The leaves below you let out a sharp crunch and you feel a dull pain in your feet from the impact as you drop from the helicopter's rescue ladder. After checking to make sure that you have some rope, a day's worth of rations, your hatchet, your firestarter and your canteen you look up to the pilot and wave to signal that you've landed safely.
He flies off toward the horizon and you find yourself alone in the remote Alaskan wilderness. You have no idea where you are, but you know that the nearest civilization is far to the south.
That being said, you have some time. (set: $time to 0)
[[Admire your surroundings]]
[[March onward]]You take in the freshest breath of air you've ever experienced. Before you let it out, you look around to see beautiful evergreen trees rise above dense red and gold underbrush. Upon closer inspection you notice a number of small, curious critters peeking out from behind branches and bushes. What a wonderful world.
You exhale. (Set: $time = $time + 2)
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: "you have failed")]
[[Examine the critters more closely]]
[[March onward]]The journey begins. You hike forward without paying much attention to your surroundings.
(Set: $time = $time + 2)
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: you have failed)]
[[There isn't much time to waste, continue onward]] Adorable little field mice stare at you with wide eyes, and black and gray squirrels shuffle down trees to see what the commotion is about. Without thinking you wave, causing the mice to scurry and the squirrels to cock their heads. When did these creatures evolve to be so cute?
(Set: $time = $time + 2)
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: you have failed)]
[[Rest against a nearby tree]]
[[There isn't much time to waste, continue onward]]
The sky is gray, it might rain.
(Set: $time = $time + 2)
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: you have failed)]
[[Search for a place to camp ]]
[[Rest against a nearby tree]]As you close your eyes to rest, the sound of rustling leaves and chittering birds fills your ears. A gentle breeze blows passed, and you catch the scent of pine needles and wet earth on the air.
Calm washes over you... what a beautiful world.
(Set: $time = $time + 2)
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: you have failed)]
[[There isn't much time to waste, continue onward]]
[[Reflect on your life]]It's getting late.
(Set: $time = $time + 2)
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: you have failed)]
[[Search for a place to camp ]] Deep down you know that staring at screens all day can't be good for your physical or your mental health. You think back to your time spent in school and ask yourself: why didn't you spend more time out in nature? You wasted so much time learning things that you'd never use again. Do you really want to spend your career in a cubicle? Do you really want to go back to wasting your life on Reddit? or YouTube? or Twitch? or Netflix? or Steam?
(Set: $time = $time + 2)
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: you have failed)]
[[Onward]]
[[Calm your thoughts and drift into a deep sleep]]You look around for a campsite and are presented with a few options:
(Set: $time = $time + 2)
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: "you have failed")]
[[A nearby fairy circle of large conifers]]
[[A small clearing immediately past the nearby tree line]]You notice a low layer of branches jutting out of a circle of conifers. After quickly weaving a hammock with your rope and tying it to two of the larger low-hanging branches, you curl up and fall asleep.
(Set: $time = $time + 2)
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: "you have failed")]
[[Wake up]]You gather dried grass and a series of dead branches ranging from thin to thick. After digging a hole you prepare your kindling, strike your firestarter, curl up by the blaze, and fall asleep.
(Set: $time = $time + 2)
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: "you have failed")]
[[Good Morning]]A number of birdcalls permeate your consciousness and your eyes open slowly. Next to you the last embers of last night's fire are slowly fading and your belongings seem to be untouched. You sit up, stretch, and weigh your options.
(Set: $time = 0)
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: you have failed)]
[[10 more minutes]]
[[Begin today's journey]]
[[You could use a fire]] You wake up shivering; the sun hasn't quite risen and the sky is filled with the gentle blues of twilight. You gather your jacket tightly around you.
(Set: $frostbitten to true)
(Set: $time = 0)
[[You could use a fire]]
[[Begin today's journey]] You breathe deeply, once again absorbing the magnificent world around you. The sun begins to set and the chirping fades. Your breathing slows, and sleep takes you.
(Set: $time = $time + 2)
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: you have failed)]
[[Wake up]]You get up, gather your belongings, and head south.
(if: $frostbitten is true)[(set: $time = $time + 1)]
(else:) [(set: $time = $time + .5)]
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: "you have failed")]
[[What a lovely day]]You slump back down, place your jacket over your body like a makeshift blanket, and fall back into a deep sleep.
(Set: $time = $time + 2)
[[Good Morning]]Your fingertips are bright red, and you can't tell whether or not you're losing feeling in them. In order to avoid being frostbitten, you gather some nearby tinder, break up a number of dead trees in the surrounding area and build a quick fire.
As the flame rises, you hold your hands close and absorb its warmth. The sun comes over the horizon, and you feel rejuvinated.
(Set: $frostbitten to false)
(Set: $time = $time + 2)
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: "you have failed")]
[[Begin today's journey]] Something about this place is so serene. No mechanical whirring, no light pollution, no smog, no traffic. Nothing here was made by man...
