  
ClubFloyd Transcript:
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.
To skip directly to a particular game, click on its title: |
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ToyShop & Floyditorium
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#ClubFloyd Discussion
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| Jacqueline hollers, "Time for the IntroComp awards, everyone! LOUNGE. E. S. E. to get there." | ||
| Massive Auditorium | ||
| Rows of seats (the first half plush, the second half folding chairs) form neat semicircles in front of the stage, above which inlay spells out "2012 INTROCOMP AWARDS" (the first word in gold, the rest in silver). A curtain hangs on one side of the stage, marking out the area for the presenters, while waiters circulate throughout the auditorium, delivering light snacks to half the audience members. | ||
| You can see: READ THIS PLEASE | ||
| Players: dfabulich, Gunther, NereidaS, stadtgorilla, Jacqueline, Binder, DavidW, Tale | ||
| Visible Exits: west | ||
| Jacqueline arrives from the west. | ||
| Gunther says, "Way ahead of you, my dearest" | ||
| Binder arrives from the west. | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Gunther), "Yeah, but you're always one of the cool kids, G." | ||
| Gunther says, "not cool enough to have had time to play or vote :(" | ||
| DavidW arrives from the west. | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Well, there are the cool kids, and then there are the awesome cool kids." | ||
| stadtgorilla bows | ||
| Jacqueline says, "On sec, forgot to log." | ||
| Gunther says, "and to wake maga" | ||
| Tale arrives from the west. | ||
| PerrySimm arrives from the west. | ||
| Tale asks, "After the first part of the ceremony, do we get to decide if we want to continue?" | ||
| Gunther says, "no, but you get to score it" | ||
| stadtgorilla says (to tale), "hastes doch geschafft, wie nett" | ||
| PerrySimm goes home. | ||
| Tale says, "Psst, wir benutzen hier keine vernuenftigen Sprachen" | ||
| stadtgorilla blushes. | ||
| Jacqueline says, "One sec, brb" | ||
| Jacqueline disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. | ||
| maga arrives from the west. | ||
| Jacqueline arrives from the west. | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Small crowd this morning - I'll give it just a few more minutes (until quarter after), then we'll begin." | ||
| inky arrives from the west. | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, everyone and thank you for coming to this year's IntroComp ceremony." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "This is our eleventh year, and while it's a little hard for me to believe, it's my tenth year organizing this competition." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "(I think this is where people clap to make me feel important or, at the very least, old.)" | ||
| DavidW says, ">find where time went" | ||
| stadtgorilla claps | ||
| NereidaS claps wildly | ||
| Tale says, "Yay for old ladies!" | ||
| maga claps | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Tale), "Um, thank you." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "My thanks to Neil deMause for starting the competition eleven years ago. It was a great idea that has benefitted quite a few authors over the past decade." | ||
| stadtgorilla claps | ||
| Jacqueline exclaims, "As ever, many thanks to our resident inky, Dan Shiovitz, for his behind the scenes work - he does most of the code for the voting site, and he also is responsible for the tastefully tasteful and tastefully frugal decorations here in the auditorium today. Thanks, Dan!" | ||
| inky says, "huzzah" | ||
| Jacqueline claps. | ||
| stadtgorilla claps again | ||
| NereidaS claps cheers | ||
| Tale says, "yay for inky!" | ||
| maga says, "woo inky" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Thanks also to our resident maga, Sam Kabo Ashwell, for his assistance in helping me prep for today's ceremony." | ||
| Tale says, "yay for maga!" | ||
| stadtgorilla clapclap | ||
| maga says, "I make coffee *and* eggs" | ||
| Jacqueline applauds. | ||
| Jacqueline laughs at maga. | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Thank you to Chris Conley, Rob Kinnison, ML, Taylor Melton, Nereida Scales, and Justin de Vesine for chosing IntroComp as a way to unveil your idea to the world." | ||
| DavidW claps for everyone, especially if they provide breakfast. | ||
| stadtgorilla claps | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I hope that regardless of how well each of you did that the feedback you receive will be useful in making your work better." | ||
| Tale says, "hooray for authors!" | ||
| Gunther says, "whee" | ||
| Jacqueline applauds with a smile. | ||
| stadtgorilla raises fist akwardly | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Thank you to everyone who downloaded, played, and voted on the entries. Thank you to those of you who took the time to leave your feedback on the voting site. And big thanks to those of you who wrote longer reviews in various Internet forums." | ||
| Jacqueline applauds and smiles some more. | ||
| Jacqueline says, "And now for the results." | ||
| stadtgorilla gasps | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I'll announce the Honorable entries frist. The Honorable category includes any game that did not finish in the top three. The first of these authors to complete their entry, so long as it's within one year from today, August 26, will receive a $20 prize. This includes the following entries, in random order:" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Wasteland, by Taylor Melton" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "The Bafflingly Casual Adventures of No One of Significant Import, by Robb Kinnison" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Genesis, by ML" | ||
| DavidW applauds. | ||
| stadtgorilla claps | ||
| NereidaS claps for the awesome games she enjoyed very much. | ||
| inky applauds | ||
| dfabulich claps | ||
| Jacqueline helps to give them a round of applause. | ||
| Jacqueline says, "And that brings us to our top three entries for 2012." | ||
| Tale claps. | ||
| Jacqueline says, "If the third place entry is finished within one year from today's date, the author will receive $40." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "In third place we have an overture to the afterlife." | ||
| Jacqueline exclaims, "Let's hear it for Belief, by Justin de Vesine!" | ||
| dfabulich claps! | ||
| stadtgorilla claps | ||
| Binder applauds. | ||
| maga claps | ||
| NereidaS cheers! | ||
| Ellison arrives from the west. | ||
| DavidW claps | ||
| Tale says, "it!" | ||
| Gunther says, "woo" | ||
| Jacqueline claps enthusiastically. | ||
| Ellison claps | ||
| Jacqueline says, "So, vimes is logged in, but evidently idle in the lounge. So, um, I guess there will be no words from him, but I'm sure he'd graciously thank all of you and be humble and talk about how he hopes to aspire to EARN that $40 (possibly while rolling his eyes because $40 seemed like a lot of money, at least for me, ten years ago, and now it is not so much but I'm too cheap to up the award amounts)." | ||
| Gunther rolls eyes | ||
| Tale says, "ha ha" | ||
| Binder applauds what vimes probably would have said. | ||
| stadtgorilla laughs | ||
| inky says, "vimes would have such a way with words" | ||
| stadtgorilla fell to the floor | ||
| dfabulich lets his imagination run wild. | ||
| Ellison laughs | ||
| Jacqueline smiles and laughs under her breath. | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Speaking of big money, if the second place entry is finished within one year from today's date, the author will receive $60.\" | ||
| stadtgorilla is back on his feet | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Our second game takes you to a dystopian world of bureuacracy and janitor robots." | ||
| Jacqueline exclaims, "Please put your virtual hands together for COMPLIANCE, by Chris Conley!" | ||
| dfabulich applauds! | ||
| maga claps | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Also present is the musician behind the music, t.v.shit, aka Colin Djukic." | ||
| Binder puts his hands together, then apart, then together, then apart, &c | ||
| stadtgorilla exclaims, "yay!" | ||
| NereidaS exclaims, "Yay, robots!" | ||
| Gunther puts his hands together | ||
| Tale asks, "Wouln't that be complying????" | ||
| Ellison claps | ||
| inky says, "huzzah" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Do either of you have anything you'd like to say for the posterity of the transcript? I think perhaps only Colin is here..." | ||
| DavidW claps for Compliance | ||
| stadtgorilla says, "i think chris is not here..." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to stadtgorilla), "Well, then perhaps you should say something for both of you, Colin." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Unless you're shy." | ||
| stadtgorilla exclaims, "i can only say that it was a pleasure working with him and that i'm really looking forward to completing the game!" | ||
| Jacqueline exclaims, "Woo game completion! That's the spirit!" | ||
| Jacqueline applauds. | ||
| dfabulich cheers for completion | ||
| Gunther applauds 'speech' | ||
| stadtgorilla exclaims, "and thanks to you, jacqueline, for making this possible!" | ||
| Ellison says, "hooray'" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Aw, shucks. You're welcome." | ||
| Jacqueline blushes, just a little. | ||
| Gunther says, "three cheers" | ||
| stadtgorilla cheers | ||
| Gunther says, "(isq isq... ESQUE)" | ||
| Binder cheers | ||
| maga says, "hip hip" | ||
| dfabulich cheers for enabling possibility! | ||
| Jacqueline raises an eyebrow, but appears appreciative nonetheless. | ||
| stadtgorilla sits down | ||
| Jacqueline says, "And of course that brings us to our first place entry, where you learn to wield power in a fantasy kingdom." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "A big, warm, ifMUDdy round of applause, please, for RESONANCE, by Nereida Scales." | ||
| DavidW says, "woot!" | ||
| stadtgorilla claps | ||
| dfabulich cheers! | ||
| NereidaS says, "Oh my." | ||
| Jacqueline applauds. | ||
| Tale says, "huzzah" | ||
| dfabulich exclaims, "Congratulations!" | ||
| Gunther says, "Congrats to all the winners!" | ||
| Jacqueline asks (of NereidaS), "Any other words besides 'Oh my' that you'd like to share with us?" | ||
| NereidaS exclaims, "You don't want to hear whatever I try to pass off as a speech, but thanks to everyone who played!" | ||
| inky says, "hooray" | ||
| stadtgorilla cheers | ||
| dfabulich says, "yay meta-speech!"" | ||
| Jacqueline exclaims, "Hooray for a great non-speech speech, and congratulations again!" | ||
| NereidaS exclaims, "And thanks to Jacqueline for hosting!" | ||
| Tale says, "Horray for silence" | ||
| Jacqueline smiles. | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Thanks again, everyone. We shall now adjourn to the Toyshop to play some of these entries as part of this week's ClubFloyd." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "We'll start with first place and work our way down, and see how many entries we get through this week." | ||
| DavidW asks, "Does everyone know how to get to the toyshop from here?" | ||
| Binder exclaims, "I don't even know how I got here!" | ||
| Tale disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. | ||
| Jacqueline says, "We'll take almost a ten minute break, then meet in the Toyshop. To get there, type TOYSHOP. See you at quarter 'til." | ||
| Binder gets bored and wanders off to the Toyshop. | ||
| stadtgorilla claps | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Thanks for coming, everyone." | ||
| Jacqueline gets bored and wanders off to the Toyshop. | ||
| dfabulich applauds one last time and adjourns to the Toyshop | ||
| inky says, "yay" | ||
| inky leaves the auditorium to the west. | ||
| DavidW gets bored and wanders off to the Toyshop. | ||
| dfabulich gets bored and wanders off to the Toyshop. | ||
| NereidaS gets bored and wanders off to the Toyshop. | ||
| Playtime! | ||
| Toyshop and Floyditorium | ||
| Bulging toychests make this a child's (or child-at-heart's) dream. Play all day, play all night. A small booth has been erected and is staffed by a friendly robot. The sign over it says, "INFOKOM GAMEZ 5 cents". A small notice on the door reads, "PLEASE RETURN TOYS TO THIS ROOM WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH THEM." | ||
| You can see: banana machine, faucets, toy catalogue, a crystal ball, cuddly walrus, cloak, tic-tac-toe, thermometer, waldo whisper object, checkers board, Werewolf rules, Mike Tyson, frobozz magic dispenser, fun shiny toy, jukebox, orange door, mind chess, storyharp, save button, Best of Speed?, basketball, midterm monster, green button, colourcoding device, the '#help' cube, Gak, Photocopier, Pun Police Whistle, ice cream cone, Rejected I7 Keywords, yellow button, dfan's quest, FREE DONUTS machine, muffled groan, orange, dozen red roses, ClubFloyd Suggestions, jellybean, monkey guru, RPS Bot 3000, soda reading 'Don't drink me!', NightFloyd Suggestions, a pink corknut | ||
| Players: Waldo, Floyd, Tale, Binder, Jacqueline, DavidW, dfabulich, NereidaS | ||
| Visible Exits: northeast (to the Lounge) | ||
| stadtgorilla arrives, ready to play with the toys. | ||
| maga arrives, ready to play with the toys. | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Where did this car I'm carrying come from? Who is banseljaj?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Weird." | ||
| Ellison arrives, ready to play with the toys. | ||
| DavidW asks, "It's owned by banseljaj. Does that help?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I figured that much out." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "And no, it didn't really shed light on how I came to possess it." | ||
| Binder asks, "Were you rezoned for parking recently?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I don't *think* so." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "If I was, perhaps I need to be working out more." | ||
| stadtgorilla chooses paper. RPS Bot 3000 chooses paper. Winner: Tie. | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Okay, so, it's quarter 'til. Let's do this thing." | ||
| stadtgorilla chooses scissors. RPS Bot 3000 chooses scissors. Winner: Tie. | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Some of you have never been to ClubFloyd before." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "So I guess I should start with that." | ||
| stadtgorilla raises hand | ||
| Jacqueline says, "We'll play the game in this room, and we enter commands by directing them to our bot, Floyd. You can shorten the syntax by typing 'F GO EAST' or 'F 1' if we're chosing an option." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "All game discussion will be on a channel. Some of you probably aren't on that channel. Type @JOINC CLUBFLOYD now." | * stadtgorilla has joined the channel. | |
| * NereidaS has joined the channel. | ||
| Jacqueline says, "To speak on the channel the first time, type #CLUBFLOYD HELLO WORLD. After that, you can just preface what you want to say with a semi-colon, like so... ;HELLO AGAIN." | ||
