Ashen Oath Chapter 4: Coven Path

Chapter 4 of the Ashen Oath storyline begins on October 25th as part of the Halloween Spectacle event. This final branch of the storyline will only appear for you if you doubted Namir and helped Kora in Chapter 3.

Depending on the choices made in this chapter, you made jump between this storyline branch and the Kora storyline branch. For this chapter to make the most sense, we strongly recommend that you click the storyline buttons to be taken to the next page for a specific branch, rather than scrolling.

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Wind lifts the fur along your spine, and you feel a sense of urgency come over you. The air has shifted and the energy of the world hums with anticipation--it is time.

You smell a familiar scent on the air and follow it. Namir sits impatiently, looking as though you're wasting his time.

"It's about time! I was beginning to think you'd never show up. Saligia says things are ready--it's time for the ritual."

I was busy

I'm here now

Chapter 4 Page 1b

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The following page appears if you clicked "I was busy" on Page 1b.

"Doing what? Say anything other than training and I'm leaving," he snaps.

When you offer no excuse, he snorts and turns without a backward glance, headed for the grove.

It doesn't take long, and your fur begins to prickle and stand on end. The energy pouring from the grove is the strongest you have ever felt. The electric currents sizzle through your body and you feel as if you can take on the world.

Do you feel that?

Chapter 4 Page 2b

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The following page appears if you clicked "I'm here now" on Page 1b.

"A minute later and I would have left you behind, pup. Early wolf gets the prey and all that. Let's get going already."

He strides toward the grove without a backward glance, expecting you to follow.

It doesn't take long, and your fur begins to prickle and stand on end. The energy pouring from the grove is the strongest you have ever felt. The electric currents sizzle through your body and you feel as if you can take on the world.

Do you feel that?

Chapter 4 Page 2c

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Namir smiles.

"Oh, yes. A taste of what we have been waiting for. It won't be long now, [Name]."

You enter the grove to to the excited pawsteps and eager, hushed words of the witches as they prepare for the ritual. Saligia oversees as her sisters gather various ingredients and place them in specific spots. Saligia turns when she hears your paw steps, her expression brightening.

"[Name}! You're here!"

Saligia bounds over to you, fur bristling in anticipation. She looks genuinely happy to see you--to her, you're a kindred spirit.

Are we ready?

Chapter 4 Page 3b

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Saligia looks fit to burst, nearly dancing in place.

"Nearly, yes! I need your help once again. We need a few last minute things."

You need the following ingredients to continue:

• 1 x Boneset

• 1 x Dandelion

• 1 x Ginger

• 1 x Oregano

• 1 x Spoonwood

Proceed - Give Items

Chapter 4 Page 4b

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When you present Saligia with the items she scoops them up and immediately hurries over to one of her sisters, directing her on where to place the items.

"Perfect...just perfect." Her gaze sweeps around the clearing, resting on you and Namir.

"It's time! Come, [Name]. Come, Namir. Our wonderful apprentices, it is time for you to receive your gift."

She strides to the middle of the grove, situating herself at the head of the circle. Her sisters follow suit, stationing themselves an even intervals where the ingredients have been placed.

"Step forward, apprentices."

Hesitate

Step forward without hesitation

Chapter 4 Page 5b

Both of these options will bring you to the same place. However, for clarity, we have split each option into the two sections below.

Hesitate

Hesitate

You hesitate, suddenly unsure. Saligia frowns, confusion clouding her features as she looks at you. What gift? A sense of foreboding tugs at your chest, and you feel rooted in place.

"[Name]! Step forward. You want to be a witch, don't you?"

Namir sighs aggressively and rolls his eyes, clearly impatient.

"Don't be a chicken, idiot. Let's get this over with already."

I thought I already was?

Chapter 4 Page 6b

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Saligia laughs, not unkindly.

"You are but a sprout at the base of a tree. You have power, yes...but with this ritual, you will be opened to a flood of power you have never known before."

She sits beside you companionably, trying to reassure you.

"When the ritual is complete, there will be no creature that poses a challenge to you. Nature itself will recognize your power, rendering you invulnerable. Flames will shrink back from touching you, and turbulent waters will spit you out to protect you from drowning. You will rise as a legendary leader, guiding your pack. Your heart will beat in harmony with ours, allowing you to become like us. An all-powerful being...a witch in full."

