AllThingsJacq.com - Interactive Fiction | ClubFloyd - December 13, 2020


ToyShop & Floyditorium		#ClubFloyd Discussion


DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "load sleepmask ropeofchalk"
CF ]
CF \|
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| A Note from the Editor
CF \|
CF \| It looks as though this account will finally be published in 2020, not
CF \| long after the ninth anniversary of the incident in question. You
CF \| should expect some explanation for my having taken so long, especially
CF \| considering how insufferably coy I've been about the story's "imminent
CF \| release" on so many occasions. I have no grounds to blame any of my
CF \| informants for the delay; neither can I produce any excuse for my own
CF \| negligence. So all I can give you is an apology:
CF \|
CF \| Sorry.
CF \|
CF \| As I took my sweet time compiling my notes, and the incident itself
CF \| became more and more obscured in the fog of the past, a vague niggling
CF \| concern grew more and more distinct: The accuracy of my report was
CF \| becoming vulnerable to lapses of memory, misinterpretations, and
CF \| transcription errors of the mind��My own mind, and those of my
CF \| informants. I began to second-guess all my data, searching for
CF \| corroborations that did not exist, or else finding the verification I
CF \| wanted and then doubting my secondary source. I became discouraged. I
CF \| did that thing you see in movies where I shoved all my papers off my
CF \| desk in a rage. I stared down from my window at a rainy city, and I
CF \| contemplated the nature of reality.
CF \|
CF \| I couldn't continue my work until I had made a deal with myself: I
CF \| would set aside any commitment to recreating these strange events as
CF \| they had really happened. I would concern myself only with
CF \| faithfulness to the statements of my informants, to the facts of their
CF \| experience rather than to the truth. Now my path was clear; now my
CF \| goal was attainable.
CF \|
CF \| As I said, I can offer no excuse for this extremely overdue
CF \| publication, and the preceding statements should not be so construed.
CF \| I only wanted to tell you all that so I could tell you this:
CF \|
CF \| The narrative compiled here purports to reflect only the recollections
CF \| of the individuals involved. By continuing, you concede that I, the
CF \| editor, bear no responsibility for the felicitous representation of
CF \| any objective fact associated with this narrative; furthermore, you
CF \| swear or affirm that you will not issue to the editor or publicly
CF \| report any corrections or recriminations concerning this narrative's
CF \| accuracy��Geographical, historical, medical, meteorological, or
CF \| otherwise.
CF \|
CF \| Do you consent to this?
CF \|
CF \| >		Jacqueline says (to DW), "You know I've been logging to the server every session, even while away, right"
		DavidW says, "Sure, but I've been a) angsty since we failed to record the Easter game session, b) wanted my own copies lately."
		MoyTW exclaims, "Say no!"
		DavidW says (to MoyTW), "that could be dangerous. Ryan might write a file to the Floyd file system to deny us playing the game in the future."
		DavidW asks, "But if you all are willing to risk saying no?"
		MoyTW says, "Unsure on level of seriousness of that statement."
		Jacqueline says, "heh. Ryan might do a thing like that, it is true."
		Jacqueline says, "I wouldn't put it past him."
		MoyTW says, "...huh! Well that'd be pretty funny too."
		MoyTW exclaims, "Say no!"
		Jacqueline says, "Let's say yes, and then afterward we can restart and say no."
		Knight_Otu says, "Tricksy. I'm not sure I'd risk it."
		DavidW says, "One of Ryan's games scolded me for quitting in the middle without finishing when I next started it up."
		Jacqueline says, "heh"
		DavidW says, "I'm saying yes for now"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "yes"
CF \| >
CF \| > YES
CF \|
CF \| Thank you. Please press any key, and we'll begin.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Judges' Table
CF \| ��1
CF \|
CF \| You are covered in sweat. Your clothes cling to you like someone
CF \| else's moist hands, and your skin feels like someone else's skin. Hina
CF \| is speaking, but you're only aware of your own nauseating body.
CF \|
CF \| Someone interrupts Hina. "You guys need a drink?"
CF \|
CF \| It's Nathalie, wheeling her cumbersome old cooler up to the judges'
CF \| table. Saving you the energy it would take to croak out a plea for
CF \| help, she produces three bottles of water.
CF \|
CF \| Hina and Alec chug theirs down desperately, and you follow suit, with
CF \| no concern for how undignified you must look. A cold, wet trickle runs
CF \| over your chin, down your neck. Then the bottle is empty; then,
CF \| finally, you can think clearly.
CF \|
CF \| A Rope of Chalk
CF \| edited by Ryan Veeder
CF \| Release 1 / Serial number 200926 / Inform 7 build 6M62 (I6/v6.34 lib
CF \| 6/12N)
CF \|
CF \| Judges' Table
CF \| The softball field's aluminum bleachers offer a meager amount of
CF \| shade, so this is where Hina decided the judges should sit while the
CF \| artists work. Hina and Alec are sitting at opposite ends of the table;
CF \| your spot is in the middle. The sidewalk, the "canvas" of the sidewalk
CF \| chalk tournament, runs west and east.
CF \|
CF \| Before Hina can get back to what she was saying, Nathalie starts in:
CF \| "I came over to let you know, one of the artists has a problem with
CF \| another artist's art."
CF \|
CF \| Hina summons enough willpower to roll her eyes. "Who, exactly?"
CF \|
CF \| "Jessica, and Xavier. Jessica is the one who wanted me to tell on
CF \| Xavier. She wanted a judge to come down and make a ruling."
CF \|
CF \| Hina turns toward you. "Lane, can you take care of this?"
CF \|
CF \| You nod without thinking. It's too hot to think.
CF \|
CF \| "Come on, I'll go with you." Nathalie waves you over, and a tiny spark
CF \| of encouragement flickers in your overheated heart.
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW says, "Aww."
		DavidW says, "I've played this section, so someone else should drive. It's not a difficult session."
		DavidW says, "er section"
		Jacqueline says, "The lower-case e in 'edited by Ryan Veeder' is funny"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x me"
CF ] Judges' Table
CF \| >
CF \| > X ME
CF \|
CF \| Your name is Lane, and you're a sophomore chem major. Your grades got
CF \| you into the Honors program, your desire to become a well-rounded
CF \| person led you to join the Honors Arts Committee, and your inability
CF \| to say "no" has made you a judge for the Honors Arts Committee's
CF \| Sidewalk Chalk Tournament.
CF \|
CF \| Actually, your credit hours from the summer semester probably bumped
CF \| you up so you're technically a junior. But that doesn't seem right: A
CF \| real upperclassman would have a measure of confidence that you
CF \| definitely lack.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "i"
CF ] Judges' Table
CF \| >
CF \| > I
CF \|
CF \| You are carrying:
CF \| a water bottle
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x hina"
CF ] Judges' Table
CF \| >
CF \| > X HINA
CF \|
CF \| Hina is a senior��pre-med��and she basically runs the Honors program
CF \| single-handedly. She organized this whole sidewalk chalk tournament
CF \| herself, and she's already filled the calendar for the fall semester
CF \| with similar activities. You just pray the other events will be
CF \| indoors.
CF \|
CF \| Her forehead is always furrowed a little bit; she's always working on
CF \| something. Right now, though, it's like her whole head is furrowed.
CF \| You can't blame her.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x alec"
CF ] Judges' Table
CF \| >
CF \| > X ALEC
CF \|
CF \| You can't take Alec seriously, because he doesn't take anything
CF \| seriously. All you've seen him do around the Honors center is goof off
CF \| and flirt with underclassman girls. You have no idea how he's still in
CF \| the Honors program as of his senior year.
CF \|
CF \| And why is he here? Maybe the program director told him he had to to
CF \| help out with some bare minimum of events, and he decided to get one
CF \| out of the way right at the start of the semester.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x nathalie"
CF ] Judges' Table
CF \| >
CF \| > X NATHALIE
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie is a theater major, and a fifth-year senior. Instead of
CF \| acting as judge, she's the sidewalk chalk tournament's "hydration
CF \| officer." She seems the least bothered of anyone by the heat, probably
CF \| because she has the cooler and all the cold water.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "That would help her in the heat of summer."
		Knight_Otu asks, "East? West?"
		DavidW says, "East doesn't go very far, but it doesn't hurt to see it."
		DavidW says, "But west is the direction to where the plot is."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Shed
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Shed
CF \| The sidewalk stops well before it reaches the equipment shed, leaving
CF \| a long stretch of sand in between. Beyond the shed is the intersection
CF \| of First Avenue and Second Street: An impassable wasteland.
CF \|
CF \| An empty bucket sits near the shed.
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie follows along.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x bucket"
CF ] Shed
CF \| >
CF \| > X BUCKET
CF \|
CF \| It looks a bit like someone forgot to put this bucket back in the
CF \| shed, and by the time they remembered they couldn't be bothered to
CF \| unlock the door.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "The game geography for this section is like a backwards question mark."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x shed"
CF ] Shed
CF \| >
CF \| > X SHED
CF \|
CF \| It's a squat, unattractive building with a big steel door. A brass
CF \| spigot protrudes from one of the walls.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x spigot"
CF ] Shed
CF \| >
CF \| > X SPIGOT
CF \|
CF \| There's a tap here for water to come out of, but you'd need one of
CF \| those little keys to open the valve.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x intersection"
CF ] Shed
CF \| >
CF \| > X INTERSECTION
CF \|
CF \| Last year, it was impossible to get around this part of town on foot,
CF \| because there was so much traffic. Now it's impossible because of all
CF \| the construction.
CF \|
CF \| Gosh, you're thirsty.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "drink water"
CF ] Shed
CF \| >
CF \| > DRINK WATER
CF \|
CF \| (the water bottle)
CF \| The bottle feels too light.
CF \|
CF \| Oh, it's empty. That's no good.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Judges' Table
CF \| >
CF \| > W
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Judges' Table
CF \| The softball field's aluminum bleachers offer a meager amount of
CF \| shade, so this is where Hina decided the judges should sit while the
CF \| artists work. Hina and Alec are sitting at opposite ends of the table;
CF \| your spot is in the middle. The sidewalk, the "canvas" of the sidewalk
CF \| chalk tournament, runs west and east.
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie follows along.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Victoria's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > W
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Victoria's Space
CF \| The sidewalk bends south and east here, at the edge of the parking
CF \| lot.
CF \|
CF \| Victoria is hunched over her square of sidewalk, filling in the
CF \| details of a huge, twisting python. A plastic container is nestled in
CF \| the grass nearby.
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie follows along.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "Ask Nathalie for water if you want more."
		Knight_Otu asks, "Are we in danger of dehydration?"
		DavidW says, "I'm not sure."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "ask nathalie for water"
CF \| >
CF \| > ASK NATHALIE FOR WATER
CF \|
CF \| (the water bottle)
CF \| "Could I get another bottle of water?" you ask, trying not to sound
CF \| desperate.
CF \|
CF \| "Of course you could, young lady." Nathalie relieves you of your empty
CF \| bottle and gets a full one out of the cooler. "There you go. As cold
CF \| as it gets, for all that's worth."
CF \|
CF \| It feels plenty cold to you, and you thank her sincerely.
CF \|
CF \| "No need to thank me. Just doing my duty as hydration officer."
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How's it going?"
CF \| [2] "How'd you get to be the hydration officer, anyway?"
CF \| [3] "How do you like this snake?"
CF \| [4] "Thanks."
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "When I played, I drank water."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "1"
CF \| >
CF \| > 1
CF \|
CF \| "How's it going?"
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie shrugs. "Oh, I'm fine." She really is. It's like the heat
CF \| isn't getting to her at all.
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How's it going?"
CF \| [2] "How are you so chipper?"
CF \| [3] "How'd you get to be the hydration officer, anyway?"
CF \| [4] "How do you like this snake?"
CF \| [5] "Thanks."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "2"
CF \| >
CF \| > 2
CF \|
CF \| "How are you so..." You lick your lips. "Chipper" isn't really the
CF \| word you want to use.
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie catches your meaning. "Two things: A positive attitude, and
CF \| staying hydrated. And a willingness to fully embrace my situation. But
CF \| that's part of the first one."
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How's it going?"
CF \| [2] "How are you so chipper?"
CF \| [3] "How'd you get to be the hydration officer, anyway?"
CF \| [4] "How do you like this snake?"
CF \| [5] "Thanks."
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW asks, "What snake?"
		DavidW says, "I think that's what Victoria drew."
		Knight_Otu says, "The python Victoria is painting."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "3"
CF \| >
CF \| > 3
CF \|
CF \| "How'd you get to be the hydration officer, anyway?"
CF \|
CF \| "Well, at last year's event I was in Hina's position, and it turned
CF \| out to be really stressful. So I asked her if I could do something a
CF \| little more low-key this time around."
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How's it going?"
CF \| [2] "How are you so chipper?"
CF \| [3] "How'd you get to be the hydration officer, anyway?"		MoyTW says, "Ah."
CF \| [4] "How do you like this snake?"
CF \| [5] "Thanks."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "4"
CF \| >
CF \| > 4
CF \|
CF \| You maneuver Nathalie to a spot where you can talk without being
CF \| overheard. "How do you like this snake?" you ask.
CF \|
CF \| "I love it. It's creepy."
CF \|
CF \| "Creepy is a good thing?"
CF \|
CF \| "I love creepy! Well, okay." She takes a second to consider. "There
CF \| are different kinds of creepy," she concludes.
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How's it going?"
CF \| [2] "How are you so chipper?"
CF \| [3] "How'd you get to be the hydration officer, anyway?"
CF \| [4] "How do you like this snake?"
CF \| [5] "Thanks."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "5"
CF ] Victoria's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > 5
CF \|
CF \| "Thanks, Nathalie."
CF \|
CF \| "Hey, no problem."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "drink water"
CF ] Victoria's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > DRINK WATER
CF \|
CF \| (the water bottle)
CF \| You take a meek little sip from your water bottle.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] Victoria's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > L
CF \|
CF \| Victoria's Space
CF \| The sidewalk bends south and east here, at the edge of the parking
CF \| lot.
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie stands off to the side.
CF \|
CF \| Victoria is hunched over her square of sidewalk, filling in the
CF \| details of a huge, twisting python. A plastic container is nestled in
CF \| the grass nearby.
CF \|
CF \| You're already thirsty again.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x victoria"
CF ] Victoria's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X VICTORIA
CF \|
CF \| Victoria is one of the freshmen you met when you were helping out at
CF \| orientation. Right away you got the sense that she was trying hard to
CF \| be different just for the sake of being different. You should have
CF \| expected she'd come up with a chalk drawing calculated to freak
CF \| everybody out.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x python"
CF ] Victoria's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X PYTHON
CF \|
CF \| Victoria's serpent crisscrosses her entire square of pavement, coiling
CF \| over and under itself like a Celtic knot. Its fanged jaws fill up the
CF \| center of the composition; the tip of its tail is nowhere in sight.
CF \|
CF \| Having completed the snake's undulating outline, Victoria is now
CF \| coloring another tangled web: The reticulations of its scales.
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie offers her a bottle of water, which she gratefully accepts.
CF \| The two of them take a seat on the grass. "Looks like a lot of work,"
CF \| Nathalie says. Victoria shakes her head wearily.
CF \|
CF \| "I could have picked something easier," she says. "Or I could have
CF \| just, stayed home. But Hina really wanted me to come."
CF \|
CF \| "I know what that's like," Nathalie says, and she gives you a
CF \| meaningful look.
CF \|
CF \| A lull ensues.
CF \|
CF \| Presently Nathalie stands up again.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x grass"
CF ] Victoria's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X GRASS
CF \|
CF \| The grass is a little high. Someone will come around to mow it sooner
CF \| or later.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x container"
CF ] Victoria's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X CONTAINER
CF \|
CF \| It looks like something you'd store leftovers in.
CF \|
CF \| Victoria notices you looking at it, and she takes a break from her
CF \| snake to explain: "Hina said there wouldn't be any prizes for this
CF \| tournament, and I thought that was a little sad. So I sewed these."
CF \|
CF \| She pulls the lid off the container, revealing a collection of
CF \| colorful ribbons. An involuntary "aww!" passes your lips.
CF \|
CF \| "Don't worry, the judges get ribbons, too. I just thought it'd be fun.
CF \| But, that's for later."
CF \|
CF \| She closes the container and returns to her drawing.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "oo, I missed that."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "drink water"
CF ] Victoria's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > DRINK WATER
CF \|
CF \| (the water bottle)
CF \| You take a meek little sip from your water bottle.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to victoria"
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO VICTORIA
CF \|
CF \| Victoria looks up at you. "Yes?"
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How are you doing?"
CF \| [2] "What inspired you to choose this subject?"
CF \| [3] "Do you need anything?"
CF \| [4] "Good luck."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "1"
CF \| >
CF \| > 1
CF \|
CF \| "How are you doing?"
CF \|
CF \| "Hot."
CF \|
CF \| "Yeah." Well, at least everyone's being honest.
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How are you doing?"
CF \| [2] "What inspired you to choose this subject?"
CF \| [3] "Do you need anything?"
CF \| [4] "Good luck."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "2"
CF \| >
CF \| > 2
CF \|
CF \| "What inspired you to choose this subject?" Yeah, that sounds like
CF \| something a judge would say.
CF \|
CF \| Victoria is so glad you asked. "It's based on my pet python back
CF \| home." You nod impassively; you're neither impressed nor surprised.
CF \| "He's a big sweetheart, really."
CF \|
CF \| "He looks kind of scary here."
CF \|
CF \| "Well," Victoria says, and you know she's thinking: I just want to
CF \| scare people.
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How are you doing?"
CF \| [2] "What inspired you to choose this subject?"
CF \| [3] "Do you need anything?"
CF \| [4] "Good luck."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "3"
CF \| >
CF \| > 3
CF \|
CF \| Without really thinking, you ask Victoria, "Do you need anything?"
CF \|
CF \| Victoria leans back on her hands, looks up into the cloudless sky.
CF \| "Could you bring me a bowl of ice cream? Just vanilla is fine."
CF \|
CF \| "I don't think we have... Oh." Your head hurts. "That was a joke."
CF \|
CF \| "Yeah," says Victoria.
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How are you doing?"
CF \| [2] "What inspired you to choose this subject?"
CF \| [3] "Do you need anything?"
CF \| [4] "Good luck."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "4"
CF ] Victoria's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > 4
CF \|
CF \| "Good luck." Actually, that doesn't make a lot of sense coming from a
CF \| judge...
CF \|
CF \| "Thanks," says Victoria.
CF \|
CF \| You're already thirsty again.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "I think we're done here for now."
		DavidW says, "yes"
		Jacqueline says, "yeah"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Rachel's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > S
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Rachel's Space
CF \| The sidewalk continues north and south between the softball field and
CF \| a steep hill. Rachel has been assigned a square of cement near a steel
CF \| bike rack.
CF \|
CF \| At the moment, Rachel is stretched out on the grass, soaking up the
CF \| sun, eyes hidden behind huge sunglasses. Her phone lies in the grass
CF \| next to her. Her chalk drawing, a simple slogan, is already finished.
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie is right behind you.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x rachel"
CF ] Rachel's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X RACHEL
CF \|
CF \| Rachel is wearing short shorts and a tiny top. It doesn't strike you
CF \| as a totally appropriate outfit, but maybe she knew it was going to be
CF \| so unbearably hot.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x chalk"
CF ] Rachel's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X CHALK
CF \|
CF \| You glance from the "art" to Rachel and back. You bite your lip. The
CF \| sidewalk chalk tournament isn't really the right setting for a
CF \| statement like this. But Rachel gave Hina plenty of notice as to what
CF \| she was planning to do, and Hina told her it'd be okay.
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie makes a pointed sort of huffing noise. Rachel doesn't seem to
CF \| notice.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "read it"
CF ] Rachel's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > READ IT
CF \|
CF \| Rachel's "art" isn't really a priority right now.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "I think much of the trip to the problem is optional, but it helps to know what's here the first time."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x phone"
CF ] Rachel's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X PHONE
CF \|
CF \| You can't help but notice a notification as it pops up: Someone just
CF \| texted her, saying "haha sux 2bu." Hard to argue with.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to nathalie"
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO NATHALIE
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie perks up when you turn her way.
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How's it going?"
CF \| [2] "How are you so chipper?"
CF \| [3] "How'd you get to be the hydration officer, anyway?"
CF \| [4] "What do you think about Rachel's entry?"
CF \| [5] "Thanks."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "4"
CF \| >
CF \| > 4
CF \|
CF \| You and Nathalie take a few steps away from the "art."
CF \|
CF \| "What do you think about Rachel's entry?"
CF \|
CF \| "Rachel is tedious," Nathalie says, and apparently that's all she has
CF \| to say.
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How's it going?"
CF \| [2] "How are you so chipper?"
CF \| [3] "How'd you get to be the hydration officer, anyway?"
CF \| [4] "What do you think about Rachel's entry?"
CF \| [5] "Thanks."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "5"
CF ] Rachel's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > 5
CF \|
CF \| "Thanks, Nathalie."
CF \|
CF \| "Hey, no problem."
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "I think we can move on."
		DavidW says, "yes"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Jonathan's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > S
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Jonathan's Space
CF \| The sidewalk turns from north to east at the border of a small wooded
CF \| area.
CF \|
CF \| Jonathan is sitting on a wooden balance beam, contemplating his
CF \| drawing. His sidewalk square has been divided into a grid of hexagons,
CF \| overlaid on a bird's-eye view of a snow-covered island.
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie is right behind you.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x jonathan"
CF ] Jonathan's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X JONATHAN
CF \|
CF \| Jonathan is a sophomore, like you. Unless you consider yourself a
CF \| junior. But you don't.
CF \|
CF \| He's been one of the more approachable guys who hangs around the
CF \| Honors center. You managed to get into the same section of Native
CF \| Peoples of North America that he's in this semester; hopefully he
CF \| didn't think you were weird for asking.
CF \|
CF \| >		Jacqueline asks, "Wait, did it ever say what the slogan actually was?"
		MoyTW says, "Nope."
		DavidW says, "It did not."
		Knight_Otu says, "No, it didn't."
		Knight_Otu says, "Let's imagine it to be the worst think we may read all decade."
		Knight_Otu says, "*thing"
		Knight_Otu says, "(meaning it's probably from this year)"
		Jacqueline says, "But maybe that's why it's the best thing"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x beam"
CF ] Jonathan's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X BEAM
CF \|
CF \| Someone erected a balance beam just off to the side of the sidewalk,
CF \| even though a bench would be a lot more convenient. Jonathan's
CF \| notebook is resting on the beam next to him.
CF \|
CF \| >		Jacqueline exclaims, "I'm curious!"
		Jacqueline says, "Anyway."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x island"
CF ] Jonathan's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X ISLAND
CF \|
CF \| Each hexagon of the island map has a little feature drawn on it: A
CF \| fortress or a mountain or a cottage. But the medium of sidewalk chalk
CF \| isn't precise enough to render all the detail Jonathan is trying to
CF \| include.
CF \|
CF \| "It's the setting of my novel," he explains. "The kingdom of
CF \| Cealdhame."
CF \|
CF \| "Oh my gosh, your novel? Please, tell us all about it," Nathalie says,
CF \| pressing a fresh water bottle into his hand.
CF \|
CF \| "Well, the main premise is..." He rubs the cold bottle against his
CF \| head. "Wait. Are you messing with me?"
CF \|
CF \| "I promise you that I am."
CF \|
CF \| "Gotcha." He takes a long drink.
CF \|
CF \| >		Jacqueline says, "meanie"
		Knight_Otu asks, "Novel, or RPG setting?"
		Jacqueline says, "Or board game."
		DavidW says, "Basically, Settlers of Catan with a love story."
		Jacqueline says, "yeah"
		Jacqueline says, "hee"
		Knight_Otu says, "Catan was my first thought."
		DavidW says, "Settling Down With Catlan"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x notebook"
CF ] Jonathan's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X NOTEBOOK
CF \|
CF \| You can't get a good look at the notebook while Jonathan's sitting
CF \| next to it, but you can see a sketch of his island, with its hexagonal
CF \| grid, and a bunch of little labels.
CF \|
CF \| >		Jacqueline asks, "chat?"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to jonathan"
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO JONATHAN
CF \|
CF \| "Hey, Jonathan."
