The Descent

###Are you ready? [[Its time to Descend->The command]]

=><= (after: 1s)[ (char-style: via (t8n-delay:pos*60)+(t8n:'dissolve'))[Wake up *slave*...]] (after: 4s)[ (char-style: via (t8n-delay:pos*60)+(t8n:'dissolve'))[...its time to serve your (size:1.1)[Master]. ]] (after: 8s)[(t8n:'dissolve')[ *[[Huh ...what? ->The reverie]]* ]]

###Load Game {(set: _save_slots to (data-names: (saved-games:))) (set: _save_slots to (reversed: ..._save_slots)) (set: _total_saves to _save_slots's length) (if: _total_saves <= 0 )[No saved games] (for: each _slot, ..._save_slots)[ (if: (saved-games:) contains _slot)[ (set: _name_of_save to (saved-games:)'s _slot) * (link:_name_of_save)[ (load-game: _slot) ] ] ]}

{ (set: const-type $GainItem to (color: green)) (set: const-type $LoseItem to (color: red)) (set: $Credits to 1000) (set: $Name to "Laura") (set: $LastName to "Casey") (set: $Residency to "Off-worlder") (set: $Status to "FREEWOMB") (set: $IDUnlocked to false) (set: $CreditsUnlocked to false) (set: $FirstContactsExplained to false) }

{(if: (history: )'s length >= 1)[(append:?sidebar)[(icon-restart: )]] (if: $IDUnlocked)[(append:?sidebar)[(text-size:0.8)[ Status: $Status ]]] (if: $CreditsUnlocked)[(append:?sidebar)[(text-size:0.8)[ Credits: $Credits ]]] (append:?sidebar)[(text-size:0.8)[ `[` (link-rerun: "Menu")[{ (dialog: bind _menu_options, "", "Load Game", "Save Game", "Return") (if: _menu_options is "Load Game")[(go-to: "Load Game")] (if: _menu_options is "Save Game")[(go-to: "Save Game")] }] `]` ]]}

(after-error:)[Oh dear, something went wrong. Please send me a screenshot!]

=><= (link: "<- Return to Game")[(go-to: (history:)'s last)] <== --- ###Save Game {(set: _default_save_name to (history:)'s last) (set: _date_and_time to (current-date:) + " " + (current-time:)) (set: _all_saves to (saved-games:)) (set: _save_slots to (data-names: _all_saves)) (set: _save_slots to (reversed: ..._save_slots)) (set: _total_saves to _save_slots's length) (set: _new_save to _total_saves + 1) (link: "New Save")[ (set: _name_for_save to (prompt: [Save As:], _default_save_name, "", "Confirm")) (if:(save-game: (str: _new_save), _name_for_save))[(t8n: "pulse")[ Game saved as _name_for_save ]](else: )[(t8n: "pulse")[ Sorry, I couldn't save your game. ]] (set: _new_save to it + 1) ]} (if: _total_saves >= 1 )[Overwrite existing save:] {(for: each _save, ..._save_slots)[ (if: (saved-games: ) contains _save)[ (set: _name_of_save to _all_saves's _save) * (link-rerun: _name_of_save)[ (set: _name_for_save to (prompt: [Save As:], _name_of_save, "", "Confirm")) (set: _confirm_save to (confirm: "Are you sure you want to overwrite this file with a new save?", "Cancel", "Yes")) (if: _confirm_save)[ (if:(save-game: (str: _save), _name_for_save))[(t8n: "pulse")[ Game overwritten as _name_for_save ]](else: )[(t8n: "pulse")[ Sorry, I couldn't save your game. ]] ](else: )[(t8n: "pulse")[ Game NOT saved. ]] ] ] ]}

(text-size:0.6)[Passage Name: (print: (passage: )'s name)]

