Feb 2022 chooseyourownadventure orchestral score story fantasy
Just in case you don't know, I'm creating a "Choose Your Own Adventure" FAWM.
For this FAWM, I've decided to make a score to a film/story that hasn't been written. This is because YOU will decide where the story will go and how it will eventually end. After each song, I will give you options for your "Choose Your Own Adventure" story. Write your option in the comment section. I will wait about 8 hours or so, calculate the numbers, then create the next song that fits this option. After each song is posted, I start the process all over again until FAWM and the story is over.
The majority of those who voted picked A) Let Mathias Live
(Sorry, this music was a bit rushed. I've been busy.)
*************
Mathias sneaks quickly out of the house, goes to the side of it, undoes the laces on his trousers, drops them to his knees, then squats. He yells back to the other soldier, who is now in sight, "Yeah, give me a sec! Just, uh, relieving myself here."
The other soldier, seemingly embarrassed by catching Mathias in the middle of a bowel movement, yells, "When you're ready..."
After the soldier moves out of sight, Mathias stands, pulls his trousers up and hurries back into the house. You were eavesdropping and part of you is impressed by his quick thinking. Mathias looks at you, shifts his gaze to the mother and baby crawling out from under the bed, then looks at his dead comrade on the floor. The baby is now quiet and the mother is sat upon the floor, shaking slightly while clutching onto him. She tilts her head to look up at you and Mathias and her face is inscrutable.
"I don't know how I'm going to explain young Wout over there on the floor...." Mathias pauses, then says, "Quick! Shove him under the bed. I'll say he got drunk and wandered somewhere to sleep it off. Heh, that's something that bonehead would do. It'll buy some time, especially if no one looks too hard."
The mother scurries away from the bed, child in hand, to give you space.
You nod, then unceremoniously kick Wout's body until it's fully under the bed. His head detaches from the rest of his corpse and you kick it under the bed. Goal! No worries, he can't feel a thing.
"I need to go so my Commander doesn't become suspicious. Meet me at the south end of the village after it gets dark when everyone's gone to sleep. I'll give you a signal to let you know it's me. I'll tell you everything."
Before you have time to say anything, Mathias is gone. You can feel yourself slowing down. You're body feels old again. The ache in your back has returned with additional spikes of fire and your mitts hurt from all that strangling you did.
You turn to the mother.
"What do I call you?"
She looks up at you and now you see it. The flash of fear, followed by anger.
She doesn't reply. You can tell she's got a bone to pick with you.
"Ugh, can you even walk? I'm not going to carry you out of here, let alone the baby."
She tries to stand, making sure to not put weight on her injured leg. She can manage a slow hobble. You're becoming more and more impatient. You have no time for passive aggressive crap.
"You gonna say something? What the hell is wrong with you?" You don't like young people, especially ungrateful wretches whose lives you saved. Maybe you should have never given a damn and left her here to rot. You can still go if you want.
"Raana," she mutters. "My name is Raana. This is Eli," she says as she gestures to her baby.
"Well, Raana, can you keep that brat quiet until we make it to the rendezvous site?"
Her eyes flare up with anger again. "He's not a brat, he's a baby! And you were going to sacrifice him, you monster."
"He was going to die anyway, making all that racket. A thank-you will suffice. 'Thanks, Kaleb for saving our lives.!' Come with me if you want. You're not my problem anymore. I wash my hands of this."
You really ought to wash your hands. They're still covered in blood and trachea.
You leave in a huff, annoyed. You wasted your time saving those little shits. You make your way over to where you left Mayor Adaline and Silas and they're relieved to see you.
"Who is that behind you....Raana and Eli?" Mayor Adaline asks. Of course she knows them. She's the mayor and she probably never forgets a face.
You turn around and see Raana half-running, half-hobbling. You hope no soldiers see her, but, again, she's not your problem. That's what you tell yourself.
You tell the mayor and Silas about your encounter with Mathias and the freshly-corpsified Wout, but you say nothing about your association with the former. It's not really lying, just leaving out a few details they don't need to know about you. You see them nod and Silas praises you for being so brave. You don't tell them about the conversation with Mathias or rendezvous place or time.
And just as you think you've gotten away with it, Raana looks at you and asks, "How do you know the soldier?" Young people. Too noisy. Too nosey.
Do you:
A) Tell the truth about your past?
or
B) Lie about your past?
@headfirstonly Mar 2022
Your "rushed" is other people's "dramatic, complex and polished to a fine sheen." You are doing nothing to stop me contemplating getting a cello with this, Mel. It's at the heart of this, although that opening raspy brass gives it a good run for its money.
@pooka Feb 2022
I'm going to go against the grain and say A) Tell the truth.
Why? I think there's more value to what you're doing now than whatever it is you did in the past. You gave Mathias the chance for redemption, so there's no chance you can't be given the same sort of clemency.
@pianoonthepatio Feb 2022
I love the contrast between the chimes and the horns in the beginning. Voting B - tell them no truths. Better safe
@tawny249 Feb 2022
Yeah, it's gonna be B anyway, so let's jump on the bandwagon. Really enjoyed those chimes coming in at the end, they build the tension nicely - chimes always sound kind of questioning to me.
@tamsnumber4 Feb 2022
I'd say lie just to stop taking up so much time and move on for the moment, she might not even make it , so he is not obligated right now. I'm so addicted to this and excited I get to vote again...but still missing the Disney Princess Voice...
@dragondreams Feb 2022
Now I'm caught up... a B from me. There's nothing to be gained by making the survivors distrust me at this stage. Time for the truth later. If there IS a later.
The music is certainly creating tension.
@sapient Feb 2022
Yeah. It's B for me too. There's obviously something here that isn't going to help these people if they know everything. It's enough that they are alive.
There's papable tension building in this music at the end. I love how it hangs there.
Can't wait for the next episode! :D
@dzdandcunfsd Feb 2022
B... since those are the options.
I'd actually say this ain't a movie lady, no time for exposition, did I not just save you and your babies lives? Trust me or not, I don't care :D
I'm loving this idea and your execution.
@leepat Feb 2022
b) lie
you can always tell Raana later.
lying will get you bad points
but you’ve already got enough of those, haven’t you.
@aeye Feb 2022
B. (but if he goes with B he's gotta go allll in on that lie and become that lie. It's the only way) This is really good. Love those gritty sounding trumpets at the start and the changes in style throughout.