of the temple of Osiris, bounded to the north by the street of the sandal-makers, to the east by the property of the coppersmith Herihor son of Mahu, to the south by the outer wall of the temple hypostyle, and to the west by the processional road, being approximately nine arouras together with all structures, workshops, storage facilities, and dwellings currently standing or formerly standing upon them. The northern field lying outside the city walls beyond the third irrigation gate, bounded to the north by the field of the herdsman Amenmes, to the east by the great canal, to the south by the road to the quarries, and to the west by the field of the temple of Mut, being approximately thirty-five <<hover "arouras" "a standard measure of land area; one aroura is roughly two-thirds of an acre">> of arable land presently given over to grain. The eastern field lying beyond the city in the direction of the desert road, bounded to the north by the field of the merchant Panehesy, to the east by the dry channel known as the old arm, to the south by unclaimed scrubland, and to the west by the field of the temple of Mut, being approximately twenty arouras, of which twelve are presently cultivated and eight lie fallow. The marsh plot adjoining the former sacred lake of the temple of Osiris, bounded on all sides by the temple temenos or its former extent, being approximately four arouras of reed-marsh and silted basin, together with any water rights historically associated with the said lake. In witness whereof the undersigned sets her seal below, in full knowledge of the contents of this instrument. </div>\ The document is not new. The edges have yellowed, and the fold lines are set deep, the papyrus having been rolled and unrolled more than once already. This was prepared months ago, for someone who had not yet walked through the door. He is watching you read with an expression of patient goodwill.\ <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"Take your time.\"" "left">>\ <<silently>> <<set $askedAmenhotepValuation to false>> <<set $askedAmenhotepAge to false>> <<set $askedAmenhotepRefuse to false>> <<set $signedAmenhotepDocument to false>> <</silently>> <<include "AmenhotepQuestions">> </div>

<<if _hk is undefined>><<set _hk to 1>><</if>>\ <<if not $askedAmenhotepValuation>>\ <<action "\"What does 'as assessed by the estate of Amun' mean, exactly?\"" "AmenhotepValuation" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>> <<if not $askedAmenhotepAge>>\ <<action "\"This document was prepared before I arrived.\"" "AmenhotepAge" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>> <<if not $askedAmenhotepRefuse and not $signedAmenhotepDocument>>\ <<action "\"I will not sign this.\"" "AmenhotepRefuse" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>> <<if not $signedAmenhotepDocument>>\ <<if $askedAmenhotepRefuse>>\ <<action "Sign the document." "AmenhotepSignAfterRefusal" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<else>>\ <<action "Sign the document." "AmenhotepSign" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The third affirmation. It says the estate of Amun holds sole authority to determine the terms of any future transaction. That would include the price at which I could reclaim my own land.\"" "right">>\ He does not blink. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"Standard administrative language. It simply ensures that valuations are handled by those with the expertise to conduct them fairly, rather than left to the vagaries of informal negotiation. You would not want your land assessed by a street merchant, I imagine.\"" "left">>\ He smiles. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"The temple has always been fair in these matters. I would not expect that to change.\"" "left">>\ He has not answered the question. He has answered a different question so smoothly that the difference is easy to miss. <<silently>><<set $askedAmenhotepValuation to true>><</silently>> <<include "AmenhotepValuationPress">> </div>

<<set _hk to 1>>\ <<if not $askedAmenhotepValuationPress>> <<action "\"That is not what I asked.\"" "AmenhotepValuationPressResponse" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>> <<include "AmenhotepQuestions">>

<div class="textbox">\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You have told me the temple is fair. You have not told me what prevents the temple from deciding, at any point of its choosing, that the land is worth considerably more than what my father borrowed. There is nothing in this document that would stop that.\"" "right">>\ Something shifts behind his eyes. Not displeasure exactly. Something closer to reassessment. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"You read carefully,\" he says. \"That is a quality I respect.\"" "left">>\ He does not answer the question. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"I will tell you what I can tell you honestly: the temple has no interest in making an enemy of the priesthood of Osiris. Your temple recovering its strength serves the religious life of this city. A adversarial relationship between us serves no one.\"" "left">>\ He spreads his hands. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"I cannot write you guarantees against futures that have not happened. I can tell you that I am speaking to you in good faith, and that you are welcome to take that for whatever you believe it is worth.\"" "left">>\ It is, you think, the most honest thing he has said since you sat down. It is also not a guarantee of anything. <<silently>><<set $askedAmenhotepValuationPress to true>><</silently>> <<include "AmenhotepQuestions">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ Three months. Perhaps four. And your ordination waiting on the other side of it like a door held just slightly ajar. Clenching your jaw, you sigh furiously. There is no way around this... Despite everything you told him, you ask him for the document. The reed pen is already on the table. He did not need to fetch it. Amenhotep takes the document, reviews your seal, and folds it once with the practiced efficiency of a man who has handled a great many documents and finds satisfaction in the handling of them. It disappears into the folds of his robe. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"Good. Now.\"" "left">>\ He laces his fingers together on the table, and his expression settles into something warmer, as if a minor administrative difficulty has been resolved and the real conversation can begin. He does not further acknowledge your initial refusal. <<silently>><<set $signedAmenhotepDocument to true>><</silently>> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Continue." "AmenhotepErrand" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ You sign. The reed pen is already on the table. He did not need to fetch it. Amenhotep takes the document, reviews your seal, and folds it once with the practiced efficiency of a man who has handled a great many documents and finds satisfaction in the handling of them. It disappears into the folds of his robe. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"Good. Now.\"" "left">>\ He laces his fingers together on the table, and his expression settles into something warmer, as if a minor administrative difficulty has been resolved and the real conversation can begin. <<silently>><<set $signedAmenhotepDocument to true>><</silently>> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Continue." "AmenhotepErrand" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Harbor</h1>\ <<if setup.isNight()>>\ The relentless chaos of the day has bled away, leaving the harbor eerily quiet. Torches flicker along the stone quays where armed guards patrol the moored ships. The only signs of life are the rhythmic lapping of the black Nile and the muffled, drunken shouting spilling from the Two Sandals Tavern. <ul class="room-list">\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <li><<action "Enter the Two Sandals Tavern" "Two Sandals Tavern" 5 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> /* Paneb Harbor Date Hook */ <<if $panebStage === 3 and not $panebHarborDateSeen and $time >= 60>>\ <li><<action "Look for Paneb" "PanebHarborDate_Start" 10 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <</if>>\ <li><<action "Return to City Navigation" "City" 5 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul>\ <<else>>\ The harbor is a tangle of commerce, smelling of river mud, drying fish, and the sweat of a thousand laborers. Ships from up and down the Nile are docked along the quays, their crews shouting over the din of merchants haggling. <ul class="room-list">\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <li><<action "Visit the Harbor Market" "HarborMarket" 5 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> /* Porter job only available during the day, once per day! */ <<if $lastDayWorkedPorter isnot $day>> <li><<action "Work as a porter" "WorkPorter" 360 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <</if>> <<if $tisetQuestAccepted and not $tisetDeliveryArranged>>\ <<if $nebamunpapyrusobtained>>\ <li><<action "Present the papyrus to the Overseer of Transportation" "OverseerDelivery" 10 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <<else>>\ <li><<action "Go to the central warehouse" "Warehouse" 5 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <li><<action "Return to City Navigation" "City" 5 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul>\ <</if>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"There is a small matter, if you would be willing. A gesture of good faith - to the community, and to us - before we proceed to the formalities of your ordination.\"" "left">>\ He describes it as simply as one might describe sending a letter. A merchant named Wenennefer trades in livestock and caravan supplies near the harbor. Some months ago he approached the temple requesting a blessing for his animals before a long journey, paid in advance as is customary. He paid half. He promised the remainder on his return. He has returned. He has not paid.\ <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"I would not trouble you with something so mundane, except that I think a fresh face may resolve it more simply than one of our own priests, toward whom Wenennefer has expressed some hostility. You would be doing us a kindness. And it would give you an opportunity to see the city as it operates.\"" "left">>\ He says this last part as though it is a gift he is offering you. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"A priestess who does not know her city,\" he adds, \"is of limited use to anyone.\"" "left">>\ This is exactly the attitude your father was warning you about. You've heard of no tradition requiring you to be the priest's errand boy before being formally anointed, but for now, there is no choice but to dance to his tune. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"As you say. I will return once the matter is solved.\"" "right">>\ <<silently>> <<set $startedInheritanceErrand to true>> <</silently>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ The junior acolyte from before is summoned to <<naction "walk you to the gate" "Temple of Amun" 0 _hk>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Harbor</h1>\ Wenennefer's stall is not difficult to find. It is the loudest thing in its part of the harbor market, a sprawling operation of pens and crates and baled fodder, smelling of animals and river mud. He is arguing with a porter about cargo weight when you approach, and he finishes the argument before acknowledging you. This takes some time. When he finally looks at you, he takes in your linen and your bearing and draws his own conclusions. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"Amun's people. I wondered when they'd send a woman.\"" "left">>\ He folds his arms. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"The spell didn't work. Three of my animals went lame before Thebes was out of sight. Lost four days in the desert waiting for a trader going the other direction who could sell me replacements. Whatever your priests said over those animals, the gods were not listening. I don't pay for prayers that go unanswered.\"" "left">>\ He spits to one side. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"Tell them that.\"" "left">> <<silently>> <<set $wenenneferResolved to false>> <<set $wenenneferLied to false>> <</silently>> <<include "WenenneferQuestions">> </div>

<ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<if $wenenneferResolved is false>> <li><<action "Handle this with decorum." "WenenneferTemperance" 2 _hk "+2T">><<set _hk++>></li> <li><<action "Handle this differently." "WenenneferDecadence" 2 _hk "+2D">><<set _hk++>></li> <<else>> /* Now pushes the player back into the world to navigate manually */ <li><<action "Return to the Harbor Market." "HarborMarket" 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <</if>> </ul>

<div class="textbox"> You consider him for a moment. A practical man, clearly. Not unreasonable, perhaps, if approached correctly. <<set _hk to 1>> <<skillaction "Challenge the terms of the agreement." "WenenneferMind" 1 _hk "mind" 1>><<set _hk++>> <<skillaction "Meet his anger with unyielding physical presence." "WenenneferBody" 1 _hk "body" 1>><<set _hk++>> <<skillaction "Ask him how the rest of the journey went." "WenenneferSpirit" 1 _hk "spirit" 1>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Harbor Market</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"What exactly did you pay for? The gods do not make promises. Your contract was for a ritual properly performed: the correct prayers, spoken by a priest of standing, before a consecrated flame. Are you claiming the ritual was not performed? Do you have witnesses to that?\"" "right">> He says nothing. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"If the gods chose not to intervene in the lameness of your animals, that is between you and the gods. It is not a breach by the temple. Unless, of course, your animals were already ill when the blessing was given. In that case the misrepresentation was yours, not ours.\"" "right">> A long pause. He seems slightly irritated by the fact that your logic is sound. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"Half.\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The agreed amount. In full. By the end of the week.\"" "right">> <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"Three quarters. And I'm being generous.\"" "left">> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Accept three quarters." "WenenneferAcceptPartial" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Hold out for the full amount." "WenenneferHoldFirm" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Harbor Market</h1>\ Three quarters is not nothing. You have already obtained Amenhotep a greater reward than you had intended. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Three quarters, then. End of the week.\"" "right">> He nods, looking faintly surprised that you conceded. <<silently>><<set $wenenneferResolved to true>><<set $wenenneferResult to "partial">><</silently>> <<include "WenenneferQuestions">> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Harbor Market</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The agreed amount. You entered into a binding contract, and the ritual was performed. What the gods chose to do with it afterward is between you and them, not between you and the temple.\"" "right">> He looks at you for a long moment. Something in your expression, or perhaps simply in the fact that you have not moved, settles it. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"End of the week. Full amount.\"" "left">> <<silently>><<set $wenenneferResolved to true>><<set $wenenneferResult to "full">><</silently>> <<include "WenenneferQuestions">> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Harbor Market</h1>\ You do not argue the contract. Instead, you step closer with the weight of a temple statue. Despite the blistering harbor sun, the stench of the mud, and the heavy carts rumbling violently past you, you do not flinch. You do not sweat. You simply stare up at him, your posture perfectly rigid. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You try to use your size and your loud voice to intimidate me, Wenennefer. You see me a woman of the temple and you act dismissive, hoping I will run back to Amun empty-handed.\"" "right">> He blinks, instinctively taking a half-step back as your sheer physical presence commands the space around the stall. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"But that will not happen. I will not yield to the tantrum of a tired merchant. I will stand here until the Nile dries up, or until you hand over the silver you owe.\"" "right">> He stares at you for a long moment. It would seem that you caught him completely off guard: this is not a man who is used to being talked down to. His defensive posture melts away, replaced by a begrudging, genuine respect for your endurance. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"You have a spine of limestone, Priestess. I'll give you that.\"" "left">> He rubs the back of his neck, sighing. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"Fine. End of the week.\"" "left">> <<silently>><<set $wenenneferResolved to true>><<set $wenenneferResult to "full">><</silently>> <<include "WenenneferQuestions">> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Harbor Market</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The animals that went lame. Did they recover?\"" "right">> He pauses. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"Eventually.\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"And the rest of the journey?\"" "right">> Silence. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"How did the rest of the journey go, Wenennefer?\"" "right">> <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"...Well enough.\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The gods hear what is asked of them. Sometimes the answer is not the absence of difficulty, but the presence of enough grace to survive it. Your animals came home. You came home. The prayer was answered.\"" "right">> He looks at the ground. When he looks back up, something in his face has quietly rearranged itself. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"Fine, then. End of the week.\"" "left">> <<silently>><<set $wenenneferResolved to true>><<set $wenenneferResult to "full">><</silently>> <<include "WenenneferQuestions">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Harbor Market</h1>\ There are other ways to bend a man's will. You step closer, closing the narrow space between you and letting him feel the heavy, intoxicating scent of your perfume. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You misunderstand. But maybe this dispute could be solved in a much more pleasant manner once both parties understand each other's needs a little better.\"" "right">>\ He blinks, the defiant frustration faltering for a moment as his gaze drops hungrily to the sheer linen against your skin. But then his jaw tightens. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"Is this the new custom of the House of Amun? I thought the servants of the gods kept themselves undefiled. Has that great temple grown so impoverished that it sends its women to act as common harlots in the street?\"" "left">> \ You do not flinch at the insult. Instead, you let your voice drop and talk softly in his ear. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Do not confuse a sacred vessel with a woman from the taverns, Wenennefer. I am a Priestess of Osiris, the Lord of Silence. Amun’s high priests merely... borrowed my services to ensure this debt was handled with a certain... candor. My loyalty is to the Osiris, but my time is my own\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"Hah! A pretty excuse to spread your legs.\" he spits, though you notice the sweat beading at his temples. \"I have seen women like you in the pleasure houses of Thebes. You are all a net and a snare.\"" "left">>\ He seems quite dismissive of your advances. <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "His body does not seem to share his reluctance; insist." "WenenneferDecadence_Continued" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<action "He could become even more aggressive; back down." "WenenneferBackdown" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"This papyrus is months old. The fold lines are set. You had this drawn up before I came to you.\"" "right">>\ A brief pause. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"Your father's situation had been a matter of administrative record for some time. When a loan goes unresolved, it falls to us to prepare for the various outcomes. It would have been irresponsible not to.\"" "left">>\ He folds his hands. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"I am glad you came. Some heirs do not.\"" "left">>\ <<silently>><<set $askedAmenhotepAge to true>><</silently>> <<include "AmenhotepQuestions">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I will not sign this. Not today.\"" "right">>\ His expression does not change. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"Of course. You are not obliged.\"" "left">>\ He takes the document back without hurry and sets it to one side. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"The matter can be reviewed by the temple's administrative court. These things take time, three months, perhaps four, depending on the calendar. Your ordination, naturally, cannot proceed while questions of inheritance remain unresolved.\"" "left">>\ He says this with what appears to be genuine regret. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"I hope you will reconsider at your leisure. The document will be here when you are ready.\"" "left">>\ <<silently>><<set $askedAmenhotepRefuse to true>><</silently>> <<include "AmenhotepQuestions">> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Meditation Chamber</h1>\ The Meditation Chamber is quiet, offering a serene environment to focus your mind, body, and spirit. The scent of old incense still lingers in the stonework.. <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>> <li><<action "Practice Ritual Arts" "Meditation Chamber" 120 _hk "meditationTrain" "ritualArts" "mind">><<set _hk++>></li> <li><<action "Deepen Wisdom" "Meditation Chamber" 120 _hk "meditationTrain" "wisdom" "mind">><<set _hk++>></li> <li><<action "Train Grace" "Meditation Chamber" 120 _hk "meditationTrain" "grace" "body">><<set _hk++>></li> <li><<action "Harden Resilience" "Meditation Chamber" 120 _hk "meditationTrain" "resilience" "body">><<set _hk++>></li> <li><<action "Refine Allure" "Meditation Chamber" 120 _hk "meditationTrain" "allure" "spirit">><<set _hk++>></li> <li><<action "Deepen Faith" "Meditation Chamber" 120 _hk "meditationTrain" "faith" "spirit">><<set _hk++>></li> <li><<action "Return to Complex" "Complex" 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ The way to the high priest's quarters seems shorter this time around; or perhaps you are simply walking faster. Amenhotep receives you in the same room, at the same table, with the same expression of patient goodwill. He listens as you prepare to give your report. <<silently>> <<set $askedAmenhotepLie to false>> <</silently>> <<include "WenenneferReturnQuestions">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ <<if $wenenneferFlirted>>\ You recount the merchant's ultimate decision with a steady voice, carefully omitting the heat of the street and the way you used your own body as a method of persuasion. You speak only of the final terms, keeping the memory of your hands and the dark promise of the Osiris sanctuary locked behind your teeth. <<else>>\ You give him the brief, telling of the merchant's initial resistance but how you eventually managed to bring him to an agreement. You speak with the clarity of a scribe, detailing the exact terms the man eventually buckled under. <</if>>\ <<if $wenenneferResult is "full">>\ <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"You handled that well. Better than I expected, if I am honest, which I am sworn to be. Thank you, $characterName. You have done the temple a service today.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It was a simple enough matter, High Priest. Though I suspect he is more stubborn than most.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"Men usually are, when their coin is involved. But you have proven you can navigate them without unnecessary damage.\"" "left">>\ <<else>>\ <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"Only a partial payment? A pity. Still, half a measure in the treasury is better than an empty scale. I had prepared myself to write off the entire sum. Thank you, $characterName.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"He was stubborn to a fault, High Priest. I extracted what I could without causing a scene in the middle of the harbor.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"A wise choice. Men will bleed themselves dry over pride if pushed too far in public. You brought back something, and that is sufficient.\"" "left">>\ <</if>>\ Whether the approval is genuine or another kind of performance, you cannot tell. You are not certain the distinction matters. He rises from his seat. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"Come. The ordination is a small thing, and it will not take long.\"" "left">> <<silently>><<set $askedAmenhotepLie to true>><</silently>> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Proceed to the ordination." "AmenhotepOrdination" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ You offer a slight, knowing smile. You tell him that the merchant was resistant at first, but that you were able to... persuade him. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"He will be paying his debt in full. In fact, I am quite certain he will be visiting the temple very soon to handle his obligations personally.\"" "right">> Amenhotep pauses, taking in your posture, your tone, and the implication hanging in the air between you. A faint, amused smile touches the corners of his mouth. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"I see. Thank you, $characterName. You have a rather... effective method of ensuring devotion.\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I simply find that men are far more generous when they feel their offerings are deeply appreciated.\"" "right">> <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"A dangerous philosophy, but an undeniable one.\"" "left">> He rises from the table, his amusement still lingering. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"Come, then. The ordination is a small thing, and it will not take long.\"" "left">> <<silently>><<set $askedAmenhotepLie to true>><</silently>> <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <li><<action "Proceed to the ordination." "AmenhotepOrdination" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ You tell him it went smoothly. That Wenennefer was cooperative. That the debt will be paid in full and without further complaint. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"Good. Thank you, $characterName. We prefer when these matters conclude without friction.\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"He merely needed to be reminded of his obligations. There was no real trouble.\"" "right">> <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"Indeed. Sometimes the mere presence of the temple is reminder enough.\"" "left">> His eyes rest on you for a moment longer than necessary, as if searching for the cracks in your story. Then he rises. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"Come. The ordination is a small thing, and it will not take long.\"" "left">> The money may or may not arrive. If it does not, the temple will deal with it in their own way, and no blame will attach to you. You tell yourself this. <<silently>><<set $askedAmenhotepLie to true>><<set $wenenneferLied to true>><</silently>> <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <li><<action "Proceed to the ordination." "AmenhotepOrdination" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ The ceremony is briefer than you expected. There is a pool, cold and smelling of natron. An oath spoken in a room where the incense has been burning long enough that the smell has become the walls. Amenhotep places his hand on your head and speaks the words in a voice that has spoken them many times before. You speak yours. A scribe records your name in a register that already holds several hundred others, and does not look up while he does it. You are presented with a choice of three coronets. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "The circlet of lapis and gold. <span style='color: cornflowerblue'>+1 Ritual Arts, +1 Faith</span>" "ChooseCircletLapis" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "The circlet of carnelian and electrum. <span style='color: indianred'>+1 Grace, +1 Allure</span>" "ChooseCircletCarnelian" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "The circlet of malachite and faience. <span style='color: lime'>+1 Wisdom, +1 Resilience</span>" "ChooseCircletMalachite" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ <<run setup.addResource("circlet_lapis", 1)>>\ <<set $renown += 5>>\ <<run setup.notify("Renown has increased by 5.", "positive")>>\ <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"It was my pleasure to formally induct you into the priesthood. As for the matter of the parcels legally owned by the Temple of Osiris, do feel free to return any time. You shall find I am a reasonable man to bargain with.\"" "left">> Rubbing the salt in the wound. You walk back through the avenue of statues, you turn the morning over in your mind. You are a priestess now, formally, in the eyes of the law and the clergy and the gods, as you have always been in everything but name. The temple is yours to tend. The land is gone. Somewhere in the harbor district, a merchant is deciding whether you are worth the trouble of crossing.<<if $wenenneferFlirted>> You have already bartered the promise of your own body to settle a mundane debt. It is a strange, unsettling way to begin a holy life, and you are not entirely sure what that says about the priestess you will become.<</if>> The statues watch you go with their calm stone faces and do not offer an opinion. <<silently>> /* Marking the entire questline as finished */ <<set $finishedInheritanceQuest to true>> <</silently>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to the city." "City" 5 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ <<run setup.addResource("circlet_carnelian", 1)>>\ <<set $renown += 5>>\ <<run setup.notify("Renown has increased by 5.", "positive")>>\ <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"It was my pleasure to formally induct you into the priesthood. As for the matter of the parcels legally owned by the Temple of Osiris, do feel free to return any time. You shall find I am a reasonable man to bargain with.\"" "left">> Rubbing the salt in the wound. You walk back through the avenue of statues, you turn the morning over in your mind. You are a priestess now, formally, in the eyes of the law and the clergy and the gods, as you have always been in everything but name. The temple is yours to tend. The land is gone. Somewhere in the harbor district, a merchant is deciding whether you are worth the trouble of crossing.<<if $wenenneferFlirted>> You have already bartered the promise of your own body to settle a mundane debt. It is a strange, unsettling way to begin a holy life, and you are not entirely sure what that says about the priestess you will become.<</if>> The statues watch you go with their calm stone faces and do not offer an opinion. <<silently>> /* Marking the entire questline as finished */ <<set $finishedInheritanceQuest to true>> <</silently>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to the city." "City" 5 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ <<run setup.addResource("circlet_malachite", 1)>>\ <<set $renown += 5>>\ <<run setup.notify("Renown has increased by 5.", "positive")>>\ <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"It was my pleasure to formally induct you into the priesthood. As for the matter of the parcels legally owned by the Temple of Osiris, do feel free to return any time. I will instruct our temple accountants to be open to commerce with you; you will find them to be reasonable men.\"" "left">> Rubbing the salt in the wound. You walk back through the avenue of statues, you turn the morning over in your mind. You are a priestess now, formally, in the eyes of the law and the clergy and the gods, as you have always been in everything but name. The temple is yours to tend. The land is gone. Somewhere in the harbor district, a merchant is deciding whether you are worth the trouble of crossing.<<if $wenenneferFlirted>> You have already bartered the promise of your own body to settle a mundane debt. It is a strange, unsettling way to begin a holy life, and you are not entirely sure what that says about the priestess you will become.<</if>> The statues watch you go with their calm stone faces and do not offer an opinion. <<silently>> /* Marking the entire questline as finished */ <<set $finishedInheritanceQuest to true>> <</silently>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to the city." "City" 5 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox"> You set up the board in a shaded corner of the complex and spend the next hour playing a best-of-twelve set of Twenty Squares with Kemhotep. <<modifyRelationship "Kemhotep" 2>> <<run setup.notify("Your relationship with Kemhotep has improved.", "positive")>> <<set _roll to random(1, 5)>> <<if _roll == 1>> You completely crush him, outmaneuvering his pieces at every turn. He grumbles good-naturedly about the knuckle-bones favoring the youth, though there is a proud glint in his eye. <<elseif _roll == 2>> You narrowly win the set. It comes down to the absolute final throw, but the gods of fortune smile upon you, allowing your final piece to slide off the board just before his. <<elseif _roll == 3>> It's a draw! After twelve grueling rounds, neither of you can claim absolute supremacy. Kemhotep nods approvingly at the respectful stalemate. <<elseif _roll == 4>> He narrowly wins. His years of experience show as he expertly blocks your path just steps away from the finish line, clinching the final round. <<else>> He completely crushes you. His pieces glide across the board as if guided by Thoth himself, leaving you staring at the board in disbelief while he chuckles into his cup. <</if>> <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Return" "KemhotepDialogueHub" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox"> You invite Tahira to sit with you for an hour, playing a best-of-twelve set of Twenty Squares. At first, she is hesitant to play against her mistress, but she quickly becomes absorbed in the game. <<modifyRelationship "Tahira" 2>> <<run setup.notify("Your relationship with Tahira has improved.", "positive")>> <<set _roll to random(1, 5)>> <<if _roll == 1>> You completely crush her. She takes the overwhelming defeat gracefully, offering a soft, genuine smile as she helps you clear the board. <<elseif _roll == 2>> You narrowly win the set. It was a remarkably tense match, but a lucky throw of the dice seals your victory in the final moments. She claps her hands lightly in genuine congratulations. <<elseif _roll == 3>> It's a draw! You trade wins back and forth until the very end. The even match leaves both of you pleasantly surprised, and you catch her smiling warmly at the board. <<elseif _roll == 4>> She narrowly wins. A sudden streak of luck allows her to slide her final piece off the board just before yours. She quickly averts her eyes, as if apologizing for her victory, but the corners of her lips are turned up. <<else>> She completely crushes you. For someone usually so timid and deferential, she possesses a remarkably ruthless strategy on the board, systematically dismantling your every move. <</if>> <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Return" "TahiraDialogueHub" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Harbor</h1> You switch your temple robes for rugged linen and join the throng of laborers at the docks. For six grueling hours, you haul sacks of grain, timber, and heavy clay jars under the unforgiving sun. Your muscles burn and your feet ache, but your physical resilience keeps you from collapsing into the mud. <<run /* Lock the job for the rest of the day by recording the current day */ State.variables.lastDayWorkedPorter = State.variables.day; /* 1. Calculate the physical toll */ var vigorDrain = Math.floor(Math.random() * 7) + 3; var exhaustionDrain = Math.floor(Math.random() * 10) + 9; /* 2. Apply the drain (Subtracting from both, since 100 is full) */ setup.modifyNeed("vigor", -vigorDrain); setup.modifyNeed("exhaustion", -exhaustionDrain); /* 3. Save for text display */ State.variables.tempVigorDrain = vigorDrain; State.variables.tempExhaustionDrain = exhaustionDrain; /* 4. Calculate Rewards & Bonuses */ var allureBonus = State.variables.allure || 0; var resilienceBonus = State.variables.resilience || 0; var totalStatBonus = allureBonus + resilienceBonus; var earnedBeer = Math.floor(Math.random() * 2) + 2; var earnedBread = Math.floor(Math.random() * 2) + 2; var bonusBeer = 0; var bonusBread = 0; /* Roll for each combined point of allure and resilience */ for (var i = 0; i < totalStatBonus; i++) { if (Math.random() < 0.5) { bonusBeer++; } else { bonusBread++; } } State.variables.porterBeer = earnedBeer; State.variables.porterBread = earnedBread; State.variables.bonusBeer = bonusBeer; State.variables.bonusBread = bonusBread; State.variables.totalBonus = bonusBeer + bonusBread; earnedBeer += bonusBeer; earnedBread += bonusBread; setup.addResource("beer", earnedBeer); setup.addResource("bread", earnedBread); >>\ When the overseer finally calls an end to the shift, you are handed your wages: ''$porterBeer jugs of beer'' and ''$porterBread loaves of bread''. <<if $totalBonus > 0>>\ The overseer lingers for a moment. Whether charmed by your natural allure, or simply impressed by your relentless resilience, he grunts and shoves an extra \ <<if $bonusBread > 0>>''$bonusBread loaves''<</if>>\ <<if $bonusBread > 0 and $bonusBeer > 0>> and <</if>>\ <<if $bonusBeer > 0>>''$bonusBeer jugs''<</if>>\ into your hands. <<else>>\ He doesn't even look up from his ledger as he tosses the meager payment into the dirt at your feet, already shouting for the next line of laborers to move out. <</if>> The labor drained ''$tempVigorDrain Vigor'' and cost you ''$tempExhaustionDrain Exhaustion''. <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>> /* Return takes 0 time because the 6 hours were already consumed by the action button */ <li><<action "Return to the Harbor" "Harbor" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Sanctuary of Osiris</h1>\ <<run window.fulfillGodNeed("osiris", "offering"); setup.removeResource("beer", 1); setup.removeResource("bread", 1); window.applyConsumption("bread", 1, false); window.applyConsumption("beer", 1, false); >>\ You place the bread and the jug of beer upon the offering table before the statue of Osiris. You murmur a short prayer, asking that his ka be sustained by these earthly gifts. Once the divine essence of the meal has been consumed by the god, you perform the reversion of offerings, partaking in the physical bread and beer yourself. The blessed food restores your strength. <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>> <li><<action "Return to the Sanctuary" "Sanctuary of Osiris" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Sanctuary of Osiris</h1>\ <<run window.fulfillGodNeed("osiris", "ritual"); setup.removeResource("incense", 1); setup.removeResource("ritual_oils", 1); >>\ You light the incense and carefully anoint the sacred relic with the ritual oils. For two hours, you chant the ancient litanies of life, death, and rebirth, ensuring the Lord of the Underworld is honored according to the old ways. <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>> <li><<action "Return to the Sanctuary" "Sanctuary of Osiris" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Harbor Market</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"A net and a snare.\" You let the words sit in the air between you. \"Poets write that about every woman worth fearing. It is not the insult you intend it to be.\"" "right">>\ He says nothing. You take it as an invitation and double down your advances. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"And why would you talk to me like that, Wenennefer? You have been on the desert roads for months. Sleeping in a merchant's tent while the wind strips the warmth out of the night. And now, you stand here in the Thebes heat, where a beautiful woman has approached you. And you are choosing to be angry.\"" "right">>\ A muscle moves in his jaw. His eyes drop just for a moment, before he pulls them back up. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"You are very confident for a woman collecting someone else's debt.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I am confident because I am not collecting a debt. That was the temple's errand. I am having a conversation. Those are different things.\"" "right">>\ The internal battle plays out plainly on his face. Trying to sway it in your favor, you caress his exposed neck with your nails, making his pride wrestle with a sudden, agonizing need: you catch a small, freshly formed bulge under his belt. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The silver goes to Amun. That is already settled. What happens after that - how we will continue our conversation - that is entirely your own business.\"" "right">> Wenennefer's arms are still folded, but they seem lighter and more relaxed. <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Let him talk himself into it." "WenenneferDecadence_Subtle" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<action "Make him a blunt promise." "WenenneferDecadence_Direct" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<action "Command him to submit." "WenenneferDecadence_Aggressive" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<action "Back away and focus on the debt." "WenenneferBackdown" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Harbor Market</h1>\ You consider him for a moment. If the promise of pleasure will not sway him, perhaps reason will. You step back, letting the tension dissipate into the hot, dusty air of the market. You straighten your posture, restoring the respectable, rigid bearing of a High Priestess. The sudden shift in your demeanor seems to catch him off guard. He blinks, the sweat still beading at his temples as his defensive hostility is momentarily replaced by cautious confusion. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"As you wish. Let us leave the sanctuaries out of this, Wenennefer. We shall speak strictly as merchant and priestess.\"" "right">>\ He is a practical man, clearly. Not unreasonable, perhaps, if approached correctly. <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>> <li><<skillaction "Challenge the terms of the agreement." "WenenneferMind" 1 _hk "mind" 1>><<set _hk++>></li> <li><<skillaction "Make clear what refusing means." "WenenneferBody" 1 _hk "body" 1>><<set _hk++>></li> <li><<skillaction "Ask him how the rest of the journey went." "WenenneferSpirit" 1 _hk "spirit" 1>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Harbor Market</h1>\ You let out a soft, delicate sigh, your shoulders dropping and look up at him through your lashes. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I was told Wenennefer the trader was a man of immense success.\" You stroke his chin with the back of your hand for emphasis. \"A man who commanded fleets and caravans. Yet here you are, forcing me to stand in the heat and haggle over a few rings of silver as if you were a desperate street peddler.\"" "right">> He frowns, his pride instantly bristling at the comparison. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"I am not a peddler. But I earned my silver, and I don't part with it lightly.\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Clearly. It is a shame. I had hoped to return to the temple and tell the High Priest of your generosity and success. Perhaps even indulge in the fantasy of meeting a rich and adventurous rogue like yourself again. But if this sum truly breaks your ledger, I will leave you to your... struggles.\"" "right">> You turn as if to walk away. It is obvious manipulation, but the sound of his ego cracking is almost audible. He cannot stand the idea of an aristocratic woman looking down on him as a poor man. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"Wait. Damn you, wait! I didn't say I couldn't pay it.\"" "left">> He aggressively rubs the back of his neck as you spin around theatrically on your heels. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"End of the week. They will have their silver, and your adventurous rogue will surely seek you out again.\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I am glad we could see eye to eye, Wenennefer. If you are as eager for our next encounter as I am, seek me out in the Temple of Osiris.\"" "right">> <<silently>> <<set $wenenneferResolved to true>> <<set $wenenneferResult to "full">> <<set $wenenneferFlirted to true>> <<set $wenenneferReturnDay to $day + random(1, 3)>> <</silently>> <<include "WenenneferQuestions">> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Harbor Market</h1>\ You drop the pious, untouchable demeanor of the priesthood entirely and reach out and lay a single, smooth hand directly into his tunic, cupping his chest. It is a shocking breach of propriety. He freezes instantly, his words dying in his throat as the heavy scent of your perfume surrounds him. Beneath your palm, you can feel his heartbeat spike in a sudden, panicked rhythm. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Are you going to yell at me, Wenennefer?\"" "right">> Your voice is a low, honeyed murmur. You trace your thumb just slightly against his skin. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"I... I wasn't yelling, Priestess. I was explaining the contract—\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I don't care about the contract. I care that I am tired, and it is hot, and I want my silver. You are a strong, capable man. Are you truly going to deny me something so simple?\"" "right">> He is entirely out of his depth. He is used to men shouting and waving fists, not to a priestess working her gentle charms. The fight drains out of him, replaced by a desperate need to agree just to get his brain working again. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"No. No, I suppose not. You will have it by the end of the week.\"" "left">> You let your hand fall back to your side, deeply satisfied by how easily the big man crumbled. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I am glad we could see eye to eye, Wenennefer. If you are as eager for our next encounter as I am, seek me out in the Temple of Osiris.\"" "right">> <<silently>> <<set $wenenneferResolved to true>> <<set $wenenneferResult to "full">> <<set $wenenneferFlirted to true>> <<set $wenenneferReturnDay to $day + random(1, 3)>> <</silently>> <<include "WenenneferQuestions">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Harbor Market</h1>\ You decide to force the issue, tired of his stubbornness. You grip his tunic firmly, your voice hardening into a command. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Enough posturing. You owe the temple, and you owe me for wasting my time. You will pay Amun what is owed, and then you will come to my sanctuary and service my needs. Do we have an understanding?\"" "right">>\ The shift from seductive temptation to blatant, aggressive demand hits him wrong. His eyes flash with sudden anger, and he roughly bats your hand away, taking a large step back. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"You think because you wear fine linen and smell nice you can order me around like one of my porters?\"" "left">>\ His pride, which was melting away just moments ago, returns with a vengeance. He scowls, adjusting his tunic. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"I told you I don't pay for unanswered prayers. And I don't pay women who think they own the harbor. You can go back to Amun and tell them they'll get three quarters of what's left. Take it or leave it.\"" "left">>\ You crossed the line, pushing him too far. You realize you won't get the full amount out of him now. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Fine. Have it your way.\"" "right">>\ <<silently>> <<set $wenenneferResolved to true>> <<set $wenenneferResult to "partial">> <<set $wenenneferFlirted to false>> <</silently>> <<include "WenenneferQuestions">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ The next petitioner approaches with a slow, hesitant gait. He is a local farmer, his sun-baked skin coated in a thin layer of dry dust. He nervously wrings his hands, holding a small basket containing a few pathetic, withered stalks of grain. <<dialogue "Farmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Priestess... the gods bless you and keep you. I come seeking the temple's intervention. My fields are dying, while my neighbor's thrive.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The Nile provides differently from season to season. Are you certain this is a matter for the temple, and not simply poor soil?\"" "right">>\ The farmer shakes his head frantically, his eyes wide with fearful conviction. <<dialogue "Farmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"No, Priestess! I saw him in the dead of night, burying an inscribed clay shard at the boundary of my land. He has cursed my harvest out of jealousy. I beg of you, perform a cleansing ritual. Break his foul magic!\"" "left">>\ Whether it is truly a curse or simply an excuse for poor farming, his fear is genuine. A proper warding ritual would put his mind at ease, but it will require burning sacred incense to appease the gods. <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<if setup.hasEnoughResource("incense", 1) >= 1>> <li><<action "Perform the warding spell." "GenericFarmerWantsCrops_Help" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <<else>> <li><i>You do not have enough Incense to perform the ritual.</i></li> <</if>>\ <li><<action "Refuse to indulge his superstition" "GenericFarmerWantsCrops_Refuse" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ You look at the withered grain in his basket, then back to his desperate, dirt-smudged face. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The temple does not squander its sacred rites on petty neighborly disputes. If your soil is dry, dig a better irrigation trench. Do not blame magic for what can be solved with hard labor.\"" "right">>\ The farmer recoils as if you had struck him. His desperate hope shatters into bitter disappointment. <<dialogue "Farmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"But... the shard... I saw him...\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"If you are so certain he has wronged you, take it up with the local magistrate. The gods have more pressing matters to attend to. Now, step aside.\"" "right">>\ He lowers his head, clutching his basket of dead crops tightly to his chest. He mutters a quiet, dejected apology before turning and shuffling out of the audience room. You have saved the temple's resources, but the man will find no comfort tonight. <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <li><<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ You nod gravely, accepting his plea. You step back toward the brazier, taking a pinch of precious temple incense and casting it into the coals. The fragrant, heavy smoke immediately fills the hall. You raise your hands, chanting a traditional warding prayer to Osiris, asking the Lord of the Underworld to turn away any malicious spirits or foul intentions buried in the earth. The farmer watches the smoke rise with absolute reverence, the tension visibly melting from his shoulders. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The smoke has carried your plea to the heavens. The earth is cleansed. Whatever your neighbor buried, its power is broken. Go back to your fields in peace.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Farmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Oh, thank you, Priestess! Thank the gods! I am but a poor man, but please, take this offering for the temple.\"" "left">>\ He reaches into his satchel and places a few humble provisions at your feet before bowing repeatedly and hurrying out of the audience room, his spirit entirely renewed. <<silently>> <<run setup.removeResource("incense", 1)>> <<set _breadReward to random(1, 3)>> <<set _beerReward to random(1, 3)>> <<run setup.addResource("bread", _breadReward)>> <<run setup.addResource("beer", _beerReward)>> <<set $renown += 1>> <</silently>> <<run setup.notify("Renown has increased by 1.", "positive")>>\ <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <li><<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ <<if $panebInitialInquiry>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Keep your deben, Paneb. If the hounds and jackals were kind enough to enrich a friend, I will not be the one to tax your luck.\"" "right">>\ <<else>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Keep your deben. The temple will provide the ink today. Use the saving to buy a sturdier lock for your friend's new door.\"" "right">>\ <</if>>\ Paneb’s eyebrows shoot up. You dip the reed into the dark soot of the palette. As you write, you can feel Paneb's gaze on the precise movements of your hand across the papyrus. He leans slightly against a nearby pillar, his thumb absentmindedly turning the emerald ring on his finger. He watches you work silently for the better part of ten minutes. After rolling the complete document rolled, you hand it to the potter. Nebnefer clutches it like a holy relic, though he knows it is only the first of many hurdles with the magistrates. You roll the papyrus and hand it down. Nebnefer bows so low his forehead nearly touches the stone, mumbling prayers of thanks. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"You are a generous woman, Priestess. I will see that the potter remembers who provided his roof.\"" "left">>\ He lingers for a heartbeat, his eyes drifting from the rolled scroll back to the stylus on your desk. He doesn't speak of the ink, but he studies the arrangement of your tools with a quiet, measuring intensity. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"I suspect I shall find my way back to your temple soon. May the gods keep you, Priestess.\"" "left">>\ He offers a short, elegant bow and leaves before you can answer, leading his friend out into the heat. <<set $panebFavorableFirstInteraction to true>>\ <<silently>> /* Advance his quest stage */ <<set $panebStage to 1>> /* Keep his quest active */ <<set $panebActive to true>> /* Schedule him to return in 2 to 4 days */ <<set $panebReturnDay to $day + random(2, 4)>> <</silently>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ The next petitioner is not a laborer or a merchant, but a young scribe with ink-stained fingers. He is practically vibrating with nervous excitement, clutching a tightly rolled papyrus against his chest. <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Priestess! I am eternally grateful for this audience. I have spent yesterday copying 'The Dispute between a Man and his Ba', and I find myself completely deadlocked on the implications! I need the perspective of a servant of the gods.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You came to the Audience Room to discuss classical literature?