> This is your (text-colour:#FF7777)[DATE.] His name is (text-colour:#FF7777)[INOGAST,] and he is a renowned and powerful (text-colour:#FF7777)[WIZARD] from across the glacial seas.
> (text-colour:#1E606E)[(Inogast is an aging but starkly handsome wizard. He wears deep purple robes plastered with yellow stars, and a pointy hat. He sports round, gilded spectacles and is addorned with lavish chains, most of them attached to some sort of potion or vial at the end.) ]
> It is a romantic night at the (text-colour:#FF7777)[ FLOATING GULL.] You are sat at a beachwood table, dimly lit via candle, the sway of the ocean rocking you delicately.
> Go ahead and introduce yourself to (text-colour:#FF7777)[INOGAST. ]
(text-colour:#8B956D)[["Hello, Inogast!"]]
> (text-colour:#FF7777)[INOGAST] greets you vigorously, and begins grilling you over personal matters- your career, your hobbies, your... favorite hue of purple?
(text-colour:#8B956D)[["Something classy and discrete."]]
(text-colour:#8B956D)[["As gaudy and garish as it gets!"]]> (text-colour:#FF7777)[INOGAST] huffs, his mustache bristling. He adjusts his spectacles.
> "Well," he says, "I suppose it was best to settle that out of the gate." He rustles around in his flowing cloak and procures a glowing green (text-colour:#FF7777)[VIAL. ]
> He (text-colour:#FF7777)[SMASHES] the (text-colour:#FF7777)[VIAL] onto the restaraunt floor, and a cloud of smoke erupts around him.
> When it clears, he has(text-colour:#FF7777)[VANISHED,] leaving you with the bill and a sinking sense of arcanic insufficiency.
(text-colour:#8B956D)[[ Take it from the top |1]] > (text-colour:#FF7777)[INOGAST'S] gloomy countenance seems to brighten at this. His magnificent white mustache twitches.
> (text-colour:#8B956D)["Of course. Of course!"] He murmurs.
> There is a brief lull in conversation.
(text-colour:#8B956D) [[ Ask him about the CONSPICIOUS GRIMOIRE he has set on the table ]]
(text-colour:#8B956D) [[ Ask him about the STRANGE INSCRIPTIONS on his necklace ]] > (text-colour:#8B956D) ["Oh, this old thing? Surprised you even took note of it..."]
> The(text-colour:#FF7777) [GRIMOIRE] is a heaving tome that occupies roughly a third of the table. Its leather cover is intricately fashioned in layers, and its center is encrusted with a glimmering red jewel.
> (text-colour:#8B956D)["Just a few spells I've been drafting up... a couple of hexes... nothing so special..."]
> (text-colour:#FF7777)[INOGAST'S] face could be described as (text-colour:#FF7777)[DESPERATE FOR INQUIRY. ]
(text-colour:#8B956D)[[ Ask him to demonstrate a spell ]]
(text-colour:#8B956D)[[ Ask him to demonstrate a hex ]]> INOGAST coughs violently, expelling what appears to be glitter all over the dining area.
> (text-colour:#8B956D)["Goodness me, I do apologize for that."]
> The wizard sheepishly waves his hands, and the stuff shimmers into a neat pile.
> (text-colour:#8B956D)["Oh, these markings on my necklace? Simply..."] INOGAST visibly strains himself for a lie, something that appears to be a foreign exertion for the man.
> (text-colour:#8B956D)["They are, ah..." ]
> The wizard fiddles with the cuffs of his sleeve. You can see sweat accumulating on his cheeks, and forehead, and anywhere skin is visible, really.
> (text-colour:#8B956D)["The thing about it is..."]
> Before you can react,(text-colour:#FF7777) [INOGAST] draws his wand. There is an immolating flash, and then you are a pile of dust in your chair. (text-colour:#8B956D) [Some secrets are best left unprodded... ]
(text-colour:#8B956D)[[ Take it from the top |1]] > INOGAST lights up like a christmas tree.
> (text-colour:#8B956D) ["Well, I suppose just one would be harmless, if I were to conduct it responsibly, yes..." ]
> He (text-colour:#FF7777)[SCANS] his immediate surroundings. There are no waiters.
> He begins (text-colour:#FF7777)[ENCANTING] under his breath- bizarre, guttural strings of syllables. His fingers dance spiderlike through the air, as if weaving some unseen tapestry. The air becomes(text-colour:#FF7777) [HUMID. ]
(text-colour:#8B956D)[[ Brace yourself ]]>[ INOGAST] snaps his fingers, and a quaint little spark flickers between his fingers, slowly kindling into a flame.
> He smiles glumly.
> "Obviously, this is not the extent of my abilities..."
(text-colour:#8B956D)[[ "Of course, buddy." ]]
(text-colour:#8B956D)[[ "Show me what you're made of!" ]]> A wet crackle reverbrates through the restaraunt, there is a propulsion of red light, and then a shadow looms over your table.
> You look up to see a massive, knotted ball of fresh food- pastas, chicken, burgers, sandwiches- all suspended in midair.
> And then, they are no longer suspended, and fall directly onto your table. Dishes begin sliding off. A plate of spaghetti is upended onto your freshly pressed suit.
