Brujerias

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<<set $intent += 1>><<set $whitemagic += 1>> The madera crackles and the corner glows. The smoke is crisp pine, cool breath on neck. You inhale and the tendrils tickle your nose, the single silk strand of smoke encircles your head, drifting towards your ears. You begin organizing your [[alter for the love spell]].

<<set $intent -= 1>> <<set $blackmagic += 1>> You open the bottle and can't help but lean in to smell it, like some childhood habit you've never rid yourself of. The scent is gentle, a hint of coffee beans that have been roasted and recently buried. You take the oil onto your fingertips dab it on your third eye and at the nape of your neck. Who's to say what your intent is though? Isn't it all filtered through our own lens? <<if $intent >= 4>> You're not sure what to do. You decide doing a [[tarot reading]] first will help you seek advice. <<else>> You want answers fast. So instead [[you decide to ask the pendulum]]. <</if>>

<<cacheaudio "mainsong" "Sounds/valorietwinemaster.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "crackle" "Sounds/crackle.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "match" "Sounds/match.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "carrunning" "Sounds/carrunning.wav">> <<cacheaudio "carstart" "Sounds/carstart.wav">> <<cacheaudio "creepyend" "Sounds/creepyend.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "happyend" "Sounds/happyend.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "sadend" "Sounds/sadend.mp3">> <<createplaylist "driving">> <<track "carstart" volume 4>> <<track "carrunning" volume 4>> <</createplaylist>> <<createplaylist "matchend">> <<track "match" volume 7>> <<track "sadend" volume 7>> <</createplaylist>>

<<audio mainsong play loop>> <center> <img src="Images/brujeriaslogo.gif" alt="The title Burjerias is a scratch line font" /></center> Brujerías<sup>1</sup> is a game that explores the tradition of Mexican witchcraft with influences from various Latinx cultures and other magical traditions. Headphones are recommended as there are videos and sound played throughout the game, but it is not necessary to the main game experience. At times there will be unfamiliar terms, or Spanish words. These are displayed as links that are dark pink in color, and lead to translations or websites with definitions. [[A little note about brujerías.|Trigger Warnings]] Visit the [[credits]] section for those details! If you're ready, [[proceed|Intro]]. <div id="verysmalltext">1. Brujerías: Spanish word for witchcraft.</div>

This game is attempting to explore real traditions. This is in no way attempting to make fun of these belief systems. Instead, it is attempting to tie in the digital world with ancient traditions in a generation that is curiously seeking out knowledge. Brujerias and witchcraft are serious practices that should not be toyed with lightly.

<<set $intent = 0>> <<set $blackmagic = 0>> <<set $whitemagic = 0>> <img src="Images/newmoonsky.jpg" alt="A photo of a moonless night with stars" height="600" width="1100" /> The air skirts against your cheeks like fingers trailing from the sky. You're standing between the trees a short walk from your home. The sun has almost dipped below the horizon. You've been waiting for this <<linkappend "phase.">> The new moon is a time for beginnings. A time to plant seeds for that which you most desire. You need this to work. You've waited too long. <<choice [[The breeze skirts between the conifer trees.]]>> You're ready to begin, but you need to verify that you have everything you'll need. Inside your home is a [[grimoire|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimoire]]. You [[walk inside]].<</linkappend>>

<<set $whitemagic += 1>><<set $intent to += 1>> You reach for your palo santo and light the tip. The madera crackles and the corner glows. The smoke is crisp pine, cool breath on neck. You inhale and the tendrils tickle your nose. The single silk strand of smoke encircles your head, drifting toward your ears. As you sit bathing yourself in smoke, attempting to clear away all that you've brought to this ritual, you don't feel clean enough. You could add on some [[elegua]] oil, or you could [[deal with the heaviness]], and let yourself carry it.

<<set $blackmagic += 2>> You open your [[grimoire|http://www.dictionary.com/browse/grimoire]] to reveal the list you made weeks ago. You can't help but shake your head and think no, this didn't happen, this didn't actually happen, reminiscing on the event fills you with fury. The kind of anger that fuels. But this is the way it is. You're not ready to accept this. You think maybe <<linkappend "something more can be done.">> Your mother always warned you of the dark side of magic the temptation of abuse of power within brujerias, but isn't it all simply energy manipulation? In this case, if you're fighting something dark does it really mean you're being dark, or by opposing those forces are you truly being something more like good? <<if $intent >= 3>> [[But they need to be stopped.|Or are they hurting others more than they hurt you?]] <<else>> [[I mean, they clearly wronged you first.]] <</if>><</linkappend>>

<video src="Videos/goldcandle.mp4" width="640" height="480" autoplay></video> Candle the color of [[oro|https://translate.google.com/#es/en/oro]]. Gold honors the sun but it also brings luck. You trust the color. [[You decide this might be a good substitute]]. But, color is everything. You think, "what if the red candle is absolutely necessary?" The ritual might not be the same without it. You grab your keys instead. The [[maestras|https://translate.google.com/#es/en/maestras]] will open the store for you. [[You leave]] to the [[botanica|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bot%C3%A1nica]].