As powerful a witch as you are?

Chapter 4 Page 7d

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With a laugh she shakes her head.

"Not quite, my friend. Nearly, but practice still makes perfect, after all. Now then." She rises to her paws and turns to you expectantly.

"Are you ready, [Name]? True power waits for no wolf."

You feel the pressure of her gaze and annoyance radiating from Namir as she waits for your answer.

I guess I have to be

Yes, I'm ready

Chapter 4 Page 8b

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The following page appears if you clicked "I guess I have to be" on Page 7b.

Without a word she turns, and you follow her to the center of the circle. Your pawsteps are uncertain, but there's no turning back now. It's time for the ritual.

Sit opposite one another in the center. Listen well: repeat my words and let the energy of the Earth consume and fuel you. Soon, all will be as it should."

Saligia closes her eyes and begins to howl the words of the ritual, and her sisters join in.

The air crackles and you feel your pelt rise. The flow of energy is enough to make you gasp and twist your stomach as the corruption begins to spread. The feeling isn't pleasant, but the hum of power beneath it is enough to make it feel as though you're drunk.

The power in the grove thrums and pulses as corruption begins to spread over the land, and--

"Monster!"

Collapse to the ground

Chapter 4 Page 9b

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The following page appears if you clicked "Yes, I'm ready" on Page 7b.

With a nod, she instructs: "Sit opposite one another in the center. Listen well: repeat my words and let the energy of the Earth consume and fuel you. Soon, all will be as it should."

Saligia closes her eyes and begins to howl the words of the ritual, and her sisters join in.

The air crackles and you feel your pelt rise. The flow of energy is enough to make you gasp and twist your stomach as the corruption begins to spread. The feeling isn't pleasant, but the hum of power beneath it is enough to make it feel as though you're drunk.

The power in the grove thrums and pulses as corruption begins to spread over the land, and--

"Monster!"

Collapse to the ground

Chapter 4 Page 9d

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A blood-curdling shriek rips across the grove as the twisted form of a wolf descends upon Saligia and cuts her howl off with a sickening choking noise. The rush of power suddenly leaves you and causes you to slump on the ground uselessly.

Namir is in much the same state, and he struggles to get to his paws as the sound of fighting clatters across the once quiet space. You squint through blurry eyes to see what had interrupted the ritual, and see a familiar flesh of horny growths as Kora tangles with Saligia.

She's twisted beyond what she was before in a grotesque form of a wolf.

Kora! Don't hurt her!

Chapter 4 Page 10d

You try in vain to call out to the she-wolf, but your voice is stuck in your throat. Namir shoves you roughly onto your paws and leaps toward Saligia to help her.

"[Name]! You must help her!" Namir barks out, and you find yourself staring as he leaps onto Kora's back and pulls her to the ground.

The rest of the witches are regaining their composure and begin to move to help their leader. Kora may be alone, but in her corrupted state she is ten times as strong as both Namir and Saligia combined--it will not be easy to take her down.

Jump into the fray

Refuse to move

Help Kora instead!

Chapter 4 Page 11d

With the exception of "Refuse to move", the choice you make here will solidify your ending of the story. Selecting "Refuse to move" can lead you to either of the paths listed below, depending on your choice made in the next step.

If you select "Jump into the fray", you are guaranteed to receive the below items, and you will not be able to switch your path again.

Marking Set Applicator [Notches]

Forest Clearing

Saligia

If you select "Help Kora Instead!", you are guaranteed to receive the below items.

Marking Set Applicator [Notches]

Forest Clearing

Corrupted Kora

Since each of these paths is a final story ending, they will be separated into individual sections below, after the "No Hesitation" section.

No Hesitation

No Hesitation

With a nod, she instructs: "Sit opposite one another in the center. Listen well: repeat my words and let the energy of the Earth consume and fuel you. Soon, all will be as it should."

Saligia closes her eyes and begins to howl the words of the ritual, and her sisters join in.

The air crackles and you feel your pelt rise. The flow of energy is enough to make you gasp and twist your stomach as the corruption begins to spread. The feeling isn't pleasant, but the hum of power beneath it is enough to make it feel as though you're drunk.

The power in the grove thrums and pulses as corruption begins to spread over the land, and--

"Monster!"

