Dragonfire

The dragon's head reared back behind the sheet of rain. For a moment, all was calm. Then an orange light began to glow behind the rain at dragon-height.

"Get Under Cover!"

I grabbed Robert -- or did he grab me? -- and we made ourselves small behind the cement barrier.


The Next Page

Turn the Page

Page 114

It gets colder in the Midwest when it rains in late September than it ought to. And even on the interstate you get these long Kentucky earthworms. It's a fiction that they come out when it rains. They come out before. Are hip to the weather. Make their long thirsty crawls early. And so are smeared across the road by unimaginable forces. Every time it rains is earthworm D-Day.

But we're long past seeing any earthworms out the windows of the truck. The rain is coming down so hard the windows look glazed. The soundscape is mostly truck-noise.

Up front the driver has a tape in the deck. It's only got one song recorded on it, which the driver's been playing over and over since like Charleston. Sometimes the wheels sync up and we can hear a little music over them.

The song is Come Thou Font of Every Blessing. The driver is whistling along through a missing front tooth. And he clicks with his tongue -- loudly, once -- between when the music stops and when it starts up again.

The paper is fragile and fine; it feels like it could break at any moment.

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington!


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

1 x A Wrapped Package from Absolom the Tinker

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Game version number.
Thanks for playing Zero Summer!

Paladin

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are mercy, compassion and justice.

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Gumption

Your capacity to pursue new and exciting adventures.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Avatar

Your avatar.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

The Ministry of Black Powder

You're helping "Padre" Charlie with his good works.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington 1

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Burning

"Get Under Cover!"

Dragonfire

The dragon's head reared back behind the sheet of rain. For a moment, all was calm. Then an orange light began to glow behind the rain at dragon-height.

I grabbed Robert -- or did he grab me? -- and we made ourselves small behind the cement barrier.

A long stream of fire crashed against our cement barrier and flowed over our heads. Robert's hand was on my shoulder and mine was on his back. As the fire got hotter, we cringed.

When it let up, we found we were scorched but not burned. A few sad fires sputtered and hissed on the road where they'd caught on something organic. We brought up our revolvers and waited for the dragon to swing back into view.

0 change points, 3 more needed to reach level 3.

Lizbeth's Ailments has increased to 2!


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Hallowed Ground

You've been taken in by the strange beautiful kindnesses of the Mission.

Helping the Brothers Skunk

The Skunk brothers' farm is a local institution; you've lent a hand to keep it running.

Aiming For

Lizbeth called the shot for this.

Bullets in the Chamber

How many bullets are left in your gun.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

Lizbeth's Ailments

Physical damage.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington 4

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Dragonslaying in Dixie

Progress on fighting the dragon south of Lexington.


Page 115

Unlocked with Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington 1 - you have 1

We were sitting in two rows on fold-out benches with our knees pointed inward...

Pinned

Pinned


Opportunities

Draw cards from here to raise your Styles, meet your Allies, and risk your Antagonists.

Pinned

Pinned

Reload!

Unlocked with Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington 4 - you have 4


Page 115

We were sitting in two rows on fold-out benches with our knees pointed inward. Facing me from left to right were:

Peter John Paul from Boston MA. Our back-up wheelman and de facto chaplain. When he was a plebe his nickname was Mulcahy, as in from M*A*S*H. Which lasted about two weeks until he put a certain firsty's best front teeth down his throat. Otherwise PJP is peaceable, unfussable. And he can quote from Scripture, which isn't nothing.

Marcel Cooper, also from Boston MA. Transferred when he was a sophomore at Amherst. Majored in English. Can't recite Proust despite much prodding from Robert. Blond-haired, blue-eyed, complexion like raw milk. Sweet but undependable. Not a great mixer.

And Robert Lee from New Haven CT. About whom see much prev. Now somnolent. This a feature of certain coastal New Englanders: the tendency to nod off in bad weather. Little boys from CT must be dreams on long car trips.

We were maybe an hour south of Lexington on I-75...

Pinned

Pinned


Reload!

In my pocket were spare rounds. But in the crawl out of the burning truck they'd come dislodged. Some, I thought, might be on the ground beneath me. But it would take precious seconds to look, and longer to wipe them off and chamber them in.

"Buy Me Some Space!"

I ducked behind the barricade and started rooting for bullets while Robert laid down some cover.

This will completely refresh your Bullets in the Chamber!

Not Yet

The bullets could wait.


The Next Page

The paper is fragile and fine; it feels like it could break at any moment.

Fifty Miles South of Lexington is increasing!

0 change points, 22 more needed to reach level 22.

An occurrence! Your 'Lizbeth's Cityslicker' Quality is now 21!

An occurrence! Your 'Lizbeth's Doc' Quality is now 21!

An occurrence! Your 'Lizbeth's Gunslinger' Quality is now 21!


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Game version number.
Thanks for playing Zero Summer!

Paladin

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are mercy, compassion and justice.

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Gumption

Your capacity to pursue new and exciting adventures.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Avatar

Your avatar.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

The Ministry of Black Powder

You're helping "Padre" Charlie with his good works.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington 2

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Casings

Down among the highway grit my hands found casings, their metal blood-warm from the dragonfire. Luckily none had misfired. I popped the chamber on my revolver and started slotting them in with that special callous on my thumb.

"Almost done?" Robert said. "Because there's this dragon --"

"This is the time for you to sass me?" I asked, and elbowed him in the knee -- not hard enough to throw off his aim, but hard enough to let him know I wasn't playing.

"Nope," Robert said, and squeezed off a shot. All the playfulness had run out of his voice. Did he feel genuinely bad? or was this still backtalk, only more complicated? Looking back, I never asked.

There are six bullets left in your gun!


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Hallowed Ground

You've been taken in by the strange beautiful kindnesses of the Mission.

Helping the Brothers Skunk

The Skunk brothers' farm is a local institution; you've lent a hand to keep it running.

Aiming For

Lizbeth called the shot for this.

Bullets in the Chamber

How many bullets are left in your gun.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

Lizbeth's Ailments

Physical damage.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Dragonslaying in Dixie

Progress on fighting the dragon south of Lexington.


Conversations in the Rain

Unlocked with Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington 2 - you have 2

<i><font color=#550000>Play through the dialogue branches below to learn more about Lizbeth's companions...

Pinned

Pinned


Opportunities

Draw cards from here to raise your Styles, meet your Allies, and risk your Antagonists.

Pinned

Pinned


Conversations in the Rain

Play through the dialogue branches below to learn more about Lizbeth's companions.

You won't have time to play through them all, so choose carefully!