You grab your keys and are getting ready to head out the door, when you remember that you haven't checked the rest of the list. You decide to <<if $intent >= 5>> [[go back in to double check]] <<else>> [[continue to the store]] you're pretty sure you have what you need. <</if>>

Once inside you sit on the edge of your bed and read through your list. Outside of the candle, you might be low on oil. You could get more of it at the [[botánica|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bot%C3%A1nica]]. You decide to have a smoke before you leave. As you're about to stand from your bed to head outside, you catch a glimpse of a red behind your dresser. Maybe you ignore it, it's probably trash afterall. <<choice [[You turn and leave to the botanica]]>>. But the ruby color calls to you. Instead, you walk over and take a closer look. You realize it's a red candle. It must have fallen some time ago. <<linkappend "You pick up the red candle.">> <<set $blackmagic += 1>> <<set $redcandle = 1>> [[You have everything you need]]<</linkappend>>

Your car starts smooth with the soft rumble you've grown to love. The seats are warm from sitting in the sun. You like the way the old leather seats hold you. You think of the days spent reading in here. Spent driving to nowhere to feel like you're somewhere. You send the mama [[maestras|https://translate.google.com/#es/en/maestras]] a text. They say they'll open shop for you. And there's something else they want to show you. You know the [[luna's|https://translate.google.com/#es/en/luna]] power will last well into the next two days, but you want to return in time for the exact hour when the sky is darkest. The road is clear. [[You drive on]]

The road unravels before you, spilling into a night bordered by pine on both sides. You run through a mental check list, trying to recall the specifics of the spell. There are always rose petals, always an oil of some kind or another, but this one called for a specific style. [[The botanica shop glows]] ahead of you.

You walk in. The shop owners whom you call maestras unlock the door to greet you. They've taught you more than you could have ever learned on your own this last year. "My sweets, tengo algo para ti" They let you in, holding the metal screen door. "Ohh, what is it?" The maestra's eyebrow lifts, she leads you to the back of the room. On your way to the curtained back area, you pick up a red candle. Behind the curtain, the maestra reaches on tip toes to a tiny trunk. The click clank of small glass bottles knocking against eachother sound from the countainer. "Sangre de paloma" she says. You try not to question how she gained vials of dove's blood. The power is found in the tools. "Do you want to try it?" She holds the bottle out to you. [[You take it.]] [[You shake your head]] and decide to stick with your original plan sans dove's blood.

<<set $blackmagic += 2>> You hand her some crumpled dollars in a felt green pouch. You always hand her money in these pouches. Green coresponds with finances. And money makes this world go round. With your red candle and paloma sangre bottle you [[head back to your car]].

<<set $intent += 1>> You know the vial will improve your power in the spell, but you don't know if that's what you want. Whatever way the blood was gathered, you're not sure you want to be an energetic part of it. You've always been skeptical of tools such as these. "Bueno, you made your mind. Only you know what you need." The maestras have always encouraged you to make your own choices about magic. You [[walk up to the counter to pay]].

<<set $whitemagic += 2>><<set $intent += 1>> Gold is meant to bring luck, right? Success. You decide trying something new might be a good idea. With the candle you are almost set. You pull out the rose petals, the oil, the incence, and crystals. You set up space and prepare to cleanse. [[You have everything you need]].

Your car tumbles, rumbles, skids over fallen logs as low branches slap along your window. A tree grows in front of you and you can do nothing to stop the crash that will come. Your car crashes like soda pop cans beneath your feet. The last thing you rmemeber is <<if $intent >= 5>>[[a piercing whistle in your ear]].<<else>>[[the smell of gasoline]].<</if>>

You feel warmth sizzle over your skin in the way the sun shines on you after a long day. Not the overbearing heat, but the feel of a hug to every milimeter of your being. You want so badly to pluck the sun from the sky and swallow it whole. You want to take it into your being and become the estrella's brilliant beauty. But your chest burns, you hear a soft hum and feel a <<linkappend "jolt course through you.">> A zap brings you back to fluorescent brightness, not the natural glow of fire but the overbearing blinding white of false flames. Lightbulbs. You hear voices around you. "We got a heartbeat!" "Are the splints fastened tightly enough?" "How's oxygen level?" Your eyes flicker, but you see brilliant azure blue before [[blackness consumes you]]. <</linkappend>>

<<audio mainsong stop>> <<audio creepyend play>> Your eyelids flutter. You see flames. You only have enough time to think "a tree's so beautiful as it burns". <img src="Images/theend.jpg" alt="A black and white photo of a typewriter with The End typed out" height="600" width="1100" />

It rumbles to a start. Purring beneath you. The sun has fully set and the night sky feels ominious in it's moon lacking blackness. You think of your empty home, of the echo that resonates when you strike a match alone. You think of the bed that feels cold always on one side. You put your car in reverse and [[drive]].

You want to call someone. Think about going out for a drink, but decide the ritual will set you right. What you need is to feel in control, like you somehow shifted the world in your favor. You [[consider smoking a cigarette|settle for a cigarette]] as you keep driving... But think maybe it's best to [[wait until later]].

You have trouble finding the lighter in the cup holder and decide to grab the pack of matches from the glove compartment. You reach across but keep flashing your eyes to the road. A blur catches your attention. Your headlights illuminate a deer. You are only seconds away from crashing into it, without thinking you swerve to the right as you turn a bend in the road. You overshoot your aim and your [[car skids off the road]].