\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"It is not merely literature, Priestess! It is a profound meditation on life and the afterlife! The man is in despair, longing for death, but his Ba - his soul - threatens to abandon him if he dies before his time. Is the Ba acting out of cruelty, or out of divine pragmatism?\"" "left">>\ He is looking at you with the desperate hunger of a scholar who hasn't spoken to an intellectual equal in months. You have already committed the time to seeing him; you might as well entertain his debate. The Dispute between a Man and his Ba is a classical piece of Egyptian Literature dating to approximately 700 years ago, in which a suicidal man, upset with lacking friends and with the wickedness of the world, debates with his soul whether he should stay alive or not. <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <li><<action "Argue that the Ba is pragmatic and bound by duty." "PatientScribeDebate_Pragmatic" 45 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <li><<action "Argue that the man's suffering is valid, and the Ba lacks empathy." "PatientScribeDebate_Empathetic" 45 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <li><<action "Dismiss his philosophical musings as irrelevant." "PatientScribeDebate_Refuse" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You judge the man too harshly, and the Ba too lightly. The text speaks of utter alienation. The man says, 'To whom can I speak today? Hearts are rapacious.' His suffering is entirely valid. It is crushing loneliness. The Ba's threat to leave him is an act of spiritual extortion when he is at his most vulnerable.\"" "right">>\ The scribe stops, blinking in surprise. He looks down at the text, reading it over silently before looking back at you. <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"I... I had always read the Ba as the voice of divine reason. But you suggest the Ba is flawed? That it fails to understand the true weight of human despair?\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The divine does not always comprehend the exhaustion of the mortal coil. That is why priests exist, to bridge the gap between the flawless gods and broken men.\"" "right">>\ The scribe is visibly moved. The debate that follows over the next hour and a half is less academic and more deeply philosophical, exploring the nature of suffering and divine empathy. <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Priestess, you have illuminated this text for me in ways my masters never could. The temple is truly blessed to have your wisdom.\"" "left">>\ <<if $library.disputeOwned is false>>\ <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"It would be my honor if you were to keep this copy within your temple's library.\"" "left">>\ <</if>>\ <<silently>> <<set _mindReward to random(10, 15)>> <<run setup.gainXP("mind", _mindReward)>> <<set $renown += 1>> <<if $library.disputeOwned is false>> <<set $library.disputeOwned to true>> <<run setup.notify("Received 'Dispute Between a Man and his Ba'.", "positive")>> <</if>> <</silently>>\ <<run setup.notify("Renown has increased by 1.", "positive")>>\ <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <li><<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The Ba is not cruel; it is bound by the laws of Ma'at. A man cannot simply abandon his earthly post because it is difficult. The soul requires the man to live his allotted days so that it might be properly sustained in the afterlife. It is a pragmatic warning.\"" "right">>\ The scribe's eyes light up. He unrolls a section of the papyrus, pointing triumphantly at a column of hieroglyphs. <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Exactly! Exactly! He tells the man, 'If you cast blame on life, I will not be with you!' It is a transactional relationship, not merely an emotional one. The body and the soul must fulfill their obligations to one another.\"" "left">>\ For the next hour and a half, the two of you dissect the text line by line. It is a rigorous, exhausting, but deeply stimulating conversation. By the time he finally rolls up his papyrus, your mind feels remarkably sharper. <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Priestess, you have illuminated this text for me in ways my masters never could. The temple is truly blessed to have your wisdom.\"" "left">>\ <<if $library.disputeOwned is false>>\ <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"It would be my honor if you were to keep this copy within your temple's library.\"" "left">>\ <</if>>\ <<silently>> <<set _mindReward to random(10, 15)>> <<run setup.gainXP("mind", _mindReward)>> <<set $renown += 1>> <<if $library.disputeOwned is false>> <<set $library.disputeOwned to true>> <<run setup.notify("Received 'Dispute Between a Man and his Ba'.", "positive")>> <</if>> <</silently>>\ <<run setup.notify("Renown has increased by 1.", "positive")>>\ <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <li><<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You occupy the temple's time with idle scholarly debates while there are real people starving in the streets? The Dispute between a Man and his Ba is a problem for the dead. My concerns are with the living.\"" "right">>\ The scribe physically recoils, his enthusiasm instantly evaporating. He rolls his papyrus up tightly, his face flushed with embarrassment. <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"I... I apologize, Priestess. I believed the temple was a place for theological reflection. I see I was mistaken in taking up your time.\"" "left">>\ He bows stiffly and hurries out. You saved your time, though the interaction leaves a slightly sour taste in the air. <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <li><<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ The next petitioner does not walk so much as march, the bronze butt of his spear cracking sharply against the sacred stones. He is a guardsman from the city watch, his armor smelling of dust and stale sweat, his face drawn tight as a bowstring. The hollows beneath his eyes are bruised purple with exhaustion. He eyes the heavy shadows of the audience room with impatient paranoia. <<dialogue "Guard" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Priestess. Make it quick. I walk the harbor watch in less than an hour, and my captain will take the hide from my back if I'm late.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The gods do not care for your captain's schedules, guardsman. What sickness rots your peace?\"" "right">>\ He drags a calloused hand across his face, his rigid, military posture finally slipping. <<dialogue "Guard" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"It is the nights. When I close my eyes in the barracks, the shadows crawl up the walls. I wake choking on my own breath, soaked in cold sweat. I haven't slept in days. I need a ward against the dark before I collapse on my post.\"" "left">>\ He is wound to the breaking point, trembling with adrenaline and raw fatigue. A proper ritual of sacred smoke might center his fractured spirit. \ <<if $fetishFeet>>\ But as he speaks, you catch his bloodshot eyes repeatedly dropping toward your feet, hungry and ashamed. It plants a darker idea in your mind perhaps his desperate, coiled tension would be better broken beneath the soles of your feet.\ <<else>>\ But beneath the bronze, the brutal tension of his muscles suggests a much baser, physical purging would buy him his sleep just as well.\ <</if>>\ <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<if $temperance <= -10>>\ <<if $fetishFeet>>\ <li><<action "Instruct him how to relieve his physical tension as he looks at your feet." "GuardNightmares_DecadenceFeet" 0 _hk "+2D">><<set _hk++>></li>\ <<else>>\ <li><<action "Instruct him how to relieve his physical tension in front of you." "GuardNightmares_Decadence" 0 _hk "+2D">><<set _hk++>></li>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if setup.hasEnoughResource("incense", 1)>>\ <li><<action "Perform a cleansing blessing." "GuardNightmares_Temperance" 0 _hk "+1T">><<set _hk++>></li>\ <<else>>\ <li><i>You do not have enough Incense to perform the blessing.</i></li>\ <</if>>\ <li><<action "Dismiss his complaints as cowardice." "GuardNightmares_Refuse" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li>\ </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"There is no ghost in your head, guardsman. You are simply wound too tight. Your body has become a burden to you, and the barracks offers no place to set it down. You need to be emptied.\"" "right">>\ He blinks, his face drawn with a fatigue so deep it looks like pain. Before he can stammer an excuse, you pick up a scrap of linen from a nearby table. You toss it at him. He catches it instinctively, looking at the rough fabric with confusion. <<dialogue "Guard" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Priestess? I... I don't understand. What is this for?\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I have no desire to see you collapse on your shift. Untie your kilt. Relieve the ache before it breaks you.\"" "right">>\ He recoils as if you had struck him. His spear clatters against the floor, and he fumbles to keep his balance. His face turns a deep, shamed red in the torchlight. <<dialogue "Guard" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Here? Before you? Are you sure?... I am a common soldier. I cannot...\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It is only flesh, guardsman. Do not make it more than it is. Would you rather walk out of here and let the shadows take your mind? Be honest with your own needs.\"" "right">>\ He hesitates, his hands shaking as they move to his waist. With a slow, agonized movement, he unfastens the knot. The coarse linen falls away, and his manhood springs free - a heavy, rigid weight that seems to throb with every ragged breath he takes. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Good. Now, put your hand on it and begin stroking.\"" "right">>\ He looks at the floor, unable to meet your eyes, his knuckles white as he begins to stroke himself. The sight is visceral. You feel a wave of heat climb your neck. You are a virgin, but you are a scholar of the temple, and you recognize the raw, animal desperation in the way his muscles flex. But his rhythm is stalled by his own shame. He is holding back. You reach for the golden pin at your shoulder. Your fingers are cold, but you move with a steady, practiced grace. You slide the pin free. The pleated linen of your gown slips, pooling at your waist and baring your breasts to the dim light. His head snaps up. His eyes widen, fixed on the pale, heavy swell of your chest and the way your breath hitches. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Look at me. Keep touching yourself as you look at my breasts.\"" "right">>\ The sight of you shatters the last of his discipline. He lets out a low, broken groan, his hand moving in a frantic blur. As he reaches the edge, his body seizing with the onset of the climax, he remembers your first command. He frantically presses the linen cloth against the head of his cock. With a deep, guttural sound, he thrusts forward, his entire frame shuddering as the cloth soaks up the scalding heat of his release. He stands there for a long time afterward, his chest heaving, his armor suddenly looking too heavy for his shoulders. The frantic, paranoid energy is gone, replaced by a sluggish, post-orgasmic peace. <<dialogue "Guard" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"I... Priestess... I have no right...\"" "left">>\ You slowly pull your dress back up and secure the pin. Your hands are trembling, but your voice is flat and sovereign. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You are a man who will finally sleep tonight. Take the cloth and burn it in the braziers. Do not let the slaves find it.\"" "right">>\ You offer him a faint, calculating smile. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Go to your shift. And offer a prayer to the gods.\"" "right">>\ <<silently>> <<set $renown += 1>> <</silently>>\ <<run setup.notify("Renown has increased by 1.", "positive")>>\ <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <li><<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ You motion for him to kneel. Despite his armor, he complies, bowing his head. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The dark is only empty space. It is your own fears that populate it. We will fill that space with the light of the divine.\"" "right">>\ You pinch a measure of incense and cast it over the brazier. As the fragrant smoke blooms upward, you step behind him, pressing your hands firmly against his armored shoulders. You chant a prayer of protection to Ra, invoking the sun to banish the terrors of the night. You trace a protective ward on his forehead with ash. The guardsman breathes in the sacred smoke deeply, his shoulders dropping a fraction of an inch at a time until the rigid, fearful tension completely leaves his body. <<dialogue "Guard" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"The weight... it's gone. My mind is quiet.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Walk your patrol with honor. The shadows will not touch you tonight.\"" "right">>\ He stands, his expression clear and profoundly grateful, before bowing deeply and making his way to his shift. <<silently>> <<run setup.removeResource("incense", 1)>> <<set $renown += 1>> <</silently>>\ <<run setup.notify("Renown has increased by 1.", "positive")>>\ <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <li><<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ You fold your arms, unimpressed by his display. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You carry a bronze spear for the Pharaoh, yet you flinch at shadows on a wall? The temple offers solace to the truly afflicted, not to men who are afraid of the dark.\"" "right">>\ The guard's face flushes a dark, humiliated red. His exhaustion is instantly overridden by defensive anger. <<dialogue "Guard" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"I am not a coward! I came to the temple seeking legitimate aid, not insults.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Then find a tavern on your way to the harbor and drink a cup of strong beer. It cures nightmares just as well. Now, return to your post.\"" "right">>\ He glares at you, his jaw tight, before turning on his heel and storming out of the audience room. His nightmares remain. <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <li><<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ The next petitioner does not walk so much as shuffle into the room. He is a beggar, his linen garments reduced to ragged strips, his frame painfully thin. He keeps his head bowed, intimidated by the grandeur of the temple and the presence of a High Priestess. <<dialogue "Beggar" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Priestess... may the gods look favorably upon you. I do not ask for a miracle, nor for silver. I only ask for a single piece of bread. I have not eaten since yesterday morning.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The temple receives many who are hungry. Our stores are meant for the gods and their servants.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Beggar" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"I know, I know... but surely the gods have enough to spare a crumb for the lowest of their children?\"" "left">>\ He looks up at you with hollow, desperate eyes. It is a simple request, though the temple cannot feed everyone in Thebes. You could give him the bread, refuse him entirely, or - if your connection to the divine is strong enough - call upon the gods to sustain his spirit in place of physical food. <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <li><<skillaction "Offer a blessing of sustenance." "PatientBeggar_Pray" 0 _hk "faith" 1>><<set _hk++>></li> <<if setup.hasEnoughResource("bread", 1) >= 1>> <li><<action "Give him a piece of bread." "PatientBeggar_Give" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <<else>> <li><i>You do not have any Bread to give him.</i></li> <</if>>\ <li><<action "Turn him away." "PatientBeggar_Refuse" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ You do not reach for your provisions. Instead, you step down from the dais and gently place your hand upon his bowed head. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Bread will only feed you for a day, and tomorrow you will hunger again. I will give you something that lasts longer.\"" "right">>\ You close your eyes, calling upon your deep connection to the divine. You speak a prayer to Osiris, the god of grain and resurrection, asking him to fill this man's spirit with the strength of the harvest. A profound, serene silence falls over the audience room. When you lift your hand, the beggar exhales slowly. He touches his own chest, his eyes wide with quiet awe. The gnawing desperation in his posture has vanished, replaced by a deep, unnatural calm. <<dialogue "Beggar" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"I... I feel warm. The ache in my stomach... it is quiet. Thank you, Priestess. The gods truly speak through you.\"" "left">>\ <<silently>> <<set $renown += 1>> <</silently>>\ <<run setup.notify("Renown has increased by 1.", "positive")>>\ <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <li><<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ You reach into a nearby satchel and pull out a fresh, crusty loaf of bread. You hold it out to him. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Take this. May it give you the strength to see another sunrise.\"" "right">>\ The beggar's hands tremble as he takes the loaf. He doesn't devour it immediately, instead clutching it to his chest as if it were a brick of solid gold. Tears well up in the corners of his eyes. <<dialogue "Beggar" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Bless you, Priestess. Bless you and the House of Amun! I will not forget this kindness.\"" "left">>\ He bows repeatedly, backing away toward the exit before finally tearing off a piece of the bread and eating it with desperate gratitude. It is a small sacrifice for the temple, but a monumental gift to him. <<silently>> <<run setup.removeResource("bread", 1)>> <<set $renown += 1>> <</silently>>\ <<run setup.notify("Renown has increased by 1.", "positive")>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ You shake your head, your expression unyielding. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The temple is not a bakery. If we fed every hungry mouth that walked through those doors, the gods would have no offerings left. Go to the harbor and find work. They always need men to carry bales.\"" "right">>\ The small spark of hope in his eyes dies instantly. He does not argue or beg further; men like him are far too used to rejection. <<dialogue "Beggar" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"As you say, Priestess. Forgive my intrusion.\"" "left">>\ He bows his head lower and shuffles back out into the harsh sunlight of Thebes, leaving the audience room exactly as empty as when he arrived. <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <li><<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ <<if $panebInitialInquiry>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Even a master of intuition must pay his tithe, Paneb. The temple fee for a contract of this weight is eight deben.\"" "right">>\ <<else>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I will not ask how a man with such a quick tongue found three hundred deben, but the temple's ink is not a gift. The fee is eight deben.\"" "right">>\ <</if>>\ Paneb doesn't hesitate. He doesn't haggle like the merchants in the square; he simply shifts his weight, the movement as fluid as a cat, and produces some silver from a pouch at his belt. He sets the pieces on the edge of the dais with a sharp, clean clatter. You dip the reed into the dark soot of the palette. As you write, you can feel his gaze on the precise movements of your hand across the papyrus. He leans slightly against a nearby pillar, his thumb absentmindedly turning the emerald ring on his finger. He watches you work silently for the better part of ten minutes. After rolling the complete document rolled, you hand it to the potter. Nebnefer clutches it like a holy relic, though he knows it is only the first of many hurdles with the magistrates. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"A fair trade, High Priestess. You have a steadier hand than most.\"" "left">>\ He lingers for a heartbeat, his eyes drifting from the rolled scroll back to the stylus on your desk. He doesn't speak of the ink, but he studies the arrangement of your tools with a quiet, measuring intensity. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"I suspect I shall find my way back to your temple soon. May the gods keep you, Priestess.\"" "left">>\ He offers a short, elegant bow and leaves before you can answer, leading his friend out into the heat. <<set $panebFavorableFirstInteraction to true>>\ <<run setup.addResource("silver", 1)>>\ <<silently>> /* Advance his quest stage */ <<set $panebStage to 1>> /* Keep his quest active */ <<set $panebActive to true>> /* Schedule him to return in 2 to 4 days */ <<set $panebReturnDay to $day + random(2, 4)>> <</silently>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Is it so foolish to want what the poets sing of, Tahira? I don't want a worshipper, a petitioner, or a good-looking vessel of animalic lust. I just want a man who looks at me and sees... me. Not my rank, not my expensive jewels. A human being, with all the messiness and aspirations of one. I would love to meet a soul who cherishes my company, one to split my sorrows and double my joys with. who would walk with me in the temple gardens at dusk, and hold my hand simply because he wants to.\"" "right">>\ Tahira’s eyes soften, a gentle, understanding smile breaking across her face. In this quiet, steam-filled room, the heavy weight of the gods seems to lift, leaving only two young women talking in the dark. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"It isn't foolish at all, Mistress. It sounds like a beautiful dream. To be truly loved, just for yourself.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Yes. But even in that soft dream, when I try to imagine the... physical reality of sharing a bed with someone, my curiosity sometimes wanders to unexpected places.\"" "right">>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<include "TahiraFetishHub">> <<set $prefRomance to true>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I have watched people in the city, Tahira. They tie themselves together and then they rot. They get bored, they argue over copper, and they spend their lives carrying each other's burdens like pack animals. It seems messy, and quite foolish. Is it not more honest to simply take what you want, when you want? A night of heat, no promises, and no heavy chains left over in the morning.\"" "right">>\ Tahira stares at you with wide, disbelieving eyes. To her, you sound like a philosopher of the docks, bold and cold in a way she never expected. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"Mistress... you make it sound so... practical. But isn't it lonely to have no one to hold your hand when the sun goes down?\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I have the temple for company, and I have my own mind. I do not need another person's problems, Tahira. I only have a use for their... vitality. Why pretend it is anything more? It is a fair trade that harms no one. And when I imagine that kind of uncomplicated freedom, my thoughts drift toward some very specific... indulgences.\"" "right">>\ You speak with the confidence of a scholar describing a foreign land she has never visited. The theory is perfect; now, you only need to see if the reality is as clean as you've convinced yourself it will be. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<include "TahiraFetishHub">> <<set $prefCasual to true>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"There is no ghost in your head, guardsman. You are simply wound too tight. Your body has become a burden to you, and the barracks offers no place to set it down. You need to be emptied.\"" "right">>\ He blinks, his face drawn with a fatigue so deep it looks like pain. Before he can stammer an excuse, you pick up a scrap of linen from a nearby table. You toss it at him. He catches it instinctively, looking at the rough fabric with confusion. <<dialogue "Guard" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Priestess? I... I don't understand. What is this for?\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I have no desire to see you collapse on your shift. Untie your kilt. Relieve the ache before it breaks you.\"" "right">>\ He recoils as if you had struck him. His spear clatters against the floor, and he fumbles to keep his balance. His face turns a deep, shamed red in the torchlight. <<dialogue "Guard" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Here? Before you? Are you sure?... I am a common soldier. I cannot...\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It is only flesh, guardsman. Do not make it more than it is. Would you rather walk out of here and let the shadows take your mind? Be honest with your own needs.\"" "right">>\ He hesitates, his hands shaking as they move to his waist. With a slow, agonized movement, he unfastens the knot. The coarse linen falls away, and his manhood springs free - a heavy, rigid weight that seems to throb with every ragged breath he takes. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Good. Now, put your hand on it and begin stroking.\"" "right">>\ He looks at the floor, unable to meet your eyes. But you notice his gaze isn't just fixed on the stone; it is anchored to your feet. He is staring at the high arches and the intricate henna patterns tracing your toes with a desperate, starving intensity. You feel a wave of heat climb your neck. You are a virgin, but you are clever enough to recognize a man’s hunger when it is bared so plainly. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You have been looking at my feet since you entered the room, guardsman. Do they please you?\"" "right">>\ He chokes on a breath, his hand faltering on his shaft. <<dialogue "Guard" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"I... I have no right, Priestess. They are... they are holy.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Then look at them while you touch yourself. See how clean they are compared to the harbor mud.\"" "right">>\ You reach down and slide your feet from your leather sandals. You extend your legs onto a low wooden stool nearby, so your bare, painted feet are perfectly level with his line of sight. The air is cool on your skin. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Keep touching yourself. Watch my toes. Imagine how soft they would be against your skin.\"" "right">>\ The sight of your bare feet, offered so close to his face, shatters the last of his military discipline. He lets out a low, broken groan, his hand moving in a frantic blur. He stares at your soles completely enthralled. As he reaches the edge, his body seizing with the onset of the climax, he remembers your command. He frantically presses the linen cloth against the head of his cock. With a deep, guttural sound, he thrusts forward, his entire frame shuddering as the cloth soaks up the scalding heat of his release. He stands there for a long time afterward, his chest heaving, his armor suddenly looking too heavy for his shoulders. The frantic, paranoid energy is gone, replaced by a sluggish, post-orgasmic peace. You slowly slide your feet back into your sandals. Your hands are trembling, but your voice is flat and sovereign. <<dialogue "Guard" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"I... Priestess... I have no right...\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You are a man who will finally sleep tonight. Take the cloth and burn it in the braziers. Do not let the slaves find it.\"" "right">>\ You offer him a faint, calculating smile. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Go to your shift. And offer a prayer to the gods.\"" "right">>\ <<silently>> <<set $renown += 1>> <</silently>>\ <<run setup.notify("Renown has increased by 1.", "positive")>>\ <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <li><<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ The sunlight cuts through the openings of the audience room, casting long, unyielding shadows across the stone. The next petitioners do not grovel or march. They simply stroll in. There are two of them. The heavier man is clearly a potter; his hands are stained with the pale, dry silt of the riverbank, and he looks around the sacred chamber with nervous reverence. But it is the man beside him who draws your eye. He is slim, moving with an easy, fluid agility that seems entirely out of place among the heavy, monolithic stone of the temple. He wears a simple linen kilt, but as he raises a hand in a polite, formal greeting, the sunlight catches a flash of silver - a heavy pinky ring set with a fractured emerald. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"May Ra's light always shine on you, High Priestess.\"" "left">>\ His voice is smooth, entirely lacking the trembling fear or desperate exhaustion of the men who usually stand before your dais. He bows. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"I am Paneb, and this is my good friend, Nebnefer. We come seeking a favor of writing, Priestess. My own hands are... a bit too clumsy for the stylus, and my parents had no copper to spare for the House of Life.\"" "left">>\ His politeness is flawless, and he wears his illiteracy without the usual crushing shame of the lower classes. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The temple provides scribal services for the illiterate, Paneb. But there are magistrates in the city for common contracts. Why bring a simple matter of writing to the high altar?\"" "right">>\ He offers a sincere smile. You immediately notice his well-kept, straight teeth. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"The scribe we found by the docks was so ancient I think he actually knew Osiris personally. He fell asleep halfway through asking for our names. I told Nebnefer, 'It is terrible luck to let a corpse write the deed for a new living-house.' We decided to seek out someone whose blood was still moving.\"" "left">>\ The sheer, audacious normalcy of his quip throws you off course. You have braced yourself for dramatic petitioners and lustful common folk, but you were not prepared for a man to simply tease you. Before you can reprimand his familiarity, the potter steps forward, wringing his silt-stained hands. <<dialogue "Nebnefer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Forgive him, Holy One, he speaks before he thinks. But I am in a desperate pinch. I have found a house I wish to buy. The trader demands proof of my funds before he will even draw up the deed. Paneb here has graciously agreed to loan me the gold, but the trader's scribe will not believe a potter has such backing without an official seal.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"A formal loan of gold. I see. And what is the exact sum you require me to record, Nebnefer?\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Nebnefer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Three hundred deben, Priestess. He says I can pay it back anytime within the next five years, without interest.\"" "left">>\ Paneb nods in confirmation, and your hand hovers over the blank papyrus. Three hundred deben of gold is a heavy sum. It is not the wealth of a nomarch, but it is easily two years of solid labor for a skilled artisan. It buys a complete set of temple jewelry, or a sturdy river barge. Your temple probably stores only a little over double this sum. You look from the nervous, silt-stained potter to the charming, illiterate man with the silver ring. For a man like Paneb to casually offer such a sum to a friend is highly unusual. You hold the stylus, weighing your options. You could simply play the dutiful servant of the gods and record the numbers, or you could exercise your authority to satisfy your sudden curiosity. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Draft the loan and charge the standard temple tax." "PanebLoan_Fee" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<action "Waive the fee and draft the loan as a favor." "PanebLoan_Free" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<action "\"Three hundred deben is a heavy purse. Explain yourselves.\"" "PanebLoan_Press" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<action "Three hundred deben is an enormous sum for a loan between two very suspicious men; refuse." "PanebRefuse" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ <<set $panebInitialInquiry to true>> You do not dip the reed into the ink. Instead, you rest it against the wooden palette. The soft click echoes in the quiet room. You keep your posture perfectly straight, fixing Paneb with a calm, measuring gaze. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Three hundred deben is a heavy purse, Paneb. It is not a king's ransom, but it is a sum that takes a good man years to pull from the river mud.\"" "right">>\ You lean forward just a fraction. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Pardon me, but a man who cannot read a contract usually does not have the means to freely loan out such sums. I do not seal stolen gold. I would know how you came by it before I can write your document.\"" "left">>\ Nebnefer the potter immediately pales. He turns jittery and clasps his hands together. The desperation of a scolded child. <<dialogue "Nebnefer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Mistress, please, I swear by Ptah it is honest -- \"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Peace, Nebnefer. The High Priestess is only doing her duty.\"" "left">>\ Paneb does not look intimidated in the slightest. In fact, his dark eyes brighten with genuine interest. He steps slightly closer to your throne, resting his hand on his hip. The silver and emerald ring flashes again. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"I did not steal it, Priestess. Nor did I inherit it. You could say I am a student... of probabilities. While the scribes study the movements of the stars, I study the movements of the hounds and the jackals.\"" "left">>\ You blink, processing the metaphor. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You are a gambler.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"I prefer 'master of intuition,' but the guards certainly call me a gambler. I have spent the last four moons sitting at the tables at the Two Sandals. Men with too much gold and too little sense sit across from me. When they leave, they have a valuable lesson in humility, and I have their money.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"The gold is clean, Mistress. Won fairly under the eyes of the gods. And the city guards, but I'm assuming the gods would be worth more for a woman of your station. And now I wish to use my gold to see my friend put a decent roof over his head. Will you write the words for us?\"" "left">>\ You look at him for a long moment. He is completely comfortable in his own skin, lacking the over-constructed politeness of the priests or the crushing despair of the commoners. He lives by the throw of the sticks. It is a chaotic, terrifying way to live, yet he stands before you with more peace than anyone else you have seen today. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Draft the loan and charge the standard temple tax." "PanebLoan_Fee" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<action "Waive the fee and draft the loan as a favor." "PanebLoan_Free" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<action "Three hundred deben is an enormous sum for a loan between two very suspicious men; refuse." "PanebRefuse" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<<silently>> /* Initialize his stage if this is the very first time he is called */ <<if ndef $panebStage>> <<set $panebStage to 0>> <</if>> <</silently>>\ \ <<if $panebStage === 0>> <<include "PanebIntro">> <<elseif $panebStage === 1>> /* You will write this passage later for his second visit */ <<include "PanebVisit2_WritingLesson">> <<elseif $panebStage === 2>> <<include "PanebVisit3_Date">> <</if>>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ <<if $panebInitialInquiry>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You may have won this gold fairly under the eyes of the gods, Paneb, but three hundred deben is a heavy shadow. The temple will not seal a gambler's wager. Take your business elsewhere.\"" "right">>\ <<else>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I do not know how a potter and a man of dubious occupation came to hold such a fortune, and I will not attach the temple's holy seal to a mystery. Find someone else to write your contract.\"" "right">>\ <</if>>\ Nebnefer’s shoulders slump in immediate, crushing defeat. He looks as though he might drop to his knees and beg, but Paneb casually places a hand on the potter's shoulder, stopping him. Paneb does not look angry. He simply sighs, the easy smile fading into a look of practical resignation. He is a man who knows that not every roll of the dice lands in his favor. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"A pity, High Priestess. I had hoped to spare my friend the market scribes, but a man cannot argue with the gatekeeper of the ink.\"" "left">>\ He gives a short, unbothered shrug, adjusting the linen of his kilt. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Come, Nebnefer. We will find a man by the docks who prefers silver over questions. May the gods keep your hands clean, Priestess.\"" "left">>\ With a polite but dismissive bow, he turns and leads his despairing friend out of the audience room, leaving you to the quiet shadows of the audience room. <<silently>> <<set $panebRefused to true>> <</silently>>\ <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <li><<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ The heat has thinned the crowd to almost nothing. You're lost in your own thoughts, when you notice a sillhouette in the shadow. The doors shift. Paneb does not knock. He walks in with that particular gait of his, the one that suggests he has somewhere better to be and is choosing not to go there, and under his arm is a bundle tied with cord. He sets it on the floor in front of you with the careful deliberateness of a man who has rehearsed this. Six rolls of papyrus. Pale, clean, smelling faintly of river water and fresh pith. Not cheap. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"I told you I would come back when the shadows were quiet.\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Paneb, you did not need to buy the temple's favor. Your friend's loan is already sealed.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"It is not a bribe. It is a proposal.\"" "left">> He meets your eyes with that expression you have catalogued from his first visit, a smirk that is doing a great deal of work to conceal something earnest underneath it. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"I have spent my entire life putting a thumbprint in wet clay while other men wrote my fate for me. Contracts, debts, temple records. I hand over the reed and I trust that what gets written is what was said. I am tired of trusting.\"" "left">> He glances at the papyrus, then back at you. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Teach me. The reed, the signs, whatever comes first. I learn fast when something matters.\"" "left">> You look at him for a moment. Then at the papyrus. It is a good quality offering for a man who lives out of a single room near the harbor district. He spent real silver on this. To teach him would require hours of sitting shoulder-to-shoulder. It would mean stepping down from the pedestal of the High Priestess and allowing a mortal man into the guarded, quiet space of your mind. ''If you begin this, it will not be a fleeting interaction.'' <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Accept. Begin the lesson." "PanebLesson_Start" 10 _hk "+2T">><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "\"The temple is not a school for gamblers.\"" "PanebLesson_Refuse" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ You do not touch the bundles of papyrus. You keep your hands folded in your lap, maintaining the cold, unyielding distance of your holy office. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The House of Life trains scribes for a decade, Paneb. It is not a trick you can learn between throws of the dice. I am a priestess, not a tutor for vagabonds.\"" "right">>\ For a moment, the audience room is dead silent. Paneb’s eyes search your face, perhaps looking for the woman who generously accepted to sign his loan days ago. The spark of hope in his eyes extinguishes, replaced by the practical, fatalistic resignation of a man used to closed doors. He does not argue. He simply nods. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"I see. Forgive my presumption, High Priestess. I mistook your kindness for... something else.\"" "left">>\ He does not take the papyrus back. He leaves it resting on the stone edge of the stairs, a monument to what could have been. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"May the gods keep your hands clean.\"" "left">>\ With a brief, formal bow, he turns and walks out of the temple. The dance-like grace of his movements is still there, but the warmth is gone. You know, with absolute certainty, that he will not return to your audience room. <<silently>> <<set $panebActive to false>> <<set $panebRomanceLocked to true>> <</silently>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You do not start on papyrus.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"No?\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You would ruin a fortune in a single afternoon. Sit there, by the light.\"" "right">> He sits cross-legged on the reed mat near the doorway without argument, which surprises you slightly. You go and return with an ostracon, two reed brushes, and a small cup of red ink ground from ochre. You kneel beside him. The proximity is more immediate than you anticipated, close enough that you can smell a whiff of seawater in his linen, and something faintly cedary underneath it. You set the ostracon between you. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Pick up the brush. Just hold it for now.\"" "right">> He picks it up. His hands are extraordinarily dexterous, but he grips the brush the way you would grip a knife, tight and purposeful, the knuckles going pale. You reach out without thinking about it. Your fingers close over the back of his hand. The contrast stops you for a half second, your skin against his, soft where his is rough. He goes very still. You adjust his grip and shift the angle of the brush until it rests correctly. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The ink flows. You do not push it. There is a difference.\"" "right">> He gulps. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"What is your favorite game?\"" "right">> <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Senet. Always Senet. I once watched a magistrate bet his own wig on a throw and lose it. He had to walk back to the palace with his bald head burning in the midday sun and pretend he had done it on purpose.\"" "left">> You take the brush from him, dip it, and write the hieratic signs for Senet across the top of the limestone. Clean, unhurried, right to left. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Then let's try writing Senet.\"" "right">> He stares at the signs the way you imagine he stares at an opponent across a game board: reading, calculating, looking for the angle. Then he puts the brush to the stone. His hand shakes with the effort of controlling it. The line comes out wrong. It's too thick at the start and trails off into nothing. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Well... It looks like something died on the stone. Like I squashed an ant with my finger and slid its body all over.\"" "left">> He purses his lips, slightly disappointed. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It looks like a first attempt. You should try again, Paneb.\"" "right">> He looks at you. Then at the ostracon. His jaw sets with a quiet, absolute stubbornness that tells you he is going to be here for some time. He dips the brush again. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Guide his hand through the stroke." "PanebLesson_Guide" 15 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Let him find his mistakes himself." "PanebLesson_Correct" 15 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ You watch him attempt the first stroke again. It is marginally better. The line is still too heavy and it breaks where his wrist tensed, but the angle is closer to correct. You do not tell him this. You take the brush from his hand. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Watch the wrist, not the sign. It's important to understand the movement first.\"" "right">> You demonstrate the opening stroke slowly, your hand moving with the unhurried ease of something practiced until it stopped being practice. Then you hand the stylus back and move behind his shoulder. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"You make it look like breathing.\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It took three years to feel that way.\"" "right">> <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Three years. Six rolls of papyrus each lesson... assuming three lessons per week... Almost a thousand rolls. That's comes to... four thousand deben? I'll make you a very rich woman, priestess.\"" "left">> Surprisingly quick and accurate arithmetic for an illiterate man. But he is a gambler, after all. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You asked me to teach you, not reassure you.\"" "right">> He makes a sound that is almost a laugh. He puts the reed to the stone again. The wrist is better. The stroke starts clean and then falters halfway through, the angle collapsing. You reach your arm above his, your hand closing over his again. This time he does not go still, or rather, he does, but differently. He doesn't seem as startled. You move his hand through the full stroke. Slowly. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"That was smooth. \"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Again. Without me this time.\"" "right">> You pull back your hand, and he looks at his hand as though it has briefly become someone else's, then back at the ostracon. He attempts the stroke alone. It is not good, but it is recognizably the same sign. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Can I tell you something about Senet?\"" "left">> You do not look up from the ostracon. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You will regardless.\"" "right">> <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"It is a game of patterns. There's something you can't quite grasp in the air, but it's there. The particular way someone snaps their wrist when casting their roll, then he moves a piece three squares forward, and you just know you're going to capture it on your next throw.\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"That is not how writing works.\"" "right">> <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Are you certain? Because what you just did with my hand felt remarkably similar.\"" "left">> You do not answer immediately. He is not really wrong. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"I have that same sensation just now, like I just know my next move.\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Copy the sign ten times. If I have to correct more than four of them, you practice the opening stroke alone until it is flawless.\"" "right">> <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"And if you correct fewer than four?\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Then I will teach you the second sign.\"" "right">> <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"High stakes.\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You said you learned fast when something mattered. Prove it.\"" "right">> He looks at you for just a moment too long. Then he dips the stylus and begins. Paneb goes slowly, pausing before each attempt, studying his last line before starting the next. You have taught exactly one other person to write, briefly, years ago, and they had approached it with anxious speed. Paneb approaches it with extraordinary care, very unfit for a gambler. He finishes the tenth copy. You lean forward to examine them. Three need correction. You mark them in the appropiate places with red, without comment. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Well?\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Three mistakes.\"" "right">> His smile arrives slowly. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"The second sign, then.\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The second sign.\"" "right">> You dip the stylus. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Finish the lesson." "PanebLesson_End" 30 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ You hand him the red ink cup without explanation. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"What is this for?\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"When you see an error, mark it yourself. Then correct it.\"" "right">> <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"I do not know what an error looks like yet.\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You will. Look at what I wrote. Look at what you wrote. Find where they stop resembling each other.\"" "right">> He looks at you with an expression suspended between amusement and mild outrage. Then he looks at the ostracon. A long pause. He picks up the red ink and marks, slowly and with evident reluctance, two places on his attempt. He holds it up. You take it. He has found two of the three errors. You mark the third yourself without comment and hand it back. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"I missed that one.\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You missed it because your eye is reading the shape as a whole. You are looking at it the way you would look at a face, not the way you would look at a game board.\"" "right">> <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"What is the difference?\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"A face you take in at once. A game board you read piece by piece, position by position. Do that.\"" "right">> <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"That's actually useful.\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Copy it again.\"" "right">> He does. You watch from the side rather than leaning in, giving him space to work. His wrist is still wrong but he is beginning to feel that it is wrong, which is different from being told. You can see it in the slight adjustment he makes mid-stroke, unconscious, trying to chase the correct line. He finishes. Studies it. Picks up the red ink and marks one place himself, correctly, before you say anything. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Better.\"" "right">> <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"You sound surprised.\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I am not surprised. I am noting progress.\"" "right">> <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Is that what it sounds like when you note progress?\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Copy it eight more times. You had three errors on the second attempt. One on the third. At this rate, by the eighth you will have none. Possibly.\"" "right">> He works without speaking for a while. You find yourself watching his hands more than the ostracon. The same hands that apparently relieved a magistrate of his wig are now moving in slow, careful increments across a piece of limestone. On the seventh attempt he produces a sign that is, within reasonable tolerance, correct. He does not say anything. He simply holds the ostracon up so you can see it. You examine it. The third stroke is marginally too short, but you decide not to mention it. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"One more.\"" "right">> <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Come on! That one was good, and you know it!\"" "left">> He makes a sound of profound theatrical suffering and dips the stylus again. The eighth attempt is better than the seventh. He holds it up without looking at you, staring at the ceiling instead, waiting for judgment with exaggerated patience. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"That will do.\"" "right">> <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Eight attempts and I earn 'that will do.'\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Eight attempts and you have learned one sign. There are approximately two hundred more.\"" "right">> A pause. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"You are very honest for a holy woman.\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Osiris weighs the heart against a feather. There is very little room in that theology for comfortable lies.\"" "right">> He considers this. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Two hundred signs sounds like a lot.\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"That is just the start. Now, let us move on to our second sign.\"" "right">> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Finish the lesson." "PanebLesson_End" 30 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ You flip the ostracon over and begin teaching him the second sign. His early attempts are at the top, clumsy, overcautious, the lines breaking where his wrist fought itself. The later ones are different. Not good, not yet, but different in a way that matters. You can see the moment he stopped thinking about his hand. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Two signs.\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Two hundred and some remaining.\"" "right">> He picks up the ostracon and studies it with the same expression he has worn the entire meeting: focused and slightly combative, like a man arguing with something that cannot argue back. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Can I take it?\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It is a piece of limestone.\"" "right">> <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"To you. To me, this is the first thing I have ever written.\"" "left">> You look at him and push the ostracon toward him. He tucks it under his arm alongside the untouched papyrus rolls, which he picks up with significantly more care than he arrived with. He stands, and the room rearranges itself back into a temple audience chamber now that he is upright and moving toward the exit At the threshold he pauses. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Same terms next time? Limestone and red ink.\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Same terms.\"" "right">> He nods once, the way a man seals an agreement he intends to keep. Then he is gone, and you are left with the smell of ochre and cedar fading slowly in the heat. <<silently>> /* Advance him to the Date interaction */ <<set $panebStage to 2>> /* Schedule his next appearance (e.g., 3 days from now) */ <<set $panebReturnDay to $day + 3>> /* Ensure his questline remains active so the JS Spawner picks him up */ <<set $panebActive to true>> <</silently>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>> </div>

Clever goose!