Collapse to the ground

Chapter 4 Page 6c

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You try in vain to call out to the she-wolf, but your voice is stuck in your throat. Namir shoves you roughly onto your paws and leaps toward Saligia to help her.

"[Name]! You must help her!" Namir barks out, and you find yourself staring as he leaps onto Kora's back and pulls her to the ground.

The rest of the witches are regaining their composure and begin to move to help their leader. Kora may be alone, but in her corrupted state she is ten times as strong as both Namir and Saligia combined--it will not be easy to take her down.

Jump into the fray

Refuse to move

Help Kora instead!

Chapter 4 Page 11d

With the exception of "Refuse to move", the choice you make here will solidify your ending of the story. Selecting "Refuse to move" can lead you to either of the paths listed below, depending on your choice made in the next step.

If you select "Jump into the fray", you are guaranteed to receive the below items, and you will not be able to switch your path again.

Marking Set Applicator [Notches]

Forest Clearing

Saligia

If you select "Help Kora Instead!", you are guaranteed to receive the below items.

Marking Set Applicator [Notches]

Forest Clearing

Corrupted Kora

Since each of these paths is a final story ending, they will be separated into individual sections below.

Jump into the Fray

Jump into the Fray

The following pages appear if you clicked "Jump into the Fray" on Page 8c.

You hardly need Namir to tell you to lend your claws. How dare Kora ruin the ritual? She's clearly mad in her current state. If she had felt the depth of that power that you had...perhaps she'd feel differently.

Without hesitation, you jump to Namir's side and go after Kora.

Battle

Chapter 4 Page 12b

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Battle Corrupted Kora to continue with the storyline.

Ashen Oath

Chapter 4 Page 13d

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With the last ounce of your strength, you pin Kora to the ground.

She thrashes wildly, her eyes filled with nothing but rage. There is no trace of the mortal wolf she once was.

Your only option now is to end it.

Take her life

Chapter 4 Page 14d

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Her body falls limp, and you can taste the metallic, oddly twisted taste of her corrupted blood.

"At last!" Saligia crows triumphantly. "What a nuisance. Witches, return to your places. Apprentices, resume your post. It's time to finish this."

Without a backward glance, Saligia turns and takes her place at the head of the circle.

Take your place

Chapter 4 Page 15d

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Strangely, you're already in the correct position. Kora had fallen almost directly in the center of the circle.

As you stand over her body and Namir joins you with a grim look on his face, you find yourself bracing for the worst as you wait for Saligia to begin.

But what could happen? The ritual will be complete and you'll have immense power, just as promised.

Saligia begins the chanting howl and you feel power rising up within you just as before. All you have to do is let it go, and the ritual will greedily consume it and be complete. After...after, you can drink from the well of that power.

Release your power

Chapter 4 Page 16d

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You release your power, letting the ritual consume the last vestiges of your energy.

You're vaguely aware of slumping to the ground and the witches moving around you. You feel Namir beside you, also slumped to the ground. All is eventually quiet, and your sense of time is warped.

Minutes or hours, you're not sure which, pass before your senses return to you. You blink open your blurry eyes and look around the grove.

There's a chill in the air, and a hot, bitter taste at the back of your throat. The grove is oddly empty except for Namir beside you, and Kora's body in front of you.

Rise to your paws

Chapter 4 Page 17d

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Gathering your strength, you pull yourself to your paws and take in the new world around you.

The trees, the sky, the ground...it's all twisted beyond recognition. Once-familiar sights, sounds, and smells no longer exist and everything is foreign.

There is no trace of the witches remaining in the grove. It sits abandoned, without even a hint of what it was before. Where had they gone? And...why did you feel so...empty?

Namir stirs and stands beside you, shaking out his pelt in a stupor. He looks around, confusion clouding his features.

What happened? Where did they go?

Chapter 4 Page 18d

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With a frown Namir paces around the grove, searching...but for what?

"They're...gone." His voice is gravelly, as if his vocal chords haven't been used in a long time.

Gone? But did that mean...

"They took it. They took our power for themselves. They never meant to give us anything."

Namir's look of horror as he stares, not looking at anything in particular, cause you to realize what that strange empty feeling is.

Your power is gone, and there's no way to get it back.

What about the corruption?

