Gold Rush

You've finally arrived in the town of Dioux, California. You left it all back in Pennsylvania in a wild attempt to strike it rich in the "Golden City." You are looking for your uncle, who has lived in the town for several years. Your uncle's full name is Stephen Doby. He promised you employment and a steady pay if you were to ever come to Dioux. The year is 1853. You are tired from travel, and have $17.53 to your name. You also have the clothes on your back, a gold watch from your mother, a bit of food, and a suitcase full of odds and ends. You see a bustling town off in the distance. You [[survey]] your belongings in your suitcase. You [[head into town]] on main street. You [[speak]] with the trail master who got you here by wagon.

You open your suitcase, and find: 1 black trench coat with missing buttons 1 large bottle of whiskey 3 pounds of dry beef 1 small gold pan 1 set of mildly used clothes 7 small pistol bullets 1 spare shoelace 1/2 gallon of water in a mason jar [[Continue...|start]]

As you head into the town, you see a [[hospital]], [[prison]], and a [[general store]]. Head to a location, or back to [[start]]? Or, continue down [[mainstreet]]

You walk up to the trail master. He is talking with a member of your party, and is demanding payment. The boy being scolded is chinese and looks scared and malnourished. It seems that he has not payed his dues for his escort, and is unable to communicate with the trail master. [[Leave|start]] without saying anything. [[Pay]] the trail master his $10.00 fee.

You offer the trail master $10.00 and he accepts the offer. While you are counting your coins, the chinese boy stares at the money in your hand. [[Ask the boy]] his name. [[Continue]] counting. [[Back out]] of the deal.

The boy does not understand you, and merely smiles and runs off as you pay his way. The trail master then spurs his horses and rides off into the distance, dust billowing from his wagon's wheels. [[Return|start]]

The boy suddenly lunges for your hand! He grabs your money and begins to run off towards the town. [[Chase]] after the boy. [[Let]] the boy go.

You opt to back out of the transaction and quick deposit your coinage into you trouser pocket. The trail master mumbles some choice words and then grabs the boy, securely placing him on the back of his wagon. All the while the boy struggles to escape. [[Head back|start]] to the outlook.

You Chase after the boy, but he runs into a building on the outskirts of town. [[Enter]] the building. Give up and [[head into town]].

You watch as the boy runs off. The trail master is angry, but does not demand your money. You decide to head back to [[start]]

As you enter the building, you see two immediate rooms, the kitchen and parlor. There is a light coming from the parlor, and the kitchen seems to be dark. Check the [[kitchen]]. Check the [[Parlor]].

You enter the kitchen and find a large jar of coins sitting on a central table. This seems to be your money! Take the coins and [[leave|coin death]] the building. Take the coins and [[enter the parlor.|Parlor]] Leave the coins and [[leave|head into town]] the building. Leave the coins and [[enter the parlor.|Parlor]]

You enter the parlor and see a large lamp lit in the middle of the room. As you approach the lamp you feel a sharp pain in your neck. You turn to see the boy wielding a large knife. [[Fight Back]] or [[shield yourself]]?

You approach the bank and a mansion begins to come into your view. At the crossroads between the two buildings, a sign labeled "Doby Estate" points toward the towering abode. [[Continue|real bank]] to the bank. Head to the [[mansion]]. [[Return|mainstreet]] to mainstreet.

You follow the street all the way until it ends abruptly with the introduction of a large tan building labeled "Tom's Saloon." You walk up to and enter through two paneled swinging doors to find a bustling bar room. To your left you see a tired-looking man dressed in simple clothes shining a glass behind a bar, and to your right you see two men playing darts. [[Talk to the Bartender]] or [[Try to play darts]]

You walk up to the black building labeled "Dioux Area Prison." There is a short porch with an armed man sitting in a rocking chair on it. To the right of that is a barred wall with an inmate inside. [[Talk|Inmate]] with the prisoner. [[Talk|guard]] with the guard. [[Head back|head into town]].

You walk up to the door of an old general store. The words above the door read: "Carlson's Country Store" You enter and see a shopkeeper to your left and a wall stocked full of drugs, foods, tools, and utilities to your right. [[Speak|shopkeep talk]] with the shopkeeper. [[Look|goods]] at the shelves of merchandise. [[Leave|head into town]] and go somewhere else.

As you continue down the way, you see two more buildings come into you view just as the street turns the corner. Head [[back|head into town]]. Head to the [[saloon]]. Head to the [[bank]].

As you reach for the coins, you feel a sharp pain in your neck. The boy has a knife and has stabbed you! [[Fight Back]] or [[shield yourself]].

You lunge at the boy but he dodges your advance and you fall to the floor. The boy stabs you twice more in the right arm and then runs out of the house. You are now alone and bleeding quickly on the floor. [[Scream for help]] or [[attempt to walk out]]?

You shield yourself from the boy. He takes the money and runs out without further infliction of pain to you. [[Scream for help]]?

Using all your strength, you scream as loud as you can for help. After a few loud yelps, you pass out. [[Continue|hospital er]]?

