  
 
The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction. Below is a transcript of Mingsheng, written by Deane Saunders. Mingsheng was originally released as part of the 2004 Interactive Fiction Competition, where it took seventh place. It went on to be nominated for a Xyzzy Award for Best Setting. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting the ifWiki. WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played this game, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page. |
 | ||||
| | |||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load mingsheng" | ||||
Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Your interpreter says that it is at least v1.0 of the z-machine Floyd | standard, so it may be able to support extended Unicode. Floyd | Your font does not appear to be able to display Unicode Chinese Floyd | characters. Floyd | Floyd | If your interpreter/font does not support full extended Unicode and Floyd | therefore does not display Chinese characters (Simsun for example, is a Floyd | font that can), you have the option of displaying the Pinyin Floyd | (Romanized) equivalent, complete with tone numbers. If you elect to Floyd | have this option on, they will appear in brackets where Chinese Floyd | characters would be, or next to them if your font supports them. Floyd | Floyd | The option can be turned on and off later by using "pinyin on" and Floyd | "pinyin off". Floyd | Floyd | For a brief explanation of Mandarin Pinyin tones, and to check the Floyd | current status, type "pinyin". Floyd | Floyd | Press y to enable Pinyin, or anything else to continue without. Floyd | | ||||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||||
Floyd | (Pinyin is turned off.) Floyd | Floyd | You had heard a great many stories in your time. Your childhood had Floyd | been filled with tales of heroic characters who possessed great Floyd | spiritual powers and incredible skill in martial arts. Floyd | Floyd | Many of those in your village were taught martial arts since childhood, Floyd | yet it always seemed to you that there was something lacking in such a Floyd | life - bearing always towards physical strength. Floyd | Floyd | Others in your village had become important spiritual leaders, yet once Floyd | again such a one-sided devotion to the spiritual left something to be Floyd | desired. Floyd | Floyd | One day, disheartened by this state of affairs, you decided to change Floyd | things. With only a few rumours of a temple complex to the east and a Floyd | crude map of the forest to guide you, you set off to follow legends of Floyd | a wise old man. The legends said that he had combined martial arts with Floyd | spiritual philosophy, apparently through the observation of nature - Floyd | how this was achieved, nobody seemed to know. Floyd | Floyd | Arriving in the black of night, only to find yourself confronted by a Floyd | large door to the east, you decided to sleep on the problem and wait Floyd | until morning. Floyd | Floyd | Sunlight on your face awakens you. Floyd | Floyd | Mingsheng Floyd | A Chinese adventure Floyd | Copyright (c) 2004 by Deane Saunders. Floyd | Version Release 1.0 Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 040907 / Inform v6.30 Library 6/11 Floyd | Please type ABOUT to display additional licence/game information. Floyd | Floyd | Bamboo forest Floyd | Wind whispers through the feathery branches of the bamboo forest Floyd | surrounding you as warm sunlight showers down, gently filtered by the Floyd | delicate leaves overhead. The soft ground is carpeted with slender Floyd | browning leaves, occasionally stirred up by the cool breeze. Faint Floyd | tracks run southeast and east, one also continues to the north up a Floyd | bank, and another downwards into a small depression to the south. An Floyd | impenetrable barrier of thorns lies to the west. How they got there Floyd | after you passed that way last night is anyone's guess. Floyd | Floyd | Your cloth bag lies on the ground. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "take bag" | ||||
Floyd | You pick up the bag and loop it over your arm. It hangs open slightly Floyd | but the contents will not fall out. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bag" | ||||
Floyd | The bag is a rather simple affair, made from a square of plain white Floyd | cloth tied together at the corners. You can keep your hands free by Floyd | wearing it looped over your arm. Floyd | Floyd | It contains a jade knife. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x knife" | ||||
Floyd | The knife, a simple instrument, is carved from a solid piece of Floyd | translucent green jade. The blade looks moderately sharp, designed Floyd | mainly for skinning animals. It looks as though anything too hard might Floyd | break the edge. Floyd | Floyd | > | Nitku asks, "Shouldn't we have the pinyin option on?" | |||
| DavidW says, "no, we can't see it here." | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "I doubt it will show on Floyd, but I guess we could try." | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "I figured it would just mess up Floyd." | ||||
| DavidW says, "We don't need it, in any case. It's an optional extra." | ||||
| Nitku asks, "What I understood there is that you should have it on if the interpreter doesn't support Chinese characters? Or did I read it wrong?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "you have it backwards." | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "Hrm, I see your point Nitku." | ||||
| DavidW says, "oh wait" | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "It's worded in a confusing way." | ||||
| Cheddarius asks, "What game are we playing?" | ||||
| Gerynar says, "the instruction pdf says it's not vital" | ||||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "pinyin" | ||||
Floyd | Pinyin is the standard romanization of spoken Mandarin Chinese. It was Floyd | developed in around 1949 after the formation of the People's Republic Floyd | of China and replaced the Wade-Giles system, which was a far less Floyd | accurate way of representing spoken Chinese sounds. The Wade-Giles Floyd | method did not employ tone numbers, which tells the reader how to Floyd | pronounce the word accurately by altering the pitch. Pinyin manages to Floyd | do this however, by the use of numbers. A number is placed after each Floyd | syllable, which indicates the pitch in which it is to be spoken. Floyd | Discussing intricacies of the exact pronounciation of the different Floyd | consonants and vowels is beyond the scope of this game and it is left Floyd | up to the player's own discretion to find out more - however the tone Floyd | numbers are as follows: Floyd | Floyd | 1: A long, even, high-level tone. Floyd | 2: A rising tone, starting at natural level and rising to the high Floyd | tone. Fairly short. Floyd | 3: A long, falling, rising tone. Starting at natural level, falling to Floyd | low level, rising to highest level. Floyd | 4: A short, falling tone, beginning at highest level, falling to low Floyd | level. Floyd | 5 (or numberless): A short, soft tone at normal speaking pitch. Also Floyd | known as the Neutral tone. Floyd | Floyd | Pinyin with tone numbers is currently set to: OFF. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says (to Cheddarius), "Mingsheng" | |||
| Nitku says, "yeah... Pinyin is the Latin alphabet version" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "Ah" | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "hrm. So yeah, I guess it's the opposite of intuitive. I'll turn it on." | ||||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "pinyin on" | ||||
Floyd | Pinyin with tone numbers is now turned ON. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x me" | ||||
Floyd | Not much change since you last looked. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (zhu2 lin2) Bamboo forest Floyd | Wind whispers through the feathery branches of the bamboo forest Floyd | surrounding you as warm sunlight showers down, gently filtered by the Floyd | delicate leaves overhead. The soft ground is carpeted with slender Floyd | browning leaves, occasionally stirred up by the cool breeze. Faint Floyd | tracks run southeast and east, one also continues to the north up a Floyd | bank, and another downwards into a small depression to the south. An Floyd | impenetrable barrier of thorns lies to the west. How they got there Floyd | after you passed that way last night is anyone's guess. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "There's the pinyin, that '(zhu2 lin2)' part in the room name." | |||
| Jacqueline says, "I think I preferred it the other way, myself, but it really doesn't matter." | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x thorns" | ||||
Floyd | The thorns look totally impassable, which is quite strange, given that Floyd | it was only the night before that you entered the grove from that Floyd | direction. The thorns themselves are almost two inches thick in places. Floyd | They look like they could only be cut by an incredibly sharp blade - Floyd | much sharper than your jade knife, unfortunately. Floyd | Floyd | > | Nitku says, "uh, right" | |||
| Cheshiren asks, "it reflects on places names only?" | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "Hard to say. I guess we'll see." | ||||
| DavidW says, "I think the feelie map uses them also, if I recall correctly." | ||||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x tracks" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | crumple asks, "is the feelie map online?" | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bamboo" | ||||
Floyd | The bamboo trees are tall and slender, much too thin to climb in any Floyd | usual manner. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline asks, "Which way?" | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "cut bamboo with knife" | ||||
Floyd | Everything has purpose within the Dao, that is nature's way. However an Floyd | immediate use for the bamboo trees eludes you for the time being. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| inky says (to Floyd), "climb tree" | ||||
Floyd | The trees are far too thin to climb. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says (to crumple), "I assume it's on the archive. It's probably a PDF; I rather forget. I'm not certain if it's even a map." | |||
| Gerynar says, "it is the in the PDF, but it is labeled in chinese" | ||||
| DavidW says, "ok, let's go somewhere. N, E, SE, or S." | ||||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (zhu4 jing4 de hu2) Serene lake Floyd | The forest opens out into a large clearing as the trees retreat from a Floyd | lake that dominates the centre. Flies lazily buzzing in the warm air Floyd | occasionally dip down to the water, causing a ripple to break the Floyd | mirror surface as a fish reacts in kind. Not even a breeze disturbs the Floyd | surface of this image of tranquility. A smooth boulder protrudes from Floyd | the centre of the lake, the reflection giving the impression of a Floyd | boulder floating in the sky. The white sand surrounding the water is Floyd | soft and warm underfoot. Floyd | Floyd | A white crane stands majestically, unmoving, upon the rock at the Floyd | centre of the lake. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| inky says (to Floyd), "x crane" | ||||
Floyd | The white Manchurian crane stands upon the boulder, its red crest Floyd | setting off an image of aloofness. Although it is unmoving, its eyes Floyd | display an intensity and hidden power as it watches the fish swimming Floyd | in the water deep below. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| inky says (to Floyd), "x fish" | ||||
Floyd | The bright orange fish swim around in a leisurely manner, though always Floyd | wary of predators. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius arrives, ready to play with the toys. | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | inky asks, "do we have a goal here, or are we just hanging out?" | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (zhu4 jing4 de hu2) Serene lake Floyd | The forest opens out into a large clearing as the trees retreat from a Floyd | lake that dominates the centre. Flies lazily buzzing in the warm air Floyd | occasionally dip down to the water, causing a ripple to break the Floyd | mirror surface as a fish reacts in kind. Not even a breeze disturbs the Floyd | surface of this image of tranquility. A smooth boulder protrudes from Floyd | the centre of the lake, the reflection giving the impression of a Floyd | boulder floating in the sky. The white sand surrounding the water is Floyd | soft and warm underfoot. Floyd | Floyd | A white crane stands majestically, unmoving, upon the rock at the Floyd | centre of the lake. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "There's a goal, if memory serves." | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "eat crane" | ||||
Floyd | (first taking the white crane) Floyd | It is much too far away to reach from the land. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "lick crane" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "xyzzy" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "This was a comp entry, not an Art Show entry." | |||
| DavidW says (to inky), "I didn't read the prologue, but I'm sure we have a goal, yes." | ||||
| inky says (to Cheddarius), "settle down, dude" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "All right" | ||||
| Cheddarius asks, "Do we have a driver?" | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "heh" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x crane" | ||||
Floyd | The white Manchurian crane stands upon the boulder, its red crest Floyd | setting off an image of aloofness. Although it is unmoving, its eyes Floyd | display an intensity and hidden power as it watches the fish swimming Floyd | in the water deep below. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "talk to crane" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | inky says, "oh, wait, it said there was a large door to the east" | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "dance" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "We don't. Unless there appears to be some reason for designating one, we usually just all type commands, with the etiquette of asking before one of us takes the initiative to leave a location." | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "sing" | ||||
Floyd | Your singing is abominable. Floyd | Floyd | > | inky says, "(of the starting room)" | |||
| DavidW says, "oh" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "Falcon-punch crane" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump onto boulder" | ||||
Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to jump. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "jump" | ||||
Floyd | You jump on the spot, fruitlessly. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheshiren says (to Floyd), "play like bruce lee" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (zhu4 jing4 de hu2) Serene lake Floyd | The forest opens out into a large clearing as the trees retreat from a Floyd | lake that dominates the centre. Flies lazily buzzing in the warm air Floyd | occasionally dip down to the water, causing a ripple to break the Floyd | mirror surface as a fish reacts in kind. Not even a breeze disturbs the Floyd | surface of this image of tranquility. A smooth boulder protrudes from Floyd | the centre of the lake, the reflection giving the impression of a Floyd | boulder floating in the sky. The white sand surrounding the water is Floyd | soft and warm underfoot. Floyd | Floyd | A white crane stands majestically, unmoving, upon the rock at the Floyd | centre of the lake. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "rock" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "party" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Nitku says (to Floyd), "x fish" | ||||
Floyd | The bright orange fish swim around in a leisurely manner, though always Floyd | wary of predators. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x boulder" | ||||
Floyd | Other than the peculiar visual effect caused by the reflection, the Floyd | boulder looks smooth and quite ordinary. It would be too small for you Floyd | to sit on. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "meditate" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "sit on boulder" | ||||
Floyd | Everything has purpose within the Dao, that is nature's way. However an Floyd | immediate use for the boulder eludes you for the time being. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "swim" | ||||
Floyd | The crane notices you the moment your foot touches the water. It does Floyd | not look particularly worried by your slow movements, but takes to the Floyd | air leisurely gliding over the bamboo trees to the west. Floyd | Floyd | The fish brush up against you playfully as you swim, always managing to Floyd | avoid your touch when you try to stroke them. Floyd | Floyd | After a few minutes you return to the lakeside and wait for your Floyd | clothing to dry a little. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | (zhu4 jing4 de hu2) Serene lake Floyd | [Previous turn undone.] Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "eat fish" | ||||
Floyd | (first taking the fish) Floyd | The fish are too quick, and constantly evade your grasp. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "spit on fish" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "No obvious thing to do here. Let's move on." | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (zhu4 jing4 de hu2) Serene lake Floyd | The forest opens out into a large clearing as the trees retreat from a Floyd | lake that dominates the centre. Flies lazily buzzing in the warm air Floyd | occasionally dip down to the water, causing a ripple to break the Floyd | mirror surface as a fish reacts in kind. Not even a breeze disturbs the Floyd | surface of this image of tranquility. A smooth boulder protrudes from Floyd | the centre of the lake, the reflection giving the impression of a Floyd | boulder floating in the sky. The white sand surrounding the water is Floyd | soft and warm underfoot. Floyd | Floyd | A white crane stands majestically, unmoving, upon the rock at the Floyd | centre of the lake. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x flies" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "Let's explore, yeah." | |||