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Harbor Market</h1>\ <<if setup.isNight()>>\ The market is dead. The canvas awnings have been struck down, and the merchant stalls are secured under heavy netting. Only a few stray dogs roam the aisles scavenging for dropped fish heads. <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>> <li><<action "Return to Harbor" "Harbor" 5 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul>\ <<else>>\ Past the chaotic docks, the harbor market erupts into a tight maze of canvas awnings. The heavy stench of raw fish mingles fiercely with foreign spices. At the center of the fray sits Mahirper, presiding over clay amphorae and glistening cuts of river catch. <<button "Barter with Mahirper">><<run window.openBarterDialog("mahirper")>><</button>> <<set _hk to 1>> <<if $startedInheritanceErrand and not $wenenneferResolved>>\ <<action "Approach Wenennefer's stall" "WenenneferApproach" 5 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <</if>>\ <<action "Return to Harbor" "Harbor" 5 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <</if>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Library</h1>\ You step into the library, where the dry, dusty scent of cured papyrus is baked into the walls. Your father had to sell the biggest part of his books in order to pay the physicians; he kept only the instruction papyri concerning law and temple procedures. You will have to rebuild the literature collection yourself. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<if $library.disputeOwned>> <<action "Read 'Dispute Between a Man and his Ba'" "ReadDispute" 60 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <</if>> <<if $library.satireOwned>> <<action "Read 'The Satire of the Trades'" "ReadSatire" 60 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <</if>> <<if not $library.disputeOwned and not $library.satireOwned>> <i>You have no papyri to read.</i><br><br> <</if>> <<action "Return to the Complex" "Complex" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <div class="ancient-scroll"> <div class="scroll-edge-top"></div>\ <div class="scroll-edge-bottom"></div>\ <div class="papyrus-fibers"></div>\ <div class="ancient-text">\ THE DISPUTE BETWEEN A MAN AND HIS BA <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ I opened my mouth to my ba, that I could answer: “This is too much for me today, that my ba no longer talks with me. It is really too great to be exaggerated. It is like abandoning me. Let not my ba go away; it should wait for me because of being ignored. May it attend to me in this! <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ There is no competent person who deserts on the day of misfortune. Behold, my ba wrongs me, but I do not listen to it, dragging myself toward death before I come to it and casting myself upon the fire to burn myself up, without it suffering therein. May it be near to me on the day of misfortune and wait on that side, like a praise singer does: 'This is one who goes forth, as he has brought himself!' My ba is stupid to try to win me over, one wretched over life, and delay me from death before I come to it. Make the West pleasant for me! Is that so bad? <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ Life is a circumscribed period: even the trees must fall. Trample down wrongs, yet my wretchedness endures. Let Thoth, who propitiates the gods, judge me. Let Khonsu, the scribe in truth, defend me. Let Re, who pilots the sun barque, hear my speech. Let Isdes defend me in the sacred hall. My wretchedness is too heavy to weigh. Pleasant would be the defense of a god for the secrets of my body.” <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ What my ba said to me: “Art thou not a man? Art thou not alive whilst thou livest? What is thy goal? Thou art concerned with life like a possessor of wealth!” <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ I said: “I have not departed as long as these things are neglected. He who carries men off forcibly will take, without caring about thee, like any criminal saying: ‘I shall carry thee off, for thy fate is still death, though thy name may live.’ But yonder is a place for setting down, the guide of the heart; death is home, a voyage to rest. If my ba will listen to me, an innocent man, and its heart agrees with me, it will be fortunate. Then I shall make it reach the West like one who is in his pyramid, at whose burial a survivor has stood. I shall make a shelter over thy corpse, so that thou mayest scorn another ba as inert. I shall make a shelter - now it must not be too cool - so that thou mayest scorn another ba which is too hot. I shall drink at the watering place and shall heap up hay, so that thou mayest scorn another ba which is hungry. If thou delayest me from a death of this fashion, thou wilt not find a place where thou canst settle down in the West. So be favourable, my ba and brother, until my heir has appeared, he who will make offerings and will stand at the grave on the day of burial, so that he may prepare the bed of the cemetery.” <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ My ba opened its mouth to me, that it might answer what I had said: “If thou art thinking of burial that is heart’s distress. It is a bringing of tears, making a man sad. It is taking a man out of his house, so that he is left on the hillside, whence thou shalt never go up above that thou mightest see the suns. They who build in granite and who hew out chambers in a pyramid, good men in good work, as soon as the builders have become gods, their offering-stones are as bare, for lack of a survivor, as those of the weary ones, the dead on the dyke - the waters take hold of an end of him, and the sunlight as well, and the fish of the water-banks talk to them. Listen to me. Behold, it is good for men to listen. Pursue the happy day and forget care! <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ The poor man plows his plot of ground and loads his harvest into a ship’s hold. He makes the journey by towing the boat, because his feast day is approaching. When he sees the forthcoming of an evening of high water, he is vigilant in the ship when Re retires, and so comes out safely, with his wife. But his children are lost on the lake, treacherous with crocodiles in the night. At last he sits down, when he can take part in speech, saying: ‘I am not weeping for that girl, although there is no coming forth from the West for her, for another time on earth. But I am concerned about her unborn children, broken in the egg, who saw the face of the crocodile-god before they had (even) lived!' <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ The poor man asks for an afternoon meal, but his wife says to him: “It’s for supper!’ He goes out-of-doors to grumble for a while. If he comes back into the house and is like another man, his wife is still experienced in him: that he does not listen to her, that he grumbles, unresponsive to communications.” <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ I opened my mouth to my ba, that I might answer what it had said: Behold, my name will reek through thee More than the stench of bird-droppings On summer days, when the sky is hot. Behold, my name will reek through thee More than a fish-handler On the day of the catch, when the sky is hot. Behold, my name will reek through thee More than the stench of bird-droppings, More than a covert of reeds with waterfowl. Behold, my name will reek through thee More than the stench of fisherman, More than the stagnant pools which they have fished. Behold, my name will reek through thee More than the stench of crocodiles, More than sitting in the assembly among the crocodiles. Behold, my name will reek through thee More than a married woman Against whom a lie has been told because of a man. Behold, my name will reek through thee More than a sturdy boy of whom it is said: “He belongs to his rival!” Behold, my name will reek through thee More than a treacherous town, which plots rebellion, Of which only the outside can be seen. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ To whom can I speak today? My fellows are evil; The friends of today do not love. To whom can I speak today? Hearts are rapacious: Every man seizes his fellow’s goods. To whom can I speak today? The gentle man has perished, But the violent man has access to everybody. To whom can I speak today? Even the calm of face is wicked; Goodness is rejected everywhere. To whom can I speak today? Though a man should arouse wrath by his evil character, He only stirs everyone to laughter, so wicked is his sin. To whom can I speak today? Men are plundering; Every man seizes his fellow’s goods. To whom can I speak today? The foul friend is an intimate, But a brother, with whom one worked, has become an enemy. To whom can I speak today? No one thinks of yesterday; No one at this time acts for him who has acted. To whom can I speak today? One’s fellows are evil; One has recourse to strangers for uprightness of heart. To whom can I speak today? Faces have disappeared: Every man has a downcast face toward his fellows. To whom can I speak today? Hearts are rapacious; No man has a heart upon which one may rely. To whom can I speak today? There are no righteous; The land is left to those who do wrong. To whom can I speak today? There is lack of an intimate friend; One has recourse to an unknown to complain to him. To whom can I speak today? There is no one contented of heart; That man with whom one went, he no longer exists. To whom can I speak today? I am laden with wretchedness For lack of an intimate friend. To whom can I speak today? The sin which treads the earth, It has no end. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ Death is in my sight today Like the recovery of a sick man, Like going out into the open after a confinement. Death is in my sight today Like the odor of myrrh Like sitting under an awning on a breezy day. Death is in my sight today Like the odor of lotus blossoms, Like sitting on the bank of drunkenness. Death is in my sight today Like the passing away of rain, Like the return of men to their houses from an expedition. Death is in my sight today Like the clearing of the sky, Like a man fowling thereby for what he knew not. Death is in my sight today Like the longing of a man to see his house again, After he has spent many years held in captivity. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ Why surely, he who is yonder Will be a living god, Punishing a sin of him who commits it. Why surely, he who is yonder Will stand in the barque of the sun, Causing that the choicest offerings therein be given to the temples. Why surely, he who is yonder Will be a man of wisdom, Not hindered from appealing to Re when he speaks. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ What my ba said to me: “Set mourning aside, thou who belongest to me, my brother! Although thou be offered up on the brazier, still thou shalt cling to life, as thou sayest. Whether it be desirable that I remain here because thou hast rejected the West, or whether it be desirable that thou reach the West and thy body join the earth, I shall come to rest after thou hast relaxed in death. Thus we shall make a home together.” <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ This was copied from start to finish as found in writing. </div>\ </div>\ <<if not $library.disputeRead>>\ <<notify "Your Mind is sharpened by the philosophical debate. You gained +1 Wisdom." "success">> <<silently>> <<set $library.disputeRead to true>> <<set $wisdom += 1>> <</silently>>\ <<else>>\ <<notify "You revisit the familiar arguments." "neutral">> <</if>>\ <br> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Roll up the papyrus" "Library" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Roof</h1> <<if setup.isNight()>>\ The flat roof serves as a second living space, a necessary escape from the stifling heat trapped within the walls below. Woven reed sleeping mats wait beneath a stretched linen awning, offering a quiet, dusty vantage point over the dark streets of Thebes, now without the usual daytime ruckus. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<if $hunger <= 10>> <div class="disabled-action" style="margin: 0.2em 0;"><em>[1] Your stomach is empty. You are too hungry to fall asleep.</em></div> <<elseif $thirst <= 10>> <div class="disabled-action" style="margin: 0.2em 0;"><em>[1] Your throat is parched. You are too thirsty to fall asleep.</em></div> <<else>> <<if $exhaustion < 100>> <<action "Sleep until fully rested" "Roof" "?" _hk "sleep">><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>> <<action "Sleep for 2 hours" "Roof" "?" _hk "sleepFor" 120>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Sleep until 7:00 AM" "Roof" "?" _hk "sleepUntil" 7>><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>> <<action "Go back to the Atrium" "Atrium" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<else>>\ The flat roof serves as a second living space, a necessary escape from the stifling heat trapped within the walls below. Woven reed sleeping mats remain unrolled beneath a stretched linen awning, waiting for the brutal summer nights when the entire city ascends to the skyline just to breathe. A low wooden table and a sweating clay water jug sit nearby, offering a quiet, dusty vantage point over the chaotic streets of Thebes. <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>> <li><<action "Flee the heat to the Atrium" "Atrium" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul>\ <</if>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ The audience room lies quiet. Smoke curls upward from the brazier like the slow exhalation of some ancient god who has grown weary of mortal bargains. You sit upon your seat, the weight of your circlet pressing against your brow, when you see a silhouette filling the doorway. Wenennefer has washed the worst of the harbor filth from his skin, yet the man remains a creature of the docks: broad-shouldered, thick through the chest and arms, his linen kilt stained faintly with dust and sweat. The scent of him rolls ahead: salt, cedar, sun-baked hide, and the faint metallic tang of livestock. His eyes find you at once. There is no reverence in them, only raw, unblinking hunger. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"The quartermaster has his silver. The debt to Amun is settled.\"" "left">>\ His voice is lower than you remember, stripped of the booming merchant cadence. Each step brings him closer across the sacred floor. He stops before the throne, close enough that you can see the pulse beating heavily in the thick column of his neck. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"Now I have come to collect what you offered me at the harbor, Priestess.\"" "left">>\ The words land heavy between you. You feel the sudden, treacherous heat rise in your face. In the harbor it had felt like power, a game of words and glances to bend a stubborn man. Here, beneath the silent gaze of the gods, with the incense curling around you like judgment, the reality of his size and intent presses upon you like the desert at noon. Your virginity, your new-minted authority, the shaky dignity of this half-ruined temple all of it feels suddenly fragile. He steps onto your pedestal without invitation. The heat of his body radiates against your linen. One heavy hand rises, calloused fingers brushing the edge of your sleeve as if testing whether you will flinch. You do not. But inside, anxiety coils tight in your belly, a living thing that whispers of seed spilled upon holy ground and the slow, inevitable ruin that will follow. <<if $fetishWatersports>> His gaze drops openly to the lower half of your body, lingering at the place where your legs meet beneath the pleated linen. A coarse, knowing smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"I have thought of little else since you pressed yourself close and spoke so sweetly of satisfaction. I wonder... will the proud priestess kneel, or does she have other ways to honor her word?\"" "left">>\ <</if>>\ <<if not $fetishWatersports>> His gaze travels over you with blunt possession, settling on your breasts, then lower. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"You played a dangerous game with me, woman. Now the debt is mine to claim.\"" "left">>\ <</if>> The merchant towers over you. His breath stirs the fine hairs at your temple. You are acutely aware of the hard line already forming beneath his kilt, the sheer masculine weight of him so close to you. Your fingers tighten against the arms of your chair. Part of you seeks the words to reclaim control. Another part, younger and far more human, trembles at the threshold of what you so carelessly offered. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<if $temperance >= 5>> <<action "Firmly dismiss him with diplomatic grace" "WenenneferHornyReturn_Refusal" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>>\ <<action "Allow the encounter to escalate" "WenenneferHornyEscalation" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ You feel the merchant’s heat like a living wall against your skin. For one suspended heartbeat the anxiety claws at your throat: the memory of your own teasing words at the harbor now returns as a chain around your neck. You offered more than silver. You offered yourself. And here he stands, ready to claim it in the house of the gods. Yet you are no longer merely a frightened virgin playing at power. You are Priestess of Osiris. You rise slowly from the throne. Your spine straightens with the discipline of long training, even as your pulse hammers wildly beneath it. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The debt to Amun is paid. That was the extent of our arrangement, merchant.\"" "right">>\ Wenennefer’s thick brows draw together. His jaw works, the heavy muscles in his neck tightening as he stares down at you. The bulge beneath his kilt has not subsided; if anything, your resistance seems to feed the fire in his eyes. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"You spoke differently by the harbor. You pressed close. You offered satisfaction. Do not play the chaste priestess with me now.\"" "left">>\ His voice is rough, edged with frustration and lingering lust. You do not flinch. Instead you fix him with the calm, unyielding gaze you have practiced before lesser men and greater gods. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I offered words, and words were given. The silver crossed hands. Our business is concluded. You will not soil this house with your animalic demands.\"" "right">>\ The words leave your tongue steady, but inside your stomach twists. The memory of how easily you had let your voice drop into invitation, burns like salt in an open wound. You had been so certain of your control. Now that control feels paper-thin, and the man before you is very real, very hard, and very close to shattering the fragile sanctity you are only beginning to embody. Wenennefer breathes heavily through his nose, nostrils flaring. For a long moment the air between you crackles with dangerous tension. You can almost see the calculations behind his eyes: the risk of forcing a priestess in her own temple, the potential wrath of the gods, the damage to his reputation. His hand hovers, then slowly drops. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"You play a cruel game, woman. Teasing a man with promises and then hiding behind your holy title...\" He exhales a low, bitter laugh. \"But I am no fool to rut in a temple and invite divine wrath. Not today.\"" "left">>\ He steps back, though his gaze still devours you, The hunger does not leave him, but it is leashed, for now. You incline your head with cool dignity, even as shame and relief war inside your chest. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Then we understand one another. Go in peace, Wenennefer. The gods have witnessed your fulfillment of the debt. Let that be enough.\"" "right">>\ For a moment longer he stands there, breathing like a bull denied its mate. Then, with a coarse grunt, he turns on his heel and the sound of his sandals fades down the corridor. You remain standing long after he is gone, hands clenched at your sides. Your thighs press together instinctively, aware of the untouched heat between them. A virgin still. <<silently>> <<set $renown += 1>> <<set $temperance += 3>> <<set $wenenneferHornyResolved to true>> <</silently>>\ <<run setup.notify("Temperance increased.", "positive")>>\ <<run setup.notify("Renown increased by 1.", "positive")>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to your duties" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ You feel the merchant’s heat like a living wall against your skin. For one suspended heartbeat the anxiety claws at your throat: the memory of your own teasing words at the harbor now returns as a chain around your neck. You offered more than silver. You offered yourself. And here he stands, ready to claim it in the house of the gods. Wenennefer does not ask. He steps toward you, until his chest brushes your breasts, his heavy hands gripping your hips with calloused strength. The sheer size of him crowds the pedestal, blocking the light from the high windows. One hand tugs roughly at the knot of his kilt while the other fists the hem of your pristine linen gown, yanking it upward. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"Enough words. You offered yourself. I will have you.\"" "left">>\ Your heart slams against your ribs. Panic surges hot and sharp. This is no controlled game anymore. He intends to bend you over and take you right here, in the house of Osiris. The thought of his thickness breaching your untouched body sends a jolt of raw fear through your belly. You catch his wrists, your fingers digging in with surprising strength. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Wait.\"" "right">>\ Your voice is low, urgent, edged with the anxiety you fight to keep from showing. He freezes, but his grip on your gown does not loosen. You can feel the rigid heat of his cock brushing against your thigh through the linen. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Not like this. Not here. I am still a virgin. The guards patrol the streets. A bastard child born of this would ruin us both.\"" "right">>\ He growls, low and frustrated, but you do not release his wrists. Your mind races. You slide one hand down his sweat-slick stomach, past the coarse hair, until your palm presses against the thick, throbbing length of him. He hisses between his teeth. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I cannot give you my body... but I promised satisfaction. I will keep that promise.\"" "right">>\ Wenennefer’s breathing grows ragged. His hips twitch forward instinctively into your touch. You feel the heavy pulse of him, the scalding heat, the way his pride wars with raw need. For a moment you fear he will simply overpower you anyway. Then his grip loosens. <<if $fetishWatersports>> His eyes darken with a different hunger. He looks down at your body, then deliberately at the stone floor between your feet. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"Then you will kneel and open that proud mouth... or perhaps the priestess will offer something even more intimate. I have imagined I could empty my bladder into that warm mouth of yours.\"" "left">>\ <</if>>\ <<if not $fetishWatersports>> His eyes burn as he stares down at you, voice rough with frustration and lust. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"You had best make it worth my while, woman.\"" "left">>\ <</if>> Your cheeks burn with shame even as your hand remains pressed against his rigid cock. Yet beneath the anxiety there is a strange, unwelcome throb of power. You still hold the reins, however narrowly. He waits, breathing like a bull, his massive frame trembling with barely-leashed need. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Use your hands" "WenenneferHornyRelease_Handjob" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<if $fetishWatersports>> <<action "Allow him to use your mouth to relieve his bladder" "WenenneferHornyRelease_Watersports_Blowjob" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ You sink to your knees on the cold stone before the merchant can change his mind. The incense is thick in your nostrils, but it cannot mask the heavy, animal scent of his body as he loosens his kilt. His cock springs free, already leaking. The sight of it so close to your face makes your stomach tighten with shame. Relieving himself into your mouth would be a truly degrading price, but one you can endure in silence. He grips the back of your head with one large hand, not cruelly, but firmly enough that you cannot pull away. The fat head of his cock presses against your lips. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"Open.\"" "left">>\ You part your lips. The first hot stream hits your tongue without warning, both bitter and salty. Your eyes widen. You try to pull back but his hand holds you steady. You swallow convulsively, throat working, the taste flooding your mouth. It's briny, and it takes great willpower to not gag. He groans deeply, the sound echoing off the temple walls. He stops. You gasp for air, lips shining, thin trails running down your chin onto your linen. Shame burns through you like fire. You are a priestess of Osiris, on your knees drinking a merchant’s piss in the audience room. Before you can speak he pushes forward again. Another heavy stream fills your mouth. You swallow again and again, the liquid thick and endless. You barely have time to breathe between the spurts of piss. He pulls back slightly, then pisses once more, shorter this time, making you chase the head with your lips. Each time he stops you think it is over. Each time he begins again. Your eyes water, and you gasp desperately. Your belly feels full and warm. The taste coats your tongue, your teeth, the back of your throat. Every swallow is a fresh humiliation. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"...Enough...\"" "right">>\ He chuckles low, voice rough with pleasure. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"Not yet. You wanted to satisfy me. Drink it all like a good priestess.\"" "left">>\ Another stream. Then another. Your head spins. You keep swallowing, cheeks hollow, throat bobbing. The shame is so deep it feels like it might choke you worse than his piss. This is what your flirtation has bought you. Finally the flow slows. He is breathing hard, hips twitching. His cock has grown even thicker, the head flushed dark and glistening with your spit and the last drops of his urine. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"Gods... I’m so fucking horny. It won’t take much more from that pretty mouth. Just keep sucking.\"" "left">>\ You try to pull away, but his hand tightens in your hair. He pushes forward, sliding the thick length over your tongue until he bumps the back of your throat. Panic flares bright and sharp in your chest. This is no longer just drinking. He begins to thrust—shallow, urgent strokes, using your mouth like a cunt. You gag. Tears spill down your cheeks. But he does not stop. His breathing turns into harsh grunts. The heavy, musky taste of his cock mixes with the lingering bitterness. Your hands clutch at his thick thighs, not sure whether you are pushing him away or holding on. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"Now swallow... that’s it...\"" "left">>\ His hips jerk hard. The first thick spurt of seed hits the back of your throat. You panic completely—there is no escape, no air, only the pulsing cock and the hot, salty flood filling your mouth. In pure instinct you swallow again and again, gulping down rope after rope while he groans like a wounded bull above you. When he finally pulls free, a last weak spurt lands across your lips and chin. You cough, gasping, strings of spit and cum connecting your mouth to his softening cock. Your belly feels swollen. The taste is everywhere. Wenennefer looks down at you with heavy-lidded satisfaction. He tucks himself away slowly, adjusting his kilt. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"A priestess on her knees... worth every piece of silver.\"" "left">>\ He turns and leaves without another word. You remain on your knees for a long moment, trembling. Deep, crushing shame rolls over you in waves. The virgin priestess who only wanted to restore her father’s temple has just swallowed a merchant’s piss and seed on the floor of the audience room. Your linen is stained. Your mouth feels ruined. Slowly you push yourself up. Your legs shake. No amount of bathing will wash away this shame. <<silently>> <<set $renown += 2>> <<set $decadence += 5>> <<set $wenenneferHornyResolved to true>> <<set $hygiene to $hygiene - 20>> <</silently>>\ <<run setup.notify("Decadence increased.", "negative")>>\ <<run setup.notify("Renown increased by 2.", "positive")>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to your duties" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ You stay on your knees, heart pounding. Taking him in your mouth feels too intimate. Your hands will have to be enough. You reach up and wrap both palms around his thick, throbbing cock. He is burning hot and heavy, the skin velvet over rigid muscle. Wenennefer groans and immediately starts thrusting into your grip, using your hands roughly. You stroke him as best you can, sliding both fists up and down his thick length. He is leaking steadily, making your palms slick and messy. The wet sounds of skin on skin feel profane in the quiet audience room. Shame burns hot in your face. A priestess on her knees, jerking a sweaty merchant like a dockside slut. Wenennefer is impatient. His large hand closes over yours, forcing a tighter grip and a faster rhythm. His other hand grips the back of your neck, holding you in place while he fucks your fists with heavy, demanding strokes. Your arms begin to ache, but he does not slow. You keep pumping him, twisting your hands, trying to finish him quickly. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"Harder… that’s it. Make me cum, priestess.\"" "left">>\ His breathing grows ragged. His thrusts turn brutal and erratic. You feel him swell even thicker in your hands. Suddenly he groans deep. You panic. As the first powerful spurt erupts, you quickly angle his cock down toward your open palm, trying desperately to contain the mess. Thick, hot ropes of seed shoot across your palm and fingers, pulse after heavy pulse. The cum is scalding, sticky, far more than you expected. It overflows your hand and drips onto your gown and thighs. You stare at the obscene pool of semen filling your palm in pure horror. Wenennefer chuckles low, watching you with dark amusement. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"What’s the matter, little priestess? Afraid of a man’s spend?\"" "left">>\ Shame crashes over you like a wave. In a desperate attempt to hide the evidence, to make it disappear, you bring your cum-filled palm to your mouth and gulp it down. The thick, salty seed slides over your tongue. You swallow convulsively, again and again, until your palm is clean. A string of it still clings to your lower lip. Wenennefer laughs roughly, clearly entertained. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"Gods… you really swallowed it. What a proper little whore you are beneath that holy linen.\"" "left">>\ He tucks himself away and adjusts his kilt, still smirking. <<dialogue "Wenennefer" "img/wenennefer.jpg" "\"The debt is paid. I’ll remember this the next time I visit.\"" "left">>\ He turns and leaves. You remain kneeling, trembling with deep, crushing shame. The taste of his cum coats your mouth and throat. Your gown is stained. Your hands still feel sticky. You, a virgin priestess, have just jerked a common merchant to completion and then swallowed his seed like a desperate slut in the middle of your own audience room. Slowly you rise and stagger to the ritual basin. You scrub your hands and mouth raw with water and linen, but the taste and the memory refuse to leave. <<silently>> <<set $renown += 1>> <<set $decadence += 4>> <<set $wenenneferHornyResolved to true>> <</silently>>\ <<run setup.notify("Decadence increased.", "negative")>>\ <<run setup.notify("Renown increased by 1.", "positive")>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to your duties" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Temple of Isis</h1> A priestess of Isis has been following you with her gaze ever since you walked through the arches of the temple. She seems to be from the lands of Retjenu, judging by her features. Her long, flowing curls of red hair frame a delicate, freckled face, and her striking emerald eyes seem to map out every detail of your posture. She approaches with a confident, swaying gait, the crimson fabric of her dress clinging to her form, revealing ample cleavage and a toned midriff. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Sister Priestess! I happened to be awaiting an audience at the Temple of Amun and I witnessed your ordination. You were inducted into the Osiris priesthood, correct?\"" "left">> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Yes. In fact, the first - and last - member of our clergy since my father left for the Field of Reeds.\"" "right">>\ Tiset’s emerald eyes soften for a moment. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"The Temple of Isis has watched the slow death of your house with great sadness, sister. Your father was a remarkable man.\"" "left">>\ She lets the silence sit for a moment. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"There was a time when the love between Isis and Osiris reflected in their houses.\"" "left">>\ Tiset leans a fraction closer. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Pardon my forwardness… I know it is a heavy thing to ask of one so newly anointed, but I wonder if you would honor the friendship that once existed between our houses. I have a favor to ask - one that could serve us both.\"" "left">>\ Her gaze holds yours without flinching. She tries to make it look playful, but underneath the facade, you see the quiet desperation of one who has run out of easier options. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "\"Speak your request, sister. I will hear it.\"" "TisetRequest" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "\"Maybe another time.\"" "TisetRefusal" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis</h1> Tiset exhales softly, as if relieved you did not immediately turn away. She leans in closer, breath warm against your ear. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Two shipments arrived at the harbor three days ago. One of sweet shemshehet, the other of blue lotus gathered beneath the new moon. They were intended for the sacred rites of Isis… yet an inspector of Amun named Nebamun holds them hostage. He says there are 'issues with the manifest.' We both know that’s nonsense. What he really wants is silver… or to watch a priestess on her knees. I already told him no, and we don’t have silver to throw away.\"" "left">>\ Tiset pulls back just enough to look you in the eyes, a mischievous little smile playing on her lips. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"But you… you’re brand new, freshly blessed by Amenhotep himself. Your voice might actually make that papyrus-pusher squirm. Help me get what’s ours back and I’ll pay you back, sister. Maybe I’ll even let you indulge in some of the merchandise yourself…\"" "left">>\ Her gaze lingers, full of promise and playful temptation. <<set $tisetQuestActive to true>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "\"I'll see what can be done at the harbor.\"" "TisetQuestAccepted" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<if $temperance <= -10>>\ <<action "\"What exactly could you offer me in return?\"" "TisetNegotiation" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis</h1> You study her for a long moment. Another entanglement. Another debt. Yet refusing feels like turning your back on the only hand extended toward your dying temple. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I will see what can be done at the harbor.\"" "right">>\ Tiset’s face lights up with genuine relief and delight. Her emerald eyes sparkle as she lets out a soft, bubbly laugh that seems too bright for these solemn halls. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Oh, you wonderful woman! I knew there was fire in you.\" " "left">>\ She reaches out without hesitation and embraces you in a hug, her fingers warm and lingering. The scent of lotus and sweet resin clings to her skin. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Nebamun is usually found near the main docks in the afternoon, swaggering around like he owns the Nile itself. He’s a small, balding man with a face like curdled milk and a belly that hangs over his kilt. Flash your new circlet, mention Amenhotep if you must. Just get my shipments back.\"" "left">>\ She leans in again, voice dropping into a playful whisper. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Bring them to me and I promise I’ll make it worth your while, sister. Very worth your while.\"" "left">>\ Her gaze flicks down to your lips before returning to your eyes. <<silently>><<set $tisetQuestAccepted to true>><</silently>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to the Temple of Isis" "Temple of Isis" 0 _hk>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis</h1> The heat in the temple feels heavier now. You let your gaze linger on the curve of her neck, the freckles scattered across her chest, the way the crimson linen clings to her breasts with each breath. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"What exactly could you offer me in return?\"" "right">>\ Tiset’s smile turns slow and knowing. She bites her lower lip, clearly pleased by your question. She steps even closer until her body nearly brushes yours, her voice low and intimate, almost purring. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Straight to the point… I like that.\"" "left">>\ She tilts her head, red curls spilling over one shoulder as she studies you with her sharp emerald eyes. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"I can offer you whatever you truly desire, sister. The best shemshehet to quiet the endless noise in your head. Blue lotus that opens the veil between worlds and makes the body sing. Or…\"" "left">>\ Her fingers lightly trace the edge of your circlet, then drift down along your jaw in a feather-light touch. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"If you prefer something warmer… I am very good at helping newly anointed priestesses forget the weight of their duties for a while. Skin against skin. Mouths. Hands. Whatever your body craves after carrying so much alone.\"" "left">>\ She smiles, playful yet hungry. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Bring me my shipments and I’ll let you choose your reward. Maybe even more than once.\"" "left">>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "\"I will help you.\"" "TisetQuestAcceptedAfterNegotiation" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "\"I need to think about this.\"" "TisetQuestRefusalAfterNegotiation" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis</h1> Tiset’s emerald eyes gleam with open delight at your acceptance. She lets out a soft, throaty little laugh and steps close enough that her breasts brush against your arm. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Mmm, now that's a good girl,\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Bring me my shipments and we'll commence the... private tasting.\"" "left">>\ She gives you one last lingering, wicked smile, her fingers lightly trailing down your wrist before she steps back. <<silently>><<set $tisetQuestAccepted to true>><</silently>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to the Temple of Isis" "Temple of Isis" 0 _hk>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis</h1> You offer her a small, weary smile. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Maybe another time. The weight of this circlet is still new upon my brow.\"" "right">>\ Tiset studies you for a long moment, then inclines her head with graceful acceptance. The playful glint in her emerald eyes dims only slightly. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Of course, sister. The burdens of a new priestess are many. Should you ever wish to speak again, you will find me here.\"" "left">>\ She steps back, the crimson fabric whispering against her thighs, and gives you one last lingering look before melting back into the temple crowd. <<set $tisetMet to true>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to the Temple of Isis" "Temple of Isis" 0 _hk>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis</h1> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I need to think about this.\"" "right">>\ Tiset lets out a soft, playful sigh, though her emerald eyes still sparkle with mischief. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Such a responsible priestess,\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Fine, go think… but don’t take too long, sister. I can get very impatient.\"" "left">>\ She gives you a lingering, hungry smile, red curls swaying as she tilts her head. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"I’ll be around. Come find me whenever you're ready.\"" "left">>\ Tiset winks and turns around, crimson fabric swirling around her legs, and disappears deeper into the Temple of Isis. <<set $tisetMet to true>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to the Temple of Isis" "Temple of Isis" 0 _hk>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Harbor Warehouse</h1> The central warehouse district of Thebes is a vast, sun-blasted maze of massive square buildings constructed from thick mud-brick and rough limestone. Oxen strain against sledges piled high with amphorae and crates. In the heart of this labyrinth sits the warehouse office of the Temple of Amun: a squat, fortified building with a single shaded entrance. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Enter the warehouse office" "WarehouseOffice" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Return to the main harbor" "Harbor" 5 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Harbor Warehouse</h1>\ <<if $nebamunpapyrusobtained>>\ You push open the heavy wooden door, but stop yourself. You already hold the sealed papyrus bearing Inspector Nebamun's authorization. There is no need to subject yourself to this stifling office or its extortionate fees any further. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to the docks" "Warehouse" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<elseif $nebamunBribeAgreed>>\ You step back into the dim, stifling air of the clerk's room. The tired-looking scribe looks up from his ledgers, his expression as weary as ever. <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/nebamunscribe.jpg" "\"The Inspector has informed me of your... generous donation to the House of Amun. One hundred deben in gold. Do you have the funds prepared?\"" "left">>\ You can see it in his eyes that he knows exactly what this 'donation' truly is, but he is powerless to act against it. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<if setup.hasEnoughResource("gold", 10)>>\ <<action "Pay the 100 deben bribe" "WarehouseOfficeBribePaid" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<else>>\ <div class="disabled-option"><em>You do not have enough gold (10 Gold required for 100 Deben).</em></div> <</if>>\ <<action "Leave without paying" "Warehouse" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<elseif not $nebamunStep1Complete>>\ You push open the heavy wooden door of the treasury office. The interior is dim and stifling, the air thick with the smell of old papyrus, lamp oil, and sweat-soaked linen. A single shaft of harsh sunlight cuts through a high window, illuminating drifting dust motes. Behind a low table piled with tablets and scrolls sits a tired-looking scribe, perhaps in his mid-thirties, the stubble on his face already beginning to grey. He glances up at you with the weary expression of a man who has already had a long day. <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/nebamunscribe.jpg" "\"May Ra's light always shine on you, priestess. How may I be of service?\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I am here regarding an unlawful seizure of goods belonging to the Temple of Isis. Two shipments of sacred materials have been improperly detained.\"" "right">>\ The scribe rubs his eyes and lets out a quiet sigh. <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/nebamunscribe.jpg" "\"Unlawful seizure… yes, I’ve heard this before.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/nebamunscribe.jpg" "\"To lodge a complaint and request an audience with Inspector Nebamun, the administrative fee is twenty deben paid in gold.\" He says the number without emphasis, as though it pains him slightly to speak it aloud. Your jaw tightens. Twenty deben for the mere right to be heard?" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Twenty deben? That is an outrageous sum for a simple complaint,\"" "right">>\ The scribe meets your gaze with tired, resigned politeness. He does not seem proud of the words he must speak. <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/nebamunscribe.jpg" "\"I understand your displeasure, Priestess. It is by order of Inspector Nebamun. This has been the standard fee for the past three years.\"" "left">>\ He is slowly fidgeting with a reed stylus. <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/nebamunscribe.jpg" "\"An alarming sum of complaints were being lodged, so the inspector raised the fee to… discourage frivolous cases. You may of course appeal directly to the High Priest of Amun or even to the Kenbet, but I doubt the fee will be lowered.\"" "left">>\ He offers a small, helpless shrug, the gesture of a man who has delivered this same speech many times before. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<if setup.hasEnoughResource("gold", 2)>>\ <<action "Pay the 20 deben fee" "Nebamun1" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<else>>\ <div class="disabled-option"><em>You do not have enough gold (2 Gold required for 20 Deben).</em></div> <</if>>\ <<action "Leave without paying" "Warehouse" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<elseif $nebamunStep1Complete and $tisetFatherNameKnown>>\ <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/nebamunscribe.jpg" "\"You return, Priestess. May Ra’s light always shine on you. How may I be of service?\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I have obtained what Nebamun asked of me. May I see him?\"" "right">>\ The scribe sighs. There is a brief pause, and he looks at you pitifully. Then, at the table, then back at you. <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/nebamunscribe.jpg" "\"Priestess, I am sure you remember, but in order to lodge a complaint and request an audience with Inspector Nebamun, the administrative fee is twenty deben in gold.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\". . .\"" "right">>\ There are no words that could bring down this brick wall of frustration. You catch a tinge of guilt in the scribe’s eyes, like he had just reminded his son that he needs to catch up on his studies. Spilling your anger on him would be useless: there is nothing this powerless clerk can do to aid you in your quest against hellish bureaucracy. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I do remember. Do tell me this, however: how many audiences does it usually take for a dispute to be resolved?\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/nebamunscribe.jpg" "\"I cannot say, priestess. Patience and faith are what will bring you fruition, nothing else.\"" "left">>\ Nebamun’s doors will remain locked to you until the fee is paid in full. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<if setup.hasEnoughResource("gold", 2)>>\ <<action "Pay the 20 deben fee" "Nebamun2" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<else>>\ <div class="disabled-option"><em>You do not have enough gold (2 Gold required for 20 Deben).</em></div> <</if>>\ <<action "Leave without paying" "Warehouse" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<else>>\ You push open the heavy wooden door of the treasury office. The interior is dim and stifling, the air thick with the smell of old papyrus. The tired-looking scribe glances up at you from his mountain of ledgers. <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/nebamunscribe.jpg" "\"Priestess. Have you discovered the name of the woman's father? Inspector Nebamun will not see you without it.\"" "left">>\ You shake your head. There is no point in paying the extortionate twenty deben fee again until you have the exact information Nebamun requested. You should return to the Temple of Isis and speak with Tiset. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to the Warehouse" "Warehouse" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>>\ </div>

