\begin{Verbatim}[commandchars=\\\{\}]
//climb in the barrel

As you shuffle along through your camp, the [if (isday) \PYZob{}heat of the sun and \PYZcb{}]lack of any moisture in the air leave[if (!isday) \PYZob{}s\PYZcb{}] you looking for any chance to get out of the elements for a bit. Of course, your [cabin] isn\PYZsq{}t much better, and even though simply imagining the stream has you feeling a bit refreshed, it\PYZsq{}s far enough away that you wouldn\PYZsq{}t be [if (camppop=1) \PYZob{}able to keep an eye on things|around if [if (camppop=2) \PYZob{}[follower\PYZsq{}s name]|anyone\PYZcb{}] needed you\PYZcb{}].

That\PYZsq{}s when you remember the barrel tucked away in the corner of your camp, full of so much delicious water you can almost shiver at the thought. [if (kida) \PYZob{}Sure, it\PYZsq{}s a little occupied at the moment, but [if (height \PYZlt{} 60) \PYZob{}you think the two of you could easily manage to squish in.|isn\PYZsq{}t it a parent\PYZsq{}s privilege to cuddle up embarrassingly close to [his] daughter?\PYZcb{}] Besides, the little anemone probably knows better than anyone else how good it feels to submerge when someone\PYZsq{}s built like you.

[if (izma) \PYZob{}Well, maybe is Izma is close.[if (latexy) \PYZob{} Or [latexyname].\PYZcb{}] But Kid A has to be up there, and you\PYZsq{}re sure she\PYZsq{}ll understand.\PYZcb{}]|It\PYZsq{}s not like anyone else is using it right now, after all, and it seems [if (height \PYZgt{} 84) \PYZob{}like it might be a tight squeeze, but you\PYZsq{}ll manage|to be sized just about right [if (height \PYZlt{} 60) \PYZob{}to be your own personal swimming pool|for you\PYZcb{}].\PYZcb{}]\PYZcb{}]

So that\PYZsq{}s decided, then. [if (!isnaked) \PYZob{}Not wanting to get your [armor] wet, you strip down until you\PYZsq{}re clad in nothing but your [if (hasscales) \PYZob{}[if (skintone == underbody.skintone) \PYZob{}[underbody.skinfurscales]|eye\PYZhy{}catching array of scales\PYZcb{}]|[skinfurscales] and [underbody.skinfurscales]\PYZcb{}].\PYZcb{}] The final difficulty remains getting yourself inside, a problem only exacerbated by the limitations of your mer[if (isgenderless) \PYZob{}folk|[if (isfeminine) \PYZob{}maid|man\PYZcb{}]\PYZcb{}] tail outside of the sea. [if (canfly) \PYZob{}Or at least it might be, were you not equally adapted for the air as for the water. Instead it\PYZsq{}s as simple as unfurling your [wings] and rising into the sky like one of the dragons of old, diving into the barrel from above with little more than a splash[if (kida) \PYZob{} and a surprised squeal from Kid A\PYZcb{}] left in your wake|Maybe you could manage to heft yourself over, and with that thought you press your palm into the rim of the barrel and press up with all your might[if (str \PYZgt{} 50) \PYZob{}. With your considerable strength, it\PYZsq{}s almost effortless to pull yourself up and over, swinging your tail out wide as you slide in with a splash.|, thrashing your tail for any momentum that might help you swing yourself high enough to slip inside. [if (str \PYZgt{} 20) \PYZob{}And it\PYZsq{}s working, surprisingly enough, even as the wood rubs rough against your fingertips and your teeth grit and grind under the strain, your body giving all that it has until [if (kida) \PYZob{}a curious Kid A peeks out of the barrel at you, needing [if (kidaxp \PYZlt{} 40) \PYZob{}a moment of recognition|no time at all\PYZcb{}] to reach down and help you inside|your tail scrapes across the rim and you can let the rest of you follow along behind\PYZcb{}]|Soon your breath quickens, your muscles burn and ache, and no matter how much your will stands strong, the barrel seems as insurmountable a foe as ever. With a shaky sigh, you\PYZsq{}re forced to release your grip, crumpling to the ground in a graceless heap. [if (kida) \PYZob{}

[say:Um... help?]