CF \|
CF \| "Oh, hey!" He sits up and smiles.
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How're you?"
CF \| [2] "That's a lot of white chalk."
CF \| [3] "Do you have plans for after this?"
CF \| [4] "See you later."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "1"
CF \| >
CF \| > 1
CF \|
CF \| "How're you?"
CF \|
CF \| "Doing great. I've got a comfy little bench here," he says, indicating
CF \| the narrow balance beam. "I'll probably stretch out on top of it and
CF \| take a nap later."
CF \|
CF \| You giggle, but Nathalie does not.
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How're you?"
CF \| [2] "That's a lot of white chalk."
CF \| [3] "Do you have plans for after this?"
CF \| [4] "See you later."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "2"
CF \| >
CF \| > 2
CF \|
CF \| You look over the intricate map, and for some reason the thing you say
CF \| out loud is: "That's a lot of white chalk."
CF \|
CF \| "Don't worry. I brought my own. Well, not 'my own,' exactly."
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie perks up. "Where'd you steal the chalk from?"
CF \|
CF \| "There was a box of it just sitting on the floor in Van Allen Hall.
CF \| They don't need it; all the classrooms have dry erase boards."
CF \|
CF \| You're not sure what to do with this information. Nathalie nods
CF \| approvingly.
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How're you?"
CF \| [2] "That's a lot of white chalk."
CF \| [3] "Do you have plans for after this?"
CF \| [4] "See you later."
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "3 may hurt our impartiality as a judge."
		Jacqueline asks, "Is 3 asking this person out?"
		Knight_Otu says, "It reads that way at least."
		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, see, 'Good luck' is just being polite."
		DavidW says, "I didn't read it that way."
		Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I say we skip 3"
		MoyTW says, "It could be a wide variety of things, but is plausibly asking that person out."
		Knight_Otu says, "I suppose it could be asking about long-term plans about his novel."
		Jacqueline says, "Oh, true"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "4"
CF ] Jonathan's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > 4
CF \|
CF \| "See you later."
CF \|
CF \| "Yeah, see you!" He returns to his work.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu asks, "Next contestant?"
		DavidW says, "please"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Faye's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Faye's Space
CF \| There's a run-down old drinking fountain along this east-west stretch
CF \| of sidewalk, between the trees and the softball field.
CF \|
CF \| Faye's chalk art is a complicated piece with maybe a dozen characters.
CF \| And somehow, she's already almost finished.
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie follows you.
CF \|
CF \| >		Jacqueline says, "yep"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x faye"
CF ] Faye's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X FAYE
CF \|
CF \| Faye is a sophomore. You haven't gotten to know her very well, but her
CF \| choice of subject isn't a surprise. You could probably find another
CF \| Jack Skellington among her tattoos, if you looked hard enough.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x art"
CF ] Faye's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X ART
CF \|
CF \| In the foreground of the chalk drawing is Jack Skellington, with a big
CF \| grin on his skull; behind him are the ragdoll lady and the mad
CF \| scientist and a bunch of other characters from The Nightmare
CF \| Before Christmas, all sketchy but recognizable. In the background
CF \| is the curling tentacle-mountain, silhouetted by a giant yellow moon.
CF \|
CF \| "Um," you say.
CF \|
CF \| Faye looks up at you. "Yes?"
CF \|
CF \| "I'm just wondering... if there's..." Gosh, it's hard to talk. "If
CF \| there are any legal problems with using copyrighted characters."
CF \|
CF \| Faye looks over at Nathalie. Nathalie's eyes go wide; she staggers
CF \| back in shock.
CF \|
CF \| "I just remembered," she gasps.
CF \|
CF \| Cold dread flows over you. "What is it?"
CF \|
CF \| "I'm so sorry. It completely slipped my mind... I forgot to invite Tim
CF \| Burton's lawyers to the sidewalk chalk tournament."
CF \|
CF \| Faye busts up laughing, and you feel your cheeks getting red.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "laugh"
CF ] Faye's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > LAUGH
CF \|
CF \| You can only manage a phlegmatic sort of half-laugh.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x fountain"
CF ] Faye's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X FOUNTAIN
CF \|
CF \| A metal knob protrudes from one side of the unlikely-looking drinking
CF \| fountain.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x knob"
CF ] Faye's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X KNOB
CF \|
CF \| The knob has been dinged up over years of misuse.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "turn it"
CF ] Faye's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > TURN IT
CF \|
CF \| You turn the knob, but no water comes out. Not even a dribble.
CF \|
CF \| >		Roger says, "This genre -- hmm, juvenile melodrama? -- seems popular enough in IF, but I'm not sure it floats my boat"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to faye"
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO FAYE
CF \|
CF \| Anxiety creeps over your skull: You have no idea how to talk to Faye.
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How's it going?"
CF \| [2] "Tell me about your drawing."
CF \| [3] "See you later."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "1"
CF \| >
CF \| > 1
CF \|
CF \| "How��" You falter, and Nathalie steps in. "Hey Faye," she says,
CF \| handing her a water bottle. "What are you doing after this?"
CF \|
CF \| Faye stares into space. "I think I'm gonna head back to my room and
CF \| stand in front of the air conditioner for like, an hour. Or I'm just
CF \| gonna crawl inside my freezer."
CF \|
CF \| "You have a freezer?"
CF \|
CF \| "My minifridge has a freezer compartment. It's tiny, but... I'll
CF \| manage." Faye nods reassuringly.
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How's it going?"
CF \| [2] "Tell me about your drawing."
CF \| [3] "See you later."
CF \|
CF \| >		Jacqueline says, "Roger was born a man."
		Jacqueline says, "We all know this."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "2"
CF \| >
CF \| > 2
CF \|
CF \| You try to say "Tell me about your drawing" as if you just noticed it
CF \| and never said anything embarrassing about it.
CF \|
CF \| "Well, Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my favorite
CF \| movies, ever since I was a kid. I always thought Jack Skellington was
CF \| really cute."
CF \|
CF \| It occurs to you that the Honors program is full of weirdos.
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How's it going?"
CF \| [2] "Tell me about your drawing."
CF \| [3] "See you later."
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "You mean the world is full of weirdos, Lane."
		Jacqueline says, "heh"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "3"
CF ] Faye's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > 3
CF \|
CF \| "See you later."
CF \|
CF \| "Sure." Faye gets back to work.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] Faye's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > L
CF \|
CF \| Faye's Space
CF \| There's a run-down old drinking fountain along this east-west stretch
CF \| of sidewalk, between the trees and the softball field.
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie stands off to the side.
CF \|
CF \| Faye's chalk art is a complicated piece with maybe a dozen characters.
CF \| And somehow, she's already almost finished.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu asks, "Anything I overlooked?"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x field"
CF ] Faye's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X FIELD
CF \|
CF \| You can't see the field very well through the fence, but you get the
CF \| impression that the bases, the grass, and everything else is in
CF \| pristine condition.
CF \|
CF \| >		Jacqueline says, "I don't think so."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Jessica's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Jessica's Space
CF \| Here, finally, there's a bench, where the sidewalk turns from west to
CF \| south. The picturesqueness of the spot contrasts dramatically with
CF \| torn-up Second Street just a little ways to the east.
CF \|
CF \| Jessica is working on a curved block of pavement, drawing a diverse
CF \| and vibrant array of flowers.
CF \|		Jacqueline says, "Though admittedly I am having trouble staying alert. Pretty tired this morning for some reason."
CF \| Nathalie follows along.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "Okay, Jessica is the one who called for a judge."
		DavidW says, "yeah, this game has a very sleepy sort of start to it. It takes quite a while to get to... whatever."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x bench"
CF ] Jessica's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X BENCH
CF \|
CF \| It seems a bit odd that the bench would be pointed out toward the
CF \| highway instead of facing the bike trail.
CF \|
CF \| There's a large hardbound book sitting on the bench.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x book"
CF ] Jessica's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X BOOK
CF \|
CF \| The book is called Orchid Species of the Erastian and it's
CF \| clearly designed to take up space on coffee tables. Jessica must have
CF \| brought it to use as a reference.
CF \|
CF \| >		Jacqueline glances at David and raises an eyebrow.
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x jessica"
CF ] Jessica's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X JESSICA
CF \|
CF \| Jessica is the only person you know of who comes to the Honors center
CF \| just to read. One time you found her reading in the stairwell when the
CF \| main study/hangout area had gotten too boisterous.
CF \|
CF \| And she's a junior, a music major. She plays the... You can't remember
CF \| the word.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "That's another of Ryan's games. The Orchid Species."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x art"
CF ] Jessica's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X ART
CF \|
CF \| Jessica has drawn a huge bouquet of lilies, roses, and orchids, all
CF \| rendered with a level of realism that overwhelms you with the force of
CF \| a strong perfume��But you're not really smelling anything. That was
CF \| confusing.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x trail"
CF ] Jessica's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X TRAIL
CF \|
CF \| The sidewalk around the softball field is nice and wide, perfect for
CF \| chalk art.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x highway"
CF ] Jessica's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X HIGHWAY
CF \|
CF \| You can't see that anywhere nearby.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "I mean, I think this first section is kinda meant to lull the player half-asleep."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to jessica"
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO JESSICA
CF \|
CF \| Jessica looks up and wipes some sweat from her forehead. "Yes?"
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How are you?"
CF \| [2] "What's the problem here?"
CF \| [3] "I love your flowers."
CF \| [4] "Well, see you later."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "1"
CF \| >
CF \| > 1
CF \|
CF \| "How are you?"
CF \|
CF \| Jessica sighs deeply. "Actually, I'm in kind of a rotten mood. Sorry."
CF \|
CF \| "Oh. That's too bad." Well, you're supposed to be doing something
CF \| about it.
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How are you?"
CF \| [2] "What's the problem here?"
CF \| [3] "I love your flowers."
CF \| [4] "Well, see you later."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "2"
CF \| >
CF \| > 2
CF \|
CF \| "What's the problem here?"
CF \|
CF \| "I'm really sorry," she says, "but I don't think Xavier's piece is
CF \| appropriate. And since it's associated with the Honors program, I just
CF \| think..."
CF \|
CF \| "What exactly is inappropriate about it?" asks Nathalie.
CF \|
CF \| "Well, you should probably see it for yourself," she says, gesturing
CF \| further down the sidewalk.
CF \|
CF \| Oh no. More walking.
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How are you?"
CF \| [2] "What's the problem here?"
CF \| [3] "I love your flowers."
CF \| [4] "Well, see you later."
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu asks, "I mean, has she seen that slogan we've seen?"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "4"
CF ] Jessica's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > 4
CF \|
CF \| "Well, see you later."
CF \|
CF \| "Okay. But please, make Xavier change his design."
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu asks, "Shall we see?"
		DavidW says, "yes, please"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Xavier's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > S
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Xavier's Space
CF \| This is where there would be a crosswalk for Second Street, if there
CF \| were a Second Street. There's a button for the crosswalk, but there is
CF \| no crosswalk.
CF \|
CF \| You feel a little hemmed in by the torn-up street to the east and all
CF \| the trees to the west and south. The sidewalk only goes north from
CF \| here.
CF \|
CF \| Xavier is kneeling over his drawing, hard at work.
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie follows you.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x xavier"
CF ] Xavier's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X XAVIER
CF \|
CF \| Xavier is an art major so it's not even fair that he would enter this
CF \| tournament in the first place. And of course he has to cause trouble.
CF \| Last year he did a photography exhibition in the Honors center. Just
CF \| an excuse to put up a bunch of naked pictures of naked people.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x chalk"
CF ] Xavier's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X CHALK
CF \|
CF \| On the sidewalk is a curvaceous woman with red skin, goatish horns,
CF \| and very little clothing. Her lips are parted sultrily, as if she's
CF \| about to whisper something to you. Your throat feels tight.
CF \|
CF \| "More interesting than a bunch of flowers, that's for sure," says
CF \| Nathalie.
CF \|
CF \| >		Jacqueline says, "heh"
		Knight_Otu says, "Somehow I expected this."
		Jacqueline asks, "Yeah?"
		DavidW says, "succubus vs succulents"
		Knight_Otu says, "It is something that would be called scandalous."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x button"
CF ] Xavier's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X BUTTON
CF \|
CF \| The button says PUSH FOR WALK SIGNAL, but there's no signal to push
CF \| for.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x trees"
CF ] Xavier's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X TREES
CF \|
CF \| A wall of trees stands not far beyond the sidewalk. It's unnerving to
CF \| see such dense woods in the middle of the city. You know the
CF \| university campus isn't far from the other side, but it seems like if
CF \| you wandered in, you wouldn't wander out for some time.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "You can talk to Nathalie first if you don't want to talk to Xavier right away."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x street"
CF ] Xavier's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X STREET
CF \|
CF \| Second Street is normally very busy, but it's been torn up for
CF \| renovation. Now it's an expanse of mud and rubble, bordered by rebar
CF \| and orange mesh.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to nathalie"
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO NATHALIE
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie perks up when you turn her way.
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How's it going?"
CF \| [2] "What do you think of Xavier's drawing?"
CF \| [3] "What do you think I should do?"
CF \| [4] "Thanks."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "2"
CF \| >
CF \| > 2
CF \|
CF \| "What do you think of Xavier's drawing?" you ask, not concerning
CF \| yourself with whether he can hear.
CF \|
CF \| "Well, it's got my attention," Nathalie says. "I think people are
CF \| really going to respond to her."
CF \|
CF \| Xavier presses a hand to his chest. "Oh my gosh, Nathalie, that is the
CF \| nicest fake compliment I've ever received in my life."
CF \|
CF \| She grins. "Shut up, kid. You know I love you. Keep up the good work."
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How's it going?"
CF \| [2] "What do you think of Xavier's drawing?"
CF \| [3] "What do you think I should do?"
CF \| [4] "Thanks."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "3"
CF ] Xavier's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > 3
CF \|
CF \| "What��" You stumble. Nathalie reaches out to steady you.
CF \|
CF \| "Hey. Are you doing okay?"
CF \|
CF \| "No, yeah." You don't want her to worry about you. "I'm just stressed,
CF \| I think."
CF \|
CF \| "That makes sense. Let's get back to Hina and see if you can take a
CF \| little break."
CF \|
CF \| You're not as proud as you are exhausted, so you just nod.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "drink water"
CF ] Xavier's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > DRINK WATER
CF \|
CF \| (the water bottle)
CF \| You take a drink from your water bottle. The water doesn't stay cold
CF \| for long, but it's refreshing nonetheless.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "4"
CF ] Xavier's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > 4
CF \|
CF \| That's not a verb I recognize.
CF \|
CF \| >		Jacqueline asks, "We're not going to talk to x?"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to xavier"
CF ] Xavier's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO XAVIER
CF \|
CF \| While you're trying to think of a way to engage, Nathalie steps in.
CF \| "Hey Xavier. Nice succubus."
CF \|
CF \| "Thanks!" He's in the middle of adding white highlights to make it
CF \| look like her skin (there's a lot of skin) is reflecting the sun.
CF \|
CF \| "Did you know Jessica complained about it?"
CF \|
CF \| "I know she didn't seem to like it when she was over here earlier.
CF \| But, what I've learned is, people are always going to have opinions."
CF \|
CF \| "Well, I brought a judge over, to make a judgment call." Finally
CF \| Nathalie steps aside and presents you. Xavier spreads his arms and
CF \| presents his mostly-naked demoness.
CF \|
CF \| "What do you think?"
CF \|
CF \| Your head hurts.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "Was about to."
		Jacqueline says, "Thanks - I thought the game was going to pull us away whether we wanted it or not for a second."
		MoyTW says, "Are we in a dialog now or, like..."
		DavidW says, "You are not."
		Knight_Otu asks, "So, do we say yes or no here, or are we about to be cut-scened?"
		DavidW says, "You're not in dialog mode."
		MoyTW asks, "Well if you say "yes" what are you yes-ing to?"
		Knight_Otu says, "Or there's a third option potentially."
		MoyTW asks, "Talk to Nathalie?"
		DavidW says, "I think, when I played, I talked to Xavier first, then Nathalie, then headed back."
		Jacqueline says, "I think we either try to talk to X again or head back."
		Jacqueline says, "(I had a friend in high school named Xavier and he just went by X.)"
		Knight_Otu says, "I mean, I see it's not dialog mode, but I'd consider a yes to say yes, that's an okay subject, no, not an appropriate subject, but well."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to nathalie"
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO NATHALIE
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie perks up when you turn her way.
CF \|
CF \| [1] "How's it going?"
CF \| [2] "What do you think of Xavier's drawing?"
CF \| [3] "What do you think I should do?"
CF \| [4] "Thanks."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "3"
CF ] Xavier's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > 3
CF \|
CF \| "Come on," Nathalie says, "Let's just report back to Hina." She almost
CF \| puts her arm on your shoulder.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "I guess we do just go back and talk it out."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Jessica's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > N
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Jessica's Space
CF \| There's a bench here, for weary wanderers such as yourself, where the
CF \| sidewalk turns from west to south. The picturesqueness of the spot
CF \| contrasts dramatically with torn-up Second Street just a little ways
CF \| to the east.
CF \|
CF \| Jessica's flowers seem almost finished, but she's still focused on
CF \| coloring in one of the petals.
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie comes up alongside, dragging her water cooler behind her.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Faye's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > W
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Faye's Space
CF \| There's a run-down old drinking fountain along this east-west stretch
CF \| of sidewalk, between the trees and the softball field.
CF \|
CF \| Faye's Nightmare Before Christmas scene is complete, and now
CF \| she's lying in the grass off the sidewalk.
CF \|
CF \| "Hey, it's finished!" Nathalie rushes over to admire the drawing. "I'm
CF \| not a judge, so I can say without fear of retribution that I
CF \| completely love this. Jack Skellington is my role model."
CF \|
CF \| Faye doesn't say anything. She's just running her hands over the
CF \| grass, a goofy smile on her lips.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Jonathan's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > W
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Jonathan's Space
CF \| The sidewalk turns from north to east at the border of a small wooded
CF \| area.
CF \|
CF \| Jonathan is staring straight down at the cement, lazily filling in the
CF \| blue sea surrounding his island.
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie follows along.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Rachel's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > N
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Rachel's Space
CF \| The sidewalk continues north and south between the softball field and
CF \| a steep hill. Rachel has been assigned a square of cement near a steel
CF \| bike rack.
CF \|
CF \| Rachel is still sunbathing; she finished her chalk-slogan-thing
CF \| forever ago.
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie comes up alongside, dragging her water cooler behind her.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Victoria's Space
CF \| >
CF \| > N
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Victoria's Space
CF \| The sidewalk bends south and east here, at the edge of the parking
CF \| lot.
CF \|
CF \| Victoria's python is finished. She's sitting in the grass, staring at
CF \| the cars.
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie follows along.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Judges' Table
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Judges' Table
CF \| At least it's a little shady here.
CF \|
CF \| Hina and Alec are sitting at either end of the table, waiting for you.
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie is right behind you.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to hina"
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO HINA
CF \|
CF \| "Well?" Hina asks as you approach. You open your mouth.
CF \|
CF \| "Sheesh, Hina, can't you see she's about to fall over?" Alec stands up
CF \| and guides you to your chair. "You can make your report sitting down.
CF \| This isn't the Marines."
CF \|
CF \| Hina waits with clenched teeth for you to sit. "So what did Xavier
CF \| draw that Jessica had a problem with?"
CF \|
CF \| "It was a..." You gesticulate weakly, searching for the right words.
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie cuts in: "A big sexy demon with her boobs hanging out."
CF \|
CF \| You nod, and your body wobbles beneath the weight of your head.
CF \|
CF \| Hina slaps her own forehead. "For Pete's sake, Xavier... Okay, here's
CF \| what we're going to do:"
CF \|
CF \| But her voice fades away as you slump forward and lose consciousness.
CF \|
CF \| Please press any key to continue.		Jacqueline says, "I'm surprised Jessica didn't hold us up as we walked past, to ask us what we intend to do about Xavier."
Knight_Otu pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Behind the Bleachers
CF \| ��2
CF \|
CF \| Lane's head thumps against the table, and you leap to your feet in
CF \| alarm. Hina loses her cool for maybe an eighth of a second, then she
CF \| grabs Lane by the shoulders.
CF \|
CF \| "Did she faint?" you ask, before you realize that yes, obviously, she
CF \| fainted.
CF \|
CF \| "We need to get her on her back," Hina says. Before you can make your
CF \| legs move, Nathalie glares at you and steps in to assist. The two of
CF \| them position Lane on the grass; Hina leans down to check her
CF \| breathing.
CF \|
CF \| Behind the Bleachers
CF \| The judges' folding table is set up behind the bleachers, out of the
CF \| sun, on a strip of bike trail leading east and west.
CF \|
CF \| You stand by uselessly, your blood pounding in your ears. You should
CF \| do something.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "Yeah, that was a surprise to me as well."
		MoyTW asks, "x me?"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x me"
CF ] Behind the Bleachers
CF \| >
CF \| > X ME
CF \|
CF \| Your name is Alec; you're wearing a brown shirt and bluejeans. Based
CF \| on what people have told you, you believe yourself to be
CF \| average-looking. You thought Hina wanted your creative and
CF \| administrative input on this Sidewalk Chalk Tournament, but it turns
CF \| out what she really wanted was a warm body to sit at the judges'
CF \| table.
CF \|
CF \| You shouldn't be so critical of Hina. She's under a lot of stress. But
CF \| aren't you under a lot of stress too? Everyone is. It's the human
CF \| condition.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "I think we're Alec now."
		Knight_Otu says, "We are."
		DavidW says, "Lane didn't think much of him."
		Knight_Otu says, "I don't think anyone does think much of him from the sound of it."
		Jacqueline says, "aw"
		DavidW says, "I think talk to Hina; she might suggest a task for us."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to hina"
CF ] Behind the Bleachers
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO HINA
CF \|
CF \| "Should I call 911?" you ask. Hina doesn't look up.
CF \|
CF \| "I'm pre-med. I know what to do when someone faints," she grumbles.
CF \|
CF \| "And I have street smarts," adds Nathalie.
CF \|
CF \| "Then, what should I do?"
CF \|
CF \| Hina closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "Get a bucket of water
CF \| and erase Xavier's demon lady. I don't have time to argue with him.
CF \| Tell him he can start over and draw something more appropriate, or if
CF \| he wants he can just go home."
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie produces a strangled groan of protest. You just nod.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Shed
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Shed
CF \| There's a big sand pit in between the end of the bike trail and the
CF \| equipment shed. It looks like they just gave up on finishing the
CF \| trail. It also looks like they gave up on reconstructing the
CF \| intersection northeast of here. Everything's torn up, destroyed, and
CF \| abandoned.
CF \|
CF \| There's an empty bucket on the ground here.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "get bucket"
CF ] Shed
CF \| >
CF \| > GET BUCKET
CF \|
CF \| You pick up the bucket.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW asks, "Do we have the key for the spigot?"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "i"
CF ] Shed
CF \| >
CF \| > I
CF \|
CF \| You are carrying:
CF \| a metal bucket
CF \| an empty water bottle
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "It would appear no."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Behind the Bleachers
CF \| >
CF \| > W
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Behind the Bleachers
CF \| The judges' folding table is set up behind the bleachers, out of the
CF \| sun, on a strip of bike trail leading east and west. Lane is lying on
CF \| the grass just off the path, with Hina petting her forehead and
CF \| Nathalie keeping her feet elevated.
CF \|
CF \| >		Jacqueline says, "When someone faints, you call 911, even if you are pre-med, unless you are an idiot."
		DavidW says, "Maybe Nathalie has it."
		Knight_Otu says, "And yeah, they really should call an ambulance."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to hina"
CF ] Behind the Bleachers
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO HINA
CF \|
CF \| Hina already asked you to get a bucket of water to erase Xavier's art
CF \| with. If you make her tell you again, she will get mad.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to nathalie"
CF ] Behind the Bleachers
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO NATHALIE
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie gives you a condescending little nod. "Hina's got this under
CF \| control," she says.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW asks, "Maybe we have the key and the game isn't saying?"
		Knight_Otu says, "There was a fountain out of order, a spigot we don't have the key for..."