Pinned

Talk to the Driver

"How's the road look?" I asked the driver.

Talk to Marcel Cooper

Marcel was drumming his nails on his knees. We hit a bump and leaned so heavily to the side it looked for a second like he was floating backwards headfirst into the window.

Talk to Peter John Paul

"I don't know if I'm looking forward to being back," PJP said reflectively. "But I don't know if I'm <i>not,</i> either. You know?"

Talk to Robert Lee

Robert was sitting with his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands. I imagined I could see what he was thinking, that it hovered in a speech-bubble there over his head.


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Game version number.
Thanks for playing Zero Summer!

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Aiming For

Lizbeth called the shot for this.

Bullets in the Chamber

How many bullets are left in your gun.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Lizbeth's Ailments

Physical damage.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Even after the truck righted itself, Marcel looked sunk down into his seat like so much loose change.

"This is not," Marcel said, "how I was led to believe. It would be."

"How was that?" Robert asked, stifling a yawn.

Marcel considered. When in deep thought he looked like a puppy: head tilted, mouth slightly open. His breathing shallow and deliberate.

"More like wind whipping through a dead land," he said. "Great forces compelling us. The shredding of trees. Hostile fauna. Motion and counter-motion. Not" -- here gesturing out the window -- "a cold fall drizzle. Not motion sickness on a shabby interstate."

You're now Talking to Marcel Cooper!

You're having conversations in the rain.

You're having Conversations in the Rain!


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Paladin

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are mercy, compassion and justice.

Gumption

Your capacity to pursue new and exciting adventures.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Avatar

Your avatar.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

The Ministry of Black Powder

You're helping "Padre" Charlie with his good works.

Conversations in the Rain

You're having conversations in the rain.

Talking to Marcel Cooper

You're talking to Marcel Cooper.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Dragonfire

The dragon's head reared back behind the sheet of rain. For a moment, all was calm. Then an orange light began to glow behind the rain at dragon-height.

Opportunities

Draw cards from here to raise your Styles, meet your Allies, and risk your Antagonists.

"Get Under Cover!"

I grabbed Robert -- or did he grab me? -- and we made ourselves small behind the cement barrier.


Pinned

Pinned


Burning

A long stream of fire crashed against our cement barrier and flowed over our heads. Robert's hand was on my shoulder and mine was on his back. As the fire got hotter, we cringed.

When it let up, we found we were scorched but not burned. A few sad fires sputtered and hissed on the road where they'd caught on something organic. We brought up our revolvers and waited for the dragon to swing back into view.

1 change point, 2 more needed to reach level 3.

Lizbeth's Ailments is increasing...


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Hallowed Ground

You've been taken in by the strange beautiful kindnesses of the Mission.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Helping the Brothers Skunk

The Skunk brothers' farm is a local institution; you've lent a hand to keep it running.

Aiming For

Lizbeth called the shot for this.

Bullets in the Chamber

How many bullets are left in your gun.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Lizbeth's Ailments

Physical damage.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Dragonslaying in Dixie

Progress on fighting the dragon south of Lexington.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Conversations in the Rain

Play through the dialogue branches below to learn more about Lizbeth's companions.

You won't have time to play through them all, so choose carefully!

Pinned

Pinned

Talk to the Driver

"How's the road look?" I asked the driver.

Talk to Marcel Cooper

Marcel was a sophomore at Amherst before joining what was called "the accelerated program" at West Point. Why he transferred was a mystery. It had to with civil service, he told me once. How you don't take it lying down -- whatever <i>it</i> was.

            1
            You need 1 x Talking to Marcel Cooper  and  no more than 1 x Talking to Marcel Cooper (you have 1)

            1
            Unlocked with 1 x Talking to Marcel Cooper  - you have 1

Talk to Peter John Paul

"I don't know if I'm looking forward to being back," PJP said reflectively. "But I don't know if I'm <i>not,</i> either. You know?"

Talk to Robert Lee

Robert was sitting with his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands. I imagined I could see what he was thinking, that it hovered in a speech-bubble there over his head.


Opportunities

Draw cards from here to raise your Styles, meet your Allies, and risk your Antagonists.

Pinned

Pinned

Take the Shot!

The dragon darted in and out of the cold driving rain, its head bobbing snakelike and malicious, looking for an opportunity...


Peter John Paul had been over the Wall before. He and Robert had taken an eighteen-wheeler out to Dallas and picked up whoever they could find -- women, children, even pets. Both of them were delicate about it when they got back. Quiet, withdrawn.

PJP leaned back against the wall with his legs spread wide.

"There's things out there you can't un-see, you know? But what's the point of staying up north? Makes you feel about as useful as tap-shoes on a centipede."

Marcel raised his head briefly. "Is that a thing?"

"Sure is," PJP said, meaning: it is now.

You're now Talking to Peter John Paul!

Conversations in the Rain is increasing!


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Game version number.
Thanks for playing Zero Summer!

Paladin

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are mercy, compassion and justice.

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Gumption

Your capacity to pursue new and exciting adventures.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Talking to Peter John Paul

You're talking to Peter John Paul.

Avatar

Your avatar.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

The Ministry of Black Powder

You're helping "Padre" Charlie with his good works.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Conversations in the Rain

You're having conversations in the rain.

Talking to Marcel Cooper

You're talking to Marcel Cooper.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Take the Shot!

The dragon darted in and out of the cold driving rain, its head bobbing snakelike and malicious, looking for an opportunity.

Opportunities

Draw cards from here to raise your Styles, meet your Allies, and risk your Antagonists.

I Fired at its Wings

Every time the dragon snaked forward, its wings sliced into view. I rested my revolver on flat cement, took my aim, and squeezed.

            2
            You need Aiming For 2 and Aiming For no more than 2 (you have 2)

            1
            You need Bullets in the Chamber 1 (you have 6)

            2
            Unlocked with Aiming For 2 - you have 2

            1
            Unlocked with Bullets in the Chamber 1 - you have 6


Pinned

Pinned


A Hit!

I Fired at its Wings

            2
            You need Aiming For 2 and Aiming For no more than 2 (you have 2)

            1
            You need Bullets in the Chamber 1 (you have 5)

            2
            Unlocked with Aiming For 2 - you have 2

            1
            Unlocked with Bullets in the Chamber 1 - you have 5

The shot was muffled and hidden by the rain, but I could see it as a hit -- not on the dragon's wings, but somewhere on its trunk. The dragon thrashed -- in anger? in pain -- and drove me and Robert back behind the cool cement with a furious burst of fire.

2 change points, 1 more needed to reach level 3.

Dragonslaying in Dixie is increasing...

