ClubFloyd Transcript:
Closed Circles by M. M. Kathrel
Fang Vs. Claw by Oliver Ullmann
For the Love Of Ornery Blue Yaks by Doug Jones
As played on ifMUD on August 21, 2010

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 three IntroComp Games: Closed Circles, by M. M. Kathrel, Fang Vs. Claw a.k.a. The Duel That Spanned the Ages Episode 2 by Oliver Ullmann, and For the Love Of Ornery Blue Yaks by Doug Jones. These three games were originally released as part of the 2010 IntroComp, where they received Honorable Mentions. You can learn more about all these games, including how to download them, by visiting the IntroComp 2010 page on the ifWiki.

The transcript begins with Closed Circles. If you'd like to skip to the transcript for Fang Vs. Claw, click here, and if you'd like to skip straight to For the Love Of Ornery Blue Yaks, click here.

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.

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd | Welcome to the IF story "Closed Circles".
Floyd |
Floyd | Before heading into the story there are a few things to be mentioned
Floyd | to help you get the richest possible experience of the tale.

Floyd |
Floyd | You will enter the story as a story character, free (within limits) to
Floyd | interact with the elements of the story and the story world.  Your
Floyd | story character - the protagonist - will come with ideas, a personal
Floyd | history, and a general outlook on life that you may not agree with,
Floyd | but which you cannot alter.  You as a reader are invited to accompany

Floyd | this character and to an extent decide his actions.  You will be
Floyd | challenged, both as the story character and as a reader to make up
Floyd | your mind about what is going on, and what is the appropriate response
Floyd | to what the protagonist experiences.
Floyd |
Floyd | If you at any time wish to be reminded of the most common ways of

Floyd | interacting with the story (commands that are available to you) you
Floyd | can type "help" to bring up a separate banner window with a static
Floyd | list of options.  There will be other ways of interacting with the
Floyd | story too, but it is up to you to find them.  Pay attention to what
Floyd | the story suggest that you do.  That way you will be pointed in the
Floyd | right direction.

Floyd |
Floyd | "About" will bring up the story's cover art.  "Credits" will give you
Floyd | the acknowledgments of the game.  If nothing you type bring any
Floyd | reactions from the window, take a glance at the status bar at the
Floyd | bottom of the screen.  You may be inside a narrative that prompts you
Floyd | to hit the space bar to continue, like this screen.

Floyd |
Floyd | Now when you are ready, you can hit the space bar and be transported
Floyd | to where the story begins.  When you do, this introduction will be
Floyd | cleared from your window.  Remember; "help" will bring up a separate
Floyd | banner window with a sample list of options.
Floyd |

Floyd | SPECIAL NOTICE: To my best estimate this intro is about 15% of the
Floyd | story as it will eventually be, and it is intended for the IF
Floyd | IntroComp only.  The submission consists of 7 rooms, several objects,
Floyd | but no NPCs.  When you reach Part II of the story the narrative stops
Floyd | mid-stride, but you can go back and forth to discover more of the
Floyd | content, for as long as you like.  My apologies in advance for all

Floyd | those bugs and other ugliness that is bound to crop up.
Floyd |
Floyd | Kathrel
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | You are transported through time and imagination to a dark and cold

Floyd | place, and you slowly become aware of your surroundings.  In
Floyd | particular a most annoying voice:
Floyd |
Floyd | "Time and time again the world has developed through the opposition of
Floyd | new ideas against old ones," someone says.  "It is an ageless war
Floyd | where the old ways are bound to lose on the trivial grounds that

Floyd | victory inevitably is defined by the survivors.  And in its widest
Floyd | sense the core of progress is to act in the interest of self
Floyd | preservation."
Floyd |
Floyd | The words seem to drone meaningless and disembodied around in your
Floyd | mind, uttered from afar, or perhaps remembered.  Somehow they seem

Floyd | important.  You are not really sure why; right now rest holds more
Floyd | appeal than lectures.  But the churning wont't stop;
Floyd |
Floyd | Conflict.  Progress.  Self preservation.  Duty.  It goes on and on.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Go to hell," you think, but the thought appears automatic and without

Floyd | context.
Floyd |
Floyd | A loud clatter from somewhere nearby makes you start, and the movement
Floyd | provokes a wave of nausea.  You curl up and retch emptily with your
Floyd | face down into trampled grass, and agony explodes inside your chest
Floyd | with sudden brutality.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Self preservation.
Floyd |
Floyd | You open your eyes again, recognizing that self preservation as a
Floyd | practical excercise drives home a much harder lesson than a lecture.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | CLOSED CIRCLES
Floyd | Part I
Floyd |
Floyd | by M.  M.  Kathrel, (c) 2010

Floyd |
Floyd | Version 0.5, an IntroComp contribution.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | A swath of downtrodden grass (lying on the ground)
Floyd | The sky is dark and chasing clouds are gathering into black mountains

Floyd | defined by the blinking stars they blot out as they build.  Cold wind
Floyd | puts a vast ocean of surrounding grass into swaying motion.  The moon
Floyd | is up, and its bleak presence reveals a grotesque scene: Wooden debris
Floyd | is scattered across a swath of partly downtrodden grass.  Clothes are
Floyd | trampled into the dirt.  A looming silhouette turns out to be a broken
Floyd | stage coach, tilting towards you on three wheels.  The missing wheel

Floyd | is nowhere in sight.  A body hangs out of a window next to an open
Floyd | door swinging in the wind, and suitcases and bags are lying around,
Floyd | open, their contents spilled on the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | The grass is trampled in a corridor to the north, outlining a track of
Floyd | sorts.

Floyd |
Floyd | You grit your teeth; your rib cage feels like a conflagration, and
Floyd | something is wrong with your right leg.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | A long cut runs across your right tigh.  Judging from the clotted blod
Floyd | on your pants it bled profusely.
Floyd |
Floyd | The coach door whines quietly as it swings on its hinges, occasionally
Floyd | accentuated by a clatter as a particular strong gust of wind pushes it
Floyd | against the coach wall.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The door is already open.
Floyd |
Floyd | The coach door whines quietly as the wind makes it swing on its
Floyd | hinges.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The wagon is a large, built-in stage coach with doors and windows.
Floyd | The roof has cramps bolted to it and a low railing runs all the way
Floyd | around it.  A piece of black material is stuck in the railing,
Floyd | flapping in the wind.  The driver seat is outdoor, placed a little

Floyd | lower than the roof so that the front wagon wall becomes its backrest
Floyd | and provides a little shelter.  Its front axle is broken, and the left
Floyd | front wheel is missing.
Floyd |
Floyd | The rustle of grass bowing to the wind is everywhere.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Its hard to make out any details from down here, but it could be a

Floyd | coat.
Floyd |
Floyd | The coach door whines quietly as it swings on its hinges, occasionally
Floyd | accentuated by a clatter as a particular strong gust of wind pushes it
Floyd | against the coach wall.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | A swath of downtrodden grass (lying on the ground)
Floyd | The sky is dark and chasing clouds are gathering into black mountains
Floyd | defined by the blinking stars they blot out as they build.  Cold wind

Floyd | puts a vast ocean of surrounding grass into swaying motion.  The moon
Floyd | is up, and its bleak presence reveals a grotesque scene: Wooden debris
Floyd | is scattered across a swath of partly downtrodden grass.  Clothes are
Floyd | trampled into the dirt.  A looming silhouette turns out to be a broken
Floyd | stage coach, tilting towards you on three wheels.  The missing wheel
Floyd | is nowhere in sight.  A body hangs out of a window next to an open

Floyd | door swinging in the wind, and suitcases and bags are lying around,
Floyd | open, their contents spilled on the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | The grass is trampled in a corridor to the north, outlining a track of
Floyd | sorts.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | The coach door whines quietly as the wind makes it swing on its
Floyd | hinges.
Floyd | The agony in your ribs is bothering you.  The cut in your thigh isn't
Floyd | making things any better either.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | The word "yeah" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |

Floyd | (If this was an accidental misspelling, you can correct it by typing
Floyd | OOPS followed by the corrected word now.  Any time the story points
Floyd | out an unknown word, you can correct a misspelling using OOPS as your
Floyd | next command.)
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You are carrying nothing, and are wearing some clothes: a pair of
Floyd | shoes, a pair of pants, and a shirt.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | The rustle of grass bowing to the wind is everywhere.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Your skin is pale and dirty, and the knuckles on your right hand are

Floyd | bloody.  A pale mark encloses your right ring finger at the base,
Floyd | obviously a ring used to be there.  The dull ache that throbs in every
Floyd | joint and limb doesn't quite drown out the burning sensation around
Floyd | your chest.  By the feel of it several ribs might just be broken.  You
Floyd | realize that you are cold.  Very cold.  With this realization comes a
Floyd | reflex jerk as your body attempts to curl up to preserve body heat,

Floyd | and in response the movement sends jolts of agony from your right leg
Floyd | to your brain.
Floyd |
Floyd | The coach door whines quietly as it swings on its hinges, occasionally
Floyd | accentuated by a clatter as a particular strong gust of wind pushes it
Floyd | against the coach wall.

Floyd |
Floyd | It would probably be a good idea to find some warm clothes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The cut is long, but shallow, and it doesn't bleed anymore.  The edges
Floyd | are clean, almost as if it was a knife or a sword wound.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't reach it from down here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Most of the clothing are mens' clothes.  Shirts, socks, a tie, pants
Floyd | and a torn cloak and a ruined coat as well.  There's a shawl here too,
Floyd | a dress, panties, and at least one stocking is in clear sight.

