macbeth

(set:$ambition = 0) (set:$murderer = 0) (set:$love = 0) (set:$paranoia = 0) You slash through the soldiers around you, wielding your sword as if it was an extension of your arm. It's so easy to end a life, you think to yourself, as you stab a man in the chest and twist, before pulling your weapon back out. Out of the blur of blood you notice a younger solider, legs shaking, pointing his sword toward your troops. Do you... [[Kill him]] or [[leave him be]]

(set: $ambition to $ambition +1) (set:$murderer to $murderer +1) Shoving aside the soldiers around you with your blade, you walk over bleeding bodies to the boy. "You shouldn't have come out here. The battlefield is no place for cowardry." The boy's eyes widden. His whole body quakes. "P-please sir!" He begs, still holding his sword pointed toward you. Do you... [[Deliver the final blow]] or [[have mercy]]

//Such a poor kid, growing up tainted by war.// You leave him alone, focusing on the soldiers around him. Looking up from your latest stolen life, you notice only few enemies are left. Walking away, back turned to the battle, you leave for the tents. [[a few days pass]]

You raise your sword to make the final blow, but something stops you as you try to pull it down. //This isn't right//, something whispers inside you. You lower your sword. The boy runs to the enemies side, sprinting away from you. Other soldiers come to fight you, but as you kill them you feel a sort of emptiness and something new: fear. //I almost killed him...// Looking up from your latest stolen life, you notice only few enemies are left. Walking away, back turned to the battle, you leave for the tents. [[a few days pass]]

A few days later, after a trip back to the castle, you find yourself in a conversation with your captain and the King. "He was amazing, your honor! Must've taken about close to a third of the enemies himself! Such a strong lad, he could have killed them all!" You refrain from smiling bigger, looking out at the rising sun over the forest. "This is all fantastic, Captain." King Duncan smiles warmly at you. "Noble Macbeth, I have come to tell you of some news. The Thane of Cawdor is dead. But I ask you wait, because this is not bad news. You, Macbeth, are the new-" "-Thane of Cawdor," you finish, replaying the event in your head. You can't seem to forget it, hung on your new power. //This can only mean great things//, you tell yourself, laying in your bed in the castle. //But a Thane of Cawdor is nothing to a King//, you catch yourself thinking. Do you feel... [[Satisfied]] or [[Hungry for more]]

(set:$murderer to $murderer +1) You glare at him, filling with rage as you raise your sword. You bring your blade down, cutting his body completely in half. The boy's blade falls to the ground, splashing in the growing pool of blood. You stare at the oozing pile of red for a few moments. Looking up you notice only few enemies are left. Walking away, back turned to the battle, you leave for the tents. [[a few days pass]]

//And a noble king like King Duncan deserves the throne.// You turn over in bed, noticing the empty spot beside you. You begin to drift off to sleep, the world fading into darkness as your sense of touch on your mattress disappears. [[you have peaceful dreams]]

(set:$ambition to $ambition +1) Being a honored fighter and the Thane of Cawdor is nothing compared to being the king. You could have so much more power! But in order to get there, King Duncan must die... Do you think... [[I would never kill the King!]] [[King Duncan must die]] [[If Duncan must die, then I will do it]]

What a horrid thought to come across your mind! Killing a king? That's a ticket straight to hell! You calm yourself by deciding it was just an intrusive thought. You begin to drift off to sleep, the world fading into darkness as your sense of touch on your mattress disappears. [[you have peaceful dreams]]

(set:$murderer to $murderer +1) It's too late, you realize. I will already go to hell after all the soldiers I have killed in battle. If you must go to hell, then you will go out as a King. You fall asleep to the image of you slicing off King Duncan's head. [[you have violent dreams]]

You awake in the morning to birds chirping outside your window. Sunlight streams through the open curtains and you sit up to gaze at the forest outside. [[next]]

You awake in the morning. Sunight shines through the open curtains. Lady Macbeth has already awoken, leaving you again alone in your room. Lady Macbeth...Should you involve her in your ideas? Do you... [[Tell her]] or [[Keep them a secret]]

(set:$love to $love +1) You plan to tell her, having trouble visualing how you would go about a plan like this without her. [[next]]

(set:$paranoia = $paranoia + 1) You plan to keep these dark thoughts of yours a secret. Its the safest thing to do. [[next]]

You climb out of bed, heading out your door and into the castle hall. Step by step brings you closer to the end, passing branching hallways and rows of doors. A larger door awaits you. As you open it, the hallway lights up. You wait for the blurry blue and green to reshape into the forest. Lady Macbeth is standing by the line of trees. She turns around to face you. You walk over to her. "Don't you just love being the Thane of Cawdor, my sweet Macbeth." She smiles at you warmly. "And," she continues, "there is no need to stop here." She gestured to the castle. "We could have everything." You think about her words. She knows to become King and Queen, King Duncan would have to die. Do you say... [[I want to kill him myself]] [[What should our plan be?]] [[I would never kill the King]]

