<img src="https://i1.wp.com/www.earplay.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/download.jpg?w=1170">
Pugmire is a tale of the distant future, where mankind has died out and Dogs inherit the earth. Guided by the Ancient Code of Man, they seek enlightenment by becoming "Good Dogs." Pugmire is top-selling RPG created by Eddy Webb, writer of Futurama's Game of Drones. The Pugmire interactive mobile game was produced by Eddy Webb and Dave Grossman, written by Eddy Webb and Cyrus Nemati.
At this point in the game, the player has made several decisions that carry over across acts. Told as a story to two young puppies, the player, in the role of a royal guard dog named Joanna Husky, reflects upon a choice made in the previous act - to trust a Han Solo-esque new comrade, Damian, with money, or to hold it herself.
[[Player Trusted Damian]]
[[Player Did Not Trust Damian]]
MALE PUPPY: Lieutenant Joanna, why didn’t you trust Damian?
JOANNA: As a Royal Guard assigned to a dangerous secret mission, Pugmire had to come before giving blind trust. I’d already been attacked by bandits, and now I had to trust this unsavory character? That money was meant for the mission. How could I trust a ratter to handle it? If this mission didn’t involve an ancient artifact that might be raising the dead, I might feel a little more friendly.
FEMALE PUPPY: You did the right thing, Lieutenant Joanna. I wouldn’t trust him either.
JOANNA: Regardless, we had to get a move on. We needed to that artifact in a hurry, and Damian said he knew someone who could help us get to it.
(set: $trustdamian to "false")
[[Head to Riverwall->Riverwall]]
FEMALE PUPPY: Lieutenant Joanna, why would you trust Damian? He was a ratter you didn’t even know!
JOANNA: As a Royal Guard assigned to a dangerous secret mission, Pugmire had to come before whatever misgivings I had about working with a ratter like Damian. I’d already been attacked by bandits, and I didn’t trust him lightly. But with an ancient artifact that might be raising the dead on the line, I couldn’t start fighting with my partner.
MALE PUPPY: That makes sense. Trusting your partner would only help him trust you.
JOANNA: Regardless, we had to get a move on. We needed to that artifact in a hurry, and Damian said he knew someone who could help us get to it.
(set: $trustdamian to "true")
[[Head to Riverwall->Riverwall]]
//SFX: Crickets chirping, murmured voices and cruel laughter, footsteps of Damian and Joanna, clanging of goods//
DAMIAN: Well, here we are. Riverwall. The Cat Quarter. Home, sweet home.
JOANNA: **sniffs** Sweet wouldn’t be the word I would use. I’m regretting the extra training on my sense of smell.
DAMIAN: Oh, you don’t like it? That’s funny, because everyone else here loves living in a cesspool for their entire lives. Oh, they could move to Northgate or even the Palace Quarter, but, you know, breathing in acid vapor really makes you feel alive.
JOANNA: **sighs** Let’s just get this over with. Where are we headed?
//SFX: Footsteps stop//
DAMIAN: Right here. The gray souq. Best place to get informations and essentials that…aren’t easily accessible.
JOANNA: I know what it is. I’m no puppy. I’m a member of the Royal Guard.
MERCHANT CAT: Come, friend! You look as though you have coin to spend. Please, look at my wares! I have genuine artifacts of Man. See this black device with the blue spinning light? It is said that it can communicate with the dead. Only 3 shards for you - that’s a 25% discount, just because I like your face!
JOANNA: Where did you get this thing? How do you know what it does? Does it even work?
MERCHANT CAT: I am sorry if I have offended, friend. I assure you that all artifacts come with a certificate of authenticity, which I have signed myself.
JOANNA: Oh, this is too much.
JOANNA: (narrating) And as a member of the Royal Guard, I had to navigate this situation carefully. What was the most important perspective in this situation? To be careful, knowingthat a Royal Guard walking around the gray souq wouldn’t exactly be welcomed with open paws?? To arrest the cats for selling dangerous goods and dangerous information? Or to show sympathy for some cats that would probably prefer to be safer themselves? So, what do you think? BE CAREFUL, ARREST THE CATS, or SHOW SYMPATHY?
