Jail Quest: a text adventure occasionally illustrated.A night of drinking and a failed attempt to cheat on cards had landed you the strangest job slash community service sentence you've ever had: ensuring Gongalla Gaol survives the reality storm called Singularity.Now you travel around with your employer and a handpicked crew to survey the four Reality Anchors. Hey, beats being tarred and feathered, right?Previous thread:https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2026/6322745/Gongallaverse:https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Gongalla%20GaolYou are currently Craig Snorlison, goblin kid prodigy! You were traveling with your aun- err, older cousin Rosa Montagni, on her job to save Gongalla!But then you have to wait for her in this hotel in Viridis with her boss, Nemo. One of your spirits, Scholar, has bonded to you and requires you to read at least a chapter every day, but it gets boring reading the same grimoire over and over again.So you snuck out, met your mom's best friend who took you to an abandoned tower, and rescued a bounty hunter from the clutches of an evil sniper working for pirates!Together, you found treasures, as well as hostages the pirates were about to ransom. But you've used up too much magic and got sleepy, and the group triggered a hidden ball trap...So currently, you are Nemo. Who went to look for Craig. Who also found Gill (Craig's mom's friend) and went together into the abandoned tower. And of course, both of you are now running from the ball trap together with the ex-hostage Hexbourne students, a bounty hunter and tracker, and Craig.Quite an eventful day.
>>6370348The hole trap looks too big for the students to jump over - but turns out the short dog-lady clears it easily, even though she's carrying Craig and a storage box."Gotta jump!"That's all she said before she alights on the other side, apparently waiting for you. Your large goblin companion, to her credit, already assessed that the students won't be able to cross."Jump?! No time!!"With astonishing haste, she picks up and sends all three Hexbourne students flying, placing them in a heap far from the hole. Just the two of you left, and the ball is almost upon you. Seems appropriate to ask."What about us?"As soon as the words leave your mouth that the half-orc goblin sweeps you in her arms and leaps herself. The ball trap enters the hole trap... and gets stuck. As expected, your arrival was quite comfortable, on the account of her... padding."Uh... like this?"Her solution you understand, but not why she is suddenly blushing."Ah, it works."After an awkward moment in her arms, she lets you stand on the ground. Good, because it is time to check on Craig. Hmm. Seems fine, aside from the mana fatigue. Looks like this is a teaching moment. You lean towards him."So, what did you learn today?"-----You are Craig Snorlison, groggily sensing that you might be in trouble. How did Nemo get here?? You best choose your answer carefully...> CHOOSE ONE>□ "Abandoned towers don't have books">□ "I should've asked you instead of sneaking out">□ "Turns out mom was in Hexbourne">□ "The Dead Numbers used to lair here">□ Other (fill in)
>>6370351>□ "Turns out mom was in Hexbourne"You did learn that
>>6370353+1If we stop at Hexbourne on the way to the east anchor, we can totally score some old books of hers or maybe use her name and info to get new reading material from the faculty
>>6370351>□ "Turns out mom was in Hexbourne"We should also ask the students we saved to borrow a book so we have soemthing to read with Scholar.Welcome back, QM!
>>6370351Try as you might, your dozey brain and the recent exceitement results in you not quite able to summari- oh wait!"Um, I found out that my mom was in Hexbourne! Er, used to be a student there.""Your mother?"The way Nemo leaned forward, he seems interested."Yeah! Her name's Sanya Snorlison, and Gill here is her best friend!"Nemo stood up straight, as if thinking."Is that why you snuck out of my supervision?"Oof, straight to the point."Er... no, I was looking for a book - or something to read. Haven't found any, though."As if on cue, one of the Hexbourne students, the goblin specifically, took out an item from his inventory."Oh! Then, wanna read my thesis on magical traps?""Really?!"Another student, this time the human girl, hands you a recipe book instantly."No, no! That might be too hard for a kid to understand. Here, try 'Easy Magic Recipes' instead! It's quite beginner-friendly."Then the last student, the Tmavy Les, also shows you a book she's clutching."Maybe you'd like this gothic novel instead, boy.""Wha- that is definitely not kid friendly!""Says the bore with the cookbook..."As they bicker among each other, you figured this might be your only chance to get reading material... that is, until you can get to Hexbourne. They probably has a magic tome library, right? Anyways, you gotta pick one to read.> CHOOSE ONE>□ Choose the thesis, you're interested in magic traps afterall>□ Choose the cookbook, you're interested in the mixing of ingredients>□ Choose the gothic novel, you're up for some advanced literature>□ Choose none, you'll find a book by your own later
>>6372933>>□ Choose the thesis, you're interested in magic traps afterallSomething hard and useful like this is perfect for our boy
>>6372933>□ Choose the thesis, you're interested in magic traps afterallIdeally we'd keep the other ones for tomorrow and the day after that, but I suppose that's too greedy.
>>6372966isn't the deal like "one chapter per day"?although getting all of the above will grant us some wiggle room, indeed
>>6372933>□ Choose the thesis, you're interested in magic traps afterallCraig's been feeling bad about not being useful on the team compared to everybody else, being a load to be carried instead of a competent ally that can help auntie Rosa and company. This book right here is just what he needs to start feeling better about himself in critical combat situations, like what could have happened up at the top of the abandoned tower just a bit ago. I would also have voted for the gothic novel otherwise. With the way that witch girl is blushing, I bet it's some serious early-mid 2000s fanfiction.net slop that is sure to mentally corrupt Craig just like we were...Right? RIGHT?!
>>6372933>□ Choose the thesis, you're interested in magic traps afterallVery goblinish.
>>6372996Boyfriend-material anon spotted?
>>6372996It's ironic Craig feels less than useful because we lean on his powers all the time.