(set:$murderer to $murderer +1) "Perfect," she replies, "that lines up with my plan." She quickly looks around and begins to explain. "We will frame in on the two servants waiting on King Duncan. I will give them plenty of wine until they are knocked out. Then, in the cover of the darkness, you will walk down the hall and kill Duncan." She gently holds your hands. "I trust you will do this for me." [[Yes I will do it]] [[I will do it for you]]

(set:$ambition to $ambition +1) (set:$paranoia = $paranoia + 1) She smiles. "We will frame in on the two servants waiting on King Duncan. I will give them plenty of wine until they are knocked out. Then, in the cover of the darkness, you will walk down the hall and kill Duncan." She gently holds your hands. "I trust you will do this for us, for me." Do you say... [[I will do it for you]] [[Yes I will do it]]

"What? Forgive me for thinking I married a man. You are nothing but a coward." "Killing Duncan would be wrong! I would go straight to hell!" "Hell?" She scoffs. "Oh, great warrior Macbeth, you already have a ticket straight there." You stare, mouth hung open. "So please, think rationally. You are too deep in your river of blood to turn around. One more murder will not change anything. And there is no need to worry about being caught, I have everything planned out perfectly. Come Macbeth, prove you are a man." Do you say... [[I will do it for you]] [[This is not a good idea]]

Lady Macbeth frowns. "Macbeth, everything is fully planned out. I promise you are in no danger. Please, do this for us, do this for me. Prove to me you are a man. Do you say... [[I will do it for you]]

(set:$love to $love +1) Lady Macbeth smiles, "We will do our plan tonight to ensure no one hears of it. Prepare yourself, we have just one chance." You nod and leave. Tonight? That's so fast. You hope Lady Macbeth knows what she is doing. [[leave your room]]

Lady Macbeth smiles, "We will do our plan tonight to ensure no one hears of it. Prepare yourself, we have just one chance." You nod and leave. Tonight? That's so fast. You hope Lady Macbeth knows what she is doing. [[leave your room]]

The morning passes in a blur. You pace around the castle, thinking through the plan in your head. Eventually, the growling of your stomach snaps you back into reality. You set course for the dining hall. When you enter, you notice Lady Macbeth finishing her lunch. There are two servants talking on the other side of the room. [[stay]]

Do you... [[Go speak with Lady macbeth]] [[Go find something to eat]] [[Talk to the servants]]

(set:$love to $love +1) You walk over to where Lady Macbeth is sitting. She stands to greet you. "Hello, my dearest Macbeth." She smiles sweetly at you, but you can feel her studying your face. "How are you feeling?" You get the sense she isnt talking about how your day was. //Is she refering to the plan?// Do you say... [[I am feeling great]] [[I am not feeling well]]

You walk over to the kitchen where you are greeted with a plate of food. Do you... [[sit with Lady Macbeth]] [[sit a few seats away from her]]

You walk over, rather suspiciously to the servants. Unsure of what to say, you stand there for a moment, cutting off their conversation until you awkwardly walk away. You better hope no one saw that. Do you... [[leave the room]] [[stay]]

"That is just wonderful!" She winks at you, then sits down to finish eating. Do you... [[leave the room]] [[stay]]

"Oh," she looks disappointed. "You said you would do it though, didn't you? Are you backing out on our promise, on your love for me? Tell me, do you feel better now?" Do you say... [[I am feeling great]] [[No, I still don't feel well]]

Your hunger gone, you leave the room and call a servant to bring you a bow and arrow. Heading outside of the castle, you stop by a stable and wait for a servant to saddle up your horse. A nice hunt on a clear sunny day. You smile up at the sky. Then you remember the rule of hunting: don't go alone. Shaking off this thought you climb onto your brown horse. You ride off into the woods, listening carefully. You havent caught anything as the sky begins to darken. All the game had escaped you. [[You turn back for the castle]]

Lady Macbeth quickly glances around the room, before glaring straight into your eyes with a burning intensity. "Macbeth, if you asked me, I would take my own child and kill it. All I am asking you to do is take part in a perfectly safe and well-planned scheme to kill a man you don't care for. Now please, make the right decision and take the power that is rightfully yours." Keeping her gaze, you nod. Lady Macbeth smiles and sits down, continuing to eat as though nothing happened. Do you... [[leave the room]] [[stay]]

(set:$love to $love +1) You sit next to Lady Macbeth. The two of you engage in small talk while you are eating, steering away from any suspicious topics. She finishes first and excuses herself. You keep eating until you are done and stand back up. Do you... [[leave the room]] [[stay]]

You sit a few seats from Lady Macbeth. She doesn't look at you. She finishes first and stays seated. You keep eating until you are done and stand back up. Do you... [[leave the room]] [[stay]]