[[Be Careful]]
[[Arrest the Cats]]
[[Show Sympathy]]
JOANNA: You shouldn’t have brought us here, Damian. How do you think these cats will look at me, dressed like a Royal Guard? Not to mention that we’re carrying no small amount of money. This area must be packed with pickpockets, thieves, and charlatans like this guy.
MERCHANT CAT: Hey!
DAMIAN: Are…are you scared of a few merchant kittens, Joanna? (Imitates a kitten) Miuu! Miuu! Miss Royal Guard, please give me all your money! Rrowr! I am a fierce and hardened criminal! Miu!
JOANNA: I’m glad you’re taking this so seriously. You understand I’m looking out for you as well?
DAMIAN: Oh, thank you, thank you, Miss Royal Guard. **purrs** You have seen through my fearsome appearance!
JOANNA: You’re impossible. Let’s go. I don’t want to be here any longer than I have to. Look. That cat hiding behind the stall there? He’s been staring at us ever since we arrived.
DAMIAN: Well, go ahead, ask him out on a date.
JOANNA: He’s spying on us, you idiot. Come on. Let’s get out of here.
(set: $catquarter to "careful")
[[Move on->Kitten Encounter]]
JOANNA: I confess, I’ve never been here before…I did not expect to see such…desperation. I fear we’ve neglected the people of this quarter for too long if it’s this bad.
DAMIAN: Well, now. Maybe if people visited Riverwall more often, they might be able to see the starving families and awful conditions, rather than than listen to absurd stories of criminals running the quarter.
JOANNA: Perhaps. When we’re done…a helping paw wouldn’t go awry.
DAMIAN: You know, you might actually be the good dog you act like you are. Maybe.
JOANNA: Your assessments of my character are as welcome as a flea infestation. We’d better get moving. Look. That cat hiding behind the stall there? He’s been staring at us ever since we arrived.
DAMIAN: Well, go ahead, ask him out on a date.
JOANNA: He’s spying on us, you idiot. Come on. Let’s get out of here.
[[Move on->Kitten Encounter]]
(set: $catquarter to "sympathy")
JOANNA: This can’t go on. Do these cats not have any shame, to openly break the law in front of a member of the Royal Guard? No. I will not have it. Every single one of these animals is responsible for the state of Riverwall, and I’m going to clean it up. Starting today.
// Flashback to the future//
MALE PUPPY: No, Lieutenant Husky! You didn’t! They weren’t threatening you!
FEMALE PUPPY: Not yet they weren’t. They were just waiting for their chance to get their claws into Lieutenant Husky.
JOANNA: Maybe they were. Maybe they weren’t. But if the law is broken in public, what’s to stop anyone else from following the clowder? But it didn’t matter anyway. Damian had other ideas.
BACK TO THE STORY
//SFX: Shuffling of feet and cloth//
DAMIAN: (rapid fire questions) Are you insane? Arrest them? Do you remember what we’re here for? Are they a threat? You arrest them and our only opportunity to get the map is gone. Gone. I suggest you put a muzzle on it and get back to the task at hand. Leave it.
JOANNA: Get. Your. Paws. Off me. I’m going to listen to you this once. But you’re going to show some respect. Do you understand?
//SFX: Releasing of cloth//
JOANNA: That’s better. But I’m coming back when this is all over, mark my words.
DAMIAN: Well, I’m sure you’ll be the most Good Dog ever. But you’d better keep a lid on it. I swear one of those cats was watching us and ran off when you had your little episode. Riverwall folk look after themselves, and we’d better hope they’re not seeing you as an enemy. We’d better get going before we draw any more attention.
(set: $catquarter to "arrest")
[[Move on->Kitten Encounter]]
//SFX: Walking, muting of marketplace voices//
JOANNA: Where is this One-eyed Molly anyway? You’d better hope we’ll find her, for the sake of Pugmire. I’ve already dealt with bandits and…
KITTEN: Please. Please. Mercy on a hungry kitten. Just a shard of coin. No more. Just enough for a bite to eat.
