As was foretold, we've added advertisements to the forums! If you have questions, or if you encounter any bugs, please visit this thread: https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/240191/forum-advertisement-faq-and-reports-thread/

[CYOA] Sand

Clint EastwoodClint Eastwood My baby's in there someplaceShe crawled right inRegistered User regular
edited September 2016 in Social Entropy++
You wake up with an unshakable feeling that you’ve brought this upon yourself. An inherent knowledge of your guilt, even when you don’t know what you’ve done wrong? Actually, no. You’ve determined this from the note, pinned to your dirty white shirt. It reads YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID in piecemeal, blocky letters clipped from newspapers, letter headers, and cereal boxes.

You turn your eyes skyward, finding a cloudy day and thanking whatever benevolent spirit who flipped the switch from SCALDING to TOLERABLE. You feel overly hot anyway, which you decide is likely due to lying unconscious in a desert for an indeterminate amount of time. You have a tattered red bandana covering your mouth and nose, another blessing, given the sand and wind and all.

The sun pokes through the clouds occasionally; given its current location, you suppose it’s about midday. You also suppose this because you are wearing a dinged up brassy watch that reads 11:30. You stand up and look all around you.

You were lying next to the side of a road, worn down by erosion and disuse, half covered in shifting sands and the odd tumbleweed. Stray tufts of long, reedy plants unkink themselves from between cracks in the asphalt. The road seems to fork behind you, both sides stretching off into the desert and disappearing over dunes.

Off in the distance the other direction, you can see a craggy mountain, with what looks like a big scoop taken out of the side by some unfathomably large melon baller. You reach up to your face, shading your eyes as the sun peeks into full view, and notice the slight heft of a ratty, light knapsack, slung over your shoulders. The mountain seems to be unconnected to the road in front of you.

There is a withered green sign by the edge of the road in front of you. It reads LEXAN – 8. You turn around and see similar signs on both forks of the road. The left fork’s sign has been worn away almost entirely, and the only legible bit is the number 240. The right fork’s sign appears to have been hit by something; it lies in the sand. It reads, E W. NEST – 3, written with what seems to be spray paint.


You are alone. You consider what you should do.
---

This is a CYOA, or choose your own adventure. I intend to update it as regularly as I damn please assuming there's any interest in this, or as regularly as my work schedule allows. Ideally at least once a day, barring saturdays. I also intend to provide sporadic illustrations when necessary, made in the wonderful image editing program known as MS Paint.

Any and all actions will be usable (within reason, of course), but I would like to use the agree system to determine what action will be taken. Whatever posted course of action gets the most agrees will be the one we go with, again assuming it's not something totally dumb like >Kill Yourself For Posting This Dumb Thread. Please bold any recommendations for our protagonist's next action.

Clint Eastwood on
«1345

Posts

  • RadiusRadius Registered User regular
    edited November 2015
    Inspect Knapsack and Contents.

    Radius on
    Everyday we stray further from God's light
    Steam Switch FC: 2799-7909-4852
  • godmodegodmode Southeast JapanRegistered User regular
    edited November 2015
    >Check inventory

    Edit: Whoops, I'm on a super slow connection

    godmode on
  • NeoTomaNeoToma Registered User regular
    Attack the sign with your knapsack

  • ArtereisArtereis Registered User regular
    Look around for possible sources of water.

  • ProlegomenaProlegomena Frictionless Spinning The VoidRegistered User regular
    Examine bandana

    It has aroused my.... suspicion.

  • see317see317 Registered User regular
    Locate the nearest Gazebo. This vile race cannot be allowed to continue to taint the planet with their evil.

  • Clint EastwoodClint Eastwood My baby's in there someplace She crawled right inRegistered User regular
    Radius wrote: »
    Inspect Knapsack and Contents.

    Giving in to your immediate curiosity, you shrug off the knapsack and unzip it, squatting downward and laying it gently on the asphalt below.

    Its contents are sparse. You dig inside and find a REVOLVER, loaded with a single bullet. Preferring not to contemplate its intended usage, you tuck it into the back of your jeans. The next thing you retrieve is a dusty COMPASS. You palm it for a moment, then note that you are currently facing southwest, meaning the forks behind you lead north and east. Of course, you reason, nothing's stopping you from going off the beaten path, so to speak. Not many beaten paths in the fucking desert, you figure.

    You reach back inside the knapsack and grab a CANTEEN. Its contents slosh around invitingly. Probably water, but possibly tequila. You put it back in the knapsack. The final item inside is a crumpled-up BASEBALL HAT that simply says Beer on it.

    Zipping the knapsack back up, you put it back on and rise to your feet again. You are facing southwest. The sun has disappeared again. The time is 11:34 AM.

  • That Dave FellaThat Dave Fella Registered User regular
    Put the hat on

    PSN: ThatDaveFella
  • ArtereisArtereis Registered User regular
    Take a swig from the canteen to confirm its contents.

  • JebusUDJebusUD Adventure! Candy IslandRegistered User regular
    Put the hat on

    Put the hat on backwards.