You try to stand, but falter and collapse near the door. [[Scream for help]].

You enter a small waiting room packed full of people with various wounds and ailments. One man nurses a gunshot wound, while a woman with bloodshot eyes clutches her kneecap. You: [[Ask the man about the town|ask knee man]]. [[leave the hospital|head into town]]

You wake up in a white room with no recollection of how you arrived here. There is a nurse sitting on a chair near the bed that you lie in. She jumps up at your woke state and lifts you out of bed. "Sorry sir, but we need this bed." She ousts you from the room and you grab your suitcase on the way out. [[Continue|hospital]]?

You ask the man about the town and your Uncle, Stephen. He replies "Yeah I know that old Ba%*#rd! He is the one that got me like this. I didn't want to deal with his finances anymore so he sent a goon to my home to do this to me! [[Ask where you can find Stephen]]. [[Apologize|head into town]] and leave.

The man replies, "You can find him at the big mansion on top of the hill, right past the bank that he owns." [[Continue|head into town]]?

As you approach the man, you become interested in his complexion. His skin has a slight green tinge to it, with darker shades surrounding is eyes and ears. You start conversation. [[Ask|skin]] about the man's skin. [[Ask|weather]] about the weather

You approach and look very closely at the many products lining the walls. You see many vibrant colors on the packagings of oats, nuts, dried fruits, and medicines. The price catches your eye as well, these items are too expensive for you... [[Return|general store]] to the storefront.

You ask the man about the condition of his skin. He becomes slightly offended and says "What does it matter to you trailblazer? Who are you to come into MY store and insult my skin?" [[Ask|mean steph]] the man where you can find Stephen. [[Apologize]] for your rudeness. [[Back out|head into town]] and go back to town.

You intiate conversation with the shopkeep by bringing up the recent wet weather. He responds: "Yeah, it's pretty rough out here, trying to get wagons in through the mud." [[Ask|nice steph]] about your uncle Stephen.

The man shrieks at your mentioning of Stephen. "That as%$&le is the reason my skin is like this! I fell into a vat of chemical while being forced to work long hours in that scumbag's mine! Get out of my store at once!" [[Continue|head into town]]

You immediately apologize for your rudeness, and [[ask|nice steph]] about your uncle.

The man frowns at the sound of your uncle's name, but ultimately says: "Yes, he lives in the mansion above the bank. I wouldn't anger him, though, he holds a lot of power in this town." [[Thank|head into town]] the shopkeep and go back to town.

You approach the inmate and start to say hello, but before you can he sees you and begins to wail, "29 yeaaaarrrrrrssss!!!!!!" [[Return|prison]] to the front of the building.

As you approach the guard, he asks you who you are in an interrogative way. You have papers that prove you are an immigrant from the east. [[Lie]] and tell him that you are of noble descent. [[Show|show]] him your papers truthfully.

The man sees right through your lie and demands your papers. You hand them to him, and the man grabs you just as he sees your last name. He throws you in a cell yelling "Thats for what your uncle did to my family!" The man in the cell next to you mumbles: "29 yearsssss....." It seems that you are here to stay........ [[Restart?|start]]

You show the guard your papers, and he cusses under his breath. He see's your name. "Leave now or else," he says. [[Leave|head into town]]. [[Stay|prison death]].

The man grabs you and drags you to the prison cell door. He throws you in the cell yelling "Thats for what your uncle did to my family!" The man in the cell next to you mumbles: "29 yearsssss....." It seems that you are here to stay........ [[Restart?|start]]

You approach the lone bartender and take a seat in one of the empty stools. He asks you, "What brings you to Dioux, Stranger?" Tell the man you are [[looking for gold]]. Tell the man you are [[looking for Stephen Doby]].

You slowly approach the two men. As you do, one of the men looks up at you, and then back down to throw his last dart. He misses terribly and sticks the dart in the wall under the board. The man cusses and stomps off. His friend however, remains. [[Challenge]] the other man to a game. [[Talk to the Bartender]]. [[Return|mainstreet]] to town.

You ask the man if he would like to play you and he responds "Well, you can sure play me, but you will never beat me!" He gives you two darts and takes another group for himself. He points to a line on the wooden floor and backs away saying "After you, sir. Whoever gets the one closest dart at the end wins" You step up the line and prepare to throw. Throw [[high|h1]]. Throw [[center|c1]]. Throw [[low|l1]].

You throw the dart high and stick it in just above the bulls-eye. Wow! The stranger approaches and launches a dart straight into the bottom left of the board. You take the next dart and: Throw [[high|h11]] again. Throw [[center|c11]]. Throw [[low|l11]].

You take the dart and precisely launch it straight into the middle of the board. The man's jaw drops "Wow, and on the first try!" he exclaims. "You win this one!" [[Return|mainstreet]] to mainstreet. [[Talk to the Bartender]].

You fling the dart at the lower side of the board and hit withing the second rind under the bulls-eye. The man steps up to the line and places a dart right the the left of your own. Throw [[high|h111]]. Throw [[center|c111]]. Throw [[low|l111]]again.

