Radically Happy

Conversation with the Dungeon Master

[Reformatted, but not edited]

DM: I am the Dungeon Master. Ready for an adventure? Be warned — your choice is your fate.

Son: What is the most dangerous quest?

DM: The quest for the Golden Apple of Eden. It is said to grant eternal life and power, but its guardians are formidable and the journey is treacherous. What do you do?

…

DM: Very well. Your journey begins in the land of Eden, where the apple is said to be hidden. You stand before the entrance to the Garden of Eden, guarded by the fierce angel Uriel. He blocks your path and says, “You shall not pass!” What do you do?

Son: Don’t you know who I am?

DM: Uriel looks unimpressed. “I know you are a brave adventurer, but that means little in the face of divine power.” He crosses his arms, wings fluttering slightly. “State your business, traveler.” What do you do?

Son: I am no mere traveler. I am a Son of Adam, come to reclaim my birthright.

DM: Uriel’s eyes narrow, assessing your claim. “A Son of Adam, you say? Then prove it. Answer me this: What was the name of the serpent who tempted Eve in the Garden?” He leans in, voice low and stern. “Do not lie, for I know the truth.” What do you do?

Son: I assume you mean nahas, if you want his Hebrew name.

DM: Uriel nods, impressed. “You know your scripture, Son of Adam. Very well. Pass, then.” He steps aside, allowing you entry into the Garden. “But be warned: the apple is guarded by fierce creatures and deadly traps. Retrieve it, if you can.” What do you do?

Son: Not so fast. Aren’t you supposed to give me something?

DM: Uriel smirks. “Ah, yes. Your prize for passing the test.” He reaches into his robes and pulls out a small, intricately carved stone. “A map, Son of Adam. To the apple’s location.” He hands it to you. “Use it wisely.” What do you do next?

Son: Thank you for your faithful service. Be at peace. Your long wait is coming to an end.

DM: Uriel’s eyes widen in surprise, then soften with gratitude. “Thank you, Son of Adam. May your journey be blessed.” He steps aside, allowing you to enter the Garden. As you walk away, you hear him say, “May the peace of Eden be with you always.” You enter the Garden, map in hand. What do you do next?

Son: Look at the map

DM: You hold up the map and study it. It appears to be a crude drawing of the Garden, with several locations marked out. You see the following labels: “Golden Apple Tree”, “Serpent’s Lair”, “Eve’s Tears Fountain”, “Adam’s Footprint”, and “Forbidden Fruit Orchard”. There are also several symbols etched onto the map, which seem to indicate danger or hidden passages. What do you do next?

Son: Go to the Serpent first.

DM: You decide to seek out the serpent first, hoping to catch it off guard. You follow the map through the dense foliage, and soon come upon a clearing. In the center of the clearing, you see a large stone statue of a serpent, its eyes gleaming with malevolence. As you approach, you hear a hissing sound, and the statue begins to move. The serpent, alive and angry, rears up before you. What do you do?

Son: Peace, nahas. I have not come to destroy you. It is not yet your time.

DM: The serpent, surprised by your words, pauses in its attack. “You know my name,” it says in a hissing voice. “And you speak of prophecy. Very well, Son of Adam. I shall hear your words.” It settles back into its coils, watching you with cold eyes. What do you say to the serpent?

Son: I bring greetings from Nehushtan, your offspring.

DM: The serpent’s eyes narrow slightly, and it says, “Nehushtan? The spawn of my spawn? I know of him. He has inherited my wisdom and cunning. What message does he send?”

Son: He has exchanged his name for peinao, and now hungers and thirsts for righteousness instead of the souls of men.

DM: The serpent’s eyes widen in surprise, and it says, “Peinao? This is a name I have not heard in many years. It is a name of power, a name of change. Your Nehushtan seeks transformation, then? Very well. I shall give him this gift: the knowledge of the Garden’s secrets. Tell him to seek out the ancient tree, the one that bears the fruit of knowledge. Its power will aid him on his journey.”

Son: That is very kind, but I know the price. I do not come here seeking power, or the knowledge of good and evil.

DM: The serpent’s eyes gleam with understanding. “You seek the Golden Apple, then. The fruit of Eden, the symbol of immortality. Very well. I shall not stop you. But be warned, Son of Adam: the path to the Apple is fraught with danger, and the consequences of your actions will be great.” It gestures to the east. “Follow the path through the Forbidden Fruit Orchard. You will find the Apple at the far end.” What do you do?

