Only After Dark
by Gunther Schmidl (1999)
Genres: Horror

"HERE BE DRAGONS" is what the rutter said, but the small island turned out to be free of those animals after all. Instead, you landed near a tiny village full of friendly natives. Aaah, shore leave! You can't remember when the last time was you could relax, take a night off and stroll through town to pick up a girl or two.

action: %
response: [Strike any key to continue...]

"HERE BE DRAGONS" is what the rutter said, but the small island turned out to be free of those animals after all. Instead, you landed near a tiny village full of friendly natives.

Aaah, shore leave! You can't remember when the last time was you could relax, take a night off and stroll through town to pick up a girl or two. It turned out your friend Aten speaks a dialect not unlike that of the villagers, and so he joined your captain, who's with the village elder at the moment.

"Too bad for him," you think, grinning, "guess he won't be getting any tonight."

You, on the other hand, are intent to.

[Please type "about".]
IFComp 1999 

The center of this small village is a roughly circular clearing in the jungle-forest that covers most of this island. A gigantic tree stands in the middle, reaching hundreds of feet up into the cool night air. The huts of the villagers are strewn around the clearing's border, close to the jungle.
A large stone circle contains charred wood from last night's bonfire, and there is a rickety wooden platform under one of the lower branches of the tree.

"Ranil! Remember to be back on the Dagon tomorrow at sunrise! Unless you want to lose a month's pay, that is," you hear Quartermaster Gerhardsen shout in your direction. You nod, and he waves at you and disappears out of sight.
action: About you
response: You are Ranil Kuami, 22, black, and sailor aboard the "Dagon". You're wearing your best clothes for tonightYou're wearing a pair of trousers; your favorite talisman hangs around your neck on a thin chain. Your left ear is decorated by a small gold ring, and your dreadlocks are tamed by a headband.
action: You examine the talisman
response: A strange stone, shaped like a deformed pentagram, hangs on a thin chain around your neck.
action: You look at the trousers
response: You've decided to wear your best shirt and trousers on this occasion, along with your leather boots, the left of which hides your favourite knife.
action: You look at knife
response: Your trusty knife that has aided you in many a fight against humans as well as certain inhabitants of the oceans.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
your clothes (being worn)
your talisman (being worn)
action: You examine circle
response: Several big round stones have been laid out to form an exact circle. Inside are the glowing remains of tonight's bonfire, when the villagers prepared a boar for their guests.
action: You look at the huts
response: The huts are built of wood and seem to be held together with the vines that grow everywhere around here. Still, they look comfortable and stable enough.
action: You look at the platform
response: Upon closer inspection, you notice a rope slung over the branch the platform was built under! Looks like this is a kind of gallows, though the state of the structure seems to indicate it hasn't been used for a long time.
action: You look at the rope
response: A length of rope made of vines, slung over a branch of the tall tree.
action: You get the stone
response: That's hardly portable.
action: You look at the tree
response: Most definitely the largest tree you've ever seen. You suspect it has a special meaning for the villagers.
action: You enter the hut
response: Not without an invitation.
action: Look around
response: The center of this small village is a roughly circular clearing in the jungle-forest that covers most of this island. A gigantic tree stands in the middle, reaching hundreds of feet up into the cool night air. The huts of the villagers are strewn around the clearing's border, close to the jungle.
A large stone circle contains charred wood from last night's bonfire, and there is a rickety wooden platform under one of the lower branches of the tree.
action: Climb platform
response: What would you do up there?
action: Go north
response: As you start to walk, you sense movement from the corner of your eye. You turn around only to see the most amazingly beautiful woman walking directly towards you. You seem to recall her name as "Lyca".

"Hello," you say, somewhat sheepishly. She smiles at you and reaches for your hand, gently pulling you towards what seems to be her hut.
action: You follow
response: What do you want to follow?
action: Look around
response: The center of this small village is a roughly circular clearing in the jungle-forest that covers most of this island. A gigantic tree stands in the middle, reaching hundreds of feet up into the cool night air. The huts of the villagers are strewn around the clearing's border, close to the jungle.
A large stone circle contains charred wood from last night's bonfire, and there is a rickety wooden platform under one of the lower branches of the tree.

