{(set: $timecounter to 0)
(set: $momMood to 0)
(set: $taskcompletion to 0)
(if: $timecounter is 0)[(set: $time to 'Prime')]
(else-if: $timecounter > 0 and $timecounter <=3)[(set: $time to 'Tierce')]
(else-if: $timecounter > 3 and $timecounter <=6)[(set: $time to 'Sext')]
(else-if: $timecounter > 6 and $timecounter <=7)[(set: $time to 'Vespers')]
(else:)[(set: $time to 'Compline')]}
It is a sunny and bright day at Bezvěrov, a small village a dayswalk north of Plzeňif.
The village has been up since the early hours and everyone is already hard at work.
You, however, are still snoozing in your bed.
(click: "snoozing")[
(text-style: "rumble")[ “Monča!"]
(click: "Monča!")[
*Monča!* Wake up *already!* It’s way past time you got up to [[do your tasks!”|getup]]]]
“Monča finally you are up, we have a lot of things to do, I can’t wait for you to get up every day.”
“Yes, mom, I am sorry…”
“Oh, you are not sorry yet. You will be sorry when you miss the fair because you are lazy and you are not doing your tasks.”
[[GASP! THE FAIR???|Mom3]]
{(if: $timecounter is 0)[(set: $time to 'Prime')]
(else-if: $timecounter > 0 and $timecounter <=3)[(set: $time to 'Tierce')]
(else-if: $timecounter > 3 and $timecounter <=6)[(set: $time to 'Sext')]
(else-if: $timecounter > 6 and $timecounter <=7)[(set: $time to 'Vespers')]
(else: )[(set: $time to 'Compline')]}
As you get up, the clock of the Church strikes the hour of $time
{(set: $timecounter to it +1)}
“Monča what took you so long? We have a lot of things to do, I can’t wait for you to get up every day”
“Yes mom I am sorry…”
“Oh, you are not sorry yet. You will be sorry when you miss the fair because you are lazy and you are not doing your tasks”
[[GASP! THE FAIR???|Mom3]]
{(if: $timecounter is 0)[(set: $time to 'Prime')]
(else-if: $timecounter > 0 and $timecounter <=3)[(set: $time to 'Tierce')]
(else-if: $timecounter > 3 and $timecounter <=6)[(set: $time to 'Sext')]
(else-if: $timecounter > 6 and $timecounter <=8)[(set: $time to 'Vespers')]
(else: )[(set: $time to 'Compline')]}
As you get up, the clock of the Church strikes the hour of $time
What does she mean... the fair? What day is it even?
“Don’t look all surprised, you know Wenceslaus is coming to play today”
(click: "Wenceslaus is coming")[
How could you forget! You love to sit and listen when Wenceslaus tells his beautiful stories. All these tales of princes and princesses… Dragons and heroes…
“Oh mom can I go?? Please! Please! Please!”
“You can go if you do your tasks for the day, you know this.”
“But *moooom*, they take so long, I will never be done on time”
“Yes you will, and you will do them well or you are not going to the fair”
“**O**.**K**., mom”, you say, but you think…
[[...I am going to do them super fast and get a good front row sit at the plaza|Mom4]]
[[...I am going to do them as well as I can but I won’t waste any time either|Mom4]]
[[...I will do them the best way I can. There is no way she won’t let me go, if I do that!|Mom4]]]
"Here is what you have to do", your mother says.
"You have three tasks for the day, one for your dad, one for your uncle, and one for your grandmother. I don’t care what you do first as long as you do them all and you do them well"
“*Three?!* I will **never** be on time for Wenceslaus!”, you protest.
“I will hear not one more word. Now get going”, your mom says sternly.
[[Ok then... let's get these tasks done.|Tasks]]
[[Let’s see what dad wants. He always has difficult tasks for me|Dad1]]
[[Let’s do uncle’s task. He always helps me out!|Uncle1]]
[[Let’s go visit grandma. She also loves Wenceslaus, maybe she will let me go early!|Grandma1]]
{(if: $timecounter is 0)[(set: $time to 'Prime')]
(else-if: $timecounter > 0 and $timecounter <=3)[(set: $time to 'Tierce')]
(else-if: $timecounter > 3 and $timecounter <=6)[(set: $time to 'Sext')]
(else-if: $timecounter > 6 and $timecounter <=7)[(set: $time to 'Vespers')]
(else:)[(set: $time to 'Compline')]}
The Clock of the Church has struck the hour of $time
(if: $taskcompletion is 3)[
[[My tasks are done! Let's ask mother if I can go the fair now|Momresult]]]Your dad is in the backyard, mending the shed.