There are five bullets left in your gun!


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Hallowed Ground

You've been taken in by the strange beautiful kindnesses of the Mission.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Helping the Brothers Skunk

The Skunk brothers' farm is a local institution; you've lent a hand to keep it running.

Aiming For

Lizbeth called the shot for this.

Bullets in the Chamber

How many bullets are left in your gun.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Lizbeth's Ailments

Physical damage.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Dragonslaying in Dixie

Progress on fighting the dragon south of Lexington.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Conversations in the Rain

Play through the dialogue branches below to learn more about Lizbeth's companions.

You won't have time to play through them all, so choose carefully!

Pinned

Pinned

Talk to the Driver

"How's the road look?" I asked the driver.

Talk to Marcel Cooper

Marcel was a sophomore at Amherst before joining what was called "the accelerated program" at West Point. Why he transferred was a mystery. It had to with civil service, he told me once. How you don't take it lying down -- whatever <i>it</i> was.

Talk to Peter John Paul

There was a click from up front; the driver had thumbed the Stop button on the tape deck.

"What're they like?" the driver called back. "Monsters?"

We all looked to PJP.

            1
            You need Talking to Peter John Paul 1 and Talking to Peter John Paul no more than 1 (you have 1)

            1
            Unlocked with Talking to Peter John Paul 1 - you have 1

Talk to Robert Lee

Robert was sitting with his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands. I imagined I could see what he was thinking, that it hovered in a speech-bubble there over his head.


Opportunities

Draw cards from here to raise your Styles, meet your Allies, and risk your Antagonists.

Pinned

Pinned


Talk to Peter John Paul

            1
            You need Talking to Peter John Paul 1 and Talking to Peter John Paul no more than 1 (you have 2)

            1
            Unlocked with Talking to Peter John Paul 1 - you have 2

PJP considered. He chewed his lip. He fidgeted in his breast pocket for smokes. Came back with an empty pack, repocketed it carefully.

"Hope springs," he explained to Robert, who was giving PJP that mild look of his that said you were a crazy person but he wasn't one to judge.

Then PJP scooted down the bench and stuck his head into the cab.

"The neighborhood I grew up in was lousy with dogs. As in wild packs of them. At night they were like big dumb coyotes barking at trash cans and each other and the moon and whatever.

"One night my dad was walking home from the grocery with a bag full of fruit and veg and like spaghetti and tinned tomato sauce and chickpeas and on top of all of it, as in like sitting on top of the other groceries, he had an open half-eaten pack of beef jerky.

"The dogs got straight on him. He lost the bag, lost the jerky, got his jacket ripped up, had to get a rabies shot. He called mom and she was sobbing, like you could hear the tears on the other end of the line -- I was listening on the upstairs phone; I don't think either of them knew -- and she said she'd come over right away and bring some iodine and gauze or Xanax or whatever, just saying whatever medical words came into her head, and they hadn't even spoken for eight months, I was counting, and for what? Two dogs got maybe a mouthful. It was just mean. It was hateful and mean and just way too human. Like if they'd been muggers, how would it have been different?"

PJP leaned back. "That's what monsters are like," he said.

 We could hear the driver shifting uncomfortably in his seat. A moment later the tape deck came back on.

Talking to Peter John Paul is increasing!


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Game version number.
Thanks for playing Zero Summer!

Paladin

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are mercy, compassion and justice.

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Gumption

Your capacity to pursue new and exciting adventures.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Talking to Peter John Paul

You're talking to Peter John Paul.

Avatar

Your avatar.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

The Ministry of Black Powder

You're helping "Padre" Charlie with his good works.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Conversations in the Rain

You're having conversations in the rain.

Talking to Marcel Cooper

You're talking to Marcel Cooper.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Reload!

In my pocket were spare rounds. But in the crawl out of the burning truck they'd come dislodged. Some, I thought, might be on the ground beneath me. But it would take precious seconds to look, and longer to wipe them off and chamber them in.

Opportunities

Draw cards from here to raise your Styles, meet your Allies, and risk your Antagonists.

"Buy Me Some Space!"

I ducked behind the barricade and started rooting for bullets while Robert laid down some cover.

This will completely refresh your Bullets in the Chamber!

Not Yet

The bullets could wait.


Pinned

Pinned


At the Barricade

Not Yet

The bullets could wait.

I replanted myself at the barricade and sighted down the barrel of my revolver.


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Hallowed Ground

You've been taken in by the strange beautiful kindnesses of the Mission.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Helping the Brothers Skunk

The Skunk brothers' farm is a local institution; you've lent a hand to keep it running.

Aiming For

Lizbeth called the shot for this.

Bullets in the Chamber

How many bullets are left in your gun.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Lizbeth's Ailments

Physical damage.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Dragonslaying in Dixie

Progress on fighting the dragon south of Lexington.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Conversations in the Rain

Play through the dialogue branches below to learn more about Lizbeth's companions.

You won't have time to play through them all, so choose carefully!

Pinned

Pinned

Talk to the Driver

"How's the road look?" I asked the driver.

Talk to Marcel Cooper

Marcel was a sophomore at Amherst before joining what was called "the accelerated program" at West Point. Why he transferred was a mystery. It had to with civil service, he told me once. How you don't take it lying down -- whatever <i>it</i> was.

Talk to Peter John Paul

PJP tapped on the window with his knuckle.

"Days like this, it's like I'm back in Boston," he said. "The sky pissing down. Can't see the road. Too hot inside, too cold outside. No way to get comfortable. These are days I'm glad I didn't go to seminary."

            2
            You need Talking to Peter John Paul 2 and Talking to Peter John Paul no more than 2 (you have 2)

            2
            Unlocked with Talking to Peter John Paul 2 - you have 2

Talk to Robert Lee

Robert was sitting with his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands. I imagined I could see what he was thinking, that it hovered in a speech-bubble there over his head.


Opportunities

Draw cards from here to raise your Styles, meet your Allies, and risk your Antagonists.

Pinned

Pinned


Talk to Marcel Cooper

            1
            You need 1 x Talking to Marcel Cooper  and  no more than 1 x Talking to Marcel Cooper (you have 2)

            1
            Unlocked with 1 x Talking to Marcel Cooper  - you have 2

"Read this."

Marcel pushed a folded sheet of notebook paper into my hand.

"What am I reading?" I asked.

Marcel made hurry-up motions with his hand. I unfolded the paper.

 It was a letter -- "an essaylet," Marcel said -- about what the DHS was like.

How it was like Dungeons and Dragons if you took out all the dragons and dice and all you were left with was a group of strangers with no common ground moving from here to there across a flat empty plain.

