Another of those spontaneous phenonoma that seem to take off on rgcud, this apparent event driven plot was started by Boa Dragon on the 27th of March 2000, thus far continuing until the 28th of April. So far the participants in order of appearance are Wtcher, Ibn al-Hazardous, Lytenian, Helgraf, Houston, Humbreto, Bubbac II, Eenh, Lumina, Great Siberian, Paulon, Claus, Musashi, and Moa.
You wake up in a sewer after being executed during some kind of inquisition. What should happen next?
Looking around, you notice a lamp, a piece of old cheese and a small butterknife.
You hear the sound of rats echoing in the tunnel, apparently they've smelt the cheese.
There is a Tattoo of your god's symbol on your bare chest. Fortunately, your trousers aren't missing as well.
The echo of water dripping somewhere . . slow, constant, echoing, and in the echoes creating distortions, making it difficult to pinpoint the source.
Before you lies three passageways. To the north, a distant light shines weakly. To the east, you hear the wind passing through the pipeline. To the west, a dark tunnel looms.
A faint stale odor, reminiscent of rancid milk seems to waft up from the western tunnel.
You ask yourself...
Taking the cheese, and arming yourself with lamp and butterknife, you descend into the western tunnel...
After a couple of steps, you stumble on something. You reach down to pick up a...
Spork. Half spoon, half fork, this little deelie helps you to pry open a trapdoor leading further downwards...
Into the path of BIG CREEPING DOOM WITH TEETH AND CLAWS. Which is actually just the very enlarged shadow of a passing rat. You exhale in relief, then turn the corner...
Once the phantom menace is gone, you note two large metal levers set in a metal plate flush and level with the stone floor.
Stepping towards them you hear a click...
...shivers run down your spine as your ears detect an unmistakable sound of a crossbow trap slowly coming to action... but from where?
...you decide to lie down on the ground and barely make it when suddenly...
... a green melon above you explodes, covering you in red gunk. There is a sightly bent crossbow bolt lying nearby.
There is an acrid stench as you realize your clothing is being slowly eaten away by the powerful acidic juices of the exploded melon ...
As your skin begins to tingle, a breeze...
...starts to blow. There's a wind coming from...
... the passage behind, carrying the chittering sounds of the rats.
Suddenly, the piece of cheese begins to vibrate and glow with a soft blue light. Digging into it with the spork, you find...
a ring. you decide to put it on your finger and immediately you feel yourself attached to it. suddenly a rat squeals. you turn into the direction of that sound and
... your ring paralyzes you in place as the source of the sound approaches...
You sigh in relief as you see the huge shadow of a single rat. Then you shiver despite the paralysis, as you realise that this time the huge shadow is the same size as the rodent casting it. Even as you shiver you begin to feel pain as the acid slowly gnaws into your skin...
...when you suddenly hear a loud "boom", followed by a "Squeeeek!", while you are still wondering what has happend....
"Is that me?" you ask, but all you hear are squeaks...
The paralysis is suddenly gone, and you scamper squeaking in panic back down the passageway. Behind you lies your lantern, but the smaller items you carried have vanished with the transformation.
Confused by the strange happenings, and the sudden grotesqueness of your lantern, large enough for you to live in, you scratch your head and wonder. But when you look at your hand, you realize that your fingers have turned into claws - that in fact all of you has turned rat.
To the left you see a hole, which you would not have fit into before. A cozy light shimmers from its other side...
Feeling dazed and confused, you quickly scamper towards the light at the end of the tunnel. You step out, into...
freedom. it is a bright sun-shiny day. you can see clearly now the destination of your journey....
The Golden Tsaj Shak Tan of the mysterious Lion brothers.
Strangely, you end up at Tsaj's Golden Tan Shack instead.
The tan slowly swirls and coalesces into a million shades of red. Suddenly you realize that it's not the shack that's changing, it's the blood slowly trickling into your eyes.
You reach into the air, and pull forth a towel, wiping the blood from your eyes.
Your shape has changed, you are a rat no more.
"Now," you wonder, "why was I seeking the Golden Tsaj Shak Tan of the mysterious Lion brothers. And, more importantly, what the heck is The Golden Tsaj Shak Tan of the mysterious Lion brothers?"
Tsaj's Golden Tan Shack lies before you, like an uncertain dream, wavering in the heat.
Tsaj, hearing your comment, says "Down the road, about 4 and a half miles. And while yuu're there, tell the Lion Brothers that they owe me fifty bucks for their tan last week."
As you hesitate, he adds: "Now, you look a bit pale yourself. Want a tan?"
You discover you don't currently have fifty bucks, however. Perhaps after a visit to the Lion Brothers...
Looking on your left you notice that there is another head attached to your body. YOU ARE the Lion Brothers.
You scream, but it comes out as a roar, frightening a man high above you, propped upon a high horse into dropping his sword...
You wonder why Don Quixote`(TM) is in the area? And promptly try to get the $50 from him.
Suddently, a giant rabbit starts chewing on your foot...