“Well look who is up way after the rooster!”
“Dahaaad! What do you want me to do? Wenceslaus is coming today and I don’t want to miss it!”
“Wenceslaus huh? That should be fun! I am sure you don’t want to miss it! Well then, we just need some good logs for the night, we are almost out of firewood.”
[[“That’s easy! I am on it!”|Dad2]]
You knock on the door of your uncle, who is not actually your uncle.
The color of his skin is much darker than those of others in the village and he always tells stories almost as good of those as Wenceslausof of a land far away where he came from.
Your dad met him on the road, when he needed protecting from bandits. Since then, he has become your dad's best friend and your very special uncle.
(click: "very special uncle.")[
“If it isn’t my lovely niece Monča!”, he greets you warmly.
“Hi uncle! Mom, told me you wanted me for something”
“Ah yes! Good good! You know how the fair is in town today”
“Yes! I do!”
“Well, I want to take Zbincza there and I need a nice bouquet to give her. You know how to pick the best flowers, don’t you?”
That’s true, you are an expert flowerpicker.
[["Sure, uncle! Let me see what I can get!|Uncle2]]]
“Grandmaaaa! Are you here? It’s Monča”, you shout as you open the door of your Grandmother’s house.
“Ah, Monča my child, thank you for coming. My back hurts and this house is a bit of a mess. Be a sweetheart and sweep the floor for me.”
Sweep the floor?! [[This will definitely take forever….|Grandma2]]
As you run to the copse of trees behind the village, you need to decide, how will you go about this?
[[Let’s pick up some branches and be done with it!|Dadfast]]
[[Let’s get back just enough logs, he should be happy anyway|Dadmedium]]
[[Bring back all the logs! You don’t want to be cold!|Dadslow]]
You pick up some branches. If you are lucky there might be still enough wood back home, so your dad will not care that you didn’t bring that much. They are not that heavy and you [[run swiftly back|Dadresult]].
(set: $Dadrandom to (random:1,6))
{(if: $Dadrandom <= 4)[(set: $Dadresult to 'fail') (set: $momMood to it +1)]
(else:)[(set: $Dadresult to 'pass')]}
(set: $timecounter to it +1)
You pick some solid and some small logs, enough for you to carry but you won’t have to return for a second run. Your dad should be happy with these, right? You carry your burden [[back to the shed|Dadresult]].
(set: $Dadrandom to (random:1,6))
{(if: $Dadrandom <= 2)[(set: $Dadresult to 'fail')(set: $momMood to it +1)]
(else:)[(set: $Dadresult to 'pass')]}
(set: $timecounter to it +2)
You should bring back enough logs even if it requires two trips. At the end of the day, if you don’t have enough logs you will also be cold. You lug your heavy loads [[back to the shed|Dadresult]]
(set: $Dadresult to 'pass')
(set: $Dadcoin to 'true')
(set: $timecounter to it +4)
Your dad looks appraislingly at the amount of logs you brought back home. Will it be enough?
(if: $Dadresult is 'fail')[ “Monča, I thought I explained to you that we needed wood for the night. Do you want to be cold? Now I have to do this myself”
Oh no! Now he is going to tell your mom and she may not let you go to the fair…
]
(else:)[“That looks good enough Monča, we can get some more tomorrow anyway together. Let’s make sure that we have some fun tonight listening to the great voice of Wenceslaus”
Phew… that was close…]
(if: $Dadcoin is 'true')["Actually...", your dad says smiling,"with so many logs that you brought we won’t have to buy any. You can have the coin we would spend otherwise!”
]
(set: $taskcompletion to it +1)
[[What else is left to do?|Tasks]]As you walk away from your uncle's house, you think about what kind of bouquet you want to collect?
[[A small bouquet, all the same flowers.|Unclefast]]
[[A bouquet with two complementary colors of flowers.|Unclemedium]]
[[A large bouquet with many different flowers.|Uncleslow]]
You know that spot very close to the house of your uncle. You can collect a bunch of these white flowers. They don’t smell that nice but the gesture is what matters right?