Floyd |
Floyd | The rustle of grass bowing to the wind is everywhere.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You get up with some difficulty.
Floyd |

Floyd | The coach door whines quietly as the wind makes it swing on its
Floyd | hinges.
Floyd | You shiver from the cold wind.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't reach it from down here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You see no coat here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The word "shawl" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't reach it from down here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | A man in his thirties perhaps, slight, and well clad, but his eyes
Floyd | stare into eternity with no means to convey what they see.  The limbs
Floyd | are stiffening, suggesting that he has been dead for some hours.  The
Floyd | cause of death is obvious... a clean cut across his throat.
Floyd |

Floyd | >
Floyd | The word "clothing" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't take that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You see no coat here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The story doesn't understand that command.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You see no black here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Its hard to make out any details from down here, but it could be a
Floyd | coat.
Floyd |
Floyd | The rustle of grass bowing to the wind is everywhere.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You see no seat here.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The wagon is a large, built-in stage coach with doors and windows.
Floyd | The roof has cramps bolted to it and a low railing runs all the way

Floyd | around it.  A piece of black material is stuck in the railing,
Floyd | flapping in the wind.  The driver seat is outdoor, placed a little
Floyd | lower than the roof so that the front wagon wall becomes its backrest
Floyd | and provides a little shelter.  Its front axle is broken, and the left
Floyd | front wheel is missing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You limp over and push yourself into the coaches' dark interior.
Floyd |
Floyd | The interior of a broken stage coach

Floyd | The inside of the wagon is very dark, and the floor tilts in a steep
Floyd | angle toward the front left side.  A lifeless body hangs out of a
Floyd | window.  Padded seats face each other with just enough place to store
Floyd | small bags under them, and over the seats a shelf runs along the wall.
Floyd | A laced umbrella juts out from the shelf in the front right corner,
Floyd | and an embroidered bag is stuck under the same seat.  Otherwise the

Floyd | coach is empty.  The windowpanes on both sides are broken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The bag is made of cloth, embroidered with tiny stitches in a floral

Floyd | pattern.  It has been turned inside out, and nothing remains inside.
Floyd |
Floyd | The chill saps your strength; you need warmer clothes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (out of the the interior of a broken stage coach)
Floyd | You step out of the coach.
Floyd |
Floyd | A swath of downtrodden grass

Floyd | The sky is dark and chasing clouds are gathering into black mountains
Floyd | defined by the blinking stars they blot out as they build.  Cold wind
Floyd | puts a vast ocean of surrounding grass into swaying motion.  The moon
Floyd | is up, and its bleak presence reveals a grotesque scene: Wooden debris
Floyd | is scattered across a swath of partly downtrodden grass.  Clothes are
Floyd | trampled into the dirt.  A looming silhouette turns out to be a broken

Floyd | stage coach, tilting towards you on three wheels.  The missing wheel
Floyd | is nowhere in sight.  A body hangs out of a window next to an open
Floyd | door swinging in the wind, and suitcases and bags are lying around,
Floyd | open, their contents spilled on the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | The grass is trampled in a corridor to the north, outlining a track of

Floyd | sorts.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | The coach door whines quietly as the wind makes it swing on its
Floyd | hinges.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You use the door as step and groan from the agony in your chest as you
Floyd | heave yourself onto the coach roof.
Floyd |

Floyd | The tilting roof of a stage coach
Floyd | The roof tilts precariously to the southeast and you have to struggle
Floyd | to keep your balance.  The railing around the sides provides a
Floyd | convenient handhold just as it once served to keep bags and suitcases
Floyd | securely in place.  From this elevated position you can see further
Floyd | around, but all you see in the flickering moonlight is the grassy

Floyd | plain, stretching in all directions.
Floyd |
Floyd | A piece of black material is stuck in the railing, flapping in the
Floyd | wind.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | What do you want to enter?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You take the material.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You are already carrying the material.  You shiver from the cold wind.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Much to your relief you feel the coat take the sting out of the wind

Floyd | as you button it up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It is a thick, woolen, coat.  The double seams and inside lining shows

Floyd | its quality.  It has a single row of buttons down front, with big
Floyd | outside pockets.
Floyd |
Floyd | The rustle of grass bowing to the wind is everywhere.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The pockets are roomy with ample room to warm your hands, or to carry
Floyd | stuff around.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The pocket contains an envelope.

Floyd |
Floyd | The windchill is uncomfortable, and you shrink into the coat as well
Floyd | as you can.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You get the envelope from the pocket.
Floyd |
Floyd | The envelope has a formal look, and the adress is:

Floyd |    Ms. Dabowe
Floyd |    Great Plains Lighthouse
Floyd | The envelope is sealed.
Floyd |
Floyd | The rustle of grass bowing to the wind is everywhere.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | The coach isn't important.
Floyd | Coat notwithstanding, it seems like an increasingly good idea to take

Floyd | what little shelter you can inside the coach, and wait for dawn.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your memory floods back; you received the envelope the very same
Floyd | evening you ran into professor Asunac in the university square, the
Floyd | day you took your step toward liberation, in earnest.  You recall the
Floyd | place, the smell, the din of voices enveloping you and the sense of

Floyd | being on the edge of adventure.
Floyd |
Floyd | You were looking for Charles in the crowded pub and saw him beckon
Floyd | from a dim corner table with two of your drinking buddies from
Floyd | Astronomy; "Mark?  Where the hell have you been?"
Floyd |

Floyd | "Sorry guys.  Damn Ass-unac stopped me on the way."  Your friends
Floyd | laughed and pushed you into a chair.  "Here."  A beer magically
Floyd | appeared before you, and you downed half of it before looking up.
Floyd |
Floyd | "He's going to flunk me."
Floyd |

Floyd | "Shit, Mark, I don't get it.  You have everything... why are you
Floyd | wasting it?"  It was Charles, of course.  Your best friend and
Floyd | wingman; smart, sensible and just a little bit brutal about it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your reply was drowned by the wind slamming the door shut behind a
Floyd | customer and Charles cursed.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Sorry guys, I have to go."He was clearly annoyed.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Hey, why so soon?"  It was Sandy to your right, asking.
Floyd |
Floyd | "The harbor master assigned me an apprentice at the lighthouse.  I'm

Floyd | not allowed to let him handle the machinery alone if the weather gets
Floyd | rough."  Charles looked apologetically at you and said something that
Floyd | was drowned in more clatter from the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | He pushed an envelope across the table.
Floyd |

Floyd | "Here.  Like I said.  Drop by my place soon, I've got stuff I need to
Floyd | show you."
Floyd |
Floyd | "You guys are thick as thieves," Sandy commented.  "Cheers for new
Floyd | beginnings!"
Floyd |

Floyd | "To new beginnings!"
Floyd |
Floyd | They had all toasted to that, and then the evening took it's usual
Floyd | course ending with you showing up somewhere you oughtn't be the next
Floyd | morning, and with no assignment to show for professor Asunac.
Floyd |

Floyd | You see no bag here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The tilting roof of a stage coach
Floyd | The roof tilts precariously to the southeast and you have to struggle

Floyd | to keep your balance.  The railing around the sides provides a
Floyd | convenient handhold just as it once served to keep bags and suitcases
Floyd | securely in place.  From this elevated position you can see further
Floyd | around, but all you see in the flickering moonlight is the grassy
Floyd | plain, stretching in all directions.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | The rustle of grass bowing to the wind is everywhere.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You painfully climb down, using the door as steps.
Floyd |
Floyd | Swath of downtrodden grass
Floyd | The sky is dark and chasing clouds are gathering into black mountains
Floyd | defined by the blinking stars they blot out as they build.  The
Floyd | blowing wind puts a vast ocean of surrounding grass into swaying

Floyd | motion.  The moon is up, and its bleak presence , and its chill
Floyd | presence reveals a grotesque scene; Wooden debris is scattered across
Floyd | a swath of partly downtrodden grass.  The looming silhouette of the
Floyd | broken wagon tilts away from you on its three wheels.  The missing
Floyd | wheel is nowhere in sight, but a dead horse with a broken leg lies
Floyd | next to the wagon.  It is still in its harness, but three other

Floyd | harnesses lie on the ground around it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (first opening the door)
Floyd | You limp over and haul yourself up into the coaches' dark interior.
Floyd |
Floyd | The interior of a broken stage coach
Floyd | The inside of the wagon is very dark, and the floor tilts in a steep
Floyd | angle toward the front left side.  A lifeless body hangs out of a

Floyd | window.  Padded seats face each other with just enough place to store
Floyd | small bags under them, and over the seats a shelf runs along the wall.
Floyd | A laced umbrella juts out from the shelf in the front right corner,
Floyd | and an embroidered bag is stuck under the same seat.  Otherwise the
Floyd | coach is empty.  The windowpanes on both sides are broken.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | You feel exhausted.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't take that.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | You realize that the coach is your best choice for the night, but
Floyd | consider it with mixed feelings.  The chilly wind makes the outside a
Floyd | bad choice.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That is not something you can open.  Enough.  Under the circumstances
Floyd | you'll just have to suffer the company of the dead man.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't take that.
Floyd |

Floyd | The relief from being out of the wind and behind the relative security
Floyd | of walls makes you sit down on the seat. Your body, almost as if by
Floyd | its own volition then slumps into a lying position, and all thought of
Floyd | anything but sleep is gone.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You break the seal even as you realize that the letter is not for you.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | The dream started chaotically, tossing you between memories.  Then it

Floyd | seemed to gain purpose and all of a sudden it placed you somewhere you
Floyd | did not want to be:
Floyd |
Floyd | "Unacceptable!"  My mothers outrage was tangible, making the expensive
Floyd | earrings jingle as her head shook.  I fervently wished I had concealed
Floyd | my plans better, but no way out now.  The confrontation was a fact.  I

Floyd | felt like a naughty schoolboy caught at a prank and hauled in to stand
Floyd | to justice.  Her panelled office gave people that feeling, quite
Floyd | intentionally, no doubt.
Floyd |
Floyd | "You are doing no such thing!"
Floyd |

Floyd | The walls in the office started to wave in and out of focus.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I already have."  I was trying to keep my calm, but the familar
Floyd | tension had started to build somewhere down in my stomach.
Floyd |
Floyd | A large bell rang and the office faded out, and I was standing in a

Floyd | square looking up at the university clock tower.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | "Aahh, there you are my boy!  Did you finish the assignment on the
Floyd | Trade balance with Belgium?"  Professor Asunac's nasal voice intruded
Floyd | and made me cringe.
Floyd |
Floyd | "I'm sorry sir, but I attended a class at Institute of Astronomy last
Floyd | night...  I haven't finished it yet."  The professor raised his eye

Floyd | brows, but didn't comment directly.  Instead: "Does your mother know
Floyd | you are flunking classes in Buisness in favor of star gazing?"  He
Floyd | didn't even attempt to disguise his disapproval.
Floyd |
Floyd | Stomach tension building up again.  The sky above the clock tower
Floyd | turned into night, and the familar constellations of the Northern

Floyd | hemisphere swirled around me, impossibly fast.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | You wake with a start and blink in bewilderment for a moment before
Floyd | recalling where you are and what happened.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The envelope contains a letter.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (first taking the letter from the envelope)

Floyd | You smooth out the paper and start reading:
Floyd |
Floyd | Dear Ms Dabowe,
Floyd |    I am sending this letter of introduction with my good friend Mark
Floyd | Dunne,
Floyd |    who has received his first appointment as Lighthouse Manager with

Floyd | this
Floyd |    assignment to the Great Plains Lighthouse.  I know that Stacangers
Floyd | harbor master
Floyd |    already has notified you about the appointment, and I know that you
Floyd | will take
Floyd |    as good care of him as you do of the household.  I wish to let you

Floyd | know that
Floyd |    I have trained him in his duties personally, and even if he is
Floyd | inexperienced
Floyd |    he has been a dilligent student and I vouch for his abilities.
Floyd |    You can trust him as you would trust me.
Floyd |

Floyd |    Your friend,
Floyd |    Charles Smitherhill.
Floyd |    Stacanger Lighthouse Manager
Floyd |
Floyd | Yes, this is the letter Charles gave you that night, and the coat must
Floyd | be the one Charles gave you so you wouldn't stand out.  Damn nice of

Floyd | him to write that letter.  Now you just have to remember what he
Floyd | showed you about the lighthouse machinery so you don't make a fool of
Floyd | yourself...  You better, but the lessons from the crash course he gave
Floyd | you doesn't quite manage to penetrate your headache right now.
Floyd |
Floyd | You fold the letter again and put it back into the envelope, slightly