You stir. A vague image fills your mind, as though blurred. Slowly it becomes clearer: a woman leaning against a pole. No… not leaning against the pole. She is tied to the pole. The woman's arms are bent back behind her, out of sight, seemingly cuffed behind her and binding her to the pole in what must be an *agonizing* position. She is clad in a black, skin-tight material. It simultaneously covers her flesh while clinging to her every curve. She is not entirely nude and yet every every detail of her lithe body is revealed by the material. And its so shiny and glossy. It reflects the bright white lights surrounding her. *Laminate.* It is mesmerizing to look at, and unlike anything you are used to. The woman’s body is further exposed. Her top is cut around her breasts, completely exposing them. They are coated in a sheen of sweat... and her nipples: they are impossible to ignore. Hard, erect, and pierced by stainless steel. As if that was not humiliating enough; the woman's legs are raised above her – spread up and apart in a V-shape and held in place by cuffs and cords. Completely exposing the fact that her glossy black garment is completely open at the crotch. You want to turn away. But you see her bare pussy on display. Her clit and labia look red and engorged from exertion; wet from more sweat and her feminine juices. Stuffed into her pussy is the rounded end of an object – clearly a vibrating toy of some sort. *[[Look away->The eyes]]*

You want to turn away and stop looking. But you can’t. You’re drawn in further, and lower. Here you see the glint of more stainless steel. What you somehow know to be an anal hook pushed in to her back passage. You can barely tell from the image alone. But a part of you knows that the anal hook curves out of her ass and behind her back where its attached to a cord that hangs tightly from the top of the pole. Her entire weight is suspended on the hook and it looks like *torture.* But you look up to the woman’s face, framed by her blonde hair. Her mouth is forced open in an uncomfortable ‘O’ shape by a gag strapped around her neck. A line of drool runs down her chin and onto her exposed breasts. You look into her eyes and what do you see? They look unfocused, but you see it. You see surrender. You see bliss. You see submission. Her situation is both terrifying and wondrous *[[What is going through that woman's head? ->You want answers]]*

You want to speak to this woman. You want to help her. You want to ask her what it felt like to go through her ordeal. You want to know what it felt like. But she cannot answer. This is just a still image. The image speaks loudly and dramatically, but you cannot ignore how many unanswered questions it raises. You want answers. *[[That is why you're here->Time to wake up]]*

You open your eyes. You are seated on your own by a window. You look around the large carriage but it is not clear where the voice came from. None of the other passengers seem to be paying you any attention. It must have been part of the dream you were having. Beyond the tempered-glass viewport you see the upper spires of a sprawling city that you are descending into. From here it looks almost like any other city on any other planet in the galaxy. But you know this place will be different from any place you’ve ever been to. This is Torei. Torei is renowned for its extraordinary sexual culture; and how its society is built on foundations of slavery and harsh-treatment of women. So its not surprising, perhaps, that a vibrant tourist economy has started to develop for this world. But that is not why you are here. You are an acclaimed promoter of women’s rights throughout the galaxy; and no other world is as severe as Torei for how women are subjugated. You were invited to see first-hand what things are really like here. And you had far too much curiosity to say no. “We will shortly be reaching the surface elevation. Please remain seated while our final deceleration begins.” A female voice chimes across the room. You are on the space elevator, a long column stretching from the equator of Torei to the edge of space. It is the only means of reaching planet-side from high-orbit. And this is the last stage of a long journey you’ve been on. Torei is a remote world, only recently catalogued on the star charts. It is far from the major trade routes so just getting here by dragship has taken some time. You’re glad to finally be reaching your destination. However irregular it may be. *[[It will be niced to feel real gravity again.->Arriving on Torei]]*

You hear the sounds of the boosters firing and the increased inertia as the elevator finally comes to a stop. You are soon exiting the carriage, suitcase in hand, and heading for the arrivals lounge. This small area of Torei, the space elevator base, is an international zone where normal Torean law doesn’t apply. From here there are various shuttles available to many different ringdoms. You recall from the reading you did before you arrived here that the ringdoms are effectively the different nations of Torei. Largely spread out across the equator of the planet, which is the most habitable area. They all have their own governments but they typically have a shared culture, and many similar laws. A few ringdoms lay directly next to the space elevator, but some of the ones further out have special treaties allowing direct shuttles from the space elevator into their territories. You quickly check your travel documents again, even though you’ve read them many times before. You need to travel to the Ringdom of Kohiya to meet your contact. Fortunately the signage is very clear and welcoming, so you are soon on a shuttle to Sobana; the capital city of Kohiya. *[[Time to pass through customs->Passing through customs]]*