| Nitku says, "Let's try the door" | ||||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (zhu2 lin2) Bamboo forest Floyd | Wind whispers through the feathery branches of the bamboo forest Floyd | surrounding you as warm sunlight showers down, gently filtered by the Floyd | delicate leaves overhead. The soft ground is carpeted with slender Floyd | browning leaves, occasionally stirred up by the cool breeze. Faint Floyd | tracks run southeast and east, one also continues to the north up a Floyd | bank, and another downwards into a small depression to the south. An Floyd | impenetrable barrier of thorns lies to the west. How they got there Floyd | after you passed that way last night is anyone's guess. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x door" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x thorns" | ||||
Floyd | The thorns look totally impassable, which is quite strange, given that Floyd | it was only the night before that you entered the grove from that Floyd | direction. The thorns themselves are almost two inches thick in places. Floyd | They look like they could only be cut by an incredibly sharp blade - Floyd | much sharper than your jade knife, unfortunately. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying: Floyd | a cloth bag (being worn and open) Floyd | a jade knife Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "I see no door here." | |||
| Cheddarius says, "I think I've got it" | ||||
| Jacqueline asks, "What door, inky?" | ||||
| inky says, "hrm, maybe I misunderstood the intro" | ||||
| Cheddarius asks, "Sharpen knife on boulder?" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "cut me with knife" | ||||
Floyd | Cutting you up would achieve little. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Nitku says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | The bamboo trees begin to peter out, and the forest is replaced with Floyd | slender, twisting cypresses. Floyd | Floyd | (shen2 dao4) Western end of spirit way Floyd | Cypress trees form a straight avenue several feet wide, running from Floyd | west to east. The path continues some distance to the east, where it Floyd | terminates in an archway - and back into the forest to the west. Floyd | Floyd | A row of ornate animal statues flank each side of the paved path upon Floyd | which you stand, apparently guarding the way from interlopers. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "Well, it said hard things would break the knife, but maybe." | |||
| inky says, "oh there" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "cut statue with knife" | ||||
Floyd | Cutting that up would achieve little. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| inky says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | As you approach the door, the eyes of the Qilin either side flare with Floyd | a crimson hue. The door slams shut, giving a loud clunk as though being Floyd | barred before you can reach it. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| inky says (to Floyd), "x qilin" | ||||
Floyd | Each qilin has a single horn on its forehead, a horse's hooves, a Floyd | deer's body and an ox's tail. The body is covered with what appears to Floyd | be a scaly pattern. Legend has it that a qilin appeared to the pregnant Floyd | mother of Confucius. Floyd | Floyd | Actually on second thoughts, they do seem a little odd to you - you Floyd | have the distinct impression that you are being watched. Floyd | Floyd | > | inky says, "sure, qilin, no problem" | |||
| Cheddarius asks, "What's a qilin?" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "brandish knife" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x qilin" | ||||
Floyd | Each qilin has a single horn on its forehead, a horse's hooves, a Floyd | deer's body and an ox's tail. The body is covered with what appears to Floyd | be a scaly pattern. Legend has it that a qilin appeared to the pregnant Floyd | mother of Confucius. Floyd | Floyd | Actually on second thoughts, they do seem a little odd to you - you Floyd | have the distinct impression that you are being watched. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "Read the description, dude." | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "search qilins" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius asks, "Are they statues or something?" | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "search qilin" | ||||
Floyd | Each qilin has a single horn on its forehead, a horse's hooves, a Floyd | deer's body and an ox's tail. The body is covered with what appears to Floyd | be a scaly pattern. Legend has it that a qilin appeared to the pregnant Floyd | mother of Confucius. Floyd | Floyd | Actually on second thoughts, they do seem a little odd to you - you Floyd | have the distinct impression that you are being watched. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "I think so." | |||
| Cheddarius says, "Ah" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x eyes" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x horn" | ||||
Floyd | It's just carved out of the stone for detail. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x statues" | Cheddarius says, "take horn" | |||
Floyd | The statues are arranged in pairs, each animal matched by its twin on Floyd | the opposite side of the path. If you face the archway at the eastern Floyd | end of the path, the animals stand to your left and right facing each Floyd | other in the order of Dog, Ram, Horse, Lion and Qilin - the Qilin being Floyd | just in front of the archway and the Dogs closest to you, at the Floyd | western end of the path. Floyd | Floyd | Looking at the Qilin statues makes you feel slightly uneasy. For some Floyd | reason they send a slight shiver down your spine. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "take horn" | |||
| Cheddarius says, "Wait. Oops." | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "take horn" | ||||
Floyd | Everything has purpose within the Dao, that is nature's way. However an Floyd | immediate use for the details eludes you for the time being. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "Oh, wait, maybe they're different from the statues." | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x dog" | ||||
Floyd | The dogs look like friendly chows with upstanding ears protruding from Floyd | their heads. They sit as though awaiting their master's return. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius asks, "Friendly chows?" | |||
| Jacqueline says, "Oh wait, no, it IS a statue. Sorry." | ||||
| Ellison arrives, full of fun, but no funk. | DavidW says, "8 statues. Two of each type." | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x ram" | ||||
Floyd | The rams are lying down on all fours, the pattern of their wool carved Floyd | with millions of chisel-strikes. Floyd | Floyd | There is something interesting about the ram statue to your left; A Floyd | vine is draped over its back. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x vine" | ||||
Floyd | When pulled out straight, the vine appears to be several yards long. Floyd | Being thin and dry, it does not seem suitable for use in climbing - it Floyd | certainly would not hold your weight. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "cut vine" | ||||
Floyd | Cutting that up would achieve little. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "take vine" | ||||
Floyd | Taken. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying: Floyd | a vine Floyd | a cloth bag (being worn and open) Floyd | a jade knife Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "hang self" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x horse" | ||||
Floyd | The horses look rather chubby, more like oversized ponies. As with the Floyd | other statues, they are stylised and lack realistic detail, tending Floyd | toward the more ornate. Floyd | Floyd | There is something interesting about the horse statue to your right; A Floyd | clump of red moss sits on its nose, obscuring its gaze. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x moss" | ||||
Floyd | It is a clump of spongy red moss. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang arrives, full of fun, but no funk. | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "take it" | ||||
Floyd | Taken. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius asks, "What do you call those tiny ponies? Shetland?" | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (shen2 dao4) Western end of spirit way Floyd | Cypress trees form a straight avenue several feet wide, running from Floyd | west to east. The path continues some distance to the east, where it Floyd | terminates in an archway - and back into the forest to the west. Floyd | Floyd | A row of ornate animal statues flank each side of the paved path upon Floyd | which you stand, apparently guarding the way from interlopers. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lion" | ||||
Floyd | The lions look fierce, standing erect and proud - their manes Floyd | elaborately carved with curls. Floyd | Floyd | There is something interesting about the lion statue to your left; A Floyd | clump of green moss rests across its eyes. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "take green moss" | ||||
Floyd | Taken. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying: Floyd | some green moss Floyd | some red moss Floyd | a vine Floyd | a cloth bag (being worn and open) Floyd | a jade knife Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x green moss" | ||||
Floyd | It is a clump of spongy green moss. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x red moss" | ||||
Floyd | It is a clump of spongy red moss. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "tie vine to green moss" | ||||
Floyd | There does not appear to be any benefit in attempting that. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "put green moss on left qilin" | ||||
Floyd | You cover its eyes with the green moss. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "put red moss on right qilin" | ||||
Floyd | As you obscure the vision of the guarding Qilin you hear a loud "clunk" Floyd | as though a mechanism has been released. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "open door" | ||||
Floyd | You open the wooden door. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "Ah" | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | The avenue of cypress trees change back to bamboo midway down the path. Floyd | Floyd | (shen2 dao4) Eastern end of spirit way Floyd | Cypress and bamboo trees form an avenue which ends to the east as the Floyd | trees open out to form the entrance to a cemetery. The western end of Floyd | the path continues through the elaborate archway. A tea bush grows out Floyd | from a crack in the pavings. Floyd | Floyd | As you look around you feel a slight chill, noticing occasional Floyd | movement from the corner of your eye. When you turn to face it, there Floyd | is nothing to be seen. Floyd | Floyd | > | Fang says, "now we just need some blue moss, to complete the set" | |||
| Cheddarius says, "Clever" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "x bush" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x bush" | ||||
Floyd | Saying that the bush "grows" is not quite accurate. It appears to have Floyd | died some time ago, the leaves on it are dried out. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "take bush" | ||||
Floyd | The bush would be very difficult to uproot, so you settle for the Floyd | leaves instead. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheshiren says, "cut" | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "boil tea" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "make tea" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying: Floyd | some tea leaves Floyd | a vine Floyd | a cloth bag (being worn and open) Floyd | a jade knife Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "Making tea seems likely, but we'll need more than just leaves." | |||
| DavidW says, "A pot, fire, and water might be required." | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "boil water in mouth with amazing fire superpower" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheshiren says, "and milk" | |||
| DavidW says, "ugh." | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "form of: the human torch" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x archway" | ||||
Floyd | The archway towers high above you, spanning the width of the avenue Floyd | formed by the trees and passing through into the impenetrable forest on Floyd | either side of the path. Several exposed columns support the structure, Floyd | each having a tightly coiled dragon carved at the base. The stone Floyd | appears to have the same soft grey hue as the path and stone animals. Floyd | Floyd | Set in the centre of the archway is a huge wooden door which is wide Floyd | open. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x dragons" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x columns" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | As you attempt to enter the cemetery you hear a strange rustling sound, Floyd | yet the leaves on the trees do not move. A strange mist begins to form Floyd | in front of you, between yourself and the cemetery entrance. Floyd | Floyd | As you try to pass through it, it seems to solidify and darken at the Floyd | points of contact. The solidified parts seem to form limbs which move Floyd | to block your progress with rigid force. Each limb makes a strike at Floyd | you, driving you back from the entrance. Floyd | Floyd | After several attempts at passing the strange apparition, you are Floyd | forced to give up. The vapour fades back to nothing, leaving no trace. Floyd | Floyd | The old man must have come this way at some point in time - perhaps Floyd | there is a way of learning whatever fighting principles he had learned Floyd | from nature. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x mist" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x cemetery" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (shen2 dao4) Eastern end of spirit way Floyd | Cypress and bamboo trees form an avenue which ends to the east as the Floyd | trees open out to form the entrance to a cemetery. The western end of Floyd | the path continues through the elaborate archway. A tea bush grows out Floyd | from a crack in the pavings. Floyd | Floyd | As you look around you feel a slight chill, noticing occasional Floyd | movement from the corner of your eye. When you turn to face it, there Floyd | is nothing to be seen. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pavings" | ||||
Floyd | The path is made from tightly interlocked slabs of stone. The winds Floyd | keep the floor clean. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "move pavings" | ||||
Floyd | Everything has purpose within the Dao, that is nature's way. However an Floyd | immediate use for the paved path eludes you for the time being. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius asks, "The winds? Huh?" | |||
| Gerynar says (to Floyd), "listen" | ||||
Floyd | You think that you hear distant voices on the wind. As you begin to pay Floyd | attention, they stop. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "heh. Nice try." | |||
| Cheddarius asks, "By that, do they mean that wind blows away everything, keeping the floor clean?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "mmhm" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (shen2 dao4) Eastern end of spirit way Floyd | Cypress and bamboo trees form an avenue which ends to the east as the Floyd | trees open out to form the entrance to a cemetery. The western end of Floyd | the path continues through the elaborate archway. A tea bush grows out Floyd | from a crack in the pavings. Floyd | Floyd | As you look around you feel a slight chill, noticing occasional Floyd | movement from the corner of your eye. When you turn to face it, there Floyd | is nothing to be seen. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "face movement" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "close eyes" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "I think we need to go back and explore elsewhere. I don't think we're ready for the mist yet." | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "Yeah" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "Yeah" | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "w.w.s" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (shen2 dao4) Western end of spirit way Floyd | Cypress trees form a straight avenue several feet wide, running from Floyd | west to east. The path continues some distance to the east, where it Floyd | terminates in an archway - and back into the forest to the west. Floyd | Floyd | A row of ornate animal statues flank each side of the paved path upon Floyd | which you stand, apparently guarding the way from interlopers. Floyd | Floyd | (zhu2 lin2) Bamboo forest Floyd | Wind whispers through the feathery branches of the bamboo forest Floyd | surrounding you as warm sunlight showers down, gently filtered by the Floyd | delicate leaves overhead. The soft ground is carpeted with slender Floyd | browning leaves, occasionally stirred up by the cool breeze. Faint Floyd | tracks run southeast and east, one also continues to the north up a Floyd | bank, and another downwards into a small depression to the south. An Floyd | impenetrable barrier of thorns lies to the west. How they got there Floyd | after you passed that way last night is anyone's guess. Floyd | The soft bamboo-leaf floor covering changes to a cold, slimy rock floor Floyd | as you enter the earth. The lighting becomes dull and subdued. Floyd | Floyd | (dong4 xue4) Rocky tidal cavern Floyd | The air in the cave is cold and damp. A chill wind blowing inwards from Floyd | the sea causes your eyes to sting in the salt-laden air. The tide chews Floyd | at the jagged rocks which protrude from the ocean surface several yards Floyd | out. Boulders being rolled under the surface make loud rumblings like Floyd | distant thunder - they sound like they could smash anything. The water Floyd | looks uninviting - the rocks threaten to dash the foolish swimmer to Floyd | pieces. Behind you, to the north is a passageway leading up to the Floyd | surface. Floyd | Floyd | A small cleft is visible in the rock next to the entrance. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "I think maybe we make magic demon-expelling tea or something" | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x cleft" | ||||
Floyd | The cleft in the rock is a narrow horizontal slit, roughly two feet Floyd | from the floor of the cavern. It measures roughly four or five inches Floyd | high, by about two feet across. Floyd | Floyd | From the gloom within, you can just make out the shape of a black Floyd | snake. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x snake" | ||||
