Crimson Echoes

The flickering gaslight casts long, dancing shadows across the cobbled alleyway. Rain slicks the stones, reflecting the grim facade of the Orphanage for Wayward Children. You clutch your threadbare cloak tighter, the chill seeping into your bones. You're not here as an investigator, or a tourist. You're here because you have nowhere else to go. You've heard the whispers, of course. Whispers that cling to the orphanage like the pervasive damp: whispers of missing children, of strange rituals, of a darkness that festers within its ancient walls. But whispers are all you have. Your memory is fragmented, a jigsaw puzzle with too many pieces missing. You know only your name – Elara – and a burning, insistent need to uncover the truth of your past. The heavy oak doors of the orphanage loom before you, their iron hinges groaning in the wind like a mournful lament. A single, tarnished brass knocker hangs on the door, shaped like a weeping cherub. You hesitate, your hand hovering above its cold surface. This is it. Your last chance. This is *Crimson Echoes*, a text-based adventure where your choices shape not only your destiny, but the very fabric of reality. The orphanage is more than just a building; it's a nexus, a gateway to worlds beyond human comprehension. Every decision you make, every question you ask, every path you choose will have consequences, some immediate, some that ripple through time itself. Prepare to delve into a world of gothic horror, arcane secrets, and forgotten lore. Be warned, however: the truth can be a dangerous thing, and some doors are best left unopened. Will you unravel the mysteries of the orphanage, or will you become another ghost trapped within its haunted halls? Your journey begins now. Knock, Elara. Knock, and face the darkness that awaits. Your adventure starts with a simple command: **ENTER ORPHANAGE**.