How it was like going to a bar and almost getting a phone number but then not, over and over.

How it was like the heat death of the universe but lonelier.

"It's for my girlfriend," Marcel said. "At Holyoke."

The look on his face was so naked and bruised I had to turn away. He took the letter back in silence.

Talking to Marcel Cooper is increasing!


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Game version number.
Thanks for playing Zero Summer!

Paladin

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are mercy, compassion and justice.

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Gumption

Your capacity to pursue new and exciting adventures.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Talking to Peter John Paul

You're talking to Peter John Paul.

Avatar

Your avatar.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

The Ministry of Black Powder

You're helping "Padre" Charlie with his good works.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Conversations in the Rain

You're having conversations in the rain.

Talking to Marcel Cooper

You're talking to Marcel Cooper.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Hallowed Ground

You've been taken in by the strange beautiful kindnesses of the Mission.

Helping the Brothers Skunk

The Skunk brothers' farm is a local institution; you've lent a hand to keep it running.

Aiming For

Lizbeth called the shot for this.

Bullets in the Chamber

How many bullets are left in your gun.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

Lizbeth's Ailments

Physical damage.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Dragonslaying in Dixie

Progress on fighting the dragon south of Lexington.


Pinned

Pinned


Dragonfire

The dragon's head reared back behind the sheet of rain. For a moment, all was calm. Then an orange light began to glow behind the rain at dragon-height.

Opportunities

Draw cards from here to raise your Styles, meet your Allies, and risk your Antagonists.

"Get Under Cover!"

I grabbed Robert -- or did he grab me? -- and we made ourselves small behind the cement barrier.


Conversations in the Rain

Play through the dialogue branches below to learn more about Lizbeth's companions.

You won't have time to play through them all, so choose carefully!

Pinned

Pinned

Talk to the Driver

"How's the road look?" I asked the driver.

Talk to Marcel Cooper

Marcel was staring out the window into the long sheets of rain. A strange noise came from his throat.

            2
            You need 2 x Talking to Marcel Cooper  and  no more than 2 x Talking to Marcel Cooper (you have 2)

            2
            Unlocked with 2 x Talking to Marcel Cooper  - you have 2

Talk to Peter John Paul

PJP tapped on the window with his knuckle.

"Days like this, it's like I'm back in Boston," he said. "The sky pissing down. Can't see the road. Too hot inside, too cold outside. No way to get comfortable. These are days I'm glad I didn't go to seminary."

Talk to Robert Lee

Robert was sitting with his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands. I imagined I could see what he was thinking, that it hovered in a speech-bubble there over his head.


Burning

A long stream of fire crashed against our cement barrier and flowed over our heads. Robert's hand was on my shoulder and mine was on his back. As the fire got hotter, we cringed.

When it let up, we found we were scorched but not burned. A few sad fires sputtered and hissed on the road where they'd caught on something organic. We brought up our revolvers and waited for the dragon to swing back into view.

2 change points, 1 more needed to reach level 3.

Lizbeth's Ailments is increasing...


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Game version number.
Thanks for playing Zero Summer!

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Hallowed Ground

You've been taken in by the strange beautiful kindnesses of the Mission.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Helping the Brothers Skunk

The Skunk brothers' farm is a local institution; you've lent a hand to keep it running.

Aiming For

Lizbeth called the shot for this.

Bullets in the Chamber

How many bullets are left in your gun.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Lizbeth's Ailments

Physical damage.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Dragonslaying in Dixie

Progress on fighting the dragon south of Lexington.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Talk to Marcel Cooper

Conversations in the Rain

Play through the dialogue branches below to learn more about Lizbeth's companions.

You won't have time to play through them all, so choose carefully!

Marcel was staring out the window into the long sheets of rain. A strange noise came from his throat.

            2
            You need 2 x Talking to Marcel Cooper  and  no more than 2 x Talking to Marcel Cooper (you have 3)

            2
            Unlocked with 2 x Talking to Marcel Cooper  - you have 3

"What is it?" I asked.

"O do not ask what is it," Marcel answered in a choked sing-songy voice. And said nothing else, only sat and stared like a cinderblock cat.

Talking to Marcel Cooper is increasing!

You're having conversations in the rain.


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Paladin

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are mercy, compassion and justice.

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Gumption

Your capacity to pursue new and exciting adventures.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Talking to Peter John Paul

You're talking to Peter John Paul.

Avatar

Your avatar.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

The Ministry of Black Powder

You're helping "Padre" Charlie with his good works.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Conversations in the Rain

You're having conversations in the rain.

Talking to Marcel Cooper

You're talking to Marcel Cooper.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Opportunities

Draw cards from here to raise your Styles, meet your Allies, and risk your Antagonists.

Pinned

Pinned

Dragonfire

The dragon's head reared back behind the sheet of rain...


Pinned

Pinned


Take the Shot!

The dragon darted in and out of the cold driving rain, its head bobbing snakelike and malicious, looking for an opportunity.

I Fired at its Wings

Every time the dragon snaked forward, its wings sliced into view. I rested my revolver on flat cement, took my aim, and squeezed.


Conversations in the Rain

Play through the dialogue branches below to learn more about Lizbeth's companions.

You won't have time to play through them all, so choose carefully!

Pinned

Pinned

Talk to the Driver

"How's the road look?" I asked the driver.

Talk to Marcel Cooper

"What do you think it's like to die?" Marcel asked me suddenly. "I mean: not what do people think but what do <i>you,</i> Lizbeth, think?"

            3
            You need 3 x Talking to Marcel Cooper  and  no more than 3 x Talking to Marcel Cooper (you have 3)

            3
            Unlocked with 3 x Talking to Marcel Cooper  - you have 3

Talk to Peter John Paul

PJP tapped on the window with his knuckle.

"Days like this, it's like I'm back in Boston," he said. "The sky pissing down. Can't see the road. Too hot inside, too cold outside. No way to get comfortable. These are days I'm glad I didn't go to seminary."

Talk to Robert Lee

Robert was sitting with his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands. I imagined I could see what he was thinking, that it hovered in a speech-bubble there over his head.


A Hit!

I Fired at its Wings

            2
            You need Aiming For 2 and Aiming For no more than 2 (you have 2)

            1
            You need Bullets in the Chamber 1 (you have 4)

            2
            Unlocked with Aiming For 2 - you have 2

            1
            Unlocked with Bullets in the Chamber 1 - you have 4

The shot was muffled and hidden by the rain, but I could see it as a hit -- not on the dragon's wings, but somewhere on its trunk. The dragon thrashed -- in anger? in pain -- and drove me and Robert back behind the cool cement with a furious burst of fire.

