("pardoner_enc_start"
 #> You come across a Dominican friar with a small crowd of followers. 'Hail, good Christians,' he says, 'I bear blessed news.'
Unable to ignore him, you are obliged to listen to his sermon about the everyday sins that everyone commits, sometimes without knowing it. His 'good' news is that he has pardons (indulgences) for these sins, in exchange for a small donation. His followers crowd around, urging you to pay, warning of damnation and curses if you don't.
You... <#  #x# 

 $$$ 
 $c$ "pardoner_enc_pay" $> ... give him $Money1 for a pardon. <$  --> "pardoner_enc_paid" $x$ 
 $c$ "pardoner_enc_pray" $> ... pray to a saint for aid. <$  <<>>Ask which saint and attempt prayer.  Success --> "pardoner_enc_saint1_succ" or  --> "pardoner_enc_saint2_succ" or --> "pardoner_enc_Dominic_succ".  Fail --> "pardoner_enc_fail_prayer1" $x$ 
 $$ "pardoner_enc_ignore" $> ... sneer, shrug, and go on. <$  --> "pardoner_enc_scoff" $x$ 
]),

	("pardoner_enc_scoff"
 #> Angry, the friar shouts, 'True sinners, I knew it! As you waste the charity of Our Lord, so shall I curse you with the wasting disease.'
As he begins a special curse chant, you... <#  #x# 

 $$$ 
 $c$ "pardoner_enc_scoff_pray" $> ... implore a saint to help you against this. <$ <<>>Ask which saint and attempt prayer.  Success --> "pardoner_enc_saint1_succ" or --> "pardoner_enc_saint2_succ" or --> "pardoner_enc_Dominic_succ".  Fail --> "pardoner_enc_fail_prayer2" $x$ 
 $c$ "pardoner_enc_scoff_usepotion" $> ... frighten him into stopping with a potion. <$ <<>>Ask which potion, there is no fail possibility. --> "pardoner_enc_potion_worked" $x$ 
 $$ "pardoner_enc_scoff_attack" $> ... draw weapons and attack him. <$ <<>>combat.  If successful, --> pardoner_enc_combat_won".  If failed, --> "pardoner_enc_combat_failed1" if you flee combat or are not all knocked out or --> "pardoner_enc_combat_failed2" if you are all knocked out. $x$ 
 $$ "pardoner_enc_scoff_ignore" $> ... ignore his curse and leave while he completes his chant. <$  --> "pardoner_enc_scoff_ignored" $x$ 
]),

	("pardoner_enc_fail_prayer1"
 #> Unfortunately, the prayer of $ChosenOneName has no effect.
'That's right, my child, pray, pray for forgiveness,' the friar says. 'The saints will say that a true pardon is possible with my indulgence.'
You... <#  #x# 

 $$$ 
 $c$ "pardoner_enc_pay" $> ... give him $Money1 for a pardon. <$  --> "pardoner_enc_paid" $x$ 
 $c$ "pardoner_enc_fail_prayer1_pray_again" $>... pray to a saint for aid. <$ <<>>Ask which saint and attempt prayer.  Success --> "pardoner_enc_saint1_succ" or --> "pardoner_enc_saint2_succ" or --> "pardoner_enc_Dominic_succ".  Fail --> "pardoner_enc_fail_prayer1" $x$ 
 $$ "pardoner_enc_fail_prayer1_ignore" $> ... sneer, shrug, and go on. <$  --> "pardoner_enc_fail_prayer1_ignored" $x$ 
]),

	("pardoner_enc_paid"
 #> The friar smiles. 'Ah, a wise choice, noble ones.' He gets out a portable altar, sprinkles you with holy water from a rusty, decrepit asper, intones a variety of prayers, and then has you kiss the Letter of Indulgence which he carries.
'Now go in peace,' he says, 'content in knowing that your sins are absolved.' <#  ***  #x# 

	("pardoner_enc_Dominic_succ" 
 #> When $ChosenOneName loudly invokes the name of Saint Dominic, the friar suddenly begins shaking all over. With a trembling finger, he points to $ChosenOneName, saying, 'Oh, blessed Dominic, forgive me for my greed, please!'

He falls at your feet, thinking $ChosenOneName is actually Saint Dominic. 'Mend your ways,' says $ChosenOneName. 'Repent, and seek absolution in Rome. There is still time to redeem yourself.'
The friar collapses, sobbing. You leave him there, with his followers 
gathered all around, quite confused. <#  ***  #x# 

	("pardoner_enc_saint1_succ"
 #> When $ChosenOneName completes $his prayer for truth and honesty in clerics, a strange look comes over the friar's face.
'Ah...' he begins. 'Actually, to tell the truth, this indulgence has questionable authority, and is now expired. The donations collected I kept for personal gain. I fear my curses are more from Satan than the Lord.'
The friar seems aghast at his words, but is unable to say anything but the truth. His followers are so angry they begin beating him. You shrug and go on, knowing his fate is richly deserved. <#  ***  #x# 

	("pardoner_enc_saint2_succ"
 #> Loudly, $ChosenOneName implores the saint to protect you.
Suddenly, the friar stops in mid-sentence. He tries to speak, but no words come out. He shakes his head in confusion and tries to say something else. That comes out fine.
'You've cursed me so I cannot curse you!' he screams.
'No,' says $ChosenOneName, 'I have said my own prayers, which protect me from your harm. All heard me.'
'It's magic, it's devilish, it's --' the friar protests, sputtering, but already his followers are shaking their heads and leaving. <#  ***  #x# 

	("pardoner_enc_potion_worked"
 #> The potion explodes with a satisfying burst of light and noise. Suddenly the friar is terrified.
'Oh, puissant wizards!' he cries, 'forgive me! My complaint was unjust. Please take no offense.' He seems to practically grovel at your feet.
Satisfied, you nod once to him and resume your travels. <#  ***  #x# 

	("pardoner_enc_scoff_ignored"
 #> As you leave, the final words of his curse echo in your ears. Suddenly, everyone feels weaker. His curse has real power over you! The least virtuous among you suffer the most. <# <<>>Apply 
curse ***  #x# 

	("pardoner_enc_combat_won"
 #> The friar and his followers are gone. Although everybody hates the 'pardoners,' it is still a serious sin to attack a cleric. You can almost physically feel the loss of favor and virtue.
'Well, it was that or endure his satan-inspired curse,' says $ChosenOneName. 'Not a pretty 
choice.' <# <<>>Penalize Virtue and Divine Favour ***  #x# 

	("pardoner_enc_combat_failed1"
 #> The friar gloats. 'Ah, see the power and justice of Our Lord. Unbelievers who attack me reveal themselves.'
'In penance, I fine you all your wordly goods and wealth! Let this be a lesson to you!'
In minutes you are stripped to nothing more than your clothes. Triumphantly the friar and his party continue on. You wait until they are safely out of sight, then consider what to do next. <#  ***  #x# 

	("pardoner_enc_combat_failed2"
 #> The friar gloats over your fallen forms.
'Just desserts for unbelievers. Their goods are forfeit to the Church for attacking men of peace, such as ourselves.'
When you awaken, you find yourselves bereft of arms, armor, and most obvious valuables. <#  ***  #x# 

	("pardoner_enc_fail_prayer1_ignored"
 #> The prayer of $ChosenOneName is unsuccessful. The friar finishes his chant and leads his followers away.
You begin to laugh at him -- then, suddenly, everyone feels weaker. His curse has real power over you! The least virtuous among you suffer the most. <# <<>>Apply curse ***  #x#