| Tale says (to stadtgorilla), "It's like SUE, onyl you don#t have to do all the reading" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Go ahead and test that, please." | ||
| Tale says (to stadtgorilla), "Well, you do, but not out loud" | NereidaS says, "hello world" | |
| stadtgorilla says (to tale), "hehe" | DavidW says, "Welcome stadtgorilla and NereidaS to the #clubfloyd channel!" | |
| stadtgorilla says, "great to be here i mean hello world" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Excellent." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "So, from here on out, all conversation takes place here, and only gameplay occurs in the room. This makes the resulting transcript cleaner." | ||
| DavidW clears the save counter. | Jacqueline says, "There's just a little bit of play etiquette to cover." | |
| dfabulich asks, "I forget, how do you emote in the clubfloyd channel?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "If you've played a game before, please don't play with us or hint at us unless we ask for hints. Don't spoil us." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to dfabulich), "by :;bows." | ||
| Jacqueline bows. | ||
| dfabulich;nods gratefully. | ||
| stadtgorilla;nods | dfabulich says, "I don't think that worked" | |
| stadtgorilla says, "christ" | maga says, "no, t'other way about" | |
| DavidW buttons and bows | ||
| Jacqueline says, "That was me." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Semi-colon, then colon, sorry." | ||
| dfabulich tests ;: | ||
| Jacqueline tries again. | ||
| stadtgorilla now? | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Yep" | ||
| dfabulich says, "cool, thanks" | ||
| stadtgorilla says, "great" | ||
| DavidW says, "To direct a comment: ; ..Jacqueline thanks!" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "The other thing is that anyone can enter commands, unless some timed-event comes up and the group decides to designate one person to 'drive' with input from the team. Never leave a room in a parser-based game without group consent, and in choice-based games we generally agree on an option as a group rather than everyone choosing individually, which really wouldn't work." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Am I forgetting anything, veteran Floyders?" | ||
| maga says, "don't be a dick" | ||
| Jacqueline asks (of maga), "That's the first rule of the Internet, isn't it?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Oh, except we mean it here." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Right." | ||
| DavidW says, "If we need to push space or push enter in the game, we just 'push space' or 'push enter' without saying 'f' first." | ||
| maga says, "and authors count as 'played the game before'; if they want to comment, they should do so on #cf-spoilers" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Okay, let's try Resonance." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load resonance" | ||
Floyd | The Empire is growing. Floyd | Floyd | From the humble country of Monaire sprang an unexpected and seemingly Floyd | unstopable force that has consumed the entire eastern portion of the Floyd | continent. It's said that at the reigns stands none other than the Floyd | mortal incarnation of Dain, the God of Success. Beside him stand three Floyd | terrifying presences responsible for carrying out his whims. These are Floyd | the Reavers. Floyd | Floyd | With a powerful and immortal being serving as Emperor, how could the Floyd | relentless expansion of the Monaire Empire ever be stopped? Floyd | Floyd | >Next | DavidW says, "I played this (and enjoyed it a lot) so I gotta be quiet. :)" | |
| Jacqueline says, "I intentionally don't play the games during the comp." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "That allows me to be unbiased when reviewing votes for fraud, and also lets me play ClubFloyd afterward. woo." | ||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | Resonance Floyd | Floyd | A fantasy ChoiceScript game by Nereida Scales. Floyd | Floyd | >Next | NereidaS says, "Makes sense." | |
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | You stare down at the note that Reaver Harking had sent to your room Floyd | upon your arrival to the Imperial Palace. Floyd | Floyd | You've never been invited to a meeting with the Emperor before, nor do Floyd | you particularly have the energy to do so after your long journey. Floyd | Still, you don't have much of an option as to whether or not to attend, Floyd | as you're certain that the two guards standing outside of your door Floyd | have been ordered to drag you there if they have to. Floyd | Floyd | You are an Executor for the Monaire Empire, Second-in-Command to the Floyd | prestigious Reaver Gillen Harking. While your rank is high, Reaver Floyd | Harking's insistence that you stay out of the public eye has left you Floyd | with little reputation to show for it. In fact, you do little more than Floyd | play messenger between your direct superior here in the palace, and his Floyd | army's general out near the western borders. Floyd | Floyd | Being an Executor wasn't your choice and you were moved into the Floyd | position without your prior knowledge or consent, though, there are Floyd | worse things you could be doing in the Empire. Floyd | Floyd | >Next | ||
| inky arrives, full of funk, but no fun. | Jacqueline says, "Well-written, Nereida." | |
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | A meeting with a god was never something ever expected to deal with. Floyd | Floyd | While there are tales in the history of this continent of various gods Floyd | entering the mortal realm, it's not known to be a common occurrence. Floyd | Due to Emperor Dain's elusive behavior, rumors have developed implying Floyd | that he is simply a man pretending to be a god, or that he may not even Floyd | exist at all. Floyd | Floyd | You, personally, have never seen the man, but it seems that you're Floyd | about to find out the truth. Floyd | Floyd | You stare at the note again. From the wording, it's very clear that Floyd | Reaver Harking expects you to attend formally attired. Floyd | Floyd | A: As a gentleman, I'd be expected in a well tailored coat... Floyd | B: A lady such as myself really ought to wear a fine gown... Floyd | | Jacqueline asks, "Hm, should that be 'you ever expected to deal with'?" | |
| Jacqueline says, "Ah, there's Chris." | ||
| NereidaS says, "probably..." | ||
| NereidaS says, "My English is wonky." | ||
| ChrisC arrives, ready to play with the toys. | Jacqueline asks (of Nereida), "Are you not a native speaker?" | |
| NereidaS says, "No, but I've lived in the US long enough that I should know better by now." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I was going to say, this reads like a native speaker, at least thus far." | ||
| Binder says, "I'm still dying to find out if we're a boy or a girl." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "So, --- right" | ||
| DavidW says (to Binder), "That's our choice." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "That was the next thing I was going to ask. Who's actually playing... me, and who else?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "If it's just me I say I should be a girl, and I will feel awkward playing in front of all of you alone, which we normally don't do, but we could do anyway if people want." | ||
| inky says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | > It's clear what's expected of you, but you currently hold the third Floyd | highest rank in the Empire. It's certainly not impossible for you to Floyd | get away with a few things here and there. Floyd | Floyd | A: That's right. I stay in my everyday traveling clothes. Floyd | B: I still have my military uniform from when I was actively in the Floyd | Imperial Combat Forces. That wouldn't be completely improper. Floyd | C: I'd better stick to the gown. While a bit stuffy, formalities can't Floyd | just be ignored whenever I feel like it. Floyd | | Binder could be considered to be playing. | |
| Jacqueline says (to inky), "Golly. Okay." | ||
| Binder exclaims, "b!" | ||
| stadtgorilla says, "i've played all the games before" | ||
| Binder says, "I don't want to ambushed out of uniform." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "So me, iny, Binder. Normally we wouldn't choose without group consensus, but everyone seemed okay with B, so." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Well, I like gowns, but it seems our character does not." | ||
| dfabulich asks (of NereidaS), "What's your native language?" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "What do you guys think?" | ||
| inky says, "I think we should wear the uniform, yeah" | ||
| DavidW says, "No comment." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Okay, I'm good with that. Binder?" | ||
| Binder says, "I could be swayed into a ball gown" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I'm sure you could." | ||
| Binder says, "but my instinct was to armor up" | ||
| Binder flounces | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Okay, B." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | > While an Executor technically isn't part of the Imperial Combat Floyd | Forces, the Empire remains a martial government. Floyd | Floyd | You get dressed and make your way to the palace reception hall. While Floyd | most of your assignments had you traveling to countries outside of the Floyd | Empire's borders, you have a reasonable understanding of the palace's Floyd | layout. Floyd | Floyd | You've been given a small room in the guest wing for the brief periods Floyd | of time between your assignments. Reaver Harking's quarters and office Floyd | are on the floor above the guest rooms. You are fairly sure that the Floyd | opposite side of the palace is used for military training, and the Floyd | center area near the main entrance hall is used for administrative Floyd | things. The exact location of the reception hall eludes you, though. Floyd | Floyd | Luckily, you spot Reaver Harking standing near a set of imposing double Floyd | doors as soon as you step into the entrance hall. A notably calm and Floyd | considerate man with strikingly statuesque features, he always seemed Floyd | rather distant toward you. Floyd | Floyd | As with other Reavers, you've heard stories that he is a terror on the Floyd | battlefield, however, you've rarely seen the man leave the Imperial Floyd | Palace, and you've never seen him in combat. He is rigidly formal and Floyd | somewhat severe in everything he does, although you've noticed that he Floyd | is slightly more lenient toward you than anyone else. Floyd | Floyd | "Reaver Harking" you greet as his eyes turn to you, "Is my presence Floyd | here really needed? I mean, you did say I should stay out of important Floyd | Imperial matters..." Floyd | Floyd | He doesn't immediately respond, giving you an appraising look instead. Floyd | "You do realize you aren't in the Imperial Forces any longer, do you Floyd | not?" he quietly asks moments later. Floyd | Floyd | "Technically," you respond, "I'm aware." Floyd | Floyd | He pauses again, the slightest look of displeasure easily recognizable Floyd | to you on his face. "To answer your question, yes, you're needed. It Floyd | would be better if your situation changed." Floyd | Floyd | "Changed to what?" you inquire, though "better for whom" is probably Floyd | what you should be more concerned about. Floyd | Floyd | Reaver Harking avoids your question by opening the large wooden door Floyd | and gesturing for you to enter. Floyd | Floyd | >Next | DavidW says, "IB is ML." | |
| Jacqueline says, "So yeah, uniform has gone over well so far." | ||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | You enter the reception hall to find that it's significantly smaller Floyd | than you had expected. The furnishings were tasteful enough, though Floyd | they seemed lacking considering this was in the palace of the grand Floyd | Monaire Empire. The first person you notice as you walk through the Floyd | room is a man in rather flashy black and red armor to your right. He Floyd | lets a disarming smile show as you glance his way. Floyd | Floyd | Reaver Harking follows in and immediately steps past you. "Dain," he Floyd | nods toward a second, finely dressed man in the room. Floyd | Floyd | Emperor Dain? Floyd | Floyd | This is the supposed god who started this empire? Floyd | Floyd | You turn your attention toward the Emperor. You've never seen him Floyd | before, but he looks... human. Normal. Perhaps he really is just a man Floyd | after all... Floyd | Floyd | "Gillen," the Emperor returns Reaver Harking's greeting. Floyd | Floyd | And since when is someone able to be on a first name basis with the Floyd | Emperor? Floyd | Floyd | "Please allow me to present my Second," Harking starts gesturing to Floyd | you, "In her service to me, she's performed remarkably dutifully. Floyd | Therefore, I'd like to nominate her for the position of our newest Floyd | Reaver." Floyd | Floyd | You are slightly taken aback by this statement. Floyd | Floyd | New Reaver? You? Floyd | Floyd | The Reavers of the Monaire Empire were among the most influential and Floyd | respected people in the continent, and Reaver Harking thought to make Floyd | you one of them, an equal to himself? Floyd | Floyd | "I..." Floyd | Floyd | You begin to speak, but fall silent when you notice the Emperor's eyes Floyd | on you. Though you had thought him to look completely normal before, Floyd | his current expression seems utterly cold and emotionless. It's Floyd | impossible to tell if he's disappointed, curious, amused, or just Floyd | doesn't care. Floyd | Floyd | "Objections?" the Emperor asks, shifting his focus to the man to your Floyd | right. Floyd | Floyd | "Nope," the armored man replies, holding a steady grin. Floyd | Floyd | "Then I believe we have a new Reaver," the Emperor calmly declares. Floyd | Floyd | With those words, the newest chapter in the story of your life begins. Floyd | Floyd | >Next | Binder:P | |
| Jacqueline says, "I am guessing this is not a good thing." | ||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | After the meeting, on your way back to your room, you think back to the Floyd | events that brought you into the Monaire Empire in the first place. Floyd | Floyd | A: I was born here, and joined the Imperial Combat Forces as soon as I Floyd | was old enough. Floyd | B: I'm a professor from a continent far across the western ocean. Floyd | Unfortunately, a shipwreck left me stranded in this foreign land. Floyd | C: The Empire is a blight on this continent. Being a part of it was Floyd | never my choice. Floyd | | DavidW says, "damn. IB disconnected too soon." | |
| Jacqueline says, "Hm." | ||
| Binder says, "ooh, a subversive element" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "So, we're not without combat experience, as implied earlier, but yeah, I kinda like C." | ||
| DavidW says, "I notice with a lot of ChoiceScript games an interesting tendency to fill in backstory after you've made other choices." | ||
| Binder says, "I like C, too." | ||