    I write you a story
    But it loses its thread
  • godmodegodmode Southeast JapanRegistered User regular
    Contemplate revolver's intended usage

  • firewaterwordfirewaterword Satchitananda Pais Vasco to San FranciscoRegistered User regular
    Pour the canteen contents into the hat, then put the hat on.

    Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
  • Donovan PuppyfuckerDonovan Puppyfucker A dagger in the dark is worth a thousand swords in the morningRegistered User regular
    Breed, we need more fishpeople! Then expand south towards the forest.

  • Clint EastwoodClint Eastwood My baby's in there someplace She crawled right inRegistered User regular
    JebusUD wrote: »
    Put the hat on

    Put the hat on backwards.

    You remove the hat from the knapsack once more, turning it over in your hands and staring intently at the four letters adorning it. The second E is slightly ragged, flaking away in small chunks. If you picked at it for a minute, the hat would say Becr. You adjust the snaps on the back, leaving two unused.

    As you slowly pull the snug but comfortable hat onto your head, over your shaggy hair, you feel somewhat at ease. You instantly feel lucky, or at least luckier than you were beforehand. The bill of the cap is low, keeping the back of your neck cool. Almost as cool as you look, with your backwards hat.

    Looking up at the sky again, you wonder why you haven't seen any other signs of life. No birds, no snakes, not a solitary cricket. Despite the uneasy sensation of being utterly alone, you shrug it off and survey your surroundings again.

    To the southwest, the direction you currently face, a road stretches out into the distance. A sign reads Lexan - 8. You notice a faint sound, repetitive but indistinct, coming from the southwest.

    To the north, the left fork of the same road. Its sign reads 240. The road appears particularly well worn, in comparison to the southwest and east routes.

    To the east, the right fork. Its sign reads E W. Nest - 3. The sign has been toppled, and two lengthy skid marks cut off at the joint of the fork.

    To the southeast, you see the mountain with the giant hole in its side. You notice mist surrounding its peak, possibly the only watery thing in this arid place.

    In every other direction, you see nothing but sand. The time is 11: 38 AM. You are starting to feel hungry.

  • RadiusRadius Registered User regular
    Head Southeast to the Mountain, in search of food and fresh water.

    Everyday we stray further from God's light
    Steam Switch FC: 2799-7909-4852
  • ArtereisArtereis Registered User regular
    No one likes Lexan 8. Head toward Lexan 7 instead.

  • Crimson KingCrimson King Registered User regular
    Sip from the canteen to see if it's potable water. If so, head north along the well-worn road in hopes of finding people. If not, head southeast toward the mountain.

  • Clint EastwoodClint Eastwood My baby's in there someplace She crawled right inRegistered User regular
    Sip from the canteen to see if it's potable water. If so, head north along the well-worn road in hopes of finding people. If not, head southeast toward the mountain.

    You plunge your hand back into the knapsack again, plucking out the canteen and unscrewing its tight lid, and sniff at its contents. You are rewarded with the smell of rubbing alcohol. A sizable gulp confirms your suspicions - it's VODKA. Warm vodka, at that. A fate worse than death. You clutch your gut in disgust, but manage to get it down without retching. After putting the canteen back in your bag, you decide to head towards the mountain, in hopes of finding...anything.

    As you trudge through the desert, you contemplate what you could have done to wind up here. The note is all you have to go on, but YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID isn't helpful when you can't remember anything before about ten minutes ago. Are you a murderer? A junkie? A thief? Too sassy for your own good? Yeah, it's probably that one, you think.

    You walk for what you assume is about a mile, without any notable event, then stop dead in your tracks. At the bottom of a sloping hill lies some sort of oversized dune buggy, with a covered roof, screened windows, and room for two. A thick layer of dust coats its exterior, and sand reaches up to the halfway point of its wheels. You peer around, but do not see a driver, or the remains of one. You are concerned it may be a trap.

    The mountain appears to be at least an hour away on foot. The clouds are beginning to clear out. You are moderately hungry and heavily thirsty. You feel buzzed. You are beginning to feel hot. The time is 12:18 PM.

  • JebusUDJebusUD Adventure! Candy IslandRegistered User regular
    DUNE BUGGY!

    VROOOOOMMMMMM!!!

    Ignore your paranoia and walk up to the Dune Buggy, see if it works. Better a "trap" that dying in the desert of heat stroke.

    I write you a story
    But it loses its thread
  • RadiusRadius Registered User regular
    Everyday we stray further from God's light
    Steam Switch FC: 2799-7909-4852
  • firewaterwordfirewaterword Satchitananda Pais Vasco to San FranciscoRegistered User regular
    Take another big swig of warm Winner's Cup, lie down on the sand, and roll down the dune towards the buggy.

    Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
  • Tommy2HandsTommy2Hands what is this where am i Registered User regular
    Finish the contents of the entire canteen and zigzag in the dune buggy towards the mountain

    8j12qx8ma5j5.jpg
  • Mojo_JojoMojo_Jojo We are only now beginning to understand the full power and ramifications of sexual intercourse Registered User regular
    Finish the canteen and start shovelling out that dune buggy.

