Choose-Your-Own Adventure
Storytelling with MMAM!
The Minnesota Marine Art Museum sought the help of its social media followers to create a choose-your-own adventure style story in the week leading up to December 12th’s Second Saturdays: Home Edition. This month’s theme is “Storytelling Through Art.”
We had participants vote along to create the untrue story behind the painting Forest Queen in Winter (1857), by Martin Andreas Reissner, from the collections MMAM..
Recreated here is each step of the way as our fans chose where the adventure would take us. The underlined answer is the option picked by our voters.
Martin Andreas Reissner, Forest Queen in Winter, 1857. Oil on canvas. Private collection, Minnesota Marine Art Museum, Winona, MN, USA.
Day 1:
Finally, after days of grueling travel through the snow, your destination is within reach. The promise of a warm bed and sustenance puts a spring in your step, but confound it, the town is on the other side of the river!
Do you...
A. See if the people won't mind sharing the canoe.
B. Try and flag down the Forest Queen.
Day 2:
Last time, you decided that we should get in the canoe…
...You spot a couple loading a canoe down on the banks of the river. They agree to take you across for a small fee, as long as you don’t mind sharing the middle seat with their peculiar, golden hen. With the payment complete and the chicken secure on your lap, they paddle out into the open water..."
You ask them:
A. Where can I find a good meal and shelter for the night?
B. Any rumors spreading around town tonight?
C. What's with the chicken?
Day 3:
Last time, we got into the canoe, where we unexpectedly met a chicken…
...The hen, feathers ruffled, indignantly squawks. “Excuse me, I have a name! It’s Hen—”
You jump in surprise at the suddenly talking animal, the canoe now wobbling dangerously. You try to right yourself, but it’s too late, you and the chicken are already falling into the frigid depths below. Carried quickly by the current, the canoe disappears on the horizon.
Then, the chicken pipes back up. “I can help you out of this but I’ll need something in return!”
What do you do?
A. Yep, anything, as long as it gets you back on dry land!
B. You’ll take your chances swimming.
Day 4:
Last time, we sought the help of a mysterious talking chicken to get us out of the freezing cold water…
...The chicken starts glowing and with a loud crack, you are no longer in the river, but safe and dry outside a large farmhouse, one you saw earlier before getting in the canoe.
“Phew! Thanks for not chickening out,” the hen says, a noticeable twinkle in her eye. “I’m investigating the manner of my teacher’s sudden disappearance. This house was his, hopefully we can find some clues here. You take the first floor, I’ll take the other. My name's Henelope by the way.`` Henelope summons a lantern, handing it to you before going the opposite way.
The inside of the farmhouse is dark and dusty, clearly abandoned for some time. You slip into a corridor decorated with a bureau against the far wall, three items on top…
Which item do you investigate?
A. the letter
B. the key
C. the lever…?
Day 5:
Last time, we had three objects before us to investigate, a letter, a key, and a lever…
...You pull the lever. A low grinding noise starts behind you. You turn to observe a section of stone sliding somewhere behind the rest. Slowly, they reveal a darkened set of stairs leading underneath the house.
However, below the low grinding of stone is another sound. A sound that builds and gets louder until finally, it dawns on you: it’s footsteps, lots of footsteps, and they are getting closer.
Suddenly, Henelope bursts around the corner, pursued by a tumbling dust cloud of strange snarling creatures. “Run!” she yells, barreling towards you.
You…
A. Rush down the stairs
B. Run down the hallway
C. Confront Henelope’s pursuers
Day 6:
Last time, you chose to run down the hidden staircase to avoid the snarling creatures barreling towards you...
...You rush down the stairwell, glancing back to see Henelope pull the lever. The door shuts behind you, the creatures left scratching and howling at the wall. To your surprise, Henelope pops up beside you. It seems she made it past the door in time.
"I had no idea this place existed,” Henelope trails off as you continue to descend.
At the bottom of the stairs is what appears to be a study. The walls are lined with bookshelves holding all manner of texts, ingredients, and instruments. There is a desk against the wall, some papers strewn about. Next to it, a door.
“All this time, he hid this. There have to be clues in here,” Henelope mumbles.
You…
A. Help Henelope search the room.
B. head to the door to leave, this was a mistake.
C. demand an explanation about the creatures.
Day 7 (conclusion!):
Last time, we helped Henelope search the study for clues…
...You start searching the room. There is a letter addressed to Henelope with a small vial next to it on top of the desk. The letter reads:
“Dear Henelope,
If you are reading this, congratulations are in order. You’ve passed this part of the test. Please continue to complete the other tasks laid out for you. Hang in there, as these tasks will increase in difficulty. Finding me will not be an easy challenge.
I’m proud of all your accomplishments thus far. You are getting closer and closer to becoming a real wizard.
Your Teacher,
Mr. Henry”
Henelope squawks in excitement and takes the vial. You watch as she chugs the liquid and starts to glow, again. Before you is no longer a hen, but a person wearing a dark cloak.
“Wow! It’s such a relief to have opposable thumbs again. Ugh, I still have to find Mr. Henry though,” she sighs. “Thanks for all your help!”
Opening the door next to the desk, she turns back to you and smiles. “Well, are you coming?”
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This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