Floyd | The snake's body is about an inch in diameter by three feet long. Two Floyd | piercing yellow eyes stare unwavering from the velvety black background Floyd | of its skin. For all its unnerving appearance, it seems to be a Floyd | peaceful creature. Floyd | Floyd | It appears to be sitting on a pebble. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x pebble" | ||||
Floyd | A smooth, flat pebble - the kind you used to skim lakes with as a Floyd | child. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "take snake" | ||||
Floyd | Peaceful, until you approach it. You decide not to find out if it is Floyd | poisonous. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "take pebble" | ||||
Floyd | Despite the snake's peaceful appearance, it may not be wise to try to Floyd | take the pebble out from under it. Perhaps there is some way of moving Floyd | the snake first. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying: Floyd | some tea leaves Floyd | a vine Floyd | a cloth bag (being worn and open) Floyd | a jade knife Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "cut snake with knife" | ||||
Floyd | Cutting him up would achieve little. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "Pfffft" | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "give vine to snake" | ||||
Floyd | The black snake doesn't seem interested. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "tie vine to snake" | ||||
Floyd | There does not appear to be any benefit in attempting that. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "sing" | ||||
Floyd | Your singing is abominable. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "What I'm thinking is that" | |||
| Cheddarius says, "You get the snake to bite the vine" | ||||
| Gerynar says (to Floyd), "look" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (dong4 xue4) Rocky tidal cavern Floyd | The air in the cave is cold and damp. A chill wind blowing inwards from Floyd | the sea causes your eyes to sting in the salt-laden air. The tide chews Floyd | at the jagged rocks which protrude from the ocean surface several yards Floyd | out. Boulders being rolled under the surface make loud rumblings like Floyd | distant thunder - they sound like they could smash anything. The water Floyd | looks uninviting - the rocks threaten to dash the foolish swimmer to Floyd | pieces. Behind you, to the north is a passageway leading up to the Floyd | surface. Floyd | Floyd | A small cleft is visible in the rock next to the entrance. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "Then you pull it out" | |||
| Cheddarius asks, "Does anyone have an idea to do this?" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "hit snake with vine" | ||||
Floyd | A stick is best for keeping things at arm's length. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "I doubt that's the answer." | |||
| Cheddarius exclaims, "A stick!" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "swim" | ||||
Floyd | The sea in this region would be impossible to swim in - it would smash Floyd | you to a pulp and wash your remains up on a beach somewhere. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "well, find a stick, perhaps." | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "swim anyway" | ||||
Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to swim. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "snake, w" | DavidW says, "Try se of the bamboo forest." | |||
Floyd | The black snake has better things to do. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "Dang, I don't have a map" | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (zhu2 lin2) Bamboo forest Floyd | Wind whispers through the feathery branches of the bamboo forest Floyd | surrounding you as warm sunlight showers down, gently filtered by the Floyd | delicate leaves overhead. The soft ground is carpeted with slender Floyd | browning leaves, occasionally stirred up by the cool breeze. Faint Floyd | tracks run southeast and east, one also continues to the north up a Floyd | bank, and another downwards into a small depression to the south. An Floyd | impenetrable barrier of thorns lies to the west. How they got there Floyd | after you passed that way last night is anyone's guess. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | The bamboo forest ends abruptly, giving way to a rocky cliff, which you Floyd | begin to descend. Floyd | Floyd | (ya2) Cliffs Floyd | As you stand with your back to the cliff, the view ahead of you appears Floyd | to be nothing but a blur fading from dark grey sea below, through to a Floyd | light powder blue sky. Floyd | Floyd | A narrow path winds its way down the cliff face to the water level Floyd | below, where a small alcove seems to collect debris, and upwards over Floyd | the edge of the cliff to the bamboo forest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x path" | ||||
Floyd | The path is cut deep into the cliff face. It does not look like it will Floyd | give way any time soon. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sea" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheshiren says (to Floyd), "x debris" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "d" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (ya2 di3) Cliff base Floyd | Not much can be seen from this vantage point. A thin veil of fog blocks Floyd | the view out to sea. The waters below churn menacingly, the spume a Floyd | milky white. Floyd | Floyd | The ledge here forms a small alcove, which is only a couple of metres Floyd | across. It continues up the cliff face, where it vanishes from sight. Floyd | Floyd | Debris seems to get washed in here and collects on the rocky ledge. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x alcove" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "swim" | ||||
Floyd | The sea in this region would be impossible to swim in - it would smash Floyd | you to a pulp and wash your remains up on a beach somewhere. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x sea" | ||||
Floyd | The sea is dark with mud stirred up from the bottom, and totally Floyd | restless. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x debris" | ||||
Floyd | The debris is a mess of rubbish, mainly wood pounded to pieces by the Floyd | action of the sea on the rocks. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "search it" | ||||
Floyd | After a thorough search of the debris you uncover a sturdy bamboo Floyd | stick, which you take. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "Woot" | |||
| DavidW says, "tada" | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "There's your stick." | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "search debris" | ||||
Floyd | After a thorough search of the debris you uncover nothing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (ya2) Cliffs Floyd | As you stand with your back to the cliff, the view ahead of you appears Floyd | to be nothing but a blur fading from dark grey sea below, through to a Floyd | light powder blue sky. Floyd | Floyd | A narrow path winds its way down the cliff face to the water level Floyd | below, where a small alcove seems to collect debris, and upwards over Floyd | the edge of the cliff to the bamboo forest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (zhu2 lin2) Bamboo forest Floyd | Wind whispers through the feathery branches of the bamboo forest Floyd | surrounding you as warm sunlight showers down, gently filtered by the Floyd | delicate leaves overhead. The soft ground is carpeted with slender Floyd | browning leaves, occasionally stirred up by the cool breeze. Faint Floyd | tracks run southeast and east, one also continues to the north up a Floyd | bank, and another downwards into a small depression to the south. An Floyd | impenetrable barrier of thorns lies to the west. How they got there Floyd | after you passed that way last night is anyone's guess. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "tie stick to knife with vine" | ||||
Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to tie the sturdy bamboo stick Floyd | to the jade knife. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | The soft bamboo-leaf floor covering changes to a cold, slimy rock floor Floyd | as you enter the earth. The lighting becomes dull and subdued. Floyd | Floyd | (dong4 xue4) Rocky tidal cavern Floyd | The air in the cave is cold and damp. A chill wind blowing inwards from Floyd | the sea causes your eyes to sting in the salt-laden air. The tide chews Floyd | at the jagged rocks which protrude from the ocean surface several yards Floyd | out. Boulders being rolled under the surface make loud rumblings like Floyd | distant thunder - they sound like they could smash anything. The water Floyd | looks uninviting - the rocks threaten to dash the foolish swimmer to Floyd | pieces. Behind you, to the north is a passageway leading up to the Floyd | surface. Floyd | Floyd | A small cleft is visible in the rock next to the entrance. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "tie stick to knife" | ||||
Floyd | You would achieve nothing by this. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "poke snake" | ||||
Floyd | As you prod the snake with the stick, it decides to move. Being so Floyd | close to the crevice it startles you, causing you to lose your grip on Floyd | the stick which clatters down into the back of the cleft beyond your Floyd | reach. Floyd | Floyd | The snake slithers off, apparently turning the corner and leaving the Floyd | cave. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Gerynar says (to Floyd), "move snake with stick" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "take pebble" | ||||
Floyd | Taken. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "yay" | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x cleft" | ||||
Floyd | The cleft in the rock is a narrow horizontal slit, roughly two feet Floyd | from the floor of the cavern. It measures roughly four or five inches Floyd | high, by about two feet across. Floyd | Floyd | There does not appear to be anything in the cleft. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf6" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "But we lost the stick D:" | |||
| Cheddarius asks, "Maybe get another from the debris?" | ||||
| Cheshiren asks, "another one?" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "cry" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "I think we no longer need the stick." | |||
| Cheddarius says, "All right" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "Can we try sharpening the knife on the boulder?" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "Er." | |||
| Cheddarius says, "Dang." | ||||
| DavidW asks, "back to the crane, then?" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "Yeah" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (zhu2 lin2) Bamboo forest Floyd | Wind whispers through the feathery branches of the bamboo forest Floyd | surrounding you as warm sunlight showers down, gently filtered by the Floyd | delicate leaves overhead. The soft ground is carpeted with slender Floyd | browning leaves, occasionally stirred up by the cool breeze. Faint Floyd | tracks run southeast and east, one also continues to the north up a Floyd | bank, and another downwards into a small depression to the south. An Floyd | impenetrable barrier of thorns lies to the west. How they got there Floyd | after you passed that way last night is anyone's guess. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (zhu4 jing4 de hu2) Serene lake Floyd | The forest opens out into a large clearing as the trees retreat from a Floyd | lake that dominates the centre. Flies lazily buzzing in the warm air Floyd | occasionally dip down to the water, causing a ripple to break the Floyd | mirror surface as a fish reacts in kind. Not even a breeze disturbs the Floyd | surface of this image of tranquility. A smooth boulder protrudes from Floyd | the centre of the lake, the reflection giving the impression of a Floyd | boulder floating in the sky. The white sand surrounding the water is Floyd | soft and warm underfoot. Floyd | Floyd | A white crane stands majestically, unmoving, upon the rock at the Floyd | centre of the lake. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "Maybe we can hit the crane with the pebble" | |||
| Jacqueline asks, "Why?" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "Though the game would probably scold us" | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "We can get it to go away without hurting it." | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x pebble" | ||||
Floyd | A smooth, flat pebble - the kind you used to skim lakes with as a Floyd | child. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "ah" | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "skim lake" | ||||
Floyd | You do not have a suitable container. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "skim pebble" | ||||
Floyd | You suddenly have an irresistible urge, dating back to your childhood. Floyd | The pebble skims across the surface of the lake, its path curving as Floyd | though guided by the Dao, leaping several times until it clatters Floyd | against the boulder, landing in the water with a 'plop'. Floyd | Floyd | The crane gives an undignified shriek at the sudden close disturbance Floyd | and darts away through the trees to the south. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "sharpen knife on boulder" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "use knife with boulder" | ||||
Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to use the jade knife. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "shout" | ||||
Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence. Floyd | Floyd | > | Nitku says, "I thought the knife was already sharp." | |||
| Cheddarius says, "Not sharp enough" | ||||
| DavidW says, "I think jade can only be so sharp." | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "I think the fact that it doesn't know the word 'sharpen' is probably a clue." | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "Ah" | ||||
| Nitku asks, "Sharp enough for what?" | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "I think we need another knife." | ||||
| inky says, "sharp enough for ya" | ||||
| Jacqueline says (to Nitku), "To cut the thorns." | ||||
| DavidW says, "Let's find the crane." | ||||
| Cheddarius asks, "South, wasn't it?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "Maybe we'll witness hot crane on snake action." | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "I don't know if it matters, but I got it to leave without shrieking earlier." | ||||
| inky says, "ha ha" | ||||
| Nitku says, "I didn't think the thorns were a puzzle." | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (zhu2 lin2) Bamboo forest Floyd | Wind whispers through the feathery branches of the bamboo forest Floyd | surrounding you as warm sunlight showers down, gently filtered by the Floyd | delicate leaves overhead. The soft ground is carpeted with slender Floyd | browning leaves, occasionally stirred up by the cool breeze. Faint Floyd | tracks run southeast and east, one also continues to the north up a Floyd | bank, and another downwards into a small depression to the south. An Floyd | impenetrable barrier of thorns lies to the west. How they got there Floyd | after you passed that way last night is anyone's guess. Floyd | Floyd | The snake and crane are sitting at opposite ends of the clearing, Floyd | apparently waiting for each other to move. | Jacqueline says (to Nitku), "You didn't? Huh." | |||
| Cheddarius asks, "They're playing chess?" | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "Perhaps they're not, but..." | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "push space" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | The crane lunges at the snake and a pitched battle ensues. Floyd | Floyd | The crane's fighting style seems rather angular, distinct movements Floyd | that do not flow readily into one another. It appears to be relying on Floyd | speed and power in order to fight. | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "push space" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | The snake's fighting style seems smooth and soft, one movement flows Floyd | into the next without distinct boundaries. It does not look suited to Floyd | win a fight against the crane. Floyd | Floyd | The crane appears to have the upper hand, its forceful attacks seem to Floyd | get the better of the snake. | Cheddarius says, "study crane" | |||
| DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | The snake's movements become more fluid, enabling it to avoid the Floyd | crane's attacks by letting itself move with them. | ||||
| DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | The flowing movements of the snake manage to defeat the strength of the Floyd | crane, each blow diverted by the snake's soft movements. Eventually the Floyd | crane is forced to give up and flies off, leaving the snake to make its Floyd | way in peace. Floyd | Floyd | > | Nitku says, "Because they're just blocking the path home, and we don't want to go there now" | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "think" | ||||
Floyd | What a good idea. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "study crane" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying: Floyd | some tea leaves Floyd | a vine Floyd | a cloth bag (being worn and open) Floyd | a jade knife Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "learn crane jutsu" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "watch crane" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "I think we learned the way of the snake or something." | |||
| DavidW says, "Let's visit the mist now." | ||||
| Gerynar says (to Floyd), "snake" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "Right, I could see that, Nitku. I'm thinking perhaps we cut them at the very end as the last thing, once we've learned what we're here to learn." | |||