You throw the dart high once more, and it lodges itself nicely next to you previous. The man walks up to the line and you hold your breath as he throws. Dead center, bulls-eye. The man shakes you hand: "You'll be good someday kid." [[Return|mainstreet]] to the town. [[Talk to the Bartender]]

You throw the dart towards the center of the board. Time goes slow for a second. But, then the dart sticks itself perfectly into the dead center. The stranger coughs and throws, missing the board entirely. He mumbles: "Damn allergies" as he shakes your hand. [[Return|mainstreet]] to town. [[Talk to the Bartender]]

You thrown the dart lower this time and miss the board entirely. The man walks up and throws his dart slightly closer to the center than you had thrown your previous. "Yes!" the man exclaimed. "Better luck next time bud." he says. [[Return|mainstreet]] to mainstreet. [[Talk to the Bartender]].

You launch the dart into the air. As it flies throw the air, an old man walks in front of its path. STICK! The dart lodges in his forehead. HE SCREAMS WITH ANGER! [[Run away|mainstreet]] from the angry patron and back into town. Quickly shy away and [[Talk to the Bartender]].

You take the dart and fling it into the board, hitting just above your previous. The man walks up to the line and flings a dart right into the middle. Bulls-eye! He shakes your hand saying: "Keep practicing, you've got a good arm bucko!" [[Return|mainstreet]] to mainstreet. [[Talk to the Bartender]].

You take the dart and propel it towards the board. This time, it flies straight and savvy. It lodges itself in the center. The man jumps up from his bar chair and whips his dart at the floor. "22 Wins in a row and I lost to a HOBO!" He stomps off without another word. [[Return|mainstreet]] to mainstreet. [[Talk to the Bartender]].

The man sighs. "Well then I think you are out of luck." "Stephen Doby controls all of the gold around here." Ask where you can find [[Stephen Doby|looking for Stephen Doby]]

"Oh, that Stephen lives in the mansion across the way." You can find him there around now." [[Leave|mainstreet]] and head back to mainstreet.

You walk up to the bank and notice that there are no lit candles inside. There is also a lack of any people at all. The bank seems to be closed for the day. There is a sign on the door, "Closed For Repairs." [[Poke around]] the bank. [[Head back|bank]] to the crossroads.

You walk up the road toward the large ornate structure. You see a man sitting on the wide porch. He jumps up at the sight of you. "Nephew!" It's about time that you joined me over here!" You run to meet your uncle's warm embrace. After the hug, he says "Come in, come in, there is much to do." You [[enter the house]].

You poke around the outside of the bank for a bit. You look in windows and climb the wall to look farther inside. Something behind you makes you jump up from your snooping. "HEY! What are you doing sneaking around there!" A man in a sheriff's uniform walks up to you. [[Say you are new in town]]. [[Run away]] from the man.

As you enter, the ceiling opens into a large open space, decorated with many carvings of gods, goddesses, and legends. Your motions for you to [[sit down]] at a large oak table.

You take a seat, and for the next five hours, your uncle tells you of how he has accumulated his wealth. "Well, I started as a miner, and through different... practices. I was able to work my way to where I am now. I'm at the top and I am the one calling the shots. Someone steps to me, I take them down, and they all answer to me in the end." [[Ask about these "practices."]]

Uncle Stephen sighs, "Well, you know, witholding wages every now and then, taking from the families in town when I need to, not paying for safety. It all saves money. Just look around the room, though. See where it got me. "Hey, you must be tired, would you like a room to sleep in?" [[Leave|hate stephen]] in disapproval of your uncle. [[Stay|don't care]] with your uncle for good.

You become angry at Stephen's unethical practices and politely stand and push in your chair. "Where are you going?" he asks. You just shake your head and turn out the door. The temperature has dropped drastically and the cold eats at your bones. You walk away from endless wealth. Atleast, in your heart, you have done the right thing. You tramp off towards town, without a single idea of what to do next. [[Play again?|start]]

You agree to the offering of a room and Stephen escorts you to a guest bedroom. You enter and immediately lay down to sleep. You think of all the unethical things your uncle did to get his money. "Well, I'm going to be rich out here." you think. You drift off into a deep sleep. [[Play again?|start]]

You plead with the man, telling him that you are new in town and are just looking for your uncle. The man does not buy it. He grabs you and pulls you to the ground. He places your hands in cuffs. "This will teach you to steal in my town again bank robber." He then hits you over the head and your vision goes fuzzy and then black altogether. [[Continue?|prison oof]]

You run away from the portly man. As he gasps for air, he shouts "Thief! You'd better stay far away from my town!" You [[head back to town|head into town]].

You wake up with a start and are apalled by your surroundings. You are in a small cell with one other man next to you. He is fiddling with some chicken bones in a way that displays pure insanity. The man mumbles: "Wha, you, want to play with me bones?" The man then coughs violently. It seems that you are stuck here for the time being... [[Restart?|start]]