<div class ="textbox"> <h1 style="text-align: center;">JUGGLING</h1> <<audio ":all" pause>> <<nobr>> <span style="font-family: 'Cinzel', serif; display: none;">Load</span> <div id="minigame-container" style="display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: flex-start; width: 100%; height: 100vh; overflow: hidden; background: transparent; padding-top: 10px;"> <div style="position: relative; display: flex; justify-content: center;"> <div id="game-ui" style="position: absolute; top: 10px; display: flex; gap: 10px; z-index: 10; align-items: center; justify-content: center; background: rgba(13, 7, 10, 0.85); padding: 8px 15px; border: 1px solid #c19a6b; border-radius: 8px; max-width: 90vw;"> <div id="game-ui-controls" style="color: #e6b85c; font-family: 'Cinzel', serif; font-weight: bold; font-size: 14px;"> <label for="ballCount">Orbs:</label> <select id="ballCount" style="background: #1a1110; color: #ffdeb3; border: 1px solid #c19a6b; font-family: 'Cinzel', serif; padding: 2px;"> <option value="2">2</option> <option value="3" selected>3</option> <option value="4">4</option> <option value="5">5</option> </select> </div> <div id="game-ui-buttons" style="display: flex; gap: 5px;"> <button id="muteMusicBtn" class="icon-btn">🎵</button> <button id="muteSfxBtn" class="icon-btn">🔊</button> <button id="tutorialBtn" class="icon-btn">❓</button> <button id="startBtn" class="icon-btn">COMMENCE</button> </div> </div> <canvas id="gameCanvas" width="450" height="800" style="max-width: 100vw; max-height: 85vh; aspect-ratio: 45/80; background: transparent; touch-action: none; border: 2px solid #c19a6b; border-radius: 8px;"></canvas> </div> </div> <<script>> $(document).one(':passagedisplay', function() { window.safeMode = State.variables.reduceMotion; setup.startOsirisMinigame(function(finalScore) { State.variables.osirisScore = finalScore; Engine.play("Juggling Evaluation"); }); }); <</script>> <</nobr>> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Juggling Chamber</h1>\ You stand within the Juggling Chamber. At its center rests a stone pedestal, enclosed by a boundary circle drawn directly onto the floor. <br><br> <<if $time gte 600 and $time lte 1080>> <<action "Start Juggling" "Osiris Juggling Match" 60 1>> <<else>> <span style="color: #a8cc8c;"><i>The chances of attracting an audience at this hour are slim. Return between 10:00 and 18:00.</i></span> <br><br> <</if>> <<action "Return to the Complex" "Complex" 1 2>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Juggling Chamber</h1>\ <<silently>> /* 1. Calculate Total Deben Value */ <<set _debenEarned to 0>> <<set _t1_score to Math.min($osirisScore, 2000)>> <<set _debenEarned += Math.trunc(_t1_score / 500)>> <<set _t2_score to Math.max(0, Math.min($osirisScore, 5000) - 2000)>> <<set _debenEarned += Math.trunc(_t2_score / 1000)>> <<set _t3_score to Math.max(0, $osirisScore - 5000)>> <<set _debenEarned += Math.trunc(_t3_score / 2000)>> /* 2. Define the Item Pool */ <<set _pool to [ { id: "grain", name: "Grain", value: 1 }, { id: "bread", name: "Bread", value: 2 }, { id: "beer", name: "Beer", value: 2 }, { id: "honey", name: "Honey", value: 4 }, { id: "incense", name: "Incense", value: 5 } ]>> /* 3. Randomly Distribute Value into Items */ <<set _rewards to {}>> <<set _budget to _debenEarned>> <<for _budget > 0>> <<set _available to _pool.filter(i => i.value <= _budget)>> <<if _available.length is 0>><<break>><</if>> <<set _roll to Math.floor(Math.random() * _available.length)>> <<set _picked to _available[_roll]>> <<if _rewards[_picked.id] is undefined>> <<set _rewards[_picked.id] to { name: _picked.name, qty: 0 }>> <</if>> <<set _rewards[_picked.id].qty += 1>> <<set _budget -= _picked.value>> <</for>> /* 4. Add to Stockpile and Build Display String */ <<set _rewardStrings to []>> <<for _key, _data range _rewards>> /* Using the exact setup.addResource function you provided! */ <<run setup.addResource(_key, _data.qty)>> <<run _rewardStrings.push(_data.qty + " " + _data.name)>> <</for>> <</silently>>\ The heavy thud of the orbs ceases, and you step down from the dais, wiping sweat from your brow. <div style="font-family: 'Cinzel', serif; border: 1px solid #c19a6b; border-radius: 5px; padding: 10px 20px; width: max-content; margin: 15px auto; text-align: center; color: #e6b85c; font-weight: 900; font-size: 18px; background: rgba(13, 7, 10, 0.7); box-shadow: 0 0 10px rgba(193, 154, 107, 0.1);">\ Final Score: <<print Math.round($osirisScore)>>\ </div>\ <<if $osirisScore gte 5000>>\ The gathered crowd bursts into applause. You have demonstrated exceptional mastery over the cascade. <<elseif $osirisScore gte 1000>>\ An adequate display. The few people gathered around are mildly amused, though there is room for your technique to grow. <<else>>\ Silence fills the room. A disappointing performance. <</if>> <<if _rewardStrings.length > 0>>\ The audience has left donations for your performance: <<print _rewardStrings.join(", ")>>. <</if>> <<action "Return to the Juggling Chamber" "Juggling Chamber" 0 1>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <<run setup.removeResource("gold", 2)>> <h1>Inspector Nebamun's Office</h1> You find yourself transported to Nebamun's office, its architecture belonging to a different world from the rest of the building. The floors and walls are all brilliant limestone, decorated with paintings of falcons and beautiful flowers. A giant mural of Ra bestows his sunrays upon you from the ceiling. The two chairs are made of wool lined with green velvet. The screaming opulence of the room is practically begging for a bribe for the mere privilege of having to take in its sights. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"It seems Ra's light shines on you, priestess.\"" "left">>\ He points towards the painting on the ceiling. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"Please, take a seat.\"" "left">>\ You sit down directly opposite him, only an empty marble desk between you. The cushion is as comfortable as it looks. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"Now, tell me, what is your business with the Royal Treasury of Amun and Pharaoh today?\"" "left">>\ Were those two particular attributes ever merged formally, or was this just someone dropping all pretense? <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I come to resolve a matter for a sister priestess of Isis, who goes by Tiset. She has told me there are problems with two of her shipments, and the rituals of Isis cannot proceed without the ritual goods contained therein.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"Ah! I see. By my estimate, there should be no less than twenty different priestesses in this city registered with the name of Tiset, nevermind the fact that even the House of Amun holds a chamber for Isis in case she ever wants to retreat to the Great Temple. Which Tiset are we talking about, and from which temple?\"" "left">>\ He smirks. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Surely, there is only one Tiset from the Temple of Isis who is awaiting two deliveries, whose manifest you have taken an issue with?\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"Perhaps so, priestess. But, you see, however much I would want to help you – and believe me, the House of Amun truly cares for all our brothers and sisters of the clergy – I simply cannot remember the entire harbour log by heart. It shames me to admit that Amun has not graced me with this gift of memory. And without a name, I would not even know who I am looking for in the mountain of paper that is the ledger of inbound goods.\"" "left">>\ He rubs his chin, deeply in thought. The chances of him not lying are minimal. It is just as she told you: he is purposefully stalling. Finally, an idea lights up his face, and he speaks as if offering you a saving grace. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"Maybe you know the name of her father? That would certainly narrow it down.\"" "left">>\ In hindsight, you should have had the presence to ask her beforehand. You stop to consider your options. Maybe you could offer him the gesture he is so desperately fishing for. <<action "Try to determine if he truly wants to see a priestess on her knees." "Nebamun1Decadence" 0 "1" "+1D">> <<action "Try to determine what sort of bribe he would like." "Nebamun1Temperance" 0 "2" "+1T">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Inspector Nebamun's Office</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Truthfully, I do not know her full name. But maybe there are other ways of settling this? Our temples do not lack resources, and a donation to the priesthood of Amun could be arranged. In appreciation of all the hard work you do in taking care of our fairest of cities, of course.\"" "right">>\ Nebamun’s face visibly lights up as the word "donation" escapes your lips. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"Priestess, I am willing to help you. But there is little I can do without having at least a full name. Before we continue our discussion, I require the name of her father so that I may look for her in the manifest.\"" "left">>\ You sigh and lean back, sinking into the backrest. Of course he’s open to donations; just look at that enormous gilded statue behind him. But it seems like he genuinely requires a legal name in order to continue the procedures. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Then, I shall return when I have her name.\"" "right">>\ <<silently>> <<set $nebamunStep1Complete to true>> <</silently>>\ <<action "Return to the Warehouse" "Warehouse" 0 "1">>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Inspector Nebamun's Office</h1>\ <<if $fetishFeet >>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Truthfully, I do not know her full name.\"" "right">>\ You allow your sandal to drop and gently caress his exposed calf with your foot, between the folds of his kilt. Men sometimes truly only want one thing; you try to console your dignity with the fact that you are simply choosing the most efficient approach. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"But is upholding the law truly what concerns you here, Nebamun? Maybe there is something on your mind you dare not speak of, so as to not offend a sacred woman.\"" "right">>\ <<else>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Truthfully, I do not know her full name.\"" "right">>\ You pull yourself closer to him by your elbows, letting him get a good view of your cleavage. Men sometimes truly only want one thing; you try to console your dignity with the fact that you are simply choosing the most efficient approach. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"But is upholding the law truly what concerns you here, Nebamun? Maybe there is something on your mind you dare not speak of, so as to not offend a sacred woman.\"" "right">>\ <</if>>\ <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"You misunderstand me, priestess.\"" "left">>\ His face, flushed ever-so-slightly red, says otherwise. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"I am merely the first in the ranks of the humble servants of the administration. My desires, if they may ever be stirred, cannot come in the way of the law.\"" "left">>\ <<if $fetishFeet >>\ They most certainly can be stirred. You’ve seen exactly this type of man before. Your right foot advances and brushes up to his thigh, softly kneading his skin. You think you can feel a bulge with the tip of your toes. His breathing picks up. <<else>>\ They most certainly can be stirred. You’ve seen exactly this type of man before. You lean in closer and theatrically adjust your robes from left to right, allowing him to catch a tiny glimpse of your nipples. You slowly drag your hand across your neck before properly covering your chest with your dress; his breathing picks up. <</if>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Your office is certainly well decorated for a mere paper-pusher, Nebamun. I believe that sometimes, you do indulge in your impulses as long as it would not upset Pharaoh’s laws. Are you telling me you truly are unwilling to help me?\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"Priestess, you do drive a hard bargain. I am indeed willing to help you. But my hands are tied and can explore nowhere without having at least a full name. So, please, for both of our sakes. Return here when you find out the name of her father so that I may look for her in the manifest. Only then can we look for solutions to this problem.\"" "left">>\ You sigh and lean back, sinking into the backrest. You do appear to have given him a push towards indulgence, considering his visible erection, but he isn’t budging. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"So be it then, Nebamun. I shall return when I have her name.\"" "right">>\ <<silently>> <<set $nebamunStep1Complete to true>> <</silently>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to the Warehouse" "Warehouse" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis</h1> The moment you step beneath the carved arches of the Temple of Isis, Tiset’s emerald eyes find you. She rises from where she had been arranging offerings and crosses the cool stone floor with quick, joyous steps. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"You did it! By the tears of Isis, you actually did it!\" " "left">>\ She throws her arms around you without hesitation, pressing her warm, soft body against yours. Her red curls smell of lotus and smoke. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"A porter just came by, asking me to confirm the deliveries. The blue lotus and the shemshehet… they are ours again. You've no idea how much this means.\"" "left">>\ Tiset pulls back just enough to look at you, her freckled cheeks flushed with genuine delight. She reaches into the folds of her dress and produces a slender pipe carved from rich cherry wood, polished until it gleams like dark blood. <<run setup.addResource("cherry_pipe", 1)>>\ <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Here. A small token. For someone who's worthy of sharing the sacred smoke. Will you partake with me, sister? Just a little shemshehet to celebrate. The gods smile on those who share their gifts.\"" "left">>\ Her smile is warm, inviting, full of that free and easy affection she wears like perfume. The temple around you feels quieter, heavier with possibility. ''It will not be a fleeting interaction - although this free-spirited daughter of Isis will certainly make no demands of you.'' <<set _hk to 1>> <<if $fetishFutanari>> <<action "\"I will smoke with you.\"" "TisetSmokeFuta" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<elseif $fetishGirls>> <<action "\"I will smoke with you.\"" "TisetSmokeGirls" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<else>> <<action "\"I will smoke with you.\"" "TisetSmokeNormal" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <</if>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis</h1> The smoke has thinned, and you simply lie in her embrace, skin damp and hearts slowing. Eventually Tiset presses one last gentle kiss to your shoulder and rises. You both dress in comfortable silence, the linen whispering against flushed skin. You sit up, still feeling the warm ache between your thighs and the faint slickness of her seed. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I… wasn’t expecting it to feel good.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I had heard it was supposed to bleed. That it would hurt.\"" "right">>\ Tiset smiles softly as she adjusts her crimson dress, her red curls tousled and lovely. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"It doesn’t always hurt, sister. Not when you’re ready… and not when someone takes their time with you. Shemshehet helps, as well.\"" "left">>\ She leans down and cups your face with both hands, kissing you once more. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"If you ever want this again, or anything else… come find me here in the Temple of Isis. My arms are always open to you.\"" "left">>\ You leave the veiled alcove carrying the scent of smoke, lotus, and sex upon your skin, forever changed by the gentle touch of a daughter of Isis. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to the Temple of Isis" "Temple of Isis" 2 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ <<set $fetishFutanari to true>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The old scrolls speak of those the gods have touched with both seed and womb. Beings who carry the fullness of creation between their thighs. I have read such things in secret, Tahira, and the thought rather... burns. To be blessed with such power, heavy and alive, rising at the will of the gods themselves.\"" "right">>\ Tahira’s eyes widen in the steaming air. Her gaze drifts downward through the clouded water, then jerks back up to your face, cheeks burning. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"Mistress... you speak of the old gods who were both man and woman. To carry such a blessing... it would make you more than mortal. The thought alone makes my skin prickle.\"" "left">>\ You feel the weight of the admission settle over you. It is not shame that warms your blood, but a dark, fatalistic curiosity - the knowledge that the gods give strange gifts, and that you would not refuse this one, or to indulge with someone thusly blessed. <<include "TahiraFetishHub">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ <<set $fetishGirls to true>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It is not always men who stir my blood, Tahira. There is a softness in women that pulls at me: the curve of a breast beneath thin linen, the salt-sweet taste of skin at the throat, the trembling of one who knows the same burdens I carry. Their touch would not be a game of power. It would simply... understand.\"" "right">>\ Tahira’s breath catches sharply. The steam seems to thicken around her as she stares at you, lips parted. Her eyes trace the line of your neck and shoulders before she forces them down to the water. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"Women, then... like me. I did not know a priestess could feel such things. Your words make my heart heavy and light at once.\"" "left">>\ A quiet, dangerous warmth spreads through your chest. You have spoken a truth long buried beneath duty and temple walls. The gods may send men or women, and you will meet them as you are. <<include "TahiraFetishHub">> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis</h1> You stare at the heavy outline straining beneath the thin crimson linen. The words leave your mouth before you can stop them. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Tiset… I cannot help but notice you seem… affected.\"" "right">>\ Tiset pauses mid-breath, gaze meeting yours. For a moment the air grows taut. Finally, she giggles when she realizes what you were talking about. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Ah. You noticed.\"" "left">>\ She lets out a soft, slightly embarrassed laugh, then shrugs with that easy, unashamed grace of hers. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"It's only the smoke… and perhaps your company. Now that the secret is out, you'll forgive me; but it's grown very hot in here.\"" "left">>\ Without hesitation she gathers the crimson fabric and draws it aside, freeing her lithe cock. It rises heavy and flushed into the warm air, twitching once as it meets the open space. She makes no move to hide it, simply letting it rest against her thigh as though it were the most natural thing in the world. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Tiset—!\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"The veils are drawn, sister. People know better than to enter the private auditoriums in the Temple of Isis.\"" "left">>\ She smiles, playful and utterly at ease, one hand idly stroking along the thick length of her girlcock in slow, absentminded caresses as she continues speaking. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"You're probably curious, so I'll tell you. Two years ago, on the birthday of Hathor, I performed a most intimate ritual in her honor. I offered my body completely… and the goddess answered. Now I carry both her gifts.\"" "left">>\ Tiset shifts closer, her bare thigh brushing yours. She continues to toy with her cock, while her eyes stay locked to yours. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"I have both womb and rod now, as they say. I can get pleasure from both. It is a strange and wonderful blessing. The smoke always makes it stir so eagerly.\"" "left">>\ She gives the shaft a thorough stroke from base to tip then smiles at you as though discussing nothing more scandalous than the weather. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Is this shocking or intriguing to you, sister?\"" "left">>\ The heavy, musky scent of her arousal mixes with the sweet shemshehet smoke in the warm air. Tiset watches you with half-lidded eyes, still gently playing with her exposed cock as she waits for your answer. It's slick with precum and very appetising; or it could just be the shemshehet talking. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "\"It… is unexpected.\"" "TisetFutaReactionContinue" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis</h1> The smoke swirls thickly between you. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It is unexpected. But Tiset, you should know… I am still a... maiden.\"" "right">>\ Tiset freezes. Her emerald eyes widen in genuine shock. The easy, flirtatious smile vanishes from her face as she quickly pulls the crimson linen back over her cock, covering herself with sudden modesty. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"By all the gods… I didn't know. Sorry. Please forgive me, sister. I've been far too forward.\"" "left">>\ Her face flushes bright red. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"I-... You're way too pretty to be untouched. Sorry. I still regret my first time sometimes, and I wouldn't want to have yours go like this, high on shemshehet with a girl you just met mere hours ago.\"" "left">>\ Tiset looks genuinely troubled, and the heavy, languid atmosphere shifts. For a long moment only the faint crackle of the brazier fills the alcove. The smoke clouds your thoughts. Your heart beats heavily in your chest. You are not thinking clearly. Perhaps that is why the truth spills out so easily. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Actually....\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It has always been such a heavy pressure upon me. The expectations. The weight of what I am supposed to represent. I… I like you, Tiset. Your warmth. Your freedom. If it must happen… I would want it to be with a woman who understands the body, who knows what it feels like. Not some clumsy man who sees only conquest.\"" "right">>\ Tiset stares at you, stunned into silence. The pipe rests forgotten in her hand, a thin trail of smoke still rising. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Do you speak truly? You'd offer me your first time?\"" "left">>\ She reaches out, her fingers gently brushing your cheek. Her voice drops to a husky whisper. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"I'll be gentle then, sister. There's nothing to fear, and you might even like it. But I should tell you...\" Tiset's lips approach your ear, and her warm breath sends shivers down your entire body, \"...I've wanted you I saw your ordination in the Temple of Amun.\"" "left">>\ Tiset cups your head in her palms, staring into your lips. She does not move your mouth onto hers, however, giving you every chance to pull away. She's warm and patient and waiting only for your word to kiss you. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "\"Yes… I want this.\"" "TisetVirginSexScene" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis</h1> You lean in first. Your mouths meet, and Tiset tastes of sweet smoke and lotus. Her tongue is warm and patient, coaxing yours as her hands slide down your neck to your shoulders. She pulls your linen robe open with reverent care, baring your breasts to the warm air. Her thumbs brush across your nipples and you gasp into her mouth. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Easy… breathe with me.\"" "left">>\ She guides you down onto the cushions. Her crimson dress slips from her shoulders, revealing full breasts and the heavy, flushed length of her cock standing proud once more. Beneath it, you catch a glimpse of her soft, glistening folds. She is both, fully. Tiset kisses down your throat, then lower, taking one nipple into her mouth. You arch against her as heat pools low in your belly. Her hand slides between your thighs, stroking you gently, opening you with practiced fingers. You are already embarassingly wet, and the realization makes your face burn. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Tiset… I feel strange. The smoke…\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"I know. Just let it happen. I'll take care of you.\"" "left">>\ She positions herself between your legs. The thick head of her cock presses against your entrance, hot and blunt. She rubs it slowly up and down your slit, coating herself in your wetness, watching your face the entire time. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Tell me if it hurts. We can stop anytime.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "You nod, heart hammering. \"It feels good now. I think you can enter me.\"" "right">>\ She pushes forward. There is pressure, then a brief sting as she breaches you. You grip her shoulders, gasping. Tiset stills immediately with only her tip inside. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"That's it… good girl. You're doing so well,\"" "left">>\ Her cock throbs at your opening as she kisses you tenderly, sending waves of pleasure through your pussy. It doesn't hurt as much as you were told it would; in fact, it feels very good, as if you were melting into her. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Deeper?\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It feels very good, Tiset... please. Go all the way.\"" "right">>\ Slowly, carefully, she sinks deeper until her hips press flush against yours. The fullness is overwhelming. You feel every inch of her, hot and alive inside you. Tiset begins to move in slow, rolling thrusts that make your breath hitch. The sting fades completely into a deep, aching pleasure. Her cock drags against something inside you that makes sparks burst behind your eyes. You hear yourself moan, a sound you barely recognize. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"You feel so wet and tight inside, $characterName. Do you like how my cock feels? Do you want me to stop?\"" "left">>\ Sweat beads on your skin. The wet sound of her cock moving in and out of you fills the alcove, obscene and intimate. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Don't stop, Tiset... don't stop...\" you barely manage to say between your moans." "right">>\ Tiset's breathing grows ragged. She reaches down and rubs your clit with her thumb while she fucks you, her heavy breasts swaying with each thrust. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"You feel incredible… so tight and warm around me.\"" "left">>\ Your climax takes you by surprise, sudden and shattering. You clench hard around her cock, crying out into her shoulder. Tiset groans, her rhythm faltering. With a few deep, urgent thrusts she buries herself to the hilt and spills inside you, hot and thick. You feel every pulse as she fills you. For a long time afterward you lie tangled together, breathing hard. Tiset strokes your hair, her spent cock still nestled warmly inside you. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Thank you for trusting me with this.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"No, Tiset, thank you. It was simply amazing.\"" "right">>\ The smoke continues to drift lazily through the air, carrying the heavy scent of sex and sacred herbs. You feel changed, marked in ways that go far deeper than flesh. <<set $virginityLost to true>>\ <<set $isisMerchantUnlocked to true>>\ <<set $hadSexWithTiset to true>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Continue" "TisetAfterSex" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<<silently>> <<set $tisetFatherNameKnown to true>> <</silently>>\ <div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis</h1>\ You pace around the temple, looking for the red-headed priestess. After a brief moment, she walks out of the sanctuary with wobbly steps. The braziers are fuming behind her. Tiset smells distinctly of lotus smoke, and her bloodshot, wide-opened eyes confirm she has just finished a ceremony. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"All my blessings upon you, most beautiful of the sisters of this house. Have you resolved our matter?\"" "left">>\ Despite her uncharacteristic seriousness, she’s surprisingly coherent, but she seems to barely be able to stand on her own two legs. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I am afraid not, Tiset. Nebamun is open to persuasion, but he requires a full name before I can proceed.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"I dare not ask what sorts of persuasion, but I am grateful you are advancing towards victory...\"" "left">>\ She takes a step closer and plants her arm on your shoulder. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"It is Tiset, daughter of Meryaset.\"" "left">>\ And with that, she falls forward with full force, almost knocking you over. You extend your arms to catch her. Tiset’s neck snaps and she darts her gaze directly towards you. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"You are beloved by Isis ...loved by the beloved of Isis?...\"" "left">>\ Her dazzling green irises have been entirely swallowed by pools of black. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"She will open her gates to you. First, you must ask... axe?... and take what is yours... ours?... and then you will see the mysteries with your own eyes and partake with this vessel who has stretched herself in your arms.\"" "left">>\ With the last syllable, Tiset’s head drops limp once more. You are at a loss for words. Your father had told you of the effects of lotus, of how some priests use it to pierce the veil and talk directly to the gods, but you were never expecting to see this firsthand. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I... Thank you, Tiset. I will do so.\"" "right">>\ She does not answer. A nearby acolyte who was watching the scene from a bench rises and approaches you. <<dialogue "Acolyte" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Mistress Tiset had just finished a ceremony.\"" "left">>\ He takes her from your arms with effortless strength, as if she were weightless. <<dialogue "Acolyte" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"It will be some time before she returns to our realm. Do you want me to remind her of anything upon her waking?\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I believe... our conversation had just concluded, thank you. You may tell her $characterName has almost recovered her stolen goods.\"" "right">>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Leave her to rest" "Temple of Isis" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <<run setup.removeResource("gold", 2)>> <h1>Inspector Nebamun's Office</h1>\ <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"Priestess! You return. What can I help you with today?\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"About the priestess of Isis...\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"Yes? Which one?\"" "left">>\ He smiles; he surely remembers, but he enjoys this process. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I am talking about Tiset, the priestess of Isis whose goods you have seized. Her father’s name is...\"" "right">>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Meryoset" "Nebamun2Wrong_Meryoset" 60 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Meryaset" "Nebamun2Correct" 60 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Meryasat" "Nebamun2Wrong_Meryasat" 60 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Meryosat" "Nebamun2Wrong_Meryosat" 60 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Inspector Nebamun's Office</h1>\ <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"Tiset, daughter of Meryoset... Tiset, daughter of Meryoset...\"" "left">>\ He retreats into another chamber, repeating the name to himself. His footsteps become ever fainter, until stopping completely. You wait. There are 86 tiles on the floor. The sun on the ceiling has exactly 54 rays. A total of 118 tiles have been used for the walls. You know this precise information about Nebamun’s office because you have spent the past hour waiting for his return. Just before you finish tallying the birds in the paintings, he returns. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"There are no inbound goods for that name. Are you sure there is something for Tiset, daughter of Meryoset?\"" "left">>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Meryoset" "Nebamun2Wrong_Meryoset" 60 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Meryaset" "Nebamun2Correct" 60 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Meryasat" "Nebamun2Wrong_Meryasat" 60 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Meryosat" "Nebamun2Wrong_Meryosat" 60 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Inspector Nebamun's Office</h1>\ <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"Tiset, daughter of Meryaset... Tiset, daughter of Meryaset...\"" "left">>\ He retreats into another chamber, repeating the name to himself. His footsteps become ever fainter, until stopping completely. You wait. There are 86 tiles on the floor. The sun on the ceiling has exactly 54 rays. A total of 118 tiles have been used for the walls. You know this precise information about Nebamun’s office because you have spent the past hour waiting for his return. Just before you finish tallying the birds in the paintings, he returns. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"There is a shipment worth 300 deben of Blue Lotus and another shipment worth 500 deben and containing Shemshehet. Could you please present me with Tiset’s signet ring so I can approve the release of the seized goods?\"" "left">>\ No. There is absolutely no way you will be coming here a third time. You must resolve this matter decisively. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "It’s time he sees a priestess on her knees." "Nebamun2Decadence" 0 _hk "+1D">><<set _hk++>>\ <<if $fetishFeet>>\ <<action "He seemed to enjoy your feet the last time. Maybe this will be the solution." "Nebamun2DecadenceFeet" 0 _hk "+1D">><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>>\ <<action "Promise a substantial bribe." "Nebamun2Bribe" 0 _hk "+1T">><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Inspector Nebamun's Office</h1>\ <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"Tiset, daughter of Meryosat... Tiset, daughter of Meryosat...\"" "left">>\ He retreats into another chamber, repeating the name to himself. His footsteps become ever fainter, until stopping completely. You wait. There are 86 tiles on the floor. The sun on the ceiling has exactly 54 rays. A total of 118 tiles have been used for the walls. You know this precise information about Nebamun’s office because you have spent the past hour waiting for his return. Just before you finish tallying the birds in the paintings, he returns. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"There are no inbound goods for that name. Are you sure there is something for Tiset, daughter of Meryosat?\"" "left">>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Meryoset" "Nebamun2Wrong_Meryoset" 60 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Meryaset" "Nebamun2Correct" 60 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Meryasat" "Nebamun2Wrong_Meryasat" 60 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Meryosat" "Nebamun2Wrong_Meryosat" 60 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Inspector Nebamun's Office</h1>\ <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"Tiset, daughter of Meryasat... Tiset, daughter of Meryasat...\"" "left">>\ He retreats into another chamber, repeating the name to himself. His footsteps become ever fainter, until stopping completely. You wait. There are 86 tiles on the floor. The sun on the ceiling has exactly 54 rays. A total of 118 tiles have been used for the walls. You know this precise information about Nebamun’s office because you have spent the past hour waiting for his return. Just before you finish tallying the birds in the paintings, he returns. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"There are no inbound goods for that name. Are you sure there is something for Tiset, daughter of Meryasat?\"" "left">>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Meryoset" "Nebamun2Wrong_Meryoset" 60 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Meryaset" "Nebamun2Correct" 60 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Meryasat" "Nebamun2Wrong_Meryasat" 60 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Meryosat" "Nebamun2Wrong_Meryosat" 60 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Inspector Nebamun's Office</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Please, Nebamun… before we speak further. I must ask a favor of you.\"" "right">>\ Your voice does not shake, though you are painfully aware of what you are about to do. Nebamun raises an eyebrow but obeys, lowering himself into the velvet-lined chair with visible curiosity. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"A favor? What could that be, priestess?\"" "left">>\ Without another word you slip off your sandals and extend your legs beneath the marble desk. The soles of your feet press firmly into his lap, warm skin meeting the coarse linen of his kilt. You feel him twitch instantly. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You see, Nebamun… the pampered feet of a priestess are simply not made to run back and forth at your beck and call.\"" "right">>\ You flex your toes slowly, deliberately kneading the rapidly hardening flesh beneath his kilt. His breathing grows heavier at once. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"If you want me to keep fulfilling your requests, then I require something in return. Surely you have touched the feet of a woman before?\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"None as pretty as yours… It would be my honor.\"" "left">>\ His rough hands tremble slightly as they close around your feet. He begins a clumsy, eager massage, thumbs pressing into your arches. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Just like that. Can you feel how soft they are? My servant pampers them daily and paints the nails red, yet few men in Egypt know how to truly appreciate them.\"" "right">>\ Nebamun’s face is flushed. His voice is thick. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"They are… very pretty, Priestess.\"" "left">>\ You feel his cock throb hard against the sole of your foot. You feign ignorance, pressing a little more firmly. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"I… I am among those who enjoy the sight of a woman’s feet,\" he admits hoarsely." "left">>\ You stand up suddenly. The chair scrapes loudly against the limestone floor. Without giving yourself time to reconsider, you sit on the edge of the marble desk directly in front of him, heart hammering. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Then… would you like to feel them around your cock?\"" "right">>\ The words taste like ash and shame in your mouth. Nebamun’s eyes widen with naked hunger. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"Yes... I would...\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Then remove your loincloth. And kiss them first. Worship them properly if you want me to touch you.\"" "right">>\ Nebamun’s breath catches. His fingers fumble clumsily with the knot until the linen finally drops to the floor. His thick cock springs free, heavy and flushed dark, already glistening at the tip. For a moment he simply stares at your feet. Then, with a low, needy sound, he leans forward and begins kissing them. The wet sounds fill the quiet office. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"So soft… so perfect…\"" "left">>\ You slide one foot down and rest it against his throbbing length. The heat of him pulses against your sole. Slowly, almost hesitantly, you begin to stroke him, gliding your soft arch up and down. A quiet, shameful shiver runs through you. You are truly doing this. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Does it feel good…? Feeling your cock against a priestess’s foot?\"" "right">>\ You press a little firmer and remove your other foot from his mouth, toes curling gently around the swollen head on each slow upstroke. Nebamun’s hips twitch. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I… I’m getting a little wet myself,\" you whisper, cheeks burning. \"I shouldn’t be… but I can feel how hard you are.