sewgem (text, doesn't expire)
//Minerva Talking scenes rework 1.2
//Minerva nows mentions the parasite making her sterile at the same time as her tongue and feet becoming demonic. This implies she became sterile after having sex with Leira, still allowing the chance for her to impregnate her and explaining why she can only have children once you purify her.
//Fixed bad spacing and typos
//"Minerva reveals with another sigh" is "Minerva reveals with a sigh" again if she's not pure yet, since she only sighs before in that scene when pure.
//Changed "I'd tried a few times to get the hang at first" for "I tried a few times to get the hang at first"
//Fixed the end of PART 3 so it doesn't show part of the tainted ending when she's pure.
//When she talks about her parasite, Minerva now moves her hand to her chest to preserve continuity with the next paragraph. That next paragraph is slightly reworded too
//Added some extra dialogue about your curse if you have Creepign Taint on

///Part 1///

Telling Minerva that you want to sit down and talk seems to surprise her. She certainly didn't expect you to come all this way, simply desiring mere conversation. After her initial surprise, she smiles pleasantly. [say: Really? You want to talk to me? All right, well, what do you want to know?] she asks, sitting cross-legged on the soft, pillowy moss across from you. Joining her, you [if (minervaRomanced){ask her to tell you the story of her arrival at Mareth again.|dive into questions concerning her past; how did she come to be what she is? How did she come to find this place?}]

[if (!minervaPure){Upon asking about Minerva's past, she flinches. [say: That kind of stuff... there... aren't a lot of good memories down that road. There were plenty of painful times,] she pauses again, running a hand through her head. [say: But... holding onto painful memories like that isn't good for you, right?] the siren gives in with a sigh before coming back up to meet your expectant gaze.|[say: That kind of stuff...] she begins, her voice taking on that sour tone you've heard before. However, she looks more calm than the first time she told you the story. With a gloomy smile, she continues. [say: There were plenty of painful times, but after all I've gone through with you, it feels so far away...][if (minervaRomanced){ she places a hand on top of yours and holds it.}]}]

[say: [if (!minervaPure){Well, I suppose I could start with how I got here. I guess }]I'm like you, someone from the other side of one of those portals. I was a sacrifice of some kind; when I crossed it, there was an ambush waiting for me. Even though it was very close, I managed to slip away, but[if (!minervaPure){...}] not without being scathed,] she notes, gesturing to the long scar on her stomach. [if (minervaPure){[say: I know that I should have been killed by the blow, but that creature took the chance to dig into my body and sealed the wound.] Bringing her other hand over it, her smile grows slightly with an expression of pride. [say: But in the end [if (minervaRomanced){a very handsome hero freed me from it|a good friend helped me get rid of it}].]|Thinking of that monstrosity of a scar and how large it is, you can't help but wonder how she survived a wound like that. [say: I know that I should have been killed by the blow, but... let's just say that what hit me... also closed the wound.] You can't imagine what would have left a scar as terrible-looking as that, and to believe the blow not only inflicted the damage, but cauterized itself as well. There's clearly something missing from this story.}]

Wanting to take the topic away from her scar, Minerva continues. [say: Of course, they chased after me, but they ceased once I reached the edge of the forest and the lake. They seemed to fear the lake, giving up on me,] she adds with a look of relief. You know exactly what she is talking about, having gone through a very similar experience, though in retrospect, perhaps not nearly as harrowing.[if (minervaPure){ [say: Sometimes I wonder how things would have turned out had the demons not attacked me. Where would I have ended up, if I wasn't in such a hurry to get to safety? Would I have found this tower? We probably wouldn't have met.]}]

The siren seems to be lost in thought, though whether she's deciding what to tell you next or simply remembering the events of the demon ambush, you couldn't say. After a moment of silence, Minerva continues her story. [say: Knowing the demons stayed away from the lake, I took it upon myself to stay there a few days, living on fish. Unfortunately, the lake was not safe either. [if (minervaPure){I had more than a few encounters with those anemones and shark girls|Those simple-minded anemones and savage shark girls... as you can probably tell, I've had more than a few encounters with them}].] Minerva looks down at her body, more shark-like than human. [saystart][if (minervaPure){That's how I ended up with [if (minervaDedicked){that anemone between my legs. But I don't have to worry about it anymore, either|this anemone.[sayend] She points as her bulging shorts. [saystart]It wouldn't stop stinging everything at first. It still does, but I can control it better}]|I'm supposed to be female, but one of the anemones got to me. Their tentacles are fairly potent and it kept stinging; I couldn't fight back for long before it started to mate with me... Suffice to say, it impregnated me. Its offspring attached itself to my body and turned into this thing,] the siren says, before pointing between her legs.}][sayend]

[if (minervaPure){[say: I think that's enough for now[if (minervaRomanced){, hun}]; I have to tend to things and you need to go about being a [if (minervaRomanced){big, strong }]champion, right?] she says[if (minervaRomanced){ with a giggle before leaning over and kissing you on the cheek}].|She again goes deep into thought. [say: I think that's enough for now. It's hard recalling all these... less than pleasant memories,] she declares. With Minerva clearly reluctant to continue, you decide it's time to go. Saying goodbye to the siren, you leave the tower and head back to camp, leaving Minerva alone with her thoughts.}]

[if (minervaPure){You wave goodbye to Minerva before heading back to camp}]


///Part 2///

[if (!minervaPure){When you tell Minerva that you want to talk with her again, she appears surprised. Clearly, she didn't expect you to return just for more conversation. Getting over her initial surprise, she smiles pleasantly. [saystart]Really? You want to talk to me, again? |Minerva smiles when you tell her you just want to spend more time talking with her. [saystart]}]Well, all right, what do you want to know?[sayend] She sits down on the soft moss across from you, and crosses her legs.

[if (minervaPure){Sitting close to her you ask her to continue her tale about the past. The shark-harpy purses her lips, then gives you a determined smile. [say: Well, I can tell you again, if you want,]|Taking a seat, you ask her if she would continue talking about her past. The shark-harpy purses her lips and seems lost in thought for a moment, unsure if she wants to keep going. [say: Well... I suppose it would be all right to tell you more, if you really want to know,]}] Minerva says, running a hand through her red hair.

The siren begins her story again, picking up where she left off, [say: I think I was at the part with that anemone...[if (!minervaPure){hm... that was the start of some bad times in my life,] she goes quiet again for a short moment, her lips trembling slightly. [say: So... a|you know already that was the start of some bad times in my life. A}]fter the incident with that anemone [if (!minervaPure){and getting my... well, after I became more than just female...|gave me a dick,}] I fled from the lake. I didn't want to run into any more of the creatures there, so I tried to survive further inland.]

[if (!minervaPure){She shudders and once again looks down at herself.|She sighs, looking [if (minervaDedicked){nowhere in particular as she thinks of the past|at herself}]}]. [say: It didn't work out too well. You see, I found this farm and it seemed all right, but I didn't want to take any chances, and I was really, [b: really] hungry at the time, so I just stole some of the peppers that grew there. These bulbous ones that smelled so good that I just scarfed them down like a hungry animal,] Minerva reveals with a[if (minervaPure){nother}] sigh, squirming a little in her spot at the memory. [say: Damn things made me grow balls[if (!minervaPure){...}] and, I guess, since I ate more than a couple... they got bigger. At least I still kept my more feminine parts,] she notes, blushing at the realization that she was describing her genitalia to you.

[say: A-anyway... the food inland seemed a worse option than staying around the lake... I mean, I didn't want to turn into some giant-balled freak,] she says, her tone making it clear she's aware of the irony, [say: So I headed back to the lake, which may have been a mistake, but at least eating the fish didn't change me. A few days passed without any incidents, until I swam into some of the shark girls that inhabit the lake[if (minervaPure){. T|... t}]hey seemed to take a liking to my new... 'equipment.' They were stronger than I was, fast and fierce. They forced themselves on me, using me for their pleasure and making me impregnate them with my new male genitalia.] The siren shivers at the memories of sexual violation by the shark girls.

[say: I guess they really took a liking to me, since they force-fed me these soft things that looked like sharks' teeth. But they changed me, my skin turned all gray and blue, I grew a tail like them and even a fin on my back. They turned me into some kind of anemone-dicked shark girl... which just made things worse.]

[say: There are creatures like that in the lake, these... more aggressive,[b: striped] shark girls with cocks and balls.] She bites her lip, momentarily showing her own sharky teeth.

[say: There was this one that didn't like the fact that I was around and had knocked up those shark girls. I guess it thought I was trying to wedge in on its harem and really, [b: really] didn't like it. So it... [b: she], decided she was going to add me to her harem.]

[say: I was exhausted from the other sharks when that angry striped one came along; she was much more threatening. She grabbed me and made sure I was on the receiving end. The--I guess tiger shark--was so rough... The lusty beast wanted to teach me a lesson so she fucked me as hard as she could before dumping this... insane load of cum into me... so much that my stomach bulged out like I was already pregnant.]

Minerva seems to go quiet for a bit after that, just looking down at the ground. [if (minervaPure){Despite helping to cure her, the wounds left in her mind are still healing. [if (minervaRomanced){You hold her tenderly, letting her rest her head on your chest. Minerva returns the embrace and you stay like that for a while, not bothering to count the time. Eventually, she takes a deep breath and lets go off you to continue her story|You rest a hand on her shoulder to console her. She looks into your eyes and thanks you before resuming}]|The unpleasant feelings and memories of having been subjected to such a vile act is obvious in her eyes, and something about her behavior seems to suggest that she had been impregnated by the tiger shark}].

[say: With her enjoying the orgasm, I struggled and managed to get away. In the fight, it dropped one of those 'teeth' the other sharks had forced on me, but this one had a strange sheen. I grabbed the thing and... just swam and swam until I reached the shore, [if (minervaPure){and when I arrived at the forest I wanted to give up|then ran into the forest and just... I just... I felt like giving up}]. The world had tried to kill or rape me since I got here... it was probably the lowest point in my life. I knew I needed to get stronger. Stronger like the tigershark and sharkgirls. I knew that those sharks were stronger than me and eating their fishy tasting things, so I took that glowing tooth and swallowed it. That's how I got these stripes of mine,] the siren explains[if (minervaPure){. She goes silent [if (minervaRomanced){and you feel her holding your hand tighter }]as she takes a moment to find the courage to continue| as she curls up in her spot, holding her knees to her chest. For a moment you think she's isn't going to continue her story, but she starts back up, voice slightly muffled by her knees}].

[say: It turns out that I had, in fact, gotten pregnant from that tiger shark. And even though, as I said, I wanted to give up... I'd always wanted a family of my own, and it seemed like this would not just be some monster, but an actual child, so I gave this place another chance and decided to keep going.]

[say: I didn't have to wait very long, either... about twelve days after that tiger shark had its way with me, my stomach had grown like a balloon and I was already giving birth. I thought I was going crazy when I saw my child, but there she was... I had given birth to a baby shark girl.]

