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Baby shoes can be interperted as implying a lot of story.

It implies a family, thus it implies an underlying love story and a beginning.
It implies a happy occasion, pregnancy, love.
It implies that the family was preparing for the homecoming of the child, buying things like baby shoes for their little one.
Then it implies something darker, the middle of the story...
Death or injury of the child is implied by the need to sell the baby shoes before they were ever worn. Or perhaps merely an economic time of trouble has sent this poor family in a state where their survival hinges on such a simple and small thing as the money that can be gained or lost in selling something like the shoes of their loved child. This is the end of the story, and whatever comes afterwards is left for the reader to speculate.

Thus, in my view, baby shoes has a beginning, a middle and an ending. It also has a pequliar thought-provokin quality, one that elevates the reader's curiosity and makes one speculate and guess. In a way it could be described as a horror story, as it's implications are so dark and we all know that the less a horror story really tells you, the more frightening our minds make it.

EDIT: I am aware that the story can be interperted in a number of ways and the above is purely my own interpertation of the story and should only be read as such. I am not saying who's right or wrong, merely adding my two cents to the conversation about whether or not baby shoes is a story or not.

[Data Entry Simulator 2024]

This didn't take long:

Data Entry Simulator 2024 The sim-game boom that took off around 2010 doesn't show signs of slowing down as this new entrant takes the genre onto a whole new level. World; meet “Data Entry Simulator 2024”. In this fine game that combines the best features of games like “Dark Souls 5”, “Desert Bus”, “Train Simulator 4” and the grand 2020 release “Typing Simulator 2”, the player takes on the challenging task of a data entry clerk. You begin each gruelling 8-hour day in your cubicle, looking down on a monitor and a stack of papers. Your task is to enter the data, as seen on the fully 3-D modeled papers, and enter it into a system of spreadsheets on your computer. To start off with the most obvious feature the next-gen visuals are absolutely top-notch. The game's full support of the Facebook Rift's 4K resolution and Depth-of-Vision technology allow you to experience all of the in-game 1080p -monitor's pixels in glorious detail, see the dust and lint between your keyboard keys at high fidelity and even look around to see motes of dust floating in the air just below the fluorescent lamps overhead. In addition to modelling your workstation the game extends with a large beautifully rendered office space to explore. You might be called into your manager's office for a meeting or perhaps you will simply have a short break at the watercooler, all of which allows you to see some of the most life-like animation of the other players in the office. We didn't mention that this was a multiplayer experience!? Oh my! Data Entry Simulator 2024 takes several cues from the recently released Beast's Souls 3, allowing you to freely interact with other players as they are seamlessly delivered into your world during watercooler breaks and bathroom breaks. The Facebook Rift 3's social plugin allows the game to automatically match you with your real-life colleagues and friends as well as semi-random people from places like India and China, thus ensuring a truly realistic social office-experience. The multiplayer aspect also brings a lot of life into the game's resource and time management systems, as social contacts allow you to stave off your depression meter, thus extending your simulated office worker's lifespan. Time spent socializing is time not spent on data entry, however, and delays come at a price! In addition the the more generic invasions that players can engage in (sneaking into your friend's cubicle to steal their stapler, spill their coffee or to mess up their papers was a hoot on the alpha review server) a random player will be summoned to act the role of the manager during managerial meetings. In these situations the game truly shines, as the Facebook Rift's speech recognition is used to analyze and score both the boss-player's beration and the victim-players meager attempts at defense, and the final score is used to either reward or punish both player's for their performance. Reducing your hard-working colleague to tears and bringing their character to near-suicidal levels of depression is just deliciously evil and the inside knowledge gained might just help your own character survive that much longer. All in all “Data Entry Simulator 2024” is an excellent game that provides education, entertainment and social interactions that will keep you coming back for more. Easily my number one pick for game of the year 2024 so far! 10/10 Editor's pick

Some stories are going to have zero votes for sure. Personally I don't think that's a problem or a matter to be insulted or offended by. Thus I vote for fully public votes. I'll be pleased to have just one vote anyway.

*crosses fingers*

You tell the midget Jesters that you will do whatever you can to help them, and suggest that they,
too, should return to you if they find any new information. The Midget Jesters explain that you can
just leave them a message via your own Jester, and that they will do the same.

As the Midget Jesters leave you have your own Jester prepare a message to be sent out to
MISTRESS SONYA. You ask her to find out what she can about the symbol on the MIDGET JESTERS'
NOTE and to see if she can find out something about your guest, Rorik.