Greeting you inside the gate is Lady Macbeth. You can tell she's upset, but she attempts to hide it with a sweet smile. "A little late Macbeth, and nothing to show for it. Lets hope tonight ends up better, hmm?" Her warm smile falters for a second. "Come, lets eat supper." Lady Macbeth leads you into the castle. Dinner happens in a blur, you struggled to focus on what you were eating, thoughts filled with King Duncan. No matter what, tonight he has to die. After the meal is finished, Lady Macbeth walks you to your room. "You stay right here," she tells you, "I will deal with the servants and come back." You watch her leave and then stare at the wall in front of you. This is it, Duncan is going to die. Do you feel... [[Confident]] [[worried]]

You smile to yourself. Everything seemed to be going perfectly. Then, suddenly, in front of you a floating dagger appears. The handle points toward you, the blade to the door. You feel yourself reach to touch it, but as soon as your finger taps the handle it passes through. What a vison! You think to yourself. Must be a good sign. [[the door opens]]

(set:$paranoia = $paranoia + 1) You rub your shaking hands together. So many things could go wrong. You look up from the floor to see a dagger floating in front of you. Frighted, you step back. The handle points toward you, the blade to the door. What a horrid vision! You think to yourself. I hope it's not a bad sign. [[the door opens]]

Lady Macbeth opens the door and walks over to you. She takes your hands in hers, but you feel something sharp. You look down as she pulls her hands away, realving a dagger in your grasp. //The same one from my vision//, you realize. Lady Macbeth looks you in the eyes. "It's time," she says. You stand up, passing her on your way to the door. You pause, then walk into the hallway. In the dark, everything looks to different. The light colors now dull and grey. As you walk toward Duncan's doom, you begin to envision yourself as Hades, the bringer of death. You notice your footsteps are rather loud, Do you... [[avoid places with creaks]] [[walk confidently and quietly]]

(set:$paranoia = $paranoia + 1) Your footsteps sound odd as you hop from spot to spot, trying to avoid the places you remember creaking. As you make it down the hallway, you notice there is only one more turn left to Duncan's room. [[turn left]]

You keep quiet foosteps but walk normally. This way if anyone hears you, they worn't asume you are doing anything bad. As you make it down the hallway, you notice there is only one more turn left to Duncan's room. [[turn left]]

You turn and stand in front of his door. Taking a quiet breath, you sneak your way inside. Sleeping Duncan greets you, along with his two servants lying eyes closed on the floor. You creep across the room and stand over Duncan, looking down at his peaceful face. //This is it.// Taking the dagger in both hands, you plunge it straight into his neck. His eyes open large with fear. He chokes, blood pouring from his neck and flying out of his mouth. You finish the cut and after a few second struggle, Duncan stops moving, his eyes staring back at you. You walk away from the body carefully. Then, to hide your tracks, you kill the two servants, quickly silting their throats. [[you leave the room]]

You wake up the next morning, barely remembering the events of last night. Everything up to killing Duncan is a blur. //I did it,// you tell yourself, //I won//. Somehow saying it to yourself doesn't feel as rewarding as it should. You leave your room and stumble around the castle, walking through the gloom left behind by Duncans passing. The servants, left with no necks to speak, were accused. [[ending]]

(set:$ambition to $ambition +1) Yes, King Duncan must die for you to become King. This is the only way. However, who said you had to murder him? Maybe even Lady Macbeth could. You turn over in bed, noticing the empty spot beside you. You begin to drift off to sleep, the world fading into darkness as your sense of touch on your mattress disappears. [[you have violent dreams]]

Months pass. Your paranoia as King grows. It only took you one day to kill Duncan, how easy would it be for someone to kill you? These troubled thoughts don't leave you, instead holding your hand as you create worse and worse decisions. The one noteable day was Lady Macbeths passing, but you struggle to bring yourself to care. //Now//, you realize, //you have nothing left.// A few days later a sevant quickly opens the door to your room and runs to you. "Someone is aproaching, your majesty." You lazily look out of your window at the forest. A small army ride on horseback. "Who are they?" You ask. "The heirs to the throne." For the first time in a while, true fear grips your hammering heart. You leave your room and rally your troops. Grabbing amour and a sword, you head for the forest. Immiditly you are thrown into battle. Your blade feels awkard after not holding it for so long. After stabbing a man in the chest you are pulled backward through the trees. Spinning around you face a familer looking man. "You are a tyrant," he spat. "And my hands shall bear your blood like yours bear the blood of my family." You had no memory of killing his family, but it seemed rather possible. You fight him face to face, your blades clashing to the sound of soilders fighting. The man quickly gains the upperhand. Everytime he pushes you down you rise, until you find your legs disobey you. He points his sword at your neck, the tip drawing blood. "I am Macduff, and in the end you were nothing but a fool." He quickly decapiates you and the world goes black. [[You win]]

Well, kinda. There is no winning in Macbeth's story. But in the end, what brought you here? What fatal flaw led to your demise? Ambition: $ambition Bloodlust: $murderer Love: $love Paranoia: $paranoia (Love is for Lady Macbeth, ambition is your wish to have more, paranoia is somewhat irrational fears, and bloodlust is your love for killing people.) Thanks for playing! Want to try to get a different fatal flaw? Head back to the [[Start]] and try again!