Chapter 4 Page 19d

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Namir slumps, as if the weight of the world is on his shoulders.

"The ritual was successful. The corruption was never meant to help the world...it was simply a way for them to gain more power. Now that they have it, they have no use for us or this land."

Kora's fur stirs in the wind, and you look down at her sadly.

She had been right all along. She had paid for it with pain and ultimately death--and now you and your pack faced the same fate.

Does that mean we're doomed?

Chapter 4 Page 20d

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With a grimace, Namir nods.

"Without anything to stop the corruption, it will spread to us all. Without our power, we have no hope of righting things ourselves."

He rises to his paws and with a last glance at Kora, he turns to the entrance of the grove.

"I must go. You are not the only wolf with a pack to protect. I must do what I can for as long as I can, and so should you."

He hesitates at the entrance an looks down at his paws before murmuring:

"I'm so sorry."

Good bye, Namir

Chapter 4 Page 21d

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He disappears, and you are left alone in the grove.

Chest heavy and feeling as though your paws are trapped in mud, you pad to the entrance. Nothing remains for you here.

You head back to your pack, paws set firmly on the path before you.

You got a Marking Set Applicator [Notches], a Forest Clearing, a Saligia and +50 ME!

Head home

Chapter 4 Page 22d

Refuse to Move

Refuse to Move

The following pages appear if you clicked "Refuse to Move" on Page 8c.

No way, man. You're not getting involved with that. What if the corruption spreads to you? You have a pack to think about.

You watch as the combined efforts of Namir, Saligia, and the witches eventually pin Kora to the ground. They are using all of their strength to hold her still as she thrashes.

"[Name]! You must end this!"

Saligia calls out to you desperately, her eyes locking with yours as she struggles to keep Kora pinned.

When you don't move, her desperation turns to anger.

"Don't you want power? This is how you get it!"

Agree

Refuse

Chapter 4 Page 12c

Choosing "Agree" switches you over to the "Jump into the Fray" path, while choosing "Refuse" eventually switches you over to the "Help Kora Instead" path.

If you select "Agree", you are guaranteed to receive the below items.

Marking Set Applicator [Notches]

Forest Clearing

Saligia

If you select "Refuse", you are guaranteed to receive the below items.

Marking Set Applicator [Notches]

Forest Clearing

Corrupted Kora

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The following pages appear if you clicked "Refuse" on Page 9d.

You don't want power if you need to kill to get it. Even in her corrupted state, Kora is still a wolf and doesn't deserve such cruelty.

You stay firmly in place, refusing to budge. Saligia lets out a bone-chilling growl and turns all of her rage on Kora.

"I'll do it myself!"

She latches onto the she-wolf's throat as Namir and her sisters pin Kora down, and with a sickening gurgle Kora's snarls of rage are cut off.

The clearing is silent and you look at Kora's twisted form. It hadn't mattered...none of it had mattered. Your actions came too late.

You didn't have to kill her!

Chapter 4 Page 13e

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Your snarl falls on deaf ears; Saligia is unmoved by your valiant proclamation.

"You!" Namir howls, and throws himself at you. The full force of his bodyweight slams you into the ground, and it feels as if your lungs might give out.

"Traitor! I thought you were with me--" His furious words end in a snarl as he goes for your throat.

Meet your end

Chapter 4 Page 14e

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"Namir!" Saligia barks out, and he pauses, his jaws poised above your throat.

"Don't. We need them. No matter their loyalty, they are powerful. I will not let that go to waste."

She strides forward and leans down to shove her face into yours threateningly. Injured and bleeding as she is, her presence is powerful.

"Listen to me, [Name]. You will help us complete the ritual. If you don't, I will kill you and your entire pack."

You can't make me!

Chapter 4 Page 15e

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She snaps her teeth a hair's breadth from your fur.

"I can, and I will--but I'd prefer not to. Power given is much more potent than power taken. Final offer, then: help me complete the ritual, and you and your pack will be spared from the inevitable corruption. That's what you want, isn't it? To be normal?"

Saligia spits the word in your face and you flinch back. Her pleasant, welcoming demeanor has fallen from the facade it was to her true nature: a villain.

Mutely agree

Chapter 4 Page 16e

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Realizing you have no choice, you agree to lend the witches your power.

