The Glyphs 3 – In Deep Gánc

The Glyphs is a multiple-choice game where you control the fate (and demise) of a gong farmer, as they explore the sewers beneath the Ancient City. Just choose an option from the poll below, and the most popular option will decide what happens next. I’ll put out one of these every week.

New here? Check out Part 1 and Part 2.

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You raise the rake as the dark figure pulls itself from the channel and moves toward you.

“I am sorry,” the figure says, his foreign accent heavy and sounding breathless. “I do not wish to be bothering you.”

You lift the lantern in order to see him better. He shies away from the light, covering his face with his hands, but you’ve seen enough.

“Gan?” you ask.

“Y-y-yes,” the beggar stammers as he backs away. “I Gan.”

Gan is a friend of Mister Claw. You’ve met him twice before, both times in the awful sewers of lower city. Mister Claw told you that’s where he lived.

“What are you doing here, Gan?”

“Lost,” he says, then adds, “I am chased by – how to say?” He fumbles for the word, “Hedgehogs?” He says the two Hs as though they are long sighs.

“Hedgehogs?” you ask. “There are hedgehogs in the sewers?”

“Yes. Five hedgehogs. Very bad.”

That doesn’t sound right.

“Mister Leacio here?” Gan asks.

“Mister Claw? Yes. He’ll be back soon.”

“Do you have key? I want out.”

“No.,” you tell him, then ask. “Where are you from?”

Gan points down the main channel, “That way.”

“No. I mean originally. You’re not from the city.”

“I sailor.”

“But you’re not anymore?”

“No, no, no. Ship sink.”

“So how did you end up here?”

Gan thinks for a moment then repeats, “Ship sink.”

“No. Here.”

Gan slowly points back down the drain again.

“No, no. Your ship sank, but how did you end up in the city?”

“I walk. Very long walk.”

“From where?”

“From the sea.”

“Your ship sank nearby?”

“No. Shad-o-hurs,” he says slowly.

“Shadowhurst?”

“Yes.”

“You’re from Aeos-on-Sea? That is a long way to walk.”

“No. Yes.”

“Where were you born?”

Gan smiles, as if remembering something pleasant but long forgotten, “Aamaatoras,” he says. “It is within Paestobeneoto. Much sand. Big dessert.”

“Desert.”

“Not dessert?”

“No. Not unless you like to eat sand,” you laugh.

Gan laughs too, “I eat many sands.”

“Gan, is that you?” Mister Claw cries from up the tunnel.

“Ah, yes, Mister Leacio,” Gan says.

“What are you doing this far up?” Mister Claw says as he approaches.

“He was chased by some hedgehogs,” you tell your boss, “He got lost.”

“Hedgehogs?” Mister Claw laughs.

“Yes,” Gan says.

“You mean urchins. I told you before,” Mister Claw says, chuckling, “Blinken, hedgehogs.”

“Ah, yes. Urchins. Words very similar. I forget.” He points. “You have key?”

“You don’t want to go that way,” Mister Claw says. “Noemi, do you want to lead him out?”