A day in the life of Matt, a 20 something year old man whose mental faculties are so strained that they may snap at any moment.

{Edit 2023: So old now. My gnarled fingers can barely type this note. Ah, the roadblock reset nonsense I jammed into this story way back when. You'll probably find a lot of old stories that have those reset links. I went through and took them out - sorry it took 20 years. Now with Editor's Notes!}

[EDIT: 2014: I wrote this story to test the functionality of the basic editor, way back when I first joined in 2003. So take it for what it is. My humor runs toward the dark and the black, so you may not find it as amusing as I. At the time, I had been in my late 20's, living with the most irritating person in the entire world. So, so, so irritating. This story was a way for me to sublimate my understandable urges to kill her into a socially acceptable outlet. The parts of the story which are true include her complaining that the smell of bacon and the sight of grease was the same as "boiling animal fat and toxic fumes," all the while attempting to make subtle sexual advances and holding the fact that she was my landlord over my head. The situation ended badly, but not as badly as in the story.

Enjoy.]

v 1.0 Published story, 2003.

v 2.0 Updated some things, fixed a broken link, added a bit of content, probably created discrepancies.

The real question should be, "Where's the Walmart game?"

The writing wasn't as strong as it is now - I thought the same thing. The site was a lot different early on. Lots of quizzes.

That's messed up. I never knew that.

Really nice work.

ChatGPT 4, 37 seconds: 

Prompt: "Write me a choose your own adventure with dwarven berserkers and a strange rune"

---

**Title: The Rune of Fury**

*Your name is Brond Ironfist, a renowned dwarven berserker from the deep mountains of Thorgard. Your adventure begins in the heart of the Dwarven Kingdom, where a mysterious rune has been uncovered, causing chaos and unleashing unknown powers.*

---

**1. The Discovery**

You stand in the Great Hall of Thorgard, surrounded by stone walls etched with the history of your people. The King, with a troubled brow, presents you with an ancient, glowing rune. It pulsates with an eerie light.

"Do you recognize this, Brond Ironfist?" the King asks.

**If you choose to inspect the rune closely, go to 2.**

**If you choose to admit your ignorance about the rune, go to 3.**

---

**2. Inspecting the Rune**

You lean in to inspect the rune. Its glow is mesmerizing, and you feel a surge of power rushing through you.

**Roll a dice. If you roll an even number, go to 4. If you roll an odd number, go to 5.**

---

**3. Admitting Ignorance**

You shake your head. "I've never seen such a rune, my King."

The King nods, "Then we must consult the Oracle. She will know."

**Do you agree to visit the Oracle (go to 6), or do you suggest another course of action (go to 7)?**

---

**4. Overwhelmed by the Rune**

The power of the rune overwhelms you. You feel a rage building inside, a berserker's fury.

**Do you embrace the fury (go to 8) or fight to control it (go to 9)?**

---

**5. A Vision**

You suddenly have a vision of a dark cavern, filled with the same runes, glowing ominously.

**Do you decide to seek out this cavern (go to 10), or do you consult the King's advisors first (go to 11)?**

---

**6. Visiting the Oracle**

You and the King's guards set out to the Oracle, a journey through the perilous Frostbite Pass.

**Roll a dice. If you roll 1-3, you encounter a snow troll (go to 12). If you roll 4-6, you arrive safely (go to 13).**

---

**7. Another Course of Action**

You suggest gathering the wisest dwarves to study the rune.

The King agrees, and you spend days in deep discussion.

**Roll a dice. If even, you discover a clue (go to 14). If odd, you hit a dead end (go to 15).**

---

**8. Embracing the Fury**

You let the fury take over. You become a whirlwind of rage and power, but the rune's energy starts to consume you.

**Roll a dice. If even, you master the power (go to 16). If odd, you lose control (go to 17).**

---

**9. Fighting the Fury**

You clench your fists, fighting the overwhelming urge to succumb to rage.

**Roll a dice. If even, you succeed (go to 18). If odd, the fury wins (go to 19).**

---

**10. Seeking the Cavern**

You set out alone to find the mysterious cavern from your vision.

**Roll a dice. If 1-3, you get lost (go to 20). If 4-6, you find the cavern (go to 21).**

---

**11. Consulting the Advisors**

The King's advisors are stumped. They suggest consulting ancient texts in the Great Library.

**Do you go to the library (go to 22) or decide to search for the cavern anyway (go to 10)?**

---

*(Continue the story with more choices and dice rolls, leading Brond Ironfist through various challenges, discoveries, and confrontations.)*

---

This type of interactive story can be expanded with more choices and outcomes, creating a thrilling adventure for you to enjoy. Remember, your decisions shape the story of Brond Ironfist and the mystery of the Rune of Fury!

Drawing by ChatGPT 4 in 6 seconds...dragonlance style, muscular

Still crap. Good. Looking forward to 4.5.

Hemingway style - ChatGPT 4: 

---

In the deep woods, where old trees whispered and time seemed still, there was a place called the Arcane Nexus. Harry, a young man with wild hair and a serious face, stood there with his friends – Ron and Hermione.

Ron was a big fellow, good-natured but serious when it mattered. Hermione, with her sharp eyes, was smart and brave. They looked at the Nexus, a thing of mystery and danger, a swirl of untamed magic.

"Harry," Ron said. His voice was low. "This is no small thing."

Harry looked at the Nexus. His eyes were green like the deep forest. "We have to," he said. "It's about the magic."

Hermione, always thinking, spoke up. "If we don't, there'll be trouble. The magic's wild. It needs fixing."

Then Mizal came. She was like a shadow, quiet and knowing. Her eyes were blue and deep. "You're young," she said. "The Nexus isn't a game. It's wild, like the sea."

"We know," Harry said. His voice was steady. "But we have to try."

Mizal looked at them. There was a smile, almost. "Then know this. The Nexus will test you. It'll show you fear and weakness. Are you ready?"

They looked at each other, friends and more. They were ready. They had to be.

They moved closer. The Nexus hummed with power. The ground shook. The world felt strange, like a storm was coming.

Harry reached out. His hand was close to the Nexus. He could feel the power, wild and strong.

Then everything was light.

Hahahaha, this is awesome. "this added up to over 7 million points in undeserved - now incinerated - welfare."

Yeah, we cishets get a bad rap.

What's a "diverse" narrative? Like from people who moved between social classes or learned to tap dance with a frog on their head?