"Right away, My King! Sonya will receive your message tonight and will hopefully send her reply on
the morrow!" -the Jester replies.

I noticed this a while ago when readin 6 word stories and it's quite apparent here as well. Something about being constrained to a very short form of expression, such as a strict word limit, causes us humans to almost always opt for the most depressing, dark and grim emotions to express. Anyone else notice this? On my interpertation of all these stories 11 are somewhat dark in atmosphere.

Personally I think this is sort of a default state of human thought, the pure essence of our minds, being manifested when there is no space, no room, to sugarcoat it with something else. When we have hundreds or thousands of words, all the time in the world and perhaps even some visual media to support our story, like in a game for example, the balance shifts. Yes, there is horror and grim stories, but there are also tons of jokes, fun times and laughs. Not here, not when we are restricted to saying only that which is important...

You let the KNIGHT get back to his duties and head back to the castle, ready to
receive your next audience.

As you approach the throne room you note that the JESTER , who had disappeared
somewhere, is clearly in the throne room already. And judging by the fact that
several voices are singing in that annoying sing-song voice, he's not alone.

You step in and are greeted with possibly one of the most disturbing sights you've
ever seen. The JESTER is doing cartwheels as usual, but in addition there are three
other MIDGET JESTERS, who seem to be engaged in some sort of extremely fast-paced
variation of leapfrogging.

Just as you are about to ask what in the seven hells is going on in here (one JESTER
is plenty to tolerate, let alone four), the JESTERS all stop moving around and form a
neat line.

"Greetings!" -the three MIDGET JESTERS call out simultaneously.

Baffled, you sit down upon your throne and greet the triplets.

"My King!" -the first MIDGET calls out.
"We seek your assistance in a dire matter!" -the second midget continues.
"For you see, one of our brethren has been IMPRISONED in your realm!" -the third one states with
some alarm.

Just as you are about to point out that you released the JESTER from the EVIL KING's prison
when you took the throne, they all continue in a single voice.

"Our lookouts received this letter, passed to them by a wandering trader. It originates
somewhere in your realm, but we cannot seem to find out where exactly. See here!"
The midget with the moustache produces a piece of paper and presents it to you. You look
over the piece of paper. On the front it seems to be blank, with only a crest of some sort
printed in the corner, but on the back it clearly states "IMPRISONED! SEND HELP!" in big red
letters. Beneath the words has been scrawled a crude image of a red three-peaked jester's cap.

"The sigil of the Jesters!" -calls out the midget with the top-hat.
"Proof that our bretheren needs help!" -states the midget in the middle.

"Please, King of the land, can you help us find and save our bretheren!?" -THE JESTER pipes in,
looking surprisingly worried.

You cease your sign and dance -routine and head back to the castle.
Discarding your disguise you decide to inspect the town guard.

Currently a total of 20 RANGERS are patrolling the outskirts and the wooden palisade,
with ROBINA the RANGER observing and guiding them

ROBINA reports that her RANGERS have the manpower to easily secure the walls.

In addition a total of 6 knights are patrolling the streets,
one of them focusing on the HAPPY HANDS brothel at all times.

As LANCELOT is not present one of his knights reports in. He says that while crime is low,
he is worried that the number of knights available to guard the town might not be enough
should problems arise.

Either you have a great timing or you've been watching the same youtube channels as I have. In any case, LOVE THE IDEA! Will be participating!

You strike a macho pose and go:
"Seeex bomb, I am a big sex-bomb,
I have the sexiness of a bomb and the bomb of a bomb
and I fly through the air 'cause I am a sex-bomb!

SEX BOMB!"

The Jester cackles like a maniac, mimicing your pose and singing along.

You agree to the request, promising to have Lancelot route his patrols so that they keep the
HAPPY HANDS brother secure. You also add that SONYA should send her most innocent -looking
girl to deliver your intel, preferrably in some furtherly innocent disguise. Perhaps she could
deliver onions to the castle, you suggest.

SPYMASTER SONYA smirks at you, remarking that this is a wonderful suggestion and that she knows
just the girl for the job.

[YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED AN INTEL TRADE. WRITE DOWN NAMES, OBJECTS OR PLACES ON PIECES
OF PAPER AND LEAVE THEM IN A BOX OF ONIONS IN THE KITCHEN TO HAVE THEM DELIVERED TO
SONYA. REPLIES ARE GIVEN ON THE SAME OR FOLLOWING DAY.]

Your meeting just about concluded, Sonya leans in close and places a kiss on your bearded cheek.