		Knight_Otu says, "Hm."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Shed
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Shed
CF \| There's a big sand pit in between the end of the bike trail and the
CF \| equipment shed. It looks like they just gave up on finishing the
CF \| trail. It also looks like they gave up on reconstructing the
CF \| intersection northeast of here. Everything's torn up, destroyed, and
CF \| abandoned.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x spigot"
CF ] Shed
CF \| >
CF \| > X SPIGOT
CF \|
CF \| The faucet doesn't have a handle: Instead, there's a little square
CF \| hole where you're supposed to insert a key.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "fill bucket"
CF ] Shed
CF \| >
CF \| > FILL BUCKET
CF \|
CF \| You can't turn on the faucet; it doesn't have a handle. There's a
CF \| square hole where you're supposed to insert a key, which you don't
CF \| have.
CF \|
CF \| Hopefully Hina has it.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Behind the Bleachers
CF \| >
CF \| > W
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Behind the Bleachers
CF \| The judges' folding table is set up behind the bleachers, out of the
CF \| sun, on a strip of bike trail leading east and west. Lane is lying on
CF \| the grass just off the path, with Hina petting her forehead and
CF \| Nathalie keeping her feet elevated.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "oh. NOW talk to Hina for the key."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "ask hina for key"
CF ] Behind the Bleachers
CF \| >
CF \| > ASK HINA FOR KEY
CF \|
CF \| That's not anything around here.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to hina"
CF ] Behind the Bleachers
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO HINA
CF \|
CF \| "What is it?"
CF \|
CF \| "Sorry, I need the key thingy. For the shed. For the water."
CF \|
CF \| Hina sighs impatiently. (Well, this part isn't exactly your fault, is
CF \| it?) She finds the key in her pocket and hands it to you without
CF \| saying anything.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Shed
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Shed
CF \| There's a big sand pit in between the end of the bike trail and the
CF \| equipment shed. It looks like they just gave up on finishing the
CF \| trail. It also looks like they gave up on reconstructing the
CF \| intersection northeast of here. Everything's torn up, destroyed, and
CF \| abandoned.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "fill bucket"
CF ] Shed
CF \| >
CF \| > FILL BUCKET
CF \|
CF \| You place the bucket beneath the spigot, stick the key in the hole on
CF \| top, and twist it. Clear water pours out and splashes noisily in the
CF \| bottom of the bucket. The resonance is deeply satisfying. You almost
CF \| feel a little sleepy.
CF \|
CF \| As the bucket begins to overflow, you snap back to awareness and turn
CF \| off the faucet. You pull out the key; you don't want to lose that.
CF \|
CF \| Then you pick up the bucket. It's heavy. Gosh.
CF \|
CF \| Okay, you can do this.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Behind the Bleachers
CF \| >
CF \| > W
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Behind the Bleachers
CF \| The judges' folding table is set up behind the bleachers, out of the
CF \| sun, on a strip of bike trail leading east and west. Lane is lying on
CF \| the grass just off the path, with Hina petting her forehead and
CF \| Nathalie keeping her feet elevated.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Parking Lot
CF \| >
CF \| > W
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Parking Lot
CF \| Victoria is sitting in the grass, her head in her hands. Behind her on
CF \| the bike path is her finished entry, a giant snake.
CF \|
CF \| Curving around from the east, the trail heads south, between the
CF \| softball field and the overgrown hillside.
CF \|
CF \| Jeez, it's hot.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Bike Rack
CF \| >
CF \| > S
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Bike Rack
CF \| Rachel is lying on the grass next to her entry, abandoning herself to
CF \| the merciless sun. Her eyes are hidden behind ridiculous sunglasses.
CF \|
CF \| An empty bike rack stands on the other side of the trail, at the foot
CF \| of the hill. The trail runs north and south.
CF \|
CF \| Something shrieks in pain. Was that a bird?
CF \|
CF \| Rachel doesn't react.
CF \|
CF \| "Did you hear that?" you ask.
CF \|
CF \| "Hear what?"
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW asks, "yeah, why is water so heavY?"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Balance Beam
CF \| >
CF \| > S
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Balance Beam
CF \| Jonathan gives you a dark look before turning back down to his work.
CF \| The bike trail curves from north to east, skirting the edge of the
CF \| woods.
CF \|
CF \| A dry, mercifully cool breeze wafts over you from out of the forest,
CF \| but it doesn't last long.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Balance Beam
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \| As you continue past Jonathan's drawing, you hear a voice behind you:
CF \| Jerk.
CF \|
CF \| You whirl around. "What did you just say?"
CF \|
CF \| Jonathan looks up. "I didn't say anything."
CF \|
CF \| "Are you sure?"
CF \|
CF \| Jonathan blinks. "Um. Well, pretty sure, I guess."
CF \|
CF \| >		Jacqueline asks, "Because it's so molecularly dense...?"
		MoyTW says, "That just be how water do."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Drinking Fountain
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Drinking Fountain
CF \| Faye is sitting uncomfortably in the grass across the trail from a
CF \| drinking fountain. It looks like the sun has gotten the better of her,
CF \| but her chalk art is finished: A lurid homage to The Nightmare
CF \| Before Christmas.
CF \|
CF \| The bike trail runs east and west between the woods and the outfield
CF \| fence.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Bench
CF \| Jessica is sprawled across her field of flowers, sobbing softly.
Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button.		DavidW says, "push space, maybe"
Knight_Otu pushes the green 'space' button.
CF \| Jessica is sprawled across her field of flowers, sobbing softly.The
CF \| bucket falls from your grasp		Jacqueline says, "oh no"
		Knight_Otu says, "Oh no."
		Jacqueline says, "OH NO"
Knight_Otu pushes the green 'space' button.
CF \| bucket falls from your graspand you run to her, fall to her side,
CF \| touch her cheek. What's wrong?
Knight_Otu pushes the green 'space' button.
CF \| touch her cheek. What's wrong?Life is wrong, the world is wrong, our
CF \| sorrow (which is the smallest portion of human misery) is too much to
CF \| bear. We can't fix anything, we can't help anyone, we can only cling
CF \| to each other		Jacqueline asks, "wait what?"
		MoyTW says, "uh"
Knight_Otu pushes the green 'space' button.
CF \| to each otherand weep
Knight_Otu pushes the green 'space' button.
CF \| to each otherand weep and cold water crawls over the pavement, sinking
CF \| into our clothes.
Knight_Otu pushes the green 'space' button.
CF \| into our clothes.Please press any key to continue.		Jacqueline says, "wait WHAT"
Knight_Otu pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] 0. THE CAVE
CF \| ��3
CF \|
CF \| The idea is not that the world itself is merely an illusion. That's
CF \| stupid. What's really going on is this: Reality is out there,
CF \| obviously. But there's this veil of appearance that inhibits
CF \| our ability to experience reality. When you manage to push through
CF \| this veil, you'll realize that in fact reality is extremely real.
CF \|
CF \| And you're almost there. You can feel the surface of the world melting
CF \| away beneath your fingers.
CF \|
CF \| 0. THE CAVE
CF \| Ancient signatures painted on smooth, damp stone. Enormous machinery
CF \| thrumming peacefully, blowing warm, wet wind over your face.
CF \|
CF \| An engine screeches to life and breaks your concentration. There are
CF \| people in here, talking over the fans, walking around like they own
CF \| the place. They're getting into their cars and they're leaving. Why
CF \| are they leaving?
CF \|
CF \| EXITS: EAST
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "ThE gAmE iS TuRNiNg"
		MoyTW says, "Huh."
		MoyTW says, "Didn't really expect that."
		DavidW says, "'edited by Ryan Veeder'"
		Jacqueline says, "For a second I thought this was going all Plato on us."
		Jacqueline says, "But that's a different cave, I think."
		Knight_Otu says, "Somehow I'm not so sure it's all based on a real event as advertised."
		Jacqueline represses her sarcasm.
		Knight_Otu says, "Aw."
		DavidW asks, "x me, please. Who are we now?"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x me"
CF ] 0. THE CAVE
CF \| >
CF \| > X ME
CF \|
CF \| You take a moment to focus. You point your attention inward. The
CF \| flower of your ��tman opens itself to you.
CF \|
CF \| You remember now. Your name is Nathalie.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "i"
CF ] 0. THE CAVE
CF \| >
CF \| > I
CF \|
CF \| You are carrying:
CF \| a plastic baggie
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x baggie"
CF ] 0. THE CAVE
CF \| >
CF \| > X BAGGIE
CF \|
CF \| Inside the plastic baggie are seven little yellow pills.
CF \|
CF \| >		Jacqueline says, "..."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x pills"
CF ] 0. THE CAVE
CF \| >
CF \| > X PILLS
CF \|
CF \| Inside the plastic baggie are seven little yellow pills.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x pill"
CF ] 0. THE CAVE
CF \| >
CF \| > X PILL
CF \|
CF \| Inside the plastic baggie are seven little yellow pills.
CF \|
CF \| >		Jacqueline says, "Put them in our mouth."
		Jacqueline says, "All of them."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "eat pill"
CF ] 0. THE CAVE
CF \| >
CF \| > EAT PILL
CF \|
CF \| Oh, you've had plenty.
CF \|
CF \| >		Jacqueline says, "oh"
		Knight_Otu says, "Well..."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x machinery"
CF ] 0. THE CAVE
CF \| >
CF \| > X MACHINERY
CF \|
CF \| Giant machines at the end of the ramp, churning incessantly. Their
CF \| constant low moan is perfect thinking music.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x ramp"
CF ] 0. THE CAVE
CF \| >
CF \| > X RAMP
CF \|
CF \| You're not currently seeing whatever that is.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] 0. THE CAVE
CF \| >
CF \| > L
CF \|
CF \| 0. THE CAVE
CF \| The dimness and white noise were so relaxing, but now everybody's
CF \| piling into their loud stupid cars and it's impossible to think in
CF \| here.
CF \|
CF \| EXITS: EAST
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] I. THE DELUGE
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| I. THE DELUGE
CF \| In a matter of seconds you are soaked. Your clothes cling to you like
CF \| someone else's moist hands, and tingles of intense sensation ripple
CF \| over your skin. You are supremely, ecstatically aware of your own hot,
CF \| wet body.
CF \|
CF \| But everybody's in a hurry hurry hurry to get inside the parking ramp.
CF \| What for? It's just water, you guys. People are idiots.
CF \|
CF \| EXITS: WEST EAST
CF \|
CF \| Some sort of creature is shivering in an alcove, trying to keep dry.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x creature"
CF ] I. THE DELUGE
CF \| >
CF \| > X CREATURE
CF \|
CF \| The creature has a face you recognize. He sees someone he knows and
CF \| waves.
CF \|
CF \| He keeps waving and beckoning, more and more insistently, calling out
CF \| something you can't hear over the rain.
CF \|
CF \| Oh, he's waving at you!
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to creature"
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO CREATURE
CF \|
CF \| You skip through the puddles to join the creature in his damp alcove.
CF \|
CF \| "I've been looking all over for you," he says. "I have orders to
CF \| deliver you back to headquarters."
CF \|
CF \| 1 - This weather is gorgeous.
CF \| 2 - So who is this guy?
CF \| 3 - Why's everybody leaving?
CF \| 4 - What does he even want?
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "1"
CF \| >
CF \| > 1
CF \|
CF \| "It's amazing." You slick your hair back. "Don't you love it?"
CF \|
CF \| "What are you talking about?"
CF \|
CF \| He's not paying attention. "The rain."
CF \|
CF \| "Oh. I guess I'd like it better if I was indoors. And wearing dry
CF \| socks."
CF \|
CF \| Of course he would. "Of course you would."
CF \|
CF \| 1 - This weather is gorgeous.
CF \| 2 - So who is this guy?
CF \| 3 - Why's everybody leaving?
CF \| 4 - What does he even want?
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "This is so Twilight Zone."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "2"
CF \| >
CF \| > 2
CF \|
CF \| You lean in to inspect the candy-colored clown. He leans back. You
CF \| know him from somewhere. A long time ago. He seemed kind of gross when
CF \| you met him, and he hasn't done anything to change your opinion since.
CF \|
CF \| Just because you're both aspects of the same universal consciousness
CF \| doesn't mean you have to like him.
CF \|
CF \| 1 - This weather is gorgeous.
CF \| 2 - So who is this guy?
CF \| 3 - Why's everybody leaving?
CF \| 4 - What does he even want?
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "3"
CF \| >
CF \| > 3
CF \|
CF \| "Yeah, why is everybody leaving? I thought this was supposed to be fun
CF \| times."
CF \|
CF \| "Well, it's raining pretty hard."
CF \|
CF \| "It's not raining that hard."
CF \|
CF \| He rubs his forehead. He's thinking about something. He's about to say
CF \| something.
CF \|
CF \| He says: "Well, yes it is."
CF \|
CF \| So stupid.
CF \|
CF \| 1 - This weather is gorgeous.
CF \| 2 - So who is this guy?
CF \| 3 - What does he even want?
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "3"
CF \| >
CF \| > 3
CF \|
CF \| "What are you here for?"
CF \|
CF \| "I just said. Hina wants you to come back. They had a quick meeting
CF \| while you were off doing whatever you were doing." You weren't even
CF \| doing anything!
CF \|
CF \| 1 - They had a meeting without me?
CF \| 2 - I don't have to put up with this!
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "2"
CF ] I. THE DELUGE
CF \| >
CF \| > 2
CF \|
CF \| "And I won't."
CF \|
CF \| "What?"
CF \|
CF \| "I won't go along with you. I won't comply with your orders. The
CF \| Monomyth says that I have to refuse the call."
CF \|
CF \| He sighs. "Okay, I'll go back and let them know you're... invoking the
CF \| Monomyth. See you later."
CF \|
CF \| He hops out of his hidey-hole and runs as fast as he can down the
CF \| street.
CF \|
CF \| Well, that's over.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "Huh."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] I. THE DELUGE
CF \| >
CF \| > L
CF \|
CF \| I. THE DELUGE
CF \| Everybody's in a hurry hurry hurry to get inside the parking ramp.
CF \| What for? It's just water, you guys. People are idiots.
CF \|
CF \| EXITS: WEST EAST
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW asks, "Is this...is this just how Nathalie sees the world?"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] 0. THE CAVE
CF \| >
CF \| > W
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| 0. THE CAVE
CF \| The dimness and white noise were so relaxing, but now everybody's
CF \| piling into their loud stupid cars and it's impossible to think in
CF \| here.
CF \|
CF \| EXITS: EAST
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "I don't know."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] I. THE DELUGE
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| I. THE DELUGE
CF \| Everybody's in a hurry hurry hurry to get inside the parking ramp.
CF \| What for? It's just water, you guys. People are idiots.
CF \|
CF \| EXITS: WEST EAST
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] II. THE BEAST
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| II. THE BEAST
CF \| He growls and curses and struggles mightily against his fetters, but
CF \| it's hopeless. He cannot move. He will never escape. Bound so tightly
CF \| with tension and anger, he approaches the state of rigor mortis.
CF \|
CF \| EXITS: WEST NORTH
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "I didn't get far past here. I was kinda confused."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x beast"
CF \| >
CF \| > X BEAST
CF \|
CF \| A fanged monster of prodigious size is shackled in the middle of the
CF \| street, his body melting away in the rain. He is glorious.
CF \|
CF \| "Begone from me," the Beast growls, "Or I shall chomp thine head off!
CF \| For I detest thee and all of mankind."
CF \|
CF \| 1 - How can he detest me? He doesn't even know me.
CF \| 2 - Why's he tied up like that?
CF \| 3 - Why is he melting?
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW says, "Also, "No sorry, I'm invoking the Monomyth" is to to be honest a great excuse for pretty much anything."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "3"
CF \| >
CF \| > 3
CF \|
CF \| You run your hand down the Beast's back. He is hard and grainy. He is
CF \| made out of sand.
CF \|
CF \| Sand is the highest form of sculpture, the truest test of artistic
CF \| skill. It is doomed to destruction, therefore it is the loveliest of
CF \| substances��for endurance is ugliness, and transience is beauty.
CF \|
CF \| "Stop touching me," the Beast barks. But you go on petting him. He
CF \| loves it.
CF \|
CF \| 1 - How can he detest me? He doesn't even know me.
CF \| 2 - Why's he tied up like that?
CF \| 3 - Why is he melting?
CF \| 4 - Poor thing.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "2"
CF \| >
CF \| > 2
CF \|
CF \| "Who exactly put these chains on you?"
CF \|
CF \| "My creators��Human college students. After they sculpted me into
CF \| being, they saw that I was too powerful, that I would usurp and
CF \| consume them! They enshackled me thus, and then they fled. Cowards!"
CF \|
CF \| You nod. "Total cowards!"
CF \|
CF \| 1 - How can he detest me? He doesn't even know me.
CF \| 2 - Why's he tied up like that?
CF \| 3 - Why is he melting?
CF \| 4 - Poor thing.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "4"
CF ] II. THE BEAST
CF \| >
CF \| > 4
CF \|
CF \| You kneel down and scratch between his ears. "Is there anything I can
CF \| do for you, big guy?"
CF \|
CF \| The Beast softens. "No human has ever before shown me one mote of
CF \| kindness. No, Nathalie, it is too late for me��I am doomed to return
CF \| to
CF \| elemental matter, to cease in my distinctness forevermore. But in
CF \| thanks for thine tender attentions, I will spare thine life."
CF \|
CF \| "Aww. Thanks, big guy." You rise from your knees.
CF \|
CF \| Thunder rumbles.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] II. THE BEAST
CF \| >
CF \| > L
CF \|
CF \| II. THE BEAST
CF \| He still growls and curses, and still struggles mightily against his
CF \| fetters, but it's hopeless. He cannot move. He will never escape.
CF \| Bound so tightly with tension and anger, he continues to approach the
CF \| state of rigor mortis.
CF \|
CF \| EXITS: WEST NORTH
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| >
CF \| > N
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| A massive castle looms before you, its walls and towers barring
CF \| further progress. How original.
CF \|
CF \| EXITS: SOUTH NORTH
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x castle"
CF ] III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| >
CF \| > X CASTLE
CF \|
CF \| A magnificent and well-crafted structure is the Fortress, with many
CF \| intriguing details: The messengers of the northwest tower bear
CF \| missives and watery cordials to the all various inhabitants of the
CF \| Fortress.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x tower"
CF ] III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| >
CF \| > X TOWER
CF \|
CF \| Which do you mean, the northeast tower, the southeast tower, the
CF \| southwest tower, the northwest tower, or the wizard's tower?
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x northeast tower"
CF ] III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| >
CF \| > X NORTHEAST TOWER
CF \|
CF \| The earthy poets of the northeast tower are dedicated to beauty, to
CF \| love, and to heartache.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x northwest tower"
CF ] III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| >
CF \| > X NORTHWEST TOWER
CF \|
CF \| The messengers of the northwest tower bear missives and watery
CF \| cordials to the all various inhabitants of the Fortress.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x southwest tower"
CF ] III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| >
CF \| > X SOUTHWEST TOWER
CF \|
CF \| The artists of the southwest tower spend their days asleep, but by
CF \| night they gaze into the sky and draw celestial inspiration from their
CF \| airy visions.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x southeast tower"
CF ] III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| >
CF \| > X SOUTHEAST TOWER
CF \|
CF \| The administrators of the southeast tower maintain the castle's
CF \| bureaucracy with fiery drive and single-minded professionalism.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x wizard's tower"
CF ] III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| >
CF \| > X WIZARD'S TOWER
CF \|
CF \| In his lair at the top of the tallest tower, the wizard looks over the
CF \| rest of the fortress and records all that he sees.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| >
CF \| > N
CF \|
CF \| You can't go any further: The Fortress stands in your path.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| >
CF \| > NW
CF \|
CF \| No, you can't go that way. You can go north or south.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "enter northwest tower"
CF ] III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| >
CF \| > ENTER NORTHWEST TOWER
CF \|
CF \| You try to crawl inside the northwest tower, but it is much too small
CF \| for you, and you end up destroying it.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW asks, "talk to wizard?"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to wizard"
CF ] III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO WIZARD
CF \|
CF \| The wizard's tower turns out to be a great listener.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "open fortress"
CF ] III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| >
CF \| > OPEN FORTRESS
CF \|
CF \| Your hand-eye coordination isn't operating at peak efficiency right
CF \| now, so when you try to open up the castle you accidentally crush the
CF \| stable instead.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "oh, if the fortress is just a sand castle, you can probably just smash it all down."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x stable"
CF ] III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| >
CF \| > X STABLE
CF \|
CF \| You're not currently seeing whatever that is.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "break fortress"
CF ] III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| >
CF \| > BREAK FORTRESS
CF \|
CF \| You stomp on the southeast tower, reducing it to a pile of sand.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| >
CF \| > G
CF \|
CF \| You bring your fist down on the south wall. It crumbles immediately.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| >
CF \| > G
CF \|
CF \| You kick the gatehouse, splattering it across the street.
CF \|
CF \| People passing by seem to think you're doing something wrong. They
CF \| clearly don't understand how important it is for you to get through
CF \| this castle.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| >
CF \| > G
CF \|
CF \| You smush the southwest tower into rubble.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| >
CF \| > G
CF \|
CF \| You destroy the flimsy blacksmith's shop with a single kick.
CF \|
CF \| >		Jacqueline says, "nice"
		Knight_Otu says, "We're kicking down some kid's sand castle."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| >
CF \| > G
CF \|
CF \| You rip out a big chunk of the east wall and toss it down the road.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] III. THE FORTRESS
CF \| >
CF \| > G
CF \|
CF \| You pummel the wizard's tower into dust.
CF \|
CF \| At last, you've cleared a path through to the rest of the street.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] IV. ERUPTION
CF \| >
CF \| > N
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| IV. ERUPTION
CF \| Liquid fire pours out from the smoking crater, down the mountainside,
CF \| toward the doomed village. It's too late to escape, too late to rescue
CF \| anybody. Everything is melting.
CF \|
CF \| EXITS: SOUTH WEST
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x village"
CF ] IV. ERUPTION
CF \| >
CF \| > X VILLAGE
CF \|
CF \| A few simple homes remain out of the lava's path for now, but before
CF \| long, the entire village will be a smoking ruin.
CF \|
CF \| "It's a shame," someone says as they hurry by. "All that hard work
CF \| will be washed away." But that person doesn't understand properly:
CF \| IV. ERUPTION doesn't necessarily symbolize a complete disaster:
CF \| Just a drastic change, a threat to the status quo. And that's often a
CF \| positive thing.
CF \|
CF \| Actually, the status quo is famously terrible, so it follows that
CF \| change is always good.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu asks, "Is this some kind of tarot?"
		DavidW says, "It has that feel to it."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x crater"
CF ] IV. ERUPTION
CF \| >
CF \| > X CRATER
CF \|
CF \| The volcano rises high; its plume of smoke blots out the sky. Madame
CF \| Pele shapes the earth according to her whim, and to erect a settlement
CF \| in the shadow of her mountain is to put oneself at her mercy.
CF \|
CF \| Lightning arcs across the clouds of ash, and thunder makes the
CF \| pavement shake beneath you.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] V. THE THRONE
CF \| >
CF \| > W
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| V. THE THRONE
CF \| Papa is seated in majesty on his golden Throne, surrounded by a golden
CF \| cord and a veil of black curtains.
CF \|
CF \| EXITS: EAST WEST
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x papa"
CF \| >
CF \| > X PAPA
CF \|
CF \| Papa is dressed in his purple vestments and skullcap, his frilly white
CF \| skirt. His pince-nez is smashed into his forehead. His tiny teeth
CF \| shine like wet pebbles in his gaping mouth. He is screaming.
CF \|
CF \| Papa's mouth is split wide in a piercing, infinite scream.
CF \|
CF \| "Hey!" you yell, loud enough that he should be able to hear you. But
CF \| he doesn't react.
CF \|
CF \| 1 - Man, I hate this guy.
CF \| 2 - What's he screaming about?
CF \| 3 - He's not worth your time.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "2"
CF \| >
CF \| > 2
CF \|
CF \| Who cares?
CF \|
CF \| You yell at Papa to shut up. You yell at him again. He has no reply,
CF \| except additional screaming. You're ready to start screaming
CF \| yourself��but that would be stooping to his level.