You decide to do an energetic clearing with some [[palo santo]] before you begin.

You wake to an empty hotel room. The rhythmic beep beep lets you know you are breathing. Your right arm is in a swing, and your left leg is cast, but you are happy you can feel them. You feel tender and bruised: an overripe fruit. Down the hall a phone rings. A woman answers. "Garcia? Oh yes, doing alright. Lucky to be alive if you ask me." a pause, "Danny, I don't think I've ever heard you ask about a patient before, you know this one?" AZURE SKY EYES FLASH AGAINST THE HOSPITAL CEILING "Course I'll letchya in, but wait until I check in with the patient first." <<linkappend "The phone hits plastic against plastic as the nurse hangs up.">> Your eyelids are blankets sheilding you from too clean white. [[You drift to sleep.]] <</linkappend>>

You dream of snow-capped mountains. You dream of sheets of freshly fallen snow. You watch chips fall from the sky. You catch one and it tastes of blueberry. You feel a hand on your shoulder. You turn and waterfall into eyes of the sea. But a steady [[beep, beep, beep,]] calls you from the ether.

You wake to see the nurse with curly-cued orange hair. "Well look who's up! I'm glad you're awake. Someone's been waiting to see you, a paramedic who lifted you from the car. You know, it was just in time right? That hunk of metal burst into flames only minutes after you were pulled out." Your mouth feels dry. Your mother's old car is now scorched metal. "Well. Like I mentioned, the paramedic who pulled you out, Danny, is here. Are you feeling up for a visitor? It might lift your spirits." She asks the question so casually, as if meeting a stranger while lying in a hospital bed is something so normal. She sees your expression of confusion and hands you a lolipop. You crave sweetness and the taste of something other than your stale breath. [[You nod]] and agree to meet Danny. [[You say no.]] Who could blame you? Rescuer or not, you're exhausted and feeling more alone in the world.

The nurse smiles. "Great! This is wonderful. Give me just a minute love, I'll be right back with good ol' Danny." You tongue the lolipop, switch it from cheek to cheek. You question the flavor. It's strawberry red but tastes like cherry. You think of canning cherries with your mother. You remember the smell of fresh baked cherry pie. You know she'd want you to be happy. To savor these falsh backs. She was always so full of life. When the nurse returns she's arm in arm with someone who looks vaguely familiar. "Hey Lupe, you probably don't remember me. I'm Danny. I was there the night of your crash." Danny walks closer and you lock eyes. You fall into aqua aura eyes cut like glass. "I recognize your eyes." Danny laughs and the sound is warmth like swallowing sun fruit. "I like to think they're my best feature." You extend your one good arm, bruised to plum shades. You shake hands. "I hope you don't mind me checking in on you. That was an intense crash. It was one of my first actually, on duty I mean." "It's okay. The nurse asked me. Thank you for pulling me out in time." "Those flames came out of nowhere." You don't want to look away from the endless sky. "Anyways, I brought something for you. It's an old copy, and I don't know you, or how you feel about poetry, but I always thought anyone could benefit from a little William Carlos William." [[Danny hands you a tattered copy of Paterson]]

The nurse nods. "I understand sweetness. Well you just let me know if ya need anything." You thank her and continue tongueing your lolipop. You think of the nights spent driving endless stretches of highway with your mother. The long chats of life, and what it means to vivir con gusto. She was always full of life. Someone too grand for a physical body. You feel your cheeks moisten with tears. The salt on your lips mixes with the hard candy. You throw it in a bin by your bed. [[You fall asleep crying.]]

<<audio mainsong stop>> <<audio sadend play>> The days in the hospital pass in a haze. Danny doesn't return, and you don't really care. By the time they send you home, you have a wheel chair you need to manage alone. You feel more alone than when you came. It isn't the car that leaves you hollow but the reminder that there is no one to ask for help. No one to pick you up. You wait outside for the cab that was paiged for you. You will return to an empty house, a gift paid by your father's tribute to war. But an empty house is no solid symbol for a life unwillingly given. Or is it willing when you choose to go to battle? Can you really complain? You never knew him too well. It doesn't matter. You have enough to get by. You always do. You will return to your empty house. To your books. To your candles. To your rituals that somehow make you believe there is something outside this earthly life. The moon is a grimace in the sky, turning inch by inch to expose it's pearl face. When the full moon comes, you will find a way to catch fire to the sky, to drum away these bad vibes. <img src="Images/theend.jpg" alt="A black and white photo of a typewriter with The End typed out" height="600" width="1100" />

"Will you read me one?" "Um, yeah, sure..." The flipping of pages relaxes you. You lay back and close your eyes. "I want to be able to see it," You say. "This is the start of book one: Paterson lies in the valley under the Passaic Falls its spent waters forming the outline of his back. He lies on his right side, head near the thunder of the waters filling his dreams! Eternally asleep, his dreams walk about the city where he persists incognito. Butterflies settle on his stone ear..." https://allpoetry.com/from-Book-I,-Paterson Your breathing settles. Your heart eases, and you think if you must be anywhere, here is a pretty nice place to be, listening to poems from a voice that seems too familiar. You want to stay awake but you [[drift carelessly away]], feeling safe in the world.