[[Quickly, back to you uncle’s house|Uncleresult]]
(set: $Unclerandom to (random:1,6))
{(if: $Unclerandom <= 4)[(set: $Uncleresult to 'fail') (set: $momMood to it +1)]
(else:)[(set: $Uncleresult to 'pass')]}
(set: $timecounter to it +1)
You know that spot actually very close to the house of your uncle. You can collect a bunch of these white flowers. But these ones don’t smell that nice, maybe it’s worth it to go get some of these yellow ones as well a bit further away. You love your uncle don’t you?
[[Quickly, back to you uncle’s house|Uncleresult]]
(set: $Unclerandom to (random:1,6))
{(if: $Unclerandom <= 2)[(set: $Uncleresult to 'fail')(set: $momMood to it +1)]
(else:)[(set: $Uncleresult to 'pass')]}
(set: $timecounter to it +2)
Your uncle loves Zbincza and you love your uncle. You can’t let him down, you gotta get the best smelling, best looking flowers. You run all over the village and to the far meadows to collect them!
[[Quickly, back to you uncle’s house|Uncleresult]]
(set: $Unclecoin to 'true')
(set: $Uncleresult to 'pass')
(set: $timecounter to it +4)
You need to be smart about this, what’s the best angle of approach for this humongous task?
[[Sweep most of the dirt under the furniture|Grandmafast]]
[[Sweep most of the floor but avoid the corners|Grandmamedium]]
[[Sweep the house meticulously, you love your grandma|Grandmaslow]]
You grandma is old and can’t see very well, she won’t notice if you sweep some of the dirt under the bed and under the tables. Wenceslaus awaits!
[[Report to your grandma|Grandmaresult]]
(set: $Grandarandom to (random:1,6))
{(if: $Grandmarandom <= 4)[(set: $Grandmaresult to 'fail') (set: $momMood to it +1)]
(else:)[(set: $Grandmaresult to 'pass')]}
(set: $timecounter to it +1)You sweep most of the floor but the corners are really difficult and your grandma never does them herself anyway. Wenceslaus awaits!
[[Report to your grandma|Grandmaresult]]
(set: $Grandmarandom to (random:1,6))
{(if: $Grandmarandom <= 2)[(set: $Grandmaresult to 'fail')(set: $momMood to it +1)]
(else:)[(set: $Grandmaresult to 'pass')]}
(set: $timecounter to it +2)This has taken you a while but the floor is as clean as it gets. Your grandma won’t have to sweep it for another month.
[[Proudly show her the result of your work|Grandmaresult]]
(set: $Grandmacoin to 'true')
(set: $Grandmaresult to 'pass')
(set: $timecounter to it +4)
(if: $Uncleresult is 'fail')[“Monča what’s this?! You now that these white flowers don’t smell nice, I can’t take them to Zbincza. I will go collect another bouquet myself!”
You lower your eyes, give your uncle a kiss goodbye, because you love him and he loves you anyway, and you sprint off.
]
(else:)[“Monča what a beautiful bouquet! I knew I could send you for this! Zbincza will love this!”
(if: $Unclecoin is 'true')["Such an expert bouquetmaker, definitely deserves a reward!”, says your uncle, as he hands you a coin.]
You smile, give your uncle a kiss goodbye, and sprint off]
[[Are there any other things you need to do?|Tasks]]
(set: $taskcompletion to it +1)(if: $momMood >= 2)[You run to your mom. It wasn’t easy but you made it… you think.
“Mom I am done with the tasks! Can I go to the fair now?”, you say, panting.
“Monča, young lady, you will not be going anywhere! I thought I told you to do the tasks! Just messing things up and saying they are done doesn’t mean you actually did them and you know it! You are not allowed to go to the fair and that’s final."
Whaaaat…. You sit at your house sad…
You resolve to be even smarter about doing your tasks [[next time|StoryStart]]
]
(else:)[You run to your mom. It wasn’t easy but you made it… you think.
“Mom I am done with the tasks! Can I go to the fair now?!”, you ask, nearly out of breath.
“So you have, I see. Good good. Next time you wake up earlier and don’t have to rush to make it to the fair on time. Off you go now, and be careful! Don’t be back too late”
“Thanks mom!!!!”
Yey!!! [[Off to the fair|Fair]]
](if: $Grandmaresult is 'fail')[“Monča! I though I asked you to sweep the floor, not mess it up even more! Out with you, I will do it myself!”
