Truly no idea why that’s happening… I think the most frustrating part is that everything looks fine on my end and I can’t replicate the phenomenon! I’ll keep thinking on it, though!
Here’s my code for any intrepid user who wants to brainstorm with me on this:
Code
When choosing between Trouble or Tallys in Chapter 1:
Then he storms out of the room.
After a moment of silence, Tallys also turns and leaves, her eyes downcast as she wraps her arm around to hug herself.
*choice
#I follow Trouble.
*set troubleequalist true
*set trouble %+20
*set tallys %-10
*set troublestatus "He's grateful to you for supporting him."
*goto followtrouble
#I follow Tallys.
*set tallysequalist true
*set tallys %+20
*set trouble %-30
*set tallysstatus "She's grateful to you for supporting her."
*goto followtallys
After the *label followtrouble, going through the Equalists’ compound and yada yada brings us to the ending sequence of choosing what to do with the children:
*choice
#"We'll take them back with us, to the Order. Keep them away from the public until we can find a way to clear them."
*set childrenquarantined true
*set trouble %+5
*set reputation +5
Trouble nods, clearly approving of this plan. "Smart," he says, flexing his gloved hands. "We can wait until we find some Hunters to join, or a spellbook with an answer, or—or something." He glances at the kids. "And their families can come visit them under supervision."
The Inquisitors look unhappy about this, but they don't fight back on your decision. "I hope not to see the Shepherds' compound in flames for this, Diminished," one of them says, looking very much like he does hope for this to happen. "If things go awry, it'll be on your head."
You ignore him and turn back to the children, who smile tentatively at you. "Let's go home," you tell them as Trouble punches your shoulder approvingly. "All of us, now."
You're greeted by some of the brightest smiles you've seen in a long, long time.
*goto endchapter
#"Let them go home. They've been away from their families long enough, and we can keep close tabs on them."
*set trouble %+5
*set reputation +10
*set childrenhome true
The children stir and gasp with hope: all of a sudden, their eyes light up with joy. The Inquisitors survey you with suspicion.
"Mark me, Diminished," one of them warns. "Should this go awry, it will be on your head. And we will come to claim it."
You ignore him and turn to the children as Trouble punches your shoulder approvingly. "Let's take you home," you tell them—and you're greeted with the brightest, biggest smiles you've seen in a long, long time.
*goto endchapter
The end of the chapter, where the skip seemingly happens:
*label endchapter
*if (tallysequalist)
*goto tallysend
*elseif (troubleequalist)
*goto troubleend
*label troubleend
*page_break ...
*if (troublehate = false)
*set troublestatus "He's grateful to you and feels like you're good friends."
*set tallysstatus "She feels a bit awkward around you and Trouble, but that will subside."
The two of you return to the compound just as dawn begins to break, bedraggled but triumphant. Grey light touches the horizon just as you
*if (childrenquarantined)
herd the children inside, and for the next hour there's a great bustle and flurry of movement as Shery is roused from her bed and your new guests are examined, treated, and tucked into bed, with immediate summons going out to their parents. You're too exhausted to pay much attention to the logistics, but you do notice Tallys—owl-eyed and looking haggard—peeking her head around the corner to stare at the activities before beating a hasty retreat to her room. You look at Trouble, who shrugs and says, now in a very good mood: "I'll talk to her. It'll be fine."
You glance at the sight of two siblings joyously reuniting with their parents and smile. "Yes, it will."
*goto bladereturns
*elseif (childrenhome)
strip off your heavy, sodden cloaks and begin to drag yourselves to bed. Shery pokes her head out of her room, flustered and worried, and you spend some time catching her up on things while she brews the two of you some dark sweet tea. At one point you notice Tallys—owl-eyed and looking haggard—peeking her head around the corner before beating a hasty retreat to her room. You look at Trouble, who shrugs and says, now in a very good mood: "I'll talk to her. It'll be fine."
You smile at the memory of bringing the children home to their families. "Yes, it will."
*goto bladereturns
*label tallysend
[tallys route stuff, also all ends with *goto bladereturns]
*label bladereturns
It doesn’t look like any wrong *gotos, but maybe I’m being really stupid. The odd thing is that, playing through on my end, I don’t get any skips, and the Trouble route proceeds normally without having the Tallys stuff come in. Very weird!