<<audio mainsong stop>> <<audio happyend play>> When you wake Danny is gone. There are flowers on a hospital dresser next to you and the tattered copy of Paterson. The flowers have a notecard. I'd like to think it was my soothing voice that sent you to sleep and not these words. Either way, I left the book in case you wanted to read more. If you're up for a visit, or a chat, I'd love to hear from you. An arrow causes you to flip the card around. On the back is a phone number. You'll be out of here soon. Your body feels stronger already. The air smells of jasmine blossom incense. You open the book and begin reading. You know you'll call Danny, even if only to return the book. You already have your own tattered copy, it is your favorite after all. <img src="Images/theend.jpg" alt="A black and white photo of a typewriter with The End typed out" height="600" width="1100" />

You open your green pouch that holds your spare change and dollar bills. You're about to pay when a glint catches your eye. <<if $intent >= 4>><<set $whitemagic += 1>><<set $blackmagic += 1>> You notice a copper pendulum. You're drawn to it. You slide the wood loose on the display case and pick it up. "Quanto cuesta?" You think you may have enough money to buy it. "Para ti." Says the maestra. "Take it. Oh! Y I put una botella of night queen in there for you."<<set $nightqueen = 1>> You thank the maestras, and [[head out the metal screen door]]. <<else>><<set $whitemagic +=1>> You notice a bowl of hematite rings. "You take." says the maestra. "You need it." <<set $hasring = 1>> The first ring you pick up fits perfectly. You feel a weight in your body. Energetic roots seem to glide from the bottoms of your feet into the Earth. You immediately feel grounded. "Oh, me puedes dar a small bottle of cinammon oil? I forgot it." Your candles will be more effective when cloaked in proper oil. <<set $cinoil = 1>> The maestra nods and grabs a small bottle from the cabinet under the register. She places it gently in your bag. You thank the maestras, and [[head out the metal screen door]].<</if>>

Outside, the cold, damp air kisses your exposed skin. You pull out a cigarette and set it ablaze with your torch lighter. The crisp smoke settles in your lungs with warmth and relief. You sigh unconsciously. You're ready to head home. You grab your keys from your purse and [[head to your car]].

The road lays out: a tongue in the night guiding you home. You've always enjoyed the peace that is found on a long silent drive. You're excited for the ritual, and this serentiy is only preparing you further. <<if $hasring >= 1>> When you turn, street lights relfect off your hematite ring. You think maybe you've been ignoring your spiritual needs lately, focused too much on making things better without settling for the way they are. [[You turn on your street.]] The trance of the drive lured you home. <<else>>You roll your windows down to feel the breeze push against your cheeks. There's a soft fog that cloaks your windows, leaving a trace of dew along your cheekbones. [[You turn on your street.]] The trance of the drive lured you home.<</if>>

After parking, you grab your tiny paper bag and [[walk through the front door]].

You sit on the edge of your bed and read through your list again. [[You have everything you need]].

You gather all of your supplies. <img src="Images/lovespellalter.jpg" alt="Supplies for a love spell" height="550" width="400" /> The energy clearing left you grounded and prepared for the ritual. You pick up the candle and cloak it in oil. You carve a saymbol of infinity on one side and place it in the candleholder. You place the 4 elemental offerings around you at each cardinal direction: North represents Earth. You offer a glass jar of dead sea salt. East represents air. You light a jasmine blossom incense. South represents fire. Here you have a carved candleholder with your lit candle. West represents water. You situate an abalone sea shell with water of the river. You place yourself in the center of these offerings and envision a brilliant white light surrounding you. You close your eyes and call forth your [[ancestros]].

You gather your Thoth deck. The lines ease you into a relaxed state. You begin shuffling the cards. You try to focus your intentions on the evening, and what lays ahead of you. The first signifies recent past, the second your current state of mind, and the third a potential outcome. <<linkappend "You lay out three cards.">>

<<if $blackmagic >= 5>> As soon as you pick up the pendelum, it responds to your rhythym, swinging in wide clockwise circles as if it's shouting in agreeance. You feel a tickle over your own skin. [[The pendelum slows to a stop.]] <<elseif $whitemagic >= 5>> The pendulum feels light in your hands. You remind yourself that this is a tool, but also one that can be easily overridden. You must surround yourself in a shield of burning [[snow-like light.]] <<else>> The pendelum hangs, waiting for your question. [[You ask if you should continue with your spell casting]]. <</if>>

[[You don't want payback]] you just want them to realize what they did wrong. Well... maybe you do [[want revenge]]. Isn't that how karma should work?

<<set $intent += 1>> It's not that you want to harm them. You <<linkappend "just want to stop them from continuing this.">> You wonder if they have any remorse for what they're doing. Maybe [[a small hex]] would make them focus elsewhere, instead of spreading hate.<</linkappend>>

<<set $intent += 1>>Who's to say what your intent is though? Isn't it all filtered through our own lens? You continue with a [[binding spell]] instead of a curse hoping this will stop them from doing anymore harm.

<<set $intent -= 1>>You decide this is not a time for games. They have caused too much harm. You decide to [[summon a demom]] to plague them. With your pendant you can manipulate them: have them work to your will. This is the only choice. With this demon they'll be distracted, unable to continue what they've been doing.

<<set $intent -= 1>> Who's to say what your intent is though? Isn't it all filtered through our own lens? You consider doing a [[binding spell]]. But the idea of casting [[misfortune]] on them also appeals to you.