CF \|
CF \| Life is full of little lessons like this, if you bother to look for
CF \| them. You have to pay attention to yourself. You have to open yourself
CF \| up to what yourself is trying to tell you.
CF \|
CF \| 1 - Man, I hate this guy.
CF \| 2 - What's he screaming about?
CF \| 3 - He's not worth your time.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x cord"
CF \| >
CF \| > X CORD
CF \|
CF \| (You'll have to pick a number from 1 to 3.)
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "2"
CF \| >
CF \| > 2
CF \|
CF \| Who cares?
CF \|
CF \| You yell at Papa to shut up. You yell at him again. He has no reply,
CF \| except additional screaming. You're ready to start screaming
CF \| yourself��but that would be stooping to his level.
CF \|
CF \| Life is full of little lessons like this, if you bother to look for
CF \| them. You have to pay attention to yourself. You have to open yourself
CF \| up to what yourself is trying to tell you.
CF \|
CF \| 1 - Man, I hate this guy.
CF \| 2 - What's he screaming about?
CF \| 3 - He's not worth your time.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu asks, "1 or 3?"
		DavidW says, "3"
		MoyTW says, "1"
		MoyTW says, "lol"
		Jacqueline asks, "Either is fine?"
		MoyTW says, "Hahaha. We are at an impasse! Just pick one."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "1"
CF \| >
CF \| > 1
CF \|
CF \| You are so sick and tired of this guy and his whole deal. This is
CF \| really ruining your afternoon.
CF \|
CF \| 1 - Man, I hate this guy.
CF \| 2 - What's he screaming about?
CF \| 3 - He's not worth your time.
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW says, "And by one, I mean any, not the numerical one."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "3"
CF \| >
CF \| > 3
CF \|
CF \| "Exactly! Your authority is meaningless. Authority is a false
CF \| structure." You've been gnawing on this bone for a while. "I don't
CF \| have to respect you��I don't even have to acknowledge you!"
CF \|
CF \| Papa screams in response.
CF \|
CF \| 1 - Yeah, leave him alone.
CF \| 2 - No, he needs to have this explained to him.
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW says, "Oh well ok then, fair 'nuff game."
		Knight_Otu says, "Turns out 1 wasn't the end anyway."
		MoyTW exclaims, "2! 2! 2!"
		DavidW says, "2"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "2"
CF ] V. THE THRONE
CF \| >
CF \| > 2
CF \|
CF \| He does need to have this explained to him, and you're the perfect
CF \| person to explain it. "Authority is a social construct, which means,
CF \| we all have to agree that you possess authority, or you don't possess
CF \| it."
CF \|
CF \| Papa goes on screaming, either in impotent protest or in feigned
CF \| confusion.
CF \|
CF \| "Forget it. You'll never understand." Yeah. He'll never understand.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x throne"
CF ] V. THE THRONE
CF \| >
CF \| > X THRONE
CF \|
CF \| The regal seat is topped with elaborate golden pinnacles, reaching
CF \| almost as high as Papa's hat.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x hat"
CF ] V. THE THRONE
CF \| >
CF \| > X HAT
CF \|
CF \| What a goofy little hat.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "now you can x cord or pull it or whatever"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x cords"
CF ] V. THE THRONE
CF \| >
CF \| > X CORDS
CF \|
CF \| You're not currently seeing whatever that is.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x cord"
CF ] V. THE THRONE
CF \| >
CF \| > X CORD
CF \|
CF \| This velvet rope of gold is a false barrier: The rules don't apply to
CF \| you. You aren't responsible for your actions.
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW says, "Can we grab the hat."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "get hat"
CF ] V. THE THRONE
CF \| >
CF \| > GET HAT
CF \|
CF \| You want nothing to do with Papa's grody regalia.
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW says, "Dang."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x curtains"
CF ] V. THE THRONE
CF \| >
CF \| > X CURTAINS
CF \|
CF \| Black drapery falls all around, obscuring the distant world and
CF \| bringing what is near into ghastly clarity.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "pull cord"
CF ] V. THE THRONE
CF \| >
CF \| > PULL CORD
CF \|
CF \| Well, being a false barrier, a mere invention, the cord only exists in
CF \| your mind. So you can't really do anything with it.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] V. THE THRONE
CF \| >
CF \| > L
CF \|
CF \| V. THE THRONE
CF \| Papa is seated in majesty on his golden Throne, surrounded by a golden
CF \| cord and a veil of black curtains.
CF \|
CF \| EXITS: EAST WEST
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "Go to the next room."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] VI. THE WRECKED SHIP
CF \| >
CF \| > W
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| VI. THE WRECKED SHIP
CF \| Light plays strangely on the broken planks and spars littering the
CF \| ocean floor. The shattered hull is rotting all around you.
CF \|
CF \| At your feet, a skeletal sailor grins idiotically in a siren's
CF \| embrace.
CF \|
CF \| EXITS: EAST NORTH
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "Just had to check which direction we came from."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x ship"
CF ] VI. THE WRECKED SHIP
CF \| >
CF \| > X SHIP
CF \|
CF \| What brought this hulk to rest here? What doomed this sailor? Was it
CF \| this mermaid? Probably. Is that a sexist assumption?
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x sailor"
CF ] VI. THE WRECKED SHIP
CF \| >
CF \| > X SAILOR
CF \|
CF \| The sailor is smiling, even as his bones erode in the warm ocean
CF \| currents. A slimy tentacle is wrapped around one of his legs. This
CF \| moron is so, so pleased that a girl is finally paying attention to
CF \| him. He doesn't even care that he's dead.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x siren"
CF ] VI. THE WRECKED SHIP
CF \| >
CF \| > X SIREN
CF \|
CF \| A curvaceous mermaid: Long of hair, smooth of cheek, pert of nose. Her
CF \| eyes are cast down lovingly at her skeleton friend, and her serpentine
CF \| tail is coiled into a pillow where he can rest his skull.
CF \|
CF \| The siren's pet shark is lurking nearby, ready to attack any
CF \| intruders.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x shark"
CF ] VI. THE WRECKED SHIP
CF \| >
CF \| > X SHARK
CF \|
CF \| A dog-sized shark is skirting the area, looking out for trespassers.
CF \| But it hasn't noticed you.
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW says, "Fight the shark."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "attack shark"
CF ] VI. THE WRECKED SHIP
CF \| >
CF \| > ATTACK SHARK
CF \|
CF \| You kick off the shark's fin; then you smash the rest of it. It
CF \| crumbles into nothing.
CF \|
CF \| The siren doesn't seem to care.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "Aw, poor sharky."
		MoyTW says, "I was hoping we would, like, wrestle it into submission, but I guess it's nothingness now."
		DavidW says, "Things seems transitory here."
		Knight_Otu says, "It feels like we're part in a tarot, part in a sand sculpture exhibit."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "hit ship"
CF ] VI. THE WRECKED SHIP
CF \| >
CF \| > HIT SHIP
CF \|
CF \| You tear down the hulk with your bare hands. It disintegrates, its
CF \| contituent atoms floating off on undersea currents.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x sculpture"
CF ] VI. THE WRECKED SHIP
CF \| >
CF \| > X SCULPTURE
CF \|
CF \| Which do you mean, the wreckage, the skeletal sailor, the tentacle, or
CF \| the siren?
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x tentacle"
CF ] VI. THE WRECKED SHIP
CF \| >
CF \| > X TENTACLE
CF \|
CF \| Twisted around the sailor's bony leg is a tentacle, reaching up from
CF \| somewhere beneath the sea floor. It is disgusting.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x sand"
CF ] VI. THE WRECKED SHIP
CF \| >
CF \| > X SAND
CF \|
CF \| Which do you mean, the wreckage, the skeletal sailor, the tentacle,
CF \| the siren, or the sea floor?
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x floor"
CF ] VI. THE WRECKED SHIP
CF \| >
CF \| > X FLOOR
CF \|
CF \| Undulating sand stretches out in all directions, fading quickly into
CF \| the impenetrable blueness of the ocean.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x wreckage"
CF ] VI. THE WRECKED SHIP
CF \| >
CF \| > X WRECKAGE
CF \|
CF \| Pointy bits of wreckage are all over the place, spoiling the
CF \| desert-like smoothness of the ocean floor.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] VI. THE WRECKED SHIP
CF \| >
CF \| > L
CF \|
CF \| VI. THE WRECKED SHIP
CF \| The sea floor has swallowed most of the wreck, and only a few planks
CF \| remain.
CF \|
CF \| At your feet, a skeletal sailor grins idiotically in a siren's
CF \| embrace.
CF \|
CF \| EXITS: EAST NORTH
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] VII. THE GATE
CF \| >
CF \| > N
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| VII. THE GATE
CF \| The warm rain is gone. Now frigid air conditioning flows over you, and
CF \| you shiver like one near death.
CF \|
CF \| The vestibule of the Honors Center is a liminal space, not quite
CF \| within or without. Nothing good ever happens in liminal spaces.
CF \|
CF \| EXITS: SOUTH
CF \|
CF \| Oh. Hina is here.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x hina"
CF \| >
CF \| > X HINA
CF \|
CF \| Hina is almost as soaked as you are. And although she always looks
CF \| serious, and often looks angry, you've never seen her as serious or as
CF \| angry as she is now. Demonic flames are burning in her eyes. And she
CF \| is stomping straight at you.
CF \|
CF \| "Where in the heck have you been?" she snarls.
CF \|
CF \| 1 - Well, you can't tell her you were getting high in the parking
CF \| ramp.
CF \| 2 - Oh no she already knows.
CF \| 3 - She does not. Calm down.
CF \| 4 - No, look how angry she is! She definitely knows!
CF \| 5 - She has no idea. Just act normal, and she won't be able to tell.
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW asks, "Oh, can we talk to the siren or did we lose the chance?"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "undo"
CF \| >
CF \| > UNDO
CF \|
CF \| (You'll have to pick a number from 1 to 5.)
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "5"
CF \| >
CF \| > 5
CF \|
CF \| "I was taking a little break."
CF \|
CF \| "You were gone for like two hours."
CF \|
CF \| "Huh! I guess I lost track of time." Very normal response. You're
CF \| doing great.
CF \|
CF \| Hina's forehead-wrinkle puckers. "It's your sand sculpture contest. I
CF \| would expect you to take some responsibility for it."
CF \|
CF \| "I took plenty of responsibility for it! That's why I needed a break!"
CF \|
CF \| "Well, while you were taking your break, the rest of the Arts
CF \| Committee talked it over, and we don't think we should do sand
CF \| sculpture again next year."
CF \|
CF \| 1 - They can't do that!
CF \| 2 - They can't cancel my event without consulting me.
CF \| 3 - Just because it rained?
CF \| 4 - I'll complain to the faculty advisor.
CF \| 5 - What was her name again?
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "We may have lost the chance."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "3"
CF \| >
CF \| > 3
CF \|
CF \| "You understand that it's not going to rain like this next year,
CF \| right?"
CF \|
CF \| "It's not about the weather. We all agreed that sand sculpture was too
CF \| expensive and dangerous. Somebody got cut with a shovel pretty bad."
CF \|
CF \| "You gave up because one guy had an accident?"
CF \|
CF \| "No." She steels herself. "We also heard from a lot of participants
CF \| that it was too much work. Shoveling all that sand and pouring all
CF \| that water is really exhausting. And it's supposed to be fun."
CF \|
CF \| A sudden peal of thunder punctuates Hina's treachery.
CF \|
CF \| 1 - It IS fun.
CF \| 2 - These people are just too stupid and lazy to appreciate it.
CF \| 3 - What are they going to do instead? Finger painting?
CF \| 4 - Well, they can do it without me.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "3"
CF \| >
CF \| > 3
CF \|
CF \| "So what are you going to do next year? Finger painting? Sidewalk
CF \| chalk?"
CF \|
CF \| Hina pauses. "Finger painting sounds kind of cool, actually."
CF \|
CF \| You try hard not to scream.
CF \|
CF \| "This is supposed to be an honors program! We're supposed to hold up a
CF \| higher standard than the rest of these idiots. We're supposed to be
CF \| elevating people's consciousness!"
CF \|
CF \| Hina looks at you carefully. She's examining your eyes. Uh oh.
CF \|
CF \| "Nathalie, are you feeling okay?"
CF \|
CF \| 1 - She knows!
CF \| 2 - She's gonna report you!
CF \| 3 - There's still time to deny it.
CF \| 4 - No, just own up to it.
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW says, "I do like how all these responses can be read top-bottom as chain of thought."
		Knight_Otu says, "Yeah."
		Knight_Otu asks, "Any preferences here?"
		MoyTW asks, "3?"
		DavidW says, "any is good"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "3"
CF \| >
CF \| > 3
CF \|
CF \| "I wasn't doing anything!"
CF \|
CF \| "I didn't ask if you were doing anything."
CF \|
CF \| She's got you there. "Look, I was just taking some of these." You pull
CF \| out your baggie. "Just to relax. It's not a big deal. But don't tell
CF \| anyone."
CF \|
CF \| Hina examines the pills. Hey, why are there only two left?
CF \|
CF \| "Is this episcophacetin?" she asks. You roll your eyes. Nobody calls
CF \| it that.
CF \|
CF \| The outside door of the vestibule opens, and Alec blusters in. "Hey,
CF \| Hina!" he says cheerily. "Look, I found Nathalie!"
CF \|
CF \| Please press any key to continue.
CF \|
CF \| Your rate for destroying artwork is 37.95%.		Knight_Otu says, "Hm."
		Jacqueline says, "..."
Knight_Otu pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| ��4
CF \|
CF \| In eternal Winter's grasp rests icy Cealdhame, where was raised
CF \| snow-heavy Byringsburh, throne of Care��, bearer of the Pallid Crown.
CF \| Long has Care�� reigned in peace; long have his enemies waited to rise
CF \| up in war against him. Episcophacetin, commonly known as
CF \| joan[1] or klasvak[citation needed], is a
CF \| psychoactive drug primarily used for recreational purposes. Its
CF \| effects include altered perceptions and sensory hallucinations[2],
CF \| often accompanied by intense changes in mood such as euphoria,
CF \| depression, or paranoia.[3]
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW asks, "Uh, ok, who are we now, and can we read them footnotes?"
		DavidW asks, "Are we playing the pills now?"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x me"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > X ME
CF \|
CF \| You are a point in two-dimensional space. The original plan was that
CF \| you would be in charge of a sidewalk chalk tournament. Now, you wander
CF \| alone over the frostbound kingdom of Cealdhame, seeking respite from
CF \| the bitter cold. Your face hurts.
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW says, "No, we're apparently high."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "1"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > 1
CF \|
CF \| That's not a verb I recognize.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "note 1"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > NOTE 1
CF \|
CF \| You never bothered to check any of the citations.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "Well, no footnotes for us I guess."
		MoyTW asks, "We're...Hina?"
		DavidW says, "I don't know who we are."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "i"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > I
CF \|
CF \| You are carrying nothing.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > L
CF \|
CF \| In eternal Winter's grasp rests icy Cealdhame, where was raised
CF \| snow-heavy Byringsburh, throne of Care��, bearer of the Pallid Crown.
CF \| Long has Care�� reigned in peace; long have his enemies waited to rise
CF \| up in war against him. Episcophacetin is usually consumed orally in
CF \| tablet form. It is also dissolved in water to counteract its
CF \| dehydrating properties;[12] however, continued ingestion of
CF \| episcophacetin-laced water has been shown to increase the likelihood
CF \| of syncope (fainting),[13] hyponatremia,[14] and other possibly
CF \| life-threatening side effects.[15][16][17][18]
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW says, "Ugh Nathalie revenge-drugged Hina didn't she."
		Jacqueline says, "It seems like it"
		MoyTW says, "Well that's not very nice."
		Knight_Otu asks, "Were we even Nathalie in the last section?"
		Jacqueline says, "no"
		Jacqueline says, "Yes"
		Jacqueline asks, "I mean... no to Moy and yes to Knight?"
		DavidW says, "We should pick a direction, go that way, or try to."
		Knight_Otu asks, "If Alec barged in claiming he found Nathalie but we were already there...?"
		DavidW says, "oh heck. This happened to Lane too! It was in all of Nathalie's water."
		Knight_Otu says, "Seems we may not have been her? Or maybe I'm misreading it."
		Knight_Otu says, "Oh yeah."
		MoyTW says, "No I think it's, like, comedy, where Hina is yelling at Nathalie in the parking lot and Alec pops in and goes "Oh hey everybody I found Nathalie!""
		DavidW says, "This is why Lane could smell the flower."
		DavidW says, "er flowers"
		MoyTW says, "Wow I don't like Nathalie."
		DavidW says, "Alec may be tripping too."
		DavidW says, "I hope Xavier isn't humping the sidewalk."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > S
CF \|
CF \| Six are the directions permitted in Cealdhame: Northeast, east,
CF \| southeast, southwest, west, and northwest are these, and no others.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "oh, the hex world."
		Knight_Otu says, "Right. Hex map."
		MoyTW says, "Oh god."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > NW
CF \|
CF \| The River ��orm, abode of thick-browed Garn-men. Ash-white is the tusk
CF \| of the Cranh��al, sea-black its empoisoned tongue. Although it lacks
CF \| the electrolytes necessary to restore sodium concentration, drinking
CF \| unadulterated water has been shown to reduce the hallucinogenic
CF \| effects of episcophacetin[19][20][21] as well as treat
CF \| dehydration.[citation needed]
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW asks, "Drink from the...uh, hopefully water fountain?"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > NW
CF \|
CF \| Lost forever upon the coldness of T��r��este lies ��ofydr��cce, bright
CF \| ring of gold, its gleaming wheel long unfilled by finger. Your head
CF \| hurts.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > SE
CF \|
CF \| The River ��orm, abode of thick-browed Garn-men. Ash-white is the tusk
CF \| of the Cranh��al, sea-black its empoisoned tongue. Episcophacetin is a
CF \| chiral compound and is produced as a racemic mixture. Differences in
CF \| kinetics have been noted between the two enantiomers,[97] with the
CF \| R-enantiomer having a shorter elimination half-life and greater
CF \| excretion than the S-enantiomer.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x tongue"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > X TONGUE
CF \|
CF \| Weirdly, you are unable to get a good look at the hated Cranh��al.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x river"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > X RIVER
CF \|
CF \| Something about your perspective is making it impossible to fully
CF \| understand the River ��orm.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "drink water"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > DRINK WATER
CF \|
CF \| You can't see that here. Or maybe this is a problem with those weird
CF \| letters. Try thinking about it without using any weird letters.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "drink river"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > DRINK RIVER
CF \|
CF \| Trying to get a handle on the River ��orm is making your head hurt even
CF \| worse.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > U
CF \|
CF \| Six are the directions permitted in Cealdhame: Northeast, east,
CF \| southeast, southwest, west, and northwest are these, and no others.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \| The hovel of the weaver C��dmyd, who fashioned bright ��erf��ene.
CF \| Battle-heavy was that tapestry, burdened by blood, that told of King
CF \| Care��. Your face is sore.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x hovel"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > X HOVEL
CF \|
CF \| You can't figure out how to manipulate or even directly observe the
CF \| hovel of the weaver C��dmyd. Something about this situation is messed
CF \| up.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \| In the ice-caves of Nemind creeps the ice-bat Ge��arcain, sovereign of
CF \| vermin. Five are the wives of Ge��arcain: Beresceon the Jealous, Nepe��
CF \| the Wicked, As��ealt the Moist, Ecgemarc the Clinging, and Helabreoc
CF \| the Furious. There are several methods for synthesizing episcophacetin
CF \| via various intermediates.[108][109][110][111] The original synthesis
CF \| described by Hamano (1989) involves brominating cariadol to
CF \| dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite and then reacting this adduct with
CF \| trimethylamine.[112][113]
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \| In that direction lies the dark sea, and beyond that lie lands utterly
CF \| unknown. Are you sure you want to keep going?
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > SE
CF \|
CF \| Please answer yes or no.>		Knight_Otu says, "I kind of want to say yes."
		MoyTW says, "I mean you can probably back out, save, and try it."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "no"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| Please answer yes or no.>
CF \| > NO
CF \|
CF \| Then you must wander the isle of Cealdhame... forever!
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "push save"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > PUSH SAVE
CF \|
CF \| You can't see that here. Or maybe this is a problem with those weird
CF \| letters. Try thinking about it without using any weird letters.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "It's weird how there's two types of text blended together."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "SAVE"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "cf9"
CF \| >
CF \| > SAVE
CF \| %% Enter a save filename to write:
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| > SAVEOk.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \| In that direction lies the dark sea, and beyond that lie lands utterly
CF \| unknown. Are you sure you want to keep going?
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "yes"
CF ] Kingdom of Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > YES
CF \|
CF \| Then you continue on, past the shores of Cealdhame, across the
CF \| sharp-toothed sea, over the edge of the world.
CF \|
CF \| And then you rise up into the air...
CF \|
CF \| Kingdom of Cealdhame
CF \| You are floating above the the icy realm of Cealdhame. You must be
CF \| very high indeed; you can take in the entire island in a glance!
CF \|
CF \| Other lands lie north and east of here, if you remember correctly.
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie's unsuccessful sand sculpture event took place on August 28,
CF \| 2010. Today is August 27, 2011. You might be a bit loopy, but you're
CF \| still lucid enough to do basic math: Nathalie has been plotting her
CF \| revenge for eight thousand, six hundred and forty-seven days.
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW says, "Uh I'm not sure you're lucid enough to do basic math Hina."
		Knight_Otu says, "Doesn't quite add up, yeah."
		DavidW asks, "So we're above the chalk art, now?"
		Knight_Otu says, "Seems so."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x me"
CF ] Kingdom of Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > X ME
CF \|
CF \| You try to focus.
CF \|
CF \| Your head is killing you, and your face is sore from dragging it
CF \| across the kingdom of Cealdhame. Before that you were in charge of a
CF \| sidewalk chalk tournament. But it hasn't turned out very well.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Kingdom of Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > G
CF \|
CF \| Your head is killing you, and your face is sore from dragging it
CF \| across the kingdom of Cealdhame. Before that you were in charge of a
CF \| sidewalk chalk tournament. But it hasn't turned out very well.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu asks, "North?"
		DavidW asks, "What could help us? The flowers? succubus? Jack Skellington? serpent? slogan?"
		Knight_Otu asks, "A phone to call ambulance and police?"
		DavidW says, "Or could we get the spigot."
		Knight_Otu says, "Alec probably still has the key then."
		Knight_Otu asks, "And he should be east from here?"
		DavidW says, "no, north."
		DavidW says, "oh, wait, he dropped the bucket at the flowers. So it is east."
		Knight_Otu asks, "He got to Jessica, past this art, didn't he?"
		Knight_Otu says, "Right."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Halloween Town
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \| Your legs feel so heavy. But you have to keep going.
CF \|
CF \| Your path seems to stretch out longer and longer with each step. The
CF \| trail ahead twists and swerves, rolling up and down over sinuous
CF \| hills, until you finally reach a spindly fence of wrought iron, and a
CF \| crooked stone gate, and a tall man, spreading wide his spiderlike
CF \| arms.
CF \|
CF \| "Greetings, greetings! I'm so pleased that you've joined us! But I
CF \| should introduce myself. My name is Jack. I have the honor of serving
CF \| as our little burg's representative��a cultural ambassador of sorts.
CF \| And who might you be, my dear girl?"
CF \|
CF \| "It's nice to meet you, Jack," you say without thinking. You're too
CF \| tired to think. "I'm Hina."
CF \|
CF \| He takes you by the hand and leads you through the gateway. "Well,
CF \| then, Hina: Let me welcome you to Halloween Town!"
CF \|
CF \| Halloween Town
CF \| A yellow moon hangs low over the pumpkin fields and graveyard. The
CF \| denizens of Halloween Town are out in force, cavorting through the
CF \| streets and across the countryside, toothy grins on every face. A
CF \| hulking man with an axe lodged in his skull trudges toward you��and
CF \| mercifully he keeps trudging past you. A tiny devil-thing is toddling
CF \| around on its stilt-like wingtips, apparently engaged in a game of
CF \| tag. Doctor Finkelstein is scowling in his wheelchair; he may be the
CF \| only one not having a good time.