[if (minervaPure){Minerva looks pained while she reminisces about her daughter, her smile an expression of sadness and happiness combined.|Minerva actually seems to smile at the memory. It is odd; you would think that she would have very negative feelings about having a shark girl daughter.}]

[say: When I saw her... the way she squirmed in my arms and looked at me... All I could feel was a sense of pride and maternal instinct, so I kept her, let her suckle at my breast, and watched as she grew in my arms. As she drank from me, her body swelled to the size of a young girl, maybe... twelve years old. It was amazing to watch, and she was so cute. I was happy to have her in my arms... [if (minervaRomanced){I miss her... }]]Minerva says with a tear in her eye before wiping it away. [saystart]Thank you for talking to me like this[if (minervaPure){. It's not easy, but telling you about it helps me.[if (minervaRomanced){ I'm glad to have you with me, love.}][sayend]|, but I'd like to be alone for a bit... I'll see you later though, I look forward to it.]

[if (minervaPure){Noticing you've been talking for a long time, Minerva cuts her story at that point, promising to continue next time. You [if (minervaRomanced){give her a kiss and }]say goodbye, then head back to your camp.|Seeing that she seems to be a bit better than she was the last time, you nod to her and give the siren a pat on the shoulder before saying goodbye, heading out from the tower and going back to camp, leaving Minerva to her thoughts.}]

///Part 3///

[if (!minervaPure){Again, Minerva is surprised at your suggestion, not expecting you to want to chat, but she smiles like previous times. [saystart]Really? |Like usual, Minerva smiles at your suggestion. [saystart]}]You want to talk? All right, well, what do you want to know this time?[sayend] she asks as she sits down cross-legged on the same spot on the moss across from you.

Sitting down as well, you ask about her and if she would continue telling you about her past. The shark-harpy purses her lips[if (!minervaPure){ and seems to think about it for a moment, unsure if she wants to keep going}]. [say: Well... I suppose it would be all right to tell you more, if you really want to know,] Minerva says, running a hand through her red hair, remembering where she stopped last.

The redheaded siren begins her story again, picking up where she left off, [if (minervaPure){smiling this time|sporting the same conflicted smile from last time}], [say: I remember we stopped right after I had my daughter.] [if (minervaPure){If there was a hint of sadness in her smile before, it becomes obvious as she says that last word, her voice turning the same bittersweet tone|Already, Minerva seems a bit happier, though her smile looks bittersweet.}] [say: I miss her... my darling daughter, my little girl...] she says, shaking her head and continuing her story. [say: When I was about to give birth, my new instincts told me to seek out water. I didn't want to go back to the lake again, so I managed to find a river and ended up giving birth to my daughter there. With her born and so young, I didn't want to just travel around. So we stayed at the stream for a while.] Minerva stops for a moment, closing her eyes as if she's picturing it in her head, reliving the time spent with her daughter.

After a moment or two of reminiscing, Minerva reopens her eyes[if (minervaPure){ and, even though she seems sad again, you also notice a certain happiness}]. [say: We stayed there at the stream for months. It was just us, mother and daughter. The stream even had fish in it--plenty of them, too, so it was easy to feed just the two of us. It seemed safe for us there, and while she was growing up we needed to be by the water. She... grew up fast, though. In a matter of months she was about an adult's size. Though she was smaller than I was at the time, she was easily the size of the tiger shark who had fathered her.]

[say: I had no idea that she would grow up so quickly! After reaching the size of a preteen, I figured that she would just grow normally from that point on, but there she was... only a couple of months old and an adult. It was amazing, but sad... I hoped she would be young just for a while longer so I could be her mother a bit more...] Minerva looks down now, seeming ashamed. 

[if (flags[KFLAGS.MINERVA_BACKSTORY_DAUGHTER] == 1){[say: You already know what happened, I...I'll talk about it later.] Although she says that, she still goes silent for a moment, clearly distracted by the memories assaulting her guilty conscience.|[say: I... there was... I don't want to talk about this right now,] she says as she brings her knees to her chest and holds them tight; clearly this is a very sensitive topic. You reach over and put a hand on her shoulder as a gesture of comfort. The sad siren looks up at you for a moment before shuffling closer and leaning against you.}]

[if (flags[KFLAGS.MINERVA_BACKSTORY_DAUGHTER] == 1){[saystart]A-anyways, after that, I knew I had to move away from the river.|She stays silent for a bit, likely thinking about whatever happened to her daughter. You're not sure what occurred, but it is clearly a painful memory. With a sigh, Minerva continues her story. [saystart]Maybe I'll tell you about what happened another time, but I'm skipping it for now... Let's just say I had to leave and continue on my own.}] I was having a hard time by then, as my body was getting more corrupted by the day. I could feel it creeping at the edge of my thoughts. I must've ran into a dozen of those green sluts and red little cretins as I traveled--not at the same time, of course... Thankfully, my new shark-like body was stronger than before, so I was able to beat them all down when they tried to attack me. I don't know why, but I headed for these mountains,[sayend] Minerva says, looking up at the broken ceiling of her tower.

[say: Of course, now I know it's fortunate that I did. Had I not, I would absolutely have succumbed to this corruption inside me. It was a growing and ready threat inside me, at that point already changing me physically, turning my feet into these clawed things, and my tongue into... well, this,] Minerva says, before opening her mouth and extending what looks to be a [if (metric){sixty one centimeter|two-foot}] long demonic tongue. Pulling it back inside, she continues. [say: I also... became infertile by that point. The same thing corrupting me must've broken something in me,] she sighs. [say: Thankfully, I was getting close to 'help,'] the siren says, before putting her hand below her chest, just under her rib cage. [say: I kept climbing, kept trudging along. It didn't take more than a few days for my food to run out. It had to happen, of course, when I was reaching one of the highest points of the mountain. I could have tried climbing back down, but I would probably have passed out from hunger by then and fallen off. Luckily, I didn't have to decide, as a trio of harpies found me clinging to the side of the mountain. With me having to hang onto the rock face, it was easy for the natural-born flyers to pluck me from the side and fly off. Though, thanks to my size, they had to work together to carry me off to a nest, and like everything else in this world, it was easy to tell what they wanted from me. As soon as they dropped me down, they were right on top of me again, pulling my clothes off and kissing me with this weird golden lipstick.] Minerva lets out a shiver at the thought of the experience.

[say: I have no idea what they put in that stuff, but it hit me fast, and in no time, all I could think of was fucking them. It was like the shark girls all over again, but this time I was the aggressor. I'm not sure how long the effects of those drugs lasted... at least a few hours, but by the time my head was clear enough to let me try and make a break for it, the three harpies seemed to have had their... fill of me...] she says, shaking her head at the unintended pun she just made. [say: Anyway... since they were exhausted, I took the chance to get away. Thankfully, those harpies had food... bags full of these big, gold-colored seeds.]

[say: I was so hungry I didn't care if they changed me. So I dug in, eating the walnut-sized things one after another until I couldn't eat anymore.] Bringing a wing into view, Minerva gently strokes the feathers. [say: I grew these very soon after, sprouting right from my back as my arms were covered in these... sleeves of feathers. It hurt to grow them, but it didn't really matter to me... I was full of food and had a way to get around more quickly. I tried a few times to get the hang at first... and almost slammed into the mountain for my troubles!] she chuckles, remembering how dangerous it was. [say: But eventually I got the hang of it; for the first time since I got here, it felt like I was truly free...] [if (minervaPure){Having heard her story before, you know it's coming close to its conclusion|Judging from the tone of her voice, you can tell she is getting close to the end of her tale.}]

[say: I must have flown for hours, the seeds I'd eaten getting burned off fairly quickly, leaving me starving again... What is up with that, anyway? Why is normal food so hard to come by around here?] she asks seriously, as if it has been on her mind for a while. Shrugging your shoulders since you really have no answer for her, you have to admit that you had actually been wondering that yourself. [say: Well... with exhaustion, hunger, and corruption catching up with me, I finally could go no further and crashed onto a cliff side. I could feel the corruption's warm, all-consuming grasp closing around me. It was so tempting to give in and let it happen. But as fate would have it, I landed on the rocks just outside this tower. I hadn't seen it while in the air because of the mist.] Smiling a little, the siren pats the soft moss that grows from the ground. You can't help but notice the somewhat bittersweet look on her face[if (minervaPure){, lasting only a second before her smile grows into a more genuine, sharp-toothed grin}].

[saystart]If I was going to become a monster, I at least wanted to have some shelter, so I went inside the tower. That's when I found this place. [if (minervaPure){An oasis of life hidden inside the ruins. I guess the tower was some kind of sanctuary. It was abandoned long ago, but it saved me. |This... oasis of life... hidden away inside the tower. I guess it was built as some kind of sanctuary, though it clearly fell into disrepair long before I found it. This place turned out to be my... salvation,[sayend] she states, her voice trailing off, and she looks down again, her bittersweet expression deepening. [saystart]}]As soon as I saw the fruit on the trees and the fresh water in the spring, I couldn't help myself. Feasting with my corruption forgotten, I just gorged on the fruits and water and, with each bite, each drink, I felt the corruption recede. My mind and thoughts became more clear--clearer than they had been in a long time, too. This place is blessed! It didn't get rid of the corruption entirely, but it calmed it, made it less pervasive. I was happy to be more or less back to normal, [if (minervaPure){but I would have to stay in this tower forever or the corruption would come back. I had to become a prisoner in this gilded cage, [if (minervaRomanced){[sayend] Minerva pauses shortly to get up, holding your hand to pull you with her, then guiding you to her hips as she does the same with yours, [saystart]}]but you came here one day. You listened to my story and you helped me get rid of my corruption. You set me free.[if (minervaRomanced){ Suffering the loneliness I felt while in this tower was worth it to know you in the end.}][sayend]|but... I knew I could never really leave this tower as, if I did, the corruption would just come back. This place, while beautiful, is my prison, my... gilded cage,[sayend] she says sadly. You can only imagine it, being on the brink of turning into a monster, only to be saved at the cost of your freedom. To be safe, fed, and sane, but unable to leave, lest the corruption returns to consume you. This fact is clearly the source of the bitterness so clear on her face and in her voice.}]

//if Minerva is purified continue with these paragraphs.
[if (minervaRomanced){She suddenly leans forward to give you a kiss, throwing you off balance. You almost fall, but, moving one of her hands to your upper back, she turns around, taking you with her on a spin before letting you dip backwards. As you recover from the surprise, with her face so close to yours, you can't miss the purple color filling her face. [say: Sorry, I got too excited... ] she giggles in embarrassment at your accidental dance.}]

[if (minervaRomanced){You don't let this romantic mood die, planting a kiss on her lips. Her blush grows stronger and her eyes open fully, but she's quickly kissing you back with passion, holding you in place until you need to break the kiss. Smiling ear to ear, she pulls you back straight and lets go of you with some hesitation. Though she'd like to spend longer with you, you've spent plenty of time already, and she understands you need to go. She bids you farewell, with the implied desire to see you again soon.|She stops her tale there, having gone for long enough for now. You have other matters to attend to. She bids farewell to you as you begin making your way back to your camp, hoping you come visit again.}]
//

//if Minerva is still corrupt, go here instead
Reaching out to her, you put an arm around her shoulder, trying to make her feel better. It seems to help, as the look on her face visibly changes, a tiny smile resurfacing. [say: Thank you for listening to my story; I know it was long and boring,] she says with a chuckle. [say: You're the first sane person to visit me. Sometimes, harpies come and try to get me to fuck them,] she lets out a long humm as she thinks about it. [say: It might even be those same harpies from before... anyway, I just want to tell you how much I appreciate you coming to visit me like this,] she explains with a genuine smile.[if (flags[KFLAGS.MINERVA_LOVE] > -1){ The siren leans in to give you a small peck on the cheek.}][if (!minervaRomanced){ [say: You're a good friend to have, and you know that, [name].]| [say: You're a wonderful lover, you know. I couldn't be happier that you found me.]}]


///talkAboutTheSpringWithMinerva///

As usual, Minerva is pleased to hear you want to talk with her. [What do you want to know?] she asks as she sits down, cross-legged on the soft, pillowy moss across from you. Looking at the spring, you feel an inkling urging its way up from inside you, and riveting questions begin to form in your mind. Minerva has been here for a while... maybe she knows something about it?