You gather crystals around you

<<set $blackmagic += 3>> You gather your soloman's key. You gather your candles and matches and crystals and begin laying out the corners of your pentagram. You search your grimoire. You find [[the summoning spell]].

Once inside, you head to your alter space in your bedroom. You must make use of this new moon. You know the power of your spell lies in your intent. Tonight you're performing... [[a love spell]] [[a curse]]

<<set $intent += 1>><img src="Images/pine.jpg" alt="A photo of pine tree branches" height="400" width="700" /> You enjoy the smell of sunset and the settling fog, the way the stars seem to dance just for you. You walk to the trees. Feel the pines like needles teasing your skin. You sit here for a moment. You peel off your shoes. Dig your feet into the dirt that cradles the tree. You breathe. <<linkappend "You breathe.">> You breathe.<<set $intent += 1>> The chilling air invigorates you. Do you <<choice [[walk inside]]>> or <<choice [[linger for a few?]]>><</linkappend>>

<<set $intent += 2>><<set $whitemagic += 2>> Rose quartz is the type of stone that will love you until you've worn it smooth. It's the type of stone that will expand the heart chakra, and aid you in reminding you of who you really are. <img src="Images/rosequartz.jpg" alt="A piece of rose quartz in a palm" height="525" width="400"/> You will definitely need it for the [[love spell|a love spell]].

<<set $intent += 1>>The air kisses your skin and the breeze picks up. You stay until <<linkappend "you're ready to head in.">> Now, you feel grounded and you know it's time to verify that you have everything you'll need. Inside your home is a [[grimoire|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimoire]]. You [[walk inside]].<</linkappend>>

Your car starts smooth with the soft rumble you've grown to love. The seats are warm from sitting in the sun. You like the way the old leather seats hold you. You think of the days spent reading in here. Spent driving to nowhere to feel like you're somewhere. You send the mama maestras a text. They say they'll open shop for you. And there's something else they want to show you. You know the moon's power will last well into the next two days, but you want to return in time for the exact hour when the sky is darkest. The road is clear. [[You drive on]]

You feel a buzz in the air around you. A warmth settling on your skin. You try to imagine your [[familia|https://translate.google.com/#es/en/familia]] around you, guiding you in the ether, towards the one you're meant to be with. You try to focus on the electricity in the air: the sense of something greater than yourself around you. But, <<linkappend "try as you might...">> [[you can't keep your eyes closed]]. You continue anyways. [[Focusing]] on what you most desire: this future relationship. You know your familia would want you to be happy with someone you love.<</linkappend>>

<<set $blackmagic += 1>> You open your [[grimoire|http://www.dictionary.com/browse/grimoire]] to reveal the list you made weeks ago. <img src="Images/lovespelllist.jpg" alt="A list of items for a love spell with a venus glyph" height="550" width="400" /> You'll need to set your alter with the corresponding items. You begin picking up a few of your favorite crystals: Emerald gleams and while others may prefer the stone polished, you see the value in it's most raw state.<<choice [[You palm a chunk of rose quartz]]>> and focus your intentions. You want so badly [[to be with your match]].

This all feels ridiculous. You know your [[familia|https://translate.google.com/#es/en/familia]] would not want you spending your evenings [[sola|https://translate.google.com/#es/en/sola]] in an empty house calling on the invisible to help you find love. They would want you to live. You decide it might be best to go outside for a breath of fresh air. You go to grab a cigarette from your pack but find [[the pack empty]].

Your curse outloud and sigh. You want to call someone. You think about going out for a drink, but decide to hop in your car instead. You grab your keys and head <<linkappend "out the door">>. Your car purrs a soft response to the turned key. You know there's a 24 hour corner store a couple of miles away. A midnight fog clouds around your warming car. [[You start driving.]]<</linkappend>>

<<audio mainsong stop>> <<playlist "driving" unloop play>> The road is stretched out before you. A soft haze settling on the road. Everything feels surreal. The trees stretch high casting shadows from the amber lights that seem to reach towards you. <<if $blackmagic >= 3>>BRRIIIINNNGGGGGG Your cell phone shocks you out of your dreamy state. You reach for it, but it slides out of your hand to the passengar floor. You take your eyes off the road to reach for it. With the cellphone safely in your hand you [[look back to the road.]] <<else>> You [[drive on]], the craving of a cigarrette propelling you forward.<</if>>

A shadow leaps from the corner up ahead. You turn your wheel instinctively the other way. Your [[car stumbles off the main road|car skids off the road]].