"You won't be disappointed..." -she whispers. "Do come visit sometime, if your schedule allows it."

The JESTER gestures wildly, wiping faux -sweat off his brow and giggling.

In a rush of energy you command LANCELOT to have his men set up a decoy to lure out the bandits
so that they can be ambushed and dealt with. Lancelot agrees at once and marches off to fulfill
your command, six of his knights joining him as he marches off.

Next you tell ROBINA to gather the best hunters in her band of rangers and send them off north
to hunt the wolfpack. You tell her that you expect to see some nice wolf pelts adorning the throne
room soon. Robina smiles and bows, gathering her rangers and heading off at once.

Lastly you turn to the JESTER, whom seems to have switched to a new set of bright-red clothes and
is donning a fake beard.

"My king, it is time for the meeting! Here, this way, and please wear this." -he says, leading you
towards the rear of the castle and handing you a simple brown robe, which you wear to cover your
identity just in case.

The Jester leads you out from the rear of the castle, through a small gate built into the castle
wall. He leads you into a set of abandoned horse stables, which remind you of the odd fact that
there are no horses in the town at all. The EVIL KING hated horses. Weird...

As you enter the old stable you notice something, or rather someone, who doesn't quite belong.
A brown robe similiar to the one you wear, fails miserably to cover the shapely body of the tall
lady who awaits you there. As the steps towards you you can hear her high heels clack on the old
wooden floor of the stable.

"Welcome, gracious sir." -an openly suggestive female voice welcomes you. The hooded figure removes
her hood, revealing a rather striking face underneath: full lips painted bright red, eyelashes
longer than you think are natural and curtain of straight black hair as smooth as velvet. You nod
to your 'guest', struggling to keep your face from turning bright red, and await for the Jester
to introduce you. The Jester chuckles and steps forward:

"My K- Lord!" - he corrects himself, remembering the little charade you have going on to cover
your identity.

"Meet MISTRESS SONYA, the lovely lady whom we came here to meet."

Sonya extends her hand and you can see that she has painted her long fingernails with the same
shade of red as her lips. You cautiously shake the woman's hand.

"My apologies for meeting you so late, Sir." -she explains. "I have meant to offer you a deal
of some value ever since you took the throne. You see, I run an establishment near the edge of
the town. I gave it a nice name, but the locals have come to call it the HAPPY HANDS BROTHEL. Me
and my girls work there, you see, serving our customers to our best ability. However, in our
line of work we hear all sorts of things."

She leans in so close that her lips almost touch your ear: "Secret things" -she whispers. You
swallow hard and take a cautious step back.

"I can trade these secrets to you, good Sir, for a simple service. Some of our clients are a
bit rough around the edges and the laws of the realm frown upon our kind carrying weapons. I
would request that you order  your Knights to make rounds in our establishment every now and
then, perhaps station a knight or two on the walls nearby, and tell them to keep my girls safe
from harm. In exchange I can tell you the deepest secrets of almost anyone in town as well as
most visitors, for you see, we are quite a popular establishment."

She steps back, smiling a mysterious smile.

"What do you say?"

Her offer made she crosses her arms, gives you a playful wink and awaits your reply.

Added a recap of day 4 events in the first post.

Does it have to be a real-world location or can I go to a fantasy realm I've heard of but have never seen in images / video / writing?

As the new day dawns and you take up your throne, the Jester greets you with glee.

"My king, we have a couple of reports that came in this morning!
Lancelot has returned from GUTHWALD'S FARMSTEAD and the four expeditions
set out by ROBINA and her RANGERS have also returned. Lancelot and Robina would like to report."

You nod and tell the Jester to let the two enter.

---

Lancelot arrives first, looking pleased with himself, and declares:
"My King, I have dispatched the vile goblins that were harrassing GUTHWALD'S FARM.
The creatures have been slain and their bodies burned on a pyre.
That should serve as a warning to the other goblins for certain!

My men also tell me that you have decreeed that no people entering the throne
room are allowed to bear arms. I have ensured my men are instructed of this rule, but
you should be aware that this might cause some visitors to decline to enter. In the days
of the old king an unarmed guest who failed to please the king might be cut down in an instant
and many would like to have a weapon at hand in case of such an attack. In time most 
people will likely understand and accept, but not soon."

With that Lancelot steps back and Robina takes the floor.

---

"My King, I have news from the expeditions.

In the NORTH there is talk of a vile PACK OF WOLVES attacking cattle and even travellers.
The people are fearful of the beasts and are pleading that the King send help.