| Nitku says, "Sure" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | The bamboo trees begin to peter out, and the forest is replaced with Floyd | slender, twisting cypresses. Floyd | Floyd | (shen2 dao4) Western end of spirit way Floyd | Cypress trees form a straight avenue several feet wide, running from Floyd | west to east. The path continues some distance to the east, where it Floyd | terminates in an archway - and back into the forest to the west. Floyd | Floyd | A row of ornate animal statues flank each side of the paved path upon Floyd | which you stand, apparently guarding the way from interlopers. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | The avenue of cypress trees change back to bamboo midway down the path. Floyd | Floyd | (shen2 dao4) Eastern end of spirit way Floyd | Cypress and bamboo trees form an avenue which ends to the east as the Floyd | trees open out to form the entrance to a cemetery. The western end of Floyd | the path continues through the elaborate archway. A tea bush grows out Floyd | from a crack in the pavings. Floyd | Floyd | As you look around you feel a slight chill, noticing occasional Floyd | movement from the corner of your eye. When you turn to face it, there Floyd | is nothing to be seen. Floyd | Floyd | As you think, you begin to realize that the area surrounding the lake Floyd | manifests a lot of Yang elements. The brightness, the warmth, clarity Floyd | and creative aspects all point to it. There is an element of Yin, Floyd | however, in the stillness of the lake and softness of the water. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | As you attempt to enter the cemetery you hear a strange rustling sound, Floyd | yet the leaves on the trees do not move. A strange mist begins to form Floyd | in front of you, between yourself and the cemetery entrance. Floyd | Floyd | As you try to pass through it, it seems to solidify and darken at the Floyd | points of contact. The solidified parts seem to form limbs which move Floyd | to block your progress with rigid force. Each limb makes a strike at Floyd | you, driving you back from the entrance. Floyd | Floyd | After several attempts at passing the strange apparition, you are Floyd | forced to give up. The vapour fades back to nothing, leaving no trace. Floyd | Floyd | The old man must have come this way at some point in time - perhaps Floyd | there is a way of learning whatever fighting principles he had learned Floyd | from nature. Floyd | Floyd | You begin to get the idea that the cavern contains much Yin. It is Floyd | dark, cold, destructive and murky - yet the motion and activity of the Floyd | sea, along with the hardness of the rocks, embodies some part of Yang. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "imitate snake" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time passes. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "slither" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time passes. Floyd | Floyd | You come to the understanding that the bamboo forest appears to be a Floyd | balancing point between the Yin and Yang of the lake and cavern - and Floyd | that there are elements of Yin within Yang, and vice versa. One cannot Floyd | exist without the other. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "consider yin" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "think about yin" | ||||
Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to think. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time passes. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time passes. Floyd | Floyd | After witnessing the battle between the crane and snake, you begin to Floyd | understand that it is possible for soft motion to overcome rigidity. Floyd | The snake demonstrates this in its yielding style - as do the rocks and Floyd | sea. The hardest stone can be worn by the motion of water, from its Floyd | gentlest to its most fierce action. Floyd | Floyd | You begin to wonder if this philosophy can be used to overcome others Floyd | in battle. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius asks, "We might need to get something from the sea and get it to the mist?" | |||
| Cheshiren asks, "just needed to sleep?" | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "Not sleep, but think." | ||||
| DavidW says, "z means wait" | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "To consider what we saw." | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time passes. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time passes. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Nitku says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | As you attempt to enter the cemetery you hear a strange rustling sound, Floyd | yet the leaves on the trees do not move. A strange mist begins to form Floyd | in front of you, between yourself and the cemetery entrance. Floyd | Floyd | As you try to pass through it, it seems to solidify and darken at the Floyd | points of contact. The solidified parts seem to form limbs which move Floyd | to block your progress with rigid force. Each limb makes a strike at Floyd | you, driving you back from the entrance. Floyd | Floyd | As you attempt to fight the strange entity, you realize that the Floyd | principle that you have learned from observing the crane and snake Floyd | fight can be of use. You begin to parry the blows with gentle Floyd | movements, allowing the force to move past you. Floyd | Floyd | After several moments of cunning feints and deflections, you manage to Floyd | pass the entity, which fades away - leaving the pathway quiet once Floyd | again, with the obstruction gone. Floyd | Floyd | The path ends, and the forest either side retreats to form a clearing. Floyd | Floyd | (si4 miao4 de fen2 chang2) Cemetery Floyd | The dense trees form a nearly impenetrable wall around the cemetery Floyd | grounds. In the centre of the clearing is a large mound, atop which Floyd | stands a shrine or marker of some kind. Numerous smaller stones are Floyd | dotted about. At the southern end of the cemetery stands a run-down Floyd | looking pagoda. A path runs northward, apparently towards the Floyd | mountains. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time passes. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "ah. We considered long enough." | |||
| Cheshiren says, "we know kung-fu" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x mound" | ||||
Floyd | The mound has a gentle slope, flattened at the top where the marker Floyd | stands. It is approximately five feet high, by about twenty feet across Floyd | at the bottom. Sparse, dry grass populates the bank, with a few longer Floyd | tufts near the top. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says (to Cheshiren), "heh" | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x marker" | ||||
Floyd | The stone is perched on top of the large mound, its sides a polished, Floyd | shimmering black - possibly jet or some other stone that you do not Floyd | recognise. Deeply chiseled characters stand out on the front of it, Floyd | embossed with gold. Perhaps this person was revered by someone, had a Floyd | wealthy family or was some other kind of important figure. The name, Floyd | (wu3 jiu4 huo) Wu Jiu-Huo, is unfamiliar. Floyd | Floyd | At the base of the shrine is a tiny hole. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x hole" | ||||
Floyd | You cannot tell how deep the hole is, but it is very small - about a Floyd | quarter of an inch in diameter. Ashen smudges mark the surface of the Floyd | stone just below it. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "put finger in hole" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Taleslinger arrives, full of fun and funk. | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying: Floyd | some tea leaves Floyd | a vine Floyd | a cloth bag (being worn and open) Floyd | a jade knife Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "lower vine into hole" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "put vine in hole" | ||||
Floyd | The vine does not fit in the hole. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius exclaims, "lies!" | |||
| Gerynar says, "i think we need to build a fire near the hole" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (si4 miao4 de fen2 chang2) Cemetery Floyd | The dense trees form a nearly impenetrable wall around the cemetery Floyd | grounds. In the centre of the clearing is a large mound, atop which Floyd | stands a shrine or marker of some kind. Numerous smaller stones are Floyd | dotted about. At the southern end of the cemetery stands a run-down Floyd | looking pagoda. A path runs northward, apparently towards the Floyd | mountains. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x stones" | ||||
Floyd | The smaller stones appear to be grave markers only a foot or two high, Floyd | characters adorning most of them - while a few have weathered smooth. Floyd | After looking at several of them, you realize that the names are Floyd | written in an archaic style, and none of them are even vaguely Floyd | familiar. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "pray" | ||||
Floyd | Nothing practical results from your prayer. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "I haz a time travel" | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x pagoda" | ||||
Floyd | The pagoda must have been magnificent in its day. Three tiers of bright Floyd | orange tiled roofing sweep down, supported by bright green painted Floyd | wooden pillars and beams. Ricepaper screens adorn the windows, while an Floyd | ornately carved door stands at the top of the steps that run up to the Floyd | raised floor level. Of course now, the tiles have faded and are stained Floyd | with muck and lichen. The paint is peeling from the woodwork, the Floyd | screens are gone and the frames of the door and windows stand empty. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x muck" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "take pagoda" | ||||
Floyd | That's hardly portable. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x mountains" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW asks, "enter the pagoda?" | |||
| Cheddarius asks, "Northwards then?" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "All right" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (si4 miao4 de fen2 chang2) Cemetery Floyd | The dense trees form a nearly impenetrable wall around the cemetery Floyd | grounds. In the centre of the clearing is a large mound, atop which Floyd | stands a shrine or marker of some kind. Numerous smaller stones are Floyd | dotted about. At the southern end of the cemetery stands a run-down Floyd | looking pagoda. A path runs northward, apparently towards the Floyd | mountains. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "well whichever." | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (ta3) Inside pagoda Floyd | Despite the air of decay that the outside (and indeed the inside) of Floyd | the building presents, there is a strange homely warmth to it. A sense Floyd | of stillness and focus pervades your being, making you feel relaxed yet Floyd | alert. The structure above creaks in the sunlight, while the floating Floyd | feathers of birds roosting above add to the dreamlike quality. Floyd | Floyd | You can see an old man, a wooden tray and a teapot (in which is some Floyd | water) here. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x man" | ||||
Floyd | If it were not for the gentle movement of his chest while breathing, Floyd | you would assume that he was a scarecrow made from stuffed wrinkly Floyd | leather. Admittedly, the long silver hair that spills from the back of Floyd | his head, beard and moustache would have made him a rather elaborate Floyd | scarecrow. If it were not for a peculiar air of hidden power that Floyd | surrounds him, you would think him to be a common beggar. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius exclaims, "Woot, teapot!" | |||
| Cheddarius says, "Hah. Stuffed wrinkly leather." | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "Nothing feels homely like the smell of decay." | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "give man spare change" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "man, hello" | ||||
Floyd | There is no reply. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "man, hi" | ||||
Floyd | There is no reply. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "touch man" | ||||
Floyd | The old man does not seem to respond at all. He seems totally oblivious Floyd | to his surroundings, except for the fact that his nostrils seem to Floyd | flare in response to aromas that you cannot discern. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x teapot" | ||||
Floyd | A small brown ceramic teapot. It contains clean hot water. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "put leaves in pot" | ||||
Floyd | The leaves are too big for teamaking. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "cut leaves" | ||||
Floyd | You ought to cut them on a tray. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "put leaves on tray" | ||||
Floyd | You put the tea leaves on the wooden tray. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "cut leaves" | ||||
Floyd | (with the jade knife) Floyd | (first taking the jade knife) Floyd | You cut the leaves with finesse, then gather them up - just right for Floyd | teamaking now. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "take leaves" | ||||
Floyd | You already have those. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "put leaves in pot" | ||||
Floyd | You open the lid, put the tea in and close it again. Floyd | Floyd | The tea begins to steep in the pot. The delicate aroma wafts across the Floyd | room. Floyd | Floyd | The old man seems to smell the tea, for his eyes open and a thin smile Floyd | briefly plays across his features. He walks over to you, picks up the Floyd | teapot and smells the contents. Floyd | Floyd | "Ahh, the leaf is perfect," he comments, "but I am quite capable of Floyd | making tea myself. As I had no leaf to make any however, I am in your Floyd | debt." Floyd | Floyd | He fumbles in his robes for a moment, and withdraws a large key. Floyd | Floyd | "This may be of some use to you. Find your way to the top of Mount Tai Floyd | - you may learn something from the experience. Come back to see me once Floyd | you discover the point of the trip." Floyd | Floyd | He laughs as he hands you the key and goes outside to enjoy his tea. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "stab man" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius asks, "Back?" | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf7" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius asks, "To the mountains?" | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x key" | ||||
Floyd | It is a large iron key. Most of the angular edges seem to have been Floyd | worn down by passing many hands. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline asks, "Sure. Mountains sound good. But, um, why did you try to stab him?" | |||
| Cheddarius says, "HE HAS SERVED HIS PURPOSE." | ||||
| Cheshiren says, "he drunk our tea" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "HE MUST NOW BE ELIMINATED." | ||||
| DavidW says, "HE HAS NOT" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "DELETE. DELETE. DELETE." | ||||
| DavidW asks, "He will explain stuff from our mountain trip. Didn't you listen?" | ||||
| Taleslinger says (to Cheddarius), "Dude, that's the weak catchphrase you're looking for EXTERMINATE" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "Ah, that's true" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (si4 miao4 de fen2 chang2) Cemetery Floyd | The dense trees form a nearly impenetrable wall around the cemetery Floyd | grounds. In the centre of the clearing is a large mound, atop which Floyd | stands a shrine or marker of some kind. Numerous smaller stones are Floyd | dotted about. At the southern end of the cemetery stands a run-down Floyd | looking pagoda. A path runs northward, apparently towards the Floyd | mountains. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | The forest stops, suddenly confronted by a wall of rock. Floyd | Floyd | (shan1 men2) Mountain gate Floyd | An enormous archway stands to the northwest, acting as a gateway to the Floyd | mountain pass beyond. The forest opens out to the south, while a rock Floyd | wall encompasses all other directions. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "open gate with key" | ||||
Floyd | You unlock the wooden gate. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | You can't, since the wooden gate is in the way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "open gate" | ||||
Floyd | You open the wooden gate. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | After passing through the archway at the foot of the mountains, a Floyd | staggering number of steps lies ahead of you. Floyd | Floyd | After a tiring climb of three thousand steps you reach a landing, where Floyd | you rest before continuing the climb. Floyd | Floyd | (shan1 ti1) Mountain stairway Floyd | The landing, a flat expanse of about twenty feet across in both Floyd | directions, gives a welcome break from the tortuous stairs that lead up Floyd | to the east and down to the southeast. Sheltered from the winds, this Floyd | spot is quite a peaceful place to rest. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius asks, "Wait, three thousand steps exactly?" | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "count steps" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "rest" | ||||
Floyd | Weary from the climb, you fall asleep. Floyd | Floyd | You dream about the principles of Yin and Yang, of how opposites are Floyd | inseparable and how one is necessary for the existance of the other. Floyd | After the dream fades to nothing, words drift through your sleep: Floyd | Floyd | "When people see some things as beautiful, Floyd | other things become ugly. Floyd | When people see some things as good, Floyd | other things become bad. Floyd | Floyd | Being and non-being create each other. Floyd | Difficult and easy support each other. Floyd | Long and short define each other. Floyd | High and low depend on each other. Floyd | Before and after follow each other. Floyd | Floyd | Therefore the Sage Floyd | acts without doing anything Floyd | and teaches without saying anything. Floyd | Things arise and she lets them come; Floyd | things disappear and she lets them go. Floyd | She has but does not possess, Floyd | acts but does not expect. Floyd | When her work is done, she forgets it. Floyd | That is why it lasts forever." Floyd | Floyd | You wake, feeling refreshed. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "Holy smokes" | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (shan1 ti1) Mountain stairway Floyd | The landing, a flat expanse of about twenty feet across in both Floyd | directions, gives a welcome break from the tortuous stairs that lead up Floyd | to the east and down to the southeast. Sheltered from the winds, this Floyd | spot is quite a peaceful place to rest. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius asks, "Shall we continue?" | |||