“Passport and travel documents, please.” After a short queue you are confronted by a woman, standing behind a tall desk. She wears a uniform made entirely of the skin-tight laminate that – until now – you had only seen in images. You can’t help but stare. The uniform consists of a pale-blue blouse with short-sleeves, with shoulder straps denoting some kind of rank. There is some kind of emblem over her left breast. The buttons of the blouse stop halfway up her torso and show off her cleavage proudly but in a manner that would never be considered professional back home. She also wears a black miniskirt with a white stripe down each side. The skirt is just as tight and form-fitting as her top. She also wears pale blue gloves that end at her wrists, and a black peaked-cap similar to those worn by police. The woman looked very official and domineering despite – or because of – the tight, shiny material she wore. “Ma’am! Passport and travel documents, if you please,” she frowns at you; clearly running out of patience. *[[You quickly hand-over what she asks for->Document check]]* *[[You keep staring, transfixed by the sight of the glossy laminate->A closer look at laminate]]*

The customs officer takes your passport and documentation then starts flicking through them, her face remaining expressionless. She then places them on the desk and starts typing into a computer. “Please confirm your first and last name, Ma’am.” First Name: (input: bind $Name, "X==", $Name) Last Name: (input: bind $LastName, "X==", $LastName) “And what is the reason for your visit to Kohiya, Ma’am?” [[“I’m actually here on a research trip.”->Business Trip]]

You struggle to pull your eyes away from the sight of the uniformed woman in front of you. You take in more details, from her black hair peaking out from under her cap, to the dark make-up around her brown eyes, and her red lips. You realise her breasts are much bigger than yours, or maybe its just her narrow waist that makes them look bigger; followed by her wide hips. Despite all you’d read, all the images you’d seen; nothing prepared you for the sight of a woman dressed in this material called laminate. Didn’t she feel humiliated and exposed dressed like that? “C’mon lady! You’re holding up the line!” More angry words come from the queue behind you. *[[You nearly drop your documents as you hand them over->Document check]]*

(if: visits is 1)[You start to explain that you are here to research an academic paper that you are writing on slavery and womens rights. You tell her that you’re an expert in those fields across the galaxy and have quite a bit of renown from writing many such previous papers for both academic journals and more mainstream publications. “Business.” She nods, cutting you off and clearly not interested in anything you had to say. “It says here your return trip to the Way Up is in three days. Everything looks to be valid.” $GainItem[She hands you a plastic ID card.](set: $IDUnlocked to true) “This is your Torean ID card. Keep it with you at all times.” $GainItem[She hands you a credit chit.](set: $CreditsUnlocked to true) “This is your Torean credit chit. I’ve converted your Travellers Bond to our local credit system. You have $Credits credits. That chit will work for all local payments.” She presses a button on the desk and a door slides open beside her. “Once you pass through that door you will be on sovereign Torean territory. Please remember to follow all local and Torean laws.” She waves for you to pass through. “Move along. Next!”](else: )[“Move along. Next!” The customs officer glares at you, clearly waiting for you to move through the door.] *[[You walk through the door->Sovereign Torean territory]]* [["Can I have my passport back?"->Passport question]] [["What laws should I be aware of?"->Laws question]]

You look up at the open door before you and read the large sign above it: YOU ARE NOW ENTERING SOVEREIGN TOREAN TERRITORY *[[The only way is forward->First look at transit hub]]*

“Your galactic passport has no use in Kohiya. Only your Torean ID card is important here. Your passport will be securely stored with us. You can retrieve it when you leave Torei; provided there are no outstanding issues with your Torean ID card.” The customs officer folds her arms and waits for you to move. *[[Another bureaucracy obsessed with identification->Business Trip]]*

“Miss $LastName, ” the customs officer points to the queue behind you, “as you can see. There are a lot of people waiting to pass through here. I don’t have time to answer all of your questions. If you are not familiar with Torean culture then I suggest you call in at a Kohiyan Tourist Office at your earliest opportunity and I’m certain they will be eager to introduce you to our rules and ways of living.” *[[That wasn’t very helpful->Business Trip]]*

###Torean Identification Card Name: $Name $LastName Residency Type: $Residency Issuer: Ringdom of Kohiya Classification Status: $Status

* Introduce the physical description of the character * Create a proper footer for trackers (Credits, Status, Inventory etc) * Explain that the elevator is called The Way Up