Floyd | regretting that you broke the seal.
Floyd |
Floyd | A brilliant light sweeps over the coach, leaving you with a glittering
Floyd | negative image on your eyes.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (off of the seat)
Floyd | Okay, you're no longer on the seat.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The word "image" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You see no light here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (out of the the interior of a broken stage coach)
Floyd | You push out of the coach to the east, and dropping to the ground you
Floyd | raise the coats lapel to shield yourself from the windchill.
Floyd |

Floyd | Swath of downtrodden grass
Floyd | The sky is dark and chasing clouds are gathering into black mountains
Floyd | defined by the blinking stars they blot out as they build.  The
Floyd | blowing wind puts a vast ocean of surrounding grass into swaying
Floyd | motion.  The moon is up, and its bleak presence , and its chill
Floyd | presence reveals a grotesque scene; Wooden debris is scattered across

Floyd | a swath of partly downtrodden grass.  The looming silhouette of the
Floyd | broken wagon tilts away from you on its three wheels.  The missing
Floyd | wheel is nowhere in sight, but a dead horse with a broken leg lies
Floyd | next to the wagon.  It is still in its harness, but three other
Floyd | harnesses lie on the ground around it.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | The coach door whines quietly as it swings on its hinges, occasionally
Floyd | accentuated by a clatter as a particular strong gust of wind pushes it
Floyd | against the coach wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The horse in the harness is a typical stage coach animal, sleek, well
Floyd | built, with a long strong back.  Its tan coat is dry, altough there is

Floyd | evidence of sweat under the harness.  It's front left leg is quite
Floyd | obviously broken, but what killed it is a mercy bullet to its head.
Floyd |
Floyd | The coach door whines quietly as the wind makes it swing on its
Floyd | hinges.
Floyd |

Floyd | A sudden brilliant light from the east puts the coach in stark
Floyd | silhouette, and is gone as quickly as it appeard.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The harnesses appears to have been cut open and thrown off the animals
Floyd | that are no longer there.
Floyd |
Floyd | The rustle of grass bowing to the wind is everywhere.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The word "them" doesn't refer to anything right now.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't take that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You see no suitcases here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You are carrying an envelope, and you're wearing some clothes: a pair
Floyd | of shoes, a pair of pants, a shirt, and a coat.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | A sudden brilliant light from the east puts the coach in stark
Floyd | silhouette, and is gone as quickly as it appeard.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You limp over to the other side of the coach.

Floyd |
Floyd | A swath of downtrodden grass
Floyd | The sky is dark and chasing clouds are gathering into black mountains
Floyd | defined by the blinking stars they blot out as they build.  Cold wind
Floyd | puts a vast ocean of surrounding grass into swaying motion.  The moon
Floyd | is up, and its bleak presence reveals a grotesque scene: Wooden debris

Floyd | is scattered across a swath of partly downtrodden grass.  Clothes are
Floyd | trampled into the dirt.  A looming silhouette turns out to be a broken
Floyd | stage coach, tilting towards you on three wheels.  The missing wheel
Floyd | is nowhere in sight.  A body hangs out of a window next to an open
Floyd | door swinging in the wind, and suitcases and bags are lying around,
Floyd | open, their contents spilled on the ground.

Floyd |
Floyd | The grass is trampled in a corridor to the north, outlining a track of
Floyd | sorts.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | A man in his thirties perhaps, slight, and well clad, but his eyes
Floyd | stare into eternity with no means to convey what they see.  The limbs
Floyd | are stiffening, suggesting that he has been dead for some hours.  The

Floyd | cause of death is obvious... a clean cut across his throat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't take that.
Floyd |
Floyd | The coach door whines quietly as it swings on its hinges, occasionally
Floyd | accentuated by a clatter as a particular strong gust of wind pushes it

Floyd | against the coach wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | A beam of light from the east sweeps over the grass before it
Floyd | disappears.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You appear small and insignificant compared to the vast sky with its
Floyd | shifting display of chasing clouds.
Floyd |
Floyd | The coach door whines quietly as the wind makes it swing on its
Floyd | hinges.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You see no lighthouse here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You decide to follow the lightbeam in the hopes of finding somebody
Floyd | that can help in the other end.  If your luck have taken a turn for
Floyd | the better this is the powerful beam of the Great Plains Lighthouse.
Floyd |

Floyd |   You set off into the dark, a little uneasy.  Packs of wolves are not
Floyd | unheard of on the plain, not to mention bandits and the like.
Floyd | Limping, you trudge on, determined to make it through the night.
Floyd |
Floyd | Slowly, almost unnoticeable in the start, the stars start to pale and
Floyd | the sky begins to turn a lighter shade of gray.  Dawn arrives, and its

Floyd | bleak light reveals what your hoped for, a towering lighthouse
Floyd | stretching toward the sky like an admonishing finger.  Relief wash
Floyd | over you as you finally totter into a courtyard and hear the sound of
Floyd | gravel crunch under your feet.
Floyd |
Floyd | CLOSED CIRCLES

Floyd | Part II
Floyd |
Floyd | The courtyard of a lighthouse
Floyd | A lighthouse teethering on the edge of a tall cliff rises defiantly
Floyd | into the air.  Its weathered white wash is covered by a thin layer of
Floyd | gray salt, making it look dingey and old.  Behind it to the east an

Floyd | ocean stretches out into a blue haze where the rolling waves meet the
Floyd | gray sky above.  Beyond boulders to the west a wide open expanse of
Floyd | plains stretches as far as you can see, using a palette of green and
Floyd | amber, making it an ocean of a different sort.  A patch of gravel
Floyd | serves as a courtyard and is fenced in by the two wings of the
Floyd | lighthouse, sensibly shielding it from the brunt of the weather.

Floyd |
Floyd | Shrill shrieks from the seagulls sailing on the wind above pierce the
Floyd | constant din of waves breaking on the beach far below the cliff.
Floyd |
Floyd | Far to the west a flock of birds circle over a fixed spot in the
Floyd | plain.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The word "flock" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The lighthouse seems quite old, but it could be that the exposed
Floyd | position between the sky, the sea and the plains stretching out to the
Floyd | east weathers the paint quickly.  A daring seagull swoops down with an
Floyd | angry shriek.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (first opening the front door)
Floyd |

Floyd | Hallway
Floyd | The hallway is narrow and dusty, but well lit due to the tall window
Floyd | to the east.  Old paint comes off the rough wooden walls, and the
Floyd | ceiling once white, now has a gray layer of salt on it.  A few pegs
Floyd | have been hammered into the wall next to the main door and serve as a
Floyd | simple place to hang a coat.  Two doors stand shoulder to shoulder on

Floyd | the west wall, and another is next to the window on the east wall.  To
Floyd | the south, a stairwell with spindly stairs leads straight up.
Floyd |
Floyd | An old cloak lies on the floor, partly covering an old boot,
Floyd | apparently having slipped off its peg.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | The cloak is made of black oiled cloth, of the kind fishermen use when
Floyd | they are out in stormy weather.  It is stiff from salt and full of
Floyd | sand.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You take the cloak.  You pick up the cloak and give it a shake,

Floyd | spraying fine sand all over yourself in the process.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The boot has obviously seen better days.  Its dirty sole is partly
Floyd | coming off.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The word "sole" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | As you pick up the boot you hear something jingle inside.  You take
Floyd | the old boot.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That is not something you can open.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | The old boot contains a key.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The key is quite small and made of dull metal.  The key head is
Floyd | circular so it can be fitted onto a key ring.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You take the key.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Hallway

Floyd | The hallway is narrow and dusty, but well lit due to the tall window
Floyd | to the east.  Old paint comes off the rough wooden walls, and the
Floyd | ceiling once white, now has a gray layer of salt on it.  A few pegs
Floyd | have been hammered into the wall next to the main door and serve as a
Floyd | simple place to hang a coat.  Two doors stand shoulder to shoulder on
Floyd | the west wall, and another is next to the window on the east wall.  To

Floyd | the south, a stairwell with spindly stairs leads straight up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The word "call" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The story doesn't understand that command.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You see no east door here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't put that on the peg.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The cloak is made of black oiled cloth, of the kind fishermen use when
Floyd | they are out in stormy weather.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The peg cannot be moved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The peg cannot be moved.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Hallway
Floyd | The hallway is narrow and dusty, but well lit due to the tall window
Floyd | to the east.  Old paint comes off the rough wooden walls, and the
Floyd | ceiling once white, now has a gray layer of salt on it.  A few pegs

Floyd | have been hammered into the wall next to the main door and serve as a
Floyd | simple place to hang a coat.  Two doors stand shoulder to shoulder on
Floyd | the west wall, and another is next to the window on the east wall.  To
Floyd | the south, a stairwell with spindly stairs leads straight up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't go that way.  Obvious exits lead south; west; and out, back
Floyd | to courtyard.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Which door do you mean, the main door, the right door, or the left
Floyd | door?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | It's a heavy wooden door, once painted bright white.  It's open.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You close the main door.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | The main door is already closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It's been painted to match the walls, and quite narrow.  Perhaps a
Floyd | closet door of some sort.  It's closed.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | It's in dire need of paint, and quite narrow.  Perhaps a closet door
Floyd | of some sort.  It's closed.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The window is tall, reaching almost from floor to ceiling.  Its
Floyd | windowpanes are horrendously dirty, and only a pale gray light filters
Floyd | in through the thick layer of salt covering the outside.  The
Floyd | windowsill is extremely dusty and full of dead flies.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The word "windowsill" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | The word "windowsill" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You see nothing remarkable to the south.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | A dark stairwell

Floyd | A stair rises straight up through a hole in the ceiling, winding about
Floyd | a center pole that is as thick as a tree.  There's a railing on the
Floyd | outside of the steps all the way up.  It looks like a rickety
Floyd | structure, but both steps and railing seems worn from long use, so it
Floyd | must be reasonably secure.  It is quite dark.  The light from the
Floyd | rooms to the south and north shine through, but this room has no light

Floyd | source of its own.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Hallway
Floyd | The hallway is narrow and dusty, but well lit due to the tall window
Floyd | to the east.  Old paint comes off the rough wooden walls, and the
Floyd | ceiling once white, now has a gray layer of salt on it.  A few pegs
Floyd | have been hammered into the wall next to the main door and serve as a
Floyd | simple place to hang a coat.  Two doors stand shoulder to shoulder on

Floyd | the west wall, and another is next to the window on the east wall.  To
Floyd | the south, a stairwell with spindly stairs leads straight up.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | A dark stairwell
Floyd | A stair rises straight up through a hole in the ceiling, winding about
Floyd | a center pole that is as thick as a tree.  There's a railing on the
Floyd | outside of the steps all the way up.  It looks like a rickety
Floyd | structure, but both steps and railing seems worn from long use, so it
Floyd | must be reasonably secure.  It is quite dark.  The light from the

Floyd | rooms to the south and north shine through, but this room has no light
Floyd | source of its own.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't go that way.  The only obvious exit leads north, back to A
Floyd | narrow hallway.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't go that way.  The only obvious exit leads north, back to A
Floyd | narrow hallway.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | In 80 moves, you have scored 0 points.
Floyd |
Floyd | (To see a detailed accounting of your score, type FULL SCORE.)