| NereidaS asks, "Is dynamic backstory a bad thing?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "It always reminds me of how Mount & Blade sets up your stats, and I really like the effect." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Nereida), "Not at all, at least not in my book." | ||
| DavidW says (to NereidaS), "Not at all." | ||
| Binder says, "I like dynamic backstory early on. It's more unsettling to me if it's deferred." | ||
| DavidW says, "It just seems to be a feature that ChoiceScript specializes in. I don't know why." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "No, inky? 2 of us want C, so, and that's a quorum..." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" | ||
Floyd | > Oh? Then what was your life like before you were in the Empire? Floyd | Floyd | A: I was a Sage of the Temple of Anoe, in the western region of the Floyd | continent. The Empire completely took over my country and left me with Floyd | no real "home" to go back to. Floyd | B: I was a painter in the atheistic northern country of Asylia. It was Floyd | only because of the Empire's "integration" policies that I ended up Floyd | here. Floyd | C: I'm an Elf from the Sedel region to the south. I set out to stop the Floyd | Empire before it could reach our people, but failed. Floyd | | Binder says, "not an elf. not an elf. not an elf." | |
| inky says, "ha ha" | ||
| Binder says, "That's really my only input here." | ||
| NereidaS asks, "Why the elf hate?" | ||
| inky says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | > You were born in the isolationist country of Asylia, where art and Floyd | science were valued above all else. As a painter of remarkable talent, Floyd | you were given the title of "Sirilas", meaning "one who inspires" in Floyd | the old tongue. The title was held in the highest regard in Asylia, Floyd | possibly on par with what the polytheistic nations of this continent Floyd | consider "Sages". Floyd | Floyd | Perhaps it is because of this unconventional thinking that your people Floyd | were so brutally massacred by the Empire. Those that survived were Floyd | forced into the Imperial military as little more than cannon fodder. It | Jacqueline says, "Aw, I saw elf and started bouncing and saying 'Elf! Elf! Elf!' but mostly because I sometimes like to act like I'm 5." | |
Floyd | was only due to the intervention of Reaver Harking that you were able Floyd | to escape the mass graves that awaited your people. Floyd | Floyd | While you haven't seen or heard news of your family since the initial Floyd | invasion, you consider it very likely that someone in the Empire has to Floyd | know something about what happened to your home. Floyd | Floyd | Unfortunately, you possess a well known Asylian specific trait, vivid Floyd | green flecks scattered throughout the coloration of your irises. While Floyd | not immediately noticeable by most people, this has caused quite a bit Floyd | of negativity to be hurled your way. Floyd | Floyd | I assume they give names in Asylia. What's your given name? Floyd | Floyd | >Type Something | inky says, "ha ha" | |
| inky says, "whoah, crazy, free-form input in a CYOA" | ||
| DavidW says, "hm. Never saw the painter option before." | ||
| inky asks (of DavidW), "oh, hunh, so that's influenced by earlier choices?" | ||
| Binder says, "I'm something of a fantasy racist. I'm tired of elves always having huge advantages and being intrinsically special and magic." | ||
| DavidW says (to inky), "I think so." | ||
| DavidW says, "When I played the first time, I was a linguist." | ||
| stadtgorilla exclaims, "I'll leave you here. Have a nice evening!" | ||
| NereidaS says, "The painter option is available if you chose to be forced into the Empire." | ||
| DavidW says, "ah" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "So, hm.... HaterOfElves could be our name." | ||
| stadtgorilla goes home. | Jacqueline says, "Except I like elves, so." | |
| DavidW asks, "How about 'Hatter', then?" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "How about something ... Hatter?" | ||
| DavidW says, "I like hats." | ||
| NereidaS says, "Hats are nice." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "True" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "But are we mad?" | ||
| DavidW says, "Perhaps we paint hats on top of figures in our history books." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I've heard bad things about hatters." | ||
| Binder says, "Elfhat." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Binder), "That makes us sound phat." | ||
| NereidaS says, "I've never met a bad hatter. Or any hatter at all..." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "We could just be Judy or something." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Okay, Hatter." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "Hatter" | ||
Floyd | And your surname? Floyd | Floyd | >Type Something | Jacqueline says, "Golly" | |
| Jacqueline says, "That's an interjection, not a suggestion." | ||
| Binder asks, "Hatter Golly?" | ||
| Binder says, "oh" | ||
| DavidW Reaver Hatter Golly | Jacqueline smiles. | |
| Binder says, "I kind of like it." | ||
| Jacqueline shrugs. | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "Golly" | ||
Floyd | Reaver Hatter Golly. Floyd | Floyd | It has a somewhat satisfying ring to it as you say your new title in Floyd | your head. Floyd | Floyd | Yet... You can't help but feel completely out of place. Floyd | Floyd | Aside from the borderline hostile reactions you receive when people Floyd | figure out that you're a "godless Asylian", you have no skills that are Floyd | of any real use to the Empire. Floyd | Floyd | Sure, back home, your talent in painting had earned you the greatest Floyd | honor and title in Asylia. With your culture gone however, that title Floyd | was little more than a meaningless bit of sentimentality. Floyd | Floyd | Reaver Harking had placed you in an out of the way place as a guard for Floyd | a time, but you were probably the worst guard the Empire had ever been Floyd | unfortunate enough to have. Floyd | Floyd | No matter how you thought about it, to the Empire, a painter is Floyd | completely useless. The fact that Reaver Harking found you important Floyd | enough to not only save from certain death, but to make his Second was Floyd | definitely... odd. Floyd | Floyd | Now, here you are in one of the highest positions of authority in the Floyd | Empire. The previous Reavers were all legends, terrifying and awesome Floyd | in their abilities. They were the type of people who you followed, Floyd | unquestioningly, knowing they were capable of utterly destroying your Floyd | life. Floyd | Floyd | And here you are, Reaver Golly, expected to rank among these terrible Floyd | giants. Floyd | Floyd | A: It'll take a lot of hard work, but I'll make it my goal to live up Floyd | to the title. Floyd | B: I don't know why I was granted the title, but maybe I'm good enough Floyd | for it the way that I am. Floyd | C: Maybe I was chosen for a different reason. Floyd | D: This is... wrong. I don't think I can do this. Floyd | | Binder says, "Reaver Hatter Golly is a glorious name." | |
| NereidaS exclaims, "It's the best name ever!" | ||
| DavidW says, "hee" | ||
| Binder says, "inspiring mild hostility is a great talent what is the protag moaning about" | ||
| Jacqueline laughs. | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I am all about C here." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Because this smells like a not-even-thinly-veiled trap." | ||
| Binder says, "I concur" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Or my name isn't Reaver Hatter Golly." | ||
| Binder chortles | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "C" | ||
Floyd | > It's possible that you don't seem like the previous Reavers because Floyd | you aren't supposed to be like them. Whatever Reavers have done in the Floyd | past, they weren't you. Floyd | Floyd | In any case, no one's even told you what you were supposed to be doing Floyd | as a Reaver. That, however will have to wait until later. The Floyd | uncertainty of your situation causes sleep to be nearly impossible that Floyd | night, but somehow you manage. Floyd | Floyd | >Next | Jacqueline says, "Hm, consider a second comma after 'however'" | |
| Jacqueline says, "Like, since you're here and reading with us and stuff." | ||
| NereidaS exclaims, "Ah, thank you!" | ||
| Binder says, "pooch, I need to bail on this and go afk; fun setting so far." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Pooch?" | ||
| Jacqueline raises an eyebrow. | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Come back later, Binder." | ||
| Binder says (to Jacqueline), "I know you don't like it when I say shit and fuck on the damn transcript" | ||
| Binder D | ||
| DavidW says, "oh my ears!" | ||
| Jacqueline laughs. "Great. Thanks." | ||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | You push with all of your might on the side of the wardrobe, but only Floyd | manage to move it a few centimeters. Reaver Harking had informed you Floyd | this morning that you could move into a more permanent room of your Floyd | choosing in the palace. You managed to find a very nice room in a Floyd | rather secluded and rarely used part of the building. It merely needed Floyd | some cleaning and rearranging to make it habitable. Floyd | Floyd | Unfortunately, you only figured out that the fine-crafted furnishings Floyd | in the room were also twice as heavy as regular furnishings AFTER you Floyd | claimed the room and moved all of your belongings halfway across the Floyd | palace. Floyd | Floyd | You take in a determined breath and go for another hard shove on the Floyd | wardrobe. Surprisingly, it moves a full meter forward, nearly knocking Floyd | you off balance. Floyd | Floyd | "Whoa, sorry about that," a head pops out from the other side of the Floyd | wardrobe. Floyd | Floyd | You immediately recognize him as the unknown man at the meeting with Floyd | the Emperor yesterday. You note, however, that his armor today is white Floyd | and silver. Floyd | Floyd | He steps toward you and happily stretches his hand forward, "Name's Floyd | Syphel. We sort'a met yesterday." Floyd | Floyd | A: Shake his hand. Floyd | B: Curtsy in greeting. Floyd | C: Ignore his greeting. Floyd | | ||
| inky says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | > "Reaver Golly," you say aloud for the first time, offering him a Floyd | handshake. You can't help but notice some awkwardness in the way you Floyd | announced your name. Floyd | Floyd | Syphel, however, doesn't seem to take note of it. Floyd | Floyd | "Ya're Hatter. I know," he casually mentions as you get back to trying Floyd | to push the wardrobe into the exact perfect spot. "Ya know, ya can get Floyd | someone to do this for ya," he adds. Floyd | Floyd | "Like you?" you ask, making a few more centimeters of progress. Another Floyd | good push should move it to the right place. Floyd | Floyd | "Sure," he grins and takes your place. One hard push and the wardrobe Floyd | stands in the exact right spot. Floyd | Floyd | "Perfect," you nod, admiring it's placement. Floyd | Floyd | You notice that Syphel is speaking a strange dialect of the common Floyd | tongue, but are unable to place where it's from. His accent forces you Floyd | to listen intently when he's speaking in order to clearly understand Floyd | him. Floyd | Floyd | As far as you can tell, under that armor is only a man of average Floyd | build, yet he seems to have the strength of someone at least twice his Floyd | size. Floyd | Floyd | "Anything else?" Syphel asks, almost as if he's taking the task of Floyd | moving furniture as some sort of challenge. Floyd | Floyd | "Well, that bed could stand to be a bit farther from the window." Floyd | Floyd | "Done," he immediately gets on the task. It takes little more than one Floyd | good push to move the large wooden framed bed. Floyd | Floyd | "Great," you nod in approval, "What was it that you do here again?" Floyd | Floyd | "Reaver," he grins. Floyd | Floyd | The realization of how inappropriate what you've just done is suddenly Floyd | hits you. Floyd | Floyd | >Next | DavidW says, "Should be "admiring its placement"." | |
| Jacqueline says, "it's placement should be its placement" | ||
| NereidaS says, "Ah, I see. Thanks again." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "So, hrm." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Now I'm curious if this plays out the same way if we're a boy." | ||
| maga bites back syphilis jokes (or, okay, fails to come up with sufficiently funny ones) | ||
| Jacqueline says, "But I guess I shall have to go back and play again to see." | ||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | A: I should apologize. Floyd | B: I'll just play it off as if nothing happened. Floyd | C: Why didn't he say that in the first place?! This is his own fault. Floyd | | Jacqueline says, "We're equals, who cares? B" | |
| NereidaS exclaims, "That's the spirit!" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Also, even if we're not equals, he helped of his own accord, and sometimes people in power hate titles and being treated differently." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | > "Erm, right," you quietly respond before changing the subject, "But Floyd | aren't there only ever three Reavers at a time?" You've met all three Floyd | Reavers during your time with the Empire. Syphel was not one of them. Floyd | Floyd | "Yep. Ya, me, and Gillen," he easily answers. Floyd | Floyd | "What happened to Reaver Triolo?" you question. Floyd | Floyd | "Dunno," Syphel casually shrugs. Floyd | Floyd | Reaver Triolo was famous for being the greatest swordsman of the era. Floyd | He was also known for being ruthless and excessively cruel, usually Floyd | choosing to be at the front of a battle rather than direct it from the Floyd | sidelines. The fact that he chose to wear the most intimidating set of Floyd | armor he could find certainly didn't help soften his image. Floyd | Floyd | You had previously worked in his section of the Imperial Combat Forces, Floyd | and the few times you'd ever seen him he was either insulting you or Floyd | one of your fellow guardsmen. Floyd | Floyd | The other Reaver you'd met was a Sage of some importance, although you Floyd | can't remember her name. It seemed that she hadn't been a Reaver for Floyd | long. You had only met her for a brief time, and can only clearly Floyd | remember that she carried herself with a certain elegance that only Floyd | people of high stature possessed. Floyd | Floyd | "Wasn't there a woman that was a Reaver?" Floyd | Floyd | "Reaver Plorina?" Syphel frowns. Floyd | Floyd | That was the name. "Yes. What happened to her?" Floyd | Floyd | "Don't care. Look, I wouldn't worry about it. Triolo and Plorina Floyd | weren't the best people in the world, and hopefully they got what they Floyd | deserved." Floyd | Floyd | You blink, unable to respond to his sudden harshness. Reaver Triolo was Floyd | admittedly a horrible and brutal man. The one time you had met Reaver Floyd | Plorina, however, she was genuinely nice to you. She seemed especially Floyd | enamored by the green flecks in your eyes, not bothered in the least Floyd | with the country they marked you as being a part of. It was hard to Floyd | think that she would deserve any sort of awful fate. Floyd | Floyd | "The past is in the past," Syphel interrupts your thoughts, "Look Floyd | forward instead'a bothering with it." Floyd | Floyd | A: He's right. The future is all that matters now. Floyd | B: I understand what he means, but the past is important, too. Floyd | C: The past is all I have, since the Empire decided to take everything Floyd | else from me. Floyd | | ChrisC asks, "You're looking for SPAG corrections?" | |