    No way that's a trap. No sir.

    Homogeneous distribution of your varieties of amuse-gueule
  • AwkoAwko About to poison the waterhole.Registered User regular
    Mojo_Jojo wrote: »
    Finish the canteen and start shovelling out that dune buggy.

    No way that's a trap. No sir.

    This but Start chucking doughnuts to raise a dust cloud as a signal

  • Donovan PuppyfuckerDonovan Puppyfucker A dagger in the dark is worth a thousand swords in the morningRegistered User regular
    some sort of oversized dune buggy, with a covered roof, screened windows, and room for two.

    Damnit, it's not little and blue...

  • Clint EastwoodClint Eastwood My baby's in there someplace She crawled right inRegistered User regular
    K fixing to bash out the next bit shortly here. Apologies for the wait.

  • Sir FabulousSir Fabulous Malevolent Squid God Registered User regular
    I demand instant gratification!

    pickup-sig.php?name=Orthanc

    Switch Friend Code: SW-1406-1275-7906
  • Clint EastwoodClint Eastwood My baby's in there someplace She crawled right inRegistered User regular
    No!

  • Sir FabulousSir Fabulous Malevolent Squid God Registered User regular
    :bigfrown:

    pickup-sig.php?name=Orthanc

    Switch Friend Code: SW-1406-1275-7906
  • Clint EastwoodClint Eastwood My baby's in there someplace She crawled right inRegistered User regular
    JebusUD wrote: »
    DUNE BUGGY!

    VROOOOOMMMMMM!!!

    Ignore your paranoia and walk up to the Dune Buggy, see if it works. Better a "trap" that dying in the desert of heat stroke.

    You tentatively approach the dune buggy. Wiping some grit away from the windshield, you peer inside.

    Nobody waiting for you, alive or dead. You sigh with relief, then open the driver's side door and plop down.

    The buggy's key hangs loosely from a hook on the dashboard, along with a keychain that reads ALEXANDER in hastily scrawled blue letters. In the passenger seat lies a half-full WATER BOTTLE (assuming it hasn't been switched out for vodka) and another REVOLVER like yours, complete with one bullet. You take both objects and deposit them in your backpack, then snatch the key.

    The buggy turns on, but does not start. The battery and fluid gauges appear normal. You are out of fuel.

    With a sigh, you slouch back into the seat, taking a moment to mull over your options. You feel moderately hungry and heavily thirsty. You feel buzzed. The time is 12:24 pm.

  • cB557cB557 voOOP Registered User regular
    I'm assuming there isn't a back seat or trunk we haven't check? If there isn't, check out the internals of the buggy. This situation is weird enough that you're not ruling out there being something hidden in there.
    If there is a trunk and/or back seat, check them.

  • Tommy2HandsTommy2Hands what is this where am i Registered User regular
    edited November 2015
    Pour vodka in the tank

    Start up the party machine

    Tommy2Hands on
    8j12qx8ma5j5.jpg
  • KilroyKilroy timaeusTestified Registered User regular
    take a sniff of the contents of the water bottle

  • Donovan PuppyfuckerDonovan Puppyfucker A dagger in the dark is worth a thousand swords in the morningRegistered User regular
    Make the best pistol you can out of the two, load both bullets into the good one, and keep the second to swap out for more ammo if you find someone to barter with in future:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2WQGxRNpBc

  • Crimson KingCrimson King Registered User regular
    See if there's water in the radiator.

    water in radiators is a thing, right

  • cB557cB557 voOOP Registered User regular
    See if there's water in the radiator.

    water in radiators is a thing, right
    Nope, pretty sure that just kills you.

  • Duke 2.0Duke 2.0 Time Trash Cat Registered User regular
    Open the gas tank and sniff the contents

    to uh, check the contents, yeah

    VRXwDW7.png
  • Donovan PuppyfuckerDonovan Puppyfucker A dagger in the dark is worth a thousand swords in the morningRegistered User regular
    cB557 wrote: »
    See if there's water in the radiator.

    water in radiators is a thing, right
    Nope, pretty sure that just kills you.

    Drinking coolant will make you very sick, yes.

  • Munkus BeaverMunkus Beaver You don't have to attend every argument you are invited to. Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    Antifreeze is what is normally put in radiators, but people have been known to use water in a pinch.

    Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
  • Donovan PuppyfuckerDonovan Puppyfucker A dagger in the dark is worth a thousand swords in the morningRegistered User regular
    Antifreeze is what is normally put in radiators, but people have been known to use water in a pinch.

    You can, yes. It's not just the glycol in antifreeze that will make you sick though. If you just use water, the heat from the engine operating will cause the heavy minerals and chemicals in the water to come out of solution and bake onto the walls of the water jacket, which releases oxides back into the water. This is what that crumbly white shit is in the coolant passages of an engine that has been run on water for a long time is. There will also be rust in the form of iron oxides contaminating the water if the engine uses an iron block and/or cylinder head.

Sign In or Register to comment.