You can see Lyca here.

Lyca begins tugging on your arm, towards her hut. This is one determined young lady!
action: You follow Lyca
response: You allow Lyca to lead you into her hut...

Lyca's hut is small, but comfortable. Apart from a few flower arrangements, it is entirely undecorated. Much to your surprise, the 'bed' is much like the sleeping quarters on the Dagon; a hammock made of vines is hung from the ceiling, easily large enough for three people.
Lyca motions at you to take off your clothes and begins to do so herself.
action: You take off the trousers
response: You quickly step out of your clothes and discard them.

Lyca nods approvingly, then smiles and motions you toward the hammock.
action: You look at the knife
response: Your trusty knife that has aided you in many a fight against humans as well as certain inhabitants of the oceans.

Sighing and rolling her eyes, Lyca shoves you towards the hammock.
action: You enter the hammock
response: Lyca jumps on the hammock, landing directly on you. Her hands close tightly around your wrists, her thighs sit on yours, effectively pinning you to the mat as she slowly begins making love to you. You are completely surprised at her fierceness at first, but that doesn't take longer than a few seconds.

Lyca kisses you passionately, still moving slowly, teasingly.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

You close your eyes, shuddering with pleasure, as Lyca runs her tongue over your throat, her movements in perfect synchronity with the caress, her breathing faster.
action: You enter Lyca
response: Lie back, relax, enjoy -- you have no choice, anyway.

Pleasure turns to pain as Lyca starts moving faster and faster, scratching your wrists with her fingernails, now positively panting--

You open your eyes and are frozen in terror for a second. What sits on you is no longer a woman, but a large wolf!

Lyca -- the thing -- howls in ecstasy and you in pain as her claws dig deeply into your wrists and ankles. Her muzzle moves toward your throat, and you prepare for a quick death. Her muzzle touches your talisman, and she suddenly howls again, an inhuman scream, and her paws loosen the death grip on you. You both lose your balance and fall out of the hammock. While the wolf-thing paws at her muzzle, you quickly grasp for your clothes and pull your knife from its hidden sheath in your boot.
action: Attack lyca
response: As you gather up the clothes in a ball, the wolf jumps at you, he mass of her body knocking you to the floor. The next thing you feel is her claws tearing your abdomen open, and then unconsciousness kindly takes you.
action: Go south
response: You can't go that way.
The Lyca-thing seems to have recovered and stares at you with unconcealed lust for murder in her eyes.
action: Exit
response: Unfortunately, the wolf-thing is between you and the door.
The wolf jumps directly at you, this time not attempting to go for your throat. You brandish your knife feebly, but she sinks her teeth into your arm while the mass of her body knocks you to the floor. The next thing you feel is her claws tearing your abdomen open, and then unconsciousness kindly takes you.
action: You throw the knife at her
response: Desperately, you throw the knife at the wolf, but she reacts with surprising speed, evading it. Then she jumps at you, the mass of her body knocking you to the floor. The next thing you feel is her claws tearing your abdomen open, and then unconsciousness kindly takes you.
action: You run
response: There's no need to.
The wolf jumps directly at you, this time not attempting to go for your throat. You brandish your knife feebly, but she sinks her teeth into your arm while the mass of her body knocks you to the floor. The next thing you feel is her claws tearing your abdomen open, and then unconsciousness kindly takes you.
action: You screw her
response: That would be less than courteous.
The wolf jumps directly at you, this time not attempting to go for your throat. You brandish your knife feebly, but she sinks her teeth into your arm while the mass of her body knocks you to the floor. The next thing you feel is her claws tearing your abdomen open, and then unconsciousness kindly takes you.
action: You eat the talisman
response: That's plainly inedible.
The wolf jumps directly at you, this time not attempting to go for your throat. You brandish your knife feebly, but she sinks her teeth into your arm while the mass of her body knocks you to the floor. The next thing you feel is her claws tearing your abdomen open, and then unconsciousness kindly takes you.
action: You throw the talisman at her
response: (First taking off the talisman)
Desperately, you throw the talisman at the wolf. She reacts with surprising speed, but not fast enough. You watch in amazement as her fur seems to catch fire and she emits a blood-curling howl, throwing her mass around, coming for you.