0 change points, 4 more needed to reach level 4.

Dragonslaying in Dixie has increased to 3!

There are four bullets left in your gun!


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Hallowed Ground

You've been taken in by the strange beautiful kindnesses of the Mission.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Helping the Brothers Skunk

The Skunk brothers' farm is a local institution; you've lent a hand to keep it running.

Aiming For

Lizbeth called the shot for this.

Bullets in the Chamber

How many bullets are left in your gun.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Lizbeth's Ailments

Physical damage.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Dragonslaying in Dixie

Progress on fighting the dragon south of Lexington.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Talk to Marcel Cooper

Conversations in the Rain

Play through the dialogue branches below to learn more about Lizbeth's companions.

You won't have time to play through them all, so choose carefully!

"What do you think it's like to die?" Marcel asked me suddenly. "I mean: not what do people think but what do <i>you,</i> Lizbeth, think?"

            3
            You need 3 x Talking to Marcel Cooper  and  no more than 3 x Talking to Marcel Cooper (you have 4)

            3
            Unlocked with 3 x Talking to Marcel Cooper  - you have 4

Marcel was looking at me with this strange vulnerable intensity -- like he'd been slapped and was daring me to do it again.

"I bet you think it's like nothing," he added. "Like trying to hold onto water, which works for just long enough to know it really isn't working, then -- nothing."

Marcel had been studying poetry before he enlisted. He was sensitive, which according to our campus C.O. was slang for "a big wet floppy pussy."

Our C.O. had said that to me in front of Marcel. It was like hazing -- to make us tougher. Both of us. I hadn't spoken up. But later I'd squeezed Marcel's hand. He'd looked at me with drowning eyes. He understood. But understanding didn't make it better.

"You're right," I said. "Dying is like nothing."

I meant: so don't do it. Marcel pursed his lips like a toad but said nothing. It meant: he understood, and would try not to.

Talking to Marcel Cooper is increasing!


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Game version number.
Thanks for playing Zero Summer!

Paladin

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are mercy, compassion and justice.

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Gumption

Your capacity to pursue new and exciting adventures.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Talking to Peter John Paul

You're talking to Peter John Paul.

Avatar

Your avatar.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

The Ministry of Black Powder

You're helping "Padre" Charlie with his good works.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Conversations in the Rain

You're having conversations in the rain.

Talking to Marcel Cooper

You're talking to Marcel Cooper.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Opportunities

Draw cards from here to raise your Styles, meet your Allies, and risk your Antagonists.

Pinned

Pinned


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Hallowed Ground

You've been taken in by the strange beautiful kindnesses of the Mission.

Helping the Brothers Skunk

The Skunk brothers' farm is a local institution; you've lent a hand to keep it running.

Aiming For

Lizbeth called the shot for this.

Bullets in the Chamber

How many bullets are left in your gun.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

Lizbeth's Ailments

Physical damage.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Dragonslaying in Dixie

Progress on fighting the dragon south of Lexington.


Conversations in the Rain

Play through the dialogue branches below to learn more about Lizbeth's companions.

You won't have time to play through them all, so choose carefully!

Pinned

Pinned

Talk to the Driver

"How's the road look?" I asked the driver.

Talk to Peter John Paul

PJP tapped on the window with his knuckle.

"Days like this, it's like I'm back in Boston," he said. "The sky pissing down. Can't see the road. Too hot inside, too cold outside. No way to get comfortable. These are days I'm glad I didn't go to seminary."

Talk to Robert Lee

Robert was sitting with his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands. I imagined I could see what he was thinking, that it hovered in a speech-bubble there over his head.


Dragonfire

The dragon's head reared back behind the sheet of rain. For a moment, all was calm. Then an orange light began to glow behind the rain at dragon-height.

"Get Under Cover!"

I grabbed Robert -- or did he grab me? -- and we made ourselves small behind the cement barrier.


Talk to Peter John Paul

            2
            You need Talking to Peter John Paul 2 and Talking to Peter John Paul no more than 2 (you have 3)

            2
            Unlocked with Talking to Peter John Paul 2 - you have 3

"Oh? Why days like this?" I asked.

PJP smeared his palm down the window; it left a streak through the condensation on the glass.

"They usually keep the actual sanctuary and pews pretty warm -- what you might call the client-side part of the building -- but I don't know any seminary that turns on the furnace before Thanksgiving. And rectories aren't any better. Early fall is just miserable. And don't get me started on the long john budget."


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Game version number.
Thanks for playing Zero Summer!

Paladin

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are mercy, compassion and justice.

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Gumption

Your capacity to pursue new and exciting adventures.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Talking to Peter John Paul

You're talking to Peter John Paul.

Avatar

Your avatar.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

The Ministry of Black Powder

You're helping "Padre" Charlie with his good works.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Conversations in the Rain

You're having conversations in the rain.

Talking to Marcel Cooper

You're talking to Marcel Cooper.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Burning

"Get Under Cover!"

Dragonfire

The dragon's head reared back behind the sheet of rain. For a moment, all was calm. Then an orange light began to glow behind the rain at dragon-height.

I grabbed Robert -- or did he grab me? -- and we made ourselves small behind the cement barrier.

A long stream of fire crashed against our cement barrier and flowed over our heads. Robert's hand was on my shoulder and mine was on his back. As the fire got hotter, we cringed.

When it let up, we found we were scorched but not burned. A few sad fires sputtered and hissed on the road where they'd caught on something organic. We brought up our revolvers and waited for the dragon to swing back into view.

0 change points, 4 more needed to reach level 4.

Lizbeth's Ailments has increased to 3!


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Hallowed Ground

You've been taken in by the strange beautiful kindnesses of the Mission.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Helping the Brothers Skunk

The Skunk brothers' farm is a local institution; you've lent a hand to keep it running.

Aiming For

Lizbeth called the shot for this.

Bullets in the Chamber

How many bullets are left in your gun.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Lizbeth's Ailments

Physical damage.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Dragonslaying in Dixie

Progress on fighting the dragon south of Lexington.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Pinned

Pinned


Opportunities

Draw cards from here to raise your Styles, meet your Allies, and risk your Antagonists.

Pinned

Pinned


Conversations in the Rain

Play through the dialogue branches below to learn more about Lizbeth's companions.

You won't have time to play through them all, so choose carefully!

Pinned

Talk to the Driver

"How's the road look?" I asked the driver.

Talk to Peter John Paul

"Do you think if we looked hard enough out there that we might find God?" Marcel asked PJP. This again prompted the tape deck to click off. Everyone's attention was on Peter.