You lay there without struggle, watching as the witches stagger to their places. Their energy is sapped...perhaps the corruption won't be as strong as it could have been.

Glaring at you with hatred in her eyes, Saligia begins the chanting howl and you feel power rising up within you. All you have to do is let it go, and the ritual will greedily consume it and be complete.

Let go of your power

Chapter 4 Page 17e

From this point forward, your story will sync up fully with the "Help Kora Instead!" path. For convenience, the next steps of that path are copied below.

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You release your power, letting the ritual consume the last vestiges of your energy.

You're vaguely aware of slumping to the ground and the witches moving around you. All is eventually quiet, and your sense of time is warped.

Minutes or hours, you're not sure which, pass before your senses return to you. You blink open your blurry eyes and look around the grove.

There's a chill in the air, and a hot, bitter taste at the back of your throat. The grove is oddly empty except for Kora's body in front of you.

Namir and the witches are nowhere to be found.

Rise to your paws

Chapter 4 Page 18e

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Gathering your strength, you pull yourself to your paws and take in the new world around you.

The trees, the sky, the ground...it's all twisted beyond recognition. Once-familiar sights, sounds, and smells no longer exist and everything is foreign.

There is no trace of the witches remaining in the grove. It sits abandoned, without even a hint of what it was before. Your body remains unchanged, and your mind clear.

Saligia had kept her word...or so it seemed. There was only one way to find out, and you'd have to face it alone.

Leave the grove

Chapter 4 Page 19e

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You turn to leave, glancing back at Kora's body with an ache in your chest. Surely it was better this way, so that she no longer suffered...but thoughts of what could have been bounce around in your head.

You head back to your pack, paws set firmly on the path before you.

You got a Marking Set Applicator [Notches], a Forest Clearing, a Corrupted Kora and +50 ME!

Head home

Chapter 4 Page 20e

Help Kora Instead

Help Kora Instead

The following pages appear if you clicked "Help Kora Instead!" on Page 11d.

The sight of Kora's twisted form fills you with horror. You're not quite sure what made you see her so clearly, but you realize that as you've been following the witches and growing in power...Kora has been twisting until she's barely recognizable from the first time you saw her.

The corruption has been growing steadily as you've gotten stronger, and the pain in her eyes makes it clear--the corruption is not helping the land. It's making it worse.

You leap to her aid, ready to face Saligia and Namir.

Fight!

Chapter 4 Page 12d

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You snap at the last of the witches and they stumble black, injured and exhausted. Namir looms before you--only he stands in your way now.

"You are a disgrace to all witches!" Kora hisses, pinning Saligia down beside you. "Despicable. You should be ashamed."

Namir hesitates in his approach, eyes flitting back and forth between you and Kora, undecided on who to attack. Saligia pants heavily, bleeding from various wounds, but she manages to smirk.

"Ah, the lost one. You never did understand. Go on, kill me; see what that does."

Kora, wait-

Chapter 4 Page 13f

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Kora bares her teeth at the witch, saliva dripping from her jaws. She doesn't even acknowledge you.

"Not yet, witch. First, your sisters are going to help put the world back as it should be. It may be too late for me, but I won't let this world become twisted as I did. You hear that, witches? Purge the corruption, or I will kill her!"

She closes her jaws more tightly around Saligia's throat, causing the witch to let out a choked breath.

Out of the corner of your eye you see Namir move, and for a brief moment you know that you can stop him if you want to.

Intervene

Stay out of it

Chapter 4 Page 14f

Both options lead to the same ending.

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The following pages appear if you clicked "Intervene" on Page 14f.

You leap to cut him off, which gives Kora enough time to realize what's happening, causing Namir to lose the element of surprise.

She turns to face him head on, releasing her hold on Saligia. As they tussle violently, Saligia regains her footing and turns her sights on you!

Fight

Chapter 4 Page 15f

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Battle Saligia to continue with the storyline.

Ashen Oath

Chapter 4 Page 16f

There is no way to win this battle, and progression in the story occurs when you lose.

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Saligia is able to overtake you with surprising ease. Even with the power of corruption flowing through you, she is still stronger.

You struggle underneath her hold, and she leans down, her muzzle nearly touching your own.

"You are a coward. Luckily for you, you are a powerful coward. You're too useful to kill, sadly. So here's the deal, [Name]. You will help us complete the ritual. If you don't, I will kill you and your entire pack."