[say: The spring?] Minerva questions, before looking over at its pure waters. [say: Well... truth be told, I don't really know much about it. I know it has special properties, though. Over time, it can reduce the corruption of anything in it, and it makes the soil very fertile, helping plants grow abnormally quickly. It can even bless a weapon with special properties, like how my own halberd wounds the corrupt,] she says, sighing.

[say: I'm sorry, I just don't know all that much about it. The only other thing I really know, is that [if (minervaPure){it kept me from succumbing to corruption until you helped me remove the parasite|it's the only thing that keeps me from succumbing to the corruption}]. Well, that, and it feels really nice to swim in it!] she states with a grin, before looking back at you. [say: Hey, you know, would you want to go for a swim with me? It'll be fun!] she exclaims, a hopeful look painted on her face.

Thinking about it, you decide you could use a dip. [if (isnaked){Since you're already naked, you jump directly|Getting up from the ground, you fully strip off your [armor] and jump}] into the pool. Seeing how eager you are brings a smile to Minerva's slightly angular face, the[if (!minervaPure){ tainted}] [if (minervaDedicked){siren|herm}] jumping up and fervently stripping as well, before hopping into the water with an energetic splash.

Though the water isn't all that deep, only about [if (metric){a meter and twenty two centimeters|four feet}], [if (tallness < 48){it's still enough to engulf your whole body. You have to stay swimming not to sink, but you enjoy yourself swimming and splashing around with|you splash around and swim with}] the shark-like harpy. Minerva playfully splashes water at you with her tail, laughing. You play and swim, unable to help but look the curvy siren over. With her womanly body drenched in water, her toned features have grown much more defined. Seeing you stare gives Minerva a kinky thrill. With a toothy grin, she spins in the water and strikes a pose for you, the water beading down her naked body.

Grinning back at her, you reach out to try to grab the teasing siren, only for her to spin away from your grasp and splash through the water to escape you, her delightful rump swaying as she wades through the water. Not willing to just let such teasing go unanswered, you give chase, sending water in every direction. Your games last for a while, both of you splashing around and playing until, at long last, you're both tired and revert to simply lying on the soft moss together. [say: This was fun! I'm so glad you came to visit,] Minerva tells you, before rolling onto her [if (minervaPregnancy >= 35){side and resting her head on one hand|stomach and resting her head on her hands}], watching you.

The two of you rest for a while, and can't help but enjoy each other's company. You idly make small talk before deciding that it's time to take your leave. [if (isnaked){You get up|Putting your [armor] back on, you gather your things}] with Minerva watching, mildly upset that you have to leave so soon. [say: Thank you so much for coming to visit! I had a lot of fun. Now, don't be a stranger, you hear? Come back and visit again soon!] she says, before sitting up and tossing you one last smile.

Returning her shining smile, you promise to come back and visit soon, then head out and start the hike back toward your camp.


///talkWithMinervaAboutSharkGirlDaughter///

Telling Minerva that you want to sit down and talk brings a pleasant smile to her face. The siren more than happy to talk with you. [say: Well, since you came all this way to see me, I guess we could talk] she says playfully. [say: All right, what do you want to know?] she asks as she sits down cross-legged on the soft, pillowy moss across from you.

Remembering your past conversations with Minerva, she briefly mentioned that she had birthed a shark girl; it seemed like a delicate subject to her, though, and you didn't broach it. Really wanting to know more, you ask about this daughter of hers.

Hearing you ask about her brings a bittersweet smile to Minerva's face, and she looks away from you. [say: I... that's a very sensitive topic... I'm not sure how far I'll get into it. She was such a sweet girl, so lively and playful. I remember the day she was born. As you know, it wasn't my first time giving birth, but this one was much more serious. She was much bigger than that anemone thing I birthed... you should have seen her. Red and white hair, and big, red eyes, so bright with wonder as I held her in my arms--I had never seen such a cute little girl, even though she was a shark girl,] Minerva says with a bright smile as she remembers her daughter. Hearing her describe it like this, you can't help but grin at the tender scene the siren is painting for you.

[say: I'm sure you've noticed things grow up quickly in this world, and she was no exception. When I fed her for the first time, she grew up right in my arms, not stopping until she was about the size of a preteen or maybe a very young teenager. She would follow me everywhere, the adorable little sweetheart... always hanging onto my tail so she would never lose her mommy,] Minerva tells you with a giggle, and you have to admit, it would have been a cute thing to see.

[say: The little one would never leave my side, and I had never been a mother before, so I did the best I could... I played with her, kept her well-fed, and taught her all that I could about how to feed herself, how to defend herself and to be wary of her surroundings at all times. Like a sponge, she absorbed it all. I really wish I could have had more time with her...] the siren says, sadness bleeding out into her smile.

//if Minerva isn’t romanced, it ends with the following paragraph
[say: I think that's enough for now... I would rather not get into it any further,] Minerva takes a deep breath. [It gets... bad after that. Thank you for listening, though. Perhaps, some day when we are more familiar, I think I could probably tell you the rest.] With her being reluctant to continue, you decide it's time to go. Saying goodbye to the siren, you leave the tower and head back to camp, leaving Minerva to her thoughts.

//if Minerva is romanced you get these paragraphs instead
//Changed comma after "fast" for semicolon
[say: I may have told you this already, but there was an incident between us. She grew up so fast; I didn't expect her to become an adult in only a few months. It... it was such a shock to me; I had no idea she would grow that quickly. If I had, I would have established proper boundaries...] she says, looking down and sighing. [say: I guess it could've had something to do with her shark girl nature, as well, the ones I encountered always were sexually aggressive creatures, especially when it came to breeding,] Minerva notes with another sigh and a sour look on her face, clearly not happy with how things went with her daughter.

[say: It's my own fault for not doing enough, for not being strong enough to resist her and failing to teach her properly before it got to that point. She came to me one night, claimed she was ready to be an adult. She needed me to get her pregnant so she could be a mother in turn... and something... I just couldn't resist her. We had sex... a lot of sex, at that.]

[say: Once she seduced me, I couldn't hold back. She sucked me off, rode me, I plowed her so hard in my lustful haze, and I had to have cum inside her at least half a dozen times that night. With how needy and fertile those shark girls are, I know I got her pregnant. How shameful is that?! I knocked up my own daughter and probably have a granddaughter that I fathered!] the siren declares sorely, her voice lined with regret and shame for her actions. [say: I'm sorry for yelling, love, I just miss her. I wish we hadn't parted on those terms. One day though, I'll see her again... maybe get another chance at being a proper mother,] she says with a final sigh before looking you in the eyes and hugging you.

[say: Thank you for listening to me, hun, I'm so happy to have someone like you in my life,] Minerva whispers to you with a genuine smile on her black lips.

The two of you stay like this for a while, just spending a little time together before you decide you must return to camp and your quest. Saying your goodbyes, you give Minerva a kiss before heading home.

//The romanced version changes the value of [KFLAGS.MINERVA_BACKSTORY_DAUGHTER] to 1.


///talkToMinervaAboutHerCorruption///

//replaced the first "looks" with "gazes" to be less repetitive
Telling Minerva that you just want to talk brings a smile to her face, the siren eager to speak with you. Guiding you over to a soft spot of moss by the spring, she sits next to you and gazes into the pond, her smile slowly fading as she looks into the clear waters.

You ask what is bothering her; she looked happy just moments before, what could be troubling her now? The tall redhead looks over at you before sighing and turning around to face you. She puts a hand to her chest and holds it there. [say: What I'm about to tell you... is very personal to me. It's the reason I'm here, the reason I can't really leave this place,] she says as she looks you in the eyes, clearly quite serious about this.

//Minerva now moves her hand to her chest, to preserve continuity with the next paragraph. The next paragraph is slightly reworded too
[say: There is something inside me. I told you how I came to be here, about how the demons attacked me. Well, it's obvious I didn't escape unharmed. There was this little demonic creature that attached itself to me. It burrowed inside me. It's in here right now,] she finishes, tapping her midriff, above her stomach and under her breasts. [say: Sometimes, I can feel it... squirming.] she rests her hand back on her chest. [say: It's the reason for my corruption and why it won't just go away. This thing just keeps pumping its corrupting influence into my body; it's probably doing all kinds of other stuff I don't know about, too...]

You look at her with wide eyes, your gaze automatically shifting to where her hand moves. Quickly noticing your look, she turns away, a little embarrassed that you're just staring at her chest. [saystart]Anyway. It's this thing that binds me here; it's why I need to consume the blessed water and fruit of this grove. At one point, this corruption made me do things I feel great shame for...[if (flags[KFLAGS.MINERVA_BACKSTORY_LEARNED] == 1) && (minervaRomanced) { You remember my firstborn, the shark girl I had? Well... not long after she reached maturity, she... well, she got a bit amorous.[sayend] She mulls over her next words before forcing them out, just saying them pains her. [saystart]She seduced me and I... I mated with her. I mated with her over and over that night. I enjoyed it... it was like I couldn't get enough... I probably got her pregnant.[sayend] She shuts her eyes, stopping the tears forming in them before they fall out. With a pained sigh she opens them again. [saystart] So shameful... I impregnated my own daughter and made her bear my grandchild,}][sayend]she declares sourly as she stares into the pure waters of the spring.

You put a hand on her shoulder, inquiring about the nature of the creature, but your siren companion can only shrug in answer. [say: I don't know. Considering the demons, it's likely it was supposed to corrupt and mutate me into some foul, twisted beast of rape and pleasure...] Minerva looks to you, her eyes soft and full of emotion. [say: I want to be free of this curse. It's my greatest wish, even more than having a true family of my own. I want to be pure, to be clean. I want this creature exiled from my body and myself to be purged of this corruption...]