| DavidW says, "please" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You trudge wearily up the remaining three thousand, six hundred and Floyd | sixty steps. Floyd | Floyd | As you emerge from the relatively confined space of the stairway, you Floyd | feel slightly lightheaded - the landscape opening out below you is Floyd | stunning. Floyd | Floyd | (shan1) Mountain Floyd | The mountain stands just over a mile above the surrounding terrain. You Floyd | can see your village over in the distant west, while to the south the Floyd | whole complex of spirit way and cemetery is visible from this great Floyd | height. Birds circle the treetops below, their movements complementing Floyd | the stillness of the clear blue skies above. Floyd | Floyd | Except for a solitary wizened tree and the stairway cut into the ground Floyd | to the west, the mountaintop is bare. Floyd | Floyd | A long wooden box lies on the ground, apparently discarded. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "6660 steps total. Strange." | |||
| Nitku says (to Floyd), "x box" | ||||
Floyd | It is just over three feet long, approximately four inches thick by Floyd | about six inches wide. It is rather plain looking, being made of a Floyd | light wood - no pattern adorns the outer surface. A latch mechanism is Floyd | mounted on the front, but no hinges are visible on the back - they must Floyd | be on the inside of the box. Floyd | Floyd | It is closed. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "open box" | ||||
Floyd | It appears that the latch has seized up and will not open. Given some Floyd | tremendous force, you might be able to free the mechanism. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "hulk out" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | Nitku says, "x box, my favorite command" | |||
| Gerynar says (to Floyd), "x tree" | ||||
Floyd | As with many trees that grow upon the slopes of mountains, it has given Floyd | in to the persistent nagging of the winds. It slants upward at a Floyd | peculiar angle, as though planted inside some giant glass bottle that Floyd | has forced it into an unnatural shape. Floyd | Floyd | Although poetic, it is but a tree. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius asks, "Along with switch switch, no?" | |||
| Nitku says, "Right" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "smash box" | ||||
Floyd | It seems as though it would take tremendous force to loosen the latch. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "roar" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "hm. I'm thinking: climb tree. drop box." | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "use steroids" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "take box" | ||||
Floyd | Taken. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "climb tree" | ||||
Floyd | The branches of the tree are compact, dry and brushlike. Virtually Floyd | impossible to climb up. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "throw box down mountain" | DavidW says, "oh. Catapult." | |||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "tie vine to tree" | ||||
Floyd | There does not appear to be any benefit in attempting that. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "Ah" | |||
| inky says (to Floyd), "throw box" | ||||
Floyd | The box clatters all the way down the steps. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | After stumbling wearily down three thousand, six hundred and sixty Floyd | steps, you reach the landing - a welcome sight, as you feel in need of Floyd | a rest. Floyd | Floyd | (shan1 ti1) Mountain stairway Floyd | The landing, a flat expanse of about twenty feet across in both Floyd | directions, gives a welcome break from the tortuous stairs that lead up Floyd | to the east and down to the southeast. Sheltered from the winds, this Floyd | spot is quite a peaceful place to rest. Floyd | Floyd | You can see a long wooden box (which is closed) here. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "tie vine to box" | ||||
Floyd | You tie the vine to the handle of the box. Thankfully it does not snap. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "get box" | ||||
Floyd | Taken. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You trudge wearily up the remaining three thousand, six hundred and Floyd | sixty steps. Floyd | Floyd | As you emerge from the relatively confined space of the stairway, you Floyd | feel slightly lightheaded - the landscape opening out below you is Floyd | stunning. Floyd | Floyd | (shan1) Mountain Floyd | The mountain stands just over a mile above the surrounding terrain. You Floyd | can see your village over in the distant west, while to the south the Floyd | whole complex of spirit way and cemetery is visible from this great Floyd | height. Birds circle the treetops below, their movements complementing Floyd | the stillness of the clear blue skies above. Floyd | Floyd | Except for a solitary wizened tree and the stairway cut into the ground Floyd | to the west, the mountaintop is bare. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "tie vine to tree" | ||||
Floyd | There does not appear to be any benefit in attempting that. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "tie box to tree" | ||||
Floyd | You would achieve nothing by this. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "swing box" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | There's nothing sensible to swing here. Floyd | Floyd | > Floyd | You are carrying: Floyd | a long wooden box with a vine attached Floyd | a key Floyd | a jade knife Floyd | a cloth bag (being worn and open but empty) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (shan1) Mountain Floyd | The mountain stands just over a mile above the surrounding terrain. You Floyd | can see your village over in the distant west, while to the south the Floyd | whole complex of spirit way and cemetery is visible from this great Floyd | height. Birds circle the treetops below, their movements complementing Floyd | the stillness of the clear blue skies above. Floyd | Floyd | Except for a solitary wizened tree and the stairway cut into the ground Floyd | to the west, the mountaintop is bare. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull tree" | ||||
Floyd | Everything has purpose within the Dao, that is nature's way. However an Floyd | immediate use for the wizened tree eludes you for the time being. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x tree" | ||||
Floyd | As with many trees that grow upon the slopes of mountains, it has given Floyd | in to the persistent nagging of the winds. It slants upward at a Floyd | peculiar angle, as though planted inside some giant glass bottle that Floyd | has forced it into an unnatural shape. Floyd | Floyd | Although poetic, it is but a tree. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x stairway" | ||||
Floyd | Apart from the obvious beginnings and ends, the steps - with very Floyd | little imagination - could be stretching out into infinity. It must Floyd | have taken years to lay these steps into the surrounding rock Floyd | structures of the mountainous valley. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius asks, "I suggest going back?" | |||
| DavidW says, "I'd like to have a plan, first." | ||||
| Nitku says (to Floyd), "x latch" | ||||
Floyd | The latch looks very rusty. It appears to serve both as a handle and a Floyd | fastening as there is a large loop, big enough for you to carry it by. Floyd | It appears that the latch has seized up and will not open. It seems as Floyd | though it would take tremendous force to loosen. There is a vine tied Floyd | to the handle. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "tie vine to latch" | ||||
Floyd | You tie the vine to the handle of the box. Thankfully it does not snap. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying: Floyd | a long wooden box with a vine attached Floyd | a key Floyd | a jade knife Floyd | a cloth bag (being worn and open but empty) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "swing vine" | ||||
Floyd | There's nothing sensible to swing here. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "smash box" | ||||
Floyd | It seems as though it would take tremendous force to loosen the latch. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Nitku says (to Floyd), "drop box" | ||||
Floyd | The box clatters all the way down the steps. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Nitku says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | (shan1) Mountain Floyd | [Previous turn undone.] Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheshiren asks, "what key for?" | |||
| Cheddarius says, "give up" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "give up" | ||||
Floyd | (to yourself) Floyd | (first taking the up above) Floyd | That isn't available. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "Hah" | |||
| DavidW says, "We used the key for the gate." | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "throw in the towel" | ||||
Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to throw the inside. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "I suggest we ask the old man. He'll probably advise us." | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x village" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (shan1) Mountain Floyd | The mountain stands just over a mile above the surrounding terrain. You Floyd | can see your village over in the distant west, while to the south the Floyd | whole complex of spirit way and cemetery is visible from this great Floyd | height. Birds circle the treetops below, their movements complementing Floyd | the stillness of the clear blue skies above. Floyd | Floyd | Except for a solitary wizened tree and the stairway cut into the ground Floyd | to the west, the mountaintop is bare. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cemetery" | ||||
Floyd | From this distance, the whole area just seems like a greenish rug of Floyd | trees, with the cemetery complex forming an earthy stain upon it. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x village" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "throw box at cemetery" | ||||
Floyd | Everything has purpose within the Dao, that is nature's way. However an Floyd | immediate use for the long wooden box with a vine attached eludes you Floyd | for the time being. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x birds" | ||||
Floyd | From this distance they look like tiny white specks. They could easily Floyd | be motes of dust, floating on the air currents. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "hm. Possibly the old man might help us at this point." | |||
| Cheshiren asks, "what are we doing on the mountain?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "My attempts aren't working." | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | After stumbling wearily down three thousand, six hundred and sixty Floyd | steps, you reach the landing - a welcome sight, as you feel in need of Floyd | a rest. Floyd | Floyd | (shan1 ti1) Mountain stairway Floyd | The landing, a flat expanse of about twenty feet across in both Floyd | directions, gives a welcome break from the tortuous stairs that lead up Floyd | to the east and down to the southeast. Sheltered from the winds, this Floyd | spot is quite a peaceful place to rest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | After an arduous trek down three thousand steps, you reach the foot of Floyd | the mountain. Floyd | Floyd | (shan1 men2) Mountain gate Floyd | An enormous archway stands to the northwest, acting as a gateway to the Floyd | mountain pass beyond. The forest opens out to the south, while a rock Floyd | wall encompasses all other directions. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says (to Cheshiren), "Following the old man's direction." | |||
| DavidW says (to Cheshiren), "I was trying to open the box." | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (si4 miao4 de fen2 chang2) Cemetery Floyd | The dense trees form a nearly impenetrable wall around the cemetery Floyd | grounds. In the centre of the clearing is a large mound, atop which Floyd | stands a shrine or marker of some kind. Numerous smaller stones are Floyd | dotted about. At the southern end of the cemetery stands a run-down Floyd | looking pagoda. A path runs northward, apparently towards the Floyd | mountains. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "talk to man" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (ta3) Inside pagoda Floyd | Despite the air of decay that the outside (and indeed the inside) of Floyd | the building presents, there is a strange homely warmth to it. A sense Floyd | of stillness and focus pervades your being, making you feel relaxed yet Floyd | alert. The structure above creaks in the sunlight, while the floating Floyd | feathers of birds roosting above add to the dreamlike quality. Floyd | Floyd | You can see a wooden tray here. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius asks, "Uh-oh. Where'd he go?" | |||
| Jacqueline says, "hrm" | ||||
| DavidW says, "He left after the tea." | ||||
| Jacqueline asks, "Where'd he go, do we know?" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "He told us to talk to him" | ||||
| DavidW asks, "What exactly did he say?" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "I assumed he went to the cemetery" | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "Guess I'll scroll back..." | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "*cemetary" | ||||
| Cheshiren asks, "Maybe on mountain?" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "find man" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x feathers" | ||||
Floyd | Looking up into the roof space, you cannot actually see the birds Floyd | themselves - they are always careful to hide out of plain sight when Floyd | roosting. The presence of their feathers, gently floating on the air Floyd | currents gives them away. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x man" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "take feathers" | ||||
Floyd | You cannot actually see the birds - even if you could, it would not Floyd | help as they are inaccessible. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "locate man" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "location of man" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Nitku says (to Floyd), "x tray" | ||||
Floyd | The wooden tray is about a foot in diameter, the surface is scored with Floyd | marks as though it has been used as a chopping board. A small lip runs Floyd | around its outer edge, to prevent spillage of whatever might be placed Floyd | upon it. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| crumple fidgets | ||||
| Nitku says (to Floyd), "attach vine to tray" | ||||
Floyd | There does not appear to be any benefit in attempting that. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Nitku says (to Floyd), "x lip" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Nitku says (to Floyd), "get tray" | ||||
Floyd | Taken. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (ta3) Inside pagoda Floyd | Despite the air of decay that the outside (and indeed the inside) of Floyd | the building presents, there is a strange homely warmth to it. A sense Floyd | of stillness and focus pervades your being, making you feel relaxed yet Floyd | alert. The structure above creaks in the sunlight, while the floating Floyd | feathers of birds roosting above add to the dreamlike quality. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline | "This may be of some use to you. Find your way to the | |||
| Jacqueline | top of Mount Tai you may learn something | ||||
| Jacqueline | from the experience. Come back to see me once | ||||
| Jacqueline | you discover the point of the trip." | ||||
| Jacqueline | | ||||
| Jacqueline | He laughs as he hands you the key and | ||||
| Jacqueline | goes outside to enjoy his tea. | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "ponder" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "think about the point of the trip" | ||||
Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to think. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "tie vine to key" | ||||
Floyd | There does not appear to be any benefit in attempting that. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "So, um, basically we don't know where he went." | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "discover point of trip" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "We do know we need to discover the point though" | |||
| Cheddarius says, "I wonder if going to the sea would help..." | ||||
| Cheshiren asks, "Point is knowledge?" | ||||
| Nitku says, "Maybe he'll appear when we have been enlightened" | ||||
| DavidW asks, "hm. Maybe dropping the box off the cliff?" | ||||
| Jaybird says, "I'm betting he comes back here when we find the point" | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "Hm, yeah." | ||||
| DavidW says, "Also, maybe we *should* have let the box go down the stairway." | ||||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "hold vine" | ||||
Floyd | You are already holding the box to which it is attached. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "We can also try resting more than once at the rest stop." | |||
| Nitku asks (of DW), "Right, it went halfway the last time?" | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "We need to pause for just a few seconds, okay, folks? I need to renew my net cafe time." | ||||
| Jaybird says, "I thought we should rest again" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Nitku), "I don't know. We 'undo'd it." | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "The sea kills anyone who swims in it - if we exhaust the other ideas, it might smash the box" | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "Pause for a second so that I don't lose any of the things you say in the transcript..." | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "I'll let you know when it's renewed..." | ||||
| Nitku says (to DW), "Only the second time" | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "Okay, I think we should be good to go... continue." | ||||