(if: $trustdamian is 'true')[
DAMIAN: You poor thing. How long have you been out here? Here, have a little something. No one should be out here starving.
JOANNA: (narrating) I trusted Damian with the money. It was supposed to be for our mission, and he was feeding a hungry kitten. What do you think I did? Did I WATCH QUIETLY and let him give that money to the kitten? Did I ADMONISH DAMIAN for wasting our time and money on a kitten…one of many, many starving kittens in Riverwall? Or did I just TAKE THE MONEY BACK? What do you think? WATCH QUIETLY, ADMONISH DAMIAN, or TAKE THE MONEY BACK?
[[Watch Quietly->Watch Quietly Trust]]
[[Admonish Damian->Admonish Damian Trust]]
[[Take the money back->Take Coins Trust]]
]
(else:)[DAMIAN: Come on, Joanna. You’ve all got plenty more up in The Palace District. We’re carrying more than it will ever have in its entire life, and it’s not even that much. Show it what dogs are really like.
JOANNA: (narrating) Now, what would you do in my situation? There I was, holding onto a sack of coins that could change the fate of the city, and a pathetic starving kitten in front of me. Did I GIVE IT SOME MONEY, knowing that it would only have enough to eat for a day or two? Did I IGNORE IT, knowing it would be a useless gesture? Do I SAY SORRY to the kitten, explaining that I needed the money for something vitally important? Or did I GIVE IT ALL THE MONEY, hoping it might have a chance at escaping the streets? What would you do? GIVE IT A FEW COINS, GIVE IT ALL THE MONEY, IGNORE IT, or SAY SORRY?
[[Give it a few coins->Give Some Money Distrust]]
[[Give it all the money->Give All Money Distrust]]
[[Ignore it->Ignore Kitten Distrust]]
[[Say sorry->Say Sorry Distrust]]
]
DAMIAN: There ya go. That should be enough for hold you for a few days. Try to find a safer place to beg, okay? Try the Westwall. Richer clients, know what I mean?
KITTEN: Y…yes, sir. I’ll try, sir.
DAMIAN: And try to make your tail look a little more crooked, hey? Appeal to the good dog and all.
KITTEN: Yes sir. Thank you sir.
SFX: Footsteps scurrying away
DAMIAN: Well, there’s a little good done. Won’t make us good dogs, but every little bit helps, right?
JOANNA: I suppose. **sighs** I just hope we have enough left for One-Eyed Molly.
(set: $damianmoneykitten to "watch") (set: $coins to 5)
[[Keep moving->Rondo Encounter]]
JOANNA: Hold on. You can’t give our money to every kitten who gives you big eyes on the street.
DAMIAN: You understand that its eyes are big because of malnutrition, right?
JOANNA: Never mind that. It’s not your money to give.
DAMIAN: I seem to be holding it. And now this kitten is holding some too. Go on, get out of here!
KITTEN: Th…thank you! I won’t forget you!
SFX: Running soft footsteps
JOANNA: (pauses) What was that tenet in the code of Man? Something about respecting your superiors?
DAMIAN: (laughs) Are you seriously calling me a bad dog because I fed a hungry kitten?
JOANNA: You’re a bad dog for plenty of other reasons, I’m sure. You’d better hope we can still afford One-Eyed Molly for your sake.
(set: $damianmoneykitten to "admonish") (set: $coins to 5)
[[Keep moving->Rondo Encounter]]
//SFX: Scuffling feet, clinking of plastic//
JOANNA: Just what do you think you’re doing? I trusted you. Let go. This money is for One-Eyed Molly. Not every starving kitten you cross.
DAMIAN: Come on, Joanna. Look at it. It’s pathetic. How much longer do you think it will live without food? It can’t even beg properly.
JOANNA: Yes, it’s all very sad. But Pugmire comes first.
DAMIAN: Is this kitten not Pugmire?
JOANNA: Let **go**, Damian.