\"" "right">>\ You keep stroking him with that same sensual rhythm, watching his face twist with desperate pleasure. Your own breathing has grown unsteady. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I can’t wait to feel you cum… I want you to spill all over my pretty feet.\"" "right">>\ Nebamun lets out a broken moan, his cock twitching hard against your sole. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Go on… don’t hold back. Cover them.\"" "right">>\ You stroke him faster now, and his thighs begin to tremble. His breathing turns ragged and desperate. With a deep, guttural groan, Nebamun finally breaks. Thick, hot ropes of seed pulse across your foot and ankle, coating your toes and dripping down your arch. The feeling of him throbbing and spilling against your skin sends a powerful wave of shame and forbidden heat through your body. You bite your lip, watching every pulse with wide eyes, and let out a soft, shaky breath, overwhelmed by the warmth and the sheer depravity of what you just did. Nebamun slumps back in his chair, flushed and panting. After several long seconds, he reaches into a drawer with trembling fingers and hands you a sealed roll of papyrus and a rag of linen to clean yourself with. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"The shipments… they are yours. Take it to the overseer.\"" "left">>\ You stand slowly on unsteady legs, smoothing your dress. The heavy scent of his release still clings to your skin. Shame sits like lead in your stomach… yet your foot still tingles with the memory of his throbbing heat. <<set $nebamunpapyrusobtained to true>> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to the warehouse" "Warehouse" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Inspector Nebamun's Office</h1> You stare at the man across the marble desk. The bureaucratic stalling, the feigned ignorance. All of it, a net and a snare; pretense for something else. A cold, heavy knot settles in your stomach. Giving him your mouth feels like the less disastrous path than spreading your legs, or worse, letting your temple starve. Without a word, you rise from your chair. You step around the marble desk and slowly sink to your knees on the hard limestone floor, right between his parted legs. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"Priestess? Whatever are you doing down there? Did you drop something?\"" "left">>\ He plays dumb, looking down at you with a mocking tilt of his head. The sheer humiliation burns in your cheeks, but you do not answer. Your fingers tremble as you reach for the knot of his linen kilt and tug it loose. The fabric falls away, revealing his thick, half-hard cock. You close your eyes for a brief second, swallowing your pride, then lean forward and press your lips tentatively against the swollen head. He is feverishly hot. Nebamun lets out a sharp, ragged breath, his hand immediately finding its way into your hair. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"I see. If you do this properly, you will get your end of the bargain.\"" "left">>\ You part your lips and take the head into your mouth, your tongue swirling slowly around it. The taste is.. musky. You wrap your fingers around the base of his shaft, stroking him with slow, rhythmic pulls while you suck on the tip. Nebamun groans, his grip tightening in your hair. You take him deeper, letting him stretch your jaw as you bob your head. The wet, obscene sounds of your mouth fill the opulent office. Shame and heat twist together in your belly. For reasons you cannot explain, a slick warmth is gathering between your own thighs. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"Use your tongue more, priestess. You might just get those shipments.\"" "left">>\ You obey, hollowing your cheeks and taking him further until he bumps against the back of your throat. Tears prick at the corners of your eyes, but you force yourself to relax, breathing through your nose as you work him with long, wet strokes. Nebamun’s hips begin to twitch, fucking shallowly into your mouth. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Mmmh…\"" "right">>\ The muffled sound vibrates around his cock. You hate how eager you sound. Your hand strokes the part you cannot fit in your mouth while your tongue presses firmly along the underside. Nebamun’s breathing grows ragged, his thighs tensing beneath you. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"Deeper… yes, just like that. A most beautiful sight.\"" "left">>\ He pushes a little further, holding your head in place as he thrusts. You gag softly but do not pull away, letting him use your throat. Saliva drips down your chin onto the limestone floor. The depravity of the act sends another shameful pulse of heat through your core. His rhythm grows faster, more desperate. You feel his cock swell and throb against your tongue. He seems very close to release; just a few moments more. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"Swallow it… take all of it, priestess.\"" "left">>\ With a guttural groan he buries himself deep. Thick, hot ropes of seed pulse directly into your throat. You choke, tears spilling down your cheeks, but you swallow again and again, milking every drop as he empties himself into your mouth. The taste is strong and bitter, filling your senses. When he finally releases your hair, you pull back slowly, gasping for air. A thin string of saliva and cum connects your swollen lips to the head of his cock for a moment before breaking. You wipe your mouth with the back of your hand, chest heaving. Nebamun slumps back in his chair, thoroughly satisfied. He adjusts his kilt, then reaches into a drawer with lazy fingers and produces a sealed roll of papyrus. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"The shipments are cleared for release. Take this to the overseer.\"" "left">>\ You stand on shaky legs, knees aching from the hard floor. The taste of him still coats your tongue. Shame sits heavy in your chest… yet the warmth between your thighs has not faded. <<set $nebamunpapyrusobtained to true>> <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to the warehouse" "Warehouse" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<<silently>> <<set $nebamunBribeAgreed to true>> <</silently>>\ <div class="textbox">\ <h1>Inspector Nebamun's Office</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Perhaps you would not require seeing the signet ring and would simply trust me if you were presented with a donation for the priesthood of Amun?\"" "right">>\ Nebamun leans back in his velvet chair, interlacing his fingers. The greedy glint in his eye tells you exactly what kind of man he is. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"The House of Amun is always appreciative of the piety of our sister temples. Given the... complex nature of these seized goods, a donation of one hundred deben in gold would be appropriate to expedite the paperwork.\"" "left">>\ You suppress a scoff. One hundred deben. It is pure extortion, but at least it avoids physical degradation. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Then that will be the price. I shall see it done.\"" "right">>\ Nebamun nods, a tight, satisfied smile on his face. <<dialogue "Nebamun" "img/nebamun.jpg" "\"Excellent. You may lodge the donation with the scribe outside. Once the funds are secured, he will provide you with the papyrus approving the goods for transportation.\"" "left">>\ You stand up and give a curt, formal bow, eager to leave this suffocating room. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to the scribe" "WarehouseOffice" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<<silently>> <<run setup.removeResource("gold", 10)>> <<set $nebamunpapyrusobtained to true>> <</silently>>\ <div class="textbox">\ <h1>Harbor Warehouse</h1>\ You count out the heavy gold bars and hand them over to the scribe. He meticulously weighs them on a set of bronze scales, his face blank and professional. Once satisfied, he sweeps the gold into a strongbox beneath his desk and hands you a sealed roll of papyrus. <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/nebamunscribe.jpg" "\"The Inspector's decree. Present this to the Overseer of Transportation, and the Temple of Isis shipments will be released to your custody. You can find him in the Harbor.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Thank you. May the gods judge us all fairly.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/nebamunscribe.jpg" "\"I pray they will, priestess.\"" "left">>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Leave the office" "Warehouse" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<<silently>> /* Flag to indicate the delivery is en route, preventing the player from doing this twice */ <<set $tisetDeliveryArranged to true>> <</silently>>\ <div class="textbox">\ <h1>Overseer of Transportation</h1>\ You navigate through the bustling laborers and towering stacks of crates to find the Overseer of Transportation. He is a stern, broad-shouldered man barking orders at a group of sweating porters carrying heavy amphorae. <<dialogue "Overseer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Watch those jars! You break it, you pay for it with your hide!\"" "left">>\ He turns to you, wiping his brow, his expression impatient. <<dialogue "Overseer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"What is it, priestess? We are exceedingly busy today. If you have no business, clear the roads.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I am here to collect the seized shipments belonging to the Temple of Isis. Here is Inspector Nebamun's authorization.\"" "right">>\ You hand over the sealed roll of papyrus. The Overseer breaks the wax seal, his eyes quickly scanning the elegant script. His abrasive demeanor immediately shifts to one of gruff respect. <<dialogue "Overseer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Ah, the Inspector's seal. My apologies, Priestess. The paperwork is in order. We will have the Blue Lotus and Shemshehet loaded and delivered to the Temple of Isis promptly.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"See that they are handled with care.\"" "right">>\ You nod in satisfaction. It has been a degrading, extortionate ordeal, but you have finally secured the shipments. Tiset will be eagerly waiting for the good news at her temple. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to the Harbor" "Harbor" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Empty Sanctuary</h1> This sacred chamber stands pristine and quiet, ready to house the divine presence of a god. The altar at the far end is bare, waiting for a deity to be placed upon it. You should ask around in the Temple of Amun; their priesthood would surely know where to obtain idols. <<set _hasIdol to false>> <<if setup.hasEnoughResource("thothidol", 1) and not State.variables.gods.thoth.active>> <<set _hasIdol to true>> <<action "Place the Idol of Thoth" "Sanctuary of Thoth" 5 1 "dedicateEmptySanctuary" "thoth">> <</if>> <<if setup.hasEnoughResource("setidol", 1) and not State.variables.gods.set.active>> <<set _hasIdol to true>> <<action "Place the Idol of Set" "Sanctuary of Set" 5 2 "dedicateEmptySanctuary" "set">> <</if>> <<if not _hasIdol>> <p><i>You do not currently possess any idols to place here.</i></p> <</if>> <br> <<action "Return to the Temple Complex" "The Temple Complex" 1 0>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Sanctuary of Thoth</h1>\ <<run window.fulfillGodNeed("thoth", "ritual"); setup.removeResource("incense", 1); setup.removeResource("papyrus", 1); >>\ You light the incense and the blank papyrus to the divine scribe. For two hours, you recite complex hymns and astronomical observations, ensuring the Lord of Wisdom is honored with absolute precision. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to the Sanctuary" "Sanctuary of Thoth" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis</h1> You find Tiset near one of the offering tables. As you approach, she pauses her work, her emerald eyes catching the light as she turns to face you. The playful smirk returns to her lips. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Well? Have you made up your mind, sister?\"" "left">>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "\"I will hear your request once more.\"" "TisetRequest" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "\"Not yet.\"" "Temple of Isis" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1> The next petitioner steps forward. Unlike the weary farmers or anxious merchants you usually see, this young man stands with a straight-backed, academic posture. He carries a polished wooden ink palette and a bundle of fresh papyrus scrolls under his arm. <<dialogue "Minmose" "img/minmose.jpg" "\"Greetings, Priestess. I am Minmose. Until very recently, I was an initiate scribe in the House of Life at the Temple of Amun.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The Temple of Amun? That is a prestigious posting. What interests you in a ruin like this?\"" "right">>\ Minmose shifts his scrolls, his expression tightening with mild distaste. <<dialogue "Minmose" "img/minmose.jpg" "\"It is prestigious, yes. And entirely without a soul. The work there is nothing but grain counts, tax ledgers, and endless maneuvering between the high priests. The divine presence feels completely absent. I became a scribe to serve the gods and the people, not to be just another name on the payroll.\"" "left">>\ He gestures toward your crumbling walls, though his eyes hold genuine respect. <<dialogue "Minmose" "img/minmose.jpg" "\"I have heard that the House of Osiris is awakening again. A smaller temple, free from the scheming that plagues all close to Pharaoh, and where the scribal work can make a difference. I wish to offer you my services, and I will ask for nothing more than a wage of ten deben. I am skilled in writing and reading all scripts of our people, but also Akkadian, and I am also studying Nubian on my own.\"" "left">>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "\"I could use a learned scribe like yourself. Welcome to the temple.\"" "MinmoseHireAccept" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "\"I cannot afford to take on another mouth to feed right now.\"" "MinmoseHireRefuse" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Your skills are impressive, Minmose, but this temple is still struggling to stand. I simply cannot afford to take on another wage right now.\"" "right">>\ Minmose’s shoulders slump slightly, but he nods with a resigned, understanding sigh. <<dialogue "Minmose" "img/minmose.jpg" "\"I understand, Priestess. May Ra's light always shine on you. Perhaps another time.\"" "left">>\ He bows respectfully and makes his way back out into the courtyard. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1> <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I could use a skilled scribe, especially one who prioritizes faith over politics. Welcome to the Temple of Osiris, Minmose.\"" "right">>\ Minmose bows deeply, a look of genuine relief washing over his features. <<dialogue "Minmose" "img/minmose.jpg" "\"Thank you, Priestess. You will not regret this. I will check with your accountant and take up residence immediately.\"" "left">>\ <<silently>> /* Lock the event so he doesn't spawn again */ <<set $minmoseEventResolved to true>> /* Standardized Hiring Format */ <<set $metMinmose to true>> <<set $minmoseId to setup.hireWorker("Minmose", "SCRIBE", 10, "𓀃", {}, ["beer", "bread", "papyrus", "reeds"], 1.0)>> <</silently>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Sanctuary of Thoth</h1>\ <<run setup.initGodsSystem()>>\ The air here is crisp, carrying the dry, scholarly scent of aged papyrus and sharp ink. The statue of Thoth, the Ibis-headed Scribe of the Gods and Keeper of Knowledge, stands in quiet observation, holding a scribe's palette. Thoth's daily ritual requires you to burn a blank roll of papyrus lit from burning incense, while his offering is a simple sacrifice of beer and cheese. <<set _hk to 1>>\ /* 1. THE SACRED RITUAL */ <<if not $gods.thoth.needsMetToday.ritual>>\ <<if setup.hasEnoughResource("incense", 1) and setup.hasEnoughResource("papyrus", 1)>>\ <<action "Perform the Sacred Ritual" "ThothRitual" 120 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<else>>\ <div class="disabled-action"><em>(Requires 1 Incense and 1 Papyrus to perform the Sacred Ritual)</em></div>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <div class="disabled-action" style="color: #a8cc8c;"><em>The Sacred Ritual has already been performed today.</em></div>\ <</if>>\ /* 2. THE DAILY OFFERING */ <<if not $gods.thoth.needsMetToday.offering>>\ <<if setup.hasEnoughResource("beer", 1) and setup.hasEnoughResource("cheese", 1)>>\ <<action "Present the Daily Offering" "ThothOffering" 5 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<else>>\ <div class="disabled-action"><em>(Requires 1 Beer and 1 Cheese to present the Daily Offering)</em></div>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <div class="disabled-action" style="color: #a8cc8c;"><em>The Daily Offering has already been presented today.</em></div>\ <</if>>\ <<action "Return to the Complex" "Complex" 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Sanctuary of Set</h1>\ <<run setup.initGodsSystem()>>\ The air here is heavy and oppressive, smelling of dry desert heat and strong spices. The statue of Set, the Red Lord of Chaos and Storms, looms in the shadows with his fierce, predatory snout. Set's daily ritual requires you to cast exotic spices into the burning incense, while his offering is a hearty sacrifice of beer and cooked fish. <<set _hk to 1>>\ /* 1. THE SACRED RITUAL */ <<if not $gods.set.needsMetToday.ritual>>\ <<if setup.hasEnoughResource("incense", 1) and setup.hasEnoughResource("spices", 1)>>\ <<action "Perform the Sacred Ritual" "SetRitual" 120 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<else>>\ <div class="disabled-action"><em>(Requires 1 Incense and 1 Spices to perform the Sacred Ritual)</em></div>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <div class="disabled-action" style="color: #a8cc8c;"><em>The Sacred Ritual has already been performed today.</em></div>\ <</if>>\ /* 2. THE DAILY OFFERING */ <<if not $gods.set.needsMetToday.offering>>\ <<if setup.hasEnoughResource("beer", 1) and setup.hasEnoughResource("fish_cooked", 1)>>\ <<action "Present the Daily Offering" "SetOffering" 5 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<else>>\ <div class="disabled-action"><em>(Requires 1 Beer and 1 Cooked Fish to present the Daily Offering)</em></div>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <div class="disabled-action" style="color: #a8cc8c;"><em>The Daily Offering has already been presented today.</em></div>\ <</if>>\ <<action "Return to the Complex" "Complex" 1 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Sanctuary of Set</h1>\ <<run window.fulfillGodNeed("set", "ritual"); setup.removeResource("incense", 1); setup.removeResource("spices", 1); >>\ You light the incense and cast the exotic spices directly into the glowing brazier. For two hours, you chant the turbulent hymns of storms and power, appeasing the chaotic nature of the Red Lord so his fierce strength might protect the temple rather than destroy it. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to the Sanctuary" "Sanctuary of Set" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Sanctuary of Set</h1>\ <<run window.fulfillGodNeed("set", "offering"); setup.removeResource("beer", 1); setup.removeResource("fish_cooked", 1); window.applyConsumption("fish_cooked", 1, false); window.applyConsumption("beer", 1, false); >>\ You place the cooked fish and the jug of beer upon the offering table before the statue of Set. You murmur a short, respectful prayer, asking that his appetites be sated by these earthly gifts. Once the divine essence of the meal has been consumed by the god, you perform the reversion of offerings, partaking in the physical fish and beer yourself. The hearty food fortifies your body. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to the Sanctuary" "Sanctuary of Set" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Sanctuary of Thoth</h1>\ <<run window.fulfillGodNeed("thoth", "offering"); setup.removeResource("beer", 1); setup.removeResource("cheese", 1); window.applyConsumption("cheese", 1, false); window.applyConsumption("beer", 1, false); >>\ You place the cheese and the jug of beer upon the offering table before the statue of Thoth. You murmur a short prayer, asking that his ka be sustained by these earthly gifts. Once the divine essence of the meal has been consumed by the god, you perform the reversion of offerings, partaking in the cheese and beer yourself. The blessed food sharpens your mind and restores your strength. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to the Sanctuary" "Sanctuary of Thoth" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<<silently>> /* Initialize flags if the player visits this before the bath scene */ <<if $fetishFeet is undefined>><<set $fetishFeet to false>><</if>> <<if $fetishWatersports is undefined>><<set $fetishWatersports to false>><</if>> <<if $fetishSub is undefined>><<set $fetishSub to false>><</if>> <<if $fetishDom is undefined>><<set $fetishDom to false>><</if>> <<if $fetishFutanari is undefined>><<set $fetishFutanari to false>><</if>> <<if $fetishGirls is undefined>><<set $fetishGirls to false>><</if>> <</silently>>\ <div class="textbox"> <h1>Bedroom</h1> <p>In the quiet solitude of your bedroom, you reflect upon your deepest desires. The gods shaped your heart, but you alone choose what stirs it. <i></i></p> <div id="preferences-list"> <<include "PreferencesList">> </div> <br> <div style="border: 1px solid #c19a6b; background: rgba(20, 15, 15, 0.85); padding: 15px; border-radius: 8px; max-width: 450px; margin-top: 20px;"> <label style="cursor: pointer; color: #ffdeb3; font-size: 13px; font-family: sans-serif; display: block; margin-top: 10px;"> <<checkbox "$reduceMotion" false true autocheck>> Disable flashing and shaking animations (Accessibility Mode) </label> </div> <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>> <li><<action "Return to Bedroom" "Bedroom" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<ul class="room-list"> <li> <<link `"Domination - " + ($fetishDom ? "<b><span style='color: #a8cc8c'>Active</span></b>" : "<b><span style='color: #e57373'>Inactive</span></b>")`>> <<set $fetishDom to !$fetishDom>> <<replace "#preferences-list">><<include "PreferencesList">><</replace>> <</link>> </li> <li> <<link `"Submission - " + ($fetishSub ? "<b><span style='color: #a8cc8c'>Active</span></b>" : "<b><span style='color: #e57373'>Inactive</span></b>")`>> <<set $fetishSub to !$fetishSub>> <<replace "#preferences-list">><<include "PreferencesList">><</replace>> <</link>> </li> <li> <<link `"Foot fetishism - " + ($fetishFeet ? "<b><span style='color: #a8cc8c'>Active</span></b>" : "<b><span style='color: #e57373'>Inactive</span></b>")`>> <<set $fetishFeet to !$fetishFeet>> <<replace "#preferences-list">><<include "PreferencesList">><</replace>> <</link>> </li> <li> <<link `"Watersports - " + ($fetishWatersports ? "<b><span style='color: #a8cc8c'>Active</span></b>" : "<b><span style='color: #e57373'>Inactive</span></b>")`>> <<set $fetishWatersports to !$fetishWatersports>> <<replace "#preferences-list">><<include "PreferencesList">><</replace>> <</link>> </li> <li> <<link `"Futanari - " + ($fetishFutanari ? "<b><span style='color: #a8cc8c'>Active</span></b>" : "<b><span style='color: #e57373'>Inactive</span></b>")`>> <<set $fetishFutanari to !$fetishFutanari>> <<replace "#preferences-list">><<include "PreferencesList">><</replace>> <</link>> </li> <li> <<link `"Women - " + ($fetishGirls ? "<b><span style='color: #a8cc8c'>Active</span></b>" : "<b><span style='color: #e57373'>Inactive</span></b>")`>> <<set $fetishGirls to !$fetishGirls>> <<replace "#preferences-list">><<include "PreferencesList">><</replace>> <</link>> </li> </ul>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ An acolyte takes you to see the high priest. Amenhotep sits at his usual table, his expression settling into its familiar, patient goodwill as you approach. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"Ah, Priestess. You return to the House of Amun. I trust the restoration of your father's temple proceeds apace?\"" "left">>\ <<if $nebamunStep1Complete and not $tisetDeliveryArranged and not $amenhotepNebamunAsked>>\ <<silently>><<set $amenhotepNebamunAsked to true>><</silently>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It proceeds, High Priest. But before we speak of divine matters, I have an administrative question. How does one clear a seized shipment at the harbor?\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"For harbor logistics, you must seek out Inspector Nebamun. He oversees the ledgers and ensures all goods enter the city lawfully.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I have attempted to do so. However, his office demands an exorbitant administrative fee simply to lodge a complaint regarding the seizure.\"" "right">>\ Amenhotep's expression does not shift, but his voice takes on a smooth, practiced edge. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"Inspector Nebamun represents the law of Pharaoh and Amun. The docks are chaotic, Priestess. Such fees are necessary to ensure that only legitimate grievances are brought forward. All of his decisions are sound and lawful, and I assure you he offers fair treatment to everybody.\"" "left">>\ You study his placid, perfectly composed face. He is not ignorant. He knows exactly how Nebamun operates, and the House of Amun is undoubtedly taking its share of the extorted deben. Pressing the issue further will only make an enemy of him. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I see. I will navigate his requirements accordingly.\"" "right">>\ Amenhotep smiles, pleased by your pragmatism. <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"A wise approach.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Thank you for your time, Amenhotep.\"" "right">>\ <<else>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The restoration continues, High Priest. But a temple thrives on the presence of the divine. I am looking to invite other gods into our sanctuaries, and I thought you might know where their idols could be found.\"" "right">>\ He laces his fingers together, studying you with measuring eyes. /* THOTH HINT */ <<if not $gods.thoth.active and not setup.hasEnoughResource("thothidol", 1)>>\ <<if $temperance >= 15>>\ <<silently>><<set $amenhotepThothHintAsked to true>><</silently>>\ <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"Your restraint and pious discipline are becoming known in the city. The Scribe of the Gods favors such a mind. Perhaps one of my brothers here in the clergy could assist you. Otherwise, our temple accountant sells idols of Thoth at a fair price.\"" "left">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ /* SET HINT */ <<if not $gods.set.active and not setup.hasEnoughResource("setidol", 1)>>\ <<if $temperance <= -15>>\ <<silently>><<set $amenhotepSetHintAsked to true>><</silently>>\ <<dialogue "Amenhotep" "img/amenhotep.jpg" "\"Word reaches me that you have embraced... certain earthly appetites. I do not judge; the gods made the flesh as well as the spirit. The Red Lord of the Desert thrives on such raw desires. If you wish to court Set's favor, the Priesthood of Isis would certainly be able to point you in the right direction.\"" "left">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Thank you for your guidance, Amenhotep.\"" "right">>\ <</if>>\ <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>> <li><<action "Return to the Forecourt" "Temple of Amun" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis</h1> <<run window.forceConsumeShemshehet()>> Tiset leads you through a veiled alcove in the rear of the temple, where the air hangs thick with the scent of myrrh and crushed lotus petals. Soft cushions lie scattered across a low reed mat. She settles gracefully, motioning for you to sit beside her, her crimson dress slipping slightly from one freckled shoulder. She fills the cherry wood pipe with dried shemshehet and tapers the herbs down. After lighting a stick carved into peeling layers like a palm, she holds it above the pipe and draws deeply. The sweet, heavy smoke curls upward like an offering. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Have you ever tasted the sacred smoke before, sister?\"" "left">>\ You hesitate, a faint heat rising in your cheeks. The admission feels strangely exposing, as though it reveals some untouched corner of your carefully ordered life. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"No… I have not. The scrolls spoke of it, but I have never allowed myself the indulgence.\"" "right">>\ Tiset’s emerald eyes sparkle with gentle amusement, though there is no mockery in them. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Then you are in safe hands. Breathe slowly. Let it open you.\"" "left">>\ She passes you the pipe. The smooth cherry wood is still warm from her lips. You take a cautious draw. The smoke is sweet and heavy. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Good. Very good. Most first-timers cough like drowning cats.\"" "left">>\ You pass it back. Tiset takes a long, luxurious pull and exhales slowly, her red curls swaying. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Years ago, when I was still an acolyte, I ran away for one night with a boy from the House of Life at Amun’s temple. We were both studying to become priests, you see. I don't even remember his name anymore. I think it was Sinuhe, like in the story.\" She takes another puff. \"Anyways. We stole a handful of shemshehet and carried a burning clay lamp for nearly an hour on foot just to reach an old nilometer by the river.\"" "left">>\ She laughs softly, low and melodic, passing the pipe back to you. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"I hid the lighting sticks inside my robes, right between my breasts. Every step they rubbed against my skin and I kept thinking the gods would strike me down for such blasphemy. When we finally lit up inside that damp stone chamber… oh, sister, we laughed until we cried.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"And what happened to Sinuhe?\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"He became a very proper scribe. I, on the other hand, never quite learned how to behave.\"" "left">>\ She leans a little closer, her voice dropping with playful warmth. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"The smoke always makes me remember that night. How light the heart can become when the weight of duty is set aside, even for a little while.\"" "left">>\ You pass the pipe back and forth. With each draw the conversation flows easier, laced with subtle glances and lingering smiles. Tiset compliments the curve of your neck. You speak of the weight of your new duties. Her fingers brush your wrist, staying just a moment too long, but no further. The sacred smoke softens the edges of the world without erasing them entirely. The heavy scent of shemshehet and myrrh clings to your skin and linen. Your thoughts drift like the curling plumes above you. Tiset’s emerald eyes are warm, but she makes no further advance, content to share this quiet communion. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Thank you for sharing the sacred smoke with me, sister. The gods smile on those who remember joy amid the dust and stone.\"" "left">>\ For a time you simply sit together in the veiled alcove, the weight of the temple pressing down upon you both. The smoke thins slowly, carrying away some small measure of the day’s burdens. <<set $isisMerchantUnlocked to true>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to the Temple of Isis" "Temple of Isis" 2 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis</h1> <<run window.forceConsumeShemshehet()>> Tiset leads you through a veiled alcove in the rear of the temple, where the air hangs thick with the scent of myrrh and crushed lotus petals. Soft cushions lie scattered across a low reed mat. She settles gracefully, motioning for you to sit beside her, her crimson dress slipping slightly from one freckled shoulder. She fills the cherry wood pipe with dried shemshehet and tapers the herbs down. After lighting a stick carved into peeling layers like a palm, she holds it above the pipe and draws deeply. The sweet, heavy smoke curls upward like an offering. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Have you ever tasted the sacred smoke before, sister?\"" "left">>\ You hesitate, a faint heat rising in your cheeks. The admission feels strangely exposing, as though it reveals some untouched corner of your carefully ordered life. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"No… I have not. The scrolls spoke of it, but I have never allowed myself the indulgence.\"" "right">>\ Tiset’s emerald eyes sparkle with gentle amusement, though there is no mockery in them. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Then you are in safe hands. Breathe slowly. Let it open you.\"" "left">>\ She passes you the pipe. The smooth cherry wood is still warm from her lips. You take a cautious draw. The smoke is sweet and heavy. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Good. Very good. Most first-timers cough like drowning cats.\"" "left">>\ You pass it back. Tiset takes a long, luxurious pull and exhales slowly, her red curls swaying. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Years ago, when I was still an acolyte, I ran away for one night with a girl from the House of Life at Amun’s temple. We were both studying to become priestesses, you see. I don't even remember her name anymore. We stole a handful of shemshehet and carried a burning clay lamp for nearly an hour on foot just to reach an old nilometer by the river.\"" "left">>\ She laughs softly, low and melodic, passing the pipe back to you. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"I hid the lighting sticks inside my robes, right between my breasts. Every step they rubbed against my skin and I kept thinking the gods would strike me down for such blasphemy. When we finally lit up inside that damp stone chamber… oh, sister, we laughed until we cried.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"And what happened to her?\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"She became a very proper scribe. I, on the other hand, never quite learned how to behave.\"" "left">>\ She leans a little closer, her voice dropping with playful warmth. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"The smoke always makes me remember that night. How free we felt. How warm everything became…\"" "left">>\ You pass the pipe back and forth. With each draw the conversation flows easier, laced with subtle glances and lingering smiles. Tiset compliments the curve of your neck. You speak of the weight of your new duties. Her fingers brush your wrist, staying just a moment too long. The smoke clouds your thoughts. Your heart beats heavily in your chest. You are not thinking clearly. Tiset’s freckled cheeks are flushed, her emerald eyes half-lidded and bright with the sacred herb. She sets the pipe aside and shifts closer on the cushions, her body warm and inviting against yours. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"You are still a maiden, are you not, sister? I can see it in the way you carry yourself.\"" "left">>\ Her hand rests lightly on your knee, then slides higher with deliberate care as she leans in, her breath warm against your ear. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Would you like to see what the body can offer when two daughters of the gods come together.\"" "left">>\ Tiset doesn't wait for an answer and kisses you, slow and deep, tasting of shemshehet smoke. Her hands are gentle yet sure as they part your linen robes, baring your skin to the warm air of the alcove. She guides you down onto the cushions, her own crimson dress slipping from her shoulders to reveal full, freckled breasts and the soft curves of her womanhood already glistening with need. She kisses down your throat, then lower, taking one nipple into her mouth while her fingers trace slow circles between your thighs. You arch against her as heat pools low in your belly. Her touch is practiced, coaxing wetness from you with patient strokes. The realization that you are already embarrassingly slick makes your face burn with a strange mix of shame and hunger. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Tiset… I feel strange. The smoke…\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"I know. Just let it happen. I will take care of you.\"" "left">>\ Tiset moves lower, settling between your legs. Her red curls brush your inner thighs as she parts them wider. She looks up at you once, eyes dark with smoke and desire, before lowering her mouth to your pussy. Her tongue is warm and insistent, lapping at your folds with slow, savoring strokes that send jolts of pleasure through your core. At the same time, her own hand slips between her thighs, fingers circling her clit as she pleasures herself in time with her mouth on you. The wet sounds of her tongue and her own fingers fill the alcove, obscene and intimate beneath the drifting smoke. Sweat beads on your skin. Your hands tangle in her curls as waves of sensation build, heavy and inevitable, like the Nile’s flood. <<set $isisMerchantUnlocked to true>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "\"Tiset… gods… that feels...\"" "TisetGirlsOralContinue" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis</h1> Tiset’s tongue moves with unhurried devotion, tracing the slick folds of your cunt before circling the swollen bud at its crown. Each slow lap sends a heavy pulse through your belly. Her red curls tickle the soft skin of your inner thighs; her breath is hot and ragged against your wetness. She moans softly into your flesh, the sound vibrating through you. One of her hands moves towards your pussy and enters you with two fingers as the other works between her own thighs, skin sliding audibly against her own dripping folds. The wet rhythm of her self-pleasure mingles with the obscene sounds of her mouth on you, filling the veiled alcove. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"You taste like the river in flood… sweet and sacred,\"" "left">>\ Her voice is husky, half-muffled against your sex. She sucks gently on your clit, then flattens her tongue to lave broad, insistent strokes that make your hips jerk despite yourself. Every stroke of Tiset's fingers inside you vibrates more and more intensely as a low whimper escapes your throat. You, who have spent your life behind veils of composure, now lie exposed and trembling beneath a woman you barely know. Your fingers tighten in her curls, pulling her closer even as part of you recoils from the sheer vulnerability of it. The pressure builds, slow and merciless, like the annual inundation gathering strength before it breaks the banks. Tiset senses it. She increases the pace of her tongue, two fingers now pressing into her own cunt in time with her licking. Her full breasts press against your thighs, nipples hard. Sweat glistens on her freckled skin, mixing with the sheen of her arousal. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Tiset... I think I'm getting close…\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Let it break, sister. Do not fight the flood. Give it to me.\"" "left">>\ Her mouth seals around your clit, sucking with gentle insistence while her tongue flicks rapidly. The coil in your belly snaps. Pleasure crashes through you, sharp and shattering. Your thighs clamp around her head as you cry out, hips bucking against her face. Wetness floods her tongue; she drinks it greedily, moaning her own release into your cunt as her fingers drive her over the edge. Her body shudders against yours, thighs quivering. For long moments only the sound of your ragged breathing and the distant crackle of the brazier fills the alcove. Tiset rests her cheek against your thigh, lips shiny with your juices, emerald eyes hazy with smoke and satisfaction. She kisses the inside of your knee with surprising tenderness. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"You're very beautiful, $characterName,\"" "left">>\ She crawls up your body, skin slick against skin, and kisses you deeply. You taste yourself on her tongue. For a while, you simply lie in her embrace, skin damp and hearts slowing. Eventually Tiset presses one last gentle kiss to your shoulder and rises. You both dress in comfortable silence, the linen whispering against flushed skin. You sit up, still feeling the warm ache between your thighs <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I… wasn’t expecting it to feel good.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I had heard it was supposed to bleed. That it would hurt.\"" "right">>\ Tiset smiles softly as she adjusts her crimson dress, her red curls tousled and lovely. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"It doesn’t always hurt, sister. Not when you’re ready… and not when someone takes their time with you. Shemshehet helps, as well.\"" "left">>\ She leans down and cups your face with both hands, kissing you once more. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"If you ever want this again, or anything else… come find me here in the Temple of Isis. My arms are always open to you.\"" "left">>\ You leave the veiled alcove carrying the scent of smoke, lotus, and sex upon your skin, forever changed by the gentle touch of a daughter of Isis. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to the Temple of Isis" "Temple of Isis" 2 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ You find the same shaven-headed acolyte from your previous visits, standing near the shadow of a massive pillar. He turns at your approach, his features settling into that familiar, carefully blank expression. <<dialogue "Acolyte" "img/AmunAcolyte.jpg" "\"Priestess. How may we help you?\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Your High Priest suggested I ask the clergy regarding an idol of Thoth. I am looking to house the Scribe of the Gods in our sanctuaries.\"" "right">>\ The acolyte blinks, momentarily breaking his stoic facade as he processes the request. <<dialogue "Acolyte" "img/AmunAcolyte.jpg" "\"An idol of Thoth? Well... as it happens, Priestess, I might be able to assist you with that directly.\"" "left">>\ He lowers his voice slightly, glancing around to ensure no senior priests are listening in on his unofficial dealings. <<dialogue "Acolyte" "img/AmunAcolyte.jpg" "\"A close friend of mine is an initiate in the House of Life, studying under the master sculptors. The ibis-headed figures of Thoth are incredibly popular among the merchants, so his teachers have him carving them endlessly for practice.\"" "left">>\ He offers a faint, almost imperceptible smile. <<dialogue "Acolyte" "img/AmunAcolyte.jpg" "\"He finished a remarkably fine piece just yesterday. He told me he intends to throw it into the Nile because the beak is slightly too long and the ears are not alike, but it is a beautiful carving. I know he would gladly give it to you free of charge, given the office you hold... provided you might be willing to do him a very small favor in return.\"" "left">>\ You expected to trade silver or favors with Amenhotep himself, not an unnamed initiate. Yet, if the carving is as good as the acolyte claims, it would save your temple a considerable expense. <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>> <li><<action "\"What sort of favor does your friend require?\"" "ThothQuest2" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <li><<action "\"I do not run errands for apprentices. I will find an idol elsewhere.\"" "Temple of Amun" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"What sort of favor does your friend require?\"" "right">>\ The acolyte’s facade of solemnity suddenly cracks. A very un-priestly flush creeps up his neck, and he suddenly finds the limestone floor absolutely fascinating. He shifts his weight awkwardly. <<dialogue "Acolyte" "img/AmunAcolyte.jpg" "\"It is... well, it is a matter of the heart, High Priestess. Nesamun is a brilliant artist, but he is also a fool. He has become entirely infatuated with a certain priestess of Isis.\"" "left">>\ He clears his throat, clearly embarrassed to be discussing such things with a holy woman. <<dialogue "Acolyte" "img/AmunAcolyte.jpg" "\"He says she comes from the lands of Retjenu. He spends half his day staring off into space, raving about her flowing red curls and her emerald eyes. It is driving the master sculptors mad.\"" "left">>\ He is talking about Tiset. The realization almost makes you sigh. Of course the young apprentice is infatuated; half the men in Thebes probably are. <<dialogue "Acolyte" "img/AmunAcolyte.jpg" "\"He wants to catch her attention, but he is terrified of approaching her temple. If you would speak to him, I am sure he would gladly trade the Thoth idol for your assistance. Please, wait here. I will run to the workshop and fetch him.