| Jaybird says, "Let me have it for a bit" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "The swim result gave a pretty serious description. It was something like "You'll be smashed into a pulp" or whatnot." | ||||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (si4 miao4 de fen2 chang2) Cemetery Floyd | The dense trees form a nearly impenetrable wall around the cemetery Floyd | grounds. In the centre of the clearing is a large mound, atop which Floyd | stands a shrine or marker of some kind. Numerous smaller stones are Floyd | dotted about. At the southern end of the cemetery stands a run-down Floyd | looking pagoda. A path runs northward, apparently towards the Floyd | mountains. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | The forest stops, suddenly confronted by a wall of rock. Floyd | Floyd | (shan1 men2) Mountain gate Floyd | An enormous archway stands to the northwest, acting as a gateway to the Floyd | mountain pass beyond. The forest opens out to the south, while a rock Floyd | wall encompasses all other directions. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | After passing through the archway at the foot of the mountains, a Floyd | staggering number of steps lies ahead of you. Floyd | Floyd | After a tiring climb of three thousand steps you reach a landing, where Floyd | you rest before continuing the climb. Floyd | Floyd | (shan1 ti1) Mountain stairway Floyd | The landing, a flat expanse of about twenty feet across in both Floyd | directions, gives a welcome break from the tortuous stairs that lead up Floyd | to the east and down to the southeast. Sheltered from the winds, this Floyd | spot is quite a peaceful place to rest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "rest" | ||||
Floyd | Weary from the climb, you fall asleep. Floyd | Floyd | Once again, words drift through your slumber. Floyd | Floyd | "We join spokes together in a wheel, Floyd | but it is the centre hole Floyd | that makes the wagon move. Floyd | Floyd | We shape clay into a pot, Floyd | but it is the emptiness inside Floyd | that holds whatever we want. Floyd | Floyd | We hammer wood for a house, Floyd | but it is the inner space Floyd | that makes it livable. Floyd | Floyd | We work with being, Floyd | but non-being is what we use." Floyd | Floyd | You wake, feeling refreshed. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "But 'smash to a pulp' sounds like what... ah, rest a second time is useful." | |||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "rest" | ||||
Floyd | Weary from your climb, you fall into a short, dreamless slumber. Floyd | Floyd | You wake, feeling refreshed. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | (shan1 ti1) Mountain stairway Floyd | [Previous turn undone.] Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "d" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (shan1 men2) Mountain gate Floyd | An enormous archway stands to the northwest, acting as a gateway to the Floyd | mountain pass beyond. The forest opens out to the south, while a rock Floyd | wall encompasses all other directions. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "Wait is seemingly pretty useful in this game." | |||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "throw box at wall" | ||||
Floyd | Everything has purpose within the Dao, that is nature's way. However an Floyd | immediate use for the long wooden box with a vine attached eludes you Floyd | for the time being. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheshiren asks, "hmm. box is empty?" | |||
| Cheddarius says, "rest" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "rest" | ||||
Floyd | After a short rest, you feel refreshed. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "My guess: box contains very nifty sword." | |||
| Cheddarius says, "sleep" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "sleep" | ||||
Floyd | After a short rest, you feel refreshed. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "Argh, why do I keep doing that" | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "doze off" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "summon snorlax" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW asks (of Jaybird), "Have you made your attempt?" | |||
| Cheddarius says, "I think we may have realized the point of the trip? But you were able to tie the vine to the box, which suggests you should be able to open it." | ||||
| Jaybird says, "Yeah the box is bothering me" | ||||
| Jaybird says, "It's so obvious we want to open it" | ||||
| Cheshiren says, "we still need to open box" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "ignore box" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "don't open box" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "be at peace" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "meditate" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Gerynar says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time passes. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jaybird says, "My worry about the sea is that" | |||
| Jaybird says, "It might not only open the box, but also destroy the contents" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "We can always undo" | ||||
| Nitku says, "Let's just try it and see" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "I think maybe we hold onto the vine so we don't lose the box" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "Maybe that's the point of the vine" | ||||
| DavidW says, "well, it might wash the contents onto the cliff base." | ||||
| Cheshiren says, "to debris" | ||||
| Jaybird says, "Good point" | ||||
| Jaybird says, "I'll try it" | ||||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (si4 miao4 de fen2 chang2) Cemetery Floyd | The dense trees form a nearly impenetrable wall around the cemetery Floyd | grounds. In the centre of the clearing is a large mound, atop which Floyd | stands a shrine or marker of some kind. Numerous smaller stones are Floyd | dotted about. At the southern end of the cemetery stands a run-down Floyd | looking pagoda. A path runs northward, apparently towards the Floyd | mountains. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (shen2 dao4) Eastern end of spirit way Floyd | Cypress and bamboo trees form an avenue which ends to the east as the Floyd | trees open out to form the entrance to a cemetery. The western end of Floyd | the path continues through the elaborate archway. A tea bush grows out Floyd | from a crack in the pavings. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (shen2 dao4) Western end of spirit way Floyd | Cypress trees form a straight avenue several feet wide, running from Floyd | west to east. The path continues some distance to the east, where it Floyd | terminates in an archway - and back into the forest to the west. Floyd | Floyd | A row of ornate animal statues flank each side of the paved path upon Floyd | which you stand, apparently guarding the way from interlopers. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (zhu2 lin2) Bamboo forest Floyd | Wind whispers through the feathery branches of the bamboo forest Floyd | surrounding you as warm sunlight showers down, gently filtered by the Floyd | delicate leaves overhead. The soft ground is carpeted with slender Floyd | browning leaves, occasionally stirred up by the cool breeze. Faint Floyd | tracks run southeast and east, one also continues to the north up a Floyd | bank, and another downwards into a small depression to the south. An Floyd | impenetrable barrier of thorns lies to the west. How they got there Floyd | after you passed that way last night is anyone's guess. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "d" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (dong4 xue4) Rocky tidal cavern Floyd | The air in the cave is cold and damp. A chill wind blowing inwards from Floyd | the sea causes your eyes to sting in the salt-laden air. The tide chews Floyd | at the jagged rocks which protrude from the ocean surface several yards Floyd | out. Boulders being rolled under the surface make loud rumblings like Floyd | distant thunder - they sound like they could smash anything. The water Floyd | looks uninviting - the rocks threaten to dash the foolish swimmer to Floyd | pieces. Behind you, to the north is a passageway leading up to the Floyd | surface. Floyd | Floyd | A small cleft is visible in the rock next to the entrance. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "put box in sea" | ||||
Floyd | Everything has purpose within the Dao, that is nature's way. However an Floyd | immediate use for the long wooden box with a vine attached eludes you Floyd | for the time being. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "drop box" | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "drop box" | ||||
Floyd | You hold on to the other end of the vine as you drop the box. The tide Floyd | comes in and whisks the box out to sea, but due to the fact that you Floyd | are holding the vine it veers to one side, causing it to smash Floyd | violently against the rocks. The vine gets snatched from your grip as Floyd | the box disappears from view. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | (dong4 xue4) Rocky tidal cavern Floyd | [Previous turn undone.] Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "save" | Cheddarius asks, "What are we on now?" | |||
| DavidW says, "um, We didn't want to undo, and that's not how we save." | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf1" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: Ok. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "Dang" | |||
| Cheddarius says, "Sorry" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "drop box" | ||||
Floyd | You hold on to the other end of the vine as you drop the box. The tide Floyd | comes in and whisks the box out to sea, but due to the fact that you Floyd | are holding the vine it veers to one side, causing it to smash Floyd | violently against the rocks. The vine gets snatched from your grip as Floyd | the box disappears from view. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (zhu2 lin2) Bamboo forest Floyd | Wind whispers through the feathery branches of the bamboo forest Floyd | surrounding you as warm sunlight showers down, gently filtered by the Floyd | delicate leaves overhead. The soft ground is carpeted with slender Floyd | browning leaves, occasionally stirred up by the cool breeze. Faint Floyd | tracks run southeast and east, one also continues to the north up a Floyd | bank, and another downwards into a small depression to the south. An Floyd | impenetrable barrier of thorns lies to the west. How they got there Floyd | after you passed that way last night is anyone's guess. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | The bamboo forest ends abruptly, giving way to a rocky cliff, which you Floyd | begin to descend. Floyd | Floyd | (ya2) Cliffs Floyd | As you stand with your back to the cliff, the view ahead of you appears Floyd | to be nothing but a blur fading from dark grey sea below, through to a Floyd | light powder blue sky. Floyd | Floyd | A narrow path winds its way down the cliff face to the water level Floyd | below, where a small alcove seems to collect debris, and upwards over Floyd | the edge of the cliff to the bamboo forest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "d" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (ya2 di3) Cliff base Floyd | Not much can be seen from this vantage point. A thin veil of fog blocks Floyd | the view out to sea. The waters below churn menacingly, the spume a Floyd | milky white. Floyd | Floyd | The ledge here forms a small alcove, which is only a couple of metres Floyd | across. It continues up the cliff face, where it vanishes from sight. Floyd | Floyd | Debris seems to get washed in here and collects on the rocky ledge. Floyd | Floyd | You can also see a long wooden box (which is closed) here. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x box" | ||||
Floyd | It is just over three feet long, approximately four inches thick by Floyd | about six inches wide. It is rather plain looking, being made of a Floyd | light wood - no pattern adorns the outer surface. A latch mechanism is Floyd | mounted on the front, but no hinges are visible on the back - they must Floyd | be on the inside of the box. Floyd | Floyd | It is closed. Floyd | Floyd | > | Nitku says, "You can just "push save" and it takes care of the counter automatically" | |||
| Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I should have stated that for the new folks." | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "take box" | ||||
Floyd | Taken. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it" | ||||
Floyd | Suitably weakened by its ordeal the box opens easily, revealing a Floyd | painting in the lid. Floyd | Floyd | It also contains a sword. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x painting" | ||||
Floyd | The picture inside the lid appears to depict five different martial Floyd | arts moves and stances, relating each one to a different element. Each Floyd | one is distinct enough for you to be able to remember them easily: (tu3 | Cheshiren says, "Ha" | |||
Floyd | jin2 shui3 mu4 huo3) earth, metal, water, wood and fire. Oddly, none of Floyd | them depict stances that include a sword - they are all unarmed. Floyd | Floyd | Just below is an image of a sword, with the same symbols etched in a Floyd | pattern upon the blade - but it is too faded to be able to discern Floyd | which is which. Floyd | Floyd | [Type the name of the element to practice the stance.] Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius asks, "Wasn't that dead guy's name something like shui jin-huo?" | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "earth" | ||||
Floyd | You are not in combat at the moment, but you rehearse the stance Floyd | anyway. Floyd | Floyd | You quickly get into the earth stance: Floyd | Floyd | You balance your weight evenly upon both legs, both slightly bent to Floyd | keep your stance grounded. Your right hand is held out in front of you, Floyd | fingers open, palm facing directly forward. Your left hand is also held Floyd | palm open, but at your side - facing forwards at a slight downward Floyd | angle. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "Wu something" | |||
| Cheshiren says (to Floyd), "earth" | ||||
Floyd | You are not in combat at the moment, but you rehearse the stance Floyd | anyway. Floyd | Floyd | You quickly get into the earth stance: Floyd | Floyd | You balance your weight evenly upon both legs, both slightly bent to Floyd | keep your stance grounded. Your right hand is held out in front of you, Floyd | fingers open, palm facing directly forward. Your left hand is also held Floyd | palm open, but at your side - facing forwards at a slight downward Floyd | angle. Floyd | Floyd | > | Nitku says, "Wu Jiu-Huo" | |||
| Cheddarius says, "Darn." | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "So I'm doing this stance" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "It's really awkward" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "It's like with one hand you're doing kamehameha, but the left hand is just wierd" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "metal" | ||||
Floyd | You are not in combat at the moment, but you rehearse the stance Floyd | anyway. Floyd | Floyd | You quickly get into the metal stance: Floyd | Floyd | You shift your weight backwards onto your right leg, left leg out Floyd | towards the front, giving support. You hold your left fist out in front Floyd | of you, palm up, at face level, while your right fist is at your hip, Floyd | facing palm down. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "water" | ||||
Floyd | You are not in combat at the moment, but you rehearse the stance Floyd | anyway. Floyd | Floyd | You quickly get into the water stance: Floyd | Floyd | With your legs together, the left slightly in front of the right, you Floyd | crouch a little. Your right fist extends out as far as you can reach, Floyd | thumb upward, yet keeping the arm slightly bent. The left fist is held, Floyd | palm inwards, against your ribs. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline | (wu3 jiu4 huo) Wu Jiu-Huo | |||
| Jacqueline says, "Oh, sorry. Nitku already pasted." | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "water" | ||||
Floyd | You are not in combat at the moment, but you rehearse the stance Floyd | anyway. Floyd | Floyd | You quickly get into the water stance: Floyd | Floyd | With your legs together, the left slightly in front of the right, you Floyd | crouch a little. Your right fist extends out as far as you can reach, Floyd | thumb upward, yet keeping the arm slightly bent. The left fist is held, Floyd | palm inwards, against your ribs. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "Whoa, water is really strange" | |||
| Cheddarius says, "You clutch your stomach sort of? While giving someone a thumbs-up with your right hand" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "wood" | ||||
Floyd | You are not in combat at the moment, but you rehearse the stance Floyd | anyway. Floyd | Floyd | You quickly get into the wood stance: Floyd | Floyd | You shift your weight backwards onto your left leg, right leg out Floyd | towards the front, giving support. You hold your left fist out in front Floyd | of you, thumb upward, at shoulder level, while your right fist is held Floyd | just above your head, ready to strike downwards. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "fire" | ||||
Floyd | You are not in combat at the moment, but you rehearse the stance Floyd | anyway. Floyd | Floyd | You quickly get into the fire stance: Floyd | Floyd | You shift your weight sideways onto your right leg, left leg out Floyd | towards the front-left, giving support. You hold your right fist out in Floyd | front of you, palm up, at face level, while your left fist is at Floyd | covering your stomach, facing palm down. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "take sword" | ||||
Floyd | Taken. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "fire" | ||||
Floyd | You are not in combat at the moment, but you rehearse the stance Floyd | anyway. Floyd | Floyd | You quickly get into the fire stance: Floyd | Floyd | You shift your weight sideways onto your right leg, left leg out Floyd | towards the front-left, giving support. You hold your right fist out in Floyd | front of you, palm up, at face level, while your left fist is at Floyd | covering your stomach, facing palm down. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheshiren says, "fire is coolest" | |||
| DavidW says, "I hope we don't need to memorize these details." | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "They're all pretty wierd-looking if you actually do them" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "I may be interpreting these instructions wrong" | ||||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "snake" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "Aw." | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sword" | ||||