You blink [if (isday) \PYZob{}into the light|away the darkness\PYZcb{}] as your breathing slows enough for the world to refocus, and you\PYZsq{}re met with the concerned face of your anemone child peeking [if (kidaxp \PYZlt{} 40) \PYZob{}shyly|in bewilderment\PYZcb{}] over the edge of her home. [if (kidaxp \PYZlt{} 40) \PYZob{}All it takes is a|There\PYZsq{}s no need to even\PYZcb{}] nod before she\PYZsq{}s crawling out of the barrel with an ease you can only envy, and though it might feel a little silly to be wrapped in the cool embrace of your daughter\PYZsq{}s arms as she helps you off the ground, you\PYZsq{}re thankful for her help.

Which is right when she dumps you unceremoniously over the rim with a splash before climbing back in herself.|You\PYZsq{}re not about to be deterred that easily, though, and after a quick break to recover, you set about building yourself the crudest of ramps with whatever odds and ends you can find nearby: loose stones, your camp\PYZsq{}s chest, [if (builtchair) \PYZob{}that chair from your cabin|some logs from your storage\PYZcb{}]. It\PYZsq{}s not much to look at by the time it\PYZsq{}s done, and sure it probably drained you more than even the water will restore, but it\PYZsq{}s more about making a point. If nothing else, dragging yourself up those jagged rocks and rough wood lets you bask in the sting of victory when you finally manage to crawl inside\PYZcb{}]\PYZcb{}]\PYZcb{}]\PYZcb{}].

The first caress of the water within washes away your exertion as steadily as the tide, filling your lungs with new purpose as [if (kida) \PYZob{}Kid A settles in beside you, evidently unsure of why you\PYZsq{}ve climbed inside this time, but wrapping your arm around your daughter seems to serve as answer enough. It\PYZsq{}s rather[if (height \PYZgt{} 84) \PYZob{} cramped, but still\PYZcb{}] cozy when she nestles into your embrace, and [if (isday) \PYZob{}the bustle of daily life fades to the gentle lap of the water|the night rests quiet and peaceful\PYZcb{}] as the two of you bond in your own amphibious way, your tail winding lazy loops around her legs as you pull her close enough [if (height \PYZlt{} 60) \PYZob{}to rest your head upon her shoulder|[if (height \PYZlt{} 72) \PYZob{}lean into each other|for her to rest her head upon your shoulder\PYZcb{}]\PYZcb{}]. It\PYZsq{}s effortless to remain beside her for as long as you\PYZsq{}d like, drinking in her affection as readily as the cool water all around and letting [if (height \PYZlt{} 60) \PYZob{}her dote on you like you were [if (ischild) \PYZob{}her|a\PYZcb{}] child\PYZcb{}|[if (height \PYZlt{} 72) \PYZob{}the world pass by in silence|your fingers tangle in her gooey hair\PYZcb{}]\PYZcb{}], the two of you content to watch the [sun]light shimmer off your [underbody.skinfurscales] with every shift of your tail.|you dive beneath the barrel\PYZsq{}s rim, luxuriating in the [if (isday) \PYZob{}comforting|refreshing\PYZcb{}] coolness that surrounds you. It\PYZsq{}s like you were meant to be here, a private sea all your own, the world outside little more than a distortion beyond the surface. You could soak for hours and let the stress melt out of your limbs, minutes passing by like ripples as you [if (height \PYZlt{} 60) \PYZob{}swim|float\PYZcb{}] with effortless ease.\PYZcb{}]

Still, you can\PYZsq{}t stay forever, not matter how much you\PYZsq{}d like. Life on the surface continues on whether you\PYZsq{}re ready or not, the demons won\PYZsq{}t stop themselves, and [if !kida \PYZam{}\PYZam{} str \PYZlt{}= 20) \PYZob{}somebody has to clean up this mess you\PYZsq{}ve made|there\PYZsq{}s always more to do\PYZcb{}]. With a disappointed sigh, you suck in a dry breath[if (kida)\PYZob{}, tell your daughter your good\PYZhy{}byes,\PYZcb{}] and heave yourself over the side of the barrel[if (!kida \PYZam{}\PYZam{} str \PYZlt{}= 20) \PYZob{}, thankful for your ramp to bump and slide your way down|[if (str \PYZgt{} 50) \PYZob{}and lower yourself to the ground|[if (kida) \PYZob{}with your daughter\PYZsq{}s help|flopping to the ground in an awkward lump\PYZcb{}]\PYZcb{}]\PYZcb{}]. It almost makes you want to climb back in again, but no, you must brace yourself for this life on land and [if (!kida \PYZam{}\PYZam{} str \PYZlt{}= 20) \PYZob{}set about pushing your storage chest back to your [cabin]|go about the rest of your [day]\PYZcb{}].

[if (kida) \PYZob{}Kid A waves at you when you give the barrel one last parting glance.\PYZcb{}]
\end{Verbatim}