            3
            You need Talking to Peter John Paul 3 and Talking to Peter John Paul no more than 3 (you have 3)

            3
            Unlocked with Talking to Peter John Paul 3 - you have 3

Talk to Robert Lee

Robert was sitting with his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands. I imagined I could see what he was thinking, that it hovered in a speech-bubble there over his head.


Take the Shot!

The dragon darted in and out of the cold driving rain, its head bobbing snakelike and malicious, looking for an opportunity.

I Fired at its Wings

Every time the dragon snaked forward, its wings sliced into view. I rested my revolver on flat cement, took my aim, and squeezed.


Talk to Peter John Paul

            3
            You need Talking to Peter John Paul 3 and Talking to Peter John Paul no more than 3 (you have 4)

            3
            Unlocked with Talking to Peter John Paul 3 - you have 4

Without looking at Marcel but with no hesitation at all, not even the littlest hitch, PJP stuck his hands in his pockets and nodded.

"I think," PJP said, staring out the window behind me, "if there is a God, then He better be out there. And if we do run into Him, you better get out of my way -- because I'm gonna be the first guy to shake His hand, and the first guy to lay Him out flat for what he let happen to those poor people in Texas."


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Game version number.
Thanks for playing Zero Summer!

Paladin

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are mercy, compassion and justice.

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Gumption

Your capacity to pursue new and exciting adventures.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Talking to Peter John Paul

You're talking to Peter John Paul.

Avatar

Your avatar.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

The Ministry of Black Powder

You're helping "Padre" Charlie with his good works.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Conversations in the Rain

You're having conversations in the rain.

Talking to Marcel Cooper

You're talking to Marcel Cooper.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


A Hit!

I Fired at its Wings

Take the Shot!

The dragon darted in and out of the cold driving rain, its head bobbing snakelike and malicious, looking for an opportunity.

Every time the dragon snaked forward, its wings sliced into view. I rested my revolver on flat cement, took my aim, and squeezed.

            2
            You need Aiming For 2 and Aiming For no more than 2 (you have 2)

            1
            You need Bullets in the Chamber 1 (you have 3)

            2
            Unlocked with Aiming For 2 - you have 2

            1
            Unlocked with Bullets in the Chamber 1 - you have 3

The shot was muffled and hidden by the rain, but I could see it as a hit -- not on the dragon's wings, but somewhere on its trunk. The dragon thrashed -- in anger? in pain -- and drove me and Robert back behind the cool cement with a furious burst of fire.

1 change point, 3 more needed to reach level 4.

Dragonslaying in Dixie is increasing...

There are three bullets left in your gun!


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Hallowed Ground

You've been taken in by the strange beautiful kindnesses of the Mission.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Helping the Brothers Skunk

The Skunk brothers' farm is a local institution; you've lent a hand to keep it running.

Aiming For

Lizbeth called the shot for this.

Bullets in the Chamber

How many bullets are left in your gun.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Lizbeth's Ailments

Physical damage.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Dragonslaying in Dixie

Progress on fighting the dragon south of Lexington.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Pinned

Pinned


Opportunities

Draw cards from here to raise your Styles, meet your Allies, and risk your Antagonists.

Pinned

Pinned


Conversations in the Rain

Play through the dialogue branches below to learn more about Lizbeth's companions.

You won't have time to play through them all, so choose carefully!

Pinned

Talk to the Driver

"How's the road look?" I asked the driver.

Talk to Robert Lee

Robert was sitting with his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands. I imagined I could see what he was thinking, that it hovered in a speech-bubble there over his head.


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Game version number.
Thanks for playing Zero Summer!

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Hallowed Ground

You've been taken in by the strange beautiful kindnesses of the Mission.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Helping the Brothers Skunk

The Skunk brothers' farm is a local institution; you've lent a hand to keep it running.

Aiming For

Lizbeth called the shot for this.

Bullets in the Chamber

How many bullets are left in your gun.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Lizbeth's Ailments

Physical damage.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Dragonslaying in Dixie

Progress on fighting the dragon south of Lexington.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Talk to the Driver

Conversations in the Rain

Play through the dialogue branches below to learn more about Lizbeth's companions.

You won't have time to play through them all, so choose carefully!

"How's the road look?" I asked the driver.

The driver hit Stop on the tape deck.

"Looks wet," he called back. "I can see maybe three feet past the bumper. There was this Accord ahead of me right outside Lexington. Maybe he's still up there, maybe not."

You're Talking to the Driver!

You're having conversations in the rain.


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Paladin

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are mercy, compassion and justice.

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Gumption

Your capacity to pursue new and exciting adventures.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Talking to Peter John Paul

You're talking to Peter John Paul.

Avatar

Your avatar.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

The Ministry of Black Powder

You're helping "Padre" Charlie with his good works.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Conversations in the Rain

You're having conversations in the rain.

Talking to Marcel Cooper

You're talking to Marcel Cooper.

Talking to the Driver

You're talking to the driver.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


A Great Searing Fire

All of a sudden the rain receded in a great whooshing backdraft -- and there was the dragon splayed out against the sky, its wings fully extended, at least thirty feet tall and much longer across if you counted its wingspan, long serpentine neck extended, fire pouch filled and burbling, its jaw cracked wide and display a row of sharp curved teeth and a long slithering tongue and behind it all, at the back of its throat, visible even from a distance, was a small orange flame.

Opportunities

Draw cards from here to raise your Styles, meet your Allies, and risk your Antagonists.

Engulfed

There was no time to get under cover. The flame leaped out and engulfed us.


Pinned

Pinned


Pain

I felt my hair catch, and the shoulders of my jacket, and Robert and I tumbled on the wet ground, trying to beat the fire out. Pain registered like a distant siren; the side of my face was icy-hot in a way that told me I would suffer, later.

"Your cheek," Robert said. His own face was charred and smeared and raw.

"Suck it up," I told him -- "pain is just weakness leaving the body" -- and forced myself to crawl back to the barricade. He followed without reply.

2 change points, 2 more needed to reach level 4.

Lizbeth's Ailments is increasing...


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Hallowed Ground

You've been taken in by the strange beautiful kindnesses of the Mission.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Helping the Brothers Skunk

The Skunk brothers' farm is a local institution; you've lent a hand to keep it running.

Aiming For

Lizbeth called the shot for this.

Bullets in the Chamber

How many bullets are left in your gun.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Lizbeth's Ailments

Physical damage.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Dragonslaying in Dixie

Progress on fighting the dragon south of Lexington.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Conversations in the Rain

Play through the dialogue branches below to learn more about Lizbeth's companions.

