The Dimitriads

(text-colour:#b197fc)+(text-size:1.5)[''//The Dimitriads//''] (text-colour:#b197fc)[''TW: This game contains brief descriptions of violence.''] It is the beginning of the 17th century. The Tsardom of Russia has just barely managed to survive the record-breaking cold, and the famine that followed. Boris Godunov is on the throne, the first man after the long rule of the Rurik dynasty. He was Ivan the Terrible's advisor before he had died. He was also rumoured to have assassinated Ivan's son, Dmitry. Whoops. Although he strives to lead Russia to prosperity, the cold and hunger made people uneasy and restless. Not only that, but some interesting rumours have begun to reach the court... (text-colour:#b197fc)[[What rumours?]] (enchant:?page,(text-colour:#d0ebff)+(bg:#364fc7))

Apparently, //Dmitry// is alive! People say he has been found in Poland, of all places. But he supposedly died about a decade ago—under equally //mysterious circumstances//, mind you—how is this possible? Well, there are many stories floating around. One of them states that his mother, Maria Nagaya, anticipated a possible assassination attempt and had someone help him hide in various monasteries. But really, nobody knows for certain. But this is great news, isn't it? (text-colour:#b197fc)[[Not really, sounds kind of suspicious...]] (text-colour:#b197fc)[[Rejoice, the Rurik dynasty lives on!]] (enchant:?page,(text-colour:#d0ebff)+(bg:#364fc7))

While his story remains hard to believe, //Dmitry// gained support from many Polish nobles. So much support, in fact, that they even supplied him with a small army. How thoughtful! They must really care about returning the tsar title to the right hands. In addition, some of Godunov's enemies decide to join his forces. Onwards they ride to Moscow, winning (mostly losing) some battles along the way. (text-colour:#b197fc)[[But then...->So what happens next?]] (enchant:?page,(text-colour:#d0ebff)+(bg:#364fc7))

Tsar Godunov thinks so too. He claims that this random man is not the last living son of Ivan the Terrible, but actually just a Russian monk called Grigory Otrepyev. But the Russian boyars—the nobles—are not convinced. Some of them start showing their support for //Dmitry//. For pure reasons of loyalty to Russia, of course! Not //at all// because it means they don't need to pay taxes to Godunov. Nonetheless, //Dmitry// and his small army ride on to Moscow, winning (mostly losing) some battles along the way. (text-colour:#b197fc)[[So what happens next?]] (enchant:?page,(text-colour:#d0ebff)+(bg:#364fc7))

Tsar Godunov suddenly dies after a stroke in April 1605. This is like a sign from the heavens—//Dmitry// is the real deal! Godunov's son Feodor II, who just inherited the throne, is brutally murdered along with his mother. The //legitimate// ruler, //Dmitry//, is crowned Tsar in July. Huzzah! One of the first (and few) things the new Tsar does is get married. He weds Marina Mniszech, a Polish noblewoman who he //definitely, honestly// fell in love with during his time in Poland. No ulterior motives at all, just true romance! (text-colour:#b197fc)[[So far, so good...]] (enchant:?page,(text-colour:#d0ebff)+(bg:#364fc7))

But uh-oh, there is some trouble in paradise. Marina turns out not to be a big supporter of the Russian Orthodox faith, and she does not convert from Catholicism. Hm. The Russians do not like that very much. Not only is //Dmitry// fine with Roman Catholicism, there are all these Polish people everywhere in the court. Eugh! The rich Russian boyars cannot stand it any longer. (text-colour:#b197fc)[[It is time to plot!]] (enchant:?page,(text-colour:#d0ebff)+(bg:#364fc7))

//Dmitry// is accused of many egregious crimes: supporting Roman Catholicism, pro-Polish politics, and the most unforgivable of them all—homosexuality. The Kremlin is stormed by conspirators. In an effort to escape, //Dmitry// tries jumping out the window, but he breaks his leg in the fall. He gets shot and dies in 1606. For real this time. Prince Vasili takes over the throne, but people do not like him very much. In the throes of civil war in 1607, a new contender for the throne appears. (text-colour:#b197fc)[[And you will never guess who it is...->guess]] (enchant:?page,(text-colour:#d0ebff)+(bg:#364fc7))

Yes, //Dmitry// is back from the dead! He is apparently alive and well, and remarries Marina, who attests that her husband miraculously survived falling out of a window, getting shot, and then having his body put on display. (text-colour:#b197fc)[[There is no way...]] (text-colour:#b197fc)[[This is truly a miracle!]] (enchant:?page,(text-colour:#d0ebff)+(bg:#364fc7))

That sounds absolutely ridiculous. The two Dmitris look nothing alike! Why would anybody believe this? And why are the Polish nobles supporting this impostor? Do they not realise he's trying to usurp the throne? (text-colour:#b197fc)[[Something suspicious is going on.->choice]] (enchant:?page,(text-colour:#d0ebff)+(bg:#364fc7))

This must be a heavenly intervention! The two Dmitris might look nothing alike, but having a near-death experience must change a man. And again, the Polish nobles give him their full support, which must give him some credibility. (text-colour:#b197fc)[[Long live Tsar //Dmitry//!->choice]] (enchant:?page,(text-colour:#d0ebff)+(bg:#364fc7))

Battles are fought, people die. //Dmitry// almost reaches Moscow a second time, but he is interrupted by... the Polish army! In 1608, Tsar Vasili forms a military alliance with Sweden, and the Polish King Sigismund III, with the blessing of the Pope, declares war on Russia. //Dmitry// is no longer needed as a political pawn, so he is killed. For real this time. (text-colour:#b197fc)[[Unless...]] (text-colour:#b197fc)[[They won't try this the 3rd time, right?->Unless...]] (enchant:?page,(text-colour:#d0ebff)+(bg:#364fc7))

In 1611, a third //Dimitri// shows up. His attempt at usurping the throne is not very successful. The third time is //not// the charm. He is executed in 1612. The //Dmitris// are no more. Russia is in peril, and the Polish-Russian war rages on. (text-colour:#b197fc)[[But what happened to the real Dmitry?]] (enchant:?page,(text-colour:#d0ebff)+(bg:#364fc7))

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#d0ebff)+(bg:#364fc7))(set: $password to (prompt: "Who do you think it is?", "Write name here")) (if: $password is "Dmitry")[(text-colour:#b197fc)[[You are correct!->correct guess]]] (else:)[No, it is someone else. (text-colour:#b197fc)[[It is actually...->correct guess]] (text-colour:#b197fc)[[Try again.->guess]]] (enchant:?page,(text-colour:#d0ebff)+(bg:#364fc7))

Dmitry Ivanovich, the son of Ivan the Terrible, reportedly died in 1591. His cause of death remains undecided till this day. Some historians believe he was murdered by the order of Boris Godunov, while others claim he stabbed himself in the neck while experiencing an epileptic seizure. The ambiguity of his death and the unstable political situation in Russia at the start of the 17th century allowed Polish nobles to support a //Fake// Dmitry (or three) on a quest to claim the throne. (enchant:?page,(text-colour:#d0ebff)+(bg:#364fc7))