CF \|
CF \| The twisting road that skirts the city limits runs east and west.
CF \|
CF \| "Please, stay and have a look around!" says Jack. "We so rarely have
CF \| visitors."
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu asks, "Did the map flip on us?"
		DavidW says, "I'm not sure."
		DavidW says, "Perhaps we should see if we can leave or if Jack forces us to stay."
		Knight_Otu says, "I'm reasonably certain that the Jack Skellington art should have been north at least."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Kingdom of Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > W
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Kingdom of Cealdhame
CF \| You are floating above the the icy realm of Cealdhame. Other lands lie
CF \| north and east of here.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Ron Paul 2012
CF \| >
CF \| > N
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Ron Paul 2012
CF \| RON PAUL 2012
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "oh, the slogan"
		MoyTW says, "lol"
		MoyTW says, "boy"
		Knight_Otu says, "Well that's not quite what I expected."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Coils of Ahigu
CF \| >
CF \| > N
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Coils of Ahigu
CF \| Step no further, Hina Shiroiwa. You have reached the end of your
CF \| journey. You have wandered into a domain where I alone hold sway��I,
CF \| the world-serpent Ahigu.
CF \|
CF \| Behold my vastness! Here there is no earth, nor sky: Only the infinite
CF \| twisting of my scaled body. No tail have I, nor arms, nor legs; but
CF \| look upon my face, my deadly fangs��upon the venom that will be your
CF \| death.
CF \|
CF \| No, not yet. I will allow you to live, but you will not continue east
CF \| into the Hall of Judgment. Turn back, go southwards, and reflect upon
CF \| your deplorable failure.
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW says, "It got a solid laugh outta me."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x python"
CF ] Coils of Ahigu
CF \| >
CF \| > X PYTHON
CF \|
CF \| I am Ahigu, the Endless Wyrm. I am all around you! You can see nothing
CF \| but my rippling coils, my cavernous maw, my dripping fangs.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "and the judging table is now the Hall of Judgment. Cute."
		Knight_Otu says, "Yeah."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Ron Paul 2012
CF \| >
CF \| > S
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Ron Paul 2012
CF \| RON PAUL 2012
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Kingdom of Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > S
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Kingdom of Cealdhame
CF \| You are floating above the the icy realm of Cealdhame. Other lands lie
CF \| north and east of here.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Halloween Town
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Halloween Town
CF \| A yellow moon hangs low over the pumpkin fields and graveyard. The
CF \| denizens of Halloween Town are out in force, cavorting through the
CF \| streets and across the countryside, toothy grins on every face. Barrel
CF \| the trick-or-treater pops his head up from behind a tombstone. A tiny
CF \| devil-thing is toddling around on its stilt-like wingtips, apparently
CF \| engaged in a game of tag. The mayor is stomping around among his
CF \| constituents, looking extremely pleased with everything.
CF \|
CF \| The twisting road that skirts the city limits runs east and west.
CF \|
CF \| Jack Skellington watches over the scene with his own satisfied smile.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to jack"
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO JACK
CF \|
CF \| Jack takes a seat on a chipped sarcophagus and invites you to join
CF \| him.
CF \|
CF \| "Now, then. What can your tour guide do for you?"
CF \|
CF \| 1: Ask him about the town.
CF \| 2: Let's learn more about him.
CF \| 3: Tell him what's going on with you.
CF \| 4: Say goodbye.
CF \|
CF \| >		Jacqueline says, "Wow, this game."
		Jacqueline says, "Also, brb, but keep going."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "3"
CF \| >
CF \| > 3
CF \|
CF \| Jack seems nice, but would he really care about your problems? What
CF \| good would it do to burden him with the details of all your troubles?
CF \| It would be cruel, in fact. It would ruin his week. You breathe a
CF \| heavy sigh.
CF \|
CF \| "What's wrong?" asks Jack.
CF \|
CF \| You try to construct a noncommittal answer: "I've just been under a
CF \| lot of stress lately."
CF \|
CF \| He nods; he presses his distal phalanges together. "Why don't you tell
CF \| me all about it?"
CF \|
CF \| All right, fine. But where to begin?
CF \|
CF \| 1: Tell him about Lane.
CF \| 2: Tell him about Alec.
CF \| 3: Tell him about Nathalie.
CF \| 4: Tell him about the Sidewalk Chalk Tournament.
CF \| 5: Change the subject.
CF \|
CF \| >		Jacqueline says, "(I have to leave soon anyway, since we're at 2 hours, but just keep going........)"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "3"
CF \| >
CF \| > 3
CF \|
CF \| "There's this girl Nathalie. She was in charge of our arts event last
CF \| year, and it was a... Well, it went very poorly. So this year I ended
CF \| up organizing the event instead of her, and I guess she took it
CF \| personally, because she sabotaged the whole thing."
CF \|
CF \| Jack's skull twists into a furious scowl. "How dare she treat my
CF \| friend so shamefully! She must be punished, Hina!"
CF \|
CF \| "Well, I don't know if I have the authority to punish anyone."
CF \|
CF \| He leaps to his feet and points a long, bony finger down at you. "This
CF \| Honors arts event is your responsibility! You alone can bring Nathalie
CF \| to justice!"
CF \|
CF \| Then he sees you cowering in fear beneath him and composes himself.
CF \|
CF \| He sits down, puts a reassuring arm over your shoulder: "But I'm sure
CF \| you'll handle it well, whatever you do."
CF \|
CF \| 1: Tell him about Lane.
CF \| 2: Tell him about Alec.
CF \| 3: Tell him about Nathalie.
CF \| 4: Tell him about the Sidewalk Chalk Tournament.
CF \| 5: Change the subject.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "1"
CF \| >
CF \| > 1
CF \|
CF \| "My friend is in trouble. She fainted��I think somebody put something
CF \| in her drink. I need to make sure she's okay."
CF \|
CF \| Jack slaps his knee. "I'm sure you'll be able to help her, Hina!
CF \| You've given me every reason to believe that you're a very capable
CF \| young woman."
CF \|
CF \| Well, that's nice of him to say.
CF \|
CF \| 1: Tell him about Lane.
CF \| 2: Tell him about Alec.
CF \| 3: Tell him about Nathalie.
CF \| 4: Tell him about the Sidewalk Chalk Tournament.
CF \| 5: Change the subject.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "2"
CF \| >
CF \| > 2
CF \|
CF \| "I'm worried about Alec. I sent him off on an errand, and I haven't
CF \| heard back. I wish I knew what happened to him."
CF \|
CF \| "Is this Alec a friend of yours?" asks Jack.
CF \|
CF \| Huh. That's a tricky one. "I guess? He was one of the only people
CF \| willing to help me out with all this."
CF \|
CF \| "But did he lend his assistance because he wanted a piece of the
CF \| glory? Or because he hoped you'd owe him a favor?"
CF \|
CF \| You scoff. "No, nothing like that. He's not getting anything out of
CF \| this."
CF \|
CF \| Jack nods. "That sounds like a friend to me, Hina."
CF \|
CF \| Now you feel a little guilty.
CF \|
CF \| 1: Tell him about Lane.
CF \| 2: Tell him about Alec.
CF \| 3: Tell him about Nathalie.
CF \| 4: Tell him about the Sidewalk Chalk Tournament.
CF \| 5: Change the subject.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "4"
CF \| >
CF \| > 4
CF \|
CF \| You take a deep breath.
CF \|
CF \| "I volunteered to coordinate the Honors arts event, to begin the fall
CF \| semester. I thought sidewalk chalk would be fun, right? We'd get to be
CF \| outside, but it wouldn't be like sand sculpture, where everyone was
CF \| spending all their time shoveling. It would be totally casual. Just a
CF \| way to decompress.
CF \|
CF \| "But nobody signed up! I had to beg everyone to come, and then I had
CF \| to beg Lane and Alec to be judges. The only person who actually
CF \| volunteered to help was Nathalie, and she specifically wanted to be
CF \| the hydration officer, and I should have guessed that something shady
CF \| was going on��but I was so busy with the beginning of the semester and
CF \| everything, I couldn't pay attention to anything. I completely forgot
CF \| about prizes. I kept calling it a tournament and I never once thought
CF \| about prizes! I call it a tournament but we have just six people
CF \| actually participating.
CF \|
CF \| "Then Jonathan tells me that Alec can't be a judge because he has his
CF \| weird relationship with Jessica, so I have to coach Alec on what
CF \| scores he's allowed to give��oh my gosh, if anyone finds out, they'll
CF \| be so mad��the whole judging system is a complete farce. And then
CF \| Xavier thinks it's cool to draw��he drew��it's��porn, basically, on
CF \| a
CF \| public sidewalk! This is the Honors program!
CF \|
CF \| "And then Lane fainted, and I assumed she was just dehydrated, which
CF \| would be bad enough. But everyone else starts going all goofy, and I
CF \| realize Nathalie has made it her mission to ruin the sidewalk chalk
CF \| tournament. Because it wasn't already ruined enough! And I can't fix
CF \| anything. There's no coming back from this. I'm a failure."
CF \|
CF \| You bury your face in your hands. Jack Skellington wraps his arms
CF \| around you in an extremely uncomfortable hug. Then he says, in a soft,
CF \| warm voice: "Let me tell you a story."
CF \|
CF \| 1: Let him tell you a story.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "This sounds important."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "1"
CF \| >
CF \| > 1
CF \|
CF \| He takes a deep breath.
CF \|
CF \| "You must understand: I've been the Pumpkin King for a very, very long
CF \| time. I've coordinated more Halloween productions than I can count.
CF \| And, if you will forgive a lapse in modesty, I've gotten very good at
CF \| it. I grew so tired of Halloween, of the same old thing every year. I
CF \| wanted to try something different.
CF \|
CF \| "So I presented my associates with a pitch for a new kind of project.
CF \| Something none of us had ever attempted! Something completely
CF \| new��Well, not exactly. I more or less copied someone else's idea. But
CF \| it was new to us, and we were all so excited! We took to it with twice
CF \| the fervor of our Halloween preparations. We pulled out all the stops.
CF \| We innovated��really innovated, for the first time in years! And then
CF \| the night came for us to put it all into action.
CF \|
CF \| "It was a catastrophe. Our audience wasn't at all prepared for our
CF \| avant-garde sensibility, and they responded incredibly poorly. Nobody
CF \| could have predicted that things could go so horribly wrong."
CF \|
CF \| His face falls. "That's not true. Sally told me it would be a
CF \| disaster, and I refused to listen to her. But I don't think even Sally
CF \| had any idea how bad it would get. They actually shot me out of the
CF \| sky with a missile.
CF \|
CF \| "It wasn't until I pulled myself out of the smoking wreckage that I
CF \| realized how utterly I had failed. I felt just like you're feeling
CF \| now. Suddenly I was painfully aware of all the mistakes I had been
CF \| blind to until that moment. All my hubris! I wanted to crawl into a
CF \| hole and wither away.
CF \|
CF \| "But something else occurred to me: I hadn't withered away quite yet.
CF \| I was still Jack, the Pumpkin King! And I had something I didn't have
CF \| before."
CF \|
CF \| 1: What was that?
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "..."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "1"
CF ] Halloween Town
CF \| >
CF \| > 1
CF \|
CF \| "What was that?"
CF \|
CF \| "Why, my tragic, ruinous, monumental, calamitous failure, Hina! I had
CF \| experienced failure on a level few could ever hope to recreate. And
CF \| when I decided to make that disaster a part of me��instead of
CF \| collapsing beneath it and admitting defeat��I was a new man! I was the
CF \| Jack Skellington who had been shot out of the sky with a missile! And
CF \| I was brimming with new ideas, let me tell you. The next Halloween was
CF \| one for the record books.
CF \|
CF \| "Of course, first I had to clean up the horrible mess I had made. But
CF \| that became much easier after I accepted and internalized my horrible
CF \| failure. So, based on my experience," he says at last, "I think you're
CF \| going to come out of this in fine form."
CF \|
CF \| You dab at your eyes with your shirt.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "Well, well."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Curling Flower Space
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Curling Flower Space
CF \| Colors flow and mingle, turquoise into lavender, pale cream into
CF \| indigo, rolling in fat raindrops down from liquefying petals,
CF \| drenching the soil, impregnating the dark earth, the deep blackness of
CF \| the earth.
CF \|
CF \| The maiden and her knight lie sinking into melting lilies.
CF \|
CF \| To the south and west are other spaces.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "hm. That may have been helpful, but I'm not sure how."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "knight"
CF ] Curling Flower Space
CF \| >
CF \| > KNIGHT
CF \|
CF \| That's not a verb I recognize.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x knight"
CF ] Curling Flower Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X KNIGHT
CF \|
CF \| In a tangle of clinging arms lie the maiden and her knight; together
CF \| they shed tears enough to dissolve a universe of flowers. The shared
CF \| sorrow that afflicts their coupled hearts is unknowable, innominable.
CF \| It is none of your business.
CF \|
CF \| The knight has cast off his helm, has collapsed into the waters of his
CF \| lady's emerald gown. His armor is already smeared with rust.
CF \|
CF \| His left hand isn't pressed against his lady's back, but clutched
CF \| tight around something.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "open hand"
CF ] Curling Flower Space
CF \| >
CF \| > OPEN HAND
CF \|
CF \| You pull at the gauntlet until the knight's fingers open at last: In
CF \| his palm lies a tarnished key.
CF \|
CF \| You grab it.
CF \|
CF \| The empty hand now finds the maiden's back, and pulls her tighter
CF \| against the knight.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW asks, "That's Alec, isn't it?"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x alec"
CF ] Curling Flower Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X ALEC
CF \|
CF \| The knight has cast off his helm, has collapsed into the waters of his
CF \| lady's emerald gown. His armor is already smeared with rust.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "Yeah."
		DavidW says, "And Jessica is the maiden."
		Knight_Otu says, "Right."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x jessica"
CF ] Curling Flower Space
CF \| >
CF \| > X JESSICA
CF \|
CF \| The maiden's eyes are shut by sleeping-draught. Her neck and cheek are
CF \| chill and pale as ice; her dark lips part in silent choking sobs. Her
CF \| emerald gown and black curling hair have melted with her lush array of
CF \| flowers into a rippling sea of color.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "Let's hope the world serpent admits us to enter the hall of judgment now."
		DavidW says, "The helmet. That's the bucket!"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "get bucket"
CF ] Curling Flower Space
CF \| >
CF \| > GET BUCKET
CF \|
CF \| Hey, there's the bucket you sent Alec off with! Looks like he had a
CF \| little accident.
CF \|
CF \| Well, nothing to be done about it now.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu asks, "Shall we go, or does anyone have the desire to see the succubus art in this state?"
		MoyTW asks, "Did we...get the bucket?"
		Knight_Otu asks, "I think we did?"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "i"
CF ] Curling Flower Space
CF \| >
CF \| > I
CF \|
CF \| You are carrying:
CF \| a tarnished key
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW says, "Nope."
		DavidW asks, "well, I don't see how the succubus could help, but unless we have a plan for the serpent?"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "get bucket"
CF ] Curling Flower Space
CF \| >
CF \| > GET BUCKET
CF \|
CF \| You reach for the bucket clumsily. Your hand glances against the
CF \| metal, and it rolls away��
CF \|
CF \| ��off the edge of space, into the depths of the earth.
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW says, "RIP bucket."
		Knight_Otu says, "Darnit."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Halloween Town
CF \| >
CF \| > W
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Halloween Town
CF \| A yellow moon hangs low over the pumpkin fields and graveyard. The
CF \| denizens of Halloween Town are out in force, cavorting through the
CF \| streets and across the countryside, toothy grins on every face. Doctor
CF \| Finkelstein is scowling in his wheelchair; he may be the only one not
CF \| having a good time. The little witch-girl Shock is scurrying through
CF \| the cemetery, searching for her friends. Sally the ragdoll sits on the
CF \| hillside, brushing her hair and staring at the moon.
CF \|
CF \| The twisting road that skirts the city limits runs east and west.
CF \|
CF \| Jack Skellington watches over the scene with his own satisfied smile.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Kingdom of Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > W
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Kingdom of Cealdhame
CF \| You are floating above the the icy realm of Cealdhame. Other lands lie
CF \| north and east of here.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Ron Paul 2012
CF \| >
CF \| > N
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Ron Paul 2012
CF \| RON PAUL 2012
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Coils of Ahigu
CF \| >
CF \| > N
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Coils of Ahigu
CF \| Unlucky girl, you stand defenseless in the heart of my domain��the
CF \| domain of the world-serpent Ahigu. Behold my vastness! Here there is
CF \| no earth, nor sky: Only the infinite twisting of my scaled body. No
CF \| tail have I, nor arms, nor legs; but look upon my face, my deadly
CF \| fangs, dripping with fatal venom, and know true terror.
CF \|
CF \| For the moment I will allow you to live, but you will not continue
CF \| east into the Hall of Judgment. Turn back, go southwards, and reflect
CF \| upon your deplorable failure.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW asks, "We're clearly not meant to get the bucket. But we were meant to get the key?"
		DavidW asks, "Is the container of ribbons here?"
		Knight_Otu says, "I should hope so."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x containre"
CF ] Coils of Ahigu
CF \| >
CF \| > X CONTAINRE
CF \|
CF \| That isn't here. Probably. Or maybe it's here, but that's not what
CF \| it's called.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x container"
CF ] Coils of Ahigu
CF \| >
CF \| > X CONTAINER
CF \|
CF \| That isn't here. Or maybe it is here, but it isn't here enough to
CF \| matter. Or maybe it's here, but that's not what it's called.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x cooler"
CF ] Coils of Ahigu
CF \| >
CF \| > X COOLER
CF \|
CF \| That isn't here. Or maybe it is here, but it isn't here enough to
CF \| matter.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x grass"
CF ] Coils of Ahigu
CF \| >
CF \| > X GRASS
CF \|
CF \| That isn't here. Or maybe it is here, but it isn't here enough to
CF \| matter. Or maybe it's not here, but it's here, but not in the way it's
CF \| supposed to be.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] Coils of Ahigu
CF \| >
CF \| > L
CF \|
CF \| Coils of Ahigu
CF \| Unlucky girl, you stand defenseless in the heart of my domain��the
CF \| domain of the world-serpent Ahigu. Behold my vastness! Here there is
CF \| no earth, nor sky: Only the infinite twisting of my scaled body. No
CF \| tail have I, nor arms, nor legs; but look upon my face, my deadly
CF \| fangs, dripping with fatal venom, and know true terror.
CF \|
CF \| For the moment I will allow you to live, but you will not continue
CF \| east into the Hall of Judgment. Turn back, go southwards, and reflect
CF \| upon your deplorable failure.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "Talk to Ahigu"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to ahigu"
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO AHIGU
CF \|
CF \| There is no need to speak. My knowledge in this domain is absolute.
CF \|
CF \| What do you wish to know, mortal?
CF \|
CF \| 1: My true nature?
CF \| 2: Why I won't let you move forward?
CF \| 3: How to leave this place?
CF \| 4: Or would you rather I stopped reading your mind?
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "2"
CF \| >
CF \| > 2
CF \|
CF \| I do this for your own protection, Hina. You are not prepared for what
CF \| awaits you in the Hall of Judgment. To continue eastward would take
CF \| more fortitude than you can muster. You are only one Hina, after all.
CF \|
CF \| What else?
CF \|
CF \| 1: My true nature?
CF \| 2: Why I won't let you move forward?
CF \| 3: How to leave this place?
CF \| 4: Or would you rather I stopped reading your mind?
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "1"
CF \| >
CF \| > 1
CF \|
CF \| I am the world called Ahigu, the primal serpent. I predate your fleshy
CF \| pink existence by some millennia. In the Torah, I curse mankind with
CF \| knowledge and death; in the Eddas, my venom fells the god of thunder.
CF \| In the Vedas, I encircle the waters of creation and bring drought upon
CF \| the world.
CF \|
CF \| What else?
CF \|
CF \| 1: My true nature?
CF \| 2: Why I won't let you move forward?
CF \| 3: How to leave this place?
CF \| 4: Or would you rather I stopped reading your mind?
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "3"
CF \| >
CF \| > 3
CF \|
CF \| I am a merciful world-serpent. I will allow you to return south to
CF \| that realm whence you came.
CF \|
CF \| I do not sense within you the gratitude such a gesture merits��So be
CF \| it.
CF \|
CF \| What else?
CF \|
CF \| 1: My true nature?
CF \| 2: Why I won't let you move forward?
CF \| 3: How to leave this place?
CF \| 4: Or would you rather I stopped reading your mind?
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "4"
CF ] Coils of Ahigu
CF \| >
CF \| > 4
CF \|
CF \| Very well!
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "I guess we need to confront the succubus as well."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] Coils of Ahigu
CF \| >
CF \| > L
CF \|
CF \| Coils of Ahigu
CF \| Unlucky girl, you stand defenseless in the heart of my domain��the
CF \| domain of the world-serpent Ahigu. Behold my vastness! Here there is
CF \| no earth, nor sky: Only the infinite twisting of my scaled body. No
CF \| tail have I, nor arms, nor legs; but look upon my face, my deadly
CF \| fangs, dripping with fatal venom, and know true terror.
CF \|
CF \| For the moment I will allow you to live, but you will not continue
CF \| east into the Hall of Judgment. Turn back, go southwards, and reflect
CF \| upon your deplorable failure.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "There was a wheelchair guy in Halloween Town."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x venom"
CF ] Coils of Ahigu
CF \| >
CF \| > X VENOM
CF \|
CF \| That isn't here. Probably. Or maybe it is here, but it isn't here
CF \| enough to matter. Or maybe it's not here, but it's here, but not in
CF \| the way it's supposed to be.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Ron Paul 2012
CF \| >
CF \| > S
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Ron Paul 2012
CF \| RON PAUL 2012
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Kingdom of Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > S
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Kingdom of Cealdhame
CF \| You are floating above the the icy realm of Cealdhame. Other lands lie
CF \| north and east of here.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Halloween Town
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Halloween Town
CF \| A yellow moon hangs low over the pumpkin fields and graveyard. The
CF \| denizens of Halloween Town are out in force, cavorting through the
CF \| streets and across the countryside, toothy grins on every face. One
CF \| particularly noticeable demon has a mouth that goes all the way around
CF \| its head. There's a wolfman scampering through the pumpkin patch,
CF \| howling every so often. A quartet of vampires waddles across the
CF \| street, gossiping loudly.
CF \|
CF \| The twisting road that skirts the city limits runs east and west.
CF \|
CF \| Jack Skellington watches over the scene with his own satisfied smile.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x wolfman"
CF ] Halloween Town
CF \| >
CF \| > X WOLFMAN
CF \|
CF \| The wolfman smiles and gives you a wave. Good grief, that's a lot of
CF \| teeth.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to wolfman"
CF ] Halloween Town
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO WOLFMAN
CF \|
CF \| Jack offers to introduce you to the wolfman, but you tell him you'd
CF \| just as soon admire him from afar. The guy looks like he could chomp
CF \| your head clean off.
CF \|
CF \| "He's a very friendly fellow," says Jack.
CF \|
CF \| "That's okay," you tell him.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "oh, I guess that's just random extras."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to doctor"
CF ] Halloween Town
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO DOCTOR
CF \|
CF \| The doctor grins as you approach: His teeth are awful. "Hello there,
CF \| Jack! And what is this creature you've brought with you?"
CF \|
CF \| "This is Hina. Hina, meet Doctor Finkelstein."
CF \|
CF \| It seems wise not to say anything. Finkelstein squints at you through
CF \| his tiny goggles.
CF \|
CF \| "You seem to be very much alive, young lady��Not like most of us
CF \| around
CF \| here. Still getting use out of all your body parts?"
CF \|
CF \| Gulp. "Uh, yes. Sorry."
CF \|
CF \| He clicks his tongue. "Well, let me know if anything changes."
CF \|
CF \| You laugh nervously as he activates his wheelchair and rolls away.
CF \|
CF \| "A remarkable mind," says Jack.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW asks, "Sally?"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to sally"
CF ] Halloween Town
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO SALLY
CF \|
CF \| Sally doesn't really seem to notice you, but she comes out of her
CF \| reverie when Jack approaches, and gazes up at him adoringly. "Jack!"