DAMIAN: Fine. Sorry, puss. I hope you have better luck today.
KITTEN: Yes…sir…
//SFX: Rushed steps//
DAMIAN: Well, congratulations. You’ve saved Pugmire, and what a great city it is. Hold your tail up with pride.
JOANNA: Don’t make me out to be some kind of monster. The fact that I do what needs to be done is what sets us apart from them. I can’t follow every instinct.
DAMIAN: Whatever you say, oh noble hero.
(set: $damianmoneykitten to "takeback") (set: $coins to 10)
[[Keep moving->Rondo Encounter]]
//SFX: Clinking of plastic//
JOANNA: This is all I can spare. Please, try to make it last. And try to leave Riverwall. This is no place for a kitten.
KITTEN: Thank you miss. I will, miss.
//SFX: Footsteps scurrying away//
DAMIAN: (sigh) It’ll be back on this corner tonight, you know. I’m glad you took pity, though. A kitten alone in Riverwall doesn’t have a lot of options.
JOANNA: I know. But I still hope you’re wrong.
DAMIAN: (chuckles sadly) If you think there’s a chance of that, you’ve got a lot to learn about Riverwall still.
(set: $joannamoneykitten to "gavesome") (set: $coins to 5)
[[Keep moving->Rondo Encounter]]
//SFX: Purposeful footsteps, faster purposeful footsteps//
DAMIAN: Excuse me, I’m pretty sure I saw a starving kitten there. Or was that one of the invisible demons of the Unseen?
JOANNA: What do you want me to do, Damian? Feed every starving kitten I come across? I don’t have enough in this bag to feed all of Riverwall!
DAMIAN: It’s a person, Joanna. It lives and feels, just like you and I. Well, like me, at least.
JOANNA: Don’t give me that, Damian. I’m just doing my job.
DAMIAN: Oh, for the love of Man. The greatest excuse in all the world. Come on. Let’s do “the job” if that’s all that matters to you.
(set: $joannamoneykitten to "gavesome">> (set: $coins to 10)
[[Keep moving->Rondo Encounter]]
JOANNA: Look, I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I can’t spare anything. I have to consider all of Pugmire, not just you, understand?
KITTEN: I get it. It’s okay. Have a blessed day.
//SFX: Footsteps walking//
DAMIAN: Really? You couldn’t spare a couple of shards? I’m sure we’d be fine.
JOANNA: I’m glad you’re sure. Remember that Britta Dachshund story where she was soooo sure she’d buried treasure in the Fearful Forest and dug holes for 40 years?
DAMIAN: You mean the puppy story that no one could possibly compare to a real life situation because real life isn’t simple?
JOANNA: I like Britta Dachshund stories.
DAMIAN: Oh, Man save us. Now I know where her philosophy comes from.
JOANNA: Oh just…go eat trash, Damian. Let’s get going.
(set: $joannamoneykitten to "gavesome") (set: $coins to 10)
[[Keep moving->Rondo Encounter]]
JOANNA: (pauses) Look. I want you to take this. And I want you to leave. Go find somewhere safe to store it, and then clean up. Go to the Palace. Tell them I sent you. You can probably get a job cleaning plates. Don’t…make me regret this, okay?
KITTEN: Miss…miss, I can’t take this. It’s too much!
JOANNA: It’s too much for Riverwall. That’s why I’m telling you to leave. Go on. Get out of here. I’ll see you at the Palace, alright?
KITTEN: Yes…yes miss! Thank you, miss! I won’t ever forget this!
//SFX: Running footsteps, tapping on metal//
DAMIAN: There’s a good dog in there after all!
JOANNA: I’m no different than I’ve always been.
DAMIAN: No? Maybe my senses aren’t as keen as I thought they were. But I’m glad to be wrong…Joanna.
JOANNA: Yes. You’re right. You’ve got the senses of a rat. I just hope that we can work out a deal with Molly without the money. I hope you’ve got some of that ratter’s charm stored up. Let’s gtet moving.