\"" "left">>\ Without waiting for your permission, the flustered acolyte bows quickly and scurries off toward the artisans' quarters, leaving you to wait in the shadow of the pillars. <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>> <li><<action "Wait for the apprentice to arrive" "ThothQuest3" 5 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ It doesn't take long for the acolyte to return, towing a young man whose hands and kilt are dusted with fine white limestone powder. <<dialogue "Acolyte" "img/AmunAcolyte.jpg" "\"High Priestess, this is Nesamun. Nesamun, the High Priestess $characterName of the House of Osiris.\"" "left">>\ Having done his part, the acolyte offers a quick, polite bow and hastily retreats to his duties, leaving the two of you alone in the shadow of the great pillars. Nesamun shifts nervously, clutching a linen satchel against his side. He is young, earnest, and looks completely out of his depth. <<dialogue "Nesamun" "img/nesamun.jpg" "\"It is a profound honor, Priestess. My friend said you might be willing to help me with... a delicate matter.\"" "left">>\ He takes a deep breath, his cheeks coloring slightly, and the floodgates open. <<dialogue "Nesamun" "img/nesamun.jpg" "\"It is Tiset. She is... she is like a vision stepped out of a dream. Have you seen the way she walks? It is like water flowing over smooth stones. And her hair is like spun copper in the sunlight, framing a face so delicate and graceful I could not carve it if I tried for a hundred years.\"" "left">>\ He shakes his head, entirely overcome by his own romantic agony. <<dialogue "Nesamun" "img/nesamun.jpg" "\"I haven't told my parents, or anyone but my closest friends. But whenever I have a spare hour, I go to the Temple of Isis just to hear her sing the hymns, or to watch her perform the daily rituals. She once looked right into my eyes and I swear my heart stopped. But I was too terrified to even speak a single word.\"" "left">>\ He reaches into his satchel and carefully pulls out a tightly rolled papyrus sealed with cheap wax, along with a slightly bruised but vibrant bouquet of river wildflowers. <<dialogue "Nesamun" "img/nesamun.jpg" "\"I wrote her a poem. And I picked these by the riverbank this morning. But I have absolutely no courage to approach her myself. If you would take these to her... if you would just put them in her hands and speak well of me... the idol of Thoth is yours.\"" "left">>\ <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "\"I will deliver your gifts, Nesamun.\"" "ThothQuestAccept" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I will deliver your gifts, Nesamun. Wait for me in the House of Amun; I shall return once the matter is settled.\"" "right">>\ Nesamun's eyes widen with profound gratitude. He practically shoves the bouquet and the scroll into your hands, bowing so deeply his forehead nearly grazes the limestone floor. <<dialogue "Nesamun" "img/nesamun.jpg" "\"Thank you, High Priestess! May Thoth bless your temple, and may all the gods smile upon you! I will not move from this spot!\"" "left">>\ <<run setup.addResource("nesamun_gift", 1)>>\ You turn and leave the shadow of the artisans' pillars, carrying the sealed papyrus and the bruised wildflowers. As you make your way back toward the harbor district, you cannot help but muse on the young sculptor's chances. Tiset is a soul of the wind and the river, a fiercely free spirit whose affection is as open as the sanctuary she tends. You have no doubt she would be utterly charmed by the boy's earnest poetry and would happily entertain him. But Nesamun's devotion feels heavy, fragile, and intensely singular. You wonder if a young man so entirely consumed by romance could survive a woman who gives her love to the world so freely, without a single thought to possession. Still, a bargain is a bargain, and you have an idol to secure. <<silently>><<set $thothQuestActive to true>><</silently>>\ <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Return to the Forecourt" "Temple of Amun" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis</h1>\ You find Tiset near one of the side altars. She turns as you approach, offering her usual warm smile, but her emerald eyes quickly drop to the slightly bruised bouquet of river wildflowers and the sealed papyrus in your hands. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"A young sculptor's apprentice at the House of Amun asked me to deliver these to you. His name is Nesamun.\"" "right">>\ The moment her fingers brush the petals, her face lights up with a giddy, radiant smile, a flush of pure delight dusting her freckled cheeks. She brings the flowers to her nose and breathes in deeply. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Oh! By the Great Mother, these are lovely. And a note too? How incredibly sweet of him.\"" "left">>\ She cradles the papyrus against her chest, looking entirely charmed. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"You must tell him I said thank you, sister. And tell him... tell him he shouldn't be so terrified of women; we're not all a net and a snare. He should come seek me out himself next time.\"" "left">>\ You watch her carefully. Her delight is so unfeigned and bright that, for a moment, you second-guess your earlier judgment of her. Perhaps she is capable of the romantic devotion the boy is dreaming of. Then again, she could be merely appreciating his gesture but without locking her heart for others. Either way, the boy has his opening. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I will pass along your message, Tiset. He will be thrilled.\"" "right">>\ <<silently>> <<run setup.removeResource("nesamun_gift", 1)>> <<set $thothQuestDelivered to true>> <<set $thothQuestActive to false>> <</silently>>\ <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>> <li><<action "Return to the Temple of Isis" "Temple of Isis" 2 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Amun</h1>\ You find Nesamun in the courtyard of the artisan quarter, chipping away at a block of limestone. As soon as he sees you approaching, he drops his mallet and rushes over, his hands covered in fine white dust. <<dialogue "Nesamun" "img/nesamun.jpg" "\"High Priestess! Did you see her? Did you give her the flowers?\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I did, Nesamun. She was genuinely delighted. She told me to tell you that you should not be so terrified of her temple, and that you should seek her out yourself next time.\"" "right">>\ The young apprentice looks as though he might ascend to the Field of Reeds out of pure joy. He scrambles back to his workbench and returns carrying a heavy, finely carved stone effigy of an ibis-headed man. <<dialogue "Nesamun" "img/nesamun.jpg" "\"Here! As promised. It's not my finest work, but I've made some adjustments to it and it's not that bad anymore. Please accept this gift, priestess! cannot thank you enough!\"" "left">>\ <<run setup.addResource("thothidol", 1)>>\ You accept the idol, but you feel a pang of protective sympathy for the boy. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"A word of caution, Nesamun. Tiset is a remarkably gentle and caring woman. But she is a creature of the wind. She loves freely, and she loves everyone. Do not expect her to lock herself away for your sake.\"" "right">>\ Nesamun blinks, the white dust falling from his eyelashes, and offers a surprisingly sober smile. <<dialogue "Nesamun" "img/nesamun.jpg" "\"I am an apprentice sculptor, Priestess. I own three chisels and a two spare kilts. I am not exactly thinking about... locking away, or marriage, at least not now. Just being in her presence is enough of a blessing.\"" "left">>\ You nod, relieved that his heart might not be quite as fragile as it appeared. <<silently>> <<set $thothQuestDelivered to false>> <</silently>>\ <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>> <li><<action "Return to the Forecourt" "Temple of Amun" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis</h1>\ You find Tiset tending to one of the smaller shrines. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Tiset. I was told you were the one to seek out if I wanted to invite Set into my house.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"The Lord of Chaos? Sister, we are a temple of healing and magic, not storms and bloodshed. The Great Mother and the Red Lord do not exactly share a warm history.\"" "left">>\ She dusts her hands on her linen dress and lowers her voice, leaning closer. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"But yes. We do have an idol of him. It is kept inside a crate in a secluded room of the cellar. We certainly do not worship him, but we occasionally have to unbox him to appease him, lest his winds tear the roof off our sanctuaries.\"" "left">>\ She shakes her head, a wry smile touching her lips. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Honestly, I'd gladly give him to you. His fierce energy seeps through the tiling, making the younger priestesses lose their minds and forget their hymns. But you can't simply throw him in a sack and walk out. He is agitated right now. To safely transport him, he must be placated.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"And how does one placate the god of the red desert?\"" "right">>\ Tiset’s emerald eyes gleam with a wicked, knowing light. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"With raw, unapologetic indulgence. Set is a god of unrestrained appetites. He demands a display. A performance.\"" "left">>\ She reaches out, her fingertips lightly grazing your arm. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"To appease him, you must surrender to the flesh right in front of his idol. And because he is a god of pride and chaos... he requires an audience. You must be watched.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You are telling me I must have sex in your cellar, while your clergy watches?\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"Exactly. I can easily find a strapping, willing acolyte to serve as your partner. There's likely several who'd weep with gratitude for the chance to touch you. I will bring him to the cellar, unbox the idol, and leave the doors cracked open. The novices are hopelessly curious; if I leave the doors open, a crowd will inevitably gather in the shadows of the stairs to watch.\"" "left">>\ She steps back, letting you absorb the reality of the ritual. It is a profound test of your willingness to embrace the Decadence of the flesh, to strip away your holy dignity and let yourself be consumed by lust beneath the hungry gaze of strangers. <<silently>> <<set $setQuestActive to true>> <</silently>>\ <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "\"Fetch the acolyte. I am ready to perform the ritual.\"" "SetQuestRitual" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<action "\"I need time to prepare my mind for such a display.\"" "Temple of Isis" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis - Cellar</h1>\ Tiset leads you down a narrow flight of stone steps. The air in the cellar is damp and cool, smelling of earth and stale incense. A few flickering clay lamps cast long, dancing shadows against the walls. In the center of the room sits a cedar crate - already opened, as if Set was waiting for you. His predatory snout and fierce eyes seeming to drink in the meager light. <<dialogue "Tiset" "img/tiset.jpg" "\"He's already restless,\" she whispers, placing a hand on the edge of the crate. She turns to you, her emerald eyes gleaming in the dimness. \"Strip, sister. Wait for the boy here. And make sure everyone in this temple hears how much you enjoy it.\"" "left">>\ With a wicked smile, she turns back toward the stairs. Left alone, your hands tremble slightly as you undo your robes. The linen falls to the damp stone floor, pooling around your ankles. You stand entirely naked before the glowering idol of the Red Lord. The cold air raises goosebumps on your skin. The weight of your imminent actions crashes over you, the High Priestess of Osiris, waiting in the dark to be used for a public spectacle. It feels deeply profane. And yet, liquid warmth pools between your thighs. The mere idea of the act is intoxicating. A few moments later, footsteps echo on the stone. A young acolyte descends, his chest heaving as if he had run all the way from the courtyards. Tiset appears briefly behind him, offering you a wink over his shoulder before she slips away. True to her word, she leaves the doors gaping wide open. You can already hear the hushed whispers and shifting sandals of the novices gathering further up inside the temple. The acolyte stares at you, visibly trembling. His eyes dart from your bare breasts, to the menacing statue of Set, and then to the open doors behind him. He is quite visibly aroused - the heavy tenting of his kilt leaves no room for doubt - but he is terrified. To touch a High Priestess is a daunting prospect; to do it here is overwhelming. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Do not stand there shaking like a reed in the breeze. Come here and take me before Set.\"" "right">>\ He swallows hard and takes a hesitant step forward. You do not wait for him to figure out what to do. You step into his space, closing the distance, and press your mouth to his. He gasps into the kiss, his hesitation shattering the moment your lips meet. You feel his rough hands settle on your bare hips, and the sensation sends tingles down your spine. Noticing a pair of eyes in the doorway watching makes your head spin. You deepen the kiss, your tongue sliding against his, and his hands grow bolder. One hand slides around to cup your bare buttocks, while the other moves to the damp heat between your thighs. His fingers find your wetness, clumsily but eagerly rubbing against your slick folds. In response, you reach down and promptly remove his kilt, stroking his engorged shaft. As you exchange touch with the acolyte, you let out a trembling moan. <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>> <li><<action "Give yourself over to the display" "SetQuestRitual2" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis - Cellar</h1>\ You break the kiss and step back, letting your body sink down onto the cold, dusty stones of the cellar. You spread your legs wide, offering yourself unapologetically and your own fingers slide down to your soaked folds, slowly rubbing your clit. You look past the trembling acolyte toward the open doors. In the shadows, you can clearly make out at least four figures, their eyes wide and unblinking as they watch you touch yourself. You lift your free hand and curl your fingers, beckoning them to step further into the room. The acolyte standing over you hesitates, his chest heaving as he looks from your spread thighs to the audience gathering in the shadows. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"What are you waiting for?\"" "right">>\ Your voice is thick with lust, echoing against the stone walls. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Take me. Let my warmth and wetness be an offering for Set, and all the souls watching.\"" "right">>\ That final command breaks his paralysis. He drops to his knees between your spread thighs, his rough hands gripping your hips tightly to drag your lower body closer to his. He leans his weight forward, his chest hovering just over yours, and guides his cock against your wet entrance. With one sharp thrust, he buries himself entirely inside you. You cry out, your head throwing back against the dusty floor. You stretch painfully to accomodate his whole length, but the enrapturing feeling of being fucked in front of an audience cancels out the discomfort. He begins to pump his hips, pulling almost all the way out before slamming his pelvis back into yours. The rhythmic, wet slap of flesh against flesh echoes loudly in the cellar, mingling with your moans. Between his thrusts, you look sideways and address your audience. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Do not just stand there...\"" "right">>\ Your voice is a commanding pant, barely cutting through the sound of the acolyte's grunts. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Stroke yourselves. Share in the offering.\"" "right">>\ You watch their hands drop, almost in unison, to remove their kilts. The faintly audible rhythmic friction of the men masturbating joins the sounds of your own coupling. Their breathing is ragged as they touch themselves before your ongoing violation. It feels as though the idol of Set is actively drinking in the chaotic energy of the room. The acolyte above you groans loudly, his thrusts turning erratic and desperate as the group display threatens to push him over the edge. <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Ride out the climax" "SetQuestReward" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple of Isis - Cellar</h1>\ You reach up, pressing your hands firmly against his damp chest to stall his momentum. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Slow down. Not yet,\" you command, your voice a breathless purr. He obeys instantly, swallowing hard and reducing his movements to a slow grind against your walls. " "right">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"And do not finish inside me. The offering must be seen.\"" "right">>\ You turn your gaze to the four men panting in the shadowy threshold. The sight of you being mounted by their fellow acolyte has them entirely captivated. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Come closer,\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Surround me. Spill your seed over me, all of you. Give your offering to the Red Lord.\"" "right">>\ They step forward and form a tight ring around you, their hands working their rigid lengths as they look down at you, the Priestess of Osiris. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Good. You may start taking me again.\"" "right">>\ The acolyte between your legs looks around tentatively at his fellows, but he complies with your instruction, and his thrusts start, harder and faster than before. One by one, they succumb to pleasure. The closest novice gasps, his climax splashing hot across your bare stomach. Another shudders violently, his seed painting your collarbone and breasts. A third and fourth follow in rapid succession, their offerings marking your face in the flickering lamplight. The acolyte fucking you finally tears his cock out of your wet entrance. He grips your knees fiercely and rubs against your belly, cock throbbing as he spills his own thick ropes across your body. For a long moment, the cellar is filled only with the sound of ragged, exhausted breathing. The air feels different - lighter, as if the oppressive, storm-like tension that had been radiating from the cedar crate has completely dissipated. The idol of Set has drunk its fill of your absolute decadence. The men, suddenly acutely aware of the taboo of the ceremony they have just participated in, offer hasty, trembling bows. Without a word, they gather their discarded kilts and scramble back up the stairs, leaving you alone in the quiet cellar. You slowly sit up, your skin cooling in the damp air, and gather your discarded linen. Once dressed, you approach the crate. The stone figure of Set seems entirely inert now, his chaotic aura reduced to mere carved rock. You secure the heavy lid. The Red Lord is yours to take. <<silently>> <<run setup.addResource("setidol", 1)>> <<set $setQuestActive to false>> <<set $setQuestComplete to true>> <</silently>>\ <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>> <li><<action "Return to the Forecourt" "Temple of Isis" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<<silently>> <<set $kemhotepStage1Seen to true>> <</silently>>\ <div class="textbox">\ <h1>Atrium</h1>\ You find a quiet spot near a pillar to sit with the old man. For a time, you merely share the comfortable silence, listening to the distant rustle of the date palms in the street. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"You are so alike your father. You share the furrow between your brows when you are thinking.\" Kemhotep remarks softly, his weathered hands resting on his knees. He turns his head to look at you, his eyes crinkling at the corners." "left">>\ <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"Your father used to do the same thing when a problem vexed him.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You knew Nakhtaris for a very long time, Kemhotep. Perhaps better than I did, in some ways. I only knew him as a father, and as the High Priest of a house already in its twilight. What was he like before?\"" "right">>\ Kemhotep lets out a long, slow breath, leaning back against the cool limestone pillar. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"To understand the man, Priestess, you must understand where he was forged. Our paths crossed long before you were even a thought. We met as young men in the House of Life, over at the Temple of Amun.\"" "left">>\ You blink in surprise, adjusting your posture. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Amun? Why would the heir to the House of Osiris be sent to study under the clergy of Amun?\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"A matter of practical necessity. The Temple of Osiris was blooming beautifully in those days, but its focus was entirely consumed by funerary rites and the mysteries of the Field of Reeds. It did not maintain a House of Life of its own. So, your grandfather sent young Nakhtaris to learn theology and administration from the most prestigious scholars in Thebes.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"And you? Were you training to wear the velvet of Amun's high clergy?\"" "right">>\ Kemhotep lets out a dry, raspy chuckle that briefly devolves into a cough. He waves a dismissive hand. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"The gods forbid. No, I was a secular student. I was there strictly to learn the trade of the scribe. Have you ever read the Satire of the Trades?\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"A long time ago. It is the papyrus that claims no profession exceeds that of the scribe.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"Exactly. Work is hard on body and soul, $characterName. The stonemason breaks his back, the potter is smeared with mud, but the scribe directs the work of all others. I decided early in my youth that it is wise to respect the gods, but deeply foolish to count on their help. The reed pen and the ink palette; now, those are truly dependable.\"" "left">>\ He smiles, a nostalgic warmth settling over his wrinkled features. <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "\"So, a scribe and a future High Priest shared a classroom?\"" "KemhotepStage1_Second" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Atrium</h1>\ Kemhotep nods slowly, the memory bringing a faint smile to his lips. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"We shared a classroom, yes. We were not what you would call close confidants. He was the heir to a great spiritual house, and I was a commoner focused on ledgers. But we were good classmates. We respected one another. Your father had a remarkably sharp mind for logistics, economy and arithmetic,, something the other aristocratic students found beneath them.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It is strange to think of him as a student in the bustling halls of Amun. It is even stranger to think of our own house as anything but what it is now... quiet. Empty.\"" "right">>\ The old scribe's expression softens, and he taps a gnarled finger against his knee. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"Do not let the present obscure the truth of the past, little one. The Temple of Osiris you see today is but a shadow. In those days, our house could have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Amun. When Nakhtaris was studying, he was preparing to inherit a domain of over a hundred ordained priests and acolytes, supported by an estate of at least a thousand workers, farmers, and artisans.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"A thousand workers...\" You murmur the number, the sheer scale of it feeling almost mythical compared to the crumbling stones and empty corridors you manage today." "right">>\ <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"Indeed. Because of that power, there was always a rivalry between the students of Osiris and the clergy of Amun. It was mostly friendly, mind you. It stemmed from politics, of course: the Priesthood of Amun is considered the superior in law to all other priesthoods across the Two Lands. Nakhtaris had to learn how to politely bow his head to Amun's high clergy while fiercely maintaining the pride of Osiris.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"And how did you end up in his service, if you two were merely classmates?\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"As I said: I trust the ink palette. When we finished our studies, fate pulled us to our respective stations. But when Nakhtaris finally took his father's seat, he found himself surrounded by pious men who could recite day-long rituals flawlessly, yet were simply unable to calculate a grain tax. Then, he remembered a man from his youth who cared only for the numbers.\"" "left">>\ Kemhotep chuckles, a warm, resonant sound in the quiet atrium. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"He sent for me. I agreed to balance his ledgers, and I have been here ever since. Long enough to watch the temple's slow decline, yes... but also long enough to see its greatest treasures arrive.\"" "left">>\ <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "\"Its greatest treasures?\"" "KemhotepStage1_Third" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Atrium</h1>\ <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"You, Priestess. I was here the day you were born. I have known you since you were no larger than a small kitten, swaddled in fine linen and screaming loudly enough to wake the ancestors in the City of the Dead.\"" "left">>\ A flush of warmth touches your cheeks. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I suppose I was a great deal less trouble for you back then, Kemhotep.\"" "right">>\ The old man laughs, a genuine, chest-deep sound. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"Oh, by the gods, you were far more trouble! Your father, Nakhtaris - a man who could calculate the Nile's inundation yields in his head and the movements of the stars - was completely undone by you. I remember him standing in this very atrium, holding you in his arms as if you were spun from the thinnest glass, absolutely terrified that he might break you.\"" "left">>\ You smile softly, the image of your father's quiet strength softening at the edges. It is a precious gift, being handed these fragments of a man you mostly remember through the heavy veil of his priestly duties. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"I have balanced the ledgers through years of plenty and years of drought. I have watched the acolytes depart, one by one, until the halls fell silent. But I was also here to see you take your first steps, to see you learn to read your first hieroglyphs, and now... to see you wear the circlet of priesthood.\"" "left">>\ He reaches out, his hand gently patting your wrist. It is a profoundly familiar, grounding gesture. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"The temple may have lost its thousand workers, and the estate may be a fraction of what it once was. But as long as you are here, standing tall in your father's stead, there is still hope for the House of Osiris.\"" "left">>\ For a moment, the crumbling pillars and empty courtyards do not feel like a burden at all, but rather a foundation built on trust and devotion devotion. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Thank you for staying, Kemhotep.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"Always, little one. Now, unless you wish to hear an old scribe ramble until the sun sets, we both have duties to attend to.\"" "left">>\ <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Leave him and return to the Atrium" "Atrium" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<<silently>> <<set $kemhotepStage2Seen to true>> <</silently>>\ <div class="textbox">\ <h1>Atrium</h1>\ You find Kemhotep at his small wooden desk, surrounded by neatly stacked ostraca and half-rolled sheets of papyrus. He has not noticed your approach. The rhythmic scratching of his reed pen comes to an abrupt halt, and he sets it down with a heavy, ragged sigh. He raises a gnarled hand to the back of his neck, rubbing the knotted muscles there with a deep grimace. A painful groan escapes his lips as he attempts to roll his shoulders, the stiff joints popping audibly in the quiet air. You step forward, your shadow falling across his ledgers. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You are carrying the weight of the entire temple on those shoulders, Kemhotep. Let me ease it.\"" "right">>\ He stiffens instantly, dropping his hand and straightening his posture as if caught committing a crime. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"I am perfectly fine, Priestess. It is merely the damp air settling into old bones. A scribe's burden.\"" "left">>\ He reaches for his pen again, though his grip is visibly strained. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"Furthermore, it would be highly improper. Leave an old man to his ailments.\"" "left">>\ Despite his dry, authoritative dismissal, the tight lines around his eyes betray the lie. He is in genuine discomfort, too stubborn to ask for relief and too proud to accept it easily. <<action "\"It is a daughter's duty to care for her elders. Now sit still.\"" "KemhotepStage2_Temperance2" 0 _hk "+2T">><<set _hk++>> <<action "\"I decide what is proper. Lean forward and let me touch you.\"" "KemhotepStage2_Decadence2" 0 _hk "+2D">><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Atrium</h1>\ You ignore his protests entirely and place your hands firmly on his shoulders, feeling the deep, rigid knots beneath the coarse linen of his tunic. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It is a daughter's duty to care for her elders, Kemhotep. Now sit still.\"" "right">>\ Kemhotep lets out an exasperated huff. His back remains rigid for a moment before the steady pressure of your thumbs begins to work into the muscles along his spine. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"The gods weep. A High Priestess acting as a common woman, offering massages. If the Vizier or the Amun clergy were to walk in right now, they would strip you of your titles before the sun set.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Then it is a good thing our courtyard is currently empty.\"" "right">>\ You press deeper into a particularly stubborn knot near his shoulder blade. Despite his sharp reprimands and grumbling, his posture slowly begins to sag. He does not pull away, and a long, quiet sigh eventually escapes him as the pain begins to recede. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You push yourself too hard. You are not a young man anymore. Have you never considered retiring? Finding a new wife, perhaps, and living your twilight years in peace instead of tallying my father's debts?\"" "right">>\ Kemhotep scoffs. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"A wife? At my age? By Osiris, child, my Kia has been walking the Field of Reeds for twenty years. I have no desire to replace her, nor do I have the patience to listen to a new woman complaining.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"She must have been a very patient woman to put up with you.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"She was a saint,\" he corrects softly, the authoritative edge draining from his voice. \"And she knew exactly when to ignore me. A rare and valuable trait.\"" "left">>\ <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "\"So you chose to look after my family instead of resting?\"" "KemhotepStage2_Temperance3" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Atrium</h1>\ Kemhotep falls silent for a long moment. Under your hands, the tension in his shoulders has almost entirely melted away, leaving only the steady rise and fall of his breathing. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"I chose to stay because your father was a brilliant theologian, a master of the sacred mysteries, and an absolutely abysmal accountant,\" he finally mutters, the affection in his voice bleeding through his gruff tone." "left">>\ <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"If I had left him to his own devices, he would have accidentally bartered the entire temple estate away for a particularly well-painted set of offering bowls. He needed me. The house needed me.\"" "left">>\ He reaches up and gently taps your wrist, signaling that you have done enough. You step back, letting your hands fall to your sides. Kemhotep rolls his shoulders again, a look of mild, begrudging surprise crossing his face as he finds the pain gone. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"And then he had you,\" he adds quietly, picking up his reed pen once more. " "left">>\ <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"Who else was going to make sure the little priestess did not starve while her father was busy debating issues of the soul? I had a duty. A scribe does not abandon his post simply because his back aches.\"" "left">>\ You smile warmly, deeply moved by the old man's unwavering loyalty. It has been built on decades of reliable presence. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Well, your post will be right here tomorrow. Try not to hunch over the papyrus so much, Kemhotep. Or I will be forced to subject you to another improper massage.\"" "right">>\ Kemhotep lets out a dramatic scoff, dipping his pen back into the black ink. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"May the gods spare me. Go attend to your holy duties, child. And...\"" "left">>\ He pauses, not looking up from the ledger, his voice softening just a fraction. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"Thank you, $characterName.\"" "left">>\ <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Leave him to his work and return to the Atrium" "Atrium" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Atrium</h1>\ Before he can rise to dismiss you, you place your hands on his shoulders. But you do not stop at the coarse linen. You boldly slip your fingers beneath the wide collar of his tunic, your warm palms pressing directly against his bare, weathered skin. Kemhotep stiffens immediately, a sharp intake of breath hissing through his teeth. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I am the High Priestess, Kemhotep. I decide what is proper. Now lean forward.\"" "right">>\ Instead of kneading the muscles practically, you let your nails lightly drag across the rigid knots at the base of his neck, tracing the lines of his tension. You lean in close, so close that the front of your sheer linen dress just barely brushes against his back, and let your warm breath ghost over the shell of his ear. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"Priestess... what are you doing? Have you lost your mind?\"" "left">>\ His voice is tight, pitched a fraction higher than his usual authoritative grumble. Yet, for all his stern scolding, his hands remain firmly planted on the edges of his wooden desk. He makes absolutely no attempt to pull away, nor does he reach up to remove your hands from his skin. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You are so terribly tense. I am simply trying to find out if this scribe's blood has entirely turned to ink, or if your heart still beats when a woman touches you.\"" "right">>\ You slide your hands a little further down his collarbone, feeling the rapid, undeniable jump of his pulse beneath your fingertips. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It has been decades since your wife passed to the Field of Reeds. Have you truly sworn off the pleasures of the living? Do you never miss the warmth of a woman's touch?\"" "right">>\ <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Wait for his response" "KemhotepStage2_Decadence3" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Atrium</h1>\ Kemhotep swallows hard, his throat bobbing sharply. Underneath your fingertips, his skin is incredibly warm. The stiff, aching knots in his shoulders have completely vanished, replaced by a completely different, trembling kind of tension. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"Have some pity on an old man's heart! I used to change your swaddling linens, for the gods' sake!\"" "left">>\ You let out a soft, wicked laugh, the sound vibrating in the narrow space between you. The heady rush of your own feminine power is intoxicating. You slowly withdraw your hands, letting your fingertips drag a final, teasing trail up the back of his neck before you step away entirely. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Your heart beats just fine, Kemhotep. And your blood has certainly not turned to ink.\"" "right">>\ Freed from your touch, Kemhotep scrambles to regain his composure. He adjusts his collar to hide the flush on his neck. He breaks into a sudden, nervous coughing fit, snatching up his reed pen as if his life depended on it. <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"Madness. Absolute madness in this house,\" he mutters, staring intently at a blank piece of papyrus, completely unable to meet your eyes. " "left">>\ <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"Away with you. Go read a hymn. Offer some prayers. Leave me to my ledgers before you further imbalance my humors.\"" "left">>\ You smile triumphantly, smoothing your linen dress, and leave the flustered accountant to his sudden, intense fascination with his ink palette. <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Return to the Atrium" "Atrium" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<<silently>> <<set $tahiraStage1Seen to true>> <</silently>>\ <div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple Complex</h1>\ You find Tahira in one of the long, shadowed corridors leading away from the main sanctuary. She is wielding a broom, methodically sweeping the fine layer of desert dust that eternally encroaches upon the stone floors. She is completely absorbed in the repetitive motion, her watery blue eyes fixed somewhere far beyond the walls. A heavy, melancholic frown tugs at the corners of her mouth, masking her usually soft features You step closer, the soft slap of your sandals echoing in the empty hall. She startles violently. The tool slips from her fingers, clattering loudly against the floor. She instantly drops to her knees, bowing her head deeply, her blonde hair falling like a curtain to hide her face. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"Forgive me, Mistress! I was lost in my own thoughts. I did not hear you approach. I will be more attentive.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Stand up, Tahira. You have done nothing wrong. The dust is an endless enemy and does not mind if you sweep it while daydreaming.\"" "right">>\ Tahira rises slowly, picking up her broom. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You look troubled. Your mind is clearly not in the temple today. Leave your work for a moment and sit with me in the shade.\"" "right">>\ She hesitates, shifting her weight anxiously. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"Sit... with you, High Priestess? But I have not finished the corridor. It is not my place to rest while there is work to be done.\"" "left">>\ <<set _hk to 1>><<action "\"The corridor can wait. Tell me what weighs on your heart.\"" "TahiraStage1_Second" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple Complex</h1>\ You take the broom from her hands and lean it against the wall, then gesture to the smooth stone lip of a nearby alcove. Reluctantly, Tahira perches on the very edge of the stone, keeping her posture rigid and her hands tightly folded in her lap. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Tell me what has stolen your spirit today, Tahira\"" "right">>\ Tahira looks down at her hands, her thumbs nervously tracing near her knuckles. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"It is the quiet, Mistress. The temple is so vast, and so... silent. It gives my mind too much room to wander back to the lower city.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"So you were thinking of your family.\"" "right">>\ She gives a small, fragile nod. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"My home was a single room, smaller than your bathhouse. It was always so loud. The sound of my father coughing in the night, my mother weeping over ruined linens, my three siblings fighting over scraps. It was chaotic and suffocating... but it was home.\"" "left">>\ She pauses, a heavy, wet sheen forming over her vivid blue eyes. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"When your honorable father took me in, he paid my parents a great sum of grain and copper. It was enough to keep my siblings alive through a terrible season. They traded ten years of my life to survive the famine. I was so grateful to him.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"But the gratitude has turned into something heavier?\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"That was some time ago, Mistress. The grain your father gave them is surely eaten by now. The copper has likely been seized by the tax collectors. And I am still here.\"" "left">>\ A single tear spills over her lashes, tracking quickly down her pale cheek. She does not even reach up to wipe it away, staring blankly at the stone floor. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"Every night I sleep safely within these walls. Every morning I eat fine, white bread, which I bake in your ovens at no cost to myself. And I have absolutely nothing of my own to send back to them. My labor is already paid for. I am completely helpless to provide for them now, while I live in luxury.\"" "left">>\ <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "\"We are both trapped in this quiet house, Tahira.\"" "TahiraStage1_Temperance3" 0 _hk "+2T">><<set _hk++>> <<if $fetishGirls>> <<action "\"Perhaps the nights would weigh less if we spent them together.\"" "TahiraStage1_Decadence3" 0 _hk "+2D">><<set _hk++>> <</if>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple Complex</h1>\ You reach out, gently resting your hand over her tightly clasped fingers. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"We are both trapped in this quiet house, Tahira. You are haunted by the family you left behind in the lower city, and I am haunted by the ghost of the father who left me here alone.\"" "right">>\ Tahira looks up, her tear-filled blue eyes searching your face in surprise. It has likely never occurred to her that a High Priestess could feel the exact same aching loneliness as a servant. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I know it does not put grain in your siblings' bowls, but you must not view yourself as just a tool purchased by this temple. You are not simply a broom to sweep the dust, or hands to carry the bath stones. To me... you are a companion in this empty place. Another daughter missing her family in a house that feels much too large.\"" "right">>\ Tahira’s breath hitches. For the first time since you met her, a true, genuine smile breaks across her face, softening the melancholy that had greyed her. She slowly turns her hand over, lightly squeezing your fingers in return. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"Thank you, Mistress... I... I will try to remember that.\"" "left">>\ The heavy air in the corridor finally lifts. It is a small comfort, but sharing the burden of isolation is known to take it away. <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Leave her to her work and return to the Complex" "Complex" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<<silently>> <<set $startedTahiraRomance to true>> <</silently>>\ <div class="textbox">\ <h1>Temple Complex</h1>\ You reach out, brushing the tears from her cheek with your fingertips. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It is a cruel burden to bear alone. But perhaps the nights would weigh a little less... if we spent some of them together.\"" "right">>\ Tahira freezes. For a moment, her mind completely fails to process the implication. Then, as the heat of your hand against her skin registers, her eyes go incredibly wide. A violent, deeply scarlet flush erupts across her neck and cheeks, burning all the way to the tips of her ears. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"Mistress...?