But the pain slows her down and you manage to bury your knife in one of her eyes before she can tear you apart. You quickly jump back and out of her reach as she crumples to the floor, lifeless, and manage to hit your head on a wooden beam, knocking yourself out...
action: You wake up
response: [Strike any key to continue...]

You open your eyes and stare along the shaft of a spear pointed directly at your throat. On the other end you make out two upset villagers. You are pulled to your feet, an unitelligible stream of words coming from the men. One grabs you by the hair and turns your head where the dead wolf lies.

Your eyes widen in shock. There lies Lyca, but not the wolf-thing; it is the human Lyca, blood-streamed, the knife still stuck in her eye.

Looking back at the guards, you know it's senseless to try and explain yourself. Pure hatred is in their eyes, and one gestures across his throat with a finger. Then, they brutally drag you off to a hut standing seperate from the others, throw you inside and block the door from the other side.

As you pick yourself up, you notice you're wearing your talisman again. Strange.

This hut is bare except for an uncomfortable-looking wooden frame, around which vines have been wound to produce a sort of bed. There are no windows, so it's rather dark.
action: Look around
response: This hut is bare except for an uncomfortable-looking wooden frame, around which vines have been wound to produce a sort of bed. There are no windows, so it's rather dark.
action: You examine the bed
response: Looks very uncomfortable, but it'll have to do.
action: Escape
response: You'll have to say which compass direction to go in.
action: Sleep
response: You will want to do that on the bed; even if it looks uncomfortable, it's better than the floor.
action: You get on the bed
response: You get onto the bed.
action: Sleep
response: You close your eyes, and quickly fall asleep.

[Strike any key to continue...]
D A Y   T W O
[Strike any key to continue...]

The sound of the door being opened awakes you with a start. In come the village Elder and the intimidating shaman, accompanied by the two guards. The Elder says something to one of the guards. He quickly moves behind you, restraining your hands with rope, then helps you to step into your trousers.

You are quickly led to the platform in the village center, where the gallows have already been prepared. The guards push through the small crowd of assembled villagers, up the steps, then fasten the rope around your neck.

Just then, you see Gerhardsen and Aten step out of the woods. Seeing what's up, they run towards the Elder, your friend shouting something in their language.

You see the shaman and Elder turn towards the two. "Mr. Gerhardsen! Aten!" you shout in relief.

"Don't worry, Ranil, we'll have you out of there in no time," comes Gerhardsen's response. He stands in front of the Elder, taller by almost a head, and begins shouting at him, with Aten translating. The shaman answers back, and soon they are engaged in heated conversation.

Suddenly, you notice something about the shaman that makes you flinch: He is wearing a wolf fur!

As you open your mouth to join the argument, the guard next to you reacts swiftly, wrapping one arm around your torso and covering your mouth and nose with the other hand, smothering you.
action: Bite
response: What do you want to bite?
action: Shaman
response: Your mouth is covered!

The argument is becoming more heated, with everyone shouting at everyone else. You struggle for air, but the guard's hand clamps your mouth and nose even tighter.
action: Bite guard
response: Desperately, you try and bite the guard's hand. You manage to get the side of his hand between your teeth and sink them in. The guard curses loudly, pulling his hand back, and the attention focuses on you.

Angrily, the injured villager shoves you off the platform. You fall two or three feet, suspended in mid-air by the rope around your neck.

Shoving the Elder aside, Aten runs to you and quickly cuts you loose. You try to say something, but only manage a croak before the shaman shouts something on the top of his lungs.

You and Aten watch in horror as as the villagers fall to the ground, and rise as wolves!

As you turn and flee blindly towards the ship, you hear the screams of poor Gerhardsen behind you as he is being torn to shreds...
action: You run
response: Aten leads the way with you close behind. You can hear the panting of the wolves, hot in pursuit.

Trees, some of them several hundred feet tall, line the narrow trampled path you are running along. They block most of the sunlight; it's hard not to accidentally stumble or fall over some hidden bump in this twilight.