| NereidaS asks, "This is probably a stupid question, but what's SPAG?" | ||
| ChrisC says, "spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Sorry, I'm reading Maga's reviews" | ||
| DavidW says, "SPAG is a newsletter of some renown. Society for the Promotion of Adventure Games, if I remember correctly." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I thought it was Society for the Promotion of Adventure Games." | ||
| NereidaS says, "Ah. There's probably quite a few issues with SPAG in this." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "But Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar is its boring second cousin." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Chris), "It's just that when an author's here, particularly in a game where there'll be another version released, I like to point out stuff, both good and not so good." | ||
| NereidaS says, "And it's appreciated." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Okay, C just sounds bitter and I don't want to be that person." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "B is my vote." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "And since inky is 7 minutes idles..." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | > From the past, we can learn what mistakes should be avoided in the Floyd | future. A tool like that shouldn't be forgotten so easily. Floyd | Floyd | "That reminds me," Syphel starts, "I came by to see if Dain had given Floyd | ya any assignments yet." Floyd | Floyd | Aside from Reaver Harking offering you the chance to change rooms this Floyd | morning, no one had told you anything about what you were supposed to Floyd | be doing. You explain as much to Syphel. Floyd | Floyd | "Figures," he crosses his arms as if this sort of thing is common Floyd | place, "Ya should come with me to Raleigh, then." Floyd | Floyd | "I should?" you ask, confused as to where this recommendation came Floyd | from. Floyd | Floyd | "Definitely," he nods with assurance, "Can't be a proper Reaver without Floyd | looking the part, and the best armorer I know is in Raleigh." Floyd | Floyd | Now that you think about it, Reavers did always have their own unique Floyd | appearances. It seems that they are granted more independence than Floyd | anyone else working for the Empire. The days of you wearing a drab grey Floyd | uniform truly are gone. Floyd | Floyd | A: I'll go. If I'm going to play the part, I may as well look the part. Floyd | B: I'll go. Syphel seems like a good ally to have and I should get to Floyd | know him better. Floyd | C: I'll go. Anything to get me away from the heart of the Empire is Floyd | fine with me. Floyd | D: I don't particularly want to go, but I don't know what else to do Floyd | with myself. I'll go. Floyd | E: I don't think I should be leaving. I find an excuse to not go. Floyd | | DavidW says, "I do hope this game gets finished. It does an excellent job of wanting me to know what happens next." | |
| Jacqueline says, "Yes." | ||
| NereidaS says, "I'll do my best." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | > "Sounds like a plan," you casually agree. Floyd | Floyd | "Great. It'll be fun," he grins, "Make sure ya bring what ya need for a Floyd | two week journey." Floyd | Floyd | He gives you a quick wave before leaving your room. Floyd | Floyd | >Next | ||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | The journey to Raleigh is uneventful, for the most part. Surprisingly Floyd | enough, other than the driver of the carriage, no one accompanies Floyd | Syphel and yourself. While you were still Reaver Harking's Second, he Floyd | never allowed you to go anywhere without an escort of guards. Whether Floyd | this was for your safety, or because he didn't trust you, you were Floyd | never sure of. Floyd | Floyd | In addition to the lack of escort, the fact that you didn't have to Floyd | make the trip on foot is also a pleasant change. Syphel explained that Floyd | without the carriage, the trip would have taken too long. As it stands, Floyd | he seems fairly restless most of the time. Floyd | Floyd | You've managed a few interesting conversations out of him so far. He's Floyd | explained that each of the Reavers were responsible for one third of Floyd | the expansion progress of the Empire. Reaver Harking handles things in Floyd | the west, though you were vaguely aware of this before. Syphel took Floyd | over the northern expansion after the execution of Reaver Plorina four Floyd | months ago. You've deciphered that Syphel was Plorina's Second, but he Floyd | refuses to comment on the former Reaver other than to express his Floyd | extreme dislike of the woman. Floyd | Floyd | You, apparently, will be expected to take over Reaver Triolo's Floyd | expansion efforts to the south. What happened to the man, even Syphel Floyd | doesn't seem to know. Floyd | Floyd | >Next | ||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | Thankfully, Syphel has been very pleasant company throughout this trip. Floyd | Floyd | "Hey, I've a question for ya," he suddenly asks as you cross the border Floyd | separating the Empire from Raleigh, "Ya're Asylian, aren't ya?" Floyd | Floyd | You immediately tense. This kind of questioning has never led to Floyd | anything good in the past. Floyd | Floyd | "I am," you cautiously answer, bracing yourself for the verbal strike Floyd | against you that you normally receive. Floyd | Floyd | "I knew it," he turns his eyes to you, "I heard that the Asylian Floyd | warriors are amazing. Sari-, Sali-, what do ya call them?" Floyd | Floyd | "The combat Sirilas?" you correct him. Floyd | Floyd | "That was it," he lets a grin show, "Ya one'a those?" Floyd | Floyd | "A Sirilas, yes," you explain, "but I got my title for painting, not Floyd | combat skills." Floyd | Floyd | The grin on Syphel's face turns into a look of disbelief. "Painting?" Floyd | he questions. Floyd | Floyd | "Painting," you affirm. Floyd | Floyd | "Oh," he disappointedly turns his attention toward the window again. Floyd | Floyd | You don't know whether to find it amusing or insulting that he has a Floyd | problem with you being a painter, but seems perfectly fine with you Floyd | being Asylian. Floyd | Floyd | "What happened there?" he quietly asks. Floyd | Floyd | "You're in charge in the north," you frown, "Don't you know?" Floyd | Floyd | "The country was occupied before I ever even entered the Empire," he Floyd | explains, "I don't think Plorina was a Reaver yet when that happened." Floyd | Floyd | A: I don't want to drudge up bad memories again. I tell him to drop the Floyd | subject. Floyd | B: I'll tell him exactly what atrocities were committed there. He Floyd | should know. Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | > You go into length about how your small border town was attacked Floyd | without warning, and how the combat Sirilas didn't even have time to Floyd | respond before the Imperials arrested or killed everyone in sight. You Floyd | tell him about the dirty cell you had to stay in for three days before Floyd | anyone told you what would happen to you. You recount the long cold Floyd | march south you and other imprisoned Asylians were forced to take, and Floyd | the supposed "battle" the Imperials wanted you to fight with broken and Floyd | sub par weaponry and no armor. Your captors claimed you were being Floyd | "integrated" into the Imperial Combat Forces, but you knew better. You Floyd | were the only one in that "battle" lucky enough to survive. Floyd | Floyd | Syphel says nothing while you speak, but he seems to be paying very Floyd | close attention to what you're telling him. Floyd | Floyd | "That's not normal Imperial procedure," he says when you finish, "What Floyd | happened to yar family?" Floyd | Floyd | You simply shrug. "I haven't seen them since the initial attack." Floyd | Floyd | "I'll look into it for ya," he offers, a serious look of concern on his Floyd | face. Floyd | Floyd | You make no response, unsure if knowing their fates would make you feel Floyd | any better. The ride continues in silence. Floyd | Floyd | "I'll be honest," Syphel starts after several quiet minutes, "I asked Floyd | ya to come with me so that I could get a better understanding'a the Floyd | kind'a person ya are." Floyd | Floyd | "You were testing me?" you question. Floyd | Floyd | "Yeah," he admits, "and... I don't even know what to say, other than Floyd | I'm sorry. If ya need anything, just ask." Floyd | Floyd | >Next | ||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | Your conversation is disrupted when you notice the carriage coming to a Floyd | slow stop. Floyd | Floyd | "We've already arrived?" you ask, glancing out of the window. It still Floyd | looks like you're in the middle of nowhere. Floyd | Floyd | "No... Come on, Hatter," Syphel opens the carriage door and steps out. Floyd | Floyd | You cautiously follow, to see what the problem is. Floyd | Floyd | "Oh, this is rich," Syphel gestures to the four armed people standing Floyd | in front of your terrified driver, "They're trying to rob us." Floyd | Floyd | Despite the danger of the situation, Syphel looks more annoyed than Floyd | concerned. Floyd | Floyd | "Ya want to handle this, Reaver Hatter?" he shoots you a sly smile. Floyd | Floyd | You notice a slightly frantic whispering coming from the group ahead of Floyd | you, though they stop as soon as they figure out you've noticed them. Floyd | They seem a bit more nervous now, however. Floyd | Floyd | You think of how best to handle this. Floyd | Floyd | A: Syphel's crazy if he thinks I'm going to fight these guys. I let him Floyd | handle it. Floyd | B: There's only four of them. I think I can handle it. Floyd | C: Let's see if I can intimidate them. Floyd | | Jacqueline asks, "inkster is still idle. Am I still playing alone on the stage?" | |
| DavidW asks, "maybe?" | ||
| Jacqueline slowly counts to ten. | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" | ||
Floyd | > "What should I do with them, Reaver Syphel?" you test. Floyd | Floyd | One of the thieves jabs his friend in the ribs nervously as soon as you Floyd | say the word "Reaver". That must be what they're afraid of. Floyd | Floyd | "I don't know. They must be pretty stupid to attack two Reavers," Floyd | Syphel crosses his arms, "I think they need to learn what they're doing Floyd | wrong the hard way." He seems to be playing along with your attempt, Floyd | causing the four thieves to flinch again at the mention of "Reaver". Floyd | Floyd | Seeing the group squirm is almost amusing. Unfortunately, the fun is Floyd | cut short when one of four simply drops his weapon and runs. This is Floyd | quickly followed by a second thief following behind the first. Without Floyd | the advantage of numbers, the remaining two make a hasty retreat as Floyd | well. Floyd | Floyd | "Nicely done, Miss Hatter," grins toward you. Floyd | Floyd | "Thank you for your participation, Mr. Syphel," you return a knowing Floyd | smile. Floyd | Floyd | The two of you return to your carriage and the journey resumes. Floyd | Floyd | "Let me ask ya, though," Syphel starts, still grinning, "Think ya Floyd | could've taken them? Floyd | Floyd | "Painter, remember?" you point to yourself. Floyd | Floyd | "That's what I thought," he nods in acknowledgement, "Well, if ya ever Floyd | want someone to train ya for when ya can't bluff yar way out of Floyd | something, ya know where to find me." Floyd | Floyd | It wouldn't hurt to at least consider his offer. He's absolutely right Floyd | in thinking that bluffing won't always work. Floyd | Floyd | >Next | ChrisC says, "I think I missed too much to have much useful input at this point" | |
| Jacqueline asks, "How close am I to the end of the intro, N?" | ||
| NereidaS says, "Maybe halfway through? It's pretty long." | ||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | It isn't long before you reach your destination in Raleigh. Syphel Floyd | immediately drags you to impressively large shop of an armorer friend Floyd | of his, as if it were the most exciting place to have ever existed. As Floyd | you browse the extensive collection, you consider your options and the Floyd | advantages of each. Floyd | Floyd | Syphel expresses some concerns about you actually engaging in combat, Floyd | and recommends that you stay away from armor so as not to draw Floyd | attention to yourself, should any fighting start. He points out the Floyd | tailor down the street, but leaves the decision ultimately up to you. Floyd | Floyd | What kind of armor would you like to look at? Floyd | Floyd | A: Light plate armor. Floyd | B: Full plate armor. Floyd | C: There was this set with spikes... Floyd | D: I go to look at the tailor's instead. Floyd | | DavidW says, "yeah, halfway" | |
| Jacqueline says, "drags you to *an* impressively large shop" | ||
| NereidaS says, "Oops. Thanks again." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Hrm." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Spikes are intimidating." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "But that sounds heavy, and I didn't do so hot moving furniture earlier." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Enh, screw it." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" | ||
Floyd | > Syphel points out the impracticality of this particular set of Floyd | intimidating heavy plate armor, citing that the spikes would be more Floyd | likely to injure the wearer than anyone else. Do you buy it anyway? Floyd | Floyd | A: Of course. It's my choice to make, not his. Floyd | B: No, he's right. It's clearly impractical. Floyd | | Jacqueline says, "I shall tip the spikes with POISON. I shall be FEARSOME AND DEADLY" | |
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | > I hope you know what you're doing. Floyd | Floyd | And is this standard steel plate armor or... Floyd | Floyd | A: It's gilded. Floyd | B: It's bronzed. Floyd | C: It's silvered. Floyd | D: It's tinted red. Floyd | E: It's tinted blue. Floyd | F: It's tinted green. Floyd | G: It's tinted white. Floyd | H: It's tinted black. Floyd | I: It's the standard steel coloration. Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" | ||