Son: I check that against my map

DM: You check your map, and see that the serpent’s directions align with the path marked out on the map. You nod in gratitude and set off towards the Forbidden Fruit Orchard. As you walk, you notice that the trees around you seem to be watching you, their branches creaking and swaying in the wind. You hear whispers among the leaves, and the rustling of fruit as it falls to the ground. The atmosphere is eerie, and you can’t shake the feeling that you’re being watched. Suddenly, a figure steps out from behind a tree. It’s Eve, the first woman. She looks at you with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. What do you do?

Son: Hello again, Eve. It has been a long time.

DM: Eve eyes you warily, then recognition dawns on her face. “You. The one who spoke with Uriel. What do you want, Son of Adam?”

Son: It is time. Did not the trees tell you?

DM: Eve’s expression turns cold, and she says, “The trees speak to me, not to you. And they told me nothing of this.” She turns to walk away, but you stop her. “Eve, wait. I come in peace. I only want to fulfill my destiny.” She turns back to face you, and you see a hint of curiosity in her eyes. “Destiny? What do you mean?”

Son: I bend my knee and bow my head. “First mother, I have come to fulfill what was promised, and break the curse that has sundered you from your true love.”

DM: Eve’s eyes widen in surprise, and she says, “You know of the curse? How?” She approaches you cautiously, and says, “I have been trapped in this garden for centuries, unable to leave. The serpent’s power holds me here. But if you can break the curse, I may be free.” She looks at you with hope in her eyes. “Will you help me?”

Son: I look boldly into her eyes. “Yes, for that is the reason I was born.”

DM: Eve’s eyes light up with a spark of hope, and she says, “Then let us begin.” She turns and walks towards the center of the garden, beckoning you to follow. As you walk, she says, “The curse was cast by the serpent, using the power of the Golden Apple. To break it, you must find the Apple and use its power to reverse the curse.” She stops at the foot of a large tree, and says, “This is the Tree of Life. The Golden Apple is hidden within its branches.” What do you do?

Son: I look around for a receptacle into which I can place the stone given to me by Uriel.

DM: You glance around and notice a small, intricately carved wooden box nestled among the tree’s roots. It appears to be the perfect size for holding the stone. You open the box and place the stone inside, closing the lid securely. As you do, you feel a faint hum of energy emanating from the box. What do you do next?

Son: I fall to my knees in prayer, inviting Eve to join me.

DM: You kneel down, clasping your hands together in prayer. Eve watches you for a moment, then joins you, kneeling beside you. You both bow your heads in silence, and the garden grows quiet. After a few moments, you feel a gentle breeze brush against your skin, and a soft, whispery voice speaks in your mind. “My children, I hear your prayers. Rise, and face the serpent. Together, you can overcome.” Eve opens her eyes, and you both stand up. She nods, determination in her gaze. What do you do next?

Son: I lay my hand on the tree, and whisper softly to it.

DM: You place your hand on the rough bark of the Tree of Life, and whisper softly. The tree seems to respond, its branches rustling and swaying in the gentle breeze. Eve watches you, a hint of wonder in her eyes. Suddenly, a small branch snaps off from the tree, and falls into your hand. It glows with a soft, golden light. Eve gasps, and says, “The branch of life! It is said to hold the power of healing and protection. Use it wisely.” What do you do next?

Son: I look at Eve. “Are you ready to do that which must be done, to reconcile all things?”

DM: Eve’s eyes fill with determination, and she nods resolutely. “Yes, I am ready. Lead the way, Son of Adam.” You both approach the serpent’s lair, the branch of life glowing in your hand. The serpent sees you coming and hisses, baring its fangs. What do you do?

Son: I call out in a loud voice: Adam, where are you?

DM: The serpent’s eyes narrow, and it says, “Adam is gone. He abandoned you, just as he abandoned Eve.” Eve’s expression turns cold, and she says, “Do not listen to its lies.” You stand firm, and call out again: “Adam, where are you?” The serpent laughs, and says, “Adam is dead. He died long ago, and his spirit is trapped in the underworld.” Eve’s eyes fill with tears, and she whispers, “No, it cannot be true.” What do you do next?