If grandmother asks you to go out, then you go out. You don’t want to feel her wrath.
]
(else:)[“Monča the floor looks so clean! Thank you so much! Have fun at the fair today”]
(if: $Grandmacoin is 'true')[
"Since you did so well, I'll also give you a coin to spend at the fair today."
A coin? Sweet! Now you can also get something to eat while listening to Wenceslaus!]
[[Are there any other things you need to do?|Tasks]]
(set: $taskcompletion to it +1){(if: $timecounter is 0)[(set: $time to 'Prime')]
(else-if: $timecounter > 0 and $timecounter <=3)[(set: $time to 'Tierce')]
(else-if: $timecounter > 3 and $timecounter <=6)[(set: $time to 'Sext')]
(else-if: $timecounter > 6 and $timecounter <=7)[(set: $time to 'Vespers')]
(else:)[(set: $time to 'Compline')]}
As you finally arrive at the fair, the clock has already struck $time
(if: $timecounter <=7)[You run towards the plaza. The fair is just about to start!
(if: $Dadcoin is 'true' or $Unclecoin is 'true' or 'Grandmacoin' is 'true')[You buy yourself a tasty treat o eat with that coin you got for doing your tasks! ***This day couldn’t have been better!***]
Wenceslaus takes the stage and starts singing with his beautiful voice. Mesmerized you his voice takes you away to places with tall towers, big castles, fiery dragons, dark forests,and **no tasks!**
]
(else:)[You run towards the plaza. Where is everyone?
(click: "Where is everyone")[
You see some people cleaning up the place, where is Wenceslaus?
“Excuse me mister, when will the fair start? Where is Wenceslaus?”
“Hi little girl, but you are late! Wenceslaus finished his songs two bells ago and he is already on the way to the next village, I am sorry”.
***Nooooooo!***
You knew this would happen! All these tasks just took so long… You go back home sad and get to bed without saying a word.
(if: $Dadcoin is 'true' or $Unclecoin is 'true' or 'Grandmacoin' is 'true')[At least you got some coin to spend next time the fair is in town...]
And next time, you **will** wake up on time. [[You don’t want to miss Wenceslaus ever again!|StoryStart]]
]
]
<h1>A Fair Day</h1>
In this game you will play as a young girl in a town in medieval Bohemia, sometime in the early 13th century.
The fair is in town and you want to go and listen to your favourite storyteller. However, you won't be able to go before your tasks are done.
You will need to balance completing these tasks with doing them quick enough to make it to the fair on time. Listen to the church bells to see what [[time of day]] it is. After Vespers, the fair will be over.
[[We hope you have a fair day!|StoryStart]]
Click here for some background info on this Twine.
(click: "here")[
This game was made during the first Twine development <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/valuefnd">Twitch live-stream</a> by Aris Politopoulos and Angus Mol, members of the <a href="https://www.value-foundation.org">VALUE Foundation</a>, a collective of people who study and do many other fun things with games and the past.
During these streams, we get a historical setting, person, or event as a design brief from a member of our audience. In two hours we take the game from concept to (mostly) finished Twine game.
The design brief for this time was "A game from a Late Medieaval, village child's perspective" and was given to us by Csilla 'Caeda' Ariese.
(click: "Csilla")[
Csilla, if you read this, this game is for you!]
]That's your mom. Everyday your family wants you to DO stuff, feed the horses, collect the eggs, go pick something up from the market, clean the plates, you name it. But what you REALLY want to do is go to the forest and play with your friends; or go visit the fair. Wouldn’t that be great?
“***Monča!!!!!***”
Alright! **Alright!** God Damn… (Oh wait... we are in the Middle Ages, where you shouldn’t take the Lord's name in vain)
[[You get out of bed|Mom1]]
[[You snooze for a bit longer|Mom2]]This game uses names for the time of day as it would be used in a monastery, which is a bit out of place for a rural village, we agree. It works for keeping the time in this game and gives a bit of flavour.
Prime - around 6 am
Tierce - around 9 am
Sext - at midday
None - around 3 pm
Vespers - around 6 pm or after dinner
Compline - around 9 pm or before bed
[[Get back to the starting passage|Intro]]
We originally got this information from <a href="https://www.quora.com/How-did-people-in-the-Middle-Ages-tell-time-Would-a-normal-person-peasant-or-farmer-have-had-a-concept-of-what-hour-it-was">here</a>.