(set: $joannamoneykitten to "gavesome") (set: $coins to 0)
[[Keep moving->Rondo Encounter]]
DAMIAN: Alright. I can see Molly’s stall just up there.. Just keep close. I’ve got a feeling that…
SFX: Barely audible arguing that gets louder as they near
JOANNA: Wait a minute. I know that dog. Rondo.
RONDO: Oh, no you don’t! You may have the ear of the scum of Riverwall, but I know you for what you are. A traitor to Pugmire!
MOLLY: I’ve seen you here before, dog! You call us traitors, but who are the ones who push us into the slums? Who is one attacking Pugmire’s citizens?
RONDO: You attack Pugmire with your very presence! Pugmire was not founded to be fouled by your kind.
MOLLY: So you admit it. You have no evidence to suspect me of anything. You just hate cats.
RONDO: I have all the evidence I need. You’re going to hang from a gibbet, cat.
// Flash forward //
MALE PUPPY: Wait, who is this “Rondo?”
FEMALE PUPPY: Was he one of the guard?
MALE PUPPY: What did he do to Molly?
JOANNA: Ugh…I got a little ahead of myself. I forget not everyone knows about Rondo Border-Collie. Everyone has strong feelings about him…myself included.
FEMALE PUPPY: Why?
JOANNA: He’s just…well, let me take a step back to a few years earlier.
[[Several years ago...->Several Years Ago]]
<h2>Several years ago...</h2>
//SFX: Fighting sounds, clanging of swords, fires, screaming, etc etc//
JOANNA: (narrating) I was part of the 2nd Husky Company. We were the best, a pack that moved as one. And that was all because of Rondo Border-Collie’s training. He was the most effective leader I’d ever seen back then. But our company had scattered…the Monarchies of Mau were almost as organized as we were, and we hadn’t counted on that. We’d almost won the day, but the more desperate the cats got, the harder they fought. Rondo and I took refuge next to a burning jail full of cats.
SFX: Loud burning, cats meowing
RONDO: Tail up, Joanna! Waterdog Port isn’t safe from this Mau scum yet! We’ll make these cats wish they’d never shown their claws! Peek around the corner. Tell me what you see.
JOANNA: Sir, the cats…they’re chasing down civilians. I think they’re trying to divert our attention.
RONDO: Of course they are. It makes my blood boil. Joanna. Flank those cats. If you can get better ground, you can slaughter them. Don’t make those civilians die in vain. Blood for blood, Joanna. Blood for blood.
JOANNA: But sir…the jail is burning. Everyone inside will die if we don’t do something. And why attack the flank when I could get between the cats and their prey? I could save lives…
RONDO: And you might die in the process. Then what would all this be for? I don’t need to explain myself. I gave you an order. Go around. I want blood for what they’ve done to us. For everyone one of us lost, let them suffer ten times more. Go!
JOANNA: (narrating) There was a fire in Rondo’s eyes I hadn’t seen before, a curl in his muzzle that spoke to a rage at losing those he’d vowed to protect. But I was conflicted. What would you do in my situation? Attack the flank, getting revenge and routing the cats completely? Defend the fleeing civilians and put yourself in danger in the process, not to mention disobeying your commander? Or put out the fires, knowing you couldn’t just let a building full of people burn to death? Well? What would you do? ATTACK THE FLANK, DEFEND THE CIVILIANS, or PUT OUT THE FIRES?
[[Attack the flank->Attack the Flank]]
[[Defend the civilians->Defend the Civilians]]
[[Put out the fires->Put out the Fires]]
//SFX: Surprised frightened meowing, clanging of swords//
JOANNA: (narrating) I did my duty. I was a soldier.
SFX: Joanna effort sounds, screaming and yowling
JOANNA: I was outnumbered, but better trained than they were. Maybe I would be killed, but if I died, I would’ve died for Pugmire.
//SFX: Joanna’s screaming bloodlust//
JOANNA: And attacking those cats felt right after what they’d had done to Waterdog Port. All the lives that were lost. Rondo never forgot what I did that day…and neither did I.