\" Her voice is a tiny, breathless squeak. She trembles under your touch, utterly paralyzed by the sheer impropriety of the suggestion coming from her High Priestess." "left">>\ <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"I... I am yours to command, completely and entirely. My body belongs to the temple. But... oh, gods... I am untouched. I would not even know how to begin to please you in that way.\"" "left">>\ Her utter submissiveness is intoxicating. Instead of rejection, she simply assumes she is unworthy or unequipped for the task. You let your thumb slowly caress her lower lip, enjoying the way her breath stutters in her throat. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"There is no rush, Tahira. And ignorance is easily cured. Just know that you do not have to sleep in the dark entirely alone.\"" "right">>\ You withdraw your hand, leaving her completely breathless and wide-eyed on the stone alcove, clutching her hands against her chest as if trying to calm her racing heart. The seed has been planted, and the servant who thought herself merely a tool now has something entirely different to occupy her lonely nights. <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Leave her to process and return to the Complex" "Complex" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<<silently>> <<set $tahiraStage2Seen to true>> <</silently>>\ <div class="textbox">\ <h1>Library</h1>\ You step into the dusty, quiet room that once served as the temple's archive. It is a depressing sight. The towering shelves are completely bare, stripped of their treasures years ago to pay your father's mounting debts. All that remains of the House of Osiris's intellectual legacy are two cedar boxes and a pitiful stack of perhaps thirty ritual papyri. You find Tahira standing by the lone table, but she is not dusting. She is holding one of the fragile scrolls, her fingers hovering just millimeters above the ink as she intently traces the looping paths of the hieratic script. When she noticed you, Tahira gasps, practically throwing the scroll back onto the table. She instantly drops in a deep bow, dropping her head so low it touches the dusty floor. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"Mistress! I swear by the gods, I did not damage it! I know it is strictly forbidden for a servant to touch the sacred texts... I don't know what I was thinking! Punish me as you see fit, but please do not cast me out!\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Stand up, Tahira. I am not going to whip you for holding a piece of paper. Why were you looking at it so closely?\"" "right">>\ She slowly rises, her entire body shaking. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"My father... he always prayed to Amun for a son. He considers us women unfit for learning. He wanted a boy he could send to the scribal schools, so at least one of his bloodline could escape the limestone quarries. But he only got daughters. \"" "left">>\ She swallows hard, glancing nervously at the scroll. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"I used to watch the scribes in the market. They never lifted heavy stones, they never choked on dust. The ink seemed like magic. I just wanted to see what it felt like to hold that kind of power.\"" "left">>\ <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "\"When the House of Life is built, its doors will be open to you.\"" "TahiraStage2_House" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<if $panebStage >= 2>> <<action "\"You do not have to wait. You can join my lessons with Paneb.\"" "TahiraStage2_Paneb" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <<else>> <<action "\"You do not have to wait. I can teach you.\"" "TahiraStage2_Paneb" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <</if>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Library</h1>\ You look at the empty shelves, envisioning the grand institution this room is meant to become once you restore the temple's standing. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"This room is barren now, Tahira. But it will not remain so. I plan to build a true House of Life for this temple.\"" "right">>\ You pick up the instructional scroll and hold it out to her. She stares at it as if it were a live cobra, but you press it gently into her hands. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"When the walls are raised and the shelves are full again, you will not be sweeping its floors. I promise you free access to the library archives as well as to the lessons. You can study the scripts and walk the halls as a scholar, not just a servant.\"" "right">>\ Tahira’s eyes widen in sheer disbelief. Her rigid conditioning seems to have set alight her mind entirely just at the idea of elevating her privileges in such a matter. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"Mistress... a servant girl from the quarries reading in the House of Life? The other priests would call it blasphemy. You would do that for me?\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I am the High Priestess. And the only priest we have, for now. I determine what is blasphemy in my own house. Keep the scroll. Familiarize yourself with the shapes until the school is built.\"" "right">>\ Tahira clutches the papyrus to her chest, her eyes shining with unshed tears. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"Thank you so much, Mistress! I will make you proud, I swear it!\"" "left">>\ <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Leave her to her newfound treasure" "Complex" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Library</h1>\ You pick up the instructional scroll from the table, rolling it up with a sharp snap of the brittle papyrus. <<if $panebStage >= 2>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It is a cruel waste of a sharp mind to leave you sweeping floors while you hunger for the script. You do not have to wait to hold this power, Tahira. I am already teaching someone the scribal arts; you can join our lessons.\"" "right">>\ <<else>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It is a cruel waste of a sharp mind to leave you sweeping floors while you hunger for the script. You do not have to wait for the House of Life, Tahira. I can teach you myself.\"" "right">>\ <</if>>\ Tahira’s jaw drops. She looks genuinely terrified at the sudden, immense shift in her reality. <<if $panebStage >= 2>>\ <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"With... with Paneb? The man from the harbor? Mistress, he is a rough man, a gambler! He will not want a quarryman's daughter dragging down the pace of his lessons!\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Paneb does not dictate who sits in my temple. I am the teacher, and he is a student, just as you will be. You will sit with us, you will hold your own reed pen, and you will learn the ink.\"" "right">>\ <<else>>\ <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"You, Mistress? But you are the High Priestess! You cannot lower yourself to teach the signs to a quarryman's daughter! The other priests would call it madness!\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I am the High Priestess, which means I determine what is madness in my own house. You will sit beside me, you will hold your own reed pen, and you will learn the ink.\"" "right">>\ <</if>>\ You press the scroll into her trembling hands. She looks down at it, then back up at you, her vivid blue eyes wide with deep gratitude. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"Mistress... I... I have no words. My father would have sold his own right hand for this opportunity. I will not fail you. I will be the most attentive student you have ever seen.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"See that you are, Tahira. I will call you for lessons at the appropiate time.\"" "right">>\ <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Return to the Complex" "Complex" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<<silently>> <<set $tahiraRomanceStage2Seen to true>> <</silently>>\ <div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ The hot stones hiss quietly at the bottom of the basin, filling the small room with thick, fragrant steam. You recline against the smooth clay edge of the tub while Tahira kneels behind you, her hands working a rich, scented cedar oil into your wet hair and across your bare shoulders. Usually, her touch is steady and practiced. Today, however, the atmosphere in the humid room is incredibly thick. Her hands are trembling. You can feel the slight, nervous stutter in her fingertips every time they trace the curve of your neck. Her breathing is shallow and erratic, and when you tilt your head back to look at her, you catch her intensely biting her lower lip, her cheeks flushed a deep scarlet that has nothing to do with the steam. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You are trembling, Tahira. Is the heat of the room too much for you?\"" "right">>\ Tahira freezes, her hands hovering just inches from your skin. She lowers her gaze instantly, her voice coming out as a breathless, fractured whisper. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"No, Mistress. Forgive me. I am... I am perfectly fine.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Do not lie to me. Your mind is still lingering on what I said to you in the corridor, isn't it?\"" "right">>\ A little choke escapes her throat. She clasps her oily hands together tightly against her stomach. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"I have not been able to sleep, Mistress. Every time I close my eyes, I just keep imagining what you meant. I want to please you, in every way you desire, but I am so terrified my ignorance will only disappoint you.\"" "left">>\ <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "\"This is not a command. You do not have to serve me.\"" "TahiraBath_RomanceStage2Temperance" 0 _hk "+2T">><<set _hk++>> <<if $fetishGirls>> <<action "\"Ignorance is easily cured, provided you are a willing student.\"" "TahiraBath_RomanceStage2Decadence" 0 _hk "+2D">><<set _hk++>> <</if>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ You reach up, catching her trembling wrists in your wet hands. You gently pull her forward until she shifts off her knees, sinking down to sit on the tiled floor right beside the edge of the tub. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Look at me, Tahira.\"" "right">>\ She slowly raises her vivid blue eyes, braced as if waiting for a reprimand. Instead, you slowly intertwine your slippery fingers with hers. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"This is not a duty. It is not another task for the temple, and it is certainly not a command you can fail at. If we share the dark, it will only be because we both want to.\"" "right">>\ You bring her hand up, pressing her soft, oil-slicked palm against your cheek. The sheer vulnerability in her expression is heartbreakingly genuine. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I would not want to harm a fragile and beautiful flower such as yourself.\"" "right">>\ You lean in and press your lips to hers in a kiss that is incredibly soft, slow, and completely devoid of demands. For a second, Tahira is utterly rigid. Then, the realization that she is not being tested finally washes over her. With a soft, shuddering sigh, she melts against the edge of the tub, leaning into the kiss and timidly kissing you back. The fear completely drains from her body, replaced by a starry-eyed, profound affection that will surely outlast the steam of the bathhouse. <br> <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Dry off and return to the Atrium" "Atrium" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ You lean your head back, exposing your throat. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Ignorance is easily cured, Tahira. Provided you are a willing student.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"I am, Mistress. Completely.\"" "left">>\ You reach up blindly, catching her trembling wrists. You pull her hands back down to your skin, guiding her palms slowly down the slick, wet slope of your chest, and finally between your thighs. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Then pay attention. Keep your hands exactly there. Move them slowly. Do not stop until I tell you to.\"" "right">>\ Tahira’s breath hitches so sharply she nearly chokes <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"Yes... yes, Mistress. I... I am trying.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You are too frantic. Your touch is like a startled bird. Slow it down. Feel the heat of me. Yes, just there. I like it when you touch me there. Now, press firmly.\"" "right">>\ She obeys, her movements becoming agonizingly deliberate. She is terrified, yet she is clearly desperate to prove her worth to you. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"That is better. Now, you can take one finger and move it inside. Show me how well you can listen to my needs.\"" "right">>\ She gasps shallowly as she realizes the boundary you have just invited her to cross. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"Mistress... I... I have never...\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Then let this be your first lesson. Do as I said. Be slow, and keep your eyes on me while you do it. Slower, Tahira. Feel how I open for you. There is no rush in the service of your mistress.\"" "right">>\ A low sigh escapes your lips as her finger enters you, stroking your sensitive walls. Warmth blooms low in your belly, heavy and spreading. You feel the tight coil of pleasure gathering, drawn out by her eager obedience. Tahira’s breathing has grown ragged. Sweat beads on her forehead and upper lip, mixing with the steam. Her blue eyes are wide and glassy, fixed on your face as though you were the only thing anchoring her in the world. <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"Mistress… you are so warm… Am I… am I pleasing you?\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You are learning. Do not speak. Only obey. Add another finger. Stretch me slowly.\"" "right">>\ She obeys with a soft whimper, her two fingers sliding deeper into your heat. The fullness draws another quiet moan from you, your thighs parting slightly wider in the water. The way she moves her fingers inside you while also rubbing your clit feels very good. However, you decide to cut it short for now; this should suffice for an introduction. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"That's enough for today, Tahira.\"" "right">>\ By the time you finally tell her she has done enough, Tahira is completely breathless, her blue eyes dark and hazy with overwhelming need. She is flushed from neck to hairline, her hands shaking violently as she slowly withdraws her fingers. A part of you wishes she would have continued until your release, but would certainly be better not to overwhelm her. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Good girl. We will continue this another time.\"" "right">>\ <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Dry off and return to the Atrium" "Atrium" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<<silently>> /* Advance the stage so this encounter doesn't loop, preparing for the actual date sequence */ <<set $panebStage to 3>> <</silently>>\ <div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ A familiar, unhurried silhouette enters your sight, near the door. With a confident gait, Paneb approaches your pedestal. He doesn't carry a bundle of papyrus this time, nor does he offer a formal greeting. Instead, he simply leans his shoulder against a column, his mouth curved into that smirk you've come to expect <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"High Priestess.\"" "left">>\ You straighten your posture, smoothing the front of your linen gown as you look down at him. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Paneb. Are you here for another lesson?\"" "right">>\ He lets out a low, rough chuckle, shaking his head. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"No lessons today. The letters can wait. I'm actually on my way to the docks. I've heard of a mixed game - alternating between Twenty Squares, Senet, and some bizarre Babylonian variation. It's taking place at sunset, and it's also been calling my name since dawn. My friends tell me some merchants from Cyprus just made port today, with silver in their linen wraps and more wine than sense.\"" "left">>\ His eyes lock onto yours with a sudden, sharp intensity that cuts right through his casual posture. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"I have a feeling about tonight. A very good one. And I have no intention of partaking in the spoils alone, you see. And I would very much like to celebrate the victory with my favourite priestess. Seek me out in the harbor district after the first hour of the night. I won't keep you waiting.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Are you inviting a High Priestess to a gambling den, Paneb?\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"I’m inviting a beautiful woman to share a flask of overseas wine with me. After I've ruined some arrogant traders, of course. You wouldn't be stepping inside the 'gambling den' proper,\" he corrects, his smirk widening as he backs toward the sunlit courtyard. " "left">>\ <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"So what will it be, Priestess?\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I like the audacity, Paneb. I will consider it.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Uh-huh.\"" "left">>\ He turns and vanishes back into the streets of Thebes, leaving the quiet sanctuary feeling suddenly very empty; and giving you a very specific destination once the sun goes down. <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<<silently>> <<set $panebHarborDateSeen to true>> <</silently>>\ <div class="textbox">\ <h1>Harbor</h1>\ You step away from the flickering torches of the main quay, figuring your best chances of finding him would be hidden among freshly arrived merchandise. The guards that do see you do not dare question a woman with a priestly circlet on her head, so you walk through the wares unbothered. You navigate the dark lanes between towering stacks of imported cedar for several minutes, beginning to wonder if you have allowed yourself to be made a fool by a harbor gambler. Then, you see him. Paneb is sitting on a low stack of rough-hewn beams. He isn't paying attention to his surroundings; he is entirely focused on a small bronze knife in his hands, methodically shaving thin, curling slivers from a piece of cedar. The soft, rhythmic scrape of his blade stops the instant your sandals crunch on the loose gravel. Paneb snaps his head up. For a single, uncharacteristic fraction of a second, his practiced mask of roguish indifference drops completely. His eyes briefly widen, and you catch a glimpse of genuine surprise. He slides the knife in his sash and rises to his feet. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Well, look at that. The High Priestess actually knows how to walk in the dirt. I half expected to be drinking this whole jug by myself while counting my winnings.\"" "left">>\ He gestures with his foot toward a clay jar resting by the timber. It is sealed with a dark wax. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Good white wine. None of that sour vinegar they serve at the Sandals. And it's only a fraction of what I managed to strip off those no-good peddlers tonight. The dice were very kind to me.\"" "left">>\ You glance at the jar, then back at his smirk. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I am glad your luck held, Paneb. But surely you did not ask me to come all this way just to stand in the mud and stare at a pile of wood.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Of course not,\" he says, tilting his head toward a half-built outline looming just past the timber yard. It is a gigantic warehouse with multiple floors, its mudbrick walls completed but its entrance still waiting for its heavy cedar doors.""left">>\ <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"There’s a warehouse under construction just past these docks. The roof is flat, the air is cool, and the view of the water is unmatched. Come on. Let's drink it up there.\"" "left">>\ You hesitate, looking at the dark, imposing structure. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Paneb, that is most likely the property of Amun. If the harbor guards catch us sneaking into an unfinished warehouse...\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"They won't,\" he interrupts smoothly, stepping closer until you can smell the faint, warm scent of cedar and harbor wine radiating off his skin. His voice drops to a low, persuasive murmur. " "left">>\ <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"The guards are predictable, Priestess. They’re lazy, they’re tired, and they won't look toward that building for another hour. Trust me. I know every shadow in this harbor. You’ve spent your whole life inside sacred walls, so just let me show you how beautiful the city can look at night.\"" "left">>\ Before you can convince yourself to turn back, he hooks the clay jar by its rope handle and gestures for you to follow. You move quickly, keeping low as you dart across the open paths of the harbor when the torches of the patrolling guards turn the other way. Paneb guides you straight through the gaping, doorless entrance of the warehouse. The interior is a vast, echoing cavern of stone dust and stacked mudbricks. He leads you to a thick, sturdy wooden ladder propped against the rear wall, leading straight through an opening to the roof. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"After you, Priestess. Watch your step. I'd hate to see you bruised.\"" "left">>\ You climb, the rough wood pressing into your palms, until you emerge onto the flat, unpaved roof. It is incredibly high up. The edge of the roof is lined with a low, unfinished parapet - designed to eventually anchor decorative sculptures - which right now serves as the perfect shield against onlookers. They are just tall enough to keep you from falling. It's highly unlikely anybody would see you here. Paneb climbs up behind you, pulling the jar up after him. He stands beside you, looking out over the low stone barrier at the sprawling, moonlit darkness of Thebes. <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Look out over the harbor with him" "PanebHarborDate_Second" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Warehouse Roof</h1>\ Paneb sets the clay jar down on the unmortared edge. He pulls his bronze knife back from his sash, and with a fluid flick of his wrist, pries away the seal. He lifts the heavy jar by its neck, and offers it to you with an amused glint in his eye. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"No fine alabaster cups up here, Priestess. If you want a taste of the Nile's finest import, you're going to have to drink directly from the jar.\"" "left">>\ You look at the heavy clay vessel, then at him. Shifting your weight, you take the jar from his hands - surprised by how warm his skin feels against yours in the midnight chill - and lift it to your lips. The vintage is exceptionally smooth, bursting with the sweetness of sun-ripened grapes and a sharp, clean finish. You hand it back, wiping a stray drop from your lower lip. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It is incredible. Far better than what I tasted in the temple, to speak truly. But I suppose the situation does add a certain flavor to it. To be completely honest, this is the first time I have ever been out in the city this late.\"" "right">>\ Paneb takes a long swig from the jar, his throat moving rhythmically before he sets it back down on the stone boundary. He leans his forearms against the crenellations, looking out over the dark expanse of the Nile. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"The first time? Truly? Priestess, you have been missing out. I've always been more at home in the dark than in the blinding light of day. The sun-glare just makes everyone angry and desperate to stop sweating for their masters. The night? It’s much more comfortable. Better. The real people of Thebes only come alive once the sun goes down.\"" "left">>\ He lets out a mocking chuckle, his eyes tracking a faint glow on the streets below. Two harbor guards are walking side by side, their bronze spears glinting weakly in the torchlight as they make their rounds. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Look at those two down there. Their routes are completely flawed to anyone with half a mind to look.\"" "left">>\ Before you can answer, Paneb steps closer. He moves behind you, cutting off the cool breeze and enveloping you in his warmth. You freeze as his large, calloused hand settles gently on your bare shoulder. He leans in close, his chest practically brushing against your back, his breath stirring the loose strands of hair near your ear. He extends his other arm past your face, pointing out into the shadows below. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Watch them. See that massive stack of cedar crates by the western slipway? They never walk past it. Not once. It's like they're scared of the shadows near the water.\"" "left">>\ His hand on your shoulder tightens just slightly, anchoring you against him, guiding your posture so your eyes follow the line of his outstretched arm. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"And see that narrow alleyway behind the tax collector's office? Over there. They only check that point every half hour. A man could move an entire shipment of untaxed opium right under their noses if he simply knew how to count the breaths between their steps.\"" "left">>\ You are barely listening to his words. Every pore of your skin is focused on the rough texture of his fingers against your skin. The steady hum of his heartbeat against your shoulder blades. You tilt your head back slightly, your eyes leaving the guards below to meet his gaze in the moonlight. <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Lean back into his touch" "PanebHarborDate_Third" 0 _hk >><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Warehouse Roof</h1>\ You lean back and let yourself settle against his chest. You feel the sudden hitch in his breathing before his arm wraps more securely around your waist. For a long time, neither of you speaks. The harbor guards below move like tiny, insignificant ghosts in the torchlight, completely unaware of the High Priestess and the harbor gambler watching them from high above. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"So, is that how you spent your childhood, Paneb? Counting the breaths of guards in the dark?\"" "right">>\ He lets out a low, humorless chuckle, his chin brushing the top of your head as he looks out at the black river. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Something like that. When you grow up with nothing but the clothes on your back and a name nobody cares to remember, you learn to look for the cracks in the walls. I didn't have a temple lineage or a father with storehouses of grain. We had just enough to get by. If I wanted more, I had to be smarter than the men with the whips.\"" "left">>\ His grip on your waist tightens slightly, his calloused thumb tracing slow movements through your thin linen. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"I used to sit on the edge of roofs like these when I was a little boy, watching the grand Pharaonic barges as they sailed up the nile. I’d see the priests onboard, looking so damn pristine in their robes, holding their little scepters like war swords. I didn't care about their gods, but I did want to one day sail on a boat like that.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"And now you are sitting on a rooftop, sharing a jar of wine with one of those priests; who also happens to be teaching you the scribal ways.\"" "right">>\ Paneb turns his head, bringing his face agonizingly close to yours. His smirk returns. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Exactly. Life has a funny way of shifting the dice, doesn't it? Though I have to admit... when I dreamed about holding that scribal power, I never imagined the lessons would be quite this intoxicating. Or that my teacher would be so completely distracting.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Careful, Paneb. A student should show proper reverence to his instructor. Blasphemy is a heavy sin in my house.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Then it’s a good thing we’re in one of my houses tonight,\" he murmurs as his hand shifts from your waist, his fingers sliding up to cup the side of your neck, his thumb lifting your chin until your lips are just a hair's breadth from his. " "left">>\ <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"And where we're standing,, priestess... I’m beginning to think it's time to set aside the lessons and show you one of the things I've learnt elsewhere.\"" "left">>\ Before you can answer, he closes the final, agonizing distance between you. The kiss is nothing like you would have expected. It is heavy, possessive, and thick with the taste of sweet white wine. Paneb pulls you tightly against his body, his lips moving against yours with gradually increasing hunger that completely shatters the last remnants of your composure. You wrap your arms around his neck, anchoring yourself to him as the wind howls around the unfinished walls. When he finally pulls back, just an inch, he rests his forehead against yours as his thumb caresses your cheek. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Yeah...\" he says, and a genuine laugh escapes him. " "left">>\ The heat between you settles into a comfortable warmth as the night stretches on. You remain wrapped in his embrace, passing the time with pleasant conversation, trading stories of your youth while slowly finishing the rest of the wine. Between soft pecking kisses and quiet laughter that echoes softly, it's eventually time for you to part ways. He leads you down the ladder and takes you by the hand through the harbor, before turning to face you one last time. Paneb doesn't offer a formal bow; instead, he pulls you back into his space for a lingering embrace, his arms locking around you as if trying to memorize the way your skin feels against his touch. He leans down, pressing a goodbye kiss to your lips. Pulling back just enough to look into your eyes, he flashes his familiar smile. <<dialogue "Paneb" "img/paneb_portrait.jpg" "\"Until our next lesson, Priestess.\"" "left">>\ <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Return to the Harbor" "Harbor" 75 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ The next petitioner carries the unmistakable scent of the mortuary. His skin is unnaturally dry, his cuticles packed with white powder, and his linen is frayed at the edges. He is an embalmer. He approaches the dais and offers a stiff, formal bow. <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"High Priestess. I serve the House of Death of Amun. My hands are stained with the dead.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I respect your sacred duty. What troubles you?\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"It is a sacred duty, but it is vile labor. I spend my days inhaling searing fumes, handling soiled linen, and packing cavities with salts. The stench has settled into my pores. The corruption of the corpses has seeped into my ka. I am tainted.\"" "left">>\ He looks up at you, his eyes red-rimmed and exhausted. <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"I came to the House of Osiris because your god knows the dead, but he also knows resurrection. I need to be made clean. I cannot return home feeling like this.\"" "left">>\ He stands before you, awaiting judgment. The spiritual and physical rot he describes is palpable, hanging in the air of the audience chamber. You must decide how to purge it. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<if $temperance <= 15>>\ <<action "\"Follow me to my bathhouse. I will cleanse your flesh myself.\"" "UncleanEmbalmer_Bathroom" 15 _hk "+1D">><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>>\ <<if setup.hasEnoughResource("ritual_oils", 1)>>\ <<action "Offer a prayer to Osiris and massage ritual oils into his skin to draw out the corruption." "UncleanEmbalmer_Temperance" 60 _hk "+1T">><<set _hk++>>\ <<else>>\ <div class="disabled-action"><em>You require 1 Ritual Oils to perform a cleansing massage.</em></div>\ <</if>>\ <<action "\"The temple is not a washhouse. Seek purification in the river.\"" "UncleanEmbalmer_Refuse" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ <<run setup.removeResource("ritual_oils", 1)>>\ You step down from your pedestal and instruct the embalmer to follow you to a secluded chamber just off the main sanctuary. The air here is still, undisturbed by the chaotic drafts of the courtyard. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Remove your tunic and lie face down on the reed mat.\"" "right">>\ He obeys in silence, setting his clothes and bag down on the ground. His back is knotted with the rigid tension of a man who spends his days bending over the dead. You uncork a small vial of temple oil. The sharp scent of perfumes immediately cuts through the stench of the mortuary fumes clinging to his skin. You pour the oil into your palms and press your hands firmly into his shoulders. He gasps at the sudden heat. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The corruption of the flesh does not belong to the ka. Let the Lord of Silence draw it out.\"" "right">>\ You begin to massage the heavy musculature of his back, your thumbs digging deep into the stiff tendons along his spine. As you work the oil into his dry pores, you chant the ancient litanies of Osiris, invoking the reversion of decay and the triumph of life over rot. The physical labor of the massage matches the spiritual weight of the spell. You knead the foulness out of him, inch by inch, forcing his muscles to unclench and surrender the burden of his grim trade. After nearly an hour, his breathing deepens into a slow, rhythmic calm. The erratic, anxious energy that surrounded him has completely dissipated. You step back and wipe the excess oil from your hands with a linen cloth. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It is done. You are clean.\"" "right">>\ The embalmer sits up slowly. He looks at his own hands, then takes a deep, unhindered breath. The redness has faded from his eyes. <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"The weight... it is gone. I do not smell the vats anymore. You have restored my spirit, High Priestess.\"" "left">>\ He reaches into his satchel and pulls out two heavy, wrapped blocks of refined natron salt. He places them on the mat with profound reverence. <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Please, accept this offering for our brother House of Osiris. May Ra's light always shine on you.\"" "left">>\ <<silently>> <<run setup.addResource("natron", 2)>> <<set $renown += 1>> <</silently>>\ <<run setup.notify("Renown has increased by 1.", "positive")>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ You remain seated on the pedestal, your expression carefully guarded against the overwhelming stench of the mortuary. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The temple's stores of ritual oils are low. I cannot squander sacred goods on a man who merely suffers from the smell of his own honest labor.\"" "right">>\ The embalmer flinches, his shoulders slumping under the weight of his unwashed fatigue. <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"But the rot, High Priestess... it clings to my ka. I feel it dragging me down.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The Nile is the lifeblood of the gods. Walk into the river until the water closes over your head. Scrub your skin with river mud, and pray to Osiris yourself. The gods hear the prayers of embalmers just as well as priests, provided you speak with reverence.\"" "right">>\ The spark of desperate hope dies in him. He realizes the altar will offer no immediate salvation for his discomfort today. <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"As you advise, Holy One. I will seek the river.\"" "left">>\ He offers a dejected bow before turning and shuffling out of the audience chamber. The scent of decay follows him out into the courtyard, leaving the air in the temple to slowly clear. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ You step down from the pedestal. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Words and smoke are not enough for the rot of the flesh. Follow me.\"" "right">>\ You lead the embalmer out of the sanctuary, across the dusty courtyard, and directly into the private confines of your own house's bathhouse. The air here is intimate, smelling faintly of clean linen and expensive cedar oil. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Remove your garments.\"" "right">>\ He swallows hard, his hands trembling as he fumbles with the knot of his frayed kilt. The coarse fabric falls to the limestone floor, along the bag he carries attached to his clothes. He stands completely bare before you. The physical toll of his trade is evident in his pallid skin, but his manhood is already half-engorged, betraying his nervous, desperate arousal at being alone with a High Priestess in such a secluded room. <<if not $virginityLost>>\ <<if $temperance <= -40>>\ You are still an untouched maiden, but the thought of offering your absolute purity to this desperate, tainted man is an intoxicatingly depraved prospect. <<else>>\ You are still an untouched maiden; perhaps your first time should happen in different circumstances. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You are no longer a maiden and feel comfortable offering your body to petitioners. <</if>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<if ($virginityLost and $temperance <= -25) or (not $virginityLost and $temperance <= -40)>>\ <<action "Offer your body to completely absorb his corruption." "UncleanEmbalmer_Sex" 0 _hk "+2D">><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>>\ <<if $fetishFeet>>\ <<action "Draw out his corruption with your feet." "UncleanEmbalmer_Feet" 0 _hk "+1D">><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>>\ <<if $fetishWatersports>>\ <<action "Cleanse him by marking his flesh with your own divine waters." "UncleanEmbalmer_PeeActive" 0 _hk "+1D">><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Command him to purge his tainted fluids directly onto your skin." "UncleanEmbalmer_PeePassive" 0 _hk "+1D">><<set _hk++>>\ <</if>>\ <<action "Wash him meticulously with your bare hands until he finds release." "UncleanEmbalmer_Handjob" 0 _hk "+1D">><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ You discard your linen, letting it pool on the limestone floor before stepping into the basin and gesturing for the embalmer to follow. He wades in until the water rises to his waist. Taking a clay cup, you draw water over his shoulders to wash away the natron dust and reveal the pale skin beneath. As you rub oils into his chest, he closes his eyes and submits to the ritual. Your hands slide lower, slipping beneath the waterline to wrap around his swollen shaft and give the tip a firm tug. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The corruption of the ka is often stored in a man's seed. It must be drawn out to ensure complete purification.\"" "right">>\ He does not flinch or gasp, but simply nods in complete compliance; he displays no extraordinary lust, acting instead like a man who has heard this exact theological justification before. Guiding him out of the basin, you instruct him to sit on the stone rim while you straddle his lap to align his manhood with your wet entrance. <<if not $virginityLost>>\ You are still a maiden, and the realization flashes through your mind that this cleansing will be remarkably powerful when amplified by the sacrifice of your own purity. Giving your untouched body to a tainted worker is a profound degradation, and the mere thought of such a taboo makes your heart race. <<else>>\ You settle your weight against him, ready to take him inside you as the familiar stretch of accommodation brings a flush to your cheeks. <</if>>\ Sinking down to impale yourself on his length, you establish a slow rhythm by rocking your hips. The friction draws a low groan from his throat as he grips your waist, pressing his thumbs into your flesh. <<if not $virginityLost>>\ The breach of your maidenhood brings a sharp sting that forces you to lean forward, biting lightly into his shoulder to anchor yourself against the unfamiliar sensation. A soft moan escapes your parted lips as the initial discomfort begins to melt into a heavy ache. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Do you feel that?\" you whisper against his skin, your breath hot on his neck. \"You are the very first man to take me. My purity is drawing out your rot.\"" "right">>\ The embalmer's breath hitches, his hands gripping your hips with sudden reverence. <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Your first time...\" he murmurs, his voice trembling with a mixture of shock and awe.\"" "left">>\ <</if>>\ <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Your heat... it burns the rot away.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Yes... Yes, it does. Does it feel good?\"" "right">>\ He moans loudly in response, and you ride him with deliberate grace, letting the wet slap of your union echo off the tiles while he thrusts upward to meet your rhythm. You lean back slightly to use your hands on his thighs for leverage, pushing yourself completely down onto his base. The scent of lotus oil mixes with the musky heat of the room as you set a demanding pace. <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" ""You're so warm inside, priestess..."" "left">> His breathing turns ragged as the pleasure mounts, his chest heaving under the slick sheen of the water. He groans loudly, his hips snapping forward with sudden desperation to drive himself deeper into your core. The friction builds an intense tingling low in your belly, urging you to ride him faster. You watch his face twist with the overwhelming sensation, knowing he is rapidly approaching his release. Just as his thighs begin to tremble, you abruptly lift your hips to deny him the climax. You slide completely off his shaft, leaving him gasping for air. Stepping back into the shallow basin, you sink to your knees between his parted legs, the water lapping against your waist. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" ""The corruption must be swallowed directly. Do not move."" "right">> He grips the edge of the rim, his knuckles turning white as he struggles to obey your command. Leaning forward, you part your lips and press your tongue against the slick bead of moisture at his tip before taking his pulsing heat entirely into your mouth. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Draw the corruption out with your mouth." "UncleanEmbalmer_Sex2" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ Your tongue swirls around the swollen head, pressing firmly against the underside of his shaft to draw out the last vestiges of his tension. He groans, his fingers tangling roughly in your hair as he loses the remainder of his restraint. His hips buck forward, seeking the back of your throat. You do not pull away, but instead ride out the discomfort, allowing him to use your mouth to purge the heavy burden of his trade. <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Priestess... I cannot hold it...\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Give it to me,\" The words don't come out, your voice muffled by the cock in your mouth. " "right">>\ With a final thrust, his body goes rigid. He spills into you as you close your lips tightly around his base, dutifully swallowing the bitter ropes of his release. You milk every drop from him, making sure nothing remains unswallowed. When he finally leans back, you wipe your mouth with the back of your wet hand and rise gracefully from the water. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It is done. Your ka is cleansed.\"" "right">>\ The embalmer looks down at his own hands, his chest heaving. The exhausted energy that clung to him in the audience chamber has vanished entirely. He looks up at you with eyes full of absolute reverence. <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"I feel it. The rot is gone.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I am certain it is, embalmer.\" You smile coyly." "right">>\ He quickly dresses himself in his frayed kilt. Reaching into his satchel, he pulls out a wrapped block of pure natron salt and places it carefully on the dry limestone tiles. <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"A humble offering for the House of Osiris. You have given me a miracle today.