Floyd | > Unfortunately, your silver heavy plate armor won't be ready for a few Floyd | days, but you manage to secure a couple of rooms at a nearby inn. Floyd | Floyd | Now, you sit idly at the tavern, waiting for Syphel to finish picking Floyd | out the newest additions to his collection of armor. Floyd | Floyd | You've noticed some suspicious glances in your direction, but for the Floyd | most part people in this town have left you alone. That being said, you Floyd | and Syphel haven't exactly gone around announcing that you were from Floyd | the Empire. Floyd | Floyd | Your time here will probably be one of the few peaceful trips you will Floyd | ever get to take out of the Imperial boundaries. You may as well make Floyd | the most of it. Floyd | Floyd | A: That's right! I find someone to talk to. Floyd | B: I think I'll just mind my own business and wait for Syphel. Floyd | | DavidW says, "heh. I never chose the spikes." | |
| NereidaS says, "I hear they're impractical." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Hush, N, or I shall poke you." | ||
| NereidaS says, "Sorry." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Spikes shall be your reward for second-guessing my awesomeness. No one messes with Reaver Hatter Golly." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Certainly no one ever has the courage to make fun of my name, anyway." | ||
| dfabulich says, "Jacqueline can get a bit prickly about the spikes." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | > You sit alone, wondering exactly how long it takes Syphel to pick a Floyd | set of armor. Floyd | Floyd | You're not sure how much time has passed before you find a pint of ale Floyd | set down in front of you. An athletic, yet otherwise unremarkable man Floyd | takes a seat across the table from you without even asking. He has the Floyd | look of someone who spends a great deal of time outdoors. It's doubtful Floyd | that he's a local, and you figure him to be more of the wandering Floyd | adventurer type. You confirm this when you notice the large battle axe Floyd | strapped to his back. Floyd | Floyd | You shoot him a questioning glance. Floyd | Floyd | "You look like you could use it," he explains, a friendly smile on his Floyd | face. Floyd | Floyd | A: I explain to him that I don't drink. Floyd | B: The drink could be poisoned for all I know. I refuse it. Floyd | C: Actually, I could use it. Floyd | | DavidW says, "ooh, I haven't seen this bit before." | |
| Jacqueline says, "He's a hottie. I say I risk the drink." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" | ||
Floyd | > Who could pass up free ale? Certainly not you. You nod a small thanks Floyd | and take a swig of the cool drink. Floyd | Floyd | "I'm Klein Logan, by the way," he adds after taking a drink of his ale, Floyd | "And you are...?" Floyd | Floyd | So much for being alone. This Klein seems to be the pushy, intrusive Floyd | type. Floyd | Floyd | "Hatter," you casually state. Floyd | Floyd | "Hatter," he repeats, as if trying it out, "I met a Hatter once. Big Floyd | girl. Complete coward. Name didn't really fit her, though..." He trails Floyd | off as he takes another drink. "Anyway, I came here with a friend of Floyd | mine to see about getting some armor made, but it costs more gold than Floyd | I have. More than I've ever had, now that I think about it. It's as if Floyd | the further north you are, the more expensive things get," he Floyd | complains, a serious look of concern on his face. "I don't guess you Floyd | know of any profitable jobs?" Floyd | Floyd | A: I suggest that he join the Imperial Combat Forces. They pay decently Floyd | well. Floyd | B: I give him the gold for a new set of armor. The Empire pays me more Floyd | than I can spend, anyway. Floyd | C: I suggest that he keep looking. I've got nothing for him. Floyd | | Jacqueline says, "Oh, he's met a hatter." | |
| Jacqueline laughs. | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Hrm." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "If nothing else, this will let me know how he feels about the empire." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | > "Heh. Good one," an amused grin crosses his face, "The way things are Floyd | going, I may just have to one day. But we'll call that plan B until Floyd | then." Floyd | Floyd | Klein goes through another two pints of ale, telling you about how Floyd | nearly everyone he's met has had some task they've asked him to do, Floyd | despite the fact that he usually has no training or experience in that Floyd | particular field. You notice that he doesn't seem to be seeking any Floyd | sort of input from you, however. Floyd | Floyd | Eventually, he rises from his seat. "As much fun as your company is, I Floyd | need to fix this 'no armor' problem," he states, "Thanks for listening, Floyd | Hatter." Klein walks to the table of the Elf you saw earlier and they Floyd | leave the tavern together. Floyd | Floyd | >Next | Jacqueline says, "Frickin' elves." | |
| Jacqueline says, "Binder was so right about them." | ||
| NereidaS asks, "Now you hate the elves?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Elves just stole my non-boyfriend." | ||
| DavidW asks, "hm. Resonance of lack of experience?" | ||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | Once again, you sit alone at the Tavern. Quite a bit of time passes Floyd | before Syphel enters. He sits down at your table looking every bit as Floyd | happy as he did when you left him at the armorer's shop. Floyd | Floyd | A: It's about time! I ask him what took him so long. Floyd | B: I'll let his lateness pass. I was fine without him. Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | > "I might have gotten carried away," he shrugs, "but when it comes to Floyd | something that affects how people see ya, it's worth taking yar time Floyd | on. Anyway, we'd better go grab some rooms at the inn before-" Floyd | Floyd | "Done," you say, sliding the key to his room across the table to him. Floyd | Floyd | "Er... Nevermind," he grins at you, "Let's go then." Floyd | Floyd | >Next | ||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | It takes a few days for your armor to be ready, leaving you with some Floyd | free time in town. Floyd | Floyd | How would you like to spend your time? Floyd | Floyd | A: I'll see about doing some training with Syphel. Floyd | B: I'll spend some time with Syphel. Floyd | C: I'll talk to some more people at the tavern. Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | > "Sure," Syphel easily agrees when you ask, "Don't have any weapons, Floyd | but I'll teach ya some unarmed techniques." Floyd | Floyd | "Why don't we have any weapons?" you question, finding that a bit odd. Floyd | Floyd | "I do better without them," Syphel grins, "Why ya don't, I have no Floyd | idea. We'll fix it once we get back to the Empire." Floyd | Floyd | He takes you to the outskirts of town and shows you how to do a few Floyd | things. Most of what he's teaching you is defensive, but by the time Floyd | it's time to return to the Empire, you're confident you can take anyone Floyd | down in a fistfight as long as you're prepared for it, and they're the Floyd | one's attacking you. Floyd | Floyd | >Next Chapter | ||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | A moment of rest, at last. Floyd | Floyd | There was always something slightly relieving about being back in your Floyd | own quarters, out of the eyes of everyone else. Floyd | Floyd | The Imperial Palace had always struck you as a quiet and solemn place, Floyd | far different from the busy streets of the Imperial City, far beyond Floyd | it's walls. The Palace's halls are normally silent, save for the Floyd | echoing of your footsteps when you walk through them. It's corridors Floyd | are noticeably void of life, only allowing the occasional guard or Floyd | doorman. Floyd | Floyd | Your thoughts and unpacking are abruptly disturbed by a light rapping Floyd | at your door. Floyd | Floyd | You answer it to find a young... maid, you think? She's dressed very Floyd | plainly and greets you with a deep curtsy, her eyes cast respectfully Floyd | downward. Floyd | Floyd | "Lady Golly," she quietly starts, "A message from the Emperor. He Floyd | wishes to see you in his study at your earliest convenience." Floyd | Floyd | You barely contain a groan. Why does no one seem to ever want you to Floyd | have a moment of peace when you return from a trip? Floyd | Floyd | >Next | DavidW says, "mmmm, that training bit was different than I remember." | |
| Jacqueline says, "far beyond *its* walls" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "And *Its* corridors" | ||
| NereidaS says, "I really need some serious revision time with this..." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Basically, IT'S is always a contraction of IT IS, so whenever you type IT'S, read it out loud as IT IS and see if it still makes sense." | ||
| DavidW says, "Even native speakers get it's versus its wrong more often than they should." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "On the contrary, N, this is great." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Lots of - yeah, what David said." | ||
| NereidaS says, "Thank you. I do my best." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "And this is pretty much error-free and a really pleasant read, with good characterization and an intriguing plot." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "hahaha - Lady Golly." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "What a name." | ||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | You can only assume that "at your earliest convenience" means Floyd | "immediately", so you waste little time in making your way to the Floyd | study. As you exit your room, however, you realize that you have no Floyd | idea where the study is. You don't think you found it when you were Floyd | searching for rooms, but you also weren't exactly looking for it at the Floyd | time. Floyd | Floyd | "Down stairs, in this wing," the maid chimes in, as if reading your Floyd | thoughts. You catch her eyes for a brief instant before she snaps them Floyd | back to the floor. "Um, Lady Golly," she adds courteously, almost as an Floyd | afterthought. Floyd | Floyd | A: I warmly thank her and continue on my way. Floyd | B: I nod a quick thanks to her and continue on my way. Floyd | C: Someone should teach her to not speak out of turn. Floyd | | ||
| Tale leaves, shouting : "Screw this! I've only got 14 hit points!" | ||
| Tale has disconnected. | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | > She fidgets uncomfortably, but politely curtsies as you leave. Floyd | Floyd | You find the study without much difficulty, and enter to meet the musty Floyd | smell of books. Inside, you see that the walls are lined with shelves Floyd | filled with tome after tome. Floyd | Floyd | It's what decorates the walls between the shelves that catches your Floyd | attention, however. Floyd | Floyd | Artwork. Floyd | Floyd | Not just any artwork. You recognize many of the pieces from the museum Floyd | in Asylia's capital. As you look around, you notice that it's not only Floyd | artwork, but several devices from the museum of technology are present Floyd | as well. Much of it looks like it has smoke damage. Floyd | Floyd | Your gaze stops immediately as you recognize one of your own paintings. Floyd | Floyd | "See something you like?" a steady voice barely registers with you. Floyd | Floyd | You suddenly become aware of Emperor Dain's presence, seated at an Floyd | ornate wooden desk across the room, and perform a nervous bow. An open Floyd | book occupies the space in front of him, though he doesn't look to be Floyd | very interested in it. You doubt that he's the type that ever looks Floyd | interested in anything, though. Floyd | Floyd | A: I ask him about the artwork and machinery. Floyd | B: I ask him about the books. Floyd | C: I ask what he wanted to see me about. Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" | ||
Floyd | > "Yes. You will act as my envoy," he states, abruptly. Floyd | Floyd | "...Envoy, my Emperor?" you question. You're not exactly sure of what Floyd | he's talking about, and have never heard of an envoy for the Empire. Floyd | Floyd | "Yes. I need you to convince certain rulers that joining their Floyd | countries to the Empire is in their best interests," he explains Floyd | turning back to his reading. Floyd | Floyd | "I'm... not trained in that sort of thing," you try to argue as Floyd | inoffensively as possible. Floyd | Floyd | "You'll manage," he flatly assures, "Gillen has some experience in the Floyd | task. You can ask for his advice. Otherwise, I need you to acquire the Floyd | country of Barith for me." Floyd | Floyd | A: "I'll ask Reaver Harking, then." Floyd | B: "I'll go directly to Barith, then." Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | > "You hardly need to tell me what you're going to do," the Emperor Floyd | shows a rare half-smile, far more naturally than you would think he Floyd | could, "Just tell me when the task is done." Floyd | Floyd | You sense that you're dismissed, and take your leave. Floyd | Floyd | >Next | ||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | You return to your isolated spot of the Palace to find the maid still Floyd | standing next to your door. She greets you with a respectful curtsy, Floyd | eyes humbly lowered. Floyd | Floyd | "Did you need something?" you ask, confused as to why she's still here. Floyd | Floyd | "No, Lady Golly," she nervously responds, "I was assigned to attend to Floyd | your needs during your stays." Floyd | Floyd | This is... not something anyone ever told you about. Floyd | Floyd | A: "So, you're just going to stand there in case I need something?" Floyd | B: "Isn't there someone more professional who can do this?" Floyd | C: "I don't need you annoying me." Floyd | D: "What's your name?" Floyd | E: "Can you make sure no one bothers me again, today? I just came back Floyd | from a long trip." Floyd | F: "Carry on, then." Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" | ||
Floyd | > "Duska, my Lady," she immediately answers. Floyd | Floyd | Your attendant takes a quick glance at you before lowering her eyes Floyd | again. She seems inexperienced at her position. Floyd | Floyd | A: "So, you're just going to stand there in case I need something?" Floyd | B: "Isn't there someone more professional who can do this?" Floyd | C: "I don't need you annoying me." Floyd | D: "Can you make sure no one bothers me again, today? I just came back Floyd | from a long trip." Floyd | E: "Carry on, then." Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" | ||
Floyd | > "Certainly, Lady Golly," she answers. Floyd | Floyd | Finally, maybe you can have some peace for once! Floyd | Floyd | "Anything else, my Lady?" Floyd | Floyd | Duska stands anxiously, awaiting any orders you may have for her. Floyd | Floyd | A: "So, you're just going to stand there in case I need something?" Floyd | B: "Isn't there someone more professional who can do this?" Floyd | C: "I don't need you annoying me." Floyd | D: "Carry on, then." Floyd | | DavidW says, "hm. Another person 'unexperienced'." | |
| DavidW says, "er inexperienced. Sorry." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Hm, as opposed to inex- oh." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" | ||