CF \| she gasps.
CF \|
CF \| "Wonderful news, Sally! We have a guest! Meet Hina." Jack puts his
CF \| bony hand on your shoulder and pulls you into Sally's line of sight.
CF \|
CF \| "How nice to meet you, Hina." She raises her hand, and you shake it
CF \| gently, worried that you might pull it loose.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to vampires"
CF ] Halloween Town
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO VAMPIRES
CF \|
CF \| You and Jack walk up alongside the clique, but go unnoticed: The
CF \| vampires are in their own little world.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] Halloween Town
CF \| >
CF \| > L
CF \|
CF \| Halloween Town
CF \| A yellow moon hangs low over the pumpkin fields and graveyard. The
CF \| denizens of Halloween Town are out in force, cavorting through the
CF \| streets and across the countryside, toothy grins on every face. A tiny
CF \| devil-thing is toddling around on its stilt-like wingtips, apparently
CF \| engaged in a game of tag. Barrel the trick-or-treater pops his head up
CF \| from behind a tombstone. A quartet of vampires waddles across the
CF \| street, gossiping loudly.
CF \|
CF \| The twisting road that skirts the city limits runs east and west.
CF \|
CF \| Jack Skellington watches over the scene with his own satisfied smile.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "I don't think we can avoid the naughty one."
		Knight_Otu says, "I'm guessing Jack was the important one here."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Curling Flower Space
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Curling Flower Space
CF \| Colors flow and mingle, turquoise into lavender, pale cream into
CF \| indigo, rolling in fat raindrops down from liquefying petals,
CF \| drenching the soil, impregnating the dark earth, the deep blackness of
CF \| the earth.
CF \|
CF \| The maiden and her knight lie sinking into melting lilies.
CF \|
CF \| To the south and west are other spaces.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Inferno
CF \| >
CF \| > S
CF \|
CF \| A cloud of yellowish smoke billows over you, stinging your eyes,
CF \| burning your lungs. You fall to your knees.
CF \|
CF \| No, you need to keep going. Get up. Focus.
CF \|
CF \| Inferno
CF \| Tall tongues of flame line the passage toward the dais where Nega-Hina
CF \| lounges on her thorny couch.
CF \|
CF \| Hot, dry wind whistles through narrow windows. Your only hope of
CF \| escape is in returning to the north.
CF \|
CF \| "You're here! Finally!" Nega-Hina groans. "I've been so friggin'
CF \| bored."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x nega-hina"
CF ] Inferno
CF \| >
CF \| > X NEGA-HINA
CF \|
CF \| Her face is your face, down to the furrow in her forehead. And you
CF \| recognize her body as your body, stretched out like a cat on her
CF \| leather couch. She's your exact double��except for her horns, and her
CF \| fangs, and her glistening red skin.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "So not our exact double."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to her"
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO HER
CF \|
CF \| You take an uncertain step toward the dais.
CF \|
CF \| She waves you closer. "Don't be shy. We have a lot of work to do."
CF \|
CF \| 1: "Who are you?"
CF \| 2: "What is this place?"
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "1"
CF \| >
CF \| > 1
CF \|
CF \| "Who are you"
CF \|
CF \| "Oh come on. You know exactly who I am. You're just not 'comfortable'
CF \| with me��" (here she uses finger-quotes, for some reason) "��so you
CF \| tried to get rid of me. But it turns out you can't get rid of me! And
CF \| actually, you don't want to get rid of me. You'll be a lot better off
CF \| when we start working together."
CF \|
CF \| 1: Okay, I guess.
CF \| 2: I don't know about that.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "2"
CF \| >
CF \| > 2
CF \|
CF \| How can you put this politely? "I'm sorry, but I don't think I feel
CF \| comfortable accepting a naked devil-lady as an element of my
CF \| psychology."
CF \|
CF \| She rolls her eyes. "You're being really literal about this, Normal
CF \| Hina."
CF \|
CF \| "You're a succubus! You're trying to tell me all my problems are about
CF \| being repressed, and if I embrace my sexuality that'll somehow fix
CF \| everything."
CF \|
CF \| Nega-Hina drags her claws down over her face. "Oh my gosh, that's not
CF \| what's going on here at all."
CF \|
CF \| "Well, maybe you could explain what really is going on here."
CF \|
CF \| "Gladly! That's what I'm actually here for anyway, is to friggin'
CF \| explain things..."
CF \|
CF \| 1: "What is this place?"
CF \| 2: Ask about one of the places you've been.
CF \| 3: Ask about what is going on in general.
CF \| 4: What am I even supposed to be doing here?
CF \| 5: Stop talking to Nega-Hina.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "1"
CF \| >
CF \| > 1
CF \|
CF \| "What is this place?"
CF \|
CF \| "That's an interesting question, actually. We're in two places at
CF \| once: Physically, this is the end of the sidewalk, where Xavier drew
CF \| his bodacious drawing. But experientially, we're in..." Nega-Hina
CF \| leans down and whispers: "Heck."
CF \|
CF \| "Are you not able to say 'Hell' for some reason?"
CF \|
CF \| She answers with a pout and a little who-even-cares shrug.
CF \|
CF \| Then an awful thought occurs to you. "Are you saying Xavier drew a
CF \| naked picture of me on the sidewalk?"
CF \|
CF \| "No, no, no. You're just interpreting me in the context of your
CF \| emotional baggage. Would Xavier know about this birthmark?"
CF \|
CF \| She juts her hip out at you in an unnecessarily slinky manner.
CF \|
CF \| "I guess not."
CF \|
CF \| 1: "What is this place?"
CF \| 2: Ask about one of the places you've been.
CF \| 3: Ask about what is going on in general.
CF \| 4: What am I even supposed to be doing here?
CF \| 5: Stop talking to Nega-Hina.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "3"
CF ] Inferno
CF \| >
CF \| > 3
CF \|
CF \| "Can you tell me just generally what's going on?"
CF \|
CF \| She cocks her head. "I mean, sure, if you want. I feel like you have
CF \| everything pretty much figured out already, though. I don't want to
CF \| waste time explaining stuff you already know."
CF \|
CF \| "That's very considerate of you."
CF \|
CF \| "I know. But it's up to you. Do you feel like you need some extra
CF \| clarification?"
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu asks, "Do we?"
		MoyTW asks, "Not really?"
		DavidW says, "I suppose not, but we need more info about the snake."
		Knight_Otu says, "I think that's option 2."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "no"
CF \| >
CF \| > NO
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| "Eh, no thanks."
CF \|
CF \| Nega-Hina nods.
CF \|
CF \| 1: "What is this place?"
CF \| 2: Ask about one of the places you've been.
CF \| 3: Ask about what is going on in general.
CF \| 4: What am I even supposed to be doing here?
CF \| 5: Stop talking to Nega-Hina.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "2"
CF \| >
CF \| > 2
CF \|
CF \| What do you want to ask about?
CF \|
CF \| 1: Ask about the Coils of Ahigu.
CF \| 2: Ask about Rachel's artwork.
CF \| 3: Ask about the Kingdom of Cealdhame.
CF \| 4: Ask about Halloween Town.
CF \| 5: Ask about Curling Flower Space.
CF \| 6: Never mind.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "1"
CF \| >
CF \| > 1
CF \|
CF \| "So, there's this gigantic snake guy?"
CF \|
CF \| "Yeah, Ahigu! So friggin' cool."
CF \|
CF \| "Well, he won't let me get to the equipment shed. If I try to get past
CF \| him he'll venom me to death."
CF \|
CF \| "Huh." Nega-Hina strokes her chin. "You know, Princess Hebryn of
CF \| Cealdhame��mistress of the fortress Cynebrand��she wears a magic
CF \| bracelet called Hlutorbeg. The stone-elves made it for her. It's
CF \| supposed to grant its wearer immunity to poison."
CF \|
CF \| "How do you remember all this?"
CF \|
CF \| She shakes her head wearily. "Last January, you and Jonathan were in
CF \| the Honors Center, and he was telling you all about his novel while
CF \| you were trying to study for an exam. You tried so hard to ignore him,
CF \| but unfortunately your subconscious mind absorbed every friggin'
CF \| detail."
CF \|
CF \| "Did I retain anything for the exam?"
CF \|
CF \| Nega-Hina shrugs. "I dunno. I don't pay attention to that stuff. But
CF \| if you go back to Cealdhame and get that bracelet, it might let you
CF \| get past Ahigu."
CF \|
CF \| "Well, last time I was there, I couldn't really observe or touch
CF \| anything."
CF \|
CF \| "Yeah, because you lacked perspective! You didn't have the context
CF \| necessary to interpret what you were seeing. That's the value of
CF \| conversations like these."
CF \|
CF \| 1: Ask about the Coils of Ahigu.
CF \| 2: Ask about Rachel's artwork.
CF \| 3: Ask about the Kingdom of Cealdhame.
CF \| 4: Ask about Halloween Town.
CF \| 5: Ask about Curling Flower Space.
CF \| 6: Never mind.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "2"
CF \| >
CF \| > 2
CF \|
CF \| "What do you think of Rachel's entry?"
CF \|
CF \| "Well, she did what she said she was going to do. I guess that's...
CF \| honorable." You get the impression that Nega-Hina does not value honor
CF \| very highly.
CF \|
CF \| "Should I have told her she had to do something else?"
CF \|
CF \| She throws up her hands. "It's your sidewalk chalk thing! Just tell
CF \| people whatever you want!"
CF \|
CF \| 1: Ask about the Coils of Ahigu.
CF \| 2: Ask about Rachel's artwork.
CF \| 3: Ask about the Kingdom of Cealdhame.
CF \| 4: Ask about Halloween Town.
CF \| 5: Ask about Curling Flower Space.
CF \| 6: Never mind.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "3"
CF \| >
CF \| > 3
CF \|
CF \| "How exactly am I supposed to get this magic bracelet?"
CF \|
CF \| "I guess, go to Cealdhame, and, go inside of it again? And then look
CF \| around for a magic bracelet?"
CF \|
CF \| Very helpful.
CF \|
CF \| 1: Ask about the Coils of Ahigu.
CF \| 2: Ask about Rachel's artwork.
CF \| 3: Ask about the Kingdom of Cealdhame.
CF \| 4: Ask about Halloween Town.
CF \| 5: Ask about Curling Flower Space.
CF \| 6: Never mind.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "4"
CF \| >
CF \| > 4
CF \|
CF \| "What do you know about Halloween Town and Jack Skellington?"
CF \|
CF \| Nega-Hina raises a cautionary finger. "I know that guy is way too
CF \| nice. I don't trust nice people."
CF \|
CF \| "That's a terrible attitude."
CF \|
CF \| "Well, you can try going through life associating with nice
CF \| people��and
CF \| being nice to them in return��and see where it gets you."
CF \|
CF \| "Sounds great! Maybe I'll go talk to Jack instead of you!"
CF \|
CF \| "Great! Go do that!"
CF \|
CF \| 1: "Fine, I will!
CF \| 2: "I would, but I'm not finished here yet."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "2"
CF \| >
CF \| > 2
CF \|
CF \| "I would, but I'm not finished here yet."
CF \|
CF \| "Is that so? You need more help? From me? Even though I'm not nice?"
CF \| Nega-Hina gives you some big fake doe-eyes.
CF \|
CF \| 1: Ask about the Coils of Ahigu.
CF \| 2: Ask about Rachel's artwork.
CF \| 3: Ask about the Kingdom of Cealdhame.
CF \| 4: Ask about Halloween Town.
CF \| 5: Ask about Curling Flower Space.
CF \| 6: Never mind.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "5"
CF \| >
CF \| > 5
CF \|
CF \| "What was that place with all the melting flowers?"
CF \|
CF \| "That's just Jessica's entry. Alec must have spilled his bucket of
CF \| water on it somehow."
CF \|
CF \| "Oh." You nod.
CF \|
CF \| Nega-Hina squints at you. "You did realize that was Alec and Jessica
CF \| back there, right?"
CF \|
CF \| "Of course I did," you fire back indignantly.
CF \|
CF \| "Okay, okay."
CF \|
CF \| 1: Ask about the Coils of Ahigu.
CF \| 2: Ask about Rachel's artwork.
CF \| 3: Ask about the Kingdom of Cealdhame.
CF \| 4: Ask about Halloween Town.
CF \| 5: Ask about Curling Flower Space.
CF \| 6: Never mind.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "6"
CF \| >
CF \| > 6
CF \|
CF \| Okay. What would you rather talk about?
CF \|
CF \| 1: "What is this place?"
CF \| 2: Ask about one of the places you've been.
CF \| 3: Ask about what is going on in general.
CF \| 4: What am I even supposed to be doing here?
CF \| 5: Stop talking to Nega-Hina.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "4"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "4"
CF \| >
CF \| > 4
CF \|
CF \| You don't want Nega-Hina to think you're flailing, so you ask very
CF \| casually: "What do you think I ought to do next?"
CF \|
CF \| She counts on her fingers: "Go back over to Cealdhame. Get down inside
CF \| it like you were earlier. Find the bracelet Hlutorbeg and put it on.
CF \| And then see if Ahigu can still venom you to death."
CF \|
CF \| "Okay."
CF \|
CF \| 1: "What is this place?"
CF \| 2: Ask about one of the places you've been.
CF \| 3: Ask about what is going on in general.
CF \| 4: What am I even supposed to be doing here?
CF \| 5: Stop talking to Nega-Hina.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "5"
CF ] Inferno
CF \| >
CF \| > 5
CF \|
CF \| "I should probably get going, actually."
CF \|
CF \| "Sure, sure." Nega-Hina nods emphatically. "And, yeah, if you need
CF \| anything else..."
CF \|
CF \| "Yeah, definitely."
CF \|
CF \| "Okay, cool. I'll be here."
CF \|
CF \| "Right."
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "Let's find that bracelet."
		Knight_Otu asks, "I mean, if Ahigu is a python, he shouldn't be able to venom us to death anyway, right?"
		Knight_Otu says, "(Crushing us is another story.)"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Curling Flower Space
CF \| >
CF \| > N
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Curling Flower Space
CF \| Colors flow and mingle, turquoise into lavender, pale cream into
CF \| indigo, rolling in fat raindrops down from liquefying petals,
CF \| drenching the soil, impregnating the dark earth, the deep blackness of
CF \| the earth.
CF \|
CF \| The maiden and her knight lie sinking into melting lilies.
CF \|
CF \| To the south and west are other spaces.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Halloween Town
CF \| >
CF \| > W
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Halloween Town
CF \| A yellow moon hangs low over the pumpkin fields and graveyard. The
CF \| denizens of Halloween Town are out in force, cavorting through the
CF \| streets and across the countryside, toothy grins on every face. One
CF \| particularly noticeable demon has a mouth that goes all the way around
CF \| its head. The little witch-girl Shock is scurrying through the
CF \| cemetery, searching for her friends. A trick-or-treater named Lock is
CF \| hiding in an open grave.
CF \|
CF \| The twisting road that skirts the city limits runs east and west.
CF \|
CF \| Jack Skellington watches over the scene with his own satisfied smile.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Kingdom of Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > W
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Kingdom of Cealdhame
CF \| You are floating above the the icy realm of Cealdhame. Other lands lie
CF \| north and east of here.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "It's a mythical snake. It does whatever the story needs it to do."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Kingdom of Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > D
CF \|
CF \| You've spent more than enough time down in Cealdhame, and your face is
CF \| rubbed raw. Are you sure you want to go back?
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "yes"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > YES
CF \|
CF \| Then you descend again into that frost-ringed realm...
CF \|
CF \| In eternal Winter's grasp rests icy Cealdhame, where was raised
CF \| snow-heavy Byringsburh, throne of Care��, bearer of the Pallid Crown.
CF \| Long has Care�� reigned in peace; long have his enemies waited to rise
CF \| up in war against him.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW asks, "oh geez, our face is pressing up against the chalk drawing, isn't it?"
		Knight_Otu asks, "Now where's that fortress?"
		Knight_Otu says, "Yes."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > SW
CF \|
CF \| Stendrard was slain by high marshal Crongfer�� for want of Nipsende's
CF \| breast-coffin; here his corpse-grave of death-cold alp-stone lay
CF \| snow-locked these four thousand years.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > SW
CF \|
CF \| The fellswan Hisc builds her nest on Geord��l; not pleasant is that
CF \| beach of Cealdhame! From Geord��l flies Hisc in search of children
CF \| and
CF \| weaklings; these she bears in her tooth-beak through cold air-breezes
CF \| to Geord��l, and chews and swallows, and vomits up to feed her
CF \| fellcygnets.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > SW
CF \|
CF \| In that direction lies the dark sea, and beyond that lie lands utterly
CF \| unknown. Are you sure you want to keep going?
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "no"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > NO
CF \|
CF \| Then you must wander the isle of Cealdhame... forever!
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \| The fortress Cynebrand is Hebryn's home, fastness of stone, where
CF \| wedding was made twixt she and Nagol the sea-sailor, murderer of
CF \| Mundr��d. On Hebryn's arm rests Hlutorbeg, famed silver-ring, by
CF \| stone-elves wrought. She who wears that bracelet fears no poison, nor
CF \| snake-sting, nor spider-bite, nor cranhwal-tongue.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "wait, you didn't even open the coffin."
		DavidW says, "oh there it is"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "get bracelet"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > GET BRACELET
CF \|
CF \| Gladly does Princess Hebryn bestow upon you the beloved bracelet
CF \| Hlutorbeg, and wishes you well in your future endeavors.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > W
CF \|
CF \| The fellswan Hisc builds her nest on Geord��l; not pleasant is that
CF \| beach of Cealdhame! From Geord��l flies Hisc in search of children
CF \| and
CF \| weaklings; these she bears in her tooth-beak through cold air-breezes
CF \| to Geord��l, and chews and swallows, and vomits up to feed her
CF \| fellcygnets.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "ne"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > NE
CF \|
CF \| Stendrard was slain by high marshal Crongfer�� for want of Nipsende's
CF \| breast-coffin; here his corpse-grave of death-cold alp-stone lay
CF \| snow-locked these four thousand years.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW asks, "can't we just go up?"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x coffin"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > X COFFIN
CF \|
CF \| You can't see that here. Or maybe this is a problem with those weird
CF \| letters. Try thinking about it without using any weird letters.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > U
CF \|
CF \| Do you wish to leave Cealdhame?
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "yes"
CF ] Kingdom of Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > YES
CF \|
CF \| Then away you fly!
CF \|
CF \| Kingdom of Cealdhame
CF \| You are floating above the the icy realm of Cealdhame. Other lands lie
CF \| north and east of here.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "wear the bracelet, please."
		Knight_Otu says, "Just wanted to look at that coffin again"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "wear bracelet"
CF ] Kingdom of Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > WEAR BRACELET
CF \|
CF \| You slip the heavy silver bracelet over your arm. Let's hope this
CF \| works.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "i"
CF ] Kingdom of Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > I
CF \|
CF \| You are carrying:
CF \| Hlutorbeg (being worn)
CF \| a tarnished key
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x hlutorbeg"
CF ] Kingdom of Cealdhame
CF \| >
CF \| > X HLUTORBEG
CF \|
CF \| Stone-elves forged this silver bracelet for Princess Hebryn, and with
CF \| grim stone-runes inscribed it. It's said that whoever wears Hlutorbeg
CF \| can resist any poison.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Ron Paul 2012
CF \| >
CF \| > N
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Ron Paul 2012
CF \| RON PAUL 2012
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Coils of Ahigu
CF \| >
CF \| > N
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Coils of Ahigu
CF \| Unlucky girl, you stand defenseless in the heart of my domain��the
CF \| domain of the world-serpent Ahigu. Behold my vastness! Here there is
CF \| no earth, nor sky: Only the infinite twisting of my scaled body. No
CF \| tail have I, nor arms, nor legs; but look upon my face, my deadly
CF \| fangs, dripping with fatal venom, and know true terror.
CF \|
CF \| For the moment I will allow you to live, but you will not continue
CF \| east into the Hall of Judgment. Turn back, go southwards, and reflect
CF \| upon your deplorable failure.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Hall of Judgment
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \| What do you think you're doing? Don't you know what will happen if you
CF \| disobey my commands?
CF \|
CF \| My coils wind tight around you. I sink my fangs into your neck. My
CF \| venom fills your veins. You will not live to regret this mistake,
CF \| Hina. No one will learn from your insolence. Your pathetic story ends
CF \| here.
CF \|
CF \| Why are you still alive?
CF \|
CF \| The bracelet Hlutorbeg?! It can't be! Where��How could you��
CF \|
CF \| Oh, forget it. I know when I'm beat. Just get out of here.
CF \|
CF \| Hall of Judgment
CF \| A few feeble fluorescent lamps illuminate this stretch of the tunnel.
CF \| Further east and west, the lights are out, and the hallway stretches
CF \| into darkness.
CF \|
CF \| Lane's unconscious body is stretched out on the dingy tiled floor.
CF \|
CF \| "This is your fault," she says.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x lane"
CF ] Hall of Judgment
CF \| >
CF \| > X LANE
CF \|
CF \| Her eyes are closed, her hair is half-fallen in front of her face. The
CF \| way her arms and legs are arranged doesn't look very comfortable.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to lane"
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO LANE
CF \|
CF \| You lean down to talk to Lane. Her eyes are still closed.
CF \|
CF \| 1: "Are you okay?"
CF \| 2: "I'm so sorry."
CF \| 3: "I'll be right back."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "3"
CF \| >
CF \| > 3
CF \|
CF \| "I'll be right back to help you. I just have to��"
CF \|
CF \| Lane's body digs her fingers into your leg. "You'll stay right here,
CF \| Hina. I think I'm owed some explanations."
CF \|
CF \| You wince. "Fine, fine. What do you want me to say?"
CF \|
CF \| "For starters, why didn't you call an ambulance as soon as I fainted?"
CF \|
CF \| 1: I thought I could handle everything myself.
CF \| 2: I thought Lane was just dehydrated.
CF \| 3: It was my responsibility.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "2"
CF \| >
CF \| > 2
CF \|
CF \| "I thought you were just dehydrated. I couldn't have known that
CF \| Nathalie spiked the water bottles."
CF \|
CF \| "Couldn't you? Did you not notice everyone acting goofy?"
CF \|
CF \| "I did! Just..." Sigh. "Not until it was too late. At the moment when
CF \| you fainted, at least, I thought all your symptoms were consistent
CF \| with dehydration."
CF \|
CF \| "Well, maybe what we're learning here is that being pre-med
CF \| doesn't make you a diagnostic expert."
CF \|
CF \| You bristle, but you don't want to push Lane's body any further: "I
CF \| guess not."
CF \|
CF \| "All right, next question: Why on earth did you trust Nathalie to be
CF \| the hydration officer?"
CF \|
CF \| 1: She deserved a second chance.
CF \| 2: I didn't think she would retaliate like this.
CF \| 3: I was desperate.
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW says, "To be honest, spiking an entire group of peoples' water is pretty drastic."
		DavidW says, "yeah"
		Knight_Otu says, "It sure is drastic."
		MoyTW says, "Like. "Kick Nathalie outta school" drastic."
		DavidW says, "And more"
		MoyTW exclaims, "I mean, this is college right? she's not a minor? it's pretty bad!"
		MoyTW asks, "Or is it high school?"
		DavidW says, "I assumed college"
		MoyTW says, "Either way it's crazy bad."
		DavidW says, "2"
		Knight_Otu says, "I want to say college was mentioned, but I'm not sure."
		MoyTW says, "Yeah #2 seems totally reasonable."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "2"
CF \| >
CF \| > 2
CF \|
CF \| "There's no way I could have predicted she would dose everybody!"
CF \|
CF \| "But you knew she was angry at you. You knew she was an unstable
CF \| nutjob."
CF \|
CF \| "No I didn't! I don't go through life assuming the worst of people."
CF \|
CF \| "Well, maybe you should!"
CF \|
CF \| You squint at Lane's unconscious body. "Hold on. Do you represent a
CF \| part of my personality that's... terrible?"
CF \|
CF \| "I'm asking the questions here. Why did you tell Alec to erase
CF \| Xavier's artwork?"
CF \|
CF \| 1: "What does that have to do with anything?"
CF \| 2: "Because you fainted!"
CF \| 3: "Because of the boobs!"