<<playlist driving stop>> <<audio mainsong play>>The neon glow emanates from a corner up ahead. Your favorite conveniance store awaits. You park and <<linkappend "walk inside.">> The man at the counter greets you. He reaches for your favorite pack of natural tobacco only bold smokes. You play pretend and ask about his wife, but the answers flow out of your mind as quickly as they arrive. You take a free pack of matches and [[walk back to the parking lot.]]<</linkappend>>

A car pulls in as you light your cigarette. The driver steps out looking about as spent as you feel. "Have a spare one of those I can bum?" Your eyes meet with a set of azure stained pearls. Two summer sky eyes. "Yeah, sure," You mumble a reply as you hand a single cigarette with the matchbook. "Thanks, it's been a long night." "I feel ya." You both sit in silence, the kind of silence that carries its own tune. A familiar lullaby found between <<linkappend "barely awake and deep sleep.">> The driver pulls out a pen and writes something on the matchbook. "This might be forward, but I like your serenity. Here's my number." You take the matchbook. Unable to meet the aqua aura gaze again you [[watch the set of converse stride away.]] <</linkappend>>

You toss the matchbook up and down in the air, unsure of what to make of the situation. As the car steers out of the small fluorescent lit parking lot your eyes can't help but trail the exhaust fumes until they disappear around a corner. <<if $intent >= 5>><<audio mainsong stop>><<audio happyend play>>You place the matchbook with the number in your pocket. This whole night has been strange. [[Things are never quite what they seem to be at the start of the setting sun.]] But you think it might be nice to see those eyes again. You think, maybe I will use this number. <<else>><<audio mainsong stop>><<audio sadend play>>You sit on the curb in front of where your car is parked. Nothing has gone fully how you'd hoped. You live alone in a house. You are losing touch with your rituals. And this new moon is sliding by [[unused]].<</if>>

Thank you to the fabulous Thomas Gresham <3 for creating the perfect soundtrack to parts of this game, for recording some weird sound effects, videos, and capturing some nifty photos for this game. Other sounds were taken from [[freesound|https://www.freesound.org/]] an open source site with sound effects. Some of the phots are my own or by Thomas. Others are taken from [[pixabay|https://pixabay.com/]] an open source image site. And a big gratzi to Professor Hammond who taught us all about Twine, programming, and digital forms of narratives.

You're at that place in your life where maybe, just maybe, you can handle someone else's presence for longer than five seconds. You're ready for all the weirdness of meshing your lives, of [[besos|https://translate.google.com/#es/en/besos]] between speed bumps; but you can't seem to meet someone that makes you feel sure about your choice. You can be patient... but a little brujería might help rush it along. You move forward with the ritual. You pull out the old cigar box that smells of cedar and bees wax. You search for the ruby candle. The one you've saved for this night. You shuffle the candles around. You know it's here somewhere. So many colors, but none are red. A gold candle glints. [[You pick it up]].

<<audio mainsong stop>><<audio match play>> You strike a match. You set aflame the whole book and watch it burn. You have no need for someone who reminds you of something you never really knew. <img src="Images/theend.jpg" alt="A black and white photo of a typewriter with The End typed out" height="600" width="1100" />

At first you see nothing but the blackness of closed lids around you. You feel a pressure in the center of your forhead. Then at the base of your neck. The abyss before you begins to shift to static. Like white noise on a television, you hear a hum and feel a tickle at the nape of your neck. Soft whispers begin growing around and within you. Your great grandmother's face begins to materialize in the contrasting mess you face. "Ah, [[mi corazón|https://translate.google.com/#es/en/mi%20coraz%C3%B3n]]. [[Como te extrañe|https://translate.google.com/#es/en/como%20te%20extra%C3%B1e]]." You feel your eyes well up a little bit. How you've missed having family around you. Things seem so much more possible when you're no longer alone. "Abuela, I need... I need help. I don't want to be alone." Her hand slides up and cups your face in a way that doesn't feel like skin on skin but soft currents running along your cheek, raising barely perceptible hairs. "[[Si, te ayudo.|https://translate.google.com/#es/en/te%20ayudo]]" Her face begins to pull away until blue skies surround her. You feel the spreading heat of sun on your skin. You're standing in a desert. Your abuela is standing some odd feet away, staring straight ahead, pointing. [[You squint and try to see what she sees.]]

<<if $blackmagic >= 3>> Afar you see a tall body, pulling burlap bags along the sand. Your abuela frowns, tears stain her cheeks. She shakes her head. The body moves slow: dragging feet. You call out, "Hello! Who are you!" Your abuela says, "Corazon, no use. This is not what you think this is. Corazon, your amor is trapped in this purgatorio." The body turns and your vision shakes. Static surrounds your ears. You see blue, see blue, see blue skies, blue seas, blue wildflowers." "Corazon, the body, it's not in your world, but not in my world. You can do nothing." Tears well inside you. [[You shake your head, whisper no, no, no.]] <<else>> Afar you see a tall body looking up towards palm trees. Your abuela smiles. "[[Mira,|https://translate.google.com/#es/en/mira]]" She says. She lets out a loud laugh that seems to rumble the arching leaves. There are voices exchanging conversation in Spanish but you can't make out the exact phrases. You try to step closer but your feet are lodged in sand. "[[Espera,|https://translate.google.com/#es/en/espera]]" says your abuela. The body turns and you instantly hear the crash of waves. She a cloudless island sky. You feel a waterfall breeze speckled with dew. Those eyes. Aqua aura quartz eyes; pearlescent eyes. "[[Tienes amor.|https://translate.google.com/#es/en/tienes%20amor]]" But you must wait. Just a little longer." Your abuela squints at you, and before you can look any further at the scene she waves her hand in front of your face. You feel a pull in the center back of your skull. Your eyelids flutter. You wake on the ground feeling [[hardwood along your back.]] <</if>>

You open your eyes and find yourself lying on your back on the hard wooden floor of your house. You are shaking. You wonder what the images meant, what your abuela meant when she said neither here nor there. [[You crawl to your bed.]]