You can't make me!

Chapter 4 Page 17f

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The following pages appear if you clicked "Stay out of it" on Page 11e.

Saligia is pinned and unable to fight, and Kora is distracted--Namir has the upper hand, and he takes it with a ruthless fury.

His jaws close around Kora's throat and with a crack she falls to the ground, unmoving.

The clearing is silent and you look at Kora's twisted form. If only...but no, you had your own hide to think about, and you know that if you had intervened, Namir would not have spared you.

He suddenly turns with a snarl, prepared to take you down.

Brace yourself!

Chapter 4 Page 15g

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"Namir!" Saligia barks out, and he halts in his tracks.

The witch rises to her paws and shakes her head.

"Don't. We need [HIM/HER]. No matter their loyalty, they are powerful. I will not let that go to waste."

She strides forward and shoves her face into yours threateningly. Injured and bleeding as she is, her presence is powerful.

"Listen to me, [Name]. You will help us complete the ritual. If you don't, I will kill you and your entire pack."

You can't make me!

Chapter 4 Page 16g

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She snaps her teeth a hair's breadth from your fur.

"I can, and I will--but I'd prefer not to. Power given is much more potent than power taken. Final offer, then: help me complete the ritual, and you and your pack will be spared from the inevitable corruption. That's what you want, isn't it? To be normal?"

Saligia spits the word in your face and you flinch back. Her pleasant, welcoming demeanor has fallen from the facade it was to her true nature: a villain.

Mutely agree

Chapter 4 Page 18f

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Realizing you have no choice, you agree to lend the witches your power. Snarling, Saligia wrenches your head to the side, forcing you to watch as Namir gains the upper hand on Kora.

He has her pinned, jaws closed around her throat, and she is vainly struggling to get out of his grasp. He pauses, his eyes finding Saligia's. She smiles and whispers:

"Now you get to watch her die."

Some signal must have passed between them. Namir's jaws close around Kora's throat and with a crack she falls to the ground, unmoving.

Kora no!

Chapter 4 Page 19f

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The clearing is silent, and you look at Kora's twisted form. You had tried...but your actions had come too late. If only...

"Sisters!" Saligia calls out. "Let us begin."

She releases you, and Namir moves to stand next to you threateningly. There's no need for his towering presence; you have no fight left in you.

Saligia begins the chanting howl and you feel power rising up within you. All you have to do is let it go, and the ritual will greedily consume it and be complete.

Let go of your power

Chapter 4 Page 20f

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You release your power, letting the ritual consume the last vestiges of your energy.

You're vaguely aware of slumping to the ground and the witches moving around you. All is eventually quiet, and your sense of time is warped.

Minutes or hours, you're not sure which, pass before your senses return to you. You blink open your blurry eyes and look around the grove.

There's a chill in the air, and a hot, bitter taste at the back of your throat. The grove is oddly empty except for Kora's body in front of you.

Namir and the witches are nowhere to be found.

Rise to your paws

Chapter 4 Page 21f

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Gathering your strength, you pull yourself to your paws and take in the new world around you.

The trees, the sky, the ground...it's all twisted beyond recognition. Once-familiar sights, sounds, and smells no longer exist and everything is foreign.

There is no trace of the witches remaining in the grove. It sits abandoned, without even a hint of what it was before. Your body remains unchanged, and your mind clear.

Saligia had kept her word...or so it seemed. There was only one way to find out, and you'd have to face it alone.

Leave the grove

Chapter 4 Page 22f

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You turn to leave, glancing back at Kora's body with an ache in your chest. Surely it was better this way, so that she no longer suffered...but thoughts of what could have been bounce around in your head.

You head back to your pack, paws set firmly on the path before you.

You got a Marking Set Applicator [Notches], a Forest Clearing, a Corrupted Kora and +50 ME!

Leave the grove

Chapter 4 Page 23f

Join the Witches

Join the Witches

The storyline branch appears if you were previously on the Kora path, and then chose to Warn Saligia and Join the Witches on Page 7c.

With a snarl you stand by Saligia's side and face Namir.

"Your loyalty will not go unrewarded, [Name]. Once the ritual is complete, you will experience power you've never known before. You will--"

Her words are cut off as a blur of gray leaps from the shadows and tackles her to the ground.

