from Astronaut: The Best.
Branching narrative event. Screwball humor, surreal.
Written/designed with David Mershon.
Context: This is a random event that can occur during the game’s climactic space launch, featuring a randomized astronaut. For readability, I’ve transcribed a sample playthrough instead of trying to convey the event’s whole flow. The haruspex is basically a narrator, using divination technology to relay what’s happening aboard the spacecraft.
This event is somewhat unique in that instead of asking the player to make a choice, it uses the game’s conversation tree mechanics to create a space to explore. There are numerous ways this confrontation could have ended differently based on the astronaut’s traits. For example, if the astronaut has a “Stupid-Looking Dog,” the dog can lead them to a hidden exit, or if they have the “Pedantic” or “Pi Truther” traits, they can annoy the spider enough that it lets them go free.
HARUSPEX
A brilliant flash of light floods the capsule. When it subsides, Terrance-Toby Lagernick is missing.
GROUND CREW
Lagernick!? Where are you? Do you read me?
LAGERNICK
Don't worry, I'm safe. I'm in a casino.
HARUSPEX
It is the grandest casino Lagernick has ever seen.
The finest space tequila bubbles from the lips of golden cherubs into an elaborate marble fountain.
LAGERNICK
Wow! What should I do first?
Player Choice: What to do at the space casino?
> Play some baccarat
Drink from the tequila fountain
Take in a show
Look for the way out
LAGERNICK
Okay. Time to step up to the baccarat plate and knock the cards out of the park.
HARUSPEX
The bacca ball and rat cards both land on 7, and thus Lagernick is declared the winner.
LAGERNICK
How about that! I won!
Player receives a large amount of money.
Player Choice: What to do at the space casino?
Play some baccarat
Drink from the tequila fountain
Take in a show
> Look for the way out
HARUSPEX
Walking the hallways surrounding the casino, Lagernick slowly realizes that there appears to be no exit.
Defeated, and feeling a rising panic, he heads back to the casino floor.
Player Choice: What to do at the space casino?
Play some baccarat
Drink from the tequila fountain
> Take in a show
Look for the way out
HARUSPEX
A beautiful lounge singer sways upon a sumptuously dressed crimson stage, singing an bewitching and unearthly song.
As Lagernick begins to drift away, he notices the giant slavering space spider sitting next to him.
The giant slavering space spider asks whether he comes here often.
Player Choice: Should Lagernick talk to the spider creature?
> Talk with the spider (Procedure Test)
Use Gordian Knife on spider (cannot be chosen, not in inventory)
Politely excuse himself and leave
HARUSPEX
The giant space spider poses a riddle to Lagernick.
If our knowledge of the world is nothing more than shadows on the wall of a cave..
Why not live in a beautiful fantasy environment while a space spider feeds off your soul, turning you slowly into a lifeless husk?
Astronaut Test Failed: Can Lagernick answer to the spider-being's satisfaction?
LAGERNICK
I dunno. My philosophy is "live life to the extreme," and I don't think that applies one way or the other here.
Seems like a nice space casino to spend an eternity in, but..
..are there any tiny hot dogs I can eat here? I think we could work something out if you have a few.
HARUSPEX
The spider shows Lagernick a tray of tiny hot dogs, extinguishing all hope of escape.
System Message: Terrance-Toby Lagernick was drained of life by a space spider.
The illusionary money the player received disappears, and the game advances to the next randomized space challenge.