Manage to slip between covers and you sleep. You sleep and hope to dream, to make sense of this nightmare. You dream of nothing but [[crashing waves and summer skies.]]

You wake obsessed with these eyes. This blue you've never seen. You cry out nightly for your abuela to return but she never does. You don't eat. You don't sleep. You think of nothing but this blue and the heat of the sun and the dragging of the bags. [[You fall asleep to the dragging.]]

<<audio main song stop>> <<audio creepyend play>> Your body fades. You don't understand how you can help the trapped soul. None of your rituals continue to work. You fade, you fade, you fade. You let yourself live in dreams. The only place where you see summer skies, taste crisp cloudless air. <img src="Images/theend.jpg" alt="A black and white photo of a typewriter with The End typed out" height="600" width="1100" />

Your phone rings which is strange for a weekday night. [[You run to answer it.]]

"I'm sorry to call so late," they say. You don't recognize the area code. "We found your information through an old professor of your, Dr. Nericcio" [[You mumble a barely coherent response.]]

<<audio mainsong stop>> <<audio happyend play>> "We're calling from The University of Sydney. We know you specialize in Latin American studies. We had a recent hire fall through and we need someone to start right away, two weeks in fact. You come highly recommended, and we would be able to offer you a ..." Their voice fades and you're mind begins to get hazy. Australia? Sydney, Australia? You think of your grandmother. Think of change. Think of love. You think of blue clear skies. <img src="Images/theend.jpg" alt="A black and white photo of a typewriter with The End typed out" height="600" width="1100" />

You roll your windows down to feel the breeze push against your cheeks. There's a soft fog that cloaks your windows, leaving a trace of dew along your cheekbones. [[You turn on your street.]] The trance of the drive lured you home.

You place the supplies at each point. One corner to represent each element and finally, an offering at the top point. The axis of the spirit world. You pick out one boost to amplify your spell. Different tools provide different effects. What do you choose to include? <<choice [[Solomon Talisman]]>> <<choice [[Raven's Blood]]>> <<choice [[Saturn Sigil]]>> <<choice [[Daggar]]>> <<choice [[Dragon's Blood Incense]]>> <<choice [[Solomon Oil]]>> [[You grab your ouija board.]]

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"I seek out truth, wisdom and guidance." You sigh, "

Double-click this passage to edit it.

You light your candle. You light sage, fan the air around you. You draw a pentagram in the air and invoke the powers of Saturn. You close your eyes and [[focus]] on your spell. CANDLE BURNING VIDEO

You settle yourself in pentagram. You close your eyes and begin chanting. You place your hands on the board's eye and try to pick up a name of the demon to help aid you in the magical workings. You begin chanting the sounds as they appear to you on the board. <<linkappend "You call forth the demon.">> <<if $blackmagic >= 5>> Your skin heats. You feel an electrical sizzle buzz over your skin. It grows, travels up your spine, burning your crown. [[You feel the ground shake and rumble.]] <<elseif $intent >= 6>> The air feels dense, heavy. Fog slides in from under the bedroom door swirling around you. The [[fog gathers into a small figure]] beside you. <<elseif $whitemagic >= 4>> Your candle flickers, the flame rises and shrinks. The ground seems to shiver beneath you. [[The flame blows out.]] <<else>> The ground beneath you shivers. Your candle flame flickers. You feel a buzz build around you. A hazy film develops over your eyes. You see the world beneath this one, see a tiny winged figure rise from the smoke. <</if>><</linkappend>>

<<set $whitemagic + 1>> The talisman will call forth the ascended master, one who knew too much about controlling demons. [[You are ready.|You grab your ouija board.]]

<<set $blackmagic + 1>> Raven's blood amplifies the spell's power, creating a scent that appeals to nearby entities. [[You are ready.|You grab your ouija board.]]

<<set $blackmagic + 1>> You draw Saturn's sigil on your skin. You invoke the powers. [[You grab your ouija board.]]

<<set $whitemagic + 2>> A daggar amplifies the border of your pentagram. It will help you keep the demons within your boundaries. [[You grab your ouija board.]]

<<set $intent + 1>> This incence has a lulling effect on entities. It will help you control the situation. [[You are ready.|You grab your ouija board.]]

<<set $whitemagic + 1>> The solomon oil will connect you to your highest self. [[You grab your ouija board.]]

<<audio mainsong stop>><<audio creepyend play>>A crack forms beneath you slithering up the wall. You fall back, scoot towards the nearest corner. From the ground swarms of mosquitos rise, rise, rise and fill your room. Voices escape the ground, screaming, shouting, crying. An oil slick hand reaches from the ground, stretches for you, grabs your ankle and pulls. You scratch the hardwood floor as your dragged down, down, down into an abyss of screams and charcoal. <img src="Images/theend.jpg" alt="A black and white photo of a typewriter with The End typed out" height="600" width="1100" />