//if Minerva isn’t romanced show these paragraphs
The siren slips her arms around you, hugging you tightly. [say: Thank you for listening to me, [name], I'm fortunate to have a friend like you in my life,] Minerva whispers to you with a genuine smile on her black lips. [saystart]I'm glad to have someone to open up to.[if (flags[KFLAGS.MINERVA_LOVE] == -1){[sayend]| When you listen to me like this, I can't help but feel...[sayend] she suddenly goes quiet and her face turns quickly into a purple hue before her words burst out in a stammer. [say: I m-mean thanks for listening to me!]}]

///If you have Zetaz’s curse
She breaks the hug, but stays by your side. That's when you decide to tell her about your own curse that you've had since you've arrived in Mareth. [say: You have a creature like that in your body, too?]}]

////If the curse is still not cured
Not exactly. Yours thankfully isn't as strong, even if it has its own problems, but you've both been tainted by the demons and have been forced to constantly keep your rising corruption in check. [say: You've been fighting not to turn into a monster all this time, and I hadn't noticed. You're really strong...] Looking into her worried eyes, you tell her not to worry about you. You've managed to come this far without losing your soul. [say: All right,] she replies, somewhat relieved. [say: I believe in you. You'll find a way to cure yourself, [name].]

You appreciate her encouragement, though you’re also thinking about her own curse.

////If the curse was cured
Not exactly. Yours wasn't a living creature, and you've already gotten rid of it. Minerva's eyes fill with hope when she hears that last part. [say: You're cured? Then... that means I could be cured too!] She stops herself, though, calming down to temper her expectations. [say: Well, it's not the same, so it might not work on me.] She's right about that, not that it would matter since you already took all of the cure you found, but you don't tell her that. You're confident another one exist for her, however.}]
////

///if you never got the curse
She breaks the hug, but stays by your side for a while longer. She changes her subject to something lighter, but you keep going over her story in your mind.
///

//

//if Minerva is romanced show these instead
Cuddling up to you, the siren slips her arms around you, hugging you tightly. [say: Thank you for listening to me, hun, I'm so happy to have someone like you in my life,] Minerva whispers to you with a genuine smile on her black lips. [say: Sharing one of my hopes and dreams like that, I can't help but feel closer to you.]

///If you have Zetaz’s curse
You decide then to tell Minerva about your own curse. Like her, you've been fighting an ever-rising corruption since you've arrived to this world. [say: You have a creature like that in your body, too?]

////If the curse is still not cured
It's not exactly the same. Though it has its own issues, yours thankfully doesn't corrupt you as fast. The similarities are enough to give you something more to bond over, however; Minerva holds you tighter. [say: It's gonna be okay. You're my strong champion, [name]. You'll find a cure.] You promise her you will, caressing her back comfortingly.

////If the curse was cured
Not exactly. Yours was never alive, and you've already cured it. You hear your siren lover gasp when you explain it. [say: If you're cured... I could be cured, too?] You're about to say you'll find a way to remove the parasite, but she suddenly tightens her hug. [say: Thank you, darling! That means a lot to me.]

///

The two of you stay like this for a while, just spending some time together. As silence takes over the tower, a thought rings loud in your mind.
//

//No matter what, it continues here without breaking the last paragraph.
 After what you've seen, you're sure there has to be a way to remove that parasite and free her of corruption for good.

Eventually, you decide you must return to camp and your quest. Saying your goodbyes, you [if (minervaRomanced){give Minerva a kiss before heading home|head back home}].

//if Minerva tells you more about her daughter, it changes the value of [KFLAGS.MINERVA_BACKSTORY_DAUGHTER] to 1.
//This scene always changes the value of [KFLAGS.MINERVA_PURIFICATION_PROGRESS] to 1, unlocking the option to purify Minerva in the generic menu.
///minervaMotherhood///

[if (minervaPure){Minerva smiles, pleased, and sits down cross-legged on the moss, facing you. [say: What do you want to know?]|Telling Minerva that you want to sit down and talk with her seems to astonish her; she certainly didn't expect you to just want a chat. After her initial surprise, she smiles pleasantly.}] [say: Really? You want to talk with me? All right, well, what do you want to know?] she asks as she sits down cross-legged on the soft moss across from you.

You rack your brain trying to think of what to talk about. Unable to really think about anything important to discuss, you lean back and relax, deciding that you could talk for once--instead of just listen--about random things you have seen. You elaborate on the creatures you have encountered, the things that have tried to sexually assault you, knock you up or try to force you to impregnate them. Perhaps she can learn something from your own trials and errors in this land.

Though happy to listen to you for a change, Minerva looks a little uncomfortable with hearing about the sex hungry monsters out there in the world. Nonetheless she pays complete attention to you, leans against the tree with her legs stretched out, her shark tail lying between her legs. As you tell your tale to your siren [if (minervaRomanced){lover|friend}], you can't help but notice how she becomes utterly entranced, seeming to cling hungrily to every word of your story. With such an attentive audience, it would be a shame not to embellish the truth, just a little. And so, you begin weaving a story of how you once fought six minotaurs at the same time, each of them twelve feet tall and carrying huge axes. It was a hard fight, most of your clothes were shredded from the fierce battle, and your body glistened with sweat as you stood over your fallen bestial foes.

With your foes beaten, you saved a group of scantily clad damsels, a pair of goblins, a harpy, a shark girl, and even a busty cowgirl, each of them eager to thank their hero for saving them from the mean minotaurs that only wanted to rape them. The silly story of your own bravado draws giggles and snickers from Minerva, completely absorbed with your fabrication, but whether she knows you're lying, you can't tell. It's clear she is enjoying your story about bringing the thankful ladies back to your camp for a long night of impassioned loving, though.

//if you have a vagina
Not wanting to disappoint, you quickly think of another story to tell your [if (minervaRomanced){lover|friend}]. Without further ado, you weave a tale of how you saved a nice + (player.sexOrientation > 30 ? "herm" : "") + bee-girl from several of those nasty imps. The little buggers were trying to rape the nice girl, and you couldn't just stand there and do nothing. Taking it upon yourself, you beat those smelly imps into a pulp before carrying the grateful damsel away. + (player.sexOrientation > 30 ? "To find a bee-girl that was a herm is a rare thing, indeed, and this one was just as pretty as her sisters" : "") + She was so grateful for being saved from those little monsters that she gave you a mass of her honey and explained that she only wanted to find someone to have her eggs with. Being the generous champion you are, you offered to help her out, flirtatiously pulling the curvy girl to you before kissing her. That night, you spent your time with your grateful damsel, making love and letting the bee-girl fill your womb and rear with her sticky eggs.
//

//If you have a dick
Rolling right into another story, you begin to tell Minerva about the time you fought three hundred goblins; yet another fierce battle, with them tearing your clothes off and trying to rape you for your seed. They would cry, [say: We claim this pole for the horde,] but you wouldn't let them have it without a fight. Raising your spear of impregnation, you thrust deep into their ranks, activating your mighty spear's life-giving magics, and flooding the enemy lines with rich, potent streams of power. Your attack was successful, the thick goopy mess defeating the goblin horde temporarily; they always came back each time though, with greater numbers.
//

With your tale over, your audience claps excitedly, the lonely siren quite happy to hear such silly stories. [say: Oh, that was wonderful! You tell such great stories!] she says happily, her tail swaying between her legs. [say: It was a lot of fun to listen to, even if it got a bit silly,] she says with a bright smile before looking down, and putting a hand on her toned, flat stomach. [saystart]Those damsels[if (ismaleorherm){, and those goblins }][if (isfemaleorherm){,and the bee-girl}], if the stories were real, I'm sure you gave them plenty of children. I wish to one day have kids... to have a great, loving family to call my own.[sayend]

Shaking your head, you grin and shuffle over to Minerva. Sitting down with her, you [if (minervaRomanced){hug her tightly and kiss her cheek, telling her that she will have children one day, and perhaps you will have to see about helping her with that 'problem.'|place a hand on her shoulder and give her a comforting smile before telling her that she will have that one day--you're sure of it.}] Hearing your words brings a smile to her black, glossy lips. [say: Thank you so much; that means a lot to me, really,] she coos, her hands gingerly stroking yours before pulling away. [say: But... I guess we have been here for a while. I'm sure you have a great deal of work to do as such a brave champion.]

Looking around, you see how late it has gotten and swiftly get up, Minerva's right; you have to get back to your great quest! Looking at the siren one last time, you tell her that you will be sure to come and visit again later.


