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All credit for the above image goes to Torqual3D. He's really outdone himself this time -- zoom in for a closer look, and drop by his page to compliment him if you feel like doing so!

CIARA NIGHTINGALE & THE TOMB OF DOOM -- Choose Your Own Adventure Story, with Rewards & Achievements!

Greetings to all!

The product of over a year’s worth of collaboration, brainstorming, editing, beta-testing, and re-editing, I am pleased to present a thrilling and horrific Choose-Your-Own Adventure story:

writer.inklestudios.com/storie…

(The link will take you to an external site, Inklewriter, where you can play through the adventure)

Take on the mantle of the stunning Ciara Nightingale, the black-haired archaeologist (character of the talented ), as she explores an enigmatic and deadly tower, populated with all manner of monsters and traps lying in wait for her. Guide Ciara around them – or straight through them! – as she tries to uncover the answer to a mystery that’s been nagging her for some time. Not to mention simply trying to survive!

Given this locale, the dangers are more acute, the mood darker, and the stakes higher than any of the Amanda Jones Student Sleuth stories, and probably even greater than most of the Summer Sleuth or college hijinks adventures. So while I have not tried to include any “gotcha” endings, and have tried to include clues where possible about the way(s) to succeed at a given task, bear in mind that this is an isolated, labyrinthine, murderous, horrific place! Sometimes plans which might otherwise be advisable will go south due to current circumstances, and occasionally simple bad luck is a factor. Ciara is totally on her own here, and many of the traps and dungeon denizens won’t hold back.

While I’d be ecstatic if you try to explore every option and read everything, please don’t feel compelled to do so – the story, with all its pathways, totals about 65,000 words in all! There are also “randomizer” factors which lead to hidden rooms and dangers, which readers may not come across in a single course of play. The whole idea is to encourage replayability; some of the paths are mutually exclusive, and unless you stumble across a hidden area opened up by a randomizer, you might never know it was there.

So, in short, don’t be alarmed if you run into a seemingly pointless choice that has no payoff. I assure you, it will – though maybe not during this particular playthrough.

And for frustrated completionists, if you absolutely have to have a guide to seeing all the content, send me a note and I may have mercy on you .

And of course, if anyone discovers a bug or other problem, let me know and I’ll edit straightaway.

REWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS

So what’s this about “Rewards and Achievements,” you ask? Well…

There’s nothing we writers enjoy so much as substantial enjoyment of, feedback on, and conversation about our work, so we want to encourage as much of it as possible. This is our way of doing so. For those of you who play through different portions of the adventure – and can prove it – you will be rewarded!

Top Tier

I will write an approximately 1,000-word story including Ciara Nightingale and your avatar or OC (subject to discretion). Alternatively, I will write an encounter, puzzle, or monster of your devising into either the Tomb of Doom or a future lair of horrors that Ciara or Amanda Jones will explore.

Top Tier rewards will be awarded for:

    -          The first person to post a comment to this deviation quoting the last line of a song Ciara remembers and hums to herself during this adventure.

    -          The first person to post a comment to this deviation naming the five ghosts Ciara may encounter in this adventure.

    -          The first person to post a comment to this deviation naming five different memories Ciara has of her father in this adventure.

    -          The first person to post a comment to this deviation naming at least 15 ways Ciara can meet a grisly end in this adventure.

    -          The first person to post a comment to this deviation giving the true name of the beast otherwise known as the Gorger.

If someone is the first to achieve more than one of the above, they will receive a longer reward story – but a reward slot will also remain open for someone else who has not yet achieved a prize. The more the merrier!

Second Tier

I will mention you or your OC in a future lair of horrors that Ciara or Amanda Jones will explore.

Second Tier rewards will be awarded for anyone who posts a comment to this deviation naming at least three things they liked about the adventure.

Of course all feedback, however positive, negative, or detailed, is always welcome.

Because of the format of the rewards, everyone should also regard the comments section as one massive spoiler! Conduct your reading of the comments accordingly.

All reward recipients will be contacted, so I can find out how exactly to handle your reward. ALL text prizes will be produced and awarded through my dA page, so placing me on your watch list is the best way to ensure that you see your reward as soon as it’s ready. Though I will try to contact each reward recipient as the rewards are posted. And even if you’re not receiving a Top Tier reward – feel free to watch anyway, so you can enjoy the stories as they come out!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I’d like to give a special vote of thanks to all the individuals who helped in the testing phase of this adventure – I value each one of them for their willingness to participate and their constructive comments. The adventure is a far better one thanks to their efforts.