Floyd | The sword is a classic Chinese "Jian": a tassel graces the pommel, Floyd | which is in turn attached to a wooden handgrip. Above the handgrip is Floyd | the hilt, from which extends the blade. The blade itself appears to Floyd | have symbols etched upon it. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x symbols" | ||||
Floyd | The blade is nearly three feet long, an inch and a half wide, yet Floyd | nearly wafer thin. It is unusually flexible, and the edges appear razor Floyd | sharp right to the tip. It has a slightly flattened section up the Floyd | middle, upon which there appear to be etched symbols of some sort. Floyd | Floyd | The etching appears to be writing. One side has characters (chuang4 Floyd | zao4) meaning "Create" and just above it a circle of five characters, Floyd | reading from the top clockwise: (tu3 jin2 shui3 mu4 huo3) Earth, Metal, Floyd | Water, Wood, Fire - which appear to be referring to the creation of Qi Floyd | energy by cycling through the five elements of nature. Floyd | Floyd | The other side has the characters (kong4 zhi4) "Control" and again in a Floyd | circle: (tu3 shui3 huo3 jin2 mu4) Earth, Water, Fire, Metal, Wood - Floyd | which refers to the cycle by which Qi is controlled and suppressed by Floyd | the five elements. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "wield Anduril, flame of the west" | ||||
Floyd | You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius exclaims, "Oh, the vines!" | |||
| Cheddarius asks, "Shall we go?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "The thorns? No, we should visit the old man." | ||||
| Jaybird asks, "Um, shall we see if the man is around?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "Taking the sword *now* probably is bad mojo." | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "It'd be good to talk to the old man first, I think, yes." | ||||
| Nitku says, "We could also try to make those stances in sequence" | ||||
| Nitku says, "Maybe Captain Planet will appear" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "earth. water. fire. metal. wood." | ||||
Floyd | You are not in combat at the moment, but you rehearse the stance Floyd | anyway. Floyd | Floyd | You quickly get into the earth stance: Floyd | Floyd | You balance your weight evenly upon both legs, both slightly bent to Floyd | keep your stance grounded. Your right hand is held out in front of you, Floyd | fingers open, palm facing directly forward. Your left hand is also held Floyd | palm open, but at your side - facing forwards at a slight downward Floyd | angle. Floyd | You are not in combat at the moment, but you rehearse the stance Floyd | anyway. Floyd | Floyd | You quickly get into the water stance: Floyd | Floyd | With your legs together, the left slightly in front of the right, you Floyd | crouch a little. Your right fist extends out as far as you can reach, Floyd | thumb upward, yet keeping the arm slightly bent. The left fist is held, Floyd | palm inwards, against your ribs. Floyd | You are not in combat at the moment, but you rehearse the stance Floyd | anyway. Floyd | Floyd | You quickly get into the fire stance: Floyd | Floyd | You shift your weight sideways onto your right leg, left leg out Floyd | towards the front-left, giving support. You hold your right fist out in Floyd | front of you, palm up, at face level, while your left fist is at Floyd | covering your stomach, facing palm down. Floyd | You are not in combat at the moment, but you rehearse the stance Floyd | anyway. Floyd | Floyd | You quickly get into the metal stance: Floyd | Floyd | You shift your weight backwards onto your right leg, left leg out Floyd | towards the front, giving support. You hold your left fist out in front Floyd | of you, palm up, at face level, while your right fist is at your hip, Floyd | facing palm down. Floyd | You are not in combat at the moment, but you rehearse the stance Floyd | anyway. Floyd | Floyd | You quickly get into the wood stance: Floyd | Floyd | You shift your weight backwards onto your left leg, right leg out Floyd | towards the front, giving support. You hold your left fist out in front Floyd | of you, thumb upward, at shoulder level, while your right fist is held Floyd | just above your head, ready to strike downwards. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "ha" | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "power of heart!" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "heart" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheshiren says, "i don't think sequence is important" | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "control" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "create" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says (to Cheshiren), "I'm not sure." | |||
| Cheshiren says, "oh, i see now" | ||||
| DavidW says, "I suspect we'll be fighting something or someone, and we'll need to understand how to counter." | ||||
| Cheddarius asks, "So... try to find the man, then cut the vines if he's not there and find him again?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "thorns, not vines. Maybe." | ||||
| DavidW says, "Find man first." | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "I'm not keen on cutting the thorns, really." | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "But that's just me." | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "I think that's the last thing." | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "But ..." | ||||
| Jacqueline shrugs. | ||||
| DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "Yes, I also think that's the last step." | ||||
| Cheshiren says, "Agreed" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying: Floyd | a sword Floyd | a long wooden box (which is open but empty) Floyd | a wooden tray Floyd | a key Floyd | a jade knife Floyd | a cloth bag (being worn and open but empty) Floyd | Floyd | > | Nitku says, "I'm not sure we got the point yet" | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "u" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (ya2) Cliffs Floyd | As you stand with your back to the cliff, the view ahead of you appears Floyd | to be nothing but a blur fading from dark grey sea below, through to a Floyd | light powder blue sky. Floyd | Floyd | A narrow path winds its way down the cliff face to the water level Floyd | below, where a small alcove seems to collect debris, and upwards over Floyd | the edge of the cliff to the bamboo forest. Floyd | Floyd | > | Nitku says, "So the man might not be there" | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (zhu2 lin2) Bamboo forest Floyd | Wind whispers through the feathery branches of the bamboo forest Floyd | surrounding you as warm sunlight showers down, gently filtered by the Floyd | delicate leaves overhead. The soft ground is carpeted with slender Floyd | browning leaves, occasionally stirred up by the cool breeze. Faint Floyd | tracks run southeast and east, one also continues to the north up a Floyd | bank, and another downwards into a small depression to the south. An Floyd | impenetrable barrier of thorns lies to the west. How they got there Floyd | after you passed that way last night is anyone's guess. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | The bamboo trees begin to peter out, and the forest is replaced with Floyd | slender, twisting cypresses. Floyd | Floyd | (shen2 dao4) Western end of spirit way Floyd | Cypress trees form a straight avenue several feet wide, running from Floyd | west to east. The path continues some distance to the east, where it Floyd | terminates in an archway - and back into the forest to the west. Floyd | Floyd | A row of ornate animal statues flank each side of the paved path upon Floyd | which you stand, apparently guarding the way from interlopers. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | The avenue of cypress trees change back to bamboo midway down the path. Floyd | Floyd | (shen2 dao4) Eastern end of spirit way Floyd | Cypress and bamboo trees form an avenue which ends to the east as the Floyd | trees open out to form the entrance to a cemetery. The western end of Floyd | the path continues through the elaborate archway. A tea bush grows out Floyd | from a crack in the pavings. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | The path ends, and the forest either side retreats to form a clearing. Floyd | Floyd | (si4 miao4 de fen2 chang2) Cemetery Floyd | The dense trees form a nearly impenetrable wall around the cemetery Floyd | grounds. In the centre of the clearing is a large mound, atop which Floyd | stands a shrine or marker of some kind. Numerous smaller stones are Floyd | dotted about. At the southern end of the cemetery stands a run-down Floyd | looking pagoda. A path runs northward, apparently towards the Floyd | mountains. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (ta3) Inside pagoda Floyd | Despite the air of decay that the outside (and indeed the inside) of Floyd | the building presents, there is a strange homely warmth to it. A sense Floyd | of stillness and focus pervades your being, making you feel relaxed yet Floyd | alert. The structure above creaks in the sunlight, while the floating Floyd | feathers of birds roosting above add to the dreamlike quality. Floyd | Floyd | You can see an old man here. Floyd | Floyd | The old man says, "I will test your understanding. I will attack you Floyd | five times in a row - if you manage to defeat me three times in a row, Floyd | I will know that you have attained understanding. If you fail, you may Floyd | try again - I am not so harsh a master as others." Floyd | Floyd | Despite his apparent frailty, the old man suddenly moves with the grace Floyd | of a snake. As he prepares to strike, you recognise his stance as the Floyd | element of fire. Floyd | Floyd | > | Nitku says, "Nope, there he is" | |||
| Gerynar says (to Floyd), "water" | ||||
Floyd | You quickly get into the water stance: Floyd | Floyd | With your legs together, the left slightly in front of the right, you Floyd | crouch a little. Your right fist extends out as far as you can reach, Floyd | thumb upward, yet keeping the arm slightly bent. The left fist is held, Floyd | palm inwards, against your ribs. Floyd | Floyd | You manage to attain a balance between physical and spiritual. The Floyd | effect of the combination of spiritual elements allows you to defeat Floyd | him. Floyd | Floyd | "Good, water controls fire!" Floyd | Floyd | The old man readies himself for his next attack, this time the stance Floyd | appears to be that of fire. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "water" | ||||
Floyd | You quickly get into the water stance: Floyd | Floyd | With your legs together, the left slightly in front of the right, you Floyd | crouch a little. Your right fist extends out as far as you can reach, Floyd | thumb upward, yet keeping the arm slightly bent. The left fist is held, Floyd | palm inwards, against your ribs. Floyd | Floyd | The balance between physical and spiritual elements in your stance is Floyd | much better this time. The blending allows you to defeat him with Floyd | relative ease. Floyd | Floyd | "Excellent, water controls fire!" Floyd | Floyd | The old man readies himself for his next attack, this time the stance Floyd | appears to be that of wood. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "We'll need a driver for this part." | |||
| Cheddarius says, "Er." | ||||
| Cheddarius asks, "What defeated wood?" | ||||
| Cheshiren says, "metal" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "Right" | ||||
| Cheshiren asks, "so?" | ||||
| Fang says, "I keep confusing you two" | ||||
| Cheddarius asks, "Anyone want to do the honors?" | ||||
| Cheshiren says, "old man awaits" | ||||
| Jaybird says, "I will" | ||||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "metal" | ||||
Floyd | You quickly get into the metal stance: Floyd | Floyd | You shift your weight backwards onto your right leg, left leg out Floyd | towards the front, giving support. You hold your left fist out in front Floyd | of you, palm up, at face level, while your right fist is at your hip, Floyd | facing palm down. Floyd | Floyd | You reach the perfect balance of physical and spiritual. The effect of Floyd | the combination of spiritual elements allows you to defeat him Floyd | effortlessly. Floyd | Floyd | "Superb, metal controls wood!" Floyd | Floyd | "You are talented!" He exclaims. "Evidently you understand the Floyd | principles of Taiji and elemental cycles. No further tests will be Floyd | necessary, you have the understanding you seek." Floyd | Floyd | He goes back to his meditations. Floyd | Floyd | Reviewing your memory of the battle, you understand that the elements Floyd | carry a great spiritual weight when represented in combat, and that Floyd | much of their power comes through, even when physical strength may be Floyd | lacking. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheshiren says, "show him" | |||
| DavidW says, "oh. He abbreviated the test." | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "Because you only need three out of five" | ||||
| DavidW says, "I think we can do the thorns now." | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "attack uruks" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "attack uruks" | ||||
Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "Might be nice to give the tray back. :)" | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "fall back to hornburg" | ||||
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "drop tray" | ||||
Floyd | Dropped. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheshiren says, "after tea" | |||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (si4 miao4 de fen2 chang2) Cemetery Floyd | The dense trees form a nearly impenetrable wall around the cemetery Floyd | grounds. In the centre of the clearing is a large mound, atop which Floyd | stands a shrine or marker of some kind. Numerous smaller stones are Floyd | dotted about. At the southern end of the cemetery stands a run-down Floyd | looking pagoda. A path runs northward, apparently towards the Floyd | mountains. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (shen2 dao4) Eastern end of spirit way Floyd | Cypress and bamboo trees form an avenue which ends to the east as the Floyd | trees open out to form the entrance to a cemetery. The western end of Floyd | the path continues through the elaborate archway. A tea bush grows out Floyd | from a crack in the pavings. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (shen2 dao4) Western end of spirit way Floyd | Cypress trees form a straight avenue several feet wide, running from Floyd | west to east. The path continues some distance to the east, where it Floyd | terminates in an archway - and back into the forest to the west. Floyd | Floyd | A row of ornate animal statues flank each side of the paved path upon Floyd | which you stand, apparently guarding the way from interlopers. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (zhu2 lin2) Bamboo forest Floyd | Wind whispers through the feathery branches of the bamboo forest Floyd | surrounding you as warm sunlight showers down, gently filtered by the Floyd | delicate leaves overhead. The soft ground is carpeted with slender Floyd | browning leaves, occasionally stirred up by the cool breeze. Faint Floyd | tracks run southeast and east, one also continues to the north up a Floyd | bank, and another downwards into a small depression to the south. An Floyd | impenetrable barrier of thorns lies to the west. How they got there Floyd | after you passed that way last night is anyone's guess. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "cut thorns" | ||||
Floyd | (with the sword) Floyd | You hack the thorny obstruction to pieces. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "cut thorns with sword" | ||||
Floyd | Cutting those up would achieve little. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (zhu2 lin2) Bamboo forest Floyd | Wind whispers through the feathery branches of the bamboo forest | ||||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | surrounding you as warm sunlight showers down, gently filtered by the Floyd | delicate leaves overhead. The soft ground is carpeted with slender Floyd | browning leaves, occasionally stirred up by the cool breeze. Faint Floyd | tracks run southeast and east, one also continues to the north up a Floyd | bank, and another downwards into a small depression to the south. The Floyd | trail back to your village lies to the west. Floyd | Floyd | > Floyd | Floyd | Although you have gained the understanding of spirituality and softness Floyd | in combat, your family places much emphasis on the weapon that you have Floyd | returned with. Floyd | Floyd | In the years to come, your descendants pass on your teachings in a Floyd | tainted form. Teachings that still place emphasis on weaponry and Floyd | possessions. Floyd | Floyd | The family name becomes famous for a few generations, but gradually Floyd | fades into antiquity as their skills are surpassed by other weapon Floyd | masters. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | *** You have lost *** Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, read the ENDNOTES, or Floyd | QUIT? Floyd | > | Cheshiren asks, "ha?" | |||
| Cheddarius says, "Can I undo" | ||||
| DavidW says, "sure" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | (zhu2 lin2) Bamboo forest Floyd | [Previous turn undone.] Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "drop sword" | ||||
Floyd | Dropped. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | You realize that true skill does not depend upon weapons. It is what is Floyd | in your heart, not your hand, that is important. Floyd | Floyd | Your teachings of Taiji - of softness in combat - will be passed on for Floyd | generations and your family name known for decades, if not centuries to Floyd | come. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | *** You have won *** Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, read the ENDNOTES, or Floyd | QUIT? Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "Woot" | |||