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Hallway
Floyd | The hallway is narrow and dusty, but well lit due to the tall window

Floyd | to the east.  Old paint comes off the rough wooden walls, and the
Floyd | ceiling once white, now has a gray layer of salt on it.  A few pegs
Floyd | have been hammered into the wall next to the main door and serve as a
Floyd | simple place to hang a coat.  Two doors stand shoulder to shoulder on
Floyd | the west wall, and another is next to the window on the east wall.  To
Floyd | the south, a stairwell with spindly stairs leads straight up.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (first opening the main door)
Floyd |

Floyd | The courtyard of a lighthouse
Floyd | A lighthouse teethering on the edge of a tall cliff rises defiantly
Floyd | into the air.  Its weathered white wash is covered by a thin layer of
Floyd | gray salt, making it look dingey and old.  Behind it to the east an
Floyd | ocean stretches out into a blue haze where the rolling waves meet the
Floyd | gray sky above.  Beyond boulders to the west a wide open expanse of

Floyd | plains stretches as far as you can see, using a palette of green and
Floyd | amber, making it an ocean of a different sort.  A patch of gravel
Floyd | serves as a courtyard and is fenced in by the two wings of the
Floyd | lighthouse, sensibly shielding it from the brunt of the weather.
Floyd |
Floyd | Shrill shrieks from the seagulls sailing on the wind above pierce the

Floyd | constant din of waves breaking on the beach far below the cliff.
Floyd |
Floyd | A sudden gust of wind sends ripples of motion through the grass on the
Floyd | plain.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The word "swim" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't go that way.  Obvious exits lead west, to tall grass; and
Floyd | in, back to A narrow hallway.  A daring seagull swoops down with an
Floyd | angry shriek.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | As you set off into the featureless plain you realize that the
Floyd | lighthouse serve as directional beacon for sea and land travel alike.
Floyd |

Floyd | A swath of downtrodden grass
Floyd | An overcast sky thick with chasing clouds stretches in all directions
Floyd | and closes down on the distant horizon in a haze where green blurs
Floyd | into gray.  Cold wind puts a vast ocean of surrounding grass into
Floyd | swaying motion.  The bleak daylight reveals a grotesque scene: Wooden
Floyd | debris is scattered across a swath of partly downtrodden grass.

Floyd | Clothes are trampled into the dirt.  A broken stage coach is tilting
Floyd | towards you on three wheels.  The missing wheel is nowhere in sight.
Floyd | A body hangs out of a window next to an open door swinging in the
Floyd | wind, and suitcases and bags are lying around, open, their contents
Floyd | spilled on the ground.
Floyd |

Floyd | The grass is trampled in a corridor to the north, outlining a track of
Floyd | sorts.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You limp north along the track.
Floyd |
Floyd | Track through the grass
Floyd | An overcast sky thick with chasing clouds stretches in all directions

Floyd | and closes down on the distant horizon in a haze where green blurs
Floyd | into gray.  The blowing wind puts the vast ocean of surrounding grass
Floyd | into swaying motion, and trampled grass reveals that a coach and
Floyd | horses went past this way not long ago for sure.  Strange though,
Floyd | because there are no sign of a road, or even a path.
Floyd |

Floyd | A wooden chest lies on the side, halfway hidden by the grass.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The chest is undamaged, and its lid is closed and locked with a heavy
Floyd | padlock.  It is made of wood, with iron casting along its edges.

Floyd | Maybe that's why it made the fall from the coach without breaking.
Floyd | It's closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The wooden chest seems to be locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | What do you want to unlock it with?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The key doesn't look suitable for unlocking that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The word "padlock" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You take the wooden chest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You realize that you are in the middle of nowhere with no sense of
Floyd | direction.  Better stay within sight of the coach.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The word "shake" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You limp south along the track.
Floyd |
Floyd | A swath of downtrodden grass
Floyd | An overcast sky thick with chasing clouds stretches in all directions
Floyd | and closes down on the distant horizon in a haze where green blurs
Floyd | into gray.  Cold wind puts a vast ocean of surrounding grass into

Floyd | swaying motion.  The bleak daylight reveals a grotesque scene: Wooden
Floyd | debris is scattered across a swath of partly downtrodden grass.
Floyd | Clothes are trampled into the dirt.  A broken stage coach is tilting
Floyd | towards you on three wheels.  The missing wheel is nowhere in sight.
Floyd | A body hangs out of a window next to an open door swinging in the
Floyd | wind, and suitcases and bags are lying around, open, their contents

Floyd | spilled on the ground.
Floyd |
Floyd | The grass is trampled in a corridor to the north, outlining a track of
Floyd | sorts.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | The rustle of grass bowing to the wind is everywhere.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You overcome your aversion and search through the body looking for
Floyd | anything that can identify the traveller, but no such luck.  He
Floyd | doesn't even have a pen knife.  Obviously whoever caused his death

Floyd | beat you to the search.
Floyd |
Floyd | The coach door whines quietly as the wind makes it swing on its
Floyd | hinges.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You rummage through the tattered clothes, but what you find is either
Floyd | torn or too flimsy to be of any use.
Floyd |
Floyd | The coach door whines quietly as it swings on its hinges, occasionally

Floyd | accentuated by a clatter as a particular strong gust of wind pushes it
Floyd | against the coach wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You see nothing unusual in the pocket.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You see nothing unusual under the broken stage coach.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You limp over and push yourself into the coaches' dark interior.
Floyd |
Floyd | The interior of a broken stage coach
Floyd | The inside of the wagon is very dark, and the floor tilts in a steep

Floyd | angle toward the front left side.  A lifeless body hangs out of a
Floyd | window.  Padded seats face each other with just enough place to store
Floyd | small bags under them, and over the seats a shelf runs along the wall.
Floyd | A laced umbrella juts out from the shelf in the front right corner,
Floyd | and an embroidered bag is stuck under the same seat.  Otherwise the
Floyd | coach is empty.  The windowpanes on both sides are broken.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | There's nothing unusual in the bag.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You see nothing on the seat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You are carrying an envelope; some clothes: a cloak and an old boot; a

Floyd | key; and a wooden chest.  You're wearing some clothes: a pair of
Floyd | shoes, a pair of pants, a shirt, and a coat.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | This is a typical hat shelf, and it wouldn't hold anything large.  It
Floyd | is just big enough to hold the few personal items that would be
Floyd | covenient to have at hand over a long trip.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That is not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The word "laced" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The umbrella is purple, and judging from the frills and lace it looks
Floyd | more like a sun shield than anything suited to keep bad weather at
Floyd | bay.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The word "lift" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The seat cannot be moved.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | That is not something you can open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Purple.  And you're HURTING!  It's all purple.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You muse about it for a bit, but reach no conclusions.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Your destiny lies ahead of you in the shape of your new position as
Floyd | lighthouse manager at the Great Plains Lighthouse, you are sure.  Far
Floyd | away from your mother, the family company and business studies.  The

Floyd | whole sky above you and the perfect vantage point for studying the
Floyd | stars.  You are looking forward to it with an anticipation that is
Floyd | only slightly checked by your anxiety regarding the actual job.  But
Floyd | how hard can it be...?  According to Charles it's all a breeze.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Welcome to the IF story "Closed Circles".
Floyd |
Floyd | Before heading into the story there are a few things to be mentioned

Floyd | to help you get the richest possible experience of the tale.
Floyd |
Floyd | You will enter the story as a story character, free (within limits) to
Floyd | interact with the elements of the story and the story world.  Your
Floyd | story character - the protagonist - will come with ideas, a personal
Floyd | history, and a general outlook on life that you may not agree with,

Floyd | but which you cannot alter.  You as a reader are invited to accompany
Floyd | this character and to an extent decide his actions.  You will be
Floyd | challenged, both as the story character and as a reader to make up
Floyd | your mind about what is going on, and what is the appropriate response
Floyd | to what the protagonist experiences.
Floyd |

Floyd | If you at any time wish to be reminded of the most common ways of
Floyd | interacting with the story (commands that are available to you) you
Floyd | can type "help" to bring up a separate banner window with a static
Floyd | list of options.  There will be other ways of interacting with the
Floyd | story too, but it is up to you to find them.  Pay attention to what
Floyd | the story suggest that you do.  That way you will be pointed in the

Floyd | right direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | "About" will show you this introduction.  "Credits" will give you the
Floyd | acknowledgments of the game.  If nothing you type bring any reactions
Floyd | from the window, take a glance at the status bar at the bottom of the
Floyd | screen.  You may be inside a narrative that prompts you to hit the

Floyd | space bar to continue, like this screen.
Floyd |
Floyd | Remember; "help" will bring up a separate banner window with a sample
Floyd | list of options.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | [Runtime error: integer value required]
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It was Charles who provided the miracle that let you escape the
Floyd | choking chains of family duty.  Great friend.  The two of you had made
Floyd | many a narrow escape from whatever insanity either of you had gotten
Floyd | into.  A few years your elder and coming from nowhere to his position

Floyd | Charles had the brain smart to back his street smart, and more street
Floyd | smart than anybody else you knew.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The woman was really cute.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Huh.  Not really a very interesting topic.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Your mind shie away from the topic for the nonce.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Huh.  Not really a very interesting topic.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Hmm.  Hard to be conclusive.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You muse about it for a bit, but reach no conclusions.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Huh.  Not really a very interesting topic.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Hmm.  Hard to be conclusive.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Breaking the seal was probably not your smartest move, but considering
Floyd | the circumstances you can explain it with reason.  You wonder what
Floyd | this Ms. Dabowe is like.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Hmm.  Hard to be conclusive.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Hmm.  Hard to be conclusive.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Huh.  Not really a very interesting topic.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Huh.  Not really a very interesting topic.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The word "xyzzy" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The word "pray" is not necessary in this story.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Do you really want to quit? (Y is affirmative) >

Floyd |
Floyd | Goodbye, and welcome back.
Floyd |

Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Betrayal. It tastes bitter in your mouth. Your neck is still itching
Floyd | where the death-blow struck. The part of you that is called "Wiseguy"
Floyd | objects that you don't have a neck. Technically, that's correct.
Floyd |

Floyd | Let's take inventory, shall we? You have: a head, and a one metre long
Floyd | tail sprouting out from the selfsame head where the rest of your body
Floyd | used to be. That's it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your mental condition has cycled between catatonic, delusional, raging
Floyd | and weeping for you don't know how long. Right now is one of your

Floyd | clearer moments.
Floyd |
Floyd | It's a bright day, literally. Or at least it's not as dark as your
Floyd | average day. You see, sometimes when the constellation of some shiny
Floyd | junk, the stars and whatnot is just right, a feeble ray of light finds
Floyd | its way into your godforsaken pit. You fancy the light somehow

Floyd | strengthens you. You also fancy your tail is growing longer every
Floyd | day/hour/year/other useless measurement of time. Cell by cell for
Floyd | cell...
Floyd |
Floyd | Fang Vs. Claw
Floyd | The Duel That Spanned the Ages Episode 2 by Oliver Ullmann / cover art

Floyd | by Martin Oehm
Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 100703 / Inform 7 build 5Z71 (I6/v6.31 lib
Floyd | 6/12N)
Floyd |
Floyd | Octagonal Pit
Floyd | The pit is just large enough to comfortably pace around, as far as you

Floyd | can do that with your humble assortment of extremities. All compass
Floyd | directions lead to nothing but towering grey walls. That's right,
Floyd | there's no exit, except maybe up. A slight draft hints that there must
Floyd | be an opening somewhere above. The walls just have to end somewhere.
Floyd |
Floyd | A feeble ray of light comes glistening down, painting a shifting

Floyd | pattern on the humid floor.
Floyd |

Floyd | >The walls grow upwards into darkness. Only a shining piece of metal
Floyd | can be seen far above, like a distant star.