Kora!

Her distraction gives Namir the time he needs. With a snarl, he leaps at you!

Battle

Chapter 4 Page 8c

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Namir struggles under your paws, having been overpowered by your strength. His eyes are full of anger, but you can see something else there--fear.

You pause uncertainly. Did Saligia want you to kill him?

"Don't kill him, [Name]. We need him. As for you..."

Saligia looks down at Kora with a malicious coldness. Namir is useful with his power. But Kora, though she had been purged of her corruption, offers nothing of value to the witches.

With a flash of teeth and a high-pitched shriek, Kora falls limp as Saligia's jaws snap her throat.

Look away

Chapter 4 Page 9e

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You feel Namir jerk in response, and keep him pinned as he struggles to escape from your grasp.

"Murderer! She wasn't corrupted anymore, there was no reason to--"

"Quiet, Namir. Quit your moaning. Clearly you're not the wolf I thought you were. Sniveling over the death of a traitor? Pathetic."

She spits on Kora's body and turns to you and Namir.

"Luckily you're useful. I'll use your power whether you like it or not. You can give it willingly and I may decide to spare you, or refuse and you'll just die after the ritual is complete. It makes no difference to me."

Keep a hold on Namir

Chapter 4 Page 10e

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Namir doesn't respond, but seems to give in--he ceases struggling, and you're able to let go of him.

"Witches, return to your places. [Name], take Namir resume your post. It's time to finish this."

Without a backward glance, Saligia turns and takes her place at the head of the circle.

You nudge Namir to the center, and he offers no resistance. Your paws begin to tingle eagerly as they anticipate the rush of power you're about to have.

Saligia begins the chanting howl and you feel power rising up within you just as before. All you have to do is let it go, and the ritual will greedily consume it and be complete. After...after, you can drink from the well of that power.

Release your power

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You release your power, letting the ritual consume the last vestiges of your energy.

You're vaguely aware of slumping to the ground and the witches moving around you. You feel Namir beside you, also slumped to the ground. All is eventually quiet, and your sense of time is warped.

Minutes or hours, you're not sure which, pass before your senses return to you. You blink open your blurry eyes and look around the grove.

There's a chill in the air, and a hot, bitter taste at the back of your throat. The grove is oddly empty except for Namir beside you, and Kora's body in front of you.

Rise to your paws

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Gathering your strength, you pull yourself to your paws and take in the new world around you.

The trees, the sky, the ground...it's all twisted beyond recognition. Once-familiar sights, sounds, and smells no longer exist and everything is foreign.

There is no trace of the witches remaining in the grove. It sits abandoned, without even a hint of what it was before. Where had they gone? And...why did you feel so...empty?

Namir stirs and stands beside you, shaking out his pelt in a stupor. He looks around, confusion clouding his features.

Where did they go?

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His lips peel back in a snarl.

"They're gone, of course. Did you really think they meant to give you any power?"

He whips around, hair bristling and sharp teeth flashing.

"Imbecile! This is your fault! How could you be so stupid? After everything you knew, that Kora--" He shakes his head savagely, overcome with emotion. "Now she's dead, our power has been stolen, and it's all been for nothing!"

He looks as though he might go for your throat, but a distant howl captures his attention.

"I have to go." He turns abruptly, making for the entrance.

Wait, isn't there something we can do?

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"There is nothing!" he cries out, glaring at you over his shoulder. "The ritual was successful; can't you see? The corruption is spreading, and there's nothing we can do about it. You made sure of that."

He goes to duck under a branch hanging in the entranceway, and calls back nastily:

"Have fun telling your pack why they're turning into monsters, [Name]."

With that, he disappears, and you're left alone in the grove.

Kora's fur stirs in the wind, and you look down at her as reality begins to sink in.

She had been right all along. She had paid for it with pain and ultimately death--and now thanks to you, you and your pack faced the same fate.

It's time to leave

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Chest heavy and feeling as though your paws are trapped in mud, you pad to the entrance. Nothing remains for you here. The next part of your journey you must do alone...and face the consequences of your choices.

You head back to your pack, paws set grimly on the path before you.

You got a Marking Set Applicator [Notches], a Forest Clearing, a Saligia and +50 ME!

Head home

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