| Cheshiren says, "pff" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "endnotes" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | If you've completed the game with full understanding of Taiji (which Floyd | isn't actually Taiji by the way, the stances are from Xingyi, as Taiji Floyd | doesn't actually have "elemental stances" in it - at least Sun style Floyd | doesn't) you will have actually gone through all of the key plot Floyd | elements. Floyd | Floyd | Taiji was never actually developed in the manner implied in the game. Floyd | The idea that it came about after a certain historical figure had Floyd | witnessed a battle between a crane and snake is a popular myth. The Floyd | actual lineage and development of Taiji is well documented fact. Floyd | Floyd | A few herrings exist in this game: Floyd | In the cemetery, you notice the shrine, try searching the mound - Floyd | follow up the lead that gives you. Anyone finding this and taking it Floyd | literally might end up thinking "Oh my God! Do I have to do all THAT?" Floyd | Floyd | As you know, of course not! Unless of course, you plan to do it for Floyd | real... Oh, by the way, ricepaper is edible. Floyd | Floyd | You might like to have a rest on the landing after all that, as well. Floyd | Remember that you get tired by walking down to a mountain as well as Floyd | up. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, read the ENDNOTES, or Floyd | QUIT? Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "amusing" | ||||
Floyd | Please give one of the answers above. Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "Whoa" | |||
| Cheddarius asks, "Rice paper is edible?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "I don't remember searching the mound." | ||||
| Cheddarius asks, "What's it made of?" | ||||
| Nitku says, "Well, it's made of.. rice" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Cheddarius), "uh, yes. It's made of RICE." | ||||
| Gerynar says (to Floyd), "endnotes" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | If you've completed the game with full understanding of Taiji (which Floyd | isn't actually Taiji by the way, the stances are from Xingyi, as Taiji Floyd | doesn't actually have "elemental stances" in it - at least Sun style Floyd | doesn't) you will have actually gone through all of the key plot Floyd | elements. Floyd | Floyd | Taiji was never actually developed in the manner implied in the game. Floyd | The idea that it came about after a certain historical figure had Floyd | witnessed a battle between a crane and snake is a popular myth. The Floyd | actual lineage and development of Taiji is well documented fact. Floyd | Floyd | A few herrings exist in this game: Floyd | In the cemetery, you notice the shrine, try searching the mound - Floyd | follow up the lead that gives you. Anyone finding this and taking it Floyd | literally might end up thinking "Oh my God! Do I have to do all THAT?" Floyd | Floyd | As you know, of course not! Unless of course, you plan to do it for Floyd | real... Oh, by the way, ricepaper is edible. Floyd | Floyd | You might like to have a rest on the landing after all that, as well. Floyd | Remember that you get tired by walking down to a mountain as well as Floyd | up. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, read the ENDNOTES, or Floyd | QUIT? Floyd | > | DavidW says, "Ricepaper is great for cupcakes. You can eat the wrapper if it's ricepaper." | |||
| Jacqueline says, "Well done, peeps." | ||||
| Jacqueline asks, "What shall we play next week?" | ||||
| Cheddarius asks, "Is it all right if I go ahead and try the herrings?" | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "Sure." | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | Please give one of the answers above. Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Please give one of the answers above. Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "/undo" | ||||
Floyd | (zhu2 lin2) Bamboo forest Floyd | [Previous turn undone.] Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "Undo doesn't work like that." | |||
| Cheddarius says, "Yeah, just remembered" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (zhu2 lin2) Bamboo forest Floyd | Wind whispers through the feathery branches of the bamboo forest Floyd | surrounding you as warm sunlight showers down, gently filtered by the Floyd | delicate leaves overhead. The soft ground is carpeted with slender Floyd | browning leaves, occasionally stirred up by the cool breeze. Faint Floyd | tracks run southeast and east, one also continues to the north up a Floyd | bank, and another downwards into a small depression to the south. The Floyd | trail back to your village lies to the west. Floyd | Floyd | You can see a sword here. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | The bamboo trees begin to peter out, and the forest is replaced with Floyd | slender, twisting cypresses. Floyd | Floyd | (shen2 dao4) Western end of spirit way Floyd | Cypress trees form a straight avenue several feet wide, running from Floyd | west to east. The path continues some distance to the east, where it Floyd | terminates in an archway - and back into the forest to the west. Floyd | Floyd | A row of ornate animal statues flank each side of the paved path upon Floyd | which you stand, apparently guarding the way from interlopers. Floyd | Floyd | > | Nitku says, "I suggest Eve's Shelter from the Storm or Alabaster" | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | The avenue of cypress trees change back to bamboo midway down the path. Floyd | Floyd | (shen2 dao4) Eastern end of spirit way Floyd | Cypress and bamboo trees form an avenue which ends to the east as the Floyd | trees open out to form the entrance to a cemetery. The western end of Floyd | the path continues through the elaborate archway. A tea bush grows out Floyd | from a crack in the pavings. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "I'll add those to the CFS." | |||
| Cheddarius says, "Alabaster is very nice." | ||||
| Gerynar has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | The path ends, and the forest either side retreats to form a clearing. Floyd | Floyd | (si4 miao4 de fen2 chang2) Cemetery Floyd | The dense trees form a nearly impenetrable wall around the cemetery Floyd | grounds. In the centre of the clearing is a large mound, atop which Floyd | stands a shrine or marker of some kind. Numerous smaller stones are Floyd | dotted about. At the southern end of the cemetery stands a run-down Floyd | looking pagoda. A path runs northward, apparently towards the Floyd | mountains. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | The forest stops, suddenly confronted by a wall of rock. Floyd | Floyd | (shan1 men2) Mountain gate Floyd | An enormous archway stands to the northwest, acting as a gateway to the Floyd | mountain pass beyond. The forest opens out to the south, while a rock Floyd | wall encompasses all other directions. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | After passing through the archway at the foot of the mountains, a Floyd | staggering number of steps lies ahead of you. Floyd | Floyd | After a tiring climb of three thousand steps you reach a landing, where Floyd | you rest before continuing the climb. Floyd | Floyd | (shan1 ti1) Mountain stairway Floyd | The landing, a flat expanse of about twenty feet across in both Floyd | directions, gives a welcome break from the tortuous stairs that lead up Floyd | to the east and down to the southeast. Sheltered from the winds, this Floyd | spot is quite a peaceful place to rest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "rest" | ||||
Floyd | Weary from your climb, you fall into a short, dreamless slumber. Floyd | Floyd | You wake, feeling refreshed. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "Alabaster won't have the pictures via Floyd." | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | Cheddarius says, "The pictures aren't that important though" | |||
| Jacqueline asks, "Alabaster won't lend itself at all, or just lose something, or ?" | ||||
| Cheshiren asks, "did you already played Everybody Dies?" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "They're basically all just pictures of Snow White" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (shan1 ti1) Mountain stairway Floyd | The landing, a flat expanse of about twenty feet across in both Floyd | directions, gives a welcome break from the tortuous stairs that lead up Floyd | to the east and down to the southeast. Sheltered from the winds, this Floyd | spot is quite a peaceful place to rest. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "yes, We've played Everybody Dies" | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You trudge wearily up the remaining three thousand, six hundred and Floyd | sixty steps. Floyd | Floyd | As you emerge from the relatively confined space of the stairway, you Floyd | feel slightly lightheaded - the landscape opening out below you is Floyd | stunning. Floyd | Floyd | (shan1) Mountain Floyd | The mountain stands just over a mile above the surrounding terrain. You Floyd | can see your village over in the distant west, while to the south the Floyd | whole complex of spirit way and cemetery is visible from this great Floyd | height. Birds circle the treetops below, their movements complementing Floyd | the stillness of the clear blue skies above. Floyd | Floyd | Except for a solitary wizened tree and the stairway cut into the ground Floyd | to the west, the mountaintop is bare. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | After stumbling wearily down three thousand, six hundred and sixty Floyd | steps, you reach the landing - a welcome sight, as you feel in need of Floyd | a rest. Floyd | Floyd | (shan1 ti1) Mountain stairway Floyd | The landing, a flat expanse of about twenty feet across in both Floyd | directions, gives a welcome break from the tortuous stairs that lead up Floyd | to the east and down to the southeast. Sheltered from the winds, this Floyd | spot is quite a peaceful place to rest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "rest" | ||||
Floyd | Weary from your climb, you fall into a short, dreamless slumber. Floyd | Floyd | You wake, feeling refreshed. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | After an arduous trek down three thousand steps, you reach the foot of Floyd | the mountain. Floyd | Floyd | (shan1 men2) Mountain gate Floyd | An enormous archway stands to the northwest, acting as a gateway to the Floyd | mountain pass beyond. The forest opens out to the south, while a rock Floyd | wall encompasses all other directions. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (si4 miao4 de fen2 chang2) Cemetery Floyd | The dense trees form a nearly impenetrable wall around the cemetery Floyd | grounds. In the centre of the clearing is a large mound, atop which Floyd | stands a shrine or marker of some kind. Numerous smaller stones are Floyd | dotted about. At the southern end of the cemetery stands a run-down Floyd | looking pagoda. A path runs northward, apparently towards the Floyd | mountains. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (shen2 dao4) Eastern end of spirit way Floyd | Cypress and bamboo trees form an avenue which ends to the east as the Floyd | trees open out to form the entrance to a cemetery. The western end of Floyd | the path continues through the elaborate archway. A tea bush grows out Floyd | from a crack in the pavings. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (shen2 dao4) Western end of spirit way | DavidW says, "I haven't played Alabaster, but I would like to see the pictures." | |||
Floyd | Cypress trees form a straight avenue several feet wide, running from Floyd | west to east. The path continues some distance to the east, where it Floyd | terminates in an archway - and back into the forest to the west. Floyd | Floyd | A row of ornate animal statues flank each side of the paved path upon Floyd | which you stand, apparently guarding the way from interlopers. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | (zhu2 lin2) Bamboo forest Floyd | Wind whispers through the feathery branches of the bamboo forest Floyd | surrounding you as warm sunlight showers down, gently filtered by the Floyd | delicate leaves overhead. The soft ground is carpeted with slender Floyd | browning leaves, occasionally stirred up by the cool breeze. Faint Floyd | tracks run southeast and east, one also continues to the north up a Floyd | bank, and another downwards into a small depression to the south. The Floyd | trail back to your village lies to the west. Floyd | Floyd | You can see a sword here. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | The bamboo trees begin to peter out, and the forest is replaced with Floyd | slender, twisting cypresses. Floyd | Floyd | (shen2 dao4) Western end of spirit way Floyd | Cypress trees form a straight avenue several feet wide, running from Floyd | west to east. The path continues some distance to the east, where it Floyd | terminates in an archway - and back into the forest to the west. Floyd | Floyd | A row of ornate animal statues flank each side of the paved path upon Floyd | which you stand, apparently guarding the way from interlopers. Floyd | Floyd | > | inky asks, "well, would you rather play shelter from the storm then?" | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | The avenue of cypress trees change back to bamboo midway down the path. Floyd | Floyd | (shen2 dao4) Eastern end of spirit way Floyd | Cypress and bamboo trees form an avenue which ends to the east as the Floyd | trees open out to form the entrance to a cemetery. The western end of Floyd | the path continues through the elaborate archway. A tea bush grows out Floyd | from a crack in the pavings. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | The path ends, and the forest either side retreats to form a clearing. Floyd | Floyd | (si4 miao4 de fen2 chang2) Cemetery Floyd | The dense trees form a nearly impenetrable wall around the cemetery Floyd | grounds. In the centre of the clearing is a large mound, atop which Floyd | stands a shrine or marker of some kind. Numerous smaller stones are Floyd | dotted about. At the southern end of the cemetery stands a run-down Floyd | looking pagoda. A path runs northward, apparently towards the Floyd | mountains. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "If it was 'just' as you say, and not the experiment I've heard about, maybe I'd agree with you." | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x mound" | ||||
Floyd | The mound has a gentle slope, flattened at the top where the marker Floyd | stands. It is approximately five feet high, by about twenty feet across Floyd | at the bottom. Sparse, dry grass populates the bank, with a few longer Floyd | tufts near the top. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Jaybird says (to Floyd), "search it" | ||||
Floyd | After a thorough search of the hill you find an incense stick, which Floyd | you take. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x stick" | ||||
Floyd | An inch or two long, by just under quarter of an inch in diameter, the Floyd | stub of incense gently smolders giving off fragrant tendrils of smoke. Floyd | As you watch it, you notice that it does not seem to burn down at all. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "And I can't see the current conversation this way." | |||
| DavidW says, "I have no idea what anyone's said now." | ||||
| Cheddarius asks, "Perhaps go to the Lounge?" | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "No, as I'm not in the lounge and need to see this conversation, actually." | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "Ah." | ||||
| Jacqueline asks, "What's wrong, David, that he's playing as we talk?" | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x marker" | ||||
Floyd | The stone is perched on top of the large mound, its sides a polished, Floyd | shimmering black - possibly jet or some other stone that you do not Floyd | recognise. Deeply chiseled characters stand out on the front of it, Floyd | embossed with gold. Perhaps this person was revered by someone, had a Floyd | wealthy family or was some other kind of important figure. The name, Floyd | (wu3 jiu4 huo) Wu Jiu-Huo, is unfamiliar. Floyd | Floyd | At the base of the shrine is a tiny hole. Floyd | Floyd | > | Taleslinger says, "I can't believe I overslept and missed it. gosh." | |||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "put stick in hole" | ||||
Floyd | Inexplicably, the incense flares into life. It begins to burn down to Floyd | nothing, giving off an immense amount of smoke as it does so. Floyd | Floyd | You suddenly feel a presence beside you. In the wind a feminine voice Floyd | whispers: Floyd | Floyd | "Thank you for your respect. As a token of my gratitude I leave you a Floyd | small gift." Floyd | Floyd | You notice a small slip of paper flapping about in the grass. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Cheddarius says (to Floyd), "x paper" | ||||
Floyd | It is a small slip of crinkly yellow rice paper. One side is covered Floyd | with characters written in red ink - it looks almost like the Floyd | traditional "money for the dead" yet the characters are not the same. Floyd | Floyd | The note appears to be a set of instructions, it reads: Floyd | Floyd | "(ji2 hao4 de cha2) Perfect Tea Floyd | (wu3 jiu4 huo) Wu Jiu-Huo Floyd | Floyd | To make the most perfect tea, it is important to collect fresh leaves Floyd | from the teabush. Floyd | Floyd | Use of the correct utensils is important also. Floyd | The pot should hold enough liquid to fill two cups, while a pitcher in Floyd | which to heat the water is also required. Floyd | Floyd | Cut the leaves into halves. Floyd | Floyd | Heat the water you wish to use in the pitcher, then fill the pot and Floyd | use it to rinse out the cups also. Pour this water away. Floyd | Floyd | Put the chopped leaves into the pot, ideally they should fill the pot Floyd | by about one third. Floyd | Fill the rest of the pot with hot water once again. Leave to stand for Floyd | a moment, then fill the cups with this first pot of tea. Floyd | Do not drink this tea, instead discard it. Floyd | Floyd | Leaving the tea leaves in the pot, fill it once again. Floyd | This time, when you pour the tea into the cups, you may drink. Floyd | Repeat this last step until the heated water is used up or the tea Floyd | leaves are spent." Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "It looked as if I was talking to myself. I couldn't see any responses." | |||
| Cheddarius says, "There weren't any." | ||||
| Fang has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. | Jacqueline asks (of Cheddarius), "Could you please hold up for a second, so we can sort out the next week thing, then continue?" | |||
| DavidW says, "inky said something but it rolled off the screen." | ||||
| Ellison has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. | Taleslinger says, "I'd like to see Savoire faire, but that might be too big" | |||
| Jacqueline asks, "So, I've added Alabaster and Eve to the list, removed Game Developer's Conference. What other changes do you all need me to make to the suggestion list?" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "I think we're done actually" | ||||
| Cheddarius says, "We got all the herrings" | ||||
[ TOP OF THIS PAGE | MORE CLUBFLOYD TRANSCRIPTS | HOME ]