Many thanks to:

And, of course, the highest thanks and praise are reserved for the estimable , for conceiving and beginning the story; for the innumerable discussions on expanding, editing, and improving the adventure; for encouraging me whenever my patience with the project flagged; and for giving me free reign to create an adventure around the lovely and determined Ms. Nightingale.

A NOTE ON WORLDBUILDING

Anyone familiar with ’s work knows that his main character, Amanda Jones, has always lived in a world where the supernatural does not exist – her bailiwick is detective work, ferreting out the schemes of natural crooks and mortal schemers. That is the Amandaverse; Ciara Nightingale, as Amanda’s best friend, inhabits that universe. Thankfully for them both, supernatural beasties do not.

Ciara Nightingale & the Tomb of Doom takes place in an alternate reality, where the supernatural does exist. That doesn’t mean it’s common, but it does crop up from time to time. Some other stories, like Amanda Jones and The Dark Widow of Wicklow
“Tyranny lingers long;
a woman’s memory lingers longer.”
“What’s that about?” Katrin Weber scratched at the stone post's worn inscription. Her English was good, barely accented. Her Germanic roots really only shone through when she was agitated.
“Scheisse.” Her fingernail had broken off.
“It’s part of a legend around here,” her companion Hannah Duffy replied. “From back in 1798, when the Irish rebelled against the British.” The blonde Katrin stood and retraced her steps to the road, where her friends waited.
“What, the Wexford Rebellion? I thought we were in County Wicklow.” The third member of their trio, American Amanda Jones, always seized a chance to show her knowledge of European history was both wide and deep.
The green in Hannah’s eyes flashed, reflecting the verdant mountains above. “The Wexforders got all the press, but t or (arguably) already take place in this alternate reality, the Eldritch Universe. The Tomb of Doom is situated firmly in the Eldritch Universe as well. Future stories in the EU will take Ciara, Amanda, or other Torqual characters further into dealing with the supernatural, in ways never before seen!

READY TO EMBARK?

Have at it

Here there be monsters:

writer.inklestudios.com/storie…

Description
All credit for the above image goes to Torqual3D. He's really outdone himself this time -- zoom in for a closer look, and drop by his page to compliment him if you feel like doing so!

CIARA NIGHTINGALE & THE TOMB OF DOOM -- Choose Your Own Adventure Story, with Rewards & Achievements!

Greetings to all!

The product of over a year’s worth of collaboration, brainstorming, editing, beta-testing, and re-editing, I am pleased to present a thrilling and horrific Choose-Your-Own Adventure story:

writer.inklestudios.com/storie…

(The link will take you to an external site, Inklewriter, where you can play through the adventure)

Take on the mantle of the stunning Ciara Nightingale, the black-haired archaeologist (character of the talented ), as she explores an enigmatic and deadly tower, populated with all manner of monsters and traps lying in wait for her. Guide Ciara around them – or straight through them! – as she tries to uncover the answer to a mystery that’s been nagging her for some time. Not to mention simply trying to survive!

Given this locale, the dangers are more acute, the mood darker, and the stakes higher than any of the Amanda Jones Student Sleuth stories, and probably even greater than most of the Summer Sleuth or college hijinks adventures. So while I have not tried to include any “gotcha” endings, and have tried to include clues where possible about the way(s) to succeed at a given task, bear in mind that this is an isolated, labyrinthine, murderous, horrific place! Sometimes plans which might otherwise be advisable will go south due to current circumstances, and occasionally simple bad luck is a factor. Ciara is totally on her own here, and many of the traps and dungeon denizens won’t hold back.

While I’d be ecstatic if you try to explore every option and read everything, please don’t feel compelled to do so – the story, with all its pathways, totals about 65,000 words in all! There are also “randomizer” factors which lead to hidden rooms and dangers, which readers may not come across in a single course of play. The whole idea is to encourage replayability; some of the paths are mutually exclusive, and unless you stumble across a hidden area opened up by a randomizer, you might never know it was there.

So, in short, don’t be alarmed if you run into a seemingly pointless choice that has no payoff. I assure you, it will – though maybe not during this particular playthrough.

And for frustrated completionists, if you absolutely have to have a guide to seeing all the content, send me a note and I may have mercy on you .