CODE VERSION

//Talking scenes
//3-1 Talk Scene 1 - talks about back story pt1 to pt3
//-repeatable
//Scenes occur in order, starting with part 1 and reset after part 3 is told. Talking is still somewhat random but backstory scenes will trigger in order.
    function talkingToMinervaAboutBackstory() {
        clearOutput();
        minervaSprite();
        images.showImage("minerva-talk-backstory");
        //PART 1
        if (flags[KFLAGS.MINERVA_BACKSTORY] == 0) {
            flags[KFLAGS.MINERVA_BACKSTORY] = 1;
            outputText("Telling Minerva that you want to sit down and talk seems to surprise her. She certainly didn't expect you to come all this way, simply desiring mere conversation. After her initial surprise, she smiles pleasantly. [say: Really? You want to talk to me? All right, well, what do you want to know?] she asks, sitting cross-legged on the soft, pillowy moss across from you. Joining her, you [if (minervaRomanced){ask her to tell you the story of her arrival at Mareth again.|dive into questions concerning her past; how did she come to be what she is? How did she come to find this place?}]");
            outputText("[pg][if (!minervaPure){Upon asking about Minerva's past, she flinches. [say: That kind of stuff... there... aren't a lot of good memories down that road. There were plenty of painful times,] she pauses again, running a hand through her head. [say: But... holding onto painful memories like that isn't good for you, right?] the siren gives in with a sigh before coming back up to meet your expectant gaze.|[say: That kind of stuff...] she begins, her voice taking on that sour tone you've heard before. However, she looks more calm than the first time she told you the story. With a gloomy smile, she continues. [say: There were plenty of painful times, but after all I've gone through with you, it feels so far away...][if (minervaRomanced){ she places a hand on top of yours and holds it.}]}]");
            outputText("[pg][say: [if (!minervaPure){Well, I suppose I could start with how I got here. I guess }]I'm like you, someone from the other side of one of those portals. I was a sacrifice of some kind; when I crossed it, there was an ambush waiting for me. Even though it was very close, I managed to slip away, but[if (!minervaPure){...}] not without being scathed,] she notes, gesturing to the long scar on her stomach. ");
            outputText("[if (minervaPure){[say: I know that I should have been killed by the blow, but that creature took the chance to dig into my body and sealed the wound.] Bringing her other hand over it, her smile grows slightly with an expression of pride. [say: But in the end [if (minervaRomanced){a very handsome hero freed me from it|a good friend helped me get rid of it}].]|Thinking of that monstrosity of a scar and how large it is, you can't help but wonder how she survived a wound like that. [say: I know that I should have been killed by the blow, but... let's just say that what hit me... also closed the wound.] You can't imagine what would have left a scar as terrible-looking as that, and to believe the blow not only inflicted the damage, but cauterized itself as well. There's clearly something missing from this story.}]");
            outputText("[pg]Wanting to take the topic away from her scar, Minerva continues. [say: Of course, they chased after me, but they ceased once I reached the edge of the forest and the lake. They seemed to fear the lake, giving up on me,] she adds with a look of relief. You know exactly what she is talking about, having gone through a very similar experience, though in retrospect, perhaps not nearly as harrowing.[if (minervaPure){ [say: Sometimes I wonder how things would have turned out had the demons not attacked me. Where would I have ended up, if I wasn't in such a hurry to get to safety? Would I have found this tower? We probably wouldn't have met.]}]");
            outputText("[pg]The siren seems to be lost in thought, though whether she's deciding what to tell you next or simply remembering the events of the demon ambush, you couldn't say. After a moment of silence, Minerva continues her story. [say: Knowing the demons stayed away from the lake, I took it upon myself to stay there a few days, living on fish. Unfortunately, the lake was not safe either. [if (minervaPure){I had more than a few encounters with those anemones and shark girls|Those simple-minded anemones and savage shark girls... as you can probably tell, I've had more than a few encounters with them}].] Minerva looks down at her body, more shark-like than human. [saystart][if (minervaPure){That's how I ended up with [if (minervaDedicked){that anemone between my legs. But I don't have to worry about it anymore, either|this anemone.[sayend] She points as her bulging shorts. [saystart]It wouldn't stop stinging everything at first. It still does, but I can control it better}]|I'm supposed to be female, but one of the anemones got to me. Their tentacles are fairly potent and it kept stinging; I couldn't fight back for long before it started to mate with me... Suffice to say, it impregnated me. Its offspring attached itself to my body and turned into this thing,] the siren says, before pointing between her legs.}][sayend]");
            outputText("[pg][if (minervaPure){[say: I think that's enough for now[if (minervaRomanced){, hun}]; I have to tend to things and you need to go about being a [if (minervaRomanced){big, strong }]champion, right?] she says[if (minervaRomanced){ with a giggle before leaning over and kissing you on the cheek}].[pg]You wave goodbye to Minerva before heading back to camp.|She again goes deep into thought. [say: I think that's enough for now. It's hard recalling all these... less than pleasant memories,] she declares. With Minerva clearly reluctant to continue, you decide it's time to go. Saying goodbye to the siren, you leave the tower and head back to camp, leaving Minerva alone with her thoughts.}]");
            // PC returns to camp.
        }
        //PART 2
        else if (flags[KFLAGS.MINERVA_BACKSTORY] == 1) {
            flags[KFLAGS.MINERVA_BACKSTORY] = 2;
//Changed intro
            outputText("[if (!minervaPure){When you tell Minerva that you want to talk with her again, she appears surprised. Clearly, she didn't expect you to return just for more conversation. Getting over her initial surprise, she smiles pleasantly. [saystart]Really? You want to talk to me, again? |Minerva smiles when you tell her you just want to spend more time talking with her. [saystart]}]Well, all right, what do you want to know?[sayend] She sits down on the soft moss across from you, and crosses her legs.");
            outputText("[pg][if (minervaPure){Sitting close to her you ask her to continue her tale about the past. The shark-harpy purses her lips, then gives you a determined smile. [say: Well, I can tell you again, if you want,]|Taking a seat, you ask her if she would continue talking about her past. The shark-harpy purses her lips and seems lost in thought for a moment, unsure if she wants to keep going. [say: Well... I suppose it would be all right to tell you more, if you really want to know,]}] Minerva says, running a hand through her red hair.");
            outputText("[pg]The siren begins her story again, picking up where she left off, [say: I think I was at the part with that anemone...[if (!minervaPure){hm... that was the start of some bad times in my life,] she goes quiet again for a short moment, her lips trembling slightly. [say: So... a|you know already that was the start of some bad times in my life. A}]fter the incident with that anemone [if (!minervaPure){and getting my... well, after I became more than just female...|gave me a dick,}] I fled from the lake. I didn't want to run into any more of the creatures there, so I tried to survive further inland.]");
            outputText("[pg][if (!minervaPure){She shudders and once again looks down at herself.|She sighs, looking [if (minervaDedicked){nowhere in particular as she thinks of the past|at herself}]}]. [say: It didn't work out too well. You see, I found this farm and it seemed all right, but I didn't want to take any chances, and I was really, [b: really] hungry at the time, so I just stole some of the peppers that grew there. These bulbous ones that smelled so good that I just scarfed them down like a hungry animal,] Minerva reveals with a[if (minervaPure){nother}] sigh, squirming a little in her spot at the memory. [say: Damn things made me grow balls[if (!minervaPure){...}] and, I guess, since I ate more than a couple... they got bigger. At least I still kept my more feminine parts,] she notes, blushing at the realization that she was describing her genitalia to you.");
            outputText("[pg][say: A-anyway... the food inland seemed a worse option than staying around the lake... I mean, I didn't want to turn into some giant-balled freak,] she says, her tone making it clear she's aware of the irony, [say: So I headed back to the lake, which may have been a mistake, but at least eating the fish didn't change me. A few days passed without any incidents, until I swam into some of the shark girls that inhabit the lake[if (minervaPure){. T|... t}]hey seemed to take a liking to my new... 'equipment.' They were stronger than I was, fast and fierce. They forced themselves on me, using me for their pleasure and making me impregnate them with my new male genitalia.] The siren shivers at the memories of sexual violation by the shark girls.");
            outputText("[pg][say: I guess they really took a liking to me, since they force-fed me these soft things that looked like sharks' teeth. But they changed me, my skin turned all gray and blue, I grew a tail like them and even a fin on my back. They turned me into some kind of anemone-dicked shark girl... which just made things worse.]");
            outputText("[pg][say: There are creatures like that in the lake, these... more aggressive,[b: striped] shark girls with cocks and balls.] She bites her lip, momentarily showing her own sharky teeth.");
            outputText("[pg][say: There was this one that didn't like the fact that I was around and had knocked up those shark girls. I guess it thought I was trying to wedge in on its harem and really, [b: really] didn't like it. So it... [b: she], decided she was going to add me to her harem.]");
            outputText("[pg][say: I was exhausted from the other sharks when that angry striped one came along; she was much more threatening. She grabbed me and made sure I was on the receiving end. The--I guess tiger shark--was so rough... The lusty beast wanted to teach me a lesson so she fucked me as hard as she could before dumping this... insane load of cum into me... so much that my stomach bulged out like I was already pregnant.]");
            outputText("[pg]Minerva seems to go quiet for a bit after that, just looking down at the ground. [if (minervaPure){Despite helping to cure her, the wounds left in her mind are still healing. [if (minervaRomanced){You hold her tenderly, letting her rest her head on your chest. Minerva returns the embrace and you stay like that for a while, not bothering to count the time. Eventually, she takes a deep breath and lets go off you to continue her story|You rest a hand on her shoulder to console her. She looks into your eyes and thanks you before resuming}]|The unpleasant feelings and memories of having been subjected to such a vile act is obvious in her eyes, and something about her behavior seems to suggest that she had been impregnated by the tiger shark}].");
            outputText("[pg][say: With her enjoying the orgasm, I struggled and managed to get away. In the fight, it dropped one of those 'teeth' the other sharks had forced on me, but this one had a strange sheen. I grabbed the thing and... just swam and swam until I reached the shore, [if (minervaPure){and when I arrived at the forest I wanted to give up|then ran into the forest and just... I just... I felt like giving up}]. The world had tried to kill or rape me since I got here... it was probably the lowest point in my life. I knew I needed to get stronger. Stronger like the tigershark and sharkgirls. I knew that those sharks were stronger than me and eating their fishy tasting things, so I took that glowing tooth and swallowed it. That's how I got these stripes of mine,] the siren explains[if (minervaPure){. She goes silent [if (minervaRomanced){and you feel her holding your hand tighter }]as she takes a moment to find the courage to continue| as she curls up in her spot, holding her knees to her chest. For a moment you think she's isn't going to continue her story, but she starts back up, voice slightly muffled by her knees}].");
            outputText("[pg][say: It turns out that I had, in fact, gotten pregnant from that tiger shark. And even though, as I said, I wanted to give up... I'd always wanted a family of my own, and it seemed like this would not just be some monster, but an actual child, so I gave this place another chance and decided to keep going.]");
            outputText("[pg][say: I didn't have to wait very long, either... about twelve days after that tiger shark had its way with me, my stomach had grown like a balloon and I was already giving birth. I thought I was going crazy when I saw my child, but there she was... I had given birth to a baby shark girl.]");
            outputText("[pg][if (minervaPure){Minerva looks pained while she reminisces about her daughter, her smile an expression of sadness and happiness combined.|Minerva actually seems to smile at the memory. It is odd; you would think that she would have very negative feelings about having a shark girl daughter.}]");
            outputText("[pg][say: When I saw her... the way she squirmed in my arms and looked at me... All I could feel was a sense of pride and maternal instinct, so I kept her, let her suckle at my breast, and watched as she grew in my arms. As she drank from me, her body swelled to the size of a young girl, maybe... twelve years old. It was amazing to watch, and she was so cute. I was happy to have her in my arms... [if (minervaRomanced){I miss her... }]]Minerva says with a tear in her eye before wiping it away. [saystart]Thank you for talking to me like this");
            outputText("[if (minervaPure){. It's not easy, but telling you about it helps me.[if (minervaRomanced){ I'm glad to have you with me, love.}][sayend][pg]Noticing you've been talking for a long time, Minerva cuts her story at that point, promising to continue next time. You [if (minervaRomanced){give her a kiss and }]say goodbye, then head back to your camp.|, but I'd like to be alone for a bit... I'll see you later though, I look forward to it.][pg]Seeing that she seems to be a bit better than she was the last time, you nod to her and give the siren a pat on the shoulder before saying goodbye, heading out from the tower and going back to camp, leaving Minerva to her thoughts.}]");
            // PC returns to camp.
        }
        //PART 3
        else {
            flags[KFLAGS.MINERVA_BACKSTORY] = 0;
            outputText("[if (!minervaPure){Again, Minerva is surprised at your suggestion, not expecting you to want to chat, but she smiles like previous times. [saystart]Really? |Like usual, Minerva smiles at your suggestion. [saystart]}]You want to talk? All right, well, what do you want to know this time?[sayend] she asks as she sits down cross-legged on the same spot on the moss across from you.");
            outputText("[pg]Sitting down as well, you ask about her and if she would continue telling you about her past. The shark-harpy purses her lips[if (!minervaPure){ and seems to think about it for a moment, unsure if she wants to keep going}]. [say: Well... I suppose it would be all right to tell you more, if you really want to know,] Minerva says, running a hand through her red hair, remembering where she stopped last.");
            outputText("[pg]The redheaded siren begins her story again, picking up where she left off, [if (minervaPure){smiling this time|sporting the same conflicted smile from last time}], [say: I remember we stopped right after I had my daughter.] [if (minervaPure){If there was a hint of sadness in her smile before, it becomes obvious as she says that last word, her voice turning the same bittersweet tone|Already, Minerva seems a bit happier, though her smile looks bittersweet.}] [say: I miss her... my darling daughter, my little girl...] she says, shaking her head and continuing her story. [say: When I was about to give birth, my new instincts told me to seek out water. I didn't want to go back to the lake again, so I managed to find a river and ended up giving birth to my daughter there. With her born and so young, I didn't want to just travel around. So we stayed at the stream for a while.] Minerva stops for a moment, closing her eyes as if she's picturing it in her head, reliving the time spent with her daughter.");
//Changed - for --
            outputText("[pg]After a moment or two of reminiscing, Minerva reopens her eyes[if (minervaPure){ and, even though she seems sad again, you also notice a certain happiness}]. [say: We stayed there at the stream for months. It was just us, mother and daughter. The stream even had fish in it--plenty of them, too, so it was easy to feed just the two of us. It seemed safe for us there, and while she was growing up we needed to be by the water. She... grew up fast, though. In a matter of months she was about an adult's size. Though she was smaller than I was at the time, she was easily the size of the tiger shark who had fathered her.]");
            outputText("[pg][say: I had no idea that she would grow up so quickly! After reaching the size of a preteen, I figured that she would just grow normally from that point on, but there she was... only a couple of months old and an adult. It was amazing, but sad... I hoped she would be young just for a while longer so I could be her mother a bit more...] Minerva looks down now, seeming ashamed. ");
            if flags[KFLAGS.MINERVA_BACKSTORY_DAUGHTER] == 1 {
                outputText("[say: You already know what happened, I...I'll talk about it later.] Although she says that, she still goes silent for a moment, clearly distracted by the memories assaulting her guilty conscience.");
                outputText("[pg][saystart]A-anyways, after that, I knew I had to move away from the river.");
                }
            else {