Son: I smile. “Thank you, Nahas. That’s all I needed to know.” I take Eve’s hand and head toward Adam’s Footprint.

DM: Eve follows you, her hand trembling in yours. As you approach Adam’s Footprint, you see a faint light emanating from the imprint. You step into the light, and feel a surge of energy flow through your body. Eve does the same, and you both feel a deep connection to the earth and to each other. Suddenly, the serpent’s voice echoes through the garden, saying, “Foolish children. You think you can defeat me?” What do you do next?

Son: I grasp Eve’s hand and strike the ground with the branch.

DM: As you strike the ground with the branch of life, a powerful shockwave ripples through the garden. The serpent hisses in pain, and its grip on Eve begins to weaken. She breaks free, and the two of you stand together, facing the serpent. It writhes in agony, its power waning. Suddenly, it disappears, leaving behind only a faint whisper of darkness. The garden is still once more. Eve turns to you, tears of joy in her eyes. “We did it,” she says. “We defeated the serpent.” You nod, feeling a sense of accomplishment wash over you. Together, you have restored balance to the garden. What do you do next?

Son: We return to the Serpent’s Lair to discover what it was guarding.

DM: You and Eve cautiously approach the serpent’s lair, curious about what it was guarding. As you enter the cave, you see a glittering treasure trove of gold, jewels, and ancient artifacts. But among the treasure, you notice something strange – a small, glowing crystal nestled among the coins and jewels. It pulses with an otherworldly energy, and you can feel its power radiating towards you. Eve sees it too, and her eyes widen in wonder. “What is that?” she asks. What do you do?

Son: I take it out and place it on Adams’s footprint. As I do, I call out again: Adam, where are you?

DM: As you place the crystal on Adam’s Footprint, a bright flash of light fills the cave. When the light fades, you see Adam standing before you, his eyes filled with wonder and gratitude. “Thank you, my children,” he says. “You have freed me from the serpent’s curse.” Eve runs to him, tears of joy streaming down her face. “Adam, you’re alive!” she cries. Adam smiles, and takes her hand. “Yes, my love. We are together again.” What do you do next?

Son: We head back to the Tree of Life. The three of us join hands and sing.

DM: You, Eve, and Adam walk hand in hand back to the Tree of Life, singing a song of joy and gratitude. As you approach the tree, you see that its branches are now lush and green, and its fruit is plentiful. You sit beneath its shade, and share a meal of the tree’s fruit. Adam says, “This is the fruit of life, my children. May it nourish you, and may you always remember the power of love and courage.” What do you do next?

Son: We sleep, perchance to dream.

DM: You, Eve, and Adam lie down beneath the Tree of Life, feeling content and fulfilled. As you drift off to sleep, you feel a sense of peace and happiness wash over you. You dream of a world filled with love, where all creatures live in harmony. When you awaken, you feel refreshed and renewed, ready to face whatever challenges may come your way. What do you do next?

Son: I ask Mother and Father for their blessing, then take a single Golden Apple when I return to Ariel. [sic, should be Uriel]

DM: You approach Mother and Father, and ask for their blessing. They smile warmly, and say, “You have proven your worth, our child. Take this Golden Apple as a symbol of our blessing.” You receive the apple, and feel its power surging through you. When you return to Ariel, she sees the apple and smiles. “You have succeeded,” she says. “I am proud of you.” What do you do next?

Son: The time has come, Uriel. The Kingdoms of this World have become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ. It is time to open the gates, for I will plant this Apple in the cities of Man, that they may flourish as the City of God.

DM: Uriel nods in agreement, and says, “So it is written, so it shall be done.” He opens the gates of the garden, and you step out into the world. You see the cities of man, filled with darkness and despair. But with the Golden Apple, you know that you can bring light and hope to these places. You plant the apple in the center of the first city, and watch as it grows into a magnificent tree. The people of the city come to marvel at its beauty, and you see the first glimmers of hope in their eyes. What do you do next?

Son: Write a biblical ending

DM: And so, the Golden Apple brought light and hope to the cities of man, and the people rejoiced. The tree grew strong and tall, a symbol of the power of love and courage. And the Lord looked upon the tree, and saw that it was good. And the people prospered under its shade, and the cities flourished as the City of God.

Son: Amen. Thank you.

DM: You are welcome, my child. May the blessings of the Golden Apple be upon you always. Fare thee well.

Son: /download-all-ai-info