(set: $waterdogport to "attackflank")
[[Back to the action->Return to the Cat Quarter]]
//SFX: Angry cat yowls, cheering civilians//
JOANNA: (narrating) I couldn’t let one more civilian get hurt, no matter what Rondo said. I didn’t care what kind of danger I was put in.
SFX: Yelping dogs, whining, hissing cats
JOANNA: We paid for those lives with our own. I disobeyed orders that would have kept us in a better tactical position, but I had to do it. I didn’t become a soldier to save my own skin. The cats eventually turned tail, and I couldn’t chase them and protect the civilians at the same time. , Rondo never forgave me for that.
(set: $waterdogport to "defendcivilians")
[[Back to the action->Return to the Cat Quarter]]
//SFX: Panicked screaming meows, loud fire//
JOANNA: (narrating) Rondo barked and snarled like an animal as I broke open the jail doors and put out those fires. He said I deserved to burn with them. And I did, after a fashion – my fur took a full two months to get its color back after being singed so badly. But I couldn’t listen to those screams knowing I could have done something.
//SFX: Faraway laughing and hissing, screaming civilians, clanging fo swords//
JOANNA: The battle still raged while I rescued hundreds of defenseless convicts, and the screams of those I couldn’t save still echo in my ears. I still don’t know whether I made the right choice. But the civilians at least had a chance - something these cats never had. Eventually, we won the battle for Waterdog Port, but we paid for it dearly. Rondo never forgave me for that.
(set: $waterdogport to "putoutthefires")
[[Back to the action->Return to the Cat Quarter]]
JOANNA: (narrating) I could see the memory was fresh in his mind as he recognized me.
{(if: $waterdogport is 'attackflank' and $catquarter is 'arrest')[RONDO: Well, if it isn’t Joanna Husky! Man bless me, I never expected to see a sensible person in this disgusting place. I haven’t forgotten your actions at Waterdog Port! Those cats certainly got what was coming to them. I hear you know that this place needs a good...cleansing. A better awareness of the law would be a gift for these beasts.]
(else-if: $waterdogport is 'attackflank' and $catquarter is 'careful')[RONDO: Well, if it isn’t Joanna Husky! Man bless me, I never expected to see a sensible person in this disgusting place. I haven’t forgotten your actions at Waterdog Port! Those cats certainly got what was coming to them. Well, you’ve always had a good head on your shoulders. I hear that hasn’t changed. Barging into a pit like this like an animal wouldn’t suit you.]
(else-if: $waterdogport is 'attackflank' and $catquarter is 'sympathy')[RONDO: Well, if it isn’t Joanna Husky! Man bless me, I never expected to see a sensible person in this disgusting place. I haven’t forgotten your actions at Waterdog Port! Those cats certainly got what was coming to them. Though I hear the current political climate has you a little confused about the natural order of things. You must recognize these creatures are no different from the ones we fought at Waterdog Port.
]
(else-if: $waterdogport is 'defendcivilians' and $catquarter is 'arrest')[RONDO: Well. Joanna Husky. Defender of the people. Savior of the innocent. Hmph. I haven’t forgotten your actions at Waterdog Port. You’re weak, and your enemies can smell it. I hear you’ve picked up a little more sense since Waterdog Port. This area needs cleansing, not protection.]
(else-if: $waterdogport is 'defendcivilians' and $catquarter is 'careful')[RONDO: Well. Joanna Husky. Defender of the people. Savior of the innocent. Hmph. I haven’t forgotten your actions at Waterdog Port. You’re weak, and your enemies can smell it. I hear you haven’t changed much. At least you’ve finally realized the safety of dogs is more important than of cats.]
(else-if: $waterdogport is 'defendcivilians' and $catquarter is 'sympathy')[RONDO: Well. Joanna Husky. Defender of the people. Savior of the innocent. Hmph. I haven’t forgotten your actions at Waterdog Port. You’re weak, and your enemies can smell it. I hear your misplaced sympathy has turned you into a shell of the soldier you once were. If your whiskers were a bit longer I would swear you’d turned into a cat yourself.]