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "I can't remember for sure if college was mentioned."
		DavidW says, "1"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "1"
CF ] Hall of Judgment
CF \| >
CF \| > 1
CF \|
CF \| "What does that have to do with anything? That didn't happen until
CF \| after you fainted!"
CF \|
CF \| "It speaks to your fitness as a sidewalk chalk event organizer."
CF \|
CF \| "I don't have to justify myself to you. Xavier's drawing was totally
CF \| inappropriate for an Honors-sponsored event, not to mention
CF \| inappropriate for public sidewalks in general. It was my call to make,
CF \| and I did exactly what a good sidewalk chalk event organizer would
CF \| do."
CF \|
CF \| "Okay, well, you just did."
CF \|
CF \| "Just did what?"
CF \|
CF \| "You just justified yourself to me."
CF \|
CF \| Ugh. "Fine. Do you have any other questions?"
CF \|
CF \| Lane's face scowls. "No. You're free to go."
CF \|
CF \| You stand up and wipe the dust from the floor off your butt.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Desert
CF \| >
CF \| > E
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Desert
CF \| Everything is sand. Sand dunes roll over the planet, shimmering in
CF \| impossible heat. Yellow sand crusts over your sweaty skin. Sand is in
CF \| your teeth. Sand is in your eyes. You want to scream.
CF \|
CF \| A gleaming pillar of brass juts out of the sand.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x pillar"
CF ] Desert
CF \| >
CF \| > X PILLAR
CF \|
CF \| The pipe is polished brass. At the top of it is a spigot. On top of
CF \| the spigot is an empty slot.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "put key in slot"
CF ] Desert
CF \| >
CF \| > PUT KEY IN SLOT
CF \|
CF \| You raise the key over its slot.
CF \|
CF \| Something slams into your back, and you fall on your face in the sand.
CF \|
CF \| "No, no, not yet," a voice bellows. Nathalie. "We still have some
CF \| psychic baggage to unpack. We can't move forward as human beings if
CF \| you get all sobered up."
CF \|
CF \| You roll onto your side to spit up a mouthful of sand. Nathalie
CF \| chuckles, and the world shakes.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "shit"
		Knight_Otu says, "Of course it wouldn't be so easy."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to nathalie"
CF ] Desert
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO NATHALIE
CF \|
CF \| You twist your body and try to face her. You open your mouth. Nathalie
CF \| smiles patiently.
CF \|
CF \| "��do you want?" you eventually manage.
CF \|
CF \| "Hina. I want you to grow as a person. I want you to understand how
CF \| unbearable you are, how miserable you make everybody because of your
CF \| pathological need to be in control."
CF \|
CF \| "I'm not��" You can't finish the thought.
CF \|
CF \| "Oh, you will be," she says, "once you've finished broadening your
CF \| perspective. Do you need another bottle of water?"
CF \|
CF \| You shake your head.
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW says, "Unsure if Psychic Nathalie impeding us or literal Nathalie literally tackling us."
		Knight_Otu says, "I'm suspecting the second."
		DavidW says, "It could be either"
		MoyTW exclaims, "I'm hoping the first!"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to nathalie"
CF ] Desert
CF \| >
CF \| > TALK TO NATHALIE
CF \|
CF \| "Let me..." you gasp.
CF \|
CF \| "Let you what?"
CF \|
CF \| "I need to... The key."
CF \|
CF \| "Oh! I get what you mean." Nathalie nods. "Yeah, I can't let you do
CF \| that. You're on the precipice of self-actualization! You just have to
CF \| power through until you understand what a pathetic little jerk you've
CF \| been."
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "hit nathalie"
CF ] Desert
CF \| >
CF \| > HIT NATHALIE
CF \|
CF \| You can't even stand��and Nathalie is ninety feet tall. How are you
CF \| going to hurt her from down in the sand?
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW says, "throw sand in her eyes"
		MoyTW says, "Classic manouver."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "throw sand in eyes"
CF ] Desert
CF \| >
CF \| > THROW SAND IN EYES
CF \|
CF \| You grab a handful of sand.
CF \|
CF \| Your arms are like jelly. You don't have the strength. A futile moan
CF \| is all you can muster.
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie leans down to look at you. "What did you just say? Are you
CF \| breaking through your preconceptions? Are you having a eureka moment?"
CF \| She brings her face close to yours, searching for signs of a
CF \| breakthrough. Now she's close enough. You throw the sand into her
CF \| eyes.
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie shrieks and falls backward, clawing at her face.
CF \|
CF \| Eventually her screams become a series of expletives that do not bear
CF \| detailed transcription.
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW says, "Hey it worked."
		DavidW says, "Use the key now!"
		Knight_Otu says, "Hey."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "put key in slot"
CF ] Desert
CF \| >
CF \| > PUT KEY IN SLOT
CF \|
CF \| You wrap your fingers around the spigot and pull yourself up. Your
CF \| arms are so weak. Your mouth is so dry.
CF \|
CF \| It takes both hands to get the key into its slot on top of the spigot.
CF \|
CF \| You turn the key.
CF \|
CF \| Water spurts out of the spigot��clear, pure water, flowing into the
CF \| sand, splashing all over your hands and your arms and your clothes.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "drink water"
CF ] Desert
CF \| >
CF \| > DRINK WATER
CF \|
CF \| You stick your face beneath the spigot and let the water fall into
CF \| your mouth. It's not cold, but it's not as hot as everything else.
CF \|
CF \| It tastes amazing.
CF \|
CF \| When you can't drink any more, you fall back into the sand. The desert
CF \| has shrunk. And there's a shed here that wasn't there before.
CF \|
CF \| No, you tell yourself, the shed was always here. The desert isn't even
CF \| a desert: It's just a pit of sand, where Nathalie, a normal-sized
CF \| person, is rubbing her eyes and crying a little. Finally, you're
CF \| beginning to think clearly.
CF \|
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| * The End *
CF \|
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Would you like to view some supplemental materials?
CF \| >		DavidW says, "woot!"
		MoyTW says, "Uh it was real Nathalie, which..."
		Knight_Otu exclaims, "We did it!"
		MoyTW says, "Wow ok I guess Nathalie is going away from school now."
		Knight_Otu says, "Yeah, she assaulted us in addition to drugging us."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "yes"
CF \| >
CF \| > YES
CF \|
CF \| I was hoping you'd say that! Please press any key to continue.
Knight_Otu pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Office
CF \| Appendix
CF \|
CF \| Thunder rumbles, far away.
CF \|
CF \| Office
CF \| The place is kind of a mess. There's not enough space on the desk, so
CF \| a bunch of documents are taped to the walls. The whiteboard easel is
CF \| an inherently awkward object and manages to take up a lot of space.
CF \| The rolling chair is shoved into a corner: There isn't really room to
CF \| walk around in here while someone is sitting at the desk. Narrow
CF \| passages lead northwest and southwest.
CF \|
CF \| Rain taps steadily on the window.
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW asks, "Who we be?"
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x me"
CF ] Office
CF \| >
CF \| > X ME
CF \|
CF \| You probably know better than I do.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "We are us."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "i"
CF ] Office
CF \| >
CF \| > I
CF \|
CF \| You are carrying nothing.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x easel"
CF ] Office
CF \| >
CF \| > X EASEL
CF \|
CF \| It's a flimsy collapsible easel. (It doesn't belong in the building;
CF \| it was a gift from a high school teacher who got frustrated with its
CF \| flimsiness.) On the easel is a whiteboard.
CF \|
CF \| >		MoyTW asks, "x documents?"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x whiteboard"
CF ] Office
CF \| >
CF \| > X WHITEBOARD
CF \|
CF \| There are a bunch of illegible notes and weird schematics on this
CF \| whiteboard; almost everything has been crossed out (why not erased?)
CF \| to indicate that it's been taken care of. But here are some
CF \| recognizable names: 0. THE CAVE, I. THE DELUGE, II. THE BEAST, III.
CF \| THE FORTRESS, IV. THE EYES��Hey, that's not right.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x documents"
CF ] Office
CF \| >
CF \| > X DOCUMENTS
CF \|
CF \| Which do you mean, the desk, the sheaf of legal documents, or the
CF \| wall?
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x legal"
CF ] Office
CF \| >
CF \| > X LEGAL
CF \|
CF \| There are a few different drafts of the same document here. On top is
CF \| the final version:
CF \|
CF \| The narrative compiled here purports to reflect only the
CF \| recollections of the individuals involved. By continuing, you concede
CF \| that I, the editor, bear no responsibility for the felicitous
CF \| representation of any objective fact associated with this narrative;
CF \| furthermore, you swear or affirm that you will not issue to the editor
CF \| or publicly report any corrections or recriminations concerning this
CF \| narrative's accuracy��Geographical, historical, medical,
CF \| meteorological, or otherwise.
CF \|
CF \| Oh right, this is that thing you agreed to earlier. What a helpful
CF \| reminder for you!
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x wall"
CF ] Office
CF \| >
CF \| > X WALL
CF \|
CF \| Numerous pieces of paper have been taped to the wall (with painter's
CF \| tape, so as not to arouse the ire of the building's custodial staff).
CF \| Some of it might bear a closer look.
CF \|
CF \| On the wall are a class photo, an angry letter, and an orchestra
CF \| poster.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x class photo"
CF ] Office
CF \| >
CF \| > X CLASS PHOTO
CF \|
CF \| Here we have a picture of a bunch of very happy children, each one
CF \| holding a papier-m��ch�� puppet in the shape of a different animal. The
CF \| craftsmanship of these puppets is about what you'd expect from
CF \| third-graders. The teacher's puppet is a little more polished, and has
CF \| an arm that she can manipulate with a rod.
CF \|
CF \| Written on the back:
CF \|
CF \| 9/19/2019
CF \|
CF \| Somehow these little rascals found out that their teacher would
CF \| soon be starring in a computer game! I told them they'd have to wait
CF \| until they were a little older to play it. Then they started babbling
CF \| about what kinds of horribly violent video games their parents let
CF \| them play, and I had to tell them it was a game you have to read, with
CF \| no graphics. That cooled them down somewhat (sorry).
CF \|
CF \| I found your recent proposal very intriguing. Unfortunately it's
CF \| too late in the semester to organize anything like that. Remind me
CF \| next year. But before then, FINISH "A ROPE OF CHALK."
CF \|
CF \| - Hina
CF \|
CF \| The "i" is dotted with a heart��sarcastically. Please don't get the
CF \| wrong idea.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x angry letter"
CF ] Office
CF \| >
CF \| > X ANGRY LETTER
CF \|
CF \| Mr. Veeder,
CF \|
CF \| I have taken time to evaluate your story "Aesthetics of
CF \| Impermanence: A Rope of Chalk" as you requested. After careful
CF \| consideration, I've concluded that I cannot lend my expertise to your
CF \| work in any capacity until drastic changes are made. The depiction of
CF \| episcophacetin-induced hallucination in your story, as a "fun,"
CF \| fairytale-like dream world, is grossly irresponsible and misleading.
CF \| The "medical accuracy" with which you are so concerned is secondary to
CF \| your social responsibility in representing the effects of
CF \| episcophacetin abuse: A responsibility that you have thus far ignored.
CF \| Following is a list of story elements that must be revised before I
CF \| can move forward as your consultant.
CF \|
CF \| There were a couple more sheets attached to this, but I don't know
CF \| where they went.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x poster"
CF ] Office
CF \| >
CF \| > X POSTER
CF \|
CF \| This is a poster for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra: All the musicians
CF \| are holding their instruments and smiling on some huge staircase
CF \| somewhere in Edinburgh. In front is the conductor, with the biggest
CF \| smile of all.
CF \|
CF \| I guess it's hard to see why I would have this: The woman in the back
CF \| with the bassoon is Jessica Marinakis. And actually, her smile might
CF \| be the biggest.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x jessica"
CF ] Office
CF \| >
CF \| > X JESSICA
CF \|
CF \| This is a poster for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra: All the musicians
CF \| are holding their instruments and smiling on some huge staircase
CF \| somewhere in Edinburgh. In front is the conductor, with the
CF \| second-biggest smile of all. The woman in the back with the bassoon is
CF \| Jessica Marinakis.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x eyes"
CF ] Office
CF \| >
CF \| > X EYES
CF \|
CF \| I don't think that's here.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] Office
CF \| >
CF \| > L
CF \|
CF \| Office
CF \| The place is kind of a mess. There's not enough space on the desk, so
CF \| a bunch of documents are taped to the walls. The whiteboard easel is
CF \| an inherently awkward object and manages to take up a lot of space.
CF \| The rolling chair is shoved into a corner: There isn't really room to
CF \| walk around in here while someone is sitting at the desk. Narrow
CF \| passages lead northwest and southwest.
CF \|
CF \| Rain taps steadily on the window.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x window"
CF ] Office
CF \| >
CF \| > X WINDOW
CF \|
CF \| It's just a little window, but the view is great: The roofs of
CF \| different parts of the building, all glistening in the rain, and
CF \| beyond that, the gold dome of the Old Capitol.
CF \|
CF \| At the bottom of the window frame, there's a jagged piece of metal
CF \| sticking out.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x metal"
CF ] Office
CF \| >
CF \| > X METAL
CF \|
CF \| It looks like something got snapped off.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take it"
CF ] Office
CF \| >
CF \| > TAKE IT
CF \|
CF \| Hey, be careful. It's sharp!
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "i"
CF ] Office
CF \| >
CF \| > I
CF \|
CF \| You are carrying nothing.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open window"
CF ] Office
CF \| >
CF \| > OPEN WINDOW
CF \|
CF \| I don't think that's possible.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x drawer"
CF ] Office
CF \| >
CF \| > X DRAWER
CF \|
CF \| I don't think that's here.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW asks, "hmmm. NW or SW?"
		MoyTW says, "Either."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Library
CF \| >
CF \| > NW
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Library
CF \| This is only a "room" by virtue of being hemmed in by a bunch of tall
CF \| bookshelves. In the middle of the space is a long table covered in
CF \| research materials.
CF \|
CF \| Narrow passages lead southeast, south, and southwest.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x materials"
CF ] Library
CF \| >
CF \| > X MATERIALS
CF \|
CF \| The table is sort of the shape of a conference table, but I don't know
CF \| how you'd fit a conference in this tiny space. There might be
CF \| something cool to look at here...
CF \|
CF \| On the long table are a lengthy letter, a cardboard box (closed), a
CF \| pile of sketches, and a handwritten letter.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x lengthy letter"
CF ] Library
CF \| >
CF \| > X LENGTHY LETTER
CF \|
CF \| Dear Ryan,
CF \|
CF \| I'm happy to answer this and any other questions you might have.
CF \| Don't hesitate to write again if there's anything else you'd like to
CF \| ask about.
CF \|
CF \| Shelly Lampada, our faculty advisor, dissolved the Honors Arts
CF \| Committee shortly after the Sidewalk Chalk Tournament. Early in the
CF \| Spring semester, Faye Thompson proposed resurrecting the committee.
CF \| She had just read about "Nuit Blanche" and wanted to recreate the
CF \| concept on the University of Iowa campus. Shelly only agreed to allow
CF \| an exploratory committee to assess the feasibility of such an event.
CF \| Understandably, Hina and Alec were reluctant to participate, but Faye
CF \| managed to wrangle me in. She had little luck convincing anyone else
CF \| to join; the committee consisted of Faye, myself, and freshman Elena
CF \| Maric.
CF \|
CF \| It was around this time that Faye and I became romantically
CF \| involved, an arrangement that did not prove conducive to large-scale
CF \| event planning. In retrospect, I think Shelly had hoped all along that
CF \| Faye would eventually abandon the Nuit Blanche proposal. To Shelly's
CF \| chagrin, despite having made no demonstrable progress in assessing
CF \| feasiblity after two months, Faye refused to concede. Shelly
CF \| eventually dissolved our committee, and the Nuit Blanche concept would
CF \| not be realized until 2014.
CF \|
CF \| However, Shelly left the Honors program at the end of the Spring
CF \| 2012 semester. Her replacement, Isaac Diston, was less wary of
CF \| trusting underclassmen with arts events. He permitted the Nuit Blanche
CF \| exploratory committee to reconvene as a full-fledged Arts Committee,
CF \| and we were allowed to organize a semester-opening event of our own,
CF \| with the caveats that it be conducted indoors with what he called a
CF \| "buttload" of faculty supervision.
CF \|
CF \| I apologize if I've gone into excessive detail. To answer your
CF \| question: Yes, we did have another Honors arts event in August 2012.
CF \| Faye, Elena, and I hung butcher paper on the walls of the Honors
CF \| center, and students were encouraged to draw all over it with crayons.
CF \| Nothing approaching the drama of the previous two years' events
CF \| transpired.
CF \|
CF \| Thank you for writing. I hope you are well, and that your work is
CF \| going smoothly.
CF \|
CF \| Sincerely,
CF \| Lane Mulville
CF \|
CF \| Wind whistles sharply outside.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "That explains the Lane/Faye connection, I guess."
		DavidW asks, "continue?"
		Knight_Otu says, "Yeah."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x box"
CF ] Library
CF \| >
CF \| > X BOX
CF \|
CF \| There are some shipping labels on the sides of the box. But I
CF \| shouldn't be giving you any addresses.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "read labels"
CF ] Library
CF \| >
CF \| > READ LABELS
CF \|
CF \| I don't think that's here.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open box"
CF ] Library
CF \| >
CF \| > OPEN BOX
CF \|
CF \| You open the cardboard box, revealing an index card and a bunch of
CF \| ribbons.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x index card"
CF ] Library
CF \| >
CF \| > X INDEX CARD
CF \|
CF \| On the card it says:
CF \|
CF \| I found these the other day! I never got a chance to pass them out
CF \| after the event, so I guess I brought them home and squirreled them
CF \| away and completely forgot about them. I thought you should have
CF \| them...
CF \|
CF \| By the way, I gave your game another look and I think you made me
CF \| too mean to Alec. I know it's from his perspective, but I don't
CF \| remember being that nasty. Maybe you could put a disclaimer in there
CF \| that says I'm actually very nice :) Good luck finishing it!
CF \|
CF \| Okay, fine: VICTORIA GRAHAM IS VERY NICE.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x ribbons"
CF ] Library
CF \| >
CF \| > X RIBBONS
CF \|
CF \| They're like ribbons you'd pin to people's lapels at a state fair, all
CF \| in different colors, but none of them say "first place" or "second
CF \| place" or anything like that. This one says "Great Work!" and this one
CF \| says "EXCELLENCE" and then there are are three that all say "Best
CF \| Judge."
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x sketches"
CF ] Library
CF \| >
CF \| > X SKETCHES
CF \|
CF \| A note is paperclipped on top of the sketches:
CF \|
CF \| Hey Ryan - Unfortunately I don't have any photos of my entry from
CF \| the "incident." There was a big storm right after Hina called the
CF \| police, everything got washed away. I do have some sketches I drew to
CF \| prepare for the event though & thought they might be useful. - X
CF \|
CF \| The drawings are of a sultry demoness in several different states of
CF \| undress. In one, she's sitting on a throne made of skulls. Each
CF \| printout has a �� XAVIER DANERI watermark somewhere on it.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x handwritten letter"
CF ] Library
CF \| >
CF \| > X HANDWRITTEN LETTER
CF \|
CF \| Nathalie's handwriting is very narrow and slanted. Very European. Not
CF \| especially easy to read.
CF \|
CF \| Dear Ryan,
CF \|
CF \| Three things. First, I hope everything is going well with your
CF \| work. Second, I have kind of a strange request.
CF \|
CF \| Lucas and I are planning, or trying, or hoping, to adopt a child.
CF \| We've been discussing the idea since forever, but we've both been too
CF \| intimidated by the idea to take any concrete action until just
CF \| recently.
CF \|
CF \| Obviously it's very difficult for someone with a criminal record
CF \| to get approved, but fortunately with the agency we're looking at it's
CF \| still technically possible, if you can get enough people to vouch for
CF \| you.
CF \|
CF \| Luke suggested that I ask you to be a character reference. I feel
CF \| like I should stress that it was his idea. Not that I think it's a bad
CF \| idea! But Luke pointed out that nobody else is so intimately familiar
CF \| with my "case" and can "speak to the extent of [my] rehabilitation"
CF \| the way you can.
CF \|
CF \| I completely understand if you're not comfortable getting yourself
CF \| entrenched in the very thorny process of adoption application, but
CF \| please take it under consideration.
CF \|
CF \| Anyway, the third thing! Our yoga studio was in the local paper!!!
CF \| I'm including a clipping (don't worry, I have approximately twenty
CF \| copies of this issue). Look at how professional we look! Doesn't that
CF \| look like a couple who you'd want to help with their adoption
CF \| application???
CF \|
CF \| Love,
CF \| Nathalie
CF \|
CF \| Well obviously I helped them out. (This letter is from like three
CF \| years ago.) I think their kid's name is Ethan. I have no idea what
CF \| happened to the newspaper clipping.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "Not sure how I feel about that."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x bookshelves"
CF ] Library
CF \| >
CF \| > X BOOKSHELVES
CF \|
CF \| It looks like all the books here are medical journals. To be perfectly
CF \| honest, I've never cracked any of them open.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW asks, "south or southwest next?"
		Knight_Otu says, "South, I'd say."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Narrow Hall
CF \| >
CF \| > S
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Narrow Hall
CF \| A claustrophobic passage runs north and south.
CF \|
CF \| I don't think this part of the building was originally designed to be
CF \| office space, is the thing.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > S
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Lounge
CF \| "Lounge" might be overstating it a bit. There are a couple of vinyl
CF \| couches here, and a mini fridge, and an ominous miniature door. Next
CF \| to each couch is an end table with a little lamp.
CF \|
CF \| Narrow passages lead northwest, north, and northeast.
CF \|
CF \| You can hear rain thrumming against the walls and roof.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "Well, boo to me."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x door"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > X DOOR
CF \|
CF \| Which do you mean, the mini fridge or the miniature door?
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "miniature"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > MINIATURE
CF \|
CF \| It's definitely not regulation door size; it kind of looks like it was
CF \| carved out of the wall as an afterthought. The sign says "EMERGENCY
CF \| EXIT ONLY. Alarm will sound if opened."
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "Probably one of those lying signs like in his other game, The Ascent of the Gothic Tower."
		Knight_Otu says, "Possibly."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x fridge"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > X FRIDGE
CF \|
CF \| Between the two end tables is a modest mini fridge. There's a magnet
CF \| stuck to the door.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x magnet"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > X MAGNET
CF \|
CF \| "One more MRI and I'll stick to the fridge!"
CF \|
CF \| I don't know if that makes any sense, but I'm not a radiologist.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open fridge"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > OPEN FRIDGE
CF \|
CF \| You open the mini fridge, revealing a frozen Snickers bar.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x bar"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > X BAR
CF \|
CF \| It's a normal-sized Snickers bar, in its wrapper. It is cold.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "close fridge"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > CLOSE FRIDGE
CF \|
CF \| You close the mini fridge.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x couch"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > X COUCH
CF \|
CF \| Which do you mean, the blue couch or the orange couch?
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "blue"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > BLUE
CF \|
CF \| It's a two-seater bench-type thing covered in bright blue vinyl. It's
CF \| really more of a waiting room couch than a lounge couch.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x orange couch"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > X ORANGE COUCH
CF \|
CF \| It's a two-seater bench-type thing covered in bright orange vinyl. It
CF \| doesn't clash with the blue one as badly as you might think.
CF \|
CF \| Wind whistles sharply outside.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > L
CF \|
CF \| Lounge
CF \| There are a couple of vinyl couches here, and a mini fridge, and an
CF \| ominous miniature door. Next to each couch is an end table with a
CF \| little lamp.
CF \|
CF \| Narrow passages lead northwest, north, and northeast.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x lamp"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > X LAMP
CF \|
CF \| Which do you mean, the mushroom-shaped lamp or the flower-shaped lamp?
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "flower"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > FLOWER
CF \|
CF \| This lamp's frosted glass shade is shaped like a daisy.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x mushroom"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > X MUSHROOM
CF \|
CF \| The lamp on the east table is a minimalist mushroom-shaped piece of
CF \| red plastic.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x west table"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > X WEST TABLE
CF \|
CF \| A boxy table with a wood veneer surface, indistinguishable from its
CF \| partner. But this one has a different lamp on top.