You enter what appears to be a large transit hub. Behind you is the shuttle to the Way Up, where you have just come from. There are signs for other modes of transport labelled The Carriages, The Train, and The Lead. The central area is a large open space filled with lots of people passing through in various directions. Most of the people here are dressed in similar textile clothing as your own but you do notice the occasional passer-by – both men and women – dressed in the shiny laminate that Torei is known for. They all ignore you but you can’t help staring at them as they pass; especially the women. You don’t have time to look any further when you hear someone calling out to you. “$Name! Over here!” *[[That must be my contact->Meeting Virgil]]*

“Hi! You must be $Name $LastName. I’m Virgil. I’m so glad you could come. I hope you had a pleasant journey.” You recognise him from the photos you’ve seen. He’s tall, with short brown hair; though you can see a few flecks of grey in there too. He wears rounded glasses and is dressed quite smartly in a suit with a tartan bow-tie. No laminate in sight, as you might expect. Just behind him stands another man. He looks younger than Virgil, with a shock of bright red, messy hair and a friendly smile. He offers you a little wave. “That’s Jules, my assistant.” Virgil gestures to the man behind him. “He’ll take your suitcase to your hotel. That way we can get straight down to the reason why you’re here.” *[[Let’s go->The Liberty Society]]*

You know that Virgil works for a group called the Liberty Society and it was this group that invited you to Torei. The Society is dedicated to helping the women of Torei who find themselves enslaved by the many gender-based laws of this world. Some criticize the Society, saying that they should respect the native culture of Torei, and that its wrong to inflict outside ideas onto an independent planet. One goal of the Liberty Society is to increase awareness of the conditions on Torei to help increase donations and funding. That is where you came in. The Society has paid for your ticket here (and your return journey), as well as paying for the hotel for your three-day stay. Along with that they have also given you the grant of $Credits credits that you have as advance payment for writing an article on slavery in Torei. Virgil leads you out of the transit hub and into a huge covered space akin to that of a large mall. The architecture here is full of smooth white lines, everything looks clean and welcoming. Above you light filters in from the high transparent ceiling. People bustle around the various businesses that open on to this arcade – shops, restaurants, hotels. *[[Its not as bad as I expected…->So many Torean women]]*

You now notice an increase in the people wearing laminate here and you can barely decide who to look at as everyone passes you. One thing you observe is the high amount of women here than men. Humans have travelled far and wide across the universe from one galaxy to the next but no other intelligent life-forms have been found. Humans remain alone. But that does not mean that all of humanity is the same. On Torei the native humans have a different reproductive system than most. The men are haploid, while the women are diploid. This means that reproduction between a male and female will always result in female offspring. However, if a woman goes without fertilization for some time – and without any form of birth control – she will naturally reproduce by parthenogenesis; and that will always result in male offspring. You remember reading that on Torei there are typically between nine or ten females for every one male. That makes men much rarer; and Torei’s unique history has put them in a position of power. While women are treated much like an easily-replaced resource dedicated to the needs of men. Virgil leads you to what looks like a small shop-front; though it looks closed. He approaches the door, unlocks it and turns the light on; gesturing for you to follow him in. *[[You step in.->The Liberty Society Shop]]*

(if: visits is 1)[The shop is mostly empty except for a desk and a couple of chairs. Virgil waves his hand around. “As you can see. Funding for the Liberty Society is drying up. There’s only me and Jules left here in Kohiya. We’ve been forced to stop most of our activities due to a lack of credits.” He looks dejected and sighs as he glances out of the window at all the passing women. “Some of our branches in the other ringdoms are doing better than we are, but we feel this is where we need you most. With your reputation out on the core worlds, you could really get our message out with a well-written article about slavery on Torei; and Kohiya in particular.”](else: )[Virgil stands in the middle of the empty shop and looks back at you. He has a feint look of helplessness and frustration in his eyes, as though the drive he once had has started to drain from him. But then he straightens his back and gives you a confident smile. “Did you have more questions, $Name?”] [[“What makes Kohiya so special?”->Sex tourism in Kohiya]] [[“Where should I start?”->Where to start]] [[“Any other advice you can give me?”->Advice from the Liberty Society]] (if: $FirstContactsExplained)[ *[[Its time to go out and explore->Outside]]* ]