                outputText("[say: I... there was... I don't want to talk about this right now,] she says as she brings her knees to her chest and holds them tight; clearly this is a very sensitive topic. You reach over and put a hand on her shoulder as a gesture of comfort. The sad siren looks up at you for a moment before shuffling closer and leaning against you.");
            outputText("[pg]She stays silent for a bit, likely thinking about whatever happened to her daughter. You're not sure what occurred, but it is clearly a painful memory. With a sigh, Minerva continues her story. [saystart]Maybe I'll tell you about what happened another time, but I'm skipping it for now... Let's just say I had to leave and continue on my own.");
            }
//Changed - for --
            outputText(" I was having a hard time by then, as my body was getting more corrupted by the day. I could feel it creeping at the edge of my thoughts. I must've ran into a dozen of those green sluts and red little cretins as I traveled--not at the same time, of course... Thankfully, my new shark-like body was stronger than before, so I was able to beat them all down when they tried to attack me. I don't know why, but I headed for these mountains,[sayend] Minerva says, looking up at the broken ceiling of her tower.");
            outputText("[pg][say: Of course, now I know it's fortunate that I did. Had I not, I would absolutely have succumbed to this corruption inside me. It was a growing and ready threat inside me, at that point already changing me physically, turning my feet into these clawed things, and my tongue into... well, this,] Minerva says, before opening her mouth and extending what looks to be a [if (metric){sixty one centimeter|two-foot}] long demonic tongue. Pulling it back inside, she continues. [say: I also... became infertile by that point. The same thing corrupting me must've broken something in me,] she sighs. [say: Thankfully, I was getting close to 'help,'] the siren says, before putting her hand below her chest, just under her rib cage. [say: I kept climbing, kept trudging along. It didn't take more than a few days for my food to run out. It had to happen, of course, when I was reaching one of the highest points of the mountain. I could have tried climbing back down, but I would probably have passed out from hunger by then and fallen off. Luckily, I didn't have to decide, as a trio of harpies found me clinging to the side of the mountain. With me having to hang onto the rock face, it was easy for the natural-born flyers to pluck me from the side and fly off. Though, thanks to my size, they had to work together to carry me off to a nest, and like everything else in this world, it was easy to tell what they wanted from me. As soon as they dropped me down, they were right on top of me again, pulling my clothes off and kissing me with this weird golden lipstick.] Minerva lets out a shiver at the thought of the experience.");
            outputText("[pg][say: I have no idea what they put in that stuff, but it hit me fast, and in no time, all I could think of was fucking them. It was like the shark girls all over again, but this time I was the aggressor. I'm not sure how long the effects of those drugs lasted... at least a few hours, but by the time my head was clear enough to let me try and make a break for it, the three harpies seemed to have had their... fill of me...] she says, shaking her head at the unintended pun she just made. [say: Anyway... since they were exhausted, I took the chance to get away. Thankfully, those harpies had food... bags full of these big, gold-colored seeds.]");
//Changed "I'd tried a few times to get the hang at first" for "I tried a few times to get the hang at first"
            outputText("[pg][say: I was so hungry I didn't care if they changed me. So I dug in, eating the walnut-sized things one after another until I couldn't eat anymore.] Bringing a wing into view, Minerva gently strokes the feathers. [say: I grew these very soon after, sprouting right from my back as my arms were covered in these... sleeves of feathers. It hurt to grow them, but it didn't really matter to me... I was full of food and had a way to get around more quickly. I tried a few times to get the hang at first... and almost slammed into the mountain for my troubles!] she chuckles, remembering how dangerous it was. [say: But eventually I got the hang of it; for the first time since I got here, it felt like I was truly free...] [if (minervaPure){Having heard her story before, you know it's coming close to its conclusion|Judging from the tone of her voice, you can tell she is getting close to the end of her tale.}]");
            outputText("[pg][say: I must have flown for hours, the seeds I'd eaten getting burned off fairly quickly, leaving me starving again... What is up with that, anyway? Why is normal food so hard to come by around here?] she asks seriously, as if it has been on her mind for a while. Shrugging your shoulders since you really have no answer for her, you have to admit that you had actually been wondering that yourself. [say: Well... with exhaustion, hunger, and corruption catching up with me, I finally could go no further and crashed onto a cliff side. I could feel the corruption's warm, all-consuming grasp closing around me. It was so tempting to give in and let it happen. But as fate would have it, I landed on the rocks just outside this tower. I hadn't seen it while in the air because of the mist.] Smiling a little, the siren pats the soft moss that grows from the ground. You can't help but notice the somewhat bittersweet look on her face[if (minervaPure){, lasting only a second before her smile grows into a more genuine, sharp-toothed grin}].");
            outputText("[pg][saystart]If I was going to become a monster, I at least wanted to have some shelter, so I went inside the tower. That's when I found this place. [if (minervaPure){An oasis of life hidden inside the ruins. I guess the tower was some kind of sanctuary. It was abandoned long ago, but it saved me. |This... oasis of life... hidden away inside the tower. I guess it was built as some kind of sanctuary, though it clearly fell into disrepair long before I found it. This place turned out to be my... salvation,[sayend] she states, her voice trailing off, and she looks down again, her bittersweet expression deepening. [saystart]}]As soon as I saw the fruit on the trees and the fresh water in the spring, I couldn't help myself. Feasting with my corruption forgotten, I just gorged on the fruits and water and, with each bite, each drink, I felt the corruption recede. My mind and thoughts became more clear--clearer than they had been in a long time, too. This place is blessed! It didn't get rid of the corruption entirely, but it calmed it, made it less pervasive. I was happy to be more or less back to normal, ");
            if (flags[KFLAGS.MINERVA_PURIFICATION_PROGRESS] > 1) {
                outputText("but I would have to stay in this tower forever or the corruption would come back. I had to become a prisoner in this gilded cage, [if (minervaRomanced){[sayend] Minerva pauses shortly to get up, holding your hand to pull you with her, then guiding you to her hips as she does the same with yours, [saystart]}]but you came here one day. You listened to my story and you helped me get rid of my corruption. You set me free.[if (minervaRomanced){ Suffering the loneliness I felt while in this tower was worth it to know you in the end.}][sayend][pg]");
                if (minervaRomanced) {
                    outputText("She suddenly leans forward to give you a kiss, throwing you off balance. You almost fall, but, moving one of her hands to your upper back, she turns around, taking you with her on a spin before letting you dip backwards. As you recover from the surprise, with her face so close to yours, you can't miss the purple color filling her face. [say: Sorry, I got too excited... ] she giggles in embarrassment at your accidental dance.");
                    outputText("[pg]You don't let this romantic mood die, planting a kiss on her lips. Her blush grows stronger and her eyes open fully, but she's quickly kissing you back with passion, holding you in place until you need to break the kiss. Smiling ear to ear, she pulls you back straight and lets go of you with some hesitation. Though she'd like to spend longer with you, you've spent plenty of time already, and she understands you need to go. She bids you farewell, with the implied desire to see you again soon."); 
                }
                else outputText("She stops her tale there, having gone for long enough for now. You have other matters to attend to. She bids farewell to you as you begin making your way back to your camp, hoping you come visit again."); 
            }
//Fixed the end of PART 3 so it doesn't show part of the tainted ending when she's pure
            else {
                outputText("but... I knew I could never really leave this tower as, if I did, the corruption would just come back. This place, while beautiful, is my prison, my... gilded cage,[sayend] she says sadly. You can only imagine it, being on the brink of turning into a monster, only to be saved at the cost of your freedom. To be safe, fed, and sane, but unable to leave, lest the corruption returns to consume you. This fact is clearly the source of the bitterness so clear on her face and in her voice.");
            outputText("[pg]Reaching out to her, you put an arm around her shoulder, trying to make her feel better. It seems to help, as the look on her face visibly changes, a tiny smile resurfacing. [say: Thank you for listening to my story; I know it was long and boring,] she says with a chuckle. [say: You're the first sane person to visit me. Sometimes, harpies come and try to get me to fuck them,] she lets out a long humm as she thinks about it. [say: It might even be those same harpies from before... anyway, I just want to tell you how much I appreciate you coming to visit me like this,] she explains with a genuine smile.");
                if (flags[KFLAGS.MINERVA_LOVE] > -1) outputText(" The siren leans in to give you a small peck on the cheek.");
                //No Romance:
                if (!minervaRomanced) {
                    outputText(" [say: You're a good friend to have, and you know that, [name].]");
                }//Romance:
                else {
                    outputText(" [say: You're a wonderful lover, you know. I couldn't be happier that you found me.]");
            }
                        }
            // PC returns to camp.
            flags[KFLAGS.MINERVA_BACKSTORY_LEARNED] = 1;
        }
        doNext(camp.returnToCampUseOneHour);
    }
//3-2 Talk Scene 2 - talks about the spring
//-repeatable
    function talkAboutTheSpringWithMinerva() {
        clearOutput();
        minervaSprite();
        images.showImage("minerva-talk-spring");
        outputText("As usual, Minerva is pleased to hear you want to talk with her. [What do you want to know?] she asks as she sits down, cross-legged on the soft, pillowy moss across from you. Looking at the spring, you feel an inkling urging its way up from inside you, and riveting questions begin to form in your mind. Minerva has been here for a while... maybe she knows something about it?");
        outputText("[pg][say: The spring?] Minerva questions, before looking over at its pure waters. [say: Well... truth be told, I don't really know much about it. I know it has special properties, though. Over time, it can reduce the corruption of anything in it, and it makes the soil very fertile, helping plants grow abnormally quickly. It can even bless a weapon with special properties, like how my own halberd wounds the corrupt,] she says, sighing.");
        outputText("[pg][say: I'm sorry, I just don't know all that much about it. The only other thing I really know, is that [if (minervaPure){it kept me from succumbing to corruption until you helped me remove the parasite|it's the only thing that keeps me from succumbing to the corruption}]. Well, that, and it feels really nice to swim in it!] she states with a grin, before looking back at you. [say: Hey, you know, would you want to go for a swim with me? It'll be fun!] she exclaims, a hopeful look painted on her face.");
        outputText("[pg]Thinking about it, you decide you could use a dip. [if (isnaked){Since you're already naked, you jump directly|Getting up from the ground, you fully strip off your [armor] and jump}] into the pool. Seeing how eager you are brings a smile to Minerva's slightly angular face, the[if (!minervaPure){ tainted}] [if (minervaDedicked){siren|herm}] jumping up and fervently stripping as well, before hopping into the water with an energetic splash.");
//Added the missing y at the start of the 48 and taller version
        outputText("[pg]Though the water isn't all that deep, only about [if (metric){a meter and twenty two centimeters|four feet}], [if (tallness < 48){it's still enough to engulf your whole body. You have to stay swimming not to sink, but you enjoy yourself swimming and splashing around with|you splash around and swim with}] the shark-like harpy. Minerva playfully splashes water at you with her tail, laughing. You play and swim, unable to help but look the curvy siren over. With her womanly body drenched in water, her toned features have grown much more defined. Seeing you stare gives Minerva a kinky thrill. With a toothy grin, she spins in the water and strikes a pose for you, the water beading down her naked body.");
        player.removeStatusEffect(StatusEffects.TellyVised);
        outputText("[pg]Grinning back at her, you reach out to try to grab the teasing siren, only for her to spin away from your grasp and splash through the water to escape you, her delightful rump swaying as she wades through the water. Not willing to just let such teasing go unanswered, you give chase, sending water in every direction. Your games last for a while, both of you splashing around and playing until, at long last, you're both tired and revert to simply lying on the soft moss together. [say: This was fun! I'm so glad you came to visit,] Minerva tells you, before rolling onto her ");
        if (minervaPregnancy >= 35) outputText("side and resting her head on one hand");
        outputText("[pg]The two of you rest for a while, and can't help but enjoy each other's company. You idly make small talk before deciding that it's time to take your leave. [if (isnaked){You get up|Putting your [armor] back on, you gather your things}] with Minerva watching, mildly upset that you have to leave so soon. [say: Thank you so much for coming to visit! I had a lot of fun. Now, don't be a stranger, you hear? Come back and visit again soon!] she says, before sitting up and tossing you one last smile.");
        outputText("[pg]Returning her shining smile, you promise to come back and visit soon, then head out and start the hike back toward your camp.");
        // PC returns to camp.
        dynStats(Lust(10 + player.lib / 10));
        doNext(camp.returnToCampUseOneHour);
    }
//3-3 Talking Scene 3 - talks about her shark girl daughter
    function talkWithMinervaAboutSharkGirlDaughter() {
        clearOutput();
        minervaSprite();
        images.showImage("minerva-talk-sharkgirl");
        //- requires that backstory has been told
        //- if already romanced Minerva shamefully confesses she may have fathered a granddaughter with her first daughter -repeatable
        outputText("Telling Minerva that you want to sit down and talk brings a pleasant smile to her face. The siren more than happy to talk with you. [say: Well, since you came all this way to see me, I guess we could talk] she says playfully. [say: All right, what do you want to know?] she asks as she sits down cross-legged on the soft, pillowy moss across from you.");
        outputText("[pg]Remembering your past conversations with Minerva, she briefly mentioned that she had birthed a shark girl; it seemed like a delicate subject to her, though, and you didn't broach it. Really wanting to know more, you ask about this daughter of hers.");
//Changed her description of Leira to include her red and white hair
        outputText("[pg]Hearing you ask about her brings a bittersweet smile to Minerva's face, and she looks away from you. [say: I... that's a very sensitive topic... I'm not sure how far I'll get into it. She was such a sweet girl, so lively and playful. I remember the day she was born. As you know, it wasn't my first time giving birth, but this one was much more serious. She was much bigger than that anemone thing I birthed... you should have seen her. Red and white hair, and big, red eyes, so bright with wonder as I held her in my arms--I had never seen such a cute little girl, even though she was a shark girl,] Minerva says with a bright smile as she remembers her daughter. Hearing her describe it like this, you can't help but grin at the tender scene the siren is painting for you.");
        outputText("[pg][say: I'm sure you've noticed things grow up quickly in this world, and she was no exception. When I fed her for the first time, she grew up right in my arms, not stopping until she was about the size of a preteen or maybe a very young teenager. She would follow me everywhere, the adorable little sweetheart... always hanging onto my tail so she would never lose her mommy,] Minerva tells you with a giggle, and you have to admit, it would have been a cute thing to see.");
        outputText("[pg][say: The little one would never leave my side, and I had never been a mother before, so I did the best I could... I played with her, kept her well-fed, and taught her all that I could about how to feed herself, how to defend herself and to be wary of her surroundings at all times. Like a sponge, she absorbed it all. I really wish I could have had more time with her...] the siren says, sadness bleeding out into her smile.");
        //No romance:
        if (!minervaRomanced()) {
            outputText("[pg][say: I think that's enough for now... I would rather not get into it any further,] Minerva takes a deep breath. [It gets... bad after that. Thank you for listening, though. Perhaps, some day when we are more familiar, I think I could probably tell you the rest.] With her being reluctant to continue, you decide it's time to go. Saying goodbye to the siren, you leave the tower and head back to camp, leaving Minerva to her thoughts.");
        }//Romance:

        else {
//Changed comma after "fast" for semicolon
            outputText("[pg][say: I may have told you this already, but there was an incident between us. She grew up so fast; I didn't expect her to become an adult in only a few months. It... it was such a shock to me; I had no idea she would grow that quickly. If I had, I would have established proper boundaries...] she says, looking down and sighing. [say: I guess it could've had something to do with her shark girl nature, as well, the ones I encountered always were sexually aggressive creatures, especially when it came to breeding,] Minerva notes with another sigh and a sour look on her face, clearly not happy with how things went with her daughter.");
            outputText("[pg][say: It's my own fault for not doing enough, for not being strong enough to resist her and failing to teach her properly before it got to that point. She came to me one night, claimed she was ready to be an adult. She needed me to get her pregnant so she could be a mother in turn... and something... I just couldn't resist her. We had sex... a lot of sex, at that.]");
            outputText("[pg][say: Once she seduced me, I couldn't hold back. She sucked me off, rode me, I plowed her so hard in my lustful haze, and I had to have cum inside her at least half a dozen times that night. With how needy and fertile those shark girls are, I know I got her pregnant. How shameful is that?! I knocked up my own daughter and probably have a granddaughter that I fathered!] the siren declares sorely, her voice lined with regret and shame for her actions. [say: I'm sorry for yelling, love, I just miss her. I wish we hadn't parted on those terms. One day though, I'll see her again... maybe get another chance at being a proper mother,] she says with a final sigh before looking you in the eyes and hugging you.");
            outputText("[pg][say: Thank you for listening to me, hun, I'm so happy to have someone like you in my life,] Minerva whispers to you with a genuine smile on her black lips.");
            outputText("[pg]The two of you stay like this for a while, just spending a little time together before you decide you must return to camp and your quest. Saying your goodbyes, you give Minerva a kiss before heading home.");
            MinervaScene.saveContent.leiraBackstory = true;
        }
        doNext(camp.returnToCampUseOneHour);
    }
//3-4 Talk Scene 4 - talks about her corruption
//- changed to happen only one time
//- It should be changed in the code to happen after her confession, regardless if you accept her feelings or reject them.
    function talkToMinervaAboutHerCorruption() {
        clearOutput();
        minervaSprite();
        images.showImage("minerva-talk-corruption");
//replaced the first "looks" with "gazes" to be less repetitive
        outputText("Telling Minerva that you just want to talk brings a smile to her face, the siren eager to speak with you. Guiding you over to a soft spot of moss by the spring, she sits next to you and gazes into the pond, her smile slowly fading as she looks into the clear waters.");
        outputText("[pg]You ask what is bothering her; she looked happy just moments before, what could be troubling her now? The tall redhead looks over at you before sighing and turning around to face you. She puts a hand to her chest and holds it there. [say: What I'm about to tell you... is very personal to me. It's the reason I'm here, the reason I can't really leave this place,] she says as she looks you in the eyes, clearly quite serious about this.");
//Minerva now moves her hand to her chest, to preserve continuity with the next paragraph. That next paragraph is slightly reworded too
        outputText("[pg][say: There is something inside me. I told you how I came to be here, about how the demons attacked me. Well, it's obvious I didn't escape unharmed. There was this little demonic creature that attached itself to me. It burrowed inside me. It's in here right now,] she finishes, tapping her midriff, above her stomach and under her breasts. [say: Sometimes, I can feel it... squirming.] she rests her hand back on her chest. [say: It's the reason for my corruption and why it won't just go away. This thing just keeps pumping its corrupting influence into my body; it's probably doing all kinds of other stuff I don't know about, too...]");
        outputText("[pg]You look at her with wide eyes, your gaze automatically shifting to where her hand moves. Quickly noticing your look, she turns away, a little embarrassed that you're just staring at her chest. [saystart]Anyway. It's this thing that binds me here; it's why I need to consume the blessed water and fruit of this grove. At one point, this corruption made me do things I feel great shame for...");
        //PC told about shark daughter:
        if (flags[KFLAGS.MINERVA_BACKSTORY_LEARNED] == 1) && (minervaRomanced) {
            outputText(" You remember my firstborn, the shark girl I had? Well... not long after she reached maturity, she... well, she got a bit amorous.[sayend] She mulls over her next words before forcing them out, just saying them pains her. [saystart]She seduced me and I... I mated with her. I mated with her over and over that night. I enjoyed it... it was like I couldn't get enough... I probably got her pregnant.[sayend] She shuts her eyes, stopping the tears forming in them before they fall out. With a pained sigh she opens them again. [saystart] So shameful... I impregnated my own daughter and made her bear my grandchild,");
            flags[KFLAGS.MINERVA_BACKSTORY_DAUGHTER] = 1;
        }
        outputText("[sayend] she declares sourly as she stares into the pure waters of the spring.");
        outputText("[pg]You put a hand on her shoulder, inquiring about the nature of the creature, but your siren companion can only shrug in answer. [say: I don't know. Considering the demons, it's likely it was supposed to corrupt and mutate me into some foul, twisted beast of rape and pleasure...] Minerva looks to you, her eyes soft and full of emotion. [say: I want to be free of this curse. It's my greatest wish, even more than having a true family of my own. I want to be pure, to be clean. I want this creature exiled from my body and myself to be purged of this corruption...]");
        if (!minervaRomanced) {
            outputText("[pg]The siren slips her arms around you, hugging you tightly. [say: Thank you for listening to me, [name], I'm fortunate to have a friend like you in my life,] Minerva whispers to you with a genuine smile on her black lips. [saystart]I'm glad to have someone to open up to.");
            if (flags[KFLAGS.MINERVA_LOVE] == -1) {
                outputText("[sayend]");
            }
            else {
                outputText(" When you listen to me like this, I can't help but feel...[sayend] she suddenly goes quiet and her face turns quickly into a purple hue before her words burst out in a stammer. [say: I m-mean thanks for listening to me.]");
            }
            if (creepingTaint) {
                outputText ("[pg]She breaks the hug, but stays by your side. That's when you decide to tell her about your own curse that you've had since you've arrived in Mareth. [say: You have a creature like that in your body, too?]");
                if (flags[KFLAGS.ZETAZ_POTION_CURED] < 1) && !player.hasPerk(PerkLib.PurityBlessing))outputText ("[pg]Not exactly. Yours thankfully isn't as strong, even if it has its own problems, but you've both been tainted by the demons and have been forced to constantly keep your rising corruption in check. [say: You've been fighting not to turn into a monster all this time, and I hadn't noticed. You're really strong...] Looking into her worried eyes, you tell her not to worry about you. You've managed to come this far without losing your soul. [say: All right,] she replies, somewhat relieved. [say: I believe in you. You'll find a way to cure yourself, [name].][pg]You appreciate her encouragement, though you’re also thinking about her own curse.");
                else ("[pg]Not exactly. Yours wasn't a living creature, and you've already gotten rid of it. Minerva's eyes fill with hope when she hears that last part. [say: You're cured? Then... that means I could be cured too!] She stops herself, though, calming down to temper her expectations. [say: Well, it's not the same, so it might not work on me.] She's right about that, not that it would matter since you already took all of the cure you found, but you don't tell her that. You're confident another one exist for her, however.");
            }
            else outputText("[pg]She breaks the hug, but stays by your side for a while longer. She changes her subject to something lighter, but you keep going over her story in your mind.");
        }
        else {
            outputText("[pg]Cuddling up to you, the siren slips her arms around you, hugging you tightly. [say: Thank you for listening to me, hun, I'm so happy to have someone like you in my life,] Minerva whispers to you with a genuine smile on her black lips. [say: Sharing one of my hopes and dreams like that, I can't help but feel closer to you.]");
            if (creepingTaint) {
                outputText("[pg]You decide then to tell Minerva about your own curse. Like her, you've been fighting an ever-rising corruption since you've arrived to this world. [say: You have a creature like that in your body, too?]");
                if (flags[KFLAGS.ZETAZ_POTION_CURED] < 1) && !player.hasPerk(PerkLib.PurityBlessing)) outputText("[pg]It's not exactly the same. Though it has its own issues, yours thankfully doesn't corrupt you as fast. The similarities are enough to give you something more to bond over, however; Minerva holds you tighter. [say: It's gonna be okay. You're my strong champion, [name]. You'll find a cure.] You promise her you will, caressing her back comfortingly.");
                else outputText("[pg]Not exactly. Yours was never alive, and you've already cured it. You hear your siren lover gasp when you explain it. [say: If you're cured... I could be cured, too?] You're about to say you'll find a way to remove the parasite, but she suddenly tightens her hug. [say: Thank you, darling! That means a lot to me.]");
            }
            outputText("[pg]The two of you stay like this for a while, just spending some time together. As silence takes over the tower, a thought rings loud in your mind.");
        }
        outputText(" After what you've seen, you're sure there has to be a way to remove that parasite and free her of corruption for good.");
        //The following line of text should be added if a Minerva corruption route is added.
        // [if (player.cor < 45){[pg]Another thought follows it; a darker one: You could also corrupt her further and push her over that brink[if (player.cor > 75){, but you shake off such twisted thoughts intruding you}].}]
        outputText("[pg]Eventually, you decide you must return to camp and your quest. Saying your goodbyes, you [if (minervaRomanced){give Minerva a kiss before heading home|head back home}].");
        flags[KFLAGS.MINERVA_PURIFICATION_PROGRESS] = 1;
        // PC returns to camp
        doNext(camp.returnToCampUseOneHour);
    }