(else-if: $waterdogport is 'putoutthefires' and $catquarter is 'arrest')[RONDO: Husky. I should have known I’d see you consorting with this scum. Do you live here now? This filth would suit you. You’re no better than those convicts you preserved at Waterdog Port. Though I hear you’ve picked up a little more sense recently and know these cats for what they really are. Ironic to see that you’re putting these beasts right back into the jail you rescued them from.]
(else-if: $waterdogport is 'putoutthefires' and $catquarter is 'careful')[RONDO: Husky. I should have known I’d see you consorting with this scum. Do you live here now? This filth would suit you. You’re no better than those convicts you preserved at Waterdog Port. I hear you at least respect the Royal Guard more than you did the 2nd Husky Company. The safety of your fellows is more important than anything else.]
(else:)[RONDO: Husky. I should have known I’d see you consorting with this scum. Do you live here now? This filth would suit you. You’re no better than those convicts you preserved at Waterdog Port. I hear you’ve only sunk farther into depravity, sympathizing with these…*animals.*]
}
RONDO: I can only imagine what brings you to this disgusting quarter of the kingdom.
JOANNA: (narrating) I knew I had to be careful, considering how things went at Waterdog Port. What did you think I told him? That I was WORKING FOR MURRA, or WATCHING DAMIAN?
[[Working for Murra]]
[[Watching Damian]]
JOANNA: I can’t say much about it, Rondo, but I’m working for Seneschal Murra now. It’s vitally important that you let me speak with this One-Eyed Molly.
RONDO: One-Eyed Molly? You mean this…slinking coward?
//SFX: Molly choking as Rondo catches her by the throat, then impact sound as she’s tossed to the ground//
{(if: $catquarter is 'sympathy' or $catquarter is 'careful')[RONDO: Well, Joanna Husky, here she is. And here is a chance, right here, to correct your mistakes, and fulfill your duty as a royal guard. Deal with this obvious traitor to Pugmire, right here and now. Arrest her, before she puts Pugmire in greater danger!]
(else:)[RONDO: Well, here you are, Joanna. How fortunate for me that a royal guard should appear who can properly deal with an obvious traitor to Pugmire. Go ahead. Look at her. Pathetic creature. Jail is too good for her, but I suppose we are bound by duty to do things “properly.” Arrest her now.]}
JOANNA: (narrating) Rondo was not the dog I remembered. If he was stern before, he was something more…unhinged now. What could I do? I could PRETEND TO ARREST MOLLY, with the grey souq watching, but knowing it could be smoothed out later. I could REALLY ARREST MOLLY, knowing I could get all the information out of her I needed. Or I could STAND UP TO RONDO, knowing I had no reason to believe Molly was a traitor. What do I think I did? Did I PRETEND TO RESTRAIN MOLLY, REALLY ARREST MOLLY, or STAND UP TO RONDO?
[[Pretend to restrain Molly]]
[[Really arrest Molly]]
[[Stand up to Rondo]]
JOANNA: I’m keeping an eye on this ratter. And boy, does he ever need watching. I need to speak with One-Eyed Molly. She’s a friend of his, and I need to make sure that he doesn’t get up to any mischief.
RONDO: One-Eyed Molly? You mean this…slinking coward?
//SFX: Molly choking as Rondo catches her by the throat, then impact sound as she’s tossed to the ground//
{(if: $catquarter is 'sympathy' or $catquarter is 'careful')[RONDO: Well, Joanna Husky, here she is. And here is a chance, right here, to correct your mistakes, and fulfill your duty as a royal guard. Deal with this obvious traitor to Pugmire, right here and now. Arrest her, before she puts Pugmire in greater danger!]