In the EAST all is well. There has been talk of goblins roaming the countryside, but only in small numbers.

In the SOUTH the farmers fear for their crops. There hasn't been rain in a long time
and the farmers fear drought might spoil their harvest. There is little we can do about
this now, but hope for the best.

In the WEST a number of bandits are said to prey upon people travelling to and from the coast.
They attack in groups and pick and choose their targets with frightful accuracy."

---

Robina's report thus ends. The Jester reminds you that there is a MEETING for you to have
outside of the castle. He offers you a cloack to hide your regality for the short trip to
the DISCREET LOCATION where you are to meet your first guest today.

As your 'guests' leave you call for Lancelot.

However, in his place arrives one of his knights, whom informs you
that Lancelot is not in the castle at this time.

You order that no guests should be allowed to enter the throne room
bearing arms. The knight seems taken aback by the command, but
promises to comply and inform Lancelot upon hisreturn.

As the knight leaves you decide to retire for the night.

"Know this, Northener, I am a KING and I do not take kindly to being threatened!"
-you boom in a show of power, which would have lesser men wince and step back,
yet Ulric and his men stand their ground completely stoic.

"You shall not have Rorik, as here in the south a man cannot be convicted by words alone.
Bring me proof of Rorik's guilt and you will have my assistance.
If you cannot do this, then we are done here."

Ulric does his best to remain calm, although you can tell that he is quite furious.
"As you wish, southern King, we leave you in peace, but we WILL remember."

Without further word the northmen turn and leave, the heavy furs they wear
waving around them as they move.

The sun is setting and night is about to fall.
You should probably REST soon.

[not]

"Yes, I know this man, he came here recently.
I can help you find him, but those are some serious accusations you make.
Do you have any proof?"

The northmen glance at one another and seem to ponder their situation for a moment.
You feel that your request for proof has caught them by surprise.

Eventually Ulric speaks up:
"We have no proof to offer, and I see not what proof I could offer to you, Southern King,
which would impress you in any way. The dead tell no tales, and there are no living
witnesses to this man's crimes.

All we can offer is our word of honour, and the promise
that, should you come between us and this murderer, we shall not forget the injustice."

The King requests that Ulric explain the reasons behind his search for this other Northman.
As you ask your question Ulric's expression becomes one of grim revelation.

"I see you do not deny knowing of the man we seek...

Very well. We are looking for RORIK, son of Rorik, a coward, a kinslayer and a blood-traitor,
so that he may be brought to face Northern Justice.

The man escaped our lands after murdering his brother and abandoning his sister to her death,
a different crime, perhaps, but murder in everything but name.

The laws of the North say that for these crimes he must face trial and harsh punishment.

If you know where Rorik is, reveal this to us now, and we shall bother you no more.
The man is not worthy of trust and is outright dangerous!"

// ERROR - FATAL ERROR
// GRAPHICAL DISPLAY FAILURE
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// RECOVERY FAIL
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// REVERTING TO SIMPLE MODE
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GUTHWALD and LANCELOT leave your presence.
The sands in the hourglass run through and the sun begins to set outside, as your final audience for the day arrives before you.

Three men, short in stature and somewhat familiar in look, arrive before you.
They wear thick furs and horned helmets and sport vicious battleaxes.
The men remind you of the LOST WARRIOR you provided with shelter not too long ago.

"Hail, King of the southlands!" -the leader of the small group greets you in a booming voice.

"I am Ulric the Brave, and these are my men. We seek a man of the northlands who came travelling this way.
We hear word that he may have passed through your town, and if this be the case, then I hereby request that you give us any information on his location or whereabouts, so that we may apprehend him without delay.

Do you know of the criminal I speak of?" -he asks.

It is obvious that this man speaks of your mysterious guest; Rorik.

I just had a really shitty day yesterday. Long story short: I bricked 3 hard drives in one fell swoop due to being a complete idiot and I lost about 1,5TB of data, including backups. Among this data was a bunch of AGS stuff and all my backgrounds, sprites etc for King Sim.

As you can imagine I'm a bit grumpy right now. I doubt this project will continue, since I have no interest in re-drawing all of the characters and backgrounds and icons (I could lift some of them from this thread, but those have some shading effects and as such won't look clean with new sprites. Also lost my templates for new characters...

If you guys want I can give you a text-only description of what was supposed to happen over the course of the first year as well as some planned future events, but beyond that I am calling King Sim dead.

*kicks self in head*