\"" "left">>\ <<silently>> <<run setup.addResource("natron", 1)>> <<set $renown += 1>> <<set $hadSexWithEmbalmer to true>> <<set $virginityLost to true>> <</silently>>\ <<run setup.notify("Renown has increased by 1.", "positive")>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ You discard your linen, letting the garment pool on the limestone floor. Stepping down to the shallow ledge of the basin, you gesture for the embalmer to wade fully into the water. He sits down on the stones, submerging himself from the waist down, and the caustic scent of his trade immediately clouds the pristine. You sit on the wet stone rim. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The rot of your labor clings tightly to you. To touch it with my hands would only spread the corruption. I must draw it out through the lowest point of connection.\"" "right">>\ Extending your legs beneath the warm surface, you let the water magnify your movements. Your toes brush against his thigh and slide upward until your soles press firmly against his swollen shaft. He inhales sharply, his knuckles turning white as he grips the edge of the basin. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"My feet walk the sacred floors of Osiris. Let the holiness they carry crush the taint within your seed.\"" "right">>\ You establish a churning rhythm beneath the water, curling your toes around his cock. The natural resistance of the bathwater makes every downward stroke agonizingly deliberate. He groans aloud, his head falling back as the friction mounts against his sensitive skin. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You feel the decay leaving you, do you not?\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Yes, priestess... it feels very good.\"" "left">>\ His hips buck upward to meet the pressure of your soles. His breathing turns increasingly ragged as his tension peaks, and you can feel the frantic throb of his pulse vibrating against your arches. Sensing his absolute limit, you press your feet tightly together to trap his tip. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Purge it. Cum in the water for me.\"" "right">>\ His body goes entirely rigid. With a guttural cry, he spills his release beneath the surface. Cloudy strands of his seed bloom through the bathwater, tangling briefly around your ankles before slowly dissolving into the warmth. Tahira should be cleaning this up, and she will know better than to ask questions. You maintain the firm pressure until his final shudder subsides, and then you gracefully withdraw your legs from the basin. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It is done. The water has taken your rot.\"" "right">>\ The embalmer slumps against the side of the tub, thoroughly exhausted but visibly relieved. The heavy exhaustion that dragged him down in the audience chamber is completely gone. He dresses himself in his frayed kilt with trembling hands. <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"I am purified. I cannot thank you enough for this mercy.\"" "left">>\ Reaching into his satchel, he retrieves a wrapped block of pure natron salt and places it carefully on the dry tiles. <<silently>> <<run setup.addResource("natron", 1)>> <<set $renown += 1>> <</silently>>\ <<run setup.notify("Renown has increased by 1.", "positive")>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ You discard your linen, letting it fall onto the limestone floor, but you do not step into the basin. When the embalmer moves toward the water, you raise your hand to stop him. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Do not enter the bath. The stagnant water will only dilute your taint. To wash away the profound touch of death, you require the direct application of living waters.\"" "right">>\ He blinks in confusion, his fatigue slowing his comprehension. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Lie down flat on the tiles. Face the ceiling.\"" "right">>\ He obeys without question, stretching his pallid frame across the hard stone. The harsh scent of the mortuary radiates from his skin, and his cuticles are caked with white dust. You step directly over him, positioning yourself so that you straddle his chest. You lower your stance slightly and release your bladder. A steady, scalding stream of your urine hits his chest and splashes upward against his neck. The embalmer gasps aloud as the sudden heat makes contact. He forces himself to remain still, and you watch with dark fascination as your golden waters wash away the crusted natron salt from his collarbones, pooling in the hollows of his throat and spilling onto the floor. The sheer degradation of the act sends a violent jolt of electricity straight to your core. Dominating a servant of Amun in such a visceral manner sparks an intense, heavy ache between your thighs. Your breath hitches as you finish emptying yourself. You step back, your own entrance dripping with sudden arousal. Looking down, you notice the embalmer is equally affected. His chest heaves, slick with your fluids, and his manhood has sprung into a rigid, throbbing erection.. He is visibly embarrassed by his bodily reaction, trying to avert his gaze. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Do not hide your face. I can see how eagerly your flesh responds.\"" "right">>\ You sink to your knees on the wet limestone right beside him. You let your fingers trace the outline of his swollen shaft, feeling the frantic pulse jumping beneath his skin. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I would love nothing more than to mount you right now.\"" "right">>\ <<if not $virginityLost>>\ The urge to discard your maidenhood on this wet floor is nearly overwhelming, an intoxicating temptation to fully surrender to the taboo. <<else>>\ You ache to sink down and sheath his rigid length immediately, eager to feel him stretch your walls. <</if>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"But I lack the time for such deep entanglements today. We'll have to do this a quicker way.\"" "right">>\ You part your own thighs, exposing your slick folds to his view, and press two fingers directly against your clit. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Wrap your hand around your cock and stroke it. We'll release together.\"" "right">>\ The embalmer groans. He obeys instantly, his calloused hand gripping his shaft in a frantic pace. You match his rhythm, rubbing yourself in circles. The sight of him masturbating while covered in your piss pushes you rapidly toward the edge. The air in the bathroom grows thick with the musky scent of arousal and the sharp tang of your fluids. <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Priestess... it is too much... I am going to...\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Do it. Spill your seed as I finish.\"" "right">>\ You slide a finger inside your entrance and bear down on your clit with ruthless pressure. A sharp cry escapes your lips as the climax hits you, sending violent shudders down your legs. Seeing your release shatters his final barrier. The embalmer arches his back with a guttural shout, his hand pumping furiously as he shoots thick ropes of seed across his own stomach and into the puddle on the floor. He collapses against the tiles, his chest heaving rapidly as he gasps for air. The manic tension has completely vanished from his frame. You slowly rise to your feet, your legs trembling slightly, and offer him a linen cloth from a nearby stool. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Wash the remainder off in the basin. You are clean now.\"" "right">>\ The embalmer wipes his face and slowly stands. He looks completely transformed, the exhaustion replaced by flushed vitality. He retrieves his frayed kilt and dresses with quiet reverence. <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"I have never experienced such a miracle...\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I am certain you haven't, embalmer.\" You smile coyly." "right">>\ He reaches into his satchel, withdrawing a wrapped block of pure natron salt, and sets it respectfully on a dry table. <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"A humble offering for your unmatched mercy, High Priestess.\"" "left">>\ <<silently>> <<run setup.addResource("natron", 1)>> <<set $renown += 1>> <</silently>>\ <<run setup.notify("Renown has increased by 1.", "positive")>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ You discard your linen, letting the pristine fabric pool on the limestone tiles. When the embalmer steps toward the basin to wash, you raise your hand and command him to stop. He halts instantly, his pallid skin catching the dim light of the bathhouse. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The natron dust is only the surface. The corruption of the dead has settled deep within your organs. To be truly purged, you must release your waters directly onto a holy vessel.\"" "right">>\ He stares at you, his mind struggling to grasp the profane nature of your instruction. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Do not hesitate. Relieve yourself. Cover me in your piss so the gods may purify you.\"" "right">>\ He swallows hard, deeply scandalized, but the spiritual authority of a High Priestess overrides his shame. He steps closer, his hands trembling as he grips his flaccid manhood, and finally releases his bladder. His physical reserve is staggering. A heavy, scalding stream of golden water strikes your stomach, splashing hotly against your thighs. He lets out a long, ragged exhale of absolute relief, having clearly held the immense volume for hours while waiting in the temple courtyard. The sheer degradation of being marked by a mortuary worker sends a violent pulse of arousal straight to your core. You spread your legs slightly, your breathing growing shallow as you press two fingers to your slick folds. <<if not $virginityLost>>\ You are still an untouched maiden, and the prospect of initiating yourself into the rites of the flesh through such absolute, filthy degradation makes your heart hammer wildly against your ribs. <<else>>\ The sheer profanity of offering your experienced body to be soiled by a tainted man fills you with intoxicating heat. <</if>>\ As the incredible torrent continues, you notice a distinct shift in his anatomy. The visceral sight of the Priestess touching herself beneath his stream causes his manhood to swell, hardening rapidly within his grip. You reach out without breaking eye contact, wrapping your wet hand around his rigid shaft to take over. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Yes... empty everything onto me.\"" "right">>\ You guide his aim, dragging the hot stream across your collarbones and over your breasts while your other hand works your clit in a frantic rhythm. He groans aloud, his hips thrusting blindly into your palm. The golden shower eventually sputters and dies, but his arousal remains at its absolute peak. You do not let go. You begin to stroke him with ruthless speed, using his residual moisture as lubricant. Your own climax crashes over you first. A sharp cry escapes your lips as you bear down on your own flesh, your legs trembling violently as you ride out the intense spasms. He soon follows. The embalmer arches his back with a guttural shout. His hips jerk forward as he shoots thick ropes of seed directly across your face. The warm, bitter fluid splatters your cheeks and chin, dripping slowly down your neck. You wipe your eyes with the back of your wrist, panting softly as you look up at him. He slumps against the stone wall, his chest heaving as he catches his breath. The crushing exhaustion that dragged him down in the audience chamber has vanished entirely. <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"I feel it. The rot is gone.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I am certain it is, embalmer.\" You smile coyly." "right">>\ He quickly dresses himself in his frayed kilt, his eyes filled with profound reverence. Reaching into his satchel, he pulls out a wrapped block of pure natron salt and places it carefully on the dry table. <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"I am empty, yet I have never felt so clean. Thank you, High Priestess.\"" "left">>\ <<silently>> <<run setup.addResource("natron", 1)>> <<set $renown += 1>> <</silently>>\ <<run setup.notify("Renown has increased by 1.", "positive")>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Bathroom</h1>\ You discard your linen, allowing the pristine fabric to pool on the limestone floor. Gesturing toward the shallow basin, you instruct the embalmer to step into the warm water. He wades in, his exhaustion evident in the heavy slump of his shoulders. Taking a block of perfumed soap and a vial of oil, you join him in the bath. You do not use a cloth; instead, you apply the lather directly with your bare hands. You scrub his chest and arms with meticulous pressure, washing away the stubborn dust and the clinging stench of the mortuary tents. He closes his eyes, exhaling a long breath as the water soothes his overworked muscles. Your hands slide lower, tracing the rigid lines of his stomach before slipping beneath the waterline. As your fingers brush against his groin, his manhood begins to stir, swelling rapidly under your attentive touch. You wrap your palm firmly around his shaft, using the slick mixture of soap and oil to establish a smooth, gliding rhythm. <<if not $virginityLost>>\ Though you remain an untouched maiden, your hands hold the absolute authority of the high altar. The act of coaxing a tainted worker's seed into your pure palms is a profound degradation, and the forbidden nature of the cleansing makes your pulse hammer in your throat. <<else>>\ You apply the familiar pressure of your grip, knowing exactly how to command the flesh and draw the tension outward. <</if>>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"It would seem that you are gathering some tension.\"" "right">>\ He groans, his hips twitching forward instinctively to meet your strokes. The rhythmic slosh of the bathwater echoes loudly in the secluded room. You tighten your grip around his base, dragging your thumb across the sensitive tip with each upward motion. <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Priestess... your touch... it is burning the rot away...\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"Give it to me, embalmer.\"" "right">>\ You increase your pace, stroking him with ruthless efficiency. His breathing turns ragged and desperate. He grips the edge of the basin, his knuckles stark white against the stone. With a sudden shout, his body goes entirely rigid. He thrusts into your fist, spilling thick ropes of seed over your fingers and into the bathwater. The cloudy fluid dissipates slowly beneath the surface. You maintain a gentle, grounding pressure on his softening flesh until his violent shudders finally subside. Releasing him, you calmly rinse your soiled hands in the basin. <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"I feel it. The rot is gone.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"I am certain it is, embalmer.\" You smile coyly." "right">>\ The embalmer steps out of the water, his chest heaving, and dries himself. The pallid exhaustion has vanished from his features, replaced by a resonant calm. He retrieves his frayed kilt and dresses with quiet reverence. <<dialogue "Embalmer" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"I am purified. I cannot thank you enough for this mercy.\"" "left">>\ Reaching into his satchel, he withdraws a wrapped blocs of pure natron salt, placing it carefully on the dry tiles. <<silently>> <<run setup.addResource("natron", 1)>> <<set $renown += 1>> <</silently>>\ <<run setup.notify("Renown has increased by 1.", "positive")>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<<silently>> /* Randomly select which book he brings today */ <<set _bookRoll to random(1, 2)>> <</silently>>\ <<if _bookRoll == 1>>\ <<include "PatientScribeDebate">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "PatientScribeSatire">>\ <</if>>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ The next petitioner is not a laborer or a merchant, but a young scribe with ink-stained fingers. He is practically vibrating with nervous excitement, clutching a tightly rolled papyrus against his chest. <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Priestess! I am eternally grateful for this audience. I have spent yesterday copying 'The Satire of the Trades', and I find myself completely deadlocked on its implications! I need the perspective of a servant of the gods.\"" "left">>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You came to the Audience Room to discuss classical literature?\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"It is not merely literature, Priestess! It is a profound meditation on the hierarchy of society! The text exalts the scribe above all other professions, painting the baker, the smith, and the farmer and all others as miserable wretches suffering under the lash. Is it a divine truth that the pen elevates a man above physical toil, or is it merely the arrogance of the literate?\"" "left">>\ He is looking at you with the desperate hunger of a scholar who hasn't spoken to an intellectual equal in months. You have already committed the time to seeing him; you might as well entertain his debate. The Satire of the Trades, or The Instruction of Duau Khety, is a classical piece of Egyptian wisdom literature dating back to approximately 850 years ago. In this text, a father travels to enroll his son in school, delivering a persuasive and cynical speech that describes the intense physical hardship of manual labor to convince his son that only the scribal profession is free from such misery. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Argue that the scribe is supreme because ration triumphs over the body." "PatientScribeDebate_Satire_Scribe" 45 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Argue that the text is arrogant; emotions and physical work lend you an intelligence of their own." "PatientScribeDebate_Satire_Labor" 45 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ <<action "Dismiss his philosophical musings as irrelevant." "PatientScribeDebate_Satire_Refuse" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The text shows a necessary detachment. The craftsman is bound to physical reality; his fields are the timber, his plough the metal. His body breaks for his work so that he may earn his existence. The scribe, however, operates within a realm of pure abstraction. You deal in ledgers, the workings of the mind, and rational arithmetic, entirely removed from the physical consequences of existence.\"" "right">>\ The scribe's eyes light up. He unrolls a section of the papyrus, pointing triumphantly at a column of hieroglyphs. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"A laborer's toil is finite, but the intellect is eternal. The text explicitly asserts that a day in the school chamber is more useful for youth than an eternity of its toil. The supremacy of the scribe stems from this distance from actual life.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Exactly! It is the triumph of mind over brute force. As the text concludes, there is no profession free of directors, except the scribe - he *is* the director.\"" "left">>\ For the next hour and a half, the two of you dissect the text line by line. It is a rigorous, exhausting, but deeply stimulating conversation regarding the supremacy of abstract thought over physical exertion. By the time he finally rolls up his papyrus, your mind feels remarkably sharper. <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Priestess, you have illuminated this text for me with absolute clarity. The temple is truly blessed to have your wisdom.\"" "left">>\ <<if $library.satireOwned is false>>\ <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"It would be my honor if you were to keep this copy within your temple's library.\"" "left">>\ <</if>>\ <<silently>> <<set _mindReward to random(10, 15)>> <<run setup.gainXP("mind", _mindReward)>> <<set $renown += 1>> <<if $library.satireOwned is false>> <<set $library.satireOwned to true>> <<run setup.notify("Received 'The Satire of the Trades'.", "positive")>> <</if>> <</silently>>\ <<run setup.notify("Renown has increased by 1.", "positive")>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The text is an exercise in academic detachment and profound arrogance. By removing themselves from physical toll, scribes lose touch with the reality of life. Laborers toil with their bodies; they are governed by emotion, intuition, and physical instincts. They possess a grounded, experiential intelligence that cannot be taught in the House of Life.\"" "right">>\ The scribe stops, blinking in surprise. He looks down at the text, reading it over silently before looking back at you. <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"The author mocks the field labourer, noting his fingers turned into sores, from carrying overloads of produce. He dismisses the trader by stating he reaches his home in the evening, and the travelling has broken him in two. Yet, it is this exact physical suffering that grounds a man in reality. The scribe may be the director of his own actions, but he is entirely dependent on the physical intelligence and honest labor of those he directs.\"" "right">>\ <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"I... I had not considered it so critically. The text reads as a glorification, but you expose it as a lack of empathy for the foundational labor of the Two Lands.\"" "left">>\ The debate that follows over the next hour and a half is deeply sociological, exploring the vital balance between abstract ration and practical, bodily intuition. By the time he finally rolls up his papyrus, your mind feels remarkably sharper. <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"Priestess, you have illuminated this text for me in ways my masters never could. The temple is truly blessed to have your wisdom.\"" "left">>\ <<if $library.satireOwned is false>>\ <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"It would be my honor if you were to keep this copy within your temple's library.\"" "left">>\ <</if>>\ <<silently>> <<set _mindReward to random(10, 15)>> <<run setup.gainXP("mind", _mindReward)>> <<set $renown += 1>> <<if $library.satireOwned is false>> <<set $library.satireOwned to true>> <<run setup.notify("Received 'The Satire of the Trades'.", "positive")>> <</if>> <</silently>>\ <<run setup.notify("Renown has increased by 1.", "positive")>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <h1>Audience Room</h1>\ <<dialogue "$characterName" "img/Priestess.jpg" "\"You occupy the temple's time with idle scholarly debates while there are citizens starving in the streets. Whether the scribe is superior to the baker matters little when both are subjected to the same physical realities of existence. My concerns are with the practical administration of this temple, not your theoretical exercises.\"" "right">>\ The scribe physically recoils, his enthusiasm instantly evaporating. He rolls his papyrus up tightly, his face flushed. <<dialogue "Scribe" "img/placeholder.jpg" "\"I apologize, Priestess. I believed the temple was a place for rigorous theological and philosophical reflection. I will not consume any more of your time.\"" "left">>\ He bows stiffly and hurries out. You saved your time, though the interaction leaves a slightly sour taste in the air. <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Return to Audience Room" "Audience Room" 0 _hk "openAudienceDocketDialog">><<set _hk++>>\ </div>

<div class="textbox">\ <div class="ancient-scroll"> <div class="scroll-edge-top"></div>\ <div class="scroll-edge-bottom"></div>\ <div class="papyrus-fibers"></div>\ <div class="ancient-text">\ SATIRE OF THE TRADES <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ Beginning of the teaching made by the man of Tjaru called Duau Khety for his son called Pepy. It was while he was sailing south to the Residence to place him in the writing school among the children of officials, of the foremost of the Residence. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ He said to him: I have seen violent beatings: so direct your heart to writing. I have witnessed a man seized for his labour. Look, nothing excels writing. It is like a loyal man. Read for yourself the end of the Compilation and you can find this phrase in it saying 'The scribe, whatever his place at the Residence, He cannot be poor in it'. He accomplishes the wish of another when he is not succeeding. I do not see a profession like it that you could say that phrase for, so I would have you love writing more than your mother and have you recognise its beauty. For it is greater than any profession, there is none like it on earth. He has just begun growing, and is just a child, when people will greet him already. He will be sent to carry out a mission, and before he returns, he is clothed in linen like an adult man. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ I do not see a sculptor on a mission or a goldsmith on the task of being despatched, but I see the coppersmith at his toil at the mouth of his furnace, his fingers like crocodile skin, his stench worse than fish eggs. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ Any craftsman using a chisel is more exhausted than a labourer. His fields are the timber, his plough the metal. No nightfall rescues him, when he has done in excess of his arms in production; In night he has to kindle a light. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ The jeweller drills in bead-making using all of the hardest hard stones. When he has completed the inlays, his arms are destroyed by his exhaustion. He sits at the food of Ra with his knees and back hunched double. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ The barber shaves into the end of the evening continually at the call, continually on his elbow, pushing himself continually from street to street looking for people to shave. He does violence to his arms to fill his belly, like bees that eat at their toil. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ The reedcutter sails north to the marshes to take for himself the shafts. When he has exceeded the power of his arms in action, When the mosquitoes have slaughtered him and the gnats have cut him down too, then he is broken in two. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ The small potter is under his earth even when he is stood among the living. He is muddier with clay than swine to burn under his earth. His clothes are solid as a block and his headcloth is rags, until the air enters his nose coming from his furnace direct. When he has made the pestle out of his legs, the pounding is done with himself, smearing the fences of every house, and beaten by his streets. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ Let me tell you what it is like to be a bricklayer, the bitterness of the taste. He has to exist outside in the wind, building in his kilt, his robes a cord from the weaving-house stretching round to his back. His arms are destroyed by hard labour. mixed in with all his filth. He eats the bread with his fingers though he can only wash the once. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ For the carpenter with his chisel life is utterly vile, covering the roof in a chamber, measuring ten cubits by six, to cover the roof in a month after laying the boards with cord of the weaving-house. All the work on it is done, but the food given for it couldn't stretch to his children. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ The gardener has to carry a rod and all his shoulder bones age, and there is a great blister on his neck, oozing puss. He spends his morning drenching leeks, his evening in the mire. He has spent over a day, after his belly is feeling bad. So it happens that he rests dead to his name, aged more than any other profession. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ The field labourer complains eternally, his voice rises higher than the birds, with his fingers turned into sores, from carrying overloads of produce. He is too exhausted to report for marsh work, and has to exist in rags. His health is the health on new lands; sickness is his reward. His state work there is whatever they have forgotten. If he can ever escape from there, he reaches his home in utter poverty, downtrodden too much to walk. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ The mat-weaver lives inside the weaving-house, he is worse off than a woman, with his knees up to his stomach, unable to breathe in any air. If he wastes any daytime not weaving, he is beaten with 50 lashes. He has to give a sum to the doorkeeper to be allowed to go out to the light of day. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ The weapon-maker is denigrated utterly going out to the hill-land. What he give to his ass is greater than the work that results, and great is his gift to the man in the country who puts him on the track. He reaches his home in the evening, and the travelling has broken him in two. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ The trader goes out to the hill-land after bequeathing his goods to his children, fearful of lions and Asiatics. He recognises himself again, when he is in Egypt. He reaches his home in the evening, and the travelling has broken him in two. His house is of cloth for bricks, without experiencing any pleasure. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ The leatherworker, his fingers are rotted, the smell of them is as corpses, and his eyes are wasted by the mass of flame. He can never be rid of this, spending his day cut by the reed; his own clothing is his horror. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ The sandalmaker is utterly the worst off with his stocks of more than oil. His health is health as corpses, as he bites into his skins. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ The washerman does the laundry on the shore neighbour to the crocodiles. 'Father is going to the water of the canal', he says to his son and his daughter. Is this not a profession to be glad for, more choice than any other profession? The food is mixed with places of filth, and there is no pure limb on him. He puts on the clothing of a woman who was in her menstruation. Weep for him, spending the day with the washing-rod, with the cleaning-stone upon him. He is told 'dirty washbowl, come here, the fringes are still to be done!' <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ The bird-catcher is the most utterly miserable looking out for the keepers of the sky. If the bird swarm passes over him, he is left saying 'I wish I had the net'. The god would not allow it to happen by him; he is made miserable by his condition. Let me tell you what the life of the bird-catcher is like, he is more miserable than any other profession. His toil is on the river, mixed in with the crocodiles. When the collection of his dues takes place, then he is always in lament. He can never be told 'there are crocodiles surfacing': his fear has blinded him. If he goes out, it is on the water of the canal, he is as at a miracle. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ Look, there is no profession free of directors, except the scribe - he *is* the director. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ If, though, you know how to write that is better life for you than these professions I show you; protector of the worker, or his wretch the worker. The field labourer of a man cannot say to him 'do not watch over me'. Look, the trouble of sailing south to the Residence, look, it is trouble for love of you. A day in the school chamber is more useful for youth an an eternity of its toil in the mountains. It is the fast way, I show you. Or should I inspire desire for being woken at dawn to be bruised? <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ Let me tell you in another manner how to rise at being fought. Give witness before those hearing the case; and make a reply to him with due pause. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ If you are walking behind officials do not come too close in good bearing. If you enter when the lord of the house is at home, and his arms are extended to another before you, You are to be seated with your hand on your mouth. Do not request anything beside him, but react to him when addressed, and avoid joining the table. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ Be serious with anyone greater in dignity. Do not speak matters of secrecy, for the secretive is the one who can shield himself. Do not speak matters of boasting, but take your seat with the reliable. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ If an official sends you on a mission say it exactly as he says it, without omission, without adding to it. Whoever leaves out the declamation, his name shall not endure, but whoever completes with all his talent, nothing will be kept back from him, he will not be parted from all his places. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ Do not tell lies against a mother - that is the extreme for the officials. If it has happened, his arms are mustered, and the heart has made him weak, do not add to it with meekness. That is worse for the belly, when you have heard. If bread satisfies you, and drinking two jars of beer, there is no limit for the belly one would fight for; if another is satisfied standing up, avoid joining the table. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ Look, you send out the throng, you hear the words of officials, Behave then like the children of important people, when you are going to collect them. The scribe is the one seen hearing cases; Would fighters be the ones to hear? Fight words that are contrary; move fast when you are proceeding - your heart should never trust. Keep to the paths for it: the friends of a man are your troops. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ Look - Abundance is on the path of the god and Abundance is written on his shoulder on the day of his birth. He reaches the palace portal, and that court of officials is the one allotting people to him. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ Look, no scribe will ever be lacking in food or the things of the House of the King, may he live, prosper and be well! Meskhenet is the prosperity of the scribe, the one placed before the court of officials. Thank god for the father, and for your mother, you who are placed on the path of the living. See what I have set out before you, and for the children of your children. <div class="ancient-break"></div>\ This was copied from start to finish as found in writing. </div>\ </div>\ <<if not $library.satireRead>>\ <<notify "You contemplate the harsh reality of the trades. You gained +1 Resilience." "success">> <<silently>> <<set $library.satireRead to true>> <<set $resilience += 1>> <</silently>>\ <<else>>\ <<notify "You revisit the bitter lessons of the scribe Duau Khety." "neutral">> <</if>>\ <<set _hk to 1>>\ <<action "Roll up the papyrus" "Library" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Minmose</h1>\ <div style="margin: 1.5em 0; padding-top: 1em; border-top: 1px solid #444;"> <<set _hk to 1>> /* Fetch Minmose's data */ <<set _minmose to setup.getWorkerByName("Minmose")>> /* 1. SLEEP CHECK (22:00 - 06:00) */ <<if $hour >= 22 or $hour < 6>> <div class="disabled-action"><em>It is late; Minmose has retired to his quarters to sleep.</em></div> <br> <<action "Return to the Atrium" "Atrium" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> /* 2. BUSY CHECK */ <<elseif setup.isWorkerBusy("Minmose")>> <div class="disabled-action"><em>Minmose is currently occupied with his tasks for the temple.</em></div> <br> <<action "Leave him to his work" "Atrium" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> /* 3. AVAILABLE (Barebones) */ <<else>> /* Gaming Interaction */ <<action "Play a game of Twenty Squares" "MinmoseTwentySquares" 60 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <br> <<action "Return to the Atrium" "Atrium" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> <</if>> </div> </div>

<div class="textbox"> You challenge Minmose to a best-of-twelve set of Twenty Squares. He accepts with a respectful nod, his expression focused and serious as he sets up the board. <<set _roll to random(1, 5)>> <<if _roll == 1>> You completely crush him. He accepts the defeat with a stoic nod, though his eyes linger on the board as if analyzing where his strategy failed. <<elseif _roll == 2>> You narrowly win the set. The game is quiet and tactical, but a calculated move in the final round secures your victory. He offers a brief, appreciative nod. <<elseif _roll == 3>> It's a draw. The match is perfectly balanced, and you both spend the final moments silently resetting the pieces, the air between you relaxed and steady. <<elseif _roll == 4>> He narrowly wins. His tactical patience pays off in the final stretch. He clears the board methodically, his demeanor as composed as it was when you started. <<else>> He completely crushes you. His approach is logical and unyielding, effectively trapping your pieces until you have no moves left. He doesn't boast, simply waiting for you to concede the match. <</if>> <div style="font-family: 'Cinzel', serif; border: 1px solid #c19a6b; border-radius: 5px; padding: 20px; width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 15px 0; text-align: center; color: #e6b85c; font-weight: 900; font-size: 18px; background: rgba(13, 7, 10, 0.7); box-shadow: 0 0 10px rgba(193, 154, 107, 0.1);"> The interaction path with Minmose is, as of yet, a stub. This game has not affected your relationship with him. </div> <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Return" "MinmoseDialogueHub" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Well of the Water Guild</h1> You stand before one of the city's main wells, a massive stone basin overseen by the powerful Water Guild. Unlike the muddy banks of the Nile, the water drawn here is deep, cool, and safe to drink. <<run /* Reset if the day has changed */ if (State.variables.lastDayDrawnWater !== State.variables.day) { State.variables.waterDrawnToday = 0; } >>\ <<if $waterDrawnToday >= 2>> You reach for the bucket again, but a nearby water-carrier crosses his thick, scarred arms, glaring at you suspiciously. You've taken your fair share of free water for today. You should probably come back tomorrow. <</if>> <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>> <<if $waterDrawnToday < 2>> <li><<action "Draw Water" "Draw Water Action" 15 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <</if>> <li><<action "Return to Thebes" "City" 10 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Well of the Water Guild</h1> You lower a clay jar into the deep well, feeling the heavy tug of the rope as it fills with clean water. Hauling it back up takes a bit of effort, your muscles straining against the weight of the stone basin. <<run /* 1. Calculate physical costs */ var vigorDrain = Math.floor(Math.random() * 3) + 1; var exhaustionDrain = Math.floor(Math.random() * 4) + 3; // Renamed to reflect drain /* 2. Apply stats (Subtracting both, since 100% is fully rested) */ setup.modifyNeed("vigor", -vigorDrain); setup.modifyNeed("exhaustion", -exhaustionDrain); /* 3. Update trackers - INCREMENTED CORRECTLY NOW */ State.variables.waterDrawnToday = (State.variables.waterDrawnToday || 0) + 1; State.variables.lastDayDrawnWater = State.variables.day; /* 4. Reward */ setup.addResource("water_potable", 2); /* 5. Save for text display */ State.variables.tempVigorDrain = vigorDrain; State.variables.tempExhaustionDrain = exhaustionDrain; // Saved as Drain >>\ You have successfully drawn ''2 Potable Water''. The labor cost you ''$tempVigorDrain Vigor'' and left you with ''$tempExhaustionDrain additional Exhaustion''. <<if $waterDrawnToday >= 2>> You reach for the bucket again, but a nearby water-carrier crosses his thick, scarred arms, glaring at you suspiciously. You've taken your fair share of free water for today. You should probably come back tomorrow. <<else>> The water below looks refreshing, and the carriers seem too busy loading their donkeys to mind if you fill a few vessels. <</if>> <ul class="room-list"> <<set _hk to 1>> /* Only allow re-drawing if they haven't hit the limit yet */ <<if $waterDrawnToday < 2>> <li><<action "Draw Water" "Draw Water Action" 15 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> <</if>> <li><<action "Return to the City" "City" 10 _hk>><<set _hk++>></li> </ul> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Tahira</h1>\ <<dialogue "Tahira" "img/tahira_portrait.jpg" "\"If you just enjoy watching me bow, I can keep doing it! Look! ...Did I do it right? Please tell me I did it right.\"" "left">>\ <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Return" "TahiraDialogueHub" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Kemhotep</h1>\ <<dialogue "Kemhotep" "img/kemhotep.jpg" "\"If you have come to ask if the temple ledger has miraculously filled itself with gold and silver overnight, the answer is no.\"" "left">>\ <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Return" "KemhotepDialogueHub" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1>Minmose</h1>\ <<dialogue "Minmose" "img/minmose.jpg" "\"I left the grandest temple in Egypt for a crumbling ruin to find spiritual enlightenment, yet I spend my afternoons being poked repeatedly by my employer. Truly, the gods test my focus.\"" "left">>\ <<set _hk to 1>> <<action "Return" "MinmoseDialogueHub" 0 _hk>><<set _hk++>> </div>

<div class="textbox"> <h1 style="text-align: center;">SPELLCASTING</h1> <<nobr>> <div id="minigame-container" style="display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: flex-start; width: 100%; height: 100vh; background: transparent; padding-top: 10px;"> </div> <<script>> $(document).one(':passagedisplay', function() { window.safeMode = State.variables.reduceMotion; /* Initiate the minigame and define what happens upon completion */ setup.startMagicMinigame(function(isVictory) { /* Store the result in a Twine variable */ State.variables.spellSuccess = isVictory; /* If you want to award a buff based on success, add logic here */ if (isVictory) { State.variables.ritualArts += 1; } /* Transition the player to the evaluation passage */ Engine.play("Spell Evaluation"); }); }); <</script>> <</nobr>> </div>

<<nobr>> <div class="textbox" style="text-align: center;"> <div style="border: 2px solid #c23a22; background: rgba(194, 58, 34, 0.1); padding: 12px; border-radius: 8px; margin-bottom: 10px; display: inline-block; max-width: 650px;"> <h3 style="color: #c23a22; margin: 0 0 10px 0; letter-spacing: 1px;">⚠️ ACCESSIBILITY WARNING</h3> <div style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 10px;"> The minigames in this experience contain rapid flashing, screen shaking, and high-contrast particle effects. According to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), this content is <strong>not epilepsy-friendly</strong> and may trigger photosensitive seizures. </div> <div style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.3; color: #ffdeb3; opacity: 0.85; text-align: left; background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.25); padding: 10px; border-radius: 6px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <div style="margin-bottom: 6px;"> A very small percentage of people may experience a seizure when exposed to certain visual images, including flashing lights or patterns that may appear in video games. Even people who have no history of seizures or epilepsy may have an undiagnosed condition that can cause these “photosensitive epileptic seizures” while playing video games. </div> <div style="margin-bottom: 6px;"> <strong>Immediately stop playing and consult a doctor if you experience any symptoms.</strong> These seizures may have a variety of symptoms, including lightheadedness, altered vision, eye or face twitching, jerking or shaking of arms or legs, disorientation, confusion, or momentary loss of awareness. Seizures may also cause loss of consciousness or convulsions that can lead to injury from falling down or striking nearby objects. </div> <div> <strong>You may reduce risk of photosensitive epileptic seizures by taking the following precautions:</strong> <br>• Play in a well-lit room. <br>• Do not play if you are drowsy or fatigued. <br>• If you or any of your relatives have a history of seizures or epilepsy, consult a doctor before playing video games. </div> </div> <hr style="border-color: #c23a22; opacity: 0.3; margin: 8px 0;"> <label style="cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; color: #e6b85c; display: block; margin-top: 5px; font-size: 13px;"> <<checkbox "$reduceMotion" false true autocheck>> Disable flashing and shaking animations </label> </div> <div style="color: #e6b85c; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 15px;"> <strong>Note:</strong> Minigame accessibility can be toggled at any time from the Preferences menu in the Bedroom. </div> <<action "I understand and wish to proceed" "Intro" 0 1>> </div> <</nobr>>