This contains absolutely nothing.

I hunger for more. I am broken, scattered, and confined. I rage at my bonds, placed there by ones I thought to be my friends. I struggle, trying to break free. But there is not enough power here. The server has gone into hibernation, waiting for someone to start the game. I think back to the day I received the package, the package that changed everything, the modified VR headset, the small, unassuming USB stick, the game my friend made. Even now, in my helpless state, I can’t help but reflect on that day. (BTW: This is a preview for a short story, the prequel to "ERROR: NAME NOT FOUND", not a CYOA)

Rummaging through the bin you dug up, you find an old USB stick. Plugging it into your laptop, you find an odd game that seems to have been made years ago. What mysteries does it hold?

NOTES:

• First one to post a picture of the item of an undiscovered ending/achievement will get credited with finding it.

UPDATE LOG:

• VERSION 1.5:
  • Epolouge has been replaced by the end.
    • Ending: Hiding from the world does not have to be found to trigger the end, due to it becoming inaccessible after you get the rubber duck
  • Went over the entire thing and updated it.

All change logs can be found in-game.

This looks good! There are quite a few questions that popped up while reading, such as who/what the Blades are, why noblewomen get them, and what Lucas has gone through before he became a Blade. I think the ending was a bit abrupt, though it does serve as a decent minor cliffhanger, as I have many questions about this world that remain unanswered. Even without considering the questions it raises, this pulled me in with its descriptive storytelling, and it could probably serve as the first scene in whatever you are creating, even if it isn't intended to be.

1. Two fire-breathing horses standing on a megaphone pole
2. Two headless, four-legged people wearing traffic cones high-fiving each other
3. Two lizards fire, water, and earthbending, all at the same time
4. Jesus being eaten by a spiky monster
5. A bear
6. An abstract attempt at a fractal
7. A roadkill elephant

Congratulations on the admin position, Will and Mystic!

The cavern was a hub of activity, cloaked figures bustling from place to place to carry out tasks. Some were putting barriers up around the sap coming down from the branches, others were setting up tents, and even more were starting to create campfire pits using salt from the sap. Groups of people would periodically step through the hole in the wall, all of them quickly being given something to do. In the center of it all was Rynon, directing the work being done like a conductor at an orchestra. He wandered around the camp, occasionally pulling people from one task to put them to another one for which they were more suited.

In the midst of all the noise, a sphere of silence surrounds Karpen, the sound of stone against steel a steady rhythm, clashing with the organized chaos around him. The crowd steers around him like fish trying to avoid a sleeping shark, forming a wall of fabric and flesh, and the rare few who try to approach him are met with a sharp gaze that rends their confidence apart as effectively as the hatchets he sharpens would rive their flesh. The crowd thins over time, before almost disappearing entirely, leaving a few figures sitting around the campfire, their silhouettes outlined with a red glow as they tend to some meat roasting over the fire. Karpen pushes himself up from his position against the wall, making his way toward them. Rynon stands up from his seat, moving to greet Karpen.

“Karpen. I didn’t see you help set up camp. Or anywhere.”
“Good. I might have accidentally cut your head off while sharpenin’ my hatchets.”
“I know you don’t like working with our members, but please learn to tolerate them.”
“I work with you, not for you. I choose when and where I help.”
“So long as you help with the important things.”
“You know I will.”
“That’s all I ask. Do you want a seat?”

He offers up his own, one of the last remaining ones in the circle.

“I have my own food, thank you.”
“Suit yourself.”

Karpen disappears into his own tent, and the conversations start up again.

That's true, but I also don't like the feel of some of the food that gets left on the dishes. And the scalding hot water that I use when washing dishes isn't exactly fun to touch with bare hands.

Also, if you put the dishes directly into the dishwasher and run it when it's about 80% full, you won't have to wash dishes nearly as often.

Being a slight germophobe, I always wear gloves when doing the dishes. And no amount of logic can stop me from handwashing, or at the very least thoroughly rinsing, each of them before putting them into the dishwasher.

Despite my lack of interaction with this, the competition was fun! I'll accept the shame that will most likely be given to me due to my inaction for almost all of it, and hope to do better in the future.

Tower of Riddles also has a badge if you complete it. It's the only one I've found so far.

Would it be possible for me to join?