[b]Chapter One[/b]

Odessa, population 125 million people, and counting. 

It's a large country, home to hundreds of cities and towns, each one with its own purpose. From coast to coast and from the Deep South to the Far North, there was not one city in Odessa that wasn't necessary to its survival. 

Some country would Odessa be if every city and town stuck to only one thing, though. There’s plenty of places where farming, inventing and researching go hand and hand. 

In fact, you currently live in one. 

Lox is Odessa’s third largest city and is well populated with people who haven’t lived with their parents in years, but aren’t quite ready to settle down in a smaller town with a few kids in tow.

How did you come to settle in Lox?
*fake_choice
    #I came to Lox after leaving the Odessan Royal Guard, an organization for many of Odessa's toughest and strongest individuals.
        *set background "guard"
        *set reputation %+15
        *set cunning %+15
        *set brawn %+20
        *goto_scene chapter1_guard
    #I came here after attending college.
        *set smarts %+10
        *set background "college"
        *goto_scene chapter1_uni
    #I moved to Lox after leaving my hometown once I became of age.
        *set background "hometown"
        *goto_scene chapter1_movinout
    #I've been moving constantly since I was younger and Lox was just the next stop.
        *set background "mover"
        *set formal %-5
        *goto_scene chapter1_mover
    #I've been on the run for as long as I could remember. I was lucky to find Lox when I did. 
        *set brawn %+10
        *set bold %+5
        *set cunning %+10
        *set background "on the run"
        It seemed like eons since you read Lox's welcome sign: “Come one, come all. Lox is here for you.” 

        You were glad the city was so welcoming because you needed somewhere to disappear to for a little while. 
        
        *page_break
        *goto_scene chapter1_ontherun