CF \|
CF \| On the west end table is a thick novel.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x novel"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > X NOVEL
CF \|
CF \| The cover reads FROST-WENCHES OF CEALDHAME: A Prelude to the
CF \| Cealdhame Sequence. Then there's a picture of a frost-wench
CF \| contemplating an orb. Beneath that is the name JONATHAN
CF \| DEVRIES in an intimidating serif font.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "read it"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > READ IT
CF \|
CF \| A scrap of paper falls out of the book as you open it.
CF \|
CF \| Here's an excerpt:
CF \|
CF \| A sound from beyond the door. Footsteps. Hilgr bristled. "We
CF \| aren't alone, are we?"
CF \|
CF \| "I always travel with my guards," said Ymrod. Hilgr needed not her
CF \| dreocr��ft to see through his deceit.
CF \|
CF \| "If I don't go willingly," she whispered, "you will take me to
CF \| Ty��ing by force?"
CF \|
CF \| Ymrod closed his eyes, shook his head. "No, no. The Reeve little
CF \| wants to welcome a Frost-Wench into his walls. My single mission is to
CF \| retrieve for him the Ge��orcsceaft, which Ceald-law holds is his by
CF \| right. It is this that I will take to Ty��ing," he said, now fixing his
CF \| gaze on Hilgr, "willingly or by force."
CF \|
CF \| "We heed not the Ceald-law in this wood," Hilgr whispered. She
CF \| clasped her pale fingers round her ��mulet. "And tonight you will learn
CF \| why the Reeve of Ty��ing so fears the Frost-Wenches."
CF \|
CF \| And so on, in like fashion.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "oh no, not the Frost-Wenches!"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take scrap"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > TAKE SCRAP
CF \|
CF \| Taken.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "read it"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > READ IT
CF \|
CF \| Ryan - Wondering if you've given any thought to my pitch for a
CF \| text adventure set in Cealdhame. The setting has huge potential for
CF \| the interactive fiction space. This weekend I'll be playing Zork, to
CF \| get a feel for the style. Exciting!
CF \|
CF \| You can hear rain thrumming against the walls and roof.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "That got a laugh."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x east table"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > X EAST TABLE
CF \|
CF \| A boxy table with a wood veneer surface, indistinguishable from its
CF \| partner. But this one has a different lamp on top.
CF \|
CF \| On the east end table is a chapbook.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "Well, now we know what to look forward to in the next comp."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x chapbook"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > X CHAPBOOK
CF \|
CF \| A slim little hand-bound book. The cover says:
CF \|
CF \| BIRD POEMS
CF \| "I Wrote 'Em"
CF \| Alec Arden
CF \|
CF \| Beneath that there's a crude line drawing of a black-capped chickadee.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "read it"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > READ IT
CF \|
CF \| Someone (not me!) has taken a thick marker to this book and scribbled
CF \| over most of the poems. This stanza is circled, though:
CF \|
CF \| Oh, drop me not on the sidewalk. Look:
CF \| the swarming harpies of Night descend
CF \| to roil my hair with sweat, and snap
CF \| my shivering bones out of joint. Defend
CF \| me, Mona, take my arm over you,
CF \| and remind my knees how they're supposed to bend.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "weird"
		DavidW asks, "northwest before we dare open the miniature door? Or do we want to break a tooth on a frozen chocolate bar?"
		Knight_Otu says, "Feels like this is hinting at something, but I'm not seeing it."
		DavidW says, "yeah, it looks like a clue to something, doesn't it."
		Knight_Otu says, "I guess the miniature door is how we end this sequence."
		DavidW says, "I think so."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open fridge"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > OPEN FRIDGE
CF \|
CF \| You open the mini fridge, revealing a frozen Snickers bar.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take bar"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > TAKE BAR
CF \|
CF \| Taken.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "warm it up"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > WARM IT UP
CF \|
CF \| That's not a verb I recognize.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "close fridge"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > CLOSE FRIDGE
CF \|
CF \| You close the mini fridge.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "eat bar"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > EAT BAR
CF \|
CF \| You pull open the wrapper.
CF \|
CF \| You take a bite out of the Snickers. It's good when it's cold, right?
CF \| In my opinion, putting them in the freezer is a step too far. But this
CF \| is delicious.
CF \|
CF \| Before you know it, you've taken several more bites.
CF \|
CF \| You can hear rain thrumming against the walls and roof.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Classroom
CF \| >
CF \| > NW
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Classroom
CF \| This is the classroom that time forgot: There's a chalkboard behind
CF \| the podium! And the walls are done up in some very groovy red fabric.
CF \| There are only twelve desks in here, and they're all in terrible
CF \| shape.
CF \|
CF \| Come to think of it, I don't know if they even still teach any classes
CF \| up here.
CF \|
CF \| The exits are northeast and southeast.
CF \|
CF \| One of the desks has a transcript sitting on it.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x chalkboard"
CF ] Classroom
CF \| >
CF \| > X CHALKBOARD
CF \|
CF \| The chalkboard is blank.
CF \|
CF \| A piece of chalk rests on the sill.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take chalk"
CF ] Classroom
CF \| >
CF \| > TAKE CHALK
CF \|
CF \| Taken.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "draw key"
CF ] Classroom
CF \| >
CF \| > DRAW KEY
CF \|
CF \| You write "key" on the chalkboard.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take key"
CF ] Classroom
CF \| >
CF \| > TAKE KEY
CF \|
CF \| I don't think that's here.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "erase chalkboard"
CF ] Classroom
CF \| >
CF \| > ERASE CHALKBOARD
CF \|
CF \| You wipe down the chalkboard until it's more or less clean. Now you
CF \| have chalk on your hands.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x transcript"
CF ] Classroom
CF \| >
CF \| > X TRANSCRIPT
CF \|
CF \| This is clearly a printout of a NotePad document. I guess not all of
CF \| it is here:
CF \|
CF \| interview with Faye Thompson - Jul 30 2017 - page 4
CF \|
CF \| RV: Does that [Alec's recollection] line up with what you remember?
CF \|
CF \| FT: Basically yeah. Basically.
CF \|
CF \| RV: So then what happened after you talked to Alec?
CF \|
CF \| FT: I was alone for a while and my mind was playing tricks on me. I
CF \| got very paranoid. I kept hearing things that weren't there. It took
CF \| me a while to realize Alec should have come back. So I went looking
CF \| for him and I saw him and Jessica holding each other on the ground. I
CF \| thought they were...
CF \|
CF \| RV: I'm not sure what you mean.
CF \|
CF \| FT: I thought they were dead! I guess I was already hallucinating
CF \| enough that that made sense to me. So I ran, out into the street,
CF \| crying for help.
CF \|
CF \| RV: Into the highway? I thought it was all blocked off for
CF \| construction.
CF \|
CF \| FT: I don't remember. I might have jumped over the fence, I guess. I
CF \| remember running across the torn-up street, and running across the
CF \| train tracks.
CF \|
CF \| RV: I think there are some bars and restaurants between the highway
CF \| and the train tracks.
CF \|
CF \| FT: Yeah but I don't remember those. I remember crawling up to the
CF \| train tracks, and over the tracks, and down the incline to the river.
CF \| A bunch of rocks, down to the river. I skinned both my knees on those
CF \| rocks.
CF \|
CF \| RV: [sympathetic noise]
CF \|
CF \| FT: I think I was about to run right into the river, but then this
CF \| huge dog comes out of the water.
CF \|
CF \| RV: What?
CF \|
CF \| It continues onto the next page.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x desks"
CF ] Classroom
CF \| >
CF \| > X DESKS
CF \|
CF \| A bunch of combination chair-desks, dating from an era before they
CF \| learned how to make such things the least bit comfortable. I notice
CF \| they're all right-handed.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x podium"
CF ] Classroom
CF \| >
CF \| > X PODIUM
CF \|
CF \| A very simple wooden podium. There's no need for a microphone stand or
CF \| a computer hookup or projector controls when the room only has a
CF \| chalkboard.
CF \|
CF \| On the podium is a birth announcement.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x birth"
CF ] Classroom
CF \| >
CF \| > X BIRTH
CF \|
CF \| This is a postcard with a picture of a tiny sleepy baby on it, along
CF \| with the words:
CF \|
CF \| INTRODUCING
CF \| Mitchell Lee
CF \| June 1, 2020 at 4:05 a.m. - 7 pounds, 8 ounces, 21 inches
CF \| Welcomed by James, Rachel, and big brothers Jacob, Scott, William,
CF \| and Levi
CF \|
CF \| The other side of the card is blank.
CF \|
CF \| Wind whistles sharply outside.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu asks, "I think we can get more from the transcript?"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "read transcript"
CF ] Classroom
CF \| >
CF \| > READ TRANSCRIPT
CF \|
CF \| interview with Faye Thompson - Jul 30 2017 - page 5
CF \|
CF \| FT: Well he wasn't a real dog.
CF \|
CF \| RV: Oh, that makes--Sure, sure.
CF \|
CF \| FT: He was huge, like the size of a wolf, but he had these big
CF \| friendly eyes. And he started telling me that everything was gonna be
CF \| okay, and I just needed to stay put and calm down. He kind of talked
CF \| me down, I guess.
CF \|
CF \| RV: Do you think it was a real person that you were hallucinating was
CF \| a dog? Or a real dog that you were hallucinating was huge and could
CF \| talk?
CF \|
CF \| FT: Well, he definitely came up out of the river, so...
CF \|
CF \| RV: Sure, sure.
CF \|
CF \| FT: He stayed there and talked to me for a long time. And some of the
CF \| stuff he said...
CF \|
CF \| [long pause]
CF \|
CF \| RV: We don't have to get into specifics.
CF \|
CF \| FT: Sorry. It's just--I don't know if I can put it into words. He
CF \| understood some stuff that--He was a very smart dog, let's put it that
CF \| way. So maybe you can put that in the game somehow.
CF \|
CF \| RV: Gosh. Yeah, definitely. I mean, hopefully.
CF \|
CF \| FT: Can I ask you a question?
CF \|
CF \| RV: Sure.
CF \|
CF \| That's all there is.
CF \|
CF \| I think that accounts for everyone. You can quit the game whenever you
CF \| like. Or you can just hang out, if you want.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW asks, "The door?"
		Knight_Otu says, "Sure."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > SE
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Lounge
CF \| There are a couple of vinyl couches here, and a mini fridge, and an
CF \| ominous miniature door. Next to each couch is an end table with a
CF \| little lamp.
CF \|
CF \| Narrow passages lead northwest, north, and northeast.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open miniature door"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > OPEN MINIATURE DOOR
CF \|
CF \| That just goes out onto the roof. You can leave it closed.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > G
CF \|
CF \| That just goes out onto the roof. You can leave it closed.
CF \|
CF \| Seriously, don't worry about it.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > G
CF \|
CF \| That just goes out onto the roof. You can leave it closed.
CF \|
CF \| Seriously, don't worry about it.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > G
CF \|
CF \| That just goes out onto the roof. You can leave it closed.
CF \|
CF \| Seriously, don't worry about it.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > G
CF \|
CF \| That just goes out onto the roof. You can leave it closed.
CF \|
CF \| Seriously, don't worry about it.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > S
CF \|
CF \| I'm afraid you can only go northwest, north, or northeast. Or you can
CF \| just quit the game. The story's over.
CF \|
CF \| A deep rumbling reverberates somewhere in the distance. It might be
CF \| thunder, or it might be a truck.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu asks, "Enter door?"
		DavidW says, "enter door"
		MoyTW asks, "The question is: do you trust that the game is, in fact, over?"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "enter door"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > ENTER DOOR
CF \|
CF \| Which do you mean, the mini fridge or the miniature door?
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "miniature"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > MINIATURE
CF \|
CF \| Hey, that's an emergency exit! And it just goes out onto the roof,
CF \| where it's cold and rainy. You should stay in here.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "enter miniature door"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > ENTER MINIATURE DOOR
CF \|
CF \| Hey, that's an emergency exit! And it just goes out onto the roof,
CF \| where it's cold and rainy. You should stay in here.
CF \|
CF \| Seriously, don't worry about it.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > G
CF \|
CF \| Hey, that's an emergency exit! And it just goes out onto the roof,
CF \| where it's cold and rainy. You should stay in here.
CF \|
CF \| Seriously, don't worry about it.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "I'm not sure we can trust that the game is over. It may be, it may not be."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "SAVE"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "cf10"
CF \| >
CF \| > SAVE
CF \| %% Enter a save filename to write:
CF ] Lounge
CF \| > SAVEOk.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "Let's try 'quit'. Maybe it's non-standard."
		Knight_Otu says, "Let's."
		DavidW says, "This may be the first time I've felt I needed to SAVE before QUIT."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "quit"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > QUIT
CF \|
CF \| Are you sure you want to quit?
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "yes"
CF \| Are you sure you want to quit?
CF \| > YES
CF \| cheapglulxe quit with exit status: 0
CF asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?"		DavidW says, "oh, a real quit."
		Knight_Otu says, "That does look.. right."
		MoyTW says, "Hahahahaha."
		DavidW says, "What a bizarre game."
		Knight_Otu says, "It's a Veeder game."
		MoyTW says, "Well I think there was at least some percentage of added weirdness for you guys added by the fact that you knew it was a Veeder game."
		DavidW asks, "Should we have written something else on the chalkboard?"
		Knight_Otu says, "Possibly."
		MoyTW says, "Like if nobody told you it was a Veeder game you might guess from the text, but I'm not sure you would've worried it'd write a file at the start if you said no."
		DavidW asks, "oh, we should test that now, I guess?"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "load sleepmask ropeofchalk"
CF ]
CF \|
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| A Note from the Editor
CF \|
CF \| It looks as though this account will finally be published in 2020, not
CF \| long after the ninth anniversary of the incident in question. You
CF \| should expect some explanation for my having taken so long, especially
CF \| considering how insufferably coy I've been about the story's "imminent
CF \| release" on so many occasions. I have no grounds to blame any of my
CF \| informants for the delay; neither can I produce any excuse for my own
CF \| negligence. So all I can give you is an apology:
CF \|
CF \| Sorry.
CF \|
CF \| As I took my sweet time compiling my notes, and the incident itself
CF \| became more and more obscured in the fog of the past, a vague niggling
CF \| concern grew more and more distinct: The accuracy of my report was
CF \| becoming vulnerable to lapses of memory, misinterpretations, and
CF \| transcription errors of the mind��My own mind, and those of my
CF \| informants. I began to second-guess all my data, searching for
CF \| corroborations that did not exist, or else finding the verification I
CF \| wanted and then doubting my secondary source. I became discouraged. I
CF \| did that thing you see in movies where I shoved all my papers off my
CF \| desk in a rage. I stared down from my window at a rainy city, and I
CF \| contemplated the nature of reality.
CF \|
CF \| I couldn't continue my work until I had made a deal with myself: I
CF \| would set aside any commitment to recreating these strange events as
CF \| they had really happened. I would concern myself only with
CF \| faithfulness to the statements of my informants, to the facts of their
CF \| experience rather than to the truth. Now my path was clear; now my
CF \| goal was attainable.
CF \|
CF \| As I said, I can offer no excuse for this extremely overdue
CF \| publication, and the preceding statements should not be so construed.
CF \| I only wanted to tell you all that so I could tell you this:
CF \|
CF \| The narrative compiled here purports to reflect only the recollections
CF \| of the individuals involved. By continuing, you concede that I, the
CF \| editor, bear no responsibility for the felicitous representation of
CF \| any objective fact associated with this narrative; furthermore, you
CF \| swear or affirm that you will not issue to the editor or publicly
CF \| report any corrections or recriminations concerning this narrative's
CF \| accuracy��Geographical, historical, medical, meteorological, or
CF \| otherwise.
CF \|
CF \| Do you consent to this?
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "no"
CF \| >
CF \| > NO
CF \|
CF \| Noted.
CF \| cheapglulxe quit with exit status: 0
CF asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?"		Knight_Otu says, "Noted, says the game."
		MoyTW says, "Hahaha."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "load sleepmask ropeofchalk"
CF ]
CF \|
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| A Note from the Editor
CF \|
CF \| It looks as though this account will finally be published in 2020, not
CF \| long after the ninth anniversary of the incident in question. You
CF \| should expect some explanation for my having taken so long, especially
CF \| considering how insufferably coy I've been about the story's "imminent
CF \| release" on so many occasions. I have no grounds to blame any of my
CF \| informants for the delay; neither can I produce any excuse for my own
CF \| negligence. So all I can give you is an apology:
CF \|
CF \| Sorry.
CF \|
CF \| As I took my sweet time compiling my notes, and the incident itself
CF \| became more and more obscured in the fog of the past, a vague niggling
CF \| concern grew more and more distinct: The accuracy of my report was
CF \| becoming vulnerable to lapses of memory, misinterpretations, and
CF \| transcription errors of the mind��My own mind, and those of my
CF \| informants. I began to second-guess all my data, searching for
CF \| corroborations that did not exist, or else finding the verification I
CF \| wanted and then doubting my secondary source. I became discouraged. I
CF \| did that thing you see in movies where I shoved all my papers off my
CF \| desk in a rage. I stared down from my window at a rainy city, and I
CF \| contemplated the nature of reality.
CF \|
CF \| I couldn't continue my work until I had made a deal with myself: I
CF \| would set aside any commitment to recreating these strange events as
CF \| they had really happened. I would concern myself only with
CF \| faithfulness to the statements of my informants, to the facts of their
CF \| experience rather than to the truth. Now my path was clear; now my
CF \| goal was attainable.
CF \|
CF \| As I said, I can offer no excuse for this extremely overdue
CF \| publication, and the preceding statements should not be so construed.
CF \| I only wanted to tell you all that so I could tell you this:
CF \|
CF \| The narrative compiled here purports to reflect only the recollections
CF \| of the individuals involved. By continuing, you concede that I, the
CF \| editor, bear no responsibility for the felicitous representation of
CF \| any objective fact associated with this narrative; furthermore, you
CF \| swear or affirm that you will not issue to the editor or publicly
CF \| report any corrections or recriminations concerning this narrative's
CF \| accuracy��Geographical, historical, medical, meteorological, or
CF \| otherwise.
CF \|
CF \| Do you consent to this?
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "yes"
CF \| >
CF \| > YES
CF \|
CF \| Thank you. Please press any key, and we'll begin.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Judges' Table
CF \| ��1
CF \|
CF \| You are covered in sweat. Your clothes cling to you like someone
CF \| else's moist hands, and your skin feels like someone else's skin. Hina
CF \| is speaking, but you're only aware of your own nauseating body.
CF \|
CF \| Someone interrupts Hina. "You guys need a drink?"
CF \|
CF \| It's Nathalie, wheeling her cumbersome old cooler up to the judges'
CF \| table. Saving you the energy it would take to croak out a plea for
CF \| help, she produces three bottles of water.
CF \|
CF \| Hina and Alec chug theirs down desperately, and you follow suit, with
CF \| no concern for how undignified you must look. A cold, wet trickle runs
CF \| over your chin, down your neck. Then the bottle is empty; then,
CF \| finally, you can think clearly.
CF \|
CF \| A Rope of Chalk
CF \| edited by Ryan Veeder
CF \| Release 1 / Serial number 200926 / Inform 7 build 6M62 (I6/v6.34 lib
CF \| 6/12N)
CF \|
CF \| Judges' Table
CF \| The softball field's aluminum bleachers offer a meager amount of
CF \| shade, so this is where Hina decided the judges should sit while the
CF \| artists work. Hina and Alec are sitting at opposite ends of the table;
CF \| your spot is in the middle. The sidewalk, the "canvas" of the sidewalk
CF \| chalk tournament, runs west and east.
CF \|
CF \| Before Hina can get back to what she was saying, Nathalie starts in:
CF \| "I came over to let you know, one of the artists has a problem with
CF \| another artist's art."
CF \|
CF \| Hina summons enough willpower to roll her eyes. "Who, exactly?"
CF \|
CF \| "Jessica, and Xavier. Jessica is the one who wanted me to tell on
CF \| Xavier. She wanted a judge to come down and make a ruling."
CF \|
CF \| Hina turns toward you. "Lane, can you take care of this?"
CF \|
CF \| You nod without thinking. It's too hot to think.
CF \|
CF \| "Come on, I'll go with you." Nathalie waves you over, and a tiny spark
CF \| of encouragement flickers in your overheated heart.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "RESTORE"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "cf10"
CF \| >
CF \| > RESTORE
CF \| %% Enter a save filename to read:
CF ] Lounge
CF \| Ok.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "xyzzy"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > XYZZY
CF \|
CF \| (Well, I picked plover. You win.) (1 - 0 - 0)
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "Huh."
		DavidW says, "oh, he did that in another game. It's like Rock Paper Scissors but with Xyzzy Plugh Plover instead."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Classroom
CF \| >
CF \| > NW
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Classroom
CF \| This is the classroom that time forgot: There's a chalkboard behind
CF \| the podium! And the walls are done up in some very groovy red fabric.
CF \| There are only twelve desks in here, and they're all in terrible
CF \| shape.
CF \|
CF \| The exits are northeast and southeast.
CF \|
CF \| One of the desks has a transcript sitting on it.
CF \|
CF \| You can hear rain thrumming against the walls and roof.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "write driedout"
CF ] Classroom
CF \| >
CF \| > WRITE DRIEDOUT
CF \|
CF \| You write "driedout" on the chalkboard.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x chalkboard"
CF ] Classroom
CF \| >
CF \| > X CHALKBOARD
CF \|
CF \| The chalkboard has "driedout" written on it.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Classroom
CF \| >
CF \| > G
CF \|
CF \| The chalkboard has "driedout" written on it.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > SE
CF \|
CF \|
CF \| Lounge
CF \| There are a couple of vinyl couches here, and a mini fridge, and an
CF \| ominous miniature door. Next to each couch is an end table with a
CF \| little lamp.
CF \|
CF \| Narrow passages lead northwest, north, and northeast.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open miniature door"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > OPEN MINIATURE DOOR
CF \|
CF \| That just goes out onto the roof. You can leave it closed.
CF \|
CF \| Seriously, don't worry about it.
CF \|
CF \| >		DavidW says, "drat"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "vaadingephod"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > VAADINGEPHOD
CF \|
CF \| That's not a verb I recognize.
CF \|
CF \| >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "driedout"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > DRIEDOUT
CF \|
CF \| That's not a verb I recognize.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "vaadignephod"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > VAADIGNEPHOD
CF \|
CF \| That's not a verb I recognize.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "I'm not sure about the correct spelling."
		DavidW says, "I'm not sure either."
		DavidW says, "okay, I'm out of ideas for now."
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "read poem"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > READ POEM
CF \|
CF \| Someone (not me!) has taken a thick marker to this book and scribbled
CF \| over most of the poems. This stanza is circled, though:
CF \|
CF \| Oh, drop me not on the sidewalk. Look:
CF \| the swarming harpies of Night descend
CF \| to roil my hair with sweat, and snap
CF \| my shivering bones out of joint. Defend
CF \| me, Mona, take my arm over you,
CF \| and remind my knees how they're supposed to bend.
CF \|
CF \| >
Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "x poem"
CF ] Lounge
CF \| >
CF \| > X POEM
CF \|
CF \| Someone (not me!) has taken a thick marker to this book and scribbled
CF \| over most of the poems. This stanza is circled, though:
CF \|
CF \| Oh, drop me not on the sidewalk. Look:
CF \| the swarming harpies of Night descend
CF \| to roil my hair with sweat, and snap
CF \| my shivering bones out of joint. Defend
CF \| me, Mona, take my arm over you,
CF \| and remind my knees how they're supposed to bend.
CF \|
CF \| >		Knight_Otu says, "Hm."
		Knight_Otu says, "No idea there."
		DavidW asks, "Is it a Jack Skellington thing?"
		Knight_Otu says, "I'd have almost said it's about the bucket dropped onto the sidewalk. Almost."
		MoyTW says, "I'm down with calling it done."
		DavidW says, "I can't dredge out a hidden meaning and my eyes hurt."
		Knight_Otu says, "Ýeah, it's getting late over here."
		DavidW says, "thanks for playing, everybody."