Floyd | > "Yes, my Lady," she quickly curtsies as you enter your chambers and Floyd | shut the door behind you. Floyd | Floyd | >Next | ||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | A brand new day and you awaken well rested in your new accommodations Floyd | for the first time. Floyd | Floyd | As you ready yourself, you think of what requires your attention today. Floyd | You should get your task at Barith done as soon as possible. Floyd | Floyd | You've never left the Imperial Palace of your own account before, Floyd | however, and are unsure of who to talk to about acquiring the use of a Floyd | carriage. You open your chamber door and immediately spot Duska in the Floyd | hall. Floyd | Floyd | "Lady Golly," she greets, never looking up at you. Floyd | Floyd | "I need a carriage to Barith," you state, hoping she can point you in Floyd | the right direction. Floyd | Floyd | "As you wish, my Lady," she curtsies before scurrying off down the Floyd | hall, her footsteps barely making a sound. Floyd | Floyd | Well, that was easy. Floyd | Floyd | With that matter taken care of, you step back into your room and begin Floyd | packing again. A life constantly on the go can be difficult at times, Floyd | but you grew rather accustomed to such things during your time as Floyd | Reaver Harking's Second. Floyd | Floyd | It isn't long before you hear a light rapping on your door. Floyd | Floyd | "Lady Golly," Duska addresses you, slightly out of breath when you Floyd | answer the door, "Your carriage will be ready tomorrow morning to take Floyd | you to the fort outside of Barith. General Velont has been sent word of Floyd | your arrival." Floyd | Floyd | Perhaps an attendant is useful to have around after all. Floyd | Floyd | Duska stands in the hall, as if awaiting some sort of feedback on her Floyd | performance. Floyd | Floyd | A: She's done a good job. I'll praise her." Floyd | B: She only did what was expected, but I'll thank her anyway. Floyd | C: She shouldn't expect any sort of reward from me for simply doing her Floyd | job. I'll ignore her. Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | > "Thank you, my Lady," she barely contains a smile. She practically Floyd | bounces back to her post next to your door Floyd | Floyd | Since you don't have to be anywhere for a time, you think of what to do Floyd | with the rest of your day. Floyd | Floyd | A: I'll go to the study. Floyd | B: I'll see if I can get Syphel to train me. Floyd | C: I haven't painted in a long time. I'll give it a shot while I still Floyd | have the time. Floyd | D: I'll familiarize myself with the inside of the Imperial Palace. Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | > "Ya want me to train ya?" Syphel asks before you can even say Floyd | anything. Floyd | Floyd | Finding Syphel wasn't hard. Your attendant directed you toward a Floyd | private training room near the military training wing of the Imperial Floyd | Palace. This wing has a different energy than the rest of the Palace, Floyd | which seems to suit someone as lively as Syphel well. Floyd | Floyd | "Fine. Pick a weapon." Floyd | Floyd | He gestures to the weaponry mounted on the wall of the training room. Floyd | Floyd | You have next to no experience with any weaponry, but Syphel did teach Floyd | you some hand-to-hand moves. Floyd | Floyd | A: Take the longsword. Floyd | B: Take the shortsword. Floyd | C: Take both swords. Floyd | D: Take the battle axe. Floyd | E: Take the pollaxe. Floyd | F: Take a dagger. Floyd | G: Take two daggers. Floyd | H: Take a longbow. Floyd | I: I don't need anything but my fists. Floyd | J: Ask Syphel for his recommendation. Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "h" | ||
Floyd | > You find that Syphel is quite skilled with a variety of weapons and Floyd | techniques. Floyd | Floyd | "The important thing to remember is to not get yarself stuck in a small Floyd | area with that thing," he explains, as you practice on a training Floyd | dummy, "Also, if yar enemies get too close to ya, don't panic. There's Floyd | always something ya can do." Floyd | Floyd | By the time your training session ends, you're feeling pretty good Floyd | about holding your own in a fight. Floyd | Floyd | "Might as well keep it," Syphel shrugs when you try to return your Floyd | borrowed equipment, "I've got tons. Also, here." He tosses something Floyd | shiny at you, which you reflexively catch without thinking. Luckily, Floyd | it's just a key. Floyd | Floyd | "If ya ever want to come in here to train, go ahead," he explains, "I'm Floyd | usually not here, anyway." Floyd | Floyd | It's mid-afternoon. You can do something else, if you'd like. Floyd | Floyd | A: I'll go to the study. Floyd | B: I haven't painted in a long time. I'll give it a shot while I still Floyd | have the time. Floyd | C: I think I'll challenge Syphel to a spar. Floyd | D: I'll familiarize myself with the inside of the Imperial Palace. Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" | ||
Floyd | > "Ya sure ya want to do that?" he asks when you propose the challenge. Floyd | Syphel grins as he pulls a large axe down from the wall. "Now that ya Floyd | have a fighting chance, I don't mind. Ready, Hatter?" he asks, a Floyd | determined glint in his eyes. Floyd | Floyd | "Ready," you confirm, wielding your longbow. Floyd | Floyd | He comes at you fast, head on. Floyd | Floyd | A: I brace myself to take the full impact of the hit and get ready to Floyd | counter. Floyd | B: I'll move out of the way at the last second and look for a better Floyd | opportunity. Floyd | C: I swing at him before he can get to me. Floyd | D: I'll block the attack, and look for a chance to counter. Floyd | E: I stand my ground, grab an arrow and draw my bow as fast as Floyd | possible. Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | > Your lack of agility in heavy plate armor prevents you from dodging Floyd | in time. Floyd | Floyd | The axe doesn't hit you with full force, instead striking one of the Floyd | hard spikes and glancing off to the side. Syphel looks honestly Floyd | surprised. So surprised, in fact, that you easily catch him off guard Floyd | by pointing an arrow at his neck. Floyd | Floyd | "Wait a minute, that's not how this was supposed to turn out," he Floyd | frowns. Floyd | Floyd | "Your fault for thinking my that my armor's 'impractical', isn't it?" Floyd | you point out. Floyd | Floyd | "Well... How was I supposed to know? It looks ridiculous," Syphel Floyd | defensively shoots back, "Fine, fine, I yield. You win." He drops his Floyd | weapon and raises his hands in defeat. Floyd | Floyd | >Next | DavidW says, "ha" | |
| Jacqueline says, "Yay" | ||
| NereidaS says, "That's my favorite part." | ||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | Winning a spar against a Reaver is nothing to scoff at, but part of you Floyd | can't help but wonder if Syphel wasn't taking it easy on you... As you Floyd | notice the sun setting outside, you conclude that that's enough for Floyd | today. A good meal and some rest should help prepare you for your trip Floyd | tomorrow morning. Floyd | Floyd | >Next | ||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | You awaken in the night to the sound of frantic rapping at your door. Floyd | Floyd | "Lady Golly," you hear Duska's voice quietly through the door. Floyd | Floyd | Something tells you she won't stop until you answer it, so you Floyd | begrudgingly get up and do so. Floyd | Floyd | She quickly curtsies, eyes glued to the floor. "Lord Isoshu insists on Floyd | seeing you." Floyd | Floyd | "Lord Isoshu?" you try to think of who that is, but your mind is still Floyd | in a muddled sleepy state. Floyd | Floyd | "I can tell her myself. She's right there," the annoyed accent that Floyd | could only belong to Syphel echos from somewhere down the hallway. Floyd | Floyd | "I'm sorry, my Lady, my Lord," Duska quickly apologizes, allowing Floyd | Syphel to pass by her and into your room. Floyd | Floyd | He shuts the door behind him, looking more than a bit peeved. Floyd | Floyd | "Why are you here so late?" you mumble at him. Floyd | Floyd | "Dain told me ya were going to speak to the King'a Barith," he frowns. Floyd | Floyd | "What? Just now? In the middle of the night?" Floyd | Floyd | "Well, no. Earlier, but I didn't get a chance to tell ya before now," Floyd | he says, looking notably concerned, and speaking faster than usual. Floyd | Floyd | "Tell me what?" Floyd | Floyd | "The King'a Barith? Not a nice guy," Syphel warns, "He's especially not Floyd | going to like ya. It's practically a suicide mission." Floyd | Floyd | You try and register what Syphel just said. Floyd | Floyd | A: "And? I can't NOT go." Floyd | B: "Thanks for the warning, but I'm sure I can handle it." Floyd | C: "..What?" Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | > "I'm not saying ya shouldn't go," he says, a determined look on his Floyd | face. "Just be prepared when ya meet the guy, and try not to get Floyd | yarself killed." Floyd | Floyd | "I'll try. Thanks for the warning, Lord Isoshu," you grin, teasingly. Floyd | Floyd | "And don't ya call me that, too," he groans as he opens the door again. Floyd | "Take care'a yarself, Hatter." Floyd | Floyd | You let out a small sigh of relief as you think about finally getting Floyd | some rest. Floyd | Floyd | >Next | ||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | "Lady Golly?" Floyd | Floyd | Or not... Floyd | Floyd | "Should I expect frequent gentlemen visitors for you at this hour?" Floyd | your attendant asks, her cheeks flushed with color. Floyd | Floyd | A: Gentlemen, no. Ladies, perhaps. Floyd | B: Gentlemen, ladies, and whoever else. Floyd | C: Gentlemen, maybe. Certainly no ladies. Floyd | D: No one should be in my room at night, but me. Floyd | | Jacqueline says, "heh" | |
| Jacqueline chuckles. | ||
| DavidW says, "goodness" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "See? Now you've embarrassed DavidW." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | > You're about to answer when it suddenly dawns on you what she's Floyd | implying just happened. Floyd | Floyd | "First of all, Syphel is my friend. Nothing else," you clearly explain. Floyd | Floyd | "Certainly," she agrees unconvincingly, clearly not believing you. Floyd | Floyd | "Secondly, I don't think that's any of your concern," you frown, Floyd | walking back inside and shutting your door. You are much too tired to Floyd | straighten her out right now. Floyd | Floyd | The possible outcome of your task at Barith looms on the edge of your Floyd | dreams that night, a shrouded weight you'll likely have to carry with Floyd | you until the situation is resolved. Floyd | Floyd | >Next | ||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | Your journey has only just begun. What happens from here is up to you. Floyd | Floyd | Thank you for playing Resonance. I hope you enjoyed it! Floyd | Floyd | A special thank you goes out to everyone who playtested "Project RVR". Floyd | Floyd | A: Play again. Floyd | B: Play more games like this. Floyd | C: Share this game with friends. Floyd | | Jacqueline says, "Okay, this was awesome." | |
| NereidaS says, "Wow, that seems like so much longer than I meant it to be." | ||
| Jacqueline shrugs. | ||
| NereidaS says, "I'm glad it was enjoyed, though. I wasn't expecting that." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "You weren't?" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Why?" | ||
| DavidW asks, "You didn't think we'd like it?" | ||
| NereidaS says, "I thought it had too many flaws and was about to quit the project before I entered the comp." | ||
| Jacqueline exclaims, "!" | ||
| Jacqueline exclaims, "!!!" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "..." | ||
| DavidW says, "oh dear. You broke Jacqueline." | ||
| NereidaS says, "Oh my." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "That'll be enough of that sort of thinking, Nereida." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Besides, you have a game to finish now." | ||
| NereidaS says, "That I do." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Great work." | ||
| ChrisC says, "I'm glad you didn't. I think in could be polished into something really good." | ||
| NereidaS says, "I'm super inspired, now." | ||
| DavidW says, "This is also a game that works well on replaying, because you can sorta see the same story from slightly different angles and piece together a larger picture of what's going on." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to DavidW), "Neat." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "So, I need a quick break, then we'll try Chris' game, since he's here." | ||
| NereidaS says, "Oh wow." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I need about ten." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Quarter after, we'll meet back here." | ||
| DavidW says, "Like, in one of my playing sessions, I spoke to the elf in the tavern and then she left with a man. And now I saw that bit from the other side." | ||
| NereidaS says, "I was hoping to have that sort of effect throughout the game." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to DW), "That is pretty cool." | ||
| Jacqueline steps away to get a refill. | ||
| DavidW says, "yeah, it really is cool" | ||
| NereidaS says, "I am all for replayability in games." | ||
| [peanut-gallery] Gunther says, "oh, this is Scented Candle dude" | DavidW says, "hm. Now I'm wondering if I chose to be an elf, would there be an elf in the tavern, or how would that conversation go differently." | |
| NereidaS says, "There's probably a lot in that game that most people don't see, but I put it in there anyway." | ||
| DavidW says, "That's typical of text adventures in general. Few people see everything, but it's fun that everyone tends to get different readings." | ||
| DavidW says, "Or that there's hidden corners, secret or rare messages, Easter eggs in games." | ||
| NereidaS says, "It is fun! That's why I love them." | ||
| NereidaS says, "I fully intend to." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to N), "Heh - good. (That was in response to me whispering to N to please try to finish the game)." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Anyway, now we're back and it's time for Compliance." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I'm a bureaucrat, so I should really enjoy this game." | ||
| NereidaS says, "Yay! I had fun with this one." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "quit" | ||
| Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load sleepmask compliance" | ||
| Floyd > ] Sub-Basement 1 | ||
Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | This game uses sound playback extensively. The interpreter you're Floyd | using is unable to play sounds, so you will be missing a major part of Floyd | the intended experience. -Chris Floyd | Your interpreter doesn't support volume control. Floyd | Your interpreter doesn't support volume control. Floyd | Your interpreter doesn't support volume control. Floyd | Your interpreter doesn't support volume control. Floyd | "I'm worried," she said. Floyd | Floyd | And "You have to get out of here." Floyd | Floyd | And "Please, Reg." Floyd | Floyd | You didn't listen, brushed her off. It's been two weeks since you've Floyd | seen her. Floyd | Floyd | Since anyone has. Floyd | Floyd | Compliance Floyd | An Experiment in Sound by Chris Conley Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 120716 / Inform 7 build 6G60 (I6/v6.32 lib Floyd | 6/12N) Floyd | Music and Sound Design by t.v.shit. Floyd | Floyd | This game is designed to be played with music and sound effects. Floyd | For more details, type ABOUT. Floyd | Floyd | Sub-Basement Floyd | Your search has brought you here, deep into the bowels of the Company. Floyd | The floor echoes with every footstep. The walls are smooth, dark, Floyd | cold. Water drips from old corroded pipes above. The door back up to Floyd | the Main Levels stands shut to the west. Floyd | Floyd | The archives lie through an open dorway to the east. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| jenrexrode arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. | Jacqueline asks, "How well will this go without the sound?" | |
| Jacqueline asks, "Are there critical clues we'll be missing?" | ||
| DavidW says, "I don't know. I didn't get around to playing this one." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to DW), "Yay someone to play with." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "ABOUT" | ||
Floyd ] Sub-Basement 1 Floyd | > Floyd | > ABOUT Floyd | Floyd | This is an experimental project, designed to be tightly integrated Floyd | with a music system and sound effects. Playing without an interpreter Floyd | capable of sound playback is not recommended. Floyd | Floyd | Music and Sound Design by t.v.shit. www.stereosanctity.org Floyd | Floyd | Type SOUNDS OFF or MUSIC OFF to disable sound effects or music, Floyd | respectively; SOUNDS ON or MUSIC ON to re-enable one or the other; or Floyd | simply SOUNDS or MUSIC to toggle playing either. Floyd | Floyd | > | NereidaS says, "It should be fine, but it's more interesting with sound." | |
| Jacqueline says, "mmkay" | ||
| jenrexrode says, "uh oh" | ||
| ChrisC says, "It's purely mood-setting. At least in this intro." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Strong opening - the bit before the banner text in particualr. Nice lead in." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x me" | ||
Floyd ] Sub-Basement 2 Floyd | > Floyd | > X ME Floyd | Floyd | You're still wearing your day uniform. A suit and tie may be a bit Floyd | excessive for digging around down here, but you don't expect to run Floyd | into anyone at this time of night. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "That... seems niave." | |
| Jacqueline says, "I, on the other hand, am expecting us to be stabbed any minute now." | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" | ||
Floyd ] Sub-Basement 3 Floyd | > Floyd | > I Floyd | Floyd | You are carrying: Floyd | a folded note Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "read note" | ||
Floyd ] Sub-Basement 4 Floyd | > Floyd | > READ NOTE Floyd | Floyd | You take the note out of your jacket pocket, stare at it. A coworker Floyd | must have slipped it inside your workbook while you were at lunch, Floyd | knowing you would find it as soon as you returned. Floyd | Floyd | With a shaking hand, you open the note and read it again. Floyd | Floyd | "Reg-- Floyd | Floyd | check out leadhammer file. it's not in the main system but the Floyd | originals are still in the lower repository. hardcopy storage. Floyd | Floyd | I think it's related I can't say more. I'm sorry. hurry Floyd | befo," Floyd | Floyd | The note ends there. You don't recognize the handwriting. But the Floyd | second part made your blood run cold: I think it's related Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW asks, "So, east?" | |
| Jacqueline says, "Golly. We're like, Tom Cruise in that law thriller." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to DW), "Sure" | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" | ||
Floyd ] Filing Hall 5 Floyd | > Floyd | > E Floyd | Floyd | As you cross the threshold, there is a sudden flash of green light -- Floyd | your eyes start to burn -- you are unable to move -- of course! the Floyd | checkpoint -- Floyd | Floyd | -- and it's over. Floyd | Floyd | Filing Hall Floyd | You stand along one wall of the Company records repository, with the Floyd | way to the main complex back to the west. The expansive records Floyd | stretch in every direction, massive lengths of shelving full of boxes. Floyd | You know the file you seek will be found somewhere in the north Floyd | quadrant -- but you need a precise location. Floyd | Floyd | The checkpoint lies back through the dark hallway to the west. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline asks, "Retinal scan?" | |
| DavidW says, "Not sure." | ||
| ChrisC says, "Full disclosure: I coded most of the non-music-system of this game over two sleepless days/nights, after I got the music. The scenario is not nearly polished enough" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "How will we get back in here once the bad people hiding in the dark gouge our eyes out?" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "And why am I so paranoid?" | ||
| DavidW asks, "You're seeing [drip, drip, drip] and [overhead lights flicker]?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "And the fact that she's missing." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "And the fact that that note sort of just ends" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "And the fact that it says we don't expect to see anyone else down here." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "So, yeah, I guess that's why." | ||
| DavidW asks, "North?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Sure." | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" | ||
Floyd ] Hardcopy Storage 6 Floyd | > Floyd | > N Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Hardcopy Storage Floyd | Files, supply shelves and other stored physical materials stretch in Floyd | all directions. But you have no idea where exactly to look to find the Floyd | file you seek. If only there were an indexing machine... Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "Wonder how we get the precise direction." | |
| ChrisC says, "Which is why the one-day deadline extension was such a huge help for me." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Oh, good. Yay." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I hope you at least got some sleep." | ||
| jenrexrode says, "buld an indexing machine" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "look for indexing machine" | ||
Floyd ] Hardcopy Storage 6 Floyd | > Floyd | > LOOK FOR INDEXING MACHINE Floyd | Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "Well, clearly." | |
| DavidW asks, "Down?" | ||
| Nitku arrives, full of fun, but no funk. | Jacqueline asks, "Did it mention down?" | |
| Jacqueline asks, "I mean, sure. Why not?" | ||
| DavidW | lower repository. hardcopy storage | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Oh." | ||
| Jacqueline nods. | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "d" | ||
Floyd ] Hardcopy Storage 7 Floyd | > Floyd | > D Floyd | Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "Maybe we're already in the lower repository." | |
| DavidW says, "I wasn't sure." | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x files" | ||
Floyd ] Hardcopy Storage 7 Floyd | > Floyd | > X FILES Floyd | Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "hrm." | |
| Jacqueline asks, "Was there any indexing machine on our way in?" | ||
| DavidW says, "I suppose we can search south of entrance and see if there's a robo-assistant or whatever." | ||
| jenrexrode says, "d'oh x files" | ||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "x shelves" | ||
Floyd ] Hardcopy Storage 7 Floyd | > Floyd | > X SHELVES Floyd | Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ChrisC says, "As I said. Polishing. :/" | |
| DavidW says, "yeah, a bit of an oops there." | ||
| DavidW says, "no biggie" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Chris), "When you implement that, see if you can get the rights for it to play the X FILES theme when someone types that." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "(Kidding.)" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "..DW Be my guest to find the robo-assistant" | ||
Floyd ] Hardcopy Storage 7 Floyd | > Floyd | > ..DW BE MY GUEST TO FIND THE ROBO-ASSISTANT Floyd | Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW asks, "may I try going south twice?" | |
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" | ||
Floyd ] Filing Hall 8 Floyd | > Floyd | > S Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Filing Hall Floyd | You stand along one wall of the Company records repository, with the Floyd | way to the main complex back to the west. The expansive records Floyd | stretch in every direction, massive lengths of shelving full of boxes. Floyd | You know the file you seek will be found somewhere in the north Floyd | quadrant -- but you need a precise location. Floyd | Floyd | The checkpoint lies back through the dark hallway to the west. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "Oh, that mistype might have been helpful" | |
| Jacqueline says, "Oh, or not." | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" | ||
Floyd ] Servo Port 9 Floyd | > Floyd | > S Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Servo Port Floyd | From a small alcove here at the south end of the archives, the servos Floyd | depart on their errands. The floor has been cleared for several feet Floyd | around the servo shaft, in stark contrast to the rest of the Floyd | repository, where the clutter stretches back to the north and Floyd | northeast. There is a constant mechanical hum coming from the hallway Floyd | south. To the east, a peculiar metal capsule stands open. Floyd | Floyd | A device pops out of the shaft. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "SERVO" | |
| Jacqueline says, "Sweet" | ||
| DavidW says, "Capsule to east, hum to south, hmm" | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x device" | ||
Floyd ] Servo Port 10 Floyd | > Floyd | > X DEVICE Floyd | Floyd | One of countless mechanical devices employed by the Company to keep it Floyd | efficiently running every hour of every day. Made animate from lines Floyd | that run along tracks in the ceiling, through an enormously complex Floyd | system of mechanisms, the backbone of the Headquarters building. They Floyd | are also usually equipped with a surprising array of tools. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x capsule" | ||
Floyd ] Servo Port 10 Floyd | > Floyd | > X CAPSULE Floyd | Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x shaft" | ||
Floyd ] Servo Port 11 Floyd | > Floyd | > X SHAFT Floyd | Floyd | As wide as you are tall, and pitch black. A constantly moving system Floyd | of lines running between the shaft, the tracks, and the control system Floyd | to the west keeps the automata running. Every so often there is a Floyd | distant metal clang or rattling from the depths. Floyd | Floyd | The servo automaton heads north. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "hm. Control system to west." | |
| Jacqueline nods. | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" | ||
Floyd ] Servo Port 12 Floyd | > Floyd | > W Floyd | Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "Might be for bots only" | |
| ChrisC says, "Oops. Make that "south"." | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" | ||
Floyd ] Hydraulics Control 13 Floyd | > Floyd | > S Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Hydraulics Control Floyd | The narrow passage to the north from which you entered terminates Floyd | here: a wide, oval-shaped room. The view before you is dominated by a Floyd | giant metallic pillar that drops from the ceiling to an enormously Floyd | complex mechanism recessed into the floor. Spinning gears, rods, and Floyd | thick wires fill nearly every open space here. Floyd | Floyd | You can see a closed lunch pail with a note attached here. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "yay lunch" | |
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x note" | ||
Floyd ] Hydraulics Control 14 Floyd | > Floyd | > X NOTE Floyd | Floyd | (the folded note) Floyd | You open the note and read it again. Floyd | Floyd | "Reg-- Floyd | Floyd | check out leadhammer file. it's not in the main system but the Floyd | originals are still in the lower repository. hardcopy storage. Floyd | Floyd | I think it's related I can't say more. I'm sorry. hurry Floyd | befo," Floyd | Floyd | The note ends there. You don't recognize the handwriting. But the Floyd | second part made your blood run cold: I think it's related Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "wrong note" | |
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x pail" | ||
Floyd ] Hydraulics Control 15 Floyd | > Floyd | > X PAIL Floyd | Floyd | You read: "Hey Bob, Floyd | Floyd | Your wife dropped off your lunch for you tomorrow. (today) Floyd | Floyd | I had to take servo #769211 up for repair today. Somehow it Floyd | wandered in here and got its umbilical severed in some of the gears. Floyd | The things are hard enough to move even when they want to Floyd | cooperate! Floyd | Floyd | I thought Hydraulics was off limits to the bots? Could you look Floyd | into that? Floyd | Floyd | See you next week Floyd | Floyd | -G" Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "read lunch" | ||
Floyd ] Hydraulics Control 16 Floyd | > Floyd | > READ LUNCH Floyd | Floyd | You read: "Hey Bob, Floyd | Floyd | Your wife dropped off your lunch for you tomorrow. (today) Floyd | Floyd | I had to take servo #769211 up for repair today. Somehow it Floyd | wandered in here and got its umbilical severed in some of the gears. Floyd | The things are hard enough to move even when they want to Floyd | cooperate! Floyd | Floyd | I thought Hydraulics was off limits to the bots? Could you look Floyd | into that? Floyd | Floyd | See you next week Floyd | Floyd | -G" Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x servo" | ||
Floyd ] Hydraulics Control 16 Floyd | > Floyd | > X SERVO Floyd | Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x servo #769211" | ||
Floyd ] Hydraulics Control 16 Floyd | > Floyd | > X SERVO #769211 Floyd | Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x 769211" | ||
Floyd ] Hydraulics Control 16 Floyd | > Floyd | > X 769211 Floyd | Floyd | You can't see any such thing. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "i thought it went north" | |
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "open pail" | ||
Floyd ] Hydraulics Control 17 Floyd | > Floyd | > OPEN PAIL Floyd | Floyd | You're not hungry Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "Need a period there, C." | |
| DavidW says, "The one servo we saw did go north, yes." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "(Since you're probably taking notes.)" | ||
| ChrisC says, "Indeed." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Hm, mmkay" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "So, S?" | ||
| DavidW says, "Not sure. I'd like to find a keyboard or similar control panel." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Yeah, unless the servos take orders." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Feel free to keep looking" | ||