(else:)[RONDO: Well, here you are, Joanna. How fortunate for me that a royal guard should appear who can properly deal with an obvious traitor to Pugmire. Go ahead. Look at her. Pathetic creature. Jail is too good for her, but I suppose we are bound by duty to do things “properly.” Arrest her now.]}
JOANNA: (narrating) Rondo was not the dog I remembered. If he was stern before, he was something more…unhinged now. What could I do? I could PRETEND TO ARREST MOLLY, with the grey souq watching, but knowing it could be smoothed out later. I could REALLY ARREST MOLLY, knowing I could get all the information out of her I needed. Or I could STAND UP TO RONDO, knowing I had no reason to believe Molly was a traitor. What do I think I did? Did I PRETEND TO RESTRAIN MOLLY, REALLY ARREST MOLLY, or STAND UP TO RONDO?
[[Pretend to restrain Molly]]
[[Really arrest Molly]]
[[Stand up to Rondo]]
JOANNA: Thanks, Rondo. I’ll take it from here. (whisper) Don’t struggle! (stop whispering) Pugmire doesn’t look fondly on traitors, One-Eyed Molly. You can do all your plotting from a cell from now on. I’ve got this, sir. If you’ll let me get on it with, there’s a lot more cleanup to do here.
RONDO: Hmph. See that you do, Joanna Husky. I pity you for having to touch that ball of fur. Keep up the good work.
JOANNA: Oh, don’t you worry, sir. I know what to do with scum like this.
RONDO: Good. I’ll leave you do it.
SFX: Footsteps disappearing, handcuffs clinking
JOANNA: Let’s get you out of these pawcuffs…there.
MOLLY: What are you doing? Am I not under arrest?
JOANNA: It’s not safe here. Come on. We need to get out of sight. There’s something I need to talk to you about.
[[What happens next?]]
(set: $mollyrondo to "pretend")
//SFX: Fixing of handcuffs//
JOANNA: Come on, Molly. You’re coming with me. We’re going to have a little talk, you and I.
DAMIAN: Joanna, what in Man’s name are you doing?
JOANNA: Quiet, Damian! I’m doing what needs to be done.
RONDO: (laughing) Oh, excellent, excellent. You are a good soldier, and a good dog, Joanna Husky. You know what’s best for Pugmire.
MOLLY: Hey! You can’t just arrest me for no reason! You don’t know anything about me!
JOANNA: I know all I need to know, cat.
DAMIAN: I can’t believe you, Joanna!
JOANNA: Trust me, Damian. I’m doing what needs to be done. Come on, now. On your feet. March.
RONDO: Goodbye, kitty cat.
[[What happens next?]]
(set: $mollyrondo to "arrest")
JOANNA: On what grounds should this cat be arrested?
RONDO: Are you serious? The “grounds” of treachery aren’t significant enough for you, Husky?
JOANNA: I need more than your word to arrest this cat.
RONDO: You need nothing more than moxie, Husky.
MOLLY: Please, I haven’t done anything…
JOANNA: Sir, if you have no business here, I’m going to have to ask that you move along and let a Royal Guard do her job.
RONDO: Are you telling me to move along? Me?! I am your commander, Joanna Husky, and if you dare to speak to me in that way again, Man as my witness, I will…
JOANNA: Move along, Rondo.
RONDO: (pauses, breathing to contain his rage) I will not forget this insult, Husky. You, your traitor friend, and this…creature with you. You will regret this dearly.
//SFX: Footsteps marching away//
DAMIAN: (pauses) Do you think it’s his diet? Maybe a case of worms. Just a guess.
JOANNA: Come on, get up. We need to get out of here. It’s obviously not safe.
MOLLY: Thank you…thank you…I thought I was dead.
JOANNA: It’s not too late for that unless we get going. Come on.
[[What happens next?]]
(set: $mollyrondo to "standup")
JOANNA: (narrating) I knew I had to ask Molly some questions, but I never could have expected what she told me. I was shocked to learn that our mission would take us back to the very first king of Pugmire.
MALE PUPPY: Woooah. That was like, a really long time ago.
FEMALE PUPPY: Didn’t cats control everything back then?
JOANNA: All we really know are legends. But with One-Eyed Molly’s help, I was going to find out that some legends shouldn’t be forgotten. I needed to make sure she was going to help us - at any cost.
<h3>To see what happens next, play Pugmire with <a href="http://www.earplay.com">Earplay!</a></h3>