Virgil inhales deeply and fiddles with his bow-tie before turning to you. “The ringdom of Kohiya has become one of the major tourist destinations for off-worlders visiting Torei. And most of that is focused here in Sobana; the capital.” He pauses now, looking off into the distance as he gathers his thoughts. “Its the *kind* of tourism that we get here that makes it such a problem. We’re talking sex tourism. Its mostly male tourists that come here. If you spend any length of time exploring Torei you might come to notice that there is a higher-than-average amount of men in Kohiya. And that’s down to all the off-world men that come here for one thing only. The sex. “Its bad enough that the native men of Torei treat most of the women here as nothing but sex-objects. But now there are extra men flooding in, flashing their credits, and making use of the women in the local clubs. Many of those women have no say in what the visitors do. And rarely do the visitors treat those women with any manner of respect.” “Its the sort of thing the Liberty Society must really focus on. If we can’t eradicate slavery on this world; the least we can do is stop outsiders from coming here and taking advantage of the women here.” [[“Why is this kind of tourism so popular here?”-->Ren Dusho is the reason]]

“I’m glad you’re eager to start,” Virgil gives you a gentle smile. “I’ve taken the liberty of arranging some meetings with a couple of contacts I have. “The first one is with Cara Auclair, she’s an off-worlder but has lived in Sobana for a few years now. She has a lot of experience dealing with the draconian laws they have here. It will be good for you to talk to her; to get an introduction of how things really are here for women. I asked her to stop by today. “The second contact is a man by the name of Ronan who has agreed to talk to you. He’s a tourist here and exactly the kind of person we want to dissuade from visiting Torei. I doubt you’ll have much success with him, but he’ll give you a taste of the typical attitudes we’re up against. He’ll meet you at the nearby restaurant called Girl And Grill. Not the best eating establishment here, but he insisted on that being the meeting location. “However, more than anything; I think it will be be better for you to try and meet some of the locals for yourself. Try to approach them and talk to them; and learn how Torean society entraps women and leads them towards a life of slavery.” (set: $FirstContactsExplained to true) *[[Sounds like I could be busy->The Liberty Society Shop]]*

Virgil gives you a firm look. “As I’m sure you realise, Torei is not friendly to women. But as an off-worlder, and as a…” he pauses here as though he doesn’t want to say what’s next, “...as a freewomb you should be relatively safe if you stay in central Sobana. “With that said. Be aware that everything costs credits here. The economy here may be different to what you’re used to. Things that might be cheap back home are expensive on Torei, and vice-versa. And sadly, you might find you have to pay more for certain things just because you’re a woman. Toreans take debt seriously. So spend your credits wisely.” Virgil looks down now, seemingly disappointed in himself. “The Liberty Society in Kohiya no longer has the resources that it used to. We can’t provide any more funds or assistance than what we’ve already given you. So be careful out there. If you get in trouble we may not be able to help.” [[“Thank you for the advice.”->The Liberty Society Shop]] [[“Did you say freewomb?”->A Freewomb]]

Virgil makes a quiet sort of grunt. “Ren Dusho. He’s the reason for all this tourism.” Virgil starts pacing the room now as he continues. “Tourism has been rising in most of the ringdoms close to the Way Up but here in Koshiya the Tourist Board has been particularly aggressive in encouraging visitors to come here. The Tourist Board is a sort of coalition of local businesses that have been making quite a lot of money from the visitors – mostly from selling sex – and they seem intent on increasing their profits by bringing in more off-worlders. Ren Dusho is the chairman of the Tourist Board, and the main driving force of their efforts.” You can see how agitated Virgil gets just talking about the man. “Coincidentally, or perhaps not, Ren Dusho is also the main advocate for shutting down the Liberty Society in Kohiya. He hasn’t shut us down yet, but we need more funding if we are to fight him.” *[[It always comes down to credits->The Liberty Society Shop]]*

“Yes,” Virgil nods, “a most disagreeable term. But its what the Toreans call a free woman. Torean society is very hierarchical. While most women end up as slaves of some sort; some women do manage to maintain a degree of independence as a freewomb. But all women are seen as a lesser class than men; so even freewombs are expected to accord them some respect.” [[“Thank you for the advice.”->The Liberty Society Shop]]