| DavidW says, "South is as good a choice as any, I suppose." | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" | ||
Floyd ] Hydraulics Control 18 Floyd | > Floyd | > S Floyd | Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" | Jacqueline says, "Or not" | |
Floyd ] Hydraulics Control 19 Floyd | > Floyd | > E Floyd | Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" | ||
Floyd ] Hydraulics Control 20 Floyd | > Floyd | > W Floyd | Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" | ||
Floyd ] Servo Port 21 Floyd | > Floyd | > N Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Servo Port Floyd | From a small alcove here at the south end of the archives, the servos Floyd | depart on their errands. The floor has been cleared for several feet Floyd | around the servo shaft, in stark contrast to the rest of the Floyd | repository, where the clutter stretches back to the north and Floyd | northeast. There is a constant mechanical hum coming from the hallway Floyd | south. To the east, a peculiar metal capsule stands open. Floyd | Floyd | A new automaton careens out of the shaft. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" | ||
Floyd ] Containment Area 22 Floyd | > Floyd | > E Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Containment Area Floyd | A small, cylindrical room of brushed smooth silver metal. Entirely Floyd | spotless and brightly lit. Two air-sealed doors lead east and north Floyd | back into the main part of the Filing Hall. Floyd | Floyd | A glass rack is attached low on the wall across from one door. Floyd | Floyd | On the low glass rack are some sealed dishes. Floyd | Floyd | There's movement from a window in the other part of the wall. Floyd | Floyd | A small hazmat chest sits against the wall between the two doors. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x movement" | ||
Floyd ] Containment Area 23 Floyd | > Floyd | > X MOVEMENT Floyd | Floyd | It appears to be some kind of small, hairy creature. It looks up as Floyd | you approach, then hides once more. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x chest" | ||
Floyd ] Containment Area 24 Floyd | > Floyd | > X CHEST Floyd | Floyd | A bit smaller than the window behind you, and jet black, with a Floyd | hazardous materials symbol painted on the top in white. Closer Floyd | inspection reveals that the chest is bolted to the floor, and the text Floyd | "FOR USE ONLY IN EVENT OF BIOCONTAMINATION" printed on one side. There Floyd | is also some sort of line running from the side down through the Floyd | floor. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x dishes" | ||
Floyd ] Containment Area 25 Floyd | > Floyd | > X DISHES Floyd | Floyd | A half-dozen clear round flat dishes, tightly sealed. In each is Floyd | growing something of a different color, colonizing its lower surface Floyd | inside. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "Mmm... petri" | |
| DavidW says, "unhappily, my lack of sleep is catching up with me. I have to lie down really soon." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "maga and I were just talking about the implementation issues that Chris has already admitted to, and maga was saying that the music is really well-chosen for this and adds a lot to the atmosphere. I shall have to check that out." | ||
| NereidaS says, "It's definitely worth checking out." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "score" | ||
Floyd ] Containment Area 25 Floyd | > Floyd | > SCORE Floyd | Floyd | There is no score in this story. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x creature" | ||
Floyd ] Containment Area 26 Floyd | > Floyd | > X CREATURE Floyd | Floyd | It appears to be some kind of small, hairy creature. It looks up as Floyd | you approach, then hides once more. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x line" | ||
Floyd ] Containment Area 27 Floyd | > Floyd | > X LINE Floyd | Floyd | A bit smaller than the window behind you, and jet black, with a Floyd | hazardous materials symbol painted on the top in white. Closer Floyd | inspection reveals that the chest is bolted to the floor, and the text Floyd | "FOR USE ONLY IN EVENT OF BIOCONTAMINATION" printed on one side. There Floyd | is also some sort of line running from the side down through the Floyd | floor. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline asks, "Hrm. Are we supposed to be searching files or doing science?" | |
| DavidW says, "I'm not sure how to interpret that 'line'." | ||
| DavidW says, "We're supposed to find a file." | ||
| jenrexrode says, "maybe the file says "do science"" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I have to admit that I'm less jazzed about trying to find the file given the implementation issues." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I always find it hard to operate in a world where I'm suppose to search and find stuff when stuff isn't actually there." | ||
| DavidW says, "We haven't explored all that extensively yet." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Just being honest here." | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" | ||
Floyd ] Containment Area 28 Floyd | > Floyd | > L Floyd | Floyd | Containment Area Floyd | A small, cylindrical room of brushed smooth silver metal. Entirely Floyd | spotless and brightly lit. Two air-sealed doors lead east and north Floyd | back into the main part of the Filing Hall. Floyd | Floyd | A glass rack is attached low on the wall across from one door. Floyd | Floyd | On the low glass rack are some sealed dishes. Floyd | Floyd | There's movement from a window in the other part of the wall. Floyd | Floyd | A small hazmat chest sits against the wall between the two doors. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" | ||
Floyd ] Dumb Terminals 29 Floyd | > Floyd | > N Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Dumb Terminals Floyd | It seems this part of the Archives have been set aside for storing the Floyd | ancient machines of the Company. Edifices the size of your living unit Floyd | line the wall, some with chairs built in, some covered in dials, Floyd | knobs, levers, switches... Floyd | Floyd | The storage area extends in every direction to the west, including the Floyd | Hardcopy Storage area to the northwest. Thick bundles of cables run Floyd | from the side or back of each device, along the ceiling and down a Floyd | dimly-lit hallway to the north. At the far southern end of the array Floyd | stands a strange metal capsule. Floyd | Floyd | The viewscreen on one of the machines is active. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x machine" | ||
Floyd ] Dumb Terminals 30 Floyd | > Floyd | > X MACHINE Floyd | Floyd | You see nothing special about the active machine. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "hm" | |
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "use machine" | ||
Floyd ] Dumb Terminals 30 Floyd | > Floyd | > USE MACHINE Floyd | Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "read machine" | ||
Floyd ] Dumb Terminals 31 Floyd | > Floyd | > READ MACHINE Floyd | Floyd | You see nothing special about the active machine. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "I don't know how to interact with the machine." | |
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x viewscreen" | ||
Floyd ] Dumb Terminals 32 Floyd | > Floyd | > X VIEWSCREEN Floyd | Floyd | You see nothing special about the active machine. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "read viewscreen" | ||
Floyd ] Dumb Terminals 33 Floyd | > Floyd | > READ VIEWSCREEN Floyd | Floyd | You see nothing special about the active machine. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "uh oh" | |
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "talk to machine" | ||
Floyd ] Dumb Terminals 33 Floyd | > Floyd | > TALK TO MACHINE Floyd | Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x lever" | ||
Floyd ] Dumb Terminals 34 Floyd | > Floyd | > X LEVER Floyd | Floyd | You see nothing special about the active machine. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "type on machine" | ||
Floyd ] Dumb Terminals 34 Floyd | > Floyd | > TYPE ON MACHINE Floyd | Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x dial" | ||
Floyd ] Dumb Terminals 35 Floyd | > Floyd | > X DIAL Floyd | Floyd | You see nothing special about the active machine. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "unplug machine" | ||
Floyd ] Dumb Terminals 35 Floyd | > Floyd | > UNPLUG MACHINE Floyd | Floyd | That's not a verb I recognize. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "x knobs" | ||
Floyd ] Dumb Terminals 36 Floyd | > Floyd | > X KNOBS Floyd | Floyd | You see nothing special about the active machine. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "Hrm" | |
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" | ||
Floyd ] Dumb Terminals 37 Floyd | > Floyd | > L Floyd | Floyd | Dumb Terminals Floyd | It seems this part of the Archives have been set aside for storing the Floyd | ancient machines of the Company. Edifices the size of your living unit Floyd | line the wall, some with chairs built in, some covered in dials, Floyd | knobs, levers, switches... Floyd | Floyd | The storage area extends in every direction to the west, including the Floyd | Hardcopy Storage area to the northwest. Thick bundles of cables run Floyd | from the side or back of each device, along the ceiling and down a Floyd | dimly-lit hallway to the north. At the far southern end of the array Floyd | stands a strange metal capsule. Floyd | Floyd | The viewscreen on one of the machines is active. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode asks, "it doesn't want to be intereacted with?" | |
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cables" | ||
Floyd ] Dumb Terminals 38 Floyd | > Floyd | > X CABLES Floyd | Floyd | Huge -- each one as thick as your head -- held in place with giant Floyd | round brackets. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x brackets" | ||
Floyd ] Dumb Terminals 39 Floyd | > Floyd | > X BRACKETS Floyd | Floyd | Stunningly big. You'd need heavy equipment to even have a chance at Floyd | budging one of them. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "watch viewscreen" | ||
Floyd ] Dumb Terminals 40 Floyd | > Floyd | > WATCH VIEWSCREEN Floyd | Floyd | You see nothing special about the active machine. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline asks, "N?" | |
| DavidW says, "So.... perhaps we want to disconnect the machine for some unexplained reason." | ||
| DavidW says, "yes, north please." | ||
| ChrisC says, "Sorry, you can interact with its components -- even sitting in the chair works." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "n" | ||
Floyd ] Power Supply 41 Floyd | > Floyd | > N Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Power Supply Floyd | You are on a rickety catwalk running east and west, attached to a Floyd | sheer cliff face. A hot wind buffets you from below, forcing you to Floyd | hang onto the railing. To the east, the catwalk wends into a cleft in Floyd | the rock. The Headquarters basement is back in through an access Floyd | passageway to the south. Floyd | Floyd | The power cable runs directly down the cliff side. At ground level, Floyd | far below, eight massive turbines spin constantly beside a few Floyd | outbuildings, venting steam directly into the night sky. You must have Floyd | traveled all the way through headquarters underground. Floyd | Floyd | > | Jacqueline says, "Well, that looks deadly." | |
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" | ||
Floyd ] Power Supply 42 Floyd | > Floyd | > D Floyd | Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ChrisC says, "That's the biggest oversight in my submission, I think." | |
| Jacqueline asks, "Which?" | ||
| ChrisC says, "How to interact with the machine." | ||
| Jacqueline nods. | ||
| NereidaS says, "That part did confuse me for quite a while." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I hope seeing us play this has been helpful." | ||
| DavidW says, "sorry everyone, my head is swaying. I need to lie down very soon. I gotta go." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "No worries, David." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I should probably move on to some other stuff as well." | ||
| ChrisC says, "No problem DW" | ||
| DavidW says, "I am intrigued by this game, though, regardless of implementation issues." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Chris), "Sorry to make it sound like I'm publicly calling you out - but yeah, it needs some work and thorough testing." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "But despite those issues it got second, so people were intrigued and you should work on it." | ||
| NereidaS says, "It's a good concept. It could be really awesome." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Like, I'm suitably on edge from some of the writing, but I think I need some more bits here and there about the girl who is missing." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Why she was worried, and why I care that she's missing." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Just little bits, here and there, to keep me wanting to find the answer." | ||
| ChrisC says, "Yeah. ES's Bronze did that really well." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Well, we'll play Belief next week, and possibly others if people want to play them." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Chris), "Sorry we didn't play through to the end of your intro, but it sounds like there are some people here who might be interested in testing the next versions of the game." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "See folks next week, noon Eastern." | ||
| Jacqueline exclaims, "Thanks for coming, Chris and Nereida!" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "It was fun to have you both here." | ||
| NereidaS exclaims, "I enjoyed being here!" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "We always love newcomers, but particularly authors." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "We'd love to have you here as players as well." | ||
| ChrisC says, "Cool! I have to help run a summer comp this week, but I hope to start working on a much complex music system with Colin nekt month." | ||
| ChrisC says, "Err, summer camp." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Chris), "Excellent." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "On both fronts - camp and projects." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I wish I was in summer camp." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "But I *am* going camping this week at Mt Rainier, so." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I guess I shouldn't complain." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Anyway, bath time for me, then some transcript work, then some work work, then going out for a tiny mudmeet." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Have a great week, everyone." | ||
| NereidaS exclaims, "You too!" | ||
