The Tower of Greed

This is a text-based adventure game that I made for a course in my Master’s program. You can play the full game below. This game has four endings; can you find them all?

The Tower of Greed

You are a master thief, known just as much for your avarice as your skill and cunning. Hearing tales of a mysterious landmark in the desert, you set off for it immediately, hoping that it will be filled with riches just waiting to be plundered. After a treacherous journey, you can finally spot the structure on the horizon. From what you've heard, it is known only as "The Tower of Greed." [[Move Closer]] (set: $gems to 0) (set: $climbed to 0)

Arriving at the base of the tower, it's even larger than you thought. The desert winds whip sand back and forth at the base of the tower, where a large door offers sanctuary from the elements. However, the stones making up the tower look to be climbable. A thief of your capabilities should have no trouble scaling them, but you wonder if it's worth the risk. [[Enter the tower]] [[Attempt to scale the tower]]

You enter the tower to find a large room with a staircase on the other side. Torches illuminate the tall statues and detailed stonework of the room. You consider walking straight through the room to the staircase, but in the interest of playing it safe, you also think that you should try sticking to the outer edges of the room. [[Walk straight through]] [[Walk around the outside]]

The desert sands blow faster now, and you're beginning to wonder if this was a good idea. There are still multiple stories to go before you reach the top, and anything could happen before then. What if a brick comes loose, sending you spiraling through the air? And even if you reach the top, will there be a window or any sort of entry when you arrive? You begin to second guess yourself. [[Press on]] [[Descend the wall]]

Miraculously, you make it to the top and find a small window to squeeze through. You take a moment to rest and dry your sweating palms and brow before taking a look around. (set: $climbed to 1) [[Continue|Final Test]]

A good choice, you think. There's no telling what could have happened up there. You arrive safely at the ground and decide to enter the doorway you saw before. [[Enter the tower]]

Walking across the carpet to the staircase, you step on a small, hard object. Looking down, you move the carpet to reveal a shiny gemstone, green in color. [[Take the gem]] [[Leave the gem]]

You tread carefully on the outer edge of the room, weaving your way through the pillars until you reach the staircase. Looking at the room again from this angle, it doesn't look like there were any traps to be found, but this kind of caution isn't necessarily a bad thing when your life is on the line. [[Continue|staircase]]

You pick up the gemstone and eagerly stash it away in your pockets. This journey is proving to be quite lucrative already. (set: $gems to $gems+1) Gems: $gems [[Continue|staircase]]

Something doesn't sit right with you about the gem. You reluctantly decide to leave it where it is, considering that this could be one of the tower's many tricks. [[Continue|staircase]]

You enter the staircase leading up to the next floor and reach a thin hallway which you imagine is just above the room you came from. It's diffult to see very far into this room. [[Continue on|arrowdeath]] [[Look carefully]]

Squeezing through the hallway, you are surprised to hear a sharp "click" before dozens of tiny darts begin shooting through crevices in the walls, turning your body into a human pincushion. A thief of your skills should have known better than to be so careless... YOU DIED [[Return to Start|The Tower of Greed]]

You take a moment to survey the room and your innate thief senses take over. This room is trapped, you're sure of it. You get down on your stomach and begin to crawl, and almost immediately a barrage of tiny darts begins to shoot through crevices in the walls just above you. After it stops, you continue crawling through the passage until you reach yet another staircase. At the foot of the staircase, you spot a tiny gemstone, just waiting to be picked up. [[Take the gem|gem2]] [[Leave the gem| gem2leave]]

You take hold of the gem, enthralled as it shimmers in your hands. This trip was certainly worth it. (set: $gems to $gems+1) Gems: $gems [[Continue|torchroom]]

You decide to leave the gem, figuring it might be yet another trap after the one you just witnessed. You're too close to the top to take any risks now. [[Continue|torchroom]]

You sense that you are getting close to the top of the tower. There is a sealed doorway in front of you, along with a stone pedestal in the center of the room. You decide to take a closer look. [[Examine the tablet]] [[Examine the room]]

On the pedestal, there are three images engraved in the stone, which appear to be an eagle, a fish, and a human. On a tablet next to them is what appears to be a riddle: You must swim before you can crawl. You must crawl before you can walk. You must walk before you can fly. The stones before you look as if they can be pushed in. In what order do you try to push them in? [[Eagle. Fish. Man|incorrect]] [[Eagle. Man. Fish.|incorrect]] [[Fish. Eagle. Man.|incorrect]] [[Fish. Man. Eagle.|correct]] [[Man. Eagle. Fish.|incorrect]] [[Man. Fish. Eagle.|incorrect]]

Looking around the room, you spot a gemstone wedged into the wall behind you. [[Take the gem|gem3take]] [[Leave the gem|gem2leave]]

