Feb 2022 chooseyourownadventure orchestral score electronic 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.
Okay, I can do this. I can do this. Fuck, I'm really starting to feel that FAWM grind.
The majority of you chose to wake up B) Sobbing.
*************
You wake up, quietly sobbing. Your eyes open to find Raana looking over you.
“You kept calling her name in your sleep,” says Raana, eyebrow arched. “Who’s Delphine?”
You ignore Raana’s question and ask, “What time is it? How long have I been asleep?”
“It’s almost noon. You’ve been sleeping for quite a long time, Kaleb,” replies Mayor Adaline. “Raana wanted to wake you, but I told her to leave you alone. You’ll need to get as much rest as you can before we head out at dawn. Caminoord is a day and a half’s travel on horseback.”
You appreciate Mayor Adaline’s thoughtfulness. Raana, on the other hand….you can’t wait to see the backside of her. You’ll be glad when you can dump her in the next village over.
You begin to think about the conversation you had with Mathias and you wonder how much of that they overheard. You hope it wasn’t too much. Raana didn’t seem to know about Delphine, which is a good thing. Do they sense that you and Mathias have a history? Would they trust you if they found out you used to be a soldier? Would they even understand? You try not to care, but you might have to come clean at some point during this journey.
You wait until it gets dark before you and Mayor Adaline go out to scavenge for supplies. Silas leaves the bunker to find horses, while Raana and Eli stay behind. You and Mayor Adaline manage to find some food stored in previously-occupied houses—a bit of ham, stale bread, apples, dried fish, crackers, cheese, and half a jar of blackberry jam. You also find some clothing and blankets, which will come in handy. Most of the soldiers have gone, with some still patrolling, but you manage to evade them.
You and Mayor Adaline return to the bunker. Silas is already back and says he’s got the horses tied up near the mines. Raana is sitting on the mattress with Eli, changing his diaper, which smells worse than you and that’s saying something.
Mayor Adaline takes the food and begins to ration it out, handing each person a small bundle. She says, “You all need to be responsible for yourselves. This is the food you’ll be getting for the next two days. When we get to Caminoord, I’ll see what my friend, Mayor Hendrik, can do for us.”
As you all lie down, Raana asks, “What’s Caminoord like, Mayor Adaline?” And it occurs to you that she’s probably never even left this damn village, she looks so young.
Mayor Adaline smiles sadly, then replies, “Caminoord is nice. It’s smaller than here, a little fancier, too, but the people are friendly. The last time I was there, I had some delicious bread from the big bakery. You’ll like it.”
Raana sighs, then snuggles up against Eli, who is already fast asleep. Silas goes to the corner to use the chamberpot before going to sleep. Mayor Adaline whispers some prayers to herself then blows out the candle. “Goodnight, Kaleb,” she murmurs before drifting off.
You have a deep and dreamless sleep, but you wake up before everyone else. You know what it’s like to be up at dawn. You were always the first one in the morning at the mines. You wake everyone up by making a bit of noise while packing up the supplies and pretending to clear your throat and cough. They are startled. Raana groans, Eli starts to cry. Silas sits up and stretches his arms. Mayor Adaline yawns and rubs her face.
“Time to get up,” you say bluntly. “Wash, eat, pack. We leave in half an hour.”
Before you all head out to the horses, Mayor Adaline grabs some papers hidden under a desk. You’re not sure what they are, but they seem important. She sighs as she leaves City Hall and walks with you, silently crying. You look over at Silas and you can see him wipe some tears from his eyes. Raana, too. Her tears drip onto a blanket being used to carry Eli. You say nothing, and, surprisingly, you shed a couple tears, too. You’ll miss this place and there is a part of you that is sad to be going. You were good at working in the mines. You were valued. Now what are you good for, you idiot?
The five of you ride out of the edges of Tinmijn and loop back to the main road. The journey is tinged with sadness and no one does a good job at hiding it now. You’ve all lost everything and leaving Tinmijn forces everyone to confront that. Sure, you’re glad you survived, but so many didn’t and that loss is felt.
But travel along the main road is made easy by good weather. You haven’t left the village in a long time, and the trees seem larger, the path wider. You ride, taking some breaks to water and feed the horses and yourselves. Eli seems to enjoy the trotting of horses and sleeps through it. Silas rides ahead every so often to check for any danger and manages to find a place to camp when it starts getting dark.
You were worried about getting to Caminoord in one piece, but you didn’t have to be. The journey is uncomplicated and safe and the road itself is rather quiet. You arrive at Caminoord in the evening of the second day. There is a small gate in front of the entrance and Mayor Adaline dismounts and knocks on the wooden gate.
A small window opens and a guard is on the other side of it. “State your business,” he says unenthusiastically.
Mayor Adaline brushes herself off and straightens her posture. She replies, “I’m here to see Mayor Hendrik. Tell him it’s Mayor Adaline from Tinmijn. He knows me.”
The wooden gate creaks as it opens and you all dismount and lead your horses through to the stables. It’s definitely smaller here, though the houses seem to be built higher up. It’s louder here, too. As Mayor Adaline walks you to Caminoord’s City Hall, your ears perk up. You can’t remember the last time you heard someone playing the violin, let alone an entire group. The music is strange to your ears and it’s coming from that building. You can hear multiple string instruments, a heavy drum, a snare, and some percussion. The rhythms are unusual and they make you feel like funny. You seem a bit disoriented as you walk into City Hall, overcome by the beats. Everyone else is amazed by the music, but you're growing dizzy.
Mayor Hendrik comes into the main hall and opens his arms wide, a big smile plasters his face. "Adaline! What a lovely surprise!" He embraces Mayor Adaline enthusiastically.
You are very dizzy now. You're starting to see spots in your vision and the room around you is beginning to spin. You swear you can hear the music inside your eyes.
"And who are these visitors of yours?" asks Mayor Hendrik.
But you can't hear him. You've gone a shade of green and you can feel yourself sweating and swaying back and forth. OH DEAR GOD OH NOOOOOO! So much for first impressions, Kaleb.
Do you:
A) Projectile vomit on Mayor Hendrik's face?
or
B) Shit yourself and hope no one will notice?
@headfirstonly Mar 2022
There's a sense of new beginnings here, or possibly the beginning of the story's inexorable march to its conclusion. The upbeat tone of the arrangement really doesn't show any hint of the FAWM grind at all. This is purposeful and cinematic (of course) and oh boy, I really did not see the story taking the turns it does here, but it's right there in those last few notes...
@dzdandcunfsd Mar 2022
This is another outstanding piece, great preparing/traveling montage music with a hint of tension and apprehension... Always better out than in is a good rule of thumb, even if that IN is in your own pants :D
@dragondreams Feb 2022
I'm going with A.
I love the way this piece starts with waking and sad, becomes increasingly hopeful and determined, then leaves us in suspense!
@leepat Feb 2022
go out with a bang, I say.
A
@gm7 Feb 2022
Not feeling A or B...great track BTW
Stumbles and fall against the table and vomits on the carpet! OMG are you Ok?
@tamsnumber4 Feb 2022
First, I listened to the track a few times, I really liked it, soothing, good for all of this traveling.....Second....I don't like either choice, can't he just run out of the room and be sick? You know....like "C" run out and be sick? I am going to choose the one that everyone else will choose, I am guessing everyone will choose A.