You collect your thoughts and focus on your surroundings. You've been walking for a while, maybe it's time for a break?
(if: $frostbitten is true)[(set: $time = $time + 1)]
(else:) [(set: $time = $time + .5)]
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: "you have failed")]
[[You hear the soft sounds of a stream to the east]]
[[You hear twigs snapping at a slow but consistant pace to the west]]
[[Continue south]]
As you travel east, the soft trickling steadily grows louder, crescendoing into a cacophony that could only be indicative of rapids. As the treeline breaks and the river comes into view you stop for a while and take in your surroundings. Lichen covers a number of rocks scattered across the riverbank, beautiful blue water rushes loudly past you while further up the river a massive brown grizzly bear stares back curiously.
(if: $frostbitten is true)[(set: $time = $time + 1)]
(else:) [(set: $time = $time + .5)]
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: "you have failed")]
[[Move closer to the river]]
[[Head back the way you came]]You hike up an incline toward the sound you heard, but suddenly the sound stops.
(if: $frostbitten is true)[(set: $time = $time + 1)]
(else:) [(set: $time = $time + .5)]
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: "you have failed")]
[[Find out where the sound came from]]
[[Head back the way you came]]You move further along the road. Are you sure you're going the right way?
(if: $frostbitten is true)[(set: $time = $time + 1)]
(else:) [(set: $time = $time + .5)]
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: "you have failed")]
[[Just keep going south]]
[[Head back the way you came]] As you inch closer to the river a fine and pleasant mist settles on your skin.
(if: $frostbitten is true)[(set: $time = $time + 1)]
(else:) [(set: $time = $time + .5)]
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: "you have failed")]
[[Refill your canteen]]
[[Look back to the bear]]You retrace your steps and eventually find yourself at the point from which you decided to take a detour. Where to next?
(if: $frostbitten is true)[(set: $time = $time + 1)]
(else:) [(set: $time = $time + .5)]
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: "you have failed")]
[[You hear the soft sounds of a stream to the east]]
[[You hear twigs snapping at a slow but consistant pace to the west]]
[[Continue south]] You kneel, dunking your canteen in the river until bubbles no longer escape from it. As you stand back up, you screw the top back on and place it in your pocket.
(if: $frostbitten is true)[(set: $time = $time + 1)]
(else:) [(set: $time = $time + .5)]
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: "you have failed")]
[[You hear a low snarl]]The bear, having kept its eyes fixed on you as you moved closer, eventually breaks your gaze and continues fishing. You wonder why the society you grew up in taught you that these creatures were vicious beyond belief. What a wonderful world.
(if: $frostbitten is true)[(set: $time = $time + 1)]
(else:) [(set: $time = $time + .5)]
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: "you have failed")]
[[Refill your canteen]]
[[Head back the way you came]] You jolt up to see the grizzly bear throwing its head back, a massive blue and silver fish in mouth. You can't help but feel proud of it. Before turning back to leave you silently congratulate it on its success.
(if: $frostbitten is true)[(set: $time = $time + 1)]
(else:) [(set: $time = $time + .5)]
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: "you have failed")]
[[Head back the way you came]] You keep your head down, continuing to travel south.
(if: $frostbitten is true)[(set: $time = $time + 1)]
(else:) [(set: $time = $time + .5)]
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: "you have failed")]
[[South is the only option]]
[[Head back the way you came]] You continue south, and as you do the treeline breaks. In front of you is your destination: a bustling town without much to offer but a fishery and a van service back to Juneau.
(if: $frostbitten is true)[(set: $time = $time + 1)]
(else:) [(set: $time = $time + .5)]
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: "you have failed")]
[[Your journey is over, time to get home]]
[[Turn around]]Walk to the van. Get a ride to the airport. Time to get back to the grind.As you stand facing civilization, a knot forms in the pit of your stomach and realization sets in. You know you can't stand to go back to the life you've created for yourself. You don't have to go back... it would be possible to create a new one here; living the same life as your distant ancestors in this wonderful world.
Without a second thought, you turn your back to humanity and trek back into the wilderness.
You keep hiking until suddenly a massive valley opens up before you. As you break the treeline you notice a pair of caribou, who were previously stood patiently watching you, bolt off. You follow the path they took with your eyes and notice a massive and majestic herd of caribou grazing just down the line.
(if: $frostbitten is true)[(set: $time = $time + 1)]
(else:) [(set: $time = $time + .5)]
(if: $time > 10)[(go-to: "you have failed")]
You know you should let them eat, but what a wonderful world.
[[Head back the way you came]] You know you should have been focusing on your survival but you couldn't help it. The world is just so beautiful...
Exhaustion washes over you and you begin hallucinating. As you sink to your knees you reach into your pocket and pull out your locator beacon. You activate it just as an undesired slumber overtakes you...
Would you like to [[Try again?]]