VAR visited_market = false
VAR visited_shrine = false
VAR visited_docks = false

-> hub

=== hub ===
You stand in the town square. Paths lead in every direction.
+ {not visited_market} [Head to the market] -> spoke_market ->
+ {not visited_shrine} [Visit the shrine] -> spoke_shrine ->
+ {not visited_docks} [Walk to the docks] -> spoke_docks ->
+ {visited_market and visited_shrine and visited_docks} [Leave town] -> finale
- -> hub

=== spoke_market ===
The market is a riot of color and noise.
* [Browse the weapon stalls]
    You find a short blade with a chipped edge. Cheap but functional.
* [Check the food vendors]
    Dried fish and hard bread. Trail rations.
* [Talk to the old merchant]
    She tells you about strange lights on the northern road.
- ~ visited_market = true
You pocket what you need and head back to the square.
->->

=== spoke_shrine ===
Incense smoke curls around stone pillars.
* [Pray at the altar]
    A warmth fills your chest. You feel watched, but not threatened.
* [Read the inscriptions]
    The old language. Something about a seal, and a key beneath water.
* [Leave an offering]
    You set down a coin. The flame on the altar flickers blue.
- ~ visited_shrine = true
You step back into daylight.
->->

=== spoke_docks ===
Salt air, creaking wood, the cry of gulls.
* [Ask the fishermen about the northern lights]
    "Bad business," one mutters. "Fish been dying since it started."
* [Check the boats]
    One skiff has a fresh hull. Someone is planning to leave.
* [Search the warehouse]
    Crates stamped with a sigil you do not recognize.
- ~ visited_docks = true
You walk back along the harbour wall.
->->

=== finale ===
With the town explored, you take the northern road.
-> END

// In a real story, traits would be earned from earlier scenes.
// Parens = "starts in the set." Blade is defined but not yet earned.
LIST Traits = (charm), blade, (lore)
VAR health = 3

-> station_1

=== station_1 ===
The road narrows to a bridge. A toll collector blocks the way.
* {Traits ? charm} [Charm your way past]
    "Well aren't you a delight." She waves you through with a grin.
    -> station_2
* {Traits ? blade} [Flash your weapon]
    She steps aside without a word. Professional courtesy.
    -> station_2
* [Pay the toll] // always available
    You hand over your last coin. She bites it and nods.
    -> station_2
* [Try to shove past] // costly: always available
    She trips you and takes two coins. You limp onward.
    ~ health = health - 1
    -> station_2

=== station_2 ===
A collapsed section of road. Rubble everywhere.
* {Traits ? lore} [Recall the old shortcut from the archives]
    The side path is right where the map said. Clean and easy.
    -> station_3
* {Traits ? blade} [Hack through the undergrowth]
    Slow work, but your blade makes it possible.
    -> station_3
* [Climb over the rubble] // costly: always available
    You scrape your hands raw but make it through.
    ~ health = health - 1
    -> station_3

=== station_3 ===
The final gate: an iron door set into the hillside.
* {Traits ? lore} [Read the inscription and speak the passphrase]
    The door swings open silently.
    -> gauntlet_end
* {Traits ? charm} [Convince the guard behind the slot]
    "Password?" "Would you believe I forgot?" A pause. The bolt slides.
    -> gauntlet_end
* [Force the door] // costly: always available
    You throw your weight against it. Something in your shoulder pops.
    ~ health = health - 1
    -> gauntlet_end

=== gauntlet_end ===
{health >= 3:You emerge unscathed. Every gate had a clean answer.}
{health == 2:Battered but standing. One gate cost you.}
{health == 1:Barely alive. The gauntlet took its toll.}
{health <= 0:You collapse just past the threshold. But you made it.}
-> END

VAR reputation = 0
VAR has_artifact = false
VAR knows_secret = false

-> act_1

=== act_1 ===
The council chamber. Two factions demand your attention.
* [Side with the merchants]
    ~ reputation = reputation + 1
    {knows_secret:
        You leverage what you know. The merchants owe you double now.
        ~ reputation = reputation + 1
    }
    {not knows_secret:
        A straightforward deal. Coin for loyalty.
    }
    The merchants nod. Commerce will flow.
* [Side with the scholars]
    ~ knows_secret = true
    {reputation > 0:
        Your standing makes the scholars trust you faster.
        They share the deep archives, not just the public ones.
        ~ has_artifact = true
    }
    {reputation <= 0:
        The scholars accept you cautiously. Basic access only.
    }
    Knowledge is its own currency.
- // Act 1 bottleneck
The council adjourns. Word of your choice spreads.
-> act_2