> (text-colour:#FF7777)[INOGAST ]cackles gleefully, before a look of dread washes over him.
> The (text-colour:#FF7777)[WAITSTAFF] seem to be making their way towards your table.
(text-colour:#8B956D)[[ Do you have a spell to clean this up? ]]
(text-colour:#8B956D)[[ Do you have a spell to get us out of here? ]]>(text-colour:#FF7777)[ INOGAST] nods solemnly, and begins waving his hands. The food floats into one neat (text-colour:#FF7777)[PILE] on the floor, sopping wet.
> He apologizes (text-colour:#FF7777)[PROFUSELY] for the mess on your suit.
(text-colour:#8B956D)[[ "It's no problem, really!"]] >(text-colour:#FF7777) [INOGAST] flips open his grimoire without hesitation. He begins to murmur a spell...
> The(text-colour:#FF7777) [WAITSTAFF] march towards your table, irate eyes fixated on the wizard.
(text-colour:#8B956D)[[ Do not impede them ]]
(text-colour:#8B956D)[[ Create a distraction ]] > Two burly looking(text-colour:#FF7777) [WAITSTAFF] seize (text-colour:#FF7777)[INOGAST] from under his arms. The spell dies in his throat as he begins flailing around wildly, and his screams are cut off as they cup his mouth shut.
>(text-colour:#FF7777)[ INOGAST] glares at you as he is dragged into the restaraunt's (text-colour:#FF7777)[KITCHEN.]
> You get the sense that this date went(text-colour:#FF7777) [POORLY. ]
(text-colour:#8B956D)[[ Take it from the top |1]] > You snatch a miniature jar hung from a chain around (text-colour:#FF7777)[INOGAST'S] sleeve. His concentration remains unbroken.
(text-colour:#8B956D)[[ Drink the jar ]]
(text-colour:#8B956D)[[ Throw the jar ]] > He looks(text-colour:#FF7777) [RELEIVED,] but a little embarassed.
> Suddenly, a large (text-colour:#FF7777)[BARN OWL] slams into the window. It seems unphased as it flaps its wings and hovers back, cocks his head, and (text-colour:#FF7777)[SLAMS] into the window yet again.
> This time, the pane shatters, and the owl scampers onto the table. It is holding a (text-colour:#FF7777)[SCROLL] in its beak.
> (text-colour:#FF7777)[INOGAST SNATCHES] the scroll and unfurls it. He takes out a second, larger pair of (text-colour:#FF7777)[MONOCLES] to read it.
> His face (text-colour:#FF7777)[PALES.] Before you can inquire about it, he jumps up from the table and vaults out the now-broken window.
> What an odd(text-colour:#FF7777) [DATE. ]
(text-colour:#8B956D)[[ Take it from the top |1]] > You feel an acute and unpleasant tingling permeate your body.
> You see (text-colour:#FF7777)[INOGAST,] then (text-colour:#FF7777)[INOGAST'S] stomach, then (text-colour:#FF7777)[INOGAST'S] legs as you shrink lower and lower.
> A(text-colour:#FF7777) [CROAK] escapes your throat.
>Ribbit.
(text-colour:#8B956D)[[ Ribbit |1]] > You(text-colour:#FF7777) [HURL] the jar at the (text-colour:#FF7777)[WAISTAFF.] It(text-colour:#FF7777) [EXPLODES] at their feet, dispersing green smoke in a small area.
> Before it clears, you hear the unmistakable sound of(text-colour:#FF7777) [CROAKING] and cute (text-colour:#FF7777)[RIBBITS.]
> As the fog dissipates, you see you have turned them all into(text-colour:#FF7777)[FROGS.]
> (text-colour:#FF7777)[INOGAST] finishes the spell, and then you(text-colour:#FF7777) [WINK] out of existence.
(text-colour:#8B956D)[[ Scream ]] > You begin to wail into the void, only for the void to readjust and shift around you. Suddenly you are in a warmly lit (text-colour:#FF7777)[STUDY], cases of books towering around you, and odd looking chandeliers drooping from the vaulted mahogany ceiling.
> (text-colour:#FF7777)[INOGAST] is preparing you some (text-colour:#FF7777)[TEA. ]
> "Quite the night we've had," he chortles.
> You(text-colour:#FF7777) [AGREE.] Is this a (text-colour:#FF7777)[SPARK] you feel? Only time will tell...
(text-colour:#8B956D)[[ Take it from the top |1]] > INOGAST puts his head down, much like a sulking dog.
> He PICKS at his food passive aggressively.
> The rest of the night is TENSE and AWKWARD. Never patronize a wizard, I suppose.
(text-colour:#8B956D)[[ Take it from the top |1]]> (text-colour:#FF7777)[INOGAST] strains himself, eyebrows furrowed. The flame begins to grow, emitting errant embers and sparks as its size smolders.
> "Power... what arresting thaumaturgy... quite the prodigal hex..." he says, his eyes rolling back into his head.
>(text-colour:#FF7777)+(text-rotate-x:27)+(text-rotate-y:29)[ (click) ]
> The room (text-colour:#FF7777) [EXPLODES. ]
(text-colour:#8B956D)[[ Take it from the top |1]]