Floyd |
Floyd | You feel on the edge of starvation. You've felt this way since you
Floyd | woke up in this chamber. But you don't starve. Time has no meaning
Floyd | here. What is this, some obscure Buddhist hell?
Floyd |

Floyd | >You have a head and a tail, and no, that doesn't make you a coin.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can't see much of yourself, so you have to rely on your body
Floyd | sense: It feels as if you once had more appendages. It feels very

Floyd | awkward to move your tail. The connection between your head and tail
Floyd | feels flat-out wrong.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Right. You really want to get out of here. But you can't fly, you
Floyd | can't jump properly, you cannot even walk. Just slither.
Floyd |

Floyd | >You run your tail over your face - thank God there's no mirror in

Floyd | here. Your nose and ears are reduced to frayed stumps; your whole head
Floyd | feels like a skull thinly wrapped in wrinkled skin.
Floyd |
Floyd | A green ball of light drops into your pit. It is zipping back and
Floyd | forth at a dazzling speed. You're having trouble focusing on something
Floyd | so fast.

Floyd |
Floyd | There, it stopped for a second: You see a green, iridescent carapace,
Floyd | six legs, antennae... the carapace opens, revealing wings. It is a
Floyd | beetle.
Floyd |

Floyd | >It struggles fiercely, but finally the beetle finds itself wrapped up
Floyd | in your tail.
Floyd |
Floyd | Slowly, inch for inch, you pull the beetle into your mouth. Its

Floyd | helplessly beating wings tickle your face. Finally, it is in what
Floyd | counts as your stomach. You feel a flurry of bites from inside. You
Floyd | seize up.
Floyd |
Floyd | The thing must die. Your belly gurgles.
Floyd |

Floyd | Synthesizing such a volume of acid screws up your weak metabolism big
Floyd | time. You faint, but just as you do you feel the carapace give in and
Floyd | dissolve. There will be food....
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Please press SPACE to continue.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Yes. This is definitely preferable to starving.
Floyd |

Floyd | More beetles have stumbled into your pit over time. You didn't catch
Floyd | them all, but you've become quite adept at hunting them. Hide - wait -
Floyd | pounce - eat. Your conscious mind has taken a back seat for a while.
Floyd |
Floyd | A short time ago, you did something important. You don't quite
Floyd | remember what; it's all a blur. But you do remember a sense of

Floyd | accomplishment.
Floyd |
Floyd | You rest now. For the first time in ages you truly rest.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Please press SPACE to continue.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Warm Darkness
Floyd | Warm darkness embraces you. You are resting comfortably and fully

Floyd | relaxed, braced by a tightly-fitting shell. It feels maybe a little
Floyd | too tight.
Floyd |

Floyd | >I beg your pardon?
Floyd |

Floyd | >Your tail is much longer now and fits your new stature perfectly.

Floyd |

Floyd | >Warm Darkness
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >Octagonal Pit
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]

Floyd |

Floyd | >Actually half of your body, your tail is roughly one meter of

Floyd | emaciated and wrinkled wiggly-ness.
Floyd |

Floyd | >It struggles fiercely, but finally the beetle finds itself wrapped up

Floyd | in your tail.
Floyd |
Floyd | Slowly, inch for inch, you pull the beetle into your mouth. Its
Floyd | helplessly beating wings tickle your face. Finally, it is in what
Floyd | counts as your stomach. You feel a flurry of bites from inside. You
Floyd | seize up.

Floyd |
Floyd | The thing must die. Your belly gurgles.
Floyd |
Floyd | Synthesizing such a volume of acid screws up your weak metabolism big
Floyd | time. You faint, but just as you do you feel the carapace give in and
Floyd | dissolve. There will be food....

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Please press SPACE to continue.

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Yes. This is definitely preferable to starving.
Floyd |
Floyd | More beetles have stumbled into your pit over time. You didn't catch
Floyd | them all, but you've become quite adept at hunting them. Hide - wait -
Floyd | pounce - eat. Your conscious mind has taken a back seat for a while.

Floyd |
Floyd | A short time ago, you did something important. You don't quite
Floyd | remember what; it's all a blur. But you do remember a sense of
Floyd | accomplishment.
Floyd |
Floyd | You rest now. For the first time in ages you truly rest.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Please press SPACE to continue.

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Warm Darkness
Floyd | Warm darkness embraces you. You are resting comfortably and fully
Floyd | relaxed, braced by a tightly-fitting shell. It feels maybe a little
Floyd | too tight.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

Floyd | >The shell fits you tightly, like a second skin. It is warm and moist.
Floyd |

Floyd | >That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >You stretch vigorously and break through the walls around you. They
Floyd | crack easily, like old tree bark.
Floyd |
Floyd | Octagonal Pit

Floyd | Your familiar pit feels much tighter now. You can actually touch
Floyd | opposite walls with your legs. It must all have been a matter of
Floyd | perspective. Or rather size.
Floyd |
Floyd | The torn remains of a cocoon are clinging to one corner of the pit.
Floyd |

Floyd | A feeble ray of light comes glistening down, painting a shifting
Floyd | pattern on the humid floor.
Floyd |

Floyd | >It looks like a face. It always looks like a face.

Floyd |

Floyd | >What wonderful legs you have, four of them: The toes are especially
Floyd | beautiful. Unfortunately they're not quite made for fine manipulation

Floyd | of things.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Your physique resembles that of a salamander or maybe a velvet worm.
Floyd | You tail is longer now (and does not make up the whole of your body),

Floyd | and you have four stubby legs. Your skin, at least what you can see of
Floyd | it, is smooth and dirty grey in colour.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Your face/snout is somewhat elongated. No nose or ears are sticking
Floyd | out, but you can hear and smell nonetheless.
Floyd |

Floyd | >The cocoon is rapidly drying and cooling now.
Floyd |

Floyd | >You wolf down the leathery remains. They taste bland, like skin or

Floyd | hair does, but you might get a little nourishment from it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Eaten.
Floyd |

Floyd | >I beg your pardon?
Floyd |

Floyd | >Octagonal Pit

Floyd | Your familiar pit feels much tighter now. You can actually touch
Floyd | opposite walls with your legs. It must all have been a matter of
Floyd | perspective. Or rather size.
Floyd |
Floyd | A feeble ray of light comes glistening down, painting a shifting
Floyd | pattern on the humid floor.

Floyd |

Floyd | >It's all so easy now. With each of your four legs pressed against the
Floyd | opposing walls, climbing out of the pit is a breeze.

Floyd |
Floyd | Rusted Dome
Floyd | Thousands of octagonal pits are arranged around you in a neat
Floyd | geometrical pattern. One of them was yours - you're not sure if you
Floyd | could find it again in the uniform masses - but that doesn't matter
Floyd | any more.

Floyd |
Floyd | A huge metal dome is overarching the whole room. It is ancient and
Floyd | rusty; light is seeping in through a series of cracks in the ceiling.
Floyd |
Floyd | A towering door is embedded in the east wall.
Floyd |

Floyd | A peculiar piece of metal is stuck in the dome near the floor - a
Floyd | clawed arm.
Floyd |

Floyd | >This silver arm ends in a vicious claw. It has withstood the ravages
Floyd | of time better than the rusted dome - or it is just not as old. It is
Floyd | wedged claw-first into the wall.
Floyd |

Floyd | >It's the size of a castle gate and thicker than your shoulders are
Floyd | wide. You don't think you could move its wings one bit. Fortunately
Floyd | the door is slightly ajar, wide enough for you to slip through.

Floyd |

Floyd | >Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >This silver arm ends in a vicious claw. It has withstood the ravages
Floyd | of time better than the rusted dome - or it is just not as old.
Floyd |

Floyd | >You can't wear that. You must be thinking of a different game...
Floyd |

Floyd | >Every square inch of the gargantuan hemisphere is covered by patches
Floyd | of flaking rust. It is cracked in a few places.
Floyd |

Floyd | >There are thousands of identical-looking pits like your own. They
Floyd | seem to be all empty except for dust and bones.
Floyd |

Floyd | >But you aren't in anything at the moment.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Transport Corridor
Floyd | Decrepit light bulbs drench this spacious east-west tunnel in a sickly
Floyd | yellow light. The walls and ceiling are stained with large patches of
Floyd | corroded metal. Most of the floor is taken in by a wide conveyor belt,
Floyd | with only small walkways on either side.
Floyd |

Floyd | A glinting heap of scrap metal is piled up near the eastern end of the
Floyd | corridor.
Floyd |
Floyd | There's something next to the scrap heap - a lizard is cowering there,
Floyd | eyeing the silver shreds suspiciously. Its scales camouflage it almost
Floyd | perfectly against the rough walls. Casually, without any sign of

Floyd | surprise, its scaly head rises towards you.
Floyd |
Floyd | You shouldn't be able to interpret a lizard's facial expression, but
Floyd | somehow you do. The look it shoots you is one of close scrutiny.
Floyd |
Floyd | Your gazes lock for a moment, then the lizard's attention wanders back

Floyd | to the scrap heap.
Floyd |

Floyd | >The outline becomes clearer as you take the time to study the
Floyd | creature. It is indeed a lizard, and a pretty large one at that.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lizard finishes its inspection. It seems content.

Floyd |
Floyd | The lizard's scales shift to perfect the camouflage. It is gone; you
Floyd | don't feel its presence any more.
Floyd |

Floyd | >On closer inspection, the scrap heap turns out to be a robot, or at
Floyd | least a large part of one. The left arm is missing from its
Floyd | well-armoured humanoid body. The intricate mesh of overlapping armour
Floyd | plates is truly mesmerizing. Many of the segments are edged or

Floyd | tapered, marking this as a fearsome fighting machine.
Floyd |
Floyd | Yes, that must be its purpose. Its empty, expressionless face stares
Floyd | at you.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Enter saved game to store: Ok.
Floyd |

Floyd | >It doesn't miraculously reattach itself; it just clatters on the
Floyd | floor.
Floyd |

Floyd | >The arm doesn't miraculously reattach itself.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Taken.

