Parallels

[Dfaran]

IMPORTANT NOTE: Parallels is paired with another story, called Perpendicularities. You cannot make suggestions for both stories. Once you've suggested five things between the two topics, I will assign you to whichever topic got more of your posts and only take your suggestions there. Multiple posts for the same update don't count.
There may be a competitive aspect to this. Or a collaborative one. Or both.

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Parallelograms:
Reecer6
bivab
ToastyToast
SonicLover
Mr_Ham97
Filio
Hijack
Kitoari
Fnordmonger
GodPiece
Zaffa
xolroc

LESS IMPORTANT NOTE: I redid the art on the first page of this adventure. Click the '*'s after the pictures if you want to see the original stuff.

PARALLELS
*
You are lost in a nameless desert. Cruel, craggy red peaks jut from the horizon, and all else is sand. The sun shines down with malevolent glee, delighted by the utter absence of clouds in the sky. You are HOT, you are THIRSTY and you don't even have a NAME.
There is a small tent in the distance to the northeast.

You are carrying:
-A compass

[Blacklemon67]

Go to tent

[Ashtastic]

Poke Cactus with infinite curiosity.

[Avi]

Look behind you

Insert name: Indianapolis Jones

[Dfaran]

POKE CACTUS WITH INFINITE CURIOSITY
*
You poke the cactus, and unsurprisingly, it hurts. You find that your presumed infinite curiosity is a bit more finite than you thought. Ouch.

INSERT NAME: INDIANAPOLIS JONES
*
You consider the name "Indianapolis Jones". Neat, but a bit derivative. It wouldn't be a bad name, really, but it isn't yours. Coming up with your name isn't as simple as picking one out of thin air!

LOOK BEHIND YOU
*
The desert behind you looks strikingly similar to the desert in front of you, except even more barren. Guess there's nothing left but the tent, right?

[andanotherone]

[cloud]

> Eat compass.

[Ashtastic]

Find a tophat and throw it to the ground.

[Dfaran]

>EAT COMPASS
*
You chew on it for a while, but it's too big to fit down your throat. You do manage to get some handsome tooth marks all over it, though - and fortunately, you're too dehydrated to salivate much, so it isn't very slobbery at all.


Your finger starts to tingle.

[Toasted]

I see that cave.
dont even try and fool me.

SCREW THE TENT! RUN TOWARDS CAVE! GO!

[Ashtastic]

> Destroy the tent; it mocks your biting prowess.

[Dfaran]

The green tent looks inviting. Small as it is, it represents the only shade to be found for miles, and there may be some friendly inhabitant who can give you directions and share his wat-

>DESTROY THE TENT
*
You leap onto the tent and give it a good stomping. The tent is now a small, sad pile of broken rods and torn green canvas. You're going to regret that.

>I SEE THAT CAVE
*
Aha! You didn't notice that before. It looks cool and inviting. If only you'd known it was there, you wouldn't have spent so much time walking away from it...

>SCREW THE TENT! RUN TOWARDS CAVE! GO!
The tent having been quite thoroughly screwed, you start heading for the cave.
*
In your mind's eye, you pictured yourself sprinting valiantly across the desert. In practice, you find that you're not really in the best shape for running. Or walking, actually. You are still HOT, and you are still THIRSTY - terribly dehydrated, in fact - and the cave is a very, very long way away. You trudge on as best you can, but you aren't sure if you'll be able to make it.
*
After walking for quite a long while, you finally collapse on the sand. The cave is still a long way away. There is the skull of some long-dead animal lying near you, which is not encouraging. You'd better find something to DRINK or a way to COOL DOWN very soon.

Your finger is still tingling.

[ladios]

Use that skeleton over there to dig yourself a big hole then bury yourself until nightfall like a giant worm or something.

[Jaded_Teen]

Find source of finger tingle

[Ashtastic]

[Dentrala]

Die of dehydration

[Reecer6]

> Hold on to the skull

[Dfaran]

>USE THAT SKELETON OVER THERE TO DIG YOURSELF A BIG HOLE THEN BURY YOURSELF UNTIL NIGHTFALL LIKE A GIANT WORM OR SOMETHING
*
With your last bit of strength, you drag yourself over to the skull, take the jawbone and use it as a shovel to dig a pit in the sand. You allow yourself to collapse gratefully into the coolness of the pit, and quickly cover your back with the displaced sand. You leave only a small hole for air. As soon as you are (relatively) comfortable, you fall asleep.
You are now UNCOMFORTABLY WARM.
Your score has increased by (1) points.

When you awaken, the sun is still shining. Either you slept through the entire night, or there isn't a night in this place. You are still THIRSTY, but you think you have enough energy to make it the rest of the way to the cave.

>HOLD ON TO THE SKULL
You decide that the skull might come in handy later.

You are carrying:
-A compass
-A skull

Your finger starts to throb.

Ashtastic, that is awesome.

[Ashtastic]

Gee, thanks.

[Reecer6]

> Dig out and head for the cave

[Dfaran]

>DIG OUT AND HEAD FOR THE CAVE
You pull yourself from the dirt and resume your journey. You quickly heat up again.
You are now HOT.
It is a hard task, walking so far across the sand. Even after your rest, you are still very weak, and you almost give up when you reach the winding trail that leads at last to the mouth of the cave, but you remind yourself that if you reach the cave, the misery will be over. There will be shade, and perhaps water.
*
Ahh! Blessed shade! Blessed darkness! The sun cannot reach you here. Now, if only you had some water.
You are now no longer HOT.
You are now DEHYDRATED.
After catching your breath, you step forward and let your eyes adjust to the darkness.
*
The cave is relatively shallow, but still quite spacious. There looks to be a hole in the ground at the far end.

Your finger is throbbing.

[Epamynondas]

>Descend.

[Kitoari]

>Journey down hole in search of water. Be sure you can climb down without injury first.

[Reecer6]

> Examine the plants in the corner

[Kgummy]

Wonder what was on top of that mountain near the tent.