You won't have time to play through them all, so choose carefully!

Pinned

Pinned

Talk to the Driver

There was a lull in the tire-noise. I asked the driver why he was playing just one song over and over.

            1
            You need 1 x Talking to the Driver  and  no more than 1 x Talking to the Driver (you have 1)

            1
            Unlocked with 1 x Talking to the Driver  - you have 1

Talk to Robert Lee

Robert was sitting with his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands. I imagined I could see what he was thinking, that it hovered in a speech-bubble there over his head.


Opportunities

Draw cards from here to raise your Styles, meet your Allies, and risk your Antagonists.

Pinned

Pinned


Talk to the Driver

            1
            You need 1 x Talking to the Driver  and  no more than 1 x Talking to the Driver (you have 2)

            1
            Unlocked with 1 x Talking to the Driver  - you have 2

"I was on this long haul the day after Halloween," the driver said. "It was snowing like the arctic winter. Right outside Minneapolis I was channel surfing when this old frog-voiced guy came on. He was talking about All Saints' Day, how in his small lakeside town everyone got up early on All Saints' Day and made their way to the Lutheran church so they could listen to everybody's kids sing all the beautiful old songs.

"And but so he started singing Come Thou Font of Every Blessing right there live on the air -- I think just improvising -- and it was so good and sad it kept me going way longer than he was actually singing it. It was snowing so bad. But I hardly noticed.

"So this," the driver said, "is my bad weather song. Of course it's a different singer -- but to this day all I can hear is that old Lutheran plodding through it."

Talking to the Driver is increasing!


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Game version number.
Thanks for playing Zero Summer!

Paladin

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are mercy, compassion and justice.

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Gumption

Your capacity to pursue new and exciting adventures.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Talking to Peter John Paul

You're talking to Peter John Paul.

Avatar

Your avatar.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

The Ministry of Black Powder

You're helping "Padre" Charlie with his good works.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Conversations in the Rain

You're having conversations in the rain.

Talking to Marcel Cooper

You're talking to Marcel Cooper.

Talking to the Driver

You're talking to the driver.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Dragonfire

The dragon's head reared back behind the sheet of rain. For a moment, all was calm. Then an orange light began to glow behind the rain at dragon-height.

Opportunities

Draw cards from here to raise your Styles, meet your Allies, and risk your Antagonists.

"Get Under Cover!"

I grabbed Robert -- or did he grab me? -- and we made ourselves small behind the cement barrier.


Impact

Do you know the sound of metal tearing? Like a sheet of paper in calloused hands? The high rising scream like nails on a chalkboard but sharper and louder?

It took us so long to react. It felt like minutes. Long enough for a reel of impressions.

All of us went sideways, more shifted than thrown. The side of the truck crumpled like newspaper. There was a dent like a giant's fist. A crunching sound. A blast of heat. The air jumped thirty degrees. Suddenly we were weightless, in freefall.

I have separate memories of all of us calmly unbuckling our seatbelts. We were operating at a level below consciousness. In a strange moment between the light and the sound.

Pinned

Pinned

And Then

We hit the ground.


Burning

A long stream of fire crashed against our cement barrier and flowed over our heads. Robert's hand was on my shoulder and mine was on his back. As the fire got hotter, we cringed.

When it let up, we found we were scorched but not burned. A few sad fires sputtered and hissed on the road where they'd caught on something organic. We brought up our revolvers and waited for the dragon to swing back into view.

3 change points, 1 more needed to reach level 4.

Lizbeth's Ailments is increasing...


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Hallowed Ground

You've been taken in by the strange beautiful kindnesses of the Mission.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Helping the Brothers Skunk

The Skunk brothers' farm is a local institution; you've lent a hand to keep it running.

Aiming For

Lizbeth called the shot for this.

Bullets in the Chamber

How many bullets are left in your gun.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Lizbeth's Ailments

Physical damage.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Dragonslaying in Dixie

Progress on fighting the dragon south of Lexington.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Opportunities

Draw cards from here to raise your Styles, meet your Allies, and risk your Antagonists.

Pinned

Pinned


Aftermath

And Then

Impact

Do you know the sound of metal tearing? Like a sheet of paper in calloused hands? The high rising scream like nails on a chalkboard but sharper and louder?

It took us so long to react. It felt like minutes. Long enough for a reel of impressions.

All of us went sideways, more shifted than thrown. The side of the truck crumpled like newspaper. There was a dent like a giant's fist. A crunching sound. A blast of heat. The air jumped thirty degrees. Suddenly we were weightless, in freefall.

I have separate memories of all of us calmly unbuckling our seatbelts. We were operating at a level below consciousness. In a strange moment between the light and the sound.

We hit the ground.

The truck was on its side. We were soaked in adrenaline, too focused to know whether we were hurt. I knocked out a window and crawled over the cracked and jagged pane onto the wet blacktop with the earthworms there drowning by my face. Robert, Marcel and PJP followed. The heavy ordnance was stuck under the shattered truck. We were holding our pistols. We had eased off our safeties. We looked up.

There in the sopping orange firelight cast by the smoldering truck and asphalt, there mostly behind the cold white sheet of rain that obliterated all vision past a few feet out, nevertheless still looming, impossibly large, dull green, above all -- this from Robert -- above all snakelike, though seen only in that moment by its long thick neck and blunt snout and bottomless hungry eyes --

There was a dragon.

You are no longer having Conversations in the Rain!

You are no longer Talking to Marcel Cooper!

You are no longer Talking to Peter John Paul!

You are no longer Talking to the Driver!


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Game version number.
Thanks for playing Zero Summer!

Paladin

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are mercy, compassion and justice.

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

Gumption

Your capacity to pursue new and exciting adventures.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Avatar

Your avatar.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

The Ministry of Black Powder

You're helping "Padre" Charlie with his good works.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington 3

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Cover

Unlocked with Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington 3 - you have 3

In that weird calm lull -- while we regarded the dragon and it regarded us -- I clearly heard Robert say, in a narcotized voice, "I think I had this dream before...

Pinned

Pinned


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Hallowed Ground

You've been taken in by the strange beautiful kindnesses of the Mission.

Helping the Brothers Skunk

The Skunk brothers' farm is a local institution; you've lent a hand to keep it running.

Aiming For

Lizbeth called the shot for this.

Bullets in the Chamber

How many bullets are left in your gun.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

Lizbeth's Ailments

Physical damage.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Dragonslaying in Dixie

Progress on fighting the dragon south of Lexington.


Cover

In that weird calm lull -- while we regarded the dragon and it regarded us -- I clearly heard Robert say, in a narcotized voice, "I think I had this dream before."