You pull the gem from the wall, eager to sell it to the highest bidder upon returning to town. It appears this tower is full of secrets. (set: $gems to $gems+1) Gems: $gems [[Examine the tablet]]

You decide to err on the side of caution and leave the gem in its place. Who knows, taking it might cause the whole building to collapse. [[Examine the tablet]]

The stones shift into place as you push them down... [[Continue|topfloor]]

The stones shift into place as you push them down... [[Continue|goback]]

...However, the door remains closed. The stones push themselves back up, and it appears you can try again. [[Try again|Examine the tablet]]

...And the door before you opens to reveal yet another set of stairs. You proceed inside, watching carefully for traps as before, and make it to the top floor of the tower. [[Continue|Final Test]]

You have arrived at the top of the tower. Large windows surround this final chamber which look out upon the desert below. In the center of the room is a pedestal with what must be the biggest gem you've ever seen in your life. It must be incredibly valuable, and you can't seem to take your eyes off of it. [[Take the gem|fall]] [[Step away from the gem]] (if: $gems is 3)[[Swap your gems with the larger one]]

The gem, although enticing, looks suspicious. Upon a closer look, you notice that the three gems you've gathered from the tower look to be about the weight of the larger gem. You decide to use your cunning to take a different approach. [[Make the switch]]

You take a step away from the gem. But why? It's so inviting. And besides, you were here to get rich, after all. [[Step away from the gem|step2]] [[Return to the gem]]

You can't seem to help yourself, and grab the gem from the pedestal. Immediately, it shifts into the floor, and before you can react you find yourself falling as the floor below you collapses. [[Succumb to your greed]]

Are you sure? You're having some serious doubts about leaving. The gemstone is incredible, and could have you set for life if you take it. Do you really want to back out now? [[Step away from the gem|step3]] [[Return to the gem]]

You knew you would fall into your old ways sooner or later. [[Give in|fall]]

You stand at the edge of the window, looking out upon the desert. It looks as if you can climb down the tower from here. You take one last look at the gem, its glimmering surface still enticing you. This is your final chance. Will you give up your greed? [[Leave the tower]] [[Return to the gem]]

You climb down the tower for what feels like ages until your feet touch the desert sand once more. You're not sure what exactly drove you to leave the gem behind, but you feel accomplished somehow. Taking things that didn't exactly belong to you was a part of you for so long, that you had forgotten how it felt to simply turn around when the risk was too great. You smile to yourself and begin the long journey back to town, feeling like you've become someone new in the process. You survived the tower! Gems: $gems/3 [[Restart?|The Tower of Greed]]

It's a long fall. You thud against the hard stone floor at the end of your fall, and feel as though you're barely conscious by the time it's all over. You lay motionless on the floor now, the crumbling stones and deafening crashes all coming to a halt. [[Get up]]

Struggling to breathe, you push yourself up onto your feet and look around. You're in the main chamber now, although it appears you have been sealed inside. The staircase that appears to lead up has been sealed with the crumbling stones, and the doorway that leads outside is now shut as well. The interior stones are not as easily climbable as the exterior ones, but even if they were you are far too injured to attempt that. You step forward to the doorway, knowing it is your only way out. [[Accept your judgement]]

With one hand you take hold of the gem, and in the other you hold out a pouch with the remaining gemstones inside. You take a deep breath and.. (set: $gems to 0) It's done. The gemstones rest on the pedestal, and the larger one is now in your possession. Looking around, you see that the easiest way out is probably through one of the windows, allowing you to climb down the tower. [[Make your escape]]

The wind from before has died down now, just enough to make the trip down a bit easier. After what feels like ages of scaling down the rough stones, your feet hit the sand once more. You eye the large gemstone as you begin the trek back through the desert. You might not have learned any lessons from your journey, but you do know one thing: your skills as a thief are a force to be reckoned with. You survived the tower! [[Restart?|The Tower of Greed]]

Gems: $gems The tower has cast its judgement upon you. (if: $gems > 0)[ [[Accept your fate]] ] (else:)[ [[Find forgiveness]] ]

The tower seems to know of your sins. The door remains shut, and you slump to the ground in defeat. And for what? Riches? Fame? All you know is that you have learned your lesson the hard way. Your greed has gotten the better of you once more. The tower has now trapped you inside, and it is by your own misdeeds that you will remain there. You have been trapped. Gems: $gems/3 [[Restart?|The Tower of Greed]]

To your surprise, the door begins to shift, and you find yourself among the desert sands once more. The gem is nowhere in sight, but you feel fortunate to have escaped with your life. As you return from the desert, you decide that maybe it's time to change your ways once and for all. You survived the tower! [[Restart?|The Tower of Greed]]