<<audio mainsong stop>> <<audio creepyend play>> "MAHSTER, LEADER, I COME TO SERVE YOU." The figure solidifies into a knee high swirl of dust, fruit flies, and hair. You try to face it but the form shifts uncontrollably, making it hard for you to focus. "WHAT PLAGUES YOU MAHSTER? I AM HERE FOR YOU MAHSTER!" The demon speaks in cackles and scratches. You picture the face of your victim. "YAHS, I GO MAHSTER" The demon sees the face, knows exactly what you called it to do. It swirls into a tornado pulling all of the tools around you. The gound shapes, caves into a black hole. The demon dives in, laughter trailing behind him. You succeeded. You may have unleashed a demon, but there are far worse things living on this Earth. <img src="Images/theend.jpg" alt="A black and white photo of a typewriter with The End typed out" height="600" width="1100" />

<<audio mainsong stop>><<audio creepyend play>> You hear your grandmother's voice rise in the silence. [["Corazón que haces?!"|https://translate.google.com/#es/en/coraz%C3%B3n%20que%20haces]] Her voice shudders your chest. "These powers, [[no bueno|https://translate.google.com/#es/en/no%20bueno]] I will not let you." She materializes in front of you, a tendril of smoke swirling into the familiar face you've missed for too long. <<linkappend "Her hand reaches out.">> It juts into your chest, grasping, clutching, pulling. You feel her fingers twisting. "[[No mas!|https://translate.google.com/#es/en/no%20mas]]" She pulls her hand out illuminating your blacked out room. In her hand glows a small sphere of light. "[[Nunca mas|https://translate.google.com/#es/en/nunca%20mas]]. No more power for you." She claps her hands together, extinguishing the light. The room errupts in brilliant white and <<linkappend "she's gone.">> You feel an apathy: a hollow within you. Even from the grave, your abuela was almost more of a bruja than you. <img src="Images/theend.jpg" alt="A black and white photo of a typewriter with The End typed out" height="600" width="1100" />

You open your grimoire, locate Hecate's glyph. The spell is simple. <<linkappend "You gather your supplies and lay them out.">> On the alter cloth you place a doll. You take a thread and lay it down, next to a large quartz point. Finally you gather your luck oil. You surround yourself in light and mumble a prayer under your breath. You close your eyes and [[pick up the thread and doll]].

You begin mumbling your spell. "I bind you..." "I bind you..." "[[Nunca harás daño otra vez|https://translate.google.com/#es/en/Nunca%20har%C3%A1s%20da%C3%B1o%20otra%20vez]]," You begin wrapping the doll in thread, over and over, around the neck, the mouth, the eyes, the hands, you wrap until you feel [[the seal is complete.]]

<<audio mainsong stop>> <<audio creepyend play>> <<if $intent >= 4>> You feel rushing crashes of energy smooth through your arms and out of your hands. A sense of relief washes over you. You know this is a small act, nothing substantial. But something about the ritual makes you feel like you played a part in something larger than yourself. You know it won't stop them entirely, but you think it could just maybe add more roadblocks to the harm they so despartely want to pave. <<else>> The air around you buzzes. You feel a shiver work its way up your spine and down your arms. A sense of tugging lifts you and your head arches back, back, back. A tightening works it's way around your chest and up to your throat. You feel the winding of thread around your throat, sewing in and out of your skin, but as you grasp you feel nothing with your hands. The thread pulls in and out through you, and you try to form words but you can't speak anything but a croak. You wonder if the doll carried too much of your own energy. You wanted so badly to use the forces to shift things around you, but you are still new to all of it. You gasp for air, and though you inhale it doesn't feel like enough. You lay back on the floor try to scream but the lights around you flicker until they burst. The darkness consumes you. You drift out of consciousness as you realize silence carries its own echo. <img src="Images/theend.jpg" alt="A black and white photo of a typewriter with The End typed out" height="600" width="1100" /><</if>>

There are a few different approaches you can take. If you choose to use <<choice [[Solomon Talisman|Solomon Talisman2]]>>, you can invoke a demon, have it plague the one you seek to harm. If you use <<choice [[Raven's Blood|Raven's Blood2]]>>, you call forth the powers of chaos. Nothing will go according to their plans, but it also might alter your own course. <<choice [[Dragon's Blood Incense|Dragon's Blood Incense 2]]>>The powers of the dragon are similar to those of Mars. Destruction.

<<set $intent to += 1>> <<audio mainsong stop>> <<audio creepyend play>> "MAHSTER, LEADER, I COME TO SERVE YOU." The figure solidifies into a knee high swirl of dust, fruit flies, and hair. You try to face it but the form shifts uncontrollably, making it hard for you to focus. "WHAT PLAGUES YOU MAHSTER? I AM HERE FOR YOU MAHSTER!" The demon speaks in cackles and scratches. You picture the face of your victim. "YAHS, I GO MAHSTER" The demon sees the face, knows exactly what you called it to do. It swirls into a tornado pulling all of the tools around you. The gound shapes, caves into a black hole. The demon dives in, laughter trailing behind him. You succeeded. You may have unleashed a demon, but there are far worse things living on this Earth. <img src="Images/theend.jpg" alt="A black and white photo of a typewriter with The End typed out" height="600" width="1100" />

<<set $blackmagic += 2>>

<<set $whitemagic += 1>>

<<audio mainsong stop>><<audio happyend play>> You mouth the phone numbers to yourself and consider, it might be nice to see those river bright eyes again, even if only to sit in silence with them. <img src="Images/theend.jpg" alt="A black and white photo of a typewriter with The End typed out" height="600" width="1100" />