Nocturn Episode 8 - a Painting based Adventure Game for Steemit: "The Keepers of the Candlelight". 9 SBD in prizes

Night falls. Is this real or did you just wake up in a dream? The story continues...

In short: I post a dark, mysterious painting with an accompanying storyline. Within (+/-) 24 hours, anybody can choose one of 2 options on how the story continues: by upvoting an option or making a comment on what you would do. The most upvoted or commented option after (+/-) 24 hours of posting will determine the way the story continues and which painting I will post next. Have fun!

Read all about the what-why-who-when-rewards of this adventure game in the introduction. Check out the first episode. Episode 2. Episode 3. Episode 4. Episode 5. Episode 6. And the previous epidsode 7

Update: as I'm getting some votes and interaction in this game, I have (for now) set aside at least 9 SBD to be split among the most consistent upvoters/commenters. I love how this game has gotten some traction, and I feel like I can give away some SBD. Thank you! (This amount has already grown since the start, isn't Steemit awesome? And yes, anybody joining now can still be elegible for some SBD, so vote or comment, it's much appreciated! And I enjoy making an interactive story with my paintings, only on Steemit, yay!)

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Episode 8: "The Keepers of the Candlelight"

It was really a 50/50 decision to make. The bright gateway leading into the room next door looked the safest, but the slowest - so you decided to climb up the chimney, hopefully all the way to the attic - where you may find the long lost portrait of the ghost called Laura (see episode 5 )(option 1 was chosen°).

It was a long and especially dark chimney to climb up. And ashy. "This'll better be worth it, Laura," you think to yourself as you feel your clothes thickening with ash and your lungs revolting.

Climbing up, the light beneath you has slowly diminished and for a while, you pushed yourself up and up in total darkness. And then a little shimmer appeared up, ahead of you. The climb wasn't futile: you found an exit, high up in the castle - as you can tell by the wind blowing through the weathered old roof. A storm is coming. In the room are two, vaguely human figures, swaying in the gusts of the brewing storm. It is two o' clock in the night.

The two figures -their bodies erratically shimmering and flickering in the wind- look at you with much interest: a dirty, tired, still a-wee-bit-drunk adventurer. Finally they speak in unison: "You have mad a strange, but fascinating journey, adventurer... Welcome to the attic of the castle. We know what you're looking for and you are close."

"What... Who are you?", you stammer.

A gust of wind screeches through the roof.

"Ah, we are the Keepers of the Candlelight, and with our intent we keep the fires of the castle burning, all through the night."

Between the holes in the roof, you notice sheet lightning in the distant thunderclouds.

"And can you help? I'm looking for a..."

"A portrait, right? Of the tragic lost Laura. We know. Djinn has it hidden."

Thunder rumbles far away.

"Djinn? Who's Djinn?"

"Djinn is the Master, the Weaver, the Teller of T..."

A sudden gust of stormy wind rushes in and blows the two creatures into oblivion. Then, the storm suddenly subsides and you find yourself alone again, with only two small candles, flickering, lonely and silently, on the floor of the attic.

Option 1: You take a candle and explore the attic further up ahead.
Option 2: You take a candle and climb out onto the balcony.

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Anybody can vote or comment, there is no way to die in this game, just a mysterious adventure to explore. Enjoy! (Some small) rewards for the most consistent upvoters/commenters. Read all you need to know in the introduction.

°Episode 7: option 1 (climb up the chimney) got votes from @silviabeneforti and @hazel420, thank you! Option 2 (take the bright gateway) got a vote from @fraenk and @deemarshall. Thank you! As it was really 50/50, I made a dice decide.

Original painting titled "The Keepers of the Candlelight", 24x30cm, original painting sold, limited edition prints possible. Contact me. And special credit to @deemarshall for bringing up the concept of sheet lightning, thanks, didn't know it was called that in English :)