Aten is running next to you, breathing heavily.
action: You run
response: The path is well-trodden here, and you manage to pick up more speed. The distance to the ship seemed much smaller yesterday evening...

Trees, some of them several hundred feet tall, line the narrow trampled path you are running along. They block most of the sunlight; it's hard not to accidentally stumble or fall over some hidden bump in this twilight.

Aten is running next to you, breathing heavily.
action: You run
response: For a second, Aten glances over his shoulder at you, but that is already too much. He stumbles over a tree-root and falls. You only just manage to jump over him.

You feel bad, but you do not stop running. You know you can't help him, the wolves would get you both. "RUN!" he shouts after you, and then his screams fill your ears, a cold rage rising in you.

The forest is less dense here, and you can see the sun standing high, dazzling you, but also illuminating your path. Treacherous vines lie across the ground, forcing you to concentrate even more on where you step.
action: You run
response: You are very exhausted by now, and the wolves, only temporarily distracted by Aten, gain on you again.

You have reached the edge of the forest, and can see the Dagon anchoring in the bay. Only a few yards to go!
action: You run
response: Finally, you reach the shore. The boat lies here, but you don't have the time to set it afloat. Instead, you jump directly into the cold water, swimming a safe distance from the shore. The wolves break out of the woods but they stop at the water, howling and hissing. It seems they are afraid of it; and you swim towards the Dagon unhindered.

Quickly, strong hands pull you out of the water and you are escorted into the Captain's cabin.

You quickly explain what happened; and though the story doesn't even sound convincing to yourself, Captain Davids believes you.

"I have heard of werewolves in these parts, but a whole village? This evil must be stopped. I have the suspicion that this shaman you spoke of is the cause of this evil... if we manage to destroy him, maybe the others will be saved, too."

You nod; it didn't seem that the villagers had any idea of what was going on when they were gathered to lynch you.

"I have an idea. It is very dangerous, but it might work. In my library are certain old books; and one of them describes a salve that can transform a man into a wolf for some time."

You nod grimly. "Let me do it."

"Ranil! It is very dangerous! If you stay in wolf-form too long, you might not be able to ever become human again; and I do not know if your strength can match that of the shaman. But I can see in your eyes that you are determined to do it, and so I shall prepare everything.

"I know it is only morning, but you must go and sleep now, for you will need all your strength later. I shall wake you around midnight."

Again, you nod, and leave for your hammock in the ship's hold as Davids pulls a black-bound leather tome out of his book case. You lie down and quickly fall into a troubled sleep.
[Strike any key to continue...]

[Strike any key to continue...]

Shortly after midnight, Davids gently shakes you awake.

"I have prepared the salve, Ranil. I have to warn you again - it is very dangerous to stay in wolf-form too long. Are you sure you really want to do this?

"Yes."

Davids tells you to remove your clothes, then proceeds to rub the salve into your body. "I'm afraid his is going to hurt. Here," he hands you a piece of wood, "bite down on this."

At first, you feel nothing. Then, a tingle runs over your skin, and then the pain hits you. You fall to the floor, your teeth grinding into the wood, your vision dimmed. Your breath comes in short gasps, and an explosion of pain makes you pass out for a few seconds.

When you can think clearly again, you open your eyes. Everything is dark, except for a large red blotch in the center of your vision. You inhale deeply and an impossible number of sensations stream from all sides.

Wood, salve, clothes, skin, flesh, blood.
[Strike any key to continue...]

You try to rise, but find you are too weak yet. Davids quickly holds your muzzle in both hands and ties some rope around it.

"Sorry, boy, but I can't have you kill anyone yet."

You growl at him, but he grabs you by the nape of the neck and leads you to one of the boats. It is quickly lowered and Davids rows you over to the shore. As you jump on the beach, Davids removes the rope and quickly makes for the Dagon again.

"Kill him. And be back in two hours, or it may be too late."

The many different scents on the beach are overwhelming, but there is one that is stronger and more evil than all the others.
action: Smell
response: [Since your vision isn't very good as a wolf, you prefer smelling things.]