The dragon's head snaked out of the rain. A pouch or membrane bulged on the underside of its neck. Its jaw distended. A gout of sullen orange fire spewed out and over the truck.

We scattered. What was cover? A built-up cement railing; a low bridge not twenty feet ahead. Behind us was a sharp incline leading to what through the rain looked like a dense forest swell. No good just then. Cement was safer.

Pinned

Pinned

We Dove Behind the Cement Railing

It was closer, and while it had scorched under the dragonfire, it had neither caught nor melted.

We Ran for the Overpass

It was further away, but it looked better-protected and had a stream underneath -- "in case," Marcel said, "of fire."


Dragonfire

The dragon's head reared back behind the sheet of rain. For a moment, all was calm. Then an orange light began to glow behind the rain at dragon-height.

Opportunities

Draw cards from here to raise your Styles, meet your Allies, and risk your Antagonists.

"Get Under Cover!"

I grabbed Robert -- or did he grab me? -- and we made ourselves small behind the cement barrier.


Burning

A long stream of fire crashed against our cement barrier and flowed over our heads. Robert's hand was on my shoulder and mine was on his back. As the fire got hotter, we cringed.

When it let up, we found we were scorched but not burned. A few sad fires sputtered and hissed on the road where they'd caught on something organic. We brought up our revolvers and waited for the dragon to swing back into view.

0 change points, 5 more needed to reach level 5.

Lizbeth's Ailments has increased to 4!


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Doc Toppers

Bowlers, stetsons, the occasional eyewear.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Not to be opened until you've finished reading New England in November and Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Consumables

Nostrums, drinkables, tobaccos and other treatlets.

Ally: Warren Castillo

Warren Castillo of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Jack Ishiguro

Jack Ishiguro of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Game version number.
Thanks for playing Zero Summer!

Man in Black

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are self-empowerment and getting things done.

The Harvestmen

You're following the trail of the Harvestmen

Aiming For

Lizbeth called the shot for this.

Bullets in the Chamber

How many bullets are left in your gun.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

White Noise

The unnatural world is becoming all too real.

Lizbeth's Ailments

Physical damage.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

Reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington

You're reading Fifty Miles South of Lexington.

Dragonslaying in Dixie

Progress on fighting the dragon south of Lexington.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


More Than a Little Singed

We Ran for the Overpass

Cover

In that weird calm lull -- while we regarded the dragon and it regarded us -- I clearly heard Robert say, in a narcotized voice, "I think I had this dream before."

The dragon's head snaked out of the rain. A pouch or membrane bulged on the underside of its neck. Its jaw distended. A gout of sullen orange fire spewed out and over the truck.

We scattered. What was cover? A built-up cement railing; a low bridge not twenty feet ahead. Behind us was a sharp incline leading to what through the rain looked like a dense forest swell. No good just then. Cement was safer.

It was further away, but it looked better-protected and had a stream underneath -- "in case," Marcel said, "of fire."

Robert hauled Marcel up while I grabbed PJP and all of us half ran, half stumbled to the underpass. More dragonfire chased us across the asphalt; by the time we were safely hunkered down beneath the embankment, we were all a little singed.

The dragon followed -- more waddled than walked. It was standing upright on two hind legs with two arm-wings held out for balance. The toadlike pouch under its neck bulged and puffed.

0 change points, 2 more needed to reach level 2.

An occurrence! Your 'Lizbeth's Ailments' Quality is now 1!


Gunslinger Gear

Guns, gloves, boots.

Cityslicker Duds

Coats and clothes for every occasion.

Talismans

Relics, charms, tokens of authority.

Currency

Spendables of all sorts.

Reputation

Your standing in the community.

Usables

Treasures, mementos, relics.

Ally: Miz Nils

Miz Nils of the Amarillo Jackrabbits.

Version

Game version number.

Paladin

Your ethical Orientation. Your concerns are mercy, compassion and justice.

Gumption

Your capacity to pursue new and exciting adventures.

Avatar

Your avatar.

Time of Day

The time of day.

Date

Today's date.

Lizbeth's Ailments

Physical damage.

Cityslicker

Social Style.

Doc

Mental Style.

Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Gunslinger

Physical Style.

Lizbeth's Doc

Mental Style.

Lizbeth's Cityslicker

Social Style.

The Ministry of Black Powder

You're helping "Padre" Charlie with his good works.

20th Century Penny

An old but well-polished US penny. Minted in 1960. Just the thing to throw into the fountain at St. Francis's.

The Door

A Tarot card. It shows a door in a meadow and a man in front doing a handstand, one leg crossed over the other.


Opportunities

Draw cards from here to raise your Styles, meet your Allies, and risk your Antagonists.

Pinned

Pinned


Pinned


Dragonfire

The dragon's head reared back behind the sheet of rain. For a moment, all was calm. Then an orange light began to glow behind the rain at dragon-height.

"Get Under Cover!"

I grabbed Robert -- or did he grab me? -- and we made ourselves small behind the cement barrier.


Picking a Target

"The plan is?" said Robert.

"We could shoot it," said Marcel.

"We could shoot it where, is my question."

"I think that neck pouch is like its firebox," said PJP. "And it doesn't look too stable on its feet --"

"Meaning the wings," said Robert. "Are what we could shoot."

All of them looked at me. PJP spun the wheel in his revolver.

"Lieutenant?" Marcel said.

Pinned

Pinned

"Aim for the Neck!"

Its fire pouch was a small target, but destroying it would cripple the dragon.

"Aim for the Wings!"

Even through the rain, I thought, the dragon's wings would be impossible to miss -- and without them, the dragon would be much easier to handle.


One Two Three

"Then we'll aim for the fire pouch," PJP said. He looked at Robert, and Robert looked back. Something passed between them. Then PJP looked back at me.

"We'll fan out," PJP said, meaning him and Marcel. "Pull fire, make some noise."

"And I'll stay here and lay down cover fire," Robert said. "While you --"

"Take the shot," Marcel finished. Robert shot him a look. Marcel smiled blandly.

"That's my line," Robert said. "Which you're stepping on."

"On three," said PJP. Hands went in. "One two three --"

Guide Lizbeth and the other minutemen through their fight with the dragon!

Raise your Dragonslaying in Dixie Quality to 5 by succeeding at challenges on the Take the Shot! and named minutemen cards.

But be warned: if your Bullets in the Chamber Quality hits zero, you won't be able to play Take the Shot! until you Reload! -- and if Lizbeth's Ailments gets to 5...!

You moved to a new setting: Combat.

You are now Aiming For: the Dragon's Pouch!

There are six bullets left in your gun!