=== act_2 ===
A month later. The northern border is under threat.
* [Lead the defense yourself]
    ~ reputation = reputation + 1
    {has_artifact:
        The artifact hums in your pack. The enemy scouts
        turn back before they even reach the wall.
    }
    {not has_artifact:
        Hard fighting. You hold the line, but barely.
    }
    The border holds. Your name is spoken with respect.
* [Send diplomats instead]
    {knows_secret:
        Your knowledge of the enemy's internal politics
        gives the diplomats exactly the right leverage.
    }
    {not knows_secret:
        The diplomats do their best. A fragile truce.
    }
    ~ knows_secret = true
    Peace, for now. But peace has a price.
- // Act 2 bottleneck
Winter comes. The real test approaches.
-> act_3

=== act_3 ===
The throne room. A decision that cannot be undone.
* [Claim the throne]
    {reputation >= 2:
        The crowd cheers. You have earned this.
    }
    {reputation == 1:
        Mixed reactions. You have supporters, but also doubters.
    }
    {reputation <= 0:
        Silence. You sit on a throne no one wanted you to have.
    }
    {has_artifact: The artifact gleams on the armrest. A symbol of legitimacy.}
    The crown is heavy.
* [Refuse the throne]
    {knows_secret:
        You reveal what you know. The truth changes everything.
        A better candidate emerges from the chaos.
    }
    {not knows_secret:
        You step aside with grace. The council will choose.
    }
    {reputation >= 2: They beg you to reconsider. You hold firm.}
    Freedom is its own crown.
- // Act 3 bottleneck: converged ending
The story ends, but the shape of it was yours.
-> END

VAR found_clue = false

-> outer_diamond

=== outer_diamond ===
The detective surveys the crime scene. Three leads.
* [Check the victim's pockets]
    A receipt from a bar downtown. Timestamped last night.
* [Examine the locked room] -> inner_diamond ->
* [Interview the neighbor]
    "I heard shouting around midnight. Two voices, maybe three."
- // Outer gather
{found_clue: A piece of the puzzle clicks into place.}
The detective pockets the notebook and heads to the precinct.
-> END

=== inner_diamond ===
The room is sealed from the inside. How?
* [Check the windows]
    One window has a fresh scratch on the latch. Opened recently,
    then closed again from outside with a wire.
    ~ found_clue = true
* [Examine the lock mechanism]
    Standard deadbolt. No sign of picking. But the strike plate
    has been shimmed -- the door could close without locking.
    ~ found_clue = true
* [Look at the ventilation]
    The vent cover is loose. Too small for a person, but not
    for a hand reaching through to turn the deadbolt.
    ~ found_clue = true
- // Inner gather
The locked room is not so locked after all.
->->

VAR trust = 0
VAR rumors = 0
VAR goodwill = 0
VAR visits = 0

-> tavern

=== tavern ===
~ visits = visits + 1
{visits == 1: You push through the door. Smoke and noise.}
{visits == 2: The barkeep nods. You're becoming a regular.}
{visits >= 3: The usual seat is empty. Waiting for you.}

+ [Buy a round for the house]
    ~ goodwill = goodwill + 1
    ~ trust = trust + 1
    Cheers erupt. A few strangers raise their mugs your way.
    -> tavern_check
+ [Sit in the corner and listen]
    ~ rumors = rumors + 1
    Fragments of conversation drift over. The old mine. The missing girl.
    {rumors >= 2: A pattern is forming in what you hear.}
    -> tavern_check
* [Challenge the scarred man to cards]
    ~ goodwill = goodwill + 1
    He grins. You win a hand, lose two. But you learn how he thinks.
    ~ trust = trust + 1
    -> tavern_check
* [Break up the bar fight]
    ~ trust = trust + 2
    You pull them apart. The smaller one thanks you. The bigger one glares.
    -> tavern_check

= tavern_check
{visits >= 3:
    The door slams open. "They found a body at the mine."
    -> foldback
}
The night wears on.
-> tavern

=== foldback ===
You follow the crowd to the mine entrance. Torchlight. Silence.
{trust >= 3:
    The miners let you through. "You're alright," one says.
    Inside, you find the foreman, pale and shaking.
    "She went down there. Three days ago. I should have said something."
    {rumors >= 2:
        The fragments connect. You know which shaft. You know why.
        "Follow me," you say, and they do.
    }
    {rumors < 2:
        You do not know enough. But you go anyway.
        The foreman leads. You follow blind.
    }
}
{trust < 3:
    The miners block the entrance. "Who are you?"
    {goodwill >= 2:
        You call in favors. Enough goodwill to get waved through.
        The miners step aside. You enter alone.
    }
    {goodwill < 2:
        You argue. They shove you back.
        You find another way in -- the old ventilation shaft,
        crawling through dust and dark.
    }
}
- // Foldback convergence
Either way, you reach the bottom. Either way, you find her.
The path was different. The destination was always the same.
-> END