And of course, if anyone discovers a bug or other problem, let me know and I’ll edit straightaway.

REWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS

So what’s this about “Rewards and Achievements,” you ask? Well…

There’s nothing we writers enjoy so much as substantial enjoyment of, feedback on, and conversation about our work, so we want to encourage as much of it as possible. This is our way of doing so. For those of you who play through different portions of the adventure – and can prove it – you will be rewarded!

Top Tier

I will write an approximately 1,000-word story including Ciara Nightingale and your avatar or OC (subject to discretion). Alternatively, I will write an encounter, puzzle, or monster of your devising into either the Tomb of Doom or a future lair of horrors that Ciara or Amanda Jones will explore.

Top Tier rewards will be awarded for:

    -          The first person to post a comment to this deviation quoting the last line of a song Ciara remembers and hums to herself during this adventure.

    -          The first person to post a comment to this deviation naming the five ghosts Ciara may encounter in this adventure.

    -          The first person to post a comment to this deviation naming five different memories Ciara has of her father in this adventure.

    -          The first person to post a comment to this deviation naming at least 15 ways Ciara can meet a grisly end in this adventure.

    -          The first person to post a comment to this deviation giving the true name of the beast otherwise known as the Gorger.

If someone is the first to achieve more than one of the above, they will receive a longer reward story – but a reward slot will also remain open for someone else who has not yet achieved a prize. The more the merrier!

Second Tier

I will mention you or your OC in a future lair of horrors that Ciara or Amanda Jones will explore.

Second Tier rewards will be awarded for anyone who posts a comment to this deviation naming at least three things they liked about the adventure.

Of course all feedback, however positive, negative, or detailed, is always welcome.

Because of the format of the rewards, everyone should also regard the comments section as one massive spoiler! Conduct your reading of the comments accordingly.

All reward recipients will be contacted, so I can find out how exactly to handle your reward. ALL text prizes will be produced and awarded through my dA page, so placing me on your watch list is the best way to ensure that you see your reward as soon as it’s ready. Though I will try to contact each reward recipient as the rewards are posted. And even if you’re not receiving a Top Tier reward – feel free to watch anyway, so you can enjoy the stories as they come out!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I’d like to give a special vote of thanks to all the individuals who helped in the testing phase of this adventure – I value each one of them for their willingness to participate and their constructive comments. The adventure is a far better one thanks to their efforts.

Many thanks to:

And, of course, the highest thanks and praise are reserved for the estimable , for conceiving and beginning the story; for the innumerable discussions on expanding, editing, and improving the adventure; for encouraging me whenever my patience with the project flagged; and for giving me free reign to create an adventure around the lovely and determined Ms. Nightingale.

A NOTE ON WORLDBUILDING

Anyone familiar with ’s work knows that his main character, Amanda Jones, has always lived in a world where the supernatural does not exist – her bailiwick is detective work, ferreting out the schemes of natural crooks and mortal schemers. That is the Amandaverse; Ciara Nightingale, as Amanda’s best friend, inhabits that universe. Thankfully for them both, supernatural beasties do not.

Ciara Nightingale & the Tomb of Doom takes place in an alternate reality, where the supernatural does exist. That doesn’t mean it’s common, but it does crop up from time to time. Some other stories, like Amanda Jones and The Dark Widow of Wicklow
“Tyranny lingers long;
a woman’s memory lingers longer.”
“What’s that about?” Katrin Weber scratched at the stone post's worn inscription. Her English was good, barely accented. Her Germanic roots really only shone through when she was agitated.
“Scheisse.” Her fingernail had broken off.
“It’s part of a legend around here,” her companion Hannah Duffy replied. “From back in 1798, when the Irish rebelled against the British.” The blonde Katrin stood and retraced her steps to the road, where her friends waited.
“What, the Wexford Rebellion? I thought we were in County Wicklow.” The third member of their trio, American Amanda Jones, always seized a chance to show her knowledge of European history was both wide and deep.
The green in Hannah’s eyes flashed, reflecting the verdant mountains above. “The Wexforders got all the press, but t or (arguably) already take place in this alternate reality, the Eldritch Universe. The Tomb of Doom is situated firmly in the Eldritch Universe as well. Future stories in the EU will take Ciara, Amanda, or other Torqual characters further into dealing with the supernatural, in ways never before seen!

READY TO EMBARK?

Have at it

Here there be monsters:

writer.inklestudios.com/storie…