Floyd |

Floyd | >The robot's left arm is missing from its well-armoured humanoid body.
Floyd | The intricate mesh of overlapping armour plates is truly mesmerizing.
Floyd | Many of the segments are edged or tapered, marking this as a fearsome

Floyd | fighting machine.
Floyd |
Floyd | Yes, that must be its purpose. Its empty, expressionless face stares
Floyd | at you.
Floyd |

Floyd | >That's not something you can open.
Floyd |

Floyd | >The robot's left arm is missing from its well-armoured humanoid body.
Floyd | The intricate mesh of overlapping armour plates is truly mesmerizing.
Floyd | Many of the segments are edged or tapered, marking this as a fearsome
Floyd | fighting machine.
Floyd |
Floyd | Yes, that must be its purpose. Its empty, expressionless face stares

Floyd | at you.
Floyd |

Floyd | >That's plainly inedible.
Floyd |

Floyd | >That's plainly inedible.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Transport Corridor
Floyd | Decrepit light bulbs drench this spacious east-west tunnel in a sickly
Floyd | yellow light. The walls and ceiling are stained with large patches of
Floyd | corroded metal. Most of the floor is taken in by a wide conveyor belt,

Floyd | with only small walkways on either side.
Floyd |
Floyd | A lifeless robot is slumped near the eastern end of the corridor.
Floyd |

Floyd | >The conveyor belt is almost as wide as the corridor. It looks as if
Floyd | it hasn't run for a millennium.
Floyd |

Floyd | >
Floyd | Transport Junction
Floyd | The corridor ends at a t-junction, separating into two smaller tunnels
Floyd | running north and south. Both tunnels have conveyor belts over the
Floyd | full width of the floor.

Floyd |
Floyd | The southern tunnel's conveyor is out of order, whereas the northern
Floyd | tunnel's conveyor is running at maximum speed to yank whatever is put
Floyd | there through a weirdly sputtering machine and then further north.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Despite some asthmatic coughing and grinding noises, the machine is
Floyd | still going strong. Its interior is jam-packed with rusty but still
Floyd | deadly saw blades. The blades are alternately extended and retracted
Floyd | in a regular pattern, cutting anything on the conveyor into small

Floyd | bits.
Floyd |
Floyd | Three saw-blades extend into the machine's interior, stopping just an
Floyd | inch above the conveyor.
Floyd |

Floyd | >
Floyd | Lookout Point
Floyd | The tunnel ends here abruptly, as if it snapped in two. You stand at
Floyd | its fringed edge, facing a vast dark sky, overlooking a grey

Floyd | wasteland.
Floyd |
Floyd | This is the first time you see the world outside. You are far up on a
Floyd | mountain; your view of the stars is almost unobstructed by things like
Floyd | atmosphere. Far below you, a storm is brewing over a wooded crater
Floyd | filled with roiling, writhing fog.

Floyd |
Floyd | Mixed with the howling wind, cries of primal creatures are carried to
Floyd | you through the thin air. Your heart speeds up. You wish to walk among
Floyd | them, tearing and rending. You wish for claws.
Floyd |

Floyd | >That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Idle dreaming won't help you here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Idle dreaming won't help you here.

Floyd |

Floyd | >The constellations are utterly unfamiliar to you, but that doesn't
Floyd | detract from their majesty. A blue swirling gas giant looms huge on
Floyd | the horizon, with a distant sun just rising behind it.

Floyd |

Floyd | >Idle dreaming won't help you here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >The constellations are utterly unfamiliar to you, but that doesn't
Floyd | detract from their majesty. A blue swirling gas giant looms huge on
Floyd | the horizon, with a distant sun just rising behind it.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Transport Junction
Floyd | The corridor ends at a t-junction, separating into two smaller tunnels
Floyd | running north and south. Both tunnels have conveyor belts over the
Floyd | full width of the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | The southern tunnel's conveyor is out of order, whereas the northern

Floyd | tunnel's conveyor is running at maximum speed to yank whatever is put
Floyd | there through a weirdly sputtering machine and then further north.
Floyd |
Floyd | Three saw-blades extend into the machine's interior, stopping just an
Floyd | inch above the conveyor.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Despite some asthmatic coughing and grinding noises, the machine is
Floyd | still going strong. Its interior is jam-packed with rusty but still
Floyd | deadly saw blades. The blades are alternately extended and retracted
Floyd | in a regular pattern, cutting anything on the conveyor into small

Floyd | bits.
Floyd |
Floyd | Four circular blades swoop down from the right interior wall of the
Floyd | meat grinder.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Despite some asthmatic coughing and grinding noises, the machine is
Floyd | still going strong. Its interior is jam-packed with rusty but still
Floyd | deadly saw blades. The blades are alternately extended and retracted
Floyd | in a regular pattern, cutting anything on the conveyor into small

Floyd | bits.
Floyd |
Floyd | Three saw-blades extend into the machine's interior, stopping just an
Floyd | inch above the conveyor.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Despite some asthmatic coughing and grinding noises, the machine is
Floyd | still going strong. Its interior is jam-packed with rusty but still
Floyd | deadly saw blades. The blades are alternately extended and retracted
Floyd | in a regular pattern, cutting anything on the conveyor into small

Floyd | bits.
Floyd |
Floyd | Four circular blades swoop down from the right interior wall of the
Floyd | meat grinder.
Floyd |

Floyd | >As soon as you get onto the running conveyor belt, you are sent into
Floyd | the meat grinder.
Floyd |
Floyd | Several blades descend down on you. Your arms and legs are severed as

Floyd | you are pushed right through the spinning steel. Another blade hits
Floyd | your bowels, rips right through your chest, and finally splits your
Floyd | skull.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |     *** You have died ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?

Floyd | > Transport Junction
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >The clawed arm is immediately propelled into the meat grinder.
Floyd | A loud clang emerges from the machine, followed by a grinding screech.
Floyd | The machine coughs up a cloud of black smoke, but continues running,
Floyd | although at a different pitch.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trio of blades starts to emerge from the left side of the meat

Floyd | grinder, but grinds to a halt after just a few inches. A burst of
Floyd | sparks showers the conveyor belt, but the way through the machine was
Floyd | free for a second.
Floyd |

Floyd | >That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >Despite some asthmatic coughing and grinding noises, the machine is

Floyd | still going strong. Its interior is jam-packed with rusty but still
Floyd | deadly saw blades. The blades are alternately extended and retracted
Floyd | in a regular pattern, cutting anything on the conveyor into small
Floyd | bits.
Floyd |
Floyd | Four circular blades swoop down from the right interior wall of the

Floyd | meat grinder.
Floyd |

Floyd | >As soon as you get onto the running conveyor belt, you are sent into
Floyd | the meat grinder.

Floyd |
Floyd | Several blades descend down on you. Your arms and legs are severed as
Floyd | you are pushed right through the spinning steel. Another blade hits
Floyd | your bowels, rips right through your chest, and finally splits your
Floyd | skull.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have died ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?

Floyd | > Transport Junction

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >Despite some asthmatic coughing and grinding noises, the machine is
Floyd | still going strong. Its interior is jam-packed with rusty but still

Floyd | deadly saw blades. The blades are alternately extended and retracted
Floyd | in a regular pattern, cutting anything on the conveyor into small
Floyd | bits.
Floyd |
Floyd | Three saw-blades extend into the machine's interior, stopping just an
Floyd | inch above the conveyor.

Floyd |

Floyd | >Despite some asthmatic coughing and grinding noises, the machine is
Floyd | still going strong. Its interior is jam-packed with rusty but still
Floyd | deadly saw blades. The blades are alternately extended and retracted

Floyd | in a regular pattern, cutting anything on the conveyor into small
Floyd | bits.
Floyd |
Floyd | Four circular blades swoop down from the right interior wall of the
Floyd | meat grinder.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Despite some asthmatic coughing and grinding noises, the machine is
Floyd | still going strong. Its interior is jam-packed with rusty but still
Floyd | deadly saw blades. The blades are alternately extended and retracted
Floyd | in a regular pattern, cutting anything on the conveyor into small

Floyd | bits.
Floyd |
Floyd | A trio of blades starts to emerge from the left side of the meat
Floyd | grinder, but grinds to a halt after just a few inches. A burst of
Floyd | sparks showers the conveyor belt, but the way through the machine was
Floyd | free for a second.

Floyd |

Floyd | >Despite some asthmatic coughing and grinding noises, the machine is
Floyd | still going strong. Its interior is jam-packed with rusty but still
Floyd | deadly saw blades. The blades are alternately extended and retracted

Floyd | in a regular pattern, cutting anything on the conveyor into small
Floyd | bits.
Floyd |
Floyd | Four circular blades swoop down from the right interior wall of the
Floyd | meat grinder.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Despite some asthmatic coughing and grinding noises, the machine is
Floyd | still going strong. Its interior is jam-packed with rusty but still
Floyd | deadly saw blades. The blades are alternately extended and retracted
Floyd | in a regular pattern, cutting anything on the conveyor into small

Floyd | bits.
Floyd |
Floyd | Three saw-blades extend into the machine's interior, stopping just an
Floyd | inch above the conveyor.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Despite some asthmatic coughing and grinding noises, the machine is
Floyd | still going strong. Its interior is jam-packed with rusty but still
Floyd | deadly saw blades. The blades are alternately extended and retracted
Floyd | in a regular pattern, cutting anything on the conveyor into small

Floyd | bits.
Floyd |
Floyd | Four circular blades swoop down from the right interior wall of the
Floyd | meat grinder.
Floyd |

Floyd | >As soon as you get onto the running conveyor belt, you are sent into
Floyd | the meat grinder.
Floyd |
Floyd | You try to lie down as flat as you possibly can while a set of blades

Floyd | moves in your direction. Rusty teeth rend at your scalp, but an
Floyd | anxious second later you are through with only minor lacerations.
Floyd |
Floyd | Two meters of conveyor later, you are dropped into a gaping hole in
Floyd | the floor. The world gets dark abruptly as you slide down some sort of
Floyd | chute cut into raw stone. The abrasive surface starts ripping the

Floyd | flesh from your bones. You cannot stop. The pain gets worse with every
Floyd | metre of bloodied rock.
Floyd |
Floyd | A faint light shoots towards you from below. Cool air embraces you as
Floyd | you enter free fall. The breeze alleviates the hurt a little.
Floyd |

Floyd | A dim greenish glow comes ever closer. Then you hit something.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Please press SPACE to continue.

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | You pick yourself up from a pool of crusted blood on the cool stone
Floyd | floor. Your wounds are scabbed now; you don't know for how long you've
Floyd | been out. You guess it must have been quite a while: your old friend
Floyd | Hunger is back with a vengeance.
Floyd |

Floyd | Square Chamber
Floyd | Fluorescent mushrooms on the walls are spreading a weak green glow.
Floyd | Stumbling around in the gloom you find yourself in a small square
Floyd | chamber. It is all but featureless except for patches of fungi
Floyd | everywhere. The ceiling is out of sight.
Floyd |

Floyd | >You hear the distant rumble of machinery from above.