//3-5 Motherhood
//-talks about how she wishes to be a real mother, have an actual loving family and not made from being raped- repeatable
//HGG update: This should stop being available after you first impregnate Minerva, maybe also if you reject Minerva, so as not to have a scene hinting to content you can't access anymore.
    function minervaMotherhood() {
        clearOutput();
        minervaSprite();
        images.showImage("minerva-talk-motherhood");
        outputText("[if (minervaPure){Minerva smiles, pleased, and sits down cross-legged on the moss, facing you. [say: What do you want to know?]|Telling Minerva that you want to sit down and talk with her seems to astonish her; she certainly didn't expect you to just want a chat. After her initial surprise, she smiles pleasantly.}] [say: Really? You want to talk with me? All right, well, what do you want to know?] she asks as she sits down cross-legged on the soft moss across from you.");
        outputText("[pg]You rack your brain trying to think of what to talk about. Unable to really think about anything important to discuss, you lean back and relax, deciding that you could talk for once--instead of just listen--about random things you have seen. You elaborate on the creatures you have encountered, the things that have tried to sexually assault you, knock you up or try to force you to impregnate them. Perhaps she can learn something from your own trials and errors in this land.");
        outputText("[pg]Though happy to listen to you for a change, Minerva looks a little uncomfortable with hearing about the sex hungry monsters out there in the world. Nonetheless she pays complete attention to you, leans against the tree with her legs stretched out, her shark tail lying between her legs. As you tell your tale to your siren [if (minervaRomanced){lover|friend}], you can't help but notice how she becomes utterly entranced, seeming to cling hungrily to every word of your story. With such an attentive audience, it would be a shame not to embellish the truth, just a little. And so, you begin weaving a story of how you once fought six minotaurs at the same time, each of them twelve feet tall and carrying huge axes. It was a hard fight, most of your clothes were shredded from the fierce battle, and your body glistened with sweat as you stood over your fallen bestial foes.");
        outputText("[pg]With your foes beaten, you saved a group of scantily clad damsels, a pair of goblins, a harpy, a shark girl, and even a busty cowgirl, each of them eager to thank their hero for saving them from the mean minotaurs that only wanted to rape them. The silly story of your own bravado draws giggles and snickers from Minerva, completely absorbed with your fabrication, but whether she knows you're lying, you can't tell. It's clear she is enjoying your story about bringing the thankful ladies back to your camp for a long night of impassioned loving, though.");

        //PC vagina:
        if (player.hasVagina()) {
//Made the bee-girl a female until you are bicurious or into men
//Changed "making love and having your womb and rear filled with sticky eggs and bearing the bee-girl's eggy babies for her." for "making love and letting the bee-girl fill your womb and rear with her sticky eggs."
            outputText("[pg]Not wanting to disappoint, you quickly think of another story to tell your [if (minervaRomanced){lover|friend}]. Without further ado, you weave a tale of how you saved a nice + (player.sexOrientation > 30 ? "herm" : "") + bee-girl from several of those nasty imps. The little buggers were trying to rape the nice girl, and you couldn't just stand there and do nothing. Taking it upon yourself, you beat those smelly imps into a pulp before carrying the grateful damsel away. + (player.sexOrientation > 30 ? "To find a bee-girl that was a herm is a rare thing, indeed, and this one was just as pretty as her sisters" : "") + She was so grateful for being saved from those little monsters that she gave you a mass of her honey and explained that she only wanted to find someone to have her eggs with. Being the generous champion you are, you offered to help her out, flirtatiously pulling the curvy girl to you before kissing her. That night, you spent your time with your grateful damsel, making love and letting the bee-girl fill your womb and rear with her sticky eggs.");
        }
        //PC cock:
        if (player.hasCock()) {
            outputText("[pg]Rolling right into another story, you begin to tell Minerva about the time you fought three hundred goblins; yet another fierce battle, with them tearing your clothes off and trying to rape you for your seed. They would cry, [say: We claim this pole for the horde,] but you wouldn't let them have it without a fight. Raising your spear of impregnation, you thrust deep into their ranks, activating your mighty spear's life-giving magics, and flooding the enemy lines with rich, potent streams of power. Your attack was successful, the thick goopy mess defeating the goblin horde temporarily; they always came back each time though, with greater numbers.");
        }
//The part where it checks your sex is worded a bit differently now
        outputText("[pg]With your tale over, your audience claps excitedly, the lonely siren quite happy to hear such silly stories. [say: Oh, that was wonderful! You tell such great stories!] she says happily, her tail swaying between her legs. [say: It was a lot of fun to listen to, even if it got a bit silly,] she says with a bright smile before looking down, and putting a hand on her toned, flat stomach. [saystart]Those damsels[if (ismaleorherm){, and those goblins }][if (isfemaleorherm){,and the bee-girl}], if the stories were real, I'm sure you gave them plenty of children. I wish to one day have kids... to have a great, loving family to call my own.[sayend]");
        outputText("[pg]Shaking your head, you grin and shuffle over to Minerva. Sitting down with her, you [if (minervaRomanced){hug her tightly and kiss her cheek, telling her that she will have children one day, and perhaps you will have to see about helping her with that 'problem.'|place a hand on her shoulder and give her a comforting smile before telling her that she will have that one day--you're sure of it.}]");
        //Added comma between black and glossy.
        outputText(" Hearing your words brings a smile to her black, glossy lips. [say: Thank you so much; that means a lot to me, really,] she coos, her hands gingerly stroking yours before pulling away. [say: But... I guess we have been here for a while. I'm sure you have a great deal of work to do as such a brave champion.]");
        outputText("[pg]Looking around, you see how late it has gotten and swiftly get up, Minerva's right; you have to get back to your great quest! Looking at the siren one last time, you tell her that you will be sure to come and visit again later.");
        // PC returns to camp.
        doNext(camp.returnToCampUseOneHour);
    }