The many different scents on the beach are overwhelming, but there is one that is stronger and more evil than all the others.
action: Smell evil
response: You guess this is the shaman's scent.
action: You follow the evil
response: You put your muzzle to the ground and follow the strong scent to the northeast, until you arrive at a...

The path forks here. Inexplicably, the shaman's scent follows both trails, still strong along the northeast and barely tangible to the northwest. Your wolf-sense warns you of danger along the first path.
action: You describe your surroundings
response: The path forks here. Inexplicably, the shaman's scent follows both trails, still strong along the northeast and barely tangible to the northwest. Your wolf-sense warns you of danger along the first path.
action: You go to the northeast
response: Ignoring the warnings of your wolf-sense, you follow the path to the northeast. The scent intensifies, and soon you see the shape of the shaman before you.

Suddenly, the feeling of danger becomes even stronger - this is too easy. There must be a trap here, somewhere.

A circular clearing has been cut in the heart of the forest. The ground is even; a large stone altar stands here, covered with... stuff; you can't make anything out past the shaman's scent.

The shaman stands here with his back turned to you.
action: You kill shaman
response: You run to attack the shaman, and suddenly sky and earth swap places as you run over a certain spot, springing a hidden trap that catches you in a tight net!

Smiling, the shaman turns around and motions into the woods. Ten men emerge, and you are quickly lowered to the ground and tightly wrapped up with rope. Helplessly, you growl, snarl and snap at everyone that comes too close, but the net prevents you from actually hurting someone.

The shaman begins stroking your fur, talking all the time, and irritation soon turns to pleasure. After an hour, you have forgotten any ties to your former human existence. The shaman orders the villagers to release you and offers you a large, bloody steak; you greedily devour it, then lay contentedly at the heel of your new master.
action: Smell
response: A circular clearing has been cut in the heart of the forest. The ground is even; a large stone altar stands here, covered with... stuff; you can't make anything out past the shaman's scent.

The shaman stands here with his back turned to you.
action: You examine the altar
response: It smells evil; the thought of going near it makes your fur bristle.
action: About you
response: You are a big wolf, black as the night.
action: Growl
response: You growl, bristling your fur.
action: You jump on shaman
response: You tense your muscles, then hurl your body at the shaman with a mighty jump, and land only a feet away from him. He whirls around as you touch the ground, clearly not having expected this. As he curses, you see about ten villagers emerge from the woods.
action: You kill the shaman
response: Ignoring the inviting smell of the villagers with a mighty effort, you jump at the shaman yet again. He tries in vain to protect himself with his staff, and as he begins shouting the word of transformation, you tear out his throat, spilling blood all over yourself. Somewhere in the back of your mind, a voice from your human existence tells you to leave, and now!

You look around to see the villagers lie there like dead, an inviting smell of fresh blood stimulating your hunger...
action: You run
response: The smell of blood is overwhelming. You... can't leave. You don't want to leave.
action: You eat the villagers
response: They're plainly inedible.
action: You leave
response: Desperately, you try to turn your mind off the inviting meal that lies before you, ready to take.
action: You leave
response: With an almost superhuman effort, you block the smell of blood and run along the path back to the beach as fast as you can...

You are back on the beach where you began your adventure as a wolf. You hope that you arrived back in time to return to human form.
action: Look around
response: You are back on the beach where you began your adventure as a wolf. You hope that you arrived back in time to return to human form.
action: Howl
response: You let out a triumphant howl, and soon see the small boat rowing towards you. At the bow stands Davids, a musket in his hand. The boat stops a few feet from the shore, and the Captain aims at you.

"Sorry, Ranil, but this is necessary for our safety."

He pulls the trigger, and a glittering cloud engulfs you. Blinding pain, and then nothing.
[Strike any key to continue...]

You awake looking into the worrying face of Captain Davids.

"Thank God, I thought I'd lost you. Sorry for the silver treatment; it was the only way ro make sure you wouldn't kill us."

You smile, exhausted. "You could have told me before it hurts that much."

Davids opens his mouth, but you stop him with a gesture. "Don't worry. I've survived, haven't I? More important is: have I done it?"

Davids nods and responds, but his words are lost on you as you fade back to sleep.