Floyd |

Floyd | >The mushrooms are extremely bitter, but your ravenous hunger compels
Floyd | you to stuff down more and more. A tingling sensation crawls up from
Floyd | the back of the throat. Black spots are dancing before your eyes. Your

Floyd | stomach cramps. You are about to throw up, but your throat just blocks
Floyd | it. It is heavily swollen. Your scalp tingles.
Floyd |
Floyd | You shudder, and the shudder intensifies into uncontrolled spasms. You
Floyd | find yourself on the floor, throwing yourself around, cringing in
Floyd | pain. As your body locks in a full on cramp, you see a pair of scaly

Floyd | feet directly in front of your eyes. You again.
Floyd |
Floyd | Please press SPACE to continue.

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | It is hard to describe the feeling of poison working its way through
Floyd | your organs, leaving swaths of dead or dying tissue behind. Your body
Floyd | is working on its limits to keep from flatlining. But it lives. It
Floyd | recovers. It adapts.
Floyd |

Floyd | Euphoric, you eat some more of the venomous fungi. This causes some
Floyd | more cramps, but they are nowhere as severe as before. You eat some
Floyd | more, only vaguely conscious of the savage grin on your face.
Floyd |

Floyd | >I beg your pardon?
Floyd |

Floyd | >Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >You are carrying:
Floyd |   some loose mushrooms
Floyd |

Floyd | >(the loose mushrooms)

Floyd | Most of the caps are about the size of your foot. The different parts
Floyd | of the fungus are easily discerned because the intensity of the glow
Floyd | varies, the gills being the most luminescent.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Your physique resembles that of a salamander or maybe a velvet worm.
Floyd | You tail is longer now (and does not make up the whole of your body),
Floyd | and you have four stubby legs. Your skin is raw and scabbed.
Floyd |
Floyd | Out of thin air, the lizard you've encountered before appears. It's

Floyd | leaning against the south wall.
Floyd |

Floyd | >It is completely uncloaked this time. Its posture screams a mixture
Floyd | of contempt and boredom in your direction.
Floyd |

Floyd | >That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |

Floyd | >That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >This verb is not used in this game. Please use TALK TO instead.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lizard flails its tail around idly.
Floyd |

Floyd | >You can only do that to something animate.
Floyd |

Floyd | >You cannot speak properly with that primitive mouth of yours.
Floyd |

Floyd | >That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |

Floyd | >Square Chamber

Floyd | Fluorescent mushrooms on the walls are spreading a weak green glow.
Floyd | Stumbling around in the gloom you find yourself in a small square
Floyd | chamber. It is all but featureless except for patches of fungi
Floyd | everywhere. The ceiling is out of sight.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lizard is here, leaning against the south wall.

Floyd |
Floyd | >You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Keep your hands to yourself!
Floyd |
Floyd | The lizard snaps into a bipedal fighting stance, giving you a mocking

Floyd | wave. Bring it on.
Floyd |

Floyd | >It is completely uncloaked this time. Its posture screams a mixture
Floyd | of contempt and boredom in your direction.

Floyd |

Floyd | >The mushrooms have a strong smell of almonds.

Floyd |
Floyd | The lizard pops its knuckles impatiently.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Keep your mind on the game.

Floyd |

Floyd | >Its breath reeks of warm fresh blood.
Floyd |
Floyd | The lizard snaps into a bipedal fighting stance, giving you a mocking

Floyd | wave. Bring it on.
Floyd |

Floyd | >You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |

Floyd | >(the loose mushrooms to the lizard)
Floyd | The lizard doesn't seem interested.
Floyd |

Floyd | >You lash out at the lizard with all your fury, and it doesn't move
Floyd | out of your kick's way. But, just at the moment when you expect your
Floyd | foot to connect, it has vanished.
Floyd |

Floyd | You kick the south wall with your fore leg. It sounds hollow.
Floyd |

Floyd | >You can't, since the south wall is in the way.
Floyd |

Floyd | >You attack the stone in front of you with wild abandon. You toil away
Floyd | until your legs fail and you have to use your head to bash down the
Floyd | wall. Finally, your triumphant howl echoes through the chamber as your
Floyd | head bursts through.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Which do you mean, the south wall, the north wall, the east wall or

Floyd | the west wall?
Floyd |

Floyd | >You've bashed a hole into the wall, just wide enough for you to crawl
Floyd | through.

Floyd |

Floyd | >You emerge into a large spiry flowstone cave. Several possible exits
Floyd | lie before you. A plethora of sensation assaults your brain: the
Floyd | chilly draft, full of moisture. The smell of algae. The sound of

Floyd | running water. The rustling of unknown creatures.
Floyd |
Floyd | Overjoyed, you set out to hunt.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Please press SPACE to continue.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | In front of docking hatch A12

Floyd | Like many grand endeavours, it begins with you waiting for your ship
Floyd | to arrive. Standing with your two pairs of arms crossed in front of
Floyd | docking hatch A12, watching the depth of space. Waiting for your ride
Floyd | into battle.
Floyd |
Floyd | Staring through the narrow armoured window you go through inventory

Floyd | lists and ingredients that need to be restocked for the hundredth
Floyd | time. Just in case the galaxy decides not to go down in flames over
Floyd | the next few days. Just a pipe dream.
Floyd |
Floyd | A silver dot separates from the Grand Curve - the crystalline belt
Floyd | among the nearest planet, not the bar - and grows rapidly in front of

Floyd | your eyes. They are here.
Floyd |
Floyd | Thankfully most of the docking procedure is automated. Only the truly
Floyd | desperate or foolish are still around.
Floyd |
Floyd | Docking hatch A12 opens with a hydraulic scream.

Floyd |
Floyd | "Out of my way, D'heg." D'heg - herbivore, cattle. Most likely used in
Floyd | a derogatory way here. The speaker, a hard-bodied Scoiar, is
Floyd | shouldering her way past you. The look on her face might make a
Floyd | granite slab flinch.
Floyd |

Floyd | Another Scoiar smiles at you from the open hatch and waves you closer.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Please don't mind my sister's manners. She's trying to work up a
Floyd | rage, for the Wrathblade.
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "What's a Wrathblade?"

Floyd |
Floyd | 2) "Now who are you?"
Floyd |
Floyd | 3) "It's all right. I'm Khemgi."
Floyd |

Floyd | >> "A psychic weapon. They have a long tradition among us Scoiar, but
Floyd | they're exceedingly rare these days. Basically, a Wrathblade draws on

Floyd | the wielders anger and hate to generate destructive power. Most of the
Floyd | time, a Wrathblade looks just like a small crystal dagger, but when
Floyd | the wielder is really pissed, the blade becomes larger and more
Floyd | powerful. When a Wrathblade is fuelled with true righteous fury, it
Floyd | can cut anything. Or so the elders say."
Floyd |

Floyd | 1) "What's your name?"
Floyd |
Floyd | 2) "I'm Khemgi."
Floyd |

Floyd | >> "My name is Kaya. We're here to get a load of weapons for Xiar's
Floyd | Kluster. The angry one that just rushed past you is my sister Moera.
Floyd | You must be Khemgi. I take it you're with us?"

Floyd |
Floyd | "I am."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Listen, we don't know exactly in how much trouble Xiar's people are.
Floyd | Things could get pretty hairy. So if you'd prefer to stay here..."
Floyd |

Floyd | 1) "There's not much of a choice, really. If we don't fight now, we'll
Floyd | soon have nothing worth fighting for."
Floyd |
Floyd | 2) "The Great Mother wants me to join you, so I do."
Floyd |
Floyd | 3) "I'm actually pretty scared, but I'll do my best."

Floyd |

Floyd | >> "We're all scared. Even Moera, though she's working hard to conceal
Floyd | it. Anyway, welcome to the crew!"

Floyd |
Floyd | After you've exchanged some awkward looks with Kaya, the angry Scoiar
Floyd | - Moera - returns. Her mood definitely hasn't improved.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Where's the owner of that shitty bar?" she hisses. "I need a drink,
Floyd | dammit!"

Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Hey, you're still pissed! Good."
Floyd |
Floyd | 2) "That would be me, then."
Floyd |
Floyd | 3) (slip her a bottle of liquor) "Don't tell anybody."

Floyd |
Floyd | 4) (ignore her)
Floyd |

Floyd | >> There's a moment of tense silence.
Floyd |
Floyd | "OK, let's get the weapons on board", Kaya says. "Khemgi, would you
Floyd | lend me a hand here please?"
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Please press SPACE to continue.

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Halfway to Xiar's Kluster
Floyd | Kaya points at the crate of slug throwers. "We need to get a few of
Floyd | those ready. We don't have a lot of weapons ourselves."
Floyd |
Floyd | You start to unpack and load a few of them and distribute them among

Floyd | the crew.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Have you ever used one of those? I mean, I've played some holo-games,
Floyd | but that's not the same thing, is it?", Kaya asks.
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "A game can't teach you what it's like to kill."

Floyd |
Floyd | 2) "A game can't teach you how to kill."
Floyd |
Floyd | 3) "Sure it's the same. I know how to load, aim, shoot... I'll show
Floyd | you!"
Floyd |

Floyd | >> Kaya nods, unconvinced.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Please press SPACE to continue.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | 200 klicks from Xiar's Kluster
Floyd | Moera emerges from the cockpit. "Everybody listen up! This is now
Floyd | officially a combat mission. We've just received a distress call from
Floyd | Xiar's Kluster. They are in deep trouble."

Floyd |
Floyd | "It looks like a bad case of Machine infestation. The outbreak must
Floyd | have been triggered by our approach. The Machines are trying to take
Floyd | over the colony before clean supplies and weapons arrive. All docked
Floyd | spacecraft are infected and unusable. The people of the Kluster are
Floyd | being slaughtered!"

Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Machine infestation?
Floyd |
Floyd | 2) "Why are the ships unusable?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >> "They're already completely infected. They either don't open their
Floyd | hatches at all, or they'll self-destruct soon after the start. I've
Floyd | seen it happen."
Floyd |

Floyd | 1) "Machine infestation?
Floyd |

Floyd | >> "Yes. Their equipment is turning against them. Exosuits act on

Floyd | their own accord, guns don't fire at all or go off in the wrong
Floyd | moment, doors smash people... It's a nightmare. In our colony..."
Floyd |
Floyd | She hesitates. Her face is tense.
Floyd |
Floyd | "We had a fully computerized security system. Autoturrets and cameras

Floyd | everywhere. We thought we were safe. But then..."
Floyd |
Floyd | "First the guns just went amok, but then they developed a system for
Floyd | the killing. We were herded like cattle, driven by some animated
Floyd | Exosuits. Some of the suits had dead bodies in them. They prodded the
Floyd | survivors into the airlocks..."

Floyd |
Floyd | "Maybe they were out of ammunition at the time. At least that's what
Floyd | we were hoping when we made our attack. Can you imagine the
Floyd | helplessness? Not being able to use all the stuff you took for granted
Floyd | all your life? We were down to using sticks and stones against
Floyd | Exosuits! They feel no pain, no nothing. It took ten of us to down a

Floyd | single one of those bastards..."
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "How did you survive?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >> "We fled into the waste tunnels. They tried to torch the main
Floyd | tubes, but we hid in the nooks and crannies. Then the spiders came for
Floyd | us..."
Floyd |
Floyd | "They decimated us slowly. I can't remember much, I must have been

Floyd | mostly... gone or something. Finally your people came and pulled me
Floyd | out of my hiding place screaming and kicking. They'd cleared the place
Floyd | from the Machines."
Floyd |
Floyd | "Nobody should have to suffer this."
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Please press SPACE to continue.

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Approach to Xiar's Kluster
Floyd | The pilot's voice blares out of the intercom.
Floyd |
Floyd | "Attention! We've got new orders!
Floyd |

Floyd | The elders have decided to abandon the colony. Our main priority will
Floyd | be the colony's Warrior Seed. We dock, get the seed, cram as many
Floyd | survivors into our ship as possible, and make a run for it."
Floyd |
Floyd | You and Kaya look at each other.
Floyd |

Floyd | 1) "They have a Warrior Seed too?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >> "Yes. I've heard our last one was lost somehow, so we put a lot of

Floyd | hope into Xiar's. The spirit in the Kluster's seed must be really
Floyd | bad-ass, according to the legends I've been told."
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "I know how our seed was lost."
Floyd |
Floyd | 2) "Tell me about the spirit of Xiar's Seed."

Floyd |

Floyd | >> Kaya looks surprised. "And...?"
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "I gave it to a human. He failed."

Floyd |
Floyd | 2) "I gave it to a human. He tried his best, but he was badly wounded
Floyd | in battle. I trust he's still fighting hard for us."
Floyd |

Floyd | >> Kaya frowns. She opens her mouth to speak, but thinks otherwise.
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Tell me about the spirit of Xiar's Seed."
Floyd |

Floyd | >> "Have you heard the stories about the World Flayer? I think she had
Floyd | a proper name too, but everybody just called her that. She was one of
Floyd | the greatest generals in the Starbirth Empire. During the Rebellion,
Floyd | she executed whole planets for treason. Everybody feared her, friends

Floyd | and enemies alike, but she was absolutely loyal to the Emperor. She
Floyd | was like his bloodhound."
Floyd |
Floyd | "But the times were hard, so they had to use her, right? I mean, she's
Floyd | killed scores of enemies with her own hands. Her army was
Floyd | unstoppable!"

Floyd |
Floyd | "But I don't envy the poor soul that merges with her. It must be an
Floyd | exceptional individual to contain this spirit and keep it in check."
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "How did the World Flayer die?"
Floyd |

Floyd | 2) "Do we have a candidate for the Seed?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >> "I've heard the Empress had her killed. A nameless sniper shot her

Floyd | in the midst of battle. One of the World Flayer's own warriors."
Floyd |
Floyd | 1) "Do we have a candidate for the Seed?"
Floyd |

Floyd | >> "As you know, certain species are better suited for the job than
Floyd | others. We've never seen a Madagakkur or Scoiar survive a merge. I
Floyd | don't know how humans take it. Our best guess would be to find one of
Floyd | the old race. The Great Mother will know."
Floyd |

Floyd |  The pilot's voice again. "The sky around the Kluster is clear. No
Floyd | spacecraft around. No signs of regular Machine troops.".
Floyd |
Floyd | "OK, they've managed to get a docking port open. A group of Kluster
Floyd | people is rushing to meet us there. They have the Seed!"
Floyd |

Floyd | "Screw the regular docking routine. Brace yourselves; this is gonna be
Floyd | rough!
Floyd |
Floyd | Please press SPACE to continue.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | You've grown.
Floyd |
Floyd | You've fed.

Floyd |
Floyd | You've become the scourge of this little section of caves. The top of
Floyd | the food chain.
Floyd |
Floyd | But you don't grow any more. The bugs and mushrooms and fish no longer
Floyd | satiate you. You need bigger prey.

Floyd |
Floyd | Time to quit playing it safe. You cannot get any better prepared than
Floyd | this.
Floyd |
Floyd | Collapsed Bridge
Floyd | The rock is getting thin where you're standing right now. Your fingers

Floyd | and toes are clinging tightly to a giant limestone needle pointing
Floyd | northwest. At some point in the past, this might have been part of a
Floyd | natural bridge that would have lead to further hunting grounds. Now it
Floyd | just ends at a thin point in mid-air above a raging underground
Floyd | torrent.
Floyd |

Floyd | Fingers? You finally have some. You can also walk on two legs if you
Floyd | take the effort. Not that it's been of much use yet. And still no
Floyd | claws.
Floyd |
Floyd | The inky stream below generates a deafening noise, distorted and
Floyd | amplified by the sheer canyon walls. On the opposite side of the rift,

Floyd | you can glimpse some nooks and crannies in the wall. Caves maybe?
Floyd |
Floyd | You've regarded this point as a dead end until now. But with all other
Floyd | dead ends being really dead ends, this here is just an obstacle. It's
Floyd | time to take the leap.
Floyd |

Floyd | >You're not quite human, but you can walk on two legs if you want.
Floyd | Your front leg pair has transformed into a pair of arms with
Floyd | five-digit hands, but your tail is still present and actually comes in

Floyd | pretty handy for balancing. You skin is smooth and of a nondescript,
Floyd | slightly camouflaging grey.
Floyd |

Floyd | >In a valiant attempt at elegance, you leap. Each of the following
Floyd | free fall seconds makes you question your wisdom, though. Your body
Floyd | stiffens. You might at least go out well-poised. And not screaming.
Floyd |

Floyd | The impact pushes your eyeballs into your head. Only icy water and
Floyd | bubbles around you. Good. At least the water was deep enough. The
Floyd | stream pulls you with it for a stretch before it slows down and allows
Floyd | you get your bearing again.
Floyd |
Floyd | Broad Stream

Floyd | The north-south torrent has slowed to a manageable pace here. The
Floyd | river is braced by steep canyon walls, so your only options are to
Floyd | follow the river or try swimming upstream.
Floyd |
Floyd | A series of shrieking howls cuts through the air, ping-ponging between
Floyd | the walls. They must come from somewhere above. A cave maybe?

Floyd |

Floyd | >The river quickly narrows as you swim upstream. The current is also
Floyd | getting a lot stronger very quickly; You cannot overcome it. You're
Floyd | stuck to this part of the river.

Floyd |

Floyd | >You allow your body to drift downstream, towards the promise of new
Floyd | prey...
Floyd |

Floyd | ...and thus ends the IntroComp version of this game.
Floyd |
Floyd | The full version will include:
Floyd |  - further body enhancements
Floyd |  - wild combat action featuring our favourite four-armed barkeeper
Floyd |  - a climatic battle with Wiseguy fighting for his very mind and soul

Floyd |  - and much more.
Floyd |
Floyd | Fang Vs. Claw - Coming to a glulx interpreter near you this fall.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |     *** Thank you for playing. ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?

Floyd | > Broad Stream
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >More like IDKFA.
Floyd |

Floyd | >A not-so-hollow voice says, "There you have it. Just don't complain
Floyd | if you break the game."
Floyd |

Floyd | A gargantuan, multi-barreled gun materializes in front of you.
Floyd |
Floyd | >A not-so-hollow voice says, "There you have it. Just don't complain
Floyd | if you break the game."
Floyd |
Floyd | A gargantuan, multi-barreled gun materializes in front of you.

Floyd |

Floyd | >The ultimate in man-portable weaponry, the BFG 8999 features half a
Floyd | dozen glinting barrels attached to a pneumatic shoulder stock.
Floyd |

Floyd | In short, it's a big f***ing gun. It is humming happily with energy.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Taken.
Floyd |

Floyd | >You can't use multiple objects with that verb.
Floyd |

Floyd | >(with the BFG 8999)
Floyd | You squeeze the trigger and the BFG's low hum turns into an
Floyd | earth-rending drone. A sharp hiss releases a miniature sun, which, at
Floyd | an almost leisurely pace, hovers towards water. A choir of atomic

Floyd | deconstruction sounds as water is completely engulfed in plasma.
Floyd | As the glow slowly wanes, you see that water has been completely
Floyd | obliterated. (Except maybe from the room descriptions, that is.)
Floyd |

Floyd | >Broad Stream
Floyd | The north-south torrent has slowed to a manageable pace here. The
Floyd | river is braced by steep canyon walls, so your only options are to
Floyd | follow the river or try swimming upstream.
Floyd |

Floyd | A series of shrieking howls cuts through the air, ping-ponging between
Floyd | the walls. They must come from somewhere above. A cave maybe?
Floyd |

Floyd | >You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >The river quickly narrows as you swim upstream. The current is also
Floyd | getting a lot stronger very quickly; You cannot overcome it. You're
Floyd | stuck to this part of the river.
Floyd |

Floyd | >(with the BFG 8999)
Floyd | It takes an anxious second of delay while the BFG heats up, but then,
Floyd | finally, you dissolve into an excstatic burst of subatomic particles.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have died ***
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?

Floyd | > Broad Stream
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd |     *** You have died ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?

Floyd | > Broad Stream

Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >I only understood you as far as wanting to up.
Floyd |

Floyd | >You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >Broad Stream
Floyd | The north-south torrent has slowed to a manageable pace here. The
Floyd | river is braced by steep canyon walls, so your only options are to
Floyd | follow the river or try swimming upstream.
Floyd |

Floyd | A series of shrieking howls cuts through the air, ping-ponging between
Floyd | the walls. They must come from somewhere above. A cave maybe?
Floyd |

Floyd | >The canyon walls are littered with holes and dents. One or two might
Floyd | be caves, the rest just small crevices. There's something cowering on
Floyd | a ledge above. A creature.
Floyd |

Floyd | >It's four-legged, and albinoid, like most animals here. From the
Floyd | distance, it looks like a cross between a white tiger and a porcupine.
Floyd | White and feline, yet with numerous spikes.
Floyd |
Floyd | Now this looks like decent prey. Reminds me of a sort of critter I've

Floyd | battled in the arena. They were called Spine Beasts. This specimen
Floyd | looks a bit malnourished though. It shouldn't give you much trouble.
Floyd |
Floyd | Those words... they were in your head, but they weren't yours.
Floyd |
Floyd | The Spine Beast ducks into a cave above, out of sight. The howling

Floyd | ceases.
Floyd |

Floyd | >(with the BFG 8999)

Floyd | You squeeze the trigger and the BFG's low hum turns into an
Floyd | earth-rending drone. A sharp hiss releases a miniature sun, which, at
Floyd | an almost leisurely pace, hovers towards the ledge. A choir of atomic
Floyd | deconstruction sounds as the ledge is completely engulfed in plasma.
Floyd | As the glow slowly wanes, you see that the ledge has been completely
Floyd | obliterated. (Except maybe from the room descriptions, that is.)

Floyd |

Floyd | >You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >(with the BFG 8999)
Floyd | You squeeze the trigger and the BFG's low hum turns into an
Floyd | earth-rending drone. A sharp hiss releases a miniature sun, which, at
Floyd | an almost leisurely pace, hovers towards the BFG 8999. A choir of

Floyd | atomic deconstruction sounds as the BFG 8999 is completely engulfed in
Floyd | plasma.
Floyd | As the glow slowly wanes, you see that the BFG 8999 has been
Floyd | completely obliterated. (Except maybe from the room descriptions, that
Floyd | is.)
Floyd |